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Chess Publishing ECO : A00-A99 Volume 1 Second Edition
CBV to PDF
by Scorpionchess
Thanks to
Echai the master Uploader & his invaluable successor bandidobk
All friends who made the All in one Cbv
Dedicated to
Dearanna She inspired the idea
Introduction to the second Edition If the first edition had no introduction, the second need one ! The publication of the first edition of this series in 2013 represented an innovation in chess books shared at forums : It is part of a new trend that migrates from simple sharing to the creativity . This publication mainly benefited of the work made in the background by many forums members (Sharers, collectors, Cbv & pgn makers) and as I'm unable to name All, I just want to thank All of Them . Special thanks must go to the master sharer & Uploader Echai & his successor bandidobk : without their invaluable work & perseverance to update the chess publishing thread, this second edition would never have been released . This second edition has an updated material & also some improvements, especially to enhance readability ...and I will let you discover the rest . All your suggestions are welcome and will be as far as possible taken into account in the next editions. S.C 06/10/2014
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1 A00 Akopian,Vladimir 2660 Mamedov,Nidjat 2341 Open Dubai UAE (1) 28.04.2000 [Tony Kosten] 1.b4 The 'vice-FIDE World Champion' likes to play flank openings, although 1 Nf3 is his normal preference. e6 [ A more restrained approach than 1...e5 , but quite valid. ] 2.b2 f6 3.b5 White continues to gain space on the queenside. e7 [ 3...d5 4.e3 d6 5.f3 a6 6.a4 e7 7.c4 seems staid, but dissolved into mindboggling complications after dxc4 8.xc4 e5 9.g5! 0-0 10.c2 h6 11.h4! e4 12.c3 f5 ( 12...hxg5 13.hxg5 g4 14.xe4 f5 15.f6+ is very strong) 13.g4! (no let-up for Black) xg4 14.d5 e8 15.f4 axb5 16.c3 soon winning, Akopian, V-Ganguly,S/Goodricke Open, Calcutta IND 2000. ] 4.f3 0-0 5.e3 b6 6.c4 b7 7.e2 d5 8.0-0 [ The system's originator didn't obtain much after 8.a4 dxc4 9.a3 c3 10.xc3 d5 11.b2 f6 12.xf6 xf6 13.0-0 d8 in Sokolsky,A-Chekhover,V/Leningrad 1938, 1-0 (70). ] 8...bd7 9.cxd5 [ White keeps the play fluid, shutting the a1-h8 diagonal by 9.d4 is also possible, but less logical, e4 10.bd2 f5 Oliveira,LFigueiredo,F/BRA 1999. ] 9...xd5 10.c3 c5 Black must do this before White uses the b5-pawn to get a firm hold on c6. 11.bxc6 xc6 12.d4 b7 [ This new move is as valid as the alternative 12...xc3 when 13.xc3 b7 14.f3 xf3 15.xf3 offers little, Furlong,K-Wyeth,A/ Oxford 1998. ] 13.b5 An interesting way to continue, intending Qe2, and Rfc1, with play on the queenside, or Qg4, and f4 on the kingside. xc3 14.xc3 c8 15.f4 f6 Black has no particular problems here. 16.f5?! d5 [ 16...e5 17.f3 e4 18.d4 is less accurate. ] 17.e2 e4!? An original choice, Black allows the f-pawn to wind its way toward the king, but gains the bishop pair. 18.fxe6 xc3
19.dxc3 xc3! 20.exf7+ h8!? [ Playable, although 20...xf7 21.xf7 xf7 22.f1 is also fine for Black. ] 21.f5 c5 22.ad1 e5 The e3-pawn is a serious problem. 23.h1 g6 24.h4 xe3 [ 24...d6 25.f3 xf3 26.gxf3 xe3 27.f4 will probably lead to a drawish oppositecolour bishop position, too. ] 25.g4 d6?! [ This allows the exchange of queens, 25...c8 keeps an edge. ] 26.d4 xd4 27.xd4 e7 28.c4 W hite hangs on to his f -pawn, which will b a l a n c e t h e B l a c k p a i r o f b i s h o p s . g7 29.f3 c8 30.b3 c7 31.dd1 e2 32.h3 xf3 33.xf3 f8 34.fd3 ce7 35.d8 e1+ 36.xe1 xe1+ 37.h2 a5 38.g3 The different-colour bishops make this ending a draw. ½-½
2 Ardaman,Miles Anka,Emil Open Chicago USA (4) [John Watson]
A00 2324 2425 27.05.2006
Inspired by Tony's look at the openings that I have neglected, I've chosen a Pokish/ Sokolsky's/Orang-Utan opening to examine. With an average rating of 2375 I thought that at least the battle would be hard-fought and not the usual quick advantage and ultimate win for Black. It is somewhere in between. 1.b4 c6 [ 1...e5! 2.b2 ( 2.a3 d5 3.b2 f6 ) 2...xb4 3.xe5 f6 is the easies t way: Black plays ...0-0, ...d5, ...Re8, and ...c5 in one order or another. I always thought it was fun when something like 4.e3 0-0 5.c4 (establishing the central majority) e8 6.f3 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.e2? xe5! 9.xe5 f6 happened, based upon 10.f4 xe3 11.b3 xg2+ ] 2.e3 [ Here's an old trick from Sokolsky's book (late 1960's?), clever if not really worthy of high praise. 2.b2 b6 3.a3 a5 4.c4! axb4 ( 4...d6= ) 5.c5 c7 ( 5...xc5?? 6.axb4 ) 6.axb4 xa1 7.xa1 a6! 8.c3 1
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d6 9.d4 f6 , probably about equal, although Black is better-developed. ] 2...b6 This is one of the oldest anti-Sokolsky manoeuvres. Superficially, it makes more sense when W hite has played 2.Bb2 and Black's 2...Qb6 'pins' in b-pawn, but as we just saw that's nothing special either. 3.a3 a5 4.b5!? More of that clever-but-so-what stuff. d5 [ 4...cxb5 5.c3 b4?! 6.axb4 xb4 7.a3 yields more than enough compensation ] 5.f3 f6 6.a4 g4 7.h3 xf3! Taking over the centre without further ado. The bishops aren't really a consideration. 8.xf3 e5 9.b2 bd7 10.g4!? d6 11.e2 0-0 12.g5 e4 13.f5 d8 14.h4 All bark but no bite. e7 15.c3 ec5 16.f3 ae8 17.f2 d4!? [ 17...g6 18.h3 f6 favours Black's centralized position and weakness-f ree structure. ] 18.e4 dxe3+ 19.dxe3 xe4+ 20.xe4 f5 21.gxf6?! xf6 22.c4+ h8 23.ag1 cxb5 24.axb5 c5! 25.b3? d8 Uh-oh. The threat of ...Nd5 is a real problem. 26.c1 e4+! [ Better still 26...e4! ] 27.g2 d6 28.h5 d2 29.c3? g5+ 0-1
[ 6.xc7+ d8 7.e3 looks rather good, as xc7 8.d5+ forks king and queen. ] 6...b4+ 7.c3 e5 8.d5! This must have come as a surprise! a5 [ 8...xd5? 9.xc7+ f8 10.xd5 is overwhelming. ] 9.bd6+!! cxd6 10.xd6+ e7 Obviously forced. 11.xf7+ d8 [ 11...xd6? 12.f4 pins the queen. ] 12.f8+ c7 13.e8+ b6 Again Black has no choice. 14.e3+ Going for the attack (with every justification!) rather than play [ 14.xg7 xg7 15.xg7 which also looks good, as b4 is threatened. ] 14...a6 15.0-0-0 xc3? Not the best def ence, by any means, but Black is lost anyway, e.g. [ 15...g5 16.d6 ge7 17.f7 b5 18.b3 an d t he bla ck kin g, wh ich h a s n o lega l moves, is unlikely to last long. ] 16.bxc3?! While this move is winning, White has much neater moves: [ 16.d5! is the simplest, xb2+ 17.b1 xd5 ( 17...e7 18.c7# ) 18.c7+ a5 19.xd5 ] [ 16.a3+ is also strong, a5 17.bxc3 xe8 18.d5 b6 19.xa5+! bxa5 20.d6+ b7 21.f4 d8 22.d5+ b6 23.e3+ c7 24.xa5+ d6 25.xd8 etc. ] 16...ge7 [ 16...xc3+ is no help, as 17.b1 b4+ 3 A00 ( 17...ge7 18.c7+ a5 19.f4 ) 18.xb4 xb4 19.c7+ a5 20.xa8 Arwanitakis,Michael 2286 with a rook more. ] Woeber,Friedrich 2195 2nd Bundesliga Mitte 2005-6 (11) 26.03.2006 17.c7+! The only move to keep the win. [ 17.xh8 xc3+ 18.b1 b4+ draws. ] [Tony Kosten] 17...xc7 18.xh8 The attack has subsided, 1.c3 e5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 exd4 4.xd4 but White has an exchange and pawn more, f6? This move is fine in the Scotch, where a n d m e r e l y n e e d s t o c o n s o l i d a t e . a5 The queen heads back to the king's White hasn't yet developed the knight and has 19.xh7 f5 Menacing ...Qxc3+ again with a a pawn on e4, but here, amazingly, it just aid. perp. 20.d2 Both defending c3 and loses! Black might at least [ 4...f6 is Ivanchuk, V-Anand, V, see the threatening e4+. d6!? have tried archives. ] [ 20...xa2 when White should return 5.db5 c5 It is already too late to retreat: material: 21.xf5 ( 21.e4+ b6 22.f4! [ 5...d8? 6.f4 d6 7.d5 1-0 Santoro, Dshould also win, giving the king room to Roman, F/Buenos Aires 1987, although escape the checks) 21...a3+ 22.c2 Black persevered by d7 8.g3 a6 9.h3+ a4+ 23.b2 xd1 24.e4+ b6 25.d5 before resigning in Simon, P-Balcerak, M/ g4 (else Be3+ wins the queen) 26.d6! Nickenich 1996. ] and Be3+. ] 6.e4!? Not bad, but 2
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.e4+ b5 22.exf5 xa2 23.e3 e5 24.xd6+ a5 25.d2 a1+ 26.c2 b4 27.d4?? It is difficult to know quite what to make of the end of this game! [ 27.d5+ is elementary and forces mate: a4 28.b5+ a3 29.xa1# ] [ 27.d4?? allows Black to mate by b3+! 28.xb3 b8+ 29.c2 b1# so I think it must have been incorrectly noted. ] 1-0
4 Azmaiparashvili,Zurab Mahjoob,Morteza FIDE WCh KO Tripoli LBA (1.2) [Tony Kosten]
A00 2679 2478 20.06.2004
1.g3 f6 2.g2 d5 3.d3 e5 4.f3 d6 Less usual than [ 4...c6 of course, but perfectly reasonable. ] 5.c4 dxc4 Black aims for rapid development, [ 5...d4 leads to a Benoni-style position, and ] [ 5...c6 holds the centre. ] 6.a4+ c6 7.xc4 0-0 8.0-0 Play resembles a Reversed Dragon. g4!? Rather unusual, Azmai has had this position a few times, when [ 8...h6 was played, to control g5 and continue with ...Be6, 9.c3 ( 9.bd2 e6 10.c2 d7 11.e1 h3 12.h1 b4 13.b1 c5 is pleasant for Black, Azmaiparashvili, Z-Yakovich,Y/Kiev 1986) 9...e6 10.b5 b8 11.e3 d7 12.fc1 g4 13.d2 f5 with kingside chances, Azmaiparashvili,Z-Smagin,S/Minsk 1985. ] 9.c3 Best, [ 9.g5?! plans to exploit the absence of the black bishop from e7, but xf3! is a strong reply, 10.exf3?! Suttles,D-Karaklajic,N/ Chicago 1 97 3 a nd no w ( 10.xf3 d4 is the point, and the bishop can't move without leaving e2 en prise) 10...d4 threatens ...b5. ] 9...d7 10.d1 Better than [ 10.g5 when e6 11.a4 d5 12.d2 b6 13.d1 h3 with good play, Ivekovic, M-Medak,B/Zagreb 1997. ] 10...ab8 By defending b7 Black frees his c6-
knight to play ...Nd4, and prepares a tactical trick. 11.e3 White must take further control over d4 to stop the knight landing there. b5! 12.xb5!? Incredible, White sacs his queen for two pieces. [ 12.b3 e6 13.c2 b4 allows a black initiative, but this soon runs out after 14.e4 , say. ] 12...a5 13.xd6 Otherwise White loses a piece. xc4 14.xc4 This is the position White was aiming for, he has a solid structure, and both e5 and a7 are hanging. e6 [ 14...xf3 15.xf3 fe8 transposes. ] 15.xa7 [ 15.fxe5 xe2 ] 15...xf3 Black takes the pressure off the e5pawn, but this bishop will have a serious influence on the rest of the game. 16.xf3 e4! 17.g2 White prefers to keep this important piece, [ 17.xb8 exf3 18.xc7 fxe2 leaves the kingside looking a bit bare. ] 17...exd3 18.exd3 bd8 19.a4 White's plan is clear - he will push the a-pawn supported by the bishops. Black's problem is deciding quite how to stop it! f5 20.d4 fe8 21.a5 e2 Black counter attacks against the white king, at the moment the white pieces are quite far away. 22.d5 c2? Very poor, Black allows W hite to get his pieces coordinated with gain of tempo. [ 22...g4 is obviously superior, 23.f1 d3 24.e3 and now f5 with chances to both sides. ] 23.e3! xb2 24.d4 b4 25.a6 Now this pawn is almost unstoppable. b8 Not very good, but [ 25...d2 26.xd2 xd2 27.xf6 gxf6 28.a7 a8 29.d6 is also winning. ] 26.d6 Freeing the long diagonal. c6 27.xc6 xd6 28.xf6 [ 28.xf6 xf6 29.xd8+ xd8 30.a7 and a queen is born. ] 1-0
3
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 surely notice a three time repetition! ] A00 Basman,Michael J 2400 35.c3 d5?! This way Black only obtains a Bellin,Robert 2395 pawn for his piece. 36.exd5 xd5 37.h5 BCF-ch Edinburgh (10) 1985 xf3 38.exf3 a8 39.a4 Black is better, of course, he has an extra pawn, but his h and a[Tony Kosten] pawns are weak, and his chances of winning 1.g4 e5 2.h3?! This is also possible, but slim. a7?! 40.cc5 fa8 41.f4 a6 42.ce5 White will be better soon, if Black doesn't offer any noticeable advantages. c5 [ 2...d5! 3.g2 c6 would transpose to the continues to play this passively! h8 43.f5 c5?! 44.f4 White slowly improves his game Basman-Strauss. ] 3.c4 e7 4.c3 a5 5.d3 0-0 6.f3 bc6 position. g8 45.e6 [ 45.xc5 with advantage to White, is even 7.g2 d6 8.g5 Starting a kingside pawn better ] advance before Black plays ...Ng6, and ...f5, with a kingside attack. e6 9.h4 d5 10.cxd5 45...c4 46.bxc4 c8 47.e5 c5+ 48.d4 xd5 11.e4 White has managed to create ac6 49.xc6 The obvious trick [ 49.e8+ g7 50.f6+ fails to win, f7 a useful square for this piece. b4+ 12.f1 51.xc5 xe8 and Black is saved by his Unfortunately, White cannot play o u t s i d e , p a s s e d h - p a w n . 52.xc6?? [ 12.d2 as he needs this piece to protect would even lose after bxc6 ] his weak dark squares, Black would answer f4 Anyway, White is hardly likely to castle 49...xc6 50.g5 h6 51.g4 As is often the ca se in ro o k a n d p a wn e n din gs, W hit e 's kingside, anyway. ] 12...h8 13.h5 f5 14.gxf6 xf6 15.h4!? po sitio n a l p lu s is mo re im p o rta n t th a n a d4 16.g5? White is embarking on a material advantage. h7 52.d5 h5 53.e4 kingside attack, but he has overlooked a c7 54.e6 g7 55.c5 h4 This should lose, but Black was experiencing severe difficulties tactical point, no matter what he played. 56.g6+ h7 [ 16.h6 is better. ] 16...xe4!! A winning queen sacrifice. 57.g4 h6 58.f6 [ 58.xh4+ W a s sim p lest , a n d o n g5 17.xd8 xf2 18.b1 axd8?! 59.h8 xf5 60.a8 White will take the a[ 18...xh1+ 19.g1 xe2+ 20.xh1 pawn, and win. ] axd8 Should win at a canter, the white 58...h3 59.e6? position is a mess. ] [ 59.h4+ g6 60.xh3 xf6 61.h8 e7 19.f3 This is forced. g4! This is stronger 62.a8 still offered chances. ] than 59...c6+ 60.e7 c7+ 61.e8 [ 19...xh1 20.xh1 g4 ] Now the game peters out. h2 62.h4+ g5 20.h6 e4! 21.hxg7+ xg7 22.dxe4 c4 [ 22...xe2! Is convincing, for if 23.xe2 63.xh2 xf6 64.h5 e6 65.d8 c6 66.g5 f6 67.d5 e6 68.h5 f7 then c4+ ] 23.c1 xf3 24.xf3 d2 25.h4 e3+ 69.d7 g6 70.d5 f7 71.d8 e6 26.f2 xc1 Regaining the queen with a 72.h5 f7 73.d7 g6 piece as interest. 27.xc1 d1+ 28.g3 ½-½ e6 29.b3 c6 30.h1 And now, rather than e3 A00 [ 30...b2 was the best way of springing the 6 knight from the 'trap', e. g. 31.c2 d1 Basman,Michael J 2400 32.xd1 xd1 33.c1 d8 ] Keene,Raymond 2475 31.c3 d1 32.c1 e3 33.c3 Manchester Benedictine op 4th (7) 10.09.81 A whole piece down, White is very happy with [Nigel Davies] a draw, of course! d1 34.c1 but why didn't he claim it with this move? e3? This was After playing both Tony Miles and Raymond the last chance for Ke e ne in th is t ou rna m en t , Mike B a sm a n [ 34...b2 as on the next go White will commented to me that he thought that Keene 5
4
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 was much the better player. I think it's true that he was capable of the deepest and most stylish chess of any British player, but then Tony Miles was one of the greatest fighters I've ever met. In any case this game provides a great model for Black against the Grob. 1.g4 d5 2.h3 e5 3.g2 c6 Erecting a solid barrier of pawns against the bishop on g2. From an exponent of the Modern Defence one would expect no less! 4.d4 e4 5.c4 d6 6.c3 e7 Black's set-up makes perfect sense, protecting the d5 pawn whilst keeping open the option of ...f7-f5. Basman's next move seems designed against this move, but in giving Black the f5 square he ends up in even worse trouble. 7.g5?! [ Later in the tournament Basman improved on this with 7.g5 after which f6 8.d2 0-0 9.b3 h8 10.c1 a6 11.e3 f5 also gave Black the better game but by no means as crushing a position as he obtains after 7.g5 (Basman, M (2400)-Kudrin, S (2465), Manchester 1981). Of course none of this is much of an advert for the Grob from an objective point of view, though it can cause Black to get overexcited. ] 7...e6 8.h4 f5 9.h3 0-0 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.xd5 Apparently winning a pawn, but Keene has seen further. g3! 12.f6+ [ 12.fxg3 xg3+ followed by recapturing on d5 is just horrible for White. ] 12...gxf6 13.fxg3 xg3+ 14.f1 c6 15.e3 b4 The knight is coming to the blockading square on d5. 16.g2 d5 17.xg3 A bishop move might have been held on longer. xe3 18.d2 d6+ 19.f2 f4+ 20.f3 exf3 [ 20...exf3 21.xe3 xh4+ 22.xf3 d5+ is curtains. ] 0-1
7 Basman,Michael J Miles,Anthony J Manchester Benedictine op 4th (4) [Nigel Davies]
underestimate the strength of 8...Nf4, and secondly the position seems to be unclear after 13.e3. Of course none of it seems to be particularly promising for White... 1.g4 e5 2.h3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.c4 This all looks like madness but there is some method to it. White is fighting for the central light squares. dxc4 5.a4 [ Objectively speaking the best may be 5.xc6+ bxc6 6.a4 , but this is hardly an advert for White's system. ] 5...ge7 6.f3 g6 7.c3 e6 8.h4?! [ In retrospect maybe White should have tried 8.d3!? cxd3 9.g5 with some play on the light squares. And White is stopping 8... Nf4. ] 8...b4?! [ W h a t d o e s W h i t e d o a b o u t 8...f4 ? It seems like both players either overlooked or underestimated this move. ] 9.g5 d7 10.d5 0-0 11.c2 xg4 [ And here the other knight move looks good - 11...d4 12.e4 c6 13.xc4 b5 14.xf7 f6! seems to leave White in a lot of trouble. ] 12.e4 d7 13.xh7 Certainly spectacular but not the right move. [ White should prevent Black's knight from coming to d4 with 13.e3 after which xc3 14.bxc3 f5 15.xc4 e7 16.b3 isn't at all bad for White. ] 13...d4! 14.h5 f4 [ 14...f5! is also very strong, in fact White doesn't have a good move. ] 15.xf8 [ Both 15.h6 ] [ and 15.g1 are answered by f5 . ] 15...xf8 16.f1 White doesn't have any g o o d m o ve s h e r e . e8 17.xc4 c6 18.d5 c5 19.d3 xd5 20.g1 f4 21.e3 f8 22.g3 dxe2 0-1
A00 2400 2565 07.09.81
At first sight this game looks like a convincing win for Black but there are mistakes on both s i d e s . F i r s t o f a l l b o t h p l a ye r s s e e m t o 5
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 4.exd5 xg4 5.dxc6! xc6 with a clear A00 advantage to Black. ] Basman,Michael J 2390 Strauss,David J 2425 3...e5 And Black has his central constellation. [ This seems so natural, but, nevertheless, ch-GB Brighton 1984 Black has found an alternative in 3...h5!? [Tony Kosten] attacking the exposed white g4-pawn. 4.g5 f5!? ( 4...h4?! is too ambitious, 5.e4 dxe4 1.g4 d5 2.g2 A finesse, but one that does 6.c3 a5! 7.xe4 f5 and Black's lit t le t o h e lp t h e wh it e p o s it io n , if W h it e advantage is minimal, Skembris,Sdefends the g4-pawn, instead, by Gheorghiu,F/Skopje 1984.; but 4...e5 [ 2.h3 t h e n B l a c k c a n c o n t i n u e e5 must be best.) 5.f3 d7 6.h4! e6 with an 'ideal' start- control of the centre, 7.xf5 exf5 8.d3 e7 9.e4 c5 10.exd5 and an easy development. Still, after 3.g2 xd5 11.0-0 when, despite his loose Black normally bolsters his d-pawn by c6 kingside, White was doing OK, Reprintsev, reaching an identical position as that A-Rozentalis,E/New York 1997. ] brought about after 2 Bg2. ( However, Black d o e s h a v e o t h e r o p t i o n s , f o r i n s t a n c e 4.d4 This is an integral part of White's attempt 3...c6 when 4.c4 dxc4 5.a4 ge7 to drum-up some play against the black centre, 6.f3?! g6 7.c3?! e6 8.h4!? if White doesn't play this then it is difficult to was Basman-Miles, Manchester 1981, but it see what he will do: [ 4.d3 e7! this is a thoughtful move, the is difficult to believe that this position is knight will come to the square g6 where it playable for White, and my computer thinks can survey h4, and f4, two squares that that he is simply lost. )] were undermined by W hite's first move. 2...c6 This is the safest move, deterring White 5.f3 ( P i n n i n g t h e k n i g h t b y 5.g5 from playing c4, which is his main source of achieves less-than-nothing, b6 6.b3 g6 counterplay 9otherwise his g2-bishop will be 7.f3 c5 8.0-0?! h5 levering open the 'scotched' ), and genuinely menacing the g4wh ite kin gsid e, an d exp osing t he kin g, pawn. Yavez Acin,G-Sutovskij,E/Benasque 1996.) [ 2...xg4?! Is certainly playable, but 5...g6 6.c3 h4!? this leads to an edge unnecessary: 3.c4 c6 4.cxd5 White is for Black, but I would prefer to continue s o f t e n i n g - u p t h e h 1 - a 8 d i a g o n a l . cxd5 development, myself. 7.xh4 xh4 8.e4 ra t h e r ac qu ie sce n t , I su gge st ( 4...f6!? c5 Skembris,S-Ivkov,B/ Budva zt 1981. ] 5.b3 d7 6.c3 cxd5 7.xd5 c6 I like this move, which keeps control wh e n B l a c k e n jo ys f re e d e ve l o p m e n t .) 4...d7! 5.b3 f6 6.c3 e6 ( 6...c6!? 7.xb7 of the position. The alternative, and main line c8 ) 7.xb7 bd7 8.b5 c8 is [ 4...e4 gaining space, but this allows White wh ich is u n cle a r, P ollio t t o, A -Fige ac, A / t o a t t a c k t h e b l a c k c e n t r e , b y 5.c4 Montpellier - Masters 1998. ] as 5...dxc4 is not possible, because the e43.h3 pawn is en prise. d6 6.c3 e7 7.b3 [ The move 3.g5 seems to be taking the joke the game Tuturin,S-Nikitin,A/Moscow 1999, too far, e5 ( 3...h6 4.h4 hxg5 5.hxg5 continuing: h6 8.d2 c7 9.0-0-0 0-0 xh1 6.xh1 d6 is also promising.) 4.h4 10.g5 with chances for both sides. ] g4 5.c4 dxc4 6.b3 cxb3 7.xb3 c7 This loses pawn, now, but otherwise 8.c3 e6 and White's compensation for 5.c4!? the pawn is non-existent, Muller,E-Heitland, ho w do es W hit e ga in a ny a ctivity f or h is pieces? dxc4 6.c3 P/Dortmund 1987. ] [ B a s m a n h a s a l s o t r i e d 6.dxe5 [ The real point behind Black's second move and following xe5 7.xd8+ xd8 8.c3 is that 3.c4? is no longer feasible, dxc4 b4 9.e3 White had fair play for the pawn 4.b3 cxb3 5.xb3 e5 and Black is a pawn sacrificed, Basman,M-Dawson,K/Torquay up with a good position. ] 1982, but the simple 6...Qa5+ is better, 7 [ 3.e4?! Has been suggested by Skembris, Nc3 Nxe5 avoiding the displacement of the but f6! seems to be an effective reply, 8
6
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 king. ] 6...d6 7.f3 e7 Black calmly completes his development. 8.e4 c7 9.g5 f6 10.d2 exd4 11.xd4 e5 12.c3 d5 Objectively, White is quite lost, not only has Black consolidated his extra pawn, but his knights have found good squares. 13.d2 f4!? Black decides that he would prefer to take the light-squared bishop. Once more, this tactic exploits the lacunas of White's first move. [ 13...xc3 was, perhaps, simpler. ] 14.g1 xg2+ 15.xg2 d5 16.e3 0-0 17.d1 d8 18.d2 b6 A curious picture, both white knights are pinned. 19.f3 d3+? This is a strange combination, due to time trouble, I suppose, as otherwise, almost any move was good for Black, [ 19...g6! 20.g1 f8 to e6, is one possibility, as is simple development by ] [ 19...e6 , say. ] 20.exd3 xd4 21.xd4 xd4 22.xd4 xd4 23.dxc4 xd2 24.xd2 W hat a change ! Suddenly W hite has regained his pawn, controls the open d-file, and his uncastled king is well-placed in the centre! e6 25.b3 f8 26.f2 e8 27.f4 c8 28.d6 d8 29.c5 Black is being dominated. b6 30.b4 bxc5 31.bxc5 e6 32.f5 d5 33.b2 a5 34.a3 h6 35.e3 a8 36.h4 g8 37.f4 f8 38.g5 White increases his space advantage almost every move. hxg5+ 39.hxg5 fxg5+ 40.xg5 g8? Too passive, [ 40...a4! and if 41.b7 then a5 still held out some hope. ] 41.b7 f8 else White plays Kg6. 42.a7 f6?! 43.xg7+! xg7 44.e8+ f7 45.xf6 b3 46.g4 d5 47.e5+ e7 48.f6+ e6 49.f7 e7 50.g6 Black must give his bishop for the f-pawn, the rest of the game is without interest. xf7+ 51.xf7 e6 52.d6 d5 53.b7 c4 54.f5 a4 55.e4 b3 56.d3 xa3 57.c3 a2 58.a5 a3 59.xc6 1-0
9 Bauer,Christian Isik,Engin Yasar 23rd ECC Men (1) [Carsten Hansen]
A00 2626 2190 03.10.2007
1.b4 c6 This move is quite popular as an attempt to "refute" the Orangutan, but in my opinion, it is a rather dumb idea, particularly if Black proceeds as in the present game, which is the intention behind the text move. Black instead should play either 1...e5 or 1...d5. 2.e3 [ This move is supposed to prevent Black's i n t e n t i o n s , b u t e v e n 2.b2 which is supposed to be wrong on account of b6 3.a3 a5 and according to Black's scheme, White now has to play c2-c3 to avoid losing a pawn, but White instead plays 4.e3! axb4 5.d4!? ( even 5.axb4 xa1 6.xa1 xb4 is a p la yab le ga m b it f o r W h it e , th o u gh entirely unnecessary) 5...d8 ( 5...c5? is effectively met with 6.xc5! and if xc5 7.axb4 W hite wins) 6.axb4 xa1 7.xa1 d5 8.f3= ] 2...b6 3.a3 a5 4.b5! The availability of this move demonstrates the weakness in Black's idea, and demonstrates that White certainly has nothing to fear from Black's choice of variation d5 [ Black's alternatives are: A) 4...cxb5 5.c3 A) 5...b4 6.axb4 xb4 A1) 7.a4!? b6 8.a3 f6 9.c5!? d8?! ( 9...c7 10.b1 c6 11.b6 b8 12.c4 e6 13.b5 ) 10.b1 d5 11.b6 d7 12.b5 , and Black is being dispatched in brutal fashion: a6 13.xa5 g4 14.xa6 xa6 15.c7+ d7 16.b5+ 1-0 Andersson, LJansson/ corr 1987; A2) 7.b5!? c5 8.a3 b6 9.b1 d8 10.f3 c6 11.d4 ( 11.c5!? b4 12.c3 a6 13.d4 ) 11...d5 12.c4 e6 13.xf8 xf8 , so far Raeva, E-Videnova, I/Vratsa BUL 2007, and now 14.e2; A3) 7.a3 b6 A3a) 8.b1 e6 9.f3 d6 10.d4 g6 11.d3 xg2 12.e4 h3 13.d5! , and Black is very much in trouble, and in lack of a good answer to the threat of Nd5-c7+ ( 13.e2 f6 7
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.xf6 gxf6 9.xb5 d5 10.f3 f5 wi t h a c o m p l i c a t e d g a m e , t h o u g h 11.c4 c8 12.bd4 with approximately W hite's chances seem pref erable, even chances, Bernhard, A-Liedtke, A/ Bennett, H-Gibbons, R/Auckland Ruhrgebiet 1998; 1996 ); B) 5.c4 A3b) 8.d5! c6 B1) 5...g6 6.b2 g7 7.f3 0-0 A3b1) 9.e4! a6 10.f3 g6 ( 7...d6 8.c3 0-0 9.e2 bd7 10.d4 11.d3 f6 ( 11...xg2? 12.g1 e8 11.0-0 c7 12.b3 e5 13.fd1 h3 13.xa6 xa6 14.c7+ d8 e4 14.d2 f8 , and White's chances 15.xa6 bxa6 16.e2+- ) 12.e5+-; seem preferable, Basman, M-Smith, A/ A3b2) 9.c4?! b5 10.f3 e6 Torquay 1998) 8.e2 d6 9.0-0 e5 11.e5 b7 12.f3 d6 13.b6 10.d4 e4 11.fd2 cxb5 12.cxb5 d5 ( White can finish Black off with 13.c3 e6 14.a4 d6 15.c5 b6 13.c5! dxe5 14.xb5+ d8 15.c6 16.xe6 xe6 17.c1 a7 18.c3 xb5 16.xf7 xc6 17.xf8+ e8 19.c2 f8 20.c1 d6 e8 18.d6+ d7 19.b6+ e8 , Borkowski, A-Pedersen, C/Frome 1998, 20.c7++- ) 13...a7 14.xf7+ and now 21.a4 (intending Ba3 - the xf7 15.xf7 xf7 16.xc8 b4 exchange of the dark-squared bishops 17.b2 with a clear advantage for will help W hite penetrate Black's W hite, Rudenkov-Strugatsch/corr queenside) b4 22.c8 ae7 23.b1 1988; ( 23.f1!? ) 23...g7 24.a3 xc8 B) 5...f6 25.xc8; B1) 6.xb5 B2) 5...d5 6.c3 ( 6.d4?! g4 7.f3 B1a) 6...d5?! 7.f3 c6 8.b1 d8 f5 8.c5 c7 9.b6 d8 10.d3 xd3 9.d4 f5 10.d3 e4 11.h4 e6?! 11.xd3 bd7 12.b2 e5 ( 11...d7 12.f3 f6 13.0-0 e6 with chances to both sides, Gibbons, R14.e4 ) 12.xf5 exf5 13.0-0 Koeller, O/Auckland 2004) 6...e6 7.d4 Lu k ovs ki, L-B erger, G/ W ie sba d e n ( 7.f3!? ) 7...dxc4 8.xc4 c7 9.f3 2001; d7 10.b3 Stejskal, D-Pachmann, A/ B1b) 6...d6 7.c4 g6 8.b1 g7 CZE 1995 ] 9.e2 0-0 10.a4 a6 11.a3 c6 12.f3 c5 13.0-0 1-0 Sticker, O- 5.bxc6 [ This isn't necessarily White's best move, as Werner, A/Ladenburg 1992; he has a few alternatives at this juncture, B2) 6.xb5 e6 7.b1 which a ll d eserve re co gn it io n: A ) 5.c4!? B2a) 7...c7 8.f3 e7 9.0-0 0-0 dxc4 6.xc4 f5 7.c3 f6 8.f3 e6 10.b2 ( 10.e2 d6 11.b5 c6 1-0 Steffens, O-Doescher, A/Germany 2000 12.c4 ) 10...d5 11.d3 d7 12.d2 9.d3 e7 10.e4 g6 11.0-0 0-0 ] c8 13.xd7 bxd7 14.fc1 e5 [ B) 5.b2 f5 15.b5 b8= Kreuzer-Kern, M/corr A) 6.c4!? e6 7.f3 f6 8.c3 e7 1994; 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.e5 ( 10.e2!? bd7 B2b) 7...c6 8.f3 e7 9.b2 11.h4 g6 12.0-0 ) 10...0-0 11.g4!? ( 9.0-0 0-0 10.d4 d5 11.d3 ) e4 12.xe4?! ( 12.f3 d6 13.d4 g6 9...0-0 10.g5 c5 11.h4 ( 11.f4 e5 14.h4 ) 12...xe4 13.h4 f6 14.f3 d7 12.fxe5 xe5 13.f3 ) 11...d5 12.d4 15.d3 d6 16.a4 f7 is better for Black, d6 13.d3 h6 14.f4 xd4 15.exd4 but undoubtedly White felt more xf4 16.h3 g3+ 17.f2 xg2 comf ortable than Black in this type of 18.e2 , and it is doubtful Black has position, and actually went on to win in the sufficient compensation for the piece, e n d , M a e u re r , C - O b e r s t , T / G e r m a n y Poley, V-Daurelle, H/ St Lorrain 2005 ] 2001; [ B) 4...f6 B) 6.c3 a4 trying to annoy White by not A) 5.b2 cxb5 ( 5...d6!? ) 6.d4 d8 a l l o w i n g a 3 - a 4 7.f3!? ( 7.g4!? 7.c3 ( 7.xb5 e6 8.f3 ) 7...c6 8
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 looks fun and isn't altogether bad either) 7...e6 8.e2 d6? A bad blunder that i m m e d i a t e l y l o s e s m a t e r i a l ( 8...f6 is better, but W hite is still doing well: 9.b1!? ) 9.xd5 cxd5 10.xg7 f6 11.d4! g6 ( 11...e7 12.xh8 d7 13.g7+- ) 12.xh8 f7 ( 12...f7? 13.h5!+- ) 13.h4 e5 14.h5 e4 15.d3! xg2 16.g1+- Schuehler, E-Muller, M/ DDR 1990 ] [ C) 5.f3 f6 6.a4?! ( White can do better with 6.c4!? cxb5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.b2 c6 9.c3 xc3 10.xc3 and White has ample compensation for the pawn) 6...g4 7.h3 xf3 8.xf3 e5 ( 8...bd7!? ) 9.b2 bd7 10.g4 d6 11.e2 0-0 0-1 Ardaman, MAnka, E/Chicago USA 2006 ] [ D) 5.a4 f6 ( 5...e5 6.b2 d7 looks comfortable for Black, but isn't particularly bad for White either) 6.b2 g4 7.e2 xe2 8.xe2 bd7 9.f3 e6 10.0-0 c8 11.c1 d6 12.c4 dxc4 13.xc4 1-0 Marinelli, G-Petronelli, A/corr 1997 ] 5...bxc6 6.c4 f6 7.c3 e6 8.f3 e7 9.b1 d8 [ 9...c7 10.b2 a6!? ] 10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 bd7 [ 11...a6!? ] 12.d4 [ This will take the game to a pawn structure akin to a sort of Meran Defence where Black has played ...a6 and ... b5, followed by the exchange ...bxc4. Instead White can also consider keeping the game in flank opening s t y l e , b y g i v i n g p r e f e r e n c e t o 12.d4!? , e.g. c7 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.cb5 c5 15.a4 ( 15.d3!? ) 15...b6 16.c2 c5 17.c3 c7 18.a3 a6 19.db5 ] 12...dxc4?! [ This looks perfectly normal, but Black will do better to play 12...a6 , e.g. 13.cxd5 ( 13.c2 dxc4 14.a4 c5 15.dxc5 xc5 16.b6 b8 17.xc4= ) 13...xe2 14.xe2 cxd5 15.b2= ] 13.xc4 c5 14.e5! [ 14.dxc5 c7 is perfectly fine for Black ] 14...xe5 [ 14...d6 15.f4 cxd4 16.exd4 b6 17.d3 ] 15.dxe5 xd1
[ Or 15...d7 16.f4 ( 16.f3 b8 17.xb8 xb8 18.g3 d7 19.e4 h4 20.f4 h6 21.b5 ) 16...b6 17.xd8 xd8 18.a2 a6 19.d1 ] 16.xd1 d7 17.f4 b8 18.b5 [ This move is entirely logical, preventing the exchange of a pair of rooks and tying Black down, but White can also consider 18.d2!? d8 19.e1! xb1 20.xb1 f8 21.a4 , and White's position of domination is close to a winning one as well. ] 18...d8 19.b2 f8 [ Or 19...b6 20.xd8+ xd8 21.e4 d5 22.a4 ] 20.xd8 xd8 21.d2 [ W hite can also opt for 21.e4!? d7 22.a4 xb5 23.xb5 xb5 24.axb5 with an advantage for White in the endgame, but W hite undoubtedly preferred to stay clear of heavy exchanges against his much lower-rated opponent. Often keeping pieces on the board will allow the weaker player greater opportunity to play inferior moves thu s lo se b y h is o wn h an d, ra th er t ha n White's superior skill. This will also come to pass in the game. ] 21...e7 [ Black can try to save a tempo over the game continuation with 21...b7 22.a4 f6 , but W hite can then choose a dif ferent approach: 23.c4! fxe5 24.f5 f7 25.fxe6+ e7 26.b2! xe6 27.d5 xd5 28.xd5+ d6 29.xb8 xd5 30.b5 ] 22.a4 b7 23.a3 f6?! [ White's advantage appears rather comfortable at this juncture, but with aggressive counterplay, Black can stay in t h e g a m e , e . g . 23...g5 24.f2 c8 and Black's position isn't that easy to penetrate, for instance 25.c4 c6 26.d1 d7 , and Black has almost levelled the game ] 24.exf6 xf6?! [ The text makes very little sense, as Black's dark-squared bishop's influence on the play from its new position on the a1-h8 diagonal will be of a rather temporary basis, whereas the def ect of the pawn structure is of a more permanent basis. Therefore 24...gxf6 deserves consideration, e.g. 25.f5!? f7 ( 25...exf5 26.d5 xd5 27.xd5 9
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 also looks appealing for W hite, but may actually be Black's best) 26.fxe6+ xe6 27.g4 f7 28.c4+ e8 29.b5!+- ] 25.d1 The knight is en route to c4 via b2. c8 26.c2 e7 27.b2 d8 28.f2!? [ This is probably okay, but more appealing seems 28.c4!? d1+ 29.f2 a1 30.d2 d5 31.b2 h1 32.g3 , and Black is more or less forced to xc4 33.xc4 f7 34.b5 , and White is undoubtedly on top: W hite's minor pieces are far stronger than their black counterparts and Black's a5-pawn is doomed after a white Bc3 ] 28...e4 29.e2 g6?! [ This is a weird move that pretends to activate the knight, but in fact misplaces it and takes the protection away from the weak e6-pawn. A more active alternative is 29...g5!? 30.c4 gxf4 31.exf4 d3 32.xa5!? xe2 33.xe2 f7 34.c6 c8 35.e5+ f6 36.g3 d6 37.c4 e7 38.a5 b8 39.a6 , and White should win. Nevertheless this line challenges White far more than the path chosen by Black in the game. ] 30.g3 f7 31.c4 d1 32.e1 d3 33.c1 c3 34.b2 b3 35.a1 d3 [ This loses an exchange, but even after the better alternative, White is winning: 35...d5 36.xa5 a3 37.b2 a2 38.e2 d8 39.c6 with an extra pawn and better coordinated pieces ] 36.xa5 xb5 37.xb3 xa4 38.d2 The next target is Black's c-pawn. f8 39.c1 d7 40.b2 b5 41.a3 e5 42.e4 Now the c-pawn is forced forward with an exchange of the dark-squared bishops as a re s u l t , m a k i n g W h i t e ' s win si m p l e r . exf4 43.exf4 c4 44.xe7 xe7 45.d2 c5 46.e3 d3 [ 46...b3 47.b1 xd2 48.xb5 c3 49.d3+- ] 47.b1 and with the c-pawn dropping as well, Black finally called it a day. 1-0
10 Bellon Lopez,Juan Manuel Pecorelli Garcia,Humberto Premier Casablanca [Tony Kosten]
A00 2465 2460 1997
1.c3 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.xe4 f5 4.g3 Just as in the Caro-Kann, but [ 4.f3!? is also possible, and lends a more o r i g i n a l f l a v o u r t o t h e p o s i t i o n d5 ( 4...xe4?! 5.xe4 c6 6.c4 f6 7.e2 e6 was solid, if not particularly inspiring, in Spice,A-Angus,J/4NCL967-HE:SWD 1997,; and 4...e6 5.g3 xc2 6.xb7 d7 7.b5 is probably playable for Black, as well ) 5.d6+ xd6 6.xf5 c6 7.b5 f6 and Black has obtained a lead in development in exchange for the bishop pair, Marroleni-Foguelman, Argentina 1969. ] 4...g6 5.d4 Once again, White continues as if in a Caro-Kann [ White can also choose a set-up with the dpawn on d3 instead of d4, e.g. 5.h4 h6 6.f3 d7 7.c4 e6 8.d3 although, following gf6 9.e2 d6 10.h5 h7 11.d2 e7 12.0-0-0 b6 13.b3 a5 Black's position was quite promising, Van Geet,D-Prins,L/ Amsterdam 1970. ] 5...d7 6.h4 Completely standard in these formations, White will try to exploit the active black queen's bishop's placing to advance his kingside pawns. [ 6.f3 e6 7.h4 h6 8.h5 h7 9.d3 continuing just as in the Caro main line, Isler, P-Mantovani,R/Lugano SUI 1999, is probably not so bad, but, providing Black chooses a line where he plays ...c5 in one go, rather than by passing by the c6-square, he should equalize easily. ] 6...h6 7.h3 Coming to f4, this promises White little, objectively. e6 8.f4 h7 9.c4 White raises the possibility of a later sacrifice on e6 gf6 10.0-0 This looks odd with the white h-pawn on h4, and may well backfire at some stage. White is following a line of the Caro-Kann, but Black profits, as ever, from the extra tempo gained from not having played ...c6. b6! The extra piece developed (in the corresponding Caro-Kann position, this knight is still on b8) gains a further tempo. 11.b3 d7?! Keeping a close eye on e6. In a similar 10
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 position from a famous Tal-Botvinnik World Championship game (1960), Tal sacrificed his knight on e6, by Nxe6 fxe6 Bxe6, when the e6-bishop cut the black position in two. [ That said, I think I would pref er 11...c5 myself, striking at the centre. The black qu e e n p ro ve s t o b e ve ry u n f o rt u n a t e l y placed. ] 12.e1 e7 13.gh5 It seems that Black is in trouble, his g-pawn is menaced, and f8 This is hardly any better [ 13...0-0?? loses on the spot to 14.xe6 fxe6?? 15.xe6+ winning the queen ] 14.xe6! Crunch! Bellon is not known for his fear of sacrificing. c5 Sad, but what else? [ 14...fxe6? Loses the queen after the sequence 15.xe6+ e8 16.hxg7+ f7 17.c5+ ] 15.xf6 xf6 16.xf6!! And again, Black is a llo we d n o re s p it e . gxf6 17.h5 c4 Trying to keep one of the white pieces out of the game 18.xh6+ Not bad, but [ 18.xc4! was strong, for if xc4 then 19.d5 wins, for example g6 20.xh6+ ( 20.xh6+ is f lashier, but, af te r xh6 21.xh6+ e8 22.xf6+ e7 23.xd7 xd7 W hite has a lot of work to do.) 20...e8 21.f3! with a decisive attack. ] 18...e7 19.d2 f5?! Of course, it is difficult to defend such positions precisely, but 19...Qd6 would have been better, so as to offer some protection to the black king when it w a n d e r s t o t h e q u e e n s i d e . 20.h5? A mistake, throwing away a brilliant victory, the right path was [ 20.e1+ d7 21.g7! cxb3 22.xf7+ and Black can resign, as the white pieces move in for the kill, e.g. c8 23.e8+ xe8 24.xe8+ c7 25.e6+ d6 26.b4+ d5 27.c7+ c4 28.axb3+ xb4 29.e1# What a wonderful finish! ] 20...g6 Suddenly, Black defends his position and the material advantage will prove decisive. 21.g3 xh6 22.xf5+ xf5 23.xh6 cxb3 24.c3 bxa2 25.xa2 e6 White has only two pawns for his piece, and his light squares are weak. 26.a1 a6 27.f4 h8 28.g3 h5 29.f3 b3 30.e1+ d7 31.g2 a5 Black is going to target the weak b2-pawn. 32.g4 a2 33.c1 c4 34.e2 White is tied-up and the win is just a matter of
time. d1 35.e1 c2 36.h5 h7 37.e2 a1 38.h6 a2 39.c1 a5 40.f2 a1 41.h6 b1 42.f4 xb2 43.xb2 xb2 44.f5 a4 White has had enough. 0-1
11 Bilek,Istvan Geller,Efim P Havana [Nigel Davies]
A00
1971
1.g3 d5 2.g2 c6 [ Black can also play the immediate 2...e5 when 3.d3 f6 4.d2 c6 5.e4 transposes back into the game. ] 3.d3 [ Black's move order also presents White with the opportunity to play a Reversed Leningrad Dutch with 3.f4 , for example g6 4.f3 g7 5.d3 b6 6.c3 f6 7.e3 g4 8.0-0 bd7 9.c2 xf3 10.xf3 0-0 11.d4 e6 12.d2 e8 13.b3 f5 14.c4 led to a tough positional battle in Larsen, BDay, L/St John 1970. ] 3...f6 4.d2 e5! 5.e4 [ It's risky to play 5.gf3 here because of e4 6.dxe4 dxe4 7.g5 e3 8.fxe3 g4 . ] 5...c5 [ After 5...d6 6.gf3 0-0 there's a good c a s e f o r p r e v e n t i n g . . . B g 4 w i t h 7.h3 , for example e8 8.0-0 bd7 ( 8...a5 9.e1 a6 10.d4! dxe4? 11.xe5! gave W hite an edge in Sax, G-Martin, A/ Hastings 1983) 9.a3 a5 10.e1 d4 11.f1 b5 12.g4 f8 13.g3 c5 14.g5 6d7 15.f5 c7 16.h2 e6 17.h4 and W hite had attacking chances on the kingside in Rigo, J-Groszpeter, A/Kecskemet 1979. ] 6.gf3 0-0 7.0-0 e8 8.h3 bd7 9.h2?! After this passive move Black has a good game. [ W hite should play 9.exd5 cxd5 10.d4 when exd4 11.b3 d6 12.bxd4 gives White play against Black's isolated dpawn. ] 9...a5 10.exd5 cxd5 11.d4 exd4 12.b3 b6 13.bxd4 e4 If anything White would prefer to have his king on g1 here so as to 11
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 protect f2. 14.c3 df6 15.f4 h5 16.d2 d7 17.e1 [ 17.g1 may be White's best, but this would represent a difficult admission. ] 17...hf6 18.a4 c8 19.g1 d6 20.ge2 c4 21.b3 d6 22.d3 de4 23.d1 e7 24.f3 c5 25.c2 c7 26.h1 h5 27.f2 g5 28.f4 h6 29.f5 xf5 30.xf5 e4 31.xe4 dxe4 32.e3? [ 32.g2 would have been much better, when White doesn't stand at all badly. ] 32...g6 33.g5 xg5 34.fxg5 xg3+ 35.xg3 xg3 36.d7? [ 36.c4 would have made a better fight of it. ] 36...xc3 37.fxf7 e5 38.f4? f3 39.xh7 xf4 40.h6 e6 0-1
14.c3 e7 Black's manoeuvre seems timeconsuming but he hopes to weaken the white queenside and dissuade White from putting his king there. The last thing a strong player wants is to be attacked by a weaker one in an opposite-castling situation! 15.e5 xe5 16.xe5 0-0-0 A wise decision, castling kingside would encourage White to attack: [ 16...0-0!? 17.f1 d5 18.0-0-0 ( 18.xg7?! xg7 19.xd5 allows xd3! 20.xd3 exd5+ ) 18...ad8 19.g4 f6 20.f4 with mutual chances. ] 17.f3?! The queen was better-placed where she stood, [ 17.0-0!? is possible, White's pressure along the f-file should insure against any black attack. ] 17...hg8 An odd move, played to defend g7, of course, but 12 A00 [ 17...c5! is strong, hitting the e5-bishop, 18.f4 ( 18.xf6?! gxf6 19.xf6? b5 Brameld,Arthur F 2076 20.b3? e3+ mates ) 18...f5 with a real Ward,Christopher 2513 plus. ] Jersey Open Jersey JCI (1) 16.02.2003 18.f1?! [Tony Kosten] [ 18.0-0-0 seems more logical, with equal chances, or ] 1.c3 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.xe4 f5 4.g3 [ 18.0-0 although c5+ 19.d4 xd4! g6 5.h4 I discussed this move in the notes 20.cxd4 xd4+ is pleasant for Black. ] to Bellon Lopez,J-Pecorelli Garcia,H/ Ca p a b la n ca P re m ie r 1 9 9 7 , whe re W h it e 18...f5 [ 18...c5! is possible, once again, 19.d4 preferred to play in Caro style with xd4! 20.cxd4 b4+ 21.d1 xb2 [ 5.d4 ] and the white position is a mess. ] 5...h6 6.h5 g4 White's prevarication should [ 6.f3 d7 7.h5 may transpose, h7 19.a4?! 8.d4 Mestrovic,Z-Rouchouse,S/Cannes now cost him dear, 20.e2 [ 20.f4?! h2 wins an exchange. ] 1 9 9 5 , a g a i n wi t h a C a r o - K a n n t y p e o f 20...xe5 21.xe5 xd3?? Messing-up his position. ] 6...h7 7.c4 For what it is worth, this seems large advantage. [ 21...g5 hits h5, and after 22.h1 xd3 new, but of course the position is quite rare. Black wins a key pawn. ] [ 7.f3 c6 8.c4 e6 9.d3 occurred in Ha inzin ge r, J-Do pp e lh a m me r, H/ A u st ria 22.xf7! Ouch! This must have been a shock to our gallant Dragon expert. d6 1999. ] [ 22...xf7 23.xe6+ wins the queen with 7...e6 8.f3 d6 9.d3 This seems more in check. ] the spirit of the opening than [ 9.d4 which is like a Caro-Kann where Black 23.xe6+ [ 23.xe6+ xe6+ 24.xe6+ b8 has avoided ...c6. ] 25.0-0-0 is simpler, White has a 9...f6 10.e2 xg3!? An interesting considerable advantage. ] decision, conceding the bishop pair to weaken t h e w h i t e k i n g s i d e . P e r h a p s B l a c k w a s 23...b8 24.xd6 xd6 25.e7 gd8 26.0-0-0 a5 27.g4 Quite a generous draw worried about White castling long after offer, but of course White was happy to draw [ 10...0-0 ] 11.fxg3 c6 12.d2 d6 13.f4 b4+ 12
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with a strong GM. ½-½
13 Collas,Didier Vehi Bach,Victor Manuel IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (9) [Carsten Hansen]
A00 2446 2381 30.04.2008
1.b4 e5 2.b2 xb4 3.xe5 f6 4.c4 [ In Palliser's "Beating Unusual Chess Openings", the coverage is mainly focused on 4.e3 0-0 5.f3 e8!? , and now 6.e2 ( 6.c4 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.a3 c6 9.b2 d6 10.e2 g4 is given as comfortable for Black and playable for White by Palliser) 6...d5 A) 7.c4 c5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.0-0 c6 10.b2 f5 11.c1 ( 11.d3 ) 11...e7 12.c3 ad8 13.a4?! f4! , and Black is clearly better, Akopian-Ponomariov, Verdun 1995; B) 7.0-0 bd7 ( 7...c5 8.c4 ) 8.b2 b6 9.d3 d7 10.c1 a4 11.a3 a5 12.d4 b6 13.f3 c5 14.e2 c7 15.bc3 g4 , is very good for Black as indicated by Palliser based on the game Vidoniak-Tiviakov, Gausdal 2005 ] 4...0-0 5.f3 d5 [ 5...e8!? 6.a3 ( 6.e3 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 4 transposes to the line given after e3) 6...a5 ( 6...f8!? is an interesting suggestion of Palliser's) 7.e3 ( 7.g3? d5! is very good for Black ) 7...d5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.e2 c5 ( 9...xe5?! 10.xe5 f6 11.c4 xa1 12.xa5 is a recommendation by Tony K on t h i s s it e a n d q u o t e d b y P a l l i s e r i n t h e above-mentioned book) 10.0-0 c6 11.b2 f5 12.b3 ( or 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 b6 14.a2 g6 with an initia tive f or Black) 12...b6 13.xb6 xb6 14.c1 a4 , and now m y computer was kind enough to indicate that W hite can play the surprising ( 14...d7! 15.c3 ce5 16.xe5 xe5 is more solid and about even) 15.xg7! xg7 16.b5! (the point behind the previous move) e4 17.d3 g4 18.h3 g6 19.xa4 , and White has the upper hand ] 6.e3 c5 7.c3
[ White has tried several other things at this ju n ct u re : A ) 7.a3 is probably White's best move a5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.c2 A) 9...e7 A1) 10.d3 g6?! (this is a curious decision with White's bishop already on the diagonal and Black's bishop stuck on a5) 11.0-0 c6 12.b2 e6 13.c1 b6 14.b5 ac8 15.d3 fd8 16.bd2 Szczepaniak-Kozun/corr thematic 1991; A2) 10.e2 c6 11.b2 a6 12.0-0 b5 13.c1 b6 14.c3 e6 15.d3 g6 16.e4 ad8 17.d4 c4 18.xd5 xd5 19.e4 xe4? ( 19...e6! is much better, e.g. 20.d5 g4 21.dxc6 xf3 22.gxf3 g5+ 23.h1 d2 24.d5 xc2 25.xc2 f5 26.xb6 f4 with unclear complications) 20.xe4 xe4 21.xe4 xd4 22.xd4 xd4 23.xd4 xd4 24.e1 , and White should win, KuperskiKozun/corr 1992; A3) 10.c4 e6 11.0-0 d7 12.g3 h6 ( 12...f6!? 13.a2 ac8 may be an improvement for Black) 13.d3 7f6 14.bd2 xd2 15.xd2 ac8 16.ab1 ( 16.h4!? ) 16...h5 17.b3 xg3 18.hxg3 Pilczuk, A-Sternik, R/ corr thematic 1991; B) 9...g4 10.xc5? ( While the pawn is hanging, this is definitely not the way to go, of course unless you're angling to be at the losing end of a miniature...Instead 10.b2 c6 11.e2 e7 makes much m o r e s e n s e) 10...c6 11.b2 c8 12.b5 f4! 13.g5 xg5 14.xg5 d4! 15.f3 c2+ 16.f2 f5 17.a2 xe3 18.dxe3 xb1 19.a1 c2+ 20.g3 h5+ 21.h4 xb2 22.xh5 c8 23.g4 c5 24.e4 c7 0-1 AlgyEvoker/ www.playchess.de 2002. White's provocative 10th move was punished with computer-like (or probably more accurately computer-assisted...) accuracy.; C) 9...c6 C1) 10.xc5?! is simply put too risky for White who is far behind in development and with a king stuck in the centre xe5 11.xe5 C1a) 11...e6 13
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 C1a1) ? - a poor move by White, instead W hite should have played 12.c4 though f6 13.d4! ( 13.a2?! b6 14.xa5 xc4 15.c3 e5 16.c2 f5 should win f or Black) 13...xd4 14.exd4 d8 15.c3 xc3 16.dxc3 c8 , and Black is clearly better; C1a2) 12.b5 c8 13.c4 (?) f6 14.a2 b6 15.xa5 xa2 , and Black wins is given in the new book by Lapshun, but may in fact be a line quoted from an earlier work by Sokolsky, but I can't locate my copy of that book; C1b) 11...f5 12.c3 xc3 13.dxc3 e8 14.f3 c8 15.xa7 xc3 16.xb7 e4 17.b2 xf3 18.gxf3 a5 ( 18...a4!? 19.d2 f6 ) 19.h3 b8 20.c2 was played in Scholbach, T-Roe, P/IECG Email 1999, and now Black should have played a4+ 21.d2 ( 21.f1?! b2 22.c6 d8 gives Black too much compensation for the pawns) 21...a6 22.e2 g6 , and Black has adequate compensation for the sacrificed pawns White's main concern is to get his king to safety, and then get his pieces coordinated, neither task being particularly easy to accomplish; C2) 10.b2 e7 11.d3 h6 12.0-0 e6 13.c1 b6 14.c3 C2a) 14...xc3 15.xc3 ( 15.h7+ h8 16.xc3 is at first given preference by my computer, but Black is fine after f5 17.g6 c4 18.d3 cxd3 19.xd3 ad8 with a complicated game. ) 15...f6 16.e4 ( 16.h4!? looks obvious and attractive, the light squares around Black's king are s c r e a m i n g t o b e e x p l o i t e d; Another move with the same intention is 16.c2!? f5 17.c4 xc4 18.xc4+ f7 19.c3 with a better game for W hite) 16...a5 17.c2 fd8 "looks about equal" in the Lapshun book.; C2b) 14...ad8 15.a4 g4 16.e1
a5 17.ab1 ( 17.xb6!? axb6 18.ab1 looks good for White, but isn't m e n t i o n e d i n t h e L a p s h u n b o o k) 17...c8 18.h3 e6 19.xb6 axb6 20.f3 c4 21.h7+ h8 22.d4 C2b1) From the Lapshun book: "Trying to win the h7-bishop, but this allows a tremendous attack on the b l a c k k i n g . I n s t e a d 22...b3! 23.xe6 fxe6 24.d1 h4 25.f3 C2b11) CH: 25...xf3!? l o o k s l i k e a n o b vi o u s m o v e t o examine, but isn't mentioned in the L a p s h u n b o o k , e . g . 26.g6 ( 26.gxf3 g3+ 27.h1 xh3+ ) 26...f2+ 27.h1 f7 28.xe6 c6 29.xd5 xh7; C2b12) 25...b5 26.e4 is unclear as Black enjoys some counterplay on the queenside". Again this may be a quote from an e a r l i e r b o o k, b e c a u s e t h e l i n e given has obvious holes in it and it begs for improvements for both sides, improvements which may be fairly easy to find.; C2b2) 22...c3 23.dxc3 g6 24.xg6 fxg6 25.c4 f6 26.xg6 xc4 27.xh6+ g8 28.g6+ h8 29.a1 f7?? 30.xe6 xe6 31.b5 1-0 Katalymov, B-Giterman, S/Novgorod 196100 ] [ B) 7.e2?! c6 8.b2 d4! 9.c2 e8 10.0-0 g4 11.a3 d7 , and White's position is decidedly unpleasant, Amor Alcaide, M-Ionescu, C/Berga 1994 ] [ C) 7.cxd5 xd5?! ( 7...xd5!? ) 8.e2 ( 8.a3! a5 9.xf6 gxf6 10.a4 b6 11.c3 is an easy improvement for White, leaving him with the better chances) 8...c6 9.xf6 gxf6 10.0-0 f5 11.d3 ad8! 12.a3 a5 13.e4 xe4! 14.dxe4 xe4 15.bd2 f4 16.g3 ( or 16.a2! d4 17.d3!? xf3+ 18.xf3 c4 19.a4 xd3 20.xa5 xf3 21.gxf3 xf3 22.e1 g4+ 23.f1 h3+ with a draw by perpetual check ) 16...h6 17.a2 d4 18.h4 xe2+ 19.xe2 xd2 20.f5 g5 21.xd2 xd2 22.f3 e8 23.xb7 b6 24.c6 e6 25.a8+ d8 , thus far Lalic, S-De Kleuver, E/ Delden 1993, and now 14
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.f3 d2 27.a8+ d8 leads to a draw by repetition ] 7...bd7!? [ This idea is quite attractive and proves difficult for W hite to meet. Earlier games have tested 7...c6 8.xf6 xf6 9.xd5 g6 ( 9...b2 10.a3 a5 11.b1 xb1+ 12.xb1 b6 13.e2 f5 14.b2 e4 15.f4 , Myrberg-Dubleumortier, A/corr 1996 ) 10.f4 ( 10.b3!? f6 11.a3 a5 12.b1 g4 13.d3 ) A) 10...h6! 11.e2 ( 11.d5 g6 of course invites a repetition of moves) 11...g5 12.d5 g4 13.g1 f5 , a n d B l a c k h a s m o re t h a n a d e q u a t e compensation for the sacrificed pawn.; B) 10...e4? 11.d3 e7 12.0-0 g4 13.d5 d6? ( 13...d8 14.h3 h5 15.f4 ) 14.xh7+ h8 15.xb4 xb4 16.a3 xf3 17.xf3 xh7 18.axb4 cxb4 19.d4+- c7 20.h5+ g8 21.b5 a5 22.c5 fb8 23.fd1 1-0 Kreuzer-Sikora, A/ corr 1995 ] 8.g3 b6 9.cxd5 bxd5 This position already seems rather comfortable for Black. 10.c2 [ This definitely doesn't look good, but the alternatives are also far from promising, e.g. 10.xd5 xd5 11.a3 a5 12.a4 b6 13.c4 h5 14.0-0 b7 , and Black has the more comfortable game, even if the bishop on a5 is somewhat out of the game at the moment. ] [ 10.b3 e6 11.c4 xc3 12.dxc3 a6 13.e5 b5 14.xd5 xd5 15.d1 f6 16.f4 c4 , and Black dominates the game. ] 10...xc3 11.dxc3 f5 12.b3 a5 13.c1?! [ White should have given consideration after 13.c4!? e4 14.e5 g4 15.c2 e8 16.xe4 xc3+ 17.e2 xf3+ 18.gxf3 xe5 19.ab1 b6 20.f4 d6 21.xe8 axe8 22.f3 , and while White is a pawn down, he has some drawing chances. ] 13...e4! This strong move completely ties White up, and soon his troubles become very evident. 14.e2 [ Here 14.c4 is met by g4 , preventing 15.0-0 on account of xf3 16.gxf3 d2 , though this actually looks like a better
chance for White than the game continuation. ] 14...b6 15.a3? [ Or 15.0-0 xb3 16.axb3 xc3 , and Black is a pawn up for nothing, yet this is better for White than the game continuation, which is completely untenable for White. ] 15...xc3! This elegant combination wins a pawn and leaves Black with a won position. It exposes the issues in White's camp, first an foremost the vulnerable uncastled king and the last of overall coordination of the white pieces. 16.xc3 b1+ 17.d1 ad8 18.0-0 xd1 19.c1 xf1+ [ Black can also reach winning endgame after 19...xc1 20.xc1 xc1 21.xc1 d8 22.h4 b4 23.c7 d7 24.f4 f6 , and Black shouldn't have any troubles converting his advantage. ] 20.xf1 b4 21.c1 d8 22.e5 e6 23.a3 c3 24.b1 b3 25.h4 f6 26.f3 xb1 27.xb1 b6 28.e4 d3! Now White cannot prevent the loss of the a-pawn and furthermore with the rook and bishops ready to support the passed c-pawn, W hite is in serious trouble. 29.b8 c4 30.xa7 c3 31.e1 d2 32.c1 a2 33.c2 b3 34.d4 [ Of course 34.b4? xb4 35.axb4 loses to xa7-+ ] 34...a4 35.b8 c2 This well-supported passed pawn will end up costing W hite at least a piece and the game is already essentially over. 36.f4 c3 37.e3 b2 38.e1 xa3 [ Black can play even more convincingly with 38...b5 39.h5 xa3 40.e2 d3 , and it is all over. ] 39.xc2 xc2 40.xb6 With an extra piece, this is of course easily won for Black, even if it takes a while to convert. b4 41.e2 a1+ 42.h2 d1 43.e3 d6+ 44.g3 a3 45.g2 h5 46.xa3 xa3 47.f3 f7 48.f2 e6 49.e3 c1+ 50.f2 d6 51.d4 a3 52.g2 c5 53.c3 c6 54.b2 b5 55.c3 c4 56.b2 d3 57.c1 d6 58.f2 c5+ 59.g2 e2 60.b2 d6 61.d4 c2 62.b6 e5 63.c5 g6 64.b6 f5 65.exf5 gxf5 66.d8
15
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a4 0-1
14 Davies,Nigel R Lev,Ronen Ramat Hasharon [Nigel Davies]
A00 2475 2480 1990
1.g3 d5 2.g2 c6 3.d3 [ Adopting a Reversed Leningrad Dutch f o r m a t i o n w i t h 3.f4 is also a pretty good idea. ] 3...e5 4.f3 d6 5.e4 e7 More ambitious than putting the knight on f6 in that Black is leaving his f-pawn free to advance. 6.0-0 0-0 7.c3 f5 Presumably attempting to punish me for not playing a proper opening, but Black is taking on a lot of responsibilities with this move. Pawns do not go backwards so one sh ou ld b e ca u tiou s ab ou t p ushing t he m . 8.exd5 xd5 [ 8...cxd5 9.g5 ( 9.b5 bc6 10.c4 is also interesting) 9...e4 10.dxe4 dxe4 11.d4 bc6 12.xc6 bxc6 13.d4 h6 14.e3 ] 9.d2 [ Varying from an earlier game which went 9.e1 d7 10.d2 e8 11.e2 7f6 12.ac1 d7 13.a3 e4 14.dxe4 xc3 15.xc3 xe4 16.d3 xc3 17.xc3 when Black was doing fine in Marangunic, S (2470)-Horvath, T (2200)/ Virovitica 1977. ] [ Another possibility is 9.xd5 cxd5 10.c4 when dxc4 11.dxc4 c6 12.d5+ h8 13.g5 gives White a temporary initiative. A sample line is c7 14.ad1 e7 15.xe7 xe7 16.d6 xd6 17.xd6 e4 18.d4 xd4 19.xd4 e6 20.f3 with the better endgame for White. ] 9...d7 10.e2 b4 [ 10...e8 was an interesting alternative, along the lines of Marangunic - Horvath. W hite might then do well to consider 11.xd5 cxd5 12.g5 e7 13.xe7 xe7 14.fe1 encouraging Black to play e4 when 15.ad1!? is interesting. ] 11.ac1 f6 12.fe1 a6 13.d1 Aiming to come to c4 via e3 and/or play Bd2c3. c7 14.e3 b6 15.f1 Black has
stopped Ne3-c4 so the knight seeks another route. e4?! [ Perhaps Black had taken fright at the t h o u g h t o f 15...d7 16.c3 but b5 17.xe5 xe5 18.xe5 f4 wouldn't be clear there. ] 16.dxe4 xb2 17.e3 xa2 18.c4 Attempting to cut off the queen's retreat, though it's not entirely clear that this was necessary. [ 18.a1 f7 19.exf5 looks very strong here , f o r example xf5 20.g5 e8 21.xf5 xe2 22.xe2 xf5 23.e4 wins the h7 pawn and leaves White with a powerful pair of bishops. ] 18...c5 19.e5 e8? Losing. [ 19...d4 was better, preventing White's rook from going to a1. ] 20.a1 b2 21.d3 d4 22.xc5 xc5 23.a5 d4 24.exf5 The f5 pawn is an important one and its loss has catastrophic consequences for Black. d7 25.d1 f6 26.g4 b6 27.a3 c5?! 28.c3 Forcing the win of the c6 pawn. g5 29.xc6 xf5 30.xa8 xa8 31.xa7 g6 32.h4 1-0
15 Dergatschova Daus,Anna Jussupow,Artur Jussopow-Clock Simul (1) [Tony Kosten]
A00 2214 2628 01.05.2000
1.b4 e5 2.a3 [ White wishes to avoid the tactical line 2.b2 xb4 3.xe5 f6 ] 2...d5 3.b2 d6 4.e3 f6 5.c4 c6 6.d3 [ Oddly, at such an early stage of the game, this seems to be a new move, 6.f3 e7 is also fine for Black, see the archives. ] 6...0-0 7.d2 e8 8.e2 White's development is restrained, but this simply allows Black to consolidate his centre. bd7 9.gf3 f8 10.c2 g6 11.g3?! [ White is worried about some threat to his kingside, but this weakens his light squares. 11.0-0 is best. ] 11...a5 12.c5 c7 13.bxa5 xa5 14.0-0 h3 15.fd1 h6 16.e4 [ This attempt to stabilize the centre only 16
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 succeeds in consolidating Black's space advantage, possibly 16.db1 was better. ] 16...d4 17.c4 c7 18.a4 d7 19.a3 f6 20.db1 a7 Preparing to attack the a4pawn. 21.e1 gf8 22.b4 [ 22.d6?! xd6 23.cxd6 c8 menaces ... c5, when the d6-pawn is lost. ] 22...e6 23.d2 White is obliged to defend h i s we a k c - p a wn . ea8 24.ef3 e7 25.b3 White prefers to defend his c-pawn, t h a n h i s a - p a wn . xa4 26.xa4 xa4 27.bxd4?! A small combo, but it loses material! xd4?! [ Of course, this was only a simul, but 27...xb4 is more accurate, as Black wins the c-pawn after 28.xb4 exd4 29.xb7 dxc5 ] 28.xd4 xb4 29.xb4 exd4 30.xb7 d8 [ 30...a5! would kill the game quickly. ] 31.c4 f6 32.f4 e7 33.c7 g5 34.f5 [ Not 34.e5? when xe5 35.fxe5 xe5 and the double attack on c7 and e2 wins material. ] 34...e5 Black infiltrates on the dark squares. 35.b4 g4 36.f2 g5!? Black his ha ving severe problems exploiting his material plus, a n d m a y, i n f a c t , n o l o n g e r b e wi n n i n g . 37.xd4 f6 38.c8+ h7 39.e3 g7 40.e1?? [ Losing immediately, better 40.f4 when d7! ( 40...g5? 41.f6 swaps the queens) 41.xc6 xc5 keeps some attacking chances. ] 40...g5 0-1
the knight there. My German team-mate, Andre Lisanti, plays these variations a lot, and always seems to get good positions! d5 2.g3 f6 3.f3 g6 4.d3 g7 5.f2 c6 6.c3 e5 7.g2 and now, a 'purist' would play his queen's knight to c2 via a3! Boeye, L-Schumacher,H/Antwerp BEL 1998. ] 1...e5 2.f2?! [ This is a really bad move, the 'normal' line would be 2.h3 d5 3.f2 f6 4.e3!? ( now, 4.g3 is usual, as in the previous note, e.g. c6 5.g2 etc. ) 4...c6 5.b5 d6 6.d4 exd4 7.xd4?! 0-0 8.xc6 bxc6 9.0-0 c5 Black has the two bishops and potential pressure on the e-line, Hunt, TGraff,J/ California 1992. ] 2...d5 3.d3 [ This risks further weakening White's dark squares. The only move with a 'pedigree' is 3.e3 f6 4.d4 c6 5.b5 d6 6.e2 0-0 7.e1 e4 8.g3 h5 9.f4 g4 10.e2 g6 11.g1 e7?! 12.a3 Black has almost no advantage, W illiams,S-Simons,M/ Scarborough 1999. ] 3...d4! 4.e4 dxe3+ 5.xe3 f5 6.g3 c6 7.g2 f6 8.e2?! [ O v e r l o o k i n g B l a c k ' s n e x t , 8.c3 had to be played. ] 8...d5 9.d2 d6?! [ This allows White time to recover, the immediate 9...f4 10.gxf4 h4+ 11.f1 d6 is very unpleasant for White. ] 10.e1? [ This allows the previously mentioned kingside breakthrough, W hite would still have a playable position after 10.f4 ] 10...f4! 11.gxf4 h4+ 12.g3 0-0 13.fxe5 16 A00 xe5 14.g1 xf3+ 15.xf3 xf3 16.f2 Desmarais,Chris 2180 W hite thinks that he has braved the worst, Seres,Lajos 2427 however ... xg3! 17.xg3 xg3+ 18.hxg3 FSIMA July Budapest HUN (13) 14.07.2001 xg3+ 19.h1 g4 [ after 19...g4 20.f1 Black wins by [Tony Kosten] eliminating the def ende rs of f 3 so : e3 21.c3 xf1 22.xf1 f8 ] 1.f3 [ Well, I suppose if I had to pick the worst 0-1 possible opening move, this would probably be it! W hite weakens his king protection, and kingside dark squares with no obvious advantages. W ell, except that f2 is made a v a i l a b l e f o r h i s k n i g h t o r k i n g . 1.h3 is similar, White will follow with f3 and bring 17
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17 Fedorov,Alexei Ivanchuk,Vassily 2001 Wijk aan Zee [Paul Motwani]
A00
2001
0-1
18 Gelashvili,Tamaz Salgado Lopez,Ivan Acropolis Open (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A00 2612 2532 12.08.2008
1.a3 g6!? I seem to recall that this is the move that was recommended for Black against 1 a3 in the first edition of BCO. The argument behind the move may well be that b2-b4 now is less attractive and that a2-a3 isn't particularly useful against the King's Indian. Somebody clearly forgot to tell Gelashvili... 2.f3 g7 3.e3 f6 4.b4! Anyway! Black can move his knight to create an attack on the rook on a1, but it doesn't serve any real purpose, so Black decides to proceed as if everything is normal. d5 5.c4 0-0 [ 5...a5 6.b2 ( 6.b5 f5 7.b2 is likely the better continuation for White, though the chances here too are about equal ) 6...axb4 7.axb4 xa1 8.xa1 0-0 is fine for Black ] 6.b2 c6 7.e2 [ In some of the few games I could find with this variation, White also tried a couple of other moves as well: A) 7.c3 a5 8.e2?! ( 8.d4!? takes the games over in a Schlechter Variation of the Slav/Gruenfeld, which in this case is quite okay for White) 8...axb4 9.axb4 xa1 10.xa1 dxc4 11.xc4 b5 12.e2 a6 13.a5 d6 14.a3 c7 , and Black has a solid advantage, Raijmaekers-Simmelink, J/corr 1988 ] [ B) 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.e2 f5 9.0-0 a6 10.d3 e8 11.xg7 xg7 12.bd2 d6 13.b3 , and White's position is preferable, Thorsteinsson, E-Elyakim, D/ corr ICCF 1992 ] 7...a5
[ 7...g4!? 8.b3 ( 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.0-0 should be considered as it, like the latter game in the previous note, leaves W hite with a slightly more comf ortable game.) 8...e6 ( 8...dxc4!? 9.xc4 xf3 10.gxf3 bd7 11.d4 b6 is fine for Black) 9.d3 bd7 10.bd2 a5 11.0-0 b8 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 c8 14.fc1 b6 15.ab1 axb4 16.axb4 b7 17.f1 h6 18.g3 Le n d wa i, R-S p in d e lb o e ck, G/ O b e rwa rt 1995 ] 8.b5 cxb5 [ Or 8...dxc4 9.xc4 f5 ( 9...cxb5 10.xb5 c6 11.d4 ) 10.c3 d3 with approximately equal chances ] 9.cxd5 [ 9.cxb5 f5 10.0-0 looks like a better continuation, White has a tiny initiative ] 9...xd5 [ 9...a6!? 10.xb5 c7 11.e2 cxd5 12.0-0 g4 , and the chances are about even ] 10.xg7 xg7 11.xb5 d7 12.b3 xb5 13.xb5 d7 14.b2+ The pawn structure on the board, the extra central pawn for White and the backward b-pawn on the semi-open f i l e f o r B l a ck b o t h i n d i c a t e a s o m e wh a t favourable game for White. g8 15.0-0 c6 16.c1 White's position is easier to play, even if Black has a somewhat more active position. The dark squares in Black's position calls for trou ble lo ng-t erm, e ve n if h is p os it io n is fundamentally solid. ab8 17.c3 xc3 18.xc3 b5 19.ac1 fc8 20.h4!? [ White points to the weakness of the dark squares around Black's king. The alternatives don't threaten Black su bsta nt ia lly, e .g. 20.c5 b4 21.h4 ( 21.axb4 xb4 22.e5 e6= ) 21...b3 22.h5 a4 ] [ or 20.c2 a7 , and Black is more or less okay. ] 20...a7 21.h5 xc3 22.xc3 d8? [ This passive move decides the game in White's favour because Black cannot resist White decisive penetration. Instead Black should have tried 22...c6! , e.g. 23.h6 f6 24.c5 b4 25.axb4 axb4 26.b3+ f8 ] 23.h6 f8?! [ Or 23...f6 24.b3+ f8 ( 24...h8 25.g5! fxg5 26.c8+- ) 25.d4 a4 18
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.e6+ e8 27.c2 b6 28.g7+ f8 29.c7+- ] 24.c7 c8 25.e5 b6 26.c6 d5 27.d7 c8 28.xd5 xc6 29.d8 1-0
19 Gulko,Boris F Gutman,Lev USSR [Tony Kosten]
A00
1978
1.c3 c5 2.f3 Black, a Sicilian (Najdorf) specialist, was obviously hoping to encourage White to play [ 2.e4 with a transposition to a Closed Sicilian ] [ 2.d4?! would avoid the well-trod routes, but after cxd4 3.xd4 c6 4.h4 d5 5.f3?! ( 5.e4 is safer, although after d4 6.d5 e6 7.xd8+ xd8 8.f4 f6 9.f3 e5 10.d3 Black has the slightly superior endgame, Soetewey, S-Le Quang,K/ B r u s s e ls 1 9 9 3 .) 5...d4 6.e4 b4 rather awkward! 7.d1 f5 8.d2 c6 Mordiglia,R-Godena, M/Open, Saint Vincent ITA 1998, White's unusually-placed king will lead to his downfall. ] 2...d6 and again, 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.0-0 c6 surely W hite will play e4 now? 6.e3 No! W hite decides to go his own way. h6 7.d4 White has no advantage, to speak of, he suffers from the usual problem of playing his queen's knight to c3 before playing c4- his cpawn is now shut-in. cxd4 8.exd4 f5 forcing the white d-pawn forward, but this does mean White will have more space 9.d5 e5 10.g5 The player with the space advantage should normally avoid exchanges, of cou rse (s ee 101 Tips to Imp rove you r Chess) h5 This does weaken the kingside, but it does safeguard the two black knights, as f4, and g4, was threatened, driving them away from the centre 11.h3 d7 12.a4 c8 Black's pieces take -up active posts 13.e2 See the remark on move 7, White is obliged to move this knight if he wants to improve his queenside pawn structure b6 14.a2 A simple precaution, White wishes to play b3, and c4, and cannot afford to leave his
qu e e n 's ro o k o n t h e a 1 - h 8 d ia go n a l, f o r instance [ if 14.b3 then f3+ 15.xf3 xa1 would be feasible ] 14...a6 15.b3 b5 Lev Gutman just loves to play active, aggressive chess. Sometimes he plays brilliantly, but sometimes things go wrong 16.d2 White plays carefully, [ 16.f4 seems tempting, but after b6+ 17.h2? Black wins with g4+ exploiting the h8-rook's uncastled state ] 16...bxa4 17.c3 First the white a4-pawn was pinned, but having captured it, it is now t h e b l a c k a 4 - p a w n t h a t i s p i n n e d ! d4 18.xa4 e2 19.f4 The game reaches its critical moment, will the active black pieces find a knock-out punch, or will they be forced to retreat? xa4!? [ 19...xh3 is more to the point, 20...Qxg2 mate is threatened, and 20.xh3? loses to ( 20.xh3 must be played, ef3+ and now 21.h1 xd2 22.e1! which is unclear) 20...df3+ 21.xf3 xf3+ when White must play 22.xf3 and lose his queen: xd1+ or be mated on h2, so ] 20.fxe5 xe5 21.bxa4 c4 hitting the a2rook 22.a3 e2+ 23.h1 f6?? a baffling move, [ 23...xg3+ 24.xg3 xg3 would have been the logical continuation, although after 25.xf7 White's two pieces are better then the black rook, ] 24.e4 Naturally, the knight defends g3 f5 25.e1 Black is now a whole piece down. 1-0
20 Hasangatin,Ramil Ramirez Alvarez,Alejandro Aeroflot Open (7) [Tony Kosten]
A00 2523 2413 17.02.2003
1.b4 e5 2.b2 xb4 3.xe5 f6 4.e3 Solid, but normally W hite plays more aggressively with [ 4.c4 to exploit his central advantage, see Lindqvist-Soerenfors/corr 1975. ] 4...0-0 5.f3 d5 6.e2 d6!? A new idea, although there seems to be nothing wrong with the standard 19
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 6...c5 7.0-0 c6 8.b2 ( 8.g3? d4 9.h4 d6 10.c1? f5 11.b2 e4 Black dominates, Vokac,M-Badea,B/Krynica 1998 ) 8...d4!? played to complicate White's development, ( 8...e8 9.d3 a5 10.bd2 e7 is fairly level, Rogers, I-Stone,R/ H e r t o g e n b o s c h N E D 1 9 9 9) 9.c3!? the most direct, attacking Black's advanced pawn head-on, ( 9.b5 g4 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 e5 and White had problems with his b5-bishop, and developing his b1-knight, Arakelov, I-Lomaya,T/Batumi 1961) 9...d3!? ( 9...dxc3 10.xc3 with chances to both sides ) 10.xd3 xd3 11.cxb4 xb4 12.xf6 gxf6 13.e1 g6 14.c3 d8 W hite has the more solid structure, but Black the more active pieces, Pedersen, EChristensen,T/Denmark 1998. ] 7.0-0 c5 The position is similar to the above note, except that the black bishop is 'inside' his pawn structure, which is normally desirable. 8.d4 [ 8.c4 c6 9.xd6 xd6 looks very nice for Black, with his centralised forces. ] 8...c6 9.c3 e7! Threatening to capture the bishop and gain the bishop pair, always an advantage. 10.dxc5 [ 10.g3 h5 11.dxc5 xg3 12.hxg3 e6 is similar. ] 10...xe5 11.xe5 xc5 With an atypical IQP position: W hite's weak c2-pawn on the open c-file more than balances the d-pawn, and Black has the bishop pair, as well. 12.f3 e6 Black decides against the tactic [ 12...c7!? 13.d3 d6 attacking c3 and h2, 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5 xh2+ 16.h1 d6 when Black has dissolved his IQP, but White can play c4 and maintain a strong bishop on d5. ] 13.h3 c8 14.e2 c7 15.d3 b6 16.c3 White is under severe pressure, his c-pawn ties pieces down to its def ence, and it is difficult to exploit the squares on f4 and d4. e4 17.c1 c4 18.c2 The impression is that White is just hanging on. f5 19.g4 xf2!? An interesting tactic, and afterwards Black maintains the advantage, but I would prefer the simple [ 19...xg4 20.hxg4 fd8 ] 20.xf2 xc2 21.xc2 ce8 22.d1 xe3+ 23.h1 b6 24.f3 e5 Black has
t wo p a wn s a n d a r o o k f o r t h e t wo wh i t e knights, and various positional advantages, can W hite manage to activate his pieces? 25.b2!? xa2 26.c1 a5 27.cd3 e3?! [ 27...e7 is stronger. ] 28.b4?! Missing [ 28.c4! when c8 29.c5! ( 29.b3? xf3! 30.xf3 a1+ 31.d1 dxc4 32.c2 d4 l o o k s s t r o n g) 29...xc5 30.xd5 attacks f7, and menaces Nc4, when White has real counterplay. ] 28...b5 29.d1 d8?! Again Black is not on his toes, [ 29...d4! wins, 30.4d3 d7 31.a4 xf3! 32.gxf3 xh3+ etc. ] 30.d2 [ 30.a4!? xa4 31.xa4 c7 32.xd5 is unclear. ] 30...d4 31.c4 a5 [ 31...e5!? appears strong, but after 32.d5 xd5 33.cxd5 c7 White can just hang-on: 34.d6! ( 34.g1? h2+ 35.f1 g3 wins immediately) 34...xd6 35.g1 as now h2+ 36.f1 g3?? allows the trick 37.xe3 dxe3 38.d8# ] [ 31...d7 ] 32.2d3 White has managed to find a good blockading square for one of his knights, and n o w h a s r e a s o n a b l e c h a n c e s . ee8?! 33.xb7 h5 34.f3 f5 35.d5 Now White is clearly better. c8?? 36.g4 e4 37.xc8 xc8 38.e1 1-0
21
A00 Hernando Pertierra,Jose Carlos 2403 Gallagher,Joseph G 2558 Master Open Lausanne SUI (4) 02.06.2000 [Tony Kosten] 1.g3 e5 2.g2 c6 3.c3 White wishes to play a sort of reversed Caro-Kann with a kingside fianchetto, and a tempo more. d5 4.d4 [ 4.b4!? is taking originality too far, perhaps, f6 5.d4 exd4 6.b5 a5 7.cxd4 c4 8.f3 b4+ and Black had no cause to complain, Petran,P-Rechel,B/Olomouc CZE 1999. ] 20
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 4...f6 5.h3 [ Just as in the corresponding line for Black, the knight will come to f2 to support the e4thrust. 5.dxe5 is an alternative manner of playing this, xe5 6.d2 c5 7.gf3 xf3+ 8.xf3 0-0 with equality, Teske, HSiegel,G/Havana 1998. ] [ However, 5.g5 would be the way to exploit the extra move. e4 6.xf6!? xf6 7.f3 exf3 8.xf3 level, Benjamin,J-Browne, W/ Philadelphia 1992. ] 5...e7 [ This natural move is a novelty, which indicates how much rarer this variation is, played with W hite than with Black. 5...h6 6.0-0 f5 7.f3 d7 8.f2 e4 9.b3 d6 is also fine for Black, Dehn,M-Vogler,T/ Mainz 1989. ] 6.f3 Perfectly normal, the square f2 is needed for the knight. 0-0 7.f2 e8 8.0-0 a5! 9.a4 b6 10.a3 a6 11.b5 White blocks the light-squared diagonal, so Black immediately tries to reopen it. exd4 12.cxd4 a7! 13.xa7 [ 13.c3 allows c5 which successfully challenges the d4-pawn, supporting it with e3 being impossible. ] 13...xa7 14.e1 c5 Black already has a plus, the white kingside formation is inappropriate here. 15.e3 d6 Intending to d o u b l e r o o k s o n t h e e - f i l e . 16.g4?! White hopes to pressurise the d5-pawn, but this move is anti-positional. xg4 17.fxg4 cxd4 18.xd4 [ W alking in to so me ta ct ics, bu t 18.exd4 is hardly any better, xe1+ 19.xe1 e7 ] 18...c5! 19.xd5? d7 20.f5?! [ White falls to pieces, but anyway, 20.f3 loses the exchange to b4 ] 20...d1 White can resign with a clear conscience. 21.xd1 [ 21.f2 xe1+ 22.xe1 b4 23.f2 d1+ 24.f1 c8 is also hopeless. ] 21...xd1+ 22.f1 xe3+ 23.g2 The c1-bishop is pinned. b7+ 24.h3 xc1 25.d3 d2! Allowing a couple of checks, but this is the most accurate move. 26.xh7+ f8 27.f1 e6 [ Effective, but missing the pretty line 27...e2!! 28.xe2 g2+! forcing mate with checks, 29.xg2 xe2+ 30.h3 f1+
31.h4 g5+ 32.h5 h3# ] 28.h8+ e7 29.h4+ g5 30.h5 e2! [ 30...e2 intends the same mate, 31.xe2 g2+ 32.xg2 xe2+ ] 0-1
22 Hulak,Krunoslav Beliavsky,Alexander G zt 1.2 Pula CRO (5) [Tony Kosten]
A00 2495 2640 15.04.2000
1.g3 d5 2.g2 e5 3.f3 A reversed Alekhine's Defence, as briefly examined in the archives. e4 4.d4 c5 5.b3 c4 6.d4 c5 7.c3 c6 8.xc6 bxc6 9.b3 So far, all according to plan for W hite, who attacks the black centre. cxb3 10.axb3 h5!! [ A powerful innovation, Black immediately exploits his space advantage and attacks the white king in the most direct manner. p re vio u s ly B l a ck h a d p re f e rre d s im p l e development: 10...e7 11.d3 ( 11.0-0 0-0 12.a3 b6 13.c4 f5 14.c3 e8 15.c1 with mutual chances, Johansen, DLau,R/Wuppertal 1986, 1-0 (30)) 11...exd3 12.exd3 0-0 13.0-0 e6 14.d4 b6 15.a3 e8 16.d2 and, if anything, White holds the upper hand, Rabeler, G-Stern,R/ Germany 1998, 1-0 (56). ] 11.a3 [ If 11.d3 then Black keeps the centre closed by f6 12.d4 ( not 12.0-0 when h4 13.dxe4 hxg3 14.hxg3 g5! planning ...Qh6, with a mating attack. ) 12...b6 ] 11...b6 12.h4 h6! Intelligent play, the knight can come to g4, but, more importantly, f5. 13.d4 e3! Black is in a particularly aggressive mood! 14.f4?! [ If 14.fxe3?! then but c7 ] [ 14.d3!? exf2+ 15.xf2 g4+ 16.e1 may offer better chances. ] 14...g4 The black pieces have good posts on g 4 a n d f 5 . 15.d3 f5 16.0-0 h6! Another fine move, bringing the h8-rook into play. 17.c4 [ White desperately searches for counterplay, as if 17.h2 Black simply replies g6 ] 17...dxc4 [ The strongest, but 17...xg3 18.xe3+ 21
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e6 19.xg3 xd4+ 20.h1 xa1 is also sufficient. ] 18.e4+ d7 19.c3 xg3 20.c2 f5 21.c1 xf1 22.xf1 xd4 23.d1 e8 White has no real defence against ...Qxh4, and mate on f2. 0-1
pawn structure. ] 16...e8 Threatening to win a rook with ...c5. 17.c5 [ 17.cxd5 c5! anyway, winning material because of the d-file pin. Black's eleventh move continues to prove its worth. ] 17...e7! Another clever move forcing 18.c6 as if [ 18.cxb6?? c5 forks queen and rook. ] 23 A00 18...d6 19.c3 e8 The first doubled cIvanchuk,Vassily 2740 pawn bites the dust. 20.d4 xc6 21.d2 Anand,Viswanathan 2770 d7 22.d1 d8 23.c3 c5 Not only has Amber Blindfold, MON (3) 1998 Black won a pawn, but he has managed to retain his positional plusses, too. 24.d3 a4 [Tony Kosten] 25.b2 6d7 26.a3 b5 27.h3 a6 28.1d2 1.c3 e5 2.f3 c6 Black indicates that he g6 29.d1 a5 30.f3 h5 31.h4 c7 i s h a p p y t o t r a n s p o s e i n t o a k i n g - p a w n 32.g3 e5 Black does nothing precipitate, he p o s it io n a f t e r 3 e 4 . 3.d4 Introducing the knows that he will win, and so slowly improves 'pseudo-Scotch' variation, where W hite will h i s p o s i t i o n b e f o r e e n g i n e e r i n g a have various occasions to transpose directly, breakthrough. 33.d1 f6 34.g2 h7 by playing e4. exd4 4.xd4 f6 The most 35.3d2 g7 36.a1 g4 37.xg4 hxg4 38.g1 e5 39.a4 b4 Exchanging queens, solid reply. [ 4...c5 is also good. 5.f5 f6 6.e3 and bringing play to a rook and pawn ending. White eschews his last chance to transpose 40.cxb4 xa1 41.xa1 cxb4 42.d4 into the Scotch, by 6 e4. ge7 7.g3 d5! F o r k i n g t h e g a n d b - p a w n s , h a s B l a c k 8.g2 e6 9.0-0 d8 10.d3 0-0 b l u n d e r e d ? a5 43.xg4 d4! No, as the The white opening has been a complete protected, passed b-pawn is sufficient to win. disaster, Black has almost total control of 44.xd4 xd4 45.exd4 xd4 46.c1 b3 47.b1 b4 'Rook behind the pawn'! 48.f1 the centre, Wall,T-Flear, G/Hastings 1991. ] [ 4...xd4?! is a mistake, however, f6 49.e2 f5 50.d3 g4 51.c3 f5 Unfortunately, the king and pawn conceding the centre. 5.xd4 f6 6.e4 d6 52.b2 w i t h a d v a n t a g e t o W h i t e , D e m i a n , V - ending after [ 52.xb3 xb3+ 53.xb3 f3 is simply Salahub,M/ROM-chT (CCYB 1988. ] winning, Black will capture the white f and 5.g5 b4 6.e3 So it seems that there won't g-pawns, and then queen his own f-pawn. ] be a Scotch opening, after all. 0-0 7.e2 h6 Bla ck wis h es to b re a k t h e a nn o yin g p in . 52...xa4 53.d1 a2+ 54.xb3 xf2 8.xf6 xc3+! Wrecking the white queenside 55.d6 f3+ 56.a4 h5 Black will take the pawn structure. 9.bxc3 xf6 10.0-0 d5 g3-pawn, and then the h4-pawn, when his two Black is ready to complete his development, kingside pawns will march to the eighth rank. when he will be able to turn his attention to 0-1 t h e d o u b l e d c - p a w n s . 11.b1 d8 A useful move, just in case White wanted to A00 p la y c 4 , a s n o w t h is m o ve is im p o ssib l e 24 because of the subsequent pin on the d-file. Katalymov,Boris N 12.xc6 xc6 13.d4 e6 14.f3 b6 Kupreichik,Viktor D 15.c4 By clever play White has succeeded in Minsk 1971 exchanging one of his weak c-pawns. ab8 [Nigel Davies] 16.b4 White was not satisfied with the variation I once sat next door to Ilya Smirin and was [ 16.cxd5 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 When Black amazed to see him meet 1.b4 with 1...c5!? has control of the d-file to add to his better without even a second thought. It's not at all 22
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 an easy move for White to meet and has quite a bit of shock value. 1.b4 c5 2.bxc5 [ White can of course transpose into a Wing G a m b i t w i t h 2.e4!? , though this falls outside my remit. ] 2...e5 3.e3 xc5 4.d4 I don't like this move. [ 4.c4 looks like a better idea as in Sitnikov Aveskulov. ] 4...exd4 5.exd4 e7 6.d3 d5 7.f3 c6 8.0-0 g4 9.c3 f6 Reaching a kind of mutant Petroff Defence in which W hite's bpawn has been exchange for Black's c-pawn. This would seem to be quite nice for Black because he can get play along the c-file and possibly occupy the c4 square. On the other hand it seems unlikely that the b-file will do much for W hite because Black can simply block any play there with ...b7-b6. 10.h3 h5 11.b3 c7 12.e5?! [ 12.bd2 Would have been better. The knight's position is unstable on e5 and the attempts to support it just weaken White's position. ] 12...0-0 13.f4 [ 13.f4 d6 renews the problem White has with his knight. ] 13...g6 14.f5?! Critical, but very good for Black after his combinative reply. [ 14.xg6 was more stable, though Black would have the edge because of the weakness of e4. ] 14...xe5! 15.dxe5 c5+ 16.h2 h5! 17.xd5 [ After 17.fxg6 xe5+ 18.h1 g3+ 19.h2 xf1+ 20.h1 h2# White gets mated. ] [ and 17.e1 would also be good for Black after fe8 . ] 17...ad8 [ 17...ae8! was even stronger, for example 18.e1 f2 19.e2 d8 20.f3 g3+ 21.h1 xe5 22.fxg6 fxg6! is devastating. ] 18.e4 fe8 19.fxg6 hxg6 20.xf7! This counterattack is the best chance. [ After 20.c2 there would follow xe5 21.f4 xf4 22.xf4 d6 23.h1 e2 24.c1 c5! when Black is threatening 25... Qe5. ] [ And 20.f3 is similarly bad because of xe5 21.f4 xf4 22.xf4 d6 etc. ]
20...xf7 [ Maybe Black should have taken with the ki n g a s a f t e r 20...xf7 21.xg6+ f8 22.f5+ f7 23.xf7+ xf7 White has inadequate compensation for the exchange. ] 21.c4 e6 22.xe6?! There was no need to capture straight away and indeed this frees Black's pieces for action. [ White should have played 22.f3! when f2 23.xe6 xe6 24.xf2 xe5+ 25.g3 d3 26.d2 xg3 27.f4 xf4 28.xg3 e2+ 29.h1 e4+ 30.h2 is a draw. Needless to say this isn't an easy variation for humans to calculate. ] 22...xe6 23.d2 b6? [ 23...f2 was better with ongoing attacking chances. ] 24.f3?! [ Missing his chance to play 24.c4+ h7 25.e4 when g1+ 26.h1 d1 27.e2 d8 28.b2 leaves Black struggling. ] 24...d1 25.e3?? And this loses. [ 25.c4+ h8 26.h4 was quite playable for White, in fact he's still a pawn up! ] 25...xe3! 26.c4+ [ White can't take the rook because 26.xd1 f4+ 27.h1 g3+ 28.h2 xe4+ wins the queen and mates in a few moves. ] 26...h7 27.xd1 f4+ 28.xf4 xf4 29.g5+ h6 30.f7+ h5 31.d4 g5 An exciting game! 0-1
25 Kokolias,Konstantinos Romanov,Evgeny IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (1) [Carsten Hansen]
A00 2211 2547 21.04.2008
1.c3 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.xe4 d7 4.c4 gf6 [ This is fully playable, but allows White's next move which creates complications which aren't necessarily unfavourable for W hite. Therefore in "Beating Unusual Chess Openings" Palliser gives preference to the more solid 4...e6!? For further details, you should invest in that excellent book. ] 5.xf7+!? 23
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Keilhack, but Palliser continues playfully [ This option is the principal reason why with the following (and admitted computerPalliser chose 4...e6 as his recommendation. assisted) variation: 15.f2 b7 16.c7 Now the material unbalance creates unclear c5+ 17.d4 xd4+ 18.e3! e5! complications that are not entirely easy to 19.c4 xh2+ 20.f1 xc7 21.xe6+ deal with when you show up unprepared on f8 22.d1! e5! 23.xd7 ( 23.c5+!? either side of the board. Yet, with this being xc5 24.d8+ xd8 25.xe5 something as unusual as the Dunst Opening, isn't mentioned by Palliser, but is also it is quite likely that White will be the lower rather unclear) 23...a6+ 24.e2 xe3 rated player and the one who knows more 25.f5+ g8 26.d5+ f8 27.f5+ about this variation. The alternatives with a draw by perpetual check.; available to W hite are the following: D) 9...xg2 10.f3 xf3 11.xf3 e8 5.xf6+ ] ( 11...b6 12.c7 b7 13.e2 e5 [ 5.d3 ] 14.xe5 xh1 ) 12.a4 b6 13.a5 b7 [ 5.g5 ] 14.e2 xa8 15.axb6 xf3+ 16.xf3 [ 5.g3 ] axb6 This position is rather unusual[ 5.e2 All of which are discussed in detail looking with White's king being the only in the amazingly meticulous book "Knight on piece developed by W hite. It is being the Left: 1 Nc3" by Harald Keilhack. This evaluated as unclear by both Keilhack and book is a must for anybody remotely Palliser, but I have to admit that I prefer interested in 1 Nc3. ] White with his rooks that can easily be put 5...xf7 6.g5+ g8 7.e6 e8 8.xc7 i n t o p l a y , e . g . 17.d4 e5 18.e1 d8 , and W hite is on top, Van den Berg, A[ Black has another important option in Hicker, H/Lignano Sabbiadoro ITA 2005 ] 8...g6 9.xa8 and now Black has several 9.xa8 moves to choose between: [ 9.e2!? is an interesting alternative, which A) 9...d5 10.f3 ( 10.d3 b6 11.f3 i s n ' t m e n t i o n e d b y P a l l i s e r . N o w b6 b7 12.c7 e6 13.e2 e5 14.g3 is more or less forced, e.g. 10.xa8 xa8 xg3 15.fxg3 xc7 16.f4 d6 17.0-0 11.f3 d5 12.c4 h5 13.e5 xe2+ is also better for White) 10...7f6 11.e2 14.xe2 g6 15.d4 g7 16.e3 e5 12.g3 d6 13.0-0 g4 was played , and W hite has the better chances in Krajnak, M-Obsivac, J/Olomouc 1998, Chandler, P-Rutkowski, J/Griesheim 2000 ] and now 14.b3 f7 15.h3 gf6 16.d4 e6 17.c4 ( 17.dxe5 xe5 18.c4 e7 9...e5?! [ This is problematic for Black. Instead 19.e3 c6 20.f4 d6 21.b3 e7 p r e f e r e n c e s h o u l d b e g i v e n t o 9...e5 22.b2 ) 17...f4 18.xf4 xc4 19.c2 , although my computer initially hates the exf4 20.fc1 b5 21.b3 d5 22.c8+ move, e.g. 10.d4 d6 11.f3 ( 11.dxe5 e8 23.xe8+ xe8 24.c3! c6 xe5 12.e3 g4 13.d4 f7 14.e2 25.a4! with all the winning chances be c6 15.d2 b4 16.c3 xd2+ 17.xd2 squarely on White's side; d6 , Tolonen, J-Sisatto, O/FIN 2001, and B) 9...e5? 10.f1 f5 11.d3 d5 now White's best is 18.f3 e6 19.f4 d7 12.e2 e8 13.c7 xc7 14.f4 b5 20.b6 axb6 21.he1 with a complicated 15.c4 xb2 16.b1 xa2 17.xe5 e6 position, and chances to both sides, though I 18.a1 1-0 Steger, G-Thoeny, H/Wattens give W hite a slight preference) 11...e4 2000; 12.g5 ( 12.e5 xe5 13.dxe5 a5+ C) 9...b5!? 10.f3 ( 10.c7? xg2 14.d2 xe5 15.c3 e7 16.d2 e3 11.f3 b7-+; 10.f3!? c5 11.d4 b7 17.xe3 xe3+ 18.fxe3 g4 19.0-0 f7 12.g3! (Keilhack) xg2 13.dxc5 xh1 , and Black has the better chances thanks to 14.c7 is messy, but probably better for his bishop pair, and W hite's impractical White ) 10...d5 11.e2 f4 12.xb5 pawn structure, Van Geet, D-Henneberke, xg2 13.c4+ e6 14.xf4 xh1 F/Beverwijk 1964) 12...h6 13.e6 e7 with an uncle ar position according to 24
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.f4 h7 15.e3 b6 16.c3 b7 17.xb6 xb6 18.0-0 f8 with a complicated position with chances to both sides, Spice, A-Hinks Edwards, T/ England 1997. Van Geet claims W hite is b e t t e r , wh e r e a s K e i l h a c k a n d P a l l i s e r claim serious counterplay for Black, I call m y e va lu a t io n t o b e so m e wh e re in t h e middle, White's better, but he will have to be seriously careful. ] [ 9...c5 10.d4 a6 11.f3 e6 12.g5 e7 13.h3 d7 , Pel, B-Van Beek, L/ Hoogeveen 1998, and now 14.0-0-0 b5 15.d5! xd5 16.xe7 xe7 17.he1 l o o k s l i k e a wi n n e r f o r W h i t e , e . g . f6 18.xd5 xf3 19.gxf3 exd5 20.e8+ f7 21.xh8 ] 10.d4!? [ White should definitely consider 10.e2!? , for instance c6 11.c4+ e6 12.f3 ( 12.b4!? deserves attention, e.g. xb4 13.b2 d7 14.xf6 xf6 15.b1 f7 16.c7 a6 17.f3 , and White has excellent winning chances) 12...d7 13.0-0 d5 14.d4 d6 15.e1 ( 15.d3 xa8 16.c4 f6 17.e1 is another attractive option for White) 15...xa8 16.e5 xe5 17.dxe5 e7 18.c3 f7 , and a draw was, very prematurely, agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Mannhart, M-Rouchouse, S/Turin ITA 2006 after 19.g4 c8 20.c4 b6 21.b3 White appears to have the better chances. ] 10...f7 11.f3 e6 12.xb7?! [ 12.e2! d5 13.f3 xa8 14.0-0 b6 15.c4 xf3 16.xf3 xf3 17.gxf3 e6 18.f4 appears to be better for White, but it isn't entirely clear. ] 12...d5 13.c7 xa8 [ Or 13...xg2!? 14.xd8 xd8 15.f3 xh1 16.f2 e6 17.e3 g5 , and now 18.e2 g4+ 19.fxg4 xa8 20.c4 h5 is clearly better for Black ] 14.f3 e6 [ 14...e5!? looks attractive, e.g. 15.dxe5 b4+ ( or 15...e8 16.h3 d6 17.xa7 xe5 18.0-0 c8 19.f2 xc2 20.g5 g6 21.h3 with complications that appear better for White) 16.c3 e8 17.d7 xe5 18.f5 d6 19.e2 g6 20.c2 xf3 21.gxf3 xf3+ 22.f2 g7 with an unclear position, but I prefer Black because his king
is marginally safer ] 15.e2 d6 16.a5 b8 17.a6 g6 [ On 17...e5 , W hite replies 18.0-0 exd4 19.f4 e5 20.a4 f7 21.h1 with the better chances for White ] [ Or 17...c7 18.b3 e5 19.0-0 exd4 20.f4 e5 21.ae1 b7 22.a4 , and W hite can start thinking about consolidating his material advantage ] 18.f2 [ 18.b3!? begs to be considered, e.g. b7 19.d3 e5 20.0-0 exd4 21.f4 c8 22.xd4 , and White's position is clearly preferable ] 18...c7 [ 18...e5?! is p re m a tu re : 19.dxe5 xe5 20.d1 c5+ 21.f1 , and White is getting ready to consolidate his material advantage ] 19.d3? [ This move allows Black to grab the initiative with a firm hand. This premature retreat somewhat reminds me of the game Nimzowitsch-Capablanca, St. Petersburg 1914. The white queen should not retreat unless it is absolutely necessary, because it provides threats against Black's pieces on a6, whereas on d3 it is more passive and becomes a target of Black's pieces. Therefore W hite should consider 19.b3!? b7 20.c4! ( 20.d3 e5!? is more complicated) 20...b6! ( 20...xc4 21.bxc4 g7 22.c5 c7 23.b1 a6 24.c4! xc4 25.f4 , and White should win ) 21.a4! a6 22.a5! b7 23.xe6 g7 24.h6+! xh6 25.xd6 f5 26.f4 xe2 27.he1! with a complicated game and chances for both sides. ] 19...e5! 20.c3 b7 21.dxe5?! [ 21.f1!? appears to be a better option for White ] 21...xe5 22.d4 g7 23.d3 c8 24.e3 [ 24.b3? i s m e t b y t h e a m a z i n g e4! 25.fxe4 c3! 26.d1 xe4+ 27.f1 b6 , and it's goodnight for White ] 24...b8 [ This leads to a forced sequence of moves, which ends up with an advantage for Black. Yet Black may be able to even better with 24...xb2!? 25.hb1 c3 , and Black is 25
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 clearly better. But Black probably preferred a more controlled environment ] 25.b3 xh2 26.c4 e5 27.d2 eg4+! 28.f1 xe3+ 29.xe3 f7 30.e1 h5!? 31.c3? [ This leads to a lost position for White. Instead White should have played 31.xh2! xh2 32.g5 f4 ( 32...f4 33.e4 is better for White) 33.xf4 xf4 34.e7 , and W hite is still in the game, though Black should have the better chances ] 31...g3+ 32.f2 xh1+ 33.xh1 g3+ 34.f1 g8 and here the game ended on account of 35 Ne2 Bxc4!, which spells the ultimate end of White's games 0-1
strange positioning of the black queen prove a p r o b l e m ? 4.e3 White can also consider hitting the e5-pawn directly, by [ 4.f3 but after e4 5.d4 c6 6.e3 xd4!? 7.xd4 g6 White had some problems developing his kingside in Gielen, W-Lucas,F/Dieren 1990. ] 4...f6 5.d3 bd7 6.f3 c6 Black has successfully defended his central pawns, it remains to finish his development. 7.e2 g6 8.c4 g7 The king's bishop is certainly betterplaced on g7 than on the a3-f8 diagonal, as it s m o ve m e n t wo u l d b e h i n d e re d b y t h e queen. 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.0-0 0-0 It remains for Black to find a place for his queen's bishop, and his opening will be a success. 11.c3 a6 12.c1 b6 13.c2 [ 13.b3 Is a more active square for the 26 A00 queen. ] 13...b7 14.h3?! I am not so keen on this Lalic,Bogdan move, it might be time for White to try direct Uhlmann,Wolfgang Sarajevo 1980 action with [ 14.d4 e4 15.d2 , as Black now takes [Tony Kosten] matter into his own hands. ] 14...d4! Grabbing more space. 15.d1 ac8 1.b4 d5 [ 1...f6 2.b2 d5 could transpose into the 16.b1 d5 The logical follow-up, the knight next note, but King's Indian players are is targeting the sensitive squares e3, and c3. m o re li k e l y t o t r y ( 2...g6 3.c4 g7 17.e1 [ 17.e4 Is hardly any better, because of which transposes out of my 'area'. )] f4 ] 2.b2 18.fxe3 b5 19.f1 7b6 [ 2.a3?! takes provocation too far, Black 17...dxe3 would reply e5 with a strong centre as in the The 'other' black knight has found has also Hebden game, mentioned in the notes to found itself a good outpost, on a4. 20.d2 a4 21.a1 f5 Reminding White that Black ?? ] 2...d6!? A very ambitious move, suggested is also better on the kingside. 22.b3 fe8 a8 24.c3 Black's pieces can by Andersson, attacking the b4-pawn, and 23.a5 hardly expect to find better placements than preparing ...e5. [ 2...f6 3.e3 e6 is more normal, and quite they have already, so it is clearly time for a solid, White replies 4.b5 as the b-pawn was co mb ina t io n : xb2 25.xb2 e4 26.d4 White will pay for his lack of darkhanging, c5 5.f3 d6 6.c4 bd7 7.d3 xe3! 0-0 8.bd2 b6 9.e2 b7 as in Sokolsky- squared bishop. 27.e2 [ 27.xe3 xd4 pins the rook, and wins Keres, USSR Ch. 1950, when Black has a everything. ] pleasant development, but W hite a 28.xc8 xc8 29.c1 f8 q u e e n s i d e s p a c e a d v a n t a g e , a n d t h e 27...f4 White has had enough. straight-forward plan of a4-5. ] 0-1 3.a3 Tisdall has proposed the line [ 3.b5!? b4 4.e5 but, after xb5 5.xc7 c5 6.g3 c6 Black appears to have the edge, as ...e5 is threatened. ] 3...e5 So, Black ha s achieved his aim- setting up a pawn centre, will it be strong, or will the 26
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 27 Larsen,Bent Calvo Minguez,Ricardo Palma de Mallorca (10) [Nigel Davies]
A00 28
1968
1.g3 g6 2.g2 g7 3.c3 c5 4.d3 c6 5.a3 I really like this super-flexible move. White is adopting a plan reminiscent of the Panno lines of the King's Indian Defence, aiming to undermine Black's central control wi t h b 2 - b 4 . e6 6.f3 d6 7.g5 d7 Black is showing signs of being completely baffled by Larsen's provocative play. [ It must surely be better to play 7...f6 8.d2 ge7 , reserving the decision as to where to place his queen. But even so I prefer White after 9.b1 followed by b2-b4. ] 8.0-0 f6 9.d2 h6 10.b1 [ 10.b4!? was already possible because cxb4 11.axb4 xb4 12.e4 threatens both Bxb4 and Bxh6 followed by Nxf6+. ] 10...0-0 11.b4 cxb4 12.axb4 f7 13.b5 e7 14.c1 Larsen's manoeuvres are masterful. Here his queen is headed for a3 from where it will add to the pressure on B la ck ' s p o s it io n wh ilst a t t h e sa m e t im e maintaining great flexibility with his centre. e5 15.a3 d8 16.b4 The rook is headed for a4 from where it will add to the pressure on the a -f ile . e6 17.a4 c8 18.b1 f5 19.b6 a6 [ 19...xb6 20.xa7 would be very unpleasant for Black because of the weakness of b7. ] 20.e1 e4 [ 20...d5 would have been better, though White still has strong pressure after 21.a5 e4 22.a4 intending Na4-c5. ] 21.e3 d5 22.c5 f6? Rather premature desperation. [ 22...cd6 was a much better move. ] 23.b5 d8 24.c7 b8 25.d4 e5 26.a1 S h a d e s o f R i c h a r d R e t i . d7 27.xd5 d6 28.a5 b5 29.c4 xb6 30.xb6 f3+ 31.xf3 1-0
Larsen,Bent Gheorghiu,Florin (ol) Havana [Nigel Davies]
A00
1966
1.g3 g6 2.g2 g7 3.c3!? The more I look at this move the more I like it Larsen develops a piece whilst maintaining a very flexible pawn structure. c5 4.d3 c6 5.f4 [ Larsen would subsequently show a liking for 5.a3!? , even keeping a decision about his fpawn in reserve. The games against Calvo and Lehmann provide good examples of this. ] 5...e6 [ Black can also play 5...d6 followed by 6... e5 when White's best may be to transpose into a Closed Sicilian with a later e2-e4. This might be the reason why Larsen switched to 5.a3. ] 6.f3 ge7 7.0-0 0-0 8.a3 [ 8.e4 would transpose into a Closed Sicilian Larsen's move gives the game an independent character. ] 8...f5 This looks a bit odd to me Black is fighting for the d4 square when W hite can simply protect it at some point with e2-e3. [ 8...d5 was certainly an alternative when W h it e co u ld ch o o se b e t we e n 9 . e 4 a n d c o n t i n u i n g t o ' f i s h a r o u n d ' wi t h 9 . B d 2 intending Rb1 and b2-b4. ] 9.b1 b8 10.e4 b6 [ 10...e7 might have been a better idea, maintaining the option of ...b7-b6. ] 11.f2 d5 12.g4! fd4 13.d2! Highlighting the inadequacy of Black's plan of putting a knight on d4. As long as it cannot exchange itself it can simply be driven away. d8 14.e4 e7 15.c3 dc6 16.f3 f5 17.gxf5 gxf5 18.e5 d4?! A serious mistake which allows White to close the position and leave Black without any counterplay. [ 18...a5!? was a better chance for Black to get some counterplay. ] 19.c4 b5 20.d2 a5 [ 20...bxc4 21.dxc4 would allow White's f2 knight to come to d3 and attack the weak pawn on c5. ] 21.c2 b4 22.h1! The start of a profound manoeuvre the knight wants to go to h5. d7 27
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.g3 e8 24.a1 Threatening to penetrate along the a-file, which encourages Gheorghiu to close the queenside altogether. This leaves White's kingside play as the only game in town. b3 25.d1 h6 26.e2 h8 27.ae1 a4 28.g5 c8 29.h5 g8 30.f3 ce7 31.g2 g6 32.h3! W hite's pressure is manifesting itself into direct threats. W hite wants to play 33.Nf6. xg5 33.fxg5 c6 34.f6 f7 35.xc6 xc6 36.g3 fc8 37.h4 Black's problem here is that he has no counterplay. So White c a n i m p r o v e h i s p o s i t i o n a t l e i s u r e . f8 38.e2 6c7 39.g2 d7 40.f4 gxf6 41.exf6 c6 42.h5! h6 [ After 42...xh5 there would follow 43.h2 g4 ( 43...f7 44.g6 ) 44.xg4 fxg4 45.g6 xf6 46.e5 etc. ] 43.g6 xf6 44.xh6 e5 45.h3 e6 46.xf5 xf5 47.xf5 e4 48.f7 1-0
29 Larsen,Bent Lehmann,Heinz Palma de Mallorca (12) [Nigel Davies]
A00
1968
1.g3 g6 2.g2 g7 3.c3 c5 4.d3 c6 5.a3 f6 6.b1 a5 A controversial decision, preventing W hite's b2-b4 but at the cost of creating a weakness on b5. 7.a4 0-0 8.f3 [ 8.f4!? is also worth considering here, taking more space on the kingside. ] 8...d6 [ 8...d5 was certainly another possibility, for example 9.0-0 e5 10.g5 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.d2 e6 13.e4 d4 14.d5 b4 ma ke s it d if f icult f or W h ite t o m ain ta in control of d5. ] 9.0-0 e8 10.e3 d4 11.xd4 cxd4 12.b5 e5 13.c3 d7 [ Maybe 13...c7 was better, though I still like W hite after 14.xc7 xc7 15.cxd4 exd4 16.c1 b6 17.d2 intending 18. Nc4. ] 14.cxd4 xb5 15.axb5 exd4 16.a4 d7 17.fc1 [ The simple 17.xd4 was worth considering as after xd4 18.xd4 xb5 19.fc1
Black has a truly miserable position. ] 17...c7 18.xd4 xd4 19.xd4 xb5 20.a4 fd8 21.e3 a7 22.h4 [ And here 22.b4 looks highly unpleasant for Black, for example da8 23.d4 e8 24.h4 g7 25.d5 c7 26.xe8 xe8 27.bxa5 xa5 28.xb7 leaves White with all the chances. ] 22...c7 23.d4 b5 24.b6 b8 25.c6 c7 26.xb5 bxc6 27.xc6 xc6 28.xc6 The rook endgame is also good for White but Larsen doesn't make the most of his chances. a4 29.a1? It looks like Larsen missed something here though it's not quite clear to me what it was. [ 29.cc1 would maintain the extra pawn and leave Black struggling for the draw. ] 29...xb2 30.a3 d5 31.d4 a5 32.c7 h5 33.g2 g7 34.f3 f6 35.c1 e6 36.ca1 b4 37.f4 f6 38.f3 a8 39.c1 d6 40.c5 c4 41.b5 c6 42.b1 e8 43.g4 hxg4 44.fxg4 e4+ 45.g3 f5 46.gxf5 gxf5 47.h1 f4+ 48.exf4 cxd4 49.f3 e8 50.h5 g8+ 51.h4 a3 52.h6 a2 53.f2 a4 54.a1 d6 55.h5 a3 56.h2 e6 57.h7 h8 ½-½
30 Larsen,Bent Panno,Oscar Palma de Mallorca [Nigel Davies]
A00
1969
1.g3 g6 2.g2 g7 3.c3 e5 [ This looks like a more solid approach than 3...c5 because playing for b2-b4 would now be rather pointless for W hite. Instead he must play on the kingside with f2-f4. ] 4.d3 c6 [ Black might also try 4...d6 in order to ma in t ain t h e p o ssib ility o f .. . c7 -c5 , f o r example 5.f4 e7 6.f3 c5 7.0-0 bc6 8.e4 transposes into the Botvinnik Variation of the Closed Sicilian. Of course there's no need for W hite to rush into 8.e4 and he might also play f or b2-b4 with 8.Bd2 intending 9.a3 and 10. Rb1. ] 5.f4 d6 6.f3 ge7 7.0-0 0-0 8.e4 h6!? 9.e3 d4 10.d2 h7 11.ae1 e6 28
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.h4 [ T h e i m m e d i a t e 12.f5!? was also worth considering, for example gxf5 13.xd4 exd4 14.e2 c5 15.h4 fxe4 16.xe4+ f5 17.xb7 b8 18.f4 f7 19.f3 xb2 20.e6 gives White strong play on the light squares. ] 12...exf4 13.gxf4 ec6 14.f3 [ 14.f2 would have been strongly met by g5! 15.fxg5 xg5! ] [ whilst 14.f2 runs into xc2! 15.xg6 fxg6 . ] 14...xf3+ 15.xf3 f5 16.h1 f6 17.d5!? [ 17.d4? would not be good because of xd4 18.e5 dxe5 19.fxe5 xf3 20.exf6 xd2 21.fxg7 fd8 when White finds himself the exchange down. ] [ B u t h e m i g h t h a v e c o n s i d e r e d 17.g3 to put pressure on the weakened g6 pawn. ] 17...f7 [ It's not clear what Larsen intended after 17...xb2 because 18.xc7 is strongly met by c3 19.c1 xa2 , leaving White struggling to find adequate play. ] 18.c4 ae8 19.f2 a6 20.b3 b8 21.c1 c6 22.e3 d7 23.exf5 xf5 24.xf5 gxf5 25.xe8 xe8 26.h3 c5 27.b4 e6 28.e3 c3 29.g3?! f6?! [ 29...xb4 seems playable here and expose s the chancy nature of L arsen's previous move. ] 30.a3 e7 31.g1 g7 32.b6 e6 33.c2 f6 34.g2 f7 35.a4! With Black tied down on the kingside White operates on the other flank. The idea is to play b4-b5 to gain control of the d5 square. e8 36.f3 d8 37.f2 h5? 38.d4! g8 39.b1 h4 40.b5 axb5 41.axb5 c5 42.c3 Threatening to penetrate Black's position via t h e a - f i l e . e8?! 43.g1 And Black's last move presented White with more fertile fields on the other flank. White is now threatening Qxh5. g8?! 44.xf5+! 1-0
31
A00 Linqvist,Grels Sorenfors,Per
corr [Tony Kosten]
1975
1.b4 e5 2.b2 This counter-attack is probably better than passively defending the b4-pawn by [ 2.a3 as this allows Black to build a strong centre A) 2...a5 3.b2 e4!? is also interesting, 4.c4 f6 5.b3 a6! so as to answer b5 with ...Nc5, 6.bxa5?! this is too helpful for Black, as the b-pawn is not really attacked, ( maybe 6.c3 is possible, axb4 7.axb4 and the pawn is immune, because of the pin along the a-file.) 6...c5 7.c2 d6 8.e3 f5 and White can hardly develop a sin gle p ie ce , Fo rga cs, G - Fo rin t o s , G / Hungary 1981.; B) 2...d5 3.e3 f6 4.b2 d6 Defending e5 and continuing to develop n a t u r a l l y . ( 4...d6 Appears silly, but would, in fact, transpose into the game Lalic-Uhlmann.) 5.c4 c6 Black wants to keep his centre intact, of course. 6.f3 e7 7.e2 this is better than ( 7.c3 when d4! caused no end of problems, 8.e2 g4 9.exd4 xf3 10.gxf3 exd4 11.xd4 a5 and White's extra pawn was scant compensation, with his king stuck in the centre, and the e-file open, Welling,GSadler,M/Ostende 1991.) 7...0-0 8.c3 dxc4 9.xc4 bd7 10.c2 b6 11.e2 h6 12.h3 e4 Black enjoys extra space, and good piece-play, Steffens,O-Hebden, M/Hastings 1995. ] 2...xb4 Black banks on quick development. 3.xe5 f6 4.c4 As White has no pawn presence in the centre, it is normal that he should want to keep some control like this, but it m a y b e b e t t e r t o a t t e m p t t o c o m p l e t e development first, [ 4.f3 0-0 5.e3 e8 and now 6.e2 would continue this policy, the disadvantage is that, after ( 6.c4?! d5! 7.cxd5 xd5 would return to the main game.) 6...d5 7.0-0 bd7 8.b2 b6 9.d3 b7 10.bd2 d6 11.e1 c5 Black has a wonderful position, with more space, Campora, D-German,G/ 29
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Lomas de Zamorra op 1995, and there are certainly other effective ways to play this for Black. ] 4...0-0 5.e3 'All roads lead to Rome' here, and [ 5.f3 will probably transpose after e8 although in Afifi,A-Hakki,I/GM B, Cairo EGY 1997, White tried ( or 5...d5 6.cxd5 xd5 7.e3 e8 also bringing us to the main game, ) 6.a3 instead of ( 6.e3 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 transposing, but it didn't seem to i m p r o v e W h i t e ' s p r o s p e c t s , f o r a f t e r :) 6...a5 7.e3 d5 Black continuing in id en tica l st yle , 8.cxd5 xd5 9.b3?! b u t w i t h t h e e x t r a m o v e s , ( 9.e2 would now be possible, as xe5?! 10.xe5 f6 is now met by 11.c4 xa1 12.xa5 so Black should play something else at move nine, like 9...c5, with an edge.) 9...c6 10.b2 e6 11.c2 g4 12.a4 xe3!? once again exploiting the pin on the e1-a5 diagonal, 13.fxe3 xe3+ 14.d1 h4 15.b5? ( 15.c4! was the only chance, with the cute tactical point xf3 16.gxf3 xf3+ 17.c1 xh1?? 18.xf7+ wi n n i n g t h e b l a c k q u e e n .) 15...xf3 winning. ] 5...d5 6.cxd5 This might be a mistake, but even after [ 6.f3 e7!? redeploying the bishop, ( b u t I h a v e p l a y e d 6...e8 with a transposition to the main game after 7.cxd5 xd5 ) 7.e2 c5 8.b2 c6 9.cxd5 ( Adorjan suggests that 9.0-0 f5! 10.a3 d4 is also better for Black.) 9...xd5 10.0-0 f6! Black counters White's best piece. 11.d4 this doesn't turn out so well, but ( 11.c1 e8 12.a3 b6 13.d4 xd4! is also good for Black, Teichmann, E-Allen,K/Southampton 1986.) 11...cxd4 12.xd4 b6! 13.d2 xd4 14.xd4 xd4 15.exd4 e6 16.a3 ac8 and Black enjoys a positional advantage, because of the weak d4-pawn, Urzica,AAdorjan,A/ Sweden 1970. ] 6...xd5 7.f3 e8! Preparing a devilish tra p, int o wh ic h W hite o f t en f alls! 8.e2? This move loses, and [ 8.c3?! i s n o t m u c h b e t t e r , xe5!? 9.xe5 xc3 10.b3 d5 11.e4 xd2+ with a strong attack. ] [ 8.b2 might be best, although after f5
( Yudovic has suggested that 8...f4 9.c2 c6 is even better for Black, but I am not so sure, myself.) 9.d4 g6 10.e2 c5 11.b3?! c4! 12.d4 d7 coming to e5, thence d3, Black had a large advantage, Bobrov-Yusupov, USSR 1974. ] 8...xe5! This move devastates the white position. 9.xe5 f6 10.f4 What else, the knight is pinned, and [ 10.d3 xa1 is clearly hopeless. ] 10...xe3 The d-pawn is pinned! 11.b3 xg2+ 12.d1 xf4 The dust has settled, and Black has obtained three pawns for the exchange , plus a winning attack. 13.xf7 xf7 This is good, but [ 13...e6 14.xb4 xa1 is probably even better. ] 14.c4 e6 15.xe6 xe6 16.e1 Not [ 16.xb4?? f3+ ] 16...c6 17.xe6 xe6 18.xe6 d6 Picking off another pawn, as 19.h4? e5! 20.c3 f8 Wins back the exchange, because of the twin threats of ...Rf1+, and ... Kf7, trapping the e6-rook. 0-1
32 McDonald,Neil R Thipsay,Bagyashree Sathe Ron Banwell Masters (6) [Neil McDonald]
A00 2406 2241 23.08.2001
1.a3 White wanted to try the Dutch with an extra tempo! d5 [ Or 1...e5 2.e4 f6 3.c3 and Black can't reach the Ruy Lopez reversed as the little pawn on a3 is preventing 3...Bb4. Nor is the Scotch that great because if d5 4.exd5 xd5 5.h5! and Black can't play the usual riposte 5... Nb4 again thanks to the pawn on a3. Of course none of this prevents Black from having a decent position, but it might be upsetting for a player to be denied his usual opening systems. ] 2.f4 f6 3.f3 g6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 c5 7.d3 c6 8.c3 White has reached the 7...Nc6 Leningrad with colours reversed. d4 9.a4 [ A l s o i n t e r e s t i n g w a s 9.e4 xe4 ( M o r e s e n s i b l e m i g h t b e 9...d5!? ) 30
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.dxe4 when we have the 7...Nc6 8 d5 Ne5 9 Nxe5 dxe5 variation with colours reversed. In some lines the inclusion of a3 will help White as a standard idea is Qe1 combined with h2-h3 and g3-g4 to bring the queen to the kingside. Here he can do it withou t worrying about the reply Nb4 hitting the c2 pawn. ] 9...d6 [ Here 9...d7 10.c4 c7 11.d2 b6 12.b4 b7 13.b1 should be compar ed with the analysis in ****MadeukweMcDonald with reversed colours. ] 10.c4 g4!? [ Safe enough was 10...dxc3 but aiming at the e3 square makes sense. ] 11.b1 b8 12.b4 b6 13.bxc5 bxc5 14.b5! White finds a way to gain the initiative on the queenside, though it doesn't amount to much advantage- the hole on e3 continually h a m p e r s h i s a b i l i t y t o m a n o e u v r e . xb5 15.cxb5 d8 16.c2 e6 17.f5 gxf5 18.h4 f6? During the game I had thought that I had the advantage here but in fact [ 18...c7! leaves White with nothing e.g. 19.xf5 xf5 20.xf5 xb5 and the knight gets to c3. ] 19.xf5 e5 20.b6! Now White takes control. axb6 21.xb6 g7 22.c4 c7 23.f4 d8 24.h6+ xh6 25.xh6 e5 26.a4 e8 27.a5 e6 [ Losing the exchange, but if 27...f5 28.a6! xh6 ( 28...xa6 29.xf5 ) 29.a7 and the pawn queens. ] 28.c6! g7 29.xe8 xh6 30.xf7+ g7 31.xe6 xe6 32.a6 a8 33.b1! xa6 [ If 33...xc4 34.b7+ xb7 35.axb7 e3+ 36.f2 xf2+ 37.xf2 ] 34.b8 xc4 35.f8+ White gave some checks to safely reach the time control. g6 36.f5+ g7 37.xe5+ g8 38.e8+ g7 39.f8+ g6 40.f5+ g7 41.dxc4 1-0
33 McDonald,Neil R Thipsay,Praveen Mahadeo Ron Banwell Masters [Neil McDonald]
A00
2001
1.a3 g6 2.f4 g7 3.f3 d5 4.g3 d7!? Thipsay avoids the usual Dutch Def ence k n i g h t d e p l o ym e n t wi t h c 7 - c 5 a n d N c 6 . Evidently he had been talking to his wife, as against her a couple of rounds earlier in the tournament I had played a Leningrad reversed with Nc3- see ****McDonald-B.Thipsay. 5.g2 gf6 6.0-0 0-0 7.d3 c5 8.e1 Black's idea was that if [ 8.c3 d4 9.a4? b5 wins material- the black knight is on d7 rather than its usual c6 square so that c5 is defended. Still, d7 is a more passive square than c6 so in some sense it felt like a small moral victory to White. ] 8...d4 9.c3?! White drops another tempo! Here [ 9.c4! was correct. ] 9...b6! I had thought the knight would be badly placed on b6- I had completely missed that it can land on a4 in what follows. 10.c4 c7 11.h3 d8 12.b4? Still missing Black's 13th move. I should have acted on the kingside with [ 12.g4 and 13 Qh4. ] 12...h5! Preventing 13 g4. 13.bd2 a4! Black's knights take control on both sides of the board. 14.b3 [ More accurate was 14.e4 centralising the knight. ] 14...b6! Thipsay is playing superb positional and tactical chess. 15.bxc5? Giving away the b file is a serious mistake. I was thrown by the fact that if [ 15.fxd4 b7! 16.b5 d7 17.xb7 xb7 and not only is a1 hanging but the knight on b5 is trapped and threatened with 18...a6. ] 15...bxc5 16.h2 c3 17.e4! The only way to gain space before W hite is put in a stranglehold after 17...Rb8, etc. b8 18.bd2 h6! 19.e5 f6? Finally Black goes wrong. After the game Thipsay told me he had planned to play [ 19...f6! 20.g4 xg4 21.hxg4 xf4! 31
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.gxf4 xf4+ 23.h3 ( White's pieces are t i e d u p a f t e r 23.h1 g3 24.f2 but it is the best chance for him.) 23...h5! but he couldn't quite assess how strong the attack was. It looks tremendous, for example 24.f3 hxg4+ 25.xg4 g7 and 26...Rh8+ will be very strong. ] 20.df3 b3 21.g5! Now White has counterplay. f8 22.f5! Hereabouts the game descended into a time scramble-not so surprising as we had both been thinking hard since move one! xe5 23.f3 c7 24.xh6 e8 25.e5 h5 26.g4 g7 27.fxg6 hxg6 28.h1 b7 29.f2 f8 30.ae1 b6 31.h4 b2? [ He had to eliminate the knight with 31...xf3 ] 32.xg7 xg7 33.g5! xg2+ 34.g1 Suddenly the game is over. Black resigned for if h8 35.xf7+ g8 36.f8+ xf8 37.xh8# 1-0
34 Mestrovic,Zvonimir Sermek,Drazen ch-(team) Pula CRO (7) [Tony Kosten]
A00 2466 2545 16.09.1999
1.c3 c5 2.e4!? There is still a place for originality in chess! This amazing move hopes t o p r o v o k e t h e b l a c k p a wn s f o r w a r d . e6 A sensible e, defending the c5-pawn, and preparing to repel the knight. Actually, it is this move that is new, as W hite's second move has already been employed, [ in Mestrovic,Z-Hulak,K/Zagreb 1977, Black played 2...e5 instead, and after 3.g3 d5 4.e4 f6 5.d3 c6 6.e2 e7 7.f3 0-0 8.0-0 e8 9.h3 h6 10.h2 d4 11.g4 xe2+ 12.xe2 xg4 13.hxg4 e6 14.f5 f6 15.c4 d4 16.g3 h7 17.g2 White was doing well. ] 3.g3 d5 4.e4 dxe4 Rather a limp reply, Black is clearly happy with equality. 5.xe4 e7 6.f3 f6 7.b5+ d7 8.xd7+ xd7 9.e2 xe4 10.xe4 c6 11.0-0 0-0 12.d3 f6 Black has no particular problems here, for sure, but [ 12...d4 13.xd4 cxd4 might have been
more interesting, hoping to pressurize the backward c-pawn straightaway. ] 13.g5 g6 14.h4 h5 15.f4 g7 16.e4 e7 17.g5 White has managed to drum-up a lit t le p la y a ro u nd t h e d a rk squ a re s . b6 18.xe7 xe7 19.b1 c6 20.d2 ad8 21.c3 d4 [ 21...b4! looks stronger, to me, as after 22.xb4 cxb4 Black keeps the bishop's diagonal open. ] 22.xd4 cxd4 23.f4 d7 24.be1 c8 25.e2 dc7 26.ff2 White has only one weakness, the pawn on c2, and this is easily defended. f8 ½-½
35 Minasian,Artashes Becerra Rivero,Julio It Los Angeles USA (8) [Tony Kosten]
A00 2571 2569 25.08.2003
1.g3 It is nice to see strong GMs playing this move, I sometimes try it myself, with reasonable success. g6 2.g2 g7 3.e4 e5 4.e2 c6 5.c3 ge7 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 d5! We have discussed this idea before. 8.e5 f6 Attacking the pawn head-on forces White to close the c1-h6 diagonal. [ 8...0-0 9.0-0 f5 10.a3 f6 11.f4 is f airly similar, Ubeira,E-Prol,I/Burgas 1999. ] 9.f4 e6!? A new move, although the [ 9...0-0 10.0-0 g4 of Polgar,Z-Xie Jun/ Jaen 1996, seems pretty effective - see the archives. ] 10.bc3 d7 11.h3 f5 Black plays this to stop White from playing Be3. 12.0-0 0-0-0!? A really aggressive choice, especially c o n s i d e r i n g t h e o p e n c - f i l e . 13.a4!? A case of 'you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs'! White concedes control of b4 but judges the b5 square to be more im p o rt a n t . a5!? Putting paid to the a-pawn's advance, but breaking the rule concerning not moving pawns in front of the king. It is true that other moves allow W hite to establish control of c5, e.g. [ 13...b8 14.a5 a6 15.a4 although even here f8 seems more than playable. ] 32
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.b5 Adding useful support to the d4-pawn, a s w e l l a s m e n a c i n g t h e b l a c k k i n g . b6 15.d2 b7 16.c1 White's play on the queenside seems to be the dominant factor here. a8?! Black is taking a very passive approach to this game. 17.f3! A nice way to double rooks. fe7 18.h2 hc8 19.fc3 ab8 Black has brought his pieces over to defend the king, but renounced any chance of p l a y o n t h e k i n g s i d e . 20.b3 a8? A b l u n d e r i n a b a d p o s i t i o n . 21.f5!! A liberating sacrifice, which opens the h2-b8 diagonal for the dark-squared bishop, and the f4-square for the e2-knight. gxf5 The only move, [ 21...xf5? 22.xc6 xc6 23.xd5 is instant curtains. ] 22.f4 White is winning - the main threat is Nxe6, then Rxc6 and Bxd5 with a decisive pin on the c6-knight. xd4 Pretty desperate, but [ 22...f7 is no help: 23.e6 xe6 24.xe6 xe6 25.xc6 xc6 26.xd5 ( or 26.xd5 ) 26...xd5 27.xd5 and Black loses a lot of material. ] 23.xd4 fxe5 24.dxe6 exf4 25.xc7+ a7 26.xd5? I can only believe that such a move is due to time trouble, as W hite has several simple wins, for instance [ 26.b5+! a6 27.c7 menacing the queen, and if that moves, mate on a7. ] 26...fxg3+ 27.h1? [ 27.xg3 e5 28.xc8 xg3+ 29.xg3 is still very good for White. ] 27...a6?? Returning the compliment, with interest! [ 27...xc3 is far from clear, Black has rook and two pawns for the bishops. ] 28.xc8 xc8 [ 28...xc8? 29.xb6# ] 29.c7+ a7 30.b5+ [ 30.c4 is even quicker. ] 30...a6 31.c7 1-0
36 Minasian,Artashes Ramesh,Ramachandran B 9th Open Dubai UAE (8) [Carsten Hansen]
A00 2586 2453 29.04.2007
1.g3 e5 2.g2 c6 3.d3 f6 4.a3!? Minasian likes to play somewhat unorthodoxly in the opening, and here tries something akin to a 'Tiger's Modern' with the colours reversed. It will probably not produce an advantage, but against a positional player like former British Champio n Ramesh, it can some times b e worthwhile to try something offbeat, particularly when it suits your own style. d5 5.d2 e6 [ Also 5...a5 can be considered to prevent W h i t e 's n e xt m o ve . B u t I gu e s s e i t h e r Ra m e sh d id n 't e xp e ct it o r p e rh a p s h e wasn't particular concerned about it. Yet ... a7-a5 limits White's options considerably. ] 6.b4!? This is entirely in accordance with Tiger Hillarp Persson's recipe, except he plays it as Black. Normally Tiger develops his bishop to b 2 (7 ) a n d p u sh e s h is c-p a wn f o rwa rd b e f o r e f in is h in g t h e d e ve lo p m e n t o f t h e kingside. It is very provocative and can be hazardous to your health. Nonetheless, Tiger has scored very well with his variation against players of all strengths thanks to the variation suiting his very combative and original form of chess. d6 7.c4 a5 8.b5 b8 9.gf3 [ White can also play 9.cxd5 xd5 10.b2 with a position that looks a lot like it came from an English Opening, but Minasian has other things in mind. ] 9...c6 10.bxc6 bxc6 11.b2 fd7 [ I suppose 11...bd7!? is a perfectly good alternative too. ] 12.0-0 0-0 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.e4 d4 [ Also 14...c6!? can be considered, e.g. 15.exd5 ( 15.c1!? c8 16.exd5 xd5 17.e1 ) 15...xd5 16.c4 c5 17.e1 ( 17.fxe5? dxe5 18.xe5 xe5 19.xe5 xg2 20.xg2 d4 ) 17...f6 18.c1 A) Here 18...e8 and only after 19.d2 B l a c k g o e s b8 is probably a better continuation for Black, leaving him with a slightly better game 20.fxe5 dxe5 ( 20...xg2?! 21.xd7 xe1+ 22.xe1 33
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xd7 23.xg2 is better for W hite!) 21.xe5 xe5 22.xe5 xf2+ 23.xf2 fxe5 with no more than a pull for Black; B) 18...b8 19.d4!? xd4 ( 19...xf3 will likely reach the same position as in the main line through a little transposition 20.xf3 xd4 21.d5+ h8 22.xd4 xd4 23.d6 ) 20.xd4 xf3 21.xf3 xd4 22.d5+ h8 23.d6 b6 24.f1 and W hite's active pieces easily compensate for the missing pawn. ] 15.xd4!? This is an entertaining way of shaking the matters up quite a bit, and Black responds in startlingly terrible fashion by making a massive blunder. If White had tried a more King's Indian kind-of-move, Black would be better thanks to the soft d3-pawn a n d t h e m a n y we a k s q u a r e s o n W h i t e ' s queenside, whereas W hite will be far from p ro d u c in g a n yt h i n g o f su b st a n ce o n t h e kingside. c5?? [ A dreadful blunder, although it has to be said that White's strong 17th move can be overlooked. However, it isn't entirely clear why Black thought his move in the game is s t r o n g e r t h a n 15...exd4 16.e5 xe5! ( 16...a6 17.exd6 xd6 leaves White with an advantage) 17.xa8 b6! 18.c1 ( Or 18.b1 a2 19.c4 xc4 20.dxc4 xb1 21.xb1 d7 22.e4 f6 and Black is doing rather well) 18...bc6 19.e4 xa8 20.xd6 h3 21.f4 xf1 22.xf1 d7 23.d2 and White has an edge, but Black has chances too. ] 16.xe6 xe6 [ Or 16...fxe6 17.c4 c6 18.d4 xd4 19.xd4 exd4 20.e5 and White is again winning ] 17.d4! This may well have been the move that Black had overlooked since he now resigned without any further ado. A possible continuation is d7 18.c4 c7 19.xd6 xd6 20.dxe5 and Black is down two pawns without any form of compensation 1-0
37 Minasian,Artashes Van Beek,Alexander IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (1) [Carsten Hansen]
A00 2574 2343 21.04.2008
1.g3 d5 2.g2 e5 3.d3 f6 4.f3 d6 5.0-0 [ 5.c4!? was examined in AzmaiparashviliMahjoob, Tripoli 2004, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] 5...0-0 6.c4 dxc4 [ This is ECO's preference for Black. An alternative is 6...c6 A) 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.c3 ( 8.g5 bd7 9.c3 h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.c1 e6 12.d4 e4 13.e1 d7 14.f3 exf3 15.exf3 b5 16.d3 with chances to both sides, Petran, P-Kreindl, H/Vienna 1998) 8...h6 ( or 8...d4!? 9.b5 c6 10.xd6 xd6 11.d2 e6 12.a4 d5 13.h3 e4 14.b3 exd3 15.f4 e7 16.exd3 e2 , and Black has the initiative, H o d g s o n , J - S a d l e r , M / L o n d o n 1 9 9 1) 9.b5 ( 9.b3?! d4 10.d5 xd5 11.xd5 c6 12.d2 e6 13.b5 e7 , a n d B la ck 's ch a n ce s a re so m e wh a t preferably, W arakomski, T-Dziuba, M/ Krakow POL 2006) 9...c6 10.xd6 xd6 11.d4 e4 12.e5 e6 13.xc6 xc6 14.f4 d7 15.d2 h5 16.fc1 e6 was another Minasian game: Minasian, A-Izoria, Z/ Batumi GEO 2003, and here White is possibly slightly better after 17.e5!?; B) 7.c2 e7 8.e4 dxe4 9.dxe4 a6 10.c3 e6 11.b3 b4 12.e2 a5 13.b2 fd8 with approximately even chances, Schoene, R-Baumbach, F/ Germany 1995; C) 7.g5 h6 8.xf6 xf6 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.c3 d4 11.e4 e7 12.a3 c6 13.b4 , and White has the initiative, Maiwald, J-Kayser, F/Dresden GER 2007 ] 7.dxc4 c6 [ This move is perfectly logical, removing White's access to the d5-square. Nevertheless, Black has tried several other things in this position: A) 7...e7 8.c3 h6 9.d2 c6 10.a3 a5 11.c2 a6 12.b3 g4 13.b2 fe8 14.de4 f5 15.xf6+ 34
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xf6 16.e4 xe4 17.xe4 f5 with chances to both sides, Rajkovic, DAlburt, L/Odessa 1975 ] [ B) 7...e4 8.g5 f5 9.c3 e8 10.c5 ( 10.b3 is the only move covered in the ECO, e7 11.xb7 bd7 12.d5 d8 13.xf6+ xf6 14.b5 c5 15.h3 c7 16.f4 ab8 17.a4 , and Black has adequate compensation for the pawn, Jansa, V-Gurevich, V/Andorra 1993) 10...xc5 11.xd8 xd8 12.gxe4 xe4 13.xe4 e7 14.f4 a6 , Maiwald, JSteingrimsson, H/Kreuzberg GER 2003 15.fd1 ] [ C) 7...c6 8.c3 h6 ( 8...g4 9.e3 d7 10.g5 f5 11.xf6 xf6 12.e4 e7 13.xd6 ad8 with a comfortable game for Black) 9.b5!? ( 9.e1 g4 10.c2 c8 11.e3 h3 , and Black is more comfortable Agrifoglio, F-Vancini, E/ C e r i a n o 1 9 9 9) 9...e4 10.fd4 e5 11.xc6 bxc6 12.c3 xc3 13.bxc3 , and here a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Moldovan, D-Grigore, G/Bucharest 2001, though obviously there is still plenty of play left in the final position. ] [ D) 7...e8 8.c3 h6 9.b5 ( 9.e4!? g4 10.e3 c6 11.a3; 9.c5 xc5 10.xd8 xd8 11.xe5 c6 12.f4 a6= ) 9...c6 10.e3 e4 11.xd6 cxd6 12.d4 e5 , and Black has the initiative, thanks to the weaknesses on the light squares on W hite's kingside, Bancod, R-Grigore, G/ Genova 1999 ] 8.c3 h6 [ Black has tried a couple of other moves at this juncture 8...f5 9.c5 xc5 10.xe5 e7 11.c4 d8 12.e1 e6 13.d2 bd7 , and Black has nothing to worry about, Gerzadowicz, S-Harabor, M/corr 1990 ] [ 8...e6 9.b3 h6 10.b2 e7 11.c2 bd7 12.ad1 fd8 13.e4 xe4 14.xe4 was Galinsky, T-Madynski, P/ Bydgoszcz 1999, and now Black should have played c5 15.e3 e4 16.d4 g4 17.f3!? exf3 18.xe7 f2+ ( 18...xe7 19.exf3 h5 20.f5 f8= ) 19.xf2 xe7 20.df1 f6 , and the chances are about even ] 9.h3 [ Or 9.c2 e8 10.d1 e7 11.d2 e6
12.a3 a5 13.b1 a6 , and Black has solved his opening problems successfully, Weber, S-Liwak, P/ Germany 2002 ] 9...e6 10.b3 e7 11.c2 d8 12.b2 bd7 13.ad1 f8 14.h4 [ 14.g4 g6 15.e3 a3 16.a1 is fine for Black after h5 17.g5 h7 ] 14...a3 15.a1 The exchange of the darksquared bishops is in Black's interest, so obviously White doesn't oblige xd1 16.xd1 8d7 [ I think Black can do better with 16...c7!? 17.c3 d6 18.c5 ( 18.e3!? ) 18...e7 19.xe5 xe5 20.xe5 xc5 21.xf6?! ( 21.b2= ) 21...gxf6 is absolutely fine for Black, in fact I prefer Black's chances in this position on account of the bishops and Black's queenside pawn majority ] 17.e3 e8 18.hf5 f8 [ 18...f6 19.f4 c5 20.h2 is better for White ] 19.g4 d6 20.e4 White has the more active position and the initiative. f6 21.d1 d8 22.c3 c5 23.d2 [ White has a couple of interesting alternatives, e.g. 23.ge3!? ] [ or 23.b4!? a6 24.xd6 xd6 25.b1 c5 26.b5 c7 27.e3 with an advantage for White ] 23...f7 24.h4 d4 25.f5 [ 25.e3 d8 26.f4 exf4 27.gxf4 d3 opens the game unnecessarily ] 25...d7 26.c3 d8 27.f1 d3 28.e2 c5 29.h4 a5 30.f3 e7 31.ge3 d6?! [ 31...f8 32.d1 b6 33.g4 h7= ] 32.h3 [ 32.xe7+ xe7 33.d1 f7 ( 33...c5 34.f5 d7 35.xd6 xd6 36.xd6 xd6 37.xa5 ) 34.f1 d7 35.f5 c5 36.xd7 xd7 37.d1 b6 38.h5 ] 32...xf5 [ 32...c5 33.b4 xf5 34.xf5 axb4 35.xe7+ xe7 36.xb4 e6 37.g4 ] 33.xf5?! [ 33.xf5!? xf5 34.xf5 d6 35.g4 ] 33...xf5 34.xf5 b4= 35.xb4 xb4 36.g4 h8 37.h5 xa2 38.g2 c3 39.c1 a2 40.e1 and here I suspect Black lost on time, because he isn't worse after either 40...Nc3 or 40. ..b5. 1-0 35
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 38 Minasian,Artashes Volokitin,Andrei IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (2) [Carsten Hansen]
A00 2574 2684 22.04.2008
1.g3 e5 2.g2 d5 3.d3 c6 4.a3 f6 5.b4 [ 5.d2 e6 6.b4 was examined in Minasian-Ramesh, Dubai 2007, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] 5...d6 [ This move looks perfectly logical, but Black has in fact tried quite a few different things in this position: A) 5...a5!? 6.b5 d4 ( 6...a7!? 7.f3 d6 8.a4 c6 9.bxc6 xc6 10.0-0 0-0 with a comfortable game for Black, Conquest, S-Finegold, B/Oakham 1986 ) 7.c3 c6 8.b1 d6 9.e3 e6 10.ge2 0-0 11.0-0 e7 12.a4 d7 13.f4 f5 , and Black is doing fine, Larsen, BLjubojevic, L/Las Palmas 1975 ] [ B) 5...h6 6.b2 d6 7.c4 d4 8.d2 0-0 9.gf3 e8 10.0-0 ( 10.c5!? ) 10...a6 11.e1!? ( 11.b3 f5 12.e4 dxe3 13.fxe3 d7 14.e4 g4 15.h4 f8 16.df3 ad8 , and Black has the somewhat better chances, Norri, J-Ebeling, M/Helsinki 1990) 11...f5 12.h3 d7 13.h2 h7 14.e4 b5 ( 14...a5!? 15.c5 f8 16.b3 e6= ) 15.c1 Mista, ASzymanski, M/Warsaw POL 2005 ] [ C) 5...a6 6.b2 e7 7.d2 0-0 8.c4 e8 ( 8...d4!? 9.gf3 d6 ) 9.cxd5 xd5 10.gf3 f6 ( 10...f8 11.0-0 f6 12.c1 h8 13.b3 a5 14.b5 a7 15.a4 Koshy, V-Sofieva, A/Calcutta 1993) 11.0-0 e6 12.b3 d7 13.c1 h3?! ( 13...ad8 14.c5 xc5 15.xc5 b6 is solid and playable for Black) 14.xh3 xh3 15.e4! b6 16.d4 , and White has grabbed control over the game, W ohl, ASolomon, S/Canberra AUS 2005 ] [ D) 5...e6 6.f3 d6 7.0-0 d7 8.b2 0-0-0 9.b5 e7 10.xe5 h5 11.xd6 xd6 12.h4 g4 13.bd2 f5 14.e4 , and W hite has taken over the initiative, Mirzoev, A-Rodriguez Dobladez, V/ Balaguer 2005 ] 6.b2 0-0 7.d2 e8 8.c4 [ In an earlier game by Volokitin, White tried
8.e4 dxe4 9.dxe4 a5 10.c3 g4 ( 10...axb4 11.axb4 xa1 12.xa1 g4 13.gf3 d7 is given as better for Black by my computer, but I like W hite's chances) 11.gf3 e7 12.e2 d7 13.h3 h5 14.c4 ( 14.g4 g6 15.0-0 also looks promising for W hite) 14...b6 15.e3 ( 15.g4!? ) 15...d7 16.0-0 a4 17.ad1 axb4 18.axb4 f6 19.c1 , and White has the slightly better chances, Movsesian, SVolokitin, A/Koelln GER 2003 ] 8...dxc4 9.xc4 a5 10.b5 d4 11.a4 b4+ 12.f1 d7 [ Black can also consider 12...c5 , and after the normal 13.e3 , the piece sacrifice g4!? 14.f3 e6 15.exd4 exd4 deserves attention ] 13.e3 f5 14.f3 f6 15.g4!? Obviously W hite cannot let go of this opportunity to shake things up a bit. d6 16.xd6 xd6 [ 16...cxd6!? intending ...d5 and ...Nb6 also deserve consideration ] 17.d2 c5 18.e4 f5?! [ I don't like this move, but Black undoubtedly tried to take advantage of the positio n o f W h ite 's king. A be tter try is 18...xe4 19.xe4 b8 20.f3 with chances to both sides. ] 19.xd6 xd6 22 , and here a draw was prematurely agreed upon. W hite is doing rather well after 20 d4 exd4 Qxd4 Qxd4 Bxd4 [ 19...cxd6 20.d4 exd4 21.xd4 c7 22.d5+ h8 23.b6 e7 24.gxf5 xf5 25.g1 ] ½-½
39 Miralles,Gilles Bologan,Viktor National I Bordeaux FRA (6) [Tony Kosten]
A00 2451 2663 06.04.2003
1.b4 e5 2.b2 d6 Unusual, Black solidly defends his e-pawn, but [ 2...xb4 is more common, and ] [ 2...f6 is not bad, either. ] 3.g3 f5 4.g2 f6 5.c4 So White takes play into the English Opening scheme of things. e7!? This appears a trifle passive, Black normally prefers to fianchetto his bishop 36
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 by [ 5...g6 6.d3 g7 7.e3 0-0 8.e2 W hite can delay the development of his queen's knight to keep this different, a6!? ( 8...c6 9.b5 e7 10.d2!? Kalinin,OHn yd iu k , A / Z a b rza n sk i W rze s ie n 1 9 9 4) 9.d2!? ( 9.bc3 c6 would be fairly similar to Closed English lines) 9...c6 10.a3 b8 11.0-0 was another game of Gilles Miralles, against Hofmann, at Groningen but played more than twenty years before! ] 6.b3!? An odd idea, and Gilles was not very happy with it after the game. [ 6.c3 c6 7.f3 0-0 8.0-0 e6 was Braley,J-Tomkins,K/Seattle 1984. ] 6...0-0 7.f3 h8 8.0-0 White delays playing d3 in the hope that Black will play ... e 4 a n d o v e r - e x t e n d h i s c e n t r e . e8 Standard play in such 'Dutch-style' positions, Black plans ...Qh5, and ... f4 with a kingside attack. 9.c3 h5 10.d5 xd5 11.cxd5 d7 12.d3 f6 13.ae1?! After the game we examined the more natural [ 13.ac1 d8 as with the bishop on this less active square W hite is unlikely to be mated, 14.e4!? f4 ( 14...fxe4 15.dxe4 xe4 16.xe5 d2 17.d1 h6 18.e1 dxe5 19.xe5 and the knight will be trapped by f4 ) 15.d4 which seemed very favourable for White. ] 13...f4 14.e4!? White wants to follow with d4 and open the centre, but this weakens f3. h3 All according to plan, ...Ng4 and ...fxg3 come next. 15.d4 g4 16.dxe5 dxe5 [ 16...xg2 17.xg2 xe5 18.xe5 dxe5 19.f3 looks nice for White. ] 17.xh3 White may already be lost, for example [ 17.a3 fxg3 18.fxg3 xg2 19.xg2 xf3! 20.xf3 xh2+ 21.f1 g5! and there is no satisfactory defence against ...Qh1+, and then ...Qg2+. ] 17...xh3 18.xe5?! Obviously critical, for if White can't take this then Black has an attack for nothing, but all the same it was time to defend the second rank by [ 18.e2 ] 18...d6! 19.d4 After this Black wins by a direct sacrificial attack, but anyway [ 19.xd6 cxd6 20.e2 f6 is also very
unpleasant. ] 19...fxg3 20.fxg3 xg3! 21.e2 Defending h2 laterally, [ 21.hxg3? xg3+ 22.h1 xf3 kills the defender of h2. ] 21...e5! Black plays with great precision. 22.c5?! [ 22.xe5 xe5 further attacks the pinned white knight, 23.e3 g4+ 24.h1 xf3 25.exf3 xe4 and Black is a pawn to the good, with a great position. ] 22...f6 23.g2 xh2! 24.xh2 [ 24.xh2 allows a f orced mate: xh2+ 25.xh2 xf1# ] 24...xh2+ 25.xh2 g6+ 26.f2 xh2+ 0-1
40 Morozevich,Alexander Kasparov,Garry Fujitsu-Siemens Giants (10) [Tony Kosten]
A00 2748 2851 25.06.2000
1.c3!? A surprising attempt to take the World Champion out of his opening knowledge. c5 2.d4 [ Unusual, 2.f3 is the normal Dunst move. ] 2...cxd4 3.xd4 c6 4.h4 The point, the queen takes-up an active post on the kingside. f6 5.f3 [ 5.e4?! whilst apparently desirable, allows the reply b4 6.d3 xd3+ 7.cxd3 d5 and Black is better. ] 5...d5 6.g5 a5! [ Already a new move, 6...e6 7.0-0-0 e7 8.e4 a5 9.exd5 xd5 10.xd5 exd5 11.xe7 xe7 12.b1 favoured White in Becking,F-Staggat,R/Weilburg 1995. ] 7.0-0-0 e6 Odd, but the only way of defending d5 which doesn't lose a pawn. 8.d2 [ An unnatural reply, but White already has difficulties, the natural 8.e3?! allows e4! 9.xe4 dxe4 10.xe4 xa2 denuding the white king. ] 8...g6 Black takes the opportunity to complete his kingside development. 9.e4!? [ White hopes to profit from his superior development to open the position, but the ta ct ics a re no t u nf a vo ura ble f or B lac k . 37
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.a3!? ] 9...d4 10.e5 g4! [ 10...dxc3 11.xc3 xa2 12.exf6 is very risky. ] 11.xd4! xd4 12.h3 g7 13.hxg4 xe5 14.a3 c8 15.d3 White seems well-placed, as the open h-file stops Black from castling, b u t t h e b l a c k p i e c e s a r e a c t i v e . b3+! Black sees a neat perpetual, and decides to m a k e a d r a w . 16.cxb3 xc3 17.xc3 xc3+ 18.b1? [ A risky winning attempt, 18.bxc3 xc3+ 19.b1 xb3+ 20.c1 c3+ is an immediate draw. ] 18...xb3 19.h2 c3! A key tactical point, parrying the threatened Qb8+, and menacing mate, too. 20.b8+ c8 21.d2 The only move to defend b2. 0-0 [ 21...xd2?? 22.xc8# ] 22.h2 h5 Black's threats give him the time to defend his king. 23.hd1 xg4 24.f3 e6 Now White has two pawns less, for nothing. 25.g4 hxg4 26.fxg4 xg4 27.g1 xb2+! The simplest. 28.xb2 xd3+ 29.c2 d7 30.d2 xd2 31.xd2 f3 The ending is hopeless, the f our extra black pawns are much more significant than the exchange. 32.b2 c6 33.c3 g7 34.b4 e5 35.a4 a6 36.a5 e4 37.c5 e8 38.e1 e6 Black is in no rush, and simply puts his pieces on good squares, before pushing some o f h is p a wn s . 39.d4 f5 40.h2 f6 41.h8 d6+ 42.c5 d5+ 43.b6 b5+ 44.c7 xa5 0-1
Ernst,T/Skelleftea SWE 1999. ] 2.e3 I think that this is White's soundest reply. [ Black's system is designed to counter the obvious move 2.b2 as Black replies b6 attacking, and pinning, the b-pawn, 3.a3 a5 4.c4 A trick, based on a tactic, ( 4.c3?! is horribly passive, d5 5.e3 e5 and Black has a good position, Dovzik,J-Revuckij,V/ S ze g e d 1 9 9 8 .; but I wonder if 4.f3!? i s p o s s i b l e ? T h e p o i n t i s t h a t axb4 can be countered by 5.d4 c5? 6.xc5! w i n n i n g a p a w n , a s xc5?! 7.axb4 is a standard trick, winning the exchange.) 4...axb4 5.c5 This is the same idea, of course, c7 ( 5...xc5?? 6.axb4 wins a rook!) 6.axb4 xa1 7.xa1 d6 8.a4 e5 9.f3 d7 10.cxd6 xd6 11.g3 gf6 12.c3 b6 and White had problems b e c a u s e o f h i s we a k b - p a w n , a n d t h e imminent advance of the black e-pawn, Teichmann,E-Watts,D/Southampton 1986. ] 2...d5 3.b2 f6 The move [ 3...b6?! has absolutely no effect here, 4.a3 a5 5.d4 c7 6.f4 keeping a firm grip on the e5-square, axb4 7.axb4 xa1 8.xa1 d7 9.f3 gf6 10.c1! very original, the queen is coming to b2 to emphasize White's control over the a1-h8 diagonal. e6 11.b2 b5 12.e2 and the black light-squared bishop is se ve re l y in h i b i t e d , H o rt - A n ga n t ys s o n / Bundesliga 1985. ] 4.f4 The same idea as in the Hort game, W hite attempts to control the central darksquares. [ 4.f3 is less effective, g4 5.e2 bd7 6.h3 xf3 7.xf3 e6 8.a3 d6 and Black 41 A00 had a solid set-up, Palac,M-Rosandic,D/ Pula 1994. ] Ornstein,Axel 2425 Hansen,Sune Berg 2520 4...g4 5.f3 e6 Sensible play by Black, Troll Masters (8) 14.01.1999 having developed his c8-bishop outside the pawn chain, he can now put his pawns on [Tony Kosten] light squ a re s, ju st a s in t h e Cap a b la n c a 1.b4 c6 A strange move, under the Variation of the Reti. 6.a3 bd7 7.c4 d6 circumstances, but one with a definite tactical 8.cxd5 exd5 9.e2 0-0 10.0-0 e8 11.c3 12.d4 xe2 13.cxe2 a5! point. In fact, I once saw someone claim that c8 Black attempts to create a weakness on the this was the refutation of 1 b4. [ 1...a5 is worse, as after 2.b5 f6 3.b2 queenside. 14.c2 b6 15.ed4 c5 16.f5 g6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 0-0 6.c4 d6 7.c3 f8 17.bxc5 bxc5 18.g4? Bearing in mind e5 8.d3 Black has simply encouraged White that Black has the stronger central presence, to gain space on the queenside, Akesson,R- this weakening of the king's defences seems 38
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 most inappropriate. b6 19.b1 e6 20.h3 3...e5 The position has turned into a type of h5! Black does not waste his time, but hits King Pawn Opening. If Black omits 3...e5, then straight at White's weakest point. 21.f2 b8 we will have a g3 Pirc, again, i.e. 22.a4 d4 The thematic hanging-pawns thrust. [ 3...d6 4.d4 or, if Black plays ...c5, a Closed 23.a3 b4 24.exd4 a2 25.b5? Sicilian. ] This loses a piece, the best chance lay in [ 3...c5 assuming White plays Nc3, there is [ 25.d3 when hxg4 26.hxg4 xb2 27.fxb2 o n e o r i g i n a l l i n e , w h i c h g o e s 4.c3!? xa3 wins two pieces for a rook, but there is i n t e n d i n g d 4 , c6 5.e2 but White's still play in the position. ] results with this line are disastrous, e5 6.d3 25...xb2 ge7 7.e3 d6 8.0-0 0-0 Black has 0-1 adopted a Botvinnik set-up, which is more than satisfactory, Mozes,E-Wells,P/ Harkany op 1993. ] 42 A00 4.e2 c6 Black keeps control of d4, Polgar,Zsuzsa 2550 otherwise, [ 4...f6 5.d4 Xie Jun 2530 A) 5...exd4 6.xd4 concedes the centre, (m/1) Jaen 1996 but cannot be too bad, as a Pirc-style [Tony Kosten] position will be reached, in all likelihood. 0-0 7.c3 c6!? ( 7...d6 is safer. ) 1.g3 g6 2.g2 g7 This is a flexible 8.xc6!? dxc6 9.0-0 with advantage to response to W hite's opening. Black is, White because of his extra kingside pawn, presumably, happy to adopt a King's Indian King-Ostojic, Mondorf 1991.; should W hite play d4, or perhaps a Closed B) 5...d6!? 6.bc3 ( 6.dxe5 dxe5 Sicilian if White plays a later e4. 3.e4 7.xd8+ xd8 must be a little better for [ 3.c3 Is a pet line of Larsen's, refusing to White. ) 6...c6 7.h3 b5 8.a3 b7 9.e3 t r a n s p o s e i n t o ' n o r m a l ' l i n e s . c5 bd7 10.f4 unclear, Wessman-Shirov, Black invites 4 e4, which transposes to the Moscow 1991. ] Closed Sicilian. 4.d3 c6 5.f4 but White The same idea as in the note to move p r e f e r s a r e v e r s e d D u t c h ! ( 5.a3!? 5.c3 takes play into entirely new territory: e6 three, W hite tries to set-up a pawn centre. Black prepares ...d5 in reply, and this 6.f3 d6 7.g5 when, despite Black's lack ge7! of ambition, he still has a good position, will be successful as White has insufficient L a r s e n , B - C a l v o M i n g u e z , R / P a l m a d e control over this square without his queen's Mallorca 1968.) 5...b6 6.f3 b7 7.0-0 d6 knight on c3. [ 5...d6 is solid, if uninspiring, 6.d4 ge7 8.e4 Against Black's refusal to play ...d5, 7.d5 b8 8.c4 0-0 9.bc3 and in this KI White finally 'concedes defeat', and plays e4. position, White has an edge, DamljanovicA position not atypical of the Closed Sicilian Cvetkovic, 1992. ] i s r e a c h e d . L a r s e n , B - S t r i k o vi c , A / L a s 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 d5 The standard method Palmas 1992. ] [ 3.d4 Is one of the tricky points of this of disarming a pawn centre, before it can do system. If Black plays f6 mechanically, any damage. 8.e5 f6 9.f4 0-0 10.0-0 g4 expecting to take play into a KI after 4 Nf3, The black pieces are well-placed to pressure or 4 c4, then he may get a nasty surprise: the white centre. 11.bc3 fxe5 12.fxe5?! 4.e4 of course, White's second move has Better to keep the f-file closed, by [ 12.dxe5 although Black gets plenty of play prepared the ground for this by controlling after d4 as if 13.b3+ h8 14.d1 then e4. d6 Black has to play a Pirc, whether he c8 wins the exchange. ] likes it, or not. 5.e2 0-0 6.0-0 e5 7.h3 with transposition into the g3 Pirc. Whilst it 12...xf1+ 13.xf1 d7 14.h3? This allows is true that it is not that worrying for Black, a tactical sequence, but even after [ 14.e3 f8 15.c1 Black has a plus, h3 but only providing he knows what he is doing, exchanging White's better bishop. ] Miles, A-Fedorowicz,J/Ramsgate 1981 ] 39
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14...f8 15.f4 g5! 16.hxg4 gxf4 17.gxf4 xg4 The white centre is exposed, both the d, and f-pawns are going to come under attack. 18.e2 g3 19.f2?! xf2+ 20.xf2 xd4 21.xd5 g6 First the d4-pawn is lost, now Black attacks the e5, and f 4-pawns. 22.c3?! As White is in a bad way, she should try to exchange as many pawns as possible: [ 22.xc7 is the best chance, therefore, xf4 23.xf4 xf4+ 24.e3 although Black has every chance to win after xe5 ] 22...c6! 23.e3? xe5!? 24.d1 xf4 25.xf4 Unfortunately for White, winning the two pieces for the rook by [ 25.xd4 xd4+ 26.xd4 e6+ 27.e3 is quite hopeless after xd4 28.xd4 f2 as Black has too many pawns. ] 25...xf4+ 26.e3 f5+ 27.d3 g4 28.h3 d4+ Swapping rooks after this the game is a formality, despite the oppositecolour bishops. 29.e2 xd1 30.xd1 d6 31.b4 g7 32.a4 f6 33.f2 d4 34.d3 b6 35.f4 c5 36.d5+ e5 37.bxc5 bxc5 38.e7 a6 39.a5 c4 40.c6+ d6 41.b8 c7? A blunder, allowing a technical draw, [ 41...xa5 42.xa6 c4 was simple, and effective. ] 42.xa6+ b7 Trapping the knight, but 43.xc5+! The best, [ 43.f5 A l s o l o o ks g o o d , a f t e r xa6 44.d3 as b5 45.xc4+ forces 45...Kxa5, xc4?? would actually lose after 46.a6 and the pawn cannot be stopped! ] 43...xc5 44.a6+! b6 Forced, [ 44...xa6? 45.f5 h5 46.d3 b5 47.xc4+ xc4 48.f3 draws, as Black has the wrong rook's pawn! ] 45.d3? A mistake, [ 45.c8 should draw, as Black can only take the a6-pawn with his knight when a drawn position is reached. ] 45...d6 Stopping the above manoeuvre, and winning. 46.e2 xa6 47.f3 b6 48.e6 c7 49.g4 d8 50.h5 e3 51.g8 h6 52.b3 e7 53.g6 e4 54.d1 e6 55.g4+ e5 56.d1 g5 57.e2 f4 58.d1 g3 59.a4 h5 60.d7 h4 0-1
43 Pridorozhni,Aleksei Jakovenko,Dmitrij RUS Cup rapid final (2.3) [Fier, Alexandr]
A00 2517 2721 20.12.2013
It's always interesting to see how the top players react against exotic lines. In this game Pridorozhni tried 1.g4 and Jakovenko didn't try to refute it, but just played a solid and sound idea. It's important to appreciate that W hite needed to win this game to co n t in ue in th e Cu p . 1.g4 d5 2.g2 Since this position is not played so often at grandmaster level, alternatives can arrive early. 2.Bg2 makes some sense, developing the bishop and being ready to meet 2. ..Bxg4 with 3.c4, even if it is not clear if this is good for White. [ 2.h3 was the choice of one of the experts in this line when he played against Hebden. Black played som e st ra nge mo ve s an d White soon gained the initiative. This order can transpose to 2.Bg2 c6 3.h3 e5, but avoiding the line with 2... Bxg4 e5 3.g2 c6 4.d4 d7 5.c4 e4 6.c3 b6 7.c5 c4 8.b3 a5 9.f3 Basman, M (2340)-Hebden, M (2548)/4NCL rapid Daventry 2013. ] 2...e6 This is much less ambitious than the other moves. [ 2...xg4!? it's also OK to fall for this 'trick': 3.c4 c6 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.b3 f6 6.c3 e6 7.xb7 bd7 and White changes the gpawn for the b-pawn which doesn't make much sense. In addition the pieces are unstable, so I think Black is already better here. ] [ 2...c6 3.h3 ( 3.c4 dxc4 here the pawn would probably be better on g3 instead of g4 4.b3 xg4 5.bxc4 e5 6.b3 c7 a n d B l a c k i s a p a w n u p) 3...e5 would transpose to 2.h3 ] 3.d3 c5 4.c3 c6 5.e4 dxe4 [ 5...d4 makes more sense with the pawn on g4, compared to the same position with the pawn on g3 6.ce2 e5 and the break with f4 is now less effective 7.g3 e6 8.h3 and White is going to try Ng1-e2 and f4 at some point, but Black should be fine ] 6.xe4 f6 [ 6...e7 7.e2 f6 8.2g3 xe4 40
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.xe4 ] 7.g5 [ 7.xf6+ can transpose to the game again xf6 8.g5 ( 8.e2 also possible, but doesn't change much d7 9.g5 d8 10.e3 with a balanced position) 8...d8 9.e4 and we are back ] 7...xe4 [ 7...d5 is another interesting option, but Black doesn't mind changing some pieces 8.e2 e7 9.0-0 0-0 10.a3 e5 11.c4 c7 12.e3 e6 13.d2 with a complex middlegame ] 8.xe4 e7 9.h4 [ 9.f3 is another setup c7 to castle on the queenside ( 9...0-0 10.h4 c7 11.e3 and White has decent attacking chances) 10.e3 d7 11.e2 0-0-0 12.0-0-0 b8 with a game full of life ] 9...c7 [ 9...0-0 was still possible and White can transpose to the last note with 10.f3 ] 10.e3 b6 [ 10...b6 is a provocative idea, when White will probably sacrifice the pawn 11.b1!? a5+ taking the a-pawn instead 12.f1 xa2 13.f3 0-0 14.g2 with some compensation ] 11.f3 b7 12.e2?! White allows some unnecessary exchanges. With the advanced pawns it would be better to keep the queens on to have some attacking chances. [ 12.0-0-0 avoids the trick of the game e5 13.g2 xe4 14.xe4 d8 ( 14...c6 15.xe5 xh1 and now this move is not check 16.xg7 f8 17.xh7 ) 15.e2 with a level position ] 12...e5 13.g2 xe4 14.xe4 [ 14.dxe4 d8 and White's king stays in the middle, since 15.0-0 is not good because of c4 with a good position for Black ] 14...c6! A good move for those who needs to draw. 15.0-0-0 [ 15.xc6+ xc6 16.0-0-0 0-0-0 is also ok for Black ] 15...xe4 16.dxe4 g4 And now not only Black is fine, but he is already slightly better. 17.h3 d8 [ 17...xe3! was more direct and White has no time to consolidate the position 18.xe3 h6 19.f4 ( 19.g1 hxg5 20.hxg5 h2
is also annoying, Black will play ...c4 and ... Rd8 and W hite has no clear counterplay) 19...hxg5 20.hxg5 e5 and White has some problems with the structure ] 18.g1 xe3 19.xe3 d7 Black goes for the most solid approach. [ 19...h6 was still possible 20.e5 this can control the position, but White will be kind of static hxg5 21.hxg5 h2 22.f4 c4 23.e4 b5 with a small advantage for Black ] 20.f4 d8 21.a4 c7 22.f5 exf5 23.exf5 d6 24.c3 dd8 25.f1 he8 And White t r i e s i n va i n t o c r e a t e s o m e t h i n g i n t h e endgame over the next few moves. 26.ff3 xe3 27.xe3 d7 28.c2 e7 29.xe7+ xe7 30.d3 c6 31.e4 d6 32.g1 g3 33.f3 d6 34.b4 cxb4 35.cxb4 a6 36.d4 g6 37.f6 b5 38.a5 f2+ 39.e4 g3 40.d4 f2+ 41.e4 g3 42.e3 Trying to force somehow. [ 42.d4 f2+ would be a draw ] 42...d5 But now Black is just winning. 43.d3 d6 44.c3 e4 [ 44...f4 45.d3 g3 46.c3 e4 wins ] 45.d2+ d5 46.b3 e5+ [ 46...g3 is still quite interesting 47.c5 xh4 48.xa6 xg5 49.d3 xf6 With a pleasant endgame for Black. ] 47.d3 d6 48.c3 e5+ 49.d3 d6 50.c3 ½-½
44 Reti,Richard Alekhine,Alexander Baden-Baden Baden Baden (8) [Nigel Davies]
A00
25.04.1925
Besides playing 1.Nf3 Reti adopted both the English Opening and 1.g3 as White. Here we see him venturing the latter move against no less a player than Alexander Alekhine. 1.g3 e5 2.f3 A kind of Alekhine's Defence with colours reversed. The move ...g7-g6 is often useful for Black in the Alekhine so g2-g3 will be similarly useful for White. e4 3.d4 d5 4.d3 exd3 5.xd3 [ 5.cxd3 would be more in keeping with lines of the Alekhine Defence. But Reti wants to play a later c2-c4 and then play along the 41
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 open d- and c-files. ] 5...f6 6.g2 b4+ [ 6...c5 should be considered here. ] 7.d2 xd2+ 8.xd2 0-0 9.c4 a6 [ 9...c5 is well worth considering here, for example 10.4b3 a6 11.0-0 b4 is more or less equal. ] 10.cxd5 b4 11.c4 bxd5 12.2b3 c6 13.0-0 e8 14.fd1 Once again Reti has achieved an excellent position with play along the open c- and d-files and a useful kingside pawn majority. What's fascinating to see in this game is Alekhine stirring up massive complications. And this all goes to show that the opening is not enough. g4 15.d2 c8 16.c5 h3 17.f3 g4 18.g2 h3 19.f3 g4 20.h1 [ 20.g2 would repeat the position. The text indicates that White is getting ambitious. ] 20...h5 21.b4 a6 22.c1 h4 23.a4 [ 23.e4 b6 24.c3 is also very nice for White. ] 23...hxg3 24.hxg3 c7 25.b5 [ 25.e4 e7 26.a5 would strengthen the position of the knight on c5 but Reti wanted to attack c6. In retrospect this was a fateful decision. ] 25...axb5 26.axb5 e3! Just when it was starting to look as if Black's strategy was not succeeding Black launches this stunning combinative blow. The position is unclear after this but Alekhine succeeds in confusing his opponent. 27.f3?? [ 27.fxe3?? xg3+ obviously leads to mate ] [ but 27.f3 deserved attention. After ea3 28.bxc6 bxc6 29.g2 White's position looks pretty good. ] 27...cxb5! 28.xb5 c3 Black's pieces are swarming into the attack but with so many things en prise this hangs by a thread. 29.xb7 xb7 30.xb7 xe2+ 31.h2 [ 31.f1 is a lso h op ele ss a f t e r xg3+ 32.fxg3 xf3 33.xf3 xf3+ 34.g2 aa3 etc. ] 31...e4!! A fantastic move from Alekhine, wa s t in g n o t im e in clo sin g in o n W h it e 's position. [ After 31...xc1 32.fxe3 a3 33.g5 ] [ and 31...xf3 32.xe2 f5 33.b2 White would save the draw. ] 32.c4 Reti is trying to exchange some pieces
via tactical means. [ 32.d8+ xd8 33.fxe3 d5! and ] [ and 32.fxe3? xd2 33.xd2 xc1 are good for Black. ] 32...xf2! [ After 32...xf3 W hite can play 33.xe4! xe4 34.fxe3 xh1 35.xh1 xg3+ 36.g2 with good drawing chances. ] [ And 32...xd2 doesn't work because of 33.xd2 d3 34.c5! . ] 33.g2 [ 33.c5 was a slightly better chance but is still winning for Black after ae8 34.g5 xh1 35.xh1 xg3+ etc. ] 33...e6! 34.cc2? [ 34.b4 g4+ 35.h3 would have been the best chance. ] 34...g4+ 35.h3 e5+ 36.h2 xf3! [ 36...xf3+?! 37.xf3 xf3 38.xe2 is also better for Black but much less clear than the game. ] 37.xe2 g4+ 38.h3 Neither now nor before could the white king move to the first rank because of the deadly check on a1 e3+ 39.h2 xc2 40.xf3 d4 41.f2 xf3+ 42.xf3 d5 Either the knight or rook will be lost. 0-1
45 Rogers,Ian Lukacs,Peter Budapest Budapeste [Tony Kosten]
A00 2565 2500 1991
1.c3 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.xe4 d7 Played in order to be able to confront the advanced e4-knight by ...Ngf6, and if White captures on f6, to recapture on f6 with a piece, thus keeping the kingside pawn structure intact 4.d4 Inviting transposition into a CaroKann by 4...c6, normally White tries to defer d4 for a while, and plays [ 4.c4 (or first 4 Nf3 Ngf6 5 Nxf6+ Nxf6, and then 6 Bc4) and now Black's safest move is e6 masking the f7-pawn, as if ( 4...gf6 then 5.xf7+!? xf7 6.g5+ g8 7.e6 e8 8.xc7 is possible. Following d8 9.xa8 e5 10.d4 d6 11.f3 e4 12.g5 h6 13.e6 e7 42
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.f4 h7 15.e3 b6 Spice,A-Hinks Edwards,T/4NCL, Telford ENG 1997, Black will win the trapped a8-knight by ...Bb7, when his two pieces may prove stronger than W hite's rook and pawns. Still, why get involved in this?) 5.e2 gf6 6.g5 b6 and not ( 6...h6? 7.xf7! decimating the black position) 7.b3 h6 8.5f3 e7 9.e5 0-0 10.gf3 c5 and Black has successfully brought play to a Caro position where he has an extra tempo. Still, after 11.d3 a5 12.a3 a4 13.a2 c7 White unleashed a strong attack with 14.g4! d6 15.h4 fd7 16.xd7 xd7 17.g5 h5 18.g6 fxg6 19.g5 with wild play, Schneider,A-Lengyel,L/ Budapest 1995. Perhaps Black should have deferred castling? ] 4...gf6 5.xf6+ xf6 6.f3 f5!? Ambitious in a pure Caro, Black would be happy to play ...e6, and then an eventual ...b6, and ...Bb7, bringing this piece into play on the long h1-a8 diagonal. Here, as he has a tempo more (in effect) he decides to play the bishop to a more active square immediately. 7.c3 e6 8.e5 e7 9.b3 c8 the first slight drawback to Black's sixth move is revealed, b7 is unde f ended . 10.e2 0-0?! A careless move, Black should have waited for White to castle before committing his king like this. The 'I have a tempo more, so I must have a good position' syndrome strikes! [ 10...h6 would have been more prudent ] 11.g4! Starting a kingside attack with gain of tempo . The f 5-bisho p pro ves to be more 'exposed' than 'active' e4 12.f3 d5 13.c4 c6 Finally finding safety, at least the bishop won't be lost 14.f4 e8 15.xc6 xc6 16.0-0-0 The dust has settled and White finds himself with the bishop pair, a space advantage, and the makings of a kingside attack d6 17.g3 a6 18.b1 This is almost always a useful precaution when one side has castled long. ab8 19.g5 e8?! 20.d3 g6 21.e4 d7 22.c5! Black is being pushed off the board xg3 This is hardly desirable, opening up the h-file onto his king, but [ 22...e7 loses material after 23.c6 24 and cxb7 ] 23.hxg3 c6 24.g4 c7 25.c2 Coming to
the h-file f5 26.gxf6 xf6 27.h6! bf8 28.dh1 xf3 Desperation, but other moves were also hopeless, e.g. [ 28...8f7 29.g5 f4 30.xg6 when the black king is not long for this world ] 29.xf3 xf3 30.xg6+! Pretty, and effective! [ 30.xg6+ hxg6 31.h8+ f7 32.1h7+ f6 33.xd7 wins easily ] 1-0
46 Short,Nigel D Caruana,Fabiano 5th Classic GpD 2013 (2.1) [Fier, Alexandr]
A00 2683 2782 11.12.2013
Short tries an unusual setup and Caruana punishes it in a good way. It's interesting to play some exotic lines, but to develop the pieces and control the center can't be bad either. 1.b4 d5 2.b2 f6 3.e3 [ 3.f3 is normal, trying to enter a normal position with some expansion on the queenside g4 4.e3 bd7 this was the setup chosen by Kobalia last year in a blitz game 5.e2 e6 6.b5 d6 7.h3 h5 8.0-0 and there is nothing wrong with the position. Later White managed to win in Nadanian, A (2428)-Kobalia, M (2651)/FIDE World Blitz 2013 blitz 2013. ] 3...f5 4.e2 Still avoiding the normal paths [ 4.f3 is again possible and was tried this ye a r b y Mo ro vic , e6 5.c4 c6 6.c5 but despite Black's loss, the opening was not the main problem in Morovic Fernandez, I (2560)-Obregon Rivero, J (2501)/ Capablanca Memorial op-A 48th 2013. ] 4...e6 5.a3 e7 6.d3 Trying to keep some flexibility, but basically it doesn't matter so much for Black [ 6.g4 I don't believe this move is completely sound, but it would be a legitimate try to use the fact that the knight is still on g1. With ideas of g5, h4-h5, White tries to disrupt the harmony between the Black pieces e4 this should be critical, trying to immediately p u n i s h W h i t e ' s e x o t i c p l a y ( 6...g6 is a solid option and, of course, playable 7.g5 e4 8.h4 and Black needs to keep 43
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 one eye on the h5-h6 idea. Still Black is bringing the knight to d6 and it's not so clear if W hite can continue the attack in a dangerous way. ) 7.f3 A) 7...g6 now the knight is not going to e4 anymore 8.g5 fd7 9.h4 e5 ( 9...0-0 is also possible 10.f4 with the idea of h5) 10.f4!? anyway exf4 11.h3!? this idea is also played in the lines with 1. d4 e6 2.c4 b6 where Black plays .. .f5 exf5 Nh6 fxe3 12.dxe3 b6 13.f4 with nice counterplay; B) 7...xg4!? again critical, going for what looks like a decisive attack, 8.fxe4 h4+ 9.f1 f2 10.b5+! an important detail, t o a c t i v a t e t h e q u e e n . ( 10.c1 d o e s n ' t w o r k b e c a u s e o f dxe4 and White's pieces have no place to go) 10...c6 11.h5 at the cost of one piece White activates his forces, cxb5 12.xg7 g8 13.xh7 xg7 ( 13...d7 trying to keep the rook is not so good 14.exd5 xh1 15.dxe6+ xe6 16.c3 c6 17.f3 and despite being a rook down White is better. Black's king is too exposed and his pieces are more or less hanging. For example: f2 18.d4 d7 19.d5 e7 20.xh4 xg7 21.xf2 with a huge advantage) 14.h8+ d7 15.xg7 xh1 ( 15...dxe4 Black can wait one more move to take the rook, since it's still hanging, 16.xf7+ e7 17.xe7+ xe7 18.g2 xh1 19.xh1 a5 and the material is back to normal, Black has some compensation for the pawn, but the position is unclear.) 16.xf7+ e7 17.xe7+ xe7 18.exd5 f2 19.c3 and Black kept the piece, but for 3 pawns. The game is still full of life. ] 6...h6 7.d2 bd7 8.gf3 Finally White brings the knight into the game. 0-0 9.h3?! The beginning of a flawed plan. White has not sufficient resources to start an attack against Black's king and he will be severely punished for this. [ 9.0-0 would be normal, and after a5 10.b1 c6 11.c4 the position is about equal ] 9...g6 10.b3 d6 Since White has no intentions of using the center, Black prepares t o o c c u p y it . 11.g4? Now there is no going
back anymore. W hite moves a knight to f5, and after ...Bxf5 gxf5 he is going to put the rook on the g-file. And after that? It's not clear. Meanwhile Black plays natural and strong moves. [ 11.c4 this would be my preference, but it doesn't make much sense to play 9.h3 then c5 ( 11...e8 lets White create a weakness on the queenside 12.c5! f8 13.a5 c8 14.c6 bxc6 15.xc6 with a slight advantage for W hite.) 12.cxd5 xd5 13.bxc5 xc5 14.xc5 xc5 15.0-0 and the position is quite normal ] [ 11.0-0 was still rational and prudent c5 12.xc5 xc5 13.bxc5 xc5 14.a4 and one day White can prepare the rupture on c4 to activate his pieces. ] 11...e5 12.h4 h7 13.f5 xf5 14.gxf5 e8 15.g1 [ 15.d2 would be interesting, to try 16.0-0-0, but there is no time for it c5 16.bxc5 xc5 17.xc5 xc5 and the king won't be safe on the queenside, either. ] 15...c5! Opening the other side too. 16.bxc5 xc5 17.xc5 xc5 And apparently both p l a ye r s m a n a ge d t o p u t t h e i r p l a n s in t o practice. White opened the file for the rook to attack Black's king and Black took the center and opened the queenside. The problem is that White needs one more piece at least to attack, and it's not so easy to bring the queen i n t o t h e g a m e w i t h o u t s p a c e . 18.f1 This move can't really work, but it's already hard to suggest anything decent for White. [ 18.c4 is the move suggested by the computer, but it also helps Black to open the position c8 ( 18...dxc4 19.dxc4 e7 20.f1 ed8 21.c2 ac8 and maybe White can bring the king to g2 and exchange some pieces) 19.cxd5 xd5 20.a4 f8 and it's still not clear what White is going to do next. ] 18...c8 19.d2 Since the queen can't go to the kingside, it tries to stay there, defending the pawns [ 19.f3 would be the plan, but now it's not possible because of b6 20.g2 ( 20.c1 e4 is just winning for Black) 20...f8 and both the bishop and the c2-pawn are hanging. 21.0-0-0 is not going to be enough. ] 44
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19...b6 20.d1 a5 21.c3 h8 Final prophylaxis. [ 21...d7 there was nothing wrong with this t o o , b u t i t ' s a m a t t e r o f t a s t e 22.c1 xf5-+ ] 22.f3 d4 23.g2 g8 24.cxd4 d5 25.f2 b6 26.e2 b3# mate 0-1
m o v e t h o s e k i n g s i d e p a w n s b a c k . exd4 28.c1 d3 29.xd3 e5 30.d1 fd7 31.g3 Breaking up Black's kingside pawns. fxg3 32.xg3 Suddenly the knight has access to the juicy f5 square. f6 33.f5 f8?! 34.a2 [ 34.h4! would have been very strong, for e x a m p l e a f t e r h6 ( 34...gxh4 35.f4 ) 35.hxg5 hxg5 36.b2 White's rook is coming to h2. ] 47 A00 34...g6 35.b2 h6 36.g2 h5 37.f4! Sitnikov,Anton 2443 xd1 38.xd1 f7? [ After 38...gxf4 39.xf4 Black loses the Aveskulov,Valeriy 2457 pawn on h6, but moving the knight from e5 Kharkov Femida (11) 26.10.2005 is the last thing he should do. Now White [Nigel Davies] comes crashing through... ] White's 4.c4 is a very sensible way of playing 39.b2+ h7 40.b1 be8 41.h4 g8 against this system, but I can't say it looks 42.hxg5 hxg5 43.h2+ g6 44.dd2 [ Missing mate via 44.e7+ xe7 45.f5# that promising. Black was doing well here until . I guess they were in time trouble. ] he overreached. 1.b4 c5!? 2.bxc5 e5 3.e3 44...f6 45.e7+ g7 xc5 4.c4!? [ 45...xe7 46.e5+ is disastrous. ] [ This makes much more sense than the 4.d4 of Katalymov - Kupreichik. Now if Black's 46.xg8 xg8 47.dg2 e3 48.e5 dxe5 wants to play ...d7-d5 he must allow the 49.fxe5 1-0 exchange of another more central pawn. ] 4...c6 5.c3 f6 6.ge2 I quite like this as a concept bringing the knight in contact A00 with the e4 and d5 squares. Unfortunately it 48 d o e s n ' t s e e m t o a c h i e ve ve r y m u c h . 0-0 Skembris,Spyridon 7.d5 d6 8.ec3 e6 9.e2 xd5 Mariotti,Sergio 2475 10.cxd5 e7 11.b3 a5 12.b1 zt Budva (3) 1981 [ After 12.0-0 Black can pressure the d5 [Tony Kosten] pawn with b4! . So White prevents this 1.g4 e5 2.g2 This may be inaccurate, before castling. ] [ 2.c4 might be better, trying to control some 12...ab8 13.a4 Preventing 13...b5. a6 14.0-0 fc8 15.c4 d7 16.d3 f5 17.d2 light squares, and in particular d5 . h5!? d8 18.d1 b6 19.e2 h8 20.a2 3.gxh5 xh5 4.c3 c6 5.d3 d6 6.g2 f6 21.g3 g6 22.b3 a5?! f6 Certain portions of the position [ White was probably still hoping to equalise resemble an English opening. 7.h4 g4 8.f3 d4 9.g5 with an unusual position, at this stage, planning to meet 22...exd5 which might be slightly better for Black, with 23.e4 when fxe4 24.xe4 xe4 25.dxe4 c3 26.xc3 xc3 27.d5 Basman,M-Arkell,K/Southampton 1986. ] when the opposite colour bishops minimise 2...h5 This is a very popular idea, trying to ruin the value of Black's extra pawn. If anything the white pawn structure, and isolate the h2it's Black's ambition that proves to be his pawn, but I still think that undoing. ] [ 2...d5 is the best move. ] 23.e4 f4 24.e2 b6 25.h1 g5 26.f3 3.gxh5 g5!? 4.f3 h4 5.c3 f6 g6 27.d4! With the opening of the centre 6.e4?! W hite's position looks decidedly more [ 6.d3 Is less committal. ] promising. In fact Black's king position now 6...c5 7.d4!? xd4 8.e2 xc3+ 9.bxc3 leaves something to be desired as he can't xh5 In return for his pawn minus, White 45
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 seems to have a rotten position! 10.e3 f4 11.b5 c6 12.0-0-0 a6 13.a4 f6 14.e2 e6 15.g4 d6 16.b3 c5! T h i s s h o u l d w i n . 17.xc5 g5+?! This is unnecessary, [ 17...xg4 18.xb7 0-0 19.xc6 xe2 wins at least an exchange, for no compensation. ] 18.e3 xg4 19.g3 b8 20.hg1 e6 21.c4 f3 A computer would greedily capture, [ 21...xh2 and after 22.f5 xe4 23.xg7+ f8 Black should be able to defend. ] 22.f5 xf5 23.exf5 h7 24.c5! W h i t e t r i e s t o g e n e r a t e s o m e p l a y . d5 Black plays 'safe', but [ 24...dxc5 i s f i n e , a s 25.d7!? can be answered by xf5 ] 25.xd5 xf5 26.g5 e4 27.d2 With a few careful moves Black will win, but he must take care as the white pieces are active. e2 28.g3! f1+ 29.b2 b5+ Black has a perpetual check, and perhaps he should take the draw? 30.c1 f1+ 31.b2 b6 32.gxe5+! f8? [ After 32...xe5 Black must have been wo rrie d a b o u t 33.xe5+ f8 34.xc7 but he has the resource b5+! with at least a draw, and probably more after 35.a1 bxc5 ] 33.e3 bxc5+? [ 33...c4 is better. ] 34.b3 Now Black has problems because his h7-rook is out of play. c8? 35.xc5 e2 36.e3! The knight must move, and then the cpawn drops, and along with it the rest of the black position. 1-0
49 Smyslov,Vassily Adorjan,Andras Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee (2) [Nigel Davies]
A00 2620 2475 01.1972
2.b2 xb4 3.xe5 f6 4.f3 0-0 5.e3 e7 Despite having scored excellent results, this preference of Adorjan's remains a rarity. In fact other moves also seem fine for Black, for example: [ a) 5...e8 6.e2 ( 6.c4 f8 7.b3 b6 8.b2 e4 9.c3 d6 10.d4 xf2!? 11.xf2 c5 12.d5 cxd4 13.xd4 b7 was fine for Black in Hecimovic, I (2220)Lalic, B (2575)/Pula 1996) 6...d5 7.0-0 bd7 8.b2 b6 9.d3 d7 10.c1 a4 started to get troublesome f or W hite in Vid oniak, R (2 41 7)-Tivia kov, S (263 1)/ Gausdal 2005. ] [ b) 5...d5 6.e2 c5 7.0-0 c6 8.b2 f5 9.d3 a5 10.bd2 c7 11.c4 dxc4 12.xc4 was about equal at this point in Schoenwaelder, B (2120) -Ikonnikov, V (2549)/Deizisau 2007. ] 6.c4 [ Varying from Adorjan's earlier game which went 6.e2 d5 7.c4 c5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.0-0 c6 10.b2 f6 11.d4 cxd4 12.xd4 b6 with an excellent game for Black in Urzica, A-Adorjan, A/ Stockholm 1970. But despite this (apparent) home cooking, White does not gain any advantage. ] 6...c5 7.c3 c6 8.xf6 xf6 9.c1 d6 10.e2 [ White has partial control of the d5 square but the problem is in using it. For example 10.d5 b4 11.xb4 cxb4 gives Black a dangerous queenside pawn majority, not at all the kind of thing that's to Smyslov's taste. ] 10...e6 11.0-0 c8 12.c2 h6 13.a3 e8 14.d3 [ T h i s w a s t h e l a s t c h a n c e f o r 14.d5 but after xd5 15.cxd5 a5 16.d3 b5 Black gets excellent play in a double edged position. Smyslov no doubt balked at the prospect of playing this against the yo u n g a n d ve r y d a n g e r o u s H u n g a r i a n player. ] 14...xc3! 15.xc3 b6 16.fd1 d5 ½-½
1.b4 In playing this Smyslov must have noted Adorjan's game against Urzica and thought he could do better f or W hite. Indeed his 6th move varies from the earlier encounter. e5 46
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A00 position typical of a reversed King's Indian, but Black is better, as he enjoys more space. Sokolsky,Alexey g6 9.g3 c8 10.g2 h3 11.0-0 g7 Veresov,Gavriil N ch Moscow (7) 1944 12.h4 0-0 13.d2 xg2 14.xg2 e6 15.e2 d7 16.h1 f5 Normally, White [Tony Kosten] should have played f4 before Black plays ...f5. 1.b4 e5 2.b2 f6 Erecting a barrier against 17.exf5 gxf5 18.f3 ae8 19.ae1 h8 the b2-bishop along the a1-h8 diagonal, and 20.c1 f7 21.g2 h5 22.b3 f4 preparing to continue with 3...d5 with a good This appears anti-positional, but Black has centre, is also a viable way of continuing- decided to attack the white king, and must f5 especially if Black doesn't like giving-up his we a k e n t h e p a w n c o v e r . 23.h3 This is the point behind Black's play, the h4central pawns. [ 2...d6 is solid, and aims for a King's Indian knight is pinned, so Black will be able to ruin Desperation, set-up, 3.c4 f6 4.e3 bd7 5.d4 g6 the white structure. 24.xf4 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.a3 g7 Jaszczuk,J-Geller,E/ W hite plays a combination relying on the W oerishofen chs 1991, Black winning by looseness of the d7-knight, but there is a flaw. direct attack, after playing an eventual ...e4, xh4 [ Not 24...exf4? 25.xe8 xe8? 26.xf5 and ...Ne5-f3+. ] and White is better. ] [ On t he ot he r h an d , 2...c6? is a bad 25.gxh4?! Losing quickly, mistake, and loses a pawn to 3.b5 ] [ 25.c1 was a better chance, but even so, 3.b5 A common idea in this variation, the b5after xf3 Black has a plus. ] pawn cramps the black queenside. [ White played in gambit style in the game 25...exf4 26.d2 Admitting defeat, [ h i s i n t e n d e d 26.xd7 loses to xe1 Sokolsky,A-Zagorovsky,M/corr 1968, by 27.xe1 xf3+ 28.g1 g8 threatening 3.e4?! but after xb4 4.c4 c6 5.f4 d6 an evil discovered check. ] 6.c3 a5 7.e2 e7 8.0-0 b6+ 9.h1 d7 10.d4 0-0-0 With the bishop on c4, 26...e5 c a s t l i n g s h o r t wa s a l wa ys g o i n g t o b e 0-1 problematical, so the black king goes the o t h e r wa y . 11.d2 h6 12.d5 a5 A00 13.a4 f5! and, by careful defence, Black has 51 disarmed the white initiative, and having Stein,Leonid completed his development, has a clear Book,Eero advantage. ] Tallinn 1969 3...d5 4.e3 e6 The most accurate move, as [Nigel Davies] White's counterplay depends on the move c4, Blac k a tt em p ts t o m ake t his p awn b re a k 1.g3 d5 2.g2 c6 3.d3 f6 4.d2 g4 impossible. A standard development of the bishop against [ 4...d6 is also possible, but allows 5.c4 ] both the King's Indian Attack and the Reti 5.f3?! Black takes complete control of the Opening, but here there are a few twists. 5.h3 centre after this, in later games Sokolsky f5?! White's reply gains an important tempo preferred on the bishop. [ 5.d4 when, after e4 6.d2 c6 7.a4 d6 [ Perhaps Black should have played just 8.c4 he would have achieved the c4-move, 5...h5 though he might have been in a 'French-style' position, and would be concerned about his bishop being shut out r e a d y t o c o n t i n u e wi t h Q b 3 , a n d B a 3 , of pla y af te r 6.f4!? ( Stein would probably exchanging his dark-squared bishop. ] have played just 6.gf3 ) 6...e6 7.g4 g6 5...c5! 6.c4 d4 The white position is critical, 8.e4 dxe4 9.dxe4 h6 10.f5 , though in this for his b2-bishop is 'biting on granite', and he final position White's game looks none too risks being swept-away by the black central compact. ] pawns. 7.d3 h6 8.e4 transposing into a 6.e4 dxe4 7.dxe4 e6 The bishop will prove
50
47
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 non e to o c om f o rta ble he re eith er, n ot t o mention the fact that Black cannot move his epawn for the time being. 8.gf3 a6 [ 8...bd7 is strongly met by 9.g5 . ] 9.0-0 a5 10.d4 0-0-0 Accepting the mangling of his pawn structure in order to avoid losing further time. [ 10...d7 is indeed none to pleasant for B l a c k a f t e r 11.c4 c5 12.b3 , for example 0-0-0 13.a3 h5 14.e5 xd1 15.axd1 d5 16.e6 xe6 17.xe6 fxe6 18.e5 g8 19.c4 gives White a large advantage. ] 11.xe6 fxe6 12.e2 g6 13.c4 c7 There's really no good square for Black's queen, just relatively bad ones. [ After 13...a4 14.b3 b5 15.a4 she also gets pushed from pillar to post. ] 14.f4 d7 15.fd1 e8 16.xd8+ xd8 17.d1 e8 18.f1 d7 [ Stein's last move prepared to meet 18...g7 with 19.b6+! axb6 20.xa6! bxa6 21.xa6# . Book manages to avoid this but does little to repair the rest of his position. ] 19.e3 c5 20.b3 ab8 21.a5 b6 22.xe6 [ After 22.xe6 bxa5 there follows 23.a6+ xa6 24.c6+ d8 25.a8+ ab8 26.xb8# . ] 1-0
Jonny Hector! ] 3...f6 When played in the Caro-Kann this m o ve d o e s n o t h a ve a p a rt i cu la rly go o d reputation, still, at the time that this game was played that was not the case. 4.xf6+ gxf6 Opening the g-file, and strengthening the black centre, however, the doubled f-pawns may turn into a liability [ 4...exf6 is the other possibility, and in Hector, J-Preuss,F/Roskilde 1998, play returned to a 'pure Caro' following 5.d4 c6 ] 5.c4 Pointing the bishop aggressively at f7, [ 5.d4 c6 leads to another Caro-Kann position ] 5...c6 Black, who likes to play Dunst's Opening himself, decides to take play in a resolutely original direction, [ 5...c6 would be more standard ] 6.h5 You don't often see this sort of crude p l a y f r o m s u c h s t r o n g p l a y e r s ! e5 parrying the menace to f7, with gain of tempo 7.b3 d6 8.f4 g6 9.e2 f5 Stopping the onward advance of the f-pawn 10.d4 e6! The positionally correct decision, Black swapsoff his lesser bishop, after which he will be able to place all his pawns on light-squares 11.g4!? White, clearly not happy with the outcome of the opening, decides to introduce a tactical element to the play xb3 12.axb3 d5 [ 12...fxg4? i s i m p o s s i b l e , a s 13.f5 would leave the knight bereft of squares, 52 A00 and win for White ] 13.f1 e6 14.c4 e4 15.gxf5 exf5 Suba,Mihai The black pawn structure leaves something to Bellon Lopez,Juan Manuel Bucuresti 1978 be desired, but White's is hardly better, and his light-squares are sensitive 16.d2 c2 [Tony Kosten] 17.c1 xb3 Now, if Black can bring his king 1.c3 d5 2.e4 Presenting Black with a to safety, he should be winning 18.xf5 e7 19.g4 h4+ 20.g3 f8 The black king choice of two good replies: dxe4 might be safe here, but it will be difficult to [ 2...d4 is the alternative ] develop the h8-rook henceforth. Perhaps 3.xe4 [ 20...0-0 could have been played, as there [ Hector has played 3.c4?! but it looks is hardly time for 21.f5 ae8+ 22.f2 rather dubious f6 4.d3 g4 5.ge2 xb2 23.cd1 f6 when Black will have an exd3 6.cxd3 e6 everything seems under attack, and several pawns, as compensation control, but 7.f3 f5 8.g4!? g6 9.h4 for his knight ] t h r e a t e n i n g t o s u r r o u n d t h e b i s h o p h6 10.f4 h7 11.g5 with a dangerous 21.f2 e8+ 22.f1 d3+ 23.g1 xd4? initiative for the pawn, Hector,J-Vafeas,A/ this loses the queen [ 23...f6 must be stronger, returning the Komotini GP-1 1992, White going on to win bishop to the fray, and planning to capture in 18 moves. Still, we can't all play like 48
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 19.fd1? a6! 20.a3 c3! wins on the spot. ] 19...xf4 20.f3 a6! 21.d6 cd8 22.xb7 xd4 23.a3 Intending 24.Rb4. d3! 24.a4 [ After 24.a1? Black has an attractive combinative sequence in h3+! 25.h1 xf3! 26.gxf3 d5 27.g2 f4+ 28.g3 e2+! 29.g2 xb7 etc. ] [ And after 24.b4 h e c a n p l a y h3+! 25.h1 xa3 just winning a pawn. ] 24...c8 25.a5 g6! 26.fd1 [ 26.b7 c5 27.c6 d6 28.b8 e2+ 29.h1 a5 leaves White's minor pieces 53 A00 stranded in a way that they won't be able to help the weak a-pawn. ] Urzica,Aurel 26...c2! 27.b7?! Adorjan,Andras [ After 27.xd3 xd3 28.e4 Stockholm 1970 A d o r j a n i n t e n d e d f5! 29.xf5 gxf5 [Nigel Davies] with an edge because of his well placed minor pieces. Still, this would have been 1.b4 The Orang Utan Opening. It got its name better for White than the game. ] because of Savielly Tartakower's friendship with one of these apes at New York zoo. e5 27...xd1+ 28.xd1 a2 29.h3 [ 29.c6 e2+ 30.f1 c3 would also Adorjan's recipe in this game is simple and lead to the loss of the a-pawn. ] effective. [ Those who are looking for a good answer to 29...xa4 30.c6 g7 31.e5 a5 32.c6 W hite's provocative opening might also a2 33.h2!? c2 [ 33...xf2 would not have been good consider the sensible 1...d5 followed by 2... because of 34.g3 ] Bg4. ] [ but Black could also have played 33...e2 [ A more exotic option is 1...c5!? 2.bxc5 e5 34.f3 xf2 35.g3 c2 when he wins a , though naturally this 'risks' a W ing second pawn. ] Gambit after 2.e4. ] 2.b2 xb4! 3.xe5 f6 4.c4 0-0 5.f3 34.e4 e2 35.d4 xf2 36.c6 a2 xh3 A nice game which well d5 6.e3 e7 7.e2 c5! This makes perfect 37.f3 illustrates the 2...Bxb4 approach. s e n s e , t a k i n g s o m e sp a c e in t h e c e n t r e b e f o r e W h i t e ' s c e n t r a l p a wn m a s s g e t s 0-1 properly established. 8.b2 c6 9.cxd5 xd5 10.0-0 f6! 11.d4 A00 [ After 11.c1 Ad orjan ga ve ju st f5! 54 a f t e r w h i c h ( 11...db4 12.xf6 xf6 Watson,William N 13.c3 was less good in the game Volke, K Hartston,William R 1982 (2480)-Schaefer, M (2460)/Germany 1994/ BCF-ch Torquay (10) GER-chT ) 12.a3 xb2 13.xb2 db4 [Tony Kosten] 14.c4 b6 is better for Black. ] 1.c3 d5 2.e4 d4 While this may not appeal 11...cxd4 12.xd4 b6 to players who prefer open positions, it has a [ 12...f4 was also pretty good. ] 13.d2 xd4 14.xd4 xd4 15.exd4 e6 lot of advantages. Firstly, Black gains a space advantage. 3.ce2 e5 4.g3 White makes16.a3 ac8 17.ab1 d6 18.b5 [ After 18.c4 Black can play f4 19.e3 way for his king's bishop. b6 with an unpleasant position for White. ] [ 4.f3 Hitting the e5-pawn, is the other m a i n p o s s i b i l i t y d6 5.g3 e6! 18...f4! 19.xf4 on d4 with the minor piece. Black must be better ] 24.c3 e3 hitting the rook on c1, but, unfortunately, after 25.e1 the position is lost for Black xe1+ 26.xe1 xe1+ 27.f1 xg3 28.hxg3 e3? this loses, but anyway, although material is nearly equal, without the use of the h8-rook, things were looking bleak for Black 29.f5 e5 30.d4 Forking the only two black pieces in play. [ 30.d4 xg3+ 31.h2 d3 32.xe5 ] 1-0
49
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 careful play, stopping Bc4 6.b5+ d7 7.e2 c6 8.c4 so White manages to play this anywa y, albeit at t he co st of som e tempi. c5 9.0-0 f6 with a good position for Black, Oppici,G-Marcoli,P/FIDE Open, Corsico ITA 1997. ] 4...e6! A good move, hindering White's natural development plan of Bc4, d3, Nf3, etc. 5.f3 f6 6.b3 White finds a way to bring his king's bishop to an active square. Naturally, he could not be happy with [ 6.d3?! when the light-squared bishop would be seriously confined. ] 6...c6 7.c4 White has achieved his aimexchange his lesser bishop. How will Black react? xc4 8.bxc4 d3! Well-played! Before White gets a chance to play d3 himself, Black takes control of the square. At the same time he frees the d4-square, and this will provide a fine square for a knight, or his bishop, and frees the g1-a7 diagonal. So much achieved wi t h j u s t o n e p a wn m o ve ! . 9.0-0 c5 The first fruit of his eighth move, the bishop enjoys a wonderful diagonal. 10.b1 ge7 11.cxd3 xd3 12.a4?? An awful blunder in a difficult position. [ 12.xb7? allows the bishop to be trapped by b6 13.c5 a6 of course, but ] [ 12.b3 held out better prospects, although Black is clearly better, anyway- W hite's backward d-pawn will never go away (unless Black captures it!) ] 12...xb1 13.d4 b4! After this, White should resign, a whole rook down for zero compensation, but continues a bit. 14.c2 xd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.d2 c5 17.b1 xf2+ 18.f1 xg3 19.hxg3 c6 20.b5 Allowing further simplification. d4 21.xc5 xc2 22.xc7 0-0 White was quite young wh e n t h i s g a m e w a s p l a ye d , a n d ye t t o achieve GM status. 0-1
55 Zschalich,Arndt Werner,H World Seniors (4) [John Watson]
A00 2087 27.10.2004
1.b4 e5 2.b2 xb4 3.xe5 f6 4.e3 0-0 5.f3 d5 6.c4 e8 [ Also good is 6...c6 7.b2 f5 8.cxd5 xd5 with wonderfully centralised pieces to pit against White's centre, e.g., 9.b5 de7 10.0-0 d3 11.xd3 xd3 ] 7.b2 e7!? Conservative yet not so easy to meet. This just shows how fundamentally sound Black's position is. Black has other promising moves: [ 7...c5 is the normal continuation. Then 8.cxd5 xd5 9.e2 f5 is pleasant. ] [ 7...c6 8.cxd5 ( 8.a3 a5 9.cxd5 xd5 10.b5 de7 ) 8...xd5 9.e2 e6 with free play. ( Probably insufficient but fun would be 9...xe3!? 10.fxe3 xe3 11.b3 xg2+ 12.f2 f4 , with ...Bg4 the major theme. )] 8.e2 c5 9.0-0 c6 10.cxd5 xd5 11.d3 [ 11.d4 f6 should favour Black. ] 11...b6 12.c3 xc3 13.xc3 f6 14.xf6 xf6 15.d4?! cxd4 16.exd4 [ Black stands much better here after 16.exd4 g4! ( 16...b7 is also goo d) 17.d5? ( 17.h3? xe2; 17.e1 ad8 with a large advantage. 18.d5 xf3 19.xf3 xe1+ 20.xe1 d4 21.e4 e2+ 22.f1 e8 ) 17...xe2! ] ½-½
56 Arencibia Rodriguez,Walter Kaidanov,Gregory S 34th Olympiad (13) [Tony Kosten]
A01 2513 2624 10.11.2000
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 d5 4.b5 d6 Black's most aggressive line, he constructs a full centre, if White can't successfully knock it d o w n t h e n B l a c k w i l l b e b e t t e r . 5.f4 Increasing the pressure on e5, the pawn is 'untakeable', as g7 is vulnerable. e7!? [ 5...h4+ 6.g3 e7 7.f3 g4 ( or 7...f6 are more popular, giving W hite a slight 50
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 light-squared weakness on the kingside. )] 6.f3 f6 7.c3 e6 8.0-0 h6!? [ Black brings his knight to f7, to further support his centre, but it appears to be too slow, the alternative 8...a6! allows 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.fxe5 fxe5 11.xe5?! but now, instead of A) 11...xe5! 12.h5+ f7 should be played, 13.xf7 xh2+ 14.xh2 xf7 15.e5+ e7 ( 15...e7? 16.xd5 cxd5 17.xg7 ) 16.xc7 gives White some dark-squared compensation for the exchange, but no more after 0-0; B) 11...f6 12.xc6 ( 12.e2!? ) 12...d7 13.d4 g4 14.f3 and W hite has a solid two-pawn lead, Naszadi,F-Pal,F/Hajduboszormeny 1995. ] 9.fxe5 fxe5 10.e4! White is fully developed, and strikes at the centre before Black can fully strengthen it. dxe4?! [ I don't like this, 10...d4 11.d5 d8 is worth consideration. ] 11.xe4 0-0 12.xc6 bxc6 The black pawn structure is a mess, and his light-squared bishop does not provide sufficient compensation. 13.e2 g4 14.c4+ h8 15.fg5 d7 16.ae1 f5 17.f3 The knight simply returns to control d4, and pressure e5. ae8 18.f2 Winning the e5pawn. e6 Black prefers to give the c-pawn. 19.xc6 d4 20.xd4 exd4 21.e4! [ 21.xd4? h4 22.f3 allows Black back into the game, h5 ( 22...xf3? 23.xe8+ f8 24.xf8+ xf8 25.xe6 ) 23.e4 xf3 24.xf3 d5 with at least a draw for Black. Anyway, why complicate? ] 21...d7 22.d5 f5 23.xd4 a3 24.f2 d8 25.xe8+ xe8 Thus we see the real horror of a weak pawn structure, Black has already lost his weak c6, and e5-pawns, but his structure remains weak! 26.e1 c8 27.e3 f8 28.d3 d6 29.fe5 c8 30.c4 Rather than grab the a7-pawn, White p r e f e r s t o e x c h a n g e s o m e p i e c e s . b7 31.xd6 cxd6 32.h4 [ Creating an escape square for the king, 32.e8?? f1+ ] 32...h6 33.e8 f1+ 34.h2 xe8 35.xe8+ h7 36.e1 f7 37.e6 d7 38.c4 1-0
57 Asimenios,Asterios Timoshenko,Georgy Open Kavala GRE (1) [Tony Kosten]
A01 2536 31.07.2004
1.b3 e5 2.e3 d5 3.b2 c6 4.b5 d6 5.f4 The critical line, but the weakening of the white kingside has its drawbacks. h4+ 6.g3 e7 7.f3 f6!? Defending e5, but this is actually a pawn sacrifice. [ 7...g4 is more solid. ] 8.xc6+ In the notes to Bagirov,V-Mainka,R I suggested that [ 8.c3 is safer, as in Chandler,M-Crouch,C/ Birmingham ENG 1998. ] 8...bxc6 9.fxe5 fxe5 10.xe5 White really has to take this pawn now, as otherwise he has no compensation for the bishop pair and Black's strong centre. f6 Black continues his development obviously [ 10...xe5? is met by 11.h5+ ] 11.f3?! The worst of several tries, [ 11.d3 0-0 12.0-0 h3 shows the problem for W hite in this line - the weak kin gsi d e li gh t sq u a r e s , 13.xf6 xf6 14.xf6 xf6 15.c3 f8 16.e2 g6 with a dangerous initiative, Pridorozhni,AGipslis,A/Decin 1997. ] [ 11.xc6! is really greedy, but best! e4 12.0-0 h3 13.f2 ( 13.f3? xf1 14.xe4+ xe4 15.xf1 0-0+ is almost winning for Black, Sandhu,M-Fedorchuk,S/ Oropesa del Mar 1998) 13...g4 14.f3 ( 14.c3?! h1+! 15.xh1 xf2+ 16.g1 xd1 is at least equal for Black, who has an exchange for two pawns, Krnic,Z-Vuruna, M/Yugo slavia 1 97 4) 14...f8 15.d4 Forced, ( 15.xf8+? xf8 16.e2 xc2 wins ) 15...0-0-0 ( 15...e5 16.xf8+ xf8 17.e2 g6 also keeps some initiative for the pawns ) 16.c3 g6 17.e2 Blatny,P-Van Buskirk,C/Agoura Hills USA 20 04 , a nd no w I t h in k B la ck sho uld t ry ( 17.xd5 xh2! 18.xh2 g4 19.f4 h6+ 20.g2 g5 is messy ) 17...c5 ] 11...0-0 12.0-0?! This novelty makes matters worse, the previous move was [ 12.e2 g4 and only now 13.0-0 e4 ( t h r e a t e n i n g . . . N g 5 ) 14.g2 d7 but Black is clearly better here, too, 15.c3 51
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h3 16.e2 xf1 17.xf1 xc3 18.xc3 g4 ( 18...f5 19.d4 xf1+ 20.xf1 xf1+ 21.xf1 c5 was also effective in Rosales,E-Asbjornsson,A/Caracas 1976) 19.g2 f7 20.g1 e4+ winning the cpawn, and soon the game, Lakic, N-Vukic, M/Yugoslavia (ch) 1976. ] 12...h3 13.e1 g4 14.e2 xf3! Already winning. 15.xf3 f8 16.e2 f2 Good, but [ 16...xg3! 17.hxg3 d6 18.h1 xg3 is even stronger. ] 17.xf2 xf2 18.xf2 f7+ 19.e2 [ 19.g1? f3 is mate next move. ] 19...h5+ 20.d3 The king is forced to go for a stroll on the wrong side of the pawns! b4 [ 20...f3! Forces a quick mate. ] 21.c3 [ 21.c3 is no improvement. f5+ 22.e4 dxe4+ 23.c2 e3+ ] 21...f3! Pinning the e-pawn and threatening a deadly check with the bishop on f5. 22.a3 f5+ 23.d4 c5+ 24.e5 xc3+ Black's next move is ... Qe4 mate. 0-1
58
A01 Bacrot,Etienne 2695 Adams,Michael 2729 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (19) 21.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen]
1.b3 e5 2.b2 d6 3.e3 g6 4.f4!? [ This complex move allows the game to move over towards a Bird Opening. White could keep it in the Nimzo-Larsen proper with 4.f3 g7 5.d4= though this is hardly critical for Black ] 4...g7 5.f3 [ 5.fxe5 h6 ( 5...c6 ) 6.e2 0-0 7.f3 g4 8.0-0 xe5 9.xe5 dxe5 Stretch, WDe la Rosa, E/Buenos Aires 1978 10.c4!? f5 11.d3 c6 12.e1 ] 5...d7 [ This is just one of many possible continuations for Black at this juncture, so let's have a brief overview of the others: A) 5...c6 is the main line, but I think Black will do best to stay clear of this line and give preference to either Adams' choice in the
ma in ga m e o r va ria t io n 'B ' b e lo w 6.b5 ( 6.c4 h6 7.0-0 0-0 8.fxe5 g4 9.e2 gxe5 10.xe5 dxe5 11.f3 e8 12.d3 f5= Rotstein-Hertneck, Austrian League 1999 ) A) 6...ge7 7.fxe5 0-0 8.0-0 , Wunder, S-Vlasov, I/St Petersburg 1992, and here Jacobs/Tait offer dxe5 9.c4 ( 9.c3 a6 ) 9...h6 , "and White has nothing very much at all"; B) 6...d7 7.0-0 ge7 8.fxe5 dxe5 B1) 9.g5 0-0 ( 9...f5?! 10.xf7 xf7 11.e4 Gutierrez, J-Castro Gonzales, G/ Bogota 1976) 10.c4 ( 10.a3 a5 11.e2 b6 12.b4 b7 13.b5 d6 14.c3 c8 with a complicated position with chances to b o th side s, Fo rin to s, G -Hoe n , R/ S k o p j e 1 9 7 2) 10...e8 11.c3 ( 11.g4 h6 12.e4?? b5! (Oops) 13.xb5 f5 , and Black is on top, Georgiev, K-Ermenkov, E/Sofia 1984) 11...a5 B1a) 12.d3 c8 was played in TaitMutton, Notts League 2000 as mentioned in Jacobs/Tait's book 13.f3 ( 13.g4!? leads to a crazy line only my computer can take credit for: h6 14.e6!? d7 15.b4 xe6 16.xa5 d6 17.b5 , and White may have an edge; 13.ce4!? h6 14.c3! c6 15.f3 e7 16.f2 d6 17.e4 f5 18.e2 d7 wi t h a c o m p l e x g a m e) 13...d6 14.a3 f5 15.e4 f4 16.e1 g5; B1b) 12.e2 B1b1) 12...c8!? is suggested by Jacobs/ Tait, one possible c o n t i n u a t i o n i s 13.ce4 d6 14.a3!? ( 14.c3 c6 15.f3 xe4 16.xe4 f5 17.xa5 fxe4 18.g4 ) 14...c6 15.d3 h6 16.f3 f5 17.xd6 cxd6 18.b1 , and with ready to expand on the queenside with c4 and b4, White's chances are preferable; B1b2) 12...f5?! 13.ge4 d7 14.b4 c6 15.b5 ce7 16.a4 , and White is in control of the game, Wall, T-Clegg, C/Sutton 1999; B2) 9.c3!? 0-0 10.g5 f5 11.ge4 52
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a6 12.e2 ce7 13.e1 c6 was played in Rahman, Z-Dzhumaev, M/ Kuala Lumpur 1993, and now I prefer White after 14.f2!?; B3) 9.c4 ] [ B) 5...f6!? 6.fxe5 g4 A) 7.c4 c6!? ( 7...d5 8.e2 d7 "seem OK for Black" Jacobs/Tait) 8.0-0 0-0 9.c3 cxe5 10.h3 xf3+ 11.xf3 e5 , and Black is already slightly on top, Bartholomew, J-Friedel, J/ Connecticut USA 2004; B) 7.c3 dxe5 8.a3 e6 9.h3 h6 10.e4 d7 11.e2 ( 11.c4 xc4 12.bxc4 c5 13.0-0 0-0 14.d5= Horn in CB M) 11...c6 12.0-0-0 a5= Minasian, A-Hansen, C/Groningen 1990 ] [ C) 5...g4 6.fxe5 xe5 7.xe5 dxe5 8.e2 d7 9.c3 Opitz, F-Klein, A/ Chemnitz 1997 ] [ D) 5...e7?! 6.c4 0-0 7.fxe5 bc6 8.0-0 ( 8.d4?! dxe5 9.d5 e4 10.xg7 wa s p l a ye d i n Ra f o l s A l b e t , J- G a r r e t a Martinez, A/Barcelona ESP 2007, and now Black should have continued wit h xg7 11.dxc6 xd1+ 12.xd1 exf3 13.gxf3 xc6 with a slightly better game for Black) 8...xe5 9.xe5 ( 9.xe5 dxe5 10.g5 f5 11.xf7 xf7 12.xf7+ xf7 13.g4 Van Run, J-Van Beek, A/Hengelo 1999) 9...dxe5 10.c3 ( 10.e4 c6 11.f3 e8 12.g3 Verot, M-Sorin, B/Hyeres 2000) 10...f5 11.e4 ( 11.a3! e8 12.e4 ) 11...b6 12.a3 c5= Takalo Eskola, ALehtinen, H/Oulu 2000 ] 6.c4 [ 6.a3!? e7 ( 6...h6!? ) 7.fxe5 xe5 8.xe5 dxe5 9.e2 f5 10.0-0 0-0 11.c4 , and although the chances are about even, White's position seems easier to play, Duche, J-Rocher, O/Sindelfingen 1984 ] [ 6.e2 e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.c4 ( 8.fxe5 xe5 9.xe5 dxe5 10.e1 e6 11.d3 f5 12.f3 c6 , and Black is doing fine, Canteli Martinez, D-Rodriguez Modrono, J/Asturias 2001 ) 8...e4 9.xg7 exf3 10.xf8 fxe2 11.xe2 xf8 12.c3 a6 13.ac1 f5 14.d5 c6 15.c7 a7 16.d3 b6 , thus far Ranby, H-Winsnes, R/Stockholm 1991, and now my trusted digital f riend
claims W hite has a way out with 17.xd6 f6 18.c5 bxc5 19.e8 f7 20.c7 f6 21.e8 with a draw by repetition as the best result for both players ] 6...h6 [ Black can also consider 6...e7 7.0-0 h6 8.fxe5 xe5 9.xe5 xe5 10.xe5 dxe5 11.f3 0-0 12.c3 c6 13.d4 , Rustemov, A - Y a n d e m i r o v, V / S t P e t e r s b u r g 1 9 9 6 , ( 13.a4!? ) 13...g4 14.e4 ae8= ] [ Whereas 6...e7? is a bad idea: 7.xf7+! xf7 8.g5+ f6? ( 8...g8 9.e6 e8 10.xc7 d8 11.xa8 b5 12.g4! c5 13.h4 b7 14.0-0 xa8 15.a4 ) 9.c3! c5 10.f3! f5 11.g4 , and it is already game over for Black, Melnikov, D-Fedoseev, V/St Petersburg RUS 2007 ] 7.0-0 0-0 8.fxe5 [ 8.a4 c6 ( 8...e4!? 9.xg7 xg7 10.g5 f6 appears pleasant for Black) 9.fxe5 xe5 10.xe5 xe5 11.xe5 dxe5 12.c3 g7 13.e1 Novikov, M-Bakutin, A/ Tula 2000 ] 8...xe5!? [ This appears to be slightly stronger than the line chosen in the only previous game I could find with this line: 8...dxe5 9.e4 c6 10.c3 b6 11.e2 e6 12.e1 f5 13.exf5 gxf5 with a complicated game and chances to both sides, Bagoly, J-Loginov, V/Hungary 1991 ] 9.xe5 dxe5 10.c3 [ 10.e1!? c6 11.a4 seems like the right way for White to go, as Black in the game continuation has the better chances. ] 10...c6 11.a3 e8 12.e4 [ 12.f3 e6 13.xe6 xe6 14.e4 f5 ] 12...b5 13.d3?! [ 13.e2 f5 14.g3 e6 ] 13...e6?! [ 13...f5!? 14.d6 f8! 15.xe8 xa3 ] 14.e1?! [ 14.d6!? e7 15.e4 c7 16.c5= ] 14...a5!? [ Black can also consider 14...f5!? 15.c3 e4 16.e2 a5 , and he is control of the game ] 15.c5 c8 16.b2 f5 [ 16...e7 17.e4 f5 18.g3 e6 ] 17.a3 g4 18.h3 f6 19.b4 d5?! [ 19...d7 20.xd7 xd7 21.e2 e6 ] 53
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.c4 bxc4 21.xc4 h8 22.e4 [ 22.d3 b6 23.xd5 cxd5 24.c1 axb4 25.xb4= ] 22...f4 [ 22...fxe4 23.f7 axb4 24.axb4 xa1 25.xa1 e3 ] 23.exf5 [ 23.e3 axb4 24.axb4 xa1 25.xa1 g5 ] 23...xf5 [ 23...g5 24.g3 xh3+ 25.h2 xf5 ] 24.e3 [ 24.h1 to take some of the potency out of Black's upcoming ... Qg5 is much better. From here onwards it is play to one goal ] 24...g5 25.g4 h5 26.e4 xe4 27.xe4 hxg4 28.h4 xh4 29.xf4 g3+ 30.h1 xf4 31.xg6 h6+ 32.xh6+ xh6 33.bxa5 xa5 34.c3 a4 35.b3 aa8 36.g2 g7 37.e1 f4 38.a4 f6 39.a5 ed8 40.e2 h8 41.e4 f5 42.c2 e6 43.b3+ d6 44.d4 c7 45.dxe5 h2+ 46.g1 h3 47.xf4 xc3 48.f7+ b8 49.f8+ a7 50.xa8+ xa8 51.f7 e3 52.e6 g3 53.g2 a7 54.h5 a6 55.f3 c5 56.xg3 xe6 57.f4 e7 58.e4 xa5 59.e3 b4 60.d3 c4+ 61.d4 d7+ 62.e3 c3 63.g6 b2 64.f5 d8 0-1
exploiting the undefended g7-pawn. h4+ Rather than defend e5 by the immediate 5... Qe7, Black first weakens White's kingside. ( 5...f6 6.h5+ g6 7.h4 exf4 8.exf4 f7 9.f3 ce7 Gonsior,E-Novak,I/CSSR 1979, is also a sound way for Black to react.) 6.g3 e7 7.f3 g4 Black relieves the pressure on his centre by pinning the attacking piece. ( 7...f6 is also possible, when White should play 8.c3 e6 9.e2 a6 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.0-0-0 with unclear play, Chandler,MCrouch,C/ Birmingham ENG 1998, as the line 8 fxe5 fxe5 9 Bxc6+ bxc6 10 Nxe5 Nf6! 11 Nxc6 Qe4 is very wild.) 8.h3 xf3 9.xf3 f6 Black has conceded a bishop for a knight, but should now be able to finish his development in peace. 10.c3 0-0 Barczay,L-Hardicsay,P/Budapest 1978, and now 11.xc6 ( 11.xd5? xd5 12.xd5 b4 is exceedingly awkward for White.) 11...bxc6 12.0-0-0 is best, with chances for both sides. ] [ 5.f3 seems inferior, although rather than e7 ( 5...f6 is better ) 6.d4 e4 7.e5 which would not be possible were the black fpawn on f6, xe5 8.dxe5 e6 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.d4 threatening Ba3, with a powerful grip on the dark squares, Groszpeter,A-Zimmerman,Y/2nd Perenyi mem, Gyula HUN 1998. ] 5...ge7 The alternative is [ 5...dxc4 when 6.f3 cxb3 7.xb3 59 A01 gives White good play for the pawn. ] 0-0 Good, logical, play by Black, he Bagirov,Vladimir 2485 6.f3 completes his development rather than waste Manika,Reinaldo 2430 Gausdal 1991 too much time defending his centre. 7.xc6 xc6 8.cxd5 b4 A standard ploy to regain [Tony Kosten] th e d 5 -p a wn, .. . Nd3 + is t h rea t en e d . 9.d3 10.xe5!? Very risky, White goes 51/3 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 d5 xd5 T h i s i s B l a c k ' s m o s t a m b i t i o u s l i n e . B y pawn grab bing, althou gh, it is true, if h e completing his centre in this way, he calls doe sn 't do th is he m ay be a little worse . White's bluff. 4.b5 d6 The e5-pawn needs xe5? Black goes astray, when his good play was about to bear fruit, defending. [ 10...xe3! is very strong, 11.fxe3 g5 [ 4...f6 is an inferior method, 5.d4 e4 6.e2 regains the piece with advantage, as neither a6 7.xc6+ bxc6 8.c4 f5 Larsen,B-Balinas, 12.f3? ( 12.c4 xg2 13.f1 h3 R/Manila 1975, and now 9.c2 f6 10.a3 14.f3 xh2 are sufficient.) 12...xg2 would have given White a superior reversed forking h1-rook and b2-bishop, nor ] Winawer-French type of structure. ] 5.c4 This is the thematic positional counter, 11.xe5 g5 12.g3 Simply masking the g2pawn. h5 13.h4! g6 14.e4 Black is hoping but the tactical [ 5.f4 is the critical test of this system, to get play on the light squares, his c8-bishop 54
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 has no opposition, and so White cleverly setsu p a l i g h t - s q u a r e d p a w n b a r r i e r . f5!? Black cannot afford to do nothing, he will just be a pawn down, so throws some wood on to the fire. [ 14...e3!? is a lso in terest ing, 15.c1 xg2+ 16.f1 f6 17.c3 e3+ and now 18.e2 may be strong, as after g4 19.d5 is awkward. ] 15.exd5 f4 16.h2 xg2 So, at the cost of a piece, Black has achieved his light-squared attack. 17.d2 xf2+ 18.e2 d4?! [ 18...xh4 Might be better, Black does have three passed pawns. ] 19.c3 g4 20.f1 ae8 The black attack is r e a c h i n g i t s a p o g e e . 21.g1 b4? A let-off for White. [ 21...e3! brings a further piece into the business zone, and relies on the fact that 22 Bxe3+?? fxe3 is check, and discovers an attack on the white queen. 22.h2 and now e2!! which certainly deserves a diagram, as almost all Black's attacking pieces are en prise. 23.xe2? ( 23.xe2? xd3+ wins immediately,) 23...xd3+ 24.c1 xc3+ winning. In fact, to avoid defeat White will have to find the, far from obvious, move 23 Qe1!!, with unclear play. ] 22.c2! After this, the white king finds safety. f3 23.f2 f7 24.c5 Proposing the exchange of queens, after which the game should be a formality for White. f4 25.f2 fe7 26.ae1 xe1 27.xe1 1-0
60 Barnaure,Vlad Victor Grunberg,Mihai ch-ROM Predeal ROM (9) [John Watson]
A01 2433 2414 05.12.2006
activity might even give him a small advantage. 9.g3!? [ 9.0-0 , intending f4 at some point, looks equ al. W h ite tries so met hin g d if f ere nt , preparing 0-0 and f4. ] 9...b5 10.xd6 cxd6 11.0-0 e8 [ 11...d5 and ] [ 11...c5 are options. ] 12.f4!? Loosening. [ 12.e2 ] 12...g4!? An ambitious move that threatens ...Qh4. [ 12...g4 13.e1 ad8 14.h3 d7 is equal. ] 13.f3? White goes astray. [ Instead, 13.h3 h6 ( 13...f6 14.fxe5 dxe5 15.f5 xf5 16.xf5 ) 14.fxe5 dxe5 15.h5 is solid and even promising. ] 13...exf4? Black could punish White's mistake by [ 13...e4! 14.e2 h4 15.h3 xg3 16.hxg4 xg4 winning a pawn, although winning that position will take some doing. ] 14.exf4 [ Or 14.xf4= ] 14...a7+ 15.d4!? [ 15.h1 makes 14...Qa7+ look useless. ] 15...e3 [ 15...e7! has the simple idea of ...Qe3+, exploiting the newly-made weakness on e3. ] 16.fe1 My copy of this game says '0-1' at this point. Unless White had an illusion regarding capturing the c-pawn by ...Nxc2 or didn't see 17 Qf2 and 16. ..Bg4, then my guess is that the game continued at this point with approximate equality. The opening looks equal to me, and quite interesting. 0-1
61 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 5.a3 Here we go again. See the notes to Karayannis-Banikas. a6!? 6.xc6!? [ 6.e2 is the other natural continuation, when b5 (to prevent Nc4) 7.f3?! ( 7.c4! ) 7...e7! 8.b1 0-0 gives Black space and development. ] 6...dxc6 7.c4 e7 8.e2 0-0 Fairly normal thus f ar. Black's space and
Bello,J Benko,PP 1971 Palma de Mallorca [Paul Motwani]
A01
1971
B31: "W ho's attacking who in the NimzoLarsen Attack?!" IM Byron Jacobs and Jonathan Tait, a former British Correspondence Chess Champion, are very 55
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 open and honest right from the outset in their new 192-page Everyman book entitled "NimzoLarsen Attack". They do not make any false attempt to claim an opening advantage for White after 1 b3, but it's fair to say that this quite rare starting-move does carry some surprise-value which may unsettle opponents with little or no experience of having faced it. Numerous illustrative annotated games in the 14.99 (UK pounds) book provide the reader with lots of noteworthy strategies and neat tactical ideas in the opening phase, and wellbeyond there too. On many occasions Black gets punished for overreacting to the innocuous-looking 1 b3, but instead a wiser approach is to seize a share of the centre with 1...e5!, for example, and then continue calmly with further sound, sensible moves which do not make brash attempts to instantly refute White's opening. Nevertheless, superqu ic k m in ia t u re vict o rie s a re so m e t im e s possible, and for your enjoyment now I've chosen and annotated a short attractive GMencounter from my own personal files. 1.b3 e5 2.b2 d6 A good move, which already blun ts t he e f f ect of W hite's f ia nche ttoe d bishop on the long a1-h8 diagonal. 3.d4 [ B31.1: The more common 3.e3 occurred, for example, in the game M.Munoz Muriel-X. Mateu at the 1996 Spanish Team Championship. The continuation was c6 4.b5 d7 5.e2 a6 6.xc6 xc6 7.0-0 g5! 8.g3 h5! (a case of "h for hunting!", which is the favourite attacking motto of Belgium's Gorik Cools) 9.f4 g6 10.f2 h4 11.f1 f6 (11...h3 would force 12 f5, since 12 g3? Qe4 is just too horrific for White) 12.d4? (certainly not the most t e n a c i o u s d e f e n c e ) h3 13.f5 g5 White resigned in view of 14 g3 Ng4 15 Re2 Qxf5 or 15...Bf3. ] 3...exd4 4.xd4 c6 5.d2 f6 6.c3 d5! With the terrible threat of ...d4 followed by ...Bb4. 7.e3 b4 8.b5? White plans to answer 8...Ne4 by 9 Qd4, but instead Black simply castles now, thereby really making ... Ne4 a huge threat. Therefore, 8 Bd3 should have been preferred. 0-0 9.0-0-0 9 a3 would also have lost to 9.. .Ne4 because of 10 Qd3 Qf6!. e4! 10.e1 d4!! 11.xc6 After 11 exd4 Nxc3 12 Bxc3 Qg5+ Black picks
o f f W h i t e ' s l o o s e b 5 - b i s h o p . xc3 GM Juan Bellon resigned, since White cannot avoid heavy loss of material. 0-1
62 Berkes,Ferenc Balogh,Csaba 54th ch Budapest HUN (6) [Tony Kosten]
A01 2614 2513 24.08.2004
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 5.a3 a5 6.e2 The bishop retreats immediately, to allow the black knight to take its place. [ 6.f3 was already analysed in Hodgson,JSpeelman,J/GBR 1998. ] 6...a6 7.c4 This move, gaining space on the queenside, and preparing a safe spot on c2 for the knight, has gained quite a following in recent years. [ 7.f3 e4!? was another Hodgson game in the archives, against-Barsov. ] 7...c5 Black gains more control of d4, and gives the d6-bishop some space to retreat. [ 7...0-0 8.f3 e8 9.c2 e4 10.h4 c6 11.f4?! c5 12.f5 d5! 13.cxd5 b4 was very promising for Black in Zurek,MHracek,Z/CZE 2002. ] [ 7...c6 8.c2 0-0 9.d3 it seems wise to stop Black from playing ...e4, e8 10.f3 f8 11.e4!? White stops Black from playing ...d5 with Sicilian-style play, Grabuzova, TPrudnikova,S/Varna BUL 2002. ] 8.f3 [ 8.d4?! cxd4 9.c2 d3?! ( 9...dxe3!? 10.xd6 exf2+ 11.f1 fxg1+ 12.xg1 c6 wins two pawns, but White has good p o s i t i o n a l c o m p e n s a t i o n) 10.xd3 1/2-1/2 Odesskij,I-Potkin,V/Pardubice CZE 2001, but now I prefer White. ] 8...c6 9.d3 c7 This is a new try, keeping the bishop on the queenside. In Teske,HBerndt,S/Tegernsee GER 1999 Black preferred [ 9...0-0 10.0-0 e8 11.c2 f8 keeping the bishop on the other side of the board, 12.d4 cxd4 13.exd4 e4 14.e5 d6 15.xc6 bxc6 16.d5 and White has an edge. ] 56
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.0-0 0-0 11.c1 e7 12.b1 A different idea for these positions, normally the knight goes to c2, but then where? Berkes decides that the best place for the knight is c3, with some control over d5, or d2, and so heads there instead. d5 Otherwise White plays Nc3. 13.cxd5 xd5 14.bd2 White opts for a typical Sicilian type of position, although objectively play is equal. d7 [ 14...b6 15.a3 b7 seems more logical. ] 15.c2 b6 16.fe1 Typical Hedgehog play, W h it e is r e a d y t o re a ct t o a n y a t t a ckin g gesture from Black. fe8 17.f1 a5 18.a3 ad8 19.g3 c8 20.b1 White plays a very can ny gam e, pla cin g his piece s o n goo d squares and asking Black how he intends to proceed. d8?! Black hastens too remove his queen from the same file as the white rook, but I prefer [ 20...cd8 as then 21.d4?! is met by e4 ] 21.d4! This is possible now that Black cannot play .. .e4 - White controls e4 with two pieces. exd4 22.exd4 cxd4 23.xd4 xd4 24.xd4 Strictly speaking White has only liberated his position, but the white pieces have slightly be tter squ ares in this ope n position. e7?! Black's tact ical neurons must have been switched off by the long manoeuvring phase! [ 24...g5 is obviously stronger, 25.e4 g6 wh en a f t e r 26.a6 Black can simply play cd8 ] 25.a6 White takes a move to force the rook off the open file. b8 26.d3 Returning with gain of time. g6 27.b2 Forcing a slight kingside weakness. f6 [ 27...xe1+ 28.xe1 f8 is very passive. ] 28.c2 White seems to be doing everything with gain of tempo. now g6 and c7 are attacked. d6 29.c4 [ 29.xg6?! hxg6 30.xg6 xa3 throws White's advantage away. ] 29...f8 30.xb6? This wins quickly, but I think it is a mistake. Better [ 30.xg6 hxg6 31.xg6 which seems good, b5 32.e3 xa3 33.cd1 and White has a very aggressive setup, for instance b4 34.d5! and wins. ] 30...xb6 31.xb6 xe1+?? A bad blunder, that can only be explained by time trouble. [ 31...xb6 seems OK, 32.c4+
can be answered by A) 32...e6!? c a n b e m e t b y 33.xe6! xe6 ( 33...xe6 34.xe6+ xe6 35.c4 f7 36.e1 transposes) 34.f5 f7 35.e1 e5 36.xe6+ xe6 37.xe6+ xe6 38.f4 xa3 39.fxe5 fxe5 and I prefer White; B) 32...h8 33.f7 d8 when Black is at least equal. ] 32.xe1 xb6 33.c4+! The point, Black's b a c k r a n k i s t o o w e a k . h8 34.f7 White attacks d7, and threatens to capture on g6 when f8 is hanging. d8 The only move to defend both pieces, but ... 35.xg6 hxg6 36.d1 [ 36.d1 e7 37.d5 leaves White with a solid exchange more. ] [ 36.e4 is also winning, menacing Rh4 mate: g5 37.d4 e7 38.h5+ g8 39.d1 and the bishop drops. ] 1-0
63 Bernadskiy,Vitaliy Nevednichy,Vladislav Albena Masters op (5) [Fier, Alexandr]
A01 2475 2580 05.06.2013
W h it e t rie s a n e xo t ic n e w se t u p a ga in s t Black's exotic setup in White's exotic opening, but maybe this time it has all gone a bit too far! 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 [ 3...d6 is another main line ] 4.b5 d6 For me this is the beginning of a strange path, but somehow it all makes sense. With the bishop on d6 Black goes for quick development and doesn't need to care about Bxc6 5.a3 a5 Avoiding Nc4 6.e2 a6 A v o i d i n g N b 5 7.c4 c5!? This move was played sometimes before and even analyzed here, but it's still kind of exotic. In a strange way it usually transposes to a Maroczy system, since White's knight can go back to d2 via b1 and Black usually plays with ...Nc6, .. .Bc7 and ...d5 at some point. 8.g4 But not today! This is a move that I would consider during a game, but W hite's position is probably not solid enough to go for it. If Black can open the center after this White has good chances to be close to lost 57
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 8.f3 c6 9.d3 0-0 10.0-0 c7 11.c1 e7 12.b1 d5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.bd2 was too normal in Berkes, F (2614)-Balogh, C (2513)/HUN-ch 54th Budapest 2004, ] 8...h6 [ 8...c6 can bring some complications after 9.g5 g8 10.f3 e4!? 11.xg7 exf3 12.xh8 fxe2 13.xe2 xg5 14.g1 h5+ 15.e1 xd1+ 16.xd1 ge7 17.g7 with an unclear position ] 9.h4 The problem is that after 8...h6 White needs to spend one more tempo to play g5 c6 10.f3 c7 11.e2?! Going for a wrong plan [ 11.g5 would be a logical continuation A) 11...hxg5 allows White to organize his pieces 12.hxg5 xh1 13.xh1 h7 A1) 14.f4!? exf4 15.h5 xg5 16.xh7 xg1+ 17.e2 g6 the queen needs to be defended ( 17...g5? 18.g8+ e7 19.xg7+- ) 18.g8+ ( 18.xg6 fxg6 19.g1 e7 is ok for Black) 18...e7 19.xg7 d5 ( 19...d6 20.f8+ d7 21.f1 is dangerous for Black) 20.f8+ e8 21.g1 ( 21.xg6 fxg6 22.xc5 g4+ 23.f1 fxe3 24.xe3 d4 25.xc6+ bxc6 26.xd4 d8 and the bishop pair comp ens ate s t he pawn in a unclea r position ) 21...xg8 22.xg8 e7 23.xe7+ xe7 24.xd5 fxe3 25.d3 b8 is a pacific equal endgame; A2) 14.h5 xg5 15.xh7 xg1+ 16.e2 g5 17.f3 with some compensation for the pawn, but nothing more; B) 11...g8! 12.h3 ( 12.gxh6 xh6 13.h5 f6 14.e2 d5 and Black is better ) 12...d6 13.gxh6 xh6 14.g5 f6 15.b1 f5 is more harmonious for Black, but things are far from clear, the position is playable ] 11...d5 12.g5 [ 12.cxd5 would be still better, but White's position is already collapsing b4 13.d3 xg4 14.xg4 xd5! A) 15.e4 xd3+ 16.f1 xe4 17.h2 d8 ( 17...f6 18.h3 xb2 19.xd5 xd5 20.b1 e4 21.xb2 0-0 ) 18.c3 xc3 19.xc3 b5 brings no joy for White;
B) 15.g1 xd3+ 16.f1 xb2 17.xd5 xd5 18.f3 d8 19.c4 xc4 20.bxc4 f6 21.xb7 0-0 and White is still alive ] 12...hxg5 13.hxg5 xh1+ 14.xh1 b4! Maybe W hite overlooked t his move, no w Black is winning 15.d4 [ 15.gxf6 d3+ 16.f1 xf6 17.f4 h4-+ ] [ 15.c1 g4 16.cxd5 xg5-+ ] 15...g4 16.dxe5 [ 16.c2 xg5 17.xb4 a5! 18.a3 cxb4 19.axb4 xb4+ 20.c3 xf2! 21.xf2 h4+ 22.g1 xc3 23.xc3 g3+ 24.g2 xe3+ 25.h1 xc3 would be a nice end ] 16...xg5 17.cxd5 xe5 [ 17...xe5 was also winning 18.xe5 xe5 19.c1 ( 19.g3 xe3 20.fxe3 xg3+-+ ) 19...f6 20.f4 g5 wins ] 18.f4 [ 18.d2 ed3 19.c4 g4 20.g1 d8-+ ] 18...ed3+ 19.d2 g6 20.c3 g4 21.f1 [ 21.b1 gives more resistance but it's still losing f5! defending e4 square ( 21...h5 22.xb4 xb4 23.e4+ f8 24.g2 e8 25.h1 xh1 26.xh1 xe4 27.xe4 xa2 White is just a pawn down) 22.c4 0-0-0 23.xb4 xb4 24.c3 b5 25.e5 xe5 26.fxe5 c6 27.g1 xe5 and Black has compensation for the extra pawn! ] 21...0-0-0 22.g3 xd5 23.e4 e6 24.g2 3b4 25.f5 xc3+ 26.e1 xg3+ 0-1
64 Bischoff,Klaus Khenkin,Igor Bundesliga 2000-1 (5) [Tony Kosten]
A01 2556 2633 07.01.2001
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.f3 Very unusual, W hite lures the black centre forward. d6!? [ According to my databases this is already a novelty! Normally Black plays 4...e4 5.d4 xd4 ( 5...d5!? 6.b5 d7 7.xc6 bxc6 8.e2 d6 9.d3 0-0 is also possible, 58
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Karlsson,L-Gausel,E/Hillerod 1995.) 6.xd4 e7 7.c4 0-0 8.c2 c6 9.c3 d5 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.e2 e6 12.0-0 c8 13.b2 which looks equal, despite the possible pressure along the a1-h8 diagonal, Larsen,B-Parma, B/Vinkovci 1970. ] 5.d3 0-0 6.bd2 e8 7.a3 b5!? 8.c4 b4 9.a4 b7 Black has found a way of developing his pieces 'around' his d6-bishop. 10.c2 c5 11.e2 g4!? Black is planning to attack on the kingside, and commences with a threat to sacrifice on e3. 12.f1 [ 12.a5?! xe3 13.fxe3 xe3 14.b1 xg2+ ] 12...f6? This whole idea is mistaken. 13.h3 h6 14.g1! White breaks the pin on the hpawn to drive the g4-knight away. The loss of castling rights is unimportant as he can castle queenside. xf2?! [ Sacrificing a piece, as unfortunately for Black, 14...f6? actually loses a piece to 15.g4! xh3 16.g3 h1 17.0-0-0 h6 18.g5 ] [ However, 14...e4 15.dxe4 ge5 is a better try. ] 15.xf2 f5 16.e1!? xe3 17.xe3 xe3 18.d2 c5 19.f1 a5 20.g5!? [ White decides to counterattack, although 20.d4 exd4 21.xd4 is more than sufficient. ] 20...xb3 21.d1 xf3 [ The re is no way to de f e nd f 5 , 21...f8? 22.xe5 ] [ 21...g6 22.g4 fxg4 23.xe5 ] 22.xf3 c6? [ Why not 22...f4! when Black has three p a w n s f o r t h e p i e c e ? A s i f 23.xa8?? e3# ] 23.xf5 f8 24.e4 ae8 25.h5 xf1+ 26.xf1 d5 27.cxd5 cxd5 28.e2 e6 29.f3 With a threat. a5? 30.d4 the e-pawn is p inn e d, s o B lack will lose b o th ce nt re pawns. 1-0
65 Bischoff,Klaus Sutovsky,Emil 3rd Julian Borowski A (6) [Tony Kosten]
A01 2533 2604 08.05.2001
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 5.e2 [ The most logical reply, 5.a3 was seen in the archives. ] 5...a6 Forcing the exchange of the bishop, which can only retreat at the cost of its life. 6.xc6 dxc6 Thus Black gets his d-pawn 'around' the d6-bishop. 7.bc3 [ The most thematic, 7.d4 aims for a central presence, e4 8.c4 0-0 9.bc3 e8 , f a irly le ve l, G a rcia P a d ro n , J-Ro m e r o Holmes,A/Cordoba 1995. ] 7...e4!? [ An innovation, unusually Black advances his e-pawn, which serves to hinder the b2bishop. More normally 7...e7 8.g3 g4 9.f3 e6 10.ce4 xe4 11.xe4 , but this is level, Lein,A-Malbran,G/ Philadelphia 1989. ] 8.g3 e7 9.e2 0-0 10.0-0-0?! [ The king is not ideally placed here, 10.f3 exf3 11.gxf3 may be better. ] 10...a3 Typically exchanging the king's defender. 11.xa3 xa3+ 12.b1 e8 13.f3 exf3 14.gxf3 a5 Black plays for a standard attack on the a-file. 15.ge4 [ It appears that Black's attack is stronger than W hite's along the g-file, i. e. 15.hg1 a4 16.g2 g6 and the attack gets nowhere. ] 15...xe4 16.fxe4 a4! 17.d3 [ It is difficult to know how to react, 17.xa4 is met by the exchange sac b5 18.c3 b4 19.a4 xa4! 20.bxa4 e6 with mate to follow. ] 17...e6 18.d2 b5 19.c1 b4 20.b2 axb3 21.axb3 a3 The build-up on the a-file, with a passing threat of a sac on b3, is too strong. 22.e2 ea8 23.hg1 Menacing mate! g6 24.c3 d6 25.f4 b4 26.b2 c5 This time the tripling on the a-file is really decisive. 0-1
59
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A01 43.f3 d2+ 44.g3 xf5+ Blatny,Pavel 2456 0-1 Arencibia Rodriguez,Walter 2528 III Festival Olimpico (1) 17.02.2005 67 A01 [John Watson] Blatny,Pavel 2479 Mueller,Karsten 2518 So far I've neglected 1.b3, which doesn't seem 05.12.2002 to be hot at the moment. It's most famous TCh-2002-3 Frohnleiten AUT (1) modern advocate was Bent Larsen, and for [Tony Kosten] some years now GM Pavel Blatny has used it with regularity. 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 Harvey Williamson writes: "I was wondering f6 4.b5 d6 This has become a popular what you thought about 4...e4 instead of ... defence. Black's idea is to castle quickly and Bd6 in the line 1.b3 e5 2.Bb3 Nc6 3.e3 d5 4. move the bishop again after driving White's Bb5 e4 then 5.Ne2 and what next, maybe ... bishop away. So f ar it seems the perf ect Qg5!?" 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 d5 4.b5 solution. W hite may need to return to 4.c4. e4!? There is no mention of this move in my 5.e2?! A little inconsistent. Instead, ECO A, rather than defend the attacked e[ 5.g4 0-0 ( 5...a6 6.e2 ) 6.g5? e4 pawn with the standard is over committal. ] [ 4...d6 Black simply advances. On the one [ But 5.f3 e4 6.g5 h6 7.h3 hand this gains space, but on the other was a plausible alternative. ] Black weakens his control of the a1-h8 5...0-0 6.g4?! Blatny likes such moves. The diagonal, and make the b2-bishop more po int is n 't ve ry cle a r, ho weve r, sin ce g5 influential. I prefer setting-up a barricade appears to help Black. b6 against this piece myself. ] [ 6...c5! would meet 7.g5 by e4 8.h4 5.d3!? Blatny, a Larsen's Opening specialist, d5! 9.d3 d6 with advantage. ] attacks W hite's advanced pawn head-on, 7.g5 e8 8.h4 b7 9.f3 e7 10.c3 although the most natural move seems to be a3!? 11.d5 d6 12.xa3 xa3 13.e2 [ 5.e2 when Harvey writes again: "The [ 13.c4 is also logical. ] game I am playing by email - these are the 13...d8! 14.g3 c6 15.c3 d5 16.f5 moves so far. They may be of interest" It's hard to find a good plan, and Arencibia g5!? there are no games with this gradually takes over the game. c8! 17.e4 aggressive move in my databases, so I d4 assume it is a novelty. Black puts [ Or 17...f6! ] immediate pressure on the white kingside, 18.e2 g6!? 19.h6+ g7 20.g3 e6 ( 5...a6 6.xc6+ bxc6 7.d3 g5 8.dxe4 21.g4? White had to bring his pieces to xg2 9.g1 xe4 10.xg7! favoured safety by White in Stojanovic,M-Pap,M/Palanka YUG [ 21.g4 ] 2001 ) 6.f4 g4 7.h4 xf4 this is forced, 21...f6! 22.xe6 xe6 23.gf5+? ( 7...xd1?! 8.hxg5 xc2 9.g6 h6 Desperate, but W hite was going to lose a 10.xd5 is better for White) 8.exf4 xd1 pawn and position in any case gxf5 24.exf5 9.xd1 ge7 ( 9...h5!? planning ...Ne7-f5) d5 25.g4 h8 26.g1 The only problem 10.h5 0-0-0!? 11.h6 g8 12.hxg7 xg7 is that this doesn't threaten anything. White's and Black has a pleasant position, with all w h o l e p l a n w i t h g 4 h a s f a i l e d . a5! h is p ie ce s d e ve lo p e d , a lt h o u gh o n t h e Second-rank defence. The rest is easy. 27.g6 downside his h-pawn is weak. ] a7 28.h5 b2 29.d1 xc2 30.d3 e4 5...f6!? 31.g3 e7 32.f1 e3 33.fxe3 dxe3 [ 5...exd3 6.xd3 g5 7.c3 f6 8.0-0-0 34.e2 c5 35.e1 d6 36.g4 g7 was unclear in Schober,M-Mosionzhik,I/ 37.exe3 xe3 38.xe3 h2 39.e7 d2 Rowy POL 2000, but why not ] 40.f7+ xf7 41.xf7 xd3+ 42.f2 e8 [ 5...g5!? , attacking the g2-pawn? 6.e2 xg2 7.g1 xh2 8.dxe4 dxe4 66
60
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 might just favour Black. ] 6.d2 e7?! Black must have a better move than this. 7.dxe4 dxe4 8.e2 White intends Ng3, attacking the e4-pawn, which causes Black a little inconvenience. f5!? 9.d4 d7 10.xc6 bxc6 11.e2 So, White has managed to cause structural damage to the black queenside without having to concede his bishop - he now has a positional plus. 0-0 12.g4!? Wow! [ 12.0-0 was quite satisfactory, but Blatny has more aggressive ideas. ] 12...e8 13.c4 White menaces the win of a piece with g5, as d5 was the knight's only square. b4? I prefer [ 13...c8 as then 14.g5 d7 15.xe4 c a n b e m e t b y b4+ 16.c3 xc3+ 17.xc3 xg5 with chances. ] 14.a3 White gains the important dark-squared bishop. Black was ready to answer [ 14.g5?! with g4 as the double capture on g4 would lose to ... Qxd2+. ] 14...xd2+ [ 14...xg4 is tricky, but loses to 15.g1! ( 15.axb4? xf2 16.xf2 h4+ 17.g1 g5+ draws ) 15...xd2+ 16.xd2 and Black has severe problems along the open g-file: h4 17.0-0-0 f6 18.c3 f8 19.b4+ g8 20.xd7 should win. ] 15.xd2 xg4?! Opening the g-file is extremely risky. 16.0-0-0!? This is not bad, although [ 16.g1! is more accurate, h4 17.0-0-0 wins a piece, as it transposes to the last note. ] 16...f5? Hoping for the exchange of queens. [ 16...xf2!? loses to 17.hg1 xd1 18.xg7+ ( 18.xg7? g4! ) 18...f8 19.xd1 f5 20.f2 f6 21.g1 g6 22.xf6 with a powerful attack. ] [ 16...f6 is Black's best chance, 17.hg1 h8 18.a5 ( 18.xd7!? xd7 19.xg7+ g8 20.f6+ o f f e r s l e s s) 18...g8 and Black is still in the game, although his position is quite unpleasant to play. ] 17.a5! This wins immediately. c8 18.xg4 xg4 19.g5 A lovely manoeuvre the queen moves from d2 to g5 despite there being a pawn on e3! f6 20.xf6 g6 21.h6 f7 Black could resign with a clear conscience, but decides to continue until mate.. 22.g7+
e6 23.h4 xd1 24.f6+ d7 25.xd1# 1-0
68 Blatny,Pavel Yudasin,Leonid Mayor's Cup New York USA (7) [Tony Kosten]
A01 2547 2568 24.06.2001
1.b3 c5 [ 1...d5 is more common, A) t h e i m m e d i a t e 2.f4 is likely to transpose: f6 3.f3 g6 4.b2 g7 5.e3 g4 6.e2 c5 7.h3 xf3 but now White should certainly avoid the 'clever' 8.b5+? fd7! Ouch, White was ( expecting 8...bd7 9.xf3 ) 9.xg7? ( 9.c1 xg2 10.xg7 offered some small chances) 9...xd1 10.xh8 xc2 W hite could, and should, resign, Khomeriki,G-Ehlvest,J/New York 1998.; B) 2.b2 f6 ( 2...c5 3.e3 c6 4.b5 f6 5.f4 is quite interesting for White, he can capture on c6 and play a favourable Nimzo-style position: f5?! 6.f3 e6 7.e5 White's f4-move prepared e5 for the knight's use, c7 8.0-0 e7 9.g4! the black bishop proves to be misplaced, g6 10.e2 (menace: Nxc6 and f5) h6 11.xg6 fxg6 12.d3 , Blatny,PSivasailam,J/ Saint Paul USA 2000, Black is in so m e t ro u b le , b u t co u ld t r y g5!?; 2...g4 3.f3!? interesting, White doesn't want to put his knight on f3 and allow Black to capture it, but tries to profit from the g4-bishop's exposed position. h5 4.h3!? e6 5.f4 f6 6.xh5 xh5 7.g3 f6 8.g2 c5 with chances for both si d e s , D u s s o l , P - B a u e r , C / P a r i s F R A 2001. ) 3.e3 B1) 3...c6 4.e2!? (to dissuade Black from ...Bg4) f5 5.g4!? e4 6.f3 g6 7.h4 h5 8.g5 fd7 9.f4 a bit late, e6 10.f3 White has an interesting kingside space advantage, Zurek,M-Polak,T / Team Championships, CZE 1998.; B2) 3...e6 4.f4 c5 5.b5+!? d7! ( 5...c6 will transpose to the Rogers game ) 6.xd7+ bxd7 7.f3 d6 8.0-0 c7 and having established 61
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 control of e5, Black has few problems, Wall,T-Tiviakov,S/Bunratty IRL 1999.; B3) 3...bd7 4.f4 g6 5.g4?! This is how to play real chess!? g7 6.g2 e5! A flank attack is countered in the centre... 7.e2 0-0 8.fxe5 xg4! 9.xg4 xe5 10.d4 d3+ 11.cxd3 ( 11.xd3 xb2 wins an exchange) 11...xd4 12.xd4 f5 13.c3 c6 14.e2 d6 White's three pieces are not quite a match for the queen here, the white king is too open, Blatny,PRodgaard,J/ Istanbul TUR 2000.; B4) 3...c5 the most natural, but there are others: 4.f3 c6 5.b5 e6 6.0-0 d6 7.e5 c7 8.f4 White has achieved a favourable Nimzo position, this could also occur after an earlier f4. 0-0 9.xc6 bxc6 10.f3 exploiting the b2-bishop and e5-knight to attack on the kingside, d7 11.h3 f6! 12.h5!? whilst watching this rapid game (I was doing the commentaries) I thought that this verged on a decisive attack, fxe5 13.xh7+ f7 14.g3 e8 15.xg7 a6! Rogers,I-Bacrot,E/Cap D'Agde F R A 1 9 9 8 , a n d n o w 16.g6 exf4 17.xe6+ d8 18.g7 e8 19.xe8+ xe8 is very unclear. ] [ 1...b6 2.b2 b7 3.e3 d5 ( 3...e6 4.f4 f5 5.f3 f6 6.c4 c5 7.c3 c6 tries to suggest that W hite's set-up is so good that it has to be copied! Arencibia,WRidameya Tatche,J/3rd Open, Malaga ESP 2000. ) 4.f4 e6 5.f3 f6 6.e2 d6 7.0-0 0-0 8.e5 fd7 is a very solid line f o r B la c k , h e co n t e st s e 5 , 9.e1 f6 10.xd7 xd7 11.c4 a6 12.c3 fairly equal, Fernandes, A-Bruzon,L/Lisbon POR 1999. ] 2.b2 f6 3.e3 b6 4.f4 b7 5.f3 g6 A very sensible line for Black, he neutralises the pressure on the long diagonal thus. 6.g3 [ Against such a strong opponent White decided not to repeat his 6.g4!? g7 7.g2 d6 8.0-0 bd7 9.e1 0-0 10.h4 e6 11.h3 e7 12.c3 and it is not clear if the advanced white kingside pawns are a plus or a minus, Blatny, P-Donaldson,J/ Stratton Mountain USA 2000. ] 6...g7 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 d5 9.e2 c6
Black plays in classical style. 10.e5 c7 11.xc6 xc6 12.d3 ad8 13.e5 b7 14.d2 fe8 15.f3 h6!? Black wants to drive the e5-bishop back, and then play ...e5, without allowing an exchange on g7. 16.b2 d7 17.f5!? e5 18.fxg6 fxg6 19.h4 f8 20.e4 d4!? [ 20...dxe4 i s t e m p t i n g : 21.xe4 xe4 22.xe4 ( 22.dxe4? d2 ) 22...xe4 23.dxe4 e3+ 24.h1 d2 but White can minimise his disadvantage by 25.c1 e2 26.xe3 xe3 27.ae1 ] 21.c1 g7 22.h3 xc1 23.axc1 e7 24.f2 f7 25.xf7 xf7 26.f1 e7 Black has extra space, but the white position is rock-solid. 27.g4 h8 28.f3 d7 29.g5 xg5 30.xg5 xh3 31.xh3 g7 32.g5 d7 33.a4 e7 34.f3 d7 35.d2 b8 36.c4 e6 37.f2 c6 38.f1 f6 ½-½
69 Cicak,Slavko Hansen,Curt VISA GP Reykjavik (4) [Tony Kosten]
A01 2480 2595 1998
1.b3 e5 2.b2 d6 Positionally speaking, blocking the a1-h8 diagonal with pawns is a very so und st rat egy f o r B lack. Bla ck will almost certainly have to fianchetto his king's bishop, which will take play into positions r e m i n i s c e n t o f t h e K i n g ' s I n d i a n . 3.c4 W hite takes a hold of d5, much as in the English Opening. Normally he will play this move sooner or later, others: [ 3.e3 f5 this is an ambitious continuation, ga in in g sp a ce o n t h e k in gs id e . ( 3...f6 4.c4 g6 is more normal, heading for the KI p o s it i o n s . 5.g3 g4!? Black adds a new twist, trying to exploit White's unusual mix of g3, and e3. 6.f3 e6 7.g2 c6 8.e2 g7 9.0-0 Now, 9...0-0 would be normal, wi t h a r e a s o n a b l e p o s i t i o n , b u t B l a c k decides to inject a dose of 'unbalance' into t h e p o s i t i o n . h5?! 10.d4 Of course, everyone knows how to react to a wing attack. exd4 11.xd4 xd4 12.xd4 h4 13.g4 h3 14.h1 which was quite obscure, 62
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Hodgson, J-Sadler,M/1998-9 French Team Ch FRA 1999.) 4.d4 e4 5.c4 White has decided to go for a reversed French set-up, which is the standard reaction whenever Black plays ...e5, and ...f5. f6 6.c3 e7 7.ge2 c6 8.f4 a6 The knight is coming to c7, to support the ...d5 push. 9.d5 So White plays it himself. 0-0 10.e2 c7 11.h4 1/2-1/2 Hodgson, J-Agrest,E/It, Harplinge SWE 1998, although White has an edge, as he has gained a couple of tempi on a line from the English. ] [ 3.g3 f6 4.g2 The ultimate in flexibility, a double fianchetto! c6 ( 4...g6 5.c4 g7 6.f3 0-0 7.d3 e8 8.0-0 c6 resembles a King's English, which is fairly typical, Spraggett,K-Barlov,D/ Paris 1991.) 5.e3 g6 6.e2 g7 7.d4 and White took play into a type of King's Indian position, Bezold,M-Piket,J/ 1998-9 French Team Ch FRA 1999. ] 3...g6 [ 3...c6 Is also perfectly reasonable, of course, 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.c3 e6 7.d3 d7 and, once again, a King's English set-up has occurred, Ehlvest,J-Atalik,S/ Beijing (open) 1996. ] 4.d4 More often, White prefers to defer this 'in your face' move, and plays 4 Nf3. g7 5.dxe5 d7 Black exploits the pin on the e5-pawn, along the a1-h8 diagonal, to avoid losing his castling rights . 6.d2!? A new idea in this position, protecting the b2-bishop, and obliging Black to capture the e5-pawn. [ 6.f3 is more usual, dxe5 7.c2 e7 8.a3 c5 9.e4 f6 10.c3 c6 11.d1 0-0 12.c1 h5!? 13.a4 b6 14.xc5 bxc5 15.e3 and White wins a pawn, when it is not clear that Black's compensation is sufficient, Zak, U-Rechlis,G/Ramat Aviv ISR 1998. ] 6...dxe5 7.f3 c6 8.c3 By retarding his kingside development, W hite gives himself other options, like exploiting the open d-file, but he has to take care that he doesn't find h i m s e l f b e h i n d i n d e v e l o p m e n t . gf6 9.g5!? Elaborate, simply [ 9.d1 e7 10.e4 gives a small plus. ] 9...0-0 10.ge4 White's time-consuming manoeuvre aims to establish a knight on the weakened d6-square. xe4 11.xe4 f5
12.d6 White has achieved his goal, can he now finish his development so that he might exploit his mighty knight? c5 13.d1 e7 14.a3 b6 15.b4?! Played to support the knight with Pc5, but [ 15.xc5!? bxc5 16.e4 was an interesting option, but possibly too slow d8 17.exf5 gxf5 18.e2 e6 looks dangerous for White. ] 15...e4 16.xe4 fxe4 White has doubled Black's pawns, but opened the f-file. 17.e3 g4 18.c1?! ad8 19.c2 h4 The black position begins to appear very active. 20.h3 h6! 21.g3 h5 22.e2 f3 There is not much chance that White will be able to castle kingside now with all his weak light squares, but what else can he do with his king? 23.d1 White tries to exchange pieces. xd1+ 24.xd1 f5? missing the combination, [ 24...xe3! 25.fxe3 g5 26.xf3 xe3+ winning everything. ] 25.xf3 exf3 26.g4 e6 Black is still better. 27.c2 e4 28.0-0 g7 29.h1 d8 30.c1 d3 31.b2 xb2 32.xb2 Despite the reduced material, Black's advantage is still consequent, he controls the d-file, and can attack the white king. h5 33.g1 hxg4 34.hxg4 g5! Black forces mate, by ...Qh6+. 0-1
70 Gorovets,Andrey Fedorov,Alexei ch-BLR Minsk BLR (4) [John Watson]
A01 2345 2603 07.03.2005
These Reversed Sicilians ought to be very n i c e f o r W h i t e wi t h h i s e xt r a m o v e , b u t somehow White never seems to get anything out of it. In this game with Larsen's 1.b3 he spends two moves playing b3-b4, which is hardly the way to exploit the tempo. 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.c4 f6 4.e3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.a3 d6 7.c2 [ You could argue that the queen does little he re a n d t h a t W h it e sh o u ld h e a d f o r a Scheveningen setup as soon as possible by 7.d3 0-0 8.f3 e7 9.e2 intending 0-0 and Nbd2, with Re1 when appropriate. ] 63
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...0-0 8.f3 e7 9.d3 f5 10.bd2 h8 [ Black could already play 10...f4 11.e4 b6 12.b4 a6 13.e2 e6 unclear. ] 11.b4?! White has to be careful to get developed. [ 11.e2 is more cautious, when Black's plan in the game is less impressive: d7 12.0-0 ae8 13.c4 e4 14.dxe4 ( or 14.xd6 cxd6 15.dxe4 fxe4 16.d2 g5 17.h1 g6 18.ad1 ) 14...fxe4 15.fd2 and W hite may even have a small ad va n t a ge wit h t wo b ish o p s a n d sligh t pressure on Black's e-pawn. ] 11...d7 12.e2 ae8 13.c4? [ 13.0-0 e4 14.d4 h4 yields a winning advantage af ter ( or 14...xe3 15.fxe3 h4 ) 15.g3 xe3! 16.gxh4 ( 16.fxe3 xg3 17.2f3 exf3 18.xf3 h3 ) 16...xd4! 17.b1 ( 17.xd4 xc2 ) 17...xe2+ 18.h1 xf1 19.xf1 f4 threatening ...Nxd3 or ...Bc6, e.g., 20.c4 ( 20.dxe4 fxe4 and ...Bh3 is still another threat ) 20...c6 21.b5 xb5 22.xd6 cxd6 23.g1 f7 ] 13...e4! 14.xd6 [ 14.fd2 xb4! 15.axb4 b5! 16.a5 cxb4 17.b3 exd3 18.xd3 xe3! etc. ] 14...cxd6 15.dxe4 fxe4 16.d4 g5!? 17.g3? White stood badly anyway but this allows a pretty finish: xf2! 18.xc6 [ 18.xf2 xe3+ 19.e1 xd4 20.xd4 xd4 21.d1 e3! ] 18...xe3! 19.c3 ef8 20.d4 xe2+ [ The finish could be 20...xe2+ 21.xe2 ( 21.xe2 g2+ 22.d1 a4+ ) 21...g4+ ] 0-1
71 Hertneck,Gerald Medvegy,Zoltan Schwarzach op-A (9) [Jonathan Rowson]
A01 2572 2430 02.09.2001
3.e3 g4 4.f3 h5 5.g4! g6 6.h4! If nothing else, such early pawn pushing looks like a lot of fun. h5 [ 6...h6 was the choice of a very young Etienne Bacrot, but White seemed to retain some advantage: 7.e2 e6 8.bc3 c6 9.f4 d6 10.b5 xf4 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.exf4 h5 13.f5 exf5 14.g5 d7 15.e2+ e7 16.xe7+ xe7 17.a3+ d8 18.d4 f8 19.xf8 xf8 20.d2 f4 21.e2 f5 22.xf4 g6 23.ae1 d7 24.e5 f6 25.gxf6 xf6 26.he1 e4 27.fxe4 xf4 28.exd5 xd4+ 29.c3 xd5 30.e7+ c8 31.1e6 b7 32.xg6 c5+ 33.b2 a6 34.h7 e5 35.g5 e2 36.hxh5 d8 37.c5 d6 38.a4 h2 39.c4 b6 40.b4+ a7 41.h7 1-0 Relange, E (2420)-Bacrot, E (2300)/ Epinal 1995 ] 7.g5 fd7 8.c3!? c6 9.h3 It is noteworthy that White doesn't play f4 too soon, keeping this square available for a knight. In previous games White had played f4 and achieved merely some extra space, but now Black's structural integrity soon comes into question. e6 [ 9...e5 is possible, but the position gets very sharp after 10.f4!? intending to snuff out the bishop on g6. exf4 11.exf4 d4 12.f5!? dxc3 13.xc3 is just off the top of my head, but Rybka seems to find it vaguely plausible. ] 10.ce2!? A devious manoeuvre that gives this line some sting. c7 [ 10...f5 11.xf5 exf5 12.g3 ] 11.f4 e5 [ 11...f5 12.xf5 exf5 13.g6 ] 12.xg6 fxg6 13.e2 d6 14.f4 f7 15.0-0-0 e4 16.d3 e8 17.f5 e5 18.fxg6+ xg6 19.f1 xb2+ 20.xb2 f8 21.xf8 xf8 22.f1 f7 23.e2 a6 24.dxe4 dxe4 25.g3 f3 26.f5+ f7 27.xe4 xf1 28.xf1+ e7 29.f5+ 1-0
1.b3 d5 2.b2 f6 [ 2...g4 Paradoxically, this move makes it harder for W hite to create immediate problems with the kingside pawns, simply because e3 is prevented, but as we see below, it invites different kinds of trouble. ] 64
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A01 d i a g o n a l , a n d p r e p a r i n g . . . d 5 . 12.d3?! Hodgson,Julian M 2605 Opening the centre only seems to f avour Barsov,Alexei 2539 Black here, perhaps [ 12.f4!? was best, xd4 13.exd4 d5 Vikings GM York ENG (8) 20.12.1999 14.cxd5! (creating the famous Irish pawn [Tony Kosten] centre) xd5 15.xd5 xd5 16.c1!? ( 16.c1 ) 16...c6 17.c5 d6 18.c1 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 hoping to play Qc3, and d5, but Black may Played as lon g ago as1859 , in t he gam e have sufficient resources. ] Suhle-Anderssen, at Breslau! 5.a3 a5!? This move of Sveshnikov's, which he played 12...d5 13.cxd5 exd3 [ 13...xd4 14.exd4 exd3 15.xd3 g4 as far back as 1975, is becoming all the rage. was also interesting, although I can 6.e2 understand that Black might have been [ Perhaps more accurate than the immediate worried about the loss of his dark-squared 6.f3 which transposes after a6 7.e2 bishop. ] , as W hite obtains other possibilities on 14.xd3 xd5 15.xd5 xd5 16.f3 d6 move seven. ] 17.0-0-0 White has little choice about this, 6...a6 7.f3 [ In another game from December '99, White although the king's position does look quite tried a different idea, 7.c4 gaining some exposed. b6 18.c2 A pragmatic draw space on the queenside, and controlling d5 offer, White can only be worse here, [ 18.c2 c5 19.e2 xb2+ 20.xb2 c4 c5 8.f3 c6 9.d3 0-0 10.0-0 e8 with an attack. ] 11.c2 f8 ( 11...c7 would be my p r e f e r e n c e) 12.d4 cxd4 13.exd4 e4 ½-½ 14.e5! d6 15.xc6 bxc6 16.d5 with a plus, Teske,H-Berndt,S/ Tegernsee 73 A01 GER 1999. ] [ However, 7.c4?! seems to give Black all Hodgson,Julian M 2575 he wants, xc4 8.bxc4!? ( 8.xc4 b5 Hall,Jesper 2485 9.e2 b7 is too easy for Black, but the Harplinge (2) 16.08.1998 text is risky) 8...e7 9.a4 0-0 10.h3 c5 [Jonathan Rowson] 11.f4? xe3! 12.xe5 ( 12.dxe3? b4+ ) 12...a7 13.f2 d6 14.b2 e8 15.d4 A positional classic, in which the Trompovsky g4 0-1 Sakaev,K-Sveshnikov,E/ Gausdal trend setter wins in Trompovsky style with 1. 1992. ] b3! Instead of d4, Bg5 and Bxf6, b3, Bb2 and 7...e4!? Bxf6 gets the same job done in the same [ A principled decision from Black, who n u m b e r o f m o v e s . I n s o m e c a s e s t h i s d o e s n ' t f e a r t h e o p e n i n g o f t h e a 1 - h 8 achievement comes at the cost of weakening diagonal. 7...e7 had been tried previously, the queenside, and W hite will need time to 8.c1 ( 8.b1 was played by Hodgson, see play d4 later. But in this case White makes the archives) 8...b5 9.c4 bxc4 10.xc4 good use of the d4 square for other purposes. xc4 11.xc4 a5 with counterplay, Murey- The following reminded me of Karpov's fairly Sveshnikov/USSR, 1975. ] f a m o u s s t r a t e g ic vi c t o r y a ga i n s t W a lt e r 8.d4 g6 Keeping the knight out of f5, Browne in a line that is quite similar. 1.b3 although at a cost to the kingside dark [ 1.c4 c5 2.b3 f6 3.b2 g6 4.xf6!? squares. 9.c4 0-0 10.b1!? exf6 5.c3 g7 6.g3 c6 7.g2 f5 8.e3 [ 10.0-0!? might be possible, although e7 0-0 ( 8...xc3 9.dxc3 gives White an looks annoying, White is forced to get his advantage based on the d-file.) 9.ge2 a6 knights into a tangle by 11.Ndc2, as he is 10.c1 b5 11.d3 b7 12.0-0 d6 13.d2 probably far from OK after 11.b1? e5! a5 14.fd1 ab8 15.d5 xd2 16.xd2 12.g3 c5 13.f4 exf3 14.xf3 e4 ] b4 17.d4 fd8 18.cd1 cxd4 19.exd4 f8 10...e8 11.c3 e5! Fighting for the a1-h8 20.c5 a7 21.e3 xg2 22.xg2 dxc5 72
65
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.dxc5 xd2 24.xd2 c8 25.d5 xc5 26.xb4 a5 27.d5 c6 28.e3 c5 29.f4 h6 30.d5 xd5 31.fxd5 xe3 32.xe3 e7 33.c4 c6 34.f3 e6 35.e3 d5 36.a3 e6 37.d3 d5 38.f3 h6 39.c3 h5 40.d3 f6 41.f4 g5 42.e3+ e6 43.h4 gxh4 44.gxh4 e7 45.c4 g6 46.g2 d6 47.b5 d5 48.xa5 e4 49.b4 f3 50.b5 xg2 51.b6 f8 52.b5 d7 53.a4 xb6 54.xb6 f3 55.a5 xf4 56.a6 e3 57.a7 f4 58.a8 f3 59.e8+ 1-0 Karpov, A (2630)-Browne, W (2530)/ San Antonio 1972 ] 1...f6 2.b2 g6 3.xf6 exf6 4.c4 g7 [ 4...d5!? 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c3 a5 7.a3! ] 5.g3 f5 6.c3 d6 [ 6...xc3 7.dxc3 0-0 I think to play 1.b3 successf ully, you have to be excited by tiny advantages in positions like this. In this case W hite will have a slight lead in development, a marginally better bishop, a n d t h e p a wn b r e a k c 4 - c 5 l o o k s m o r e feasible than f5-f4. ] 7.g2 d7 8.c1 f6 9.d3 0-0 10.f3 d7 11.b4 a6 12.0-0 e8 13.a4 c6?! 14.e3 b6 15.b5 b7 16.d4! xg2 17.xg2 d5 18.c6 d6 19.b3 dxc4 20.xc4 a5 21.fe1 d7 22.d5 c5 23.e4 Complete positional domination and a great advert for this way of playing with White. fxe4 24.dxe4 h5 25.cd1 e6 26.c2 ac8 27.a7 h4 28.xc8 h3+ 29.g1 xc8 30.c4 g4 31.f1 xe4 32.xe4 xe4 33.xh3 xa4 34.e1 f8 35.f6+ g7 36.h7+ xf6 37.h8+ g7 38.d8+ f5 39.d5+ g4 40.xf7 d4 41.xg6+ f3 42.h5+ g4 43.e3# 1-0
74 Hodgson,Julian M Speelman,Jonathan S 4NCL Birmingham (11) [Tony Kosten]
A01 2575 2605 1998
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 T h i s m o ve l o o ks l ik e t h a t o f a c o m p l e t e beginner, developing his king's bishop in front of the d-pawn, how will it ever be able to
move forward? In fact it is a good move, for White intends to capture on c6, so Black can recapture with his d7-pawn when his queen's bishop will be free to develop. That said, as soon as Black plays this move, White tries to a v o i d c a p t u r i n g o n c 6 , o f c o u r s e . 5.a3 I t s e e m s t h a t W h i t e h a s ca u g h t B l a c k ' s disease, for what sort of square is a3 for a knight? [ 5.c3 0-0 6.ge2 achieves nothing. e7 7.d4 c6 8.d3 exd4 9.xd4 b4 f ollowed by ...d5, with a good position, Bellon Lopez,J-Narciso Dublan,M/ Havana CUB 1999. ] [ 5.e2 0-0 6.0-0 e8 7.g3 e4 this illustrates a different method of development for Black, 8.e2 e5 9.xe5 xe5 10.d4 exd3 11.cxd3 d5 and Black has managed to play ...d5 anyway, and now has a good position, Morozevich,ASveshnikov,E/Podolsk 1993. ] [ After 5.f3 e4 White tried an unusual move in Mikhalevski-Avrukh, Ramat Aviv 1998, 6.h4!? instead of 6 Nd4. 0-0 7.0-0 e5 8.xe5 xe5 But Black has a fine position here, 9.f4 exf3 10.xf3 e7 11.c3 d5 12.e1 and now Black played c5!? planning to play ...c4 and trap the b5bishop. This led to obscure complications, and an eventual Black victory, but he had simpler options, like 12...c6 for instance. ] 5...a5!? I am not sure whether this a case of two of the most original chessplayers in the world battling out to see who can find the most original moves, or an example of modern GMs being guided less by established principles, than by concrete appraisal of the position! [ In fact, Black wants to stop the white knight se tt lin g o n c4, as in t h e gam e L ein , A Gruzmann,B/Grieskirchen GER 1998, which c o n t i n u e d : 5...a6 6.xc6 dxc6 7.c4 with a position not untypical of the Exchange Ruy Lopez. e7 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 b5! 10.xd6 cxd6 but Black could have no reason to complain about his opening. ] 6.f3 a6 7.e2 e7 Putting the question to the a3-knight. 8.b1 Rather than acquiesce to exchanging the a5-knight. 0-0 9.c4 b6 Black finally decides to leave the d7-pawn where it is, and develop the c8-bishop another 66
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 way. 10.c3 b7 11.0-0 fe8 12.d3 a3 13.c1 xb2 And the players, exhausted by having to find so many original moves, agreed to split the point. Seriously, this was a key battle for team supremacy in Britain, and the quick draw suited both sides. The position is level, anyway. ½-½
probably lead to Black taking en passant which would be the same as 9.d3. ] 9...0-0 10.h3 c5 11.f2 e8 12.g4 d6 13.g5 d7 14.h4 f8 Hereabouts Black starts to play rather passively, which will prove fatal with his opponent charging up the kingside like this. 15.h5 f5 16.g4 d7 17.e2 a5 18.0-0-0 [ 18.xf5 xf5 19.g4 looks quite strong here, preparing to diagonalise Black with 20. 75 A01 h6 or 20.Qg2 intending 21.Nh6+. ] 19.dg1 axb3 20.axb3 a5 Ipatov,Alexander 2507 18...a4 Fierro Baquero,Martha Lorena 2372 21.a1 c6?! 22.g6 [ 22.xf5 xf5 23.g4 seems very strong Andorra Open (5) 21.07.2010 here too. ] [Nigel Davies] 22...fxg6 [ 22...hxg6 would be decisively met by 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 23.h6! with a winning attack. ] 5.a3!? This odd looking move makes sense when Black can no longer play ...d7-d5 to 23.h6 gxh6?? A blunder in a poor position. [ 23...e7 would have put up more keep the knight out of c4. a6 6.e2 resistance. ] [ I think there's a good case for 6.xc6 dxc6 xf5 25.g4 There's no good 7.c4 , simply making sure the knight 24.xf5 doesn't get misplaced on a3. This doesn't defence to the threat of 26.Nxh6 mate. look like much for White, for example after 1-0 e4 . But his position would at least be nicely coordinated. ] A01 6...b5 Preventing the knight from coming to c4 76 but at the cost of weakening his queenside. Ismagambetov,Anuar 2531 Black has also tried other approaches which Lahiri,Atanu 2361 seem better, for example: 9th UIL&UL GM (4) 23.08.2009 [ a) 6...b4 7.c4 e4 8.a3 e7 9.d4 d5 [Nigel Davies] 10.e5 b8 11.f4 0-0 12.h3 c5 13.g5!? c6 14.h4!? was the enterprising 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 d5 4.b5 d6 but rather wild continuation of Karlsson, L 5.f4 This thematic pawn thrust hasn't been too popular lately. It does seem that if Black (2493)-Wang Hao (2624) / Taby 2007. ] [ b) 6...e7 looks like an eminently sensible knows what he's doing he gets fully equal choice for Black simply arguing that White's play. h4+ It makes sense to weaken White's knight will now be badly placed on a3. After kingside before dropping back to e7. 6.g3 7.c4 e4 8.f4 d5 9.e5 d6 10.d4 exd3 e7 7.f3 f6 8.c3 e6 9.e2 [ White has also played 9.0-0 , for example 11.cxd3 xe5 12.xe5 b6 13.f2 c5 h6 10.fxe5 fxe5 11.e4 dxe4 ( 11...c5+ 14.c1 d4 was simply good for Black in Ivanov, M (2470)-Vyskocil, N (2315)/ Brno is strongly met by 12.d4! exd4 13.xd5! ) 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.xe4 was agreed drawn 2009. ] (1 / 2 - 1 / 2 ) in M e l la d o T r ivin o , J (2 4 2 2 ) 7.c4 b4 8.c2 e4 9.f4 An ambitious looking move, trying to gain space on the kingside. Strikovic, A (2498)/Lorca 2005. I prefer [ On e ea rlie r ga m e sa w W h it e pla y 9.d3 White's position though the rating difference may have accounted for the early af t e r wh ic h exd3 10.xd3 0-0 11.f3 ( 11.h3!? ) 11...e8 12.f5 e7 13.d1 negotiations for peace. ] looked slightly better for White in Jarvenpaa, 9...a6 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.0-0-0 This sensible moves seems new, though it J (2090)-Tiitta, S (2204)/ Jyvaskyla 2008. ] [ 9.d4 is another idea, though this would does little to change the assessment of this 67
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 position as being very comfortable for Black. Earlier games had gone as follows: [ a) 11.a4 e4 12.d4 d7 13.c4 f7 ( 13...c5 makes sense here) 14.c5 e7 15.f5 h6 16.f1 g6 17.g4 g8 18.0-0-0 gxf5 19.gxf5 looked quite nice for White at this stage in Schramm, C (2350)-Rabiega, R (2520)/Germany 2003. ] [ b) 11.fxe5 fxe5 12.e4 d4 13.a4 h6 14.0-0-0 0-0 15.h3 c5 16.g4 f7 17.c4 d7 essentially refuted White's strategy in Krupkova, P (2293)-Polushkina, S (2159)/ Varna 2002 because she can not prevent a timely ...Bxa4. ] 11...h6 12.a4? Blundering away the exchange. [ 12.h3 is better, trying to cover up the kingside light squares. ] 12...e4 13.d4 g4 14.f1 xd1 15.xd1 c5?! 16.e2? [ 16.h5+ f7 17.e6 was a better try, and maybe Black should have avoided this by castling on his previous move. ] 16...0-0 17.h3 c4 18.b1 a3 19.c3 ab8 20.g4 c5 21.g1 Trying for g4-g5 but there's no way that White has enough here. f7 22.g5 fxg5 23.h4 d7 24.hxg5 d6 25.a1 f5 26.e5 b7 27.ec3 cxb3 28.cxb3 c8 29.b1 b4 30.a3 a5 31.c2 c4 [ 31...c6 might have been a steadier way to play it. Now White manages to selotape his queenside together for a while. ] 32.b4 c7 33.b2 d6 34.bc3 f8 35.b1 e6 36.e2 a5! 37.bxa5 b3 38.c1 b5 39.c3 xb1+ 40.xb1 xa3 41.a2 xc1 42.xc1 b8 43.a3?! d4! This break through spells the beginning of the end of White's resistance. 44.exd4 xd4! 45.c5 c6 46.xc6 xc6 47.b6 h5 48.gxh6 gxh6 49.xc4 h5 50.a3 h4 51.e5 a7 52.a4 h3 53.g4 f7 54.f5 c6 55.e5+ xe5 56.xe5 d8 57.f4 xd2! 0-1
77 Ivanchuk,Vassily Le Quang,Liem SportAccord Blitz Men 2013 blitz (29.6) [Fier, Alexandr]
A01 2731 2703
1.b3 is becoming more fashionable, especially for rapid and blitz games. Le Quang tries the idea played by Jakovenko last month and also gets into trouble. 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 5.a3 e7 [ 5...e4 is one of the critical variations and was tried in two elite games from this month 6.e2 a s o l i d a p p r o a c h ( 6.c4 is more direct, keeping the bishops e7 7.xc6 dxc6 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 e8 10.f3 and the position was level in Ivanchuk, V (2731)-Vachier-Lagrave, M (2745)/ S p o r t A c c o rd B a sq u e M e n 2 0 1 3 (3 . 1 ) .) 6...e5 7.c1 e7 8.xc6 dxc6 9.c4 xb2 10.xb2 arriving into a typical position for this variation. In this long game the knight proved to be stronger than the bishop, Nakamura, H (2786)-Jones, G (2654)/5th Classic GpC 2013 (4.2) ] 6.c4 d6 7.xc6+ bxc6 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 c5 10.f4 [ 10.d4 is strong, and was analyzed by me f o r C h e s s P u b l i s h i n g l a s t m o n t h , exd4 11.exd4 a6 12.a5 and White has good chances to obtain an advantage, as seen in Jobava, B (2694)-Jakovenko, D (2719)/29th ECC Open 2013 (6.4). ] 10...e4 To keep the f-file closed is quite natural and probably right. [ 10...exf4 was another possibility when the po sition h a s a dif f e re nt cha racte r th a n compared to the game. White has an open diagonal and the f-file for the heavy pieces, on the other hand Black has the bishop pair and good central control. 11.xf4 c6 12.f3 d5 13.e5 d6 14.d3 could be a natural sequence when the position is level, but easier for White to play. ] 11.g3 e8 12.d3 Since the pieces are now well placed, it's time to open the position. b7?! I'm not a fan of this move. White always has Na5 when he can get back the bishop pair at least. [ 12...exd3 was a respectable option and n o w b o t h r e c a p t u re s a re p o ss i b l e a n d 68
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 interesting 13.cxd3 with the idea of making the center more solid and concentrating the p i e c e s o n t h e k i n g s i d e ( 13.xd3 m o r e a i m e d t o p l a y i n t h e c e n t e r a5 14.ad1 a4 15.e4 g4 16.d2 axb3 17.axb3 a2 with a complex position) 13...a5 14.e4 d5 15.e5 f8 with a level position ] 13.a5 c8 14.xb7 A concrete approach, which is good with the right sequence. [ 14.d2!? since the bishop has no good squares to go to, it makes sense to wait a bit before taking on b7. d8 ( 14...a6 15.c4 exd3 16.e4 and the bishop is hitting rock ) 15.ac1!? another good prophylactic move, threatening 16. Bxf6. Now Black has difficult problems to solve. ] 14...xb7 15.f5 d8 16.e1 [ Makes sense, but is slow compared to the option 16.g4! this is the move which should be connected with 14.Nxb7, now Black's pieces are not well placed to defend the king, A) 16...e6 doesn't really help 17.xg7 xg7 18.g5 and the attack is much faster than any counterplay in the center; B) 16...exd3 17.cxd3 g6 18.h6+ f8 19.d2 and Black's king is in much more danger than White's.; C) 16...d5 17.f2! with the simple idea of bringing the rook to the g-file ( 17.xg7 xg7 18.g5 f5 and Black is fine) 17...e6 18.xg7 xg7 19.f5 d5 20.g5 and White is much better; D) 16...c8 again trying to go to f5 17.dxe4! xe4 18.f3 d5 ( 18...e6 19.g3 wins an exchange) 19.c4 c6 20.ac1 and it's hard for Black to defend against all the threats ] 16...d5 Black takes his chance and creates c o u n t e r p l a y i n t h e c e n t e r . 17.g3 A sad move to make. [ 17.g4 was still possible, but now things are completely unclear exd3 18.h4 h6! ( 18...dxc2 19.g5 wins a piece) 19.xg7 xg7 20.g5 h8 21.gxf6+ f8 with unusual chaos. ] 17...exd3 18.d1 c4 19.cxd3 [ 19.bxc4 w a s a l s o p o s s i b l e b7 ( 19...xc4 20.cxd3 xa2 21.a1 would be similar to the game) 20.c3 dxc2
21.d2 b6 and Black has few problems. ] 19...cxb3 Ambitious. [ 19...cxd3 doesn't win a pawn, but leaves Black with a comfortable position 20.d2 c6 21.xf6 ( 21.xd3 b6 22.d4 xd4 23.xd4 xd4 24.xd4 d5 is about equal ) 21...xf6 22.xd3 e6 23.f3 d5 and White has more reasons to be worried than Black ] 20.axb3 xb3 21.a1 White finally was able to stabilize the center at the cost of the apawn, which is not so important. After all the position remains unclear. g4 [ 21...b6 was a good idea, trying to fight against W hite's center and avoid 22.e4 22.f3 ( 22.d4 c5 23.a1 d5 is good for Black ) 22...b8 23.h1 d5 and Black's position is slightly preferable ] 22.e4 [ 22.e2 could bring strange positions after xe3 23.f5 c6 24.xg7 b6 25.xe8 xd1+ 26.h1 f2+ 27.xf2 xf2 28.f6+ g7 where I'm not able to say who is better. ] 22...f6 23.xf6 xf6 It's rational to exchange the dangerous white bishop, but it gave White time to consolidate the center and start a new attack with the remaining pieces. 24.f5 g6 25.h4 h5 [ 25...gxf5 this was better and the position will be probably be drawn by perpetual at s o m e p o i n t 26.g5+ ( 26.xf6 fxe4 27.g5+ h8 28.f6+ g8= ) 26...f8 27.xf6 fxe4 28.h6+ g8 29.f5 h8 and W hite has nothing better than perpetual. ] 26.e7+ g7 Now the position becomes just too dangerous for Black. [ 26...f8 was necessary, putting the king near the rook, 27.d5 c6 28.e3 ( 28.f6 xf6 29.xf6 g8 is less dangerous) 28...g8 29.f5 with the initiative. ] 27.f5 f6 Now Black's king is too exposed and also the knight on h5 has no squares. 28.d5 c6 [ 28...f8 would be another idea to defend, but after 29.h3 f7 30.g4 c6 31.e3 wins a piece ] 29.b1 And suddenly the attack comes from the other side. xd3 30.b7+ h8 31.fxg6 hxg6 32.xf6 Now it 's f in ished . e3+ 69
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 33.h1 h6 34.g5! g3+ 35.xg3 [ 35.g1 7 wa s m a t e i n e2+ 36.f2 xh2 37.xe8 ] 35...ab8 36.h7+ xh7 37.xh7 xh7 38.xd6 f8 39.xf8 1-0
78 Jadoul,Michel Fontaine,Pierre TCh-2003-4 Belgium BEL (1) [Tony Kosten]
A01 2342 2143 14.12.2003
1.b3 f5 2.b2 e6 Black tries to play a Classical Dutch against the queenside fianchetto, but is this wise? 3.e4!? Maybe not! The problem is that Black can hardly answer White's Qh5+ with ...g6 as the h8-rook would be lost. fxe4!? 'In for a penny ...' but the alternatives are not particularly enticing: [ 3...d6?! 4.exf5 exf5 Ventura,S-Tocco,P/ Saint Vincent 1999, when 5.h5+ forces e7 which is horrible. ] [ 3...f6 is th e be st b e t : 4.exf5 ( 4.e5 gains a lot of space) 4...exf5 5.e2+ e7 ( 5...f7!? ) 6.xf6 ( 6.g3?! c6?! 7.g2?! d5?! 8.h3?! is a bit limp, Skripchenko,AGervais, C/Cannes 1993) 6...gxf6 7.xe7+ xe7 and the doubled f-pawns give White a plus, Jadoul, M-Froeyman,H/Antwerp BEL 2000. ] 4.h5+ e7 [ 4...g6?? 5.e5 wins material. ] 5.c3! A novelty, but obviously this position is very rare. [ 5.d3 is similar, White is happy to make his pawn sac permanent and open the central files, f6 6.h4 exd3 7.xd3 d6 8.f3 with sufficient compensation for the pawn, and good practical chances for W hite Sinowjew, J-Wach,M/Voitsberg 1995. ] 5...f6 6.h4 d5 This is White's idea, he forces Black to defend his e-pawn before playing d3, this way the long diagonal cannot be closed by .. .d6 and ...e5. 7.d3 exd3 8.xd3 f7 9.0-0-0 e7 10.f3 White is close to completing his development, and is ready to attack Black before he manages to secure his king position. e8?! Retreating one of Black's only two developed pieces
seems odd, he should prefer [ 10...c6 , say, to control e5. ] 11.e5+ g8 12.h5 d6 13.b5 Aiming to deflect the knight from its defence of f7. d7?! Initiating a tactical sequence which just favours White, [ 13...e8!? was the best bet. ] 14.xd6 xe5 15.xc8 xd3+ 16.xd3 g5+ 17.b1 xc8 The fog clears and we see that White's initiative has increased: the black king is stuck in the corner stopping his rook from moving, and W hite has gained a swinging rook along the third rank. 18.g4 e7 [ 18...f7?! is worse, 19.e1 e8 20.g3 f6 21.xf6 xf6 22.f3 winning the queen. ] 19.e1 [ 19.xd5! is also tempting, as the e-pawn is pinned. ] 19...h5! This is Black's best chance, the rook might be able to re-enter the game. 20.xe6+ xe6 21.xe6 c6 Black has a solid position, but the white pieces are very active. 22.g3?! White misses a trick, [ 22.c4! is strong, trying to batter the rook's way through to the seventh rank: dxc4?! 23.d7 h7 24.bxc4 with a consequent advantage. ] 22...f7?! Black misses it too! [ 22...h6! is possible, solving Black's problems at a stroke! 23.xg5!? ( 23.xh6 xh6 is level ) 23...xe6 24.xg7+ f8 25.xb7 e1+ 26.c1 ce8 with good play. ] 23.d6 hd8?! Another error, Black resigns as after [ 23...hd8?! 24.xd8 xd8 25.xg7+ e6 26.xb7 he is two pawns down with a bad position. ] 1-0
79 Jobava,Ba Jakovenko,D 29th ECC Open 2013 (6.4) [Fier, Alexandr]
A01 2694 2719 25.10.2013
Jobava had one more success with 1.b3 and this time against a 2700 player. 5.. .Be7 is not 70
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 played so often (5...e4 is kind of critical lately and 5...Na5 is the mainline) and after some natural moves White already had a pleasant position. Maybe 9...c5 is already not the best, but it's nice to see how much poison there is in White's position 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 5.a3 e7 The basic idea is to come back with the bishop now that the pawn is not hanging on e5. So, after 6...d6 Black can finish normal development, which is not that common in this variation. [ 5...e4 was already played twice against Jobava 6.c4 looks more natural than ( 6.e2 e5 7.c1 0-0 8.h3 e7 where W hite was not really successful in Jobava, B (2711)-Aronian, L (2815)/Beijing Sportaccord blitz 2012) 6...e7 7.xc6 dxc6 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 with an interesting position in Jobava, B (2711)-Giri, A (2720)/ Beijing Sportaccord blitz 2012. ] [ 5...a5 was analyzed by me some months ago in Bernadskiy, V (2475)-Nevednichy, V (2580)/Albena Masters op 2013. ] [ 5...a6 is another popular alternative and was analyzed in games such as Ipatov, A (2507)-Fierro Baquero, M (2372)/Andorra Open 2010. ] 6.c4 d6 7.xc6+ bxc6 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 c5 Somehow I think Black starts to have some problems after this move. Nothing serious, b u t s t ill I t h in k t h e p o sit io n ca n b e co m e unpleasant quickly [ 9...e6 trying to get rid of the knight could be another option A) 10.d4 enters an unusual structure xc4 ( 10...exd4 11.xd4 only helps White ) 11.bxc4 b8 12.b1 d7 13.c5 f6 ( 13...exd4? 14.xd4 and Black has problems with the c6-square) 14.cxd6 cxd6 15.d3 with chances for both sides; B) 10.a5 is more in the spirit of the position and after d7 11.d4 e4 12.c4 d5 13.c2 d6 with a double-edged position. White needs to decide whether it's worth closing the position with c5 or not. An expansion on the queenside might be successful, but also there are not many people defending the other side. ] 10.d4 exd4 [ 10...cxd4 11.exd4 e4 12.d5! and White can use the e3, d4 and c6 squares.
Meanwhile it is not entirely clear where Black is going to put his pieces. For example: a6 13.e1 d7 14.e3 xe2 15.xe2 followed by 16.c4 with advantage ] 11.exd4 a6 [ 11...d5 is the main option, trying to open some space to activate the pieces and after 12.e5 e8 is better, aimed against the d x c 5 i d e a s ( 12...d6 if White opens the diagonal, all the pieces can go easily onto t h e a t t a c k 13.dxc5 xc5 14.g3 e8 15.f3 with some initiative for W hite) 13.c6 getting back the bishop pair ( 13.g3 d6 14.e1 cxd4 15.xd4 c5 16.d2 d4 is fine for Black) 13...d7 14.xe7+ xe7 15.g3 c4!? it's important to keep the diagonal closed for the moment, White has the slightly better prospects, but the game is balanced. ] [ 11...cxd4 12.xd4 d7 13.a5 and Black will always have problems with the c6-square. White can put the queen on f3 and bring the rooks to the central files with some advantage. ] 12.a5 d7 13.e1 [ 13.c4 can bring some nice complications it's less precise than the move in the game d5 ( 13...cxd4 14.xd4 c5 15.dc6 ) 14.dxc5 dxc4 15.xd7 xd7 16.b4! this works because the bishop on e7 is not defended c3 17.xc3 xc5 the best move order ( 17...xe2 is good for White 18.fe1 xc5 19.xe2 d6 20.c6 with strong control ) 18.fe1 b6 19.c6 and because of the bishop pair the position is equal. ] 13...b5 Trying to disrupt the harmony between White's pieces and defend against dxc5, but now the queen and bishop are on the wrong diagonal [ 13...cxd4 again this is not good 14.xd4 fe8 15.f3 with the usual problem on the c6-square ] 14.c4 ae8 15.e3!? Bringing the pieces to the kingside. e4 16.c4 [ 16.d5 was also interesting d7 17.ec3 xc3 18.xc3 threatening 19.dxc5 again c4 19.f3 with pressure ] 16...d7 17.dxc5 xc5 [ 17...h4 exchanging one piece, trying to free some space for the pieces, but still not e n o u g h f o r e q u a l i t y 18.g3 xg3 71
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 18...xc5? 19.xg7 xg7 20.d4++- ) 19.hxg3 xc5 20.b4 e6 21.d5 and almost all W hite's pieces are more active than Black's corresponding ones. ] 18.g3 d8 This move is too passive. [ 18...g5 is interesting, trying to exchange the bishop, Black needs to be aware of the bishop sacrifice 19.xg7!? ( 19.gf5 f6 20.d4 e6 21.xa7 f4 and after ...Bb7 and ...Be5 Black has some decent compensation for the pawn.) 19...xg7 20.ef5+ h8 21.d4+ f6 22.xe8 xe8 23.h4 and the bishop has no square to go to e5 24.xe5 fxe5 25.hxg5 e6 and Black is in the game. ] 19.h3 This move also looks too slow, White could try more direct approaches with [ 19.gf5 f6 20.d4 e4 21.d5+ f7 22.d2 ] [ or 19.b4 e6 20.gf5 f6 21.f3 in both cases with an initiative ] 19...b7 [ 19...f5!? trying to free Black's pieces 20.h5 ( 20.gxf5 xf5 21.xf5 xe1+ 22.xe1 xf5 23.e8+ f8 24.e1 is a hard to evaluate endgame. My feeling is that Black should be fine.) 20...e6 21.d5 c6 22.df4 xf4 23.xf4 e4 and Black is ok. ] 20.gf5 f6 21.b4 a4 22.d4 b6?! [ 22...g6 was also more active 23.h6+ g7 24.d2 e4 trying to sacrifice the exchange. ] 23.c5 d5 24.g4 h8 25.cxd6 cxd6 26.xd5?! [ 26.c4 just wins a pawn, xe1+ ( 26...c7 27.xe8 xe8 28.fxd6+- ) 27.xe1 g6 28.fxd6 c6 29.xd7 xd7 with a much better endgame for White. ] 26...xd5 Now things are not clear anymore. 27.e3 e6 28.f3 b6 it's dangerous to leave the a-pawn passed. [ 28...g8 29.ed1 f5 30.ac1 and White still has some initiative, but looks better compared to the game ] 29.xb6 axb6 30.a4 a8 31.e4 [ 31.d5! can enter an endgame with a pawn up where White has good chances to convert the point xd5 ( 31...ab8 32.a5 bxa5 33.bxa5 and the pawn becomes too dangerous ) 32.xd5 xa4 ( 32...h6 33.b5
and Black is dominated) 33.xa4 xa4 34.xd6 c8 35.xb6 h6 and it's not clear if the endgame is winning or not, but White is much better anyway. ] 31...f5 [ 31...d5 was another option 32.d4 xa4 33.xa4 xa4 34.xb6 e8 ] 32.f4 g8 Black has no active plan and a lot of weak pawns, in a few moves the position is close to collapse. 33.b5 b3 34.a3 f7?! 35.b1 e6 36.d1 d5 37.c3 a7 38.e5 f6 39.d4 Black can't do much now. af8 40.c6 winning material. f4 41.c7 [ 41.xd5 xd5 42.xf6 gxf6 43.xd5 also wins ] 41...b8 42.xf4 xc7 43.xc7 xf4 44.xb6 g8 45.a5 And the passed pawns decide the game. d4 46.g4 4f5 47.a6 d5 48.a7 d3 49.e3 d2 50.h2 d1 51.xd1 xd1 52.c7 dd8 53.b6 a8 54.d6 fe8 55.c5 1-0
80 Jobava,Baadur Andriasian,Zaven Fujairah Masters 2012 (5.6) [John Bartholomew]
A01 2710 2604 17.11.2012
Jobava played the Nimzo-Larsen five times at the Fujairah Masters, scoring a stellar 4.5/5. Perhaps even more impressively, all but one of his opponents were Grandmasters! He kept the 1. b3 tra in rolling a t his next e vent in December, the prestigious SportAccord World Mind Games. There he achieved only mediocre results playing 1.b3 in all his White games (+4, =2, -7), though he did manage to beat Ivanchuk, Mamedyarov, Giri, and Bologan. Thanks to Mr. Jobava's herculean efforts there is suddenly a wealth of high-level Nimzo-Larsen theory to digest. As such, I think it's only appropriate that we examine some of his fine efforts this month. 1.b3 e5 The main line, as played by Jobava's opponents in 10 of his 18 games. 2.b2 c6 [ T h e f l e x i b l e 2...d6 was preferred by Bologan and Guseinov. ] 3.e3 f6 72
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Leave it to Ivanchuk and Morozevich to try t h e l i t t l e - k n o w n m o v e 3...ge7!? . Those two games proceeded 4.e2 d5 5.d4 , and now: A) 5...exd4 6.xd4 xd4 7.xd4 f5 8.d2 c6 9.c3 e6 10.0-0-0 b4 11.a3 ( 11.g4!? ) 11...a5 12.b4 c7 Jobava, B (2711)-Morozevich, A (2748) Beijing CHN 2012 13.e4 dxe4 14.xd8+ xd8 15.xd8+ xd8 16.xe4 0-0=; B) 5...f6!? 6.bc3 e6 7.d2 d7 8.0-0-0 0-0-0 9.b1 b8 10.a4 b6 11.h4 f5 12.dxe5 fxe5 13.g3 b4 14.c1 f7 Jobava, B (2711)-Ivanchuk, V (2766) Beijing CHN 2012.3...Nge7!? is very intriguing and virtually unexplored. Based on these games, I think we'll be seeing it again. ] [ Nakamura went straight for one of Black's most ambitious lines: 3...d5 4.b5 d6 5.f4 h4+!? (a disruptive check, forcing a light-square weakness) 6.g3 e7 7.f3 f6!? 8.c3 ( 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.fxe5 fxe5 10.xe5 f6 Asimenios, A-Timoshenko, G (2 5 3 6 ) K a va la 2 0 0 4 [ T o n yK ] h e re T o n y indicates that W hite should play 11.xc6! , when d7!? 12.xf6 0-0! is a fantastic reply that might be Black's best) 8...d4!? ( a n o v e l t y ) ( 8...e6 was played in Ismagambetov, A (2531)-Lahiri, A (2361) Dh a k a 2 0 0 9 / [ Nig e l Da vie s ]) 9.d5 ( natural, but maybe 9.exd4!? is better, e.g. exd4+ 10.e2 d3 11.cxd3 h3 12.f2! and Black needs to prove compensation) 9...f7 10.fxe5 fxe5 and now Jobava sacrificed a piece for insufficient c o m p e n s a t i o n : 11.0-0? ( 11.c4!? ) 11...xd5 Jobava, B (2711)-Nakamura, H (2760) Beijing CHN 2012. ] 4.b5 d6 5.a3!? Preparing Na3-c4. This has been the 'tabiya' of Jobava's NimzoLarsen experience thus far. [ Alternatives like 5.e2 ] [ 5.e2?! ] [ and 5.h3!? can also be found in the archives, but apparently Jobava does not believe in them (rightly so, I think!). ] 5...a5!? Countering White's idea and similarly distinct fashion. [ 2700-rated Etienne Bacrot fell victim to the Jobava 1.b3 steamroller in classical chess
after 5...e7 6.e2 0-0 7.c4 e4 8.xc6 bxc6 9.0-0 a5 10.g3 d5 11.e5 e8 12.c4 d6 13.d4 exd3 14.xd3 e4 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.f4 xf4?! ( Black is not w o r s e a f t e r 16...xg3 17.hxg3 b7! because 18.xd5?? e4-+ wins ) 17.exf4 xg3 18.hxg3 d7 19.e1 b7 20.d4 and th e Geo rgian e nde d u p cru is ing t o victory Jobava, B (2710) -Bacrot, E (2702) Fujairah City UAE 2012. ] [ Instead, Jobava's highest-rated foe, Levon Aronian, preferred 5...e4 . After 6.e2 e5 7.c1 0-0 8.h3 e7 9.xc6 xb2 10.xb2 dxc6 the Georgian got a bit frisky with 11.0-0-0? and paid the price after ( 11.0-0=; 11.c4!? ) 11...a5 12.c3 b5 when White fell under serious pressure in Jobava, B (2711)-Aronian, L (2815) Beijing CHN 2012. ] 6.e2 [ For 6.c4!? see Karagiannis, A (2361) Banikas, H (2568) Salonica 2006/[John Watson]. ] [ The Trompowsky pioneer Julian Hodgson has played 6.f3 on a couple occasions. It could transpose to the game after a6 7.e2 e7 ( 7...e4!? Hodgson, J (2605)-Barsov, A (2539) York 1999/[TonyK] ) 8.b1 . ] 6...a6 7.f3 e7 8.b1 Funny, but this is the best move! [ 8.c4 xc4 9.bxc4 0-0 10.0-0 e4 ( 10...b6!? ) 11.e1 b5! 12.cxb5 axb5 13.xb5 b8 Utegaliev, A (2288)Sherbakov, R (2500) Izhevsk 2009 ] 8...0-0 9.d4 [ W hite obtained no advantage with 9.c4 in Hodgson, J (2580) -Speelman, J (2605) England 1998/[TonyK]. ] 9...exd4 10.xd4N [ 10.xd4 c6 11.h4 b4+!? 12.bd2 e4 13.xe7 xe7 14.a3 c3 15.xc3 xc3 16.d3 d5 17.b1 xb1 1/2 -1 /2 Filipo vic, B (2 44 4)-Bo sioc ic , M (2571) Sibenik 2009 ] 10...e5 11.c3 b5 [ Karjakin improved Black's play a bit in China: 11...c6 12.0-0 d6 13.f3 ( 13.f3 ) 13...f5 14.c1 b4 15.d1 c5 16.e1 e4 17.xe5 xc3 18.xc3 dxe5 19.a3 c6 20.b2 f6= Jobava, B (2711) Karjakin, S (2775) Beijing CHN 2012. The 73
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 view. 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 g6 This move was never analyzed on Chess Publishing before, but it's a logical one. Black wants to enter a King's Indian type of position, where W hite is not expanding on the queenside so easily. 4.h4 Not a surprise in Jobava's games. [ 4.f4 is typical in 1.b3 positions g7 5.b5 ge7 6.f3 d6 7.fxe5 0-0 8.0-0 g4 an d Bla ck will re co ve r t he pa wn with a good position, Pap, G (2569)-Szamoskozi, G (2368)/HUN-chT 1213 2012. ] [ 4.c4 trying to expand on the queenside g7 5.f3 d6 6.d4 exd4 7.e2 g4 8.a3 ge7 9.b5 is ok for White, but not hin g spe cial, a nd se en in It urrizaga Bonelli, E (2604)-Harika, D (2473)/Dubai op 12th 2010. ] 4...h5 Black doesn't want to allow White's expansion on the kingside, and thinks that the pawn on h5 will be more useful than the one on h4. [ 4...g7 was also played and White went 'all-in': 5.h5 a6 6.f4 d6 7.g4?! e7 8.g5 h6 but White could not control the position in Mandiza, F (2404)-Liou, Y (2283)/ Northern California op 2012. ] 5.f3 White tries to play like in an English, but this pawn on h4 makes things more comfortable for Black. g7 6.c4 d6 7.d3 ge7 8.bd2 a5 9.a3 0-0 10.c2 b8 This looks a bit mysterious, but it's aimed against White's long castling. 11.e2 g4 12.e4 d7 13.0-0-0?! This move is not prudent and after it Black's position should be better. Dubov now plays actively and precisely and quickly gets the better position. [ 13.0-0 would be normal, and better f5 14.g3 and the position looks slightly better for Black, but nothing serious. ] 81 A01 13...b5 W ithout losing any time. 14.cxb5 15.d4 The beginning of a nice Jobava,Baadur 2706 xb5 Dubov,Daniil 2614 sequence. White is pushing all Black's pieces Minsk Bronstein Memorial op-A (7) 17.02.14 to the first two ranks. The big problem is that after all the pieces have gone back White is a [Fier, Alexandr] tad over extended and the king has no safe Following the saga of 1.b3, this month we take place to go. b6! Important, the rook can go a look at another game of Jobava from a to c6 in some variations. [ 15...bb8 is less precise 16.dxe5 xf3 tournament that he won convincingly. This 17.gxf3 xe5 18.f4 g4 19.xg7 xg7 time the approach can't be considered good 20.b2 White is safe with the queen going for W hite and 0-0-0 is a bit too much in my
game was drawn. ] 12.f3 b7 13.xe5 [ Here 13.d5!? xd5 14.xe5 deserved attention. ] 13...xe5 14.f3 f5 15.xb7 xb7 16.0-0 fe8 17.e2 White has a small but stable advantage, so his opening can be considered a success. From here it's interesting to see how utterly helpless Jobava makes his 2600 opponent look! c5 18.f3 d6 [ 18...xe3?! is met by 19.g3 d5 20.xd5 xd5 21.d4 , winning the exchange. ] 19.e4 g5 20.g3 ad8 21.f5 e6 22.g4!? f4?! 23.e1 g5 24.g2 e6 25.d1 d7 26.h4! Jobava launches his attack. f6 27.h1 [ N o t b a d , b u t W h i t e m i s s e d 27.d5!+with the unstoppable threat of 28.Bc1. ] 27...g6 28.c1 [ 28.d5! ] 28...e5 29.h6+ g7 30.g5! Excellent! Andriasian's king is exposed to the elements. b4 31.g4 c3 32.f2 h5? [ Lo sing quick ly, bu t 32...fxg5 33.hxg5 was no picnic either! ] 33.d3 a1 34.gxf6+ h7 [ On 34...xf6 35.h6+ decides. ] 35.d2 df8 36.f7! Black resigned, as he's facing a decisive loss of material. The line with 1...e5 and 4...Bd6 is one of Black's most theoretically respected answers to the NimzoLarsen, and the analysis here shows he is fine in m o re t h a n o n e wa y. No n e t h e le s s, it ' s awesome to see how a creative and strong player like Jobava can play for the full point! 1-0
74
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to c3 and can even be slightly better ] 16.c5 Using the rook on b6. [ 16.dxe5 now this is worse compared to the note to the last move xf3 17.gxf3 xe5 18.f4 c6 this is the point 19.c3 g4 20.c4 b8 and White is under heavy pressure ] 16...f5! Provoking White's bishop. It will be more exposed on d3 than e2. [ 16...c8 17.a4 b8 18.dxe5 ( 18.d5 a7 19.b1 e4 20.xg7 exf3 21.gxf3 f5 22.e4 xg7 23.exf5 xf5 ) 18...xf3 ( 18...e6 19.c4 xc4 20.xc4 f5 21.c2 g4 ) 19.gxf3 xe5 20.b1 e6 21.a2 ] 17.d3 c8 18.a4 b8 19.d5 a7 [ 19...d8 to go to e6 was another interesting option 20.c4 c6 21.dxc6 xc6 also with advantage. ] 20.c4 So, finally White got what he wanted, but his position is now really unstable. [ 20.e4 gives the important d4-square c6 21.dxc6 axc6 22.c4 xf3 23.gxf3 d4 and White's position is close to lost ] 20...c6 21.dxc6 xc6 [ 21...d5!? was active, but there is no reason for Black to avoid the game continuation 22.xd5 ( 22.xd5 xd5 23.xd5 e6 24.xe6 xe6 is also good for Black) 22...xd5 23.xd5 e6 24.c7 xd5 25.cxb8 xb8 26.d2 xg2 and with the Bishop pair for nothing, Black should be winning. ] 22.e4 [ 22.c3 a4! 23.xa4 ( 23.d5 xd5 24.xd5 d7-+ ) 23...f5 24.c3 b5 25.xb5 xb5 and White's position collapses ] 22...b5 23.b1 fc8 I don't like this plan so much. [ 23...xf3 was another way to proceed and it would be my preference 24.gxf3 d4 25.xd4 exd4 26.a2 fc8 27.he1 d5!? 28.exd5 d6 29.e4 f8 30.c1 f5 and White has little to do ] 24.a2 [ 24.c1 could exchange some pieces, but th e p o s it io n re m a in s goo d f o r B la ck d5 25.xd5 xc2+ 26.xc2 xc2 27.xc2 xd5 28.exd5 f5+ 29.d2 d8 and there is no way to defend the d5-pawn
30.b6 ( 30.d1 e4 31.g5 f6 32.h3 g4 33.e1 xd5+ ) 30...d6 31.c4 xd5+ 32.e2 d3+ and White is in trouble ] 24...e6 [ 24...b7 can give White some counterplay 25.d3 d5 26.xd5 and White releases the pressure with massive exchanges xd5 27.xd5 xd5 28.xd5 xf3 29.gxf3 c2 30.b4! axb4 31.b3 xf2 32.axb4 xf3+ 33.c4 and things are not so clear ] 25.c1 h6 [ 25...b7 26.d3 d5 27.exd5 e4 28.xe4 xd5 29.xg7 b4+ ] 26.g5 xc4 Now things become more unclear. [ 26...xg5 27.hxg5 e8 with the idea of 28...Nc6 keeps the advantage ] 27.xc4 e8 28.d3 f6?! After this move things are more or less ok for White. During half a move! [ 28...c6 is still possible, and after 29.c3 xc3+ ( 29...bd4 30.d5 g7 31.c3 W h it e is in t h e ga m e) 30.xc3 a4! White is still under pressure ] 29.f4? An original idea, but White is just lost after this move. [ 29.xc8 is quite decent and White is a l r e a d y o k xc8 ( 29...xc8 30.c4+! xc4 31.bxc4 fxg5 32.cxb5 xb5 33.c1 with a balanced endgame) 30.b6! b8 ( 30...fxg5 31.xc8 xc8 32.d5+ h7 33.a4 d4 34.c1 and White is already better ) 31.d5 and it is Black who needs to take care to not be worse ] 29...fxg5 30.hxg5 f8? This is still not losing, but complicates the position for no reason. [ 30...g7 is quite simple and I don't see h o w W h i t e ca n co n t i n u e t o a t t a c k 31.f5 ( 31.fxe5 xe5-+ ) 31...gxf5 32.exf5 e4 33.xe4 xb2 34.xb2 xc1 35.xc1 f7 and Black is winning ] [ 30...xc1 31.xc1 f8 32.f5 gxf5 33.exf5 f7 followed by 34...Qd5 and Black is a piece up ] 31.fxe5 dxe5 32.xe5 xc1 33.xc1 c8? This is already pleasant for White. [ 33...d8 was good and Black is still better 34.c4+ h7 35.e6 g8! and White can't increase the pressure ] 34.c5 c6 75
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 34...g7 Black needs this move to defend the position 35.xg7 xg7 36.a4 a7 37.e6+ g8 38.d4 f7 and somehow Black is holding ] 35.d7 xe5? Now Black is basically lost. [ 35...g7 was still possible and necessary, but White can at least take the piece back 36.xg7 xg7 37.f6 d8 38.xd8 xd8 39.xc6 d2+ 40.a1 xg2 but Black has counterplay because of the active rook and the h-pawn ] 36.d5+ f7 [ 36...g7 37.f6 f7 38.xc8 is also good enough for White ] 37.xf7+ 1-0
Morozevich, A (2731) -Karjakin, S (2777)/ Moscow 2014 (1-0 (33)), when Black could consider opening the position by exf3 ] 8.e2 0-0 [ 8...e6 9.d3 ( 9.0-0 ) 9...b4+! 10.c3 xc3+ 11.xc3 e7 12.0-0 0-0-0 with play on the two central files, Bromann, T (2385)-Jones, G (2624)/Reykjavik 2011, 0-1 (47), although White is fairly solid. ] 9.0-0 Now Black has a wide choice. b6 However, this is the first time for this move. Black plans to bring his light-square bishop to either b7 or a6. [ 9...e8 is sensible, 'over-protecting' the advanced e4-pawn, 10.f3 ( 10.d3 f5 11.g3 g6 Bromann, T (2395)Christensen, S (2290) Denmark 2013, 1-0 (56), 12.f4!? exf3 13.xf3 I like White here, 82 A01 e4 is co ming.) 10...exf3 11.xf3 e6 12.e1 e4 13.d3 h4 14.f1!? xc4 Jobava,Baadur 2713 15.bxc4 d2 16.xf7! e7 ( 16...xf1? Dukaczewski,Piotr 2288 17.xg7+ f8 18.xf1+ forces f6 Tromsoe ol (Men) 41st (2.1) 03.08.2014 19.xf6 xf6 20.xh7! with advantage.) [Kosten, Tony] 17.xe7 xe7 18.f4 f8 19.g4? ( 19.e5 ) 19...xe3+?! ( 19...f6! wins, as 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 20.xf6? xf6 attacks a1 and threatens 5.a3 e4 An ambitious alternative to the mate on f1.) 20.h1 f6 21.xf6 xf6 more popular moves 22.g3 Ivanchuk, V (2731)-Vachier Lagrave, [ 5...a5 and ] M (2745) Beijing 2013, 1/2-1/2 (68). ] [ 5...a6 ] [ 9...c5 is also positionally well-founded, 6.c4 Normal. 10.g3 g4 11.e1 e6 Jobava, B [ 6.e2 allows e5 exchanging dark square (2711)-Giri, A (2720) Beijing 2012, 0-1 (83), bishops, as in Jobava, B (2711)-Aronian, L when W hite should probably play his (2815)/Beijing Sportaccord blitz 2012, and thematic 12.f3 here, exf3 13.xf3 Nakamura, H (2786)-Jones, G)/5th Classic with the typical play down the f -file and GpC 2013 (4.2). ] strong centre. ] 6...e7 7.xc6 [ 9...g4 10.d3 d5!? 11.h3 h5 [ 7.f4?! is met by b4! threatening to win is more aggressive, 12.e1 ( 12.hxg4?! the bishop, 8.e5 0-0 9.a3 bd5 10.e2 xg4 13.e1? is met by h4! 14.f4 d6 forcing White's pieces to retreat, xf2+ 15.f1 h4 winning. ) 12...e6 K a rl s s o n , L ( 2 4 5 3 )- Na rc i so D u b la n , M 13.f4 f5 14.xe6 fxe6 15.e2 ad8 (2535)/ Montcada 2010, but 1-0 (55). ] 16.ad1 b4 17.f1 d5 18.a3 d6 7...dxc6 Black accepts 'Exchange Spanish' 19.dxe4?! ( White has repelled the early doubled c-pawns to free the bishop and use a t t a c k , a n d c o u l d n o w p l a y 19.f4 the open d-file. with advantage.) 19...xe4 20.d2?! g5 [ The more ambitious 7...bxc6 was preferred 21.h4?! xc2! 22.a1? f3+! 23.gxf3 by Karjakin this year, 8.e2 ( 8.d3 0-0 g6+ 24.h1 h5 25.c4 f4 9.e2 d5 10.d2 exd3 11.cxd3 c5 0-1 (25) Bromann, T (2413) -Ris, R (2407) with the bishop pair and more space in Copenhagen 2014. ] return for the doubled pawns, Ipatov, A (2613)-Karjakin, S (2771)/Dubai 2014, 0-1 10.a4 e8 [ 10...c5 would stop White's next. ] (31). ) 8...0-0 9.0-0 d5 10.e5 e8 11.f4 76
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.d4! Aiming at both c6 and f 5. d5 Defending both squares. [ 11...b7 12.f5 c5 was still possible, but maybe White could play 13.f3! anyway: exf3 14.xf3! xf3 15.xf3 with strong threats. ] 12.f3 exf3 13.xf3 xf3 14.xf3 c5 15.b5 [ 15.f5 is more natural, but White may have been put off by xf5 16.xf5 e4 17.af1 f6 18.d3 d6 19.xd6 xd6 although he still has some advantage after 20.e4 and g4. ] 15...d8? This is passive, and leads to the sort of endgame that any strong player would strive to avoid. [ 15...d5! kept the game interesting, 16.e4 a6 17.exd5 axb5 18.axb5 xa1+ 19.xa1 d7 regaining the pawn with equality. ] 16.xf6 Of course. gxf6 17.af1 a6 18.c3 b7 19.g3+ [ 19.f4 was stronger, with d3 and e4 as in the game. ] 19...h8 20.d3 e7 [ 20...f5!? was a good chance, the point being that 21.xf5 h4 wins the exchange, 22.xf7 ( 22.h3 c8 ) 22...xg3 23.hxg3 ac8 24.e4 White is better, but Black is still alive. ] 21.e4 Now the game is over, the white knights have nice outposts on the light squares and Black's pawns are terribly weak. g8 22.gf3 g6 23.e3 ag8 24.g3 d8 25.g2 There is absolutely no rush. h5 26.f5 [ 26.cd5! xd5 27.xd5 g7 28.e3 would also leave Black with a bad bishop to add to his other woes. ] 26...h6 27.cd5 gg6? [ 27...c8 28.5f3 h4 ] 28.f4 g5 29.h4 xf5 30.xf5 h7 Now the black rook is in a mess! 31.d5 [ 31.d1! and d4 would be difficult to counter. ] 31...g8 32.g4!? Creating a passed h-pawn, but making the black rook useful again. f8?! Black decides to leave his rook on the h-file and centralise his king. [ 32...hxg4 33.g3 h8 34.xg4 h7 was more natural, when White has quite a lot more work ahead of him. ] 33.g3 hxg4 34.h1 c6 35.de3 c7+ 36.xg4 c8 Black has managed to do
something with his bishop pair, but it won't save him. 37.h5 e6 38.h6 e5 39.f3 e8 40.g4 d7 41.xe5+ [ 41.g7 xe6 is also good. ] 41...fxe5 42.g7 e7 43.xe6 xe6 44.g4 The rook ending should always be w i n n i n g w i t h s u c h a c o n f i g u r a t i o n . f6 45.h5 h8 46.f1+ e6 47.f5 a5 48.c4 Forcing a sort of zugzwang. f6 [ 48...h7 49.g5 h8 50.f6+ e7 51.f5 wins lots of pawns. ] [ 48...g8 49.h7 g1 looks like it might defend, but then 50.f6+! e7 ( 50...xf6? 51.h8+ is check. ) 51.h6 forces h1+ 52.g5 f6+ 53.xf6 xh7 54.xc6 which is hopeless. ] 49.f1 f7 50.g1 h7 51.g3 If the rook retreats then Rg7+ wins, and if the king goes back then Kg6 wins. h8 52.g7+ e6 53.g6 1-0
83
A01 Jobava,Baadur 2711 Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar 2764 SportAccord Rapid Men 2012 (2.7) 14.12.2012 [John Bartholomew] Jobava opts for a strategically rich line with 3. Bxf6!? and dismantles his formidable opponent in a mere 25 moves! 1.b3 f6 Arguably the most f lexible answer to th e Nimzo-Larsen, and the third most popular re p ly o ve r a l l ( b e h i n d 1 . . . e 5 a n d 1 . . . d 5 , respectively). [ J o b a v a f a c e d t h e c o p y - c a t 1...b6 a couple times in Beijing. His game with Anish Giri proceeded 2.b2 b7 3.e3 ( 3.c3!? c6 4.d4 d5 5.e3 e6 6.d2 d7 7.0-0-0 0-0-0 8.b1 b8 (apparently Kamsky had resolved to take the copy-cat strategy to an extreme!) 9.f3 g6 10.ge2 g7 11.h4 h5 12.f4 ge7= 13.a3 hg8 14.ce2?! e5 15.h3 exd4 16.exd4 f5 and Black went on to win in Jobava, B (2711)-Kamsky, G (2762) Beijing CHN 2012. ) 3...e6 4.c3 c5 5.ge2 f6 6.d4 e7 7.d2 0-0 8.0-0-0 c6?! 9.d5! exd5 10.xd5 xd5 11.xd5 f6 12.c3 b8 13.f5 d8 14.d3 f8 15.xh7 77
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and our hero prevailed in Jobava, B (2711)Giri, A (2720) Beijing CHN 2012. ] [ I ' v e n e v e r b e e n a b i g f a n o f 1...d5 (perhaps I've seen too many classic Nim z o wi t s c h -s t yl e e xp l o it a t i o n s o f t h e weakened d4 and e5 squares!), but it's certainly viable. Jobava faced this as well. 2.e3 f6 3.b2 and now: A) 3...c6 4.f4 f5 5.f3 bd7 6.h3 h6 7.c3 e6 8.g4 h7 9.g2 d6 10.d3 0-0 11.d2 e5 12.0-0-0 d4?! ( 12...exf4! 13.exf4 c7 14.e2 a5 ) 13.exd4 exf4 14.g5 hxg5 15.xg5 Jobava, B (2710) Ma Qun (2534) Fujairah City UAE 2012; B) 3...g4!? 4.f3 f5 5.g4!? (here comes the pawn roller) g6 6.h4 h5?! ( 6...h6! ) 7.g5 g8 8.e2 e6 9.f4 f5 10.c3 e7 11.ce2 d6 12.g3 d4 ( this seems risky Black should probably just continue developing, e.g. 12...bc6 ) 13.fe2 dxe3 14.dxe3 g6 15.xd6 cxd6 16.0-0-0 bc6 17.e4 0-0-0?! 18.f4! Jobava, B (2710) -Yu Ruiyuan (2538) Fujairah City UAE 2012; C) 3...g6 4.c4 g7 5.cxd5 0-0 6.f3 xd5 7.e2 c5 8.0-0 c6 9.d3 (W hite is happy to adopt a Hedgehog setup) b6 10.bd2 b7 11.a3 ad8 12.b1!? a5 13.c4 d7? 14.e4! h5 15.xg7 xg7 16.b2+ g8 17.fe5 h4 18.xd7 xd7 19.xb6 J o b a v a , B ( 2 7 1 1 ) - K a m s k y, G ( 2 7 6 2 ) Beijing CHN 2012 ] 2.b2 g6 3.xf6!? A Trompowsky-style approach to the position. White spoils Black's structure and aims to fight for the central light squares with c2-c4, Nb1-c3, g2-g3, Bf1-g2, e2e3, Ng1-e2, etc. Ideally he'll combine this scheme with an eventual pawn storm on the queenside. [ The opponents met in the blitz with the s a m e c o l o rs . T h e re Jo b a va t rie d 3.c3 , but after d5 4.d4 g7 5.e3 c5! 6.d2 c6 7.0-0-0 cxd4 8.exd4 0-0 9.f3 h5!? 10.b1 f5 11.a3 c8 Black had achieved a comfortable position. Jobava, B (2711)Mamedyarov, S (2764) Beijing CHN 2012. ] [ White has a number of other development schemes, e.g. 3.e4 ] [ 3.e3 , ] [ 3.f3 , ]
[ 3.g3 , etc. ] 3...exf6 4.c4 g7 [ Wang Hao had a unique take with 4...d5!? , opening the center before White can clamp down on d5. Following 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c3 d8 7.g3 g7 8.g2 0-0 9.e3 c6 10.ge2 f5 11.0-0 d7 12.d4 a5 13.a3 e8 the play was dynamically balanced in Jobava, B (2711)-Wang Hao (2737) Beijing CHN 2012. ] 5.c3 [ No small wonder this line attracted the attention of the Trompowsky "Godfather", Julian Hodgson: 5.g3 f5 6.c3 d6 7.g2 d7 8.c1 f6 9.d3!? 0-0 10.f3 d7 11.b4 (White's play is reminiscent of the English) a6 12.0-0 e8 13.a4 and White won a superb positional game in Hodgson, J (2575)-Hall, J (2485) Harplinge 1998/[JR]. ] 5...f5 [ Typical play for this line is 5...0-0 6.g3 f5 7.g2 e8 8.e3 d6 9.ge2 d7 10.d4 f6 11.0-0 g5 12.b4 , as in Mellado Trivino, J (242 6)-Va lle jo Po ns, F (2 674 ) Calvia 2005/[González, JW ]. Readers looking to familiarize themselves with this structure should definitely check the notes to this game. ] 6.c1 0-0 7.g3 e8 8.g2 f4?! Black seizes the chance to offload his doubled f-pawn, but this is not without risk. [ More normal is something like 8...d6 9.e3 d7 10.ge2 b8 11.0-0 f6 . Now 12.h4?! (I would be hesitant to play this if Black had not yet committed to ...h7-h5) h6 13.f4 c6 14.d3 was Orlova, Y (1961)-Pina Vega, S (2332) Mexico City MEX 2012, when g5 15.hxg5 hxg5 16.h3 g4 looks good for Black. White should play 12. d 4 o r e ve n 1 2 . d 3 i n p re p a r a t io n f o r a queenside assault ala Hodgson-Hall. ] [ Another example: 8...c6 9.e3 d6 10.ge2 d7 11.0-0 f6 12.b4 e6 13.b5 c7 14.d3 ac8 15.a4 d7 16.b1 h5 17.b3 h4 18.fb1 Barkhagen, J (2430) Holm, M (2315) Stockholm 1994. ] 9.gxf4 h4 10.f1! xc3 An unfortunate necessity if Black wants to regain the pawn. [ The problem is that 10...xf4? 11.d5 is already decisive, as Black cannot defend c7: d6 ( or 11...e5 12.d4 ) 12.c5+- . ] 78
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.xc3 Conveniently, White has managed to lif t h i s ro o k b y m o ve 1 1 ! xf4 12.h4! Black's king is vulnerable and his queenside lies dormant, so Jobava decides it's time to strike. d6 [ Nor does 12...h5 13.h3 d4 14.g3 promise an easy life. ] 13.h5 c6 14.h3 d4 [ 14...f6!? ] 15.e3 f6 16.f4 e7 17.f3 g5? A serious loss of time. [ Black must hasten to exchange queens: 17...g5! 18.d5 xd5 19.cxd5 ( 19.xd5 c6 20.f3 f5 ) 19...xf3 20.xf3 e7 with a worse but defensible position, e.g. 21.g2 f5 22.hc1 c8 23.g3 . ] 18.h3 c6? This doesn't help either. 19.hxg6 hxg6 20.xc8 axc8 21.h5! f5 Unfortunately for Mamedyarov, this was the o n l y m o v e . 22.d3! Black's position is collapsing. f7 Other tries fail: [ 22...d5 23.g1 h4 ( 23...h6 24.f6++- ) 24.d4! h2 25.f4+and Black is unable to pary the monster t h r e a t s o f R g 1 - h 1 o r N f 4 xg 6 , e . g . h6 26.xg6! xg6 27.xf5+- . ] [ 22...cd8 23.g1 h4 24.d4 h2 25.f4 is virtually the same ] [ 22...ed8 is the best try, but 23.g1 h6 24.f4 g5 25.e4!+- shreds Black's position beyond repair. ] 23.f4 cd8 24.h7+ f6 25.d1!! A beautifully timed retreat! Black resigned in view of the irresistible threat of 26.Qa1+. Should he interpose his rook (i.e. 25...Ng8 26. Qa1+ Re5), then 27. Nh3 followed by 28.f4 decides. Bravo, Baadur! 1-0
84 Juan Vallejo Pons,Francisco Calvia II op (2) [Gonzalez, JW]
A01 2426 2674 22.10.2005
Julio Alberto GonzÃ!lez writes: "I am a ChessPublishing subscriber. I write f rom Argentina. I attach a game commented in Spanish (you excuse me for not understanding the English language very well).
I think that it is an interesting game with the Nimzo-Larsen Attack." I've put in selected and severely abbreviated notes of Julio's. This involves a translation f rom the Spanish forgive me if I've introduced errors but I think the gist of it is there. 1.b3 f6 2.b2 g6 3.xf6!? Giving a type of Nimzo-Larsen Attack. It tries to interfere with Black's development. Just when the f8 bishop was about to contest the long diagonal W hite ch a n g e s p l a n s a n d f o c u s e s o n t h e l ig h t squares via c2-c4, Nc3 Bg2, and eventually the advance of the queenside pawns. exf6 4.c4 g7 After the game in the post-mortem, V a lle jo h a d d o u b t s a b o u t t h is m o ve a n d suggested the immediate [ 4...h5?! which has not appeared in the databases. This commentator has his doubts about that. If Black wants to play ] [ 4...d5 at this point, an example is 5.cxd5 ( 5.e3!? ) 5...xd5 6.c3 A) 6...a5 7.a3 c5 8.c1!? . JW Note: This isn't very convincing after c6 9.e3 ( 9.e4 e7 10.b2 0-0 ) 9...e6 10.c2 0-0-0!? or 10...Bd6; B) 6...d8 7.g3 f5 8.g2 g7 9.c1 c6 10.h3 0-0 11.f4 d7 12.d4 with initiative, Lovric-Turci, Montecatini Terme 1999. JW : this isn't much but I'd indeed rather be White. ] 5.c3 0-0 6.g3 [ 6.c1!? deserves attention, defending the knight against possible counterplay: f5 7.g3 d6 8.g2 c6 9.e3 d7 ( 9...a6!? 10.ge2 b5 11.0-0 e6 Martinez-Perelshteyn, Catonsville 2000) 10.ge2 e8 11.0-0 reaching a ion in which Black has experimented with various moves: 11...a5, 11...Nf6 and 11...h5!?. ] 6...f5 7.g2 [ Undoubtedly 7.Rc1!? again deserved attention. 7.c1!? ] 7...e8 8.e3 [ 8.h3 was looked at in the post-mortem. ] 8...d6 [ Black could use the counter-method 8...xc3!? (to avoid the suggested Rc1) 9.dxc3 d6 10.e2 d7 11.0-0 a5 12.c2 a4 13.fd1 e7 14.f4 c6 A.Segal-U. Andersson, Sao Caietano 1999 ] 9.ge2 d7 10.d4?! Al Nimzo-Larsen 79
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 player might disagree with this return to a classical central scheme. Perhaps it's a a matter of taste. [ 10.0-0 c6 11.c1!? ] 10...f6 11.0-0 g5!? An ambitious decision. [ Mellado hoped for 11...e4 12.d3 xc3 13.xc3 followed by b4-b5 with good play for White. ] 12.b4 b8?! [ Mellado thought that it was better to play 12...d7 13.b5 ( 13.xb7 b8 14.g2 xb4 ) 13...c6 ] 13.b5 d7 14.d3 [ Maybe directly 14.a4!? ] 14...h5 15.a4 JW: this is the end of the opening so I'll just give the moves from here on out. Note that the above are truncated co m m e n t s b a s e d u p o n Ja vie r G o n za le z' extensive notes. h8!? 16.a5 h4 17.a6 b6 18.gxh4 [ 18.d5 ] 18...gxh4 19.f4 [ 19.h1!? ] 19...h6 20.h1 g8 21.g1 [ 21.fd5! f4 ( 21...xd5 22.xd5 ) 22.xf4 xf4 23.exf4 g6 24.g1 ] 21...xf4! 22.exf4 g6 23.d5 xd5 24.xd5 e7!? [ 24...f6 25.xg6 ( 25.f3!?; 25.ae1!? ) 25...fxg6 26.e1 ] 25.g5?! [ 25.ae1! bg8! 26.f3! f6 27.h5+ g7 28.xg6+ fxg6 29.g5! ] 25...xg5 26.fxg5 xg5 27.g1 h5! 28.e3 g8! [ 28...e8? 29.f4 ] 29.e7?? [ 29.xg8+ xg8 30.f3 ] 29...xg1+ 30.xg1 d1+ 31.g2 h3+ 0-1
threatening one if flipping the colours, the idea employed by Black in our main game, would be no threat against the Pirc/Modern. Obviously, with a tempo less, it is even less dangerous. There are two main alternatives: A) 5...c5 A) 6.d2?! xf2+ ( 6...g4!? 7.e3 xe3 8.fxe3 xe3 9.e2 xc2+ 10.d1 xa1 11.xe5 0-0 12.xa1 e8 ) 7.xf2 g4+ 8.e1 e3 9.c1 xg2+ 10.f2 h4 11.gxh4 xh4+ Ca sas, E -Rod rigu e z, I/ Bu e n os Aire s 1975; B) 6.e3 g4 ( 6...d4!? 7.e4 a5 8.a3 h5 9.h4 e7 10.d2 g4 11.gf3 a6 Bezold, M-Aagaard, J/Budapest 2003) 7.c1 0-0 8.a3 a5 9.h3 e6 10.d2 d7 11.e2 b6 Castro Rojas, OGipslis, A/Budapest 1977; C) 6.f3 0-0 7.0-0 ( 7.xe5 xf2+ 8.xf2 xe5 9.h3 e8 10.f1 xh3 11.xh3 eg4+ 12.xg4 xg4+ 13.g1 e3 14.c1 xf1 15.xf1 was played in Craveta, C-Hervas, F/IECG Email 1998, and now Black's best seems to be e7 16.e1 f5; 7.d4 exd4 8.xd4 xd4 9.xd4 e7 10.xc5 xc5 Zimmermann, J-Kund, W/ICCF Email 2001) 7...e8 ( Black has a couple of alternatives at this point: 7...e7!? 8.a3 e4 9.dxe4 dxe4 10.d4 , Lovati, PSbarra, M/ Bratto 1998, and now xd4 11.xd4 d8 12.e3 xd4 13.exd4 c5 14.c3 f5; and 7...e4!? 8.dxe4 dxe4 9.xd8 xd8 10.fd2 e3 , Zimmermann, J-Korosec, S/ICCF Email 2001, and now 11.xf6 gxf6 12.e4 exf2+ 13.h1 b6 14.a3 e5 ) 8.c3 b6 9.a3 g4 10.h3 h5 11.h4 e4 12.e1 d7 Flesch, J-Szekely, M/Budapest 1969 ] [ B) 5...d6!? 6.c3 ( 6.d2 0-0 7.e4 g4 8.e2 dxe4 9.dxe4 e7 10.h3 xe2 85 A01 11.xe2 a3 12.xa3 xa3 Keskinen, S-Lehtivaara, P/Finland Team Ch 2002) Kamsky,Gata 2714 6...d4 7.b1 0-0 8.f3 e6 9.0-0 d7 Ponomariov,Ruslan 2705 10.e1 fe8 11.c3 dxc3 12.xc3 h3 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (36) 22.11.2007 13.h1 h6 14.c1 ad8= Vajda, A-Tincu, [Carsten Hansen] R/Tusnad 1997 ] 1.g3 d5 2.g2 f6 3.b3 e5 4.b2 c6 6.h3 [ 6.f3!? ] 5.d3 h5?! [ A novelty, but not really a particularly 6...b4+ 80
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 6...c5!? 7.f3 e7 ] 7.d2 e6 8.a3 d6 9.e3 [ White's set-up looks like something you would see in games between much lower rated players, but it is quite flexible and not entirely bad as Kamsky soon will demonstrate. An alternative is 9.gf3 d7 10.c4!? ] 9...e7 10.b4 0-0-0 11.b5 b8 12.a4 bd7 13.gf3 b8 [ 13...e4 14.d4 is fine for White ] 14.a5 c8 15.a6 b6 16.g5 c6 [ 16...c5 17.xe6 fxe6 ( 17...xe6 18.0-0 e8 19.f3 is pleasant for White) 18.d4 cd7 19.c4 exd4 20.xd4 ] 17.xe6 [ 17.bxc6 xc6 18.0-0 cc8 19.c4!? ] 17...fxe6 18.bxc6 xc6 19.0-0 c7 20.c4 hc8 21.e2 [ 21.f4!? ] 21...b4 [ 21...g5!? ] [ 21...e4!? ] 22.fc1 d6 [ 22...g5!? 23.f3 e4 24.dxe4 dxc4 ] 23.f3 e4?! [ 23...h7!? ] 24.dxe4 dxe4 25.d4 e7 26.b5 c6 27.c2 e5 28.a4 c5? [ This more or less stops Black's counterplay by blocking the open c-file. Instead 28...d6 p r o v i d e s B l a c k wi t h b e t t e r c h a n c e s o f obtaining sufficient counterplay, e.g. 29.d2 c5 30.a1 e6 31.ad1 c7 , and Black is still in the game, for instance: 32.d4 exd4 33.exd4 e3 34.fxe3 ce4 35.d5 d6 36.dxc6 xg3 , and now Black is actually better ] 29.c3 6c7 30.xe4 xe4 31.xe4 f6 32.g2 e4 33.xf6 gxf6 34.xh5 d7 35.a1 cd8 [ 35...e6 36.h6 e8 37.b1 f8 38.h5 f5 39.c5 c8 40.c6+- ] 36.f5 e8 37.cc1!? [ 37.xe4! ] 37...e6 38.xe6 xe6 39.d1 c7 40.xd7+ xd7 41.d1+ c6 42.g4 b5 43.cxb5+ xb5 44.f1+ b4 45.b1+ c3 46.c1+ b4 47.c4+ 1-0
86 Karayannis,Athanasios Banikas,Hristos 56th ch Salonica GRE (8) [John Watson]
A01 2361 2568 04.12.2006
More original chess is stemming from the variation in this game that any other 1.b3 line. The highest-rated players seem to be treating it as a main line just two years ago it was only a 'surprise' opening with great shock value. 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 5.a3 The idea is to play Nc4 and make the bishop on d6 look foolish. [ 5.e2 has also been played. but commits White's bishop to exchange on c6 after a6 6.xc6 dxc6 . Compare the lines below. ] 5...a5!? Now an established move, this stops Nc4 and clears the way to drive White's bish o p a wa y b y . . . c6 . B u t 5 . . .a 6 is a ls o possible, as in this month's game BarnaureGrunberg. 6.c4!? An interesting new try. [ We've seen 6.f3 a6 7.e2 on this site, with e4!? and 7...Qe7. ] [ The line 6.e2 a6 (versus Nb5) 7 c4 and 7 Nf3 have also been analysed. White hasn't really gained anything special in all these lines, but they have all yielded f ighting ideas for both sides. ] 6...xc4 7.xc4 c6 8.f3 e7 White seems to be losing the centre.. Black threatens ... Bc7 and . ..d5, while ...e4 can also be a strong move. So he should move fast. 9.d4?! [ 9.h4! g6 10.f4 exf4 11.0-0 goes for the initiative, with unclear prospects. ] 9...e4 10.e5 Probably best, but the knight lacks good retreat squares and has to be handled carefully. 0-0 11.a4 [ 11.0-0 c7 12.e2 d6 13.c4 b5 14.d2 d5 obviously favours Black, who has the centre and attacking prospects. ] 11...c7 Now 12...d6 is threatened, winning a piece! So White prepares a retreat square. 12.h3 d6 [ 12...h5?? 13.g6 ] 13.g4 d7 14.f4!? White wants to secure f2 for his knight this is too ambitious. Better is [ 14.0-0 , although h5 15.h2 d5 16.e2 g5! launches a serious attack. ] 14...h4+ 15.f1 81
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 15.f2? g3 hits g2 and e3. ] 15...b6! 16.e1?! [ 16.e2 f5 17.f2 g3 18.d2 f6 keeps the attack going. ] 16...xe1+ 17.xe1 xc4 18.bxc4 e6 19.c5 Forced, if White is not to lose material. But structura lly, it dooms his po sition . f5 20.f2 dxc5 21.dxc5 fd8 Two bishop s, central control, and W hite's weak pawns make success very likely f or Black in the position. The rest is easy to understand. 22.d1 a5+ 23.f1 xd1+ 24.xd1 d8 25.d4 b6 26.f2 [ 26.cxb6 c5 ] 26...bxc5 27.xc5 d2+ 28.g3 a6! Black is in no hurry, and saves his a-pawn before picking up material. 29.f2 xc2 30.d4 c5 31.e5 e2! 32.b1 e1 33.b8+ f7 34.b7+ e8 35.d6 xf2+ 36.h2 d7 0-1
87 Kovacevic,Blazimir Marzolo,Cyril 6th EICC Warsaw POL (6) [John Watson]
A01 2510 2388 23.06.2005
It's silly to call the variation in this game the 'Ma in L in e ' o f 1 . b 3 , b u t B la ck 's se t u p i s certainly popular! So nice to see professional players having some fun. I'll try to incorporate as much theory as I can of what Tony has already laid out on this site. 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6!? This has been all the rage versus 1.b3. 5.a3 Heading for c 4 t o e m b a r r a s s t h e b i s h o p . a5! We've seen this before. White really only has one idea so far, and Black prevents it at all positional cost! 6.e2 [ The main alternative has been 6.f3 a6 7.e2 e7 8.b1 Rather than acquiesce to exchanging the a5-knight. ( 8.c4 xc4 9.xc4 b5 10.e2 b7 or 10...0-0 looks fine: Black has space and actively-placed pieces. ) 8...0-0 9.c4 ( 9.h4 threatens Nf5. It is consistent to put yet another knight on the side of the board, and perhaps e6 10.g4 b5 11.g1 with the i dea of g5 (and perhaps Bg4) would complete the insanity.
This time W hite's position is a bit hard to believe in.) 9...b6 10.c3 b7 11.0-0 fe8 12.d3 a3 13.c1 xb2 1/2-1/2 Hodgson-Speelman, Birmingham 1998. ] 6...a6 Versus Nb5, and thus 'threatening' ... Qe7. 7.c4 The games that Tony cites as options are still relevant (one might also want to look at Jeroen Bosch's SOS volumes), e.g., : [ 7.f3 e4!? ( 7...e7 8.c1 b5 9.c4 bxc4 10.xc4 xc4 11.xc4 a5 'with counterplay' (Kosten), MureySveshnikov/USSR, 1975.) 8.d4 g6 9.c4 0-0 10.b1!? ( TK: 10.0-0!? e7 11.b1? e5! 12.g3 c5 13.f4 exf3 14.xf3 e4 ) 10...e8 11.c3 e5! ] 7...0-0 [ 7...c5 has also been played ] 8.c2 e8 9.d3 f8 10.f3 c6 [ 10...e4 11.dxe4 xe4 12.0-0 gives White a standard English Opening advantage, and Black's a5 serves no purpose. ] 11.e4 White's d4 is almost always met by ...e4, so he looks for an alternative plan. Now Ne3d5 is a possibility. b5 12.0-0 bxc4 13.bxc4 c5 14.d2 d6 15.b3 a7 Since Nxc5 wa s n ' t r e a l l y a t h r e a t , B l a c k c o u l d a l s o consider [ 15...a5 ] 16.c3 e7 17.e3 d7 18.d2 g6 19.fe1 f4 20.f1 g4 Neither side is doing much but at least Black has kingside ideas like ...Qg5/h4 and ...Re6-g6. Thus he should consider [ 20...6h5 ] 21.xg4 xg4 22.d4 c5?! [ 22...g5 ] 23.d5 d7 [ 23...g5 ] 24.c1 b6 [ 24...h4 Black now has a bad bishop on a7 and no attack. Still, it's hard for White to undertake anything. ] 25.d3 xd3 26.xd3 h4 27.g3 g4 28.f4 exf4 29.xf4 c7 30.ab1 ab8 31.b3 f6 32.a3 a5 33.b3 xb3 34.axb3 xf4 35.gxf4 b8 36.c2 f7 37.f2 g6 38.f3 This must have been a time forfeit, or the result was really a draw. 1-0 82
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 88 Larsen,Bent Andersson,Ulf Teeside (10) [Jonathan Rowson]
A01 2660 2535 1972
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 [ 4.c4!? is also perfectly playable. ] 4...d6 [ 4...d6!? now seems to be critical here, Black intends 0-0, Re8, Bf8 and d5 or ...e4 followed by Be5. Although there is now plenty of scope for creativity, no clear path to an advantage has been found for White. One idea that appealed to me was 5.a3 ( 5.e2 0-0 6.0-0 e8 7.g3 a6 8.xc6 dxc6 9.d3 is about level, but might appeal to certain players who like to play the Rossolimo anti-Sicilian or the exchange Ruy Lopez. Personally I would tend to prefer W hite in such positions, because I can look forward to playing f4 in the long term, while with Black I am less sure about what I should be trying to do, if anything.) 5...a5 I know, it's all a bit weird, but it has been seen several times before and does make some sense- it's all about the e5 pawn. 6.e2 a6 7.c4!? xc4 8.bxc4 e7 The structural change is not obviously bad for White, and Black's piece still look odd, so I feel White might have some chances to be b e t t e r h e r e . 9.a4?! looks too slow- white s o o n s u f f e r s f o r l a c k o f d e ve l o p m e n t . ( 9.h3!? 0-0 10.0-0 intending f4.; 9.f3 e4 10.d4 g6 11.g4!? food for thought.) 9...0-0 10.h3 c5 11.f4? xe3 12.xe5 a7 13.f2 d6 14.b2 e8 15.d4 g4 0-1 Sakaev, K (2540) -Sveshnikov, E (2525)/ Gausdal 1992 ] 5.f3 [ I include the following game to show another polished positional win with 1.b3. Once again, W hite gained no theoretical advantage, but he did gain some strategic imbalance, and this was enough to demonstrate his relative strength. 5.e2 g6 6.d4 g7 7.dxe5 d7 8.xc6 bxc6 9.f4 dxe5 10.0-0 0-0 11.g3 f5 12.d2 e7 13.e2 b6 14.f3 exf4 15.xg7 xg7 16.exf4 xe2 17.xe2 c5 18.c4 b7 19.e5 fd8 20.ad1 d6 21.c3 ad8
22.fe1 f6 23.f2 a6 24.g3 xd1 25.xd1 xd1 26.xd1 e6 27.e3 d7 28.xd7 xd7 29.f2 g2 30.d3 d6 31.e5 e4 32.d2 e6 33.h4 e7 34.c3 a5 35.b2 d6 36.f7+ e7 37.g5 h6 38.h3 c6 39.f2 d6 40.d3 e8 41.a3 d7 42.b2 e8 43.c3 d7 44.d2 e8 45.e3 c6 46.e5 e8 47.g4 fxg4 48.xg4 h5 49.e5 e6 50.e4 a4 51.bxa4 xa4 52.f5+ gxf5+ 53.f4 c2 54.f3 d6 55.d2 e6 56.f1 d6 57.e3 b1 58.a3 c6 59.xf5 b6 60.e3 a5 61.g5 a4 62.xh5 xa3 63.g5 h7 64.h5 b3 65.h6 e4 66.g7 c3 67.h6 d4 68.f1 c2 69.d2 e5 70.b3 d6 71.f6 h7 72.d2 1-0 Hodgson, J (2590)-Van der Sterren, P (2555)/Germany 1998 ] 5...d7 6.0-0 e7 7.e2!? A noteworthy idea. On the one hand this move simply loses a tempo, but because the bishop was on b5 Bla ck d e ve lo p ed h is p ie ce s t o re la t ive ly passive squares, so although the tempo was 'lost' it was not entirely 'wasted'. 0-0 8.c4 e8 9.c3 f8 10.d3 h6 11.a3 a5 12.d2 e7 13.de4 g6 14.xf6+ xf6 15.g4! I love the simplicity of Larsen's play. Now he has a pleasant initiative on the light squares. xg4 16.xg4 c6 17.ac1 ad8 18.fd1 e6 19.h3 e7 20.g3 d7 21.e4 e7 22.h1 f8 23.f1 h5? An unprovoked error? Well not exactly provoked, but some p l a ye r s f in d i t e xcr u c i a t i n g ly d if f i c u l t t o manoeuvre indefinitely. That said, I would not have though Ulf Andersson was one of them, so this move must simply have been based on an oversight. 24.xh5 h8 [ 24...f4 25.gxf4 h6 26.f5 My best guess is that Black missed this move when deciding to play ...h5. ] 25.g4! f5 26.exf5 h6 27.d1 xf5 28.xf5 xf5 29.g2 g6 30.e3 fh5 31.g4 h8 32.h1 f6 33.c3 b6 34.b4 axb4 35.axb4 f7 36.a1 b8 37.a7+ e7 38.e1 hh8 39.d4 a8 40.b7 hb8 41.xb8 xb8 42.dxe5 dxe5 43.xe5 a8 44.xf6 gxf6 45.h6+ 1-0
83
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 89 Larsen,Bent Cafferty,Bernard Teeside (14) [Jonathan Rowson]
A01 2660 2440 1972
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 d5 4.b5 d6 5.c4!? I like this move, but only when it is tied to the noteworthy follow-up. [ 5.f4!? would be the first choice of most players, but it would appear that after f6 White has no advantage and might even be in danger of being worse. Ilya Odessky seems to admit as much in his recent book. A) 6.fxe5 fxe5 7.xc6+ bxc6 8.xe5 h4+! 9.g3 e4; B) 6.f3 e4 ( 6...exf4!? ) 7.d4 ge7; C) 6.h5+ g6 7.h4 exf4 8.exf4 f7!? Black threatens ...Nce7-f5. 9.xc6 bxc6 10.e2 is just about playable, but White's play does not convince, for instance after t h e s i m p l e e7 intending Qe4, White's position does not add up.; D) 6.h3!? ge7 7.fxe5 fxe5 8.0-0 f5! is comfortable for Black. ] 5...dxc4 6.f3! A significant detail. White forces Black to slightly misplace his pieces before recapturing on c4. [ 6.xc4 f6 is easier for Black. ] [ 6.bxc4 is playable, but looks odd, partly because now that the queenside is open, Bxc6 doesn't feel like a positional threat. ] 6...ge7 [ 6...e7!? 7.xc6+ bxc6 8.c1!? f6 ( 8...a6 9.a3 seems to work.) 9.xc4 0-0 And I don't think White is actually better, but the position is strategically rich, and Black will have to play well to show the dynamic compensation for his damaged structure. ] 7.xc4! And now the knight on e7 is badly placed and W hite has chances of retaining some initiative. f5 8.c3 h4 9.g3 xf3+ 10.xf3 0-0 11.h4!? Larsen became famous f o r p u s h i n g h i s r o o k ' s p a wn s , o f t e n f o r mysterious reasons, but I noticed that very often they provoked anti-positional reactions, as was the case here. e6?! 12.xe6 fxe6 13.e2 f6 14.e4 f5 15.d3 White has control. ad8 16.g4 f7 17.a3 e7 18.0-0-0 d6 19.b1 e7 20.a2 a5
21.h5 d7 22.h6 g6 23.d4 exd4 24.xd4 e5 25.b2 b5 26.a1 b8 27.d5 e7 28.d3 e6 29.hd1 b6 30.g5 c8 31.f4 c6 32.g2 e7 33.fxe5 c5 34.d7 xe3 35.xe7 xg5 36.g7+ h8 37.e6 1-0
90 Larsen,Bent Eley,Brian Hastings [Nigel Davies]
A01
1972
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6?! B l a c k p l a ys a m o ve t h a t l o o k s s e n s i b l e enough but it proves to be rather too passive. [ B l a c k ' s b e s t l i n e i s p r o b a b l y 4...d6 which featured in a couple of games from last month's update. The treatment I most like d f o r W h it e wa s u se d in V a iss e r, A (2515) -Gozzoli, Y (2520)/Belfort FRA 2010, which went 5.e2 a6 6.xc6 dxc6 7.d3 e7 8.e4 d7 9.0-0 0-0 10.d2 c5 11.f4 g4 12.f5 with slightly the better game for White. ] 5.e2 d7 6.0-0 e7 7.f4! e4 [ 7...exf4 8.xf4 would also be far from pleasant for Black with White having such active pieces. ] 8.g3 0-0 9.xc6 bxc6 [ 9...xc6 10.f5 d7 11.xe7+ xe7 would also be very nice for White because of his powerful bishop on b2. Though this migh t h a ve b e e n b et t e r t h a n t h e ga m e because Black would at least have simplified the position a little. ] 10.c4 d5 11.c3 e8 12.c1 g4 13.ce2 d7 Clearly intending to challenge the bishop on b2 with 14...Bf6 but this bishop is also needed to defend Black's weaknesses on the c-file. [ 13...a5 looks like a better move, trying to generate some counterplay on the a- or bfiles. ] 14.h3 xe2 15.xe2 c5? After this White generates a dangerous kingside attack. [ 15...f6 would also have left Black in trouble after 16.xf6 xf6 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.f5 d7 19.d4 intending to double 84
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 4...e4 5.d4 c5 Black simply gets-on with his development. 6.xc6 dxc6! This is the most direct, the c8-bishop is freed. 7.e3 f5 Overprotection! 8.c2 e7 9.e2 0-0-0 The black rook goes straight to the open file. 10.f4? White wants to target the e4-pawn, by playing 11 Bxf6, and then Nc3, but [ 10.c3 and 0-0-0, is sounder. ] 10...g4! Avoiding the threat, Black is fully mobilised, and starts to attack. 11.g3 h5 Simple, and effective! 12.h3 Hoping to drive the annoying knight away. h4! But Black is h a v i n g n o n e o f i t ! 13.hxg4 hxg3 Black's piece sacrifice served to open up the hfile, and get at the white king, who is almost devoid of defenders. 14.g1 The only move, bu t it is t o o lat e . h1!! Black sacrifices a whole rook for one tempo! 91 A01 [ 14...h4 is also good, as 15.g2 xg4 is winning for Black, but the played move is Larsen,Bent far prettier. ] Spassky,Boris V Belgrade 1970 15.xh1 g2 16.f1 Hopeless, of course, but [ 16.g1 is no better: h4+ 17.d1 and [Tony Kosten] h1 is the point. ] 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 The most natural move 16...h4+ This forces mate. 17.d1 gxf1+ for defending the e5-pawn. 3.c4 White aims 0-1 for a reversed Sicilian position. f6 4.f3!? A risky move, played in the style of Alekhine's A01 Defence, Black invites the advance of the e5- 92 Liascovich,Lucas 2432 pawn, and consequent opening of the b2Tristan,Leonardo 2288 bishop's diagonal. ch-ARG s/f Buenos Aires ARG (3) 23.03.2006 [ 4.e3 is sounder. A) 4...e7 5.a3 0-0 6.d3 d5 7.cxd5 [Tony Kosten] xd5!? ( 7...xd5 is more normal.) 8.c3 d6 9.f3 f5 10.c2 also leads to a 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 d5 4.b5 d6 typical Sicilian-style position, with chances 5.f4 f6 A solid choice, and maybe strongest, I for both sides, Fischer,R-Tukmakov,V/ had only previously looked at [ 5...h4+ and ] Buenos Aires 1970.; [ 5...e7!? ] B) 4...d5 5.cxd5 xd5 playing these 'Sicilian' positions with Black is often the 6.fxe5 fxe5 7.xc6+ bxc6 8.f3! [ 8.xe5? is a blunder, h4+ ( 8...xe5? simplest way to equalise in these 9.h5+ ) 9.g3 e4 10.xg7 openings. 6.a3 d6 7.c2 to control e4. A) 10...g4 11.c3 ( 11.d3 g6 0-0 8.f3 e7 9.c3 ( 9.d3!? 12.xh8 xd1 13.xd1 should favour is interesting, h8 10.e4 and now, Black ) 11...g6 ( 11...xh1?! 12.xg4 rather than b6?! 11.xc6 bxc6 12.d3 xg1+ 13.e2 xa1 14.xd5 ) 12.xh8 with the superior structure, Petrosian,Txd1 13.xd1?! e7 and Black won in Balashov,Y/USSR 1978, 10...Be6 is fine.) Alexandrou, A-Hadjiyiannis, C/Cyprus 9...xc3 10.xc3 f5!? 11.b5 e4 1992.; 12.xc6 bxc6 13.e5 c5 threatening ... B) 10...xh1! 11.h5+ d8 ( 11...e7! Ba6, with unclear play, Larsen,B-Spassky, looks winning to me, 12.f1 f6 13.h4 B/Leiden 1970. ] rooks on the c-file. ] [ T h e b e s t w a s t h e r a d i c a l 15...g6 , taking away the f7 square from W hite's knight. ] 16.g4 g6 [ The knight on c5 is the problem after both 16...f6 17.xf6 xf6 18.cxd5 ] [ and 16...f8 17.xg7 xg7 18.cxd5 . ] 17.f5! d3 [ Or if 17...f8 there is 18.fxg6 hxg6 ( 18...fxg6 is met by 19.f5 f6 20.xf6 xf6 21.cxd5 ) 19.f5! d3 20.xe7+ xe7 21.f6 etc. ] 18.fxg6 hxg6 19.xf7! Tearing down the barricades... xf7 20.f1+ f6 21.xf6 1-0
85
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a6+ 14.c4 af8 etc. ) 12.f1 xg3 13.g5+?! e7 14.xh8? Romero Arraya, D-Godoy, J/Pan American 19 9 8 , a n d n o w xh2 was the simplest, winning on the spot. ] 8...e7!? A good move, although [ 8...g4 is not bad e ither: 9.h3 xf3 10.xf3 e7 11.c4 f6 12.c3 Koenig, B-Leddin, M/Greifswald 2004, 0-0 looks good, 13.cxd5?! e4! 14.f5 xd5 15.g4 ( 15.xe4?? g3+ 16.d1 xc3+ ) 15...e5 with advantage, as White's king must stay in the centre. ] 9.xe5 Well, this looks risky, but if White doesn't play this trick he is worse as Black has a strong centre and bishop pair. g5!? [ 9...h4+ is the theoretically approved move: 10.g3 h3 11.f3 ( 11.e2? f6 12.a3 g4 13.xg4 xg4 14.f1 h5 wi t h s t r o n g p l a y o n t h e l i g h t s q u a r e s) 11...f6 12.f1 ( 12.xc6 e4 13.f1 xg3+ 14.hxg3 xg3+ 15.d1 W olf, R-Kindl, P/Moeglingen 1989 g4+ 16.c1 g3 17.e1 e2+ draws ) 12...h5 13.e2?! g4 14.d4 0-0 and White was already losing in Blatny, PNyback, T/Dos Hermanas 2004. ] [ 9...xe5? 10.h5+ forks king and bishop. ] 10.f3 xg2!! This looks like a blunder, but is very strong! [ 10...h6 11.e2 f6 Krumpak, H-Furlan, A/ Slovenia 1992, 12.0-0 is balanced. ] 11.g1 h3 12.xg7 White wins the h8rook. xh2 13.f2?! Did he overlook Black's next? [ 13.xh8 xg1 14.xg1 is the best chance, although g3+ 15.f1 e7!? ( 15...h3+ 16.xh3 xh3+ draws ) 16.h5 a6+ 17.c4 f8+ with an attack. ] 13...f6! 14.xh8 [ 14.xf6? f8 wins. ] 14...e4+ Not bad, but [ 14...g4! is very strong, 15.f1 e4+ 16.e2 g3+ 17.d3 xf1 regains the material, and will soon add considerable interest. ] 15.e2 xg1 16.xg1 g4 The knight is pinned, and W hite can't defend it. 17.d1! The only try the king heads to relative safety on c1. 0-0-0 18.e5 f8 19.c1 xf3
B la ck h a s re ga in e d h is r o o k, a n d k e e p s control of the initiative. 20.b2 f1 21.h2 xh2 22.xh2 f2 23.e5 xd2 24.xd2 xd2 25.f1 Phew! White finally scrapes into a p la ya ble po sit io n with a pa wn les s bu t opposite coloured bishops. h5 26.f6 b7 27.e6? White goes active at the wrong time, he still had to passively defend by [ 27.h6 g6 28.h2 ] 27...g6 28.e7 xc2+ 29.a3 e2 30.xc7 b1 This is the problem, White has to jettison another pawn. 31.b4?! c5+! T h e m o ve h e m u s t h a ve m i s s e d . 32.c3 Now the king gets caught in a mating net, but [ 32.xc5 c2+ 33.d6 c6+ wins a piece. ] 32...c2+ 33.d3 xa2+ 34.c3 c6 35.b8 a5 36.c7+ b6 37.d7 c2+ 38.d3 g2+ 39.c3 e4 0-1
93
A01 Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar 2752 Bacrot,Etienne 2695 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (22) 22.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen] 1.b3 d5 2.b2 c5 3.e3 c6 4.b5 a6 To me this move seems awfully accommodating, Black plays a sort of Saemisch Nimzo-Indian with a tempo less... Hmm! 5.xc6+ bxc6 6.f4 f6 [ Black has also tried: A) 6...f5 7.f3 e6 8.0-0 ( 8.e5 c8 9.d3 f6 10.d2 d7?! 11.xd7 xd7 12.e2 Hofmann, K-Brieger, S/W ildflecken 1993) 8...f6 9.d3 e7 10.bd2 0-0 11.e1 Timman, J-Matute, M/Zuerich simul 1988 ] [ B) 6...h6!? 7.f3 f6 8.0-0 e6 9.d3 , Lopez, F-Gonzalez Perez, L/Stockholm 1994, and here d6 looks interesting ] [ C) 6...f6 7.h5+ ( 7.f3!? ) 7...g6 8.h4?! h6 9.f3 g7 10.c3 f5 with a pleasant game for Black, Essing, ASiemes, R/GER 1999 ] [ D) 6...d6 7.f3 f6 8.0-0 e6 9.e5 e7 10.d3 0-0 11.d2 e8 12.e1 , a n d W h i t e h a s a ve r y go o d r e v e r s e d Saemisch Variation, Kalajzic, I-Tomic, T/ Zadar 1998 ] 86
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7.f3 a5 [ Black has a number of alternatives at this ju n c t u re : A ) 7...f5 8.d3 e6 ( 8...c8 9.e2 e6 10.0-0 e7 was Nothnagel, MMagiera, R/Hessen 1999, and here 11.e5 0-0 12.d2 is White's best ) A) 9.e5 c7 10.d2 d7 11.df3 f6 12.xd7 xd7 13.0-0 ( 13.h4!? ) 13...g4 14.e1 Simon, P-Bauer, T/ Kettig 1994; B) 9.bd2 b6 10.e5 h5 11.e2 c4!? 12.dxc4 xc2 13.c1 f5 Drel, N-Benensonaite/Moscow 1972 ] [ B) 7...g6 8.0-0 ( 8.e5 c7 9.0-0 g7 10.c3 0-0 11.a4 c4 12.bxc4 b8 13.d4 e4 Dominguez Sanz, J-Ridameya T a t c h e , J / G r a n C a n a r i a 1 9 8 9 , 14.d3!? ) 8...g7 9.e1 0-0 10.e5 b6 11.c3 c4 12.a4 ( 12.a3!? ) 12...b5 , Vandenbruane, C-Tabak, S/Antwerp 2000, and now W hite can obtain an advantage with 13.d3! cxd3 14.cxd3 f5 15.d4 h5 ( 15...xd3?? 16.c3+- ) 16.c5 ] [ C) 7...g4 8.h3 ( 8.0-0 e6 9.e1 c7 10.e5 f5 11.d3 d6 12.d2 Amini, A-Noroozi, O/Tehran 2001) 8...xf3 9.xf3 e6 10.d3 A) 10...b6 A1) 11.0-0!? e7 ( 11...c4 12.dxc4 c5 13.e1 ) 12.c4; A2) 11.d2 e7 12.g4 0-0 13.g5 e8 14.h4 f5 15.h5 d6 16.c4 , and White dominates the entire board, Kalajzic, I-Bazaj Bockai, S/Pula 2001; B) 10...e7 11.0-0 0-0 12.d2 b8 13.g3 d4 14.e4 c7 15.c4 Raupp, K-Yahkind, A/Detroit 1992 ] [ D) 7...e6 8.0-0 d6 A) 9.d3 0-0 10.bd2 d7 11.e1 f6 12.c4 e5 13.h4 ( 13.f5!? ) 13...b6?! ( 13...exf4 14.exf4 e8 15.g3 f8 ) 14.fxe5 fxe5 15.g3 Slagter, R-Van Vliet, H/Hengelo 2005; B) 9.e5 c7 10.d3 0-0 11.d2 d7 12.h5 f6 13.ef3 Reales Murto, MCosta Costa, E/Lorca 2005 ] 8.a4 [ Nimzowitsch would probably approve of this move, but also 8.e5!? looks pleasant for White. ] 8...g6 9.0-0 g7 10.d3 0-0 11.e1 c4
12.e5 [ I think White with advantage could have interpolated an exchange on c4 with 12.bxc4 dxc4 , a n d o n l y t h e n p l a y 13.e5 , leaving W hite, in my opinion, with the preferable game. ] 12...cxb3 13.cxb3 b6 14.d2 g4 15.d4 c5 [ 15...xe5!? looks like an attractive alternative, for instance 16.fxe5 a6 17.f2 f6 , and I prefer Black ] 16.c1 c4 17.a3 cxb3 18.b1 xe5 19.fxe5 e6 [ 19...f5 20.xb3 ( 20.xf5 looks attractive, bu t is p ro b a b ly n ot t h a t go o d , e . g. gxf5 21.xe7 fe8 22.xb3 c6 ) 20...c7 , and Black shouldn't be worse. ] 20.xb3 f6 21.c5 c6 22.h4 a7 23.exf6 xf6 24.g3 a6 25.f4 c4 26.h4 aa8 [ B l a c k c a n a l s o c o n s i d e r 26...e8 intending ... .e7-e5 to open up the game for Black's bishop pair. ] 27.h5 g5 28.h6 [ 28.f5!? ] 28...d6 [ 28...fb8!? ] 29.g4? [ This loses an exchange without further ado. A better choice is 29.h2!? intending Rf5 with a pleasant game for White ] 29...e2! 30.xe2 gxf4 31.f1 h8 32.xf4 g5 33.e4 xh6 34.xg5 xg5 35.g4 f6 36.f4 g7 37.g4 f6 38.f4 e6 39.h4 g8 40.h5 g6 41.e5 [ 41.f3 ag8-+ ] 41...c6 [ 41...h3! settles everything immediately, e. g. 42.xe7 ag8 ] 42.f5 ag8 43.f2 e6 44.f3 f6 45.e2 e4 0-1
87
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A01 17.f2?! [ 17.g1!? ] Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar 2752 Kamsky,Gata 2714 17...g4 18.d5? [ 18.d5 xd5 19.xd5 xf2 20.c7+ World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (19) 21.11.2007 f7 21.xa8 e4 ] [Carsten Hansen] 18...xf2 19.xf2?-+ [ 19.g5 g8 20.xf2 b5 is clearly better 1.b3 c5 2.b2 b6 3.f3 b7 4.d4?! f6 f or Bla ck, bu t n eve rthe less b ett er tha n 5.c4 cxd4 6.xd4 With some effort from what happened in the game where Black is White, we have landed in something similar to now just winning ] a Hedgehog, but thanks to White's innocuous handling of the opening, one that is absolutely 19...h6 20.d3 0-0+ 21.g1 h7 22.e1 f6 23.c3 ad8 24.d1 g4 25.d5 harmless for Black. d6 7.c3 bd7 [ 7...e6 8.e3 a6 9.c1 bd7 10.f3 e7 f2 26.c2 xd1? [ Black has a mate in seven with 26...h3+ 11.e2 0-0 12.0-0= Casagrande, H27.g2 f2+ 28.h1 f1+ 29.g2 g1+ Elsness, F/Yerevan 1996 ] 30.xh3 c8+ 31.f5 xf5+ 32.h4 8.d2 g5# ] [ Two examples of the game heading to a normal Hedgehog are 8.f3 a6 9.e4 e6 27.xd1 b5 28.cxb5 axb5 29.f3 a7+ 10.e2 e7 11.0-0 0-0 12.d2 c7= 30.g2 xa2 31.c3 c8 32.d3 xb3? [ A dumb blunder in a winning position. Right Diapetis, A-Kyriakides, T/Patras 2002 ] is 32...a7 in order to be able to swing the [ and 8.c1 a6 9.f3 e6 10.e4 e7 11.e2 queen back to defend his majesty. ] 0-0 12.0-0 c8= Srba, M-Meduna , E/ Prague CZE 2006. In both cases Black 33.h4 xd5+ 34.xd5 xc3 35.xd6 doesn't have any problems, though much g8 36.d7+ g7 37.xb5 e4 38.d5 depends on which player understands the e3 [ 38...e3!? ] position better. ] 39.f2 a3 40.xe4 e3 41.d5 ge7 8...a6 9.g1?! [ A reminder that we are looking at blitz 42.b5 xe2+= games. Although g2-g4 being seen more ½-½ and more frequently in the English Opening, it is hardly what I call a critical line. Sadly A01 for White, Kamsky is less than impressed 95 by Mamedyarov's idea, and soon White is Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar 2752 just worse. Normal, but harmless is 9.e3 e6 Karpov,Anatoly 2670 10.f3 e7 11.e2 0-0 12.0-0 c7 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (24) 22.11.2007 with another equal position. ] [Carsten Hansen] 9...h5!? Stops White's g2-g4 dreams, which leaves the rook looking quite silly on g1. 10.g3 1.b3 d5 2.b2 f5 It is quite amazing, it [ 10.h3 c5 is better for Black ] don't find any mention of this move in either 10...e6 11.f4 ECO A (both 2nd and 4th editions), [ 11.g2 xg2 12.xg2 c8 13.f1 e7 ChessBase's Opening Encyclopaedia 2007 or 14.g1 is probably about equal, but the J a c o b s / T a i t ' s " N i m z o - L a r s e n A t t a c k " ! fianchettoed rook doesn't exactly impress. ] Nevertheless, it has been played more than 11...c7 12.f5 e5 13.c2 g6!? 250 times according to by database. Often it [ This appears to complicate the game Black transposes to other variations, including the can also play the fully adequate and good Reti (quite frequently) with 3 Nf3, 4 g3, 5 Bg2, 13...e7 , e.g. 14.e3 b5 15.g2 6 0-0, 7 d3 etc or other lines in the Nimzo( 15.cxb5 axb5 16.xb5? b6 17.c3 Larsen Attack (not as frequently). However, g4 wins for Black) 15...xg2 16.xg2 Mamedyarov's next move is new, though the bxc4 is also better for Black ] idea isn't new, but loses a tempo over the 2... 14.fxg6 fxg6 15.g2 xg2 16.xg2 b7 B g 4 va r i a t i o n , a n d t h e r e f o r e c a n n o t b e 94
88
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 p a r t i c u l a r l y g o o d . 3.h3?! e6 4.g4?! Bold, but hardly any good. g6 [ 4...e4!? looks very attractive as well, e.g. 5.f3 xf3 ( 5...h5 6.g2 c6!? ) 6.exf3 f6 7.f4 c6!? ] 5.f3 d7 6.d3 h5 7.g1 hxg4 8.hxg4 c6 9.bd2 h7?! [ This doesn't appear to make any immediate sense unless Black intends to develop his bishop shortly, but the bishop doesn't get developed until move 28!. The normal move is 9...c7!? , intending to castle queenside, e.g. 10.c4 0-0-0 followed by ...Ne7 and ... e5 with a better game for Black. ] 10.e4 c7 11.e2 f4 12.exd5 cxd5 13.e5 xe5 14.xe5 b4 15.f4?! [ 15.a3!? b6 16.e3 xe3+ 17.fxe3 f6 18.b2= ] 15...b6 16.f3 f6 [ 16...c5!? 17.d4 b4+ 18.d1 0-0-0 ] 17.d4 a6?! [ 17...c5!? 18.xc5 xc5 19.0-0-0 ( 19.xe6+ f8 20.0-0-0 e8 ) 19...d7 ] 18.f5 f7 19.g5 h5 20.fxe6 c8 [ 20...xf3 21.xf3 xe6+ 22.d2 0-0-0 23.e1 h2+ 24.g2 xg2+ 25.xg2 ] 21.h3 [ 21.c3!? ] 21...xf3 22.xf3 xc2 23.f5?! [ White appears to be winning after 23.d1! , for instance: c7 ( 23...xa2 24.c1 b4 25.c8+ e7 26.gxf6+ gxf6 27.c7+ d8 28.e7++- ) 24.f5 h2 25.gxf6 xf6 26.g3+- ] 23...a5+?! [ 23...hh2!? ] 24.f1 hh2 25.g3 [ 25.f4!? ] 25...e7?! [ 25...b4 26.b8+ e7 27.xa7 fxg5 28.a3 xb3 29.e1 ] 26.b8+ [ 26.gxf6! gxf6 27.g6+ ( 27.b8+ c8 28.g6+ e7 29.f4!? ) 27...d8 28.b8+ c8 29.f7 e7 30.f4 h6 31.c1 xc1+ 32.xc1+- ] 26...c8? [ T h i s i s a m i s t a k e b e t t e r i s 26...d8 27.g6+ ( 27.xd8+ xd8 28.gxf6 gxf6 29.g4 c6 30.xf6+ e8-+ ) 27...xg6
28.xd8+ xd8 29.gxf6 gxf6 30.xg6 h1+ 31.g1 xg1+ 32.xg1 with decent drawing chances for White ] 27.xb7?? [ 27.gxf6! gxf6 28.xb7 c7 29.b4 xb7 30.bxa5 d6 31.g4 b4 32.e3 a4 33.a3 ] 27...c7 28.b8?? [ A blunder that loses the game, but this position is almost impossible to play accurately in blitz. The correct move is 28.g6+ , a n d a f t e r d8 29.a8 d2 30.xd5+ d6 31.e4 , keeping the game alive: c1+ 32.xc1 xc1+ 33.e1 f4+ 34.f2 c5 ] 28...d6 29.gxf6 [ Or 29.g6+ d8-+ ] 29...d2 30.b5+ [ Or 30.g6+ d8 31.e7+ xe7 32.fxe7+ xe7 , and it is game over ] 30...d8 31.e7+ xe7 32.fxe7+ xe7 33.a5+ xa5 0-1
96
A01 Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar 2752 Kramnik,Vladimir 2785 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (20) 22.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen] 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 d6 4.f3 [ 4.b5 is considered the main line ] 4...g6 This isn't seen that often 4...Bd7 is the normal move. 5.d4 [ The normal mover here are 5.b5 and ] [ 5.c4 though the text move has been played at International Master/Grandmaster level a few times before. ] 5...g7 [ 5...f6 6.c4 g7 7.c3 h6 8.e2 0-0 9.a3 f7 10.b4 f5 11.d5 e7 12.e4 , and the play now resembles a King's Indian, th o u gh o n e wh e re B la ck' s kn igh t o n f 7 appears to be a bit in the way, Gonzalez, JGonzalez Velez, F/Castellar 1999 ] [ 5...exd4? 6.xd4 f6 7.b5 ( 7.xc6 bxc6 8.f3 g7 9.xc6+ d7 10.a6 is also better for White, but not as accurate, Bobanac, M-Bozanic, I/ Solin CRO 2007) 7...d7 8.xc6 bxc6 9.f3 g7 10.xc6 89
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xc6 11.xc6+ , and White is winning Jadoul, M-Geirnaert, S/Belgium BEL 2003 ] 6.b5 [ 6.dxe5 xe5 7.c3 ( For those playing for a draw as White 7.xe5 xe5 8.xe5 dxe5 9.xd8+ xd8 is possibly worth considering, though those of us who are eager to play a more interesting game, this is hardly worth our time. Nevertheless one continuation is 10.c4 e7 11.c3 f6 12.e2 c6 13.a4 f5 14.f3 h5 , and a d raw was a greed upo n 1/2-1/2 , Nielsen, P-Kjeldsen, J/DEN 1989 ) A) 7...xf3+ 8.xf3 h5?! ( 8...e7 ) 9.h3 ( 9.c4!? ) 9...h6 10.e4+ f8 11.0-0-0 f5 12.d3 a5 13.a4 with an obvious advantage f or W hite, Zurek, M-Blatny, P/CZE 2001; B) 7...e7 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 ( 9.d2!? has been suggested by Horn in CBM, but Black is fine after 7c6 ) 9...d5 10.b1 xf3+ 11.xf3 e6= Rogers, I-Solomon, S/Sydney 1991 ] [ 6.e2 ge7 7.d5 b8 8.c4 0-0 9.bd2 f5 10.c2 a5 11.h3 a6 12.a3 Wager, J-Maxwell, A/Leeds 1999 ] 6...ge7 [ 6...d7 7.d5 ( 7.xc6?! xc6 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.bd2 e7 10.e2 0-0-0 11.0-0 f5 , and Black has obviously no problems, Flu via P o ya t o s, J-Flu via P o ya t o s , J/ S t Cebria 1997; 7.bd2 ge7 8.dxe5 xe5 9.xd7+ xd7 10.xe5 dxe5 11.c4 e6= was Puranen, J-Molander, R/Finland FIN 2002 ) 7...ce7 8.xd7+ xd7 9.0-0 f6 10.c4 is in my opinion a pleasant King's Indian for White on account of the exchange of the light-squared bishops, Huebsch, HPesch, H/Nickenich 1998 ] 7.d5 a6 8.e2 b8 9.0-0 0-0 10.c4 a5 11.c3 a6 As in some of the sidelines covered in the notes above, we have reached a King's Indian type of position, where it is hard to assess who is better. My computer prefers W hite, and I slightly prefer Black, despite my dislike for the King's Indian as Black, because it seems like it is the easier position to play. Nevertheless, the game is probably about even. 12.a3 d7 13.d2 f5 14.f4 exf4 15.exf4 c6 16.h1 cxd5 17.cxd5
[ 17.f3!? seems like an interesting a l t e r n a t i v e , e . g . c7 ( 17...dxc4?! 18.xc4+ h8 19.d2 leaves White with amble compensation for the pawn) 18.d2 c6 19.cxd5 xd5 20.c4!? ( 20.xd5 exd5 21.c4 xb2 22.xb2 b5= ) 20...xc4 21.bxc4 ] 17...b5 18.f3 b6 19.g5 c7 [ 19...c5!? ] 20.d2 [ 20.e1!? b4 ( 20...ae8 21.f3 ) 21.axb4 axb4 22.a4 ] 20...h6 21.e6 xe6 22.dxe6 d5 23.a4 [ 23.fe1 fd8 ] 23...b4 24.b5 xb2 25.xb2 xe6 26.ae1 [ 26.e5 ad8 27.f3 d7 ] 26...c5 27.d4 ab8 28.c4!? e4 29.xd5+ xd5 30.xd5+ g7 [ 30...h7 31.d7+ h8 32.xe4! fxe4 33.d6 e3 34.f7+ xf7 35.xf7 c6 36.e1 b7 37.f8+ h7 38.f5! e4 ( 38...g5 39.f6 ) 39.fxg6+ xg6= ] 31.g4!? [ 31.e5+ h7 32.c7 b7 33.e6 ff7 ] 31...bd8 32.e5+ g8 33.gxf5 fe8?! [ , and here the game, probably by White forfeiting on time, though now having an acceptable position if he could get to play 34 Qc7. Instead on move 33, Black should have opted for 33...d2!? 34.e6+ xe6 35.fxe6 xf1 36.e7 d2 37.d1 f7 38.exf8+ xf8 with a better endgame for Black ] 0-1
97 McShane,Luke J Grischuk,Alexander Tal Memorial Blitz, Moscow blitz (6) [Richard Palliser]
A01 2706 2761 07.06.12
1.b3 f6 [ Following in Fischer's footsteps, Hikaru Nakamura is something of an occasional dabbler in Nimzowitsch-L arsen waters , especially in blitz games. He was the first to punt 1 b3 in this blitz tournament and after 1...c5 2.b2 c6 3.e4 ( 3.e3 would be 90
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2012. ] more normal, keeping play in independent waters ) 3...f6 play had transposed to a 3.g3 Very hypermodern, but not overly critical. l i n e o f t h e 2 b 3 S i c i l i a n i n N a k a m u r a - The alternatives: [ a) 3.xf6!? exf6 4.c4 g7 is the critical Grischuk (round 3). This is really outside line in my view: will Black's bishop-pair our remit here, but you never know - Sam compensate for his inferior structure? Who may give the line a bit of coverage at some to prefer here is really a matter of taste, point in the future! ] but Black must be prepared to manoeuvre 2.b2 g6!? for quite a while before obtaining any real [ Undeterred by the result of this game, the activity and counterplay. For some helpful plucky Englishman repeated his choice of coverage please see Jonathan Rowson's opening in round 8 where Tomashevsky notes to Hodgson-Hall, Harplinge 1998, preferred the solid 2...d5 . Play continued and especially Julio Alberto González's to 3.e3 c6 4.h3!? ( a rare move, but this Mellado Triviño-Vallejo Pons, Calvia 2005, prevents Black from developing normally which can both be found in the Archive. ] with ...Bg4 and now g2-g4 will be possible in [ b) 3.e4 is also quite tempting, although I've the event of ...Bf5 - full marks for creativity never been too certain about this mix of b3 t o L u k e ! a l t e r n a t i v e l y , 4.f4 is quite a n d e 4 . F o l lo wi n g g7 ( recent Sicilian thematic,; 4.f3 g4 5.e2 e6 6.0-0 practice suggests that Black can even get bd7 7.d3 xf3 8.xf3 d6 9.d2 h5!? away with 3...c5!? here - again keep an eye saw Black follow up his simple, classical on S am 's co lu m n) 4.g3 ( 4.e5 d5 development by boldly looking to attack in is a strange-looking Alekhine where White S a n c h e z - P a v l o v i c , G i b r a l t a r 2 0 1 2 ,; doesn't want to block his bishop with d4, but and in the high-level game Short-Almasi, in any case ...d6 will give Black decent Gibraltar 2012, 4.c4 f5 5.e2 e6 6.c3 counterplay) 4...0-0 5.g2 d5!? ( 5...d6 bd7 7.f3 h6 8.0-0 d6 9.cxd5 exd5 6.e2 followed by a double advance of the 10.d3 0-0 11.e4 g6 was fine too for c- o r e -p a wn m igh t well h ave b ee n t h e Black ) 4...bd7 (keeping it solid, but now choice of a Pirc practitioner) 6.exd5 xd5 Black's light-squared bishop won't be able to 7.xg7 xg7 8.d4 c5! 9.dxc5 a5+ t a k e t h e e a r l y a i r i t w a s a f t e r ) 5.f3 10.c3 f6?! ( 10...d8! was the correct ( in an earlier game 5.g4!? was tried, but follow-up to Black's fine, active start after after e5 6.g2 d6 7.d3 f8! 8.d2 h6 11.xd5 xc5 Qxc5 the pin down the d-file White's kingside expansion was likely more ensures he will regain his piece with ...e6) of a weakness than a strength in Bromann11.b4 c7 12.e2 Naka had stolen a Holst, Aarhus 2002,; bu t p e rh a p s 5.f4!? pawn, albeit not exactly for zero and only then d3 followed by g4 could be compensation, and went on to convert in tried, Bird style) 5...g6 6.c4 g7 7.cxd5 Nakamura-Altounian, Internet (blitz) 2011. ] cxd5 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 b8! (the knight [ c) 3.f3 g7 4.e3 0-0 5.c4 c5 6.e2 d5 would h ave achie ved little o n b 6 a nd a 7.cxd5 xd5 8.d3 c6 9.a3 d8 second fianchetto might well have left Black 10.bd2 g4! 11.xg7 xg7 12.0-0 b6 weak on the queenside, but even this fine 13.c2 ge5 14.fd1 b7 was all very regrouping isn't enough to fully equalise) thematic from Black and later led to a draw 10.c3 c6 11.c1 f5 12.b5! c8 in Finegold-Altounian, Las Vegas 2012. ] 13.a3 ( White wants to expand on the [ d ) F i n a l l y , I c a n r e m e m b e r 3.g4!? queenside, which is very logical besides, being mentioned in David Norwood's fine, Nbd4 ideas can be kept in reserve, although old work on the Modern, but I dare say this I can't help feeling Reti himself might well is rather too radical for us to be covering have gone 13.bd4 xd4 14.xd4 d7 on these hallowed theoretical pages! ] 15.xc8 xc8 16.a1 ) 13...b6 14.b4 a5 15.b3 axb4 16.axb4 and White was a 3...g7 4.g2 c5 [ It makes sense to me to seize space like little better, going on to triumph in this, but of course there are many set-ups McShane-Tomashevsky, Moscow (blitz) 91
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B l a c k c o u l d e m p l o y . A f t e r 4...d6 I doubt Luke would have pushed his d-pawn t wo s q u a r e s , b u t W h i t e d i d i n a b a t t l e between two young (and already 2600+ back in the day when that really mean t something) stars, where 5.d4 c5! 6.d5 0-0 7.h3! g4 8.f4 d7 9.c1 e5 10.dxe6 fxe6 had certain Trompowsky connotations and was ab out e qua l in Ad ams-S hirov, Hastings 1991/92. ] 5.e3 0-0 6.e2 [ New according to the database. I can see why W hite wouldn't want to obstruct his light-squared bishop and Luke did enjoy some success as Black in this event with the Hippo (d3 and Nd2 here would lead to a r e s e r v e d f o r m ) , b u t p e r h a p s 6.c4!? was a better try, comfortable though Black does look after d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.xg7 xg7 9.a3 c6 . ] 6...d5! Grischuk decides he might as well take the space that's on offer - and why not? 7.c4?! [ This seems to ask too much of White's position, but presumably Luke was no longer so certain about going down the Hippo route and conceding a big centre with 7.d3 c6 8.d2 e5 9.h3 . ] 7...d4 [ The reversed Benoni structure after this is at least OK for Black, but 7...dxc4!? 8.bxc4 f5 followed by ...Bf5 also looks quite attractive, since White is going to have to hurry with d4 and so be saddled with hanging pawns. ] 8.exd4 g4! Now if h3 the knight will come round to f 5 via h6 and all the time W hite needs to try and make sure Black lands up recapturing with a pawn on d4. 9.a3 c6 10.c2? [ This innocent-looking move concedes the initiative and quickly leaves W hite in hot w a t e r . A f t e r 10.0-0 cxd4 11.d3 e5 a n d o n ly t h e n 12.c2 a reserved Benoni position would have arisen, very much with chances f or both sides, even if I would prefer to move the knight from e2 to f3! ] 10...cxd4 11.d3 Pretty much essential, but this creates a new weakness on which Grischuk is quick to pounce. a5+! 12.f1 [ 12.d2 xd2+ 13.xd2 xf2 14.hf1 g4 would have cost White a pawn, ]
[ but perhaps he had to try 12.b4!? xb4 13.0-0 , hoping to at least obtain some Benko-like pressure for his pawn. ] 12...f5 It's all gone wrong already for White. Suddenly there's no time to thinking about picking of f d4 in view of the mate threat. 13.f4?! [ White soon loses a piece after this. That said, it was very hard to readjust and find a defence here in a blitz game, and even after the machine's suggestion 13.f4!? e5 14.e4 f6 15.h3 I rather doubt that White would have survived. ] 13...b4! Neat. The weakness of the e3square is going to cost White. 14.exd4 [ This doesn't help, but grovelling with 14.c1 xd3 15.xd3 xd3 16.h3 would have been most unpalatable too. ] 14...c5 15.a3 a5 [ Perhaps 15...xc2!? 16.xc5 ge3+ 17.e2 xd4 was also rather dangerous, but Grischuk keeps it simple. ] 16.h3? A final slip in a very tough position. xd4! 17.xd4 e3+ 18.e2 xd1 19.axd1 xd4 20.he1 d8 21.d2 e6 22.e2 xa2 0-1
98
A01 McShane,Luke J 2683 Jansa,Vlastimil 2513 12th ch-EUR Aix les Bains FRA (6) 27.03.2011 [Nigel Davies] 1.b3 d5 2.b2 g4 3.f3 f5 4.e3 e6 5.c3!? It's rare that you get a 'theoretical novelty' in on move 5, but this is one of the joys of playing Larsen's opening. W hite is angling for e3-e4 and might also prepare castling long with Qd1-e2. [ In earlier games White has played 5.f4 ] [ and 5.e2 . ] 5...f6 6.g4 [ 6.e2 is possible here, xc2 losing the bishop after 7.d3 . ] 6...g6 7.ce2 c6 [ 7...fd7! looks like a better idea when 8.h4 e7 seems good for Black. Of course none of this is easy to work out over the board. ] 8.h4 h5 This leads to a difficult position for 92
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Bla ck an d he th ink h e sho uld h ave b ee n looking to push the h-pawn one square rather than two. [ After 8...h6 9.f4 d6 10.b5 Black is under some pressure. ] [ So perhaps he should first play 8...b4!? after which 9.d3 h6 10.f4 h7 11.g5 g8 looks OK for him. ] 9.g5 d7 10.f4 e7 11.e2 c6 [ 11...xc2? 12.d3 wins the bishop. ] 12.xg6 xg6 13.f4 White is clearly better now because of his bishop pair and space. Could he have achieved this kind of opening advantage with something more standard? Probably not. a5 14.f3 c5 15.a3 e4 16.g1 0-0-0 17.h3 b8 18.b4 c7 19.c4 dxc4 20.xc4 d6 21.c2 d7 22.f2 I wouldn't be surprised if Jansa was running short of time at this stage. He often finds himself in time trouble and in a planless position like this it isn't easy to find decent moves for Black. f5 23.xf5 exf5 24.d4 g8 25.a4 a6 26.a5 d6 27.b6 c8 28.b5!? Prising open Black's queenside at the cost of a pawn. axb5 29.a4 c7 30.a7 [ 30.axb5 is good for White but McShane wants the queens on so he can play for mate. ] 30...b8 31.a5 d7 Heading for the hills! 32.b6 c8 33.axb5 c5 34.a2 e8 35.c4 f8 36.a7 e7 37.g6 1-0
that this was exactly terrible for Black after e6 11.h1 c5 ) 7.dxe4 xe4 is quite awkward, since 8.xg7? runs into b4+ 9.c3 xd1+ 10.xd1 g8 11.e1 d6 , as I pointed out in BUCO. ] [ Perhaps that's why Nakamura later switched to 5.e2 and after 0-0 ( 5...a6 6.xc6 dxc6 is, as usual, a sensible alternative and after 7.d3 e7 8.e4 I w o n d e r a b o u t h5!? ) 6.xc6 ( White should really go in for this exchange the dangers of not doing so were revealed in Cie za -Ne gi, Ca p p e l le la G ra n d e 2 0 1 2 , where 6.g3 e7! 7.c3 c6 8.e2 c7 9.d4 d5 didn't leave the white pieces overly well coordinated) 6...dxc6 7.d3 ( 7.bc3!? would transpose to our main game) 7...e6 8.e4 e7 9.0-0 d7 10.g3 g6 11.d2 a3 12.c1 xb2 13.xb2 a5 14.a4 f6 15.c3 c5 16.xc5 xc5 17.f4 exf4 18.xf4 White eventually ground out the win in Nakamura-Hovhannisyan, Internet (blitz) 2011, but Black didn't have to be so compliant and play for exchanges. ] [ F i n a l l y , I s h o u l d m e n t i o n t h a t 5.f3?! is rarely seen these days, probably because e4! 6.h4 e5 7.xe5 xe5 just looks a lit t le t o o cre a t ive f o r W h it e . No w h e i s supposed to castle, since 8.f4?! g6 9.f5 (T.W all-Palliser, York 2008) 0-0 10.0-0 ( 10.g4 d5 is even worse) 10...d5 11.g3 d4 can hardly be correct. ] 5...a6 [ Gawain, like many grandmasters, doesn't 99 A01 m i n d t h e e x c h a n g e o n c 6 . 5...0-0 is also possible, whereupon 6.g4? b4 McShane,Luke J 2671 7.g5 saw White entering into the spirit of Jones,Gawain C 2624 t h in gs, a lb e it ra t h e r u n wi se ly, a s xc3! German Bundesliga (10) 25.02.2012 8.dxc3 e4 9.h4 d5 10.f3 g3 11.h2 [Richard Palliser] e7 with advantage to Black demonstrated in J . K a r l s s o n - P e t i t c u n o t , C a p p e l l e l a 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 Grande 2009. ] 5.c3!? It may seem strange to block the bishop, but the knight is hardly great on a3 as 6.xc6 Consistent. dxc6 7.ge2 0-0 [ This position can also come about via a 5 we've seen. Moreover, from c3 it fights for the Ne 2 m o ve o r d e r, a s i t d id i n B i s c h o f f pivotal e4-square and may later come round S u t o v s k y , E s s e n 2 0 0 1 , w h e r e 7...e4!? to the kingside via e2. 8.g3 e7 9.e2 0-0 should have been [ Another route for the knight is 5.xc6 dxc6 met by 10.f3! exf3 11.gxf3 (Kosten). ] 6.d3 , but here e4! ( 6...0-0 7.d2 e8 8.e4 d7 9.e2 f8 10.0-0 gave White 8.0-0 e7 [ Again Gawain holds off 8...e4!? . After t h e s e t - u p h e wa s a f t e r i n N a k a m u r a 9.g3 g4 White might well go 10.ce2 Ponomariov, Saint Louis (rapid) 2011, not 93
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and only later f3. ] 9.f4!? A thematic advance, if quite risky here. Black may be about to lose a centre pawn, but his pieces are well centralised and will exert good pressure in return. g4 10.e1 ad8 11.fxe5 xe5 12.g3 Logical play from both sides and the position seems unbalanced but about level to me, although if pressed I'd take Black thanks to his actively placed pieces. fe8 13.a4 [ Black's bishop was too strong to leave on e 5 a n d , o f c o u r s e , it ' s f a r t o o e a r l y t o mobilise White's central majority, with 13.d4! shedding a pawn to xg3 14.xg3 xe3+ .] 13...b5! Likely to come under pressure on the kingside at some point (after Nf5), Gawain decides it's time to stake out some space and begin play on the other flank. 14.xe5 xe5 15.c3 c5 16.f2 h5!? [ Driving the knight back and fighting hard for the initiative. Another possibility was 16...b4 17.a4 c4 18.bxc4 d7 , when the knight is trapped, but White may be OK after 19.d4 xe3 20.xe3 xe3 21.c5 . ] 17.h3 e6 18.ad1 White is undoubtedly on the back foot, but Black must continue with some energy or else his pawn weaknesses will begin to cost him. b4 19.a4? [ Eyeing c5, but this may be too ambitious. A se ns ib le a pp ro ach wo uld ha ve b ee n t o finally use those centre pawns with 19.d4! , and after cxd4 20.exd4 g5 21.ce4 xe4 22.xe4 g6 23.g3 White's position doesn't seem too terrible, in view of the possibility of h4 24.f5 . ] 19...h4 20.h1 This retreat might have heralded good things for Nimzowitsch and Keene in a couple of famous games, but here I doubt Luke enjoyed having to play it. e4 [ Direct, although one can also make a good case for 20...g5!? 21.f4 g6 22.f2 d5 , hitting both g2 and c2. ] 21.xh4 xd2? [ White is able to grovel out after this. Instead 21...xd2 22.fe1 (there's nothing better) c4 would have kept pieces on and left White under continuing pressure. ] 22.xd2 xd2 23.d1 e4 24.f4! Offering a timely queen swap. f5 [ White also seems to be OK in the event of
24...h5 25.f3 xf3 26.gxf3 g5 27.xc5 . ] 25.xe5 xe5 26.f2 d6 27.d3 xd3 28.cxd3 [ 28.xd3? c4 had to be avoided, ] [ and after 28.cxd3 xe3 29.xc5 a5 30.f2 e5 the ending would have been pretty level. ] ½-½
100 Minasian,Artashes Adams,Michael EU-chT (Men) (9) [Jonathan Rowson]
A01 2545 2620 1992
1.b3 e5! 2.b2 c6! 3.e3 d6! My impression is that these three first moves poses the stiffest test to 1.b3 because White st ruggle s t o do be t te r t h a n get a n orm a l English kind of position where b3 looks a bit committal without really getting anything in return. [ 3...a6 As suggested in what follows, there is no need for this move because Bb5 is not really a threat. 4.c4 g6 5.c3 g7 6.g3 h5 7.g2 ( 7.h3!? ) 7...d6 ( Black should definitely take the chance to play 7...h4! because the pawn is a bit of a nuisance for White. ) 8.h3 h6 9.d3 0-0 10.d2 d7 11.ge2 White has a good reversed Closed Sicilian! b8 12.c1 White's position seems easier to play, though it is difficult to sa y wh y. I wo u l d a t t r i b u t e i t m a i n l y t o coordination, though that is easier felt than e x p l a i n e d . ( 12.0-0 h4 13.g4 f5 looks like too much trouble.) 12...f5 ( 12...b5 13.d5 ) 13.d5 ce7 14.0-0 c6 ( 14...xd5 15.cxd5 ) 15.dc3 ( 15.xe7+ xe7 16.e4 d4 17.xd4 exd4 18.f4 Ftachnik in CBM.) 15...e6 16.e4 d5 ( 16...f6 17.f4 ) 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.g5! ( 18.c5 c8 19.f4 b6 ) 18...c8 19.h4 c6 ( 19...f6 20.h3 e6 21.d4 ) 20.c5 d4 21.exd4 cxd4 ( 21...exd4 22.fc1 ) 22.xd4 xd4?! Perhaps failing to anticipate the pending fireworks. ( but 22...exd4 23.f4 also leaves White in command. ) 23.e1 ( 23.f4 exf4 24.xf4 g4 25.h2 ) 23...g4 ( 23...b6 24.d5 94
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c7 25.a3 g4 26.d6; 23...d6 24.d5 b6 25.a3 ) 24.exe5! A crushing exchange sacrifice, stemming from the power of the bishop on b2. The weaknesses on the a1-h8 diagonal soon prove to be decisive. xe5 25.xe5 c8 ( 25...f6?! 26.d5+ g7 27.xd4 fxe5 28.xe5++- Ftachnik.; 25...c6 26.d5 e7 27.e4 f6 28.h6 g7 29.xg7+ xg7 30.d6 Ftachnik.; 25...e6? 26.xe6! xe6 27.c3+- Another Elegant line- all given by Ftachnik in ChessBase magazine. ) 26.d5 e2+ ( 26...c2 27.xd8 e2+ 28.xe2 xe2 29.f6+- ) 27.h2 c7 28.e4 Black has no defenders in the relevant sector. f5 ( 28...f6 29.c5 d7 30.xc8 xc8 31.f3 xg3 32.xg3+- ) 29.h6! 1-0 Sasikiran, K (2573)-Shabalov, A (2601)/Istanbul 2001 And W hite's position is suddenly so good t h a t r e s ig n a t io n m u s t h a ve c o m e a s a slight disappointment. ] 4.b5?! This just doesn't make sense here, so the best approach to this early d6 system is to play a type of closed English, or else angle for an early d4 (but always in such a way that you can recapture with a knight. [ Odessky tries hard to find a novel way to play this position, including 4.f3 A) 4...g6! 5.d4 g7 looks rock solid to me. 6.b5 ( 6.dxe5 xe5 7.xe5 xe5 8.xe5 dxe5 9.xd8+ xd8 10.c3 c6 gives White nothing.) 6...ge7! 7.dxe5 ( 7.d5 a6 was Mamedyarov-Kramnik, W orld Blitz 2007, which Kramnik won.) 7...0-0!; B) 4...f5 5.d4 e4 6.d5!? but it doesn't seem very convincing. For more details see Odessky's book. ] [ 4.c4!? is probably best, with an unusual kind of closed English/ reversed Closed Sicilian. ] [ 4.d4 exd4 5.exd4 d5! has been known to be fine for Black for some time. ] 4...d7 [ 4...ge7 also looks comfortable. ] 5.e2 /\ f4 a6 6.xc6 xc6 7.0-0 g5! [ 7...f6 8.f4 ] 8.f3!? [ 8.g3?! h5 with a promising attack. ] 8...f6 9.c4 intending to plug the light
squares with e4 and Nc3-d5, but Black hits first. d5! 10.bc3? [ 10.f4!? exf4 11.xf4 dxc4 12.bxc4 d6 ] 10...0-0-0 11.a4? [ 11.cxd5 xd5 12.xd5 xd5 13.c3 d7 ] 11...dxc4!-+ 12.bxc4 c5 13.h1 xe3 14.c1 xd2 White is completely lost, and the following is just a desperate attempt to try to complicate. 15.b5 b8 16.ed4 xc1 17.xc6+ bxc6 18.b3 [ 18.xc1 xc1 19.axc1 cxb5 ] 18...cxb5 19.axb5 e3! [ 19...e3 20.bxa6+ b6 21.c5 ] 20.a4 b2 21.xa6 [ 21.a2!? ] 21...xa1 22.xa1 d1+ 23.xd1 a7 24.c6 b6-+ 25.c5 xc6 26.bxc6 e8 27.g4 h6 [ 27...e6? 28.d8+ a7 29.d1 ] 28.h4 g5 29.hxg5 hxg5 30.g2 c8 /\ Re6 0-1
101 Nielsen,Peter Heine Svidler,Peter Politiken Larsen Blitz b3 blitz (7) [Nigel Davies]
A01 2700 2734 04.08.2010
1.b3 d5 2.b2 g4 3.f3 h5 4.e4!? A fascinating gambit line that contains a nice trap for a blitz game. The critical line is of course for Black to take it. dxe4 5.e2 Threatening 6.Qb5+, picking up the bishop on h5. A lesser player than Svidler might have missed this given the time limit. c6 [ Black has also played 5...a6 here, for example 6.xe4 ( 6.c3!? exf3 7.xf3 would be the way to continue in gambit style ) 6...c6 7.d3 e6 8.c3 f6 9.e2 b4 10.0-0-0 e7 11.e4 xe4 12.dxe4 e5 was about equal at this stage in Medancic, R (2260)-Guido, F (2351)/Verona 2002. ] 6.c3!? [ I see this as being much more consistent than the wimpy 6.xe4 . ] 6...exf3 7.xf3 f6 [ A l t e r n a t i v e l y B l a c k c o u l d p l a y 7...d7 95
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 , for example 8.h3 gf6 9.0-0-0 e6 10.g4 g6 was Koganov, M-Handke, F (2496)/ICC INT 2009, and now one intriguing possibility is 11.h4!? , f o r e x a m p l e ( 11.g2 was played in the game) 11...xg4 12.h5 f5 13.d4 h6 14.xf5 xf5 15.e4 (Threatening 16.h6) h6 16.h3 d6 17.xe6 fxe6 18.xd6+ xd6 19.xg7 with a vitriolic attack. ] 8.0-0-0 e6 9.h3 xf3 Svidler understandably prevents g2-g4 ideas. [ In the game Ypma, P (2074)-Michalczak, T (2367)/ Dieren NED 2010 Black playe d 9...a5 10.b1 a3 after which 11.xa3 ( 11.a1 was played in the game) 11...xa3 ( 11...xf3 12.xf3 xa3 13.g4 is also very dangerous for Black) 12.g4 g6 13.h4 gives White a strong initiative. A sample line is xg4 14.h5 f5 15.d4 h6 16.g2 f8 17.cb5! with a strong initiative. ] 10.xf3 a5 11.b1 a3 12.a1 [ I think there's a good case here for 12.xa3 xa3 13.g4 , for example 0-0 ( 13...bd7 14.g5 d5 15.xd5 cxd5 16.h4 also gives White an ongoing initiative for the pawn ) 14.h4 a5 15.h5 bd7 16.h6 creates dangerous threats on the kingside. ] 12...bd7 13.g4 With Black's queen covering g5 this is much less threatening, so White's compensation starts to look a bit nebulous. 0-0-0 14.g2 h5 15.e4? Losing a second pawn. [ 15.e2 was a better chance, though I doubt White's compensation. ] 15...hxg4 16.hxg4 xh1 17.xh1 e5 18.e2 exg4 19.xf6 xf6 20.g2 f8 21.f2 c5 22.f3 e7 23.d3 h8 24.a4 h5 25.b2 f5 26.g3 g6 27.g1 g4 28.e1 d5 29.e4 b4 30.f1 c3+ Finishing off nicely. 31.xc3 xc3 32.f3 b4 0-1
102 Petrosian,Tigran L Naroditsky,Daniel Golden Sands Open (3.3) [Richard Palliser]
A01 2657 2479 06.06.2012
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6!? W hen this first became popular in the late nineties it looked provocative and trendy, but time has shown that the bishop move very much deserves consideration as one of the main lines of the Nimzowitsch-Larsen. 5.a3 [ Back in 2006 when I covered this line in BUCO ('Beating Unusual Chess Openings'), this was considered the main line. It's also received the most coverage of any 5th move on Ch essPu b a nd th is wa s P et ros ian 's second game of late with it against strong o p p o s i t i o n . H o w e v e r , n o wa d a y s 5.e2 and/or the exchange on c6 seems to be at least as popular - for those and some other ideas, see the notes to McShane-Jones. ] 5...a6 This solid move has been pretty popular of late, but is by no means obligatory: [ a) 5...e4!? is ambitious, but not necessarily bad and after A) 6.c4 e7 7.xc6 bxc6!? is probably OK for Black ( and in BromannJones, Icelandic League 2011, 7...dxc6 8.e2 e6 9.d3 b4+! also was ); B) 6.f4 a6 7.xc6 dxc6 8.c4 0-0 9.e2 a5! 10.a4 b4 11.h3 d7! 12.d4 b6 13.xb6 cxb6 14.0-0 h4 Black's fine handling of the queenside gave him rough equality in T.L.PetrosianKravtsiv, Dubai 2012. ] [ b) 5...a5!? was my main recommendation in BUCO , m ee ting on e stran ge -lo ok in g knight move with another. For some reason this has fallen from favour, although 6.e2 ( f o r H o d g s o n ' s 6.f3 a6 7.e2 please see Tony's notes to both HodgsonSpeelman, British League 1998, and Hodgson-Barsov, York 1999,; while 6.c4!? xc4 7.xc4 was considered by John Watson with Karayannis-Banikas, Salonica 2006 here I still feel that 0-0 8.e2 c6 9.g3 c7 is thematic and fine for Black) 6...a6 (wisely preventing any nasty notion of Nb5) 7.c4 0-0 ( again, ChessPub has been here before, with 7...c5 examined by Tony 96
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 in his notes to Berkes-Balogh, Budapest 2004,; and 7...c6 covered in KovacevicMarzolo, W arsaw 2005, this time by John Watson ) 8.c2 ( 8.f3 e8 9.0-0 f8 10.d3 c6 followed by ...d5 sees Black regrouping along classical lines, as examined in BUCO) 8...c5!? ( 8...e8 is a g a i n a n a t u r a l a lt e rn a t ive , b u t it i s tem pt in g to set u p a bind o n d4 b ef ore retreating the knight back to c6) 9.d4?! (an understandable bid for freedom, but as in McShane-Grischuk, the weakness of the e1-a5 diagonal will now help Black) exd4 10.exd4 c6 11.f3 ( 11.d5 a5+ 12.f1 e5! is similar) 11...a5+ 12.b4!? xb4 13.0-0 surely didn't give White more than some practical chances for his pawn in Calugar-Sambuev, Guelph 2011. ] 6.xc6 [ T h i s m u s t b e c r i t i c a l . A f t e r 6.e2?! ChessPub has considered a few moves, but not e4! , which worked out well after 7.d4 ( 7.c4 e7 8.d3 d5 9.e5 xe5 10.xe5 0-0 still leaves White with the problem of his knight on g1) 7...exd3 ( 7...d5!? 8.c4 g5 is a brave engine s u g g e s t i o n) 8.cxd3?! ( 8.xd3 c5 is rather pleasant for Black, but White had to try this ) 8...b4+! (a familiar motif) 9.f1 d5 10.c1 0-0 11.f3 d6 12.h3 b4! 13.d2 c5 and White never recovered in Filippov-Bacrot, Khanty-Mansiysk 2011. ] 6...dxc6 7.c4 e7 8.e2 0-0 The black position resembles the DERLD to some extent and as John Watson says: 'Fairly normal thus far. Black's space and activity might even give him a small advantage.' 9.0-0 [ W atson examined 9.g3 b5 10.xd6 cxd6 11.0-0 e8 in Barnaure-Grunberg, Predeal 2006, which is hardly inspiring for White. ] 9...e4?! [ An overambitious novelty. Black should prefer 9...b5! 10.xd6 cxd6 , as advocated by Tony. Now A) while both Bagirov and Lein tried 11.f4!? , which makes good sense, even if g4 12.e1 xe2 13.xe2 d7 14.f5 ( rather than this gung-ho approach, White might try to exert some positional pressure with 14.fxe5 dxe5 15.a4! ) 14...f6
did seem pretty solid for Black in LeinGruzmann, Grieskirchen 1998.; B) 11.g3 would transpose to our last note, ] 10.xd6 cxd6 11.g3 d5 [ 11...e8!? would have allowed Black the possibility of 12.f3 exf3 13.xf3 g4 , but this still looks bad for him after 14.h5! .] 12.f3! Thematically blasting open lines. exf3 13.xf3 e4! Good defence from the young American, showing that it won't be so easy just to roll Black over on the kingside. 14.h5!? The most ambitious, keeping the knights on and so hoping to drive Black back after Rad1 and d3. f6 [ The solid response, but White's kingside play gives him a definite edge after this. A ke y que stio n is co u ld Black h a ve go n e 14...g5!? , b ase d on th e lin e 15.xg7 ( 15.xg7 g4! is an important point, when White must avoid 16.f6+ xg7 17.xg4? h5 ) 15...xd2 16.f4 f6 . After 17.xg5 fxg5 18.xf8+ xf8 19.h5 White keeps up t h e initia tive, b u t t his m igh t we ll b e tenable for Black, not least with the opposite bishops lurking in preparation for any endgame. ] 15.ad1 f7 16.d3 g5 [ At least the knight gets in the way of White's attack here, unlike after 16...d6? 17.xf6+! gxf6 18.g3+ ] [ or 16...c5? 17.a3 b6 18.d4 . ] 17.e2 g6 18.h1 Petrosian is in no hurry. Realising that his opponent will have grasped the opening has not gone well for Black, he avoids any tricks down the g-file while giving Black the chance to lash out. d7 [ 18...c5? was just the sort of aggressivelooking move that Black might have played in a bid to fight for the initiative, but Naroditsky is too good for such things and no doubt spotted 19.f4! f5 20.a3 b6 21.d4 when White will win at least a pawn. ] 19.f4 e6! [ With 19...a5 s i m p l y m e t b y 20.a4 it's not easy to find any counterplay for Black, but Naroditsky begins preparations for a gradual advance in the centre to stymie the dark-squared bishop. ] 20.h4!? A dangerous manoeuvre, even if my 97
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 machine isn't so impressed. Now everything will b e a im e d a t t h e b la ck kin g on ce t h e queen's rook comes across to join the party. ae8 21.f1 h8 [ Black might have wanted to return the knight to keep the second rook out, but there was no time f o r 21...g5? on account of 22.f4 f7 23.a3 , netting the exchange. ] 22.f3 This was by no means obligatory, but was clearly very consistent. The battle is clearly heating up: will White manage to crash through on the kingside being the big question. c5 23.g3? [ Obvious, but this falls into a masterful positional trap. White should have begin with 23.f2 , a n d i f t h e n g5 ( and not 23...f7?? 24.xf6! gxf6 25.xf6 ) 24.f4 f7 25.g3 , maintaining a rough balance. ] 23...f7 Observe how the knight on e6 defends g7, while the king's rook has stayed on f8 to help shore up the defence of f6. I might have been unimpressed with Black's p l a y i n t h e o p e n in g , b u t N a r o d it s ky h a s regrouped impressively since then. 24.f2 [ In view of what happens, one might wonder about 24.d1? to keep the knight covered, but then d4! 25.exd4 g6 26.f4 g5 is rather awkward. ] 24...d4! 25.exd4 [ 25.e4?? g6 was definitely not the way to go. White's aggressively-posted pieces are actually in a slight pickle and so Petrosian has to keep the long diagonal open. ] 25...g5! [ After 25...g6 26.dxc5! gxh5 27.f3 White would have three pawns and ongoing pressure for the piece, rather unclear though this would have been. Naroditsky prefers to force matters. ] 26.d5 d4! [ White is being outplayed by his young adversary. Here Naroditsky rightly went for glory and so rejected 26...gxh4 27.xf6+ g7 28.xg7 xf6 29.xf6 xf6 30.xh7+ xh7 31.xh4+ g7 32.g5+ g6 ( 32...f7! , and if 33.h3 f1+ 34.h2 f5 , looks a better try) 33.d2 when White surely has enough pawns to be the only side able to win the resulting endgame. ] 27.xd4! Again, the only real chance for
White. cxd4 28.xf6!? [ The ending after 28.xg5 e5 29.xe5 fxe5 30.xf7 xf7 31.g1 g4 32.g3 c7 would have been pretty bad for White, so Petrosian goes all in. ] 28...xf6 29.f3 [ Trying to bluff, whereas even if Naroditsky was down to just a 30-second increment h e ' d s u r e l y s p o t t e d 29.xd4 e1+! 30.xe1 xd4 . ] 29...f4?? [ A strange move and a terrible blunder, which leads me to suspect Black was very low on time, or just panicked having missed the sacrifice on f6. He had to avoid both 29...g7?? 30.xd4 ] [ and 29...e7?? 30.xd4+ , ] [ while 29...f5 30.xf5 xf5 31.xd4+ f6 32.xf6+ xf6 33.xf6+ g8 34.g1 would have left a tricky ending. ] [ However, there was a clear win available wit h the calm 29...g8! , and if 30.xf6 xf6 31.g1 ef8 when there's nothing to be done about ...Rf1. ] 30.h3 The bluff has paid off! By creating some luft W hite leaves Black unable to save his qu e e n (go in g t o d 6 d ro p s d 4 t o a r a t h e r terrible check). h6 31.xf4 xf4 32.d2 Black does have two rooks for the queen, but h i s k i n g i s s i m p l y f a r t o o e x p o s e d . g8 33.b4 e2 34.d6! xc2 35.g6+ [ Either all the kingside pawns fall or it's mate after 35.g6+ f8 36.a3+ . ] 1-0
103 Rapport,Richard Golod,Vitali Riga Tech op 4th (5) [Kosten, Tony]
A01 2704 2574 20.08.2014
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 5.a3 e7 Quite trendy, the bishop retreats so that Black can play ...d6. [ 5...a6 is also considered this month in Rapport, R (2704)-Onischuk, A (2659)/ Tromso 2014. ] [ While 5...e4 is seen in Jobava, B (2713)Dukaczewski, P (2288)/Tromso 2014. ] [ We've previously considered Sveshnikov's 98
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 5...a5 a lot, see the Archive. ] 6.c4 [ 6.e2 0-0 7.c4 Jobava, B (2710) Bacrot, E (2702) Fujairah City UAE 2012, could transpose after d6 8.xc6 bxc6 ] 6...d6 7.xc6+ bxc6 8.e2 This is a SuperGM position (!), as so far only very strong p l a y e r s h a v e r e a c h e d i t . 0-0 9.0-0 Black has the bishop pair and more space, but typical 'Spanish' doubled c-pawns, which occurs a lot in Larsen's Variation. W hite is ready to play either f4 or d4 to open the a1-h8 diagonal and weaken Black's central control. e8 A logical novelty, Black figures that the rook will always be useful on the e-file at some point, and defers deciding where to put his pawns or minor pieces. [ 9...c5 Alex didn't like this move, 10.d4! ( 10.f4 e4 Ivanchuk, V-Le Quang, L.) 10...exd4 11.exd4 Jobava, B-Jakovenko, D both games are in the PGN Archive ] [ 9...e6 was mentioned by Alex, "to get rid of the knight", 10.f4!? exf4 ( 10...xc4 11.bxc4 b8 12.b1 is a little better for W hit e be cause of his sup erio r bishop .) 11.xf4 d7 12.f3 with the usual aggressive kingside stance, Aravindh, C (2467)-Rausis, I (2578)/ Riga 2014, 1-0 (63). ] 10.g3 White also keeps his options open. [ Both 10.f4 ] [ and 10.d4 were possible. ] 10...e6 11.d3 d7 12.d2 A strange idea, do es he ju st wa nt t o kee p p ie ces o n t h e board? [ 12.e4 must be a little better for White. ] 12...a5!? A double-edged move as this pawn was safer on a7. 13.a4 Fixing the a5-pawn on a dark square, White certainly shouldn't allow it to advance as then Black would be able to e x c h a n g e o n e o f h i s w e a k n e s s e s . d5 14.c4 Back again? Does this mean that he felt his 12th move was wrong, or that he has tricked Black into weakening his a-pawn? c5 W h e n y o u h a ve t h e p a i r o f b i s h o p s yo u should always put your pawns on the same colour as your opponent's remaining bishop. 15.d2 Looking at a5. b4 A good move, but maybe it was time to move over to the offensive: [ 15...f5!? 16.xf5 ( 16.xa5?! f4 17.exf4
exf4 18.e4 f3 would be rather unpleasant.; 16.f4 exf4 17.exf4 was best. ) 16...xf5 17.e4 f4 18.exf5 xf5 would oblige W hite to guard against sacrifices on g2 - Black can never be worse here. ] 16.f4! f6 Solid. [ 16...exf4 17.h5! f6 18.e4 with similar play to the game. ] 17.e4 f8?! If Black has to play this then maybe his ...Re8 wasn't so good after all? [ 17...exf4 18.xf4 d5 19.exd5 xd5 20.e4 was similar to the game except that his rook was still on the useful open e-file. ] 18.f2 Getting ready to double rooks. [ 18.ae1 is more natural, but leaves the apawn undefended, xc4 19.dxc4 c6 20.f5 d4 still, White is better here. ] 18...exf4 19.xf4 d5!? Active, but it leaves Black's queenside very weak. 20.exd5 xd5 [ 20...xd5 21.af1 is also good for White. ] 21.e4 Something has gone very wrong for Black, as W hite's knight is now very strong and he has strong pressure on the e-line. f7 22.xa5 A pawn is a pawn! f5 23.xe7! [ 23.ee1 was also playable, but less pretty: f4 24.e4 b4 25.c4 xc4 26.dxc4 xd2 27.xd2 and Black has a little compensation for the pawn, but not much. ] 23...xe7 24.b7 g6 [ 24...d5 25.xc5 c6 was an alternative. ] 25.e1?! An inaccuracy. [ 25.xc5 d6 26.c3 f7 27.e1 was simpler. ] 25...f4?! Black returns the favour. [ 25...d5! stops White from playing Qc3, and 26.xc5 d6 is not completely clear. ] 26.xc5 Now White is back on track. c6 [ 26...d6 27.c3 f7 28.ge4 is little better. ] 27.c3 Defending c5 with gain of tempo. f7 28.e6 d5 29.e5 c6 30.ge4 All White's pieces are on active squares, and he also has two pawn for the exchange. f3 31.gxf3 xe4?! Now Black goes down without a fight. [ 31...d5 can be met by the neat tactic 32.xd5!? ( 32.d4 xe4 33.xe4 also keeps a plus.) 32...xd5 33.xg7+ xg7 34.f6+ f7 35.xd5 which must be 99
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.f4 d7 9.bc3 d5 10.a4 d6 11.e1 e7 12.h1 f6 and there was certainly nothing wrong with Black's position, although 1-0 (46) Rapport, R (2701)-Petersen, T (2334) Helsingor 2014. ] 5.a3 a6 Grabbing the bishop pair. [ Sveshnikov's 5...a5 is the mainline. ] [ 5...e7 is Rapport, R (2704)-Golod, V (2574) Riga 2014 ] [ and 5...e4 is seen in Jobava, B (2713)Dukaczewski, P (2288)/ Tromso 2014, both this month. ] 6.xc6 dxc6 7.c4 e7 8.a4!? Rapport's new idea , which he'd already tried a f e w months before. White hinders ...b5, and plans both a5, to fix Black's weakened queenside, and also possibly Nxd6 followed by Ba3. [ In his first outing with 1 b3, Rapport, R (2691)-So, W (2719) Wijk aan Zee 2014, he h a d p l a y e d t h e ' a u t o m a t i c ' 8.e2 which had been met by A) 8...0-0 is normal, 9.0-0 is Petrosian, TNaroditsky, D ( and 9.g3 b5 is Barnaure, V-Grunberg, M, both in the PGN Archive. ); B) 8...b5 9.xd6+ cxd6 10.a4 b4 11.0-0 0-0 12.g3 d5 13.f4 f6 when Black had equalised, and went on to win. ] 8...0-0 [ 8...b5!? is still possible, when 9.axb5 ( 9.xd6+ cxd6 10.e2 would transpose to his game against So.) 9...cxb5 10.xd6+ cxd6 11.e2 still looks fine for Black. ] 9.a5 [ 9.e2 e4 10.xd6 xd6 ( 10...cxd6 ) 11.g3 ( 11.d4 w i t h a t h r e a t ! exd3 12.xd3 xd3 13.cxd3 with a structural 104 A01 advantage, but opposite colour bishops.) 11...e8 12.0-0 ( 12.f3! exf3 13.xf3 Rapport,Richard 2704 is stronger, White is better.) 12...g4 13.f3 Onischuk,Alexander 2659 exf3 14.gxf3 h3 15.f2 ad8 16.e2 Tromsoe ol (Men) 41st (8.3) 10.08.2014 d5 17.h1 h6 18.g1 [Kosten, Tony] 1/2-1/2 Grandadam, N (2306)-Antoli Royo, J (2443) Biel 2014. ] 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 This is slowly 9...g4!? Onischuk's new move. taking over mainline status from [ 9...d7 10.e2 b5 illustrates the [ 3...d5 , especially for the elite, although I advantage of having the a-pawn on a5: can see no obvious reason for this. ] ( 10...e4!? ) 11.axb6 cxb6 12.xd6 xd6 4.b5 d6 13.d4 exd4 14.xd4 xd4 15.xd4 e5 [ 4...d6 is the main alternative, 5.xc6+!? 16.f3 e8 17.f2 a7 18.hd1 ae7 ( 5.e2 is Larsen, B-Eley, B, in the Rapport, R (2687)-Stevic, H (2611) Austria Archive. ) 5...bxc6 6.e2 e7 7.0-0 0-0 better for W hite with his 4 pawns for two exchanges. Still, Black must have some chances here. ] 32.xe4 xc3 33.xc3 g6 34.c5 This ending is lost for Black, W hite has 3 pawns for the exchange and active pieces. af8 [ 34...xf3?! 35.xc7 hits g7, and after f7 36.xf7 xf7 37.a5 the 4 connected passed pawns will triumph. ] 35.g5 [ 35.a5 was more incisive. ] 35...f5 Taking advantage of the opportunity to exchange a pair of rooks - this is nearly always advisable when you are an exchange ahead. 36.xf5 xf5 37.e4 xf3 38.a5 f8 39.b4 White has a 4 to 1 majority on the queenside, but the black c-pawn does a useful job of holding the white pawns up. Can Black find a way to hinder White from playing c4, b5 a n d a 6 wh e n h is p a wn c h a i n wi l l b e t o o strong? e7 [ 39...f4 looks more active, 40.d2 e2+ 41.g2 but d4 42.c4 transposes below. ] 40.d2 c6 41.g2 f7 This looks slow, but [ 41...d4 42.c4 should also be enough. ] 42.b5 d4 43.c4 b3 44.b4 d8 45.a6 Now it's cle ar t hat W hit e is win ning. e6 46.f2 xd3 47.d6! d1 [ 47...cxd6 48.a7 queens. ] 48.xc7 d7 49.e5 c1 50.b6 c2+ 51.g3 The white pawns can no longer be stopped. 1-0
100
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2014, 1-0 (65), when 19.e2 followed by Rd6 assures W hite a considerable advantage - he can double rooks on the open d-file and maybe capture on e5 to avoid opposite bishops. ] 10.e2 d7 [ Or 10...e4 first. ] 11.0-0 e4 12.xd6 Ironing out Black's structure, and introducing opposite bishops, but making sure that the powerful b2-bishop has no counterpart. cxd6 13.f3!? Essentially White is swapping the g-pawn for the e-pawn, he gains the g-file and a central majority, but weakens his king position. [ 13.d3 is a good alternative. ] 13...exf3 14.gxf3 h3 15.f2 White will play Nf4 and Rg2 with a potentially strong attack on g7. How should Black react? e5 [ 15...fe8 16.f4 h4 17.xh3 xh3 18.g2 g6 19.f4 looks unpleasant for Black, sooner or later the white queen will get to the a1-h8 diagonal. ] [ 15...c5! 16.f4 ( 16.h1 f6 ) 16...f5 17.g2 g6 is a better way of blocking the g-file, Black has nothing to fear. ] 16.f4 [ 16.f4 also has it's points. ] 16...g6 [ 16...d7 17.g3 f6 18.e4 and Qf3 or Qh5 and the makings of a strong initiative. ] 17.f5 g5+ 18.g3 e5 19.a4!! This might not be the best move, but what a great way to bring your final piece into the game, and what a way to justify playing a4-5! [ 19.h5! is a l s o r a t h e r s t ro n g : xh5 20.xh5 menaces Ra4 to trap the bishop, g4 21.xe5 dxe5 22.g3 g6 23.a4 with advantage. ] 19...g4 [ 19...g6! 20.h1 f6 kept Black in the game, although he is still worse. ] 20.f1 f6?? Stopping White from advancing his f-pawn, but losing on the spot. [ 20...fe8 21.af4 d5 22.h3 is hardly any better. ] 21.xe5 [ 21.xe5 fxe5 22.c4+ wins the bishop. ] 1-0
105 Rasulov,Vugar Ural Oglu Mchedlishvili,Mikheil Baku op (5) [Fier, Alexandr]
A01 2488 2633 23.09.2013
White tries a solid double fianchetto, but 7... d5 changes the character of the position and it l o o ks l i k e B l a c k is f i n e . O n e p o s s i b l e improvement is 10... Bg4!? 1.b3 e5 2.b2 d6 Looking for a King's Indian setup 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.c4 e7 6.e3 0-0 7.e2 d5 Opening the position bef ore W hite has a chance to play d4, reaching a kind of structure similar to some Kan lines with ...g6. W hite needs to be careful about the white squares but, if nothing serious happens, he has a solid position. [ 7...bc6 if Black continues with the normal plan White can try to get some advantage with d4 8.0-0 f5 9.d4 and the knight on e7 is worse than on f6 ] 8.cxd5 xd5 9.0-0 [ 9.d4 c a n b e a b i t p r e m a t u r e c5!? forcing the center 10.dxc5 ( 10.dxe5 b4 11.f4 xd1+ 12.xd1 d8+ 13.c1 g5 and Black has the initiative. One possible continuation can be 14.a3 gxf4 15.axb4 fxe3 16.fxe3 cxb4 and Black has the better prospects ) 10...b4 11.0-0 ( 11.xd8 xd8 and White can't avoid both 12...Nc2 and 12...Nd3.) 11...xd1 12.xd1 c2 13.bc3 xa1 14.xa1 and White has compensation for the exchange but probably not more than enough. ] 9...c6 [ 9...b4?! does not work now since it's not possible to en te r in to d 3 10.d4 exd4 11.xd4 8c6 12.xg7 xg7 13.a3 and White has pressure on the queenside ] 10.a3 [ 10.d4 g4 is annoying ] 10...e6 [ 10...g4!? I like this move, and it can enter into an improved version of the position played in the game 11.h3 ( 11.bc3 xc3 12.xc3 d3 13.f3 e6 14.f4 g4 15.f2 ad8 and White is under pressure) 11...e6 12.d4 ( 12.c2 d7 now this move attacks the pawn on h3 13.h2 ad8 with some advantage to Black) 12...b6 101
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.dxe5 xd1 14.xd1 xb3 and White needs to work to equalize ] 11.c2 [ 11.d4 g4 again is possible and good ] 11...d7 12.d1 f5 [ 12...a5!? is more forcing, trying to put pressure on the queenside before W hite f in is h es his de velo pm e n t 13.b4 c4 14.xc4 ( 14.bc3 xb2 15.xb2 c6 ) 14...xe3 ( 14...f4 does not work 15.c2 xe2+ 16.f1 and the knight is trapped) 15.xe6 xe6 16.dxe3 b3 17.bc3 ad8 18.db1 with unclear consequences, d e s p i t e t h e c o m p u t e r' s p re f e r e n c e f o r Black. ] 13.bc3 Finally White's knight can get out a n d t h e p o s i t i o n i s c l o s e t o e q u a l . ad8 14.a4 [ 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5+ xd5 16.d4 would probably bring a drawish endgame ] 14...f7 15.c5 c8 16.f4!? This move is in te re s ting, b ut it 's risky f o r W hite to le t himself get cramped after ...e4. [ 16.b4 is a normal move, searching for counterplay before Black's attack begins f4!? 17.c3 ce7 18.ac1 xc3 ( 18...fxg3 19.fxg3 does not help Black) 19.xc3 d5 20.c4 c6 with a complex middlegame ] 16...d6 [ 16...b6 is natural and both escapes are possible 17.d3 looking at e5 ( 17.a4 i s m o r e n o r m a l b7 18.ac1 e4 but at some point W hite might have p r o b l e m s t o c o n t i n u e h i s co u n t e r p l a y) 17...a6! 18.fxe5 xd3 19.xd3 xe5 ( 19...f4 looks scary but the queen still has o n e s q u a r e 20.b5 xe2+ 21.xe2 xe5= ) 20.c2 c5 with a harmonious position for Black ] 17.c3 [ 17.fxe5 xe5 18.f4 is a nice way to combat Black's central control ] 17...xc3 [ 17...exf4! was tempting 18.xd5 ( 18.gxf4 d4! 19.exd4 xd4+ 20.h1 xc5 21.xd5 xd5 with a pawn up) 18...xb2 19.xb2 xd5 20.xd5 ( 20.b4 fxg3 21.hxg3 d6 ) 20...xd5 21.b4 fxg3 22.b3 ( 22.hxg3? f3-+ ) 22...gxh2+ 23.xh2 xb3 24.xb3 e5 and the position is not clear, but in the long
term Black's pawns can prove more important than the exchange. ] 18.xc3 e4 Closing the Bishop, but White still has the f1-a6 diagonal at his disposal. 19.f1 h8 20.b4 xc3 21.xc3+ g7 The weakness of the d-pawn is not enough for Black to try anything serious. Meanwhile White can try to use the c-file for his rooks. After all the position is about equal 22.f2 [ 22.ac1 xc3 23.xc3 fd8 24.b3 e7! 25.xc7? d5 and 26...Nxe3 is coming ] 22...fd8 23.e1 e7 24.ac1 xc3 25.xc3 d5 Now it's hard for anyone to make progress. 26.cc1 c6 27.b3 g7 28.a5 f6 29.c4 6d7 30.e5 d6 31.c4 b6 32.b5 cxb5 33.xb5 e6 34.c7 d5 35.cc1 e7 36.c4 ½-½
106 Rebel Century Nimzo 7.32 Cadaques Tournament (12) [Tony Kosten]
A01
28.01.2000
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 d5 4.b5 d6 5.f3 [ A rare alternative to 5.f4 or ] [ 5.c4 ] 5...e7 [ 5...f6 would be my preference, I think, firmly defending the e5-pawn. ] 6.c4 f6 7.c5 the point of White's opening, swapping the c-pawn for Black's e-pawn. xc5 8.xe5 0-0 9.xc6 bxc6 10.xc6 [ And why not? The 10.e2 d6 11.0-0?! e4 12.c3 f5 is fine for Black, Zwaig,APoulsson,E/Sandefjord 1975, but 11 d3 might offer White something. ] 10...b8 11.c3 [ This new move appears to be a sound idea, the knight can come to e2 if necessary, so that W hite can castle if the black bishop comes to a6. 11.f3 d6 12.a4 g4 13.g3 a6 14.f3 also seems good for White, as the white queen didn't prove too exposed, Wolf,W-Wrobel,F/Germany 1990/ GER-chT2. ] 11...e6 12.a4 One problem for White is 102
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the offside position of this piece. a6 13.e2 d6 14.f3 d7 The knight wants to come to c5, threatening intrusion on d3, and the bishop on a4. 15.xd7 Probably best, but now Black has the bishop pair, and the weak white light squares offer him some compensation for the pawn. xd7 16.0-0 fe8 17.e1 c5 18.c1 d8 19.f4 d4 A typical pawn thrust in such p o s i t i o n s , t h e h a n g i n g b l a c k p a wn s a r e s t a t i c a l ly we a k , b u t d yn a m i ca l ly st ro n g . 20.g3 a5 21.c2 b7 22.a1 a6 23.b2 c6 An odd position, both computers are lining-up on the opposing g-pawn, like two patzers. 24.d3 f6 25.e4 dxe3 26.c4 I n d i r e c t l y d e f e n d i n g t h e f - p a w n . bd8 27.xe3 xf4 Aiming for a drawn oppositec o l o u r b i s h o p e n d i n g . 28.xf6+ xf6 29.xe8+ xe8 30.xf6 gxf6 31.xf4 e1+ 32.f1 e2 Both sides are obliged to repeat moves. 33.f2 e1+ 34.f1 e2 35.f2 e1+ 36.f1 ½-½
success, his pieces are well-placed, and he is r e a d y t o e x p a n d w i t h . . . d 5 . 16.e4 Aiming for the weak g5-square, Black's sixth move has a cost! d5 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.g5 c8 19.h4 c6?! [ Perhaps 19...f6!? should be considered? ] 20.c5! Black's last move weakened his co nt rol of d 5 , a nd W h it e wa st es no tim e la t c h i n g o n t o i t . d4 21.exd4 cxd4 22.xd4 xd4 23.e1 g4? [ Black should certainly defend e5 more s e c u r e l y , a l t h o u g h 23...e8 24.f4 is favourable to White. ] 24.exe5! A powerful exchange sac, to deprive Black of his key dark-squared bishop. xe5 25.xe5 c8 [ This doesn't last long, but Black is probably l o s i n g a n y w a y , 25...b6 avoids White gaining a tempo with his rook, but even so, 26.e4 fd8 27.h6 threatening Ng5, is decisive, ] [ 25...c6 may be the best, as the knight is no longer a target, but 26.d5 e7 27.e4 f6 28.f4 f5 and now, 29.d6 107 A01 i s t h e s i m p l e s t , xe4 30.xe4 g7 31.xf6 winning. ] Sasikiran,Krishnan 2573 Shabalov,Alexander 2601 26.d5 e2+ 27.h2 c7 28.e4 f5 [ 28...f6 is only a slight improvement: 34th Olympiad (4) 31.10.2000 29.xf6+ xf6 30.xf6 ] [Tony Kosten] 29.h6 [ 29.h6 h7 30.xh7+ xh7 31.d7+ 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 a6!? forces mate. ] Clearly played to stop Bb5, but not especially useful. 4.c4 g6 5.c3 g7 6.g3 1-0 W hite brings play into a hybrid English Opening where the black ...a6-move seems 108 A01 out-of-pace. h5!? Spraggett,Kevin 2495 [ A typical, aggressive, move in such Dorfman,Josif D 2575 p o s i t i o n s , b u t a n e w m o v e h e r e , 6...d6 1991 7.g2 f5 8.ge2 f6 is more typical, with France chances for both sides, Degenhardt, H- [Tony Kosten] Berndt,M/Germany 1996. ] 1.b3 d5 2.b2 g4 Black decides to play in 7.g2!? d6 [ 7...h4 would justify his previous move, but the style of the Capablanca line against the Reti. 3.h3 Black has decided to keep the pawn on h5. ] [ 3.g3 Is also logical, when c5!? ( 3...c6 8.h3 h6 4.g2 d7 5.f3 Transposes directly into [ Now 8...h4 can be answered by 9.g4 ] a main line Reti, e.g. gf6 6.0-0 c7 7.d4 9.d3 0-0 10.d2 d7 11.ge2 White has a e6 8.bd2 d6 9.c4 Minasjan,A-Akopian, harmonious set-up, much employed by V/USSR 1991.) 4.g2 c6 5.f3 e6 Howard Staunton. b8 12.c1 f5 13.d5 Leads to a standard type of position, with ce7 14.0-0 c6 15.dc3 e6 the exception that the black light-squared Black's opening seems to be a reasonable 103
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 bishop is outside the pawn chain. 6.e5 xe5 7.xe5 f6 8.c4 e7 9.c3 0-0 offering a pawn sacrifice that W hite was loathe to accept, Tu Hoang ThongNogueiras,J/Yerevan (ol) 1996. ] 3...h5 4.f3!? Provocative, [ 4.g3!? would be safer, with a likely transposition to the Reti Opening. ] 4...xf3! 5.exf3 White gains the bishop pair, bu t his pa wn st ru ct ure lo ses som e of it s elasticity. [ Ca p tu rin g to ward t h e ce nt re, b y 5.gxf3 i s n o b e t t e r e6 6.e3 f6 7.f4 g6 Black places his pawns carefully on light squares. 8.f3 g7 is level, BucholzMakarychev, Mexico 1977 ] 5...f6 6.f4 e6 7.g3 g6! This is the same p l a n a s i n t h e n o t e t o m o ve f i v e . B l a c k constructs a light-squared blockade, and is particularly careful to stop White from playing f5, which would liquidate his doubled pawn. 8.e2 bd7 9.g2 c6 White was threatening to capture on d5. 10.0-0 g7 11.d4 The owner of the bishop pair often puts his pawns on the same colour squares as his opponent's remaining bishop, in order to inhibit it. 0-0 12.d1 a5 13.a4 The position is reasonably level, as with such a relatively static structu re, knigh ts are th e equ al o f bishops. b6 14.d2 a6 15.e1 A slight concession, but White doesn't want to play the endgame. fc8 16.f3 The knight is c o m i n g t o t h e s t r o n g o u t p o s t o n e 5 . b5 Black continues his light-squared campaign. 17.e5 b4 18.g4 Black is making headway on the queenside, so White decides to make a d e m o n s t ra t i o n o n t h e o t h e r wi n g . b7 19.e2 ab8 20.e1 e8! Careful defence f r o m B l a c k - W h i t e wa s l i n i n g - u p a N xf 7 sacrifice. 21.h4 h5 22.f3?! White is trying to maintain his pawn flexibility, but [ 22.g5!? is tempting, gaining considerable s p a c e o n t h e k i n g s i d e , h7 23.f3 and White can prepare a sacrifice on h5. ] 22...c5 Now that the white kingside is weaker, Black can afford to open the centre. 23.ac1 c7 24.h1 c4!? offering a pawn sacrifice that W hite is under pressure to accept, as Black's queenside pawns are threatening to swamp W hite's b2-bishop. 25.bxc4 dxc4 26.xc4 xc4 27.xc4 ec8 28.f1! b6
29.xb6 xb6 Not only has Black gained the d5-square for his knight, he has also lef t W h it e's b isho p s lo oking m isp la ce d . 30.f5 This is White's best chance, ridding himself of the doubled pawn. hxg4 31.fxg4 xg4 32.fxe6 xe6?! Keeping all the rooks on the board by [ 32...fxe6 was more accurate. ] 33.xe6 fxe6 34.a6?! [ 34.c4 had to be played. ] 34...c7 35.c4? f2+ 36.g2 d3 Black is winning material. 37.b1 xb2 38.xb2 xd4 39.b3 Without the rooks this would be a draw, because of the oppositecolour bishops, but with the rooks, it is a different matter, altogether. h7 40.g3 f6 41.c8 f7 42.e3 e5 43.c5 White is unable to hold his h-pawn, as [ 43.e4 is met by b3 forcing the rook to move off the fourth rank. ] 43...xh4+ 44.f3 e7! 45.xe5 h5! B l a c k h a s co rr e ct ly wo rk e d - o u t t h a t t h e b i s h o p e n d i n g i s n o w wi n n i n g, b e c a u s e Black's two passed pawns are too far apart. 46.xh5 gxh5 47.c6 d6 48.e4 f6 49.h3 c7 50.g2 e6 51.d4 d6 52.c4 h4 53.d4 b6+ 54.c4 e5 The king goes towards the h4-pawn, to help it queen. if the white king follows, then the bpawn will advance, to deflect it. Notice that the black a5-pawn is the right rook's pawn! 55.h3 c7 56.d7 e4 57.e6 e5 58.d7 f4 59.d3 g3 60.e2 h3 61.e6 g2 0-1
109 Svidler,Peter Nielsen,Peter Heine Politiken Larsen Blitz b3 blitz (6) [Nigel Davies]
A01 2734 2700 04.08.2010
1.b3 d5 2.b2 g4 A popular and supposedly solid method of defence, though there are things that White can try. 3.f3 h5 4.h3 Aiming to gain the bishop pair with Nh3f4. This looks like a reasonable plan for White, though he has to be careful about the opening of the h-file and his potential vulnerability along the b8-h2 diagonal. e6 Some strong 104
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 players have tried o ther m oves he re, f o r example: [ a) 4...f6 5.d4 e6 6.e4 b4+ 7.c3 d6 8.d3 c6 9.d2 e7 10.e2 e5!? 11.dxe5 xe5 12.g4 g6 13.f4 d6 14.0-0-0 gave White some initiative in Oral, T (2565)-Gyimesi, Z (2613)/Germany 2005. ] [ b) 4...c6 5.f4 g6 6.xg6?! (W hite could certainly have delayed this exchange) hxg6 7.d4?! ( 7.e3 was better W hite doesn't realise the danger to his kingside ) 7...e6 8.g3 d6 9.f4 g5! 10.e3 gxf4 11.exf4 g5 put White in serious trouble in Ask, J (2191)-Brynell, S (2471)/ Helsingor 2009. ] 5.f4 g6 6.e3 [ Another mode of development is with 6.g3 after which f6 7.xg6 hxg6 8.g2 d6 9.0-0 bd7 10.c4 e7 11.d4 was quite pleasant for W hite because of his bishop pair in Ibragimov, I (2485)-Novikov, I (2550)/ Moscow 1991/URS-ch. ] 6...f6 7.xg6 hxg6 8.f4 d6 [ T h e d a n g e r o u s l o o k i n g 8...e4 can be answered by 9.g4 . ] 9.f3 e7 10.c3 c6 11.e4 dxe4 12.xe4 a3 13.d4 bd7 14.g3?! Developing rather too slowly after which Black opens up the centre. [ 14.e2 would have been better. ] 14...e5 15.xf6+ gxf6 16.e3 exf4 17.xf4 c5 18.f2?! Leaving White's king in permanent danger. [ 18.0-0-0 was better. ] 18...xe3+ Perhaps the clock played a part in Black's willingness to enter and endgame. [ 18...h5! would have been much stronger because of the ongoing danger to White's king. ] 19.xe3 xe3+ 20.xe3 f5 21.g2?! [ 21.e2 followed by 22.h4 would have been better. ] 21...f6 22.f3 0-0-0 23.d3 de8+ [ 23...h3 was stronger. Now White should have been OK, but then again this is a blitz game. ] 24.d2 g4 25.h4 f6 26.ae1 xe1 27.xe1 d7 28.f2 d6 29.c3 a5 30.a4 d5?! 31.xd5 cxd5 32.e3 e5 33.d4+ f6 34.c4 e8+ 35.d3 e4 36.cxd5 g4 This looks like a win on time as White is on
top here. 0-1
110 Svidler,Peter Nielsen,Peter Heine Politiken Larsen Blitz b3 blitz (2) [Nigel Davies]
A01 2734 2700 04.08.2010
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 d5 Occupying the centre like this is a principled way to play the position, though the broad pawn centre also brings obligations in its wake. 4.b5 d6 5.f3 [ There are alternatives to this sensible move, for example 5.f4 ] [ and 5.e2 . ] 5...e7 [ 5...g4 is a solid alternative, see Valejo Pons - Gustafsson for details. ] 6.c4 a6 7.xc6+ [ After 7.a4 Black has an interesting possibility in b5!? 8.cxb5 b4 9.bxa6+ f8 with dangerous compensation for the pawn. ] 7...bxc6 8.c5! An excellent idea which takes out Black's important e5 pawn and leaves him with weaknesses along the c-file. W hite is b e t t e r n o w . xc5 9.xe5 b7 10.0-0 On the other hand this seems too automatic. [ 10.c2! looks much better, one of the p o i n t s b e i n g t h a t f6 can be met by ( 10...f6 is better ) 11.xc6! xc6 12.a3 , winning back the piece with a pawn as interest. ] 10...d6 11.f3 [ \/A wild gambler might well take a chance on 11.xc6!? xc6 12.c2 b7 13.xg7 e5 14.xh8 xh8 15.c3 , though Rybka likes White's position a lot more than I do. ] 11...f6 12.d3 c5 13.bd2 0-0 14.c2 fe8 [ The immediate 14...a5 would have been more incisive. Now the c5 pawn comes under fire and White gets an edge. ] 15.ac1 a5 16.a3 a6 Black is scrambling here. [ 16...d7 is strongly met by 17.d4 cxd4 18.xd6 cxd6 ( 18...xd6 19.xc7 is strong ) 19.xd4 with a clear advantage 105
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 for White because of his queenside pawn majority. ] 17.xc5 xc5 18.xc5 xd3 19.fe1 a4 Understandably trying to exchange off some pawns rather than get passively tied down to c7. [ After 19...xc5 20.xc5 e7 21.ec1 a7 22.d4 Black's position would be desperate. ] 20.xc7 axb3 21.xe7 xe7 22.axb3 g6 23.a1 ea7 24.xa7 xa7 25.h3 A bit slow. [ 25.e5 would have been much stronger. Now Black's rook takes up residence on the 7th rank. ] 25...a2 26.c1 b2 27.c3 e4 28.c8+ g7 29.c7 xf3 30.xf3 e4 31.e5 xf2 32.b4 g8 33.c6 [ 33.d7 would have been a slightly better try. ] 33...b2 34.e7+ g7 35.xd5 h5 36.c4? g3? [ Missing 36...b1+ 37.h2 d2 when W hite is face with the threats of ... Nxc4 and ...Nf1+ and goes a pawn down after 38.d4 f1+ 39.g1 xe3+ 40.f2 xd5 41.xd5 xb4 Admittedly he should drawn the rook and pawn endgame but it wouldn't be especially pleasant. ] 37.h4 f5 38.f4 d2 39.e4 d4 40.h2 b2 41.e5 c6 42.e4 d2 43.f4 d4 44.b5 xb5 45.e6 fxe6 46.xe6 d6 47.xd6 xd6 ½-½
fails to xd5 ] 8.fd2 e8 9.c4 f8 10.c3 d6 A logical move to which White responds with abandon. Somehow it seems to be a mistake! [ 10...d5 is more aggressive and keeps the bishop on b2 hemmed in. There could follow 11.cxd5 b4 12.0-0 bxd5 ] 11.a3 To stop ...Nb4, although this was probably unnecessary. Black responds with a loss of time, so it evens out. a6?! 12.g4! Why not? This is the reason for including this game. Remarkably, Black faces real troubles concerning g5 and Nxe4. The move g4 is being played in every kind of position these days! h8 [ 12...h6 13.h4 e7 ( 13...g5 14.hxg5 hxg5 15.c2 xg4 16.g1! leads to a powerful attack, e.g., xe2 17.xg5+ g7 18.xe2! h7 19.g2 f5 20.ag1 e7 21.d5 f7 22.f4 and Nh5 or a welltimed d5 wins. )] 13.h4! b5 Trying to divert White. There's nothing to be done about g5. 14.g5 g8 15.cxb5 axb5 16.xb5 [ 16.cxe4! is also very strong. ] 16...d7 17.dxe4 d5 18.g3 b8 19.d3 W hite is winning. A smooth attack follows. c8 20.c2 ce7 21.d3 g6 22.h5 g7 [ 22...f5 23.xf5 xf5 24.xf5 gxf5 25.d2 ] 23.hxg6 fxg6 24.0-0-0 c6 25.ce2 f5 26.f4 ge7 27.xg6+ xg6 28.xf5 xf5 29.xf5 e6 30.f7 1-0
111
112
Tumini,Juan Pedro Samur,Arturo IRT Eduardo Orosco (10) [John Watson]
A01 2142 2164 17.03.2005
In a game between two lower-rated players, Black shows another solid setup but then overextends. 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.d4 b4+ 5.c3 d6 Now we have a strange variant of Black's setup from the previous game. 6.f3 0-0 7.e2 e4!? Committal. [ 7...exd4 8.exd4 ( 8.cxd4 b4+ 9.c3 d5= ) 8...e8 9.0-0 f4!? with ...d5 next yie ld s s p a ce an d equ alit y, sin ce 10.d5?
Vaisser,Anatoli Flear,Glenn C FRA-chT poule haute (10) [Jonathan Rowson]
A01 2573 2489 10.05.2004
1.b3 d5 2.b2 g4 3.f3 [ 3.d3 An early b3 combined with d3 raises a tactical issue that I f irst learned f rom a game between Josh W aitzkin and Victor Kortchnoi: e6 4.d2 c6 5.gf3 f6 6.h3 xf3 7.xf3 a3! 8.xa3 a5+ and Black equalises. ] [ 3.f3 A simpler way to play, and if Black responds too automatically he runs into 106
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 some trouble: xf3 4.exf3 f6 5.g3 g6?! This is quite a standard way to try to neutralise the bishop on b2, but here there is a tactical problem. ( 5...e6 6.g2 g6! The move e6 is not entirely wasted, because it supports the centre, and Black has a very comfortable position here e.g. 7.0-0 g7 8.f4 0-0 9.d3 e8 10.xg7 xg7 11.d2 d7 12.f3 c6 ) 6.e2! Causing some annoying tactical problems. The reason I c h o s e t o s h a r e t h is ga m e is t h a t wh il e figuring out how Black could prevent the two threats- Bxf6 and Qb5+ I found a pleasing idea that is obviously bad, but is still somehow elegant: A) 6...d7!! 7.b5+ ( 7.h3+ e6 8.0-0 is presumably much better for White, but at le a s t B la ck d o e sn 't lo se m a t e ria l!) 7...c8; B) 6...bd7 7.xf6 xf6 8.b5+; C) 6...g7 7.b5+ bd7 8.xb7 0-0 9.h3 e6 10.0-0 c5 11.a6 Black never quite achieves adequate compensation. c7 12.e2 ab8 13.d3 e8 14.xg7 xg7 15.d2 d6 16.c4 fe8 17.f4 d4 18.f3 a5 19.e5 f6 20.xd7 xd7 21.fe1 f7 22.d2 b4 23.ab1 a4 24.bxa4 xa4 25.e2 f5 26.g2 e7 27.e1 d6 28.b5 a6 29.b1 ea7 30.h4 c7 31.f3 d6 32.b3 f6 33.eb2 a3 34.g2 xb3 35.axb3 a3 36.b4 cxb4 37.xb4 a5 38.b8 a2 39.a8 xa8 40.xa8 xa8 41.b6 1-0 Rogers, I (2570)-Stripunsky, A (2475)/ New York 1998. ] 3...h5 4.h3!? [ 4.e4!? is a curious Gambit idea examined in some detail by Odessky. c6! is simplest, with an obscure Caro-Kann where Black is fine, e.g. ( 4...dxe4 5.e2! intending Qb5+ to pick up the bishop on h5 is complexsee Odessky's book for details.) 5.e2 e6 6.exd5 cxd5 7.b5+ d7 8.h3 is mentioned by Odessky, but he readily admits that it is dangerous only for White if Black simply develops normally and heads for the ending. ] [ 4.g3!? intending Bg2 and perhaps f4 later. ] [ 4.e3 intending Ne2. ] 4...f6 [ 4...e6 also looks fine e.g. 5.f4 g6
6.h4!? The enjoyable thing about 1b3 is that it allows you to explore such obscure lines. d6 7.e3 ( 7.xg7 xf4 8.xh8 g3# ) 7...f6 8.g4 e5! ] 5.d4 d7 It's not clear that this was a knights before bishops moment. [ 5...e6 6.f4 f7 7.e4 b4+!? 8.c3 d6 was an idea tried by Hungarian GM Zoltan Gyimesi, and looks comfortable for Black. ] 6.c3 c6 7.e4 e6 8.e2 e7 9.0-0-0 White appears to have some initiative. 0-0-0 10.f4 f7 11.d3 h5 12.a4 h6 13.b1 e8 14.c4 b8 15.c5 g5 16.h4 gxh4 17.exd5 exd5 18.d2 g6 19.e1 f7 20.a5 e8 21.c1 a8 22.b2 f5 23.b6+ xb6 24.cxb6 a6 25.xe8+ xe8 26.f4 b8 27.xa6 bxa6 28.e1 c8 29.xg6 g8 30.f4 d6 31.e6 xf4 32.xf4+ b7 33.xf6 xg2+ 34.a3 d7 35.c5 e2 36.e5 xe5 37.dxe5 h3 38.e6 d6 39.f7+ b8 40.xd6+ xd6 41.h7 1-0
113 Vaisser,Anatoli Gozzoli,Yannick ch-FRA NatB Belfort FRA (3) [Nigel Davies]
A01 2515 2520 11.08.2010
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 An interesting plan that has found favour with some strong players. The d6 square isn't such a natural place for Black's bishop but it does the job of developing whilst protecting e5. 5.e2 a6 6.xc6 dxc6 7.d3 Sensibly posting his pawns on the opposite colour to the remaining bishop. [ After 7.bc3 B l a c k c a n t r y e4!? , f or exam ple 8.g3 e7 9.e2 0-0 10.0-0-0 a3 11.xa3 xa3+ 12.b1 e8 13.f3 exf3 14.gxf3 a5 suddenly gave Black a very dangerous attack in Bischoff, K (2533) -Sutovsky, E (2604)/Essen 2001. Vaisser seems to be very well aware of the possibility of ...e5-e4 so sets about preventing it. ] 7...e7 8.e4 [ Preventing ....Bd6-a3 with 8.a3 looks like a waste of time and after e4 9.d2 exd3 107
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.cxd3 e5 11.xe5 xe5 12.h3 c5 13.c1 b6 14.0-0 b7 Black had a very comfortable game in Sokolowski, R (2089)Malaniuk, V (2522)/ Koszalin 2007. ] [ On the other hand 8.d2 a3 also seems ve ry c o m f o rt a b le f o r B la ck a f t e r 9.xa3 xa3 10.0-0 g4 11.f3 e6 12.d4 exd4 13.xd4 0-0-0 14.e2 he8 , all of which was played in Vaisser, A (2542)-Maze, S (2553)/ Pau 2008. ] 8...d7 9.0-0 0-0 10.d2 The position now looks more like an Exchange Variation of the Spanish (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6) than a Larsen's Opening. And I prefer W hite here because of his nice pawn lever with f2-f4. c5 11.f4 g4 12.f5 f6 13.h3 xe2 14.xe2 a5 15.a3 b5 16.h1 d7 17.a4 fb8 18.a2 bxa4 19.xa4 b6 20.a2 a4 Black hurries to exchange off his queenside weaknesses, but he's always going to be worse. 21.bxa4 xa4 22.xa4 xa4 23.a1 b4 24.b1 f8 25.c4 c3 26.xc3 xc3 27.xb8 xb8 Despite the simplification the position is still very dangero us f or Bla ck b eca use of the wa y queen and knight cooperate well, especially against a weakened king. Black does pretty well to defend himself so easily. 28.d1 b4 29.g3 g6 30.fxg6 This could probably have waited. hxg6 31.g4 g7 32.h4 e1 33.h5 g3 34.g2 f4 35.f3 c3 36.b1 h6 37.hxg6 xg6 38.e2 d4 39.e1 g5 40.h1 g6 41.f3 c3 42.d1 g5 43.e3 xe3 44.xe3 g6 45.f3 ½-½
11.e2 f5 12.g4 f4 13.e4 exd5 14.c4 f6 15.f5 b5 was quite unclear in Rogers, I (2594)-Gormally, D (2472)/ Caleta 2005. ] 8.c3 This seems to be a theoretical novelty, not something that often happens on the 8th move of other openings. Alternatives are as follows: [ a) 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.d3 0-0 10.d2 a5 11.a4 e8 12.0-0 d7 13.e4 was slightly better for White in another game from the L a r se n 's O p e n in g t h e m e d b lit z m a t c h , Svidler, P (2734)-Nielsen, P (2700)/ Copenhagen DEN 2010 ] [ b) 8.c4 0-0 9.xc6 ( 9.cxd5 b4 will regain the pawn with some initiative for Black ) 9...bxc6 10.c5 xc5 11.xe5 is tempting but not really that great f o r White ] [ c) After 8.0-0 0-0 White should really capture on c6 because 9.d3?! b4 10.e2 c6 causes unexpected embarrassment to his bishop. ] 8...e4 [ 8...a6 looks better, just keeping his e- and d-pawns united. Now White gets an edge. ] 9.e2 a6 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.d3 exd3 12.cxd3 0-0 13.0-0 e8 14.a4 e6 15.ac1 d7 16.h1 [ Obviously White is not going to fall for 16.xc6 h2+ etc. ] 16...c5 17.d4 cxd4 18.xd4 h4 19.f3 g5 20.c5 xc5 21.xc5 c6 22.d4 a5 23.g4 xg4 24.hxg4 Black is worse in this endgame because of his inferior pawn structure and the fact he has to fight against White's bishop with his knight. Many moves of 114 A01 suffering result in defeat. a4 25.b4 b8 Vallejo Pons,Francisco 2703 26.a3 f8 27.h2 b6 28.xb6 xb6 Gustafsson,Jan 2640 29.c5 a6 30.fc1 e7 31.g3 h6 d6?! After White's reply Black 38th World Open (2) 30.06.2010 32.1c3 can't hold his d5 pawn. [Nigel Davies] [ 32...g6 would have been more tenacious. ] 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 d5 4.b5 d6 33.b5 cxb5 34.xb5 e5 35.f4+ f6 5.f3 g4 [ This seems to be more solid than 5...e7 36.xd5 ac6 37.cd3 c2 38.f3 a2 g6 40.a5 b6 41.xa4 . White gets the bishop pair but will probably 39.f5+ After the fall of this second pawn it starts to be giving them back. ] look like a question of time. bb2 42.a6+ 6.h3 xf3 7.xf3 f6 [ 7...ge7 is and interesting alternative, for h7 43.g3 g2 44.g5 hxg5 45.fxg5 af2+ example 8.c4 0-0 9.cxd5 b4 10.a3 a6 46.g4 g1 47.a4 fg2 48.f5 h2 108
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 49.h4+ xh4 50.gxh4 f1+ 51.g4 52.f3 a1 53.h5 h1 54.d5 55.f2 h4 56.a5 f6 57.gxf6 58.g3 e4 59.f3 h4 60.e4 61.f5 h3+ 62.g4 xa3 63.xf6+ 64.e5 a1 65.h6+ h7 66.f5 67.e6 a6+ 68.f5 a2 69.e6 70.f7+ xh6 71.e7 f2+ 72.e6 73.d7 1-0
115 Williams,Simon Kim Ledger,David 2nd Big Slick GM (7) [Nigel Davies]
g1+ h3+ gxf6 h6 g7 a2 e2 e2+
A01 2520 2245 01.07.2011
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 d6 4.b5 d7 5.f3 e7 6.0-0 h5?! Not surprisingly this is a new move and it's kind of difficult to understand Black's motives. [ 6...f6 is the sensible move after which 7.d4 exd4 8.exd4 a6 would give Black a solid if slightly cramped game. ] 7.d4 f6? Another rather astonishing move which is testimony to the effectiveness of taking the right opponent 'out of book'. [ 7...e4 8.fd2 f6 has to be the sensible way to play this position, and Black can argue that the pawn on h5 might give him some attacking chances. ] 8.d3 h6 9.c4 f8 10.dxe5 fxe5 11.c3 e8 12.d5 d8 13.e4 ce7?! [ Officially I suppose this is a mistake and th a t I s h ou ld b e reco mm e nd in g 13...f6 . Unofficially it probably just saves Black from unnecessary suffering. ] 14.xe5! dxe5 15.f4 This Larsen's opening su d de n ly lo o ks mo re like a 1 9t h ce nt u ry K in g 's G a m b it . B la c k i s ge t t in g k ille d o f course... xd5 16.xd5 e6 17.fxe5+ e8 18.d4 c6 19.a3 b6 20.f8# 1-0
116 Williams,Simon Kim Mista,Aleksander TCh-Top 12 2011 (10) [Nigel Davies]
A01 2520 2569 04.06.2011
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 5.h3 Fifteen (!) different moves have been tried in this position, the text being one of the rarer choices. [ Even less frequent, but possibly of some appeal to Englishmen, is the hyperaggressive 5.g4!? for example a6 ( 5...0-0 6.c3 b4!? 7.g5 xc3 8.dxc3 e4 9.h4 d5 was rather good for Black in Arencibia Rodriguez, W (2534) -Efimov, I (2465)/ S a i n t V i n c e n t 2 0 0 1) 6.f1 ( 6.d3 strikes me as being 'logical', getting ready for Nc3, Qe2 and castling long) 6...h6 7.g2 e7 8.d3 d5 9.h3 e6 10.e2 d7 11.d2 0-0-0 12.a3 h5 13.g5 h7 14.h4 brought about a Hippo set up with an extended fianchetto on the kingside in Vitor, A (2365)-Oral, T (2535)/Ortigueira 2005. Perhaps this isn't a bad way to play if you like to improvise over the board. ] 5...a6 6.e2 e7 7.d4 [ The most thematic looking pawn lever here is 7.f4 but after d6 8.f2 exf4 9.exf4 0-0 White is left wishing his f-pawn was back on f2 and his knight was on f3. ] 7...exd4 8.exd4 d5 9.f4 d6 10.d3 The net result of the opening hasn't been very f avourable f or W h ite . B lack's p iec es are simply better placed for this kind of pawn struct ure . 0-0 11.0-0 e8 12.d2 e4 13.f3 a3 [ Black might also have tried delaying this with 13...f6 but after 14.c4 a3 15.c1 xb2 16.xb2 e6 17.f4 White is doing OK. ] 14.xa3 c3 15.d2 xe2+ 16.h1 exd4 Winning a pawn, but White is going to get some play for it but basically he's struggling to draw. 17.xd4 xd4 18.f4 b5 19.b2 g5 20.ad1 c6 21.c4 A tough decision. Whittling away Black's d5 pawn certainly gives White more play, but on the other hand there are now new weaknesses on c4 and a2. dxc4 22.bxc4 c7 23.d6 e7 24.d4 After this Black 109
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 seems to get White's initiative under raps. [ 24.h5!? looks critical after which xd6 25.xd6 g4 ( 25...f6 26.xf6 ) 26.xg7 e2 27.f6 may give White enough counterplay in the endgame. ] 24...f6 25.b6 f5 26.c3 e6 27.fe1 f7 Missing his chance. [ 27...c5 28.xc5 xc5 leaves Black well on top in the endgame. ] 28.e2 g5 29.g3 c2 30.xe8+ xe8 31.d8 h5 32.h4 e4 33.xe4 xe4 The disappearance of the knights makes the position very drawish. If rooks and queens also come off it will be a dead draw. 34.f3 g6 35.xe8+ xe8 36.xb7 ½-½
117 Antoshin,Vladimir S Panchenko,Alexander N USSR [Tony Kosten]
A02
1983
1.f4 e5 From's Gambit may be one reason that Bird's Opening is not that popular. 2.fxe5 White takes the 'bull by the horns', [ 2.d3 is an alternative which entails less risk, c6 ( 2...exf4 3.xf4 d5 4.f3 f6 5.d2 Hort-Bronstein, Amsterdam 1994, is also fine for Black.) 3.f3 d6 4.e4 W hite has engineered a sort of 'reversed Philidor Counter-Attack'. f6 5.e2 e7 6.0-0 Martinovsky,I-Downey,G/Vancouver BC CAN 1999, and now 0-0 seems level. ] [ 2.e4 refuses the pawn, and brings us to a King's Gambit, of course. ] 2...d6 Black sacrifices a pawn for development, and to exploit the weaknesses created around the white king by White's first move. 3.exd6 [ 3.f3 A) If 3...dxe5 t h e n , a s we l l a s 4.e4 transposing into a King's gambit, there is ( 4.xe5 which seems OK ); B) 3...g5!? Black tries to bring play back to the main line, expecting 4 exd6 Bxd6, with a transposition. 4.e4 but White has other ideas! g4 5.c4!? gxf3 6.xf3 W hite has sacrifice d a piece in the manner of the Muzio Gambit, but this
version is even better, as there is no black pawn on f4 to impede White's play along t h e f - f i l e . e6? this is not very good, ( 6...h6 7.0-0 e7 is suggested by Larsen, but even so, after 8.exd6 cxd6 9.c3 White's compensation for the piece is fully adequate.) 7.xe6 fxe6 8.0-0 e7? 9.exd6 cxd6 10.c3 and Black is in big trouble, Weis-Wirz/Zuerich 1966. ] 3...xd6 4.f3 g5 This pawn thrust is the standard continuation here, threatening to displace the f3-knight and make a deadly check on h4. [ Black has other, less direct, methods, too: 4...c6 5.d4 f6 6.c3 g4 with active piece play, Krause,C-Weinreich/corr 1969. ] [ 4...f6 5.e3 g4 with the crude threat of ca p t u rin g o n h 2 wit h t h e b i sh o p . 6.e2 t h i s m o v e i s u n wi e l d y, b u t f 2 m u s t b e defended. c6 7.c3 ce5 8.g3 h5 and the black kingside attack is well underway. 9.d4 xf3+ 10.xf3 h4 Malaniuk,V-Dyachkov,S/Russian Club Cup, Maikop RUS 1998 ] 5.g3 The best move, providing a square for the f3-knight (on h4), and stopping a later . .. Qh4+. [ 5.d4 g4 6.e5 c6!? more enterprising than ( 6...xe5 7.dxe5 xd1+ 8.xd1 c6 which leads to equality.) 7.f4 f6 8.d2 ge7 9.c3 xe5 10.dxe5 xe5 having recaptured the pawn, Black has equal chances, Djordjevic, R-Ljubojevic,L/ Yugoslavia 1969. ] 5...g4 6.h4 e7! This knight is coming to g6 to defy the h4-knight. 7.d4 g6 8.xg6 This falls in with Black's plan to open the h-file, the alternative is [ 8.g2 , but it is passive, h5? ( 8...c6 is better, menacing tactics on the d4-pawn, 9.c3 e7 stopping White from playing e4, and intending long castling, with good play for Black, Kanel-Krizsany, Saanen 1994.) 9.e4 c6 10.e5 c7 11.f4 White has o ve r c o m e h i s d e v e l o p m e n t p r o b l e m s , Kovacic,P-Marjanovic,S/Nova Gorica SLO 1999. ] 8...hxg6 Black lines-up two powerful threats: ... Rxh2, and ...Bxg3+. 9.d3 White defends g3, o f c o u r s e . c6 White gets no respite, the new menace is 10...Nxd4, as 11 Qxd4?? loses 110
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 t h e q u e e n t o 1 1 . . . B xg 3 + . 10.c3 f5 Black gives a lesson in the art of gambit play, constantly trying to keep White off-balance. 11.e4 e7 Pinning the e-pawn. 12.g2 0-0-0 Every single one of Black's pieces is developed, and well-placed. 13.0-0 e5! There is still no let-up for White. 14.d1 [ Panchenko prefers 14.e3 the point being t h a t , a f t e r f3+ 15.xf3 gxf3 16.exf5 a n e x c h a n g e o f qu e e n s is t h r e a t e n e d , xh2!? is still possible, with transposition to t h e g a m e a f t e r 1 7 Q x f 3 , b u t 17.xe7 only leads to a draw after g2+ 18.h1 h8+ 19.h4 a useful resource! xh4+ 20.gxh4 h2+ ] 14...f3+! Black sacrifices further material to open the white king position, and kill the d e f e n d e rs . 15.xf3 gxf3 16.exf5 xh2! 17.xf3 This is forced, for [ 17.xh2?? allows mate in three after h4+ ] 17...h3 18.f4 xf4 19.xf4 dh8 The end is nigh! 20.f3 g5 21.f2 h2+ 22.g1 h1+! [ 22...h1+ as 23.xh1 e3+ 24.g2 e4+ 25.f3 xh1 wins material ] 0-1
d6 10.xc6 bxc6 11.d3 e7 12.e4 Rogers, I-Parakrama, A/Buenos Aires 1978; B) 6...f6 7.e5 xe2 8.xe2 c7 9.d3 d7 10.xc6 xc6 11.d2 e6 12.0-0 Mohota, N-Foisor, C/Moscow 2001; C) 6...xf3 7.xf3 f6 8.0-0 e6 C1) 9.d3 d6 10.d2 c7 11.c1 e5 12.e1 0-0-0 13.fxe5 xe5 Carrera Perez, F-Corradine, J/Bogota 1991; C2) 9.f5 d6 10.fxe6 fxe6 11.xf6 gxf6 12.c4 e5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.c3 ( 14.h5+!? d7 15.c3 c7 16.f3 ) 14...d6 15.xd5 0-0-0 Gretarsson, H-Olafsson, H/Reykjavik 1995; C3) 9.c3 e7 10.e2 c8 11.h1 ( 11.c4!? ) 11...0-0 12.g4 ( 12.d3!? ) 12...d4! 13.exd4 cxd4= Abou el Zein, ETissir, M/Cairo 2002; C4) 9.c4!? d4 ( 9...e7!? ) 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.f3 d7 was played in Bahr, A-Meyer, J/SWH 1992, and now White sh o u ld h a ve o p t e d f o r 12.d3 e7 13.d2 ] [ We also have the forcing 6.h3 , which has been played by one of the finest specialists 118 A02 of the Bird these days, the Danish-Icelandic (wh o m h e i s r e p r e se n t in g t h e s e d a y s ) Bacrot,Etienne 2695 G r a n d m a s t e r H e n r i k D a n i e l s e n : xf3 Leko,Peter 2755 7.xf3 d6 ( 7...f6 8.a3 e6 9.g4 d4 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (29) 22.11.2007 10.g2 d5 Bergeron, M-Burke, M/IECG [Carsten Hansen] E m a i l 2 0 0 0 , a n d n o w 11.c4!? de7 12.f5 ) 8.g4 f6 9.g2 e6 10.d3 ge7 1.b3 c5 2.b2 c6 3.f4 d5 4.f3 g4 11.d2 0-0-0 12.0-0-0 c7 13.b1 a5 5.e3 a6 6.d3?! 14.h4 b8 15.g5 , White massive space [ This move is often seen in the Bird, but advantage along with the long-term usually not this soon, though exceptions are advantage of the bishop pair ensures White m a d e a ll t h e t im e . W h it e 's b e st o p t io n the upper hand, Danielsen, H-Wedberg, T/ p r o b a b l y c a n b e f o u n d i n 6.e2!? Munkebo 1998 ] , and then: 6...e6 A) 6...e6 [ Another try is 6...h6!? 7.e2 f5 8.d2 A1) 7.d3 f6 8.bd2 e7 9.0-0 c7 e6 9.e4 ( 9.0-0 d4 10.exd4 cxd4 ) 10.c1 0-0-0? ( 10...0-0 ) 11.e5 xe2 9...dxe4 10.dxe4 xf3 11.xf3 xd2+ 12.xe2 xe5 13.fxe5+- Sarasola, J12.xd2 fd4= ] Dominguez Sanz, J/ Cajas 1989; A2) 7.c4 f6 8.0-0 g6 9.h3 xf3 7.bd2 [ 7.e2 ge7 8.0-0 f5 9.c1 d4 10.xf3 g7 11.cxd5 exd5 10.exd4 cxd4 is rather pleasant for Black ] Rudolph, J-Herfurth, T/Leipzig 1997; A3) 7.0-0 f6 8.e5 xe2 9.xe2 7...f6 111
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 7...ge7!? ] 8.h3?! [ Now White is starting to make mistakes. A better choice is 8.e2 d4 9.e4 c7 ] 8...xf3 9.xf3 [ 9.xf3 d4 10.e4 b4! 11.d1 c7 12.g3 g5 ] 9...d4 10.e4 h5 11.d2 f6 12.g4?! [ 12.c1 g3 13.g1 e7 ] 12...xf4 13.gxh5 xf3 14.g2 xh5-+ White is down two pawn with absolutely no compensation in sight, so I will leave the rest of the game without any further comments. 15.0-0 d6 16.f3 0-0 17.af1 e5 18.3f2 g6 19.c1 h6 20.e5 xe5 21.xb7 a7 22.g2 g6 23.e1 g3 24.e4 xf2+ 25.xf2 e5 26.g4 e1+ 27.f1 h4 28.f3 e7 29.h5 h7 30.f3 f5 31.g3 f6 32.a4 c7 33.h1 e5 34.d5 f4 0-1
119 Basman,Michael J Tal,Mihail Hastings 7374 (11) [Nigel Davies]
A02
1973
A game which shows the potential for originality in chess. Basman's 1.f4 is met by Tal's 1...d6 and the players can construct their own patterns on the board. Curiously en ou gh a Ch rist ma s t re e is crea te d wit h W h i t e ' s 1 0 t h . T h e S a n t a s p i r i t ? 1.f4 These were the days when Mike Basman still played sensible openings, the Bird being positively mainstream compared to his later r e p e r t o i r e . d6!? And this is a somewhat offbeat reply by Tal, perhaps evincing a sense of humour more than anything else. 2.f3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 f6 5.c4!? [ White can of course opt for a more regular L e n i n g r a d D u t c h t y p e s e t u p w i t h 5.d3 and after 0-0 6.e4 c5 7.0-0 c6 8.c3 t h e g a m e m i gh t e ve n t r a n s p o se i n t o a Closed Sicilian. Of course such well trodden paths would not appeal to the man playing White. ] 5...0-0 6.c3 c6 [ 6...c5 is certainly worth considering here. ]
7.0-0 d5 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.e3 c6 10.e2 Completing a formation that looks curiously like a Christmas tree - at least more than the Sicilian Dragon looks like a Dragon. Actually there is some strategic urgency behind preventing ...d5-d4. d6 11.a4 d7 12.a3 b4 [ Playing against a lower rated player Tal avoids the exchange of Queens. Actually it wouldn't be half bad for W hite after 12...xa3 13.bxa3 e4 14.b1 . ] 13.ed4 a5 14.d3 g4 15.d2 e5 T h is m a k e s se n se st ra t e gica lly s o a s t o expose the weakness on e3. B ut Black's po sit io n is n o t t oo b e a ut if u l h e re eit h e r. 16.fxe5 xe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.b3 c6 19.b5 a4 20.xd5 [ 20.xd6 axb3 21.xf7 xb2 would be qu it e goo d f o r B la ck an d right u p T al's street. ] 20...e7?! Continuing to play 'for a win' but taking ever greater risks. [ 20...xd5 was objectively much better, though Black is struggling to draw. ] 21.c3 [ 21.d4! is better, for example e6 22.e4 c4 23.dxe5 xb5 24.fd1 is just good for White because of his bishop pair. ] 21...b4 22.xb7 ab8 23.a7 xd3 24.d5 e6 25.c3 b5 26.c7? Letting his illustrious opponent off the hook. [ 26.f6! would have been very strong, for example xf6 27.xf6+ h8 28.d5 c8 29.g4+ f6 30.xf6 with a mating attack. ] 26...xc7 27.xc7 a3? But now Tal goes astray! [ 27...xe3+ 28.h1 f2+ 29.xf2 xf2 looks risky for Black because of the weaknesses around his king, but 30.e5 f6 is solid enough. ] 28.xf7! [ And not 28.bxa3? xe3+ 29.h1 bc8 etc. ] 28...xf7 [ 28...xf7 29.d5 wins the Queen. ] 29.xb8+ e8 30.d4 [ And not 30.bxa3?? b e c a u s e o f xe3+ 31.h1 f2+ 32.g1 h3+ 33.h1 g1+ 34.xg1 f2# . ] 30...axb2 31.d1 f2? [ And here 31...d7 was better. ] 112
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 32.f1?! as 15.g5? , s a y , i s m e t b y xh2+! [ 32.b1! would have won. ] 16.xh2 g3+ 17.g2 xe1 32...d3 33.xf7! xf7 34.d5 winning material. ] [ And not 34.xb2?? f2+ 35.h1 e1+ 15.xh2 g3+ 16.g1 0-0-0 36.f1 xf1# . ] [ Presumably Black had missed that after 34...b1+ 35.xb1 xd5 36.xd3 xa2 16...xe1 17.xe1 xe3 he loses a piece 37.e4 b5 38.g4 c4 39.a8+ f7 to the e-file pin: 18.e2 ] 40.f3+ e8 41.a8+ d7 17.f2?! ½-½ [ 17.h3 ] 17...xh2+ 18.xh2 d6+ 19.g1 Black has no compensation for the piece. d4 120 A02 20.xd4 g3+? 21.g2 xd4 22.e2 Broutin,Philippe 2013 1-0 De Boer,Albert 2185 22nd Open Bethune FRA (2) 26.12.2001 121 A02 [Tony Kosten] Chernyshov,Konstantin 2570 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 xd6 4.f3 c6 Gorbunov,Igor 2242 [ An alternative to the more direct 4...g5 3rd Geller mem Open A (7) 14.09.2007 which I analysed some years back, see the [Nigel Davies] classic Antoshin,V - Panchenko,A/USSR, 1983. ] 3.e6 is another way to decline the From that I 5.g3 hadn't seen prior to preparing this update. I [ 5.d4 is also played, g4 6.e3?! e7 don't see much 'advantage' as such, but the 7.f2 0-0-0 and Black is already on top, position is totally original. Let's play chess! Albin,A-Tarrasch,S/Monte Carlo 1903. ] 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.e6 This method of 5...h5!? An innovation, Black heads straight declining the From has found favour amongst for the weakness on g3. some strong players. xe6 4.f3 f6 [ 5...f6 is more common, aiming to Amazingly we've reached a little explored but complete development: 6.g2 g4 7.0-0 interesting looking position after just four h5!? ( 7...e7 and ...0-0-0 is also feasible) moves! Some more examples feature quite 8.d4 d7 9.c3 0-0-0 10.g5! hindering ... strong players: h4, Reinderman,D-Van Beers,E/Antwerp [ a) 4...d5 5.d4 c5 6.e3 h6 7.xh6 1992. ] (This is all wonderfully bizarre!) gxh6 8.c3 6.d3 c6 9.e3 g8 10.d2 c4 11.e2 f5 [ 6.g2 is another possibility. ] 12.c3 d6 13.g3 e7 14.g2 0-0-0 6...h4! The logical follow-up. 7.gxh4 15.0-0 d3 16.e1 e4 17.f4 b8 [ This weakens the kingside, but 7.xh4?! was probably about equal at this stage is worse, g5 8.f3 xg3+ ] t h o u g h W h i t e l a t e r wo n i n G i r i n a t h , P 7...g4 8.g5 f6 9.e3 e7 10.d2 xf3 (2 4 3 0)-S ara va na , K (2 24 3 ), Ne w De lh i 11.exf3 d4!? Tempting, Black menaces to 2008. ] capture on f3, and also c2, but [ b) 4...c6 5.c3 d5 6.d4 f6 7.g5 [ 11...c5! 12.f2 0-0-0 leaves Black with e7 8.e3 e4 9.xe4 dxe4 10.xe7 more than enough compensation for the xe7 11.d2 g5 12.e2 g4 13.h4 pawn (assuming he captures on h4), . ..f5 g6 14.h5 f5 15.f2 b4 16.xf5 xf5 is coming next. ] 17.f2 was if anything slightly better for 12.f2 f5 13.c3 xh4 14.e1 W hite in Kozel, R (2387)-Dolzhikova, K The pressure along the e-file causes a slight (2339), Illichevsk 2008, though Black went h i c c o u g h i n t h e b l a c k a t t a c k . xh2+? on to win. ] The right combination, ... at the wrong time! 5.b3 And now a queenside fianchetto! [ The obvious 14...0-0-0 should be played, [ A similar way of introducing this idea is via 113
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 5.e3 , for example g6 6.b3 g7 7.b2 0-0 8.e2 bd7 9.0-0 c6 10.d4 c7 11.c3 ae8 12.xe6 gave White the bishop pair in Schmitt, O-Boulineau, F, France 1996, though obviously there are many other possibilities for both sides. ] 5...d5 6.b2 d6 7.e3 g4 8.e2 c6 9.g3 [ I don't actually see anything clear for Black after 9.xg7 g8 10.b2 . ] 9...h5 10.c3 a6 11.0-0-0 e7 12.b1 0-0-0 13.g2 he8 14.hf1 g6 What can one say about this position except that it's a rich looking chess game with only a pair of pawns having been exchanged. And after a few moves the better player starts to gain the ascendancy... 15.h1 ge5 16.f2 xf3 17.xf3 e5?! [ 17...a3 was better as now White gets to advance his centre pawns. ] 18.d4 h8 19.e4 dxe4 20.xe4 f5 21.fe1 b4 22.c3 b6 23.a1 Now it's clear that White is better as his knight wants to come to c5. And maybe Black should have exchanged it with 23...Bxe4 rather than let this happen, though that would present W h i t e w i t h a u s e f u l b i s h o p p a i r . e7?! 24.c5 de8 This loses a pawn, but I don't see a good move for him. 25.xe7 xe7 26.xh5! b8 [ 26...gxh5 27.xf5+ Overloading Decoy Deflection Discovered attack Double attack ] 27.f3 a7? Losing immediately, though the position is bad for Black in any case. 28.g4 c8 29.a4 [ After 29.a4 b5 30.d5+ Black loses a piece. ] 1-0
those variations that are probably disadvantageous for White - where Black can c a p t u r e o n f 4 . dxe5 This seems to be the preferred move nowadays, although Black has a wide choice: [ 3...g5 is the 'real' From move: 4.d4!? ( I looked at 4.e4 g4 5.c4!? in the notes to the classic Antoshin - Panchenko, gxf3 6.xf3 e6?! 7.xe6 fxe6 8.0-0 e7?! Zach,A-Schmid,G/ Germany 1996, when 9.exd6 cxd6 10.c3 is strong, hitting h8 and threatening a check on c8.; 4.exd6 xd6 brings us back to the main line) 4...g4 5.g5 e7 ( 5...d7 6.fd2 dxe5 7.dxe5 f5 8.h4 c6 is also playable, Bachler,RKiss,A/Graz 1993) 6.exd6 is interesting, cxd6?! ( 6...xd6 7.xe7 xe7 is better,) 7.xe7 xe7?! 8.fd2 d5 9.c4 gaining the centre, with advantage, Katulic, Z-Ciganovic,N/Velika Gorica CRO 2002. ] [ 3...g4!? is also possible: 4.e4 ( 4.d4 d7 5.f4 xf3!? 6.exf3 dxe5 7.dxe5 h4+ 8.g3 b4+ 9.d2 c5 10.e2!? 0-0-0 11.0-0-0 leaves Black with little for the pawn, Pawliko wski,J-Pu gh, L/P arsipa nny US A 2002 ) 4...dxe5 5.c3 f6 6.c4 c6 7.0-0?? Rasmussen,M-Brantzeg,P/ Copenhagen DEN 1999 when, inexplicably, B l a c k m i s s e d xf3 8.xf3 d4+ snaffling a piece for nothing! ] [ 3...c6 4.e4 ( 4.exd6 xd6 returns to main lines again, Rasmussen, M-Rosenberg, J/Copenhagen DEN 1999) 4...dxe5 5.b5 d7 6.d3 with a fairly level position, Sikorova,O-Koenigova,P/Tatranske Zruby SVK 2000. ] 4.c3!? An important move, threatening to capture the e-pawn, and therefore stopping Black from playing his optimum set-up. [ 4.e4 might transpose should White play 122 A02 Nc3, c5 ( 4...e6!? 5.b5+ c6 6.a4 f6 7.d3 c5 8.b3 xb3 9.axb3 Danielsen,Henrik 2526 is fairly level, Markovic,G-Randjelovic,D/ Hardarson,Robert 2315 Herceg Novi YUG 2001) 5.c3 this is sort of Jonsson Mem Open (2) 24.10.2001 t h e m a i n m o v e h e r e , a l t h o u g h ( 5.c3 [Tony Kosten] might lead to our main game) 5...c6 6.b4 d6 ( 6...b6 is better ) 7.a3 f6 8.c2 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.f3 What is the point of 0-0 9.e2 h5 10.d3 f5 11.0-0 this move? In fact, White is not bothering to with chances to both sides, Danielsen,Hd e f e n d h i s e x t r a p a wn a t a l l, b u t r a t h e r Lyell,M/Copenhagen DEN 1999. ] tra n s p o s e s in to a ra re lin e o f t h e K in g's [ 4.xe5 i s O K , b u t a f t e r d6 5.f3 Gambit with the advantage that he avoids 114
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 we reach the main line, with both sides having played an extra move, Deacon,FSteinitz,W/London 1863. ] 4...c6 [ 4...c5?! 5.xe5 is the point, when Black really doesn't have too much compensation. ] 5.e4 [ 5.e3!? is a bit timid, f6 6.c4 c5 7.0-0 0-0 and Black should be happy enough, Solano Cruz,A-Trejos,E/ch-CRC, San Jose CRC 2001. ] 5...c5 6.b5 This move, with the positional threat of capturing on c6, is only possible be c a u se B lac k h as p la ye d . .. Nc6 , wh ich explains the thinking behind W hite's fourth move. Incidentally, this position is most likely to arise from a Vienna Gambit, with 1 e4 e5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 f4 Bc5 4 fxe5 d6 5 Nf3 dxe5 6 Bb5, say, than from a King's Gambit with 1 e4 e5 2 f4 Bc5 3 Nf3 d6 4 fxe5 dxe5 5 Nc3 Nc6 6 Bb5, although the proper classification is undoubtedly [C30]. g4 Pinning the knight protects the e-pawn, but others are possible: [ 6...d7 7.xc6 ( 7.a4!? ) 7...xc6 8.d3 ( 8.xe5 d4 9.d3 b6 10.e2 is unclear.) 8...d6 9.e2 0-0-0 10.e3 is fairly level, Nabil,F-Bereolos,P/ Philadelphia USA 2001. ] [ 6...ge7 7.a4!? ( 7.xe5!? d4 8.d3 i s a g a i n p o s s i b l e) 7...d6 8.d4 Prins,L-Cuellar Gacharna,M/ Moscow 1956, when exd4 9.e5 b4+ 10.c3 is wild. ] [ 6...d4!? 7.e2 ge7?! Muris,P-Erwich,F/ H e n g e l o 1 9 9 5 , 8.c3 b6 9.xe5 wins a good pawn for nothing. ] 7.h3!? The first new move, and one that asks the question of the bishop. [ 7.xc6+ is also very logical, wrecking the black queenside: bxc6 8.d3 ( 8.e2 e7 9.h3 xf3 10.xf3 is better for White, his structure is rock-solid, Gunsberg,I-Mieses, J/Has tings 1 89 5) 8...d6 9.h3 d7 it makes sense to keep the bishop pair, but Black's ragged pawns give him a permanent headache, Yakovich,YShabanov,Y/Kursk 1987. ] 7...e6 [ 7...xf3 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.xf3 is similar to the Gunsberg game, in the note above. ] 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.d3 f6 Black has the bishop
pair, but White's pawn structure is 'fire-proof' and it is instructive to see how he goes about winning the game. 10.b3!? [ 10.e2 and Be3 is also possible. ] 10...e7 11.a4 b6 12.a3 0-0 13.d2 e8 Black frees the knight from the pin so that h e c a n s e t - o f f t o wa r d s f 4 o r d 4 . 14.0-0-0 And why not, Black can hardly attack on the queenside because of his immobile pawns. g6 15.c5 f7 16.he1 f8 17.c3 e6 Black play s sensibly, he refuses to capture on c5, but tries to bring his knight to d4, and hopes that W hite will take on b6. 18.d4! Just in time. exd4 19.xd4 xd4?! Capturing a second bishop, but bringing the knight to a powerful square. [ 19...e7 20.xc6!? xd4 21.xd4 e5 is a better way of doing things, with some compensation for the pawn as White must capture on b6. ] 20.xd4 d6 21.xc6 f4+ 22.b1?! This move appears to lose the extra pawn, [ 22.b2! is better, as then f2 ( 22...xe4 23.g3 xe1 24.gxf4 xd1 25.f3 wins an exchange) 23.f1 xe4?? 24.d2 wins a piece. ] 22...f2 23.e2 The point is that now [ 23.f1 xe4 24.d2?! achieves nothing: e1+ ] 23...g3?! Strange, why not take the pawn? [ 23...xe4 24.e7+ f8! 25.xf2 xf2 26.c6 le ad s no wh ere xe7 27.xa8+ e8 ] 24.c5! Now White is back on track. h8 [ 24...xe4?? loses, 25.e7+ h8 26.c6 ] 25.c3 h4 26.f1 g6?! [ 26...h5 27.d2 g6 is stronger. ] 27.d5 a6 28.e5! White liquidates his w e a k e s t p a w n . fxe5 29.xe5 h5 30.xg6+ hxg6?! 31.c6 f8 32.xf8+ xf8 33.xa6 e5 Hoping for some play on the dark squares, but it never materialises, and meanwhile White has two extra pawns. 34.b2 g5 35.c6 f1 36.b4 f4 37.a3 f6 38.b3 h7 39.d5 b1+ 40.a4 The king is safe here. f1 41.xf6+ gxf6 1-0
115
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 gets interesting. c6 35.b4 a4 36.xe7 d7 37.xd3!? b2 38.xg6 xd1 Danielsen,Henrik 39.d6 cxd3 40.xd3 b2 41.d4 Ismagambetov,Anuar White's a rook down, but has the attack and 37th Olympiad (10) five extra pawns! e8 42.xe8+ xe8 [John Watson] 43.xc7 xc7 44.f2 a4 45.c4 c3 In this game White plays the Leningrad Dutch 46.cxb5 xb5 47.d3 a7 48.g5 c6 Reversed. This can't be bad, although White's 49.b5 e7 50.g3 g6 51.d6 f8 52.f5 extra tempo isn't worth much (the Leningrad xe5 53.xe6 Four passed pawns should do is mostly reactive). 1.f4 c5 2.f3 g6 3.g3 the trick. g7 4.d3 c6 5.g2 e6 6.a4 This again! 1-0 Larsen liked this in the Leningrad. I'd be more tempted to play 0-0 and c3, or even Qe1. A02 ge7 7.c3 d6 8.a3 0-0 9.0-0 b8 10.e4 124 a6 Natural and not very exciting moves follow. Dimitrov,Pavel 2448 Perhaps Black could have played ...e5 earlier. Stojanovic,Andjelija 2310 11.e3 b5 12.axb5 axb5 13.c2 c7 25th Festival Open A (4) 25.02.2008 Neither side wants to make contact with the [Nigel Davies] other. 14.fe1 d7 15.f2 fc8 [ 15...f5 and ] Against the 4...Nf6 variation of the From there [ 15...e5 are the natural English/Closed doesn't seem to have been much experience Sicilian moves. ] with a solid construction based on d2-d4 and 16.f1!? An odd move, indirectly hitting b5 e2-e3. But I don't see why not as it looks and supporting c4 if a knight has to go there. rather good. 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 d8 17.b1 a5 18.bd2 e8 19.e5! xd6 4.f3 f6 Using pure piece play to try Finally! I like W hite. b7!? Good if White and generate compensation. 5.d4 White has plays e xd6 , b ut whe re will t his kn igh t go tried other moves here too, for example: otherwise? I think that he wanted to defend c5 [ a) 5.e3 g4 6.e2 0-0 ( 6...c6 7.c3 in advance of ...d5, but that's a little exotic. ce5 8.g3 h5 9.d4 xf3+ 10.xf3 h4 19...Nec6 or 19...Ra8 was more to the point, 11.b5+ c6 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.xc6+ challenging the file. Still, White stands better was good for White in Obukhov, A (2475)at this point. 20.g4!? Nikitin, A (2452), Alushta 2004) 7.g3 e8 [ or 20.d4 ] 8.g2 c6 9.0-0 h5 10.c3 h4 11.gxh4 20...d5?! The plans look mixed up if this were d4 12.xd4 xh2+ 13.h1 xh4 going to be played Black's last move doesn't 14.f3 h5 15.d1 was Rendle, T (2366)make much sense. 21.h4 c6 22.f6 Heinis, V (2156), Catalan Bay 2007 and now h6? This really is a mistake, inviting attack Black should have forced a draw with d6+ a n d l o s i n g t i m e . 23.g5! This is getting ( Rather than the 15...e6 o f t h e g a m e) dangerous. You can sense Ndf3, Qf2-h4. So 16.g1 h2+ etc. ] Black takes action, but in doing so cedes [ b) 5.g3 c6 6.g2 g4 7.d3 d7 8.c3 more squares. d4?! 0-0-0 9.g5 f5 10.d2 b4 11.h4 [ 23...g7 , to get ...h6 in quickly. ] c5 12.xf6 gxf6 13.a3 a5 24.de4 xe4 was Danielsen, H (2511)-Vea, O (2085), [ 24...g7 25.f5! ] C o p e n h a g e n 2 0 0 5 a n d n o w 14.b1!? 25.dxe4 Remember that knight on b7? Now would have been very annoying for Black as b5 is attacked. c4 26.f2 d3 27.h4 xg5 White is threatening b2-b4. ] 28.xg5 It's really over now there dark 5...f5 squares can't be protected. c7 29.e3! c5 [ 5...g4 has also been played but seems to Finally, 4 or 5 moves too late. 30.h3 f8 be well met by 6.c3 0-0 7.e3 . ] 31.xh7 e8 32.d1 c8 33.g7 d7 6.e3 A nice compact way to play it which 34.xf7 The rest isn't important, although it l e a v e s t h e o n u s f i r m l y o n B l a c k t o 123
A02 2520 2420 31.05.2006
116
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 demonstrate his 'compensation'. [ W h i t e u s u a l l y p l a y s 6.g5 here, for example h6 7.h4 g5 8.f2 g4 9.g3 f6 was Boerner, J-Heinrich, S, Eisenberg 1 9 9 3 , a n d n o w 10.c3 would have been good because xf2 11.xf2 g4 is met by 12.e4 . ] 6...e4 7.d3 d7 8.bd2 df6 9.0-0 e7 10.c4 [ 10.e5! would have been even stronger because xe5 11.xf5 leaves Black without a good move. ] 10...g4?! [ Here and over the next few moves Black gambles on a speculative attack. Of course he is a pawn down, but the calmer 10...0-0 would have been better. ] 11.xd6+ [ 11.fe5! would have been very strong because the bishop on f5 is hanging. For example after h4 12.h3 xe5 13.xe5 xe5 14.xf5 g6 15.f3 Black is in big trouble. ] 11...cxd6 12.h3 [ Even in this position 12.e5! is strong because of dxe5 13.xf5 g6 14.xg4 gxf5 15.xf5 d6 16.xe5 etc. Two bishops and three pawns are more than a match for a rook and knight. ] 12...h5?! [ Objectively speaking Black should play 12...gf6 , though he doesn't have much for his pawn. ] 13.e1 d5? Still overstraining to demonstrate his 'compensation'. [ 13...gf6 was better, though there's still the issue of him being down a pawn. ] 14.e5 g5 [ 14...xe5 15.xf5 c6 16.xd5 g6+- ] 15.b5+ f8 16.h4 [ 16.hxg4 hxg4 would be very dangerous for White because of the opening of the h-file. ] 16...f6 17.d7+ xd7 18.xf6 gxf6 19.b4+ e8 20.b3 a6 21.xd7+ xd7 [ Or 21...xd7 22.a3 d8 23.xb7 etc. ] 22.xb7+ e6 23.a3 he8 24.f1 ad8 25.c6+ d6 26.xd6 [ W hite is winning material after 26.xd6 xd6 27.xf6+ etc. ] 1-0
125 Grunberg,Mihai Kotronias,Vasilios 11th Open Kavala GRE (8) [Nigel Davies]
A02 2445 2578 16.08.2002
This game was of some theoretical importance with the superbly prepared Kotronias coming up with 11...h6 to stop any Bg5-f6 ideas. It seems to be a theoretical novelty, and a good one at that. 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 xd6 4.f3 g5 5.d4 This leads to an approximately even endgame. [ 5.g3 is more complex but has greater attendant risks, for example g4 6.h4 e7 7.d4 ( 7.d3 g6 8.g2 h5 9.e3 h4 10.gxh4 xh4 11.d2 1/2-1/2 was Pavlov, M (2451) -Derjabin, I (2391), Alushta 2004, which really poses more questions than it answers. ) 7...bc6 8.c3 g6 9.xg6 ( 9.g2 h5 10.d3 h4 11.f4 g5 12.g2 hxg3 13.hxg3 xh1+ 14.xh1 ce7 15.e4?! c6 16.e3 f5 was very good f or Black in Paichadze, L (2410) Isgandarova, K (2230), Tbilisi 2009) 9...hxg6 10.d3 f5 11.e4 e7 12.g2 0-0-0 13.e3 e6 was Rendle, T (2370) Kotronias, V (2585), Caleta 2005, and now maybe W hite should have forced a draw with 14.e5 xe5 15.xc6 d6 16.xb7+ xb7 17.b5+ c8 18.a6+ b8 19.b5+ etc. ] 5...g4 6.e5 xe5 7.dxe5 xd1+ 8.xd1 c6 9.c3 e6 10.f4 0-0-0+ 11.e1 h6 Up to here it had all been played before but this is new all Black is doing is stopping any Bf4-g5-f6 ideas which might be quite annoying. [ A century old precedent, Chigorin, MTarrasch, S, Vienna 1898, had gone 11...ge7 12.e3 g6 and now 13.g5 ( Instead of 13.d3 ) 13...de8 14.f6 hf8 15.b5 would have been unpleasant. ] 12.e3 ge7 13.d3 g6 14.xg6 fxg6 15.d1 g5 16.g3 h5 17.e4 dg8 18.c5 e8 19.e4 [ 19.xe6 xe6 20.e2 he8 is also fine for Black who will recover the e5 pawn via ... h5-h4 and have wonderfully active pieces. ] 19...h4 20.f2 117
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 6...c6?! 7.xc6 h4+ ( 7...bxc6 8.g3 h5 9.g2 h4 10.d3 the black initiative is insufficient, Tartakower,S-Spielmann,R/ Vienna 1913) 8.g3 xg3+ 9.hxg3 xh1 10.e5 h5 11.d3 with a clear white a d va n t a g e , L a u , R- M ic h a il o w, S / K a s s e l 1995. ] 7.dxe5 xd1+ 8.xd1 c6 9.c3 e6 10.f4!? White hangs-on to his extra pawn, often he prefers [ 10.g5 to st op Bla ck ca st lin g, xe5 ( 10...ge7!? allows Black to castle, but after 11.e4 0-0-0+ 12.d3 hg8 13.f6 W hite is better, Szlabey,G-Emodi,G/ Kobanya 1991) 11.b5 d7 12.e1 f6 13.d1+ c8 White's bishops are countered by Black's superior structure, Williams,S-Quinn,M/Witley 1996. ] 10...0-0-0+ Automatic, but maybe [ 10...ge7!? i s s t r o n g e r , 11.e3 g6 12.g5 (when Black has castled this gains a t e m p o o n t h e r o o k ) gxe5 13.e4 Berescu,A-Tomescu,V/Sovata 1998, when f5 looks good. ] 11.e1 So as not to block-in the a1-rook, but [ 11.c1 i s s i m i l a r , ge7 12.e3 g6 13.g5 de8 14.f6 hg8 15.d3 Grunberg, M-Cechalova,E/Stockerau 1993, cxe5 equal. ] 11...h6!? A novelty, Black wants to play the n o rm a l p la n , . . . Nge 7 -g6 xe 5 , b u t wit h o u t allowing Bg5 in reply, hitting the d8-rook. [ 11...ge7 is the habitual move, 12.e3 g6 ( 12...d5!? 13.xd5 xd5 14.g1 126 A02 1/2-1/2 Grunberg,M-Nisipeanu,L/ROM-chT 1992, is quite good) 13.g5 Caamano,JGrunberg,Mihai 2445 Ra va zzo li, O / V illa B a lle st e r 19 9 4 wh e n Kotronias,Vasilios 2578 ( 13.d3?! cxe5 14.xg6 xg6 15.f1 11th Open Kavala GRE (8) 16.08.2002 is nice for Black, Chigorin, M-Tarrasch,S/ [Tony Kosten] Vienna 1898 .) 13...de8 14.f6 hg8 15.d3 cxe5 16.xe5 xe5 17.xh7 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 Now both players go down h8 18.d3 seems logical, when Black has the mainline. 3.exd6 xd6 4.f3 g5 5.d4 almost enough for his pawn. ] Preparing a square for the knight, about to be 12.e3 ge7 13.d3 g6 14.xg6 hit by ...g4, we considered the alternative [ 5.g3 in the game Antoshin,V-Panchenko, Otherwise Black simply captures on e5. fxg6 15.d1 g5 16.g3 h5 Opposite-colour A. ] bishops are on the board, which makes it 5...g4 6.e5 [ 6.g5?! is worse, f5 and the knight is in fairly drawish, but Black's pawns are more mobile, and so, if anyone, it is he with the trouble. ] 6...xe5 Black concedes the bishop pair but better chances. 17.e4!? dg8!? [ 17...b4!? 18.xg5 xc2+ 19.f2 xa2 heads for a reasonable ending. [ And not 20.xe6? hxg3 etc. ] 20...g3 21.hxg3?! [ 21.e3 was better as now White loses the exchange. ] 21...g4 22.gxh4 [ 22.d5 hxg3 23.xh8 gxf2+ would cost a whole piece. ] 22...xd1 23.xd1 xe5 24.h5 g4 25.e2 b6 26.d3 xe4+ 27.f3 f6 [ 27...c4! was better. ] 28.h6 c5 29.e1 e6 30.c3 c4 31.e5 d5 32.g6? [ And here White should hang on to the g6 pawn with 32.g4 . ] 32...h7 33.f8 f7+ 34.g4 xf8 35.h7 xc3 36.h8 xh8 37.xh8+ b7 38.bxc3 e2 39.h2 xc2 40.xg5 xa2 41.h7+ c6 42.g4 a5 43.f4 f2+ 44.e3 g2 45.g7?! [ 45.f4 looks like a better try. ] 45...b5 46.g5 a4 47.f3 c2 48.g6 xc3+ 49.f2 d3 50.c7 b4 51.g7 d8 52.c6 b5 53.g6 a4 54.g8 xg8 55.xg8 a3 56.e3 c3 57.e4 a2 58.g3+ b2 59.g2+ b3 60.g3+ b2 61.g2+ b3 62.g1 c3 63.d3 b4 64.h1 c2 65.c1 b2? Falling at the final hurdle. [ 65...a3 66.xc2 b3+ 67.d2 b2 wins for Black. ] 66.xc2+ b1 67.h2 b3 68.c4 ½-½
118
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is also worth trying. ] 18.c5 e8 19.e4?! h4 20.f2 g3! 21.hxg3 g4 Both threatening the rook, and hxg3 which wins a piece. 22.gxh4 [ 22.d2?? hxg3 23.xh8 gxf2+ ] 22...xd1 23.xd1 xe5 24.h5 g4 25.e2 b6 W inning the e-pawn. 26.d3 xe4+ 27.f3 f6 28.h6 This pawn is White's only hope. c5 29.e1 e6 30.c3 c4 31.e5 d5 32.g6!? h7 33.f8 f7+!? A mistake, White wins a piece, but allows the h-pawn through. [ 33...exh6 34.xh6 xh6 should be winning. ] 34.g4 xf8!? [ 34...f4+! i s t h e m o ve , 35.xg5 xf8 36.g7 ( 36.h7 xc3 37.h8?? n o l o n g e r w o r k s b e c a u s e o f e4+ which actually leads to mate!) 36...g8 and whilst White has some chances, Black should win. ] 35.h7 xc3 36.h8 xh8 37.xh8+ b7 38.bxc3 e2 Black is much better, anyway, for although as we all know rook endings are fairly drawish, and here the white king is active, unfortunately all his queenside pawns will drop off. 39.h2 xc2 40.xg5 xa2 41.h7+ c6 42.g4 White decides to ditch his queenside and run his g-pawn, which is a standard plan. a5 43.f4 f2+ 44.e3 g2 45.g7 b5 46.g5 a4 47.f3 c2 48.g6 xc3+ 49.f2 d3 50.c7 b4 51.g7 d8 52.c6 b5 53.g6 a4!? This must win, but can White really stop the passed pawns after [ 53...g8 54.e2 b3 ] 54.g8 xg8 55.xg8 a3 56.e3 c3 57.e4 a2 58.g3+ b2 59.g2+ b3 60.g3+ b2 [ 60...c3 61.g1 b2 62.d3 c2 wins. ] 61.g2+ b3 62.g1 c3 63.d3 b4 64.h1 c2 65.c1 b2?? An appalling blunder [ 65...a3! 66.xc2 b3+ 67.d2 b2 wins easily, Black must have been in severe time trouble. ] 66.xc2+ b1 67.h2 b3 68.c4 ½-½
127 Karlsson,Lars Tairi,Faruk Swedish Team Ch [Carsten Hansen]
A02 2486 2275 2007
1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 c6 This is an interesting alternative to the traditional From Gambit. However, as you will see from the coverage below, the number of quality games between players of a decent level is painfully small. This is unf ortunately often the issue with these off-beat gambits. 3.f3 g5 4.d4 [ 4.h3!? looks like a rather obvious move, but one that has yet to be explored in detail. d6 5.d4! dxe5 6.d5 e4! 7.xg5 d6 8.xe4 f5! 9.f2 g3 10.e4 h4 11.d3 xf2+ 12.f1 d4! 13.e1 xe1+ 14.xe1 b4 15.exf5 xd3+ 16.cxd3 e7 17.f1 xd5 is one very long variation f rom Bucker, though this hardly constitutes model play from both sides. ] 4...g4 5.g5 d6 [ 5...d5!? was the subject of ReddmannLangrock, 2001, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] [ 5...h6 was mentioned in the notes to the Reddmann-Langrock game as a possible improvement, but I think White can get the better chances in this particular line: 6.e4 xc1 7.xc1 xd4 , and now 8.d2!? ( 8.c3?! c6 9.f4 e7 10.f6+ xf6 11.exf6 e5 was Tony's main line.) 8...c6 9.bc3 e7 10.h3!? ( 10.d5 xe5 11.g5 xe4 12.xc7+ f8 13.xa8 b4+ 14.c3 xb2 15.c1 d6 , and matters are totally unclear.) 10...gxh3 11.0-0-0 xe5 12.xh3 , and White has a lead in development and the initiative. ] 6.exd6 [ White has tried a number of other things at this juncture: A) 6.d3 A) 6...h6?! 7.e4! ( 7.xh7?! f5 8.f6+ xf6 9.exf6 xd3 10.exd3 xd4 11.d1 0-0-0 12.c3 e6 13.e2 K r o g e r , H - G e rs t e l , J/ G e r m a n y 1 9 8 8) 7...dxe5 8.g5 xd4 9.f6+ d8 10.g8+ e8 11.xh6 xb2 12.b3 , and White is winning; B) 6...h6 7.xf7? xf7 8.e6+ xe6 119
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.xh6 xh6? ( 9...h4+ 10.d1 xh6 11.d5 f5 12.e4 e5-+ ) 10.d5 f5 11.d2 f6 12.dxc6 xb2 13.cxb7 xa1 14.bxa8 xb1+ 15.f2 g3+! , and Black won shortly, Franke, CLeeners, H/corr ICCF 1986 ] [ B) 6.e6 fxe6 7.e4 f6 ( 7...h6 8.xe6 xe6 9.d5 e5 10.dxe6 h4+ 11.g3 f6 12.g2 e7 13.c3 0-0-0 , and Black has clearly solved his opening problems, Cvejn, J-Haba, Z/ Usti nad Orlici CZE 2006) 8.b5 h6 9.e5 hxg5 10.exf6 xf6 11.f1 g7 with a better game for Black, Wiest, L-Nissl, M/Augsburg 1995 ] [ C) 6.e4 A) 6...h6 7.xf7 xf7 8.c4+ g7 9.e6 f6 ( 9...h4+ 10.g3 h3 11.c3 f6 12.f1 e7 13.e3 with some compensation for the piece ) 10.0-0 A1) 10...e7 11.c3 g8 12.f5!? ( 12.d5?! e5 13.e2 e8 14.f5 g6 , and Black is beginning to stablize h i s p o s i t i o n .) 12...xe6 ( 12...h7 13.g5! ) 13.xe6 xe6 14.d5; A2) 10...a5?! 11.d3 xe6 ( 11...c5 12.d5 e7 13.e3 ) 12.d5 c6 13.dxe6 e5 14.c3+- Williams, SHowell, D/Halifax ENG 2004; B) 6...e7!? 7.xf7 xf7 8.e6+! e8 9.b5; C) 6...dxe5 7.c4! ( 7.d5 h6 8.xf7 xf7 9.dxc6 xd1+ 10.xd1 bxc6 11.c4+ e6 12.xe6+ xe6 13.e3 f6 14.d2 Cools, G-Henris, L/BEL 1997 ) 7...xd4 8.xf7+ e7 9.c3! C1) 9...xd1+! 10.xd1 f6 11.d5+ ( 11.f1 h6 12.c4 d8= ) 11...xd5 12.xd5 h6 13.f7 h7 14.f1; C2) 9...f6? 10.e2 h6 11.e3 hxg5?! ( 11...b4 12.0-0 hxg5 13.f2 wins for White - Correspondence Chess Yearbook ) 12.xd4 xd4 13.c4 c6 14.g6 xc2+ 15.d2 e6 16.c5+ Hayward, K-Johnson, R/corr 1990 ] [ C) 6.e4 dxe5 7.d5 ( 7.dxe5? f5 Volf, R-Wiesinger, J/ Wattens 1997) 7...b4 8.ec3 c5 9.a3 a6 10.e3 ] 6...xd6 [ Black has a wonderfully complicated alternative in 6...xd6 A) 7.d5 is played less frequently, but
should be. It appears that White has the better chances: A1) 7...b4 8.c3 ( 8.e4?! e5 9.bc3 f5 10.a3 xe4 11.axb4 xb4 Rost, H-Svendsen, T/corr 1987) 8...f6 9.e4 h6 10.a3 hxg5 11.axb4 with a good game for White.; A2) 7...ce7 8.c3 f6 9.ce4 xe4 10.xe4 e5 11.c3 d7 12.g3 ( 12.e4 0-0-0 13.g3!? followed by Bf4 looks good for W hite) 12...g6 13.d3 0-0-0 14.g2 c5 15.d2 f5 16.0-0-0 , and White has the better chances, already beginning to consolidate his position and extra pawn, Ressler, E-Koegler, K/corr BdF 1991; A3) 7...e5 8.c3 f5?! ( 8...g7 9.ge4 g6 10.e3 ) 9.f4 g7 10.e4 h6 11.b5+! ( 11.b5? c5 was already fine for Black in Bohn, TGallinnis, N/Germany 1997) 11...e7 ( 11...c6 12.xe5 xe5 13.dxc6 wins for White) 12.e6 xe6 13.dxe6 , and White is more or less winning; B) 7.c3 B1) 7...f5 8.b3 ( 8.d5!? e5 9.a3 looks like an improvement for W hite.) 8...e7 B1a) 9.h3 h6 10.h4 g7?! ( 10...f6! ) 11.xh7 xd4 12.g5? ( 12.cxd4! is simple and good. After W hite's 12th move, Black is clearly better. ) 12...e5 13.c4 ( Black has excellent compensation for the piece. In fact, my computer suggests 13.d1 as W hite's best move, though obviously Black is doing very well after d7 14.d2 g3 followed by ... 0-0-0 ) 13...f6 Albert, M-Ebbecke, S/ Landau 1988; B1b) 9.d5 e5 10.e6 xe6 11.dxe6 0-0-0 12.g3 c6?! ( 12...h6! not allowing White to consolidate looks like a better try.) 13.e3 h6 14.d4 d5 15.g2 b5 16.c2 xe6 17.0-0 Sehner, N-Buecker, P/Enger Spenge 1978; B2) 7...g6 B2a) 8.d5 e5 9.a4+ ( 9.f4 g7 10.d2 e7 11.b3 f5 , Birtz, C-Arroyo, A/IECG Email 1998, 120
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black. 11.e3 hxg5 ( 11...g7 12.ge4 12.e3!? xd5 13.b5+ c6 14.0-0 f5 13.b5+ f8 14.0-0-0 ) 12.exd4 xh1 xf4 15.exf4 0-0 16.e2 ) 9...d7 13.xg5 ] 10.e4 d6 11.f4 g7 , Fawbush, [ 10...d7 11.xf7 xf7 12.d1 b4 G-W heeler, K/ corr 1980, and now 13.xd7+ e8 14.xc7 f6 15.e5 f8 12.d2 f5 is also quite unclear; 16.e3 a6 17.h6 a5 18.d6 f7 B2b) 8.h3 f6 9.d5 d8 10.a4+ 19.xf6 xf6 20.e7+ d8 21.c7+ xc7 ( 10.e6? xe6 11.dxe6 gxh3! 22.xc7 xf1+ 23.xf1 xc7 , and White 12.xh3 xe6 is given as winning for has two pawns for the exchange, but Black Black by Buecker, but that is is probably still clearly better. ] exaggerating matters quite a bit Black is clearly bet ter af te r 13.d3 c6 11.d1 g7! [ 11...b6 12.xe6 xe6 13.b5 c8 , but not more than that) 10...d7 14.xc7+ xc7 15.xc7 xa2 16.h5 11.e4+ e7 12.xg6+ hxg6 f6 ] 13.e4 xd5 14.c4 , and White is 12.b5 c8 13.e3 a6 fine; [ 13...xa2!? picks up further material. B2c) 8.d3 f5 9.h3? ( 9.e3+!? However, the lower-rated player with Black e7 10.d5 d8 11.h3 f6 seems to almost panic while h aving a n 12.d4 ) 9...e7 10.e3 f6 opportunity to beat a grandmaster. ] Jendrian, M-Labahn, W/Bad Segeberg 14.d4 e7?? 1998 ] [ 14...xa2! is again perfectly viable ] 7.c3 [ A) 7.c3!? f5 8.e4 h6 9.e5 e7 10.h3 15.c4!? d8? [ Now Black ends up in a lost position. gxh3 11.h5+ f8 12.c4 e8 13.xh3 Instead, he could have developed another g6 14.0-0 , and despite only having two piece with 15...f6 , e. g. 16.gxe6 fxe6 pawns for the piece, W hite has obviously 17.xe6 g6 18.h6 e4 19.xc8 xc8 amble compensation, Rujzam, G-Goris, T/ 20.g5 f8 , and Black is still in the game, Budapest 1992 ] though White has the better chances after [ B) 7.e4?! h6 8.e5 hxg5 9.exd6 xd6 21.d2 ] 10.c3?! ( 10.c3 f5 11.b5 e7+ [ However, 15...g6 is ultimately Black's 12.e2 0-0-0 13.xe7 gxe7= ) 10...xh2 best option, e.g. 16.gxe6 fxe6 17.0-0 ( 10...f5 11.xg5 f6 12.e3 xh2 , and White has sufficient compensation for 13.xh2 xh2 ) 11.e2+ f8 12.xh2 the pawn. ] xh2 13.g3 xg3+ 14.f2 xf2+ 15.xf2 16.xe6 fxe6? f6 Philippin, O-Wege, J/Wuerzburg 1996 ] [ Or 16...xd4 17.xd4 fxe6 18.xc7 7...xd4 8.xd4? , and White wins, but the text move is even [ The Swedish grandmaster is clearly having worse. ] fun, but the queen sacrifice is in all fairness n o t a n y g o o d a n d l e a ve s B l a c k wi t h a 17.gxe6 g6 18.xd8 xd8 19.c6+ s ize a b le a d v a n t a ge . W h it e co u ld h a ve 1-0 claimed an advantage with the safer and saner 8.ge4 , for instance e5 9.g5 f6 A02 10.e3 fxg5 11.exd4 xd4 12.xd4 xd4 128 13.0-0-0 , and White is way ahead in Kogan,Artur 2518 development. ] Afek,Yochanan 2360 8...g3+ 9.hxg3 xd4 10.f4 e6! Pyramiden-Franken Cup (5) 25.08.1999 [ A long piece of analysis is given in the [Tony Kosten] S we d is h c h e ss m a ga zin e st a rt in g wit h 10...h6!? , and although the analysis is quite 1.f4 c5 2.f3 c6 Inviting White to play 3 flawed, it is also entertaining. Therefore I e4, with transposition to the Grand-Prix Attack, will give the line in its entirety, though the which he declines. 3.e3 g6 4.e2 g7 5.0-0 game continuation is likely the best play by e5?! An innovation already, Black hopes to 121
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 weaken the white kingside. be found in the archives. )] [ 5...d5 or ] [ 11...d7 is also commonly played. 12.d2 [ 5...f6 would be normal. ] (other moves are possible, but I believe this 6.fxe5 xe5 7.xe5 xe5 8.d4! is strongest) 0-0-0 ( 12...f5 13.c4 0-0-0 This is very awkward for Black. g7 After 14.xd6+ cxd6 can transpose.) 13.e4 [ 8...d6?! 9.e4 almost obliges Black to play h5!? ( M o r e p r o m i s i n g t h a n 13...f5 f6 ] 14.xd6+ cxd6 15.e3! f7?! 16.d5 e5 [ 8...cxd4? is even worse, for after 9.exd4 17.xa7 Taylor, T (2297)-Becerra Rivero, b o t h t h e e - f il e a n d c 1 -h 6 d ia go n a l a r e J (2552)/Minneapolis 2005.) 14.xd6+ cxd6 opened for White's benefit. ] Here I propose ( 14...xd6 15.f4 e7 9.dxc5 f6 Black decides to get on with his Ga rd ne r, R (2 25 7)-Rekhso n, V (20 00 )/ development, rather than waste more time Edmonton 2004. Now 16.0-0!? looks good, chasing after his lost pawn. 10.c3 0-0 intending to meet dh8 with 17.d5 xh2 11.e4 e7 12.d6 After this it is clear that 18.e3! when the endgame after xe3+ Black is lost- a pawn down with a bad position. 19.xe3 e5 20.d4 2h5 is pleasant for xd6 13.cxd6 h6 14.e5 e8 15.d5 W hite with the bishop pair and 4-3 xe5 16.xh6 g7 17.e7+ h7 18.f4! queenside majority.) 15.e3!? , which is A strong choice, returning a pawn to keep his just as useful as in the Taylor - Becerra powerful d6-pawn. game above. Black isn't thrilled about a [ 18.xg7 xg7 19.ad1 is simpler, but not queen trade, but has to beware of the d4-d5 nearly so effective. ] threat. ( 15.e3?! Dimitriadis, M-Kiss, A 18...xb2 19.ab1 d4+ 20.h1 g7 (2409)/ Oberwart 2003. f5 16.d2 e8 Allowing White a nice finish, 17.f2 e4 18.xe4 xe4 19.0-0-0 d5 )] [ but 20...b6 is little better after 21.f3 b8 12.d2! Clearly best - the knight is headed for 22.c6! dxc6 23.d7 c7 24.xc7 xd7 e4. Previously, White hadn't shown anything 25.xb8 xb8 26.bd1 and White wins. ] convincing: 21.b4! The point of White's play, the rook [ 12.e4?! White has to be judicious with this c o m e s t o c 4 . f6 22.c4 The bishop is p a w n p u s h . 0-0-0 13.e3? xh2! trapped, and so Black has little choice over In the 11...Bf5 12.e4 0-0-0 main line, 13.Be3 his next move. xe7 23.dxe7 h8 24.e5+ is fine because W hite would simply meet f6 25.xf6! The final nail in the coffin. xf6 13...Rxh2 with 14.Rxh2 Bxg3+ 15.Kf1 Bxh2 26.f4 e8 27.xf6+ 16.exf5. Here, Black's light-square bishop is 1-0 safe, so 13. Be3 is just a blunder. 14.0-0 c4! 15.d2 ( 15.xc4 xg2+ 16.xg2 xe4+ 17.f2 xg3+ 18.e2 e5! 129 A02 is totally crushing.) 15...xf1 16.xh2 h8+ 17.g1 xg2 18.xg2 h3 19.f2 Lie,Kjetil A 2560 g5 20.a3 xa3 21.bxa3 d2 22.e1 Sulskis,Sarunas 2577 e3+? 23.f1 d3+ 24.g1 xd4 18th European Teams (8.16) 10.11.2011 25.cxd4 xd4+ 0-1 Simonsen, O (2115)[John Bartholomew] Nolsoe, R (2150)/Faroe Islands 1997. ] [ 12.0-0 0-0-0 13.e4? Czarekk2-BornOfFire/ 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 xd6 4.f3 g5 playchess.com INT 2004. Again, this is 5.g3 g4 6.h4 e7 7.d4 g6 8.xg6 misguided: xh2! and White can't recapture hxg6 9.d3 c6 10.c3 e7 11.g2 because 14.xh2 h4+ 15.g1 xg3 e6!? Sulskis chooses a rare continuation. is decisive, e.g. 16.d1 e5! 17.e2 [ The main line is 11...f5 12.e4 0-0-0 h2+ 18.f1 c4+- ] and now either 13.e3 Rendle, T (2370)[ 12.e3 We've seen that this move can be Kot ron ias , V (258 5)/ Calet a 2 005 /[Joh n good, but with the bishop on e6 White isn't Watson]. ( or 13.0-0 e5 Antoshin, V threatening a queen trade. Also, d4-d5 isn't Panchenko, A /USSR 1983/[TonyK]. yet a threat. h5!? ( 12...0-0-0! is stronger Analysis of both of these continuations can 122
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 be c au s e o f 13.d5? c5 ) 13.d2 0-0-0 14.b3 dh8 Bachler, R (2226)-Steinbacher, T (2059)/Jenbach AUT 2009. ] [ Finally, only White can get in trouble with 12.d5?! , f o r i n s t a n c e e5 13.b5+? ( 13.d4 f5 ) 13...d7! 14.xb7 0-0-+ White is fatally underdeveloped and unable to ward off threats like 15...Nd3+, or 15... Rfb8 followed by 16...Bb5. ] 12...0-0-0 13.e4 h5!? A nice, multipurpose square for the rook in this line. Black def ends against the imminent threat of 14.Bg5 and prepares to double on the h-file. A future d4-d5 push is also discouraged. [ The forcing continuation 13...d5 14.g5 xe4 15.xe7 xd3 16.xd8 e8 17.0-0 xe2 18.g5 xf1 19.xf1 is quite similar to the note to Gardner-Rekhson (11...Bd7). The static advantages of the bishop pair and queenside majority give White a stable edge. ] [ 13...e5!? takes advantage of the d-file pin. An intriguing line runs 14.g5 ( 14.b5!? ) 14...f5 15.e3 f6 16.dxe5 fxg5 17.xc6! bxc6 18.xa7 e4 19.a6+ b8 ( 19...d7 20.f1 is dangerous for Black.) 20.e3! c5 ( 20...xh1?? 21.a7+ a8 22.c5++- ) 21.b5+ c8 22.f1 , when W hite has some advantage in a messy position. ] 14.xd6+! Simplification is best. [ We've seen that castling short isn't altogether unusual in the main-line From's, so 14.0-0!? is interesting to investigate. After dh8 15.f2! is a good response. Ho we v e r , t h e c o m p l i c a t i o n s a f t e r xh2 16.g5 f8 17.d5 e5 18.d4 f5 19.xd6+ xd6 seem fine for Black, e.g. ( 19...cxd6 20.xa7+- ) 20.f4 ( 20.xa7 f3+! 21.exf3 xg3 forces White to take a perpetual: 22.a8+ d7 23.a4+ c8 24.a8+= ) 20...f6 21.xa7 g5! 22.xe5 xe5 23.d6! e4 A) or 24.d7+ xd7 25.a4+ c6 26.xc6+ bxc6 27.xh2 xg3+ 28.g2 e3+ 29.f2 g3+= ( The rook ending after 29...g3 30.d4+ xd4 31.cxd4 gxf2+ 32.xf2 e6 is level. ); B) 24.a8+ d7 25.a4+ c6 26.xc6+ bxc6 27.xh2 ( 27.xg4+??
f5-+ ) 27...xg3+ 28.g2 e3+ 29.f2 g3+ ( 29...g3 30.g4+ d8 31.dxc7+ xc7 32.af1= ) 30.g2= ] 14...xd6?! [ Here 14...cxd6! is preferable. On 15.d5 e5 16.d4 , a7 is indeed hanging, but f5 A) 17.e3! is best, when dh8 18.0-0-0 xh2 19.xh2 xh2 20.h1! A1) 20...xg2?? 21.h8+ c7 ( or 21...d7 22.xa7+- ) 22.xa7+-; A2) 20...xh1+ 21.xh1 b6 is only a little better for White.; B) 17.xa7? i s n ' t a d v i s a b l e : d3+ 18.f1 e8 19.e3 (this or the equ iva len t 1 9. Qe3 - the re's n o o the r defense) xe3 20.xe3 xe3 21.exd3 xd3+ 22.g1 d7 ] 15.f4 d7 16.e4? This results in an opposite-color bishop scenario where Black has ample counterplay. [ 16.0-0! dh8 17.f2! is a familiar and effective motif. Black's counterplay stalls because of xh2?? 18.xc6+- ] 16...g5 17.e3 e5 18.c2 [ or 18.d1 f3+ 19.xf3 gxf3 20.xf3 g4 21.g2 b5! ] 18...f3+ 19.xf3 gxf3 20.d5 h3 21.0-0-0 e8 22.he1 g4 The game is balanced. 23.d4 f5! 24.g1 fxe4 [ 24...e5!? ] 25.dxe4 hh8 26.d6!? h5 27.e7 [ 27.xe8+ xe8 28.xe8+ xe8 ( 28...xe8 29.f5+?! ) 29.dxc7 e6! 30.d1 xc7 31.xf3 xa2 is just symbolically better for White. ] 27...cxd6 28.xe8+ xe8 29.xe8+ xe8 30.f5+ b8 31.xg5 g6 [ The most clear-cut is 31...e1+ 32.c2 e2+ ( 32...xg1?? 33.d8# ) 33.d2 g6+ 34.c1 e6 with sufficient lightsquare play to keep the balance ] 32.f2 [ 32.b3! ] 32...b6 33.f4 e2 34.xd6+ b7 35.d7+ b8 36.d2 Playing for the win. f1+ 37.e1 b7?! Unnecessary. [ 37...f2! was an immediate draw: 38.xf2 d3 and one side will give perpetual. ] 38.b3! Now White has an escape route for his king via b2-a3. f2 39.xf2 d3 40.b2 b1+ 41.a3 c1+ 42.b4? 123
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ White's king is in a precarious position after 42.a4 , but this is the only try for victory! For example, e8+ 43.b4 a5+ 44.c4 d1 45.d2! g4+ 46.d3 and White is escaping the checks. ] 42...a5+ 43.c4 d1! Now it should be drawn, but it is W hite who has to secure it! 44.d2?? There were two ways to ensure the half point: [ 44.g2+ a7 45.d2 is equal, but White has to endure a scary-ish king walk: g4+ 46.d5 ( 46.d4?? e2+-+ ) 46...d7+ ( 46...f5+; or 46...f3+ also result in perpetuals.) 47.e5 ( 47.c4?? c6+ 48.d4 e4# ) 47...f5+ 48.d6 c5+ 49.d7 f5+ 50.e8 c6+ 51.d8 f6+ 52.e8 e6+ A) 53.d8?? g8+ 54.e7 g7+! 55.e8 ( 55.d6 f6+ 56.c7 e7+ 57.c6 c5# ) 55...g6+ 56.d8 f8+ 57.c7 and now ( 57.d7 f5+ 58.c7 c8+ 59.d6 c5# ) 57...f5!! and White is helpless against either 58... Qc8+ or 58...Qb8+.; B) 53.f8! O n l y t h i s w a y ! f6+ ( A n a t t e m p t t o m a t e w i t h 53...g6 w o n ' t s u c c e e d , f o r e x a m p l e 54.g7 ) 54.e8 e6+= ] [ The simplest draw is 44.b4 , e.g. A) 44...d3+ 45.b3 b1+ 46.a3 axb4+ 47.cxb4 c1+ ( or 47...d3+ ) 48.b3 b1+=; B) 44...a4!? the trickiest, taking away the b3-square. W hite is fine, though, after 45.d2 g4+ 46.d5 d7+ 47.e5 e7+ 48.d5 e4+ 49.d6 c6+ 50.e5= ] 44...g4+ 45.d5 [ 45.d4 e2+ 46.d5 f7+ 47.d6 e6# ] 45...d7+ 46.e5 e7+ 47.f4 [ The difference compared to the 44.b4 a4!? variation is that 47.d5 now just loses to f7+ 48.d4 c5+ - no control of c5! ] 47...f6+ 48.e3 e5+ With 49...Qe4 next. 0-1
130
A02
Mailbox Mike Ridge Question From,Sigfred [John Watson] A question from reader Michael Ridge: 'I've noticed that a lot of club players play From's G a m b it wit h t h e t h e o re t ica l n o ve lt y (n o t covered in the scant literature on the gambit, including Taylor's new book) 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 xd6 4.f3 g4 . I wondered what you thought was the best line against this. I take it the idea is just to strand the king in the centre after ...Bxf3 and ...Qh4+. That makes me think 6 g3 might be the best way to cut across this, with Bg2, d4, and Qd3 all to follow. Thoughts on this sideline? No doubt its not a real threat to Bird's Opening or someone would have at least discussed it by now, but even in these sidelines it seems easy f o r Bla ck t o whip u p a da n ge ro u s at t a c k because of the activity of his pieces, so I wo n d e r e d wh a t t h e b e s t c o u n t e r t o t h i s particular set up might be...' [John Watson: Good Question! I checked Taylor's book and he does give a game in which 4...Nc6 5.d4 Bg4 occurred. Taylor as White played 6.e3. I'll throw out a few moves, including something similar to that: 5.e4!? This move is interesting because both main lines 4...Nf6 and 4...g5 prevent it, and 4...Bg4 doesn't, at least immediately. [ (a) The move you mention, and indeed the standard one in a majority of From's Gambits, is 5.g3?! . But it seems to fail (or at best draw) versus h5! threatening ...h4. This should give at least enough for a pawn, f o r e xa m p l e , 6.d4 h4 7.xh4 xh4! 8.gxh4 xh4+ 9.d2 A) 9...c6!? 10.c3 xh2 11.g2 g5+ 12.e1 ( 12.c2? f5+ ) 12...g3+ 13.f1 and White probably escapes; B) 9...g5+ draws after 10.e1 ( 10.d3 g6+ i s a t b e s t v e r y d a n g e r o u s) 10...h4+ 11.d2 g5+; C) 9...f6! 10.c3 ( 10.g2 f2! ) 10...h5!! ( 10...f2 is strong, but this is better ) 11.d3 c6 12.e3 e5+! 13.dxe5 d8! and White can resign, e.g., 14.d2 a3+! 15.c1 xb2+ 16.xb2 b4+ 17.c1 xc3 ] 124
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ (b) 5.e3 (a la Taylor) c5! (the idea is to gain spa ce and restrain W hite's centre ( 5...f6!? 6.e2 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.c3 0-0-0 . White stands pretty solidly and should be better) 6.c3 ( 6.b5+ c6 7.0-0 c7 8.h3 h5 9.c3 f6 ) 6...f6 7.e2 ( 7.d3 c6 8.e4 c7 ) 7...c6 8.0-0 a6 9.d4 c7 10.h3 ( 10.dxc5 xc5 unclear ) 10...cxd4 11.exd4 xf3 12.xf3 xd4 unclear ] 5...e7! This leaves open the possibility of ... f5. [ 5...f6 6.c3 e7 7.d3 c6 8.e2 0-0-0 9.0-0 h5!? , but the attack is hard to continue with. ] [ 5...f5!? is also worth thinking about. ] 6.c3 [ 6.d3 f5! 7.c3 f6 8.g5 bd7 9.e2 h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.d4 xh2!? wit h t he id e a 12.xh2 ( 12.xg4 xg4 13.xf5 g5 ) 12...e5 13.h1 xd4 ] [ 6.e2 f5 ( 6...xe4!? 7.c3 e6 8.0-0 f6 )] 6...f5 7.d3 f6 8.e2 c6 9.exf5 [ 9.g5 0-0-0 10.0-0-0 he8 with pressure and unclear compensation for the pawn. ] 9...e5! This threat ens ...Nd4 and in many cases ...Bxf3 will follow. White is tied up and Black can be happy. Conclusions: I think that 5.g3 is a mistake. 5.e3 is solid but at least 5... c5 prevents an easy buildup in the centre. Finally, Black should play some kind of ...f5 idea against 5.e4, because pieces alone won't break down White's structure. 4...Bg4 looks as good a try here as any, and perhaps the best one, especially since Taylor debunks some of Black's other continuations. That's just a surface-scratcher. Great question!
131 Mena Sanroma,A Canal Oliveras,Joan Catalunya-chT (4) [Nigel Davies]
A02 2020 2245 1999
1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.f3 [ 3.exd6 xd6 4.f3 f6 would reach the same po sition as the game bu t a move faster. ] 3...dxe5 4.xe5 d6 5.f3 f6 6.d3 g4
7.g5 f6 8.c1 c6 This makes perfect sense, lining up against h2. [ Black's main try in this position has been just to develop as quickly as possible with 8...c6 , though in this case I find his play le s s t h a n co n vi n c i n g b e c a u s e W h i t e ' s position is rather solid (two central pawns!) even if he is behind in development. After 9.c3 ( Perhaps it's better to start controlling some central squares with 9.c3!? when 0-0 10.g3 ce5 11.g2 e8 12.0-0 h5 13.h3 h6 14.xe5 xe5 15.e4 xd1 16.xd1 xg3 17.d4 saw White reach a slightly better endgame in Markovic, MS t a d l e r , T / B e l g r a d e 1 9 6 8) 9...c5 ( Black has tried other moves here but 9...f5 f a i l s t o c o n v i n c e a f t e r 10.g5 d7 11.d2; whilst 9...ce5 10.g3 0-0 11.g2 xf3+ 12.xf3 xh2 13.xh2 xg3+ 14.f2 f5 15.e3 was good for White in Bocharov, I-Khlichkova, T/Berdsk 2007.) 10.e3 xe3 11.xe3 ( 11.e2 is better af ter which e7 12.d5 f2+ 13.d1 xe2+ 14.xe2 b6 15.f1 0-0 is about equal) 11...xe3 12.e2 e7 13.d2 xf1+ 14.xf1 e6 and Black wa s b e t t e r i n F lo ri a n , J-K o ska , J / B rn o 1957. ] 9.c3 c7 10.e4 [ W h i t e h a s a n o t h e r p o ssi b i li t y i n 10.g3 after which xg3+ 11.hxg3 xg3+ 12.d2 f2 ( 12...f4+ 13.e1 g3+ is a draw ) 13.g1 xg1 14.xg1 xd1 15.xd1 produces a messy endgame. ] 10...xh2 11.xh2 xh2 12.g3 [ W h i t e h a s a l s o p l a y e d 12.d2 , for example 0-0 ( 12...xf1 13.xf1 a6 seems more precise when 14.f4 0-0 is equal ) 13.f4 xf4 14.xf4 g4 15.d6 and White has the better endgame in Ja n se , L -Lo gda h l, U/Ha llsta h am m a r 2001. ] 12...g4? After this White gets a strong initiative. [ 12...xf1 was better after which 13.xf1 ( 13.f4 e3! ) 13...0-0 14.f4 b6 is about equal. ] 13.f4 a5+ 14.c3 g5 15.d6+ d7 16.c4 c5 17.e3 d8 [ 17...gxf4 18.xg4+ wins a pawn and keeps a strong attack. ] 125
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.b4 e7 19.d6 e6 20.h3 b5 21.xg4 xg4 22.xg4 xg4 23.a5 White is also better in the endgame, at least for the time being. d7 24.c5 h5 25.f2 c7 26.e7?! [ 26.d4 was the right move, still with a slight edge. ] 26...d7 27.b3 he8 28.c5 e5 29.c1 a5 30.e4 [ 30.bxa5 xa5 31.e4 was better. ] 30...axb4 31.xb4 [ After 31.cxb4 Black has a3! . ] 31...d7 32.b3 b6 33.d4 Trying to stabilise his dark square control, even if it means losing a pawn. [ If 33.a4 there follows c5 34.a5+ c6 35.a3 e6 etc. ] 33...xe4 34.he1 xe1 35.xe1 e8+ 36.f2 e2+ 37.f1 f5 [ 37...b2 would have been more patient. ] 38.e1?! [ 38.a4 was a better try. ] 38...xa2 39.c5 h3+ 40.g1 f4?! [ 40...xc5 41.xc5+ a5 looks like it should win. ] 41.xd7+ xd7 42.gxf4 g4 43.e5? [ 43.e7 was the right move. ] 43...h4 44.g5 h3 45.c5+ a5 46.g7 h2+ 47.h1 g3 48.xg3 e6 49.c4 bxc4 [ 49...b4! was better. ] 50.a3+ xa3 51.xa3 a4 52.c1 b3 53.xh2 c2 54.a3 c3 55.g3 d1 56.f3 c2 57.e4 c1 58.xc1 xc1 59.e5 d5 60.d6 c2 61.f5 c3 62.c5 White will win the c6 pawn by distracting the bishop with his f-pawn. ½-½
compensation for the pawn. 6.g3 [ 6.e4 g4 7.e2 ( 7.g3 xh2 8.xh2 xg3+ 9.f2 xf2+ 10.xf2 c6 11.c3 e6 is a line that more enterprising might like to test!) 7...xh2 8.xh2 h4+ 9.d2 g5+ 10.e1 ( Or 10.c3 c5+ ) 10...h4+ 11.d2 g5+ is a draw by perpetual check. ] 6...g4 7.g2 c6 8.c3 0-0-0 9.f4 he8 10.d2 b4 11.a3 A slip which could have lost material. [ 11.g5 was the right move, pinning that knight on f6, though after h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.0-0 c5+ 14.h1 e3 Black has terrific compensation. ] 11...xc3 [ 11...e4! is very strong here. ] 12.bxc3 d5 13.h3 h5 14.e4 f5 15.d4 [ 15.g5 f6 is very good for Black. ] 15...fxe4 16.xc6 bxc6 17.0-0? [ 17.d4 should be played here after which e3 is met by 18.d3 , menacing a check on a6. ] [ After 17.0-0? Black can get what looks close to a winning position via e3 18.e1 g5! 19.c4 xf4 20.gxf4 e2 21.f2 gxf4 etc. ] ½-½
133 Reddmann,Hauke Langrock,Hannes IHEM Hamburg GER (7) [Tony Kosten]
A02 2337 2261 08.06.2001
1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 c6 A sensible alternative to the standard [ 2...d6 ] 132 A02 3.f3 Otherwise Black would simply recapture Pribyl,Josef 2376 t h e e - p a w n . g5! The tactical point, Hausner,Ivan 2412 threatening to drive the white knight away and Steinitz Memorial-A 1st (9) 03.01.2001 recapture the sacrificed pawn. [Nigel Davies] [ 3...d6 would return to 2...d6. ] 4.d4 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 xd6 4.f3 f6 [ 4.g3!? is a reasonable alternative, g4 5.d3 e7!? A novelty on move 5! Actually this 5.h4 xe5 6.g2 Kloster,O-Pedersen,L/ makes perfect sense as Black will bring his Oslo NOR 2002, W hite has returned the pawn to help his development, and can try pieces out to natural squares and castle long, arguing that his lead in development and the to exploit the f5-square. ] weaknesses in W hite's camp are good [ 4.h3?! justifies Black's play, d6 when the 126
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 p a wn c a n n o t b e t a ke n 5.exd6?! xd6 and the weakness of g3 is a problem. ] 4...g4 5.g5 [ 5.g1!? might be better, although d6 6.e4 dxe5 7.d5 ce7 8.g5 f6 9.h4 g6 gave Black reasonable play, Maroja,S-Zelic, M/Zadar CRO 2000. ] 5...d5!? Black threatens to win the knight, but as in the 'long whip' variation of the King's Gambit, the knight is happy to sacrifice itself. [ 5...h6! is the strongest, I think: 6.e4 ( 6.h4?! gxh3 7.f3 xc1 8.xc1 xd4! ) 6...xc1 7.xc1 xd4 8.c3 c6 ( 8...e6!? ) 9.f4 e7 10.f6+ xf6 11.exf6 e5 White's structure is looser than Black's, who has a small edge, Clausen,MSkaaning,K/Gausdal NOR 2000. ] [ 5...d6 6.a3?! ( 6.exd6 see the main line ) 6...dxe5 7.d5 ce7 8.c4 f6 9.c2 f5 is very pleasant for Black, Psathas,TVouldis,A/Kavala GRE 2001. ] 6.e4!? [ 6.exd6 might be the better choice objectively, although certainly not quite so much fun for White: xd6 7.c3 (there was a threat to d4) e7 with typical gambit play open lines and better development. ] 6...h6 7.xf7 xf7 8.e3 The black king is in the open, and White has a couple of pawns, but as White has no development advantage to speak of, I wonder if this is really enough. ge7 9.c3 g7?! [ 9...g7!? is a sensible move, removing the king from the open f-file, and the exposed a2-g8 diagonal. ] 10.exd5 xd5 11.c4 e6 12.0-0+ g8 13.xd5 xd5 14.xg4 Picking-up a third pawn. e7 15.xd5 xd5 16.f6! White could also try to advance his centre, by [ 16.b3 and c4. ] 16...h7 17.af1?! [ 17.e6! is almost winning: ae8 18.g5! and Black is in trouble as hxg5? 19.h5+ g8 20.xe8+ is catastrophic. ] 17...af8 The rook cannot be captured: [ 17...xf6?? 18.xf6 menaces mate on h6, g8 19.g6# ] 18.c4!? xc4 19.xh6 White forces a draw, but he could still continue the game by [ 19.e4+ g8 20.xf8+ xf8 21.xb7 ] 19...xh6 20.xh6+
[ 20.e4+ g8 21.g4+ is another way. ] 20...xh6 21.h4+ g6 22.g4+ h6 23.h4+ g6 ½-½
134 Rendle,Thomas Kotronias,Vasilios Gibraltar Masters (1) [John Watson]
A02 2370 2585 25.01.2005
1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 When's the last time you travelled through From's Gambit territory? I'll try to give you an update and inspiration! 3.exd6 [ Tony has thoroughly covered the options as shown in his e-book - the key games referred to there can be found on ChessPub. One suchdeviationis 3.f3 g5!? ] 3...xd6 4.f3 g5 He also discusses games with [ 4...c6 and ] [ 4...f6 ... ] 5.g3 [ ...as well as 5.d4 g4 6.e5 ! ] 5...g4 6.h4 e7 7.d4 bc6 This amounts to a transposition to the 'main lines', that is, those arising from [ 7...g6 8.xg6 ( 8.g2 is the other main line the interpolation of 7. .. Nbc6 8.c3 also transposes into the main line of that variation after c6 9.c3 e7 ) 8...hxg6 9.d3 c6 10.c3 etc. ] 8.c3 g6 9.xg6 hxg6 10.d3 f5 11.e4 e7 12.g2 0-0-0 13.e3 [ (a) 13.0-0 e5!? is a position known to all From Gambit lovers, but it's not clear that Black has enough: A correspondence game Poel-van Oirschot, corres 1986 went 14.e3! ( Tony analysed AntoshinPanchenko, USSR 1983, which went 14.d1 f3+ 15.xf3 gxf3 16.exf5 xh2 17.xf3 h3 18.f4 xf4 19.xf4 dh8 20.f3 g5 21.f2 h2+ 22.g1 h1+! 23.xh1 e3+ 24.g2 e4+ 25.f3 xh1 ) A) 14...f3+? 15.xf3 gxf3 16.exf5 xh2! was played in one brilliancy alas, after 17.f2! the attack falls short ( or 17.xf3 ); 127
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 14...d7 15.d2 ( 15.b4!? c4 16.e2 and c5 is covered and White seems to stand better after xh2! 17.e5 dh8 18.f2! xe5 19.dxe5 xe5 20.f4 2h5 21.d2 Blankenberg,BHenke,S email 2002) 15...f5 ( 15...b5 16.d1 ) 16.f2 ( 16.exf5 (Given '??' in ' H o w t o p l a y t h e F r o m G a m b i t ' ) f3+ 17.xf3 gxf3 18.xe7 xe7 19.xf3 xf5 20.e5 is slightly better for White) 16...df8 17.f1 ( 17.b4! ) 17...b5 18.exf5 xf5 drawn. White has good options throughout and stands better at the end, so what was Kotronias (who is so theoretically inclined) thinking? My guess is that he would have settled for 13... Be6 or 13...Bd7, with ideas similar to the game but a little better. ] [ (b) 13.f4 xf4 14.gxf4 has been played a lot over the years. Black seems to do fine in the line beginning with h3! ] [ (c) 13.d5? e5 14.c2 f3+ 15.xf3 gxf3 16.d2 xg3+ ] 13...e6!? A move that is seldom played here and may not be very good. Alternatives are: [ (a) 13...de8 has been tried in a couple of g a m e s , b u t 14.d2 f6 15.0-0-0 leaves White harmoniously placed, and 15. exf5 Qxe3+ 16. Qxe3 Rxe3+ 17. Kf2 also favours White ] [ (b) A wonderful correspondence game went 13...xh2 (I'd give this a '?!?') 14.xh2 xg3+ 15.e2? ( 15.d2 pretty much wins, but the game is astonishing:) 15...e5 16.g5! xd3 17.xe7 f4+ 18.f1 e8 19.exf5? ( 19.g5! ) 19...gxf5 (White is temporarily a rook and two pieces ahead!) 20.h6 ( 20.h7 xe7 21.a3 e2 22.h8+ ) 20...xe7 21.a3 e2 22.h8+ d7 23.xb7 f2+ 24.g1 h3+ 25.xh3 gxh3 ( Now due to ...c6 Black has a draw any times he wants if 26.Bd5, 26... c6 drives the bishop away) 26.b1 c6 27.d5 f4 28.xc6+ c7 29.c4 a6 30.a8 g2+ 31.h1 1/2-1/2 Arnold,G-Bennborn,J/ ICCF Email 2000/MegaCorr2 (31). ] [ (c) 13...d7! has scored quite well. The immediate idea is 14.e5? xe5 15.dxe5 xe5 16.e2 d3+! 17.f1 he8 with a winning game ] 14.f2 More choices:
[ (a) If White takes up the challenge by 14.e5 (u n t rie d ? ), t h e n I t h ink t h at B la ck ge t s surprising play following xe5 15.xc6 d6! ( 15...bxc6? 16.a6+ and dxe5 ) 16.g2 xh2! 17.xh2 xg3+ 18.d2 ( 18.f2 xh2 19.d1 f5 ) 18...xh2 19.a3 f5 with two pawns and attack for the piece ] [ (b) 14.d2? xh2! 15.xh2 xg3+ 16.d1 xh2 is clearly better for Black, e.g. , 17.e2 f5 18.f1 e5! 19.c2 f4 etc. ] [ 14.f4 xf4 15.gxf4 g5 16.e3 gxf4 17.xf4 h4 18.d2 g8 19.g3 f5 20.0-0 h3 21.f4 h4 1/2-1/2 Westerman,H-Markus,J/NED-ch20 corr 1990/Corr Nr. 1 (21). ] [ 14.d5 xh2! 15.xh2 xg3+ 16.e2 xh2 17.c2 f5! ] 14...f5 15.d2! [ This time Black meets 15.e5 with xe5 16.xc6 f6 17.g2 c4+ 18.e3 f7 ] 15...f7!? [ Keeping threats in the position, as opposed to 15...fxe4 16.xe4 ( or 16.xe4 df8 17.e2! ) 16...d5 17.0-0-0! xa2 18.e2 , attacking g4. Still, that wouldn't be so bad, whereas 15... Qf7?! is a big risk. ] 16.0-0-0!? [ Perhaps it was time to pull the trigger: 16.d5! fxe4 ( 16...e5 17.d4 ) 17.xe4 e5 18.d4 f5 19.0-0-0 b6 20.a4 b8 21.d4 with a nice advantage. ] 16...xa2?! More provocation! [ 16...fxe4 17.xe4 xa2 was a sounder course. ] 17.b5? [ White seems intent upon playing "safe" moves. Could Black really have survived 17.e5! ? Then the logical follow up would be xe5 18.xc6 f6 ( 18...d6 19.d5! ) 19.b3 , with Kb2 to follow in most cases. Not only does White miss this opportunity, but now Black gains full counterplay. ] 17...fxe4 18.xe4 he8 [ 18...h5 is another way to proceed, preventing White from reaching defensive squares on the kingside. ] 19.e3 xe4!? Kotronias is in a wild mood! This speculative sacrif ice gains the light squares and tries not to cede the initiative. It is a gamble that pays off, although 128
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 19...a6 was a sounder option. ] 20.xe4 c4 21.g5 e2 22.xd6+?! [ The natural move is 22.de1 but White didn't want Black to keep pieces on the board, e.g., e7 23.f4 c4 with the idea of ...Nb4 and ...Rd5-a5 in some cases. ] [ The best try for a serious edge was 22.d5! , f o r e xam ple , xd1 ( 22...e7 23.f4 xf4 24.xf4 xd1 25.xd1 ) 23.xd1 e5 24.xd6+ cxd6 25.xa7 ] 22...xd6 23.he1!? [ 23.de1 d5 ( 23...d3?! 24.xg4+ f5 25.hf1! and Rxf5 follows) 24.f4 f5 25.xe2!? ( 25.h6 f3 ) 25...xf4 26.xf4 g5! 27.e5 is unclear ] 23...d5 24.xe2? Right idea, poor timing. [ 24.f4! f5 25.xe2 xf4 26.xf4 improves for White over the last note. ] 24...xg5 25.xg5 f5 Now Black takes control of the light squares with tempo and stands better. 26.d2 b6 [ Perhaps enough to win, but Black also had t h e s t r o n g m o v e 26...a5! 27.b4 ( 27.e5?? b3#! ) 27...c4 with a wonderful outpost and domination of the light squares. Then 28.e7? can be met by a3 29.b2 c2+ 30.xa3 xd1 ] 27.de1 a5 28.e4! b5! 29.c2?! [ 29.b4 c4 30.1e2 was a better chance, with ideas like Be1 and d5. Black is still bet te r af te r a5! 31.e1 axb4 32.cxb4 d6! ] 29...b3+ 30.d3 [ 30.b1 c4 31.c1 a3+ 32.a1 c2+ 33.b1 xe1 34.xe1 a5 is convincing ] 30...xb2 31.e7 [ 31.e5 c6! illustrates the dominance of Blac k 's k n igh t ove r W h ite 's bisho p : ( or 31...b3 ) 32.e6 b5+ 33.c2 c4 34.b2 a5 etc. ] 31...b5+ 32.c2 b3+ 33.d3 c4+ 34.c2 c6! 35.7e4 b4+ 36.d1 d5 37.xg4? [ But 37.c2 b4+ 38.d1 d3 39.f1 b2+ 40.e1 b3! threatening ...Qd1+ decides after 41.f2 c2 42.e2 d1+ 43.g1 xc3 ] 37...d3! 0-1
135 Szlos,Leonardo Quinteros,Miguel Angel ARG-ch qual Mar del Plata [Nigel Davies]
A02
1967
1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 xd6 4.f3 f6 5.d3 g4 6.g5 f6 7.h4 [ 7.c1 is another idea, keeping control of e3. ] 7...0-0 A simple approach from the Argentinian GM. Black has tried other moves here, for example: [ a) 7...g5 8.f2 ( 8.g3 xg3+ 9.hxg3 d6 10.h3 e3 11.d2 xf1 12.xf1 xh3 won the exchange in Bermejo, EBartis, G/Buenos Aires 1966) 8...xf2 9.xf2 g4 ( 9...c6 10.e3 c7 11.bd2 g4 12.d4 h5 13.g3 h4 14.g2 hxg3+ 15.hxg3 xg3+ 16.e2 h4 17.f1 saw White assume the initiative in Nielsen, E-Eiholdt, B/Copenhagen 2003) 10.fd2 f5 11.g3 c5+ 12.e3 0-0 13.b3 d5 14.d4! d6 ( 14...xh1 15.c4+ ) 15.1d2 f7 16.c4 e6 17.xe6 xe6 18.e2 left Black short of compensation for the pa wn in B a ile y, G-Ra f t sho l, W / De tro it 1990. ] [ b) 7...e3 8.d2 f4 9.c3 c6 10.f2 g4 ( 10...d6 11.d2 drives the knight from e3 and leaves Black with only nebulous compensation) 11.bd2 e7 12.c4 xf3 13.gxf3 d4 was Saint Pierre, S-Caire, F/Quebec 2004, and now 14.xe3! xe3 15.d1! 0-0-0 16.xe3 xe3 17.d2 would have left Black struggling to find enough play for the pawn. ] 8.c3?! I don't like this because White's queen lacks escape squares. [ I think that White had better ways to play it, f o r e x a m p l e 8.d2!? g5!? 9.h3 f4 10.c3 e3 11.f2 ] [ or 8.c3 g5 9.b3+ g7 10.h3 e3 11.f2 . In either case I remain unconvinced about Black's compensation. ] 8...e3 9.d2? [ White's queen needs to get out of the way o f B l a c k ' s c o m i n g . . . B d 6 - f 4 wi t h 9.b1 t h o u g h a f t e r e8 his position is deeply disgusting though perhaps not lost. ] 9...f4! Leaving White with no way to save his 129
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 queen. 10.g3 xg2+ 11.xg2 xd2+ 12.xd2 c6 13.0-0-0 a5 14.b1 [ 14.c4 looks like a better try, at least having some activity for the lost material. Black would have to be careful. ] 14...e6 15.e4 a6 16.b3 xb3 17.axb3 c7 18.hf1 b5 19.xb5 xb5 20.f5 b4 White could still play on here but probably thought he had better things to do. 0-1
16...e6 17.c5 d7 18.d5 xc5 19.dxc6 simply winning a piece. And Black's compensation is non-existent. xc6 20.c3 b6 21.b4 d3 22.d4 e5 23.c2 xc1 24.axc1 fe8 25.xg6 xg6 26.f3 c6 27.cf1 f6 28.f5 h8 29.g3 f7 30.d6 1-0
137 136 Taylor,Timothy Aigner,Michael1 Masters Las Vegas USA (7) [Nigel Davies]
A02 2330 2245 13.06.2006
Another good example of White playing d2-d4 and e2-e3 against the 'piece play' versions of the From. And I don't see much compensation for Black. 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 xd6 4.f3 c6 This keeps open options of either piece play (...Ng8-f6) or a push with the gpawn (...g7-g5). 5.d4 g4 6.e3 Once again a conservative approach, putting the onus on Black to show that he has something. e7 7.e2 This simple developing move appears to be new. [ 7.c3 f5 8.e2 f6 9.d3 e4 10.bd2 0-0-0 gave Black a good game in Olszynski, K (2256)-Bjornsson, S (2329), Reykjavik 2007. But can 7.c3 really be the right move? ] 7...f6 8.c3 0-0 9.0-0 ae8 10.a3 Is it my imagination or does Black have very little for the pawn? The latter, I believe... d7 11.b5 d5 12.xd6 xd6 13.d3 h5 14.c4 [ Continuing his conservative ways with 14.d2! seems better. Now Black gets a brief opportunity for counterplay... ] 14...g6 15.b3 f4?! Missing the moment. [ He should have tried 15...a5!? when 16.b5 xe3 17.xa5 c2 18.d1 xa1 19.c3 is probably good for White because of Black's trapped knight, but at least it would have been a contest. ] 16.d1 [ And not 16.exf4? xd4! 17.xd4 xd4+ 18.h1 xe2 etc. ]
Bagirov,Vladimir Heemskerk,Fenny GMA op Moscow (2) [Nigel Davies]
A03 2460 2025 1989
1.b3 f6 2.b2 e6 3.e3 d5 4.f4 c5 5.f3 c6 6.b5 d7 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 As a waiting move this makes perfect sense and there's another one he can play with 9. Nbd2. Does Black have anything better than to force the bishop on b5 to declare its intentions with 8...a6? a6 [ Heemskerk doesn't think so or perhaps wondered what could be done after 8...0-0 9.bd2 . But playing devil's advocate for a moment I think it's reasonable for Black to play b4 10.xd7 xd7 , keeping the pieces needed to challenge White's control of e5. It's true that White wins a tempo on the b4 knight with 11.a3 but after c6 intending 12...Bf6 it doesn't look like anything special. ] 9.xc6 xc6 10.e5 b6 [ After 10...0-0 White should at least be able to claim a slight edge with 11.xc6 ( 11.f3 is the more violent interpretation) 11...bxc6 12.d2 because of Black's weakened pawn structure. ] 11.e2 0-0 12.f3 d4 Exaggerated urgency (or should I say panic?) seems to be par for the course in these positions for Black. But is it necessary at this stage? [ 12...d7 looks playable here, for example 13.h3 xe5 14.h5 h6 15.xe5 f6 seems fine for Black. ] 13.xc6 bxc6?! [ Black is understandably unwilling to jettison a pawn with 13...xc6 , but there seems to be some play for it after 14.exd4 cxd4 15.xd4 fd8 . For my money this seems 130
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 like a far better chance than the strategically gruesome capture with the pawn. ] 14.d2 fd8 15.c4 a7 16.h3 [ 16.f5 might have been even stronger. ] 16...h6 17.f1 h7? A blunder in a poor position, White's reply just forks the f7 and c6 pawns. 18.e5 f8 19.xc6 d7 20.xe7 xe7 21.exd4 d5 22.f5 exf5 23.xe7 xe7 24.a3 g6 25.xc5 fe8 26.c4 ac8 27.e3 c6 28.fe1 1-0
138 Balashov,Yuri S Sveshnikov,Evgeny RUS-ch m5-8 Elista (1.5) [Nigel Davies]
A03 2510 2560 21.05.1997
1.f4 Hoping no doubt to sidestep Sveshnikov's considerable theoretical knowledge. But even here it looks like the Russian Grandmaster knew exactly what he was doing. d5 2.f3 c5 3.e3 c6 4.b5 d7 5.b3 f6 6.b2 e6 7.0-0 e7 8.xc6 Simple and direct White tries to establish a knight on e5 and then build a kingside attack behind it. But in the light of Sveshnikov's precise defence in this game it is tempting to try and find improvements. [ With this in mind White might try 8.d3 ] [ or 8.a4 in his attempt to eke out an advantage. ] [ On the other hand it see ms tha t 8.e1 is well met by b4 . ] 8...xc6 9.e5 c8 A simple and logical defence, which when combined with Black's 11th move seems to solve his opening problems. [ Delving into the history books I found a game in which Black played 9...c7 10.d3 g8?! through concern against White's kingside pressure and possibly intending to strike back with ...g7-g5. But after 11.d2 d7? 12.h5 g6? 13.xh7 0-0-0 14.xf7 de8 15.xe6 Black found himself with inadequate compensation for the decimation of his pawns in Bird, H-Riemann, F/Hamburg 1885. ] 10.d3 0-0 11.d2 d7! The right way to
defend the position, immediately challenging White's knight on e5. 12.xc6 xc6 13.e4 f5! Once again a very instructive move from Black, preventing any further kingside expansion by White. It also places pawns on the opposite colour to Black's bishop, p ro d u cin g a kin d o f st ra t e gic 'h a rm o n y' . 14.e2 f6 15.xf6 xf6 16.ae1 dxe4 17.dxe4 d4+ 18.h1 xe4 Simplifying into a drawn rook endgame. 19.xe4 xe4 20.xe4 fxe4 21.xe4 d8 22.g1 d4 23.fe1 xe4 24.xe4 f7 25.f2 ½-½
139 Danielsen,Henrik Luther,Thomas Petermaennchen GM (2) [Tony Kosten]
A03 2512 2507 10.08.1999
1.f4 d5 2.f3 g4 Not a particularly popular move, but quite a logical one. However, after th is gam e it m igh t sim p ly b e co ns id e re d doubtful. 3.e3 d7 Black wants to play ...e5. 4.h3! This seems very strong, [ 4.e2 e6 5.0-0 was played in one of Larsen's games, against Barcza, Zurich 1959, but offers White little. ] 4...xf3 5.xf3 gf6 Necessary, to defend d5. 6.g4! A powerful move, intending to push Black off the board. Previously, W hite had played [ 6.c3 e6 and only then ( 6...c6 7.g4 e5 8.g5 g8 9.d3 also allows b4 10.d2 e7 11.a3 d6 which is similarly solid for Black, Vigus, J-Pert,N/Witley 1999.) 7.g4 b u t t h i s a l l o w s B l a c k t o p l a y b4 and following 8.g5 g8 9.d3 c6 10.d2 h6 Danielsen,H-Salmensuu,O/Open, Koge 1997, White was only slightly better. ] 6...e6 7.d3 b4+ 8.c3 The point, Black is not allowed to pin the white queen's knight. d6 9.e4! White plays concretely, forcing Black's developed pieces back, and gaining a la rge kin gsid e sp a ce a d va n t a g e , b e f o r e continuing his development. dxe4 10.dxe4 e5 11.g5 g8 12.f5 h6 13.h4 Keeping the kingside pawn-roller intact. e7 14.h5 b6 15.e3 Having achieved everything he wanted on the kingside, it is time to develop some 131
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 bits. d6 16.a3! c6 17.c4 xc4 game ) 12...b4 13.d2 would have been a 18.xc4 0-0-0 The f7-pawn couldn't be bit better for Black. ] d e f e n d e d , a n y w a y . 19.h2 Suddenly it 6.d3 h6 becomes clear that Black is quite lost. White [ Black can also bring the other knight out, intends Rd2, swapping Black's one, active, for example Danielsen, H (2520)-Ricardi, P rook, when the rest of Black's pieces remain (2515), Turin 2006 went 6...a6 7.e3 h6 trapped on the kingside. c7 20.xf7 hxg5? 8.0-0 f5 9.e2 h5!? 10.e5 e6 11.d4 De sp e ra t io n , b ut ot he r m o ve s we re also h4 12.g4 h3 13.h1 h4 14.d2 c7?! hopeless. 21.xh8 h6 22.xg7 g4 ( 14...0-0-0 is better ) 15.b3 a6 16.d3 23.f6 This is good, but b6 with a complex struggle ahead. ] [ 23.xa7 was even stronger, i.e. xh2 7.e4 dxe4 8.dxe4!? 24.e6+ ] [ 8.xe4 would have been easier to play, 1-0 but with little chance of being able to make life difficult for Black. ] 8...a6 9.e2 d7 10.a3 0-0-0 11.e5 g4 140 A03 12.e3 With a nice space advantage but an Davies,Nigel R 2457 uncastled king, White steers for an endgame. De Vassal,Thibault 2424 c5 13.0-0 f6 14.e4 b8 15.h1 f5 Attempting to set light to Black's Corres. FICGS (1) 01.07.2006 16.b4!? queenside. cxb4 17.axb4 xb4 [Nigel Davies] [ 17...xb4 18.b1 is very dangerous for Black. Here too there's an open b-file but I ' v e e x p e r i m e n t e d wi t h t h e B i r d a b i t i n at least he gains time on the knight on c3. ] correspondence chess, largely because I felt it would get my opponents 'out of their book'. 18.e1 c4 19.b1 b4 20.b5 d5 [ 20...a5 21.a3 would give White longUnfortunately it god me out of mine as well term compensation because of the and I didn't fare too well in these encounters, weakness of Black's queenside. ] though it would probably help if I understood the Leningrad Dutch a bit better. 1.f4 d5 21.f2 b6 22.e1 h5 23.d2 a4 24.xa7! xa7 2.f3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c6 [ White also has a powerful attack after [ Another Correspondence game of mine 24...xa7 25.c4 , for example c8 26.e6 went 4...f6 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 c5 7.e1 threatens 27.Bxd5 followed by 28.Nxb6+. ] ( 7.c3 is a better try here.) 7...c6 8.e4 d4 Bailing out into a worse but dxe4 9.dxe4 e5 10.c3 d4 11.d2 25.xd5 exf4 12.gxf4 g4 13.e5 e6 with Black tenable endgame. [ 25...xd5? 26.xb6+ leads to mate. ] having a nice game in Davies, N (2457)26.xd4 xd4 27.e4 fxe5 28.c3 e6 Weber, K (2343), Corr. 2006. ] 29.a1+ b8 30.a8+ c7 31.a7+ c8 5.c3 [ Attempting to improve on Davies, N (2457)- 32.c4 c5 33.g2 b8 34.xe7 f8 Zubac, M (2387), Corr. 2006, which went 35.f7 e6 36.xe5 xf7 37.xf7 d3 5.d3 h6 6.c3 ( 6.c3 is better.) 6...d7 38.f1 c5 39.c6 c7 40.xh8 xh8 7.e4 dxe4 8.dxe4 0-0 9.0-0 c5 10.d4 41.d5 h4 42.g2 hxg3 43.hxg3 xc1 g5 Breaking up White's kingside e5 11.fxe5 g4 with the better game for 44.xc1 Black. My ef f orts in this opening would pawns after which the draw becomes clear. p r o b a b l y b e h e l p e d b y p l a y i n g m o r e 45.f5 g4 46.a1 d6 47.e6 h5 48.a4 ½-½ Leningrad Dutches with Black. ] 5...b6 [ A high level game, Malaniuk, V (2600)Gelfand, B (2675), Elista 1998, went 5...d4 6.e4 f6 7.f2 c5 8.0-0 c6 9.e4 dxe3 10.dxe3 xd1 11.xd1 0-0 and now 12.e4 ( Rather than 12.c3 , as played in the 132
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 141 Dimitrijevic,Aleksandra Sebag,Marie Stork YM Hengelo NED (9) [Tony Kosten]
A03 2292 2414 14.08.2004
1.f4 d5 2.f3 g6 3.e3 g7 4.e2 f6 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 c5 7.e1 c6 8.c3 This stops ideas of ...Nd4 or ...Nb4. In the game Karlsson-Kindermann I looked at [ 8.d1?! and ] [ 8.h4 ] 8...d4! Black attacks immediately on the dark squares, rather than wait for W hite to play Q h 4 a n d t h e n p re p a re e 4 a t h is le isu re . 9.cxd4 A new try here. [ 9.e4 is met by the strong c4! 10.e5 ( 10.dxc4?! xe4 11.cxd4 xd4 is fantastic for Black) 10...cxd3 11.xd3 dxc3 12.xc3 ( 12.exf6?! xf6 attacks the bishop on d3, and threatens to capture on b 2 , r e g a i n i n g t h e p i e c e w i t h i n t e r e s t) 12...b6+ 13.h1 g4 14.e1 b4 15.e4 f5! Black has a powerful initiative, Parr,F-Mishra,N/ Eastbourne 1991. ] 9...cxd4 10.e4 g4 This is the point of Black's play, the knight aims for e3. 11.a3?! This looks wrong to me, White stops ...Nb4 and frees his queen, but [ 11.a3 is better, developing a piece and then playing Nc2 to cover e3. ] 11...b6 Black continues her play on the dark squares, ...Ne3 will soon become a serious threat. 12.b4 a5! White's queenside is starting to creak. 13.bxa5 xa5 14.h3? This is a tactical/ strategical mistake, allowing Black to exchange the one piece that controls e3. [ 14.b4 was the best bet, a6 15.a2 or ( 15.e5!? and White is still in the game. )] 14...b3 Of course! The young French player never misses a tactic. 15.a2 xc1 16.xc1 e3 17.b2? [ 17.f2 f6 is obviously very good for Black, with her enormous knight on e3, and bishop pair, but 18.c5 counter attacks d4, with some chances. ] 17...f6 Black attacks both f4 and the rook on f 1 , a n d win s a ke y p a wn . 18.f2 xf4 19.c5 xh3! Black continues to find the best moves. 20.g5?!
[ 20.gxh3? g3+ 21.h1 xf2 is disastrous. ] [ Objectively speaking 20.bd2 was best, but pretty hopeless, all the same. ] 20...g3! 21.xh3 e5 The only way to avoid mate on h2 is to capture on e5 and concede the queen, so White resigns. 0-1
142 Gardner,Robert Novikov,Igor A Canadian Open (7) [Tony Kosten]
A03 2221 2611 13.07.2000
1.f4 d5 2.g3 g6 3.f3 g7 4.g2 h6 5.0-0 f5 6.d4!? [ An odd idea, that isn't even popular with colours reversed. White decides to exploit the fact that Black has not yet played ...c5, and sets-up a 'Stonewall' structure. 6.c3!? is another try, c6 7.e4 dxe4 8.xe4 0-0 9.c3 d6 10.f2 d7 11.d4 Rechel,BAtalik,S/Groningen 1998 ] 6...h5!? Aggressive, but straightforward development is perhaps simpler. 7.h1! [ A u s e f u l p r o p h yl a c t i c m e a s u r e , 7.c3?! would allow h4 8.g4 h3 9.h1 h4 ] 7...c5 8.c3 d7 9.e5 cxd4 10.cxd4 b6 11.e3 xe5 [ Black was faced with a dilemma, and chooses a tactical solution, although this opens the f-file for W hite. Perhaps 11...e6 was better, followed by kingside castling, although Black may have bee n worrie d about the weakness he himself created on move six. ] 12.fxe5 h6 13.d3 e6?! [ A careless move, weakening the dark squares, 13...e6 14.c3 d8 kept the white position in check. ] 14.c3 d7?! [ 14...0-0 had to be played, for better, or worse. ] 15.xd5! Sacrificing a piece for two pawns to c a t c h t h e b l a c k k i n g i n t h e c e n t r e . exd5 16.xd5 d8 17.e4 The white attack develops apace. e7 18.f6+ f8 19.f3 [ Making Black regret opening the f-file, but for tactical reasons, 19.b3! is stronger, as 133
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 now h3 20.f2 xc1 21.xc1 xd4 22.d1 leaves the black queen without a retreat square. ] 19...h3 20.g4!? [ 20.d7+ e8 21.f6+ forces a perpetual check, but, despite the enormous grading difference, White clearly wants more. ] [ Now, the line 20.f2 xc1 21.xc1 xd4 22.d1 allows a4 i.e. 23.d7+ g7 24.xf7+ h6 and the d1-rook is en prise. ] 20...xf1 21.xh6+ xh6 Forced, other moves allow mate in one. 22.xh6 g7 [ 22...c4 23.d5 g7 also offers defensive chances. ] 23.xf7 xd4+ 24.h1 g2+! [ A u s e f u l reso u rce , if 24...c4? then 25.f6+ h7 26.g5+ h6 27.xe7 should win. ] 25.xg2 xb2+ So Black manages to play this with check, and pick-up the a1-rook. 26.h3 xa1 27.f6+ Despite being a rook down, White has all the chances. g8? [ 27...h7 is better, when 28.g5+ h6 29.e6 g8 will draw. ] 28.h8+ xf7 29.e6+ White wins the black queen. xe6 30.xa1 c8 31.d4 b6 Objectively Black is lost, 32.f2? [ A mistake, after 32.a4! Black is obliged to play c7 when White can progress with his king, 33.h4 ] 32...c5! Black sets-up a fortress, the white king can no longer pass the fifth rank. 33.d4 c6 34.g7 e7 35.d4 [ W hite decides to take the draw, 35.f8 a5 and Black can just keep his rook on the fifth rank, when everything is defended. ] 35...c6 36.g7 e7 37.d4 ½-½
143 Gelashvili,Tamaz Skembris,Spyridon Master Open Lausanne SUI (4) [Tony Kosten]
A03 2535 2450 24.05.2001
1.f4 d5 2.f3 [ 2.b3 c5 3.e3 a6 like a reversed 4.a3 Queen's Indian, 4.f3 c6 5.b2 g4!? 6.h3 xf3 7.xf3 d6 8.g4 f6 9.g2 e6 10.d3 ge7 11.d2 0-0-0 12.0-0-0 c7
13.b1 both sides have a flexible position, but White's two bishops give him the edge, Danielsen,H-W edberg,T/Munkebo DEN 1998. ] 2...f6 [ One problem with this particular move order is 2...g6 3.e3 g7 when White can't play b3. ] 3.e3 g4 [ A very typical 'solid line', Black lets his lightsquared bishop out before putting his pawns on light squares, just as in Capablanca's system versus the Reti. 3...g6 4.b3 g7 5.b2 0-0 was examined in Yin Hao-Zhang Zhong/Shenyang CHN 1999. ] 4.b3 bd7 5.b2 e6 6.h3 xf3 7.xf3 d6 8.c3 c6 9.g4 h6 10.h4 This type of kingside advance is quite justified here with a closed centre. h5!? 11.g5 g4 12.0-0-0 [ 12.h3 can be met by f5 ] 12...e7 13.e4!? [ White hits-out in the centre, but the prophylactic 13.b1 was worth considering, a3 14.a1 and White can retain his bishop. ] 13...d4 14.e2 e5 15.f5 Else Black may gain use of the e5-square. a3 16.h3 a5 Black plays for an attack along the a-file. It shouldn't force mate, but will certainly give W hite something to worry about. 17.xa3?! I always think twice before encouraging my opponent's queen to take up residence too close to my king! xa3+ 18.b1 a4 19.c1 axb3 [ The pretty interference 19...d3! is good, the knight and c2-pawn are both on defensive d u t i e s s o : 20.xg4 ( 20.xd3?! f2 ) 20...dxc2+ 21.xc2 hxg4 22.xg4 axb3+ 23.axb3 c5+ with a nasty attack. ] 20.cxb3 c5 21.xg4 hxg4 22.g3 The queen is needed on the third rank to d e f e n d b 3 . f6!? 23.gxf6 gxf6 24.xg4 d3! Trying for a deflection. 25.g6+ d8 26.xf6+ c7 27.c2 [ The only move, 27.xd3?? allows mate: xa2+ 28.c1 a1+ 29.c2 a2+ ] 27...b4+ [ 27...b2+ 28.xd3 b1+ 29.e2 xe4+ 30.f2 f4+ 31.e1 e4+ was another way of forcing a perpetual. ] 28.b1 he8!? Black eschews the perpetual, 134
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and plays for a win! 29.f7+ b6 30.dg1 xa2 31.c2 b4+ 32.d1 It seems that the white king is on its way to safety, but... xc1+! 33.xc1 a1+ 34.b2 a2+ [ 34...a2+ White has to allow a repetition, with 35.c1 ( as 35.b1?? ea8 actually forces mate! ) 35...a1+ ] ½-½
problem is the doubled e-pawn which leaves e 5 a s a we a k n e ss a n d W h i t e h a v i n g a n effective kingside pawn majority. 19.d2 d6 20.f1 [ T h i s i s b e t t e r f o r W h i t e b u t 20.g3 was even stronger. ] 20...xf1+ 21.xf1 f8+ 22.e2 f6 [ Black could have defended more economically with 22...e8 23.g3 g6 . ] 23.g3 g6 24.g5 e8 25.f3 f5 26.g3 144 A03 b5 27.e4 f4 28.d2 [ 28.e3! was better with more serious Giffard,Nicolas 2317 problems for Black. ] Moret,Vincent 2178 FRA-chT poule basse (9.8) 08.05.2003 28...e7 29.e3 d6 30.h3 c6 31.e3 c4?! Overreacting to White's pressure. [Nigel Davies] [ 31...g4 would have been more stubborn. ] 1.b3 d5 2.b2 e6 3.f4 c5 4.e3 c6 32.bxc4 bxc4 33.dxc4 d4+ 34.d3 f2 5.b5 d7 6.f3 f6 7.0-0 d6 8.xc6 35.g3 f6 36.g5 a5 37.a3 b7 38.c5+ xc5 39.xe5+ d6 40.c4+ e7 xc6 9.e5 c7 [ Now that White's f-pawn is on f4 already he 41.xa5 f2 42.a7 can meet 9...xe5 with 10.fxe5 d7 1-0 11.g4 with attacking chances on the kingside. ] 145 A03 10.d3 0-0 [ I think I might have been tempted to play Granda Zuniga,Julio E 2680 10...0-0-0!? for Black, though I'm not Semcesen,Daniel 2502 convinced that a respectable GM should Karpos Open 2014 (9.10) 05.04.2014 a d m i t t o t h is . C e r t a i n ly I wo u ld n 't f e e l [Fier, Alexandr] comfortable with the position Black has in the game and W hite's pieces taking pot This was the most exotic game of the month. shots at his king. ] W h i t e go e s f o r a ki n d o f r e ve r s e d c o l o r 11.f3 d7 12.h3!? I'm not surprised that Stonewall Dutch with the bishop out and the Giffard chose the spectacular line. queenside developed. Basically it is not so [ 12.xc6 xc6 would be insipid by easy to explain. Despite the result I don't think comparison. ] I can recommend this variation for White! 1.f4 12...xe5 13.fxe5 xe5 It's interesting to d5 2.f3 g6 3.d4 There are already a few see how facing an attack can foster great high level games in this position. Usually trepidation on the part of the defender. W hite goes for 3.g3 or 3.e3. g7 4.c3 [ I t s e e m s t h a t 13...e7 is OK here, for And now we are practically in new territory. example 14.h5 h6 15.g3 g5 16.h4 White's idea is quite rudimentary: develop the g6 17.g4 e7 is fine for Black as White is queenside pieces, castle long and push the not attacking with enough pieces. ] kingside pawns. Unfortunately, Black has 14.h5 f6?! Going for the deceptive 'safety' enough resources to defend against this preof an endgame, but one which turns out to be historic attack. f6 5.e3 worse for Black. [ 5.e3 was too normal for Granda ] [ 14...f5 was better, for example 15.xh7+ 5...0-0 6.d2 a6?! This move is mysterious. f7 16.h5+ e7 sees the king slip I f B l a c k w o u l d c o n t i n u e w i t h 7 . . . b 5 t h e away. ] position would still be quite nice, but it looks 15.xh7+ f7 16.h5+ e7 17.xe5 like he changed his mind in the middle of the xe5 18.xe5 fxe5 Although this looks safe road. f o r B l a c k h e i s s l i g h t l y wo r s e n o w. T h e [ 6...e4 was direct, and probably enough 135
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 for an advantage 7.xe4 dxe4 8.g5 ( 8.e5 is also not a heroic route for the knight f6 9.c4 e6 10.a3 ) 8...d5 and the knight will just be running around 9.g3 h6 10.h3 c5 with good central pressure ] 7.h3 e4 Mixing plans. [ 7...b5 this would be the logical continuation, and one more time enough for some advantage 8.g4 ( 8.a3 e4 9.xe4 dxe4 and Black has an improved version of the game, where he can start an attack more easily if W hite castles long, 10.e5 f6 11.g4 d5 with a weird position) 8...b4 9.d1 e4! energetic ( 9...a5 10.f2 e4 11.xe4 dxe4 12.g5 followed by 13.Bg2 is interesting for W hite) 10.xb4 c5 11.dxc5 c6 12.a3 d4 13.d2 b8 and Black is two pawns down, but there is no c o mp ariso n b et wee n t he W h it e a n d Black pieces ] 8.xe4 dxe4 9.e5 f6 10.g4 e6 The bishop is slightly exposed here, and White has an interesting pawn sacrifice. [ 10...d7 would also be logical and after 11.f5 ( 11.0-0-0 b6 White needs to take care of all the weak squares) 11...b6 12.fxg6 hxg6 13.h6 xg4 14.hxg4 d5 is the computer's idea, but the king will need to go to the center again 15.xg7 xg7 16.h6+ f7 17.h7+ e6 18.xg6 g8 with a double-edged position ] 11.g3 Giving some space to the bishop on f1. [ 11.f5!? w a s a l r e a d y p o s s i b l e xf5 12.h6+ xh6 13.xh6 e8 14.g4 e6 15.g2 with some compensation for the pawn ] 11...d7 12.g2 [ 12.f5 was interesting one more time A) 12...gxf5 is too dangerous 13.h6+ xh6 ( 13...h8 14.d5 ) 14.xh6 e8 15.g4 with a dangerous initiative; B) 12...xf5 13.h6+ xh6 14.xh6 e8 15.g4 reaching the same position as in the last move's analysis, but with a tempo less. Still, the position is not clear ] 12...b8? Ignoring White's idea. [ 12...f5 13.e5 c5 14.c3 and somehow White's position looks normal again! ] 13.d5 Now Black's position already looks less harmonious than White's.
[ 13.f5 is still on the pocket xf5 14.h6+ xh6 ( 14...h8 15.xf5 gxf5 ) 15.xh6 e8 16.0-0-0 with the usual 17.g4 idea ] 13...f7 14.f5 Finally. b6 15.h6+ h8?! After a series of strange Black moves the position is already delicate. After this move W hite has a material advantage and Black has no compensation. There were several ways for him to not be worse in the 15 moves after White's opening, but sometimes exotic play leads to exotic answers! [ 15...xh6 was necessary 16.xh6 e8 17.xe4 xd5 18.xd5+ xd5 19.xd5+ xd5 20.0-0-0 bd8 and White can be slightly better in the endgame, but compared to the position of the game, it's much better for Black. ] 16.xf7+ xf7 17.xb6 cxb6 18.xe4 Now W hite is much better. In the endgame the position was again far from clear, but as we are going to see, he had some ways to keep the advantage. d6 19.0-0-0 e5 20.d3 gxf5 21.xf5 b5 22.b1 h6 23.hf1 g7 24.f3 It's not only the difference in the number of pawns, but also the bishops. W hite's one is centralized and looking to both flanks. Black's bishop would be wonderful on e5, but there is no way to get there. b4 25.e4 A solid choice. [ 25.g4 would be one way to continue the attack. The advance of the pawns on the queenside is far less dangerous than on the kingside a5 26.h4 a4 27.e3 a3 28.d4 d6 29.g5 fxg5 30.e6 and White will bring the rooks to the attack with devastating effect. ] 25...xe4 26.xe4 gg8 27.f5 a5 28.d4 gd8 29.fd3 b5 30.h4 g7 31.dd4 h8 32.de4 b7 33.h5 [ 33.e3 wo u ld a vo id B la ck's id e a c7 34.h5 followed by 35.Rg4 wins ] 33...d2 34.g4+ f8 35.xh7 xh7 36.xh7 White wins a second pawn, but Black can finally liberate his pieces e6 37.g8+ f7 38.e4 White starts to lose control. [ 38.dxe6+ was still winning. For example: xe6 39.e4 e7 ( 39...c7 40.h4+- ) 40.c6! d6 41.xb5 defending the pawn on e2 ] 38...exd5 39.exd5 [ 39.d8 also loses a pawn e1 40.exd5 136
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg3 41.f5 with chances c7 and White's queenside is a problem at the moment, so Black has chances to hold ] 39...e7 40.c3 bxc3 41.bxc3 xc3 Now the endgame is not clear at all and Black even managed to recover the second pawn after some moves. 42.c8 e1+ 43.c2 e5 And with g3 and a2 weak, there is no way to keep any advantage. 44.d3 a1 45.xb5 xa2+ 46.d3 a3+ 47.e4 xg3 48.d7 a4 Somehow the pawn on h3 is more dangerous than the pawn on a4. The white rook controls the ...a3 advance well, but on the other hand Black's bishop is not able to help in the defence. Of course, the position is still drawn, but White has something to work with. [ 48...b3 with the idea of 49...Rb4+ should be sufficient to draw ] 49.e6+ e7 50.a8 a3 51.h4 b2? Black tries to liberate the rook to def end against the promotion, but now the d-pawn is also free. [ 51...d6 bringing the king up was quite logical 52.h5 g5 53.f7 f5+ this is the point 54.d3 g2 with a probable draw. ] 52.a7+ d6 53.a6+ e7 54.f5 e5 55.h5 b3 56.h6 b4+ 57.d3 d4+ 58.e2 h4 59.h7 h2+ 60.d3 a2 61.xa2 1-0
146 Jakubiec,Artur Gdanski,Jacek ch Warsaw POL (13) [Tony Kosten]
A03 2532 2529 07.05.2004
1.f4 d5 2.f3 g6 3.g3 c6!? Black plays an idea of Korchnoi's with reversed colours, a route is opened for the queen to the g1-a7 diagonal. 4.g2 b6 White is stopped from castling. 5.c3 [ 5.d4 is a less flexible alternative, g7 6.0-0 f6 7.e3 with a Stonewall-style position, Koc, P-Gleizerov,E/Koszalin 1998. ] 5...g7 6.e3 [ 6.e4!? is more ambitious, dxe4 7.xe4 f6 8.xf6+ ( 8.f2!? allows White to castle ) 8...xf6 9.a4 0-0 10.a5 b5
with reasonable play for Black, Adorjan,AVarga,Z/Budapest 1995. ] 6...h6 A novelty, although obvious, as Black continues using White's standard plan (with opposite colours): the knight will go to f5 to support ...h5-4. [ 6...d7 7.0-0 e5 8.fxe5 xe5 9.xe5 xe5 10.h1 g7 gave equal chances in Danielsen,H-Berg,K/Aalborg DEN 2000. ] 7.a4 a5 8.d4 [ 8.0-0 f5 threatens ...d4, and so after 9.d4 will probably transpose to the game. ] 8...a6 9.0-0 f5 10.e5 h5 Other moves are possible, but this is the key move here. 11.f3 The bishop moves to a 'safe' square, the point of White's previous move. If instead [ 11.e2 then the tactic h4 12.g4 h3 is possible, 13.h1 h4 with aggressive play. ] 11...e6 [ 11...d6 is also sensible, controlling c4 and e4, and preparing to bring the bishop to h3. ] 12.e1 d8 Black stops White from playing e4. 13.b3 As the white bishop is hemmed-in by the pawn structure in the centre, W hite prepares a route out to the a3-f8 diagonal. d6 [ 13...g5!? is a tactical alternative. ] 14.a3 f5 15.g2 b4 Black brings all his pieces to powerful posts before castling. 16.c1? A bad mistake, allowing a simple tactic. [ 16.d3 blocks the threat to the c-pawn, and keeps play balanced. ] 16...xc2! 17.xc2 xb3 This is the point, forking the rook and bishop and so recuperating the piece with two-pawns interest. 18.e4 [ 18.a2 xc3 19.b2 c2+ 20.xc2 xc2 21.c3 f5 22.xa5 regains one pawn, but is barely an improvement. ] 18...dxe4 19.xe4 xe4 20.xe4 xa3 Black has won two pawns, unless White finds some real compensation soon he can resign. 21.xg6!? Maybe the best chance. xe5 Simplest, [ 21...fxg6? 22.xg6 hits e7 (with mate) and the h8-rook. ] 22.fxe5 fxg6 23.exd6 xd6 The black queen returns and everything appears to be 137
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 u n d e r c o n t r o l . 24.ce2 The open e-file the variation from the game is also interesting. provides some counterplay for W hite. d5+ 1.b3 d5 2.b2 g4 3.f3 f5 25.g1 0-0! The best move, rather than [ 3...h5 4.e4 is a possible idea, and defend the e-pawn by against ...Bf5 it can be interesting too. Here [ 25...d7 when 26.e5 c4 27.xa5 there is a trick for blitz players and it was xd4+ 28.xd4 xd4 29.a7 d7 tried by Nielsen in his thematic blitz match 30.a8+ d8 31.a7 b8 32.a5 against Svidler. ( 4.h3 is more solid, trying gives White fair drawing chances as he will to catch the bishop pair and it was Svidler's win the b-pawn. ] choice when he had White e6 5.f4 g6 26.xe7 f7 Black certainly doesn't want to 6.e3 f6 7.xg6 hxg6 8.f4 with chances swap too many pawns by for both sides in Svidler, P (2734)-Nielsen, [ 26...xd4+ 27.xd4 xd4 28.xb7 f7 P (2700)/Politiken Larsen blitz b3 2010.) 29.b6 g7 30.xc6 xa4 ] 4...dxe4 5.e2 c6 smartly avoiding 6. 27.7e4 g7 Black has consolidated his Qb5+, Nielsen, P (2700)-Svidler, P (2734)/ position, and remains a pawn to the good. Politiken Larsen blitz b3 2010. ] 28.c2 d6 29.c3 h7 30.e3 df6 4.e3 31.e7 xe7 [ 4.e4 I can't say that this gambit is sound, [ 31...c4! is strong, threatening a deadly but still it's a way to use the 3.f3 move and check on f1, and the a4-pawn. ] bring the pieces into the game, dxe4 5.c3 32.xe7+ f7 33.e5 f3 The queen ( 5.fxe4 was never played but also possible, comes to menace the white king, but opening the center at once xe4 6.c3 [ 33...c4 is strong, again. ] g6 7.f3 f6 8.e5!? now the queen 34.e3?! White figures his best chance lies in has the f3-square to go to, and White will the rook endgame, but he would be better probably take the g6 bishop at some point. keeping the queens on the board, for better, The main issue with White's position is the or for worse. xe3+ 35.xe3 h6 36.h4 lack of control of the d4-square.) 5...f6 d7 37.e5 d5 38.e4 ( 5...exf3 6.xf3 c8 7.d5 threatening 8. [ 38.xd5? cxd5 leads to a lost king and Nxc7+ or bringing the knight to e3 followed pawn endgame. ] by 0-0-0; 5...e3 is supposed to be less 38...b5 Black gets his queenside pawns going. dangerous, but W hite recovers the pawn 39.axb5 cxb5 40.f2 b4 with an initiative, 6.dxe3 xd1+ 7.xd1 The two connected passed pawns are was seen in Bosboom, M (2455)-Van Veen, decisive. 41.e3 b3 42.d2 b5 43.c1 O (2 1 9 9 )/ V lis sin ge n HZ o p 1 4 t h 2 0 1 0 . a4 44.b1 b4 45.f4 c4 46.e4?! a3 xc2?? i s t o o g r e e d y : 8.c1 g6 0-1 9.d5+- ) A) 6.e2 exf3 7.xf3 ( 7.b5+ doesn't work at all d7 8.xb7 c6 147 A03 and White is already in trouble) 7...c6 8.0-0-0 e6 and it's not sure White has Jobava,Ba 2694 enough compensation for the pawn, it's Navara,D 2703 not easy to find where to put the pieces.; 29th ECC Open 2013 (3.5) 22.10.2013 B) 6.g4!? is another option g6 7.e2 [Fier, Alexandr] c6 8.0-0-0 d4 9.c4 with some counterplay ( 9.g2 with the idea of 10.h4 Jobava is a player with a lot of new ideas in is playable )] the openings and for more than one year he is playing 1.b3 with quite decent results. In 4...e6 5.f4 [ 5.c3 is kind of weird, but played by t h is g a m e h e t r a n sp o se s t o a B i rd s t yl e McShane and analyzed on ChessPublishing position and introduces 8.h3 instead of the in McShane, L (2683)-Jansa, V (2513)/12th normal plans with Be2. Navara tries to exploit ch-EUR Aix-les-Bains FRA 2011. ] it and the position was quite interesting. I would prefer 11.Rxf1 to castle queenside, but 5...f6 6.f3 e7 7.d3 138
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 7.e2 is the main line and it usually comes from Bird's. White spent a tempo playing f3f4, but Black also played ...Bg4-f5 h6 8.0-0 0-0 9.d3 Minasian, A (2530)-Boensch, U (2490)/Munich op 9293 1993. ] 7...c5 8.h3 h5 Trying to refute White's idea. But to use 4 tempi with the knight just to take the bishop on f1 is not so dangerous. After this move W hite has good chances to gain the advantage. [ 8...0-0 is possible, but there is no reason to give the bishop 9.g4 g6 10.e5 c6 with chances for both sides ] [ 8...h6 is the natural answer and maybe White would try the most direct approach with 9.g4 ( 9.e2 kind of transpose to the main lines, but there is no reason to play 8. h3 then ) 9...h7 10.g1 but it's hard to believe White's attack is strong enough with more than half of the pieces on the first rank c6 and with ...d4 afterwards, Black should be better. ] 9.g4 g3 10.g1 xf1 11.xf1 A concrete approach, but it's also risky. [ 11.xf1!? makes a lot of sense, since the kingside is not a safe place for the king. Jobava probably thought the rook would be more useful on g1, which is true, but the cost is high. f6 12.c3 with the king going to c1, it's better to keep the bishops, g6 13.d2 c6 14.0-0-0 and White has good attacking chances. ] 11...f6 Otherwise the pawn on g7 is hanging. 12.xf6!? Following a concrete idea. The main point is that White is able to play e4 by tactical means and with this the bishop on g6 is n o t go o d . B la ck n e e d s t o a n swe r in a precise way as well. xf6 13.a3 g6 14.b5 e7 15.e4 Probably this was the po sition J ob ava wa s aiming f or whe n h e played 11.Kxf1, White is going to expand on the kingside and there are chances for Black to stay in a passive position. White needs to take care not to overexpand, since if the position opens in a bad way the king will be in the wrong place. a6 16.c3 dxe4 17.dxe4 f6! Giving the d5-square to keep the bishop active. [ 17...h6 would be the option to keep the d5square under control, but it's hard to leave the bishop 'dead' on h7, 18.f5 h7 19.g2
0-0 20.d2 followed by 21. Rad1 gives White a stable advantage. ] 18.f5 f7 19.fxe6 xe6! The bishop is better on f7 than e6. [ 19...xe6 if Black exchanges the dangerous knight on d5, W hite creates a passed pawn and after some moves, when the position stabilizes, W hite is slightly better, 20.d5 xd5 ( 20...d6? 21.xf6+ that's the difference) 21.exd5 ( 21.xd5 is just bad, White can't avoid Black castling for too long, c6 22.g2 d8 23.c4 d4 24.ad1 b5 ) 21...d7 22.g2 0-0-0 23.e1 e5 24.c4 and White is positionally better. ] 20.d5 d6 Now White has some problems with the dark squares and his king is still not safe. White has enough resources to hold the balance, but for sure, not more than this. 21.e3 [ 21.g5 was a crazy idea, but probably it's working, fxg5 22.xg5 finally the 11.Kxf1 makes sense, 0-0 23.f5 necessary and threatening 24.Nxf6+ A) 23...d7 24.f6+ is embarrassing; B) 23...d8 24.xf7!? going all-in xf7 25.g5+ g8 26.h5 the attack looks quite dangerous since Black still needs to finish development, but there is enough resources for equality, f8+ ( 26...h6 also works 27.f7+ h8 28.e6 e5 def en ding g7 and a tt acking a 1 29.e1 c6 with dynamic balance) 27.g2 h6 ( 27...h6 falls to a beautiful trick 28.g6! xg6 29.e7+ h8 30.xg6+ g8 31.xf8 xf8 32.e6+ with a clear a d v a n t a g e .) 28.e7+ h8 29.f1 ( 29.f7+ xf7 30.xf7 c6 and Black is fine ) 29...c6 30.f7+ xf7 31.xh6 xf1 32.g5 f6 33.xc5 with an unclear position, but Black should be fine.; C) 23...g6 is more dangerous 24.e5! d8 25.xf8+ xf8 26.c7 e4 27.xa8 c6! forced since ( 27...xf3 28.d6 exchanges the queens) 28.e6 xf3 29.e7 xe7 30.d6 with a complex position. ] 21...f4 [ 21...xd1+?! without queens White doesn't need to worry about the king's safety 139
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 anymore 22.xd1 c6 23.f5 and White can fight for an advantage. ] 22.f5 The start of a wrong plan. [ 22.d5 repeating the position was White's best move, but nobody would be proud of this. xd5 is more ambitious, but again improves White's structure a lot, ( 22...d6 23.e3= ) 23.exd5 d7 24.e2+ e5 25.g2 0-0-0 26.xe5 de8 27.f2 xf2+ 28.xf2 xe5 will be drawn. ] 22...0-0 23.g5? Losing control, but the position is already not good for White. [ 23.g2 c6 24.e1 ad8 and Black is better. ] 23...xe4 Now the position is just lost. 24.d6 e6 25.xf7 xf7 26.g2 [ 26.g6 hxg6 doesn't really make a difference. ] 26...c6 The rest of the game is just a matter of time. 27.c3 f5 28.h2 e5 29.g3 xf3+ 30.xf3 xf3 31.xf3 fxg5 32.af1 af8 33.xf7 xf7 34.d1 f2+ 35.g3 xa2 36.d8+ f7 37.d7+ g6 38.xb7 c2 39.c4 h5 40.f3 h4 41.b4 xc4 42.bxc5 xc5 43.b6+ h5 44.xa6 c2 45.a3 h2 46.e4 g4 47.a7 g6 0-1
148 Johansen,Darryl Keith Budde,Vladimir 1986 Wuppertal [Paul Motwani]
A03
1986
B32: "The case of the gobbled galloping gpawn!" 1.b3 f6 [ 1...e5 starred in game B31. ] 2.b2 d5 3.e3 e6 4.f4 g6!? This move leaves Black's f6-knight temporarily with only one defender (namely the lady at d8), and th a t f a c t p ro voke s W h it e in t o (u n wise ly) lunging speedily forward towards the black steed. 5.g4?! g7 6.e2? [ 6.g5 h5 7.xg7 ( 7.c3 d4; 7.d4 h6 ) 7...xg7 is also unpleasant for White as Black threatens ...h6. Furthermore, the f5square is a powerful post ready for the g7knight, but at least the battle would continue longer than in the actual game... ] 6...xg4! GM Darryl Johansen resigned in
view of 7 Bxg7 (or 7 Bxg4 Bxb2) 7...Qh4+ 8 Kf1 Qf2, but perhaps he could have struggled on a bit with 7 Bb5+ c6 8 Bxg7 Qh4+ 9 Ke2, although Black should still win after 9...Rg8. 0-1
149 Kabanov,Nikolai Riazantsev,Alexander Polyarniy Krug (4) [John Watson]
A03 2521 2632 02.12.2006
Larsen's Opening seems to bring out the worst in people. Here a 2521 player loses with White in 23 moves! 1.b3 d5 2.b2 f6 3.e3 c5 This always seemed a little cooperative to me, since it gives White's light-squared bishop the typical Nimzo/Bogo b5 square. [ Something along the lines of 3...f5 ] [ or even 3...g6 (without playing ...c5 in the foreseeable future) makes strategic sense. ] 4.f4!? This move is often held to be consistent with the move b3 or b4 but that's not so clear, because White's e3 square can be weakened and subject to moves such as ...d4 and ...Nd5/ g4. Still, the plan of Nf3-e5 can't be too bad. [ 4.f3 is a Queen's Indian Defence a tempo up. That may be only equal if Black p l a y s s l o w l y , f o r e x a m p l e , b y c6 ( or even more safely, 4...e6 ) 5.b5 d7 ] 4...g6 5.f3 g7 6.b5+ [ 6.e2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.e5 c7 is comf ortable f or Black. Then perhaps 9.xc6 xc6 10.f3 f5 could follow. ] 6...d7 [ 6...bd7!? 7.0-0 a6 8.e2 leaves Black's knight slightly misplaced on d7, but that is still no great achievement for White, who in fact will probably play Ne5 and Bf3 anyway, si n c e t h e m o ve d 3 c a n we a k e n h i s e 3 square in a number of lines. ] 7.xd7+ xd7!? Good enough, and [ 7...bxd7 is safe and equal. ] 8.e5 c7 9.0-0 0-0 10.d3 [ 10.c4 is a natural move, or perhaps ] [ 10.a3 c6 11.c4 ] 10...fd7 11.d4 cxd4 12.exd4 c6 13.d2? It's so easy to go wrong when you think that nothing's happening! [ 13.h1 is one improvement, again about 140
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 equal. ] 13...dxe5! 14.fxe5 [ 14.dxe5 b4! and White can't defend c2 in view of 15.c3? d3 16.c2 c5+ ] 14...b6 Winning a pawn. 15.h1 [ 15.f3 xe5 16.xe5 xe5 offers even less counterplay. ] 15...xd4 16.c4!? [ W hite gets nothing from 16.c4 dxc4 17.xd4 e6 ] 16...f5! 17.f3 e3 [ 17...h6! is another good move. White is suffering. ] 18.xe3 xe3 19.f3 d4 20.e4 g4 [ Or 20...ad8 with the idea 21.xd4? c2 ] 21.xd4 xe5 22.d3 ad8 23.ad1 f5 The simple point is that after White's knight moves, .... Bxd4 followed by ...Nf2+ wins. 0-1
Moldova 1979, and here Black should opt for a5 16.f4 d5 with approximately even chances. ) 11...e7 12.f4 0-0 A) 13.e5?! g4 ( 13...c4!? looks like an excellen t altern ative f o r Black ) 14.xd6 xd6 15.e4 h6 16.h3 e3+ 17.xe3 xe3 18.f2 f6 19.e5 g5 with a small plus for Black thanks to White's central pawns being fixed on dark, the colour of Black's bishop, Putjatina, NKorneev, O/Karvina 1992; B) 13.ae1!? d7 14.xd6 xd6 15.e4 dxe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.xe4 f6 18.e3 ac8! 19.c3 c5 20.dxc5 xc5 21.xc5 xc5 22.d1 c7 , and although W hite has the initiative thanks to his control over the central files and his pawn majority on the queenside, Black should be able to hold the balance, Gurevich, M-Kuijf, M/Wijk aan Zee 1990 ] [ B) 6.d3 f6 7.c3 ( 7.fxe5 xe5 8.g2 150 A03 c6 9.e3 d6 10.e2 e7 is very pleasant for Black, Sanz Sixto, J-Korneev, O/Corunha Karlsson,Lars 2475 2000 ) 7...c5 8.g2 d4 9.e3 b6 Hector,Jonny 2532 10.fxe5 xe5 , Ricca, R-Korneev, O/Asti ch-SWE Vaxjo SWE (9) 07.07.2008 1997, and now 11.d4 g6 12.d3 0-0 [Carsten Hansen] leaves the game more or less balanced. ] [ C) 6.e3?! e4 7.g2 f6 8.c3 b4 1.g3 d5 2.f4 c6 This position isn't even 9.0-0 d7 is comfortable for Black, mentioned in the ECO, that's how quickly we Vaatainen, T-Halmeenmaki, T/ FIN 1997 ] have exited mainstream theory. To add a fun little side note, my computer at this point, 6...dxc4 [ Black can also try the pawn sacrifice claims a clear advantage for Black! Not so fast, 6...d4!? 7.fxe5 xf3+ 8.exf3 dxc4 my little digital friend. 3.f3 g4 4.g2 xf3 9.a4+ d7 10.xc4 e7 11.0-0 5.xf3 e5 This is the point behind Black's 2nd ( White achieves nothing by delaying d2-d4 and 3rd moves, but White has a somewhat and giving up on his extra pawn. Therefore surprising and quite strong answer up his White should go for 11.d4!? 0-0-0 12.c3 sleeve. 6.c4! xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.e3 d8 [ White has a few alternatives available at , and W hite has a little more space, but this juncture. A) 6.fxe5 is the most obvious objectively the chances are about even.) and also the best of W hite's alternatives 11...c6 12.c3 0-0-0 13.d4 xd4+ xe5 7.g2 f6 8.0-0 ( 8.d4 g6 9.c3 14.xd4 xd4 15.f4 b4 16.d1 hd8 c6 10.d3 b4 11.g5 h6 12.d2 xc3 , and Black has already taken full control 13.xc3 0-0 , and here a draw was agreed over the game, Lutikov, A-Petrosian, A/ upon, 1/2-1/2, in Grunberg, M-Popa, V/ROM Leipzig 1977 ] 1993, though Black is already quite co m f o rt a b le a n d p ro b ab ly sh o u ld h a ve 7.a4 d7?! [ I don't like this move which leaves White played on. W hite's pair of bishops aren't with the better pawn structure and overall exactly a scary bunch.) 8...c6 9.d4 c4 advantage. Instead I think Black should 10.d3 d6 11.c3!? ( 11.g5 e7 have given consideration to 7...ge7 , e.g. 12.d2 0-0 13.c4 xc4 14.xc4 dxc4 8.xc4 d4 9.b3 0-0-0 10.e3 b6 15.xc4 , Gershtein-Chebanenko, V/ 141
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.xf7 exf4 12.xf4 b4 13.e4 a6 , and Black has compensation for the pawn ] 8.xc6 bxc6 9.fxe5 f6 10.xc4 fxe5 11.f1 f6 12.c3 b8 13.a3 e7 14.d3 f8 15.b4 White has a clear positional advantage, but the position is the kind of muddy water Grandmaster Hector enjoys operating in. g4 [ 15...c5 16.b5 d4 17.e3 xc4 18.dxc4 ] 16.xf8+ xf8 17.e4 [ 17.h3 f6 18.g4 ] 17...xh2 18.e3 a5 19.c5 h3 20.d2 [ White can do better with 20.c1!? because xg3+ i s n ' t a t h r e a t d u e t o 21.d2 , and Black can't do anything against the numerous threats with the knight and on the light squares in general. ] 20...axb4 21.h1? [ 21.g4!? g2 22.e6+ e8 23.xg7+ f8 24.e6+ e8 25.xc7+ d8 26.f7 f3+ 27.xf3 xf3 28.exf3 xc7 29.axb4 xb4+ 30.e2 , and White has the better chances in the endgame ] 21...f3+ 22.c2 xh1 23.d7+ e8 24.xb8 e1+ 25.d2?! [ 25.b3! xd3 ( 25...d5 26.d2 xc4+ 27.dxc4 g2 28.a4 gives White excellent winning chances) 26.exd3 d1+ 27.c2 xc2+ 28.xc2 bxa3 29.b3 h5 30.xc6 d6 31.f2 d7 32.a5 e6 , and it is highly doubtful White can win ] 25...d5 26.xe1 bxa3 27.c1? [ This loses. Instead White should have played 27.a6 , which more or less holds the balance. a2 28.f2 c5 29.c6 f6 30.a8+ f7 31.xe5+ xe5 32.xa2+ , and White is only a pawn down and should be able to draw without too much trouble. ] 27...a2? [ Here Black misses an easy win: 27...xc4 28.dxc4 e4! (this is probably the move Black o v e r l o o k e d ) 29.d2 a2 30.b2 f6 31.c2 a1 32.xa1 xa1 33.xc6 d7 34.a5 e5 , and Black should win without too much trouble ] 28.xd5 cxd5 29.b2 a3 30.xe5 c5? [ Black can play more accurately with 30...d6 31.a1 xg3+ 32.f1 c5 33.c6 f4 , and Black should win ] 31.a1 b4+ 32.d1 d4 33.c2 c3
34.b2 e7 [ Or 34...h5 35.a6 g5 36.xc5 h4 37.gxh4 gxh4 38.e4 h3 39.f2 h2 40.b3 a1 41.xa1 xa1 42.c4 , and a draw is around the corner ] 35.c6+ d6 36.d8 a1 37.xa1 xa1 It is pretty astounding that White manages to save a draw in this endgame which looks rather easily won for Black due to his capacity to create a passed pawn on the kingside at will. 38.b7+ d5 39.a5 c3? [ 39...h5! seems to win in a rather straightforward fashion, but Black's mistake indicates that the players undoubtedly were in time trouble at this stage. 40.b3 g5! 41.d2 h4 42.gxh4 gxh4 43.f3 h3 44.d1 c3 45.h2 e5 ] 40.e4+! Now White can at least get his king to the kingside to participate in the defence of a g a i n s t a p o s s i b l e p a s s e d p a w n . e6 41.b7 b4 42.d8+ e7 43.c6+ d6 44.d8 e1 [ 44...h5!? 45.d1 c4! 46.dxc4 d7 47.f7 d6 48.e5 c7 , and Black should win ] 45.g4 e5 46.d1 b4 47.c6+ d6 [ 47...f4 48.e5 g5 49.e2 g6 50.f3 f7 51.e4 is perfectly acceptable for White. ] 48.d8 h6 49.e2 a3 50.b7+ c6 51.a5+ b5 52.c4 Finally the game is completely in balance. c1 53.f3?! [ White has a much simpler path to a draw with 53.d6+ c6 54.f5 g6 55.e7+ b5 56.xg6 ] 53...c6 54.a5+ d7 55.e5 d2 56.c4 e1 57.e4 e6 58.d6 a5 [ 58...g6 59.b7 b4 60.d8+ d7 61.f7 h5 62.gxh5 gxh5 63.d5 h4 64.g5 , and White holds on ] 59.f5 g6 60.xh6 [ The text move can hardly be constituted as a way to play for a win, and therefore White sh o u ld p ro b a b ly h a ve lo o ke d a t 60.h4 as a safer path to reach a draw: f7 ( or 60...h5 61.gxh5 gxh5 62.f5 f7 63.d5 d8 64.xc5 e6 65.g7+ xe5 66.xh5 h4 67.f4 xf4 68.xd4= ) 61.d5 d8 62.g2 ( 62.e6+ f6 63.xc5 xe6 64.xg6 f6 65.f4+ e5 66.g6+= ) 62...e7 63.f4 f8 142
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 64.e4 ( 64.e6?? c4!-+ ) 64...e7 65.d5 f8 , and neither side can make progress. ] 60...c7 61.f5! xe5 [ After this move, all White needs to do is to place his knight on c4 and keep his king strategica lly in th e middle b etween th e pawns on d3 and g4 and a draw is result. Obviously we need to examine, what happens if Black takes the knight: 61...gxf5+ 62.gxf5+ f7 63.d5 e7 64.e4 a5 65.d5 b4 66.e4 f7 67.d5 g7 68.e4 h6 69.d5 g5 70.e6 f6 71.c4 , and neither side can win ] 62.h4 g5 63.f3 f4 64.e1 d6 65.c2 c1 66.a1 c6 67.b3 f4 68.a5+ b5 69.c4 c7 70.f3 b4 71.e2 c3 72.d2 f4 73.c4 ½-½
151 Karlsson,Lars Kindermann,Stefan Gausdal [Tony Kosten]
A03 2520 2535 1994
1.f4 d5 2.f3 g6 3.e3 White adopts a traditional 'Dutch' approach. g7 4.e2 [ 4.d4 Introduces a Stonewall Attack, and whilst this can be very effective against computers, is less so against humans, with their better positional sense. f6 5.d3 c5 6.c3 b6 7.0-0 0-0 8.e2 b7 One advantage for W hite, compared with the Dutch, is that he has managed to avoid the immediate exchange of light-squared bishops by ...Ba6. 9.d2 c8 10.e1 Somewhat laboriously, the white queen's b i s h o p f i n d s t h e l i g h t o f d a y . a6 so, Black has managed to effect this move, anyway. 11.bd2 xd3 12.xd3 a6 with equality, Bellin,R-Tiviakov,S/Kilkenny IRL 1998. ] 4...f6 5.0-0 0-0 6.e1 White plays a Classical Dutch with an extra tempo. c5 7.d3 c6 8.d1?! A standard move, White prepares e4, but [ 8.h4 may be better. b6 9.bd2 a6 10.f2?! ( 10.e5 xe5 11.fxe5 d7 12.e6!? is unclear, Larsen-Benko, Portoroz
IZ 1958. ) 10...e8 Black prepares ...e5. 11.c3 e5 12.xd8 xd8 Black has an edge in t h e e n d ga m e , L a rse n , B -S ch m id t , W / Aarhus 1971. ] 8...e8! Black plays as if he were White (in a Dutch) and attempts to expose the e3-pawn after the break ...e5. 9.g3 e5 The point of Black's p reviou s m ove . 10.xe5 xe5 11.fxe5 xe5 Black is at least equal. 12.e4?! [ Note that 12.xe5? is impossible, because of h5 , but 12 Nc3 is slightly superior. ] 12...e8 13.exd5 xd5 14.f3? f5 Black has a large lead in development, and, on top of that, it is not evident just how White will manage to complete his development. 15.c3 f6! The d3-pawn has nowhere to hide. 16.c2 c4 17.xb7 cxd3 The d3-pawn has magically changed colour! 18.b3 e7 19.b4 e2 20.d1 b8 21.c5 e4 White is lost, which is hardly surprising when the only white piece not on the back rank is the queen! 22.xa7 a8 23.b7 d4+! A nice finish. [ 23...d4+ after 24.cxd4 xd4+ there is the standard suffocation of the white king: 25.h1 f2+ 26.g1 h3+ 27.h1 g1+ 28.xg1 f2# ] 0-1
152 Karlsson,Lars Seirawan,Yasser Haninge [Tony Kosten]
A03
1990
1.f4 d5 Thus we reach a pure reversed Dutch Defence position. Obviously, the same plans that are available to Black in the Dutch, are also available to W hite, here, but with an extra tempo. 2.f3 g6 3.g3 White decides to play a 'reversed Leningrad'. g7 [ 3...f6 is similar, and can transpose. 4.g2 g7 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 c5 Both players mimic the Leningrad Dutch main line, will White's extra move change anything? A) 7.e1 is another 'Leningrad move', d4 8.e4 ( 8.a3 c6 9.c3 b8 10.d2 b6 equal, Rebers, E-Polgar,S/Breda NED 1999. ) 8...dxe3 9.e5 White puts the e5 outpost to good use, so he does manage 143
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to exploit the fact that Black has not yet played . ..Nc6, after all. fd7 10.c4 b6 An unusual 'knight chase'. 11.ba3 d5 12.b1 e6 White's extra move hasn't changed the impression that Black's superior pawn structure is more important, Blatny,P-Babula,V/Zlin 1998.; B) 7.c3 d4 8.e4 c7!? Black avoids the sharp line ( 8...xe4 9.dxe4 ) 9.h3 d5 This is a great square for the knight, c o ve r in g e 3 . 10.h4 f5 11.c4 f6 12.g5 c6 with unclear play, Movsziszian,K-Arencibia,W/Open, Ubeda ESP 1998. ] 4.g2 c5 Normal, Black takes space in the centre, but [ 4...c6 is solid, and quite playable. 5.c3!? d4 6.e4 f6 7.f2 c5 8.0-0 c6 9.e4 W hite would like to continue with d3, but dxe3 fortunately for Black, there is the en passant rule! 10.dxe3 xd1 11.xd1 0-0 12.c3 e5!? 13.g5 c4 the passive c1-bishop is a long-term problem for White, Malaniuk,V-Gelfand,B/ Elista 1998. ] 5.0-0 h6!? Obviously, 5...Nf6 would be standard, and would transpose into the note to move three. With the text, Black intends to play his knight to f5, to control the e3-square. 6.c3!? c6 7.d3 0-0 And not [ 7...d4?! 8.a4 when the c5-pawn is difficult to defend. ] 8.d2?! White should play [ 8.e4! dxe4 9.dxe4 with a good position. ] 8...f5 9.h1 [ 9.e4 is still possible, although now dxe4 10.dxe4 allows fd4 when the knight is much more active. ] 9...d4 Black fixes the weakness on e3. 10.a4 b6 11.g4 White tries to evict the knight. Attempts to exploit the open h1-a8 diagonal rebound: [ 11.e5? xe5 12.xa8 g4! and Black will regain the exchange by ...Ne3, with advantage. ] 11...d6 12.h3 b7 The white position is looking a bit loose. 13.e4 dxe3 14.xe3 d7 Black completes his development, all his pieces are on near-optimum squares. 15.c3 f5! 16.g5 f7! White can do nothing about the coming ...e5 break, which will expose the white underbelly. 17.d2 ae8 18.ae1 e5
19.fxe5 fxe5! 20.xe5 xe5! This type of structure can arise from other openings, for instance the Closed Sicilian, and is very good f o r B l a c k . 21.f4 xe1 22.xe1 d4! For one thing, he has control of the important d 4 - s q u a r e . 23.xb7?! xb7+ 24.g2 xg2+ 25.xg2 xc2 Black's play begins to bear fruit. 26.e7 f7 27.e6 White can illafford to change pieces. f8 28.e7 d8! Attack is the best form of defence! 29.xa7 e1+! 30.f1 xd3 31.c7 d7 32.a4? White was in time-trouble, and this mistake accelerates matters, but, anyway, Black's e xt r a p r o t e c t e d p a s s e d f 5 - p a wn s h o u l d decide. b5 33.b6 d4 34.a8+ f7 35.a7 e6 As is often the case, time-trouble checks have only succeeded in driving the king to a better square. 36.a6 b4 37.a5 d1+ 38.e2 b1 39.xb5 xb2+ 40.f3 d4 41.a4 a2 42.a5 d3 43.a8 f2+ 44.g3 Suddenly, the white king is looking extremely uncomfortable. c1! 45.e8+ f7 46.d8 e2+ as it is mate in four, [ 46...e2+ i.e. 47.h4 f4+! 48.xf4 f2+ 49.g3 xg3# ] 0-1
153 Kharlov,Andrei Raetsky,Alexander RUS-chT St . Petersburg (5) [Nigel Davies]
A03 2600 2453 20.05.1999
1.f3 d5 2.b3 c5 3.e3 c6 4.b5 d7 5.b2 e6 6.0-0 f6 7.d3 e7 8.xc6 xc6 9.e5 c8 [ Black can also let White give him doubled cp a w n s w i t h 9...0-0 though White was certainly on the positive side of the position after 10.xc6 bxc6 11.e2 d7 12.e4 c7 13.f4 ae8 14.c4 in Psakhis, L (2480) -Moehring, G (2400)/Sochi 1979. ] 10.f4 This has to be the challenging way to play it. [ 10.d2 0-0 11.xc6 xc6 12.e2 c8 13.e4 c7 14.a4 dxe4 15.dxe4 f4 16.g3 g4 17.xg4 xg4 soon led to a draw in Hort, V (2605)-Parma, B (2530)/ Moscow 1971. ] 10...0-0 11.d2 b5 I don't particularly like 144
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 this move as it presents another potential target on the queenside. [ The immediate 11...d7 looks much more to the point. ] 12.f3 d7 13.h3 This looks dangerous but Black can defend. [ I think there's a good case for playing it positionally with 13.xc6 xc6 14.a4 b4 15.e4 , when Black's pawns are moving on to the same colour as his bishop. ] 13...xe5 14.h5 h6 15.xe5 f6 16.b2 d4 [ There was an interesting alternative in 16...e8 intending 17.g4 c4!? with counterplay. ] 17.g3 dxe3 18.f1 [ After 18.xh6 Black defends comfortably with f7 19.f3 xf3 20.gxf3 d6 etc. ] 18...h8 19.g6 g8 20.h3 f8 21.xe3 e8 22.g3 c4!? Sacrificing a pawn to get some counterplay. Had Black chosen a better 24th move it would have given him equality. 23.bxc4 bxc4 24.xc4 d5 [ Black should first play 24...c5+ 25.h1 ( 25.d4 e7 gives Black more than enough for the pawn because of the weaknesses along the c-file.) 25...d5 when 26.e3? is bad because of xe3 27.xe3? xc2 etc. ] 25.e3 b5 26.d4 a8 27.g6 e8 28.g4 d7 29.c3 c5 30.xc5 xc5 31.d1 b8 32.e3 b6 33.d4 cb5 34.e1 b1 35.xb1 xb1 36.e2 d5 37.f1 a1 38.e3 xa2?! This looks like a mistake as the endgame isn't easy for Black. [ H e s h o u l d h a v e p l a y e d 38...xe1+ 39.xe1 e4 , for example 40.g3 h1+ 41.f1 g2 42.h4 h3 keeps White tied up and unable to use his extra pawn. ] 39.xa2 xa2 40.e2 a1+ 41.f2 e4 42.c4 a5? [ Black should have brought his king across with 42...g8! a f t e r wh ic h 43.d5 exd5 44.cxd5 f7 gets to the d-pawn in time. In the game Black is too late. ] 43.d5 exd5 44.cxd5 c1 [ 44...a4 45.d6 c6 46.c2 b5 47.b2! c6 48.b6 would also be very good for White. ] 45.d2 c8 46.d6 d8 47.c4 a4 48.e3 c6 49.d4 g8 50.c5 e8 51.b6
f8 52.f5 g6 53.fxg6 xg6 54.c6 a3 55.c7 b1 56.xd8 a2 57.xa2 xa2 58.d7 1-0
154 Larsen,Bent Keene,Raymond Teeside (3) [Jonathan Rowson]
A03 2660 2465 1972
1.b3 d5 2.b2 f6 3.e3 g6 4.f4 [ 4.xf6!? exf6 5.d4 Would be a strange kind of Trompovsky, where b3 may prove to be useful, but could also be a liability. If Black plays quietly with ...Bg7, ...0-0 and ... f5, White will have time to play g3, Bg2, Ne2, and c4 with a pleasant position, so Black should probably try to make something happen more quickly e.g. c5 6.c3 cxd4!? 7.exd4 ( 7.cxd4 b4+ 8.d2 a5 ) 7...d6 And Black has a position reminiscent of a line in the Caro-Kann (e4 c6 d4 d5 Nd2 de Nxe4 Nf6 Nxf6 ef!?) but it doesn't look like a bad version because the unopposed bishop on d6 looks very strong. ] 4...g7 5.f3 0-0 6.e2 a5!? 7.a4 g4 8.0-0 bd7 9.g5!? xe2 10.xe2 e8 11.xg7 xg7 12.c3 c6 13.g4 h6 14.f3 f6 It would appear that White has achieved approximately nothing out of the opening and that Black is very comfortable. Even so, I included this game because it shows that when there are a full set of pawns, there is plenty of scope to outplay people from equal positions, especially if you are enjoying yourself, and not dispirited by the lack of a theoretical advantage. 15.h3 h5 16.e2 d7 17.h4 f5 18.e1 c7 19.g3 e6 20.xf5 exf5 21.h4 e7 22.c4!? ad8 [ 22...g7!? ] 23.c5!? fe8 24.fc1 g7 25.d4 d7 26.xe7 xe7 27.ab1 a8 28.b4 axb4 29.xb4 a7 30.f2 b8 31.b3 e4 32.d4 e7 33.f3 a6 34.b6 b8 35.a1 d7 36.a5 b8 37.c1 d7 38.b3 f6 39.a2 e8 40.g3 e4 41.ba3 h4 42.g4 fxg4+ 43.xg4 f5+ 145
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 44.f3 g5 45.fxg5 xg5+ 46.f2 e4+ 47.g2 h6 48.e2 g8+ 49.f1 f6 50.f4 g4 51.g2 aa8 52.e2 f6 53.xg8 xg8 54.a1 f6 55.d3 g4 56.h3 f6 57.e5 e4 58.a6 bxa6 Perhaps a premature resignation, but after taking on c6 white follows up with Ne7 and threatens the d and f pawns at the same time as preparing the c-pawn coronation. 1-0
15.bxc4 dxc4 16.xc4 a5 17.e4 xe4 18.xe4! [ Maybe Black only saw 18.xe4 xd2 , but after the text taking on d2 loses the queen to 19.Bc3. ] 18...f5 19.c3 Black is a pawn down with a completely rotten position, though resignation at this stage could hardly have been very cheering for his team mates. 1-0
155
156
Ljubojevic,Ljubomir Zuidema,Coenraad Skopje ol (Men) fin-A (4) [Nigel Davies]
A03 2550 30.09.1972
1.f4 d5 2.f3 f6 3.e3 c5 4.b3 c6 5.b5 d7 6.b2 e6 7.0-0 e7 8.a4 This kind of waiting move is often seen in analogous positions in the Queen's Indian Defence. Here there's the interesting point that White can play Nf3-e5 on his next move without first exchanging his b5 bishop for the knight on c6. 0-0 [ After 8...a6 9.xc6 xc6 10.e5 White would be better off than after 8.Bxc6 Bxc6 9.Ne5 because of the additional possibility of blockading Black's queenside pawns with a4-a5. ] 9.e5 xe5 10.fxe5 e8 [ And not 10...xb5? 11.exf6 xf1 12.fxe7 xe7 13.xf1 when the two minor pieces are stronger than Black's rook and pawn. ] 11.d3!? c6 [ B l a c k s h o u l d h a v e p l a y e d 11...f5 but he has to be careful. For example after 12.exf6 xf6 White has an interesting s a c r i f i c i a l p o s s i b i l i t y i n ( 12...xf6 is much better when it doesn't look like W hite has much) 13.h5! g6 14.xg6 hxg6 15.xg6+ g7 16.xf8+ xf8 17.xg7+ xg7 18.c3 e7 19.h7 , with two pawns and ongoing pressure for the sacrificed piece. ] 12.g4 g6 13.c3 g7 14.f4 c4? W ith Ljubojevic feeding pieces over to the kingside Black panics. [ 14...f5 would have been a much tougher nut to crack. ]
Malaniuk,Vladimir P Thorfinnsson,Bjorn Quebec Open Montreal CAN (9) [Nigel Davies]
A03 2563 2395 25.07.2009
The Bird is a good opening for player with experience in the Dutch - you get the same position but with colours reversed. Malaniuk certainly fits the bill - he's a great expert in the Leningrad Variation. 1.f4 d5 2.f3 e6 At first sight this looks like a rather stately approach by Black though as we'll soon see he has some aggressive ideas in mind. 3.d3 b6 4.g3 e7 5.g2 h5!? Well that's interesting, Black wants to play ... h5-h4. Unfortunately for him this plan is foiled in typical Leningrad Dutch fashion. 6.h3! b7 7.0-0 d7 8.e1 Malaniuk's favourite move in the Leningrad. White is preparing to play e2e4 and vacates the d-file. c5 9.e4 c7 10.c3 a6 11.d2 dxe4 I tend to see this exchange as a bad thing for Black as now when White plays e4-e5 he can gain access to the e4 square. 12.dxe4 0-0-0 13.e2 gf6 14.g5 hf8 15.e5 e8 16.xb7+ xb7 17.ce4 Black's early play has been rather unsuccessful. W hite has a nice space advantage and Black's king looks weak on the queenside. h4 18.g4 c7 19.f3 f5 20.eg5 [ 20.gxf5! is much stronger as after xf5 W h i t e c a n p l a y ( 20...exf5 21.eg5 is ve ry u n p le a s a n t) 21.xh4! xh4 22.d6+ etc. ] 20...c4? Slipping up on the verge of equality. [ 20...fxg4 21.hxg4 b8 intending ...Nc6 wo u ld h a ve p u t Bla ck righ t b a ck in t h e game. ] 146
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.gxf5 xg5 22.xg5 xf5 [ 22...exf5 23.e6 would be a complete killer. ] 23.e4 Threatening the most horrible fork on d 6 . B l a c k ' s p o s i t i o n i s c o l l a p s i n g . e8 24.xc4+ b8 25.ae1 d5 Losing, but then what else? 26.xd5 exd5 27.g5 c7 28.c3 f8 29.e6 g6? [ 29...e8 30.f2 would protect the e6 pawn because of fxe6 31.fe2 etc. ] 30.f7 g8 31.d6 xf4 32.xf4 [ 32.e7 would have been even better, for example xf1+ 33.xf1 e8 34.xe8 xe8 35.e6 xe7 36.b4 is a killer. ] 32...xf4 33.e7 xh3+ 34.h2 g5 35.e8+ So White goes a piece up and the rest should be a 'matter of technique'. As one might expect, Malaniuk does a very prof essional job. xe8 36.xe8+ xe8 37.xe8 d4 38.b4 a5 39.d6+ c8 40.xg7 f3+ 41.h3 e1 42.f5 d3 43.c3 d2 44.e3 d3 45.d1 d7 46.h2 c6 47.g1 c1 48.xh4 xa2 49.g4 b5 50.f3 d5 51.e2 c4 52.xd2 b3 53.c5 a4 54.a3 b4 55.cxb4 xb4 56.e3 c6 57.f5 e5 58.d4+ c4 59.e2 f3+ 60.e3 e1 61.c1 c2+ 62.d2 d4 63.f8 e6 64.e7 d4 65.a3 1-0
157 Marin,Mihail Brunello,Sabino Edinburgh rap 1st rapid (2.6) [Nigel Davies]
A03 2549 2468 11.03.2007
1.b3 d5 2.b2 f6 3.e3 c5 4.f4 c6 5.b5 d7 6.f3 e6 7.0-0 e7 8.e1 [ White wants to wait before adopting the standard plan of taking on c6 and plonking his knight on e5, but this is not the best way to do it as we shall see. Instead of this he should probably play 8.d3 0-0 9.bd2 b4 10.xd7 xd7 11.a3 c6 12.e4 will give him a somewhat freer gaem. ] 8...0-0 [ Black could also play the immediate 8...b4! , f o r e x a m p l e 9.xd7+ xd7 10.d1 ( 10.a3 defends c2 whilst
developing a piece but leaves the knight on a3 just horribly placed) 10...0-0 11.a3 c6 12.d3 f6 13.xf6 xf6 14.bd2 ae8 ( 14...c3 is another good move here) 15.h1 e5 gave Black a nice game in Deuter, L (2041)-Mueller, M (2415)/Germany 2002. ] 9.d3 [ White was successful with the nonchalant 9.h1 in one game but only because his o p p o n e n t p l a y e d t h e w e i r d e4?! a f t e r w h i c h ( 9...b4 10.xd7 xd7 is fine for Black) 10.xc6 xc6 11.d3 f6 12.e5 got the knight to e5 with the associated attacking chances in Gonzalez Menendez, I (2276)-Trujillo Delgado, D (2118)/Aviles 2003. ] 9...b4 10.xd7 xd7 11.f2 With 9.d3 having been played this more rational defence of c2 becomes possible, but it still doesn't give White anything special because he can't get a knight established on e5. c6 12.bd2 f6 13.xf6 xf6 14.ac1 b4 [ 14...b2 looks quite annoying for White here, though it's often best not to get into such tricky lines in a rapidplay game. ] 15.a3 a2 16.ce1 c3 17.g3 [ The knight on c3 is likely to become a thorn in W hite's side so he should take the opportunity to exchange it with 17.b1 . ] 17...e5 18.fxe5 xe5 19.xe5 xe5 20.f4 ae8 21.a4 a2 22.xe5 xe5 23.f3 e7 24.f2?! [ 24.e4 was better. ] 24...fe8 25.d4 [ I wonder if W hite missed 25.fe2 c3 when he played 24.Rf2. Possibly, this was rapidplay. ] 25...cxd4 26.xd4 xe3 27.xe3 xe3 28.f5 b4 29.f2 c3 30.e5 f8 31.e2 c6 32.xd5 xd4+ 33.xd4 xc2+ 34.d3 c7 35.d8+ e7 36.a8 a6 37.d4 d6 38.h8 h6 39.h7 f6 40.h8 d7 41.g8 e6+ 42.c5 f5 The pawn majority starts trundling forward. 43.b4 f6 44.b5 axb5 45.axb5 g5 46.h8 g7 47.c8 f4 48.gxf4 gxf4 49.b6 f3 50.c2 f7 51.f2 g6 52.c5 g5 53.d4 g4 54.e3 e7+ 55.d2 h5 56.d3 h4 0-1 147
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.xe5?? allows c5+ forking king and bishop. ] Moreno Carnero,Javier 24.xc3 xe2 25.f3 e3 26.xe5 xe4 Bhat,Vinay S 27.xg7 xg7 28.ae1 xe1 29.xe1 Qualifier Internet ICC (1.2) d6?! [Tony Kosten] [ Missi n g t h e t a ct i c 29...d2!? 30.f2 ( 30.d5?? xd5 31.cxd5 f3+ ) 30...gxf5 1.g3 d5 2.g2 f6 3.f4 White transposes 31.gxf5 d4 with a trivial win. ] into Bird's Opening, and achieves a reversed Leningrad position, without permitting Black to 30.e7 gxf5 31.g5?! [ Better 31.xc7!? fxg4 32.xg4 play 1...e5. g6 4.f3 g7 5.0-0 b6 6.d3 with some drawing chances. ] b7 7.e1 0-0 8.e4!? [ White exploits a typical tactical motif, the 31...hxg5 32.hxg5 xc4 [ 32...c8 33.h5 f8 is simpler. ] p in a lo n g t h e h 1 -a 8 d i a g o n a l, t o f o rc e through this advance. 8.h3 c5 9.g4 c6 33.xc7 d3?? [ A quick-play blunder which throws away a 10.h4 is a less confrontational method, n i c e p o s i t i o n , 33...e5 34.h5 d7 Teran Alvarez,I-Izeta Txabarri,F/Palencia does the trick. ] 1999. ] 8...dxe4 9.g5 The point, recuperating the 34.h5?? [ Missing the obvious 34.e2 a3 35.xc4 pawn. a6! turning the tables. ] [ A n im p ro v e m e n t o n t h e m o ve 9...bd7 although play is similar on 10.xe4 xe4 34...e5 35.f2? a3 36.e7 [ 36.c2 f4 ] 11.dxe4 c5 12.c3 xc3! 13.bxc3 f5 14.exf5 xg2 15.xg2 gxf5 and the black 36...g6 37.e2?? xa2 38.e3 [ 38.d7 doesn't change anything: f4 ] knight comes to e4, Houska, M-Shaw,J/ 38...f4+ 39.f3 xe7 Rotherham 1997, 0-1 (45). ] 0-1 10.dxe4 [ Perhaps 10.xe4 is superior, as in the previous note. ] 159 A03 10...h6 11.h3 e5 12.f5 [ Now White gets more space on the kingside, Novikov,Maxim 2524 but 12.c3 b4 13.f2 exf4 14.xf4 e8 Selin,Oleg 2400 was superior, although Black is fine. ] Ch Tula RUS (3) 05.08.2007 12...d4+ Black gets strong play along the [Nigel Davies] open d-file after this, and pressure on e4. 13.f2 ad8 14.c3 Else ... Nb4 may prove 1.b3 d5 2.e3 A way of avoiding 2...Bg4 I awkward. a4 15.g4?! guess. f6 3.b2 c5 4.f4 Transposing into [ White finds himself in more trouble after a Bird's Opening, but having avoided some of this, 15.b3 d7 16.e2 is safer. ] Black's independent tries there (such as the 15...c5 Now White is obliged to defend e4 From Gambit with 1.f4 e5). passively, and his position goes downhill. [ W h i t e c o u l d a l s o h a v e p l a y e d 4.f3 16.d2 d3 with a reversed Queen's Indian Defence, [ 16...a6 is not bad either. ] an d th is wo uld p ro ba b ly h ave b ee n m y 17.xd3 xd3 18.e2 fd8 19.h4?! choice. ] Difficult to suggest a satisfactory move here, 4...g4 Aiming for an exchange of pieces but b u t t h is d o e s n o t h in g t o co n t e st B la ck' s this helps to speed White's development. control of the centre. a6 20.b3 [ A high level game Morozevich, A (2765)[ 20.c4!? was slightly better, although c2 Kramnik, V (2799)/Nice 2008 went 4...g6 21.f2 gxf5 22.gxf5 f8 wins material. ] 5.b5+ d7 6.xd7+ bxd7 7.c4 dxc4 20...a5 21.c4 xc4 22.bxc4 xc3 8.bxc4 g7 9.f3 0-0 10.0-0 a6 11.a4 23.b2 d2 b8 12.c3 c6 13.b1 d3 14.a3 [ N o t b a d , b u t 23...b4! is excellent, as xc4 15.xb7 d5 16.e2 xe2 158
A03 2506 2398 18.03.2000
148
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.xe2 a5 18.d7 fd8 19.xd8+ with an eventual draw. ] 5.e2 xe2 6.xe2 c6 7.f3 e6 8.e5 c7 Probably Black was already envisaging castling long at this point, though it's not clear that this is such a great idea. [ 8...xe5 9.fxe5 d7 intending ...Be7, castling short and a quick ...f7-f5 seems more solid. ] 9.0-0 d6 10.xc6 xc6 11.d3 0-0-0 Needless to say Black's king is going to be far from safe over here because of the ease with which White can open files on the queenside with c2-c4. Can he create play on the other flank, where White has more space? Well this is what I don't like about his strategy. 12.d2 c7 13.f3 h5 14.e5 d7 Perhaps by this stage Black was agreeing with me about his kingside prospects, so he gives up his gpawn for what looks like nebulous compensation. 15.xg7 hg8 16.b2 f6 17.c4 dxc4 18.dxc4 g4 19.f2?! This could probably have waited until Black plays ...Rdg8. Now Black switches his plan and gets some play. e5! 20.fxe5 xe5 21.xe5 xe5 22.xe5 xe5 23.af1 dg8 24.h1 h4 25.f3 c7 26.d2 b6 27.fd1 4g7 28.d5 b2 29.f4+ b7 30.5d2 e5 31.f3+ a6 32.c6 c7 33.d5 xd5?! [ 33...e8 would have been better with some prospects for survival. ] 34.xd5 cg7 35.1d2 h3 36.g3 h7 37.g1 e8 38.f2 1-0
[ 9.h4 e6 10.g4!? was played by the great endgame composer, Kasparian,G-Ebralidze, A/Tbilisi 1937. ] 9...b7 Natural, but the bishop may prove better on a6, so perhaps Black should prefer [ 9...e8 10.g3 when ( 10.e4?! dxe4 11.dxe4 e5 ) 10...e6 is Johannessen,SKeene,R/ Siegen 1970, but Black might prefer the trick ( 10...e5!? although there is a twist, 11.fxe5 xe5 12.xe5 xe5 13.xe5 h5 and the queen is trapped, but with the pawn on b6 W hite has the tactic 14.xd5 xd5 15.f3 however, after d6 16.xa8 e5 White finds himself behind in development, 17.g3 xg3! 18.hxg3 xg3+ 19.h1 h3 20.d2 xf1 21.xf1 e1 22.g2 e2+ 23.g1 xc2 and White's position is very loose. )] 10.c3 e8 11.g3 a6 Picking out the weakness on d3. [ 11...e5 is again thematic, but after 12.fxe5 xe5 13.xe5 xe5 14.e4 ( 14.xe5 h5 traps the queen) 14...h5 15.f2 White attacks f7. ] 12.e2?! Why play the bishop to d1, to follow up with this? [ 12.c2 looks right. ] 12...e5 Now the d-pawn is pinned Black could also consider [ 12...e4!? 13.e1 d6 and ...e5 next move, with an edge. ] 13.xe5 xe5 14.fxe5 d7! [ 14...xe5 is again possible, but Black wants to put more pressure on d3. ] 15.a3 xe5 16.b5 b7 17.d4? Positionally this looks wrong, although White drives the knight from a strong post, e4 will 160 A03 stay permanently weak. a6 18.a3 [ 18.dxe5 axb5 19.xb5 xe5 Rasidovic,Sead 2303 favours Black. ] Fressinet,Laurent 2640 20th ECC Izmir TUR (3) 05.10.2004 18...d7 19.h4?! f6 The knight heads straight for e4. 20.b1 e7 Black stops [Tony Kosten] White from playing Nd2. 21.f3 c8 22.e1 Black controls e4 four times with his 1.f4 d5 2.e3 g6 3.f3 f6 4.e2 g7 f5 5.0-0 0-0 6.e1 c5 7.d3 c6 8.d1 pieces, much more than W hite could ever White defends c2 and prepares e4, but I am hope to. 23.d2 ac8 24.e2 c4 25.f1 e4 26.h2 f6 White is completely lost. not too keen on this move myself. b6 h4 28.g3 g5 29.f3 c6 [ 8...e8 planning ...e5, worked well for 27.h5 Black in Karlsson,L-Kindermann,S/ Gausdal The black pieces gravitate to the kingside. 30.g4 d7 31.e2 f6 32.g2 gxh5! 1994. ] With two of White's pieces out of play on the 9.a4 149
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 queenside Black opens the g-file to decide matters. 33.gxh5 h8 34.xe4 dxe4 35.h2 [ 35.xg5?? xf1+ and the queen is lost. ] 35...g8 36.g2 f3 37.d2 h3 38.g3 xf1 39.h1 This is obviously hopeless, but [ 39.xf1 xe3+ 40.xe3 gxg3+ wins everything. ] 39...xg3 40.xg3 h6 Sufficient to win, Black is a piece up for nothing, but [ 40...xe3! i s e v e n s t r o n g e r , 41.xe3 h4+ ] 0-1
161 Ricardi,Pablo Dominguez Perez,Leinier Olympiad Bled SLO (6) [Tony Kosten]
A03 2544 2608 31.10.2002
1.g3 d5 2.g2 f6 3.f4 g6 4.f3 g7 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 c5 7.c3!? Well, why not? White is a tempo up on a playable line in the Leningrad Dutch. d4 8.e4 xe4 9.dxe4 c6 10.e3 This is the extra move that White enjoys, he can attack the d4-pawn and try to exchange his doubled e-pawn. e5 Ambitious, and played as with colours reversed, but [ 10...dxe3 is also possible, 11.c3 xd1 12.xd1 e2 ( 12...a5 13.xe3 c4 14.c1 and White has a little extra space in this endgame) 13.e1 e5 14.xe2 e6 15.e3 b6 was fine for Black in Knezevic,MDely,P/Skopje 1967. ] 11.f5!? This is a perfectly normal move in a Dutch. [ 11.fxe5 xe5 12.exd4 cxd4 13.xe5 ( 13.xd4?? g4 ) 13...xe5 14.f4 offers nothing, Pimenov,S-Ilivitzki,G/Yerevan 1955. ] 11...gxf5! Before annotating this I had a quick look at the Leningrad Dutch eBook, and this move (which is actually an innovation here) is given an exclamation mark, in an almost identical position. [ 11...b5?! is probably doubtful, as White can continue 12.g4 with a powerful kingside attack brewing, Laine,H-Kauko,J/ Tampere 1996. ] 12.exf5
[ 12.h4?! fxe4 13.xe4 e7 14.d3 f5 15.xf5 xf5 16.xf5 xf5 17.xf5 xf5 18.xf5 d5 ( 18...a5 might be even s t r o n g e r h e r e) 19.e4 c4 actually t ra n s p o se s d i re ct ly i n t o t h e L e n i n gra d Mainline discussed by Neil McDonald (if you change the board around)! ] 12...xf5!? Black decides to liquidate the annoying f-pawn, although other moves, such as [ 12...e4 were also possible. ] 13.xe5 Discovering an attack on f5. e7 14.exd4 cxd4 15.d3 A nice blockading s q u a r e f o r a k n i g h t . g6!? 16.g5 W h it e pref ers no t to gra b th e pa wn , an d relinquish the initiative, by [ 16.xb7 b8 17.g2 d5 ] 16...c7 17.f4 b6 18.a4 White's pieces are harmoniously placed, and he enjoys the better pawn structure. f5 But Black can land his knight on the e3-square, and this gives h i m u s e f u l p l a y . 19.a5 b5 20.f3 Not bad, but [ 20.a6!? is tempting, e3 21.xe3 dxe3 22.axb7 ad8 Black has some play for the pawn, but not enough. ] 20...c4 21.f2 e3 22.e5 e6 23.xg6 hxg6 24.xb7 White as won a pawn, for not too much. xg2 25.xg2 Simplest, as if [ 25.xg2 then d3! is p o ss i b l e , 26.c3 ( 26.cxd3? d4 ) 26...ad8 and the d-pawn is potentially dangerous. ] 25...ac8 26.f3 c4 Black must press the backward c2-pawn, and try to tie White to its defence. 27.af1?! A waste of time, [ 27.d1 fc8 28.dd2 was better, although f5 gives Black fair comp. ] 27...fc8 28.c1 a6 29.h4 4c5 Black has picked-off the a-pawn, so W hite sues for peace. 30.c3 dxc3 31.bxc3 xc3 32.e2! xf3 33.xe6 xc1 34.e8+ h7 35.xf3 c5 36.e7 g8 37.e8+ h7 38.e7 g8 39.e8+ ½-½
150
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 162 Schnelzer,R Andersson,U 16th OIBM 2012 (8.14) [John Bartholomew]
A03 2230 2556 03.11.2012
Ulf Andersson meets 1.f4 in his usual fine intuitive style. 1.f4 f6 [ If Black intends to enter a reversed Dutch, then 1...d5 may be the most flexible move. One high-scoring possibility is 2.f3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c5 5.0-0 h6!? , wherein Black transfers the knight to f5 and aims to exploit the e3 square after a subsequent d2-d3. See Karlsson, L (2520)Seirawan, Y (2595)/Haninge 1990/[TonyK] ( 5...f6 would tranpose to the text game) 6.g4 ] 2.f3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 d5 5.0-0 0-0 [ Another good option is the doublefianchetto with 5...b6 , i.e. 6.d3 b7 7.e1 0-0 8.e4!? dxe4 9.g5 a6! Moreno Carnero, J (2506)-Bhat, V (2398)/ Internet ICC 2000/ [TonyK]. ] 6.d3 c5 We now have a main-line Leningrad Dutch with colors reversed. The only difference is that Black has yet to play ...Nb8c6, so he's effectively a tempo behind. Funnily, this hasn't helped W hite much in practice (Black even scores fractionally better in this tempo-down version). Hence, when asked why he doesn't play 1.f4, the noted Leningrad Dutch expert GM Vladimir Malaniuk responded by saying "that extra move's gonna hurt me"! 7.e1 Black's most popular move in the Leningrad (by a fairly wide margin) is 7. .. Qe8, so no surprise here. [ In t ere st ingly, 7.c3!? is played slightly more o f ten here, proba bly b ecause it's amb itious in t he normal L eningrad an d easier to justify with an extra tempo. Nevertheless, after d4 8.e4 xe4 9.dxe4 c6 10.e3 e5 Black held his own in sharp hand-to-hand combat in Ricardi, P (2550)-Dominguez, L (2608)/Bled 2002/ [TonyK]. ] 7...d4 [ I like this a bit better than 7...c6 , allowing 8.e4 , but even then dxe4 9.dxe4 e5! gives Black plenty of counterplay. ] 8.c3
[ Also frequently seen is 8.a3 c6 9.d2 ( 9.c3 transposes to the game) 9...d5 10.c3 . Black has several good responses, i. e. b8!? ( 10...e6 11.c2 dxc3 12.bxc3 b6 13.d1 b7 14.e4 de7 15.e3 c7= Dietz, J (2185)-Mirzoev, A (2565)/ Calvi FRA 2010; I would personally avoid the sharp 10...e5!? , though it's fine too) 11.b1 b6 12.c2 dxc3 13.bxc3 b7 14.g4 e5 15.fxe5 xe5 16.xe5 xe5 Boric, E (2292)-Gabrielian, A (2532)/Aix-les-Bains FRA 2011. 17.e4 c7 18.d4 cxd4 19.cxd4 xd4+ 20.xd4 xd4+ 21.e3 d7 22.h6 fd8 23.g3 e6 0-1 Boric, E (2292)-Gabrielian, A (2532)/Aix-les-Bains FRA 2011 ] 8...c6 9.a3 b8!? Useful. Black prepares ...b7-b5 and reveals little else about his setup. [ In 2010, 9...d5 was played against... Vladimir Malaniuk! Yes, the originator of the famous 1.f4 quote actually DOES play the Bird f rom time to time (28 of his 1400+ W hite games in MegaBase). 10.d2 e5 ( again, I would shy away from this instead, 10...b8!? transposes to Boric - Gabrielian above ) 11.fxe5 xe5 12.xe5 xe5 13.c2 g7?! ( 13...a5!? ) 14.c4 f6 15.b4! cxb4 16.xb4 g4 17.d5 d7 and W hite went on to win in Malaniuk, V (2573)-Bindrich, F (2512)/Dresden GER 2010. ] [ T h e c o m p u t e r i s f o n d o f 9...e6!? , both here and on the next couple moves. On e e xa mp le : 10.c2 b6 11.c4 a5 12.h3 d7 13.f2 b4 14.a3?! Tzambazis, G-Parligras, M (2564)/Agios Kirykos 2004. Here e8!? 15.d2 d6 is pleasant for Black. ] 10.d2 b5 11.c1 It's not clear what White should do here. [ 11.c2 b6 12.h1?! e6 13.h3 fd8 14.cxd4 cxd4 15.b4 xb4 16.xb4 dc8 Beim, V (2544)-Karpov, A (2355)/ Pardubice 2003 ] [ 11.h1 a6 ( 11...e6 ) 12.c1 b7 13.c2 d7 14.h3 e5 15.cxd4 exd4 Hickl, J (2570)-Zueger, B (2470)/Altensteig 1995 ] 11...dxc3 12.xc3 b4! [ Worse is 12...d4?! 13.xd4 cxd4 14.a5 d7 15.c7 , as in Kislinsky, A 151
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 (2384)-Solomaha, A (2379)/Kiev 2006. ] 13.xf6 xf6 14.c4 e6 15.b3?! Weakening. [ It looks better to play 15.f2 c8 16.fd2 with roughly equality, though I'd take Black and the bishop pair. ] 15...c3 16.d1 xc4!? 17.dxc4 a5 18.c2 d4! Black opts to play the middlegame with bishops of opposite color. Th is is a s m a rt de cision , as he en joys a slightly better structure and a bishop with a tad more potential. In other words, Andersson's preferred type of game! 19.xd4 xd4+ 20.h1 b6 21.f5?! Creating more weaknesses. g7 22.e4 e6?! As always, Andersson searches f or complete saf et y before undertaking any active operations. [ Black has nothing to fear: 22...xa2! ] 23.fxg6 hxg6 24.c2?! c3 25.f4 bb8 26.f3 d8!? 27.cc1 b6! Andersson hits on a neat way to coordinate his heavy pieces. 28.cd1 d6 29.d3 xd3 30.exd3 e7 31.e2 h8 32.f3 d8 33.g2 d6 34.h1 d8 35.d1 d7 36.c2 d4 37.e2 a5! Continuing to soften White up. 38.h4 a4 39.d2 e7 40.g2 a6 41.h5 g5 42.h6+? White has a thankless defensive task on his hands, but there's no reason to pitch this pawn. xh6 43.h1+ g7 44.h5 f6-+ 45.h3 axb3 46.axb3 a3 47.d1 d8 48.e3 d4 49.f3 a2 50.e2 e5 51.d1 d2 52.a8 f5+ White resigned. A patient exploitation of positional trumps in classic Ulf Andersson style. I like Black's play quite a lot, especially the semi-waiting approach with 11... Rb8!?. I see no advantage for White in the reversed Leningrad Dutch. 0-1
too bad. 3.b3 Other moves: [ 3.g3 g4 4.g2 xf3!? 5.xf3 e5 6.d3 f6 and at the cost of the bishop pair Black has achieved good development, and a b e t t e r c e n t r e , R icca , R-K o rn e e v, O / A s t i 1997. ] [ 3.e3 is possibly the most logical, g4 4.b5 d7 otherwise White could simply double the black c-pawns, Reinderman,DBerelovich,A/Hoogeveen NED 1999, when i think I would play 5.h3 xf3 6.xf3 ] 3...e5!? This move is very sharp, but Black can also consider [ 3...g4 4.b2 f6!? 5.g3 d7 6.g2 0-0-0 with mutual chances, Stipic,M-Klaric,Z/ Zadar 1997. ] 4.fxe5 [ 4.xe5?? allows xe5 5.fxe5 h4+ 6.g3 e4 7.g1 and now Black wins a rook with the surprising fork d4 ] 4...g5!? A new move borrowed from From's Gambit, Black wants to displace the white king's knight, and attack on the kingside - he can always bring his king to safety on the queenside. Alternatives: [ 4...xe5!? 5.b2 ( 5.xe5 h4+ 6.g3 d4 regains the piece) 5...xf3+ 6.exf3 f6 7.d4 f5 with a good game, Lammi,JMaki Uuro,M/Tampere 1993. ] [ 4...g4 5.b2 xf3?! ( 5...e7!? ) 6.exf3 g5 7.g3 c5 8.f4 e7 9.d4 with a large white advantage, Auer,H-Oden,E/Pirmasens 1992. ] 5.g3?! White had a number of choices here, but this is probably not the best, [ 5.b2 g7 is possible ( 5...g4!? 6.e6! )] [ 5.e6!? as well, with the point xe6?! 6.b2 f6 7.xg5 ] 5...g4 6.h4 e7 7.g2 xe5 The opening has been a success for Black 163 A03 who is ahead on development, and has more control of the centre. 8.d4 g6 9.d3 f6 Strain,Hugh M Shulman,Yuri 2591 10.d2 d6 11.b2 e7 12.0-0-0 d7 0-0-0 14.b1? White is already 21st NAO Las Vegas USA (1) 30.08.2002 13.e1 behind in development, and certainly cannot [Tony Kosten] afford any unnecessary moves, [ 14.e4 was indicated: dxe4 15.xe4 xe4 1.f4 d5 2.f3 c6!? Over the years I have 16.xe4 g5+ 17.d2 although Black is considered a number of moves in this position, still better. ] but this one is definitely new to me. Still, this Black immediately takes control of is very similar to the 2 Nc3 line against the 14...de8 Dutch, which has a fair reputation, so can't be e4. 15.e3 h5 16.e2 h4 Although the white 152
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 king has escaped to the queenside Black is still stronger on the kingside, and should attack there. 17.d1?! [ 17.c4 was the only chance. ] 17...hxg3 18.hxg3 xg3 19.ef1 h3 Black is a pawn up with the better position. 20.a4 eh8 21.hg1 h2 22.h1 h5 23.a2 g3 24.a3 e8 25.f4? xf4 26.xf4 [ 26.exf4 xh1 attacks the queen and wins a whole rook. ] 26...xh1 27.xg4 xg4?! Possibly this last move should be [ 27...xf4 ] 0-1
164 Tartakower,Saviely Alapin,Simon Karlsbad Karlstad (19) [Nigel Davies]
A03
15.09.1911
1.f4 d5 2.f3 c5 3.e3 c6 4.b5 d7 5.0-0 e6 6.b3 f6 7.b2 e7 8.d3 [ It's interesting to note that two rounds e a r l i e r T a r t a k o w e r h a d p l a y e d 8.e2 but after c8 9.d3 b6 10.c4 a6 11.xc6 xc6 12.bd2 0-0 13.e5 e8 14.f2 d7 15.xd7 xd7 16.g4 d4 didn't really achieve very much in Tartakower, S-Suechting, H/Karlsbad 1911. And it's entirely possible that a theoretician such as Alapin had prepared an improvement for Black. ] 8...c7 9.e2 0-0 10.bd2 a6 11.xc6 xc6 12.e5 fe8?! [ Black should try and tackle that knight on e5 before the rest of White's army lines up behind it. So repositioning the knight on f6 looks like the thing to do and the best way to do it seems to be 12...d7 . ] [ Another possibility is 12...e8 but then 13.e4 f6 14.xc6 xc6 15.exd5 xd5 16.ae1 c7 17.f5 e5 18.e4 looks very nice for White. ] 13.f3 d4 [ It seems to late for 13...d7 now because of 14.h3 xe5 15.h5 . After h6 16.xe5 d6 17.xg7 Black's king position gets ripped limb from limb. ]
14.h3 ad8 15.f1 This massive gathering of force on the kingside is looking very ominous for Black. g6 16.e4 f8 17.df3 g7 Losing, but it's not easy to find a move for Black here. [ The disgraced Rybka 4 program wants to recommend 17...h5 here, but then 18.xh5 ( Or maybe 18.c1 f5 19.xh5 gxh5 20.g5 ) 18...gxh5 19.xc6 xc6 ( 19...bxc6 20.d2 h4 21.g4+ h8 22.xh4 gives more than enough for the exchange ) 20.e5 c7 21.xh5 f6 22.g4 g7 23.f5 provides ample demonstration of the superiority of nonmaterialist organic GM thinking. At least I think it does. ] 18.g5 e7 19.xc6 xc6 20.e5 d5 21.xh7 That's just about it. This is an important pawn and White has snaffled it for free. f5 22.exf6 xf6 23.xf6+ xf6 24.c3 h7 25.e5 f7 26.xh7+ xh7 27.cxd4 d5 28.h8 f8 29.dxc5 xc5+ 30.h1 xd3 31.h3 d5 32.g7+ e8 33.a3 1-0
165 Taylor,Timothy Fontaine,Robert Masters Las Vegas USA (1) [John Watson]
A03 2330 2521 10.06.2006
This one was similar but White gets c3 in early, which has to be right (cutting down on the g7 bishop's range, opening a square for the knight on c2, freeing the queen - very flexible). Although it still doesn't work out, the opening was fine and may even have favoured White. 1.f4 d5 2.f3 g6 3.e3 g7 4.e2 f6 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 c5 7.a4 c6 8.a3 g4 9.c3 c8 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 d4?! This seems to help White's pawn structure. 12.cxd4 cxd4 13.e4 d7 14.d2 h6 15.g3?! [ 15.e5!? activates White's pieces and readies b4-b5. I like White. ] 15...c5 16.g4 [ 16.e1 would intend b4. ] 16...e6 17.f5?! e3+ [ 17...xd2! 18.xd2 e5 takes over a great outpost and makes W hite's bishop 153
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 look a little funny out there. ] 18.xe3 dxe3 19.c1!? This hits c5 and plays for tactics but the centre can collapse.. This is a bad sign unless it wins outright. exf5 [ 19...b3 20.xe3 xa1 21.fxe6 ( 21.f6 h8 ) 21...f5! 22.exf5 b3 is wild after 23.f6 xf6 24.e7 xf1+ 25.xf1 xe7 26.e6+ f8 , but White has to take time to recover his material and his knight on a3 is a re al prob lem . 27.f4+ f5 28.xc8 xc8 29.g4 c5! 30.gxf5 xf5! with a pawn-up ending. ] 20.exf5 e2! 21.xe2 d4+?! A strange move. [ 21...d4 is obvious and pretty much killing. It's not clear what Black was thinking. ] 22.h1 ce8 23.b5 d5+ 24.f3 xf5 25.g2 e5 26.c4! a6 27.c3 d6 28.b4!? [ 28.ad1 ] 28...d7 29.f4?! [ 29.xc6! bxc6 ( 29...xc6+ 30.xc6 bxc6 31.ae1= ) 30.e4 d5 31.ac1 ] 29...e3! 30.af1 ce5 31.d4 xd4 32.xd4 xg3 With a clear pawn up. Again, the opening was reasonable. 33.d1 c8 34.e4 e3 35.d6 c2 36.c4 ee2 37.xb7 h2+ 38.g1 xh3 39.b5 axb5 40.axb5 g3+ 41.f1 Now instead of g4!? [ 41...h5 ] [ or 41...f3 was very strong. Black went on to win, less convincingly: ] 42.d2 c1+ 43.e2 de5 44.b2 gg1 45.xe5 xe5 46.b6 b1 47.xb1 xb1 48.d6 f8 49.a8 e7 50.d5 b2+ 51.d1 d7 52.b7 h5 53.c1 b6 54.d2 f6 55.e3 g5 56.f3 h4 57.g4 e6 58.a5 b4+ 59.f3 b3 60.e4 f5+ 61.d4 b6 62.a1 h3 63.e1+ d6 64.e8 g4 65.h8 b1 66.e3 e6 67.h6+ e7 68.f4 b5 69.h5 d6 70.h6+ c7 71.c6+ b8 72.c8+ a7 73.h8 b8 74.h6 d5 75.d4 xd4+ 76.xf5 a4 77.h8 b4 78.h7 a4 79.h8 c6 80.h7 b6 81.h6 a7 82.xc6 g3 0-1
166 Taylor,Timothy Golod,Vitali National Open (6) [John Watson]
A03 2330 2571 18.06.2006
Tim Taylor plays as he preaches. Tim wrote a book on Bird's Opening and put it to the test four times in the latest batch of TWICs. The 1-3 result probably doesn't condemn the opening however, and I hope we see some more of it as time goes by. He faced two very high-rated opponents, for one thing. And he was asleep for this game: 1.f4 d5 2.f3 g6 3.e3 [ 3.g3 , for the Leningrad Reversed, was of course possible. See DanielsinIsmagametov. ] 3...g7 4.e2 c5 Black accedes to a Classical Dutch Reversed. He can also just develop. 5.0-0 c6 6.d3 f6 7.a4!? An interesting move: very Larsen-like, although I'm not sure what the idea is (where's my copy of that book?). Taylor intends Ne5 and Bf3. I would think that one plan of the reversed position, Qe1-h4, could be prepared (W hite should wait for Black to castle, so perhaps [ 7.h1 0-0 8.e1 was a shot. Also, something like the 'Antoshin System Reversed' could come up after ] [ 7.c3 0-0 8.c2 ] 7...0-0 8.a3 a6 9.e5 Back to the original Alekhine plan for this Dutch. c7 10.xc6 bxc6!? This fights for the initiative. [ On 10...xc6 , 11.a5 might be tried, ( or 11.c4 )] 11.f3 In a few moves White lands in trouble but I'm not sure why. The problem seems to be a lack of direction. On bold idea would be [ 11.c3 (in any case this prepares to cover e3 by Nc2) with the idea e5 (unfortunately, ( 11...e8 may be better.) 12.fxe5 xe5 13.e4! dxe4 14.c4 , emphasizing the weak c-pawns. Bf4, Nb6, or Be3 will follow, depending upon Black's decision. e6 ] 11...e5 12.d2?! Is that the best White can do? e8 13.e1 This is beginning to look like Amateur vs Master. Taylor is a strong and experienced player, which makes you wonder about his position approach to this game. As I 154
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 know and many others have stated, once you write about something you start to have bad results with it. Probably something to do with over thinking. e4 14.e2 b8 15.b1 h5! 16.f1 Oh no. Better to stay on the e-pawn or protect the b-pawn, but what move to make? Black may already be winning regardless. g4 17.c3? exd3 18.xd3 c4 19.c2 xe3 20.xe3 xe3 21.f5 e5!? [ 21...e5 ] 22.fxg6 fxg6 23.xg6 g4 24.c1 e2 25.c2 h3! 26.e1 f8 27.f3 Utter despair. xg2+ 28.h1 xf3 0-1
[ 11...d7 12.e3 h6 is not so clear. ] 12.d2!? [ 12.h3 h6 13.f4 gxe5 14.fxd4 has its points, as White has won a pawn for very little compensation. ] 12...h6! [ 12...gxe5? 13.fxd4 wins a pawn. ] 13.f6 xf6 14.exf6 xf6 15.xh6 xe2 Black would probably have been happy with this position, material is equal and he has the bishop pair, but W hite has something u n p l e a s a n t i n m i n d ! 16.ae1!? Very ima ginative . xc2 17.g5 xg5 18.xg5 Having forced the black queen away from the defence of the kingside W hite menaces Bd5, and Rxf7, so Black has to find 167 A03 a p r e c i s e d e f e n c e i m m e d i a t e l y . b4? Vasiukov,Evgeni 2537 But this is not it! Black had two good lines, Bykhovsky,Anatoly A 2378 against which I can see no clear win: [ 18...e6 19.f6!? ( 19.xe6 xd3! Botvinnik Mem A (1) 17.08.2002 defends g6) 19...fe8 20.e4 keeps the [Tony Kosten] a t t a c k g o i n g , b u t e5! ( 20...e7? 21.xe6! fxe6 22.xg6 wins ) 21.xe5 1.f4 d5 2.f3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c6!? d2 22.ef1 e3+ 23.1f2 ( 23.h1 Black aims to play a quick ...e5, we have f5! ) 23...e1+ 24.f1 draws ] already considered several other moves here, [ 18...d8 i s e v e n s i m p l e r , 19.xf7 [ 4...c5 is the mainline. ] ( 19.d5? a6! ) 19...xf7 ( 19...xf7? 5.c4!? As far as I can see, this flanking blow is 20.xg6+ f8 21.h6+ g7 22.h8+ a new idea in this position. wins ) 20.xg6+ h8 and now White might [ 5.d4 h5!? 6.e3 h6 7.c3 g4 be forced to take a perpetual, as 21.e4? equalised for Black in King, D-Langner,L/ allows f2+!! 22.xf2 e5+ ] Espoo 1991. ] Destroying the black defences. 5...d4 Black goes for space, but he might also 19.xf7!! xd3 have considered [ 19...xf7 20.xg6+ f8 21.h6+ g7 [ 5...dxc4!? e.g. 6.a4 d5 7.c3 xc3 22.f6+ g8 23.e8+ h7 24.e4+ 8.dxc3 d7 ] mates. ] 6.d3 White has a typical Leningrad position with colours reversed, except that Black's c- 20.xf8+ [ 20.xf8+ xf8 21.f6+ g8 22.e8+ pawn is not on c5. h6 The knight aims for f5, h7 23.h8# ] t o c o v e r t h e w e a k e 3 - s q u a r e . 7.a3 Touche! White brings his queen's knight to c2 1-0 to cover the e3-square. 0-0 8.c2 a5 9.0-0 e5?! This move backfires, Black had plenty of 168 A03 good choices here, Williams,Stephen M 2421 [ 9...f5 for instance. ] 10.fxe5 g4 It seems Black will recapture on Zhao,Zong Yuan 28.09.1999 e5, opening the e-file against the weak e2- WJun Yerevan ARM (11) [Tony Kosten] pawn, but it is White's turn to move: 11.g5 [ 11.e3!? dxe3 12.d4 is also possible, and 1.f4 d5 2.f3 g6 3.e3 g7 4.e2 c5 may even be stronger. ] 11...e8?! The queen should stay on the d- 5.0-0 c6 6.d3 f6 7.a4 Prophylaxis, White shows that he is prepared to keep an file to guard the d4-pawn. 155
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e y e o n t h e q u e e n s i d e . 0-0 8.h1!? A Simon W illiams' speciality, removing the k in g f ro m t h e g 1 -a 7 d ia go n a l wh ic h ca n become sensitive, should W hite play e4, or Black ... d4. [ 8.e1 is more usual, ready to bring the queen straight to the kingside, b6 9.a3 b7 10.c3 e6 11.b1 a5 with equal chances, Bellin,R-Kotronias,V/Gausdal 1992. ] 8...c7 The question is: how should Black best employ the free move? [ 8...e8 is also possible, likewise intending t o p l a y . . . e 5 : 9.e5 ( s t o p p i n g i t ) c7 10.c3!? a6!? ( (if 10...xe5 then 11.b5 b8 12.fxe5 xe5 13.e4 with the menace of Bf 4 , b ut pe rha p s g5 i s p o s s i b l e )) 11.xc6 xc6 12.f3 b6 13.e4 e6 14.g4 b7 15.g5 dxe4 16.dxe4 h5?! 17.e5 c7 18.e3 with an edge, Williams,SFerguson,M/8th S&W Masters, Witley ENG 1998. ] [ 8...b6 seems the most logical, continuing to develop, 9.e5 b7 10.f3 c7 11.xc6 xc6 12.c3 e5 with a good position to Black, Williams,S-Haslinger,S/Witley ENG 1999. ] 9.c3 a6 10.e4 dxe4!? It is amazing how quickly Black's position disintegrates after this, perhaps [ 10...d4 is better, with the possible c o n t i n u a t i o n : 11.b1 g4!? 12.c3 unclear. ] 11.dxe4 d8 12.e1 d4 Black must have been feeling pretty happy with himself after this move, however, a shock was in store! 13.c4!! A fantastic move! White jettisons a rook for an obscure attack. [ Following 13.d1 e6 Black would be better. ] 13...xc2 My computer considers this position to be completely winning for Black, but this just shows how lacking in imagination they are. 14.h4 xa1 [ Obvious, and no doubt Black felt that he would be able to defend against the white attack, and then make his extra rook count. If instead 14...d4 then 15.a2! ( following 15.xd4? cxd4 three white pieces are threatened, and the dangerous f3-knight is removed from the board.) 15...xa1 16.e5
g4 17.xd4 cxd4 18.d5 White has a powerful attack, which should be sufficient compensation. ] 15.f5 A whole rook down, but with the strong threat of Ng5, ganging-up on f7, and h7. b5? [ A natural reply, by opening the a-file Black assures the defence of his a1-knight. However, it seems to lose, and therefore we must search for an improvement hereabouts: 15...d4!! was his best chance, attempting to pester the powerful c4-bishop. After 16.f4 d8 17.xd4 ( 17.a2 c2 18.g5 can now be met by c4 cutting-off the a2-bishop's diagonal.) 17...cxd4 18.fxg6 hxg6 19.d5! the attack continues, e.g. c2 20.e5 xd5 21.xd5 which should be good enough for a draw, at least. ] 16.axb5 axb5 [ 16...b7 seems little better, 17.g5 gxf5 ( 17...f8? 18.fxg6 and win s, e.g. hxg6 19.xf6 and mate) ) 18.xf7+ h8 19.xh7 xh7 20.g6 h6 21.xh7 e6 22.xf5 exf5 23.xh6 and White recuperates his material whilst maintaining the attack. ] 17.xb5 b7 18.g5 e6 The only try, attempting to block the a2-g8 diagonal, if [ 18...f8 19.xf7 e8 20.fxg6 hxg6 21.e5 d8 22.h7! and its all over. ] 19.xh7! xh7 20.xd8+ f8 21.h4 Preparing f6. The immediate [ 21.f6 leaves the white queen too far from the black king. ] 21...f6 What else? [ 21...gxf5 22.exf5 c6 is met by 23.g3! exf5 24.d6 e6 25.h6 and the game is finished. ] 22.e5! White insists. g5 Forced, for if [ 22...fxe5 23.f6 wins the bishop. ] 23.g4 e7 24.xg5 There were several good paths now, for instance [ 24.exf6 xf6 25.xg5 xg5 26.f6 is also winning. ] 24...fxg5 25.f6 f7 26.d3 Again, [ 26.d6 g6 27.xc8 is also decisive. ] 26...xf6 [ 26...a6 27.xg5 is also quite hopeless. ] 27.exf6 h7 28.d6 Possibly [ 28.xh7+ xh7 29.f7+ is even simpler, as after f8 30.xg5 forces mate. ] 28...d7 [ 28...xf6 i s n o b e t t e r , 29.f3 b7 156
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 30.xb7 ] 29.f7+ f8 30.xh7 [ 30.xh7 Black, still reeling from the blows, g i v e s u p . A f t e r xd6 31.xg5 b7 32.g8+ e7 33.f8+ his remaining pieces drop off the board. ] 1-0
169 Yin Hao Zhang Zhong Asian Team Ch. (1) [Tony Kosten]
A03 2401 2541 10.10.1999
1.f4 d5 2.f3 f6 3.e3 g6 4.b3 Th is de ve lop m en t o f t he qu ee n 's b ish o p certainly makes positional sense now that W h it e ' s k i n g s id e p a wn s a r e s e t o n d a r k squares. g7 5.b2 0-0 6.c4!? [ An ambitious move, attacking Black's central pawn. 6.e2 is more normal. ] 6...c5! [ The best reply, preparing ...Nc6, and ...d4. 6...c6 whilst solid, is passive, and tends to justify White's move. 7.e2 g4 8.0-0 e6 9.d3 with a slight plus, Alexandre,J-Pereira,J/ Lisbon 1994. ] 7.c1?! [ Defending the b2-bishop against various tactical operations, for if 7.e2 for instance, then d4 8.exd4 h5 is possible. ] [ Normally 7.cxd5 is preferred, though, with level play after xd5 8.c4 h5 9.c3 c6 10.a3 g4 11.e2 fe8 intending ... e5, W oe st ma nn ,U-K ro eger,F/Mue nste r 1993. ] 7...c6 8.d3?! d4! The positional refutation o f W h i t e ' s p l a y, B l a c k cl o s e s t h e a 1 - h 8 dia go n a l, a f t er wh ich W h it e will f e e l t h e absence of his dark-squared bishop from the c1-h6 diagonal. 9.e4 [ 9.exd4 cxd4 10.e2 h6 menacing ...e5, is equally unpleasant. ] 9...e5 10.e2?! [ It is difficult to know what to do with White's position. After this move his f-pawn drops off the board, but even after 10.fxe5 the move g4 is very difficult to meet, with threats of ... Ne3, and ...Bh6, not to mention the simple ... N(either) xe5. ]
10...h6 Winning a pawn, the b2-bishop doesn't appear so well-placed now! 11.g3 exf4 12.0-0 [ Hoping to profit from the pin on f4, 12.gxf4 h5 is disastrous. ] 12...g4 13.gxf4 e3 14.f2 xf4 All of White's kingside dark squares, which seemed so strong after the first few moves, are no w f irmly in B la ck's ha nd s. 15.bd2 h3 16.f1 f5 Bringing further bits over to t h e s c e n e o f t h e a c t i o n . 17.e5 xe5 18.xe5 g5+ 19.g4 [ Otherwise, if 19.h1 g2+ ] 19...fxg4 20.g3 xg3 The simplest, exchanging off the king's defenders. 21.hxg3 xf2 22.xf2 f8+ 23.g1 [ 23.e1 e5 is also hopeless. ] 23...e5 0-1
170 Ansell,Simon Nunn,John DM 4NCL Birmingham ENG (9) [Neil McDonald]
A04 2383 2601 29.04.2000
1.e4 c5 2.f3 e6 3.d3 c6 4.g3 ge7 5.g2 g6 6.0-0 g7 7.e1 d6 The same old story, as in Malisov-Psakhis. Black stops any white expansion in the centre with e5, then next move he hinders d4. So White has to look to the queenside to gain space, but it is all pretty harmless. 8.c3 e5 9.a3 0-0 10.b4 a6 Nunn is trying to turn the position into a weird form of a Ruy Lopez! 11.bd2 h6 12.b1 b8 13.b3 This isn't the best way to engineer the advance d4. It was better to develop with [ 13.b2 though Be6 then looks OK for Black- or was Nunn intending b6 and Bb7, a 'Spanish' deployment of the bishop? In either case, White should be able to force through d4 at some point. However, this wo u ld re su l t in a liq u i d a t io n o n t h e d 4 square combined with a .. .d5 thrust by Black, which should lead to equality. ] 13...b6 14.d4?! This is consistent but bad. He could still play [ 14.b2! ] 14...c4! 15.d5 157
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Instead 15.bd2 exd4 16.cxd4 d5! wo u ld b e ve ry n ice f o r Bla ck- if 17.exd5 xd5 18.xc4? c3 etc. wins. ] 15...cxb3 16.dxc6 e6 17.e3? He had to bail out with [ 17.d2 when c8!? 18.xb3 xc6 is slightly better for Black. ] 17...c7 18.c1 h7 19.c4 The method White uses to regain his pawn leaves c4 weak and a serious hole on d4. xc6 20.xb3 d4 21.c3 fc8 22.d2 b5! 23.c5 This leads to the creation of a black passed pawn which, as it is supported by all the black pieces, proves unstoppable. The only hope was to stand his ground with [ 23.f1 which at least brings the king's bishop into the fight. ] 23...d7 24.f3 dxc5 25.bxc5 a5 26.d2 xf3+ 27.xf3 xd2 28.xd2 b4 29.axb4 axb4 30.cc1 b3 31.e2 b2 32.cd1 b3 Nunn wrapped things up very nicely. 0-1
Fernandez Aguado,J-Vallejo Pons,F/Linares 1994, 1-0 (18). ] 10.g5 xf2?! [ I can't really believe this combination, as it doesn't really do anything about the e6pawn. 10...f6 i s b e t t e r , b u t 11.c3 and the e6-pawn is a thorn in Black's side, h6? i s i m p o s s i b l e : 12.f7 winning material. ] 11.xf2 d4 12.f4 xf2+?! [ At least 12...xb2 13.d2 d4 wins another pawn, although the two white pieces are better than the black rook and pawns, anyway. ] 13.xf2 f6 14.c3! h6 [ Black's thirteenth move threatened nothing, 14...xe6? 15.xe6 xe6 16.d5 wins the rook. ] 15.ge4 [ 15.f7 Seems even simpler. ] 15...xf4+ [ Losing more material, but 15...f8 16.g1 g5 17.h5 wins anyway. ] 16.gxf4 xe6 Black's two pawns are 171 A04 in su f f icie n t co m p e n sa t io n f o r t h e p ie c e . Aronian,Levon 2518 17.d2 f8 18.e1 f7 19.g1 g7 Jorge Bort,Emilio 2233 20.d5 xd5 21.xd5+ h7 22.b3 VII Anibal Open (1) 07.01.2000 f8?! 23.xb7 d4 24.c3 e6 25.g5+ Exchanging Black's last minor piece. xg5 [Tony Kosten] 26.fxg5 e5 27.xa7 hxg5 28.a4 1.f3 f5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 g6 4.0-0 g7 Black could have resigned before. f4 29.a5 5.d3 0-0 6.e4 This is one of the problems f6 30.a6 h6 31.b8 f2 32.a7 d2 with playing the Dutch against a Reti set-up, Black's one threat of the game! 33.f1 1-0 White can oppose the f5-pawn directly. fxe4 [ 6...d6 might be preferable, 7.exf5 gxf5 ( 7...xf5 8.h4 c8 ) 8.d4 e6 9.c4 A04 with th e supe rior p awn structure , Frie s 172 Bellin,Robert 2388 Nie ls e n , J -P la ske t t , J/ G ro n in ge n 1 9 7 9 , although 0-1 (49). ] Williams,Simon Kim 2550 London Classic FIDE Open (4) 11.12.2009 7.dxe4 d6 [ Of course not 7...xe4?? 8.d5+ e6 [Nigel Davies] 9.xe4 1-0 Moreno,A-Figari,E/Bariloche 1.f3 f5 2.d3 d6 3.e4 e5 4.c3 c5!? 1991. ] 8.e5! T h e s h a r p e s t re p ly. g4 9.e6! An interesting and ambitious approach from The point, W hite tries to retard the black Williams. Black rules out d3-d4 by White and argues that without this he will be unable to development. c6 [ A new idea, with a tactical point. 9...c6 e x p l o i t h i s l e a d i n d e v e l o p m e n t . 5.g3 10.g5 f6 11.c3 a6 12.h4! This looks sensible but I suspect that White is similar to the game, Black cannot get rid should be playing more directly for a pawn of the e6-pawn, or the g5-knight. d5 13.e2 lever. To this ef f ect I suggest one of the c7 14.f4 h6? 15.f7 winning a pawn, following possibilities: 158
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ a) 5.a3 c6 6.b4!? is an interesting gambit line, for example cxb4 7.axb4 xb4 8.a3 c6 9.e2 f6 10.0-0 e7 11.b1 0-0 12.b3+ h8 13.exf5 xf5 14.xb7 recovers White's pawn with some pressure. ] [ b) 5.d2!? c6 6.c4 f6 7.f4!? is an interesting and thematic plan in which the knight on c4 becomes very well placed, for example exf4 8.xf4 e7 9.e2 0-0 10.0-0 fxe4 11.dxe4 d4 12.e3 xe2+ 13.xe2 intends 14.Rad1 with pressure. ] 5...e7!? An interesting new move from Williams. [ After 5...c6 W h i t e c a n t r y 6.h4!? , f or example fxe4 ( 6...f4 7.g2 f6 8.gxf4 is good for White) 7.dxe4 f6 8.c4 g4 9.f3 h3 10.g5 was nice for White in Mozharov, M (2424)-Potapov, P (2386)/ Sibenik 2007. ] 6.h3 g6 [ 6...fxe4 7.xc8 xc8 8.dxe4 is just good for White because of the hole on d5. ] 7.exf5 h5!? This truly amazing move is probably the best! [ After 7...xf5 8.xf5 gxf5 White can play 9.h4 xh4 10.h5+ f8 11.gxh4 when Black is in serious difficulties. ] 8.g2 Faced by his opponent's ingenious play Bellin reacts passively. [ He should play 8.h4! , for example xh4 9.gxh4 xf5 ( Or 9...xh4 10.f3 ) 10.xf5 gxf5 11.g5 is good for White. ] 8...gxf5 9.d2?! Pointless. [ A more logical plan would be to play 9.d2 c6 10.c4 with ideas such as f2-f4. ] 9...c6 10.e2 e6 11.h4?! Another pointless looking move. [ 11.0-0-0 makes more sense. ] 11...f6 12.g5 g8 13.f4? After Black's reply White is in all sorts of trouble. [ He should have tried 13.xc6+ bxc6 14.f4 to try and break up Black's pawns. ] 13...d4 14.d1 g4 15.d5 e4 16.dxe4 xg5 17.hxg5 xd5 18.exd5 b6 19.c3 0-0-0!! A fantastic sacrifice which White should have rejected. 20.cxd4? [ 20.0-0 was better when there's still everything to play for. ] 20...de8+ 21.f1 b5+ 22.g1 xb2 23.e1 e2 24.f3 h2 White has no good
defence to the threat of 25...Rxh1+ and 26... Qh2+. 0-1
173 Bindrich,Falko Werle,Jan IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (10) [Carsten Hansen]
A04 2513 2581 01.05.2008
1.f3 f5 2.d3 d6 3.e4 g6?! [ This is at best dubious. Black's best is u n d o u b t e d l y 3...e5 which is the subject of Skoberne, J-Milchev, N/Plovdiv BUL 2008, also to be found in this update. ] 4.exf5 [ This is White's most direct continuation. Other tries include: 4.g3 ] [ 4.h4 ] [ 4.c3 ] [ and 4.c3 ] 4...xf5 5.d4 This position looks like Balogh's Defence, which arises after 1 e4 d6 2 d4 f5 3 exf5 Bxf5. What we have in the game should be an improved version for Black because White has spent two moves to play the pawn to d4. Nevertheless, W hite has a small but clear advantage. g7 [ Black has also tried 5...f6 6.d3 g4 7.bd2 h6 8.h3 xd2+ 9.xd2 xf3 10.xf3 c6 11.b5 ( 11.0-0-0 d7 12.he1 0-0-0 13.c3 ) 11...d5 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.h6 Zysk, R-Feldbacher, H/Bad Wiessee GER 2006 ] 6.d3 [ Or 6.c3!? e5?! ( 6...f6 is better ) 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.b3 d7 9.c4 , Black's position is a toilet, Weindl, A-Gengler, P/Kemer TUR 2007 ] 6...d7 [ 6...xd3 leaves Black with terrible weaknesses on the light squares: 7.xd3 d7 8.0-0 c6 9.e3 ( 9.d5 e5 10.xe5 xe5 11.e1 0-0-0 12.f4 f6 13.e6 h6 14.c4 ) 9...f6 10.bd2 e6 11.ab1 a5 Saheli, N-Gomes, M/Bikaner IND 2004 12.fe1 ] 7.0-0 c6 [ In an early game in this variation, Black tried 7...f6 8.c3 0-0 9.xf5 xf5 159
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.d5 e5 11.g5 h8 12.f3 d7 13.e3 , a n d B l a c k 's p o s it i o n is a l r e a d y q u i t e depressing, Keene, R-Platzack, S/ Barcelona 1965 ] 8.c3 [ A m o re lo gica l co n t in u a t io n is 8.xf5!? xf5 9.c4 e5 10.d5 d8 11.c3 with an absolutely horrendous King's Indianlike position for Black the conclusion of the gamewas f6 12.e2 ( 12.g5!? ) 12...0-0 13.g5 h5?? ( 13...c6 14.f3 ) 14.g4 d7 15.gxh5 h6 16.ge4 1-0 Strikovic, APena Dieguez, M/Seville ESP 2004 ] 8...e5 [ 8...f6!? ] 9.dxe5 [ 9.b5 can also be considered, e.g. e4 A) 10.h4!? d5 11.xf5 A1) 11...xf5 12.xc6+ ( 12.f3!? ) 12...bxc6 13.f3 is even worse for Black; A2) 11...gxf5 12.h5+ f7 13.xf7+ xf7 14.f3 e6 15.g4 gives White some initiative; B) 10.d5?! exf3 11.dxc6 bxc6 12.xf3 ( 12.e1+ is probably better, but still nothing for W hite f7 13.xf3 e8 14.e2 f6 ) 12...e7 13.d3 0-0 14.xf5 xf5 15.d3 ab8 with a very comfortable game for Black, Braun, SRuettinger, J/Bayern 2002 ] 9...dxe5 10.b5 [ 10.xf5 gxf5 11.xd7+ xd7 doesn't accomplish anything for White after 12.d1+ e6 13.a3 a6 14.g5+ f6 with a satisfactory game for Black ] 10...0-0-0 11.a4!? d3 [ 11...ge7 12.g5 d3 13.xd3 xd3 14.xe7 xe7 15.xa7 ] 12.xc6 xc6 13.xc6 bxc6 14.e1 f6 15.e3?! [ Over the next few moves White simply plays too passively, and Black gain counterplay to outweigh the deficiencies in the pawn structure. 15.xe5! he8 16.g5 leaves White with a solid advantage, and of course now d5? loses to 17.xf6 xf6 18.xd3 xe1+ 19.xe1 d1 20.f1 g5 21.e2 c1 22.g3 , and then Black's rook will be trapped on c1. ] 15...d5! 16.bd2 e8 17.h3?! [ 17.b3 e4 18.fd2 d7 19.f3 ( 19.d4
h6 ) 19...exf3 20.xf3 c5 21.f4 with at best a tiny edge for W hite, though Black's pair of bishops and generally active pieces provide excellent counterplay. ] [ 17.c4!? dd8 18.xa7 e4 19.d4 b7 20.c5 d7 21.2b3 a8 22.a3 xc4 with another complicated queenless m i d d l e g a m e i n wh i c h b o t h s i d e s h a v e chances, but I prefer Black ] 17...e4 18.d4 c5 19.c6 b7 20.a5+ a6 Black's king is actually rather well-placed on this square. 21.ac4 [ 21.c4!? f5 22.g4 fe5 23.b4 cxb4 24.c6 5e6 ( 24...d7 25.xb4+ b7 26.d4 h6 27.b3 xc4 28.xe5 xe5 29.ad1 ) 25.xb4+ b7 with a complicated game and chances to bot h sid es. T his is p ro bab ly W h it e las t active option before drifting into a difficult passive position. ] 21...d7 22.f4 b6 23.e3 d7 24.a4 c6 25.b3 f8 26.g4 c4 27.f6 [ White wins the exchange, but that's about it. The 'problem' with rooks is that they need to be on open files to be really effective, and White doesn't have any open files for either of the rooks. Therefore in this case, Black with his active pieces has adequate compensation for the exchange. The a l t e r n a t i ve 27.d4 d5 28.g3 d6 29.xd6 xd6 is also pleasant for Black. ] 27...cxb3 28.xe8 d5 29.g5?! [ White throws a couple of tempi away with this move. Nevertheless even af ter th e superior 29.g3 Black is doing quite well: c5 30.ad1 a5 31.d2 xa4 , and I prefer Black's chances White has a nominal material advantage, but Black's pieces are far better placed, and W hite's rooks are quite useless. ] 29...f7! 30.h4 [ 30.c4?! is met by b4 , and Black is clearly better ] 30...c5 31.g3 e3! 32.fxe3 xe3?? [ Oh no! Black should play 32...e7! , e.g. 33.d6 xc3! 34.c8 ( 34.ac1 c2!; 34.h4? xd6 35.xe7 xe7 36.bxc3 b2 37.ad1 c2 38.b1 xb1 39.xb1 a3 wins for Black; 34.bxc3? xe3! 35.h2 b2 , and Black is probably winning) 34...e6 35.bxc3 b2 36.ab1 xe3 37.f2 xe1+ 160
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 38.xe1 xf2+ 39.xf2 b1 40.xb1 xb1 41.e3 c2 42.d4 xa4 43.c5 b7 , and Black has excellent winning chances ] 33.f2?! [ White can end the game more effectively with 33.d6! xd6 ( 33...b6 34.a5 c2+ 35.axb6+ xb6 36.ed1 , and White will end up with an extra piece.) 34.xd6 e7 35.f2 d5 36.xe7 xe7 37.e3 c2 38.d4 ] 33...xf2 34.xf2 c2+ 35.f3 xa1? [ This loses without further ado. Black should have tried 35...xe1+ 36.xe1 , and now a3! 37.e3 c2 38.c7+ b6 39.bxa3 b2 40.e6 b1 41.xb1+ xb1 , and White has excellent winning chances thanks to active king after 42.d4 f5 43.d8 ] 36.xa1 a5 37.f6 h5 38.d7 1-0
weak. ] 14.exd5 xd5 15.c4 a6 16.e2 e8 17.e3 f8 18.d2 f6 A concession but the pressure was getting intolerable. 19.f4! f7 [ If 19...exf4 20.xd5 xd5 21.c7 wins at once. ] 20.f2 d7 [ If 20...exf4 21.xe8 xe8 22.xd5+ xd5 23.c7 xd3 24.xa6 winning the exchange. ] 21.ad1 White has no need to hurry. In fact by showing some patience he gives Black the chance to self destruct. b6 [ He had to try to muddy the waters with 21...exf4 ] 22.xb6 xb6 23.e3! b3 24.xc5 xd1 25.xb6 xa4 26.c7 e7 27.d5 Black resigned for if f7 28.fxe5 fxe5 29.f6+ wins the exchange. A fine game by Bologan to exploit Black's opening errors. 1-0
174
175
Bologan,Viktor Firman,Nazar Aeroflot Open (4) [Neil McDonald]
A04 2651 2485 07.02.2002
1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.f3 c6 4.c3 ge7 5.g3 g6 6.g2 g7 7.0-0 0-0 8.e1 e5 9.a3 a5? [ We have already seen the solid approach 9...d6 10.b4 a6 in Ansell-Nunn. ( Here 10...h6 intending Be6 etc. is also sufficient. )] 10.a4! White fixes the b5 square for his knight. d6? Soon after is Black realises that the plan of Be6, h7-h6 and f7-f5 isn't promising and decides he wants to break in the centre with d6-d5. So he should save time with [ 10...d5 ] 11.a3 h6 12.d2! The other knight has also spied a fine square on c4. Note that 9.. a5 hasn't only given away the b5 square- it has also prevented Black from challenging for the c4 square with b7-b5 as was possible after a7-a6 in the Ansell game. e6 13.b5 d5 [ After 13...f5 White has attractive lines b a s e d o n d 3 - d 4 , b u t p e r h a p s 14.c4!? is th e strongest response - xc4 ( or 14...fxe4 15.cxd6 ) 15.dxc4 and d6 is
Cacho Reigadas,Sergio Khamrakulov,Ibragim S Spanish Team Ch Gp2 (1) [Carsten Hansen]
A04 2470 2545 27.06.2007
1.f3 c5 2.g3 b6 3.g2 b7 4.0-0 f6 5.d3 d5 6.bd2 g6?! (This double fianchetto looks perfectly normal and even logical, but will usually lead to major headaches for Black as demonstrated in both our main game and the supporting analysis. Black's best is 6...e6 leading to a balanced game with chances to both sides) 7.e4 dxe4 [ This is very likely a bad move that immediately puts Black on his heels. The alternatives should therefore be considered carefully, although they don't exactly promise Black an easy game either. A) 7...g7 A) 8.e5 fd7 9.e6 fxe6 10.g5 f8 11.g4 c8 , A.Giesenberg-W.Stroka, Dortmund 2001, and here 12.f4 f6 13.c4 leads to favourable complications for White, e.g. c6 ( 13...h6 14.ge4 c6 15.cxd5 d4 16.xf6+ exf6 17.e1 ) 14.cxd5 d4 15.e1 xg5 16.xg5 b7 17.b4 c2 18.b2; 161
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.e1 g7 13.c4 0-0 14.f4 ) B) 8.e2 e6 ( 8...0-0 9.e5 fd7 10.e6 11...c7 12.e1 d4 13.xd4 xg2 f6 11.g5 c6 12.exf7+ h8 13.e6 14.xg2 ( 14.c3 cxd4 15.xg2 d5+ d6 14.f3! xf7 15.fg5 ff8 16.f3 ) 14...xd4 15.c4 ( 15.f3 d5 ) 16.f4+P.Scheeren-T.De Jong, 15...0-0-0 16.a4 b7 17.f3 d6 Rotterdam 1974) 9.e1 0-0 10.c3 c6 18.f4 c6 19.xc6+ xc6 20.h5 11.f1 dxe4 12.dxe4 c7 13.e5 d5 , a nd W hit e h a s a sm a ll, bu t cle a r a n d 14.h4 ad8 15.1h2 a6 16.g4 enduring advantage, V.Mikenas-V. V.Karlik-J.Hlavnicka, Znojmo 2005 ] Alatortsev, USSR Ch (Moscow) 1950 ] [ B) 7...e6 8.e1 g7 9.c3 dxe4 10.dxe4 [ 8...c8 9.e5 h5 10.e1 g7 ( 10...g7 0-0 11.e5 fd7 12.c4 c6 13.d6 c7 11.e6!? f5 12.c4 0-0 13.g5 c7 14.a4 , and White is already clearly better 14.c3 ) 11.e4 h6 12.b4!? ( 12.d3 c6 Black has problems on both the h2-b7 and 13.b3 e6 14.b2 ) 12...cxb4 13.b2 the a4-d7 diagonals, S.Martinovic-J. e6 14.d4 a6 15.xe6 fxe6 16.g4 Vanheste, Dieren 1984 ] f7 , so far, P.Biyiasas-M. Suba, Hastings [ C) 7...c6 1978, and here could have nailed Black's A) 8.e5!? h5 9.e6!? fxe6 10.g5 c8 coffin shut with 17.d6+ exd6 18.xb7 ( 10...d6 11.e1 d8 12.g4 f6 xb7 19.exd6 , and White wins material 13.e2 with a small advantage for White) while continuing the attack ] 11.c4! , and White has excellent 9.e5 g4 compensation for the pawn; [ 9...h5? is an incredibly poor move that B) 8.c3 dxe4 9.dxe4 g7 , so far H. places the knight on the verge of being lost Suradiradja-Hsu Li Yang, Singapore 1997, t o a we ll -t i m e d g3 - g4 p a wn p u s h , e . g . and now 10.e5 d5 11.e6 fxe6 12.g5 10.c4 c8 11.h3 ( White can do even , and Black will have a long uphill battle to b e t t e r w i t h 11.g5! (White is threatening get his position to work for him ] Bxe7 followed by Nd6) c6 12.e1 a6 8.dxe4! 13.c3 , and Black literally has no decent [ Weaker is 8.g5?! , but for the sake of moves, the fact that my computer favours completeness, we will cover it: g7 13...Kf8 speaks volumes) 11...f5 12.exf6 A) or 9.dxe4 0-0 10.e1 h6 11.h3 xf6 13.e1 f8 14.e2 d5 15.g5 fd7 ( 11...e5!? looks positionally wrong (this is getting very embarrassing for Black by blocking the scope of the g7-bishop only the fact that this was played in the and permanently weakening the d5-square, Olympiad can justify Black struggling on a but the knight on h3 is all of a sudden f e w m o r e m o ve s ) f6 16.e4! d7 exceptionally poorly placed, and Black 17.h6+ g7 18.ed6 exd6 19.xd5 gains both space and the initiative, e.g. xh6 20.e7# 1-0 P.Hohler- P.Griffiths, 12.c3 c6 13.f3 c8 14.f2 d8 Siegen OL 1970. Black's team mates can't 15.c2 e6 ) 12.f4 c7 13.e5 xg2 have been particularly pleased by this effort 14.xg2 c6 with chances to both sides, by the well-known author of several L. Niko laiczu k-D. P olajze r, Sch oe ne ck excellent biographies. ] 1988; [ 9...d5 10.g5!? ( 10.e6! is a thematic B) 9.gxe4 xe4 10.dxe4 0-0 11.c3 punch that Black should keep in mind when d3 12.e1 d8 13.f1 d7 14.c2 playing this line. W ith Black's bishop c6 15.f3 e5 , and a draw was already occupied in the long h1-a8 diagonal, agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, A.Lein-M.Suba, Black's pawn structure will now be disrupted: Hastings 1978 ] f6 11.e2 White follows up with moves 8...g7?! like Nc4, Rd1, c3 and a4 with an [ 8...c6 is Black's best move at this point, unpleasant defensive task for Black ahead though White obtains a clear advantage in of him ) 10...h6 11.xf7! (the idea behind multiple ways: 9.e5 d5 ( 9...g4 10.e6! the previous move) xf7 12.f3+ ( 12.c4!? h6 11.e5!+- ) 10.e6 f6 11.h4 e6 13.e1 a6 14.e4 f8 15.f3+ ( 11.e2!? slightly improves, e.g. c7 162
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g8 16.g4; 12.e6+?! xe6 13.c4 f7 14.cxd5 xd5 15.e4 d4 is fully playable for Black ) 12...g8 13.c4 d7 14.cxd5? ( 14.e6! 7f6 15.e4! xe4 16.xe4 h7 17.cxd5 is pretty horrible for Black) 14...xe5 15.b3 h7 , and Black is back in the game and in fact soon took over the initiative, V.Loginov-T.Tolnai, Budapest 1993 ] 10.e2 [ Here 10.e6!? looks very good for White, e. g. f5 ( 10...fxe6 11.e2 d7 12.g5 xg2 13.xg2 c6+ 14.g1 e5 15.f4 ) 11.c3 0-0 M.Geveke-C.Pritchett, German 2.Bundesliga 1995 12.e2 a6 ( 12...a6 13.c4 c6 14.f4 ) 13.c4 c7 14.f4 c6 15.h4 c8 16.fd1 ] 10...0-0 11.h3 [ 11.e6!? ] 11...h6 12.d1 c8 [ 12...c7 looks normal, but the queen will often end up becoming a target when White follows up with the natural Bf4, e.g. 13.e4 f5 14.f4 , and the queen will have to move again. ] [ 12...c6 13.c4 c8 transposes to the game continuation ] 13.c4 c6 14.f4 [ While the text move is perfectly logical, W hite can possibly consider saving it for later as Black, as we will see in the note to Black's next move, can with advantage attack with the gain of a tempo. So how should White improve his position. A crucial square in this type of pawn structure is the d 4 - s q u a r e , a n d t h e r e f o r e 14.c3!? makes perfect sense, and now a possible continuation is d8 ( or 14...a6 15.f4 e6 16.g5 xc4 17.xc4 xc4 18.xc6 ad8 19.b3 d3 20.d2 ) 15.e3 e6 16.g5 xe5 17.xd8 axd8 18.xb7 f5 ( 18...xg5 19.g4+- ) 19.g2 ] 14...f5?! [ This just turns out to be a waste of time after White's 15th and 16th moves, which, by the way, are incredibly simple and should have been predicted by the 2500+ rated player behind the black pieces. Instead Bla c k c a n t ry 14...d8!? 15.g4 ( 15.c3 e6 16.e3 c7 17.g4 ad8 18.a4 )
15...e6 16.h2 d8 17.xd8+ xd8 18.d1 c7 19.c3 , and while White has the better chances, Black is still well in the game, whereas Black in the game loses two tempi for no apparent reason. ] 15.c3 d8 16.g4! e6 17.h2 h6 18.e3 h8?! [ 18...f5!? 19.exf6 exf6 20.d5 ( 20.c4 f7 ) 20...e8 21.c4 f7 22.d2 ] 19.d5 (Black's position is a real toilet if the previous move didn't give it away, Black's next move will) g8 20.d2 [ 20.c4!? looks very good too, e.g. h6 ( 20...f5?! 21.g5+- ) 21.a4 f5 22.exf6 exf6 23.a5+- ] 20...f5?? [ This is a very bad move that I struggle to see the point behind. Though Black's position by no means is great, Black has several other moves that can be considered: A) 20...c7 21.xc7 ( 21.c4 xd5 22.cxd5 f5 23.c4 also looks amazing for White ) 21...xc7 22.e6 c8 23.xb7 xb7 24.f3 h6 ( 24...fxe6 25.g5+- ) 25.exf7 xf7 26.h4 c6 27.c2 f6 28.f4 ] [ B) 20...c6 21.f3 ( 21.f1 b7 22.fe3 ad8 23.f4 ) 21...b7 22.c4 ] 21.exf6 exf6 22.c4 (Now Black is toast at lightning speed White creates more threats than Black is capable of dealing with) a6 23.dxb6! axb6 24.xa8 e8 [ 24...f5 is 'sort of' Black's last chance, although White still wins comfortably after 25.g2 fxg4 26.hxg4 f4 27.xf4 xf4 28.xb6 xe2 29.xc8 xd1 30.xd1 xg4 31.b6+- ] 25.d6 (This is where the game should have ended, the rest is just a waste of everybody's time) h6 26.xc8 xe2 27.xb6 [ 27.e1 xc8 28.xe2 is even simpler ] 27...xd1 28.xd1 f5 29.c6 f8 30.f3 f7 31.e1 fd8 32.d5 1-0
163
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 25...c8 so as to activate his rook as quickly A04 as possible. ] Carlhammar,Magnus 2350 Marin,Mihail 2556 26.c6 bxc6 27.xc6 c8 28.xe4 c4 Open Reykjavik ISL (3) 26.03.2009 29.xh7 d7 30.f5+ xd6 Although White has three pawns for the piece and an [Nigel Davies] exposed enemy king his position is the worst 1.f3 f5 2.d3 d6 3.e4 e5 4.c3 f6 it has been in some time. The problem for him is that Black's pieces are finally getting active. 5.exf5 xf5 6.d4 e4 7.h4 g4 [ Carsten Hansen previously examined 31.d1+ c7 32.d5 c1+ 33.g2 c6 7...c8 (plus various alternatives) in the 34.g1 b8 35.h4 a8 36.b4 b7 game Skoberne, J (2492)-Milchev, N (2415)/ 37.d1 c3 38.b5 c8 39.h2 e8 40.a4 Plo vd iv B UL 2 0 08 . Ma rin 's m o ve lo o ks e4?? It looks like there was a time scramble. This should have lost to 41.Rd8+. After the critical but is it good enough? ] 8.e2 xe2 9.xe2 d5 10.g5 c6 exchange of queens Black is better because It's not quite clear to me whether this was of his powerful bishop and the weakness of inspiration or perspiration but I suspect the W hite's pawns. 41.xe4+?? xe4 42.a5 latter. After other moves White has done very e5 43.b1 e2 44.b6 xf2+ 45.h3 a6 46.b7+ b8 47.b6 e5 48.xa6 f3 well, for example: [ a) 10...b4 11.b5+ c6 12.xb7 xd4 49.g6 xb7 50.h5 c7 51.a6 d7 52.a7 13.0-0-0 xc3 14.bxc3 b8 15.xf6 gxf6 a3 53.h6 gxh6 54.a8 xa8 55.xh6 16.xa7 b5 17.c5 d6 18.xd5 g8 56.g4 e7 57.h5 e6 58.h6+ f6 was good for White in Dizdar, G-Grunberg, 59.h5 g5 60.g3 f6 61.h1 a8 62.f1+ g6 63.f3 f6 64.b3 e5+ S/Triesen LIE 2005. ] [ b) 10...c6? 11.f3 h6 12.g6 hxg5 65.f3 a4 66.b6+ f7 67.g5 f4+ 13.xh8 b4 14.0-0 was winning in 68.e2 g4 69.g6+ g7 70.b5 f6 Zacurdajev, M-Romcovici, V/Peterhof RUS 71.f3 a4 72.d5 xg6 73.b5 a1 74.e3 f6 75.d3 e5 76.b7 d4+ 2007 ] 11.xf6 xf6 12.xd5 xh4 13.xc7+ 77.e3 h4 78.d3 f5 79.b1 h3+ d7 14.xa8 Fritz 12 still likes White's 80.c4 c3+ 81.d5 c8 82.f1+ f4 position because even with the loss of the 83.e1 d8+ 84.c4 e5 85.h1 d4+ knight on a8 it figure that it will have a rook 86.c5 d2 87.h5+ e4 88.h4+ f4 and two pawns for two minor pieces. I kind of 89.c6 c2+ 90.b5 c8 91.b4 e5 agree, but it's not easy. d6 15.g3 g5 92.h1 d2+ 93.b5 c3 94.h5+ d6 95.a4 e5 96.b5 d5 97.b4 b8+ 16.0-0 g6 17.ad1 98.a5 b1 99.a4 c4 100.a5 d4 [ 17.b5!? was also worth considering. ] 17...xa8 18.c4 e7 19.c5 f6 20.b5 101.a6 b6+ 102.a5 e6 103.h4 g6 104.f4 g2 c8 21.d5 [ T h e r e w a s a n o t h e r m o v e i n 21.c4 0-1 , for example d7 ( 21...c7 22.d5 e5 23.d6+ d8 24.d5 would leave Black's A04 rook out of play) 22.a4 c7 23.d5 e5 177 24.c6 and White's attack looks the Carlsen,Magnus 2484 stronger. ] Dolmatov,Sergey 2591 21...d4? This should lose. Aeroflot Open (3) 19.02.2004 [ 21...a6 should have been tried. ] [Tony Kosten] 22.xd4 xd4 23.a4? [ T h e w i n n i n g m o v e w a s 23.d1! 1.f3 f5 2.d3!? An interesting anti-Dutch , f o r e xa m p l e f6 24.c6 gives White a s y s t e m , W h i t e f o r c e s e 4 t o e x p l o i t t h e winning attack. ] weaknesses caused to the black kingside by ... 23...f6 24.d6 d8 25.b5 f7 f5. d6 The most sensible, defending f5. [ And here Black should have played [ 2...f6 tries to stop e4, 3.bd2 ( 3.g5!? 176
164
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c6 4.xf6 exf6 5.d4!? led to a sort of Du t c h , S p e e lm a n , J-G a rci a I lu n d a i n , D / Pamplona 1996; 3.e4!? is also possible, fxe4 4.dxe4 xe4 5.d3 with some initiative, Ef imov,I-Corvi,M/Montecatini Terme 199 7) 3...d5 4.e4 dxe4 5.dxe4 xe4 6.c4 c6 7.0-0 with good compensation for the pawn, it will be difficult for Black to castle, Gulko,BShmulevich,M/St Martin 1992. ] 3.e4 e5 4.c3 This position resembles a Latvian Gambit, and can transpose from it, except that White rarely plays d3 in that line. c6 [ 4...f6 5.exf5 xf5 6.d4 e4 7.h4 d7 8.e2 e7!? 9.xe4 0-0 10.f3 left White a pawn up in Benjamin,J-Gurevich, D/St Martin 1992, although Black has some compensation. ] 5.exf5 xf5 6.d4 xd4 [ 6...b4!? seems worse, 7.b5+ c6 8.a4 e4 9.g5 d5 ( 9...f6!? ) 10.f3 exf3 11.0-0! and Black was facing a strong attack on the f-file, Krasenkow,M-Kindermann,S/ Panormo GRE 2001. ] 7.xd4 exd4 8.xd4 f6 [ 8...xc2!? is legal, but very greedy. ] 9.c4! A strong novelty. [ 9.d3 xd3 10.xd3 gives little, Black can play ...c6 and ...d5 with a strong central presence, c6 11.0-0 e7 12.e2 ( 12.e4 xe4 13.xe4 0-0 led to a very quick draw in Romanishin,O-Malaniuk,V/ Tallinn 1987) 12...d5 13.d4 d7 14.g5 0-0 15.ae1 d6 Black is fine, Lerner,KBareev,E/Kiev 1986. ] 9...c6 10.g5 Black prepares to castle long and harass the black king. b5?! Not a good idea, Black would like to play [ 10...d5 to block the a2-g8 diagonal, as it will be impossible to castle otherwise, but then 11.0-0-0 e7 ( 11...dxc4? 12.e5+ e7 13.xf5 is crushing) 12.he1 0-0 13.e5 forks e7 and f5, forcing c8 when 14.xd5+ cxd5 15.xe7 should win. ] [ 10...xc2!? stops queenside castling, and may be the best bet, although after 11.0-0 d5 12.fe1+ f7 13.xf6 gxf6 White has strong compensation for the pawn. ( 13...xf6? 14.xd5+ cxd5 15.xd5+ g6 16.e6 )]
11.b3 e7 12.0-0-0 d7 13.he1 Now it is difficult to find an acceptable reply for Black. d8?! [ 13...0-0-0 might hold on longer. ] 14.xe7! A neat solution. xe7 Forced, [ 14...xe7 loses on the spot to 15.xf6+ gxf6 16.e1+ d8 17.xf6+ ] 15.f4 Forking f5 and d6. d7 16.e4 d5 17.xf6 Black can resign. h6 18.h4 g5 19.d4! [ 19.d4! gxh4?! 20.xd5 cxd5 21.xh8+ e8 22.xh6 leaves White two pawns ahead with a dominating position. ] 1-0
178 Cheparinov,I Jones,G 45th Italian Teams 2013 (4) [Danny Gormally]
A04 2702 2654 29.04.2013
1.f3 c5 2.b3 d6 3.e3 e5! If Black is offered the center, he should take it. 4.b5+ c6 5.0-0 f6 6.b2 This line is very rare wit h ve ry f e w ga m e s i n t h e d a t a b a s e . I t seem s stran ge to me t hat Ch erap ino v, a player who ha s worked very close ly wit h Topalov, should be prepared to leave the normal paths of opening theory so quickly. e7 7.d3 White continues his ultra quiet strategy, but you could argue he's already worse if he is not able to put any real pressure on the impressive black center. [ 7.d4?! was a tempting way to try and sharpen up the game, but it just turns out to be bad: e4! ( 7...cxd4? 8.exd4 e4 9.d5! a6 10.dxc6 axb5 11.cxb7 xb7 12.d4 looks good for W hite, who is threatening both Nf5 and Nb5) 8.d5 a6 9.dxc6 axb5 10.cxb7 xb7 and White has not solved his problems. ] 7...0-0 8.bd2?! [ In light of what happens, the unambitious 8.xc6 bxc6 9.bd2 may have been preferable. ] 8...a5! Jones is very tactically aware and already notices the problem with White's setup- the white bishop marooned in enemy t e r r i t o r y . 9.c4? White intends to sacrifice a pawn to reactivate the bishop, but Jones 165
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 clearly demonstrates the drawbacks of this strategy. [ 9.d4 cxd4 10.exd4 e4 11.e1 d5 is also slightly unpleasant- albeit probably necessary - Black will have a ready-made kingside attack after a subsequent ...Bd6. ] 9...a6 10.a4 b8! 11.b4 cxb4 12.c2 What is White intending to play? He wants to play d4 of course. In light of this Jones takes a prophylactic measure - he intends to put the Knight on c4. b5! 13.cxb5 axb5 14.d4 c4 15.b1 b7 Returning the pawn, but gaining an impressive clump of queenside pawns in return. 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.xc4 [ 17.d1 xf3 18.xf3 c7 doesn't help much. ] 17...bxc4 18.xe5 a8 19.d1 a5 20.d4 h5 21.e4 fd8 22.h3 c5 23.xf6 [ 23.b2 xe4-+ ] 23...gxf6 24.xd8+ xd8 Black is just winning here- W hite can do little about the cramping pawns on c4 and b4, not to mention the raking black bishops. 25.f1 c8 26.d1 f5 27.e1 c3 28.e2 fxe4 29.xe4 xe4 30.xe4 g6 Black played a very good game! 0-1
11.c3 b6 12.a4 c7 13.f4 b5 14.c3 b6 15.e2 f6 16.c1 cxd4!? This temporary sacrifice destroys W hite's centre and so ensures Black complete equality. But more fighting was perhaps 16... Ba 6 p la nn ing 17 .. . b 4 . 17.fxd4 xd4 18.xd4 fxe5 19.xc8! This counter sacrifice allows W hite to stay alive. axc8 20.xe6! exf4 21.xf8 xf8 22.xd5+ h8 23.b4 fxg3 24.hxg3 d4 Here 24...a6 or 24.. .Rf5 was more solid. It was too late to begin playing for a win. 25.f3 a6 26.g2 g7 27.e1 f5?? 27...Rf7 was necessary. 28.e7+ f8 29.d7 b8 30.c6 White gets in first with Re8. 1-0
180 Greenfeld,Alon Rodi,Luis Ernesto VI Magistral Hebraica (4) [Nigel Davies]
A04 2541 2357 23.04.2009
1.f3 f5 2.d3 d6 [ If Black intends to put his knight on c6 then usually he does it now. The advantage in playing 2...c6 is that Black does not need to play ...d7-d6 in order to prepare ...e7-e5. ] 3.e4 c6 179 A04 [ A n d h e r e B l a c k u s u a l l y p l a y s 3...e5 Datu,Idelfonso 2335 without first bringing his knight to c6. ] Watson,John L 2365 4.exf5 White tries to expose the drawbacks in Saitek US Masters (5) 1998 Black's unusual move order. [Neil McDonald] [ 4.c3 e5 would transpose into normal lines, but perhaps Black would have tried 4... 1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 g6 Nf6!?. ] 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 ge7 7.c3 0-0 8.d4 4...xf5 5.d4 e5 I couldn't find any other cxd4 9.cxd4 d5 10.e5 f5! games in this line which is quite strange given [ Instead 10...f6!? 11.e1 f5 12.c3 d7 the fact that both players have played fairly 13.g4 draw agreed was Glek-Sakaev, St. natural looking moves. 6.b5 exd4 7.xd4 Petersburg 1998, while with a slight [ Perhaps White should try delaying this transposition ] move with 7.0-0!? when f6 8.e1+ e7 [ 10...b6 11.a3 f6 12.e1 d7 13.b1 9.xd4 d7 10.xc6 bxc6 11.e2 ac8 14.f4 fxe5 15.dxe5 xf4!? 16.gxf4 prevents Black from castling. ] b4 led to a wild struggle which Black won 7...d7 8.0-0 xd4 9.xd7+ Greenfeld is in the rapidplay game Bologan-Ivanchuk, playing for a slight, risk free space advantage. Moscow 1996. Since Black is also fine in [ Here too White had an interesting th e p re se n t ga m e, we h a ve t o give t h e alternative in 9.e1+!? a f t e r wh i c h e7 thumbs down to W hite's plan of seizing 10.xd4 f6 11.c4!? would temporarily space with d4 and e5. ] stop Black from castling. ] 166
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...xd7 10.xd4 f6 11.c4 e7 12.c3 0-0 13.b3 White is slightly better here because of his extra space and better bishop. But with the position becoming simplified it will prove difficult to win. f7 14.b2 g4 15.xg4 xg4 16.d5 f6 17.xf6+ xf6 18.fe1 This endgame is also better for White what with the asymmetrical pawn structure and a bishop against a knight. f8 19.f3 e8 20.f1 g6 21.xe8+ xe8 22.e1+ d7 23.b4?! This looks like the wrong plan. [ White should be looking to advance his kingside pawns with the support of his king and to this end 23.f2 looks like the right move. I think Black has some problems here. ] 23...e8 24.d1 f5 25.f2 b6 26.e3 a6 27.g4 f7 28.c5 bxc5 29.bxc5 c6 30.cxd6 xd6 31.d4 e7+ 32.d3 b5 33.c1+ b7 34.c5 e6 35.f4 c8 36.a4 d6 37.d4 d7 38.h4 e4 39.f1 e6 40.d1 d7 41.f1 e6 ½-½
is already developed? [ 7...e4?! is a mistake, 8.g5 e7 9.f7+ d8 Speelman,J-Bartel,M/playchess.com I NT 2 0 0 4 , a n d n o w 10.d5! looks very strong, xd5 11.xd5 winning a pawn after g6 12.xb7 ] [ 7...b6!? is interesting, 8.b3 and now, as the bishop cannot return to e2 e4 9.h4 ( 9.g5 d5 ) 9...g4 looks reasonable. ] 8.e3!? e4 Critical, but [ 8...c6 9.e2 e4 is also worth consideration. ] 9.h3 exf3 Black has a wide choice here: [ 9...b6 10.b3 h5 11.g4 g6 12.h4 or ] [ 9...h5 10.g4 exf3 11.gxh5 c6 12.xf3 d5 which both seem reasonable. ] 10.hxg4 fxg2 11.g1 Once White recaptures on g2 his bishop pair will give him an edge. b6 12.d3 fd5 Black aims for oppositecolour bishops. 13.f3?! I am not at all sure about this, [ 13.xd5 xd5 14.d2 keeps the bishops, and a clear edge. ] 13...xe3 181 A04 [ 13...xc3 14.bxc3 d5 seems like a good solution to Black's problems, 15.xg2 d6 Halkias,Stelios 2533 followed by long castles. ] Grunberg,Mihai 2403 Open Olomouc CZE (9) 12.07.2004 14.fxe3 h4+ 15.e2 0-0-0 A curious position, the white king is stuck in the centre, [Tony Kosten] but it is well protected by the white centre. [ 15...d5!? 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 xg4+ 1.f3 f5 2.d3 d6 3.e4 e5 4.c3 f6 18.d2 c6 19.xg2 looks a bit better for [ 4...c6 has suffered recently, see Carlsen, White, but the opposite-colour bishops make M-Dolmatov,S, for example. ] a draw likely. ] 5.exf5 xf5 6.d4 bd7! I think this is best, 16.a4! Menacing to push the a-pawn to a6. defending e5. [ 6...e4 7.h4 d7 8.e2 e7 ( 8...c6!? h5?! [ 16...d7 is more circumspect, 17.a5 a6 ] 9.d5 xd5 10.h5+ g6 11.xg6 f6 12.h4 looks good for W hite) 9.xe4 17.a5 d7 18.a6 xg4 The pin avoids mate, wi n s a p a w n f o r s o m e c o m p e n s a t i o n , but Black finds himself in a worse ending. 19.axb7+ b8 20.xg4 hxg4 21.e4 Benjamin,J-Gurevich,D/St Martin 1992. ] An appalling move, allowing White to 7.c4 White will try to control the a2-g8 h1? keep the monster on b7. diagonal to stop Black from castling. [ 21...b6! threatens to play ...d5 and take [ 7.e2 is less ambitious, e7 8.0-0 0-0 the b-pawn, 22.xa7!? ( 22.a5 ) 22...d5 9.dxe5 xe5 and Black is OK, Renet,O( 22...xa7? 23.a1+ a4 24.xa4+ b6 Koch, J/Strasbourg 1992. ] 25.xg2 is excellent for W hite) 23.a8+ [ 7.dxe5 dxe5 gives Black an isolated king's xa8 24.bxa8+ xa8 25.xd5 b8 pawn, but allows his dark-squared bishop 26.xg2 White is on top, but Black also has to develop to an active square. ] his chances. ] 7...g4!? A new idea, but can it be right to use another developing move to move a piece that 22.xh1 gxh1 23.xh1 c5?! 24.b5 167
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Winning a7 when Black will do well to avoid being mated! 1-0
182 Janssen,Ruud Wiersma,Eelke TCh-NED 2008-9 (2) [Nigel Davies]
A04 2503 2419 01.11.2008
1.f3 f5 2.d3 d6 3.e4 e5 4.c3 f6 5.exf5 xf5 6.d4 bd7 Supposedly a solid line for Black but W hite's reply sets some interesting new challenges. [ 6...e4 is examined in the game Carlhammar - Marin. ] 7.g5!? An interesting new try, aiming at queenside castling. [ For 7.c4 see Halkias, S (2533)-Grunberg, M (2403)/Olomouc CZE 2004 which was presented early by Tony Kosten. ] 7...e7 8.dxe5 xe5 [ After 8...dxe5 W h i t e c a n p l a y 9.e2 threatening e5 and preparing to castle long, for example g4!? 10.d2!? c5 11.0-0-0! xf2 12.g5 c8 13.xd7! xd7 14.xe5 e6 ( 14...d6 15.b5 leaves Black with no good square for his queen ) 15.b5+ c6 16.xc5 xh1 17.b5 cxb5 18.xb5+ followed by mate. Not all of this is f orced of course but it does look very promising for White. ] 9.xe5 dxe5 10.f3 xc2 11.xb7?! Not the best. [ White should first play 11.c1 , for example g6 ( 11...e4 12.e3 d3 13.xf6 xf6 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4+ forces either the wi n o f a p a wn o r f8 ) 12.xb7 0-0 13.c4+ h8 14.0-0 h6 15.xf6 xf6 16.b3 and Black's pair of bishops does not fully compensate him for his ragged pawn structure. ] 11...0-0 12.c4+ h8 13.0-0 b8 14.xa7 xb2 Now Black's active pieces give him excellent counterplay. 15.d1 b4 16.e3 a4 [ There was a good case for the immediate 16...h6 . ] 17.b7 e4 18.b5 a8 19.xe5 d6 20.e6 a5 21.h4 h6 22.xf6 xf6
23.h3 g6 24.ad1 c5 25.d4 e5 26.fd1 f3 27.1d2 [ 27.f7 might have been better intending f6 28.d5 . ] 27...c6 28.d5 xd5 29.xd5 xd5 30.xd5 e8 31.e3 e5 32.g3 f6 33.c8+ f8 34.g4 c5 35.d5 c3 36.f5 xf5 37.xf5 xe3 38.f8+ h7 39.f5+ h8 40.c8+ h7 41.f5+ h8 42.f8+ h7 43.f5+ ½-½
183 Lalic,Bogdan Rendle,Thomas Bunratty Masters (6) [Lalic, Bogdan]
A04 2489 2389 09.02.2014
1.f3 f5 2.d3 d6 3.e4 e5 4.c3 c5 Black stops White opening the position with d4. [ 4...c6 5.exf5 xf5 6.d4!? exd4 7.xd4 xd4 8.xd4 f6 9.c4 c6 10.g5 (seen in this month's update) b5 11.b3 e7+ 12.f1 ] 5.g3 c6 [ 5...e7 6.h3! fxe4 ( 6...g6 7.exf5 h5!? was Bellin, R-W illiams, S, see the PGN Archive. ) 7.xc8 xc8 8.dxe4 f6 9.g5 Fre ssin e t , L (2 6 9 3 )-V a isse r, A (2 5 4 8 )/ Haguenau 2013, 1/2-1/2 (69). ] 6.h4! fxe4 [ 6...d4? 7.d5! Le Roux, J (2571)Rendle, T (2384)/England 2013, 1-0 (18). ] [ 6...f4 7.g2 f6 8.gxf4 Flores, D (2514)Ravi, L (2390)/Andorra 2006, 0-1 (26). ] 7.dxe4 f6 8.c4 g4 9.f3 h3 10.g5 The position already looks unpleasant for Black, whose light squares are weak. d7?N [ 10...e7 11.f5 ( 11.d5?! xd5 12.xd5 f8 13.xe7 xe7 solves Black's problems, 14.b5 c7 15.0-0-0 0-0-0 16.xc6 bxc6 ) 11...xf5 12.exf5 d4 13.xf6 xf6 14.d5 ( 14.e6?! g6 Mozharov, M (2424)-Potapov, P (2386)/ Sibenik 2007, 1-0 (54).) 14...xf5 15.f4 d7 16.g4 g6 17.0-0-0 ] 11.xf6 [ 11.g4!? d4 12.xf6 gxf6 13.d5 ] 11...gxf6 12.d5 g7 13.f4!? g4? 168
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 13...0-0-0 14.f5 b8 15.g4! weak Bh3. ] [ 13...exf4 14.gxf4 ( 14.h5+?! d8! weak Qh5.; 14.xf4 0-0-0 15.xh3 xh3 16.h5 e5 17.d5 ) 14...0-0-0 15.d3 e6 16.0-0-0 h6 ] 14.e2 Obviously the exchange of light square bishops favours White. xe2 15.xe2 d4? [ 15...0-0-0 ] 16.h5+ f7 [ 16...d8 17.c1 ( 17.0-0-0 a4; 17.0-0 xc2 18.fxe5 dxe5 ) 17...exf4 18.c3 e6 19.gxf4 ] 17.xf7+? [ T h e s im p l e 17.c7+ e7 18.xf7+ xf7 19.xa8 w i n s e a s i l y , a s xa8 ( 19...xc2+ 20.d2 xa1 21.c7+- ) 20.0-0-0+- ] 17...xf7 18.0-0-0 exf4 19.gxf4 ae8 [ 19...h6 20.c3 e2+ 21.c2 xf4 22.f5 xd5 23.xh6+ g6 24.f5 f4 25.hg1+ h5 26.xd6 hg8 27.g7+ h4 28.xf6+- ] 20.he1 [ 20.c3!? e2+ 21.c2 xe4 22.f5 f8 23.d3 e6 24.fe3 traps the knight, xf4+ 25.xf4 e5 26.c4+- ] 20...hg8 21.c3 e6 22.f5 White has achieved a clear positional advantage with strong knights on advanced light squares, while Black has a poor dark square bishop. f8 23.d3! [ 23.e5?! fxe5 24.fxe5 dxe5 25.f1 f4 26.xf4 exf4 27.xf4 e6 ] 23...g4 24.g3 xg3 [ 24...xf4 25.xf4 xf4 26.c4+- ] 25.hxg3 c4? [ 25...h5 ] 26.h1+- c5 [ 26...g6 27.xh7! xh7 28.xf6+ g6 29.xe8 d5 30.fd6+- ] 27.xh7+ g6 28.c7! xe4 29.g4 The black king is in a mating net, the immediate threat is Nde3, Nh4+ and Nef5 mate. b5 30.xa7 e6 31.c7 1-0
184 Lazzaro,Mark Barletta,Antonio Estensi Open, 2001 [Paul Motwani]
A04
2001
W48: "Qh5+: rarely subtle, but almost always strong!" 1.f3 e6 2.g3 b6 3.g2 b7 4.0-0 f5 5.d3 f6 6.bd2 e7 7.e4! An excellent exhibition of energy emanating f ro m t h e e -p a wn ! fxe4 8.dxe4 xe4? Black should have been more suspicious than that about quickly accepting White's 'gift', and now he will have to pay a very high price... 9.e5! Suddenly Black is in deadly double trouble, f acing threats at e4 and h5. d6 10.xb7 xb7 11.h5+ Ouch! g6 [ In the actual game, Black prefers to reach a slightly more respectable move-count in st e a d o f le t t in g th in gs b e t e rm in a t e d immediately by 11...f8 12.f7# ] 12.xg6 hxg6 13.xh8+ f8 14.e4 e7 15.f6+ d8 16.h6 But now it really is time to 'call it a day'! 1-0
185 Leko,Peter FRITZ on Primergy K800 FSC Computer Match (8) [Neil McDonald]
A04 2725 18.06.2000
1.e4 c5 2.f3 e6 3.d3 c6 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 ge7 7.e1 d6 8.c3 e5 9.a3 0-0 10.b4 h6 The computer adopts the routine plan of ...h6 and ...Be6, but Leko's subtle play seems to render this dubious. In Ansell-Nunn, Black preferred the less committal [ 10...a6 ] 11.bd2 e6 12.c4! b5 The positi on is crying out for the advance f7-f5 which is the logical culmination of Black's play so far. However, W hite then appears to gain the advantage, for example [ 12...f5 13.exf5 gxf5 14.bxc5 xc4 15.cxd6! xd6 16.dxc4 xd1 ( A better try is 16...f6!? ) 17.xd1 e4 18.d4 an d it is d if f icu lt t o see h o w B la ck c a n regain his pawn, e.g. xd4 19.cxd4 fd8 169
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.b1 xd4 21.xh6 ] 13.e3 a5 [ Here also 13...f5 should be seriously considered. ] 14.bxc5 dxc5 15.c4! b4 16.d5 A nice position to have against a computer. White can quietly manoeuvre and prepare the f4 advance at his leisure. d6 17.b2 fb8 18.a4 g4 19.h3 e6 The white knight will be an excellent blockader on b3, so [ 19...xf3 20.xf3 d4 was more logical. Of course, Fritz cannot comprehend the superiority of the knight to the bishop. ] 20.d2 d4 21.xd4 Of course the human player doesn't hesitate to exchange a bishop for a knight in such a position! cxd4 22.b3 a7 23.d2 h7 24.e2 c8 Fritz cannot f in d a p la n . 25.f4 At last it is the moment to strike. c6?! 26.f5! gxf5 27.exf5 xd5 28.xd5 f6 29.f2 f8 30.g2 W h it e ' s p l a n i s t o a d va n c e t h e ki n g si d e pawns. b6 31.e4 d7 32.e1 c5 33.a2 g8 34.f3 d6 35.h4 c7 36.h3 h7 37.xc5! White relinquishes his blockade on the queenside as he judges that his kingside attack will become decisive before Black can utilise his passed b pawn. This was a brave decision which shows the excellence of human intuition. After all, this was a 25 minute game and deep calculation was not possible. xc5 38.g4 b3 39.g2 h8 40.g5 d6 41.g4 d7 42.h5 f8 43.g3 d6 44.eg1 b2 45.c5! White deflects the black rook from the second ra n k wh i c h m a ke s p o ssib le t h e d e cisive combination. xc5 46.gxh6 xh6 47.g6! The winning breakthrough comes just in time. xg6 48.fxg6 g7 49.gxf7+ Leko succeeded in completely outwitting the com put er in the st ra tegica l stru ggle t ha t preceded the violent denouement. 1-0
186 Malakhov,Vladimir Andreikin,Dmitry Siberian Bank Cup (8) [John Bartholomew]
A04 2709 2723 18.11.2012
Rapid chess is prime proving ground for lines like 1.Nf3 b5!?. The b-pawn spike is given the occasional punt by strong players and in fact seems quite playable at master level. 1.f3 b5!? 2.e4 The supposed antidote to Black's first move. White will not hesitate to exchange e-pawn for b-pawn. [ The most popular reply is 2.g3 , but Black scores well in the "extended fianchetto" after b7 3.g2 , where lots of approaches are viable (3...Nf6, 3...e6, 3...c5, 3...g6, etc.). ] 2...b7 3.xb5 xe4 4.0-0 f6 [ 4...c6!? 5.c3 xf3 6.xf3 f6 7.d4 d5 is a similar co ncep t t o t he ga me . A f t e r 8.d3?! ( 8.e2! e6 9.g3 g6 10.f4 ) 8...e6 9.h3 bd7 10.f4?! g6 11.xg6 (sort of desperate-looking, but White was not looking forward to facing a wall of pawns in the middlegame) fxg6 12.xe6+ e7 13.f5 g7 14.g5 gxf5 15.xc6 0-0 Black's unorthodox opening strategy had succeeded in Cordova, E (2566)-Pardo Simon, D (2421) Montcada 2012, and he went on to win. ] 5.e1 [ Critical is 5.d4 e6 6.c4 e7 7.c3 b7 ( 7...xf3?! makes less sense here, e.g. 8.xf3 c6 9.a4 0-0 10.f4 d5 11.c5 ) 8.d5! , as played by Vladimir Kramnik. The d5-pawn is a serious hindrance to Black's development, and W hite dominates the center (despite having one less central pawn). After 0-0 9.f4 a6 ( 9...d6!? Velikanov, I (2273)-Gubanov, O (2326) Kolo mna 201 2 10.xd6 cxd6 11.d4; 9...e8 10.e1 f8 Mackle, D (2065)-Arkell, K (2 4 09 ) P aign t on 2 0 1 1 11.g5!? c6 12.a4! cxd5 13.cxd5; Houdini's suggestion of 9...a5!? followed by 10...Na6 is intriguing) 10.e1 c8 11.d4 b4 12.g5 e8? ( 12...e7 13.e4 ) 13.e3 Black was struggling in Kramnik, V (2791)-Carlsen, M (2823) Moscow 2011. ( 13.a4! is e ve n st r o n ge r, e . g . xc3 14.xd7 c5 15.xc8 xa4 16.xb7 170
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 b8 17.bxc3 xb7 18.e7 )] 5...e6 6.d4 e7 7.d3?! [ It wasn't too late for 7.c4 . Play could transpose to 5.d4 after 0-0 8.c3 b7 9.d5! . ] 7...xf3! A strong and unexpected positional decision. 8.xf3 d5 Good fundamentals: Black exchanges his light-square bishop, then immediately goes about arranging his pawns on light squares, thereby restricting his White counterpart. 9.d2 0-0 10.b3 c6 11.d2 a5! Black has absolutely no problems. The advantage of the bishop pair often hinges upon the possibility of pawn breaks, and here White has none. With no meaningful way to alter the structure and open the position, I d o n ' t t h in k W h it e c a n p o s s ib l y c la i m a n advantage (though the computer does just that!). 12.a4 [ 12.c4?! dxc4 13.xc4 a4 14.c1 xd4 ] 12...bd7 13.g3 g6 Andreikin furthers the strategy he undertook on move seven. 14.h6 [ 14.c4?! is still bad in view of b6 . ] 14...e8 15.d2 b8 16.xb8 Uninspired, but there wasn't much else. exb8 17.b3 c5 18.dxc5 xc5 19.xc5 xc5 20.f4?! [ 20.c1! ought to keep things level. ] 20...g4! 21.e2 xb2 22.h3 b4 23.d2 f6! 24.xb4 xb4 Black's structure is perfect, and his compensation is obvious. His position is easier to play - especially in a rapid game. 25.c4?! d4 26.d1 c8 27.g4 d7 28.f4 c5 29.f5? [ It wasn't pretty, but 29.a2 offered far better chances to defend. xd3 30.xd3 xc4 ] 29...exf5 30.gxf5 xa4 31.fxg6 hxg6 32.e5?? Blundering in a dismal position. b2 White resigned. Andreikin's conception with 7...Bxf3! is straightforward and convincing. White needs to play accurately even against a line like 1...b5 thus, you should follow Kramnik's example with 5.d4 e6 6.c4 Be7 7. Nc3 Bb7 8. d5!. 0-1
187 Malisov,Boris Psakhis,Lev Israeli League (5) [Neil McDonald]
A04 2320 2599 10.03.2000
1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 ge7 5.g2 g6 6.0-0 g7 7.bd2 0-0 8.e1 d6! Not allowing 9 e5. 9.a4 b6 10.c4 h6 11.c3 e5! As always in this line, Black must respond to any threat to gain space with d4 by moving his e pawn a second time. 12.b1 a6! This is the third accurate pawn move from Black which I have awarded an exclamation ma rk f or em ph asis. Here h e pre pa re s t o neutralise White's plan of expansion on the q u e e n s i d e . 13.b4 cxb4 14.cxb4 b5 15.axb5 axb5 16.a3 b8 17.d4? After his lacklustre opening White suddenly gets ambitious, but this simply drops a pawn. Instead [ Black would be slightly better after 17.e3 f5 or ] [ 17.c2 d5 ] 17...exd4 18.c2 d5! 19.fxd4 xd4 20.xd4 dxe4 21.b2 White cannot regain his pawn as if [ 21.xe4 f5 wins. ] 21...f5 22.f1 d5 Now Psakhis gradually wears down W hite's defensive resources. 23.c2 xb2 24.xb2 e5 25.d4 c6 26.xe5 xe5 27.d1 e6 28.a3 c4 29.xc4 bxc4 30.b5 d3 31.c2 fc8 32.g2 f7 33.b6 e6 34.b7 xb7 35.f3 cc7 36.a2 d5 37.fxe4+ fxe4 38.h3 d4 39.g2 e7 40.da1 b2 0-1
188 Miles,Anthony J Andersson,Ulf Las Palmas [Tony Kosten]
A04
1980
Rare are the players who could so comprehensively outplay Ulf Andersson, one of the strongest positional players of all time. 1.g3 c5 2.g2 c6 3.f3 g6 4.c3!? An interesting idea, White wants to transpose into a KID formation. g7 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 171
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d5 7.c3 e6!? [ N o r m a l w o u l d n o w b e 7...f6 when a symmetric King's Indian is reached, with a small plus for White, but Black prefers to avoid this by keeping a hold on e5. ] 8.f4 ge7 9.d2! White defers castling, and instead aims to exchange Black's one active bishop. 0-0 10.h6 xh6 11.xh6 f5 Forcing the queen to return. 12.d2 b6 The black bishop will come to the active f1-a6 diagonal, when a rook can occupy the c-file and his development will be complete. 13.d1! White carefully overprotects the d4pawn, and guards against any central counterplay by ...e5. a6 14.h4! The reason behind White's delayed castling is revealed, he wants to open the h-file and attack the black king. a5? A mistake. Black is relying on a tactical operation involving this piece, but the loose bishop on a6 is a problem. 15.g4! d6 [ A f t e r B l a c k ' s p r o j e c t e d 15...c4!? M i l e s i n t e n d e d 16.d3?! ( Although 16.c1! followed by b3, and h5 seems somewhat simpler, and good f or W hite) 16...ce3 17.xa6 xg2+ 18.f1 fxh4 19.h2 when the knights are a bit tangled, but f5! 20.g1 f4 favours Black. ] 16.h5 f6 At first sight Black seems OK here. 17.hxg6 fxg6 [ A n t i - p o s i t i o n a l , b u t f o r c e d : 17...hxg6? 18.g5 g7 ( or if 18...e7 19.f4 intends Qh2, g7 20.e5+ f6 21.gxf6+ xf6 22.xd5! wins ) 19.f4 and Ne5-g4-f6 is catastrophic. ] 18.h6 f7 19.g5 Black's kingside dark squares are horribly weak. g7 20.e5 xh6 21.xh6 ff8 [ 21...e7? 22.xd5 exd5 23.xd5+ wins the a8-rook. ] 22.d7 f7 23.f6+ h8 24.h3 c8 [ P a s s i v e , b u t 24...f5 25.xf5 gxf5 26.d2! and Rdh1 wins quickly. ] 25.d2 g7 26.f4 b8 Black is reduced to complete passivity. 27.h1 ac4+ 28.d3 bb7 [ T h e b - p a wn wa s p o i s o n e d : 28...xb2+ 29.c2 bc4 30.xe6! xe6 31.xh7+ mates. ] 29.b3 a3 30.e4! dxe4+ 31.cxe4 xe4 32.xe4 b5 33.e5 Total dark-squared
d o m i n a t i o n ! be7 defence to Bd3xg6. 1-0
34.f1!
189 Morozevich,Alexander McDonald,Neil R 4NCL Birmingham ENG (10) [Neil McDonald]
There is no
A04 2742 2398 05.05.2002
1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 ge7 5.g2 g6 6.0-0 g7 7.c3 0-0 [ An alternative method was to prevent White's next move with 7...e5 when if 8.e3 d6 9.d4? exd4! 10.cxd4 g4 is awkward for White. ] [ Also 7...d5 was an option. ] 8.d4 cxd4 [ I n t e r e s t i n g i s I v a n c h u k ' s i d e a 8...d5!? By delaying the exchange on d4 he doesn't give White the chance to go Nc3. Then 9.e5 ( I assume that if 9.exd5 xd5 10.dxc5 e7 regains the pawn with a good position f o r B l a c k .) 9...b6 10.a3 cxd4! Only now when White's knight cannot go to c3. 11.cxd4 f6 12.e1 d7 13.b1 ac8 14.f4 fxe5 15.dxe5 xf4! A splendid exchange sacrifice to free Black's game. 16.gxf4 b4 17.b3 f8 18.bc1 xb3 19.axb3 xf4 20.c2 f5 21.e2 h6 22.ce1 g5 23.d3 e4 24.ee1 g4 25.d2 d4 26.c5 xd2 27.xd7 fd4 28.c5 xe5 and Black won after a hard struggle in Bologan,V-Ivanchuk,V/Moscow 1996. ] 9.cxd4 d5 10.e5 f5 11.c3 f6 [ Black emerged with equality after 11...b6 12.a4 c7 13.f4 b5 14.c3 b6 15.e2 f6 16.c1 cxd4 17.fxd4 xd4 18.xd4 fxe5 19.xc8 axc8 20.xe6 exf4 21.xf8 xf8 22.xd5+ h8 in Datu, I-Watson,J/Hawaii 1998. ] 12.e1 fxe5?! [ Black broke free after 12...h8!? 13.h4 d7 14.f4 fxe5 15.dxe5 xh4! 16.xh4 g5 17.g4 gxh4 in Van der Weide,K-Glek,I/ Germany 1998. ] 13.dxe5 h6 [ Here 13...h8 14.f4 d7 as in the Glek game of the previous note, is less effective 172
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 for Black because he has already exchanged pawns on e5. If he still had a pawn on f6, then White would have to worry about g6-g5 chasing his bishop back. Here, however, he has no need to worry about g6g5 unless Black plays h7-h6. I tried this move straightaway and the response was predictable. ] 14.h4! An important move to prevent Black from gaining counterplay with g6-g5. W hite therefore safely maintains the pawn on e5. Black is solid and has no real weaknesses and can develop all his pieces, but he remains somewhat boxed in. d7 15.f4 e8 16.d2 c8 17.ac1 c7 18.h2 cf7 19.g4 h7 If [ 19...xh4 trying to undermine the bishop o n f 4 t h e n 20.xh6!? looks very strong for White. ] 20.b3? A surprising oversight. [ 20.e2! leaves Black bottled up: he cannot break through on the f file or play g6-g5, so all he can do is wait and see if W hite can strengthen his position. ] 20...xh4! I half expected that there was a trap waiting for me when I played this, but when Morozevich slumped into a long think I s t a r t e d t o t h i n k t h a t I m ig h t b e win n in g ! 21.e2 [ If 21.xh6 xf4! 22.gxf4 xh6 wins. The key variation is ] [ 21.xh6 xf2! 22.xf2 ( or here 22.e2? xg2+! 23.xg2 f3+ ) 22...xh6 when Black will regain all his material with a couple of pawns as a bonus by taking on g2 and c1. ] 21...f5 22.e3 A good defensive move l o o k i n g f o r c o u n t e r p l a y w i t h N f 4 . d4!? Objectively the best move though it lets White complicate the position. Perhaps safest was to grab another pawn with [ 22...xe3 23.xe3 h5 24.f6+ xf6 25.exf6 xf6 ] 23.xc6 xc6? An automatic recapture but much stronger was [ 23...bxc6! After the game Morozevich s h o w e d m e t h e v a r i a t i o n 24.xd4 ( 24.xd4 d7 i s s i m i l a r .) 24...d7 25.ed1 h5 26.e3 xd4 27.xd4 xe5 28.xe6 ( 28.ec2 c5 ) 28...xd2 29.xd8 fxf2 when Black is a pawn up with a
crushing position. ] 24.xd4 d5 25.xf5 gxf5!? If [ 25...xf5 26.f4 Black's problem is that while one of his bishops is great on d5, the other one is shut in on g7. Meanwhile White has the c file for counterplay. ] 26.h2 [ If 26.xh6 d7!? leaves the knight stranded on h6. ] 26...b6 27.f4 b7 28.f1 d7 29.c2 e8 30.e2 a8 31.c3 c8 32.ec1 xc3 33.xc3 d8 34.c1 d3 35.e3 d2 36.c4 e8? The losing blunder in time trouble. Instead [ 36...d7 keeps the advantage. ] 37.xf5! Uncovering an attack on Black's rook. d5 There's nothing to be done as if [ 37...h5 38.h4 ] 38.f1? [ Much simpler was 38.xg7 xg7 39.c7+ White was also in bad time pressure. ] 38...exf5 39.xd2 h5 40.f3 xf3 41.f4 e4 42.c7 h1+ 43.f2 h2+ 44.e3 xa2 45.d1! The killer move, defending b3 and threatening 46.e6. a5 46.e6 g6 47.e7 b5 48.c8! 1-0
190 Petkov,Vladimir Gretarsson,Hjorvar Steinn ETCC (Open) Warsaw POL (7.51) [Fier, Alexandr]
A04 2570 2511 15.11.2013
4.c3 is a good way to avoid the Symmetrical English, Black can transpose to the Fianchetto Grünfeld, but it's not to everyone's taste. In this game Black tried an ambitious app ro ach an d th e posit io n so on b ec am e chaotic where Gretarsson lost track in a better position. 1.f3 c5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 e5 The most ambitious way, trying to punish the lack of white pawns in the center [ 4...g7 is supposed to transpose to the Fianchetto Grünfeld 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d5 ( 6...b6 7.e3 is also possible )] 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 e4 7.e5 d5 Here White has tried several different moves and it's not clear if any one is better than the others. 8.0-0 [ 8.c3 e6 9.0-0 g7 10.xc6 bxc6 173
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.b3 trying to use the c5 square with Na4 and Ba3 was the choice of the World Cup finalist in Andreikin, D (2700)-Kotsur, P (2548)/Wch Blitz Astana blitz 2012. ] [ 8.a4 is another idea, to lure Black's queen to the defence of c6, g7 9.xc6 d7 10.c3 bxc6 11.b3 ( 11.h3 f5 12.f4 was draw in a complex position in Georgiev, K (2671)-Ivanisevic, I (2645)/ Skopje Karposh op 2012.) 11...e7 12.a3 with a different version of the 8.Nc3 line. ] 8...g7 9.xc6 bxc6 10.d2 This idea seems a bit strange to me. I don't know if the knight is better on b3, compared to a4, and the bishop is now going to the kingside. Still, it's kind of provocative, since the d4-pawn is now hanging. [ 10.c3 was still possible and probably transposed to 8.Nc3. ] 10...h5!? With the exchange of the knights White's kingside is not so well defended. And it's possible to start an attack without hesitation. [ 10...xd4 was playable, but with the king in the center, W hite can try to make a quick attack: 11.a4 b6 12.xe4! using the fact that Black's position is not so stable, dxe4 ( 12...e7 is more prudent, but White's position has improved without the central pawns. 13.b3 g7 14.g2 0-0 with a double-edged position. White will play e4 at some point and try to take advantage of the better structure, on the other hand Black will have active pieces.) 13.c4 c5 14.f4 and all the white pieces have a a huge potential - the rooks are going to the open files and the d6-square is going to be used by the knight, f6 15.d6+ f8 16.ac1 d5 17.fd1 c5 18.xc8 and W hite recovers the piece with advantage. ] [ 10...e7 followed by 11...0-0 would be normal. ] 11.a4 e7 12.b3 White continues his counterplay on the queenside without worrying about the attack on the other flank. Soon the position will be really dangerous for both players. h4 13.g5 Coming for the c6pawn, now Black needs to make a highly c o m m i t t a l m o v e . f6!? 14.f4 h6 This move is quite logical because the bishop
on f4 is much better than the bishop on g7. W ith only the queen and knight on the queenside it's not clear that anything will happen. 15.xh6 xh6 16.f3?! A brave move, but not the best. Now the position enters such a level of complications that it's hard to make, and even to know the best moves. [ 16.ac1 would be the natural idea and Black will continue his attack, obtaining a complex middlegame with an exchange for some pawns, f7 17.c3 h8 18.xc6! not losing time, 18...hxg3 and 19...Bh3 would be dangerous, d7 19.xf6+ xf6 20.xd7 f5 21.d6 and now A) 21...ah8 amazingly in this position B l a c k i s u n d e r a t t a c k ! 22.g4! f6 ( 22...xg4 23.f3 and White opens the file, just winning, exf3 24.xf3+ e8 25.e3 6h7 26.h3 d7 27.f6 with a dominating position) 23.xf6+ xf6 24.f3 e3 25.f4 6h7 26.c1 with advantage.; B) 21...c8 22.c5 and White's position is slightly preferable. ] 16...hxg3 17.fxe4 This is the idea. [ 17.hxg3 d6 18.f4 e6 and with ...Qg4 and ...Nf5 Black will be just winning. ] 17...xh2 [ 17...d6 was crit ica l 18.c5 ( 18.exd5 h3 without the bishops the position becomes much more dangerous for White 19.xh3 xh3 20.f3 gxh2+ 21.h1 xf3 22.exf3 xd5 and Black has the better queen and safer king) 18...h3 19.xh3 xh3 20.f3 xh2 and White needs to be really careful to not get mated. ] 18.c5 [ 18.f3!? activating the rooks immediately is also interesting, h3 ( 18...d6 19.af1 and there is no good way to def end f 6 , xg2+ 20.xg2 e6 21.h1 and White can start to attack now.) 19.xg3 xg2+ 20.xg2 xg2 21.xg2 dxe4 22.h1 with compensation for the pawn. ] 18...d6 19.exd5 xd5 [ 19...b8 is the computer move, as usual not easy for humans to find, 20.ab1 b5 with the idea of taking on c5 ] 20.b3 [ 20.e4! it's important for White to take the 174
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g3-pawn, e6 21.xg3 h4 22.e4 f4 and both kings are in danger. I think the position has a dynamic equilibrium. ] 20...f5 Avoiding Ne4. [ 20...h3 was once more the option 21.xh3 xh3 22.f3 c7 heading for the h-file, probably White is forced to exchange queens, 23.b7 ( 23.xf6 fails in a b e a u t i f u l w a y h1+! 24.xh1 h7+ 25.g2 h2+ 26.f3 f2+ 27.g4 xf6+ 28.g5 f5+ 29.h6 g2 and the pawn on g2 will make the d i f f e r e n c e .) 23...xb7 24.xb7 h4 25.xg3 xd4 26.xg6 f7 27.g3 d2 with advantage for Black. ] 21.xd5 cxd5 22.e3+ f8 23.f3 g7 [ 23...g2 24.f2! ( 24.h3?? f4 wins ) 24...f6 25.f4 h1 26.g1 and everything is under control. ] 24.d3 a6 25.xg3? Now White is lost. [ 25.f4! xf4 26.xf4 ah8 27.xg3 was possible, trying to sacrifice the exchange with chances to defend. ] 25...xd3! 26.xh2 e4 In the last 3 moves the bishop went from c8 to e4 and with all the piec es c om in g, th e at ta ck is irresistible . 27.g1 f4?! Right idea, wrong order. [ 27...h8 wins immediately 28.h3 f4 now it works better 29.c3 ( 29.a3 xa3 30.xa3 h1+ 31.f2 xa1-+ ) 29...f3 30.xh8 g3+ with mate. ] 28.a3 The position is really hard to defend for White, even more so in time trouble. e6 29.b3 Now there is a square for the rook! g4+ 30.f2 h4+ 31.f1 h1+ 32.f2 h4+ 33.f1 e8 [ 33...h8 bringing one more piece to the hfile was the best. It's also not easy to see, since the king will be in the way, 34.xa7+ A) 34...f6 this is draw, since White can e xc h a n ge t h e qu e e n s 35.b6+ g5 36.e7+ g4 37.xh4+ xh4 38.e1! only move g3 ( 38...h1+ 39.f2 h2+ ) 39.b3+ f3 40.g1! h2 41.exf3 g2+ 42.h1 h2+=; B) 34...h6!! 35.a3 f5! 36.g1 h5 and the king will be safe on g4! now there is no defence for White, 37.d6 g4-+ ] 34.h3 g5 [ 34...g4 35.xa7+ f6 36.h2 f3 37.a6+ g5 38.a3 is defending
somehow ] 35.h2 f3 36.exf3 f4 And suddenly Black is now lost. [ 36...f5 was necessary and after 37.f2 and W hite coordinates the pieces d2+ 38.g3 g5+= ] 37.xa7+ f6 38.h7! Probably this is the move Black overlooked. d3+ [ 38...xf3 39.h4++- ] 39.g1 e3+ [ 39...xd4+ White also stabilizes here, 40.h1 e3 41.h4+ g7 42.g3+- ] 40.f2 g5+ 41.h1 f4 42.h2 xd4 43.d6+ g7 44.g2 A sad end for Black, no w it 's ju st o ve r. e5 45.d7+ f8 46.d8+ e8 47.d6+ g7 48.h1 f5 49.c7+ f6 50.h7 e3 51.f7+ 1-0
191 Radlovacki,Jovan Micic,Cedomir It Pancevo YUG (10) [Tony Kosten]
A04 2411 2408 29.06.2003
1.e4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d3 g6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 e5 Heading directly for a Botvinnik position. 6.0-0 ge7 7.e1 As White avoids playing Nc3 this position is not a Closed Sicilian, but a Reti, KIA. However, [ 7.c3 is more normal. ] 7...0-0 8.e3!? Presumably played to deter ... d5, but this doesn't seem to fit-in with Re1. d6 9.bd2 This actually appears to be a novelty in this position, [ 9.c1 f5 10.c3 b8 was played in Stratil, L-Ulibin,M/Oakham 1990, but now W hite made an instructive mistake: 11.h6?! f4! 12.xg7 xg7 with advantage to Black has he has exchanged his lesser bishop, and can advance his kingside pawns. ] 9...b6!? Very thoughtful, as normally Black brings his bishop to e6, but here he decides that a6 is the right square. 10.c3 a6 11.c2 d7 12.h3 White's moves are lacking in purpose, why not play [ 12.a4 and then Nc4, say? ] 12...ac8 13.ad1 h6 14.f1 d5 Black plays this move now that the white knight cannot hop to c4, but even now 175
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 14...d4 15.cxd4 cxd4 is possible. ] 15.c1 White continues on his way, and prepares to play Ne3, but Black immediately s t o p s t h a t . d4! 16.g4? Obviously White wants to play Ng3,but he is oblivious to the problems he will soon have. [ I would prefer to close the position with 16.c4 ] 16...dxc3 17.bxc3 fd8 Suddenly the d3pawn is under heavy fire, and the bishop is u n a b l e t o d e f e n d i t f r o m f 1 . 18.e3 What else? d4! 19.b1 a4!? The simple [ 19...e6 20.g3 f4 is better as White is in big trouble. ] 20.ee1?? White misses a simple tactic, [ 20.b2 is better, although e6 21.g3 f4 is still rather good. ] 20...e2+! [ 20...e2+ White loses an exchange and pawn af ter both 21.xe2 ( and 21.h2 xc3 ) 21...xd1 ] 0-1
192 Sandner,Gunter Rechel,Bernd Bundesliga 2003-4 (13) [Tony Kosten]
A04 2311 2420 28.03.2004
1.f3 f5 2.d3 This line is obviously set to gain in popularity after last month's win by Carlsen! d6 3.e4 e5 4.c3 c6 5.exf5 xf5 6.d4 xd4 7.xd4 exd4 8.xd4 c6 Black avoids the [ 8...f6 of Carlsen,M-Dolmatov,S/Moscow RUS 2004, which we analysed last month. ] 9.f4! White aims for swift queenside castling, and this move certainly seems to score very well - Black hasn't yet made it to move twenty in this line! [ 9.d3 is less effective, xd3 10.xd3 f6 11.0-0 e7 12.e2 d5 13.d4 d7 controlling e6, Black is doing well with his extra central pawn, Lerner, K-Bareev,E/Kiev 1986/URS-ch. ] 9...b6!? An attempt at improving on [ 9...xc2!? when 10.d2!? g6 ( maybe 10...f5!? is preferable, so that after 11.e1+ f7 is possible) 11.e1+ d7 ( now 11...f7?? loses immediately to
12.c4+ d5 13.xd5 as the g6-bishop is si t t i n g i n t h e b l a c k k in g 's o n l y e s c a p e square ) 12.g3 b6?! an inaccuracy in an awkward position ( 12...f6 13.h3+ c7 14.e6 is unclear) 13.h3+ d8?! ( better 13...c7 although after 14.xd6+! xd6 15.xg7+ b8 16.c1! xf2 17.e4 (mate on c2 was threatened!) f7 18.xf7 xf7 19.xd6 White is winning) 14.g5+ c7 15.d5+! 1-0 Seel, C-Horstmann,O/ Bad Wiessee GER 2003, as after the forced cxd5 16.c1+ Black loses his queen. ] 10.d2! The critical reply. d5 Black could also consider [ 10...xb2!? 11.b1 xc2 12.e3+ e7 13.xb7 but White is better - Black will have problems finishing his development, and the rook on b7 is annoying. ] 11.0-0-0 0-0-0 12.d3 Simple chess, White exchanges Black's most active piece. xd3 13.xd3 h6?? It is difficult to understand the reasoning behind this move, why not play the natural [ 13...f6 when 14.f5+ d7 15.e5 e7 is a little better for W hite, who has more mobility, but there is everything to play for still? ] 14.h3+ d7 15.xd5! d8 [ 15...cxd5 16.xd5 c6 17.hd1 wins the hapless pinned d7-rook, and forces a quick mate. ] 16.xh6 cxd5 [ 16...gxh6 17.f6 xf6 18.xd7+ is equally unappetising! ] 17.xd5 c7 [ 17...gxh6 18.hd1 as before. ] 18.f4+ [ 18.f4+ d6 19.xd6 xd6 20.d1 is decisive. ] 1-0
193 Schandorff,Lars Bartel,Mateusz 17th TCh-Eur (6) [Nigel Davies]
A04 2501 2609 27.10.2009
1.f3 f5 2.d3 g6 3.e4 d6 4.exf5 xf5 5.d4 g7 6.d3 d7 7.0-0 f6 [ I think this is more flexible than 7...c6 176
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 which Carsten Hansen presented in the game Bindrich, F (2513)-W erle, J (2581)/ Plovdiv BUL 2008. ] 8.xf5 [ In the game Keene, R-Platzack, S/ Barcelona 1965 White played 8.c3 0-0 9.xf5 xf5 10.d5 and now rather than 10... e5 (a mistake similar to that made in the game Roiz - Belyavsky in the note to White's 9th) Black should consider fd7!? . After 11.d4?! xd4 12.xd4 xc2 13.h6 f7 14.ac1 f5 White is struggling to find enough compensation for his pawn in view of Black's rock solid position. ] 8...xf5 9.c4 [ In the game Roiz, M (2658) -Beliavsky, A (2662)/Natanya ISR 2009 W hite played 9.c3 which also seems quite interesting. In the game there followed d5 ( 9...c6!? intending 10.d5 b4 11.d4 h5 is interesting) 10.e2 0-0 11.c4 b6 12.b3 c6 13.e3 e5?! ( Continuing to wait with, say, 13...ae8 would have been better ) 14.g3 d7 15.d5 d8 16.g5 a n d n o w W h it e h a d a cl e a r a d va n t a g e because of his grip on the e4 square. ] 9...0-0 10.c3 bd7 11.e3 c6 12.e2 ae8 13.ad1 d5! Good strategy, fixing the pawns on the opposite colour to his bishop. 14.h3 dxc4 15.xc4+ d5 16.b3 7b6 17.a4 h8 18.fe1?! Missing some fine print. [ W hite should play the immediate 18.a5 a f t e r w h i c h xe3 ( 18...xc3 19.bxc3 xa5 20.a1 d5 is better with approximate equality) 19.fxe3 xa5 20.a1 h5 21.xa7 is now better for White because he doesn't have to worry about an exchange sacrifice on f3. In the game this becomes a major issue. ] 18...e6 19.a5 xe3 20.xe3 [ Perhaps it was only now that White realised t h a t a f t e r 20.fxe3 xa5 21.a1 h5 22.xa7 xf3 23.gxf3 xf3 24.xb6 g3+ 25.f1 f3+ 26.g1 Black can play for more than a draw with f8! 27.e4 h6 . Because of this he has to go into a position in which Black has a strong bishop and the better pawn structure. ] 20...xa5 21.xe6 xe6 22.xe6 f5 23.e7 f7 24.e1 g8 25.e2 d5
26.g5 f5 27.f3? [ 27.xd5 was better. After Black's reply he loses a pawn. ] 27...f4 28.c4+ h8 29.e3 h6! Renewing the threat of 30...Nxh3+. 30.e5 xh3+ 31.f1 c2 32.e2 c1+ 33.e1 xe1+ 34.xe1 g5 35.e5 g7 Black is a good pawn up now and handles the technical phase without much difficulty. 36.d5 cxd5 37.xd5 f5 38.f4 xe5 39.g4 [ Deciding that this would give him better swindling chances than 39.xe5 but it looks a bit desperate to me. ] 39...xf4+ 40.xf4 xf4 41.e7 d6 42.xb7 c5 43.g2 h6 44.c7 b6 45.d7 g8 46.e7 f8 47.b7 f7 48.g3 g7 49.f4 f6 50.d7 e6 51.d1 c7+ 52.e4 g5+ 53.e3 e5 54.h1 b6+ 55.e2 f7 56.f1 e6 57.h1 f6 58.f1+ g7 59.f4 e5 60.d2 g5 61.e4 f6 62.e2 e6 63.a4 d5 0-1
194 Skoberne,Jure Milchev,Nikolay IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (7) [Carsten Hansen]
A04 2492 2415 27.04.2008
1.f3 f5 2.d3 d6 3.e4 e5 4.c3 f6 [ 4...c6 was discussed in CarlsenDolmatov, Moscow 2004 - see the PGN archives ] 5.exf5 xf5 6.d4 e4 [ A) 6...bd7 7.c4 ( 7.h4 e6 8.d5 f7 9.g3 c6 10.dxc6 bxc6 11.g2 d5 12.0-0 e7 13.f5 0-0 didn't achieve anything for White in Kosten, A-Alonso Moyano, J/Pobla d e L i l l e t 2 0 0 5) 7...g4 ( 7...e4?! is discussed in the notes to HalkiasGrunberg, Olomuoc 2004 in the PGN archives ) 8.e3 b6 ( 8...e4 is the topic of Halkias-Grunberg, Olomuoc 2004, which can be f ound n the PGN archives, and; 8...c6!? was suggested in the notes to the same game by our webmaster) 9.d3 e7 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.h3 h5 12.g4 ( 12.e2!? e4 13.xe4 xe4 14.xe4 xe4? 15.b5++- ) 12...f7 ( 12...e4!? ) 177
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.g5 Varga, Z-Galyas, M/Budapest 2000 ] [ B) 6...c6 7.b5 exd4 ( 7...d7 8.e2 e7 9.dxe5 xe5 10.xe5 xe5 11.xd7+ xd7 12.e3 0-0-0 13.0-0-0 e7 14.d5 e6 15.a5 Flores, DBeltran, J/Balaguer ESP 2007; 7...a6 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.xd8+ xd8 11.xe5 xc2 12.0-0 Lalic, BLedger, D/Hastings ENG 2005) 8.xd4 d7 9.0-0 e7 10.c4 ( 10.e1!? looks very pleasant for Black) 10...xd4 11.xd4 c6 12.g5 d5 13.xf6 xf6 14.fe1+ f8 15.c5+ e7 16.e3 g5 ( 16...d6 17.ad1 f6 18.xd5! cxd5 19.xd5 e8 20.e4 g6 21.e2! , and W hite wins) 17.g3?! h4 18.d6+ e7 19.f4+ f6 20.ad1 ( 20.xd5!? cxd5 21.d6+ e7 22.xd5 e8 23.xb7 b8 24.xa7 is pretty disgusting for Black) 20...b8 21.f3 d6 22.e4 e7 , Cyborowski, LGormally, D/Cappelle la Grande FRA 2005, and now 23.xf6 xf6 24.b3 b8 25.a4 , and with the dual threat of Bxd5 and Qxa7, White wins material and keeps the initiative. ] 7.h4 c8 [ Black has a number of alternatives at this ju n c t u re : A ) 7...d7 was discussed in the notes to Halkias-Grunberg as mentioned above. ] [ B) 7...g4 8.e2 xe2 9.xe2 d5 ( 9...e7 10.xe4 xe4 11.xe4 0-0 12.f5 Deglmann, L-Hoennekes, K/Bad W iessee GER 2005) 10.g5 ( 10.b5+ c6 11.g5 d7 12.xf6 gxf6 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 0-0-0 , and Black has nothing to worry about, Roos, M-Graf, A/ Dresden GER 2007) 10...b4 ( 10...c6? 11.f3 h6 12.g6 hxg5 13.xh8 b4 14.0-0 , and White is winning, Zacurdajev, MRomcovici, V/ Peterhof RUS 2007) 11.b5+ c6 12.xb7 xd4 13.0-0-0 xc3 14.bxc3 b8 15.xf6 gxf6 16.xa7 b5 17.c5 d6 18.xd5 and White is winning, Dizdar, G-Grunberg, S/Triesen LIE 2005 ] [ C) 7...e6 8.d5 A) 8...d7 9.g3 ( 9.e2!? ) 9...e7 10.g2 0-0 1/2-1/2 Shavtvaladze, NBronznik, V/Corfu GRE 2007; B) 8...f7 9.f5 ( 9.g3 c6 10.g5 cxd5
11.b5+ c6 12.xf6 gxf6 13.0-0 with excellent compensation for the pawn, Laznicka, V-Potapov, A/Olomouc 2005) 9...c6 ( 9...g6? 10.d4 c6 11.g5 e7 12.e6+- d7 13.c4 xd5 14.xd5 cxd5 15.xg7+ f8 16.xd5 xg5 17.e6+ e8 18.xg5 c6 19.f6 1-0 Odendahl, R-Van der Elburg, F/ Amsterdam 2002) 10.g5!? ( 10.dxc6 bxc6 11.f4 d5 12.d4 bd7 13.a6 c5 14.d6+ e7 15.f5+ e8 16.d6! b6 17.xc5 xc5 18.b7 xd4 19.xd4 b8 20.xc6 xb2 21.b5 a6 22.xa6 b6 23.b5 e7 24.a4 d6 25.a5 bb8 26.a6 c5 27.b3+ b6 28.a7 a8 29.b1 b7 30.a5+ c7 31.c6 c5 32.b5+ 1-0 Naumann, A-Genocchio, D/Baden 1999 ) 10...a5? ( 10...h6 11.h4 cxd5 12.xf6 xf6 13.e3 ) 11.xf6 gxf6 12.d4 xd5 13.xf6 , and White is winning, Kosten, A-Lapeyre, P/Sautron FRA 2005 ] [ D) 7...d7 A) 8.g5 e7 9.c4 e6 10.xf6 xf6 11.h5+ g6?! ( Here Black should give preference to 11...f7! 12.xf7+ xf7 13.xe6+ xe6 14.d5+ e5 with a decent game for Black) 12.xe4! xd4 13.e2 0-0?! ( 13...xb2!? ) 14.0-0-0 c6?! 15.g5 xc4 16.xc4+ , and W hite is winning, Taleb Moussa (UAE)-Jasim A R Saleh (UAE)/Abudhabi (United Arab Emirate 2004; B) 8.e2 B1) 8...e7 9.0-0 ( 9.xf5 xf5 10.0-0 is simple and effective, e.g. d5 11.f3 d7 12.fxe4 dxe4 13.b5 c6 14.c4 is much better for White) 9...e6 , Kuehn, P-Hisler, T/Saint Vincent ITA 2005, and now 10.d5! f7 ( 10...xd5 11.h5+ d8 12.xd5 xh4 13.g3 e7 14.xe7 xe7 15.e1 gives White the better chances as well.) 11.f3 xd5 12.xd5 xh4 13.fxe4 0-0 14.f4 with a better game for White; B2) 8...c6 9.0-0 d5 10.xf5 xf5 11.f3 g6 12.fxe4 dxe4 13.d5 0-0-0 14.xf6 xd4 15.g4+ d8 16.e2 gxf6 17.f5 e8 18.e3 d5 19.c4 e5 20.xe4 , and Black doesn't even 178
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 have a pawn in return for his suffering, Kapnisis, S-Klokas, K/Litohoro GRE 2006; C) 8.d5!? e7 9.e2 c6 10.f3 cxd5 11.xf5 xf5 12.0-0 e6 13.b5 , and Black is already in serious trouble, Mikac, M-Zorko, J/Bled 2001; D) 8.f3 e7 9.xf5 xf5 10.e2 exf3 11.xf3 c6 12.0-0 d7 13.d5 0-0 14.c3 xd5 15.xd5+ with a small, but clear advantage for W hite, Seeman, TBerg, E/ Stockholm SWE 2003 ] 8.g5 [ Now the following sequence is more or less forced. In another recent game, White tried 8.e2 e7 9.g4 xg4? ( 9...c6 10.g5 d5 11.xe4 0-0 offers Black excellent compensation for the pawn; or 9...e6 10.g5 d5 11.xe4 0-0 12.0-0 f4 13.g4 xg4 14.xg4 d7!? with some compensation for the pawn) 10.xg4 xh4 11.xc8 (now White is already winning) c6 12.g4 xf2+ 13.xf2 h4+ 14.g2 0-0 15.xe4 h6 16.g3 ae8 17.c3 e7 18.e6+ h8 19.g4 1-0 Sulava, N-Zelic, M/Sibenik CRO 2006 ] 8...e7 9.xf6 xf6 10.h5+ g6 11.xg6 hxg6 12.xg6+ d7 13.d5! f8? [ This is definitely wrong and more or less loses on the spot! Instead Black should try the less obvious (thank you, computer) 13...e7! 14.g4+ ( 14.f5+ e8 15.g6+ d7 doesn't accomplish anything ) 14...e8 15.g7 f8 16.g6+ d7 17.e2 e8 18.xe4 f7 19.0-0 with an ongoing initiative and three pawns for the piece ] 14.e2 c5 [ 14...c6 15.xe4 a6 16.0-0-0 e8 17.d3 e6 18.xf6 xf6 19.d5+ xd5 20.xd5+ b6 21.f3 isn't really desirable for Black either ] 15.dxc5 e5 [ In an earlier gam e Black trie d 15...c6 , but after 16.xe4 e8 17.f3 ( 17.a4+ xd5 18.0-0-0+ e6 19.xd6+ wins, if anything, faster) 17...xb2 18.d1 a6 19.f6+ d5 20.xe8 a5+ 21.f1 e6 22.f4 xc5 23.a4+ b6 24.b1 1-0 Zacurdajev, M-Melnikov, D/St Petersburg RUS 2007 ]
16.0-0-0 e8 17.g4+ c6 18.xe8+ xe8 19.xc8 a6 20.f5 and being two pawns down, Black is obviously lost, and it means we shouldn't spend too much time on the remaining moves. xc5 21.b4 a4 22.he1 f8 23.xe4 b5 24.f4 b2+ 25.b1 ae8 26.e6 e5 27.g4 b2 28.d2 c4 29.xc4+ bxc4 30.fxe5 dxe5 31.c3 b8 32.f3+ c7 33.a3 a5 34.b5 b6 35.b2 bd8 36.e2 f5 37.e4 c5 38.e2 d4 39.g4 f2 40.xe5+ b6 41.h4 h2 42.h5 h3 43.g5 g3 44.e6+ c7 45.g6 h4 46.f6 d7 47.b6 1-0
195 Speelman,Jonathan S Ward,Christopher MSO Masters London ENG (4) [Tony Kosten]
A04 2597 2473 24.08.1999
1.f3 c5 2.b3 By playing this move now, White manages to avoid the main 1. b3 lines where Black can play an immediate 1...e5. d6 3.e3! Probably the most flexible move, for as Black will block the a1-h8 diagonal with ...e5 it makes sense not to develop the c1-bishop straight-away. [ 3.b2 e5 4.d3 f5 5.g3 c6 6.g2 f6 7.bd2 is the type of position White should avoid , An tosh in,V -Gurgenid ze,B /USS R 1974. ] 3...e5 4.b5+ Already at move 4 the players have reached a very unusual position. White wishes to exchange light-squared bishops, then, by placing his pawns on light squares he can inhibit Black's remaining bishop. [ 4.d4?! e4 5.fd2 cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.b2 offers White nothing, Roeder,M-Rytshagov, M/Groningen 1997. ] 4...d7 Alternatively: [ 4...c6 m i g h t b e b e t t e r , 5.0-0!? E n c o u r a g i n g B l a c k f o r wa r d . ( 5.xc6+!? bxc6 6.e4 is worth a try.) 5...e4 6.e1 f5 7.b2 f6 8.d3 e7 9.c3 e6 10.f3 b6!? 11.fxe4 fxe4 12.xc6+ xc6 13.xe4 xe4 14.dxe4 xe4 15.xg7 g8 gave Black reasonable compensation f o r t h e p a wn . M a n t o va n i, R - S e rm e k , D / Montecatini Terme 1999. ] 179
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 4...d7?! 5.xd7+ xd7 6.e4 would fall in with White's designs. ] 5.0-0 f5 6.d4 cxd4? Opening the c1-h6 diagonal for White's dark-squared bishop. [ 6...e4 first, has to be stronger, as White is thereby denied the use of the g5-square. ] 7.exd4 e4 8.g5 Following Black's fourth move, e6 is no longer covered by his bishop. gf6 9.e6 b6 10.d5! The b5-bishop is indirectly protected by the possibility of a knight fork on c7. f7 11.a4! This move contains a vicious threat. e5? A natural reply, but it loses the queen! [ 11...a6 would avoid the worst, but Black is still in a bad way, e.g. 12.e3 c5 13.a5 a7 14.c4 ] 12.e3 a5 13.b4 xb4 14.d2 b2 15.c3 Staggering! The trap closes on the unlucky monarch. xa1 16.xa1 xe6 Black could resign, but presumably wanted to reach move twenty! 17.dxe6+ xe6 18.xe5 xe5 19.d2 e7 20.a1+ f4 21.c3 1-0
[ Correct was 15...a6! ] 16.xd6+ cxd6 17.e2 Now White has positional pressure for his pawn. He proceeds to outplay his opponent but doesn't quite succeed in clinching the win. b6 18.g4 0-0 19.f1 d7 20.d2 ac8 21.f5 c6 22.f3 d4 23.g1 fe8 24.h3 f8 25.d5 e5 26.xc6 xc6 27.xd4 e4 28.c3 ce8 29.f2 d5 30.b4 e1 31.c4 f7 32.a4 1e7? 33.xg7+ g8 34.f6 c7 35.g5 xc4 36.g6 f8 37.gxh7+ xh7 38.d4 fc8 39.f4 g8 40.h4 f8 41.a3 g8 42.g3 h7 43.hg4 xa2 44.f6 f7 45.a3 c7 46.g7 xg7 47.fxg7+ g8 48.h4 c4 49.d3 a5 50.xb6 ½-½
197 Stohl,Igor Heidrich,Manfred Czech Open A (2) [Nigel Davies]
A04 2549 2368 25.07.2009
1.f3 f5 2.d3 d6 3.e4 e5 4.c3 c6 Stocek,Jiri 5.exf5 xf5 6.d4 xd4 Trying to avoid any Trang,Hoang damage to his pawn structure but with the FSGM Aug Budapeste (10) p o si t io n o p e n in g u p B l a ck 's k in g wil l b e [John Watson] temporarily vulnerable. 7.xd4 exd4 8.xd4 c6 1.f3 f5 2.e4!? fxe4 3.g5 e5! [ 8...f6 was played in Carlsen, M-Dolmatov, This is the simplest way to draw the fangs of S/Moscow RUS 2004, a game presented White's Gambit. 4.d3 e3! earlier by Tony Kosten. The text may also [ Instead 4...exd3 5.xd3 looks risky, so be promising for W hite but not after the Bla ck re t urn s t h e p awn in a way wh ich move he plays. ] hampers White's attempt to open lines in the [ 8...xc2!? is legal, but very greedy. ] centre. ] 9.d3 Fritz 12 likes this move at first but then [ Note that much less good is 4...f6 5.dxe4 changes its mind after a few moves. when W hite is ready to play Bc4 [ W h i t e s h o u l d p r o b a b l y o p t f o r 9.f4! immediately. ] wh ich was p re viou sly co ve re d b y T o n y 5.xe3 e7 6.f3 c6 7.d4 exd4 8.xd4 Kosten in the game Sandner, G (2311)xd4 9.xd4 f6! 10.e4+ e7 Rechel, B (2420)/Plauen GER 2004. ] So far Black has played the opening perfectly 9...xd3 10.xd3 f6 11.0-0 and here simply [ White could also try to play more [ 10...e7 planning 11...d5 looks at least aggressively with 11.g5 e7 12.0-0-0 OK. ] but after 0-0 13.he1 d5 Black's position is 11.xe7+ xe7 12.c3 d5 13.b5 way too solid for White's temporary activity White finds a way after all to gambit a pawn to have much effect. ] for positional pressure. xb2 14.b1 e5 11...e7 12.e2 d7 13.d4 0-0 14.f5 15.f4 d6? ae8 15.d2 d5 16.xe7+ xe7 17.ae1 196
A04 2460 2360 1996
180
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White doesn't have anything here, his bishop 14.b1! Aiming for a1 with powerful pressure being compensated for by Black's greater on the black king's diagonal. c5 15.a1 control of terrain. d7 18.f3 xe1 19.xe1 bd7 Black could also try e8 20.xe8+ xe8 21.e3 xe3+ [ 15...f4!? in order to play ...Bh3, but then 22.xe3 b6 23.c3 f7 24.f2 e6 16.g5 g4 17.h3 is good, h6 18.hxg4 25.e2 d7 26.f4 e5 27.xe5 hxg5 19.f3 fxg3 20.fxg3 and White will ½-½ continue with Kg2 and use the h-file. ] 16.e4!? White decides that his pieces are all ideally placed and so it is time to break in the 198 A04 centre, but moves like [ 16.fd1 were also fine, of course. ] Tkachiev,Vladislav 2654 Clarke,Thomas 2128 16...fxe4 17.g5 f5 18.xe4 This is the ECC Rethymnon GRE (3) 30.09.2003 point, the f6-knight is pinned so W hite has brought his knight to the powerful e4-square, [Tony Kosten] and opened the e-file. c7 19.fe1 e5 1.f3 f5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 g6 4.b4!? Black blocks the long diagonal, and unpins the W e have examined this theme against the f6-knight, but now e5 will be a target. 20.c2 Dutch set-up in several games, although Time to return the offside knight to the game.. previously W hite had played c4 before b4. xe4 21.xe4 ae8 22.g2 b6 23.e3 Black's first real mistake in the game, g7 5.b2 a5!? Black tries to disrupt White d3? on the queenside immediately. Other moves his bishop goes to the 'active' square on d3, but will not be able to stay there, he should are more popular, e.g. [ 5...d6 6.c4 0-0 7.0-0 e5 8.d3 with typical have preferred keeping d5 covered by [ 23...e6! which also attacks c4, and Closed English play, Vaganian,R-Ehlvest,J/ restricts White's possibilities. ] Horgen 1995. ] 6.b5 This pawn gains lots of queenside space 24.d5! xd5 25.xd5 Black pays the price for W hite, and stops the black knight from f o r ign o rin g t h e d 5 -squ a re , a s t h e wh it e using the c6-square. a4!? A novelty, Black's a- bishop cuts through his position like a knife! b6 Removing the pawn from the bishop's gaze, pawn continues its progression. [ 6...0-0 was played in Meenakshi,S- as [ 25...e4? loses a pawn immediately to: Lagvilava,G/Istanbul TUR 2000, when 7.c4 26.xg7+ xg7 27.xg7+ xg7 28.xb7 ] seems most appropriate. ] The winning plan: White fixes the e7.c4 c6 8.a3! Not the ideal square for a 26.f3! knight, but from here it both keeps an eye on pawn on e5, and can double his rooks on the 27.e3 c4 and b5, and at the same time stops the e-file when the pawn will drop. g5 So, the bishop didn't manage to stay on black a-pawn from advancing even further. 0-0 f5 White's position 9.0-0 d5?! Black continues to harass the d3 for very long! 28.ce1 white queenside, but this leaves no pawns to reaches its zenith. h3 29.xe5! The neatest capture. xe5 30.xe5 Obviously winning, control e5. I prefer [ 9...d6 planning ...e5, and putting the although [ 30.xe5! is m o re e le g a n t , h6 31.g4 queen's knight on c5, but apart from 10.d4 with the decisive threat of Re6xh6+. ] leading to a Dutch, W hite could also [ After 30.xe5 Black resigned because consider playing 10 d3, English Opening xe5 31.xe5+ xe5 32.xe5 h6 33.g4 style. ] leaves him a pawn down with a trapped 10.c1 h8 11.d3 Obviously White doesn't bishop. ] want to block the a1-h8 diagonal with a pawn now that he has full piece control of e5. e6 1-0 I have to say that Black is single-minded, he puts pressure on the white queenside whenever he can, but then why play ...f5 in the opening? 12.c2 dxc4 13.dxc4 c8 181
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.e5 dxc4 15.xc4+ g6 16.xc2+ A04 f7 17.b3+ g6 18.d1 with a crushing Vachier Lagrave,Maxime 2758 attack. ] Vaisser,Anatoli 2531 d5 This is certainly the move that FRA-chT Top 12 (4.1) 27.05.2014 11.h4 Black would like to play, gaining space in the [Kosten, Tony] centre and closing the a2-g8 diagonal, but afterwards he has to be very careful to stop 1.f3 f5 2.d3 d6 3.e4 e5 4.c3 c6 [ 4...c5!? is seen in Bellin, R-Williams, S, White sacrificing on d5. [ 11...b5!? is interesting here, and this month's Lalic, B-Rendle, T. ] A) 12.b3 c a n b e m e t b y e7+! 5.exf5 xf5 6.d4 exd4 7.xd4 xd4 wh ich f orces W h it e t o mo ve his k in g, 8.xd4 f6 13.f1 ( 13.e2!? is risky, g5 14.g3 c5 [ 8...c6 9.f4! is Sandner-Rechel, in the a n d . . . c 4 .; 13.d2 transposes to De PGN Archive. ] Verdier, M (234 5)-Kalinins, V (2204)/ 9.c4! Carlsen's novelty. c6 10.g5 h6!? B u n r a t t y 2 0 1 4 , 0-0-0 14.ae1 d7 A new move, but does it help? 15.xf6 gxf6 16.xf6?! d5 17.e5?! [ 10...b5 11.b3 e4 draw, but White is actually in some A) 11...h6 12.e3+! ( 12.h4 e7+! troub le h ere a s .. .Bg7 is t hreat ened .) see below.) 12...d7 ( 12...e7 13.xf6 13...0-0-0 with unclear play where neither gxf6 14.0-0 xe3 15.fxe3 d7 16.e4 king is particularly happy, 14.a4 b4! wins a pawn.) 13.xf6 xf6 14.0-0-0 15.xb4 d5; looks dangerous for Black.; B) 12.g4!? is a favourite with Stockfish 5, B) However, 11...e7+!? is actually quite d7 13.d3 f7 a bit wild.; annoying for White, 12.f1 ( 12.e3 d5 C) 12.d3 xd3 13.xd3 e7+ 14.e2 13.0-0-0 d7 14.he1 e7 Black wins e4! getting the queens off, with near an important tempo, and can now castle.; equality. ] 12.d2 0-0-0 13.he1 d7 14.ad1 c5 [ 11...xc2?! 12.d2! f5 13.ae1+ d7 15.f4 c4 16.xb5 cxb3 17.xa7+ ( 13...e7 14.xf6 gxf6 15.g4 h7 is unclear.) 12...0-0-0 13.a4 b4! 14.xb4 16.xf6 ) 14.g4! and Black is in trouble, as d5 15.xe7 xe7 Black has some h7 15.e6+ c7 16.d5+! cxd5 compensation for the pawn as W hite's 17.c1+ b8 18.xf6 gxf6? 19.c8+ king is awkwardly placed.; wins. ] C) 11...e7? 12.0-0-0 a5?! This is the problem, White doesn't ( Back in 2004 I remember annotating the 12.0-0-0 impressive game Carlsen-Dolmatov, which even have to move his bishop, and meanwhile continued 12...d7?! 13.he1 Qe5+ is a massive threat. e7?! Very human, and W hite caused an upset.) 13.he1 but probably not very good. [ 12...f7 had to b e tried , 13.he1 g5 Black is already lost, f8 Karavade, E 14.g3 g7 and Black develops while (2307)-Navabi, S (2107)/Beirut 2004 , finally threatening the bishop on c4, and 14.f4! g6 15.xf6 gxf6 ( 15...xf6 maybe something along the a1-h8 diagonal. 16.xd6 c7 17.xf6+ gxf6 18.xf6+ ) I think I would prefer to have White anyway, 16.h6+ e8 17.e4 ] but this certainly seems playable for Black. ] [ 10...d5 11.0-0-0 is similar to the main game, e7?! ( 11...f7 ) 12.e5 ( 12.he1 13.he1 Natural and strong. [ Still, 13.e5 i s j u s t a s g o o d , c8 0-0 13.e5 forks e7 and f5, forcing c8 ( 13...g6 14.xd5! cxd5 15.xd5 when 14.xe7 dxc4 as below. ) 12...d7? i s w i n n i n g , f8 16.xf6 c8 17.c3; Lock, G (2212) -Rendle, T (2397)/Hastings 13...g4 14.f3 d6 15.xd6 xd6 2008, ( 12...g6 ) 13.xd5! xd5 14.xd5 16.xf6 gxf6 17.xd5 cxd5 18.fxg4 cxd5 15.b5 winning the queen. ] will leave White two pawns up.) 14.he1 [ I had thought 10...xc2? might be playable, 0-0 15.xe7 dxc4 16.f3 with a clear ten years ago, but now I think it is losing: advantage, f or instance g6 ( 16...b5 11.0-0 d5 12.fe1+ f7 13.xd5! cxd5 199
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.d6 f7 18.g4 h7 19.e6 ) 17.c5 f5 (threatening mate!) 18.xc4+ h8 19.d2 ] 13...0-0 14.e5 g4? [ 14...c8 was the best try, 15.xe7 dxc4 as above. ] 15.f3 Strong, but the flashy [ 15.xd5! cxd5 16.xd5! xd5 17.xe7 b6 18.xf8 xf8 19.xd5+ is also totally crushing. ] 15...d6 Presumably the point, but MVL has seen further. Black has nothing better anyway a s t w o p i e c e s w e r e h a n g i n g . 16.xd5! Beautiful! cxd5 [ 16...xe5 17.xf6+ (double check!) h8 18.xd8 axd8 19.xg4 ] 17.xd5 xe5 18.xd8+ h7 19.d3+ g6?! Weakening the 7th rank doesn't help. [ 19...g8 20.xf8+ xf8 21.xe5 with an extra two pawns and the bishop pair to boot. ] 20.xa8 f4+ [ 20...xa8 21.xe5 both black minor pieces are hanging. ] 21.b1 xa8 22.xf6 Anyway, the answer to the question at move 10 is that yes, 10... h6 is useful if Black follows up with 11...b5. [ 22.xf6 f5 23.e7+ g8 24.c4+ f8 25.g7 forces e8 26.g8+ d7 when 27.xa8 wins a rook to add to the pawns. ] 1-0
200 Van Mil,Johannes AJ Gurevich,Mikhail Bundesliga 2001-2 (3) [Neil McDonald]
A04 2416 2605 24.11.2001
1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 ge7 5.g2 g6 6.0-0 g7 7.e1 [ More flexible was 7.c3 f o r e x a m p l e d6 8.a3 e5 ] 7...d6! [ After 7...d5 8.e5 the rook on e1 performs a useful function in defending the pawn on e5. So Gurevich heads for a dif ferent pawn structure with the aim of making 7. Re1 an irrelevant move. ] 8.c3 e5 9.a3 [ Perhaps 9.a4 followed by Na3 and Nc4
was the safer plan. ] 9...0-0 10.e3 White prepares d3-d4, but Black's piece deployment is very efficient and not surprisingly he benefits the most from the opening of the centre. h6 Preparing Be6 without being disturbed by Ng5. 11.d2 h7 12.d4 exd4! This capture rather than c5xd4 is often the best idea for Black in this pawn centre- Black activates his bishop straightaway. 13.cxd4 d5! 14.exd5 [ After 14.e5 Black has many promising continuations, e.g. f5!? 15.dxc5 d4 16.f4 g5 17.g4 fe7! 18.g3 xg4 ] [ Meanwhile if 14.dxc5? dxe4 White is in trouble as b2 will drop. ] 14...xd5 15.dxc5 xe3 16.xe3 e6! Gurevich is in no hurry to recapture the pawn. He develops and takes away the c4 square from W hite's knight, so that it can't be activated as occurs after say [ 16...xb2 17.ad1 f6 18.c4 ] 17.b5 [ After either 17.ad1 or ] [ 17.e2 Black can play a5 when sooner or later he will regain the pawn thanks to the bishop pair bearing down on W hite's queenside. So Van Mil brings his knight back to the centre while he still has the chance. ] 17...xb2 18.ab1 g7 19.ed1? This merely chases the black queen to a good square. He had to play [ 19.d6 with counterplay. ] 19...a5 20.bd4? White collapses. Now [ 20.d6 was imperative. ] 20...xa2 21.xb7 ad8 The pin is fatal. 22.b2 xd4! 23.xd4 fe8 24.xe8 xe8 25.xc6? [ 25.xc6 was the only way to fight on. ] 25...e1+ 26.xe1 xe1+ 27.g2 c4 However W hite plays, either Qc3 or Qf1+ followed by either Qh1+ or Qd3+ will win for Black. 0-1
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A04 Nb6. [ 7...xd7 was played before, trying to bring Venkatesh,Marani Rajendran 2515 the knight to c6 instead of d7 8.e2 f5 Vallejo Pons,Francisco 2693 9.0-0 e7 10.e1 f6 Vidonyak, R (2452)Bangkok op 14th (4) 14.04.2014 Cvitan, O (2562)/ Zuerich op 26th 2002. ] [Fier, Alexandr] 8.e2 d5 9.c4 gf6 10.cxd5? B l a c k u s e s a g o o d s e t u p a g a i n s t t h e A big imprecision. Now Black has easy play queenside fianchetto, he closes the diagonal, against the isolated pawn. [ 10.0-0 was better and White has a nice controls the center and gains some space. p l a n a t h i s d i s p o s a l d6 ( 10...b4 This same plan was suggested before on is not so different 11.h4 0-0 12.f5 ) Chess Publishing against a similar setup and 11.h4!? the knight will be much better on one more time it proves effective. 10.cxd5 was f5 or e3, where it is a strong blockader a bad idea, I think the position is quite A) 11...g6 avoids White's idea but interesting after 10.0-0. 1.f3 c5 2.b3 d6 weakens the kingside 12.h6 ( 12.g3 3.e3 e5 4.d4 Immediately acting in the is another possibility, to bring the knight center. via g2 0-0 13.g2 c8 14.e3 [ 4.b5+ is thematic and was played on with a level position) 12...f8 13.xf8 s e v e r a l o c c a s i o n s c6 ( 4...d7 xf8 ( 13...xf8 14.cxd5 xd5 15.c3 is also possible, but the knight is in the way xd4 16.b5 b6 17.fd1 ) 14.c3 on d7 5.0-0 f5 6.d4 cxd4 7.exd4 g7 and the exchange of the dark and White was already better, as analysed squared bishops favours W hite, though in Speelman, J (2597)-Ward, C (2473)/MSO the position is double edged; Masters London ENG 1999.) 5.0-0 f6 B) 11...0-0 12.f5 b8 13.c3 ( 5...e4 ambitious, but White can strike in the and compared to the game this is a much center before Black has time to finish his better version for White. ] development 6.e1 f5 7.b2 f6 8.f3 d5 Black doesn't waste any time and 9.c4 with dangerous activity for W hite) 10...b4+ 6.b2 e7 7.d3 0-0 and Black is activates his pieces. 11.d2 0-0!? [ 11...xd2+ was also ok, but Black prefers supposed to be fine, as analysed in to keep the bishops on, 12.fxd2 0-0 Cheparinov, I (2702)-Jones, G (2654)/45th 13.c3 b6 14.0-0 e8 with a small Italian Teams 2013. ] advantage for Black ] 4...cxd4 [ 4...e4 is also interesting, since after 5.fd2 12.e5 [ 12.xb4 is too dangerous, now the king will cxd4 6.xe4 ( 6.exd4 d5 7.c4 f6 be exposed for a long time exf3 13.xf3 is ok for Black) 6...d5 7.g3 dxe3 8.xe3 b6 ( 13...e8+ 14.f1 a5 15.d2 b6 c6 and the White pieces would be much is also possible with full compensation) better if the bishop was on b2 and the knight 14.c3 b5 15.d2 ae8+ 16.e3 on f3 ] ( 16.d1 is better, but also not pleasant for 5.exd4 e4 6.b5+ White tries to get rid of the White ) 16...xd5 with the idea of ...f5-f4 ] bishop, winning a tempo to finish his d e v e l o p m e n t . d7 Black doesn't mind 12...d6 Keeping the pieces on. [ 12...xd5 White has more chances to dry exchanging his 'bad' bishop. the position here [ 6...c6 gives White a nice opportunity A) 13.xe4 7f6 14.f3 ( 14.d3 f4! 7.e2 f6 8.d5!? xd5 9.xe4+ e7 wins ) 14...b6 15.0-0 xd4 16.xb4 10.xe7+ xe7 11.b2 and Black is still xb4 ( 16...xb4 17.c3 ) 17.d7! fine, but I don't think it's the kind of xd7 18.xd5 fd8 and Black has some position he was aiming for ] pressure, but with precise play W hite 7.xd7+ xd7 This is not a bad square for should hold; the knight if you stop to think. Black will push B) 13.0-0 xd2 14.xd2 f5 15.dc4 ...d5 when it's possible and with the knight on xe5 16.dxe5 e7 is also not so d7 he can answer any c4 and cxd5 idea with ... 201
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 interesting for Black, even if he has a small advantage ] 13.c4 [ 13.xd7 xd7 14.c3 ac8 15.0-0 fe8 is also good for Black, the d5-pawn will soon fall and White has no clear plan. ] 13...b6 14.c3 bxd5 15.xd5 xd5 16.0-0 e8 17.ad1 White tries to bring the knight back to e5, but it can easily be attacked. [ 17.ac1 at least brings the rook to an open file A) 17...c8? 18.xd6 xc1 ( 18...xd6 19.xc8 xc8 20.xe4 wins a pawn) 19.xc1 xd6 20.b5 and White activates; B) 17...c7 18.g4 g6 19.g3 and the position is still unpleasant for White ] 17...c7 18.e5 f6 19.c4 d7 Black improves his position and soon he is ready to attack 20.e3? This is too early to be desperate. White just allows Black's knight to enter his position, with serious consequences. [ 20.g3 b5 21.e3 b6 22.xd5 xd5 23.e3 ad8 24.d2 would be better for Black, but White's position is not so easy to break ] 20...f4 21.c4+ h8 22.c5 Apparently White's pieces are more active than before and he's managed to unblock the d-pawn. But this is too superficial and is soon punished. ad8 23.h1 d3 24.xa7 xh2! Nice idea! Now the queen defends b7 and White's queen is kind of trapped. 25.xh2 [ 25.b6 was possible, but without the hpa wn B la ck will at t a ck m ore ea sily b8 26.a4 f7 27.g1 d6 and it's hard to believe White can survive ] 25...a8 26.b6 a6 27.xa6 bxa6 28.d5 f5 [ 28...e5 was more direct 29.g1 h5 30.c1 ( 30.c3 c7-+ ) 30...d6 31.g3 d7 and it's time to resign ] 29.f4 c8 Going to the wrong place, but the position is still winning. 30.c4 xd5?! I see no reason for this plan. The rook would do a good job on the kingside. [ 30...f8 was still possible 31.d6 f6 with the idea of 32. ..Rh6 and 33...Qe8 ]
31.b6 b7 32.xc8 xc8 33.e3 h6 34.c1? And I see no reason to give back the exchange. [ 34.d2 was better, trying to hold the position together after c3 35.e2 ] 34...xc1 35.xc1 There is no time and insuf f icient material f or W hite to setup a fortress, and now Black finishes the game in a precise way. d8 36.g3 a5 37.c2 e1+ 38.f2 d1 39.c3 g4+ 40.h2 xf4+ 41.g3 g4 42.e5 f4 0-1
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A05 Amin,Bassem 2544 Leitao,Rafael 2620 7th World Team Championship (2) 06.01.2010 [David Vigorito] T h is ga m e is n o t ve ry t h e o re t ic a l, b u t i t provides a nice example of how to meet the King's Indian Attack. Leitao plays a simple, but steady game, and gradually takes over. He beats a 2550 player with Black and makes it looks very easy. 1.e4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 f6!? [ An interesting move order. Black wants White to protect the e4-pawn immediately. Also good is 4...g7 5.0-0 e5 when Black will often end up a tempo up on the KIA vs French line: 1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.0-0 Nge7 7.c3 e5 because he has played ...e5 in one move. Still, the tempo is not so important here and the position is still equal. ] 5.d3 d6 6.0-0 g7 7.c3 [ 7.c3 would transpose to a fairly harmless line of the Closed Sicilian with an early Nf3. This position more of ten results with colours reversed in the English Opening. ] 7...0-0 8.e1 e5! This looks like a mix of sys t e m s , b u t t h i s i s a g o o d p l a n . I n t h e Botvinnik setup, the e7-knight sometimes has trouble finding an active role. The f6-square is very flexible - the knight may go to e8, d7, or even h5 or g4. 9.a3 [ A slow move typical of this system. 9.bd2 still looks better to me. ] [ N o t e t h a t ' p u n i s h i n g ' B l a c k w i t h 9.d4 runs into the typical King's Indian idea cxd4 185
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.cxd4 exd4 11.xd4 g4! when Black is ahead in development and has pressure against d4 and f2 (with ...Qb6 coming too). ] 9...b5! 10.h3 [ 10.b4 a5! forces a favourable (to Black) resolution on the queenside. ] 10...b7 11.bd2 c7 12.f1 d5 W hy not? It is as if Black is playing W hite here. 13.g5?! [ 13.exd5 xd5 14.e3 was still pretty safe for White, although I do like Black's space advantage. ] 13...d4! Seizing more space. Now the g5bishop and f1-knight look rather odd. 14.cxd4 cxd4 15.d2 White tries to justify the odd placement of the bishop on g5, but considering W hite does not really want to exchange dark-squared bishops (which would leave him with his own bad bishop), this does not help much. a5 16.ac1 d6 17.g4?! This creates a (useless) square for the f1-knight. White is playing the position like a Closed Spanish, but Black has too much play on the queenside for this to succeed. d7! 18.g3 f6 19.h6 xh6 20.xh6 c5 21.h4 White's obvious threats are easily repelled. e7 22.ed1 e6! Highlighting the weakness created by White's 17th move. 23.h2 f4 24.g5 White opens lines for Black's pieces. h8 25.gxf6 xf6 26.g5 af8 27.d2? This takes away White's queen's only retreat square. e6 28.g4 [ 28.h6 g8 ] 28...f4 0-1
th e p o sit io n m u ch . I t wa s a n a lyze d f o r Chess Publishing in Roiz, M (2659)Aleksandrov, A (2582)/IX EICC Plovdiv BUL 2008. ] 6.e4 d6 7.d4!? An exotic idea, taking advantage of the undefended pawn on b5 and also the diagonal. It's only possible with the bishop on e7. [ 7.a3!? this move is quite interesting and it's a way to try to exploit the early ...b5 a6 8.c4 c6 now the bishop is not well placed on b7, ( 8...bxc4 9.xc4 and White has a b e t t e r s t r u c t u r e) 9.e1 with a slight advantage for White Romanishin, O (2515)Morawietz, D (2449)/Kerkyra op 2009. ] [ 7.a4 is another logical move, b4 8.bd2 0-0 9.c4 and both players had chances in Kuzubov, Y (2628) -Kulaots, K (2592)/ISLchT 1011 2010 (1.1). ] 7...a6 [ 7...d7 was a move played in Correspondence. It looks a bit weird to defend the pawn like this, but it avoids the pla n p layed in th e gam e 8.f4 ( 8.b3 could be a coherent sequence c5 9.a5 c6 10.xb7 xb7 and White took the bishop pair, but Black is well developed and already started the queenside expansion.; 8.e5 doesn't work now xg2 9.exf6 xf6 and the knight is hanging) 8...c5 9.b3 c6 and the position is balanced Simon, B (2305)-Glauser, P (2165)/WSTT/1/ 11/2 ICCF 2011. ] 8.b3 Putting the knight away from d4 and threatening Na5. [ 8.e5 still doesn't work properly xg2 9.exf6 xf6 10.xe6 fxe6 11.xg2 0-0 203 A05 and Black has not much to worry about. ] Aronian,Levon 2801 8...c5 And Black accepts the challenge. Not a Ipatov,Alexander 2630 b a d c h o i c e , s i n c e t h e a l t e r n a t i v e i s World Teams 2013 (7.3) 03.12.2013 unpleasant. [ 8...c6 without ...c5 this move is not so [Fier, Alexandr] harmonious 9.a4 0-0 10.d4 and White has good central control. ] Ipatov plays 2...b5 to enter less theoretical Finally this move is possible. xg2 positions and Aronian also plays an exotic 9.e5 xf1 11.fxe7 xe7 12.xf1 idea. Soon they exchange two pieces for a 10.exf6 rook and pawn, and because of the lack of After the exchanges White has a bishop and o p e n f i l e s I t h i n k W h i t e h a s a s m a l l a kn igh t aga in st ro ok a nd p a wn . B la c k 's advantage. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 b5 3.g2 b7 position has no weaknesses, so the position is quite hard to play, since W hite has no 4.0-0 e6 5.d3 e7 [ 5...d6 is another idea, but doesn't change advanced post for any of his pieces. Still, 186
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 there are no open files which makes the rooks less useful in the position. It's not possible to say for sure that someone is better here, but my preference would be White. c6 13.e3 White's basic idea is to finish development and use the e-file to create a weak point in Black's position. 0-0 14.c3 f5 Black, on the o t h e r h a n d , s h o u ld t ry t o e xp a n d o n t h e queenside and open some files for the rooks. 15.g2 [ 15.a4 this move is thematic in this kind of position where Black has a6 and b5, but it's always dangerous to exchange the last white rook. e5 ( 15...b4 16.e2 e5 17.d2 and W hite controls c4) 16.axb5 ( 16.g2 b4 17.e2 c4 and Black can make good use of the c-file) 16...axb5 17.xa8 xa8 18.g2 b8 19.d4 cxd4 20.xd4 d7 with an unclear position. ] 15...ac8 16.a3 Not forced, but a good move to control the b4 square. f6 [ 16...b4 is not so interesting anymore, now the a-file will be more useful for White than the f ile t hat will open f or B lack, 17.axb4 xb4 ( 17...cxb4 18.a4 e5 19.f4 d7 20.a5 and White's knights are much more active than before) 18.f4 and the knight can go to a5-c4 later ] 17.d1 With the idea of 18.d4. d4 18.f4!? White is not afraid to damage the structure because after 18...Nxb3, W hite is going to create a block on the dark squares and the bishop and knight have no opposition. fe8 [ 18...xb3 19.cxb3 d5 20.d4 c4 21.b4 and White can play a4 in good conditions or to make some pressure on the e-file, Black on the other hand can just wait ] 19.xd4 A forcing move, giving the bishop and putting the knight on a strange square to s h a k e B l a c k ' s c e n t e r . cxd4 20.a2 The knight is going to b4 Where it defends c2, attacks a6 and looks to d5. d8 To meet 21. Nb4 with a5. [ 20...e5 21.b4 with a clear advantage ] 21.f1 A smart idea, now White is threatening to take on d4 because if Black comes with ... Qb6 and ...e5, White can take on f2 with his rook, defending the pawn on c2. [ 21.xd4?! is not good, since Black recover t h e p a w n w i t h a n a c t i v e p o s i t i o n b6 22.f2 e5 23.xf5 xf2+ 24.xf2 xc2+
25.f3 exf4 26.gxf4 xb2 and Black is not worse ] 21...b6 22.f2 e5 23.c3?! Not so necessary. [ 23.fxe5 White could play this move and j u s t t a k e o n f 5 dxe5 24.xf5 h8 ( 24...e6 25.xe6+ xe6 26.b4+- ) 25.f2 with a clear advantage ] 23...b7 [ 23...a5!? this move can complicate matters, since if White takes any of the pawns, Black can activate his position 24.fxe5 ( 24.cxd4 exf4 25.xf4 c2 26.xf5 b7 27.d5 xb2 and the knights are in an awkward position, but still the position is unclear) 24...dxe5 25.cxd4 e6 again using the strange position of the knights 26.ac1 f4 with interesting compensation ] 24.cxd4 Again Black has a chance to complicate. [ 24.fxe5!? to avoid ...exf4 dxe5 25.cxd4 d5 26.ac1 and White is better ] 24...exf4 [ 24...d5!? was possible A) 25.ac1 doesn't work so well now, exf4 26.gxf4 ( 26.xf4 c2 and Black is better ) 26...e6 with a dangerous position for White; B) 25.bc1 xd4 ( 25...exf4 26.c3 that's the dif f erence with bringing the other knight to c1 fxg3 27.hxg3 e6 28.xf5 and W hite is better) 26.xd4 exd4 27.g2 c2+ 28.f2 ec8 29.e2 xb2 30.xd4 xf2+ 31.xf2 g6 and the endgame is double edged ] 25.c3 [ 25.xf4 would be good if possible, but loses immediately e2 26.f2 e1+ 27.f1 c2 and W hite is in big trouble 28.d2 xf1+ 29.xf1 h1+-+ ] [ 25.b4 it's hard to understand if the knight is better on c3 or b4, from here it can go to c6 at some point, but from c3 it controls the invasions on e2 and c2 fxg3 26.hxg3 f4 this is an important source of counterplay 27.gxf4 f7 28.d5 g6+ 29.g2 f6 30.c6 e3 and the position is one more time unclear ] 25...fxg3 26.hxg3 f8 A bit slow. [ 26...f4!? I like this try again, opening W hite's king by force 27.gxf4 ( 27.xf4 187
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is also playable, but Black's counterplay is quick f8 28.c1 b4 29.axb4 xb4 30.c2 xf1+ 31.xf1 f8+ 32.e2 b8 and Black is fine) 27...f7 threatening ...b3 28.c1 ( 28.d5 g6+ 29.g2 xd3 ) 28...f5 29.d5 and White can be better, but he needs to be extremely careful. ] 27.d5 f6 [ 27...f4 now this loses power 28.gxf4 f7 29.f5 This move is possible because the knight on b3 is not attacked in this variation. ] 28.d4 With this knight in the game, White is much better. b4 29.axb4 xb4 30.c6! [ 30.e6 is not so effective, since Black's queen is free to go to the kingside g4 ] 30...b7 31.e1 h8 32.e7 b3 33.d7 Now it's impossible to stop White's initiative e8 34.d4 b4 35.e6 g6 36.f7 g4 37.e2 f6 38.xg7 b4 39.xh7+ [ 39.xh7+ xh7 40.a7+ 5 with mate in ] 1-0
204 Artemiev,Vladislav Khismatullin,Denis 15th ch-EUR Indiv 2014 (3.1) [Fier, Alexandr]
A05 2621 2714 05.03.2014
Artemiev goes for an interesting idea with 7. c4 and easily gets a better position. 13.Bc6 was good for an advantage and again I think that this is a nice setup for White against 2... b5. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 b5 3.g2 b7 4.0-0 e6 5.d3 e7 6.e4 0-0 A provocative move. [ 6...d6 avoids 7.e5 and after 7.d4!? a6 8.b3 c5 9.e5 was analyzed by me some months ago in Aronian, L (2801)- Ipatov, A (2630)/WchT 9th Antalya 2013. ] 7.c4!? This can transpose to 7. e5, but gives Black the alternative of not taking on c4, where I believe White has good play. [ 7.e5 d5 8.c4 bxc4 9.dxc4 b6 10.c2 ( 10.e2!? maybe the queen is better here, to bring the knight to c3 at some point d5 11.exd6 cxd6 12.d1 8d7 13.c3 ) 10...c6 and White's position is slightly better, but both players have chances in Libeau, R (2420)-Emunds, H (2315)/ Muenster 1992. ]
[ 7.d4 was the same idea as in Aronian's game, but 28 years before! a6 8.b3 c6 9.e5 d5 10.e1 with an unclear position, since White still needs some time to develop his queenside Bilek, I (2400)-Portisch, L (2635)/Hungary 1985. ] 7...b4 I'm not convinced about this move. Now White has a tangible space advantage and in a few moves Black has a strange position. [ 7...bxc4 8.e5 d5 9.dxc4 b6 would transpose to 7.e5 ] 8.e5 e8 9.d4 d6 [ 9...c5 was another idea, since 10.d5 is not so scary 10.dxc5 ( 10.d5 exd5 11.cxd5 d6 with a level position) 10...f6!? 11.e3 c7 12.a3 a5 with a messy position ] 10.c2 d7 11.g5! A known theme in a diff erent position. xg5 12.xb7 b8 13.xg5 Missing a strong idea. Now Black has chances to equalize. [ 13.c6! a hard move to make, but here W hite has good chances to create some strong pressure. Black's pieces are poorly placed and Black has no way to win the pawn on e5 xc1 14.xc1 dxe5 15.d1! the key move and now Black's position is not so comfortable A) 15...exd4 loses a piece 16.xd4 ef6 ( 16...d6 17.c5 ) 17.d1 and Black has no way to defend the knight; B) 15...b6 16.a4 b8 17.dxe5 e7 18.g2 and Black's knights are on terrible squares ] 13...xg5 14.c6 d8 15.f4 e7 16.g2?! With this move Black can more or less free his position. White runs from the check on c5, but development was more important. [ 16.d2 was interesting and Black should play precisely to avoid getting into trouble dxe5 17.fxe5 b8 ( 17...xe5 is insufficient 18.xe8 xd4 19.b5 c6 20.b3 and White is better) 18.e4 f5 ( 18...xd4 19.f3 d8 20.xh7+ h8 21.g2 and Black's position is precarious, for example: g6? 22.xg6 fxg6 23.h4 and Black loses material) 19.exf6 xf6 20.f3 c5 and I still prefer White's chances, but the position is not so clear ] 16...dxe5 17.dxe5 [ 17.fxe5 b8 18.e4 now is not so nice, si n ce a f t e r ( 18.f3 xd4 19.d2 c5 188
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and W hite has compensation, but Black s h o u l d b e o k) 18...f5 19.exf6 xf6 White has no 20. Nf3 to defend the pawn ] 17...f6 18.exf6 exf6 And Black is fine. 19.d2 g4 Now Black goes into a long variation that leads to an equal position where he needs to make a difficult choice. [ 19...e5 it was possible to keep the game a l i v e w i t h 20.e4 ( 20.fxe5 xe5 and the bishop has no good squares 21.e4 fg4 and W hite is almost lost already) 20...e6 21.xd7 xd7 22.g5 c6+ 23.g1 g6 with a level and complicated position ] 20.ae1 c5 21.e4 de5 Exchanging a lot of pieces and entering a delicate endgame. 22.b3 xc6 23.fxe5 xe5 24.xc6 xc6 25.xe6 d4?! This doesn't change t h e c o m p u t e r ' s e va l u a t i o n , b u t n o w t h e position is harder to play for Black. [ 25...xf1 was the best way to go, avoiding White's idea 26.xf1 d4 27.xd4 xd4 28.b3 d2 and Black is fine ] 26.xf8+ xf8 27.c5 c6 During the game this is a hard decision to make. One misevaluation and the game can be over if Black exchanges the rooks and knights. With some pieces on the board it's still possible to fight if something goes wrong. In this case, the exchange was good and after the move of the game White is slightly better. [ 27...xe6! 28.xe6+ e7 29.xd8 xd8 30.f3 d7 31.e4 d6 a n d W h i t e c a n n o t p a s s, h e r e I sh o w a possible continuation: 32.f5 c5 33.b3 d6 34.h4 d7 35.h5 e7 36.g4 c6 37.g5 d6 38.h6 gxh6 39.gxh6 e7 40.e5 a6 ( 40...a5?? 41.c5+- ) 41.c5 a5 with draw ] 28.e4 f7 29.f2 With a better knight and rook, White has good practical chances in the endgame. g5 30.h4 h6 31.hxg5 hxg5 32.g4! The knight on d4 is centralized, but it's not doing much in the position and it's also not stable. d6 33.e5 f6? This is a bad plan. W hite's rook is going to a8 and the position is close to lost for Black. [ 33...f6+ was the right way to defend the pawn 34.e3 f3 35.e4 h2 and Black is just slightly worse ] 34.e8 f7 35.a8 f6+
[ 35...e6 was a better practical chance 36.xa7+ A) 36...g6 37.d7! and the extra pawn in the knight endgame is enough for the win; B) 36...f8 37.xe6+ ( 37.d7? xc5 38.xd6 i s n o t c h e c k n o w e4+-+ ) 37...xe6 38.a4 c5 39.a5 e5 40.f3 and White is probably winning; C) 36...e8 37.xe6 xe6 38.a4 e4 39.xb4 xg4 40.b3 and Black has some chances to survive ] 36.e3 e6 37.xa7+ g6 38.d3 f4 [ 38...c5 39.e5+ h6 40.f7 wins ] 39.e5+ h6 40.a6 g2+ 41.e2 f4 42.xc6+ h7 43.c5 1-0
205 Bacrot,Etienne Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A05 2695 2752 21.11.2007
1.f3 f6 2.g3 g6 3.b4 g7 4.b2 d6 5.g2 c5!? [ 5...0-0 is the normal move in this position. ] 6.bxc5 dxc5 7.c4 0-0 8.0-0 c6 9.d3 g4 10.e5?! [ The first new move, but not a very good one. W hite has done reasonably well with 10.bd2 , though the test games have mostly been online games between GMs: A) 10...d7 11.b1 ( 11.e1 ad8 12.a4 e5 13.a3 d6 14.g5 b6!? 15.xc6 xc6 16.xe5 fe8 17.gf3 h6 18.b2 d7 19.c3 xd2 20.xd2 xf3 21.exf3 xf3 22.xe8+ xe8 23.e1 xe1+ 24.xe1 f8 25.e4 d1+ 26.g2 c2 27.a8+ e7 28.e4+ d8 1/2-1/2 DumpsterW i s e g u y / w w w . p l a y c h e s s . d e 2 0 0 2) 11...ad8 12.e1 b6 13.e5 xe5 14.xe5 h3 15.f3 xg2 16.xg2 f5= Dumpster-GM Miles/www.playchess. de 2002; B) 10...c7 11.b1 ad8 ( 11...b6 12.h3 d7 13.a3 ad8 14.c2 h6 15.bd1 c8 16.e3 b7 17.b1 a6 18.e5 d7 19.xd7 xd7 20.c3 189
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Corovic, D-Dizdar, G/Makarska 1993) Roiz, M (265 9)-Aleksand ro v, A (258 2)/ 12.e1 h6 13.c3 e5 14.b3 c8 Plovdiv 2008/[Carsten Hansen] ] 15.b2 h5 16.f1! f5 17.e3 de8 4...b4 This gives White a hook with a2-a3, so 18.d2 h7 19.d5 Dobrzynski, W- Black ought to consider his choice carefully. Lipski, T/Krakow 1978 ] [ 4...a6 is more logical, restricting the knight. [ Another move is 10.h3 f5 ( 10...xf3 5.c4 11.xf3 d7 12.g2 ac8 13.c3 h5 A) 5...e5!? might be the way to go. 6.cxb5 14.b1 b6= Majer, D-Schneider, H/Hessen ( Simply 6.0-0 looks better.) 6...xa3 2000; 10...d7 11.b3 c8 12.h2 b6 7.bxa3 axb5 has been played a few times. 13.c3 a5 14.c2 c6 15.e4 Now the course of Karasev, V (2465) D'Amore, C-Lilly, R/Mount Buller AUS 2004) Razuvaev, Y (2540)/Elista 2002 took an 11.bd2 c7 12.c3 ad8 13.b3 e8 amusing turn: 8.b1 0-0 9.xb5 c6 14.fe1 c8= Weindl, A-Zelic, B/Baden 10.xe5?? ( 10.b4 ) 10...a4-+ 1996 ] and White's queen was rather 10...xe5?! embarrassed.; [ Here Black had 10...b6!? available, e.g. B) 5...b4 6.c2 Naturally, theory is 11.c3 xe5 12.xe5 e6 13.f4 h3 ] ch a o t i c h e r e . e6 ( 6...c5 7.0-0 e6 11.xe5 b6?! could transpose. ) 7.0-0 [ 11...d7!? ] B1) 7...e7 8.d4 is a kind of bizarre 12.c3 d7 13.xa8 xa8 14.d4 d8 Queen's Indian. ( 8.a3!? ); [ 14...h3 15.e1 cxd4 16.xd4 xd4 B2) 7...c5 8.d4! 17.xd4 ] B2a) 8...b6 9.g5 cxd4 10.cxd4 15.dxc5 c8 16.a4 xc5 17.xf6 exf6 ( 10.xf6 gxf6 11.xd4 xd4 18.fd1 c8 19.xa7 f5 20.ac1 d4 12.fxd4 xg2 13.xg2 f5 14.a3 21.f1 bxa3 15.b4! Veingold, A (2465)[ 21.d7! xf2+ 22.g2 e3 23.d5 g5 Illescas Cordoba, M (2545)/Linares 24.c2+- ] 1991. ) 10...e4 11.e3 Lingnau, C 21...xc4 22.b5?? (2395)-Grosar, A (2470)/Biel 1993.; [ 22.h3! ] B2b) 8...cxd4 9.cxd4 e7 10.f4 22...xf2+! 23.xf2 xe2+ 24.g1 e3+ ( White has played other moves here, 25.g2 xc1 26.xc1 d2+ e.g. 10.a3!? bxa3 11.b3 0-0 0-1 12.xa3 Andersson, U (2655)Chiburdanidze, M (2535)/Kalev 1997.; 10.b3 ) 10...0-0 11.c1 b6 12.b3 206 A05 c8 13.c5! d8 14.d6 Vaganian, R (2590)-Popovic, P (2540)/Sarajevo Berkes,Ferenc 2706 1987. ] Fedorchuk,Sergey A 2635 Schachbundesliga 2011-12 (3) 16.10.2011 5.c4 e6 Safest. [ 5...c5 6.a3!? ( This looks more testing than [John Bartholomew] 6.0-0 which has also been played.) 6...d5?! 7.ce5 bxa3 8.g5! Drasko, M (2508)1.f3 f6 2.g3 b5 The "Extended Heberla, B (2510)/Banja Luka 2008. ] Fianchetto" is an attractive and high-scoring [ 5...a5 rules out Nc4-a5, but leaves Black a reply to 1.Nf3 and 2.g3. Black grabs as much little overextended. One example: 6.0-0 ( or queenside space as possible and prevents 6.a3 like 5...c5 6.a3 above.) 6...e6 7.a3 d5 transpositions to many problematic c2-c4 8.ce5 bd7 9.d4 e7 10.axb4 axb4 systems. 3.g2 b7 4.a3!? This move 11.d2 c5?! ( 11...e4 ) 12.dxc5 xc5 caught my eye awhile back, as some quick 13.d3 Loginov, V (2530)-Timoshenko, G research found White scoring >60% with it. (2475)/Budapest 1991. ] Clearly 2700s like Berkes pay attention to the [ Finally, I can't resist mentioning a possible statistics too! "Double Extended Fianchetto" with 5...g5!?N [ For lines associated with 4.0-0 e6 5.d3 190
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 The idea isn't completely stupid! ] 6.0-0 e7 7.a3 By now we're well-familiar with this prod. [ Despite the "knight on the rim, " 7.a5!? also isn't bad. ] 7...a5 8.d3 d5 9.ce5 bd7 [ 9...0-0 10.axb4 axb4 11.xa8 xa8 Benidze, D (2491)-Arutinian, D (2566)/Tbilisi G E O 2 0 1 0 , a n d n o w 12.c4! would be similar to the game. ] 10.c4 0-0 11.cxd5 xd5 12.c4 [ or 12.e4 b7 13.e3 ] 12...b6 13.axb4 [ 13.e3!? ] 13...xc4 14.dxc4 axb4! 15.xa8 xa8 16.e3 e4 17.xd8 xd8 18.e5 a8! Black has essentially equalized, but W hite can hope to maintain a slim endgame edge due to his better pawn structure. A similar situation occurs in some Catalan endgames. 19.d1 h6 20.h4! a2?! Giving White a window of opportunity. [ 20...d6 is safer. ] 21.xe4 xe4 22.d7 f6 23.d3 c5! Black defends accurately. [ After 23...b3 24.xc7 xb2 25.b7 f6 26.b8+ h7 27.xb3 xe2 28.c5 Black must endure an unpleasant defense. ] 24.b3 xe2 25.g2! c2 26.f3 d2+ 27.xd2 xd2 28.xc5 b2 29.h5 f8 30.d3 c3! Now the position is equal. 31.d7+ e8 32.c5?! The remainder of the game seems like time trouble. [ 32.c5= ] 32...c2?! [ Missing a chance to turn the tables with 32...e1! 33.c6 xf2+ 34.g4 c2 and White is the one who has to think about drawing. ] 33.b6 e1? [ After 33...e5! Black will be able to play ... Bc3-d4, e.g. 34.d5 d4 35.c4 c3+ 36.e4 xb3 and Black should hold. ] 34.c4 xf2+? [ The endgame following 34...c3 35.xc3 xc3 ( 35...bxc3 36.e3+- ) 36.e4 is likely losing, it will at least tax W hite's technique. ] 35.g4+- The c-pawn is unstoppable. e7 [ 35...a2 36.c6 f2 37.d6+ d8 38.b5+ c8 39.c7+- ]
36.c6 f5 37.d7+ f6 38.c7 g5+ 39.f3 c5 40.d6 c3+ 41.e2 xg3 42.e4+ 1-0
207 Davies,Nigel R Fishbein,Alexander Tel Aviv (7) [Nigel Davies]
A05 2460 2495 1992
The play of ...c6 and ...a5 is quite a challenge for White's system because the attack on the b4 pawn encourages the self-blocking c2-c3. But in this game I try a different approach of just taking on a5. White's pawn island gets split but there's compensation too. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 g6 3.b4 g7 4.b2 0-0 5.d3 c6 6.bd2 a5 7.bxa5!? Although this splits White's queenside pawns he has the open bf i l e a n d s o m e d a r k s q u a r e we a k n e s s e s (notably b6) to aim at. [ I didn't think that 7.a3 was anything for White because after axb4 8.axb4 xa1 9.xa1 a6 the best seems to be to block the a1-h8 diagonal with 10.c3 . ] 7...xa5 8.g2 b6 9.c4 c7 10.0-0 d5 11.cd2 bd7 12.c4 e6 13.c2 e8 14.fc1 d8 15.a4 h5 16.xg7 xg7 17.b3 [ I t w a s a l s o w o r t h c o n s i d e r i n g 17.e4 , trying to open things up in order to exploit Black's dark square weaknesses. ] 17...dxc4?! giving up the central pawn voluntarily feels like a concession. 18.xc4 b6 19.b4 d5 20.d2 [ 20.c5 might be better, but I was staring longingly at the h6 square. ] 20...e5 21.b2 [ Again White could change pace with 21.e4 c7 22.c3 f6 23.d4 . One of the difficult things about playing this kind of game is in knowing when to change pace from purely positional play to something more direct. ] 21...f6 22.fd2 e6 23.e4 e7 24.a5 Threatening to push on to a6. dc7 25.ec5 a6 26.a4 b8 27.e3 d8 28.d1 ec7 29.ac1?! After Black's reply White is no longer better. [ This was definitely the time to initiate play 191
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 W h i t e a f t e r 12.d3 e6 13.b2 h6 14.a3 , for example. ] 12.f4 d7 13.xg7 xg7 14.c3 b6 15.d3 e3+ 16.h1 d7 This leaves Black with insufficient compensation but what else should he play? [ After 16...b8 17.a4 Black's position is truly horrific. ] 17.xb7 ab8 18.f3 h5 19.a3 g4 [ Perhaps 19...h4 was a better try, but White h a s a l a r g e p l u s a f t e r 20.gxh4 xf4 21.xc5 . ] 208 A05 20.c1 d4 21.b5 d7 22.c3 h4 [ Had Black repeated the position with Davies,Nigel R 2518 22...d4 I would probably have opted for Gormally,Daniel 2476 23.xg4 hxg4 24.f5 . But with Black BCF-ch 86th Scarborough (11) 12.08.1999 needing a win at any cost I didn't think this [Nigel Davies] was likely. ] This was a big game in which my opponent 23.e3 xf3+ 24.xf3 hxg3 25.xg3 had to win so part of my job was to frustrate c6+ 26.f3 f6 27.c1 h8 28.e4 him and get him to take risks. Even without h4 29.h3 d7 30.cg1 In addition to the this the position looks nice for White after 9. extra pawn White has strong pressure on the Ne5, and I like Dizdarevic's treatment with 11. kingside. b2?! 31.g5! Closing in for the Nc3. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 g6 3.b4 g7 4.b2 kill. f8 32.a4 b6 33.e3 e8 34.f5! f8 d6 5.g2 c5 6.bxc5 dxc5 7.0-0 0-0 8.c4 35.xc5 f6 36.f3 h5 37.a5 b2 38.c6 c6 9.e5 White has played other moves 1-0 here but it makes sense to open the h1-a8 diagonal. The bishop on g2 exerts a lot of 209 A05 pressure. xe5 Erdos,Viktor 2637 [ There's a case for Black avoiding this Khenkin,Igor 2655 e x c h a n g e w i t h 9...a5 , for example 17.03.2013 10.c2 d7 ( 10...f5 11.d3 d7 Bundesliga 1213 (12.1) 12.xd7 xb2 13.xb2 xd7 14.a3 [Danny Gormally] was slightly better for W hite in Simic, R (2495)-Cosma, I (2435), Belgrade 1994) 1.f3 [ When I looked at the game we are 11.xd7 xb2 12.xb2 xd7 13.d3 c8 currently discussing, I was immediately 14.c3 c6 15.h4 e6 restricted White to reminded of the following game: 1.c4 c5 j u s t a s m a l l p l u s i n D i zd a r , G ( 2 4 6 5 ) 2.b3 f6 3.b2 g6 4.xf6! Diagram An Velimirovic, D (2575), Sarajevo 1986. ] excellent decision, wrecking the structure. 10.xe5 b6 11.b3 With my opponent Perhaps one of the most outstanding facets needing a win for a GM norm I wasn't of the current world champion challenger concerned about an excess of solidity. Magnus Carlsen is his photographic recall. I [ In Dizdarevic, E (2515)-Licina, A (2125), was stunned when during the course of a Bled 1994 W hite offered a pawn sacrifice press co nf eren ce a t last ye ars Lo nd o n with 11.c3 e6 12.f4 after which xc4 chess classic, the young Norwegian 13.b1 a6 14.a4 e6 15.a3 d8 superstar mentioned this game in passing 16.xb7 xb7 17.xb7 c4 18.b1 g4 (along with a number of other obscure old 19.xg7 xg7 20.xa8 xa8 21.b7 games that have mostly been forgotten.) gave him a clear advantage. ] How, I thought, can someone so young 11...e6 kn o w a b o u t so m a n y g a m e s t h a t we r e [ Maybe 11...d8 was better but I still prefer in the centre with 29.d4 . ] 29...b4 30.bc5 xb2 [ 30...xa5 31.d4 would be very dangerous for Black with his queen so far out of play. ] 31.xb2 xc5 32.xc5 e6 33.a1 a8 34.f1 d5 35.xd5+ xd5 36.xd5 cxd5 37.e4 dxe4 [ It's dead equal after 37...dxe4 38.dxe4 b6 39.c4 bxa5 40.xa5 xa5 41.xa5 . ] ½-½
192
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 played before he was even born? This not only shows his remarkable memory, but also demonstrates a classical training that goes far beyond the usual computer clones. exf6 5.c3 g7 6.g3 c6 7.g2 f5 8.e3 0-0 9.ge2 a6 10.c1 b5 11.d3 b7 12.0-0 d6 13.d2 a5 14.fd1 ab8 15.d5 xd2 16.xd2 Karpov, A (2630)Browne, W (2530)/San Antonio 1972. ] 1...c5 2.b3 b6 3.b2 b7 4.g3 f6 5.g2 g6 6.xf6! A strong strategic decision, similar to the Karpov game. W hite exchanges the bishop for the knight on f6 like he does in the Trompovsky, but here he already has a n important concession- the enduring weakness of the d5 square. [ Nevertheless the straightforward approach wasn't bad either- 6.c4 g7 7.0-0 0-0 8.c3 a6 9.d4 d5 10.e5 e6 11.dxc5 bxc5 12.cxd5 exd5 13.d3 e7 14.a4 ac8 15.c1 White has strong play against the hanging pawns, Andersson, U (2585)Miles, A (2510)/La Valetta 1980. ] 6...exf6 7.c4 f5 8.c3 g7 9.c1 c6 10.0-0 0-0 11.e1 a6 12.d3 b8 13.f4 d6 14.e3 White has an obvious long-term strategic edge, and more importantly it is not so easy to suggest improvements for Black, who is devoid of any aggressive or creative ideas due to the clamp White has on the d5 square. e8 15.fd5 a8 16.a4 d7 17.c2 e5 18.b1 c6 19.f4! To use one of those clichés us chess writers are all too familiar with, "White's game plays itself". xd5 [ 19...g4 20.h3 f6 21.xf6+ xf6 22.xc6 xc6 23.d5 would be a dream position for White- devotees of the Najdorf are all too aware of the dangers of allowing a dominant knight to reach the d5 square. ] 20.xd5 c6 21.b4! e7 22.bxc5 bxc5 23.b6 c7 24.a5 f6 25.a4 bd8 26.d5 xd5 27.xd5 e7 [ 27...b8 28.b7! is one of those happy tactics that tend to happen when you have such overwhelming strategic advantages. ] 28.b6+- h5 29.fb1 c8 30.c6 d7 31.bb6 h4 32.b3 g7 33.xa6 g5 34.ab6 hxg3 35.hxg3 gxf4 36.gxf4 e8 37.xd6 xd6 38.xd6 d4 39.f3 h8 40.d1 h4 41.g2 xe3 42.dxe3 xe3 43.a1+ g8 44.h1 f2+ 45.h3 xf4
46.d8+ h7 47.g2 1-0
210 Miroshnichenko,Evgenij Krasenkow,Michal 5th IECC Antalya TUR (10) [Tony Kosten]
A05 2599 2609 25.05.2004
1.f3 c5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.0-0 g7 5.d3 f6 6.c3 I prefer to push this pawn an e x t r a s q u a r e m y s e l f ! 0-0 7.a3 e5 An innovation, Black wants to counter White's threatened b4 tactically. [ 7...d6 8.b4 e5 9.bd2 is more normal, Utasi,T-Stohl,I/Stary Smokovec 1984. ] 8.b4 e4!? Blowing the diagonal open, [ 8...d6 is more solid. ] 9.dxe4 xe4 10.d5!! White shows he is also ready to play tactically, this move sacs the c-pawn to stop Black from playing ...d5 a n d f i n i s h i n g h i s d e v e l o p m e n t . xc3 11.xc3 xc3 12.g5 The point, the f-pawn is pinned so the black queen must move. e8 13.xc5! White offers the exchange for control of the dark squares. xa1 Black has to capture, otherwise he is positionally worse f o r n o t h i n g . 14.xa1 e6 15.d1 White has to stop Black from freeing himself by ...d6. e8 16.d6! Brilliant! The game will be decided without the participation of Black's qu e e n si d e p i e ce s . xe2 17.f6 e6 I think that Black should stop White's next by [ 17...b5! e.g. 18.g5 e6 19.h6 xf6 20.xf6 b2 21.f4 g7 22.xg7+ xg7 23.e5 with the advantage, but Black is still on the board. ] 18.b5 xd6? The decisive mistake, I don't see any clear win after [ 18...xf6 19.xf6 b2 20.d6 d8 ] 19.xd6 xb5?! Black had to take his chances with [ 19...e6 20.f4! ( 20.xe6 fxe6 21.bxc6 bxc6 is not too bad for Black) 20...e7 21.g5 e1+ 22.f1 f5 23.g4 but he is in big trouble. ] 20.g5 W hite's attack is decisive. b1+ 21.f1 e1 22.xh7! e8 [ 22...xh7 23.f8 forces mate. ]
193
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.f4! e7 24.c3 1-0
211 Narciso Dublan,Marc Pedersen,Jan Open Andorra AND (6) [Tony Kosten]
A05 2544 2339 05.07.2001
1.f3 f6 2.g3 g6 3.b4!? This is favoured by Angus Dunnington in his book on the Reti. W hite gains space on the queenside, and prepares to counter the pressure of the g7bishop along the a1-h8 diagonal. g7 4.b2 0-0 5.g2 d5 [ A n g u s g i v e s m o s t a t t e n t i o n t o 5...d6 and ...e5, with more typical KI play, and considers this line via the alternative moveorder ] [ 5...c6 6.0-0 a5 7.a3 axb4 8.axb4 xa1 9.xa1 b6 10.c3 d5 ] 6.0-0 c6 7.d3 a5 8.a3 axb4 [ 8...b6 9.c3 ] 9.axb4 xa1 10.xa1 b6 11.c3 White has a flexible position, but I don't think Black would be too concerned about that. The position is level, but there is lots of play for both sides. g4 [ More active than 11...bd7 12.bd2 c7 13.c4 e5 14.c2 with a small edge, Polugaevsky-Kortschnoi, Moscow 1966. ] 12.bd2 fd7!? Unusual, [ 12...bd7 is more common, 13.a4 e5!? the most forthright move, ( 13...c7 14.c4 dxc4 15.dxc4 c5 16.b5 b6 17.b3 a8 is equal, Smyslov,V-Bronstein,D/Amsterdam 1964/IZT. ) 14.h3 garnering the bishops, ( 14.e4 c7 15.c4 dxe4 16.dxe4 led to a quick draw in Balashov,Y-Khalifman, A / L v o v 1 9 9 0) 14...xf3 15.xf3 h6 16.a2 Angus' f avoured line, ( 16.b3 allowed e4 17.g2 c7 18.a7 h5! 19.dxe4 dxe4 Chechelian - Baikov, Moskauch 1974 when the threat of ...e3 is difficult to counter, e.g. 20.e3 xg3 21.fxg3 xg3 22.h1 e5 winning quickly.) 16...d8 ( 16...b8!? 17.b1 d8 would allow Black t o ga in c o n t r o l o f t h e a -f ile , b y . . . Ra 8) 17.b1 planning e4, with a small plus due to the bishop pair, Poley,V-Fries Nielsen,J/
Rimavska Sobota 1991. ] 13.h3 A new, but very obvious, continuation. [ 13.b3 a6 14.b2 a8 15.a1 is roughly level, Popovic,P-Banas,J/Trnava 1980. ] 13...xf3 14.xf3!? White wants to keep good control of e4, should Black try ...e5. a6 15.c2 e6 The solid line, Black asks how W hite will break him down . 16.e3 a8 17.b2 c5!? With all his pieces in action Black passes onto the offensive. 18.d4!? [ 18.bxc5 axc5 19.a1? xa1+ 20.xa1 a6 loses a pawn. ] 18...cxb4?! [ 18...cxd4! 19.exd4 c7 is strong, how does White rid himself of the c3-pawn? ] 19.c4! White frees his position at the cost of a doubled pawn. c7 20.b3 f6 21.b1 f8 22.c3 If White an successfully recapture the pinned b-pawn he will have an undeniable positional edge. dxc4 23.xc4 b5 24.xb4 xb4 25.xb4 xb4 26.xb4 a1+ 27.g2 b5 28.e5 [ 28.d6! is much more to the point. ] 28...a2 29.b3 c2 30.g4 fd5 31.e4 a2 32.b1 [ 32.g5 looks good, fixing the black kingside. ] 32...a7 33.h4 h6 [ 33...f6!? ] 34.g3 b7 35.e4 e7 36.g5 White is completely outplaying his opponent, advancing his kingside pawns while Black is obliged to passively defend his b-pawn. hxg5 37.hxg5 g7? [ 37...c8 is much better, the knight can defend both f7 and b5 from the d6-square. ] 38.f3 e8 39.xf7+ g8 40.f4? [ Time trouble, I suppose, White allows the bpawn to advance, 40.a2 wins quickly. ] 40...b4 41.g4 g7 42.f6 d6 43.h4 b3 44.h7+ f8 45.h8+ f7 46.d5?! A peculiar move, without this W hite is still better. exd5 47.exd5 ef5+ Black finds a square! 48.g2 b2 49.h7+ f8 50.xb7 xb7 51.d7+ g7 52.e5 bd6 Black's b-pawn saves the day, W hite can hardly win it without allowing Black into his kingside. 53.f1?! e7 54.e2 [ If 54.d3 xd5 55.xb2 f7 draws. ] 54...xd5 55.d2 f4 56.c3 f7 194
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 57.xf7 xf7 ½-½
212 Roiz,Michael Aleksandrov,Aleksej IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (9) [Carsten Hansen]
A05 2659 2582 30.04.2008
1.f3 f6 2.g3 b5 3.g2 b7 4.0-0 e6 5.d3 d6 6.c3 [ White has tried a few other things at this early stage: A) 6.c4 bxc4 7.dxc4 A) 7...c5 8.c3 e7 9.c2 0-0 ( 9...c6 10.d1 0-0 11.a3 h6 12.b1 c7 13.h3 fd8 14.e4 d7 15.e2 ac8 16.e3 e5= Motwani, P-Guidarelli, L/Port Barcares FRA 2005) 10.d1 b6 11.a3 bd7 12.f4 fd8 13.b4 cxb4 14.axb4 a6 15.a4 c7 16.b3 ac8 17.ac1 Akopian, V-Pogorelov, R/Ubeda 1996; B) 7...e7 8.c3 0-0 9.e1 c5 10.b3 c6 11.b2 a6 12.d2 c7 13.ad1 ad8 14.c1 d7 15.e4 fd8 Anand, V-Kortschnoj, V/Roquebrune 1992 16.f4!? ] [ B) 6.e4 (this is White's most popular choice) A) 6...c5 7.a4 a6 8.axb5 axb5 9.xa8 xa8 10.a3 c6 11.e5 fd7 12.exd6 xd6 13.g5 b4 ( 13...b6!? ) 14.c4 f6 15.e2 xg2 16.xg2 e7 17.e3 0-0= Vukic, M-Karpov, A/Bugojno 1978; B) 6...e7 7.e1 0-0 8.e5 xg2 9.exf6 xf1 10.fxe7 xe7 11.xf1 d7 12.e2 c6 13.f3 Quinteros, M-Minev, N/Cienfuegos 1972; C) 6...bd7 C1) 7.e1 b8 8.a4 b4 9.bd2 e7 10.c4 0-0 11.c3 a8 12.c2 d5 13.exd5 xd5 14.fe5 f6 15.d4 c5 , Kirov, N-Anastasian, A/Aegina 1993, and here W hite would do best to play 16.e4 g6 17.h6 xe5 18.dxe5; C2) 7.c3!? b4 8.e2 c5 9.h3 e7 10.g4 h6 11.a3 a5 12.g3 c7 13.e2 e5 14.xe5 dxe5 15.f4 , Conquest, S-Krasenkow, M/Dhaka 1995, bxa3 16.b3 ( 16.bxa3 c4 )
16...c4!? 17.bxc4 b4 ( 17...c5+ 18.h1 exf4 19.xf4 e5 20.e3 ) 18.f5 ( 18.fxe5 c3 19.xa3 xe5 ) 18...d6 19.fxe6 fxe6 20.h2 0-0; C3) 7.h4 d5 8.e2 dxe4 9.dxe4 C3a) 9...d6 10.f3 0-0 ( 10...e5 11.xb5 b8 12.bd2 0-0 13.e2 c5 14.d1 ) 11.e5 xf3 12.xf3 xe5 13.xa8 xa8 14.xa8 xa8; C3b) 9...c8?! 10.d1 b8 11.d2 c6 12.b3 c5 13.e5 xg2 14.xc5 ( 14.exf6!? xb3 15.axb3 c6 16.e5 g8 17.fxg7 xg7 18.c5 d5 19.e1 d8 20.c4 b7 21.h5 , and Black is in serious trouble ) 14...a8 15.exf6 xc5 16.fxg7 g8 17.e3 b7 18.f3 b6 19.xc5 ( 19.f5 xe3+ 20.xe3 xg7 21.a4 b4 22.d3 ) 19...xc5+ 20.f2 xf2+ 21.xf2 xg7 , and Black is over the worst, Soppe, G-Dorin, M/Pena City 1996; C4) 7.bd2 (this is the most frequently seen move, and also the normal continuation against other set-ups from Black, but other moves are not without merit either) C4a) 7...c5 is a solid alternative, e.g. C4a1) 8.e2 c7 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 a6 11.c4 b6 12.2b3 bxc4 13.xc4 e5 14.f5 b5 15.c7 c6 16.xc6 xc6 17.d1 ( 17.e1!? ) 17...xe4 18.xd6+ xd6 19.xd6 xg2 20.xg2 e7= Vladimirov, E-Novopashin, A/ Volgodonsk 1981; C4a2) 8.e1 c7 9.f1 e7 10.h3 0-0 11.g4 h8 12.g3 ac8 13.g5 d5 14.exd5 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/ 2, in Nikolic, Z-Mackic, Z/Niksic 1997, even if Black is doing rather well after xd5; C4a3) 8.a4 a6 9.g5 b8 10.f4 h6 11.h3 e5 12.axb5 axb5 13.c4 c6 14.b3 e7 15.h1 0-0= Vasiukov, E-Donchenko, A/Arvier ITA 2006; C4b) 7...e7 8.e2 ( 8.e1 e5 9.a4 a6 10.b3 c5 11.d2 b4 12.c1 c4 195
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.dxc4 xe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.d3 Fiorito, F-Dorin, M/ARG 1995 ) 8...c5 9.a4 a6 10.b3 0-0 11.b2 b6 12.e5 dxe5 13.xe5 xe5 14.xe5 xg2 15.xg2 fd8= Huebner, R-Aleksandrov, A/Batumi 1999 ] [ C) 6.a4 b4 A) 7.e4 e7 8.e1 bd7 9.f4 b8 10.e3 1/2-1/2 was Quinteros, M-Panno, O/Buenos Aires 1975 c5 11.g4 h6 is unclear; B) 7.a5 c5 8.c3 ( 8.e4 a6 9.bd2 c6 10.c4 e7 11.e1 1/2-1/2 Maletin, PGeller, J/Nishnij Tagil RUS 2005) 8...bxc3 9.xc3 e7 10.a6 c6 11.d4 cxd4 12.xd4 xg2 13.a4+ d7 14.xg2 xa4 15.xa4 fd7 16.e3 c5 Lysyj, I-Geller, J/Nishnij Tagil RUS 2005 17.a3; C) 7.bd2 (this is, again, probably the best move for White) bd7 8.c4 a5 9.e4 e7 10.c3 d5 11.exd5 xd5 12.d2 c5 13.e2 0-0 14.fd1 c7 15.ce5 xe5 16.xe5 f6 17.g4 e7 18.c4 b6 19.f4 Todorcevic, MMackic, Z/Tivat 1995 ] [ D) 6.a3!? b4 7.c4 c5 8.e4 e7 9.a3 d5 10.exd5 exd5 11.ce5 , and White has the initiative, Sergeev, V-Manik, M/Czech Rep CZE 2004 ] 6...bd7 7.a4 [ A) 7.b3!? aims to take advantage of the loose b5-pawn and the unprotected bishop placed behind it. b8 8.a4 d5 9.c2 b4 10.c4 ( 10.e4!? b3 11.e2 looks clearly better for White.) 10...a8 11.bd2 g6 12.b3 c5 13.h3 ( 13.e4!? g7 14.g5 leaves White with a slight initiative to build on, whereas Black's queenside operations are at a standstill for now.) 13...g7 14.e3 0-0 15.d2 b6 ( 15...c7 16.h6 d5 17.cxd5 xd5!? ) 16.h6 xf3 17.xf3 d5 with chances for both players, Oztan, DMach, P/Rimavska Sobota 1996 ] [ B) 7.bd2 c5 8.e4 e7 9.e1 0-0 10.e2 b6 11.a4 a6 12.h3 c6 with a comfortable game for Black, Lenic, L-Barnaure, V/Balatonlelle HUN 2003 ] 7...a6 8.a3 [ This is a novelty over 8.axb5 axb5 9.a3
d5 10.b4 c6 11.f4 b6 12.b3 e7 13.e4!? 0-0 14.e5 fd7 15.h4 ( 15.d4!? obviously deserves attention with the bishop being buried on b7 for some time to come. Black will likely continue with g5 16.e3 f6 , claiming some counterplay, though White's chances still seem preferable. With the text move, White aims to prevent Black's p a w n a d v a n c e .) 15...a4 16.c2 ( White should give consideration to 16.d4 a8 17.a2 a7 18.fa1 a8 19.d2 f6 20.h3 f5 21.d1; 16.a2 a8 17.fa1 a7 18.h5 h6 19.d4 a8 20.d2 ) 16...c5 17.d4 cxb4 18.xb4 c7 , and Black is now fully in the game, Smyslov, V-Savon, V/Odessa 1974 ] 8...c6 9.d2 [ 9.axb5!? axb5 10.d4 d5 11.e4!? b4 is complicated, but not necessarily any better for White despite his lead in development ] 9...d5 10.b4 [ This looks like the normal move, but White can do better with the more aggressive 10.f4!? , and after e7 , then White strikes with 11.e4! with the initiative in White's hands, e. g. dxe4 12.dxe4 xe4 13.e5! xe5 14.xe5 xd1 15.fxd1 f6 16.axb5 axb5 17.xb5 ] 10...e7 11.d4 bxa4 [ 11...0-0!? can also be considered. The ga m e m o ve sh o u ld le a d t o a b a l a n c e d game ] 12.xa4 a5 13.b5?! [ White sharpens the battle, probably with Black's uncastled king in mind. But Black's position is solid and the king's situation is only a matter of temporary concern. Solid and leading to equality is 13.bxa5 xa5 14.b3 c5= ] 13...c5! And Black has taken over the initiative... 14.c2 cxb5 15.axb5 0-0 16.fb1 a4!? [ 16...g4!? 17.b3 ( 17.c4?! dxc4 18.dxc4 xg2 19.xg2 f6 20.e3 e5 is better for Black) 17...c6 18.xc5 xc5 19.d4 b6 20.h3 f6 21.c4 , and White has the initiative ] 17.c4 d7 18.b4 fc8 19.a2? [ This is a mistake of serious proportions. Instead W hite should play 19.c3! b3 196
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 19...dxc4 is probably better, though these lines are quite complicated, e.g. 20.xc5 xg2 21.xe7 xd4 22.xg2 cxd3 23.xd3 xd3 24.exd3 xc3 25.xa4 cc8 , and the players can get ready to shake hands.) 20.xb3 xb4 21.d2 xc3 22.xc3 d4 23.a3 xg2 24.xg2 a5 with a Benko Gambit-like position with the colours reversed. White is at least equal, bu t b e ing a 'B e nko 'it e ' m yself , I p re f e r White. ] 19...dxc4? [ 19...e5! 20.f3 dxc4 , and White's position falls apart with a thud. ] 20.dxc4 xg2 21.xg2 fe4 22.d1 e5 23.f3 e6 24.d5 f6 25.e1 ab8 26.xc5 xc5 27.e4 h5 28.h4 a8 29.c3 a6 [ Black should consider the promising 29...a3!? 30.b5 d7 31.b3 b6 32.xa3 xa3 33.xa3 xa3 34.xa3 xd5 35.cxd5 d7 , and Black has some winning chances, though the weakened kingside pawn structure is a concern for Black. ] 30.e2 g6 31.d1 f8 [ Or 31...f7 32.d3 b6 33.xc5 xc5 34.xa4 xc4 35.xc4+ xc4 36.b6 xa2 37.xc4= ] 32.c2 e6 [ 32...ab8 33.e3 c6 ] 33.e3 a6 [ Black has other moves available as well, though none of them promise any particular a d v a n t a g e : 33...c6!? 34.ed5 b3 35.b1 cb8 ] [ or 33...h6!? ] 34.ed5 f7 35.da1 ca8 36.b5 c8 37.bc3 ca8 38.b1 b3? [ 38...a3! is perfectly fine for Black, but time trouble likely played a serious role in the events on the board. ] 39.xa4! xa4 40.xa4 d4 41.d1 f5 [ 41...c8 42.ab6 c6 43.a4 ] 42.b6 e6 43.exf5 gxf5 44.c6 h7 [ 44...f4!? ] 45.ab6 e8?? 46.f6+! when Black takes the knight, then follows Qd1xh5+xe8. 1-0
213 Smyslov,Vassily Petrelli,Mark Los Polvorines op [Nigel Davies]
A05 2550 2200 1980
This game is a bit of a mismatch but provides an interesting illustration of some strategic themes. W hite takes space with 11.e4 and then more and more of it as the game progresses. Eventually Black is strangled without ever having played an active move. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 g6 3.b4 d5 4.b2 g7 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 b6 Black's moves look sensible enough but they don't fit together that well a double fianchetto defence would be better without ...d7-d5 for example. [ A much better idea is 6...d6 though there to o W hit e h as ch an ces of a n e d ge , f o r example 7.a3 a5 8.e5 b6 9.c3 c6 10.a4 b5 11.c5!? fd7 12.xg7 xg7 13.d3 e8 was Davies, N (2505)Lane, G (2420), W rexham 1997 and now 14.b1 intending 15.Qb2+ would have given me more of a pull. ] 7.d3 b7 8.bd2 bd7 9.c4 e6 10.c2 [ I think there's also a good case for m u n c h in g a wa y o n e o f B la c k' s c e n t r a l p a w n s wi t h 10.cxd5 , f or example xd5 11.xg7 xg7 12.c2 e5 ( 12...xb4?? 13.c3+ ) 13.a3 would put Black under longterm positional pressure. ] 10...c6 11.e4 e7 12.a4 fc8 13.a5 a6? Overawed by the occasion (it's not every day that one plays against a former W orld Champion) and the problems of the position, Black commits strategic suicide. [ He had to try 13...bxa5 when 14.xa5 xb4 15.c3 e7 16.b1 c7 is unpleasant for Black but he's definitely on the board. After the text he finds himself in a vice like grip. ] 14.axb6 xb6 15.c5 bd7 16.b3 b8 17.a5 a7 18.e5 e8 19.d4 c7 20.h4 Aiming to open a second front on the kingside. b5 21.d3 d7 22.fe1 [ White could win a pawn with 22.xb7 xb7 23.xa6 , but Smyslov probably figured this would give his opponent some undeserved freedom. ] 22...f8 23.c1 d7 24.g5 e8 25.e3 197
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f8 26.h3 b8 27.h2 e8 28.g4 c8 There's no defending those kingside dark squares. [ After 28...d7 29.f6+ xf6 ( 29...xf6 30.exf6 ) 30.exf6 h8 31.h6 Black even loses his queen. ] 29.f6+ xf6 30.exf6 d8 31.h6 e8 32.f4 h8 33.xb8 1-0
214 Stein,Leonid Rodriguez Gonzales,Jesus Capablanca mem [Nigel Davies]
A05
1968
T h is ga m e is a n e xce lle n t i llu st ra t io n o f White's strategic aims with 3.b4. He manages to nibble away Black centre pawns with 13. bxc6 and 14.c5 and then eventually takes control of the centre with his own. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 g6 3.b4 Stein liked this move, as did Smyslov. And as these are two of my favourite players I started using it myself. g7 4.b2 0-0 5.g2 d6 6.d3 bd7 7.bd2 e5 8.0-0 a5 It's not clear that Black should seek conflict on the side of the board on which he has less space. In subsequent encounters other moves have been tried, for example: [ a) 8...e8 9.c4 a5 10.a3 c6?! (Weakening the central dark squares, kind of like Rodriguez does) 11.c2 e7 12.e4 (An instructive switch to central play) f8 13.h3 h5 14.c5! dxc5 was Poley, V (2395)Hausner, I (2415), Manhems 1998, and now 15.bxa5 was probably the simplest. White is better here because it's so difficult for Black to defend his important e5 pawn. ] [ b) 8...h5 is interesting because it threatens 9. ..e4. Camara, H (2340)-Braga, C, Caxias do Sul 1975 went 9.d4 ( 9.e4!? is interesting because f5 can be met by 10.exf5 gxf5 11.xe5! ) 9...e8 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.e4 b6 and now 12.c4 was probably best, meeting a4 with 13.a3 . ] 9.a3 b6?! The knight is all wrong here, not least because of its vulnerability to the idea of c2-c4-c5. 10.c4 d7 11.b5 a4 12.c1 c5? And this is very helpful to White because it
significantly weakens Black's central pawn formation. [ 12...e7 wa s b e s t w h e n 13.c5 dxc5 ( 13...bd5 14.e4 wins a piece) 14.xe5 still gives White an excellent game because of his cen tral pawn majority and active bishops on g2 and b2. After xb5 15.xb7 ab8 16.c6 xc6 17.xc6 Black's position is unpleasant. ] 13.bxc6 xc6 [ 13...bxc6 14.c5! is very strong. ] 14.c5! dxc5 15.xc5 fd7 16.c2 e7 17.a1! Very picturesque, and something like a White ideal in the Reti Opening. Although White's pieces are posted at a distance they exert tremendous pressure. fe8 18.fc1 d5 19.e4 c7 20.d4 Finally White's central pawns push forward, and in doing so leave Black with a miserable position in which his minor pieces have difficulty finding decent squares. exd4 21.xd4 xd4 Black really wouldn't have wanted to do this, but with the bishop on c6 about to be taken he had little choice. 22.xd4 b5 23.b2 e5 24.c4 xc4 [ On 24...d3 White has 25.f6 . ] 25.xc4 d6 26.b4 ec8 27.c5 e8 28.c1 d7 29.bc4 xc5 30.xc5 c6 31.c3 f6 32.e5 After the exchange of light square bishops Black will find it difficult to defend his queenside. xg2 33.xg2 b6 34.c6 d8 35.xb6 fxe5 36.b4 d4 37.xd4 exd4 38.xd4 A clear pawn up and with ongoing pressure this is totally won for White. b7+ 39.g1 f7 40.h8 e4 41.xh7+ e6 42.h3+ d6 43.f1 c7 44.d1+ d5 45.h4 e6 46.d4 f5 47.xa4 1-0
215 Bagirov,Vladimir Polgar,Sofia Brno Morava-B (1) [Nigel Davies] 1.b3 c5 2.b2 d5 5.b5 d7 6.0-0 e6 [ This looks like an when White can try
A06 2485 2430 1991 3.e3 f6 4.f3 c6 7.d3 d6! improvement on 7...e7 to set up some pressure 198
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with 8.xc6 xc6 9.e5 . ] 8.e4 [ With the bishop on d6 Black can meet 8.xc6 xc6 9.e5 with xe5 ( 9...c8 10.f4 would make it harder for Black to defend ) 10.xe5 after which I wonder if B l a c k c a n s a c r i f i c e a p a wn wi t h d7!? ( Of course 10...0-0 is also quite playable when 11.f4 e7 12.d2 d7 13.f3 d4 14.exd4 xf3 15.xf3 f6 16.c7 cxd4 was at least equal for Black in W ettstein, M-Postler, R/Ybbs 1968) 11.xg7 g8 12.b2 h4 13.e2 0-0-0 . White's king is certainly under pressure with the g-f ile being open and Black's bishop on c6 shadowing the g2 square. ] 8...d4! [ After 8...dxe4 9.dxe4 xe4 10.e1 W hite gets more than enough for the sacrificed pawn, for example f5 11.bd2 xd2 12.xd2N e7 13.ad1 c7 14.g5 creates very strong pressure. ] 9.bd2 [ One of the points behind Black's play is that 9.xc6 xc6 10.e5 can be answered by xf3 11.xf3 xe5 12.xb7 0-0 with a very comfortable game for Black. ] 9...e5 10.c4 e7 11.c3 0-0 12.xc6 xc6 13.cxd4 cxd4 14.a4 Trying to get a slight initiative with Nxd6 followed by Bb2-a3, but this shouldn't worry Black too much. fc8 [ 14...e8 looks fine for Black here, for example 15.xd6 xd6 16.a3 f5 brings some kingside counterplay. ] 15.h4 d7 16.f3 [ Black can meet 16.f5 with xf5 17.exf5 b4 , preventing White's rook from coming to e1 and at the same time targeting the c3 square. ] 16...g6 17.c1 e8 18.g3 c7 19.e2 g7 20.g2 White wants to play f2-f4 at a moment when he will hopef ully get some initiative on the kingside. But it's not easy to get this in without Black hitting back with ...f7f5. c6 21.a3 d7 22.d2 [ After 22.f4 Black can play exf4 23.gxf4 f5 with an excellent game. ] 22...e8 23.ae1 b6 24.c1 [ Here too 24.f4 is met by exf4 25.gxf4 f5 .] 24...b7 25.c2 a6 26.fc1 e6 27.h4
d8 28.h6 c8 [ 28...b5 29.d2 a5 would have been quite good for Black. ] 29.d2 f6 30.e1 b8 31.xc8 xc8 32.xc8+ xc8 33.c4 g7?! [ 33...d8 would have been safer. Now W hite gets the better endgame and it requires good defence for Black to hold the draw. ] 34.g5! [ 34.d2 d8 35.b4 c7 fails to make an impression on Black's solid position. ] 34...xg5 35.hxg5 b5 36.axb5 axb5 37.d6 e6 38.f3 xb3 39.xe5 e8! Aiming for an opposite colour bishop endgame. 40.xe8 xe5 41.f4 b4! 42.xb4 a4 43.fxe5 xe8 44.f2 [ 44.c5? b5 45.xd4 xd3 is also nothing. ] 44...b5 45.e2 a6 46.c5 b5 47.xd4 f8 48.c5+ e8 Despite the two extra pawns White will not be able to break through. ½-½
216 Blatny,Pavel Narciso Dublan,Marc FSGM October (5) [Tony Kosten]
A06 2476 2447 06.10.1999
1.f3 f6 2.b3 d5 3.b2 g4 4.h4!? [ This must have come as something of a surprise f or B lack! 4.e3 is the standard move here, whilst ] [ 4.e5 is sometimes played. ] 4...c6 5.h3 h5 [ In some ways this justifies Whites outlandish knight move, perhaps 5...d7 could be tried. ] 6.g4 g6 7.g2 e5 8.xg6 hxg6 Black has a solid position, with good development, but White is probably happy as he has two well-placed bishops. 9.c4 c5 10.c1 d4 11.d3 The players have reached a Benoni-type position where W hite's g2bishop is unopposed. e4!? [ Ra t h e r s p e c u la t i ve , t h e s im p l e 11...a5 was fine. ] 12.dxe4 xg4 The idea behind Black's previous move, but it might not be completely 199
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 sound. 13.hxg4 xh1+ 14.xh1 h4 Hitting the h1-bishop and threatening ...d3, with an attack on f2. 15.g2 [ 15.f3 h2 16.f1 e5 is worse. ] 15...xg4 16.f1 0-0-0 17.d2 d3 18.exd3?! [ This brings the black rook too close for comfort, 18.d1 might be more circumspect, defending the e2-pawn. ] 18...xd3 19.e5 [ Freeing the e4-square and h1-a8 diagonal. 19.e1 wa s a lso p o ssib le , wh e n f4 20.c1 e3 21.d1 d3 leads to a draw. ] 19...d4 20.e1? [ To control e2, but it almost loses. 20.xd4 xd4 21.e4 is forced, although Black has no problems after a3 ] 20...e6? Missing a great chance. [ Clearly White's idea is to answer 20...c2? with 21.e4! xe4 22.xe4 xa1 23.xc5 winning, ] [ but Black has far stronger, 20...g3!! with: 21.e4! ( 21.xb7+ is answered by b8! 22.fxg3 h3+ 23.g2 f5+ 24.f3 xf3 25.d1 g1+!; whilst 21.fxg3? loses to f5+ 22.f3 xf3 ) 21...xg2 22.xg2 e2+ 23.g1 xd2 24.xd4 xd4 when Black is slightly better, because of his activity and pressure on f2, but White may be able to hold. ] 21.e4! After this, White consolidates easily. f4 22.xb7+ d8 23.b8+ e7 [ Black's position goes from bad to worse. He can't play the normal 23...d7? because of 24.c6+! xc6 25.b5# ] 24.xc7+ f8 25.xc5+ g8 26.c6 Just in time to stop the mate on g2. xd2 27.f3 White can afford this simplification because of his extra queenside pawns. xf3 28.xf3 xb2 29.d1?! [ Missing the thematic 29.c5! as we all know that 'passed pawns must be pushed'! For example: d3 30.c6! xf2+ 31.g1 c2 ( following 31...xf3?? 32.c7 the pawn queens. ) 32.e4 c3 33.xd3 xd3 34.c1 winning at a canter. ] 29...xa2 30.d8+ h7 31.e1 b2 32.d1 a5 Black has actually managed to regain material equality. 33.d7 g8 34.c5 The problem, this pawn is very difficult to stop. b1 35.d2 b2+ 36.c2 a4 37.bxa4
e6 38.c6 b8 39.c7! The simplest, this pawn sells itself dearly. c8 40.b3 xc7 [ 40...xc7? loses a piece to 41.xe6 ] 41.xf7+ f8 42.e6 g5 43.e3 Black can hardly move. 1-0
217 Carlsen,Magnus Anand,Viswanathan Zurich Chess Challenge Blitz blitz (4) [Fier, Alexandr]
A06 2872 2773 29.1.14
This was a blitz game between two W orld Champions in what we can describe as a 'blitz' variation. Actually Carlsen's idea is not that bad, so we can take a look. 1.f3 d5 2.b3 c5 3.e4!? In my database this is called the Rieger/Simon gambit, but we can think of it as a Budapest with reversed colors. White has the extra move b3, and this can bring some funny implications. dxe4 Critical, of course. [ 3...e6 would transpose to a Sicilian, coming from the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.b3 d5 4.exd5 exd5 5.b5+ and White can try to get a small edge, but this is a diff erent story ] 4.g5 Apparently this is already a novelty! White usually tries to bring the knight to e5 because of the well known trick. [ 4.e5?! is the most played move and analyzed by Rieger in an old ChessBase article. It looks like White is losing a piece, but it turns out that it's not that simple. d4? after this attractive move, White is just better ( 4...a6 this is a normal move in the Budapest and I don't see any problem with playing it here 5.b2 f6 and I don't think W hite has enough for the pawn in Ma gh so o d lo o , P ( 2 0 3 0 ) -K o wsa ri n i a , A (2289)/IRI-ch Zahedan 2012.; 4...f6 is another natural alternative and better than the text 5.b2 bd7 6.c4 b5 7.e3 a6 an d t he kn igh t is n o t d oin g well o n e 3 , Bisguier, A (2370)- Krush, I (2260)/ Parsippany m 1998.) 5.b2! and now the queen will have huge problems coming back home xb2 accepting the challenge ( 5...d6 would be the last chance to come 200
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 back, but then 4...Qd4 makes no sense) 6.c3 White threatens simply 7.Nc4 e6 ( 6...a3 7.b5+ d7 8.c4 b4 9.a3 wins the queen) 7.b5+ is given as the main line by Rieger ( 7.a3 this would be simpler, since c6 8.xc6 g4 9.e2 xe2 10.xe2 doesn't change the evaluation) 7...c6 8.xc6 a6 9.d4+ ( 9.a4 is the move analyzed and things here are not that clear b5 10.xb5 axb5 11.b1 a3 12.xb5 xa2 with some c h a o s a h e a d) 9...axb5 10.dxb5 and the queen is still trapped g4 11.f3 exf3 12.gxf3 xf3 13.xf3 xa1+ 14.e2 and Black's king will have some problems, nothing is developed ] 4...f6 [ 4...f5 would also be possible, and probably would transpose to the note to the next move after 5.c3 f6 6.b5+ c6 7.e2 ] 5.c3 [ 5.c4 I would prefer this move first, forcing 5...e6 and going for the pawn, transposing to the game e6 6.c3 c6 ] 5...c6 Anand gives back the pawn without a fight. This line is also playable with reversed colors, but for me it looks like b3 can be more useful now. [ 5...f5! is critical and it's not clear if White can have enough for the pawn 6.b5+ c6 7.e2 ( 7.xc6+ is another option and again we are following in the steps of the Budapest bxc6 8.e2 d4 9.b2 using the extra move to develop the bishop h6 10.d1 d6 11.e3 e6 12.xf5 exf5 and again White has compensation, but I'm not sure if it's enough to hold the balance) 7...h6! Black can use b3 in his own favor ( 7...d4 would be the normal answer, but here I like White's position 8.f3 exf3 9.xf3 d6 10.b2 with nice play, since Black c a n ' t p l a y xc2 b e c a u s e o f 11.d3 winning the piece) 8.gxe4 xe4 9.xe4 d4 10.c3 xc2 and Black has time to get out with the bishop before d3 comes 11.b2 g6 12.c1 e6 13.0-0 and White has some compensation, but Black is fine. Playing 5.Bc4 would avoid all this, and Black playing 4...Bf5 could bring play back to this line ]
6.c4 e6 7.b2 The next few moves are normal. e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.cxe4 xe4 10.xe4 e5? And here Black probably underestimated White's response. The attack will become really dangerous, really fast. [ 10...b6 is much better than the text and the position offers chances to both sides 11.g4 tries to bring more pieces to the kingside ( 11.e1 is ok, but afterwards White doesn't ha ve a cle ar p la n b7 12.h5 d4 13.ac1 c8 and maybe White can come with c3-d4 at some point) 11...d4 12.c3 f5!? ( 12...f5 13.d4 cxd4 14.cxd4 g6 15.ad1 is interesting for White) 13.h3 c6 14.g3 and even if White manages to take on f5, Black's pieces are better placed A) 14...xd2 can be dangerous 15.ab1 ( 15.xf5 is also possible, but White will lose an exchange in the complications xb2 16.f3! d7 17.ad1 h8 18.xd7 e5 19.e3 xd7 20.xe7 ae8 21.xe6 d2 and Black is slightly better ) 15...h8 16.b5!? Black can d e f e n d t h e k n ig h t i n a g o o d wa y e5 ( 16...b7 17.fd1 and the rook will enter the 7th rank g5 18.d7 a6 19.f4! xf4 20.xc6 xc6 21.xe7 and White is a bit better, but the position is still unclear; 16...d6 17.bd1 c7 18.fe1 e5 19.h5 with compensation) 17.h5 and White can come with 18.Rfd1 and the position is far from clear; B) 14...e5 15.xf5 f6 16.e3 xc4 17.xc4 b5 with compensation for the pawn ] 11.f4! Suddenly the position is quite d a n g e r o u s f o r B l a c k . exf4 12.h5?! One more time I think that the idea was right, but the move order not best. [ 12.xf4! d4 13.h5 g6 14.e5 would transpose to the game, avoiding 12... Be6 ] 12...d4 Now Black is already lost. It's interesting to see how the position went so wrong in 12 moves. [ 12...e6 was necessary and things are not so clear 13.xe6 other moves are not good ( 13.xf4 xc4 14.bxc4 d4 is fine for Black; 13.d3 f5 14.ae1 g6 15.h6 d4 and the attack is under control, so Black is better) 13...fxe6 14.g4 d4 201
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.c3 f5 16.xf4 c4! closing the long the natural development of the bishop to diagonal, with a double-edged position ] g4 saves one tempo! 7.g2 ( 7.xf6 exf6 13.xf4 g6 14.e5 b6 8.e2+ e7 9.g2 0-0! 10.cxd5? e8 ) [ 14...e6 was the last chance to play this 7...g7 8.0-0! 0-0! 9.f4 e8! 10.xg7 move, but White already has a clear edge xg7 11.d3 e6 12.d2 d7 13.f3 after 15.xe6 fxe6 16.xf8+ xf8 b6 Black squared strategy while the 17.xc5 xc5 18.xc5 c6 White has an opposing bishop hits a granite wall of extra pawn and the bishop is quite strong ] pawns on his own colour. 14.c2 fd8 15.af1 All White's pieces are centralized and 15.c3 a5 16.fd1 b4 17.b2 a4 look ing at Black's kin g. The re is alread y 18.e1 axb3 19.c2 b6 20.axb3 nothing to do and the computer gives at least xa1 21.xa1 c5 22.c3 dxc4 +10! f5 16.g4 23.bxc4 f5 24.c2 b3 25.xb3 [ 16.xf5 gxf5 17.xf5 c8 18.g5 d6 xb3 26.f1 a8 27.g4 h4! 28.d4 19.xf7 xe5 20.xe7+ e6 21.xe6 a2 29.e3 d2+ 30.g1 xg2 could be another way to finish the game ] 31.xg2 e4 32.f1 d2 33.f5 exf5 16...e6 17.xe6 fxe6 18.xf8+ xf8 34.gxf5 xd4 35.b1 d7 36.e1 g7 19.f6+ h8 20.c3 37.f3 c5 38.e2 h5 39.fxg6 fxg6 [ 20.e8+ was quicker, with a beautiful mate 40.a2 f7+ 41.g2 d3 42.c2? that Carlsen sees on the next move g8 e1+ 0-1 Brunelliere, P (2294) - Prie, E 21.h8+ xh8 22.xf8# ] (2489) Nantes op 2002 Clear, wasn't it?! ] 20...c6 21.e8+ 2...f5 3.b2 e6 4.f3 So the London 1-0 approach also works with reversed colours, with the slight difference that W hite could have played 218 A06 [ 4.f4 here under reasonable conditions. ] Chaplin,Erik 2140 4...d7 5.e2 c6 6.0-0 gf6 7.d3 d6 Prie,Eric 2516 8.bd2 e7 Actually, it is exactly the same Ouest Toulousain 2007 (3.1) 20.02.2007 position as against Karpatchev and the reason why I materialize it as a bonus game in this [Eric Prié] update... with the one difference that Black has spared the h-pawn move! 9.a3 1.b3 d5 2.e3 [ 9.h4 g6 Indeed, the fact that White has [ 2.f4 g4! ] already castled kingside provides Black with [ 2.b2 g4 the clear plan of action of castling queenside A) 3.f3 xf3 ( 3...d7 4.c4 c6 and himself creating attacking opportunities, Of course is also playable but it is thanks to the open h-file, when White will instructive for the d-Pawn Specials' World have taken the bishop. That is the problem to note that this idea of giving deliberately with playing defensive set-ups as the first up the queen's bishop against the Nf3 may player: Black systematically finds a way to be promising only in the case of an adapt... ] opposite queenside fianchetto like 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 b6 3.Bxf6 and the same plan 9...e5 10.h4 e6 11.hf3 [ 11.e4!? xe4 ( 11...0-0 ) 12.xe4 dxe4 of annihilating the potential of the 13.dxe4 c5! ( 13...xh4 14.xd6 xe4 opposing pair of bishops precisely on the 15.d3 d5 16.c7 ) 14.f5 xf5 long diagonal. ); 15.exf5 0-0-0 16.d2 f6 ( 16...e4 B) 3.c4 c6 4.f3 xf3 5.exf3 f6 6.g3 17.e3 e5 18.xe5 xe5 19.b4 a4 g6! So if White takes on f6 to inflict his 20.xa7 c3 21.c4 ) 17.a5 b8 opponent a symmetrically defective 18.ad1 ] structure, he will still have to deal with some annoying dark-squared weaknesses 11...h6 12.b4 [ 12.e4! ] because of the move b2-b3. A concern [ 12.c4 f5? 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.e4! dxe4 that is not symmetric, itself, because of 202
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.dxe4 xe4 16.c4 0-0 17.d3 dc5 18.xe4 xe4 19.xd6 ] 12...f5! 13.b3 [ 13.e4 dxe4 ( 13...h7 14.e1 ) 14.dxe4 xe4 15.c4 0-0-0 16.d3 e6 17.xd6+ xd6 18.xe5 xe5 19.xe5 ] 13...0-0 14.fd2 fe8 15.d4 exd4 16.xd4 g6 17.c4 a5 18.bxa5 xa5 19.a4 e5 20.2b3 [ 20.cxd5 xd5 ] 20...aa8 21.cxd5 xd5 22.a5 ad8 Y e s , I a m a c e n t r a l p l a y e r ! 23.a6? time trouble already. bxa6 24.xa6? b4-+ 25.a4 c5 26.b5 c2 27.a1 xb3 28.a7 e6 29.xd6 xd6 0-1
219 Francsics,Endre Eperjesi,Laszlo FSIMA Nov, Budapest HUN (3) [Tony Kosten]
A06 2245 2340 1997
1.d3 d5 2.f3 f6 3.f4 One of the few lines that leads to truly original positions. It is a speciality of Francsics, and, in actual fact, he is th e only p layer who seems to have played it. It is reminiscent of a known line for Black against 1 d4. c5 The most ambitious reply [ 3...c6 is a solid alternative 4.c3 ( 4.bd2 b6! 5.b3 g6 6.c3 g7 exploiting the a1-h8 diagonal 7.c2 h5 8.g3 d7 and black already has an edge, Francsics, EMas,H/Budapest 1997.) 4...g4 ( Now, 4...b6 achieves nothing af ter 5.c2 ) 5.bd2 bd7 6.h3 h5 7.a4 e6 is level, Francsics,E-Szeberenyi,A/ Budapest 1997 ] 4.c3 [ 4.bd2 g4 ( 4...b6 causes more problems ) 5.e4 e6 6.h3 h5 7.c3 c6 8.b3 b6 is fairly equal, Francsics,ELehmann,Z/ Budapest 1997 ] 4...c6 5.bd2 h5! Black forces the exchange of White's active bishop, and gains the bishop pair. [ 5...g6 is simpler, but allows White to maintain his dark-squared bishop on the h2b8 diagonal, 6.h3 g7 7.g4!? h5 8.g5
h7 9.g1 e5 10.h2 reaching an original position, but one that should be a bit better for Black Francsics,E-Eperjesi,L/ Budapest1997 ] 6.g3 g6 Black does not rush to capture the bishop, as it is not going to run away! 7.e4 [ 7.h4 h6 and ...g5, forces the retreat of the white bishop to g3, anyway ] 7...g7 8.b3 d4 Black gains space in the centre. 9.c1 xg3 10.hxg3 0-0 11.d5?! An original idea, but not particularly effective. dxc3 12.bxc3 xd5 Black is happy with a promising endgame, but [ 12...a5! was even better, Black can certainly play for the attack with a lead in development, and with the white king stuck in the centre 13.b3 e6 , black enjoys a strong initiative. ] 13.exd5 b8 14.d4 d7 15.b3 cxd4 16.fxd4 White has managed to obtain some sort of position, but his hanging pawns, and Black's bishop pair, are likely to tell against him in th e lo n g ru n . b6 17.c4 d7 18.h4!? Another original move from White, developing his out-of-play king's rook. fc8 19.e4 f6 20.g4 a5! 21.c2 a4 22.cd4 b6 23.c2 h5! After a little repetition, Black finds a better plan. 24.f3 Unfortunately, [ 24.gxh5 loses rapidly, to f5 25.e2 xc4 when the white position falls apart. ] 24...hxg4 25.fxg4 g5 26.d2 a4 Black is winning material. 27.d4 c5 28.e5 f6 29.2f3 xe5 30.xe5 g7 31.b1 a4 Black's extra exchange is more than sufficient to win. 32.b6 a6 33.b2 e6 34.d3 exd5 35.cxd5 0-1
220 Hodgson,Julian M Speelman,Jonathan S ch Millfield ENG (2) [Tony Kosten]
A06 2640 2623 01.08.2000
B y wh a t a b e rr a t io n o f t h e S wis s p a ir in g sys t e m t h e t wo st ro n ge st p la ye rs i n t h e tournament were facing each other as early as round two, I don't know! 1.b3 d5 2.f3 f6 3.b2 g4 4.xf6!? 203
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Well, according to my databases this is already a novelty. 4.e5 is usual, when f5 5.d3 bd7 is level, Grigorian,K-Lein,A/Baku 1972. White is trying to play 'Trompowskystyle' with a tempo less. ] 4...gxf6 5.e3 g7 6.h3 xf3!? Another surprising move, Black voluntarily concedes one of his bishops. 7.xf3 f5 8.d4 c5 Logical play, Black is softening the white queenside dark squares, weakened by White's first move, and left without a defender by his fourth. 9.c3 c6 10.b5 a5 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.0-0 [ Presumably, White is happy with his position, else he would have played 12.xf5 w h i c h l e a d s t o a d r a w , b y f o r c e : cxd4 13.exd4 xd4! 14.b4 b6 15.cxd4 xd4 (this seems to win the rook, but) 16.c2! xa1 17.xc6+ f8 18.xa8+ g7 19.xd5 (forced) xb1+ 20.e2 xh1 21.g5+ f8 22.h6+ with a perpetual check. Still, when analysing lines as long as this there is always the fear that something will be missed! ] 12...e6 13.a3?! [ Careless, White wishes to achieve the positionally desirable advance of his b-pawn, b u t t h e r e i s a s n a g . 13.c1 is better, relieving the knight of the defence of c3, 0-0 14.a3 ab8 15.d2 cxd4 16.b4 c7 17.cxd4 when Nb3 is coming, so Black must react with a5! and equality. ] 13...b8! 14.b4?! [ This loses a sound pawn, and the game. W hite had to try 14.d1 0-0 ( 14...f4!? ) 15.d2! xc3 16.c1 b2 17.xc5 level. ] 14...cxb4 15.cxb4 xb4 The point, the apawn is pinned. 16.axb4 xa1 17.g3 0-0 18.c7 b2 Keeping the knight under control. 19.xa7 f4! White's dark squares a re c re a k in g u n d e r t h e p re ssu re . 20.exf4 xb4 21.d1 b3 22.c1 b2 Now Black is really on top. 23.a3 b8 24.f5 xa3 25.xa3 b3 26.b1 [ B a c k t o b a se , 26.c2? loses to c3 , 'pinning and winning'. ] 26...xd4 27.fxe6 fxe6 28.d2 b2 29.f3 Losing the f-pawn with check, although t h e r e wa s n o t h i n g t o b e d o n e , a n yw a y . Despite this early setback, the defending
champion, Julian Hodgson, went on to an emphatic victory. 0-1
221 Kortschnoj,Viktor Vallejo Pons,Francisco Match g/1h+25s (4) [Tony Kosten]
A06 2568 2679 10.07.2004
1.f3 d5 2.b3 This is the best way of playing Larsen's Opening, in my opinion, with his first move W hite stops Black from playing ...e5, and blocking the a1-h8 diagonal. The one disadvantage is that White can no longer play 'Bird's style' lines involving an early f4. g4 3.e3 White stops the doubling of the pawns, [ 3.b2 xf3 4.exf3 was analysed in Taimanov, M-Volzhin,A. ] 3...d7 4.b2 gf6 5.h3 xf3 Black aims for a solid structure, and quick development. [ 5...h5 is more ambitious, but Black has to beware W hite playing an appropriate g4, followed by g5 or h4. ] 6.xf3 c6 7.g4! With the bishop pair White can afford to advance his pawns more easily, here he intends to embarrass the knight on f6, and soften the long diagonal. e5 The most ambitious move, although the solid [ 7...e6 is a popular alternative, 8.c3 ( 8.h4!? h6 9.d3?! a5+! and White had some problems, Garcia Palermo,C-Godena, M/ R e g g i o E m i l i a 1 9 9 4 , b e ca u s e 10.c3? i s i m p o s s i b l e , e5 win s t he g-p awn .) 8...d6 9.g5 g8 10.h4 e7 with sharp p l a y, B a s a gi c , Z -M i ka c, M / M a ri b o r S L O 2004. ] 8.g5!? In the same match, Korchnoi also tried [ 8.c3 here: g6 ( 8...c5 9.e2!? d6 10.g3 g6 Grivas,E-Gavrilakis,N/Athens 1996 ) 9.h4 d6 10.h5 (single-minded!) e7 11.0-0-0 0-0-0 12.b1 c5 13.hxg6 hxg6 14.g2 e6 and Black is at least equal, Korchnoi,V-Vallejo Pons,F/Vera ESP 2004. ] 8...e4 9.h4 d6 [ 9...b4!? 10.h3 e7 11.xd7+ xd7 12.xe5 ( 12.a3 d6 13.b4 is interesting, threatening to win the e4-knight) 12...0-0 13.a3 a5 14.b4 c7 15.xc7 xc7 204
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with some compensation for the pawn in Taimanov,M-Davies,N/Gausdal 1992. ] 10.h3 e7 11.d3 ec5 12.d2 Play is balanced, White has the bishop pair and his kingside spearhead, whilst Black has a better central presence. a5!? Black tries to dissuade White from castling long. Previously, Black had bravely played [ 12...0-0!? when 13.0-0-0?! ( 13.f5!? plans Qg2 and h5, the white king looks reasonably safe in the centre; 13.e4 d4 14.c4 immediately is also possible) 13...a5 14.e4 d4 15.g4 a4 16.c4 axb3 17.axb3 c7 looked rather good for Black who threatens ...b5 and ... Ra2, Barle, JZelcic,R/Balatonbereny 1994. ] 13.e4 d4 14.c4 c7 15.a3!? An annoying pin, White threatens to capture on d7. f8 16.c3! A clever tactic. d8 [ 16...dxc3?! is met by 17.e3 b6 18.c1 when W hite will regain the c3-pawn and then shatter the black structure by capturing on c5. ] 17.b4!? Korchnoi continues to play sharply. axb4 18.cxb4 b5! Black is up to the task, [ 18...a6?! allows the forcing line 19.b5 b4 20.d1 cxb5 21.b1 bxc4 22.a4+ d7 23.xb4 with advantage. ] 19.xe5 xe5 20.bxc5 g6 21.f5 A f t e r a ll t h e t a ct ica l p la y t h e p o sit io n i s approximately level, White has an extra pawn but his structure is worse. f4 22.c1 g6 23.g4 a8 24.xf4 White heads for the opposite-colour bishop ending, which should be drawn, but otherwise the knight on f4 was to o s t ro n g. xf4 25.xf4 xf4 26.d1 The bisho p is ide ally p laced on b3 , b ot h defending a2 and attacking f7. h6 27.g1 hxg5 28.hxg5 a3! 29.b3 h5 This is OK, but Black must have been very short of time as h e co uld simply ca pture immediately: [ 29...xg5 the bishop cannot be captured because of ...Rh1+ winning the a1-rook. ] 30.e2 xg5 31.h1 e7 32.xh5 gxh5 33.g1 f8 34.g3 a7 35.f3 White finally manages to attack f7, but Black is prepared for its defence. xc5 36.f5 a3 37.xh5 c5? A very bad move, almost anything else drew easily, e.g. [ 37...g7 38.f4 c7 intending...c5-c4. ]
38.h8+ e7 There was no way to avoid losing a pawn, [ 38...g7 39.b8 b4 40.c8 and the cpawn drops. ] 39.xf7 T h e p o i n t . c4? 40.xc4 Another pawn drops, Rh7+ is still threatened, so the bishop is still safe from capture. 1-0
222 Nogueiras Santiago,Jesus David,Vincent Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (7) [Tony Kosten]
A06 2528 2356 27.02.2003
A friend of mine has just taken up 1 e4, and was telling me how much shorter his games seemed to be. Perhaps I should show him this miniature, where Black makes no obvious blunder and gets completely flattened by 1 Nf3! 1.f3 d5 2.e3!? An interesting moveord er, p erhap s W hite wa s worried ab ou t Black trying to hang on to the pawn after [ 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 which is the normal way this position arises. ] 2...f6 3.c4 dxc4 4.a3!? Unusual, but perfectly logical, W hite brings the queen's knight to the useful c4-square, rather than play the obvious [ 4.xc4 as in Zvjaginsev,V-Svetushkin,D/ Linares ESP 2000. ] 4...e6 [ 4...g6 5.xc4 g7 6.b3 0-0 7.b2 c5 8.e2 is fairly level, Froehlich,P-Hjelm,N/ Budapest HUN 2000, but there is a lot of play in the position, of course. ] 5.xc4 a6 A new move, but hardly surprising in a position that has hardly ever been played! [ 5...c5 6.b3 e7 7.b2 0-0 8.e2 c6 9.0-0 b6 10.b1!? b7 11.d1 was seen in Suba,M-De la Villa Garcia,J/ Sevilla 1993. ] 6.b3 e7 7.b2 b6 8.ce5!? White's play is original, and aggressive, [ 8.e2 would be similar to the Suba game. ] 8...b7 9.g5 The first point, White forces Black to castle to prot ect the f -pawn . 0-0 10.c4 With nasty threats to f7 and e6. d5 Of course, no human would seriously consider capturing the g-pawn: 205
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 10...xg2? 11.g1 ( 11.exf7!? xf7 12.xe6 xh1 13.xf7+ h8 14.c2 is also rather strong) 11...d5 12.c2 xc4 13.bxc4 and Black is lost, as h6 ( 13...bd7 14.xd7 xd7 15.xf6 a t t a c k s h 7) 14.xe6! fxe6 15.xg7+! xg7 16.g6+ h8 17.0-0-0 forces a quick mate. ] [ 10...d5 might be a better try. ] 11.h4 xg5 Black must have been reluctant to open the h-file, but [ 11...h6 12.f4 looks very uncomfortable. ] 12.hxg5 xg5 13.f3 The immediate threat is Rh5, followed by a concerted attack on h7. f5?! The black position is very difficult, but this doesn't seem to help too much, [ 13...a7 14.h5 e7 15.h3 f6 16.g5 might resist longer, but I know which side I would like to be on! ] 14.0-0-0 b5 15.h5 This just wins! xh5 Desperation, but [ 15...f6 16.dh1 h6 17.g3 h7 18.g4! fxg4 19.xf6 is crushing. ] 16.xh5 bxc4 17.bxc4 Black has little compensation for the queen, and the white attack continues anyway. 1-0
223 Short,Nigel D Wells,Peter K 98th ch Sheffield ENG (10.2) [Nigel Davies]
A06 2687 2489 04.08.2011
1.b3 d5 2.b2 c5 3.e3 a6 There is some logic behind this move in that it prevents W hite f rom playing h is bish op ou t t o b5 , indeed this motivates the Petrosian System of the Queen's Indian Defence (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3) . But is it really worth doing this when you're Black? 4.f3 c6 5.d4 [ I w o u l d b e s e r i o u s l y t e m p t e d b y 5.c4 at this point, arguing that 'active play' is more likely to exploit Black's slow development. Here is Viktor Korchnoi's interpretation: d4 6.exd4 cxd4 7.d3!? g6 8.0-0 g7 9.e1 h6 10.e4 0-0 11.d3 e8 12.e2 a5 13.xc6 bxc6 14.bd2 f5 15.e4 h5 16.a3 e5 17.c5 f8 18.xf8 xf8 19.a3 and at this point White wa s d o i n g q u i t e we l l i n K o r t s c h n o j , V
(2659)-Rabinovich, A (2406)/Ramat Aviv 2000, though he later went on to lose. ] 5...g4 6.e2 e6 7.0-0 f6 8.bd2 c8 Another slow move after which W hite manages to trouble his opponent by opening things up. Other moves have done better here: [ a) 8...e7 9.c4 0-0 10.h3 f5 11.h4 e4 12.hf3 g6 13.h4 cxd4 14.xg6 hxg6 15.exd4 c7 16.cxd5 xd5 and Black stood quite nicely in Rodriguez, A-Bronstein, D (2455)/Ubeda 1996. ] [ b) 8...a5!? 9.e5 xe2 10.xe2 cxd4 11.xc6 bxc6 12.xd4 b4 13.f3 c3 14.xc3 xc3 15.d3 e4 and White's position was far from comfortable in Pohla, H (2340)-Khenkin, I (2530)/Cappelle la Grande 1992. ] 9.c4 cxd4 10.xd4 xe2 11.xe2 xd4 [ Another possibility is 11...e7 , but there too Black's position is far from comfortable. After 12.cxd5 xd4 13.xd4 xd5 14.c4 b5 15.xf6 gxf6 16.g4 f8 17.ad1 Black's difficulty in getting his h8 rook into play left him worse in Vassallo Barroche, M (2290)-Eslon, J (2420)/Valencia 1992. ] 12.xd4 c5 13.xf6 xf6 14.cxd5 exd5 15.f3 0-0 16.ad1 fd8 17.d3 d4?! This seems like an overreaction to W hite's slight pressure af ter which Black loses a pawn. [ 17...e6 18.fd1 e4 is better, when Black's position seems quite playable. ] 18.exd4 xd4 19.e4 b6 20.xd8+ xd8 21.xb7 g6 Maybe Black thought that the vulnerability of White's f2 square would give him adequate counterplay here. But his forces now get distracted by the possibility of a W hite passed pawn emerging on the queenside. 22.b4 d3 23.a4 d6 24.a5 c7 25.g3 b3 26.c1 d8 27.e1 f6 28.e4 d1+ 29.e1 g7 30.g2 b2? A blunder after which it's easy for White. [ 30...b1 would have made it a lot harder for White. ] 31.xa6 c3 32.c4 d2 Losing on the spot. [ 32...xe1 33.xe1 d2 34.c5 xb4 was the way to continue fighting, though after 35.e5+ g8 36.e4 the combined 206
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 problems of the threats against Black's king and the passed a-pawn would be too much. ] 33.d3 c2 34.e7 1-0
224 Speelman,Jonathan S Cooper,John Grantley 4NCL West Bromwich ENG (1) [Tony Kosten]
A06 2583 2318 23.11.2002
1.f3 d5 2.b3 c5 3.e3 c6 Quite normal, although it does give White a tempo over a Nimzo position. We have already looked at [ 3...a6 as in Speelman,J-Nikolic,P/Solingen GER 2001. ] 4.b5 g4 5.h3 [ 5.b2 c8 6.c4 e6 7.cxd5 exd5 8.0-0 f6 was fairly level in Timman,J-Sokolov,I/ Wijk aan Zee NED 1999. ] 5...h5 6.a3!? Typical Speelman originality, and an innovation of course! [ 6.g4 g6 7.e5 d6 8.b2 would be a 'Nimzo' method of continuing, except that, wi t h t h e b la ck ki n g ' s kn i gh t s t i ll o n i t s original square, f6!? is possible, 9.xc6+ ( 9.xg6 hxg6 10.d3!? can be met by 0-0-0!? 11.xg6 e5 12.f5+ e6 wit h go o d c o m p e n s a t io n f o r t h e p a wn) 9...bxc6 10.xg6 hxg6 11.d4?! cxd4 12.xd4 e5 and Black had built a handylooking centre, Pinterne Kovacs,M-Berecz,A/ HUN 1995. ] 6...e6 7.c4 d6 [ 7...c8 would avoid the immediate doubling of the c-pawns. ] 8.cxd5 exd5 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.c3 It is clear that White plans a full assault on the c5-pawn, in classic Nimzovitch style. f6 11.c1 0-0 12.a4 c4!? [ 12...xf3! 13.xf3 e4 is an alternative, as t h e c 5 -p a wn is in d ire ct ly d e f e n d e d : 14.xc5? a5 15.xe4 dxe4 and the double attack wins a piece. ] 13.xd6 xd6 14.bxc4 d4!? [ 14...xf3 15.xf3 b4 16.d1 d4 ( or 16...dxc4!? ) 17.0-0 fd8 seems to offer ample compensation for the pawn. ] 15.g4 xg4!? This is fun, but
[ 15...dxe3! wa s s t r o n g e r , e . g . 16.gxh5 ( 16.dxe3 b4+ 17.c3 g6 18.a4 is safer, but White's light squares are weak) 16...exf2+ 17.xf2 e4+ 18.f1 f4!? threatening ...Nxd2+, ( 18...g3+ 19.g2 xh1 20.xh1 is not so clear, but I prefer the two knights over the rook) 19.d4! ( 19.h2 ad8 20.d3 fe8 might favour Black ) 19...ad8 20.g1 g3+ 21.g2 fe8 22.c2 f5 with a strong attack. ] 16.hxg4 xg4 17.g1 xf3?! This is too acquiescent, [ 17...h5?! didn't keep the pin, because of 18.g5 but ] [ 17...f5! was reasonable, 18.c5!? d5 19.g3 xa2 with play for the piece, although White is on top. ] 18.xf3 a3 19.d1 Forced (as the knight has no squares), but good. ab8 20.g3 fe8 21.f1 dxe3 22.xe3 White consolidates. d6 23.c3 1-0
225 Speelman,Jonathan S Nikolic,Predrag Bundesliga 2000-1 (9) [Tony Kosten]
A06 2623 2657 18.02.2001
1.f3 d5 2.b3 c5 3.e3 [ White has to be careful, the natural 3.b2?! allows f6! and Black might already be better, th e f a mo u s P et rosian , T -Fisch e r, R 6 t h ma t ch ga m e , f ro m Bu e no s A ires 19 7 1 , continuing 4.c4 d4 5.d3 e5 6.e3 e7 7.e2 ec6 8.bd2 e7 9.0-0 0-0 10.e4 a6 ] 3...a6!? Why not? Black plays a reverse 4 a3 Queen's Indian will the extra tempo change anything? 4.b2 c6 5.d4 cxd4 6.xd4 f6 7.c4 [ So there is some advantage to be had from the extra move. With colours reversed this would allows an annoying bishop check, but here Black's e-pawn is still unmoved. 7.d2 White plays exactly as if he had Black! e6 8.e2 d6 9.c4 0-0! 10.cxd5 exd5 gave Black a very comfortable IQP game in Andersson,U-Spassky,B/ Gothenburg 1971. ] 207
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...e6 8.cxd5!? [ Actually a novelty, if very logical. 8.d2 xd4 9.xd4 e7 10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 d7 12.cxd5 xd5 13.f3 b5 is level, Hodgson,J-Rogers,I/Breda 1999. ] 8...xd4 [ Black plays for equality in the coming e n d g a m e , b u t 8...b4+ 9.c3 a5 is an interesting alternative. ] 9.xd4 xd5 10.d2 d7 11.a3 c8 Black is first to reach the open c-file. 12.c4 xd4 13.xd4 b5 14.e2 [ 14.b6?! c6 15.xb5?! axb5 traps the white knight. ] 14...c5 15.xf6!? gxf6 Black is not too worried about the doubled pawns, his bishop pair provides sufficient compensation. 16.f3 c7 17.0-0 e7 [ Black obviously likes his position, 17...xc4 18.bxc4 leads to an immediate draw. ] 18.fc1 hc8 19.g3 d7 20.b2 f5 21.d1 e8 22.a4 b6 23.e2 b5 24.axb5 axb5 25.d3 d6 26.b4 c3 27.f1 White is on the defensive, but his position is solid. 8c7 28.a6 c6 29.b6 b3 [ The game peters-out after this, 29...e5!? s e e m s s t r o n g , b u t t h e n 30.e1 ( rather than 30.c5 xc5 31.bxc5 xc5 32.b1 e4 33.1xb5 xb5 34.xb5 c1 and W hite can def end by 35.b3 f3 36.b2 . Still, this is not a very pleasant proposition as W hite can only move his rook! ) 30...xb4 31.xb5 ] 30.c5 xc5 31.bxc5 f3 32.c1 b4 33.g2 xg2 34.xg2 c3 35.b1 3xc5 ½-½
226 Speelman,Jonathan S Sermek,Drazen EuTCh Leon ESP (9) [Tony Kosten]
A06 2596 2577 15.11.2001
The part played by White's backward c2-pawn in this game seems incredible, although it never quite made it to the queening square. 1.f3 c5 2.b3 d5 3.e3 g6 4.b2 f6 5.b5+ [ Normal, although Kramnik preferred 5.c4 when he had this position. ]
5...d7 [ 5...c6?! allows White to double the cpawns, 6.0-0 g7 7.xc6+ bxc6 8.d3 White has a promising Nimzo-style position, Hansson,D-Thorhallsson,T/Grundarfjordur 1986. ] 6.xf6!? [ Played in Trompovsky style, and reminiscent of Hodgson, J-Speelman,J, also t o b e f o u n d u n d e r [ A 0 6 ] . 6.e2 is 'standard', g7 7.xd7+ bxd7 8.c4 seems fairly level, Larsen,B-Donner,J/Palma de Mallorca 1971. ] 6...exf6 7.xd7+ xd7 8.0-0 g7 9.d4 White hastens to close the a1-h8 diagonal. f5 Black frees his bishop, and gains control of e4, the position closely resembles the Trompovsky with 3...d5 now, except that White would keep his b-pawn on b2 there, of course. 10.c3 [ Perhaps surprisingly, this exact position is not new, as in Savoya,A-Olivier,J/Metz 1994, W hite continued 10.c4!? dxc4 11.bxc4 c6 12.c3 0-0 with absolutely no problems for Black. ] 10...0-0 11.e2 The idea behind White's plan, t h e kn ig h t c o n t r o ls b o t h f 4 a n d d 4 . cxd4 12.fxd4 d6 13.c1 d8 14.d2 d7 B l a c k d e ve l o p s s e n s i b l y , h i s d - p a w n i s 'nothing to write home about', but the backward white c2-pawn is no better. 15.fd1 f6 e4 is a fine square for the black knight in such positions, as chasing it by f3 will weaken the white dark squares. 16.a5! a6 17.c4 Watch this pawn! White opens the game to take advantage of his slightly superior development, and anyway, he couldn't realistically achieve anything with his c-pawn stuck on c2 anyway. dxc4 18.bxc4!? [ More double-edged than 18.xc4 ] 18...ac8 19.c5 [ This move fixes the black b-pawn and prepares to attack this on the b-line. Note that there are no tactics for White along the d - f i l e , a s 19.xf5?? loses to the backranker xd1+ ] 19...e5 20.b6 g4 21.h3?! [ It is difficult to know what to say about such a m o ve ! I c a n o n l y a s su m e t h a t W h it e decided to pursue a win at all costs, as the 'forced' 21.f3 xd1+ 22.xd1 xc5 208
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.xb7 appears quite level. ] 21...h2+ 22.f1 h1+ 23.g1 h2+ 24.e2 xd4! [ This appears winning, whilst 24...xg2? allows the riposte 25.xf5! xd1 26.e7+ with fair chances. ] 25.xb7! [ White hopes to gain some swindling chances with his passed c-pawn, 25.xd4?! xd4 26.exd4 e8+ 27.d3 xg2 is the ugly point, mate is unlikely to be far off. ] 25...b8 [ 25...g7 26.c6 e8 ( 26...xg2? 27.xd8+ xd8 28.c7 xb7 29.cxd8+ ) 27.c7 is far from clear, the black queen and knight are stuck out of play. ] 26.c6! Forced, the black rook cannot be allowed to the second rank. xg2 [ Taking the chance to extract his queen, whilst pinning the c-pawn. However, 26...e8! 27.xd4 xb7 28.cxb7 xg2 seems crushing, as 29.b4 g7 30.b8 xb8 31.xb8 and now f4! starts a dangerous attack. ] 27.xd4 dc8?! [ 27...xb7 28.xd8+ g7 29.cxb7 xb7 30.d2 is better than the previous variation, but should still offer more fun to Black. ] 28.d7 [ White decides that it is time to keep his queen on the board, as 28.xb8 xb8 29.c7 c a n b e m e t b y t h e f o rce d a8 30.cxb8+ xb8 ] 28...b2+ 29.d2 [ White finds himself in a mating net following 29.d3? f8 30.c7 xf2 ] 29...xd2+ 30.xd2! [ The white queen is required to support the c-pawn, 30.xd2 xc6 31.d8+ g7 32.d4+ f6 favours Black. ] 30...xf2+ 31.d3 f8 32.c7 f1! W i t h o u t t h i s m o v e B l a c k wo u l d b e l o s t ! 33.c3! [ Not 33.c8?? d2+ 34.c4 xc1+ 35.b4 xc8 ] 33...xe3+ 34.b2 b6+ [ It is understandable that Black didn't want t o r i s k t h e e x c h a n g e s a c 34...xg1!? 35.c8 xc8 36.xc8+ g7 37.c7 but it was his last winning try. ]
35.a1 f6+ 36.b1 b6+ 37.a1 ½-½
227 Taimanov,Mark E Volzhin,Alexander Petrov mem, St Petersburg RUS (4) [Tony Kosten]
A06 2490 2510 1998
1.f3 d5 2.b3 This is might seem the best time to play this move, after having controlled e5, so that Black cannot reply ...e5 and close the a1-h8 diagonal. However, there is also a disadvantage. g4 The best reply. 3.b2 If instead [ 3.e3 then e5! ] 3...xf3 4.exf3 [ 4.gxf3 e6 5.e3 f6 6.f4 is also possible, with complicated play. ] 4...e6 5.d4 [ 5.f4 first, may well prove to be a better move order. ] 5...g6! A strong new move, Black intends to change the dark-squared bishops, before exploiting his structural plus. 6.d2 g7 7.f4 White takes a firm grip of e5. c5!? 8.b5+ c6 9.0-0 ge7 10.f3 0-0 Black has completed his development, and can now turn his attention to the attack on d4. 11.b1?! White unpins the d4-pawn, by defending b2, but [ 11.c3 was better, as after cxd4 12.cxd4 b6 White will be able to play a later Ne5, to mask the d4-weakness. ] 11...cxd4 Not bad, but [ 11...xd4! 12.xd4 b6 seems to win a pawn. ] 12.xc6?! After this move, Black gains a clear positional advantage, but even [ 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 is better for Black after a5 as c2, and c3, are weak, and Black can simply double rooks on the c-file. ] 12...xc6 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 xd4 15.xd4 a5 The dust has cleared, and all the minor pieces have been exchanged. It is clear that Black has a structural plus, f4, and a2, are weak, but it is the white weakness along the open c-file that is the most telling. 16.fc1 ac8 17.h4 h5 There is no point 209
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black allowing his opponent any counterplay on the kingside. 18.a4 c6 The worst thing about this position for W hite, is that Black doesn't even have to do anything clever to win. First, he doubles his rooks on the only open file. 19.g3 fc8 20.b4 Desperation, but passive defence by [ 20.d1 c3 21.g2 c5 22.b2 is completely hopeless, anyway. ] 20...xa4 21.a1 b5 22.xa7 c4 23.c3 d4 An elementary conversion of positional advantage into material advantage. 24.a5 c6 25.e5 dxc3 26.b5 d7 27.e3 c2 There is a certain poetic justice in the fact that W hite's weaknesses on the c-file have disappeared, but been replaced by an e n o r m o u s b la ck c -p a wn ! 28.h2 d6 29.e2 d4 30.f3 d2 31.e3 W hite could easily have resigned here, he has absolutely no counterplay. d4 32.e1 xc1! 33.xc1 d1 0-1
Typical Shirov, this may not be best, but in a rapid game it will certainly set some problems. 17.xc5?! [ 17.g5!? is int e re st in g: fd7 18.xc5 xc5 19.xc5 ( 19.b4!? d3 20.xe4 xb4 21.xb7 is wild, but may favour White ) 19...xc5 20.xe4 g3+ 21.g2 xg5 22.d5 looks fairly drawish. ] 17...xc5 18.xc5 xc5 From here the queen surveys g5, so W hite can no longer kick the knight from the defence of e4. 19.e2 fe8 20.ac1 ad8 Black is a little better, he has more space and a useful e-pawn. 21.c3?! An odd move, why not contest the dfile by [ 21.cd1 ? ] 21...d4 22.e3 ed8 Black controls all the dark squares. 23.e1 b4? [ Allowing a stupid tactic, the positional 23...g5 keeps White 'under the cosh'. ] 24.g5 Winning the key e4-pawn. d3?! [ 24...h7 25.xe4 xb2 is not too clear. ] 25.c1 [ 25.xd3! xd3 26.c1 h5 27.xe4 228 A07 is very good for White. ] Azmaiparashvili,Zurab 2676 25...h5?! [ 25...h7 26.xe4 xc3 27.bxc3 xc4 Shirov,Alexei 2715 is a better chance. ] FIDE GP Dubai UAE (3.3) 05.04.2002 26.xe4 d2 27.d5 8xd5 This looks nice, [Tony Kosten] but has an enormous flaw! 28.cxd5 f4 1.g3 d5 2.g2 f6 3.d3 c6 4.d2 g4 29.f3?? Terrible, White misses [ 29.xd2!! (or White can play a check first) 5.h3 h5 6.gf3 bd7 7.0-0 e5 8.e4 d6 xd2 30.c8+ h7 31.ee8 xg5+ 9.exd5 cxd5 10.g4!? A novelty in this well32.f1 when Black has no sensible way to known position. stop Rh8 mate. ] [ The speciality of Vaganian 10.c4 0-0 11.cxd5 xd5 is standard, and I have 29...xf3 30.xd2 f4 Now White has only c o n s i d e r e d t h i s i n t h e g a m e B r i c a r d - one way to avoid mate on g2, what a turnaround! 31.xf4 xf4 32.d1 xg5+ Kosten. ] 10...g6 11.h4 White takes the two bishops 33.f1 f8 but loosens his kingside. 0-0 12.xg6 hxg6 0-1 13.c4 Softening-up the long diagonal. [ 13.g5!? is best met by h7 ( rather than A07 13...h5 14.xd5 xg5+ 15.g4 ) 229 Berkes,F 2679 14.xd5 xg5 when the white kingside is weak. ] Spoelman,W 2541 13...c5! 14.b3 dxc4 15.dxc4 c7 Bundesliga 2012-13 (7) 02.02.2013 Black must avoid the exchange of queens, [John Bartholomew] the endgame would be very unpleasant for him because of W hite's bishops, but in the The Réti line featured in this contest tends to middlegame White's weakened kingside will produce finely nuanced middlegames. 1.f3 o f f e r c o m p e n s a t i o n . 16.e3 e4!? d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 g4 5.d3 210
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 bd7 6.e1 Eschewing the usual Nb1-d2 for now. [ Refer to the archives for extensive coverage of 6.bd2 , which is more popular by a factor of six. Play could easily transpose of course, and the position after move nine in this game is in fact most frequently seen via the 6.Nbd2 move order. ] [ A different path altogether is 6.c4 , i.e. e6 7.cxd5! as we saw last month in Carlsen, M (2861)-Karjakin, S (2780) W ijk aan Zee 2013/[John Bartholomew]. ] 6...e5 [ Nikita Vitiugov (recent winner of the Gibraltar Open) headed for a standard setup against 6...e6 in the following game but failed to achieve much: 7.bd2 d6 8.h3 h5 9.e4 c7 10.b3 0-0 11.b2 e5 12.h4 fe8 13.f5 c5 14.h1 a5 15.a3 ad8= Vitiugov, N (2703)-Frolyanov, D (2564) Tyumen 2012. Here White struck boldly with 16.f4!? , but exf4!? ( 16...dxe4 17.xe4 xe4 18.dxe4 g6 19.h4 exf4 20.gxf4 f8 21.e2 e7 22.g4 was the game continuation) 17.xf4 g6! would have been exceedingly sturdy for Black. He's threatening ...Nf6-h5 and one gets the impression that W hite is overextended. ] 7.e4 dxe4 8.dxe4 An important position. c5 This natural bishop development is chosen more than half the time at this juncture. [ 8...e7 is probably the most solid choice. Following 9.bd2 0-0 10.h3 h5 11.h4 e8 12.c4 f8 13.g5 c7 14.a4 Blac k 's po s it io n h a s b ee n sho wn t o b e reliable enough, e.g. a5 15.h2 e6 16.d2 b6 17.e3 c5 18.f3 d8 19.c3 ee8 20.f2 e6 21.d1 c5 Aronian, L (2825)-Tomashevsky, E (2738) Moscow 2012. ] [ Also worthy of consideration is 8...d6!? , intending to retreat the bishop to c7 when harassed. White has been unable to show much against this unusual approach, i.e. 9.a4 0-0 10.bd2 e8 11.h3 h5 12.h4 c7 13.c4 c5 14.f5 g6 15.d2 b5 Vaganian, R (2590)-Gelfand, B (2719) Almaty 2008. ] [ Dreev's 8...a5!? is intriguing as well, staking out space on the queenside. 9.bd2
a4 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 c5 12.h4 0-0 13.f5 e8 14.e2 b6 15.c3 f8 16.f3 e6 17.h4 e8 18.h5 Zh a n g Zh o n g ( 2 6 0 3 ) - Dr e e v, A ( 2 6 9 0 ) Taiyuan 2004 ] 9.bd2 0-0 10.h3 h5 11.c4 e8 12.a4 My database finds 66 games from this position. b6 Challenging White's knight before committing to anything else. [ Also common is the immediate 12...c7 . T h e n a f t e r 13.h4 f8 play has transposed to the solid line considered a b o ve ( 8 . . . B e 7 ) . ( For what it's worth Black h a s p l a ye d s e ve ra l o t h e r m o ve s h e r e , including 13...b5!? . The position after 14.a5 b6 was seen in Aronian, L (2783)Kramnik, V (2780) Shanghai 2010 and led to tangled play: 15.b3 a6 16.g5 c5 17.a5 a7 18.c4 ab8 19.d2 h6 20.e3 f8 . )] [ I t h i n k t h e c o n s e n s u s i s t h a t 12...a5 is premature and/or unnecessary, though this is likely playable too, e.g. 13.d2 b6 14.h4 c7 15.g5 b4 16.c3 f8 17.d2 e6 18.c2 c5 19.g4 g6 20.f5 fd7 21.fd1 ee8 22.e3 Dzagnidze, N (2535)-Stefanova, A (2523) Tbilisi 2012. ] [ 12...b5 could transpose to Aronian-Kramnik above after 13.a5 c7 14.h4 b6 . ] 13.a5 A fine square for the knight. White's dream of a4-a5 will be inhibited, but he gets t o e xe rt p re ssu re o n b 7 / c6 a n d lim it t h e movement of his rival on b6. [ 13.cd2!? was Akopian, V (2703)Dimukhametov, A (2347) St Petersburg 2012. W hite intends to chase the knight from b6 with a4-a5, probably followed by Bc1-d2. Thus, a5 14.b3 b4 is a normal continuation where I can't see much for W h i t e , e . g . 15.c3 f8 16.e2 fd7 17.e3 c7 with balanced play. ] [ 13.fxe5?! misfires after xc4 14.xc4 xe4! 15.xe4 f5 , ] [ and 13.cxe5? xf3 14.xf3 xe4 is even worse. ] 13...c7 [ Nobody has tried the computer's suggestion of 13...e7!? , so it's safe to say that h u m a n s f in d t h e c7 squ a re t o b e m o r e natural! ] 211
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.h4 f8 Again, Black has more than once acceptable move here. [ Amazingly, the Hungarian Grandmaster Zoltan Gyimesi has defended this position f i v e t i m e s a s B l a c k , c h o o s i n g 14...fd7 on eve ry oc ca sio n! His gam es are well worth examining: 15.b4 ( 15.b3 f8 16.c3 a5 17.g4 g6 18.xg6 hxg6 19.g5 b4 20.g3 c5 21.xc5 xc5 22.h4 d7 23.b3 d4 24.a2 f8 25.h3 ad8 Laznicka, V (2702)-Ter Sahakyan, S (2578) Plovdiv 2012) 15...f8 ( improving on the 15...e7 of Movsesian, S (2716)-Gyimesi, Z (2591) Mainz 2009, which led to an initiative for W hite after 16.f5 f8 17.f4! ) A) 16.f5 f6 (solidifying Black's structure and preparing a retreat square for the bishop) 17.e3 ( 17.c3 f7 18.d1 Kosic, D (2481)-Gyimesi, Z (2595) Hu n ga ry 2 0 1 0 ad8= ) 17...f7 18.c3 c8! (a standard maneuver for this line the knight angles for greener pastures on d6) 19.e2 d6 20.d2 a6 21.fc1 b6 22.ac4 xc4 23.xc4 b5 24.b2 b6 25.f1 c4 26.xc4 xc4 27.e1 f7 1/2-1/2 (27) Werle, J (2574)-Gyimesi, Z (2595) Germany 2010; B) 16.c4!? c5 17.b5 a6 (it doesn't appear that this move is necessary, but G y i m e s i h a s p l a y e d i t t w i c e ) 18.d2 ( 18.b2 axb5 19.axb5 Movsesian, S (2661)-Gyimesi, Z (2571) Ohrid 2001 f6!? ) 18...axb5 19.axb5 e7 ( 19...f6!? looks better) 20.f5 f8 21.f4 f6 22.g4 g6 23.g5 Malakhov, V (2690)Gyimesi, Z (2610) Sibenik 2007. ] 15.f5 fd7 16.b3 [ 16.e3 c5 17.b3 e6 18.c3 f6 19.f4?! Marin, M (2530) -Galego, L (2435) Benasque 1996. Here it would have been strong for Black to play g6 20.h4 exf4 21.gxf4 d6 22.d2 ad8 with a shaky position for White. ] 16...f6 This was Gyimesi's preferred procedure as well. The bishop is bound for f7. 17.c3 f7 18.d1 ad8 [ Interesting is 18...c4!? , intending 19.f1 b5 . ] 19.a5 c4?! [ It looks stronger to keep this knight closer
t o h o m e w i t h 19...c8! . After 20.f1 h8!? (preparing to kick the knight with ...g7g6 Black doesn't want Nf5-h6 to come with check) 21.c4 xc4 22.xc4 b8 Black has slightly less space but an otherwise completely viable position. ] 20.f1 b5 21.axb6 dxb6 22.xd8 xd8 23.e2 Berkes enjoys a tiny advantage thanks to his superior structure. c5 24.e3 d6!? Spoelman searches for counterplay by way of a pawn sacrifice. 25.xc5 c8 26.b4 d7 27.a5 b6? A big mistake. [ Black could come close to equality with 27...b7! 28.xa7 dxc5 29.bxc5 b8 , e.g. 30.a1!? xc5 31.a6 d6 . W hite's extra pawn isn't significant, and Black's minor pieces make a good impression. ] 28.xd7 [ 28.a3! may be even stronger. ] 28...xc3 29.xb6 axb6 30.a6 b5 31.a8 g6? [ Black was understandably hesitant to bite the bullet wit h 31...c8 32.xc8 xc8 33.d2 , but this pawn-down ending was his best shot. ] 32.g4! Now Black should lose immediately. xc2 33.h6 e8 34.d1?! Time trouble? [ W hite missed a clean win with 34.xf6+ f7 35.xf8 , e.g. c6 ( 35...xf8 36.xe8 xe8 37.xb5+- ) 36.d8+and White will emerge with an extra piece. ] 34...c8 [ 34...b2! offered more chances to resist because W hite is unable to get his light square bishop into the fray after 35.xf6+ f7 36.xf8 xf8 (no Nf6xe8 and Be2xb5!) ] 35.b3+ f7 36.xf6+ h8 37.xc8 xc8 38.xf8 xb3 39.c5 e6 40.g2 This endgame should be lost for Black. h5 41.h4 g7 42.d5 f7 43.f3 d7 44.e3 c6 45.f4 e6 46.c3 d6 47.xd6! A winning simplification. xd6 48.e2 e8 49.g1 exf4+ This would have been forced anyways after Ng1-f3. 50.gxf4 f7 51.f3 e8 52.d3 e6 53.d4 d6 54.e5 e6 55.c5 g5 56.hxg5 h4 57.f3 h3 58.f5+ e7 59.g6 f6 60.d6 g7 Black resigned. Precise theoretical recommendations for Black against the line at 212
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 issue here are a little unnecessary, as he can o b t a i n a f i n e g a m e b y wa y o f n u m e r o u s c o n t in u a t io n s . T h e i m p o rt a n t t h in g is t o familiarize yourself with the typical middlegames (i.e. studying Gyimesi's games with 14...Nfd7 would be a good idea) . Same goes for White! 1-0
230 Bosboom,Manuel Giri,Anish Corus C Wijk aan Zee NED (4) [Jonathan Rowson]
A07 2418 2469 20.01.2009
1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d3 g4 5.bd2 bd7 6.0-0 e5 7.h3 h5 8.h4!? This has been seen before, but it was a new concept for me. c5 9.c4! This also looks critical. [ 9.e1 intending e4, looks less dangerous for Black. ] 9...0-0 10.cxd5!? [ 10.b3 b6 11.g4 dxc4 was UbilavaSturua 1993 where Black emerged quite comfortable- playing g4 only really makes sense when there is a target on d5. ] 10...xd5 The safe option, but obviously some sort of concession. I am not sure if White is better in what follows, but I think I would prefer to have his position [ 10...cxd5 11.g4 ( 11.b3!? given that g4 m i g h t h a p p e n , t h e r e i s s o m e va l u e i n keeping the knight closer to the kingside. b6 12.g4? xg4 13.hxg4 xh4 14.gxh5 f6 gives Black a raging attack. ) A) 11...xg4 12.hxg4 xh4 13.gxh5 f6 14.f3 xh5 15.d4! exd4 16.f4 and White has some sort of control.; B) 11...xg4 12.hxg4 xg4 13.hf3 Black has lots of moves here, but I think White will feel more comfortable after d4 s o I w o u l d c o n s i d e r ( 13.df3 e4 ) 13...b6!? and now Rybka seems to think W h it e is b e t t e r a f t e r e 4 , b u t t h is is a tricky position to play, and clearly a line that needs to be checked.; C) 11...g6 12.b3 b6 ( 12...c8!? ) 13.xg6 hxg6 14.g5 h5 15.xd5 and even here, when W hite gets
everything, the position is still not totally clear. c5 16.xc5 ( 16.f3 e6 17.h4 g3 18.e1 f5 ) 16...xd5 17.e4 does look relatively safe though. ] 11.e4 b6 12.f5 c5 13.c3 In general exchanges favour White in such structures, so I am not too impressed by W h it e's m an o e uve ring a ro u n d h e re . e7 14.e3 e6 15.c4 c7 16.b4 d7 17.b1 b5 18.d2 a5 19.a3 f5 Now Black is very comfortable. 20.f3 d4 21.g5 axb4 22.axb4 a3 23.c1 xf3 24.exf3 xc3 25.xc3 d5 26.d2 xc3 27.xc3 f4 28.e1 fxg3 29.fxg3 f5 30.h2 f7 31.e4 g6 32.e1 h6 33.xe5 xe5 34.xe5 xd3 ½-½
231 Bricard,Emmanuel Kosten,Anthony C Toulon (5) [Tony Kosten]
A07 2506 2515 02.11.1999
1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 g4 5.d3 bd7 6.bd2 e5 7.e4 d6 Capturing on e4 is common, see the archives, but is less ambitious, as it concedes the c4square to White. 8.h3 h5 9.exd5 [ This active move is the current preference, alt e rn a t ive ly 9.b3?! 0-0 10.b2 e8 11.e1 a5 12.a3 b5!? 13.f1 dxe4 14.dxe4 c5 with a plus to Black, Sturua,ZKramnik,V/ Moscow (open) 1992. ] [ 9.e1 is also common. ] 9...cxd5 10.c4 Trying to break the black centre. 0-0 [ Simplest, trying to complete development. 10...d4 11.e2 0-0 12.g4 g6 13.h4 was pleasant for White in King,D-Norwood,D/ BL9394 1994. ] 11.cxd5 xd5 12.c4!? [ White is returning to this move after 12.b3 lost its charm, but I'm not sure why, 5f6!? Adams' move, ( 12...5b6!? is considered worse, but it is not sure that this is the case, 13.e4 e7 14.a4 h8! 15.a5 f5 with unclear play, Vaganian,R-Khalifman,A/ Eupen 1994.) 13.c4! c5 14.a3 xf3 15.xf3 e7 16.xe5 with advantage to 213
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White, Vaganian,R-Kaidanov,G/Glendale/ 1994. ] 12...c7 13.b3 Hitting d5 and b7, and emphasising the absence of Black's lightsqu a re d b is h o p f ro m t h e qu e e n sid e a n d centre, but Black has sufficient resources. c5! [ A s t r o n g i n n o v a t i o n a f t e r 13...5b6 White has 14.g5! e8 15.ac1 xc4 16.xc4 c8 17.h4 with active play, Hodgson,J-De la Villa Garcia,J/Dos Hermanas 1992. ] 14.a3?! [ Perhaps a bit doubtful, but 14.b5 xd3 forces 15.fxe5 xe5 16.xe5 xe5 17.xd5 e8 with equality. ] 14...xf3! [ 14...d7 is probably fine, but the text is stronger, Black concedes one of his bishops to control d4. ] 15.xf3 e6 16.g2 a5! [ A good move, threatening ...Nb4, if 16...d4 then 17.c5 ] 17.b3! [ I f t h e n a t u r a l 17.e1? then d4 wins the exchange. ] [ I h a d e xp e ct e d 17.d2 but then b5! 18.e3 xe3 19.xe3 a6 followed by ... Rd6, and then ...Bb6 and Black's hold on d4 confers him the advantage. ] 17...b4 18.e3 b8 19.a7 a8 20.e3 [ 20.e3 Instead of the repetition, there is: xd3 ( 20...b5!? was the move I wanted to play, although after 21.a3 b8 White has 22.a7 and Black has to sacrifice the exchange, although after the further d4!? 23.d1 b6 24.xb8 xb8 Black has great dark square control, and White has problems developing, still, this is not without risk for Black. 25.d2 f5 ) 21.xd3 xd3 22.xb7 ab8 23.d5 xb2 24.xe6 fxe6 25.fc1 Black's extra pawn is useless. ] ½-½
232
A07 Carlsen,Magnus 2714 Gelfand,Boris 2736 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (30) 22.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen] 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 e7 7.d3 0-0 8.a3 a5 9.b3 e6 [ L i k e i n t h e S i c i l i a n D r a g o n , 9...e8!? is a perfectly good move, and so it is in this line: 10.b2 f8 11.bd2 g4 12.c1 ( 12.c4!? ) 12...d7 13.c2 d4 14.xd4 exd4 15.e4 f5 16.g5?! ( 16.c5 f7 17.xd4 b6 18.a4 ad8 ) 16...h6 17.f3 c5 Czebe, ACebalo, M/Baden 2000 ] 10.b2 f6 11.bd2 [ German International Master Sehner has tried 11.c2 a cou ple of t im es : e8 ( 11...d7 is less accurate, e.g. 12.d1 fd8 13.bd2 b6 14.c4 a4 15.xb6 cxb6 16.bxa4 a5 17.d2 dc8 18.c3 Sehner, N-Thormann, W/Nuremberg 1988) 12.bd2 f7 13.d4 exd4 14.xd4 fd8 15.c5 b6 16.xe7 xe7 17.e3= Sehner, N-Aseev, K/Berlin 1992 ] 11...d7 [ An alternative is 11...h8 , though the king move is hardly necessary: 12.e3 e8 13.d4 exd4 14.xd4 xd4 15.xd4 c5 16.b2 d8 17.c2 b5 Keeling, K-Evans Quek, D/Birmingham 2002 ] 12.c2 h8 [ 12...b6 13.fd1 ab8 14.ac1 ( 14.c4!? ) 14...fc8 15.e3 e8 16.c4 Panno, O-Maller, M/ Buenos Aires 1992 ( 16.h4!? g5 17.hf3 g6 18.e4 )] [ 12...ad8!? ] 13.fd1 b6 [ 13...h3 14.xh3 xh3 15.e4 b6 16.d4 exd4 17.xd4 xd4 18.xd4 c5 19.e3 ] 14.ac1 fd8 15.e4 e8 [ 15...a4!? ] 16.fd2 d5 17.c5 xc5 18.xc5 de7 19.c2 [ 19.b5!? ] 19...h5 20.e1 f7 21.c3 d5 22.a1 de7 23.b1 d5 24.e4 f5 25.e3 d6 26.h4 214
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 26.f4!? ] 26...xe4 27.dxe4 e6 28.c3 d7 29.ed1 ad8 30.xd7 xd7 31.b4 axb4 32.axb4 a7 33.f4 b5 [ 33...c4!? ] 34.b2 d2 [ 34...exf4 35.exf4 g4 36.h2 c6 ] 35.xd2 xd2 36.a1 a3 37.c1 c4 38.c3 d7 [ 38...e2! ] 39.f2 d6 [ 39...c6!? ] 40.f1 c6 41.g4 exf4 42.exf4 d2 43.e5 fxe5 44.xe5 d7 45.e2 g8 46.a1 [ 46.e3 b3 47.c2 d5 48.c3 ] 46...c4 47.f5 d5 48.c3 d8 49.a7 d6 50.e5 e4+ 51.e3 e8 52.f4 c5 [ 52...f6!? ] 53.f3 f6 54.xf6 xf3 55.xg7!? [ 55.xf3!? gxf6 56.bxc5 e5 57.a8+ g7 58.c8+- ] 55...c6 [ 55...d5 56.e5 cxb4 57.g5+- ] 56.f6 [ 56.e5! cxb4 57.g5 d5 58.g6 f3 59.a5 e2 60.c5 hxg6 61.fxg6 f8+ 62.g5 d3 63.h5+- ] 56...cxb4 [ 56...e4+ 57.g5 cxb4 58.a8+ e8 ] 57.g5 [ 57.e5!? b3 58.g5 ] 57...b3 58.a3 d5 59.a1 f7 60.c3 e4 61.d1 c6 62.d6 c4 63.h8 [ 63.f6+!? e8 64.e6+ f7 65.e3 d5 ( 65...h6+ 66.xh6 xg4 67.h5 g2 ) 66.e5 e4 67.xe4 xe4 68.f4 A) Attacking White's pawns from behind is the only way to defend against W hite's pawn majority on the kingside. An example, a very long one though, illustrates why: 68...d5 69.g5 c4 70.h5 d3 71.g6+ hxg6 72.hxg6+ f8 73.g5 e4 74.f6 d5 75.f5 c4 76.b2 b5 77.d4 b4! 78.e4 ( 78.a1 d3+ 79.g5 c4 80.d4 ) 78...e6 79.e5 g8 80.b2 f8 81.c1 c4 82.d4 e6 83.c5 e8 84.xb4 The many moves invested in picking up this apparently irrelevant move becomes obvious in another half d o ze n m o ve s d5 ( 84...d7 85.c5 g8 86.a3 e6 87.b2 d7 88.d4
e6 89.e3 d7 90.f4+- ) 85.c3 ( 85.c5? b2! 86.xb2 e4 87.g7 f7= ) 85...g8 86.d2 e6 87.e3 d5 88.f4 c4 89.g5 f8 90.a3+ T h e a c ce s s i b il i t y t o t h i s m o ve i s t h e reason why the b4-pawn had to be r e m o ve d b y W h i t e ' s k i n g e a r l i e r g8 ( 90...e8 91.h6+- ) 91.f4 , and the marches down to e7 and forces f6-f7-f8 through.; B) 68...c2! 69.h5 d1 70.h6 c2 71.g5 g8 72.g6 hxg6 73.f6 g5+ 74.xg5 f7= ] 63...f3 64.d7+ [ 64.d4!? b4 65.f6+ e8 66.e6+ d7 67.e3 xd4 68.xf3 b4 69.f1 e7 70.b1 b6= ] 64...e8 65.xh7?? [ Here White should have played the simple 65.d3! xg4+ 66.f6 b4 67.g5 e4 68.d4 xd4 69.xd4 , and White should draw without too much effort. ] 65...xg4+ 66.h6 xh4+ 67.g6 g4+ 68.h6 h4+ [ 68...g2! 69.e5 b2-+ ] 69.g6 xh7?? [ With this move, Black throws his last winning chance over board. The correct way t o p r o c e e d i s 69...g4+ 70.h6 g2 71.e5 b2 72.h8+ ( 72.xb2 xb2 73.g5 b5-+ ) 72...d7 73.xb2 xb2 74.g5 d5-+ ] 70.xh7 d7 71.g6 c6 72.g5 b5 73.f4 d5 74.e3 c4 75.b2 ½-½
233 Christiansen,Larry Mark Kortschnoj,Viktor Lone Pine [Tony Kosten]
A07
1981
1.g3 d5 2.g2 e5 3.d3 The standard 'Mo d e rn De f e n ce' m o ve , b u t L ars e n h a s experimented with a sort of 'reversed Alekhine's Defence': [ 3.f3!? e4 4.d4 c5 one of many possibilities, that assures Black good chances, if he is more ambitious he might try ( 4...c5 5.b3 c4 6.d4 c5 7.c3 f6 215
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.0-0 0-0 as in Poutiainen,P-Polugaevsky,L/ Budapest 1975) 5.b3 b6 6.0-0 f6 7.d3 exd3 8.cxd3 0-0 9.c3 c6 wh i c h i s l e v e l , L a r s e n , B - B r o n s t e i n , D / Vinkovci 1970. ] 3...c6 Black immediately supports his d5 bulwark with a pawn, if [ 3...f6 4.f3 d6 then White can play the f lan kin g b lo w 5.c4 more easily, as if Black replies 5...dxc4 there is now 6 Qa4+ and 7 Qxc4. c6 6.0-0 h6!? 7.b3 0-0 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.c3 d4 10.d5 xd5 11.xd5 which is level, Hickl, J-Kindermann, S/Nussloch 1996 ] 4.f3 The normal move, [ 4.d2 tends to restrict White's options, and following f6 5.e4 c5 6.gf3 0-0 7.0-0 e8 8.h3 bd7 Black could be happy with his opening, Bilek,I-Geller,E/ Havana 1971 ] 4...d7 5.0-0 d6 6.c3 This way White c a n p re p a re e 4 , a n d ye t k e e p t h e c1 -h 6 diagonal open for his queen's bishop. e7 This move keeps the f6-square free for the d7knight, and allows the black f -pawn to advance. [ 6...gf6 is perfectly logical, if rarely played. ] 7.e4 d4 8.e2 h6 9.d2 b6 10.f4 f6 A reversed KI structure has been reached. 11.fxe5!? Many players would prefer the standard kingside onslaught with [ 11.f5 here, intending g4, h4, etc., although Black is by no means obliged to put his king in the way, and will certainly castle queenside. ] 11...fxe5 12.c3 dxc3 13.bxc3 e6 14.f3 0-0 15.e3 f6 16.a4 c7 17.a5 d7 18.d4 White has ad vantage, and after driving the black knight from its post, proceeds to expand in the centre. d8 19.a4 b8 20.dxe5!? This seems like a strange decision, handing permanent control of the e5-square to Black, but, in fact, White prefers activity, freeing the d4, and f4-squares for use by his knights. xe5 21.xe5 xe5 22.d4 f7 23.b4 d6 24.b2 xf1+ 25.xf1 c5 Black would like to bring his knight to e5, but he needs to keep the f5-square guarded, as otherwise White would play Nf5, with threats against the black king. 26.h1 b6 27.axb6 axb6 28.f4 c8 29.b3 d6 30.xd6
xd6 31.d4 White menaces the move e5, liberating his bishop. g6 32.f5 xf5 33.exf5 f6 34.xb6 xf5 35.xf5 ½-½
234 Cornette,Matthieu Payen,Arnaud National I Sautron FRA (1) [Tony Kosten]
A07 2329 2359 31.01.2003
1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 f5 5.d3 h6 6.fd2!? I have often wondered about the merits of this move, forcing through e4, and freeing the f-pawn, for White, as I like to play this with a tempo less when I have the black pieces and I have played the King's Indian against my opponent's London System. e6 Solid, and typical of Lasker's set-up, but [ 6...e5 is more ambitious, and makes sense now that White's knight no longer covers the square: 7.e4 dxe4 8.dxe4 e6 ( 8...g4 9.f3 h3 10.e1 c5 also seems fine, Lupu,M-Serafimov,T/Paris FRA 2002) 9.e2 c7 10.f4!? Badea,B-Neumann,A/ Giessen 1995, and now I think I would prefer c5+ 11.h1 g4 ] 7.e4 dxe4 Actually new in this position, otherwise Black can keep his central pawn, and simply retreat his bishop: [ 7...g6 8.c3 a5 9.h3 c5 10.h2 h5!? to dissuade White from f4, which would lose to ...Ng4+, Istrate, B-Manole,V/Baile Tusnad 1999, but where will the black king go? ] [ 7...h7 8.c3 e7 9.e2 0-0 10.f4 is the attacking set-up White is aiming for, he can even consider continuing with g4, Calotescu,C-Barasiant,M/Bucharest 1999. ] 8.dxe4 h7 9.e5!? With the d-file open the young French player decides to refrain from the normal plan of [ 9.c3 followed by Qe2, and then f4, g4, etc. and finds an original idea. ] 9...d5 10.e4 xe4!? To stop the knight going to d6, but this is hardly forced, [ 10...d7!? 11.d6+ ( 11.c4?! d ro p s a p a wn , xe4! 12.xe4 5b6 ) 11...xd6 12.exd6 and is the d6-pawn a weakness, or a strength? ] 11.xe4 d7 12.e1 Indirectly defending 216
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the advanced e-pawn. c7 13.h5 g6!? Whilst no doubt playable, this is still very risky, rather than defend I would go for [ 13...c5 and keep the threat of ...g6 in reserve, myself. ] 14.xg6 Practically forced, [ 14.e2 xe5 15.c4 5b6 16.f4 f6 and Black is very solid. ] 14...fxg6 15.xg6+ d8? I don't like this move, as it allows W hite to re-establish a rough material equality. [ 15...e7 had to be tried, it looks ugly, but e ve r yt h i n g is d e f e n d e d , 16.c4 5b6 and now 17.d2 ( 17.b3?! xe5 18.e4 g7 ) 17...xe5!? 18.e4 g7 19.f4 f7 20.xe6+ d8 and ...Qd7, with unclear play. ] 16.c4 5b6 17.xe6 Garnering a third pawn for the piece, and the black king remains m i s p l a c e d . b4 18.c3 e8 19.xh6 xe5 20.g5+ e7? This move loses immediately, Black didn't want to leave the defence of his e8-rook, when the e5-knight would be pinned on the e-file, but nevertheless, [ 20...c8 21.g2! (to stop ...Nf3+) xc3 ( 21...f7!? 22.f6 xf6 23.xf6 bd7 24.xe5 xe5 25.xe5 xe5 26.e1 f7 27.e8+ d8 28.e4 is better for White, b u t B l a c k m i g h t h a v e s o m e c h a n c e s) 22.bxc3 bxc4 ( 22...f7 23.f6! xf6 24.xf6 bd7 25.xe5! xe5 26.xe5 xe5 27.e1 f7 28.e7 leaves Black helpless against the armada of white kingside pawns) 23.f4 f7 24.fxe5 xe5 25.d6 f3+ 26.g1 d5 27.xd5 cxd5 28.g2 should win easily. ] 21.ad1+ bd7 22.f4 A second horrible pin. f8 [ 22...f3+ d o e s n ' t h e l p : 23.h1 c8 24.e3 ] 23.xe5! The most precise. xe5 [ 23...xh6 24.f6+! e7 25.xe7 is a catastrophe for Black. ] 24.h4+ e7 25.xd7+! [ 25.xd7+ xd7 26.g4+ d6 27.b5+! ( 27.xe5 is also good, of course) 27...cxb5 28.d1+ e6 29.d5+ wins queen for rook and bishop whilst maintaining a crushing attack. ] 1-0
235 Davies,Nigel R Chandler,Murray G BCF-ch Southport (5) [Nigel Davies]
A07 2375 2485 1983
1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d3 g4 5.h3 h5 6.g4 g6 7.h4 e5 8.e3 d6 [ Another interesting possibility is 8...b4+ which aims at preve nting W hite's quit e favourable set up with Nc3 and Bd2. After 9.d2 ( 9.f1!? looks interesting to me as I'm not convinced W hite needs castling rights ) 9...a6 10.e2 d7 11.xg6 hxg6 12.a3 d6 13.c4 c7 14.b3 e7 15.b2 a5 16.f3 c5 Black was doing just fine in Danielsen, H (2415)-Berg, K (2405)/ Espergarde 1992. ] 9.c3 a6 Leaving d7 for the other knight which will force the knight on h4 to declare its intentions. [ Another interesting game of mine varied at this point with 9...bd7 after which 10.e2 e7 11.d2 b5 12.a3 0-0 13.xg6 fxg6!? 14.h4 a5 15.g5 h5 16.g4 h8 17.e2 c5 18.0-0 e4 19.d4 a4 gave Black good play in Davies, N (2375)De Boer, G (2330)/ Copenhagen 1983. ] 10.e2 d7 11.xg6 hxg6 12.d2 e7 13.0-0-0 f5 14.f4 e4 15.dxe4 dxe4 16.h4 0-0-0 17.h5 White has an edge here thanks to the potential of his light squared bishop. gxh5 18.gxf5 f6 19.c4 c5 20.e1 [ 20.a4 was worth considering here so as to prevent ...b7-b5. ] 20...b5! 21.e2 c7 22.d4 xd4 23.exd4 xf4+ 24.b1 b7 25.h4 [ Here too 25.a4 would have been promising. ] 25...d6 26.f1 h6 27.xf6 gxf6 28.xe4 xe4 29.xe4 White is better here and should have continued. ½-½
217
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 not active. 12.e5 fxg3 13.exd6 0-0 14.c3 A07 and I prefer White ] Dubov,Daniil 2629 Shirov,Alexei 2695 12.f3 [ 12.fxe5 was another variation heading for Moscow Generations m (4) 06.12.2013 positions hard to assess [Fier, Alexandr] A) 12...xe5 13.dxe5 c5+ ( 13...xe5 is also playable 14.f3 xg3 15.a4+ Shirov tries the setup with a quick 5...e5 one c6 16.xc4 0-0 17.c3 e8 and White more time. And one more time complications has problems to defend e4, so the position arrive quickly in this game. 1.f3 d5 2.g3 remains unclear) 14.h2 xd1 15.xd1 g4 3.g2 d7 4.0-0 gf6 5.d3 e5 6.h3 g4+! necessary and good ( 15...hxg5 e6 Trying to support the center. The 16.exf6 is just winning for White) 16.hxg4 drawback is that sometimes Black needs to hxg5+ 17.h3 xe4 and White needs to worry about Ng5. take care of 18...Bf3 and 19...Bxg4 ideas, [ 6...h5 7.g4 g6 Dubov, D (2629)-Shirov, to there is good compensation.; A (2695)/Moscow Generations m blitz 2013, B) 12...hxg5 this is less interesting, and was also analyzed this month in the other probably White is better after 13.exd6 g4 game between the same players. ] ( 13...cxd6 14.xg5 with advantage to 7.c4!? Sacrificing a pawn in order to open the White ) 14.e5 gxh3 15.exf6 is possible center immediately. I'm not sure if it's the best because of the bad position of Black's king move, but it's a forcing one. dxc4 8.d4 ( 15.xb7 is also good) 15...hxg2 16.fxg7 [ 8.g5 does not combine with 8.c4 f5 gxf1+ 17.xf1 g8 18.e1+! 9.xb7 ( 9.dxc4 h6 does not make much t h a t ' s t h e d e t a i l e5 19.xe5+ sense for W hite) 9...b8 10.g2 cxd3 and White is better ] 11.exd3 h6 with both structures damaged, 12...xe4 Now Black is not forced to give the Black has no reason to be afraid. ] 8...d6 It's important for Black to quickly finish piece anymore. He has the choice to give his development, but with the knight on f6 and nothing and try to defend against W hite's the bishop on d6 W hite has an important initiative or give a full rook and liberate his pieces. Shirov prefers the second option! resource. [ 8...e4 Black can't really hold this pawn 13.e1 Defending g3 and threatening 14.Nh4. 9.g5 f5 10.c3 e7 11.d2!? g6 exf4 [ 13...e7 now the bishop won't be attacked 12.f4 and White takes the pawn back by and there is no 14.Nh4 14.xe5 xe5 force, with some advantage ] 15.dxe5 but White's pawns are really 9.g5 f5 10.e4 g6 11.f4 Probably this is dangerous d3!? against 16.f5 ( 15...c5 the position White aimed for when he played 7. 16.f5 d3 17.e4 h7 18.e3 c4!?. White's pawns are threatening to win a is not funny for Black) 16.f5 ( 16.h2 c5 piece and probably he will succeed. On other a n d B la ck is f in e) 16...xg3 17.f3! hand, the pawns are unstable and Black can ( 17.fxg6 c5+ 18.h2 xf1+ 19.xf1 find good counterplay. During the next few xg6 and White's king is just too exposed) moves both players have options and it's hard 17...d4+ 18.e3 only forced moves xb2 to evaluate if one is better than another. h6 19.fxg6 e2+ keeping the knight The most testing move. ( 19...xa1 20.gxf7+ f8 21.xg3 xe5 [ 11...0-0 was a solid option with some is also possible and also unclear, but I feel compensation for the piece 12.fxe5 xe5 that White is better) 20.h1 xa1 21.xf7 13.dxe5 xe5 and White has no time to ( 21.gxf7+ f8 22.f1 b2 and Black is play 14.Bf4 because of the pawn on b2. Still, better ) 21...f8 22.xb7 g3+ 23.g1 even if Black manages to take on g3, the ( 23.h2 b2+ 24.g2 e4 ) 23...e2+ pieces are not so well located, so it's not 24.f1 g3+ is a possible draw ] sure if the compensation is enough ] [ 11...exf4 was another way to sacrifice the 14.h4 0-0 Going for the rook sacrifice. [ 14...df6 it looks like this move makes no piece, but one more time Black's pieces are 236
218
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 sense, but there is a nice intermezzo on the way A) 15.c3 b4 16.xf4 ( 16.xg6 xd4+ 17.h1 fxg6 18.xe4 0-0 with chances for both players) 16...xd4+ 17.e3 xe3+ 18.xe3 c5 and even with the knight attacked 4 times, this still works! 19.e1 0-0-0 20.xg6 fxg6 21.xe4 xe3+ 22.xe3 he8 23.e2 but because of the pawn structure the compensation is not enough; B) 15.xg6 b4! anyway! ( 15...fxg6 16.xe4 0-0 17.xg6 is bad for Black) 16.xb4 ( 16.c3 xd4+ 17.h1 fxg6 18.xe4 0-0 t r a n s p o s e s) 16...xd4+ 17.h2 fxg3+ 18.h1 fxg6 and with the pawn on g3 the e4-knight becomes more powerful (also there are 5(!) pawns for the piece), so Black has full compensation ] 15.xg6 xg3 16.xf8 xf8 [ It is important for Black to leave the queen o n d 8 , k e e p i n g a n e ye o n d 4 : 16...xf8 17.xf4! and the bishops are huge xf4 18.xf4 with advantage to White ] 17.f2 Other moves bring nothing for White. [ 17.xf4 xf1 18.xf1 xf4 19.xf4 e6 and Black is out of danger ] [ 17.xf4 now this move does not work xf4 18.xf4 xd4+ and the queen proves to be useful on d8 ] 17...e6 [ 17...d7!? trying to develop the rook as soon as possible. But during a game it's hard to give the f4-pawn so easily 18.xf4 e8 19.e5 ( 19.d2 xf4 with 20...Ne2+ c o m i n g n e x t) 19...g6 ( 19...f6? is refuted in a nice way 20.xf6! gxf6 21.xg3+ g7 22.xd6 cxd6 23.xg7+ xg7 24.a3 and all Black's pawns are weak ) 20.c3 xe5 21.dxe5 xe5 22.d2 with a hard position to understand, but with this opposite color bishop, White's king will never be safe. ] 18.c3 h4 19.e4 Right plan, wrong execution. White tries to take care of the d6bishop, buy maybe he overlooked Black's 21st move. [ 19.b5 was another option, defending d4 instead of the g5-square and using the same i d e a o f e x c h a n g i n g t h e b i s h o p g5 quite active, but not enough to hold the
balance 20.xd6 xh3+ 21.xh3 xh3 22.h2 g4 23.g2 cxd6 24.xf4 xf4 25.xg3 xd4+ 26.h2 and there are good chances for the rook to prevail ] 19...xd4 [ 19...xe4 20.xe4 c6 21.d2 and White will finally finish his development, with a good advantage ] 20.xd6 cxd6 21.d2?! Trying to bring the rest of the pieces into the game, but after Black's answer W hite's position is easy to misplay. [ 21.xf4! giving some material back was the right way to go ge2+ 22.xe2 xe2+ 23.xe2 xf4 24.f1 h4 ( 24...d4+ I would prefer to keep the queens on the board 25.f2 xf2+ 26.xf2 and White is bet te r du e t o th e stron g square f o r th e bishop on d5) 25.e3 and without pieces to attack, some of Black pawns are going to fall ] 21...f3! After this move White's rook can't go to f4 anymore, so Black can breathe more easily. 22.xf3 [ 22.xf3 was another option xf3+ 23.xf3 xh3 24.f2 e8 and if Black manages to change the knight he will be better. Since it 's n o t s o e a s y a n d t h e b i sh o p p a i r i s a lwa ys d a n g e r o u s, t h e p o si t i o n i s s t il l unclear ] 22...c2 23.g5 Keeping the light-squared bishop, but after this move it will take some time to catch the knight. [ 23.b1 xa1 24.xa1 e4 25.xe4 xe4 and Black exchanges White's most dangerous piece. ] 23...e2+ 24.xe2 xg5+ 25.g2 xa1 26.e1 After this move, Black starts to advance the pawns and he is already better. There was still one chance for White to keep the position unclear, but it's difficult to understand why he should go for the pawns and leave the knight alive. [ 26.xc4 d5 27.xd5 ( 27.c7 keeping one eye on c1 is also possible) 27...xd5 28.xd5 and one more pawn will fall, so the better pieces can compensate the pawn down ] 26...d5 27.xa1 d4 28.f1 d3! Black doesn't care about all the pawns, just the most important ones. 29.xf7 d8 30.f5 219
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e3+ 31.h2 d4 32.f3 xb2+ 2013. ] And with two united passed pawns, there is no 7...g6 8.h4 xg4!? Why refuse such a way White can create enough counterplay. So chance in a blitz game? Black is winning. 33.h1 d4 34.g2 d2 [ 8...c6 Black could, of course, play this 35.d1 e8 36.f1 e1 37.f3 e4 move again, going to positions alread y 38.xe4 xe4 39.g2 e1 40.f2 xd1 played 9.d2 d6 10.e3 and this kind of 0-1 position is also possible with reversed colors, Ehlvest, J (2603)-Javanbakht, N (2406)/Al Ain op 2012. ] 237 A07 9.xg6 hxg6 10.hxg4 h4 Black threatens Dubov,Daniil 2629 mate in one and after W hite defends both Shirov,Alexei 2695 players still need to develop their pieces. Moscow Generations m blitz (1.1) 02.12.2013 Whether the sacrifice is really sound or not is another question, but it certainly forces White [Fier, Alexandr] to solve some problems. 11.e1 Natural. [ 11.f3?! is ugly and should not work, but This was a blitz game, so with a few seconds d e f e n d s t h e p a w n 0-0-0 ( 11...h2+ on the clock both players missed some moves Black can already make a draw if he wants in the middlegame complications, but the 12.f2 h4+ ) 12.e3 d6 and soon White opening is still quite sharp since Shirov tries will have some real problems on the dark to immediately punish Dubov's thematic 7.g4 squares ] and 8.Nh4. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 g4 4.0-0 bd7 5.d3 e5 This move takes the 11...f6 Black won't mate with only two pieces c e n t e r wit h o u t lo si n g a n y t im e . I n s o m e so he brings the knight to help with the attack. variations it can transpose to a line with ...c6, White also needs to bring some pieces to the but in both games that were played in this defence. 12.e3 Trying to bring the queen via match the pawn stayed on c7 for a long time. f3-g3. e4 And Black avoids it, opening the d6h2 diagonal at the same time. 6.h3 [ 12...xg4 is less scary 13.f3 f5 14.g3 [ 6.c4 can transpose to a recent game and xg3 15.fxg3 e4 16.c3 c6 blunting the another variation bishop on g2, and with the f8-bishop soon A) 6...dxc4 7.dxc4 c5 ( 7...c6 coming to attack g3 Black has some again could transpose) 8.c3 c6 compensation. ] one day or another Black needs to play this to control d5 and the long diagonal 13.dxe4 dxe4 And here White's position is 9.c2 0-0 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 e7 already not easy to defend! There are plenty was a game between two elite players of options, of course, but some of the natural some decades ago, Petrosian, T (2645)- moves already lose by force. 14.e2?! [ 14.c3 this was possibly the best move, Portisch, L (2635)/Milan 1975.; and Black has an interesting move as an B) 6...c6 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.d4 this is a option b4!? ( 14...xg4 15.xe4 f5 thematic answer e4 9.e5 e6 10.xd7 16.g3 d6 17.f3 looks ok for White ) xd7 with a normal position, as seen in A) 15.d4 still looking at the e4-pawn Van Delft, M (2424)-Pijpers, A (2366)/ xc3 16.bxc3 ( 16.xc3 xg4 17.e2 Wijk Cultural Village rapid 2013. ] 0-0-0 18.d2 and White's pieces are 6...h5 7.g4 Basically this move is already a certainly not on the best squares to defend novelty! We still have chances to enter into the king. h2 followed by 19...Nf3+ with more common positions by transposition, but mate ) 16...h2+ 17.f1 h4 and 18... with White's idea we are going to play chess Rxg4 is really hard to meet, so W hite is from move 7. already lost.; [ 7.e1 c6 8.e4 would again transpose, B) 15.e2 and here one possible and this time there is quite a recent game in con tinu at ion wou ld b e 0-0-0 16.d2 this position Kramnik, V (2793)-Rowson, J h2+ 17.f1 h4 again this strong move, (2 5 6 9 )/ L o n d o n Cl a ssi c G p -B 5 t h r a p i d 220
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 but now W hite has resources to defend 18.ed1! opening some space for the bishop on d2 xg4 19.f3 h5 20.e1 this is the point xd1 21.xd1 f4!? the attack continues anyway, 22.d8+! to move the queen by winning an important tempo ( 22.exf4 c5! 23.d8+ xd8 24.d2+ c8 25.fxg4 g1+ 26.e2 xg2+ 27.d1 xg4+ 28.e2 e6 a n d B l a c k i s f i n e) 22...xd8 23.d2+ c8 24.fxg4 xc3 25.bxc3 xg2 26.xg2 e5 and White is better, but there is still a lot of play for a blitz game. ] 14...xg4 15.xe4 Trying to release the pressure at the cost of the most important defender. [ 15.d2 this move lets Black attack without any counterplay f5 16.f1 d6 17.d2 0-0-0 and it's hard to believe White can survive. ] [ 15.d1 is m o re o r le ss t h e sa m e f5 and White is not happy. ] 15...xf2 This move is logical and Black maintains the initiative, but I think 15...Bd6 was already winning by force, because of a beautiful idea. [ 15...d6! A) 16.c3 g3! this is the move 17.fxg3 ( 17.d1 d8 18.d2 xf2 19.xf2 xf2+ 20.xf2 xe4 and the position is hopeless ) 17...xg3+ 18.g2 ( 18.g2 h1+ 19.xh1 h2# is a classical mate ) 18...xe1+ 19.f1 h4 still with a strong attack and now with almost no material less; B) 16.g2 g3! anyway ( 16...xf2 17.xf2 g3 18.e2 xe1 is less clear) 17.fxg3 xg3 18.f1 ( 18.c3 h1+ 19.xh1 h2# ) 18...h5 19.e4 0-0-0 20.e3 d6 ] 16.xf2 [ 16.xb7 is a nice way to keep in the game, the point is not to take one more pawn, but to open the c6-square for the bishop, disrupting the harmony in Black's position h3+ ( 16...e4 17.xe4 xe4 18.g2 and because of the missing pawn on b7 the rook is hanging.) 17.f1 d8 18.c6+ ( 18.d2 e7 is less problematic) 18...e7 and with the king in the way of the bishop on
f8, White increases his chance of defending. Still, the position is not clear, Black will come with both rooks to d6 and h5. ] 16...xe4 17.g2 h4 A lot of things are happening on the kingside and both players still had no time to develop. But when the pieces come into the game, Black's ones have much more potential. 18.d1 h5 19.e4 c5+ [ 19...d8! another hard move to play in a blitz game, trying to exchange one of W hite's f ew developed pieces. 20.xd8+ xd8 21.d2 c5+ 22.f1 f6+ 23.e2 xb2 with a decisive advantage ] 20.f1 e7 [ 20...d8 is still possible, but now less strong, 21.xd8+ xd8 ( 21...xd8 22.c3 is another idea) 22.e2 and White found a good square for the king, so both players have chances ] 21.c3 c6 22.e2 ah8 23.e3 Missing the chance to exchange some pieces, but I imagine both players already have few seconds on the clock. [ 23.h1! wa s t h e t rick xh1 ( 23...f6 24.xh5 xh5 25.e3 is better compared to the game) 24.g5+ f6 25.xh1 xh1 26.f4 g5 27.c7 ( 27.g3 g4! controls important squares in W hite's position ) 27...d7 28.b8!? and White can keep a material advantage ] 23...xe3 24.xe3 f6 Liberating space for the rooks. [ 24...g5 was more brutal 25.f1 h2 26.e2 h3+ 27.d2 g2 28.e1 f2 29.g1 f4+ 30.d1 e3 and White is dominated ] 25.f1 [ 25.h1 was again necessary, exchanging one of the rooks. ] 25...h3+ 26.e2 [ 26.f3 was possible, but not human xf3+ 27.xf3 g5+ 28.d3 d8+ 29.c4 b5+ 30.b3 c5 31.f1 0.00 and the computer gives the usual ] 26...e5 27.f2 h2 [ 27...h5+ comes with a nice trick, with more or less the same idea as in the game 28.e1 ( 28.d2 h6+ 29.e1 e3+ 30.e2 h1+-+ ) 28...e3+! 29.e2 xe2+! ( 29...h1+ 30.xh1 xh1+ 221
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 31.f1 h2 32.f2 is just drawn) 30.xe2 8.c2 a4!? 9.e4 d4 10.c4 d7 11.h3 h1+ 31.d2 xa1 and Black is winning ] f6 unclear, Hickl,J-Romanishin,O/Polanica 28.g1 xf2+ 29.xf2 h2+ 30.e1 h5 Zdroj 1993. ] Winning the rook, but now White has time to 7.c2 at least activate one piece, and somehow this [ 7.bd2 e8 8.c2 is quite likely to was enough in the game. t r a n s p o s e , e6 9.b4 this is why Black [ 30...xc2 keeps up the pressure 31.d1 might pref er 6...a5. d7 10.b5 a5 xb2 32.d3 but there is still a game ] 11.b3 c5 12.xa5 xa5 13.c4 31.g3 h1+ 32.d2 xa1 33.c7+ Softening-up the long diagonal, Now the king can't go away. e6 34.c8+ Dzind zich ashvili, R-Ko rt ch no i, V/ Tilb urg e7 1985. ] [ 34...e5 is still possible 35.c7+ d4 [ 7.b4!? Might be playable immediately, too, bu t t h is is ju st su icid e 36.d6+ c4 although: e4! 8.e1 f5 9.d4?! h6 37.b3# ] 10.c2 d7 11.e3 h3 12.f4 exf3 35.c7+ f6 36.d8+ e6 13.exf3 fe8 favours Black, if anyone, Barle, ½-½ J-Tukmakov,V/Geneva 1996. ] 7...f5 8.bd2 All according to plan. d7 9.e4 h3 10.e1 xg2 11.xg2 fe8 238 A07 12.b4 a6 13.b3 ad8 Black has Dzindzichashvili,Roman 2570 centralised all his pieces while W hite has Ljubojevic,Ljubomir 2615 been playing on the flank, who is better? Tilburg (1) 1985 14.g5! h6 15.xf6 xf6 16.a4 b6 17.a5! W hite's queenside attack is being to show [Tony Kosten] results, he threatens to win a pawn, and if 1.g3 e5 2.d3 d5 3.f3 c6 4.g2 f6 Black replies 17...b5, then 18 Nc5 is strong. c8 18.a2 White renews the threat. dxe4 5.0-0 d3 Black counters by classically [ The immediate 5.c3 a5 and then 6.0-0 19.dxe4 is more committal, and Black can change infiltrating the centre. 20.c2 dd8?! [ The obvious move 20...ed8!? loses the plans accordingly, and play more exchange after 21.bd4 , of course, but it a m b i t i o u s l y : h6 (instead of 6...Be7, might be playable anyway, as Black will transposing) 7.bd2 e6 8.a4 d6 9.e4 certainly get some compensation. ] dxe4 10.dxe4 0-0 11.h4 b8!? Full points for imagination! The queen is 21.ed1 xd1 22.xd1 White is quite happy co m in g to a 7 t o h e lp con t ro l th e g1 -a 7 to exchange pieces, as he is looking-forward diagonal. 12.f5 c5 13.b5 a7 to an ending where the f6-bishop is inhibited Black has a plus, Kogan,A-Marciano,D/ by Black's own pawns. d8 23.xd8+ xd8 24.d3 bxa5 25.d5! e6 26.xe6 fxe6 Serbian Chess Fed, Sabac YUG 1998. ] 5...e7 6.c3 This is another Pirc plan 27.bxa5 So, White has reached the endgame 'hijacked' by White. This time he will prepare that he wanted, the black pawns are very the e4-move with Qc2, and Nbd2, but b4 is weak. e7 28.e1 f7 29.f3 d6 30.e3 d8 31.d3 It is important to make also on the cards. 0-0 [ Personally speaking, if I had the black good use of the king in the final phase. g5 p i e c e s h e r e , I w o u l d p r e f e r 6...a5! 32.c4 g4 33.d3 c6 34.b4! b8 wh ic h c o n s t ra in s t he wh it e qu e e n sid e . 35.c5 xc5 36.xc5 g6 37.xa6 [ 37.xa6 xa6+ 38.b5 b8 39.a6 Although White may not be intending to gain leads to a winning king and pawn space on the queenside immediately, with endgame. ] b4, he will want to play this move at some time, so it makes sense to stop him. 7.bd2 1-0 ( If 7.a4 0-0 8.c2 c5 9.e4 dxe4 10.dxe4 then Black can play b6 intending ... Ba6, Sax,G-Farago,I/Budapest 1976) 7...0-0 222
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A07 bishop: [ 21.f4 xf4 22.xf4 xg2+ 23.xg2 Fridman,Daniel 2621 and Black still controls the e-file, but the Godena,Michele 2527 white position is fairly solid. ] 4th IECC Istanbul TUR (8) 07.06.2003 21...xe4 22.c1 Played to defend b2, as [Tony Kosten] now [ 22.f4 xf4 23.xf4 a5 and ...Nc4 is 1.f3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 e5 4.d3 very awkward. ] It is quite a while since we had a look at a Reversed Pirc. f6 5.0-0 e7 6.c3 0-0 22...a5 23.g2 c4 This game resembles 7.c2 On the strength of this game, there one of those old Master vs Amateur games, except that here the playing getting might be a case made for the move overwhelmed positionally has 100 extra ELO [ 7.bd2 ] 7...f5 8.bd2 e4! This seems to be a very points!! 24.d3 b5 25.h3 a5 26.g4 a4 effective idea. I examined Dzindzichashvili, R- Black places his pawns caref ully on light Ljubojevic,L/Tilburg 1985 some years ago, squares. 27.hf3 c6 28.e1 f8 29.e2?! This appears to lose, but it is difficult to know when White won nicely after [ 8...d7 9.e4 h3 10.e1 xg2 11.xg2 what to suggest in such a position, perhaps [ 29.b3 but after axb3 30.axb3 a5 31.b4 fe8 12.b4 but the text puts paid to any c4 and White hasn't improved his thoughts of White playing e4. ] position. ] 9.h4 exd3 10.exd3 e6 Simplest, 29...c5! A powerful and surprising blow. although [ 10...g4 11.d4 d7 12.e1 ae8 30.dd2?! This is hopeless, but after [ 30.dxc5 Black wins by xe2+ 31.xe2 13.f1 d8 14.g5 h6 15.xf6 xf6 xe2+ 32.f1 c2 33.cxd6 xc1+ and ] 16.f3 f5 is also reasonable, Odendahl,R[ 30.xe7 is n o b e t t e r , xd3 31.xe8+ Gurevich,V/Germany 1998. ] xe8 and the b-pawn is lost. ] 11.d4!? A new move here, as previously 30...xd2 31.xd2 e4 32.c2 c7 White had preferred [ 11.b3 to keep the d4-square free, and e4- Black is an exchange up, and he still has his square covered, d7 12.e3 ( 12.g5 b6 positional advantages (better bishop, more 13.f3 h6 14.f4 f5 15.bd4 xd4 space, e4 outpost). In fact I imagine W hite 16.xd4 h7 17.fe1 fe8 18.d2 c5 would normally resign here, but as Michele is and Black has more space, Gretarsson,H- always in time-trouble, his opponents often Haub,T/Pardubice 1999) 12...h3 13.c5 ge t e xcit e d a n d p la y o n t o o lo n g! 33.e2 Another shot, this time to exchange a xg2 14.xg2 b6 15.xe7 xe7 16.ae1 d2! ae8 with an edge to Black, Roos,D-Moreno piece. 34.eg1 xf3 35.xf3 e1 36.f2 g3+! 37.g2 Carnero,J/Mulhouse FRA 2001. ] [ 37.xg3 xg1+ ] 11...d7 12.f4!? A very aggressive plan aimed at grabbing space on the kingside, but 37...h4 38.f4 g5 39.d6+ g8 40.h2 the downside is the weakening of e4. h3 a1 41.h4 c1 42.xc1 xc1 43.b3 e3 B l a c k d i d n ' t w a n t t o l o s e a p i e c e t o f 5 . 44.bxa4 bxa4 45.d6 xc3 46.e2 c2 13.xh3 xh3 14.f5 fe8 15.df3 d6 47.f1 xa2!? Is this a blunder? It still wins, It is important to play this before White can but that might be a stroke of chance. Having play Bf4. 16.g2 g4! 17.d2 h6 18.h1 played with the new FIDE time-control, and e7 Simple chess from Black (who was being once down to 30 seconds a move, I can p r o b a b l y a l r e a d y s h o r t o f t i m e k n o wi n g vouch for the difficulty of playing good moves Michele!) 19.g1 White is getting his pieces at that speed! [ 47...b2 would have been best, I feel. ] in a twist trying to repel the black queen. e4 White was worried about Bf4, as the f4-square 48.xc1 a1 49.f4 a3 50.e2 a2 is now defended by the white rook. 20.ad1 T h e a - p a w n r e g a i n s t h e p i e c e . 51.xa2 ae8 21.xe4?! I think that White should xa2+ h a ve t a k e n t h i s c h a n ce t o e l i m i n a t e h i s 0-1 239
223
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11...a5 12.b3 Opening the second rank for a rook transfer. e8 A thematic and good plan. Grachev,Boris Black tries to bring the knight to d6, where it Shirov,Alexei controls e4 and also looks at f5. At the same 21st TCh-RUS 2014 (2.4) time it makes room for the other knight on f6. [Fier, Alexandr] 13.g2 d6 14.a2 [ 14.c2 e8 15.b2 again is an important W hite tried t o pla y a slow game , withou t alternative, the rook can go to the e-file by committing to e4. For me it's too passive and normal means ] after 20 moves White needed to take care to avoid being clearly worse. 1.f3 d5 2.g3 14...e8 15.e2 White follows his plan, but g4 3.g2 d7 4.c4 e6 5.cxd5 exd5 Black is ready to triple on the e-file and when 6.h3 White immediately attacks the bishop. In this happens it will be hard to make progress. this line the move orders are not so important, e6 16.b2 e7 17.fe1 e8 18.d2 b6 19.c3 f5 Finally White has finished his so there are a lot of transpositions. [ 6.0-0 c6 ( 6...gf6 will be similar to the development, but all Black's pieces are more game 7.c3 c6 8.d3 c5 9.h3 xf3 active. The position is quite solid for White, 10.xf3 was seen on ChessPublishing in b u t a t t h e s a m e t i m e p a s s i v e . 20.d4 Shirov, A (2726)-Short, N (2697)/SuperGM A committal move, but otherwise, what to do? It Sarajevo BIH 1999.) 7.d3 d6 8.c3 Black is threatening 20...Nxg3, picking up a e7 9.h3 h5 is a different setup, and also lot of pawns. It's not that the position is worse p la ya b le , a s a n a lyze d in Ma rko wski, T for White, but he still needs to play something (2531)-Aleksandrov, A (2606)/1st ch-Europe connected with e4 to activate his position and after d4 it loses a bit of it's strength. 2000. ] [ 20.e4?? xg3-+ ] 6...xf3 [ 20.f3? xg3 21.fxg3 xe3+ 22.xe3 [ 6...h5 is also possible 7.0-0 c6 8.d3 xe3 23.xe3 xe3+ 24.xe3 xe3 gf6 9.c3 e7 ( 9...c5 is again 25.f2 xd3 and Black has too many possible ) 10.e4 dxe4 11.dxe4 c5 pawns ] with an interesting game in Jasim, A [ 20.h2 defends g3, but Black has another (2300)-Mchedlishvili, M (2560)/Dubai op 5th idea xe3!? ( 20...g5 increasing the 2003. ] pressure is probably better 21.d4 xg3 7.xf3 gf6 8.0-0 c6 9.d3 c5 10.e3 22.fxg3 c7 23.g1 xg3 with more than White wants to first improve his pieces and enough for the piece) 21.fxe3 d6 22.f2 only after to play some committal pawn moves xg3+ 23.h1 xe3 with compensation ] in the center. It's probably no worse than the main lines, but now Black will have time to 20...h5 Black follows his plan of attack. [ 20...g5 would be another way to continue prepare against the e4 break. and one possible idea for White would be to [ 10.c3 is a more played move order where play e4 to force a queen exchange 21.a4 W hite's plan is based on a quick e4, and c7 22.e4!? xd2 23.xd2 dxe4 24.d5 would probably transpose to Shirov - Short and White can activate all his pieces. One in the note to move 6. ] possible continuation would be e3 25.fxe3 10...0-0 11.a3 cxd5 26.xd5 xe3 27.xe3 xe3 [ 11.g2 e8 12.c2 was successfully 28.xf7+ xf7 29.xd7+ e7 30.xe7+ employed by Roiz a5 ( 12...b6 13.h1 xe7 with a draw ] c7 14.e1 was a more suspicious plan, despite the good result for W hite in Roiz, 21.a4 c7 22.e4 dxe4 [ 22...xg3 i s a l s o i n t e r e s t i n g 23.fxg3 M (2600)-Warakomski, T (2396)/Zurich op-A ( 23.c3 will leave White with just a pawn 29 t h 2 00 5 .) 13.d2 b6 14.f3 b4 less dxe4 24.xe4 b8 ) 23...xg3 15.a3 d6 16.d2 and White managed to 24.e3 xe4 25.xe4 xe4 26.xe4 slo wly out play his op pon en t in Ro iz, M dxe4 27.f4 and the king is open, but (2 5 9 0 )-L a n d a , K (26 0 0 )/ RUS -ch T 1 3 t h W hite has good control over the dark 2006. ] 240
A07 2659 2702 08.04.2014
224
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 squares so the position remains unclear ] 23.xe4 d6 24.g5?! [ 24.xe6 was probably a better way to go fxe6!? trying to avoid 25.d5 ( 24...xe6 25.xe6 xe6 26.d5 is good for White) 25.d5!? ( 25.c3 f6 and Black's position is more comfortable) 25...h4! White is not threatening to take anything 26.e4 f8 27.xf5 xf5 28.xe6 xd5 29.xd5 xd5 30.gxh4 and White is slightly worse ] 24...xe4 25.xe4 xe4 26.xe4 xd4 Now the position is opened and White needs to be careful of some tricks, since his king position is still not that safe. 27.xh5 f6 28.h4 e2+ 29.g2 xg3! A nice shot, taking advantage of the f act that W hite's queen has no squares. 30.xf6? Now it's basically over, Black wins a couple of pawns. [ 30.fxg3 was necessary d2+ A) 31.f1 d1+ 32.f2 ( 32.g2 e2+-+ ) 32...xg3+ 33.xg3 e1+ wins; B) 31.f3 g5! 32.h7+ xh7 33.d4 g4+!? ( 33...xd4 34.xd4 b5 35.c5 should be holdable for White) 34.xg4 ( 34.xg4+ g5+ wi n s t h e q u e e n) 34...e2+ 35.h4 e7+ 36.g4 g5+ 37.f3 xg3+ 38.e2 f6 and White will suffer with a pawn down in this complicated endgame. ] 30...xe4 31.xe4 h2+ 32.f1 xh3+ 33.e2 gxf6 The position is clear and White has no chances. 34.b4 axb4 35.axb4 d6 36.d4 e6+ 37.f1 b5 38.c3 e5 39.d3 b3 40.d8+ g7 41.d1 xb4 42.e3 b1+ 43.e2 f4 0-1
kn igh t wit h o u t ga in in g so m e t h in g(e . g. several tempi or structure) in return. 6.xf3 e5 7.d2 gf6 8.e4 dxe4 9.dxe4 c5 10.0-0 e7 11.c3 0-0 12.b4 b6 13.a4 fd8 14.c2 ac8 15.e2 c5?? 16.b5 e8 17.c4 d6 18.g5! f6 19.e3 xc4 20.xc4+ h8 21.a5 c7 22.fd1 f8 23.a2 xd1+ 24.xd1 d8 25.xd8 xd8 26.a6 b6 27.g2 d7 28.e2 g6 29.b3 e7 30.c4 h6 31.f7 h7 32.c4 d6 33.h4 d1 34.e8 f5 35.exf5 xf5 36.g8+ h8 1-0 Botvinnik, M-Szilagyi, G/Amsterdam 1966/MCL ] 5.h3 xf3?! 6.xf3 e6 [ 6...e5 is likely to transpose to the Botvinnik example above, though Black does not have to invite b2-b4 by putting his bishop on c5. ] 7.0-0 bd7 8.c3 c5 [ 8...h5!? is the sort of hopeful lunge that I might venture when I am out of form. White can deal with it in numerous ways, and in most cases Black will regret weakening his position. More generally, Black could consider castling queenside because with the knight on c3 it will take W hite quite a while to open lines against Black's king. ] 9.e4 dxe4 10.xe4! If White takes with the pawn, Black might make good use of the e5 square. xe4 11.xe4 f6 12.f3 0-0 Whatever advantage White has, it obviously isn't much, but I included this game to show how the two bishops, which currently appear to be an unimportant feature of the position, can gradually show their strength in such quiet positions. 13.g2 a5 14.c3 e5?! Perhaps not a mistake as such, but certainly positionally questionable because it weakens light squares, and the absence of the light squared bishop is therefore more keenly felt. 241 A07 [ 14...a4 15.d4 e7 followed by putting the queen on a5, a rook on d8 and sitting tight Granda Zuniga,Julio E 2610 while mulling over possible pawn breaks, Cramling,Pia 2528 looks better. ] III Ruy Lopez (7) 19.06.2009 15.e2 e8 16.d2 b6 17.g5 d5 [Jonathan Rowson] 18.ae1 h6 19.c1 f6 20.c2 Not much seems to have changed, but White 1.f3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g4 4.d3 f6 [ The following old classic is worth knowing has an easy plan of doubling on the e-file and about, if only because it highlights the issue slowly a dvan cin g on t he qu ee nsid e, a n d o f w e a k c o l o u r c o m p l e x e s s o c l e a r l y . Cramling didn't find anything to counter this 4...d7 5.h3 xf3 You will find very few idea. ad8 21.e2 a6 22.fe1 d6 23.a3 Grandmasters who will give a bishop for a c7 225
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 23...a4 feels like a reflex to me, but there here: 6...d4!? 7.b4! The point, b5 is are m any s cenarios when such a pawn t h r e a t e n e d , wi n n i n g t h e e 5 - p a wn , d7 could become a liability. ] ( 7...xb4?! i s a n e r r o r , 8.xe5! xe5 24.c4 d6 25.d2 f8 26.c3 d7 27.b4 9.a4+ c6 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.xb4 a7 28.c5 c7 29.d4 axb4 30.axb4 exd4 is much better for White.) 8.a3 0-0 9.e3 31.xd4 Now White is obviously clearly better, f6 10.a2 a5 11.b5 e7 12.exd4 exd4 and could probably have converted his 13.a4 White has an ideal position, Huzman, advantage earlier than he did. b8 32.c3 A-Mikhalevski,A/Beer Sheva 1993. ] f6 33.h5 e5 34.c4+ h8 35.e3! [ but 6...0-0 7.cxd5 xd5 transposes to the K e e p i n g t h e b i s h o p p a i r . f5 Avoiding English, Reversed Dragon, and is by far the suffocation, but the pawn soon drops off and most popular method of treating this after that the result was never in doubt. 36.f4 position. ] f6 37.g6 a8 38.a2 b8 39.f2 c7 7.dxc4 The best move, 40.e6 b8 41.xf5 f7 42.ae2 a6 [ t h e t y p i c a l P i r c m o v e , 7.a4 43.b1 c7 44.c2 g8 45.d6 b5 is less successful here, cxd3! 8.xe5 dxe2 46.a2 h7 47.xd8 xd8 48.d1 g6 this is the problem for White, the e2-pawn 49.b1 f7 50.d2 xd2 51.xd2 c3 menaces the rook with check, and Black 52.f5 b5 53.d7 xd7 54.xd7 c3 g a i n s a m o ve . T h e e xt r a t e m p o wo r k s 55.c8 xb4 56.xb7 a7 57.f3 g8 against W hite, strangely, for, if his king 58.e4 f7 59.a6 g6 60.g4 e7 61.e3 were still on e1 he would be able to capture h5 62.gxh5 gxh5 63.f5 b5 64.g6 on c6! 9.e1 0-0 10.xc6 bxc6 11.c3 c3 65.f5 d5 66.f6+ xf6 67.g5 c3 g4 12.h3 e6 13.xc6 b8 Black has 68.c4 d4 69.h4 c3 70.f5 d4 active play, Rajkovic,D-Vaganian,R/ 71.b3 c3 72.a4 d4 73.xc6 f7 Kragujevac 1974 ] 74.f3 g8 75.d5+ f8 76.xg8 xc5 7...xd1 77.d5 g7 78.f3 d4 79.xh5 c3 [ 7...0-0 Is also playable, 8.c3 e6!? 80.g6 b2 81.h5 9.b3 but now a5!? is very risky, better to 1-0 play ( 9...b8 perhaps, as in the Short game. ) 10.c2 xc4 11.g5! d6 12.xe6 fxe6 13.b3 c8 14.h3 f7 242 A07 Black is hanging -on to his e6-pawn like grim death, but Julian Hodgson is at his best Hennigan,Michael 2430 wh e n h e h a s s a c r i f i c e d m a t e r i a l f o r a Chandler,Murray G 2520 positional plus. 15.f4! exf4 16.xf4 b5?! 4NCL Birmingham ENG (7) 20.03.1999 17.e4 b4 18.d5! dxe4 19.xc7 [Tony Kosten] W hite is winning, Hodgson-Naumkin, London 1990 ] 1.g3 d5 2.g2 f6 3.d3 e5 If White e6 9.b3 The position appears doesn't want to put his pawns in the middle of 8.xd1 the board, Black will! 4.f3 c6 5.0-0 equal. 0-0 10.b2 d7 Passive, [ 10...fd8 is simpler, contesting the d-file. ] White has a classical Pirc position, with an e x t r a t e m p o . e7 This is the most natural 11.c3 f6 12.d5 d6 Despite White's advanced d5-knight, Black seems OK, his move, but [ 5...h6 is also possible, amongst others, to position is very solid. 13.e1! fd8 14.c2 stop Bg5, 6.c4 dxc4 7.dxc4 e6!? 8.b3 a5? [ 14...b6! would have avoided what b8 9.d1 d6 10.c3 a6 with equal follows. ] chances, Mack-Short, BL 1987 ] 6.c4 The traditional flanking blow, White has 15.a3! White has cleverly found a weakness only allowed Black to set-up a centre, so that in t h e b la ck p o s it io n , t h e c 7 - p a wn . ac8 he can attack it. dxc4 A sensible, if not overly This allows White to give Black a backward pawn on the d-file, but ambitious reply. [ 15...xa3? would have lost material after [ Aiming for a Benoni-style position is risky 226
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.xc7! ] 16.xd6 cxd6 17.a3 It is all too easy for W hite, now- the knight will come to b5 to attack the d6-pawn. g4 18.d2 c5 19.b5 f8 20.ad1 The white pieces find t h e i r i d e a l s q u a r e s . e6 21.dc3 the d6-pawn is lost. a4 22.xd6 axb3 23.xc8 xc8 24.d5! d4 25.e3 c6 26.xe6 xe6 27.axb3 The game is all over, bar the shouting. c5 28.b1 f5 29.b4 e6 30.c5 e4 31.d5 g6 32.h4 e7 33.d6 e5 34.d5+ f7 35.a1 g5 36.a7 b8 37.c6 f3+ 38.g2 1-0
243 Hickl,Joerg Hort,Vlastimil A Dortmund [Tony Kosten]
A07 2500 2580 1989
1.g3 e5 2.g2 d5 3.d3 c6 4.f3 f6 5.0-0 e7 This is not the only move, [ 5...d6 and Short's 5...h6, are reasonable. 6.g5 h6 7.xf6 xf6 8.c3 e6 9.d2 e7 10.b5!? fairly equal, Fries Nielsen,NThorhallsson,T/5th Nordic GP, Torshavn FAI 1997. ] 6.g5 White follows a plan used by Black, with colours reversed. He hopes to play a favourable e4. [ 6.c3 is also possible, with similar ideas, although this does allow Black the option of playing: d4 7.b1 0-0 8.c3 e8 9.g5 a5 10.a4 d7 11.cxd4 xd4 12.d1 xf3+ 13.xf3 c6 and the players have reached a Sicilian-type position, Urban,KBrodsky,M/Cappelle la Grande FRA 1999 ] 6...e6 Black over-protects his centre, which is often a useful precaution. [ 6...0-0 Is obviously fine, too. 7.c3 h6 ( 7...e6 transposes to 6...Be6.) 8.xf6 xf6 9.e4 d4 10.d5 e6 11.e1 e8 12.c3 Black's advantage is minimal, Hickl,JKindermann,S/ Dortmund 1989. ] 7.c3 0-0 8.e4 White invites the reply ...d4 when a closed KI position is reached. [ 8.d2 allows d7 9.xe7 ( 9.e4!? ) 9...xe7 10.e4 d4 11.e2 f6 12.f4 c5 When Black has a favourable 'Samisch KI'
set-up, Hulak,K-Quinteros,M/ Amsterdam 1977. ] 8...d4 9.e2 h6 [ 9...d7 Is met by 10.d2! a5 11.c3 dxc3?! ( 11...c5 is an improvement, when 12.cxd4 exd4 13.f4 g4 is fine for Black. ) 12.xc3 b4 13.d4 exd4 14.fxd4 White has exploded the black centre. xd4 15.xd4 xc3 16.xc3 with an edge to W hite, Gufeld,EYermolinsky,A/Lloyds Bank op 1994. ] 10.d2 d6 11.e1 White prepares the standard f4-blow. d7 12.f4 f5 Black wishes to avoid the white kingside pawn avalanche. 13.h3 fxe4 14.dxe4 a5 15.d3 The white knight finds a good blockading square. c4 16.b3 f7 17.h1 f6 18.e1 c5 19.ec1 White has no desire to lose the d3knight , and gets read y t o rep la ce it . d7 20.e2 c5 Neither side wishes to force the issue. ½-½
244 Hillarp Persson,Tiger Smith,Axel XVI Sigeman & Co (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A07 2491 2428 25.04.2008
1.g3 f6 2.g2 d5 3.d3 e5 4.f3 c6 5.0-0 e7 6.a3 a5 7.c3 [ White is heading for a sort of reversed Pirc, not quite like the one he plays as Black, but a more normal and less hazardous one. I don't know much about the guy playing Bla ck in t h is ga m e , b u t h e st a rt e d t h is t o u rn a m e n t su rp ri si n g ly we l l, s o T i ge r probably wanted to slow Black down and ju s t g r a d u a l l y o u t p l a y h i m r a t h e r t h a n heading into the typical kind of complications Tiger used to favour playing. W hite has also tried other moves in this position, the main one being 7.b3 A) 7...e6 8.b2 ( 8.c4 dxc4 9.bxc4 d7 10.c3 c5 11.a4 0-0 with chances to both players, Skalkotas, N-Lirindzakis, T/Athens 1988) 8...d4 ( 8...d7 9.bd2 0-0 10.e4 dxe4 11.dxe4 f6 12.e2 b6 with a typical position of this structure. My computer 227
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 calls this equal, but I have always favoured White, finding White's game easier to play: put a rook on d-file, play Nd2-f1-e3, the other knight to via h4 to f5 and then the p a wn s c a n b e a d va n c e d . S c h e i n , K Aschenbrenner, R/AUT 2002) 9.c3 0-0 10.bd2 ( 10.cxd4 exd4 11.bd2 d7 12.c1 fd8 13.c2 h3 14.a1 xg2 15.xg2 b6 16.c1 c5 , and Black has the better chances, Andersson, M-Sanden, S/SW E 1993) 10...dxc3 11.xc3 d7 12.c4 f6 13.fd2 db8 14.b1 a7= Moldovan, D-Ionescu, C/Baile Tusnad 1999; B) 7...0-0 B1) The alternatives are less imposing: 8.bd2? e4 9.e1 c5 10.b1 e7 11.c3 h6 , and Black is clearly better, Mandl, R-Ostermeyer, P/Germany 1986; B2) 8.e3 B2a) 8...e4!? 9.dxe4 xe4 10.d4 ( 10.b2 g4 ) 10...f6 11.b2 e8 12.d2 xd4 13.exd4 f5 , and Black has the upper hand, Tarmak, M-Kaczorowski, P/ICCF Email 1999; B2b) 8...c5 9.bd2 e7 10.b2 d8 11.b1 h6 12.c4 d4 13.exd4 exd4 14.e1 d6 15.h3 f5 16.h4 h7 17.e4 xe4 18.xe4 xe4 19.xe4 d7 20.f1 e8 with the chances to both sides, Gausel, E-Sammalvuo, T/Reykjavik 1995; B3) 8.b2 B3a) 8...d4 B3a1) 9.c4 h6 10.bd2 f5 11.c2 e8 12.ad1 h7 13.fe1 f8 14.e4 d7 Velez, N-Sariego, W/Holguin 1991, 15.e3 f5 16.ed2 dxe3 17.xe3 c5 18.e2 , and White has decent chances for a lasting plus.; B3a2) 9.c3 e8 ( 9...a6 10.bd2 e8 11.c1 f8 12.c2 dxc3 13.xc3= Roth, J-Dausch, R/ Wuerttemberg 1999) 10.cxd4 exd4 11.bd2 f8 ( 11...f5 12.c1 d7 13.xc6 xc6 14.xd4 c5 15.xf5 xf5 16.xb7 Gelman, AZakharov, A/Moscow 1998) 12.c1
e6 ( 12...d5 13.c4 b6 14.xc6 bxc6 15.xd4 b7 16.xc6 c8 17.e3 Welling, GP u l kk in e n , K / K e m e r T UR 2 0 0 7 ); 12...a6 13.e1 b6 14.c4 b5 15.a4 h5 16.cd2 h3 17.xh3 xh3 18.c4 Abeln, M-Zaragatski, I/ Netherlands NED 2007) 13.c2 d5 14.e1 d7 15.a1 ad8 16.c4 g4 17.h3 h6 18.c1 f5 , and Black has the upper hand, Andersson, M-Hartman, C/ Sweden 1993; B3a3) 9.bd2 d5 ( 9...e8 10.c4 f8 11.a4 g4 12.h3 f5 13.e4 c8 14.fd2 d7 15.f4 f6 16.f3 b4 , Hennigan, M-Apicella, M/Oakham 1990, and now W hite should have opted for 17.fxe5 xe5 18.fxe5 fxe5 19.f2 with the better chances) 10.c4 f6 11.a4 e8 12.d2 e6 13.ac1 e7 14.a3 xa3 15.xa3 f6 16.e3 , and a draw was rather prematurely agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, Ujtelky, M-Filip, M/Prague 1963; B3b) 8...e4!? 9.dxe4 ( 9.fd2?! e3 10.fxe3 g4 11.f3 ce5 12.f1 xf3+ 13.exf3 f6 14.c3 c6 ) 9...dxe4 ( 9...xe4!? ) 10.d4 xd4 11.xd4 c5 12.b2 a4 13.bxa4 b6 14.c1 xa4 15.c3 c4 16.h3 e6 , and Black has the better chances, Popovic, P-Deze, A/ Novi Sad 1979; B3c) 8...d6 9.bd2 ( 9.c4 d4 10.bd2 e8 11.c2 e6 12.e3 b8 13.fe1 e7 14.exd4 exd4 , Scrimgour, A-Bonner, G/Ayr 1974, 15.e4; 9.c3 e8 10.e4 d4 11.e2 a4 12.b4 e6 13.g5 d7 14.c3 dxc3 15.xc3 h6 16.f3 Mayer, S-Schmidt, T/Toronto 1983) 9...e7 ( 9...e8 10.e4 dxe4 11.dxe4 g4 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 c5 14.g2 e7 15.c3 ad8 16.b4 a7 17.c2 d7 18.fd1 Lima, D-Cuartas, C/Cali 2001) 10.c4 d4 11.c2 d8 12.e3 c5 13.ae1 c7 14.exd4 exd4 15.b4 Ujtelky, M-Fichtl, J/Podebrady 1956 ] 228
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...0-0 8.e3 [ A worthwhile alternative is 8.g5 e6 ( 8...d4 9.xf6 xf6 10.e4 e7 11.c4 f5 12.ed2 a6 with chances to both sides, Nicholson, J-Solomon, S/Melbourne 1997) 9.e4 d4 10.e2 d7 ( 10...d7 11.xe7 xe7 12.d2 c5 13.f4 f6 14.f5 f7 15.a4 b5 16.axb5 b6 , Jurkovic, A-Tian Tian/ Budapest 2001, and now White should h a v e t r i e d 17.c4 dxc3 18.c4 xb5 19.xc3 ) 11.d2 ( 11.b1 a4 12.d2 g4 13.xe7 xe7 14.f3 f6 15.h3 h6 16.h2 c5 , and Black has the better chances, Szilardfy, G-Lengyel, B/ Budapest 1995 ) 11...g4 12.h4 e8 13.f3 e6 14.f4 xh4 15.gxh4 exf4 16.xf4 f6 17.e1 e5 18.h5 , and White has the upper hand, O rtega, L-Vezzosi, P/Forli 1991 ] [ Less convincing is 8.e4 dxe4 9.dxe4 g4 10.e3 c8 11.b1 d8 12.g5 xf3 13.xf3 d4 14.g2 c6 , and Black has a pleasant game, Shchekachev, A-Boidman, Y/Metz FRA 2007 ] 8...e8 9.b3 f5 10.h3 h6 11.b2 d7 [ 11...d4!? 12.exd4 exd4 13.b5 c5 14.d2 d7 , and chances to both sides ] 12.h2 ad8 13.e2 d6 14.d2 e7 15.b1 g6 16.a2! White is playing in an almost mocking fashion, but it is amazing how passively Black sits by, almost clueless to White's teasing symmetrical play. b8?! [ 16...h5!? ] 17.ae1 bd7 18.a1 c6 19.f4 c7 20.c1 d6 [ Some alternatives are 20...h7 21.f5 b5 22.e4 d6 ] [ and 20...e4 21.f5 h7 with a good for Black ] 21.a4 [ 21.fxe5 xe5 22.f4 a4!? ] 21...b8 [ Here 21...exf4 22.exf4 b6 looks pleasant for Black, whereas ] [ 21...e4 22.a3 c5 23.d4 c8 24.c4 b6 is about equal ] 22.a3 c7 23.f5 h5 24.e4 dxe4 [ 24...a7!? invites White to trap Black's b i s h o p o n h 5 w i t h 25.g4 ( 25.c3!? ) 25...xg4 26.hxg4 xg4+ 27.h3 df6 , but this is hardly particularly promising for
W h i t e , e . g . 28.f3 e3 29.h1 h7 , and I prefer Black. ] 25.dxe4 [ 25.xe4 xe4 26.dxe4 xe2 27.xe2 a7 leads to approximately equal chances ] 25...xe2 26.xe2 a7 27.g4 [ Or 27.c4 b6 28.b2 c8 29.c3 b5 with a complicated game and chances to both sides ] 27...c5 28.f3 d6 [ 28...h7!? ] 29.c4 e7 30.b2 [ Here I like 30.xc5 xc5 31.g5 , e.g. hxg5 32.xg5 h7 33.g3 e7 34.d1 , and W hite has the better chances it is difficult for Black to get active counterplay. Ho we ve r , T i g e r i s t a k i n g i s ve r y s l o w, continuing to massage Black into submission. ] 30...a8 31.e1 [ Also 31.g5 hxg5 32.xg5 b5 33.g2 f8 34.d2 is clearly better for White ] 31...b4 32.c3 c5 33.c1 b6?! [ Black refuses to play actively. Last chance is 33...b5 34.b2 a3 ] 34.xb6 xb6 35.g2 h7 36.h4 f6?! [ 36...c5 37.g5 hxg5 38.hxg5 looks outright scary for Black on the kingside ] 37.e2 c5? 38.c4+ [ 38.g5 hxg5 39.hxg5 fxg5 40.c4+ f8 41.g3+- ] 38...h8 [ 38...f8 39.g5 fxg5 40.hxg5 xg5 41.xg5 hxg5 42.f6 gxf6 43.h4! ] 39.g5 fxg5 [ 39...b5 40.axb5 fxg5 41.hxg5 cxb5 42.xb5 eb8 43.f6 gxf6 44.gxf6 xf6 45.c4+- ] 40.hxg5 hxg5 41.f3 f6 42.h3 e7 43.h1! and on account of the threat of Qg1-h2, Black decided he had seen enough and resigned. A beautiful effort on White's part, and a demonstration how small means are often adequate when having to beat weaker opponents. 1-0
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 245 Hodgson,Julian M Short,Nigel D Brighton (2) [Nigel Davies]
A07 2385 2475 1983
1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.d3 g4 5.h3 h5 6.g4 g6 7.h4 e5 8.c3 [ This move is more or less interchangeable with 8.e3 . Black will be loathe to play ...d5d4 with his light square bishop about to disappear from the board. ] 8...e7 [ 8...b4 is interesting. ] 9.e3 0-0?! This looks natural enough but it is incredibly dangerous for Black to commit his king here. And the fact that a player of Nigel Short's considerable abilities does so here shows that it's an easy mistake to make. [ 9...bd7 was a much better idea. ] 10.xg6 hxg6 11.g5 e8 [ After 11...h5 12.h4 f5 (Otherwise White will play Bf3 and then capture on h5) 13.gxf6 xf6 14.e2 White will be castling long and then attack Black's doubled g-pawns (and then his king) along the open g-file. ] 12.h4 b5 Seeing the potential danger to his king, Short hurries to get counterplay. 13.a3 a5 14.g4 c7 15.e4 d4 16.e2 d7 17.g3 With h4-h5 coming White clearly doesn't want a queen swap. e8 18.h3 d8 19.h5 d6 20.hxg6 fxg6 21.f4 exf4 [ 21...ba6 22.h4 f7 ] 22.xf4 xf4 23.xf4 d6 24.0-0-0 W h it e's at ta ck is wa y to o st ro ng n ow. b4 25.df1 bxa3 26.h4 axb2+ 27.b1 a3 28.h7+! [ B l a c k i s m a t e d a f t e r 28.h7+ f8 ( 28...f7 29.xg6#; 28...xh7 29.e6# ) 29.xg6# ] 1-0
246 Hodgson,Julian M Sofrigin,Alexej Bern Cup Berna (4) [Nigel Davies]
A07 2615 2285 1996
1.g3 f6 2.g2 d5 3.d3 c6 4.f3 g4 5.h3 xf3 6.exf3 e6 7.f4
[ Here's another example of this set-up: 7.0-0 d6 8.f4 c7 9.d2 bd7 10.f3 0-0 11.e1 fe8 12.d4 (Preventing ...e6-e5 perhaps through concern that this would get drawish, but now Black gets another good lever) c5! 13.e3 ac8 14.c3 b5 15.e5 b6 16.d3 c4 17.e5 e4 18.h2 f6 19.f3 b4 and Black had sufficient counterplay in Stanec, N (2566)-Freitag, M (2396)/Austria 2005. ] 7...c5 [ I think it makes more sense to fianchetto this bishop with 7...g6 , one of the points being that it inhibits a later f4-f5 by White. ] [ Black has also tried 7...d6 which doesn't look quite right either, for example 8.d2 0-0 9.f3 bd7 10.0-0 e8 11.e1 e5 12.fxe5 xe5 13.d4 c7 14.g5 h6 15.e3 was slightly better for White in Hergott, D (2510) -O'Donnell, T (2425)/ Calgary 1996. ] 8.d4 This will only be worth doing if it gains a tempo, and personally I might have resisted the temptation even now. e7 9.d2 0-0 10.0-0 bd7 11.f3 b6 12.c3 ac8 13.e2 b5 14.e3 fe8 [ 14...c5 is Black's logical pawn lever, which is the reason I'd have preferred to keep White's d-pawn back. It's only Black's refusal to use this idea that eventually lands him in a passive position. ] 15.a4 b6 16.a5 c7 17.b4 b6 18.e5 xe5?! [ 18...c5 is still the right idea. ] 19.fxe5 d7 20.f4?! A slip which might have been inspired by Black's passive play. [ 20.d2 was better. ] 20...f5?! [ Missing a chance of counterplay with 20...bxa5 21.xa5 c5! , the point being that 22.dxc5 xa5! wins material. ] 21.g4 g6 22.h4!? b5? With White charging down the kingside it was vital to get some counterplay. [ 22...bxa5! 23.xa5 fxg4 24.h5 b6 was a better try, keeping some activity. ] 23.h5 f8 24.h3 Now White's attack is the only show in town. d8 25.f3 e7 26.a2 g7 27.h1 e7 28.h2 f7 Rightly heading for the hills. 29.d2 e8 30.e1 d7 31.g1 c7 32.g2 f7 230
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 later, Ne3-f5. b4 Hoping to encourage White to play c3, perhaps, a more natural alternative is [ 14...c5 15.f1 f8 16.g4!? A doubleedged advance, White must be sure that he can stop Black from playing a knight to the f4-square that he has just weakened. g6 17.g3 White builds-up on the kingside. 6d7 menacing ...Ne6-f4. 18.h4 f6 19.g5 f7 20.h5 e6 Finally Black is able to play this, but events are about to overtake him. 21.gxf6 gxf6 22.h4 h8 23.f3 f4 24.hf5 e6 25.h1 White has a violent kingside attack, Istratescu,A-Acs,P/Krynica POL 1998. ] 15.c4 xf3 Conceding the bishop pair, but this is a common theme in this variation, and Black wants to reduce the pressure on e5, for instance, 247 A07 [ 15...ad8?! allows 16.g4 g6 17.fxe5 xe5 18.xd8 and White wins the e-pawn. ] Istratescu,Andrei 2540 Torre,Eugenio 2545 16.xf3 f8 All part of the plan, the knight is White sets a light ol (men) Elista RUS (9) 07.10.1998 c o m i n g t o e 6 . 17.h4! square attack in motion, now that Black has [Tony Kosten] given his main light-squared defender. 6d7 1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 This is the most common 18.g4 f6!? A difficult move to have to make, move order for reaching this position, Black his e5-pawn needed more defence, but this w a i t s b e f o r e W h i t e p l a y s g 3 b e f o r e further weakens the light squares. 19.e3 committing himself to ...d5. 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 e6 20.c4 df8 21.g2 h8 22.h5 g4 Capablanca's System, play should be Threatening to play h6, and then f4, exposing similar to a reversed Torre Attack. 5.d3 bd7 the a1-h8 diagonal. h6 White's strategy has 6.bd2 e5 As White has not made any effort triumphed, the kingside light squares belong to attack the black centre, with c4, Black to his pieces, but Black could barely avoid this move anyway. 23.f5 ad8 24.xd8 xd8 boldly constructs a full centre. [ 6...e6 is normal, although less ambitious, 25.d1 c7 26.c3 White only plays this B l a c k s e t s - u p a l i g h t - s q u a r e d w a l l o f move now that he can af ford to close the a1-h8 diagonal, the b2-bishop has achieved pawns. ] 7.h3 h5 8.e4 dxe4 9.dxe4 e7 its objectives here, and now moves to the A solid choice, leaving the c5-square open for c1-h6 diagonal. c5 27.h4 b6 28.c1 the later manoeuvre ...Nc5-e6, controlling the f7 29.g6+ g8 [ 29...xg6?! 30.hxg6 forces the passive d4-square. Personally, I prefer move g8 ] [ 9...c5 placing the king's bishop on an 30.f5 d8 Black seeks salvation in the active diagonal. ] 10.a4! A useful precaution, White hopes to put endgame, but White's control of the d-file will xf7 paid to any possibility of Black playing a later b e t h e d e cisive f a ct o r. 31.xf7+ A surprising move, White need to ...b5, the c4-square will provide a good post 32.e3! for a white knight. a5 11.e2 0-0 12.b3 e8 exchange the c5-bishop, even if it means 13.b2 By pressurising the e5-pawn he a l l o wi n g t h e d o u b l i n g o f h i s p a wn s . d8 makes it difficult for Black to bring a knight to This is easy for White, but even after [ 32...xe3 33.fxe3 Black cannot move any e6. c7 14.fd1 White has the slightly more of his pieces without allowing the white active position, he can continue with Nc4, and 33.gxf5 exf5 34.c4! Opening up Black's new residence for his king. bxc4 35.b5 e6?! [ 35...b8 was a much better try. ] 36.bxc6 gxh5 37.xh5? Hurrying a time troubled opponent? [ 37.d2 was strong here. ] 37...xg2? [ 37...g8! would have helped Black get right back in the game. ] 38.xf7 xh2+ 39.xh2 xf4 40.g3? Another slip from Hodgson which strongly suggests a time scramble. [ 40.g7 was better. ] 40...xc6 41.e8+ [ Presumably this was on time as after 41.e8+ b7 Black is much better. ] 1-0
231
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pieces to infiltrate his position, e.g. e6 34.b4 d8 35.xd8+ exd8 36.e7+ f8 37.c8 ] 33.xc5 bxc5 [ 33...xd1 34.xf8 ] 34.e7+ h8 35.xd8 xd8 36.f3 Black is in zugzwang. c4 The only other move is [ 36...h7 but 37.e3 g5 38.d7 wins easily. ] 37.b4 Creating a distant passed pawn. axb4 38.cxb4 c5 39.bxc5 fe6 40.xe6 xe6 41.c6 The black king is still cut-off from the game, and W hite can queen one of his queenside pawns however he wants. 1-0
16.b3+ h7 17.c2 [ Why didn't Ivanchuk play the natural 17.xh8 xh8 18.xb7 ? Presumably he was concerned about Black's play on the light squa res, but is it really enough t o compensate for the material deficit? I don't think so. ] 17...e8 18.e1 Ivanchuk continues to reject ways of cashing in and gradually runs short of compensation. [ 18.f4 g8 19.xc7 was probably the way to go here. ] 18...g8 19.b3+ e6 20.xe6 xe6 21.xe6+ h7 22.f5 e8 23.e5+ g8 24.f4 xe5 25.xe5 [ 25.dxe5 d5 would also favour Black. ] 25...d7 26.xd7 xd7 27.xc7 c8 28.a5 c2 248 A07 [ Black could also have played 28...xd4 because 29.d1 can be answered by e5! Ivanchuk,Vassily 2764 .] Navara,David 2708 53rd Masters (7) 04.01.2011 29.c3 b6 30.e1 f7 31.f1 a4 32.e2 c1+ 33.e1 xe1+ 34.xe1 xc3 [Nigel Davies] 35.bxc3 e6 36.d2 d5 37.d3 b5 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 d5 38.f4 a5 39.g4 f6 40.e3 a4 41.d3 5.0-0 dxc4 6.a3 e6 7.g5!? d8 42.h3 e7 This appears to be a novelty, and a very 0-1 interesting one at that. In playing this way White almost certainly had in mind the knight A07 sacrifice on move 10, which makes the whole 249 Kamsky,Gata 2720 concept very deep and fascinating. Aronian,Levon 2754 [ T h e t ra d it i o n a l 7.c2 seems far more c o m f o r t a b l e f o r B l a c k, f o r e xa m p l e 0-0 4th FIDE GP Nalchik RUS (12) 28.04.2009 8.xc4 c5 ( 8...c6 9.d3 d5 10.e4 [Jonathan Rowson] was Markowski, T (2603)-Romanishin, O ( 2 5 3 7 ) / M o s c o w 2 0 0 4 a n d n o w e6 1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 It is not clear was best ) 9.d3 c6 10.e3 b6 11.fc1 that Black is obliged to play this move, but I d5 was fine for Black in Nanu, C (2418)- have noticed that most Slav players do it as a matter of course, perhaps thinking that with Lupulescu, C (2348)/Baile Tusnad 2001. ] 7...d5 8.e4 c6 9.xc4 h6 10.xf7! their pawns on c6 and d5, nothing can harm 4.0-0 f5 5.d3 e6 6.fd2!? W hite really had to have had this in mind them. when playing his 7.Ng5 which makes the Not a new idea, but probably W hite's best entire concept very interesting. And the result chance to generate a serious initiative in this of this game is not a f air indication. xf7 line. The point is to free the f-pawn as early as possible and force through e4 and f4 and 11.e5+ g8 12.xg6 bd7 [ B l a c k c o u l d a l s o c o n s i d e r 12...xe4 possib ly also g4 a nd/ or f 5 dep end ing o n , for example 13.e1 h7 14.xh8 d6 context. White can also play Nbd2, Qe1 and 15.d4 xg2 16.xg2 xh8 17.d5 e4, or Nbd2, e3, Qe2 and e4, but in most of looks slightly more comfortable for White but these cases White moves his f3 knight sooner or later anyway, often to a not particularly is far from clear. ] 13.d4 xe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.d3 ef6 natural square like h4 or e1, so Nfd2 has a lot 232
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 going for it. h6 [ 6...g6!? 7.e4 h5!? was tried by Sveshnikov here in a rapid game, but looks a bit suspect to my mind. ] [ 6...e5!? might be simplest. A) 7.c4 is probably more challenging, but there doesn't seem to be much wrong with B la c k 's p o sit i o n . T h a t s a id , a f t e r t h e natural e7 ( 7...d4!? ) 8.c3 0-0 9.b3 is already uncomfortable.; B) 7.e4 dxe4 8.dxe4 e6 Now White's creative knight manoeuvre looks q u e s t i o n a b l e . 9.e2 1/2-1/2 Badea, B (2520)-Malakhov, V (2535)/Tucepi 199698 ] 7.e4 h7 8.c3 bd7 Perhaps not a mistake, but I would have given preference to kingside development, retaining the option of Na6 and/or c5 and Nc6. 9.e2 b6 10.a4 a5 11.f4 b4 12.f5 e7 13.b3 dxe4 14.xe4 xf5 [ 14...xe4 15.dxe4 exf5 16.f2 d7 17.exf5 ] 15.xf6+ gxf6 16.xf5! exf5 17.f2 White has more than enough compensation and Black does well to survive. d7 18.f4 [ 18.xf5!? ] 18...e5 19.d4 g6 20.c3 xf4 21.gxf4 In some ways it is a pity to close the f-file, but fixing 1v3 on one file is not such a bad thing, and more importantly, White threatens Re1, w i n n i n g t h e q u e e n . 0-0-0 22.cxb4 There was something to be said for delaying this move. [ 22.e1 d6 23.e3 looks at least as strong. ] 22...xb4 23.c2 he8 24.f2 e7 25.d1 de8 26.d2 xa4 27.xf5+ b8 28.c5 c4 29.c2 xc2 30.xc2 d8 31.d2 c7 32.e4 ed7 33.e3 e7 34.f2 ed7 35.e3 e7 36.d3 d5 37.c3 d8 38.e4 d5 39.c3 d8 40.e4 ½-½
250 Kamsky,Gata Robson,Ray ch-USA Saint Louis USA (1) [Nigel Davies]
A07 2702 2569 14.05.2010
1.f3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g4 4.0-0 d7 5.d3 gf6 6.h3 h5 7.bd2 e5 8.e4 d6 9.c3 Kamsky places more trust in his ability to grind than any particular knowledge of theory. [ The most challenging line is 9.exd5 cxd5 10.c4 with interesting play. ] 9...a5 [ There are other move orders here, for example 9...0-0 10.c2 e8 11.e1 a5 12.a4 would transpose into the game. ] 10.a4 0-0 11.c2 e8 12.e1 c5 I must admit to finding White's position totally unappealing after both this and other moves. [ 12...c7 13.h4 ad8 14.b3 e7 15.f5 f8 16.e3 h6 was also nothing for W hite in Savon, V (2485)-Andrianov, N (2435)/Severodonetsk 1982. ] 13.h4 dxe4 [ Black could also keep the tension with 13...f8 , for example 14.f1 b6 15.g2 ad8 16.b1 c7 17.f3 d7 18.e2 g6 19.f1 e7 20.h2 h5 21.g2 e6 was very good for Black at this stage in Vrana, F (2259)-Meduna, E (2483)/ Kunzak 2001. ] [ Another possibility is 13...b6 when 14.g4 g6 15.g5 h5 16.xg6 hxg6 17.exd5 cxd5 18.xd5 d8 gave Black compensation for the sacrificed pawn in Cabrilo, G (2490)-Horvath, C (2460)/Niksic 1991. ] 14.dxe4 c7 15.f1 Given the way this turns out W hite wou ld be well ad vised to see k alternatives here. [ One possibility is 15.g4 af t er wh ic h d3 16.xd3 xd3 17.e3 xc1 18.xc1 g6 19.ee1 ed8 would be very comfortable for Black but maybe not better for him. Of course this is much better than the game. ] 15...d7 16.b3 cxe4! It must be great to be so young, talented and fearless! This sacrifice is new and looks rather good, but against a great defender like Kamsky it's a risky way to play. [ Older and less gifted players would be well 233
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a d v i s e d t o t r y t h e m u n d a n e 16...e6 here instead, for example 17.e3 ed8 18.c5 ( 18.f5 seems slightly better for White as f3 is met by 19.d2 . ) 18...xc5 19.xc5 e6 20.f5 d7 21.b3 ad8 a n d B la c k wa s d o in g f in e in I va n o v, M (2489)-Juhasz, K (2175)/Feffernitz 2008. ] 17.g4 xg4 18.hxg4 xg4+ 19.g2 ad8 [ Perhaps Black should have chosen 19...g5!? , f o r e xa m p l e 20.e2 f3+ 21.xf3 xf3 22.d2 h5 leaves him with three pawns and ongoing attacking chances for the piece. ] 20.e2 e6 21.c4 f5 22.e3 h3 [ And here 22...d6 23.e2 g6 might have been a better way. ] 23.e2 g4? Allowing White to simplify into an endgame in which he has all the chances. [ 23...g5!? would have been much better. ] 24.xg4! xg4 25.d2 f6 26.xg4 xg4 27.c4 xe3 28.gxe3 h5 29.ab1 d3 30.ed1 ed8?! A stereotyped move after which White gets a clear edge. [ 30...e4! was much better when the situation remains far from clear. ] 31.xd3 xd3 32.b4! Despite the reduction in material W hite has managed to take the initiative on the queenside. axb4 33.xb4 b5 [ 33...b6 34.xb6 xc3 was a better try. After the text Black may already be lost. ] 34.axb5 cxb5 35.xb5 xc3 36.b7 d8 37.b8 d3 38.xe5 Going a piece for two pawns up. The rest of the game represents very little other than suffering for Black, with a f a r f r o m h a p p y o u t c o m e a t t h e e n d . d6 39.g2 g6 40.b7 f6 41.3c4 f4 42.d6 h4 43.f3 g5 44.dxf7 f6 45.b8+ g7 46.h8 f5 47.xh5 e1 48.xg5+ xg5+ 49.xg5 f6 50.d3 a5 51.e4+ f5 52.f2 c7 53.e3 b6+ 54.ec5 c7 55.b3 d6 56.d4+ f6 57.e4 g3 58.f4 h2 59.de2 e7 60.f5 d6 61.g4 e5 62.h5 1-0
251 Kasimdzhanov,Rustam Morozevich,Alexander World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A07 2690 2755 21.11.2007
1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 g4 5.d3 bd7 6.bd2 e6 7.e1 e7 8.e4 0-0 9.h3 h5 10.e5 [ This doesn't accomplish anything for White, and actually promises Black an easy game. Similarly 10.h2?! e5 11.f4 exf4 12.gxf4 dxe4 13.dxe4 c5 is very nice for Black one game went 14.h1 e8 15.e5 d5 16.df3 f5 17.c4 c7 18.e3 7e6 19.d1 c7 20.g1 ad8 21.f1 d3 , and White resigned, 0-1 Horvath, G-Leko, P/HUN 1998 ] [ 10.h1 is the normal move in this position. ] 10...e8 11.h2 [ 11.g4 g6 12.h2 c7 13.f4 f6 14.f5 c5+ 15.h1 f7 with a comfortable game for Black, Leskowsky, Z-Eisen, D/corr ICCF 1993 ] 11...c7 [ Black has done well with two other moves at this juncture: A) 11...b6 12.h1 c7 13.f4 f6 14.g4 g6 15.exf6 xf6 16.b3 ae8 Lebredo, G-Savon, V/Lublin 1977 ] [ B) 11...a5 12.f4 b6+ 13.h1 g6 14.df3 c7 Skeels, J-Hage, H/ICCF Email 2000 ] 12.h1?! [ This amounts to waste of time and hands Black the better chances without a fight. Instead White should try 12.f4 A) 12...f6!? 13.df3 fxe5 14.fxe5 a6 15.a3 b6+ 16.h1 c5 17.h4 xf3 ( 17...ac8!? ) 18.xf3 f7 19.e2 af8 20.c3 with a bet ter game for White, Haub, T-Reefschlaeger, H/ Schoeneck 1996, although Black can easily improve on his play in this game; B) 12...f5 13.exf6 xf6 14.g4 ( 14.df3!? ) 14...xg4 15.hxg4 e5 16.g5 e7 17.f3 c5+ 18.h1 e8 19.h3 e4 20.h4 Tringov, G-Lukacs, P/Sombor 1980, and now d8!? looks very good for Black ] 12...f6 13.df3 f5 14.d2 c5 15.c4 b8 234
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.a5 b6 17.c3 c6 18.b3 d7 19.c1 ad8 20.g1 b5 [ 20...f4!? ] 21.e2 bxc4 22.f4 f7 23.bxc4 d4 24.a5 b8 25.h4 b2 26.f3 xa2 27.a1 xa1 28.xa1 b8 29.e1 a6 30.g5 xg5 31.hxg5 ab4 32.xb4 cxb4 [ 32...xb4!? ] 33.c5?! b3 34.a6 xe5 35.xe5 b2 36.e1 b1 37.xb1 xb1+ 38.h2 g6 39.c6 c7? [ 39...e7-+ ] 40.c4 b8 41.xe6 d6?! [ 41...e5 42.d5 c8 43.a6 b8 44.f4 ] 42.d5 c8 43.c7? [ 43.f4 ] 43...a5 44.f4 a4 45.h3 and White likely lost on time here 0-1
252 Kramnik,V Vitiugov,N Alekhine Mem (1) [Danny Gormally]
A07 2801 2712 21.04.2013
1.f3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g4 4.0-0 d7 5.d3 gf6 6.e1 e5 7.e4 dxe4 8.dxe4 d6?! Black has a wide choice where to put th e b is h o p , o n e 7 , d 6 o r c5. P la cin g t h e bishop here will inevitably run into a later Nd2c4, which may be why the development to c5 is much more common. [ Kramnik himself has experience of this variation, and in an earlier game against Aronian, adopted the more common and arguably more active development of the bishop on c5: 8...c5! 9.bd2 0-0 10.h3 h5 11.c4 e8 12.h4 b5 13.a5 c7 14.a4 b6 15.b3 a6 16.g5 c5? Pseudo-activity, which runs into a strong rejoinder. 17.a5 a7 18.c4! ab8 19.d2 h6 20.e3! White enjoys a large strategic advantage as the bishop on a7 is buried out of the game, and went on to win in Aronian, L - Kramnik, V/Shanghai 2010 ] 9.bd2 0-0 10.h3 h5 11.c4 c7 12.a4 e8 13.h4 c5 14.f5 By playing such a
way, White is aiming for strategic strangulation, as it is far from easy for Black to generate active play in such positions. But in order to make serious headway, he will probably need to advance on the kingside at some point, which will give Black a certain amount of counterplay. e6 15.e3 f4 Vitiugov is desperate to try and mix things up, but Kramnik just ignores him. The problem is this knight lunge does not change matters on the board too much, as White is reasonably happy to part with this bishop on g2 anyway. [ 15...d4?! was certainly worthy of consideration, but this entails a certain amount of risk, as after the exchange on d4 White's kingside pawns become a formidable force. 16.xd4 exd4 17.e5! And although White isn't threatening to take on f6 directly because of the pin on the e-file, with moves like Qb4 and Nf5-d6 threatened, Black is in some trouble. ] 16.f3! [ I very much doubt Kramnik even considered 16.gxf4? which runs into trouble after exf4 17.d4 f3! ] 16...xg2 17.xg2 g6 18.d1 d5! [ B l a c k r e m a i n s p a s s i v e a f t e r 18...b8 19.h4 b5? 20.axb5 cxb5 21.d2! As the knight on d2 will quickly manoeuvre around to the holes left on the queenside. ] 19.h4 xe3+ 20.xe3 e7 Vitiugov is happy to adopt a passive, defensive strategy, but Kramnik aptly demonstrates that such an approach can only guarantee a prolonged torture against players of the highest class. 21.b3! ab8 22.f2 ed8 23.xd8+ xd8 24.d2 c7 25.d3 e6 26.b4! A "creeping" move, as Spassky used to call them. This move prepares the re-location of t h e q u e e n t o d 2 , wh i c h d i s c o u r a g e a n y exchanges on that file, thus dooming Black to ye t m o re p assivit y. I t's o f t e n th e s e lit t le positional gems that set players like Kramnik apart, ensuring that he can turn positions that are only slightly better into victory, and also ensuring that he will be writing 1-0 in the scoresheet at the end when lesser mortals like ourselves will only manage a desultory half-half. b6 [ Again, it is very hard for Black to create a n yt h i n g . T h e b i s h o p o n g 6 i s a m e r e 235
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 spectator, which in any case W hite can exchange off at any moment if he so wishes. I f h e t r i e s t o b r e a k o u t w i t h 26...b5 He merely creates more problems af ter 27.axb5 cxb5 28.e3! So with ..b6 Black slowly prepares the idea of playing ..b5 but being able to capture back on b5 with the apawn, an admirable positional ideal, but the problem is it's so slow W hite can generate serious play in the meantime. ] 27.b3 a6 28.d2 b5 29.d7! bxc4 30.xc7 cxb3 31.b7! Kramnik is like a great composer, the symphony plays only for him. This little tactical sequence has greatly increased his advantage - Black is left with ho rrib ly we a k qu e e n sid e p a wn s t h a t a re almost impossible to defend in the long run. c8 32.xb3 xb3 33.cxb3 f6 34.d6 f7 [ Black's only faint chances of making a draw consist of somehow gaining a perpetual check against the white king. To this end, 34...a5 was worth a try, with the idea of ..Qa6-e2. However even here White h a s a n e f f e c t i ve a n s we r 35.g4! a6 36.g3 e2 37.g2 preventing any hopes of a perpetual, while Black's queenside pawns will inevitably drop off. ] 35.g4 e8 36.g3 b7 37.b4 c8 38.a5 f7 39.g2! With this move, White makes clear that it is not possible for Black to hold the position with passive play alone, as the knight is going to be funnelled around to the queenside to breakdown any passive defence. Essentially Black is now helpless. h5 40.e3 hxg4 41.hxg4 e6 42.d3 c8 43.c4+ f8 44.c5+ [ In such positions, there is often a pleasant c h o i c e b e t w e e n w i n s , a n d 44.g5! Is also very strong. b7 45.gxf6 gxf6 46.e6 g7 47.g4+- ] 44...g8 45.b5! axb5 46.b6 f8 47.a6 b4 48.a7 e1+ 49.g2 d2+ 50.g1 Nf 1 will cover any future checks. A good demonstration of how difficult it can be to get a result with Black against someone like Kramnik - it is difficult to indicate exactly where Vitiugov went wrong. 1-0
253 Littlewood,John Eric Davies,Nigel R Chorley (3) [Nigel Davies]
A07 2350 1977
1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 g4 5.h3 xf3 6.exf3 g6 This feels like the right way to develop the bishop the pawn on g6 inhibits a White f4-f5 and the bishop will bear down on W hite's queenside. An analogous plan to this is thought to be best for White in the Trompovsky line with 1.d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 g6 3. Bxf6 exf6 4.c4 followed by a later g2-g3. 7.e1 g7 8.e2 e6 9.d3 0-0 10.f4 c5 11.d2 c6 12.c3 c8 [ Up to this point I had unwittingly followed t h e p l a y o f t h e g re a t Yu go s la v p la ye r , Borislav Ivkov. He played the immediate 12...b5 af ter which 13.f3 c8 14.e5 d7 15.f3 b4 16.c4 dxc4 17.dxc4 d4 18.d3 c7 gave him excellent counterplay in Ianov, V (2386) -Ivkov, B (2425)/Bijeljina 2001. ] 13.f3 d7 14.h4 True to his style John L i t t l e wo o d t r i e s t o d r u m u p p l a y o n t h e kingside. b5 15.h3 b4 16.d2 e8 17.h5 a5 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.cxb4 cxb4 [ Another possibility was 19...a6!? 20.bxc5 xb2 21.ab1 d4 22.xd4 xd4 ] 20.a3 b5 21.axb4 xb2 22.ab1 g7 23.ec1 d4 24.xd4 xd4 25.g2 b7 26.g4 g7 27.f3 b6 ½-½
254 Markos,Jan Kjartansson,Gudmundur Scottish Open, Edinburgh (5) [Jonathan Rowson]
A07
2009
1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 g4 5.d3 bd7 6.h3 h5 7.e1 [ 7.bd2 is the most standard move, but another interesting wrinkle was seen in Markos-Shaw: ] [ 7.c3!? e5 8.c2 e7 9.e4 dxe4 10.dxe4 0-0 11.bd2 b5?! This looks wrong to me, but may not actually do any harm. ( 11...e8 intending f6 and (at some point) Bf7 looks 236
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 more reliable- an approach made popular by the young(er) Kramnik.) 12.b3 c7 13.h4 fd8 14.f5 f8 15.g5 h6 16.e3 It feels like White is a bit better now because his pieces are more harmoniously placed. e8 17.c4! f6 18.cxb5 Probably a m is t a k e - W h it e d o e s n o t se e m t o ga i n an yt hing s ignif ica n t f rom relea sing t h e tension. cxb5 19.d3 c5! 20.xb5 db8 21.c4+ f7 22.e2 xb3 23.axb3 xb3 24.fc1 b7 It feels like Black should be ok now, but John seemed to be a bit impatient t o r e s o l v e t h e t e n s i o n . 25.c2 h7 ( 25...a5!? ) 26.d1 g6 In general the knight did not look so scary on f5 while the weakness on the seventh rank proved to be fatal. 27.c1! c8 28.e3 c5 29.h4 h5 30.h2 d4 31.h3 d8 32.g2 b5 33.f3 e6?! ( 33...a5 ) 34.h3 xh3 35.xh3 c8 36.xc8 d7+ 37.h2 xc8 38.e2 xe3 39.xe3 b7 40.d8 xb2 ( 40...e7 41.d2 b7 42.d5 c7 might hold on a good day.) 41.c4 e7 42.c8 1-0 ] 7...e5 8.e4 dxe4 9.dxe4 xf3?! [ 9...c5 10.b4!? ] [ 9...e7 10.h4 0-0 11.f5 ] 10.xf3 c5 11.a4!? [ 11.b4 e7 is probably playable for Both sides- White gains space but his queenside is a bit vulnerable. ] 11...a6?! This looks wrong to me, giving White a long term structural and space advantage on the queenside. [ 11...a5 ] 12.a5 0-0 13.a3 c7 14.c4 fd8 15.e2 e8 16.g5 df6 17.g2 h6 18.d2 [ 18.e3!? xe3 19.xe3 d4! ] 18...e7 19.h2 d6 20.c3 xc4?! The W hite queen is very strong on c4, so Black should not allow it to get there without a fight. [ 20...d7!? 21.b4 b5 ] 21.xc4 d7 22.ae1 ad8 [ 22...d4 23.b4 e6 24.xe6 fxe6 looks superficially plausible, but Black's activity doesn't amount to much and the epawns will soon become weak. ] 23.f4 exf4?! [ 23...d6! is most solid and keeps the
position tense, but Kjartansson had just won two brilliant games against Indian Grandmasters and seems to try a bit too hard here to generate tactics. ] [ 23...d4 24.b4 e6 ( 24...e8!? ) 25.xe6 fxe6 26.c3 a7 27.fxe5 ] 24.gxf4 g4+?! A hopeful lunge, I think in some time pressure. [ 24...d4 25.b4 e6 26.xe6 fxe6 27.c3 a7 ] 25.hxg4 h4+ 26.h3 f2 27.xf2 xf2+ 28.g2 xf4+ 29.h3! Superficially Black seems to have chances, but two bishops are usually worth considerably more than a rook, and here Black's initiative is about to run out. g5 [ 29...d5 30.e2 ] 30.e2 f6 31.f3 h8 32.e5 fxe5 33.xe5 g6 34.e3 f8 35.e4 f7 36.f5 e8 37.xh6+ g8 38.g5 1-0
255 Markowski,Tomasz Burmakin,Vladimir XXII Open Benidorm ESP (5) [Jonathan Rowson]
A07 2610 2605 28.04.2009
1.g3 d5 2.f3 c6 3.g2 f6 4.0-0 h6 5.d3 f5 6.c4 dxc4 [ 6...e6 is the main line... 7.cxd5 ( 7.e3!? intending Qb3, but now it seems that dxc4 8.dxc4 xd1 9.xd1 equalises for Black if he plays carefully. ) A) 7...cxd5 is very solid, but White has a few ways to press for some advantage. 8.b3 ( 8.c3 c6 9.a4 intending e4, is also possible.; 8.d4!? ) 8...b6 and now taking on b6 before or after Nd4 gives some sort of symbolic advantage, but W hite rarely gets anywhere in the selected games.; B) 7...exd5 In general White now aims to achieve a 4-3 majority on the kingside, and there are various ways of doing this. 8.c3 ( 8.d4 g6 9.e4!?; 8.b3 b6 9.c2 ) 8...e7 9.d4 g6 10.e4 0-0 11.b3 dxe4 12.dxe4 The following grind is a good example of what White is aiming for in these lines. a6 13.e3 b4 14.f3 237
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e7 15.f2 fd8 16.c2 c5 17.d4 e6 18.ce2 c5 19.ad1 xd4 20.xd4 b6 21.b3 xf2+ 22.xf2 c7 23.fe1 b6 24.xd8+ xd8 25.d1 c5 26.xd8+ xd8 27.d2 equal, but White went on to win, Nikolic, P (2623)Ferguson, M (2404)/ Budva MNE 2009. ] 7.e5!? Not new, but new to me, and a nice w a y t o c r e a t e s o m e i m b a l a n c e s . e6 Together with the follow up this looks very strange at first, but it is important to grasp that in the pawn structure with e2/d3 and the c-pawn swapped for the d-pawn, the bishop has nothing to do on the h7-b1 diagonal. The equivalent would be White playing against a Sicilian dragon, removing his knight from d4, playing h3 and Bf4. W ith this bishop out of play, the queenside minority attack becomes quite strong, which is why this line has some venom. [ 7...bd7 8.xc4 e6 9.d2 ( 9.f4 Rukavina ) 9...e7 10.b4 0-0 11.a3 b6 12.a5 d7 13.c3 e5 14.e1 h3 15.f3 And White was somewhat better in Damljanovic, B (2515)-Anand, V (2610)/ Manila 19909/ ] [ 7...cxd3? 8.b3 ] [ 7...c8?! 8.xc4 h3 9.b3 xg2 10.xg2 e6 11.f4 e7 12.d6 Rukavina-Nikolic, Vrnjacka Banja 1986 ] 8.xc4 xc4 This looks a bit submissive, but in the resulting structures it is really hard for W h it e to ma ke a n yt hing a t a ll o f t he t wo bishops, although in the game White comes very close. 9.dxc4 xd1 10.xd1 e5 11.b3 bd7 12.b2 c5 13.d2 0-0-0 14.e3 he8 15.a3 f8 16.b4 b6 17.ac1 a4 18.a1 c5 19.f3 d7 20.e1 f6 21.d3 c7 22.e4 db6 23.f1 e7 24.e2 f8 25.g4 c8 26.b1 cb6 27.dc1 b8 28.h3 White still has a slight plus. c8 29.b5 cd8 30.e1 c8 31.f3 d6 32.g6 e7 33.c2 b6 34.bc1 ed7 35.h4 e7 36.d2 f8 37.b3 a4 38.d2 c7 39.h5 c8 40.xd7+ xd7 41.d2 d6 42.c2 b6 43.b3 e4 44.a4 e7 45.b1 e8 46.c3 c8 47.a5?! bxc4 48.a4 xa5 49.xc5+ b8 50.a2 b6 51.d5 ac4 52.xc4 ½-½
256 Martin,Andrew D Weller,Jean Luc 4NCL 2010-11 [Nigel Davies]
A07
20.02.2011
1.g3 f6 2.g2 d5 3.f3 Going into standard King's Indian Attack territory. [ 3.f4 would probably lead to some kind of reversed Leningrad Dutch. ] 3...c6 4.0-0 g4 5.h3 h5 [ After 5...xf3 White has an interesting approach in 6.exf3!? , trying to use the half open e-file. ] [ Of course usually White will meet 5...xf3 with 6.xf3 , for example e5 7.d3 bd7 8.e4 dxe4 9.dxe4 e7 10.e2 0-0 11.d2 c7 12.g2 c5 13.b3 a5 14.b2 a4 15.c4 was a bit better for White in Morozevich, A (2741)-Gelfand, B (2733)/ Monte Carlo 2007. ] 6.d3 bd7 7.bd2 e5 8.e4 dxe4 9.dxe4 e7 10.a4 c7 This position has been reached quite often but one can hardly expect fireworks here. For example: [ a) 10...0-0 11.c3 ( I think White should avoid this move, for example via 11.e1!? ) 11...a5 12.c2 c7 13.c4 fe8 14.e3 c5 15.h4 xe3 16.xe3 c5 was fine for Black at this stage in Nureev, G (2456) -Kolev, A (2318)/Dos Hermanas 2003. ] [ b) 10...a5 11.e2 0-0 12.b3 e8 13.b2 c7 14.fd1 b4 15.c4 xf3 16.xf3 f8 17.h4 gave White a comfortable edge in Istratescu, A (2540)-Torre, E (2545)/Elista 1998. ] 11.e1 U n p i n n i n g . 0-0 12.h4 e8?! Starting down the wrong path. [ B l a c k s h o u l d p r o b a b l y p l a y 12...fe8 , f o r e x a m p l e 13.c4 ( 13.f5 f8 leaves the rook on e8 opposite W hite's queen so as to discourage f2-f4) 13...c5 14.d2 fd7 15.f5 f8 16.b3 f6 17.e3 e6 gave him an OK position at this point in Damljanovic, B (2585)-Komljenovic, D (2495)/Oviedo 1992. ] 13.f5 d8 The bishop is wrong here and the attempt to block the a3-f8 diagonal leads to further weakening. [ 13...c5 was better. ] 238
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.c4 g6 15.d2! Threatening to put the bishop on b4, forcing ...c6-c5. a5 16.b4!? axb4 17.xb4 c5 18.c3 White has a clear advantage now because of the weaknesses on d5 and b5 plus the possibility of using the open b- and d- files. f6 19.b1! A nice way to get the queen in play. f7 20.b5 e6 21.fd1 g6 [ 21...b6 would be an attempt to simplify the position with exchanges but then 22.xb6 xb6 23.xb6 xb6 24.db1 a6 25.a5 wins a pawn. ] 22.fe3 a6 23.ab1 f7 24.f1 f8 [ 24...a7 would have been more tenacious, but hardly pleasant for Black. ] 25.a5 b8 26.b6 d6 27.d3 e7 28.ed5 c6 29.e3 Now preparing f2-f4 with direct play against Black's king. a7 30.d2 g7 31.f4! exf4 32.xf4 xd5 [ After 32...d8 the move 33.e5! is devastating. ] 33.xd5 d8 34.e5 fxe5 35.xe5+ h6 [ Or 35...f8 36.h8# mate. ] 36.e3 g5 37.h4! [ Black gets mated after 37.h4 xe3+ 38.xe3+ h5 39.g5# mate. ] 1-0
257 Minasian,Artashes Sulskis,Sarunas US Open Los Angeles USA (10) [Tony Kosten]
A07 2571 2578 13.08.2003
An instructive pawn sac from W hite, and a nicely judged follow-up, but Black manages to scrape a draw with a tactic in time-trouble. 1.g3 d5 2.f3 c6 3.g2 f6 4.0-0 f5 5.b3 White continues his development and eschews c4 for the moment. e6 6.b2 d6 7.d3 0-0 [ Instead, Sveshnikov recommends 7...e7 immediately, to play ...Ba3. ] 8.bd2 e7 9.e4! White strikes immediately, as preparation by [ 9.e1 , say, allows a3 10.xa3 xa3 an d B la c k is f in e , P a n o v, V -K rzisn ik, R/ Vrnjacka Banja 1962. ] 9...dxe4 10.dxe4 xe4 Quite forced, as both [ 10...xe4? 11.xf6 and ]
[ 10...g4? 11.e5 lose a piece. ] 11.h4!? Strictly speaking, this is a novelty, but the game will later transpose to the original [ 11.d4 by xd2 ( 11...f6?! is worse, 12.xf5 exf5 13.e1 d8 14.c4 with advantage ) 12.xf5 exf5 etc. ] [ There is another possibility, though: 11.xe4!? xe4 12.xg7! xg7 ( 12...d8!? 13.d4 ) 13.d4+ e5 14.xe4 f5 with unclear play, although I think I would prefer to have W hite's sounder pawn structure. ] 11...xd2 This is better than [ 11...c5 12.e1! ( 12.xf5 exf5 13.e1 e6 is probably OK for Black) 12...g6 13.c4 c7 14.d4 f6 15.a3 when Black is under considerable pressure. ] 12.xf5 exf5 13.xd2 e5! Black hastens to block the long a1-h8 diagonal. 14.fe1! The second novelty! For in the stem game, Pigusov,E-Sveshnikov,E/St Petersburg 1993, (which occurred after 11 Nd4 instead of 11 Nh4) White preferred [ 14.xe5 xe5 15.fe1 c5 16.b4 b6 17.ab1 a5 ( 17...a6! 18.c4 ad8 is about equal) 18.bxa5 xa5 19.xa5 xa5 20.xb7 xa2 21.f1! Black had problems developing his knight. ] 14...f6 Black can also handle the annoying pin on the e-file by [ 14...d6 but then 15.xd6 xd6 16.ad1 c5 17.e5 a6 18.f1 allows White to capture on f5 with a plus. ] 15.ad1 For the pawn sacrificed White has a powerful bishop pair, control of the central files, and a promising lead in development. Even so, there was much to be said for the surprising [ 15.f4!? regaining the f-pawn immediately, as xf4 16.xe7 e5 17.xe5 fxe5 18.d1 leaves Black in some trouble. ] 15...a6 16.f4! This is still good. Note that [ 16.f4? is a mistake, as Black simply unpins with check: c5+ ] 16...c5 17.xe5 fxe5 18.xe5!? White aims to keep hold of the initiative, but the simple [ 18.xe5 xe5 19.xe5 leaves him with a g o o d e n d g a m e : ad8 20.xd8 xd8 21.a5! d1+ 22.f1 and following Kg2 the 239
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 black queenside will be destroyed. ] 18...xc2 19.de1 ad8 20.f1!? Threatening both Bc4+ and, maybe capturing the knight. [ 20.e7 h8 ( 20...f7? 21.xf7 xf7 22.g5 wins ) 21.g5 c3 22.f1 is also dangerous for Black. ] 20...h8 [ 20...xa2 21.e7 b2 might offer better chances. ] 21.e7 White's initiative is reaching worrying proportions, both Qg5 and Rxb7 are menaced. c3 g 7 m u s t b e d e f e n d e d . 22.1e5 White cuts the a1-h8 diagonal, but [ 22.g5! is strong, as h6 23.g6 f6 ( 23...c5? 24.c1! ) 24.xf6 xf6 25.xb7 c5 26.xa7 is crushing. ] 22...h6? Black stops Qg5, but the cure is worse than the illness, [ 22...c5 23.g5 g8 kept Black alive. ] 23.xb7 Now White is materially equal with a winning position as the black structure falls apart. c5 24.xa7 d1?! 25.ee7 [ 25.xf5! wi n s i m m e d i a t e l y, a s xf1+ 26.g2! ( 26.xf1? d3+ ) 26...g8 ( 26...xf5? is impossible, 27.a8+ h7 28.xf5+ g6 29.a7+ ) 27.f8! ( or 27.xf1 ) 27...xf2+ 28.xf2 and wins. ] 25...d3 [ 25...d3?? would allow a nice mate by 26.xh6+ gxh6 27.h7+ g8 28.ag7# ] 26.f3 a1 Black has some initiative, but once this peters-out he will be lost. 27.e2 d8 28.xg7? An obvious move to play, especially in time trouble, but it allows Black to draw! [ 28.ad7! xd7 29.xd7 wins easily. ] 28...e1! Now White has to force a draw, as otherwise he loses the bishop on f1 with check, and the game! 29.h7+ g8 30.hg7+ h8 31.h7+ g8 32.ag7+ f8 33.f7+ g8 34.hg7+ h8 35.h7+ g8 36.fg7+ f8 37.f7+ g8 38.hg7+ h8 39.h7+ g8 40.fg7+ f8 41.f7+ g8 Surely both players were in severe time trouble as the same position has been repeated numerous times! ½-½
258 Minasian,Artashes Tomashevsky,Evgeny 10th EICC Budva MNE (2) [Nigel Davies]
A07 2557 2664 07.03.2009
1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.d3 g4 5.h3 h5 6.0-0 bd7 7.bd2 e5 8.e4 d6 9.exd5 Trying to use his slight lead in development to break up Black's pawn centre. The idea is logical enough and has been used in several games by Rafael Vaganian. But can W hite count on achieving any advantage? cxd5 10.c4 The logical follow up. If Black advances with ...d5-d4 then a kind of reversed Modern Benoni would appear. 0-0 11.cxd5 xd5 12.b3 5f6 [ T h i s i s p r o b a b l y b e t t e r t h a n 12...5b6 when 13.e4 e7 ( 13...c7 is also well met by 14.a4 ) 14.a4 h8 15.a5 f5 16.eg5 gave White a dangerous initiative in Vaganian, R (2625)-Khalifman, A (2660)/ Eupen 1994. ] 13.c4 c5 [ Black's position is also difficult after 13...c7 14.e3 b6 15.fe1 c8 16.d4 xf3 17.xf3 e4 18.g2 which was Vaganian, R (2645)-Torre, E (2535)/Moscow 1994. ] 14.a3 xf3 [ B l a c k h a s a l s o t r i e d 14...c8 when 15.xd6 ( 15.g4 g6 16.fxe5 is pro ba bly even st ron ge r) 15...xd6 16.e3 b6?! 17.xe5! d5 18.d4 xe3 19.fxe3 was good for White in Vaganian, R (2615)-Epishin, V (2645)/ Moscow 1996. ] 15.xf3 e7 16.xe5 Black seems to get enough for his pawn after this. [ Accordingly I think it may be worth exploring the line 16.d1!? e6 17.a5 which seems to offer some initiative. ] 16...cd7 17.c3 c8 18.e1 e8 [ 18...c5 19.xd7 xd7 gave White a slight edge in Vaganian-Kaidanov/Glendale/ 1994. ] 19.d4 c5 20.xb7?? A 'new move', but one which loses material and the game. W hite has reached this position in a couple of earlier games but without much joy, for example: [ a) 20.d1 xd4 21.xd7 xd7 22.g5 1/2-1/2 Collutiis, D (2429)-Maiorov, N (2511)/ 240
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 St Eufemia d'Aspromonte 2010. ] [ b) 20.dxc5 xe5 21.d1 xc5!? ( 21...xf3+ 22.xf3 d5 is equal but maybe too drawish for Lobron facing a lower r a t e d o p p o n e n t) 22.xb7 d5?! ( R e a l l y c h a n c i n g h i s a r m - 22...c7 would have been better) 23.b3 d7 24.d1 c4 25.xd5 xd5 26.f4 and White was a good pawn up in Weber, U (2322)-Lobron, E (2524)/Bad Wiessee 2001, though he later lost the game. ] [ c) Perhaps W hite's best here is 20.e3 , for example xe5 21.dxe5 xe5 22.c3 e8 23.xc5 exc5 24.a3 leaves him with the better minor piece. But the has not been tried in practice. ] 20...xd4 21.xc8 xe5 22.b7 [ I'm not sure what White missed when he capture on b7, but 22.d1 xc8 23.xd4 f3+ wins the queen. ] 22...b6 23.f4 xb7 24.xe5 xe5 25.d2 b6 Black's minor pieces far outweigh the rook and pawn here because of the weakness of W hite's kingside. 26.ae1 f5 27.h2 f3 28.e3 This trick doesn't particularly help White's chances because it leads to the creation of new weaknesses. [ 28.c2 would have been more stubborn. ] 28...xe3 [ And not 28...xe3?? 29.d8+ etc. ] 29.fxe3 h5 30.g2 b8 31.f3 e5 32.f2 h4 33.c2 c7 34.g2 hxg3 35.d2 a5 36.b3 g6 37.d4 g7 38.h4 b6 39.d2 xe3 40.e2 d5 41.xg3 e4+ 0-1
weakening the kingside. 5.d3 c6 6.0-0 e5 7.bd2 d6 8.b3 e7 9.b2 0-0 10.e4 a5 11.a4 c7 12.e1 f6 13.c1 fe8 14.h4 ad8 15.h1 c5 16.b1 dxe4 17.dxe4 b5! 18.axb5 cxb5 19.c3 b7 20.a1 b4! 21.b1 b5 And Black had more than equalised, due to his strong grip on the center and queenside, and went on to win in the game Vijayalakshmi, S Korneev, O Port Erin 2006 ] 5.xf3 The higher up the levels you go, the more the bishop pair is cherished. I recently suggested to a friend of mine, who is writing a book on the Trompovsky, that the opening is bad because White is simply handing Black the bishop pair. It is widely agreed at supergrandmaster level (not that I'm at that level of course, as much as I'd like to dream that I am, more th at I'm going on wha t I've see n in interviews and so on) that a bishop is worth more than a knight, but perhaps Kazim was playing on Moro's well-known prejudice for playing with knight's over bishops. gf6 6.d3! Slow and steady wins the races. [ 6.c4? would be somewhat rash and is met with e5! ] 6...c6 7.d2 g6!? [ I think personally speaking I would have d e ve l o p e d t h e b i s h o p o n d 6 h e r e - f o r example 7...e6 8.0-0 d6 9.e4 h5! with some reasonable counterplay- Black is threatening ..h4, and if g4 he controls the f4 square. ] 8.e4 g7 9.e2 c7 10.g2 0-0 11.0-0 e5 Of course it is vital to prevent f4, when Black would be in danger of being overrun. Nonetheless, W hite has a wide-variety of plans in this position. 12.b3 fe8 13.b2 259 A07 ad8 14.fe1 d4? But this is a real Morozevich,A 2758 concession, as it takes all the tension out of Kasimdzhanov,R 2709 the center, thus giving White something of a Renova FIDE GP Zug (1.1) 18.04.2013 freehand on the kingside. Kasim intends a slow advance on the queenside, but this is [Danny Gormally] just what it is - too slow. [ 14...dxe4 15.dxe4 c5 16.ad1 ( 16.a4?! 1.g3 d5 2.f3 g4 3.g2 d7 4.h3 e6 17.c3 trying to keep control over xf3?! Something of a strategic capitulation. everything, runs into c5! with the threat of Why give up the bishops for so little? taking on d2) 16...e6! would have kept [ Correct, and much more popular, is 4...h5 any disadvantage to a minimum. ] If White would then want to exchange this b i s h o p , t h i s w o u l d i n v o l ve a s t r a t e g i c 15.h4 c5 16.h3 b5 17.f3 a5 18.c1 c o n c e s s i o n h i m s e l f , b y p l a y i n g g 4 , a4 19.d2 a8 20.b4 e6 21.ac1! 241
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Intending c3, breaking open the c-file and exposing Black's queenside weaknesses. It is very clear now who has won the opening battle. ad8 22.g5! f8 23.c4 dxc3 24.xc3 6d7 25.ec1 b8 26.a3! You know when your opponent has time for such little "indulgences" that something has gone seriously wrong. h6 27.f3 e6 28.e3 d6 29.d2 h7 30.g2 ed8 31.h1 h5 is now in the air. e7 32.b6 e8 33.hc1 b7 34.e3 e7 35.a2 h8 36.c2 g8 37.e2 h8 38.h2 g8 39.h5! Finally. Just at the right moment, Moro forces the concession of the f5 square. g5 A grim decision to take, as not only does this permanently give away the light squares, but the threat of the white knight landing on f5 hangs permanently over Black's head. It would not be an exaggeration at this point to say that W hite is strategically winning. 40.e1 h8 41.g2 g8 [ One of the problems that Black has is that 41...d4 does not solve his problems42.xd4 exd4 43.c5 and f4 is a serious threat. ] 42.c5! xc5 43.xc5 ed8 44.e3 a7 [ 44...xd3 45.d5+- ] 45.5c3 f6 46.f5 e8 47.e3 xe3 48.fxe3 f8 49.g2 ee6 50.d4! exd4 51.exd4 g4 52.f1 d7 53.f4 It is not often your opponent will resign when there is complete material equality on the board! The best games are the most simple. 1-0
7.b2 followed by Nbd2, c2-c4 or e2-e4) 5...xf3 6.xf3 bd7 7.g2 e6 8.0-0 A) 8...c7 9.c4 ( 9.e4!? ) 9...dxc4 10.dxc4 e7 11.c3 0-0 12.c2 fd8 13.a4 c5 14.e3 a5 15.c3 b4 16.b3 e5 was equal in KortchnoiPetrosian, USSR 1971; B) 8...d6 B1) Here I would prefer 9.d2!? 0-0 10.e4 c7 11.f4 dxe4 ( or 11...e5 12.f5 c5+ 13.h1 dxe4 14.dxe4 e3 15.e2 h6 16.h4 Karasev-Klovans, USSR 1975 ) 12.dxe4 e5 13.f5 h6 14.e2 e7 15.a4 a5 16.c4 e8 17.h4 ( 17.e3!? b6 18.fd1 ef6 19.h2 looks plea sant f or W hit e) 17...d6 18.e3 xc4 19.xc4 f6 20.f3 h5 21.g2 ( 21.e2!? ) 21...ad8 22.ad1 xd1 23.xd1 d8 24.c3 xd1 25.xd1 d7 26.b3 d8 27.f3 b5 28.f1 g4 , and with Black having equa lised, the players agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2 J.PlachetkaP.Benko, Sombor 1976; B2) 9.e4 c7 10.e2 having already played e2-e4 and Black not having any threats against the pawn, White should in my opinion rest the queen for a little while on d1 until he knows which square is the optimal one for the queen. ( 10.d2!? transposes to 9.Nd2 given above and should be given preference.) 10...0-0-0!? Quite a surprise, normally Black castles kingside in the Reti. 11.d2 b8 12.a4 g5 13.d4 dxe4 14.a5 a6 15.c4?! ( Here Morozevich 260 A07 lets go and starts getting a little too fancy for his own good. Simple and good is Morozevich,Alexander 2741 15.xe4 xe4 16.xe4 dg8 17.f3 Anand,Viswanathan 2779 wi t h t h e b e t t e r c h a n c e s f o r W h i t e) Amber Blindfold (1) 17.03.2007 15...h6 16.xd6 xd6 17.d1 e5 [Carsten Hansen] 18.dxe5 ( 18.e3!? ) 18...xe5 19.e3 he8 and White has insufficient 1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.d3 g6 compensation for the pawn and later lost, [ In a later round, Kramnik had success using A. Morozevich-V.Kramnik, Monte a different set-up against the Reti, but then Carlo2007 ] aga in , in t h is t o u rn a m e n t K ra m nik h a d success against nearly everybody in the 5.0-0 g7 6.bd2 0-0 7.e4 g4 8.h3 blindfold event. 4...g4 5.h3 this move has xf3 9.xf3 dxe4 [ 9...bd7 10.e2 ( 10.e1 e6 11.e2 a5 never appealed much to me. I think White 12.e5 e8 13.f3 c7 14.h4 h6 15.f4 has a decent chance of obtaining an Lazic, M-Dragovic, M/Vrbas 1993; 10.d4 advantage after ( 5.0-0 bd7 6.b3 e6 242
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.xe4 e7 14.g5 c5 15.e3 xe4 11.xe4 dxe4 12.xe4 f6 cd7 16.h4 ( 16.d4!? ) 16...fe8 13.d3 d7 14.b3 fd8 15.c3 17.fe1 f8 18.e2 1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk, with a spatial plus and the bishop pair, V-Chernin, A/Lvov 1987; W hite has a slight advantage, Koshy, VB3) 10...a6 11.e5 ( 11.b3 d7 Murugan, K/ India 1994 ) 10...e6 12.h4 h5 13.g5 e8 14.ae1 dxe4 A) 11.f3 c5 12.e5 fd7 13.h4 15.dxe4 xb2 16.b1 f6 17.h6 ( 13.f4!? ) 13...f6 14.exf6 xf6 15.d4 g7 18.xg7 xg7 19.a5 ac5 e4 16.g5 xg5 17.xg5 xd4?! 20.xb7 xb7 21.xb7 ( 17...f5!? ) 18.xe6+ f7 19.c3 e5 1/2-1/2 Flesch, J-Karaklajic, N/Belgrade 20.ae1 Akopian, V-Delchev, A/Rio 1965 (30) ) 11...d7 12.f4 b6+ Gallegos 1986; 13.h2 ae8 14.f3 f6 15.c3 ab8 B) 11.e5 16.d4 Mischustov, M-Reich, T/Bayern B1) 11...h5 12.f3 f5 13.d4 c5 2000 ] 14.c3 c4 15.e1 ( 15.g5!? ) 15...b8 [ 9...e5 10.e2 ( 10.b3!? ) 10...bd7 ( 15...h8!? 16.f3 g7 ) 16.f3 e8 11.f3 dxe4 12.dxe4 c7 13.b4 fe8 17.g2 h8 18.xh5 gxh5 19.h4 ( 13...a5!?= ) 14.a3 ( 14.d2!? ) 14...a6 Kasparov, G-Zarnicki, P/Internet ICC 15.d2 b5 16.c4 Gundelfinger, K-Liepert, L/ 1998; A n s b a c h 1 9 8 5 b6!? 17.c5 a4 B2) 11...e8 12.f3 f5 13.exf6 xf6 18.b3 ] 14.g5 B2a) 14...f5 15.e7 f7 16.h4 10.dxe4 bd7 11.e2 e5 [ Finally Anand plays a new move, but hardly f8 ( 16...xb2 17.ab1 f6 18.g4 one that changes the evaluation as this f4 19.g3 a4 20.xb7 ) 17.c3 being better for W hite. 11...c7 12.a4 h5? 18.g5 d7 19.f4 f6 20.f3 ad8 13.b3 b6 14.e3 c5 15.a5 e5? 6h7 21.e5 1-0 Mrva, M-Betko, L/ this is a truly ugly move which clearly shows Slovakia 2000; that Black has no idea what he is doing. The B2b) 14...f7 15.f4 h6 16.h4 ef6 black bishop is now buried behind his own 17.h3 fe8 18.ae1 Averbakh, Ypawns with very little hope of ever Bagirov, V/USSR Ch (Baku) 1961 ] b e c o m i n g a c t i ve a g a i n . W h i t e ' s l i g h t [ 9...e6 squared bishop, on the other hand, can be A) 10.e1 a6 11.c3 b6 12.b3 activated via f1 and enjoy the full range of fe8 ( 12...d7!? 13.exd5 cxd5 14.d4 ) Black's hopelessly weakened light squares. 13.g5 d7 14.d4 c7 15.e5 a5 16.d2! White will route his knight via b1 to 16.e3 a4 17.d2 Jansa, V-Kupka, S/ c3 where it grabs hold on the b5 and d5Trinec 1972; squares and protects the e4-pawn, B) 10.e2 t h e re f o re r e li e vi n g t h e b ish o p f r o m it s B1) 10...fd7 11.c3 f5 12.f3 f6 defensive duties regarding the e4-pawn, ( 12...fxe4 13.dxe4 e8 ) 13.exf5 exf5 allowing it to become active. e8!? 17.axb6 14.e6+ h8 15.g5 ( 15.f4!? ) axb6 18.b1 b7 19.c3 c7 20.b5!? 15...d7 16.xd7 bxd7 17.e6 f7 exchanging Black's defender of the light 18.e3 e7 19.xg7 xg7 20.fd1 squares, thus making the penetration f7 21.c4 f8 22.b4 ( 22.d4!? ) simpler. c6 21.xc7 xc7 22.b5 22...e6 23.a4 d7 24.ab1 f4 ( 22.c4!? ) 22...a8 23.c3 xa1 24.xa1 25.gxf4 h5 26.b5 ( 26.f5 gxf5 b8 25.a6 f8 26.f1 g7 27.a4 b7 27.cxd5 cxd5 28.h2 and White is 28.b5 b8 29.a8 d6 30.d1 c6 better thanks to the bishops superiority 31.d2 h5 32.h6+ h7 33.g5 b8 over the knights in an open position such 34.xb8 xb8 35.f6 c6 36.d5 a7 as this ) 26...hxf4= 37.e8 g8 38.xf7+ xf7 39.xd6 1/2-1/2 Polugaevsky, L-Nei, I/Moscow 1-0 Fischer, R-Ibrahimoglu, I/Siegen 1964; 197002 ] B2) 10...a5 11.a4 a6 12.c3 dxe4 243
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.a4 This along with the next couple of moves are s tan dard in this t yp e o f p awn structure which occurs very often in the Reti and King's Indian Attack. c7 13.c4 fd8 14.e3 [ Here 14.a5 looks logical to prevent Black's n e xt m o v e , b u t i n t h a t c a s e B l a c k c a n consider both 14...b5 and 14...Nc5, intending 15...Ne6 and then ...Nd4. ] 14...b6 [ Or 14...b5 15.axb5 cxb5 16.a5 a6 17.c4 bxc4 ( 17...b4 18.c5 ) 18.xc4 xc4 19.xc4 ] 15.d2!? [ Morozevich prefers to keep the knights on the board this decision makes a lot of sense as Black's position is a bit more cramped and thus will helped in his defence through exchanges. However, my silicon friends pref er the exchange over Morozevich's retreat, why can that be? Their reasoning is undoubtedly that Black will end up with a doubled pawn where the front pawn is fixed on a dark square and immediately attacked by White's dark-squared bishop and Black will therefore have to tend to it. One line runs: 15.xb6 axb6 16.b3 ( 16.b4!? ) 16...d7 17.fd1 ad8 18.xd7 xd7 and While Black's defensive task may well be both boring and somewhat painful, he should be able to hold on. ] 15...e8 16.c3 [ W hite can also consider 16.a5!? c8 17.a6 b6 18.ad1 with better chances for White ] 16...d7 17.f4!? exf4 [ 17...d6 18.f5 gxf5 19.exf5 f6 20.f2 ] 18.gxf4 d6 19.f2 e8 20.a5 b6 21.axb6 axb6 22.f3 xa1 23.xa1 f8 24.f2 c5 25.h4! d8 26.d1 [ 26.h5!? ] 26...e7 27.e1 [ 27.h5!? ] 27...d8 [ 27...e6 28.g3 d8 29.e2 ] 28.e2 [ 28.h5!? ] 28...h6 29.h3 b7 [ Here 29...e6!? 30.g3 a8 is met by 31.f5 d8 32.f1 and White has a strong initiative with his mobile pawns and bishop
pair ] 30.h5! e8 31.g2 f5 This is a classic ploy to somewhat close the position, block the passed pawn (when it moves to e5) with a knight and then prepare a pawn break with ... g6-g5 32.d3 c7 [ 32...e7!? 33.g3 fxe4 34.xe4 h8 is messy, but may be a better chance for Black than the game continuation, although a continuation like 35.hxg6 xg6 36.e1 xe4 37.xe4 d8 38.f3 f7 39.f5 f8 40.e5+ looks unappetizing for Black ] 33.e5 f7 34.d5 [ Or 34.g3 e6 35.hxg6 hxg6 36.f3 followed by Nc4-(or Nf1-)e3-d5 also looks very good for White ] 34...e6 Knights are excellent for blockading purposes, so White now has to rid himself of one of the components in his bishop pair in order to make progress. 35.xe6! xe6 36.g3 c6 37.c4! e7 Black tried to regroup his pieces and then push the ...gpawn forward to destroy the harmonious flow to W hite's game. 38.d5 e6 39.hxg6 hxg6 40.f3 g5!? A pawn break to open up the position rather than suffocating in silence. W hile it shouldn't work, it does, yet Black doesn't take advantage of White's faulty reply. 41.g2?! [ This loses a tempo White can do better with 41.f1!? e.g. h7 42.fxg5 xg5 43.xg5+ xg5 44.f4 d7 45.h1+ g6 46.g2 d1+ 47.f2 e7 48.e6 and Black is completely tied up ] 41...f8? [ Now it ends rather rapidly. Almost any other move with the king would have been better: 41...h7 A) 42.fxg5 xg5 43.xg5+ xg5 44.f3 g7 45.b3 h6 46.h2 ( 46.f2 d7 ) 46...a7 47.f2 g6 with a com plicate d stru ggle , t hou gh I prefer W hite due to his somewhat safer king; B) 42.h2 g7 B1) 43.f1 e8 ( 43...gxf4 44.h4 e8 45.f6++- ) 44.fxg5 xg5 45.f4!? this is why the king had to move to f1, so that ...Nxf3 wouldn't be a check. xd5 46.cxd5 xf3 47.xh6 xe5 48.xb6 d3 49.d2 d8 and Black can 244
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 defend; cxd5 28.c6+ c7 29.xe6 f7 30.xf7+ B2) 43.fxg5! xg5 ( 43...xg5 xf7 31.d4 a6 32.e8 with excellent 44.f1+- ) 44.xg5 xg5 45.g2 f7 winning chances for White - though this is 46.f3 f8 47.b3 and White has the a f a ir l y l o n g va ri a t i o n a n d l ik e l y s o m e initiative ] errors have found their way in ] [ 41...h8?! 42.fxg5 xg5 43.xg5 xg5 25.d5 cxd5 26.cxd5 c7? 44.f2! f4 45.h4! xd5 46.cxd5 xe5 [ Now Black is losing. Instead Black should 47.f6+ h7 48.xe5 xe5 49.e2+- ] opt for 26...e5 27.d3 f7 28.g6 f5 42.fxg5 xg5 29.b5+ e7 30.d4 xg6 31.c6+ f8 [ Or 42...g7 43.d2 xe5 44.xe5 xe5 32.xe5 xe5 33.xe5 d6 34.c6 45.xe6 xe6 46.e2+- ] with better chances for W hite, but Black 43.xg5 xg5 44.d8+ f7 45.f4 has counterplay on account of his active Now Black decisively loses material f3+ queen and rook along with W hite's open 46.f2 e8 47.c7+ e7 48.b8 king ] 1-0 27.dxe6+ xe6 28.e4? [ 28.d4! f4 29.xf4 c5+ 30.b1 xb2+ 31.a1 ( 31.xb2? xd4+= ) 261 A07 31...xa2+ 32.xa2 a5+ 33.b2 b4+ 34.c2 c4+ 35.d1 xd4+ 36.d2 Morozevich,Alexander 2755 a4+ 37.c2 a1+ 38.c1 , and Black is Bacrot,Etienne 2695 out of good checks and is now a rook down. World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (8) 21.11.2007 The rest of the game is a rollercoaster up [Carsten Hansen] and down regarding the size of W hite's advantage, and therefore I will only give a 1.f3 d5 2.g3 g4 3.g2 c6 4.d3 e6 few moves here and there, the narrative 5.h3 h5 6.g4 g6 7.e5 d7 8.xg6 doesn't make much sense given that this is hxg6 9.e3 d6 10.e2 f5 a blitz game, and the players evidently had [ 10...e7 is Morozevich-Rublevsky, also more or less no time left. ] from this update. ] 28...f7 29.g6 f5 30.a4+ d8? 11.d2 gf6 12.e4 e7 13.b3 0-0-0 [ 30...b5! 31.xa7+ c7 ] [ 13...a5 14.exf5 gxf5 15.gxf5 e5 16.a4 ] 31.xa7?! 14.d2 [ 31.c6! e5 32.d5+ c7 33.xe5+ [ 14.g5 e5 15.0-0-0 f7 16.e3 ] xe5 34.xe5+- ] 14...fxg4 [ 14...dxe4 15.dxe4 xe4 16.xe4 fxe4 31...c7 32.a8+ d7 33.a4+?! [ 33.d1 d3 34.a4+ c8 35.c6!? ] 17.xe4 ] 15.hxg4 xh1+ 16.xh1 h8 17.0-0-0 h2 33...d8?? [ 33...b5! 34.a8 f1 ] 18.d4 [ Morozevich decides to unbalance the game, 34.c4?! [ 34.d4 c5+ 35.c3! g5+ 36.b1 though 18.g1!? f7 19.g2 xg6+ 37.a1+- ] is a perfectly good option ] 18...xe4 19.xe4 dxe4 20.xe4 xf2 34...d7?! 35.a4?! [ 35.xe6! xe6 36.d4+ c8 37.xf2+- ] 21.xg6 f6 35...xg6?! [ 21...f7= ] [ 35...f4!? ] 22.e1 d7?! 36.d5+ e7?! [ 22...g3 23.d3 d6 24.h1 f4= ] [ 36...d6 37.b5+ c7 38.a5+- ] 23.c4! b6 24.g5 37.d4 xd2 [ 24.b1!? ] [ 37...f6 38.b4+ f7 39.xe6 xe6 24...e8 40.d7++- ] [ 24...g4 25.e4!? ( 25.d3 f7 26.c5 c7 27.a6 f5 28.xa7 b5; 25.h5 38.xe6+ h2 26.d5 ) 25...h2 26.c5 g3 27.d5! 1-0 245
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 262
A07 Morozevich,Alexander 2755 Gelfand,Boris 2736 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (12) 21.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen]
1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.d3 g4 5.bd2 bd7 6.h3 [ The normal move is 6.0-0 , but Morozevich is angling for the game to enter the lines we saw him play against Rublevsky and Bacrot. However, Gelfand isn't as accommodating. ] 6...xf3 7.xf3 e5 8.0-0 e7 [ This line isn't seen particularly often and White has previously succeeded in obtaining the better chances against it. With that in mind, it is somewhat surprising that Gelfand doesn't opt for the standard prescription for Black in this line, which is 8...c5 A) 9.xe5 xe5 10.d4 d6 11.dxe5 xe5 12.d3 0-0= Polugaevsky, L-Geller, E/Moscow 1969/URS-ch; B) 9.c4 dxc4 10.dxc4 e7 11.c2 0-0 12.e3 a5 13.b3 a4 14.b2 fe8 15.c3 b4= Quinteros, M-Milos, G/Moron 1982; C) 9.b1 e7 10.a3 e4 11.dxe4 xe4 12.e3 0-0 13.c3 fe8 14.c2 b6 15.a4 a5 , and Black has a comfortable game, Ljubojevic, L-Boersma, P/Antwerp 1997; D) 9.h4!? 0-0 10.e4 e8 ( 10...dxe4 11.dxe4 ) 11.e2 b6 12.c3 a5 Moser, E-Madl, I/Istanbul 2000, and now 13.f5 is pleasant for White; E) 9.c3 White has tried several other things at this juncture: 0-0 10.c2 ( 10.b4 b6 11.a4 a6 12.d2 e8 13.e4 f8 14.e2 d7 15.a5 a7 16.e1 ad8= Petran, P-Westerinen, H/Cappelle 1988) 10...e8 11.e4 dxe4 12.dxe4 a5 13.a4 ( 13.b3!? c7 14.a3 f8 15.b2 c5 16.fe1 a4 17.b4 Barcza, G-Bajec, I/ Ljubljana 1969) 13...f8 14.g5 h6 15.ad1 e7 16.c1 ad8 17.h4 c7 18.f5 g6 Cebalo, M-Arun Prasad, S/ Biel SUI 2007, and now 19.d2!? ] [ 8...d6 9.h4 0-0 10.f5 Krojanski, HLangschmidt, D/Dortmund 1993 ] 9.h4!? [ White has two perfectly acceptable alternatives in: A) 9.c4 dxc4 10.dxc4 0-0
11.c2 e8 12.b3 c7 13.b2 f8 14.ad1 ( 14.fd1!? ) 14...a5 15.a3 c5 16.e3 f8 17.h4 c5 18.f5 , and White is in charge of the game, Todorcevic, MCampora, D/Sevilla 1992 ] [ B) 9.b3 0-0 10.c4 c7 11.c2 d4 12.b1 a5 13.a3 a7 14.e1 A) 14...c5 15.e4 ( 15.e3?! e4! ); B) 14...b5?! 15.e3 dxe3 16.xe3 1-0 Maksimovic, S-Batkovic, R/Novi Sad 1996 (32) ] 9...0-0 10.f5 e8 11.xe7+ xe7 12.e4 dxe4 13.dxe4 c5 14.e2 ad8 15.e3 [ 15.b3 e6 16.c3 c5 17.d2= ] 15...cxe4 16.xa7 c5 [ 16...b4!? ] 17.b6 a8 18.b3 a6 19.xc5 xc5 20.c4 a3 21.ad1 e4 22.fe1 h6 23.d2 a5 24.ed1 g6 [ 24...h5!? ] 25.c2 g7 26.dd2 [ 26.d2!? ] 26...e5 27.e3 ea8 28.b6 a1+ 29.f1?! [ 29.h2 h5 30.c5 3a5 31.e3 e5 is uncomfortable for W hite, but playable. After the text move, Black is clearly better ] 29...xa2 30.xa2 xa2 31.xa2 xa2 32.xb7? [ 32.b4 d2 33.g2 d1+ 34.f1 d2 35.b5 cxb5 36.cxb5 d7 ] 32...e3 33.fxe3 e4 34.g2 f2+ 35.h1? [ 35.h2 xg3+ 36.g1 xe3+ 37.h2 c3 is also pretty disgusting, but it's better than allowing mate ] 35...e1+? [ 35...xg3+ 36.h2 e2 mates ] 36.h2 xg3+ 37.g1 xe3+ 38.h2 c5 [ 38...c3! 39.a6 ( 39.xc6?? e2!-+ ) 39...e2 40.a1+ h7 41.b1 c5 42.h1 c1 , and Black is winning ] 39.b6 e5+ 40.g1 d3?! [ 40...g5!? 41.b4 d4+ 42.h2 f4+ 43.h1 d3 leaves Black with good winning chances ] 41.xc6 e3+ 42.h2 f4+ 43.g1 d4+ [ 43...e3+!? ] 44.h2 e5+ 45.g1 c5 [ 45...e3+!? ]
246
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 46.b6 e1+ 47.h2 e5+ 48.g1 e1+ ½-½
263 Morozevich,Alexander Harikrishna,Penteala World Cup ACP 1st rapid (1.3) [Nigel Davies]
A07 2741 2673 06.01.2007
1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.d3 g4 5.h3 h5 6.g4 g6 7.e5 [ Although this looks more 'aggressive' than 7.h4 it loses the option of a delayed capture on g6 when Black attacks the knight with 7...Nbd7. This in turn opens the h-file early for Black and makes it easier for him to know where to put the rest of his pieces. ] 7...bd7 8.xg6 hxg6 9.e3 e6 10.d2 It's not incredibly easy to develop the rest of White's pieces after this. [ So I prefer the development with 10.c3 followed by Bc1-d2 and Qd1-e2. ] 10...d6 11.e2 [ 11.b3 is another means of developing that is worth thinking about. ] 11...a5 12.a3 a4 13.f4?! It looks logical to take space like this though there are issues about the safety of White's king. [ Accordingly it might have been better to play 13.f3 a f t e r w h i c h e5 14.d2 ( 14.d2 b5 15.g5 g8 16.h4 e7 was quite comfortable for Black at this stage in Labuckas, A (2317)-Butnorius, A (2402)/ Siauliai 2007 )] 13...e7 14.0-0 e5 15.f5 gxf5 16.xf5 g6 17.f2 e4?! [ 17...h7 was probably a better idea, getting ready to bring the knight to g5. ] 18.dxe4 xe4 19.xe4 dxe4 20.c4 f5!? If followed up correctly this would have been very strong. 21.gxf5 gxf5?! [ 21...g3! is correct here as after 22.f1 gxf5 23.xf5 e5 24.xe4 0-0-0 Black's bishop is not blocking the d-file so he's ready to play ... Rd1+. ] 22.xf5 0-0-0 23.xe4 e5 24.d2 xh3?? A blunder, probably induced by the time limit in this game. 25.xe5! [ And not 25.xh3 because of h2+ . ] 25...xe5 26.xh3+ b8 27.c3 g5+
28.g2 Black is a piece down for zero co m p e n sa t io n so t h e re st re qu ir e s li t t l e comment. g6 29.f1 h5 30.f3 h6 31.g3+ a8 32.d4 h4 33.f2 xg2 34.xg2 e6 35.g5 e8 36.a5+ b8 37.a7+ c7 38.xa4 f5 39.g7+ d6 40.b4+ e6 41.xb7 d5 42.f7+ 1-0
264
A07 Morozevich,Alexander 2755 Karpov,Anatoly 2670 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (10) 21.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen]
1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.d3 f5 5.bd2 h6 6.0-0 e6 7.e1 h7 8.e4 e7 9.e5 [ The alternatives are 9.e2 ] [ and 9.b3 ] 9...a6 [ A new move in this position! The usual continuation is 9...bd7 10.xd7 xd7 11.f4 A) 11...dxe4 12.dxe4 0-0 ( 12...c5 13.b3 0-0 14.e2 xb3 15.axb3 d4+= Gasthofer, A-Scherer, H/GER 2002 ) A1) 13.b3 a5 A1a) 14.a4 b4 ( 14...c5!? ) 15.c3 c5+ 16.xc5 xc5 17.e3 d7 18.d1 Branca, R-Roldan, A/IECG Email 1999; A1b) 14.e3 a4 15.d2 c5 16.d1 e7 17.f2 xe3 18.xe3 b4 19.b3 axb3 20.axb3 c5 21.c4 xe3+ 22.xe3 Anastasian, A-Shen Yang/Beer Sheva 2005; A2) 13.h1 A2a) 13...a5 14.g4 f5?! ( 14...a4!? ) 15.gxf5 exf5 16.e5 c5 17.f3 e6 18.e3 e8 19.g1 Aronian, LDelgado Crespo, M/Linares 2000; A2b) 13...e8 14.g4 e5 ( 14...c7 15.b3 ad8 16.d2 b6 17.a5 B u e s e , R - P o p o vi c , A / I E C C E m a i l 2000 ) 15.f5 g5 16.f3 xc1 17.xc1 h8 18.h4 f6 19.g5 with a good initiative for W hite, Bakhtiari, K-Vahidi, M/Mashad IRI 247
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2003; A2c) 13...c5 14.e3 ( 14.g4!?; 14.e2 a5 15.c4 b5 16.e5 c7 17.d3 xd3 18.cxd3 c5 19.e3 ac8= Vaganian, R-Karpov, A/Moscow 1993 ) 14...d7 15.a4 fd8 16.b3 xb3 17.xb3 c5 18.g4 e7 19.f5 Vaganian, R-Dominguez, L/ Poikovsky RUS 2005; B) 11...a5 12.h1 0-0 13.e2 ae8 14.g4 dxe4 15.dxe4 h8 16.b3 b5 17.c4 , and White has the game under control, Zhang Zhong-Yutuc, R/Manila PHI 2006; C) 11...0-0 12.h1 ( 12.e2 a5 13.h1 a4! 14.f5 dxe4 15.dxe4 exf5 16.exf5 e8 seems very pleasant for Black, Nasir Ali, S-Hartston, W/Delhi 1982 ) C1) 12...c5 13.g4 a5 14.a4 e8 15.g3 dxe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.xe4 f6 18.g2 Vaganian, R-Short, N/ Luzern 1985; C2) 12...e8 13.g4 ( 13.e2 a5 14.a4!? c7 15.b3 b5 16.b2 b6 17.g4 with an unpleasant attack, S c h u l z e , U - L a m b e r t , A / c o r r 1 9 9 8) 13...a5 14.a4 dxe4 15.xe4 ( 15.dxe4 b4 16.e2 h4 17.c4 f6 looks better for Black, Dunhaupt, HVukcevic, B/corr 1988) 15...f5 16.g3 c5 17.d1 f6 18.g5 g4 19.f3 hxg5 20.fxg5 e5 21.f4 , and here a d r a w wa s a g r e e d u p o n , 1 / 2 - 1 / 2 , i n Markowski, T-Haba, P/Germany 2002, though obviously there is plenty of play l e f t i n t h e p o s i t i o n , e . g . w i t h d6!? followed by ...Ng4; C3) 12...h8 13.g4 dxe4 14.xe4 f5 15.g3 g8 16.e2 fxg4 17.xg4 f6 18.h3 d5 19.d2 d6 20.h5 , and W hite has the upper hand, Vaganian, R-Thorhallsson, T/New York 1997; C4) 12...a5 13.g4 ( 13.f5!? is an old suggestion by Vaganian, but it has yet to tried. ) 13...a4?! ( 13...b5!? has also been suggested by Vaganian ) C4a) 14.a3 h8 ( 14...h4 15.e2 dxe4?! 16.dxe4 c5 17.c4 b5 18.e5 c7 19.g5 , and White's attack on the kingside is gaining
momentum, Vaganian, R-Comp Centaur/The Hague1996; 14...dxe4 15.dxe4 c5 16.e3 f5 17.gxf5 exf5 18.e5 Junge, K-Buhr, C/ Germany 1993) 15.f5 exf5 16.gxf5 dxe4 17.xe4 f6 18.d2 xe4 19.xe4 f6 20.c3 e8 21.g3 xc3 22.bxc3 , and White has somewhat the b ette r cha nces , bu t Black's position is solid and with only few weaknesses, Vaganian, RRiazantsev, A/Canada de Calatrava ESP 2006; C4b) 14.f5 a3 15.b3 e8 16.b1 exf5 17.gxf5 a5 18.exd5 cxd5 19.g3 b4 20.f3 Vaganian, RSveshnikov, E/ Sochi 1980 ] [ Then there is 9...0-0 10.f4 a6 11.h1 e8 12.g4 d7 13.xd7 xd7 14.f3 c5 15.g5 hxg5 16.fxg5 d6 17.h4 b4 18.d1 e5 19.d2 ( 19.c3! c6 20.exd5 exd5 21.g6! fxg6 22.g5! ) A) 19...dxe4! 20.d4! c7 21.dxc5 d5 ( 21...a6 22.e3 d5 23.g4 ) 22.h5 ( 22.xb4?? e5-+ ); B) 19...c6 20.exd5 exd5 21.h5 ad8 22.xf7 xf7 23.g6 xg6 24.xg6 e6 25.g5 d6 26.f1 xg6 27.xd5+ xd5 28.xg6 dd8 29.f7+ h8 30.f3 1-0 Vaganian, R-Van der Vorm, T/ Holland 1996 ] [ Yet another alternative is 9...c5 10.f4 c6 11.xc6 bxc6 12.h1 a5 13.e2 a4 14.a3 c7 15.g4 with a complicated game where White has the better chances thanks to his kingside potential and Black's somewhat rigid pawn structure, Aronian, LPlaskett, J/Hastings 2001 ] 10.e2 b4?! [ What is this? Karpov must not have thought t h i s i d e a t h r o u g h . N o r m a l i s 10...0-0 with chances to both sides. ] 11.c3 a6 Hmmm... 12.d4 0-0 13.xc6 bxc6 14.xa6 dxe4 15.xc6 d5 16.a6 e5 17.b3 exd4 18.xd4 c5 19.e3 [ 19.d1!? ] 19...g4 20.ad1 h5 21.h3 xe3 22.fxe3 g5 23.f4? [ After this move, Black is back in the game a g a i n . I n s t e a d 23.h2 b6 24.f4 248
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is clearly better for White ] 23...xg3 24.e2 ad8 25.g4 e5 26.f1 d6 [ 26...f5 27.c6 d5 28.xd8 fxg4 29.d1 g5 ] 27.c4?! [ 27.b4 b6 28.f2 g6 is messy and the label 'unclear' fits well here ] 27...b6?! [ 27...d7!? 28.ff4 h5 ] 28.gf4 g6 [ 28...d7!? ] 29.h1 g5 [ 29...h8!? ] 30.f5 d2 31.g4 h5?? [ 31...xf5! 32.xf5 xf5 33.g3 e6 , and Blac k is by no means worse. In the game, however, Black dies promptly after this blunder ] 32.e7+ h7 33.xg6 1-0
265 Morozevich,Alexander Kramnik,Vladimir World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (6) [Carsten Hansen]
A07 2755 2785 21.11.2007
1.f3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g4 4.d3 d7 5.bd2 gf6 6.h3 h5 7.g4 g6 8.h4 e6 [ Black has a serious alternative in 8...e5 , and now: A) 9.xg6 is harmless for Black, even if in accordance with White's game plan: hxg6 10.e3 ( 10.e4?! dxe4 11.xe4 xe4 12.dxe4 c5 13.e2 b6 14.c3 a5 , and Black has the more comf ortable game, Knudsen, J-Nilsson, N/Copenhagen 1987; 10.c4 a5 11.f1 dxc4 12.xc4 c7 13.d2 c5 14.b4 e7 15.c1 0-0 16.b3 ad8 Labuckas, ARapoport, I/Polanica Zdroj 1996 ) 10...d6 A1) 11.b3 e7! ( 11...c5?! 12.b2 e7 13.e2 0-0 14.h4 e6 15.g5 Brkljaca, A-Jakovljevic, V/Niska Banja 1996 ) 12.a3?! ( 12.b2!? ) 12...0-0-0 13.e2 b8 14.b2 g5 15.c4 dxc4 16.xc4 c5 Bonin, J-Yudasin, L/ New York USA 2004;
A2) 11.e2 e7 12.c4 b6 13.a3 dxc4 14.dxc4 d8 15.g5 fd7 16.h4 a5= Fuller, M-Greenfeld, A/London 1984; B) 9.c4 also fails to frighten, e.g. c5 ( 9...d4 10.a3 a5 11.b3 d6 12.f1 g8 13.xg6 hxg6 14.g3 gf6= Likavsky, T-Hracek, Z/Trencianske Teplice 2002 ) 10.xg6 hxg6 11.e3 0-0 12.0-0 d4 13.exd4 xd4 14.f3 b6= Bradford, J-Georgiev, K/ Catalan Bay ENG 2007; C) 9.e3 C1) 9...c5 C1a) 10.a3 a5 11.b3 ( 11.xg6 hxg6 12.g5 h7 13.h4 hf8 14.c4 d4 15.e4 e6 Garcia Luque, AK o n o n e n k o , T / S e v i l l a E S P 2 0 0 6) 11...f8 12.xg6 hxg6 13.b2 e7 14.g5 6d7 15.h4 e6 16.g4 d6= Michalek, J-Pokorna, R/Czech Rep CZE 2003; C1b) 10.e2 f8 11.xg6 hxg6 12.f3 e4 13.dxe4 xe4 14.d2 f6 15.b3 b4+ 16.c3 d6 17.d2 e6 18.c4 Abramovic, BKarpman, V/Belgrade 1992; C2) 9...g8 10.xg6 hxg6 11.0-0 gf6 12.c4 dxc4 13.xc4 e7 14.e2 c7 15.d2 0-0 Giffard, NLacrosse, M/Paris 1993, and here White's best is 16.ac1; C3) 9...d6 C3a) 10.0-0 g8 ( 10...0-0 11.b3 c7 12.b2 ad8 13.e2 c5 Quinteros, M-Servat, R/Villa Martelli 1997 ) 11.xg6 ( 11.f5 xf5 12.gxf5 e7 13.e4 g6 14.fxg6 was played in Thiede, L-Houska, J/ Kreuzberg GER 2004, and now Black should have opted for hxg6!? 15.exd5 cxd5 16.c4 b6 ) 11...hxg6 12.c4 e7 13.b3 c5 14.d4 exd4 15.exd4 e6 16.f3 f4 17.xf4 xf4 18.e1 0-0 , Hickl, J-Blauert, J/Bad Neuenahr 1989, 19.d3 g5=; C3b) 10.b3 e7 11.b2 0-0 12.a3 h6 13.e4 c5 14.f5 c7 15.xd6 xd6= Bukhman, E-Arbakov, V/ Warsaw 1992; C3c) 10.e2 e7 ( 10...g8 11.f5 249
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xf5 12.gxf5 f6 13.e4 d4 D'Amore, C-Uribe, M/Bled 2002, and now 14.c3!? promises White a good game ) 11.a3 c5 ( 11...b6!? 12.c4 0-0-0 13.b3 dxc4 14.dxc4 c7 15.xg6 hxg6 16.b2 fd7 Kritz, L-E rdos, V/Dif f e rdange LUX 2007 ) 12.b3 fd7 13.xg6 hxg6 14.b2 f5 15.g1 0-0-0 16.gxf5 gxf5 17.f1 e6 Bilek, I-Varga, P/ Budapest 1995; C3d) 10.f1 g8 11.xg6 hxg6 12.b3 a5 13.a3 gf6 14.b2 e7 15.e2 0-0= Arencibia, W-Pigusov, E/ Havana 1985 ] 9.e3 [ The alternatives are: A) 9.df3 d6 10.xg6 hxg6 11.e3 c7 12.e2 e5 13.g5 ed7 14.d2 b6 15.c3 b4= Roselli, B-Donatti, A/URU 1994 ] [ B) 9.xg6 hxg6 10.e4 c5 11.e2 c7 12.b3 dxe4 13.dxe4 d6 14.e3 f4 15.0-0-0 g5 16.b1 xe3 17.xe3 f4 18.xf4 gxf4 , Aijala, J-Maidla, V/Lahti 1998, 19.g5 h7 20.h4= ] [ C) 9.e4?! e7 10.xg6 hxg6 11.e2 c7 12.c3?! ( 12.b3= ) 12...0-0-0 Brudzinski, M-Przybyla, K/Grodzisk Mazowiecki POL 2007, 13.d4 e5 ] 9...d6 [ The alternatives are: A) 9...g8!? 10.xg6 hxg6 11.e2 d6 12.b3 f6 13.d4 g5 14.b2 e7 15.0-0-0 ( 15.e4 f4 ) 15...g6 16.f3 e7= Quinteros, MGiorgadze, T/Hannover 1983 ] [ B) 9...e7 10.e2 c7 11.df3 0-0-0 12.d2 c5 13.0-0-0 b6 14.xg6 hxg6 15.e1 a6 16.b1 Panno, O-Letelier Martner, R/Casilda 1984 ] 10.e2 c7!? [ 10...e7 11.df3 0-0 12.d2 fe8 13.xg6 hxg6 14.g5 c5 15.h4 fd7 16.e4 f6 Panno, O-Ricardi, P/Buenos Aires 1985, and now 17.c3 leaves White with a comfortable edge ] 11.0-0 [ 11.b3 f8 12.b2 e5 13.0-0-0 0-0-0 14.g5 6d7 15.f4 exf4 16.xg7 g8 17.b2 e6 18.xg6 fxg6 Hemming, CMalbon, P/ corr 1999 ] 11...0-0-0 12.f4 h6 13.xg6 fxg6 14.f3?!
[ After this Black takes control over the game and doesn't ever really let go of it again. I n st e a d W h it e sh o u ld t r y 14.c4!? g5 15.b3 h5 16.d4 f8 17.cxd5 xd5 18.fxg5 hxg4 19.xg4 ] 14...e5 15.h4 exf4 16.exf4 he8 [ 16...c5+!? ] 17.f2 c5 18.d4 b6 19.b4 [ 19.xg6 e4 20.xe4 xe4 21.e3 de8 22.fe1 d6 23.e5 g5 ] 19...e4 20.xe4 xe4 21.c3 de8 22.xg6 c5!? [ 22...e2!? 23.f3 c2 24.a4 d6 25.e5 xe5 26.fxe5 xe5 27.f4 f6 ] 23.bxc5 xc5 24.f3 a4 25.d2 xc3 26.xc3?! [ 26.h1 xd4 27.ac1 e3 ] 26...e3 27.xd5 xc3 28.ae1 [ 28.ad1!? ] 28...d8 29.f5+ [ 29.g2 xd4+ 30.h2 e3 31.e4 d2+ 32.h1 c5 is also pretty devastating ] 29...b8 30.h2 xd4 [ Black can probably do better with 30...c2+ 31.h1 c3 32.e5+ a8 33.e3 b2 , and W hite's position doesn't inspire confidence of a successful defence. ] 31.e2 a6 32.fe1 a7 33.e4 b6 34.e5? [ 34.g2 is relatively best though after dd3 White's position is in shambles ] 34...d4 35.f5 g5 36.fxg5 dd3 37.g2 g3+ 38.f1 g1# 0-1
266
A07 Morozevich,Alexander 2755 Rublevsky,Sergei 2676 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (26) 22.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen] 1.f3 d5 2.g3 g4 3.g2 [ 3.e5!? is discussed in RomanishinSulypa, Lvov 2001, which can be found in the PGN archives ] 3...d7 4.d3 [ Here White also has alternatives to choose b e t w e e n . F i r s t 4.c4 which has bee n discussed in Pigusov-Zhang Pengxiang, 250
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Moscow 2001 and Markowski-Aleksandrov, Saint Vincent 2000, and ] [ 4.0-0 which was recently covered in Movsesian-Komarov, Clichy 2007 - all of the just mentioned games can be located in PGN archives. The text move looks less ambitiou s an d ha s no t previo usly bee n covered here at Chesspublishing.com, but Morozevich soon lights a fire... ] 4...c6 5.h3 h5 [ 5...xf3 can also be considered ] 6.g4!? This was Morozevich's idea: to eliminate Black's light-squared bishop. g6 7.h4 e6 [ 7...e5 8.xg6 hxg6 A) 9.c3 d6 10.e4 d4 11.e2 c5 12.d2 f8 13.c3 e6 14.a4+ d7 15.xd7+ xd7= Arce Balluerca, JIruzubieta Villaluenga, J/Euskadi 1999; B) 9.c4 dxc4 10.dxc4 f5 ( 10...c5 11.c3 b6 12.e3 ) 11.c3 h6 12.e3 c5 13.d2 f7 14.0-0-0 xe3 15.xe3 e7 , Socko, B-Yagupov, I/ Moscow 2002, and now 16.b1; C) 9.e3 d6 10.b3 e7 11.b2 g5 12.c4 g6 ( 12...a5+ 13.d2 g6!? ) 13.cxd5 h4 14.0-0 xg2 15.xg2 cxd5 16.f3 b6 17.c3 Hodgson, JLputian, S/Yerevan 1986 ] 8.xg6 hxg6 9.e3 [ A novelty. White has a few alternatives, though none are particularly frightening for Black: A) 9.c4 A) 9...c5 10.cxd5 ( 10.d4!? b4+ 11.d2 b6 ) 10...cxd5 11.a3 e7 12.d4 b6 13.c3 c6 14.e3 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Jasnikowski, Z-Kuczynski, R/ Czest ocho wa 1 992, tho ugh of c ourse the re is st ill plen ty o f play lef t in t his position. Objectively speaking, however, the chances are probably fairly level.; B) 9...b6!? 10.c3 d6 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.e4?! ( 12.d2= ) 12...d4 13.e2 b4+ 14.f1?! e7 15.f4 e5 16.f5 a6 , and although White's position is a bit of toilet at this stage, he still managed to pull a win out of the hat in Socko, B-Quinn, M/ Cork IRL 2005 ] [ B) 9.f4 b6 10.c1 c5 11.e3 a5 12.0-0 e5 13.g3 f5 14.d4!? exd4
15.exd4 xd4 , Dannevig, O-Haugli, P/ Norway 1993 16.e1+ ] [ C) 9.c3 d6 10.d2 e7 ( 10...gf6 11.f3 e7 12.g5 e5 13.e3 0-0-0 14.c2 c5 , Rety, J-Crouch, C/Newport 2001, and no w 15.0-0-0 is about equal) 11.f3 c7 12.c2 0-0-0 13.d2 f6 14.0-0-0 e5= Bognar, C-Rabovszky, G/ Aggtelek 1995 ] 9...d6 10.e2 e7 [ 10...f5 was played in Morozevich-Bacrot, also covered in this update. ] 11.d2 g5 [ Computer suggestions in this type of position are often rather peculiar moves, but here I think my computer may actually be on to something with its suggestion of 11...a5!? , which prevents White's continuation in the game, so White may be forced to go other ways, e.g. 12.a3 ( 12.b3? c3-+; 12.c3 c5 ) 12...0-0-0 13.b1 b8 14.b4 a4 15.c4 with chances to both sides ] 12.f3 g6 13.d2 de5 14.0-0-0 [ Or 14.xe5 xe5 15.0-0-0 f6 16.d4 c7 ] 14...f6 [ Here 14...xf3!? 15.xf3 f6 16.c3 e5 is fine for Black ] 15.c3 [ 15.xg5 xg5 16.f4 e7 17.fxe5 xe5 18.e4 d4 , and Black is doing fine ] 15...xf3?? [ A scary blunder, probably still registering the white king on e1. Black's perfectly good a l t e r n a t i ve i s 15...0-0-0 16.hf1 b8 17.d4 ( 17.xe5 xe5 18.d4 c7 19.b4 h4 is pleasant for Black) 17...e7 18.d2 d7 19.f4 ] 16.xf6 1-0
267 Movsesian,Sergei Acs,Peter FIDE WCh KO Tripoli LBA (2.5) [Tony Kosten]
A07 2647 2548 22.06.2004
1.g3 d5 2.f3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 g4 5.d3 e6 6.bd2 e7 7.h3 h5 8.e4 251
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 This Reti has taken on the contours of a King's Indian Attack (which often happens when W hite refrains from an early c4), and the question is whether it is an advantage for Black to have his light-squared bishop outside his pawn chain, or whether this piece will become a target. 0-0 9.e1 White normally prefers [ 9.e2 keeping the rook on the f-file to aid a later f4. ] 9...bd7 10.e5 Immediately gaining space, [ 10.c3 a5 11.g4 g6 12.h4 keeps this option for later, and plans f4-f5, Belenov,DMelkonyan,L/Voronezh RUS 2001. ] 10...e8 11.f1 A typical move in these positions, the knight heads for the kingside, and opens the c1-bishop's diagonal so that the e-pawn can be protected by Bf4. c5!? Quite logical now that there is no pressure on d5, in their previous game Acs preferred [ 11...c7 12.f4 f6!? ( 12...g5!? 13.d2 f6 14.g4 g6 is a bit risky, Junge,K-Orso,M/ Eger 1987; but 12...xf3!? 13.xf3 g5 is wo rt h t ryin g) 13.exf6 xf6 14.d4 fixing the e6-weakness, e5!? or does it? 15.dxe5 e7 16.d2 e6 with some compensation for the pawn, but not quite enough, Movsesian,S-Acs,P/ Tripoli LBA 2004. ] 12.f4 [ 12.1h2 c8 13.d2 c7 14.c1 b5 15.g5 was nothing for White in Prosch,CBaer,A/Hamburg 1999. ] 12...b5 13.g4 g6 14.d2 c4 Black's queenside counterplay is very quick. 15.g3 cxd3 16.cxd3 c5 Forcing White to defend the d-pawn. 17.f1 d4!? A doubleedged move fixing the d3-pawn, but opening the long diagonal. [ 17...a5 was another option, continuing to advance in the sector where Black is strongest. ] 18.h4 White also attacks where he has the m a j o r i t y o f h i s p i e c e s , o f c o u r s e . h6!? This weakens the kingside, but [ 18...xh4!? 19.xh4 xh4 20.g5 cuts th e quee n o f f f rom he r b ase , xg4 21.e2 h3 22.e7 d7 23.f4 and Black is in some difficulty. ] [ 18...d5! might be best, 19.h2 xh4 20.ac1 ( 20.g2? d8 21.xa8 xa8
is clearly better for Black) 20...e7 21.g2 d8 22.xa8 xa8 23.e4 xe4 24.dxe4 xe4 with good comp. ] 19.h5 h7 20.ac1 c7 The knight heads for d5. 21.g5 White's kingside initiative is becoming serious. d5? [ 21...hxg5 22.xg5 threatens to take on c5, but Black might be able to play f6!? ] 22.g2! xa2 23.xc5? Fancy, but [ 23.xd4! looks strong, e.g. xd3 24.g6 winning material. ] 23...xc5 24.gxh6 d5 25.hxg7 W hite has completely destroyed the black kingside. fc8 26.h6?! b4 Perhaps White hadn't noticed that he would be forced to concede a second exchange. 27.g5 xe1 28.xe1 b1 Black should be winning here, but in rapid chess anything can happen... 29.d2 The knight had to be defended. a5 [ 29...xd3! ] 30.h2 a4 31.e4 a3 Black is still attacking on the queenside! Normally he would try to kill the attacking pieces by [ 31...xe4! 32.xe4 but after a3 33.bxa3 xa3 34.f3 a2 he probably saw that the shot 35.g5 was possible, threatening mate on h7, however, after the forced f5 36.exf6 xf6 37.f4 xf2+! 38.xf2 c2 Black wins easily. ] 32.bxa3 xa3 33.d6 Now White has serious chances again. c1?? A horrific blunder, undoubtedly due to time pressure, [ 33...a2! 34.g5 ca8 35.xd5 looks nasty f or Black, but there is xf2+ ( 35...exd5? 36.e7 threatens mate on f7 and f8, and wins) 36.h3 f5+ 37.xf5 xf5 and Black seems to be on top. This line is n o t e a s y t o s e e in a q u i c k g a m e , o f course. ] 34.xc1 xc1 35.xc1 a1 36.d2 d1 37.a5 [ 37.h6!! xd2 38.xd5 exd5 39.c8 would be the neat way to finish the game. ] 37...b4 38.xd5 xe1 39.c4? [ 39.f3 protects the h-pawn. ] 39...xe5 40.xb4 xh5+ 41.g2 xg7 Black almost has some chances to save the game with rook and pawn against two pieces. 42.b5 e5 43.d6 g5+ 44.f1 g6 45.e8+ h7 46.e7 f5 47.d5 e4? 252
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 The last mistake. 18.d3 c7 19.c3 ) 16...xa5 17.xa5 [ 47...f4 hits d3, when White's winning xa5 18.e3 e6 19.d2! 0-0 20.b3 ] c h a n c e s a r e s e ve r e l y r e d u c e d : 48.e2 16.xb4 c5?! h5+ 49.f3 g6 50.c7 f6 and everything [ I'm not sure I understand what Black is defended. ] missed when playing this move because he 48.dxe4 e5 Black skewers the two minor loses a pawn without too much calculation. pieces, but there is a simple defence. 49.f6+ The alternative is also better for White, but g7 50.d8 d3 51.f4 The rook has no it is u nd o u b t e dly b e t t er t h a n t h e ga m e squares. d2 52.e2 xe4 53.fxe5 continuation: 16...c8 17.a5 a7 18.h4 1-0 e6 19.f5 f7 20.b1 b5 21.axb6 xb6 22.xb6 xb6 23.e3 xb4 24.xb4 d8 25.b7 g6 26.h6+ e7 268 A07 27.c7 , and White is slowly but surely snaking his way into Black's position, and Movsesian,Sergei 2642 W hite's con stricting p ieces are makin g Komarov,Dimitri 2539 their presence felt right about now. ] French Team Ch (8) 31.05.2007 17.xd7 xb4 18.xc7 xc4 19.xb7 c5?! [Carsten Hansen] [ 19...c5!? is a better choice, e.g. 20.f1 e6 21.a3 xa3 22.xa3 f7 23.a5 ] 1.f3 d5 2.g3 g4 3.g2 d7 4.0-0 c6 5.d3 e5 6.h3 h5 7.e4 dxe4 8.dxe4 c5 20.f1! xf1 [ While the exchange of bishops isn't exactly 9.bd2 e7 what Black needs when considering [ Or 9...f6 10.c3 f7 11.h4 e7 12.f5 potential counterplay, but avoiding it creates xf5 13.exf5 e7 14.e4 c5 15.g4 o t h e r p ro b l e m s , e . g . 20...e6 21.d2 R.Dzindzichashvili-Qi Jingxuan, Thessaloniki ( 21.a3!? c8 22.b6 xa3 23.xa3 OL 1984 ] sh o u ld win f or W hit e wit ho u t t o o m u c h 10.c4 c7 11.e1 effort ) 21...c8 22.b6 xd2 23.xd2 [ Also 11.d2 is interesting, e.g. f6 12.b4 d7 24.b5 , and White is winning ] b6 13.a4 a6 14.a5 a7 15.e3 xe3 16.d6+ f8 17.fxe3 xf3 18.xf3 d8 21.xf1 f7 22.e3 [ 22.d2!? ] 19.f2 A.Minasian-J.Smeets, Antalya 22...hb8 23.xb8 xb8 24.b1 2004 ] [ This is the simplest way to proceed: White 11...f6 12.b4 b6 13.a4 f7 activates his pieces and starts his attack on [ Or 13...a6 14.xb6 ( 14.d2 0-0 15.a5 Black's king and kingside. The alternative is a7 16.b2 ) 14...xb6 15.a5 d7 24.a5 although the win will undoubtedly 16.e3 0-0 17.c3 ] b e c o m e m u c h m o r e p r o b l e m a t i c . c8 14.c3 a5!? 15.d1!? axb4?! 25.d2 xd2 26.xd2 b2 27.a6 a7 [ The text move just hands over the initiative 28.b1 xb1+ 29.xb1 e7 30.c4 d6 and the better chances to White without a 31.c3 c7 32.a4 c6 33.e2 real struggle. Also not too impressive is the , and White will win in the long run ] move that has been previously tried by Black 25.c3! xc3 26.xc5 c6 in this position: 15...xc4?! 16.xc4 axb4 24...a8 17.xb4 a5 18.b3 0-0-0?! ( 18...b6 27.b7+ e6? [ This move looks active, but lets the king 19.b1 a7 20.a3 c5 21.xc5 xc5 walk into a mating trap just waiting to be 22.xb7 xb7 23.xb7 ) 19.e3+- g6 sprung. However, the alternative isn't all 20.ab1 he8 21.c3! gf8 ( 21...df8 h a p p y d a y s e i t h e r : 27...g8 28.c7 22.d2 e7 23.f3 b8 24.g4 d3 ( 28.b3 a5 29.e2 d8 30.a3 ) 25.c4 xc3 26.a2+- ) 22.d2 e6 28...a6 29.e2 b4 30.e3 g6 31.g4 23.c4 dc5 24.a3 d3 25.f1 a5 32.c8+ f7 33.d3 e7 34.b8 1-0 Stefanova, A-Sedina, E/Leon 200102 ] c6 35.g5+- ] [ P o s s i b l y b e s t i s t h e u n t r i e d 15...c8!? 16.bxa5 ( 16.f1!? g6 17.xb6 xb6 28.c7 a6 29.h4 d4 30.f8 g6 31.g4! 253
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 The final nail in Black's coffin by adding the last element in the mating net White has been weaving over the last few moves. White wants to play 32 Nf5, since 32...gxf5 33 gxf5+ is also mate, and if Black doesn't take the knight, then 33 Ng7 will be mate! f5 32.xf5! gxf5 33.gxf5+ f6 34.h4! Next follows Bg7 mate, unless Black gives up knight and with ends up no less than three pawns down. Therefore, Black's choice is obvious... 1-0
269 Nakamura,Hikaru Solak,Dragan 40th Olympiad Open (7.7) [John Bartholomew]
A07 2778 2599 04.09.2012
A sleepy King's Indian Attack is a deadly weapon in Hikaru Nakamura's hands! 1.g3 On us ch es s.o rg, Na kam ura is qu ot ed a s saying "I felt like my opponent played just about everything under the sun. I just wanted a slow position. I didn't feel like spending six or s eve n ho u rs lo o kin g a t e ve ryt h ing. I n general I try never to study [that long]. It's very counterproductive." Indeed, the Réti is a go o d c h o ic e f o r a p la ye r o f Na k a m u r a ' s temperament and versatility. White aims for less theoretical positions where a superior feel for the position is often the biggest factor. d5 2.f3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d3 f5 5.0-0 e6 Though this is the most popular move, it does give White the opportunity to hunt down the bishop pair. [ 5...h6 would be my personal choice. Fairly s t a n d a r d i s 6.bd2 ( White tried to spice things up a bit with 6.c4 dxc4 7.e5!? in Markowski, T (2610)-Burmakin, V (2605)/ Benidorm ESP 2009/[JR].) 6...h7 7.e1 e6 8.e4 e7 . See Morozevich, A (2755) K a rp o v , A (2 6 7 0 ) / Mo sc o w R US 2 0 0 7 / [Hansen, Carsten]. ] 6.h4 [ An alternative is 6.fd2!? , trying for both e2 -e 4 a nd f 2 -f 4 . Ch e ck o u t Ka m sky, G (2720) -Aronian, L (2754)/Nalchik RUS 2009/ [JR]. ] 6...g6 I think White can count on a slightly more pleasant position after this retreat.
[ More combative is 6...g4!? , forcing White to work harder for the bishop. For example, 7.h3 h5 A) On 8.g4 , fd7! is a timely retreat worth remembering, e.g. 9.f3 g6 10.f4 ( 10.c3 d6 11.e4 0-0 12.e2 c7 13.h4 dxe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4 c5 16.g2 h2+ 17.h1 f4 1/2-1/2 Nikolic, Z (2485)-Todorovic, G (2455)/Becici 1994.) 10...e7 ( 10...f6?! 11.c1 e5 12.g3 c5 13.c4! Socko, B (2497)-Midoux, S (2225)/ Cappelle la Grande 1999.) 11.bd2 0-0 12.c4 a5 13.e1 a6 14.c1 b6 15.c2 fe8= Nguyen Duc Hoa (2452) Barbosa, O (2514)/Kuala Lumpur MAS 2011.; B) 8.e1 e7 9.e4 ( 9.f4!? a6 10.e4 d7 11.exd5 cxd5 12.f5 Karasev, V (2347)-Tunik, G (2442)/St Petersburg 2000. ) 9...fd7 10.f3 0-0 11.c3 e8 12.g4 g6 13.f4 a5 14.a3 a6 15.e2 ac5 16.h1 a4 Movsziszian, K ( 2 4 9 3 ) - C r u z, F ( 2 4 0 6 ) / S i t g e s E S P 2011. ] 7.xg6 hxg6 8.d2 bd7 9.e4 [ Leading with the c-pawn is possible, too: 9.c4 e7 10.b3 0-0 11.b2 a5 12.a3 b5 13.c2 b6 14.fc1 Dizdarevic, E (2481)Radovic, V (2147)/Zupanja CRO 2011. A characteristic Réti position where White's bish o ps will be o f va lu e u po n e ve n tu a l pawn exchanges. ] 9...dxe4 [ 9...d6 10.c3 0-0 11.e2 c7 12.f4!? dxe4 13.dxe4 e5 14.f5 gxf5 15.xf5 fe8 16.c4 f8 17.g5 h7 18.d2 b5 19.e3 ad8 20.af1 Ivanov, M (2443)Semcesen, D (2195)/Skovlunde 2006. ] 10.dxe4 [ 10.xe4 is also good for an edge, i.e. xe4 11.xe4 d6 12.g2 , Markowski, T (2549) -Langheinrich, F (2363)/Germany 2002. I find Nakamura's recapture to be more promising, especially in view of the coming plan with h3-h4 and Bg2-h3, seeking a new horizon for the bishop. ] 10...e5 11.e2 c5 12.f3 c7 13.h4 0-0 14.h3 fe8 15.g2 f8 16.g5 ad8 Outwardly, Black's position is fine. He is wellcentralized and White's bishop pair hasn't yet 254
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 made an impact. The problem is that Solak has virtually no targets to attack, and Nakamura has the luxury of probing on either flank. Notice that W hite has even refrained from the typical move c2-c3, which might allow Black a chance to infiltrate on the d3 square. 17.a3 e7 18.d2 8h7 19.ae1 xg5 20.xg5 c7? This gets Black into trouble. [ Better is 20...d6! , overprotecting f6 and slowing down White's kingside initiative. ] 21.h5! gxh5 22.xf6 gxf6 23.f5 f8 24.h1 e7 25.xh5 h8 26.g4! [ Most players would probably choose 26.eh1 here, but Nakamura isn't like most players (or ANY player, for that matter)! ] 26...dg8?! This doesn't accomplish much. [ Black should probably attempt something on the queenside, e.g. 26...b5!? . ] [ Not 26...xh5?! 27.gxh5 . ] 27.f3! The king feels perfectly safe here. d8 28.eh1 hf8 Black cedes the h-file, and punishment is swiftly forthcoming. 29.h7 a5? [ Keeping the queen out of c4 with 29...b5 was now almost mandatory. ] 30.c4+- b5 Overlooking White's threat, but Black is lost anyways. [ 30...d6 31.g6 d8 32.xf7 xf7 33.xf7+- ] 31.e6# A tidy Epaulette mate to end things! W hite's play in this game was remarkably easy after he secured the bishop pair. My belief is that Black should either play 6.... Bg4!? or avoid Nh4xg6 altogether with 5...h6. 1-0
270 Romanishin,Oleg M Sulypa,Alexandre It Lvov UKR (8) [Tony Kosten]
A07 2575 2513 25.12.2001
1.f3 d5 2.g3 g4 3.e5!? I suppose this must be the critical test of an early ...Bg4. [ We have considered 3.g2 in the games Shirov - Short, and Pigusov - Zhang Pengxiang. ] 3...f5 4.g2 f6!? Very ambitious, planning to set-up a strong centre whilst gaining time
on the knight. [ The simple 4...d7 is normally preferred, a i m i n g f o r q u i c k d e v e l o p m e n t , 5.xd7 ( 5.xf7?! is too optimistic, three pawns are rarely worth a piece in the opening: xf7 6.xd5+ e6 7.xb7 b8 8.g2 gf6 Black has a lead in development, although it is true that the white pawn structure has a pristine look about it, Vebic,K-Kharlov,A/ Pula 1990 ) 5...xd7 6.c4 e6 7.b3 c6 and having solidly defended his light squares, Black has every reason to feel happy with his position, Poley,V-Rublevsky, S/Aalborg 1993. ] 5.f3 c6!? A novelty, that allows Black to answer White's thematic c4-move with ...d4, as the b7-pawn is no longer exposed to attack from g2. [ 5...e5 is quite playable, nonetheless, 6.c4 A) 6...d4!? might still be playable, 7.b3 ( or 7.h4 c8 ) 7...e4; B) 6...c6 7.b3 d7 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.c3 e6 10.d4 e4 and a reversed French-style structure is reached, where Black's space seems to give him the upper hand, Szakall,F-Urbanec,M/Prague 1964. ] 6.c4 d4 7.h4 g4 Now the bishop can stay active, and doesn't have to return to c8 to defend the b-pawn. 8.h3 d7 9.e4 W hite decides to close the position, which implies that the position is equal- he simply hopes to outplay his opponent later-on. g6 Black had to contend with the threat of Qh5+. 10.d3 e5 11.0-0 h6 The knight heads for f7 which is a good square f or the knight, although it is far from c5, where it would really like to be. 12.a3 f7 13.c2 a5 14.d2 e7 15.f3 [ The knight is too exposed to play the immediate 15.f4?! exf4 16.gxf4 f5 17.f3 fxe4 18.dxe4 e6 the white position is too loose. ] 15...0-0 16.h2 White prepares the standard flanking blow f2-f4. g7 [ Black can cut across White's plans with the annoying 16...g5! 17.h4 e6 when not only has the knight found its way towards c5, but he has also inhibited White from playing f4, as his kingside is that much weaker, i.e. 18.f4 exf4 19.gxf4 f5 20.h5 c5 with pressure on the white centre. ] 255
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.f4 c8 18.h4 b8 [ Now 18...exf4 19.gxf4 f5 is less effective, 20.e5 xh4 21.f3 attacks h4 and d4. ] 19.a4 White stops Black from playing the thematic . ..b5, and puts all his 'eggs' in the kingside 'basket'. a8 20.b3 cd8 21.e1 a6 22.a2 Both players strengthen their positions. f5!? [ 22...exf4 23.gxf4 f5 is another possibility to generate play in the centre, but I don't know why Black didn't wait a few moves, and bring his d8-knight to c5 first, say. ] 23.fxe5 xe5 24.f4 ef7 25.af2 The white pieces are nicely bunched on the kingside. fxe4 26.xe4 e6 [ There is something to be said for 26...f6! first, so as to exchange a further pair of rooks. ] 27.c1 d6 28.xf8 xf8 29.d5 Black is OK, but I feel his position would be even better had he exchanged his offside rook for one of the white ones, see move 26. f5?! [ This is inappropriate, 29...c6 puts the question to the white bishop. ] 30.f3 e8?! [ A further mistake, 30...c6 is still possible. ] 31.g4 xh4? This just loses a piece to a queen fork. [ 31...e7?! may also lose, but more prettily: 32.h6+!! ( r a t h e r t h a n 32.xb7 b6 33.h6+ g8 ) 32...xh6 33.xb7 b6? ( 33...g7 34.xa6 c5 gives a little compensation, but probably not enough) 34.f6 and g5+ is a killer. ] [ 31...e3! is Black's best chance, 32.xe3 dxe3 33.g5 intending Ng4, but Black has some chances. ] 32.f6+ 1-0
o p t i o n s o p e n . e6 The most solid, we considered [ 6...e5 in Azmaiparashvili,Z-Shirov,A and Bricard,E-Kosten,A. ] 7.b3 c5 8.b2 0-0 9.a3 a5 10.e4 b5 This move, gaining space on the queenside, is often seen in such positions, the weakening o f c 6 i s t h e o n l y d r a w b a c k . 11.e1 To the uninitiated this move seems less logical than [ 11.e2 but it is important that White breaks the pin on his f3-knight. c7 12.h3 h5 13.e5 xf3 14.xf3 e8 15.h4 g6 16.h2 g7 1/2-1/2 Szabo,L-Keres,P/ Budapest 1970/MCD (16) ] 11...e8 Black takes the force out of White's e5-move, and brings the king's knight to c7 to help-out on the queenside, and to support e6 should Black need to use his f-pawn. [ 11...b6 12.h3 h5 13.h2 e8 is also possible, D'Amore,C-Tatai,S/Andorra 1987. ] 12.h3 h5 13.h1 Again, White is in no rush as in such a closed position, where the forces have yet to come into real contact, tempi are not too important so both sides try to place their pieces on optimum squares ready for the moment when things liven-up. By unpinning the f-pawn W hite prepares to push on the kingside. c7 14.c4!? Just when White se e m e d t o b e re a d y o n t h e kin gs id e , h e strikes-out on the queenside! This innovation is possibly no better than the previous try but leads to a more tense position. [ 14.e5 b6 15.h2 c5 16.g4 g6 17.f4 is more typical of play here, White advances on the kingside, Black on the queenside, f5! 18.exf6 xf6 with chances to both sides, Bezold,M-Kipper,J/ Muenster 1996. ] 14...dxc4!? Perhaps Black should have kept the central tension with 271 A07 [ 14...b8 , say. ] This is the point, White gains time on Sasikiran,Krishnan 2670 15.d4! Anand,Viswanathan 2755 t h e b i s h o p t o e xp a n d i n t h e c e n t r e . e7 b4 17.e3 I suppose from an FIDE World Cup Gp C (2) 11.10.2002 16.bxc4 aesthetic viewpoint W hite must have been [Tony Kosten] feeling quite pleased with himself - he 1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 g4 retarded his central pawn thrusts till after 5.d3 bd7 6.bd2 White adopts a KIA set- completing the development of this pieces, up, and plays for e4 rather than c4, but first and a few moves later has removed the black he develops his pieces, thus keeping his pawn centre and constructed an impressive 256
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 one of his own. Richard Reti would have been pleased! a6 18.fc1 e5!? Black decides on a temporary pawn sacrifice to break-up the impressive white pawns. 19.g4 g6 20.dxe5 e8!? [ 20...c5 21.d4 xd4 22.xd4 e8 might be simpler, as Black will soon recuperate the e5-pawn, the problem is that he has to do it without allowing White to play f4-f5, trapping the bishop, at the end. ] 21.b3! The knight comes to d4 to attack c6, and possibly hop into f5, whilst at the same time stopping ... Bc5. ac5 [ 21...a4 is critical, 22.bd4 c5 23.d1!? a n d n o w i f b3?! ( 23...b6 is stron ge r) 24.e6! fxe6 25.c3 leaves Black facing nasty threats to g7 and c6. ] 22.axb4 xb3 23.xb3 xb4 24.e3 h5!? 25.g5 c5 26.d4 e7 27.d1 a4? Black can regain his e-pawn immediately by [ 27...xd4 28.xd4 xe5 29.xe5 xe5 but the problem is that after 30.f4 c5 31.c3 ( 31.f5?? xf5 ) 31...h4 32.f3 White threatens to bury the black bishop by f 5, s till t his is prob ab ly be tt er t ha n th e game. ] 28.e6! A neat tactic that Black had probably missed, W hite returns the pawn but on his terms. xd4 [ 28...fxe6 29.xc5 xc5 30.e5 is the other point, forcing h7 ( 30...h7?? 31.g6 ) 31.xc6 with a big advantage. ] 29.xd4 f8!? [ 29...fxe6 30.e5! frees the dormant white bishop which will capture on c6 with only its second move of the game. ] 30.f4 This is positionally strong, as the black bishop will be blotted out of the game, but [ 30.e5! xe6 31.xc6 wins a solid exchange for zero compensation. ] 30...xe6 31.f5 xd4 32.xd4 h7 33.h4 This is the sort of position a computer can never understand, material is equal but in reality the h7-bishop is only worth a pawn, as it m a y ne ver b e a ble t o e scap e f ro m t h e kingside. ed8?! A tactical error to compound matters, [ 33...c5 avoided losing Black's only trump the a-pawn. ] 34.xa4! A back-rank trick! ab8 [ 34...xd4?? 35.xa8+ ]
35.a1 xd1+ 36.xd1 e5 37.b4 And again, not only does the h7-bishop have no squares, it also stops the black king from escaping to h7. a8 38.a4 b8 39.a3!? f4 40.e1 g6? This is pretty desperate, Black obviously hopes to set-up some sort of stalemate trick, [ 40...h8 m u st b e b e st , 41.g3 xg3 42.xg3 f6 43.d3 ( 43.g6!? g8 44.f1 is also an effective plan, the black bishop still has no moves.) 43...c5 44.gxf6 gxf6 45.d6 g7 46.c6 winning a second pawn, and the game. ] 41.f6 h8 42.g3 c1+ 43.h2 b1 This counterplay leads nowhere, the white kin g will be pe rf e ctly saf e on h3 . 44.d6! Threatening mate in two. g8 45.h3 b8 Black beats a hasty retreat, as Qf8 was once again the threat. 46.g3 b2 47.c5 b3 48.xb3 According to Fritz, [ 48.f8 leads to a forced mate, xg3+ 49.xg3 e5+ 50.f3 c3+ 51.f4 c1+ 52.e5 and the king escapes to d6, but the text is also good. ] 48...xb3+ 49.h2 e3 50.f8 f4+ 51.g1 e3+ 52.f1 d3+ 53.f2 As in the previous variation the white king will escape to d6, and c7 when the checks will expire and Black will have no way to counter the threat of mate on g7. 1-0
272 Stein,Leonid Averbakh,Yuri L USSR (ch) [Nigel Davies]
A07
1970
1.g3 d5 2.g2 e5 3.d3 c6 4.f3 Reaching a reversed Pirc Defence, which is quite common when you open 1.g3 as White. g6 5.c4 [ It's now or never with this lever as after 5.0-0 g7 6.c4 dxc4 7.a4 Black can play cxd3 because e5 is protected by his bishop on g7. Of course White could also play for e2-e4 as Black usually does in a g3 Pirc, but this would most likely lead to simplification via ...dxe4. ] 5...dxc4 6.a4 g7 257
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ In this position 6...cxd3 is strongly met by 7.xe5 attacking the pinned knight on c6. ] 7.xc4 ge7 8.0-0 0-0 9.c3 e6 [ In a later game Black took action against the possibility of W hite playing Qh4 with 9...h6 but after 10.e3 ( 10.h4 can be met by g5 ) 10...e6 11.a4 d4 12.ac1 c5 13.d2 d5?! 14.xd4 exd4 15.xd5 xd5 16.xc5 xg2 17.xg2 found himself a pawn down for inadequate compensation in Bezold, M (2495)-Raetsky, A (2455)/Werfen 1996. ] 10.h4 f5 The endgame specialist Averbakh is not worried about the exchange of queens, but maybe he should have been less nonchalant about it. [ 10...f6 was playable. ] 11.xd8 fxd8? This looks like a serious mis tak e b ec ause B la ck will b e una ble t o support a later ...f7-f6. [ After 11...axd8 the line 12.g5 ( 12.b5 d7 13.g5 fd4 gives White nothing) 12...d7 13.ge4 b6 14.g5 is harmless because of f6 . ] 12.g5 d7 13.ge4 fe7 [ In this position 13...b6 is strongly met by 14.g5 . ] 14.g5! A p owerf ul m ove h ere t oo . h6 15.f6+ h8 [ 15...f8 was worth considering, but White has a useful pair of bishops after 16.xd7+ xd7 17.e3 . ] 16.xd7 xd7 17.e3 [ S t e i n l a t e r t h o u g h t t h a t 17.xe7! was even stronger, intending no doubt to meet xe7 ( 17...xe7 18.xc6 bxc6 19.ac1 leaves Black with very weak cpawns ) 18.xb7 b8 19.f3 xb2 20.a4 b4 21.c5 d6 22.ac1 with an edge for White because of Black's weak pawns and inactive dark squared bishop. ] 17...b8 18.fc1 d4 19.f1 c5 20.ab1 b6 21.b4 Starting to open the position for his two bishops. cxb4 22.xb4 c8 23.bb1 dc7 24.d2 ef5 [ S t e i n f e l t t h a t 24...f8! was a better def e nce , b ut W hit e is be tte r a f te r 25.e3 e6 26.b5 . ] 25.e3 e6 26.b5 xc1+ 27.xc1 xc1+ 28.xc1 a6 29.c3 c5 30.e2 g8? [ 30...h5 was better to stop White's next
move. ] 31.g4! d6 32.c6 f8 33.d5 f5 [ 33...b5 is strongly met by 34.b2 . ] 34.gxf5 gxf5 35.xb6 e4 36.d4 37.d2 b5 38.b7 b4 39.a4 40.a8 a5 41.xb4 axb4 42.a5 1-0
d3 d6
273
A07
Stein,Leonid Portisch,Lajos Moscow (8) [Nigel Davies]
1967
Another game in which Black plays 'sensibly' but imprecisely and presents White with a nice edge. 1.e4 c6 2.d3 d5 3.d2 g6 4.gf3 g7 5.g3 f6 A rather unsophisticated move which leaves Black passively placed. [ Better is 5...e5 intending to develop the g8 knight on e7. ] 6.g2 dxe4 7.dxe4 0-0 8.0-0 a6 9.e5 d5 10.b3 g4 11.e2 c8 12.e1 ac7 13.d2 f6 An attempt to free Black's cramped position, but one which leaves him with a weak e-pawn. 14.exf6 xf6 [ 14...exf6 15.c4 e8 16.d3 e7 17.b4 gives White a powerful initiative. ] 15.c3 f7 16.e4 f5 17.c4 b6 18.f1 a4 19.c1 d7 20.e5 Gaining the two bish op s an d lea ving th e da rk squa re s in Black's camp very weak. xe5 21.xe5 b5 22.f4 d8 23.c5 xc5 24.xc5 c7 25.e5 e6 26.h6 d6 27.e2 g7 28.e1 d3 29.g4 f5 30.c4 xe5 Probably overlooking White's 33rd move, but his position is dire in any case. 31.xe5 d1+ 32.f1 h3 33.xe7 xf1+ 34.xf1 xf1 35.xf7 xf7 36.xf1 f5 37.e3 a6 38.e2 h5 39.d3 b5 40.e4 e6 41.h3 a5 42.c5 a4 43.f8 1-0
258
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 20.g4? b5 21.e3 d6 winning quickly. ] A07 Ubilava,Elizbar 2540 20...ad8 21.g2?! Allowing a further shot. Van der Wiel,John TH 2520 f3+! 22.xf3 exf3+ 23.xf3 e5 24.g2 It Elgoibar ESP (6) 26.11.1998 e4+ 25.h2?! After this, the attack gathers even more momentum, [Tony Kosten] [ 25.g1 was best, although the rook and pawn ending arising after xg3 26.fxg3 1.f3 d5 Obviously this reply is fine if you xe3+ 27.xe3 xe3 is very favourable to have some variation of the Queen's Gambit in Black. ] your repertoire. If you don't it is a bit risky, 26.c1 h5 The threat is ... h4, as one of my opponents replied with 2 d4 here, 25...f3! many years ago, and I found myself playing White is quite lost. 27.h4 d4 28.g1 xh4 [ 28...xh4 29.gxh4 h3 is too catastrophic something I didn't know! 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g4 to bear. ] By playing this before the habitual ...Nf6, Black gives himself several extra options. 4.d3 0-1 d7 5.bd2 e6 Solid, and good. 6.0-0 d6 7.e4 e7 This is the extra option I mentioned, A07 rather than play 7...Nf6, and have to worry 275 about an eventual Pe5, forking two pieces. Wunder,Stefan 2180 8.e1 h5!? Normally Black only plays this in Bunzmann,Dimitrij 2544 reaction to White's h3. Now, 9 h3 0-0 would 8th OIBM Bad Wiessee GER (2) 30.10.2004 t r a n s p o s e i n t o k n o w n l i n e s , b u t n o t [John Watson] surprisingly, White tries to make-do without h3 for a while. 9.a3 0-0 10.b3 Sensible This game shows how subtly powerful the Reti development. An example of the advantages c a n b e e v e n w h e n t h e r e ' s a 4 0 0 - p o i n t of having the black knight on e7 is shown by difference between opponents. 1.f3 f6 the line 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f5 4.d3 e6 5.0-0 h6 6.c4 [ 10.e5?! which is simply answered by c7 bd7 7.cxd5! exd5 8.c3 The seemingly and now the pressure on d5 is diminished, minor threat of Nd4 followed by Nxd5 in some Black can continue with ...c5, and Nc6, cases causes Black quite an inconvenience! and possibly win the e5-pawn. ] c5 10...e8 11.b2 e5 Black is well developed, [ 8...c6 9.e4 is also not easy for Black, for and decides to take some central space. example, dxe4 10.dxe4 h7 11.e5 g4 12.h3!? g6 13.f5 f6 14.h3?! 12.e2 e7 13.e1 c5 14.d1 This is not the right time for this move, White with advantage. ] wants to threaten g4, but only succeeds in [ 8...c5 9.e4!? e6 10.exd5 xd5 compromising his kingside. e7! It seems the 11.xd5 xd5 12.e1+ e7 13.d4! f5-bishop is in trouble. 15.h2 is quite interesting: xg2 14.f5 d5 [ 15.g4?! fails to xf5! 16.exf5 xg4 15.g4!! and White is winning. ] 17.hxg4 xg4 and Black gets three pawns 9.d4 g6 10.b4 cd7 11.b3 c6 12.e4! a n d a c ru s h in g a t t a ck in re t u r n f o r h i s Already White is better developed and taking piece. ] over the center. So simple! e7?! [ and if 15.xe5? then xf5 16.exf5 d7 [ 12...dxe4 13.dxe4 e7 14.d1 ] wins. ] 13.exd5 b6 14.dxc6! xd4 15.b5! 15...xf5 16.exf5 e4 Black takes full White launches a powerful attack. Moves like advantage of the awkward placing of the 16. cxb7 and Bf4 are in the air, but Black white queen, opposite his rook. 17.xf6 xf6 mustn't take the rook. e5 18.dxe4 dxe4 19.c4 c7 White tries hard [ 15...xa1 16.f4 xf1+ 17.xf1 but his two knights are no match for the black followed by cxb7. ] bishops. 20.e3 Note that White cannot win 16.cxb7 d8 17.c6+ fd7 18.f4 the h5-bishop because of the resulting [ Effectively winning would have been weakening of the h2-b8 diagonal: 18.b2! b8 19.xg7 h7 20.d4 274
259
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 wit h 4 p awns f o r t he piece a nd Black's position a shambles. ] 18...f6 19.xa7 0-0 20.d4?! [ 20.c7! picks up more material, eg, b8 ( 20...e5 21.ae1 xc6 22.xd8 xd8 23.xc6 xc6 24.xe7 ) 21.xd8 xd8 22.e4 xe4 23.dxe4 d7 24.ac1 xb7 25.c8 and White has too many powerful extra pawns. Compare the game. ] 20...d6 21.e3? Passive. White should just exchange by [ 21.xd6 xd6 22.g2 keeping the powerful b-pawn with ideas like a4-a5. After t h is W h i t e ' s g a m e g o e s d o wn h i ll . O n e le ss on o f th e o pe ning sho u ld b e clea r, however: top players can feel very uncomfortable against the Reti. ] 21...b8! 22.c8 f5 23.g2 xc8 24.bxc8 xc8 Black's pieces have become very active and he has won back the b-pawn a s we l l . F o r a l l t h a t W h i t e h a s d yn a m i c chances based upon his passed queenside pawns. 25.fc1 a7 26.d1 d6 27.b5 f6 28.a4? [ 28.a4 is the best move - the queenside pawns are White's main strength. ] 28...b6 29.c6 xc6 30.bxc6 d5 31.b5? xe3 32.fxe3 Things are collapsing now. [ 32.xb6 xg2 33.xg2 e4+ 34.g1 c8 wins the light squares and another pawn. ] 32...xd4! 33.e1 c3 34.c1 d2 35.a1 xe3+ Now it's a slaughter. 36.h1 d4 37.e1 d2 38.e5 c4 39.f1 e6 40.a3 c8 41.d6 a5 42.e5 c7 43.e4 c5 44.b4 h5 45.c3 d8 46.e1 d1 0-1
276 Fedorov,Alexei Dolmatov,Sergey Calcutta [Neil McDonald]
A08
1999
1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.f3 c6 4.c3 d5 For a discussion of the opening moves, see the archives 5.e2 ge7 6.g3 g6 7.g2 g7 8.0-0 b6 9.a3 a6 10.e5 h6 11.h4 c7 12.e1 b5 In Morozevich - Gleizerov
Black tried to attack on the kingside with 12... g5?. Here he goes for a pawn attack on the queenside. Best, though not very promising is p r o b a b ly 1 2 . . . 0 -0 - 0 - s e e m y co m m e n t i n Morozevich - Gleizerov. 13.c2 b4 14.cxb4 cxb4 15.f4 b6 16.d2! h5? It is very easy to criticise this move. Indeed it makes a very bad impression as it gives away the g5 square and so opens up the dark squares on the kingside to White's bishop. But what else could Black do? He would like to develop his game by castling and bringing his rook on h8 into the game. But having pushed his pawns on the queenside, he doesn't want to castle there if he plays 16...0-0? then 17 Bxh6 wins. Therefore Black doesn't have a convincing continuation here, for which we must blame his opening strategy. Nevertheless, 16...h5 ce rt a in ly ma kes t h in gs ea sie r f or W h it e . Probably best was the redeployment 16...Bc8 a n d 1 7 . . . B d 7 f o llo we d b y . . . a 5 e t c . T h i s wouldn't solve the problem of what to do with the king, but it would make it harder for White to devise a plan to break through Black's solid position. 17.d4 f5 18.h3 c8 Black is in disarray. First of all he played ...h6 and then changed his mind with ...h5 now he decides the bishop belongs on d7, not a6. 19.b3 d7 20.ac1 a5 21.xf5! In some positions knights are worth more than bishops. This exchange clears the way for W hite to seize control of the dark squares. gxf5 As a general rule, the recapture away from the centre with ...exf5 is the correct response in such positions, in order to keep the kingside intact. Then the d pawn can be supported if necessary by moves such as ...Be6. However, in this instance 21...exf5 would hardly help Black as he would be in a stranglehold after 22 Ne3 Be6 23 Rc5! Rd8 24 Bg5 Ne7 25 Rec1, as given by Kavalek. 22.g5! a7 23.f6! xf6 24.exf6 b5 25.g5! This threaten s simply 26 Qxf5. Now the best chance to survive looks like 25... Nc3 0-0-0 26.xb4+ b7 27.d3! xd4 28.xd4 xd4 29.ed1! b6 30.c5 e5 31.g7! The queen finds an unexpected way to join in the attack. c6 32.xf7 d4 33.a4+ xa4 34.bxa4 d6 35.b1+ c5 36.b7 1-0
260
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 277 Kaidanov,Gregory S Benjamin,Joel [ch United States [Neil McDonald]
A08 2625 2595 1998
1.e4 e6 2.f3 c5 3.d3 c6 4.g3 d5 [ It would be a bad idea to combine ... Nf6 wi t h a f i a n c h e t t o . F o r e xa m p l e , 4...f6 5.g2 d5 6.e2 g6?! -standard is 6...Be7worked out badly in Glek-Saltaev, Cappelle la Grande 1998: 7.0-0 g7 8.g5 dxe4 9.dxe4 c7 10.c3 0-0 11.ad1 a6 12.fe1 and in this unpleasant position B l a c k i m m e d i a t e l y b l u n d e r e d w i t h h6? allowing 13.xf6 xf6 14.e3! attacking both c5 and h6. ] 5.bd2 [ 5.e2 ge7 6.h4?! wo u l d a l l o w e5! Now if 7.exd5?! xd5 8.xe5? d4 when White is in big trouble. Therefore in Certic-J.Horvath, Yuoslavia 1997, he bailed out with 7 Nbd2 f 6 8 c3 Bg4 9 Bh3 an d achieved a draw. ] 5...g6 6.g2 g7 7.0-0 ge7 [ Black could also relinquish the tension in the centre with 7...d4!? e.g. 8.a4 e5 9.c4 f6 10.e1 h6 followed by ...Nf7 was unclear in Chernov-Sakaev, Chisinau 1998. ] 8.e1 b6 9.c3 b7 [ A critical alternative is 9...a6 10.exd5 ( 10.d4; 10.a4 are alternatives) 10...xd5 11.a4 b7 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 d7 turned out OK for Black in MeszarosTibensky, Ceske Budejovice 1994. ] 10.e2 [ After 10.h4 h6 11.f1 d4 12.c4 e5 13.h5 g5 14.a3 White had some advantage in Van Mil-Van Wely, Leueuwarden 1997. ] 10...d7 11.f1 Because Black has avoided putting pressure on d3 with ... Ba6 there is no threat of ...dxe4 winning the d3 pawn. The re f o re , th ere is no n ee d f or W hite t o commit himself straightaway to the e5 advance. Instead he maintains the tension in the centre. h6 12.h4 dxe4 [ It was better to close the centre with 12...d4! with similar play to the note at move 10 above after the reply 13 c4. In the game White's knight reaches the excellent c4 square, from which Black can only evict it
by weakening his pawns with ...b5. ] 13.dxe4 0-0-0 14.e3 d3 Black is solid but he has no obvious plan. Meanwhile White has many moves with which he can strengthen his position, such as Nc4 followed by Bf4 and Rad1. Therefore Black seeks to relieve the pressure by simplification. 15.xd3 xd3 16.f1 d7 17.c4 b5 If left alone W hite would play a4 and a5, answering a subsequent ...b5 with a6! attacking the bishop on b7 rather than moving his knight from c4. This would prevent Black consolidating his pawns with ...a6. 18.cd2!! This begins an excellent manoeuvre to exploit the weakness of Black's queenside pawns. c4 19.a4 a6 20.axb5 axb5 21.b1! b8 22.a3! This ties Black down to the defence of b5. c6 23.f4! The next step in White's plan is to acquire the two bishops which will open the way for b3! to unpeel the black queenside and menace the black king. hd8 24.e5 xe5 25.xe5 a7 26.f4 h5 27.f3 b7 28.b3! cxb3 29.eb1! d7 30.xb5 xa1 31.xa1 xb5 32.xb5 c5 33.e3 c8 34.b1 Now the b pawn is doomed. Black makes a great effort to achieve counterplay, but ultimately it is hopeless. f5 35.c4! One of the golden rules in the endgame is 'do not hurry!' The b3 pawn won't run away so W hite targets the e6 pawn. fxe4 36.fxe4 c6 37.xc5 xc5 38.xe6 d8 39.xb3 d3 40.f2 c6 41.a3 e5 42.h3?! According to Kaidanov he should have played [ 42.a5+ d6 43.h3 as Black could now put up a tough resistance with 42.. .Kb6! This would deny the white rook a way to activate itself with check and so tie it down to the defence of the c3 pawn. ] 42...d2+? Black misses his chance. It often happens that a player becomes depressed at having to defend a miserable position such as this and fails to put up much of a fight. That is probably the main difference between humans and computers the latter never give up hope because they had none to start with! 43.f1 c4 44.a5 Black will succeed in winning the c pawn but meanwhile the e pawn will be f o r c e d t h r o u g h wi t h d e c i s i ve e f f e c t . f3 45.g2 h2+ 46.g1 g4 47.f3 f2 48.f1 xc3 49.e5 d3 50.e2 b4 51.c5+ b2 52.e6 d5 53.e1 d4 261
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 54.c4! xc4 55.xc4 e7 56.d2 f5 57.d3 e7 58.c2 1-0
278 Klenburg,Mikhail Bykhovsky,Avigdor It Tel Aviv ISR (9) [Neil McDonald]
A08 2376 2455 17.08.2002
than capturing on d4. 17.b3 c8 18.e2 b5 19.d2 c4 20.d1 h6 Winning the exchange. 21.b3 xd2 22.xd2 a6 23.f4 e8 24.f1 xf1 25.xf1 f6 26.h4 d7 27.g2 f5 28.b5 d3 White resigned, for if 29.e3 xe3 30.fxe3 c2+ 31.g1 xf3 wins. 0-1
279 1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.d2 [ Long term subscribers will be aware I prefer 3.e2 to keep the option of Na3! if Black adopts the set up he chooses in this game. ] 3...c5 4.g3 g6 5.g2 e7 6.gf3 [ In the same tournament Bykhovsky had to face 6.h3 and succeeded in making the knight on the edge irrelevant: g7 7.0-0 bc6 8.f4 b6 9.e5?! h5! Fixing the f5 square for his knight. 10.c3 a5 11.f3 f5 12.d2 a6 13.e2 d7 14.fd1 0-0-0 15.b3 b8 16.a3 a7 17.b4 c4! and Black won in Livshits,G-Bykhovsky,A/ T e l A viv I S R 2 0 0 2 b e ca u se W h it e wa s unwilling to block the position up with 18.d4 ] 6...g7 7.0-0 bc6 8.e1 b6 9.c3 a5! [ Instead 9...b7 10.e2 transposes to Kaidan ov-Ben jamin on Ch essPub , wit h some edge for White. Note that if White had played the 3.Qe2 line, then in answer to 9... a5 he would have 10.Na3 followed by Nc2, e4-e5 and an eventual b2-b4. ] 10.a4?! By delaying the development of his queen's bishop Bykhovsky has given himself the chance of answering [ 10.e2 with a6 threatening to win a p a w n w i t h d 5 x e 4 . T h e n a f t e r 11.e5 White no longer has any direct pressure on t h e c e n t re a n d f5 looks solid for Black. Still White should have preferred this to the game move which begins a losing plan. ] 10...0-0 11.exd5 [ If 11.e5 a6 is awkward. ] [ Perhaps best was the embarrassing retreat 11.c2 ] 11...exd5 12.d4? This leads to the loss of material as Black's pieces are much better positioned to take advantage of the opening of the c f ile. cxd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.cxd4 d7 15.a3 c6 16.f3 b4! Much better
Morozevich,Alexander Gleizerov,Evgeny Tomsk [Neil McDonald]
A08
1998
1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.f3 c6 4.c3 Since W hite plans a quick Qe2, it makes sense to rule out any possible ...Nd4 rather than rush to fianchetto with g3. d5 [ This is a very natural move but rather inflexible. I'm sure that Black should be OK in the game continuation, but I would advise you to avoid it until a good answer has been found to the system developed by Morozevich and others. Wait until Bareev or Dreev show us how to handle the black pieces! Therefore I would suggest 4...ge7 which keeps open the option of pushing the d pawn one or two squares. Have a look at the lines given on the Black's solid system with ...e5 sub page. ] 5.e2 Now Black is committed to the kingside fianchetto, as 5...Bd6? 6 exd5 loses a pawn, 5...Be7 6 e5!? leaves the knight on g8 with no good way out [though 6...f6 might be in t e re st in g h e re ] a n d 5 . . . d xe 4 is a n a n t i positional exchange in this type of position, especially when White can change his mind about g3 and play Qc2 planning Bb5. ge7 6.g3 g6 7.g2 g7 8.0-0 b6 9.a3! This move undoubtedly sets the most problems f or Black. W hite has avoided a routine Nbd2 development and instead found a far more promising square for the knight. Sometimes Nb5, in combination with e4-e5 will be strong, threatening to invade on d6 or perhaps, after ...0-0-0, the alternative Nc2 and b2-b4 will begin an attack on Black's king. And as the d2 square isn't blocked by the knight, the bishop on c1 has an easy 262
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 development. a6 An attempt to play actively. Instead [ 9...b7 allows White to consolidate a space advantage in the centre. For example 10.e5 0-0 ( 10...d4?! 11.c4 ) 11.f4 and White can start an attack with h4 etc. Black will find it hard to achieve counterplay with ...f6 because of the weakness of e6. ] 10.e5 h6 11.h4! This seems to prevent ...g5, but Black isn't deterred. c7 12.e1 g5? This begins a faulty combination. In a previous game Black tried 12...b5?! which also worked out badly. Perhaps he should try [ 12...0-0-0 though 13.c2 planning b4 would give White good attacking chances against the enemy king. ] 13.hxg5 hxg5 14.xg5 g6 It looks as though White has nothing better than 15 Bf6, when 15...Bxf6 16 exf6 0-0-0 leaves Black fully mobilised with a solid centre and attacking chances on the kingside. The extra pawn on f6 wouldn't mean much. Instead, White found a way to completely destroy his opponent. 15.d1! An insidious little move which exploits the loose position of the bishop on a6, as will be seen. White breaks the pin on the d3 pawn and so threatens 16 d4, when he would be a centre pawn up for nothing. Be side s, th e bisho p on g5 wou ld st ill b e preventing Black castling queenside. Therefore, Black is compelled to take the pawn and face the storm. gxe5 16.xe5 xe5 The first problem: he cannot play 16... Nxe5 because of 17 Qa4+ winning the bishop on a6. 17.a4! b7 ...and now he has to concede b5 to the white knight as 17...Bxd3 18 Rad1 c4 19 Rxe5! or 17...Qb7 18 Rxe5 b5 1 9 Q f 4 ! w i n s f o r W h i t e . 18.b5 b8 Perhaps the best chance was to head for the ending with 18...Qd7 19 Rxe5! Nxe5 20 Nd6+ Kf8 21 Qxd7 Nxd7 22 Nxb7, but as he cannot trap the wayward white knight Black faces defeat. 19.xe5! xe5 20.f4 e2 21.d6+ d7 22.xb7 xb2 23.c1! A temporarily passive role for the rook, but it deprives Black of any counterplay involving ... Q x c 3 a n d t h e n . . . N d 4 . ab8 24.d6 Not of course 24 Bxb8?? Qxc1+. b5 25.d1! The queen has enjoyed all its visits home! h7 26.c2 a3 27.xd5! The light squared
bishop has the final word. Black resigned as 27...exd5 28 Qg4+ Ke7 29 Nf5+ Kf8 30 Bd6+ Ke8 31 Re2+ is a complete wipe-out. 1-0
280 Morozevich,Alexander Lastin,Alexander Lightning Moscow RUS [Neil McDonald]
A08 2749 2628 02.09.2001
1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.g3 c6 4.g2 g6 5.f3 g7 6.0-0 ge7 7.c3 d5 8.e2 b6 There is a big cloud over this set up for Black t h a n k s t o W h i t e ' s n e x t m o v e . 9.a3! Players who have studied previous games in this line will be familiar with the development of the knight to a3 rather than d2. It revitalises the system for W hite: the knight is not only ready to swoop into b5 if Black plays Qc7 but also planning to support a queenside attack by retreating to c2. a6 10.e5 h6 11.h4 c7 12.e1 0-0-0 [ Neither did 12...b5 turn out well in FedorovDolmatov. ] 13.b1 g5 This gambit also failed a move earlier in the game Morozevich-Gleizerov, but t h e re i s n o wa y e ls e f o r B la ck t o c re a t e counterplay before White starts an attack with b2-b4. 14.hxg5 g6 15.gxh6 xe5 [ A w i l d v a r i a t i o n w o u l d b e 15...xh6 16.xh6 xh6 17.b4 dh8!? 18.b5 f5 19.exf6 ( If 19.bxc6? h7 and Black has a lethal attack) 19...h7 20.xe6+ b8 21.d6+ a8 22.xc6+ b7 23.e8+ xe8 24.xe8+ and White mates. ] 16.b4! xc3 A forced move as otherwise 17. b5 just wins a piece. 17.b5 xe1 18.xe1 b7 19.bxc6 xc6 Materially speaking it isn't too bad for Black. What will kill him is the g i g a n t i c p a s s e d p a w n o n h 6 . 20.d4 Stopping Black mobilising a big pawn centre with e6-e5. c4 21.b5 xb5 22.xb5 c6 23.b1 b7 24.e5 xe5 25.xe5 The shrewd exchange of the minor pieces has cleared the way for the advance of the h pawn. a4 26.g5 xa2 27.e1 c8 28.g7 hf8 29.xe6 c3 30.e7+ a8 31.xf7 fe8 32.xd5+! A nice finish. Black resigned as if xd5 33.xa7+ b8 34.f4+ 263
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 all drop something. [ After 12...e6 13.xb7 c8 14.fd2 Black's compensation is a long way short of enough. ] [ 12...h8 13.cxe5! xe5 ( 13...fxe5? 281 A08 14.g5 is a huge point) 14.xe5 e6 Movsesian,Sergei 2747 15.c4 ( 15.c4!? looks to me like a pawn up Likavsky,Tomas 2487 f o r n o t a lo t) 15...b6 16.c2 xc4 Hustopece op rapid (5) 06.06.2009 17.dxc4 xc4 18.f4 White eventually [John Shaw] won in Movsesian-Gelfand, Moscow (blitz) 2008. A great player like Gelfand rarely falls 1.e4 c5 2.d3 c6 for such tricks, but of course it was just a [ Another move order is 2...d5 3.d2 c6 blitz game. ] 4.g3 f6 5.g2 e5 ] 13.a4 With sufficient care Black might avoid 3.g3 f6 4.g2 d5 5.d2 [ Another option is 5.exd5 xd5 6.c3 losing material, but White should gain an edge xc3 7.bxc3 g6 8.e2 with an interesting due to the contortions his opponent must endure. h8 almost unexplored position. ] [ Instead 13...g6 14.h3 was Renner -Hort, 5...e5 6.gf3 If you play a King's Indian with Germany 2000, but ( 14.fd2!? was more black, you may be happy to play the same to the point. White has ideas of Ne4 and/or thing with an extra tempo. If not, then White f 2-f 4. Fo r example : g7 15.f4 b6 can avoid this by choosing one of the various 16.fxe5 xc4 17.xc4 xe5 18.xe5 e x d 5 l i n e s . e7 Black has many options of xe5 19.xe5 fxe5 20.e3!? The idea is course. It would be tough for me to cover that White's initiative lasts all the way into every anti-KID line, so just a quick tour to the endgame. xd3 21.g5 c4 22.b5 point at some lines. d6 23.f1 c5+ 24.h1 xb5 25.axb5 [ 6...d4 You need to know the KID to play And Black must start shedding material. Just this particular line (with either side). For a an illustrative line rather than f orced or non-KID player, a few minutes of necessarily best play, but it does give a preparation will do no good. ] good idea of what can happen if White plays [ 6...dxe4 7.dxe4 e7 ] with enough force. )] [ 6...g6 7.0-0 g7 8.c3 0-0 9.b3 d4 [ 13...c7 is worth a look, although 14.h4 ( 9...dxe4 10.dxe4 h6 11.e1 c7 12.f1 is pleasant. ] e6 13.c2 fd8 ) 10.c4 e7 11.cxd4 14.a5 cxd4 12.d2 ] [ 14.cxe5! was working right now. ] 7.0-0 0-0 8.c3 e8 14...b8? [ 8...d4 ] [ 14...c7 ] 9.e1 Giving Black one more chance to play ... Okay, just a rapid game, and d 5 - d 4 . P e r h a p s m o r e a c c u r a t e i s t h e 15.cxe5! maybe it continued on from here. Anyway, it immediate [ 9.exd5 xd5 10.c4 f8 11.e1 makes a useful structure for looking at the line. KID players will be feeling happy here. as Movsesian had played previously. ] 1-0 9...f8 [ 9...d4 ] 10.exd5 xd5 11.c4 White's extra tempo means that standard KID tricks arrive quickly enough to catch out even very classy players. f6 [ 11...c7 allows 12.g5 when White had fun play in Planinec-Rubinetti, Nice 1974. ] 12.b3 e6 An awkward-looking move, but played for good reason, as the natural moves mates. 1-0
264
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 282 Shirov,Alexei Hernandez,G Yucatan [Neil McDonald]
A08 283
2000
1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.g3 The most flexible move here is [ 3.f3 ] 3...c6 4.g2 This commits White to the development of his queen's knight to d2. Instead [ 4.c3 d5 5.e2 would preserve the option of the alternative deployment to a3, for example ge7 6.f3 g6 7.g2 g7 8.0-0 b6 9.a3! is Morozevich-Gleizerov. ] 4...d5 5.d2 There is little choice, as [ 5.e2 d4 is annoying. Thus with his move order White has deprived himself of t h e d a n ge ro u s kn ig h t m o ve t o a 3 . T h e alte rnat ive pla n he ado pts in the gam e proves unsatisfactory. ] 5...g6 6.gf3 g7 7.0-0 ge7 8.h4 h6 9.e1 b6 10.exd5?! Shirov isn't satisfied with the modest [ 10.c3 and so prepares a pawn sacrifice to set Black problems. ] 10...exd5 11.d4?! cxd4 12.b3 g4 Now W hite is unable to regain the pawn, though he does gain considerable pressure on Black's centre. 13.f4 0-0 14.d2 xf3 15.xf3 h7 16.e2 d7 17.ae1 fe8 18.g2 a5! 19.a3 [ A better try might have been 19.a4!? ] 19...ad8 20.d3 a4 21.d2 a5! 22.h2 b7! Black prepares to return the pawn to seize the initiative. 23.h3 f5 24.a6 c5 25.xb6 d3! 26.e5 Shirov makes a de s p e ra t e co m b ina t io n in vo lvin g a h u ge sacrifice of material as [ 26.cxd3 xd3 would be just horrible for White. ] 26...xe5 27.xe5 dxc2 28.h5 c1 29.f6 c6 30.xg6+ h8 31.xe8+ xe8 32.xh6+ g8 33.g6+ h8 34.h6+ h7 Of course. Now White's attack has been refuted. 35.f6+ g8 36.xc6 xh5 37.f3 c2 0-1
Stein,Leonid Zinn,Lothar WchT U26 08th (5.1) [Nigel Davies]
A08
21.07.1961
This game was one of the ones that 'proved' Black shouldn't take on e4 in such positions. In fact it was his later moves that lost him the game but such details tend to get lost in the wash. 1.f3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 e5 5.d3 e7 6.bd2 f6 7.e4 g4 If Black really wants to exchange in the centre this is probably as good a time as any to do it. Giving White 8.h3 for free doesn't help him. 8.h3 e6 9.e2 dxe4 Black probably felt obliged to do this because of White's growing pressure against the e5 pawn. 10.dxe4 0-0 11.c3 d7?! Taking his eye off d5 like this is the start of the wrong plan. [ I think that Korchnoi would have chosen from 11...c7 ] [ 11...h6 ] [ and 11...a6 , all of which look quite playable. ] 12.c4 b5 13.e3 c4 14.d1 c7?! Black seems curiously determined to plant his chin on White's fist. [ 14...b8 would have taken at least some of the sting out of 15.Nd5. ] 15.d5 xd5?! [ 15...b7 would have been much more stubborn. ] 16.exd5 a5 17.d4! exd4 18.xe7 ae8 [ On 18...d3 there would follow 19.d6 c8 20.xa8 e8 21.g5 xa8 22.f4 followed by 23.Re1. ] 19.f4! xf4 [ Or 19...xe7 20.xc7 b7 21.d6 etc. ] 20.xd7 f6 21.xd4 Emerging a good pawn up. The rest is fairly easy. e2 22.f4 b6 23.b4 b7 [ 23...cxb3 24.axb3 xb3 25.xa7 would even threaten 26.Qxf7+ Rxf7 27.Ra8+ leading to mate. ] 24.a4 d6 25.axb5 xb5 26.c6 c2 27.xb6 axb6 28.xc4 xc3 29.c6 f5 30.f1 xc6 31.dxc6 d6 32.d1 c8 33.c4+ h8 34.c7 g6 35.d8 g7 36.e6 A convincing looking game by Stein which probably did a lot to discredit ...dxe4 265
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ideas by Black. 1-0
284 Anand,Viswanathan Salem,AR Saleh Wch Blitz Dubai blitz (4) [Kosten, Tony]
A09 2785 2581 19.06.2014
1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.g3 c6 4.g2 e5 5.0-0 f6 6.d3 h6!? Stopping Bg5, this move is not so popular, but makes a lot of sense. [ 6...e7 is very common, but also allows 7.b4!? xb4! 8.xe5 0-0 9.a3 a6 10.d2 when d6 11.ef3 is similar to this game, except that Black has moved his dark square bishop twice, see Odendahl, RKasimdzhanov, R in the PGN Archive. ] [ 6...a5 may be best, stopping b4 for a long time, and is the most popular, see Speelman, J-Koneru, H, again in the PGN Archive. ] 7.b4 Standard. xb4! Probably best. [ 7...xb4 8.xe5 xe5 9.a4+ c6 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.xb4 White has conceded his powerful bishop, but wrecked the black structure and stops Black from castling. d7! ( 11...h3 is worse, 12.e1 and now e3 is a threat, so d6 13.a3! and Black is in trouble, Mitter, G (2185) Pacher, S (1850) Feffernitz 2007, 1-0 (25), as xb4 14.xb4 d7 15.d2 c5 16.a3 and Nb3, winning the c5-pawn.) 12.e1 ( 12.d2 c5 13.a5 0-0 14.e4 is stronger, winning a pawn.) 12...a5 13.a4 c5 and Black was close to equality in Djuric, S (2485)-Pyhala, A (2350) Jarvenpaa 1985, 1-0 (40). ] 8.xe5 d6 This way it appears Black has gained a move (...h6) over the 6...Be7 line in the note above, but there is a slight flaw. 9.a3 [ 9.a4+! is the way to exploit Black's 6th move, as he has not yet castled compared to the 6... Be7 line. d7 10.f4 ( 10.a3! a6 11.f3 leaves Black's minor pieces m i s p l a c e d .) 10...a6 11.xd7 xd7 12.xd7+ xd7 13.xd6 xd6 should be a bit better for W hite, Delchev, A (2587)-Mellado Trivino, J (2460) France 2001, 1/2-1/2 (37). ]
9...a6 Often Black would be happy to put his knight here, as it might then go to c5, but in this exact position the d4-pawn will need defence so Black might have to play his pawn to c5 instead. [ 9...xe5?! 10.axb4 ] 10.f3 c5 Black should delay this as long as possible. [ 10...0-0 is best, 11.bd2 ( 11.b2 c5 12.e3 dxe3 13.fxe3 would aim to play as in the game, but with the bishop already on b2 Black has extra possibilities, such as g4! 14.e1 e8 ) 11...c5 12.b1 b8 13.b3 c7 14.e3 dxe3 15.xe3 g4 16.d2 c6 17.d4!? cxd4 18.c5 e7 19.f4 d8 20.h3 f6 21.e5 d5 22.xc6 bxc6 23.xd4 Gurevich, M (2315)-Tseitlin, M (2455) Severodonetsk 1982, 1-0 (38), when d7 was not too bad for Black. ] 11.e3! dxe3 12.fxe3!? [ 12.xe3 0-0 13.c3 is nice and active. ] 12...0-0 13.c3 b8?! Heading for the natural c6-square, but in the light of what follows Black should prefer something else here, such as [ 13...c7 keeping better control of d5. ] 14.b2 c6 15.d5! Suddenly Black is in trouble, first he has to solve the problem of the capture on f6. e7?! [ 15...g4 is the best bet, but not easy to find in a blitz game, 16.d2 f5 17.h3 ge5 but White is better anyway. ] [ 15...xd5 16.cxd5 e7 17.d2 f5 18.e2 is very good for White, he has a nice centre and very active minor pieces, i.e. f6 19.e4 e7 20.f2 and Raf1. ] 16.h4 h7 [ 16...xd5 17.cxd5 a5 18.f5 xf5 19.xf5 is a slight improvement, but clearly better for W hite with his centre and bishops. ] 17.f5 xf5 18.xf5 With his powerful minor pieces White is already winning. g5 [ 18...d6 19.g4 f6 20.af1 e5 21.xe5 xe5 22.h5 h8 23.e4 will soon be mate, Black is too weak on the light squares. ] 19.h4 e6 20.g4 g6 21.af1 Rxf7 is the immediate threat. g7 22.f6! Other moves were winning, too, but this is pretty and a thematic way to exploit Black's weakened 266
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.a6 c8 Now White sacrifices an exchange to decimate the black structure. 20.xc7! xc7 21.xd6 a7 22.xe5! [ 22.xf8 is good, but why swap this bishop for a mere rook? ] 22...fxg3 23.hxg3 g4 24.xg7 xg7 25.a1 Now it is the turn of the d4-pawn to c8 26.xd4 f6 27.c6 285 A09 fall. Anand,Viswanathan 2784 The endgame is a breeze f or W hite, who Svidler,Peter 2713 maintains a dominating position with extra xa1 28.xa1 af7 29.f4 Hoogovens Blitz blitz (12) 18.01.1999 material. Removing Black's only target. e3 30.f3 h6 [Tony Kosten] 31.ab4 g5 32.d5 White's light-squared 1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 Black plays this natural c a m p a i g n c o n t i n u e s t o b e a r f r u i t s . gxf4 f5 34.h5+ h8 35.e5 advance, and forces W hite into a reversed 33.xf4 B e n o n i , o r B e n k o s t r u c t u r e . 3.g3 W in ning b ack th e excha nge, a nd e nd in g Black's resistance. The immediate [ 3.b4 is also a good choice, obtaining a 1-0 Benko Gambit-style position, without losing a pawn! ] A09 3...g6 4.d3 g7 Fianchettoing the king's 286 bishop has a good theoretical reputation, but Anastasian,Ashot 2545 Black often suffers because of his lack of Ponomariov,Ruslan 2616 control over the a3-f8 diagonal. 5.g2 e5 Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (8) 07.12.1999 6.b4 Here is the advantage of that extra [Tony Kosten] tempo. To achieve the related advance, ...b5, as Black, in the Benoni, can often be difficult 1.c4 c5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.f3 c6 or well-nigh impossible. d7!? A novelty, 5.0-0 d4 6.e3 e5 7.exd4 exd4 normally Black completes his kingside [ The invariable choice in this position. The development thus: more ambitious 7...cxd4 is always avoided, [ 6...e7 7.0-0 0-0 ] although I don't know why. Perhaps Black 7.bd2 h6!? Another original development. players are concerned about the possibility 8.0-0 f6 9.b5 White has a very simple, and of White exploiting his extra tempo to good effective, plan in these positions: advance on effect, but no immediate problem is evident. t h e q u e e n s id e . 0-0 10.a4 f7 11.a5 For instance, 8.e1 ( 8.d3 would lead to a The immediate threat is a6, levering open the reversed Benoni position) 8...d6 9.xe5 h 1 -a 8 d ia go n a l . b8 12.e1! A typical xe5 10.f4 but Black can counter with d3! 'English' plan, the knight is heading for b4 to 11.fxe5 c5+ 12.h1 g4 with at least a complete W hite's domination of the critical draw. ] l i g h t s q u a r e s , d 5 , c 6 , a n d a 6 . f5 8.d3 e7 9.f4 An important part of White's B l a c k ' s q u e e n s i d e s i t u a t i o n i s s e ve r e l y plan. he needs to exchange a piece, as he compromised, and he must look for play on has less space, and at the same time, open the other side of the board. 13.c2 f6 the h1-a8 diagonal. 0-0 10.e5 xe5 14.b4 d7 15.b3 Black has to stop this 11.xe5 e8!? knight from going to c5. b6 16.axb6 [ A new plan. Previously, other moves were [ 16.a6 c8 17.b7 wins the exchange, t r i e d h e r e e . g . 11...g4 12.f4 d6 but the text is much clearer. ] 13.xd6 xd6 14.d2 b6?! 15.e1 d7 16...axb6 17.a7 f4 Black's counterplay is 16.h3 f6 17.b3 with an edge, Kasparov, much too slow, White has already infiltrated G-Pinter,J/Skara 1980, or ] the queenside. 18.a3 White's pieces seem [ 11...d7 or ] to flow naturally to powerful squares. d6 [ 11...g4 ] dark squares. h5 [ 22...xf6 23.xf6+ h8 24.xc6 bxc6 25.f4 f5 26.g4 is overwhelming. ] 23.g5 d7 24.h6 1-0
267
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.xf6! White shows a good understanding of the position. His dark-squared bishop is not particularly useful with this fixed structure. xf6 13.d2 e7 So as to eject the white knight with ...f5 should it come to e4. 14.d5! Both pinning the f7-pawn, and establishing the bishop on a powerful central square. b8 15.f3 f8 16.fe1 b6 17.e2 The white pieces come easily to strong squares. d6 18.ae1 d7 19.e4 c7 20.h5 W hite menaces Ng5 which would lead to a quick mate. h6 21.h4 Repeating the threat. e6 [ Positionally ugly, but tactically forced. Black had to do something about the strong t h re a t s t o h is k in g, f o r m o ve s s u c h a s 21...a6? lose immediately to 22.g5! i.e. hxg5 23.e7 ( 23.e4 is also effective) 23...e6 24.1xe6! d6 25.e4 f5 26.h6 with mate in two. ] 22.xe6 fxe6 23.f4 Fixing the frail e6-pawn. With this weakness on the open e-file, and possessing the superior minor piece, White has a consequent advantage. d7 24.d2 f6 Black is obliged to defend grimly, but this leads to passiveness, of course. 25.g4?! e8 26.f3 f7 Black manages a threat of his own: ...Bxf4! 27.e5 xe5 28.xe5 f5 [ This looks like a misjudgement to me. After a s e n s i b l e a l t e r n a t i v e l i k e 28...h7 Black is worse, but may be able to hold on. ] 29.xf5! The two rooks should comfortably out-gun the lone queen. exf5 30.xe8+ h7 31.8e7 g6 32.f2 b5!? An attempt to confuse White. 33.7e6 [ 33.1e6 g4 34.cxb5 h3 35.xa7 looks strong, menacing Ree7, but af ter h2+ the white king proves to be too exposed. ] 33...f7 34.cxb5 d7 35.c6 [ 35.a4 may be more effective, as after d5 36.e7 b3 37.xa7 xd3 Black has some counterplay, but not nearly enough. ] 35...c4! 36.xc4 [ Not 36.dxc4? as after d3 37.b3 d4+ 38.f3 c3 Black has mustered serious chances, with his active queen and dangerous passed pawn. ] 36...xb5 37.b3 a5 38.c2?! [ T h e s i m p l e 38.e2 s h o u l d w i n , d5 39.c7 h1 40.ee7 and when Back's
checks run out W hite will play Rxg7+. Of course, White may have been short of time, and worried about a possible perpetual check. ] 38...a6 39.d2 g6 40.e7 c6 41.h5+!? A double-edged move, which wins material, but allows the black king to become active. xh5 42.xg7 f6 43.xa7 g4 44.g2 c6+ 45.h2 f3 [ 45...f3 It is true that the position is far messier than it was, but even so W hite should continue, e. g.: 46.e7 g6 47.g2 h5 48.g1 f6 49.ge1 h4?? 50.h3! with a mating net. ] ½-½
287 Bezold,Michael Svidler,Peter Bundesliga 2008-9 (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A09 2513 2727 25.10.2008
This game is of a length that will normally disqualify it from being included in our updates. Nevertheless, I find it to be of some interest, I trust you will agree. 1.g3 d5 2.g2 f6 3.c4 d4 4.d3 e5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 e7 [ This natural move is actually considered an inaccuracy on account of W hite's f airly obvious response in the game. It is a bit surprising that Svidler willingly goes into this line. The alternative, 6...a5 is the topic of Speelman-Koneru, Torquay 2002, where W hite continued with 7.e3 , and Koneru opted for the main line move 7...Be7 - see the PGN archives, The alternative is dxe3 8.xe3 e7 A) 9.c3 0-0 10.h3 ( 10.e1 g4!? ) 10...f5 11.d4 exd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 c6 15.fe1 e6 16.b3 fd8 , and Black has equalized, T o m a s h e vs k y , E - W a n g H a o / N i z h n i y Novgorod RUS 2007; B) 9.d4 exd4 10.xd4 xd4 11.xd4 0-0 12.c3 c6 13.a4 xd4 14.xd4 e6 15.b3 d7 , and Black has solved opening problems successfully, Vallejo Pons, F-Gelf and, B/Monte Carlo MNC 2005. ] 7.b4! xb4 268
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c a n b e f o u n d i n t h e P G N a r c h i v e s .) [ The only truly playable move for Black in 11.b2 ( 11.b3 was played in Blatny, Pthis position. Other tries include: A) 7...d7 Ricaurte Lopez, J/Salinas ECU 2005, 8.b5 cb8 9.e3 ( 9.a4 a5 10.e3 c5 11.e4 which can be found in the PGN archives.) 0-0 12.e1 f6 13.f4 g4 14.h3 e3 11...g4 12.ef3 f6 13.a4 e8 15.xe3 dxe3 16.c3 exf4 17.gxf4 ( 13...e6 14.a5 b8 15.h3 h6 with an unclear position and chances to both 16.a3 c5 17.c1 e7 18.b3 f5 sides, Kantans, T-Plat, P/Mlada Boleslav with a comfortable game for Black, Roeder, 2008) ) 9...0-0 10.exd4 exd4 11.b2 c5 M-Bukal, V/ Porto San Giorgio ITA 2004) 12.bxc6 xc6 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 14.a3 e7 15.b1 c6 16.h3 f6 c5 15.c3 ( 15.d5!? ) 15...xd3 17.xc5 xc5 18.b3 d6 19.xc5 16.xd3 xd3 17.d2 b8 xc5 , and the chances are about even, with a comfortable game for Black, Nguyen Bauer, C-Mirzoev, A/ Elgoibar ESP 2005 ] Huynh Minh Huy-Varga, C/ Zalakarosi HUN [ B) 9.d2 promises White less: 2008. ] A) Black's best option is probably 9...e8 [ B) 7...xb4 8.xe5 xe5 9.a4+ fd7 10.b3 ( 10.a3 a6 11.b2 ( 9...c6 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.xb4 is an alternative) 10...f8 11.f3 c5 leaves W hite with a pleasant advantage, 12.a3 c6 13.e3 dxe3 14.xe3 f5 Z o n t a k h , A - M a r i c , D / B e l g r a d e 1 9 9 8) 15.e1 c8 16.xc5 , Vukic, M-Pajkovic, 10.xb4 c5 11.a3 0-0 12.d2 c7 /Niksic 1996, and now Black could gain a ( 12...a6 13.b1 a7 14.e3 dxe3 15.fxe3 simple advantage with xc5 17.xc5 b6 , and White is comfortably better, 18.a4 e5; Radziewicz, I-Stef anova, A/ Bled 2002) B) 9...d6 10.a3 a6 11.ef3 c5 13.e4 a6 14.e3 dxe3 15.xe3 12.b1 e8 13.g5 Bischoff, K-Kitte, S/Germany 1998 ] B1) 13...g4 14.e1 d7 15.de4 8.xe5 0-0 9.b2 e7 16.h3 f5 17.xb7 b6 18.f4 [ This isn't the most common move in this c8 was played in Odendahl, R-Rothuis, position. White's two main alternatives are: V/Dieren NED 2008, and now W hite A) 9.a3 a6 could have gained a decisive advantage A) 10.e4 c5 11.b2 e8 12.h3 with ( 18...d7 ) 19.xf7 xf7 ( 12.a4!?= ) 12...fd7!? 13.f3 f6 20.d6+ g8 21.xe8 xb7 22.xb7 14.e1?! ( 14.e1 e5 15.xe5 xe8 23.e3; xe5 ) 14...b6 15.f4 ba4 16.c1 a5 B2) 13...h6 14.ge4 xe4 15.xe4 (At first I must admit I didn't see Black's f8 16.f4 b8 17.f5 c6 18.g4 intended idea with this move. By the way, leaves White with a kingside initiative, Black is doing very well already.) 17.a2 Danielsen, H-Fries Nielsen, N/ a6! 18.af2 b6 19.c2 b3 20.d2 Espergarde 1992 ] c3 Aha, this was the thinking behind 16... a5!. Black is clearly better, Elorta, D- 9...d6!? [ As far as I can see, this move is new, and is Nguyen Anh Dung/Manila PHI 2008; also approved by my computer which claims B) 10.b2 (This move was recommended an edge for Black. Previously Black has tried by Watson in his notes to Blatny-Ricaurte a few other things: A) 9...e8 10.a3 a6 Lopez, Salinas 2005) g4!? ( 10...c5 11.e1 f8 12.f3 c5 13.e3 dxe3 11.f3 e6 12.bd2 c5 13.c2 e8 14.fxe3 , and I prefer White's chances, 14.e3 with a slight plus for White is Franke, R-Teschner, R/Germany 1980 ] Watson's line.) 11.xg4 xg4 12.d2 [ B) 9...g4 10.xg4 ( 10.f3 c5 11.bd2 c6 13.e1 c5 14.c2 f6 15.a4 e8 c7 12.b3 f5 13.d2 ad8 14.g5 with chances to both sides, Makarov, Me3 15.fxe3 xg5 16.xd4 cxd4 Ibragimov, I/Maikop 1998; 17.xb4 xe3+ 18.h1 g4 , and Black C) 10.d2 c5 ( 10...d6 has the more comfortable game, Plachetka, was the subject of OdendahlJ-Dobrovolsky, L/Frenstat 1982) 10...xg4 Kasimdzhanov, Vlissingen 2004, which 269
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.xb7 b8 12.e4 xd3 ( 12...f5!? ) 13.xh7+ h8 14.xd3 xb2 with an unclear position and chances to both sides, Kaidanov, G-Khmelnitsky, I/ Philadelphia 1993 ] 10.f4!? [ 10.f3 c5 11.bd2 d7 is of course also playable, but doesn't represent any problems for Black whatsoever. ] 10...c6?! [ 10...g4!? 11.xg4 xg4 12.d2 c6 13.a3 , and despite my computer's claim to the contrary, both sides have their share of the chances. ] 11.c5! Now White gains the initiative. Of course the pawn cannot be taken on account of 12 Nxc6 bxc6 13 Ba3, winning a piece. e6 12.xc6!? [ I think White is over-careful at this juncture. In my opinion, W hite should have trie d 12.xc6! e3+ ( 12...bxc6 13.xd4 is clearly better for White) 13.h1 bxc6 14.a3 xc5 15.c2 e7 16.xd4 with a very nice game for White. ] 12...bxc6 13.xd4 d7?! [ 13...d5 seems like the better choice, e.g. 14.e3 xc5 15.c3 d6 16.xc5 xc5 17.d2 ] 14.xd7 xd7 15.e3 And here the players agreed upon a draw, much too soon. W hite has a clear advantage, including an extra pawn. ½-½
and Qa4+, whereas a5 might be met by 7.a3 ( 7.0-0 f6 8.a3 xd2 9.xd2 0-0 10.c2 ) 7...f6 8.c2 xd2+ 9.xd2 ( or 9.xd2 )] 6.0-0 e7!? Surprisingly this makes things difficult for Black. Better was [ 6...a5 with the possible line 7.e3 A) 7...e7 8.exd4 exd4 9.f4 ( 9.a3!? 0-0 10.b5 e6 11.f4 c8 12.e1 unclear ) 9...0-0 10.e5 xe5 11.xe5 e8 12.e1 with a position that has been re a ch e d b e f o re a n d is a p p ro xim a t e ly equal.; B) 7...c5 ] 7.b4! Tony has already discussed this line in the game R Odendahl-Kasimdzhanov, Vlissingen 2004. I think that W hite is doing rather better than that game shows if he plays accurately. xb4! [ 7...xb4?! 8.xe5! xe5 9.a4+ c6 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.xb4 and White's pawn structure gives him a nice edge. ] [ 7...e4?! 8.dxe4 xb4 9.e5 ( or 9.b2 ) 9...e4 10.b2 c3 11.xc3 dxc3 12.b3 ] 8.xe5 0-0 9.a3 [ 9.d2 e8 10.b3 is also worth a thought. ] 9...a6 10.d2 [ Possibly 10.b2! is a better order, e.g., c5 ( Now 10...d6 loses a pawn to 11.xd4 ) 11.f3 e6 12.bd2 c5 13.c2 b8 14.e3 But White seems to have a small advantage after 10.Nd2 anyway. ] 288 A09 10...c5 [ Kasimdzhanov played 10...d6 11.ef3 Blatny,Pavel 2456 e8 and Odendahl responded with 12. Nb3 Ricaurte Lopez,Juan Carlos 2333 c5 13.a4?! Bg4 and got the worse game. III Festival Olimpico (6) 20.02.2005 Instead the normal idea of 13.Rb1 followed [John Watson] by e3 was critical. But I also t hin k t ha t Black's oddly-placed pieces can be better 1.g3 e x p l o i t e d b y 12.b1! (threatening Nxd4, [ This game could also have arisen by the since ...Be5 no longer pins the knight) c5 more common move order 1.f3 d5 2.c4 A) T h e s t a n d a r d p l a n o f 13.g5 d4 3.d3 c6 4.g3 e5 ] is also interesting because it hits b7 and [ See also how White ends up a tempo prepares the e3 idea in another way, for ahead of the reversed variation 1.d4 f6 example, b8 14.de4 xe4 15.xe4 2.f3 c5 3.d5 d6 4.c3 g6 5.e4 ] c7 ( 15...f8 16.f4 ) 16.e3! f5 17.d2 1...e5 2.g2 d5 3.c4 d4 4.d3 c6 5.f3 dxe3 18.fxe3 when 18...Qxd3?? 19.Bd5+ f6 and Rb3 is not advised, nor 18...Rxe3 19. [ 5...b4+ 6.d2 has the threat of 7. Bxb4 270
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Bd5+ and in most cases Ne4. Otherwise more like White's best try. Alex covered the W hite plays Bd5+ anyway and stands alternatives in January, but there have been a better. But this isn't as straightforward as few games since then: 13.e3; [ Delchev's recommendation 6.b5+?! c6 B) 13.e3 dxe3 14.fxe3 h6 (stopping Ng5 7.c4 has been seen a couple of times ( 14...b8 15.g5 h6 16.ge4 xe4 recently, axb4! 8.xe5 fxe5 9.h5+ g6! 17.xe4 or 17.Bxe4; 14...g4 15.e4 10.xe5+ e7 11.xh8 f6 c7 16.e2 and White has many ideas A) 12.b2 e6 13.xe6 ( 13.xd4 such as Nfg5, Nh4, and Nc3-d5, for bd7 14.xe6 xe6 and ...0-0-0 example, f5 --to stop Nc3-- 17.fg5 Thiele. ) 13...xe6 14.g4?! bd7 15.g5 xe4 18.xe4 e5 19.c3 ) 15.h4 e4 16.xd4 0-0-0 17.f3 xg5 18.0-0 b8 16.f5! e5 17.e4 with a small h6 0-1 Stella, A (2463)-Bertagnolli, A but distinct advantage. ] (2329) Ortisei 2013.; 11.b3 B) 12.d3 e6 13.d2 bd7 14.0-0 [ 11.b2 g4 12.ef3 f6 13.b3 xb3 0-0-0 15.exd4 might be the best bet, but 14.xb3 is unclear but I'd rather play h6 16.xd8+ xd8 17.e1 d5 White. ] f a vo u rs B lack (aga in t h is is Rein ho ld 11...a5?! Thiele's analysis).; [ B e t t e r s e e m s t h e n a t u r a l 11...xb3 C) 12.0-0 e6 13.d3? ( 13.xe6 12.xb3 c5 ( 12...g4?! 13.xg4 xg4 is better, but xe6 14.exd4 bd7 15.d3 14.xb7 ) 13.f3 e8 14.e1 b8 15.f4 0-0-0 -Thiele. ) 13...xc4 14.dxc4 d7 ( 15.d2!? ) 15...d7 16.e5 h5 15.d1 g7 16.xd4+ c7 and White 17.xd7 xd7 18.d2 c6 when Black h a d t o p l a y 17.d8+ xd8 18.xd8 stands solidly. ] t o a v o i d l o s i n g h i s q u e e n , b u t xd8 [ But 11...a4? 12.f3 c3 13.c2 c5 19.b2 bd7 is hopeless, Davis, T 14.e3 leaves the first player well on top. ] (1945)-Zelesco, K (2143) Cammeray 2013 12.f3 e6 13.a4 0-1 (24). ] [ Or 13.b2 c5 14.e3 a4 15.c1 dxe3 [ 6.c4?! axb4! 7.b3 ( 7.exd4 e4! ) 16.fxe3 . The extra centre pawn tend to be 7...h6 8.exd4?! ( 8.0-0 ) 8...e4 9.e3 a n a d v a n t a g e i n t h e s e p o s i t i o n s e ve n e7 10.h4 g5 ( 10...f5 11.g3 g5 though they are initially backward-looking. ] 12.g2 c6 is also strong.) 11.d3 ( 11.f3?! 13...a6 14.d2!? gxh4 12.fxe4 e6 should have been [ 14.b2! c5 15.e3 d6! 16.exd4 cxd4 winning for Black in Bosiocic, M (2542)17.h3!? , or less greedily, ( 17.e1 )] Kadric, D (2471) Zadar 2013, but 1/2-1/2 14...b4 15.h3 c5? (26). ) 11...gxh4 12.dxe4 c6 13.0-0?! [ Black can come close to equality by 15...c5! g4 14.d3 h3 ( 14...ce5! ) 15.xh3 16.xb4 cxb4 17.d2 d6 ] xe4 ( 15...xd4 ) 16.b2 d7 and Black 16.xb4! axb4 17.xc8 xb3 18.xb7 went on to convert his material advantage, b6 19.xb3 xb7 20.c5! e7 21.c6 b6 although it got a bit messy, Hakobyan, A 22.xd4 g4 23.a5 (2103) -Chibukhchian, A (2446) Yerevan 1-0 2014 0-1 (40). ] [ 6.exd4?! e4 7.e2 e7 8.g1 c6 ] [ 6.xe5?! is Van Wely, L-Kramnik, V in the 289 A09 PGN Archive. ] Demuth,Adrien 2476 6...d7 [ 6...d7 7.b5 c6 8.c4 was the sharp Duda,Jan Krzysztof 2587 game Hillarp Persson, T-Hector, J, analysed Mitropa Cup Ruzomberok (7.1) 29.05.2014 by Alex. ] [Kosten, Tony] 7.b5 xc5 8.c4 e7 9.exd4 exd4 1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 f6 4.e3 e5 5.c5 a5 10.a3 a6 'White has good compensation, 6.a4+ This is beginning to look more and since Black's king will never be safe' - Alex. 271
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.0-0 b4 12.d3 f5 The first new move, and it's a good one. Black wants to play ...b6, move his queen and then castle long, trying to keep the queenside closed. [ 12...c6 13.bd2 b6 is also quite playable, 14.bxc6 xc6 ( 14...xc6 15.d1 0-0-0 is also unclear.) 15.b3 b5!? ( 15...a4 ) 16.f7+ f8 17.ac1 b6 18.e4 c8 19.fe1 Bukavshin, I (2539) Shukh, N (2421) Saratov 2013 1-0 (33), when a6! 20.xc5 ( 20.e6 is a Houdini move, a4 21.xc5 xc5 22.d1 xc1 23.xe7+ xe7 24.xd7+ xd7 25.xc1 c7 ) 20...xc5 might be OK. ] 13.c1 [ 13.e1 xd3 14.xd3 xd3 15.xc5 xc5 16.c4 d6 17.bd2 is actually fairly equal, White will play Ne4 and regain the d-pawn, and retain sufficient play for the other sacrificed pawn. ] 13...b6 14.b3 d6 15.bd2 [ 15.f7+ d8 16.c4 g6 17.bd2 f4 18.e1 is unclear. ] 15...0-0-0 So, Black has found a reasonable square for his king, can he exploit his extra pawn? 16.h4 g6 17.e1 ed5 18.df3 [ 18.xg6 hxg6 19.h3 can be met by the tactic c2!? 20.xc5 xa1 21.xd6 xb3 22.xd5 c5 ( 22...xd2?! 23.e6+ b8 24.f4 ) 23.xc5 xd5 24.a3 xb5 when I suppose Black has any chances going. ] 18...f4 [ 18...b7 ] 19.xg6 hxg6 20.c1 bd5 21.e4 de8?! [ 21...g5 must be a little better for Black, and if he wants to put a rook on the e-file it should be the h-rook ] 22.g3!? [ 22.xf4 xf4 23.ae1 xe4 24.xe4 is a simple alternative, d8 25.g3 d5 26.xd4 with equal material and opposite colour bishops. ] 22...h3+ 23.g2 xf2? [ 23...c3 24.xe8+ xe8 forces 25.f7 ( 25.xh3? a4 26.c2 e2 27.d2 xf2 when the white king is in trouble.) 25...e7 26.xg6 d7 when my computer tells me it's equal! ] 24.xd5
[ After 24.xe8+! xe8 25.xd5 White was possible worried about xd3 26.c6 xc1 27.xc1 e2+ 28.f1 d3 but 29.g8+ forces the queens off, with advantage as the 3 black pawns are not worth a piece.. ] 24...xe4 25.dxe4 Reaching an interesting material imbalance. d7 26.h4?! [ 26.a3! i s t h e r i g h t m o ve , a s h3+ 27.g1 and White doesn't have to worry about ...d3+, xa3 28.xa3 with advantage, as the black rooks have little scope and the c7 and d4-pawns are weak. ] 26...g4 [ 26...g5! would turn the tables, and now White should probably play 27.a3 gxh4 28.gxh4 although g4+ 29.f2 xa3 30.xa3 g5 looks unpleasant. ] 27.d3?! [ 27.a3 should again be played, the c5bishop is too strong. ] 27...g5! Now White must be very careful. 28.h2 h5 29.f3 gxh4!? Offering the exchange for some winning chances. [ If Black tries to keep the queens on by 29...h7 then 30.g4+ b8 31.f3 gxh4 32.gxh4 g5 (those g-pawns!) 33.h5 d8 34.e6 and Black doesn't have anything better than xh5 35.xh5 xh5 36.g4 fairly level. ] 30.xh5 xh5 31.f7 hh8 32.xe8 xe8 33.gxh4 xe4 34.f3 With more activity and 3 pawns for a piece, Black has most of the chances going, although White should be able to hold a draw. d7 35.d2 c6 [ 35...e6 36.e1 d5 can be met by 37.h5 ] 36.e1! xe1 37.bxc6+ xc6 38.xe1 d5 39.f3 c4 40.h5 Fixing the g-pawn on a dark square. a4 41.e2?! White wants to bring his knight to the nice central square on d3, but this is passive. [ 41.e4 is more active, and natural, and b5 can be countered by 42.f3 ( 42.d3?? f5+ ) 42...b4 43.c1 c3 ( 43...b3 44.axb3+ axb3 45.b2 ) 44.d5! a3 45.d2! ( 45.xc5 is possible, but White would need to find lots of only moves: b3 46.xa3 bxa2 47.b4+ d3 48.e1+ e4 49.c2 f5 50.c4 f4 51.b3 f3 52.e1 d3 53.xa2 dxc2 54.b2 ) 45...b6 46.b3 and only White can win 272
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 this, d3 47.e4 c2 48.d2 but c5! and White is not worse.) 9...h4 10.g1 Draw. ] d6! A strong move. White has problems 41...b5 42.d3 d e f e n d i n g h i s n u m e r o u s we a k n e s s e s . [ 42.c1 ] 11.f4?! White has misdirected the Black 42...a3! 43.f4 c3 44.c7 f8 45.a5+ knight, but at the cost of falling behind in c2 46.b6 b1 47.xd4 xa2 d e ve lo p m e n t . ( 11.g3?! h5!; 11.e3!? Black has made real progress, his king and xh2 12.d2 is suggested by Marin, who bishop support his two passed pawns, and thinks White might have some White must be precise. 48.d2 b4 compensation in view of his slightly better [ 48...a3! keeps more chances, 49.c3 development and his strong centre. Perhaps b1 50.g1 d6 51.e3 a3 52.b4 a2 so, but most strong players would certainly but ( 52...xb4+ 53.xb4 a2 54.d4 a1 take Black here.) 11...e5! 12.f5 h5! 13.h3 55.xa1 xa1 56.xb5 b2 is a draw.) d4! 14.g3 hxg4 15.hxg4 g6! 53.c2! a1+ 54.xa1 xa1 55.b3 Vallejo's vigorous p lay ma kes a stron g b1 56.d2 traps the king and draws! impression- White is not given any time to Fantastic! ] settle down. 16.fxg6 xg6 17.e3 d8 49.c5! The only move not to lose. xc5 18.d2 e6 19.a4 f4 0-1 (29) Rausis, 50.xc5 a3 51.c2 b3+ 52.b1 f5 I (2506)-Vallejo Pons, F (2677)/Port 53.d3 Zugzwang! b2 54.xb2 b3 Barcares 2005 White has no compensation 55.xa4! The simplest. xa4 56.c2 b4 for his exposed king and for the weaknesses 57.d3 c5 58.e3 d5 59.f4 e6 on dark squares. ] 60.g5 e5 8...d8 I suspect this might be better than [ 60...e5 61.g6 f4 62.xg7 f3 63.h6 going to d6, where White tends to gain time f2 64.h7 f1 65.h8 ] with c4-c5. ½-½ [ 8...d6 9.d4 f5 10.d2 g6 11.c5 d8 12.c4 g7 13.d1 0-0 14.0-0 looked quite comfortable for W hite in 290 A09 Fontaine, R -Markowski, T Dresden 2004. ] Devereaux,Maxim 2415 9.d4 f5 10.d2 g6 11.d1 g7 12.e2 Rowson,Jonathan 2582 0-0 13.0-0 a5 14.c1 d8 15.d5 cxd5? 4ncl 03.05.2008 Too much too soon. While this more or less wins a pawn by force, it also gives White a lot [Jonathan Rowson] of activity so I would have been better of keeping the tension. 1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.e3 [ 15...d7! simply intending Rac8 and [ 3.b4 feels critical to me, and we can revisit keeping options open, was best. ] this line another time. ] [ 15...xc3!? 16.xc3 ( 16.bxc3 cxd5 [ 3.a3!? Suba, is not as silly as it looks. ] 17.cxd5 xd5 ) 16...xc3 17.bxc3 d7 [ 3.g3 is of course fine, though it seems 18.f4 ac8 19.g4 And White just about Black can equalise quite easily. ] keeps the balance. ] 3...c6 4.exd4?! I now think this is probably just a mistake. xd4 5.xd4 xd4 6.c3 16.xd5 [ 16.b4 xb4 17.xd5 a5 18.b6 axb6 c6 7.d3 h6! 8.e3 19.xe7+ f8 wins for Black, but I must [ 8.e2!? was recommended by Zviagintsev, admit I was a little taken aback when I first but I am not sure how carefully he noticed this possibility. ] considered it. f5 9.g4?! This pseudoactive move was thought to be the best 16...e6 17.b4 xa2 18.d2 a4 [ 18...b3 19.d1 ] a n t i d o t e t o B l a c k ' s u n u s u a l s ys t e m o f development, but it appears to be unsound. 19.c7 xe3 [ 19...ac8 20.xe6 fxe6 21.fd1 f8 ( 9.0-0!? The d4 square isn't everything, so 22.b1 ] W hite should consider playing around it. d8 10.g4 g6 11.e1 g7 12.g5 20.xd8+ xd8 21.xe6 xf1 273
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 21...fxe6 22.xe3 xb4 23.xa7 d4 24.a2 c5 25.c2 f8 26.d3 e5 27.g3 b6 28.e2 I didn't think I could make progress here. ] [ 21...c6 22.xe3 ] [ 21...d6 22.c5 xb4 23.xe3 d4 24.d3 xc4 25.xe7 e6 26.d8+ g7 27.f4 ] 22.xd8 d7 23.xf7 [ 23.d1 xd1 24.xd1 d2 25.e2 b6 26.c6 f8 27.xa7 c3 keeps the game alive. ] 23...d2 24.g5 h6 25.h4 d4 26.d1! W hite has def ended well and Black is no longer better. xg5 27.hxg5 e5 [ 27...f4 ] 28.f3 xf3+ 29.xf3 xc4 30.xb7 c1+ 31.h2 f4+ 32.g1 c1+ 33.h2 f4+ ½-½
[ 5...a5 had been played, allowing the bishop t o e s c a p e : 6.c4 h6 7.0-0 e7 Namgilov,S-Dao,T/Budapest 1996, with unclear play. ] 6.b3 This does not work-out too well, perhaps White should attempt to stop Black from defending the d3-pawn, by [ 6.c3 ] 6...e4 7.d4 a5 8.c3 f5 An unusual position, W hite is a long way ahead in d e ve lo p m e n t - B la ck h a s o n ly m o ve d h i s pawns- but can he do anything with his lead? 9.e6 e7 10.xf8 xf8! Black needed to keep his light-squared bishop. 11.b5 e6 12.a4 d7 13.a3 The threats along the a3-f8 diagonal are worrying, but Black has sufficient resources. [ The move 13.c6 is no better, bxc6 14.bxc6 b6 and Black has time to remove his pieces from the c1-bishop's diagonal-to-be. ] 13...xc5 14.d4 b6 15.a4 f7 The king had to get out of the way. 16.xc5 291 A09 bxc5 17.xc5 g5 White is winning the Gabriel,Christian 2578 battle on the queenside, but it is a temporary Kortschnoj,Viktor 2676 victory. Next move Black will be able to bring Ehrat mem (SUI vs GER match) (4) 16.08.99 his knight out, and then his king's rook, when h i s e x t r a p i e c e s w i l l t r i u m p h . 18.g4!? [Tony Kosten] White attempts to bring his h1-rook into play 1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 f6 4.e3 e5 5.c5 at any cost. xg4 [ 18...fxg4?! allows White to develop his Termed 'the modern approach' by Dunnington, f1-bishop: 19.g2 f6 20.0-0 ] in his book on the Reti, White opens the a2g 8 d i a g o n a l a n d g a i n s s p a c e o n t h e 19.e5 c8 20.h3 g5 21.d4 f6 queenside. However, in the light of this game, Black has solved his development problems and now the 'writing is on the wall' for White. it might simply be a mistake! [ Alternatively, there is 5.b3 a5 6.c5 22.h2 hd8 23.g1 h4 24.c1 e8 with similar ideas, whilst avoiding the game 25.c5 g6 26.a4 d5 27.c6 d8 28.c3 continuation. axb4 7.c4 h6 8.0-0 xc5 d6 29.h4 Hoping to lever open the g-file for 30.h5 g5 31.h6 9.exd4 xd4 10.xd4 xd4 11.b2 d6 t h e g 1 - r o o k . d7 12.d4 White has a strong initiative, Ilinsky, V- This loses, but so does [ 31.a6 , albeit more prettily: h6 and if Lev,R/Gausdal 1991. ] 32.xa5 f6! ( 32...a8 33.xd6! [ 5.exd4?! is less good, however, as after e4 is less clear.) 33.c3 c5! profiting from 6.h4 ( 6.e2 e7 7.h4 allows g5 the back-rank mate. 34.f3 xc3 35.dxc3 although W hite will certainly obtain some xc3+ 36.d2 a3 when the threat of ... compensation for his piece.) 6...xd4 Nc4 wins, e. g. 37.fxe4 xe4 38.xd3 is already favourable for Black, because of c1+ 39.e2 b2+ 40.e1 f2+ White's awkward h4-knight, Liberzon,V-Ree, 41.d1 d8 and White must resign. ] H/Amsterdam 1977. ] 5...d3!! A stunning ! If Black can get away with 31...xc6 32.h5+ e6 [ 32...e6 33.bxc6 b8 is crushing. ] this provocative move, then he will probably be winning- the white kingside pieces will be 0-1 to escape the trap. Previously, 274
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 292 Granda Zuniga,Julio E Lima,Darcy zt 2.4 Sao Paulo BRA (8) [Tony Kosten]
A09 2641 2519 26.09.2003
1.f3 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 [ 3.e4 is also possible, see Krasenkow,MVolzhin,A. ] 3...f6 4.xc4 e6 5.e2!? A novelty! Of course this may transpose to something else, but here White has a special idea in mind. [ 5.0-0 which we looked at in Zvjaginsev,VSvetushkin,D/Linares ESP 2000, is typical, whilst ] [ 5.d4 is a QGA, of course. ] 5...c5 6.e4!? This is the new plan, reminiscent of Krasenkov's 3 e4!?, but isn't W h it e a t e m p o d o wn h e re ? c6 7.e5 White hopes to use this space-gaining pawn move to mount a kingside attack. d5 8.0-0 e7 9.c3 0-0 10.e4 White forces the knight to retreat. b6 [ 10...xc3?! is an error, as after 11.dxc3 White has evened-out his pawn structure, with advantage. ] 11.d3 g6 12.b3 d4!? Black decides that it will be difficult to exploit the d4-square by gaining piece control, and so hopes to gain an a d va n c e d p a wn t h e re in st e a d . 13.b2 W hite decides to keep the structural imbalance, as [ 13.xd4 is met by xd4 14.xd4 cxd4 when 15.e2 ( 15.b5 a6! is the tactical j u s t i f i c a t i o n , a s 16.xd4? d8 w i n s a p i e c e) 15...f6 16.exf6 xf6 with good chances. ] 13...f5 White doesn't get a second chance to capture this piece, which moves to a strong kingside square. 14.ad1 [ 14.ac1!? is an idea, hoping to press on c5 before Black can play ...b6, d5 ( 14...b8 is less effective now, 15.e2 d7 16.e4 c8 17.f6+ with an attack) 15.c4 b6 16.e2 d5 17.d4 cxd4 18.xd4 with advantage, as Black hasn't managed to develop his queenside. ] 14...b8 Black defends the b-pawn to free his queen's bishop. 15.b1 Freeing the d-pawn. d7 16.g4?! This isn't the best square, [ 16.f4! means that after c6 White can
continue 17.xf5! exf5 18.d4 opening the d-file, and if xf3 19.xf3 cxd4 20.b5 regains the d-pawn with an edge. ] 16...c6 17.e4 Aiming for f6, but Black can easily parry this. The problem is that [ 17.d4?! loses a pawn to xf3 18.xf3 xd4 and ] [ 17.xf5 exf5 now gains a tempo, and permits Black to stop d4 by 18.f4 d3 ] 17...d5 Black has completed his development, and has two great light squares f or his knights. 18.g3 h5 19.h3 b5 20.d3?! White wants to reroute his darksqua red bish o p t o t he c1 -h 6 d ia gon a l t o e xp lo i t B l a c k 's we a k e n e d k in g s id e d a r k squares, but there is a tactical flaw. [ 20.c1 is one of several superior moves, e. g. b4 21.d4 c4 22.fe1 d5 which looks very nice for Black, but White is still in the game. ] 20...c8 21.c1? This is obviously White's intention, but he has missed a tactic. c3! 22.de1? This loses immediately, but even after the forced [ 22.xc3 xf3 White is in a bad way: 23.de1 ( 23.xb5 a5 24.a4 a6 and Black can capture on d1 or play the even stronger ...Nd4 (when mate is t h r e a t e n e d b y . . . N e 2 )) 23...d4 the b1-bishop is hopelessly offside, and can do nothing to contest the h1-a8 diagonal, 24.e3 g4 25.g2 f3+ winning an e xch a n ge wh ile m a i n t a in in g p o s it io n a l advantages. ] 22...xb1 0-1
293 Hillarp Persson,Tiger Hector,Jonny DEN-chT 1314 52nd (5.1) [Fier, Alexandr]
A09 2547 2503 12.01.2014
Of all the games from this month, this is the one which most impressed me. Black tries the most ambitious setup one more time and White comes with a really strong idea. I have no idea quite how much of this was home preparation. 8...dxe3 and 10...exf3 are the alternatives. 1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 f6 275
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 I confess I was always curious about this position, but never really understood what is going on here. Black is building a strong center, that can bring him an advantage if he finishes his development. On other hand, the a2-g8 diagonal is really weakened and there is a chance Black simply won't get out of the opening alive. And that's what happened in this game. 4.e3 e5 5.c5 a5 [ 5...d3 if this move works it's the best. Different evaluations of this position were given and until now it's not clear if the idea is good or not for Black A) 6.a4+ A1) 6...d7 7.b5 ( 7.b3 e4 8.d4 c6 9.b2 f5 10.e6 xe6 11.xe6+ e7 12.xf5 xb4 and White's position is quite strange) 7...e6 8.c6 bxc6 9.c3 h6 with chances for both players; A2) 6...c6 7.b3 there is some small difference in the positions with the pawn on c6 instead of c7. One of the important ones is that the knight cannot go to c6 any more. e4 8.d4 a5 9.c3 f5 10.b5 xc5 11.e6 e7 12.xc5 xc5 13.g4!? and White has good compensation fxg4 ( 13...b4 14.gxf5 xf5 15.g1 xb3 16.axb3 f7 17.f3 exf3 18.g3 with a slight advantage for White ) 14.xe4! e5 15.xd3 xa1 16.d6+ d7 17.0-0 and the attack is really strong f6 18.e4 f8 19.a3 e7 20.c4 c7 21.d3 d7 22.c5 cxb5 23.xb5 and White is winning; B) 6.b3 this was played in some games, and apparently Black is ok here e4 7.d4 a5 8.c3 f5 9.e6 e7 10.a4+ ( 10.xf8 was Korchnoi's game, analyzed by Tony in Chess Publishing xf8 11.b5 e6 12.a4 d7 and Black was fine in Gabriel, C (2578)-Korchnoi, V (2676)/ Ehrat mem (SUI vs GER match) 1999.) 10...f7 11.xf8 f6 12.xh7 xh7 13.a3 e5 and White is cut in half because of this pawn on d3 ] 6.a4+ [ 6.xe5?! is not dangerous, and Black can draw immediately if he wants fxe5 7.h5+ d7 8.f5+ e8 9.h5+ d7 10.f5+ e7 trying to keep the game alive
( 10...e8 11.h5+= ) 11.xe5+ e6 12.c4 d7 13.b5 c6 maybe this is not so necessary ( 13...f6!? 14.exd4 f7 is also possible and probably W hite does not have enough for the piece) 14.a3 f6 and Black should be ok in this complex position. It was analyzed for Chess Publishing in Van Wely, L (2681)-Kramnik, V (2799)/Amber-rapid 17th 2008. ] [ 6.c4 axb4 7.b3 h6 A) 8.0-0 xc5 9.exd4 xd4 10.xd4 xd4 11.b2 A1) 11...d6 was played and after 12.d4 e4 13.d2 f5 ( 13...f5 was necessary, but White has good play after 14.f3 ) 14.xe4 and Black was in trouble in Ilinsky, V (2350)-Lev, R (2425)/ Gausdal Int 1991.; A2) 11...b6!? is probably better 12.d4 c6 13.dxe5 a5 14.c2 xc4 15.xc4 e6 16.e2 f5 and White has insufficient compensation; B) 8.exd4 e4 9.e3 e7 and Black is already better, Bosiocic, M (2542)-Kadric, D (2471)/Zadar op-A 20th 2013. ] [ 6.b5+ it's still not clear if it's good or not to provoke Black to play ...c6 c6 7.c4 axb4 this looks like the most testing move, 8.xe5 h6 ( 8...fxe5? 9.h5+ d7 10.f5+ c7 11.xe5+ d7 12.e6+ e8 13.xc8+ with a decisive advantage) 9.d3 f5 White's pieces are not so active this time 10.0-0 dxe3 11.dxe3 xd3 12.xd3 a6 and Black is fine, as seen in Aranaz Murillo, A (2244)-Klek, H (2244)/Wch U18 Girls 2012 ] 6...d7 [ 6...d7 this is another reasonable option 7.b5 xc5 8.c4 e7 9.exd4 exd4 10.a3 a6 was seen some months ago and White has good compensation, since Black's king will never be safe Bukavshin, I (2539)-Shukh, N (2421)/RUS-ch U26 Saratov 2013. ] 7.b5 c6 8.c4 a6 It's almost impossible to see it here, but it looks like Black already has issues to solve after this move. [ 8...dxe3 was played in a correspondence game, clearing the center before the complications 9.fxe3 A) 9...a6 10.d4 axb4 11.0-0 e4 276
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 11...e7 Black needs to take care since 12.f7+! and Black can't take on f7 d8 13.dxe5 and the position should be better for White ) 12.fd2 f5 13.xg8 xg8 14.c4 c7 15.xb4 d5 16.b3 and White's position is more comfortable, since he will exchange the strong knight on d5, as seen in Voll, A (2555)Mannermaa, J (2493)/W-ch30 q03 email 2010.; B) 9...g4!? this is also dangerous, but Black take some pawns 10.b5 e4 11.d4 xg2 12.f1 xc5 13.a3!? xa3 ( 13...xd4 14.exd4 xh2 15.c3 a n d t h e b i s h o p s a r e j u s t t o o s t r o n g) 14.xa3 xh2 15.c3 and Black is material up, but it's not so clear he will survive with no development at all. So it's time to give some of the pawns back c5!? 16.xc5 d7 17.d5 e5 18.xe4 e7 and Black is surviving according to my computer ] 9.exd4 e4 [ 9...exd4 usually this move is not good, with the e-file open W hite has an advantage 10.0-0 axb4 11.e1+ d8 ( 11...e7 12.b2 also gives White good play) 12.a3 ( 12.e6 there is no need for this move xc5 13.xa8 xe6 with an unclear position ) 12...c7 13.xb4 e7 14.b2 and White is better ] 10.b5 b4 Makes sense with the plan, but now White is already better. [ 10...exf3 this was probably the best chance, going into some chaotic position 11.bxa6 A) 11...fxg2 12.g1 e7 13.c3 looks good for White; B) 11...e7+ 12.f1 ( 12.d1 fxg2 13.g1 e4 ) 12...e4 13.g4! xg4 ( 13...xg4 14.h3 ) 14.g1 h3+ 15.e1 xh2 16.f1 and now the situation on the queenside is delicate; C) 11...b5!? to change the strong bishop on c4 12.cxb6 fxg2 13.g1 xa6 and the position is unclear ] [ 10...xc5 takes one pawn, but loses a tempo 11.dxc5 exf3 12.0-0 xc5 13.e1+ e7 14.a3 and Black has no time to stabilize d6 ( 14...xa3 15.xa3 d8 16.e3 d5 17.xd5 cxd5 18.c3 d4 19.d3 c7 20.c5+ b8 21.d5
with a winning position) 15.xc5 xc5 16.bxc6 bxc6 17.d4 d6 18.c3 and Black won't survive ] [ 10...b8 11.g1 a funny answer, but now W hite is a pawn up with a better position g4 ( 11...xd4?? 12.f7++- ) 12.g3 e7 13.c3 and our famous magician gives almost +3 for White ] 11.a3 [ 11.bxc6 gives time to reorganize the pieces xc6 12.d5 exf3 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.0-0 xc5 15.e1+ e7 and the position is playable for Black ] 11...exf3 12.axb4 xd4 13.d3 e5+ [ 13...fxg2 14.g1 e7 ( 14...e5+ 15.e3 xh2 transposes to the game) 15.xg2 d7 16.e3 b2 17.d2 and it's still not clear what Black is going to do wit h h is p ie ce s, so W h it e h a s a b ig advantage ] 14.e3 fxg2 15.g1 xh2 It looks like Black h a s e n o u g h t im e t o t a ke t h e p a wn s a n d control the position with 16...Ne7. However, [ 15...e7 was necessary and would transpose to the 13...fxg2 note ] 16.bxc6!! White does not care about what is happening on the kingside and just opens files near Black's king! [ 16.f4 e7 and Black has a quite decent position ] 16...xg1+ 17.d2 Black is a rook up and can make a second queen, but because of his lack of development and exposed king, the position is already gone. b5 [ 17...d8 is also not enough to survive 18.c3 h2 ( 18...xa1 it's hard for Black to have any chance without extra material 19.c7+ xc7 20.d5+ d8 21.xa1 and the attack will continue, the queen can come back to the game via d4.) 19.d5 Threatening 20.c7+ g1 20.xg1 bxc6 21.xc6 b8 22.f4 xf2+ 23.c3 axb4+ 24.b3 the checks are over and when White's checks start it will be mate in a few moves ] [ 17...d7 is ingenious, but doesn't work 18.cxd7+ d8 19.c6 d6 20.cxb7 b8 21.b6+ e7 22.c3 h2 23.e1+ with mate ] 18.cxb6 xb4+ 19.c3 And now Black can't stop W hite's pawns, so the position with a 277
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 rook and pawn up is just lost! h2 20.b7 b8 21.c7+ f8 22.cxb8 xb8 23.bxc8+ xc8 24.g1 With a piece up everything is much easier. h5 25.xg2 h4 26.b5 e7 27.c2 h3 28.h2 c7 29.d5 xd5 30.xd5 g5 31.xh3 xh3 32.g8+ e7 33.e6+ 1-0
294 Huzman,Alexander Maryasin,Boris TCh ISR (2) [Tony Kosten]
A09 2580 2398 18.01.2002
1.f3 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 [ We have also considered the aggressive 3.e4!? , see Krasenkow,M-Volzhin,A/MK Cafe Cup, Koszalin POL 1998. ] 3...c6 [ Perfectly reasonable, Black wants to play ... e5 with a Sicilian-type position with colours reversed. 3...c5 would aim for a QGA: 4.xc4 e6 5.0-0 f6 6.e2 have a look at Zvjaginsev,V-Svetushkin,D/Linares ESP 2000. ( 6.d4 a6 transposes directly into a QGA, as in Espig,L-Keres,P/Tallinn 1975 for example. )] [ 3...f6 4.xc4 e6 5.d4 is a QGA, of course. ] 4.xc4 e5 5.c2!? [ A new move in a relatively rare position, 5.c3 is one of several other moves here, to stop ...e4, d6 6.0-0 f6 7.d4 0-0 8.h3 seems fairly equal, Vladimirov,E-Gleizerov, E/Podolsk 1992. ] 5...d6 6.a3 As in many other King's English lines White aims for a Paulsen-type schema reversed where he has extra moves (the black g8-knight would normally be on d5 quite early. ) f6?! [ This is aggressive, the queen heads for the kingside, but it is not particularly natural, 6...f6 7.g5!? 0-0 8.c3 h6 9.h4 looks dangerous, but maybe Black can play e7 and ...Bf5. ] 7.c3 f5 8.d3 ge7 9.e4 xe4 [ Unfortunately Black has to part with his important light-squared bishop, as 9...g6?! 10.h4 is not too nice, and ]
[ 9...h6? 10.eg5 (threatening e4) g6 11.e4 h5 12.h3 leaves Black in big, big trouble. ] 10.dxe4 g5!? Black certainly gets the prize for imaginative play! He advances on the kingside, but White hasn't castled there yet. 11.b4 g4 12.d2 a5?! I don't really understand this, as now Black can hardly castle long as his queenside is too exposed. 13.b5 d8 14.e2 h5 15.b2 g6 16.c4 The knight finds a lovely square and can't be touched by the black pawns. 0-0?! The king position is too insecure for this. 17.h3 Of course, White opens the h-file as he can still castle queenside. g5 [ 17...g3 18.f4 h4 19.0-0 Puts intolerable pressure on the e-pawn and long diagonal. ] 18.hxg4 hxg4 19.0-0-0 [ A simple, and very human, move but most computers would play 19.d1! winning the g - p a w n , a s g3? 20.f4! exf4 21.d4 menaces mate on h8 and wins a piece. ] 19...e6 20.d5 fd8 21.b1 This is almost always a useful prophylactic move when W hite castles queenside. g7 22.d1 [ 22.f4 i s a l s o s t r o n g : gxf3 23.gxf3 when f4 is on the cards again, and W hite can also use the g-file. ] 22...e7? [ 22...f6 23.f4 gxf3 24.gxf3 is also good for White, but this should lose. ] 23.d2?! [ White misses an immediate win: 23.xe5! xd5 24.h8+! xh8 25.xf7+ ] 23...g3?! 24.xe5! gxf2 25.h8+! Now White sees it! xh8 26.xf7+ 1-0
295
A09 Korotylev,Alexey 2600 Kramnik,Vladimir 2785 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (22) 22.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen] 1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 f6 (This line is recommended in Palliser's excellent "Beating Unusual Chess Openings") 4.e3 dxe3 [ Palliser only discusses 4...e5 , and on 5.c5 d3!? - see for example Gabriel-Korchnoi, 278
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Zurich 1999, in the PGN archives we will return to this line in a future update ] 5.fxe3 e5 And rather amazingly we are now out of all the books I have access to on the Reti, even if this position has been played several times before 6.c5! [ This is in my opinion sharper and better than the alternatives: A) 6.a3 A) 6...a5!? 7.b5 e4 8.d4 f5 9.b2 ( 9.e2!? ) 9...d6 A1) 10.g3 looks ugly but is probably necessary to survive, e.g. f6 11.e2 0-0 12.0-0 f4!? 13.c5!? ( 13.gxf4 h3 14.f2 bd7 15.c3 c5 , and Black has a dequa te co mpe nsation f o r th e pawn ) 13...xc5 14.xf4 d6; A2) 10.e2?! f6 11.c2 bd7 12.bc3 c5 , and Black is much better, Mazel, I-Alatortsev, V/ Leningrad 1934/ URS-ch; B) 6...e6?! B1) 7.e2 h6 ( 7...a5 8.b5 d6 9.0-0 h6 10.c3 0-0 11.d4 looks very nice for White) 8.0-0 e7 9.c3 f5 10.d4 exd4 11.exd4 Leskowsky, Z-Soto, J/corr 1975; B2) 7.b2 a5 8.b5 d7 9.d4 e4 10.fd2 f5 11.c3 h4+ 12.g3 h6 13.e2 d6 14.g2 gf6 with an unclear position and chances to both sides, but I must admit that I favour White thanks to his avalanche of pawns on the queenside, Kavnatsky, VThompson, D/Jackson 1988; C) 6...h6?! 7.c3 e7 8.d4 0-0 9.d3 g4 10.0-0 a5 11.b5 exd4 12.exd4 f5 13.d5 Bertholee, R-Van Riemsdijk, H/ Dieren 1989; D) 6...c5!? 7.bxc5 ( 7.b5 g4 8.e2 d6 9.b2 e7 10.c3 0-0 11.e4 g6 12.0-0 Schneider, F-Beyer, H/ Hassloch 1999 ) 7...e4 8.d4 f5 D1) 9.b3 c6 10.b2 ( 10.xc6 bxc6 11.b2 f6 ) 10...f6 11.e2 xc5 12.b5 xd4 13.exd4 d7 0-1 Xu Hanbing-Zhang Pengxiang/Wuxi CHN 2005 ( 13...0-0!? 14.d5 a6 15.b3 a5 16.c3 b5 17.c5 f7 18.d6 e6 looks better for Black) 14.c5!? a5 15.d6!? b6 16.c3;
D2) 9.b2 f6 10.e2 xc5 11.0-0 xd4 12.xd4 0-0 13.c2 c6 14.b2 e6 15.c3 c8 with a doubleedged position and chances for both sides, Nutu Gajic, D-Feustel, P/ Thessaloniki1984 ] [ B) 6.b3 A) 6...c5 7.bxc5 xc5 ( 7...c6!? ) 8.d4 exd4 9.b5+ d7 10.exd4 e7+ 11.f2 a6 12.b3 a7 13.c5 Lisitsin, G-Ravinsky, G/Leningrad 1955; B) 6...e6 7.d4 e4 8.fd2 f5 9.g3 g5 10.a3 a6 11.c2 is messy with a bunch of positional factors counting for and detracting from the overall evaluation on both sides, but I still believe White is better in this line too, Gjokaj, G-Meschke, A/Bad Wiessee 1998; C) 6...a5 7.b5 e4 ( 7...c5 8.d3 g6 9.b2 a4 10.c2 e7 Gajarsky, J-Feco, J/CCASR Email 2002 11.a3 0-0 12.c3 , and I prefer White) 8.d4 f5 9.a3 h6 10.c3 c5 11.bxc6 xc6 12.db5 xa3 13.xa3 0-0 14.e2 e6 15.d5 b8 16.0-0 e7 17.f4 Lisitsin, GRabinovich, I/Tbilisi 1937 ] 6...e6 [ Black's alternatives are: A) 6...g4 7.b3 a5 8.c4 h6 9.0-0 axb4 10.d4 Halmeenmaki, T-Terho, J/ Tampere 1990 ] [ B) 6...e4 7.d4 A) 7...a5 8.b5 d5 ( 8...xc5? 9.h5++- ) 9.a3 xc5 10.c3 e5 11.xc5 xc5 12.xe4 e5 13.d3 with a large advantage for White; B) 7...c6?! 8.xc6 bxc6 9.c4 h6 10.0-0 with a close to winning positional advantage for W hite, Benjamin, JBrookshear, T/USA 1990 ] 7.b5+ [ A perfectly good alternative is 7.d4 e4 ( 7...a5 8.b5 ) 8.fd2 f5 9.c4 Neckar, L-Gorla, L/Bern 1990 ] 7...c6 8.a4 h6 [ 8...a5 9.b3 ( 9.d4!? axb4 10.0-0 ) 9...xb3 10.axb3 d7 11.0-0 axb4 12.xa8 xa8 13.d4 Pastushkov, MPechenov, V/Tula 2001 ] 9.0-0 [ 9.d4 suggests itself, e.g. e4 10.fd2 f5 11.b3 with a complicated and fascinating 279
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 struggle ahead ] 9...e7 [ I'm sure some players will be attracted to t h e o b v i o u s 9...c4 10.e1 d3 , trying to restrain White centre ambitions, but I nonetheless still like White's chances after 11.c3 e7 12.a3 ] 10.b3 d7 11.c3 a6 12.a3 [ 12.d4!? xb4 13.xe6 xe6 14.b1 a5 15.a3 a6 16.xb7 is also quite pleasant for White ] 12...c7 13.d4 0-0-0 14.dxe5 xd1?! [ 14...g4 15.xe6 xe6 16.e2 xe5 17.xe5 fxe5 18.d1 c7 19.b2 ] 15.xe6+ xe6 16.xd1 fxe5 17.c3 [ 17.xe5 hf8 ( 17...f6 amounts to nothing 18.b2 d2 19.c4 , and White is much better) 18.xf8 xf8 19.b2 f5 20.c4 ] 17...d3 [ Black tries activity, hoping it will create sufficient counterplay to balance out the weak e5-pawn. Another continuation is 17...hf8 , though White looks comfortably be t t e r a f t e r 18.a2 f7 19.af2 d3 20.e4 ] 18.e4 g4 19.e1 hd8 20.h3 f6 21.f2 b3 22.xe5 d5 23.c4 c3? [ 23...f6!? is better for the reason pointed out in the note to White's next move 24.a2 b8 25.e4 c3 26.xc3 xc3 27.d6 , and White has an extra pawn and a nice k n i gh t o n d 6 , t h o u gh t h e la t t e r c a n b e dislodged at no great effort and expense and Black's pieces are rather active and will be able to generate some amount of counterplay. ] 24.a5? [ Trapping the rook with 24.d2 looks better, e.g. xd2 25.xd2 b5 26.a4 a3 27.ac1 , and I don't see any reason why White wouldn't win. ] 24...b1 25.xb1 xb1 26.c4 c3 27.b2 b5 28.d1 xd1+ 29.xd1 g6 30.f2 d7 31.e2 d8 32.f2 b6 33.cxb6 axb6 34.d3 d6 35.de5+ c7 36.xd6 xd6 37.f7+ d5 38.d3 c5 39.e4+ c6 and a draw was agreed upon, but of course W hite still had some winning chances, but was probably deterred due to a
lack of time left on the clock. ½-½
296 Kosten,Anthony C Brochet,Philippe Le Mans [John Watson]
A09 2519 2388 2004
1.f3 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 [ Tony gives a game Krasenkov-Volzhin, Koszalin POL 1998 beginning with 3.e4!? c5 4.xc4 c6 5.0-0 . Then a straightforward approach is f6 6.c3 e6 7.e5 ( 7.d3 e7 ) 7...d5 when both sides have play but I don't think that Black is in any trouble. ] 3...e6!? An unusual defence that Tony treats very rudely. But it's definitely worth looking into. 4.g5!? Going for it. The assessment depends in part upon Black's 5th-move option. [ 4.a3 with the idea of Nxc4 is more common, but Black usually comes close to or achieves full equality. ] 4...d5 5.e4 Here we've arrived at a position that strong players have entered into a few times but has no serious theory. 3. ..Be6 is probably playable but Tony shows that Black has to be careful. c6 [ A strange-looking but crucial and promising alternative is 5...e6 Panchenko-Rozentalis, Lvov 1987 continued A) Perhaps White should try 6.d4 c6 7.c3 ( 7.xc4!? e7 8.h4 h6 9.xf7!? xf7 10.h5+ f8 11.xe6 e8! ) 7...e7 ( 7...b4 8.xc4 h6 9.f3 xe4 10.0-0 xc3 11.bxc3 with full compensation) 8.h4 h6 9.f3 b5 10.d5 exd5 11.exd5; B) 6.exd5 xg5 7.dxe6 e5+ 8.e2 ( 8.e2 fxe6 9.0-0 d6 10.g3 c6 11.xc4 d4! ) 8...c6 9.exf7+ ( 9.f4 xe2+ 10.xe2 fxe6 11.xc4 d4 ) 9...xf7 10.d1!? xe2+ 11.xe2 e5 12.a3 xa3 ( or 12...d3 13.xd3 cxd3 14.c4 d8 ) 13.bxa3 f6 14.b2 d3 15.xf6 and while 15...gxf6 was good, xf6! would have left Black a clear advantage ] 6.xc4 e6 7.d3 280
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Too speculative is 7.d4 h6 8.xe6? b4+ 9.c3 fxe6 10.h5+ f8 11.xe6 f6 and White's initiative is dying. ] 7...e7 This position has arisen a few times and White's piece setup has proven hard to handle: [ (a) 7...f6 8.0-0 h6 9.f3 e7 10.c3 0-0 11.e2 a6 12.a4 a5 13.d4 a6 14.d3 b4 15.b1 b6 16.d1 b7 17.e5 h8 18.a3!? Van der SterrenFlear, W ijk aan Zee 1987, with attacking chances ] [ (b) 7...h6 8.f3 f6 9.c3 a6 10.a4 b4 11.0-0 0-0 12.f4 e7 Szekely-Khenkin, Kecskemet 1990, and White has a small edge, e.g., 13.e5 d8 14.f3 ] 8.h5! This direct attack appears to be new. Two mini-games by Szekely had gone [ 8.f3 f6 9.0-0 ( 9.c3 a6 10.a4 bd7 11.0-0 0-0 12.e1 1/2-1/2 Szekely,PKishnev, Netherlands 1993) 9...0-0 10.c3 a6 11.e3 bd7 12.d4 1/2-1/2 Szekely, P-Lputian, Lvov 1986 ] 8...g6 What else? White was threatening Nxe6 and Bxe6, whereas [ 8...xg5 9.xg5!? ( or 9.xg5 ) 9...xg5 10.xg5 gives White a favourable twobishops position for free. ] 9.g4 b5?? This ends up being a blunder. Perhaps Black had foreseen White's next and underestimated it. [ 9...f6 10.h3! keeps the pressure on e6 and makes Black's development somewhat awkward. It's fair to say that W hite has a practical and perhaps theoretical advantage. ] 10.xf7! d4 [ 10...xf7 11.xe6+ e8 12.f7+ d7 13.e6+ d6 14.d4 or 4.Nc3, and Black's king will only escape at great cost. ] 11.xe6 f6 12.e2 f8 13.g5 b4+ 14.d2 e5 15.e3! c5 16.df3! xe3 17.xe5 xf2+ 18.xf2 g4+ 19.e2 xe5 20.d4 The rest is straightforward: h6 21.dxe5 hxg5 22.xg5 xe4 23.ad1 c6 24.d7+ f7 25.hf1+ g8 26.e6+ h8 27.xf8+ xf8 28.f6+ 1-0
297 Kramnik,Vladimir Topalov,Veselin 20th Amber Blindfold (3) [Nigel Davies]
A09 2785 2775 14.03.2011
1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.g3 c6 4.g2 e5 5.0-0 f6 6.d3 e7 Allowing White to play a known blow on the flank. [ I don't think there's much wrong with 6...a5 , though some Black players might be wary about giving away the b5 square. ] 7.b4!? xb4 [ Another possibility is 7...xb4 8.xe5 xe5 9.a4+ fd7 10.xb4 c5 , though White's bishops seem to give him an edge there, for example 11.a3 0-0 12.d2 a6 13.b1 a7 14.e3 dxe3 15.fxe3 c7 was Rajlich, I-Stefanova, A/ Bled 2002 and now 16.b2 looks better for White. ] 8.xe5 0-0 9.d2 [ White has also tried 9.b2 , for example c5 10.a3 a6 11.e3 dxe3 12.fxe3 c7 13.d2 d7 14.ef3 b8 15.c2 was slightly better for White at this stage in Gelfand, B-Ponomariov, R/Moscow 2010. ] 9...d6 10.a3 a6 11.f4!? Holding the knight in the centre like this appears to be new, and also quite good. [ In an earlier game W hite played 11.ef3 but after c5 12.b1 e8 13.g5 h6 14.ge4 xe4 15.xe4 f8 Black was solidly placed in Danielsen, H-Fries Nielsen, N/Espergarde 1992. ] 11...c6 12.b1 e7 13.df3 g4 Fishing in troubled waters. [ 13...c5 was probably better, simply protecting the d4 pawn. ] 14.xd4 xe5 15.fxe5 xe5 16.e3 g6 17.b3 g7 18.d4 b8?! Mistakenly allowing White to build a broad pawn centre. [ 18...f5 was better, though White can then s p e c u l a t e w i t h 19.xf5 gxf5 20.h5 and have good compensation for the exchange. ] 19.e4 b6 20.f4 b7 21.e5 e8 22.d2 f5 23.a4 b8 24.be1 White already has a dominating position and it's about to get a lot worse for Black. d7 25.d5 cxd5 26.xd7 xd7 27.xd5 bb8 28.e6 fxe6 281
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 29.xe6+ xe6 30.xb8 Winning the exchange for nothing. f5 31.d6 c8 32.f3 d3 33.f2 xc4 34.c2 b5 35.e7 c5 36.xa7 e4 37.e5 f8 38.d4 d8 39.c7 g5 40.g4 1-0
Preparing a 'luft' for the c4-bishop. b5 12.a2 b7 13.e4 White begins to mass his pieces on the kingside, ready for an eventual attack. d4!? If one of the first rules to engage a successful attack on the king, is to exchange the king's defenders, then a good rule for defending is to exchange the attacking forces. Black sets about this in consistent fashion cxd4 15.g4 xe4! 298 A09 14.xd4 Black eliminates the second white knight as Krasenkow,Michal 2660 Volzhin,Alexander 2510 well, otherwise, if [ 15...h8 16.d6 xd6 17.exd6 e5 MK Cafe Cup Koszalin (5) 1998 18.xe5 xe5 19.xe5 xd6 20.ae1 [Tony Kosten] and White 's control of the e-file gives him the advantage. ] 1.f3 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4!? An aggressive move that I hadn't known, before seeing this 16.xe4 h8! Both countering the threat of Bh6, and introducing a more disguised threat game, [ 3.e3 is likely to transpose to a Queen's of his own: 17...f5 18 exf6 Nxf6 winning the exchange. 17.e2 Gambit Accepted, but both ] [ 17.xd4? wou ld b e silly, c5 18.e4 [ 3.a3 and ] a n d B l a c k c a n p l a y t h e s a m e t r i c k : f5 [ 3.a4+ are more common methods of 19.exf6 xf6 with material advantage. ] recapturing the c4-pawn. ] 3...c5 Black immediately takes control of the 17...c8 18.g3 c5 19.d1 Neither of d4 square, weakened by White's third move. White's bishops have much perspective at the moment. d7 4.xc4 c6 [ 19...xd3? seems strong, as the knight is [ 4...f6 5.c3 e6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 untouchable, but 20.ed2 c5 21.xd4 leads to a line of the QGA, with a slight plus turns the tables. ] to W hite, Sebenik,M-Lekic,D/ Bled SLO 20.f4 c7 21.f3 g6 Black is on his toes, 1999. ] 5.0-0 The most logical move, although in the White was planning to open the position for earliest game I could find in this line, White his bishops by f5. 22.f2 a5! Black looks for his counterplay on the queenside, where he played And White [ 5.b4!? e6?! 6.b5 ce7 7.c3 f6 8.0-0 h a s t h e a d v a n t a g e . 23.g4 and had gained the advantage, Kramer-Fine, advances where he is strongest. a4 24.h4!? Planning to go all the way to h6 with this New York 1948/9. ] 5...e6 6.c3 a6 7.d3 Naturally, White has to pawn. b3 25.xb3 axb3 26.h5 c2 Not a tactical move, a positional move, be content with a slightly more restrained 27.h6 c e n t r e t h a n i n t h e Q G A , b u t t h e c l o s e d as trapping the black king on the back rank position will make it more difficult for Black to allows W hite to consider various endgame find counterplay. f6!? In the game Neverov, possibilities. fc8 28.de1 b4 Short of time, V - I b r a g i m o v , I / M o s c o w 1 9 9 1 , B l a c k h a d Black overlooks White's next. 29.a4! xa4 30.xd4 c6 31.xc6 8xc6 32.g5 preferred [ 7...ge7 and after 8.e3 d4 9.xd4 What's this, another pawn on a dark square? cxd4 10.e2 c6 had a good position, but It might seem odd, but it is all part of White's there are no doubt many improvements on p l a n t o e m b a r r a s s t h e b l a c k k i n g . g8 33.f2 f8 Black hastens his king out of the White's eighth move. ] 8.e5 White does not need to be asked twice, trap. 34.a1 c5 35.a8+ e7 36.xc5+ 37.b8 It seems that White has but immediately grabs more space in the 6xc5 centre. The e5-pawn will be used to attack gained a clear ascendance, but Black still has Flash, but it the black kingside. d7 9.e1 e7 10.f4 su f f ic ie n t re so u r ce s . xb2 Nimzovich would like this move. 0-0 11.a3! amounts to the same as 282
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 37...xe2+ 38.xe2 c2+ 39.e3 xb2 ] 38.xb2 c2+ 39.e3 [ 39.xc2!? bxc2 is also drawn, as 40.b7+ d8 41.b8+ forces a perpetual, as c7 loses to 42.xb4 c1 43.c4+ ] 39...xb2 40.xb4 White is slightly better, because of his extra space, but the nature of this position means that a draw is certain. d7 41.d4 f2 42.xb3 xf4+ 43.c5 a4! Greed could still cost Black his half-point, [ 43...g4?! 44.b7+ e8 45.d4 xg5? 46.d6 and wins ] 44.b7+ e8 45.b8+ e7 46.h8 A little trick, a5+ [ 46...g4 would be answered by 47.a8! and Black cannot get back to check from the side. ] 47.d4 a4+ ½-½
299 Labollita,Martin Leitao,Rafael American Continental (7) [John Watson]
A09 2383 2598 12.08.2005
Here's a whacky opening that just won't go a wa y. I n t h i s g a m e it s u f f i c e s t o b e a t a 2600-level player! Perhaps the whole idea of this line was inspired by Stephan Buecker's advocacy of a similar line by Black. 1.f3 [ 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 c4!? is Buecker's order, a system he calls HABICHD ("Gotcha!"), also known as the Hawk. In that case 4.c3 a5 follows our f e a t u re d ga m e b u t W h i t e h a s a n e xt r a tempo. ( incidentally, 4...b5 5.xb5 a5+ 6.c3 b7 is another Buecker idea, but it falls badly short after 7.d2 xd5 8.e4 )] 1...d5 2.c4 d4 3.c5 This is the point! White prevents ...c5 and would like to play 4.Qa4+ Nc6 5.b4!, when Black's d-pawn is in trouble. Of course Black gets a move first. [ 3.e3 c6 4.c5?! is another variant on the theme, but this time dxe3 5.fxe3 e5 is fairly simple. White can try 6.b5 xc5 7.xc6+ bxc6 8.xe5 h4+ 9.g3 e4 10.0-0 xe5 11.d4 d6 12.dxc5 xc5 but Black must be better ] 3...c6
[ 3...e5!? 4.xe5 xc5 hasn't been played, to my knowledge , pre sumab ly be caus e White gets two center pawns. On the other hand, Black has space and open lines . There are so many different move orders and ideas in that position that I'd hate to even guess what's going on. ] 4.a4 [ 4.b4 xb4 5.a4+ c6 6.b2 d7 7.xd4 e5! is insufficient, even a tempo ahead of Buecker's line above. ] 4...d5 5.b4 e5 6.e3 d7 These are all mo re o r less n a t u ral m o ve s an d in d e e d , they've occurred before in Gruenberg-Rahman, C a i r o 2 0 0 0 . 7.a3 TN! Probably not objectively a good one. Gruenberg played the natural [ 7.b5 d8? ( 7...xc5 8.a3! b4 9.b2 was another Gruenberg game) 8.c4 e4 9.c3! f5 ( 9...dxc3?? 10.xf7+ ) 10.d5 e6 11.c6 bxc6 12.bxc6 c8 13.0-0 with a huge advantage. ] 7...e4 The obvious refutation. [ White has the better practical chances although objectively it's nothing impressive after 7...d3 8.b5 ( 8.b5 c8 9.c3 c4! ) 8...d8 9.e4! xc5 10.b2 f6 11.xd3 ] 8.b5 c8! [ Tempting but inferior is 8...0-0-0? A) or even 9.fxd4 xd4 10.exd4 xb5 11.xb5! c6 ( 11...xd4 12.c6! ) 12.c4 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.a3 with two strong bishops.; B) 9.xa7+! b8 10.xc6+ xc6 11.b5 exf3 ( 11...dxe3 12.bxc6 ) 12.bxc6 fxg2?? ( 12...xc6 13.xc6 bxc6 14.a3 l e a v e s B l a c k a t a l o s s) 13.b1 and White's attack is decisive. ] 9.fxd4 xd4 10.exd4 a6 11.c3 xd4 Uh-oh. Although Black had to make some accurate moves it appears that 7. b5 was better than 7.Na3. Now Black stands somewhat better, although not disastrously so. 12.b3?! A waste of time. [ 12.c2! was more accurate and rather unclear: f6 13.a3! c6 ( 13...e7 14.b2 0-0 15.e2; The softening move 13...a5! may be best 14.b1 axb4 15.axb4 e7 and now 16.b2 0-0 17.e2? runs into xb4 ) 14.b2 d8 15.d1! 283
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Hoping for d3 at some point. e7 16.e2 0-0 17.0-0 with d3 or Nb5-d4 to follow. ] 12...e6 13.c2?! [ 13.a4+ c6 14.b2 may be better, planning 0-0-0 in some lines: d8 15.c2! f5 16.a3 f6 17.b5 d7 18.d4 e7 19.xf5 xf5 20.c4 ] 13...f6 14.b1 e7 15.d1 0-0 16.e3 W hite's blockade can hardly make up for Black's bind. cd8 17.b2 d7 18.d1 d5!? [ 18...g4 is a good option. ] 19.a3 f5 20.c6!? Not a great idea but it shakes things up. Otherwise there may occur something like [ 20.c4 c6 21.0-0 f4! etc. ] 20...bxc6 [ Or 20...xe3!? 21.dxe3 ( 21.fxe3 d6 threatens ...Bh4+) 21...xd1+ 22.xd1 xd1+ 23.xd1 d8+ 24.c2 b5 25.e2 ( 25.e5 d6 26.b2 d5 ) 25...d6 wins the c-pawn. ] 21.xa6 f4 22.c4! c5! 23.e5 [ 23.xe4 f5 ] 23...d6 24.c4 White is putting up maximum resistance. cxb4 25.axb4 f5?! Too fancy. Better was [ 25...f5 26.0-0 f3! is strong. ] 26.xe4 f6 27.d4 xb4+ 28.d2 Amazingly, everything has held and W hite has turned the corner. d6 You'd think that some capture on e5 would expose d2 but the pin along the a2-g8 diagonal prevents this. [ 28...xe5 29.dxe5 a5 30.d3! and 0-0. ] 29.h4?! [ 29.d3! ] 29...f3!? [ 29...xe5 30.dxe5 xd2+! 31.xd2 f6+ 32.d4 ( 32.exd6?? xe4+ 33.d3 xf2+ ) 32...xd4+ 33.xd4 xc4 34.exf6 c5 leaves some advantage but not enough to win. ] 30.g3 h5 31.d3 f8?? [ 31...b6 32.c6 b3 33.e5 b4 is a draw. ] 32.c4! e7?? A blunder, although Black is in trouble: [ 32...a6 33.0-0 threatens Ba3, but Black cannot defend adequately: d7 ( 33...f7 34.c2! and Ne5+ ) 34.b1! ]
33.a3 c3 34.xd6 c1+ 35.d1 c3+ 36.f1 cxd6 37.xe6 b5 38.xd6 1-0
300 Laznicka,Viktor Rombaldoni,Denis Czech Open A (6) [Jonathan Rowson]
A09 2617 2465 29.07.2009
1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 g4!? Favoured by Nigel Short. [ 3...g6 ] [ 3...c5 ] [ 3...f6 ] 4.b2 [ 4.e5 f5 doesn't seem to lead anywhere special for White. ] [ 4.b3 xf3 5.xf3 c6 6.e3 e5 7.g3 d7 8.b2 h6 9.d3 f6 10.c5 a5 11.a3 e7 12.0-0 0-0 13.f4 fd8 14.exd4 exd4 15.c3 xc5 16.bxc5 dxc3 17.xc3 xc5+ 18.h1 d4 19.ab1 b5 winning for Black in Ghaem Maghami, E Short, N Teheran 2003 ] 4...xf3 5.exf3 [ 5.gxf3?! looks a bit suspect to me. e5 6.g2 c6 with Ne7-g6 or f5 to follow. ] 5...c5 6.bxc5 c6 7.b3 b8 8.d3 e6 9.0-0 f6 Playable, but if I were Black here, my inclination would be to play [ 9...xc5 10.e4 ge7 followed by castling and f5 if possible, and meeting Ba3 with ...b6 to keep the knight on b1 inactive for as long as possible. ] 10.e4 d7 11.d3 xc5 [ 11...xc5 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.xd4 d3 ( 13...b4!? ) 14.c3 d7! gives Black excellent compensation. ] 12.f4 f6 [ 12...b6 13.a3 f5 14.xc6 bxc6 15.e1 f7 16.xc5 xc5 17.a3 d6 18.c2 c5 also looks better for Black. ] 13.f3 0-0 14.a3 b4?! off target. [ 14...e8 intending e5 was still comfortable for Black. ] 15.b3 a6 16.ab1 d6 17.g3 d7 18.d3 h6 [ 18...e5 19.c1! ] 19.c1 fc8 20.e1 c6 21.e2 284
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 21.c2? b5! 22.d2 looks ok until you spot bxc4 23.xc4 xb1 24.xb1 ce5! winning for Black. ] 21...b4! 22.g2 c5 23.d1 c3 24.c2 b5 25.cxb5 axb5 26.h4 b4 27.h2 b6 [ 27...e7!? With the idea of Qa6 hitting d3 looks very strong. 28.f5 e5 29.g4 f6 30.f4 e4! doesn't help. ] 28.a1 a5 29.e5 c6 30.e2 a6 31.b3 ca8 32.xc5 xc5 33.b3 8a7 34.g4!? A good practical try to change the nature of the position, but Black should still be a bit better. b5 35.e4 e7 36.a3 h8 [ 36...h5! seems to oblige White to play g5 sooner or later, and therefore takes away any fear on the kingside. ] 37.d1 b8 38.h3 b6 39.axb4 xb4 40.xb4 xb4 41.f5 exf5 42.gxf5 b5 [ 42...b6 ] 43.f6 g6? Black's first major error, but now White has a slight initiative. [ 43...d7+ 44.g3 d6+ 45.g2 xf6 46.b3 g8 47.a2 xa2 48.xa2 g6 ] 44.g1 h7 45.g4 h5 46.f3 gxf6 47.xf6 d7+ 48.h2 b4 49.f4 a5 50.b2 e7 51.xg6+ fxg6 52.xe7+ xe7 53.b7 1-0
W hite, but it does little to change the asse ssm e nt of t h e p osition , S a ba o , RSzmetan,J/Caseros 1974, 1/2-1/2 (21). ] 9...xb4 [ This is certainly the acid test of White's play, but 9...xb4 is perfectly playable, too: 10.xe5 0-0 11.e1 d6 12.a3 a6 13.d2 e8 14.ef3 c5 with equality, Vujadinovic,G-Ivanovic,B/Kladovo 1992, 0-1 (53). ] [ 9...d7?! is worse, 10.b5 cb8 11.e1 c7? ( 11...f6 ) 12.e2 and White wins an important central pawn, Freisler,P-Kiselev, S/Marianske Lazne 1989, 1-0 (40). ] 10.xe5 xe5 11.a4+ The point of White's combination, recovering material. fd7! [ 11...c6?! is a positional mistake, 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.xb4 stopping Black from castling kingside, b6 14.a3 xb4 15.xb4 e6 16.d2 0-0-0 17.b3 f5 18.ad1 d7 19.c5 and the d4-pawn is weak, Norwood,D-Ivanchuk,V/Baguio 1987, 1-0 (48). ] 12.xb4 xd3 13.b5 a6 14.h5 0-0 15.a3 In this open position, White's two bishops provide compensation for the pawn. e8 16.d2 7e5 Black tries to show that h is kn i gh t s ca n b e s t ro n g, t o o , b u t t h e i r central posts are far from stable. 17.e4 g6 18.e2 a5 19.d6 This cluster of knights 301 A09 and bishops in the central files is certainly an Lima,Darcy 2514 unusual sight! h3 [ Black decides to force a draw, he could try Vescovi,Giovanni P 2511 for more with 19...c5!? although 20.b3 BCX Open Brasilia BRA (6) 30.01.2000 xb3 21.axb3 c3 is unclear. ] [Tony Kosten] 20.f4! [ 20.xd3? xd2! 21.xd2 f3+ 1.g3 e5 2.g2 d5 3.c4 d4 is good for Black. ] [ The most ambitious reply, forming a pawn w e d g e i n t h e c e n t r e , a l t h o u g h 3...f6 20...g4 [ If 20...xf1?! 21.xf1 and one of the 4.cxd5 xd5 is more common, with a knights is lost. ] Reversed Dragon. ] 4.d3 c5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 f6 7.e3 e7 21.g2 Forced. h3! 22.e2 [ White cannot afford to avoid the perpetual 8.exd4 cxd4 attack, f or if 22.xh3?! xd2 23.fxe5? [ As I mentioned in the archives (in a slightly Black wins by e3+ 24.h1 xe4+ ] different position), there is nothing obviously wrong with this optimistic recapture. 8...exd4 22...g4 23.g2 h3 24.e2 ½-½ 9.f4 would transpose to this game. ] 9.b4!? [ Clearly critical. 9.e1 d7 10.a3 a5 11.bd2 0-0 12.e4 c7 13.g4 is a Benoni position with a tempo more for 285
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.a7 b3 21.b1 e7 22.xc8 xc8 23.b7 a4 24.b4 b6 25.d2 xd2 Mac 26.xd2 c8 27.e2 f7 28.hc1 f5 Dergatschova Daus,Anna 29.exf5 h6+ 30.d1 xh2 31.g4 h1+ MM SVR RL Ruhrgebiet (8) 32.c2 h6 33.h5+ xh5 34.xh5+ g6 [John Watson] 35.fxg6+ hxg6 36.f3 e7 37.d2 d6 Another question from Mr. Naundorf: 1.f3 38.b8 c8 39.c5 d7 40.b6 h4 d5 2.c4 d4 3.c5!? "What do you think of this 41.d5 xc7 42.dxd6 move? I think it was a recommendation of BÃ1/ 1-0 4cker a long time ago. GM Grunberg used to play it too as you pointed out in one of your A09 great books on the middlegame." c6 4.a4 303 d5 5.b4 e5 6.a3 This would be my first Matamoros Franco,Carlos S 2472 instinct since it covers c1 and thus eliminates Vallejo Pons,Francisco 2645 ...Qxc5 after b5. TCh Lanzarote ESP (2) 07.05.2003 [ N a u n d o r f g i v e s 6.e3 , which is quite [Tony Kosten] reasonable and may well be best. I'm not sure what comes next. Natural is d7 ( or 1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.g3 c6 A perfectly 6...g4!? 7.e2 xf3 8.xf3 e4 9.e2 d3 re s p e c t a b l e m o ve , a i m i n g f o r a S c h m i d 10.c3 e5 11.d1 unclear ) 7.b5 ( 7.b5 Benoni reversed, although xc5; 7.e2 e4! ) 7...f6 8.0-0 e4 9.xd4 [ 3...c5 is more ambitious. ] xd4 10.xd7+ xd7 11.xd7+ xd7 4.g2 e5 5.0-0 White aims to defer playing 12.exd4 This looks awful at first sight, but d3, which offers some extra possibilities, after Nc3 and Re1 W hite seems to stand [ 5.d3 f6 6.0-0 was seen in Speelman,Jwell. ] Koneru,H/Torquay ENG 2002. ] [ After 6.b5 , my computer engine finds 5...f6 6.b4!? This sharp flank blow is the xc5 7.a3 b4! Ouch! ] possibility alluded to earlier, White still had 6...e7 time for [ 6...d7! is the move I'd worry about. Then [ 6.d3 transposing to the previous note. ] 7.e3 ( 7.b5 d8; 7.b5!? d8 8.e3 a6 ) 6...e4 The strongest move, 7...d3 8.b5 c8! 9.c3 c4! 10.a3!? [ 6...xb4 is met by the standard 7.xe5 e4 11.g5 a5 12.b5 xa4 13.xa4 b4 xe5 8.a4+ c6 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.xb4 14.xb4 axb4 15.xe4 xb5 16.b2 d8 with advantage. ] 17.f3 is messy but hard to trust. So maybe 6. 7.g5 xb4 8.xe4 xe4 9.xe4 h3 e3 was best. ] [ 9...0-0 is an alternative, 10.a3 e7 11.d3 7.e3 e5 12.d2 c6 13.b1 with chances to [ 7.b5 is supposed to be the point of this both sides, Plaskett,J-Balashov,Y/Hastings line: d8 8.b6+ f8 ( 8...d7 9.c4 1985. ] xc4 10.xc4 ) 9.c4 e6 10.c6!? 10.a4?! An amazing novelty, White avoids (Fritz of course) bxc6 ( 10...xc6 11.xc6 the obvious bxc6 12.bxa7 e4 13.b1! ) 11.cxe5 cxb6 [ 10.e1 f6 11.a4 0-0-0 12.xc6 12.xc6 unclear. ] when Black played the surprising piece sac 7...dxe3 8.fxe3 bxc6 ( 12...xc6 is fine, though, menacing [ 8.dxe3!? ] mate on g2, 13.xc6 bxc6 with the bishop 8...e4 9.c4 b5 10.cxb6 d7 11.d3 d5 pair ) 13.xb4 he8 (menace ...Rxe2! and 12.e4 xb4 ...Qf3) 14.f4 d3 with sharp play ending in a [ 12...e6? 13.b5 ] draw by perpetual, Psakhis,L-Zhuravliov,V/ 13.b3 e6 14.bxc7 f6 15.e3 USSR 1979. ] [ 15.a3 c6 16.b7 c8 17.e3 ] 10...xf1 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.xc6+ f8 15...a5? 16.a3 a6 17.b7 The game is 13.xf1 After the excitement White has taken over. c8 18.b6 c5 19.xc5 xc5 a pawn and displaced the black king in return 302
A09 2075 2237 06.03.2005
286
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.0-0 g7 9.a3 0-0 10.f4 . White doesn't get this chance again. ] 5...g7 6.0-0 [ Now 6.e3 is at best ill-timed after dxe3 7.fxe3 ( 7.xe3? e4 ) 7...e4! ( 7...c6= ) 8.dxe4 xd1+ 9.xd1 e6 with pressure. ] 6...c6 7.a3 [ The plan to enforce b4 might also have b e e n st a rt e d b y 7.a3 , and by analogy with the game h6 ( 7...ge7 8.c2 a5 9.b3 0-0 ) 8.c2 a5 9.b1 0-0 10.b3 e8 11.a3 ] [ This time 7.e3 dxe3 8.fxe3 ( 8.xe3 e4 ) 8...ge7 ( 8...e4!? 9.dxe4 xd1 10.xd1 e6 11.a3 a6 ) 9.c3 0-0 looks equal. ] 7...a5 8.b3 h6!? The knight isn't particularly useful here. [ 8...f5 looks a bit loosening but may in fact be effective, having in mind the simple . .. Nf6, ...0-0, ...Qe7 and ...e4. ] 9.bd2 f5 10.b1 e7 11.e1 This stops . ..e4. White hopes to play Nc2 and b4, which is a good enough idea but slow. f7 [ 11...0-0 12.c2 e6 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 g4!? 15.a3 d8 16.a1 e8 17.b3 has the idea of Nc5. Then something along the lines of c6 18.h3 f6 19.b5 c7 20.bxc6 xc6 retains the balance. ] 304 A09 12.c2 0-0 13.b4 cd8 [ 13...axb4 14.axb4 cd8 15.a3 d7 Minasian,Artashes 2584 has the idea of Ra1 and b5, although that Zvjaginsev,Vadim 2650 isn't much to fear. ] Petrosian Mem Internet (4) 21.12.2004 14.b5 a4 Played versus a4 and Ba3. 15.e3 [John Watson] [ 15.b4 e6 ] This game between two high-powered players 15...dxe3 16.xe3 [ More interesting is 16.fxe3 e6 17.b2 shows just h ow dif f icult it is f or W hite t o d8 18.b4 ] progress in a Reti/Benoni Reversed situation when Black has played ... e5 and ...d5-d4, 16...c6 [ Or 16...e6 17.b2 d6 ] and then played ...Nc6 without ...c5. Versus the apparently tepid setup involving ...g6, 17.bxc6 bxc6 18.e1 d6 19.b4 xd3 White has two possible ideas: e3, to break up 20.xa4 xa4 21.xa4 e4! 22.d1 c3?! [ 22...e2! leaves Black with the more active the centre, and/or trying to enforce b4. With position, intending ...Ne5. ] t h e f i rs t p l a n p r o m is in g a lm o s t n o t h in g , Z v j a g i n s e v s t r u g g l e s t o e x p a n d o n t h e 23.b3 e5 [ In view of 23...e5 24.d2 b2 25.b4 queenside and accomplishes little there. 1.g3 e8 26.d2 b1+ 27.d1 b2 28.d2 e5 2.g2 d5 3.d3 A Modern Defence etc. A well-played snippet it looks as Reversed, this soon turns into an obscure though W hite has to play an early e3 in form of the Reti. g6 4.c4 d4 5.f3 these lines in order to try for the [ 5.e3!? may be the best way to mix things up, e.g., c6 6.e2 ge7 7.exd4 exd4
f o r t h e e x c h a n g e . d3! Black cuts across White's natural development, and weakens the light squares. 14.e3?! I don't know if this is a good idea, leaving the advanced d-pawn which cuts across the white position. b8 15.a3 f6!? Black fancies his chances in the endgame, but [ 15...h5! is stronger, threatening both ...h4 and ...Rh6, when Black is just winning. ] 16.xc7? This move leads to a quick disaster, [ 16.xf6 was far better, ruining the black s t r u c t u r e , gxf6 17.b5 a6 18.d4 with fair chances, although Black is favourite. ] 16...d6 17.c6 e5 This is the problem, White is forced to exchange into a hopeless endgame. 18.xf6 xf6 19.b1 xb1 20.xb1 e7 The black rook enters the g a m e w i t h g r e a t e f f e c t . 21.e1 b8 The resignation might seem premature, but after [ 21...b8 22.c3 xc3 23.dxc3 b1 24.d2 a1 25.a3+ e6 26.xd3 xa2 27.c5 a5 White has to give his bishop to stop the a-pawn. ] 0-1
287
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 13...g4!? 14.d5! xe3 15.xe3 e4 16.xe4 f5 17.e1 xa1 18.dxc6 bxc6 19.xa1 cxb5 20.d4 with more than enough for the exchange. ] 305 A09 14.f4!? [ 14.fxd4 d8 15.f3 is also possible with Morozevich,Alexander 2758 some advantage ] Svidler,Peter 2735 57th ch Moscow RUS (4) 18.11.2004 14...e8 15.d2?! [ A little fancy. It was probably time for [John Watson] 15.fxd4! xd4 16.xd4 with the more active pieces. ] The Reti is made for original positions. Here 16.ad1 g4 White's having W h ite p ut s re a l p re ssure o n Bla ck b ut it 15...d7 dissipates after inaccurate play. 1.g3 d5 trouble regaining his pawn, so he rids the d8 2.g2 f6 3.f3 g6 4.c4 d4 A somewhat board of its defender on g7: 17.h6 unusual formation. Usually Black plays ...d4/... 18.f4 [ 18.xg7 xg7 19.bxd4! xd4 20.xd4 g6/...Bg7 in conjunction with ...e5 and ...Ne7. xd4 21.xd4 xd4 22.xd4 d8 5.d3 is roughly equal. ] [ 5.b4 is one drawback to Black's move order, putting pressure on the center by 18...a4 19.h3 xf3 20.xf3 axb3 21.axb3 xh6 22.xh6 g7 23.e4!? discouraging ...c5. ] [ 23.xc6 xc6 24.xd4 f6 favors Black 5...a5!? slightly. ] [ This prevents White's space grab after, e.g. , 5...g7 6.b4 ( or 6.0-0 0-0 7.b4! ) 6...0-0 23...f5 The natural [ 23...e6? runs into 24.h4 f6 25.d5 f7 7.bd2 of Reti-Rubinstein, Karlsbad 1923, 26.xc7! ] where White stood better. But 5...a5 also 24.f4 d6 to protect c7 and simplify. wastes time. ] The game was drawn here. There 6.a3 White's usual idea here is Na3-c2 25.xd6 followed by aiming for b4 and or e3. As we could f ollo w xd6 26.h6 f6 27.h4 h8! and Black's pawn makes up for White's will see, Black faces an additional problem. [ 6.f4 does little and may make White's activity. The moves ...Ne5 and ...c5 might central break e3 more difficult: g7 7.bd2 follow. 0-0 8.0-0 h5 9.e5 xe5 10.xe5 f6 ½-½ 11.ef3 c6= ] [ The natural 6.0-0 g7 7.e3 is worth A09 considering, for example, c6 8.exd4 306 xd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.c3 and White Neverov,Valeriy 2508 has a potentially powerful center, e.g., 0-0 Balogh,Csaba 2651 ( 10...g4 11.d5! ) 11.e3 d6 12.h3 15th ch-EUR Indiv 2014 (5.39) 07.03.2014 f5 13.d4 with freer play ] [Fier, Alexandr] 6...c6 To enforce ...e5. The natural [ 6...g7 runs into 7.b5! with the ideas A g a m e wi t h p le n t y o f c h a n c e s f o r b o t h Nbxd4 and Bf4. ] players, and probably decided in time trouble. 7.b5! An interesting move in place of the White's way to play is logical and the position usual Nc2. White threatens Bf4. e5 8.0-0 will always be full of life. Black can try to g7 9.e3 This is White's only logical idea. avoid the 10.g4 idea with 9...Qd7. 1.f3 d5 dxe3 10.xe3 0-0 Else Bc5 might be a 2.c4 d4 3.e3 c6 4.exd4 xd4 5.xd4 problem. 11.e1 xd4 6.c3 c6 This move has become the [ 11.d4 is an alternative but White may have main variation against this setup. Compared to feared g4 ] t h e s a m e p o s it io n wit h re ve rse d c o lo rs , 11...e6 12.b3 c8!? Clearing the d-file for coming from 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 ...Rd8. 13.d4 exd4 exd5 5.Nxd5 Nxd5 6.Qxd5 d6, White already advantage. ] ½-½
288
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 has the knight on f3. This is not necessarily good for White, since the knight is far from d5. In this position Black uses the tempo down to bring the knight to f5 via h6 or e7. [ 6...f6 7.d3 g4 is considered dubious and was analyzed for Chess Publishing in Tihonov, J (2503)-Smirnov, A (2249)/ Minsk Open 2005. ] [ 6...e5 is another possible way, now the knight can come to f5 from e7, 7.d3 e7 8.e3 d8 was seen in Karlsson, L (2506) Ernst, T (2456)/SWE-ch Gothenburg 2006. ] 7.d3 h6 8.e2 White does not hurry to attack the queen. Sometimes the bishop is slightly exposed on e3, so he prefers to make some useful moves first. [ 8.e3 d8 9.d4 ( 9.xh6?! doesn't make much sense, W hite's weaknesses on the d a r k s q u a re s a re m o r e im p o r t a n t t h a n Black's pawn structure) 9...f5 10.d2 g6 11.d1 g7 see M Devereaux (2415)-J Rowson (2582)/4ncl 2008. ] 8...g6 [ 8...f5 9.0-0 d8 is also possible, but in this variation its good that the bishop is still on c1 10.e1 g6 11.g5 is interesting ] 9.e3 d8 [ 9...d7 looks exotic, but avoids White's idea in the game. Later, with the knight on f5, Black can put the queen on a more reasonable square. 10.d4 f5 11.g4 g7 12.0-0 0-0 with chances for both sides 13.d2 Fridman, D (2526)-Short, N (2675)/ FIDE-Wch k.o. 1999 (2.2). ] 10.g4!? I think if Black allows this move then it should be played. Now ...f5 is forced, sooner or later, to bring the knight back into the game and the position becomes double-edged. g7 [ 10...f5 Black has to play this move at some point to bring the knight back 11.h3 e5!? looks a bit too ambitious, but I couldn't find any way to refute it. For example 12.c2!? fxg4 13.d2 now there is no 13...f4 anymore f5 14.hxg4 xe3 15.fxe3 a5 with a hard to assess position. ] 11.h3 `Threatening 12. Qd2. f5 12.d2 f7 13.0-0-0 0-0 14.d4 b5 It's quite an in t e r e s t i n g p o s i t io n . W i t h o p p o se d s i d e castling and contact points for both players it's natural that big complications soon arrive. Apparently Black is quicker to attack, since
gxf5 is not so dangerous for the moment. Still, it's not so clear how he is going to follow up to create something concrete. Resuming, the position has a dynamic balance. 15.f4 a5 16.a3 [ 16.cxb5 can be played, however it's not good for White to open the queenside cxb5 17.f3 ( 17.d5 shows the danger of the position xa2 18.xe7+ h8 19.f3 e6! and the attack is decisive 20.xa8 a1+ 21.c2 b3+! 22.xb3 a4+ 23.c3 c4# ) 17...b8 18.b1 b7 and even if W hite changes the queens, Black is ok ] 16...b8 [ 16...bxc4!? is another way to handle the position, and I prefer this compared to the game 17.xc4 h8 and Black can use the b-file in exchange for the active bishop on c4 ] [ 16...b4 17.a2 is White's point ] 17.c5 d8 18.b1 e6 19.a2 c7? With the queens on the board and a strong knight on b4, White has a big advantage. [ 19...xd2 was called for, and after 20.xd2 a5 21.f3 b4!? 22.axb4 axb4 23.xc6 fxg4 24.hxg4 xg4 will bring an endgame with chances for both players ] 20.b4 b3? Now White is winning. [ 20...bc8 is not so nice to make, but was necessary according to my computer 21.f3 d7 and clearly Black's idea went wrong, but the position is not lost, at least ] 21.a6 The position is still winning for White with this move, but W hite could play something more immediate: [ 21.gxf5! was the best, the knight on b4 is much stronger than the rook on b8 for the moment, xd1 ( 21...gxf5 22.dg1 is also sad for Black) 22.xd1 gxf5 23.d5 a n d B la ck ' s p o s it io n i s c o l la p si n g cxd5 24.xd5 xd5 ( 24...b7 25.c6! wins ) 25.xd5 d8 26.e6 with a decisive advantage ] 21...d7 22.xb8 xb8 23.f3!? [ 23.de1 was also possible, but Black can b u i l d s o m e k i n d o f f o r t r e s s w i t h d5 24.hg1 h6 and it's not so easy for White to break through ] 23...xd1 24.xd1 fxg4 25.hxg4 e6 Black has we ak pawns and badly place d 289
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pieces. White was not supposed to allow any counterplay, but probably he missed some lines in time trouble. 26.g2 d8 27.b3?! This is a mysterious move. [ 27.f5! was good, Black is too uncoordinated to defend the position exf5 ( 27...b4 28.f4 b7 29.fxe6 xe6 30.d5 also wins ) 28.d5 e8 29.f4 c8 30.dxc6 xc6 31.d5+ h8 32.h1 and White's attack is enough for the full point ] 27...b7 28.e4 e8 29.h1 e7 Now Black is at least not losing. 30.h3 f6 31.c2 a5 32.e4 d7 33.g5 h8 Black can't take on d4 because the rook is tied to h7. 34.c2? This allows Black to create some chaos and counterplay. [ 34.c2 f7 35.d1 would keep the advantage ] 34...f7! T h r e a t e n i n g d 4 . 35.d1 a4 36.bxa4 e5! Opening the position at any cost. 37.d5 [ 37.fxe5 leads to an immediate draw a2+ 38.c1 xa3+ 39.c2 ( 39.d2? xd4+ can only be good for Black) 39...a2+ with a perpetual ] 37...cxd5?! The pawns on the queenside are more dangerous than the central ones. [ 37...exf4 would be enough for Black to hold the position 38.d4 xd4 39.xd4 cxd5 40.axb5 e6 41.xd5 d4+ 42.d3 xd5 43.xd5 xd5 44.c8+ f7 45.c7+ e6 46.c8+ with a perpetual ] 38.axb5 d4 39.d3 White tries to create a shield for the king to run away, but there was no need for this. [ 39.f2! was precise since Black can't really take the bishop a2+ 40.c1 a7 41.c6! a n d e v e r y t h i n g i s u n d e r c o n t r o l xa3 ( 41...a1+ 42.d2 b2+ 43.e1+- ) 42.d5+ xd5 43.xa3 and the c6-pawn decides xb5 44.a2+ f7 45.c7 c5+ 46.c2 xc2+ 47.xc2 d6 48.fxe5 xe5 49.xd4 wins ] 39...c4+ 40.d1 xb5 It's a really hard position to control, so now W hite has the advantage again. [ 40...e6!? this is the computer move and here I show a computer variation 41.c6 f7 42.b6 dxe3 43.b7 e2+! 44.xe2 xe4+ 45.d1 a4+ with a draw ] 41.d2
[ 41.c6 c7 42.d2 and the c-pawn will be decisive ] 41...a4+ 42.e2 exf4 43.f2 At least now White's king is safe and Black's pieces are still not playing together. e5 44.c6 e7 45.d5+ h8 46.b4 [ 46.b3! would be good, but again the machine finds a resource to try to keep the g a m e a l i v e h5! opening some air for the king A) 47.gxh6 d3 liberating the important d4 square 48.xd3? ( 48.g2 is better, but not clear ) 48...d4+ 49.f3 b5 50.xd4 e2+ 51.xf4 e5+; B) 47.b4! Now this move is good, Black's queen is out of play c7 48.d3 h7 49.e4 f7 50.h3 and the position will collapse soon ] 46...c7 47.d2 b5 48.f3 f7 49.e4 g7 50.c2 [ 50.b2! was winning on the spot, threatening a check on f8, and the queen also needs to defend the bishop on e5 in case of Bxf7 b8 ( 50...d6 51.e6 xb4 52.xb4 c5 53.f6+ g8 54.b8++- ) 51.xf7 xf7 52.f8+! this is possible to overlook xf8 53.xe5+ g8 54.b8 and Black is lost. ] 50...f3 51.c5 e2+ 52.xe2 fxe2 53.xe2 xg5 54.b5? Now Black can finally equalize. [ 54.a5! w a s d i r e c t a n d b e t t e r e7 ( 54...c8 55.c7 followed by 56.Bb7) 55.d3 c7 56.xc7 xc7 57.xd4 and the c6-pawn is going to decide the game ] 54...f6 55.b7 e6 56.a4?? A sad end to a tense game. [ 56.e4 was the move and the position is still complex ] 56...f4+ 0-1
290
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 307 Nisipeanu,Liviu Dieter Sasikiran,Krishnan MTel Sofia BUL (5) [Carsten Hansen]
A09 2693 2690 14.05.2007
1.f3 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.a3 a6 (This move and the plan Black follows in this game is easily the surest way to obtain even chances against White's 3rd move) 4.xc4 b5 5.e3 b7 6.g3 [ White has an important alternative in 6.a4 d7 A) 7.axb5 axb5 8.xa8 xa8 9.b3 a1 10.c3 c5 11.g3 gf6 12.g2 e6 13.0-0 e7= G.Sperber-M.Acosta, Dresden 1969; B) 7.d4 e6 8.c2!? ( or 8.g3 gf6 9.g2 d6 10.b3 b8 11.axb5 axb5 12.0-0 0-0 13.d1 c5 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in G.Tunik-V. Kuporosov, Gorky 1989) 8...c5 9.e3 b6 10.e2 gf6 11.0-0 d8 12.axb5 axb5 13.d2 Chan Peng Kong-Yeo Min Yang, Ho Chi Minh City 2003; C) 7.c2!? e5 8.axb5 axb5 9.xa8 xa8 10.e3 a4 11.e2 gf6 12.0-0 d5 13.a3 b3 14.e1 c6 15.d4 e4 16.d2 b4 17.f3 0-0 18.h4 xd2 19.xd2 d5 , so far J.Fedorowicz-J. Waitzkin, New York 1994, and now White can try 20.fxe4 xe4 21.d1 a6 22.c2 f5 23.b4; D) 7.g3 e6 8.g2 gf6 9.0-0 ( or 9.axb5 axb5 10.xa8 xa8 11.b3 a6 12.0-0 c5 13.c3 e7 14.b3 0-0 15.b2 c6= E.Tomashevsky-S. R u b l e v s k y , M o s c o w 2 0 0 6) 9...e7 10.axb5 axb5 11.xa8 xa8 12.b3 a6 13.d4 xg2 14.xg2 c6 15.d3 0-0 16.g5 h6 17.d2 b6 18.c2 a8 19.e3 c5 20.xc5 xc5 21.d4 b6 22.f4 c5 23.dxc5 xc5= A.Yermolinsky-Y. Yakovich, Kujbyshev 1986 ] [ 6.c2!? c5 7.b3 f6 8.e3 e6 9.a4 b4 10.e5 c6 11.b2 a5 12.b1 xb3 13.xb4 xd2+ 14.xd2 xd2 15.xa6 xa6 16.xd2 e4+ 17.c2 , and the players agreed upon a draw in E.Pigusov-V. Chekhov, Kharkov 1985, but why doesn't
Black continue in the final position? One possibility is f6 18.xa6 xa6 19.f3 d6 20.d3 xa4 21.a1 xa1 22.xa1 c4 23.a8+ f7 , and it isn't entirely clear how long W hite's limited initiative will provide White some compensation for the pawn, but it can't be long. ] [ 6.d4 e6 7.a3 f6 8.g3 bd7 9.g2 c5 10.0-0 e7 11.b3 0-0 12.b2 b6= L.Vadasz-V.Kuporosov, Budapest 1990 ] 6...f6 [ Black has several other options available at this juncture: 6...xf3?! 7.exf3 f6 8.g2 ( 8.a4 b4 9.d4 e6 10.c4 ) 8...d3 9.f1 d8 10.d4 c6 11.d5 b4 , M. KebrdleM.Stefanski, Lansing 1988, and now 12.a4 b8 13.axb5 axb5 14.b3 d6 15.d2 ] [ 6...e5?! 7.g2 e4 8.h4 f6 9.b3 ( 9.0-0 c6 10.b3 d4 11.b2 c5 12.d3 a7 13.dxe4 xe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.d3 g5 16.ef5 C. Adelman-A. Bisguier, Chicago 1996) 9...bd7 10.b2 c5 11.0-0 0-0 12.c2 d6 13.hf5 e5 14.xe5 xe5 15.ac1 c8 16.b2 e8 17.d3 V. Neverov-T.Thorhallsson, Reykjavik 2002 ] [ 6...d7!? 7.g2 c5 8.d4 cxd4 9.xd4 xg2 10.xg2 e5 11.b3 b4+ 12.d2 xd2+ 13.xd2 gf6 14.0-0 0-0 15.fd1 e7 16.d6 xd6 17.xd6= V.Topalov-N. Sulava, French League 2004 ] 7.g2 bd7 8.0-0 e6 9.b3 [ 9.d3 d6 10.d2 0-0 11.a4 c5 12.b1 ( 12.b3 soon led to a very double-edged position, which can appear attractive for either player, e.g. b6 13.c3 d5 14.xd5 exd5 15.d4 c4 16.c2 b4 17.a5 b5 18.d2 fe8 19.f4 b3 20.d1 xf4 21.gxf4 c3 22.bxc3 b2 23.b1 xe2 24.e5 xe5 25.fxe5 c8 26.f3 e4 27.xe4 dxe4 28.d2 d7 29.e3 g4+ 30.h1 xc3 31.xc3 e3+ 32.f3 xf3+ 33.xf3 xf3+ 34.g1 g4+ 35.f1 f3+ 36.g1 f2+ 37.h1 1/2-1/2 M. T a i m a n o v - S . L p u t i a n , Y e r e v a n 1 9 9 4) 12...e7 13.c1 fb8 14.axb5 axb5 15.xa8 xa8 16.b4 cxb4 17.d4 xg2 18.xg2 e5 19.g1 c5 20.b2 fg4 21.h3 xd4 22.xd4 f6 23.f4 xe3 24.xe3 g6 1/2-1/2 J.Stocek-Y.Yakovich, Port Erin 2001 ] 291
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...c5 [ B l a c k a l s o h a s 9...d6 available, e.g. 10.b2 0-0 11.c1 c5 12.d4 c8 13.dxc5 xc5 14.d4 a5 15.xc5 xc5 16.d4 fd8 17.b2 b6 18.fd1= T.Nyback-M. Rytshagov, Jyvaskyla 2001 ] 10.b2 e7 11.c2 [ 11.d4 0-0 12.c1 c8 13.c2 ( 13.d2 b6 14.dxc5 xc5 15.d4 fe4 16.b2 f6 17.xf6 1/2-1/2 A.Kveinys-T. W a r a k o m s k i , W a r s a w 2 0 0 6) 13...c4 ( 13...a5!? 14.a3 d5 15.e3 c4 16.xd5 exd5 17.e5 c7 18.h3 d6 19.xd7 xd7 20.bxc4 dxc4 21.e4 ) 14.bxc4 xc4 15.d2 xg2 16.xg2 a8+ 17.f3 a4 18.a1 c8 19.e4 b6 , and Black has no reason to complain about the outcome of the opening, A.Filipowicz-S. Kostyra, Lubniewice 1981 ] [ 11.c1 0-0 12.c2 ( 12.d3 d5 13.xd5 xd5 14.c2 a5 15.e4 b7 16.e1 a4 17.d4 axb3 18.axb3 c8 19.d5 exd5 20.exd5 f6 21.xf6 xf6 22.d3 1/2-1/2 M.Sher-D.Kumaran, Copenhagen 1996 ) 12...c8 13.a1 b6 14.fc1 a7 ( 14...fd8 15.d3 f8 16.h4 a7 17.e5 xg2 18.xd7 xd7 19.xg2 b7+ 20.g1 d5 , and Black has equalised, T. Nalbandian-A. Volzhin, Moscow 1999) 15.d3 fd8 16.h3 h6 17.g4 xg4 18.hxg4 f6 19.g5 hxg5 20.xg5 xg2 21.xg2 b7+ 22.f3 e8?! ( The beginning of a timeconsu ming and inf erior p lan, corre ct is 22...d5!? 23.h1 h5 24.cc1 d5= ) 23.h1 f6 24.xf6 xf6 25.h4 f8 ( or 25...d5 26.h1 f8 27.c1 ) 26.c1 d5 27.d4!? ( 27.b4!? ) 27...cxd4 28.xc8 e7 29.xd8 xd8 30.f4 , and W hite wins a pawn, S.Danailov-R. Bernard, Warsaw 1990 ] 11...0-0 12.fd1 b6 13.ac1 ac8 14.b1 [ Previously White has only tried 14.d3 fd8 15.b1 d5 16.g4 5f6 17.e3 d5 18.f1 f6 19.1d2 h6 20.a3 e8= J.Gonzalez Zamora-J.Estrada Nieto, Merida 2003 ] 14...fd8 15.a1 e8 16.d4 df6 17.a3 e4!? 18.dxc5 xc5 19.b2 f6 20.e1 [ 20.g4?! xb2 21.xb2 e4 22.xd8 xd8 23.e3 ( 23.e3 f6 ) 23...8f6 ]
[ 20.xf6!? is more ambitious, but Black can nonetheless still keep the balance without too many headaches: xf6 21.xd8+ xd8 22.e5 cd7 23.d4 xd4 24.xd4 xg2 25.xg2 f8 26.c6 d2 27.e7+ h8 28.c8 6d7 29.c2 xc2 30.xc2= ] 20...xg2 21.xg2 h6 22.f3 e4 23.xc8 xc8 24.c1 d8 25.d1 c8 26.c1 d8 [ 26...xc1 27.xc1 xb2 28.xb2 8f6= ] 27.d1 ½-½
308 Odendahl,Reiner Kasimdzhanov,Rustam HZ Open Vlissingen NED (4) [Tony Kosten]
A09 2377 2640 09.08.2004
1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.g3 c6 4.g2 e5 5.0-0 f6 6.d3 e7!? Black normally prefers the prophylactic [ 6...a5 to stop White's next, see my analysis of Speelman,J-Koneru,H. ] 7.b4 xb4! [ 7...xb4 8.xe5 xe5 9.a4+ c6 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.xb4 is thought to favour White, mainly because of the doubled c-pawns, and the fact that Black cannot c a s t l e , f o r e x a m p l e h3 ( 11...d6!? 12.a3 xb4 13.xb4 is also promising for W hite, Pytel,K-Mancini,M/Orange 1990) 12.e1 d7?! Pilz,D-Muendle,K/Triesen LIE 2004, when 13.e3 looks nasty. ] 8.xe5 0-0 9.a3 a6 10.d2 d6 11.ef3 e8 New, and pointing to Black's plan in this line: pressure on the backward e2pawn. [ 11...c5 12.g5!? h6 13.ge4 xe4 14.xe4 e7 15.b1 c7 16.d2 b8 17.f3 d6 Schirm, F-Pohlers,J/Binz 1995, when I think I would play 18.e3 dxe3 19.xe3 b6 20.d4 with plenty of activity, although Black is solid. ] 12.b3 The a6-knight would like to come to the c5-square, so W hite f orces the FIDE World Champion to defend d4. c5 13.a4?! g4 14.a3 d7 Black has a good position 292
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with more space and good squares for his pieces. 15.e1 e7 Black's position appears to play itself, however, in retrospect [ 15...ad8 may be somewhat superior. ] 16.fxd4! This somewhat surprising tactic really comes 'out of the blue' - I certainly didn't see it coming, and neither did Fritz! e5 Pinning the knight. [ 16...cxd4 17.c5 is the point, when e5 18.f4 b8 ( 18...xf4!? ) 19.c6 bxc6 20.xe7 xe7 21.xc6 wins the rook on a8. If we continue this a bit further: e3+ 22.h1 c7 23.c1 White threatens to swap queens and play a superior endgame as the black pieces are not very well coordinated. ] 17.b5!? White could have continued 'the joke' by [ 17.b1! cxd4 18.xe7 xe7 19.a5 with excellent play, as the b7-pawn is sure to drop. ] 17...xa1 18.xa1 ae8 Black has extra material and strong pressure on e2, however the white position is surprisingly solid. 19.f3 h3 20.c2! [ 20.xh3 xh3 21.xa7 is a bit greedy, as h5! 22.c2?! h4 23.g4 xg4! 24.fxg4 xg4+ 25.h1 xe2 wins. ] 20...xg2 21.xg2 e6 22.d2 b6 23.b2 b8 The knight was completely out of the game. 24.xf6!? The bishop seemed strong, but White wants the d5-square for his knight. xf6 25.e3 c6 26.d5 g6 27.f4 W hite's solid structure and the lack of completely open files make Black's task very d i f f i c u l t . b4!? The d5-knight had to be e x c h a n g e d . 28.xb4 cxb4 29.c7! The only move, .. .a6 was threatened and the point is that the knight had nowhere to go: [ 29.d4? d6 30.b3 xd3 as the epawn is pinned. ] 29...e6 30.f4?! [ 30.xa7! not only wins a pawn, but also stops Black from attacking the knight with ... a6! ] 30...f6 31.d2 e7 32.b2 a6 33.d4 e3 So that if the knight moves ...Rxf3 will win. 34.g4 h5 [ 34...e5! i s ve r y s t r o n g , 35.e3 f4! menacing ... Rxd4, so 36.f1 ( 36.f2 b3! and ...Rxd4 wins) 36...xe3 37.f5 xf5
38.gxf5 g5+ 39.h1 xf5 which should win. ] 35.h3 h4?! [ 35...hxg4 36.hxg4 e5 is winning again. ] 36.f5 Forced. xf5 This looks good, although [ 36...g5 may be even better, 37.h1 xf5 38.gxf5 g3 etc. ] 37.gxf5 g5+ 38.f1 xf5 39.f2 xh3 Now Black is a pawn up with attacking chances. Surely the result is a formality? 40.g1 g6? [ 40...h2+ 41.g2 e5 looks simple enough, as after 42.xe5 xe5 43.e4 a5 Bla ck will have a lot of out side pas se d pawns. ] 41.e4 d8 42.e3! The king is well defended by the pawn phalanx, and will prove a boon should White reach an endgame. d7 43.d4 xa4 44.a1 c6 45.xb4 f6 46.b2 g5+ 47.d3 g3 48.e3 h3 49.h1 c8 50.h2! White will have good chances in the rook and pawn ending. xh2 51.xh2 xc4 52.xh3 b5 53.d5 f6 54.d3 g5 55.h1 a4 56.c1 f7 57.c7+ e8 58.b7 a3+ 59.d4! Activity! xf3 60.d6 g4 61.d5 If White can play Ke6 he will win! e3 The only defence. 62.c6 White is happy with half a point, but [ 62.e5! is worth a punt: xe5+ ( 62...fxe5? 63.e6 shows the importance of activity against material in rook endings, f8 64.d7 d3 65.b6 xd7 66.xd7 and wins. ) 63.c6 e1 64.b8+ f7 65.d7 d1 66.d8 xd8 67.xd8 although Black should draw by e6! ] 62...c3+ 63.d5 e3 64.c6 c3+ 65.d5 e3 White can still play for the win, but anyway this was an excellent performance. ½-½
309 Panjwani,Raja So,Wesley Edmonton 9th (3) [Kosten, Tony]
A09 2440 2744 23.06.2014
1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 f6 4.e3 e5 5.c5 a5 6.b5+?! This was played just a day after I 293
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 posted my last Flank update, where I'd stated that: "Delchev's 6 Bb5+ is definitely dubious"! [ 6.a4+ is White's best try, see Demuth, ADuda, J, from the June 2014 update. ] [ 6.xe5?! is Van Wely, L-Kramnik, V/Nice FRA 2008, in the Archive. ] 6...c6 7.c4 axb4 8.xe5 fxe5 9.h5+ g6 10.xe5+ e7 11.xh8 f6 12.d3! I think this is White's best chance. [ 12.b2 e6 Stella, A (2463)-Bertagnolli, A (2329), and ] [ 12.0-0 e6 Davis, T (1945) -Zelesco, K, were both considered in the notes to Demuth-Duda. ] 12...e6 13.d2 [ 13.xe6 xe6 14.0-0 bd7 15.exd4 0-0-0 16.g5 f7 is Reinhold Thiele's original analysis, ...Be7 will win the white queen. ] 13...bd7 14.a3!? Trying to dissuade Black from castling long. [ I t h o u gh t t h a t 14.0-0 0-0-0 15.exd4 might be the best bet, but h6 16.xd8+ xd8 17.e1 d5 favours Black (again this is Reinhold Thiele's analysis). ] 14...dxe3 15.fxe3?! White misses his one chance. [ he had to try the surprising 15.0-0! as exd2 ( 15...b3 16.e1!?; 15...0-0-0 16.axb4 g8!? 17.xg8 g7 18.xg7 xg7 19.e6 exd2 20.xd2 i s a w k w a r d .) 16.xd2 xc4 17.dxc4 looks messy, Re1 is a big threat. ] 15...b3! Quite forced, Black can't allow White to o p e n t h e a -f ile wh e n h e ca st le s lo n g. 16.e4?! Desperately trying to free the queen, but this exposes White to a strong attack. [ 16.0-0 0-0-0 17.b2 is met by f5! 18.e4 h6 and Black wins material. ] 16...xe4 Black changes strategy, and instead of going for the white queen ... he goes for the white king! [ 16...0-0-0 is also winning. ] 17.xe6 h4+! 18.g3 xg3 19.g1?! [ 19.xd7+ xd7 20.f1 xf1+ 21.xf1 xh2 is better, but still winning for Black. ] 19...e4+ 20.d1 dxc5 Black's pieces pour into the attack. 21.e5 [ 21.dxe4 xh2 and ...Rd8+. ] 21...f2+ [ 21...xd3! ]
22.e2 fxd3 23.d4? [ 23.g3 f6 24.d2 is overwhelming. ] 23...f2+ [ 23...f2+ 24.d1 c2# ] 0-1
310 Ragger,Markus Postny,Evgeny TCh-FRA Top 12 2012 (4.3) [Tony Kosten]
xe6
A09 2670 2651 03.06.2012
1.f3 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 f6 [ In his 'Modern Reti' book Delchev devotes most of his analysis to 3...c5 but, this can transpose at almost any point. ] 4.xc4 e6 5.0-0 a6 6.e2 White follows Delchev's basic scheme: he delays d4 hoping to be able to play other useful moves longer than Black can, in particular he will react to ... b5 by playing a n im media te a4 to c reat e queenside weaknesses. b5 This obvious move appears to be a novelty. [ 6...c5 7.d1 Marin's idea, b5 8.b3 b7 9.a4 "the cunning idea behind 7.Rd1" Delchev. ( 9.d4 reaches a mainline QGA.) 9...b4 10.d3! Now that c4 is weakened White can change plans and play d3 and e4 to blunt the h1-a8 diagonal. A) 10...c6 Delchev's mainline, 11.bd2 A1) 11...a5 12.c2 e7 13.e4 c7 14.b3 xb3 15.xb3 h6 16.e3 ( 16.d2 "with good prospects" Delchev. ) 16...g4 17.ac1 xe3 18.xe3 0-0 19.d4 ac8 20.e5 Sundararajan, K (2506)-Shumiakina, T ( 2 3 3 4 ) / B a d a l o n a 2 0 0 9 , d6 with no particular problems.; A2) 11...c7 12.c4 g4?! ( 12...e7 ) 13.g3! ge5 14.fxe5 xe5 15.xe5 xe5 16.e4 c8 17.c4 e7 18.f4! c7 19.f1 f6 20.f5 e5 21.e3 e7 22.h4 0-0 23.f2 h8 24.af1 fd8 25.g2 threatening g4-5, Black has no c o u n t e r p l a y . d4 26.xd4 exd4 27.h5 f8 28.g4 g6 29.h6 g5 30.hxg5 1-0 Tomashevsky, E (2624)Ganguly, S (2571)/Moscow 2007, as 294
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg5 31.f6; B) 10...e7 11.bd2 0-0 B1) 12.a5 fixing the a6-pawn, but conceding the b5-square, which Black exploits by c6! 13.d4!? ( 13.e4 b5 14.c4 c6 ) 13...bd7 14.e4 b8 15.e5 d5 16.c4 b5 17.e4 cxd4 18.xd4 c5 19.g4 xb3 20.h6 g6 21.xb3 c8 22.d6 xd6 23.exd6 xd6 24.d4 f6 slightly better for Black, Kramnik, V (2791)-Karjakin, S (2760)/Moscow 2010.; B2) 12.c4 a5 13.e4 c7 14.h3 ( 14.g3 c6 15.f4 is given as advantage White by Delchev.) 14...c6 15.e3 ad8 16.ac1 a6 Safin, S (2490)-Egin, V (2437)/Tashkent 2007. ] 7.b3 bd7! [ 7...b7 8.a4 ] 8.d1 b7 Black's move order is very clever, he delays ...c5 until W hite plays d4. 9.a4!? The only way to continue according to the 'Delchev recipe'. At the time I was looking across from my board and wondered if Marcus had simply overlooked Black's next, but I shouldn't have worried. [ 9.d4 c5 reaches a mainline QGA [D29]. ] 9...c5 The problem, with no black pawn on c5 Black can put his knight t here ! 10.c2 xa4 11.xa4 bxa4 12.d4 White has conceded the bishop pair, but has a slight lead in development. c5!? Black doesn't have to play this, but then he would have to worry ab ou t W h it e playin g e 4 an d also t he c5 square. [ However, it is difficult to believe White has anything much after, say, 12...e7 13.c3 0-0 ] 13.c3 c7 14.xa4 The position looks fairly innocuous for Black, but he soon gets into trouble. cxd4?! Black might have missed White's, far from obvious, next two moves. [ 14...e7 15.dxc5 xc5 16.e4 c8 and ...0-0 looks solid enough, W hite can play e5 and swing his rook to the kingside but Black should be able to defend. ] 15.c4! b8 16.c2! Very nice! d6 Best. [ 16...dxc3?? loses to 17.a4+ e7 18.e5 ] [ 16...xf3? 17.a4+ d7 18.cxd4! b7 19.xd7!? ( 19.gxf3 is simpler, d8 20.b3
with a big advantage as the black king is stuck. ) 19...xd1 hits the queen on a4, and so 20.xd1+ e7 21.b3 White has a st ro ng a tt ack f o r th e exch an ge , e. g. h6 22.a3+ ( 22.b2 ) 22...f6 23.d7 xd7 24.xd7 xa3 25.h4! hd8 26.e4+ g6 27.h5+ ] 17.a4+ e7 [ 17...f8!? 18.cxd4 xf3 19.gxf3 xh2+ 20.g2 c7 21.e4 is also unpleasant for Black. ] 18.cxd4 xf3 19.gxf3 d8 [ 19...xh2+? 20.g2 c7 loses to 21.e4 h6 22.a3+ e8 23.e3 the black king's demise is just a question of time. ] 20.g2 White just needs to play b3 and Ba3 t o e xch a n ge h is o n e in a ct ive p ie c e . b6 21.b3 T h re a t e n in g Rxd 6 ! c5 22.a3 xa3?! [ 22...a5! to stop a later b4, and Black is still in the game, 23.c4 xa3 24.xa3+ e8 ] 23.xa3+ e8 24.a4+ e7 25.a3+ e8 26.xd8+ xd8 27.xd8+ xd8 [ 27...xd8 28.xa6 also wins material. ] 28.f8+ e8 29.xf7 xb3 Black pins his hopes on the passed a-pawn. [ 29...c7 30.xc7+ xc7 is possible, W hite's extra pawn is doubled and meanwhile the black king is close to the white b-pawn. ] 30.e2! The knight heads for d4 or f4. b1 31.f4 c7 32.f8+ d7 33.xg7+ c6 34.e4 a5 35.c3+ b6 36.d4+ b7 37.xe6! xe6 38.d5+ c7 39.xe6 b6 40.e7+ c8 41.f4 c7 42.e6+ d7 43.a6+ b7 The white king is outside the square, so Black can afford to offer the queen swap. 44.e2 [ After 44.xa5 xe4+ 45.g3 Ma rc u s wa s wo r r ie d a b o u t b1 but 46.c5+ d7 47.f5 g1+ 48.h3 f1+ 49.h4 will probably win. ] 44...c6 45.f5 a4 46.g4 b7 47.f3 Sto pp in g th e a -p awn an d sup po rt in g th e advance of the white f-pawn. f6 [ 47...a3? 48.xa3 xe4+ is met by 49.f3 ] 48.e5+ c6 49.f6 xf3+ 50.xf3 a3 51.f7 a2 52.f8 a1 Both sides queen but now W h i t e h a s a cl e a r t wo p a wn a d va n t a ge . 53.g7+ c6 54.f6+ b7 55.g2 d4 295
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Threatening a perpetual. 56.f3+ c7 57.e6 d6 58.e7! xe7 59.e3+ xe3 60.fxe3 T h e p a wn e n d i n g is lo s t , o f co u rse . e6 61.f3 f5 62.e4+ e5 63.e3 e6 64.f4 f6 65.h3 e6 66.h4 f6 67.h5 1-0
311 Reti,Richard Rubinstein,Akiba Karlsbad Karlstad (5) [Nigel Davies]
A09
04.05.1923
Rubinstein's 4...d4 is not a move that many modern players would venture. But at the time this game was played Benoni type positions were thought to confer a huge advantage on the player taking the space. 1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 g6 4.c4 d4 [ In my own games I've noticed that 4...c6 tends to be the most popular reply when I've played either 5.b3 or 5.Qa4. ] 5.d3 g7 6.b4 0-0 7.bd2 I've always liked the smooth harmony that you find in Reti's games by delaying the development of his qu e e n ' s b is h o p W h it e h a s e xt ra o p t io n s available, such as the a3 square. [ After the more forceful 7.b2 Black can play a5 , for example ( 7...c5 8.bxc5 c6 9.bd2 d7 10.b3 xc5 11.xc5 a5+ 12.d2 xc5 13.0-0 h5 14.e1 h3 15.h1 ab8 16.b1 was very pleasant for White in Geller, E-Novopashin, A, Kiev 1963.) 8.b5 c5 9.bxc6 xc6 10.a3 e5 11.b5 e8 12.0-0 f8 13.d2 f5 14.c1 d7 15.c5 h3 was not bad for Black in Larsen, B (2625)Pfleger, H (2540), Manila 1975. ] 7...c5 8.b3 [ 8.bxc5 is also better for White, for example fd7 9.b3 xc5 10.xc5 a5+ 11.d2 xc5 12.b1 gives definite pressure. But R e t i m a y h a ve p r e f e r r e d t o a vo i d t h i s because of the resultant simplification. ] 8...cxb4 9.b2 c6 10.bxd4 Gaining a central pawn for a flank one is one of the major themes of the Reti Opening. Now it will be W hite who gains a major share of the centre, despite the fact that he did not stake an early claim to this part of the board. xd4
11.xd4 b6 Contesting the h1-a8 diagonal. 12.a3 Getting rid of the annoying b4 pawn and setting up a position in which W hite has a single pawn island (c4 to h2) against Black's two. [ Note that 12.d2? is bad because of xd4 13.xa8 g4 14.0-0 xf2! etc. ] 12...b7 Threatening 13...Bxf3. 13.b2 bxa3 14.xa3 c7 15.a1! These days there is nothing strange about this development of the queen. But in Reti's time it was highly original and raised more than a few eyebrows. e8 16.xg7 xg7 17.0-0 e6 18.b1 [ And not 18.xa7?? xa7 19.xa7 a8 , winning the queen. ] 18...c6 19.d4 So now it is White who gains control of the centre. And this spatial control will a llo w W h it e t o pu t h is p ie ce s o n b ig squares. e4 20.d1 a5 [ And not 20...xc4? because of 21.d2 . ] 21.d5 c5 22.d4 xg2 23.xg2 fd8 24.c6 d6 25.e3 e8 26.e5 f6 [ On 26...d7 t h e r e f o l l o w s 27.xe7+ exe7 28.xc7 xc7 29.d6 as after xe3 30.dxc7 e8 31.d8 the passed c-pawn will promote. ] 27.b2 With the mission accomplished (creation of further weaknesses in Black's camp) the queen latches on to a new target, the weak pawn on b6. [ 27.xe7+? i s b a d b e c a u s e o f f7 by the way. ] 27...e5 28.b5 f7 29.b1 d7 30.f3 c8 31.d3 e4 With his position held in a vice like grip, Rubinstein makes a desperate bid for some counterplay. 32.fxe4 e5 33.xb6 xc6 [ 33...xd3 34.exd3 would be hopeless for Black because of White powerful clump of pawns. ] 34.c5 d7 35.dxc6 xd3 36.xc7+ xc7 37.exd3 xc6 38.b7+ e8 39.d4 a6 Getting his rook behind the passed pawn. But this rook endgame proves to be too much for even Rubinstein. 40.b6 [ And not 40.xh7?! because of a4 . ] 40...a8 41.xf6 a4 42.f2 a3 43.a2 d7 44.d5 g5 45.f3 a4 46.e3 h5 47.h4 gxh4 48.gxh4 e7 49.f4 d7 50.f5 1-0
296
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 312 Sadorra,J Kacheishvili,Giorgi UTD GM Invitational (4) [John Bartholomew]
A09 2525 2612 12.03.2012
1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 Despite the prevalence of 2...c6 and 2...c6, Delchev calls 2...d4 "the m o s t u n p l e a s a n t r e t o r t t o 2 . c 4 " . 3.b4 Probably the most ambitious reply. [ Delchev's thesis is that White does not stand to gain an advantage against the Reversed Benoni with slower plans. Thus, he says, the first player should be keen to use his tempo to immediately destroy Black's center. His analysis suggests that Black has an easier time in the lines 3.g3 c6 ] [ and 3.e3 c6 , and I am inclined to agree. ] 3...c5 [ Delchev believes that the main line 3...f6 is best, with 4...e5 to come. W e also scru tin ize d t his in Van W e ly, L (26 81)Kra mnik, V (279 9)/ Nice 2 008 /[Hansen , Carsten]. Delchev presents a lot of ent erta in in g and o rigina l ana lysis, so I recommend that you check these lines in his book. ] [ For the interesting 3...g4!? see Laznicka, V (2617)-Rombaldoni, D (2465)/[Rowson]. ] [ For 3...g6 I again refer you to "The Modern Reti: An Anti-Slav Repertoire". ] 4.e3 [ 4.bxc5 totally backfired on White after c6 5.e3 ( White should choose 5.d3 e5 6.g3 xc5 7.g2 with a type Reversed Benoni play. ) 5...e5 6.exd4? e4! in Schaeffer, VBronznik, V (2410)/Elancourt 2004/ [TonyK]. ] 4...dxe3 A strange omission from "The Modern Reti", as accepting the pawn must be critical. Moreover, 4...dxe3 is approximately three times more popular than any othe r continuation here. [ Delchev's only gives 4...f6 , with a likely transposition to 3...f6. ] 5.fxe3 cxb4 6.a3!? Benko-style! This is certainly consistent with 3.b4, and I find this direct approach rather tempting. [ "Official" theory is pretty sketchy here
(Black has yet to commit a piece yet, so he especially has a ton of flexibility), but in 71 o f 8 6 g a m e s W h i t e h a s c h o s e n 6.d4 , occupying the center. For example, A) a recent game saw 6...e6 7.d3 ( 7.a3 would transpose to Sulskis-Skytte (see the note to 7.a3); 7.c5!? deserves attention) 7...e7 8.0-0 f6 9.b2 bd7 10.e2 0-0 11.bd2 ( 11.a3!? ) 11...b6 12.ad1 c7 13.e5 xe5 ( after 13...b7! White's compensation appears insuf f icien t) 14.dxe5 d7 15.xh7+ ( t h i s l e a d s t o a d r a w b y f o r c e ) xh7 16.h5+ g8 17.f3 f5 18.h3 xe5 19.e4 d7 20.xe5 xe5 21.xd7 a1+ 22.d1 e5 23.h7+ f7 24.h5+ g8 25.h7+ f7 26.h5+ 1 / 2 -1 / 2 T u rn e r, M ( 2 5 1 7 ) -H a m m e r , J (2647)/Hinkley Island ENG 2011; B) 6...g6 (first employed by Predrag Nikolic in the late 1980s) 7.d3 ( 7.a3!? m a ke s s e n se wi t h B la c k in t e n d in g t o fianchetto) 7...g7 8.0-0 h6 9.bd2 0-0 10.b2 ( 10.e2 f5 11.e4 c6 12.b2 c7 13.h3 e5! Seirawan, Y (2595)-Nikolic, P (2600)/Sarajevo 1987.) 10...e5!? 11.b3 g4 12.xe5?! ( 12.ae1 ) 12...xe5 13.dxe5 c6 14.f3 e7 15.a3 xe5 16.xe5 xe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.axb4 xe3+ 19.h1 e6 Baramidze, D (2528) -Meister, P (2407)/Bad Liebenzell GER 2010. ] 6...bxa3 [ 6...e6 7.d4 f6 Sulskis, S (2497)-Skytte, R (2323)/Lisbon 2000. Here I think 8.c5!? is worth consideration. ( 8.d3 c6 9.0-0 wa s t h e g a m e , w h e n B l a c k g e n e r a t e d counterplay with the unexpected e5!? )] [ T h e a c t i v e 6...e5!?N is Houdini's first choice. Then 7.axb4 ( 7.xe5 h4+ 8.g3 e4 9.f3 c6 ) 7...e4 ( 7...xb4 8.b2!? ) 8.d4 d6 9.g3 f6 10.g2 ( 10.c5!? ) 10...0-0 11.0-0 ] 7.xa3 A natural novelty. [ 7.xa3!? f6 8.b5 c6 9.d4 e6 10.d3 b4+ 11.d2 0-0 12.0-0 xd2 13.xd2 e5 14.c2 exd4 15.exd4 g4 Bandza, A-Chekhov, V (2495)/Tbilisi 1985. Here 16.c5! would leave no doubt about White's compensation. ] [ 7.e2 g6 8.xa3 g7 9.b1 is similar, e. 297
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g. f6 10.0-0 0-0 11.d4 Erlich, V-Drexel, C (2227)/ Augsburg 2001. At this moment it l o o k s n a t u r a l f o r B l a c k t o p l a y b6 as in our game. ] 7...f6 8.c3 g6 9.e2 [ White would like to play 9.d4 and put the bishop on d3, but maybe he didn't like h6!? . However, White can go ahead and sac a pawn he re wit h 10.d3! , as accepting is dangerous for Black: xe3?! ( 10...g4 11.d5! defends e3 and hits e7, i.e. xe3 12.e2 xd5 13.cxd5; 10...0-0 is s af es t, b ut a f te r 11.e2 followed by castling White has an improved version of the game. ) 11.e2 f4 ( 11...xd4?? 12.xd4 xd4 13.xe7# ) 12.0-0 with a fully mobilized position and quite obvious compensation. ] 9...g7 10.0-0 0-0 11.b1 c6 12.d4 b6 Both sides have proceeded logically. White enjoys definite compensation for the missing pawn with his slightly better pieces and strong centralization. At the same time, Black's margin of safety is reasonably high and he suffers from no positional defects. The chances are balanced. 13.h1 White plays a useful move, waiting for Black to show his hand. [ 13.d3 was more constructive. ] 13...f5 14.b5?! Borrowing an idea of Delchev's (see p. 39)!? White hopes that the rook will inf luence matters on b5, but it's o c c u p yin g a ra t h e r u n st a b le p o st in t h is position. c8 15.e5?! This compounds the previous error. e4 [ Even better is 15...xe5 16.xe5 e6! targeting the c4-pawn, i.e. 17.b3 ( 17.d5 d7 ) 17...e8! when another piece will be brought to bear down on the pawn after 18... Nd6. ] 16.xe4 xe4 17.f3 a5 18.c5 h6 [ 18...d5! would have put Black firmly in the driver's seat. ] 19.cxb6 axb6 20.e5 c2 21.e1?! c6 22.b5 a4?! [ Strike while the iron is hot: Black should have snatched the pawn immediately with 22...xe3 . It's possible he thought the double-attack 23.c3 worked for White, but xd4 24.xe3 xe2! leaves Black clearly bet te r, i.e . 25.h6?! ( 25.xe2? d3-+
is the idea; 25.xe7? d3-+ is also very b a d f o r W h i t e) 25...f6! leaving White floundering. ] 23.b2 xe3? Now this is poorly timed. [ 23...d5= ] 24.a6 xd4 [ Black has to enter complications, as 24...a8? 25.b7 is downright terrible. ] 25.d2!? [ A f t e r t h e f o r ce d l i n e 25.xc8 xb2 26.xb2 xc8 27.c3 e5 ( 27...f6? 28.c4+ picks up the bishop) 28.xe5 xe5 29.xe5 f6 30.xf6 d7! (the only move) we are faced with a peculiar opposite-color bishop ending where the weakness of the Black king is more significant than Black's extra pawn. After, for instance, Black will still have to show some accuracy. 31.h4!? ( 31.xf8+ xf8 32.h8+ e7 33.xh7+ d8= )] 25...c7 26.xd4 xd4 27.b2? [ 27.e5! was called for, hitting the rook on c7 as well. a8! 28.xc7 xa6 29.g1 ] 27...a8! 28.xd4 xa6?? [ With 28...c2! Black threatens mate on g2 and completely turns the tables, i.e. 29.e2 xb2 ( 29...c6!? ) 30.f3 a6 ] 29.xa4! xa4 30.e5 Oops, that wins the rook. f6 31.xc7 b5 32.c1 White has prevailed in the tactical tug-of-war, and now he o n ly ha s t o n ego tiat e so me t e ch n ic a l problems. c5?! 33.d2 [ 33.a3! would immediately force the queens off. ] 33...c8 34.h3 b5 35.c1 f5 36.xc8+ xc8 37.d5+ g7 38.xb5 e6 39.c5 f7 40.c3 h5 41.g1 h4 42.d4 g5 43.d3 g7 44.f2 c6 45.f3 c5+ 46.e3 f5+ 47.f3 c5+ 48.e2 f7 49.d2 d6+ 50.c2 c5 51.e4 f2+ 52.b3 g3 53.d5+ f8 54.c4 g4!? Kacheishvili is defending tenaciously. 55.b4! c7+ 56.c5 f4+? Only this loses. [ After 56...d7! Black can continue fighting. ] 57.b3! g3+ [ Black is losing either e7 or g4, i.e. 57...e4 58.c8+ f7 59.xg4 d3+ 60.b2+- ] 58.a4 gxh3 59.xe7+ g8 60.e8+ h7 61.f7+ g7 [ or 61...h8 62.xf6+ h7 63.f7+ h6 298
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 63...h8 64.c3+ ) 64.d2++- ] 62.xg7+ xg7 63.gxh3 g6 64.e1 g5 65.b4 White has the right color bishop, so Black resigned. Alexander Delchev believes that the ambitious 3.b4 will be increasingly debated at Grandmaster level - especially (in his opinion) the lines with 3...f6. The gambitaccepted line 3...c5 4.e3 dxe3 5.fxe3 cxb4 warranted inclusion in "The Modern Reti: An Anti-Slav", but fortunately W hite has reasonable compensation with 6.a3!? or the usual 6.d4. 1-0
the extraordinary white pawn formation is almost worth a piece! ] 10...f5! Black stops d4, and leaves the c5pawn short of protection. 11.b5 xc5! Black goes for gold. [ 11...d8 would avoid losing a rook, although 12.d6 would leave Black with problems completing his development. ] 12.c7+ d8 13.xa8 d4 14.b2 f6 15.gxf3 [ 15.0-0-0 would avoid problems along the ef i l e , b u t a f t e r f5 16.e1 d7 Black recuperates the knight on a8 with advantage. ] 15...e8+ 16.d1 g4!! There must have 313 A09 been a brilliancy prize in this tournament! [ T h e p r o s a i c 16...f5 17.d3 d7 Schaeffer,Vincent again wins the trapped knight, with Bronznik,Valerij 2410 advantage. ] 7th Open Elancourt FRA (3) 20.04.2004 17.fxg4 [Tony Kosten] [ 17.xd4 is no improvement, xd4 18.fxg4 xg4+ 19.c2 xa1 20.d3 e5 21.b1 1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 c5 Black is happy b6 and the knight will be lost once again, with a reversed Benko Gambit. 4.bxc5 when the two black bishops will make short [ 4.e3 is more usual, but clearly White didn't work of White's straggling pawns. ] want to play with a pawn less after dxe3 17...xg4+ 18.e2 Forced, 5.fxe3 cxb4 ] [ 18.c1?? e1# ] [ whilst 4.g3 is probably the most natural, pla yin g a B e nko p o sit io n wit h an e xt ra 18...xe2+ 19.c1 xc4 The black minor pieces completely dominate here. 20.xd4 tempo. ] [ 20.d6 is the best chance, trying to extract 4...c6 5.e3 As it is too late to take on d4 t h e kn igh t , d5 21.f1 e2+ 22.d1 [ 5.g3 e5 6.d3 would be my preference. ] xd6 and ...b6 to capture the unhappy 5...e5 6.exd4? This 'obvious' move nearly knight. ] loses outright! 21.b1 xd5 What a pair of [ 6.d3 is safer, xc5 7.e4 ( 7.e2 ge7 20...xd4 bishops! 22.g1 d7 23.b4? The position 8.0-0 0-0 is also pleasant for Black, Varadi, A-Balogh,L/Gyongyos 1999) 7...ge7 was hopeless, anyway. c8+! Forcing mate. [ 23...c8+ 24.d1 ( 24.b1 e4+ ) 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 g6 10.e1 f5 11.exf5 24...f3+ 25.e1 c1# ] xf5 Black has more space, and a clear plus, 0-1 Menchik,V-Sergeant,E/Scarborough 1930. ] 6...e4! Very unpleasant for White, his central pawns look very nice but they will cost a piece. 314 A09 7.e2 Pinning the pawn is best, Speelman,Jonathan S 2583 [ 7.g1?! xd4 8.c3 xc5 is a dream for Koneru,Humpy 2473 Black. ] 7...e7 8.d5 White decides his best chances ch Torquay ENG (9) 07.08.2002 [Tony Kosten] lie with this piece sac. [ 8.g1 xd4 9.d1 e5 10.b2 xc5 is positionally crushing. ] 1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.g3 c6 4.g2 e5 8...exf3 9.xe7+ cxe7 10.c3?! 5.d3 f6 6.0-0 Play has wandered into a reversed Schmidt System, where Black has Hoping for tactical chances based on Nb5, but [ 10.d4 f5 11.e3 is worth consideration, preferred to keep the a3-f8 diagonal open 299
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 r a t h e r t h a n p l a y . . . c 5 . a5 Generally considered best, Black takes prophylactic action against White queenside expansion. [ 6...e7 allows 7.b4! xb4 8.xe5 xe5 9.a4+ regaining the piece with an edge. ] 7.e3 To my mind this is logical, as Black hasn't bolstered d4 with his c-pawn it makes sense to attack it. [ 7.a3 c5 8.c2 is an alternative way of playing. ] 7...e7 [ 7...dxe3 is a good alternative, refusing to bother defending the d-pawn, 8.xe3 e7 9.c3 0-0 10.h3!? (else Black plays ... Ng4) f5 11.b3!? c8 hitting d3 and h3 ( 11...d4!? 12.xd4 exd4 is also interesting) 12.d5 xd5 13.cxd5 b4 14.xe5 xh3 15.a3 a4 16.c4 was messy in Makarov,M-Muse,M/Berlin 1996. ] 8.exd4 exd4 9.a3 0-0 Black rarely captures on a3 to double the pawns, as it gives White the bishop pair and open b-file, and especially when it involves a waste of t e m p o ( . . . B e 7 x a 3 ) . 10.b5 This is the problem with Black's sixth move, the we ak ne s s of b5 - it is d if f icult f or him t o arrange to play ...c6 to drive the knight away. e8 Black defends c7 against the possibility of Bf4, and prepares to play ...Bf6 and ...Nd6, or ...Na7 to exchange the b5-knight. [ 10...f5?! 11.f4 1/2-1/2 Szekely,P-Tal,M/ Porz 1991, although White is better here, after e8 12.e5 ] 11.e1 e6 A new move, although it doesn't change too much compared with [ 11...f6 12.f4 e6 13.h3 a7 14.xa7 xa7 15.d2 when White has slightly the mo re p le a sa n t p ositio n, Na lba n dia n, T Minasian,A/Yerevan 1996. ] 12.b3! As c7 is well covered White decides to find another diagonal for his dark-squared bishop. [ 12.f4 is similar to the above note. ] 12...f6 13.b2 g6?! With the white bishop on b2 Black can no longer exchange the b5knight without losing his d-pawn, but this na tu ra l mo ve h as severe re pe rcussion s. 14.d2 White threatens to play Qf4 and attack the d-pawn a fourth time. f5?! 15.h3 h5 16.a3! Suddenly, almost 'out-of-the-blue',
Black is in trouble. b4 [ 16...d6 17.c5 and the d-pawn drops. ] 17.bxd4!! This must have been a shock for Black. xd4 18.xd4 xd4 19.b2 The point, the bishop returns to b2 having eliminated its opposite number (at the cost of a piece). d6 20.h6 Threatening mate on h8. f6?! [ 20...f6 21.a3 xd3 22.d5+ f7 23.g4 also gives White a powerful attack, e.g. hxg4 24.hxg4 xe1? ( 24...f8 25.h3 xe1 26.gxf5 c6 keeps Black in the game) 25.gxf5 f8 26.xg6+ g7 27.xe1 and wins. ] 21.c5 d8 22.e5! Threatening to capture on f5. d7?! Losing immediately, but [ 22...xd3 23.d1 pins and wins. ] 23.e4 This is good enough, but how did 'Spec' miss the simple [ 23.e8!! axe8 24.xf6 with immediate mate? ] 23...a6 24.xf5 gxf5 25.g5+ h8 26.xf5 There is no defence to Qh6+ and Bxf6 followed by Qh7 mate. 1-0
315 Tihonov,Jurij Smirnov,Aleksander inAUTOmarket Open (3) [John Watson]
A09 2503 2249 12.07.2005
1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.e3 Many players prefer 3.g3 here. c6 4.exd4 xd4 5.xd4 xd4 6.c3 White is a tempo up on the FrancoBenoni line 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.Nxd5 Nxd5 6.Qxd5 Nc6, but that still makes it difficult to drive the queen away and e s t a b l i s h a c e n t r a l a d v a n t a g e . f6 Nothing clearly neutralises the play here: [ (a) The slow move 6...c6 has scored well over the years. At first I didn't understand this move. White's options of Nb5 and Nd5 are prevented, of course, but that wasn't much of a threat after most moves anyway. The real point is that without Nb5, Black is prepared for d3 followed by Be3 because he can play something like ... Nh6-f5 or ,,,e5 and ...Ne7-f5. Whereas ...c6 is also a useful move if White tries to play d4, for example, 300
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7.d3 h6!? 8.e3 d8 9.xh6? W hite pays too high a price to create weaknesses that probably wouldn't have any deleterious effect on Black's game until t h e e n d g a m e . ( On the other hand, 9.d4! f5 10.d2 xe3 11.xe3 trades the bishop pair for development and central control. This results in mutual chances although I'd rather be W hite.) 9...gxh6 10.e2 g7 11.0-0 0-0 12.f3 the pro blem is th at W hit e h as n o d arksquared counterpart to the g7 bishop so d4 is almost permanently stopped. f5 13.e4 g6 ( 13...e6! followed by a queen move and rook to d8 should favour Black.) 14.e1 e6!? 15.c2 c7 16.ab1 ad8 17.b4 b6 18.e2 c5 19.bxc5 xc5 20.f4 c7 21.g3 e5 22.xg6 hxg6 23.a4 d4 24.a5 h5 25.a6 g7 26.g2 d6 27.b5 h4 28.f3 h8 and Black maintained real pressure in Rashkovsky-Giorgadze, Ubeda 1999. ] [ (b) 6...e5 has always been considered the easiest equaliser, but that doesn't mean hands must be shaken. The idea is 7.d3 ( 7.b5 d8 8.h5!? e7 and ..Nf6 ) 7...e7 8.e3 ( 8.e2 is possible, perhaps intending Nd5 in cases where the e7 knight moves to c6 or f5. f5 ) 8...d8 and ...Nf5 can follow, so 9.d4! exd4 10.xd4 xd4 11.xd4 c6 12.e3 d7 13.0-0-0 0-0-0 14.e2 , but it's not much ] 7.d3 g4 Not very impressive, although playable. Of the options, 7...e5 looks best. [ (a) Alekhine-Euwe, Netherlands 1937 showed what can happen if Black is a little too conservative and foregoes both ...e5 and . . . Ne 7 - f 5 : 7...c6 8.e3 d7 9.d4 g6 10.e2 g7 11.h3 Preventing ...Ng4. ( 11.0-0 0-0 12.e1 must be somewhat better for White in view of his better centre. g4 13.xg4 xg4 14.f3 h5 15.d5!? ) 11...0-0 12.0-0 b6 13.f3 b7 14.a4 ad8 15.a5 c7 16.b3 d7 17.axb6 axb6 18.a7 a8 19.fa1 e6 20.xa8 xa8 ( 20...xa8 21.xa8+ xa8 22.a3 b7 23.b4!? ) 21.d5 cxd5 22.cxd5 c5?! ( 22...xc3? 23.d6! xd6 24.xc3 xf3 25.h6; 22...exd5! ) 23.c4 exd5 24.xd5 xd5 25.xd5 and White stood better. ] [ (b) Arguably 6...e5 is better than 6...Nf6 and
7...e5, but it's still a good move here. 7...e5 8.e3 d8 9.d4 ( 9.e2 e7 10.d4 exd4 11.xd4 xd4 12.xd4 c6 13.0-0 0-0 14.ad1 e6 15.h3 fe8 ) 9...g4 10.dxe5 xd1+ 11.xd1 xe3 12.fxe3 should be okay for Black after b4 ] 8.f3! [ 8.d2 has also been played, when h3 follows. ] 8...c6 [ 8...e5!? 9.h3 b4 10.d2 f6 11.a3 c5 12.b4 d6 13.c1 c6 is probably better for White, but not much. ] 9.e2 e5 10.h3 h5!? [ 10...f6 ] 11.0-0 h6? 12.e3!? [ 12.xh5! is also safe and sound, winning a clear pawn. ] 12...d6? Black's last chance to get some counterplay was [ 12...h4 , for example, 13.e4 ( 13.e4 ) 13...e7 14.xh5?! xh5 15.xh5 f5 16.e2 , when at least Black is in the game, a l t h o u g h o b v i o u s l y w o r s e , a f t e r xe3 17.fxe3 f5 and ..Bc5. ] 13.e4 c7 14.xh5 and White had a winning advantage. The score goes oddly: f5 15.f4 0-0-0 16.f3 g6 17.fxe5 xe5 18.f4?! [ 18.xa7! ] 18...xf4 19.xf4 f5 20.f2 c5 21.fe1?! f7 22.f1 d4 23.f3 he8 24.xe8 xe8 25.b1 e5 26.e2 f7 27.b4 d8 28.b5 cxb5 29.xe5 Did Black really resign here? Probably the scoresheet's wrong: [ 29.xe5 xe5 30.xb5 e8 with only a pawn versus the bishop pair. ] 1-0
316 Tomashevsky,Evgeny Ganguly,Surya Shekhar Aeroflot Open (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A09 2624 2571 16.02.2007
1.f3 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 f6 4.xc4 e6 5.0-0 a6 6.e2 c5 7.d1 b5 8.b3 b7 9.a4 [ 9.d4!? takes our game into a Queen's Gambit Accepted, which of course isn't 301
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 covered under Flank Openings. bd7 10.a4 b4 11.a5 c7 12.bd2 e7 13.c4 0-0= Vijayalakshmi-Suvrajit, Calcutta 2000 ] 9...b4 [ 9...b6 10.d4 this could be interpreted as a Queen's Gambit Accepted, but very few players would choose the moves for Black that he has picked in this game... bd7 11.c3 b4 12.a5 c7 13.a4 cxd4 14.exd4 d5 15.xd5 xd5 16.g5 d6 17.dc1 b8 ( 17...xa5 18.c3 xc3 19.bxc3 b6 20.d5 ) 18.c5 xc5 19.dxc5 f4 20.c4 1-0 Marin, M-Kaeding, R/Sitges 1997 (39) ] [ 9...bd7 10.axb5 axb5 11.xa8 xa8 12.a3 xf3 13.gxf3 b4 14.b5 b8 15.d4 1-0 Nikcevic, N-Adla, D/Mondariz 1998 ] [ 9...c4 10.c2 b6 11.axb5 axb5 12.xa8 xa8 13.d3 cxd3 14.xd3 b4? ( 14...b4 15.bd2 bd7 16.c4 c7 17.b3 c5 18.b2 ) 15.e5? ( 15.xb5+ c6 16.d4 ) 15...e7? 16.xb5+ c6?? ( 16...f8 ) 17.c4+c5 18.d2 ( 18.b4+- ) 18...0-0 19.xc6 xc6 20.xc6 xc6 21.c1 d7 22.b4?? ( 22.b4+- ) 22...d8 23.d2 h6?? ( 23...a8! 24.xc5 xc5 25.xc5 xd2 26.c8+ d8 27.xa8 xa8 ) 24.b3+- a4 25.xc5 xc5 26.xc5 1-0 Vujic Katanic, B-Savic, M/Vrnjacka Banja 199900 ( 26.xc5 d1+ 27.e1!+- )] 10.d3 c6 11.bd2 c7 12.c4 g4 [ 12...e7 13.a5 0-0 14.e4 ] 13.g3 [ 13.d2 e7 14.h3 ge5 15.cxe5 xe5 is fine for Black ] 13...ge5 14.fxe5 xe5 15.xe5 xe5 16.e4!? c8 17.c4 e7 18.f4 c7 19.f1 through very simple means White has gained a position of strength f ro m which he ca n conduct a kingside attack, while Black currently has nothing that can match it on the queenside or in the centre. The bishop on c4 is ideally placed to support White's activities on the kingside by applying pressure on the a2-g8 diagonal. f6 20.f5 e5 21.e3 e7 22.h4 0-0 23.f2 h8 24.af1 fd8 25.g2 d4? This is quite desperate and also unnecessary. W hite is winning now without any f urther ado. 26.xd4 exd4 27.h5
Maybe Black had missed this simple move, threatening f7 and supporting the g3-g4 pawn advance? It is a little hard to believe that this is the explanation, but any better reason is difficult to come up with. f8 28.g4 g6 29.h6 g5 [ Or 29...g7 30.f4 e5 31.f6 e8 32.g5 d6 33.b3 and White will prepare t o b re a k o n t h e h -f ile wit h d e va s t a t in g effect ] 30.hxg5 1-0
317 Tomashevsky,Evgeny Morozevich,Alexander 60th ch-Superfinal (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A09 2646 2755 20.12.2007
1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.g3 c5 4.e3 c6 5.exd4 cxd4 6.g2 e5 7.0-0 f6!? [ This is a relatively rare bird in this variation. Black normally plays 7...f6 ] 8.d3 [ After 8.e1 g4?? White, a strong Californian International Master, several times missed out on the fairly simple ( 8...d6!? ) A) 9.d3 d6 10.a3 ( 10.xe5!+- ) 10...a5 11.bd2 ( 11.xe5!+- ) 11...ge7 (and now it's too late...) 12.b1 0-0 13.e4 a4 14.b4 axb3 15.xb3 a5 16.b2 , and White has the better chances, thanks to his superior minor pie ce s a n d p re ssu re d o wn t h e b -f ile , Altounian, L-Akopyan, H/San Francisco 2000; B) 9.xe5! xe5 ( 9...xd1 10.xc6++- ) 10.xg4+- ] 8...ge7 [ A novelty previously Black had tried 8...e6 on a couple of occasions: 9.e1!? ( 9.bd2 h6 10.a4 d7 11.a3 f7 12.e1 e7 13.b4 0-0 14.b5 cd8 15.d1 e8 16.b1 h3 17.h1 e6 with chances for both sides, Zvjaginsev, V-Hauchard, A/ Belfort 1999) 9...d7 10.a3 a5 11.a4 ( 11.bd2 h6 12.e4 f7 is similar to the Zvjaginsev game and is fine for Black) 11...a6 12.bd2 ge7 13.e4 c8 302
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.fd2 b6 15.c2 c7 16.f4! , and W hite is in control of the game, Polugaevsky, L-Gerusel, M/Buesum 1969 ] 9.a3 a5 10.bd2 g6 11.h4 e7 12.e1 0-0 13.h5 h8 14.h4 [ 14.h6 g5 15.h2 f7 is better for Black ] 14...g5 [ 14...e6!? 15.d5 ( 15.f4!? d7 16.f3 f5! 17.fxe5 f7 ) 15...xd5 16.cxd5 xd5 17.g4 A) 17...f7 18.f5 g5 19.e4 ac8 20.f4 exf4 ( 20...e6? 21.fxe5 fxe5 22.xg7! xg7 23.h6 ) 21.xe7+ xe7 22.xg5 fxg5 23.xe7 c2 24.gxf4; B) 17...ad8 18.f5 ( 18.c4 ) 18...g6 19.e4 d7 , and White doesn't have enough for the pawn ] 15.hxg6 hxg6 16.e4! [ 16.f4!? exf4 17.gxf4 ] 16...f5 17.xc6! bxc6 18.hf3 f7 [ 18...e4!? 19.dxe4 d3 20.e5 f6 21.df3 fxe4 22.xe4 f7 23.xd3 xe5 24.xe5 xd3 25.xd3 f5 26.e3 ae8 27.f4 d4 , and Black has decent compensation for the two pawns he has sacrificed ] 19.xe5 xe5 20.xe5 d6 21.e1 c5 22.f3 [ 22.f3 b8 ] 22...g7 [ 22...f4!? 23.e5 fxg3 24.fxg3 a6 25.f4 f6 ( 25...g5 26.h5! )] 23.g5 [ 23.b4 axb4 24.g5 b6 25.axb4 xa1 26.xa1 b7 27.bxc5 xc5 28.h4 a8 29.c1 f7 ] 23...c7 24.h4 [ 24.b4!? ] 24...f7 25.e2 [ 25.f4!? ] 25...d7 26.f4 [ 26.g2 b7 27.d2 h8 28.f4 xf4 29.xf4 h3 30.f3 c6 31.b4 xf3 32.e5+ h7 33.f4 h1+ ( 33...xg3+ 34.f2 g5 35.e6 ) 34.f2 h2+ 35.g1 ] 26...h8! 27.f2 [ 27.ab1 h5 28.f3 f8 ( 28...b7?! 29.h4 f8 30.e5 e8 31.f3! ) 29.e7 e8 30.xd6 xd6 31.d2 eh8
32.e2 h3 33.e7+ xe7 34.xe7+ f8 35.ee1 xg3+ ( 35...g5 36.fxg5 f4 37.f2 fxg3+ 38.g2 c6 39.f1 g7 40.be1 h2+ 41.xg3 2h3+ 42.g2 h2+= ) 36.f2 g4 37.e5 h2+ 38.f1 h1+ 39.f2 h2+= ] [ 27.f2 h5 ( 27...a4 28.e2 c6 29.ae1 ) 28.f3 c6 ( 28...a4 29.h4 f8 30.ab1 b8 31.e5 c6 32.xc6 xc6 33.e6 b3 34.e2 ) 29.e6 d7 30.e2 h3 31.g2 h5 32.f1 ( 32.f2 h3 33.g2 h5= ) 32...a8 33.ae1 b7 ] [ 27.g2!? ] 27...b7?! [ 27...h5! 28.f3 f8 29.h4 e8 30.d2 eh8 31.e2 g5! 32.xg5 xg5! 33.fxg5 xg3+ 34.xg3 h2+ 35.xh2 xh2+ 36.f1 h1+ 37.f2 h2+= ] 28.ab1 h5!? [ 28...a4 29.d1 ( 29.f3 c6 30.d1 c8 31.b4 axb3 32.xb3 h5!! 33.e2 xg5 34.fxg5 f4-+ ) 29...a8 30.b4 axb3 31.xb3 b8 ( 31...h5? 32.b6 f8 33.d8+- ) 32.a2 xb1 33.xb1 f8 ( 33...c7 34.e7 a7 35.f3+- ) 34.e7 b8 35.c1 c6 36.d1 ] 29.f3? [ 29.b4! axb4 30.axb4 cxb4 31.c5 c7 32.e7! ( 32.b2? d5 33.xb4 xh4!! 34.xh4 c6 35.e2 xf4! 36.gxf4 b7 37.xb7+ xb7 38.d1 c6 ) 32...d5 33.d6 xd6 34.cxd6 xd6 35.e5+ ] 29...c6 30.g1?-+ [ 30.h4!? xf4 31.gxf4 xf3 32.e7 c6 33.e5+ h7 34.e6 xe6 35.xe6 xh4 36.xf3 h3+ 37.g2 xd3 38.c6 d2+ ] 30...f8! 31.h4 [ 31.h4 e8 32.e5 xe5 33.fxe5 f4 34.g4 d7 35.d1 fxg3+ 36.xg3 f8+ 37.e1 f3!-+ ] 31...xg5! 32.fxg5 f4 33.g4 e8 34.d2 e3!? [ 34...h8! 35.f1 xh4 36.b4 axb4 37.axb4 h3!-+ ] 35.b4 e7 36.bxc5 xg5 37.h1 [ 37.f5+ gxf5 38.gxf5 g3-+ ] 37...xh1 [ 37...e7! 38.h2 xg4 39.g2 f3 40.bh1 g3+ 41.f1 e2+ 42.g1 f3-+ 303
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 isn 't th is a b ea utif ul p ositio n? W h ite is completely tied up. ] 38.xh1 xc5 39.d1 e7 [ 39...d6! 40.f3 xg4 41.g1 h3 42.g2 e7!-+ ] 40.a4 [ 40.g2!? g3 41.e1 d6 42.b1! c7 43.e4 g5 44.e1 xg4 45.f3 g3 46.b5 ] 40...g3 41.g2 b4 42.h2 e5 43.c5 [ 43.h1 f3 44.h7+ g8-+ ] 43...f3 44.h4 f4 0-1
318 Van Wely,Loek Kramnik,Vladimir Amber Rapid Nice FRA rapid (7) [Carsten Hansen]
A09 2681 2799 22.03.2008
1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 f6 4.e3 e5 [ In our December 2007 update we saw Korotylev-Kramnik continue with 4...dxe3 5.fxe3 e5 6.c5! with a better game for White - this game can obviously be found in the PGN archives ] 5.c5!? [ 5.b3!? can also be considered ] [ 5.b2 dxe3 6.fxe3 xb4 7.e2 is possibly also playable for White ] 5...a5!? [ This is Kortchnoi's recommendation, but the alternative also deserve serious consideration: A) 5...d3!? It is interesting how different this move has been evaluated. Tony in his annotations to the game (see PGN archives) gave this move '!!' and called it stunning. Kortchnoi, meanwhile, wrote 'This move is a bit too optimistic - Black is pushing his pawns too far, without appropriate support of his pieces. Correct was 5...a5, exploiting premature white's activity on the queen side.'. Palliser in his book, "Beating Unusual Chess Openings" also recommends 5...d3 for Black. A) 6.b2 e6 ( 6...e4 7.d4 ) 7.a4+ c6 8.c3 d7 ( 8...a5!? (Horn) deserves consideration, though 9.a3 a6 10.b5 is fully acceptable for White) 9.a3 a6 10.c1 d8 , and Black appears to have
the better chances, Bernstein, SMoskowitz, J/New York 1941; B) 6.b3 6.Bb2!? had been played before, the move which would prevent the white phalange on the queen side to get destroyed. e4 7.d4 B1) H e r e B l a c k h a s t r i e d 7...c6 on a couple of occasions, but W hite appear to have the better chances, e.g. 8.b2 ge7 ( or 8...a5 9.a3 xd4 10.xd4 e7 11.g3 c6 12.b2 e7 13.g2 f5 14.f3 e6 15.c3 d5 16.0-0 , and White has grabbed the initiative, Peralta, F-Palo, D/Copenhagen 2002 ) 9.xc6 bxc6 10.c3 f5 11.f3 exf3 12.gxf3 b8 , Wells, P-Timman, J/ London ENG 2007, and now W hite should have played 13.a3 a6 14.g2 , and White is clearly enjoying the better chances thanks to a better pawn structure and better development.; B2) 7...a5 8.c3 f5 9.e6 B2a) 9...xe6 10.xe6+ e7 11.b5 d7 12.a3; B2b) 9...a4 10.c4 e7 11.xf8 ( 11.f4 f6 12.a3 ) 11...xf8 is given as better for Black in Palliser's book, basing it on a recommendation by H.Williamson, but this isn't entirely clear, e.g. 12.b5!? f6 13.a3 e6 14.b4 c6 15.g3 f7 16.g2 followed by f2-f3 and I believe White has the better chances; B2c) 9...e7 10.a4+ ( In the game Gabriel-Kortchnoi, Zurich 1999, White continued with 10.xf8? xf8 11.b5 e6 12.a4 d7 13.a3 xc5 14.d4 b6 , and Black has the better chances. ) 10...f7 ( 10...c6? 11.d5+-; 10...d7 11.xc7+ d8 12.b5+- ) 11.xf8 B2c1) This is suggested by Kosten as Bla ck' s b est a n d rep e at e d b y Palliser in his abovementioned book K o r c h n o i o n l y g i v e s 11...xf8 12.a3 ( 12.b5!? Horn ) 12...f6 13.f3 f7 14.fxe4 fxe4 15.g3 e5 16.b5 e8 17.g2 g8 18.0-0 f5 19.c4+ h8 20.xf5! xf5 21.f1 after which Kortchnoi claims a clear advantage for White; 304
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B2c2) 11...xf8 B2c21) 12.d5?! d7 13.a3 ( 13.d1!? ) 13...a6 14.xa5 e7 15.xc7 ( 15.xe7 xe7 16.b2 he8 17.g3 b6 18.a3 bxc5 19.bxc5 xc5 20.c3 g8 i s b e t t e r f o r B l a c k) 15...c6 16.b6 xc7 17.xc7 c8 wi t h a b e t t e r g a m e f o r B l a c k Kosten; B2c22) 12.a3 axb4 13.xa8 a6 B2c221) This is the only given by Kosten and Palliser, but W hite can easily improve on this, e.g. 14.c6! b6 15.xe4 fxe4 16.b2 e7 17.g3 c5 18.g2 and with W hite being ready to break with f2-f3 followed by 0-0, he is clearly better; B2c222) 14.xe4 fxe4 15.b2 f6 ( 15...xc5 16.a5 b6 17.xb4 f6 18.d4 and W hite has all the winning chances ) 16.c6 b6 17.g3 c5 18.g2 with the better chances for White; B2c223) 14.xb4? xb4 15.b1 c2+ 16.d1 f6 is promising for Black according to Kosten ] [ B) 5...g4 6.c4 ( 6.e2?! d3 7.a4+? d7-+ 8.c6 xc6 9.b5 dxe2 10.bxc6 xc6 11.xe2 d7 12.d1 d4+ 0-1 Kureza, S-Mezheritsky, Y/Kiev 2002; 6.h3!? xf3 7.xf3 c6 8.a3 d7 9.c4 ) 6...a5 7.b3 h6 8.d3 axb4 9.bd2 dxe3 10.fxe3 xc5 11.e4 e7 12.0-0 c6 Vodicka, V-Jirka, J/CZE 2001 ] [ C) 5...e7 6.c4 d5 7.xe5 e6 8.f3 xe3 9.dxe3 xc4 10.xd4 a5 , Bae, T-Westerinen, H/Gausdal 2000, and now 11.d2 d5 12.e4 f7 13.b2 axb4 14.2b3 ] 6.xe5 [ Hello! This is a novelty. Previously White has tried the following moves: A) 6.b5+!? A) 6...c6?! 7.exd4 A1) 7...e4 8.d5 xd5 9.c3 h5 10.xe4 ( 10.xc6+!? bxc6 11.a4 exf3 12.xc6+ d8 13.xa8 axb4
14.d5+ xd5 15.xd5 fxg2 16.g1 xc5 17.e3 ) 10...axb4 11.0-0 g4 12.d4 xf3 13.gxf3 ge7 ( 13...0-0-0 14.xc6 g6+ 15.h1 bxc6 16.a3+- ) 14.a3 d5 15.b2; A2) 7...exd4 8.0-0 d7 ( 8...axb4 9.e1+ e7 10.b3 g4 11.b2 ) 9.e1+ e7 10.d3 xb4 ( 10...axb4 11.b3 ) 11.xd4 c6?! ( 11...xb5 12.xb5 xd3 13.xc7+ xc7 14.xd3 ) 12.c4 , and Black is completely busted, Peralta, F-Bromann, T/Aarhus 2002; B) 6...c6 7.c4 g4 ( 7...axb4!? (Horn) 8.xe5 dxe3 9.fxe3 h6 10.f3 xc5 11.0-0 , and with his d- and e-pawns ready to advance in addition to the control over the a2-g8 diagonal, W hite has excellent compensation for the sacrificed pawn; 7...dxe3 8.fxe3 g4 9.0-0 h6 10.e1 e4 11.d4 axb4 was Peralta, F-Cafolla, P/Port Erin 2002, and now White should h a ve t rie d 12.f4 e7 13.g3 d7 14.b2 with a very sharp position and probably better chances for White ) B1) 8.b3!? B1a) 8...a4 9.c2 e7 10.b2 d5 11.exd4 ( 11.a3 ) 11...xb4 12.e4 xf3 13.gxf3 d7 14.0-0; B1b) 8...h6 B1b1) 9.exd4?! xf3 10.gxf3 ( 10.xf3? xd4 11.c3 e4+ 12.f1 axb4 13.xb4 d4 14.b2 xc5-+ Horn ) B1b11) Horn only offers 10...xd4 11.b2 f4 12.a3 ( 12.d4?! exd4 13.0-0 axb4 14.e1+ d8 15.xd4 xc5 16.xc5 g5+ 17.h1 xc5 18.a3 ) 12...axb4 13.axb4 xa1 14.xa1; B1b12) 10...axb4! 11.0-0 ( 11.b2?! exd4 12.xb4 b5!-+ ) 11...xd4 12.b2 h4 13.d4 d7 14.e1 ( 14.a3?! exd4 15.axb4 xa1 16.xa1 e5 ) 14...e7 , and White's initiative is rapidly running out, leaving Black t o c o n s o l i d a t e 15.e6 f8 16.dxe5 xc5 17.f7+ ( 17.e2 g6 18.exf6 gxf6 ) 17...xf7 18.exf6+ d8 19.d1+ c8 305
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.h1 gxf6 21.xf7 g6 22.d7+ b8 23.d2 b6-+; B1b2) 9.bxa5!? xf3 10.gxf3 xc5 11.a3 xa5 12.xb7 a7 13.b2 xa3 14.xa3; B2) 8.exd4 e4 9.e2 e7 10.h3 exf3 11.xe7+ xe7 12.hxg4 fxg2 13.g1 h5! ( 13...axb4 14.xg2 h5 (Horn) 15.h2 ) 14.bxa5?! ( 14.gxh5 xh5 15.xg2 h1+ 16.f1 axb4 17.b2 (Horn) d5 18.g3 a6 ) 14...hxg4 15.xg2 h1+ 16.f1 f5 , and Black has the initiative, Nikolaevsky, YSavchenko, S/Kiev 1995 ] [ B) 6.b3 axb4 7.c4 h6 8.0-0 xc5 9.exd4 xd4 ( 9...exd4 10.e1+ f8 11.b2 c6 ) 10.xd4 xd4 11.b2 d6 12.d4 with an unclear position, Ilinsky-Lev/ Gausdal/1991 ] [ C) 6.exd4 e4 Kortchnoi 7.e2 e7 8.g1 c6 Horn (CBM) ] 6...fxe5 7.h5+ d7 8.f5+ e8 9.h5+ d7 10.f5+ e7 [ 10...e8 11.h5+ d7 12.f5+ wo u l d h a v e b e e n a d r a w, b u t K r a m n i k evidently felt like a fight after all ] 11.xe5+ e6 12.c4 d7 13.b5 [ 13.xe6 xe6 14.xc7+ d7 15.0-0 f7 16.exd4 c6 17.g3 gf6 is given as much better for W hite by my computer, but I'm not so sure. ] 13...c6 [ 13...f6 14.b2 dxe3 15.fxe3 f7 16.xe6+ xe6 17.xc7+ ] 14.a3 f6 15.b2 [ 15.exd4 f7 16.0-0 d5 doesn't look as dynamic for White as the game continuation, but is possibly just as good... ] 15...f7 [ This posit ion is almost impossible to evaluate W hite obviously has some if not full compensation for the piece. 15...d3!? ] 16.xd4 cxb5 [ Also 16...e7 17.b1 d5 18.0-0 d8 should be given some thought, though it is extremely difficult to evaluate ] 17.xe6+ xe6 18.xe6+ xe6 19.xb5 a6 [ 19...e8!? 20.e2 a6!? ] 20.xf6!? gxf6 21.d4 The smoke as cleared somewhat, and only somewhat because the
NQE (Not Quite Endgame, thanks Flear) is ve ry co m p lic a t e d t h a n ks t o t h e m a t e ria l imbalance and the two rooks on either side of the table. A hard assessment of the position is very difficult to give. I would prefer to play Black (thanks to my somewhat materialistic attitude to chess), but objectively speaking I think White has very good winning chances. b6!? 22.cxb6 [ Here White can consider keeping the cpawn on the table with 22.c6!? c8 23.e4 f5 24.f3 , but putting all the pawns on light squares will make it easier f or Black to blockade them, which is probably the reason why White took on b6 instead. ] 22...b8 23.c1 xb6 24.a4 d7 [ 24...b4 25.e2 d6!? ] 25.e2 d6 26.f3 b8 27.h4 c7 28.c3 [ Also 28.a3!? b4 29.c4 a7 30.xa5 xa4 31.a1 xa1 32.xa1 deserve consideration ] 28...f5 29.e2 e6?! [ 29...a6!? 30.g3 d6 is an interesting alternative, because White doesn't have the same opportunities as in the game continuation ] 30.d5 d8 31.d4 f7 32.b1 e5+ 33.e2 b4 34.xf5!? [ 34.xb4!? axb4 35.b1 a7 36.xf5 c5 37.e4 ( 37.c1 c8 38.f4 g4 39.e4 f6 40.d3 b3 41.b1 b8 isn't easy to assess, but advancing the pawns is becoming quite difficult.) 37...a8 38.f4 g6 39.g3 xa4 40.e5 e7 41.xe7 xe7 42.g4 looks tempting the pawn chain looks very imposing and White should have very decent winning chances ] 34...c8 [ Kramnik didn't like 34...xa4 35.b7+ c7 36.c1 ( 36.d6?? a2+-+ ) 36...c4 37.xc4 xc4 38.f4 after which only White seems to have winning chances, e.g. f8 39.e4 xf5 40.exf5 d6 41.a7 xf5 42.g4 xh4 43.f5 ] 35.xb4 axb4 36.d4 [ Also 36.b1!? c2+ 37.d1 xf2 38.xb4 xf5 39.xb8 offers White winning chances, but Van Wely undoubtedly wanted to keep the pawns together to make them more powerful. ] 306
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 36...a7 37.b1 c4 38.f3? [ This is a straight-forward error White will have a hard time making the pawns count after doubling two of them on the f -file. Instead White should have given preference to 38.b5!? c5 39.f4 g4 40.d3 xe3 41.a5 , and White has all the chances to win, but Black still has decent chances of obtaining a draw, but at the moment his pieces are tied up defending each other. ] 38...xf3 39.gxf3 d6 40.e4 c5 41.b3 e5 42.h5?! [ Or 42.d2 xf2 43.h5 c5 44.a5 f4 45.a6 d6 46.b1 c7 , and Black has decent winning chances ] 42...c2+ 43.d3 xf2 [ 43...c1! is likely much stronger, even if it doesn't appear to be anything particularly clever. W hite's problem is that with the material he has left, his pieces are ideally placed, and any change to that will change that status. Therefore it is a kind of zu gzwa n g h e is in a f t e r 4 3 .. . Rc1 . , e . g. 44.b2 ( 44.d2 a1 45.b2 xa4; 44.a5 a1 45.c4 xa5 46.b2 ) 44...c3+ 45.e2 b3 46.a5 f4 47.b1 xf3 with excellent winning chances for Black ] 44.c4 c2+ 45.b5 d6 [ Th e im me d ia t e 45...c3 is also worth a look, e.g. 46.b1 b3 47.a5 d4 48.a4 xf3 49.xb3 f7 50.a6! xe4 51.b7 xb7 52.axb7 e5 , and now a draw becomes obvious because Black cannot k e e p W h i t e ' s k i n g a wa y f r o m h 1 wh i l e picking up the d- and h-pawns... 53.b3 d3 54.b4 d4 55.b3 xd5 56.c2 e4 57.d2 f3 58.e1 g2 59.e2 with a draw ] 46.a5 c3 47.a4 d4 48.a6 c5 49.d6? [ 49.xb4+? xb4 50.xb4 xf3 51.a7 f8-+ ] [ 49.a7! c1 50.b5 xa7 51.xb4+ , and White shouldn't lose. ] 49...xd6 [ Black could have considered 49...c1!? , e. g. 50.b5 xd6 51.a7 a1 52.c6 c5 with excellent winning chances for Black. After the text move, the game quickly settles in a draw. ] 50.xc3 bxc3 51.a7 c2 52.a8 c1 53.d5+ e3 54.xd6 xf3 55.e5 f4+
56.b5 e4 57.c6+ xe5 58.c7+ e4 59.xh7+ f5+ 60.xf5+ xf5 ½-½
319 Van der Werf,Mark Burg,Twan Tata Steel Chess 2013 (3.1) [John Bartholomew]
A09 2450 2492 14.01.2013
T h e r e h a s b e e n s o m e d is c u s si o n in t h e forums about the theoretical status of the pawn advance 2...d4 against the Réti, which, in practice is dwarfed in popularity by 2...c6 and 2...e6. As the saying goes, however, "numbers don't lie", and indeed, Black scores significantly better with 2...d4 than any other choice at that juncture. GM Alexander Delchev, author of "The Modern Reti: An Anti-Slav Repertoire", even calls it "the most unpleasant retort to 2.c4". 1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 Delchev's principle recommendation for White. [ Other options include 3.g3 ] [ 3.e3 ] [ and 3.c5!? . Refer to the "Réti 2 c4 - 2. .. d4" guide in the archives. ] 3...f6 '!' - Delchev. Black prepares reliable support for his d-pawn with ...e7-e5. [ 3...c5 can lead to a Benko-style position i. e. 4.e3 dxe3 5.fxe3 cxb4 6.a3!? , which was successful in Sadorra, J (2525)-Kacheishvili, G (2612) Richardson 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] [ A n o t h e r p o s s i b i l i t y i s 3...g4!? . See Laznicka, V (2617)-Rombaldoni, D (2465) Pardubice 2009/[Rowson]. ] 4.d3 A calm choice, as played by Radjabov and Ivanchuk. [ Delchev endorses 4.e3 , with much of his analysis centering around the line e5 5.c5 a5 6.b5+!? c6 7.c4 . However, shortly after the publication of "The Modern Reti" the publisher, Chess Stars, published a letter from a reader, Reinhold Thiele. Mr. Thiele queries Delchev's sharp line axb4 8.xe5 and proposes an improvement for Black: fxe5 ( Delchev only examines 8...h6!? ) 9.h5+ g6!? 10.xe5+ e7 11.xh8 f6 "when Black continues Be6, ... 307
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Nbd7 ...0-0-0" (Thiele). In many of the lines W hite's queen is hopelessly marooned. Thiele's improvement is corroborated by d e e p H o u d in i a n a lysis , a n d in t e re st e d readers should investigate his variations here: http://www.chess-stars.com/Reti letter. html . As far as I know Delchev has yet to offer any counter-analysis, so his line with 4. e3 can rightly be called into question at present. Interestingly, one game did reach this position in the past month, and the result was favorable for Black: 12.0-0 e6 13.d3? xc4 14.dxc4 d7! 15.d1 g7 16.xd4+ c7 (Her Majesty is trapped) 17.d8+ xd8 18.xd8 xd8-+ and Black soon won in Davis, T (1945)Zelesco, K (2143) Cammeray 2013. ] 4...e5 5.a3 [ I v a n c h u k t r i e d t h e c r e a t i v e 5.a3!? in a blitz game against Wang Hao. It proved s u c c e s s f u l a f t e r e6 ( Black has many v i a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e s h e r e , i . e . 5...a5; 5...g4!?; 5...c5 , etc. ) 6.g3 c6 7.g2 a5 8.b5 , when c5? ( 8...xa3 9.xa3 e7 looks more flexible) 9.0-0 d6 10.e3 dxe3 11.fxe3 e7 12.c3 d7 13.d2 c8 14.de4 b8 15.a4 b6 16.exc5 bxc5 17.xa8+was disastrous for Black. Ivanchuk, V (2766)-W ang Hao (2737) Beijing CHN 2012. ] [ Radjabov played 5.b5 without success: a6! (a good reaction) 6.bxa6 xa6 7.g3 b4+ 8.d2 e7 9.g2 0-0 10.0-0 d7 11.xb4 xb4 12.b3 ec6 13.bd2 e7 14.b2 a7 15.b3 fa8 Radjabov, T (2781) -Naiditsch, A (2712) Porto Carras 2011. ] 5...a5 [ B l a c k c a n a l s o t h i n k a b o u t 5...c5 , a move that brought down Korchnoi twice i n t h e 1 9 8 0 s . 6.b3 ( 6.g3 cxb4 (play takes on a Reversed Benko character) 7.g2 c6 8.0-0 a5 9.e3 g4 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 c5 12.d5 ge7 13.e4 xd5 14.cxd5 e7 15.a4+? d7 16.b3 a4 17.c4 d6 18.axb4 b5 19.a2 xh3-+ Kortschnoj, V (2635) Seirawan, Y (2525) London 1984) 6...a5 7.b5 d6 8.g3 f5! 9.g2 f6 10.0-0 0-0 11.g5 bd7 and Black could be more than satisfied with the opening in Kortschnoj,
V (2625)-Short, N (2615) Brussels 1987. ] 6.b5 e7 Black has tried 10(!) different moves at this point in only 14 total games (going back to 1972). Results have been favorable for the second player: he scores +5, =4, -4. Some Flank devotees may identify with W hite's characteristic Réti setup, but personally I find Black's position easier to handle. He dominates the center and has made very logical moves thus far. 7.g3 d7 The c5-square is a natural home f or this knight. 8.g2 c5 9.a4 g6 10.a3 e6 11.fd2 c8 12.h4!? d6 13.h5 [ I think 13.b3! is preferable. After xb3 14.xb3 e7!? 15.d2 0-0 16.e4 d7 17.c5 xc5 18.xc5 ab8 White possesses the bishop pair while Black retains a solid position. ] 13...f8! 14.b3 xb3 15.xb3 d7 Black's knight replaces his fallen comrade on c5. 16.d2 c5 17.c2 0-0 18.b3 xb3 19.xb3 f5 20.c2 xa3 21.xa3 f6 22.a1 f4 23.d2?! [ 23.gxf4 xf4 24.h6!? g6= ] 23...fxg3 24.fxg3 f2 25.f3 g4 26.hf1 h2!? 27.c5 h8 28.c4 f5 29.d5 g5+ 30.c2 c6?! [ B e t t e r w a s 30...xf3! 31.xf3 e7 , winning the c-pawn. ] 31.bxc6 bxc6 32.f7? An error. [ W h i t e p r o b a b l y r e j e c t e d 32.xc6 because of c8 , but 33.d6 xf3 34.xf3 xe2+ 35.b3 is actually fairly safe for him. Black would have to secure his own king with h6 , b u t a f t e r 36.af1 White has sufficient counterplay. ] 32...h6 33.ab1?! e4! A decisive lineopening blow. 34.xg4 [ 34.dxe4 xc5+ ( or 34...d3+ ) 35.d1 d3! crashes through. ] 34...exd3+ 35.xd3 e3+ 36.c2 d3+! 37.b2 dxe2 38.fe1 d4+ 39.a3 xg4-+ White's king is far too exposed and he can scarcely cope with the advanced passed e-pawn. 40.b3 d8 41.c7 d1 42.f7 h7 White resigned. Black's play in this game was natural and strong. My view is that 3.b4 f6 is a very reliable continuation for Black (no surprise here), so W hite players ought to think hard about what they're going to play
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 gain anything by passive play. [ 14.b4!? would upset the equilibrium, e.g., xb4 15.b1 a5 ( 15...xd2 16.xd2 b8 17.e4 ) 16.a3! xa3 17.xd4! exd4 ( 17...xd4 18.a4+ d7 19.xa3 ) 320 A09 18.xb7 d6 19.a4+ d8 ( 19...f8? Vukic,Milan 2474 20.e4 ) 20.a1 and Black's bishop can't Kovacevic,Aleksandar 2556 escape due to b4 21.xb4 ] Open Banja Luka BIH (5) 08.12.2004 14...0-0!? [John Watson] [ Or 14...a5 with at least equality. White has to move quickly to compensate for Black's This game tests the idea of playing a two bishops. ] Saemisch variation/Bg5 Benoni with reversed colours, and how White might address that in 15.e2 [ 15.b4 should be tried. ] order to try for an advantage. 1.f3 d5 2.g3 15...a5 16.e1 ab8 Preparing ...b5. 17.a4 c5 3.g2 c6 4.c4 d4 5.d3 e5 6.0-0 Going backwards. With White lacking [ 6.b4!? cxb4 7.a3 is not really a genuine f7?! reversed Benko Gambit because Black has queenside play Black should be able to build will have little trouble castling. Many times up an attack at his leisure. [ I t h i n k t h a t 17...h8! was preferable to ann ot at ors ta lk a bou t re ve rsed " Be nko prevent any tricks based upon the e-file and Gambits" with an extra tempo (which indeed Bd5. ] helps White) even though Black pays less of [ , or 17...be8 18.c2 f5 ] a price for accepting the pawn in terms of king position. Here a possible sequence 18.c2! d8?! [ 18...be8! would meet 19.f4 by d6 ] might be bxa3 8.0-0 ( 8.a4 b4+ 9.d2 xd2+ 10.bxd2 f6 11.xa3 ge7; 19.f4! exf4? 20.xf4 Suddenly the d-pawn is 8.xa3 xa3 9.xa3 f6 ) 8...d6 9.a4 under fire and White's pieces are active. d6 [ 20...c5 21.b3! ] ge7 10.xa3 0-0 . White has some compensation, but I doubt that it's as much 21.xd4 c7 22.f1 e5 23.e4 f5 24.d4! xe4 25.xe4 d6 26.c5 e7 as Black in the original Gambit. ] 6...f6 The Saemisch reversed, soon to 27.ce3 [ Or 27.e1! e8 28.fe3 would threaten become a Benoni. 7.e3 g4 8.exd4 xd4 Nd5 and give White a clear advantage. d7 [ 8...cxd4 gives White a choice between 29.d5+ xd5 30.xd5 f7 31.c7 h8 several Benoni setups with an extra tempo. 32.e3 with Nc4 to come. ] Whether this suffices for an advantage is 27...d7? unclear, but Kovacevic avoids it. ] [ 27...e8 28.e1 d7 29.d5+ xd5 9.e3 d7 10.xd4 30.xd5 c6! is better than the last note. ] [ 10.c3 is also possible, when ] 28.d5+ xd5 29.xd5+ f7 30.f5 10...cxd4 11.bd2 h6 [ Or 30.c4! fd8 31.fe3 but White has a [ 11...e7 invites 12.b4 ] nice grip on the position regardless. ] 12.h3 [ A more dynamic idea was 12.a3 a5 30...fe8 31.1e3 f8 32.c4! d8 13.b4!? axb4 14.axb4 xa1 15.xa1 33.g2 e2+ 34.f1 c2 35.fe3 h2 with pressure on the b-pawn and moves like 36.g2 Black has been just flailing about, and now loses the exchange back. c7 37.g4 c5 and Nc4 in the air. ] xg2 38.xg2 d8 39.d1 g5 40.d5 12...e6 e8 41.f2 e2 42.d2 e1 43.h4 f7 [ 12...xh3?! 13.xe5 fxe5 14.h5+ ] [ 12...f5 13.e2 e7 14.h2 0-0 44.d3 e4 45.b3 f5 46.f2 e1 47.d1 15.h4 e6 16.f4 exf4 17.xf4 g5 Perhaps White should quit messing around 18.e4 gxh4 19.xe6 hxg3+ 20.g1 and win the game by [ 47.d6! d8 48.d5 and Nd3. ] intending Bd5. ] 13.h2 e7 14.a3 White cannot hope to 47...e8 48.c3 against the unjustly unpopular 2...d4. 0-1
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Or 48.d6! ] 48...d7 At least Black has prevented progress for a while. Now White settles for a rook-and-pawn ending that should be winning but is not easy. 49.b5 e5 50.xe5+ xe5 51.c2 c7 52.c6+?! [ 52.xc7 xc7 53.f3 d1 54.d6+ c6 55.f4 g6 56.c3 intending Kg5 looks good. ] 52...bxc6 53.xc7 xc7 54.xc6+ d7 55.a6 e3 56.xa5 xb3 57.a7+ d6 58.xg7 a3 59.f7? [ 59.xh7! xa4 60.f7 e5 61.h5! a5 62.h6 a2+ 63.h3 a6 64.h7 h6+ 65.g2 xd5 66.a7 ] 59...e5 60.d6 xa4 [ Poor is 60...xd6 61.xf5 xa4 62.f7 h5 63.f5 ] 61.d7 d4 62.xh7 f6 63.h5 d3 64.f2 d2+ 65.e3 d1 Suddenly White can't make progress! 66.g4!? fxg4 67.e4 [ 67.f4 d4+ 68.g3 g5 ] 67...d2 68.h6 g6 [ Or 68...g3 ] 69.e7 xh6 70.e5 g3 71.e6+ g7 [ 71...g7 72.d6 xd6 73.xd6 g2 d r a ws . A d i s a s t e r f o r W h i t e , w h o wa s winning at many junctures. ] ½-½
321 Vukic,Milan Stojanovic,Dalibor TCh-BIH Prem (6) [John Watson]
A09 2468 2452 09.06.2005
1.f3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.g2 c6 4.c4 d4 5.d3 e5 6.0-0 f6 7.e3 e7 8.exd4 exd4 9.f4 This position an arise in a number of ways. It is exactly a variation of a Benoni in reverse, but here White gets time to play the critical Ne5. W het her that give s him an y advantage is unclear, but in these two recent games Black followed a line that was supposed to be equal but left him clearly worse. 0-0 10.e5 xe5 11.xe5 g4 T h i s i s t h e m a i n l i n e i n E C O , wi t h a l l 3 alte rn at ive s th ey give lea ding to a sma ll advantage for White, i.e., [ 11...g4 12.b3 d7 ( 12...d7 13.d2
ae8= ) 13.f4 b6 14.e1 fe8 15.a3 - Minev ] [ 11...d7 12.f4 -Korchnoi ] [ 11...d6 12.xf6 xf6 13.d2 - Bagirov. The idea is that a knight is better than a bishop in this position, but that's not clear. Play might continue f5 14.e4 d7 15.xb7 ab8 16.g2 xb2 17.b3 ] 12.e1! [ 12.f4 d6 13.xd6 xd6 14.d2 Kasparov-Pinter, Skara 1980 and Kasparov suggests e5 15.h3 ( 15.e4 c7 16.h3 f5= ) 15...f5 16.e4 c7 17.f4 d7 18.g4 xe4 19.xe4 f6 20.g2 ] 12...d6!? [ T h e o b v i o u s 12...xe5 13.xe5 resembles the reversed Benoni mentioned. The position is slightly deceptive because W h it e ha s act ivit y an d th e p owerf u l g2 bishop. Nevertheless, Black has the bishop pair and no weaknesses, so he shouldn't stand much worse if at all. ] 13.xd6 xd6 14.h3 f6 15.d2! d7?! 16.xb7 ab8 17.g2 a5 [ In he same tournament Vukic had it easy after 17...c6 18.xc6 xc6 19.b3 a5 20.f3 d7 21.g2 a4 22.e5! a7 23.ae1 axb3 24.xb3 xa2 25.xc5 h6 26.e7 a3 27.d7 xd7 28.xd7 1-0 Vukic-Ribic, Neum BIH 2005. ] [ 17...xb2 18.b3 almost traps the rook and forces concessions: e8 ( 18...c6? 19.xc6 xc6 20.c1 ) 19.xe8+ xe8 20.c1 e2 21.a3! d7 22.xa7 ] 18.b3 b6 19.f3 a4 20.b1 axb3 21.axb3 [ or 21.xb3 a6 22.xb8 xb8 23.e2 ] 21...d6 22.a1 b6 23.a5!? fb8 24.d2 Vukic-Stojanovic, Neum 2005. White went on to lose, but here he is a clear pawn up with nicely-placed pieces. 0-1
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A09 19...dg8! 20.f4 [ 20.xf6? xh3! would actually lose! ] Zvjaginsev,Vadim 2652 Svetushkin,Dmitry 2486 20...d6 21.f3 g4 22.h1 So, White has VII Anibal Open (3) 09.01.2000 erected a solid defence, with so many pieces around his king, but exploiting his extra pawn [Tony Kosten] won't be easy. b8?! [ Can Black really afford to use two moves to 1.f3 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 f6 4.xc4 e6 bring his king to a safer square like this? 5.0-0 One advantage of playing a Reti move22...g6 is more in keeping with his previous orde r a gain st Q u ee n 's Ga mb it A cce pt e d gung-ho play. ] players, is that you can delay d4, to keep 23.ae1?! them guessing. c5 6.e2 a6 [ Safety-first play, but 23.ac1 is better, [ 6...c6 7.d1 e7 and now White counter-attacking the c5-pawn. ] transposed into a QGA: 8.d4 cxd4 9.exd4 Kortschnoj,V-Huebner,R/Brussels 1987, 0-1 23...a8 24.b3?! g6 25.d1 The bishop is brought over to help, too, but why use two (55). ] moves to bring the piece to an inferior square? 7.b3 [ 7.d1 is similar: b5 8.b3 b7 9.a4 c4 f5 Softening-up the long diagonal. 26.xd6 10.c2 b6 11.axb5 axb5 12.xa8 xa8 xd6 27.f4 d4! 28.b3 a7?! [ Another wasted move, 28...e5 29.f2 13.d3 cxd3 14.xd3 with the initiative, Vujic gh6 30.h3 xd3 and Black has regained Katanic,B-Savic,M/Vrnjacka Banja YUG his pawn, and continues to attack. ] 1999, 1-0 (26). ] 29.a5 e5 30.f2 gh6 31.h3 xd3 7...b5!? [ Clearly, Black doesn't wish to play 7...c6 32.xd3 xd3 33.e3 [ 33.f3? fxe4 34.xe4 xe4 35.xe4 as perhaps this line isn't in his repertoire: xh3+ and the black attack breaks through. ] 8.d1 e7 9.d4 cxd4 10.exd4 0-0 11.c3 back to a QGA again, Zvjaginsev,V- 33...d2 34.e2 h4 35.f2 fxe4 36.g1 f8 37.f3? Magem Badals,J/Pamplona 1996, 1-0 (28). ] [ Time-trouble, perhaps, 37.d1 holds on. ] 8.a4 b4 [ This concedes the c4-square, but 8...c4 37...c8?? [ The obviou s 37...xf3 38.xc5+ a8 9.c2 b7 10.d3 cxd3 11.xd3 39.gxf3 f4 should win. ] is also awkward. ] 9.d3! So White is not going to play d4 after all! 38.f7 d4? 39.d1 On time, probably, Now that Black has shown his hand, W hite although now White is clearly better. prefers to play a set-up with pawns on d3, and 1-0 e4, keeping the c5-pawn backward on the o p e n c - f i l e . c6 10.bd2 This knight is A10 heading for the important c4-square. a5 323 11.a2 b7 12.e4 This pawn acts as a Agrest,Evgenij 2607 barrier to the b7-bishop, thus negating Black's Atalik,Suat 2575 habitual counterplay on the h1-a8 diagonal, in Olympiad Bled SLO (13) 08.11.2002 the QGA. e7 13.c4 xc4 14.xc4 c7 [Tony Kosten] 15.g5!? Having fixed the queenside, White will now use his extra space on the kingside 1.c4 e6 2.c3 b6 It is time to have another to a t t ac k with f 4 -5 . h6 16.h3 g5!? look at the English Defence. 3.e4 b7 4.f3 Black decides that his king is safer on the b4 5.d3 e7 6.e2 g6! Lalic's move. queenside, and tries to attack on the kingside 7.c2!? A new idea. Before we had himself. 17.f4 0-0-0?! This pawn sacrifice considered may offer practical chances, but it is difficult [ 7.0-0 and ] to believe that it is correct. 18.fxg5 hxg5 [ 7.a3 d6 8.c2 when f5! led to sharp 19.xg5?! play, Marjanovic,S-Ivanisevic,I. ] [ 19.e5! d5 20.xf7 is critical. ] 7...h4 322
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 7...f5!? should also be possible here, 8.exf5 h4 9.xh4 xh4 but with the black dark-squared bishop on b4, instead of d6, W hite can play 10.0-0 as there is no mate threat on h2. ] 8.a3 White is not scared of the capture on f3, which strengthens his e-pawn. d6 9.xh4 xh4 10.g3 c6 The thematic [ 10...f5!? must also have been considered, 11.d4 ( 11.exf5 xg2 12.g1 xh2 13.h5+ xh5 14.xh5 f3 15.xg7+ f7 favours Black as the knight is misplaced on g7 ) 11...fxe4 12.e2 with complicated play. ] 11.d4 0-0 12.e3 It is a good idea to defend d4, as after the natural [ 12.0-0 f5 13.e5 e7 it looks like White c a n s t r e n g t h e n h i s c e n t r e w i t h 14.f4? b u t t h e n c o m e s xd4! and the knight is untouchable. ] 12...a5 13.d3 [ 13.e2 is slightly superior. ] 13...f5! Black must strike before White completes his development. 14.exf5 [ 14.b4 allows xc4 15.xc4 f4 ] 14...xg2 15.g1 f3 If White had played his queen to e2 this move, which stops White castling, would not be possible. [ 15...xh2?! 16.0-0-0 is very risky for Black, who has opened files against his own king. ] 16.b3 xh2 17.d2 xg3!? [ 17...xa3!? is very dangerous: 18.c3! ( 18.h1?? b4+; 18.xa3? xg1 19.fxe6 g6 and W hite has no attack.) 18...c6 19.fxe6 b4+ 20.b2 g6 (else Rh1) as I wouldn't like to be in Black's shoes here after 21.h1! (anyway!) xh1 22.xh1 g2 23.xh7! ] 18.xg3 xf5 19.ag1 g6 20.d5 White has a useful initiative for his pawn. h5 [ 20...exd5?? allows a quick mate after 21.xg6+ ( 21.xf5 is also winning, of course ) 21...hxg6 22.xg6+ h8 23.xf5 ] 21.c1 h4 Black hastens his bits back for the defence. 22.dxe6 dxe6 23.d7?! [ 23.g5 seems strong: h2 24.f4 f2 25.e4 with nasty threats. ] 23...f6! 24.xf5 White must take the rook and concede a perpetual. c3+ 25.b1 xb3+ 26.a1 xa3+ 27.b1 b3+ 28.a1 c3+
[ 28...exf5?? is not advisable: 29.e6+ g7 30.d4+ h6 31.e7 which defends a3 and forces mate. ] 29.b1 b4+ 30.a1 a3+ ½-½
324 Agrest,Evgenij Ehlvest,Jaan TCh Lunds SWE (11) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2531 2638 18.03.2001
1.c4 e6 2.c3 b6 3.e4 b7 4.f3 b4 5.d3 e7 6.e2 Menacing to trap the b4bishop. bc6!? [ An innovation, we have seen 6...f5 and, ] [ 6...g6 before. ] 7.a3 d6 8.c2 f5 9.d4 fxe4 10.xe4 0-0!? So far this all seems very natural. 11.c2 f5 12.d5 This seems strong, Black is forced to weaken his structure, but relies on his full development. e5 13.xe5 xe5 14.dxe6 xe4 15.xe4 d6 16.g3 [ Who would like to be White following 16.exd7?! xd7 17.0-0 ae8 ? ] 16...dxe6 17.0-0! [ The correct approach, 17.xe6+?! h8 18.0-0 h4 can only favour Black. ] 17...f6 18.e2 Black's activity compensates his potentially weak e6-pawn. ½-½
325 Agrest,Evgenij Kanep,Meelis EuTCh Plovdiv BUL (9) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2605 2452 20.10.2003
1.c4 e6 2.c3 b6 3.e4 b7 4.f3 b4 5.d3 e7 6.e2 bc6!? [ 6...g6 might be the best - see the eBook. ] 7.a3 d6 8.c2 f5 9.d4 fxe4 10.xe4 0-0 11.c2 f5 12.h4! A brave innovation, by controlling h4 with the rook as well as the f3knight W hite threatens g4 to drive the f5knight back, and expose the h7-pawn. W e had previously looked at [ 12.d5 which Agrest had played against 312
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Ehlvest. ] 12...h5?! A bad reaction, weakening the g5square. Black probably rejected [ 12...h6 b e c a u s e o f 13.g4?! but then he h a s a f a n t a s t i c r e s o u r c e : ( 13.d2 f o l l o we d b y l o n g c a s t le s a n d g 4 l o o k s better ) 13...b4+!! ( 13...fe7 loses the exchange to 14.c5 bxc5 15.dxc5 xc5! 16.xc5 d5 (so that the bishop can't defend f3) 17.fd4 dxe4 18.xe6 although Black h a s s o m e c o m p e n s a t i o n a f t e r d5 ) 14.axb4? ( 14.d1 is unclear) 14...xb4 15.b1 xe4 16.xe4 d6 and Black wins as the white queen cannot f3. ] 13.g5 The bishop doesn't need a written invitation to come to g5! e8 14.0-0-0 b8 15.he1 As g4 is under control White turns his attention to the centre, and the semi-open ef i l e , p o i n t i n g a t t h e b l a c k q u e e n . a5?! The knight turns out being misplaced here, a n d l i k e l y t o b e h i t b y a l a t e r b 4 . 16.d5! W hite has no reason to exchange pieces. a6! Black looks for counterplay by attacking the c-pawn, but White's central possibilities a r e m o r e s i g n i f i c a n t . 17.ed4! xd4 18.xd4 The rook defends c4, but can it be deflected? e5!? [ 18...c5 is the alternative, but then 19.dxe6! dxe6 ( 19...xd4 20.xd4 dxe6 21.xe6! is crushing.) 20.d5! exploits the e-file pin, exd5 21.xe8 bxe8 22.xd5 xc4 23.d3! xd3 24.xd3 xf2 25.b4 winning the knight. ] 19.d3 The e-pawn is pinned, of course, and m e a n w h i l e b 4 i s a s t r o n g t h r e a t . b5! The only chance. 20.c5! Deflecting the bishop from its defence of e5. xc5 The point. 21.xe5 Now White is clearly winning. [ 21.xc5?? b3+ ] 21...xe5?! This loses, but after [ 21...c8 22.h7+ h8 23.g6 is decisive. ] 22.xe5 xd4 23.h7+ Black's weakened kingside allows White to wrap-up quickly. h8 24.g6+ xh7 25.e7+! h8 26.g6 b3+ 27.b1 There is no way to avoid Qxh5 mate. 1-0
326 Avrukh,Boris Shachar,Ehud ch Tel Aviv ISR (9) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2595 2374 03.12.2002
1.f3 e6 2.c4 f5 3.g3 f6 4.g2 d5 5.0-0 c6 6.d3! As I pointed-out in my book, the Stonewall Dutch doesn't work too well against an English set-up, as White can organise e4 quite easily. [ 6.d4 would lead to a mainline Dutch. ] 6...c5 This move has its drawbacks, but then so does [ 6...d6 which can be countered by 7.c3 0-0 8.e4 so perhaps Black should be happy with the more passive ] [ 6...e7 ] 7.c2! This is strong, threatening a discovered attack on the c5-bishop. bd7 Perhaps the other method of defending the bishop, [ 7...e7 is best, 8.g5 ( 8.f4! bd7 9.d4 d6 10.xd6 xd6 11.cxd5 is good ) 8...0-0 9.bd2 d4 Ovod,E-Zaitseva,L/ Moscow 1999, when 10.b3 leaves White on top. ] 8.cxd5 cxd5 This is the point, Black is forced to make an anti-positional recapture. [ 8...exd5?! 9.d4 d6 10.xf5 e5 11.c2 xf3+ 12.xf3 0-0 13.c3 leaves W hite a pawn up for nothing, Makarov,M-Stock,J/Berlin 1996. ] 9.f4!? An innovation, White intends to bring his knight to d2 instead of c3 in order to utilise the c-file more quickly. [ 9.c3 0-0 10.f4 is also better for White, though, e7 11.a4 d6 12.xd6 xd6 13.fc1 f4 14.c7 with a significant advantage, Makarov,M-Arnold,L/Cappelle la Grande 1996. ] 9...0-0 10.bd2 [ 10.c3 would transpose into the last note. ] 10...b6 [ 10...h5!? ] 11.ac1 g4!? 12.e3 h6 Planning to trap th e f 4 -bish op wit h . . . g5 , bu t t h e re is n o t enough time, [ 12...e5? loses material: 13.xe5 dxe5 14.xd5+ h8 15.xe5 xe5 16.xc5 ] 313
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.b3 d6 [ 13...e7 avoids the exchange of bishops, but can hardly have tempted Black. ] 14.xd6 xd6 15.fd4 a6 16.c7 Just as in the Makarov game, White uses the c-file to bring a rook to the seventh. xc7 17.xc7 b6 Hoping to play ...e5. 18.h3 f6 19.f4! Fixing the black central pawns on light squares, positionally White is already winning. f7 20.c2 e7 21.f3 The dark squares on d4 and e5 beckon to the white knights. b8 22.bd4 d7 23.e5 e8 24.fc1 The white position is a picture, reminiscent of one of those Master v Amateur games from the nineteenth century! f7 25.g4 g6 26.c7 be8 27.g5 hxg5 28.fxg5 h7 29.h4 f8 30.e4 Time to bring White's one inactive piece into the fray. dxe4 31.dxe4 fxe4 32.xe4 d5 33.xe7 xe7 34.c8 g7 35.h5! Black has had enough punishment. [ 35.h5 gxh5? 36.xd5 exd5? 37.f5+ ] 1-0
10...g4 11.e5 xf3+ 12.xf3 xe5 13.g3 xg3 14.hxg3 d8 Black's pressure continues into the endgame. 15.a4 f5 16.a5 d3 17.xd3 xd3 18.a4 f5 19.f4 g6 20.e1 ad8 21.f1 d6 22.a4 a6 [ Black could also play 22...xf2 23.xf2 xg3+ 24.e2 xe1 when he has all the chances. ] 23.e2 e5 24.e1 c6 25.e3 b4 26.d1 c5 27.e2 3d7 28.g4 d3 29.gxf5 gxf5 30.c2?! [ 30.f3 was better. ] 30...xf2 31.g4? [ And here White should play 31.b3 . ] 31...f4 32.ae4?! [ 32.xf4 xf4 33.xf2 would have allowed White to fight on. ] 32...f3 33.e8+ xe8 34.xe8+ f7 35.e4 a7 36.d1 f2 37.xf2 xf2 38.f4+ g6 39.d4 c7+ 0-1
327
328
Claesen,Pieter Hovhanisian,Mher BEL-ch Westerlo (5) [Nigel Davies]
A10 2392 2294 07.07.2004
1.c4 d5!? Shock tactics! [ A more respectable move order would be 1...c6 2.e4 d5 3.cxd5 f6 . ] 2.cxd5 f6 3.e4 Evidently deciding to punish his opponent for his presumptuousness. [ 3.f3 xd5 4.d4 transposes into an unusual Queen's Gambit line which is not thought to be great for Black. ] 3...c6 4.dxc6 xc6 5.c3 e5 6.b5 c5 7.f3 [ Better than 7.ge2 as played in Dezelak, B (2160)-Galeev, S (2275)/Bled 1996. ] 7...0-0 8.0-0 d4 9.xe5 [ In an earlier game W hite played 9.xd4 exd4 10.e5 , with Black getting a good g a m e a f t e r g4 11.e4 d5 12.c2 xe5 13.f4 h5 14.h3 b6 in Henneberg, I-Serdjuk, I/Ronneburg 1996. ] 9...d6 10.f3 [ Another possibility was 10.c4 e7 11.e3 xb5 12.xb5 xe4 ]
Damljanovic,Branko Kindermann,Stefan ECC Halkidiki GRE (2) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2535 2519 23.09.2002
1.c4 f5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.d3 d6 6.e4 fxe4 7.dxe4 0-0 8.ge2 c5 Botvinnik fans should know that they can use the plan of this game to treat almost all these Dutch positions where Black tries to post a knight on d4, for instance, [ 8...e5 9.0-0 c5!? ( 9...e6!? is covered in Kharlov, A-Minasian,A/Batumi GEO 2002.) 10.h3 e6 11.b3 c6 as in my game against Santo Roman,M/France N1 2002, as now I could play 12.f4 and if d4 13.f5! ] 9.h3 [ 9.0-0 c6 10.f4 e6 11.b3 d7 is an alternative method of treating this position, Smejkal,J-Kindermann,S/ Germany 1998. ] 9...c6 10.0-0 e5 11.f4!? A strong new idea, Black is loathe to capture on f4 as it weakens h i s b a s e o n d 4 a n d t h e re f o r e le a ve s d 6 exposed. [ 11.g5 i s we a k e r , e6 12.d5 d7 314
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.h2 f7 ( 13...d4 14.xd4 cxd4 wa s n o t h i n g s p e c i a l f o r W h i t e e i t h e r , Psakhis,L-Grinshpun,E/Israel 1999.) 14.d2 af8 Danailov, S-Avshalumov,A/Cannes 1990. ] 11...d4 Perfectly logical, this is the whole idea behind Black's plan, nevertheless he should prefer [ 11...exf4!? perhaps, A) 12.gxf4!? is preferred by Damljanovic, who continues h5 13.e3 ( 13.d5+!? h8 14.b5 has its points) 13...d4! 14.xd4 cxd4 15.xd4 xd4+ 16.xd4 xf4 unclear.; B) 12.xf4!? e8 ( 12...e5! is best, 13.b5 e6! 14.xd6 h5 15.xb7 b6 is a complete mess) 13.d5+ h8 14.ad1 w i n s a p a w n , e . g . d4? ( 14...b6 i s b e t t e r , b u t 15.b5 certainly favours White) 15.xd4 xd4+ 16.xd4! cxd4 17.xd4+ f6 18.e5! dxe5 19.xf6 exd4 20.xf8+ g7 21.xe8 dxc3 22.bxc3 and Black can resign. ] 12.f5! gxf5 Positionally, acceptance of the pawn seems f orced, otherwise W hite will continue with g4, reinforcing his kingside phalanx. However, [ 12...d5!? is also possible, so that White c a n n o t u s e t h e d 5 - s qu a r e f o r a p i e c e , 13.fxg6 dxc4 14.gxh7+ xh7 is not too clear, although I would prefer White after 15.g4 followed by Ng3 and either Nf5 or g5, Qh5. ] 13.exf5 xf5 [ 13...xf5 14.xd4 cxd4 15.xf5 dxc3 16.bxc3 favours White because of his bishop pair and light-squared control. ] 14.d3! What has White achieved with his p a wn s a c ? B a sica lly h e h a s o p e n e d t h e h1-a8 diagonal for his g2-bishop, and freed the e4 and d5 squares for his knights. d4 15.g5 This pin further accentuates White's control over the central light squares, which are no longer defended by the knight, in effect. e6? This gets Black into real problems, he should unpin the knight immediately: [ 15...e8 when 16.xd4 exd4 ( 16...cxd4 17.b5 d8 18.a3 regains the pawn with advantage.) 17.ae1 h5 18.xf6 xf6 ( 18...xf6 19.g4 xf1+ 20.xf1 xg4
(forced) 21.hxg4 xg4 22.d5 is good for White ) 19.d5 e5 20.c7 ( 20.e7+!? g7 21.xf8 xf8 22.xc8 xc8 23.g4 g6 24.e4 g5 is equal ) 20...b8 21.d5+ g7 22.xf8 xf8 23.f1+ e7 24.g4 is dangerous for Black. ] 16.e4 Now the pressure on the f6-knight forces the black queen to stay where she is, while White can bring another piece to bear. c8 17.2c3 c7 18.h4? Played to protect the bishop, but [ 18.xf6+ xf6 19.xf6! xf6 20.e4 was rat he r go od , winn in g an e xc ha nge immediately. ] 18...f5 19.d5 cf7 20.xf5? To unpin the e4-knight, and win two pieces for a rook, but there is a problem. xf5 21.exf6+ xf6 22.xf5 xh4 23.g4+ g7? [ 23...g5! 24.h4 g7 25.hxg5 xg5 26.e6+ ( 26.xg5 xg5 27.f1 xf1+ 28.xf1 xg3 is a better bet, although Black has all the chances.) 26...h8 27.xd6 A) 27...f2!? is also quite good: 28.b8+ ( 28.xf2?? xg3+ 29.e2 xg2+ f o r c e s m a t e) 28...g8 and now White must give his queen by 29.xg8+ xg8 30.xf2 d2+ 31.f1 xb2 which is unclear; B) 27...f5! and White has difficulty defending against the g-file pressure. ] 24.xh4 xh4 25.gxh4 Now White has two extra pawns when compared with the similar ending considered in the last note, and this added to his light-squared control makes all the difference. f3 26.f1 xf1+ [ 26...xh3? 27.e7+ xe7 28.xh3 ] 27.xf1 f8 28.e3 f7+ 29.e2 b6 30.e4 e7 31.h5 d7 32.h6 Fixing the h7pawn on a light square, Black's extra central pawns have no future. d8 33.b3 d7 34.h4 d8 35.f5 [ 35.d5 followed by h5 and Bg6! was a neater winning method. ] 35...f6 36.h5 b5! 37.f3 [ 37.cxb5? d5 would turn the tables. ] 37...bxc4 38.bxc4 d5 Desperation, but after [ 38...d7 White would win by advancing his king. ] 39.cxd5 a6 40.e3 xh6 41.g4 a6 42.xh7 xa2 43.c2 a1 44.h6 h1 315
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 45.h7 a5 46.g2 One of many winning 330 moves, Black will have to concede his rook for Edouard,Romain the h-pawn. Rapport,Richard 1-0 Gibraltar Masters 12th (5) [Fier, Alexandr] 329 Dezelak,Brane Galeev,Shamil Bled op-B (9) [Nigel Davies]
A10 2160 2275 1996
1.c4 d5!? Black probably took a certain delight in playing this unsettling move. [ A more 'standard' way of getting into this gambit would have been 1...c6 2.e4 d5 3.cxd5 f6 . ] 2.cxd5 f6 3.e4 c6 4.dxc6 Refuting the gambit by accepting? [ It certainly doesn't turn out this way in the pres ent enc ount er, wit hin a f ew m ove s White was probably wishing he had played 4.c3 cxd5 5.e5 . ] 4...xc6 5.c3 e5 6.b5 c5 7.ge2 [ 7.f3 looks like a more natural move as in Claesen, P (2392)-Hovhanisian, M (2294)/ Westerlo 2004. ] 7...0-0 [ Black could already play 7...g4 when 8.d4 ( 8.0-0? h4! ) 8...exd4 9.d5 d3 10.xd3 xf2+ 11.f1 0-0 is very good for Black. ] 8.xc6 [ 8.0-0 would have been better. ] 8...bxc6 9.0-0 d3 [ 9...a6 was also very good it's difficult to see how White can develop. ] 10.g3 g4 11.a4 h5 12.h4?? A horrible blunder under pressure. [ W hite should play 12.e1 , which is far from pleasant but not necessarily lost. ] 12...xg3 13.d4 xd4 14.g5 [ 14.xd4 exd4 15.fxg3 dxc3 leaves White a piece down. ] 14...f3 0-1
A10 2658 2691 01.02.2014
They often say that the Dutch is not so good against 1.Nf3 because White can play d3 and e4 in some variations. Here Black goes for an exotic Stonewall setup with a knight on c6. 1.f3 e6 2.c4 f5 3.g3 f6 4.g2 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 [ 6.d4 would transpose to normal Dutch lines. ] 6...d5 The position after 6.d3 d5 is a bit funny. Apparently nobody cares about the e5-square for the moment. [ 6...d6 is the normal setup in this position, and here W hite can use the fact that the pawn is not on d4 7.c3 e8 8.e4!? and Black cannot attack so easily after this move fxe4 9.dxe4 e5 10.c5 and White's chances are slightly preferable, but the position is full of life Edouard, R (2657)Narciso Dublan, M (2521)/Barcelona Casino 18th 2013. ] 7.c2 This is one of the many ways to handle this position. White makes a useful move and awaits developments. [ 7.c3 is more direct and aims to enter into some kind of reversed Benoni d4 8.b5 c5 9.e3 c6 10.exd4 cxd4 at first sight it looks like W hite is better because of the strange pawn on f5, compared to the normal Benoni. However, W hite's knight is only stable on b5 when Black's pawn is already on a5. 11.e1 a6 12.a3 d6 and the position remains thematic, both sides playing normal Benoni plans, Dobrov, V (2537) -Pelletier, Y (2604)/Nancy Meurthe KO 11th rapid 2013 (2.2). ] [ 7.bd2 is a bit strange, but was also played before c6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.b3 and W hite wants to bring the knight to c5 after some moves a5 10.a4 and against 10...b6 W hite has good play on the c-file and also a good square for the knight on d4, Ibragimov, I (2546)-Ponfilenok, V (2392)/ Nezhmetdinov Memorial 34th 2012. ] 7...c6 To me this looks like a strange move, even though it doesn't contravene any chess 316
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 rules. W ith the pawn on d3 instead of d4, Black can play without ...c5 ideas, and this square is not in the way of the c8-bishop. Also the knight controls any queenside expansion at the moment. [ 7...c6 would be normal and White still has many ways to continue. One of them is p l a y i n g w i t h 8.c3 again trying to go for some Benoni-style position d4 9.a4 but the knight is also not ideally placed here c5 10.e3 c6 11.exd4 xd4 12.xd4 cxd4 with chances for both sides ] 8.a3 Forcing Black to make a choice: either he allows queenside expansion when the knight will soon have to leave c6, or he plays ...a5 and gives White's knight a good square on b5. Black chooses the second option. [ 8.cxd5 was also played and later White changed the position by playing 10.d4 exd5 9.c3 h8 10.d4 e4 11.f4 g5!? n o t l o s i n g a n y t i m e 12.e5+ xe5 13.xe5 c6 and the position was balanced in Dudukin, I (2401)-Ponfilenok, V (2445)/ Nabereznye Chelny op 8th 2010. ] 8...a5 9.cxd5 Now that White can create pressure on the c-file and c7, it makes more sense to exchange the pawns. exd5 10.c3 h8 11.b5 d7 12.f4 c8 For a computer the position is better for White, but wit hout a clear plan th e posit ion ca n become dangerous really fast. During the game Edouard was unable to find the best continuation and soon got into trouble. 13.ab1?! The b2-b4 advance is not that dangerous, and the whole idea is slow. On the other hand Black has a clear plan. [ 13.ac1 is also not much to the point and after h5 14.d2 f4 Black is fighting ] [ 13.b3! this looks like the best move to me. Usually it's not advisable to move the queen one more time and go away from the c-file, but with the bishop on d7 and the rook on c8, the pawns on d5 and b7 are targets h5 it's hard to suggest another plan 14.d2 now Black needs to do something about d5, b e f o r e h e c a n p l a y . . . f 4 ( 14.xd5 is ok, but Black will have some compensation xf4 15.gxf4 f6 16.d4 g6 17.c3 e8 and the position is not so clear ) 14...e8 15.bd4 and both the b7 pawn and the fork on e6 are threatened, so
White has an edge ] 13...h5 14.d2 f4 Now the bishop on d7 ha s a mu ch be tt er squ a re t o go t o . 15.b4 Following with his plan, finally it went nowhere. axb4 16.axb4 fxg3 17.hxg3 g4 White is still not in trouble, and even not worse, but compared to some moves ago I think Black's position improved more than White's. 18.c3 [ 18.h2 was exotic, and it's hard to believe that it is going to work d7 19.h1 a8 20.g1 but at least the king is safe and the rook is active ] 18...d7 19.bd4 xd4 20.xd4 d6 [ 20...h3 was a good idea. Black didn't want to let White's knight get to e5, but it's not so dangerous 21.e5 e6 22.h2 ( 22.c3 f6 23.e4 dxe4 24.xh3 xh3 25.dxe4 cd8 is another interesting position ) 22...xg2 23.xg2 f6 ( 23...f5 will probably lead to a draw 24.f4 h4!? 25.gxh4 xe5 26.xe5 g4+ with a perpetual) 24.f4 g5! and both kings are in danger, but the position is slightly easier to play for Black ] 21.c5? More important things are happening, there was no time for this. Now Black has a st ro ng init iat ive a n d is b a sica lly a lre a d y winning! [ 21.e5 was better and makes a lot of sense xe5 22.xe5 h3 23.f3!? creating some space for the defence f5 24.b2 fe8 25.e4 and White will change some pieces, the pawn on g3 is not hanging since the rook is still on c8 xe5 26.xe5 xe5 27.xh3 f8 28.h2 and White is ok ] 21...h3 22.xd6 cxd6 23.d1 [ 23.d2 f6 would be more or less similar to the game. Note that W hite's rooks are doing nothing and ...Nf4 is still a big threat ] 23...f6 The key move. White has no good way to avoid ...Nf4 24.h2 [ 24.h4 also doesn't help xg2 25.xg2 f4+ 26.g1 g4 27.e3 e2+ 28.g2 cf8 with a winning attack ] 24...xg2 25.xg2 f4+! 26.gxf4 h6 White has no way to defend the knight and stop the mate threats. 27.f5 xf5 28.f4 g6+ 29.f2 xh2+ 30.e1 g3+ 31.d2 d4 32.e1 e3+ 33.d1 e8 34.b2 a8 317
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 35.b1 a2 36.c1 e8 0-1
331 Franciskovic,Borka Sargac,Rajna Mediterranean Flower WGM (5) [John Watson]
A10 2193 2208 09.03.2005
1.c4 b6 This is the right move order if one wants to prevent or at least discourage g3. More specifically, there are many players who open with 1.c4 and play g3/Bg2/Nc3/e4/0-0 against nearly every setup. That is not possible now. 2.f3 [ Or 2.g3 b7 3.f3 ] 2...b7 3.g3 xf3! The point. Black cripples White's pawn structure in order to achieve an unbalanced game. In return White gets the two bishops. 4.exf3 e6!? [ Daniel King's English Defence book deals only with 4...c5, which is by far Black's most popular move. Generally there follows 4...c5 5.d4 cxd4 ( 5...c6!? 6.d5 d4 7.e3 f5 8.d2 g6! of Knott-A Summerscale, Millfield 2000, as examined by Tony) 6.xd4 c6 and depending upon White's reply Black has various plans. Among others he can build up by ...e6, ...Nge7, and/or ...g6 or he can play ...e6 and ..Bb4, with ...Rc8 and perhaps ...Na5. The ...e6 idea may be underrated, however. ] 5.g2 [ A wonderful miniature that used to be published from time to time went 5.d4 d5 6.c3 dxc4!? 7.xc4 c6 8.d5! exd5 9.xd5 e7 10.f6+!? ( 10.xe7 xd1+ 11.xd1 xe7 12.e1 d7 13.f4 ) 10...gxf6 11.xf7+ xf7 12.xd8 d5 and White's queen is trapped! With ...Bb4+ threatened, the game (Bilek-Schuessler, Helsinki 1978) was drawn on the spot in view of 13.f1 g7 14.d6 f8 15.d8 g7= ] 5...c6 6.0-0 [ 6.d4 d5 7.0-0 f6 transposes into a position that has been reached several times. White may have some advantage, but it's hard to break through. ] 6...e7!? 7.d4 d5 8.e2
[ 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.c3 f6 is about equal. ] 8...f6 9.f4 e7 [ 9...xd4 10.d1 is very risky. ] 10.d1 0-0 11.c3 d7 [ 11...f5! would force a concession from W h i t e , e . g . , 12.e5?! ( 12.e3 a5!? 13.h3 d6 14.b3 a6 ) 12...d7 13.f4 e7! ] 12.e5 g6!? [ Or 12...dxc4 13.f4 c8 14.xc4 d5 ] 13.xf6? [ White might try 13.f4 e7 14.h4 ] 13...xf6 14.f4 d7 15.f3 ac8 [ A go o d lin e is 15...e7 16.b3 ac8 17.ac1 dxc4 18.bxc4 fd8 ] 16.f5 e7 17.fxe6 fxe6 18.e2 f5 [ 18...dxc4!? 19.xc4 fd5 deserves a look. All these positions look awkward for White. ] 19.h3 ce8 20.d2 d6 [ Or 20...dxc4 21.xc4 d6 22.e2 d5 ] 21.cxd5 cxd5 22.c2 f5 [ 22...fe4!? 23.xe4 xe4 24.f4 g5 is very unclear. ] 23.d1 c8 24.d3 e8! Heading for d6. 25.e2 xc2 26.xc2 ed6 27.f4 e4!? [ 27...g5! 28.h5 f7 29.e2 e4 is Black's best chance to retain the advantage, but White can respond 30.g2! with equal chances. ] 28.g2 fd6 29.f3 One prefers White slightly now. It's not much, and the game is e ve n l y m a t c h e d a f t e r a f e w m o ve s . g5 30.h4 gf7 31.h3 d8 32.e2 f5 33.xf5 xf5 34.b3 f6 35.g2 c6 As so often in these positions, the weaknesses on d4 and e6 are of roughly the same importance. 36.b5 d6 37.a6 f8 38.e2 e8 39.e3 b4 40.a4 c6 41.d2 e7 42.e1 c6 43.d1 a5 44.e3 a3 45.xd5 xb3 46.xb3 xb3 47.c3 d8 48.d5 exd5 49.xd5 xd5 50.xd5 c5 51.c3 f7 52.f2 e6 53.e3 e5 54.g4 g6 55.f4+ e6 56.f3 h5 57.g3 f6 58.d5+ e6 59.c3 f6 60.d5+ e6 A well-played game. ½-½
318
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A10 17.0-0 0-0 18.d1 xf3?! Black is also in Fridman,Daniel 2577 serious trouble after [ 18...c5 19.e3 c2 20.d7 although Mainka,Gregor 2319 a6! 21.xc2 xc2 22.d3 xb2 23.xe7 13th Summer Open (7) 23.08.2002 b5 might offer some chances. ] [Tony Kosten] 19.d3! e2 20.d7 White attacks e7, c6 1.f3 b6 2.c4 b7 3.c3 We have already and the queen on e2! e1+ 21.g2 fc8? This poor move allows a back-rank trick. On considered the similar line [ 21...c5 22.xe7 d5 23.xa7!? [ 3.g3 xf3 4.exf3 c5 in Knott,Sthe white bishops are certainly far superior Summerscale,A/Millfield ENG 2000. ] to the rook, but Black can continue a while: 3...e6 4.g3 Only now. The fact that White has d1 24.e3 h1+ 25.h3 d5 played Nc3, and Black ...e6 makes this more w i t h a f e w t h r e a t s , a l t h o u g h 26.e2! interesting for White than in the previous note. seems to put paid to most of them. ] xf3!? The same idea, conceding a bishop to 22.xc6 gain more control over d4. [ 22.xc6 xc6 23.xc6 xc6 24.d8# ] [ 4...f6 5.g2 would transpose into one of 1-0 the Hedgehog lines on c5 see [A30]. ] [ 4...g5!? is a wild idea of Tony Miles. ] 5.exf3 c5 6.d4 Obviously forced, as Black A10 c a n ' t a f f o r d t o wa i t f o r . . . Nc 6 , a n d . . . g 6 333 followed by ...Bg7, when Black lords it over d4. From-like Gambit 1.c4 f5 2.e cxd4 N,Archana [ 6...c6?! is worse here, 7.d5 d4 8.e3 [John Watson] f5 9.h3! gh6 10.a4 and White is better, as he can break through the d-file by Ryan from California asks a question that I a timely dxe6, which is why Black's ...e6 think many readers will be interested in, so move changes so much, Davies, N-Plaskett, I've put it in this main section instead of the J/WFW1991 1991. ] mailbag: Do you know of any chess literature 7.xd4 c6 8.d1 c8 9.f4!? at all that discusses a reversed From's Gambit A curious, and apparently anti-positional out of the English (1 c4 f5 2 e4 fxe4 3 d3 exd3 no ve lty, b ut it co n t ain s va rio us p o ssib le 4 Bxd3 Nf6 5 g4, followed by g5 and Qc2)? Is threats on the dark squares. this sound? Maybe I'm blind, but I've looked in [ 9.f4 appears more logical, but after f6 5 E n g li s h b o o k s & M C O , B C O , e t c . a n d 10.a3 a5 11.a4 c7 White had real cannot find anything on it. I've played it vs problems defending his c-pawn, Gelashvili,T- people at my level with lots of success, but I David, A/Nagykanizsa 1993. ] know that this means nothing at all regarding 9...b4 10.c1 ge7 So far Black's moves its theoretical soundness. jw: A great question. appear very sensible. 11.a3 White breaks the This is a fun idea and a fairly natural one pin, and obliges Black to give another bishop. (From's Gambit Reversed with c4 in) , but I xc3+ 12.xc3 d5 The simplest, although see a couple of problems here, mostly due to [ 12...0-0!? 13.d6 e8 is also possible, as t h e f a c t t h a t c 4 s e e m s t o h u r t W h i t e i n Black threatens ...Nf5. ] comparison with a Bird's Opening. First, on a 13.cxd5 xd5 This is stronger than less important level, 1. c4 f5 2.e4 e5!? looks [ 13...xd5?! when you have to prefer the playable since a bishop can't get to c4. I've white bishops after 14.a6 xd1+ 15.xd1 looked at the normal solutions to the King's d8+ 16.c1 0-0 although Black should be Gambit and see nothing too attractive - Black able to make good use of the d5-square. ] even has the advantage in most lines. Best 14.xc6! Forced, but not bad. xc6 15.b5 looks 3.exf5 [see my analysis in the game]. e7 16.a4 d5?! Black's first slip-up, The main problem I see is 2...fxe4 3.d3 exd3 [ 16...d7 17.0-0 0-0 18.d1 b7 4.Bxd3 Nf6 5.g4 d5! [again, see my analysis is equal. ] below]. You might look into 5.Nc3. 1.c4 f5 332
319
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2.e4 fxe4 [ 2...e5 3.exf5 ( 3.f3 fxe4; 3.d4!? exd4 4.e5 c6 5.f3 b4+; 3.c3 f6 4.exf5; 3.h5+ g6 4.e2 fxe4 ) A) 3...c5 is also interesting, with a Bishop's Gambit reversed: 4.h5+ ( 4.d4 xd4 5.f3 c6 ) 4...f8 5.c3 ( 5.f3 f6 6.h4 d5 7.cxd5 xf5 ) 5...f6 6.h4 d6 7.g4 c6 8.g5 g8; B) 3...f6 B1) 4.f3 c5 ( 4...c6 5.c3 c5 ) 5.xe5 d6 6.d4 b4+ 7.d2 xd2+ 8.xd2 dxe5 9.dxe5 0-0 10.exf6 xf6; B2) 4.g4 c5 5.g5 and now 5...Ne4 6. Qh5+ Kf8 is a mess (at least White has many options), while 0-0! 6.gxf6 xf6 7.f3 d6 is a messy Muzio. c4 helps make ...d5 less good (at least without ... c6) but also weakens d4 in the ..d6/... Nc6-d4 and/or ... Bxf 5 lines. I'd sa y Bla c k h a s ga in e d m o re t h an W h it e , enough that I'd rather be Black. Maybe one of the odd lines (3.Qh5+) is worth looking into? ] 3.d3 The main problem, probably more serious than 2...e5, is exd3! [ 3...f6 4.g4! ( 4.dxe4 e5 ) 4...d5 5.g5 g4 6.dxe4 is unclear ] 4.xd3 f6 5.g4? [ 5.c3!? is probably the best direction to look in. e5 6.f3 c5 ( 6...c6 7.g5!? ) 7.0-0 d6 ( 7...0-0 ) 8.g5 0-0 9.b1! h6 10.b4 b6 11.h4?! g5 12.g3 a5 ] 5...d5! I just can't seem to get around this one, where the extra move c4 definitely looks a negative: 6.g5 There are other tries, but g4 is attacked and ..dxc4 is a problem. [ 6.cxd5 xg4-+ ( 6...xd5-+ )] [ 6.c2 xg4 ( 6...dxc4 )] [ 6.d2 xg4 ] [ 6.h3 e5 ] 6...dxc4! 7.gxf6 [ 7.a4+ b5 8.xb5+ c6 9.xc4 a6 ] [ 7.xc4 xd1+ 8.xd1 e4 ] 7...xd3 seems way too strong: 8.h5+ [ 8.fxg7 xd1+ ( 8...xg7 9.h5+ g6 ) 9.xd1 xg7-+ ] [ 8.xd3 cxd3-+ ] 8...g6 9.e5 c6 10.f7+ xf7 11.xh8 g7 12.xh7 g4 and White should resign.
334 Gofshtein,Leonid D Williams,Simon Kim Hastings Masters 2006/07 (6) [Carsten Hansen]
A10 2509 2473 21.02.2007
1.c4 f5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 e6 4.b3 e7 5.b2 0-0 6.h3!? This position is almost unknown, neither the ECO nor MegaBase p ro vid e m u c h a ss is t a n ce in t h is m a t t e r , alth o ugh t he re a re so me tra nspo s it ion a l possibilities from this English set-up to a regular Classical Dutch. However. W hite's move order prevents a number of lines for B la c k, wh ile a ll o win g W h it e t o g o in t o a pleasant line of the Dutch when he so desires. It should also be added that W hite is also doing quite well after the normal 6 Nf3 followed by 7 0-0 and 8 d3. d6 7.d4 e8 8.f4 d8 9.d3!? [ With 9.0-0 White can allow a transposition into a line that is mentioned in the ECO u n d e r c o d e A 9 1 ( C l a s s i c a l D u t c h ) : e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.d5 Ulibin-Poluljahov, Budapest 1992. ] 9...bd7 10.d2 e5 11.e3 c6 12.c2 a5 [ I can picture that many less experienced players will be worried about 12...e4 13.f4 g5 bu t W h it e is b e t t e r a f t e r: 14.e2 and 15 h4. ] 13.a3 f7 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.c5 c7 [ Or 15...e4 16.f4 g5 17.e2 e7 18.d4 and thanks to Black's numerous structural weaknesses, White is comfortably better. ] 16.0-0 g5 17.f4! This effective counterpunch ends Black's hope of a kingside offensive while leaving Black with an open king (the a1-h8 diagonal and the soon to be opened gfile) and lacking development. gxf4 18.gxf4 e4 19.f2 d5 20.h1 h6?! Black wants the king to be able to crawl to h7 in case the threats against it become too severe. However, 20...N7f6!? is probably better. [ 20...xe3?? is of course taboo due to 21.c3 ] 21.g1 f8 [ U n f o r t u n a t e l y f o r B l a c k , 21...h7?! doesn't work on account of 22.xe4 xe3 23.c3 f6 24.xe3 xe4 25.fxe4 fxe4 26.d4 f8 27.xe4 and Black is toast ] 320
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.f1 e7 [ Before we move on, please note that 22...xe3? 23.c3 d5? ( 23...g4 24.xg4 fxg4 25.e1 f6 26.xe4 is also an unqualified disaster for Black runs into ) 24.g8+! ] 23.d4 h4 24.c4 7f6 25.g3 xf4?! This is a rather desperate measure to save the queen (W hite threatened 26 Rh3) and generate some counterplay in an otherwise extremely difficult position. [ 25...g4 is the normal move, but after 26.xg4 fxg4 27.e5 Black has a positionally completely lost position without the shadow of counterplay. ] 26.exf4 xf4 27.e5! After this practical move, Black's flimsy counterplay is completely diffused. xg3 [ 27...g4 28.xg4 xg3 29.xg3 xg4 30.d6+ ] 28.xg3 g5 29.h3?! [ 29.d6+ is even better: g7 30.b6 a7 31.c4 , and Black can resign. The rest of the game looks like it is played in heavy time trouble with numerous mistakes on both sides. ] 29...g7 30.d6+?! [T h e i m m e d i a t e 30.e5!? is more accurate. ] 30...g8 31.e5 f8?! [ 31...e7 is a better chance, e.g. 32.c3 xe5 33.xe5 d5 and Black is still playing, although White should win without too many headaches. ] 32.d6?! [ 32.b6!?+- ] 32...e7 33.d4 d5 34.c4 e6 35.xd5 xd5 36.f4 h7 37.g1 d8 38.h3 and with this little move, Black's tricks and hopes are over, and with 39 Nh5 looming, Black decided to call it a day. 1-0
335 Hertneck,Gerald King,Daniel J Bundesliga 1999-2000 (12) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2571 2514 12.03.2000
1.c4 b6 2.g3 b7 3.f3 xf3 4.exf3 c5 The point of Black's play, he tries to establish control of d4, which can no longer be controlled by either the e-pawn, which has moved to the f-file, or the f3-knight, which has disappeared from the board. 5.b3!? [ W hite can also play the immediate 5.d4 although Black is fine after cxd4 6.xd4 c6 ] 5...c6 6.g2 e6 7.f4 ge7 8.0-0 f5 9.b2 e7 10.a3 f6 Black has established complete control of d4. 11.c3 0-0 12.c2 g6 [ A perfectly logical novelty, and superior to 12...c8 13.e1 g6 14.c1 although play is equal, Hausner,I-Kalinitschew,S/Germany 1998. ] 13.e3 fd4 14.a3 a5 15.b1 g7!? [ Black is not worried about his rook on the g2-bishop's diagonal, but 15...b8 is safer. ] 16.b4 Possible because of the pin along the h1-a8 diagonal. axb4 17.axb4 cxb4 [ 17...a2!? 18.b5 e7 is worth consideration. ] 18.xd4 xd4!? [ The most exciting, although there is nothing wrong with 18...xd4 19.c2 f6 20.xb4 fc8 ] 19.c2 [ It is probably sensible to refrain from 19.xa8 when Black gains a powerful position for the exchange after xa8 20.f3 b3 ] 19...a5 20.xb4 c7 21.xd4 xd4 22.b3 The position seems drawish, because of the opposite-colour bishops, but the black bishop is rather the more useful of the two, and Black risks nothing by playing on. d6 23.a4 c5 24.a2 d4 Targeting f2, and tying a white piece to its defence. 25.c2 a1 Threatening mate by ...Qxf2+. 26.e3 xf1+ 27.xf1 a1 Black does not want to allow the exchange of queens. 28.c3 White insists. xc3 29.xc3 a8 30.c2 f8 31.g2 a3 32.e2 White is quite passive, but his 321
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 position seems sufficiently solid. e7 33.h4 h5 34.f3 d4 35.g4?! [ A questionable decision, White manages to exchange a couple of pawns like this but inflicts chronic weaknesses on his kingside s t r u c t u r e . 35.e4 d6 36.f1 c5 37.e2 keeps everything intact. ] 35...hxg4 36.xg4 c5 37.h5 f5 38.e2 gxh5 39.xh5 d3 Now Black will win the f4pawn by force. 40.e2 d4 41.f3 [ 41.f3 d6 ] 41...xf4 42.c1 d4 43.d3 d6 44.h1 e5 45.g3 d6 The rook finds its way back into the game. 46.h4 e3 47.f1 f4+ 48.g4 d4 Black has managed to retain many of his plusses, as well as the extra pawn. 49.h2 c3 50.a2 c6 51.a7 c8!? [ Black wants to win either the f, or d-pawns w i t h a t a c t i c a l o p e r a t i o n , b u t 51...d5 was quite acceptable. ] 52.xd7 g8+ 53.h4 g3 54.h3 e5 55.g4 d4 The point of Black's play, the bishop can no longer defend both pawns. 56.g5 xd3 57.c7 g1 Black will turn his attention to the c4-pawn. 58.f5?! [ This loses another pawn, but even after 58.c8 e4! ( 58...c1 59.e6 allows more re s is t a n c e) 59.xf4 e3 60.f5+ c3 61.e8 xc4 the two passed pawns will decide. ] 58...c1 59.e6 xc4 Black is happy to allow the exchange of rooks now, as his bpawn will cost White a piece in the resulting opposite-colour bishop ending. 60.f5+ c3 61.b7 d2 62.d5 c3 0-1
De f e n ce . W hite trie s a n u nu su a l bu t n o t unheard of solution. 4.g3 [ 4.ge2 f6 5.d3 ( 5.g3 c5 is easy to play. ) 5...d5!? ( 5...c5 is 'normal') 6.cxd5 exd5 7.e5 fd7 8.d4 c5 9.f4 c6! 10.dxc5 ( 10.xd5 cxd4 ) 10...xc5 11.xd5 0-0 and Black will regain his pawn with a clear advantage. ] 4...f5 5.g2 f6 6.f3 I believe that this was suggested by Speelman. White unpins the epawn and threatens e5 but also gives Black time to get established in the centre. The alternatives haven't been so great, for example, [ 6.d3 fxe4 ( 6...b4 7.ge2 fxe4 8.0-0 0-0 9.dxe4 c6 10.h3 e5!? Smejkal-Kavalek, Rapids 1997) 7.ge2 c6! 8.dxe4 e5 9.b3 c5 10.h3 e7 11.f4 f7 and Black was already better in Heinbuch-Kengis, Bonn 1995. ] [ 6.c2 a6!? 7.ge2?! b4 8.b1 fxe4 9.xe4 xe4 10.xe4 d5 ( or 10...xe4 11.xe4 d5 12.xe6+ e7 ) 11.cxd5 xe4 12.xe4 xd5 13.xd5 exd5 14.d1 d3 and Black was clearly better, Greenis-J Watson, Las Vegas 2004 ] 6...fxe4 [ 6...c6 stopping e5 is worth considering in view of 7.ge2?! ( 7.exf5 d4!?; 7.d4! fxe4 8.fxe4 e5 9.d5 d4 10.f3 looks about equal ) 7...fxe4 8.fxe4 e5 ] 7.fxe4 b4!? [ Here too the change of pawn structure by 7...e5 comes into consideration, e.g., 8.f3 c6 9.d5 c5 etc. ] 8.ge2 0-0 9.0-0 a6!? [ Or 9...e5 ] 10.h3 c5!? [ Again possible is 10...e5 11.a3 c5+ 336 A10 . This idea obviously d oesn't a ppeal t o Black. ] Janz,Frerik 2376 11.d3 e5 12.a3 xc3 13.xc3 e6 Boyle,Bernard [ 13...a5!? ] ch-EU Cork IRL (1) 22.03.2005 14.e3 d6 15.b4 c5 Without this move [John Watson] Black has nothing to show for the bishops. The slow variations of the English Defence Now at least he has control of d4 and his ca n b e c la s s if ie d in o u r Fla n k O p e n in gs pawns are on the right colour. 16.e2 e7 section. In lower-level practice, a 'Botvinnik 17.d2 f7 18.f5 af8 These moves are a setup" with g3, Bg2, e3, d3, Nge2 is popular. bit strange but the game seems balanced However, Black has several effective answers. overall. 19.a4 c8 20.af1 e8 21.d1 [ 21.xe8 xe8 22.b5 is the other idea only 1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.e4 e6 The English 322
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White can be better. ] 21...d8 22.5f2 e6 [ 22...e6 ] 23.g4 d7 24.g3 c6 25.f5 h8 26.a4 g8 27.g5 b8? [ 27...c7 28.b5 d4!? ] 28.xd7! xd7 29.e7? [ 29.b5! Black is tied up and passive whereas White can expand upon either side of the board. ] 29...xf2 30.xf2 cxb4? [ 30...xe7! 31.f8+ g8 32.xb8 cxb4 33.axb4 c6 and ...Nxb4. ] 31.xg8 xg8 32.axb4 c6 33.b2 d4!? [ 33...b5! 34.cxb5 d4 ] 34.e3 c6 35.f2 f7 36.e2 e8 37.d2 f7 38.c3 d7 39.a2 c8 40.g5 g6 41.b5 a5 42.f2 xf2 43.xf2 The bishops should eventually get out and create good winning chances. b7 44.f1 a6 45.d4 axb5 46.cxb5 exd4+ 47.xd4 b3 48.c4! xc4 49.xc4 c5 50.d5 [ Or 50.e5! ] 50...c7 51.e5 dxe5 52.xc5 bxc5 53.xc5 e4 54.d4 b6 55.xe4 xb5 56.e5 c4 57.f6 d4 58.g7 1-0
to keep his c-pawn well-covered. Similar play was seen after 8.a4 bc6 9.d3 a5 10.e4 in Pigusov,E-Ehlvest,J/Novosibirsk 1993. ] 8...d6 9.e4 d7 10.e1?! e5 Black has waited for White to move his rook to the e-file before playing this, so that White cannot play f4 too easily. 11.a4 a5 Black his happy with a static structure, without pawn mobility, as he wishes to inhibit the white bishop pair. 12.d4!? [ A normal plan in such a position would be 12.d2 i n t e n d i n g N f 1 - e 3 - d 5 , b u t f5 is an effective response. ] 12...g6 13.a3 The bishop is normally considered to be misplaced on a3 in such positions, as it is 'hitting on granite'. e8 14.c2 f6 15.d2 White refrains from d5, which hands the c5-square to Black, and tries to keep as much central tension as possible. d7 16.f3 a6 This is the downside of W hite's twelfth move, the c4-pawn needs piece defence. 17.f1 h6 18.d3 h7! Play is very similar to various Nimzo-Indian lines with both sides playing on their strengths. 19.f1 At last, the knight heads for d5, to try to induce a weakening ...c6 move from Black, bu t B la ck is no t go in g t o sta n d st ill, a n d initiates counterplay. g5 20.d1? [ T h i s a l lo ws a wo n d e rf u l t a ct ic , 20.e3 was a better method of defending f3. ] 337 A10 20...exd4 [ It is understandable that, in a quick game, Kasparov,Garry 2838 Black should miss the powerful move Kramnik,Vladimir 2809 20...d5!! as it appears to be doubly en prise, Botvinnik Mem Rapid Match rapid (4) 8.12.01 b u t it le a ve s W h it e i n se r io u s t r o u b l e : [Tony Kosten] 21.exd5 ( 21.cxd5? lo se s a piec e xd3 22.xd3? o r a q u e e n , h3+ 23.g2 1.c4 e6 2.c3 b6 It says something for the gf4+ ) 21...exd4 22.xe8+ xe8 current reputation of the English Defence 23.cxd4?! e1 24.xe1 xf3+ ] when it features in a match between the two best players on the planet. 3.f3 b7 4.g3!? 21.cxd4 f5 [ 21...d5! is again possible, with the same b4 ideas of the previous note. ] [ 4...xf3!? 5.exf3 c5 resembles the game Hertneck,G-King,D/Godesberg GER 2000, 22.h4?! [ It was time to return the dark-squared which resulted in a nice win for Black. ] bishop to the fray, 22.c1 fxe4 23.fxe4 5.g2 xc3 Kramnik decides to force is fine for White. ] doubled pawns on the queenside, instead. 6.bxc3 e7 This is better than playing this 22...fxe4! 23.hxg5?! [ U n d e r s t a n d a b l y W h i t e a v o i d s 23.fxe4 piece to f6, as the thrust ...f5 can be useful. h3+ 24.g2 f8 25.a2 (the only move) 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 ae8 as his king is at risk, but there is no [ White avoids pushing his d-pawn two obvious win for Black. ] squares with a Nimzo position, and prefers 323
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23...exd3 24.xd3 f7 Both defending g6, and hitting W hite's Achilles' Heal- the c4pawn. 25.gxh6!? xc4 26.c3 xf1!? Black decides to remove the opposite-colour bishops. 27.xf1 e2 28.f2 ae8 29.af1 [ 29.hxg7?! allows Black a violent attack: 8e3 30.c6 f4!? 31.gxf4 xg7+ 32.f1 xf2+ 33.xf2 xd4 34.g1+ f8 ] 29...8e3 [ 29...2e3 30.a1 gxh6 31.c1 is not so clear either. ] 30.c1 xf2 31.xe3 c2 [ 31...xf1+ 32.xf1 c4+ 33.e1 is m e s s y, t h e b la ck kin g is a s o p e n a s White's. ] 32.c1?! [ This was the wrong moment to bring the bishop back, it was time to capture on g7, 32.hxg7 ] 32...a2 Threatening mate. 33.f2 xf2 34.xf2 xa4 35.e3 d1+? [ The queen was well-placed where she stood, 35...gxh6 36.e6+ g7 should triumph easily, Black has two extra pawns. ] 36.f2 c2+ 37.e1 h2 38.g5! Gaining serious counterplay. h1+ 39.f2 h2+ 40.e1 h1+ 41.f2 h2+ [ Black decides to take the draw, thinking that 41...h7 42.hxg7 xg7 is too risky. ] 42.e1 ½-½
d4. ] [ 9...c5!? is a similar idea: 10.h3 e6 11.b3 c6 12.g4!? d4 13.g3 d7 14.d5 b6 15.e3 with interesting play, Kosten,ASanto Roman,M/France N1 2002. ] 10.b3 d7 11.f4!? A new idea, that may stop Black from realising his main plan. [ 11.d5 c5 12.g5 c6 13.d2 le d t o a qu ick d ra w in B rica rd , E -S a n t o Roman,M/Montpellier 1991, whilst ] [ 11.b2 a6!? ( 11...c5 and ...Nc6 is more appropriate,) 12.d2 c5 13.ad1 a5 14.c2 ae8 15.b5 Kupreichik,V-Solonar, S/Wiesbaden 1998, there is not a lot that Black can do, but White can always prepare an f4 break. ] 11...c6 [ 11...c5?! can now be countered by 12.f5! gxf5 13.exf5 xf5 14.xf5! xf5 15.xb7 g4 16.e4! f2 17.xd6! when the complications favour White. ] 12.d3!? [ 12.b2 would avoid Black's next. ] 12...d4!? 13.a3!? [ A strange move, 13.xd4 exd4 14.b5 is met by h3! 15.xd4 xg2 16.xg2 ae8 17.e1 c5 18.c2 c6 regaining the pawn, but after 19.b2 xe4 20.xg7 Black has no dangerous discovered check and White retains a structural plus. g5+?? 21.d5+ ] 13...c5!? White had hoped to stop this move, but Black offers a pawn to free his pieces. 14.fxe5 g4! 15.xd4 [ After 15.exd6 xd6 16.f4 e5 338 A10 the black knights have excellent central squares. ] Kharlov,Andrei 2633 Minasian,Ara 2473 15...cxd4 16.d5 [ 16.xd4? allows Black to mount a deadly 3rd IECC Batumi GEO (11) 23.06.2002 attack: xe5 17.d3 g7 18.b2 d4+ [Tony Kosten] 19.h1 xh2! and wins ] 17.d2 The d-pawn is still 1.c4 f5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 16...xe5 18.b2 d3 19.f4 5.d3 0-0 6.e4 Taking play from a Dutch u n t o u c h a b l e . g4 D e f e n c e i n t o a B o t v i n n i k S y s t e m s t y l e White is trying to win the d-pawn, but even if position. fxe4 7.dxe4 e5 8.ge2 d6 9.0-0 he does Black's activity will be suf f icient compensation. b5?! e6!? [ Hardly necessary, 19...c7 was among [ 9...c6 would be more like a true Botvinnik, several moves that kept the d-pawn safe, as although Black has captured on e4 too soon. 20.xd3? xd3 21.xg7 c5+ 22.h1 As played Black tries to stop W hite from f2+ wins the exchange. ] playing h3 and g4, and then plants his knight on d4 by way of first ...c5 and then ...Nc6- 20.xd3 bxc4 21.xe5 dxe5 22.xf8+ 324
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xf8 23.xd7 xd7 24.bxc4 White has won a pawn, but Black has some play for it. c8 25.f1 c6 26.e1?! d8 27.c3 f8 28.g2 c5+ 29.h1 d3! Activity! 30.xe5 d2 31.a4 xa4 32.f4 d1 33.xd1 xd1 34.e5 a5 35.d5+ f8 36.g2 a4 The passed a-pawn is by far the most dangerous pawn on the board. 37.c1 a3 38.f1 g4 39.e1 b4+ 40.f2 c5+ 41.e1 e7!? ½-½
339 Knott,Simon JB Hodgson,Julian M ch Millfield ENG (7) [Neil McDonald]
A10 2381 2640 07.08.2000
1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.e4 e6 4.f3 b4 It's a battle between the white knights and black bishops! 5.b3 a6 6.e2 e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 g6! Simon Knott reached this position three times at the British Championship. In the first round his opponent played the inferior [ 8...d5?! and was in trouble after 9.exd5 exd5 10.d4! xc3 11.bxc3 c5 12.cxd5 cxd4 13.c4 c5 14.d1! as the d pawn wa s in d e f e n sib le -K n o t t -B a r t o n , B r Ch . 2000. ] 9.a3 c5! 10.c2 Naturally [ 10.xb4?? a5 wins the queen. ] 10...xc3 11.xc3 a5! As usual in this type of centre, Black is keen to cement the position of his knigh t on t he excellen t c5 square . 12.e3 a4 13.d2 Two rounds earlier Knott had tried [ 13.d4 but this had turned out unsuccessfully after f5! 14.f3 f4 15.f2 e5 16.f5 b3 17.ae1 c5! This prevents the freeing d3-d4, which ensures that White's light squared bishop is a useless piece. 18.g4 fxg3 19.hxg3 d6 20.d1 d4 21.xd4 cxd4 22.c1 h5! and Black went on to win in Knott-Ward, Br Ch. 2000. ] 13...f5 The same move as in the Ward extract a b o ve . N o w K n o t t w a n t s t o a vo i d b e i n g paralysed again after 14 f3 f4, but his d e c is io n t o o p e n t h e p o sit io n le a d s t o a fearsome Hodgson attack. 14.exf5 h4!
Attacking g2. 15.f3 xf5 16.d4 f6! 17.f2 a6 18.e4 h6 19.d5 d6 20.dxe6 ae8 21.d3 xe6 The position is now akin to lines in t h e B u d a p e st wh e re B la ck swin gs h is queen's rook over to join the queen in a direct attack on the white king. 22.c1 h5 23.g4 This looks suicidal, though it is understandable that W hite has become frustrated at his inability to generate any counterplay. g6 24.g3 xg3 25.hxg3 [ A slower way to lose was 25.gxh5 e2+ 26.h1 xc1 27.axc1 h6 ] 25...h3 26.c2 c5 27.xc5 xg4! 28.xh7+ h8 White resigned. A possible finish is 29.f2 [ 29.fxg4 h1# ] 29...xg3+ 30.g2 xf3 31.xg3 xg3+ 32.f1 e2+! 33.xe2 f2+ 34.d1 g1# 0-1
340 Knott,Simon JB Hodgson,Julian M ch Millfield ENG (7) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2381 2640 07.08.2000
1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.e4 e6 4.f3 b4 5.b3?! [ I think that this is unnecessary here, 5.d3 is the best move, and is considered in the other games in this line. ] 5...a6! Both protecting the bishop, and planning a neat tactic, reminiscent of the 4 Qb3 Nimzo-Indian. 6.e2 [ Avoiding the trap 6.a3?! c5! 7.c2 ( and not 7.xb4?? a5 8.b5 c6 ) 7...xc3 8.xc3 xe4 9.xg7 f6 with equality. ] 6...e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 g6!? [ More risky, but also more in line with Black's game-plan, than 8...d5 which seems to come close to equalising, 9.exd5 exd5 10.d4 dxc4 11.xc4 xf3 12.xa6 xc3 13.bxc3 c6 14.d3 d7 15.c2?! xg2! 1/2-1/2 Knott,S-W ard,C/ GBR 1999, as Black forces a perpetual check after 16.xg2 g4+ ] 9.a3 [ Stronger than 9.d2 d6 10.a3 c5! 11.c2 xc3 12.xc3 f5! 13.exf5 xf5 325
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and Black's f-file attack is on its way, Serper, G-Yermolinsky,A/Lucerne 1993. ] 9...c5! [ This theme should be familiar by now, 9...d6 10.d4 c5 11.d1 b8 12.d5 a ll o ws W h i t e a n ic e sp a ce a d va n t a ge , Uhlmann,W -Bagirov,V/ Gladenbach GER 1999. ] 10.c2 [ Once again, 10.xb4?? a5 11.b5 c6 wins the white queen. ] 10...xc3 11.xc3 a5 Necessary to protect the c5-knight from being driven away with b4. 12.e3 a4 13.d2! [ A novelty, White improves over his previous effort from the same event: 13.d4 f5 14.f3?! ( 14.exf5 h4 ) 14...f4! 15.f2 e5 16.f5 b3 17.ae1 c5 18.g4 fxg3 19.hxg3 d6 20.d1 d4 reaching a closed position that favours the black knights, Knott, S-Ward,C/Millfield ENG 2000. ] 13...f5 14.exf5 h4 15.f3 xf5 16.d4 [ The point of White's thirteenth move, the dpawn is free to stake its claim in the centre, but 16.f2 might be even better, as d4 can hardly be stopped. ] 16...f6!? [ Obviously, because of the respective ELOs, Black keeps the tension, but, objectively, 16...xe3 17.xe3 a6 may be superior. ] 17.f2 a6 18.e4 Now White has some advantage, he has two powerful bishops, and the a6-knight is 'dim'. h6 19.d5?! [ Simply 19.ae1 looks good. ] 19...d6 20.dxe6 ae8 21.d3 xe6 Black's prospect s have improved, all his pieces have joined the fray except for the knight, but this will return via c5, thanks to White's nineteenth move. 22.c1!? [ Part of a faulty plan, once again 22.ae1 was indicated. ] 22...h5 23.g4?! [ Difficult to justify such a weakening move u n l e s s i t w i n s o u t r i g h t , 23.g5 is more prudent. ] 23...g6 24.g3? [ This loses quickly, 24.c5! is an important resource, xc5 ( 24...bxc5 25.g3 xg3 26.c4+ d5 27.gxh5 e2+ 28.h1 xc1 29.hxg6 is similar) 25.xc5 bxc5 26.g3 xg3! 27.gxh5 e2+ 28.h1 xc1
29.c4+ d5 30.hxg6 b3 31.xb3 axb3 offers Black reasonable compensation for the exchange. ] 24...xg3! Of course. 25.hxg3 [ This time 25.gxh5 fails to e2+ 26.h1 xc1 and the d3-bishop is attacked. ] 25...h3 26.c2 c5! This attacks the d3bishop, and thus threatens ...Rh6, which would otherwise be answered by Qg2. 27.xc5 [ 27.ae1 h6 28.f2 xe4+ 29.xe4 xg4 menaces ...Rh2+, and wins. ] 27...xg4! The point. 28.xh7+ [ 28.fxg4 h1# ] 28...h8 0-1
341 Knott,Simon JB Summerscale,Aaron ch Millfield ENG (10) [Neil McDonald]
A10 2381 2459 10.08.2000
1.c4 b6 2.f3 b7 3.g3 xf3 4.exf3 c5 Black decides to fight aggressively for control of the d4 square. In a similar position, Speelman adopted a milder course which aimed at restricting W hite's light squared bishop by setting up a triangle of pawns on c6, d5 and e6- you can see the game Yermolinsky-Speelman. 5.d4 c6 6.d5 White seizes space, but on the other hand the pawn on d5 will curb the action of his light squared bishop. d4 7.e3 f5 8.d2 g6! Black isn't afraid to exchange dark squared bishops as it will increase his control over d4. The wekness created in his kingside proves neglible as White's pieces are hardly poised for an attack. 9.c3 g7 10.xg7 xg7 11.h3 h6! This is much better than the routine [ 11...f6?! The knight heads for the d4 square. ] 12.0-0 hf5 13.a3 d4 14.c2 gf5 15.e3 d6 16.f4 0-0 17.b4 c7 18.a4 f5! White has clearly lost the opening struggle as the black knights are well entrenched in the centre while the bishop on h3 is the worst piece on the board. 19.a3 e4 20.d3 e5! Black uses his pawns admirably to strengthen 326
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 his bind on the centre. 21.fxe5 xe5 22.g2 A) 12.c1 c7 ( 12...hxg4 13.fxg4 f5 ae8 23.bxc5 bxc5 24.f4 b8 25.h1 i s u n c l e a r) 13.h3 was not so good, b2! Threatening a knight check on f2. Claesen, P (2430) -Groffen, H (2220)/ 26.xe4 xe4 27.d6 f7 28.g4 fe8 Antwerp 1998, as White has nowhere to 29.d2 b4 30.xf5 A desperate sacrifice, put his king.; but in any case the pressure was too much to B) 12.h3 g8 13.d2 followed by long withstand. gxf5 31.gxf5 e2 A great display castles with good prospects in McNab, Cby a Daring Defender! Martin, A/Edinburgh 1988. ] 0-1 8.g2 The critical move I suppose, but it does leave the c-pawn undefended. [ 8.c3 c8 9.e2 b4 10.0-0 xc3 342 A10 11.bxc3 f6 led to a battle of bishops v knights and better structure in Kosten, A Kosten,Anthony C 2493 (2510)-Bauer, C (2592)/ Cap d'Agde 2008. ] Paci,C 2379 TCh-FRA Top 12 2012 (7.4) 06.06.2012 8...a5!? [ 8...c8 first is more natural, [Tony Kosten] A) 9.0-0!? a5 10.b3 b5! ( 10...f6 11.c2 xa1 12.c3 favours White, 1.c4 b6 2.f3 b7 3.g3 I've played this a c6 13.e3 xf1+ 14.xf1 f6 few times, but may avoid it in the future. b u t B l a c k h a s r e a s o n a b l e c h a n c e s .) [ 3.c3 e6 4.g3 is also possible, and 11.d2 bxc4 12.xc4 xc4 13.bxc4 reduces Black's options as after xf3 5.exf3 xc4 14.e3 looks fairly level to me, lin es wit h .. .g6 a re n o lo nge r po ssib le . Gurevich, M (2643)-Bunzmann, D (2596)/ However, I think these lines are worse than Polanica Zdroj 1999.; those with ...e6 so I was happy to allow the B) 9.d2 this was my intention, e5!? possibility. ] ( 9...b4 10.a3 c5 11.0-0 f6 12.b4 3...xf3 d4 13.a2 is good for White.; 9...a5 [ 3...f5 4.g2 f6 5.0-0 g6 6.d3 g7 transposes to the game.) 10.e2 c7 7.c3 0-0 8.e1 a6 9.e4 fxe4 10.dxe4 11.b3 d3+ 12.xd3! ( 12.f1 xc1 c5 11.e5 was Kosten, A (2524)-Bauer, C 13.xc1 b5 Van der Valk, N (2088)-Bock, (2630)/ Switzerland 2006. ] J (226 1)/ Ne tte tal 20 10 .) 12...e5+ 4.exf3 c5 5.d4 cxd4 By far the most 13.e4 xa1 I had been busily analysing common move here. t h i s m o ve t h e m o r n i n g o f t h e g a m e , [ Black can also play for long-term control of ( 13...b4+? 14.e2 xa1 15.c2 e5 d4 by 5...c6 but then I was happy to 16.b2 f5 17.xg7 is winning, Riblicontinue 6.dxc5 bxc5 7.h3 Gutman BL 1987/88.) 14.0-0 xa2 as in Matamoros Franco, C (2510) -Pavlovic, ( 14...e5 15.f4 a5 16.d1 d6 M (2494)/Reykjavik 2006 - see the PGN 17.d2 is crushing.) 15.f4 and I felt that Archive. ] White's attack was more than sufficient 6.xd4 c6 7.d1 compensation for the material, e.g. d8 [ 7.d2 is possible: e6 8.c3 c8 9.b3 16.c7 f5 17.xd8 fxe4 18.fxe4 xd8 f6 10.f4 ( 10.g2 ) 10...d5 11.b2 d4 19.d1 d6 20.e5 a6 21.f3 h6 can be met by 12.0-0-0 ( 12.e4 g6 22.exd6 c8 23.e4 f5 24.d7 b8 Titz, H-Kengis, E Wien op 1990.) 12...b4 25.xe6 d6 26.e1 c7 27.b4 13.d3 as the d-pawn is pinned. ] winning. ] 7...e6 [ 8...b4+ should be answered by 9.d2 [ 7...g6 is equally popular, but allows White in my opinion, f6 10.0-0 d5 11.f4 c8 to develop easily, 8.c3 g7 9.e3 h5!? 12.cxd5 ( 12.f5!? ) 12...xd5 13.a3 e7 ( 9...c8 10.c1 f6 11.g2 0-0 12.0-0 Vincent, T-Mu Yuchen/ W innipeg 2002, d6 is pleasant for White, Nugel, K-Fegebank, 14.f5 ] F/ Germany 1989.) 10.e2!? h6 11.g4 9.d2 c8 10.b3 I had a long think about c8 327
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 this move. [ After 10.e2 c7 11.b3 I was a bit worried about d5 ( 11...e7 12.0-0 f6 13.b2 favours White, Renaud, O (2096)Picard, R (2229) /France 2003.) 12.0-0 ( 12.cxd5?? xc1+ ) 12...dxc4 although 13.b2 would give White good play, as c3?! ( 13...cxb3?! 14.axb3 f6 15.f4 e7 16.ac1 d7 17.xc8+ xc8 18.b4! xb4 19.b5+ wins a piece.; 13...f6 14.fc1 b5 i s s a f e s t .) 14.ac1 b4 15.e4 e7 16.xc3 with advantage. ] [ 10.a4 was also tempting, as c7 11.0-0! xc4 12.xc4 xc4 13.xa7 c6 ( 13...c5 ) 14.a6 and the queen escapes. ] 10...f6 Best. I was concerned by [ 10...f6 11.b1 e5+ but then realised that 12.e4! was strong: f5?? 13.f4 ] 11.0-0 e7 12.b2 0-0 13.e2 d5 14.fd1 e8! The best way to unpin. [ 14...dxc4 15.xc4 d5 16.ac1 c6 17.f4 f6 18.e3 with strong pressure on d5. ] 15.cxd5 c2!? 16.e5 [ I completely missed 16.xf6! xf6 17.dxe6 h e r e , w h e n a f t e r xa1 18.e7 xa2 19.exf8+ xf8 20.a6 h6 21.e4 Black is in some trouble. ] 16...xd5 Now play is equal. 17.f4 c6 [ 17...c3? fails to 18.d3 when xd1 19.xc2 traps the knight. ] 18.e4 [ 18.e4 was the alternative, c5 19.b2 f6 20.xf6 xf6 21.a4 but b5 is almost equal. ] 18...c5 My opponent thought a long time about this move, which struck me as odd ... as the move is forced! [ 18...c3? 19.xh7+ xh7 20.d3+ ] 19.b2 f6 [ 19...c3?! is still not very good, 20.xh7+ xh7 21.d3+ g8 22.xc3 ] 20.c4 xb2 [ 20...c3? 21.xc3 xc3 22.ac1!? ( 22.xh7+ xh7 23.c2+ g8 24.xc3 is also good, as b5? 25.e3 ) 22...f6 23.d6 d7 24.xc5 bxc5 25.h5 g6 26.xc5 with an extra pawn. ] 21.xb2 b5?! This move leaves the rook loose and short of squares. 22.xd5 exd5?
[ 22...xd5 23.xd5 exd5 24.d6 d7 25.xb5 l o s e s a p a w n , b u t a f t e r d4 Black has some compensation. ] 23.d6! b8 [ My opponent had probably intended 23...d7 'trapping' the knight, but then realised that 24.e4 wins the rook as the dpawn is pinned. ] [ 23...e7 is no better: 24.f5 f6 25.xf6 gxf6 26.ac1 xc1 27.xc1 wins material. ] 24.f5? Sloppy. I was so happy to win a pawn with no risk of losing, that I missed [ 24.b4! xb4 25.f5! d4 26.e7+ h8 27.xb4 ] 24...d4 [ 24...f6 25.ac1 xc1 26.xc1 is crushing. ] 25.xd4 xd4 26.xd4 b4 27.ad1 a5 28.e2 h6 29.e7 White's extra pawn is the doubled f-pawn, but this is still useful as the white king is better protected and the front fpawn can be advanced without risk. Meanwhile the d-file control is a plus. c7 30.d7 c6 31.7d6 [ I t h o u g h t a w h i l e a b o u t 31.e1!? threatening Qxf8+ and Rd8+ mating, but couldn't bring myself to play such a crude move! g6 defends, of course. ] 31...e8 32.a7 There is no need to exchange queens just yet. c8 33.h4 f5 [ I had expected 33...c7 and planned to play 34.xc7 xc7 35.a6 c5 36.d7 with some pressure. ] 34.6d2 A bit of safety-first as the time control approached. fc8 35.b7 h7 36.d7 g8 37.g2 h5?! 38.f3 [ 38.e1 f8 39.ee7 was stronger. ] 38...g6 39.7d5 [ 39.1d5 was much stronger, f6 40.f5! ] 39...f6 40.e4 g7? The last move before the time control. 41.d6 b2?? However, now we were no longer in time trouble, so it is not easy to explain this mistake. [ 41...f5 42.d4+ g8 43.e1 c2 keeps the game alive, although 44.e7 c3 45.e4 is still unpleasant for Black. ] 42.xg6+! f8 [ 42...fxg6 43.d7+ h6 ( 43...f6 44.e7+ f5 45.f7+ f6 46.d5+ xd5 47.xd5+ g4 48.f3# ) 44.e7 h8 328
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and now we see the value of the f4-pawn: 45.g5+! xg5 46.fxg5# ] 43.d7 1-0
343 Kosten,Anthony C Popchev,Milko Clermont Ferrand (5) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2507 2481 21.02.2004
1.c4 f5 2.f3 f6 3.g3 e6 4.g2 d5 5.0-0 d6 [ 5...c6 6.d3 c5 i s s i m i l a r ( 6...d6 transposes) 7.c2! see Avrukh,B-Shachar, E/Tel Aviv ISR 2002. ] 6.c3 0-0 [ 6...dxc4?! 7.a4+ d7 8.xc4 e5 leads to an inferior Sicilian-style position. ] 7.d3 [ 7.d4 c6 leads to a mainline Stonewall Dutch. ] 7...c6 8.e4!? I had difficulty making-up my mind at this juncture, as I have also played [ 8.cxd5 exd5 9.e4 with some success, dxe4 ( 9...fxe4 10.dxe4 dxe4 11.g5 e7 12.cxe4 xe4 13.xe4 f5 14.e1 d7 15.b3+ h8 16.d1 led to a quick W hite win in Blatny,P-Salai,L/Stary Smokovec 1990; 9...d4!? 10.e2!? fxe4 11.dxe4 xe4 12.exd4 looks fairly equal, K o c h y e v , A - P i n n e l , P / D o r t m u n d 1 9 9 3) 10.dxe4 c5 11.b3+ h8 12.e5 e8 13.g5 with a big plus, Kosten,A-Williams,S/ 4NCL, Kenilworth ENG 1997. ] 8...dxe4 9.dxe4 b4! The best chance. 10.exf5 White has to do something about the threat to capture on c3, then e4. [ 10.xd8 xd8 11.g5 is an alternative, xc3 12.bxc3 fxe4 13.e5 h6 14.fd1! f8 ( 14...xd1+ 15.xd1 hxg5? 16.d8+ h7 17.xc8 is crushing) 15.e3 bd7 16.xd7 xd7 17.xe4 xe4 18.xd7 b6 which is about equal, Gasimov,R-Radjabov, T/ Baku 1998. ] 10...xd1 White was threatening to play Qb3, ga in in g a te mp o on th e b4 -b isho p wh ilst defending the knight on c3, but [ 10...xc3 11.bxc3 exf5 was possible, 12.a3 xd1 13.axd1 e8 14.fe1
xe1+ 15.xe1 bd7 but White's bishops and act ivity outweigh the inf erior pawn structure. ] 11.xd1! The most ambitious, [ 11.xd1 exf5 12.a3 d6 13.c3 wastes two tempi, Horvath,C-Radjabov,T/ Budapest 1999. ] 11...exf5 [ 11...xc3 transposes to the note to move ten. ] 12.a4! getting a grip on c5, and threatening to embarrass the dark-squared bishop. a6!? Apparently a new move, [ 12...e4 also covers the c5-square, 13.d4! ( 13.e3 d7 14.a3 e7 15.ac1 e8 doesn't give much, K r a s e n k o w, M - M e n c i n g e r , V / P t u j 1 9 8 9) 13...a6 14.e3 e8 15.a3 f8 16.ac1 g6 Malaniuk,V-Gleizerov,E/Barlinek POL 2 0 0 2 , a n d n o w I w o u l d p r e f e r 17.b4 with queenside possibilities. ] 13.a3 e7 14.f4 To keep the knight on a6. e4 15.b4 White's advantage is dependent upon his extra space on the queenside, c5 and Bf1 is one possibility. e6 Attacking c4 gives Black time to develop his queen's rook. 16.ac1 [ 16.d4? is tempting, but throws away the advantage: xc4 17.xf5 xf5 18.xe4 as Black has the tactic xf4! 19.gxf4 b3 ] 16...ad8 17.d4 c8 18.f3 Driving Black's one active piece back. [ 18.e5 looks like a nice square, but Black has c5 ] 18...f6 19.b3! Aiming for a5. [ 19.c5!? was tempting, d5 20.e5 fe8 21.f4 e3 22.e1 xg2 23.xg2 with a nice bind, and N-b2-c4-d6 coming, but I didn't want to concede the d5-square prematurely. ] 19...xd1+ 20.xd1 e6? A 'morning round' error, [ 20...e8 kept White's advantage to a m i n i m u m , a s t h e n 21.b5 ( 21.f2! followed by bringing the a4-knight to b2-d3 with a plus) 21...cxb5 22.cxb5 is met by e6! 23.d4 c5 24.xe6 xe6 25.c1 c8 with counterplay. ] 21.a5 b8? Trying to bring the knight back in t o t h e ga m e , b u t th is lo se s a p a wn f o r no th in g. B la ck sho uld ha ve a dm it te d his 329
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 mistake by [ 21...c8 although 22.e3 d8 23.xd8+ xd8 24.xa7 is very good for White. ] [ 21...h5 22.e5 c8 23.c5 leaves Black tied-up. ] 22.e1! f7 23.xb7 xc4? But otherwise Blac k ha s a lost a key pa wn f or noth ing. 24.d6! [ 24.d6 d5 25.xe7 xe7 26.d6+ wins a piece. ] 1-0
344 Krasenkow,Michal Rozentalis,Eduardas Jersey op St Clement Bay (5) [Danny Gormally]
A10 2643 2616 08.03.2013
1.f3 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c3 b4 5.d3 e7 6.0-0 0-0 7.e2?! White cannot hope to gain an advantage after this. In fact, if anything he ends up struggling for equality. This has turned out to be a wise opening choice by Rozentalis- Kransenkow, a wellknown theoretician, is not so comfortable in these unusual systems. [ 7.c2! Was a more resolute examination of this irregular opening. f5 8.exf5? ( 8.d3! keeping the tension, was to be preferred. Although this is not a normal system, so mistakes are less surprising. It is funny how often players go wrong when they are faced with unusual problems in the opening. ) 8...xf3 ( 8...xf5! With beautiful co-ordination between the black army, would have been a kind of dream Nimzo) 9.xf3 bc6 10.e2 c5 11.f6 g6 12.e4 xf6 13.h3 f8 14.d4 xd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.xa8? xf2 17.e3 f4 18.g4 xf1+ 19.xf1 xe3 Black has beautiful compensation for the exchange, Smirin, I (2691)-Atalik, S (2537)/ Sarajevo 2001. ] [ 7.e1 f5 8.e5 g6 9.f1? Heubner is rattled. It was games like this that brought this ..b6 line a huge following against the English xf3! Miles loved to play with knights against bishops, and here he wins a clear pawn to boot. 10.xf3 c6 11.d4 xd4 12.d3 c6 13.f4 d6 14.exd6 xd6 15.xd6 cxd6 16.d1 ( 16.xe6
d4 17.e1 c2-+ ) 16...ad8 Huebner, R (2600)-Miles, A (2555)/Bad La uterberg 1977. ] 7...f5! Classic strategy- exchange a wing pawn for a center one. 8.c2 a5 9.fd4 fxe4 10.xe4 xe4 11.xe4 bc6 Black has comfortably equalised, and can look forward to the future with confidence. 12.xc6 xc6 13.d4 f6! 14.e3 d6 15.f4 f5! 16.g3 xe4 17.xe4 b4 18.ad1 e7 19.a3 c2 Many players would be reluctant to "bury" their knight in such a fashion but Rozentalis has seen further- while this piece is in danger, the time White will expend trying to capture it will allow Black to build up a strong initiative. 20.c1 d5! Freezing the weakness on d4. 21.cxd5 exd5 22.c3 c6 23.d2 a1! It's always a pleasure to play such moves. Now Black has a clear strategical plan- to build up on the d-pawn- while for White it is not so clear what he should do. 24.d3 a4 25.e3 c2 26.f2 b5! 27.c1 xa3! 28.e1 [ 28.bxa3 xa3 29.c2 e7 Would be a horror to defend for White- the armada of black pawns on the queenside represent a formidable threat. ] 28...c4 29.xe7 b4 [ 29...xb2 30.g3 f7 was also possibleagain the queenside pawns look extremely scary. ] 30.xa4 xa4 31.b3 a1+ 32.e1 fa8 33.bxc4 dxc4 34.dd1 xd1 35.xd1 b3 36.e1 a2 37.b4? Having been forced to play only move after only move for some time now, Krasenkow finally cracks. [ 37.c1 b2 38.b1 a1 39.xb2 xe1+ 40.f2 e4= Would still have held the draw. ] 37...c2! Now it's all over. 38.g4 b2 39.a3 c3 40.f5 h6 41.h4 d2 42.e1 xd4 43.g5 hxg5 44.hxg5 e4 45.d1 f7 46.f2 f4+ 47.e3 xf5 48.g1 a5 49.g6+ e6 An excellent creative achievement by Rozentalis. 0-1
330
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 345 Krasenkow,Michal Speelman,Jonathan S Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (7) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2647 2597 06.12.1999
1.c4 e6 2.c3 b6 3.e4 [ My personal preference, shutting the h1-a8 diagonal, and leaving Black's light-squared bishop 'biting on granite'. 3.d4 would lead to 'more normal' 1 d4 lines. ] 3...b7 4.f3 b4 5.d3 e7 6.e2!? A recently popular idea, hoping to embarrass the b4-bishop. [ 6.0-0 is more common, 0-0 7.c2 ( 7.e1 f5 8.e5 g6 9.f1?! xf3 10.xf3 c6 worked out well for Black in Huebner,RMiles,A/Bad Lauterberg 1977) 7...f5 8.d4 xc3 9.bxc3 xe4 10.xe4 fxe4 11.g5 although Black is fine, Rahman, Z-Speelman, J/Calcutta 1996. ] 6...f5 [ B l a c k m u s t t a k e c a r e , 6...0-0? drops a piece after 7.a3 d6 8.e5 xf3 9.exd6 xe2 10.dxe7 ] 7.c2 [ White reintroduces an older line. 7.g3!? has recently been the preferred method of defending e4, g6 ( 7...0-0 may be better, 8.0-0 d6 9.exf5 xf5 10.xf5 exf5 11.e1 f6 12.d4 xf3 13.xf3 c6 14.d5 e5 15.c3 f4 16.e4 h4 17.f3? and now b4! 18.xb4 d3 led to a brilliant victory for Black in Hanley, C-Plaskett,J/Port Erin IOM 1998) 8.0-0 f4 ( 8...0-0!? Speelman ) 9.e2 0-0 10.b1 h4 11.xh4 xh4 12.f3 shutting out the b7-bishop, and preparing d4, with a plus, Chernin, A-Speelman,J/Slough 1997. ] 7...bc6!? [ Speelman's improvement on 7...d6 8.a3 ( t h r e a t e n i n g e 5 ) g6?! 9.exf5 h4 10.e4! c6 11.fxe6 0-0 12.d4 xg2+ 13.f1 with a winning material advantage, Mitenkov,A-Ivanov,V/Moscow 1994. ] 8.exf5 xf5 9.xf5 White takes the offered pawn. exf5 10.xf5 e7 Black threatens to castle long, and then attack along the open e a n d f f i l e s , a n d h 1 - a 8 d i a g o n a l . 11.0-0 xe2?! [ A typical Speelman queen sacrifice, which
may offer better practical chances than 11...g6 , say, 12.c2 0-0 13.d4 intending Nf4-d5, or simply d5, but ] [ 11...f8 12.g4 0-0-0 13.g3 a5 was worthy of consideration. ] 12.e1 xe1+ 13.xe1 0-0-0 14.b3! hf8 15.h3 [ There is little point grabbing further material by 15.xh7 which opens lines against the king. ] 15...c5 16.d3 [ Without this funny move White would be in trouble. If 16.f3? then d4 with more than sufficient compensation. ] 16...d4 17.b2 e2+ [ The tactics don't quite seem to work for Black, if 17...e4 then 18.xc5 e2+ 19.f1 f4 20.e3 xg2+ 21.g1 de8 22.a4 xe3 23.fxe3 and White plays an endgame a piece to the good. ] 18.f1 f4 19.xf4 xf4 20.d4 Of course, White is happy to provoke further exchanges, even at the temporary cost of a pawn. df8 [ 20...xd4 21.xd4 xd4 22.xh7 wins comfortably. ] 21.e3 e7 22.e1 [ There is nothing wrong with 22.xe7 xf2+ 23.e1 but why bother to calculate it? ] 22...h4 23.g3 f3 24.e2 d8 25.d5 W h a t e ve r c h a n ce s B l a ck m a y h a v e h a d d i sa p p e a r wi t h t h e c lo su re o f t h e h 1 -a 8 diagonal. 3f7 26.a3 d6 27.b2 b8 28.d4 c8 Objectively, Black is quite lost, but tries to generate a little play. 29.g2 g6 30.h3 h5 31.d2 g5 32.e2 Ca lm co n solid a t io n . a5 33.e1 d7 34.e4?! [ An error, losing the exchange, 34.b4 axb4 35.xb4 is simplest, followed by a4-5, opening the black king position. ] 34...c5! 35.e3! [ The best decision, maintaining a safe edge. 35.c3 i s l e s s c l e a r , xh3+ 36.g1 ( 36.xh3? xf2 with a threat of ...g4) 36...h4 with play. ] 35...f5 36.e6 xe6 37.dxe6 f6 38.d1! xe6 39.xh5 After this, and despite the equal m ateria l, W hit e has a stron g plan : prepare f4, exchanging the g5-pawn, and then advance the passed kingside pawns. 331
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ef6 [ 39...e5 might be a better chance, for if 40.d1 c7 41.d2 Black can play fe8 holding-up the f4-plan. ] 40.d1 c7 41.d2 6f7 42.f4! gxf4 43.xf4 d7 44.h4 f6 45.h5 White's position is easy to play. e5! 46.xe5 dxe5 47.e3 e8 Black has created a passed pawn of his own, but it is not quick enough. 48.h6 e4 49.g4 f7 50.g5 f3 Both sides advance their pawns as fast as possible. 51.e1 f5 52.g3+ b7 53.h7 e3 54.g6 e2 This pawn will queen, but it is a move too late. 55.g7! g5! [ Resourceful play, after the obvious 55...e1 W h it e wi n s b y 56.xe1 xe1 57.g8 when Black cannot stop the h-pawn from promoting, as well. ] 56.xg5 e1 57.g8 [ Care is still needed, if 57.d5+ a6 58.g8 e2+ 59.h3 e3+ the position is not clear. ] 57...e2+ 58.h3 [ And not 58.f3?? when f2+ 59.g4 d1+ leads to mate! ] 58...h1+ [ Now, 58...e3+? 59.h2 e2+ fails to 60.g2+ which is check. ] 59.g4 g2+ 60.f5 f2+ [ Eventually, Black's checks peter out. Neither 60...xg5+ 61.xg5 g1+ when the white king will find refuge on the eighth rank (answering a check by in t e rp o s in g t h e wh it e q u e e n , a lso wit h check), e.g. 62.f5 f2+ 63.e6 e3+ 64.d7 etc. ] [ Nor 60...b1+ saves him, A) and not 61.e6?? when xg5 62.f7+ ( 62.xg5 xh7 ) 62...a6 63.h8 e4+ 64.d7 b7+ draws; B) 61.f6 xg5 62.f7+ a6 63.xg5 should win easily. ] 61.g6 e4+ 62.h6 h2+ 63.g7 d4+ 64.f8 f2+ 65.f7+ xf7+ 66.xf7 a6 67.g8 1-0
346 Lautier,Joel Taddei,Benoit TCh-Nat1 GpA (7) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2676 2340 04.04.2004
1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.e4 e5 4.f3 g7 Forced if Black wants to play a King's Indian Defence, [ 4...d6 5.d4 exd4 6.xd4 g7 obliges Black to play a line he probably doesn't like. ] 5.d4 Heading for typical KID play, [ 5.xe5 is examined in Ibragimov-Odeev. ] 5...exd4 6.xd4 0-0 7.e2 e8 8.f3 c6 Black could always play [ 8...d6 which leads to a KID, but he hopes to gain advantage from delaying this move. ] 9.g5 Hoping to hinder the ...d5 break. d5!? A novelty, and exactly the move White tried to stop. [ 9...h6 is more normal, ready to break the pin on the h4-d8 diagonal, 10.h4 d5 11.exd5 ( 11.cxd5!? is not very popular, although wins a pawn after g5 12.g3 cxd5 13.db5 a6 14.exd5 Gurevich,M-Jansa, V/Forchheim GER 2000) 11...cxd5 12.0-0 c6 13.cxd5?! ( 13.xc6 bxc6 14.f2 was quickly agreed drawn in Petursson,MSax,G /Bu en os Aires 1 97 8) 13...xd4 14.xd4 xd5! and Black is better, Svirin,OKhasin,A/Podolsk 1990. ] 10.cxd5 b6?! This is Black's idea, although [ 10...h6!? has its points: 11.xf6!? ( 11.h4 transposes to the last note) 11...xf6 12.c2 cxd5 13.xd5 c6 with more than adequate compensation. ] 11.b3 [ 11.dxc6! bxc6 12.b3 should transpose. ] 11...a5?! Giving White a second chance to capture on c6, [ 11...cxd5! 12.exd5 a6 is better, e.g. 13.h4 (to play Bf 2) b4 14.f2 d8 15.d6 e6 16.0-0 fd5 and Black will regain a pawn. ] 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.c1! White has to regain control of the g1-a7 diagonal before he can castle. a4 14.e3 b4 15.c5 a3 It looks like Black has succeeded in undermining White's defence of the c3-knight. 16.d3 Forced, but strong. b7 332
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 16...axb2 17.xb4 bxc1+ 18.xc1 leaves White a solid pawn up in the ending. ] [ 16...e7!? ] 17.b1 bd7?! 18.0-0 White has castled and managed to easily consolidate his extra pawn, so Black is effectively lost. a5 19.b4 a8 20.b5!? This opens the b-file and gains cont rol of d5 , altho ugh at the sa me tim e exchanges a good pawn for a rather weaker one. a5 21.bxc6 xc6 22.b5 White virtually forces the exchange of queens, although he could also go for [ 22.b4 b7 23.cd5 xd5 24.xd5 with a fine knight established on d5. ] 22...xc1 23.fxc1 a6 24.d6 e6 25.c4 xc4 Every exchange brings Black closer to resignation, but he has little alternative as [ 25...a4 is met by 26.b4 xb4 27.xb4 xc4 28.xc4 ] 26.xc4 h5 27.b7 f8 28.cc7 d5!? A desperate last fling of the dice, but there is little better, e.g. [ 28...e5 29.xe5 axe5 30.d4 a5 31.c4 and the position explodes. ] 29.d2! Even stronger than [ 29.xd7 xe3 30.xf7 ] 29...xc7 30.xa5 As Black drops a piece one of the two knights on the 7th rank. 1-0
347 Marjanovic,Slavoljub Ivanisevic,Ivan 55th ch Subotica YUG (3) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2524 2460 18.03.2000
1.c4 b6 2.e4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.f3 b4 5.d3 e7 6.e2 g6!? [ Bogdan Lalic's improvement, 6...f5 7.c2 is all the rage. ] 7.a3 [ Im m e d ia t e ly ch a sin g t h e b ish o p , 7.0-0 offered little before. ] 7...d6 8.c2 f5! 9.c3 [ 9.exf5?! h4 10.xh4 xh4 11.fxe6 dxe6 leads to a typical black initiative. ] 9...h4 10.d4 xf3+ [ Sidestepping 10...xg2+?! 11.f1 h4 when 12.g5 e7 13.xh4 xg5
14.h5+ is awkward. ] 11.xf3 h4 This move makes it difficult for White to castle kingside. 12.g3 h3 13.f4 c6 14.0-0-0?! [ In view of White's coming difficulties, 14.b5! 0-0 15.xd6 cxd6 16.e3 is better, when White can claim a plus. ] 14...fxe4 15.xe4 0-0 16.xd6 cxd6 17.c3 a5 Suddenly the c4-pawn appears exposed on the newly-opened c-file. 18.he1?! [ Better to go for the complications of 18.xd6!? fc8 ( or 18...f3 19.d3 xc4! 20.xc4 c8 21.c7 xd3 which is also good f or Black) 19.c5 xh1 20.xh1 with some compensation for the exchange. ] 18...ac8 19.c5 [ W h a t e l s e ? 19.b3?? allows xf4 as the g-pawn is now pinned. ] 19...dxc5 20.b1 d5 21.d6 [ 21.dxc5 xc5 22.d3 c4 is also very good for Black. ] 21...f3 [ Or 21...xf2!? 22.dxc5 c4 menacing ... Nxd6, and the desperate 23.xd5 exd5 24.e7 fails to f1+ 25.a2 f6 ] 22.d3 xf2 Black has obtained a deadly initiative. 23.dxc5 [ 23.g4 is tricky, but following xg4 24.g3 xd4 25.e5 xc3 26.xg7+ f8 27.xc3 Black has a winning material advantage. ] 23...c4 24.xd5 Desperation. exd5 25.e7 Threat ening mat e, bu t B lack can def en d easily. f1+ [ 25...f6! ] 26.a2 f7 27.d4? [ This loses more material, White had one last chance: 27.d3 f2 and now 28.xc4 ( 28.xc4!? is also feasible! dxc4 29.xc4 bxc5 30.xd7 and Black should win, of course, but it is difficult to avoid losing the f7-rook on the way.) 28...xe7 29.xd5+ f7 30.cxb6! xc3 31.b7 b6 32.b8+ xb8 33.xb8 c2 34.xa7 xh2 35.a4 and the queenside pawns offer a certain amount of counterplay. ] 27...xd6 28.b3 [ 28.cxd6 is quite h o pe le ss, to o , xc2 29.xd5 c4+ 30.xc4 xc4 ]
333
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28...xe7 0-1
348
A10 Matamoros Franco,Carlos S 2510 Pavlovic,Milos 2494 XXII Open Reykjavik ISL (9) 14.03.2006 [John Watson]
W hite's active move in an old line brings results, even if Black slips out against poor technique. 1.c4 b6 2.f3 b7 3.g3 xf3 4.exf3 c5 5.d4 c6 6.dxc5 bxc5 7.h3! A subtle move that serves as prophylactic in two different ways. One is simply that Black has to protect d7 before he castles or c o u n t e r a t t a c k s w i t h h i s q u e e n . g6?! Surprisingly, this standard move targeting the d4 outpost is probably a mistake! [ Black should play something like 7...f6 8.c3 e6 in order to protect his centre. ] 8.0-0 g7 9.c3 [ 9.d2 f6 10.b3 d6= ] 9...f6 The other is that d7 and c8 are covered after 9...d6? 10.Qa4. [ F u r t h e r m o r e , 9...xc3?! 10.bxc3 takes d4 away from Black. In spite of the pair of doubled pawns, White's bishops give him the advantage, e.g., f6 ( 10...h5 11.e1 h6 12.d5! ) 11.h6 ( or 11.g5 0-0 12.xf6 exf6 13.d6 ) 11...e6 12.d2 d6 13.fd1 e5 14.e2 ] 10.e3 Uh-oh. The pawn on c5 is indefensible. a5 [ 10...d6? 11.a4 ] [ 10...b8 11.b1 a5 12.e4! ] 11.e4 0-0 [ 11...xe4?? 12.xd7+ ] 12.xc5 [ 12.xf6+ xf6 13.xd7 d4 gives Black plenty of compensation, e.g., 14.xd4 xd4 15.xe7 ab8 16.b3 xa1 17.xa1 xb3! ] 12...d6 13.d3 d5 14.b4 d8 15.c1 [ 15.c2 is also good. ] 15...e6 16.cxd5 xd5 17.c5 d7 18.b5 e7 19.e5 b7 20.f4 [ 20.e2! and Rfc1 would cement White's advantage. His two bishops and forthcoming passed pawn on the queenside will decide. ]
20...fd5 21.f3 [ W h i t e i s s t a r t i n g t o s l i p . 21.g2! would leave him a clear pawn up. ] 21...a6 22.b6?! [ Missing a tactic. 22.a4! axb5 23.axb5 keeps Black's knights restricted. ] 22...xe5! 23.fxe5 xb6! 24.xd5 [ 24.fc1! xe3 25.xe3 d5 26.e2 Even without the extra pawn White keeps Black a little tied down, although it's probably not much. ] 24...b7 25.h6 Threatening Rd3. [ 25.c5 xd5 26.xf8 transposes to the next note. ] 25...xd5 26.d1!? [ 26.xf8 xf8 27.a3= ] 26...e7 [ It's e asiest to f o rce th ings b y 26...fc8! 27.xd5 xd5 28.f6 c1+ 29.f1 xf1+ 30.xf1 h1+ 31.e2 e4+= ] 27.xf8 xf8 28.f1 c7 29.xa6 a8 30.f1 xa2 31.e1 h5 32.h4 c5 33.d1 a3 34.d3 a1 35.d1 xd1 Black plays for a win. It doesn't hurt to try. The remaining moves require no n otes: 36.xd1 c3 37.e2 g7 38.h2 d4 39.g2 b6 40.f1 d7 41.f4 b6 42.g2 c4 43.f3 e3 44.h3 c3 45.h2 c1 46.f2 c5 47.e2 d4 48.h3 c3 49.h2 f5 50.f2 d3 51.g2 e3 52.f3 d4 53.e2 f5 54.e4 e3 55.f3 f8 56.h3 f5 57.e4 h6 58.f3 c3 59.h2 e7 60.f2 f5 61.a7+ f8 62.f2 e3 63.h3 d4 64.e2 e7 65.a6 c5 66.c6 d4 67.a8 d5 68.xd5 exd5 69.a3+ e8 70.a8+ e7 71.a3+ e8 72.a8+ e7 73.a3+ ½-½
349 Miezis,Normunds Svidler,Peter Keres Mem Rapid rapid (6) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2518 2689 07.01.2001
1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.e4 e6 4.ge2 I like this move, and duly recommend it in my book on the English Opening. f6 [ Standard, 4...f5!? 5.exf5 exf5 6.d4 f6 7.d3 e4 Miezis,N-Ward,C/Port Erin 1998, 334
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 when 8.e3 has its points. ] 5.g3!? [ But I'm not so keen on this, the knight is not optimally placed on the wing. I prefer 5.d3 c5 6.g3 c6 7.g2 d6 8.0-0 as in McNab, C-Plaskett,J/Southend 1999. ] 5...c5 6.d3!? [ Miezis is trying to improve on his 6.e5 g8 7.d3?! d6 8.exd6 xd6 9.e3 c6 10.e2 ge7 11.f3 e5 12.d2 0-0 13.0-0-0 d7 when Black is quite a lot b e t t e r , b e c a u se o f h i s h o l d o n d 4 , b u t blundered, and lost, Miezis, N-Ehlvest,J, from the same tournament. ] 6...c6 7.f4 h5! This move is often effective against knights on g3. 8.e5 h4! 9.ge4 xe4 10.xe4 d6 11.exd6 xd6 12.e3 e7 13.a4 0-0 14.0-0-0 d4 Black seems to have built-up a similar advantage to the E h l ve s t ga m e . 15.d2 f5 16.c3 a6 17.d1 b5 Black is attacking all over the board. 18.e1 b6 19.f2 h3 20.h4 d6 21.g3 a5 22.g1 [ White cannot defend his a-pawn, 22.b1?? b4 23.e2 b3 ] 22...b4 23.gxh3?! f7 24.b1 f3 White's pieces seem to have found comical squares, and it is no surprise that Black wins mo re th a n an e xch a n ge . 25.dg2 c7 26.f2 xf4+ 27.d1 xg1 28.xg1 e5 29.g6 h7 30.g3 xg3 [ T h e r e i s n o t h i n g w r o n g w i t h 30...xg6 31.xf4 f6 , either. ] 31.xg3 f4 32.g4 e3 33.h4+ g8 34.d2 f3+ 35.xf3 xf3+ 36.e1 f5 37.e2 e5 The rest is a massacre, but in rapid chess there is always the chance that yo ur o p po ne n t blu nd ers. 38.f2 xd3 39.f1 xh3+ 40.g1 e3 41.xf4 xe2 0-1
bad idea. For White I would take a look at 11. Ne4!? 1.c4 g6 2.e4 e5 3.d4 f6!? 4.f3 [ 4.dxe5 xe4 5.d5 was fashionable in the 70's and here Black can choose between f5 ( or 5...b4+ 6.d2 xd2+ 7.xd2 xd2 8.xd2 c6 ) 6.exf6 xf6 Najdorf, M (2540)-Ribli, Z (2505)/Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee 1973 ] 4...exd4 [ 4...b4+ was played sometimes, but I'm not a fan of trading the fianchettoed bishop so qu ickl y 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 xe4 ( 6...e7 7.dxe5 xe4 8.e3 b4+ 9.bd2 was Poluljahov, A (2554)-Sutovsky, E (2587)/MK Cafe Cup-A 1999.) 7.e3 d5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.xe5 0-0 10.c4 a5+ 11.c3 and this g7-bishop will be missing at some point. ] 5.e5 e4 [ 5...b4+ now it makes more sense 6.d2 e7 7.xb4 xb4+ 8.d2 xd2+ 9.bxd2 h5 10.xd4 c6 11.xc6 dxc6 with some strange kind of Berlin, but since Black can castle I assume that the position is ok. ] 6.xd4 b4+ 7.bd2 [ 7.c3 was seen in a recent game and is an ambitious try xc3 8.bxc3 c6 9.d3 e7 10.h6 with an interesting position in Cmilyte, V (2524)-Lahno, K (2553)/Beijing Sportaccord (Women) blitz 2012 ] 7...g5 This doesn't look so natural, but with 8...Nc6 ideas it's a good way to check White's setup. 8.a3 A novelty, but I'm not sure if it's a good one. The idea is to clarify the tension and to try to build a center with f4 later. [ 8.e2 was the move played before and I think Black is fine after c6 9.e3 xf3+ 10.xf3 0-0 11.0-0 e8 12.xc6 dxc6 13.f3 g4 Vitiugov, N (2726)-Volokitin, A (2686)/ Bundesliga 1112 2011 (11.1)/0-1 ] 8...xf3+ 9.gxf3 c6 10.e3 f8 350 A10 Coming back and going to the ideal square on Nakamura,Hikaru 2775 g7 11.b4 [ 11.e4!? I like this move, it makes Black Svidler,Peter 2769 less comfortable and tries to pose some Thessaloniki FIDE GP (11) 03.06.2013 problems from the start g7 12.f6+ f8 [Fier, Alexandr] 13.f4 and here Black has two continuations xf6 ( 13...d6 14.d2 h6 15.d5 dxe5 A really interesting fight! Black is probably 16.0-0-0 with good compensation) 14.exf6 better after the opening but it's not easy to xf6 15.d2 e7 16.0-0-0 xe3 17.fxe3 prove it. I think exchanging the queens was a 335
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with an unclear endgame ] 11...g7 12.b2 0-0 13.f4 Now if White can hold the pawns in the center and queenside then everything is fine, but his position is overextended. The computer assesses it as good for Black, but to find a improvement over the game is not an easy task d6 14.0-0-0 dxe5 15.fxe5 h4 16.b5 e7 17.g3 h5 [ 17...f5 is one of the possibilities, but why change queens when White's king is much more open than Black's? 18.xh4 xh4 19.d3 e8 20.c2 a6! can give an edge, but nothing concrete ] 18.f4 [ 18.e4 g4 19.d2 ad8 20.g1 xd2 21.xd2 e6 22.f4 looks like the same kind of position as in the game, but with one defender less for White ] 18...a6 19.a4 axb5 20.axb5 g4 [ 20...c6 here or on the next move this can be played, trying to open the position even more. 21.bxc6 ( 21.b6 now the endgames are more interesting for Black, the b6-pawn can fall at any moment d8 22.e1 f5 23.f2 h4 ) 21...bxc6 22.e4 is logical and now g4 23.d2 f5 24.e1 fb8 can give Black good prospects even if the position is still not clear ] 21.e1 fd8 [ 21...c6 22.bxc6 bxc6 23.h3 ( 23.g1 e6 24.e2 h6 looks like this is the square for the queen and after 25...Rfb8 Black is much better) 23...e6 24.e4 fb8 ] 22.g1 e6 23.e2 f5 [ 23...h6 again Black can try to put the queen on this weird square and keep the initiative. Compared to the positions with ... c6, it looks like the rook is more active on the b-file than the d-file, so 23. ..Qf5 is consistent with Black's plan, but still the idea of 24...Nf5 followed by 25... Qh3 looks tempting 24.e4 f5 25.f2 h3 ] 24.g4 xg4 25.xg4 xg4 26.xg4 f5 Now Black has an excellent post on f5 and better rooks, but all the pawns and pieces are defended, so the task is not easy. 27.g2 d3 28.e4 Regrouping. a4 29.c2 e3 [ 29...b4 30.c3! sacrificing the pawn to activate d4!? ( 30...xc3+ 31.xc3 xc4 32.c2 a4 33.b3 a8 34.d1
is not what Black was dreaming of.) 31.c2 dxc4 32.f6+ h8 ( 32...xf6 33.exf6 looks dangerous) 33.ee2 and things are again not clear. ] 30.d1 d3+ 31.c1 [ 31.d2 was an interesting option xd2+ ( 31...e3+ leads to a draw after 32.xe3 xe3 33.d8+ f8 34.f6+ g7 35.e8+ h6 36.f6= ) 32.xd2 xc4 33.f6+ xf6 34.exf6 h5 35.e8+ h7 36.e7! and Black needs to take care to not be worse. ] 31...e3 Now I think Black's winning chances are not very good any more. 32.c5 xc2 33.xc2 xc4+ 34.xd3 xc5 35.a1 [ 35.b6 was also playable but the text move is more active cxb6 36.d4 c6 37.b1 with good drawing chances. ] 35...xb5 36.a8+ f8 37.d4 h6 Gaining some space while getting close to move 40. 38.c8 c6 39.c3 d5+ W ith just rooks and pawns it's hard to get anything. 40.e4 c5 41.d3 b5 42.h4 h5 43.d2 d5+ 44.c2 c5+ 45.d3 d5+ 46.c2 g5 Pushing too hard. 47.f5 gxh4 48.c3 g7 49.e6+ f6 50.c7+ g8 51.c8 g7 52.c7+ g8 53.xf6 xf5?? [ 53...c5+ A) 54.c3 xf5 55.e7 xe7 is a draw; B) 54.b3 b5+ 55.a4 b4+ 56.a5 h3 ( 56...b5+ is a draw ) 57.c8 e4 58.e7 leads to huge complications h2 59.xf8+ ( 59.xf8 i s s i m p l e r h1 60.b4+ g7 61.c3+ h6 62.d2+ h7 63.c7+ g8 64.c8+ g7 65.c3+= ) 59...g7 60.f6+ h7 61.f7 f4 62.f6 xf6 63.e7 h1 64.h8+ g6 65.g8+ f5 66.f8 with probably some perpetual around; C) 54.d3 d5+ and the king can never go to the e-file C1) 55.e3 xf5 now Black can take on f5 56.c8 ( 56.e7 xe7 57.xe7= ) 56...xf6 57.e7 e6+ this is the point; C2) 55.e4 h3! 56.xb7 ( 56.c8 h2 and the queen promotes with check) 56...h2 57.b1 d6 ] 54.c8 f2+ 55.d3 f3+ 56.d4 And Black cannot avoid e7. 1-0
336
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 open the f-file: 20.xf7?! hf8 21.b3 xd3 and f2 is a serious problem. ] Rasmussen 20...a6 21.ad1 xb2 Time to cash-in. Speelman,Jonathan S 22.d5 Politiken Cup (4) [ White pins his hopes on some attacking [Tony Kosten] possibilities on the h1-a8 diagonal, but it p r o v e s t o b e i l l u s o r y , 22.xf7 hf8 1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.e4 e6 4.ge2 d5!? and again f2 will soon be lost. ] [ A move typical of 'Spec'- an innovation at move four! I looked at 4...f6 previously, 22...d4 23.f3 g6 24.g5 he8 25.h6 when if 5.d3 d5 is a sensible possibility, f5!? 26.xh7! f6 27.h6? [ This hastens the end, the only chance was that I analysed once. However, the 27.fe1 as now h8 28.e7 and White is possibility of playing this central thrust one still fighting. ] move before, hadn't even occurred to me! ] 27...h8 28.c1 Black to play and win? 5.exd5 [ 5.cxd5 exd5 6.xd5 f6 is the alternate xh2! 29.c6 [ The queen finally gets to the h1-a8 diagonal, pawn sac, when one possible continuation is but only to swap queens. 29.xh2 h8+ 7.a4+!? c6 8.xf6+ xf6 9.c4 d7 30.g1 h4 forces mate. ] when Black has some comp for a pawn, but 29...xc6 30.xc6 dh8 31.g3 g5 maybe not quite enough. ] 5...exd5 6.xd5 Expecting to gain the two The black attack continues in the endgame. 32.de1 2h6 33.g2 g4 34.b1 f4 bishops, no doubt. f6!? [ Offering a pawn for the initiative. 6...xd5 35.gxf4 g3 36.e4 h2 The f2-pawn is 7.cxd5 xd5 8.c3 e5+ 9.e2 finally, and irrevocably, lost. leaves Black weak on the queenside light 0-1 squares. ] 7.ec3?! A10 [ White prefers the bishops to the pawn. 352 7.xf6+ xf6 8.d4 c6 followed by long Ribli,Zoltan 2588 castles certainly provides good Muranyi,Karl Jasmin 2357 compensation for the pawn, but at least Bundesliga 2006/07 (9) 21.02.2007 White has something for his trouble. ] [Carsten Hansen] 7...xd5 8.xd5 xd5 9.cxd5 xd5 10.e2 c6 1.c4 f5 2.f3 f6 3.g3 e6 4.g2 e7 [ Black's control of d4, and open central files 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 d6 7.c3 bd7?! more than make-up for his lack of light- It looks like Black puts the knight on a wrong s q u a r e d b i s h o p . N o t e t h a t 10...xg2?? s q u a r e , b u t i t i l l u s t r a t e s h o w W h i t e b y loses: 11.f3 ] choosing an English Opening move order can 11.0-0 d4 12.e1?! mess with Dutch players, who are used to [ P e r h a p s W h i t e s h o u l d c h o o s e 12.a6 respond to a set-up that includes d2-d4. Black (stopping castling) e7 13.e1 d7 14.b3 should probably opt for 0-0 15.b2 f6 with good drawing [ 7...a5 , angling for a transposition to the chances. ] Dutch if Black can only get White to agree to 12...0-0-0 13.a6+ b8 14.d3 b4 15.c4 play d2-d4. ] d7 16.f1 8.b2 a6 9.g5!? e5?! [ The rook must give way, 16.d2?! xd2 [ 9...b6 10.d4 g4 11.h3 e5 12.d2 ] 17.xd2 he8 and the knight will dominate 10.d4 Now when it's convenient for White, he the bishop. ] ha s n ot h in g a gain st p u sh ing th e d -pa wn 16...b5 17.b3 c5 18.e3 b6 19.xd4!? forward. f7 11.xf7 xf7 The resulting White seeks salvation in the opposite-colour position looks like a Classical Dutch, albeit a bishop position. xd4 20.h5 very clumsy one by Black. 12.e4 [ White is loathe to touch the f7-pawn, and [ W h i t e c a n a l s o c o n s i d e r 12.d3!? 351
A10 2281 2603 19.07.2001
337
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 after which Black probably does best to enter a Stonewall set-up with d5 ] 12...fxe4 13.xe4 xe4 14.xe4 d5 15.g2 [ Here 15.c2!? looks like an attractive alternative the idea is to follow up with 16 Qd3 and then on ...g6 by Black, White will throw either the f- or h-pawn forward. ] 15...f6 16.d2?! [ 16.e2!? appeals more to me, as Black c a n ' t p l a y dxc4 (as in the game) with the same effect due to White taking back with the queen: 17.xc4 c6 18.f4 and White dominates the board. ] 16...dxc4 17.bxc4 c5 18.d5 exd5 19.cxd5 d6 20.a4 d7 21.a5 af8 22.f4 Here my chess engine and I have a difference of opinion. It likes Black's position more, whereas I pref er W hite. However, it isn't entirely clear. b5 23.axb6 xb6 24.xf6 xf6 25.h4!? This prevents Black from playing ...g7-g5, which can be inconvenient for White in some lines and gives the White king an extra square. f5 26.fe1 c4+ 27.h2 d3 [ 27...c8!? ] 28.e4 d6?! [ This move is the beginning of trouble for Bla ck. I nst ea d 28...xe4 29.xe4 c8 30.c1 c3 31.xc3 xc3 32.xc3 f2+ leads to a draw. ] 29.xd3 cxd3 30.xd3 fd8 31.ab1 [ 31.e5 b2+ 32.e2 xe2+ 33.xe2 xd5 34.xa6 leads to an endgame Black should draw. ] 31...f2+ 32.h3 xd5? [ 32...c5! keeps the balance. ] 33.xa6 h6? [ 33...d3! 34.e6+ f8 35.f5+ g8 36.e8+ xe8 37.xd3 is still rather uncomfortable for Black, but Black should be able to defend. ] 34.e7 8d6? [ 34...5d6 35.c4+ h8 36.e4 d4 37.xd4 xd4 38.bb7 g8 39.f5 should win for White. ] 35.c8+ h7 36.xg7+ xg7 37.b7+ g6 38.e8+ f6 1-0
353 Rotstein,Arkadij Conquest,Stuart N1 France [Tony Kosten]
A10 2553 2582 03.05.2002
1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.e4 e5!? [ We have considered 3...e6 in great detail. ] 4.f3 c6 5.e2!? [ A new move in this rare position, White avoids the no rma l 5.d4 as after exd4 6.xd4 b4 Black has reasonable play, 7.e3 ( 7.xc6 xc6 8.d3 xc3+ 9.bxc3 f6!? White's weak pawns give Black compensation for the bishop pair, De ub e lb e iss, R-Ho rn ,P / SW Z-chT 19 9 3) 7...f6 8.f3 0-0 ( 8...xc3+!? ) 9.c2 e8 10.0-0-0 White has a useful space advantage, Sjoestroem,O-Hof f mann,M/ Fuerth 1999. ] 5...ge7?! [ 5...c5 seems critical, taking a firm hold of d4, 6.xe5!? xe5 7.d4 b4 ( 7...d6 8.dxe5 xe5 is also f easible, 9.d5 ) 8.dxe5 xc3+ 9.bxc3 with chances to both sides in this imbalanced position. ] 6.0-0 g6 7.d4 Now White can make this ke y m o ve wit h o u t h a vin g t o wo rry a b o u t do ub le d c-pa wn s. exd4 8.xd4 xd4 9.xd4 h4 10.d5 0-0-0 Black plays sharply, but White has extra space, and his knight is strong. 11.e3 e8 12.f4!? c5 13.d3 xe3+ [ Perhaps Black should accept the pawn: 13...xd5!? 14.cxd5 xf4 when White planned to attack the king: 15.a6+ b8 16.xc5 bxc5 17.f3 when Black's position is quite unpleasant to play. ] 14.xe3 f5!? 15.e5 h6 Black is de spe ra te ly lo oking f or co u n te rpla y, t h e immediate threat is to capture on d5, then on e5, as the f-pawn would be pinned, but White keeps firm control. 16.f2 e7! 17.ad1 xd5 18.cxd5 g5 19.d4 Centralisation! hg8 20.c1 Which will be more important: B la ck' s o p e n in g o f t h e g-f ile , o r W h it e ' s control of the c-file? b8 21.f3 gxf4 22.fe1 White is not too concerned about the f4-pawn, his mobile e and d pawns supported by his pieces, give him some advantage. g6 23.c2?! 338
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Too casual, 23.a4!? hitting d7 , eg8!? 24.c2 ( a t t a c k i n g c 7 a n d f 5 ) ( not 24.xd7?? when h3 wins! ) 24...h4!? so that 25.xf5 xg2+! 26.xg2 xd5 forcing 27.e4 g5 28.xg5 xg5 29.f2 xg2+ 30.xg2 xe4+ is not too clear, ] [ but 23.e2! is best, as then g2 is solidly defended, and ...Qh4 won't hit the rook on e1. ] 23...h4 24.ec1? [ 24.f2 keeps a plus, but both players were ge t t in g s h o rt o f t im e , a n d in p a rt icu la r Black. ] 24...c8?! [ 24...h6 25.h3 comes to nothing, but ] [ 24...c5! was strong, closing the c-file, 25.c3 ( 25.dxc6 dxc6 and White is unable to capture thrice on c6 because of ...Qe1 mate. ) 25...h6 26.h3 g3 27.h1 d6! 28.e6? ( 28.exd6 xd6 is also good for Black ) 28...exe6! 29.dxe6 xh3+ 30.g1 xf3 and Black wins! ] 25.c4! c6?! 26.xf4? [ A s A r k a d i j p o i n t e d o u t , 26.e6! i s e v e n s t r o n g e r , c5 27.exd7! d8 28.e5+ winning quickly. ] 26...xf4 27.xf4 cxd5 28.xc8+ xc8 29.xf5 White's better structure gives him a c l e a r a d v a n t a g e . d4 30.xb7+ xb7 31.f4! g5 32.xd4 c6 33.d6+ c7 34.h6 xe5 35.xh7 e2 36.h4 The point, whilst Black captures some queenside pawns the white kingside strides towards the queening square. xb2 37.h5 xa2 38.h6 a4 [ 38...e2 39.g7 ( 39.g4 a5 40.g7 ) 39...e1+ 40.h2 e6 ] 39.g3 g4? [ This simplifies matters although 39...e4 40.f7! a5 41.h7 e8 42.g4 is also convincing. ] 40.g7 [ My computer likes 40.xd7+?! xd7 41.h7 xg3+ 42.h2 when Black cannot stop the h-pawn, but might have time to set-up a fortress. ] 40...e4 41.h7 e1+ 42.g2 e2+ 43.h3 e1 44.g2 e2+ 45.f1 h2 46.g1 h6 47.g4 a5 48.g5 h5 49.g6 a4 50.g8 1-0
354
A10 Savchenko,Boris 2583 Bacrot,Etienne 2695 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (34) 22.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen] 1.c4 b6 2.f3 b7 3.g3 e6 [ The continuation chosen by Black on this and the next move hasn't previously been covered here, whereas 3...xf3 has been discussed at length in earlier updates, check the PDF e-books for the game references. ] 4.g2 f5 5.0-0 f6 6.d3 [ Two other options are 6.b3!? ] [ and 6.d4 , of which the latter takes the game to a Classical Dutch ] 6...e7 [ This move looks so obvious, it is almost curious how many other tries Black has made in this position: A) 6...g6 A) 7.g5 g7 8.d2 0-0 9.c3 d6 10.e4 1-0 Rygaard, M-Torngarn, T/ Stockholm 1994; B) 7.e4 fxe4 8.g5 c6 ( 8...g7 9.dxe4 h6 10.e5 xg2 11.xg2 hxg5 12.xg5 c6 Mozny, M-Forman, S/ Czech Rep CZE 2003) 9.xe4 xe4 10.xe4 g7 11.c3 f6 Pedersen, CSedlak, N/Esbjerg DEN 2004, 12.e3!? 0-0-0 13.c5 , and White has the better chances, as his pawns a likely to crash in around Black's king before Black's pawn reaches their target. Nevertheless, this is a complicated position.; C) 7.c3 g7 C1) 8.e4 fxe4 9.g5 0-0 10.dxe4 c6 ( 10...h6 11.h3 e5 12.f4 c6 13.f5 gxf5 14.exf5 Bilek, I-Jamrich, G/ HUN 1999 ) 11.e5 e8 12.f4 e7 13.ce4 d8 14.e3 Richter, EKottnauer, C/Prague 1931; C2) 8.e1 0-0 9.e4 fxe4 10.dxe4 c6 C2a) 11.h3!? h8 ( 11...e5!? ) 12.e5 g8 13.f4 f7 14.d2 Kelly, BCarrasco Martinez, J/Zagan 1997; C2b) 11.e5 g4 12.f4 a5 13.e2 e7 14.h3 h6 15.ad1 Lukov, V-Droulers, D/ Paris 1998 ] [ B) 6...d6? 7.c3 ( 7.e4!? fxe4 8.g5 ) 7...bd7 8.d4 xg2 9.xg2 f7 , Villegas, B-Letelier Martner, R/Mar del 339
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g4 12.d2 ge5 13.xe5 xe5 P l a t a 1 9 3 6 , 10.e4! , and needless to say, with a pleasant game for Black, Sabaev, EBlack is in serious trouble ] Janturin, A/ Pardubice 1998 ] [ C) 6...c6 7.c3 ( 7.bd2 e7 8.b3 0-0 9.b2 e8 10.e3 h5= 1-0 Reschke, S- 8...fxe4 9.g5 c6!? [ Black has tried several other things at this Just, W /Baunatal 2001) 7...b4 8.c2 juncture, but I don't think any of the ( 8.d2 0-0 9.a3 xc3 10.xc3 e8 alternatives are as good as Bacrot's choice: 11.b4 h5 12.e3 e7 13.a4 a6 14.a5 A) 9...b4 10.cxe4 xe4 11.dxe4 g5 15.xf6 xf6 16.e5 , and White is ( 11.xe4!? c6 12.d4 ) 11...e5 12.h5 win n in g, L e s k i , M-L a m b , H/ N ic e 2 0 0 0) h6 13.f3 xe4 14.xh6 f6 15.d2 8...0-0 9.a3 d6 10.b3 a6 11.b2 e8 ( 15.f4!? exf4 16.g5 f3 17.xe4 f5 12.a4 d8 13.c5! bxc5 14.xc5 c6 18.xf5 xf5 19.h3 e5 20.c3 xc3 15.ac1 ( 15.b4!? ) 15...a5 16.e4 21.bxc3 ) 15...xf3 16.xf3 xf3 17.xf3 , and W hite has slightly better game, xf3 18.xb4= Johansson, L-Svenn, G/ Buhmann, R-Bunzmann, D/Heringsdorf Stockholm 1991 ] 2000 ] [ B) 9...a6 10.gxe4 b8 11.f4 xe4 [ D) 6...c8 7.g5 e7 8.c3 h6 9.d2 12.dxe4 d6 13.e2 e5 14.e3 c5 0-0 10.e1 b4 11.e4 1/2-1/2 Trygstad, 1/2-1/2 Greiner, H-Doll, S/Baden 1993/GER K-Johannessen, S/Oslo NOR 2003 ] (27) 15.d5 ] [ E) 6...d6 7.c3 0-0 8.g5 h6 9.xf6 [ C) 9...c8?! 10.gxe4 c6 11.d4 b8 xf6 Borg, A-Yagiz, Y/Antalya TUR 2006 ( 11...xe4 12.xe4 a5 13.c2 Ribli ) 10.e3 ] 12.d5! exd5 ( 12...e5 13.b3 exd5 7.c3 White has also tried several other 14.xf6+ xf6 15.xd5 f3+?? 16.xf3 moves here, but they are all of little xa1 17.e7++- Ribli ) 13.cxd5 e5 consequence and do not challenge Black. 0-0 14.f4 f7 ( 14...d6 15.g5 Ribli ) [ 7...c8 8.c2 0-0 9.e4 fxe4 10.dxe4 15.c1! a6 ( 15...d6 16.xf6+ xf6 c6 11.a3 g4 12.f4 f6= Ivanov, M17.b5 Ribli ) 16.e1 d6 17.b4 f5 Gervasio, R/Le Touquet 1996 ] 18.b5 c8 19.e2! [ 7...b4 8.d2 0-0 9.e1 e8 10.a3 A) 19...xd5 20.xd6!? ( 20.d4 g6 xc3 11.xc3 d6 Romanov, V-Merzliakov, 21.c6 e6 22.xb8 xb8 ) 20...xd6 E/ St-Petersburg RUS 2006, and now 21.xd6 xd6 22.xd5+ h8 23.xf5 12.d2 e5 13.b4 ] xf5 24.d4 Ribli; 8.e4 B) 19...xe4 20.d4 f6 ( 20...xd5 [ A) 8.b1 21.xe4 xa2 22.c6+- ) 21.xe4 g5 A) 8...a5 9.a3 a6 10.e4 ( 10.b3?! e8 22.g2 b7 ( 22...h3+ 23.xh3 xh3 11.c2 h5 12.a2 g4 13.h3 h6 24.xc7+- ) 23.h4+- Jacobsen, B-Fenn, P/ 14.xh6 xh6 15.b4 axb4 16.axb4 f4 E u p e n 1 9 9 4 ( The alternatives are also Nemeth, Z-Jamrich, G/Budapest 2001) very good for White, e.g. 23.c6+-; and 10...fxe4 11.g5 e8 12.gxe4 xe4 23.e6!?+- )] 13.xe4 g6 ( 13...c5!?= ) 14.f6+ [ D) 9...c6 10.dxe4 h6 11.h3 e5 xf6 15.xb7 a7 16.g2 Michalek, C12.d5 c5 13.h1 xd5 14.cxd5 d6 Kleinegger, F/Ruhrgebiet 1999; 15.b1 a5 , Abbasov, F-Hasanov, R/Tehran B) 8...e8 9.b4 d6 10.d4?! ( 10.e4!? IRI 2005, and now 16.f4!? ] fxe4 11.g5 d8 12.cxe4 xe4 13.xe4 d5 14.c3 f6 15.b2 ) 10.cxe4 [ 10.d4 a5 11.b3 h6 ( 11...e8!? ) 10...bd7 11.d5 e5 12.g5 0-1 Mellen, 12.gxe4 xe4 13.xe4 d5 14.cxd5 S-Everett, M/ Detroit 1991 g6 13.c5! exd5 15.c3 f6 16.e3 , and on account bxc5 14.e6 c4 15.xf8 xf8 16.b5 ] of the weak light squares around Black's [ B) 8.c2 a6 ( 8...e8 9.e4 h5 10.e2 king, White has the better chances, Espig, fxe4 11.dxe4 b4 12.b5 a6 L-Mischustov, M/ Germany 1998 ] Kruse, H-Carton, P/Germany 1993/GERchT2 ) 9.e4 fxe4 10.dxe4 c6 11.f4 10...xe4 11.xe4 last book move d5!? 340
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Rather amazingly only now do we leave exis t in g t h eo ry. Th e ste m ga me in th is variation, played some 80 years ago saw B l a c k e q u a l i z e f a i r l y e a s i l y : 11...e8!? 12.d4?! ( 12.f4!? ) 12...a5 13.e2 g6 14.e1 b4 , and here Black is already is very good shape: 15.d2 xd2 Ribli calls this position equal, but at the very least Black has the initiative, yet he probably b e t t e r a t t h i s s t a g e . 16.xd2 xg2 17.xg2 A) 17...f4!? 18.d5 ( 18.e5? af8 is almost winning for Black) 18...af8 19.f3 exd5 20.cxd5 d4 21.ac1 c5 22.dxc6 xc6 , and Black has the better chances; B) 17...c2 18.b3 c6 19.e3 f7 20.f3 af8 21.e2 f5 22.e5 xe5 23.dxe5= h5 24.d3 g5 25.d1 g4 26.e4 g5 27.d4 h5 28.d3 g7 29.d2 xe5 30.xd7 xd7 31.xd7 e4+ 32.g1 h4 33.gxh4 e1+ 34.g2 e4+ 35.g1 e1+ 1/2-1/2 Reti, RTartakower, S/Giessen 1928 ] 12.c3 dxc4 [ 12...d4 13.g4 c5 14.f4 f5 15.ae1 f8 16.e2 c6 17.c3 d4 18.e2 c6 19.c3 d4 ] 13.dxc4 xd1 14.xd1 ad8 [ 14...f6 15.f4 ] 15.f4 e5 16.xe5 xe5 17.xb7 c6 18.b3 [ 18.a6 g5 19.xd8 xd8 20.d1 xd1+ 21.xd1 g4 22.g2 f7 23.h3 h5 24.hxg4 hxg4 25.c8 f6 26.e3 ] 18...c5 [ 18...b8 19.a6 a3 gives Black adequate positional compensation for the pawn. ] 19.e4 [ To me it looks like White should have tried 19.xd8 xd8 20.d1 to eliminate some of Black's counterplay. ] 19...d4 20.ac1 f7 21.a6 c5 W h i t e h a s a n e x t r a p a wn , b u t h i s l i g h t squared bishop is decidedly out of play at the moment and bringing it back will take some time. Black's activity and reasonably wellcoordinated pieces offer him adequate compensation for the pawn. 22.h3 e7 23.g2 c6 24.c3 b4 25.b5 f8
26.d2 a6 27.a4 xf2+ 28.xf2 xf2 29.a3 d3 30.d1 e3 31.e4 xe4 32.xd3 d4 33.f3 e1 34.c6 f8 35.b4 e7 36.b7 f1+ 37.e4 d6? [ Black's idea is undoubtedly to let White grab the pawn on a6 and with that misplace the light-squared bishop, all the while Black a c t i va t e s h is p i e c e s. Y e t I t h in k B la c k should instead have played the obvious and simple 37...e1+ 38.f4 a5 39.bxc5 bxc5 , and Black isn't worse ] 38.xa6 e1+ 39.f3 f1+ 40.g4 g6?? [ A blunder that allows White an immediate win instead Black should have given pre f ere n ce t o 40...c1 41.bxc5+ xc5 42.f5 h1 43.g4 e1 44.b3 g6+ 45.g5 e5+ 46.h6 e7 , and White has some winning chances, but Black should hold the draw without too many difficulties ] 41.b7?? [ White could have won immediately with a petite combination: 41.xd4+ cxd4 42.c5+ bxc5 43.xf1 ] 41...e5 42.f3?! [ Or 42.bxc5 xc5 43.d7 h6 44.a4 c1 45.d5 h5+ 46.h4 g1 47.g7 f6 48.f7+ e5 49.g4 hxg4 50.hxg4 e3 , and Black shouldn't lose ] 42...f6?! [ Black should have played 42...c1! , e.g. 43.d5 cxb4 44.axb4 b5! , and Black actually has the marginally better chances ] 43.f4 e1 44.h4 h5 45.d5 f1+ 46.e4 e1+ 47.f3 c1 48.a4 c3 [ Bacrot seeks refuge in an oppositecoloured bishop endgame, which in the case is drawn. A perfectly acceptable alternative is 48...g5!? 49.hxg5+ xg5 , and White will have a hard time making progress, but can of course try. ] 49.xc3 xc3 50.bxc5 bxc5 51.c6 e1 52.e8 g5?? [ This is massive blunder, undoubtedly played with next to no time left on the clock. Black should draw after 52...f5 53.d7+ e5 54.c8 d4 55.a6 e5 56.b7 d4 57.d5 e5 , and White has will not be able to make any progress ] 53.xh5 gxh4 54.gxh4 xh4 [ T h i s l o s e s i m m e d i a t e l y , b u t 54...e7 55.g4 f6 56.e8 will lead to the same 341
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 result, but take longer ] 55.a5 1-0
t h e d - f i l e . T h e p r o b l e m w i t h 8.dxe4 is that, after e5 9.b3 c5 Black's darksquared bishop takes a strong post, aiming at the f2-square, 10.h3 e7 11.f4 f7 12.a3 a5 13.d3 0-0 with good play for Black, who won in double-quick time, in 355 A10 Heinbuch,D-Kengis,E/Bonn 1995. ] Schmit,Aaron 8...xe4 Pribyl,Josef [ A novelty, although it doesn't change too 1990 Altensteig 1990 much when compared with the move [Paul Motwani] 8...b4+ e. g. 9.d2 xd2+ 10.xd2 0-0 11.0-0 with slightly more space for White, W43: "Czech checked by a cheeky check!!" Smejkal,J-Speelman,J/Germany 1999. ] 1.f3 d6 2.c4 [ 2.d4 g4 is the Wade System, but in the 9.xe4 b4+ 10.d2 xd2+ 11.xd2 0-0 actual game W hite has a sneaky idea in 12.0-0 f6 Exerts pressure on the backward mind involving getting his queen out to b3 pawn 13.ad1 ad8 14.c3 a5 15.xb7 af t e r p la yin g 2 c4 . Ju st wa t ch a n d se e xb7 16.xf6 xf6 17.d4 [ 17.f4 might be more accurate. ] what happens next... ] 17...d6 18.b3 f3 19.g2 df8 20.f4 2...g4 c3 White is forced to exchange this rook, lest [ Of course 2...e5 was also possible. ] 3.b3 c8 4.h3 h5?? Black probably it becomes too active. 21.c1 xc1 22.xc1 played this routine-looking move very quickly, f5 23.e2 but in this instance there's a fatal tactical ½-½ flaw... 5.b5+ Oops. That's bye-bye black bishop! Reader's Challenge Puzzle W43P1: A10 Can you think of a similar situation in the 357 Trompovsky Attack where several masterSorokin,Maxim 2570 level players have made a losing move, as Lalic,Bogdan 2545 White on move 3, allowing Black to respond Goodricke Open (10) 2000 with a winning queen-check!? Look out...here [Tony Kosten] comes the answer! Solution to puzzle W43P1:1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 c6 3 e3?? Qa5+. 1.c4 b6 Something of a surprise from Bogdan 1-0 La lic, b u t a s h is p rep a ra t io n is n o rm a lly excellent, we can expect him to have a few tricks up his sleeve. 2.c3 b7 3.e4 e6 356 A10 4.f3 b4 5.d3 e7 6.e2 This move, Smejkal,Jan 2526 avoiding ...Bxc3, and threatening to trap the Kengis,Edvins 2574 b4-bishop, is very much 'a la mode'. g6! Bundesliga 1999-2000 (12) 12.03.2000 [ And here it is, Black's improvement over [Tony Kosten] 6...f5 which left Black worse in previously. ] 7.0-0 0-0 8.c2 A natural move, intending 1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.e4 e6 4.g3 d4. f5! 9.d4 [ In my book, The Dynamic English, I [ P r o b a b l y b e s t , t h e c a p t u r e 9.exf5? recommend 4.ge2 as more flexible, as is strongly met by xf3 10.fxg6? ( 10.gxf3 this takes the sting out of any ... f5-move. ] i s s u p e r i o r , b u t h4 and Black has the 4...f5 Naturally, the e4-pawn is pinned along upper hand because of White's shattered the h1-a8 diagonal. 5.g2 f6 6.d3 fxe4 kingside ) 10...g5 11.gxh7+ h8 12.g3 7.ge2 Now it is Black's e4-pawn that is g4 and White must jettison lots of material p i n n e d a l o n g t h i s s a m e d i a g o n a l . c6 to avoid getting mated on g2. ] 8.xe4 9...xe4 10.xe4 fxe4 11.g5 e7 [ Probably strongest, keeping the d3-pawn on 12.xe4 d5 Now that Black has exchanged 342
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 his light-squared bishop, he hastens to place his pawns on this colour complex. 13.4c3 dxc4 14.a4 d7 15.xc4 c6 16.e3 a5 17.d3 c6 Black's e6-pawn is isolated, but so is White's d4-pawn, and this last stands on a dark square. Black has no problems, his opening has been a success. 18.ac1 ½-½
358 Troyke,Christian Krasenkow,Michal 16th Monarch Assurance (7) [Carsten Hansen]
A10 2386 2660 28.09.2007
1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.e4 e6 4.ge2 This move isn't mentioned in the ECO, but is briefly covered in Daniel King's book on the English Def ence f rom 1999, where his coverage focuses on the move 4...Nf6 by Black as played in game between Kortchnoi and King himself. c5 [ Black players should take a further look at 4...f6 , and now White's main moves are 5.g3 ( and 5.d3 )] 5.g3 h5 [ This move is extremely rare, but carries som e p unc h, alt hou gh W hite can ge t a perfectly fine position in a number of ways. White's chosen set-up is extremely solid and can be difficult to break down. As the higher rated player, you may be inspired to try s h e n a n i ga n s s u ch a s t h e t e xt m o ve t o change the pace a little. Black alternatives are as follows: A) 5...d6 6.d4 e7 7.g2 d7 8.0-0 h5 9.f4 h4 10.g4 h3 11.f3 a6 12.e3 1-0 Czaya, R-Hoenlinger, B/ Bad Nauheim 1948 ] [ B) 5...c6 6.g2 f6 ( 6...ge7 7.0-0 d4 8.xd4 cxd4 9.e2 c6 10.d3 e7 11.f4 0-0 12.a3 d6 13.b4 e5 14.g4 h4 15.f3 c8 16.f5 , and although this is evaluated as about even, I clearly prefer W hite's chances, thanks to her space advantage and attacking potential on the k i n g s i d e , wh i l e B l a c k ' s c o u n t e r p l a y i s rather limited, Ptacnikova, L-Vyskocil, N/ Olomouc CZE 2003; 6...e5 7.d5 f6 8.0-0 e7 9.d3 0-0 10.e3 ) 7.0-0 h6 8.d4 cxd4 9.xd4 f7 10.e3 e7
11.e2 0-0 12.fd1 c8 13.ac1 xd4 14.xd4 b8 15.c2 , and White has the cl e a rl y b e t t e r c h a n c e s , B la ck s t o c k , L Basman, M/London 1974 ] [ C) 5...b5? is a not very good idea. executed in a manifestly stupid fashion: 6.cxb5 d5?! ( 6...a6!? 7.bxa6 xa6 8.g2 b4 9.d3 a6 ) 7.exd5 xd5? 8.xd5 xd5 9.g1+Norwood, D-Savva, A/ Groningen 1984 ] [ D) Black's main line move is 5...f6 6.g2 A) 6...a6 7.d3 c7 8.0-0 e7 9.h3 h5 ( 9...c6 10.f4 h5 11.e3 d6 12.a3 d8 13.b1 b8 14.f5 e5 15.b4 L e zca n o Ja e n , P -G o n za l e z V e l e z, F / Barcelona 2000) 10.f4 d6 11.e3 bd7 12.c1 c8 13.a3 b8 14.b4 a8 15.b1 c6 16.b5?! ( 16.f5! e5 17.bxc5 dxc5 18.d5 d8 19.ec3 looks downright ugly for Black) 16...axb5 17.xb5 h4 18.g4 d5 19.e5 ( 19.exd5!? exd5 20.g5 h5 21.f2 d4 22.xc6 xc6 23.xh4 ) 19...xg4 20.hxg4 h3 21.f3 d4 ( 21...h2+! 22.f2 d4 23.exd4 cxd4 24.xd4 xf3 25.xf3 c5 is complicated but probably better for White ) 22.exd4 cxd4 23.xd4 xf3 24.xf3 xa3 25.b5 a2 1/2-1/2 Hauchard, A-Rocha, S/ Porto 2000, and here White should have tried 26.d4 , and Black is facing serious problems given the wave of counterplay appears to b e o ve r a n d n o w W h i t e ' s p i e c e s a r e frothing at their mouths to have a go at Black's monarch.; B) 6...d6 7.0-0 a6 B1) 8.f4 c7 9.d3 e7 10.f5 e5 11.f3 h5 12.h4 bd7 13.a4 0-0-0 14.a5 dg8 15.axb6 ( White can also consider another approach, e.g. 15.g2 g6 16.fxg6 xg6 17.g5 bxa5 18.h3 with a solid plus for White, who's pieces are b e t t e r co o rd in a t e d) 15...xb6 16.d2 g6 17.a4 bd7 18.e1 ( 18.g2 gxf5 19.xf5 ) 18...d8 19.ec3 gxf5 20.exf5 Schwierskott, MKniest, O/Leverkusen 2001, and now h7 21.g5 hg7 with a complicated position, where I would be afraid to pick one side over the other, but I would probably pick Black if I were to pick one 343
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 side to play.; B2) 8.d3 c7 B2a) 9.a3 e7 10.b4 0-0 11.b1 c6 12.b5!? axb5 ( 12...e5 13.f4 ed7 14.bxa6 xa6 15.b5 c8 16.ec3 ) 13.xb5 d8 14.f4 d5 15.cxd5 exd5 16.e5 e8 17.ec3 d4 18.e4 h8 1-0 Miezis, NKulaots, K/Biel 1995; B2b) 9.h3 bd7 B2b1) There is no reason to rush things with 10.f4 g6 11.a3 ( 11.e5 xg2 12.xg2 c6+ 13.h2 h5 ) 11...g7 12.e3 0-0 13.g4 d5 14.f2 ( 14.cxd5 exd5 15.exd5 ae8 16.d2 d6 17.e4 b8 18.2c3= ) 14...d4 15.b1 e8 , planning ...f7-f5 leaves Black with a pleasant position, Werner, B-Lyrberg, P/ Copenhagen; B2b2) 10.e3 e7 11.f4 0-0-0 ( 11...d5?! 12.cxd5 exd5 13.e5 d4 14.xb7 xb7 15.exf6 xf6 16.xd4 cxd4 17.xd4 d7 18.xf6 xf6 19.e2+ , and White is a pawn for insufficient compensation, Baekgaard, M-Reefat, B/ Gausdal 2001) 12.a3 b8 13.b4 d5? 14.cxd5 exd5 15.bxc5 bxc5 16.e5 e4? ( 16...d4 17.xb7+ xb7 18.b1 a7 19.exf6 xf6 20.a4 dxe3 21.b3+- ) 17.dxe4 d4 18.xd4 cxd4 19.d5 xd5 20.exd5 c5 21.d3 a7 22.h2 1-0 Hebesberger, T-Aschenbrenner, R/AUT 2001 ] [ E) 5...f5 6.g2 f6 7.d3 e7 8.0-0 A) 8...fxe4 9.dxe4 0-0 10.e5 ( 10.f4!? ) 10...xg2 11.exf6 xf1 12.fxe7 xe7 13.xf1 c6 1-0 Taylor, P-Berry, S/Rd07T e l f o r d 2 0 0 3 ( 4 4 ) 14.g2!? d4 15.e3; B) 8...c8 9.b3 ( 9.g5!? ) 9...0-0 10.b2 g6 11.d2 ( 11.exf5 xg2 12.xg2 g4 13.f4 gxf5 14.d2 ) 11...f7 12.fe1 c6 13.exf5 gxf5 14.d4 xd4 15.xd4 cxd4 16.xd4 1-0 Reiss, A-Peredy, F/Veszprem 2000 ] 6.h3 h4 [ The novelty. In a previous game, Black tried 6...c6 7.g2 d4 8.d3 g5 9.xd4
( 9.f4! e7 10.fxg5 xg5 11.xd4 cxd4 12.b5 b8 13.0-0 ) 9...cxd4 10.e2 e5 11.g1 ( 11.0-0!? g4 12.f4 gxf3 13.xf3 is very pleasant for White) 11...e7 12.f3 f6 13.d2 e6 14.g1 For all of White's moving around with the knight, Black compensates for it by moving his queen and pawns rather than getting some real d e v e l o p m e n t i n . e7 15.e2 h4 ( 15...c6 16.a3 e7 with a complicated struggle ahead) 16.f3 hxg3 17.fxg3 c6 18.a3 e7 Compagnie, L-Orso, M/Budapest 2002, and despite all of W hite's clowning around with his knight, he can still obtain a good position with 19.h4 , and now g4? 20.0-0-0! is very problematic for Black, e.g. gxh4 21.gxh4 h5 22.h3 and White is obviously much better. ] 7.g2 [ There is nothing wrong with 7.g4!? , e.g. c6 8.g2 e5 9.0-0 and White has a comfortable game. The text, however, is more ambitious. ] 7...hxg3 8.fxg3 c6 [ 8...f6 9.d3 d6 10.e3 h5 11.b5 e7 ( 11...xg3+? 12.xg3 xg3 13.d6+ e7 14.f4+- ) 12.d2 a6 13.bc3 ] 9.d3 ge7 [ 9...d6!? 10.e3 ge7 11.d2 a6 12.0-0-0 looks better for White, e.g. c7 13.b1 xg3 ( 13...e5 14.hf1 f6 15.b3 ) 14.xg3 xg3 15.f4 g6 16.c7 ] 10.g5!? [ The immediate 10.e3!? is also perfectly playable ] 10...f6 11.e3 g6 12.f4?! [ This doesn't make too much sense, as this move simply encourages Black to place his g6-knight on a better square. Other ideas are 12.d2!? ] [ and 12.a3!? ] 12...ge5 13.a3 [ 13.h4 a6 14.h5!? d4 15.a4 A) 15...f5?! 16.exf5 ( 16.0-0? g5! ) 16...xg2 17.xg2 df3+ 18.e2 d6 19.fxe6 dxe6 20.f4 and White has the better chances; B) 15...c7 16.f1 e7 , and I prefer Black's chances somewhat ] 344
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13...a6 14.h4 d6 15.b3? [ 15.h5!? d4 ( 15...e7 16.b3 d4 17.xd4 cxd4 18.ce2 c5 19.0-0-0 ) 16.0-0 f5! , and Blacks pieces are better coordinated, but this is clearly to be preferred over the game continuation, which is just horrible for White. ] [ 15.f1 e7 16.h5 c7 ] 15...g5 16.hxg5 xh1+ 17.xh1 fxg5 18.d1 [ 18.h5!? xd3+ ( 18...e7!? ) 19.e2 de5 20.f1 A) 20...d4+ 21.xd4 cxd4 22.d5 xd5 ( 22...exd5?? 23.g7+ e7 24.f5++- ) 23.exd5 d3+ 24.d2 c7 25.f6+ d8 26.dxe6 c5 with messy complications in which no one can be 100% sure to be better; B) 20...e7!? 21.f6+ d8 22.xb6+ c8 23.fd5! Best, because everything else pretty much sucks exd5 24.xd5 d8 25.xd8+ xd8 26.xg5+ e8 27.f6+ f7 28.xd7+ e6 29.b6 f8 30.xf8 xf8 31.f4 and Black has finally stabilized the game, but at least White in this variation has three pawns for the piece. Neverth eless Black should probably win this position. ] 18...gxf4 19.h5+ f7 20.gxf4 e7 21.e5 c7 22.f2 [ 22.e4 0-0-0 23.0-0-0 h8 obviously doesn't provide W hite any decent counterchances either ] 22...f8! 23.h4 h6 24.xh6 [ Nor does 24.g4 help the situation: d8 25.g8+ f8 26.h7 h8 and the queens once again depart the part, leaving Black a piece up for minimal compensation. White could just as well have resigned at this point, but decided to go on for a little while. ] 24...xh6 25.f3 d8 26.h5+ f8 27.xd8 xd8 28.a4 d4 And White resigned as he doesn't even win the b-pawn, e. g. 29 0-0-0 Bc6 30 Nxb6? Rb8, and another piece bites the dust. 0-1
359 Vaganian,Rafael A Heidrich,Manfred Bundesliga 2002-3 (4) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2667 2415 17.11.2002
1.f3 f5 2.g3 f6 3.c4 g6 4.b4!? g7 5.b2 d6 6.d3 e5 7.bd2!? This move is something of a favourite of Vaganian, and the position closely resembles that of his game against Kuczynski, which we examined a short time ago, except that there he played Bg2 and castled quickly, here he prefers to accelerate his queenside play. c6 8.b5 e7 9.g2 0-0 10.b3 This is a good time to play this move, as then Black has to play ... K h 8 i f h e wa n t s t o m o ve a wa y f r o m t h e threatened discovered attack, whereas if he gets time to play ...h6 the king will be able to go to the more comfortable square on h7. h6 Black prefers to allow W hite's next. 11.c5+ h7 12.c1 f4 Black starts his kingside pawns going, but weakens e4. This might not be too serious, but as White hasn't yet castled, Black would not have liked [ 12...g5?! b e c a u s e o f 13.h4! and if g4 14.g5+! ] 13.a4 b8 14.a3 The bishop seemed wellplaced on b2, but was stymied by the e5-pawn, wh e re a s d 6 is m u ch m o r e se n sit ive . f5 15.cxd6 cxd6 16.e4! e7 [ 16...xe4?! i s d o u b t f u l , 17.dxe4 d4 ( 17...e7? 18.d1 ) 18.xd4 exd4 leaves the black pawns shattered. ] 17.0-0 Now is a good time to castle as Black is too concerned with defending d6, and against a c-file invasion, to be able to completely concentrate on his kingside advance. d8 18.fe1 g5?! 19.c2 Aiming along the b1-h7 diagonal, and also the c-file, but White also had a sharp shot here: [ 19.g4!? xg4 20.h3 h5 ( and not 20...f6? 21.xc8 bxc8 22.xf5+ ) 21.fxg5+ with pressure. ] 19...g4 20.fd2 e8 21.d4! Further freeing the diagonal to Black's king, weakened by his reckless eighteenth move. exd4?! 22.gxf4 h8 23.g3 f7 24.b2 The bishop returns! h4 25.b3!? White does not bother avoiding the exchange of his lightsquared bishop, but aims to blast through the 345
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a1-h8 diagonal as quickly as possible. xg2 26.xg2 d5+?! This fails to defend d4, [ 26...xf4?! was no improvement, 27.h5 f7 28.xg7 xg7 29.xd4 and the black king is in the line of fire. ] [ however, 26...d3 was a reasonable chance: 27.exd3 e6 when White's extra pawn looks pretty ragged. ] 27.g1 b6?! 28.xd4! [ 28.xd4 xd4 29.ed1 wins easily, the attack along the long diagonal after Rxd4 will be too strong. ] 1-0
on such a square, as it has no way to return! d4?! Black only succeeds in opening the f-file for W hite with this move. 22.d2 d5 23.c4 dxe3 24.fxe3 e7 25.cf2 g6 26.h5 Suddenly White has powerful pressure on the kingside while his silly knight keeps two major pieces from returning to help. e7 27.h3 a6 28.a3 axb5 29.axb5 a8 [ B l a c k i s i n r e a l t r o u b l e a f t e r 29...e4? which is met by 30.xe4! fxe4 31.xf7 xf7 32.xf7+ h8 33.g4! (to stop ... Qxh3) with a decisive attack. ] 30.xe7 xe7 31.g4?! Trying to break through on the f-file, but leaving the queen short of squares. f4! 360 A10 [ 31...fxg4 32.hxg4 xg4 33.g6 e6 34.e4 is very strong. ] Vaganian,Rafael A 2662 h8! With a nasty threat of ...Bf7, Kuczynski,Robert 2497 32.e4 Bundesliga 2001-2 (11) 17.03.2002 trapping the queen, but White has something prepared: 33.xe5? However, this should [Tony Kosten] lose. [ 33.bd6!? is a better try, perhaps, cxd6 1.f3 d6 2.g3 f5 3.g2 f6 4.c4 g6 34.xb6 ] 5.b4!? And why not? This is just like the 'b4 against the KI' line we have examined. g7 33...xe5 [ 33...fxe3! is simple and effective, 34.e2 How can such an obvious move be a novelty? xe5 35.xh6 f4 is winning. ] And yet it is, as previously Black had preferred [ 5...e5 6.c3 g7 7.0-0 0-0 Nikcevic,N- 34.xh6 f8!? [ 34...g7 35.exf4 gxf4 keeps the f-file Troffiguer,O/Paris FRA 2001, and ] closed. ] [ 5...a5 6.b5 g7 7.b2 Pihlajasalo,A35.h7+!? Paasikangas,J/FIN 1995. ] [ 35.xg5+ g7 forces the exchange of 6.b2 0-0 7.0-0 e5 This can be compared queens. ] with the games Hoffmann - Wemmers, and Na rcis o Du blan - P ed erse n in [ A0 5] , th e 35...xh7 36.xe6+ f7 Black has an extra h6? major difference being the black f-pawn which piece, and should still win. 37.d4 A comedy of time-trouble errors! is on f5, not f7. 8.d3 h6 9.bd2!? [ 37...g7 seems simple enough, when [ 9.c3 would lead to a typical Closed W h i t e c a n n o t c a p t u r e o n f 4 , a s 38.exf4 English position, but White wants to keep xd4 wins a further exchange. ] the diagonal open. ] [ However, 37...fxe3! is the most 9...g5 10.c5! e7 11.c4 The point of appropriate, 38.xf7 xf7 39.dxe5 g7 White's play is revealed: the knight goes to c4 forces the exchange of the last two where it defends the b2-bishop, and adds remaining white major pieces, and certain pressure to d6 and e5. e6 12.fd2 c6 resignation. ] 13.b5 d8 14.a4 White has a serious space advantage on the queenside. b8 15.c1 38.d5 g7?! [ Now 38...d6 is better, although I can f7 16.a5!? By taking the pressure off e5 imagine that Black didn't want to allow the White allows Black to play ...d5. d5 17.e3 b7-knight an honest move. ] fe8 Now the position is completely [ 17...g4!? and a later ...Ng5 is more 39.exf4 unclear. f6? aggressive. ] [ Black had to find 39...a3!! 40.fxg5 g3+ 18.c2 d8 19.db3 c8 20.c6 b6 41.g2 e3+ which gives him at least a 21.b7!? I would never dare putting a knight 346
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 draw, and maybe more. ] 8.b3 cxb3 9.axb3 , which I examined in 40.fxg5 Finally opening the f-file, and winning. the December 2012 update. See xf2 41.xf2 b4?! There was no defence Bartholomew, J (2427)-Kojima, S (2340) to g6: London ENG 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] [ 41...a4 42.g6 xd4 43.d8!? 8.b3 White offers a pawn in order to speed ( t h e k n i g h t r e t u r n s ! ) xf2+ 44.xf2 his d evelo pment . He can expect at leas t should win easily enough. ] adequate compensation in the middlegame. 42.xf7+ h8 43.h5+ g8 44.g6 e1+ [ T h e t e xt h a s b e gu n t o su p p l a n t 8.e1 45.g2 e4+ 46.h2 White was very lucky! in t heoretical reput e, but still trails th e 1-0 knight retreat in overall popularity. ] 8...cxb3 [ Worse is 8...f5?! 9.b2 cxb3 10.axb3 361 A10 d8 11.c4 g6 , as in Mikhalevski, V (2525)-Matinian, N (2438) Moscow 2012/ Van der Elburg,Freddie 2348 [ J o h n B a r t h o l o m e w ] . H e r e 12.e4! Spoelman,Wouter 2461 is quite powerful for White. ] 3rd ACT Amsterdam NED (9) 23.07.2006 9.axb3 g6 [John Watson] [ Black hasn't been eager to repeat 9...e6 since the blistering game Timman, J (2571)The system that W hite uses is played a lot Ernst, S (2606) W ijk aan Zee 2012/[John against the English Defence because it looks Bartholomew]: 10.b4! b3 11.xb3 xb3 safe, but it always seems to lose! Essentially, 12.b5 c5 13.d3 fd7 14.d2 d5 15.e4 W hite grants Black a central majority and e6 16.f4 and the Dutchman crashed activity. 1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.e4 e6 4.g3 through in 33 moves. ] f5 5.g2 f6 6.c2 fxe4 7.xe4 xe4 8.xe4 xe4 9.xe4 c6 10.e2 f6 10.c4 xc4 Simplifying a bit, but repairing White's structure in the process. In fact it's 11.d4 not altogether clear how much White benefits [ 11.0-0 c5! 12.d3 0-0 with control of d4. ] from b3xc4, as there were certain advantages 11...b4+ 12.f1 [ 12.d2 0-0 13.f4 ad8 14.0-0-0 d5 to keeping the pawn on b3 (restricts Black's entire queenside structure allows White to use gives Black the better game. ] the c-file c4 as a useful transfer point). 12...0-0 13.e3 h8 [ R e t u r n i n g t o b a s e w i t h 10...d8 [ Or 13...e7! 14.g2 d5 ] should probably be preferred. Following 14.g2 d5!? 15.cxd5 exd5 16.g4? 11.fe5!? ( White can also keep it simple [ 16.xd5 e7 , but this isn't so clear. ] with 11.e4 g7 12.b2 0-0 13.d4 16...ae8 17.hf1 e4 18.h5 g6 19.xd5 , as in Matamoros Franco, C (2548)f3+ 20.g1 xe3 Winning a piece. Gonzalez, B (2427) Quito 2012) 11...bd5 21.xf3 exf3 22.ac1 3f6 23.a3 d2 12.e4 c7 13.d4 and now: Best is 0-1 A) The pawn is poisoned, of course: 13...xd4?? 14.e3 ( or the difficult to find 14.b2 c5 15.a5 b5 16.b4!! 362 A11 xb4 17.d3+- ) 14...d8 15.ad1 d7 Adams,Mi 2725 16.xd7 xd7 17.e5+-; Kanep,M 2512 B) 13...g7 14.b2 0-0 and now: 11th Gibraltar Masters (3.1) 24.01.2013 B1) 15.h3 b5 16.ad1 c7 17.g4!? [John Bartholomew] Pantsulaia, L (2595) -Alavi Moghaddam, S (2443) Rasht 2012 here Black should Michael Adams tries his hand at the Anti-Slav play d7 18.f3 ( 18.f4 c5! ) gambit. He obtains no serious edge but wins 18...d8 19.fe1; anyway! 1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.g2 d5 4.f3 B2) 15.fd1!?N; dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.a3 b6 7.c2 d5 B3) 15.f4!? e6 16.h3 b5 17.ad1 [ The line in question is similar to 7...e6 347
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c7 18.g4 ad8 (White is fully mobilized, but Black is standing firm) 19.f5 c8 20.f2 d7 Pantsulaia, L (2596)-Wang Yue (2644) Yerevan 2006. Here 21.d3!? intending b6 22.ce5 looks best, though Black's defensive resources are considerable. ] 11.bxc4 h5 I think the queen is a little misplaced here. [ 11...d8 looks less logical now, but might b e b e t t e r, e . g . 12.e5!? ( 12.d3 g7 13.a2 0-0 14.e3 a6 15.b1 d7 16.d2 c7 17.c5! e5 18.f4 Azaladze, S (2433)-Feher, A (2260) Rijeka 2010; a game was played with 12.b2 righ t a s I wa s p re p a rin g t o su b m it t h i s update: g7 13.d4 a6 14.fb1 0-0 15.d3 g4 16.xg7 xg7 17.c5 f6 18.a4 c7 19.d2 e5 20.b3 f7 21.a5 Arun Prasad, S (2514) -Vorobiov, E (2584) Moscow RUS 2013) 12...g7 13.b2 0-0 14.d4 d7 15.d3 (as usual White has no interest in further exchanges) b6 16.c5!? d5 17.fd1 f5 18.b3 h8 , Trella, T (2234)-Ionov, S (2 5 2 2 ) Ca p p e l le l a G ra n d e 2 0 0 7 . No w 19.e3 ought to allow White to control the p a c e o f t h e ga m e q u it e n ice ly. He ca n target Black's queenside pawns in a number of ways and may also abruptly change the structure with Bg2xd5, possibly followed by Nd3-f4. ] 12.d3 Adams trusts the integrity of his position and chooses a positionally sound continuation. White has tried something different in each of the four games to have reached this position and scored a perfect 4-0, suggesting that he h a s a n u m b e r o f a c c e p t a b l e o f w a ys t o proceed: [ 12.e4 (straightforward and strong, so why not?) g7 13.e5 d7 14.d4 f5 ( 14...0-0 15.c5! ) 15.e2 c5? 16.f4 ( 16.a5!? ) 16...h5 17.h3! f8 18.g4 xg4 19.hxg4 xg4 20.g3+- and Black was soon swept off the board in Kuljasevic, D (2560)-Zufic, M (2409) Rijeka 2011. ] [ 12.c3!? g7 13.a5 (a neat idea) g4 14.d3 0-0 15.a3 a6 16.e5!? (creative use of the rook!) e8 17.xe7 xe7 18.xe7 e6 Hausrath, D (2527)Burg, T (2455) Netherlands 2010. Here
19.d8+ e8 20.a5 looks a little better for White. ] [ 12.d4 (also refusing to mess around) g7 13.e4 0-0 14.e5 d7 15.h3 ( 15.c5!? ) 15...f5 16.b3 c5 Schachinger, M (2360)Zimmermann, U (2128) Vienna 2011. 17.a5! ] 12...g7 13.a3 c5 14.b2 0-0 15.a3 [ 15.fb1!? ] 15...d7 16.fa1 a6 17.e5 ab8 18.h4 g4! Kanep defends resourcefully. 19.xd7 f5 ( T h e p o i n t ) 20.f3 xd7 21.xg7 xg7 22.b2+ g8 23.b3 b5 24.xa6 b4 25.a1 h5 The position now looks balanced, though I'd still favor Adams' coordinated long-range pieces just a smidgen. 26.b1 f5 27.a5 fc8 28.b5 d7 29.a5 b6 30.g2 f6 31.b2 d6 [ 31...f5!? ] 32.d4!? Seizing an opportunity to transform the pawn structure. cxd4 33.d5 c7 34.xd4 e5 35.xb4 xf3? Kanep dooms himself to passive defense in a pawn-down heavy piece endgame. [ A peace agreement would surely have been s i g n e d a f t e r 35...xf3! 36.exf3 c6 37.d2 xd4 38.xd4 xc4= . ] 36.exf3 Black should hold this with computerlike precision, but your chances are not good against a technician like Michael Adams. c6 37.c1 e6 38.d2 e5 39.e1 f6 40.d3 c5 41.ee4 8c7 42.d7 xd7 43.xd7 f5 44.d3 e7 45.d4 c5 46.d7 f6 47.b7 c8 48.e4 g7 49.d7 f5?! 50.e2?! [ Surprisingly strong was 50.d4+! e5 ( 50...f6? 51.xf7+! xf7 52.d7+ picks up the rook and wins; 50...h7 51.e7!!+- prevents ... e6-e5 and sees Black utterly helpless to stop g2-g4; White should w i n t h e q u e e n e n d i n g a f t e r 50...g8 51.d8+ xd8 52.xd8+ g7 53.d6+, as his king is extremely safe) 51.d6 , since xc4?? loses on the spot to 52.d8+- . ] 50...f6 51.d3 f5 52.c3+ [ 52.d4+! ] 52...f6 53.b4 f5 54.b3 f6 55.b7 e5 56.d3 f6 57.e4 g8 58.a7 g7 59.a8 c5 60.d3 c7 61.a5 c8 62.c5 Progress! e5 63.c4 d8 64.a3 348
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d5?! [ Missing a great chance to counterattack: 64...d2! 65.c3 ( 65.c6 e1 66.f1 xf1+ 67.xf1 c2 and Black has an ideal defensive position in the rook endgame) 65...xc3 66.xc3 f6 and I believe Black can draw due to the proximity of White's cpawn (if the White rook and pawn were on a3/a5 this would most certainly be lost for the second player in the same vein as the famous 34th game of the 1927 AlekhineCapablanca match). An illustrative line: 67.c6 d8 68.g4 e7 69.g3 d6 70.f4 f6! 71.g5 ( 71.d3+ c7 72.xd8 xd8 73.g5 e5+! 74.g3 fxg5 75.hxg5 c7 76.f4 exf4+ 77.xf4 xc6 78.e5 d7 79.f4 e7 80.f5= ) 71...e5+ 72.e3 fxg5 73.hxg5 c7 74.e4 f8 and Black will hold. ] 65.c3! d4 66.b3 e1 67.b2 e5? [ 67...h7! was Black's last chance. ] 68.c1 d2 [ Or 68...b4 69.xb4 xb4 70.c6 b8 71.c7 c8 72.f4! . Compared to 64...Rd2! here Black's king is too far away, e.g. exf4 ( 72...e4 73.f3 exf3+ 74.xf3 changes nothing) 73.gxf4 f6 74.f3 e6 75.e4 d6 76.f5+- and White forces his way into the kingside. ] 69.xe1 xb2 70.xe5 White still faces a couple minor technical obstacles, but Black cannot resist. c2 71.g4! f6 72.g5 e6 73.g3 c4 74.gxh5 gxh5 75.xh5 f6 76.f4 c3+ 77.g4 f7 78.d5 e6 79.d6+ e7 80.c6 Black resigned. I don't see any reason to doubt White's compensation in this line, though I'd personally follow Kuljasevic's or Schachinger's example on move 12 (Adams' 12.d3 looks a bit limp). From Black's perspective, 10...Qd8 looks safer. 1-0
363 Agrest,Evgenij Postny,Evgeny Politiken Cup (10) [Jonathan Rowson]
A11 2590 2647 26.07.2009
1.c4 c6 [ To show that these lines do not always favour Black, Agrest has also won with this line, albeit via a different move order. 1...f6 2.f3 c6 3.c2 It's hard to believe that such a fussy move can be a threat to Black. d5 4.e3 g6 5.b3 g7 ( 5...f5!? 6.d3 a6 probably doesn't lead anywhere good for Black because White can even play the simple 7.b2 ) 6.b2 0-0 7.e2 g4 8.d3 bd7 9.0-0 e8 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 c8 12.d2 e6 13.ac1 a6 14.fd1 e5 15.g3 h5 16.g2 f8 17.f3 d6 18.g5 No t t h e o n ly p la n . b8 19.f1 e7 20.cd1 bc8 21.b1 f8 22.fe1 b4 23.e2 ce8 24.h1 h4!? 25.gxh4 g7 26.c2 h8 27.cxd5 xh4? ( 27...cxd5 28.c7; 27...xd5!? ) 28.dxc6 bxc6 29.g1 eh8 30.c4! and White had control and went on to win in Agrest, E -Semcesen, D Helsingor DEN 2009. ] 2.f3 d5 3.e3 f6 4.c3 a6! One interesting point about this move order is that at this juncture Black either has to be willing to play a semi Slav or an a6 Slav or a Schlecter with ...g6, or else he has to make a slight concession because both . ..Bf5 and ... Bg4 run into slight problems with Qb3 related issues, as we have seen in previous updates. Now any Slav player worth his salt can play a system with a6, g6 or e6, but there are a few who much prefer to take White's pawn on c4. So if you are sure your opponent likes to play 1d4 d5 2c4 c6 3Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dc, then this move order can be quite tricky....But of course, don't' forget that when trying to lure your opponent into terra incognita, you ought to know something about it yourself! 5.c2 [ 5.d4!? is not a bad move either, but Bologan, a great expert on this line, told me that he can't find any advantage for White against the a6 Slav. ] 5...g6 6.b3 g7 7.b2 0-0 8.e2 e8 9.d4 Perhaps not plan A, but on the bright side the moves a6, g6 and Re8 are not a 349
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 particularly powerful trio. f5! 10.d1 [ 10.d3!? Odd though it seems, White probably has more chance of getting an edge by taking a tempo to exchange bishops. ] 10...e4 11.0-0 xc3 12.xc3 g4 13.c1 e6 Black is rock solid. 14.d2 d7 15.a5 b8 16.h3 xf3 17.xf3 f5! 18.a4 f6 W h it e i s n o t wo rse h e re , b u t a lr e a d y h e sho uld give so me th ought to ho lding th e balance because Black's position is more flexible, and the knight on f6 is generally slightly more useful than the bishop on f3. 19.c2 [ 19.b4!? half-hoping to swap queens with Qb6-c7, and more generally just fishing around, looks better. ] 19...d6 20.e2 f4!? 21.exf4 xf4 22.cd1 e4 Black now has a slight initiative, mainly because d4 is weak. 23.d3 d6 24.c7 ac8 25.g3 f8 26.b6 f5 27.e2 d6 28.d3 e5!? At first I felt this was anti-positional, but actually it is quite timely due to some well concealed tactical details based on the unprotected bishop on b6 and the weakness of W hite's kingside, particularly g3. 29.dxe5 xe5 30.cxd5? [ 30.f3! b4 31.a5 and White is not worse. ] 30...c5! White either missed this move, or failed to grasp that his bishop losing contact with e3 meant that his kingside would cave in. 31.a5 e3! 32.fxe3 xg3+ 33.h1 xh3+ 34.g1 g3+ 35.h1 e5 36.f4 xe3 37.e4 xf4 0-1
12.ad1 b5 13.e4 h7 gave Black a comfortable game in Yosilevich, D-Polaczek, R/Dos Hermanas 2004. ] 6...cxd5 7.b3 b5 This seems like the logical follow up to 4...a6 but White can break open the queenside now. [ 7...c8 is worth a thought despite its retrograde appearance. ] 8.a4! Breaking up the left flank before Black has time to support it with developed pieces. bxa4 9.xa4+ d7 10.c3 c6 [ White also has the initiative after 10...xa4 11.xa4 e6 12.b5 . ] 11.d3 e5 With White about to explode the centre with e2-e4 Black should keep things as tight as possible there. [ 11...e6 was much more solid though White still has a lot of pressure, for example 12.e4 g4 13.exd5 exd5 14.d4 xd4 15.xd4 e6 16.a5 e7 17.e3 0-0 18.fa1 is unpleasant for Black. ] 12.e4 [ It's possible that 12.d4 was even stronger, for example e4 ( 12...exd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 is also very good for White, for example e6 15.d1 e7 16.g5 0-0 17.e4! etc. ) 13.e5 xe5 14.dxe5 xa4 15.xa4 d7 16.xd5 wins a pawn. ] 12...e6 Losing a pawn to a neat combination. [ 12...dxe4 13.dxe4 g4 was relatively best though it's still nice for White after 14.d5 .] 13.exd5 xd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.xe5 xe5 16.xd7+ xd7 17.xd5 White has won a pawn and has two mighty bishops as well. He makes rather heavy weather of the endgame but gets there finally. c6 18.xf7 a5 19.e3 b8 20.d5 b4 21.xc6+ 364 A11 Snatching at the point a bit. [ 21.fc1! was much better, keeping his Alexander,Christian bishop pair. ] Boekhoff,Andrew 2299 Philadelphia National op 37th (2) 24.11.2006 21...xc6 22.fc1+ d7 23.c5 hc8 24.xb4 xc1+ 25.xc1 xb4 26.c2 d6 [Nigel Davies] [ The immediate 26...b3 would have made it harder for White. ] 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 a6 5.0-0 f5 6.cxd5 This simple move looks 27.f1 b3 28.e2 g5 29.e3 g4 30.f4 h5 31.g5 b5+ 32.g6 d7 33.d4 d6 quite good to me. [ After 6.b3 the move 4...a6 looks quite 34.c5 xb2 35.xa5 xf2 36.xh5 d2 useful as Black might later expand with ...b7- 37.d5 d4 38.f5 xd5 39.h4 d2 b5. For example h6 7.b2 e6 8.d3 e7 40.xg4 e6 41.h5 f7 42.f4+ g7 9.bd2 0-0 10.c2 bd7 11.a3 c8 43.h4 d5+ 44.g4 g6 45.h5+ h6 350
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 46.f6+ g7 47.f5 d3 48.h4 a3 when e4 14.d4 xe2 15.xe2 b4 49.g4 a1 50.g5 a7 51.c5 f7 52.h6+ is promising. ] h7 53.h5 f1 54.c7+ h8 55.g5 g1 11...b4 56.c8+ [ 11...e4 12.e5 b4 transposes. ] 1-0 12.d1 e4 13.e5 e8! The only move that causes White any problems, he will chase the strong knight away from e5. 14.a3 a6 365 A11 Automatic, but [ 14...f6!? is p o ss ib le , 15.h3 ( 15.axb4? Anastasian,Ashot 2602 xb4+ 16.d2 xd2+ 17.xd2 fxe5 Sakaev,Konstantin 2649 wins a pawn as f2 is hanging) 15...fxe5 7th ch-Euro Kusadasi TUR (2) 05.04.2006 16.dxe5 e7 17.axb4 xb4+ 18.e2 [Tony Kosten] looks a bit awkward for White, but may be OK. ] 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 5.b3 d6 6.b2 0-0 7.c2 I have had a few goes 15.h3 The knight needs a retreat square. f6 with Gurevich's setup myself, but lost one 16.g4 f7 17.e2 c7 18.0-0 White has very bad game in the Bundesliga, and so gave m a n a g e d t o c o m p l e t e h i s k i n g s i d e up! e5!? Sharp and to the point! If Black can development without major concessions. His p l a y t h i s m o v e i m m e d i a t e l y w i t h o u t plan now is to bring his dark-squared bishop punishment then White's opening will prove to the a3-f8 diagonal, and then break the black centre with f3. d7 19.a4 ac8 doubtful. [ 19...b4 20.a3 a5 is possible, to bring [ 7...e7 was Van Wely, L-Sveshnikov, E, in the knight to an active and well supported the archives, while ] square, 21.d2 ac8 22.ac1 equal. ] [ 7...bd7 is the normal move, and I've 20.a3 e6!? I don't understand why Black looked at this many times in the past. ] 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.b5 This is the reason Black allows W hite to control the dark squares avoided playing ...e5 in the past, as he is without a fight. [ 20...b4 is still good : 21.a5 ( 21.d2 forced to part with his dark-squared bishop. c2; 21.e1 a5 ) 21...b6 22.axb6 xb6 Still, in return he gets a centre, and easy 23.d2 a5 with a level game. ] development. c6 10.xd6 xd6 11.d4!? An attempted improvement, although it seems 21.f3 Now White begins to assume control. He a n t i - p o s i t i o n a l t o s h u t t h e b 2 - b i s h o p ' s plays on the kingside, and ignores the c-file. diagonal like this, W hite sees that he must d6 Now White solves all his problems with a grab his share of the centre, but does he couple of exchanges. 22.xd6 xd6 23.fxe4 dxe4 24.c4+ Shutting the c-file with gain of have time? The most obvious other retort is h8 25.f4 e8 26.e2? [ 11.b5?! , to pressure the e5-pawn, but tempo. then b4 12.c1 ( 12.b1? c5 A waste of a move, which only drives the wins an exchange, Ramirez Pereales, J- black knight to a better square. [ 26.f2 f5 27.h5 keeps the initiative. ] R o m e r o C a l d e r o n , C / B a r c e l o n a 1 9 9 6) 12...d7!? ( 12...e4! 13.d4 d7 26...b4 27.f2 f5 28.f1!? Tempting is nice for Black) 13.xe5 b6 14.a3 ac8 B l a c k i n t o t h e w i n o f a p i e c e . g5!? 15.c3 xb5 16.axb4 Fioramonti, H- This is probably OK, but very risky. [ 28...d5! 29.xd5 ( 29.h4 f6 Sherwin, J/Switzerland 1996, when e4 leaves the white pieces very awkwardly favours Black as White's light squares are placed ) 29...xd5 30.h5 g8! severely compromised. ] defends e8 and after a couple of prophylaxis [ 11.e2 g4 12.d1 xf3!? 13.xf3 e4 moves Black will take the pawn on b3, and 14.e2 d4 15.0-0 fd8 is very comfortable maybe e3 too. ] for Black, Balashov, Y-Kallai, G/Soviet Union 29.xe4 Forced. g6! 1991. ] [ 29...xe4 30.xe4 fxe4 31.h5 [ 11.c1 g4 12.b1!? a6 13.e2 is very dangerous for Black, the immediate Jonasson, B-Gretarsson, H/Reykjavik 1995, 351
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 threats are Qxg5-g8 and Rf7. ] A) 9.g4 xg4 10.g1 de5 ( 10...ge5 [ 29...fxe4? 30.f6 e6 31.h5 wins, ce7 11.g5!? ) 11.xe5 xe5 12.0-0-0 32.xe6 xe6 33.xe8+ xe8 34.xd6 ] with typical compensation.; 30.xg5 xg5 31.e4 White has given a B) 9.0-0 The great thing about playing this piece for two pawns, but in return he has line as White is that if you are not in the significantly improved the harmony of his mood to hack the opponent's kingside, you pieces, and has a strong centre. In short, he can still play positionally. For instance, the has obtained excellent practical chances. g7 f o l lo wi n g g a m e o f Mo s k a l e n k o ' s i s a [ 31...fxe4?? loses to 32.f8+ g7 strategic gem, showing why the two ( 32...xf8 33.xf8+ g7 34.g8+ ) bishops is, as Tony Miles once put it, "an 33.1f7+ h6 34.xe8 xe8 35.xc7 ] advantage you can win with". b6 10.cxd5 32.e5 c6? Time trouble, no doubt, as Black cxd5 ( 10...exd5 11.d4 e5 12.f4 ) simply drops the f-pawn which was stopping 11.b5 b7 12.xd6 xd6 13.ac1 the white rooks on the f-file. 33.xf5 d5 ac8 14.b1 a6 15.a1 fd8 16.h3 h6 With a nasty threat of ...Ne3 (because of the 17.e5 Moskalenko, V (2569)-Alsina Leal, p r e s s u re o n g2 ), b u t t h i s is e a s il y si d e D (2517)/ Barcelona ESP 2008. ] stepped. 34.1f2 g8 35.h2 g7 36.g4! 9.g4 Critical. White can also play Rg1, h4, White wants to avoid problems on g2, as castle or take on d5. [ 36.h5 s a y , a l l o w s f4! 37.xe8! [ 9.cxd5!? cxd5 ( 9...exd5 10.d4 b7 ( 37.xg8 exg8 forces 38.g4 xg4 11.f5 Kasparov once remarked that a 39.hxg4 e6 and Black is fine) 37...xe8 knight on f5 was almost always worth a 38.5xf4 g8 which is far from clear. ] pawn, and here W hite hasn't even 36...ge7 There was no time to shore up the sacrificed anything.) 10.b5 c5 11.a3 a6 d5-square, 12.bd4 b7 13.b4 d6 14.c1 c8 [ 36...d7?! 37.5f3 e6 38.f1! 15.b1 xc1+ 16.xc1 b8 17.a1 c8 and Rf8 wins. ] 18.0-0 Hard to believe White has anything 37.d2 e6 38.2f3! preparing the decisive here, but I thought it was worth showing how tripling! a6? such positions can be won. c7 19.g3 e5 [ 38...6e7! 39.f2 g6 keeps the game ( 19...c8!? ) 20.xe5 xe5 21.f4! d6 alive a little longer: 40.f8+ g7 41.8f6!? 22.f3 e8 23.d4 b5 24.g4! f6 25.g5 ( 41.d3 xf8 42.xg6 xf3 43.xf3 f7 26.f2 d8 27.h4 e7 28.d3 e5? hxg6 is not that easy) 41...xf6 42.xf6 Black was under pressure, but there was no g5 43.h4 xg4 44.xc6! looks winning ] reason to buckle in this way. 29.fxe5 fxe5 39.f2 There is no defence to the threat of 30.xe5 xf2 31.xf2 xe5 32.xe5 Rf8. g6 40.f8+ xf8 41.xf8+ g7 win ning, B an ikas, H (256 7)-P avlid is , A 42.d3! The bishop deflects the queen from (2175)/Athens GRE 2007. ] the defence of f7. 9...xg4 10.g1 f5 1-0 [ 10...de5 11.xe5 xe5 12.0-0-0 Ryb ka is n o t t o o co n vin ced b y W h it e 's compensation, but I imagine most 366 A11 grandmasters would pref er W hite here, because his position is so much easier to Andreikin,Dmitry 2580 play. dxc4 13.bxc4 g6 14.f4 f5 15.h5 Kaplan,Sasha 2428 and Black has plenty of defensive resources, IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (3) 23.04.2008 but the initiative endures. ] [Jonathan Rowson] 11.h3 gf6?! This seems to make things rather straightforward for White. 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 [ 11...ge5 is probably better, when White [ 4...g4 ] h a s o p t i o n s . 12.d4 ( 12.xe5 xe5 5.b3 d6 6.b2 0-0 7.c2 bd7 8.e2 contesting the diagonal, seems to ease b6 Black's position.) 12...c5 ( 12...b8!? [ 8...e7 352
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is mentioned by Kosten, but seems encouraging from W hite's point of view.) 13.f4!? ( 13.0-0-0 f4 Seems to allow Black to keep more control.) 13...h4+ 14.d1 This might look like madness, but strange positions often call for strange solutions. g6 15.b4!? The main point of this move is that sooner or later White's queen will need to make way for the king on c2. ( 15.xc6 b7 16.cxd5 exd5 17.d4 xh3 s e e m s b e t t e r f o r B l a c k .) 15...a6 ( 15...e4 16.xe4 dxe4 17.c5 bxc5 18.bxc5 c7 19.c4 looks promising for White. ) 16.xc6 And this is a good starting point for analysis. My computer is initially quite happy with white's position, but it is too sharp to say anything definitive without giving the position a few hours of work. ] 12.d4 e8? [ 12...c5 13.xc6 d7 14.cxd5! exd5 15.xd5! ] [ 12...b8 is meek, but probably necessary. ] 13.cxd5!? [ 13.xc6 dxc4 is less clear cut. ] 13...cxd5 14.cb5 e5 15.c7 xc7 16.xc7 As is often the case in this line, White has complete dark square domination. b8 [ 16...f7 17.c6 ] 17.d6! White's play is remarkably simple. The knight on d7 can't move because the rook on b8 is en prise. f7 18.xe6 Resigns is just about the only move that doesn't lose material. 1-0
Aronian lost control in a winning position and went into a drawn endgame. 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 dxc4 4.g2 d7 5.0-0 gf6 I think this line is sound and I even play this position myself sometimes. However, White has a dangerous initiative and Black needs to watch every step he makes very carefully. 6.c2 b6 7.a3 [ 7.a4 there are some differences in this p o s i t i o n wi t h 7 . a 4 a 5 i n c l u d e d . I n t h e chaotic lines it can be in White's favour, but now Black can also play in a solid way a5 8.a3 e6 9.e5 d4 ( 9...g6!? is ok and now we see the pawn moves are in Black's favour 10.axc4 xc4 11.xc4 g7 Zaragatski, I (2474)-Michiels, B (2502)/ NED-chT 1112 2011 (7.4).) 10.xc6 bxc6 11.xc6+ fd7 now White can't play a5, but the knight on b5 will be defended, so the attack is more dangerous than usual, as can be seen in Tikkanen, H (2591) -Hultin, J (2307)/SWE-chT 1112 2011 (4). ] 7...e6 8.e5 d4 9.xc6 bxc6 10.xc6+ d8 11.b5 [ 11.xa8?! was another try, but it is less critical xa8 12.d3 cxd3 13.d1 dxc2 14.xd4+ d7 and Black was fine in a game with a big material imbalance, Kaidanov, G (2593)-Holt, C (2513)/USA- ch Saint Louis 2013 (2). ] 11...c5 12.xa8 xb5 [ 12...f5 is a possible intermezzo and was tried by Holt 13.c3 ( 13.e4!? I like this move, Black wins a piece, but White has all his pieces ready for the attack h3 14.a4 xf1 15.xf1 xa8 16.d3 with a dangerous attack) 13...xb5 14.a4 d7 15.g2 c7 and Black made too 367 A11 m a n y q u e e n m o ve s , s o W h i t e h a s t h e initiative, Sadorra, J (2577) -Holt, C (2534)/ Aronian,Levon 2830 Houston op 2013 (4). ] Andreikin,Dmitry 2709 d7 A novelty. Black develops the FIDE Candidates 2014 (6.4) 19.03.2014 13.g2 bishop and now the king is less exposed. I [Fier, Alexandr] think Andreikin was already out of his theory, This was one of the decisive games in the and with this he at least made Aronian start to f irs t h a lf o f t h e Ca n d id a t e s t o u rn a m e n t . think as well. [ 13...h5 was played before, but I think White Aronian was trying to catch Anand and he has good chances to get an advantage played a good line to put his opponent under 14.h4 ( 14.d3 will exchange some pieces pressure. After some good moves Andreikin cxd3 15.d1 f5 16.e4 xe4 17.xd3+ could not resist and made a few inaccuracies. xd3 18.xd3+ d6 and Black was fine in A n d t h e n s o m e t h i n g s t ra n g e h a p p e n e d , 353
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Pantsulaia, L (2575) -Smeets, J (2608)/ Istanbul ol (Men) 40th 2012 (3.3).) 14...f5 15.e4 d7 16.a4 xa4 17.e5 and White was really active in Timman, J-Smeets, J see the PGN Archive. ] 14.b3 White needs to open the position before Black brings his pieces into the game, so this move makes a lot of sense. [ 14.d1 would be nice if Black could not e x c h a n g e t h e q u e e n s b y f o r c e a4 15.xa4 xa4 16.b3 cxb3 17.axb3 xb3 18.f1 a4 White has a nice center and Black still needs to consolidate his position, so there is enough compensation for the material ] 14...e5 15.b1 cxb3 16.xb3 xe2 17.a3 W hite exchanges the bishop and with this Black's king is safer on the black squares. On the other hand White is attacking the pawn on a7 and he is ready for an invasion on the seventh rank. [ 17.b2 was also interesting, keeping the pieces on a4 18.d3+ fd7 19.b1 h5 ( 19...c5 20.f3 is embarrassing) 20.c1 f5 21.e4 e6 again with a dangerous initiative for White ] 17...xa3 18.xa3 c4 19.b1 [ 19.xc4 is not what White is looking for xc4 20.xa7 e8 and the position is level ] 19...e7 20.xa7 d4 21.b7 a4 22.c1 [ 22.b4 can get the knights back immediately, but Black is out of danger then xd2 23.d1 c3 24.xd7+ xd7 25.xa4 b8 26.xh7 b2 with compensation ] 22...d8 23.h3 f8 Black is finally going to put his king in a safe place. Somehow it's funny, but the king will have problems with the back rank when it reaches g8. [ 23...c5 was possible here or on the next move, but here White can open the position with 24.b4 d6 25.d4!? ( 25.b6 d4 j u s t r e p e a t s) 25...e6 ( 25...exd4 now the pawn is on the square where the queen was supposed to be 26.b6 c7 27.b4 c8 28.b7 winning ) 26.dxe5 xe5 27.b7 d4 and White still has some pressure, but the position is ok for Black ] 24.b3 e4? This pawn will be lost by force. [ 24...c5 looks losing because of the pin,
but Black survives by tactical means 25.a3 c8 26.b4 d6 27.bc4 e8! 28.xc5 d7 and the rook on c1 is the big problem ] [ 24...e4 was also ok, and after 25.xe4 xe4 26.d3 ( 26.b4 a8 27.c7 will pro bably le ad to a n equal positio n) 26...d4 27.a3+ g8 28.e7 e8 Black's position is under control ] 25.c4 d5 26.b4+ g8 27.d4 [ 27.xe4! this was possible on this move, or the next, and the point is that White can use the last rank after the knight is on e4 xe4 28.b8! is probably what White overlooked e8 29.xd8 xd8 30.xe4 and White should be close to winning ] 27...c6 28.bxd7? The position is still good for White, but he again misses the best move. [ 28.xe4! this was still possible and now the p o s i t i o n i s w i n n i n g xe4 ( 28...e6 would be the best, but now White can play the same with a pawn up 29.bxd7 xd7 30.b8+ e8 31.xa4 and Black is lost) 29.dxd7 wins ] 28...xd7 29.xa4 [ 29.e7!? f6 ( 29...c8 30.xa4 is also good for W hite) 30.xf6 gxf6 31.xa4 and compared to the game Black's structure is slightly worse c5 32.c4 e6 33.xe4 xd2 34.a4 now some rook endgames are lost for Black. ] 29...xa4 30.xa4 f8 31.xe4?! I think Aronian didn't want to stay with his rook in front of the pawn, but with this move White's advance is much slower. [ 31.xe4 was better, but White can't just go with the pawn, Black has enough resources t o s t o p i t xd2 32.a8 ( 32.a7!? White also targets f7 g6 33.a4 e6 34.a5 d1+ 35.g2 a1 36.d5 ) 32...g6 33.a4 this looks good, but Black arrives just in time g7 34.a5 e6 35.a6 d6 36.b7 ( 36.a7 a6 and there is no way to make progress ) 36...c7 ( 36...c5 does not work 37.g2 f6 38.a7 xb7 39.b8 a6 40.a8 xa8 41.xa8+- ) 37.a7 b5 leads to a draw ] 31...xd2 32.a4 [ 32.a4 was probably better, but basically no human would play this. ] 32...a2 Now it's hard to make progress. Still W hite can try to put the bishop on b5 and 354
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 improve his pieces slowly. He tried to xe2 10.e5 ( my opponent faced exchange the bishop, but this endgame is 10.xb6?! earlier in the tournament: axb6 easy to handle for Black. 33.f3 g6 34.g2 11.e1 h5 12.e4 d5 13.b3 e6 e6 35.c4 g7 36.d5 f6 37.e4 a3 14.b2 Tozer, P (2176) -Kojima, S (2340) 38.xe6 L o n d o n E N G 2 0 1 2 h e r e b4 15.c4 [ 38.c6 was still possible, waiting for the d3 would have led to a large advantage end of time trouble ] f o r B l a c k .) 10...h5 11.e1 has been 38...fxe6 39.f4+ e7 40.h4 h5 And finally subjected to extensive testing and analysis. we are out of time trouble and the resulting Recently h6! solved all of Black's problems position is an easy draw for Black. W hite's in Dubov, D (2594) -Potkin, V (2651) rook can't stay on the f-file and the pawn on Moscow 2012/[John Bartholomew]. a4 is too far from promotion for White to give Interested readers may also want to check one of the pawns on the kingside. Apparently out GM Viktor Erdos's "CI Lab" survey of this the pawn is better on e6 than f7. 41.e4 f7 line in Informant 115. ] 42.f1 a2 43.e1 f6 44.d1 e7 8...cxb3 9.axb3 g6 45.f4 The last try. a3 [ A c o u p l e p l a y e r s h a v e t r i e d 9...d5!? [ 45...g2 46.a5 xg3 ( 46...a2 47.e5 , intending to offload the clumsy bishop on and W hite improved the position a lot.) f3. W hite may want to react with 10.c4 47.a4 was one trick ] , i.e. ( 10.d3 xf3 11.xf3 e6 12.c4 46.c2 xg3 47.d4 e3 48.b2 e5 bd5 Thorfinnsson, B (2402)-Illescas ½-½ Co rd o ba , M (2 6 09 ) P ort o Carras 20 1 1; 10.b2 ) 10...e6 ( 10...g6 11.a5 ) 11.a5 c7 12.d3 xf3 13.xf3 bd5 14.d2 368 A11 e7 15.b2 , angling for b3-b4. ] Bartholomew,John 2427 10.c4 g7 11.a5 The best place for the Kojima,S 2340 knight. Black will have to monitor b7 for quite 4th London Classic Open (6.12) 06.12.2012 so m e t i m e , a n d t h e r e ' s c e r t a in v a l u e i n restricting Black's three-on-one queenside [John Bartholomew] pawn majority. [ 11.b2 bd5 ( 11...0-0 looks more One of the unique selling points of the 3.g3 flexible ) 12.g5!? c8 13.e4 b4 14.c3 Anti-Slav Gambit is that White often just plays d3?! ( 14...a5! ) 15.xf7! xf7 16.xd3 b 2 - b 3 in t h e c r i t ic a l l in e s , n o t f e a r in g a xd3 17.e5+ e8 18.xd3 Hausrath, middlegame a pawn down. The present game D (2507) -Michalczak, T (2340) Oberhausen is one such example. 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 2008 ] 3.g3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.c2 11...c8 A novelty. b6 7.a3 e6 [ It seems slightly weaker to play 11...c8 [ The text has been gaining momentum over . After 12.b2 0-0 13.e4 e8 (a common 7...d5 primarily because Black has failed maneuver - Black intends to transfer the to demonstrate a convincing solution to the knight to d6) 14.xg7 xg7 15.c3+ g8 g a m b i t l i n e 8.b3!? cxb3 9.axb3 e6 16.h4!? White had interesting play with h410.b4! , as played in Timman, J (2571)h5 looming: f6 ( 16...d6 17.fe1 c7 Ernst, S (2606) W ijk aan Zee 2012/[John 18.h5 ) 17.fe1 c7 18.d4 d7 19.d5 Bartholomew]. ] Ha u sr a t h , D (2 5 3 7 )-B ru n n e r, N (2 4 6 2 ) 8.b3!? In the August 2012 update I suggested Germany 2010 ] that White players ought to have a look at this [ 11...c7 suggests itself. On c7 the queen typical pawn sacrifice, and the present game won't prevent the rooks from communicating was a good chance to test this with each other, but the queen is also a bit recommendation. Don't you like it when we more exposed. For instance, e2-e4 and d4ChessPub authors stick our necks out d5 could be a bother, or perhaps even Bb2there!?:) e5. A possible continuation is 12.b2 0-0 [ The continuation 8.g5 g4 9.xc4! 355
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.e4 A) 13...fd8 14.fe1 e8 15.xg7 xg7 16.c3+ g8 17.d4; B) 13...e8 14.xg7 xg7 15.d4 ( or perhaps 15.c3+ g8 16.h4!? ); C) 13...ad8 14.d4 ( 14.fe1!? ) 14...e8 15.fc1 h6 16.d1 g7 17.c4 xc4 18.bxc4 ] 12.b2 [ It occurred to me that 12.a3 also makes sense against 11...Qc8. However, after c7 I feel the bishop's long-term prospects are limited on the a3-f8 diagonal. The fact that this piece now interferes with the defense of the knight on a5 may also prove to be nont r i v i a l . W h i t e ' s b e s t m a y b e 13.b2 with a direct transposition to 11...Qc7. ] 12...0-0 13.e4 d8 14.fe1!? I liked White's play in Hausrath-Brunner, so here I'm borrowing a key idea. [ The point of this semi-waiting move is to de la y d 2 -d4 u n t il W h it e ca n e n su re a n exchange of dark square bishops. White will find it easier to create threats against the Black king when its primary defender has been eliminated. For what it's worth, I think White also enjoys decent compensation with th e s t ra igh t f o rwa rd 14.d4 , but the text seems more attractive to me. ] 14...e8 Black could try to delay or omit this move altogether, but it is the logical continuation of his plan. 15.xg7 xg7 This surprised me, as I thought the knight was fairly useless on this square. [ On 15...xg7 I probably would have played 16.c3+ g8 17.h4!? ala HausrathBrunner. ] 16.d4 b8?! 17.d2! I'm fond of this move. The queen has potential to influence matters on either side of the board. f6 Discouraging Qd2-h6 and Nf3-g5, but... 18.b4 f7?! It's hard to believe that any good will come from having the king staring down the barrel of a d4-d5 push. [ 18...d7 should have been tried, though I'm p lea s ed wit h W h it e 's po sit ion af t e r 19.c4 xc4 20.bxc4 . ] 19.ac1 Natural and strong. d4-d5 is on the cards. d7 20.c4! xc4 [ B e g r u d g i n g l y p l a y e d , b u t 20...c8?? 21.fe5+ is far worse. ]
21.bxc4 g4 [ 21...g8!? 22.d5 f7 ] 22.d5 White has a serious initiative. xf3 23.xf3 e5!? A good defensive try. 24.c5! [ D e f i n i t e l y n o t 24.dxe6+ xe6 , when Black's knight springs to life. ] 24...b6?! Time was becoming a factor for both players around this point. 25.ed1 [ The immediate 25.a4! was stronger. ] 25...e8 26.a4 bxc5? Opening the position is nearly fatal. [ Black had far better chances to hold out with 26...cxd5! , i.e. 27.c6 c7 28.exd5 a5! . White's passers are blockaded and it's not at all clear how I can break through. ] 27.dxc6 e7 28.g4! Aiming for the d7 square. g7? Black cracks. [ Ne c e s s a r y wa s 28...d4 , though after 29.xd4 exd4 30.d7 Black has a very difficult (and possibly hopeless) defensive task. ] 29.d7 xd7 30.xd7+- The threats of c6-c7 and Qa4xa7 are too much. e6 31.xe6+! Simplest. xe6 [ Or 31...xe6 32.xa7+ , picking up the rook. ] 32.c4+ d6 33.xc5+ e6 34.d5# W hite has rich compensation after 8.b3!?, though Black is not without his resources. A strong player could give this line a go with either color. 1-0
369 Bartholomew,John Ostrovskiy,Aleksandr SPICE Cup Open (7) [John Bartholomew]
A11 2446 2377 18.10.2012
Lasker's System (4...Bf5) is a solid option for Black. White normally obtains a slight edge after 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Qb3, but here my op p o ne n t su rp rise s m e wit h me with t h e enterprising pawn sacrifice 6...Nc6!?, an idea that injects new life into this variation. 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 f6 4.g2 f5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.b3 c6!? Pitching the b-pawn for the sake of speedy development and central dominance. In the post-mortem my opponent said he had specifically prepared this pawn 356
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 sacrifice and that the engines rate it highly (something my Houdini confirms!). Somehow this idea has yet to attract much attention, though it has been tried 11 times since 2003. [ Black usually plays 6...b6 , when the q u e e n l e s s m i d d l e g a m e a f t e r 7.xb6 is pleasant for W hite , i.e. ( or 7.c3!? Georgiev, K (2649)-Kasimdzhanov, R (2690)/ Khanty Mansiysk 2007/ [Hansen, Carsten]) 7...axb6 8.c3 c6 9.d3 e6 10.b5 b4+ 11.d2 e7 12.fd4 xd2+ 13.xd2 g6 14.f4! Stefanova, A (2503)Zhukova, N (2439)/Krasnoturinsk 2003/ [TonyK]. ] [ 6...c8 is also popular. 7.c3 e6 8.0-0 e7 9.d3 c6 10.f4 0-0 11.ac1 Kosten, A (2542)-Bunzmann, D (2509) / Montpellier 2001/[TonyK] ] 7.xb7 White is obligated to accept. d7! Best. White must waste time retreating, as 8... Rb8 and 9...Nb4 are now threatened. [ Less accurate is 7...c8 8.0-0 e5 9.d4!? exd4 10.f4 d6 11.c1 d7?! , Tarlev, K (2384)-Alexikov, A (2353)/Alushta 2 0 0 5 . H e r e 12.xd7+ xd7 13.xd6 xd6 14.a3 is much better for White. ] 8.b3 e5 The powerful pawn duo is the crux of Black's compensation. 9.0-0 [ One game from this year went 9.d3 b8 10.d1 b4+!? (a common sortie Black tries to wrong-foot White's pieces) 11.fd2! h5 ( I think the simple 11...0-0 is better ) 12.c3 e7 13.0-0 h4 14.a3 d6 ( maybe 14...xc3!? 15.bxc3 hxg3 16.hxg3 c8 hitting c3 and intending ...Bd7h3 promised more) 15.e4! hxg3 16.hxg3 g4 17.f3 h3 18.e1 d4 19.d5 e6 20.c4 f8 21.g5 fg8 22.c1 and Black was in a very bad way Cox, J (2423)-Thorfinnsson, B (2402)/Hinckley ENG 2012. ] 9...b8 [ Another example: 9...d6 10.c3 b8 11.d1 d4?! Strangely, this natural move isn't as ef f ective here ( 11...0-0 12.d3 would transpose to our main game) 12.a4 h6 13.d3 e7 14.d2 b4 15.b3 xa4 16.bxa4 b8 17.c4 ed5 18.d2 0-0 19.b1 d7 20.b5! Griffiths, R (2301)Lalic, P (1978)/Sheffield ENG 2011. ] 10.d1 d6 Completing development and
maintaining a fluid pawn structure. [ I think 10...e4 , as in Mueller, J (2162)Reinhart, E (2347)/Pardubice CZE 2012, is weaker only if Black refrains from following up aggressively. This becomes apparent after 11.e1 c5 when White can use the e4 hook to begin chipping away at Black's central foundation with ( on the other hand, 11...h5!? deserves serious consideration compare to Cox - Thorfinnsson [see note to 9.0-0] ) 12.d3 . ( 12.c3 e7 13.a4 0-0 14.c2 d6 15.b3 fc8 was the game )] [ Black needs to avoid 10...c5?! 11.xe5! .] 11.d3 [ I was hesitant to play 11.d4 in view o f e4 12.fd2 h5! , with easy play for Black. ( 12...0-0 )] 11...0-0 12.c3 [ 12.fd2 was agreed drawn in Jacobsen, Bo (2302)-Skytte, R (2401)/Chess House IM 2012. A pity! Black has a number of ways to proceed, i.e. e7 ( or 12...e8; 12...h6; or even 12...a5!? )] [ I strongly considered 12.b3 , but it seems premature. The c3-square is chronically weakened, and White also has to watch out for ... e5-e4, opening the a1-h8 diagonal. e7 ( definitely not the immediate 12...e4?? 13.dxe4 dxe4 14.xd6+- )] 12...d4 Forcing White to a decision. 13.e4?! In retrospect, this is questionable. [ I didn't like 13.a4 on a ccou n t o f a5 ( Black should perhaps prefer the patient 13...h6 ) 14.d2 b4 , but actually 15.b3 seems fine for W hite, in spite of the possibility of ...Nb(f)d5-c3. For instance, xa4 16.bxa4 bd5 17.c4 c7 18.a3 c3 19.c2 fc8 20.b2 and White is doing well. ] [ Actually, it appears that the retreat 13.b1! is best. White isn't winning any development awards, but he is also refusing to create any weaknesses. The first player has slightly better chances here, and one (ideal!) way to continue would be Nb1-d2-c4, a2-a3, b2-b4, and Bb2(d2). ] 13...xe4 14.dxe4 e7 White remains a p a wn u p , t h o u g h I w i l l h a v e d i f f i c u l t i e s activating my queenside majority and making the g2-bishop relevant. Black has a totally 357
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c o h e r e n t p o s it io n wi t h t h e p o ssi b i li t y o f playing on either wing. All in all, a roughly b a l a n c e d g a m e . 15.b3 c5 16.e1!? Transferring the knight to a superior square. bc8?! [ 16...fc8! ] 17.d3 b6 18.d2 a5 19.f4!? f6 20.fxe5 fxe5?! [ A f t e r w a r d s w e a g r e e d t h a t 20...xe5! was the superior recapture. ] 21.xf8+ xf8 22.a3 The rook exchange has improved my prospects. Now I can start crawling forward on the queenside. [ 22.c2!? is perhaps more flexible. ] 22...b8 23.c2 a7! The possibility of ... Na7-b5 is very bothersome to W hite. 24.b4 a4 25.c5?! Parting with my best piece! [ Simply 25.c1 was better. ] 25...xc5 26.bxc5 e6! ... Qe6-b3 is on the table. 27.e3! I have to hurry. The idea is Bg2f1-c4. dxe3 [ I was expecting the immediate 27...b3 , i.e. 28.xb3+ ( 28.c1 c6 29.f1 e6 ) 28...axb3 29.exd4 exd4 30.b1 e6 ] 28.xe3 [ I thought briefly about 28.f1 , but then I saw h6! . ] 28...b3 29.d2 e6 30.f2 b2! An excellent defensive resource that totally escaped my attention. Black parries the threat of Qd2-d6 by forcing a queen trade. 31.xb2 xb2 Despite the bishop pair and a pawn advantage, it's not easy for W hite! Black's minor pieces are clearly superior, and the a3 pawn is feeling the heat. The computer says I'm not in much danger, but in mutual time pressure I couldn't figure things out. 32.d1 f7 33.f1 a2 34.d6?! [ I should sit tight with 34.d3= . ] 34...xa3 35.c6 c8 36.d7+ f6 37.a6? S t i l l e r r o n e o u s l y p u s h i n g f o r w a r d . e7 38.d6 c3! Addressing the threat of Ba6-c4 and putting the breaks on the c-pawn once and for all. Amazingly, White is now dead lost. 39.e1 c1 40.f2 a3 I can't stop this pawn! 41.c7 a2 42.c8 xc8 43.xc8 a1 White resigned. A nice game by Aleksandr (who said he reads ChessPublishing.com!). The computerendorsed pawn sacrifice with 6... Nc6!? looks
completely playable, and I wouldn't be the le a st bit su rp rise d if it b eco me th e m a in continuation very soon. 0-1
370 Bruzon Batista,Lazaro Nielsen,Peter Heine 18th North Sea Cup (2) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2610 2625 05.06.2003
This is an elegant game, where White gains the advantage in pure 'Reti' style. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 g6 A perfectly logical move, Black posts the king's bishop on the long diagonal, whilst keeping the h3-c8 diagonal open for the other bishop. 5.b3 g7 6.b2 0-0 7.c4 The advantage of delaying c4 like this, is that White doesn't have to worry about lines where Black captures on c4, as now W hite can simply recapture with the bpawn and gain a big centre. a5!? [ 7...g4 is more common, but Black tries to soften-up the long diagonal first. ] 8.d3 a4 T h e p a w n g o e s o n . 9.a3! Both stopping its further advance, and keeping the a-file closed. a6 10.c2 And now the k n i g h t r e t u r n s t o c o n t r o l b 4 . g4!? This perfectly normal move seems to be an innovation, as previously Black had preferred [ 10...e8 when 11.c1 b6 ( 11...g4 12.b4 c8 13.b1 h3 14.b5 cxb5 15.cxb5 c5 16.xh3 xh3 17.xf6 left Black with an awkward decision, as White continues with Ne3, hitting c5 and d5, Dizdar,G-Michaelsen,N/Bad W oerishofen 1992 ) 12.d4 c5 13.e5 axb3 14.axb3 d8 ( 14...xb3!? 15.d2 b6 16.cxd5 should favour White) 15.b2 leaves White with a plus, because of his harmonious pieces, Dizdar,G-Pfleger,H/Germany 1992. ] 11.b1 This guards against tricks along the diagonal, and may threaten to capture on a4 and use the open b-file that ensues. xf3 A radical solution, but the bishop isn't very important in Black's plans. 12.xf3 axb3 13.axb3 e6 Black sets up a solid lightsquared pawn barrier. 14.b4 b5 15.a5! W hite starts to take control, he first pressurises the b-pawn. b6 358
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 15...bxc4 16.dxc4 dxc4? 17.xc6 a7 18.b5 is very strong. ] 16.d4 b7 17.cxb5 cxb5 18.b2 A quick look at the position reveals that White is threatening to double rooks on the a-file, attacks the b-pawn, and controls the a1-h8 diagonal. e8 Best. 19.e4! White brings his other bishop into the fray. ac7 20.fa1 c8 A concession, but Black could hardly capture on a5 and allow W hite a passed a-pawn. 21.exd5 exd5 22.e3 Reti players look and learn! With simple, yet powerful moves, all of W hite's pieces participate in the fray, and B l a c k i s b e s e t f r o m a l l a n g l e s . h5 Hardly relevant, but it was difficult to suggest improvements. 23.g2 c6 24.a7 d6 25.h4 White is in no rush and simply improves h i s p o s i t i o n - r e a l G M t e c h n i q u e . xd4 26.xd4 e6?! [ 26...g7 was the best chance, e.g. 27.xd5 xd5 28.xd5 xb4 and Black is still fighting. ] 27.xd5 xb4 28.xf7! Suddenly White turns to a tactical solution, and kills the pawn that holds Black's light squares together. xf7? [ 28...xf7 was hardly appetising, and yet after 29.d7+ e7 30.xc8 8c7 31.b7 Black is 'only' a pawn down. ] 29.xe6 Forking c8 and g6. d6 30.xg6+ [ 30.xg6+ f8 31.h6+ g8 32.d5 is completely crushing. ] 1-0
one against Caruana. He didn't get much out of the opening in that one, though: 1.c4 g6 2.e4 e5 3.c3 g7 4.g3 d6 5.ge2 c5 6.d3 c6 7.g2 ge7 8.a3 d4 9.b4 g4 10.h3 xe2 11.xe2 xe2 12.xe2 c6= and Black equalized in Carlsen, MCaruana, F W ijk aan Zee 2013. Carlsen opened with 1 .e4 in all his other W hit e games. ] 1...f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 Flexible. [ We recently examined 4.d3 f5 5.0-0 e6 ( 5...h6 would be my choice) 6.h4 g6 7.xg6 hxg6 in Nakamura, H (2778) -Solak, D (2599) Istanbul 2012/[John Bartholomew]. White grabbed the bishop pair and cruised to victory rather effortlessly. ] 4...g4 5.c4 White more often prefaces this advance with d2-d3, but perhaps it's unnecessary. [ In that case 5.d3 bd7 6.c4 xf3! is an interesting response, i.e. 7.xf3 e5!? 8.g2 dxc4 9.d4 ed7 10.c2 b6 11.d1 e6 12.e4 e7 13.a4 a5 . See Nikolic, P (2671)-Strating, S (2307) Amsterdam 2004/[TonyK]. ] 5...e6 6.d3 bd7 7.cxd5! Judging by the n u m b e r o f h i g h r a t e d p l a ye r s wh o h a v e chosen this move recently (and their corresponding winning percentage!), it's fairly clear that this is considered to be the best path for White. Germany's GM Georg Meier is particularly fond of this capture, having played it on several occasions. [ 7.e3 is more innocuous. For example, d6 8.b3 b8 9.cxd5 exd5 10.c3 0-0 371 A11 11.fe1 e8 Frois, A (2346)-Dominguez Perez, L (2534) Lisbon 2000. ] Carlsen,Magnus 2861 Karjakin,Sergey 2780 7...exd5 [ T h e s y m m e t r i c a l r e s p o n s e 7...cxd5 Tata Steel Chess 2013 (8.4) 20.01.2013 can be met in many dif ferent ways, i.e. [John Bartholomew] 8.b3 (Meier's preference) ( 8.a4 d6 9.c3 0-0 10.g5 h6 11.xg4 xg4 I could hardly submit this update in good 12.xd8 fxd8= 1-0 (86) Laznicka, V conscience without commenting on at least (2674) -Jirovsky, M (2453); common is 8.c3 one of Magnus Carlsen's games! He is simply e7 9.h3 when xf3 10.xf3 0-0 11.e4 on a roll as of late, and in W ijk aan Zee he d4 12.b1 b6 13.d2 a6 14.e2 impressed everybody with his sheer tenacity ac8 15.f4 fd8 was balanced in and willingness to fight every game until bare Zaragatski, I (2474)-Van Wessel, R (2375) kings (usually his opponents resigned before Netherlands 2012) 8...b6 9.xb6 xb6 then!) This was one such game. 1.f3 10.c3 xf3 11.xf3 c5 12.b3 e7 [ Magnus only had one other pure Flank 13.b2 ac8 14.ac1 Meier, G (2642)game with White in the tournament: in round 359
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Kleiman, J (2371) Saint Louis USA 2012. ] 8.c2 [ 8.c3 could transpose, though c5!? is intriguing, as Karjakin had played previously: 9.h3 ( 9.b3 c8 10.f4 0-0 11.ac1 e8 12.h3 h5 13.g4 g6 14.d4 Malakhov, V (2709)-Rublevsky, S (2688) Novosibirsk RUS 2012) 9...xf3 10.xf3 0-0 11.c2 d4 12.b1 e7 13.d2 e5 14.g2 fe8 with play similar to the game. Svidler, P (2739)-Karjakin, S (2788) Moscow 2011. ] 8...e7 [ Again, it's entirely possible for Black to place this bishop elsewhere, e.g. 8...d6 ] [ or 8...c5!? . ] 9.c3 xf3 Parting with the bishop in order to clarify the position. [ Critical is 9...0-0 10.e4 dxe4 11.dxe4 . W hite has scored fantastically from this position (+13, =9, -2) despite the engine's proclamation of near equality. One illustrative game went c5 12.d1 c8 13.e3 e8 14.e1 h3 15.ad1 h6 16.d4 xg2 17.xg2 with an ideal position for White in Ehlvest, J (2591)-Bhat, V (2547) Saint Louis 2010. Karjakin must have also felt that Black has some problems to solve in this variation. ] 10.xf3 d4 11.e4 0-0 12.xf6+ xf6 [ 12...xf6 allows 13.b4! , jump-starting White's queenside play. b6 14.b1 d7 15.b5 ac8 16.bxc6 bxc6 17.d2 fe8 18.fc1 Loginov, V (2507)-Tunik, G (2451) Togliatti 2001 ] 13.d2 a5 14.a3 d5 15.ab1 d7 16.fc1 fe8 The opening phase has concluded. White cannot claim a theoretical advantage, but he has succeeded in obtaining a position fully suited to his style: no weaknesses, a pair of bishops, and the ability to play for another 75 moves! 17.c4 c7 18.h4 a4 19.b4 b5 20.g2 h6 21.c5 g6 22.b4 f6 23.d2 g7 24.c4 a6 25.d1 b6 26.b4 c5 27.d2 c7 28.cc1 d5 29.h1! Carlsen finds a neat way to generate pressure. e7 30.g1 d8 31.c2 e6 32.g2 a7 33.e1 ad7 34.h2 c8 35.h3 xh3+ 36.xh3 The evaluation doesn't change much following the queen trade. h5 37.b1 a8 38.g2
a6 39.b3 Magnus gets down to business. axb3 40.xb3 f6 41.c4 d6 42.f1 f8 43.a4 c3?! A nearly imperceptible error that Carlsen is quick to exploit. [ Black should stand still, i.e. 43...g7 . ] 44.f4 e6 45.e3! xa4 [ Not 45...xa4?? 46.bxc3+- . ] 46.d5 e7 47.d6 b5?! [ 47...c3! presents White with more problems. ] 48.xe7+ xe7 49.xb5 b6 50.e4 xc4 51.b8+ g7 52.xc4 Karjakin has won back the exchange, but he's a long way from surviving the Carlsen Inquisition! Black's f7 pawn is a clear target. a7 53.f4 d6 54.e8 b7 55.a8 e7 56.g2 b1 57.e5 e1 58.f2 b1 59.e8 f8 60.c8 e7 61.a8 b2+ 62.f3 b1 63.d5 e1 64.f2 d1 65.e8 f8 66.c4 b1 67.g4 Going for it! hxg4 68.h5 h1? Karjakin falters in a complex position. [ The computers indicate he could have held with 68...gxh5! 69.f5 h4 70.f6+ g6 71.xf8 f5! , which is a fairly non-human line. ] 69.hxg6 fxg6 70.e6! Target acquired (g6). h6 71.d5 h2+?! [ 71...a1 72.g3 c4! offered more resistance, but it's already very difficult for Black. ] 72.g3 h3+ 73.xg4 xd3 74.f5 e3 75.xg6+ h7 76.g8+ h8 77.f4 Carlsen's technique is flawless. c3 78.f6 d3 79.e3 c4 80.e6! h7 81.f5 c2 82.g2+ h6 83.xc2 dxc2 84.xc2+Despite the presence of opposite color bishops, Black cannot hold. g5 85.d4 a3 86.xc4 b2 87.d5 f4 88.f7 a3 89.e6 g5 90.c6 f6 91.d7 g7 92.e7 Black resigned. A brilliant effort Karjakin was equal, but never drawing against the 2013 Tata Steel champion. I think Magnus's 7.cxd5 is the best way for White to play, and it's yielding plenty of interesting games at present. 1-0
360
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 control and W hite can also play f3 A11 s o m e t i m e s .) 17.e1 ( 17.d1 c2 ) Clery,Nicolas 2390 17...xe2+ 18.xe2 e4 19.e5 ac8 Savchenko,Stanislav 2558 looks fine for Black ] XXIV Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (7) 21.2.08 16...ac8 17.d2 c3 18.exd4 exd4 [Jonathan Rowson] 19.fc1 xe2+ 20.xe2 g4 21.e5 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 xe5 22.xe5 e6 23.b4 d5 24.xd4 f6 5.c2 d6 It is important to note that Black 25.f3 Black will win back the pawn after Nf4. does not have to play Nbd7 and as Sakeev ½-½ showed in a previous update(see AnastasianSakeev), if White is not going to play d4 there A11 is a lot to be said for playing e5 as quickly as 373 possible 6.b3 0-0 7.b2 Davies,Nigel R 2475 [ 7.e2!? Might be a useful alternative move Adams,Michael 2555 order, if only to keep b2 available for the Blackpool zt 1990 queen. e5 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.b5 c6 [Nigel Davies] 10.xd6 xd6 11.b2!? However, after Bg4 or Re8, Black seems to have his full 1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.c4 dxc4 share of the chances. ] 5.0-0 bd7 6.a3 b6 7.c2 d5 8.h4 7...e5!? e6 [ 7...a6!? is also possible in this move [ L a t e r o n N i c k P e r t w o u l d p l a y 8...d4 order. ] against me after which me liking of this 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.b5 c6 10.xd6 xd6 variation started to diminish. The game 11.b5 continued 9.d1 ( 9.e1 g6 10.f3 d5 [ 11.d4 b4 12.d1 e4 13.e5 11.h4 d4 12.f3 d5 13.e4!? It is not clear that White is better in this line, played 'for the win' in Ostrowski, L (2385)but in general I would prefer White in such Bernard, R (2335), Poznan 1987, but after situations, because the bishops give d3 14.xd3 cxd3 15.e5 g7 16.xd3 chances in the long term, and although he is 0-0 17.c5 fd7 18.xd7 xd7 quiet at the moment, the pawn structure W h i t e w a s p r o b a b l y a l r e a d y w o r s e .; means that the dark squared bishop could On the other hand 9.f3 e4 10.d3 cxd3 eventually be very powerful. e8 14.a3 11.exd3 a4 12.b3 a6 13.c4 g4 a6 15.h3 f6 16.g4 f7 17.e2 c7 14.fe5 was rather promising for White 18.0-0 d7 19.a4 Perhaps this is too early. when he agreed a draw (1/2-1/2) in Legahn, ac8 20.a3 e6? ( 20...b4 D (2250)-Luther, T (2480), Hamburg 1993, Black should contest the important a3-f8 though note that with 9...Qd5 Black could diagonal. 21.a5 b6 22.axb6 xb6 repeat the position) 9...g4 10.e3 d3 as indicated in a previous update.) 21.f3 11.xd3 cxd3 12.f1 e5 13.f4 g5 d6 22.xd6 xd6 23.fxe4 dxe4 24.c4+ 14.fxe5 gxh4 15.b3 f5 16.b2 g8 see Anastasian, A (2602)-Sakaev, K (2649)/ 17.f2 e6 18.g2 0-0-0 and the position Kusadasi 2006, in the PGN Archive. ] wa s t h o r o u g h ly m is e ra b le f o r W h it e i n 11...b4 Davies, N (2491)-Pert, N (2488), Halifax [ 11...e4 12.d4 b4 13.c1 probably (British Open Quickplay Championship) with Bc3 and Qb2 (or Qa3) to follow, should 2003 , t hough I man age d to scramb le a be better for White ] draw. ] 12.c1 d4 13.0-0 a6 14.a3 9.e4 g6 10.b3 [ 14.e2 g4 15.exd4 e4 ] [ In Salov, V (2550) -Torre, E (2540), 14...bd5 15.e2 f5 16.d3 Leningrad 1987 W hite prepared this with [ 16.exd4!? f4 ( 16...e4 17.e5 f4 10.e1 fd7 a n d t h e n p l a ye d 11.b3 18.d1 is not totally convincing for Black, but there seems to be little need for this. because Ne5-c4-e3 can wrestle back some After g7 12.b2 xb2 13.xb2 0-0 372
361
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.bxc4 e5 15.d4 exc4 16.xc4 xc4 17.c3 White had compensation, but I think Black finds it easier in such positions when t h e r e a r e f e we r m i n o r p i e c e s t o wo r r y about. ] 10...cxb3 11.axb3 g7 12.d4 0-0 13.b2 d7 14.ad1 One of several moves to have been played here though I don't think it makes a huge difference: [ a) 14.f3 c7 15.fe1 e8 16.e5 d7 17.f4 xe5 18.dxe5 f6 19.c4 fxe5 20.xe5 e6 21.b4 d6 22.h1 a6 23.d3 xb2 24.xb2 ad8 25.c5 gave White ongoing pressure for the pawn in Salov, V (2550)-Beliavsky, A (2630), Minsk 1987/URS-ch. ] [ b) 14.c4 d8 15.ad1?! g4 16.f3 d7 17.f4 a5 18.f5 a4 19.xb6 xb6 20.bxa4 g4 21.d3 c5! gave Black e x c e l l e n t c o m p e n s a t i o n i n P i g u s o v, E (2570)-Georgiev, K (2615), Moscow 1994. ] 14...e6 15.fe1 a5 16.f3 e7 17.c4 xc4 18.bxc4 I was pleased to get this mass of central pawns, notwithstanding Black's passed a-pawn. If Black isn't very careful here his position will be crippled by c4-c5 and Nf3d2-c4. d8 19.d2 [ In retrospect I should have played 19.c5! here, p re ve nt in g .. .e 6-e5 b y Black an d leaving the knight on f3 two routes to c4 (d2 or e5). ] 19...e5 20.d5 cxd5 [ 20...a4 might have been better because now I get to target the e5 pawn along the efile. ] 21.exd5 f5 22.c1 e4 [ 22...d7!? 23.a3 c5 was worth considering as af ter 24.d6?! Black can sacrifice his queen with xd6 25.e4 xd1 26.xd1 xe4 etc. ] 23.h3 h5 24.a1! This would have gladdened Reti's heart. Adams now makes a mistake: e8? 25.xg7 xg7 26.xe4 d6 27.xf5 gxf5! Very astute play by Adams, depriving me of the e4 square. Of course White is better here but I don't make the most of it. 28.d4 b6 29.f3 e8 30.b1 [ A much more testing line is 30.xe8+ xe8 31.b1 when e4 32.xb6 xb6 33.xb6 xc4 34.g2 leaves Black with ongoing
problems in the endgame because of all the weak pawns. ] 30...xe1+ 31.xe1 a6 32.d3 a4 33.b4 a8 34.c2 a6 35.b4 [ And here W hite's winning try is 35.b5!? a3 36.b4 a8 37.xb6 , though admittedly Black has counterplay after e7 . Instead of this I wimp out with a draw. ] 35...a8 36.c2 a6 ½-½
374 Davies,Nigel R Haslinger,Stewart 93rd ch-GBR Swansea WLS (5) [Nigel Davies]
A11 2512 2423 11.08.2006
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.a3 b6 7.c2 d5 8.b3 f5!? A sharp move which attempts to refute White's scheme. 9.bxc4 [ I felt this had to be critical because after 9.b2 cxb3 10.axb3 e6 White's queen is blocking the square he'd like his bishop on. Mihajlovic, M (2243) -Kuzmanovic, R (1996), Belgrade 2007, continued 11.d3 d8 12.c4 e7 13.xb6 axb6 14.xa8 xa8 15.e3 d8 16.d4 g6 17.a1 c8 18.a3 d5 19.xd5 exd5 20.d6 e7 21.e5 f6 22.e6 xe6 23.xe6 f7 24.f4 f5 25.xb6 g5 and although W hite had recovered his pawn he stood worse in the endgame because of Black's powerful bishops. ] 9...xf3 10.xf3 xc2 11.xc2 xc4 12.d3 b6 13.a4 Looking to undermine the c6 pawn with a4-a5-a6. e5?! [ I think that 13...e6 makes more sense here because it would supply more cover to the light squares and take on fewer obligations (eg the need to defend the e5 pawn). ] 14.a5 bd5 15.b2 d6 16.a6?! Not the best. [ White can cause problems here with 16.e4! , for example e7 17.e3 (intending 18. Nc4) g6 18.f5 0-0-0 19.fd1 ( 19.xg7 f8 would win back d3) 19...f8 20.d4 and White would have a powerful initiative that provides more than enough compensation. ] 362
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16...b6 17.g2 [ 17.e4 was still the right way to go, White has to deprive Black's knights of the d5 square and there's no need to retreat the bishop before doing this. ] 17...0-0-0 18.e4 Finally, though by now Black is well developed enough to cope. c7 19.d4 he8 [ 19...d7 was better in fact. Now I had a chance which unfortunately was missed. ] 20.fc1?! [ 20.h3+! was strong, for example d7 ( 20...b8 21.dxe5 xe5 22.xe5 xe5 23.b4 c5 24.fc1 is very unpleasant for Black ) 21.dxe5 xe5 22.xe5 xe5 23.b4 c5 24.fc1 and suddenly Black is in all sorts of trouble. ] 20...d7 21.e3 exd4 22.f5? A poor move. [ 22.xd4 was better, hitting the pawns on c6 and g7. ] 22...c5 23.xg7 f8 24.f5 e5 The d4 pawn is well supported now and that keeps both the bishop on b2 and the knight on f5 out of play. I don't have much to say about my death agonies. 25.f1 f3+ 26.g2 d2 27.e1 xf1 28.xf1 fe8 29.f3 e6 30.fd1 c7 31.f2 d7 32.e2 b5 33.h6 f8 34.g4 g7 35.f2 d3+! 36.xd3 xd3 37.xg7 xd1 38.e5+ d6 39.d1 0-1
home preparation. [ 6...e4 7.d4 again leads to a game that would be properly categorized as a Grunfeld. ] [ 6...0-0 is certainly the most flexible move at t h i s j u n c t u r e , e . g . 7.b2 g4 (n e wly p op u lar, an d a lso qu it e lo gic a l) ( 7...bd7; 7...a5; 7...f5; and 7...e8 are all common alternatives) 8.d3 xf3 9.xf3 e6 ( 9...bd7 10.c2 e8 11.e3 e6 12.d2 h5!? 13.ac1 g4 14.d4 h6 15.b4 f6 16.a4 Ivanchuk, V (2771)Karpov, A (2616) Cap d'Agde 2012) 10.c3 bd7 11.g2 e7 12.c2 fd8 13.e3 a5 14.fe1 h5 15.h3 e8 16.ad1 with a typical microscopic edge for White in view of the bishop pair. The position is not dissimilar to many Slow Slav positions were Black willing parts with his light-square bishop. Radjabov, T (2788)-Le Quang, L (2693) Astana 2012. ] 7.bxc4 e4 Mamedyarov didn't capture on d4 only to proceed normally. [ With that said, it was possible to play 7...0-0 8.b2 c5 , arriving at a position that can be reached through several different move orders. In f act, Mamedyarov played the Black side of this position in a 2007 encounter with Etienne Bacrot. ] 8.d4 c5 9.c2 c6?! Whoa - Mamedyarov says "go ahead, take my knight"! Interestingly, the computer is totally unconvinced by this sacrifice (Houdini instantly gives an assessment that is clearly favorable to White). 375 A11 On the other hand, for the human manning the Dominguez Perez,Leinier 2726 White pieces against a well-prepared 2764, Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar 2764 the task of proving such an assessment is FIDE GP Tashkent (9.1) 02.12.2012 something quite different. Still, it seems pretty reckless to play like this, especially if [John Bartholomew] Dominguez had chosen 11.Qf4. [ 9...f5? is refuted by 10.g4! , i.e. g3 "Shak-and-Awe" Mamedyarov introduces a 11.gxf5 xf1 12.xf1 . ] daring (dare I say reckless!?) piece sacrifice [ 9...f5?! 10.b2 cxd4 11.xd4! on move 9 in a traditionally restrained line of also looks very promising for White, as xd4 the Réti. 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 g6 4.g2 12.d1 xf2+ 13.h1 c7 14.xh8 g7 5.0-0 f6 6.b3!? A trendy way of is definitely in favor of the first player. ] playing. W hite intends to occupy the a1-h8 [ Black could consider the simple retreat diagonal in good Réti style. 9...f6 , though 10.b2 0-0 11.bd2 [ Instead, 6.d4 leads straight into a is pleasant for White. ( 11.d5!? )] fianchetto Grunf eld, which is obviously 10.xe4 Dominguez cannot back down, even outside our scope. ] 6...dxc4!? A small novelty, hinting at some if he is sampling some home cooking. f5 363
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.e3 [ Houdini prefers 11.f4! xd4 12.c3 , and this does indeed look much better. After the nearly forced continuation xe2+ ( 12...c2? 13.d1 a5 14.d5!+- ) 13.xe2 xa1 , White has a couple of dangerous option, e.g. A) 14.h6!? f6 ( 14...d6 15.f4 0-0-0 16.d5 intending Bc1-f4) 15.g5 ( natural, though 15.d2! may be even stronger, for instance b8 16.e1! e6 17.b3 with oodles of threats) 15...e6 16.c3; B) 14.g4 c2 ( 14...c8!? 15.e3 g7 16.xc5 0-0 17.e1 ) 15.e3 f6 16.g5 g7 17.xc5 0-0 18.d4 . ] 11...xd4 12.e1 xe2+?! [ It looks better to play 12...g4! , a move that's tough to spot. The main idea is that Black frees up the f5 square for his knight f o r e x a m p l e , 13.c3 ( 13.h1!? xe2 14.g1 xc4 15.b2 b6 16.c3 0-0 ) 13...f5 14.xc5 xc3 15.b2! xb2 16.b5+ f8 17.xb2 d4! and Black should equalize. ] 13.xe2 xa1 14.xb7 [ 14.h6!? ] 14...b8 15.c6+ f8 16.d2 b2! 17.b3 xc1 18.xc1 d6 19.d5 g7 20.b3 hd8 21.e3 [ White had a good opportunity to solidify his advantage with 21.g4! : e6 ( 21...c8!? 22.d3 ) 22.f3 d3 23.xd3 xd3 24.e5+ g8 25.g2 . In the game, Mamedyarov manages to organize sufficient counterplay before W hite coordinates his pieces. ] 21...e6 22.f3 g8 23.g2 [ Or 23.xc5 d4! . ] 23...a6! Targeting White's weaknesses in timely fashion. 24.xc5 d3 25.e1 xc4 26.e3 xb3 27.axb3 xb3= Black has managed to equalize. 28.g2 b6 29.e7 dd3! 30.g4 d8 31.f6+ g7 32.e8+ g8 33.f6+ g7 34.e8+ Prudently, White issues a cease-fire. g8 Draw agreed. W h ile f a sc in a tin g, I se rio usly d ou bt th a t Mamedyarov's piece sacrifice is anything more than a one-off attempt. If Black wants to play 6...cxd4!?, then his best bet appears to be 7. bxc4 0-0 8.Bb2 c5, transposing to established
lines. ½-½
376 Dubov,Daniil Potkin,Vladimir 65th ch-RUS Moscow RUS (5) [John Bartholomew]
A11 2594 2651 07.08.2012
Black has been the victim of a few disasters in the pawn-snatching line featured here. Potkin, fortunately, is a great theoretician, so now we get to see how a well-prepared 2650 plays the complicated 7...Be6 variation. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.c4 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.c2 b6 7.a3 [ The line in this game can also be reached with the inclusion of 7.a4 a5 , i.e. 8.a3 e6 9.g5 g4 10.xc4 xe2! 11.e5 h5 when 12.b4!? was a creative try in Radjabov, T (2761)-Smeets, J (2601)/Wijk aan Zee NED 2009/[Nigel Davies] . ] 7...e6 [ See the "Reti - 1 c4 c6 with g3" guide for 7...d5 . The queen move has received the lion's share of coverage on ChessPublishing. com, but the text is no less critical. ] 8.g5 This knight lunge is presumably the reason why 7...Be6 has yet to achieve mainline status. [ White does have a couple valid alternatives a t t h i s j u n c t u r e . F o r i n s t a n c e , 8.e5 invite s the contin uatio n d4! 9.xc6 (the only consistent follow-up to White's last move) bxc6 10.xc6+ , leading to doubleedged play. Potkin recently scored a win in the Black side of this line after d8!? 11.d3 ( 11.xa8 xa8 12.b5!? Pantsulaia, L (2557)-Keler, F (2238)/Konya TUR 2012. d7 ) 11...cxd3 12.d1 dxc2 13.xd4+ d7 14.xa8 xa8 15.xc2 b6 16.f4 e6 17.d6 xd6 18.xd6 e7 S h i m a n o v, A ( 2 6 0 0 ) - P o t k i n , V ( 2 6 4 2 ) / Tyumen RUS 2012. Black doesn't have anything to fear if the queens come off the board, so I'm curious to see whether White can demonstrate anything here (Pantsulaia would be the guy to keep an eye on, as h e ' s a l r e a d y ve n t u r e d 8 . N e 5 a c o u p l e times). ] 364
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ White players may want to investigate the typ ic a l p a wn sa c 8.b3!? cxb3 9.axb3 . Here g6 is a very reasonable response, i. e. 10.c4 g7 11.a5!? ( 11.b2 Hausrath, D (2507)-Michalczak, T (2340)/ Oberhausen 2008. 0-0 12.d3 ) 11...c8 ( 11...c7!? ) 12.b2 0-0 13.e4 e8 14.xg7 xg7 15.c3+ g8 16.h4 f6 17.fe1 c7 18.d4 Hausrath, D (2537)Brunner, N (2462)/Trier GER 2010. ] 8...g4 Forcing the pace. The coming sequence is best for both sides. [ 8...d7 9.b3 ( 9.e4!? Almasi, I (2420)Lukacs, P (2460)/Zalakaros 200002.) 9...f5 10.e4 cxb3 11.axb3 g6 12.d3 e6 13.c4 xc4 14.bxc4 c5 15.a3 xa3 16.xa3 0-0 17.fa1 a6 18.c5 Mikhalevski, V (2525) -Papp, P (2269)/ Moscow RUS 2012. ] 9.xc4! [ I t ' s d i f f i c u l t t o b e l i e v e t h a t 9.f3?! present Black with any sort of problems. After h5 10.xc4 Black has demonstrated many routes to a good game, e.g. e5!? 11.d3 xc4 12.xc4 e7 13.e4 d5 14.f2 f6 15.h1 b6 16.a3 d8 17.h4 g6 18.d1 f5 19.g5 xg5 20.xg5 0-0 McShane, L (2657)-Adams, M (2728)/Baden-Baden GER 2011. ] [ Likewise, 9.e1?! d4 isn't too hot. ] 9...xe2 10.e5 h5 11.e1 h6! This has been played twice in recent months. Black needs to evict the knight before completing development with ...e7-e6. [ B l a c k M U S T a v o i d 11...e6? 12.f3! , which is already winning for W hite. Two brutal examples: g6 ( 12...xf3 13.exf7 d5 14.e5 d7 15.xh8+- ) 13.xc6+ bxc6 14.xc6+ A) or 14...bd7 15.xg6 c8 ( 15...hxg6 16.xf7!+- . Crunch! ) 16.xe6 e7 17.xg7# 1-0 Mons, L (2345)-Kramer, J (2052)/ Oberhof GER 2012; B) 14...fd7 15.exf7 xf7 16.xf7 f6 17.xh8 e5 18.e4 g6 19.d4 xh8 20.dxe5 e7 21.h6+- Grandelius, N (2541)-Perunovic, M (2578)/ Sarajevo BIH 2011. ] [ I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e t e x t , 11...bd7!? looks acceptable: 12.d4 e6 ( 12...h6!? )
13.f3! xe5 14.xh5 g6 15.xg6 hxg6 16.xe6+ (looks scary, but Black is fine) e7! 17.e2 0-0 18.f3 e8 19.g5 d5 Shengelia, D (2551)-Cvek, R (2563)/ Sibenik CRO 2012. ] 12.e4 [ On 12.h3!? Black can consider g5!? to sideline the knight. A possible continuation is 13.b4 g7 14.b2 0-0 15.f4! with an interesting game ahead. ] 12...e6 13.xf6+ gxf6 14.xc6 This leads to a draw with accurate play from both sides. [ After 14.xc6+ bxc6 15.xc6+ e7 W hite should take a repetition: 16.b7+ e8 17.c6+= . ] [ 14.e4!? was played in Lizak, P (2438)Higatsberger, M (2152)/Oberwart AUT 2012, which proceeded our main game by a few weeks. The most effective counter appears to be d6! , i.e. ( the game went 14...f5 15.c2 c8 16.b3 e7 17.b2 g8 ) 15.h4 fxe5 16.xh5 f6 , planning to castle queenside. Black is for choice. ] 14...bxc6 15.xc6+ d7 16.f5 [ 16.xa8? xa8 17.d4 f3 ] 16...g6 17.xe6+! Spectacular fireworks, but only good enough for a half point! e7! [ Not 17...fxe6?! 18.xg6+ e7 19.b3! when W hite has a raging initiative for the rook. ] 18.xf6 g8 19.e1 [ 19.xd7+? is refuted by xd7!-+ . ] 19...f8 20.f4 c8 The final accurate move. 21.xh6+ g7 22.h8+ g8 23.h6+ g7 24.h8+ Dubov wisely opts for a perpetual. [ White has plenty of pawns for the piece, but he's sorely underdeveloped. Playing on is risky, i.e. 24.d4 g8 . ] 24...g8 A short but theoretically important game. It would be unsurprising if one or both players already had this line worked out to equality. Black looks to be faring well in the complications following 7...Be6 8.Ng5 Bg4 9. Nxc4 Bxe2, so White should have a look at 8. b3!?. ½-½
365
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 377 Dziuba,M Bartholomew,J Reykjavik Open 2013 (5.15) [John Bartholomew]
A11 2602 2435 22.02.2013
In the January update I showed a win I had on the W hite side of the Anti-Slav, so I was probably due for some suffering with the other color:). 1.c4 c6 2.g3 d5 3.f3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 5.0-0 f5!? My opponent caught me by surprise with his opening choice, so I decided to try a line I had analyzed in the August 2012 update. [ 5...bd7 is far more common see the archives for extensive analysis. ] 6.a4 Logical. Black isn't necessarily thinking about .. .b7-b5, but a2-a4 is still a useful thrust, further isolating the c4 pawn. [ 6.a3 invites e5!? 7.xc4 ( not 7.xe5?? xa3 8.bxa3 d4 ) 7...e4 8.g5!? ( alternatives are 8.e1; and 8.fe5!? ) 8...h6 9.xf7 xf7 10.b3 with complications in Pantsulaia, L (2557)Gunina, V (2533) Konya 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] 6...e6 7.a3 d5?! Forgetting my own analysis! ...Qd8-d5 is valid in many lines of the Anti-Slav, but in view of White's next move it cannot be recommended here. [ In the notes to Pantsulaia - Gunina I wrote that the simple 7...xa3 looked better, i.e. 8.xa3 0-0 9.b3 cxb3 10.xb3 c7 11.b2 bd7 12.c1 Vuorisalo, V (2101)Sammalvuo, T (2425) Lahti 2005. Looking at this position again I'd probably take White, as his side just seems so easy to handle. If this is the be st Black has af ter 5...Bf 5 , perhaps it's best to look elsewhere. ] 8.b3! Oops, forgot about that one. cxb3 [ I thought briefly about 8...c3!? , which in fact might be the best practical decision. Following 9.dxc3 xd1 10.xd1 bd7 11.d4 g6 12.c4 White is for choice in the queenless middlegame, though Black retains a reasonably solid position. ] 9.d3 Highlighting the error of Black's ways. Now I lose valuable time in view of the e2-e4 threat. g4? This proved unsuccessful, but I'm already quite pessimistic about Black's position.
[ Likewise, 9...a6 led to a smashing victory for White in Mikhalevski, V (2525)-Arslanov, S (2424) Moscow 2012: 10.c4 d8?! ( 10...c5!? ) 11.xb3 c5 12.b2 e7 13.e3 fd7? 14.xg7 f6 15.d6+ e7 16.xf5+ exf5 17.h6 xa1 18.xa1+and Black succumbed on move 25. ] [ Houdini actually recommends punting the piece with 9...a5!? 10.e4 ( 10.c4!? d8 11.xb3 b4 12.e1!? with the idea of Ne1-c2 ) 10...xe4 11.dxe4 xe4 . After 12.xd5 xd5 13.d2 b4 14.xd5 exd5 15.xb3 an unusual position has arisen where White is surely better. ] [ An analogous line is 9...b4!? and now: A) 10.e4?! xe4 11.dxe4 xe4 is more acceptable for Black in view of 12.xd5 ( 12.b2 ) 12...exd5 13.d2? xg2 14.xg2 b2 15.xb2 xd2; B) 10.b2!? d8 11.xb3 ( 11.a5!? )] 10.c4 a6 11.fe5 d8 12.xb3 W hite's initiative develops naturally, and Black's game is perhaps already behind hope. b4? Allowing a nice tactic, which Dziuba spotted immediately. [ My original intention was to play 12...c5 , b u t a f t e r 13.b2 I can nearly resign. In addition to the threat of d2-d4 (driving the knight away and winning b7), Black can't e v e n c o m p l e t e d e v e l o p m e n t w i t h e7 because of 14.xg4 xg4 15.xg7 f6 16.xg4 xa1 17.e3+- . ] 13.xf7! xf7 14.e5+ e8 15.xg4+Material is equal, but Black is completely busted. c8 16.e5 d6 17.c4 e7 18.b1 d8 19.a5 Refusing to allow Black even a hint of stability with ...a7-a5. fd5 20.d2 c5 21.d4! Dziuba finishes the job cleanly by way of this temporary pawn sacrifice. cxd4 22.e4 dxe3 23.fxe3 c6 24.xb7 c8 25.b2 g8 26.c2 g6 27.e4 db4 28.xb4 xb4 29.a4+ d7 30.xb4 xb4 31.xb4 d8 32.e5 d4+ 33.h1 Black resigned. Hardly my best day, but a very professional effort by Marcin Dziuba. I'm not sure I'd venture 5...Bf5 again, though I suspect a well-prepared Black player could find a tenable path in the line with 6.a4 (this lo o ks m o re p r o m isin g t h a n t h e 6 . Na 3 o f
366
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Pantsulaia - Gunina). 1-0
378 Fernandez Murga,Roberto Ginzburg,Maximiliano Najdorf mem Open (9) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2241 2406 30.09.1999
1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 g4 4.c4 c6 5.cxd5 It is a question of taste, I suppose, but [ 5.e5 first, might be more accurate. ] 5...cxd5!? A little risky, [ 5...xf3 6.xf3 cxd5 is a more solid way of proceeding. ] 6.e5 f5 7.c3 e6 [ 7...bd7! 8.a4 e6 9.g4 transposes, but avoids White's option at move 9. ] 8.g4 g6 9.a4+ [ 9.h4! is more accurate here. ] 9...bd7 10.h4 a6! A strong reply, threatening to break the pin by ...b5. Other moves lead to a clear White advantage: [ 10...d6 11.d4 h6 (Kaidanov, G-Hubner,R/ Groningen 1993) and now 12.xg6 fxg6 13.g5 with a significant plus. ] [ 10...c2 11.xf7! xa4 12.xd8 xd8 13.xa4 xg4 14.h3 likewise, Romanishin,O-Suba,M/Moscow 1986, and, finally, ] [ 10...h6 11.xg6 fxg6 12.g5 hxg5 13.hxg5 xh1+ 14.xh1 h7 15.g4 xg5 16.xe6+ winning rapidly, Kourkounakis,I-Engqvist,T/Gausdal 1990. ] 11.xd7 xd7 A rather obvious improvement on the previously played [ 11...xd7? which loses material after 12.h5 b5 13.d1 Rosen,B-Straeter,T/ Germany 1997. ] 12.xd7+ xd7 13.h5 c2 Black has just o n e s q u a r e f o r t h i s p i e c e , b u t i t p r o ve s s u f f i c i e n t ! 14.d3 Still trying to trap the poor bishop. [ 14.d4 h6 15.f4 f6 offers White little. ] 14...d4 15.e4?! This is nothing special, better [ 15.d2! gaining the pair of bishops: xd3! 16.exd3 dxc3+ 17.bxc3 0-0-0 18.b1 wi t h a r e a l p lu s , d e s p it e t h e d a m a g e d pawn structure. ]
15...a4 16.h6 g6 17.g5 e7 18.xe7 xe7 19.g5 ac8 20.b3 c6 Now that the bishop is back on home ground, Black has no problems. 21.d2 [ 21.g1 f5 amounts to pretty much the same. ] 21...f5! 22.gxf6+ xf6 23.xf6 xg2 24.hg1 xf6 25.xg2 c5 Black's position is now preferable. 26.c1 xc1 27.xc1 c8+ 28.d2 c5! 29.g4 e5 Black has a sure advantage, he can play ...g5 and Kg6 and pick-off the h6-pawn. 30.e3 f5 31.e4 dxe3+ 32.xe3 g5?! [ 32...b5 might be more accurate, keeping t h e wh i t e r o o k f r o m c 4 : 33.f4! exf4+ 34.xf4+ g5 35.f7 xh6 36.a7 c6 37.d4 which should be good for Black, although White's d-pawn will certainly give him some counterplay. ] 33.c4! As Black cannot play the pawn endgame. b5 34.c7 g6 35.g7+? Rather exotic, cutting the black king off with the rook, but [ 35.e4 xh6 36.f5 is simpler, with more than sufficient activity for the pawn. ] 35...xh6 36.g8 h5 Black is back on track, and should win handily. 37.e4 g4 38.h8 h5 39.f3+ h4 40.h7 b6 41.h6 a5 42.h8 g4? Very sloppy, [ 42...b4+! 43.xe5 f4 44.d4 xf3 wins at a canter. ] 43.fxg4 xg4 44.g8+ h3 45.g5 R e s t o r i n g m a t e r i a l e q u a l i t y . h4?? Another careless move. What is the point of playing the opening, and middlegame, well, if you then mess-up the endgame? [ 45...b4+ w a s n e c e s s a r y , 46.e3 ( (and not 46.xe5?? as after the pawn race: b5+ 47.f6 xg5 48.xg5 h4 49.d4 g3 50.d5 h3 51.d6 h2 52.d7 h1 53.d8 Black has the move h4+ winning! ) 46...h4 47.xe5 g4 48.d4 h3 49.e4+ g3 50.e8 with a likely draw. ] 46.d4! This way White manages to capture the pawn whilst maintaining the confinement of the black king. b4 [ 46...a4 47.bxa4 a5 48.dxe5 xa4+ 49.f5 xa2 50.e6 also seems hopeless. ] 47.xe5 h2 48.d5 a4 49.d6 axb3 50.axb3 xb3 51.d7 This pawn costs Black his rook, and meanwhile the black king is 367
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 unable to get out of the way of his h-pawn. d3 52.e6 h3 53.d5 xd5 54.xd5 g2 55.d8 h2 56.g5+ 1-0
379 Flores,Diego Peralta,Fernando ARG-ch 88th playoff rapid (1) [Fier, Alexandr]
A11 2578 2600 07.09.2013
Two of the best Argentinean players go for a thematic duel in a rare and interesting line. Despite the 3-0 score for Flores in the games, the position is far from clear 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.e3 g4!? I found really few games with this logical move 4.b3 [ 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.b3 c7 an important resource, attacking the bishop on c1 6.b5+ d7 7.c3 xf3 8.gxf3 e6 is quite playable for Black and was seen in Kramnik, V (2791)-Eljanov, P (2742)/W ch Blitz 5th blitz 2010. ] 4...c7 5.e5 e6 [ 5...xe5? is obviously not playable due to 6.xb7 f6 7.d4 ( 7.xa8 c7 is not enough for Black either) 7...d6 8.c5 d7 9.xa8 c7 10.a4 and the queen is far from being trapped ] 6.d4 d7 7.f4 A new idea played in the playoff for the Argentinean championship. The same players went for the same line in ARGch in 2008! [ 7.c3 dxc4 ( 7...xe5? 8.cxd5 this is the point cxd5 9.dxe5 a6 10.d2 and Black's kingside is locked by the e5pawn. W hite, on the other hand, has free play on the other flank) 8.xc4 xc4 9.xc4 gf6 is less ambitious, entering into so m e k in d o f Sla v in Flore s, D (25 4 8 )Peralta, F (2546)/ARG-ch 82nd Mendoza 2008. ] 7...gf6 [ 7...xe5 is another alternative A) 8.fxe5 f6 ( 8...dxc4 9.xc4 xc4 10.xc4 e6 11.0-0 is better for White. Compared to the game, the d-file is closed and a good f-line is already open for the rook ) 9.c3 ( 9.exf6?! xf6 10.c3 dxc4 11.xc4 xc4 12.xc4 0-0-0
and suddenly Black is ahead in development. At some point ... c5 or ...e5 are coming and Black is certa inly no t worse anymore) 9...dxc4 10.xc4 xc4 11.xc4 fxe5 12.0-0 f6 13.d2 gives White activity for the pawn; B) 8.dxe5 dxc4 9.xc4 xc4 10.xc4 is more or less similar to the game e6 11.0-0 d8 12.c3 h6 13.e4 g4! wi t h q u ic k co u n t e r p l a y. F o r e x a m p l e 14.e2 c5+ 15.h1 h5 16.h3 g5! with chances for both sides ] 8.c3 dxc4 9.xc4 xc4 10.xc4 e6 11.0-0 e7 [ 11...c5 is premature 12.b4! b6 13.b1 and Black is already in trouble e7 14.b5 c8 15.f5 a6 16.xf7 xf7 17.d6+ xd6 18.xe6+ f8 19.xd6+ e8 20.bxc5+- ] 12.e4 0-0 13.e3 After a sequence of logical moves, both players have finished development and now the question is if it's possible for Black to liberate some space for his p ie ce s. I n bo t h ga m es o f t h e p la yo f f Peralta went for ...Nxe5 sooner or later. I believe the position can be a bit harder for Black to play, but with some correct moves everything should be under control. ad8 This was his first choice [ 13...xe5 after having some problems in the first game Peralta went for this direct approach 14.dxe5 g4 15.d4 fd8 ( 15...c5 I like this move, Black's knight is probably going to h6 after h3 or Qe2. With this move, Black can expand on the queenside in exchange 16.h1 a6 17.g1 b5 18.e2 h6 19.g4 h8 and the key point of the defence is that f5 is still not possible since the e5-pawn is hanging. The knight goes to g8, rooks to the d-file and a queenside advance. Maybe White is still a bit better, but it's necessary to find a concrete plan) 16.h1 a5?! ( 16...c5 was still possible) 17.h3 b4 18.xb4 xb4 19.ad1 h6 20.g4 was the same kind of position as after ...c5 but without t h e q u e e n s i d e c o u n t e r p l a y, F l o r e s , D (2 5 7 8 ) -P e ra l t a , F (2 6 0 0 ) / A R G -c h 8 8 t h playoff rapid 2013. ] 14.h3 Avoiding ... Ng4 ideas xe5 15.dxe5 d7 16.b5 White goes with the knight to d6 368
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and everything will depend on whether it's going to stay there or not a5 [ 16...b6 w a s a t r i c k y i d e a 17.c3! kee ping on e e ye on e 5 ( 17.c2 b8 18.d6 c8 19.c4 c7 followed by 20... Nb6 looks ok for Black) 17...b8 18.d6 c8 19.c4 c7 20.a4 b6 21.xb6 axb6 22.f5 exf5 23.exf5 fe8 looks a bit dangerous for Black, but not so clear ] 17.d6 b6 18.c5 [ 18.c2 d7 19.ad1 fd8 20.c5 c8 21.b4 c7 forces the knight to leave the c r i t i c a l s q u a r e 22.c4 b6 is quite acceptable ] 18...a6?! The queen is not doing much on a6. [ 18...xc5 19.xc5 d7 and without the queens there is less chances for White to attack. Now the plan is to concentrate all the pieces on d6 20.ad1 fd8 21.d4 c8 22.fd1 b6 23.a3 f8 and White has to bring the knight back because of 24... c5 ] 19.fd1 d7 [ 19...f5! is another idea to free the pieces, but is a committal move to play in a rapid game. The main goal of this move is to free t h e d 5 - s q u a r e f o r t h e k n i g h t 20.exf5 ( 20.exf6 xf6 21.e5 g6 22.d2 d5 ) 20...xf5 21.c2 ff8 22.f5 ( 22.g3 d5 is comfortable for Black) 22...d5 23.e4!? ( 23.f2 xd6 24.exd6 exf5 a n d t h e c o m p e n s a t i o n i s n o t e n o u g h) 23...xd6 24.exd6 exf5 25.e6+ h8 26.d4 f4 ] 20.b3 fd8 This plan is not really effective, so Black is in trouble already. [ 20...f5 now this doesn't work as on the last move 21.exf5 xf5 22.c2 f8 23.f5 d5 24.f2 xd6 25.fxe6! and now the rook is in prise. ] 21.d2 f6 [ 21...c8 22.ad1 is not going anywhere, White has enough pieces to control d6 ] 22.ad1 f8 [ 22...c8 23.h2 ] 23.a4 [ 23.exf6! was more precise, but it's hard to change plans when you have control of the position. The basic idea is to find a better place for the queen, either on the last rank
or on e5 A) 23...xf6 24.h5! not easy to see! f8 ( 24...g6 25.e5 a3 26.e8 xd2 27.xf6+ xf6 28.xe6+ g7 29.xd2 ) 25.e8; B) 23...xf6 24.a4 e7 25.e5+- ] 23...dd8 24.h2 c8 25.c4?! The white queen is much better than Black's one [ 25.c3 fxe5 maybe was what White was afraid of, but after 26.xc8 xc8 27.d7 f6 28.fxe5 h4 29.d2 the computer gives +6(!) for White because of Bg5 or Bh6 ideas ] 25...xc4 26.bxc4 fxe5 27.fxe5 b6 [ 27...b6 with the idea of 28...c5 would be a better try, but White is still better, 28.a5 c5 29.xc8 xc8 30.d7 fd8 31.a6 followed by 32.R1d2 with pressure. ] 28.a5 xd6 29.xd6 xd6 30.exd6 xc4 Probably played in the last seconds, now White wins material [ 30...d7 31.xa7 a8 32.b6 f7 and the game goes on, White is winning but there are practical chances ] 31.g5 [ 31.d7 xe3 32.d8 is also convincing ] 31...e5 32.d7 1-0
380 Frois,Antonio Dominguez Perez,Leinier Open, 2000 Lisboa [Paul Motwani]
A11
2000
Quick Tricks and Traps 1) B21: "White plays the Reti Black crushes like a yeti!" 1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 g4 5.d3 bd7 6.c4 [ A n o t h e r c o m m o n c h o i c e i s 6.bd2 followed by e2-e4. ] 6...e6 7.e3 White wants to next play Qb3 without allowing ...Qb6. d6 8.b3 b8 9.cxd5 I would prefer to maintain the tension in the centre by not exchanging pawns there. exd5 After Black castles shortly, his king's rook will soon move to e8, from where it will enjoy operating on the freshly-opened e-file. 10.c3 0-0 11.fe1 e8 12.ac1 h6 369
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.a4? Missing Black's forthcoming stunning [ 9...e5 initially looks pleasant for Black, e.g. tactical sequence. .. xg3!! 14.hxg3 xe3 10.g5 e6 11.0-0 e7 12.d2 g8 15.fxe3 xg3 With the simple yet deadly 13.xe7 gxe7 14.f4 f6 15.fxe5 fxe5 threat of . ..Bh3 followed by ...Ng4. 16.f1 was Libov, G-Miroshnichenko, E/Polanica [ If 16.h1 h3 17.g1 g4 then White Zd ro j 2 0 0 1 , b u t a f t e r 16.f3 White is does not have the required move Nd1 to actually doing quite well, for instance d4 defend the squares e3 and f2 17.g5 g4 18.b5 d7 19.f7 hf8 simultaneously. ] 20.xa7! ] 16...h3 17.h4 10.e3 [ 17.f2 g4 18.cf1 xe3 is another [ A main alternative is 10.0-0 e7 11.e3 "dead end" for White. ] A) White reaches a better game after 17...g4 White resigned in view of 18 Rf3 11...0-0 12.d4 xd4 13.xd4 a6 Qh2+ 19 Kf1 Qh1. 14.e4 0-1 A1) 14...dxe4 15.dxe4 g6 16.fd1 ( 16.e5!? ) 16...d7 17.xg7 fd8 18.h6 c5 19.b4 d3 20.b5 381 A11 Velickovic, Z-Wiedermann, F/ Finkenstein 1994; Georgiev,Kiril 2649 A2) 14...g6 15.f4 ( 15.exd5 xd5 Kasimdzhanov,Rustam 2690 16.xd5 exd5 17.fe1 b4 18.c3 World Cup Khanty Mansiysk RUS (2.7) xc3 19.bxc3 ac8 20.c4 [Carsten Hansen] K i r . G e o r g i e v - S u b a , L u g a n o 1 9 8 7) 15...dxe4 16.dxe4 ad8 17.b6 d2 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 f5 A2a) 18.f5 exf5 19.exf5 h5 20.h3 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.b3 b6 7.c3!? d7 21.f2 ( 21.e3 d3 22.f2 [ Interesting, White allows Black to give him f3 ) 21...f6 ( 21...e2 22.fe1+- ) doubled b-pawns 7.xb6 axb6 8.c3 22.xb7; is much more common ] A2b) 18.f2 xf2 19.xf2 d7 7...xb3 8.axb3 c6 20.e3 c5 21.d1 a5 22.g4 [ B l a c k c a n a l s o c o n s i d e r 8...d7!? Matychenkov, V-Kandyba, L/Smolensk which is quite normal in this type of position 1991; (for inspiration check out the classical game B) 11...g4 12.f4 0-0 13.e4 ( 13.h3 Janowski-Capablanca, New York 1916) f6 14.h4 g6 15.xg6 hxg6 16.fd1 9.d4 e6 10.db5 xb5 11.xb5 d7 d4 17.e3 xb3 18.xa7 xa7 ( 11...a6 12.0-0 d7 13.d4 e7 14.f4 19.xa7 d7= Van Mechelen, L-Den hc8 15.fc1 xc1+ 16.xc1 Zhidkov, VHeijer, N/corr 1990) 13...dxe4 14.dxe4 Glo t o v, M/ S erp u kh o v 2 0 0 2) 12.0-0?! g6 15.e5 d3 16.fd1 c2 17.dc1 ( White can do better with 12.xa7 xa7 xb3 18.h3 g5 with equality in Fischer, R13.xa7 c5 14.b5 c6 15.d3 ) Polugaevsky, L/Palma de Mallorca 1970 ] 12...c6 13.d3 a6 14.e4 c5 15.c3 d4 [ Again 10.b5 fails to provide White with 16.e2 ac8 17.f4 b6 , and Black has anything of substance, e.g. d7 11.bd4 th e in it ia t ive, Fe le gyh a zi, L -S o m la i, L / xd4 12.xd4 g6 13.f4 c5 14.e3 Sarospatak 1994 ] hc8 15.h3 e8 16.g4 d6 17.f2 f6= 9.d3 Pigusov, E-Gradalski, P/Swidnica 1997 ] [ 9.b5?! looks tempting, but proves rather p o i n t l e s s a f t e r c8 10.bd4 xd4 10...a6 11.d4 xd4 12.xd4 d7 [ 12...b4!? 13.0-0 d8 14.a4 e7 11.xd4 d7 12.0-0 e6 13.d3 c5 15.b4 ] 14.f3 e7 is better for Black on account of White's doubled pawn and no active play 13.e4!? dxe4 14.dxe4 g6 15.0-0 c5?! [ This is a strange decision, Black sacrifices to compensate for it, Tylor, T-W ade, R/ a pawn to develop his bishop, but other Hastings 1948 ] benefits don't seem obvious. Instead the 9...e6 370
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 s o l i d a n d n o r m a l 15...c5!? is fully ad e qu a te , e . g. 16.xc5 xc5 17.fd1 e7= ] 16.xg7 g8 17.h6 e5 18.a4 a7 [ 18...d4!? 19.fd1 c6 is an alternative ] 19.h3 [ White can claim an advantage in several ways. Also 19.f4!? looks good, e. g. d3 20.c7 c8 21.b6 xb6 22.xb6 c2 23.ad1 f4 ( 23...xb2? 24.d7+- ) 24.fe1 xg2 25.xg2 xb2 26.e3 ] 19...d3 20.ad1 0-0-0 [ Wanting to connect the rooks and allow the rook on g8 to join the game, Black makes an inaccuracy. I think 20...d8!? intending ... Ke7 is a better move. ] 21.d2 d7 [ Black has troubles emerging, White's pieces are slowly beginning to work together, and while Black's counterparts look quite active, the reality is somewhat different. 21...f5 22.exf5 xf5 23.g4 g6 24.fd1 ] [ 21...b5 22.c3 b4 23.e2 f6 24.c2+ ] 22.h2 [ Or 22.fd1!? e5 23.xd7 xd7 24.b4!+, and White has the pawn and the compensation to paraphrase Dzindzichashvili ] 22...b5 23.c3 c5?! [ 23...b4 Black should play 24.a4 e5 25.f3 Now on the other hand, Black gets in deeper trouble. ] 24.xd7 xd7 25.f4 f6 26.a1! b8 27.xb5?! [ Here White misses a chance to blow Black away with 27.f5! exf5 28.exf5 xf5 29.xb5 axb5 30.xa7+- ] 27...b6?! [ 27...f2! is Black's last chance. 28.d6+ d7 29.e5 fxe5 30.fxe5 xg3+ 31.xg3 e4+ 32.f4 xg2 33.h4 ] 28.d6++- c7 29.e5 fxe5 30.fxe5 d4 31.c1+ d7 32.d1 1-0
382 Goodwin,Ed Fowler,S Open Coventry ENG (2) [John Watson]
A11 2116 25.03.2005
Black plays an extremely common move order with ..Bg4 versus the Reti and gets a good game versus routine play. But Reti players should know that he can end up in serious trouble if White plays aggressively. In fact, the simplicity of White's correct plan may inspire players of W hite who hate meeting ...Bg4 systems. 1.c4 c6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 g4 [ Absolutely normal-looking. Nevertheless, it runs into trouble and gives a clue as to why so many players prefer 4...dxc4 ] 5.cxd5 [ The correct move order is held to be 5.e5! , when 5...Bf5 6.cxd5 cxd5 is the game, so B la ck m a y p re f e r e6! , as in GoodwinMansson. Thus the right choice of move orders leaves the variation up for grabs. ] 5...cxd5?! [ 5...xf3! 6.xf3 cxd5 has led to equality in many games. Black develops simply by ...e6, ...Be7, and ...0-0. Hence the order with 5. Ne5. ] 6.e5! f5 7.c3 e6 Tony discussed this va riat io n in Fe rn a nd e z Mu rga-G in zb u rg, Buenos Aires 1999. It's worth repeating that with some details, since W hite could use a simple plan versus this kind of Slav setup. It's odd that Black's natural alternatives also have drawbacks: [ (a) 7...d4?? 8.b3 ] [ (b) 7...bd7 8.g4! ( 8.a4 e6 9.g4 g6 10.g5 h5 11.d4 d6 12.e4 xe5 13.dxe5 0-0= ) 8...e6 ( 8...xe5 9.gxf5 d7 10.d4 c6 11.g5 xf5 12.xf6 exf6 13.xd5 d6 14.e4 g6 15.0-0 ) 9.a4 a6 10.g5 b5 11.d4 xe5 12.xe5 d7 13.f4 b6 14.d3 ] 8.a4+ [ I don't think that Black can equalise after the theoretical 8.g4! g6 ( 8...xg4?? 9.xg4 xg4 10.a4+; 8...e4 9.a4+ bd7 10.xe4 xe4 11.xe4 dxe4 12.xd7 xd7 13.xe4 ) 9.a4+ bd7 10.h4 d6 ( 10...a6 11.xd7 xd7 371
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.xd7+ xd7 13.h5 is the Fernandez Murga-Ginzburg game, when "best" play is probably e4 14.f3 c2 15.g5 e8 16.d3 d4 17.d2 dxc3+ 18.xc2 cxb2 19.xb2; A well-known line is 10...c2 11.xf7! xa4 12.xd8 xd8 13.xa4 xg4 14.h3 df6 15.g1! ) 11.d4 h6 ( 11...a6?? 12.xd7 xd7 13.xd7+ xd7 14.h5+- ) 12.xg6 fxg6 13.g5 hxg5 14.hxg5 xh1+ 15.xh1 h5 16.c2 f8 17.e4! ] 8...bd7 9.d4?! [ A g a i n , W h i t e h a s 9.g4! , normally transposing into the last note. After the text, Black may actually stand better. ] 9...e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.xd7 xd7 12.b3 f6 13.e3 b6 14.ad1 d7 15.b5 e7 16.c1 Floundering. The idea is to get e4 or e3 in. fd8 17.h3? [ 17.e3 c4 ] 17...ac8 18.a3 c4 White has little to do and Black goes on to win easily. 19.e3 dc8 20.d2? [ 20.g4 g6 21.b3 h6 ] 20...4c6! 21.dd1 c4 22.c1? [ White is lost in any case: 22.b3? b6 ] [ 22.c1 xe3 23.fxe3 g5 24.f2 f6 and Black wins. ] 22...c2! White's queen is trapped and ...Rb6 t h r e a t e n s . 23.b4 d7 24.a2 b6 25.e1 xd1 26.xd1 xb2 27.xb2 xb2 28.b4 b5 29.e4 a5 30.d3 b3 31.c5 xa3 32.exd5 exd5 33.xd5 d8 34.h5 e8 35.e4 e7 36.xf6+ xf6 37.c1 g6 0-1
Alternatives: [ (a) 6.b3 c7 7.d3 bd7 ( 7...g6 8.f4 g5 9.e3 g7 10.c3 ) 8.xd7 xd7 9.0-0 e6 10.d4= ] [ (b) 6.a3 dxc4 7.axc4 d5 8.f3 e6 9.d4 xc4 10.xc4 b4+ 11.f2 bd7 12.b3 b6! 13.d1 e7= ] [ (c) 6.cxd5 xd5 ( 6...cxd5 7.c3 bd7 8.d4 ) 7.f3 c5 ( 7...e5 8.c3 e4 9.h4!? ) 8.c3 c6 9.0-0 bd7= this has been played in some grandmasterlevel games. ] 6...dxc4 7.e4 Not bad, but too slow to be convincing. [ The more forcing 7.a3!? d5 8.f3 b5 9.e4 e6 10.f4 c8 11.0-0 gives White space and some development for the pawn this deserves to be looked at. ] 7...bd7 8.f4 xe5 9.fxe5 g4 10.d2 d7 11.g5?! [ W h it e sh o u ld f o r ge a h e a d wit h 11.0-0! Then it's not so clear, e.g., e6 12.f4 h5 13.e3 e7 14.d2 ] 11...e6! 12.d5!? [ White could play simply 12.0-0 although f6 13.exf6 exf6 still favours the second player. ] 12...f6 13.e3 g8?! [ 13...g4! 14.e6 e5 15.0-0 g5! 16.d2 g7 is very solid and holds onto the extra pawn, whereas ] [ 13...cxd5 14.exd5 f5 is also playable. ] 14.e6 e5 15.0-0 b6 Black reasons that the wedge created by White's pawn on e6 will mean less with the queens off. 16.xb6 axb6 17.e3 b5 18.d4!? A fascinating position because of Black's long-term problem with the p a wn o n e 6 . P e r h a p s W h i t e s h o u ld ju s t 383 A11 transfer his knight to d4 via d2 and f3. g6 [ 18...d3!? threatens ...c5 and virtually Goodwin,Ed forces 19.a3 ] Mansson,James 2093 Open Coventry ENG (4) 26.03.2005 19.d2 g7 20.b3 c5? [ 20...h6! looks great in view of 21.fd1 [John Watson] g4 ( 21...d8 22.bxc4 xd2 23.xd2 xc4 24.dd1 is still not easy. )] 1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.g2 d5 4.f3 g4 5.e5 The more accurate order according to 21.xe5! fxe5 22.bxc4!? [ L o g i c a l , b u t W h i t e s h o u l d p l a y 22.a4! theory, since 5.cxd5 allows 5...Bxf3! 6.Bxf3 w i t h t h e i d e a 2 2 . . . c 3 2 3 . a x b 5 ! o r cxb3 cxd5. e6! Quite possibly Black's best here, 23.axb5 d8 24.c4 ] as opposed to 5...Bf5 6.cxd5 cxd5,transposing to Goodwin-Fowler, which seems to favour 22...h6!? 23.f3 b4? [ Black should enter the complexities of White. 6.d4!? An extremely interesting gambit. 372
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23...bxc4 24.xe5 c3 ( 24...e3+ 25.h1 d4 26.d7! threatening Rf8 mate.) 25.d7 c2 26.a4 b5! 27.ac1 e3+ 28.h1 xe6! 29.dxe6 xc1 30.xc1 xa4 31.f1 c4 32.xc2 d8 ] 24.xe5 e3+ 25.h1 d4 26.d7 xe6 27.dxe6 xa1 28.xa1 Compare the last note: W hite is winning but makes several errors and then blunders terribly to lose the game. a5 [ 28...b3 29.e5! b2 30.b1 xa2 31.xb7 a1 32.e4 ] 29.e5 d8 30.d1 [ 30.xb7! b3 31.a3 ] 30...c7 31.e4 d8 32.d2 a3 33.d5? [ 33.f2! e3 34.xc5 ] 33...da8 34.f2 [ 34.xc5 xa2 35.d1 a1 36.xa1 xa1+ 37.g2 b6 ] 34...xa2 35.xa2 xa2 36.xc5 e2 37.d3?? b3 38.h4 e3 0-1
384 Grandelius,Nils Kuipers,Stefan Corus C Wijk aan Zee NED (2) [Nigel Davies]
A11 2515 2340 17.01.2010
1.c4 c6 2.f3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.c2 b6 7.a3 d5 8.b3 cxb3 9.axb3 e6 Black has tried other approaches in this position though it seems that White has compensation in any case. For example: [ a) 9...g6 10.c4 d8 ( 10...xc4 11.bxc4 d8 12.e5 g7 13.b2 0-0 14.d4 d7 15.d3 b6 16.c5 d5 17.fd1 f5 18.b3 gave White strong pressure for the pawn in Trella, T (2234)Ionov, S (2522), Cappelle la Grande FRA 2 0 0 7 , t h o u gh h e e ve n t u a l ly l o s t t o h i s higher rated opponent.) 11.fe5 bd5 12.e4 c7 13.d4 g7 14.b2 0-0 15.f4 e6 16.h3 b5 17.ad1 c7 18.g4 and at this stage W hite had pretty good compensation for the pawn in Pantsulaia, L (2596)-Wang Yue (2644), Yerevan 2006. ] [ b) 9...e6 10.b2 d8 11.e4 e7 12.d4 0-0 13.fd1 e8 14.c4 c7 15.a5
b5 16.e5 d6 17.ec4 and White had excellent compensation in Tukmakov, VKlovans, J, Kishinev 1975. ] 10.b1 g6 11.d3 [ White can also play 11.b2 as the b3 pawn would be indirectly protected, for example g7 ( 11...xb3? 12.xb3 xb3 13.xf6 wins on the spot) 12.d4 d7 13.xe6 xe6 14.e4 0-0 15.d4 ad8 16.fe1 e8 17.bd1 c8 18.c4 c7 19.e5 o n c e a g a i n wi t h i m p r e s s i ve p o s i t i o n a l compensation in Komarov, D (2475)-Sorokin, M (2500), Kherson 1991. ] 11...d8 [ The immediate 11...g7 might have been better. Black is trying to escape tricks along the a-file but there's also a case for defending the a7 pawn. ] 12.c4 g7 13.fe5 b5 14.a1 xc4 15.xc4 0-0 16.d2 [ 16.a5!? wins Black's queen, though the position that arises after xc4 17.xb5 xb5 18.b2 might be a difficult one to win. ] 16...h5 17.fe1 h3?! [ 17...g4!? was interesting, the idea being t h a t a f t e r 18.h3 xa1 19.hxg4 xg4 20.xa1 xe2 Black gets to break up W hite's pawn structure. He probably rejected this line because of the danger three minor pieces might represent to his king position, but objectively speaking this might have been the best. ] 18.a5 g4 19.f3 c8 20.xa7 After regaining the pawn it looks like White should be better, though it proves difficult to break through Black's defences. Eventually frustration kicks in and he blunders. d5 21.a2 d7 22.b4 e6 23.a5 c7 24.b6 d4 25.a4 b5 26.c5 c8 27.b3 d6 28.a4 e6 29.f4 xb3 30.xb3 e5 31.e3 fe8 32.g2 a8 33.c5 c7 34.ea1 ad8 35.e4 h8 36.c1 a8 37.e3 d7 38.a2?? Just as the game was heading serenely along towards a likely draw, White blunders. [ Just 38.g1 would leave the bishop on e4 a retreat path and be about equal. ] 38...xa4 39.xa4 f5 40.f3 e4 41.dxe4 fxe4 42.xe4 xe4 43.d1 c8 44.b3 c3 45.d6 d5 46.g5 f8 47.d7 h6 373
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 48.d3 d4 49.xg6 e3+ 0-1
win. ] 13.a3 a5 14.d4 g6 15.d3 exd4 16.xd4 g4 17.f5 f6 18.f3 h5 19.ae1 f8 20.xh5 xh5 21.f4 b6 385 A11 22.g4 [ 22.d3 looks like a more promising way of Grischuk,Alexander 2773 trying to keep a slight edge because f6 Kramnik,Vladimir 2784 may still be the best reply. ] 73rd Tata Steel (4) 18.01.2011 22...f6 23.f3 d5 This threat against e3 [Nigel Davies] encourages W hite to exchange off his light 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 bd7 square bishop after which he really can't hope for any kind of advantage. 24.xd5 xd5 5.c2 e6 6.b3 d6 7.b2 0-0 8.e2 25.f5 f6 26.d1 e4 Kramnik is not one to [ 8.h3!? is an interesting alternative here. ] mind the queens coming off. 27.xe4 xe4 8...e8 9.0-0 [ It's not too late to play for a king side attack 28.f3 g6 29.h6+ g7 30.g4 f7 with 9.g4!? , for example e5N ( 9...xg4 31.h6+ g7 32.g4 f7 33.h6+ e7 10.g1 gf6 11.0-0-0 gives White 34.g8+ f7 dangerous attacking chances for the pawn) ½-½ 10.xe5 xe5 11.g5 d7 ( 11...e4!? ) 12.f4 d6 13.h4 e7 14.0-0-0!? a3 A11 15.d4! gave White the more promising 386 prospects because of his space in Gurevich, Gurevich,Mikhail 2634 M (2643)-Savchenko, S (2583)/Vlissingen/ Bareev,Evgeny 2737 1999. ] QF Cap d'Agde FRA (2) 27.10.2002 9...e5 [Tony Kosten] [ After 9...a6 10.d4 would be a standard Semi-Slav type position in which Black's ... 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c2 a7-a6 is a questionable use of time. ] This move was certainly all the fashion at Cap 10.cxd5 xd5 11.e4 c7 12.g3 D ' A g d e , a s I s t a t e d i n t h e e B o o k , t h e In this quiet reversed Hedgehog type position advantage is that W hite stops ... Bf5, and some great players have tried other moves deters ...Bg4, as the knight on f3 is no longer here, for example: pinned, and can hop to e5. a6 A sensible Slav [ a) 12.a3 a5 13.c4 f8 14.g3 g4 move, stopping a white piece going to b5, and 15.e1 g6 16.h3 e6 17.f3 f6?! possibly preparing a later ...b5. Two other ( 17...e7 was better and equal) 18.xe6 tries at Cap D'Agde: xe6 19.ad1 e8 20.e4! intending d2-d4 [ 4...g6 5.b3 g7 6.b2 0-0 7.e2 a6!? was better for White in Tal, M-Bagirov, V/ 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.xa6 bxa6 10.d3 g4 Riga 1981. ] 11.bd2 c8 12.b1 and now Black [ b) 12.ad1 f8 13.d3 ( 13.d4 was worth started an interesting attack with xf3!? considering) 13...e7 14.a3 a5 15.fe1 13.xf3 a5+ 14.e2 d4!? 15.xd4 d5 f5 16.g3 g6 17.c4 b6 18.g4 although White won, Karpov,A-Dreev,A/Cap d7 was equal in Polugaevsky, L (2595)d'Agde FRA 2002. ] Piket, J (2605)/Aruba 1994. ] [ 4...bd7 5.c3 e6 6.b3 b6!? 7.cxd5 12...f8 exd5 8.d4 b7 9.e2 d6 with a Slave[ The only other game I could find with 12. like p ositio n , G ure vich, M-Dre ev, A/ Ca p Ng3 went 12...7f6 13.d3 e7 14.a3 c5 d'Agde FRA 2002. ] 15.ac1 b6 16.fe1 b7 17.b1 ad8 5.h3!? I don't really know what to make of this 18.f1 b8 19.a1 d7 20.d2 g5 move, a speciality of Mikhael Gurevich, is it 21.cd1 with a rather fishy looking position really so important to stop ...Bg4 ? Perhaps, for White in Kipper, J (2307) -Nazarenus, M as (2124)/Bad Zwesten 2003. Black went on to [ 5.b3 g4 6.e5 h5 7.d4 e6 8.d3 374
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 bd7 seemed to allow Black a quick equality in Azmaiparashvili,Z-Burmakin,V/ Ohrid MKD 2001. ] 5...g6 Strictly speaking, only this move is a novelty, as in the game Gurevich,M-Volkov,S/ Batumi GEO 2002, Black continued [ 5...e6 6.b3 d6 7.b2 bd7 8.d4 and again, a sort of Slav position is reached. ] 6.b3 g7 7.b2 0-0 8.e2 b5!? Black gains space on the queenside. 9.0-0 b6!? This really encourages White's next move. 10.c5 c7 11.a4 a7 12.e5 b7 13.b4 White has more space, a strong grip on the dark squares, and can open the a-file at his leisure, but the black position is a solid one. e8 14.c3 bd7 Black must be ready to counter the pressure on the a-file by doubling his rooks, for if [ 14...f5 then 15.a2 is awkward, threatening to exploit the pin on the a-file to win the b5-pawn. ] 15.h2 The bishop finds a more important diagonal. With the white pawns still on d2 and e3 it is u nu s ua l to see t h e da rk-squ are d bishop on the h2-b8 diagonal! e4 16.d4 df6 17.a3 White's plan is simple, he will pile-up on the a-file. f5 18.b3 xc3 19.xc3 e4 20.b3 ea8 21.fa1 d7 22.a2?! So the critical point is reached, White menaces the capture on b5 when Black would be obliged to recapture with the c-pawn, which is positionally undesirable as the a6pawn would then be backward on an open file, and the white c5-pawn would be passed. However, Black has some tactical points that are in his favour, and in a non-rapid game I am sure White would have preferred [ 22.d3 with a plus. ] 22...bxa4 [ 22...a5!? is interesting, 23.axb5 c3! this is the sneaky point, 24.d2 ( 24.xc3? axb4 ) 24...axb4 25.xa7 xa7 26.xa7 xa7 27.b6 a1+ 28.f1 c8 and although W hite has a powerful p r o t e c t e d p a wn o n b 6 , B l a c k h a s r e a l counterplay. ] 23.d2!? Played to eliminate the e4-knight before recapturing the a-pawn, but this allows Black time to play ...a5. [ 23.xa4? c3 forks queen and rook, but ]
[ 23.b1 might be best, to dissuade ...a5, and with the intention of regaining the a4pawn later-on. ] 23...a5! 24.bxa5 xd2 25.xd2 [ 25.a6 b4 26.xa4 c3 27.a3 ( 27.d1? b3 28.a3 c1! ) 27...b4 draws. ] 25...xa5 So, Black has seemingly emerged well from the previous play, but W hite will recuperate the a-pawn and maintain a slight spatial plus. 26.d1 b4? Black misses a tactic, [ 26...a7 is the way to hold onto the pawn, 27.d3 e5 28.c2 exd4 29.exd4 b7 30.f4! to defend the d4-pawn, and play is level. ] 27.c7 Ouch! b5 The only chance, [ 27...5a7? 28.b6 b7 29.xa4 xa4 30.xa4 b2 31.a8+ f8 32.a6 wins the exchange even more favourably. ] 28.xa4! [ 28.xb5?! cxb5 is far from clear. ] 28...xa4 29.xa4 b1 30.a8+ f8 31.h2 f6 [ 31...xd1 32.xd1 f6 is a better chance. ] 32.a4! b2 33.f4! After this Black is lost. xe2 [ 33...g5 34.a7 xe2 35.xd7 is also hopeless, gxf4 36.xe7 and mate. ] 34.a5! This is far stronger than [ 34.h6 when the black king escapes: f7 35.xf8+ e6 36.a7 a2 37.c7 xf2 which is wild. ] 34...f7 35.d8 xf2?! [ 35...e6 is better, 36.xf8 xf2 37.d6! exd6 38.xd6+ f5 39.xd7+ e4 40.xc6 White is clearly better, but the game continues. ] 36.xd7 As 37 Qe8+ is decisive. 1-0
387 Gurevich,Mikhail Dreev,Alexey 6th Masters Bastia FRA (2.2) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2634 2673 02.11.2002
Craig Hall writes: "Because of your column, I have recently begun playing the Gurevich system with 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Qc2 375
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Could we see some games where Black plays 3...Bg4 or 3.Bf5 ? Also, a game where Black employs a kingside fianchetto? Who better to follow then, than the master himself! 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.e3 f6 This is the normal move here, or course, but after W hite's 4th move B la c k wi ll h a ve d i f f icu lt y d e ve lo p i n g h i s queen's bishop actively, which is why Black sometimes develops this piece immediately: [ 3...f5!? 4.b3 (seems the most appropriate, as the b7-pawn is no longer defended) c7 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.c3 ( 6.xd5?? xc1+ ) 6...e6 7.b5+ this is one way to exploit the absence of the black bishop, the other is ( 7.a4+!? d7 8.d3 e7 9.e4 (this shows the disadvantage of playing ...Bf5 when White defers d4) g6 10.e3 dxe4 11.dxe4 c6 12.c1 b4 13.a3 with an edge to White, Milov,V-Summerscale,A/FrTCh, Mulhouse FRA 1998. ) 7...c6 8.d4 g6 9.a4 ge7 10.b3 a6 11.a3 but after c8 12.c1! axb5 13.cxb5 b6 14.c5 d8 15.d6+ d7 Garcia Palermo,C-Meduna,E/ Germany 1990/GER-chT, W hite should have played 16.xb7 c7 17.d6 b8 18.xf7! xf7 19.xe7 xe7 20.xc6+ with a fantastic attack. ] [ 3...g4 A) 4.b3 c7 5.e5! e6 6.d4 d7 7.xd7 dxc4 8.c2!? xd7 9.d2 f6 10.xc4 with an edge because of the central pawns, Jakubiec,A-Zawadzki,S/ Cappelle la Grande FRA 2003, and; B) 4.cxd5 xf3 ( 4...xd5 5.c3 a5?! 6.b4! c7 7.b2 e6 8.c1 is pleasant for White, Dizdarevic,E-Kos,T/Pula 1996) 5.gxf3!? ( 5.xf3 ) 5...cxd5 6.b3 d7 7.c3 e6 8.d4 c6 9.d2 d6 10.0-0-0 ge7 11.b1 0-0 and Black's better structure was equivalent to the white bishops, Gelfand, B-Hertneck,G/ Munich 1992.; C) 4.h3 I think that this is the simplest, W hite simply takes the long-term advantage of the bishop pair, but there are two other interesting possibilities: xf3 5.xf3 e6 6.d4 d6 7.c3 d7 8.d3 gf6 9.d2 e7 10.cxd5!? the introduction to a sharp plan, but White is a ls o b e t t e r a f t e r t h e sim p l e ( 10.0-0
because of his light-squared bishop e.g. dxc4 11.xc4 e5 12.b3 ) 10...exd5 11.g4! h6 12.h4 f8 13.0-0-0 0-0-0 14.g5 with more space and the initiative, Smejkal,J-Bohm,H/Amsterdam 1975. ] 4.c2 g6!? Black will fianchetto his king's bishop, and can also play ...Bf5 in some lines. We have mostly considered [ 4...e6 and also ] [ 4...a6 ] 5.b3 I once tried [ 5.b4 with success. ] 5...g7 6.b2 0-0 7.e2 a6 This is the best development for the knight, as it threatens to come to c5, or b4, whilst leaving the h3-c8 diagonal open. [ 7...f5 8.d3 bd7 is not particularly useful, as now the bishop becomes the 'attacked' r a t h e r t h a n t h e ' a t t a c k e r ' : ( 8...a6 transposes) 9.d4 dxc4?! ( 9...g4 10.f3 e5 11.fxg4 exd4 12.xd4 is not so clear) 10.bxc4 e8 11.xf5 ( 11.0-0!? is also effective, g4 12.f3 e5 13.fxg4 exd4 14.g5 with a big plus) 11...a5+ 12.d2 xf5 13.e4 e6 14.d4 and White made his big centre and pair of bishops count, Gurevich,M-Tischendorf,M/ Ordix Open, Frankfurt GER 2000. ] 8.d3 This seems more effective than [ 8.cxd5!? cxd5 9.xa6 bxa6 10.d3 g4 11.bd2 when c8 12.b1 xf3! 13.xf3 a5+ 14.e2 was a bit uncomfortable for White, Karpov,A-Dreev,A/Cap d'Agde FRA 2002. ] 8...f5 [ 8...e8 is similar, 9.bd2 f5 10.a3 c8 11.d1 b5 12.e4 with a plus, Horvath,CAcs,P/ Balatonlelle HUN 2002. ] 9.0-0 c8 10.a3 Controlling b4, and preparing queenside expansion, this is better than [ 10.d1 b6!? 11.c3 c5 12.ab1 fd8 13.b4!? Fradkin,B-Kashin,Y/Omsk/ Perm 1998, when Black might have tried xb4 14.xd5 cxd5 15.xf6 a4 ] 10...dxc4!? Best to play this now, and pressurise the d-pawn, rather than wait for White to play Nbd2 when he can recapture with the knight on c4. 11.bxc4 c5 12.d1 b5 13.e4 White had to reduce the pressure on d3. g4 14.bd2 a4?! This loses 376
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 control of c5, which has serious consequences. 15.e5 a5 16.b3 a6 17.c5! Now White is clearly on top, he can advance his d-pawn with a powerful centre. fd8 18.h3 xf3 19.xf3 e8 20.xg7 xg7 21.d4 e6 Black has a fairly solid position, but can only wait until W hite engineers a central breakthrough. 22.d3 b7 23.ad1 c7 24.g3 b8 Black's 14th move is still causing him problems, as the knight is stuck 'out on a limb', and so he prepares ...a5 and ...b4, followed by ...Nc3. 25.d2! Stopping ...a5. e5?! Black seizes his chance for counterplay, but it rebounds (as it should, I suppose). 26.d5! [ 26.dxe5 xd3 27.xd3 xe5 ( 27...b2 28.d6 ) 28.d6 is also promising. ] 26...cxd5 27.xd5?! A slip, but bear in mind that this was a rapid game. [ 27.exd5! xc5 28.d6 b6 29.xc5 xc5 30.c3 was the right way. ] 27...xd5? This returns the game to its 'rightful' path. [ 27...e6! is equal. ] 28.exd5 xc5 29.d6 b6 30.xc5 xc5 31.c1 b6 [ 31...xa3 32.d7 d8 33.c8 f8 34.g4 wins very much as in the game. ] 32.d7 This pawn wins the game. d8 33.c6 b8 34.g4 h5 After [ 34...f5 35.d5+ h8 the move 36.c5 wins, as there is no way to stop Rc8. ] 35.c8 b6 36.g5?! Deflection time! [ 36.e3! wins immediately, as now a5 37.g5 and Black can no longer play ...f6. ] 36...f6 37.e3 a5 38.b3+ White is still winning, of course. h7 [ 38...f8 might have given White more problems, although 39.c6! e7 40.d5 and Qd6+ wins. ] 39.b4! b6 40.e7 1-0
388 Gurevich,Mikhail Savchenko,Stanislav HZ Open Vlissingen NED (4) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2643 2583 12.08.1999
1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 5.b3 Of course, White can play [ 5.d4 here, or later, with a transposition into a main line Slav, but can he do better? ] 5...bd7 6.c2 An important idea, for if the immediate [ 6.b2?! then e5! is possible, 7.d4 e4 8.d2 e7 9.a3 0-0 10.b4 e8 with mutual chances, Kortchnoi,V-Petrosian, T/Velden 1980. ] 6...d6 Now, the move [ 6...e5?! is countered by 7.cxd5 forcing xd5 with a good 'Sicilian-style' position for White, as ( 7...cxd5? allows 8.b5 i.e. c5 9.xe5! winning a pawn. )] 7.b2 0-0 8.e2 e8 9.g4!? A Gurevich invention. Of course, we are used to seeing this move in the Slav these days, although normally when the g7-pawn is undefended. [ 9.0-0 is the normal move here, of course, e5!? 10.cxd5 xd5 11.e4 c7 12.ad1 Polugaevsky, L-Piket,J/Aruba (m/7) 1994, with a slight edge to White. ] [ 9.h3 is a similar idea which, although slower, doesn't lose a pawn. a6?! 10.g4 dxc4 11.bxc4 f8 12.g5 6d7 13.e4 with good chances to W hite, Burnett, RPalsson,H/North Bay CAN 1999. ] 9...e5 Black makes a space for the f6-knight on d7. [ 9...xg4 Must be the critical test of this line, Gurevich's previous game in this line against Pavasovic, at Bern 1995, went: 10.g1 gf6 11.g5!? with many threats, f8! 12.f4 e5 13.fxe5 xe5 14.f3 g6 15.xe5 xe5 16.0-0-0!? entering into the complications, but ( 16.cxd5 first, might be better. ) 16...dxc4! 17.xc4 g4 18.df1 b5!? 19.e4! xe4 20.xf7+ xf7 21.xg4 fg5 when White never quite managed to get enough for his sacrifice, and lost. What exactly had Gurevich prepared as an improvement? ] 10.xe5 xe5 11.g5 d7 12.f4 W hite gains control of the a1-h8 diagonal. 377
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d6 13.h4 e7 14.0-0-0 a3 The b2-bishop was too dangerous to be left on the board, but now Black's remaining bishop is limited by his pawn chain. 15.d4 xb2+ 16.xb2 b6 17.d3 f8 18.e4 White gains e ve n m o re s p a ce . b7 19.he1 ac8 20.f2 dxc4 21.xc4 b5 22.d3 a6 23.f5! W hite is ready to start his attack, f6 is menaced. e5 [ 23...d7 doesn't help, as 24.f6! anyway! gxf6 25.gxf6 xf6 26.xf6 xf6 27.g1+ f8 28.e5 d5 29.xd5 exd5 30.xh7 with a huge positional advantage. ] 24.f6 d6 25.fxg7 e6 26.dxe5 [ 26.f6 c7 27.d5 xg7 28.d6 is also strong. ] 26...xe5 27.f6 xg7 28.c2 b4 29.xe5 xe5 30.a4 The endgame is very pleasant for W hite, firstly he threatens to b r i n g a r o o k t o t h e s e v e n t h r a n k . ce8 31.b6 Now, Nd7-f6 will be unpleasant for Black. h5 Covering the f6-square, but after the exchange of knights, the pawn that arrives on f6 will allow W hite to finish the game. 32.d7 5e7 33.e5 c8 34.f6+ xf6 35.gxf6 d7 What else? [ 35...xe5? allo ws m ate : 36.xe5 xe5 37.d8+ ] 36.g1+ h8 [ 36...f8 37.xh7 and Rg8 mate is unstoppable. ] 37.xd7 xd7 38.g7 White wins a pawn, b u t m a i n t a i n s a l l t h e a d va n t a g e s o f h i s position. e6 Black's position is hopeless, e. g. [ 38...e6 39.xh7+ g8 40.h5 c5 41.h7+ h8 42.d3+ g8 43.g5+ h8 44.xa6 picking-up a second pawn, for nothing. ] 1-0
that he may keep a hold on the e5-square, and also stops ...Bf5, or ...Bg4 (because of the reply Ne5). e6 [ 4...g6 is also a reasonable reply. ] 5.b3 e7 [ Not the most aggressive square for this piece, 5...bd7 6.c3 would transpose into another Gurevich game, see the archives. ] 6.b2 0-0 7.g1!? [ In this last game it wasn't clear whether the g4-pawn could have been taken, so here W hite simply prepares the move g4 with this stunning innovation. 7.e2 is a more mundane try, bd7 8.0-0 c7 9.d3 e8 10.bd2 a5 11.a3 b6 12.e4 dxe4 13.dxe4 e5 with equality, Lauvsnes,AHarestad,H/NOR 1994. ] 7...bd7 8.g4 e4 9.c3 [ 9.d3?! allows b4+ , of course. ] 9...xc3 10.xc3 e8 11.d3 g6!? [ This creates weaknesses around the black king, 11...f8 might be more prudent. ] 12.h4! As Black has no real central counterplay (a result of his fifth move) White continues his kingside onslaught. f6 13.h5 xc3 14.dxc3 f6 [ Black brings a piece to the aid of his king, but 14...e5 was also worth consideration as 15.hxg6 hxg6 16.xg6? is met by the riposte ( 16.e4 ) 16...e4! ] 15.g3 c5 [ Again, 15...e5 is possible, although White has the edge after 16.g5 d6 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.e4 ] 16.hxg6 hxg6 17.g5 g7 Black must maintain control over the e5-square, lest he rema in with a ba d bishop . 18.0-0-0 e5 Finally! 19.e4 dxe4 [ 19...e6 keeps the central tension, and may be superior. ] 20.xe4 a5 21.d2 e6 22.h1 389 A11 White prepares to exploit the open h-file. ed8 Gurevich,Mikhail 2667 23.h6 Menacing a deadly demolition sacrifice Wegerle,Joerg 2296 on g6. f5? [ The resultant queen versus two rooks KB Czech Open (1) 21.07.2000 position favours White, because of the open [Tony Kosten] black king, better 23...f8 as on 24.f3? Black really can play f5! ] 1.c4 c6 2.f3 f6 3.e3 d5 4.c2!? If White wishes to play this way, then this is 24.gxf6! xh6 25.xg6+ xg6 26.xg6 an interesting move order, he defers Nc3 so f7 27.f3 e4 28.xe4 d6 Thus Black 378
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 attempts to eliminate the dangerous f6-pawn. 10...b8? leaves him in trouble following 29.g5! 11.a3! threatening both rooks, one directly [ Much simpler than 29.h7+ when f8 and one via Qc6. ( and not 11.c6? c5 30.e5 ad8! 31.xf7 d1+ 32.xd1 12.xa8 b7 )] xd1+ 33.xd1 xf7 allows Black to [ However, 10...c5! may be best, holding continue a little. ] both the c-file and a3-f8 diagonals: 11.c1 29...xf6 30.d2 ( 11.d4 b4+ 12.c3 e7 leaves White's [ Grabbing the a8-rook by 30.d5 cxd5 pieces on the wrong squares) 11...b7 31.h7+ f8 32.h8+ e7 33.xa8 12.0-0 a6 13.bd4 c8 14.b1 e7 seems even more convincing. ] and Black is not worse, Bistric,F-Szuhanek, 30...xe4 31.xe4 e6 32.g5+ g6? R/Rijeka CRO 2001. ] [ This further aggravates Black's problems, 11.c1 a6!? 32...f8 held on better. ] [ A new move, immediately putting the 33.c5 d6 34.xb7 e6 35.d8 d6 question to the knight, although after 36.xc6 e8 37.e5 g7 38.c5 de6 11...b7 12.c7 a6! 13.bd4 c5 39.f4 Black had equalised in Eliseev,A-Yevseev, 1-0 D/St Petersburg 2001. ] 12.c7 The knight goes into the hole, but how will it come out? b8?! 390 A11 [ I am doubtful about this pawn sac, better 12...a7 when White had clearly planned Gurevich,Mikhail 2641 the following combination: 13.g5 b7 Yagupov,Igor 2474 14.gxe6 fxe6 15.xe6 e8 16.xf8 3rd IECC Batumi GEO (5) 16.06.2002 xf8 when White's rook and two pawns are [Tony Kosten] probably better than Black's two knights. ] 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.e3 Mikhail Gurevich's 13.xa6 [ 13.g5 is still possible, but White prefers favourite 'anti-Slav' system, he avoids playing to grab a pawn. ] d4 t o k eep th e a 1-h 8 d iagona l o pen . f6 4.c2 e6 5.b3 bd7 6.b2 d6 7.c3 13...a8?! [ Black is hoping that the bishop pair will 0-0 8.e2 b6 provide comp for the pawn, but 13...xa6 [ A perfectly natural move, instead of playing 14.xa6 a8 15.xf6 xf6 16.b5 a3 8...e8 aiming for ...e5, see Gurevich,Mis a better choice, as Black will gain control Savchenko,S/Vlissingen NED 1999, Black of the c-file. ] prefers to develop his queenside. ] 14.xf6 This is necessary, otherwise the a9.cxd5 [ White decides to attack on the c-file. pawn wou ld be en prise when th e knigh t Actually, Gurevich's kingside attacking plan moves from a7. xf6 15.c7 a5 16.b5 17.a4 Frankly, White is a pawn up for is playable in this position, too: 9.g1!? b7 d7 10.g4 c5 11.g5 e4 12.cxd5 exd5 nothing. b8 18.c7 Extra material is most 13.xe4 dxe4 14.c3 (well, why not?) f6 easily exploited in an endgame! b4 19.xb8 15.gxf6 xf6 16.g5 with a powerful attack, xb8 20.e5 xb5 21.xb5 e4 22.e2! [ 22.e2 xd2?! 23.c2 c3 24.hc1 e. g. e5 Rotstein,A-Schmitz,A/Lido Estensi wins immediately, the bishop cannot move ITA 2002, and now 17.c4+!? h8 18.d4 because of the back-rank mate, and Nc6 cxd4 19.exd4 f4 20.e6 wins the and f3 are both menaced. ] exchange. ] 1-0 9...cxd5 [ 9...exd5!? might be possible, although 10.d4 b7 11.f5 is pleasant for White whose f5-knight is extremely well-placed. ] 10.b5 e7 [ Black allows an invasion on c7, as 379
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xd1+ 32.xd1 Where White's extra pawn A11 is meaningless and the game is dead drawnHarikrishna,P 2705 but this would be rather wet. ] Quesada Perez,Yu 2608 48th Capablanca Mem Elite (6.2) 27.04.2013 27...d7 28.e5 f8 29.d2? A tactical error, which his eagle-eyed opponent is quick [Danny Gormally] to seize upon. d6! 30.d4? [ 30.b2 c7! followed by ..Be5 is no bed 1.g3 f6 2.g2 d5 3.f3 c6 Probably a of roses either, but the move played in the more flexible choice than the immediate ... game runs into a neat shot. ] Bg4. 4.c4 g4 5.e5 e6! Taking the sting 31.xg7 Desperation, but pretty out of White's previous move. 6.cxd5 xd5 30...f4! 7.f3 c5 8.0-0 e6 9.c3 c6 10.d3 e7 much forced from a practical point of view, as the alternatives were unpalatable. 11.e4 0-0! The most flexible continuation. [ 31.xf4 xd4 Is beyond horrible. ] [ 11...bd7 12.e2! e5?! This just gives White a target- the kingside 13.h4 0-0 31...xd2 32.f6 e5! 33.d1 h6 34.h5 14.f5 e8 15.g5 f8 16.f4! With a very g7 35.xd3! The typically inventive Indian serious attack on the kingside, and W hite player finds his only remaining chance, but we n t o n t o win i n I va n is e vic , I (2 6 4 5 ) - Black is happy to depart with the queen, as he gains oceans of material in return. xf6! Vuckovic, B (2604) Valjevo 2012 ] [ 35...xd3?? 36.g5 ] 12.e2 [ 12.a4 d7!? 13.e5 d5 14.e4 36.xd7 xd7-+ 37.h3 g7 38.g5 h6 ( 14.xd5 exd5 15.d4 may have been 39.d2 [ 39.e7 f8-+ ] p r e f e r a b l e) 14...c6 15.g5?! xg5 16.exg5 e7 17.e1 fd8 18.c1 e8 39...b8 40.d5 f6 41.c6 d3 42.c5 19.c4 h6 20.h3 db4! Where Black is xb3 43.c7 f8 44.f5 c3 45.xa7 very solid with no weaknesses- by contrast d8 46.b6 d2 47.a5 b3 48.a6 b2 49.a7 all of White's pawns on a4, d3 and e5 are a3 50.g2 xa7 51.c6 c7! 52.xc7 po t e n t ia l t a rge t s. He we n t o n t o win in b1 53.a7 e8 54.a8 b2 55.xe8+ Petrosian, T (2663)-Michalik, P (2535) Dubai f8 56.g6 xf2+ 57.h3 h2+ 58.g4 e2+ 59.f5 f2+ 2013 ] 12...b5! The position is very Catalan like in 0-1 character. With his next move, White tries to create long-term weakness on c5, but the A11 downside is he loses further time with his 392 Knight. 13.a4 b4 14.b1 b7 15.bd2 Jaracz,Pawel 2539 c6 16.c4 d7 17.d1?! A novelty, but Breder,Dennis 2435 probably not a very fortunate one. previously ZMD Open Dresden GER (7) 31.07.2009 17 Be3 had been played. [Jonathan Rowson] [ 17.e3 c7 ] 17...d4! Black takes the opportunity to 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 5.b3 relieve himself of any lingering problems. d6 6.c2 e5! This very direct approach 18.xd4 cxd4 19.b3 It is not so easy for seems to work well against this particular White to formulate a useful plan, any advance m o v e o r d e r , wh i c h s u g g e s t s t o m e t h a t on the kingside seems a bit vague, while Black W h i t e ' s c o m b i n a t i o n o f Q c 2 a n d N c 3 i s has easy play by contrast, with ..Nc5, ..Ba6 inaccurate when Black begins with ...e6 and ... etc c5 20.b1 a6 21.f4 c8 22.h4 Bd6. 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.b5 This is the xc4! Acquiring a very useful passer. 23.dxc4 positional trap that White hoped would deter d3 24.f3 d7 25.f1 fd8 26.e3 c7 Black from early central expansion, but it 27.f4?! appears that black's control of the centre and [ Harikrishna should arguably just bail out to gain in development is more important than a draw here with 27.xc5 xc5 28.xd3 White's increased control of the dark squares. xd3 29.xd3 d8 30.d1 e5 31.e2 c6 9.xd6+ xd6 10.b5 0-0 11.xc6 391
380
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 bxc6 12.b2 t a k e s t h e p a w n . 10...fd7 [ 12.a4 feels too weakening to be good. c5 Was an alternative, but this has gradually 13.a3 d7 followed by Ba6 looks better be e n re p lace d b y t he kin g m ove , a s in for Black. ] some variations the knight may become 12...d7 13.0-0 a6 14.fc1 fc8 15.d4 u s e f u l o n f 6 . 11.b5 ( 11.xa8 xa8 [ 15.f5!? f6 16.a3!? xa3 17.xd7 12.d3! may be preferable, as taking the b5 18.d4 e4 19.h4 looks like some sort pawn on d3 allows an instant mate, and h3 of initiative, but it is hard to see how the 13.d1 d5 14.f3 looks quite promising for ro o k s wi ll give b a ck u p b e ca u se B la c k White ) 11...e5 12.d4 cxd3 13.xd3 c8 controls f1. g6 20.e6+ g7 21.c5 f8 14.xa7 xc6 15.xc6 c5 16.d4 c4 and both sides seem to be short of 17.d1 e5 18.f5 g6 19.e3 a6 constructive ideas so some sort of And Black is to be preferred as White has repetition seems likely. ] no attacking chances, and the two minor 15...e4 16.e5 b8! The knight on e5 will pieces are superior to a rook and pawns in now be pushed back and will take a long time the middle game, Black later won in to f ind any meaningf ul work. 17.h3 f6 Pa n tsu la ia, L (25 9 9 )-Mage m B ad a ls , J 18.g4 d7 19.d2 A well-timed draw offer, (2589)/Khanty-Mansiysk 2010 ] because Black is slightly better and can look 11.xa8 forward to a timely kingside advance. [ White can also try to retain the light½-½ squared bishop 11.b5!? c5 12.xa8 xb5 ( 12...xa8!? 13.a4 a6 14.d4 h5 15.c3 is also extremely murky) 13.g2 h5 393 A11 14.h4 f5 15.e4 d7 ( 15...g6!? ) 16.a4! xa4 17.e5 e8 18.e1 e6 19.f1 c5 Kaidanov,G 2593 20.d3 b3 21.xc4 xc4 22.dxc4 c7 Holt,C 2513 23.d1! c8 24.xd7 xd7 25.xa4 ch-USA 2013 Saint Louis USA (2) 04.05.2013 White was a pawn up and went on to win in [Danny Gormally] the game Timman, J (2566) -Smeets, J (2615)/Wijk aan Zee 2013 ] 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.a3 b6 7.c2 e6 8.e5 11...xa8 12.d3 cxd3 13.d1 [ 13.exd3? h3 14.e1 d5 Is just bad ] d4 Black is pretty much committed to playing this way, as if W hite recaptures on c4 then 13...dxc2 14.xd4+ d7 I think this ending is putting the bishop on e6 and the knight on b6 ve ry close t o equ al. W h ite n e ed s t o f in d will just look silly. However this provokes improvements earlier if he is to genuinely some very sharp complications, and this line threaten Black in this variation, perhaps with has become very topical lately. 9.xc6! bxc6 Timman's Nb5!? although I feel that Black should have good chances there as well. 10.xc6+ d8 [ You can pretty much guarantee that if your 15.xc2 e5! 16.d1 b6 17.e3 c7 opponent is willing to play either side of this 18.e1 fd5 19.ac1+ b7 20.c5 xc5 variation, then he has spent a minimum of 21.xc5 e6 22.d3 e4 23.e5 e7 10,000 hours analysing this position with 24.d4 f6 25.xe4 d5 26.g4 fxe5?! Houdini three, or whatever program passes Giving up on any hopes of winning. [ 26...g5 27.d3 c6 28.b4 f5 29.xd5 as the best in the market these days, thus fxg4 30.f6 h6 31.xg4 May well be rendering hopeless any prospect of a social drawn as well, but White would have to fight life. It's the sort of murky, tactical position for it... ] that computers revel in. To be honest, I would be fearful of playing such a position 27.xg7 e8 28.e4 g8 29.xe5 bc8 with Black, as I do not like having my king 30.b3 c7 31.f4 d6 32.f2 f8 33.e3 safety threatened at such an early stage of c6 34.h5 8e7 35.h4 e6 36.g4 f6 the game, but as I stated earlier, Black is 37.gg5 d8 38.c5 g7 39.c3?! d1 pretty much obliged to play this way once he 40.g5+ f8 41.f5 d6 42.c5 h6 43.e5 381
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d5 44.xg8+ xg8 45.xd5 xd5+ 46.f3 c3 47.e6 xa2 48.g5 hxg5 49.hxg5 c3 50.e3 f8 [ 50...b5! 51.e4 c7 Forms an effective barrier to the white king, but is it enough to win? 52.d3 f8 53.c4 a5+ 54.b4 b7 55.f6 g8 56.g6 a6 57.c4 xe6 58.d5 bd8 And Black retains winning chances. Incidentally I should point out that this entire line was prompted by the engine, I wouldn't have a clue how to win this ending, and I think most other silicon based lifeforms would struggle to exhibit the sort of superhuman accuracy needed to do so, so a draw seems a fair result. ] 51.d3 d5 52.c4 c7 53.c5 b8 54.d6 e8+ 55.d5 c7+ 56.d6 b5+ 57.c5 c3 58.d6 b5+ 59.c5 c3 60.d6 b5+ ½-½
White plays 6. d4 it is a direct transposition. I remember Eric Prie suggested that this position was fine for Black, which might be true, but that doesn't mean it is not also somewhat better for White. ] 6.xf3 cxd5 7.g3!? Now I am reminded of another line, namely 1Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 Bg4 4.c4 c6 5.cd Bxf 3(otherwise Qb3/a 4 things can be tricky) 6 Bxf3 cd and I believe this line is considered both ok for Black and possibly a bit better for W hite- it's one of those... White has two bishops for not very much in return, but that is all he really has, and the position is relatively closed so White has to be very patient to make any headway at all. In that line White sometimes aims for d3 and e4, but has to be careful because d4 is then weak. In this case, playing e4 early looks unworkable because of the awkward placement of the queen on f3, so White has to be more patient, and perhaps exchange a few pieces before opening the position. 394 A11 [ While we are at it, 7.g4!? i s a m o v e . e6 8.g5 fd7 9.h4 This is the sort of way Kempinski,Robert 2590 Simon Williams would play, and would no Sorm,Daniel 2330 doubt enjoy it. It does not seem terrifying 1st Pfalz Open (4) 18.02.2008 for Black, who is very solid, but at least the [Jonathan Rowson] kingside expansion gives White something to work with. ] 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.e3 f6 4.c3 g4 5.cxd5 One of two main attempts to give this 7...c6 [ 7...e5 8.g2 e4 9.e2 c6 10.d3 move order some independent significance. appears to be a bit better for W hite, for The other one is to play the immediate Qb3. instance after b4 11.d2 0-0 12.0-0 e7 White can also try to play some combination 13.a3 d6 14.fc1 ] o f b 3 a n d h 3 a n d t h e n t r y t o p la y f o r g 4 8.g2 e6 9.0-0 e7 without playing d4, but I can't see a [ 9...d6!? would be my choice, and later I convincing move order to make it work. would put the queen on e7. ] [ 5.d4 e6 6.b3 b6 7.h4 is currently 0-0 11.b2 c8 12.ac1?! the main try for an advantage in the Slav, 10.b3 but White has to work very hard to get even S l o p p y . W h i t e ' s p r o s p e c t s a r e o n t h e queenside, so a tiny edge. ] [ 12.fc1 is almost certainly better. Then we 5...xf3 This looks compliant, but it would have a position where I hesitate to say that appear that after W h i t e h a s t h e a d va n t a g e , b u t I wo u l d [ 5...cxd5 6.b3 is very awkward and certainly prefer to be W hite, because B l a c k ' s b e s t m o v e i s p r o b a b l y c8 somehow the future belongs to the bishops. which is not as bad as it looks, because That said, as I have written elsewhere, the white's queen is not great on b3 and the advantage of the two bishops is very subtle, exchange on d5 removes white's spatial and is all but meaningless below about 2300, advantage, but even so, White should have so this modest approach may not be decent chances of being better here. The everybody's cup of tea. ] line is very similar to 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 e3 Bf5!? 5 cd cd 6 Qb3 Bc8, indeed if 12...a5 13.b1 b5?! This leaves black's 382
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 queenside full of light squared weaknesses. [ 13...a3 14.a1 c7 15.e2 a6 looks comfortable for Black. ] 14.e2 b4 15.a4 d7 16.fc1 b6 17.f1! xa4 18.bxa4 b6 [ 18...xa4 19.a6 xa6 20.xa6 c7 21.e5 ] 19.a6 c5 20.a1 c7 21.a3 b8 [ 21...b3 just giving the pawn up, was the less evil here, when White would still have a lot of work to do. ] 22.xb6 xb6 23.b5 e7 24.axb4 Now it's completely winning. a5 25.e5 xc1+ 26.xc1 c8 27.xc8+ xc8 28.c3 axb4 29.xb4 a7 30.d7 g5 31.d4 c7 32.c5 b8 33.g4 g7 34.h3 f6 35.f1 e5 36.e2 exd4 37.exd4 g6 38.d3 h5 39.c3 hxg4 40.hxg4 f6 1-0
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A11 Korotylev,Alexey 2600 Dreev,Alexey 2607 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (35) 22.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen]
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 5.c2 bd7 6.e2 d6 7.b3 0-0 8.b2 e8 9.h3 dxc4!? [ This is probably Black's best move. Other tries have offered White excellent chances f o r a n e d g e : A ) 9...e5 10.cxd5 xd5 11.e4 A) 11...c7 12.a3 ( 12.g4 f8 13.a3 a5 14.d3 g6 15.g5 f8 16.h4 Banikas, HMastrovasilis, D/Athens 2002 g4 17.h5 e7 ) 12...7f6 13.d3 xe4 14.dxe4 f6 15.0-0 e7 16.fd1 e6 17.g5 ad8 18.a4 h6 19.xe6 xe6 20.b4 Zvja g in s e v , V - Mo r o vic Fe r n a n d e z, I / Poikovsky 2001; B) 11...f8 12.a3 a5 13.0-0 e7 14.fe1 g6 15.f1 g7 16.d3 h6 17.ed2 h7 18.g3 c7 1/2 -1/ 2 Rasten is, G -Grablia uskas, V / Vilnius 1999 ] [ B) 9...a6 10.g4 dxc4 ( 10...e5!? 11.g5 e4 12.xe4 dxe4 13.xe4 c5 14.h4 f5 ) 11.bxc4 f8 12.g5 6d7 13.e4 c7 14.h4 e5 15.h5 f5 16.gxf6 xf6
Burnett, R-Palsson, H/ North Bay 1999 17.c5 ( 17.h6 g6 18.fg5 xe4 19.xe4 ) 17...xe4 18.xe4 e7 19.c4+ e6 20.g1 xc4 21.xc4+ e6 22.c1 ] [ C) 9...b6!? of Black's 9th move alternatives, this is Black's best 10.g4 A) 10...e5 11.xe5 xe5 12.f4 ( 12.d4!? ) 12...xc3 13.xc3 e5! Giardelli, S-Morovic Fernandez, I/Buenos Aires 2003; B) 10...e5 11.g5 e4 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.xe4 ( 13.xd5!? ) 13...dxe4 14.xe4 b8 15.d4 b7 16.g4 exd4 17.xd4 e5 Prokopchuk, E-Skatchkov, P/ Nefteyugansk 2002 ] 10.bxc4 [ 10.xc4 b5 11.e2 b7 12.0-0 a6 13.g5 c5 14.a4 b4 15.ce4 xe4 16.xe4 e7 Banikas, H-Kharitonov, A/ Ermioni 2006 ] 10...e5 11.d3 c5 12.d1 e7 13.0-0 h6 [ 13...f5!? ] 14.fe1?! [ 14.d4 exd4 15.exd4 e6 16.fe1 g5 17.xg5 hxg5 18.f1 c7 19.f3 d7= ] 14...f5 15.c1 e4 16.dxe4 fxe4 17.xe4 xe4 18.d3 ad8 19.a1 b4 20.xe4 xe4 21.xd8 xd8 22.d1 xd1+ 23.xd1 d6 24.d4 c5 25.g4 g6 The endgame of two bishops vs knight and b isho p is clea rly b et te r f or B la ck o n account of W hite's weak queenside pawns 26.b5 xg4 27.hxg4 d3 28.d6 f6 29.f3 b6 30.f2 d2 31.g3 a6 32.e4 b5 33.cxb5 axb5 34.e5 fxe5 35.xe5 b4 36.e4 xe4 37.fxe4 c4 38.e2 c1 39.d1 [ 39.d6!? ] 39...e3 40.d6 b3 41.axb3 cxb3 42.e5 f7 43.e2 g5 44.d3 f6 45.f4 e6 46.d2 e5 47.d3 g5 [ 47...xf4!? 48.gxf4 e7! 49.c3 g6 50.f5 h5 wins for Black ] 48.d2 xg3 49.e3 e5 50.d2 b2 51.c2 d6 [ 51...d4 followed by ...Ke5 looks like an easier win ] 52.b4+ e6 53.f8 h5 54.gxh5 g4 55.c5 g3 56.h6 f7 57.e3 g6 58.b1 g2 59.c2 f4 60.g1 c1 383
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ This isn't the best move, though White 19.xf3 xe5 20.xe5 xe5 21.e3 responded by either exceeding the time limit a5 22.c5= ) 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.fc1 b8 or resigning at this point, because the game 14.a4 b4 15.e2 e4 16.c2 b7 concluded in Black's favour at this juncture. 17.ac1 ac8 18.f4 e6= Gurevich, MBlack should instead have given preference Conquest, S/Clichy 2001 ] to 60...e5! , and now Black wins after 8...e8 61.e3 c3 62.b1 f6 63.g1 e5 [ Black has tried two other moves: A) 8...c7 64.c2 xe4 65.f2 f3 66.g1 e5 9.c1 f5 10.d3 dxc4 11.bxc4 e5 12.0-0 67.b1 e2 68.c2 f1 69.b6 g1 bd7 13.fd1 ( 13.e4!? ad8 14.fd1 70.xg1 xg1 . Now White should have xe4 15.dxe4 g4 16.h3 xf3 17.xf3 played ] b6 18.a3 c5 19.a4 ) 13...fe8 14.h4 61.e5 xh6 e6 15.d2 h6 16.f3 ad8 [ 61...xh6 62.c5 g5 63.e6 f6 64.e7 Kempinski, R-Schneider, S/Izmir 2004 ] f7 ] [ B) 8...b5!? 9.d1 ( 9.0-0!? f5 10.d3 62.xb2 f5 63.e6 xe6 64.c2 e5 bxc4 11.bxc4 dxc4 12.e4 cxd3 65.d3 f4 66.e2 g3 67.a7 13.xd3 ) 9...f5 10.d3 a5 11.d2 [ 67.e1 f3 68.h2 e3 69.d1 f2 ] bd7 12.0-0 ab8 13.e4 e6 14.a3 b6 67...h2 68.f3 d2 69.e2 a5 70.f3 15.a1 1/2-1/2 Paterek, M-Bombek, P/ h1 71.c5 c7 72.g4 h2 73.h3 Pardubice 2005 ] g1 74.d6 e3 75.h2 d4-+ 9.0-0 e5 10.d3 bd7 11.fd1 f8 12.cxd5 0-1 [ White can also consider 12.a4!? c7 ( 12...6d7 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.ac1 e6 15.d4 e4 16.e5 b5 17.xd7 xd7 396 A11 18.c5 ) 13.cxd5 xd5 14.ac1 a5 15.a3 e6 16.c3!? ] Korotylev,Alexey 2600 Ponomariov,Ruslan 2705 12...cxd5 13.a4 b5 [ 13...g4 14.ac1 c8 15.d2 e4 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (6) 21.11.2007 16.xc8 xc8 17.c1 f5 18.d4 ] [Carsten Hansen] 14.c5 d6 15.b4 h5?! [ 15...g4 16.a4 ( 16.d4!? e4 17.e5 ) 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c6 3.c3 d5 4.e3 a6 16...6d7 17.axb5 axb5 18.h3 xf3 5.c2 g6 6.b3 g7 7.b2 0-0 19.xf3 xa1 20.xa1 xc5 21.bxc5 c6 [ 7...f5 8.d3 dxc4 9.bxc4 0-0 10.e2 b5 22.d4 ] 11.d4 ( 11.cxb5 cxb5 12.0-0 c6 ) 11...g4 12.0-0 xe2 13.xe2 16.a4 b8 [ 16...bxa4 17.xa4 d7 ( 17...g4 ( 13.cxe2!? ) 13...e5 14.b3 bd7 18.a5 ) 18.a5 d4 19.d2 b5 20.f3 15.ac1 b6 ( 15...b4 16.a4 e8 a7 21.c4 b8 22.a3 ] 17.fd1 ) 16.e4 xe4 17.dxe4 a5 18.cxb5 cxb5 19.fd1 Glicenstein, A- 17.axb5 axb5 18.h3 8h7 [ 18...6d7 19.a7 ] Gregoire, S/Hyeres 2002 ] 19.a7 g5?!+8.e2 [ 19...d7 20.c1 hf6 21.b3 ] [ Two alternatives are: A) 8.c1 g4 9.e2 e4 21.e5 White is completely xf3 10.xf3 e5 11.d3 e8 12.0-0 d6 20.d4 13.a4 bd7 14.cxd5 xd5 15.a3 ad8 winning f8 22.da1 g4 23.h4 g3 24.fxg3 16.fd1 Sammalvuo, T-Tuominen, R/Salo h6 25.1a3 g4 26.xg4 xg4 27.f2 f6 28.3a6 b6 29.xb6 xb6 30.a6 1998 ] [ B) 8.d4 f5 9.d3 xd3 (1/2-1/2 Ribli, Z- 1-0 Tukmakov, V/Porec 1998) 10.xd3 bd7 11.0-0 b5 ( 11...e6 12.a3 e8 13.d6 h6 14.h3 h7 15.e4 dxc4 16.bxc4 e5 17.dxe5 g5 Flores, D-Wang Yue/Turin I T A 2 0 0 6 , a n d n o w 18.ad1 xf3+ 384
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g4 14.a2 d8 15.b4 is similar, and A11 fairly level, Dizdar,G-Vera,R/Portoroz 1987. ] Kosten,Anthony C 2542 Bunzmann,Dimitrij 2505 13...g4! 14.e4!? [ This seemed strong when I played it, but, Masters Montpellier (6) 09.07.2001 in retrospect, 14.h3 might be better, xf3 [Tony Kosten] 15.xf3 d8 16.b4 c8 17.g2 with the bishop pair, and a small edge. ] 1.g3 My opponent only played this, ... [ Played to avoid the English Defence, 1.c4 14...d4! because he hadn't seen my reply until he had b6 , a favourite of my opponent. ] 1...d5 2.f3 f5 3.g2 f6 4.c4 c6 t a k e n h i s h a n d o f f t h e p a w n ! 15.d5! 5.cxd5 I like this line, and recommended it in The point. d8! [ This simple move maintains the equilibrium, my book The Dynamic English. cxd5 6.b3 15...exd5?! 16.exd5 f6 17.dxc6 bxc6 c8 18.b4 leaves the black pawn structure in [ More accurate than 6...c7 7.c3 e6 tatters, and ] 8.d3 as now Bf4 will gain a tempo. ] [ 15...c5!? 16.c7!? b8 17.b4 xf3 7.c3 e6 8.0-0 e7 9.d3 c6 10.f4 0-0 18.xf3 ce5 19.xe5 xe5 20.e2 11.ac1 d7!? xc7 21.xc5 also favours White. ] [ A s u r p r i s e . I h a d e x p e c t e d 11...d7 which removes the queen from the c-file pin, 16.c7?! [ 16.xe7+ xe7 17.b3 didn't offer much, 12.e4 ( Aronian prefers 12.h3 h6 13.fd1 but was clearly better. ] h7 14.e4 a5 15.c2 fc8 16.e5 d8 17.e2 White has a small edge, 16...e8 17.xe7+ [ 17.fe1 leads nowhere, c8 18.xe7+ A ro n ia n , L -S ve t u s h k in , D/ Ye r e va n A R M xe7 19.f4 which is like the game. ] 2000. ) 12...g6!? ( 12...dxe4 13.dxe4 xe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.e5 xe5 17...xe7 18.b4 [ After an enormous think! 18.h3 xf3 16.xe4 favours White, Barcza,G-Smyslov, 19.xf3 c5 is awkward for White, and ] V/Moscow 1956) 13.exd5 exd5 14.fd1 [ 18.e5? loses to xf3 19.d6 xg2! ( and a5 15.c2 d6? 16.g5 and the d519...d8 20.xf3 dxe5 isn't bad either.) pawn is lost, Forintos,G-Sallay,R/Budapest 20.xe7 d5 21.b3 xe7 ] 1958. ] [ However, I spent most of my time analysing [ 11...g6 was the preference of Karpov, the exchange sac 18.xc6!? bxc6 19.e5 against Korchnoi, 12.e5 d7 13.xg6 ( 19.xd4?! fc8 20.a5 c5 ) 19...xf3 hxg6 14.h4! with an edge to White. ] 20.xf3 which seems quite dangerous: 12.a3 A) 20...g5 21.e4! d2 ( 21...a7?! [ Played to provide a luft for the white queen 22.f4 g4 23.d6 c8 24.f5 o n a 2 , a n d p r e p a r e b 4 . 12.e4 favours W hite) 22.c4! fc8 23.xc6 l e a d s n o w h e r e : c5 13.c2 g6 a7 24.xd7 axc7 25.xd4 and d3 is a problem. ( 13...b4?! 14.b1 with fair compensation.; g6 15.e5 )] B) 20...fc8! 21.d6 g5 22.e4 d2 [ 12.b5 c5 13.d1 d7 14.bd4 23.f4 a7 ( the problem is 23...b6! xd4 15.xd4 g4 is equal, Petrosian,A24.f5 d5 25.fxe6 fxe6 and White's Meduna,E/ Lvov 1981. ] comp is probably insufficient) 24.f5 b7? 12...a6 25.fxe6! xb2 26.xb2! xb2 27.exf7+ [ A s i n d i c a t e d b y B u n z m a n n , 12...c5 h8 28.e6 and despite his extra queen is c o u n t e r e d b y 13.d1! a5 ( 13...d4 for piece, Black can resign! I just couldn't 14.a4 xa4 15.xa4 d7 16.c4 believe that Black could be OK, and so also offers an edge to White) 14.b4! axb4 kept searching for a non-existent 'win' for 15.axb4 xb4 16.d4 ca6 17.xd5 White, and left myself too short of time! ] with advantage. ] 18...ac8 19.f4 f6! Ouch! It hadn't 13.a2!? [ Apparently this move is a novelty, 13.fd1 occurred to me that W hite could have any 397
385
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 11...d7 12.f4 d6 13.h4 e7 14.0-0-0 when W hite's space advantage was too great, Gurevich,M-Savchenko,S/ Vlissingen NED 1999. ] 12.xe4 [ 12.d4 xc3 13.xc3 d6 14.f4 is also possible, but c5! is a bit annoying. ] 12...xb2 13.xb2 dxe4 14.e5! Keeping control of the dark squares. [ 14.h4?! e5 15.0-0-0 f5 is nice for Black, and ] [ 14.0-0-0!? xg5 15.hg1 h6 16.e5 f5 is not too clear. ] 14...f5 [ 14...d7 15.h4 c5 and ...Bc6 might be a better line. ] 15.h4 [ 15.gxf6 xf6 16.xf6 gxf6 17.g1+ h8 18.0-0-0 e5 19.d3 is a little better for White, but I wanted more. ] 15...d7 Black hopes to contest control of the e5 square by ...Qb8, but White is alert to this. 16.f3!? [ 16.0-0-0 was tempting, b8 17.d4 exd3 18.xb8 axb8 19.xd3 e7 20.hd1 with solid control of the d-file, but the black position is devoid of serious weaknesses. ] 16...exf3 17.xf3 b8 18.d4! a5 [ 18...xe5 19.dxe5 doubles the white pawns, but keeps the black pawns fixed on light squares, and allows White to establish 398 A11 a rook on d6. ] Kosten,Anthony C 2514 19.f2 b6 20.hd1 a7 21.h5 Hoping that Olarasu,Gabriela 2305 the threat of h6 will oblige Black to capture on Open Montpellier FRA (7) 13.07.2003 e5. c5 22.h6!? Continuing the plan, but [ 22.xb8 xb8 23.d2 is also possible, as [Tony Kosten] here White can open the d-file at will. ] Dark-squared battle! 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 22...xe5 23.dxe5 a4! Black seizes her f6 4.c2 I have had several previous goes chance, the threat to capture on b3 stops The king at playing Gurevich's sharp line, but each time W hite from playing Rd6. 24.g3 I was unable to play the g4-pawn sac. e6 5.b3 heads f or f4, when e4 will 'undouble' the d6 6.b2 0-0 7.c3 bd7 8.e2 e8 pawns. f8 25.ac1 e7?! [ 25...gxh6?! 26.gxh6 e7 is weaker, Black's development is the most forthright, 27.f4 axb3 28.axb3 g8 29.g1 aiming for ...e5. The immediate and W hite gains control of the g-file and [ 8...e5 is met by 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.b5 b8 wins. ] 11.c1 and White is better because of his c[ 25...g6 is probably best, and will file control. ] transpose. ] 9.g4!? e5 26.f4!? I had seen the game continuation, [ 9...xg4 is the critical test. ] 10.xe5 xe5 11.g5 e4! An improvement and thinking it was winning headed directly for it, but as Mark Hebden pointed-out after the on problems, but this move carries a very nasty threat of winning a piece, and I hadn't much time left! 20.g5?! [ Not best, 20.e5! f5 21.g5 looked tempting, Be4 is threatened, but then I noticed g6 , which leaves d3 and e5 weak, and, unfortunately, I hadn't seen the follow-up 22.h3! f5 23.f3! when with Nh4 to come, White is fine. ] [ 20.d2? loses to xf3 21.g5 ( 21.xf3 e5 22.g4 exf4 23.xd7 e5 wins ) 21...xg2! 22.xf6 xf1 ] 20...g6 21.d2?! [ 21.d2 f6 22.f4 e5 23.a2+ h8 24.h4 might hang-on for a bit, but the white pieces are far from ideally-placed! ] 21...h5 22.h4 [ 22.e1 e2 wins the exchange. ] 22...e2 23.fe1 ce5 The d3-pawn goes, and with it White's position. I should probably have resigned in the next few moves, but didn't have enough time left to think about this 24.f4?! xd3 25.xc8 xe1! 26.xf8+ xf8 27.d6?! xg2 28.xg2 d3! Threatening mate with ...Qe1+. 29.d2 xe4 30.e1 d5 31.c5 e5 32.c1 e6 33.a7 h6 34.c8+ h7 35.e8 d3 Enough is enough! 0-1
386
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 game [ 26.hxg7 is sim p le r, g8 27.f4 axb3 28.axb3 xg7 29.d6 then Rcd1 or Rh1, and Black is completely tied-up. ] 26...g6 27.d6 The point of White's previous play, the rook enters the heart of Black's position. b8 28.cd1 axb3 29.axb3 e8 [ 29...b5 is better, but even then 30.c6! xc6 31.xc6 bxc4 32.bxc4 b2 ( 32...d7 33.a1! with twin threats of R1a6 and Rxc5 ) 33.dd6 f2+ 34.g3 aa2 White wins by 35.xe6+ f7 36.f6+ e8 37.e6 when the king escapes the checks via f4 and e5. ] 30.c6! The surprising move that exchanges Black's 'bad' bishop, after which her light squares disintegrate. xc6 [ 30...f7 31.e4 c7 32.b5 leaves Black boxed-in. ] 31.xc6 The threat is R1d6 winning the e and b pawns. d7 32.dd6! Anyway! xd6 33.exd6+ d7 34.c7+ xd6 35.xh7 This is why I didn't want to exchange the hpawn. b5 36.g7 [ 36.a7! may be even better, White threatens Ra6+ and Ke5, so e5+ 37.f3 bxc4 38.bxc4 b4 39.h7 b8 40.g7 h8 41.xg6+ e7 42.g7+ and wins. ] 36...bxc4 37.bxc4 b4 38.xg6 [ 38.h7 xc4+ 39.g3 g4+ 40.h3 g1 41.h2 xg5 42.h8 h5+ 43.xh5 gxh5 44.g3 also wins easily enough. ] 38...xc4+ 39.f3 h4 40.g7 The two passed pawns are unstoppable, so does Black have time to do something with her own passed c-pawn? c4 41.h7 c3 42.e2! W ell in time! h2+ 43.d1 c5 44.g6 c4 45.g8 h1+ [ 45...c2+ 46.c1 d3 fails to many moves, b u t m o s t s i m p l y 47.h8 and h1 is covered. ] 46.e2 c2 47.c8+ [ 47.h8 is also winning, but why bother to analyse e1+ ( 47...xh8 48.xh8 c1 49.c8+ ) 48.f2 f1+ 49.g3 g1+ 50.f4 etc.? ] 47...b3 48.g7 1-0
399 Kozul,Zdenko Jakic,Ivan 17th Open A Zadar CRO (6.10) [Nigel Davies]
A11 2595 2399 15.12.2010
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 5.c2 bd7 6.b3 d6 7.b2 0-0 8.h3 This de ce ptive ly quie t lo oking m ove ha s distinctly aggressive intentions. White wants to play g2-g4 and castle queenside. [ The 'sensible' move is 8.e2 with the apparent intention of castling short on the next move. But White still might still consider g2-g4 on his next move anyway. ] 8...e5 This can be OK but when White takes on d5 it's no t go od f o r Black to kee p his central pawns intact by recapturing with the cpawn. Accordingly he should prepare ... e6-e5 if that's the way he wants a central pawn duo, but this is not an easy plan to realise. For example: [ a) 8...e8 9.g4 f8 10.g5 6d7 11.h4 b5 12.cxd5 exd5 13.d4 gave White the better game in Kozul, Z (2605)-Antunes, A (2540)/ Yerevan 1996. ] [ b) 8...e7 9.g4 e5 ( 9...a3 10.xa3 xa3 11.g5 h5 12.e2 g6 13.h2 g7 14.g4 was nice for White in Kozul, Z (2590) -Zaja, I (2440)/Kastel Stari 1997.; as was 9...a6 10.g5 e8 11.h4 c7 12.d3 f5 13.gxf6 xf6 14.g5 in Kozul, Z (2604)-Hillarp Persson, T (2517)/ Khanty Mansiysk 2010) 10.xe5 xe5 11.d3 h6 12.g1 d7 13.0-0-0 gave White dangerous attacking chances on the kingside in Bezold, M (2490)-Gerstner, W (2370)/Germany 1996/GER-chT2. ] 9.cxd5 cxd5?! [ Black could and should have taken with the knight here rather than allow what happens i n t h e g a m e . A f t e r 9...xd5!? 10.e4 ( 10.d3 h6 11.a3 xc3 12.xc3 e8 13.e2 c5 was Ok for Black in Flores, D (2607)-Dreev, A (2662)/Montcada 2009) 10...e7 ( 10...b4 a l s o s e e m s O K) 11.xd6 xd6 12.a3 e8 was OK for Bla ck in Ngu ye n , N (2 5 6 7 )-K a rja k in , S (2730)/Al Ain 2008. ] 10.b5 b8 11.c1 e4 [ Black cannot prevent the incursion on c7 so 387
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 he needs to think how he'll defend himself after that. My own preference would have been to try and avoid any weakening of the dark squares with 11...a6 12.c7 xc7 13.xc7 xc7 14.xc7 e8 15.c2 f6 , which is still going to be better for White (two bishops) but gets pawn power on the opposite colour to Black's remaining bishop. ] 12.fd4 a6 [ 12...e5 13.c7 is also very good for White, for example d3+ 14.xd3 exd3 15.c5 xc7 16.xc7 etc. ] 13.c7 xc7 14.xc7 xc7 15.xc7 This is a really horrid endgame for Black and he does remarkably well to save himself. This, however, should not be seen as an advert for Black's prospects. e5 16.e2 b8 17.0-0 d7 18.fc1 fd8 19.g4 g6 20.h2 e8 21.7c5 e6 22.g3 e7 23.xe6 fxe6 24.d3 exd3 25.xd3 bc8 26.f4 xc5 27.xc5 g6 28.e4 f7 29.f3 d7 30.e3 d6 31.e5 dc8 32.c1 a7 33.a3 ac6 34.d6 a7 35.a4 ac8 36.c5 c7 37.a5 e8 38.d2 c6 39.b4 f7 40.b5?! This attempted breakthrough doesn't quite come off. [ He should have continued to build with 40.e3 . ] 40...xa5 41.b1?! [ Here too 41.e3 was better. ] 41...axb5 [ B l a c k c o u l d a l s o p l a y 41...xf4 , for example 42.bxa6 bxa6 43.b8 d7 44.xa6 e7 is OK. ] 42.f5?! White is taking huge risks here. [ 42.xb5+ d8 43.e3 would have been equal. ] 42...gxf5 43.gxf5 c4+ 44.xc4 bxc4 45.fxe6 [ 45.f6 was the right move with a likely draw. After the move chosen Black is better. ] 45...c7 46.b4 c6 47.c3 xe6 48.d4 b6 [ 48...h6! was the right move when White is struggling to draw. ] 49.d6 c8 50.xd5 h6 51.xb7 xh3?? Presenting White with an unexpected opportunity. [ 51...xd6 52.exd6 c3 would be drawn. ] 52.b4??
[ Missing a win with 52.b8 d8 ( t h r e a t e n i n g 5 4 . B c 7 + ) h6 , winning the knight and the game. ] 52...c3 53.c7 b6+ 54.c6 Black is holding now. 55.d6 c4 xd6 57.exd6 h3 58.c4 d7 d8 60.c4 d7 61.c7+ d8 d7 63.c7+ d8 64.c4 ½-½
400 Kramnik,Vladimir Li,Chao b World Teams 2013 (3.4) [Fier, Alexandr]
53.c6 54.b7 h6+ 56.d5 59.c7+ 62.c4
A11 2793 2679 28.11.2013
Li Chao tries a pawn sacrifice that looks a bit like a b lu n d e r. Fo r t h e m o st p a rt I d o n ' t believe in Black's idea so much, but to my surprise the position was repeated a few days later in the same tournament. Again White got some advantage in my opinion, so I don't believe people will continue giving the a5pawn. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 g6 3.b3 g7 4.b2 0-0 5.g2 d5 6.c4 c6 7.d3 a5 8.bd2 [ 8.0-0 is a more common move order and also played by Kramnik this year in a blitz game a6 ( 8...g4 to bring the knight to d7 instead is another option 9.bd2 bd7 and it was analyzed for Chess Publishing in Timman, J (2561)-Glek, I (2546)/TCh-FRA Top 16 GpA 2008.) 9.a3 g4 10.bd2 Kramnik, V (2803)-Mamedyarov, S (2753)/ Moscow Tal Memorial 8th Blitz 2013 (1). ] 8...a6 9.a3 g4 10.0-0 All these 0-0, d3, Nbd2, a3 moves are played in various orders and here Black has a lot of options too. Black chooses a solid one here, exchanging the bishop and creating a wall with the pawns. xf3 [ 10...c8 sometimes leads Black to a passive position 11.c1 c7 12.c2 h3 13.cxd5 fxd5 14.xg7 xg7 15.e4 xg2 16.xg2 f6 17.d4 as seen in Granda Zuniga, J (2614)-Hertneck, G (2552)/Bahia Feliz 2011 (6). ] [ 10...c8 is a more active plan 11.c2 b5 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 c5 with an interesting position in Novikov, S (2498)-Bagirov, R (2494)/Moscow 2003 (6). ] 388
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.xf3 e6 12.c2 e7 [ 12...d7 this move makes more sense to me with the queen on d8, and it was tried before 13.d4 f5 and Black's position is really solid Panno, O (2465)-Szmetan, J (2420)/Mar del Plata op 1998 (5). ] 13.c3!? This is a typical multi-purpose move, a t t a c k i n g a 5 a n d p l a n n i n g 1 4 . Q b 2 . d7 This is kind of pawn sacrifice, even if Black recovers it afterwards, the resulting position is not so nice for Black. [ 13...c5 is not so good, since 14.b4 axb4 15.xb4 is annoying ] [ 13...c7 14.b2 fe8 15.e4 and the knight would be better on d7 than e8 ] 14.xg7 [ 14.d4 is also possible, expanding in the center c7 15.e4 dxe4 16.xe4 fd8 and Black's position remains solid ] 14...xg7 15.c3+ f6 16.xa5 [ 16.d4 now this is not so interesting anymore c7 17.e4 dxe4 18.d2 e7 ] 16...ac5 Now we enter a more or less forced sequence. [ 16...dxc4 this could be a real pawn sacrifice, in order to activate the pieces 17.bxc4 ac5 18.b4 a4 19.b1 e5 and it's sure that Black has compensation wit h t h e p ie c e s we ll lo c a t e d , b u t if it ' s enough for the pawn or not is not so clear ] 17.b4 a6 18.d4 b6 19.c3 xb3 [ 19...xb3 gives not enough for the exchange 20.c2 xf3 21.xf3 xd4 22.cxd5 exd5 23.fd1 and White is better ] 20.ab1 dxc4 21.xc4 a5 22.c3 xb1 23.xb1 b6 Black has some weak pawns and a passive position for the moment. It's not clear if White has something concrete, since Black will try to exchange some pawns with ... c5 or ...e5, but I think White has good chances of an advantage. [ 23...a8 is not so different than the game 24.d2 e5 25.d5 d6 26.dxc6 bxc6 27.e4 and White is slightly better ] 24.d2 Trying to go to e4. e5 Now White has a clear path to an advantage. [ 24...g8 amazingly this move was played in the same tournament, some days later! Quickly it went wrong for Black 25.e4 e7 26.h4!? trying to create some tactics on the
kingside, since Black's position is a bit passive, b8 27.h5 gxh5 28.f3 f5 29.c5 f6 ( 29...bxc5 was necessary, but W hite is already better 30.xb8+ xb8 31.xa5 cxd4 32.e5 d7 33.c7 and White is going to recover a pawn and this soldier on the a-file is really dangerous) 30.xa5 1-0 Petrosian, T (2660)-L'Ami, E (2648) Antalya TUR 2013. ] [ 24...c5 exchanges one of the weak pawns, but it's not advisable to give White a strong p a sse d p a wn 25.e3 cxd4 26.exd4 e5 27.d5 d6 28.a4 and probably Black is going to suffer in the endgame ] 25.d5 The most solid option, but I would prefer 25.Ne4!?. [ 25.e4!? was also possible and interesting exd4 26.b2 e5 27.f4 e7 28.xd4+ f6 29.d1 with an initiative ] [ 25.dxe5 wins a pawn. Black has some compensation, but I still think White is better xe5 26.xe5+ xe5 27.xb6 d8 28.f1 d1 29.a6 ac4 ] 25...cxd5 26.xd5 d6 27.b5 White tries to keep flexibility. [ 27.e4 b8 trying to bring the a5-knight into the game ( 27...f5 doesn't help 28.f3 ) 28.b5 b7 29.c4 c7 30.xf7!? enters into some fireworks ( 30.b4 bc5 31.a4 a7 and Black is defending) 30...d6 31.xe5 xf7 ( 31...xe5 32.xe5+ xf7 33.xd6+ ) 32.xd6+ xd6 33.c4+ f8 34.d5 e7 35.d4 with an unclear position. Probably W hite has enough compensation for the piece, but not more than that. ] 27...c5 28.f3 d8 A natural move, but not the only one. [ 28...f5!? Avoiding 29.Ne4 and planning to play ...e4 at some point A) 29.e3 d8 30.f1 ( 30.c4 xc4 31.xc4 e4= ) 30...h5 31.b4 d3 and W hite has nothing better than repeating the position; B) 29.f1 f6 unpinning 30.e3 e4 31.g2 c6 32.b1 a4 and Black is fine ] 29.f1 Trying to keep the pieces on, but now Black has a strong resource. [ 29.e4!? w a s a n o t h e r o p t i o n xe4 30.xe4 d4 ( 30...d1+ 31.g2 xe2 389
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 32.xe5+ g8 33.d5 with a slight advantage ) 31.xd4 xd4 32.d5 and with a stronger bishop than the knight, White has some chances ] 29...d4! Black correctly sacrifices a pawn in order to improve his piece position. After all, the a3 pawn is not so dangerous. 30.xd4 xd4 31.xb6 e4 32.g2 d1 Immobilizing White's pieces. 33.h4 a1 34.b5 ab3 35.g4 Black hasn't any real problems in the position and Kramnik somehow creates an amazing theme against Black's king in some moves, unf ortunately he miss his chance a f t e r wa r d s . f5? Now strange things start to happen. [ 35...xa3 was simple and good 36.g3 a1+ To move the king far from the f2-pawn. 37.h2 a4 and it's a draw ] 36.gxf5 gxf5 37.e3 f6 Black already has some problems to take the pawn on a3. [ 37...xa3 doesn't work anymore 38.g3 f6 39.h3 and the f-pawn falls ] 38.h3 e5 [ 38...xa3 39.g3 is the same ] 39.g2 f4 [ 39...xa3 40.b8!? ( 40.d2 wins a pawn, but it's not enough d5 41.xb3 xb3 42.xb3 xb3 43.xf5 h6 should be drawn ) 40...d3 41.g3 e1+ 42.f1 f3 43.b5+ d6 44.xf5 c6 45.xb3 d2+ 46.e2 xb3 47.xe4+ d7 48.xh7 with some chances in the endgame ] 40.exf4+ xf4 41.e3 xa3 And somehow after all the exchanges Black is almost getting mated! It's amazing how White's pieces could coordinate and dominate the position. 42.g4? [ 42.b8! it was hard to understand when I first looked at the position, but Black has some real problems with his king. 42...Ke5 is not possible because of the poor position of B l a c k ' s r o o k a7 43.e8 now 44.Nd5 w o u l d b e j u s t m a t e g7+ 44.f1 45.Ng2+ is also coming d7 45.g2+ f3 46.c8 and 47.Rc3! d2+ 47.e1 b1 48.c7 and Black is in trouble ] 42...a5 43.b8 a7 44.f8+? White tries to push the king far away from the kingside. [ 44.e8 Is possible again and probably the last clear chance in the game, now with the
idea of 45.Kh3!. h5 ( 44...d3 45.c8! o n e m o r e t i m e t h r e a t e n i n g m a t e b4 46.g4 now 47.Rf8 is coming f7 47.e6 winning ) 45.f8+ e5 46.xh5 getting the pawn, with good winning chances ] 44...e5 45.f5+ d4 46.d5+ c3 47.d1+ b4 48.g3 Now White's advantage has almost vanished and Black defends well in order to achieve the draw. c1 49.d4+ b3 50.e3 g7 51.d5 1d3 52.g5 a7 53.h5 c3 54.h6 a6 55.h5 g6 Black is completely fine, but Kramnik keeps trying. 56.d5+ d4 57.e7 f6 58.f5+ c3 59.e3 g6 60.d5+ d4 61.e7 f6 62.f5 e5!? [ 62...f7 there was nothing wrong with this, d e f e n d i n g t h e p a w n 63.c6+ c3 64.g4= ] 63.xh7 f3+ 64.g2 cd3 65.f5 f4+ 66.xf4 [ 66.g1 doesn't lead anywhere ed3 67.d5 e2+ 68.g2 df4+ 69.xf4 xf4+ 70.g1 e2+ with a draw ] 66...xf4 67.f5+ d3 68.g3 f7 69.xe4+ xe4 70.xe4 ½-½
401 Larsen,Bent Kortschnoj,Viktor Palma de Mallorca [Nigel Davies]
A11
1969
1.g3 d5 2.g2 c6 3.c4 g6 4.a4!? A creative and original idea which spices up an often dull opening system. White wants to take on d5 without Black being able to recapture with his c6 pawn. [ 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.d4 is the usual way to play it with a dour position al struggle in th e offing. ] 4...d4 Taking space, but also accepting some strategic responsibilities. The position soon resembles a kind of reversed Benoni but one in which White's pieces are much more active than Black's would be in a Benoni proper. 5.f3 g7 6.0-0 e5 7.d3 e7 8.bd2 0-0 9.b4 Gaining space on the queenside. This is never so easy to get in when you're Black. d7 10.b1 a5 11.b5 c5 12.e3 dxe3 390
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Of course Black would like to be able to keep this pawn where it is but he was evidently concerned about how to do that whilst continuing his development. [ For example after 12...a7 (intending 13... b6) White can play 13.exd4 exd4 14.e1 b6 15.e4 b7 16.f4 followed by doubling rooks on the e-file. ] 13.fxe3 a7 14.c2 b6 15.e4 Intending to follow up with Ne4-c3, e3-e4 and Nc3-d5. f6 16.xf6+ [ Korchnoi was ready to meet 16.c3 with h5 followed by ...f7-f5, but maybe White should play like this anyway. ] 16...xf6 17.b2 f5 18.be1 e8 19.e4 g7!? Fighting play from Korchnoi, keeping pieces on the board. [ 19...d4 20.xd4 exd4 would have been fairly equal. ] 20.d2 h5! Looking for counterplay on the kingside. [ 20...d7?! would not have been good b e c a u s e o f 21.b1 intending Nb1-c3-d5, and after g5 ( and not 21...xd3? 22.xf6! ) 22.c3 xd3 23.d5 White would win the exchange. ] 21.b1 h4 22.c3 hxg3 23.hxg3 h5 24.d5 g5 25.f2 f6 26.c1 xc1 27.xc1 f5!? Again playing with admirable drive and ambition. [ 27...f7 would have been the solid move. ] 28.e3 h7 29.ce1 h8 30.exf5!? gxf5 31.g4! f6 [ 31...g7 was probably better. ] 32.xf6 [ Korchnoi probably intended to meet 32.gxf5 with g4 33.g3 g8 but then Rybka likes 34.f6! xf6 35.xe5 . ] 32...xf6 33.gxf5 xf5?! It could well be that Korchnoi's habitual time trouble was intervening at this point, especially since Larsen had him thinking from the outset! [ 33...h5 would have been safer. ] 34.f3 f7? And this is losing. [ Black should have played 34...f8 . ] 35.h5+ g7 36.d5 ff8 37.f2! g6 38.xf6 xh5 39.xb6 A key pawn, not least because it defends its colleagues on a5 and c5. f3 40.d6 f4 41.xf3 xf3 42.d5 f6 43.g2 f5 44.e3 c8 45.f3 a4 46.xf5+ xf5 47.f3 a3 48.e3 h8
49.xc5 h2 50.b6 xa2 51.d4 e6 52.xe5+ d7 53.a5 c6 54.c5 h2 55.e4 1-0
402 Loginov,Valery A Grischuk,Alexander TCh Tomsk RUS (6) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2499 2667 19.05.2001
1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 g4 5.c4 e6 6.d3 e7 7.e3 xf3! [ This certainly seems to be the critical test of this system. Loginov should have been prepared for this, as he has quite a bit of experience in this variation, e.g. 7...bd7 8.b3 c8 9.c3 0-0 10.cxd5 exd5 11.ac1 e8 12.d4 with an edge, Loginov, V-Lukacs,P/Budapest 1993. ] 8.xf3 d4 9.f4?! [ I don't really see the point of this, as B l a c k ' s . . . e 5 w i l l g a i n a t e m p o , 9.d2 was examined in the archives. ] 9...bd7 10.e4?! As in the previous game, but this closed position f avours Black. e5 11.c1 h5! Again! 12.d2 h4 13.e2 c5 14.b4 e6 15.c5?! hxg3 16.fxg3 a5 17.c4 White is relying on the tactics, but they are insufficient. axb4 18.xe5 c7 19.xf7?! Doubtful, but other moves are also good for Black. xf7 20.b3 xc5 21.g4 ae8 22.f4 d7 23.g5 g6 Black defends easily. 24.xf6 gxf6 25.e5 fxe5 26.c2 d5 27.f3 e4! 28.xe4+ xe4 29.ae1 [ 29.dxe4 d3+ recuperates the queen. ] 29...d5 White is badly in need of a new idea in this c4, and Be3 line! 0-1
403 Lputian,Smbat G Ivanchuk,Vassily GM Montecatini Terme ITA (2) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2598 2719 29.07.2000
1.f3 d5 2.g3 g6 A rare, if quite interesting, line. 3.c4 391
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ White attacks the black centre immediately, if instead 3.g2 g7 4.0-0 then the point o f B l a c k ' s o p e n i n g i s r e v e a l e d : e5 with equality. ] 3...c6 4.a4!? [ Interesting, White both protects c4, and pins the c6-pawn. 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.g2 g7 6.d4 leads into a variation of the King's Indian Defence. ] 4...d4! [ This is the most ambitious reply, otherwise 4...dxc4 5.xc4 g7 6.g2 e5 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 e6 9.c2 leads to a reversed Sicilian po s it io n , f a vo u ra b le t o W h it e , P ive n , I Kuporosov,V/Seefeld 1996, and ] [ 4...e6 is more passive, 5.g2 d7 6.d3 g7 7.0-0 gf6 8.a3!? e7 9.xe7+ xe7 10.c3 d8 11.f4 again with a plus, Hickl,J-Keitlinghaus,L/Reykjavik 1997. ] 5.b4 [ White also responds aggressively, and gains qu een side sp ace , b ut th e sim ple 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 e5 7.e3 dxe3?! 8.dxe3 d7 9.d1 might favour White, Gutman,LBoehm,J/ Dortmund 1985. ] 5...d7!? [ A new idea at move five! 5...g7 6.d3 e5 7.bd2 e7 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 brings play to a typical reversed Benoni position, with chances to both sides, Nikolaidis,I-Kapnisis, S/Korinthos GRE 1999. ] 6.b2 e5 7.e3 g7! Black is not prepared to concede the centre. 8.g2 [ 8.exd4 e4 9.h4 h6 is similar to the game. ] 8...h6! 9.0-0 0-0 10.a3 [ White threatens to play c5, and Nc4-d6. 10.exd4 b6 11.b3 exd4 is level ( or 11...e4!? )] 10...a5! Black targets the white pieces on the a-file. 11.exd4 e4!? Black initiates a long combinatory series of moves. 12.e1 b6 13.b3 axb4 14.xb4 a4 Menacing to win a whole rook, by ...Nxb2, and .. .Bxd4, so White's next is forced. 15.c3 [ 15.ac2? xb2 16.xb2 f5 is terrible for White. ] 15...e3!! [ A fantastically imaginative, and surprising blow! Most players would be happy with the simple 15...f5 16.ec2 xd4
but Ivanchuk has planned something else. ] 16.fxe3 [ 16.ec2 exd2 17.xd2 f5 might be a safer course, and seems fairly level. ] 16...c5! The key follow-up. 17.dxc5 [ T h e o n l y o t h e r p o s s i b i l i t y i s 17.b3 but then cxd4 18.b4?! ( 18.exd4 xd4+ 19.h1 g4 20.xd4 xd4 will win the exchange with a knight check on f2, but W hite will enjoy a certain amount of compensation) 18...dxe3! 19.xf8 xf8 and White loses material. ] 17...xc3 18.dxc3 d2 The end of Black's tactical line, White temporarily has three extra pa wn s, b u t t h e y a re a ll in cre d ib ly we a k . 19.b5?! [ 19.c6!? is stronger, freeing the c5-square for the white queen, xc3 20.cxb7!? b8 21.bxc8 fxc8 22.e7 xa1 23.d5 with counterplay. ] 19...g4 20.f3 [ this loses the exchange, but neither 20.f3?! h6 21.h3 xe3+ 22.h1 xa2! 23.xa2 xe1+ nor ] [ 20.h3?! when xe3+ 21.h1 f2+ 22.h2 e5 wins quickly, offer any hope. ] 20...xe3+ 21.h1 f2+ 22.xf2 xf2 23.a4 d7 24.c7? [ White wants to bring his knight to d5, but this loses to another brilliant tactic, better 24.bd4 although Black is clearly on top. ] 24...xa4!! [ An o t h er sh o t o u t o f t h e b lu e ! 24...xa4 25.xa4 h3! 26.xh3 xf3+ 27.g1 xc3 and White must give his queen to avoid ...Bd4+, and mate. ] 0-1
404
A11
Mac N,Archana [Gurev, Watson & Kosten] Reader Maik Naundorf (alias mickeymouse) sends a lengthy analysis of " the GurevichQc2, Bg4-Varation", which he says "gives me quite a headache getting a advantage after 5 Ne5 Bh5.". Here is some of his analysis, which I've shortened considerably : 1.f3! d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3!? f6 4.c2!? g4!? 392
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 "This move really scares me while playing this variation in rapidchess. Why do the elite play .. a6 before moving the bishop to g4 I really don't know exactly. Below my analysis which does not solve the problem." 5.e5!? [ 5.b3!? xf3 6.gxf3 e5 ( Or 6...g6; or 6...bd7 ) 7.g1 bd7 8.b2 g6 9.c3 "unclear". This analysis looks sound. ] [ 5.cxd5 cxd5 ( or 5...xf3 6.gxf3 xd5 7.e2 bd7 ) 6.e5 h5 7.b5+ bd7 8.c3 e6 ] 5...h5 (f) 6.cxd5 [ Or: (a) 6.f4!? bd7 7.b3 ] [ (b) 6.b3 b6 7.xb6 axb6= ] [ (c) 6.e2 xe2 7.xe2 bd7 8.xd7 xd7 9.f3 with Black clearly better. ] [ (d) 6.d4 bd7 7.c3 e6 8.f4 g6 9.b3 ( 9.xg6 hxg6 10.d3 g4= ) 9...b6 10.xb6 ( 10.c5 xb3 11.axb3 xe5 12.fxe5 e4= ) 10...axb6 11.xg6 hxg6= ] [ (e) 6.d3 bd7 7.f4 xe5 8.fxe5 d7 9.e6 e5! ] [ 6.b3! bd7 7.f4!? ( 7.d4?! xe5 8.dxe5 d7; 7.b2?! xe5 8.xe5 d7 ) 7...xe5 8.fxe5 d7 ( 8...g6 9.d3 xd3 10.xd3 e4 11.0-0 e6 12.c2 g5 13.d3 c5= ) 9.e6!? fxe6 10.d3 e5! 11.f5 ( 11.xh7?? e4!-+ 12.f5 e6 13.h3 h4+ 14.f1 b4-+ ) 11...f7 ( or 11...e4 12.e6 c5 ) 12.0-0 e6 13.h3 e4 14.b2 c5 ] 6...cxd5 7.c3 [ A cute line is he gives is 7.g4? xg4 8.xg4 xg4 9.a4+ d7 10.b5 c6 11.xc6 xc6 12.xg4 xc1+ 13.d1 xd1+ 14.xd1 ] [ 7.b5+! (TonyK) looks obvious, bd7 8.f5 ( 8.xd7 xd7 9.f5 g6 10.xd5 is the same ) A) 8...e6? 9.xd7! ( or 9.xd7+ xd7 10.xh5 g6 11.xg6 fxg6 12.h3 with a solid extra pawn) 9...exf5 10.xf6+ e7 11.xh5 with 3 pieces and a superior pawn structure for the queen White is winning (TonyK).; B) 8...g6! 9.xd7 xd7 ( 9...xf5?? 10.xf6# ) 10.xd5 with a pawn more for negligible compensation (TonyK). ] 7...e6 8.d4 [ 8.b5 a6 9.a4 c5 10.c7+ e7 11.a5 b6 12.c6+ d7 13.xd8 bxa5
14.xa8 xd8 15.d4 ce4 ] [ 8.a4+! ha s it s p oint s (To nyK ) fd7 ( 8...bd7? 9.g4 g6 10.g5 wins a piece!) 9.g4 g6 10.h4 and Black is in big trouble. ] 8...d6 9.f4 [jw: I doubt that White will like the weaknesses on e4 and e3 which this move creates]
405 Mac Van Beek,Alexander MM SVR RL Ruhrgebiet (5) [John Watson]
A11 2087 2305 16.01.2005
Maik Naundorf sends us the following game. His questions and comments are in quotes, the rest is mine. 1.c4 c6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 dxc4 5.c2 The other way to approach this would be [ 5.0-0 b5 ( 5...e6 is ) 6.a4 Personally I suspect that this is a more effective order. With the threat of 7. axb5 White encourages Black to play ...Bb7, when after b3 and .... cxb3, White can capture with the queen. I think that in most positions this gives him more compensation than the lines in which he plays Qc2, b3, and axb3. b7 ( 6...a6 7.axb5 cxb5 8.d4! with the idea a7 9.xb5; 6...e6 7.axb5 cxb5 8.e5 d5 9.d3! ) 7.b3 cxb3 8.xb3 a6 9.d4 ( or 9.a3!? d5 10.b2 ) 9...e6 10.a3 xa3 11.xa3 e7 12.xe7+ xe7 13.bd2 followed by Rfc1 and Nb3 with a tremendous bind for the pawn. ] 5...b5 6.b3 [ 6.a4 Naundorf: "Svidler once played this move. Is it really better than b3?" Then one p r o b l e m i s a6 ( 6...b7 7.b3 cxb3 8.xb3 is a tempo down on the note above) 7.axb5 cxb5 8.d4 ] 6...cxb3 7.axb3 b7 [ 7...e6 allows Black to castle after 8.Ba3 Bxa3, so White might continue 8.0-0 b7 9.d4 , f o r e x a m p l e , e7 10.a3 ( o r p e rh a p s 10.b2 0-0 11.e5 a5 12.c1 d6 13.d3 ) 10...xa3 11.xa3 0-0 12.d1 with ideas like Ne5-d3 or a welltimed b4. ] 8.a3 bd7 393
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 8...g6 9.d4 g7 10.bd2 0-0 11.e4 a5 12.e5 d5 13.e4 , following the game Djindjihashvili-Bagirov, USSR Ch 1972. I like White's game: look at that c5 square! ] 9.d4 a5!? What do you think of this idea and w h e r e m i g h t i i m p r o v e ? 10.bd2 b4 I don't like this move. To me the idea of ...a5 is t o p r e ve n t t h e m o ve b 4 a n d c o n t i n u e holding c4. Now W hite's knight has a wonderful outpost on c4. 11.b2 e6 12.0-0 W hite doesn't have to allow ... c5. A good move is [ 12.e5! when Black's awkwardly placed, e. g., c7 ( 12...d6 13.dc4; 12...e7 13.0-0 0-0 14.xc6 c8 15.xe7+ xe7 16.c4 ) 13.0-0 c5 14.xb7 xb7 15.xd7 xd7 16.c4 , hitting the apawn. ] 12...c5! Now it's not as easy, but Black is still underdeveloped. 13.c4!? [ Better 13.fd1! cxd4 14.xd4 xg2 15.xg2 with chances due to the c6 square and queenside files. ] 13...e7 14.a2 e4! 15.d2 b6 16.fe5 White's play disappears as the bishops go off, but I don't see what to try anyway. Allowing ...c5 was only possible if you had an immediate plan for compensation. [ 16.xb6 xb6 17.dxc5 xc5 18.c1 d5 ] 16...xc4 17.xc4 xg2 18.xg2 a4!? 19.dxc5 xd2 20.xd2 a3 21.c1 0-0 [ Or 21...c8! 22.d4 0-0 The rest of the ga m e is o u t sid e o f t h e p ro vin c e o f t h e question. ] 22.d4 fd8 23.f3 d5 24.c4 f6 25.e5 c7 26.c6 xd4 27.xd4 d5 28.c6 c3 29.xc3 bxc3 30.xd8 c2 31.xc2 a2 32.xa2 xa2 33.b4 f8 34.f3 e8 35.c6 b2 36.e3 f6 37.d3 d7 38.d4 xb4 39.f4 e5 40.fxe5 fxe5 41.c2 b3+ 42.c4 b2 43.c3 b1 44.d3 h1 45.e3 xh2 46.g4 g2 47.xe5+ e6 48.d4 xg3 49.e4 e3+ 50.xe3 xe5 51.c6 d6 52.f4 xc6 53.f5 d6 54.e4 e7 55.e5 h5 56.f5 h4 0-1
406 Maherramzade,Javad Vladimirov,Evgeny ADCF Masters (8) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2476 2612 02.09.2001
1.f3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g4 4.c4 dxc4!? This is an odd time to capture on c4, normally Black does this with his knight on f6, instead. 5.a3! [ Curiously, after 5.e5 e6 it seems that Black has gained by losing a tempo, as with his knight on f 3 instead W hite can play Ng5! ] 5...d5 [ Not 5...b5? 6.e5 - the weakness of the h1-a8 diagonal changes everything. ] 6.c2 [ White can also aim for long-term positional pressure with 6.0-0 d7 7.c2 b6 8.b3 cxb3 9.axb3 e5 10.b2 Dizdar,G-Videki,S/ Makarska 1993, his open files on the queenside, and development advantage, are worth at least one pawn. ] 6...e6 [ Putting an end to White's idea of playing b3. I don't like 6...b5?! very much, as after 7.b3! cxb3 8.axb3 the position is similar to the previous note, except that Black's queenside is loose. ] 7.0-0 [ Loginov prefers 7.e4 e.g. d3 8.xd3 cxd3 9.e5 a6 10.xd3 d8 11.e2 g6 12.b3 g7 13.b2 xb2 14.xb2 White has an extra central pawn, and a bit more space, Loginov,V-Videki,S/Kecskemet 1993. ] 7...d7 8.c3! [ This is a strong, and far from obvious, innovation, White simply controls the a1-h8 diagonal to play Nd4 (or Ne5). Previously White had sacrificed the d-pawn by 8.d1!? gf6 9.d3 cxd3 10.xd3 c5 11.c3 f5 12.d1 e4 13.e3 but White's compe nsat ion seem s ina dequ ate here , Fancsy,I-Videki,S/ HUN-chT2 9394 1994. ] 8...b6 [ Further defending c4. 8...gf6 9.d4 d6 10.xe6 xe6 11.xc4 also clearly favours White, who enjoys an extra central pawn, and the bishop pair. ] 394
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.e5 d8 10.axc4 White has recaptured his c-pawn, and Black is far from finishing his development. xc4 11.xc4 f6 12.b3 e6 13.b2 bd5 14.c2 e7 15.d4 0-0 16.e4 b6 White has won the opening discussion: Black's position is solid but White has all the trumps. 17.e3!? c8 18.ac1 d7 19.h3 fd8 20.h1 e8 21.f4 White decides on a kingside attack, but other players would have handled this differently, no doubt. fd7 22.f5 g5 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.ce1 xe3 25.xe3 e7 26.c1 [ Being the proud possessor of two massive bishops, White should be trying to squeeze Black on both sides of the board, and so the move 26.a4! certainly seems to the point, a5 is threatened, driving the b6-knight to who knows where, and c5 is met by 27.a3 cxd4? 28.xe7 xc2 29.xd8 dxe3 30.xe6+ ] 26...f8 27.ee1 xf1+ 28.xf1 f8 Black does what he can, the fact that he is much stronger than his opponent obviously helps his chances! 29.xf8+ xf8 30.a3 f6 31.f4 bd7 32.xf6 gxf6 White may not have made the most of his position, but even this ending should certainly be winning. 33.g2 f7 34.f2 b6 35.d6 c5 36.e3!? [ 36.d5 must be good. ] 36...cxd4+ 37.xd4 g6 Now Black has the e5-square for one of his knights, but unfortunately he has two knights for only one square! 38.c4 a6 39.f1 ge5+ 40.c3 a5 41.c7 e7 42.b5 c5 43.xb6? [ 43.d4 cd7 44.xd7! xd7 45.c4 a n d K b 5 s e e m s t o win b o t h qu e e n sid e pawns. ] 43...xe4+ 44.d4 d6 The black knights p e rf o rm m ir a c l e s t o d e f e n d t h e a -p a wn . 45.e2 [ 45.a4 b7 ] 45...d7 46.e3 [ 46.xa5? c6+ is a nasty fork. ] 46...a4! 47.g4 axb3 48.axb3 f5 Having managed to change his sick a-pawn f o r W h it e 's h e a lt h y o n e , B la ck t u rn s h i s attention to liquidating the other pawns. 49.h3 c6 50.d8 d5 51.f6 g6 52.gxf5 xf5+ 53.f2 f4 54.f1 e5 55.b4 e4 56.b5 White has had enough, he has been
completely outplayed in the ending! ½-½
407 Malakhatko,Vadim Hoffmann,Michael 2nd Pfalz Open (8) [Jonathan Rowson]
A11 2610 2474 21.02.2009
1.c4 c6 2.f3 f6 3.c3 d5 4.e3 e6 5.c2 bd7 6.b3 b6!? [ 6...d6 7.b2 ( 7.g4?! This move has not yet been ventured, but for good reason. White has b3 instead of d4 in the Shirov/ Shabalov line of the Semi-Slav and it seems that this favours Black: xg4 8.g1 de5! The problem, highlighting the lack of a pawn on d4. 9.xe5 xe5 10.xg7 f3+ And white's creative play begins to look f o o lha rd y.) 7...0-0 8.e2 is now a fairly major sub-line, analysed by Tony Kosten in Dangerous W eapons: The Flank Openings. Black's main replies are a6, b6 and Re8 and W hite can try g4 with or without Rg1 against all of them. ( 8.g4?! xg4 9.g1 de5! 10.xe5 xe5 11.e2 h4 doesn't look too impressive for White. )] 7.cxd5!? Keeping things distinct. [ 7.b2 b7 8.cxd5 cxd5! 9.b5 c8 ] 7...exd5 [ 7...cxd5 8.b5 is just good for White. ] 8.b2 b7 9.e2!? It is hard to know how to describe this move, but its merits include f re e in g t h e b 2 -h 8 d ia g o n a l a n d h e a d in g towards the tender f5 square. c5 10.c1 This one is curious and not obviously necessary, but it is basically a waiting move, and quite a useful one. Black needs to develop his f8 bishop, and he is likely to play g6 to attempt to neutralise the bishop on b2, so White simply waits to have a target for his h-pawn. g6 11.h4! d6 [ 11...g7 12.h5 0-0 gives White plenty of p r o m i si n g wa ys t o c o n t i n u e . ( 12...xh5 13.xh5 ) 13.hxg6 fxg6 14.g5 being the most direct, and seemingly quite effective. e7 15.f4 ] 12.h5 e7 [ 12...g8!? 13.hxg6 hxg6 preserving the 395
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 integrity of the pawn structure and aiming to play Qe7 and 0-0-0 is another way to playboth side s will h ave sub-o ptim al king's positions, but Black will probably be the one to eventually get the h-file. ] 13.hxg6 fxg6 14.d4!? Trying to take some positional control in the centre. Otherwise Black might muddy the waters by playing d4 himself. However, although I admire White's play, I am not sure how good it really is. Black probably has his full share of the chances here, but at least he has been forced to think for himself. [ 14.h4!? this multi-purpose move(not least taking control of g4) might be objectively better. A) 14...0-0-0 15.c3 b8 ( 15...d4 16.xd4 cxd4 17.d5+ ) 16.b5 with some initiative for White.; B) 14...0-0 15.f4 ] 14...0-0 15.c3? This works out fine, but is probably bad. [ 15.g5!? ] [ 15.h4!? ] [ 15.g3!? ] 15...ac8 Generally useful, but relatively useless in the critical lines that follow. [ 15...cxd4 16.xd4 g4! looks good for Black e.g. 17.f3 de5 18.e2 xf2! ] 16.d3 cxd4 17.xd4 g4 [ 17...e5! is at least ok for Black, and indeed, without a clear attacking follow up white's play is called into question. ] 18.xg6! xf2 19.xh7+ f8 20.xf2+ xf2 21.xf2 White has only a rook, a piece and a pawn for the queen, but in such situations the initiative is all important, and Black's king's lack of pawn shield, and the queen's lack of targets means that White has the upper hand. e5 22.h3 xd4 23.exd4 f6 24.f5 e8 25.f3 f7 26.h1 f8 27.b1!? intending Ba3 b4 28.h4 e8 29.c3 d6 30.d2 a6 31.c3 f8 32.g5 e8 33.h6 Black is outnumbered. S o m e t i m e s q u a n t i t y b e a t s q u a l i t y . b4 34.xf6 xf6 35.xf6 a3 36.xd5 xa2+ 37.g3 b7 38.e6 c2 39.e3 f8 40.g5 g6 41.f4 The final humiliation. Not content to attack with four pieces, White decides to use his king too. Mate is not far
away, and Black didn't want to see it. 1-0
408 Marin,Mihail Laznicka,Viktor XXIX Open Benasque ESP (10) [Nigel Davies]
A11 2583 2617 11.07.2009
1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.g2 d5 4.f3 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.a3 b6 7.c2 d5 8.e1 e6 [ Another way to hit White's e2 pawn is with 8...h5 , but this is an empty threat because o f t h e l i n e 9.xc4 xe2 ( 9...bd5 is better, but then W hite just plays 10.d4 with a clear advantage) 10.xb6 axb6 11.xc6+! d7 12.f3 , winning back the pawn with a clear advantage. ] 9.d3 [ Another possibility is 9.e4!? , for example g6 10.b3 g7 11.b2 cxb3 12.axb3 0-0 13.d4 d7 14.d3 d8 15.fd1 g4 16.h3 h6 17.f4 e6 18.c4 xc4 19.bxc4 gave White excellent compensation for the pawn in Preiss, M (2287) -Pinter, J (2532), Germany 2007. ] 9...cxd3 10.xd3 g6 [ In Pantsulaia, L (2584)-Panarin, M (2502), p la ych e ss. co m I NT 2 0 0 6 B la ck p la ye d 10...f5 but this seems to be strongly met by 11.e4! because ( Rather than 11.e1 a s i n t h e g a m e) 11...xe4? 12.g4! leaves Black without a good way to protect the knight on e4. ] 11.e4! I'm sure this is the best idea for White. [ In Serafimov, T (2404)-Chuchelov, V (2534), F r a n c e 2 0 0 6 W h i t e p l a y e d 11.e3 but piece play alone feels less effective than using the e-pawn as a battering ram. The game continued g7 12.c5 fd7 13.b4 0-0 14.e4 c5! 15.d2 c4 and Black was getting some play whilst maintaining his extra pawn. ] 11...g7 12.f4 [ The fact that the players now agreed to a draw raises some fascinating questions. A f t e r Ma rin ' s 12.f4 Black's best may be fd7 and now ( 12...0-0? 13.c5 g4 14.h3 h5 15.g4 h4 16.d2! 396
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 p u t s B l a c k ' s qu e e n i n t e r r i b l e t ro u b l e) 13.fd1 0-0 14.d2 keeps improving W hite's position whilst it's difficult to see moves for his opponent. At this point I think I'll cop out and suggest that 'further tests' are required. ] ½-½
409 Marin,Mihail Ris,Robert Open Reykjavik ISL (4) [Nigel Davies]
A11 2556 2436 27.03.2009
1.c4 c6 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.f3 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.a3 b6 7.c2 d5 8.e1!? Paradoxically this retreat looks like W hite's most promising option. Taken by surprise Black does not respond in the most cold blooded way. f5?! Trying to gain time f o r d e v e l o p m e n t b u t Ma ri n j u m p s a t t h e chance to get the better pawn structure in the endgame. 9.xd5 xc2 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.exc2 e6 12.b3 Although this c4 pawn is doubled and isolated it also has a cramping effect. So W hite exchanges it off so as to t a r g e t i t s c o m r a d e s o n c 6 a n d a 7 . cxb3 13.axb3 a5 Looking to exchange off his weak a-pawn at least, though within a few moves this pawn will be lost. Frankly I think that Black will suffer whatever he plays because of his weakened pawn structure. 14.b2 d7 15.e3 xa3?! Black was no doubt hoping to force through ...a5-a4 without suffering any ill effects. But this doesn't turn out to be the case and in fact he's just helping W hite to double rooks on the a-file. [ 15...b4 would have been a more stubborn choice, though W hite is still much better after 16.ac4 xc4 17.xc4 e7 18.fc1 . ] 16.xa3 a6 17.d4 ha8 18.fa1 e8?! Losing a pawn. [ 18...c7 would have been more stubborn, though this position is far from pleasant for Black. ] 19.b4 a4 20.xb6 xb6 21.xa4 xa4 22.xa4 f6 23.c4 b5 24.d4 c7 25.b2 e5 26.dxe5 xe5 27.f1 b5 28.d3 d6 29.h4 With a good pawn up
Marin trundles forward his kingside pawns. g5 30.hxg5 fxg5 31.e4 g4 32.e2 h5 33.e3 e6 34.a6 b8 35.a5 f8 36.f5 xf5 37.exf5 g5 38.f4 h3+ 39.e4 g5+ 40.d4 f3+ 41.c4 d2+ 42.c3 f3 43.f6! The winning move, distracting Black's king from the defence of c6. e6 44.c4 xf6 45.c5 f5 46.xc6 e4 47.c5+ d4 48.e6+ e5 49.f4 h4 [ 49...d4+ 50.c5 b3+ 51.b5 d4+ 52.a6 is hardly any better. ] 50.g6+ e4 51.gxh4 d3 52.h5 e2 53.h6 xf2 54.h7 g3 55.h8 g2 56.f4 1-0
410 Markowski,Tomasz Aleksandrov,Aleksej 1st ch-Europe (10) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2531 2606 13.07.2000
1.g3 d5 2.f3 g4 3.g2 d7 Possibly threatening ...e5. 4.c4 e6 5.cxd5 exd5 6.0-0 c6 [ Perhaps Black can consider delaying this move even further, with 6...d6 , say. ] 7.d3 d6 8.c3 e7 [ Although 8...gf6 seems more natural, I prefer the text, as it avoids problems with a later White e4-5. ] 9.h3 h5 10.e4 This position is a speciality of Markowski, and he has scored very well here. e5!? [ An interesting innovation offering a pawn sacrifice for good play previously 10...dxe4 11.dxe4 e5 12.g4 xf3+ 13.xf3 g6 14.f4 xf4 15.xf4 0-0 16.fd1 h a d p r o ve d ve ry p l e a sa n t f o r W h it e i n Dizdarevic,E-Soln,P/Dresden 1998, and ] [ 10...0-0 11.c2 c8 12.d4!? b6 13.e3 a6 14.g4 g6 15.f5 may also slightly favour White, Seeman, TIonov,S/Paide 1999. ] 11.exd5 [ 11.g4 g6 12.xe5 ( 12.exd5 allows xd3 ) 12...xe5 13.exd5 0-0 transposes. ] 11...0-0! 12.g4 g6 13.xe5 xe5 14.d4 c7 15.dxc6 d6 16.f4 bxc6 17.e3 [ A critical position, Black has sacrificed a pawn for an active position, some open lines, 397
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and a slightly over-extended White kingside. He decides to complete his development, but giving his kin g a squa re on f 1, an d thereby threatening to play f5, was also possible: 17.e1!? f5 18.b3+ f7 19.a3!? trying to swap queens, although t h e e n d g a m e a f t e r xa3 ( 19...xd4+ 20.e3 d8 21.c5 b6 22.h2 xc5 23.xc5 d5 is also OK) 20.bxa3 d5 is perfectly reasonable for Black. ] 17...fe8 18.f3 ab8 Black brings his pieces to aggressive squares, and stops any thought of W hite playing f 5. 19.f2 f5 W hite's previous move created an escape square for his king on f1, so that trapping the g6-bishop with f5 really was on the cards. 20.d5! Before Black had time to bring his bishop to f7, and establish a piece on d5. c5 21.d1 f7 22.f1 a6 23.c4 g6 24.g5 [ 24.a4 seems more to the point, attacking c 5 , b u t t h e n B l a c k h a s t h e in t e r e s t i n g e x c h a n g e s a c , fxg4 25.hxg4 xe3! 26.xe3 d7 forking a4, and g4, 27.c3 xg4+ 28.g2 d7 with serious threats to f4, and the denuded white king. ] 24...h6!? Black opens the g-line, to exploit his safer king position. 25.gxh6 gxh6 26.c1 [ 26.a4!? i s n o w a n s w e r e d b y h7 27.xc5 h4 28.e2 g6+ 29.h1 g3! with a strong attack. ] 26...h7 27.h1 h4 28.d3 h5 29.g1 g8 Both sides proceed in a logical fashion, W hite tries to counter Black's kingside pressure. 30.g3 g6 31.xg6 xg6 32.d6?! [ Simply returning his extra pawn, perhaps he w a s w o r r i e d a b o u t . . . R g 8 , b u t 32.f1 was better, when Black still has to prove that he has enough compensation for the pawn. ] 32...xd6 33.h2?! [ 33.d5 would at least give some point to his previous move. ] 33...f3 [ 33...xb2!? appears tempting, as after 34.xb2 xf4+ 35.h1 f3+ White has to concede his queen to avoid mate, 36.xf3 xf3 37.xf3 but he gains sufficient material as compensation. ] 34.d5?! b7! With a decisive threat of ... Rg7. 35.f6+ [ Forced, 35.b3? g7 threatens mate on
both g1, and g3. ] 35...xf6 36.xf3 xf3+ 37.xf3 g7 38.d3 d4 39.xf5+ [ 39.f1 is objectively better, although c4! 40.xf5+ h8 is winning anyway, Black will play ...Rf7, and then take the f-pawn. ] 39...h8 40.g4 h5 The bishop is pinned. 41.e2 0-1
411 Markus,Robert Ansell,Simon Open Kavala GRE (2) [Nigel Davies]
A11 2587 2394 01.08.2009
1.c4 f6 2.f3 c6 3.c3 d5 4.e3 g4 5.cxd5 xf3 [ Black needs to interpose this move as after 5...cxd5 6.b3 b6 ( 6...c8 is n e ce s sa r y) 7.xd5 xb3 8.xf6+ White wins a pawn. ] 6.xf3 [ Capturing with the pawn achieves nothing after 6.gxf3 cxd5 7.b3 d7 . ] 6...cxd5 7.b5+ Quite a few different moves have been played for W hite here but this looks like one of the most interesting. The others that intrigue me are as follows: [ a) 7.g3 c6 8.g2 e6 9.0-0 e7 10.b3 0-0 11.b2 c8 12.ac1 a5 13.b1 b5 14.e2 b4 15.a4 d7 16.fc1 b6 17.f1 started to look a bit better for White in Kempinski, R (2590)-Sorm, D (2330)/ Neustadt an den W einstrasse 2008, the point being that after xa4 18.bxa4 xa4 19.a6 xa6 20.xa6 c7 21.e5 White wins the exchange. ] [ b) 7.g4!? is more aggressive, though it's not clear it makes much headway after e6 8.b3 ( 8.g5 fd7 9.h4 c6 10.d4 c8 11.d2 a6 12.c1 b6 13.d1 was Bauer, C (2582)-Dautov, R (2611)/ France 88 and now d6 might have been the best with a perfectly sound position for Black ) 8...c6 9.b2 a6! 10.e2 d6 11.g2! 0-0? 12.g5! e4?! ( 12...d7 was better, but Black is scared of the attack White might develop after 13.h4 ) 13.xe4 dxe4 14.xe4 xg5 15.h4! g6 16.xg6 398
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 hxg6 17.f4 fd8 18.h5! was promising for W h it e in Ha lk ia s, S (2 5 4 6 ) -V e lic ka , P (2445)/Cappelle la Grande 84. ] 7...c6 8.xc6+ [ 8.0-0 c8 prevents the unbalancing of the pawn structure and starts to look very equal, for example 9.b3 e6 10.b2 a6 11.xc6+ xc6 12.ac1 e7 13.a4 xc1 14.xc1 0-0 15.f4 e8 16.c5 xc5 17.xc5 f6 18.g4 d7 was rather equal in Gurevich, M (2630)-Bagirov, V (2465)/Nabereznye Chelny 1988. ] 8...bxc6 9.0-0 e6 10.b3 e7 [ Black has also tried 10...b4 but after 11.b2 0-0 12.ac1 e7 13.c2 d7 14.a4 ac8 15.fc1 White had the kind of pressure that typifies this line in Vavrak, P (2 4 72 )-Me du n a , E (2 4 31 )/ Ma ria n ske Lazne 2008. ] 11.b2 0-0 12.fc1 [ White can also play the other rook to c1, for example 12.ac1 a5 13.c2 fc8 ( 13...c5 14.fc1 a6 15.e2 xe2 16.xe2 was also better for White in Jirovsky, M (2482)-Velicka, P (2506)/ Havlickuv Brod 2008) 14.a4 c5 15.fc1 d7 16.e2 a6 17.d3 b5 18.g3 f5?! 19.e4! gave White a promising game in Bischoff, K (2545)-Bagirov, V (2460)/ Netherlands 1998. ] 12...a5 13.c2 d7 [ 13...c5 14.d3 ac8 15.a4 was slightly better for White in Kruppa, Y (2570)-Milov, L (2490)/Donetsk 1998. ] 14.a4 ac8 15.ac1 a6 16.h4 A prepared novelty? Yes probably, because Simon Ansell had played all this with Black before: [ 16.d1 fe8 17.f1 b7 18.h3 f8 19.d3 g6 20.e2 e5 21.e4 h6 wa s n ' t m u c h f o r W h i t e a t t h i s p o i n t i n Tomashevsky, E (2646)-Ansell, S (2410)/ Kallithea 2008. ] 16...fe8 [ The h-pawn can't be taken as after 16...xh4? 17.g4 f6 18.c5 xc5 19.xf6 g6 20.xc5 White wins a piece. ] 17.h5 h6 18.e4 f8 19.d3 ed8 20.d4 d6 21.e3 e5 22.b2 b7 23.f3 f6 24.c3 e8 25.d2 a3 26.e1 e7 27.c3 d6 28.g3 e6 29.g2 h7
30.d2 f5? Simon Ansell often runs short of time and maybe this was the case here. [ Just 30...f6 looks OK for Black. ] 31.xf5 xf5 32.exf5 f6 33.h1 c5 34.hc1 xh5 35.xc5 f6 36.e6 xc2 37.xc2 b8 38.c6 f7 39.c5 e4 40.d4 g8 41.a6 e7 42.xb8 xb8 43.c7 f6 44.f4 [ After 44.f4 e8 45.g4 it's quite hopeless for Black. ] 1-0
412
A11 Matamoros Franco,Carlos S 2460 Xu Jun 2626 XXVIII Sevilla ESP (9) 18.01.2003 [Tony Kosten]
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 Black captures the c-pawn. Whilst this is not as popular as [ 4...g4 Capablanca's Variation, or ] [ 4...f5 Lasker's Variation, it is perfectly viable. ] 5.0-0 Alternatively, White can play the immediate [ 5.c2 ] 5...bd7 The knight heads for b6 to defend t h e e x t r a c - p a w n . 6.c2 b6 7.a4 It is a moot point whether White should play this or first [ 7.a3 which is less aggressive, but doesn't concede the b4-square. ] 7...a5 8.a3 e6 [ 8...d5 is the other attempt at holding on to t he p awn : 9.e1 e6 10.d3! cxd3 ( 10...fd5 11.dxc4 b4 12.b3 f6 13.d3 e5 14.d2 xd3 15.exd3 c5 is fairly level, Kirov,N-Huebner,R/ Solingen 1987 ) 11.xd3 fd5 ( 11...g6 12.f4 e5 13.d2 g7?! 14.xc6+! bxc6 15.xc6+ d7 16.xb6 is good for White, Hausrath,D-Chuchelov,V/Breda NED 2000) 12.d1 White has sacrificed a pawn, hoping that his lead in development will compensate fully, f6?! ( 12...f6! ) 13.f4 xf4 14.xf4 g5 15.c7 d7?! 16.c4 g7 17.e4 g8 18.b6! 1-0 Kirov,N-Ruf, M/Cannes 1990, as xb6 19.g6+ hxg6 20.xg6+ f7 21.d8# ] 399
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.g5 White must guard the initiative. g4 [ 9...d5?! is met by 10.e4 h6 11.exd5 hxg5 12.dxc6 ] 10.xc4! xc4!? As far as I can see this natural recapture is a novelty, as previously capturing the pawn with [ 10...xe2! had been preferred, play c o n t i n u i n g 11.xb6 ( 11.e5!? h5 12.b4!? is incredibly aggressive, and may be stronger, bd5?! 13.b5 cxb5 14.d3 b6?! 15.xd5 d8 16.xf7+ xf7 17.xb5+ xb5 18.axb5 d5 19.xa5 White has an extra pawn, Stocek, J-Boric,M/ Pula CRO 2000.) 11...xb6 12.e1 h5 13.b4!? White strikes while the black king is s t i l l i n t h e c e n t r e , g6 ( 13...axb4!? Schirm, F-Lingnau,C/Germany 1991) 14.d3 axb4 15.e3 a6 16.e4 e6 White's compensation appears insufficient, Kirov,NLuther,T/Leningrad 1989. ] 11.xc4 e6 12.e4 White takes the centre, wit h a n as t y t h rea t of e 5, d islo dgin g t h e b i s h o p ' s d e f e n d e r . h5 13.d4 h6 Th is m o ve c h ase s t h e kn ight t o a b e t t e r square, maybe simple development by [ 13...e7 should be preferred. ] 14.h3 g6 15.f4! xe4!? Black takes the bull by the horns, [ 15...h7 was possible, but White is better. ] 16.xe4 xe4 17.xe6! The point. d7 [ 17...fxe6?! 18.xe6+ e7 19.g6+ d7 20.e1 e8 21.f3 regains the piece with interest. ] 18.c5 xc5? This move is risky, Black should play [ 18...xc5! 19.dxc5 d5 when 20.xd5 cxd5 21.e3 d7! 22.fd1 c6 is fine. ] 19.dxc5 e7 20.e1 This is the problem. f8 [ 20...0-0 allows a tactic, although it may be the best chance anyway: 21.xh6! gxh6 ( 21...b5!? 22.axb5 cxb5 23.e4 ) 22.ad1 c7 23.g4+ g5 ( e l s e R d 7 ) 24.h4 regains the material with interest, but f5 25.c4+ f7 and Black enters an endgame wh e re h e is wo rse , b u t m ay b e a b le t o draw. ] 21.f4 f6? [ 21...d5!? ] 22.ad1 c8 23.e5 xe5 24.xe5 Black is already losing, he can hardly hope to
defend against the white major pieces with his king uncastled and his rooks unconnected. h5 25.d6 h4 26.d3 hxg3 27.hxg3 g8 [ 27...h3?? is impossible, of course, 28.d8+ ] 28.d7 h6 29.ee7 The white rooks make the seventh rank their own. f6 30.b3 f8 31.xb7 e8 32.c7 xe7 33.xe7 g6 34.e5 White aims to win a second pawn, the o n e o n a 5 . a8 35.d7 g7? This accelerates matters, [ 35...f8 held on a little longer. ] 36.e8 a6 37.h3 The queen aims for h8, and Black is mated. [ 37.h3 g5 38.h8+ g6 39.g4 and Rg8. ] 1-0
413 Mikhalevski,Victor Matinian,N 11th Aeroflot Open B (9) [John Bartholomew]
A11 2525 2438 15.02.2012
1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.f3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.a3 b6 7.c2 d5 8.b3 This is very much the "move of the moment" in view of Timman's sparkling victory over Ernst. f5?! I judged this response to be unconvincing in the notes to Timman-Ernst. [ Instead, 8...cxb3 9.axb3 e6 10.b4! posed Black fresh problems in Timman, J (2571)-Ernst, S (2606)/Wijk aan Zee NED 2012/ [John Bartholomew]. ] 9.b2 [ Definitely better than 9.bxc4 xf3 10.xf3 xc2 11.xc2 xc4= Davies, N (2512)Haslinger, S (2423)/Swansea 2006/ [Nigel Davies]. ] [ 9.c3!? is possible. ] 9...cxb3 10.axb3 d8 [ The only previous game in this line went 10...e6 11.d3 d8 12.c4 e7 , a nd n ow I p ro po se d th e im provem en t 13.a5!? ( 13.xb6 axb6 14.xa8 xa8 was ok for Black in Mihajlovic, M (2243)Kuzma novic, R (1996)/Belgrade 2007 .) 13...c8 14.b4! 0-0 15.b5 ] 11.c4 g6 Fianchettoing makes sense because of the Qb2/Ra1. 12.a5 400
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ This provides adequate compensation, but White had a powerful alternative in 12.e4! , i.e. A) White's game has massive potential in other lines: 12...g4 13.e5 ( 13.fe5!?; 13.d4!? ) 13...fd5 14.e6 f6 15.g5!; B) 12...e6 13.g5 is very dangerous for Black, e.g. xc4 14.bxc4 xc4 15.d3! b5 16.e5 g7 17.exf6 xf6 18.b3 0-0 19.a3; C) 12...c8 13.e5 fd5 14.e6 f6 15.g5; D) 12...xe4 13.e1! g8 ( forced, since 13...xf3 14.xf6! is brutal ) 14.g5!? xg2 15.xf6 d5 16.xf7! g7 ( 16...xf7? 17.d6+ ) 17.f4! ( 17.xg7 xg7 18.xd8 xd8 19.xa7 xc4 20.bxc4 xc4 21.xb7= ) 17...xf7 18.d6+ d7 19.xf7 f8 20.a5!? when Black's position is quite precarious. The f ac t t hat normal play can lea d t o such consequences serves to emphasize the problems Black currently faces in the line beginning with 8.b3. ] 12...c8 13.e5 g7 14.axc6?! Difficult to resist, but incorrect. [ White should aim for positional compensation with 14.d4 0-0 15.e4 . ] 14...bxc6 15.xc6+ d7?! This results in rough equality. [ Best was 15...fd7! , when Mikhalevski m a y h a v e h a d t h e qu e e n sa c 16.xd7!? in mind. However, after xb2 17.xb6+ f8 18.xb2 b8 19.xc8 xc8 Black will emerge with an edge, e.g. 20.b7 b8 21.xh8 xb7 22.c3 f6 ] 16.xd7 bxd7 17.xa8 xa8 18.d4 a6 19.c4 0-0 20.xa6 The game is balanced. b8 [ Why not 20...b7= ? ] 21.a3 e5 22.c5 [ 22.a4!? ] 22...e4 23.e3 [ 23.d5 f6 24.a5 looks superior. ] 23...b5 24.xe7?! e8 25.fa1 xf2! Initiating favorable complications. 26.1a5 h3+ 27.g2 b7+ 28.xh3 xe7?! [ Here 28...c6! wins the bishop back with an initiative because 29.xc6? ( 29.a4 xe7 30.a8+ f8 ) 29...xc6 is out of the question, i. e. 30.a7 ( 30.c5
e6+ ) 30...d5! 31.c7 (31...Bd4 was the threat) e5! 32.a7 d4-+ ] 29.e4 d7+ 30.g2 c6 [ 30...f8= ] 31.a8 b8? Losing his way. [ 31...xa8 32.xa8+ f8 is equal-ish. ] 32.5a7! All of a sudden Black is in serious trouble. d8 [ 32...xe4 is a better chance, but after 33.xd7 xe2+ 34.f3 e8 35.b7 e5 36.d4! d6 37.b4 Black will be hardpressed to hold the ending. ] 33.c4 f6 [ The last chance was 33...f8 , but after 34.b7 e5 35.d4! d6 36.d5 I think Black's def enses begin to break down. ] 34.b7 e5 35.xf7+ h8 36.xe8+ 1-0
414 Miroshnichenko,Evgenij Burmakin,Vladimir RUS-Cup 300 years (4) [Nigel Davies]
A11 2571 2590 21.10.2003
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 a6 5.0-0 [ 5.cxd5 cxd5 will be harmless for Black at this point. ] 5...dxc4 6.a4 h6 Interesting. Black is willing to spend a tempo making sure that after 7... Be 6 he won 't get h assled wit h 8. Ng5 . A couple of other moves have been tried here, the first of which is just downright bad: [ a) 6...b5? 7.axb5 cxb5 8.d4 a7 9.xb5 won the pawn back with a clear advantage in Kirov, N-Pytel, K/Metz 1991. ] [ b) 6...bd7 should probably be met by 7. Na3 followed by just recapturing on c4 as after 7.c2 e5 8.xc4 c5 9.g5 c7 White's queen was exposed to harassment by Black's minor pieces in Reinderman, DErnst, S/Eindhoven 2010. ] 7.c2 This looks a bit routine to me. [ White has some interesting alternatives here such as 7.a5 followed by 8.Qa4 or ] [ 7.b3!? cxb3 8.xb3 . I've played these sorts of pawn sacrif ices quite a bit and wo u ld est im a te th a t W h it e h a s e no u gh 401
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 compensation. But not more than that. ] 7...e6 8.a3 b5 9.e5 d5 10.e4 e6 11.d4 [ 11.d3 i s m e t b y t h e a w k w a r d d4 with W hite's compensation disappearing down the drain. ] [ His best seems to be 11.d1 d4 12.c3! xc3 13.dxc3 with some compensating initiative in the endgame. But it's not easy to play this way when you've sacrificed a pawn early on. ] 11...xd4 12.f4 g5 13.fd1 b6 14.e3 b7 15.d2 fd7 I don't really see much c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r W h i t e . 16.f4 g7?! A bit tentative. [ 16...gxf4! 17.xf4 g7 is a lot stronger. ] 17.xd7 xd7 18.e5 0-0?! Maybe it's just me but Black's king doesn't look too safe on the kingside right now. [ It would have been better to delay this, say with 18...c8 . ] 19.fxg5 xe5 20.e4? [ Was 20.gxh6 too obvious? ] 20...g4 21.e1 d7 22.f2 hxg5 23.xg5 d4 Putting a huge spanner in the works. In order to avoid the exchange of queens White has to put his pieces on very awkward squares. 24.e3 c5 25.c2 d7 26.f5 xf5 27.xf5 g7?! [ T h e c o l d b l o o d e d 27...xb2 28.xd7 xg5 was much stronger but White is probably lost in any case. ] 28.xc5 xc5 29.xe7 xa4 30.xf8 xf8 31.xa4 Desperately trying to stop Black setting up a massive flotilla of qu e e n s id e p a wn s. bxa4 32.e4 xb2 33.xc4 a3 34.a4 d8 35.f1 d2 36.xa3 d1+ 37.e2 a1 38.xa6 c5 39.a8+ g7 40.a5 xa3 41.d3 g6 0-1
415 Miroshnichenko,Evgenij Kuzmin,Alexey 6th Open Dubai UAE (8) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2599 2567 27.04.2004
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4 e6 6.0-0 White keeps his queenside options open, Black was doing well after
[ 6.a3 d5 7.c2 c5 8.xc4 c6 i n t h e R a d j a b o v, T - S vi d l e r , P g a m e w e examined a while ago. ] 6...d5 The bishop comes to a strong central square to avoid Ng5 and e4 tactics, and also to be able to play ...e6 to complete development. 7.c3 This knight often goes to a3 in these lines, to pressure the c4-pawn, but here W hite prefers to play against the black light-squared bishop. a6 This is a new move, and looks to be a good alternative to [ 7...e6 when 8.c2 (menacing e4) xf3 9.xf3 bd7 10.a5 a6 11.a4 d6 12.g2 was Romanishin,O-Dorfman, J/Lvov 19 7 8 , wh e n c7 is interesting, tying White to the a5-pawn. ] 8.b3!? A standard device, the c4-pawn must be eliminated. cxb3 9.d3 White intends to recuperate the pawn by playing e4 and Ng5. xf3 The simplest solution, but [ 9...c5 is also interesting, hindering e4, 10.d4 ce4 11.xd5 xd5 12.a3 t o t a k e t h e b 3 - p a w n , o r ( 12.d3!? with unclear play. )] 10.xf3 e6 11.xb3 b8?! [ 11...c5 12.c2 e7 seems easier. ] 12.b1 b4 Black hopes to have time to play ...a5 which will establish a piece on b4 and stop the white pressure on the b-line. [ White's previous move was played to stop 12...c5? which loses a pawn to 13.xc6+ ] 13.f4 White plays this when ...Bd6 is impossible as the black bishop is required to protect the knight on b4. c8 [ 13...a8 would avoid what follows, but it was difficult to see that the a-pawn needed defence. ] 14.a5! Beautifully played! White realises that he must stop Black from defending his knight w i t h . . . a 5 . xa5 15.a1 b6 16.e3 White regains one pawn. c7 [ 16...c5 is met by 17.a4+ d7 18.xa7 xa7 19.xa7 regaining the pawn, anyway, b6 20.b5 with a active pieces and a strong initiative. ] 17.xa7 e7?! Perhaps Black should prefer [ 17...b8 to defend the b-pawn. ] 18.a2! Of course, this undermining of the knight and exposure of the b7-pawn has been White's intention from the start. fd5 [ 18...xa2 19.xb7 ] 402
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.xb4 xb4 20.b1 0-0 21.c4 After this White regains his other pawn and remains with a positional plus. c5 [ 21...d6 22.xb7 d5 is better, but White has all the chances. ] 22.xb7 d6 23.f4! [ 23.xc5?! xc5 24.7xb4 wins a pawn, bu t a llo ws B la ck rea l d rawin g ch a n ce s because of the opposite-colour bishops. ] 23...e5 Black loses control over important light squares after this. 24.e3 h6 25.g4 c6 26.d7 f6 27.f3 cc8 28.b7! The white light-squared bishop is king of the l i g h t s q u a r e s ! cd8?! 29.xd8 xd8 30.xc5 xc5 31.xc5 [ 31.xc5 a6 32.xa6 xa6 33.xe5 leaves W hite with two extra pawns and a simple win. ] 1-0
416 Miroshnichenko,Evgenij Mammadov,Ayaz President's Cup (1) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2608 2163 04.05.2006
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 g4 5.e5 h5 [ 5...e6 might be better, see Goodwin, EMansson, J in the archives. ] 6.cxd5 cxd5?! This is probably a mistake, [ 6...xd5 is the only move that keeps things on a level keel. ] 7.a4+! [ 7.c3 is slightly less accurate, because after c6! ( 7...e6 8.g4 g6 9.a4+ bd7 10.h4 transposes to the main game) 8.a4 d6 9.d4 b4 10.xc6 xa4 11.xa4 bxc6 12.d2 and White has only a minimal advantage, Kosten, A-Shirazi, K/ Sautron FRA 2005. ] 7...bd7 8.c3 e6 9.g4 g6 10.h4 c7!? A novelty, but it doesn't seem to change the assessment of the position. Still it is instructive to see quite how White refutes it. W e have examined the other moves in the past: [ 10...c2 11.xf7! Romanishin, O-Suba, M/ Moscow 1986. ] [ 10...h6 11.xg6 fxg6 12.g5 hxg5
13.hxg5 xh1+ 14.xh1 h7 15.g4! Kourkonakis, I-Engquist, T, Gausdal 1990 ] [ 10...d6 11.d4 ] [ 10...a6! might be the best chance, see my analysis of Fernandez Murga, R-Ginzburg, M/ Buenos Aires ARG 1999. ] 11.d4 h5?! [ 11...h6 12.f4 c o u l d l e a d t o : b6 13.xg6 fxg6 14.c2 f7 15.g5 with a clear advantage because of the poor black pawn structure. ] 12.f4 b6 13.g5! This wins. [ 13.xg6 fxg6 14.c2 would be most player's choice, defending b2 and attacking g6 at the same time. ] 13...xb2 Obviously the knight can't move as that would allow mate on d7. 14.c1 b4 Black was doubtless relying on this resource, but W hite has seen further! 15.0-0! xc3 16.gxf6 Now the knight on d7 is attacked by queen and knight, so... d8 Objectively Black should prefer [ 16...0-0 but 17.xg6 fxg6?! 18.xd7 wins a piece for nothing with more to come. ] 17.xd7 White aims for the brilliancy prize, although [ 17.fxg7 g8 18.g5 was also very con vin cin g, i.e . b4 19.xd7!! xa4 ( 19...xd7? 20.xb4 xb4 21.c8+ mates. ) 20.f6+ e7 21.xg8+ d7 22.f6+ d6 23.xc3 with lots of pieces for the queen, plus a g-pawn that will cost Black a further rook! ] 17...xd7 18.xc3! xc3 19.c1 xc1+?! The queen cannot move because of Rc8 mate, but this move is not much better. The only chance was [ 19...b5 20.xb5 c2 although this only ho ld s of f th e in evit ab le : 21.fxg7 g8 22.g5 f6 23.xf6 with a crushing attack at no material cost. ] 20.xc1 gxf6 21.a3 This stops the king from ever castling. a6 22.a5 g8 23.c5 e4 24.f3 b1? 25.c8+ d8 26.xb7 xa2? Allowing mate on e7. [ 26...d7 27.xb1 ] 1-0
403
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 417 Mista,A Hnydiuk,A 6th Gora Sw Anny OpA (3.2) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2558 2416 27.01.2013
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 dxc4 4.g2 f6 5.0-0 e6 Defending the pawn this way scores very well for Black. 6.g5 d5 7.e4 h6 8.exd5 hxg5 9.dxc6 xc6 10.a3 After the forcing play an interesting position has arisen, White has the bishop pair, but d4 and d3 are weak and Black may be able to make use of the open h-file. e6 The most natural move, trying to complete kingside development, and the most popular. [ 10...d3!? is ambitious, 11.a4 0-0-0!? ( 11...c8 12.e1 e6 13.xc4 c5 14.e5 d4 was quickly drawn in Talla, V (2395)-Langner, L (2366)/Tatranske Zruby 2012. ) 12.xc6 bxc6 13.xc6+ b8 14.b5+ a8 15.c6+ b8 16.b5+ a8 17.c6+ 1/2-1/2 Marin, M (2583)Postny, E (2647)/Barbera del Valles 2009. ] [ 10...d4 11.a4 c8 12.d3 e6 13.b5 with advantage, Kirov, N (2422)-Stojanov, S (2326)/Pamporovo 2001. ] [ 10...c8 11.xc4 e6 transposes below. ] 11.xc4 e7 [ 11...c8 12.d3 ( maybe White should try 12.d4!? a n y wa y, e . g . xd4 13.b3 g4 14.b2 with good compensation for the pawn. ) 12...d5 13.d4 e7 gains a whole tempo on the main game, 14.e3 0-0 15.xd5 exd5 16.e3 f6 ( 16...d7 17.h5 g6 18.h3 d6 Loew, G (2251)-El De b s , F (2 4 9 7 )/ C a le t a 2 0 1 2 , 19.d1!? ) 17.g4 ( 17.h3 b8 18.d2 is also a bit better for W hite, Pigusov, E (2520)Tukmakov, V (2580)/Sochi 1987.) 17...c7 18.fd1 e8 19.ac1 d7 20.c3 d6 21.a3 with the bishop pair and a long-term ed ge , Dizd ar, G (24 9 0)-S h am ko vich, L (2435)/Saint John 1988. ] [ 11...c5 12.d3 ( 12.d4! xd4 13.xg5 with the bishops in an open position.) 12...g4 13.g5 h5 14.h4 gxh3?! Maletin, P (2543)-Landa, K (2584)/Tomsk 2006, when 15.xc6+ bxc6 16.xh5 xh5 17.xd8 xd8 18.h2 xd3 19.xh3 leaves White with an exchange for a pawn. ]
12.d4! d5 T o p r o t e c t g 5 . 13.e3 The key idea in this line, White pressures the d 5 - s q u a r e . d7 Necessary, to play ...Rd8 and defend d5. [ 13...0-0?! w o u l d a l l o w 14.xd5 exd5 15.g4 ( 15.e3 d7 would transpose below. )] 14.xd5 (1/2-1/2 Jansa, V (2485)-Agzamov, G ( 2 5 4 5 ) / K o l k a t a 1 9 8 6 ) exd5 15.f4!? A totally new idea here. [ 15.e3 is normal, but A) 15...0-0-0 16.b4!? xb4?! ( 16...b8! a n d p l a y a s i n t h e S h e n g e l i a g a m e .) 17.b1 b8 Vaulin, A (2515)-Fogarasi, T (2435)/Zalaegerszeg 1992, 18.d2 c6 19.b5 e6 20.fb1 with advantage.; B) 15...0-0 16.h5 f5 17.ad1 ad8 is Black's most solid, Kochyev, A (2450)Comp Mephisto Portorose/Dortmund 1990, but White has a small plus.; C) 15...f5!? 16.c1 0-0-0 why not try to make use of the open h-file? 17.b4 b8 18.a3 f4 Cebalo, M (2495)-Shengelia, D (2578)/Zadar 2010, when W hite should probably play 19.d2 ] 15...gxf4 16.xf4 White has further opened the position for his bishops, and can also exploit the f-file, but his d4-pawn is a target and his king is a bit open. 0-0 17.h5 f6 18.e3 fe8 19.xf6! xe3?? [ 19...gxf6 is completely forced. 20.d2!? ( 20.h3 e7 21.e1 b4! ) 20...e7 (to defend d5 and help cover the kingside as Bh3-f5 was threatened). 21.f1 e6 22.f4 White has a strong initiative, but Black has plenty of resources and can defend his king with ...Ng6. ] 20.f4 g6 [ 20...d8 21.h4 f6 22.f1 d6 23.f3 t h re a t e n s Q h 8 + f o l lo we d b y B h 5 + a n d basically forces xf3 24.xf3 with an easy win. ] [ 20...e6 21.xd5 also wins. ] 21.h6 The threat of Rh4 is decisive. e6 [ 21...d8 allows the neat 22.xf7 xf7 23.f1+ e8 24.f8+ d7 25.xd8+ xd8 26.xe3 ] [ 21...e4 is the only chance, but 22.af1! will win. ] 22.h4 e1+ [ 22...f6 defends h8 but leaves e3 404
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 hanging. ] 23.xe1 xe1+ 24.f1 1-0
418 Mohr,Georg Mencinger,Vojko SLO-ch Grize [Nigel Davies]
A11 2510 2390 1996
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 5.c2 bd7 6.b3 d6 7.b2 0-0 8.h3 a6 Preparing ...b7-b5 with the idea of gaining counterplay on the queenside. [ There are various options which aim for c e n t ra l p la y (8 . . . Re 8 , 8 . . . Q e 7 a n d t h e arguably premature 8...e5), another move which does not is 8...b6 , which looks very reasonable if a little laid back for many peoples' taste. Still it received the patronage of Vladimir Kramnik and after 9.g4 b7 10.g5 e8 11.h4 f5 12.d4 e7 13.g2 c8 14.f4 c5 Black had a very satisfactory game in Tomashevsky, E (2564)-Kramnik, V (2739)/Moscow 2005. ] 9.g4 [ D a n i e l F r i d m a n h a s p l a y e d 9.d4 here a couple of times, for example e7 ( 9...b5 10.d3 e5 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.dxe5 xe5 13.xe5 xe5 14.e2 a5+ 15.c3 xc3+ 16.xc3 xc3+ 17.xc3 gave W hite a nice endgame edge in Fridman, D (2572)-Braun, V (2195)/Senden 2002 ) 10.g4 dxc4 11.bxc4 e5 12.0-0-0 e8 13.g5 h5 14.e2 g6 15.e4 a3 16.dxe5 xb2+ 17.xb2 c5 18.d6 f8 19.d2 and White was well on top in Fridman, D (2515)-Woller, R (2210)/Senden 1998. ] 9...b5 [ After 9...e5?! W hite can play 10.g5 d4 ( 10...h5 11.cxd5 wins the d5 pawn) 11.gxf6 xf6 12.xd4 exd4 13.e4 g6 14.0-0-0 with dangerous attacking chances along the g-file. ] [ Another possibility is 9...e5 but then 10.xe5 xe5 11.g5 d7 12.d4 d6 13.h4 was nice for White in Damljanovic, B ( 2 5 9 0 ) - B o g o s a vl j e vi c , B ( 2 4 7 0 ) / V r s a c 2007. ]
10.g5 e8 11.h4 This seems to be new in this particular position, though the idea of charging down the king's wing isn't exactly astonishing. [ Another possibility is 11.d4 but then bxc4 12.bxc4 b8 gave Black counterplay on the b-file in Makarov, M (2480)-Shabanov, Y (2375)/Kuibyshev 1990. ] 11...b4?! I don't like this much as Black is reducing his chances of queenside counterplay by closing it up over there. [ 11...b7 ] [ and 11...bxc4 look better to me. ] 12.a4 e5 13.c5 b8 14.e4 d4?! And this gives White the c4 square. [ 14...c7 looks better. ] 15.c4 h8 16.0-0-0 e7 17.dg1 a7 18.h5 xc5 19.xc5 xc5 20.h4 d6 21.d3?! [ Missin g a m u ch st ro n ge r lin e i n 21.g6! after which a7 22.gxf7 fxf7 23.g6+! g8 24.g5! is very strong. ] 21...c7? [ 21...e6 was much better, which good chances to defend. ] 22.g3 e6 23.f5? A serious mistake which leads to White's attack being stopped in its tracks. [ 23.g6! was the right way after which h6 24.gxf7 xf7 25.g6+ followed by 26.Nxe5 is just good for White. ] 23...xf5 24.exf5 d5 25.g6 [ 25.f6! was the way to keep some kingside prospects alive Black dare not play gxf6? because of 26.g6! . ] 25...h6 26.h4 f6 27.e4 a5 28.c2 a4 29.c1 b6 30.e6 axb3+ [ 30...d5! looks stronger as the knight can shield h6 by coming to f4. ] 31.xb3 d5 [ Another good line was 31...d3+ 32.xd3 xd3+ 33.xd3 xf2 , again with the better game for Black. ] 32.d3 fb8? Allowing the following sacrifice. [ 32...e7 was much better so as to meet 33.xh6 with xf5! 34.xg7+ xg7 etc. ] 33.xh6 a7?! Going out with a whimper rather than a bang. [ Black should have tried 33...gxh6 34.g7+ g8 35.g6 d7 when White has to find 36.f4! ( 36.xh6? xf5 37.h8+ f7 405
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is good for Black) 36...exf4 37.xh6 xf5 38.g6! with a winning attack. ] 34.d2? [ Missing an immediate win with 34.xg7+ xg7 35.h6 a7 36.g7+ g8 37.h7+ etc. ] 34...ba8 35.a1 d8 [ Black's best chance here is to head for the hills with 35...g8 . ] 36.h6 [ 36.h6 gxh6 37.h3 would be rather horrific for Black. ] 1-0
420 Morozevich,Alexander Tkachiev,Vladislav ETCC Crete GRE (7) [Carsten Hansen]
A11 2755 2661 04.11.2007
1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 g6 4.c4 c6 5.b3 g7 6.b2 0-0 7.0-0 dxc4 This is a rather rare cont in uat ion . Much m ore f requen tly played lines are 7... Nbd7, 7...Bg4, 7...a5, 7... Bf5, and 7...Re8 8.bxc4 c5 With move Black enters a variation with a tempo less than usual. There is a previous game by Svidler and a few by Shamkovich, but otherwise nothing. 9.c3 [ In the earlier games by Shamkovich, White 419 A11 each time chose a different path: A) 9.d3 c6 10.e5 xe5 11.xe5 e8 12.xg7 Mohr,Georg 2485 xg7 13.c3 f5 14.b1 b8 15.a4 Orel,Sz 2035 Stein, L-Shamkovich, L/Leningrad 1971 ] 11th Open Ljubljana 2000 [ B) 9.c2 c6 10.d3 g4 11.bd2 d7 [John Watson] 12.b3 b6 13.fd1 ac8 14.c3 e8 15.xg7 xg7 and Black has equalized 1.f3 c6 2.c4 f5 3.d4 e6?? Black wants to rather effortlessly, Tal-Shamkovich, USSR play the Stonewall but he is confused by 1968 ] W hite's move order. 4.d5! Of course. Note This position is well-known with an however that if White had played g3 rather 9...c6 than Nf3 then Black's move order might have extra tempo for Black, not having lost a tempo been reasonable: he could have answered 4 through... c7-c6-c5. For example the game d5 with cxd5 followed the bypassing e5 and Psakhis-Kirov, Sochi 1979:1 Nf3 Nf6 2 g3 d5 3 so avoided serious damage to his centre. Bg2 g6 4 b3 Bg7 5 Bb2 0-0 6 0-0 c5 7 c4 dxc4 cxd5 5.cxd5 a5+? This aggressive play 8 bxc4 Nc6 9 Nc3.The present position has just makes things worse though even after a only been played in one game I could locate. sensible move like 5...Nf6 Black was going to 10.d3 [ In the "stem" game of this line, White be left with a weak pawn on e6 and a hole on proceeded with 10.a4 d6 11.a3 d7 e5. 6.c3 b4 7.d2 f6 8.dxe6 dxe6 12.b1 b8 13.e3 b6 ( If 13...e5 9.a3 e7 10.e3 d7 11.c4 b6 12.b4 to discourage W hite from playing d2-d4, c6 13.b3 e5 If White has 14.g5 intending Ng5-e4-c3-d5 [ 13...d8 14.e5 is horrible, but the game as pointed out by Horn in ChessBase move leads to a swift collapse. ] Magazine ) 14.d4 a6 15.dxc5 14.g5 d8 15.0-0 h6 16.f3 e4 17.e5 ( My computer likes 15.e2!? a5 16.d2 e6 18.a4+ d7 19.xd7 xd7 20.d5 , a n d a f t e r fd8 17.c3 White is d6 21.fd1 c6 22.c3 g6 23.c7+ threatening Nb5, forcing Black to let go of 1-0 his light-squared bishop.) 15...bxc5 16.c2 ( For obvious reasons White abstains from 16.xd6? exd6 as White's pawn on c4 now is considerably weaker than Black's on d6 and furthermore, W hite's set-up with Na4 and Ba3 is entirely pointless.) 16...b4 17.xb4 xb4 18.xb4 cxb4 19.d1 ( Unsatisfactory is 19.c5 d3 20.xd3 xd3 , and the extent of White's troubles are 406
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 richly illustrated in the following continuation: 21.c1 b5 22.c6 c8 23.c5 xc6 24.b3 xc1+ 25.xc1 c5 , and Black should win without too many headaches) 19...c7 20.d2 b6 21.xb4 xc4 22.xc4 xc4 23.xb6 axb6 and with this liqu i d a t i o n , t h e d ra w b e co m e s e vid e n t shortly 24.b1 d8 25.h4 d6 26.a3 a2 27.c1 f6 28.e4 e5 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, Gelfand, B-Svidler, P/ Biel 2001 ] 10...b8 11.d2 d4?! [ This looks rather peculiar, as it allows White to push Black backwards and grab some space in the process. Maybe Black was hoping to be able to target some of softer spots left behind with White's advances, but if so, his intentions failed rather spectacularly. A solid alternative is 11...d7 , though W hite also has a pleasant game after 12.b1 ] 12.e3 e6 13.e2 b6 [ Black's position is already quite u n c o m f o r t a b le . A ls o 13...g5 14.d5 ( 14.f4?! g4!? 15.f3 xf3 16.xf3 xf3+ 17.xf3 d7= ) 14...f5 ( 14...e8?! 15.ab1 xd5 16.cxd5 xb2 17.xb2 ) 15.e4 g4 16.f3 leaves Black with an entirely unpleasant position with almost no counterplay ] 14.f4!? [ White has several good continuations at his disposal also 14.de4!? xe4 15.dxe4 intending Rad1 and f2-f4 leaves Black with an uncomfortable game ] 14...c7 15.f3 g4 16.a4 fe8?! [ Black plays very passively an alternative is 16...d7!? , e.g. 17.d2 ( 17.fd1!? ) 17...xf3 18.xf3 fd8 19.fd1 g4 is playable for Black ] 17.a3 d6 18.b5 a6 19.xg7 xg7 20.a7 d7?! [ 20...e8 21.b2+ f6 looks solid, but White has the spectacular 22.e5!! fxe5 23.c6 (thanks Shredder) with a better game for White ] 21.e5! This is undoubtedly what Tkachiev had overlooked. Now White's advantage take on greater proportions. xe2 22.xd7 xf1 23.xf1 fd8 [ Or 23...b5 24.cxb5 axb5 25.xb8 b4
26.a1 xb8 27.c6 e8 28.e2 , and White's a-pawn, accompanied by the long-ranging bishop on g2, secures White a significant advantage, yet this is likely better than the continuation chosen by Black in the game. ] 24.xb8 xb8 25.b3 With this simple move, Black is losing the threat of Nc6 will win W hite at least a pawn along with White penetrating on the queenside. b5 [ 25...e6 26.c6 b7 27.e5 b8 28.c6 threatening Nd7, securing the breakthrough ] 26.axb5 axb5 27.cxb5 cxb5 28.f2 [ 28.e1 h6 29.h4 e6 30.f1+- ] 28...b6? [ Black can prevent White's decisive next move with 28...e6 but White nonetheless still wins af ter 29.e1 h6 30.f1 f5 31.xb5 xb5 32.xb5 xb5 33.d4 xd4 34.exd4 cxd4 35.d2+- ] 29.d5 1-0
421 Movsesian,Sergei Dubov,Daniil Tata Steel Chess 2013 (10.11) [John Bartholomew]
A11 2688 2600 23.01.2013
An important test of the Gurevich Anti-Slav. 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 5.c2 d6 6.b3 0-0 7.b2 e5! Previously this move was accompanied by the '!?' mark, but I feel it's proven enough to warrant a stand-alone exclam. [ That's not to say that Black's alternatives like 7...bd7 ] [ and 7...e7 aren't valid, but the text seems like th e m ost clea r-cut ro u te t o a go o d game. ] 8.d4!? [ Unusual, but I suspect Movsesian was aware of White's shortcomings after 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.b5 , attempting to capitalize on Black's move order. Following c6 10.xd6 xd6 11.d4!? ( 11.b5?! b4 12.c1 Clery, N (2390)-Savchenko, S (2558) Cappelle la Grande 2008/[Rowson] here T o n y l i k e s e4 13.d4 d7 ) 11...b4 407
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.d1 e4 13.e5 e8! Black had quite a reasonable position in Anastasian, A (2602)Sakaev, K (2649) Kusadasi 2006/ [TonyK]. Now on 14.a3 Tony mentions the possibility of f6!? 15.h3 ( 15.axb4? xb4+ 16.d2 xd2+ 17.xd2 fxe5 wins a pawn for Black because f2 is hanging) 15...fxe5 16.dxe5 e7 17.axb4 xb4+ 18.e2 with mutual chances. ] 8...e4! A smart choice, and a novelty, too. [ Previously Black had played 8...exd4 , e.g. 9.xd4 a6 ( 9...c5 10.db5 d4 11.0-0-0 c6 12.xd6 xd6 13.exd4 xd4 Rychagov, A (2542)-Kreisl, R (2406) M o s c o w 2 0 1 2 14.b5! f4+ 15.d2 xd2+ 16.xd2 ) 10.d1 g4 11.e2 xe2 12.dxe2 ( 12.xe2 ) 12...a5 13.0-0 c7 Radjabov, T (2757)-Ragger, M (2561) Novi Sad 2009. Here 14.cxd5 xh2+ 15.h1 d6 16.e4! is quite promising for White. ] 9.d2 e6 [ 9...a6!? ] 10.c5?! Releasing the tension central tension doesn't seem favorable. [ 10.e2 i s m o r e n o r m a l , i . e . bd7 ( 10...h5!? ) 11.0-0 e7= with a level game. ] 10...c7 11.f3 f5!? [ Developing with 11...bd7 is also possible because 12.fxe4 is strongly met by g4! , i.e. 13.f3 dxe4 14.xe4 ( 14.xe4 d5 15.eg5 f5 ) 14...df6 15.d3 e8 with a huge attack for a modest material expenditure. ] 12.0-0-0 g6 Forcing White to address the threat of ...exf3. 13.f4 [ Or 13.fxe4 g4 14.e1 f2 . ] 13...g4! 14.e1 f2 15.g1 h4 The opening has clearly not been favorable to White. He's fortunate to escape with a draw hereafter. 16.e2 [ 16.h3? g3! would have bound White up completely. ] 16...xh2 [ 16...a6!? ] 17.d1 xd1 [ It looks stronger to play 17...d3+ 18.xd3 exd3 19.c3 g3 . ] 18.xd1?! g3 19.c3 f5 20.f1 f2 21.d2 g3 22.f1 f2 23.d2 g3
Draw agreed. Black could play on, but he must have been satisfied with the results of the opening. If you have a good novelty prepared against 7...e5! please stand up! Black is looking incredibly comfortable at present. ½-½
422 Nakamura,Hikaru Friedel,Joshua E Championship 2006 (1) [John Watson]
A11 2774 2513 02.03.2006
They say that Hikaru Nakamura plays everything, and that includes English/ Reti complexes. His plan in this game works out well even if he loses his way in the complications and is victim of a surprising upset. Once again the bishop pair plays a role. [notes based upon my own in the bulletin] 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 e6 4.c2 d6 Flexible. Friedel plays the Dutch and is still angling for one. 5.c3 f5 6.h3!? One of the better anti-Dutch systems. W hite plans to either open the g-file or loosen Black's grip on e4. f6 7.g4 0-0 [ 7...fxg4? 8.hxg4 xg4? 9.xh7 ] 8.gxf5 exf5 9.b3! e7 10.b2 a6 11.g1 Whether it is objectively better or not, I like White's position here. The bishop on the long diagonal coordinates with the rook on th e o p en g-f ile , a nd W h ite ha s a ce n tra l majority. [ Another approach is 11.cxd5 b4 12.b1 bxd5 13.xd5 ( 13.g1!? ) 13...xd5 ( 13...cxd5!? ) 14.g1 g6 15.h4! ] 11...d7 [ 11...f4 is an aggressive option. The play is very flexible in these positions. ] 12.cxd5 b4 13.b1 cxd5 14.a3 c6 In this position Nakamura uncorked 15.xd5! , which seems obvious enough but always leaves the risk that Black might retain too much material for his queen: xd5 16.c4!? [ The other route (perhaps clearer) was 16.xg7 xg7 17.xg7+ xg7 18.d3! , for example, ce7 ( 18...e6 19.d4 c8 20.g2 ) 19.d4+ f7 20.c4 c6 21.h4! e8 22.h6 d8 23.d4 and Black has weaknesses all over. ] 408
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16...e6 17.xg7+ xg7 18.xg7 xg7 19.b2+ [ Again, 19.d3 was worthy of consideration. ] 19...f6 [ Black is too exposed after 19...h6 20.d3 ( 20.h4!? ae8 21.g5 g8 22.d1 e7 23.d4 ) 20...ad8 21.d1 ] 20.0-0-0 h6 Because of White's initiative, it's easy to forget that Black has the bishop pair. In the game they becomes a factor, which helps to explain why W hite wants to undertake immediate action. 21.d3!? [ A safer path was 21.b1 f7 22.d4! g8 23.e5+ ] 21...f7! 22.e4!? Very ambitious, freeing Black's bishops. It seems to work out because of some very concrete reasons. fxe4 23.dxe4 xf3 24.exd5 f4+ 25.b1 f5+ 26.a2 e5! [ 26...a5 27.g1 g8 28.e2! with the dual threats Qxf3 and d6+. ] 27.d6+ g6 [ 27...xc4? 28.bxc4 d7 29.e2 c6 30.d5!! xd5 31.cxd5 c3 32.e7+ g6 33.d7 wins. ] 28.e2 [ 28.g1+ asks Black where he's going. The most natural line is f6 29.d4 c8 with unclear consequences. ] 28...xh3 29.d4 f8! 30.b5!? [ B l a c k s e e m s t o h o l d a f t e r 30.d7!? . For example, double-edged play follows xd7 31.g1+ g5 32.b5 f3! 33.xd7 c2! ( or 33...xf2+ 34.a1 c2 )] 30...e6 [ Or 30...c2 31.d7! xb3+ 32.b2 xd1 33.d6+ f6 34.xf6+ xf6 35.d8+ isn't clear but would be tough for Black to play with limited time. ] 31.e4+ [ 31.d7!? xb3+ 32.b2 may be more accurate. W hit e has the initiative in all these lines, but nothing leading to a clear advantage. ] 31...h5 32.e2+ h4? [ A finesse is 32...g5! 33.g1+ h4 ] 33.d7! xd7 34.xd7!? [ Still following a logical path, but White had b e t t e r : ( a ) 34.d4 was good but not immediately decisive: g5 (the threat was
Qxe5) 35.h7! intending Qe7+. Black has a lot of loose pieces, e.g., f5 ( 35...e8? 36.xd7 xd7 37.g7+ ) 36.e7+ f6 37.xf4! xf4 38.xf6 h2 39.d6! , although it's a tough position to convert. ] [ (b) It was hard to see over the board, but W h i t e c o u l d h a v e g o t t e n a ve r y l a r g e a d v a n t a g e b y m e a n s o f 34.d5! , for example, h2 35.xe5 xf2 36.h5+ g3 37.a1! and White threatens Qd3+, so g4 ( 37...c6 38.g6+ g5 39.xh6 ) 38.d3+ f3 39.g6+ g5 40.xg5+! hxg5 41.xg5+ h2 42.h6+ g3 43.g7+ h2 44.xf8 ] 34...xd7 35.e7+? This move virtually loses, whereas [ 35.e6! forces the return of some material. There should follow f6 36.e7 c3 37.xf8 c2+ 38.b1 xe2 39.xf6+ g4 40.g7+ g5 41.xb7 etc., although it's still not an easy task for W hite due to the passed h-pawn. ] 35...g5 36.xd7 f4! Now the king is protected and f2 is weak, while Black has a passed h-pawn to boot. White can do nothing an d t h e re st t u rn s o ut t o b e surp ris in gly simple: 37.f3 h2 38.d3 g3 39.b4 f2 40.b1 g2! 41.d1 h4 42.g6+ g3 43.c2 [ 43.xh6 loses to d4 44.c2 ( 44.b3 h4! and ...Rh1 ) 44...dd2 etc. ] 43...h5 44.xh5 c4 45.e4 d4 46.f4+ What else? Mate threatened. xe4 47.d5 fe2 48.xb7 g1 [ A sample line is 48...g1 49.f5 e5 50.xa7+ f2 and wins. ] 0-1
423 Navara,David Sokolov,Ivan 16th ORDIX Open rapid (7) [Jonathan Rowson]
A11 2687 2655 02.08.2009
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 a6 5.c2 g6 6.b3 [ 6.d4!? followed by Bd3 might be a better bet. ] 6...g7 7.b2 0-0 8.e2 b5! 9.0-0 f5 Note that Black plays b5 first so that now 409
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White cannot easily meet this move with d3 but instead feels obliged to waste time with his queen. 10.c1 [ 10.d3 dxc4 11.bxc4 bxc4 12.e4 is playable and possibly better for W hite, but Black would be quite happy to deal with relatively minor problems while being a pawn up. ] 10...e8 11.d4 d7 12.f4 [ 12.cxd5!? cxd5 13.f4 looks more attractive, but opening the c-file with the queen on c1 is less than ideal and Black plays b6 followed by a quick Rc8 and White is struggling to hold equality. ] 12...c5! 13.f3 bxc4 14.bxc4 e6 15.a3?! [ 15.b1!? actually looks quite comfortable for White, so it is possible that his opening play was quite good after all. c7 16.d1! ] 15...a5 16.cxd5 exd5 17.e5 e6 18.f3 a7 19.b1 c7 Until here Navara had played quite sensibly and the position remains balanced, but now he seems to get impatient for action and enters unfavourable complications. 20.e4?! dxe4 21.xe4 xe4 22.xe4 xa2! A pawn is a pawn, as they say, though exactly what they mean I don't know. 23.b2 e6 [ 23...xa3 24.xb8 a4 looks stronger. ] 24.c2 ec8 25.h1 c4?! More mistakes than normal from players of this level- but that is expected in a rapid game. [ 25...d7 keeps the compensation to a minimum. ] 26.d6 xe5 27.fxe5 d7 28.d4 [ 28.b2! simply attacking the knight. xd6 ( 28...c6? 29.xc6 xc6 30.b8+ d8 31.a3! wins. ) 29.exd6 e5 30.f3 xd6 31.c3 is possibly a fraction better for White beca use Black's pawns a re split, bu t it f e e ls d ra wis h , b e cau se th e mo st like ly scenario is that White will win the a and c pawns in return for the d-pawn and then have slight pressure that is not enough to win. ] 28...c6 29.xc6 xc6 30.b2 c8 [ 30...cxd6!? in some ways it is surprising that Sokolov didn't sacrifice the exchange while it was relatively simple to do so. ] 31.a1? [ 31.c5 it's important not to let the black cpawn have too power power. ]
31...xa1 32.xa1 f5 33.xa6? collapse. [ 33.c1 ] 33...c3 34.c6 dd8! 35.bb6 c2 36.a3 xc6 37.xc6 xd4 38.h3 a4 39.b2 a2 40.e6 xb2 0-1
424 Nikolic,Predrag Khenkin,Igor Bundesliga 2003-4 (15) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2648 2596 25.04.2004
1.f3 d5 2.g3 g4 A sort of reversed Tromp, but as there is no threat to capture on f3 and double the white pawns (as White's natural reply protects this piece) it is only played to reach a flexible Capablanca System position. In fact Black often plays a later ...Nf6 (as in this game) and we have a direct transposition. 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 White can also play the immediate [ 4.c4 to avoid having to prepare this move with d3, and I have mostly looked at this before. ] 4...d7 Black controls e5 to hinder White from p l a y i n g c 4 . 5.d3 gf6 6.c4 xf3! This little tactic equalises immediately. 7.xf3 [ 7.exf3?! keeps the bishop pair, but wrecks the white pawn structure. e6 8.c3 e7 9.e2 0-0 10.f4 a5 Artigas Isart,MAnglada,J/Zaragoza 1993. ] 7...e5!? As far as I can see this a new move, normally Black prefaces this with [ 7...dxc4 8.dxc4 and then e5 when 9.b3 ( 9.d2 xf3+ 10.xf3 xd1 11.xd1 e6 is quite dull, Kotsur,P-Arkhipov, S/Abu Dhabi UAE 2001.) 9...xf3+ 10.xf3 ( 10.exf3!? b6 11.e3 xb3 12.axb3 a6 is fine for Black, Dizdarevic,E-Psakhis,L/ New Delhi IND 2000) 10...e6 11.c3 e7 12.d1 c7 13.e3 0-0 the black position has no weaknesses, Mortazavi,A-McDonald, N/GBR 1999. ] 8.g2! This is the best try, obviously [ 8.b3?! is worse without the exchange of p a w n s o n c 4 : xf3+ 9.exf3 d7 and Black would be very happy, but ] [ 8.d2 is possible, when dxc4 9.dxc4 xf3+ 10.xf3 transposes to the Kotsur 410
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 game in the note to the previous move. ] 8...dxc4 9.d4 This is the tactical justification. ed7 10.c2 b6 [ 10...e5 is an alternative, rather than trying to hang-on to the c-pawn Black goes for quick development, 11.d1 ( 11.xc4?! b6 12.c2 xd4 ) 11...exd4 12.xd4 c5 13.xc4 b6 14.e3 0-0 White has the bishop pair, but Black has free play for his pieces. ] 11.d1 e6 12.e4 Typical Catalan-style play, White has constructed a strong centre which will give him the advantage should he successfully regain his c-pawn. b4 13.a3 e7 14.a4 Planning a5, of course, to drive the knight from its post. a5 15.a3 0-0!? This is a key moment, Black allows White to recuperate the c-pawn. He must have been tempted to play [ 15...xa3 16.xa3 0-0 when he has conceded another bishop but keeps a pawn ahead, 17.b3!? ( 17.f1 e7 18.g5 allows White to get the pawn back, but will necessitate returning the bishops) 17...cxb3 18.xb3 fd7 19.f4 White has a good position for a pawn. ] 16.xc4 xc4 17.xc4 b4 Black has a solid position, and use of the b4-square, but White's bishop pair and centre leave him on top. 18.h3 e7 19.e3 ad8 20.d3 Both sides will double their rooks on the d-file. d7 21.ad1 fd8 22.h2 Strong players are often happy to play such strengthening moves before attempting to make progress. h6 23.c2 e5 Black decides to liquidate the centre, he could also have kept the tension and wait for White to commit himself. 24.e2 e6 25.b3!? White resists the temptation to win a pawn by [ 25.dxe5 xe5 26.xd7 xd7 27.xd7 xd7 28.xh6 b u t t h e n c o m e s c5! ( 28...gxh6?! 29.g4+ f8 30.xd7 ) 29.f4 e6 30.c2 a2 and the a-pawn is lost. ] 25...e7 Both players are unwilling to change the contours of the position, but Black could try [ 25...exd4 26.xd4 e8 say, to pressure t h e e - p a w n , a n d a f t e r 27.e5 d5 the knight finds a useful square. ] 26.f3 d6?!
[ 26...b4 is better, keeping the a-pawn well defended. ] 27.dxe5 White chooses this moment to capture, feeling that the black pieces are no longer on their ideal squares. xe5 Forced, [ 27...xe5? 28.d4 e7 29.xf6 gxf6 ( 29...xf6 30.e5 ) 30.g4 winning at least a piece. ] 28.b6 This is the reason White has chosen this moment to capture on e5, he can fork d8 and a5. xd3 [ 28...a8?! is a bit too passive, if playable. 29.e1 xd3 30.xd3 h5!? planning ...h4 with some counterplay. ] 29.xd3 xd3 30.xd3 h5?! Black decides to go active, but I think that [ 30...d7! is best, 31.e3 ( 31.xd7 xd7 32.xa5 c5 regains the pawn) 31...c7 and the a-pawn is defended, although White still has an edge, after, say, 32.d4 ] 31.xa5 h4 32.d2 hxg3+ 33.fxg3 d7!? Aiming for c5 to pressure the white queenside, this seems at first glance to lose on the spot, but Black ha s a re source . 34.g4 f6 35.e3 Certainly not [ 35.xd7?? f2+ 36.h1 xg3 when White has to give his queen to avoid mate. ] 35...h4 This looks impressive, but is easily parried. 36.f2 f8 37.b4 f6 38.g2 Now that Black's temporary initiative has disappeared W hite has a winning position. d6 39.b5 cxb5 40.xb5 e7 41.e5!? A simple approach, White swaps the e-pawn for the black b-pawn to create a passed apawn. xe5 42.f3 g6 43.xb7 g5 Still hoping to generate some play against the w h i t e k i n g . 44.c8+ h7 45.e4 Pinning the knight puts paid to Black's hopes. d2 46.c4 1-0
411
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the position closed. ] A11 c5 By pinning the f-pawn Black Nikolic,Predrag 2671 22.dxe5 Strating,Sybolt 2307 makes sure the e5-pawn cannot be defended. ACT Open Amsterdam NED (1) 17.07.2004 23.h2 xe5 24.f4 g6? A mistake, although the refutation is far from obvious. [Tony Kosten] [ 24...ed7 is forced, adding support to the b6-knight. ] 1.f3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 f6 4.0-0 g4 5.d3 bd7 6.c4 xf3! 7.xf3 e5!? 25.b3! Threatening Bf2, winning the hapless I was surprised to see Khenkin's move played b6-knight. a6?! [ 25...ad8 is a be tt e r ch a nce , 26.xd8 again so soon after its first outing. ( 26.f2 e7 27.xb6 xd1 28.xd1 [ 7...dxc4 8.dxc4 e5 is more usual. ] xf4 is sim ila r) 26...xd8 27.f2 e7 8.g2 Nikolic is happy to repeat his previous 28.xb6 xf4 with two pawns and some play. dxc4 9.d4 ed7 10.c2 b6 11.d1 play for the piece. ] e6 12.e4 e7 This is Black's idea, he prefers [ 25...c8 26.xb7 avoids losing a piece, no t t o pro vok e a3 , alt h ou gh t h is d o esn 't but Black's structure disintegrates. ] change the contours of the position too much. [ 12...b4 13.a3 e7 14.a4 a5 15.a3 26.f2 cxb3 This is hopeless, but [ 26...e7 27.xb6 xb6 28.xb6 xf4 of Nikolic-Khenkin, reaches an identical 29.xc4 wins easily enough, and ] position to the game with both sides having [ 26...xf2 27.xf2 cxb3 28.f1 played an extra move. ] is also conclusive - the rook cannot move. ] 13.a4 a5 14.a3 xa3! As I suggested in xa4 28.a3 b5 29.e3 my notes to the Nikolic-Khenkin game, this 27.xc5 Rook and two pawns is completely insufficient move is critical. [ 14...0-0!? 15.xc4 xc4 16.xc4 b4 against a queen. left W hite on top in Nikolic, P-Khenkin,I/ 1-0 Koelln GER 2004. ] 15.xa3 0-0 16.h3!? This is White's plan, he A11 starts a cramping kingside pawn advance, 426 and leaves the knight stuck on b6 defending Noel Aldebol Question c4. Instead, in my annotations I had N,Archana considered [John Watson] [ 16.f1 to recapture the c-pawn, and ] [ 16.b3 to open queenside files. ] Noel Aldebol discusses the line 1.c4 c6 2.g3 16...fd7 17.g4 c7 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 dxc4 5.c2 d5 [ 17...e7 18.e3 f5!? is an interesting 6.c3 h5 7.d3 cxd3 possibility, fighting for control of the d5[ 7...f5 8.h3 cxd3 9.a4 bd7 ( 9...d7 square, I am sure that Chigorin (who liked 10.g4 c5 11.e3 d6 12.d1+- ) knights) would play like this. ] 10.g4+- ] 18.e3 fd8 Black develops his pieces, he 8.xd3 a6 Aldebol says: "TonyK, here you could also play wrote: Black seems to have a pawn more for [ 18...c5 19.d5 exd5 ( 19...e5!? to keep the very little. I prefer to play such moves as d3 p o s i t i o n c l o s e d) 20.exd5 d6 when Black has weakened his queenside by which reduces White's dynamic prospects. ] playing ...b5, myself , but it is interesting 19.g5 e8 20.h4 The bishop comes to nonetheless! But please reconsider. Black, in the h2-b8 diagonal from where it will be more m y o p i n i o n , h a s n o t s o l v e h i s o p e n i n g effective. d6 21.g3 e5!? I do not like this problems completely yet. For example:" 9.h3 m o v e t o o m u c h , a s i t a l l o w s t h e w h i t e f5 kingside pawns to advance, supported by the [ jw: Another consolidating idea is 9...b4 white bishops. 10.b1 bd5 ] [ 21...b4 is perfectly reasonable, tying 10.d4 d7 W hite to the defence of a4, and keeping [ Aldebol gives the line 10...c2 11.g5 h6 425
412
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.xf6 gxf6 13.d2 g6 14.c1 f5 15.h4 h7 16.xf5 xf5 17.d1 h5 18.0-0 h6 19.d4 0-0 20.d7 xd7 21.xd7 c5 22.xe7 fd8 23.e4 xe4 24.xe4 ] 11.g5 "Does Black really have a comfortable game here? I mean, it is not simple to determine how he completes his development while White enjoys such a wonderful space advantage, .piece placement and lead in d e v e l o p m e n t . " h6 jw: This loses, so the analysis should be questioned. Best seems [ 11...e6!? with the idea 12.0-0-0 d7! 13.e4 f6 14.e3 a5 and White has no targets. 11. .Qg6 is also possible but riskier. ] 12.g4+[ jw: This is correct in view of 12.g4 g6 13.e5 xg5 14.e4 c5 15.xf6+ exf6 16.xd7# ]
427
A11 Nogueiras Santiago,Jesus 2552 Ehlvest,Jaan 2627 FIDE WCh KO New Delhi IND (1.6) 29.11.2000 [Tony Kosten] 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.e3 f6 4.c3 a6 5.b3 [ 5.d4 would transpose into the . ..a6 Slav. ] 5...g4 6.b2 bd7 7.h3 xf3 [ The solid approach, 7...h5!? is risky, 8.cxd5 cxd5 ( 8...xd5!? ) 9.g4! g6 10.g5 e4 11.xd5 e6 12.f4 xg5 13.xg5 xg5 14.h4 a5 15.c3 with dynamic play, Dragomarezkij, E-Maiorov,O/Sochi 1996. ] 8.xf3 e6 9.g4!? Vaganian's aggressive idea, adding a space advantage to W hite's bishop pair. h6 10.e2? [ To keep the d3-square covered, but there is a s e ri o u s f l a w, 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.g2 was met by e5!? 12.e2 g6 13.0-0 h5 14.g5 d7 15.f4 h4 with good play in Vaganian,R-Backwinkel,P/Germany 1993. ] 10...dxc4! [ Showing the drawbacks of White's previous move, after this new move d3 is exposed. Previously, 10...b5 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.h4 c8 13.g5 hxg5 14.hxg5 e5 15.g2 xh1+ 16.xh1 fd7 17.f4 c6 was Black's solid choice in Bischoff,K-Stangl,
M/Brno 1994. ] 11.bxc4 e5 12.g3 d3+ 13.xd3 xd3 14.c7 White counterattacks in any case his c4-pawn was undefendable. d8 15.d1 xc4?! [ OK, but 15...d7! may be superior, 16.a1 ( 16.xb7 b8 wins the bishop) 16...c5 continuing with ...Qxc4, and then ...Nd3+, bringing the second knight to the d3-square, with decisive effect. ] 16.xb7 b4 Black plans to castle, when the uncastled white king, marooned in the centre, will become a serious problem. 17.e2?! [ The odd 17.b1! is the best chance, defending d2, and menacing the capture on f6. ] 17...0-0 18.d4?! [ This loses quickly, but even the elimination of this knight by 18.xf6 doesn't help: gxf6 19.d4 ( trying to mask the d-file, 19.f3 loses to the standard combo xd2! 20.xd2 d8 ) 19...c5 20.b3 a5 and ...a4, leaves d2 too exposed. ] 18...e4 19.xc6?! [ The d2-pawn can no longer be defended: 19.b3 allows xd2 20.xd2 xd2+ 21.xd2 xd2 22.xd2 d5+ and the h1-rook drops. ] 19...xd2+ 0-1
428 Pantsulaia,Levan Gunina,V Turkish Bank Chess League 2012 (4) [John Bartholomew]
A11 2557 2533 14.7.12
We've seen plenty of Anti-Slav games where Black snatches the c4-pawn and doggedly defends it with moves like ...b7-b5, ...Nb8-d7b6, ...Bc8-e6, and ... Qd8-d5. How about an example where Black simply off loads the pawn and focuses on development? 1.f3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.c4 dxc4 4.g2 f6 5.0-0 f5 A new move for this site. Black develops the bishop to its most natural square. [ 5...bd7 is the main line. Consult the "Reti 1 c4 c6 with g3" guide in the archives. ] 6.a3 Most common. [ Sometimes White prefers to discourage ... 413
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 b7-b5 with 6.a4 , i.e. e6 7.a3 A) Fellow ChessPublishing.com author an d re ce nt A n ti-S la v exp on en t Vict o r Mikhalevski had a pleasant experience against 7...d5?! : 8.b3! cxb3 9.d3 a6 10.c4 d8?! ( 10...c5! was more stubborn. 11.fd2 d7 12.xb3 ) 11.xb3 c5 12.b2 e7 13.e3 fd7? 14.xg7 f6 15.d6+ e7 16.xf5+ exf5 17.h6 xa1 18.xa1+. Black was already defenseless in Mikhalevski, V (2525)-Arslanov, S (2424)/ Moscow RUS 2012.; B) 7...xa3 (this looks best) 8.xa3 0-0 9.b3 cxb3 10.xb3 c7 11.b2 bd7 12.c1 Vuorisalo, V (2101)-Sammalvuo, T (2425)/Lahti 2005. W hite has definite compensation with the bishop pair and op e n f ile s , b u t B lack h a s a so lid a n d compact position. ] 6...e5!? Refusing to lose any sleep over the c4-pawn. [ B l a c k c a n r e t u r n t o 6...b5 , but the programmed 7.b3 promises White excellent compensation: cxb3 8.axb3!? ( 8.xb3 also offers good play) 8...e4?! ( 8...e5!? ) 9.d3 d5 10.b2 g6 11.e4 e6 12.d4 g7 13.xe6 fxe6 14.e5 d5 15.h4 Lysyj, I (2632)-Dimukhametov, A (2355)/ Izhevsk RUS 2012. ] 7.xc4 [ Definitely not 7.xe5?? xa3 8.bxa3 d4 .] 7...e4 Now White has an important decision to make. 8.g5!? This amounts to a piece sacrifice with unclear ramifications, so White ought to consider the alternatives below. [ 8.fe5!? offers more clear-cut chances for a small advantage: bd7 ( 8...c5 9.d3 bd7 10.e3 xe5 11.xc5 xc4 12.dxc4 xd1 13.fxd1 Loginov, V (2500)Biriukov, O (2390)/St Petersburg 1998.) 9.d4 exd3 10.xd3 e7 ( 10...e6 11.c2 e7 12.f4 xc4 13.xc4 0-0 14.d1 G e o rgie v, K (2 6 7 2 )-Hu e rga L e a ch e , M (2435)/Pamplona ESP 2009) 11.b3 b6 12.a5 c8 13.f4 ( 13.g5!? 0-0 14.e4! e6 15.c2 ) 13...0-0 14.e1 e8 15.e4 f8 16.f3 c5+ Karner, H-Polugaevsky, L/ Tallinn 1973. Here 17.h1 d7 18.d2 is more pleasant for White. ]
[ The retreat 8.e1 is also reasonable, e.g. a6 ( the simple 8...e7 might be better) 9.e3 e6 10.d3 exd3 11.xd3 c5 12.f4 xd1 13.xd1 d7 14.c4 e7 15.e5 g4 16.xd7 xd7 17.b4!? Galliamova, A (2492)-Ruan Lufei (2479)/ Rostov-on-Don RUS 2011. ] 8...h6 9.xf7 [ I suppose White could bail out with 9.e3 g6 10.h3= , but this is hardly in the spirit of 8. Ng5!?. ] [ 9.h3? is rightly punished after c8! 10.f4 g5 ] 9...xf7 10.b3 This position had been reached twice before. d5!? Gunina finds an active response, agreeing to pitch her a8 in an attempt to seize back the initiative. [ Instead, two king moves deserve attention, particularly 10.. .Kg6. The source game, Salov, V (2675)-Piket, J (2580)/Amsterdam 1 9 9 6 , w e n t 10...e8 11.xb7 bd7 12.xc6 ( 12.d3!? ) 12...c8 13.a4 . Here Black would do best to get his king closer to safety with f7 , i.e. ( 13...e6 14.b3 xc4 15.bxc4 b6 16.d3 was the game ) 14.b3 e7 15.b2 e8 ] [ A m o re rece n t e n cou n t e r sa w 10...g6 11.e5+ h7 12.xb7 bd7 ( also very i n t r i g u i n g i s 12...c5!? 13.xa8 c7 14.d4! xd4 15.f4 xe5 16.xe5 xe5 17.xa7 ) 13.f7 e8 14.xh8 xh8 15.xc6 c8 16.a4 h5! . Black is fully mobilized with a very safe king, so he gets the nod here. The game continued 17.d3 exd3 18.exd3 e5 19.d1 , Markos, J (2565)-Haba, P (2541)/Erfurt GER 2010. Now g4!? 20.f3 f5 looks best since 21.g4?! fxg4 22.f4 ( there are too many threats around W hite's king after 22.fxg4? xg4 23.d2 f3+ 24.xf3 xf3-+ ) 22...xh2! 23.xh2 xd3 gives Black a full-fledged attacking position. ] 11.xb7+ bd7 12.e3 Clarifying the position somewhat. [ Murkier is 12.xa8!? xc4 13.d3! exd3 14.exd3 xd3 15.e1 b4 16.xh8 xe1 17.e3 b4 with chances for both sides. ] 12...b8! 13.xb8 xb8 14.xd5 cxd5 An imbalanced yet roughly level position has arisen. I find Black's position (with her active minor pieces and strong center) a bit easier to 414
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 play, but logical play ought to result in equality. 15.d3?! There was no reason to rush this move. [ 15.b3= ] 15...exd3 16.exd3 c5 17.e3 d4 18.b4 dxe3 [ 18...b6! ] 19.bxc5 xd3 20.fc1 exf2+ 21.xf2 e8?! [ M o n i t o r i n g t h e c - p a w n w i t h 21...c8 is safer. ] 22.c6 e2+ 23.f3!? Great fighting spirit! The game now takes an unexpected turn. [ White wasn't satisfied with 23.g1 xg2+ 24.xg2 e4+ 25.g1 xc6 . Three minor pieces or two rooks, who ya got!?:) ] 23...xc6?! [ Not 23...xg2?? 24.c7+- ] [ A lovely perpetual could have resulted from the precise 23...e4!! : 24.c7 d7 25.c8 e5+ 26.f4 g6+ 27.f3 e5+= . ] 24.xc6 e4 25.d1? Just when White could have been rewarded for his boldness, he falters. [ 25.c7+ g6 26.g4! is the way to go. It transpires that Black has no good way to utilize her centralized forces. ] [ T h e im m e d ia t e 25.g4? allows g5+ 26.g3 xg2+ 27.xg2 e4+= . ] 25...d2+ 26.xd2 xd2 Now Black is the only one who can claim an advantage, but the g a m e s o o n p e t e r s o u t t o a d r a w . 27.h3 xh2 28.e6+ e7 29.b3 a6 30.e3 b5 31.c7+ f6 32.a4 b2 33.d1 e8 34.a7 b6 35.e2 xa4 36.xa6 xa6 37.xa6 g5 38.f2 d7 39.e2 Gunina's active approach with 5...Bf5 and 6... e5!? certainly has merit. After 7.Nxc4 e4 I think White should play either 8.Nfe5!? or 8. Ne1, as the piece sacrifice with 8.Ng5 h6 9. Nxf7 - while interesting - probably isn't fully sound. ½-½
429 Pantsulaia,Levan Sundararajan,Kidambi 11th Dubai Open (6) [Nigel Davies]
A11 2581 2487 02.05.2009
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.a3 b6 7.c2 d5 8.e1 f5 At first sight this seems like a solid option for Black but after W hite's reply he's losing valuable time. 9.e4 h5 10.xc4 xc4 11.xc4 e5 [ 11...h3 12.xh3 xh3 13.f3 e5 14.d3 ( 14.d4 exd4 15.xd4 d7 16.e3 is slightly better for W hite, but drawish.) 14...d6 15.b4 0-0 16.b2 ad8 17.c3 fe8 18.a4 e6 19.xe6 xe6 was about even in Ponkratov, P (2469) Romanov, E (2501), Chelyabinsk 2007. ] 12.d4 exd4? Inadvertently opening the flood gates. [ 12...d6 was the right move though it still looks promising for White after 13.f3 e6 14.a4 exd4 15.xd4 etc. ] 13.e5 d5 [ Black rightly took fright at the possibility of 13...xe5 14.xc6+ , though the text is not much better. ] 14.d3 e6 15.xd4 e7 16.xd5 xd5 17.f4 g4 18.h3 d7 19.xd5 cxd5 20.h6! [ 20.d1 was also quite good, but White is playing for the attack. Of course taking the bishop would lose on the spot to 21.e6!. ] 20...xh3 21.xg7 g8 22.e6 [ 22.f6 xg3+ would draw by perpetual check. ] 22...fxe6 23.ac1 d6 24.c3 f5 25.e1 f7 26.e5 [ 26.g2! threatening 27.Rf3 was much stronger. ] 26...g4 27.f4 ag8? This sacrifice just doesn't work. [ 27...e7 was the right move, when Black doesn't stand at all badly. ] 28.xd6 xg3+ 29.f1? White in turn misses his way. [ 29.f2! would have left Black without adequate compensation. ] 29...h3+ 30.e2 xc3 31.xc3 g2+ 32.d1 f5?? Time trouble? 415
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 32...xc3 33.bxc3 xa2 would have produced a drawish endgame. ] 33.c1 d4 34.c7+ g6 35.e5 h5 36.h1+ g4 37.g7+ f3 38.xb7+ g3 39.g7+ f3 40.f1+ 1-0
position is not resignable, but next move White will but his queen on c3 or b2 and there will be no adequate defence to the g7 pawn. 1-0
431 430 Payen,Arnaud Couche,Didier XXIV Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (5) [Jonathan Rowson]
A11 2403 2122
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 e6 4.b3 d7 5.e2 gf6 6.b2 d6 7.c3 0-0 8.c2 a6 9.h4!? A variation on a theme. Neither as weakening(for White) or threatening(for Black) as g4. The point seems to be to follow up with Ng5, and then hope for the best. e8 [ 9...e5 10.g5 e4 ( 10...h6 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.xd5 ) 11.0-0-0 ( 11.f4!? ) 11...h6 12.f4 e8 and I don't know exactly what is happening, but I would rather be White. ] 10.g5 f8 [ 10...e5? 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.xd5! ] [ 10...b5 looks better to me, because White is not yet threatening anything. 11.g4 b7 12.xf7 ( 12.h5!?; 12.0-0-0!? ) 12...xf7 13.g5 looks a bit desperate, but as these sacrifices go, it is a reasonably promising version- it just feels too crude somehow. e4 14.xe4 dxe4 15.xe4 g8 16.cxb5 axb5 17.xb5 and White almost gets the material back but Black is not in any danger. ] 11.d4!? The good thing about h4 instead of g4 is that it is less positionally committal, so White can still steer the game back to more conventional channels. b6 [ 11...e5!? 12.dxe5 xe5 13.0-0-0 looks promising for White. ] [ 11...b5 12.e4 is not a better version for Black. ] 12.e4 dxe4 13.cxe4 xe4 14.xe4 b4+ 15.f1 e7 16.h5 f5? And overreaction. [ 16...h6 17.d1 looks somewhat better for White, perhaps with Rh3-g3 to follow. ] 17.d2 c5 18.f3 b7 19.d1 c7 20.dxc5 bxc5 21.e5 At first blush the
Pigusov,Evgeny Zhang Pengxiang FIDE WCh KO Moscow RUS (2.2) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2613 2530 30.11.2001
1.f3 d5 2.g3 g4 3.g2 d7 4.c4 e6 5.d3 [ We have already considered 5.cxd5 ] 5...c6 6.0-0 White surely intended to play his favourite system, with Be3, but Black decides to 'put a spanner in the works'. xf3!? 7.xf3 d4 Black plays a similar plan to that successf ully applied by his compatriot in Pigusov,E-Zhang Zhong, and later in Loginov, V-Grischuk,A, but without gaining a tempo on the bishop (see [A11] for both these games). 8.e3! White won't repeat the error of the aforementioned game, and close the centre! e5 9.e2 Not natural, but d3 must be defended. h5!? [ Black goes 'all in'. 9...c5 10.f4 g6 11.e4 favours White. ] 10.exd4 xd4 11.c3 f6 12.e3 White evicts the queen from her proud post. d7 13.d4 eg4 This is why Black didn't play ...h4 earlier, the pawn provides a useful square for his knights. 14.g5 0-0-0 15.d5! Thematic! W hite has the bishop pair, and therefore opens the position. exd5?! [ I think I would prefer to keep the c-file c l o s e d , a n d p l a y 15...c5 answering 16.dxc6?! with xc6 ] 16.cxd5 f5 [ 16...cxd5? 17.b5 a6 18.c1+ b8 19.f4+ leads to a painful end for Black. ] 17.xf6 xf6 18.d3 h3? [ This move looks aggressive, but should lose, 18...d7 19.f3 b8 keeps Black in the game. ] 19.f3? [ This threatens Bf5+, but why doesn't White p l a y t h e o b vi o u s 19.dxc6 winning? For instance, bxc6 ( 19...g4? 20.f5+ c7 21.b5+ leads to a catastrophe) 20.a6+ 416
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c7 21.b5+! cxb5 22.c1+ and the end is nigh. ] 19...g4 20.h1 [ Ugly, but forced, 20.g2? xg2+ 21.xg2 cxd5 leaves Black a pawn up. ] 20...e5 21.e4 h4!? [ 21...c5 was a more positional alternative. ] 22.dxc6 c5 The point of Black's play, he is g o i n g a l l - o u t f o r m a t e . 23.g2?! W h y n o t c a p t ure o n b7 wit h ch e ck f irst ? g4!? [ 23...xg2+ 24.xg2 xc6 is completely equal. ] 24.h3!? [ I am not sure if this is a blunder, or delib erate ! 24.cxb7+ b8 25.ad1 f5! 26.xd8+ xd8 27.d5 is also uncomfortable for White. ] 24...xg3! Oops! 25.cxb7+ b8 26.a4 d4 27.ac1 f4 28.c5 With a mate-ino n e t h r e a t . d6 The position is a complete mess , with bot h kings wid e o pen . 29.d3 xd3 30.xd3 f5 31.c2 xb2?! I don't like this, Black's attacking chances depend greatly on the power of the oppositecolour bishops, as he can attack on the dark s q u a r e s wh i l e h i s o p p o n e n t ' s b i s h o p i s powerless to help. 32.xb2 xd3 33.c2 d4? I imagine both players were short of time now. 34.c8+? [ 34.c6! bypasses the threat of ...Rg3, and wins: g3+ (how else can Black stop Qc7, Qc8+, etc.) 35.h2 xh3+ 36.xh3 g4+ 37.h2 f4+ 38.h1 and the checks runout. ] 34...xc8 35.bxc8+ xc8 36.c1+ d8 [ 36...b8 37.b1+ c7 38.b7+ d6 39.g6+ f6 is also satisfactory. ] 37.g5+ d7?? [ 37...f6 38.xf6+ gxf6 39.c4 a3 gives Black the better chances in the rook endgame, but the move played just loses! ] 38.xf5+ d6 39.g6+ e7 40.e1+ d8 41.e8+ c7 42.e7+ [ 42.e7+ b8 43.e8+ d8 44.b5+ b6 45.xd3 ] 1-0
432 Pigusov,Evgeny Zhang Zhong Sufe Cup Shanghai CHN (12) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2610 2611 14.03.2000
1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 g4 4.c4 c6 5.0-0 e6 6.d3 e7 7.e3 Pigusov's f favourite, the bishop move controls b6, so that Black cannot answer Qb3 with ... Qb6. xf3!? [ An clever new idea, Black often has to concede the bishop pair at some point, and e xch a n gin g im m e d ia t e ly o f f e rs c e rt a i n benefits. Previously, various moves had been tried: 7...bd7 8.b3 c8 9.c3 with an edge, Kortschnoi,V-Spassky,B/ Linares 1985, or ] [ 7...dxc4 8.dxc4 xd1 9.xd1 bd7 10.c3 xf3 11.exf3! e5 12.h3 b6 13.b3 0-0 14.e4 and the advantage is with W hite, Loginov,V-Nikitin,A/Maikop 1998. ] 8.xf3 d4 Gaining space with tempo. 9.d2 a5 10.e4?! This would work well if White co u ld p la y a la t e r e 5, a n d f re e h is ligh t squared bishop, but he never managed it. bd7 11.g2 h5! Not played to attack, but rather to stop the white kingside from expanding. 12.e2 e5 13.a3 h4 14.c2 c5 A perfect square for the knight in such a position. 15.ab1 fd7 16.f4 Trying to unravel the pawn chain. [ 16.g4? is a positional error, of course, allowing g5 gaining control of the dark squares. ] 16...c7 17.f5? White gains space, but this is a positional error, further weakening his dark squares. d8! Profiting from White's last move to bring his bishop to the c1-h6 diagonal. 18.e1 White tries to avoid the exchange of bishops, as his remaining g2b i s h o p c o u l d b e c o m e v e r y b a d . hxg3 19.hxg3 g5 20.d1 a4 21.b1 f6 22.f2 dc5 23.h1 xh1 24.xh1 h6 W hite is positionally lost, his 'good' darksquared bishop is bereft of squares, and the other pieces are even worse. 25.g2 c1 26.b3? [ A tactical error, but even 26.b4 axb4 27.xb4 c3 28.xc3 dxc3 looks pretty 417
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 example, gf6 ( 6...b4!? ) 7.d4!? ( 7.c2! b4 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0= ) 7...b4 8.d2 0-0 9.e2 a5!? 10.c2 exd4 11.exd4 ( 11.xd4 g5 12.0-0 c5 ) 11...e8 and it's easier to play Black, since 12.0-0?! xc3 13.xc3 xe2! wins material.; C) 6.b2 gf6 7.g3? e4 8.g5 c5 9.g2 f5 and Black stands clearly better. ] 3...f6 4.g2 So White plays what has been a fairly promising gambit. dxc4 5.c2 d5! But this move, which I don't see having been played until recently, messes up White's plans. The c-pawn remains protected and ...Bf5 is threatened (positionally speaking). But oddly enough, attacking the queen doesn't help much: 6.c3 [ Nothing is gained from 6.0-0 f5 7.d1 due to e5! 8.h4 d7 9.xf5 xf5 ] 6...h5 7.h3 White really doesn't want to give up his bishop, e.g., 433 A11 [ 7.0-0 h3 ( or 7...a6 ) 8.e4 ( 8.xh3 xh3 9.g5 h5 10.ge4 bd7 ) Poldauf,Dirk 2417 8...xe4 9.xe4 xg2 10.xg2 d5! ] Saltaev,Mihail 2500 Bundesliga 2006-7 (1) 28.10.2006 7...bd7 [ 7...a6! is more flexible. Remarkably, [John Watson] White can't seem to get his pieces out. ] Can't White simply play a Reti position versus 8.g4 a5 9.d1 Finally attacking c4. b6 Black's moves 1...c6, 2...d5, and 3...Nf6? It 10.e4 [ 10.e3 e6 11.d4 d5 ] seems harder all the time to do so and get positions that really match your expectations 10...a4!? [ Black is also better after 10...e5 ] as White. Here we see a recent line for Black th at wa s a lre ad y d iscu sse d in a n ea rlie r 11.b1 e6 12.c3 a5 13.0-0 e7 14.b3 column. I found nothing wrong with it then 0-0 15.b2 fd7!? Black is aiming for d3. and don't now. 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 This keeps the advantage, but [ 15...d8 ] Okay, this is it. What move should we make? [ or 15...e5 is more natural. ] g3 leaves c4 hanging, so it must be treated 16.e2!? a6! 17.g3 c5 18.h5 f6 carefully. White's last four moves have a [ 3.b3 would be the traditional way of 19.e5 reaching a double fianchetto situation, but desperate air about them. f5 20.g5 d3 as I have pointed out in this column, the rare 21.c3 d5 Black has a killing position. I'll order dxc4 4.bxc4 e5! bothers me, with the leave the rest for you to contemplate. 22.a4 idea 5 Nxe5?? Qd4. The problem is Black's cxb3 23.xb3 c5 24.a2 e4 25.h4 26.dxc3 xc3 27.d2 d5 central control. Then some ideas are 5.c3 exc3 28.fc1 b4 29.d4 c5 30.b2 a5 d7 A) 6.d3 gf6 7.b2 d6 8.g3 31.b3 d7 32.f1 c6 33.c4 h8 looks solid, but I still prefer Black after c5 34.e1 d2 35.d1 c3 36.ab1 ab8 37.xd5 xd5 38.xd5 exd5 39.xd5 9.g2 0-0 10.0-0 f5; B) even 6.e3 forces White into a situation xa4 40.g2 e4 41.a2 xe5 42.e1 that he must play carefully un, for
hopeless for White. ] 26...b2! Decisively attacking the d3-pawn a second time. 27.xb2 xb2 28.d2 h7 29.f3 f6 30.e2 b6 31.g4 c3 W hite has eased his position with the exchange sacrifice, but Black's pieces are still superior. 32.c1 a6 33.f1 a4 34.bxa4 c5 35.d1 xa4 36.a3 a5 37.f3 [ 37.b1 allows the black queen in, h5 ] 37...h3+ [ 37...c3!? seems even better ] 38.g2 c3 [ 38...xg3? is a blunder, 39.h5+ d7 with a draw. 40.f7+ ] 39.xh3 [ 39.f3 h6 is also hopeless. ] 39...xd1 40.c1 c3 41.a3 b2 42.xb2 xb2 43.e2 d7 Preparing to bring the rook to the h-file. 0-1
418
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.e6!? fxe6 18.xh5 xh5 19.g6+ d7 20.xh5 with a strong attack for the sacrificed material. ] 17.f1 Missing what looks like a powerful 434 A11 sacrifice. [ After 17.xe6! fxe6 18.xe6+ f7 Radjabov,Teimour 2761 19.c4 Black is in deep trouble, for example Smeets,Jan 2601 g6 ( Or 19...d5 20.e5 g6 21.xd5+ Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (10) 28.01.2009 cxd5 22.xd5 etc ) 20.g4 xg4 21.xg4+ [Nigel Davies] f7 22.f5 with only a single pawn down and powerful pressure. ] 1.f3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 f6 4.c4 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.c2 b6 7.a4 a5 8.a3 17...g6 18.b3 d6?! [ 18...e7 might have been a safer choice. e6 9.g5 g4 10.xc4 xe2! Now the storm clouds break. ] The critical line. [ After 10...xc4 11.xc4 e6 12.e4 19.xe6 fxe6 20.xe6+ d7 21.xd6+! White was better in Matamoros Franco, C xd6 22.xb4+ c5 23.xb7 c6 24.b5 c7 25.b6+ e7 26.e1+? (2460)-Xu Jun (2626), Seville ESP 2003. ] [ Missing a clearer win with 26.e5! c8 11.e5!? White in turn plays the critical move, 27.b7+ e6 28.e1 when Black has no sacrificing the exchange to get to f7. good defence to the threats. ] [ After 11.xb6 xb6 12.e1 h5 13.b4!? g6 ( 13...axb4!? Schirm, F-Lingnau, C/ 26...f8? [ 26...f7 was better but then 27.e6+ f8 Germany 1991) 14.d3 axb4 15.e3 a6 28.e5 f7 29.a6 is good for White. ] 16.e4 e6 White did not have enough compensation appears insufficient in Kirov, 27.e5 c8 28.d6+? [ 28.b7! threatening 29.Bd6+ looks very N-Luther, T, Leningrad 1989. ] strong. ] 11...h5 But at this point discretion seems to 28...g8 29.e7 h6 30.c4+ h7 31.b7 be the better part of valour. [ After 11...xf1 12.xf1 the f7 pawn is f8 32.d7 b8 33.xf8 xb7 34.xb7 falling and Black's king would be in terrible xf8 35.d3 g4?! [ 35...d8 is better so as to meet 36.a6? trouble. ] with xd3 37.xd3+ xd3 38.a7 a3 . ] 12.b4!? bd7 This seems to be new. [ After 12...bd5?! 13.b5 cxb5 14.d3 36.a6 e5 37.d5 a8 38.a7 e8 39.e7 b6?! 15.xd5 d8 16.xf7+ xf7 Really a draw? This seems odd because 17.xb5+ xb5 18.axb5 d5 19.xa5 White is winning. White won a pawn in, Stocek, J-Boric, M, ½-½ Pula CRO 2000. ] [ Another possibility is 12...axb4 but after A11 13.b2 bd7 we would transpose back into 435 the game. ] Radjabov,Teimour 2644 13.b2 axb4 14.a5 a6 Rightly preventing Svidler,Peter 2713 the a-pawn's advance to a6. vs NAO Internet INT (3) 28.05.2003 [ At f irst Fritz 12 seems to like 14...xe5 [Tony Kosten] 15.xe5 d7 but after 16.a6 xe5 17.axb7 b8 18.d4 starts to change its 1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.g2 d5 4.f3 dxc4 mind. In fact it looks like W hite has very 5.a4!? A very committal move, White stops ... g o o d c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r t h e p i e c e , f o r b5, and isolates the c4-pawn, but creates a example d7 19.xc6 e6 20.a8 d6 long-term weakness on b4. 21.e4 c7 22.xb8+ xb8 23.a1 [ I loo ked a t 5.0-0 bd7 6.c2 b6 threatening 24.Ra8. ] and only now 7.a4 in Matamoros Franco,C15.fe1 xe5 16.xe5 e6 Xu Jun/Seville ESP 2003. ] [ Another interesting possibility was 16...h6 5...e6 6.a3 The threat is to play Ng5, or d4 43.e2 be8 0-1
419
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Ne5, and then recuperate the c-pawn. d5 Black pins the f3-knight. Other moves: [ 6...d5!? exposes the queen, but bolsters the c4-pawn, 7.0-0 a6 8.c2 ( 8.d3!? cxd3 9.g5 ) 8...c5 ( 8...b4?! is too early 9.c3 c5 10.d4 ) 9.c3 d5 Black seems to have consolidated, O'Cinneide,M-Stohl,I/Halkidiki GRE 2002. ] [ 6...a6 allows 7.e5 d4?! 8.xc6! c5 9.d4 cxd3 10.e3 with a powerful initiative, Padevsky, N-Sorensen,T/BerlinWest 1984. ] 7.c2 c5!? A new idea already, Black wants to finish his development in classical style with ...Nc6 and get a firm grip on b4 and d4. [ 7...g6 8.xc4 g7 9.b4!? 0-0 10.0-0 a6 11.a3 White has the sort of position he is looking for in the Reti, with unblemished centre, and queenside initiative, Bosboom,M-Haba, P/Germany 1995. ] [ 7...a6 8.xc4 b4 9.c3 a5 10.d3 Black has established the knight on b4, but White has recaptured the c-pawn and will soon complete development, Haroutjunian, G-Matveeva,S/Yerevan 1996. ] 8.xc4 c6 9.0-0 e6 10.b3 e7 11.b2 0-0 12.ad1!? White plays this rook here so tha t he c an d rop h is que en ba ck t o b1 if necessary, and then play Qa1 with pressure o n t h e a 1 - h 8 d i a g o n a l . c8 13.c3!? A really strange idea that smacks of planlessness, for if W hite wanted to do this why did he not play his king's rook to d1 and keep his queen's rook for the queenside? c7 The variation [ 13...d4!? 14.xd4 cxd4 15.xd4 xc4 16.bxc4 xd4 17.xd4 xc4 18.xa7 xa4 19.e3 b5 is interesting, as the passed b-pawn is quite a plus for Black. ] 14.fe1 This move is not to ply e4, as d4 will become too weak, but rather to defend e2 should Black play ...Nd4 as in the previous note. fd8 15.e3 White decides to gain the b is h o p p a ir , a s h e h a d n o u s e f u l wa y o f expanding in the centre. [ 15.e4 xc4 16.bxc4 d4 is fine for Black. ] 15...xf3 16.xf3 d4 [ 16...e8!? is a good alternative, to exchange bishops by ...Bf6: 17.g2 f6 18.c2 xb2 19.xb2 f6 and I prefer
Black because of the weakness of b4 and d4. ] 17.g2 d7 18.b1 If this move is the best that W hite can manage, then I suggest his previous moves were not optimum. f8 19.d3 d8 20.a1 g6 21.c4 g7 Black has chosen a different route to get his bishop onto the long diagonal. 22.d2 The queen was misplaced on c3, and quickly retreats from the exposed diagonal. d5 23.f1 b6 24.ec1 The white rooks have reached better squares, but it is very much Black who calls t h e s h o t s h e re . c6 Black exchanges the dark-squared bishops, although he could easily have done this much before - see the note to move 16. 25.xg7 xg7 26.h4 f6 27.a3 cd8 28.g1 d4 29.c4 Black holds all the aces here - good squares for his knights and pressure on the d-file, so W hite can only keep his position solid and wait-and-see. h5 30.b2 c6 31.d2 d4 32.b2 c6 33.d2 d4 Both sides seen happy to draw, but I am surprised that Black didn't want to play on, he has nothing to lose. ½-½
436
A11
Reti 4...Nbd7 [Tony Kosten] I received the following question from Theodor Seiz: "Hello, I am just starting to play the repertoire suggested in you book 'The Dynamic English'. One line is played a lot against me in blitz and I don't find anything against it that I like: 1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 c6 3.Bg2 d5 4.Nf3 Nbd7!? Black will try to play - ...e5 and get the center with easy development. ECO does not mention the line either. Playing a Catalan style position with d4 appears normal, but is out of question for me. Regards, Theodor" So, I've decided to have an in-depth look at this almost unknown variation. 1.f3 [ 1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.g2 d5 4.f3 bd7 will tran spo se , bu t I t hink t hat t he Ret i move-order is more likely. ] 1...d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 bd7 4.c4 c6 The black set-up, whilst rare, is quite sensiblehe wants to play ..e5 which would reach a 420
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 reversed 'Geller line vs the Pirc/Modern'. The question is: how should White react? 5.cxd5! Played to weaken the h1-a8 diagonal, this capture is no longer a concession when the black knight can no longer spring directly to its best square on c6. A real advantage of this move, though, is that White no longer needs to worry about defending hisc-pawn! [ 5.d4 leads to Slav-style lines, but allows dxc4! ( 5...e6 6.0-0 d6 7.c2 leads to a Catalan, with a white advantage, Velickovic,Z-Tomazin,M/Grize 1996. ) A) 6.c2 e5!? ( Black can also try to hang-on to the pawn more directly: 6...b6 7.a3 d5 ) 7.0-0 ( 7.dxe5 xe5 8.xe5 a5+ is the point, equal) 7...exd4 8.xd4 e5 9.d1 which is unclear, Jurek,J-Ramseier,J/Bad Ragaz 1992.; B) 6.a4!? e5!? 7.dxe5 g4 8.e6 fxe6 9.0-0 again unclear, Larsen,B-Simon,R/ Lugano 1989. ] [ 5.b3 e5!? ( 5...e5 6.b2 e4 7.d4 c5 8.c2 d4 9.d3 exd3 10.xd3 d6 11.0-0 e5 12.d2 g4 13.f4 c6 14.e4 dxe3 15.xe3 Novik,M-Petelin,A/St Petersburg 1992 )] [ 5.0-0 accepts transposition into a reversed Pirc, A) 5...dxc4 is also feasible, as above 6.a3 b6 7.c2 g6!? ( Black can also consider being greedy: 7...d5!? or; 7...e6!? 8.g5 d7 ) 8.xc4 xc4 9.xc4 g7 Pavlovic,M-Thorhallsson,T/ Copenhagen 1990.; B) 5...e5 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.b3 d6 Black has nothing to complain about, Kiss, A-Acs,P/Balatonbereny 1992. ] 5...cxd5 [ 5...xd5 allows White a central edge, 6.d4 7f6 7.e5!? f5 getting a firm grip of e4, Rabeler,G-Storm,R/Germany 1990. ] 6.c3!? Loginov's preference. [ 6.d4! is a good alternative, but this QG/ Slav type of position might not appeal to players of Flank Openings! e6 ( 6...g6 7.0-0 g7 8.c3 0-0 9.e5 gives White a superior version of a KI Fianchetto line (the black queen's knight normally goes to c6), Trauth,M-Frischknecht,H/ Zurich 1997.) 7.0-0 d6 8.c3 a6 9.f4 ( 9.e4!?
is interesting: xe4 10.xe4 dxe4 11.g5 f6 12.xe4 xe4 13.xe4 0-0 White enjoys a little more space, Filipowicz, A-Tassi,O/ Rome 1981.) 9...xf4 10.gxf4 0-0 11.e3 Black's position is solid, but White's superior bishop gives him a plus, Pavlovic,M-Nikolic,B/JUG-ch/1991. ] 6...e6 This solid choice is almost universally played. [ However, there is nothing wrong with the ambitious 6...e5!? 7.a4!? ( 7.d4 e4 8.e5 should be best, White can continue Qb3, Bg5, and possibly f3, to pressurise the black centre.) 7...c7?! ( why not 7...d6 as 8.b5 b8 9.a3 b6 leads nowhere) 8.d4 e4 9.e5 e7 10.f4 White has some pressure, Hoshino, IHoyt,W/Siegen 1970. ] 7.0-0 a6!? This move plans a quick expansion on the queenside, but many other tries are possible: [ 7...d6 8.d3 b6 9.b5!? b8 10.d2 a6 11.bd4 is fairly equal, Kirov,N-Ziatdinov,R/ Belgrade 1990. ] [ 7...e7 8.d4 0-0 9.f4 a6 White has more space, Sanz-W esterinen/Alicante/ 1975. ] [ 7...b4 8.d3 0-0 9.f4 e8 is similar, Sale,S-Milunovic,V/ Portoroz 1994. ] [ 7...b6 as with the main move, this will allow Black to develop his 'problem piece', the c8bishop, 8.d3 b7 9.f4 a6 10.c1 c8 11.e1 e7 12.e4 this idea i s one reason why White would want to keep his d-pawn on d3, rather than d4, dxe4 13.dxe4 b5 14.d6 b4 15.xe7 xe7 16.d5! xc1 ( 16...exd5? 17.exd5 e4 18.xc8+ xc8 19.d6 e6 20.d4 wins ) 17.xf6+ xf6 18.xc1 0-0 19.e5 d5 20.g5 and after all the excitement, play is level, although White went on to win, Loginov,VYemelin,V/ St Petersburg 1995. ] 8.d3 [ 8.d4 is, once again, a good move. ] 8...b5 9.e4 White wants to weaken the sensitive h1-a8 diagonal. dxe4 10.dxe4 b7 11.e5 d5 12.e4 Aiming for d6. h6 13.e1 b6 14.e3 xe3 15.xe3 d8! Black skilf ully saf e gua rds his qu een sid e before completing his kingside development. 16.e2 e7 17.d1 0-0 18.ed3 d5 421
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Having closed the d-file, Black can turn his attention to the e5-pawn, and the exploitation o f h i s b i s h o p p a i r . 19.xd5!? This is interesting, but may not quite work. exd5 20.c3 e6 21.xd5 c5 This is the only move, as Nd4 was threatened. 22.b4 [ 22.b3?! b6 23.f4 xd1+ 24.xd1 e7 25.e6 fxe6 26.h3 ( 26.g6 fails to d8 27.c2 f6 28.xc5 xg6 ) 26...xf4!? 27.gxf4 d5 28.c1 Black is better, but the opposite-colour b i s h o p s o f f e r s o m e h o p e , L o g i n o v, V Shovunov,B/Elista 1996. ] 22...a7 23.f4?! [ 23.c7! f5 24.e6 fxe6 25.xe6+ f7 26.h3 is approximately level, White will get two pawns for the exchange. ] 23...c4! Black offers the exchange of queens, and has a real plus, Loginov, VYemelin,V/St Petersburg 1996. Therefore it seems that White should capture on d5, and then play d4 on either move six or eight, to have some advantage.
437 Roiz,M Postny,E 40 Yrs Beer Sheva CC (1) [Daniel Gormally]
A11 2617 2637 26.05.2013
1.f3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g4 4.c4 e6 5.0-0 d7 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.d3 gf6 8.h3 xf3 In my previous update I stated how it was a mistake in such positions to give up the bishop for the knight, however a lot depends on the make-up of the position. W hite has already exchanged on d5 so doesn't have such a wide range of plans as he did in that game. 9.xf3 c5 Played to provoke d4, which takes a lot of the flexibility out of the white position. [ In a previous game Black elected to reroute the knight to c6 9...e5!? 10.g2 e7 11.b3 0-0 12.b2 c6 13.c3 c8 14.a3 d7 15.e4 d4 16.e2 b6! W here Black had more than enough counterplay in the game Stryjecki, M (2424) -Chuchelov, V (2591) Kallithea 2002 ] 10.d4 White takes the bait, but the bishop on
c5 wasn't really creating any danger for White, so I think he could have delayed any central action. [ 10.c3 e5 11.g2 c6 12.d2 0-0 13.c1 and White can lay claim to a tiny edge. ] 10...d6 11.c3 0-0 12.d3 The problem now is that White's only central break is with e4, which creates a hole on d5, but what else can he do? He must open the position at some point, for better or for worse, otherwise his bishops will lack the mobility to be able to exercise their potential. h6 13.d2 a6 14.ac1 b6 15.e4 [ Restricting the mobility of the knight on b6 with 15.b3 Was an alternative. White could then adopt a slow, build-up strategy with moves like Kh1, Rg1, g4 etc. ] 15...dxe4 16.xe4 bd5! 17.b3 b8 18.xd6?! After this the knights start to take over. Isolated pawn positions can be quite deceptive an aren't always as bad as they look, but in this case W hite finds it very difficult generating any meaningful play after this exchange. Granted, he should be able to maintain the balance as his position remains very solid, but I struggle to see a way he can realistically improve his position. [ 18.c3! Not giving up the fight for d5 so easily, would surely have made more sense. e7 19.fd1 f5 20.e1 ] 18...xd6 19.c4 fc8 20.fc1 d7 21.c5 b6 22.5c4 a5 23.d3 xc4 24.xc4 c8 25.b3 e7 26.g2 f5 27.xc8+ xc8 28.f4 d7 29.e3 d5 30.d2 de7 31.c3 d5 32.a1? White has been drifting for the last few moves, but this blunder simply gives the game away. [ 32.d2 would still have been more or less equal. ] 32...h4+! 33.h2 b4 34.e4 xf3+ 35.xf3 xa2 36.a8+ h7 37.e4+ f5 38.e2 b4 39.c3 d5 A beautiful strategic situation for Black, the knight sits proudly on d5, surveying the battlefield from it's powerful central position. 40.d2 f6 41.a6 d5 42.e2 c6 43.g1 f6 44.d3 e4 45.c4 d5 46.h4 f3 47.c1 c3! 48.e3 d5 [ 48...e2+ 49.h2 xg3 50.fxg3 xe3 is immediately decisive ] 422
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 49.c1 d1+ 50.g2 b5 52.h5 f6 53.e3? g4 0-1
438 Rowson,Jonathan Thomson,Craig SM Scottish Open, Edinburgh (2) [Jonathan Rowson]
51.c6
e2
A11
2009
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c6 3.c3 d5 4.e3 a6 [ 4...f5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.b3 ] [ 4...g4 5.cxd5 xf3!? 6.xf3 cxd5 7.g4!? is completely unchartered territory. ] 5.b3!? f5 [ 5...b5 6.cxd5 ( 6.h3!? ) 6...cxd5 7.a4 b4 8.e2 The weaknesses on Black's queenside are more accessible when White hasn't played d4 so this position might be promising for White. ( 8.a2 c6 9.b2 e6 10.c1 d6 11.d3 e7 12.c1 d7 and Black starts having fun ) 8...g4 ] [ 5...g4 looks more solid, as does the game continuation, ideally with h6 thrown in to keep the light squared bishop. ] 6.e2 e6 [ 6...h6! I would also be inclined to give my opponent as little encouragement as possible. The two bishops may be no big deal in such structures, but it is still s o m e t h in g, a n d p ro b a b ly a n a vo id a b le concession from Black. ] 7.h4! g6 8.b2 bd7 9.0-0 [ 9.g4?! I managed to control myself just in time. ] 9...e4?! [ 9...d6 10.g3 0-0 11.xg6 hxg6 and White has a slight edge on a very good day. ] 10.xg6 hxg6 11.g3 d6 With the white pawn on d4, Shirov showed that this manoeuvre is a coherent and combative way to play. It is less clear whether it make sense when White can play e4 supported by his dpawn. 12.d3 g5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.e4 h6 15.h4 g5 16.h5?! [ 16.c1 f6 17.e5! I saw this idea during the game, but felt the game continuation was better. xe5 ( 17...xe5 18.d4 f5 19.g4 g6 20.xg5 e7 and Black
might be fine.) 18.xg5 f3+ ( 18...f5 19.d4 c6 20.g4 g6 21.a4 but Black's solid central structure gives him reason to face the future with confidence.) 19.xf3 xc3 20.c1 d4 21.c7 ] 16...d4 17.b1 e5? A fatal weakening of the light squares. Instead Black should fight for the dark squares in the centre. [ 17...g6! 18.xd4 g7 19.xg7 xg7 20.d4 xe4 ( 20...gxh5 21.c3 h4 and the position is highly unclear.) 21.f3 d6 22.hxg6 xg6 23.c3 g4 24.g2 0-0-0 ] 18.g2 e7 19.d2 0-0 20.g4 f6 21.c1 Black's position is worse that it looks. The queen on h6 is misplaced and W hite c o n t r o l s t h e c - f i l e . de8 22.h1?! A bit too fancy. [ 22.c4 xg4 23.xg4 f6 Here I felt f4 would be right, but I didn't really want to p l a y i t , s o I a vo i d e d t h e l i n e e n t i r e l y . However, in this position I can simply play 24.d7! and after b5 25.a5 I seem to be invading decisively. ] 22...b5 23.c6 d6 24.a3 fd8 25.c5 f8 26.b6 [ 26.b4!? ] 26...e8 27.c7 xg4 28.xg4 e6! 29.xe6 [ 29.xg5? e7 ] [ 29.h3 xe4 30.xe6 xe6 31.xe6 xf2+ 32.g2 xh1 33.b6 c8 ] [ 29.f3 f5 ] 29...xe6 30.f3 f6 31.hc1 f7 32.xd6 [ 32.a5!? ] 32...xd6 33.h3! f8 34.c7+ e7 35.7c6 e6 36.g4 a5 37.f5 xc6 38.xc6 e7 39.c7 a4 [ 39...b4 40.d2 a4 41.c4 axb3 42.axb3 a6 ] 40.b4 a3 41.e1! h8 42.g4 [ 42.g4 also probably wins, but I saw no reason to create a mating net for my own king. ] 42...e6 43.c2 b8 44.c6+ d6 45.a6 b7 46.xa3 d7 47.a5 c6 48.c2 b6 49.a4 [ 49.f5 xb4 ] 49...bxa4 50.xa4 c7 51.a3 e7 52.f5 1-0 423
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 439 Salman,Joel Fridman,Daniel Open Southampton BER (2) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2236 2572 08.02.2003
1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.g2 d5 4.b3 [ 4.f3 may be the best move, returning to a mainline, and controlling e5, but perhaps White didn't want to sac his c-pawn? ] 4...e5 Well, why not? 5.d3? In the Reti group of openings White can often play his first 10 to 15 moves almost without thinking, and this sometimes makes us lazy. In fact there are only a few tactics to be aware of, and this is one of them. [ 5.b2 d6 6.f3 e7 is more normal, but Black has already equalised, of course. ] 5...dxc4! Black is on the ball. [ 5...d6 6.e3 g4 7.e2 0-0 8.h3 e6 is nothing special, Sudar, B-Kuljasevic,D/ Pula CRO 2001. ] 6.bxc4?! [ 6.dxc4 is ugly, but a better try, xd1+ ( 6...b4+!? 7.d2 d4 8.xb4 xa1 9.c2 d4 10.f3 gains some compensation for the exchange) 7.xd1 c5 8.e3 f5 and although the white king position is a concern, White is still playing. ] 6...d4 The unpleasant point, winning the poor a1-rook, but this is not a new position, as I have 0-1 Kaissi,Y-Imbert,G/Paris 1994 in my database! 7.c2 Perhaps White relied on this, wh ic h will t ra p t h e qu e e n . xa1 8.e3 White had to control the d4-square, otherwise t h e q u e e n w o u l d e s c a p e . a6 9.a3 W hite tries his best, ...Nb4 was a serious problem. c5 10.e2 f5 11.e4 g4 12.ec3 Now, if only White could play Bb2, he would have a serious threat, but even this is not possible because of the tactic with Nxd3+, forking e1 and c1. [ 12.f3 is no improvement: d8! 13.0-0 xd3 14.fxg4 c5+ 15.h1 xg4 wh en B lac k h as e xt ra ma t eria l a nd t h e attack. ] 12...0-0-0 13.f1 White defends d3, and finally there is a real threat to play Bb2, and win the black queen, but the positional cost has been too great. f3!? Black decides to allow White to trap the queen, seeing that the
white position is now full of holes, but [ 13...e6! was also strong: 14.b2 d4 15.c1 f3+ 16.d1 xh2+ 17.c2 xa3! 18.xa3 f3 and the black queen can escape along the a-line if need be. ] 14.g1 e7?! Fun, but [ 14...e6!? 15.b2 d4 16.d2 xe4! seems convincing, as ...Nf3+ is a threat. ] 15.b2 xb2 16.xb2 xd3+ 17.xd3 xd3 So, White has managed to gain the black queen for a further piece, but his king is stuck in the centre, and his rook out-of-play. 18.d2 c5 19.xf3 xf3 20.d1 d4 21.e2 xa3 Another stock-take shows that Black has a nominal material advantage: rook, bishop and 2 pawns for a queen, but more importantly, the black pieces are well-placed, and the white ones completely passive. 22.g4 h6 23.g3 a1 24.d3 d8 25.f1 d7 26.g2?! Just when White almost had reason to play on, he makes an error! [ 26.f3 c5 27.d2 is better. ] 26...c5 27.d2 e6 Ouch! The menace of forking the queen and king by ...Nf4+ brings the game to a swift conclusion. 28.f3 f4+ 29.h1?! xf2! 30.xd8+ xd8 31.h3 [ 31.xf2 xd1+ doesn't bear consideration. ] 31...c5 32.h2 a2+ 33.h1 a3 As if the queen moves ...Rxh3+ is decisive. 0-1
440 Sambuev,Bator Keosidi,Konstantin 1st Russian Cup (1) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2496 2219 04.07.2003
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c6 3.e3 d5 4.c2 e6 5.b3 e7 This is not quite as aggressive as [ 5...d6 , but it is solid enough. ] 6.b2 0-0 7.g4!? We have seen this move many times before, for instance with the white knight on c3 and bishop still on c1 in Tukmakov - W asnetsky, but in this exact position it seems to be a novelty. [ First 7.g1!? bd7 8.g4 was examined in Gurevich - Wegerle. ] 7...c5?! [ 7...xg4 is clearly the critical try, 8.g1 f5 424
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.h3 f6 10.c3 followed by long castles, when White will have some fun down the gfile, but Black's resources should be sufficient. ] 8.g5 e4 9.h4 c6 10.c3 b4 11.b1 b6!? [ 11...f5!? is possible, to gain some space on the kingside, 12.d3 xc3 13.xc3 f4!? ] 12.a3 Naturally White is not at all interested in [ 12.xe4 dxe4 13.xe4 d7! ( 13...b8?? 14.e5 ) 14.xa8 b7 ] 12...xc3 13.xc3 c6?! After this natural reply Black may already be completely lost! [ 13...b7! is interesting, 14.g2 ( 14.axb4?! d4 favours Black) 14...c6 and White has less possibilities for developing his attack. ] 14.d3 g6 15.h5! Obvious but effective, W h i t e w i l l l e v e r t h e k i n g s i d e o p e n . d4 B la c k t ri e s t o sh u t o n e o f t h e d ia go n a l s p o i n t i n g a t h i s k i n g . 16.hxg6! dxc3 Other moves are worse: [ 16...hxg6?! 17.xg6 dxc3 18.e4 a n d W h i t e w i n s , a s b7? 19.xc6 and Qh7 mate. ] [ 16...fxg6?! 17.xg6 dxc3 18.xh7+ g7 19.g6+ h8 20.g8# ] 17.gxf7+ [ 17.g7 xg7 18.e4 is also strong, cxd2+ 19.xd2 h8 20.xc6 b8 21.b2+ with a continuing attack. ] 17...xf7?! This loses simply, [ 17...xf7 is stronger, but even here 18.e4 b7 19.xh7+ e8 20.xc6+ xc6 21.g6+ d7 22.e5+ c7 23.dxc3 is fairly convincing. ] 18.xh7+ f8 19.e4 cxd2+ 20.xd2 g7 [ 20...d7 21.xc6 xc6 22.h8+ g7 23.h7# ] 21.xc6 [ 21.xc6 b8 22.h8+ g8 23.h7 forces mate. ] 1-0
441 Shchekachev,Andrei Romanov,Evgeny ChInt Open Paris FRA (7) [Jonathan Rowson]
A11 2520 2547 04.07.2008
1.c4 c6 2.f3 f6 3.c3 d5 4.e3 g4 5.b3!? b6 6.e5 e6 7.d4 bd7 8.xd7 xd7 [ 8...xd7 A) 9.xb6!? axb6 ( 9...xb6 10.c5 d7 11.b4 also looks a bit better for White.) 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.d2 and White has a small pull.; B) 9.cxd5 B1) 9...cxd5 10.d2 ( 10.xd5 xb3 11.c7+ d8 12.xe6+ xe6! is an important detail that I confess I missed in my first round of calculation. ); B2) 9...xb3 ] 9.a4! xb3 [ 9...c7 10.c5 c8 11.cxd5 xd5 ( 11...cxd5 12.b5+ ) 12.e4 gives White an edge. f6 13.e5 d5 14.d2 with a position that looks more like a queen's gambit accepted with 3e4 or an advance Caro-Kann, but one where W hite seems somewhat better. ] 10.axb3 0-0-0 When I first saw this position I was looking for a tactical kill based around the idea of e4, Bf4 and Nb6+ followed by mate on a8. I didn't expect it to work, but thought it might highlight a more productive path to an advantage. For what it's worth, I feel White should have a way to be at least somewhat better in this ending, and perhaps more than one way, as the following indicates. That said, I also believe in Black's resources. 11.d3 [ 11.e4 xe4 12.b6+ axb6 13.a8+ c7 14.f4+ e5 15.xe5+ d6 ] [ 11.c3 b8 12.e4 dxe4 ( 12...xe4 13.f4+ a8 14.cxd5 xc3 15.bxc3 cxd5 16.d3 followed by Kd2 keeps the a-file initiative going.) 13.f4+ a8 14.a4 a6 15.c7 e8 16.e2 This ploy is perhaps enough to scare Black a little, but not more. ] [ 11.c5 feels like it should give White a slight pull, but probably nothing to really s c a r e a s e a s o n e d S l a v p l a y e r . b8 12.xd7+ xd7 13.d3 and again we have a position where W hite is slightly for 425
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 play d4, after his eighth move. 9.h3 xf3 The simplest move, [ 9...h5!? is possible, but leads to sharp play after 10.g4 g6 11.e4 ] 10.xf3 0-0 11.e4 White advances his extra central pawn, other, quieter, methods don't offer too much, either: [ 11.b1 Intending a minority attack with b45. e7 12.g2 ad8 13.d4 Transposing into a Queen 's Gambit E xchange pawn structure, but one that is very pleasant for Black. d6 14.g5 h6 15.xf6 xf6 16.e3 h5 Black's position is preferable, Lopushnoy,D-Dreev, A/Russian Club Cup, Maikop RUS 1998. ] 11...dxe4 12.dxe4 e5 Black is slightly ahe ad in develo pme nt, an d starts act ive operations against the white centre. 13.e2 If instead [ 13.g2?! then d3 is awkward. ] 13...e8 Eyeing the e-pawn. 14.g2 g6 15.c2 e7 By putting more pressure on e4, B l a c k f o r c e s t h e f o l l o wi n g m o ve , wh i c h weakens the white light squares. 16.f3 ad8 Black has a very harmonious development, but W hite has the bishop pair, and a potentially mobile kingside mass. 17.d2 d6 442 A11 18.ad1 h5 Black starts a concerted attack Shirov,Alexei 2726 o n W h i t e ' s k i n g s i d e d a r k s q u a r e s . 19.f4 Short,Nigel D 2697 Forced, not only is [ 19.g4?? positional capitulation, but also SuperGM It Sarajevo BIH (4) 20.05.1999 tactical, as White gets mated after h4 ] [Tony Kosten] 19...xg3! 20.xg3 g5+ 21.h2 xf4 1.f3 d5 2.g3 g4 A reversed Trompovsky! 22.xf4 xf4+ 23.h1 So far, this has been Actually, this may be the most flexible line of forced since the 19th move, Black only has all, as played like this Black may even be able two pawns for his piece, but the white king is to do without the move ...c6. This line is a wide open . g3 24.g4 h5 No let-up for 25.f2!? An interesting decision, speciality of Shirov himself, but with black! White. 3.g2 d7 Controlling e5, and putting paid to giving-up a pawn to stop the attack, but [ 25.g1 wa s a l s o a p o s s i b i l i t y , h4 any possibility of White playing Ne5. 4.c4 e6 26.d7! as xd7? loses to 27.g2 ] 5.cxd5 Delaying this capture is worse, [ 5.0-0 for instance, allowing the standard 25...hxg4 26.xf4 xh3+ 27.h2 e3 trick: xf3 6.xf3 e5 7.b3 xf3+ Black prefers to keep the queens on the board, 8.xf3 f6 and Black has solved all of his which is normal, considering the exposed g6 29.xg4 opening problems, Schulze, U-Campora,D/ w h i t e k i n g . 28.h5 W hite recaptures one pawn, but allows an Bern 1992. ] 30.xd1 5...exd5 6.0-0 gf6 7.c3 c6 Black finally i m m e d i a t e d r a w . xd1 plays ...c6, but only once White has shown his And certainly not [ 30.xd1?? e5 and the menace of ...Rh5+, hand. 8.d3 c5 Other developments of this and ...Rg5 wins for Black. ] bishop are also possible, but this is the most active, especially since White is unlikely to 30...h3+ 31.g1 g3+ 32.h1
preference, but Black has nothing in particular to fear. ] [ 11.c5!? f5 12.f3 e6 13.b4 a6 14.g4 g6 15.d2 and if the bishop on d2 reaches the h2-b8 diagonal, W hite will be in business, but I suspect Black can stop that from happening, for instance with Nd7, f6 and e5. ] 11...g4 12.f3 h5 13.d2 g6 14.xg6 [ 14.c5! b8 15.xg6 hxg6 16.d3 d7 17.f2 Still looks somewhat better for White. ] 14...hxg6 15.cxd5 xd5 16.c5 a6 17.d3 f6 White's play is a bit tentative in what follows and Black gradually gets a slight pull, but at this stage W hite is at least not worse. 18.e2 e6 19.h3 d6 20.hc1 c7 21.a5 h5 22.c5 e5 23.xc7 xc7 24.e6 d6 25.xc7 xc7 26.dxe5 xe5 27.d1 xd1 28.xd1 b5 29.d3 a5 30.d2 a4 31.c2 xb3 32.xb3 axb3+ 33.xb3 b5 34.b4 b6 35.e4 c5+ 36.c3 g5 37.g3 c6 38.h4 gxh4 39.gxh4 d6 40.f4 e6 ½-½
426
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 32.h1 now g7 34.f6+ ] ½-½
e5?? loses to
443 Socko,Bartosz Ejsmont,Krzysztof TCh-POL Extraliga (9) [John Watson]
33.d8+
A11 2621 2348 10.09.2006
A Reti with some excitement on the king's wing! It's remarkable how often White plays g4 these days. 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 5.b3 bd7 6.b2 d6 7.c2 This is the same popular anti-Slav system that we see in Kveinys-Ejmont. Black is able to develop smoothly b ut has no targets. 0-0 8.e2 b6 Perhaps a bit slow, although it can't be too bad. I like the looks of [ 8...a6 , because apart from ...b5, it has the idea of stopping Nb5 once Black plays ...e5 and White trades on d5. ] [ 8...e5 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.b5 b8 11.a3 e8 12.c1 is awkward. ] 9.g1!? Typical of modern chess! White doesn't merely want to attack, but also to gain space after g4-g5. [ 9.d4 is the normal idea. ] 9...b7 10.g4 e5 11.g5 Centre versus Flank! Objectively it's unclear but I like Flank's chances on a practical level. e8 12.0-0-0 c7 [ 12...e4 13.d4 c5 14.f5 c7 15.d3! keeps an initiative. ] 13.h4!? At this point Kb1 seems prudent. This works out, but perhaps h4 should be delayed until W hite doesn't need the move Nh4 in response to ...e4. e6 With the good idea of covering d4 after ...e4, but Black never uses it. [ 13...b5!? opens either the c- or b-file. ] 14.b1 e7 15.g2!? A surprising move that is not only slow but exposes the rook on the long diagonal. The point will become clear. Nevertheless [ I like 15.h5! intending e4 16.h4 ] 15...ae8? Extremely passive. Better moves were [ 15...b5 w i t h t h e i d e a 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.xb5 d4! , ] [ 15...ac8 with the same idea. ]
[ or simply 15...e4 16.h2 e5 ] 16.dg1?! [ 16.h5! ] 16...dc5 [ 16...e4 17.h2 e5 is unclear. ] 17.d1!? [ 17.h5! ] 17...e4 18.e1!? b5!? 19.b4 [ 19.f4! looks correct, threatening f5 and h4h5, when exf3 20.xf3 releases Black's grip on d3. ] 19...d7? A turning point. [ 19...a4! looks risky in view of 20.c5 c7 21.f6!? , but White has trouble adding fuel to the fire after ( 21.a1 a5! ) 21...d7 , when the a-file will prove a real problem for him. ] 20.c5 e5 21.f4 xb2 [ 21...exf3 22.xf3 xb2 23.xb2 has the idea h5/g6, and Black's bishop on b7 is a liability. ] 22.xb2 f5? This loses! [ 22...a5!? 23.f5 c7 is the best chance. ] 23.gxf6 xf6 24.g4! f7 [ 24...xb2+ 25.xb2 g6 26.f5 g7 27.fxg6 and things are falling apart. ] 25.f5! ef8 26.h5 xb2+ 27.xb2 ee7 [ 27...g6 28.fxg6 hxg6 29.xg6 xg6 30.xg6+ h7 31.6g5 f6 32.g2! , a n d Nf 4 wi ll c e m e n t W h it e ' s wi n n i n g advantage. ] 28.xf7+ xf7 29.c2 e5 30.d4 1-0
444 Stefanova,Antoaneta Sebag,M FIDE WCh Women World Cup (4.3) [John Bartholomew]
A11 2491 2521 22.11.12
Antoaneta Stefanova is essentially winning out of the opening in this 7.a4 Anti-Slav, blunders badly, then most certainly should have lost. As Tartakower once said, though: "The winner is the player who makes the second to last mistake"! 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.c2 b6 7.a4 [ 7.a3 is the hot move, but the text is no less popular. ] 7...a5 8.a3 e6 9.g5 This knight lunge is 427
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 demands a precise reply. I think Black usually the most direct counter to ...Bc8-e6. should counter with [ One drawback of 7.a4 is that the pawn A1) 14...xg4?! 15.exf7 xf7 sacrifice 9.b3 is no longer feasible. See A1a) and now 16.xe6! would have Bartholomew-Kojima for an example of this been hazardous for Black, i.e. in the 7.Na3 line, though. ] A1a1) 16...h4?! 17.f4 xe6 [ However, 9.e5!? still makes sense, just 18.xe6+ d8 19.g3! h5 as it does without the inclusion of a2-a4 and ( a cool line that illustrates the a7-a5. For example: dangers Black faces here is A) 9...d4 is most common here it leads 19...g5? 20.ae1 b4 and now to complications after 10.xc6 bxc6 21.xh7!!+- is a brutal surprise, e.g. 11.xc6+ , e.g. f8 22.h4 ) 20.f3; A1) 11...d7 12.xa8 xa8 13.xc4 A1a2) 16...xe6 17.xe6+ e7 d5 ( 13...b6 14.xa5 e5 15.d3 ( 17...f7 fails spectacularly to d6 16.d2 Heffalump (2464)18.g5!! (luring the Black queen out Rock doc (2 386 ) p layche ss. com INT o f h e r d e n ) xg5 19.b3+2006 ) 14.b3!? h3 15.b5+! xb5 when the various discoveries are 16.axb5 d5 17.xa5 ab6 18.xb6 immediately decisive) 18.g5 df6 xb6 19.d1 Valdes, L (2366)19.ae1 0-0 20.xe7; Beinoras, M (2346) Istanbul 2012; A1b) 16.xf7? xf7 17.e4 b4! A2) 11...fd7 (I think this is best) 18.xe6+ f8 19.f4 df6 20.h3 12.xa8 xa8 13.d3 h3 14.d1 e5?! xd4 21.hxg4 xf4-+ Carlstedt, J ( 14...d5!? 15.e4 h5 16.xc4; (2379)-Alonso Rosell, A (2521) 14...ab6!? ) 15.xc4 ab6 16.xd4 Figueres 2010; exd4 17.d2 xa4 18.b5 ab6 A2) 14...xe5!N , e.g. 15.dxe5 19.xa5 Tikkanen, H (2591)-Hultin, J ( B l a c k i s d o i n g we l l a f t e r 15.gxh5?! (2307) Malmo 2012; ed7 ) 15...g6! ( 15...xg4?? B) 9...g6 (simply developing) 10.axc4 16.xc6+ bxc6 17.xc6+ e7 xc4 11.xc4 g7 12.d3 d5 13.d2 18.xe6!+- ) 16.b3 d5 17.xb7 0-0 14.fc1 b6 15.e3 c5 16.xd5 c8; xd5 17.xd5 xd5= Zaragatski, I B) 14.f3 has been played a couple times, (2474)-Michiels, B (2502) Netherlands thou gh Bla ck is quit e solid a f te r xe5 2012 ] 15.xh5 g6 16.xe6+ e7! ( 16...fxe6? 9...g4 10.xc4 xe2! 17.xg6+ hxg6 18.xg6+ d7 19.f7 [ 10...xc4 11.xc4 e6 is less resolute. e8 20.xh8 ) 17.xg6 hxg6 e.g. Following 12.e4 h5 13.d4 h6 14.h3 18.e1 ( 18.e2 0-0 19.d2 d5 g6 15.f4! xe4 16.xe4 xe4 20.f3 f6 21.ae1 Maletin, P (2575)17.xe6! White unleashed a promising Panarin, M (2503) Samara 2011 d7= ) attack in Matamoros Franco, C (2460)-Xu 18...0-0 19.d2 d5 20.e4 e8 Jun (2626) Seville 2003/[TonyK]. ] 21.c5 c7 22.b3 b6= Valdes, L 11.e5 h5 12.b4!? Introduced by the (2366)-Michiels, B (2509) Istanbul 2012. ] Czech GM Jiri Stocek in 2000. Computers are initially skeptical of this pawn offering, but 12...e6 No funny business - just development. [ Instead, 12...bd7 led to major they often change their tune when left to stew complications in Radjabov, T (2761)-Smeets, in their own juices for a bit. The text has been J (2601) Wijk aan Zee 2009/[Nigel Davies]: p l a y e d b y s e v e r a l o t h e r s t r o n g p la ye r s , 13.b2 axb4 14.a5 a6 15.fe1 xe5 including Teimour Radjabov. 16.xe5 e6? and here White passed on the [ The alternative is 12.e1 bd7 ( not cr u s h i n g c o n t i n u a t i o n 17.xe6! fxe6 12...h6?! 13.e4 e6?! 14.xc6!; 18.xe6+ f7 ( 18...e7 19.ae1+- ) 12...bd5!? deserves attention) 13.d4 e6 19.c4+- ] and now: [ Nobody has dared to accept the pawn with A) 14.g4!? would be my choice, as it 428
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12...axb4 . After 13.b2 the game could transpose to Radjabov-Smeets. ( 13.e1!? )] 13.b5 [ This is better than 13.bxa5 xa5 14.d4 d6 15.d2 a7 16.a5 bd5 17.a6 0-0 18.axb7 which was immediately agreed drawn in Matamoros Franco, C (2542)-Stella, A ( 2 3 9 8 ) F o r n i d i S o p r a 2 0 1 1 . xb7 19.xc6 d7= ] 13...d6 14.b2 [ 14.d4 0-0!? (this is far more acceptable than in the game) 15.bxc6 bxc6 16.d2 bd5 17.xc6 c8 18.b5 b4 Rodriguez Guerrero, E (2464)-Dunis, A (2534) La Roche sur Yon 2006 ] 14...0-0? Clearly bad. One wonders whether Sebag was on her own at this point or whether she simply confused her lines. Black has at least two valid approaches here: [ 14...xe5 15.xe5 g6 is the most straightforward. After 16.a2 ( 16.b3 looks preferable for instance bd5 17.fc1 c8 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.xd5!? xd5 20.xd5 exd5 21.f3 c5 22.a3 with compensation, but no more) 16...bd5 17.bxc6 bxc6 18.ac1 0-0 Black was on top in Cebalo, M (2478)-Chatalbashev, B (2 5 6 6 ) T rie s t e 2 0 1 1 b e ca u s e 19.xc6?? runs into b4-+ . ] [ 14...c7 i s a l s o f i n e , e . g . 15.c4 ( 15.fe1!? ) 15...xc4 16.xc4 0-0 17.h4 g6 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.ac1 e7 ( 19...d8! ) 20.xc6 Maletin, P (2541)Pilavov, G (2550) Nizhnij Tagil 2006 ab8 .] 15.bxc6 [ E v e n s t r o n g e r w a s 15.xc6! d7 ( 15...bxc6?? 16.xf6 is the point. Black has to play g6 to avoid mate on h7, but 17.xd8 xc2 18.xb6+- leaves White a piece to the good.) 16.xf6 g6 17.e4 bxc6 18.d4! d5 19.bxc6 c7 20.c4 .] 15...c8 16.b1 [ Or simply 16.b3! . ] 16...xe5? Black is sinking fast, though this is only the beginning! [ P r e s u m a b l y s h e r e j e c t e d 16...bxc6 b e c a u s e o f 17.xc6 c7 18.xf6 , but the zwischenzug g6! keeps her alive. Things are still difficult after 19.b2 gxf6
20.e4! ( 20.xf6 d7 ) 20...xe4 21.xe4 f5 22.g2 , but there's still everything to play for. ] 17.cxb7?! Thus initiating a slew of mutual errors that persists until the end of the game. [ White had an easy win with 17.xe5 g6 ( 17...bxc6? 18.xf6+- ) 18.c7!+- . ] 17...c5 18.d4! g6? 19.e4?? A colossal mistake. The pendulum begins to swing... [ Black would be hard-pressed to survive after 19.dxc5! xb1 20.xe5+- . ] 19...c4! 20.d1?! [ 20.dxe5 xe4 21.xe4 xe4 was the lesser evil. ] 20...c7 21.a3 e8? Gulp. [ 21...xe4 w i n s , i . e . 22.xe4 xe4 23.xe4 ( 23.xf8 c3-+ ) 23...d6-+ ] 22.xf6+ gxf6 23.b5 c2 24.e1 xa4 25.h5 c6?! 26.g4+? [ 26.xc6! xc6 27.e4 ] 26...h8 27.xc6 xc6 28.ab1 d5 29.e2 c4 30.c5 d6?? [ Black is up a clean piece after 30...d2! 31.xd2 xc5 ] [ , or even just 30...d6 . ] 31.ec1 xc5? 32.b8? The evaluation is changing move-to-move at this point. [ 32.xc4+- ] 32...xb8 33.xb8+ g7?? Oh no! This is the final straw. [ 33...f8! was absolutely mandatory. Amazingly, it seems to lead to equality! For example: 34.xf8+ g7 35.b8 and now e5! 36.xc6 f3+ 37.f1 xh2+ 38.g1 f3+ 39.f1= ( 39.g2?? xd4+-+ )] 34.xc4 Now White is (take a deep breath!) winning. xd4 [ Black should try 34...b6 35.xd5 exd5 36.xb6 xb6 , though White's win should only be a matter of technique. ] 35.xc6 a2 36.f3 f5 37.bc8 a4 38.8c2 b3 39.xb3 Black resigns. One of the most blunder-filled contests I've seen from players of this caliber for quite some time, though we must remember that it was played in the ultra-nervy quarterfinal stage of the Women's World Championship. Black looks to be in good theoretical shape in this line, so long as he/she chooses a better continuation
429
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 on move 14 like 14...Be5 or 14... Qc7. 1-0
445 Stefanova,Antoaneta Zhukova,Natalia North Ural Cup (6) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2503 2439 14.08.2003
Th e e n d in g t h a t a rise s h e re se e m s ve ry pleasant for White, and this is the first time that Black actually manages to win a game. However, she needed a lot of help from her opponent! 1.c4 c6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 f5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.b3 I recommended this in my book as a simple method of playing against Lasker's System. b6 Black accepts doubled pawns to remove the pressure on b7, and will have the halfopen a-file in exchange. [ 6...c8 is the main alternative, see my game against Bunzmann from Montpellier 2001. ] 7.xb6 axb6 8.c3 c6 9.d3 e6 10.b5 This is the normal move here, b5 is a strong square for the knight, as there are no black pawns to chase it away, but no doubt other moves are possible. b4+ 11.d2 e7 12.fd4 xd2+ 13.xd2 Both kings stay in the centre as for the moment they are entirely safe in this endgame on dark squares whilst the centre is closed. g6 14.f4! An important move, restraining ...e5. a4 This active move appears to be the mo st logical, as Black attacks the d4-knight, and prepares to double rooks, or play ...Rb4. [ But there are others: 14...h6 15.a3 hc8 16.ac1 h7 17.h3 d7 18.c3 with a pleasant edge which White managed to transform, Portisch,L-Smyslov,V/Wijk aan Zee 1972. ] [ 14...a5 15.e3 e8 16.a3 xd4 17.xd4 d7 18.ac1 c5 Fra n c o O c a m p o s, Z-B ra vo B a rra n co , N/ B a r c e l o n a E S P 2 0 0 0 , a n d n o w 19.b4 looks very unpleasant, i.e. cc8 20.f5! xf5 21.xf5+ exf5 22.xd5 and the b7-pawn is in trouble. ] [ 14...hc8 15.h3 h5 16.hg1 g4 17.g2 h5?! 18.h3 f5 19.xf5+ exf5
Black's structure is weak, Nguyen Ngoc Truongson-Megaranto,S/Ho Chi Minh City VIE 2003. ] 15.e3 This new move seems very sensible, White defends her knight on d4 rather than retreat by [ 15.c2 although after ha8 16.a3 d7 17.b4! (stopping the knight from coming to c5, and leaving the rooks looking silly on the a-file) f6?! 18.hc1 f8 19.g4 White had a nice advantage in Kirov,N-Van der Sterren, P/ Baku 1983, the game continuing d8 20.f5! exf5 21.gxf5 xf5 22.c3 a7 23.xd5+ f7 24.xb6 winning easily. ] 15...h6 16.a3 h7 The bishop withdraws from g6 so that tricks with f5 have less effect, b u t i t s e e m s t i m e - c o n s u m i n g . 17.hf1!? White decides on a kingside demonstration, but [ 17.ac1 c8 18.h3 seems very pleasant for W hite, she can continue with moves such as b4, g4, Rc3, etc. with good perspectives. ] 17...aa8 18.h3 hc8 19.g4 d7 20.f5 This is the point of White's play, she attempts to undermine d5, but [ 20.b4 was a sensible alternative, controlling c5. ] 20...g8 21.h4!? [ 21.fxe6! fxe6 22.e4 is interesting, with the idea of opening the e-file and embarrassing the black king. ] 21...ce5 22.g5 [ 22.e4! dxe4 23.xe4 c5 24.ae1 gives White a strong attack on the king. ] 22...c5 Black counterattacks the d3-square, w h i c h s e e m s t o b e d e f e n c e l e s s . 23.b4! cxd3 24.ab1?! Apparently trapping the knight by controlling its only escape square, but [ 24.e4!? seems very strong, blowing open the centre and long diagonal, hxg5 25.hxg5 d8! the best chance ( 25...b2 26.exd5 bc4+ 27.e2 exd5 28.xd5 tears Black apart ) 26.exd5 exd5 27.f6+! ( 27.c7 ac8 28.xd5+ xd5! 29.xd5 d8 ) 27...gxf6 28.xf6 with powerful threats. ] 24...b2! Anyway! 25.xb2 c4+ 26.c3 xe3+ 27.d3 xf1 28.xf1 hxg5 29.hxg5 e5 Rook and two pawn are generally worth two piece s, especia lly h ere a s th e 430
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pawns are central pawns controlling important squares, but White has plenty of resources. 30.f6+?! White panics, and gives a further pawn. [ 30.e2 is s i m p le a n d g o o d , e . g . f6 31.d2! (saf er on a dark square) d7 32.e6! xe6 33.fxe6+ e7 ( 33...xe6? 34.h3+ f5 35.d4+! turns the tables) 34.h3 and the strong e6-pawn keeps White alive. ] 30...gxf6 31.gxf6+ xf6 32.f2+ e7 33.f5+ f8 34.e3 h7+ 35.d2 c6! [ 35...e4? 36.d3! xd3 37.xd3 d4 38.g4 e8 39.e2 wins the central pawns. ] 36.d3?! Drawing the pawns forward. [ 36.g4 e4 37.e3 gives chances of blocking the pawns on light squares. ] 36...e4 37.b1 d4! 38.xd4 What else? d8 39.ec2 xc2+! 40.xc2 xd4+ 41.e3 c4 Now Black is completely winning with two good pawns more. 42.b5?! c3+ 43.d4 xa3 44.e2 a2 45.e3 b2 46.h2 g6 47.h8+ g7 48.c8 xb5 49.e8 f5 50.e7+ f6 51.xb7 Regaining one pawn, but she could have resigned and saved herself the trouble. g5 52.d4 c5 53.a4 a5 54.c6 a3 55.xb6 d3+ 56.e5 e3 57.b1 h5 58.g1+ g4 59.f3 e2 60.xg4 [ 60.xe2 e3+ ] 60...fxg4 61.e1 e3+ 62.d4 f4 0-1
agree that W hite's best chances for an advantage are connected with this knight jump. [ Marin indicates that 5.cxd5 xf3! 6.xf3 cxd5 is less challenging to Black. The first player can try to squeeze something (and Marin presents a decent case for doing so in a later chapter), but W hite's bishops are d e va lu e d in t h is se m i- cl o se d p o s it i o n . S t a t ist ics co n f irm t h e ro b u st n a t u re o f Black's game. ] 5...e6 This is the most solid retreat. Black intends to recapture on d5 with his bishop while avoiding any unpleasantries associated with a tempo-gaining g3-g4. [ 5...h5?! is known to be risky for Black: 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.c3 e6 8.a4+ bd7 9.g4 g6 10.h4 ] [ Likewise 5...f5?! is begging for punishment: 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.c3 e6 8.g4!? ( 8.a4+ bd7 9.g4 g6 transposes to the line above. ) 8...g6 9.h4 ] 6.cxd5 xd5 7.f3 White must not permit B l a c k t o e x c h a n g e b i s h o p s f o r f r e e . c5 Securing the c6 square for the bishop is most popular. [ 7...e5 8.c3 e4 9.g5!? ( Marin's 9.h4 is safer ) 9...e3! A) 10.xd5 exf2+ 11.xf2 c5+?? ( 11...cxd5= ) 12.d4+Reinderman, D (2617)-Kleijn, C (2429)/PlayChess.com INT 2011.; B) 10.f3 exd2+ ( 10...h6!? ) 11.xd2 bd7 12.0-0 c5+ 13.h1 0-0 14.b3 h6?! 15.e4! xb3 16.axb3 hxg5 446 A11 17.xg5 d4 18.d2 c5 19.c2 b6 20.b1 e6= Hickl, J (2572) Sundararajan,Kidambi 2474 Charnushevich, A (2501)/ Switzerland SUI Sriram,Jha 2410 2010.; 49th ch-NatA (7) 15.10.2011 C) 10.dxe3 xg2 11.xd8+ xd8 [John Bartholomew] 12.g1 d5 13.xd5 cxd5 14.xf7+ e7 15.xh8 e6 An interesting 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 f6 4.g2 g4 endgame is reached where W hite's h8 The Capablanca Variation. knight will soon perish, but Black will have [ T h e p r i n c i p l e d p a w n g r a b 4...dxc4 to cope with White's mass of pawns on the has been examined many times on this site. kingside. ] For an overview of this and other options [ 7...g6 is stodgy. 8.c3 ( 8.0-0 g7 9.c3 (such as the common 4...Bf5), see Nigel 0-0 10.d4 t r a n s p o s e s) 8...g7 9.0-0 Davies's "Reti - 1. c4 c6 with g3" guide in ( 9.xd5 cxd5 10.0-0 c6= Mogranzini, R the archives. ] (2387)-Epishin, V (2598)/Porto San Giorgio 5.e5 Marin gives this move a "!" in "GM ITA 2010. ) 9...0-0 10.d3 xf3!? 11.xf3 Repertoire 4 - The English Opening vol. 2". I 431
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a6 ( 11...bd7 ) 12.d2 d7 13.b1 d5 14.c2 ac8 15.fc1 fd8 16.a4 1/2-1/2 Kreisl, R (2394)-Postny, E (2585)/ Aix-les-Bains FRA 2011 (43) ] 8.c3 c6 9.0-0 e6 10.d3 Seeking to reduce the influence of Black's bishop with a subsequent e2-e4. [ White can take the game into Catalan territory with 10.d4 ] [ A few GMs have also experimented with 10.e1!? i.e. e7 ( 10...bd7 11.e4 e5?! 12.a4 e7 13.d3 0-0 14.d2 e8 15.c4 f8 16.f4 b6 17.g4!? Wang Hao (2722)-Ma Qun (2366)/ Hefei CHN 2010.) 11.e4 b6? ( 11...0-0 ) 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 b7 14.e5 d5 15.f5 exf5 16.xd5 c6 17.b3 c8 18.xe7 xe7 19.g5+ e8 20.ad1 1-0 Pantsulaia, L (2588)Coleman, J (2136)/Dubai UAE 2010. ] 10...e7 11.e4 0-0 12.e1 Probably an inaccuracy. [ 12.e2 is Marin's recommendation, keeping d1 as an option for White's rook. A r e c e n t g a m e c o n t i n u e d b5!? 13.a4 " ! " M a r i n . ( 13.a3 b4 14.axb4 cxb4 15.a4 b5 16.d1 c6 17.b3 Zygouris, H (2215)-Al Sayed, M (2490)/ Ca le t a E NG 2 0 1 1 . c8; 13.d1 b4 14.b1 Johannesson, I (2338)-Halldorsson, J (2195)/Egilsstadir ISL 2011. a4!? 15.b3 b5 and Black has successfully impeded White's intended Nb1-d2-c4 maneuver due to the pressure on d3.) 13...b4 14.b1 b7 15.e5?! ( 15.bd2 c6 16.c4 c8 17.f4 White has achieved his strategic goal of establishing his knight on c4. Black has a couple of weaknesses to cope with, though nothing is decided yet.) 15...fd7! 16.c4 c6 17.f4 b6 ( 17...g5!? 18.e3 de5 19.d1 a6 ) 18.bd2 d4 19.g4 f5 Astrup, K (2274)-Straeter, T (2325)/ Stockholm SWE 2011. ] 12...b5!? If 12...b5 is playable against 12. Qe2, I see no reason why it shouldn't be here. W hit e ha s t o f ine-t une his pla ns if B lack insists upon maximum queenside space. [ Marin dismisses 12.Re1 due to a game of his with 12...b6 : 13.e5 d8 14.a4 ( 14.e2!? ) 14...bd7 15.a5 ( Perhaps 15.c4 maintains a small edge.) 15...c7 16.xc6 bxc6 1/2-1/2 Marin, M (2583)-
Balogh, C (2595)/Arinsal AND 2009. ] 13.d4?! White shouldn't be worse after this, but an effective d3-d4 break (if it comes at all) requires further preparation. [ Better is 13.e5 i.e. A) 13...fd7 14.xc6 xc6 15.e5! ( 15.xb5?! de5 ); B) 13...e8 14.a4 b4 15.e2 c6 16.c4 d7= Moor, R (2362)-Sermier, G (2381)/Switzerland 200809. Black has organized effectively and enjoys excellent control over the critical d4 and e5 squares. ] 13...b4 14.a4 cxd4 [ 14...c4!? 15.e5 d5 ] 15.e5 fd7 16.xd4 xg2 17.xg2 xe5!? [ Black is totally fine after 17...b6 ] [ or 17...c7 but he prefers a tactical solution. ] 18.xe5 c6 19.e4 e5 20.xc6?? Flat-out collapsing. [ White failed to notice 20.g5 , when the tactical flurry d5! 21.xc6 xe4+ 22.f3 xc6 23.xe7 fc8!? results in rough dynamic equality, e.g. ( or 23...fe8 24.c1! b7 25.g5 e4 26.c5 exf3+ 27.f2 )] 20...xd1 21.xe7+ h8 Three pieces for the queen, but none of them coordinated! 22.b3 d7 23.xe5 fe8 24.g5 f6 0-1
447 Tikkanen,Hans Hector,Jonny ch-SWE 2012 Falun SWE (6.2) [John Bartholomew]
A11 2573 2530 12.07.2012
Jonny Hector is known for his aggressive brand of chess. In this game he chances a little-known idea in the Anti-Slav only to see it backfire from Hans Tikkanen's energetic play. 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 dxc4 4.g2 f6?! Defending the c4-pawn with ...Bc8-e6 is a normal occurrence in this line, but in turn Black often encounters the bothersome Nf3g5 thrust. W ith 4...f6 Hector takes the g5square under control and prepares the maneuver ... Bc8-e6-f7. Highly original, but can Black afford such extravagance? 432
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ The main line is 4...f6 . We have recently exam ined the gam bit cont inua tio n 5.0-0 bd7 6.a3 b6 7.c2 d5 8.b3 cxb3 ( 8...f5?! Mikhalevski, V (2525) -Matinian, N (2438)/Moscow RUS 2012/[John Bartholomew]) 9.axb3 e6 , when 10.b4! l e d t o a s p a r k l i n g vi c t o r y f o r W h i t e i n Timman, J (2571)-Ernst, S (2606)/Wijk aan Zee NED 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] 5.a3 [ 5.c2 e6 6.a3 would transpose. ] 5...e6 [ 5...e5!?N is inconsistent with Black's main idea, but in light of the game continuation it may be best. 6.xc4 e4 7.g1 ] 6.c2 b5 7.b3! The familiar Anti-Slav lever. Black is further behind in development than normal, thus W hite has the go-ahead to rip open the queenside. f7 [ Black accepted the pawn in the only two previous games with 4...f6: 7...cxb3 8.axb3 a6 ( 8...d7 9.0-0 h3? 10.xh3 xh3 11.xb5! d7 12.a3 a6 13.c4 a7 14.d4 g5 15.d1 g4 16.h4 h6 17.e4 xc1 18.axc1+Poettinger, H (2200)Kondrak, C (2176)/Salzburg AUT 2012. Black's scattered forces, numerous pawn weaknesses, and open king make this an e a s y c a l l .) 9.0-0 a7 10.d4 d7 Xiu, D (2521)-Deshmukh, A (2326)/Kuala Lumpur MAS 2010. Here 11.e4 is the most natural way to continue, i.e. e6 12.e3 when White's compensation is abundantly clear. ] 8.bxc4 b4 Desperately trying to contain White's growing initiative. 9.b1 e5 10.a3! Tikkanen is persistent! h6?! Black's position is highly unenviable, so it's tough to query any attempt at development. [ Still, 10...d7 offered better chances for survival. ] 11.0-0 g6 12.a4 [ 12.b2!? ] 12...bxa3 13.h4! h5 14.c3 f7 15.c5 g5 16.b3+ e8? [ For better or worse Black had to try 16...g7 17.b7+ d7 18.xc6 when xc5! keeps some hope alive. 19.xa3 ] 17.e4!? A difficult move to resist. [ Also strong is 17.b7 d7 18.xc6+- ] 17...d7
[ 17...gxh4 18.e6+ e7 19.xf6+ f8 20.xh5+- is the point. ] 18.e6+ e7 19.d4!+A final blow that su c c e e d s i n b r e a ki n g B l a c k ' s b a c k . g4 20.d6+ f8 21.hf5 xf5 22.xf5 xf5 23.xf5 Black cannot deal with the dual threats on c6 and g5. The bishops have a field day. c7 24.xg5 exd4 25.h6+ e8 26.g7 f7 27.xh8 xh8 28.fc1 e5 29.xa3 g7 30.f4 g6 31.ca1 This game had all the makings of an early rout. Black tempted fate with the time-consuming 4...f6?!, and White had plenty of bullets in the chamber to mete out the punishment (7.b3!, 10.a3!, and 19.d4!). Tikkanen went on to win the Swedish Championship in a f our-way playoff, so congratulations are in order to him! 1-0
448 Timman,Jan Ernst,Sipke 74th Tata Steel GMB (5) [John Bartholomew]
A11 2571 2606 19.01.2012
1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.c2 b6 7.a3 d5 8.b3 "Let's make it a true gambit, Alex." I believe this is the most promising option White has available, and Timman's sure handling makes 8.b3 all the more appealing. [ Mihail Marin gives 8.e1 an exclam in "Grandmaster Repertoire 4 - The English O p e n i n g vo l. 2 " . Ne ve rt h e le s s, li m it e d practical results have favored Back in the l i n e s w i t h d4 , For example, Marin's line ( 8...f5 Pantsulaia, L (2581)- Sundararajan, K (2487)/Dubai UAE 2009/[Nigel Davies],; and 8...e6 Marin, M (2583)-Laznicka, V (2617)/Benasque ESP 2009/[Nigel Davies],; but not 8...f5?! Marin, M (2556)-Ris, R (2436)/Reykjavik ISL 2009/[Nigel Davies].) 9.e3 g4 10.e4 has been improved upon a f e w t i m e s , i . e . e5 ( Other new moves include 10...g6 , Eichhorn, A (2294)-Roiz, M (2645) /Biel SUI 2010.; and 10...h5!? , Janssen, R (2512)-Spoelman, W (2564)/ Boxtel NED 2011.) 11.xc4 xc4 12.xc4 and now e6 ( See the archives for 12...d6 Zueger, B (2448)-Gagunashvili, M 433
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 (2580)/Istanbul 2003/ . This is the only move Marin considers.) 13.c2 e2!? ( 13...h5!? ) 14.b3 0-0-0 15.c3 b5 16.b2 c5! with interesting play. Tkachiev, V (2636) -Fressinet, L (2707)/Wijk aan Zee NED 2011. ] [ An alternative is 8.h4 , Davies, N (2475)Adams, M (2555)/Blackpool 1990/[Nigel Davies]. ] 8...cxb3 [ I'm not convinced by 8...f5?! , e.g. 9.b2 ( 9.bxc4 xf3 10.xf3 xc2 11.xc2 xc4= Davies, N (2512)-Haslinger, S (2423)/ Swansea 2006/[Nigel Davies].; 9.c3!? ) 9...cxb3 10.axb3 e6 11.c4 d8 12.d3 e7 13.a5!? ( Better than 13.xb6 axb6 14.xa8 xa8 , Mihajlovic, M (2243)Kuzmanovic, R (1996)/ Belgrade 2007.) 13...c8 14.b4! 0-0 15.b5 with excellent play. ] 9.axb3 e6 The main continuation. [ Black has also tried 9...g6 ] [ and 9...h5 see the notes to GrandeliusKuipers (below). ] 10.b4!? Surprisingly a novelty. [ 10.b1 was examined in Grandelius, N (2515)-Kuipers, S (2340)/ Wijk aan Zee NED 2010/[Nigel Davies]. ] [ White can also stoke the fire with 10.d3!? , i.e. xb3 11.d2 ( 11.e3 xc2 12.xc2 bd5 13.xa7 c3 14.e4 b3 15.c5?! xa1 16.xa1 a4! 17.e3 xc2 18.d4 xd3 19.xa4 xe4 Thorfinnsson, B (2419)-Friedel, J (2529)/ Reykjavik ISL 2011.) 11...d5 12.g5 d7 13.xe6 xe6 14.c4 ( 14.b2!? ) 14...xc4 15.dxc4 c8 16.e3 e6 17.xa7 e7 18.d2 0-0 19.b1 wit h c o m p e n sa t io n t h a t wa s o n ly go o d enough for a draw. Valdes, L (2391)Gonzalez, B (2416)/San Jose CRC 2011. ] 10...b3 This is definitely critical. [ White isn't opposed to a slower pace, e.g. 10...g6 , e.g. 11.b2 g7 12.e5 ] 11.xb3 [ W hite has full compensation after 11.b5 xc2 12.xc2 cxb5 (White has sacrificed his entire queenside structure!) 13.cd4 d7 14.e5 , but again - not much more. fd5 15.xd7 xd7 16.xb5 a6 17.d4 e6= ]
11...xb3 12.b5 c5? Understandable, but Black quickly runs into problems on the long diagonal. [ 12...a4! looks best. Now 13.e5!? ( or 13.bxc6 xc6 14.c2 ) 13...fd5 14.bxc6 bxc6 15.d3 e6 16.b2 f6 17.fc1 gives White certain compensation, though Black maintains a sound position. ] 13.d3 fd7 [ or 13...g6 14.d2 d5 15.e4 e6 16.e5 fd5 17.ac4 ] 14.d2 d5 15.e4 e6 16.f4 f6?! [ 16...g6!? ] 17.e5! Timman confidently develops his initiative. d5 [ 17...b8 was more resilient, although it's already tough. 18.ac4 ] 18.e6! xe6 19.xb7 b8 20.c6 g6 21.ac4 White completely dominated the opening discussion. The pawn deficit is really a moot point when Black cannot complete development, coordinate his pieces, or secure his king. Black's position is probably already be yo nd sa lvat io n . c8 22.e4 f7?! 23.e5+! An elegant blow. It's nice to see the Dutchman in his element! xe5 [ Steve Giddins provides the following line on ChessBase. com: 23...fxe5 24.g5+ f6 25.fxe5+ xe5 26.e1+ ( or 26.f4+ f6 27.xe6+- ) 26...f6 27.xe6+ g7 and now 28.xd7 continues the massacre. ] 24.fxe5 f5 25.xc5 Material equality has been restored, yet White's attack hasn't fizzled a bit. g7 26.d4 [ T h e i m m e d i a t e 26.xf5! was more efficient. ] 26...d8 27.xf5! gxf5 28.e6+ g6 29.d7 Black is helpless. d6 [ or 29...b6 30.xb6 axb6 31.a8 when xd4 32.xc8 d1+ 33.g2 xc1 loses to 34.e8++- ] 30.xb8 xb8 31.xa7 xb5 32.xe7 h6 33.e8+ Jan Timman made it look easy in this game. 8.b4!? is a natural decision that gives Black real problems. 1-0
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.c3?! xc3 10.dxc3 fd7 11.xd7 A11 xd7 , Christiansen, J (2062)-Bai, J (2288) Timman,Jan 2566 Maribor SLO 2012. ] Smeets,Jan 2615 Tata Steel Chess 2013 (6.10) 18.01.2013 9...bxc6 10.xc6+ d8 Black has three ways to escape the check, but it's not clear [John Bartholomew] which one is best. [ For example, 10...fd7 appears equally Jan Timman turned in a 2653 performance in playable, i.e. 11.xa8 xa8 12.d3 h3 the "B" group this year, ahead of many very ( 12...g6 13.d1 g7 14.xc4 0-0 15.e3 talented teenage Grandmasters. He is 61 d5 16.ac1 ab6 17.b3 was roughly years old and plays at least as well as any level in De Ramos, J (2362)-Yeoh, L (2264) ambitious young gun! 1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 Penang MAS 2012; 12...ab6 13.dxc4 h3 3.g2 c6 4.c4 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.c2 14.d1 c5?! 15.e4! e6 16.e3 c8 b6 7.a3 e6 This line remains critical. 17.c5! f5 18.f4 xc5 19.ac1 0-0 [ Timman won a brilliant game with his novel 20.xc5 xc5 21.e3 1-0 Prusikin, M 7...d5 8.b3 cxb3 9.axb3 e6 10.b4! (2541)-Pacher, M (2403) Merlimont 2011) almost exactly a year prior to the present 13.d1 d5 14.f3 ( 14.e4!? ) 14...e5 ga m e . S e e T im m a n , J (2 5 7 1 )- E rn st , S ( 14...d4+!? 15.e3 f6 16.xc4 ab6 (2606) Wijk aan Zee 2012/[John 17.f4 ) 15.dxc4 c5+ 16.h1 e6 Bartholomew]. ] with a messy, roughly balanced game in 8.e5!? Enterprising! White is willing to Vojinovic, J (2346) -Houska, J (2415) Porto sacrifice the knight on c6. The Dutch legend Carras 2011. ] is always spoiling for a fight in Wijk aan Zee. [ Black can also consider 10...d7 . 11.xa8 [ The usual continuation is 8.g5 g4 xa8 12.xc4 ( 12.xc4!? Trella, T (2395)9.xc4 , b u t a f t e r xe2 10.e5 h5 Russo, J (2097) Belgium 2010) 12...b6 11.e1 h6! Black drew with ease in Dubov, 13.xb6 xb6 14.d3 d5 15.e4 b4 D (2594)-Potkin, V (2651) Moscow 2012/ 16.c3 e6 17.e3 b7 18.a3 c6 [John Bartholomew]. ] B r u n e ll o , S ( 2 5 3 7 )- K o r n e e v, O ( 2 5 7 3 ) [ I ventured the thematic pawn sacrifice Otranto 2011 19.b4 ] 8.b3!? in Bartholomew, J (2427)-Kojima, S An important zwischenzug, (2340) London 2012/[John Bartholomew]. I 11.b5 obtained good compensation for the pawn inconveniencing Black's queen. [ I think less is promised by the immediate after cxb3 9.axb3 g6 10.c4 g7 11.a5 11.xa8 , as played twice by an expert in c8 12.b2 0-0 13.e4 d8 14.fe1!? t h is l in e , L e vo n P a n t s u la ia . A f t e r xa8 e8 15.xg7 xg7 16.d4 . See last 12.d3 ( 12.b5!? was played in Pantsulaia, month's update. ] L ( 2 5 5 7 ) - K e l e r , F ( 2 2 3 8 ) K o n ya 2 0 1 2 . 8...d4 Smeets takes up the gauntlet. Perhaps Black should react with d7 , i.e. [ 8...g6 is a calm alternative, i.e. 9.axc4 13.a4 a6 14.a3 d5 15.d1 h3 16.f3 xc4 10.xc4 g7 11.b3 d5 ( 11...0-0 d4+! 17.e3 d5 ) 12...cxd3 13.d1 12.b2 d7 13.e4 h3 14.d4 xg2 dxc2 14.xd4+ d7 Black has proven to be 15.xg2 ac8 16.ad1 fd8 17.fe1 q u i t e s a f e , i . e . 15.xc2 ( 15.c4 Fridman, D (2661)-Buhmann, R (2579) Bonn Pan tsu laia, L (261 7)-Co lovic, A (24 77 ) 2011 ) 12.b2 xg2 13.xg2 0-0 ( 13...c5 H e r a k l i o 2 0 0 7 e8!? 16.g5 c7 ) 14.fd1 0-0 15.d4 cxd4 16.xd4 c7 15...b6 16.f4 e6 17.d6?! xd6 17.ac1 Pantsulaia, L (2599)-Sargissian, G 18.xd6 e7 19.dd1 b8 Shimanov, A (2677) Khanty-Mansiysk 2010) 14.d3 (2600)-Potkin, V (2642) Tyumen 2012. ] ( perhaps 14.ad1!? intending d2-d4 [ 11.d3 ] prom is es m ore) 14...c5 15.ac1 c8 16.fd1 d5+ 17.g1 fd8= Pantsulaia, L 11...c5 12.xa8 xb5 [ Nobody has tried 12...xa8!?N . A possible (2510)-Palo, D (2519) Gothenburg 2005. ] continuation is 13.a4 a6 ( Black certainly 9.xc6 has other moves, i.e. 13...d5!? ) 14.d4! [ Nothing is to be gained from the cowardly 449
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 b6 15.c3 ( 15.a3!? ) 15...c7 16.e4 with complex play where I'd most definitely choose White. ] 13.g2 h5!? 14.h4!? Timman comes armed with a small novelty. [ Smeets already has this position at the Olympiad against the aforementioned GM Pantsulaia. That game went 14.d3 cxd3 15.d1 f5 16.e4 xe4 17.xd3+ xd3 18.xd3+ d6 and Black was not worse in the queenless middlegame. Pantsulaia, L (2575)-Smeets, J (2608) Istanbul 2012. ] 14...f5 [ 14...g6!? deserves attention. ] 15.e4 d7 16.a4!? xa4 [ 16...b3 17.xb3 cxb3 18.a5 c4 19.d1!? ] 17.e5! The point of White's last move. e8 [ On 17...g4 18.e4! is a dangerous response. ] 18.e1 e6 19.f1 c5? An error from which Black never recovers. 20.d3! b3 [ Black's pieces suffer from a serious lack of coordination after 20...cxd3 21.xd3 , i.e. b6 22.d1 c7 23.e4+- with decisive t h r e a t s ( R a 1 xa 4 , R d 1 xd 7 , b 2 - b 3 ) . c8 24.xd7 ] 21.xc4 xc4 22.dxc4 c7 23.d1 c8 24.xd7! xd7 25.xa4 White is a pawn to the good and possesses the bishop pair to boot. b8 26.e2 g6 27.d1 d4 28.b3 a6 29.f4 c3 30.a2 c6 31.f1 a5 32.d2! b4 33.xb4 axb4 34.f3+ b6 35.c5+!? Nearly forcing the game into a rook ending where Black will be hard pressed to hold. b5 [ Of course 35...xc5? 36.c2+ b6 37.c6+ b7 38.xe6+ c8 39.e7+is a disaster. ] 36.d2 d5 37.xd5 exd5 38.xd5 b7 39.e2 c6 40.d3 e7 41.f4 a7 [ 41...f6? 42.d6++- ] 42.f5! gxf5 43.f3 a1 44.f4 f1+?! [ More tenacious is 44...xc5 45.xf5 ( not 45.g5? c1! 46.xh5 c3 ) 45...e1 , with some chances to hold. ] 45.g5 xc5 46.xh5 c1 47.f3! c3 48.xf5 d5 [ 48...xg3 49.e6++- ] 49.g4 e6 50.f6+ e7 51.g5 xb3 52.e6! fxe6 53.g6+Power of the
connected passed pawns! h3 54.h5 b3 55.h6 Black resigned. 8.Ne5!? can lead to rather obscure play where both should know what's going on. Black is fine in theory, but he does have a smaller margin for error. A wellprepared White player can most certainly try to catch him unawares. 1-0
450 Timman,Jan H Glek,Igor V TCh-FRA Top 16 Gp A (6) [Carsten Hansen]
A11 2561 2546 12.04.2008
1.f3 f6 2.g3 g6 3.b3 g7 4.b2 0-0 5.g2 d5 6.c4 c6 7.0-0 a5 8.d3 g4 [ 8...a4 9.a3!? was discussed in BruzonNielsen, Esbjerg 2003 which can be found in the PGN archives ] 9.bd2 bd7 10.c1 [ White has tried a couple of other things in this position: A) 10.a3 e8 ( 10...e8 11.xg7 xg7 12.c2 , and a draw was prematurely agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, Damjanovic, M-Padevsky, N/ Bari 1972; 10...b8 11.c2 e6 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 e8 14.e4 dxe4 15.dxe4 e5 16.fe1 f8 17.c3 c7 18.b4 with a small but clear advantage, Dobrovolsky, L-Konopka, M/ K u n za k 2 0 0 1; 10...xf3 11.xf3 e6 12.c2 e7 13.e3 e8 14.fc1 xb2 15.xb2 ef6 16.b4 a4 17.d2 Lehmitz, G-Okrushnoy, I/corr 1990) 11.h3 ( 11.c2 e5 12.e4 dxe4 13.dxe4 c7 14.c5 f8 15.b4 xf3 16.xf3 axb4 17.axb4 xa1 18.xa1 b6 19.cxb6 xb6 20.c1 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/ 2, in Smejkal, J-Kholmov, R/Sochi 1973 there is very little to be played for in the final position.) 11...xf3 12.xf3 ( 12.xf3 e6 13.c2 h5 14.d4 hf6 15.d2 a4 16.b4 b5 , 1/2-1/2, Znamenacek, KDamjanovic, M/Prague 1987, but White can obviously play on with 17.c5 , and if e5 18.dxe5 xe5 , then 19.e4!? promises White the better chances) 12...e5 13.g2 b6 14.c1 ( In a later game, White tried to improve with 14.c2 d4 15.ab1 f8 16.h2 h5 17.c1 g7 18.b2 c5 436
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 completely winning at this stage, Black 19.e4 xe4 20.xe4 e6 rather miraculously managed to get a , and although Black has a fully satisfactory draw in this game, Psakhis, L-Paehtz, E/ game, the point at stake was halved at this playchess.com INT 2004; point, 1/2-1/2, Prokopchuk, E-Galkin, A/ D2) 11...fc8 12.fe1 xf3 13.xf3 e6 Krasnoiarsk 1998) 14...d4 15.c2 f8 14.e3 d8 15.b4 axb4 16.axb4 f8 16.ce1 h5 17.h2 f5 18.e3 dxe3 17.c5 e8 18.b3 c7 19.xg7 19.xe3 ad8 20.e2 c5 21.d4 exd4 xg7 20.d4 Bistric, F-Vucic, M/Rijeka 22.xe8 xe8 23.xd4 d8 24.f3 e4 2001; , and although I prefer White with his safer E) 10...xf3 11.xf3 b6 12.ac1 a4 king and pair of bishops, the position is more 13.d4 a6 14.b4 a3 15.c3 fc8 or even at this point, Prokopchuk, E-Galkin, 16.h3 e6 17.e5 h6 18.xd7 xd7 A/Kolontaevo 1997 ] 19.f4 dxc4 20.dxc4 McNab, C-Morris, P/ [ B) 10.c2 London 1990 ] A) 10...a4 11.b4 e8 12.h3 xf3 [ C) 10.b1 b8 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.d4 e5 13.xf3 a3 14.c3 e5 15.e4 d4 16.d2 13.b5 a6 14.h3 e6 15.e4 b6 h5 17.c5 Volkmann, F-Neubauer, M/ ( 15...c8!? ) 16.c3 dxe4 17.dxe4 c8 Aschach 1992; ( 17...c5 18.d5 xd5 19.exd5 f5 B) 10...c8 11.fc1 e8 12.h3 xf3 20.a3! c8 21.c1 ) 18.d5 xd5 13.xf3 e6 14.a3 c5 15.e3 b6 16.ab1 19.exd5 f5 20.c1 d3 21.e1 e7 17.cxd5 exd5 18.b4 axb4 19.axb4 Blatny, P-Mirumian, V/Pardubice 1996 ] c4 20.b5 , and White's position deserves [ D) 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 preference, Gyorkos, L-Balazs, T/Hungary A) 11...e6 12.c2 ( 12.e5 b6 1994; 13.xd7 xd7 14.xg7 xg7 15.d4 a4 C) 10...e5!? deserves serious attention, 16.d3 axb3 17.axb3= Plenkovic, Zf o r e x a m p l e 11.h3 ( 11.xe5 xe5 Navinsek, T/Zadar CRO 2004) 12...e8 12.xe5 e8 13.d4 xe2 14.fe1 g4 13.e4 dxe4 ( 13...e5 ) 14.dxe4 e5 is fairly harmless for Black) 11...xf3 15.ad1 c7 16.a3 ( 16.a3 ) 16...f8 12.xf3 e8 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.fc1 h6 17.c5 b8?! ( 17...c8!? is probably 15.e3 d4 16.exd4 xc1 17.xc1 c8 better to play ... b7-b5, although White is 18.h6 c2 19.b1 b6 , and here for still better after 18.e1 b5 19.d3 ) some reason Black offered a draw against 18.g4!? d8 19.d2 e7 20.fd1 his stronger opponent, which Radjabov, T-Ivanchuk, V/Dubai 2002; unsurprisingly was accepted, 1/2-1/2, in B) 11...b6 12.b1 fe8 13.cxd5 cxd5 Ernst, S-Willemze, J/Dieren 1999 Black of 14.e5 ( 14.d2 e5 15.fc1 course has the better chances.; is a suggestion by Horn, though it's D) 10...b6 11.a3 doubtful if White accomplishes much in D1) 11...ac8 12.e4 dxe4 13.dxe4 this variation either) 14...e6 ( 14...xe5 c5 ( 13...cd8 14.b4! axb4 15.xe5 e6 16.d4 b5 ) 15.xd7 15.axb4 ) 14.e5?! ( 14.d4!? xf3 xd7 16.xg7 xg7 17.d2 ec8 15.xf3 fxe4 16.xg7 xd2 18.fc1 g8 19.h4 b4 20.g5 g7 17.xd2 xg7 18.c3+ f6 19.b4 ( 20...a3= - Horn ) 21.f3 h6 22.e3= , and White has excellent compensation Gonzalez de la Torre, S-Paunovic, D/ f o r t h e p a w n; However, White's best Elgoibar 2002 ] move is the simple 14.e5! , e.g. e6 15.c3 cd7 16.xd7 xd7 17.b4 10...e8 11.cxd5 xd5 [ This move is new, but hardly a particularly , and White is clearly better) 14...f5 impressive novelty. I think W hite is just 15.d1 fe4! 16.d4 xd2?? comfortably better in the game continuation. ( 16...cd8! 17.e1 xd2 18.xd2 Previously Black had only tried 11...xf3 xb3 , and Black is better) 17.xd2 12.xf3 ( 12.xf3!? cxd5 13.e4!? dxe4 fd8 18.e3 xd4 19.xd4 d7 14.dxe4 xe4 15.xg7 xg7 16.d5 20.e2+, and while White is 437
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 df6 17.xb7 ) 12...xd5 13.xg7 xg7 14.c2 7f6 15.b2 e5 16.a3 e7 17.c2 g8 18.fc1 c7 19.c4 b5 20.e3 with a comfortable little edge for White, Votruba, P-Schlueter, W/Germany 1991 ] [ Finally, Black can also consider 11...cxd5 , but after 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 e5 14.e3 White's chances are preferable ] 12.xg7 xg7 13.c4 e5 14.d2!? [ 14.d4 promises less after e4 15.fe5 xe5 16.xe5 f5 17.e3 f6 18.c4 d7 with chances to both sides ] 14...xf3 15.xf3 7f6 16.fd1 c5?! This is a bizarre move, somehow hoping to setup a sort of Maroczy Bind structure. However, White is far better developed and coordinated than Black, leaving Black with a rather weak pawn structure. 17.a3 e6?! [ 17...a6!? ] 18.g2 b5? [ This move is an invitation to trouble. In situations such as this I always remember Razuvaev's comment regarding the Hedgehog: If W hite places four or more pawns on the fourth row, he will lose one of them. Indeed after the text move, he will have a very difficult time holding on to all four of his pawns, most of which are i n s u f f i c i e n t l y p r o t e c t e d . H o we ve r , t h e alternatives are pretty either, for instance 18...c7 runs into 19.e3! d8 20.b4 axb4 21.axb4 , and again Black is in trouble, e.g. b6 22.xd5 xd5 23.bxc5 ( 23.c4 c6 24.dc1 ) 23...bxc5 24.c2 , and White will likely end up winning the cpawn, though that by no means is a certain win. ] 19.e3! d6 20.c2! xe3 [ Now 20...c8 runs into 21.h3 ] 21.fxe3 a6 22.xc5 g4 This looks clever, but again W hite is on top on the situation. 23.h3! xc5 24.xc5 xe3 25.dc1 Black has won the pawn back, but this is only very temporary, because getting the knight back will cost at least a pawn. f5 26.xf5 gxf5 27.xb5 This endgame is of course hopelessly lost for Black, having to defend it against Timman who loves endgames doesn't make the task any more joyful. a4 28.b4 ad6 29.f2 g6 30.c4 h5 31.bc5 e4 32.d4 g5 33.h3!? Played to answer ...h5-
h4 with g3-g4 e3+ 34.f3 e4 This allows W hite to finish Black off with a little flurry. 35.xf5+! xf5 36.c5+ , and it's game over. W hat attracted me to this game is how seamlessly W hite's game went from being slightly better, to clearly better to won. A beautif ul, yet very simple game f rom the Dutch veteran. 1-0
451 Topalov,Veselin Anand,Viswanathan FIDE Candidates 2014 (2.2) [Fier, Alexandr]
A11 2785 2770 14.03.2014
We can always expect good opening ideas in the Candidates and this was no exception. Anand played an unusual idea against Topalov and he easily neutralized W hite's efforts to get an advantage with a correct pawn sacrifice. I think this is a good antidote a g a i n s t t h e l i n e s w i t h o u t d 4 . 1.f3 The game in itself was not that interesting, but it's Black's merit to use a new setup and equalize without any problems. d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 bd7 5.c2 [ 5.d4 e6 would transpose to the normal Meran ] [ 5.cxd5 can be a possible idea to 'punish' 4...Nbd7, but I think it can't be the refutation cxd5 ( 5...xd5 is a bit strange in this position and af ter 6.d4 g6 White can change the character of the position with 7.e4!? xc3 8.bxc3 and Black has a tempo more, but the pawn on c6 usually should goes to c5 anyway. Also the knight is often m o re a ct ive o n c 6 g7 9.c4 ) 6.d4 and the knight would be theoretically better o n c 6 , co m p a r e d t o d 7 . S t i ll, t h e i d e a l position for White would be with the bishop o n f 4 i n s t e a d o f c 1 e6 was seen in Tomashevsky, E (2641)-Romanov, E (2520)/ RUS-chT Sochi 2007 (1). ] 5...e5!? Black just takes the center [ 5...e6 would again transpose to the normal lines with 6.b3 ( or 6.d4 )] 6.cxd5 Now this makes a lot of sense, since Black cannot play 6...cxd5. xd5 Forced. [ 6...cxd5? 7.b5 and there is no good way 438
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to defend the check on c7 c5 8.b4 b6 9.d6+ and White is almost winning ] 7.d4 The critical answer, but some other options are also playable. [ 7.e2 is a solid option and was played in a blitz game between two famous seconds d6 8.0-0 0-0 9.b3 7f6 with a level ga m e in s o m e k i n d o f r e ve rs e d co l o r s Sicilian Fressinet, L (2693)-Kasimdzhanov, R (2687)/FRA-ch op blitz 2011 (5). ] [ 7.c4 also interesting, bringing the bishop to an active diagonal 5b6 8.b3 d6 ( 8...e7 9.0-0 0-0 10.e4 and White can also fight for an advantage here) 9.e4 e7 10.h4 with some attacking chances in Bauer, C (2550)-Kosteniuk, A (2459)/Biel MTO op 2002 (6). ( 10.0-0 0-0 11.d3 )] 7...d6! I like this move. Black now sacrifices a pawn in a position that requires some deep understanding. The main point of the sacrifice is that Black can freely develop his pieces and create strong pressure against the queenside pawns. [ 7...exd4 8.xd5 A) 8...a5+ doesn't isolate the d-pawn, but I believe W hite can have some advantage here 9.d2 xd5 10.c4 h5 ( 10...d3 11.c3 d6 12.xd3 is also pleasant f or W hite) 11.xd4 and W hite's position has potential, No g u e ir a s S a n t i a go , J (2 4 8 2 )- A b r e u Delgado, A (2459)/CUB-ch op Havana 2004 (3).; B) 8...cxd5 9.xd4 with a typical isolated pawn position ] [ 7...xc3 8.bxc3 d6 9.d3 h6 10.0-0 was slightly better for W hite, despite the ea rly d raw in T a l, M (2 6 25 )-Ba giro v, V (2470)/Jurmala 1987. ] 8.dxe5 Accepting the challenge, now the next moves are more or less forced. [ 8.e2 is still possible, and probably we can have another typical isolani position 0-0 9.0-0 exd4 10.xd5 ( 10.xd4 7f6 brings few problems for Black) 10...cxd5 11.xd4 f6 12.d2 with a balanced game ] 8...xe5 9.xe5 xe5 10.e4 e7 11.xd5 cxd5 12.b5+ With this move it looks like White's position should be better, but even with the king on f8, Black can bring
all his pieces to the game quicker than White. [ 12.xd5 is also insufficient for any advantage 0-0 13.e2 d8 14.b3 f5 15.0-0 ac8 and White has problems moving the bishop from c1 ] 12...f8 13.xd5 g6 14.d2!? The best chance. W hite returns the pawn to create some quick counterplay. [ 14.0-0 would be another try for advantage, but Black is doing well here g7 A) 15.f3 d8 16.e2 will transpose to 15.Qd2 ( 16.e4 e6 and the pressure on the queenside pawns fully compensates the pawn ); B) 15.d2 d8 16.e2 f5 ( 16...a6 17.c4 f5 is also possible) 17.e4!? xe4 ( 17...h4 is also possible 18.f4 d4+ 19.h1 g4 20.d3 g1!? 21.c3+ d4 22.b3 e6 and White is still fighting to finish his development) 18.e1 c5 19.a4 a6 20.xa6 bxa6 21.xe4 ab8 22.b1 d4 and Black is certainly not worse ] 14...g7 The most precise move. [ 14...xb2 is probably playable, but there is no reason to enter the complications 15.b1 ( 15.b3 e5 16.b4 d6 17.xd6 xd6 18.d1 f6 is probably ok for Black) 15...e6 16.e4 a3 and the bishop can be missing from the long diagonal ] 15.xe5+ Going into an endgame with an isolated pawn up, but Black's pieces are too active and there is no time to consolidate the position. [ 15.c3 is already worse for White xc3+ 16.bxc3 d8 17.b3 g5 and White would not like to make any of the possible moves ] 15...xe5 16.c3 xc3+ 17.bxc3 e6 18.e2 [ 18.0-0-0 won't bring anything and White needs to take care not to be worse xa2 19.d7 hc8 20.c2 ( 20.b2 e6 and the rook needs to go from the seventh rank, since 21.xb7 ab8 22.xb8 xb8 loses a piece for White) 20...c5 21.d3 ( 21.xb7? d5-+ ) 21...d5 and Black can already fight for an advantage ] 18...ac8 19.hc1 c5 20.a4 [ 20.d3 could be another try hc8 21.d2 d8 22.c2 dc8 23.b2 8c6 439
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and it's still not possible to consolidate ] 20...hc8 21.a3 a6 Now Black forces a theoretically drawn endgame. 22.d3 b5 23.axb5 axb5 24.b1 xc3 25.xc3 xc3 26.xb5 c4 27.xc4 xc4 28.f3 h5 29.h3 c2 30.b1 f6 31.e1 g5 32.a1 g6 33.a6+ f6 34.a4 h4 35.g3 hxg3 36.xg3 b2 37.e4 b1 38.f3 g1+ 39.f2 h1 40.g2 b1 41.a6 f7 42.a5 g6 43.a6 f7 44.a2 e6 45.g3 g1+ 46.g2 xg2+ 47.xg2 e5 48.f2 f4 49.g2 e5 50.g3 f5 51.exf5 xf5 52.h4 gxh4+ 53.xh4 f4 54.h3 xf3 A good opening idea and I believe this line can become one of Black's main answers to this Anti-Meran. ½-½
452 Tukmakov,Vladimir B Wasnetsky,Ursula 3rd Hilton Open (1) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2595 2059 01.01.2001
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c6 3.c3 d5 4.e3 e6 5.c2 bd7 6.b3 e7 [ More passive than the normal 6...d6 ] 7.g4?! [ A sharp new move, although the g4-thrust is common in these type of positions, as we know. 7.b2 i s n o r m a l , 0-0 8.d4 with a typical Slav position, Fridman,DHidding,M/Kleve 1999, and ] [ 7.d4 b6 8.g4 0-0 9.g5 h5 10.g1 is a m ix b e t we e n t h e t wo , G u re vich , DWaitzkin, J/Chicago 1997. ] 7...h6?! [ 7...xg4! is critical. What had White intended, as 8.g1 ge5 9.xe5 xe5 10.xg7?! loses an exchange after g6 ] 8.g1 c5?! [ Black's play is not very strong, 8...e5 ] 9.b2 The advantage of playing g4, without d4, is that this bishop's diagonal is open, and it can participate in the attack on g7. g8?! 10.g5 hxg5 11.xg5 e5?! 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.b5! a6 14.b4 axb5 15.bxc5 d7? [ Black can't hold both e5, and b5, but he should have preferred to keep the former, by 15...e4 ]
16.xe5 c8 17.d4 b6 18.c6 xc6 19.b2 c8 20.xb5 c2 21.b3 xb5 22.xb5+ d7? [ Following 22...c6 23.a4 White is a pawn ahead, but this is disastrous. ] 23.xd5 1-0
453 Vaganian,Rafael A Jussupow,Artur 34th Olympiad (10) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2623 2610 07.11.2000
1.f3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g4 4.c4 e6 5.cxd5 exd5 6.b3 b6 7.c2 White withdraws his queen, he has no wish to play an equal endgame, and hopes to gain a tempo on the black queen later-on. f6 8.0-0 e7 9.d3 bd7 10.c3 xf3 [ Not actually a novelty, as it was already played in Filippov, V-Ibragimov,I/Sochi 1997, although they immediately agreed a draw. The idea is to hinder White's expansion in the centre, as otherwise, 10...0-0 11.e4 h5 12.h4 dxe4 13.dxe4 e5 14.f5 d8 15.h3 f3 16.e3 and White has a plus, Filippov,V-Barsov,A/Corsica 1997. ] 11.xf3 So, a new position! d4 12.b1!? [ 12.e4 xe4 13.xe4 0-0 is level. ] 12...h5! Very aggressive, White is behind in development so Black plays for the attack. 13.d2 e5 14.g2 h4 15.c4 xc4 16.xc4 g4! Putting further pressure on the white kingside. 17.b4!? [ 17.h3 is answered by e5 gaining a move on the white queen. ] 17...d8 18.d2 c7 19.b5 White is counterattacking strongly on the queenside. c5 20.b6? [ Logical, I suppose, but White finds himself quickly mated, perhaps 20.f4 is a better bet, d6 21.h3!? xf4 22.gxf4 f6 23.fe1 and White is still in the game. ] 20...axb6 21.b5+ f8 22.ab1?! [ 22.h3 is necessary. ] 22...hxg3 23.hxg3 e5 The queen comes to the h-file and W hite's days are numbered. 24.fe1 h2! 25.e4 h5 Mate is threatened with ...Rh1+!. 26.f1 xg2! 27.xg2 h2+ 440
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28.f3 e5+ [ 28...e5+ 29.e2 h5+ 30.f1 h1+ 31.e2 f3+ 32.f1 g4 gives mate. ] 0-1
454 Van Wely,Loek Sveshnikov,Evgeny Liepajas Rokade (2) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2680 2508 30.07.2004
1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 5.b3 d6 6.b2 I played a similar game last year: [ 6.c2 bd7 7.b2 0-0 8.g4 xg4 9.g1 f5 10.h3 and now Black preferred ge5 11.g5 f6 12.f4 g6 13.0-0-0 White had long-term attacking chances, and won easily, Kosten,A-Nguyen Van,S/ Cap d'Agde FRA 2003. ] 6...0-0 7.c2 e7 A slight change from the more common [ 7...bd7 which we have considered many times. ] 8.g4!? This looks like a good choice for a rapid game! However, White can also play [ 8.h3 bd7 and now 9.g4 b6 10.g5 e8 11.g1 as in Kozul,Z-Tukmakov,V/Portoroz 1996, although the h3-move looks useless now. ] [ 8.e2 bd7 and now 9.g4!? is also possible, as is ] [ 8.g1!? because e5 9.cxd5 e4 10.d4 cxd5 11.cb5 looks good for White. ] 8...xg4 This is obviously the critical reply, although opening the g-file against your king is not everyone's cup of tea! 9.g1 f5 This is played to allow a defence of g7 along the rank, and gain some kingside space. 10.h3 f6 11.cxd5!? One problem with this particular setup is that after [ 11.0-0-0 Black can play a3 to exchange the important dark-squared bishop, although ( 11...e5 might be even better. )] 11...cxd5 [ 11...exd5!? 12.d3 f4 looks very risky, 13.e2 fxe3 14.fxe3 with open files for the kingside attack. ] 12.b5 White exchanges Black's important dark-squared bishop. c6 13.xd6 xd6 14.b5 White's plan is to exchange the c6-
knight to gain complete control of e5 and the a1-h8 diagonal. d7 15.xc6 xc6 16.c3 W hite is lining-up on g7, a more positional method is [ 16.d4! (m e n acin g B c5 ) c7 17.c1 ac8 18.b2 and White's dark-squared control offers excellent comp for the pawn. ] 16...d4!? A drastic method to open the c6bishop's diagonal. 17.xd4 [ 17.xd4 allows h2 18.e2 xh3 ] 17...xd4 18.xd4 d5 19.f4 I prefer White in this endgame because of his strength on the dark squares, but the opposite-colour bishops make a draw likely. ac8 20.d3 a6 21.d2 [ 21.e4!? looks tempting, but probably only le a d s t o a d ra w: fxe4 22.dxe4 xe4 ( 22...xe4 23.xe6 f7 24.xf6 xf6 25.xg7+ h8 26.e7 ) 23.xe6 xe6 24.xg7+ h8 25.e7+ g8 26.g7+ etc. ( 26.xe6 xf4 )] 21...f7 22.ac1 fd8 23.a4 g6 24.b4 d7 25.e2 To stop ...e5. b6 26.a5 d7 27.d4 b8 28.b6 xc1 29.xc1 d7 30.c8 White is making good progress, he gets his rook into the black position. c6 31.c3 [ 31.c5! looks more accurate. ] 31...g7 [ 31...g2! 32.h4 e7 threatens the rook and ...Nd5+. ] 32.c5 f3 33.g3 Not the best square for the knight but W hite wishes to avoid exchanges. f7 34.h4 [ 34.e4!? ] 34...e5 35.f8+ g7 36.c8 exf4 37.exf4 I guess Whi te lost on time, as he is still everso-slightly better in the final position. 0-1
455 Wang Yue Zhou Jianchao TCh-CHN Beijing CHN (17) [Nigel Davies]
A11 2749 2650 03.11.2010
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 g4 5.b3 b6 6.e5 e6 Black has also tried other moves, for example: [ a) 6...xb3 7.axb3 e6 ( 7...e6 8.d4 441
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 bd7 9.xd7 xd7 10.d3 e6 11.c5 a6 12.b4 d8 13.h3 g6 14.d2 g7 15.0-0-0 g8 16.c2 e7 17.g4 f5 18.f3 was also a bit better for White because of his bishops in Kohlweyer, B (2405)-Sielecki, C (2366)/Germany 2008) 8.d4 bd7 9.xg4 xg4 10.f3 gf6 11.g4 h6 12.h4 a6 13.f2 g6 14.d2 g7 15.cxd5 exd5 16.h5 gxh5 17.gxh5 f8 18.e2 e6 19.g3 aiming at f5 was better for White in Goldin, A (2608)-Labollita, M (2454)/Buenos Aires 2003 ] [ b) 6...e6 looks like an attempt to be rock solid but it gives up the two bishops. After 7.xg4 xg4 8.e2 f6 9.d4 bd7 10.0-0 e7 11.d2 0-0 12.c2 dxc4 13.xc4 d8 14.fd1 White had a slight edge in Flores, D (2553) -Alonso, S (2437)/ La Plata 2008. ] [ c) 6...f5 7.xb6 ( 7.cxd5 xb3 8.axb3 xd5 9.c4 e6 10.e4 xc3 11.exf5 d5 12.fxe6 fxe6 13.0-0 d7 was about equal at this stage in Malakhatko, V (2543)-Drabke, L (2439)/W erther 2004) 7...axb6 8.cxd5 xd5 9.xd5 cxd5 10.b5+ d7 ( 10...d7 11.xd7 xd7 12.d4 e6 13.d2 d6 14.e2 was better for White in Brener, I (2382)-Bruchmann, S (2265)/ Berlin 2007) 11.f4 g6 12.d3 f6 13.f3 f7 14.e4 dxe4 15.dxe4 a5 16.a4 xb5 17.axb5 xe4 left Black with inadequate compensation for the exchange in Chatalbashev, B (2543)-Drabke, L (2453)/ Antalya 2004. ] 7.d4 This looks like White's most promising choice here. [ 7.c2 bd7 8.d4 g6 9.f4 f5 10.d3 e6 11.0-0 e7 12.c5 c7 13.b4 0-0 wa s a b o u t e q u a l i n S o ko l o v, I ( 2 5 7 0 ) Bagirov, V (2465)/Belgrade 1988. ] 7...bd7 [ White seems to keep a little something after o t h e r m o v e s t o o , f o r e x a m p l e 7...dxc4 8.xc4 xc4 9.xc4 e6 10.e4 a6 was Hort, V (2610)-Keres, P (2605)/ P e t r o p o l i s 1 9 7 3 / I Z T , a n d n o w 11.f4 looks like a small edge. ] [ Another possibility is 7...g6 after which 8.f4!? g7 9.e2 dxc4 10.xc4 xc4 11.xc4 0-0 12.0-0 bd7 13.b3 was more comfortable for White in Zlotnikov,
M (2355)-W essman, R (2440)/New York 1992. ] 8.xd7 xd7 [ Black has also tried 8...xd7 , for example 9.cxd5 xb3 10.axb3 xd5 11.xd5 cxd5 12.d2 e6 13.d3 d6 14.e2 e7 15.hc1 was marginally better for White because of his bishop pair in Cossin, S (2466)-Prie, E (2526)/Pau 2008. ] 9.cxd5 [ Another attempt to squeeze an edge out of th e po sition is 9.a4!? but after xb3 ( 9...c7 10.c5 c8 11.cxd5 xd5 12.e4 looked like an edge for White in Gurevich, M (2610)- Hauchard, A (2500)/ Belfort 1998) 10.axb3 0-0-0 11.d3 g4 12.f3 h5 13.d2 g6 14.xg6 hxg6 15.cxd5 xd5 16.c5 a6 17.d3 f6 and it was starting to look very equal in Shchekachev, A (2520)-Romanov, E (2547)/ Paris 2008. ] 9...xd5 10.c4 e6 11.e4 xb3 12.xb3 xc3 13.bxc3 c5 14.0-0 c8 15.d1 This doesn't look like much for White because his space advantage doesn't mean much with so many pieces exchanged. b6 16.d5 [ There's a case for waiting with this and playing, say, 16.f4 . White's position looks slightly the more comfortable. ] 16...c4 17.dxe6 fxe6 [ 17...xe6 18.a4+ e7 19.f4 ] 18.c2 c5 19.f1 h6 20.e2 e7 21.a4 hd8 22.e3 e5 23.f3 xe3 24.xe3 c5 [ 24...e8 looks dead equal to me but when both players want to fight that's what they'll probably get. ] 25.h4 [ 25.a5 seems more logical, stopping the apawn becoming a fixed target. ] 25...e8 26.db1 a5 27.b4 c8 [ 27...b5 looks like a more active way to play it. ] 28.g3 c6 29.g1 g5 30.hxg5 hxg5 31.h1 White is a bit better now thanks to Black's misplaced rooks. g6 32.h8 ac5 33.a8 c7 34.b1 f7 35.d1 f6 36.h8 g7 37.dh1 g6 38.d8 5c6 39.hd1 e7 40.1d2 e8 41.f4 gxf4+ 42.gxf4 exf4+ 43.xf4 f6+ 44.e3 b5?! [ 44...g6 was better. ] 45.g2+ f7 46.axb5 xb5 47.d1 e5 442
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 48.dg8 c6?! 49.2g7+ e6 50.f3 Suddenly Black's king position gives great cause for concern. The rescue operations l e a v e h i m a c o u p l e o f p a w n s d o w n . a5 51.c8 d6 52.d4 xf3 53.g6+ e6? 54.xe6+ xe6 55.xc6+ d7 56.a6 d3+ 57.xc4 d1 58.xa5 e6 59.h5 e1 60.d4 White intends e5 d1+ 61.c5 e1 62.e5! d1 63.c4 d8 64.b6 c8 65.c5 d5 66.b7 1-0
456 Zilberman,Yaacov Postny,Evgeny Channukah Closed (4.1) [Nigel Davies]
A11 2481 2604 05.12.2010
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 a6 5.e2 b5 [ Black has also tried 5...g4 but then 6.b3 is quite unpleasant. After a7 ( 6...bd7 7.cxd5 c5 8.c4 cxd5 9.xc5 e5 10.b5+ untraps White's queen and wins a pawn ) 7.h3 xf3 8.xf3 e6 9.d4 b5 10.cxb5 axb5 11.0-0 e7 12.d2 0-0 13.fc1 White had a plus in Tomashevsky, E (2689)-Ni Hua (2701)/Sochi 2009. ] 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.b4 I like this move, trying to stake out dark squares but without losing access to the d4 square by occupying it with a pawn. e6 [ Black has also tried 7...c6 but then 8.a4 xb4 9.axb5 a5 10.a3 e6 11.0-0 was a bit better for W hite in Nikcevic, N (2540)-Marin, I (2261)/Sitges 1997. ] 8.a3 Quiet, sensible and apparently 'new', though this position hasn't been explored too much. The other possibilities are as follows: [ a) 8.b3 bd7 9.a4 bxa4 10.xa4 b8 11.a3 was Delchev, A (2548)-Voiska, M ( 2 3 6 4 ) / T e r a m o 1 9 9 9 , a n d n o w b7 was best with only a slight advantage for White. ] [ b) 8.a4 xb4 9.axb5 0-0 10.b3 e7 11.0-0 b7 12.a3 axb5 13.xe7 xe7 14.xa8 xa8 15.xb5 became very drawish in Kempinski, R (2608)-Movsesian, S (2629)/ Izmir 2004. ] 8...d6 9.b2 0-0 10.0-0 bd7 11.d4
b6 12.d3 c7 13.f4 White is a bit better here because of his nicely placed knight on d4 plus potential outpost on c5. d7 14.c1 a7 15.h1 e5 This meets with a strong and possibly unexpected reply. [ 15...ac8 was more sensible though White is still for choice after 16.e4! , trundling his central pawns forward. ] 16.f5! xf5 17.fxe5 d4 [ After 17...xe5 18.xf5 b8 White has a powerf ul con tinuat ion in 19.d4! xh2 20.xf6! gxf6 21.d3 followed by 22.Qh5. ] 18.exd4 fd5 19.xd5 xd5 20.d2 After this simple move everything becomes clear White is going to win his piece back and come out ahead on pawns. e6 21.exd6 ad8 22.c6 d7 23.c5 e6 24.f3 xd6 25.e1 White's extra doubled d-pawn may not look like much but it lends him great central control plus squares such as c5. d7 26.g5 d8 27.g3 f6 28.ec1 f7 29.c6 e7 30.h3 f8 31.1c5 f7 32.c1 xc6 33.xc6 c8 34.c5 d8 35.d2 e8 36.h6 f8 37.d2 e8 38.e4 h8 39.h4 g8 40.f3 d7 41.g3 e8 42.h2 f7 43.e4 g8 44.h1 There's no hurry, and White's patient play will wear down Black's psychological resistance. f7 45.f3 d7 46.e1 g8 47.g3 e6 48.f5 e8 49.e4 f8 50.c6 e7 Giving up the a-pawn in an attempt to maintain coordination. [ A f t e r e i t h e r 50...a8 51.e6 xe6 52.xe6 c3 53.c6 ] [ or 50...a5 51.bxa5 xa3 52.c7 xc7 53.xc7 d6 54.c6 White is making steady progress. ] 51.xa6 d5 52.g4 xf5 53.xf5 h6 54.c7 a8 55.b6 f7 56.g3 d8 57.xb5 g6 58.f4 g7 59.c5 e8 60.b5 g5 61.f5 f7 62.b6 e7 63.c7 e3 [ 63...e8 64.b7 is equally forlorn. ] 64.e5! 1-0
443
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Even so it isn't easy. 35.bxc5 xc5 36.d8+ f8 37.d3 b4! Creating a passed a-pawn. Zueger,Beat 'Opening the way to the a-pawn. ' 38.axb4 Gagunashvili,Merab xb4 39.e5 fxe5 40.d5 d4 41.xf7+ 4th IECC Istanbul TUR (1) xf7 42.f5+ e7 43.g5+ e6 44.g6+ [Nigel Davies] d5 45.f7+ c5 46.a2 e4 47.a3+ 1.g3 d5 2.f3 c6 3.g2 f6 4.c4 dxc4 b5 48.g2 d2 49.e7 e3! 50.b7+ 5.0-0 bd7 6.a3 b6 7.c2 d5 8.e1 c5 51.a7+ b4 52.b6+ c3 53.c6+ b3 54.b5+ a3 55.c5+ b2 56.b5+ d4 9.e3 [ Another possibility was to make a gambit of c1 57.f1+ d1 58.c4+ c2 59.f1+ it with 9.d3 , for example cxd3 10.xd3 d2 60.fxe3 xe3+ 61.h3 g6 62.f4+ f5 11.d1 e6 12.e3 a4 13.xa4 e2 63.e5+ f1 64.f4+ g1 65.d4+ xa4 14.c4 e7 15.ac1 d5 16.d4 f2 66.e3 [ 66.d1+ is bad because of f1+ ] leaves Black having to deal with awkward 66...a3 67.xa3 possibilities such as b2-b3 or e2-e4. ] [ Or 67.c1+ f1+ etc. ] 9...g4 10.e4 e5 11.xc4 xc4 12.xc4 So White recovers his pawn and has a central 67...h2# pawn majority but is behind in development. 0-1 My estimate is one of approximate equality. d6 13.b3 h5!? Declaring an intention to 458 A12 complicate and unbalance the game. [ 13...e6 followed by 14... 0-0-0 would have Kortschnoj,Viktor 2619 been another way to play it. ] Sutovsky,Emil 2665 14.h4 e6 15.c2 d7 16.f3 f6 III Marx Gyorgy (4) 15.06.2005 After White's reply I don't like Black's position [John Watson] b u t m a y b e s o m e t h i n g h a s a l re a d y go n e wrong. Two very high-level grandmasters duke it out [ After 16...0-0-0 17.g5 his queen would in the Reti Opening. The elder prevails. 1.c4 be in danger, for example c5 18.d4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.f3 d5 4.b3 ( 18.h2 e2 ) 18...xd4 19.h2 xa1 [ Korchnoi chooses the Reti. Over his career 20.f3 xg5 21.xg5 f6 22.xf6 gxf6 he must have filled 95% of the ECO codes! 23.xa1 wins it for inadequate But if you believe the next note, White might compensation. ] want to do without this move and play 4.g2 17.d4 0-0 18.b2 f7 19.ad1 e6 dxc4 . Then Tony has discussed several 20.d2 c7 21.dxe5 xe5 22.xe5 examples after 5.a4!? e6 , e.g., [ Against a lower rated opponent White might A) 6.a3 c a n b e a n s w e r e d b y d5 have played the sharper 22.d4!? when ( 6...d5!? ) 7.c2 c5 8.xc4 c6 9.0-0 g4 23.f4 ad8 24.c1 g6 25.h2 e6 10.b3 e7 11.b2 0-0 with an easy threatens 26.Bh3. ] game for Black, Radjabov-Svidler, Internet 22...xe5 23.xe5 xe5 24.b4 INT 2003.; Here too it looks like White is playing it safe B) 6.0-0 d5 7.c3 a6 8.b3!? cxb3 and he starts drifting into trouble. 9.d3 xf3 10.xf3 e6 11.xb3 [ 24.f4 was more dynamic. ] Miroshnichenko-Kuzmin, Dubai 2004. See 24...c7 25.d2 a5 26.c5 fd8 27.fd1 ChessPub. ] xd2 28.xd2 a4 29.a3 4...g4 [ After 29.b4 White's a2 pawn can become [ As discussed previously in the April Update, weak. ] most players still forego the chance for 29...b5 30.h2 b6 31.b4 d8 32.e3 4...dxc4 5.bxc4 e5! , when Black has c7 33.a3 xd2 34.xd2 c5! Now Black is scored very well and seems to have easy c le a r ly b e t t e r b e ca u se o f h is qu e e n sid e equality. It would have been fun to see majority and W hite's coming weak a-pawn. Korchnoi on the White side of this position. ] 457
A11 2448 2580 30.05.2003
444
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 5.e5 [ 5.g2 xf3 6.xf3 e5 is already considered equal. ] 5...f5 6.g2 bd7 7.d4 The position now takes on a Catalan flavour, It doesn't make sense to delay this, since [ 7.b2 e6 8.0-0 xe5 ( 8...d6 ) 9.xe5 d6 is very comfortable for Black. ] 7...e6 8.0-0 d6 An important decision, since n o w B la c k wo n 't b e a b le t o p la y . . . Nxe 5 because of an ensuing fork. The main options are: [ 8...e7 , e.g., 9.a3 ( 9.b2 0-0 10.d2 ) 9...xa3 10.xa3 0-0 11.c2 xe5 12.dxe5 g4 13.cxd5 exd5 14.d4 c8 15.e4 dxe4 16.xe4 xe5 17.xh7+ xh7 18.h5+ g8 19.xe5 e8 wit h a B lac k in itia tive, K ut yne c-K incyl, Moravian Ch 1995. ] [ and 8...xe5 9.dxe5 g4 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.d4 f6 12.exf6 xf6 13.f4 e7 14.d2 0-0 15.b4 ( 15.ac1 ) 15...d7 16.e4 f6 17.e5 e7 18.b3 b6 1/2-1/2 Eade-C Nakamura, Hawaii 1994. ] 9.b2 c7 10.d3 [ Mo re a m b it io u s t h a n 10.xd7 xd7 11.c3 0-0 12.e3 fe8 13.e2 ad8 14.ad1 e7 15.e4 dxe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.xe4 g5= Najer-Chuprov, St Petersburg 1994. White keeps the pieces on and launches a queenside attack, but he risks trouble on the kingside: ] 10...h5! 11.c5 e7 12.b4 h4 13.d2 g4 A bit sophisticated. [ Black could play for direct attack via 13...hxg3 14.hxg3 0-0-0 ] 14.h3 hxg3?! Sacrificing a piece for attack. There was no need for this. Black should simply retreat and keep his attack going by [ 14...gf6 , e.g., 15.g4 xg4! 16.hxg4 xg4 17.e5 dxe5 18.dxe5 h3 19.f3 xe5 ] 15.hxg4 gxf2+ 16.xf2 h2+!? [ 16...xg4 17.f3 g3 looks more ac cu ra te b ec au se W hite 's kin g is wellprotected on f1. ] 17.f1 xg4 18.f3 xf3? [ 18...g3 is necessary so as to keep the initiative, but White has enough defenders, e. g., 19.b5 ( 19.d2 g5! (stopping Qf4)) 19...cxb5 20.b3 a6 21.de5 ]
19.xf3 Black doesn't have enough pieces in t h e a t t a c k a n d s o s t a ys m a t e r i a l d o wn . Perhaps Sutovsky miscalculated something wh en h e m ad e t he piece sacrif ice. It 's a tribute to his tenacity that from now on he lasts so long in what looks like a mopping up operation. h3+ 20.g2 g3 21.f3 h2 22.f2 h5 23.c1 g5 24.h3 xh3 25.xh3 xc1 26.xc1 e5 27.g5 exd4 28.xg7 e5 29.xe5+ xe5 30.d1 a5 31.b5 d7 32.f4 xc5 33.bxc6 bxc6 34.c1 e6 35.xe6 fxe6 36.xc6 d7 37.b6 c8 38.h3 c1+ 39.f2 c2 40.xe6 c7 41.f5 xa2 42.d3 a1 43.f3 f1+ 44.g4 a4 45.a6 a3 46.xa3 d6 47.a8 e6 48.f5+ d6 49.a6+ e7 50.e6+ d7 51.g5 f2 52.g4 g2 53.e4+ d6 54.xd4 e5 55.d3 d4 56.h4 g1 57.h3 e4 58.f3+ e5 59.h2 g7 60.g2 g8 61.g1 f8 62.f3 f6 63.f2 a6 64.b3 a1 65.b5+ f4 66.b8 d1 67.e8 g5 68.e4 1-0
459 Kosten,Anthony C Doettling,Fabian Bundesliga 2000-1 (5) [Tony Kosten]
A12 2524 2473 07.01.2001
1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.e3 f6 4.b3 g4 5.b2 e6 6.h3 h5 7.e2 bd7 [ More flexible than the 7...d6 seen in the archives. ] 8.d3 [ 8.a3 avoids Black's next move, h6 9.d3 d6 10.bd2 e7 11.b4 a5 12.c5 c7 13.c2 g6 14.0-0 0-0 the black position is fine, Speelman,J-Conquest,S/Hastings ENG 2000/1 ] 8...b4+! [ 8...xf3 is a solid alternative, 9.xf3 d6 10.0-0 0-0 11.g3 e7 12.g2 fe8 13.a3 a5 14.c3 , Malaniuk,V-Ulak,S/Polanica Zdroj 1999, although White made his slight edge count. ] [ 8...d6?! is the move White is hoping for, though, 9.g4 g6 10.g5 h5 11.h4 leaving the knight offside, and exposed, 445
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Prze wozn ik,J-Lukasiewicz,G/ Augu sto w 1996. ] 9.c3!? [ Apparently, this is a novelty (although I wasn't aware of this when I played it), but I wa s n ' t t o o s u r e a b o u t 9.bd2 xf3! 10.gxf3 ( 10.xf3? dxc4 11.bxc4 c5 w i n s a p a w n) 10...e5 11.a3 d6 as Black seems to have a fine position, Zilberman,Y-Zifroni,D/Herzliya 1998. ] 9...xf3 [ 9...dxc4 10.bxc4 c5!? ( 10...xf3 11.xf3 transposes to a later note) 11.a3 a5 12.g4!? g6 13.e5 is another possibility, which offers chances to both sides. ] 10.xf3 e5 [ I was expecting 10...dxc4 11.bxc4 c5 12.e2! a move I felt he might miss, when White has a central majority and the bishop pair, e.g. ( 12.e2?! a5 13.c2 a4 looks to favour Black) 12...0-0 13.c2 e5 14.g4 e8 15.ad1 e7 16.g5 fd7 17.h4 and White controls e4, as well. ] 11.e2 d4! 12.exd4 xd4 13.c2 At this moment I felt I was better, f or the queen will have to leave d4, and I would then be able to play d4, and take the centre. f4! [ I had n't expe cted this, rathe r 13...0-0-0 14.0-0! d6 ( 14...xd3?? 15.ad1 ) 15.fd1 g6 16.d4 etc., although Black is not without chances. ] 14.d1 [ Unfortunately, the queen cannot be driven away, 14.g3? f3+ 15.f1 d4 gaining complete control of d4. ] 14...d8 [ I was hoping for 14...c5!? which threatens mate, and seems to further reinforce the weakness of d4, but I had prepared: 15.d4! xd4 16.xd4 xd4 17.d5 c5 18.c7+ e7 19.xa8 xa8 20.0-0 when W hite's two bishops provide more than enough compensation for the pawn. ] 15.0-0 d6 [ Once again I had prepared a trick after the logical 15...c5 : 16.d4! xd4 ( 16...xd4?! 17.d5 cxd5 18.xd4 g5 19.cxd5 xd5 20.b5+ is very unpleasant for Black ) 17.a4 xd1 18.xd1 e7 19.d4! xd4 20.xd4 d6 21.xa7
when W hite has the two bishops, and a queenside majority in this endgame. ] 16.g3 Almost forced, Black threatened ...Nf3+, and ...Qh2 mate> f3+ 17.xf3 [ 17.g2? d4 ] 17...xf3 18.e4 xe4 [ 18...e7 19.fe1 0-0 is slightly simpler. ] 19.dxe4 0-0 20.c3 xc3 21.xc3 c7 22.g2 xd1 23.xd1 d8 Forcing the exchange of rooks, and a draw. In f act, I would have agreed one immediately, if this were not a team match. 24.xd8+ xd8 25.g4 g6 26.e5 h5 27.b4 hxg4 28.hxg4 f5 29.exf6 xf6 30.c5 a6 31.f3 f7 32.e4 g7 33.a4 f6 34.f4 g7 35.d6 e8 36.e5 f8 37.f6 d6 38.d4 d7 39.e5 ½-½
460 Larsen,Bent Kortschnoj,Viktor 1987 Brussels [Paul Motwani]
A12
1987
B1: "Scorching victory by Viktor Korchnoi!" B. L a rse n -V . K o rc h n o i, B ru sse ls 1 9 8 7 . Re t i Opening. The opening of the following swift clash (which occurred in a tournament sponsored by a company called SWIFT!) is named after GM Richard Reti, who contributed a huge amount to chess during his short life from Tuesday 28 May 1889 to Thursday 6 June 1929. His brilliant battles were rich in deep ideas, and the Reti Opening troubled numerous opponents, but in the following game the black pieces are being moved by an exceptionally strong player... 1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 [ White's second move indicated a likely intention to fianchetto his king's bishop. Korchnoi's response to that is one of the most logical possible replies, designed to re d u c e t h e f u t u r e s c o p e o f t h e e n e m y bishop on the h1-a8 diagonal. He wants to be able to maintain a pawn on the d5 square, so he makes the preparatory move ...c6. Of course 2...e6 is a common and perfectly good move too, but one point in favour of Korchnoi's choice is that his queen's bishop 446
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 will h a ve lo t s o f f re e d o m o n t h e c 8 -h 3 diagonal once ...d5 has been played. ] 3.f3 [ Reader's Challenge B1P1 Changes in move order can sometimes make critical tactical differences. For instance, can you see why 3.g2 d5 4.b3?! is unsatisfactory for White? A solution appears after the game B1. ] 3...d5 4.b3 b6!? One key aspect of this interesting idea is that after 5 Bb2 dxc4, then 6 bxc4?? would leave the bishop on b2 en prise. Black is about to reveal another more disguised detail. 5.g2 [ 5.d4 merits consideration. Although it leaves White rather exposed on the e1-a5 and b1-h7 diagonals, the move does gain some space. ] 5...e5! 6.0-0 [ Suddenly Black has a spatial advantage, made possible by the tactical point 6.xe5? d4 Going back briefly to move four, another related and equally noteworthy possibility was 4...dxc4 5 bxc4 e5!. ] 6...e4 7.e1 [ A sad, but almost forced retreat, in view of 7.e5? d4 or ] [ 7.h4? g5 ] 7...h5! Grandmaster Dr Colin McNab faced this seven years later at the 1994 Moscow Olympiad. Like Larsen, Colin also found that White's position is already both cramped and insecure. Black's very direct assault on the hfile is not subtle, but is nevertheless highly effective! 8.c3 [ 8.h4 might have slowed down Black's attack, but it would relinquish almost all control of the g4 square, since the move h3 c o u l d n o l o n g e r b e p l a y e d . A l s o , d6 m e n a c in g 9 . . . B xg 3 , s h o ws u p a n o t h e r drawback of the advance h2-h4. ] 8...h4 9.d4 hxg3 10.fxg3 [ Purely from a structural point of view, capturing towards the centre with 10.hxg3 is preferable, since it keeps White's pawns more compact. However, Larsen was pro bab ly, a nd qu ite n atu ra lly, a f raid o f Korchnoi's queen quickly finding her way to h2 and announcing 'Checkmate'. ] 10...a5! 11.c2 [ 11.d2? e3! or ]
[ 11.b2 g4 pouncing on the weaknesses at e3 and h2. ] 11...b4 12.b2 e6! [ 12...g4 would be badly timed in this position because of 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.xd5! exploiting the unprotected situation of the bishop on c8. ] 13.cxd5 xd5 14.xd5 [ 14.xe4? e3 ] 14...cxd5 15.a3 d2! 16.d1? [ 16.b4 e3+ 17.h1 d8! 18.c3 g5 threatens ...Qxg3 or 19...Rxh2+! 20 Kxh2 Qh5+ 21 Bh3 Qxh3. Perhaps ] [ 16.h1 is relatively best. For example, A) A big improvement is 16...e3 17.c3 ( 17.b4? d8! transposes to a line already given) 17...xc3 18.xc3 d7! 19.c2 c8! 20.xe3 xc3 when White is vi r t u a l ly lo s t b e ca u se o f h is lo o s e structure and congested army.; B) 16...c6? 17.b4 c7 18.xd2 xg3 19.f4! xh2+ 20.g1 even puts Black in trouble ] 16...e3+ 17.h1 c7! The final position underlines how helpless W hite's king is to defend against the threat of 18... Qxg3. His other pieces, even those very nearby, cannot come to his aid, because they are so lacking in scope and space in which to move. Solution to B1P1 Black simply wins a pawn after 4... dxc4 5 bxc4 Qd4! because of the double attack against White's c4-pawn and a1-rook. 0-1
461 Larsen,Bent Petrosian,Tigran V (Clarin) Buenos Aires [Nigel Davies]
A12
1979
1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.f3 d5 4.b3 g4 5.g2 e6 6.0-0 bd7 7.b2 e7 8.d3 0-0 9.bd2 e8 10.a3 a5 11.e1!? A rare semiwaiting move of the kind that was quite typical of Larsen. [ T h e m o s t c o m m o n c h o i c e i s 11.c2 when a recent example went f8 12.h3 h5 13.fc1 h6 14.f1 g6 15.e5 xe5 16.xe5 d7 17.c3 a4 18.b4 axb3 19.xb3 b6 with a comfortable 447
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 game for Black at this stage in Sunye Neto, J (2488)-Arias, L (2372)/ Dresden 2008. ] 11...f8 [ After 11...d6 Larsen intended 12.e4! dxe4 13.xe4 xe4 14.xe4 , claiming a slight edge for W hite. I'm not sure this is really true after Rybka's suggestion of f5 15.e3 e5 but it does give an insight into Larsen's natural optimism. ] 12.e5 [ And not 12.e4? because of c5! . ] 12...xe5 13.xe5 d6?! Attempting to simplify and perhaps secure a draw, but now White is left with the better bishop. 14.xd6 xd6 15.d4 ed8 16.c5 c7 17.b4 e5 18.b3 axb4 19.axb4 e4 20.d2 W hite is slightly better here though can it really be enough to grind down Petrosian? For Larsen the game is just beginning he plays on and on and attempts to exploit the slightest inaccuracy. h6 21.xa8 xa8 22.a1 xa1+ 23.xa1 g5 Trying to set his king side pawn majority in motion but the downside is that it creates some new weak nes ses . 24.c2 g7 25.e3 e6 26.f3 b8 27.b2 g8 [ Having the king on same diagonal as W hite's queen can be dangerous, for example 27...a7 is bad because of 28.fxe4 dxe4 29.xe4! . ] 28.a1 d8 29.a5!? Taking the fight into the endgame. Black has little choice but to allow this exchange as otherwise W hite's queen could take up a dominating position. xa5 30.bxa5 f8 31.f2 e7 [ After 31...exf3 32.exf3 White could bring his bishop to d3 from where it bears down on the weakness on f5. This is one of the down sides of 23...g5. ] 32.fxe4 Aiming to target Black's e4 pawn. [ Another possibility was 32.c2 intending 33.Nb4 and a5-a6. ] 32...dxe4 33.h3 d8 34.f1 c7 35.e3 [ The immediate 35.g4 is answered by h5! .] 35...b8 36.d2 a7 37.f1 d5 38.e2 e6 39.g4 d5 40.f1 The knight is coming to g3 to prevent Black from liquidating some kingside pawns with ... h6-h5. e6 41.g3 d7 42.c4 e6 43.f1 d7 44.e1 e6 45.f2 b8
[ Rather than take the king back Larsen felt that 45...d7 was a better try intending 46.g2 a6 47.xe4 xa5 . But Black could still counterattack on his next move, so maybe this wasn't so bad. ] 46.g2 d5 [ Rather than going passive like this a better chance would have been 46...a7 47.xe4 a6 . Now White's knight comes in with very unpleasant consequences. ] 47.f5 g8 48.d6 f6 49.g3 a7 50.f1 Preventing Black's king from coming to a6. e6 51.f2 d5 52.e2 e6 53.e1 d5 54.d2 f6 55.c4! b8 56.xe6 fxe6 57.f7 g8 58.d8 a7 59.xe6 a6 60.d8 f6 61.f7 g8 62.c3 xa5 63.d6 f6 64.xb7+ a4 65.d8 [ After 65.d8 d5+ 66.d2 e7 White has 67.f7 g8 68.d5! etc. ] 1-0
462 Leko,Peter Kasparov,Garry Corus Wijk aan Zee NED (8) [Tony Kosten]
A12 2745 2849 22.01.2001
1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.b3 d5 4.b2 g4 5.g2 e6 6.f3 bd7 Play has transposed into a main line Reti, Capablanca System. 7.0-0 d6 8.d3 0-0 9.bd2 a5 10.a3 h5!? [ A n u n u s u a l p ro p h yl a ct ic m o ve . 10...e5 11.c2 e8 , Stummer,A-Luther,T/ Budapest 1992, is quite reasonable, and ] [ 10...e7 is very common. ] 11.c2 [ White plays for e4, 11.d4 b8 12.e1 b5 13.c5 e7 14.b4 gives White extra space, Pigusov,E-Wu Wenjin/Shenyang 1999, but Black is solid. ] 11...e5 [ Only this position is actually new, 11...e8 12.ae1?! e5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.e4 c8 favours Black, Lamb,H-Meister,P/York ENG 1999. ] 12.e4 dxe4 [ 12...d4 occurred in the game Kosten,AFarago,I/Hyeres 1992, except that the white h-pawn was on h3 ] 448
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.dxe4 e8 14.h4 c5 15.df3 b6 Ideally Black would like to play ...Nf8-e6-d4, but the white pressure on e5 ties the knight to d 7 , a n d s t o p s t h i s . 16.ad1 f8! Black changes plan, and menaces ...Nc5, hitting e4, and b3. 17.b1 [ Unpinning the f3-knight, and stopping the a f o r e m e n t i o n e d m a n o e u v r e , b u t 17.h3 is an alternative, so that if c5!? 18.g4 g6 19.xg6 hxg6 20.xe5 , but then xb3 21.xb3 xb3 22.g5 h5 and White's advantage is minimal. ] 17...c5! Black dives into the complications. 18.xe5 cxe4 19.d4 c5 20.xc5 xc5 21.b4 axb4 22.axb4 f8 [ 22...a7 is tempting, Black will play down the a-file. ] 23.fe1 ad8 24.h3 g5! 25.g4 [ Safest, the exchange sac 25.f5!? xf3 26.xf3 d2 27.c3 is very risky. ] 25...gxh4 26.gxh5 g7 27.bd1 g5 28.f5 ½-½
7...c5 8.e3 White keeps the pressure on e4, [ 8.cxe4?! loses the exchange to xe4 9.xe4 d4 10.xc5 xa1 ] 8...f5 9.g2 d3? This natural move loses a pawn for nothing. Black should have tried [ 9...e7! 10.c2 b4 11.cxe4! ( 11.gxe4? xc3 wins a piece.) 11...h6 leading to a long forcing line: 12.d6+ xd6 13.xf5 hxg5 14.c8+ d8 15.xb7 bd7 16.xc6 e5 White has three pawns for the piece, and now 17.d4!? c8 18.a6 seems to favour White as his three central pawns, supported by two bishops, are very powerful. Nevertheless, Black should certainly prefer this to the game continuation. ] 10.b3 bd7 11.cxe4! The point, Black loses his e-pawn for nothing. xb3 [ 11...xe4?! 12.xe4 is worse. ] 12.axb3 h6 13.xf6+ xf6 14.f3 c2 15.a3 xa3 16.xa3 Easily defending the bpawn, White remains a pawn to the good, with the superior structure. c5 17.e2 0-0-0!? 18.e1 e4 19.xa7 b8 20.a2 g6 21.b4! cxb4 22.b2 e4 23.xe4 463 A12 The simplest - every exchange brings White 24.f3 g6 Malakhov,Vladimir 2647 closer to the full point. xe4 Sutovsky,Emil 2656 25.e4 f5 26.d3 fxe4 27.fxe4 hf8 28.xb4 10th Open Valls d'Aosta ITA (8) 16.02.2002 f6 29.e3 df8 30.b2 h5 31.h3 Black's temporary initiative is easily repulsed. [Tony Kosten] f1 32.bh2 8f2 33.xf1 xh2 34.h4 1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.f3 d5 4.b3 dxc4!? e2+ 35.f4 d2 36.g4 e8 37.e3 d1 Anti-positional, but there is a tactical follow-up 38.e2 a4 39.f3 - this is the sort of line a computer plays if you 1-0 switch off its openings book! 5.bxc4 e5 The point, Black obtains free development A12 like this, but what about the positional cost of 464 Miles,Anthony J 2609 exchanging a d5-pawn for a b3-pawn? 6.c3 [ And not 6.xe5?? d4 ] Ledger,Andrew 2459 6...e4!? The most aggressive, as is to be 4NCL Birmingham ENG (8) 21.03.1999 expected from Sutovsky, although others are [Tony Kosten] possible: [ 6...b4 7.b3 a5?! 8.xe5! winning a 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c6 I am sure that one of the pawn, Kavalek,L-Lombard,A/Biel 1977, or ] reasons the Slav Defence is currently so [ 6...d6 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 e7 9.d3 bd7 popular, is that it can be played not only 10.a4 with an edge, because of the centre, against 1 d4, but also against 1 c4, and 1 Nf3. Spraggett,K-Hector,J/Palma de Mallorca 3.b3 d5 4.b2 g4 5.e3 This anti-Slav system is a speciality of Tony Miles, and 1989. ] 7.g5! New, and better than contains quite a lot more venom than you [ 7.g1?! c5 8.e3 0-0 with advantage, m i g h t e x p e c t . e6 6.e2 d6 7.h3 The position resembles a main line Reti, Letreguilly,O-Haik,A/ FRA-chT 1992. ] 449
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 except that the white king's bishop is on e2, not g2. xf3 Conceding the bishop pair, after which, although Black has a solid position, White will retain a 'nibble'. That is, a slight, but enduring, advantage. [ However, there is a problem with the a l t e r n a t i v e , 7...h5 e.g. 8.d3 bd7 Kwatschewsky, L-Kargl,K/Wolfsberg AUT ch 1985, and now W hite should have played 9.g4! g6 10.g5 and Black is in trouble, his only reasonable move is h5 but this piece is badly misplaced, all the more so since the white bishop is on e2, instead of g2, and there will be constant threats of capturing the h5-knight. ] 8.xf3 0-0 9.d3 bd7 10.d2 e7 11.0-0 ad8 Black's development is very sound, but I think that he should prefer ...Ba3 on one of h i s n e x t f e w m o ve s , e xc h a n g i n g h a l f o f White's bishop pair. 12.c2 fe8 [ 12...a3! ] 13.fe1 e5 14.e2 Posing Black the problem o f wh a t t o d o n e xt wi t h h is ce n t re . f8?! 15.a3 Black won't get another chance to play ...Ba3. b8 16.ac1 h6 17.b4 6h7?! Black is running out of ideas, he decides to advance on the kingside, but his has a down s i d e , t o o . 18.f1 d6 19.g3 Black was threatening ...e4, with a discovered mate threat on h2. h5?! Hoping to open the h2-b8 diagonal with ...h4. 20.cxd5 cxd5 21.f3 g6 22.h4 f5 Unjustified aggression. 23.e4! W hite counters on the light squares, these turn out to be chronically weak in the black camp. f4 24.h3 f6 25.g2 e7 The black knights are awkwardly placed, and have difficulty finding useful squares. 26.d4! This move often seems to be stronger when it has been delayed a long time. exd4 27.xd4 f7 28.e5 This is strong, but [ 28.exd5! is possibly even more effective, xd5? 29.f5 f8 30.g5 and Black can throw in the towel. ] 28...fxg3 29.fxg3 c6 30.f1 With a heavily disguised threat of 31 Qxh7+! and 32 Ng5+. xf3+!? This queen sac fails to a tactical trick, but what else? [ If 30...c7 then 31.g6 is crushing. ] 31.xf3 xd4 32.g6 xf3 33.e6+! The tactic White had carefully prepared, [ 33.xf3 xe5 is not nearly so clear. ]
33...h8 34.f5 f8 35.xh5+ g8 36.xf3 xe5 37.c8 Simplest. xc8 38.xc8 h7 Black has to concede further pawns, if [ 38...b6 39.b7 and d5 goes, with check. ] 39.xb7 f6 40.g4 White doesn't let-up, he wants the d-pawn, too. d4 41.g5 e3 If the knight moves, 42 Bd5+ wins the house. 42.f5 1-0
465 Morozevich,Alexander Vallejo Pons,Francisco Amber Blindfold rapid (11) [John Watson]
A12 2741 2686 31.03.2005
Two superstars test out a main-line Reti. The move order is key for our purposes, with the note on move four being the important one. 1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.b3 [ Tony's Dynamic English avoids the problems inherent in b3 by suggesting 3.g2 d5 4.f3 instead. Nigel Davies' recent Reti book does the same. That order sacrifices the c-pawn, but the next note shows why that's preferable. This is worth knowing. ] 3...d5 4.f3 What could be wrong here? White avoids the problems associated with ... dxc4. g4 [ But the most effective counter to White's order is 4...dxc4 5.bxc4 ( 5.b2 e6 ) 5...e5! Dunnington's Easy Guide to the Reti features the position after 4.Nf3 but doesn't mention 4...dxc4 at all! Statistically Black has scored tremendously well here (200 point performance rating edge) and White hasn't found a reliable solution, e.g., A) 6.b2 e4 hasn't worked out well for W hite. His best move is probably 7.d4 , when Black has good options: A1) 7...a6! has won a couple of g a m e s a f t e r 8.g2 c5 ( 8...d6 9.c2 c5 10.e3 e7 11.c3 h5 12.h3 a5 13.c2 0-0 with a nice advantage, McNab-S Collins, Blackpool 2003 ) 9.h3 d6 10.0-0 0-0 11.b3 e7 12.xc5 xc5 13.c1 h5!? 14.c3 f5 15.e3 b4 16.b3 e6 and Black stands well, Nickoloff-Kirton, 450
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Toronto 1978; A2) 7...d6 8.b3 ( 8.g2 e5 9.e3 c5 10.e6 d6! was already winning in Djosic-Laketic, Novi Sad 1989) 8...f5 ( 8...bd7 9.g2 0-0 10.c3 e7 11.0-0 e8 with advantage, PreissDobosz, Karlsruhe 2003) 9.g2 h5 10.c2 bd7 11.c3 e7 12.h3? g6! 13.e3? e5 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe5 xe5 0-1 Vujic KatanicStefanova, Becici 1994.; B) 6.c3!? e4! ( 6...a5 7.c2 e6 8.b1 a6!? came out well for Black in Strikovic-Piket, Lisbon 2001 White has to try 9.xb7 b4 10.a4 xa4 11.xa4 c8! 12.xb4 xb4 13.xe5 ) 7.g5 g4! (Practically everyone has missed this wonderful move) ( 7...c5 has also done well ) 8.gxe4 f5 this forces 9.f3 e5 10.f4 ( 10.f2 xc4 11.e3 b6 12.d4 b4!? 13.d2 e7 ) 10...xc4 11.e3 xe3 12.dxe3 xd1+ 13.xd1 fxe4 14.xe4= a6! 15.xa6 bxa6 and Black's bishops and rooks are extremely active. ] 5.g2 bd7 6.b2 e6 7.0-0 e7 [ 7...d6 is common, to support ...e5. Then White often plays the plan with d3 and Na3c2, aiming at e3 or d4. ] 8.d3 0-0 9.bd2 b8! An excellent move that is known from other positions. Black might want to expand by means of ... b5, but also challenges White's control of e5 without standing awkwardly on the c-file. [ 9...e8 and ...Bf8 is normal. ] 10.h3 h5 11.e1 a5 12.f1 e8 13.g4 g6 14.h4 a4 15.xg6 hxg6 16.c2 b5 17.d2 b6 White has the bishops, but Black stands well: his pieces are well-placed and he controls more space on the queenside. 18.e3 eb8?! [ 18...a3 19.c3 b4 ( or 19...e5 ) 20.d4 b8 with ...e5 next. ] 19.d4! c5!? [ 19...c5 20.c3 b4 21.b2 a3?! 22.xf6 xf6 23.cxd5! ] 20.xc5 xc5 21.ec1 a7 [ 21...e7 22.d4 ] 22.cxd5 xc2 23.xc2 axb3 24.xb3 cxd5 25.d4 e5 26.g5 e8 27.f4 xd3 28.d1 a3 29.c6 b6 30.f1
Black continues [ 30.f1 b2 31.e7+ fxg6 33.xb2 xe3= ] ½-½
466 Reti,Richard Capablanca,Jose Raul Moscow [Nigel Davies]
f8
32.xg6+!
A12
1925
This game was played a year after Capablanca's stunning defeat by Reti in the New York 1924 tournament. This time he plays a set-up that would become recognised as one of the most solid and reliable defences to the Reti. 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.b3 [ Of course 3.d4 would bring about a Slav Defence which Black must also be prepared for. ] [ If, on the other hand, White wants to fianchetto his king's bishop then he should d o t h i s n o w wi t h 3.g3 . But in this case White has to reckon with dxc4 . ] 3...g4 4.b2 f6 5.e5 [ One of the advantages of Capablanca's e a r l y . . . B c 8 - g 4 i s t h a t a f t e r 5.g3 he can mangle White's pawn structure with xf3 . ] 5...h5 6.g3 e6 7.g2 e7 8.0-0 bd7 Exchanging off White's advanced knight. It co u ld go b a ck o f co u rse , b u t t h a t wo u l d represent a loss of two tempi. 9.xd7 xd7 10.d3 0-0 11.d2 c7 12.c1 fd8 13.f3 e8 Preparing to exchange more pieces with ...Be7-f6. This time round it's e vi d e n t t h a t C a p a b l a n c a i s t r e a t i n g h i s opponent with far more caution. 14.c2 f6 15.a1!? Reti really loved putting his queen on this square! xb2 16.xb2 xf3 17.xf3 e7 18.d1 a6 There's not much in it now. 19.g2 g6 20.e3 h5 21.cxd5 exd5 22.b4 h4 23.a4 d6 24.e4 dxe4 25.dxe4 e8 [ 25...xe4 26.e1 f5 27.f3 would win the knight. ] 26.cd2 hxg3 27.hxg3 xd2 28.xd2 f6 29.d4 e8 30.b6 g7 31.e5 xe5 32.xb7 g4 33.b6 [ And not 33.xc6 b e c a u s e o f xf2 34.xf2 e2+ 35.g1 xd1+ etc. ] 451
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ whilst 33.xc6? is bad because of h5 34.g2 ( Or 34.a7 e2 ) 34...e2 etc. ] 33...h5 [ 33...h5 34.d4+ g8 35.d2 e5 gives Black adequate counterplay. ] ½-½
467 Rotstein,Arkadij Dogantug,Ismail 20th ECC Izmir TUR (6) [Tony Kosten]
A12 2525 2175 08.10.2004
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c6 3.b3 This avoids all the lines where Black captures on c4, but commits White to a queenside fianchetto, of course. d5 4.b2 f5 Lasker's set-up still remains popular at all levels. 5.g3 e6 6.g2 d6 7.0-0 bd7 8.d3 e7!? Black tries to deter W hite f rom developing his queen's knight, but this does put the king and queen on the same file, which allows the following tactical possibility. [ 8...0-0 is more usual, of course. ] 9.cxd5 exd5 [ 9...cxd5?! is we l l m e t b y 10.d4 0-0 ( 10...g6 11.b5 e5 12.a3 is u n p le a s a n t) 11.xf5 exf5 12.c3 wit h p re s s u r e o n t h e we a k b la ck p a wn structure and the bishop pair, Dake,A-Feigin, M/Folkestone 1933. ] 10.e4! The point! Reti players should always b e o n t h e l o o k - o u t f o r t h i s t a c t i c . dxe4 11.dxe4 g4 Almost forced. The other moves lose: [ 11...xe4? 12.e1 and the pin along the efile costs Black a piece, 0-0-0 Kennedy,MHurley,J/ Dublin 1992, 13.fd2 etc. ] [ 11...xe4? 12.h4 g6 13.xg6 hxg6 14.xe4 xe4? 15.e1 ] [ 11...g6? i s a l s o we a k : 12.e5! xe5 13.xe5 xe5 14.e1 and the e-file pin is again decisive. ] 12.h3! A new move, and better than [ 12.bd2 when e5 13.c2 xb2 14.xb2 0-0 is fine for Black, Euwe,M-Van den Bosch,J/Amsterdam 1934. ] 12...xf3 13.xf3 I think I would prefer [ 13.xf3! when e5 14.xe5 xe5 15.e3 0-0 16.f4 gives White some extra
space. ] 13...e5 This is positionally correct: when your opponent has the bishop pair you should try to exchange one of them. 14.c2 [ 14.c3 is more ambitious. ] 14...xb2 15.xb2 e5 16.g2 d8?! Black seems to have forgotten the castling rule! [ 16...0-0 is level. ] 17.a3! xa3 18.xa3 e7 W ithout queens the king might become a usef ul piece in the endgame, but with so many pieces still on the board this is a doubleedged decision. [ 18...0-0 19.ad1 still favours White, as f4 will drive the knight from the centre and give him some space advantage. ] 19.f4 d3 20.c4 d7?! Playing on the next board I was amazed to see how quickly Black's solid position disintegrated after this move. [ 20...c5 is safer. ] 21.e5 e8?! [ 21...d5 22.d6 is unpleasant, but better. ] 22.ad1 g6 [ 22...c5 23.b4 a4 24.xd7+ xd7 25.c1 c7 26.a5 leads to a strong white attack (b5 is coming) while the black pieces are bystanders. ] 23.a5! W inning material. g7 24.xb7! xe5?! [ 24...xb7 25.xd3 and White will win the c6-pawn as well. ] 25.c5 [ 25.c5 xd1 26.xd1 traps the knight on e5 and wins a piece. ] 1-0
468 Savchenko,Boris Dreev,Alexey World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (7) [Carsten Hansen]
A12 2583 2607 21.11.2007
1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.b3 g4 4.b2 d7 5.g3 xf3 6.exf3 gf6 7.f4 [ 7.g2 is the move covered in ECO, leading to a slight edge for White, but the text move is also perfectly good for a slight edge. ] 452
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...e6 [ This is just one of several options for Black the others are: A) 7...g6 A) 8.g2 b6 9.f5?! ( 9.e2!? g7 10.d3 ) 9...dxc4 10.fxg6 hxg6 11.e2 d3 12.xd3 cxd3 Nosenko, AKhmelnitsky, I/Kharkov 1988; B) 8.d3 g7 9.g2 0-0 10.0-0 c7 11.c2 dxc4 12.dxc4 ad8 13.d2 e5 14.fxe5 xe5 15.f3 Rodriguez Guerrero, E-Epishin, V/Seville 2002 ] [ B) 7...b6 8.c2 e6 9.g2 g6 10.0-0 g7 11.d4 0-0 12.d2 fc8 13.c5 d8 14.b4 a5 15.a3 axb4 16.axb4 xa1 17.xa1 Bezold, M-Fridman, D/Senden 1998 ] 8.g2 [ W hite can also consider 8.e2 e7 ( 8...d6 9.0-0 0-0 10.d4 c8 11.c5 b8 12.c2 e8 13.d2 f8 14.fe1 g6 15.d3 c7 16.f3 f8 17.b4 Sarno, S-Valenti, G/ Italy 1994) 9.0-0 0-0 10.d4 a5 ( 10...e4!? 11.d2 xd2 12.xd2 f6 , and a draw was prematurely agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Sarno, S-Belotti, B/Asti 1995) 11.c3 b4 12.c5 xc3 13.xc3 b6 14.cxb6 e4 15.b2 xb6 16.c2 fc8 17.fc1 g6 18.f3 d6 19.d1 ab8 20.ab1 Malis, J-Sosna, J/ CZE 1995 ] 8...g6 [ A couple of alternatives are: A) 8...d6 9.0-0 0-0 10.c2 e5 11.fxe5 xe5 12.d4 d6 13.c3 dxc4 14.bxc4 e8 15.fd1 Tammert, G-Von Buhrmeister, P/Germany 1994 ] [ B) 8...dxc4 9.bxc4 c5 10.d4 b6 11.c3 ce4 12.0-0 ( 12.d3!? xc3 13.xc3 0-0-0 14.d1 a5 15.0-0 b4 16.e2 ) 12...0-0-0 13.c5 a6 14.b3 xc3 15.xc3 xd4 16.f5 exf5 17.fc1 Anic, D-Dunis, A/Gonfreville FRA 2006, and now c4 18.b1 d3 ] 9.e2 dxc4 10.bxc4 c5 11.0-0 a4 [ 11...g7 12.c3 d3 13.a3 xe2 14.xe2 d3 15.ab1 0-0-0 16.b3 c7 17.fb1 b6 18.c5 b5 19.c3 ] 12.e5! g7 13.d4 0-0 14.c5 [ 14.d2 e8 15.xg7 xg7 16.f3 f5 17.d3 ] 14...d5 15.c2 a5 16.xd5
[ 16.xg7 xg7 17.d2 ac3 18.c4 b4 19.d3 ] 16...exd5 17.d2 c3 [ 17...f6 18.d6 fe8 19.b3 c3 20.ac1= ] 18.b3 [ 18.g2 b5 19.xg7 xg7 20.a4 c3 21.xc3 xc3 22.a3 e4 23.xe4 dxe4 24.b1 ab8 25.ab3 fd8 26.a5 xd4 27.xb7 xb7 28.xb7 d5 29.xa7 xc5= ] 18...b4 19.g2 [ 19.xg7 xg7 20.fc1 e4= ] 19...e4 [ 19...b5!? 20.xg7 xg7 21.d3 fe8 22.fc1 e4 ] 20.f3 f6 21.d2 a5 22.fb1 a6 23.f1 fe8 24.h4 d7 [ 24...b6 25.cxb6 axb6 26.e1 ac8 27.e3 c5 28.dxc5 bxc5 ] 25.e1 c4 [ 25...f6 26.d6 b6 27.cxb6 xb6 ] 26.xc4 dxc4 27.e3 b5 28.cxb6 xb6 [ 28...axb6 29.xc4 f6 30.c7 xe1 31.xe1 xa2+ 32.h3 b5 33.a5 f8= ] 29.ac1?! [ 29.xg7 xg7 30.ac1 ac8 31.f2 ed8 32.ed1 c5 33.d5 d7 34.d6 cd8 35.xc4 xc4 36.xc4 xd6 37.xd6 xd6 38.e3 a6 39.a4 f6= ] 29...ad8?! [ 29...f6 30.d6 ad8 31.c5 f5 32.c2 xe1 33.xe1 d5 ] 30.g4? [ 30.xg7 xg7 31.f1 d5 32.xc4 xe1+ 33.xe1 c3 34.e5 xd4 35.xc6 a4 36.e7 xa2 37.xa7 xa7 38.xa7 ] 30...e6 31.h5 [ 31.a4 xa4 32.xc4 b6 33.c2 ( 33.b4 d5 34.a4 f6 35.xf6 xf6 36.xf6+ xf6 37.e6 d7 38.xc6 f7 ) 33...d5 34.a2 f6 35.xf6 xf6 36.xf6+ xf6 ] 31...gxh5!? 32.f5 ee8 33.f6+ xf6 34.xf6 xe1 35.xe1 c8 36.g4? [ 36.g5!? d5 A) 37.b1 c3 ( 37...f6 38.h6 e7 39.g4 f7 ) 38.f6 h6 39.xh6 h7 40.c1 g6 41.b7 a6-+; B) 37.h6 f6 38.b1 e7 39.g4 f7 453
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 40.b7 d8 41.c1 hxg4 42.fxg4 e8 43.xa7 xd4 , and Black has decent winning chances ] 36...hxg4 37.fxg4 d5 Now it is a rather simple win for Black. The strong knight on d5 kicks away the bishop on f6, allowing Black to follow up with ...f7-f6 and then support the dangerous passed pawn on c4-pawn. 38.e5 f6 39.d6 c3 40.f3 d8 41.c5 a5 42.a3 b8 43.g5 fxg5 44.g4 h6 45.h5 g7 46.g4 e8 47.xe8 f6+ 48.f3 xe8 49.d5 c2 0-1
469 Slobodjan,Roman Dautov,Rustem 10th It Lippstadt GER (7) [Tony Kosten]
A12 2539 2606 12.07.2000
1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f5 4.d3 e6 5.c4 c6 6.b3 e7 7.b2 h6 8.0-0 0-0 9.a3 h7 Typical, the bishop retreats to a less exposed square, and Black maintains the most flexibility with his queenside development. 10.bd2 a5 11.c3 [ A move that has scored well for White, he wishes to force the b4 advance, and then weaken the solid wedge of Black central pawns. 11.c2 is perhaps more common first, a6 12.c3 b5 13.cxb5 cxb5 14.b2 b4 15.axb4 xb4 16.fc1 is fairly equal, Smejkal,J-Hubner,R/W ijk 1975. ] 11...c5!? [ A new move, clamping-down on b4, and intending to gain a tempo with ... d4 previously 11...a6 had been preferred, to stop b4, 12.a2 revealing White's plan, he will line his queen up on both the a1-h8 diagonal, and the a1-a8 file, b5 13.a1 b4 14.axb4 xb4 15.a4 with pressure on a5, and some advantage, Kasimdzhanov,R-Mari Arul,S/Genting Highlands 1998. ] 12.cxd5 [ White is obliged to change plans, for after, say 12.e5?! d4 13.b2 c7 Black gains a space advantage. ] 12...exd5 13.d4 c6 Black happily allows transposition into an IQP position, as his
pieces are very actively placed. 14.dxc5 d4 [ 14...xc5 is also perfectly reasonable. ] 15.b2 xc5 16.e1 Else Black may be tempted to advance his d-pawn even further. e8 17.d3 b6 18.c1 c8 19.b4!? axb4 20.axb4 d5 [ Aiming for c3, and e3, but the materialistic 20...xd3!? 21.exd3 xb4 was also worthy of consideration. ] 21.b5 xd3 22.exd3 e3! The knight sacrifices itself to free the b6-bishop's diagonal. 23.fxe3 dxe3 24.h1 [ Not forced, 24.h5!? exd2+ 25.h1 e7 26.cd1 was also feasible, although Black is certainly fine after d4 ] 24...exd2 25.xd2 d4?! [ 25...e3 26.c3 d4 27.b3 is not worse. ] [ 25...d4?! and although the players a g r e e d a d r a w , 26.f4! d7 27.c4 is worth trying ] ½-½
470 Agrest,E Grandelius,Nils TCh-SWE 2011-12 (9) [John Bartholomew]
A13 2599 2536 11.03.2012
1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ c6 6.xc4 b5 7.b3!? b7 8.0-0 bd7 9.d4 a6 10.e5! xe5 11.dxe5 d7 [ The alternative 11...d5 is analyzed in Fre ssi n e t , L (2 6 9 6 )-G o rd o n , S ( 2 5 3 5 ) / Bremen GER 2012. ] 12.c3!? Clearly the most flexible, and (by consequence) the most ambitious. [ 12.f4 ] [ and 12.d1 have been played, but you'll find that White has these options on almost every move going forward. ] 12...c7 Black is up against a number of tempting ideas: Nc3-e4, Rf1-d1, Bc1-f4, a2-a4, etc. He has tried various ways to complete development, but the practical results have thus far been heavily in White's favor (+6 =4 -0). Overall, I get the impression that this position is much easier for W hite to handle absent some very targeted preparation from 454
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the opponent. [ Let's briefly consider the alternatives. First off, accepting the pawn is extremely risky: 12...xe5 13.d1!? ( 13.e4 c5 was less clear in Ehlvest, J (2595)-Vitiugov, N (2687)/Moscow RUS 2009.) 13...d7 ( 13...c7 14.f4 e7 15.ac1 ) 14.e4 b6? 15.f4 e7 16.d6+ xd6 17.xd6 (clearly things have gone wrong for Black) 0-0-0 Bernard, C (2348)-Mirzoev, A (2563)/ Cappelle la Grande FRA 2011. Here simply 18.c1+- leaves Black without an adequate defense. ] [ 12...e7 13.e4!? ( 13.d1 c8 14.e4 0-0 Markowski, T (2564)-Sargissian, G ( 2 6 1 1 ) / M e r i d a 2 0 0 5 . 15.g5!? xg5 16.xg5 xe5 17.ac1 ) 13...c5 ( 13...0-0 14.f4 ) 14.c3 ( a n o t h e r a p p r o a c h i s 14.xc5 xc5 15.c2 b6 16.d2 with 17.Rac1 to come ) 14...xe4 15.xe4 c7 16.e3 b4 17.c2 c8 18.fd1 xe5 19.d4 g5 20.h4 h6 21.c5 f6 22.d2 xc5 23.xc5 e7 24.d6 0-0 25.ad1 a8 26.b3 b7 27.d3 h6 28.d7 b8 29.xa6 cd8 30.e7 xd7 31.xd7 b6 32.d3 c5 33.g6 c6 34.xf7+ h7 35.f3 b6 36.xf8 c4+ 37.f1 1-0 Glud, J (2496) -Collins, S (2436)/ Rogaska Slatina SLO 2011 ] [ 12...c8 13.a4!? (a familiar strategy: White inhibits ...c6-c5) ( 13.e4 c5 14.d1 e7 15.f4 0-0 16.d6 xd6 17.xd6 c4 18.e3 xg2 19.xg2 c5 20.ad1 Rotstein, A (2528) -Gustafsson, J (2615)/ Austria 200506.) 13...e7 14.e4 0-0 15.g5!? xg5 16.xg5 c5 17.d3 g6 18.xb7 xb7 19.e3 Khalifman, A (2616) -Sargissian, G (2680)/Moscow RUS 2010. ] [ 12...b6 13.a4! b8?! (Black can ill afford t h i s d e l a y ) 14.e3 c5 15.xb7 xb7 16.axb5 axb5 17.a5! b4 18.b5 e7 19.g5! (energetic play!) b6? ( 19...c6 20.xe7 xe7 21.d6 ) 20.a4 xg5 21.d6+ e7 22.a7 hd8 23.d1+- h6 24.a6 c7 25.c6 a8 26.xa8 1-0 Baumegger, S (2433)-Diermair, A (2388)/ Leoben 2008. ] 13.f4 [ Black's last move is well-suited to
advancing the c-pawn, so I'd be interested in seeing a practical test of 13.a4!?N . ] 13...c5 14.e4 xe5? This is very optimistic. [ W h i t e w a s d i a l e d i n a f t e r 14...d5 15.d6+! in Zysk, R (2436)-Simeonidis, I (2 2 8 3 ) / K a l l i t h e a C h a l k i d i ki 2 0 0 3 : xd6 16.xd5 exd5 17.exd6 c6 18.e3+ f8 19.e7+ g8 20.fd1 h6 21.ac1 c8 22.c3 f6 23.e4!? e8? ( 23...d4 was the only try) 24.c7 xc7 25.dxc7 xe4 26.xd5! xc3 27.d8 e2+ 28.f1 h7 29.c8+- ] [ The best defense looks to be 14...xe4! 15.xe4 c4 . This dampens White's immediate attacking potential, though he remains a bit better with the bishop pair: 16.c2!? d8 17.a4 ] 15.a4!? [ Agrest didn't want to pull the trigger with 15.xe5 xe5 16.f6+ gxf6 17.xb7 , though this is dangerous for Black too. ] 15...b4 16.fc1 [ 16.a5!? ] 16...c4 17.xe5 xe5 18.xc4! [ 18.xc4 d5 can be met by 19.d2! , but e7 20.xd5 exd5 21.f4 0-0 22.f3 e6 isn't much for White. ] 18...d8 Grandelius faced an unenviable choice. [ 18...c8 is obvious, but Black probably assessed his position after 19.xc8+ xc8 20.xc8+ d7 21.ac1 very pessimistically. Indeed, White is well coordinated and a knockout punch seems likely to land. Still, this might have been a decent way to interrupt the trend of the game and complicate things. ] [ 18...d5 is also depressing. 19.c7 xc7 20.xc7 ] 19.f6+ gxf6 [ or 19...xf6 20.xb7 e7 21.xa6 0-0 22.c2 ] 20.xb7 h6?! This last error terminates the game rather quickly. [ 20...e7 21.xa6 0-0 22.c2 wasn't fun either, though. ] 21.xb4! Black can't castle to safety. d6 [ 21...xc1 22.c6+ d7 23.xc1+- ] 22.xd6 xd6 23.c8+ d8 24.xd8+ xd8 25.xa6 e7 It was better to head 455
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 towards the queenside, but realistically Black 13.b3! White defends c3, and is ready to has almost no chances to hold. 26.b7 b8 double rooks on the open file. a7 27.f3 f5 [ Black makes room for his bishop, [ 27...xb2 28.a5+- ] 13...bd7?! whilst natural, leaves Black in 28.a5 e5 29.d5 d6 30.xf7 t r o u b l e a f t e r 14.d4 ab8 ( 14...cxd4 Black resigned. These two games with 7. may be superior, but 15.xd4 gains the Qb3!? suggest that it may be in no way inferior important light-squared bishop) 15.a3! to the traditional 7.Qc2. Theory is developing ( 15.d5?! xb3 16.axb3 xc3 is the point) EXTREMELY rapidly in these sharp lines, so 15...c7 16.d5 exd5 17.exd5 b7 keep your eyes peeled! and although White cannot capture the e71-0 bishop (because ...Re8 traps the queen) his space advantage is significant. ] 14.d4! This move wil l leave White with an 471 A13 iso lat e d c-p a wn o n a n o p e n f ile, b ut t h e Akopian,Vladimir 2660 dyn a m ic p o ssib ilit ie s ou t we igh st ra t e gic Svidler,Peter 2686 considerations. Note that had Black played ... World Teams Yerevan ARM (4) 15.10.2001 b4 earlier, instead of ...bxc4, then W hite would be able to play this move more freely, [Tony Kosten] as the c4-pawn would be defended by his It is not very often that you can see such a partner on b3. cxd4 15.xd4 a8 16.e3 long line of captures and forcing moves, as The bishop eyes the a7-rook. b7? [ This allows an incredibly long, forcing was instigated by White's seventeenth move. tactical sequence, and is far from ideal, but 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 a6!? the natural 16...c7? , intending ...Nbd7-c5, Black prepares to expand on the queenside. allows the decisive tactic 17.xe6! fxe6 4.g2 b5 5.b3 Naturally, White has to 18.b6 ] defend his c-pawn. c5 6.0-0 [ Perhaps Black's only chance was 16...d7 [ There is nothing to be gained along the but after 17.fb1 c6 18.xc6 xc6 h1-a8 diagonal: 6.e5 a7 and ...d6. ] 19.b6 White's queenside pressure is 6...b7 7.c3 White would like to force Black considerable. ] to clarify the situation on the queenside, and 17.e5!! Th is m ove win s b y f orc e . xb3 so pressures the b-pawn. a5!? The first point, White is [ 7...b6 is more common, deterring White 18.exf6 f r o m p la yi n g h i s c1 -b is h o p t o b 2 , p l a y simultaneously threatening e7, a8, and b3. should continue along similar lines, i. e. 8.e3 xg2 [ 18...xc3 is a little better: 19.fxe7 e8 e7 9.e2 preparing Rd1 and d4. ] 20.xa8 and if a3 ( 20...a4 21.e4!? 8.e3 e7 9.e2 bxc4 xc4 22.h5 g6 23.h6 f5 hangs on for [ White was threatening to capture the b5a bit ) 21.b1 White's two bishops are pawn, and 9...b4 allows White a freer hand clearly more than a match for the black in the centre, and the pawn lever a3. ] rook. ] 10.bxc4 0-0 [ This is new here, and a possible 19.xb3 xf1 [ 19...xc3?! 20.fxe7 wins a piece. ] impro veme nt o n 10...c6 11.b1 b8 The critical second point, White 12.e5 xe5 ( 12...d8 ) 13.xb7 20.g4! with an edge, Zarnicki,P-Rosito,J/Buenos menaces both the black king and queen. xf6 21.xa5 xc3 22.xf1 Aires 1998. ] [ 22.d4 xd4 23.xd4 e2 24.xd6 11.b1 This position shows two advantages of is also more than sufficient. ] having the black queen on a5, as opposed to b6: firstly, this last move doesn't gain a tempo, 22...xa5 23.d4 d8 24.a7! The final and secondly, the attack on the c3-knight point, the black pieces are uncoordinated, means White will have to defend this piece and unable to resist the powerful white queen. before he can play d4. c6 12.e4 d6 h6 25.b6 xb6 26.xb6 c8 27.xd6 456
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h7 28.c5 g6 29.c6! [ 29.c6! xc6 30.d7 wins the knight. ] 1-0
472 Al Hadarani,Hatim Adly,Ahmed ch-Arab Dubai UAE (5) [John Watson]
A13 2320 2503 16.09.2005
Black is utterly outplayed by his lower-rated opponent. This is a classic example of how to play a "Catalan without d4", but after some bad mistakes, probably in time pressure, Al Hadarani loses his way. 1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 The most popular move of late. 6.a4 [ 6.a3!? is suggested in Tony Kosten's "The Dynamic English", with the possible continuation xa3 7.bxa3 0-0 8.c2 b6 9.e5 ] 6...a6 7.xc4 b5 8.c2 b7 9.a4!? b4?! [ 9...c5! --see the next game. ] 10.b3 e7 11.b2 0-0 12.d3 c5 13.e4 c7 14.bd2 ad8 15.c4 e8 16.fe1 f6 17.e5 e7 18.e2 b6 19.ad1 g6 20.cd2 d5 21.h4 f5 22.exf6 xf6 23.xf6 xf6 24.g5 de8 25.ge4 a5 26.c1 [ A better route was to be had by 26.xf6+ xf6 27.xd5 xd5 28.e4 ff8 ( 28...f5 29.c1 b6 30.g4 ) 29.c1 etc. ] 26...xe4 [ 26...bd7! ] 27.dxe4 b7 28.h5! e5 29.hxg6 hxg6 30.h3!? This covers c8, but since it can be challenged there isn't much point. Much better was [ 30.e3 , winn ing ma terial af te r d7 31.h3 d8 32.f3! b6 33.xd7 xd7 34.xe5 , winning for White. ] 30...d8 31.c2 d4 32.g4? [ 32.b5! d6 33.e2 soon wins the cpawn. ] 32...d6 33.g5 [ 33.e6+ xe6 34.xe6+ h8 35.f3 is about equal. White goes downhill rapidly. He should have simply targeted and won the c-pawn. ]
33...c4! 34.bxc4! [ 34.xc4 xc4 35.xc4 xc4 36.bxc4 c6 leaving Black a dangerous b-pawn. ] 34...xa4 35.c5! f6 36.xf6 xf6 37.b3 xe4 38.d1? Probably time trouble. [ 38.a1! was an effective counterattack, and perhaps equal because of the additional threat of Bg2, e.g., d5 39.g2 xb3 40.xe4 xc2 41.xc2 xc5 42.xa5 ] 38...c3 winning. 39.a1 e2+ [ 39...e2+ 40.f1 xg3+ 41.g1 e2+ 42.f1 f4 43.d7 a6+ etc. ] 0-1
473 Aronian,Levon Anand,Viswanathan Zurich Chess Challenge (1) [Fier, Alexandr]
A13 2812 2773 30.01.2014
This was a more positional game compared to the other ones I analyzed for Chess Publishing this month. Aronian has an impressive score of +7 =18 -2 against Anand and this game was a victory move by move. 1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 dxc4 5.a4+ bd7 6.xc4 a6 7.b3 [ 7.c2 is more popular, but both of the queen retreats have their differences c5 8.0-0 b5 ( 8...b6 9.c3 b7 10.d1 was also seen here, in the game Bu Xiangzhi (2602)-Li W enliang (2506)/Tan Chin Nam Cup 2002.) 9.b3 b7 10.b2 is a slow and solid way to play for W hite, analyzed in Kozhuharov, S (2391)-Mateuta, G (2465)/14th Open Kavala GRE 2005. ] 7...b8 [ 7...c5 8.a4 b8 ( 8...d6 9.0-0 0-0 10.a3 c7 11.c4 b6 12.d3 b7 13.d2 e7 14.fc1 Bruzon Batista, L (2673) -Vallejo Pons, F (2724)/FIDE World Cup 2011 (2.4.) 9.a5 and Black is kind of tied. This position was analyzed for Chess Publishing in Naiditsch, A (2702)-Papin, V (2575)/13th EICC Plovdiv BUL 2012 (2.9). ] 8.0-0 b5 Black has no hurry to play ...c5. Instead he expands with ...b5 and opens the long diagonal for the bishop. [ 8...c5 9.d4 cxd4 10.f4 c5 11.c4 457
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d6 12.xd4 Sorokin, M (2550)Sveshnikov, E (2580)/RUS-ch Elista 1995 (10). ] 9.a4 b7 10.axb5 axb5 11.d3 I like this way of playing and it's typical in this variation. Usually when White goes for a quick d4, there are good chances that Black can equalize after a well timed ...c5. With the pawn on d3, W hite can often try a setup with e4, restraining the bishop on b7 and the knight on d6. Meanwhile Black's counterplay is not so clear. Af ter all, it's not that W hite will be better after this move, but nowadays it's hard to find an advantage in any variation. e7 [ 11...d6 was the choice of Ivanchuk in the World Cup 12.e3 c5 13.c3 0-0 14.d2 ( 14.xb5?? c6-+ ) 14...xg2 15.xg2 g4 and Black managed to draw without big problems in Bu, X (2675)-Ivanchuk, V (2768)/ FIDE World Cup 2011 (4.1). ] 12.f4 d5 This move will be necessary here or after 13.Rfc1. [ 12...0-0 would probably transpose after 13.c1 d5 14.d2 ] 13.d2 Black's knight is not well placed on d5. White can play e4 with tempo if it stays there. On the other hand sometimes it can go to b6 and the bishop has a good square on f6. 0-0 14.c1 c5 After all the pieces are developed Black finally goes for ...c5. [ 14...b4 would be an interesting alternative. At first sight it looks strange to give the c4square for free, but it avoids the bishop going to a5 and there is a hidden issue with leaving the pawn on b5, as we are going to see in a few moves 15.e1 c5 ( 15...c5 is not so good 16.c2 and the knight will need to go back at some point) 16.bd2 5b6 and the knight comes back, opening the diagonal for a bishop exchange and ready to exchange on c4 if anything goes there. The position is level ] 15.a5 Opening space for the b1-knight. e8 I have a f ee ling t hat th e pieces are a bit packed on the kingside. To put the queen on the c-file is also not ideal, but still can be ok, if combined with ...b4 afterwards. [ 15...c8 16.bd2 b4 17.c4 a8 18.fd2 and White can have a small edge ] 16.bd2 5f6 17.ab1! A beautiful move to make. W hite realizes that one of the best
plans in this position is to play with b2-b4. If he can exchange the b-pawn for the c-pawn all the pieces have more space and most likely the pawn on b5 is going to be weak at s o m e p o i n t . d5 18.d1 a8 19.b4 Just in time! I think White has already some advantage a6?! The beginning of a faulty plan. [ 19...b8 was also possible and the position can become chaotic in a few moves 20.e4 b7 21.b3 c4! ( 21...cxb4 22.d2 is what White is dreaming of) 22.bd4 cxd3 23.c7 a7 24.xb5 a2 and Black creates nice counterplay in exchange for the queen, 25.c3 c4 26.d5 exd5 27.xc4 dxc4 28.c1 and White has some advantage ] 20.e4 c6 [ 20...a8 21.b3 c4 22.bd4 and White has a pleasant position ] 21.b3 cxb4 [ 21...a8 is another idea, looking forward to a nice exchange sacrifice 22.bxc5! xa5 23.xa5 xa5 24.d4 e5 25.f4 ( 25.xc6 xc6 26.d4 maybe this is better, with a strong center) 25...xc5! 26.xc5 b6 27.xe5 xd4+ 28.h1 d7 29.h5 g6 30.h4 and the rook is in a really strange place. Probably Black has compensation coming with 30...Rc8 and ...Nc5 ] 22.d2 xe4 Finally Black shows his plan he will fight with some pawns for a piece. Since White only has pawns on the kingside, there are still some chances. But Aronian plays well, and proves that the pawns are not enough for the piece. [ Here the alternatives are not so interesting anymore 22...a8 23.xb4 a2 24.c3 xb4 25.xb4 a7 26.fd4 a8 27.a1 is much better for White ] [ 22...c5 23.xb4 xb3 24.xb3 xb4 25.xb4 also with advantage ] 23.dxe4 xe4 24.c2 c3 25.a1 f6 This was more or less the position Black was looking for with the piece sacrifice. He has some nice posts for the knight and if they can stay on c3 and d5 it would be ok. White needs to find something to do against this. 26.e5 fd5 27.d3 First relocating the knight to the best square on d3, where it can attack b4. c6 28.xd5! And then exchanging one of the 458
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 strong knights for the fianchettoed bishop. No easy decision to make, but W hite's idea is concrete. exd5 29.e1 [ 29.xb4!? was already possible, but White needs to be sure of the complications and t h e r e s u l t i n g p o s i t i o n xb4 30.d4 ( 30.xb4 e2+ 31.xe2 xe2 32.xc6 and it's not clear the endgame is winning) 30...c4 31.xb4 e7! 32.bc6 f6 and now White needs to sacrifice the queen again 33.xc3 xc3 34.xc3 White has good chances in this position, but it might also be drawn. In the game W hite keeps more pieces on ] 29...c4 30.f3 d7 31.f2 d6 32.b6 f5 [ 32...a4 strangely putting the knight in the corner, bringing the bishop to d4 is the computer's suggestion 33.d4 fc8 34.f4 and White keeps the advantage ] 33.e3 White has optimized the position of all his pieces and now the plan is to exchange Black's pieces one by one, making the pawns harder to defend. It's a long task, but Aronian was able to do it without any major problems. [ 33.c5 xc5 ( 33...xd3 doesn't make m u c h s e n s e 34.xd6 fc8 35.a5 and the rook has no squares) 34.bxc5 a4 and there is still a lot of play in the game. ] 33...h5 34.d4 c7 35.a7 First the rook. xa7 36.xa7 a8 37.c5 Followed by the bishop. d4!? An interesting resource. Black tries to exchange everything and create a fortress in the endgame. It looks a bit desperate, but if Black just waits the pawns are going to fall one by one. 38.xd4 xc5 39.xf5 xe3+ 40.xe3 b3 Now the b3pawn is dangerous and it's going to be exchanged for the f3-pawn 41.d1 c8 42.xc3 xc3 43.d1 b2 The last chance to do t his , o t h erwise W hit e 's kin g wo u ld defend the f3-pawn 44.xb2 xf3 45.d8+ h7 46.d5 b3 47.d3 g6 and I'm not sure if the endgame is really winning, but looking at the game White won easily. 48.d7 g7 49.f2 a3 50.e3 a2 51.h4 f6 52.b7 a5 The b-pawn is going to fall at s o m e p o i n t . 53.c5 a3+ 54.f4 a1 55.e4+ g7 56.d6 f1+ 57.e3 f8 58.xb5 e7 59.e4 e1+ 60.f4 f8
And now the target is the f-pawn. 61.b8+ g7 62.b7 f1+ 63.e3 f8 64.d6 f6 65.b8+ e7 66.e4 f1 67.e2 f5 68.c8 e5 69.f3 f5+ 70.g2 e5 71.g5 e2+ [ 71...f6 would not be enough 72.h3 g5 73.h8 and Black is forced to take on h4, giving the vital f4 square to the knight ] 72.h3 f2 [ 72...f6 73.f3 f2 74.d4 g5 75.c7+ d6 76.hxg5 fxg5 77.g7 ] 73.c4 With 74.Rf4 winning. 1-0
474 Arvind,Shastry Ramesh,Ramachandran B ch Mumbai IND (16) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2330 2472 28.01.2003
White seems to be doing nothing in particular in the opening, and then produces a mating attack out of clear, blue sky! 1.f3 f6 2.b3 d5 3.b2 e6 4.c4 Taking play from Larsen's Opening to an English structure. e7 5.e3 I would play [ 5.g3 myself, and put the bishop on the long diagonal, but W hite's move has its advantages. ] 5...0-0 6.c3 b6 7.c2!? [ 7.e2 b7 8.0-0 c5 9.cxd5 is the mainline here, White's move seems innocuous, but... ] 7...b7 8.e2 I am reminded of Gurevich's set-up against the Slav here, where he followsup with g4, but as Black has dispensed with ... c6, he can react more aggressively. c5 [ 8...dxc4 i s a s o u n d i d e a , 9.bxc4 ( 9.xc4!? ) 9...c5 10.0-0 c6 11.fd1 which seems fairly equal, Mesropov, KKroencke,M/ Bad Wiessee 1997, it is very si m il a r t o a R e t i m a i n li n e , e xc e p t t h a t White's bishop is on e2 instead of the more active g2. ] 9.cxd5! Better than [ 9.0-0 c6 ( 9...dxc4!? ) 10.a3 d4 with a good Benoni for Black, Majzik, LHudecz,V/Budapest 1998. ] 9...xd5 [ 9...exd5 10.d4 c6 is also possible, but 459
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the subsequent hanging pawn structure would not appeal to everyone. ] 10.xd5 It seems that White is happy to exchange pieces, and head for a draw perhaps? xd5 11.h4!? Suddenly, 'out-ofthe-blue', White plays for a kingside attack! h6 Maybe [ 11...d7 12.g5 f5 is safer, although after 13.0-0-0 h6 anything could happen. ] 12.g5! If this is possible, then Black's last move is pointless. hxg5? Opening the h-file is disastrous, [ and 12...f5? is no better: 13.c4 xg2 14.0-0-0! hxg5 15.xe6+ h7 16.hxg5+ g6 17.c3 wins. ] [ however, 12...f5! 13.d3 g4 is possible, e.g. 14.a6 ( 14.c4? hxg5 15.hxg5 e4 ) 14...e4! and no win is visible. ] 13.f3 The point of White's combination. xf3 It is all 'much of a muchness', [ 13...d7 also loses, 14.hxg5 (threatening m a t e o n h 7 ) f5 15.gxf6 xf6 16.xf6! ( 16.h7+ f7 17.h5+ e7 18.xf6+ xf6 19.g6+ e5 20.g3+ d5 21.f3+ xf3 22.xf3+ d6 and the king escapes ) 16...xf6 17.h7+ f8 18.h8+ f7 19.h7 g6 20.h5 f6 21.f8+ f7 22.d8+ e7 23.xe7+ xe7 24.xg6 with a winning material advantage. ] 14.gxf3 xf3 15.g1 g4 Black hopes that his light-squared control will give him enough compensation, but two pieces are rarely a m a t c h f o r t h e q u e e n . 16.xg4!? xg4 17.e4 Forking a8 and g4. d7 18.xg4 f6 19.g2 ad8 20.0-0-0 Black has had enough. [ 20.0-0-0 g6 21.xf6 xf6 22.h5 g7 23.hxg6 fxg6 24.g1 is convincing enough. ] 1-0
475 Bartel,Mat Dolzhikova,O 11th Gibraltar Masters (8.18) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2629 2239 29.01.2013
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 a6 4.g2 b5 5.a3!? Very rare, but logical, defending c4 while attacking b5. Bartel had already successfully tried this move last year. [ 5.b3 First is normal, but then Black can develop easily with b7 ] 5...c6 Solidly defending the b-pawn, but this seems a bit passive to me. [ Black can capture on a3, of course: 5...xa3 6.bxa3 White's pawns are damaged, but he has the bishop pair and the open b-file. bxc4 ( 6...b7 7.b1 c6 8.c2 bxc4 9.xc4 d5 10.c2 d6 11.0-0 c5 12.d3 0-0 13.e4 c6 White has a slight edge, but Black is solid, Novik, M (2405)-Aseev, K (2525) /Moscow 1991. ) 7.a4 ( 7.e5 d5 8.xc4 "and I think that pair of bishops and especially the weak black squares should provide W hite something of an edge." Bartel. ) 7...0-0 8.xc4 d5 9.c2 bd7 and ...c5, Ernst, S (2556) -Ipatov, A (2587)/ Wijk aan Zee 2013. ] [ 5...b4 6.c2 b7 7.0-0 c5 was Blomqvist, E (2469)-Ivanov, S (2537)/ Malmo 2012, when I would want to play 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 ] [ 5...d5 "Looks the most logical." - Bartel. 6.cxd5 ( 6.cxb5 axb5 7.xb5 c5 "but I wasn't sure it this "Blumenfeld-like" position is so good for W hite." - Bartel.) 6...xd5 7.c2 b7 8.b3 e7 9.b2 0-0 10.0-0 Bartel, M (2658)-Popov, I (2599)/ Mo sc o w 2 0 1 2 , wh e n c5 is normal, with chances for both sides. ] 6.b3 Now White returns to a normal position h a v i n g p r o v o k e d . . . c 6 . d5 7.b2 This is actually a novelty. Bartel appears to pref er playing this move bef ore castling, although I can't see any real advantage. [ 7.0-0 seems more flexible to me, d6 ( 7...b7 8.b2 bd7 9.d3 e7 10.e4 Serov, M (2340)-Turov, M (2582)/Dagomys 2009.; 7...bd7 8.c2 b7 9.d4 d6 10.b2 with a position reminiscent of the 460
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Catalan, although the knight looks misplaced on c2, Badea, B (2495)-Turova, I (2394)/Eforie Nord 2010.) 8.d4 ( 8.b2 would transpose to the main game.) 8...0-0 9.c2 bd7 again like a Catalan, 10.a4!? bxc4 11.bxc4 a5 Maletin, P (2567)Zablotsky, S (2498)/Krasnoyarsk 2007. ] 7...d6 8.0-0 e7 Attacking the loose knight, but this piece will have to move soon anyway. [ 8...bd7 is m o re u se f u l , 9.c2 b7 10.e3 ( 10.a4! ) 10...0-0 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.c1 e7 13.c2 fc8 14.xc8+ 1/2-1/2 Hickl, J (2485)-Gruenfeld, Y (2550)/ Tel Aviv 1988. ] 9.c2 0-0 [ 9...b7 10.d3 ( I would prefer 10.a4!? a n d p l a y a s i n t h e m a i n g a m e , bxc4 11.bxc4 ) 10...bd7 11.d2 ( 11.e4!? dxe4 12.dxe4 ) 11...0-0 12.g5!? e8 13.xe7 xe7 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.fc1 fairly level, Loginov, V (2540) -Hellmayr, A (2300)/ Aschach 1994. ] 10.a4!? Putting pressure on Black's undeveloped queenside. [ 10.d4 is possible, with a Catalan type of position, but the knight on c2 is not very useful as we saw in some of the previous notes. ] 10...bxc4 11.bxc4 a5!? Black stops White f r o m a d v a n c i n g h is a -p a wn f u rt h e r, a n d prepares to develop his light-squared bishop to a6, but this weakens b5. [ In retrospect 11...bd7 might be better, Black may be able to play ...e5 later. ] 12.cxd5! I really like the way White plays this from now on, and it is worth trying to copy this strategy in similar Réti-style positions. cxd5 13.fd4 White heads straight for the b5square. d7 Making room for the d6-bishop to retreat. [ 13...a6 14.b5 c5 15.e5!? ] 14.b5 e7 15.cd4 b7 16.c1 c6 17.b3 The knight aims for c5. It's odd how Black is developed and has a solid centre, but is worse anyway. c8? This move looks ugly, the queen retreats to the open c-file, opposite the white rook. [ 17...fc8 18.c5 ( 18.xf6 gxf6 19.e4 ) 18...xc5 19.xc5 would give White some advantage, but the black structure is solid, a n d h e c a n t r y e4 20.c1 d6
and ...Nb4, to exchange the b5 outpost. ] 18.d3 d8 19.e4! The move Black was trying to stop! However, White goes on the offensive at the moment his pieces are the most active and Black's are slightly discoordinated. dxe4? Opening the h1-a8 diagonal is a mistake. [ Houdini suggests 19...a6 but White is clearly on top after, say, 20.e2 ] 20.xf6! gxf6 [ 20...xf6 21.xe4 and the pin on the knight wins material, e.g. a6 22.c5 b6 23.xb7 xb7 24.f3 ] 21.g4+ h8 22.xe4 Simply threatening to capture on c6. d5 [ 22...f5 23.e3! d7 24.c5 xc5 25.xc5 ac8 26.fc1 and Black can't move and can only wait for White to play d4 and Qc3. ] 23.c4 Winning the exchange and the game. d7 24.xd5 exd5 25.f4 e5? Desperation. 26.c7 h3 27.xe7 g4 28.c1! d4 [ 28...xh2+ 29.f1 h3+ 30.e2 leads nowhere. ] 29.xb7 e8 Threatening mate in two! [ 29...xh2+ 30.f1 h1+ 31.e2 xb7 32.xg4 is clearly hopeless. ] 30.xg4! A human decision. [ A computer might prefer 30.f3 xh2+ 31.f1 h3+ 32.g2 ] 30...xg4 31.d6 f3 32.xd4 d5 33.xe8 xb7 34.d6 The rook and two knights crush the black queen, especially as the black king is soon caught in a mating net. d5 35.c8+ g7 36.4f5+ xf5 [ 36...xf5 37.xf5+ g6 38.e7+ g5 39.g8+ h5 40.f5 and g4 mate. ] 1-0
476 Botvinnik,Mikhail Chekhover,Vitaly Moscow (16) [Nigel Davies]
A13
08.03.1935
1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.b3 f6 4.b2 e7 5.e3 0-0 6.e2 c6 7.0-0 bd7 8.c3 a6 9.d4!? I find this move of Botvinnik's quite intriguing given his fondness for broad pawn centres. The knight hangs in the centre like a 461
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 lure, provoking Black to move his pawn s forward. [ The se d ays W h it e pref ers to p la y 9.d4 with a Semi-Slav type position in which Black's ...a6 is of questionable value. For example b5 10.c2 b4 11.a4 e4 12.e5 xe5 13.dxe5 f5?! 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.f3 g5 16.d4 d7?! 17.b6 b8 18.xd7 xd7 19.xa6 won a pawn in Turikov, V (2353)-Znamensky, V (2353)/St Petersburg 2005. ] 9...dxc4 [ After 9...c5 10.f3 . On the other hand he could have followed 9...c5 up with 10...dxc4 when 11.bxc4 produces a structure in which Black can aim for counterplay with a later ... b6-b5. b6 White can inflict some weaknes ses wit h 11.cxd5 exd5 12.d4 , threatening to give Black either hanging pawns or an isolated d-pawn with dxc5. ] 10.bxc4 c5 11.f4 Securing the position of the knight on d4 and commencing the process o f a d v a n c i n g W h i t e c e n t r e p a w n s . c7 12.f3 d8 13.c2 cd7 14.d4 c5 15.e5 b6 16.d3 From his quiet opening Botvinnik has built up a dangerous attacking position. In these 'hanging pawn' positions with a White pawn duo on c4 and d4, Black would prefer to have his queen's knight on a more active square than d7. cxd4 17.exd4 b7 18.e2 f8 19.d1! Covering the d4 pawn with the bishop on b2 whilst routing the knight towards the Black king. a7 20.f2 b8 21.h3 h6 Trying to stop White's knight from landing on g5, but appearances prove to b e d e c e p t i v e . 22.g5! A brilliant knight sacrifice that would have led to a rapid victory if followed up correctly. hxg5 23.fxg5 8d7 24.xf7?! Missing his way. [ 24.xd7! would have won for White, for example xd7 ( 24...xd7 25.gxf6 xf6 26.xf6 gxf6 27.g4+ f8 28.a3+ is also hopeless for Black) 25.xf7! xf7 (W hat else?) 26.h5+ g8 ( Or 26...f8 27.h8+ f7 28.g6+ f6 29.h4# ) 27.h7+ f8 28.h8+ f7 29.g6+ f6 30.h4# mate. ] 24...xf7 25.g6+ g8 [ 25...e8 would also be winning for White after 26.xe6 f8 27.f7+ d7 28.f5+ c7 29.xe7+ 8d7 30.d5 c8 31.e5
a8 32.xg7 etc. ] [ On the other hand 25...f8 would have been a tough nut to crack, f or example 26.xe6 e5! 27.xf6+ gxf6 28.h3 b4 29.g7+ xg7 30.dxe5 xd3 31.exf6+ f7 32.h7+ e6 33.xd3 g8 hangs on for Black. This is the reason that Botvinnik's 24th move was dubious. ] 26.xe6+ h8 27.h3+ g8 28.f5! W ith the bishop joining the attack it swiftly becomes overwhelming. f8 29.e6+ xe6 30.xe6+ h8 31.h3+ g8 32.xf6! xf6 [ 32...gxf6 33.h7+ f8 34.f7# is an immediate mate. ] 33.h7+ f8 34.e1! e5 35.h8+ e7 36.xg7+ d6 37.xe5+ d7 38.f5+ c6 39.d5+ c5 40.a3+ xc4 41.e4+ c3 42.b4+ b2 43.b1# A brilliant game by Botvinnik, though not a perfect one. 1-0
477 Bruzon Batista,Lazaro Leitao,Rafael IV ch-IberoAmerican Final GpA (5.1) [John Bartholomew]
A13 2694 2623 22.04.12
1.c4 f6 2.g3 e6 3.g2 d5 4.f3 dxc4 5.a4+ c6 6.xc4 b5 7.b3 b7 8.0-0 bd7 9.d4 a6 10.e5! xe5 11.dxe5 d5 12.c3 e7 [ W e examine d 12...b8!? in Fressinet, L (2696)-Gordon, S (2535)/Bremen GER 2012/ [John Bartholomew]. It didn't work out too well for Black, so the text move looks best at the moment. ] 13.e4 c7 [ 13...c5 14.g5! , as in Meier, G (2659) Blagojevic, D (2514)/Porto Carras GRE 2011, was discussed last month in the notes to the above game. ] 14.g5!? Correctly sacrificing e5. White has to be ready to pitch this pawn at a moment's notice if he hopes to profit f rom the dark square weaknesses in Black's position. [ 14.f4 xf4 15.gxf4 0-0 16.a4 ad8 17.fc1 d4 18.e3 xa4 19.xa4 bxa4 20.c5 xc5 21.xc5 d8 22.f3= Ni Hua (2641)-Frolyanov, D (2555)/Moscow 462
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 RUS 2012. ] [ Last month I suggested a slightly different versio n of th is pa wn sa c wit h 14.d6+!? , i. e. xd6 15.exd6 xd6 16.e4 b6 17.d1 e7 18.c3 0-0 19.b3!? . W ith the text Bruzon demonstrates that White doesn't even need the advantage of t h e b i s h o p p a i r t o c la i m f u l l p o si t io n a l compensation. ] 14...xg5 15.xg5 xe5 [ 15...d8!? is worthy of attention because 16.f4 ( White should prefer 16.e4 xe5 17.c5 c8 18.fe1 ) 16...c5! provides counterplay. ] 16.e4 0-0 17.c5 c7 18.fc1!? White can arrange his rooks in various ways. Another decision he faces is whether or not to play e2-e4. Bruzon clearly prefers to keep the pawn on e2 for now one benefit of its presence there is that d3 is a conveniently defended retreat square for the knight. ad8 [ I'd be tempted to play 18...a5 rather than await the fixing of the structure with a2-a4. ] 19.c2 c8 20.d3 b7 21.a4! The aforementioned "fixing" of the queenside structure. These positions are tricky to play for Black. Objectively he is OK, but he lacks improving moves that don't simultaneously create further weaknesses. Thus, there is no real hope to make use of the extra pawn on the queenside so long as White maintains a grip on the position. e7 [ W recking the queenside with 21...bxa4!? actually makes a good deal of sense here and might be the best way to resist. ] 22.c5! Positional compensation, folks! White will f ind it even easier to press when the queens are exchanged. fe8 23.xe7 xe7 24.c5 g6?! Leitao is running short on ideas. It's hard to blame him, as his position is becoming increasingly uncomfortable. [ 24...c8!? ] 25.e4 [ 25.d1 also made sense. ] 25...f6 26.d1 c8 Surrendering the only open file, but it wasn't an easy choice. [ 26...xd1+ 27.xd1 c7 28.d8+ g7 29.a5!? leaves Black quite bound up. ] 27.b4 [ 27.a5!? is tempting, but White sees no reason to release the tension. ]
27...bxa4 28.xa4 e5 29.f1 b8 30.f3! Bruzon slowly increases his advantage. g7 31.d6! e8 32.d7 xd7 33.xd7 d8 34.xe5 Restoring material equality. Unfortunately for Black, his own weaknesses persist. d4 35.d3!? [ Interestingly, White declines to enter a pawn-up en dgame, i.e . 35.xa6 xa6 36.xa6 xb4 37.a7 d6 38.xc6 . Probably he didn't like his winning chances in this endgame and saw no reason to halt the torture. ] 35...c7 36.f2 c5?! [ Black should sit tight, i.e. 36...c4 37.c5 c2+ 38.e3 c8 39.h4 h5 . ] 37.e3 e6 38.h3! c6? [ 38...c4! w a s c a l l e d f o r : 39.e5 ( 39.xe6?? xd3+-+ ) 39...c3! 40.a3 ( 40.xe6?? c2 41.a1 d1 ) 40...xb4 41.xe6! fxe6 42.xc3 a5 and the a-pawn gives Black hope of saving the game. ] 39.a5 b5 40.xc5 xb4 41.xe6 fxe6 42.xe6+ f6 43.c5 c4? Losing, but B l a c k wi l l f i n d h i m s e l f t wo p a wn s d o w n regardless. 44.xa6 c3+ 45.d2 d3+ 46.c2 c4 47.a4 xf3 [ or 47...b5 48.c7! xa4+ 49.xd3+- ] 48.xc4 f2+ 49.d3 xh2 50.e3 g5 51.b4 g4 52.e5+ Black has yet to demonstrate a clear route to equality against 7. Qb3. 1-0
478 Bruzon Batista,Lazaro Moreno Ruiz,Javier Azuqueca de Henares op (6) [Fier, Alexandr]
A13 2699 2469 19.09.2013
Bruzon basically plays the same idea as in a Ivanchuk - Alekseev game that impressed me so m e ye a rs a go . I n st e a d o f t h e 1 4 . Nb 4 played by Ivanchuk or 14. Bb4 played recently, he goes for 14.Nh4. Black answered with the ambitious 14.. .g5, but soon this move proved to be too committal and Bruzon won in an instructive way. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 d4 An ambitious idea, trying to take the center and enter into some kind of Benoni with reversed colors. The main question is if 463
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the tempo up for White is sufficient to bring any advantage. 5.0-0 c5 [ 5...c6 is the main alternative, and was analyzed in the game IstratescuPapadopoulos - see the PGN Archive. ] 6.e3 c6 7.exd4 cxd4 8.d3 e7 9.e1 0-0 10.a3 This plan is by far the most popular in this variation and also playe d sometimes in the Benoni. Compared with the reversed color position White is a tempo up because of the first move. Also, sometimes Black uses one more tempo to play ...e6-e5. The main difference with this position is that Black usually tries to equalize, and with White that's not enough. The Classical setup against the Benoni was always a solid option and here it's the same. e8 Black brings the knight to the queenside, looking for c7-a6 where it can control White's expansion on the queenside. Black also has the idea of playing ...f6 and afterwards ...e5. Other moves are possible: [ 10...e8 was tried once by Zhang Zhong, opening the f8-square for the bishop 11.c2 a5 12.b3 f8 13.g5 ( 13.e5!? would be my personal preference, holding e5 f or some time a nd ope ning t he lon g diagonal ) 13...h6 14.xf6 xf6 with a typical position in Pavlovic, M (2498)Zhang Zhong (2603)/Monarch Assurance 13th 2004 ] [ 10...d7 is quite logical, with the idea of ... e5 and ...f6 11.c2 e5 12.b4! the break comes just in time! With 12...f6 played this would be not possible f6 13.b5 ( 13.b1 is not really necessary a5 Ni Hua (2662)Ra d u ls k i, J (25 5 6 )/ P o lit iken Cu p 3 3 rd 2011 ) 13...b4 this was probably the reason for Ni Hua's 13.Rb1, but it is p u n i s h e d i n a n i c e w a y ( 13...cb8 14.e2 ) 14.fxd4! exd4 15.a3! and suddenly Black can't hold all his pieces together ( 15.xe7 is clearly worse, but still playable xc2 16.xd7 xd7 17.xc2 with compensation) 15...a5 ( 15...xc2 doesn't brings enough pieces for the queen 16.xe7 xe1 17.d5+ h8 18.xd8 xd8 19.xe1+- ) 16.bxa6 xa6 17.xb4 xb4 18.xb4 and White would be close to winning even without an extra pawn. ] 11.c2 f6 12.d2 [ 12.b4 was never played but it's not so bad,
trying to play a Benko-style position xb4 13.xb4 xb4 14.a3 c6 15.d2 ] [ 12.a3 a5 13.d2 a4 transposes to the game. ] 12...a5 13.a3 a4 14.h4 A new move, but not exactly a new idea. [ 14.b4 is typical, since exchanging pieces is good for W hite. It was played by Batsiashvili in August, the game continued: e5 15.e2 d6 ( 15...h8? 16.xe7 xe7 17.fxd4 this is the idea, winning an important pawn) 16.d2 c7 17.ab1 with a double-edged position in Batsiashvili, N (2412)-Tsolakidou, S (1986)/ 22nd Kavala op 2013. ] [ 14.b4 was Ivanchuk's way to play, and after c7 15.b1 d7 ( 15...a5 would be thematic, but the pawn is hanging 16.xa4 xc4 17.c2 xd2 18.xd2 and W hite should be fine. This shows a small difference compared to the game, since with the knight on h4 the capture needs to be made by the queen) 16.h4 a5 17.f4 g6 18.f5 with quite entertaining complications in Ivanchuk, V (2703)Alekseev, E (2714)/Jermuk FIDE GP 2009. ] 14...g5?! I don't believe this can be good. A similar idea exists in the King's Indian with 7... exd4 where Black plays ...Nh5 provoking g4, but in that position W hite actually has an attack because of this g4. Here it just weakens the kingside without having any initiative on that flank. [ 14...c7 is more natural A) 15.h5 a6 16.e2!? tries to apply pressure since the knight on a6 is far from t h e k i n g ' s d e f e n c e c5 17.b4 t h e p a w n i s p o i s o n e d f5!? with complications ( 17...xd3 18.e4+- ); B) 15.b4 is normal but now Black can play an improved version of the analysis of Ivanchuk - Alekseev. a5 16.xa4 ( 16.e2 b3 17.ad1 and White's position is not so harmonious) 16...xc4 17.c2 xd2 18.xd2 here is the point of the knight being on h4 e5 and Black is fine.; C) 15.b4 a6 ( 15...e5 16.xe7 xe7 17.e4 and I prefer White ) C1) 16.xe7 xe7 ( 16...xe7 17.h5 g6 18.e2 ) 17.f5! c5 ( 17...d8 464
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.xc6 bxc6 19.fxd4 ) 18.xc6 xf5 19.e4 is also possible ( 19.xa4 highly ambitious, but the bishop will neve r c ome back e5 20.b4 c5 21.c2 and if White doesn't get mated his position is better ); C2) 16.xc6!? taking the pawn by force bxc6 17.xe7 xe7 18.xd4 d6 19.c2 b8 20.b1 c5 21.d4 cxd4 22.xd4 c7 and it's not clear that the pa wn o n t h e qu e e n sid e will m a ke a difference, while the bishop's absence will be important.; D) 15.f4 is another logical move a6 16.e2 preparing to play 17.f5 with one more double-edged position. ] 15.f3 g7 Now White should continue the plan of pressure on the queenside as the knight on g7 is not doing much. 16.b4 f7 17.xe7 xe7 18.d2 Without the bishop the knight is ready to go to d2-e4-c5, the other knight can go to b4, and Rb1 followed by b3 is the other plan. White already has some advantage. h8 19.b4 c7 [ 19...xb4 20.axb4 d7 21.b5 wins the a4-pawn ] 20.e4 a7 [ 20...f8 to keep one eye on c5 is better, b u t B l a c k ' s s t i l l u n d e r p r e s s u r e 21.c5 ( 21.f3 f5!? sacrificing a pawn to take the bishop on g2 22.xc6 bxc6 23.g4 h4 24.xf6+ xf6 25.xf6 b8 with some compensation) 21...f5 22.xc6 bxc6 23.c1 e5 and the queenside pawns are weak but Black is still in the game. ] 21.c5 [ 21.xc6!? w a s s l i g h t l y b e t t e r xc6 ( 21...bxc6 22.c5 f8 23.xa4 would transpose to the game) 22.c5 c7 23.c1 e5 24.d6 with a clear advantage ] 21...f8 [ 21...e5! was the last chance to stay in the game, and it looks like things are not so clear, 22.xa4 ( 22.e4 is the computer m o ve , b u t h u m a n s a re u s u a l ly p r o u d !) 22...d7 23.b6 e8 threatening 24...Rc5 winning the knight, 24.b3 d6 ] 22.xc6 bxc6 23.xa4 c5 24.b6 b7 25.a4 Necessary, to support the knight xg2 26.xg2 a6 27.a5 Now White is already winning ca7 28.f3 h5
[ 28...xa5 29.xa5 xa5 30.d7 wins ] 29.g1 g4 30.c6 e5 31.d5 xa5 32.xa5 xa5 33.b4 a3 34.d7 d8 35.bxc5 a5 36.f1 1-0
479 Bu Xiangzhi Li Wenliang Tan Nam Cup Qingdao CHN (3) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2602 2506 05.07.2002
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ bd7 The most popular reply, we have considered [ 5...c6 6.xc4 b5 in Van der Sterren,PDautov,R. ] 6.xc4 a6 7.c2 White retreats so that ...b5 can be met by a4. c5 8.0-0 b6 9.c3 b7 Black develops his queenside first, much as in the QGA, experience shows that if he castles first he has difficulties finding a satisfactory square for his queen's bishop. 10.d1 c8 11.a4!? A thoughtful innovation, White wants to expand in the centre, but doesn't want to allow ...b5-b4, dislodging his knight, e.g. [ 11.e4 b5 and now White must play 12.d3 , Huebner,R-Donner, J/Wijk aan Zee 1975, wh ich is t h e p o in t , t h e re is n o t im e f o r ( 12.d4? because of b4 )] [ 11.d4 just allows too many exchanges, cxd4 12.xd4 ( 12.xd4 c5 ) 12...xg2 13.xg2 c7 Sofrevski,J-Karaklajic,N/ Sarajevo 1958. ] 11...e7 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4! d5 [ 13...c5 is also possible, but loses time when compared with the previous note - the black dark-squared bishop has already moved once. ] 14.e4 xc3 15.bxc3 c7 Black pinpoints the weakness on c3, but is it too greedy? [ 15...f6?! appears tempting, but after 16.e5! xf3?! 17.exf6 xg2? ( 17...xf6 18.f4 xc3 19.b2 loses a piece, but is Black's best try) 18.fxg7 g8 19.xh7 White wins. ] 16.f4! xc3 [ 16...e5? 17.h3 ] 17.d1 c5 18.b1! The trap closes around t h e q u e e n . 0-0!? This leads to a difficult 465
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 endgame, [ 18...xe4!? 19.c1 xf3 20.xf3 a3 21.b7 0-0 22.xc8 xc8 23.b1 is unpleasant for Black, who is an exchange down, but playable. ] 19.d2 a3 20.b4 a2 21.d2 xa4 22.xa4 xa4 23.xe7 This is all forced, White wins a bishop and Black's three pawns p r o v e i n a d e q u a t e c o m p e n s a t i o n . fe8 24.a3 xe4 25.b4 c6 26.d6 b5 27.d4 xg2 28.xg2 c3? Black misses a tactic, [ 28...a8 kept the pawns defended, 29.c6 b6 30.e7+ xe7 31.xb6 d7 32.b3 with advantage to White - the black pawns cannot advance and must be defended - but Black is still playing. ] 29.xa6! [ 29.xa6 xa3 30.xb5 and Rxa4 win the two queenside pawns whilst regaining the piece. ] 1-0
480 Cornette,Matthieu Sokolov,Andrei FRA-ch 88th Nancy (1) [Fier, Alexandr]
A13 2592 2558 11.08.2013
8.e4 is a rare approach in a known position and 8...a5 was played before by Morozevich, attempting to punish White for the opening of the a6-f1 diagonal. Still, it's a committal move and after W hite's pawn sacrifice Black was under pressure for the rest of the game. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ bd7 6.xc4 c5 7.0-0 [ 7.d4 was analyzed in Zhou Jianchao (2607)-Zhou W eiqi (2590)/Danzhou 4th 2013 ] 7...b6 8.e4!? trying to get a center without losing time, this idea was played by Korchnoi in 2000 and in a blitz game in 2009, but in this game White makes a logical improvement [ 8.d1!? was seen in Mareco, S (2586)Tristan, L (2449)/86th ch-ARG 2012 ] [ 8.d4 is not dangerous for Black and after e5 9.c6 xc4 10.xd8 d5 11.c3 xd8 12.xd5 b7 the position is equal ] [ 8.d4 b7 9.c3 is the main line ]
8...a5 A forcing move, but probably not the best one. [ 8...b7!? is an interesting alternative, avoiding 9.e5 and looking for Rc8 9.c3 ( 9.e5?! xf3 10.xf3 xe5 11.a4+ fd7 and to take the rook is not advisable; 9.d3 d6 ) 9...c8 10.e2 c4 ] [ 8...e7 is also possible 9.e5 d5 10.c3 b7 11.g4 0-0 ( 11...g6 12.xd5 xd5 13.d4 h5 14.f4 was double edged in Kortschnoj, V (2659)-Jussupow, A (2628)/ S U I - c h T S w i t z e r l a n d 2 0 0 0) 12.d4 went by transposition to Romanishin, O (2560)-Sveshnikov, E (2510)/URS-ch44 Moscow 1976 ] 9.c3 Sacrificing a pawn to enter a promising position [ 9.e1?! a6 10.c2 ( 10.a4 is another try, but Black keeps the initiative after c4 11.c3 b5! opening space for the queen 12.xb5 b6 13.c3 g4 14.d1 b5 15.c2 c5 followed by 16...Nge5 with huge compensation) 10...c4 11.e5 d5 12.c3 b4 went clearly wrong for W hite in Svidler, P (2754)-Morozevich, A (2750)/Wch Blitz 5th blitz 2009 ] 9...a6 10.b5 xe4 11.e1 Black already needs to be careful. xb5 [ 11...d6? is brutally punished by 12.xe6+ fxe6 13.xe6+ e7 14.xd6+ d8 15.f7+ ] [ 11...ef6 12.fd4! is forcing and good xb5 13.xb5 c8 ( 13...b8 14.d4 e7 15.d5 xd5 16.xd5 exd5 17.xd5 0-0 18.f4 and somehow Black is already c o m p l e t e l y l o s t c8 19.ad1 f6 20.b7+- ) 14.a7 c7 15.c6 xc6 ( 15...c8 16.xe6+ fxe6 17.xe6+ e7 18.xe7# ) 16.xc6 ] 12.xb5 d6 13.e2 For one pawn White has a big initiative, d4 is coming and both bishops are much stronger than the knights, but White still needs to be quick, otherwise Black can consolidate his position. e7 14.d4 0-0 15.f4 f5 16.ad1 [ 16.d5!? I like this move, recovering the pawn immediately A) 16...exd5 17.h3 wins a piece for two pawns ( 17.g4 d6 18.g5 d4; 17.ad1 ) 17...d6 18.xf5 xf4 19.gxf4 g6 20.h3 f6 21.e5; 466
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 16...e5 is the best option for Black 17.xe5 d4 ( 17...xe5 18.xe5 f6 19.d6 b8 20.f4 ) 18.d3 xe5 19.xe5 c8 ( 19...f6 20.f4 is also not funny ) 20.xd4 cxd4 21.xd4 is solid for Black, but the pawns on the queenside are not well placed, so in the long run White can put a bishop on b5, for example, and Black has to just wait. ] 16...f6 The position is still delicate but I'm not sure if Black is worse anymore. 17.dxc5 bxc5 18.g4 [ 18.b5 a7 19.e5 b8 20.xb8 ( 20.xd7 xd7 21.xd7 ) 20...xb8 ] 18...e7 This is provocative. [ 18...d4 was more solid 19.xd4 xd4 20.xa8 xa8 21.h3 ( 21.e3? would be good if possible but e5 wins ) 21...b7 and Black has enough resources to hold the balance ] 19.d6 [ 19.g5!? this is a hard move to evaluate, since the resulting position is dangerous for White too, but this concrete approach can bring some advantage d5 20.c1 d4 ( 20...e7 21.xd5 exd5 22.xe7 e8 23.d6 e5 24.xd8 xf3+ 25.xf3 axd8 26.d1; 20...c3 21.bxc3 xc3 22.c2 xd1 23.xd1 ) 21.xd4 cxd4 22.xd4 ( 22.xd5 is the computer choice, but I wouldn't give my bishop like this exd5 23.xd4 c5 ) 22...b6 ( 22...7b6 23.h5! this is the idea, and 24.Rh4 will follow ) 23.g4 and White is better, but the position is still full of life. With the pawn on g3 things would be easier, with the pawn on g5 the knights become more dangerous ] 19...c8 20.b5 e8 Black position is really compact, but after giving the pawn back he will have some space to move. 21.g5 d4 22.xd4 cxd4 23.xd4 d5 This is an interesting practical decision, giving another pawn Black will get some counterplay due to the weakened white squares. [ 23...b6 le ad s t o excha nge s 24.xb6 xb6 25.xe7 otherwise 25...Ned5 xe7 26.b4 axb4 27.xb4 d7 and White has some chances in the endgame ] 24.xd5 exd5 25.xe8+ xe8 26.xd5 b6?! But I'm not sure about giving a second pawn.
[ 26...e2!? activating the queen is a nice idea 27.f5! White should be brave ( 27.xa5 xb2 28.c4 e8 is dangerous for White ) 27...c1+ 28.g2 f1+ 29.g3 g1+ 30.h3 f1+ 31.h4 c4! 32.xc4 xc4+ 33.g3 c6 ] 27.e5 [ 27.xa5 c1+ was probably the idea, but with the pieces centralized and the back rank mate in the air, Black has little. ( 27...c4 28.d5 ) 28.g2 c4 29.d5+- ] 27...c6 28.e7 h6 Giving the king some important air 29.gxh6 g6+ [ 29...xh6 there is nothing wrong with this 30.g5 h3 31.xa5 c6 with ...Rg6 ideas in the air ] 30.g5 c1+ 31.g2 c6+ 32.f3 [ 32.h3 f3+ 33.g3 h5+ 34.g2+- ] 32...c2+ 33.g3 xh6 34.xh6 gxh6 35.f6 Now the smoke has cleared and it looks like White is close to winning. But near move 40 I think both players were in big time trouble. h7 36.g4? This looks almost winning but Black has one last and sufficient resource [ 36.d6 a4 37.h4 h5 38.d5 would be better ] 36...d5! 37.d4 f6 And now things are far from clear. 38.e4 g6 39.a3 h5 40.h4 f5 41.b4 a2 42.bxa5 ½-½
481 Damljanovic,Branko Georgiev,Kiril Gorenje GM Valjevo SRB (9) [Carsten Hansen]
A13 2585 2660 21.06.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 a6 (This line is gradually becoming more and more popular and represents a problem for those W hite players who prefer a classical 1 Nf3, 2 c4, 3 g3, 4 Bg2, 5 0-0 and only then start playing, because Black's unorthodox set-up prevents White from using many of this standard plans. ) 4.g2 [ Other options for White include 4.d3 ] [ and 4.c3 We will return to this line in the near future ] 467
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 perpetual check. ] 4...b5 5.b3 c5 6.c3 b6 [ B) 7...c6 8.e5 g4 9.0-0 ( After the text [ 6...a5 is another possibility for Black. ] move, Black has a perfectly good game. 7.e4 (This move is played infrequently, but Instead White should consider 9.h3!? h6 appears to ma ke perf ect se nse: B lack is 10.d3 b7 11.e4 f5 12.0-0 ) 9...b7 making an advance on the queenside before 10.e2 h5= 11.h3?! ( 11.a3!? f ight ing f or t he ce ntre , W hite in rea ctio n leads to messy complications, e.g. d4 claims his stake of the centre before Black 12.xd4 xg2 13.xg2 cxd4 14.xf8 gets his pieces ready to respond to it. That xf8 15.f3 xh2 16.xh2 dxc3 being said, White hasn't been overwhelmingly 17.dxc3 ) 11...h6 ( Here 11...d4!? successful in his results in this line yet, but leads to a good game for Black, e.g. theoretically White is doing very well) d6 12.xd4 cxd4 13.e4 xe5 14.d3 [ This isn't Black's only option. Two other g6 ) 12.cxb5 axb5 13.xb5 c7 tries have been tried at this juncture: A) 14.e2 f5 15.b5 b6 16.b2 a6 7...b7 8.e2 c6 9.0-0 d4 10.xd4 17.a4 e7 18.fe1 ( 18.d4!? is likely ( 10.d3 g4 11.cxb5 xf3+ 12.xf3 better: cxd4 19.fc1 b8 20.f1 ) e5 13.h5 d3 , R.Pogorelov-A. 18...b8 19.f1 0-0 20.e4 , and a draw Stefanova, Salou 2000, and now 14.e2 was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, I.Stohl-P.Wells, b4 15.b1 ) 10...cxd4 11.d1 d6 Austrian Oberliga 2001 ] ( This position is called slightly better for Black by Mikhalchishin in a survey in vol 5 of 8.d4!? [ This is a new move in this particular position. the 'Secrets of Opening Surprises' from New E a r l i e r t r i e s i n c l u d e : A ) 8.0-0 b7 In Chess, but is a bit of a misrepresentation. ( 8...c6!? to prevent the idea suggested as An ot h er mo ve is 11...e5 12.b2 e7 an alternative to White's 9th move may be 13.d3 d6 14.a4 bxc4 15.bxc4 c7 prudent ) 16.a3 0-0 17.fc1 with a slight pull for A) 9.d4 is one again an important idea to White, R.Vaganian-V.Chuchelov, consider: Bundesliga 2004 ) A1) 9...cxd4 is better and also quite A) or 12.d3 d7 13.f4 e7 14.f2 a5 interesting, though not quite as much fun 15.d2 ( 15.cxb5 xb5 16.a3 ) 15...b4 for W hite as the main line... 10.xd4 16.f5 c5 17.h5 M.Tratar-R.Zelcic, c7 11.b2!? ( 11.d3 bxc4 12.xc4 Pula 2001; xc4 13.bxc4 bd7 14.b1 c5 B) 12.b2 e7 13.d3 ( 13.b4!? c8 15.e1 ) 11...bxc4 12.e2!? ( 12.c1 14.d3 h5 15.d2 h4 16.a4 ) 13...0-0 bd7 13.e2 b6 14.b1 e7 14.a3 bxc4?! ( 14...ac8!? 15.fc1 15.d2 ) 12...bd7 13.fc1 b6 d7 is comfortable for Black) 15.bxc4 14.a4 with an excellent game for White; c7 16.ab1 d7 ( 16...ab8!? ) A2) 9...xe4?! 10.xe4 xe4 11.e1 17.xb7! xb7 18.e5 c7 19.xa8 b7 12.d5 e5 13.xe5 dxe5 xa8 20.exd6 xd6 21.c5 ( White can 14.xe5+ d8 15.g5+ c7 16.a4! also c o ns id e r 21.xd6 xd6 22.c1 ( 16.f4 also looks attractive and c5 23.xc5 xc5 24.b1 a5 promises White excellent compensation, 25.d3 ) 21...f8 22.e4 d8 23.b1?! e.g. d6 17.e7+ d7 18.h3 xf4 ( 23.c1!? b8 24.f4 ) 23...a5 19.g4 h6 20.xd7+ b8 21.ae1 , and here the score ends with 0-1, O. and White, despite having only a pawn Foisor-S.Ionov, Oviedo 1993, but I suspect for the piece, has excellent the game must have continued a bit longer, co m p e n sa t io n a s we ll a s t h e b e t t e r because isn't in a particularly bad shape, e. chances thanks for Black's pieces g. 24.b4 xa2 25.c1 a5 26.c6 axb4 having a total lack of coordination ) 27.c7 c8 28.b7 , and now one A2a) 16...d6 17.a5 a7 18.f4! possible continuation leads to a draw: is even worse: xe5 19.xe5+ d8 xc7 29.xc7 xd2 30.xd7 xd3 20.g4 e8 21.xg7 d7 22.g5+ 31.c8 b1+ 32.g2 , with a draw by 468
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c8 23.h3 xd5 ( 23...bxc4 24.d1 cxb3 25.xd7+ xd7 26.f5+ d8 27.f6+ c7 28.d6+ c6 29.d7+- ) 24.cxd5 c4 25.bxc4 bxc4 26.b1+-; A2b) 16...d7 17.e1 d6 18.a5 a7 19.e7 with excellent attacking chances to compensate for the piece; B) 9.d3 bd7 10.h4 e7 11.f4 0-0 12.g4!? b4 ( 12...xe4?! 13.dxe4 xh4 14.g5 is very problematic for Black, the bishop will likely not return alive.) 13.a4 c7 14.g5 g6!? B1) 15.gxf6? xf6 16.xg6 fxg6 ( 16...xa1? 17.xf8 d4+ 18.h1 xf8 19.f5 ) 17.b2 c6; B2) 15.f5 exf5 16.exf5 xg2?! ( 16...h5 17.f3 xf3 18.xf3 ae8 19.d5 ) 17.xg2 h5 18.f6 d8 19.e3 e8 20.d5 J.Arnason-M. Angelis, Komotini 1993 ] [ B) 8.e2 c6 A) 9.cxb5 axb5 10.xb5 xb5 11.xb5 b8 12.a4 b4; B) 9.b2 d4 ( 9...b7 10.cxb5 d4 11.xd4 cxd4 12.a4 xb5 13.xd4 e5 14.b2 xe4 15.xb5+ axb5 16.c3; 9...b4 10.a4 c7 11.d4 e5 12.d5 d4 13.xd4 cxd4; 9...b8 10.d3 e7 11.0-0 0-0= ) 10.xd4 cxd4 11.e5 b7 12.d5!? xd5 13.cxd5 dxe5 14.xe5 f6 15.xd4 fxe5 16.xb6 exd5 17.c1; C) 9.e5?! dxe5 10.cxb5 axb5 11.xb5 xb5 12.xb5 d5 13.b2 a6 14.a4 f6 C1) 15.g5?! is a fantasy move deramed up by my computer, but it turns out not to be particularly good: C1a) 15...e7?! 16.e4 f7 17.ec3 ( 17.ed6+ xd6 18.xd6+ e7 19.e4 cb4 ) 17...db4; C1b) 15...fxg5! 16.xd5 exd5 17.c7+ d7 18.xa8 b4 19.d1 d3 20.c2 d6 21.b6+ c6 22.a5 f8; C2) 15.0-0 d7 16.fb1 e7 M.Wahls-P.Wells, Germany 2000 ] 8...b7 9.d5 [ 9.0-0 transposes to 8 0-0 Bb7 9 d4 above ] 9...e5 10.0-0 [ 10.h4!? g6 11.0-0 g7 12.d2
, preparing f2-f4 in the near future. White should hold a safe edge at this point. ] 10...g6 11.e2 g7 12.d2 b4 13.a4 d8 14.f4 bd7 15.b2 e7 16.ae1 (This position is already very good for White) h5 17.f3 h6 18.fxe5 dxe5 19.c1 xc1 20.xc1 0-0 21.e1 [ 21.cd1!? is possibly even better ] 21...ac8 22.d3 c7 23.h3 [ 23.h3!? a5 24.cd1 d6 25.e3 also looks very good for White ] 23...a5 24.e3 g7 25.c2 c8 26.f3 h7 27.h4 hf6 28.cf2 d6 [ 28...b7!? ] 29.d1 g8 30.g4 hxg4 31.xg4 df6 32.d1 [ 32.e2!? d7 ( 32...g4 33.axc5 xe2 34.xe2+- ) 33.h5+- ] 32...g4 33.g2 xd1 34.xd1 h6 35.f3 h7 36.f1 h5 37.e3 fc8 38.g5 e8 39.h1 ee7 40.ff2 e8 41.axc5 xc5 42.xc5 f4 43.a4 [ 43.e6!? xg2 44.c5 d7 45.xg2+- ] 43...f6 44.g3 f5 45.c5 f6 46.g5 f7 47.d6 fxe4 [ 47...h3 48.d2 xf2+ 49.xf2+- ] 48.c6 [ 48.d7! xd7 49.xf4+- ] 48...e3 49.f1?? [ 49.xf4! exf4 50.h5 gxh5 51.d7 g8 52.xg8+ xg8 53.d8+- ] 49...e2 50.e1 [ 50.xe2 d5+ 51.h2 xe2 52.d7 g8 53.g2 e4 54.xe2 xc6 55.d1 c7+= ] 50...d5 [ 50...e6 51.d7 g8 ( 51...h3+ 52.g1 e3+ 53.h1 h3+= ) 52.h5 f7 53.d8 xd8 54.c7 h3+ 55.g1 e3+ 56.h1 h3+ 57.g1 e3+= ] 51.d7 g8 52.exe2 [ W h i t e ' s b e s t i s p r o b a b l y 52.h5!? , although this is hardly an idea most players would consider without the aid of a computer, a possible continuation runs gxh5 53.d8 xd8 54.xd8 xd8 55.b6 xg2 56.xg2 g8+ 57.f2 f5 58.c7 e7 59.xe2 c8 60.xc8 xc8 61.xe5 g6 62.c5 ] 52...xe2 53.e7+? [ This turns out to be the decisive error, 469
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 which is hard to predict because the position is still very complicated and the players were likely short on time. A better choice is 53.d8 g3+ 54.xg3 xd8 55.b2 d5 56.c7 c6 57.c4 with more or less equal chances ] 53...f7 54.b6 [ 54.h2 f3 55.c5 ( 55.c7 f4 56.c2 e2 57.xe2 xe2+ 58.g1 e1+ 59.g2 e2+ 60.h3 d3+ 61.g2 c2+ 62.f1 xc7-+ ) 55...f4 56.xf7+ g7 57.xf4 xf4+ 58.h1 d4-+ ] 54...f3 55.h2 f4 56.xf7+ g7 57.d5 (Desperation) xd5 58.d8 f4 (And the threat is reinforced with just as much strength as before) 59.c2 h3+ 60.g1 f7 61.d1 g3+ 62.h1 d3 0-1
[ 15.fd1 with the idea of e3 and d4 is also promising. ] 15...cxd4 [ 15...f6 16.a3! cxd4 17.d6! wins material. ] 16.xd4 xd4 17.xd4 a7 18.fd1 A pretty picture, and the type of position that readers should become familiar with. White's sp a ce a n d p o we rf u l b ish o p su f f i c e f o r a significant advantage. b8 What else? Rc6d6 was threatened. 19.h4 h6 20.a4 [ or 20.d6 ] 20...a5 21.e4 b5 22.c5 f5 23.f3 bxa4 24.bxa4 e8 25.dc1 Black has saved his queenside but at the cost of a weak pawn on e6. b6 26.e5? A very strange move, giving away his a-pawn for Black's weak epawn. After this the play is level. Better was [ 26.e3 or ] [ 26.c4 d7 27.c6 h7 28.e3 e8 482 A13 29.b5 , with a clear advantage in both cases, arguably a winning one. . ] Djuric,Stefan 2466 Drazic,Sinisa 2514 26...xa4 27.c6 xc6 28.xe6+ h8 TCh-Serbia Zlatibor SCG (3) 28.08.2006 29.xc6 b4!? Black banks upon the power of his a-pawn, which is sufficient for equality. [John Watson] Otherwise [ 29...b2 avoids the loss of a pawn after How even a strong grandmaster can get into 30.c8 a8 ] trouble trying to coast to a draw in the Reti. [ , as does 29...b5= ] 1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 a6 Black tries to mix it up right away. His first idea is ...dxc4 and ... 30.c8 a8 31.xa8 xa8 32.xf5 a4 b5. 4.c2 f6 5.g2 e7 6.0-0 0-0 7.b3 33.f3 a5 34.c5 d8 35.d5 e8 c5 Now we're in a normal Reti Opening with 36.d3 d8 37.c3 e7 38.g2 f8 the trade-off Qc2 for ...a6. One could argue 39.e3 c5 40.e4 a3 41.a4 d5+ that White's queen is better-placed on e2, so 42.f3 a8 43.e8+ xe8 44.xe8+ h7 Black shouldn't have real worries here. 8.cxd5 45.h5 a2 46.g6+ h8 47.e8+ h7 48.g6+ h8 [ 8.b2 d4 or ...8...Nc6 with the idea ...d4. ] 8...xd5 9.c3 c6 If Black wants a more ½-½ dynamic encounter, [ 9...b4!? 10.b1 4c6 11.b2 f5!? 483 A13 intending ...e5 might be tried. ] Filippov,Valerij 2617 10.b2 xc3?! Kortschnoj,Viktor 2617 [ Again, he has 10...db4 11.b1 d4 27.09.2001 . After the simplification that follows he has ECC Panormo GRE (5) [Tony Kosten] no positive prospects. ] 11.xc3 f6 12.c2 xb2 13.xb2 W h it e n o w h a s a n a d va n t a ge d u e t o h i s Up to a point a very good game from Filippov, b e t t e r b i s h o p a n d c e n t r a l c o n t r o l . d7 including an instructive plan against an IQP, 14.ac1 b6 15.d4! Now White has the b u t t h e n , a r o u n d m o ve f o r t y, i t a l l we n t classic Reti/English Opening advantage in the haywire! 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 a6 4.g2 The real idea behind ...a6, Black centre, which shows how careful Black need b5 challenges the white c-pawn, and prepares to be to stay active. 470
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 bring his light-squared bishop to the h1-a8 diagonal. 5.b3 d5 6.cxd5!? There is no real need to c larif y t he centre qu ite so e arly, although this perfectly viable, of course. exd5 7.d4 [ Surprisingly, this seems to be a new move here, although 7.0-0 e7 8.d4 0-0 9.c3 is very similar, Huzman,A-Nikolic,P/Wijk aan Zee 1993. ] 7...c5 8.0-0 e6 There is little point putting this piece on b7 now, as the d5-pawn blocks the diagonal. 9.c3 bd7 10.e3 c8 [ Black avoids playing 10...c4 as by blocking the centre this way, he allows 11.bxc4 bxc4 12.e5 and both f4-5, and e4 are on the cards. ] 11.e2 f 4 b e c k o n s . d6 12.dxc5 Now was definitely the time to force the IQP position- White has good squares on d4 and f4. xc5 13.b2 ce4 14.fd4 A typical position, both sides can be happy w i t h t h e i r p r o s p e c t s . d7!? 15.f3!? A difficult decision to make. On the one hand White wanted to shift the strong black knight from e4, but on the other he won't want to weaken his e3-pawn, especially as Black has a semi-open e-file for his rook. c5 16.g4!? Very aggressive, White wants to secure the f 5 - s qu a re f o r a kn igh t a n d p re p a r e s t h e m a n o e u vr e N g3 -f 5 . e7 17.d2 0-0 18.g3 g6!? Another difficult decision, Black stops the knight from coming to f5, but loosens his kingside dark squares. 19.g5 e8 20.f4 The white set-up is looking very menacing. e4?! 21.xe4! dxe4 22.g2 c5!? [ Black jettisons the e-pawn hoping for sufficient counterplay on the e-file. Defending the pawn by 22...f5?! 23.gxf6 xf6 leaves Black facing the nasty continuation 24.gf5 xf5 25.xf5 e6 26.h6+ h8 27.f5! when the attack along the a1-h8 diagonal appears to be decisive. ] 23.xe4 g7 24.ac1 fe8 25.xe7 xe7 26.e4 Black's weak dark squares are still causing him discomfort. h5 27.f2 f6 28.h4 h6 29.f3 fxg5 30.hxg5 hxg5 31.fxg5 c6 32.g1 b4 33.e5 e7 Black's bishop pair provide no compensation for the pawn here. 34.gd1 b7 35.xc8 xc8 36.d6 d8
[ 36...xd6? 37.xd6 wins the g-pawn. ] 37.gf7 f8 38.c1 e6 39.g5?? [ Either the moves to this game are wrong, or both players were in terrible zeitnot, as 39.h6+ h7 40.c7 xh6 41.xe7 seems pretty crushing. ] 39...d5?? [ If this is really the right position, 39...xg5 wins a piece for nothing. ] 40.c7?? f6?? [ 40...xg5 ] 41.e2?? [ The final blunder, 41.xe7 wins a piece. Now the game resumes its previous route, White's extra pawn winning comfortably. ] 41...xd6 42.xd6 e8 43.c5 xd6 44.xd5 f6 45.c5 f5 46.c8+ g7 47.c7+ g8 48.c8+ g7 49.e4 g3+ 50.e3 d6 51.c7+ f8 52.e5 f5+ 53.e2 b6 54.d3 e8 55.e4 b4 56.a7 c6 57.d5 b6 58.e4 e3+ 59.c5 b5+ 60.c6 f5 61.d6+ 1-0
484 Fressinet,Laurent Gordon,Stephen J Schachbundesliga 2011-12 (13) [John Bartholomew]
A13 2696 2535 18.03.2012
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ c6 [ 5...d7!? Lunev, A (2509)-Korchnoi, V (2632)/Togliatti 2003/[TonyK]. ] [ 5...bd7 was examined long ago in Bu Xiangzhi (2602)-Li Wenliang (2506)/Qingdao 2002/[TonyK], so I've taken a fresh look at it in Naiditsch, A (2702)-Papin, V (2575)/ Plovdiv BUL 2012. ] 6.xc4 b5 7.b3!? Lately White has been opting for this retreat square with increasing frequency. [ I e x a m i n e t h e m o r e s t a n d a r d 7.c2 in Sadorra, J (2525)-Lenderman, A (2581)/ Richardson USA 2012. The major benefit of the text is that W hite avoids the x-ray his queen so often finds herself in on c2 (facing an eventual ...Ra8-c8 and ...c6-c5) thus, White has more of a license to play an early d2-d4, not fearing an exchange of pawns. ] 471
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Plovdiv BUL 2012.; 7...b7 8.0-0 bd7 9.d4 a6 The most C1b) 12...0-0! as I submit this update, resolute. Black immediately prepares .. .c6-c5, t h i s l o o k s c r i t i c a l . 13.e4 so White has to hurry. ( th e co mp ut er sugge st s 13.xd5!? [ W e ' v e s e e n 9...e7 before. With no c5 exd5 14.e3 ) 13...c7 14.f4 a6 break to worry about for now, White has a 15.a4 c5 16.axb5 b6 17.d6 xd6 wider choice. Two recent games ended in 18.exd6 xf4 19.gxf4 xg2 20.xg2 victories for the first player: xd6 21.f3 b6 22.bxa6 xa6 A) Instead 10.d1 0-0 11.c3 a6?! 23.xa6 xa6 was completely equal ( 11...b4! 12.a4 a5 is better, when in Andreikin, D (2689)-Matlakov, M White won't be able to stop ...c6-c5, with (2632)/Plovdiv BUL 2012.; probable equality) 12.e5 xe5 13.dxe5 C2) 11...d7 12.c3 c7 13.f4 g5?! d7 14.f4 c7 15.e4! was promising (this is dodgy White will happily part with for White in Brynell, S (2486) -Rombaldoni, t h e e 5 p a w n t o o p e n l i n e s ) 14.e3 A (2459)/Porto Carras GRE 2011. xe5 15.ac1 a6 16.e4 (White's Following c5 ( 15...xe5?? 16.xe5 pieces occupy great squares and Black's xe5 17.d7 is a typical tactic.; 15...c5?! position is full of holes) h6 17.c5 0-0 meets wit h 16.f6+! xf6 17.exf6 e5 18.c3 f6 19.f4! gxf4 20.gxf4 g6 18.fxg7 ) 16.xc5 xc5 17.e4 e7 21.h3 h7 Khalifman, A (2632)it may be strongest for White to play Kulaots, K (2581)/Tallinn EST 2012. A1) 18.f3 ab8 ( this position was Here 22.e3! f5 23.g5+ xg5 also reached in Naiditsch, A (2702)24.fxg5 leaves White very much on Riazant sev, A (2 710)/Kishinev UK R top. ] 2 0 1 2 , w h e r e B l a c k c h o s e 18...fd8 and went on to lose after 19.dc1 ac8 10.e5! [ Holding up the c-pawn advance with 10.a4 20.a4 ) 19.g4 fd8?! ( 19...c5!= ) t u r n s o u t t o b e i n e f f e c t i v e a f t e r c5! 20.g5 xd1+ 21.xd1 d8 22.xd8+ (yup, this comes anyway!) 11.axb5 d5 xd8 23.xe7 xe7 24.f3 , when Black is at least equal. This has was the game; been known for quite some time, but White A2) 18.d3!? , hitting h7 and looking to players continue to push the a-pawn. A invade on d7.; recent example: 12.c2 axb5 13.xa8 B) 10.c3 a6 11.g5?! ( White should xa8 14.c3 c6 15.h4 xg2 16.xg2 try to transpose to our game with b4 17.b5 c6 18.a4 e7 19.dxc5 0-0 11.e5! ) 11...c5 12.xf6 xf6 13.dxc5 20.c3 xc5 21.e3 h5 22.f4 f5 xc5 14.b4 e7 was even a little better 23.d1 c8 Matthiesen, A (2316) -Hector, for Black in Van der Sterren, P (2569) J (2575)/Denmark DEN 2012. ] Dautov, R (2606)/Germany 2001/ 10...xe5 Again, critical. [TonyK].; [ 10...b6 gives White a free hand: 11.xd7 C) 10.e5!? (White plays by analogy with xd7 12.e3 ( 12.c3!? is a very our main game) xe5 11.dxe5 interesting gambit offer that Black may want C1) to give you an idea of the explosion to decline, e.g. xd4 13.e3 e5 14.f4 o f p o p u l a r i t y i n 7 . Q b 3 , 11...d5 f5 15.ad1 ) 12...c5 13.d5 exd5 was seen just days ago in the European 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5 d8 16.a4 e7 Championship...in two different games! 17.axb5 axb5 18.c3 0-0 19.b4 12.c3 ( 19.f5 ) 19...f6 20.xb5 cxb4 21.a7 C1a) 12...b4?! 13.e4 0-0 14.d1 c5 22.f3 xf3 23.exf3= Meier, G a6 15.f3 c7 16.f4 ( 16.d6!? ) (2656)-Ponomariov, R (2764)/ Dortmund 16...xf4 17.gxf4 ad8 18.dc1! GER 2011. ] c5?! 19.a3 c4 20.axb4 b5 21.e3 [ 10...c8 also looks unimpressive, i.e. a6 22.b3 xb4 23.bxc4 c6 11.xd7 ( 11.f3!?; and 11.a4 also makes 24.xa6 xe4 25.xe4 Grandelius, sense ) 11...xd7 12.c3 ( 12.e3 c5 N (2545) -Kanmazalp, O (2389)/ 472
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.xb7 xb7 14.dxc5 xc5 15.c2 Maletin, P (2545)-Grachev, B (2640)/ Novokuznetsk 2008. c8= ) 12...c5 13.d5 c4 14.c2 with good prospects. ] 11.dxe5 d5 [ Black is at a crossroads here. I examine 11...d7 in Agrest, E (2599)-Grandelius, N (2536)/Sweden SWE 2012 ] 12.c3 b8!? Trying to sideline White by pressuring e5, though we know White doesn't mind pitching this pawn. [ Previously Black had only played 12...e7 , e.g. 13.e4 A) on 13...c7 , 14.d6+!? is an intriguing pawn sac , i.e. ( 14.f4 xf4 15.gxf4 0-0 16.a4 ad8 17.fc1 d4 18.e3 xa4 19.xa4 bxa4 20.c5 xc5 21.xc5 d8 22.f3= N i H u a ( 2 6 4 1 ) - F r o l y a n o v, D ( 2 5 5 5 ) / Moscow RUS 2012.) 14...xd6 15.exd6 xd6 16.e4 b6 17.d1 e7 18.c3 0-0 19.b3!? . White's compensation is of the positional variety, so more tests are needed.; B) 13...c5 14.g5! c4 15.xe7 xe7 16.d1 0-0 17.d6 c6 18.b3 ( 18.d4!? ) 18...c3 19.d2 xg2 20.xg2 b4 21.xc4 ( White is shooting for a slightly better ending he can consider going for more with 21.bxc4 ) 21...c5 22.d3 d5+ 23.xd5 exd5 24.e3 fe8 25.c2 xe2?! 26.xb4 xe5 27.f4 ee8 28.xd5 and Black managed to save a long rook ending in Meier, G (2659) -Blagojevic, D (2514)/Porto Carras GRE 2011. ] [ 12...c7!? is currently untried. White could c o n t i n u e a s i n o u r p r e s e n t g a m e wi t h 13.a4!? ] 13.a4 [ 13.f4 ] [ and 13.d1!? also come in to consideration. ] 13...b4 14.e4!? A nice, low-risk pawn sacrifice. If White doesn't regain the material, he'll surely have decent positional compensation to show. [ Fressinet probably decided that 14.xd5 cxd5 doesn't promise much. Black will just complete development with ...Bf8-e7 and ... 0-0. ]
14...xe5 15.e3 a5?! [ A small misstep. Developing with 15...e7! appears better, i.e. 16.c5 ( 16.ad1 xe3 17.xe3 c5 ) 16...c7! ( avoiding 16...0-0 17.xe7 xe7 18.xb4 c7 19.c5 ) 17.xe7 xe7 18.ac1 a5 19.c5 0-0 with objective equality (though I suspect most players would prefer White's activity). ] [ Also possible is 15...xe3 16.xe3 c5 , i.e. 17.f4!? d4! ( 17...xb2?! is too dangerous 18.f6+ xf6 19.xb7 b8 20.c6+ d8 21.ad1+ c7 22.e4 ) 18.xd4 cxd4 19.ac1 d5 20.fd1 d8 21.xd4 e7 though White looks marginally better here, i.e. 22.f2!? ] 16.fd1 c7 17.d4! e5 18.c5 [ I'd prefer 18.ac1!? : exd4 19.xd5 d8 20.c4 e7 21.c5 ] 18...xc5 [ 18...e7!? ] 19.xc5 d8?! [ 19...0-0 20.xb7 ( or 20.ac1 ) 20...xb7 21.xd5 cxd5 22.xd5 ] 20.c2!? Mysterious. [ Surely White looked at 20.e4! , but I guess t h e t r i c k i e r t e x t a p p e a l e d t o h i m . f6 21.xd8+ xd8 22.d1+ c8 23.h3+ b8 24.c4!? ] 20...c8?? Playing right into White's hands! [ 20...0-0! 21.b3 f6! ] 21.b3! Those pesky backwards knight moves! In one stroke, Black's position unravels due to the trio of weaknesses on a5, c6, and d5. b6 22.xa5 xa5 23.xc6+ e7 24.xd5 xd5 25.xd5 a6 26.b3 d8 27.f3 Black threw in the towel. 1-0
485 Gashimov,Vugar Luther,Thomas XXIV Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A13 2665 2526
1.c4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 dxc4 4.a4+ d7 5.xc4 a6 6.g2 b5 7.c2 b7 8.a4 c5 [ Black's other options include: A) 8...b4 9.0-0 gf6 10.d3 d6 11.bd2 0-0 12.b3 e5 13.b2 Murey, J-Kuijf, M/Amsterdam 1987 ] 473
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xc6 , and Black is a pawn up and has [ B) 8...c5 9.c3 b4 10.e4 a7 11.0-0 the better position, Nureev, Ggf6 12.d3 c8 13.fd2 d5 14.c4 Karpeshov, O/Omsk/Perm 1998; Murey, J-Guigonis, D/FRA 1991 ] A2) 13.d3 e7 14.h4 d5 15.xd5 [ C) 8...gf6 exd5 16.f5 b4 17.b1 f6 18.d6+ A) 9.c3 b4 10.d1 e7 ( 10...d6 f8 19.e4 g6 20.h6+ e7 11.0-0 0-0 12.e3 e5 13.b3 ) 11.0-0 A2a) 21.f4!? g5 ( 21...f8?! 0-0 12.b3 c5 13.b2 c8 14.e3 h6 22.e1! g5 23.exd5 a4 24.c4 15.c4 Lukov, V-Preissmann, E/Geneve gxf4 25.e8+ xe8 26.xe8 xe8 1993; 27.b3 , and White is winning) 22.f5+ B) 9.axb5 axb5 10.xa8 xa8 11.0-0 d8 23.e3 d4 24.d2 a6 c5 12.a3 b6 13.b3 c6 14.h4 wit h a co m p lica t e d , in d e e d ra t h e r ( 14.e1 d5 15.d3 e7 16.e4 5f6 messy, struggle ahead; with chances to both chances, Thompson, A2b) 21.exd5 a4 22.b3 xd6 I-Porat, I/Port Erin IOM 2003) 14...d5 23.bxa4 xd5 24.d2 , and White ( My computer likes 14...g5!? 15.xc6 has the initiative and the better xc6 16.g2 b4 17.c4 g7 chances, Dyachkov, S-Sorokin, M/ with approximately even chances Sochi RUS 2006; according to the silicon beast, but I still B) 12...a6 13.d3 e7 14.b3 c6 prefer White's chances) 15.d3 b4 16.c4 15.h4 ( 15.g5 0-0 16.d2 xg2 a6 17.e3 ( White can claim an edge 17.xg2 b8 18.a1 h6 19.f4 e5 with 17.g5!? e7 18.xe7 xe7 20.e3 c6+ with an initiative for Black, 19.d6+ f8 20.c4 xc4 21.xc4 ) Tolstikh, N-Zinchenko, Y/Alushta UKR 17...xe3 18.xe3 xg2 19.xg2 e7 2005 ) 15...d5 16.f5 f8 17.xd5 20.f3 0-0 with approximately even exd5 chances, Panchenko, A-Moroz, A/ B1) 18.d4!? f6 ( 18...g6?! 19.e3+ Pardubice 1992 ] d8 20.h6 xh6 21.xh6 b4 9.0-0 22.g5+ f6 23.xf6+ xf6 24.g7 [ White unsuccessfully tried to obtain an e8 25.xf6+ c7 26.b1 xe2 advantage with 9.c3 b6 10.axb5 axb5 27.f4+ b7 28.f7+ ) 19.dxc5 11.xa8+ xa8 12.0-0 gf6 13.d3 e7 xc5 20.f3 e4 21.d4; 14.b3 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/ B2) 18.e4 a4 19.xa4 bxa4 20.exd5 2-1/2, Sunye Neto, J-Slipak, S/Pinamar xd5 21.b5 d8 22.f4 Djachkov, 2002 ] S-Yakovich, Y/Sochi RUS 2005 ] 9...gf6 10.c3 [ C) 10.d4 c8 11.axb5 axb5 12.b3 b4 [ White has tried a few other lines at this ( 12...cxd4 13.xd4 xg2 14.xg2 b4 juncture: A) 10.d3 e7 11.fd2 xg2 15.d2 e5 16.4f3 c5 17.c4= ) 12.xg2 0-0 13.c3?! b6 14.b3?! d5 13.bd2 d5 14.d3 c4 15.c2 15.b2 b4 16.b1 c6 17.g1 de5 A) Here Black should instead have , and Black has taken control over the game, c o n s i d e r e d 15...c3!? which is a bit Fishbein, A-Kharitonov, A/Moscow 1989 ] p r o b l e m a t i c f o r W h i t e , e . g . 16.bxc3 [ B) White's strongest continuation is possibly ( 16.b1? b3 17.d3 c4 18.xc3 10.axb5 axb5 11.xa8 xa8 12.a3 ( Or xe2 19.e1 xf1 20.xf1 e7 12.h4 e7 13.a3 b4 14.xb7 xb7 , and Black is obviously better) 16...bxc3 15.c4 0-0 16.f3 b3 17.d1 b5 17.b1 c7 18.e1 xg2 19.xg2 18.d3 , Godes, A-Lugovoi, A/Smolensk 1992, d5 20.a3 b6 21.e3 xa3 22.xa3 and now a8= ) , and White has slightly better game; A) 12...c6 B) 15...b3 16.b1 a8 17.e5 xe5 A1) An inferior continuation is 13.d4?! 18.dxe5 xg2 19.xg2 , Kazantsev, Vc4 ( 13...cxd4 14.d1 c5 Salakhova, G/Togliatty 2001 ] looks promising for Black) 14.d5?! xd5 15.d4 xa3 16.bxa3 0-0 17.xc6 10...b6 11.d3 e7 12.b3 474
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Another try is 12.e4 0-0 13.h3 c4 14.dxc4 bxc4 ( 14...b4!? 15.e5 bxc3 16.exf6 xf6 17.bxc3 c7 is perfectly acceptable for Black ) 15.a5 c7 16.d1 ( 16.a4!? c5 17.d1 ac8 18.h2 a7 19.f1 ) 16...b4 17.d4 ( 17.a4!? xa5 18.f1 xc3 19.xc4 c5 20.g5 e7 21.bxc3= ) 17...xa5 18.g5 b6 ( 18...e5!? 19.xf6 gxf6 20.f3 xf3+ 21.xf3 b6 , and Black has a very c o m f o r t a b l e g a m e) 19.ac1 ac8 ( 19...e5!? is worthy of serious consideration, . e.g. 20.a4 a7 21.xf6 gxf6 22.e2 fd8 23.f4 c6 24.c3 b6 , and White is a complete bind) 20.a4 a7 21.b3 a5 22.d2 h5 23.e3 cxb3 24.xb3 xc1 25.xc1 xd4 26.xd4 xe4 , and although Black somehow managed to avoid winning this position despite being two pawns up and this stage, Onischuk, A-Novikov, I/W ashington DC2002 ] 12...d5 13.axb5!? [ 13.g5 doesn't produce anything for White, if Black reacts properly A) Here 13...f6!? deserves consideration despite apparently weakening Black's pawn chain, e.g. 14.d2 0-0 A1) 15.axb5?! axb5 16.xa8 xa8 17.e4 ( Here White shouldn't get tempted by 17.xb5?? xc3 18.xd7 xe2+ 19.h1 f8 , and White's q u e e n w i l l n o t e s c a p e u n s c a t h e d) 17...xc3 18.bxc3 b4 19.h3 f7 , and Black is doing rather well; A2) 15.e4 f5 16.a5 c6 17.eg5 h6 18.h3 g5 , and Black is indeed doing very well; B) 13...xc3 14.xc3 f6 15.axb5 axb5 16.xa8+ xa8 17.a1 c6 18.a5! xa5 19.xa5 d7 20.a7 xf3 21.xf3 xg5 22.c6 0-0 23.xd7 with a small, but clear advantage for White, Wells, P-Haslinger, S/Torquay 2002 ] 13...axb5 14.xa8+ [ White doesn't achieve anything after 14.xd5 either, e.g. xd5 15.xa8+ xa8 16.e4 0-0 17.e3 b7 18.a1 a8 19.xa8+ xa8= ] 14...xa8 15.g5 xc3 16.xc3 xg5 17.xg5 0-0 18.xa8 xa8 Black has light
but solid initiative by having the a-file under control 19.c1 h6 20.e4 a2 21.e3 a7 22.b3 b4?! [ This leads to a quick and painless draw, but Black could have tried for more with the somewhat challenging 22...a3 , and now W h i t e h a s t o b e c a r e f u l . . . 23.c2 ( 23.xc5?? l o s e s i m m e d i a t e l y b4!-+ ) 23...a1+ 24.g2 b1 25.xc5 ( 25.d2 d1 26.f3 e5 will leave White suffering passively for a while to come) 25...xc5 26.xc5 xb3 27.c3 xc3 28.xc3 , and while this should probably be a draw, it is White who will be defending. ] 23.c4 a1 24.xa1 xa1+ 25.g2 ½-½
486 Georgiev,Kiril Adla,Diego Gustavo ch-FRA Top 16 GpA (4) [John Watson]
A13 2654 2485 31.03.2005
1.c4 e6 2.c3 b4 Tony dubbed this the ' A c c e l e r a t e d N i m z o ' ! 3.b3! c5?! This is loosening. [ Black might want to develop quickly by 3...c6 , e.g. , 4.f3 f6 5.e3 0-0 ] 4.a3 [ We have previously seen 4.b5 f6 5.a3 a5 6.d6+ of C Hansen-Lobron, Bundesliga 2000, when e7 gives Black a lead in development to make up for his king position and loss of the two bishops. But most players would still prefer to be White in such a position. ] 4...a5 [ 4...xc3 5.xc3 cedes White the bishops in a flexible position. Nevertheless Black is probably best off capturing. ] 5.e4! [ Also promising looks 5.b5 d5 6.g3 f8 ] 5...c7 [ 5...f6!? 6.xc5 c6 7.e3 e7 gives some compensation for the pawn, since Black is way ahead in development. ] 6.g3!? [ 6.d3!? keeps the queens on with some advantage. It's a matter of taste. ] 475
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 6...xg3 Pretty much forced. 7.hxg3 a6 8.b3 White concentrates upon the dark squares. He is aided by the open h-file. c7 9.b2 f6 10.e3 b6 11.d4 b7 12.c3 [ 12.d3! looks more pointed, maintaining the knight and eyeing h7: f5 ( 12...e7 13.f3 ) 13.g5 with the idea xg2 14.h2 b7 15.d5! ] 12...e7 13.d5 e5 [ 13...0-0 14.0-0-0 ] [ 13...exd5 14.cxd5 ] 14.0-0-0 xc3?! [ 14...exd5 15.cxd5 d6 16.f3 c7 17.xe5 fxe5 18.e4 ] 15.xc3 exd5 16.cxd5 d6 17.b5+ f7 18.e4 with a nice edge. Black doesn't have good squares available for his pieces. c7 19.d3 a5 20.a4!? [ 20.f3 a4 21.b4! allows less counterplay ] 20...a6 21.c2 [ 21.c4 b5 ] 21...c8 22.e2 h6 [ 22...d7 23.b2 a6! ] 23.d2 f5 24.f3 f8 25.f4 g8 26.c1 [ 26.de1 fxe4 27.xe4 ] 26...fxe4! 27.fxe4! Now Black can't control e5. g4 28.d2 ad8 29.e5 e8 30.e1 d7 31.e6 c7 32.g6 xg6 33.xg6 White's bishops dominate the board. f5? [ Black needs to give up an exchange to survive, but the position is ultimately hopeless af ter 33...e7 34.f7+ exf7 ( 34...h8 35.h1! h7 36.f1! h8 37.df2 ) 35.exf7+ xf7 36.f2+ f6 37.f4 ] 34.f7+ h8 35.f2 g6 36.xg6 xf2 37.xe8 e7 38.d7 xg2 39.e5 1-0
o f t h e h igh le ve l, i s t h e ir a b il it y t o t h in k without prejudice, and change the character of the position at any moment. W ith perf ect timing Giri exchanges the bishop for the knight, so he can then lay siege to the black d-pawn. xf6 11.d4! b8 [ 11...e7 12.c3 c6 13.e4! ] 12.c3 dxc4 13.d2 a5 14.a4 b4 15.a3! xc3 16.e4 f5 17.xc3 b3 18.ad1 c2 19.xc4 d2 20.xc7 xf1 21.e4! A move that needed to be seen in advance. For today's computer generation, making difficult calculations is a piece of cake. [ 21.xb8? xe3 22.fxe3 xc3 would only be better for Black. ] 21...b7 22.c5! b2 23.b1 d2 24.xf1 b2 It looks as if Black has survived the worst, b u t t h e r e is a s t i n g in t h e t a i l . 25.xh7+! xh7 26.e4 c2 27.xf8 xe4 28.xc8 The smoke has cleared and White is left with a technically winning ending. Giri very rarely p u t s a f o o t wr o n g in s u c h s i t u a t i o n s . a5 29.c5 a4 30.a7 f5 31.xa4 h6 32.e8 a2 33.h4 xa3 34.h5 1-0
488 Gomez Feria,Jose Maria Pogorelov,Ruslan XXIX Open Sevilla ESP (2) [Tony Kosten]
A13 1989 2451 10.01.2004
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 a6 4.g2 b5 This is an ambitious line, a bit like a Hedgehog, but Black aims for more queenside space. 5.d4!? The critical reply, but perhaps [ 5.b3 should be preferred, simply defending the attacked c4-pawn. ] 5...c6! 487 A13 [ 5...d5 6.cxb5 e5 is an interesting gambit. ] Giri,Anish 2730 6.cxb5 Bartel,Mateusz 2635 [ 6.d3 d5 7.0-0 is safer, Sunye Neto,JBundesliga 1213 (11.1) 16.03.2013 Stean,M/Lone Pine 1978. ] [Danny Gormally] 6...axb5 7.xb5?! At first sight this seems to win a pawn, but in fact falls for a trap. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 a6!? 4.e3 d5 [ 7.0-0 d5 8.d3 c5 9.b3 b6 5.b3 d6 6.b2 0-0 7.g2 b5 Good luck and Black has the centre, Schinzel, W trying to find this line in your databases, as I Robatsch,K/Lublin 1976. ] couldn't find any! 8.0-0 bxc4 9.bxc4 c6 7...cxb5! Black can also play the gambit 10.xf6! One of the characteristics of a player [ 7...d5 8.5c3 e5 with the centre and 476
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 some open lines, Heine,R-Hajek,J/Dortmund 1990, but in view of the strength of the main move this seems unnecessary. ] 8.xa8 d5 The point, the hapless white bishop is trapped on a8! 9.c2 The idea is to stop Black from playing ...Qb6-a7, picking-up the a8-bishop immediately. [ 9.a4 attempts to bring direct aid to the bishop: a5 10.c2 d7 11.b7 b4 the bishop has no escape, 12.0-0 d6 13.d3 a7 (before White plays Be3) 14.c8 c6 15.e3 ( 15.e1?! 0-0 16.e4 c5 17.f4 xc8 is crushing for Black, Houdart, D-Bunzmann,D/Bethune FRA 2003) 15...d4 16.g5 Reis,L-Damaso,R/Lisbon 1999, when d5 17.d2 0-0 favours Black, who gains 2 bishops for a rook and 2 pawns. ] [ 9.b3!? d7 10.c3 is possible, b4?! ( 10...a6! ) 11.xd5 exd5 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5 is unclear, Ilic,S-Carnic, D/Nis 1995. ] 9...d7 10.b4!? A pawn sac, trying to gain a te mp o o ve r 1 0 b3 , which is on e o f ma n y alternatives: [ 10.b3 a5 11.b7 e7 12.b2 0-0 13.d4 b4 14.0-0 b5 15.c7 xe2 16.a7 a6 17.xa6 xa6 18.b6 e2 19.e3 h5 and Black moved over to an attack on the light squares, Ehrenfeucht, W-Adamski,J/Warsaw 1990. ] [ 10.b7 e4 11.d4 d6 12.xd5 exd5 13.c3 a5 is clearly good for Black, Kohnert,A-Davidovic,A/Dortmund 1989. ] [ 10.0-0 e7!? ( 10...b6 -a6 is a simple solution ) 11.d3 0-0 12.e3 g4 Mukhtarov, L-Panchenko,A/Katowice 1993, and now 13.d4 looks critical. ] [ 10.xd5? makes it too easy for Black: xd5 11.c3 c6 12.f3 b4 13.b3 8a6 14.a3 c5 15.d1 bd3+!? with a crunching attack, Du,D-Van Meter,L/ Framingham USA 2001. ] 10...xb4 11.b2 0-0 12.a4?! [ 12.d4! is better, stopping ... Qb6-a7, d6 13.f4!? and Black has no obvious way to recover the bishop, although this piece is still a long way from escaping! ] 12...bxa4 13.xa4?! White panics, and returns his extra material, but without solving the bishop problem. xa4 14.xa4 b6 15.c3?! xc3
[ 15...a6 is also convincing: 16.c6 a7 17.b7 c5 wins a piece and the game. ] 16.xc3 a6 17.c6 c8 18.b5 c5 19.b4 b8 20.d4 ce4 White loses a piece. 0-1
489 Gourlay,Iain Motwani,Paul ch Edinburgh SCO (7) [Jonathan Rowson]
A13 2349 2503 17.07.2009
1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 dxc4 4.a3 xa3 5.bxa3 b5 6.b2 f6 7.a4 b4!? an unusual approach. Black willingly gives back the c-pawn but hopes to win an a-pawn at a later stage. [ 7...a6 ] [ 7...c6 ] 8.c2 bd7 9.xc4 c5 10.g2 b7 [ 10...a5!? looks more critical to me. 11.d4 a6 12.b5 0-0 13.xa8 xa8 14.0-0 Here it felt to me like Black should have adequate compensation, but Rybka is not convinced and moreover Black doesn't even have a pawn for the exchange. ] 11.d3 0-0 12.0-0 c8 [ 12...a5!? to retain the option of ... Ba6 (can be useful to get off the h1-a8 diagonal and to le ave d5 f or t he kn ight ) migh t be a n improvement, but in general the position feels balanced. 13.fc1 makes it difficult for Black to find a constructive move. ] 13.c2 a5 This is potentially a good square for the queen, so I wonder if Black can do better here. ...a5 made more sense when ... Ba6 was still a possibility, but now it is not clear what it achieves. [ 13...h6!? Generally useful, and pre-empting any Ng5 surprises. ] 14.d2 xg2 15.xg2 d5 [ 15...b6!? seems to cause more problems and pe rh aps le aves Bla ck with a sligh t initiative. ] 16.c4 7b6 17.e4 xc4 18.xc4 b6 19.b5 d6 20.a3! c6?! [ 20...d7 somehow white's queen, though active, is more awkwardly placed so there is something to be said for keeping queens 477
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 on. ] [ 9...bd7 10.d4 transposes to Bruzon 21.axb4 axb4 22.fc1 fd8 23.xc6 xc6 Batista - Leitao in this update ] 24.a5 d7 25.c4 [ 9...e7 10.d1 d4!? 11.c3 b6 [ 25.d4! gives White chances to be better. 12.d4 0-0 13.e3!? Wojtaszek, R (2705)For instance c4 26.a4! ] Adams, M (2734)/Porto Carras GRE 2011. 25...e5 26.d4 exd4 27.xd4 f6 Paul's draw ( 13.g5 looks even better )] offer is curiously timed, and may have been 10.d4! xd4 11.d3 time-trouble related, because his position now [ Generally a good square for the knight, but looks quite comfortable to me, with a clear 11.f4! looks more promising. White can plan of centralising the king. follow with Rf1-d1 and Nb1-c3, among other [ 27...f6 28.f4!? ( 28.e3 f7 29.a6 a8 ideas. ] 30.a7 c7 and Black is clearly better.) 11...bd7 28...f7 29.f3 e6 30.e3 b8 [ Black can equalize cleanly by preparing ... and it will not be easy for White to hold the c6-c5 without delay: 11...b6! 12.e3 c5 position. ] and now I can't find anything but equality, i. ½-½ e. 13.xb7 ( 13.xc5? xg2!; 13.xc5? xc5 14.xb7 xf2+ 15.xf2 xb7 ) 13...xb7 14.xc5 ( or 14.xc5 xc5 490 A13 15.xc5 b6 16.d2 0-0 17.ac1 c6= ) 14...xc5 15.xc5 bd7 16.d6 Grachev,Boris 2705 e4 17.d1 ( 17.a3?? a5! is actually Aleksandrov,Aleksej 2604 terrible for White) 17...a7 18.f3 xd6 13th EICC Plovdiv BUL (10.28) 30.03.2012 19.xd6 0-0= ] [John Bartholomew] 12.e3 d6 13.c1 [ 13.d2!? ] 1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 dxc4 5.a4+ c6 6.xc4 b5 7.b3 b7 8.0-0 13...e7 14.c3 b8 15.e4 d5!? Keeping the tension. a6 [ Black need only exercise a bit of care to [ This is less common than 8...bd7 . ] reach a draw after 15...xe4 16.xe4 c5! 9.e5!? An important test of 8...a6. If Black 17.xb7 xb7 18.xc5 xc5 19.xc5 isn't going to cover the e5 square, why not xc5 20.xc5 0-0 21.ac1 . ] occupy it? [ The point of Black's move order is that on 16.ec5?! [ Jumping to c5 with the other knight is 9.d4 (trying to reach positions we're familiar better: 16.dc5! so as to answer xe3?! with after 9...Nbd7 10.Ne5), c5! is a fully with 17.xe3 ] satisfactory equalizer. White recently ground out a win in this line in Fridman, D (2653) - 16...xe3 17.xd7 c7! Possibly White Pridorozhni, A (2524)/Plovdiv BUL 2012, but underestimated this in-between move. 18.fxe3 in the game continuation 10.dxc5 bd7 xd7 19.c3 f6? This is over-ambitious in 11.e3 xc5 12.xc5 xc5 13.b4 c8 turn. [ 19...0-0 was far better, i.e. 20.xc6 xc6 14.c1 Black's position was more than 21.xc6 a7!? ] adequate . In fact, he could have ignored the attacked knight on c5 with 0-0! since 20.d1 d8 21.b3! c8 22.f4 d5!? ( 14...d3 15.xc8 xb4 16.xd8+ xd8 Black is under considerable pressure, so he 17.c3 e7 18.e5 xg2 19.xg2 ma ke s a p ra ct ica l e xch a n ge sa crif ic e t o was t he ga me , whe re W hit e re taine d a reverse the trend. [ The alternative is 22...xd1+ 23.xd1 e5 microscopic edge.) 15.xc5? d6! 16.xb5 24.e6 g6 , which looks unpleasant but d1+ 17.e1 ( 17.e1 xg2-+ ) defensible. ] 17...xe1+ 18.xe1 axb5 19.xb7 c1 20.f1 d8-+ is essentially winning for 23.xd5 cxd5 24.ac1 d8 25.e4 b6+ 26.f1 Black. ] [ 26.e3! dxe4 27.xe4 f7 ( 27...xe4? 9...d6 Actually a novelty. 478
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28.c8++- ) 28.xb7 xb7 29.c2 ] 26...dxe4?! [ 26...d4! ] 27.c3? [ Missing 27.xe4!+- ] 27...d8! Now Black gains sufficient counterplay. 28.d4 0-0 29.xe4 f5 [ 29...xe4 30.xe4 f5 31.e5 f4!? ] 30.xb7 f6 31.c6 xd4 32.xe6+ h8 33.c8 xc8 34.xc8+ d8 35.xf5 xb2 36.xa6 b4 White tries for a bit, but Black easily hold s t he e ndgame . 37.g2 g6 38.e4 c3 39.c4 g7 40.h4 h5 41.c6 h6 42.f7 f6 43.e8 d6 44.e4 f6 45.e8 d4 46.e3 c3 47.f4+ xf4 48.gxf4 e1 49.e4 xh4 50.e5 g7 51.f3 e1 52.d7 d2 53.e4 c1 Grachev's 9.Ne5!? is likely the way to go against 8...a6. Should this line be repeated I believe White ought to go for 11.Bf4! instead. ½-½
and at any rate has a clear advantage. e4? 14.d3 g5 15.h4 e6 16.d4 d7 17.f3 The opening is over, so I'll leave it up to you whether you want to see W hite stretch his lead and win. ad8 18.c5 b8 19.xd7 xd7 20.0-0 f6 21.d3 g6 22.fe1 g7 23.g3 b6 24.f1 d6 25.ad1 bc8 26.b3 c7 27.e2 ce8 28.c2 e7 29.g2 e6 30.cc1 d8 31.c3 h6 32.b1 f8 33.e1 g5 34.hxg5 hxg5 35.f5 g6 36.d3 f7 37.c5 f8 38.e4 e7 39.g4 b8 40.e5 g6 41.exf6 xf6 42.d2 xc5 43.xg5+ f7 44.dxc5 e6 45.h5+ g6 46.c3 d4 47.e4 f6 48.xg6 xg6 49.b2 e5 50.f4 c6 51.e1 g7 52.g5+ f7 53.e4 d7 54.g2 b6 55.f5 b7 56.f6 e6 57.h5+ f8 58.xe6 1-0
492 491 Gurevich,Mikhail Kurajica,Bojan 37th Olympiad (11) [John Watson]
A13 2643 2548 02.06.2006
Hansen,Curt Lobron,Eric Bundesliga [Tony Kosten]
A13 2615 2550 2000
1.c4 e6 2.c3 b4 3.b3 c5!? [ A positionally desirable move, in many ways, W atch out for this trick! For some reason but the weakening of d6 does have players periodically fall for it, and have done consequences. 3...c6 4.f3 f6 5.a3 so for at least 30 years since it was widely xc3 6.xc3 d6 7.d4 is more usual, published. And who knows how many times transposing into a Qc2 Nimzo, Gurevich, before? 1.c4 e6 2.c3 b4 3.b3 c5 M-Rozentalis,E/Groningen 1992. ] 4.a3 4.b5! [ 4.b5!? c6 5.g3 ( 5.d6+ f8 ) [ Sharper than 4.a3 a5 5.e4 when Black 5...f8= ] seems OK: c7 6.g3 xg3 7.hxg3 a6 4...a5?! 8.f3 d5 Bodo,N-Laihonen,P/ Nagykanizsa [ Better is 4...xc3 5.xc3 f6 1993, 1/2-1/2 (14). ] , and Blacks best plan to counteract the 4...f6 bishops may be ...0-0, . ..b6, and ...d5. ] [ Black continues his development, 4...a6 5.e4! f6? is similar, 5.d6+ e7 6.xc8+ ( 6.g3 ) [ 5...d6 6.g3 simply loses a pawn ] 6...xc8 7.g3 f6 8.g2 b8 9.h3 b5 [ But 5...c7! 6.g3 xg3 7.hxg3 a6 10.0-0 bxc4 11.a4! b6 12.a3 b8 8.b3 d5 9.b2 f6 10.d6+ e7 13.c2 a5 14.xc4 with the more 11.xc8+ xc8 12.e3 hangs in there. pleasant position, Ragozin,E-Hartereau,P/ White is better due to his two bishops, but Paris 1993, 1-0 (24). ] it's a normal advantage. ] [ However, Black must permit the intrusion 6.xc5 c6 7.e3 e7 8.a4 0-0 9.c2 into d6, 4...d6? allows the fork 5.g3 ] d5 10.b4 c7 11.b2 a6 12.cxd5 exd5 5.a3!? 13.e2 White has pretty much consolidated [ A n e w i d e a . 5.d6+ e7 6.g3 479
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is also dangerous for Black, c6 7.e4!? f8 8.f3 e8 9.xe8 xe8 10.d3 a5 11.e5 c7 12.b3 with more space, and easier development for White, Agrest,ESjoberg,M/ Stockholm 1998, 1-0 (34). ] 5...a5 6.d6+ e7 7.xc8+ [ The simplest choice, White will bank on his bishop pair, and the temporary discomfort of the black king, outweighing his temporary development deficit. 7.g3 is the sharp alternative. ] 7...xc8 8.g3 c6 9.f3 b8 10.g2 a6 11.0-0 b5 12.d3 d6 13.d1 d8 14.c2 h6?! [ Black is worried about ...Kf8 being a n s w e r e d b y B g 5 , b u t 14...b7 may be superior, so as to meet 15.b3 with bxc4 16.bxc4 b3 ] 15.b3 d7 16.b2 Now Black has problems, White is ready to play d4, and the black king cannot flee to the kingside without allowing Bxf6, wrecking the black pawn structure. d8 So as to play ...Kf8. 17.d4 cxd4? [ Black should prefer 17...bxc4 18.bxc4 ( 18.dxc5 is interesting, cxb3 19.cxd6+ xd6 20.c5 c7 21.a4 e4 with fair chances. ) 18...cxd4 19.xd4 xd4 20.xd4 and White has only a small edge. ] 18.c5 dxc5?! [ 18...f8 19.ac1 d5 20.xd4 is clearly better for W hite, with his passed c-pawn, and two bishops, but playable. ] 19.xc5+ d6? [ This loses, the only chance lay with 19...e8 although 20.ac1 e7 21.b4 is very awkward for Black. ] 20.xd4 xd4 21.xd4 d7? This leads to disaster, but Black was losing an exchange, anyway. 22.xd6+ [ 22.xd6+ xd6 23.xf6+ c7 24.ac1+ wins two pieces for nothing. ] 1-0
493 Hansen,Curt Lobron,Eric Bundesliga 2000 [Paul Motwani]
A13
2000
Quick Tricks and Traps 1) W3: The game Cu. Ha n s e n - E . L o b r o n , p l a ye d i n G e r m a n y ' s 'Bundesliga' on 29 January 2000, was an English Opening that began with the moves 1.c4 e6 2.c3 b4 3.b3 c5?! (even strong GMs can make errors at move three!) 4.b5! and Black was already in serious difficulties at the d6-square because 4...d6? loses to 5 Qg3. In the actual game, Denmark's super-GM Curt Hansen won easily in only 22 moves.
494 Hillarp Persson,Tiger Dreev,Alexey Politiken Cup (6) [Jonathan Rowson]
A13 2596 2660 22.07.2009
1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 dxc4 4.g2 e6 5.0-0 f6 6.a4 This appears to be one of those positions, fairly typical of flank openings in general, which comes under what you might call 'theory lite'- there are some games, and a few authors have give some tentative thoughts on the best lines, but there haven't been enough top level games to be completely sure which way the theoretical wind is blowing. a6!? [ 6...a5!? is a major alternative. 7.a3 xa3 8.bxa3! 0-0 9.c2 b5 10.b1 a6 11.axb5 cxb5 12.d4 xd4 13.xa8 left Black with inadequate compensation in Tomashevsky, E -Korneev, O Dresden 2007, main ly because th e o pen nat ure of th e position means that his queenside pawns are as much a weakness as a strength. ] 7.a3 xa3 8.bxa3!? This has been done before. Having one of the a-pawns already on a4 helps a lot because it makes it almost impossible for Black to hold on to his extra material. Your site manager, Tony Kosten, previously opted for what looks like the saner alternative. [ 8.xa3 b4 9.a5! 0-0 10.b3 cxb3 480
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.xb3 With compensation that looks at least adequate- I think I would rather be W hite here. I have retained the following moves just to show that Tony is really a hacker at heart. bd5 12.e5 ( 12.d4; 12.b1!? ) 12...d7 13.d4 xe5 14.dxe5 c5 15.f4 c7 16.e4 e7 17.c2 c4 18.g4 c5+ 19.h1 d8 20.h3 g6 21.g5 b5 22.e2 b7 23.e3 c7 24.a6 xa6 25.f5 f8 26.f6 xe5 27.f4 d4 28.e3 e5 29.f4 d4 30.e3 e5 1/2-1/2 Kosten, A -Goldin, A /Paris 1994. ] 8...c5 9.b1 a5?! I suspect this may be a mistake. [ 9...a6 10.e5! is no improvement but ] [ 9...0-0 10.c2 d5 11.xc4 b6 12.d4 a6 13.c2 d7 14.d1 with e4 to follow also looks better for W hite, so I begin to wonder if this whole doubled a-pawns with a4 included idea might be a very good one. ] 10.b4! c3 11.dxc3! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The pawns themselves may not look pretty, but Black's kingside has only one defender, the knight on f6, while W hite has several potential attackers and this eventually decides the game. 0-0 12.c2 d5 [ 12...d7 At first I though Black should probably just complete development and hope for the best, but the more I look at the position the more I like W hite- the weak queenside pawns don't matter, while the active rook on d4 and black's weakened d a r k s qu a re s a n d vu ln e ra b l e k in g, d o . 13.e3 ad8 14.g5 ] 13.e4! e7 14.e5 c7 15.h4! d5 A pseudo-threat, especially against Tiger, who wouldn't think twice about sacrificing the exchange. [ 15...b6 is slightly more tenacious, but White is certainly much better. ] 16.e1 b6 17.d4!? An interesting decision, perhaps based on the judgment that Black now had to play f5. [ The direct 17.g4 also looked strong. ] 17...f5 18.exf6 gxf6 19.h6 f7 20.c4 e7 21.d1! Now we see one point of the rook being on d4. g6 22.d8+ f8 23.e5! decisive b7 24.xa8 xa8 25.xf7 xf7 26.h5+ e7 [ 26...g6 27.f4 ] 27.g4 cd7 28.xf8+ A crushing victory,
and an impressive demonstration of why the doubled-a pawns are rarely the most important positional feature in these lines. 1-0
495 Illescas Cordoba,Miguel Shirov,Alexei XII It I Dos Hermanas ESP (2) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2595 2723 29.03.2003
1.c4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 dxc4 4.g2 [ 4.a4+ first, is more common, White delays recapturing the pawn so that Black has to commit himself. ] 4...f6 5.0-0 e7 6.a4+ bd7 Mickey Adams preferred [ 6...c6 against me at Drancy in the French Team Championship, a couple of months ago (by transposition), and this game continued 7.xc4 b5 8.c2 b7 9.b3 bd7 10.b2 0-0 11.d3 c5 12.bd2 w h e n B l a c k f o u n d a s t r o n g p l a n : d5! 13.ac1 ( 13.a3 a5 14.e4 5b6 15.a4 may be better, keeping the knight out of b4, although a4 is a constant problem,) 13...a5! 14.a4 ( 14.a3 a4 favours Black as the a3pawn will be exposed on the a-file) 14...b4 15.b1 bxa4 16.bxa4 ( 16.a1!? axb3 17.xg7 a4! 18.c4 f5 19.xf8 xf8 and it will be difficult to stop the rampant aa n d b - p a w n s) 16...b6 17.a1 f6 18.c4?! ( 18.b3! ) 18...xc4 19.xc4 d5 with advantage to Black. ] 7.xc4 c5 8.d4 This move brings us into Ca ta la n te rrito ry, bu t is im po rt a nt f or a ll English Opening players. b6!? As far as I can see this is a novelty, if instead [ 8...cxd4 then 9.xd4 b6 10.d3 0-0 11.c3 is about level, Padevsky, N-Oney,F/ Albena 1977, but by far the most common move here is ] [ 8...0-0 when 9.dxc5 xc5 10.c3 a6 11.e4 e7 12.xf6+ xf6 13.d1 a5 14.d2 b6?? was a blunder, allowing 15.xc8 1-0 Telljohann,S-Kelecevic,N/Biel 1994. ] 9.c2 cxd4 10.d1 d7 11.xd4 c8 12.d3 fd5 Black has developed all his minor pieces, and has equalised. 13.a3 f6 481
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.b3 White refrains form the 'obvious' [ 14.e4 perhaps because of a4!? 15.b3 xd4 16.xd4 xb3 but following 17.exd5! xd1 18.xg7 xc1 19.xh8+ e7 20.b2 he may be better, but who would risk this against Shirov? ] 14...0-0 15.e4 e7 16.e3 c6 17.xc6!? [ 17.c3 seems more natural. ] 17...xc6 18.a2 d7! 19.e2 a5 This puts pressure on the white queenside, whilst allowing the black rooks to come to d8. 20.c2 White plays timidly, [ 20.ad2 fd8 21.f4 offers more. ] 20...fd8 The problem for White is how can he chase the queen away from his queenside, and then develophisb1-knight? 21.h3 a6 22.d2? Not like this! [ 22.cd2 still looks strongest. ] 22...b5! 23.b4 This leaves an ugly doubled pawn that needs defending, but the only other way of parrying the menace to the b3-pawn was by [ 23.b4 when c5 24.e1 a4 was awkward 25.xd8+ xd8 26.d2 xd2 27.xd2 xe4 winning a pawn. ] 23...xb4 24.axb4 e7 25.c4 e5 26.cd4 xd4 27.xd4 b5 28.f4 c6 29.d7 xb4 30.xb7 a5?! [ 30...d8! is even stronger, the immediate threat is the fork of king and knight, 31.f3 d3 32.f2 xb3 and White can resign, as 33.d2 (what else?) xe3! 34.xe3 c5# ] 31.b6 xb3 32.f1 If White can eliminate the a-pawn he should be able to draw. c5 33.xc5 xc5 34.xb5 axb5 35.d2 Now White is back in the game. [ 35.xb5? xe4 ] 35...g5!? Played to free the rook from defending the back rank. 36.xb5? [ 36.fxg5 d3 37.xb5 c2 38.b3 looks OK. ] 36...gxf4 37.gxf4 d3 38.g5+? Time trouble, I suspect, as this just puts the rook out of play, the immediate [ 38.f5 was best. ] 38...f8 39.f5 White desperately tries to exchange the remaining pawns. c1+ 40.f1 f4 The black pieces combine well together. 41.g4 [ 41.g3? e2+ ] 41...e5! 42.f2 The h-pawn cannot be
defended, [ 42.h4? h5 and the rook is lost to a knight fork. ] 42...xh3+ 43.g2 f4+ 44.f2 h5 45.g3 h4 46.g4 h3 47.h4 c2+ 48.f3 g7 49.g3 c3+ 50.g4 f6 White has managed to sort his pieces out to some extent, but the h-pawn will prove a thorn in his side. 51.h1 b3 52.f2 Can he capture the hpawn? e3! 53.xh3 e2 No, the cost will prove too great. 54.h5 g3+ 55.g4 xe4 56.h5 g3+ 57.g4 e2 58.h5? [ 58.h5 had to be played again, although White is lost. ] 58...g3+ [ 58...g3+ 59.h4 g2 leaves the three white pieces without a single move!! ( 59...xh3+ 60.xh3 f4+ is much too mundane. )] 0-1
496 Istratescu,Andrei Papadopoulos,Ioannis IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (2) [Carsten Hansen]
A13 2628 2471 22.04.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 d4 This move is in my opinion very provocative, due to Black having played ...e7-e6 previously and by following up with ...e6-e5 later, he is losing a tempo on purpose. However, this is far from the first time this move has been played, but nevertheless White should have e xce l le n t c h a n ce s o f o b t a in i n g a n e d g e compared with other lines in the Reti where Black plays an early ...d5-d4. 5.0-0 [ 5.b4!? is also worth a thought, but likely insufficient for an advantage, e.g. A) 5...c5 6.b2 A1) 6...a5 transposes to our main line after 5...a5; A2) 6...c6 7.b5 A2a) 7...e7 8.e3 dxe3?! ( 8...f5 9.exd4 cxd4 10.0-0 ) 9.dxe3 xd1+ 10.xd1 g6 11.h4 h5 12.e2 g4 13.d1 Ilivitzki, G-Spassky, B/ Moscow 1955/ URS-ch; A2b) 7...a5 8.d3 d6 9.0-0 0-0 10.e4 e5 11.bd2 d7 12.c2 482
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 show ) 7...a5 8.exd4 exd4 9.d3 e7 c7= Mikhalchishin, A-Fernandez, A/ 10.g5 0-0 11.bd2 h6 12.xf6 xf6 Lisbon 1986; 13.e1 ( 13.e1!? ) 13...a4 14.e4 e7 A3) 6...b6 7.b3 c6 8.b5 ( 8.bxc5 15.f4 a5!? 16.f3 e6 17.d2 b6 xc5 9.0-0 0-0 10.a3 e5 11.xb6 18.ae1 d7 19.e2= f5?! 20.f2 f6 xb6 12.b5 d8 1/2-1/2 Vaulin, A21.c2 , and here, just as White is Serper, G/St Petersburg 1993) 8...a5 beginning to have the more comfortable 9.c2 d6 10.e3 ( 10.0-0 0-0 11.e3 position again, White offered a draw, which e5 12.exd4 cxd4 13.d3 f5 14.h4 was duly accepted by Black, 1/2-1/2 Nielsen, d7 15.d2 ac8 with chances for P-Fyllingen, R/Aars 1999 ] both sides, Raizman, M-Taimanov, M/ P a r i s 1 9 5 4) 10...e5 11.exd4 exd4 6...e7 [ Black has tried a couple of other moves in 12.0-0 0-0 13.d3 d7 14.bd2 h6 this position, but I don't think either of the 15.ae1 ae8 , and the game is more alternatives are particularly good: A) 6...a5?! or less balanced, Kotov, A-Taimanov, M/ (this looks a little careless, Black shouldn't Zuerich 1953/ Candidates; play this move unless White has played a2B) 5...xb4!? is likely the critical test a3, placed his knight on c2 or threatens to 6.a4+ c6 7.e5 b8 play b2-b4. In this position Black just hands B1) 8.xc6 bxc6 9.xa7 ( 9.0-0 8 White the b5-square at no charge can transpose to 0-0) 9...b6 10.a4 whatsoever.) b7 11.0-0 0-0 12.c2 c5 13.xb7 A) White must be a King's Indian fanatic, xb7 , Cuellar Gacharna, M-Albert, E/ because this really isn't even close to M a r d e l P l a t a 1 9 5 7 , 14.d3 a8 being critical why on earth does W hite with a pleasant game for Black; want to play this when he has much better B2) 8.0-0 0-0 9.xc6 bxc6 10.a3 c5 moves ava ilable such a s 7.e3! c5 11.d3 d7 12.d2 , and White has ( 7...dxe3 8.xe3 g4 9.e2 xe3 obvious compensation for the pawn, De 10.xe3 b4 11.a3 e7 12.fd1 Fotis, G-Karklins, A/ Illinois 1987; followed by d4 is very good for W hite; C) 5...a5 6.b2!? ( 6.b5!? 7...e5 8.exd4 exd4 9.f4 e7 10.a3 would probably be my preference) 6...c5 threatening Nb5 is even worse for Black) 7.bxc5 xc5 8.e3 ( 8.0-0 c6 9.d3 a4 8.exd4 xd4 9.c3 0-0 10.e3 10.a3 d7 11.fd2 0-0 12.xc5 xc5 with a pleasant game for White; 13.a3 e5 14.b1 e7 , and the B) 7.e4?! d7 8.e1 e5 9.f4 e7 chances are about even in this reversed 10.d2 0-0 11.f5 g5 with a better Benko Gambit, Donner, J-Bouwmeester, H/ game for Black, Andonov, B-Razuvaev, Y/ Beverwijk 1 95 2) 8...c6 9.0-0 0-0 Sochi 1987 ] 10.a3 e5 11.b5 with a pleasant game [ B) 6...c5 7.a3 ( 7.e3!? dxe3 8.xe3 for White in Ehlvest, J-Pomes Marcet, J/ xe3 9.fxe3 with a more comfortable game Terrassa 1991 ] for White ) 7...0-0 8.c2 a5 9.b3 e5 10.a3 5...c6 e8 11.g5 h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.b1 f5 [ 5...c5 is the main alternative. ] 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 f8 16.d2 e6 6.d3 17.e1 h3 18.h1 h5 19.b5 d8 [ W h i t e h a s a l s o t r i e d 6.e3 e5 , Pajkovic, V-Guyot, P/Podgorica 1991, and ( My computer likes 6...d3 , but to me it here White's best is probably 20.e3 dxe3 looks like Black wants to lose a pawn for 21.xe3 with a complicated position, where i n s u f f i c i e n t c o m p e n s a t i o n a f t e r 7.e1 I prefer White, but objectively the chances f ollowe d by Qb 3) 7.a3 ( In my opinion, are about even ] W hite can obtain a better game with the simple and straight-forward 7.exd4!? exd4 7.e3 e5 [ Black can also consider 7...0-0 , though I'm 8.e1+ e7 9.d3 0-0 10.a3 followed by of the opinion that W hite can obtain the Nc2 and Bf4, and the downsides to the lost better chances, e.g. 8.xd4 xd4 9.exd4 tempo with ...e7-e6-e5 are beginning to 483
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.bd2!? xd4 10.c3 B1a) 11...xd3? '?!' by Ribli, but the A) 10...e5!? 11.e3 d8 12.h3?! move is a very bad move that leads , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Black to a lost position 12.b3 b4 Sher, M-Korneev, O/Elista 1995. Despite '?' by Ribli, but there isn't anything the few moves played, the position is more better - the mistake was on the or less completely equal, my computer's p r e v i o u s m o v e 13.xe7! xe7 main line goes ( The immediate 12.d4!? 14.e1 c5 ( 14...e2 15.xd4+- ) , however, is of more interest, e.g. g4 15.a3 c2 16.e5+- (Ribli); 13.d2 exd4 14.xd4 c6 15.f4 d6 B1b) 11...e8 12.e5 xe5 16.xd6 xd6 17.fe1 , and White has 13.xe5 (Ribli); the initiative in the queenless B1c) 11...d6 12.g5 h6 13.xf6 m i d d l e g a m e .) 12...c6 13.d4 exd4 xf6 14.e4 xe4 15.xe4 ae8 14.xd4 a5 , and Black should have 16.d2; nothing to fear; B2) 11.a3 (Ribli) b4 12.e2 d6 B) 10...d8 11.b5 d7 12.f4 e8 13.xd6 xd6 14.d2 ae8=; 13.a4 f6 14.ad1 xb2 15.d4 c6 B3) 11.a3 d6 ( 11...a5?! 12.e5 16.a3 c5 17.b5 xd4 1-0 Akesson, Ris the only variation discussed by Ribli.) Marusenko, P/Port Erin 2000/CBM 78 ext 12.xd6 xd6 13.b4?! ( 13.c2= ) (35) 18.a3 f6 19.e3 13...ae8 with a comfortable game for B1) 19...e5?! 20.xd4 exd4 Black; ( 20...cxd4?? 21.d5+ ends the fun on B4) 11.e5 This a typical move in this account of h8 22.f8# ) 21.xc5 b6 type of position, exchanging a pair of 22.a3 , and White has a winning knights to get a little more breathing advantage; ro om f o r th e p ie ce s a nd a dd a litt le B2) 19...f7 20.xd4 cxd4 21.xd4 pre ssu re a lon g t h e h 1 -a8 d ia go n a l. and White has the clearly better chances xe5 12.xe5 d7! ( Rather than thanks to his lead in development and co n t i n u i n g wi t h t h e p a s si ve 12...c8 Black's difficulties getting his pieces 13.e1 d6 14.xd6 xd6 15.d2 developed. ] , Black sacrifices a pawn for the 8.exd4 exd4 9.a3 initiative) 13.xb7 ab8 , and with his [ W h i t e h a s a n a l t e r n a t i v e i n 9.e1 lead in development and well, but this is less convincing: 0-0 10.f4 coordinated pieces, Black has ample A) or 10...d7 11.a3 c5 12.c2 compensation for the pawn, Groenn, Ae6 13.d2 a5 Carlsen, M/Gausdal 2004 ] A1) 14.e5!? xe5 15.xe5 c6 ( 15...c5 16.h5 f6 17.d5 d7 9...b4?! [ This is a peculiar and not very good novelty. 18.e1 ) 16.f3 f6 17.ee1 g5=; Previously Black has obtained an adequate A2) 14.e2! f6 15.a3 ( 15.b4 axb4 game with 9...0-0 10.c2 a5 ( 10...g4 16.xb4 xb4 17.xb4 c5 18.d2= ) 11.f4 h5= ) 11.b3 c5 12.a3 f5 15...c5 ( 15...a4 16.b4 a5 ( 12...e8!? ) 13.b1 d7 ( 13...e8 14.b4 17.d5 b3 18.ad1 ) 16.b4 b3 axb4 15.axb4 ) 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 a7 17.ab1 xd2 18.xd2; 16.f4 ( White can grab the initiative with A3) 14.b3 f6 15.b1 c5 16.c1 16.b5!? d8 17.e5 d6 18.e1 e8 f5 17.f1 e8 18.xe8+ xe8 19.a3 19.a3 with an uncomfortable position for d7 , and Black has gained excellent Black ) 16...g6 ( 16...fe8!? ) 17.b5 d8 control over the position, Jimenez, J18.e5 c8 19.xg6 hxg6 20.e5 Sagalchik, G/ Alajuela CRC 2006; Hardicsay, P-Horvath, P/Balatonlelle HUN B) 10...f5 2007 ] B1) In his annotations to GroennCarlsen in CBM, Ribli suggests a few 10.b5 0-0 [ Or 10...c5 11.f4 0-0 12.c7 d7 ideas for White instead of the text move. 484
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.e1 c6 14.e5 xe5 15.xe5 with a very pleasant game for White ] 11.bxd4 c5 And with this move, Black wins back the pawn, but the resulting position is, as we will see, clearly favouring White 12.a3 cxd4 13.axb4 xb4 14.d2 xd2 15.xd2 The material is once again balanced, but the white position is more or less strategically won. The d4-pawn is terribly weak and so is the black queenside, with W hite being able to apply pressure along the a-file and the h1-a8 diagonal. In addition, White has a slight lead in development and the initiative. Black's prospects are indeed bleak. f5 16.h4 c8 17.fe1 c7 18.a5 d6 19.b4 a6 I'm uncertain about what Black is trying to accomplish with this move, but it could be so me th in g like . .. b7 -b 6 an d .. .Ra8 -a 7 t o remove some of the pressure W hite is applying against Black's queenside. Obviously, White isn't going to let Black off the hook that easily. 20.f5!? [ White forces Black to get exchange on f5 and with that remove one of Black's guard pieces that is currently protecting the weak queenside. However, W hite has an interesting alternative in 20.c5!? , e.g. b8 ( 20...d7 l o o k s w o r s e : 21.b5! d5 22.ab1 d8 23.c6 d6 24.b6! , and the back rank problem prevents Black from doing anything about White's advanced pawns without losing material.) 21.f3 e6 22.xd4 d5 23.xd5 xd5 24.f5 , and W hite is a pawn up and his pieces dominate the board. ] 20...xf5 21.xf5 ab8 [ Or 21...fe8 22.xe8+ xe8 23.xb7 xb4 24.xa6 b2 25.f1+- , White's e xt ra p a wn in a d d it io n t o a f a vo u ra b l e bishop vs knight imbalance should make the win fairly trivial ] 22.c5 d8 [ 22...c7 is met in similar fashion: 23.e5 be8 24.ae1 xe5 25.xe5 d7 26.d6 xd6 27.cxd6 d8 28.xb7 xd6 29.a1+- ] 23.e5 e8 24.ae1 xe5 25.xe5 d7?? [ This of course loses on the spot, but even t h e s t r o n g e r 25...f8 offers no hope of salvation after 26.c1 intending Rc4, and the d-pawn will fall. ]
26.xb8+ 1-0
497 Jurkovic,Hrvoje Pandurevic,Miro Riviera IM Opatija CRO (4) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2401 2280 04.05.2003
1.c4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.e3 The advantage of playing this move is that White keeps the cpawn well defended, [ 3.g3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ is the mainline, but I think it offers W hite little as his queen makes too many moves. ] 3...f6 4.b3 e7 5.b2 0-0 6.e2 dxc4 This capture is very common in such Reti lines, Black wants to avoid the IQP positions which could arise after [ 6...c5 7.0-0 c6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.d4 say, although this is very much a question of taste. ] 7.bxc4 c5 8.0-0 c6 9.d4!? White expands in the centre, although many Flank Openings players would prefer to reserve this advance for a more opportune moment, e.g. [ 9.c2 b6 10.c3 b7 11.ad1 c8 12.a3 White keeps his options open, Ribli,ZBarczay,L/HUN-ch 1975. ] 9...b6 10.c3 The most aggressive, [ 10.dxc5?! xc5 11.xd8 xd8 12.bd2 a6 13.b3 e7 14.fd1 offers White less than nothing, Petersen,N-Bezold,M/ Copenhagen 1997. ] 10...a6!? A novelty, and a very logical one at that, Black aims at the c-pawn. [ 10...cxd4 11.exd4 b7 had been played previously, setting up a hanging pawns position, 12.c1 ( 12.d2 c8 13.ad1 B a r n a , A - W i e d e r s i c h , J / G e r m a n y 1 9 9 7; 12.e1?! c8 13.c1 a5 14.b5 a6 15.a3 b4 favours Black, Rossello,CGonzalez,G/Las Palmas 1996) 12...a5 13.d3 c8 14.d2 d7 also looks promising f o r Black who has go od pla y against the white centre, Hickl,T-Siegel,G/ Germany 1981. ] 11.a4 a5 12.fd1 cxd4 Now Black goes f o r t h e h a n gin g p a wn st r u ct u re . 13.xd4! Anti-positional, as W hite concedes the c5485
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 square, but best, [ 13.exd4 e8 is a bit awkward, as Black will exchange queens which diminishes White's dynamic possibilities. ] 13...e8 14.b5 b7 Black is ready to evict the knight with ...a6, and remove queens from the boa rd, pe rha ps, but W h ite ha s o the r ideas... 15.c5?! Is this correct? I don't think so, but it certainly gives W hite a couple of tempi, and permits him to swing his queen over to the kingside, with reasonable practical chances. xc5 16.h4 e7 Best, Black had to defend against the threat of Bxf6, and after ...gxf6, Qg4+ and Qh5, forcing mate. 17.d3 A n o t h e r p i e c e j o i n s t h e a t t a c k . h6?! Moving pawns in front of the king is always a risky business when the opponent's pieces are nearby, [ 17...fd8! is best, as there is no real threat to h7 once the f8-square is vacated: 18.xf6? ( 18.c2!? ) 18...xf6 19.xh7+ f8 and White's position is a mess. ] 18.f4 Now Black is in trouble, as Rxh6 is menaced. h7? This loses, the best move might be the strange [ 18...h5 but then that implies the previous move is clearly wrong! ] 19.xg7! Devastating! [ 19.xh7+ xh7 20.xg7 is also good, of course. ] 19...g5? This is not the best, although, to be fair, Black could resign here, [ 19...xg7? is also hopeless, 20.xh6+ g8 21.xh7# ] 20.f6 1-0
Dautov,R. ] 7...b7 8.0-0 bd7 9.b3 c8 To add force to the ...c5 move, but Black can try to makedo without this move, Mickey Adams preferred [ 9...e7 10.b2 0-0 11.d3 c5 12.bd2 d5! against me last year, and his queen's rook proved useful on the a-file. ] 10.b2 This set-up appeals to me because White's piece set-up is simple to follow, and it almost doesn't matter what Black does. e7 11.d3 0-0 12.bd2 c5 13.a3!? Probably a useful move, if my experience against Adams is a n yt h in g t o go b y, b u t d e ve lo p in g t h e queen's rook is very popular, and may transpose: [ 13.ac1 b6 14.b1 fd8 (agreed drawn in Ehlvest,J-Grischuk,A/ New Delhi IND 2000!) 15.a1 and now Black has a wide choice: f8 ( 15...a6 16.c2 a7 Jansson,B-Langeweg,K/telex 1975; 15...b8!? (aiming f or d4) 16.c2 e8 17.fc1 f8 18.a3 d6 but Black's play seems a bit too original, Minnebo,A-Luther,T/ Asti 1996 ) 16.a3 d5 17.d4!? Bertok,MPavasovic,D/Pula CRO 2001. ] 13...b6 14.ac1 White continues his simple plan of development, the queen will go to a1 to increase the pressure on the a1-h8 diagonal, and then he will double rooks on the c-file when all of his pieces will be working at full power. fd8 15.b1 a6 Curiously this position is sometimes also reached with Black to move - when he plays ...Nbd7 instead of ... c6 in the opening so that ...c7-c5 comes in one move instead of two! [ 15...h6 has also been seen here, but 16.fd1?! looks wrong, b8 17.c2 c6 18.dc1 White has lost a tempo with his 498 A13 ro o k m a n o e u vre , V e liko v, P -V a s ile v, M / Pamporovo BUL 2001, obviously 16 Qa1 is Kharlov,Andrei 2591 more logical, as in the other games. ] Izoria,Zviad 2541 [ 15...f8 16.a1 transposes to the Bertok ECC Rethymnon GRE (3) 30.09.2003 game in the last note. ] [Tony Kosten] 16.a1 f8 17.c2 a7 18.fc1 One of the nice things about the Flank So, W hite has managed to get to move Openings is that you can sometimes follow a eighteen without even having to think, and he pre-arranged plan and get a good position. has a good position! a8 Black also likes the 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 queen here, but W hite is able to blunt the 5.a4+ c6 6.xc4 b5 7.c2 Better than pressure, immediately, unlike Black. 19.e4!? So that the b7-bishop is 'biting on granite'. the [ 7.b3 I looked at in Van der Sterren,P- The loss of pawn control of the d4-square is 486
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 not too important yet, as the black pieces are n o t w e l l - p l a c e d t o e x p l o i t i t . e7 Black changes plan, and returns his bishop to e7, but he could also consider [ 19...e8!? hoping for ...f6 and ...e5, perhaps, or ...Nd6 and a later ...c4. ] 20.a4!? Personally I am not too sure about this move, a black piece may arrive on b4 lateron. c4? A typical tactical theme in this line (see the Korchnoi game from a few months ago, say), but it is not correct here. There was no need to play this, as there were lots of reasonable alternatives, like [ 20...c6 for instance. ] 21.bxc4 c5 The point, hitting both d3 and a4, but White can ignore these and continue capturing. 22.cxb5 xd3 23.xc8 xc8?! [ 23...xc8 24.xc8+ xc8 25.a3 also leaves White a pawn up, but at least the black pieces are more active. ] 24.c7! Rather than defend, White counters, attacking the e7-bishop. d7?! A bit too compliant, [ 24...xb2 is best met by 25.xe7 d3 26.c3 White has an extra pawn, and the better position - Qc7 is a threat. ] [ 24...d6!? may be the best bet, 25.xf6 gxf6 26.c2 g7 although 27.d4 looks strong. ] 25.xd7 xd7 26.a3 [ 26.xf6! is also good, gxf6 ( 26...xf6? 27.e5 e7 28.b1 c5? 29.g5 attacks the queen and threatens mate on h7 ) 27.d4 c5 28.e5 opening the long diagonal with a big plus. ] 26...c5 27.b6! This pawn will win the game. c6 Black is unable to stop White from protecting his passed pawn, as [ 27...a5?! 28.c3 c8 29.b7! xb7 30.xc5 wins a piece. ] 28.a5 a4 29.b2 [ 29.c1 is also good, xa5 30.b7 c7 31.xc5 xc5 32.xc5 xc5 33.b8+ with an extra piece. ] 29...c2 30.d4 c6 31.e3 White knows that he only has to avoid a blunder and the game will win itself. b7 32.d4 a4 33.xa4 xa4 34.4b3 f8 35.d4 e8 36.f3 d7 37.c4 Black's position is quite hopeless. 1-0
499 Korotylev,Alexey Timofeev,Artyom 57th ch Moscow RUS (8) [John Watson]
A13 2596 2611 24.11.2004
In this game Black plays a simple yet irritating f l a n k p a wn a t t a c k f r o m a S l a v D e f e n c e structure. It has had good success over the years an White still needs to find an answer. 1.c4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 c6 4.b3 f6 5.g2 a5 A typical advance, played with or without ... c6 in. Black wants to play ...a4 and ...a3 or ... axb3 as appropriate. My database has over 50 examples! 6.b2 White hasn't cracked this line, e.g., [ 6.0-0 a4 A) Black achieves his aim after 7.b2 a3 8.c3 b5! ( or 8...e4 ); B) 7.a3 xa3 8.xa3 e7 9.c1 0-0 10.d4!? bd7 11.b2 e8 12.e3 b6= Ionescu,C-Soppe,G Istanbul 2000 ] 6...a4 That's 5 pawn moves out of 6 (with . .. a3 and ...b5 next if White allows it). In spite of the fact that Black's bishop on c8 and knight on b8 are problem pieces he stands well. Against the Double Fianchetto Reti the combination of ...a5-a4 and ...b5 has been a common plan over many years now. 7.a3 e7 [ 7...d6 might prepare ...Qe7 later. ] 8.0-0 0-0 9.d3 [ 9.d4 intending Ne5 has also been tried. ] 9...b6 [ 9...bd7 10.c2 e8 11.fb1 d6 was comfortably equal in Reichert,LRohrmueller,U Bayern 2002. ] 10.d4 A sign that Black's irritating pressure on t h e qu e e n si d e is h a vi n g it s e f f e c t . bd7 11.c5 c7 12.b4 b6! 13.c2 bxc5 14.bxc5 a6 Black already has some advantage. A great system to know! 15.b4 b5 16.a3 e4 17.c2 f5!? Or simply [ 17...c4 18.d3 fb8 ] 18.d3 f6 19.ab1 c4 20.a1 Now Black has the advantage on the queenside, but he plays ambitiously to attack: g5!? 21.d2 xd2 22.xd2 ab8 23.e3 f7 24.xb8 xb8 25.b4 Since it's difficult for Black to advance on the kingside without exposing his king he maneuvers for a break in 487
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the centre. It's not clear what W hite can do about this. g8 26.c1 b5 27.d2 g6 28.e3 [ 28.d3 looks better. ] 28...e5! 29.dxe5 xe5 30.d1 g4 Preventing ...f4. 31.h4 e8 32.b1 b8 33.c2 h5 34.d4 c4? [ 34...e7 should precede this move. ] 35.c1!? [ 35.xf6 xf6 36.c3+ is very dangerous although Black may hang on due to the tactic e5! ( 36...e6 37.d3; 36...e5 37.xd5! ) 37.xe5+ xe5 ( 37...xe5 38.xd5 ) 38.xd5! d3! 39.b2 xb4 40.xb4 cxd5 41.xa4 f3+ with at least a perpetual check. ] 35...xd4? Too ambitious. The knight should return to e5. 36.exd4 f4 37.d3! f8 [ 37...f3? 38.g5+ h7 39.e1 wins. ] 38.xf4+ xf4 39.gxf4 f7 Black has no compensation and his king is still exposed. An unfair finish after a well-played game. 40.f1 f5 41.a1 e4 42.c3! xf4 43.d3+ f6 44.xc4 xc4 45.e1 f3 46.xf3+ gxf3 47.e5 1-0
8...b5! 9.b3 [ Now 9.e5 d5! and there's no knight on c3 to capture on d5. ] [ 9.a4 achieves nothing now after b7 ] 9...b7 10.b2 e7 11.d3 0-0 12.bd2 b6 13.ac1 ac8 14.b1!? fd8 15.a1 b8! 16.c2 c6 17.a3 d7 18.fc1 cd8 Black has superior central control but no break. White has to sit a wait for his opponent. 19.e5?! [ 19.a2! d5 20.a1 ] 19...xe5 20.xe5 xg2 21.xg2 g4! 22.e4? [ (a) 22.xg7? loses to c4! (hitting f2) 23.e4 ( 23.f1 b7+ 24.g1 f6 25.h3 cxd3 26.exd3 e5! ) 23...f5 24.h3 fxe4 25.hxg4 exd3 26.exd3 b7+ 27.h2 cxd3 28.d2 f3 ] [ (b) Best is 22.h3! xe5 23.xe5 c4 24.bxc4 xa3 25.b1 c5 , when Black has little if any advantage because of the pesky a-pawn after 26.cxb5 d5 27.c4! xe5 28.xb6 xb6 29.bxa6 d4 30.b7 a5 31.e3 c5 32.d4 d6 33.a7 ] 22...f5? This throws away Black's advantage. [ 22...c4! 23.xg7 f5 transposes to the last line. ] 23.xc5 d5?! 500 A13 [ 23...c6+ 24.e4! ] Kozhuharov,Spas 2391 24.c7! xc7 25.xe6 e5 26.xe5 Mateuta,Gabriel 2465 xe5 27.xd8 xd8 28.c8 The rooks 14th Open Kavala GRE (8) 18.08.2005 come into their own against minor pieces in an endgame and they will cost Black another [John Watson] pawn. f7 29.xd8 xd8 30.c5 f6 This game features another Catalan-without- 31.c7+ e7 32.d4 g4 33.a7 f6 d4 setup, but White misses his opportunity to 34.xa6 e4 35.a4 b4 36.a5 c3 37.b6 tie Black down and achieve a central break. 1-0 He also fails to create weaknesses in Black's position, thus suffering from a lack of space. A13 B u t h i s p i e c e s a r e w e l l - p o s t e d a n d i n 501 Hedgehog style he defends until his opponent Kuzubov,Yuriy 2642 tries for too much. 1.c4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 Neverov,Valeriy 2508 f6 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ bd7 6.xc4 a6 15th ch-EUR Indiv 2014 (2.27) 04.03.2014 7.c2 c5 Different than the 7...b5 plan of the [Fier, Alexandr] last game because a4 will be somewhat less effective. White nevertheless has alternatives. Black goes for 5...a6 which is provocative and 8.0-0 Kuzubov proved that he was ready for it. Black [ White could try for the advantage by 8.c3! had an interesting alternative on move 11, (this covers d5 and thus prevents b5) e7 which would lead to unclear consequences. ( 8...b5? 9.e5; 8...b8 9.0-0 b5 10.d4 ) 1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.f3 dxc4 4.g2 f6 9.0-0 0-0 10.d4! ( or 10.d1 e5 11.b3 )] 5.0-0 a6 6.c2 The best. White wants Black 488
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to open the long diagonal and play a real gambit instead of trying to recover the pawn. [ 6.a4 is the most played move, but a p p a r e n t l y i t ' s b a d f o r W h i t e c6 which looks a bit like a Catalan, but the pawn would be better on d4 here 7.a5 d7 8.c2 b4! and Black is already better 9.xc4 b5 wins the e2-pawn ] 6...b5 7.e5 d5 [ 7...c6 is a thematic sacrifice in this kind of position and is also possible here A) 8.d1 b7 9.d4 ( 9.d3 c7! ) 9...c8 would enter into the Catalan world; B) 8.xc6 b6 9.xb8 xb8 was double-edged in Sjugirov, S (2610)Frolyanov, D (2556)/RUS-chT 19th 2012 (4). ] 8.d3! White immediately opens the position a n d B l a c k ' s c e n t e r is n o t s t a b l e , s o t h e position is already dangerous. cxd3 [ 8...f6 can't really work, and White punishes it in a nice way 9.dxc4 fxe5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.g5! and Black needs to be careful to not lose on the spot xg5 ( 11...d6 12.c3 c6 13.xd5!+-; 11...e7 12.xe7 xe7 13.c3 c6 14.ad1 e6 15.e4 with a strong initiative) 12.xc7 d8 ( 12...e6 13.b7 ) 13.xe5+ e7 14.xd5 a7 15.c1 c7 16.d2 a n d it ' s h a rd t o b e lie ve t h a t B l a c k ca n survive ] 9.xd3 b7 10.c3 d6 11.xd5 exd5?! It's not easy to realize this, but Black already has some problems after this move. [ 11...xd5 was probably better, with some complications A) 12.xd5 exd5 13.a4! breaking Black's pawn structure bxa4 ( 13...b4 14.f4 with quite good compensation) 14.xa4+ c6 15.e4 0-0 16.d1 dxe4 17.c5 again with compensation for the pawn, but maybe no more than that; B) 12.e4 is also interesting c4 13.e5 e7 14.d1 c6 15.a4 d5 16.xd5 xd5 17.e3 0-0 18.ac1 c8 with a big positional fight ahead ] 12.f4 0-0 13.fd1 [ 13.ac1 this idea was also tempting c6 14.xd6 xd6 15.e4 dxe4 ( 15...d7 16.exd5 cxd5 17.c7 with a clear advantage for White, since Black is forced to
come back with the bishop to c8) 16.xe4 and 17.Nc5 is coming, so d7 17.xh7+ and White is better ] 13...c6 14.e4 xf4 15.xf4 d6 [ 15...d7 leaves Black under heavy p r e s su re a f t e r 16.exd5 cxd5 ( 16...c5 17.h3 wi n s a p a wn c4 18.e6! fxe6 19.dxe6 ) 17.xd5 c8 18.f5 but maybe it was better than the game ] 16.exd5 Natural, but not the best. [ 16.ac1! avoids ...c5 d7 17.exd5 c5 18.e6 fc8 19.c3 with an almost winning position ] 16...c5 17.ac1 c8 18.c3?! White improves the queen and prepares to launch an attack with 19.Nh5. However, there was a more direct idea. [ 18.e6! is best and Black has nothing better than to take the piece A) 18...d7 19.c3 and Black is clearly worse f6 ( 19...f6 can't be good for Black, but is the only move ) 20.xc5+-; B) 18...fxe6 19.dxe6 b6 20.xb7 xb7 21.xc5! this is th e ide a c6 ( 21...e8 22.g5! h6 23.h5 xe6 24.d8+ h7 25.f5+ g6 26.cc8 with mate; 21...f8 22.e7 e8 23.d6 and Black can't move any piece) 22.d7 a5! this is Black's best resource 23.g5 xc1+ 24.xc1 e4 25.c3 g6 26.xa5 b1+ 27.g2 e4+ 28.f1 with a healthy pawn up for White ] 18...b4 19.e3 d7 20.e1 f8 This move makes some sense to avoid 21. Qe7, but later Black had some problems with his king. [ 20...f6!? was another possibility, letting the queen enter the seventh rank 21.e7 b6 22.d6 xg2 23.xg2 ( 23.xg2 b5 and the passed pawn on d6 is under control for the moment) 23...c6+ 24.f3 d8 and it looks like Black's position is ok, but some hidden dangers exists in the position, f o r e x a m p l e : 25.cd1 ac8 loses to a beautiful idea ( 25...h6 is better and Black should be fine) 26.h5! xh5 27.d7 b8 28.d6 a4 29.b6! a8 30.xa6! c2+ 31.e2 and White is winning ] 21.cd1 f6 Black is coming with 22...Re8 and White doesn't have a nice square for the quee n a t t he mom ent . 22.g4!? I like this 489
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 move because it creates some problems for Black to solve. Now the queen has a good place to go. e8 [ 22...xg4 loses because of 23.g3 d7 24.e6+! fxe6 25.dxe6 e7 26.d7 and Black's position collapses ] 23.g3 g8? There was no need for this move and the king going to f8 and coming back to g8 cannot be good. After this move White has a tangible advantage. [ 23...xe1+ was necessary and after 24.xe1 d8 defends any trick with the q u e e n o n d 6 25.g5 e8 and Black's position is a bit passive, but still quite solid ( 25...xd5 doesn't work because of 26.xd5 xd5 27.d1 c6 28.d3 winning a piece )] 24.g5 xe1+ [ 24...d7 will be similar to the next note 25.d3 xg3 26.hxg3 xe1+ 27.xe1 f8 28.b3 transposes to the position analyzed in the next move ] 25.xe1 e8?! Now White wins a pawn. [ 25...d7 26.d3 xg3 27.hxg3 f8 28.b3 reaches a funny position. Black has the knight defending the pawn on c5 and he is not allowed to play 28...Rc8 because of 29.Bh3, winning. Also the bishop has no squares, the king can't go to the center. Still W hite is not winning, probably Black can sacrifice the pawn on c5 to bring the king into the game. ] 26.xe8+ xe8 27.d3 There is no way to defend the pawn on c5 without losing the pawn on b4, so W hite is much better. Still with the pawn on g5 Black has some hopes to h o ld t h e p o s it io n . a5 28.xd6 xd6 29.xc5 f8 30.f4 e7 31.f2 c8 32.f1 b7 Black wants to exchange the bishop and create a block with the king and knight. With the pawns on a5 and b4 this is not possible. White's king now goes for a long march and finally enters Black's position from the 8th rank. [ 32...f5!? was an interesting practical chance 33.e3 b1 34.d3! is the best, returning the pawn to centralize all th e pieces ( 34.a3 bxa3 35.bxa3 f5+ the bishop and knight are creating a wall, so White's king can't help the defence of the d5pawn 36.d2 d6 37.b7+ xd5
38.xa5 e4 and Black has good chances to hold ) 34...xa2 35.d4 h6 36.b3 and White is dominating ] 33.xb7 xb7 34.e3 c5 35.b5 d6 36.d4 With the king going to the queenside, there is not much to do. Black tried his best to hold the position, but it wasn't sufficient. b7 37.h4 f6 38.gxf6 gxf6 39.d3 h6 40.c4 c5 41.c2 d7 42.b5 xd5 43.xa5 c5 44.b3 b6 45.a6 c8 [ 45...c6 holds the king, but not the game 46.a3 bxa3 47.bxa3 will decide the game ] 46.b7 e7 47.h5 f5 48.c7 d4 49.f7 f5 50.d7 e2 51.e6 xf4+ 52.xf5 d3 53.g6 e5+ 54.g7 d6 55.b3 1-0
502 Larsen,Bent Timman,Jan H Tilburg (4) [Nigel Davies]
A13 2620 2625 1979
1.c4 b6 2.b3 b7 3.b2 f6 4.f3 e6 [ Larsen mentioned the possibility of 4...g6!? 5.xf6 exf6 6.c3 , obtaining the superior pawn structure at the cost of the two bishops. ] 5.e3 This looks quite innocuous but it puts great demands on Black's positional skills. T h e ce n t ra l p a wn s t ru ct u re ca n b e c o m e defined in a number of different ways which both players will have to judge very accurately. d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7.b5+ c6 8.e2 d6 9.c3 0-0 10.c1 bd7 11.0-0 c8?! [ 11...e7 followed by the centralisation of Black's rooks was better. ] 12.e1 e7 13.f1 c5 14.d4! Finally clarifying the position of the central pawns in a way the favours W hite. Black's hanging pawns on d5 and c5 are a problem here. fd8 15.g3 a6 16.h4 e6 17.e2 e8 18.g2 c7 19.c2 a5 [ After 19...c4 White can play 20.bxc4 dxc4 21.d5! xd5 22.d4! f6 ( 22...h6 23.df5 is even worse) 23.b5 , winning material. ] 20.c3! Getting ready to take on c5 without allowing Black to recapture with the b-pawn. 490
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 This forces his hand. c4 21.f4 e7 [ 21...xf4 22.exf4 c6 23.f5 is just very good for White. ] 22.f5 f8 23.xd6 xd6 24.b1 e4 25.ec1 a6 [ After 25...xc3? 26.xc3 b5 Larsen intended 27.bxc4 bxc4 28.b5 b4 29.xb4 axb4 30.3c2 when the weaknesses on b4 and d5 will spell Black's downfall. But Rybka pointed out an alternative for Black in 28...Bc6!. ] 26.e1 df6 27.h4 I suspect this move was played by Larsen with greater frequency than any other Grandmaster. Here the idea is to trap Black's knigh t on e4 with 28.f 3 . d8 28.bxc4 xc4 29.xc4 xc4 30.d3 d7 31.b2 a6 32.c2 a8 33.c6 xc6 34.xc6 c8 35.xc8+ xc8 36.f1 Th e e nd ga m e is cle a rly b e t t er f o r W h it e because of the bishop pair and the fact that the pawn duo on b6 and a6 can be blockaded just by White's a-pawn. So White's plan is to gradually advance on the kingside. f8 37.f3 d6 38.d3 b7 39.f2 c6 40.g4 h6?! 41.e2 e7 42.d1 e6 43.f2 b5 44.xb5 xb5 45.h3 The game was adjourned at this point so the players could go and eat dinner. This was one of the joys of p l a y i n g c h e s s b e f o r e t h e a d ve n t o f t h e personal computer. d6 46.d3 f8 47.f4 e6 48.e2! c6 49.e4 f6 50.d2 d6 51.a4 bc7 52.c3 c6 53.h5! Creating a permanent weakness on g7. d6 [ After 53...g5 54.exd5+ xd5 55.xd5 xd5 56.xg5 hxg5 57.c3 the pawn endgame is winning for White. ] 54.e3 c6 55.f4 dxe4+ [ Or 55...d6 56.e5+ c6 57.f5 etc. ] 56.xe4 d6 57.c1 d7 58.a3 e8 59.d5 d8 [ After 59...c5+ 60.xc5 bxc5 61.d3 f o llo we d b y 6 2 . K c4 , W h it e win s t h e c5 pawn. ] 60.d4 d7 61.c4 e8 62.e4 f7 63.f8 d8 [ 63...fd6+ 64.xd6 xd6+ 65.xd6 xd6 66.b5 ] [ 63...c7 64.b5 /\65.d6 ] 64.g3 1-0
503 Lautier,Joel Sokolov,Andrei ch-Gp A Marsailles FRA (7) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2675 2604 19.08.2001
1.c4 e6 2.c3 b4 3.f3 White invites transposition to the Nimzo-Indian. c5!? [ 3...e7!? 4.d4 c5 was tried in Beim,VBronstein,D/Rishon Le Ziyyon 1991, and ] [ 3...f5!? 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 reached a Dutch-style position in Horvath,G-Meszaros, A/Zalakaros 1992. ] [ 3...f6 4.d4 would be normal, of course. ] 4.g3 c6!? [ In this key battle (Lautier had to win to qualify for the top group, Sokolov to draw) Bla ck f in d s a n e w m o ve o n m o ve f o u r! Ob viou sly h e d e cid e d t o avo id W h it e 's e x t e n s i v e o p e n i n g k n o w l e d g e . 4...f6 5.c2 c6 6.g2 0-0 leads to more normal lines, Uhlmann,W-Taimanov,M/Brno 1975. ] 5.g2 ge7!? 6.0-0 0-0 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 [ Tempting Black to play 8...xc3 9.bxc3 a5 with a more double-edged position, but Black prefers to stay solid. ] 9.e4!? This looks artificial, although the threats to d6, and the b4-bishop, seem real enough. d5! Black changes tack: the IQP position will prove very playable thanks to the time lost by the white queen's knight. 10.cxd5 exd5 11.g5 h6 12.gf3 'Knights are at their worst when defending each other'- 101 Tips to Improve Your Chess. g4 13.h3 h5 14.f4 c5 15.c1 b6 Black has an active position with pressure on d4. One of White's standard plans in such positions, the capture on c6 to produce a backward c-pawn, is no longer a problem as the knight is defended by its brother on e7. 16.d2 [ This cuts-off the f4-bishop's return, but if 16.g4!? g6 and the bishop will come to the outpost on e4. ] 16...xf3! Breaking White's hold on d4. 17.xf3 [ 17.xc6? is impossible: xc6 18.xf3 g5! 19.e3?! d4 and a piece drops. ] 17...g6 The bishop has nowhere to go, so opposite-colour bishops will arise. 18.e3?! 491
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xf4 19.gxf4 d4 20.e4 White is still hoping chipping away at the queenside with b6 to win, but now it is Black who is in the driving . The dark squares remain an issue for him, seat. a5 21.d3 f6 22.f5 ad8 23.a3 however. ] c7 White's kingside pawn structure is very 6.g3! Ouch! Only six moves in and Black is weak on the dark squares. 24.b4 f4 25.c5 under serious pressure. f6 fe8 26.d1 Naturally, Black is better, but a [ The point is that 6...f5? is met by 7.b4 b6 draw suited him well, otherwise he would 8.c5+- , trapping the hapless cleric. ] surely continue such a position. 7.e4! c5 8.e5 g6 9.d6+ e7 10.d3 ½-½ [ 10.f3!? ] 10...xg3 11.hxg3 c7 [ Black has to give a pawn since 11...h6? 504 A13 12.e4+- is awful. ] Le Quang,Liem 2693 12.xh7 xh7 13.xh7 h6 14.xc8+ Kurajica,Bojan 2551 xc8 15.e4 b8 16.f4 White is up a solid 40th Olympiad Open (2.28) 29.08.2012 pawn. f5 17.e2 d6 18.b4!? cxb4 19.axb4 dxe5 20.a3 f6? Trying to [John Bartholomew] escape the bishop's crosshairs, but Black is Le Quang Liem scores big in an unassuming soon forced back in to the line of fire. [ Threatening a back-rank check with line. 1.c4 e6 2.c3 b4 The Accelerated 20...h8! offered chances of resistance. ] Nimzo. 3.b3 e7?! Exceedingly rare, and 21.g4! h8 22.0-0-0 d6 23.g5+ e7 very likely dubious. Winning a piece. The rest is simple [ On 3...c5?! White has an idea related to 24.b5+our present game: 4.b5! f6 5.a3 a5 mop-up work for Vietnam's number one. exf4 [ Or 24...b8 25.fxe5+- . ] 6.d6+ e7 7.xc8+ xc8 8.g3 with an advantage in Hansen, C (2618)- 25.bxa6 bxa6 26.c2 h5 27.b1 xg5 28.b7 d7 29.xd6 xd6 30.d4 a5 Lobron, E (2550)/Germany 2000/[TonyK]. ] [ 3...c6 is the most reliable continuation. 31.xf4 g5 32.h5 f5 33.c5+ d7 Many games have been played in the line 34.f6+ d8 35.c6 a2+ 36.b3 d2 4.f3 f6 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 37.c4 c2+ 38.d3 c1 39.xa7 d1+ , where W hite has chances for a modest 40.c4 c1+ 41.b3 d1 42.d5 c1 43.d6 xd6 44.d7+ c8 45.b7+ edge but Black remains very solid. ] 4.b5! Highlighting the weakness of Black's Black resigned. If Black wants to enter the last move. The knight jump also prepares a A c c e l e ra t e d N im zo , I s u gg e st h e p re f e r sneaky queen transfer to which Black often quieter channels with 3...Nc6. Alternatives like 3.. . c5 ?! an d the gam e's 3 .. .Q e7? ! brin g falls victim. a6 5.a3!? [ In Kovacevic, B (2490)-Fucak, E (2311)/ misery after Nc3-b5 and Qb3-b3. Sibenik 2006 White played the immediate 1-0 5.g3 , and after f8?! ( 5...f5! ) 6.a3 c6 7.c3 ( 7.xa7! i s s t r o n g e r , a s d6 A13 is met by 8.xc8 xc8 9.b3 . ) 7...d6 505 Lunev,Andrey 2509 8.d3 c5 9.c2 e5 Kovacevic should Kortschnoj,Viktor 2632 have played 10.b4 ( 10.f3?? e4 11.d4 20.05.2003 d3+ 12.d1 xf2+ 13.e1 xh1-+ TCh Togliatti RUS (5) was the game continuation.) 10...e6 [Tony Kosten] 11.e3 with a more pleasant game. ] 5...a5? Striving to overprotect the c-pawn, 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ but the bishop is very poorly placed here. [ 5.a3!? is rarely played these days, and [ Better was 5...c5 6.g3 f5! , i.e. 7.d4 ( Black has compensation after 7.xc7+?! doesn't core very well for W hite, still he obtains the bishop pair, and there are some xc7 8.xc7 f6 ) 7...c6! 8.c7+ xc7 tricks that Black should avoid, like xa3 9.dxc5 a6 10.b4 and Black better start 492
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 6.bxa3 0-0 7.c2 b5?! 8.g5 c6 9.b2 (threatening Bxf6 and mate!) e8 10.0-0 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.h7+ f8 13.e4 g6 14.xg6 fxg6 15.d6 d8 16.xb5 a6 17.c3 xd2 18.e4 xe2 19.d6 d7 20.xc4 c2 21.e5 ( 21.b6 a7 22.fb1 e8 23.c8 drew in Varga,ZGyimesi,Z/Heviz HUN 2003) 21...e8 22.fd1 c5 23.f4 and Black had problems moving his pieces, Smyslov,V-Kholmov,R/ Baku 1961/URS-ch. ] 5...d7!? Very rare, and possibly played to take his opponent out of his book knowledge, the main move is [ 5...bd7 as in Illescas Cordoba,M-Shirov,A, for instance, although, ] [ 5...c6 is fairly trendy at the moment. ] 6.xc4 c6 This method of developing the bishop to the long diagonal is borrowed from the Catalan, and indeed this would transpose if White played d4 on either of his next couple of moves. 7.c3 The one problem with this natural move is that it cuts-off the queen's retreat to c2. [ 7.0-0 is probably better, bd7 8.c2 ( t h e p o i n t ) d6?! ( 8...e5 9.c3 c5 Karpov,A-Sunye,N Amsterdam 1985) 9.c3 0-0 10.a3 c5? 11.b4! ce4 12.d1 trapping the knight in mid-board, although Black is not without compensation, and drew after a5!? 13.d3 axb4 14.dxe4 xe4 15.b3 d5 16.d3 e7 17.e3 bxa3 Gelfand,B-Polgar,Z/Munich 1991. ] 7...a6!? Aiming for ...b5 to embarrass the queen. 8.0-0 [ 8.a3 is a bit passive, b5 9.a2 bd7 10.0-0 b7 11.d4 c5 and Black has no problems, Ru kavina, J-Sa ntos,J/Budva 1981. ] 8...b5 9.b3 bd7 10.d3 This is fairly normal for these positions, although actually a novelty here, but it may be better to play Catalan-style with [ 10.d4 e.g. b4?! 11.a4 d5 12.c2 e4 13.d1 c5 Stangl,M-Smagin,S/ Gelsenkirchen 1994, and now Stangl suggests 14.g5 ] 10...e7 11.d2 0-0 12.fc1 b7 13.d1?! A really very strange move, perhaps White is hoping to play a4, and then Ne3 to c4, b u t i t i s a b i t s l o w . c5 14.a4 c4!
A nice tactical trick, that effectively allows Black to plant his knight on b3. 15.dxc4 c5 16.e3 Effectively forced, as [ 16.a3 allows xf3! 17.xf3 xd2 18.xa8 xa8 with a clear advantage. ] 16...bxa4 This is the point of Black's 'petite combinaison', the knight is strongly-placed on c5, and there is a threat of ...Nb3, forking the two rooks. 17.e5?! White decides to jettison an exchange, but [ 17.d4 wa s t h e b e s t c h a n c e , xg2 18.xg2 d7 and White is hanging on, just. ] 17...xg2 18.xg2 b3 19.c6 d7 20.xe7+ xe7 21.xa4 b7+ 22.f3 xc1 23.xc1 fc8 The smoke clears and White has a pawn for the exchange, but this is not sufficient. 24.a3 d7 25.e3 h6 26.f2 ab8 [ 26...e5!? ] 27.d3 The white pieces have found reasonable squares. b3 28.c5? A serious error, the endgame was quite playable: [ 28.xb3 xb3 29.f4 followed by advancing the white king, and Black has a lo t o f wo rk a h e a d o f h im t o e xp lo it h i s advantage. ] 28...c2! Attacking e2. 29.f1 White is in real trouble, [ 29.f2? b3 30.a2 xd3 and a piece is lost. ] 29...b3 30.a1 xd3! Anyway! 31.exd3 xd3+ 32.f2 xc5 Black has exchanged his exchange for a piece, a couple of pawns and a strong attack. 33.d4 c2+ 34.d2 b3! The killer. [ 34...b3 35.xc2 xc2+ 36.f1 xa1 leaves Black a rook up. ] 0-1
506 Malakhov,Vladimir Oparin,Grigoriy Latvian Railway op rapid (2) [Fier, Alexandr]
A13 2717 2526 28.03.2014
This rapid game went quickly out of theory. B l a c k p l a ye d w i t h o u t a n y p l a n a n d wa s qu ickly wo rse . I t wa s b e t t e r t o b rin g t h e bishop to c5 in one move and play ...a5 at 493
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 some point, since the main plan for White is to play with b4. 1.c4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.b3 d4 [ 3...f6 4.b2 e7 5.e3 0-0 6.e2 was analyzed for Chess Publishing in a game from 1935! Botvinnik, M-Chekhover, V/ Moscow 1935. ] 4.e3 c6 [ 4...c5 would lead to a Benoni-kind of position 5.exd4 cxd4 6.g3 Damljanovic, B (2569)-Palac, M (2571)/EU-chT (Men) 19th 2013 (5.8) ] 5.b2 This move can be controversial, the bishop hits the rock on d4 and stays passive in some variations. W hite's idea is to force Black to have a pawn on d4 instead of a piece and later to put pressure on it. e5 6.exd4 exd4 7.d3 f6 8.e2 Later the bishop can be relocated, right now the safety of the king is more important. [ 8.g3 i s t o o s l o w b4+! 9.bd2 0-0 10.g2 e8+ and White will need to resign soon ] 8...e7 [ 8...c5 I would prefer this move. Sooner or later Black will need to defend this pawn 9.0-0 ( 9.a3 a5 ) 9...0-0 and there are good chances for W hite to enter the same position of the game with a tempo less ] 9.0-0 0-0 10.a3 e8 [ 10...a5 is not the right move order 11.b5! and the knight is much better here than on c2 c5 12.a3 with a pleasant position for White ] [ 10...c5 is good, but chess players are proud 11.c2 a5 12.a3 e8 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 xa1 15.xa1 xb4 16.xb4 xb4 17.xd4 with a better version of the game ] 11.c2 c5 12.e1 [ 12.b4 w a s a l r e a d y p l a y a b l e xb4 13.cxd4 g4 14.a3 xd4 15.xd4 c6 16.e3 with chances for both players ] 12...g4 Slightly superficial. [ 12...a5 is a good idea, exchanging one of the rooks 13.a3 f5 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 xa1 16.xa1 xb4 17.cxd4 ( 17.fxd4 g6 18.xb4 xb4 19.f1 d6 ) 17...xd3! now this is possible 18.xf5 ( 18.xd3 xe1+ 19.xe1 xd4 and Black is more than ok) 18...xf2+ 19.f1 xe1 20.xd3 b4 21.xd8 xd8
22.xf6 gxf6 and with two pawns to comp ensa te t he knights the pos itio n is level ] 13.h3 h5 14.b4! White has developed all his pieces so it's time to open the position. xb4 15.cxd4 g6 16.d2 [ 16.b3 w a s a l s o p o s s i b l e xd3! a n d b y m a g i c e ve r yt h i n g i s d e f e n d e d ! ( 16...f8 17.e5 with a good position) 17.xc5 xe2 18.b3 c6 19.e5 xe5 20.xe2 g6 21.xe8+ xe8 22.xf6 b6! and the position is unclear ] 16...f8 [ 16...d6 is more active, but it can make the next move trick impossible 17.a3 xe2!? 18.xe2 xd3 19.c3 is interesting, but hard to evaluate ] 17.a3 a6?! Black wants to bring the knight to c5, but it's not really helping there. [ 17...xe2 is the same idea as in the last move's variation 18.xe2 xd3 19.h4 e4 and it looks like Black's pieces are not so stable ] [ 17...xd3! was a good shot, Black can use the pin on the d-file 18.xd3 xd3 19.xd3 c5 20.xe8 xe8 and the position is equal ] 18.f1 xe1 19.xe1 c5 The main problem for Black is that he hasn't any useful plan for the moment. White, on the other hand, can improve the knights and push the d-pawn. [ 19...c5 is an ugly move, but at least it stops any central expansion 20.b5 ( 20.c2 d7 21.e3 ) 20...c7 21.xc7 xc7 22.h4 ( 22.xf6 gxf6 is not so good, White's bishop is more important than the doubled pawns) 22...d7 23.xg6 hxg6 and White has some advantage ] 20.e5 a4?! The beginning of a bad plan. [ 20...c6 21.df3 e6 22.xg6 hxg6 23.d4 and White is much better with the bishop pair and mobile center, but still this position is better than what happened in the game ] 21.a1 xa3? An ambitious idea, but White just wins a piece. 22.a5 b2 23.xb2 xb2 24.df3 And the knight on b2 has no squares. d6 [ 24...xd3 does not help 25.xd3 xd3 26.d1+- ] 25.b1 494
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 25.d4 was also possible, the knight is not going anywhere ] 25...b6 26.a1 xd3 27.xd3 xd3 28.d1 a5 29.xd3 The rest is easy. e7 30.a4 h6 31.e3 d6 32.a2 c5 33.a4 h5 34.d7 f6 35.d3 f4 36.d6 e6 37.b7 e8 38.xb6 a4 39.c6 b8 40.d1 a3 41.a4 d4 42.xa3 1-0
507 Mareco,S Tristan,Leonardo 86th ch-ARG 2012 (3.1) [John Bartholomew]
A13 2586 2449 06.07.2012
W e've examined some of the more volatile lines in the Neo-Catalan over the past few months. This game proceeds down calmer channels but suddenly gets interesting. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.0-0 [ Our April and May updates focused on the h y p e r - p o p u l a r 5.a4+ c6 ( 5...bd7 6.xc4 a6 Naiditsch, A (2702)-Papin, V (2575)/Plovdiv BUL 2012/[John Bartholomew].) 6.xc4 b5 and now either 7.b3!? ( or 7.c2 )] 5...bd7 6.a4 c5 7.xc4 b6 This line has an extremely solid reputation. Black strives to develop as harmoniously as possible. 8.d1!? Exceedingly rare in this exact position, yet very standard in the Neo-Catalan. The x-ray is uncomfortable for Black, so White is fully justified in postponing d2-d4. [ Most usual is 8.d4 , but b7 9.c3 a6! has proven to be very reliable for Black. Take a quick look at the statistics to conf irm: Black is +10, =28, -4 f rom this position! ] [ The forcing line 8.d4 e5! 9.c6 xc4 10.xd8 d5 11.c3 xd8 12.xd5 b7 isn't anything to write home about either. ] 8...b7 9.c3 c8 [ I believe now is the ideal time for 9...a6! - before White can retreat the queen to e2. Two high -level e xa mp le s: 10.a4 c8 ( 10...e7 11.d4 c8 12.g5 cxd4 13.xd4 h6 14.e3 c5 15.d2 e7 16.xc5 xc5 17.f4 0-0 18.d6 c7 19.xc7 xc7 20.d6 c6 21.e5 xg2
22.xg2 b8 23.ad1 Karpov, A (2690)Miles, A (2555)/England 1977.) 11.d4 ( 11.e4 ) 11...cxd4 12.xd4 c5 13.f4 e7 14.e3 xe3 15.xe3 0-0= Ribli, Z (2590)-Korchnoi, V (2695)/ BadenBaden 1981. ] 10.e4 a6 11.e2 e5? This meets with a spectacular blow. [ 11...c7 is most accurate, side-stepping problems down the d-file. After 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 c4! Black can hope to complete development and castle. ] 12.d4!! Bombs away! This line-opening sacrifice is entirely correct given Black's vulnerability down the d and e-files. cxd4 [ 12...exd4 13.e5 is even worse, e.g. d5 14.e6 fxe6 15.xe6+ e7 16.h3! d8 (17. Re1 was a big threat) 17.xd5 xd5 18.e1 d6 19.g5+- ] 13.xd4 exd4?! [ 13...c7 14.f5 is surely unpleasant for Black, though it might have promised a better fate than the game. ] 14.e5 xg2 15.exf6+ e7 16.xd4! c6 17.f4? White has conducted the attack beautifully, but here he misses a knockout. [ 17.fxg7! g8 18.h6+- leaves Black with little hope of escape. For example, c7 19.e1 e5 ( 19...e5 20.d1! f6 21.e4 xe4 22.dxe4+- ) 20.d5! xd5 21.xd5 g6 ( 21...f6 22.h5+ g6 23.f5+- ) 22.h4!! and Black is utterly helpless. ] 17...gxf6 18.e1 0-0 19.xe7 xe7 20.xe7 fd8 21.f1 Black has kept W h i t e ' s a d v a n t a g e t o a m i n i m u m . c5 22.xd8+ xd8 23.c7 d2 24.e2 xe2 25.xe2 b5 26.e3 b4 27.e2 b3 28.axb3 xb3 29.f4 c5 30.h5 d7 31.f4 f8?! Why? 32.xf6+ g7 33.e5 g6 34.h4 e6+ 35.g4? An unfortunate misstep. [ 35.e3 ] 35...h5+! 36.h3 [ Not 36.xh5?? f5+ . ] 36...f3 37.g4 Draw agreed. [ A likely continuation is 37.g4 hxg4+ 38.xg4 f5 39.h2 d5 40.d6 f4+ 41.xf4 xf4= . Mareco posed Black some interesting problems in this line, so it's a shame he couldn't finish the job. Probably 495
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...a6! is the way to deal with 8.Rd1!? ] ½-½
508
A13 Matamoros Franco,Carlos S 2529 Ibarra Chami,Luis Fernando 2364 II ch-Ibero-Americano Gp C (2) 16.02.2008 [Carsten Hansen]
1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 dxc4 5.c2 d5 This is the move that has been the topic of discussion in the Forum for a while. Some claim it to be good for Black, but it appears W hite can claim an edge, but it is nevertheless an interesting option for Black. 6.0-0 [ White has two other options that can be considered at this juncture: A) 6.b3 cxb3 7.xc7 a6 8.f4 d6 9.a4+ d7 10.xb3 xb3 11.axb3 c5 12.a3 d5 ( 12...0-0 13.0-0 c6 14.d3 a5 15.bd2 b5 16.d4 xg2 17.xg2 cd7 18.a2 fb8 19.a3 xa3 20.xa3= ) 13.b2 0-0 14.e5 b5 15.c4 e7 16.d3 b4 17.0-0 c6 18.bd2 ( 18.d4!? xg2 19.xg2 e4 20.c1 b5 21.cd2 ) 18...fd8 ( 18...xg2 19.xg2 b5!? ) 19.aa1 xg2 20.xg2 f6 ( 20...b5 21.e5 a5= ) 21.fc1 ( 21.d4!? ca6 22.f3 ) 21...c6 ( 21...e5! 22.a3 e6= ) 22.a3 d4 23.xc5 xc5 1/2-1/2 Hulak, K-Sargissian, G/Antalya 2004, and now I think W hite can claim an edge with 24.e3 b5 25.d4 b4 26.e4 ] [ B) 6.c3 c5 A) 7.d4 cxd3 8.xd3 c6 9.0-0 b4 10.b1 e7 11.f4 bd5 A1) 12.xd5 xd5 13.e5 f6 14.d4 b5 15.e4 b4 16.d1 ( 16.a4 h5 17.e5 d7 18.exf6 gxf6 19.e4 e5 20.c3 c6 ) 16...0-0 17.e3 h5 18.a3 c6 19.a2 d6 20.ac1 f7; A2) 12.e5 xc3 13.xc3 c6 14.d3 0-0 15.fd1 h5 16.ac1 d5 17.d4 f6 18.e4 c7 19.b3 Snape, I-Barlow, J/corr 2002; B) 7.0-0 d6 8.d4 cxd3 9.xd3 c6 10.g5 ( 10.e3 h5 11.b5 0-0 12.xd6 d8 is insufficient for White)
10...0-0 11.xf6 gxf6 12.e4 f5 13.h4 e5 14.xd6 xd6 15.f3 f5 16.e4 fxe4 17.g4+ h8 18.xe4 ] 6...c6 7.a3 [ 7.c3!? looks counter-intuitive, but may well be White's best move, e.g. c5 8.b3 cxb3 9.xb3 a5 10.c2 d6 11.d4 c4 A) 12.d1!? d5 13.b2 d7 14.d2 ( 14.e5 xe5 15.dxe5 c6 16.ac1 xc3 17.xc3 xc3 18.xc3 xg2 19.xa5 c6 20.xc7= ) 14...a6 15.e5 xe5 16.dxe5 c4 17.c2 xc3 18.xc3 c6 19.xc6+ xc6 20.ac1 b5 21.a4 a6 22.b4; B) 12.e3 d5 13.b2 xc3 14.xc3 d7 15.d2 a6 16.xa5 ( 16.fb1! ) 16...xa5 17.xb7 b8 18.c6 ( 18.c4 a4 19.xa4 xa4 20.xd6+ cxd6 21.fc1 ) 18...xc6 19.xc6+ e7 20.c2 h5 ( 20...d5 21.e4 hd8 22.ab1 ) 21.c4 d5 22.fd1 Ragot, N-Komljenovic, D/Plancoet 2003 ] 7...xa3 8.bxa3 e5 [ 8...e4 9.d1 0-0 10.b2 f5 11.c1 c5 12.a4 d8 13.d4 b4 14.c2 A) 14...d5 15.ab1 b6 A1) 16.g5 f5 17.xc6 bxc6 18.e4 c5 19.exf5 exf5 20.dxc5 xc5 21.c3 ( 21.fe1 b7! 22.a5 h6 23.a6 c6! ) 21...e7 22.a5 d5 23.xc4 xg5 24.c6 b7 25.xb7 f4; A2) 16.fc1 xa4 17.xa4 xa4 18.xc4 xb2 19.xb2 e5 20.e3 d6 21.h4 exd4 22.xd4 xd4 23.xd4 xd4 24.exd4 b8 25.c2 c6 26.d5 cxd5 27.xd5 e6 28.xe6 fxe6 29.c7; B) 14...d7 15.c3 e7 16.ab1 ab8 17.e4 e8 ( 17...a5!? 18.fe1 ) 18.fe1 a5 19.e2 d7 20.xc4 b6 21.b3 a8 22.ec1 b8 ( 22...f6 23.e1 f7 24.bc1 ) 23.a1 a6 ( 23...c6 24.b2 ) 24.c3 xa4 25.xa5 Vaulin, A-Mackic, Z/Nis 1993 ] 9.b2 [ 9.g5!? leads to interesting complications: d4 10.a4+ b5 11.xb5+ xb5 12.a4 d6 ( 12...d4 13.b2 0-0 14.e3 e2+ 15.h1 d8 16.xe5 xd2 17.xf6 gxf6 18.e4 b2 19.xf6+= ) 13.b2 h6 496
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.h3 fe4 15.xe5 0-0 16.f4 e8 A) 17.d4 c6 18.fe1 ( 18.f3 f6 19.xd6 xd6 20.e4 f7 21.ac1 g5 ) 18...g5 19.h5 g4 20.f3 ( 20.xd6 xh5 21.a3 c3 22.e3 xa4 ) 20...xh5 21.xh5 e7 22.ac1 d8; B) 17.b2 f5 ( 17...xd2?! 18.fd1 2e4 19.d5 c3 20.a3 c2 21.dc1 c4 22.b4 c5 23.xc2 cxb4 24.xc4 d6 25.d4 ) 18.fd1 ad8 19.d4 ( 19.d3 c5!; 19.f3 c5 20.a5 a4 ) 19...b6 20.f3 g5 21.a5 b5 22.f2 c2 23.dc1 xd2 24.e1 exe2 25.xe2 xe2 26.f2 e6 27.f1 bd4; C) 17.d4 c6 18.d3 cxd3 19.exd3 f5 C1) 20.xg7 exg3 21.fxg3 xg7 22.a5 e3 23.h5+ C1a) 23...g6 24.f4+ g7 25.h5+= ( 25.fc1 xg2 26.xg2 e5 27.a6 bxa6 28.ab1 a5 ); C1b) 23...f8 24.f6 g4 25.f4; C2) 20.b2 c5 21.a5 a4 , and here White forfeited and thus 0-1 in Vidal, L-Cipressi, N/ICCF 2005, but W hite is better after 22.c1!? , e.g. ( also 22.a3!? looks good for White) 22...a6 23.b1 g5 24.h5 ] 9...e4 10.xf6 gxf6 11.h4 d4 [ 11...f5!? 12.f3 f4 13.xe4+ xe4 14.fxe4 fxg3 15.hxg3 g4 ] 12.xe4+ xe4 13.xe4 xe2+ 14.g2 0-0 15.fe1 d4 16.ac1 e6 17.xb7 ab8 18.a6 b5 19.a4?! [ 19.xb5 xb5 20.c2 d8 21.e3 g7= ] 19...d6 20.d3 b4! 21.xc4 [ 21.a5 a4 22.xc4 xc4 23.dxc4 xa2 24.a1 b2 25.ed1 fb8 ] 21...xc4 22.dxc4 xa4 23.g1!? The idea behind this move only becomes a p p a r e n t a f t e r W h i t e ' s n e x t m o v e xa2 24.g2 White wants to remove Black's bishop on e6, as it helps Black secure a clear advantage by preventing W hite from penetrating on the seventh rank, while simultaneously applying pressure on White's queenside. a6?! [ 24...d8! 25.a1 ( 25.f4?! dd2-+ ) 25...dd2 26.xa2 xa2 27.c5 ( 27.e3?! a5-+ ) 27...a5 28.f4 g4 29.g2 d7
30.f3 ( 30.e7? d2-+ ) 30...c6+ 31.e3 c2 with excellent winning chances for Black ] 25.f4 [ 25.e3 c6 26.f4 c5 27.g4 f5 28.gxf5 xf5 29.f2 e6 ] 25...c6 26.xe6!? [ 26.h5 d8 ( 26...f5 27.a1 a8 ) 27.xf6+ g7 28.d5 a5 ( 28...xd5? 29.cxd5 xc1 30.xc1 xd5 31.xc7= ) 29.e3 a6 ] 26...fxe6 27.ed1 d6?! [ With the win within reach, Black starts hesitating he should keep the pressure on W hite with 27...a5! 28.a1 c5 29.db1 f7 30.a4 e7 31.g2 d8 , and Black should win, though there is still a lot of work left to be done. ] 28.c5?! [ 28.xd6 cxd6 29.a1 f7 30.f4 c7 31.a6 d7 32.f2 f7 33.e3 h5 34.d4 with decent drawing chances for White thanks to his active pieces ] 28...xd1+ 29.xd1 a5 30.a1 a8 31.a4 W ith a passive rook and a pawn less, this endgame is lost f or W hite. But it is quite instructive how White blocks the black a-pawn as far back as possible and then creates counterplay with his king on the kingside. e5 32.g2 f7 33.f3 e6 34.g4 c6 35.h4 a7 36.h5 h6 37.f3 a8 38.e4 f5+ 39.f3 d5 40.g4 f4?! [ 40...e4+! 41.f4 fxg4 42.xg4 e5 43.h3 a7 44.g4 ( 44.f3 exf3 45.g3 d5 46.xf3 xc5-+ ) 44...g7+ 45.h3 f4 46.xa5 g5 47.a3 ( 47.h4 g1 48.h3 f3-+ ) 47...xc5 48.g2 xh5-+ ] 41.g5! hxg5 42.g4 e4 43.h6 f3 [ Black wins with 43...e3! 44.fxe3 fxe3 45.f3 h8 46.xa5 g4+ 47.xe3 xh6 48.f4 g6 49.g3 c4 ] 44.xg5 xc5??= [ With this obvious looking move, Black throws the win away. Like on the previous move, Black should have played 44...e3! , although the win is more complicated in this variation, e.g. 45.fxe3 g8+ 46.h5 f8 47.e4+ e5 48.h7 f2 49.a1 xe4 50.g6 f3 51.g7 d8 52.h8 xh8 53.xh8 g2-+ ] 45.h7 b5 46.xe4! a4 47.e7 497
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 47.h4 h8 48.f6 a3 49.g7 a2 moment Black's bishop on b7 is a miserable 50.h1 xh7+ 51.xh7 c4 52.g6 b3 piece and it's very hard to achieve a 53.f5 b2 54.e4 a1 55.xa1 xa1 successful ...c5. One analytical sample: 0-0 56.xf3 b2 57.e3 c5 58.d3 b3 12.bd2 e7 13.aa1 a6 14.fc1 fc8 59.d2= ] 15.e5 b4 16.c5 xc5 17.xc5 fd5 47...a3 48.a7 h8 49.g6 b4 50.b7+ 18.e4 f6 19.f3 d8 20.cc1 a5 c4 51.a7 b3 52.b7+ c4 53.a7 21.c5 with pressure. ] ½-½ 6...bd7!? The right idea, but I think that [ 6...a6! discourages White's best plan, i.e. , 7.a3 xa3 8.xa3 b4! and White 509 A13 can't play Qc2. ] Matamoros Franco,Carlos S 2522 7.c2?! [ T h i s i s t h e l a s t c h a n c e f o r 7.a3! Suba,Mihai 2529 , when the dark squares will provide at least VIII Malaga Open (7) 24.02.2005 some compensation: xa3 8.xa3 e5! [John Watson] ( 8...e7 9.c2 e5 10.xc4 e4 ) 9.c2 e7 10.xc4 e4 11.d4 0-0 with ...Ne5 T h e f o llo win g ga m e b e t we e n t wo st ro n g or ...Nb6-d5 to come. ] Grandmasters who understand the English tests one of White's disruptive ideas versus 7...c5 8.a3 [ 8.xc4 e5! ( or 8...d5 , also threatening the solid Slav. 1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.g2 d5 ...Nb3. )] 4.f3 e6 [ In the Dynamic English Tony gives the 8...b6!? Suba is typically clever and indirect. variation 4...dxc4 5.c2 ( 5.a4 The obvious [ 8...b3! is somewhat better for Black since is also reasonable, as the game see he wins the two bishops after 9.a2 d5 Radjabov-Svidler, Internet INT 2003 ( 9...xc1 10.xc1 d5! 11.xc4 d6 shows. ) 5...b5 6.b3! cxb3 7.axb3 b7 12.aa1 0-0 13.d4 is also favourable) ( 7...e6 8.e5 ) 8.a3 . A major difference 10.xc4 xc1 11.xc1 e7 12.d4 0-0 ] between this and the game is that in the c a s e o f . . . e 6 W h i t e g e t s t o e xc h a n g e 9.xc4 b3 10.c3! [ 10.d4 xc2 11.xc2 b3 Black's good bishop and prevent him from is unattractive. ] castling at the same time. ] 5.0-0!? In this particular order, I'm not sure 10...d5 11.d4 b4! Threatening ...Nb3 that this standard sacrifice fully holds up. It again. Tempting but weaker was [ 11...f6 12.a3 b4 13.e4 e5? does cause a lot of problems, however, and is 14.fxe5! ] in line with an aggressive approach to the [ or 11...c2 12.e3 xe3 13.xe3 b3 English. 14.d4 xd4 15.xd4 with the slightest [ The conventional move is 5.b3 ] of edges due to White's extra centre pawn. ] 5...dxc4 6.a4 [ White could try the gambit here as well but 12.a3 b5? [ It was time to cash in Black's small the move 0-0 costs him a key tempo on the a d va n t a g e b y 12...b3 . Suba may have queenside, e.g., 6.c2 b5 7.b3 cxb3 feared 13.d6+ xd6 ( 13...xd6 8.axb3 b7 ( 8...d6 9.e4! intending e5 14.xb4 xb4 15.xb3= ) 14.xb3 10.d4 ) 9.d4 I don't trust this, but at least , b u t t h e n c5 is awkward, for example, W h i t e h a s a p o s i t i v e p l a n , e . g . , e7 15.e4 b6 16.d3 b7 ] ( 9...bd7!? 10.e5 xe5 11.dxe5 d5 12.c3 b4 13.e4 0-0 14.a3 a5 13.axb5 b3 14.xb3! xb3 15.bxc6 15.fc1 ) 10.a3 xa3 11.xa3 with material equality and a large advantage. 16.d3 b4 and White will try to bring a knight to e4 and Th e ga me con tinu e d a6 rook to c1 to control c5. The idea Ne5-d3 17.d2 [ Or 17.g5! c5 18.xc5 xc5 19.e5 ] will sometimes serve the same purpose. This may seem a bit far-fetched but for the 17...c5 18.a1! b5 19.e4 f6 20.b6 498
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d8 21.xc5 xc5 22.c7 Effectively winning. xb6 23.cxd8+ xd8 24.e5 e8 25.c4 c7 26.f4+ c6 27.xb6 axb6 28.c1+ b5 29.c8 g8 Black needn't play on. 30.e5 d7 31.c3 e5 32.d4! exd4 33.f1+ a4 34.xd4 c5 35.xc5 bxc5 36.b8 h5 37.c4 a5 38.f1 f8 39.e1 f6 40.d2 h4 41.b5 hxg3 42.hxg3 f5 43.xe8 f7 44.c4 d7+ 45.c3 fxe4 46.e6 a7 47.c6 a8 48.xc5+ 1-0
510 Miroshnichenko,Evgenij Kruppa,Yuri 6th Open Dubai UAE (4) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2599 2533 22.04.2004
1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 dxc4 4.g2 This is quite playable, although W hite normally prefers to recapture the c-pawn immediately by [ 4.a4+ ] 4...c6 This aims to protect the c-pawn, and forces White to look for positional c o m p e n s a t i o n . 5.c2 This forces Black to commit himself to the weakening ... b5 should he desire keeping his extra pawn. White can also continue developing: [ 5.0-0 f6 6.a4 a6 7.a3 xa3 8.xa3 b4 9.a5! 0-0 10.b3! cxb3 11.xb3 and I had real comp for the pawn: more space, open queenside lines, and the bishop pair, Kosten,A-Goldin,A/Paris 1994. ] [ 5.a3 Gurevich,D-Fridman, D/Europe vs Americas, Mermaid Beach BER 1998 can also be met by xa3 ] 5...b5 Black hangs-on to the pawn. 6.0-0 b7 7.a4 a6!? Aiming straight for the weakness on b4. [ 7...f6 reaches a more common position, 8.d1 ( 8.b3 cxb3 9.xb3 a6 10.d4 with typical compensation for the pawn, Fioramonti, H-W irthensohn,H/SW Z 1999) 8...a6! as in the main game, 9.b3 cxb3 Szczepaniec,S-Popov,V/Koszalin POL 1999, and now I have no idea why W hite didn't play 10.xb3 ] 8.b3 A typical device to open queenside files
against the weakish black structure. cxb3 9.xb3 c5 [ 9...b4!? is also possible, but leaves a nice square on c4 for a white knight. ] 10.b2 Forced, or the a4-pawn drops. b6 Now Black is really putting the question to the a4-pawn. [ 10...xa4? 11.xa4 bxa4 12.xb7 ] 11.a5 there is an alternative in [ 11.c3 which keeps more tension, although af ter b4 White has to retreat by, say 12.d1 ] 11...a6 12.d4? This is too casual, I prefer [ 12.c3 to cover a4, when f6 13.d4 forces cd7 when White has typical compensation. ] 12...a4 This is the problem, now that the b7bishop is protected the knight assumes an advanced post (albeit slightly offside) that hinders White's natural development . In the meantime the a5-pawn is vulnerable. 13.c2 f6 Time to complete the kingside development. 14.e5 White aims for c6, but this is easily defended for the moment. There is something to be said for [ 14.a3 which both develops a piece, and stops ...c5 (which would be answered by Nxb5 when the a4-knight would lose it's pawn defender), e.g. xa5 15.d2 d8 16.e5 c8 ] 14...c8 [ 14...c5?! is pre ma t ure , 15.xb7 xb7 16.xa4! bxa4 17.xa4+ d7 18.d1 with a very strong initiative, Black will have serious difficulties getting castled. ] 15.d2 [ 15.a3!? ] 15...e7 Once Black castles he will actually be ahead in development, when with his extra pawn and useful queenside development he will be well on top. 16.e4?! White wants to control c5 before Black can play the liberating ...c5 move, but this loses a further pawn. [ 16.b1!? might be th e best try, xa5 ( 16...c5? would now lose to 17.xb7 xb7 18.xa4 as the b-pawn is pinned) 17.b3 a6 18.c5 xc5 19.dxc5 and White has at least got some real compensation for his 2-pawn deficit. ] 16...c5! This is the move Black wants to play, advancing his backward c-pawn and freeing 499
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.g2 exd5 11.xd5 xg4 One extra pawn will not give Black much relief for his forthcoming pain on the open files on the kingside. 12.e3 [ 12.c2 creates numerous threats, including 13 Nxc7 and 13 Nf6+ gxf6 (13... Bxf6 14 Qxh7) 14 Rxh4. ] 12...c8 Black could do little else to meet the threats towards b7 and g4. 13.c2 h6 [ Black loses a piece in the case of 13...g6? 14.c3 f6 15.xh4 ] [ or 13...f5? 14.c4+ h8 15.xh4 ] 14.f5 xf5 [ 14...f6 15.xh6+! gxh6 16.xh6 xb2 17.h7# is a quick way for Black to exit. ] 15.xf5 d7 16.e4! This direct move is even stronger for White than 16 Bxb7 or 16 511 A13 Rxh4 Qxh4 17 Qxd7. g6 17.f4 g5 [ 17...g5 18.f5 leads to another dead-end Motwani,Paul for Black. ] Motwani,Paul 'Dream Game', January 1999 1999 18.xh6! xh6 [ 18...xf4 19.h8# ] [Paul Motwani] 19.xh6 f6 20.xg6 This final destructive W59: "A Dream Game" The funny thing about sa crif ice le a ve s B la ck' s kin g h o p e le s s l y the following game is that it happened to me... exposed. [ 20.0-0-0 followed by Rh1 is equally in a dream! It's a battle of me against myself, deadly. ] where everything looks bright for White and 20...fxg6 21.xg6+ h8 22.0-0-0 d5 really black for Black! 1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 [ If 2...dxc4 , then White can choose 23.f3 [ B l a c k c o u l d o n l y h o p e f o r 23.h1+?? between 3 Na3, 3 Qa4+, and 3 e3 to quickly xh1+ but of course White can find a win win back a pawn on c4, and personally I even with closed eyes! ] would favour the third option. ] 3.b3 e7 4.b2 f6!? Black spends a 23...c6+ 24.b1 Black resigned. precious tempo to move a bishop f or the 1-0 second time already, because he hopes to nullify the effect of White's counterpart on the A13 long a1 to h8 diagonal, but in this particular 512 Naiditsch,Arkadij 2702 dream game the b2-bishop later turns Black's Papin,V 2575 life into a nightmare. 5.c3 e7 13th EICC Plovdiv BUL (2.9) 21.03.2012 [ 5...d4 allows 6.e4 ] 6.g4!? g for "go for it" is a favourite attacking [John Bartholomew] motto of mine. g6 7.h4 A very active move for a sleeping player! xh4 8.xh4 xh4 1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 dxc4 9.cxd5 0-0? White has pieces pointing 5.a4+ bd7 Historically the most common menacingly towards the "hot" region where choice. [ The knight's development has lately been Black has unwisely castled. superseded by 5...c6 , but it remains a solid [ However, 9...f6 10.h2 ] choice for Black. ] [ or 9...exd5 10.xd5 xf2+ ( 10...xd5 11.xh4 ) 11.xf2 xd5 12.h5 6.xc4 a6 7.b3!? It's important to retreat looks rosy for White, especially after 12... now so Black can't play 7...b5 with tempo. [ White has the same choice here as he does e6?? 13.e5 ] his light-squared bishop, and it must be even more gratifying when it actually wins material! 17.dxc5 [ 17.xf6+ is met by gxf6 ( 17...xf6 is also good) 18.xb7 xb7 19.f3 cxd4 both winning another pawn and providing a nice square for the black knight on c3. ] 17...xe4 18.c6? [ 18.xe4 is better, as after xc5 19.xb7 xb7 White has the resource 20.b3 xe5 21.xa4 as the b-pawn is pinned, although Black should still win easily after xe2 ] 18...xc6 19.xc6 f5 The pinned c6-knight is lost immediately. 0-1
500
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 in the line 6...c6 6.Qxc4 b5. Thus, for 7.c2 see Bu Xiangzhi (2602)-Li Wenliang (2506)/ Qingdao 2002. ] 7...c5 Staking some space and preventing a true Catalan setup with d2-d4. [ 7...b5?! is met by 8.e5 , e.g. c5 ( 8...xe5 9.xa8 c5 10.g2 h5!? Milchev, N (2373)-Rusev, K (2521)/Plovdiv 2 0 0 8 . B l a c k h a s s o m e a c t i vi t y f o r t h e exchange, but it ought to be inadequate for t h e e x c h a n g e : 11.f4!? eg4 12.e3 with the idea of h4 13.h3 h6 14.g4 ) 9.c2 d5 10.d4 ( I like 10.a3!? to prevent ...Nd5-b4. ) A) 10...b7! 11.0-0 ( 11.dxc5?! b4 ) 11...b4 12.d1 xg2 13.xg2 d7 14.f3; B) 10...b4 11.c3 d5 12.f3 f6 13.c3 b7 14.xd5 xd5 15.xf6 gxf6 16.xd5 exd5 17.g4 d7 18.f4 Poluljahov, A (2554)-Fomichenko, E (2409)/Krasnodar 1999. ] [ Black often chooses the flexible 7...b8 . For instance, A) 8.d4 led to Catalan-style play in Ivanchuk, V (2739)-Naiditsch, A (2626)/ W arsaw 2005. Black equalized after b5 9.0-0 b7 10.f4 d6 11.c1 ( Naiditsch has accumulated a great deal of experience on both sides of the 5... Nbd7 line. 11.xd6 cxd6 12.bd2 0-0 13.fc1 b6 14.c2 fc8 15.ac1 xc2 16.xc2 h6 17.b3?! c8 18.d2 c4! 19.e1 xg2 20.xg2 e4 21.e3 d5 Grunberg, M (2442)N a i d i t s c h , A ( 2 6 5 4 ) / D r e s d e n 2 0 0 7 .) 11...xf4 12.gxf4 d5 13.e3 c5 14.dxc5 c8 15.c6 xc6 16.a3 b7 17.bd2 b4 18.d3 0-0=; B) Another Ivanchuk game went 8.0-0 b5 9.a4 b7! 10.axb5 axb5 11.d3 d6 12.e3 c5 13.c3 0-0 14.d2 xg2 15.xg2 g4!? Bu Xiangzhi (2675)Ivanchuk, V (2768)/ Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 201.; C) 8.a4!? b6 ( 8...c5 transposes to our main game.) 9.0-0 b7 10.c3 e7 11.d3 0-0 12.d1 c5 13.f4 a8 14.ac1 d5 15.xd5 xd5 16.c2 f6 Podkriznik, G (2332)-Sjugirov, S (2627)/Rogaska Slatina SLO 2011. Here
17.e4 b7 18.e5 looks a bit better for White. ] 8.a4 This is the principle downside of 5... Nbd7 compared to the 5...c6 6.Qxc4 b5 line. Black will often find it difficult to break with ...b7-b5. [ I also think Nigel Short's treatment of this position as worth studying: 8.d3 d6 9.0-0 b8 10.a4 b5 ( 10...b6!? ) 11.axb5 axb5 12.c3 0-0 13.g5 h6 ( 13...b6 is better ) 14.e4! hxg5 15.xd6 g4 16.g5 c4 17.dxc4 c5 18.d1 bxc4 19.a7 Short, N (2698)-Sveshnikov, E (2514)/Porto Carras GRE 2011. ] 8...b8 9.a5!? Consistent with White's restriction concept. [ White can also revert to 9.d3 , as in the game from the last note. ] 9...d6 The maneuver ...Bd6-c7 will be useful in harassing the a-pawn. [ After 9...b5 10.axb6 White can claim a long-term positional edge thanks to Black's extra iso lat ed pa wn. A n e xa m ple : xb6 11.c2 b3?! (I don't think Black should necessarily push for a queen trade) 12.xb3 xb3 13.d3 d6 14.bd2 b5 15.c4 c7 16.d2 d5 17.0-0 e7 18.fc1 b7 19.e1 b8 20.fd2 c8 21.f4 Korotylev, A (2607)-Gutov, A (2467)/Sochi 2008. ] 10.d3 d5 [ If unopposed, White's typical plan involves 0-0, Bc1-d2, and Nb1-a3-c4, controlling many key squares and keeping Black very tied down. Two responses are likely: 1) Black plays ...e6-e5 to try and develop the bishop along the c8-h3 diagonal, and/or 2) Black plays ...b7-b5, accepting the aforementioned "c" and "a" pawn weaknesses. In either case I believe White should have a nice, workable advantage. Let's see these scenarios in practice: 10...0-0 11.0-0 h6 12.d2 e8 13.a3 e5 14.c4 c7 15.fd1 e7 16.h4!? ( 16.a3!? ) 16...b5 17.axb6 xb6 18.a5! bd5 19.c2 d7 20.b3 d6 21.xc5 xc5 22.xc5 xb2 23.e4 b5 24.a3 e7 25.c3 b7 26.dc1 b8 27.d4! exd4 28.xd4 Lputian, S (2610)Piket, J (2575)/Sarajevo 1998. ] [ 10...c7 11.d2 0-0 12.0-0 d5 501
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.c1!? (a useful move since Nb1-a3 isn't possible right this second ) b5 14.axb6 7xb6 15.c2 d6 16.c3 (16.Na3 isn't as attractive now with Black's knight on b6) ( 16.a5! l o o k s s t r o n g t o o) 16...b4 17.d1 b7 18.e4 xe4 19.dxe4 e7?! 20.e1 ( 20.xb4 cxb4 21.xa6 ) 20...d7 21.f4 b5 22.d2 g5 23.xg5 xg5 24.c4 e7 25.c3 Romanov, E (2594) -Yevseev, D (2520)/St Petersburg RUS 2010. ] 11.c3! A good adjustment to Black's last move. c7?! [ 11...xc3 isn't too appealing in view of 12.bxc3!? when a pawn exchange on b6 after ...b7-b5 will leave White with a healthy and compact structure. Still, this may have been best for Black, i.e. 0-0 13.d2!? (the other knight heads for c4) b5 14.axb6 xb6 15.0-0 ] 12.0-0 xc3 13.xc3 0-0 14.f4?! This exchange lets Black off the hook too easily. [ White already has an attractive position, a n d I t h i n k 14.g5!? f6 15.e3 was a more focused continuation. White is hounding the c5 pawn and emphasizing that his dark square bishop is more useful than its Black counterpart. If Black doesn't play ... b7-b5, then W hite will create unbearable pressure by playing Nf3-d2-b3 and Rf1-c1. ] 14...xf4 15.gxf4 b6 16.e5 xe5?! [ 16...b7! is more accurate. Black will liquidate and fully equalize, i. e. 17.xb7 xb7 18.axb6 xe5 19.xe5 xb6= ] 17.xe5 b7 18.fc1! White retains a bit of pressure. d5 19.h3 [ 19.axb6! led to the immediate win of a p a w n , e . g . xb6 20.e4 c6 21.xc5 xc5 22.xc5 b5 23.d4 fd8 24.d5 exd5 25.exd5 ] 19...e8?! [ 19...c8! was better, overprotecting c5. For example, 20.xd5 exd5 21.axb6 xb6 22.xd5 xb2= ] 20.axb6 xg2 21.xg2 xb6 22.xc5 xb2 23.xa6 b7+ 24.ac6 bc8 25.e4 xc6 26.xc6 Should this be drawn with good defense? Most probably. In practice, Black is bound to suffer indefinitely (especially with the FIDE time control!). d7
27.c4 h6 28.c7 d8 29.g3 b8 30.c5 b1 31.g2 b2 32.c6 f8 33.e4 a2 34.e5 a8+ 35.h2 b8?! 36.f5! exf5? [ 36...e8! was correct. ] 37.xf5 Now the f7 weakness forces Black's rook into submission. f8 38.d7 b8+ 39.g2 a8+ 40.e4 c6 41.d4! g6 42.d5 c1 [ 42...xd5 43.xd5 a8 Albeit depressing, the rook ending held more drawing chances. ] 43.d8 xd8?! [ Black may be technically lost at this point, but 43...d2! was a more tenacious defense, i.e. 44.xf8+ xf8 45.e5 b2! (at least making it d if f icult f or W hite t o a d v a n c e t h e d - p a w n ) 46.d6+ e8 when White still has some work to do. ] 44.xd8+ g7 45.e7!+- A fantastic square for the queen: here she prepares the advance of the d-pawn, covers g5 from checks, and prevents Black's king from assisting in defense. g5 46.e5+ f6 47.e7+ g6 48.e8+ g7 49.d7+ g6 50.d5 h5 51.f5+ g7 52.d6 c6 53.d7 [ Black resigned because of 53.d7 c7 54.e6 . 5...Nbd7 is less concrete than 5... c6 6.Qxc4 b5, so maybe it's not surprising that it isn't as popular in the Houdini era. Several model continuations for White were shown in this game, and you can probably tell that I support the first player's cause. If you're thinking about giving 5...Nbd7 a try, you might want to also investigate another popular sixth move - 6...c5. ] 1-0
513 Ni,Hua Tischbierek,Raj Porto Mannu op 6th (9) [Kosten, Tony]
A13 2653 2414 14.06.2014
1.c4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 a6 4.g2 b5 The Romanishin Gambit. I had to prepare for this a few weeks ago (although the actual game took a different route), but didn't find anything convincing, and so I was curious and wanted to examine this quick win in more 502
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 detail. 5.b3 By far the number one move, simply defending c4 and preparing to develop the bishop to b2 if appropriate. [ 5.e5!? a7 6.d4 A) I analysed Wojtkiewicz, A (2551)Kamsky, G ten years ago, which continued instead 6...b7 7.d5 b4+ 8.c3 c5 and White was a bit better.; B) 6...d6 is answered by the neat trick 7.e3 as in the game, c5! ( 7...dxe5?! is m o re c om m o n , b u t 8.dxe5 xd1+ 9.xd1 c5 10.exf6 gxf6 favours White, Greenfeld, A (2530)-Loginov, V (2500) Beersheba 1998, 1-0 (55).) 8.c6 xc6 9.xc6+ d7 10.f3 c8 is a little plus for White, but no more, Neckar, L (2380)Panchenko, A Prague 1982, 1-0 (32).; C) 6...b4+!? new, 7.c3 d6 8.e3! Greenf eld would be well aware of this t h e m e ( s e e a b o v e ) , 0-0 ( 8...dxe5? is inad visa ble : 9.dxe5 c5 10.xd8+ xd8 11.exf6 gxf6 12.0-0-0+ ) 9.0-0 b7? ( 9...c5 ) 10.d5! dxe5 ( 10...a8 11.xf7! xf7 12.dxe6 wins material.) 11.xa7 bd7 12.cxb5 axb5 13.dxe6 xg2 14.xg2 fxe6 15.f3 Black has no c o m p e n s a t io n f o r t h e l o st e xch a n ge , Greenfeld, A (2545) -Smirnov, A (2463) Golden Sands 2014, 1-0 (35). ] 5...b7 [ 5...c5 is the equally popular alternative, when 6.0-0 ( 6.c3 is Damljanovic, BGeorgiev, K in the PGN Archive.) 6...b7 transposes below. ] [ I considered 5...d5 in Filippov, V-Korchnoi, V. ] 6.0-0 c5 7.c3 a5 This move, defending b5, was a favourite of Romanishin, but [ 7...b6 is the most common, when 8 e3 is s t a n d a r d , b u t 8.e1 intending e4 is interesting. ] 8.e3 e7 9.e2 Putting pressure on b5, White would like to force Black's hand. 0-0 [ 9...bxc4 10.bxc4 0-0 11.b1 led to a quick win for White in Akopian, V-Svidler, P, see my annotations. ] [ 9...b4 displaces the knight but allows White to open the a-file, 10.a4 0-0 11.a3 bxa3 12.xa3 c7 13.d4 with pressure, although Black's position is fairly solid, Kabanov, N (2509)-Turov, M (2561) Krasnoyarsk 2007, 1/
2-1/2 (64). ] 10.d1!? A novelty. This rook has a big future, and will soon be capturing the pawn on d7! [ 10.b2 is usual, but after bxc4 11.bxc4 White would prefer to have a rook on the open b-file. ] [ 10.cxb5 axb5 11.xb5 is greedy, yet playable, a7 12.e2 a6 13.d3 c6 with compensation for the pawn. ] 10...bxc4 11.bxc4 c6 12.e5!? c7 [ Houdini likes the cool 12...ab8 allowing 13.xc6 xc6 14.xc6 dxc6 when he considers that Black is slightly better. At first this seems absurd, as doesn't he have doubled c-pawns? Yet, on closer examination we see that it is not easy for W hite to finish his development, the c1-bishop can't move and neither can the dpawn. ] [ 12...xe5 would probably be my choice, 13.xb7 ab8 about equal, despite White's bishop pair. ] 13.d4 xe5?! I think that Black simply missassesses the tactics here. [ 13...a5 is more than satisfactory, 14.xb7 xb7 and ...d6, driving the knight a wa y wh e n B l a c k c a n c o n c e n t r a t e h i s attention on the c4-pawn. ] 14.xb7 a7? The rook stays here for the rest of the game! [ 14...xb7 15.dxe5 e8 16.b1 is also awkward, c7 17.b2 and on xe5 18.d5 d6 19.e7+ h8 20.xe5 xe5 21.xd7 still, Black is still on the board after f6 ] 15.dxe5 xe5 The point, both b7 and c3 are attacked so Black regains his piece. 16.b1 xc3 17.b2 a5 18.xf6 xf6 19.xd7 At the end of the tactics material is equal and there are opposite colour bishops on the board, but the a7-rook is terribly misplaced. g6 20.bd1 g7 [ 20...b4 21.f3 a5 would force White to show some way of improving, 22.a4 b2 23.e4 Planning Rb1, Qc6. ] 21.g4 Eyeing e6. White is obviously better, still, it seems strange that Black would lose so quickly from this position. e8 22.f4 b6 23.e4 e7 [ 23...d8 24.xd8 xd8 25.d7 f6 26.a4 is similar to the game continuation. ] 503
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.1d6! b2 25.xe7 xe7 26.d7 9.d1 Black can never move his rook. f8?! [ Due to the outcome of the opening, White [ 26...a1+ 27.g2 f6 28.c6 e5 being essentially lost, you have to examine 29.c8 e4! keeps the game going, although every single move to see where 30.xe4 xd7 31.xd7 would be a long improvements can be found. Here W hite and difficult defence for Black, W hite will tried 9.e1 , but again Black has a safe play Bd5 and tie his queen to the defence of e d g e a f t e r c5 ( 9...f5!? can also be f7 before advancing his kingside pawns, f4, co n sid e re d) 10.d3?! ( 10.b1 is better, e4-5. ] d5 11.d3 cxd3 12.xc5 xc5 13.xd3 27.c6! Qc8+/c7-b8 wins the rook. e7 14.e4 b4 15.xb4 xb4 16.c2 1-0 d6 , and although White has a little compensation for the pawn when looking at sp a ce a n d d e ve lo p m e n t , it isn 't n e a rly 514 A13 enough. ) 10...b3 11.b1 cxd3! 12.xc5 ( 12.xb3 dxe2-+ ) 12...xc5 13.xd3 Pantsulaia,Levan 2607 xa4 , and Black is up a couple of pawns Meier,Georg 2556 for insufficient compensation, Karlsson, ALake Martuni ARM (4) 14.07.2008 Thorhallsson, T/Hafnarfirdi 1992 ] [Carsten Hansen] 9...d7! [ This is Black's best move, targeting the a41.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 dxc4 pawn which is also becoming soft. Black has 5.0-0 also tried 9...d6 on a couple of occasions: [ I think that if White is to play for an 10.d3 cxd3 11.xd3 c5 ( 11...h5!? advantage in this line, he should opt for 12.d2 0-0 13.h3 c6 14.g4 c5 15.c3 either 5.c2 ] a7 16.e3 b4 17.b1 b8 18.c1 [ or 5.a4+ though in both cases Black has d7 19.c4 c6 with some but not quite excellent chances of equalizing. ] adequate compensation for the pawn for 5...a6 6.a4?! White, Butnorius, A-Grabliauskas, V/Vilnius [ According to the ECO, there is nothing 1994 ) wrong with this move. However, I think this A) 12.xc5!? xc5 13.e5 d6 may well be the time for White to bail out, ( 13...d7 14.d2 c6 15.ac4 e7 because in our main game and in the 16.b3 is simply better for White) 14.ac4 supporting material, things don't look too xc4 15.xc4 e7 16.g5 ( 16.a5 dandy for White. The alternatives are 6.c2 d5! ) 16...h6 17.d2 , and White's b5 7.e5 d5 8.d3 ] activity an d be tt e r de ve lo p me nt f or a [ and 6.c3 bd7 ( 6...b5 7.d3! ) 7.a4 change fully compensates for the missing with about even chances. ] pawn, which he is likely to win back as 6...c6 7.c2 a5! the pressure on Black's queenside [ 7...e5 is the ECO's main line, quoting the continues to mount.; game Gurgenidze, B-Ubilava, E/ Ckhaltubo B) 12.d1 0-0 13.b4 xb4 14.d2 c5 1981, but for some reason the combination 15.c1 h5 16.h3 e5! 17.g4 xg4 of Black's 7th and 8th move isn't mentioned 18.hxg4 xg4 19.xa5 e4 20.d5 f5 there. ] , and here W hite blundered with 8.a3 d5! 21.xc7?? ( 21.xd6 cxd6 22.e1 f4 [ 8...xa3?! is completely unnecessary, , and Black has excellent compensation solving several of White's problems for him for the sacrificed material) 21...xc7 without being able to hang on the c4-pawn 22.xc7 exf3 23.exf3 h2+ 24.f1 as he perhaps had hoped for with his last xc7 , and Black is winning, Adamski, Jmove. 9.xa3 0-0 10.d3 e7 11.c3 b6 Beliavsky, A/ Copenhagen DEN 2003 ] 12.dxc4 b7 13.g5 c5 , and the chances are more or less even, Ivacic, V-Gostisa, L/ 10.d3 b3 11.b1 [ W h i t e h a s a l s o t r i e d 11.a2 SLO 1993 ] 504
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 without success, e.g. xc1 12.xc1 xa4 13.xc4 xd1 14.fe5 b5 15.xd1 b4 , and Black essentially already has a winning position, Quinn, M-Onischuk, A/ Yerevan 1996 ] 11...xa4 12.xc4 b5 13.f1 [ Or 13.e3 d5 14.f1 b4 15.a3 xe3 16.fxe3 c5 17.xc5 xc5 , and also in this line, W hite has lost a pawn without compensation, Chuprikov, DZinchenko, Y/Alushta UKR 2005 ] 13...d5 14.cd2? [ The fact that White's best is 14.e3 d6 15.c4 xc4 16.xc4 e7 , leaving him a pawn down without compensation illustrate the magnitude of problems he is already facing. After the text move, W hite loses another pawn without compensation and with that, any hope of saving the game. ] 14...d4 15.c4 xe2+ 16.h1 xc4 17.dxc4 b4 18.e5 [ White tries to stir up a little complications, but as a result Black wins even faster. The relatively best move is 18.b3 , though this hardly inspires confidence, leaving W hite two pawns down without any compensation c6 ] 18...c2! 19.a1 f6!? [ 19...d8 20.df3 f6 21.g4 e4-+ ] 20.ef3 [ 20.xb7 almost works, but nevertheless still loses for W hite: b8 21.f3 d4 22.h5+ g6 23.ef3 e2 24.g4 f5 25.h3 g7 26.e1 xc1 27.axc1 e7 , and W hite's house of cards finally tumbles. ] 20...0-0-0 21.h3 c5!? [ 21...f5!? 22.e1 xc1 23.exc1 g6 threatens ...Bg7 and ...Bh6, needless to say White is completely lost already. ] 22.e1 [ 22.xe6+ b8 leaves White only a pawn down, but that aside, he can barely move. 23.g2 he8 24.g4 g6 , threatening ...f6f5 ] 22...d3 23.xe6+ b8 24.f5? A mistake in a lost position. xc1 0-1
515 Pogorelov,Ruslan Baron Rodriguez,Jesus XV Open La Pobla de Lillet ESP (6) [John Watson]
A13 2442 2445 07.08.05
Pogorelov plays a beautiful game in which he steadily and harmoniously builds up a better and better position. Then almost certainly in time trouble, he misses a number of direct wins (each requiring immediate resignation by Black). 1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 The Reti Opening isn't understood very well by computer engines (at least ones that aren't simply reading out of their book). Here as usual HiArcs 9 gives Black a clear plus, and even after the mighty [ 4...c6 and ] [ 4...c6 it gives Black a significant advantage. I think that this is less a p re j u d i ce a ga i n st t h e f i a n c h e t t o a s a n overrating of space. ] 5.a4+ bd7 6.xc4 c5 [ Here the computer suggests 6...b6 7.c2 b4 (!) and ] [ 6...d5 7.d4 7b6 , both very awkward. ] 7.c2 b6 8.0-0 b7 9.d3 d6 10.a4 0-0 11.a3 These are standard moves in this variation. White wants to establish control by means of Nc4, some developing moves, and a central ad vance such as d4 or e4. Blac k counts upon his active pieces and shared central control to give him good play. I'd call it equal. d5 12.d2 a6 Probably preparing ... b5 once the knight settles on c4, but the structure changes dramatically after White's 14th. 13.c4 c7 14.e4 5f6 [ C r i t i c a l w o u l d b e 14...b4 15.xb4 ( 15.b3!? ) 15...cxb4 16.d4 pitting two bishops versus centre. ] 15.b4 e8 16.b5! e5!? [ 16...axb5 17.axb5 e7 is similar to the next note. ] 17.c3 b8 [ 17...e7 looks preferab le. Perhaps Black was worried (justifiably) about eventual Nf5s and Nd5s. ] 18.b2 axb5?! 19.axb5 xa1 20.xa1 I like White, and don't see why Black gave him the a-file. Now let's sit back and enjoy a great e x e c u t i o n o f a t t a c k o n b o t h w i n g s : e7 505
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.h4 f8 22.f5 e6 23.h4! 6d7 24.h3 e8 25.fe3 e6 26.d5 ef8 27.g2 f6 28.h3! e6 29.xe6+! xe6 30.b3 f7 31.ce3 f8 32.a4! g6 33.a2 h6 34.e2! e8? [ But other moves are also unattractive, e.g., 34...h7 35.h5 ( 35.h5 ) 35...g6 36.f3 g7 37.h5 ] 35.g4+ [ Or 35.f5! ] 35...f7 36.f5 e6 37.h5 Now it's effectively over. There's just too much pressure. d8 [ 37...g5 38.f4 ] 38.g6+ f8 39.xh6! gxh6 40.xh6+ g8 [ Also losing was 40...g7 41.xf6 xf6 42.xf6+ g8 43.h6 ] 41.g6+ f8 42.xf6 xf6 43.xf6+ g8 44.xe5 d8 45.h8+ f7 46.h7+ f8 47.xb7 Good enough but [ winning immediately in a forced manner was 47.h6+ (or 47.Qf5+ Kg8 48.h6!) g8 48.a7 e7 49.xb7 xb7 50.xe6+ f7 ( 50...f8 51.d6+ g7 52.g6+ h8 53.e5+ ) 51.g6+ ( or 51.h6 ) 51...f8 52.d6+ e8 53.e6+ e7 54.xe7+ xe7 55.xe7 ] 47...xd3 [ A slightly tougher defence was 47...g5 48.a7 xh5 still losing to 49.d5! ] 48.a7?! [ 48.h6 is much easier d1+ 49.g2 h5 50.h7 , and 48.Qh7 is also curtains. ] 48...d1+ 49.g2 xh5 50.d6+? [ 50.d5! t h r e a t e n s B d 6 + , a n d g6 51.d6+ g8 52.g7+ xg7 53.xg7 xg7 54.xb6 is easy. ] 50...g8 51.d5!? xd5 52.exd5 d4 Now at least Black isn't getting mated and has a few chances if White goes wrong. It's hard for White to adjust to missing all those simple wins and he collapses: 53.f4?! [ 53.b7 ] 53...xb5 [ 53...d8 ] 54.b7 d8 55.xb6 c3 56.e5 xd5 57.c6 f7 58.xc5 e6 59.b2!? b8 60.c1 b4 61.f3 b3 62.g4 c3 63.d2 [ 63.f4! ] 63...e2 64.f2
[ 64.f4 ] 64...d4 65.c3 b5 66.g7 This still cle arly winn in g, bu t wh a t is W h it e do in g messing about? d6 67.f8 f7 68.g3?? Disaster. e5 69.xe5+ [ 69.g7 xf3+ 70.g2 ( 70.h4 xg4! ) 70...e3 ( 70...f2+ 71.xf2 d3+ 72.g3 xc5 may also do the trick) 71.g5 f3 72.f2 b3 73.g6 h4= ] 69...xe5 70.g7+ e6 71.f4 f7 72.d4 g6 73.e4 g5 74.e3+ h4 75.f2+ [ 75.g5 b4+ 76.f5 b5+! 77.g6 ( 77.f6 b3 ) 77...b3= ] 75...g5 76.e3+ h4 77.c5!? g3 [ 77...b7 also looks good to me. ] 78.d6+ h4 79.f4 b7 80.e5 f7+ 81.e4 g5 82.d6 d7 83.c5 f7 84.e3+ h4 85.f2+ g5 86.e3+ h4 87.f2+ What a sad draw to take. ½-½
516 Reti,Richard Bogoljubow,Efim Bad Homburg (2.3) [Nigel Davies]
A13
1927
This game was a bit of a tragedy from Reti's point of view. After obtaining an excellent position from the opening and even winning a pawn, he lets slip what should have been a really excellent endgame. 1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 dxc4 4.a4+ d7 5.g2 gf6 6.0-0 d6 [ 6...c5 is the modern preference and frankly I doubt that W hite can hope for too much there. ] 7.a3 xa3 [ After 7...0-0 8.xc4 White has to be better because of his harmonious development and central pawn majority. So Bogoljubow's plan is critical. ] 8.bxa3 [ 8.xa3 b6 would make it difficult for White to recover the c4 pawn. ] 8...0-0 9.xc4 b6 10.c2 d7 11.b2 a4 12.b1 c6?! [ P r e s u m a b l y B l a c k d i d n ' t l i k e 12...h6 b e c a u s e o f 13.e5 but then xd2 506
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 isn't clear. ] 13.g5! This is very strong now, the threat being to take the knight on f6 when h7 hangs. bd7 14.xc6 bxc6 15.c1 c5?! [ And here 15...b8 was better. ] 16.xc5! b8 [ Of course 16...xc5 would lose on the spot to 17.xf6 . ] 17.c4 h6 18.e4 d5 19.c2 7b6 20.c6 c8 21.d3 b7 22.e5 a6 23.xc7 [ 23.c1 might have been better, simply protecting the a3 pawn. In any case White is better but this might have clamped down better on any counterplay. ] 23...bc8 24.xb6 xc6 25.xc6 c8 26.c5 xc6 27.xa6 xb6 28.b4 c3 [ 28...xb4 29.axb4 would give White all the chances in a simple endgame, so B o go lju b o w ke e p s m o re p i e ce s o n t h e board. ] 29.e3 a5 30.c2 b2 31.d4 xa2 32.e1? After Black's reply White has to go b a c k wh e n h e m i g h t e ve n b e s o m e wh a t worse. [ 32.g2 was a better chance. ] 32...d2 33.a1 a4 34.b5 g5 35.g2 g4 36.d6 c3 37.e4?! It looks as if Reti was blind to the dangers inherent in this position. [ 37.c4 was a better chance though after xd3 38.e5 d2 39.xg4 e4 he's still struggling to draw. ] 37...xd3 38.f6+ g7 39.xg4 [ Or 39.h5+ f8 40.f6 h5 41.xh5 e4 , tying White up. ] 39...f6 40.h4 h5 41.h2 b5 42.f3 xa3 43.xa3? Black's outside passed pawn is especially dangerous in the knight endgame. W h i t e s h o u l d h a v e k e p t r o o k s o n . xa3 44.d4 f7 45.f3 e5 46.e2 b1 47.e4 [ Or 47.e4 a3 48.c1 c3 etc. ] 47...a3 48.c1 c3+ 49.d3 a2 50.b3 a4 51.a1 [ Or 51.e2 c5! 52.a1 e4 , leaving White completely tied up. ] 51...c5+ 52.e2 e4 53.f3 f5 54.g2 d2 55.f3 e4 56.fxe4 xe4 57.f3 f6 58.f4 c5 59.c2 d3+ 0-1
517 Reti,Richard Lasker,Edward New York (7) [Nigel Davies]
A13
24.03.1924
Black's 5...Ne4 makes little sense before W hite has played d2-d4 as the knight gets driven away with d2-d3. But this is typical of the way people played against Flank Openings when they first started being played in strong tournaments. Players were used to 'doing something' so just did it anyway. 1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c6 4.b3 f6 5.g2 e4?! 6.c2 e7 7.b2 0-0 8.0-0 d7 9.d3 g5 10.bd2 xf3+ 11.xf3 f6 Attempting to ease his game via simplification, but White can avoid this easily enough. 12.d4 Now Black would like his knight on f6 so as to fight against White's central expansion with e2e4. e8 13.e4 b6 'Fast development' was still highly prized at this time in chess history, but now we have a greater focus on quality rather than just speed. [ Black's knight does nothing on b6 so it would have better to play 13...b6 instead. ] 14.e5 d7 15.g4 c8 16.xf6+ xf6 17.a4 ed8 [ 17...a5 18.c5 a8 19.e5 f5 20.d2 would win the a5 pawn. ] 18.a5 a8 19.e5 g6 20.e2 c7 21.a3 a6 22.fe1 e8 23.d6 f5 24.f4 h6 25.f3 Preventing 25...Bh5 and getting ready for eventual kingside action with g3-g4. Black 'strikes' first in order to effect some exchanges but the problem with his position continue into the endgame. g5 26.a2 [ 26.fxg5 xg5 27.h1 looks very strong here. ] 26...gxf4 27.gxf4 d7 [ After 27...xf4 White would obviously have compensation for the pawn along the open files on the kingside but with nothing clear th is might ha ve be e n a goo d swin d lin g chance for Black. ] 28.e3 g7+ 29.g2 xg2+ 30.xg2 Reti has a certain endgame in mind in which Black's knight on a6 will spell his doom. But the exchanges also weaken his king position so he needs to be careful. h5 31.xh5 xh5 32.g1 f7 33.h1 g8 34.xg8 507
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg8 35.cxd5 cxd5 36.b4 The point behind White's recent moves. What does the knight do? f7 37.d3 h4 38.f1 d8 39.h3 g8 [ Or 39...g6 40.g3+ f7 41.g5 etc. ] 40.g3+ f7 41.g5 c8 [ 41...xg5 42.fxg5 g6 43.b5 also wins Black's knight. ] 42.b5 c1+ [ Or 42...b8 43.xb8 xb8 44.f6+ etc. ] 43.g2 d2+ 44.h3 e3+ 45.h4 e1+ 46.h5 e2+ 47.h6 xh2+ 48.h5+ xh5+ 49.xh5 g7 50.bxa6 bxa6 51.c5 f7 52.h6 g8 53.xa7 h8 54.b6 g8 55.d8 h8 56.h4 Not a great game but interesting nonetheless. 1-0
518 Reti,Richard Vidmar,Milan Sr British Empire Club Masters (4) [Nigel Davies]
A13
1927
5 . . . N b d 7 i s ge n e r a l l y vi e we d a s a m o r e reliable line these days. Vidmar's 5... Bd7 aims to put the bishop on c6 from where it will neutralise the one on g2. But the problem is that it blocks Black's c-pawn. This makes it difficult for Black to challenge White's centre. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ d7 6.xc4 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.c2 [ White can also leave the queen on c4, for example 8.c3 a6 9.d4 0-0 10.g5 bd7 11.fe1 b8 12.a4 d5 13.xe7 xe7 14.e4 was better for White in Va ga nian , R (26 15 )-Sm agin, S (25 20 ), Germany 1993. ] 8...0-0 9.c3 bd7 10.d1 Still keeping all the options open with his pawns. [ 10.d4 l o o k s n a t u r a l b u t a f t e r b4 Black gets some kind of hold on the d5 and e4 squares. ] 10...e5 11.d4 exd4 12.xd4 xg2 13.xg2 c6 14.f5 Already this looks very good for White. Perhaps Black should have played 13...g6 last move. e8 15.g5 c7 16.f4 a5 17.d6 f8 18.d2 g6 19.xf8 xf8 [ It might have been better to play 19...xf5
whereupon 20.xf5 gxf5 21.d6 must be better for W hite though Black's weak pawns may not be as weak as they seem. ] 20.d6 e7 21.ad1 e8 22.ce4 xd6 23.xd6 e5 24.f6+ g7 25.f1 e6 26.xe6 xe6 27.e4 e8 28.c3+ e5 29.d6 e6? [ 29...e7 was better when 30.xe5+ xe5 31.xb7 b5 gets the pawn back with a good game. ] 30.xb7 xc3 31.bxc3 e5 32.d4 e6 33.a4 d5 34.a5 [ 34.xa7 d7 puts White in a nasty pin. ] 34...d6 35.b3 d7 36.d4 xd4 37.cxd4 b7 38.a6 c7 39.e3 f8 40.e2 e7 41.d3 d7 42.a3 f6 43.c4 f5 44.c5 Black is doomed though there hasn't been a particularly good reason for him to resign as yet. e7 45.b3 g5 46.a4 f4 47.gxf4 gxf4 48.e4 f6 49.b8 g5 50.f3 h5 51.f8 b7 52.f5+ g6 53.xf4 b2 54.h4 a2 55.e5 xa4 56.e6 1-0
519 Richardson,Keith B Pokorna,Regina 4NCL West Bromwich ENG (4) [John Watson]
A13 2220 2370 21.11.2004
1.c4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.a3 d5!? I'm amazed that I can't find this move in my database! There are of course thousands of games after 5.Na3, and I keep thinking my search method must be wrong it's only move 5! But I see nothing wrong with the move, which of course entail some risk, but so do many such lines. [ I also fail to find this position via 5...xa3 6.bxa3 d5 ] 6.a4+ What's the problem here? Can't White achieve anything? [ 6.c2 c6 ( or even 6...xa3 7.bxa3 c6 8.0-0 e5 ) 7.xc4 might run into b4!? ( 7...d4 8.c3 c5 9.e3 d6 10.xd4 xd4 looks about equal) 8.b3 ( 8.c3 e4 ) 8...b5!? 9.e3 xb3 10.axb3 b7 ] [ 6.0-0 e5!? ( 6...xa3 7.a4+ c6 508
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.xa3 e5 ) 7.g5 e4 ( 7...d4!? ) 8.xe4! xe4 9.d3 is interesting, although n o t n e c e s s a r i l y a d v a n t a g e o u s : cxd3 ( 9...xa3 10.xe4 d7 11.bxa3 cxd3 12.xd3 c6 ) 10.exd3 xa3 11.bxa3 d4 12.e3 with two strong bishops. ] [ 6.b3 should provide White some compensation but nothing too frightening for Blac k , e .g. , cxb3 7.axb3 e5 ( 7...e7 8.c4 0-0 9.0-0 b5!? ) 8.b2 e4 9.d4 c6 unclear ] 6...c6 7.xc4 a6 [ Also reasonable looks 7...xa3 8.xd5 exd5 9.bxa3 f5!? ( 9...0-0 10.b2 e4 11.d3 c5 with a sound game White's bishops aren't doing much. ) 10.b2 bd7 ] [ 7...a6 is solid ] 8.0-0 c5 9.xd5 [ 9.h4!? ] 9...exd5 10.c2 0-0 11.a3 e8 12.e1 f5 13.cd4 d7 [ 13...g6 is also logical. The result of the opening is equality. I'll leave you to play through the rest of the game. ] 14.b4 b6 15.b2 c7 16.b3 e4 17.e3 d6 18.d3 f5 19.ed1 f6 20.h3 a5 21.bxa5 xa5 22.fd4 g6 23.a4 b4 24.c2 a5 25.a3 c4 26.xa5 xa3 27.xa3 xa5 28.b1 a7 29.ab3 xa4 30.xb7 e6 31.b4 c5 32.b6 xd3 33.xd3 xd3 34.c1 e4 35.bxc6 xg2 36.xg2 d4 37.exd4 xd4 38.c8 xc8 39.xc8+ f7 40.c7+ g6 ½-½
[ White adopted a more universal setup in Kharlov, A (2591)-Izoria, Z (2541)/ Rethymnon 2003/[TonyK]: 8.0-0 bd7 9.b3 c8 10.b2 e7 11.d3 0-0 12.bd2 c5 13.a3!? b6 14.ac1 fd8 15.b1 a6 16.a1 f8 17.c2 a7 18.fc1 a8 with a typical Reti game. Sadorra's approach with Nc3, 0-0, a4, d3 and e4 is considered more theoretically challenging. ] 8...bd7 9.0-0 a6 10.a4 An important move. Otherwise Black will get an easy game with ... c6-c5. c8 In view of 11.Rd1, this might be a slight move-order inaccuracy. [ 10...e7 limits White's options. If he p e r s i s t s w i t h 11.d1 ( 11.d3 could transpose to the game) 11...0-0 12.d4 , then Delchev points out the feasibility of c5! 13.axb5 axb5 14.xa8 xa8 15.xb5 e4 16.d2 cxd4 17.bxd4 b8 when W hite faces a near impossible task in r e a li zi n g t h e e xt r a p a wn . S vid le r, P (2755)-Gelfand, B (2744)/Moscow RUS 2011. ] 11.d3 [ D e l c h e v c l a i m s t h a t 11.d1! is even stronger alternative, preparing d2-d4. O n e o f h i s l i n e s b e g i n s w i t h b4 , which indeed looks critical . After ( he also analyzes 11...b6; and 11...e7 ) 12.e4 xe4 13.xe4 , I tried to improve Black's position with f6 ( Delchev gives 13...c7 14.e1! f6 15.c4 c5 16.b3 xg2 17.xg2 b7+ 18.f3 e7 19.b2 0-0 20.d3 ) 14.c2 ( if White plays by analogy with the above line with 14.c4 c5 15.e1 , then xg2 16.xg2 d5+ 520 A13 17.xd5 exd5= is totally fine for Black) 14...c5 15.b3 e7 16.b2 c7 Sadorra,J 2525 , but the resulting position is extremely Lenderman,Alex 2581 sim ila r. W h it e ke e p s a n ice e d ge , e . g . UTD GM Invitational (6) 14.03.2012 17.ac1 0-0 18.e5 xg2 19.xg2 ] [John Bartholomew] [ Delchev notes that the immediate 11.d4 is met by b4 12.e4 c5 ] 1.c4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ c6 6.xc4 b5 7.c2 White prefers 11...e7 12.e4 0-0 This position is important this retreat to 7.Qb3 by a more than 4-to-1 to the assessment of the entire line with 7. ratio. The text is also the recommendation of Qc2. 13.d1 Too routine. Black will now get a GM Alexander Delchev in "The Modern Reti: fine position with natural moves. [ Delchev proposes 13.h3!? , trying to cut An Anti-Slav Repertoire". Our present game out ...Nf6-g4. It's a good recommendation loosely follows Delchev's analysis and and definitely more challenging than the text. includes a very recent cameo by Delchev Now after himself, so let's get to it. b7 8.c3 509
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A) I w o n d e r i f 13...b4 isn't a better try. After 14.b1 (planning Nb1-d2-c4) ( instead, 14.e2 c5 15.b3 c7 looks fine for Black ) A1) Black can also consider the a d v e n t u r o u s 14...c5!? 15.d1 b3 16.e2 ( 16.c3? fxe4 ) 16...a5! in t en d ing .. . B b7 -a6 wit h in t ere st in g play.; A2) 14...c5 15.bd2 e8! (a good idea to remember Black counters with ...Ne8-d6) 16.c4 d6 Black gets an acceptable game, e.g. 17.f4 xc4 18.dxc4!? ( 18.xc4 b6 w i t h t h e i d e a o f 19.c2?! c4 ) 18...b6 19.ad1 fd8=; B) 13...b6 14.e3 c5 B1) 15.fc1!? was tried this month by G M L a s zlo G o n d a . He ga in e d in a n advantage similar fashion: fd8 ( I think 15...b4! was called for, once again with t h e i d e a o f 16.b1 e8! ) 16.axb5 axb5 17.b4! c6 18.b2 Gonda, L (2536)-Oparin, G (2487)/Budapest HUN 2012.; B2) 15.axb5 axb5 White gets in the ideal 16.b4! when c6 ( Delchev also gives 16...e5 17.b1 c6 18.c1; but what about 16...d8!? avoiding any unpleasantness on the b and c files?) 17.b1! actually occurred in the game Delc hev, A (2622 ) -Mast rova silis, A (2510)/Plovdiv BUL 2012, right as we go to press! This is straight from the man's book, and what do you know - he won a f i n e g a m e ! e5 ( 17...cxb4 18.d4 xc3 19.c1 is a nice line of Delchev's.) 18.c1 cxb4 19.d5 d6 20.xe7+ xe7 21.b2 xc1+ 22.xc1 c8 23.xc8+ xc8 24.d2 d6 25.f1 e8 26.xb4 and White eventually converted. Kudos to Alexander Delchev for practicing what he preaches! I believe Black should be fine after 13.h3!? (keep an eye on the possible improvements I mentioned with 13...b4!? or in 13...Qb6, as well as the timely . ..Nf6-e8-d6 idea), but these lines warrant independent investigation if you plan to play them as W hite or Black. ]
[ Another sub-optimal approach was 13.e3?! g4 14.f4 , Ivanchuk, V (2768)Grischuk, A (2746)/Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2011. Here Delchev gives b4 15.e2 g5 16.d2 c5 ] 13...b6 14.e3 c5 15.axb5 axb5 16.e2 [ H e r e ' s t h e d i f f e r e n c e : n o w 16.b4?! is met by g4! when White's opening is a failure. ] 16...fd8 17.db1? White is still fixated on b2-b4, but it's a pipe dream at this point. [ 17.h3= ] 17...g4! Now Black will take over the central dark squares. 18.f4 f6 19.g5?! ge5 20.d1 h6 21.h3?! [ I'm not sure why White preferred this to the natural 21.f3 . Black has a great position in a ny case, i.e . xf3+ 22.xf3 e5 23.g2 b4 24.a4 b5 ] 21...c6 22.h5 de5 23.xe5 xe5 24.f4 d7 25.e2 cd8 A quick glance at the position is enough to confirm that Black's positional advantage ought to be decisive. 26.f1 g6 [ Black is understandably unhurried, but 26...b4 27.a4 c6 with the idea of 28.b3 (else Black rips open the center with ...c5c4) g5! 29.h5 h8 would already be de cisive , e . g. 30.b2 xd3! 31.xd3 ( 31.xd3 xd3 32.xd3 xa1-+ ) 31...xa1 32.xa1 xd3-+ ] 27.e3 g7 28.ac1 d6 29.h3 c4 30.dxc4?! [ 30.xb6 xb6 31.dxc4 xd1 32.xd1 bxc4 33.xc4 xe4 offered more defensive chances. ] 30...xe3 31.fxe3 bxc4 32.xd6 xd6 33.c2 f3+ 34.f2 d2 35.g2 xc3 36.e5? [ B e t t e r w a s 36.xc3 xe4 37.e1! with some possibility of holding. ] 36...xe5 37.xb7 b6 38.g2 xb2 39.xb2 xb2 Lenderman is two clear pawns to the good, and his technique proves more than sufficient. 40.e2 b1 41.d1 a3 42.e2 e5 43.d2 b5 44.g4 d6 45.c6 f5 46.g1 f7 47.e2 f6 48.f3 b2 49.e2 e5 50.gxf5 gxf5 51.g3 e4+ 52.f2 e5 53.e2 g5 54.a4 c3 55.b3 b5 56.e1 h4 57.e6 d6 58.g1 g3 59.f1 c2 60.e2+ f3 510
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 61.b3 xe3 62.xc2 f4 White can realistically aim for a small Catalan-type edge with 7.Qc2. Black's counterplay with ...c6-c5 (ideally combined with ...Nf6-g4!) ought to be easy to anticipate now, so learn from White's mistakes in this game! The critical line is definitely Delchev's 13.h3!?. I mentioned a couple potential improvements, but overall I h i g h l y r e c o m m e n d t h a t yo u p i c k u p h i s interesting work on these previously unexplored lines. 0-1
521 Salgado Lopez,Ivan Pelletier,Yannick Top 12 Haguenau (5) [Fier, Alexandr]
A13 2598 2599 03.06.2013
Salgado goes for an interesting gambit instead of the normal paths and gave Pelletier a lot of problems to solve. For Black, I would play something other than 9...Nxe5. 1.c4 f6 2.g3 e6 3.g2 d5 4.f3 dxc4 5.0-0 This is less common than the usual 5. Qa4+, but is an interesting way to play for a gambit, now Black has chances to def end the c4 pawn. a6 6.c2 c5 [ 6...b5 would be another logical continuation, and after 7.e1 d5 8.d3 cxd3 9.xd3 b7 10.c3 d7 ( 10...d6 11.xd5 exd5 12.f4 0-0 13.ac1 ) 11.xd5 exd5 12.f4 White had the initiative in Grigoryan, A (2579)-Rozum, I (2500)/St Petersburg Botvinnik Memorial op 2012 ] [ 6...bd7 tries to transpose to normal variations A) 7.a4!? is a way to try to take advantage of this move order c5 8.a5!? ( 8.xc4 b5! 9.b3 c4 10.c2 b7 and Black solved all his opening problems) 8...e7 9.xc4 b5 sooner or later this move is forced, otherwise Black will be paralyzed 10.axb6 xb6 11.c2 b7 with a slightly better version of this kind of position for White, since the pawns on the queenside are weaker, but the position is still quite playable for Black; B) 7.xc4 b5 transposes to 5.Qa4+ Nbd7 6.Qxc4 a6, and here 7.0-0 is not
c o n s i d e r e d t o b e d a n g e r o u s 8.c2 ( 8.c6 b8 9.d4 b7= ) 8...c5 9.b3 b7 10.b2 e7 11.d3 is about equal ] 7.e5 [ 7.a4?! is not precise now, since it allows Black to develop the knight in a more active way c6! 8.xc4 e7 and the Black knight controls e5, while White's queenside is not healthy ] 7...a7 8.d1 White is more or less forced to play a gambit since if 8.Qxc4 b5 will liberate all the black pieces. Still, the pawn sacrifice brings some initiative. bd7 [ 8...b5 would be interesting too, trying to bring the rook into the game 9.a4 fd7 10.xd7 xd7 now Black's rook neutralizes the d1 opponent, but the a1-rook enters the game 11.axb5 axb5 12.a8 d6 13.d3 cxd3 14.xd3 with typical pressure for the pawn. Now one possible continuation would be 0-0 15.c3 a6 16.d1 b6 17.e4 b7 18.xb8 xb8 19.xd6 xd6 20.xd6 xd6 21.xd6 xg2 22.xg2= ] 9.d4 xe5?! I don't like this move, as after it White can recover the pawn with a positional advantage because of the open file. [ 9...cxd3 A) 10.xd3 e7 11.c2 ( 11.c3 0-0 12.e3 c7 13.f4 xe5 14.xe5 b6 15.a3 d5 again this important move 16.d2 f6 17.c4 b5 with some complications) 11...0-0 12.c3 e8 13.c4 b5 14.a5 again with sufficient compensation for the pawn, but nothing more; B) 10.xd3 d5!? ( 10...e7 11.f4 0-0 12.c3 e8 13.c4 gives White too m u c h c o n t r o l) 11.xd5 ( 11.xd7? b4 ) 11...xe5 12.c6+ d7 13.xd7+ xd7 14.c3 b5 with two minor pieces out Black should be fine ] [ 9...cxd4 is more risky 10.xc4 ( 10.xd4 allows Black to sacrifice an exchange and finish his development with a good initiative. It's nice to see Black attacking at least once! b5 11.c6 b6 12.xa7 xa7 13.d1 c5 14.e3 b7 and the bishop exchange f o ll o we d b y . . . N e 5 gi ve s B la ck a go o d game ) 10...e5 11.e3 A) 11...b5!? can enter into some funny l i n e s l i k e 12.a5 c7 13.c6 b8 511
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.exd4 g4 15.e1 c8 16.xe5+ ( 16.d5 d6 is fine for Black) 16...e6 17.d5 d6 18.e1 ( 18.f4 exchanges too much xd5 19.xd5 xe5 20.xe5 xd5 21.xc7 xc7 22.d4 xc2 23.xc2= ) 18...xd5 19.d1 ( 19.xd5 is also possible) 19...xc6 20.c3!? xc3 21.xd6 d4!? 22.xd4 e2+ 23.xe2 xc1+ 24.e1 xe1+ 25.xe1 0-0 and finally entering an equal position; B) 11...c7 Black needs to make some precise moves here 12.exd4 b5 13.e3 exd4 14.xc7 xc7 15.f5 e5 16.xd4 g4 not afraid of the pin 17.e1 d7! 18.c3 d3 19.e3 xc1 20.xc1 b4 21.ce2 xc1+ 22.xc1 c7 and Black holds ] 10.dxe5 d7 11.d2 [ 11.a4 was a positional way to play, avoiding 11...b5 A) 11...c7 doesn't work because of 12.a3 xe5 13.xc4 c7 14.f4 e5 15.e4 f6 16.e3 and Black's white squ a re s a re go in g t o b e d e cisive e7 17.g4 0-0 ( 17...f8 18.h5 b5 19.axb5 axb5 20.d5 g6 21.h6++- ) 18.e6+ f7 19.d5+-; B) 11...e7 12.d2 b6 13.xc4 0-0 14.e4 h6 15.e3 is clearly better for White ] 11...b5 12.a4 c7 13.e4 xe5 14.f4 b4 [ 14...f6 doesn't really help 15.xe5 fxe5 ( 15...xe5 16.axb5 c7 17.xc4+- ) 16.g5 e7 17.xh7 f7 18.a3! and Black is in trouble ] 15.d2 [ 15.d2 is maybe a small improvement, just looking at the d6 square e7 16.ad1 0-0 17.d6 c3 18.bxc3 f6 19.xc8 xc8 20.cxb4 cxb4 21.h3! h8 22.xc8 xc8 23.xe6 and White's pieces are much better placed than Black's ones ] 15...d6 16.xc4 xc4 17.xc4 [ 17.xd6 was interesting, but hard to play in a game xd6 18.d1 f6 ( 18...0-0 19.xd6 d8 20.xc5 d7 21.c6 b7 22.xd7 xd7 23.xb4 ) 19.xd6 a5 20.c6+ f7 21.xc5 c7 22.d6 With good control over Black's pieces, but is not so sure White is able to keep improving
his position. White should be better, but it is not an easy evaluation to make ] 17...xf4 18.gxf4 0-0 19.ac1 d7 20.b3 e5 Returning the material. [ 20...c8 was logical, and after 21.d3 g6 22.cd1 c6 23.xc6 xc6 24.d6 b7 25.e4 Black shouldn't be worse ] 21.fxe5 xe5 22.xc5 xc5 23.xc5 Now Black's position is a little unpleasant to play since the queenside pawns are weak and White's rooks are more active. Salgado was successful in creating problems. e6 24.d3 g6 25.a5 b8 26.d5 xd5 [ 26...b5 is a risky decision 27.xb5 axb5 28.xe6 fxe6 29.d6 xa5 30.xe6 a1+ 31.g2 b1 32.e3 b2 33.f3 f7 and in my opinion W hite has some chances ] 27.dxd5 f8 28.c6 e7 29.e3 b5 It's hard to suggest an alternative plan here, but now W hite gets a strong passed pawn. 30.xb5 axb5 31.a6 d7 32.b6 [ 32.f6!? e7 33.b6 wins a tempo ] 32...c7 33.f6 b8 34.g2 c7 35.b6+ a7 36.xb5 xa6 37.xb4 And Black's king is too far away to help. The computer says that it's still not a clear advantage, but I think that White is almost winning in the long term. c5 38.h4 h6 39.g3 h5 40.f3 a5 41.b7 f5+ 42.g3 f6 43.e4 e5 44.f4 g5+ 45.hxg5 xg5 46.f3 g1 47.h7 1-0
522 Stripunsky,Alexander Shabalov,Alexander 87th Marshall CCC (9) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2530 2597 07.12.2003
1.c4 b6 2.b3 b7 3.b2 e6 4.e3 f6 A double queenside fianchetto, but W hite soon make sure that this is not a symmetric position. 5.f4!? e7 Perfectly natural, but new. [ 5...c5 6.c3 e7 7.f3 0-0 is like the main game, Mangei,K-Fehrenbacher,U/ Eppingen 1988. ] [ 5...d5 is sensible, but weakens the dark squares a little, in particular e5, 6.f3 bd7 512
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7.c3 b4 8.d3?! Burris,D-Miller,J/ Gaylord 199 4, a mista ke allowin g ( 8.a3 is better ) 8...c5 9.c2 dxc4 10.bxc4 when d3 is weak. ] 6.f3 0-0 7.d3 This odd development of the bishop is quite normal in such positions remember the famous double-bishop sacrifice of Lasker! d5 8.0-0 dxc4 [ 8...bd7 is possible, as in one of the notes, intending to play ...Nc5. ] 9.xc4 c5 Black is unaware of what is about to hit him. 10.f5!? exf5 11.h4 g6 12.xf5! The point of White's conception, opening the black king position to exploit his two powerful bishops. gxf5 13.xf5 The sacrifice may not be objectively sound, but in practical chess it i s v e r y u n p l e a s a n t t o d e f e n d . e4! The bishop heads for g6 to closed the g-file. [ 13...bd7 is worse, 14.c3 covers e4 and d5 and W hite will bring his queen to the queenside with a massive attack. ] 14.f1!? More fuel on the fire! White doesn't want the bishop to come to g6, obviously. [ 14.g5+ g6 ] 14...b5!? Black wants to deflect the c4-bishop off the a2-g8 diagonal. [ 14...xf5 15.xf5 bd7 is met by 16.e4! when the further advance of the e-pawn will regain a piece. ] 15.xb5 [ 15.g5+!? g6 16.f3 bd7 17.xb5 is a reasonable alternative, White has two pawns for the piece. ] 15...xf5 16.xf5 d5 This is the point of Black's little tactic, the queen is able to help the defence laterally. 17.f4 e4 18.g5+ g6 The queen has managed to replace the light-squared bishop's task of bolstering the gfile. 19.e5 White cannot afford to exchange queens, as he has a rook less. a6 What else? [ 19...e4 repeats, and ] [ 19...d8!? looks very unnatural: 20.a3 and Black can hardly develop his pieces. ] 20.xe7 axb5 21.xf6 White has to accept the exchange of queens, as [ 21.xf6?! c6 22.d6 a6 leaves the black pieces misplaced, e.g. 23.f4? b4 24.c3 d3 with a clear advantage. ] 21...xf6 22.xf6 b4 Fixing the a2-pawn on the open file. 23.f2 a6 24.b2 c6 White has two pawns for the exchange, which
is fair value, but some problems on the a-file. 25.d3 fa8 26.a4 bxa3 27.xa3 b4 28.e2 f8 29.xa6 xa6 The exchange of a pair of rooks is go od f or Black, but his pawns are not very good, so his chances of winning slight. 30.a3 g6 31.g3 h6 32.h4 g6 A common tactic to force an exploitable weakness in two adjacent pawns. 33.d4!? White wants to create connected passed pawns. [ 33.xb4 cxb4 34.f3 c6 35.d2 is also possible, White should hold easily. ] 33...xg3 34.dxc5 d5 35.d3 A necessary evil, [ 35.c6+ e8 36.c5 g6 loses the cpawn. ] 35...xe3 36.b4 e7 37.b5 The pawns are coming! d7 38.c6+ c7 39.e4 c4 40.b4 g4+ [ 40...b3 fails to win a piece after 41.c3 xb4?? 42.d5+ with a nasty fork. ] 41.d3 The only move. b6 Black seems to be getting on top, he has the pawns b lo ck a d e d a n d t h e wh it e ki n g is c u t -o f f . 42.c3 e5+ 43.c2? Perhaps the king should head towards the kingside: [ 43.e2! ] 43...f5? [ 43...xb4! seems strong now, as 44.d5+ xb5 45.xb4 xc6! ( and not 45...xb4?? 46.c7 ) 46.d3 b4+ and wins the king and pawn! This is why c2 was the wrong square for the king on move 43. ] 44.e7! g2+ 45.b3 xc6 Black has to concede his knight, and a draw is assured. [ 45...g8 46.g5 threatens Be3+, and then Nd5+ when the pawns advance all the way! ] ½-½
523 Swiercz,Dariusz Malakhatko,Vadim 44th Rubinstein Mem GM (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A13 2456 2612 22.08.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ bd7 6.xc4 c5 7.0-0 a6 8.c2 a7 [ 8...b5 was the topic of Gashimov-Luther, 513
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1/2-1/2 Ristic, N-Inkiov, V/Porto San Giorgio Capelle 2007, whereas ] 2001 ] [ 8...b6 was discussed in connection with Bu [ B) 11.d1!? a8 ( 11...cxd4 12.xd4 Xiangzhi-Li Wenliang, Qingdao 2002 - both xg2 13.xg2 a8+ 14.f3 c7= ) 12.dxc5 games can be found in the PGN archives. ( 12.e3 is interesting and transposes to the The text move seems a bit odd, because it note after W hite's 12th move in variation prepares to play one of these moves that 'c'. ) 12...xc5?! ( 12...xc5!? ) 13.f4 are already available to Black. Note that c6?! ( 13...e7!? ) 14.ac1 d7 15.xd7 9.e5 is met by d5 which took me a bit to cxd7 16.a4 b7 17.c7 a7 18.e5 notice. ] xg2 19.xg2 Nikolic, N-Kekki, J/Espoo 9.d4 1987 ] [ White has several alternatives here: A) 9.d3 [ C) 11.e3 a8 e7 10.a4 ( or 10.c3 b6 11.b3 b7 A) 12.ad1 proves less effective 12.b2 0-0 13.ac1 g4 14.h3 ge5 compared to the below alternative, 15.xe5 xe5 with a comfortable game for centralising the other rook: e7 13.dxc5 Black, W egerle, J-Aagaard, J/Pardubice xc5! 14.c1 ( 14.b4 cd7= ) 14...0-0 2000 ) 10...b6 11.d2 0-0 12.a3 b7 15.a4 fd7 16.xc5 xc5=; 13.c4 d5 ( 13...a8!? 14.a5 b5 B) 12.fd1!? e7 13.dxc5 xc5 15.b6 d8 16.xd7 xd7 is at least 14.xc5 xc5 15.d6 c6 16.e4 d7 okay for Black, Grebionkin, V-Konnov, O/Ufa 17.xd7 cxd7 ( 17...fxd7? 18.b4!+- ) 1999 ) 14.fc1 h6 15.d1 a8 16.f1 18.d4 b7 19.f4; Haag, E-Eisinger, M/Oberhausen (EU-chT) C) 12.dxc5?! leaves Black with an easy 1961, and the chances are about even after road to equality. White has two moves like 16...a5, 16...Nb4, and 16...N7f6 ] alternatives available: xc5 13.xc5 [ B) 9.a4 b6 10.d4 ( 10.d3 b7 11.bd2 xc5 14.fd1 0-0 15.b4 cd7 16.ac1 e7 12.c4 , and a draw was agreed upon, h6 17.b2= 1/2-1/2 Wells, P-Pinter, J/ 1/2-1/2, in Oblitas Guerrero, C-Urday Austrian League 1999 ] Caceres, H/Peru 1996, though for obvious reasons both sides could have played on in 11...cxd4 12.xd4 a8 [ Black's remaining alternatives are less this position.) 10...b7 11.dxc5 xc5 c o n v i n c i n g : A ) 12...e7 13.d1 c8 12.c3 a8 13.g5 0-0 14.ad1 14.e2 e5?! ( 14...0-0 ) 15.f4 c6 was another quick draw, 1/2-1/2, Bany, J 16.b3 0-0 17.e3 d7 18.ac1 a8 Skalkotas, N/Athens 1989, though Black 19.a4 b8 20.f2 Schoeneberg, Malready has the more comfortable position ] Augustin, J/Leipzig 1981 ] [ C) 9.b3 b6 10.b2 b7 ( 10...c7 11.d3 [ B) 12...c5 13.d1 a8 14.b3 b4 b7 12.bd2 e7 13.ac1 0-0 14.b1 ( 14...e7 15.e3 0-0 16.ac1 Ribli ) a8 15.c4 fc8= Csom, I-Hartman, C/ 15.a3 xc3 16.xc3 Wrexham 1995) 11.d3 e7 12.bd2 0-0 A) 16...xe4? 17.xe4 xe4 18.xg7 13.c4 b5 14.ce5 xe5 15.xe5 xg2 f8 , and now 19.xh7+- is the most 16.xg2 d7 17.f3 b6= Saric, I-Atalik, c o n v i n c i n g ( 19.h6+Ribli ef6 S/Zenica BIH 2005 ] 20.xd7 xd7 21.d1 e4 22.xd7 9...b6 e1+ 23.g2 e4+ 24.h3 xd7 [ 9...b5 has also been tried, is possible but 25.xf8 should also win without too many also more committing, though in its only difficulties ); outing Black equalised: 10.d1 b6 11.a4 B) 16...0-0 17.f3 c8 18.d4 c6 b7 12.axb5 axb5 13.xa7 xa7 14.g5 ( 18...e5 19.f2 c6 20.a4 ac7 e7 15.a3 b4 16.c4 1/2-1/2 Freisler, P21.h3 ) 19.f4 c5 20.xc5 bxc5 Kucera, P/CZE 1996 ] 21.c3 ( 21.xc5? a4 ) 21...d7 10.c3 b7 11.e4 Vaganian, R-Jussupow, A /Riga 1995 [ Again at this juncture, White has several 22.d6 ] moves available for consideration: A) 11.dxc5 xc5 12.f4 0-0 13.a3 13.e1 c5 14.b3 e7 514
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 14...b4 15.a4 d8 ( trying to prevent the pawn advance to a5 by playing it himself will only cause Black further suffering: 15...a5 16.d2 0-0 17.b5 ) 16.d1 c7 17.e3 0-0 18.ac1 , and White has the better chances ] 15.a4 c8 16.e2 c5 [ Or 16...0-0 17.e3 a8 18.ac1 b8 19.f4 with a somewhat better game for White. ] 17.xc5 xc5 18.e3 xe3 [ 18...0-0 This along with Black's following moves seem a bit eager to simplif y the position, but Black can also play the normal 19.ac1 c6 20.xc5 bxc5 21.e5 d7 22.xc6 xc6 23.ed1 with a comfortable edge for White. ] 19.xe3 c5 20.xc5 bxc5 21.a5! d7 22.a4 [ White can also consider a couple of other options at this juncture, though it isn't clear whether they exactly are any better than the game continuation, but they do have the advantage of keeping pieces on the board, maintaining White's position advantage. The first is 22.ad1 e7 23.f4 b8 24.e2 with a decent plus for White, and the second is ] [ 22.f4 e7 which can likely transpose into the just mentioned line. ] 22...c6 23.ec1 xa4 24.xa4 e7 25.b4 cxb4 [ Black aims at the ensuing simplifications to steer him to a drawable position. However, he also has a decent alternative in 25...c8 26.f1 cc7 27.b5 axb5 28.xb5 c4 29.a6 b6 30.b4 d6 , and Black should be able to defend. ] 26.xb4 b8 27.xb8 xb8 28.e5! d8 29.b1 d7 30.f4 c7 31.d1 c8 32.f1 b8 [ Here Black should have given 32...c6!? a try. W hite has the better chances in the endgame, but Black's position is solid and will be difficult to breach. The game continuation is what originally brought my attention to this game aside from a 2450 player beating a 2600+ player. Black is systematically pushed off the board in what seems to be a very smooth effort. I will not add any further comments, but recommend
that the reader play the game through to the end it is quite instructive. ] 33.d6 b7 34.d8 c8 35.g2+ c7 36.d6 d8 37.b6 d7 38.f2 d2+ 39.f1 c8 40.b7+ d8 41.h3 h6 42.xa6 xa6 43.xa6 a2 44.a7 e8 45.a6 h5 46.a8+ e7 47.e1 a4 48.a7 a1+ 49.d2 a2+ 50.c3 g6 51.g4 hxg4 52.hxg4 a3+ 53.b2 a6 54.f5! 1-0
524 Van der Sterren,Paul Dautov,Rustem Bundesliga 2000-1 (8) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2569 2606 17.02.2001
1.c4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ c6 This move is quite popular, and prepares queenside expansion, whilst keeping the h1-a8 diagonal firmly closed until Black is ready to open it himself. 6.xc4 b5 7.b3 [ Probably the queen is better-off avoiding the c-file: 7.c2 b7 8.a4 e7 9.e5 d5 10.0-0 0-0 11.d4 a6 12.c3 ( 12.xc6 xc6 13.xc6 ab4 14.xb5 c2 is unpleasant for W hite) 12...b4 13.e4 and now Black freed himself with the standard c5 14.dxc5?! c8 15.c6 b8 16.c5 xc6 and Black is even better, Ivanchuk,V-Kramnik,V/Monte Carlo 1999. ] 7...b7 8.0-0 bd7 [ 8...e7 is similar, 9.a4 a6 10.d4 bd7 11.c3 0-0 12.g5 b4 13.d1 c5 Black has equalised, Kortschnoj,V-Rabiega, R/AUT-chT9596 1996. ] 9.d4 e7 10.c3 a6 11.g5 1/2-1/2 Nielsen,P-Luther,T/Gausdal 1994 c5 Black has to play this sooner or later. 12.xf6 xf6 13.dxc5 xc5 14.b4 e7 15.ac1 d7 16.f4 0-0 Black's opening has been a great success, and he even has the bishop pair. 17.c7 c5!? [ Good, but 17...ab8 18.fd1 fd8 is more ambitious. ] 18.xb5 White decides to play for a draw. axb5 19.xc5 xc7 20.xc7 xf3 [ Black too! 20...d5 might preserve some slight chances. ]
515
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.xf3 xa2 22.b1 xb2 ½-½
525 Vaulin,Alexander Blatny,Pavel FSGM October (11) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2492 2476 12.10.1999
1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 dxc4 A common theme in similar positions, Black prefers to concede temporary control of the centre but wil l s p e e d h i s d e ve lo p m e n t wh il e W h it e wastes time recapturing the pawn. 4.a4+ d7 5.xc4 a6 [ A typical idea, preparing to drive the queen away by ...b5, but 5...c5 is normal in this position, or ] [ 5...gf6 transposing into main variations. ] 6.a4 Another standard move, restraining Black's queenside. b6!? [ This novelty is the start of a long knight manoeuvre, aiming to embarrass the white queen, and establish the knight on the b4outpost, 6...gf6 is more usual 7.d3 d6 8.c2 d5 9.d2 with balanced chances, Krasenkow,M-Brodsky,M/ Koszalin 1997. ] 7.c2 d5 8.f3 b4 The knight has landed on a strong square. 9.b3 d5 10.d1 [ Awkward, but the endgame after 10.xd5 exd5 is more than satisfactory for Black. ] 10...d7!? 11.c3 h5 12.0-0 c5 13.h3 With the threat of g4. f6 14.b3 e5? [ Hoping to gain time by attacking the h3pawn, but the weakening of the central light squares allows W hite to take command. 14...e7 was better. ] 15.d5! xd5?! [ This loses material, but if 15...d8 16.c7+ e7 17.d5+ and the black king has lost its right to castle. ] 16.xb7 d8 17.xd5 xh3 18.c6+ f7 19.xa6 And White has won a good pawn, and retains the better position, as well. e6 20.d3 d6 21.e3 h6 22.xh6 xh6 23.a5 The simplest plan, by pushing his extra passed a-pawn, W hite wins speedily. d7 24.c6 b8 So, Black has managed to b l o c k a d e t h e a 7 - sq u a r e , b u t n o w W h i t e
exchanges a couple of pieces to leave Black with a bad bishop, and of f side queen. 25.a3!? [ The re was n ot hing wro ng wit h 25.xc5 of course, but White has bigger fish to fry. ] 25...a7 26.b3 hd8 27.b7 xb7 28.xb7+ d7 29.e4 e7 30.a1 d5 31.a4 b7 32.h4 Threatening Nf5+, and thereby forcing the exchange of Black's good bishop. [ 32.h4 g6 33.xb7 xb7 34.c6 d7 35.f3 is quite hopeless. ] 1-0
526 Wells,Peter K Barsov,Alexei Premier Hastings ENG (7) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2517 2525 04.01.2002
1.c4 e6 2.c3 b4 3.e4 [ Probably the critical reply. We considered 3.f3 where White is happy to transpose to the Nimzo-Indian, in Lautier,J - Sokolov, A/ ch-FRA Gp A Marsailles FRA (7), 19.08. 2001. ] 3...e7 [ I like this more than 3...c5 when 4.b5 ( 4.g4 f8 ) 4...d6 5.a3 a5 6.b4 is unpleasant for Black, for if cxb4 7.g4 f8 8.g3 with threats. ] 4.f3 [ 4.d4 d5 5.e5 c5 6.a3 led to a quick win f o r W h it e in Ho d g so n , J -R o ze n t a li s , E / Rakvere 1993. ] 4...c5!? A novelty at move four! Black plays this now, noticing that, his kingside is better developed, and with the white knight on f3, White no longer has the dangerous possibility of playing Qg4. [ 4...0-0 is normal, but 5.d4 d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7.d3 dxe4 8.xe4 led to another crushing de f ea t f o r Ro sen t a lis in Kra se n k ow, MRozentalis,E/Krynica 1997, although the current position is reasonable for Black. ] 5.e5!? White intends Ne4-d6, but it seems slow. [ 5.b5?! d5 leads nowhere. ] [ 5.a3 a5 6.d4 is more sensible. ] 5...bc6!? 516
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Interesting, Black continues his development and relies on a tactic to save h i s c - p a w n . 5...d6 is a straightforward alternative. ] 6.e4 0-0! 7.a3 a5 8.xc5 This is the point of White's play, it seems that he has won a pawn, but Black has seen further. xe5! 9.xe5 d6 10.xf7?! Opening the f-file is not such a good idea. [ 10.ed7! looks right, e8!? ( 10...xd7 11.xb7 c7 12.xa5 xa5 doesn't give Black enough for the pawn.) 11.b4 c7 12.f6+!? gxf6 13.e4 which is unclear. ] 10...xf7 11.b3 b5! Offering another pawn for an advantage in development. 12.xa5 xa5 13.b4 [ This does not work-out too well, but grabbing the pawn by 13.cxb5 also brings its problems: d7 14.a4 af8 all of Black's pieces are developed, and none of White's!! ] 13...b6 Threatening mate-in-one! 14.d4 bxc4 15.e3 [ 15.xc4 c6 16.f1 c3+ 17.d2 xd4 clearly favours Black. ] 15...f5 16.xc4 c6 This is the problem, hitting c4 and g2. 17.b3 xg2 18.0-0-0 White manages to bring his king to 'safety' on the queenside, but Black's initiative continues unabated. a5 19.b5 a4 20.b4 c7 21.b1 The king has to leave the open c-file. b8 22.d3 d7 23.a1 d5 The b5-pawn is not long for this world. 24.c1 [ 24.b1 does not help cb7 ] 24...cb7 25.c4 e4 The black position is very easy to play. 26.he1 xb5?! [ I imagine both players were short of time, as 26...d5 is far better, avoiding the following tactic (in the notes). ] 27.d2?? [ A clear blunder, White could have kept the game alive by 27.f3! xf3 28.xe6+ h8 29.c8 ] 27...xd4+ 0-1
527 Wells,Peter K Short,Nigel D 2nd IECC Ohrid (10) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2520 2675 2001
1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 a6 Not an uncommon move, Black often plays a later .. .b5, and expands on the queenside. 4.b3 f6 5.g2 e7 6.0-0 0-0 7.b2 dxc4!? [ A common idea in main-line Retis, but a novelty here, Black sidesteps the possibility of W hite playing cxd5 at some point, and p l a n s p l a y a l o n g t h e d - f i l e . 7...b5 is more consistent, 8.e5 b7 9.d4 for instance, Espig, L-Dvorietzky,M/Vilnius 1978. ] 8.bxc4 c5 9.c3 c6 10.e3 [ Standard play in such positions, White wishes to bring his queen to e2, Rfd1, then play d3 or d4, as appropriate, but 10.d3 is also reasonable. ] 10...d3!? Black won't be able to maintain his queen here for long, he simply wants to force the white pieces onto less-than-optimum squares. 11.a4 The threat to infiltrate on b6 allows W h ite time to d ef en d th e c-pawn , b e f o r e e x p e l l i n g t h e b l a c k q u e e n . d7 12.c1 b8 Black prepares the positionally desirable thrust ...b5. 13.e1 g6 14.d4! Creating a hanging pawn formation, judging that Black is poorly-placed to counter this. cxd4 15.exd4 d8 16.d5 exd5 17.cxd5 a7!? [ This reply appears passive, but Black intends blockading the d5-pawn by bringing his knight to d6 via b5. He may have been worried about the line 17...ce5 18.f4 g4 19.h3!? ( 19.e2 is possibly stronger, f6 ) 19...e3 20.e2 but Black has the interesting tactic e8! ( as 20...xf1? loses two pieces for a rook after 21.xe7 ) 21.xe3 c5 winning the queen for three pieces, 22.xc5 xc5 23.xc5 xg3 which is not too clear. ] 18.d3 b5 19.e1 [ The white pieces find active posts, but 19.f4! is more aggressive, f6 20.e5 and White retains the dark-squared bishop, and some advantage. ] 517
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19...f6 20.e2 xb2 21.axb2 f8 22.e5 f6 23.bc4 f5 24.e3! Taking aim at b6. h5?! [ If White didn't have 150 ELO points less than Black he would surely have continued, 24...h5 25.f3 g6 26.a4 keeps the initiative firmly in White's hands. ] ½-½
a5 16.e3 b7 17.ab1 d7!? [ 17...d7 looks more natural, but Black wants to play ...Bb5. ] 18.b4 cxb4 19.axb4 b6 20.e2 d4 21.d2 xe3 22.xe3 b6 Black decides to go for an ending where he has counterplay against the b4-pawn. 23.xb6 xb6 24.fc1 c8 25.f1 f8 We must always remember to bring the king to the centre in the endgame! 26.a2 This is a bit negative, why not the 528 A13 obvious [ 26.d3 planning f4, or Kf1-e2. ] Wojtkiewicz,Aleksander 2551 27.xc8 xc8 28.c1 d8 Kamsky,Gata 2717 26...e7 d7 117th NY Masters (4) 14.09.2004 The king arrives just in time! 29.f3 30.c2 b7 31.f2 c7 32.xc7 xc7 [Tony Kosten] 33.e3 b6 34.d2 White plays openly for Gata's back! 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 a6 the draw, but this is perhaps understandable 4.g2 b5 5.e5!? An unusual, if very direct, with 160 rating points less! [ 34.f4 f6 35.c3 offers some chances. ] line. Normally White defends his c-pawn by 34...a5 35.bxa5+ xa5 36.c3 a4 [ 5.b3 ] 37.c1 d7 38.h3 c5 The knight has 5...a7 6.d4 [ 6.cxb5 axb5 7.b3 also has its followers, done nothing all game, then springs to a although b7! 8.0-0 xg2 9.xg2 a6 strong square. 39.d3 xd3 And is then b4 41.f4 f6 10.xb5 b4 is very satisfactory for Black, e x c h a n g e d . 40.xd3 The white king is closer to the pawns, but this Vaganian,R-Seirawan, Y/Biel 1985. ] 6...b7 7.d5!? Somewhat surprising, as the d- doesn't count for too much as the king will fxe5 pawn's defender is under attack, but this is have difficulties invading. 42.fxe5 more ambitious than accepting the exchange 43.f5 h6 44.h4 b5+ 45.e3 c3 46.g4 c2 47.h5 c1 48.g4 a4 of bishops by [ 7.xb7 xb7 8.c5?! d6 Black is at least 49.h5 d1 50.e8 g4 51.a4 b2 52.d3 a3 53.e8 b4 54.c6 equal, Voscilla,A-Zaja,I/Pula 1995. ] ½-½ 7...b4+ An obvious improvement on [ 7...d6 8.d4 a8 9.c3 e7 10.g4 wit h an e d ge , Necka r,L -A lle gro ,V / S io n 529 A13 1990. ] 8.c3 c5 Zhou Jianchao 2607 Zhou Weiqi 2590 [ 8...bxc4 9.e4 exd5 10.e3 a8 11.exd5 29.05.2013 le a ve s W h it e wi t h m o re s p a ce , h e wil l Danzhou 4th (9) soon recapture the c4-pawn. ] [Fier, Alexandr] 9.0-0 0-0 This is only a rapid game, and K a m s k y i s p r o b a b l y a b i t r u s t y , b u t t h e Both players enter into a known position by a immediate different move order. Zhou Weiqi plays in an [ 9...d6 might be more accurate, as g4 is not interesting and provocative way by 11...Be7 protected by the white queen, 10.c6 xc6 and 12...Qa8, and after 13.d5!? the game 11.dxc6 bxc4 12.a4 c7 13.f4 e n t e r e d i n t o b i g c o m p l i c a t i o n s . S t i l l , everything is under control for Black. 1.c4 with unclear play. ] 10.e4 d6 11.g4 xg4 12.xg4 c8 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ The e6-pawn was under attack. 13.e2 bxc4 bd7 6.xc4 c5 7.d4 Not so popular, but 14.xc4 e5 An important decision, Black an active option. [ 7.0-0 and ] closes the centre but leaves W hite with a [ 7.b3 are the main lines ] small edge because of his extra space. 15.a3 518
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...a6 8.c2 a7 Trying to keep the rook away from the bishop's diagonal. This order is almost never played, but since all the moves are more or less normal, there is still a lot of transpositional chances. [ Usually Black doesn't worry about the diagonal and answers with 8...b6 9.e5 d5 A) 10.xd7 is not so critical, but playable too xd7 11.dxc5 xc5 12.0-0 b7 13.d1 e7 14.e4 b4 15.e2 0-0 16.a3 c6 17.e3 and it looks like Black is absolutely fine; B) 10.c3 is the most played move at the high level, and after b7 11.xd5 xd5 12.xd5 exd5 13.0-0 ( 13.xd7 xd7 ) 13...xe5 14.dxe5 c8 15.d1 e6 16.d3 e7 17.xd5 d8 18.b3 xd1+ 19.xd1 0-0! ( 19...xe5? 20.a4+ is just bad) 20.b3 was seen in Kramnik, V (2750)- Deep Fritz 10/Bonn Man-Machine 2006. ( 20.f4 f6 21.exf6 xf6 22.e3 d8 gives big compensation) 20...xe5 21.xb6 xe2 22.e3 d8 Black is out of danger; C) 10.c6!? taking advantage of the early 8...b6, the big question is whether White can st abilize th e knight on c6 o r gain some activity after ...Bb7xc6 c7 11.e4 C1) 11...e7?! is not convincing 12.xe7 xe7 13.f4 a7 14.d5 e5 15.e3 Tkachiev, V (2639)-Sokolov, A (2596)/FRA-chA 85th 2010, and Black would be fine if ...Nd7-d6 was possible, but otherwise White has an edge; C2) 11...xc6 is playable, accepting the c h a l l e n g e . 12.exd5 exd5 13.c3 ( 13.0-0 f6 14.g5 e7 15.c3 e6 16.dxc5 xc5 17.e3 ) 13...f6 14.g5 cxd4 15.xf6 dxc3 16.xc3 Zaichik, G-Ivanov, A (2400)/URS-ch45 otbor 1977; C3) 11...5f6 was Meier's choice and looks possible 12.d5 b7 13.0-0 d6 14.d2 with a double-edged position in Landa, K (2598)- Meier, G (2648)/ Politiken Cup 32nd 2010. ] 9.0-0 b6 10.c3 This position can arise if White plays first 7.0-0 8.Qc2 9.Nc3 and only then 10.d4, or if Black plays ...b6 or ...Ra7 at dif ferent moments, putting all the games
together we have some material to take a look at again. b7 11.e4 [ 11.e3 is the main alternative but with pieces instead of pawns in the center the chances for an advantage are less. a8 12.dxc5 ( 12.fd1 waiting for 12... Be7 to take on c5 can be possible improvement) 12...xc5 13.xc5 xc5 14.fd1 0-0 15.d6 b5 was drawn in Huebner, R (2608)Prusikin, M (2545)/SUI-chT Switzerland 2012. ] 11...e7 Playing in a provocative way! Usually Black tries to take on d4 to avoid any d5 ideas [ 11...cxd4 12.xd4 a8 13.e1 c5 is analyzed in Swiercz - Malakhatko/ Rubinstein memorial 2008 - see the Archives. ] 12.d1 a8 Now White needs to make a serious decision. [ 12...0-0 13.d5 exd5 14.e5 g4 ( 14...e8? 15.xd5 xd5 16.xd5 c7 17.d3 Lautier, J (2645)-Pinter, J (2580)/ FRA France 1993.) 15.xd5 ( 15.f5 xf2 16.xf2 d4 is not so clear) 15...dxe5 16.xe5 xe5 17.f4 d6 18.b3 b5 19.a4 leaves Black with some problems to solve. ] 13.d5!? Accepting the challenge! [ 13.dxc5 maybe this is better but it's hard to understand what is going on after 13. d5 over the board, xc5 14.b4!? A) 14...cxe4 to take the pawn is too dangerous 15.a4 A1) 15...d8 does not help 16.e3; A2) 15...0-0 16.xb6 e8 17.e3 xb4 ( 17...g4 18.d4 f6 19.d7 and the rooks are in trouble) 18.c4 a8 19.ab1 e7 20.a3 c5 21.xc5 xc5 22.d6 e4 23.xe4 ( 23.xc5 xb1 24.xb1 ad8 25.b6 e8 26.e4 xc5 27.xc5 a5 ) 23...cxe4 24.e5 ac8 25.c6 c7 26.bc1 d6 27.d3 with advantage to White because of the strong knight on c6. Probably the a6 pawn will fall and Black will have to fight hard for a draw.; A3) 15...c8 16.xc8+ xc8 17.xb6 0-0 18.a3 c3 19.e1 fd5 20.xd5 xd5; B) 14...cd7! 15.a3 0-0 16.f4 c8 a n d m a yb e W h i t e h a s a r e a l l y s l i g h t 519
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 advantage, which is enough f or some players. ] 13...exd5 14.exd5 xd5 15.h4 [ 15.xd5 it's hard to believe this sacrifice, but White's pieces have a lot of potential. xd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.f4 f6 ( 17...0-0? 18.g5 ) 18.b8 d7 ( 18...a8 looks enough for equality 19.xa7 xa7 20.e5 0-0 21.c6 c7 22.e2 e8 23.xa6 f8= ) 19.e5 d2 20.b3 0-0 21.xd7 xd7 22.f4 b4 ( 22...c4 23.xd2 cxb3 24.axb3 a5 ) 23.d1 f6 24.c7 xb3 25.axb3 c8 26.xb6 b8 27.a5 xb3 28.c3 and the bishops compensate the pawn, but nothing more. ] 15...xc3 [ 15...b4! is interesting, leading to a p o s s ib le d ra w 16.xb7 ( 16.f5 xg2 17.xg2 f6 18.g5 0-0 ) 16...xc2 17.xa8 xa8 ( 17...xa1 is not so clear if the knight can escape from a1 at some point 18.e4 xh4 19.gxh4 0-0 20.f4 f6 21.xa1 xe4 22.xe4 e7 23.c3 d8 but I would still prefer to be Black here) 18.f5! White needs to keep the initiative at any cost. ( 18.b1 xh4 19.gxh4 a7 ) 18...xa1 19.d5 d8 ( 19...f6 20.c7+ ) 20.xg7+ f8 21.h6 f6 ( 21...g8? 22.f5 and White's attack is unstoppable f6 23.c7! xc7 24.xd7 e5 25.g7+ f8 26.a7++- ) 22.f5+ f7 ( 22...g8 23.c7! ) 23.d6+ e6 24.f4+ e7 25.f5+ e8 26.g7+ e7 27.f5+= with a beautiful draw. ] 16.xc3 f6 17.f5 Going into a forced draw variation. xg2 18.xg7+ f8 19.h6 [ 19.h5 doesn't change the evaluation h1 20.f3! xf3 21.h6+ e8 ( 21...g8 22.xf6+ xf6 23.xf6 xf6 24.d6 e7 25.e1! f5 26.xb6 d8 27.b8 f7 28.xh1 ) 22.g7+ f8 23.f5+ e8= ( 23...g8 24.d2! )] 19...h1 20.f5+ e8 21.g7+ f8 22.f5+ e8 23.h4? Suddenly White collapses! Now the position is just winning for Black. [ 23.g7+= ] 23...g8 24.f3 g4! 25.d3 [ 25.f4 xh4 26.e1+ e7-+ ] [ 25.fxg4 xh4 and Black can defend any
check on the e-file easily ] 25...xh4 26.xh7 xh6 27.xh6 A rich game with a disastrous end! 0-1
530 Bareev,Evgeny Kramnik,Vladimir Amber Blindfold (9) [Tony Kosten]
xf3
A14 2714 2777 30.03.2004
Craig Hall asked about a line in the notes, which seems to have escaped the attention of the various Reti writers. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 b7 4.g2 e6 5.0-0 e7 6.c3 0-0 7.b3 d5 8.e3 dxc4 The point of playing this move is that it takes away the possibility of advantageously capturing on d5 from White once and for good. [ 8...c5 9.b2 c6 has occurred a few times in my games, 10.cxd5 this is why B l a c k l i k e s t o t a k e o n c 4 ! ( 10.d3 ke e p s m o re t e n sio n , b u t I n o t ic e d t h a t Dunnington reckoned the capture on d5 wa s d a n ge r o u s f o r B l a c k) 10...xd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.d4 a5!? unusual, but not bad, 13.h4!? ( 13.a3 fd8 14.c1 ac8 doesn't seem to offer White much, Poluljahov,A-Maiorov,O/Krasnodar 1998; 13.dxc5! is best, xc5 14.xd5 xd5 15.fd1 fd8 16.ac1 c6 17.d4 xg2 18.xg2 xd4 19.xd4 xd4 20.xd4 xd4 21.exd4 with an edge in Miles,A-Short, N/ch-GBR, Torquay ENG 1998) 13...d8! 14.xb7 xb7 15.f3 b8 ( 15...xh4! is best ) 16.fd1 e8 ( 16...xh4 17.dxc5 g5 18.c6 c5 19.h1 regains the piece on h4 ) 17.g2 f6 ( 17...cxd4 18.xd4 f6?? l o s e s n e a t l y t o 19.xf6! gxf6 20.g4+ h8 21.xf6# ) 18.f4 e7 19.h5 cxd4 20.xf6+ xf6 21.xf6 gxf6 22.xd4 with a clear advantage, KostenDubois, Naujac 2004. ] 9.bxc4 c5 10.b2 c6 11.e2 b4!? Black aims for the weakened d3 square. Craig says: "In my database this has been met by 12.d4, 12.Ne1 and 12.Ne5 - d4 seems strongest to me, do you agree? None of my bo o ks h a ve a n y co ve ra ge o f t h is lin e . . " 12.e1 Solid, but I agree with Craig that 520
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 12.d4 is best, cxd4 13.exd4 White has hanging pawns, but an active position with well-placed pieces, c8 14.fd1 e8 prophylaxis, and better than aiming directly for the c-pawn by ( 14...c7 when 15.a3 a6 Ravikumar,V-Theulings,P/Dieren 1991, when 16.d5!? exd5 17.b5 looks really dangerous for Black) 15.a3 c6 16.e5 ( 16.d5?! is wrong with the rook facing the white queen, Petrosian,A-Kuzmin,G/Baku 1977 ) 16...c7?! offering White a free tempo, ( 16...d6 17.f4 a5 18.xb7 xb7 19.b5 b8 20.a4 gives White more spa ce, but the exchange o f light squared bishops helps Black, Plachetka,JGizynski,T/Bardejov 1991) 17.b5 b8 18.d5! exd5 19.cxd5 xe5 20.xe5 a6 21.xb8 xb8 22.a7 aiming for c6, d6 23.a4 a8 ( 23...e4! to block the diagonal ) 24.c6 ac8 25.ac1 ( 25.xf6 gxf6 26.ab1 c5 raises the spectre of opposite-colour bishops) 25...b5?! 26.b1?! ( 26.xf6 gxf6 27.axb5 axb5 28.b1 wins the pawn immediately) 26...a8?! Panno,O-Mecking,H/Buenos Aires 1970, but instead ( 26...e4 was best. )] 12...xg2 13.xg2 d7 14.d1 First, [ 14.a3 c6 then 15.d1 is an alternative, ( 15.f3 fd8 16.fd1 b7 17.g1 d7 is very pleasant for Black, Ivkov,B-Platonov, I/Wijk aan Zee 1970) 15...b7 16.g1 a6 17.a4 e8 18.f4 d6 19.b1 f6 20.f3 fd8 with fair chances, Bagirov,V-Psakhis,L/ Amsterdam 1989. ] 14...fd8 Black's main plan is simple: pile-up on the d-file! 15.d3 a6 16.a3 c6 17.a4 White often plays this to dissuade Black from playing ...b5. b7 18.g1 d7 Actually an innovation, although the [ 18...b4 19.f4 d7 20.f3 of Schmidt,WKostro,J/Polanica Zdroj 1970, is similar. ] 19.f4 This is the key to White's play, he controls e5 (and keeps the a1-h8 diagonal o p e n ) wh i ls t p r e p a ri n g a k i n g s i d e p a wn advance. ad8 20.f3 g4!? Black wants to blunt the b2-bishop's diagonal by playing ... f6. 21.h3 h6 22.h2?! Slow, [ 22.g4!? f6 23.g5 f7 24.e4 f5 25.f2 covers d3, and keeps e5 under control. ] 22...f6 23.d2 White must stay ready to cover d3, as now
[ 23.g4 is met by f7 ] 23...b4 24.d4 [ 24.e1 is possible, if a little passive, but ] [ 24.fd1? loses a pawn to xd3! 25.xd3 xd3 26.xd3 xd3 27.xd3 xf3 ] 24...f7 25.fd1 f8 Black plays a lot of useful prophylactic moves, which is often a good idea. 26.a1 c6 Black takes aim at c4. 27.f5? This is a bit desperate. [ 27.b2 kept the tension. ] 27...exf5 28.d5 c7 29.h4 d6 30.f1 e7 31.e1 d7 32.f2 de8 Black doesn't even need to weaken his kingside with . ..g6. 33.xf5? xf5 34.xf5 c2 Forking e1 and e3. 0-1
531 Borovikov,Vladislav Moro,Alfonso 74th ch-UKR KO (2.1) [John Watson]
A14 2595 2487 26.08.2005
1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.b3 f6 4.b2 e7 5.g3 0-0 6.g2 c5 7.0-0 c6 8.e3 This is a traditional main line of the Reti, c o n t e s t e d o v e r a c e n t u r y o r m o r e . d4 A real test of White's setup with a long history behind it. 9.exd4 cxd4 10.e1 To prevent ... e5 and play for Ne5. [ 10.d3?! e5! is a reversed Benoni in which White's Bb2 is a disadvantage. So although Black lost a tempo by ...e6-e5. White lost one by Bb2 and may lose another by Bc1, back to the best square for the bishop! ] 10...e8! A strange remedy but a good one, intending ..f6 and ...e5. Oddly enough, this has been the only move that has worked well for Black, for example: [ (a) 10...e8 11.e5! xe5 12.xe5 d7 13.b5 and White was much better in TalZhuravlev, USSR Ch 1967. ] [ (b) 10...d3?! 11.a3 ( 11.e5!? xe5 12.xe5 ) 11...a5 12.c3 is excellent for White. Nb5 is in the air, as is Re3 in many lines. ] 11.a3!? [ The best order to mix it up is 11.d3! f6 ( 11...c7 12.bd2 f6 13.a3 a5 14.h4!? e5 15.h5 e8 16.xe8 xe8 17.f4 521
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 - I l i k e W h i t e) 12.bd2 ( 12.a3 is still playable) 12...e5! ( 12...c7 13.a3 a5 14.h4 b8 15.f4 with a small edge) 13.a3 a5 14.h4!? A) (or 14...g5 15.d5+ g7 16.g2 (intending f4 or h4) c7 17.e4 d7 ( 17...f5 18.xc6 bxc6 19.xe5 ) 18.f4 Black will acce de to some weakness, again with a dynamic position in which I favour White, for example, gxf4 ( 18...exf4 19.gxf4 f5 20.xc6 bxc6 21.f3 ) 19.gxf4 h8 20.h5 h3 21.xh3 xh3 22.fxe5 fxe5 23.xc6 bxc6 24.xe5; B) or 14...c7 15.h5 e8 16.xe8 xe8 17.f4 exf4 18.gxf4; C) 14...e6 15.f4 d7 16.h5 ( a more ambitious move would be 16.f5!? xf5 17.xf5 xf5 18.e4 h3 19.f3 c7 20.f5 h6 , but it's hard to see a go od f ollo w-u p) 16...f7 ( 16...g4?! 17.d5+ xd5 18.xg4 f7 19.f5 h8 20.f1 ) 17.e2 with a complex game, probably equal but easier for White to play. ] 11...f6 12.c2 e5 13.d3 c7 14.b1?! [ 14.d2! a5 15.a3 Tal-Grigorian, Gori 1968. This is the last way to fight for the advantage that I see, although it's doubtless okay for Black who has active pieces and even a practical advantage. ] 14...a5 15.c1 Proof that the setup has failed to achieve anything. Black has a mild advan ta ge . b8 16.a3 b5 17.d2 d7 18.e2 e8 19.h4! g6 [ 19...g5? 20.f5! f8 21.e4 ] 20.xc6 xc6 21.xa5 d7 22.xc7 xc7 23.b4 xb4? [ 23...b7! w i t h t h e i d e a 24.cxb5? ( 24.g4!? c8! 25.xc8 bxc8 26.c2 c7 and the bishops ensure some a d v a n t a g e .) 24...xb4 25.axb4 d7 exploiting the light squares an retaining the better game. ] 24.axb4 d6 25.g4 [ 25.c5 d5 26.f3 is also hard to crack. ] 25...d7 26.f3 c6 27.g4 d7 28.f3 c6 ½-½
532 Chuchelov,Vladimir Rogozenco,D Bundesliga 2003-4 (3) [Tony Kosten]
A14 2603 2517 22.11.2003
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.b3 e7 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 b6 7.b2 b7 8.e3 bd7 A solid line, Black develops his bits foremost. 9.e2 a5!? Black plays to embarrass the b2bishop, [ 9...c5 is the main move. ] 10.c3 a4 This is the tactical point. [ 10...e4 11.cxd5 exd5 12.d3 xc3 13.xc3 c5 was fairly level in Tal,MCifuentes Parada,R/Buenos Aires 1991. ] 11.xa4!? This obvious capture is actually a novelty! [ 11.d4 ha d b e e n p ref e rre d , wh e n a3 12.c1 b4 13.d2 gives Black good play, e7 14.ac1 fd8 ( 14...ac8 15.fd1 fd8 is similar, Plaskett,J-Parker,J/ Birmingham 1999) 15.e1 xc3 16.xc3 e4 17.a1 c5 18.d3 dxc4 19.bxc4 ac8 and White's bishops don't amount to much, Pigusov,E-Kosashvili,Y/Biel 1989. ] 11...dxc4 This is the point, the c4-pawn is invulnerable. 12.fc1 [ 12.xc4?! a6 wins the exchange ] 12...cxb3 [ 12...b5 13.c3 b4 14.a4 d5 is more testing. ] 13.axb3 c5 This seems a bit too simplistic, Black exchanges pieces, but is the knight on a4 doing anything? Perhaps [ 13...d5 is more to the point. ] 14.xc5 xc5 15.d3 e7 16.e5 xg2 17.xg2 White's play is also simple, but there is a p l a n : e xc h a n g i n g t h e l i g h t - s q u a r e d bishops exposes the squares on c6 and b5 to infiltration. a3? Black continues the logic of exchanging pieces, hoping for a quick draw, but gets into surprising difficulties after this. [ 17...xa1 18.xa1 d7! would have achieved his objective. ] 18.c6 d6 19.e5 d7 The queen is short of squares, and the only other possibility was [ 19...d5+ when 20.e4 b5 21.xa3 xa3 22.e7+ h8 23.xf6 wins material, as gxf6? 24.b2 is decisive as it menaces 522
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the rook and (more importantly) Qxf6 mate. ] 20.xa3! xa3 21.xf6 gxf6 22.b2 This is the point, the queen forks the rook and t h e f 6 - p a w n . fa8 There is nothing better. 23.xf6 d5+? The only move was [ 23...e8 when 24.c4 (threatening Rg4+ and mate) e5 (to cover g4 with the queen) 25.xe5 d5+ checks and attacks the knight at the same time, which gives Black time to defend, 26.f3 e6 and Black is clearly worse, but still fighting. ] 24.e4 xd3 [ 24...d6 looks better, but still loses, 25.e5 d5+ 26.h3 e8 27.c4 and Black has to give his queen to avoid mate. ] 25.e7+ f8 26.xc7 Mate follows after [ 26.xc7 xe4+ 27.h3 ] 1-0
533 Durarbayli,Vasif Yu,Yangyi World Teams 2013 (7.5) [Fier, Alexandr]
A14 2559 2668 03.12.2013
W hite's pawn sac was quite an interesting idea, much more active than the normal 15. Nb1 and it brought a lot of life to the game, but 16.Nxd5 was better and would be my recommendation in the position. Soon things went wrong and Black easily won the game. 1.c4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.g3 e7 4.g2 0-0 5.0-0 d5 6.b3 b6 7.b2 b7 8.e3 c5 9.e2 c6 10.d1 dxc4 11.bxc4 c7 12.c3 a6 [ 12...fd8 can also be tried here, and after 13.ac1 a5 14.d3 a6 with the same idea as in this game, and it was seen last year in Kvon, A (2492)-Sargissian, G (2693)/ Istanbul ol (Men) 40th 2012 (8.4). ] 13.ac1 fd8 14.d4 An ambitious approach. [ 14.d3 is also natural, trying to expand a f t e r w a r d s w i t h f 4 a7 ( 14...a5 wou ld tra ns pose t o Sargissian's gam e) 15.d2 xg2 16.xg2 c6 was Lahno, K (2548)-Kosintseva, T (2517)/Geneve FIDE GP (Women) 2013 (9). ] 14...a5 15.d5!? An new idea in the position. W hite give s a p awn in order t o ope n th e position - Black should not underestimate
White's attacking potential. [ 15.b1 is sometimes played, defending c4 a n d g o i n g w i t h t h e k n i g h t t o d 2 ac8 16.bd2 e4 17.b3 xb3 18.axb3 was recently seen in Wiedenkeller, M (2479)Kreisl, R (2408)/EU-Cup 29th Rhodes 2013 (1.2). ] 15...exd5 16.cxd5 xd5 17.e4 The computer doesn't like this move, but the position is not easy to understand. Changing the knights instead of 17.Ne4 could hold the balance, but with good practical chances. [ 17.xd5!? xd5 18.xd5 it looks like White is exchanging too many pieces, but it won't be a dead draw so early xd5 19.e5 A) 19...xe5 loses an exchange 20.xe5 xe5 21.xa8 with a clear advantage; B) 19...dd8 is already losing to 20.xf7! this theme will be seen in other variations xf7 21.h5+ f8 ( 21...g8 22.d5+ h8 23.e4 is j u s t m a t e) 22.xh7 and Black is not able to deal with the attack, for example: d6 23.d5 e8 to run away to e7-d8 with the king 24.d1 and Black's position is completely hopeless; C) 19...ad8 this is basically the only move 20.xf7!? a dangerous idea, and it's easy for Black to make a step in the wrong direction ( 20.xd5 is a solid option, but d oesn 't b ring any adva ntage xd5 21.xa6 f8 and Black is fine ) C1) 20...xf7 is not possible, and reminds me of the old Figatello 21.xd5+ xd5 22.f3+ e6 23.g4+! precise d6 24.e4 and the king is too exposed to survive g5 25.d1+ c6 26.e6+ b5 27.a4+! White needs to open the a-file ( 27.b1 a4 and suddenly the attack is over ) 27...xa4 28.a1+ b5 29.b1 winning; C2) 20...d2 C2a) 21.h5 is also interesting xb2 22.e4 C2a1) 22...g6 23.xg6 f6 ( 23...hxg6 24.xg6+ f8 25.h6 with a brutal attack) 24.xh7+ f8 25.h6+ g7 26.xd8! xd8 ( 26...xh6 27.e6++- ) 27.f4+ g8 28.f7+ h8 29.f5 d2 523
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 30.h3+ g8 31.e6+ with a perpetual; C2a2) 22...f8 23.xd8 xd8 24.d1 f6 25.xh7 with dangerous compensation, probably Black can defend, but the position is easy for White to play; C2b) 21.g4 leads to an entertaining draw xf7 22.xg7+ e8 23.f3 xb2 24.h5+ d7 25.g4+ ( 25.d1+ c8 is em barra ssin g) 25...c6 26.f3+= ]
complications. 20.f3? [ 20.c2 is the computer suggestion but without any concrete plan, b6 ] 20...dxe3 Now it's over 21.xd8+ xd8 22.f6+ xf6 23.xf6 xg2 24.xd8 xd8 25.d1 [ 25.xg2 maybe White was counting on this move, but White is paralyzed after f6 26.e1 c6 if the queen leaves the e-file 27...Ne5 is decisive, so there is nothing to do ] 25...f6 26.e8+ g7 27.d8 xf3 28.f8+ f6 29.d7 d5 30.h8+ f5 17...b5 [ 17...c6! was the best move, trying to 31.g4+ xg4 32.h3+ xh3 bring the queen to e6 and also threatening 0-1 18...Qb5 18.a1 ( 18.e5 e6 and it's not clear how W hite is going to A14 continue the attack) 18...h6 19.e1 e6 534 and there is not enough compensation for Filippov,Valerij 2639 the pawn ] Grischuk,Alexander 2719 18.h4? Trying to go to f5 and force Black to FIDE WCh KO Tripoli LBA (3.6) 24.06.2004 open the long diagonal for White's bishop, but [Tony Kosten] there are no real threats on the diagonal, so this move is not so effective. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 e7 [ 18.fg5 was more to the point 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 c5 7.e3 c6 8.cxd5 A) 18...xg5 19.xg5 h6 20.xd5! [ 8.b2 is more common, b6 9.c3 b7 again this idea, but now connected with 10.e2 and now we looked at dxc4 11.bxc4 the h7 square instead of f7 xd5 21.d3 b4 in Bareev-Kramnik last month. ] hxg5 22.xd5 and the bishops are really 8...xd5 9.b2 b6 10.d4 dangerous. Black needs to give the [ 10.c3 f6 ( 10...b7 11.xd5 e x c h a n g e b a c k f8 23.f5 xd5 was considered in a note to the ( 23...ac8? 24.xc5 wins ) 24.xd5 b7 aforementioned game.) 11.d4 xc3 25.xg5 f6 26.f5 and White is slightly 12.xc3 b7 13.c1 1/2-1/2 Hartung better; Ni e ls e n , J -M a k si m o vi c, B / C o p e n h a g e n B) 18...c4 19.xg7 more or less forced, 1989. ] but good xg7 20.g4 xg5 21.xg5 10...a6! More active than I p r e f e r t h i s o n e ( 21.xg5+ [ 10...b7 which would transpose to more is also possible, but Black can have some normal lines. ] a d v a n t a g e a f t e r h8 22.f6 e5 11.e1 cxd4 23.xd5 one more time this move xd5 [ 11...db4 has never been played, but has 24.h6 f5 25.xd5 xd5 26.e4 its points, ...Nd3 is an annoying threat. ] t h i s i s t h e i d e a b e h i n d 2 3 . R x d 5 g6 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 With the symmetric 27.xg6 hxg6 28.xd5 and in the structure it seems at first glance that a draw is endgame these pa ssed pawns on th e not far off. c8 The rook leaves the exposed q u e e n s i d e c a n b e e n o u g h f o r s o m e h1-a8 diagonal. 14.d2 White can also try to advantage ) 21...h5 22.e6+ f6 bring his rook to d2 by 23.xc7 hxg4 24.xa8 xa8 25.e4 [ 14.a3 when f6! ( 14...d7 15.a2 fd8 b2 26.d2 c4= ] 16.d2 is only slightly better for Black, 18...g6 19.a1 c4 And with two simple Zivkovic,V-Vuksanovic,S/ Vrnjacka Banja moves White's attack is completely neutralized. 1996 ) 15.a2 xd4 16.xd4 c3! W ithout a clear path W hite got lost in the 17.xd8 fxd8 18.xc3 xc3 524
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 wit h p re s s u r e o n t h e wh i t e qu e e n sid e , Maninang,R-Fernandez Garcia,J/Luzern 1982. ] 14...f6 Once again Black aims to control the c 3 - s q u a r e . 15.e4 xd4 16.xd4 f5! A powerful novelty, Black weakens e5 and e6, but wins control of c3 for his knight. [ 16...e7 17.ac1?! ( 17.ec1 is right, keeping the a-pawn defended) 17...a3 ( 17...f5! ) 18.cd1?! ( 18.d2 ) 18...c2 with a useful initiative, Pham Toan ThanhSaevareid,O/Bergen NOR 2002. ] 17.d2 c3 18.f1 [ 18.xd8 fxd8 19.f3 keeps White's position solid, but Black is clearly on top. ] 18...xf1 19.xf1 xd4 Black gives White an IQP, but also opens the e-file and exposes the e6-pawn. Perhaps [ 19...e5 20.xd8 fxd8 offers more, 21.c4 e4 with a small space advantage. ] 20.exd4 b5 21.f3 c3 22.g2? Astounding, White misses a simple tactic, [ 22.a4! is fine, xf3 ( 22...d6 23.g5 xb3 24.xe6 can only be good for White) 23.axb5 f4! 24.g4 xb3 25.xe6 xb5 26.xa7 f3 with a likely draw. ] 22...xf3! Winning a pawn. 23.xf3 xd4+ 24.f4 c2 The sting that regains the exchange. 25.ac1 xe1 26.xe1 f7 Black has a solid extra pawn, the backward e6p a wn is h i s o n e p ro b le m . 27.c1 f6 The king covers e5, and prepares ...e5 or ... g5. 28.e3 What else? If [ 28.c7 Black simply plays f7 29.c6 g5+ 30.e3 g4 ] 28...g5 29.b4 f7 30.c8 d7 31.a4?! White doesn't defend the position too well, [ 31.f4 should be played, for better or worse, as at least ...e5 is inhibited. ] 31...g4! This move leaves the white kingside pawns completely crippled. 32.b5 e5 33.c4 d6 34.h3!? It is always a good idea to exchange some pawns. gxh3 35.h4 [ 35.d4+ e7 36.h4 seems more accurate, keeping the black king further from the queenside. ] 35...c7 36.d3 c1 Black searches for activity. 37.xh3 a1 The beginning of the e n d f o r W h i t e , h e i s t ie d t o t h e a -p a wn . 38.h4 [ 38.xh7 xa4 is no help, the b5-pawn is
soon lost. ] 38...a3+ 39.e2 d5 40.f1 e5 41.g2 e4 Cutting the rook from the a4-pawn forces the exchange of h-pawn for a-pawn. 42.xh7 xa4 43.h3? White should at least try [ 43.h5 e6 44.h6+ e5 45.h5 f6 46.h6+ g5 47.h7 when the black king i s f o r c e d t o s t a y o n t h e k i n g s i d e , a5 and Black will probably have to exchange the a7-pawn for the b5-pawn, although this should win. ] 43...a2 44.h4 [ 44.g2? e3 ] 44...xf2 [ 44...e3! wins on the spot. ] 45.xa7 c5 46.f7 f3 Black will capture on b5 with a trivial win. 0-1
535 Galyas,Miklos Paridar,Shadi FSIM June Budapest HUN (13) [John Watson]
A14 2444 2263 16.06.2005
1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 c5 7.b2 c6 8.e3 b6 9.c3 a6 10.e2 c8 11.d3 [ 11.b5!? was played in the instructive game Botvinnik-Bakulin, USSR 1967: b7 12.d3 a6 13.c3 c7 14.fd1 d7 15.cxd5! xd5 16.xd5 exd5 17.d4 e8 18.d2 cxd4 19.xd4 e5 20.ad1 c5 21.a3 a5 22.b5 c6 23.a4 a8 24.d4! ] 11...e5?! This is a tactically-based attempt to free Black's game at once, but it doesn't quite work. Instead, the modest [ 11...d7 has been played several times a n d s e e m s s o l i d e n o u g h , e . g . , 12.fd1 ( 12.ad1 fd8 13.fe1 d4?! 14.exd4 xd4 15.xd4 cxd4 16.e4 xe4 17.xe4 Hjartarrson-Belyavsky, Linares 1 9 8 8 , b u t 1 3 . . . Q e 8 w a s e q u a l - E C O) 12...fd8 13.ac1 e8 14.h3 b7 15.cxd5 xd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.e5 dd8 18.g4 with a slight initiative, Panchenko-Kharlamov, Smolensk 1986. ] 12.xd5! xd5 13.cxd5 e4 [ 13...b4 14.xe5 f6 15.c4 ] 525
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.d2! b4 18.c2 b7 19.a1 xa1 1/2-1/2 Roeder[ 14...xd3 15.g4 is White's point, Baklan, Saint Vincent 2003. ] although d4! 16.exd4 f5 17.h5 xf1 9.d3 18.xf1 g6 19.e2 f6 is only somewhat [ 9.c2 bd7 10.fb1 b4 11.d1 e7 better for White after 20.f3 cxd4 21.fxe4! 12.c2 d6 13.d3 axb3 14.axb3 xa1 d3 22.xd3 xb2 23.exf5 gxf5 24.c4 15.xa1 e5 16.e3 g6 17.d4 e4 18.d2 g7 25.xf5 ] Pribyl-Weglarz, Decin 1998. ] 15.g4 g6 16.dxe4 xf1 17.xf1 9...bd7 Now White has a huge centre and two bishops [ 9...a6 10.c2 b6 11.b1 axb3 12.axb3 along with two pawns for the exchange. The b4 13.c3 xc2 14.xc2 b7 15.a1 rest is easily understandable: d3 18.a1 d7 16.xa8 xa8 17.a1 Bofill Masf6 19.xf6 xf6 20.e2 b4 21.c4 b5 Hoensch, Banyoles 2004 ] 22.e5 a6 23.d6 b8 24.a1 a5 10.c2 b4!? 25.d2 c7 26.f4 a5 27.a3 a6 28.e4 [ 10...axb3 11.axb3 b4 12.d1 c4 29.d6 a7 30.b4 fd8 31.c3 axb4 and Nc2 follows perhaps W hite is a tad 32.axb4 b6 33.f6+ f8 34.d5 better. ] [ 34.d5 a7 35.xa6 xa6 36.e6 11.fc1 h6 and checkmate follows. ] [ Le ss casu al is 11...e7 12.b1 e5 1-0 ( 12...axb3 ) 13.cxd5 a3 14.c3 xd5 ] 12.d1 e8 13.c2 f8 14.b4! Black's play has been generally passive, 536 A14 although his position is solid enough. After 14. Ivanchuk,Vassily 2739 b4 we have the classic Reti tension between Asrian,Karen 2611 flank and centre. e5 15.a3 b5! Generally this 6th EICC Playoff (1.1) 02.07.2005 move is a bit awkward for White because c5 allows Black free rein in the centre. 16.c5 [John Watson] c7 17.d2 g6 18.e4 d4?! [ 18...g7 ] The ...a5-a4 system of the traditional main line of the Reti has always done well, so it's 19.e2 g7 20.f1 f8 21.ae1 h5? interesting to see how Ivanchuk handles it. Weakening. Black is losing the thread. 22.f4 1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 e7 exf4 23.xd4!? [ 23.gxf4! d5 24.e5 ] 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 a5 [ 6...c5 7.b2 c6 8.e3 reverts to the main 23...e6 [ 23...g4! ] line. ] 24.xf6 xf6 25.e5 g5 26.d4 7.b2 a4 8.a3 Directly blocking the [ 26.e4! intending xe5? 27.xg5 xg5 advance of the pawn. White has gained time 28.xc6 ] but at the cost of putting the awkward knight 26...fxg3 27.hxg3 xd2 28.xd2 g7 on a3. 29.d5! cxd5 30.xd5 e6 31.xa8 xa8 [ 8.d3 ] 32.d6 Black has nothing for the pawn and [ 8.bxa4 and ] [ 8.c1 have all been played with indifferent goes on to lose. 1-0 success. ] 8...c6 In some games Black has achieved ... b5 so White has to be on the lookout for that idea. [ Black puts his knight on d7 in this game, so it's worth seeing another example: 8...bd7 9.d3 ( 9.d4 e4 10.c2 ) 9...b6 10.c1!? ( 10.e3 b7 11.c2 ) 10...b7 11.c2 c5 12.b1 axb3 13.axb3 c7 14.e3 c6 15.cxd5 xd5 16.e4 5f6 17.e3 fd8 526
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 537 Kosten,Anthony C Grimberg French League [Tony Kosten]
A14
24.03.2012
1.c4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 f6 [ 3...c5 4.g2 c6 5.0-0 e7!? was an interesting idea to dissuade White from playing b3, 6.e3!? ( my opponent was doubtless hoping for 6.cxd5 exd5 7.d4 f6 transposing to the Tarrasch - but as I'd seen that he likes to play this I naturally wanted to take him out of his 'comfort zone'.) 6...f6 7.b3 e4!? continuing with the plan of stopping White from playing his queenside f i a n c h e t t o , ( 7...0-0 is normal, of course, 8.b2 transposing to the main game.) 8.b2 f6 9.xf6!? a novelty, and played after considerable reflection the move before. ( 9.d4 is the obvious reply, but then 0-0 10.cxd5 exd5 11.c3 returns play to a QGD Tarrasch once more, and would be much more to my opponent's liking!; 9.c1 was a reasonable alternative, Makarov, M (2505)-Vekshenkov, N (2295)/ Novosibirsk 1989. ) 9...xf6 ( 9...xf6 is worse, 10.c3 xc3 11.dxc3 dxc4 12.d2 as cxb3?! 13.e4 e7 14.d6+ ) 10.cxd5 xd5 11.d4 cxd4 12.xd4 f6 ( I had been expecting 12...d7 which is close to equal.) 13.d2! a n i c e t r i c k , xd4 14.e4 the point, f3+ 15.xf3 e5 16.c1 d7 to play ...Bc6. ( 16...0-0 is safer, 17.c5 b6 18.d3 with a small advantage.) 17.d2! heading for c4, 0-0 18.c4 f6 19.e4! A) 19...b4 was pretty much forced, 20.e5 ( 20.xd7? xf3 ) 20...e7 21.xb7 ab8 22.d6! winning a pawn.; B) 19...c3?? p l a y e d q u i c k l y , 20.e5! simply winning, xd1 21.exf6 the knight is trapped, Kosten, A (2498)-Wheeler, D (2272)/England 2011. ] 4.g2 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 c5 7.b2 c6 8.e3 b6 9.c3 a6!? An ambitious move, pinning the c4-pawn. [ 9...b7 is the mainline and is 3 times more popular. ] 10.d3 [ 10.e2 c8 11.d3 transposes, and I don't know if W hite can gain any advantage by
delaying this by, say ( 11.fd1 as Black can play d4 12.exd4 cxd4 13.b5 d3 and White soon had a quite a bad position in Botvinnik, M-Van Scheltinga, T/ Amsterdam 1966. )] 10...c8 11.e2 c7!? This move is very rare, but seems very logical - the rook is coming to d7 to press on the d-file. [ 11...e5?! was Galyas, M-Paridar, S, analysed by John W atson - see the PGN Archive. ] [ 11...c7 is by far the most popular at this juncture. ] 12.ad1 Normally the other rook would come here, but I realised I would need it on the f-file later on. [ 12.fd1 d7 13.b5 b8 14.a4 b7 15.d4 led to a quick draw in Makarichev, S (2 5 05 ) -Marjan o vic, S (2 51 5 )/ S ara je vo 1982. ] 12...d7 13.h4!? This seems to be new here, but I like this idea which gives Black something to worry about on the kingside White might play cxd5 and then Nf5. [ 13.e1 b7 14.d2 dxc4 15.bxc4 a8 16.f4 fd8 17.f3 with interesting play in Sulava, N (2430) -Zelcic, R (2450)/Cattolica 1993. ] 13...e8 Freeing a retreat square for the bishop, and also placing the rook opposite the white queen. [ I had expected 13...b7 as the bishop has done its job on a6 and was now 'biting on granite', 14.cxd5 xd5 ( 14...exd5 15.f5 but d4 is fine. ) 15.xd5 xh4 ( 15...exd5 16.f5 f6 17.d4 ) 16.f4 f6 but this looks f airly equal, W hite might try 17.d4 cxd4 18.h5!? ] 14.f4 This was why I left the rook on f1, the threat is f5. g6!? This is like waving a red flag at a bull! [ 14...b7 has to be best, otherwise Black can never move his d-pawn as the c6-knight would be left hanging. 15.f3 with a tense position, but where Black is certainly not worse. ( 15.f5 can now be answered by d4 )] 15.f5!! With the c6-knight still loose and the dpawn pinned this is definitely the right time to start the attack, White can't afford a moment's hesitation. exf5 16.xf5! [ 16.xd5 is n o t th e id e a a t a ll, xd5 527
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.xd5 xd5! 18.cxd5 xd5 with a pawn and excellent play for the exchange. ] 16...gxf5 [ 16...f8 was the only other sensible alternative, 17.xd5 xd5 18.xd5 xd5! 19.cxd5 xd5 20.g4!? ( 20.h4 ) 20...xd3 21.g5 with the exchange and an attack. ] 17.xf5 The key position, White has a pawn for his piece, and will soon get a second as the d5-pawn is still pinned, but most important he has opened the black king position - the bishop on b2 points menacingly at g7. d6 A good move, the rook can block on g6 if necessary. Black had to be very careful: [ 17...b7? would lose to 18.xd5 xd5? 19.g4+ ] [ 17...f8? 18.xd5 xd5 19.xf6 ] 18.xd5 During the game I played this because it 'felt' right, although both I and my opponent thought that perhaps [ 18.cxd5 was objectively stronger, b4 ( 18...b8 19.e4 ) 19.a3 xd3 20.xd3 xd3 21.xd3 and this does indeed look unpleasant for Black. ] 18...c8 Absolutely the only move, anything else and White would play Rdf1 and then take on f6. 19.g5+!! I played this after a great deal of t hought, a s th e ro ok will b ecom e t ra p p e d . N o n e o f t h e a lt e rn a t i ve s r e a ll y appealed to me, though: [ 19.f4 xd5 20.xd5 xd5! 21.cxd5 xd5 ] [ 19.df1!? xf5 20.xf5 h6 21.f3 xd5 22.cxd5 g5! ] 19...f8 20.f1 h6 This was the basis of my opponent's defence, the rook is attacked and has no safe escape. 21.xf6! The first point. xf6? Obvious but losing. [ 21...hxg5? is also bad, as 22.h7+ g8 23.h5 forces mate. ] [ but 21...xf6 wa s e s s e n t i a l , 22.d5! ( in the post mortem we spent a long time looking at 22.d5 xf1+! and were unable t o d e c i d e w h i c h r e c a p t u r e w a s b e s t !) 22...e6! ( 22...hxg5? 23.h5 ) 23.xf6 xf6 24.h5 e5! 25.xh6 g4 and Black is still in the game. ] 22.h5! The second point, now Black is quite lost. ee6 The f6-bishop is pinned, and [ 22...hxg5 23.h6+ e7 24.xf6+ d7
25.h3+ c7 26.xd8+ wins the queen. ] 23.xh6+ e7 24.gf5 The bishop on f6 is pinned and lost. [ 24.gf5 I had actually expected my opponent to try the trick d4 when I'd planned A) 25.xd4 cxd4 26.d5 is also decisive,; B) even the blunder 25.exd4? isn't that bad: xd4+ 26.xd4 xh6 27.xf7+ e6 ( 27...e8 28.f8+ d7 29.xd8+ xd8 30.e3 ) 28.g7 with some nasty t h r e a t s, a n d m a yb e so m e a d v a n t a g e despite only having a piece for the queen!; C) 25.5f2 g8 26.exd4 xd4 27.h4+ f6 28.xd4 ] 1-0
538 Kosten,Anthony C Horvath,Csaba 20th ECC Izmir TUR (2) [Tony Kosten]
A14 2519 2565 04.10.2004
1.c4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.e5 bd7 last month I described this as 'a sensible alternative' 7.d4 c6 8.d2 xe5 9.dxe5 d7 10.f3 b6 11.cxd5 exd5 [ 11...exd5 Dorfman thought I may have some advantage after 12.c2 g4 13.h3 h5 14.d4 g6 15.f5 but I was d o u b t f u l a b o u t t h is , e8 16.e4 f6 and W hite's pieces seem a bit loose, so I was happy to take the draw. ] ½-½
539 Kosten,Anthony C Landa,Konstantin FRA-chT Top 16 GpA (5) [Tony Kosten]
A14 2511 2641 11.04.2008
1.c4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.b3 b6 4.g3 b7 5.g2 e7 6.0-0 0-0 7.b2 d5 8.e3 c5 9.c3 I've had this position many times. c6 This and [ 9...dxc4 10.bxc4 c6 are the most 528
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ambitious, ] [ 9...bd7 is the most solid, and is well covered in the PGN Archive. ] 10.cxd5 The normal move here. [ 10.e2 leaves Black too many options, such as d4 ( or 10...dxc4 )] 10...xd5 [ 10...exd5 11.d4 is also very common, but scores well for White. ] 11.xd5 exd5 [ I've actually had the position after 11...xd5 12.d4 mu c h mo re o f t e n myse lf , ad8 ( I also discussed 12...a5!? in the game Socko, B-Klovans, J - see the PGN Archive. ) 13.e5 leads play down a long forcing line, d6 ( 13...xg2+?! 14.xg2 xe5+ can't possibly be correct, can it? 15.f3 cxd4 16.exd4 c6 17.e2 d5 18.ac1 fd8 but Black actually managed to draw in Ehlvest, J (2606)-Nakamura, H (2701)/Saint Louis 2009 - perhaps W hite had a few drinks beforehand?!) 14.dxc5 xc5 15.d7 critical, ( 15.e2 xe5 16.xb7 is nothing for White, although Kaspa rov once pla yed it .. . in a s imul!) 15...f5 16.e4 g5 (Black doesn't want to allow White to unpin with Qg4.) 17.h4 h6 18.c1 g5 19.hxg5 g7 20.f6+ ( 20.e5!? h8 21.f4 a3 22.b4 xb4 Rath, U (2395)-Flear, G (2390)/Esbjerg 1982, 23.c1!? c5 24.c3 to d3. ) 20...xf6 21.gxf6 g6 22.e2 d4 23.d3 xf6 24.a3 1/2-1/2 Makarichev, S (2510)-Servat, R (2455)/Valencia 1990. ] 12.d4 a6!? 13.e1 c4 This whole idea was knew to me, although my opponent told me that he had prepared it and thought it was fine f o r B l a c k . 14.bxc4 xc4 15.d2 a5 16.c3 b5 17.xc4 xc4 Black has conceded the bishop pair, but his knight is strong and he has a useful 2-1 queenside majority. 18.b1! After much thought I played a new move. Previous tries: [ 18.h5 c8! 19.ac1 Rodriguez Cespedes, A (2470)-Borm, F (2260)/ Amsterdam 1978, b4 20.a1 f5 equal. ] [ 18.b3 d7 19.ec1 fc8 20.e1 ab8 Bla ck h as no p ro b le m s, Maka rich ev, S (2540)-Pushkov, N (2485)/Moscow 1994. ] 18...b8 19.h5 I couldn't resist having a prod at the weak d5-pawn, but perhaps I
should have ignored this and played [ 19.e4!? dxe4 20.xe4 which opens the position for the bishops. ] 19...b4 20.a1 b5 [ 20...f5!? ] 21.e4 Attacking the pinned d5-pawn, and undermining c4. [ 21.e2 a3 22.bc1 was also worthy of consideration. ] 21...a3 22.e2 dxe4?! [ 22...xb1 23.xb5 c3 looks equal, after 24.xc3 bxc3 there are opposite colour bishops. ] 23.xe4 f6 24.bc1 b6 25.c6! xd4 Agreed drawn, [ , but perhaps I should have played on as 25...xd4 26.ed1 c7 27.e4 c3 28.xh7+ xh7 29.xc3 bxc3 30.d3+ g6 31.xc3 wins a pawn. ] ½-½
540 Kosten,Anthony C Luther,Thomas Aut chT0809 Graz (5.4) [Jonathan Rowson]
A14 2514 2536 23.01.2009
Most of the major notes in what follow are taken from a theoretical article by Tony Kosten in Everyman's book "Dangerous W eapons: Flank Openings." 1.c4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.b3 f6 4.b2 e7 5.g3 0-0 6.g2 c5 The main move here. [ 6...b6 and ] [ 6...a5 are the main alternatives. ] 7.0-0 c6 [ 7...d4 8.b4!? ( 8.e3 c6 9.exd4 cxd4 10.e1 transposes. )] 8.e3 Preparing Qe2, Rd1 and d4. Once the queen lands on e2, d4 becomes difficult due to exchanging on d4 f ollowed by Ne5. d4 9.exd4 cxd4 I have never played this line with either colour, but I have always found it a bit surprising that Black, already trying to 'catch up' can take time to grab space with d4. The idea is to snuff out the bishop on b2, which might therefore have to move again. However, if White can find a way to show that the bishop is well placed on b2, as he does here, then this line begins to look ever so slightly 529
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 suspect. 10.e1 e8 The main line. In DWFlank Tony also covers the alternatives: [ 10...e8 11.a3 a5 12.d3 A) 12...f8 13.e5 xe5 14.xe5 d7 15.b5! Elegant, and keeping some initiative. A1) 15...e5!? 16.d2 ( 16.xb7 xb7 17.xb7 c5 18.b5 b8 19.a4 is probably even better.) 16...b8 17.b4 b6 18.bxa5 A1a) 18...a6 19.axb6 xb5 20.cxb5 xb6 21.b3 looks good for White. ( 21.a4 b4! ); A1b) 18...bxa5 and now White has various ways to play, but Tony Kosten suggests Rb1 is best, with some advantage.; A2) 15...c5 16.b4 axb4 17.axb4 xa1 18.xa1 a6 19.b3 c7 20.a5! another TK suggestion ( 20.e5 was worse, Vikulov, A-Pirozhkov, A/ Moscow 1995) 20...a6 21.a3! xb4 22.a8! c6 23.b5 with excellent compensation.; B) 12...c5 13.e5 xe5 14.xe5 c7 15.f4 d6 16.xd4! Tony's idea ( 16.e1 was Espig, L-Zaichik, G/Berlin East 1988) 16...xe5 17.xe5 with fully adequate compensation because of the centre and two bishops, but also due to the creative satisfaction of casually sacrificing the exchange. ] [ 10...d6 11.xd4 xd4 12.xd4 xg3 13.hxg3 xd4 14.c3 I prefer White here, though I think Black's play (normally ...a6 or ...Rd8) might be improved with h5!? ] [ 10...d3 11.c3 is now simplest. There is not much theory here, but I prefer White- all his pieces are happy and the d-pawn, which W hite can play around, should be a weakness in the long term. ( 11.a3 b6 Rybka- looks awkward, even if it may not be particularly good. )] 11.e5!? [ 11.d3 f6 12.a3 e5 13.c2 c7 14.a3 a5 15.d2 a6 ( 15...b8 16.b4 axb4 17.axb4 b5= ) 16.b4 and Tony remarks, somewhat cryptically, that he knows 'for a fact' that Black is fine in the ensuing complications. ] 11...xe5 12.xe5 f6 13.e1 e5
[ 13...c7!? 14.f4!? preventing e5, seems to be better for White. ( 14.d3 e5 )] 14.f4! exf4 [ 14...d6!? is not mentioned by Tony, but looks plausible to me. 15.fxe5 ( 15.f3!? is a more complex approach, though not obviously bad for Black after c7 ) 15...fxe5 ( 15...xe5 16.d3 followed by Nd2-f3 leaves the d-pawn looking weak.) 16.d3 f6 17.d2 and White seems to have a small but stable advantage. ] [ 14...c7 15.fxe5 fxe5 16.xe5 f6 17.e1 doesn't seem to give enough for the pawn. ] 15.f3! fxg3 16.d5+! h8 17.hxg3 xd5 [ In light of White's weakened king, I would try hard to avoid the exchange of queens. However, the queen on d5 is a strong piece, Black loses further time, and White's king is in no great danger. 17...c7 18.xd4 d6 19.c3 f5 20.f2 I guess White is still better here- all his pieces are more active. ] 18.xd5 d6 [ 18...c5 19.a3! xa3 20.xa3 d6 ( 20...c7 21.f3 and Re7 is coming.) 21.c2 f5 22.f2 is still better for Whitethe d-pawn will fall and White dominates the centre. ] 19.xd4 c7 20.f3 xg3 21.f2 xf2+ 22.xf2 d8 [ 22...e6 23.c3 b8 24.b5 a6 25.d6 d4 26.e7 with domination. ] 23.e7 e6 24.c3! Still following Tony's analysis. g8 [ 24...xd2+ 25.e3 d8 26.d1 f8 27.e4 ( 27.xb7!? ) 27...g5 28.xg5 fxg5 29.c5 seems to be no better for Blackhe has the familiar problem of being almost unable to move. ] 25.d5 f8 26.h5 g5 27.ae1 d7 28.d4 e8 [ 28...b5!? might be an improvement, and is at least more challenging for W hite e.g. 29.c5 e6! 30.1xe6 xe6 31.xe6 xd5 32.f3 f5 And Black is at least not worse. ] 29.xe8 xe8 30.xb7 xe1 31.xe1 f3+ 32.f2 xd4 33.e3 [ 33.c7 d8 34.xa7 h5 35.b4 when White is favourite in the race, but it's all a bit random. ] 33...f5+?! 530
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 33...c6! looks better. Partly to support a7, but mainly because the knight will be secure and relevant on e5, where it supports the kingside pawns, covers f7 and guards the queenside. W ith the rook on the seventh White is still somewhat better, but Black has more chances to resist. ] 34.f4 d6 35.d7 e8 36.c5 c8 37.b4 a5 [ 37...a6!? looks more tenacious, but Black remains very short of moves. ] 38.a3 axb4 39.axb4 h5 40.f5! a8 41.g6 And Black can only choose how soon he wishes to be mated. 1-0
541 Kosten,Anthony C Townsend,M Paul BCF-chTc 1112 (4NCL) (9.46) [Tony Kosten]
A14 2492 2255 07.05.2012
1.c4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 f6 4.g2 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 c5 7.e3 c6 8.b2 d4 This is an ambitious and strong move, but Black has to be happy playing a Benoni setup. 9.exd4 cxd4 10.e1 e8 11.d3 [ 11.a3 a5 12.d3 will transpose to the analysis below. ] 11...f8 [ In fact, in Delchev's book he only considers 11...c5 ("this is the best place for the bishop" - Delchev) when I analysed 12.a3 ( Delchev's 12.a3 to which he gives an exclamation mark, will transpose to the game. ) 12...a5 13.e5 xe5 14.xe5 c7 ( , b u t De lch e v p ref e rs 14...d6 (by transposition) 15.f4 b8 he now says this achieves "comfortable equality", giving the continuation 16.b4 axb4 17.axb4 xb4 18.a3 d7 19.b5 xb5 20.xb5 b6 ) 15.f4 d6 16.xd4! in DW-Flank. ] 12.a3!? Well, why not, after just having bought Delchev's book I thought I might as well give this a try! [ In 'Dangerous Weapons: Flank Openings' I gave 12.a3 a5 13.e5 as my preferred line, xe5 14.xe5 d7 15.b5 but here my opponent had prepared c5! (W hich I said was "rare, but possibly
s u p e r i o r " ) 16.b4 axb4 17.axb4 xa1 18.xa1 a6 19.b3 c7 20.a5 (my suggested improvement on the p r e v i o u s l y p l a y e d 2 0 R e 5 . ) ( 20.b6 offers to repeat: d5 21.b5 c7 22.b6 1/2-1/2 Horton, J (2147)-Hinojar Basa, A (2210)/Aragon 2008.) 20...a6 21.a3! xb4 22.a8 (so far this all my analysis from the DW-Flank book) a6 heading for c5 again. ( I'd only mentioned 22...c6 ) 23.b5 when White has some compensation for the pawn, but possibly not enough. ] 12...xa3 [ 12...e5 is possible, but 13.xf8 xf8 Moehring, G (2395)-Przewoznik, J (2370)/ Rzeszow 1988, 14.bd2! and the knight is better placed here, controlling e4, than on a3, or c2. ] 13.xa3 e5 14.c2 I played this immediately, after all it was in the new book I'd just bought (!), but if I write another DW book I would prefer [ 14.c5!? intending Nc4, as the knight is much better placed here than on c2. ] 14...a5 (To stop b4.) 15.a3 b8!? A logical move, defending b7 and possibly preparing ... b5. [ 15...h6! preparing ...Bf5, 16.d2 ( 16.b4 e4 17.dxe4 d3 is equal. ) 16...g4 is also good, and might be best, 17.f3 f5 18.e4 xe4 19.xe4 xe4 Peyrat, O (2345)-Brochet, P (2365)/Bagneux 2001, 20.xe4 f5 21.e1 e4 with advantage. ] [ Delchev briefly analyses the game Sherbakov, R (2541)-Grigoriants, S (2413)/ Mo sco w 1 9 9 9 , wh ich co n t in u e d 15...f5 16.h4 g4 17.d2 h6 "A critical position" - Delchev, and here he suggests 18.h3! d7 19.b4 axb4 20.axb4 xa1 21.xa1 However, he doesn't consider any of Black's 15th move alternatives. ] [ 15...d6 16.b4 axb4 17.axb4 xa1 18.xa1 f5 19.a3 is slightly better for W hite, Schwartzman, G (2455)-Flear, C (2195)/Parthenay 1993. ] 16.b4 axb4 Actually a new move. [ 16...b5?! is obviously weaker, though: 17.cxb5 xb5 18.a4 d5 19.b5 with a big advantage, Hutters, T (2390)Holst, P/Denmark 2001. ] 531
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.d4 ) 13.d1 ( 13.d4 c2 ); B) 10...d8 11.d1 Webb-Lambert, London 1977. The play might continue f5 12.d4 d7 13.bd2 ( or 13.d5 exd5 14.cxd5 a5 15.c3 b6 16.e4 h5 17.bd2 )] 10...h6 [ 10...a5 11.e5 ] [ 10...d8 is the most natural move. One example: 11.d1 e8 12.e1 g6 13.d4 f6 14.d5! xb2 15.xb2 exd5 16.cxd5 b8 17.c3 a5 18.d3 b6 19.e4 a6 20.e5 h6 21.f4 c4 22.f2 f6 23.xc4 xc4 24.e5 with a monstrous centre, Svensson-Korhonen, Jyvaskyla 1996. ] 11.d1 d8 12.e1 h7 13.d4 The point. 9...Qd3 was meant to tie down the d-pawn but there it goes. cxd4 14.exd4 d7 15.d5! exd5 16.cxd5 a5 17.c3 b6 18.d6 dc8 19.xa8!? Cute, but [ 19.d4 was a better way to advantage: f8 20.xa8 xa8 21.d2 etc. ] 19...xc3 20.xc3 f8 21.d5 xd5 22.xd5 g6!? [ 22...xd6 23.xf7+ xf7 24.xd6 b5 must still favour White's two rooks over the queen, but the game is obviously a long ways from the end. ] 23.f3!? [ An ambitious move, as opposed to 23.a3 542 A14 saving the d-pawn? ] Kostic,Vladimir 2439 23...xd6! 24.ac1! e6 Now Black's queen Brkljaca,Ante 2392 gets in trouble. [ But 24...g4 25.h4 h5 26.e4! Zepter Valjevo SCG (8) 18.06.2005 works out for White following xd1 27.c8+ [John Watson] f8 28.f5! f6 29.e7+ f7 30.g6+ ] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 e7 4.g2 0-0 25.h4 g4 26.d4? [ 26.xe6! xe6 27.xg7! is a nice trick 5.0-0 d5 6.b3 c5 7.b2 c6 8.e3 dxc4 base upon xg7 ( 27...xg3 28.hxg3 9.bxc4 d3 This position (after 9...Qd3) has xg7 29.d6! ) 28.xd6 xd6?? 29.f5+ ] scored about 70% for W hite, regardless of A complete hallucination! Black the response. Ultimately the problem is that 26...xd4?? Black has no advantages that to make up for would have been well on top after [ 26...e2! 27.xe6 ( 27.c3 c5 ) W h i t e ' s m o b i l e c e n t r a l m a j o r i t y . 10.c1 27...xe6 ] This has been seen about half of the time in master play. W hite protects his c-pawn and 27.xd4 xd5 [ 27...xd5 28.f5 ( 28.c8+ h7 29.f5 prepares Rd1 and Ne1 so as to expand in the a3 30.xg7 also wins ) 28...a3 29.c7 centre. is not worth playing out. ] [ My book gave 10.b3! A) 10...b4 11.e5 xb3 12.axb3 d8 1-0 ( 12...c2 13.a5 d8 14.c1 b4
17.xb4 Maybe an inaccuracy, but I was wondering what I was supposed to do with the c2-knight otherwise, and I kept remembering something that I saw in the Delchev book: "In my opinion, it is principally wrong to play with bad pieces in one's camp." [ Also 17.axb4 e4 ( 17...b5!? ) 18.dxe4 d3 looked uncomfortable to me, but maybe 19.e3 xb4 ( 19...g4!? 20.xg4 xg4 ) 20.b1 c6 21.d1 favours White slightly. ] 17...d6! 18.b1 d7 19.g5 xb4 20.axb4 c6 At this point I was wondering how I was supposed to play for a win. 21.b3 xg2 22.xg2 h6 23.e4 xe4 24.xe4 e6 Solidly doubling rooks on the e-file. 25.be1 be8 26.c5 c6 27.c4 Planning b5. b5! [ 27...f5?? loses to 28.b5 ] 28.cxb6 xb6 [ 28...xc4 29.dxc4 xb6 is probably also equal, 30.b5 c8 31.xe5 xc4 ] 29.b5 b7! 30.g1 c8 31.b4 c3 32.xe5 xe5 33.xe5 c1+ [ I w a s h o p i n g f o r 33...f3?! 34.b6 when the b-pawn is running. ] 34.e1 xe1+ 35.xe1 xb5 36.e4 d7 37.g2 f6 38.h4 ½-½
532
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 543 Kramnik,Vladimir Ezat,Mohamed World Teams 2013 (9.1) [Fier, Alexandr]
A14 2793 2454 05.12.2013
Ezat tried a brave idea, sacrificing the queen for two pieces against Kramnik. Nakamura tried this move back in 2009 and he also drew. It's hard to believe that the sacrifice is enough for equality, but it is also not so clear how White should proceed to gain an advantage. In this game Kramnik actually blundered and got into trouble. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 e6 4.0-0 e7 5.c4 0-0 6.b3 An alternative to 6. d4, t ran sp osing in to th e Cat alan . c5 7.b2 c6 8.e3 b6 9.c3 b7 10.cxd5 xd5 11.xd5 xd5 [ 11...exd5 is also possible and after 12.d4 a6 13.e1 c4 14.bxc4 xc4 White is doing well - this was analyzed for ChessPublishing in Kosten, A (2511)-Landa, K (2641)/FRA-chT Top 16 GpA 2008 (5) ] 12.d4 ad8 [ 12...a5 was also analyzed on C h e s s P u b l i s h i n g 13.c1 ( 13.dxc5 this is supposed to be critical xc5 14.xd5 xd5 15.fd1 Miles, A (2595)-Short, N (2660)/BCF-ch 85th Torquay 1998 (11).) 13...fd8 14.a3 f5 with an interesting pos it io n in S ocko , B (2 55 4)-K lo va ns, J (2456)/ Skanska Open 2004 (7). ] 13.e5 xg2+ [ 13...d6 is the normal move and can lead to some interesting complications 14.dxc5 xc5 15.d7!? critical, but a hard move to make over the board. Still there are a lot of games in this position ( 15.e2 doesn't give much for White xe5 16.xb7 f6= ) A) 15...g5 is less precise and Black is in t r o u b l e a f t e r 16.h4 h6 17.c1 the rook is coming to c7 and Black has problems with the pin, Dizdar, G (2531)Carlsson, P (2430)/ Dos Hermanas op 5th 2006 (7). e5 18.g4 fe8 ( 18...f5 19.c4+ f7 20.d5 wins ) 19.fd1 with a big advantage for White; B) 15...f5 trying to make White play 16. e4 and close the bishop B1) 16.c1 there is just one game in this position, from 1980, but I think Black
should be careful to avoid getting into trouble B1a) 16...c5 17.b4!? and White wins an exchange in an ingenious way xb4 18.xb7 e5 19.c8! xc8 20.xf8 xf8 21.c4 and White should be slightly better; B1b) 16...b8 this is the most solid option 17.xb7 xd7 18.f3 d2 19.d4 xf3 20.xf3 f6 ( 20...xa2 21.a1 and White is going to recover t h e a -p a wn wit h so m e a d va n t a ge) 21.xf6 gxf6 22.c7 looks slightly better for White; B1c) 16...e5 this is the most forcing, and White needs to make a decision B1c1) 17.xf8 the most ambitious idea, entering into a queen against two rooks endgame xd1 18.fxd1 d4 basically necessary, to keep at l e a s t o n e f i l e c l o s e d ( 18...xf8 19.xc6 xc6 20.xc6 and with both files dominated White is clearly better ) B1c11) 19.exd4 xg2 20.xg2 e4 and the knight can't get out 21.g1!? ( 21.xh7 f3+ 22.g1 e3 23.fxe3 xe3+ is drawn ) 21...xf8 22.d5 h5 23.d6 e3 and the counterplay arrives just in time 24.fxe3 f3 Black will have a perpetual; B1c12) 19.xb7 e2+ 20.g2 B1c121) 20...xc1 21.e4! an important move g4 22.xc1 xf8 B1c1211) 23.c8 d7! 24.a3 ( 24.a6 e7 and everything is under control ) 24...xc8 25.xc8 xa3 with a draw; B1c1212) 23.c7! h5 24.xe5 and White's pieces a re t o o h a r m o n i o u s , B d 5 i s coming at some point with advantage for White; B1c122) 20...e4! 21.d7 ( 21.b1 doesn't bring anything for White f3+ 22.f1 xg3+ 23.hxg3 h1+ 24.e2 f3+ w i t h p e r p e t u a l , s i n c e 25.d2 533
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 loses to xf2+ 26.c1 xe3+ 27.c2 c5+ 28.c3 f6-+ ) 21...xc1 22.xc1 xd7 23.c8+ f8 24.a3 xc8 25.xc8 xa3 26.f5 and still with a pawn down this position should be drawn; B1c2) 17.xc6 this is a simpler way to play and here W hite also has a small initiative xc6 18.xc6 xd7 19.g4 xd1 20.gxf5 d2 21.xe5 xa2 22.d1 but with some good moves Black probably equalizes; B2) 16.e4 this is the main move and it looks like Black is holding on in this ext re m e ly co m p lica t e d p o sit io n g5 17.h4 h6 B2a) 18.c1 again this can be played, but now it's not so problematic b8 ( 18...e5 ) 19.xf8 ( 19.c7 gives nothing for White xd7 20.xd7 c6 21.xd8 xd8= ) 19...xd1 20.fxd1 xf8 21.d8 it looks funny, but in the end we are going to see an equal endgame c6 22.xc6 xc6 23.a3 g6 and the position should be drawn; B2b) 18.c1 this, on the other hand, is one of the advantages of the pawn being on e4 instead of e3 g5 forced ( 18...g6 19.h5 and the queen has no squares) 19.hxg5 g7 20.e5 h8 21.f4 and the chaos will continue for a long time. The position looks strange for Black, but there was a correspondence game that finished in a draw, so nothing is clear, Tienhoven, R (2410)-Endsley, B (2148)/RCCA 20, pr10 (RUS) 2013. ] 14.xg2 xe5+ 15.f3 cxd4 16.exd4 c6 17.c1 [ 17.e2 Ehlvest tries to activate the rooks wit h o u t lo s in g t i m e wi t h a 3 a n d b 4 d5 18.ac1 fd8 19.c4 sacrificing the e x c h a n g e t o c o n n e c t t h e p a w n s a6 o t h e r w i s e 2 0 . R f c 1 wo u l d b e a n n o yi n g 20.e4 xc4 21.bxc4 5d6 22.d1 f6 23.a3 xd4 24.xd4 xd4 and Black could somehow hold the endgame without too many problems in Ehlvest, J (2606) Nakamura, H (2701)/USA-ch Saint Louis
2009 (2). ] 17...d7 18.a3 This plan looks a bit slow. [ 18.c4!? could be another idea, in the style of Ehlvest's gam e fd8 19.c1 b4 20.c7 xa2 21.xd7 xd7 22.a1 b4 and with one roo k le ss t he e ndga me is supposed to be better for White ] 18...fd8 19.e2 f6 [ 19...xd4 gives White the chance to exchange one of the rooks 20.xd4 xd4 21.fd1 xd1 22.xd1 d5 ( 22...xd1 23.xd1 d5 24.b4 and Black cannot defend the pawns on the queenside properly ) 23.c2 and it will be hard for Black to defend the c-file, so White should be close to winning ] 20.b4 [ 20.fd1 would avoid Black's next move, but i t ' s n o t c l e a r i f i t ' s g o o d o r n o t xd4 21.xd4 xd4 22.c4 e5 and Black's position is hard to break, but probably White can change one pair of rooks ] 20...e5!? [ 20...xd4 could be a solid alternative. Black has no passed pawn, but both bishops are on excellent posts. And there is an interesting idea, if White tries to exchange th e roo ks o n th e c-f ile 21.xd4 xd4 22.fd1 e5 23.d2 trying to exchange a pair of rooks h6 24.dc2 e4!? this is the point 25.fxe4 e5 and it's not so clear what White's plan would be ] 21.d5 Now White can enter the seventh rank. xd5 22.fd1 d4 23.xd4 exd4 24.c7 c8 25.xa7 White can now create a passed pawn, but the d-pawn also becomes more d a n g e r o u s . d3 26.e4? Centralizing the queen looks natural, but the queen is also too exposed in the center. [ 26.f2 was more prudent h6 ( 26...e5 27.a8 with Rxc8 on the pocket) 27.a4 e8 28.e1 e6 29.c7 and White is controlling the advance of the d-pawn. Still the position is not so easy ] 26...e6 [ 26...e5! and here Black is already ok A) 27.xd3 de8! an important detail and W hite can't move the queen, since ( 27...xe4? 28.xd8+ xd8 29.fxe4 and Black has no way to deal with 30. Ra8 ) 28.c4 e2+ 29.h1 e1+ 534
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 30.g2 8e2# is mate; B) 27.c4 e6 28.c7 ( 28.a6 probably this is White's best choice c8 29.c4 e6 with draw ) 28...e2+ 29.g1 c2 30.f4 d2 and the d2-pawn is too dangerous. White already needs to be careful ] 27.a4?! Now it looks like White loses material, more or less by force. [ 27.d2 could be an interesting idea but B l a c k i s f i g h t i n g h6 ( 27...c3 is not possible, because d8 is not defended anymore 28.xd3 xd3 29.xd3 a n d W h i t e wi n s) 28.c7 and White is ho ld in g th e prom ot io n at te mp ts f or t h e moment, for example e5!? trying to use the e-f ile 29.f4 e8 30.c1 ( 30.xd3 White still needs to be careful e2+ 31.g1 g5 32.d4 h3 with a mate attack) 30...f5 31.f2 g5 32.xe5 xe5 33.f4 e4+ 34.g1 xf4 35.gxf4 e6 and White has slightly better chances ] 27...d2 28.e2 [ 28.c2 d4 29.b7 c4 30.xd2 ( 30.b1 g5 followed by 31...Rc1 wins) 30...xd2+ 31.xd2 g6 32.xb6 e7 and apparently White's passed pawns are only enough to bring a draw ] 28...d4 Threatening 29...Bb3 29.e3 h6 30.a5 bxa5 31.bxa5 d3 32.e2 b3 33.a8 White's only resource, since now W hite can get rid of the d2-pawn at least. xd1 34.xd3 xa8 35.xd2 d8 36.e3 I think Black has good chances in this endgame, even if the game showed something different. The a-pawn ties Black's pieces, but the bishop is still ok on the long diagonal and with a kingside expansion Black can create an attack. a4 37.a6 c6 38.a7 a8 39.f4 With the queen on b8 it's harder f o r B l a c k t o m o v e . g5 40.b8 g6 I don't like this move, now Black has no safe square for the dark squared bishop. [ 40...f8 41.b4+ e7 42.b8 h5 could be another idea ] 41.e5 f8 42.h4 d8 43.h5 Forcing Black to expose the king. gxh5 [ 43...g5 44.hxg6!? fxg6 45.h3 xf3 46.e6+ g7 47.d7+ g8 48.d3 threatening 49. Qxf3 is enough for a draw ] 44.xh5 g5 45.h3 g7 46.f4 f6
47.g4+ h8 48.f5 g7 49.g4 Now the position is already hard for Black to make any progress. They still kept fighting for a lot of moves, but with no big changes. d8 50.g3 e8 51.c5 d8 52.b5 c8 53.g5 hxg5 54.fxg5 a1 55.g6 Changing the last pawn. f6 [ 55...xg6?? 56.a6++- ] [ 55...fxg6?? 56.d7++- ] 56.gxf7 c3+ 57.g4 xf7 58.d7+ f8 59.h5 c6 60.d2 e7 61.b4+ d7 62.b5 e7 63.d5+ d6 64.g8 c8 65.f7+ c6 66.c4+ b7 67.b5+ c7 68.a5+ c6 69.a6+ d7 70.g5 c6 71.b6 f8 72.g6 a8 73.f6 f8+ 74.g7 c8 75.f6 e8 76.f7 d5+ 77.g6 e6+ 78.f5 e5+ 79.f6 e6+ 80.f5 e4+ 81.g4 g6+ 82.h5 g8 83.b5+ e6 84.e2 f5 85.f2+ e6 86.e3 f5 87.h3+ f6 88.h4+ f5 89.h3+ f6 90.h4+ e5 ½-½
544 Krasenkow,Michal Nakamura,Hikaru Casino Barcelona ESP (2) [Carsten Hansen]
A14 2668 2648 19.10.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 a5 7.c3 [ We haven't discussed this line before on Chesspublishing.com. Previously, in the July 2005 update, John discussed 7.b2 a4 8.a3 on the basis of the game IvanchukAsrian, which of course can be found in the PGN archives. As John points out, W hite has also tried a number of other continuations on move 8, but "with indifferent success" ] 7...c6 [ With this move and White's next, the game is taking on the outlines of a Closed Catalan, which is very solid f o r Black, but in m y opinion leaves White with excellent chances of obtaining the upper hand. In addition, Black has played the somewhat odd-looking ... a7-a5. I can hear the crowd yelling, what about 7...d4 for Black, which looks both obvious and pretty good. It sends White's 535
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 knight to b5, with no real target to play against or...? In actuality with the knight on b5 and if Black plays ...Nb8-c6, the position somewhat resembles those that can arise from the Schmid Benoni with the colours reversed, whereas if Black plays ... c7-c5, the knight is quite decently placed on b5. I n t e re s t in gly, in h is n o t e s t o t h e ga m e Nakamura doesn't even mention this option. Nevertheless, this line has of course been played numerous times, so let's have a look at it: 8.b5 A) 8...c5 9.e3 c6 10.exd4 cxd4 11.e1!? ( 11.d3 e5 12.e1 d7 13.a3 h8 14.b1 f6 15.d2 c5 16.e4 f5 Cs o m , I - Hu ss , A / S u h r 1 9 9 2) 11...d3?! ( 11...e8 12.b2 is also quite comfy for White, but pushing the d-pawn to d3 doesn't look like a particularly sensible thing to do.) 12.b2 c5 13.e5 b4 (This appears to be a good idea, but really isn't the knight quickly becomes vulnerable and doesn't have a good retreat square. 14.f1 a4 15.f3 b8 16.c3 b6 17.a3 b7? ( Or 17...c2 18.ab1 b7 19.xd3 xd3 20.xd3 xa3 21.xa3 xa3 22.a1 d6 23.xb7 xb7 24.xa4 , and White is a pawn up for nothing) 18.axb4! xf3 19.xf3 e7 20.c6 d7 21.xa4 (Did I hear anybody s a y d o m in a t io n ? B la ck is co m p le t e l y routed note that White at the moment only has two minor pieces for the queen, yet more is ready to be banked with W hite threatening Nxb8 and Ra7, to mention some of the most obvious issues a beautiful display by the Finnish International Master) b7 22.e5 c8 23.xb7 xb7 24.a7 e4 25.xe7 e2 26.f3 h5 27.c6 e4 28.cd4 1-0 Valkesalmi, K-Pulkkinen, K/Helsinki 1994; B) 8...c5 9.e3 B1) 9...e5!? is interesting if for no other re a so n t h a n 10.xe5 ( White's best is 10.exd4 exd4 11.b2 c6 12.e1 , and I prefer White, but the chances are probably about equal.) 10...c6 11.xd4 xd4 12.exd4 xd4 13.a3 xe5 14.d4 c7 15.xf8 xf8 is obviously fine for Black.;
B2) 9...c6 10.exd4 xd4 11.fxd4 xd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.b1 d8 14.e2 d3 15.xd3 xd3 16.e1 , and with the bishop pair, particularly the beast on g2, and more space, and has a clear advantage, Hauchard, AVidarsson, J/Istanbul 2000; C) 8...c6 C1) 9.b2 e5 10.e3 C1a) 10...c5 C1a1) 11.a3 b8 ( 11...g4 12.exd4 exd4 13.h3 f5 14.d3 e8 15.g4 g6 16.d2 ) 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 xb4 14.exd4 exd4 15.bxd4 xd4 16.xd4 g4 17.b3 c5 18.c3 e8 19.fe1 f8 was played in Reizniece, DZa t o n skih , A / W a rsa w 2 0 0 1 , a n d here 20.xe8 xe8 21.e3 d7 22.f3; C1a2) 11.exd4 exd4 ( 11...xd4 12.fxd4 xd4 13.xd4 exd4 14.f3 d6 15.fe1 b8 16.c5 xc5 17.f4 d6 18.xd6 cxd6 19.xd4 Paunovic, D-Lanzani, M/ Seville ESP 2007) 12.a3 ( 12.d3 g4 13.d2 e8 14.a3 xf3 15.xf3 e5 16.xb7 b8 , Manouck, T-Flear, G/St Chely d'Aubrac 2001, and now 17.g2 c6 18.f4 xd3 19.xd3 cxb5 20.cxb5 e3 21.c4 b6 ) 12...g4 13.h3 h5 14.d3 e8 15.d2 ( 15.g4!? g6 16.d2 ) 15...xf3 16.xf3 e5 17.xb7 b8 18.g2 c6 19.f4 xd3 20.xd3 cxb5 21.ad1 e3 22.f5 xb3 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Malaniuk, VNikitin, A/Smolensk 2000; C1b) 10...g4 11.h3 xf3 ( 11...h5 12.g4 g6 13.exd4 exd4 14.fxd4 xd4 15.xd4 c5 16.f5 xf5 17.d4! ) 12.xf3 d7? ( 12...d3 13.c3 d7 14.g4! ) 13.exd4 exd4 14.f4 fd8 15.xc7 xc7 16.xc7+Gabriel, J-Welker, M/ Germany 1993; C2) 9.e3 C2a) 9...e5 10.exd4 exd4 11.d3 g4 12.h3 h5 ( 12...e6!? ) 13.f4 c8 14.g4 g6 15.h4 d7 , Berezin, O536
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.cxd5 xd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.fd1 Nik it in , A / K h a rko v 2 0 0 0 , a n d n o w f6 15.g5 cxd4 16.xd4 xg2 16.f3 looks very pleasant for White; 17.xg2 d5+= Pineda, B-Escobedo C2b) 9...dxe3 10.dxe3 ( 10.fxe3?! Tinajero, A/Linares 1997; isn't as good, e.g. e5! 11.d4 g4 D) 9.e5 12.d2 e4 13.b2 ) 10...d7 D1) 9...fd7!? 10.f4 ( 10.f4!? xe5 11.b2 c8 12.a3 d8 13.c2 b8 11.xe5 d7 12.f4 ) 10...a6 14.e5 c6 15.c3 a6 16.e4 11.cxd5 cxd5= Hentunen, A-Pihlajasalo, ( 16.ad1!? e8 17.a4 c7 A/FIN 2001; 18.c5 ) 16...xe4 17.xe4 f5 D2) 9...a6 10.cxd5 ( 10.b2 fd7 18.g2 c7 19.ad1 Gross, S11.xd7 xd7 12.d3 b5 13.cxb5 Meister, Y/ Pardubice 1998; cxb5 14.xb5 b6 15.a4 fb8 C3) 9.d3 e5 10.e3 g4 11.h3 h5 16.fc1 f8 17.e4 xb5 18.axb5 12.g4 g6 13.exd4 exd4 14.f4 e8 xb5 19.xb5 xb5 Godes, D-Soffer, is usually given as unclear on account of R/Ramat Aviv 1998 20.c3 b6; 10.f4 t h e ga m e K o rt sch n o j, V -G e l f a n d , B fd7 11.xd7 xd7 12.a4 b7 Tilburg 1992, which Black won rapidly. 13.c1 Matjushin, G-Nasobin, A/St However, White has a pleasant position P e t e r s b u r g R U S 2 0 0 3) 10...cxd5 a t t h i s j u n c t u r e , e . g . 15.e2 a4 11.b2 a7 ( 11...fd7 12.xd7 xd7 16.ae1!? axb3 17.axb3 b4 18.c1 13.d2 b5 14.fc1 f6 15.c2 b8 , and I prefer White ] 16.ac1 h6 17.e3 Serafimov, T-Le 8.d4 bd7 Roux, J/ Clichy FRA 2003) 12.d2 b4 [ Black has tried several other things: A) 13.fc1 c7 14.a3 xc3 15.xc3 e4 8...b6 16.xe4 dxe4 17.b2 f6= Zueger, BA) 9.b2 a6 ( 9...b7 10.c2 bd7 Kurajica, B/Biel 1981 ] 11.fd1 b8 12.d2 c5 13.dxc5 xc5 [ B) 8...e4 9.xe4 dxe4 10.e1 c5 14.cxd5 exd5 15.f3 e8 16.e3 11.xe4 xd4 12.xd4 cxd4 13.b2 f6 1-0 Badea, B-Ciampi, V/Porto San Giorgio 14.d1 d8 ( 14...e5 15.f4 ) 15.c2 a4? 1998 ) 10.d2 a7!? ( 10...bd7 11.e4 16.xd4 Be717. b4 c6 17.b6+dxc4 12.e5 d5 13.bxc4 xc3 14.xc3 Ovetchkin, R-Glushenkov, F/Salekhard RUS b8 15.e1 Keres-BÃ|^ÂPÃ|^ÂPk 2006 ] Kemeri 1937 ) 11.c2 d7 [ C) 8...a4?! 9.xa4 dxc4 10.bxc4 a5 A1) Ribli gives the folllowing analysis in 11.b2 d8 12.c2 c5 13.dxc5 c6 ChessBase Magazine 12.fd1!? dxc4 14.d3 1-0 Rozhkov, V-Fedukin, A/ corr 13.xc4 xc4 14.bxc4 xd4 15.xd4 1990 ] xd4 16.e4 ( 16.d5!? c5 17.xe7+ xe7 18.b1 ) 16...d8 9.c2 [ 9.b2 b6 ( 9...b8 10.e5 xe5 17.d1; 11.dxe5 e8 12.d2 c7 13.fd1 b5 A2) 12.e3 c5 13.fd1 cxd4 14.exd4 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.f4 d7 16.e4 b4 c6 15.b5 b4 16.b1 b7 17.a3 17.e2 c6 18.h4 Van Wely, La6 18.d3 a8! Lautier, J-Kramnik, Cladouras, P/Munich 1992) 10.c2 a6 V/Cannes 1993; 11.d2 b5 12.fe1 bxc4 13.bxc4 c5 B) 9.c2 a6 10.d1 b5 11.c5 14.dxc5 xc5 15.ad1 c8 16.cxd5 ( 11.e5 fd7 12.xd7 xd7 13.e4 exd5 Sorokin, M-Magomedov, M/ bxc4 14.e3 b6 15.f4 f5 16.exf5 exf5 Cheliabinsk 1990 ] 17.f2 d7 18.b1 fe8 19.d2 d6 20.f3 cxb3 21.axb3 1-0 Ernst, S- 9...b6 [ Black has to play actively for instance Jonkman, H/Utrecht 1999) 11...b4 12.a4 9...e8?! i s t o o s l o w , e . g . 10.b2!? bd7 13.a3 b5 14.axb4 axb4 15.b2 ( 10.d1 b6 11.e4 dxe4 12.e5 b7 b8 16.e1 d8 17.d3 c7= 13.xe4 c7 14.b2 ad8 was played in Csom, I-Murugan, K/Wrexham 1996; Hernandez, T-Pazos, P/Varadero 2000, but C) 9.f4 b7 10.c1 bd7 11.d3 c5 537
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 after 15.g5! Black is in serious trouble: f8 16.h3 c8 17.exf7 xf7 18.xe6+- ) A) or 10...b6 11.d2 a6 12.e4 dxc4 13.xc4 b5 14.e3 b7 15.e5 d5 was Berkes, F-Sedlak, N/Balatonlelle 2000, and now 16.e4 h6 17.exd5 exd5 ( 17...cxd5 18.h7+ h8 19.d3 c6 20.a4+- ) 18.d3 b6 19.h7+ h8 20.f5 f8 21.e2; B) 10...b4 11.d2 b5 12.e4 bxc4 13.bxc4 a6 14.e5 g4 15.a3 xc3 16.xc3 c5 17.fe1 c8 18.d1 cxd4 19.xd4 h6 20.cxd5 Abramovic, BKosanovic, G/Belgrade 1991 ] 10.e4 [ 10.d1 is insufficient: a6 ( 10...b7?! 11.e4 a4 12.b1 axb3 13.axb3 dxe4 14.g5 a7 15.gxe4 xe4 16.xe4 a8 17.c5 Kosic, D-Gavric, M/Herceg Novi 1999 ) 11.e4 dxc4 12.bxc4 xc4 13.e5 ( 13.e5?! xe5 14.dxe5 d7 15.a4 b5 16.b2 c7 17.xc4 bxc4 18.f4 c5+ 19.h1 b6 20.b2 fd8 21.f5 xd1+ 22.xd1 d8 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.h3 xd1+ 25.xd1 e7 Nalbandian, T -A s ria n , K / Ye re va n 2 0 0 0) 13...d5 14.e4 b5 15.eg5 g6 16.h4 b6 17.h5 fc8 , and although White doesn't quite have enough compensation for the pawn, he still managed to swindle to win the game, Perez, R-Leyva, H/Holguin 1991 ] 10...a6 11.d2?! [ This has been played by some decent players before, but best seems 11.e5 e8 , and now 12.e2 ( 12.d1 dxc4 13.e4 cxb3 14.axb3 h6 15.g4 c7 16.g5 d5 17.gxh6 g6 18.eg5 e8 19.h4 xg5 20.xg5 f6 21.xe6 b4 22.b1 fxe5 23.xf8 xf8 24.a3 1-0 Nikcevic, NMazet, J/Paris 200001) 12...b5 ( 12...c7 13.d1 c8 14.f1 dxc4 15.bxc4 b5 Ager, J-Wolfsteiner, H/Bayern 2002 16.c5; 12...c8!? ( N a k a m u r a ) 13.d1 c7 is given as approximately equal by Nakamura, with him intending to play ...c6c5 on his next move. However, I quite like White's chances, e.g. 14.f4 c5 15.dxc5 xc5 16.e3 b7 17.a3 7a6 18.cxd5 exd5 19.h3 c7 20.b1 , and White is clearly better) 13.c5 b4 14.a4 ( 14.e1!?
xe2 15.xe2 c7 16.d2 b5 17.d3 c7 18.h4 Udovcic, M-Teschner, R/ Dortmund 1961) 14...bxa3 ( 14...f6 15.exf6 xf6 16.b2 e7 17.fe1 ) 15.xa3 c7 16.e3 ( 16.xa5 d3 17.xa8 xc2 18.xd8 xd8 19.e3 ) 16...f6 17.exf6 xf6 18.xa5 d3 ( 18...e5!? 19.dxe5 xe5 20.xe5 xe5 21.e1 e6 ) 19.xa8 xc2 20.xd8 xd8 21.h3 Timman, J-Karner, H/Tallinn 1973 ] 11...c5!? [ This novelty by Nakamura is an intended improvement over the established, which, however, seems fine for Black to me 11...c8 12.e1 c5 ( 12...dxe4?! invites trouble: 13.dxe4 xe4 14.xe4 f6 15.b2 b7 16.d1 c7 17.g4 h5 18.e4 g6 19.c1 d8 20.h3 , and White is clearly better at this juncture, Sinanovic, M-Janjic, J/Neum 2002 ) A) 13.exd5 cxd4 14.e2 exd5 15.xd4 b5 16.f5 bxc4 17.bxc4 xc4 18.xc4 xc4 19.b2 b4 20.ed1 e8 21.xd5 , thus far, Truskavetsky, A-Grabinsky, V/ Alushta 2002, and now g6 seems best, e. g. 22.f3 ( 22.g5? e5 ) 22...e5 23.xc4 xf3+ 24.xf3 e7 25.e5 c8 26.b3 , and White has sufficient compensation for the queen, but no more than that; B) 13.dxc5?! d4 14.a4 xc5 15.xc5 xc5 16.d3 e5 17.h3 b8 18.f3 e8 19.g5 b5 20.d2 b4 21.ed1 h6 22.xf6 xf6 23.ac1 c3 24.d7 bxc4 25.bxc4 ed8 26.b5 1-0 Renet, OBronstein, D/Oviedo 1992. Nakamura writes that Black resigned in the f inal position, but I don't think Nakamura even had this position on the board or for that matter his computer, because then he would have known that this is likely a forfeit on time (this was a rapid game after all), not a resignation. In the final position, Black is clearly better after b7 27.f3 e6 . Nakamura quoting a game in this fashion is a bit peculiar, but I guess we can all be lazy on occasion. ] 12.exd5 cxd4 The analysis to the remainder of the game is largely by Nakamura, unless where indicated [CH] 13.b5 [ 13.d6?! xd6 14.xa8 dxc3 15.e4 538
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xa8 16.xd6 e5 leaves Black with massive compensation the light squares around White's king are terribly weak ] 13...exd5 [ This is stronger than 13...xb5 14.dxe6 ( 14.cxb5 e5 is given as better for Black by Nakamura, but White is probably fine after 15.c4 c8 16.e2 ) 14...fxe6 15.cxb5 c8 16.c4 , and this is given as better for Black by Nakamura on account of White's strong bishop on g2, but this is a rather unclear position, and I'm not entirely sure, Black's position should be so easily dismissed, e.g. c5 17.b2 d3 18.c3 e8 with a complicated struggle ] 14.xd4 c8 15.e1 b5 Thanks to his pressure on the c4-pawn, Black has taken control over the game 16.b2 [ Or 16.f5 c5 17.b2 e8 is also pleasant for Black ] 16...e8 17.d1 bxc4 18.bxc4 b6 19.b1 dxc4 20.c6?! [ Nakamura gives preference to 20.c3 c5 21.c2 ] 20...xc6 21.xf6?! [ Nakamura says White's last hope was 21.xe7 xe7 22.a3 e5 23.xb6 xb6 , although White's chances of survival are quite small against two rooks and a strong advanced passed pawn. ] 21...xf2+! 22.xf2 c5+ The king hunt is on. After this there is no letting go: Black eit h e r m a t e s o r win s m a t e ria l d e cisive ly 23.f3 [ 23.f1 c3+ 24.e2 c2 wins a bucket load of material ] [ 23.e3 xe3+ 24.e1 xd2+ 25.xd2 d6+ 26.c2 xd1 27.xd1 xf6 leaves Black with an extra piece ] 23...xf6+ 24.g4 e5+ 25.g5 [ Or 25.xe5 c8+ 26.h4 xe5 27.g4 f2+ 28.h3 h5# ] 25...g6+ 26.h5 [ Or 26.f4 d3+ 27.f3 f6+ 28.g4 c8+ 29.h4 xe1 30.h5 f4+ 31.gxf4 f2+ 32.g5 f6# ] 26...f6 27.xe5 [ 27.d5+ h8 28.h4 h6+ 29.h5 g5+ 30.h3 xh5+ , and Black will be two piece up. ] 27...xe5+ 28.h4 c8 Nakamura calls this
his best game ever it's hard to fault him for thinking that way. 0-1
545 Kurajica,Bojan Horvath,Peter TCh-CRO Rabat CRO (6) [Tony Kosten]
A14 2540 2503 10.09.2004
1.c4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 f6 4.g2 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.e5!? Well, this move may not be a novelty, but it is certainly new to me! Is it any good (how can it be, White moves a piece twice in the opening?!), or is White just trying to take Black out of his book knowledge? c5 So, a completely new position at move 6, who would believe it was possible in this solid variation? [ 6...bd7 is a sensible alternative, but then W h i t e p l a y s 7.d4 leading to Catalan-style lines, Aijala,J-Haara,P/Helsinki 1994. ] 7.cxd5 exd5 8.b3 Now White develops this queenside, he is counting on the fact that Black cannot play ...Nc6 (because he will get doubled pawns) to hinder his natural development. e6 [ 8...e8 might be a more active choice, 9.b2 ( 9.d4!? ) 9...d6 and White has to decide what to do with the knight. ] 9.b2 c8 Planning ...Nc6, and possibly ... Bh3, but [ 9...bd7 seems simpler. ] 10.d4 Now White chooses to switch to more n o r m a l p o s it i o n s . cxd4 11.d2 c6 12.df3 The e5-knight is defended in time. h3 13.c1 xg2 14.xg2 e8 The queen was not very well placed on c8, but now W hite has completed his development and can try to exploit the ensuing hanging pawns. 15.xc6 bxc6 16.xd4 c8 17.c2 c5 18.f5 The black hanging pawns are not so dynamic here because the black pieces are passively placed, and on top of that W hite is pressing along the a1-h8 diagonal. d7 19.fd1 d8? Black wants to conserve his bishop but this leads him into a terrible tangle, [ 19...fd8 was natural, and pretty much f o r c e d , w h e n 20.xe7+ xe7 21.a3 539
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 gives White pressure against the c-pawn, but Black is not doing too badly. ] 20.e4! Of course! The d-pawn is pinned. e6 There is really nothing better, [ 20...xe4?? 21.xe4 ] 21.exd5 xd5 [ 21...d7 leaves Black a pawn down with a rotten position. ] 22.xg7 e8 23.b2 [ 23.e1 is ve ry st r o n g, t o o , a s xe1 24.xe1 xe1 25.d2 forks e1 and d5. ] 23...c6?! [ 23...g5 24.b1 ( 24.f4?! xf4 25.gxf4 xf5 26.xf5 e3+ is the point, although W h it e is eve n be t t e r h e re) 24...cd8 k e e p s t h e ga m e g o in g , a lt h o u g h t h e r e should only be one result. ] 24.g1 a5?! Instead [ 24...g5 is now met by 25.f4 ] 25.c4 White attacks d5, and threatens to swing his queen to g4. 1-0
and f2-f4/ g3-g4). [ 13.ab1 a6 14.a1 ab8 15.e1 a7 16.xb7 xb7 17.f4 db8 18.g4 b5 Sunye Neto, J (2500)-Ribli, Z (2580)/Las Palmas 1982/IZT. Despite White's efforts, Black has succeeded in organizing b6-b5. A balance struggle ensued. ] [ 13.d3 a6 14.ab1 ab8 15.a1 a7 16.a4!? ( On 16.e1 Black obtains counterplay with xg2 17.xg2 b5 ) 16...c6 (the b4 square is weak) 17.e1 b4 18.f4 xg2 19.xg2 e8 20.f3 d6 21.a2 c6 22.e4 f6 and again we have a complex fight. Drasko, M (2478)Svetushkin, D (2621)/Porto Carras GRE 2011. ] 13...a5! 14.d3 White resolves to play solidly, relinquishing any aspirations for an advantage. [ 14.b5 c8 ( 14...b8!? ) 15.d4 would be a critical test, but after a6 16.a3 ( 16.c3?! cxd4 and the c4-pawn is hanging ) 16...c6!? 17.b1 Black's position was fully acceptable in Sarno, S (2391)-Saccona, S (2113)/Turin 546 A14 2000. Simplest now was ac8 ( or even 17...cxd4 18.exd4 e4 . )] Kvon,A 2492 Sargissian,G 2693 14...a6 15.g5 [ Or 15.e1 xg2 16.xg2 ab8 40th Olympiad Open (8.3) 05.09.2012 with ...b6-b5 on tap. ] [John Bartholomew] 15...xg2 16.xg2 b7+ 17.f3 [ 17.g1 gives Black many ways of A continuation of our discussion from proceeding, including the direct b5 . ] Pantsulaia - Fridman. Here Sargissian e q u a l i z e s wi t h e n via b l e e a s e , a s W h i t e 17...xf3+ 18.xf3= Sargissian has won the hesitates to execute d2-d4 or the "kingside theoretical duel without much effort. Now he crawl". 1.c4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 begins to outplay his lower-rated opponent. e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 b6 7.b2 b7 8.e3 c6 19.f1 d7 20.a4 White is clearly concerned about the prospect of ...b6-b5. g5! dxc4 9.bxc4 c5 10.e2 c6 11.d1 [ Not a mistake, but I think White should Staking space on the kingside. 21.e2?! [ White should put an immediate stop to follow the script with 11.c3 . This would Black's kingside expansion with 21.g4! . ] keep open the option of a quick 12.Nb5 (as 21...g4 22.e1 f5 The position is already a we see in Pantsulaia - Fridman). ] bit easier to play for Black. 23.b1 f7 11...c7 12.c3 fd8 24.g2 f6 25.xf6 xf6 26.c3 a5!? [ Black has a very wide choice: 12...a6 ] 27.h4?! The knight does nothing on the rim. [ 12...ac8 ] [ 27.f4 was more practical. ] [ and 12...ad8 all have their points. ] 13.ac1 Undeniably natural, but Black's next 27...d7 28.b1 b4 29.b3 ad8 30.b5 White is completely tied to the defense of move discourages W hite from pulling the h5 trigger on d2-d4. Consequently, the rook may d3. 31.a3 g8! Planning ... Ng8-e7-c6-e5. not be ideally placed on c1. Let's instead see 32.h3 e7 33.hxg4 hxg4 34.d4?! [ 34.g2 offered a better defnse, but it's a couple examples using Delchev's preferred hard to blame White for lashing out. ] plan (Rab1, Ba1 to prevent b6-b5, then Ne1 540
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 34...f6?! Sargissian plays a bit inaccurately in this phase of the game. [ The straightforward 34...ec6! was best. White is losing the d-pawn after 35.d5 f6 36.d6 e5! followed by 37...Nf7. ] 35.f3 g8 36.f2 ec6 37.fxg4 fxg4 38.g1! e7 39.b3 e5 40.c1 ec6 41.d1 g5 [ 41...gd8 42.f1! ] 42.d2 e5 43.c3 f7 44.c1 e5 45.g2 d8 46.dd1 f7 47.d2 d6 48.xd6 xd6 49.f1 d8 50.df2? Kvon has def ended well, but now - likely emboldened by Sargissian's marking of time he commits a mistake. [ White's defensive configuration is nearly optimal, so he should continue waiting, i.e. 50.g1 . ] 50...cxd4 51.f7+ d6 52.exd4 c2! It's probable that W hite missed this move. 53.c5+?! [ 53.b1 was more tenacious. ] 53...bxc5 54.dxc5+ c6 [ Or 54...xc5 . ] 55.b1 xc5 56.g6 d2+ 57.g1 [ 57.f2! was the last chance to resist. ] 57...d4!-+ 58.e7+ [ The text loses quickly, but 58.f2 f3+ 59.g2 cc2-+ 60.xd2 xd2+ 61.f1 a2-+ would be fairly simple for Black as well. ] 58...d6 59.b6+ e5 60.g6+ e4 61.f4+ e3 White resigned. Black's opening play was natural and strong. If W hite isn't going to venture d2-d4, then I'm unconvinced that the queenside rook belongs on c1. Still, Black's counterplay in other lines (13.Rab1, 13.d3) seems fully satisfactory. The standard procedure is ...a7-a6, ...Ra8-b8, and ...Nc6-a7, preparing ...b6-b5. 0-1
547 Marin,Mihail Gonzalez Garcia,Jose VII Sants Open (10) [John Watson]
A14 2537 2478 04.09.2005
1.c4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.b3 f6 4.g3 e7 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 b6 7.b2 b7 8.e3 bd7
This is the other main setup: Black keeps the long diagonal open. 9.c3 c5 10.e2 c8 [ 10...e4!? --see Noviko-Turov ] 11.d3 Played in many games, but it's rather slow with the knight on d7.There are 2 better moves: [ (a) 11.cxd5 xd5 12.xd5 exd5 13.d4 looks thematic although W hite has to co n t e n d wi t h c4!? . Then 14.fc1 b5 15.d2! threaten bxc4 and in some cases a 4 . B l a c k ' s b e s t i d e a i s p r o b a b l y b6 , perhaps leading to 16.ab1 a6! 17.a4! unclear ] [ (b ) T h e m o s t f l e xi b l e m o ve i s 11.fd1! , preparing d4 with pressure down the d-file. a6 12.cxd5 exd5 13.d4 ( 13.h4!? eyes f5 and is attractive) 13...d6 ( 13...c4! would be totally unclear after 14.bxc4 dxc4 15.e4 b5 16.e5 d5 17.e6 ) 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.h4 with some advantage ( or 15.g5 h6 16.ge4 )] 11...a6 12.e1!? A standard manoeuvre begins. The other normal move is [ 12.fd1 ] 12...c7 13.f4 fd8 14.e4!? [ 14.f3 would complete the normal setup. That can be called dynamically equal. ] 14...dxe4 [ 14...d4! 15.b1 e5 makes it hard for W hite to progress because the f-pawn is e xp o se d if h e p l a ys a k n i gh t t o f 3 , f o r example, 16.d2 b8 17.df3 ( 17.f5 b5 18.g4 h6 19.h4 h7 ) 17...exf4 18.gxf4 h5! ] 15.dxe4 b8! Targeting the weakness on d4. 16.e5! xg2 17.xg2 e8 18.f3 c6 19.e4 b7 20.fd1 White has a little more space and flexibility. b5 21.ac1 bxc4? 22.xd8 xd8 23.xc4 The c-pawn is isolated and weak nevertheless, White's king is exposed and Black can exploit the weak point at d3. d5!? [ 23...b4 24.c1 d5 25.e3 d3 26.e1! ] 24.a3 b4 25.xb4?! I don't like straightening out Black's pawns, although it gains d4. cxb4 26.d4 h6 27.f3!? [ 27.c6! ] 27...d7 28.c6 a5 29.e3 f8 30.a7 [ 30.b6! ] 30...xa7 31.xa7 f5 32.exf6 gxf6 541
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 33.c6?! [ 33.c8 f7 34.c6 ( 34.xe8 f5 35.xf8+ xf8 36.f2 d2 Once again it's rook-versus-minor pieces in the endgame. W h i t e w i l l h a v e t o s t r u g g l e t o d r a w .) 34...d6 35.d8+ e7 36.xd6 xd6 37.c6+ f7 and Black will pick up White's a-pawn after losing his own. ] 33...f5! 34.f2 d2 35.d4 xa2 36.d8 White has to scrounge around to dig up play for the pawn. f6 37.f3 a4! 38.bxa4 xa4 39.d3 a3!? [ 39...g7 protects the b-pawn, and ] [ 39...b3!? 40.d4 ( 40.b8 a3 41.ce5= ) 40...b2 41.xb2 a3+ 42.e2 a2 wins. ] 40.cxb4 d5 [ 40...c3! 41.e3 c4 and Black is safe. ] 41.e2 xb4 42.xb4 f7 43.c6 a2+ 44.d2 xd2+ 45.xd2 d6 46.e3 c5+ 47.f3 f6 48.e5 d6 49.d3 c7 ½-½
548 Miles,Anthony J Godena,Michele 5th HIT Open (5) [Tony Kosten]
A14 2579 2487 05.02.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 b6 7.b2 b7 8.e3 bd7 9.d3 c5 10.e2 c7 11.c3 ad8 The most common, and most logical, move played in this position. 12.e4!? [ Very committal, normally White prefers to keep his pawns flexible, and plays either 12.fd1 or ] [ 12.ad1 ] 12...d4 [ This should be strongest, Black claims extra space, and play resembles a King's Indian reversed, where the white pieces are not optimally placed. 12...dxe4 13.dxe4 g4 14.fd1 a6 is less ambitious, but quite good, Mista,L-Slezka,V/CZE-chT2 1995, 1/2-1/2 (22) , as 15.h3 ge5 16.xe5 xe5 17.f4 c6 and the knight comes to d4. ] 13.d1 e8 [ A new move, but a perfectly good one, Black p lays h is knight to d6 in o rder t o
support the ...f 5, or ...b5 breaks. 13...g6 14.e1 e5 is similar, though, Bischoff, KAndersson,U/Dortmund 1987, 0-1 (37). ] 14.c1 There was no future for the bishop on b2, hitting on the strong black pawn chain. e5 15.b1 d6 16.b2 White finds a strange route f or the rook, which is now ready to s w i t c h t o t h e c e n t r e o r k i n g s i d e . de8 Black is better, he has more space, and his p i e c e s a r e w e l l - p l a c e d . 17.d2 White prepares for Black's ...f5, which would now concede the e4-square. g6!? [ Possibly Black should avoid this move, which weakens the kingside. Instead, he ca n p re p a r e . . . b 5 b y 17...a6 and then answer 18.f4 with f5! 19.exf5 exf4 with advantage. ] 18.f4 f5 19.exf5 xg2 [ The problem with 17...g6 is revealed after 19...exf4? as White can now play 20.fxg6 . ] 20.xg2 Removing the queen from the exposed e-line. xf5 21.e4 f6 22.e2 exf4 23.xf4 After this play is equal. All but one of White's pieces are in play and Black's extra space counts for little. d7 24.fe1 xe4 25.xe4 d6? [ A mistake, allowing a long tactical sequence, better 25...f6 which keeps the d5-square covered, 26.f2 xe4 27.xe4 g7 and Black has no problems. ] 26.xe8 xe8 27.d5+ With the black bishop on f6 this move would not be possible. g7 28.e5+ As the d6-bishop is pinned. h6?! [ ' O u t o f t h e f r y i n g p a n . . . ' 28...f8 is forced, with 29.xd6+ xd6 and the e8ro o k i s p r o t e c t e d b y t h e k i n g , 30.xe8+ xe8 31.a8+ f7 32.xa7+ e7 forcing an endgame where Black has some drawing chances. ] 29.e4 [ This is strong, and wins the exchange. 29.f2 threatens a mating attack beginning Ng4+, and also obliges Black to concede t h e e x c h a n g e : xe5 30.g4+ g7 31.xe5 winning. ] 29...d8 30.f6! xf6 31.xe8 g5 32.f3 d2 33.e2 c1 34.g2 e7 35.f2 Bringing the last piece into the game. e3+ 36.f3 g5 37.g4+ xg4 [ 37...g7 38.xe3 dxe3 is rather more 542
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 awkward. ] 38.xg4 e3 39.f3 1-0
549 Neverov,Valeriy Efimenko,Zahar 74th ch-UKR KO (4.2) [John Watson]
A14 2572 2643 31.08.2005
Black tries a radical solution, but the game is a tribute to the latent dynamism in W hite's position, even after a trade of queens. 1.c4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.b3 e7 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 c5 7.b2 c6 8.e3 dxc4 Now for a sh ameless plug: There are actually 9 different plausible moves here, all discussed in my ancient book "English: Franco, Slav, and Flank Defences"! You can get a reprint f rom Hardinge Simpole (o n Am azon ) bu t there's a real drawback: it's in the old English D e s c r i p t i v e n o t a t i o n . 9.bxc4 d3!? If this works, W hite's whole move order is inaccurate, But since it's easily the most frequently-arising one over the past 50 years it's good that White has the appropriateanswers! 10.b3! d8 11.d1 a6 [ 11...xb3 12.axb3 gives White control of e5, a potentially mobile centre and the afile ] 12.xd3 [ 12.e1 f5 13.d3 ] 12...xd3 13.c3 [ 13.e1 d8 14.c3 ( 14.d3 b8 15.d2 is also slightly more comfortable for White )] 13...d8 14.ab1!? Quite effective. White could also play the immediate [ 14.d4 and stand better: cxd4 15.exd4 A) 15...b8 16.ab1 d7 ( 16...b5 17.e5! xe5 18.dxe5 xd1+ 19.xd1 d7 20.cxb5 axb5 21.e4 with the better game ); B) 15...a5 16.c5! c4 17.ab1 xb2 18.xb2 makes it very hard for Black to develop and is a solid plus. ] 14...b8 15.a4 [ 15.d4! ] 15...d7?! Uninspiring. Better [ 15...b5 16.cxb5 xb5!? ( 16...axb5
17.xc5! xc5 18.xf6 gxf6 19.dc1 f a v o u r s W h i t e) 17.c3 b6 18.d3 , when Black's pawns are a little weak but so are White's - slight edge to the first player. ] 16.b6 d6 17.d4! cxd4 18.exd4 e8 19.d5! exd5 20.cxd5 [ Even better is 20.xf6! gxf6 21.xd5 with a very large advantage. Black has to play g7 22.h4! ( 22.d2 b5 23.e3 ) 22...d7 23.e3! e5 24.hf5+ f8 25.f4 c7 26.c5! and Black is in trouble. ] 20...e7 21.e5 [ Also strong is 21.xf6! gxf6 22.d2 ] 21...c8 22.bc4 b5 23.xd6 xd6 24.a3!? [ 24.d4 ] 24...bc8 25.dc1 fe8 26.h3 xc1+ 27.xc1 e4 28.g2 xd5! 29.xf7? [ 29.xe4 xe5 30.xb7 ] 29...8f6! 30.f3 xg3 31.h6+ gxh6 32.hxg3 c6 [ 32...d2! Things have gone wrong for White and Black has some edge. ] 33.b2 f7?! [ 33...h5! 34.f1 g5 ] 34.c2 d3 35.f2 h5 36.c1 d7 37.f4 f8 38.e3 e6 39.f1 d6 40.c4 The bishops are very strong. Black had a few opportunities in what follows, but only when White played inaccurately. The whole position was terribly difficult for the second player: f6 41.c1 g5 42.a3 d7 43.e2 g6 44.c1 f7 45.xg5 xg5 46.f4+ g6 47.c5 d7 48.g5+ f6 49.xh5 e4 50.g4 d2 51.a4 d3 52.e3 xe2+ 53.xd3 e7 54.h6+ g7 55.b6 g8 56.d4 f7 57.a5 g8 58.d5 f8 59.f5 f7 60.g5 d7+ 61.e5 f8 62.f6+ g8 63.d6 c7 64.e6 c1 65.d8+ g7 66.f6+ g6 67.g8+ h5 68.f7 1-0
550 Novik,Steffen Turov,Maxim Open Dutch Championship (8) [John Watson]
A14 2534 2527 03.08.2005
This game makes the Reti look like a dull line used for equality, but the notes show how 543
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 interesting the play can become in these lines. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 c5 6.b3 e7 7.b2 0-0 8.c3 d5 9.e3 bd7 10.e2 With the knight on d7 instead of c6 it makes also makes sense to prevent ...Ne4 by [ 10.d3 . But that's not really necessary. ] 10...e4!? A typical freeing move, but White can still try for advantage. [ Tony annotate d the game SorokinSambuev, St Petersburg 1999, again illustrating the fact that these lines are more unbalanced than they sometimes appear: 10...a6 11.fd1 c7 12.ac1 dxc4 ( (Tony: "A normal plan in these positions, Black closes the c-file and aims for counterplay with ...b5. Further keeping the t e n s i o n r u n s i n t o p r o b l e m s : 12...ac8!? 13.cxd5 xd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.e4 b7 16.d4 with a mobile centre.) 13.bxc4 c6!? 14.d4! b7? ( 14...cxd4 ) 15.d5! exd5 16.cxd5 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.e5! f6 ( 18...xg2? 19.xd7 e4 20.c4 ) 19.xd5! xd5 20.d1 ad8 21.d2! xe3!? 22.xb7 xd1 23.c2 and White won easily. ] 11.cxd5 xc3 [ Or 11...exd5 12.d4 ( 12.fd1!? ) 12...xc3 13.xc3 c7 14.dxc5 ( 14.h4!? see the next note.) 14...bxc5 15.ac1 a5 (stopping b4 and threatening ...Ba6) 16.fd1 b6 ( 16...a4 17.b4! wins the d4 square) 17.b2 ( 17.e1!? ) 17...f6 18.h4! d7 ( 18...a4 19.f5 fd8 20.b4! c4 21.b1 ) 19.d2! a4 ( 19...g5 20.xa5 ) 20.b4! , transforming the pawn structure to White's advantage. ] 12.dxc3?! A nothing move. [ M o r e a m b i t i o u s w a s 12.xc3 exd5 ( 12...xd5 13.d4 c8 14.e4 b7 15.fd1 ) 13.d4 c7 , and besides 14.dxc5 of the last note, W hite might try 14.h4!? xh4 ( 14...ac8 15.f5 f6 16.ac1 , for example, fe8 17.fd1 g6 18.h6+ g7 19.g4 ) 15.gxh4 with the ideas of d x c 5 a n d Q g 4 ac8 16.h1 ( 16.dxc5 bxc5 17.fd1 )] 12...xd5 13.c4 c6 14.e4 [ More natural seems 14.ad1 , but after c7 White has nothing better than 15.e5 ( 15.d2 xg2 16.xg2 f6 ) 15...xe5
16.xe5 xe5 17.xc6 ad8= ] [ Or 14.e5 xg2 15.xg2 xe5 16.xe5 f6 17.ad1 c8 18.c3 c6+ 19.e4 leaves at best a nominal edge which can't possibly lead to anything. ] 14...c7 15.d2!? fd8 16.f4 White's basic idea is that Black has nothing going on so maybe he can grab some space in the meantime. f6!? A slight weakness but it doesn't matter. [ 16...e5 is also fine. ] 17.ad1 f8 18.f5!? d6 19.f3 exf5 20.exf5 e8 21.f2 ad8 22.fe1 xe1+ 23.xe1 e8 24.xe8 xe8 , about equal. A true grandmaster yawner, but it needn't have been. ½-½
551 Pantsulaia,Levan Fridman,Daniel 40th Olympiad Open (2.11) [John Bartholomew]
A14 2575 2653 29.08.2012
The following line in the Réti has been given extensive coverage in recent works on the English, so it's high time we tackled it. 1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 e6 4.0-0 e7 5.c4 0-0 6.b3 c5 7.e3 c6 8.b2 b6 9.c3 dxc4 10.bxc4 b7 11.e2 c7 In "Grandmaster Repertoire 4: The English Opening Vol 2" Mihail Marin characterizes this move as a loss of time in view of White's next. Meanwhile, in "The Modern Reti: An Anti-Slav Repertoire" Alexander Delchev calls 11...Qc7 "a flexible move" and actually labels 12.Nb5 as a "loss of tempo"! W ho is right? Of course it's impossible to say, but 11...Qc7 has been seen plenty of times in Grandmaster practice with reasonable results for Black (it's the second most popular move at this juncture). This line is quite subtle, and I personally doubt there are many bright-line rules. [ Most popular is 11...c8 ] [ 11...a6 ] [ 11...d7 ] [ and 11...b4!? are also played. ] 12.b5 Following Marin's recommendation. [ Instead, Delchev endorses the prophylactic approach 12.fd1 a6 ( 12...fd8 544
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is examined this month in Kvon, A (2492)Sargissian, G (2693)/Istanbul TUR 2012) 13.ab1 ab8 14.a1 , keeping open options of either d2-d4 or the "kingside crawl" with Nf 3-e2, f 2-f3, g3-g4, etc. In general Marin favors the former plan, while Delchev usually opts for the latter. ] 12...b8!? Neither text mentions this retreat. [ Delchev writes that after 12...c8 13.fd1 a6 14.c3 a5 "the queen is not worse on c8 than on c7". This is probably due to the fact that d2-d4 has been held up, and if White reverts to the slower plan with Nf3-e1, then the queen's placement o n c8 isn't particularly significant. Often an exchange o f l i g h t - s q u a r e b i sh o p s wi l l o c c u r a n d Black's queen ends of on b7 anyways. ] 13.d4 Certainly the most direct. [ White could also play ala Delchev with 13.fd1 a6 14.c3 c7 15.ab1 (compare to the note to White's 12th). ] 13...e8!? Very mysterious! This appears to be directed against a future d4-d5. [ 13...a6 14.c3 a5 15.dxc5 xc5 ( 15...bxc5!? ) 16.ab1 ( 16.a4! l o o k s m o r e c h a l l e n g i n g) 16...c7 1/2-1/2 Solleveld, M (2502)-Levin, F (2482)/Netherlands NED 2011 ] 14.fd1 [ White can also consider 14.e5 , though a5! 15.xb7 xb7 is a good reaction. ] 14...a6 15.c3 cxd4 16.exd4 a5 17.d5!? Pantsulaia does not hesitate. Probably this is the correct decision, otherwise Black intends quick coordination with . .. Qb8-c7 and Ra8d8. f8! Now the significance of Black's 13th move is apparent. 18.dxe6 xe6 19.f1 c8 [ 19...c7!? ] 20.g5 xg2?! [ The awkward-looking 20...e5! is best. ] 21.xg2 c6 22.d5! xc4 23.xf6 gxf6 24.e4 f5? [ 24...g7! ] 25.ef6+ h8 26.h3 [ Here and on the next move White misses the murderous 26.e1 , looking to penetrate down the e-file. After, say, e6 the engine qu i c k l y p o in t s o u t ( 26...g7 27.e7! ) 27.ac1!+, threatening 28.Rxe6 followed by 29.Nxb6 or 29.Nc7. ]
26...h6 27.e7? Letting Black off the hook. [ 27.e1! was again powerful, this time with t h e r e m a r k a b l e a t t a c k i n g i d e a o f e6 28.e7 c5 29.xe6 fxe6 30.eg8!! . Did I mention I'm analyzing this with the assistance of an engine?:) ] 27...e6 28.xc6 xf6 29.d4 b2! Securing the draw. 30.d2 c4 31.dd1 b2 32.d2 [ White decides to call it a day. He could play on with 32.xf5 xd1 33.xd1 , but Black no lo nge r h as an y p ro b le m s. Su m min g things up, I don't see much wrong with 11... Qc7, and Fridman's unique take with 12... Qb8!? and 13...Re8!? is definite food for thought. ] ½-½
552 Reti,Richard Gruenfeld,Ernst Trencianske Teplice (2) [Nigel Davies]
A14
1928
Starting out as an English Opening this game soon transposes into a main line of the Reti. Black seemed to be doing OK up to move 22 when he finally succumbed to W hite's ongoing pressure. 1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 c5 7.cxd5 [ These days we tend to keep the central tension, say with 7.e3 ] [ or 7.b2 . ] 7...xd5 8.b2 c6 9.c3 f6 10.c1 xc3 11.xc3 e5 12.d3 b8 It makes sense to take the rook off the h1-a8 diagonal but more recent encounters have featured other moves: [ a) 12...e6 13.b2 d4 14.e3 xf3+ 15.xf3 d5 16.e4 e8 17.e2 d6 was dead equal in Speelman, J (2583) Ganguly, S (2531), Bled 2002. ] [ b) 12...g4 13.h3 e6 14.b2 e8 15.d2 c8 16.e4 e7 17.f4?! f5 18.d2 exf4 19.xg7? fxg3 20.xc6 xc6 21.h8 f8 was good for Black in Dizdarevic, E (2520)-Zelcic, R (2554), Solin/ Spilt 2002. ] 13.b2 d4 14.e3 xf3+ 15.xf3 xd3 16.g2 545
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ And not 16.xe5? because of f5 17.xf6 xf3 threatening 18...Bh3. ] 16...b6 17.xe5 xe5 18.xe5 b7 [ 18...g4 might have been better to try and keep W hite's rooks off the d-file, at least temporarily. ] 19.fd1 b5 20.c7 xg2 21.xg2 a5 22.d7 White has kept an edge right into the endgame. Maybe Black could have held the game with super accurate defence but then this is never easy. bc8 [ 22...a4 is an interesting bid for counterplay as if White carries out his 'threat' of 23.xf7 there follows xf7 24.xb8+ f8 25.b7 e2 26.d5+ h8 27.f1 a3 threatening to take on a2. ] 23.d6 c6?! [ And here 23...c4 is a better chance, trying to hoover some pawns off the board. ] 24.d5 a4 25.a7 cc8 [ Perhaps it was only here that Black saw 25...axb3 26.a4 , winning the rook on c6. As a result he loses a pawn. ] 26.xa4 cd8 27.f3 d3 28.c4 d6 29.e4 e2 30.c2 b5 31.f3 fd8 32.e1 d7 33.e4 d3 34.e3 d1 35.ce2 e6 36.e5 h6 37.e4 1d4 38.xd4 xd4 39.e4 d2 40.a4 xe5 41.a8+ h7 42.xf7 e4+ 43.f3 e6 44.b8 d4 45.h4 d2 [ Or 45...c4 46.bxc4 xc4 47.xb6 xb6 48.d3+ h8 49.xc4 etc. ] 46.h5 e5 47.a8 d5+ 48.xd5 xd5 49.xb6 xh5 50.b5 d5 51.a4 d3 52.a5 1-0
many times. ] 10.c3 a4 11.xa4! Now I think this is best, otherwise the black a-pawn is too annoying. [ 11.d4 a3 12.c1 b4 13.d2 e7 "gives Black good play", according to me a decade ago! ] [ 11.ab1 axb3 12.axb3 c5 13.d4 d7 14.fd1 e5 15.c2 dxc4 16.bxc4 xg2 17.xg2 e4 18.f3 exf3+ 19.xf3 d3 was already quite promising for Black in Mge la d ze, T (2 19 8 )-A kop ian , V (26 6 7 ) Albena 2014, although 1/2-1/2 (49). ] 11...dxc4 12.xc4!? A surprising novelty. Eleven years ago I considered this dubious, but to be fair I hadn't looked too much further. [ 12.fc1 wa s t h e f o r m e r c h o i c e , b5! ( 12...cxb3 13.axb3 c5 was Chuchelov, V (2 6 0 3 ) -R o go ze n c o , D (2 5 1 7 ) - s e e m y annotations in the PGN Archive.) 13.c3 c5 ( 13...b8 ) 14.xb5?! ( 14.e5 ) 14...d3 15.cb1 cxb3 16.a4 forced ( 16.axb3? xb2 17.xa8 xa8 wins a piece.) 16...c5 17.c3?! ( 17.e1 ) 17...c4 with an obvious black advantage, Mgeladze, T (2295)-Dzagnidze, N (2390) Tbilisi 2002, 0-1 (33). ] [ 12.c3 is worth a thought, cxb3 13.axb3 c5 14.d4 but White has no advantage. ] 12...a6 13.c2 xf1 14.xf1 So, what exactly has White obtained for his exchange sac? W ell, apart from the pawn he has excellent light square control. c5 [ 14...b5 15.c3 c5 is better, Ne5 is no longer a problem and Black is fine. ] 15.e5 c8 [ 15...xe5! returns the exchange, 16.xa8 xa8 17.xe5 d7 18.a1 b5 19.c3 ( 19.d3 c6 20.c3 c4 ) 19...e5 553 A14 20.e4 xe4 21.xe4 d3 with compensation for the pawn. ] Rusev,Krasimir 2540 Brynell,Stellan 2463 16.c6 e8 17.a7 b8 18.c6 c8 b8 Black is happy to repeat, but Copenhagen Whitsun GM (1) 03.06.2014 19.a7 W h it e is o n ly g a in in g t im e o n t h e c lo c k . [Kosten, Tony] 20.c3! The knight heads for the weak b51.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 square. Black is passive and his rooks are 5.0-0 e7 6.b3 0-0 7.b2 d5 8.e3 bd7 doing nothing, White is better. e5 21.cb5 9.e2 a5 Black's 2nd most popular move White controls the queenside light squares. plans the annoying ...a4 when Black can g6 22.h4!? [ I rather like the look of 22.f4! and f5. ] either open the a-f ile o r play ...a3 unde r 22...h5 Best, if favourable circumstances. [ 22...h6 instead, then 23.c6 d8 24.f3 [ W e ' v e c o v e r e d t h e c l a s s i c a l 9...c5 546
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 threatens both Nc6 and h5. ] 23.a4 A slow, strengthening move, but White's positional advantages are not going to disappear. [ 23.c6 d8 24.d4 is also strong. ] 23...g4 [ 23...d5! blocks the h1-a8 diagonal, when 24.d4 d7 25.d1 fd8 limits White's edge, at least Black has got his pieces into play. ] 24.d4 f5?! Further weakening Black's light squares. He obviously had ideas of some sort of kingside demonstration, but it is too optimistic. 25.c4 f7?! [ 25...xh4 at least justifies his previous play, but 26.dxc5 ( 26.gxh4? e7 menacing ... Q x h 4 a n d s u d d e n l y B l a c k i s wi n n i n g !) 26...bxc5 27.c6 c8 28.d6 d7 29.xc8 xc8 30.xc5 just ignores the sacrifice on h4. ] 26.c6 cxd4 27.bxd4! Hitting e6, while keeping e7 and b8 attacked. [ 27.xb8? dxe3! would be very unclear. ] 27...6e5 28.xe6 Taking a 2nd pawn and exchanging queens, Black is totally lost. xc6 [ 28...xe6 29.xe6 xc6 30.xf8 xf8 31.xc6 with the bishop pair and two extra pawns. ] 29.xf7+ xf7 30.xc6 bc8 31.d5+ e8 32.xg7 Grabbing a 3rd pawn for the exchange, and leaving the f8-rook short of squares. f7 33.d4!? White prefers not to swap his light square bishop for the rook. However, [ 33.xf7+ xf7 34.xe7 xe7 35.d4 would surely force resignation. ] 33...h7 34.xb6 h6 35.xe7 xe7 36.a5 The two bishops will help shepherd the white passers home. c2 37.b4 f6 38.f3 e4 39.xe4 fxe4 40.d4 a2 41.a1 xa1+ 42.xa1 c6 43.d4 d7 44.g2 c7?! [ 44...c8 45.b5 d6 46.a6 d5 47.b6 b8 stops the queenside pawns, but then 48.g4 hxg4 49.g3 followed by Kxg4 and h 5 wi l l q u e e n o n t h e o t h e r s i d e o f t h e board. ] 45.b5 c2 46.a6 Black can't stop b6-b7 and Be5 followed by b8(Q). 1-0
554 Sherbakov,Ruslan Aleksandrov,Aleksej 9th chT Ekaterinburg RUS (4) [Tony Kosten]
A14 2549 2654 20.05.2002
1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 c5 7.e3 b6 8.b2 b7 9.c3 bd7 [ The solid choice, 9...c6 is possibly more active. ] 10.d3 [ I prefer 10.e2 which keeps the possibility of playing d4 in one move (instead of d3 first, then d4) a6 11.fd1 which we examined in Sorokin, M-Sambuev,B/St Petersburg RUS 1999. ] 10...c7 11.e2 c6!? [ Interesting, Black aims to nullify White's pressure on the h1-a8 diagonal. We looked at 11...ad8 in Miles,A-Godena,M/Nova Gorica SLO 2000. ] 12.fd1 [ 12.fe1 b7 13.e4 is an alternative plan, closing the diagonal. ] 12...b7 13.d4 Black was men acing to play ...d4 himself, because of the pin on the f3knight, so White strikes first. dxc4!? [ A perfectly logical novelty, Black opens the long diagonal, although at the cost of giving W hite a central preponderance. 13...fd8 is a sound alternative, Bobotsov,M-Najdorf, M/ Siegen 1970. ] 14.bxc4 e4 15.d5!? This is the sort of ce nt ra l brea kth ro ugh th at W h it e is o f t e n hoping to play in this variation, and here he takes advantage of the lack of black kingside de f e nd ers. xc3 16.xc3 exd5 17.e5 xe5 18.cxd5! This zwischenzug is the point of White's combo. a4 19.xe5 [ 19.d6!? c6 ( 19...xd1 20.xd1 d7 21.xe5 transposes to the game) 20.dxe7 xe7 21.xe5 xg2 22.xg7 is also interesting, and not too clear. ] 19...xd1 20.xd1 d7 The critical position, that White needed to assess before playing his fifteenth move. White has sacrificed the exchange, but in return he has two powerful bishops and a dangerously mobile centre. 21.d6 ad8!? 22.h5 [ 22.dxe7!? is a difficult move to judge: 547
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xd1+ 23.f1 xe2 24.exf8+ xf8 25.xe2 d2 26.c4 c2 27.d5 b5 White has two great bishops, but the active rook and passed queenside pawns make the situation quite unclear. ] [ The other alternative is the 'unpinning' 22.d5 g5 ( White has at least a draw after 22...f6 23.xf6 gxf6 24.e4 fe8 25.f5 c6 26.g4+ f8 27.f4 b u t m a y b e n o m o r e) 23.xg7 xg7 24.xg5+ h8 25.d5 with good compensation. ] 22...fe8 23.h3 a4 24.d7 f8 25.d2 b4 26.f5 [ 26.g4 xg4 27.xg4 c4 28.c7 would regain the exchange, but the oppositec o lo u r b is h o p s wo u ld m a ke a win ve r y problematic. ] 26...h6 27.d1 a4 The queen stays on the fourth rank to stop White from playing Qg4, and also keeps the rook under attack. 28.d2 b4 29.d1 a4 30.d2 White can make no progress. ½-½
555 Sherbakov,Ruslan Alexandrov,Alexei chT Yekaterinburg [R. Scherbakov]
A14
2002
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 c5 7.e3 b6 8.b2 b7 9.c3 bd7 10.d3 c7 11.e2 c6 12.fd1 b7 13.d4 dxc4 14.bxc4 e4 15.d5 xc3 16.xc3 exd5 17.e5 xe5 18.cxd5 a4 19.xe5 xd1 20.xd1 d7 21.d6 ad8 22.h5 [ 22.dxe7 really gave nothing as the rook was very active and Black's Q-side pawn were dangerous. ] 22...fe8 23.h3 a4 24.d7 f8 25.d2 b4? This terrible mistake was played after 40 minute's thought! [ Black should have clarified the situation i m m e d i a t e l y b y 25...g6!? 26.h6 f6 27.e6+ h8 28.c7 c6 29.xd8 xd8 ] 26.f5 h6 27.d1 [ I was going to play 27.d5! and calculated
something like this: c4 28.e4 c1+ ( 28...xa2 29.g4 g5 30.h4 g6 31.hxg5 gxf5 32.exf5+- ) 29.g2 A) 29...g5 30.d1+- h5 31.h4 h6 32.f4 h8 (here I stopped calculation somehow White can win against such ugly major pieces) 33.d6 (probably the most precise way) xd6 34.xd6 g6 ( 34...c4 35.d5 c3 36.e5 ) 35.xg6+-; B) 29...g6 30.xg6 g5 31.xg5 hxg5 32.f5 /\\ Bc7+- with technically winning endgame also Black can still fight somehow. ] 27...a4 28.d2 b4 Taking a look at the scoresheet I noticed that the move h7-h6 was played just a few moves ago so I decided to repeat one more time having not realised that the position after 26. Bf5 h6 is just that the same. [ 28...c6 was already insufficient as White could have simply continued his K-side a c t i o n s b y 29.h4 with idea Qh5-g4 with strong attack. ] 29.d1 a4 30.d2?? [ 30.d5! ] 30...b4 And here my opponent wisely claimed a draw by three times repetition. It was very disappointing - we have eventually lost a very important match with the score 2, 5:3,5! ½-½
556 Socko,Bartosz Klovans,Janis Skanska Open (7) [Tony Kosten]
A14 2554 2456 29.07.2004
1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.e3 f6 4.b3 e7 5.g3 c5 6.g2 c6 7.0-0 0-0 8.b2 b6 9.c3 b7 10.cxd5 xd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.d4 a5 By a very strange move order we reached the position I discussed in the notes to Bareev,E-Kramnik,V from Monte Carlo, a short while ago. 13.c1 A further possibility. I played [ 13.h4!? in my game, but thought that ] [ 13.dxc5! was best, as in Miles,A-Short,N/ ch-GBR, Torquay ENG 1998. ] 13...fd8 A natural move, as is 548
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 13...ac8 14.a3 f5 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.d7!? xf3 17.xf3 xf3 18.xe7 c6! 19.xc5 fd8 when Black has a little compensation for the pawn, because of the weakened kingside light squares, Bistric,FHulak,K/Makarska 1996. ] [ 13...cxd4 is worse, as after 14.xd4 xd4 15.xd4 White has a slight edge in the endgame. ] 14.a3 f5 Black removes his queen from the diagonal. [ 14...ac8 is also fine, 15.dxc5 ( 15.e2 h5 16.fd1 is fairly level, Poluljahov,AMaiorov,O/Krasnodar 1998) 15...xc5 16.xc5 bxc5 soon petered out to a draw in Toran Albero,R-Filip,M/Skopje 1972. ] 15.e2 e4 Threatening ...Bd3. 16.fd1 g5?! A bizarre novelty, which weakens the kingside and certainly is no improvement on [ 16...c6! when 17.dxc5 bxc5 18.xc5 xd1+ 19.xd1 d8 ( 19...xc5 20.h4 e5 21.xe4 xe4 22.xc5 is the point) 20.e2 d3 21.e1 ( 21.b2 xc5 22.h4 g5 23.xc6 xe3! 24.fxe3 xe3+ 25.g2 g5 1/2-1/2 Arkhipov,SSzekely,P/Moscow 1985) 21...xc5 22.h4 b4!? ( 22...e5 23.xc6 d6 24.g2 b5 is even simpler, ...Bb4 is coming with adequate play) 23.xf5 xe1 24.xe1 xf5 25.xc6 d2 with chances to draw the endgame, Toran Albero,R-Darga,K/ Skopje 1972. ] 17.dxc5 Obvious and good! bxc5?! [ 17...xc5 would avoid what follows, 18.xc5 ( 18.b4 f8 ) 18...bxc5 19.d2 xg2 20.xg2 b7 21.c4 with a positional plus. ] 18.xd8+ xd8 19.d4! The c-pawn is pinned. cxd4? Not a nice move to play, but after the superior [ 19...e5 20.xe4 xe4 21.xc5 wins a pawn for nothing. ] 20.xe4 xe4 21.xe7 White is already winning. d5 Black attempts to defend g5 and a5, but now his king gets into trouble. [ 21...d3 22.h5 e8 23.xg5+ g6 24.xa5 wins the knight whereas the bishop on e7 is untouchable: xe7? 25.d8+ g7 26.xe7 ] [ 21...d7 22.b5! xe7 23.xg5+ f8 24.c8+ e8 25.c5+ g7 26.xe8
wins material. ] 22.f6 There is no way to stop Rc8+. h6 23.c8+ h7 24.h5 Black has no sensible way to avert Rh8 mate! 1-0
557 Sorokin,Maxim Sambuev,Bator Chigorin mem (2) [Tony Kosten]
A14 2574 2390 03.11.1999
1.f3 f6 2.c4 A common method of reaching an English, the advantage is that B l a c k c a n n o t p l a y l i n e s wi t h 1 . . . e 5 , t h e disadvantage is that W hite is committed to playing his knight to f3. Still, if White is going to do this anyway, he might as well start with 1 Nf3. e6 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 c5 6.c3 e7 Black has indicated his willingness to play a Hedgehog, but W hite prefers to keep his centre in reserve, and heads for a Reti instead. 7.b3 0-0 8.e3 d5 9.b2 bd7 10.e2 a6 [ A perfectly logical move, but either the immediate 10...c7 or the simplifying ] [ 10...e4 are normally preferred. ] 11.fd1 [ I like White's method of playing this position, many players give away their intentions by the move 11.d3 but instead, in this game, W h it e d e ve lo p s h is ro o ks t o t h e ir b e s t squares, c1 and d1, first, before deciding how to move his d-pawn. ] 11...c7 12.ac1 dxc4 [ A normal plan in these positions, Black closes the c-file and aims for counterplay with ...b5. Further keeping the tension runs into problems: 12...ac8!? 13.cxd5 xd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.e4 b7 16.d4 with a mobile centre. ] 13.bxc4 c6!? [ A new move, and a very sensible one, preparing ...b5. 13...ac8 has also bee n tried, and in Tosic,M-Petronic,J/Novi Sad 1995, White continued with the committal 14.e4?! weakening his central dark squares, e 5 a n d d 4 . ( 14.d3 is m ore sens ible .) 14...g4! and Black had an edge. ] 14.d4! Illustrating the advantage of White's 549
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 flexible strategy to perfection, instead of d3 he can exploit the slight awkwardness of Black's piece placement to expand in the centre. b7? [ A natural reply, taking control of the h1-a8 diagonal, but it loses! 14...cxd4 15.exd4 fe8 was better, with a typical hanging pawn structure. ] 15.d5! White's d-pawn may have been slow to get going, but once started, it seems that nothing will stop it! exd5 16.cxd5 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 All forced so far. 18.e5! The point of White's combination. f6 [ T h e a l t e r n a t i v e 18...xe5 is little improvement, 19.xd5 g6 and White ha s various rook moves discovering an attack on the black queen, and winning material. ] [ M e a n w h i l e , 18...xg2? simply drops a piece after 19.xd7 e4 20.c4 ] 19.xd5! Lining-up a killing pin along the g2bishop's diagonal. xd5 20.d1 ad8 21.d2! [ The simplest, after 21.xd5?! xd5 22.f3 B l a c k c a n h e a d f o r a n e n d i n g b y f6 23.xd5 xd5 24.xd5 b5 with reasonable chances, so it is better for White to keep the queens on the board. ] 21...xe3!? [ Aiming to obtain some play in return for a queen sacrifice, but it fails. The alternatives were no h elp, i.e . 21...f6 22.c4 b5 23.a5 c7 24.xd5+ h8 25.e4 and the white minor pieces will dominate the black rook. W hite will win by judiciously advancing his kingside pawns, and exposing the black king. ] 22.xb7 xd1 [ 22...xd2 is quite hopeless, 23.xd2 f5 24.xa6 with a solid piece more. ] 23.c2 c4!? [ 23...xb2 24.xb2 f6 25.xa6 does not hold out too much hope either, White can easily defend the knight by a later f4. ] 24.xc4 c5 25.xa6 xf2+ [ Unfortunately, 25...xf2 achieves nothing: 26.a3! d3+ 27.xc5 ] 26.g2 fe8 27.c1 Careful play, White defends against any nasty 'accidents' on the e 3 - s q u a r e . c5 28.b2 Forcing the e x c h a n g e o f t h e a n n o y i n g k n i g h t . e3+
29.xe3 xe3 30.d3 The writing is on the wall for Black, White has fought-off the attack, and can now concentrate his pieces against the f7-square. g6 31.c7 Menacing Bc4, tying Black to the f7-pawn. d4 [ Hopeless, but 31...d5 also fails, 32.c4 f5 33.g4! f6 34.e5 f8 35.xf7! winning, as 6xf7 36.xf7+ xf7 37.c8+ picks-up the bishop, g7 38.c3+ ] 32.c4 f8 33.xf7+ h8 34.f4 [ Sufficient, but 34.e5 is also decisive, c5 35.xg6+! hxg6 36.xg6 and Black can only fend off the mate by giving a rook. ] 34...c8 35.e7 1-0
558 Zvjaginsev,Vadim Skatchkov,Pavel TCh Togliatti RUS (1) [Tony Kosten]
A14 2664 2475 16.05.2003
This game struck me as interesting as White delayed playing the 'automatic' e3, seemingly provoking Black to play ...d4. 1.c4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 c6 A solid choice, although there is nothing wrong with playing [ 6...b6 7.b2 b7 immediately, 8.e3 c5 and Black avoids playing ...c6 altogether. ] 7.b2 b6 8.c3!? Very provocative! Normally White plays [ 8.d3 b7 9.e3 a5 and only now 10.c3 as in Damljanovic, B-Piskov,Y/Belgrade 1998/, amongst many others. ] 8...b7 Black continues his development, he was not tempted into [ 8...d4?! as after 9.a4 d3 ( 9...c5?? 10.xd4 and the a8-rook is lost) 10.e5 dxe2 11.xe2 White has a substantial lead in development. ] 9.c2 White again forgoes playing e3 (to control d4) as now bd7 [ 9...d4?! is met by 10.e4! xe4 11.xe4 and the d-pawn is lost. ] 10.e3 Finally, but perhaps White could have delayed this even further? The position is fairly standard now, except that the white queen is on c2, whereas she normally goes to e2. h6 11.ad1 c8 12.d3 b5!? 550
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 This move is perhaps the justification behind Black playing ...c6, but even so I would prefer [ 12...c5 myself, to keep the b7-bishop's diagonal open. ] 13.e4 White is eager to provoke the opening o f t h e d - f i le t o e xp l o it h is ro o k wh i ch i s p o i n t i n g a t t h e b l a c k q u e e n . b6!? Black tries to bring maximum pressure to bear on c4, but the knight is not well-placed here. [ 13...b4 14.e2 c5 was interesting. ] 14.b1 The queen moves off the c-file to avoid a nasty skirmish with the black rook on c8, and threatens the b-pawn in passing. a6 [ 14...dxc4?! is not very good, because after 15.dxc4 the queen is attacked. ] 15.e2 a5?! Black misses White's positional threat, he should have played [ 15...c5! when there is absolutely nothing wrong with his position. ] 16.exd5! exd5 17.cxb5 cxb5 18.ed4 This is the point, the knight finds a lovely post on d4 eyeing the f5-square, and meanwhile the b7-bishop is stymied by its pawn on d5. b4 19.de1 c5 20.h4 The knight aims for f5, or does he have another square in mind? bd7 21.h3 All the white pieces are finding aggressive posts, and tactics are 'in the air'. b6?! Black misses the far-from-evident threat, better to play the prophylactic [ 21...h8 ] 22.e6!! This must have come as a shock! d4 This simply concedes the exchange, but if [ 22...fxe6 23.xe6+ h7 ( 23...f7 loses to 24.d4! f8?! and now the queen s p r i n g s i n t o t h e f r a y f r o m a f a r : 25.g6 and the rook cannot be defended.) 24.xf6 xf6 25.xc8 xc8 26.d4+ and again the white queen checks from as far away as possible, and the bishop is lost. ] [ 22...fe8 do e sn 't h elp : 23.xc5 xc5 24.xf6 xf6 25.xc8 ] 23.xf8 xf8 24.d1 d5?? Black drops the d7 -kn igh t a nd brings th e game to a n abrupt halt, but he was losing anyway, of course. 1-0
559 Agrest,Evgenij Ponomariov,Ruslan EuTCh Plovdiv BUL (1) [Tony Kosten]
A15 2605 2718 11.10.2003
The famous 'portable phone' game! 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.d3!? White aims for e4 to stymie the b7-bishop. [ 4.g3 is likely to transpose to a standard Hedgehog. ] 4...xf3!? Black shatters the white structure. [ 4...g6 5.e4 g7 6.g3 0-0 7.g2 c5 is a f ianchetto Hedgehog, Kortchnoi,VKuzmin, G/Leningrad 1973. ] [ 4...c5 5.e4 e6 6.g3 was examined in Morozevich,A-Lutz, C. ] 5.exf3!? A novelty, White captures away from the centre. [ 5.gxf3 g6 6.g2 c5 7.g5 g7 8.d2 c6 was fine for Black in Kluger,G-Barczay, L/ Budapest 1963. ] 5...c5 Controlling d4 as White's lack of an epawn weakens his hold on the dark squares. 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 c6 8.d1 g6 9.e2 g7 10.f4 0-0 11.e3 Black's position is solid, but White has the bishop pair, and the two open central files to pressurize the black centre. e6 12.0-0 e7! Both aiming for the f5-square, and preparing ...d5, as now Black can recapture on d5 with a knight two times. 13.a4 f5 Revealing another problem related to White's lack of an e-pawn: the f5square provides a nice spot for a black knight. [ 13...d5 is an alternative, 14.fd1 e8 ] 14.ad1 xe3!? Introducing opposite-colour bishops, and depriving W hite of the bishop pair, but also evening-out the white structure. 15.fxe3 c7 16.h1 a6 17.f3 a7 18.d2 A useful move, defending the second rank and preparing to double rooks on the d or f-files. c8 19.e2 Necessary to defend the c-pawn. b8 20.b3 White keeps pressure o n d 5 so t h a t t h e b la c k d -p a wn r e m a in s backward. f8!? Black aims to defend the dpawn on d6 with a typical Hedgehog structure. 21.e4 d6 22.f5!? White aims at the e6-pawn, which cannot be so easily defended without a light-squared bishop, still White also weakens h i s d a r k s q u a r e s , i n p a r t i c u l a r e 5 . d7 The e5 and c5 squares lure the black knight. 551
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.g4 The point, hitting Black at his weakest point before he can bring his p i e c e s t o t h e k i n g s i d e . e8 25.e2 The knight heads for f4 or d4 to bring the p r e s s u r e o n e 6 t o b o i l i n g p o i n t . e5? Black is too keen on getting to the e5-square, [ 25...g7 is better, 26.d4 ( 26.h3 c5 27.b4?! xe4 28.xe6+ h8 is good for Black ) 26...c5 27.e3 a8 28.e2 ae7 and e6 is well defended, and the black pieces well-placed. ] 26.xe6+! Ouch! xe6 27.c5 Opening the a2-g8 diagonal, and pinning the rook against the black king. d5 The only chance, [ 27...e8 28.d4 ae7 29.xe6 xe6 30.f6 wins immediately. ] 28.xd5 ae7 And Black was disqualified! Actually, his portable phone rang, and under new rules this equates to the immediate loss of the game! [ 28...ae7 of course he can still play on after 29.d4 g4! (with a threat to h2!) but he is quite lost: 30.g3 e3 ( 30...e5 31.xe6 xe6 32.c6 d6 33.c1 and the c-pawn is too strong) 31.xe6! xf1 ( 31...xd5 32.xf8+ ) 32.f2 e3 33.d6! with a massive attack. ] 1-0
560 David,Alberto Vachier Lagrave,Maxime ITA-chT 46th (1.1) [Fier, Alexandr]
A15 2579 2758 30.04.2014
This was an interesting game in a line which is not so popular. W hite tries a quick expansion on the queenside but Black shows that there are also dangers on the other side of the board. The game finishes with some amazing fireworks. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.b4 White plans to bring the bishop to b2, and so why not push the b-pawn one more square? g7 4.b2 0-0 5.g3 c6 I like this move, as it's always useful against the b4-pawn. Black can play ...a5 at some point to create some pressure against the queenside pawns. It's funny that even against 1.b4, 1...c6 is possible, with the idea of 2.Bb2 Qb6 3.a3 a5!?. [ 5...b6 6.g2 b7 was analyzed for
ChessPublishing in Reti, R-Capablanca, J/ New York 1924. ] 6.a3 This move looks unnatural, but the knight will be better on c2 than on c3. b6 Black attacks the b4-pawn and at the same time creates threats against the f2-pawn. [ 6...d5 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.g2 b6 9.b3 a6 10.c2 is another possible continuation and was played in Kosten, A (2516)-Jerez Perez, A (2416)/Fincas Mediterranea 1st 2004. ] 7.c2 [ 7.b3 is also possible, but Black had a comfortable position after e4 8.d4 a5 9.b5 a4 10.e3 d5 in Gofshtein, L (2560)Har Zvi, R (2485)/Zagreb zt 1993. ] 7...d6 8.b1 White defends the bishop and avoid any problems with the f2-pawn. However, it was also possible to just continue his development. [ 8.g2 is a playable option. White can sa crif ice a p a wn t o im m o b ilize B la c k ' s pieces. a5 9.a3 g4 ( 9...e4 is worse, since the knight will come under attack on e4 10.d4 xd4 11.fxd4 ) 10.d4 axb4 11.axb4 xa1 12.xa1 a6 in theory this can be a problem, but 13.0-0! ( 13.b1 f5 would be annoying) 13...xb4 14.b1 c5 15.d2 with the idea of 16.e4 and Black can't escape from the pin without losing the pawn a5 just gets into another pin after 16.c3 ] 8...e5 9.g2 White tries to just play normal ideas, but this poses no problems for Black. Instead, [ 9.c5!? is critical, going for a complicated middlegame dxc5 10.bxc5 xc5 11.a3 ( 11.xe5 is also possible, but Black will have good centralized pieces in exchange for the central pawns e8 12.d4 e7 13.e3 c5 14.c3 b6 15.g2 b7 16.0-0 c6 17.c2 ad8 with good play for Black ) 11...a5 12.xf8 xf8 13.g2 ( 13.a3 looks a bit slow, but maybe it's not a bad idea ) 13...bd7 14.0-0 xa2 15.d4 e6 and Black has two pawns for the exchange, but the position remains unclear ] 9...e4 10.fd4 [ 10.g5 tries to bring the knight to h3 d5 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.0-0 d8 13.d3 h6 14.h3 c6 but I prefer Black's center 552
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 domination and the squares for the respective knights ] 10...a5 11.a3 axb4 12.axb4 bd7 13.0-0 e8 14.c3 This move is not so necessary in order to exchange the rooks. [ 14.a1 was more direct xa1 15.xa1 e5 probably White didn't like to allow this option. ( 15...h5 is not so different ) A) Now 16.e3 leaves the pawn on b4 hanging, xb4 ( 16...fg4 is probably better 17.dc2 xe3 18.xe3= ) 17.a3 xd2 18.xd6 and White has good compensation for the pawn. The queen on d2 has no good squares; B) 16.b3 pinning the e5-knight c7 17.c5 d5 18.d4 fg4 with a complex position ] 14...e5 15.e3 h5 16.a1 [ 16.b5 doesn't help much c5 ( 16...c5 is not possible because of 17.b3 ) 17.b3 d8 18.c2 h4 19.a1 xa1 20.xa1 and with the queenside more or less closed Black can continue the attack ] 16...xa1 17.xa1 h4 18.b5 hxg3 [ 18...c5 was also possible, but Black has a more interesting idea in mind 19.dc2 d8 and it's similar to the position analyzed in the 16.b5 variation ] 19.hxg3 [ 19.fxg3 is ugly, but avoids the idea of the game fg4 20.xg4 xg4 21.bxc6 bxc6 22.e3 c5 23.b1 c7 24.b5 d7 25.xe5 xe5 26.a7 and Black is slightly better ] 19...eg4 Opening a path for the queen. 20.dc2 This is already slow, White is still not feeling the danger of the position. [ 20.bxc6!? bxc6 21.b1 ( 21.dc2 c5 ) 21...c5 22.a4 was a much more direct approach and one possible continuation could be h5 23.xg4 xg4 24.xc6 h2+ 25.f1 f6 26.e3 h3 27.xh3 h1+ ( 27...xh3+ 28.e2 h5+ is also draw) 28.e2 xb1 29.b5 d3+ 30.e1 b1+ with a perpetual ] 20...c5! And this was probably unexpected! Black just gives the bishop on g7 to create mate threats. Now the game becomes wild! 21.xg4 Accepting the challenge, but it's a bad decision. [ 21.f3 was possible, trying to keep the
tension exf3 22.xf3 h5 23.xg7 xg7 24.bxc6 bxc6 and Black still has some pressure ] 21...xg4! 22.xg7? Following the plan, but now White is officially lost. [ 22.e3 was the last chance to survive A) 22...xe3 this is the wrong move order 23.fxe3 xc3 24.xc3 cxb5 25.f6! just giving one more pawn xc4 26.xe4! th is is t he po int , Bla ck ca n 't ta k e t h e bishop in a good way e6 ( 26...xe4 27.d3 b3 28.dxe4 xe3+ 29.f2 c5 30.g2 and the endgame has good chances to finish as a draw; 26...xe4 27.xf7+ h8 28.f4 b1+ 29.f2 and Black is helpless) 27.xe6 xe6 28.c1 xe4 29.xc8+ g7 30.c7 and White holds; B) 22...xc3! 23.xc3 cxb5 24.cxb5 xc3 25.dxc3 xe3 26.fxe3 g4 27.f2 e5 28.d1 and Black is better, but White has chances to defend ] 22...h5 23.b1 Trying to give an escape route to the king. [ 23.e1 was tricky, avoiding the idea of the game. But now the king can't run too far h2+ 24.f1 f6!! the other square, now the knight will join the attack again via h5 ( 24...e5 25.g4! f3 26.exf3 and the rook on e8 is hanging now) 25.f3 h5 26.c3 xg3+ 27.f2 h3 28.e3 f5 29.g1 ( 29.h1 g3+ 30.g1 xe3 and White's position is just sad 31.f1 xf1 32.xh3 f5 winning ) 29...g3+ 30.f1 exf3 31.xh3 xh3+ 32.e1 xe3 33.dxe3 f2+ 34.xf2 xe3+ 35.g2 xe2+ 36.h3 h5+ with mate ] 23...h2+ 24.f1 e5 [ 24...f6 is not so good now, because the king miraculously runs away 25.e3 h3 26.e1 g1+ 27.f1 xf1 28.d1! xg7 29.c2 and the position is far from clear ] 25.g4 Last trick. [ 25.e3 h3 26.e1 xg2 27.d1 xg7 and Black is just a piece up ] 25...f3! [ 25...xg4 26.xe5 attacking the queen ] 26.exf3 exf3 27.xf3 xg4 A nice end! 0-1
553
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A15 27.d3 g5!? Black plans kingside aggression Ehlvest,Jaan 2588 wi t h . . . f 4 , m a k i n g u s e o f h i s c 7 - b i s h o p . Kasparov,Garry 2838 28.hxg5 hxg5 29.a5 de8 [ 29...bxa5 30.c5 f4 is unclear. ] FIDE GP Moscow RUS (1.2) 01.06.2002 30.axb6 axb6 31.a4 e7 32.e1? [Tony Kosten] Anything but this! White simply forgets about 1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.b3!? An unusual the threat, and removes his knight from the a m a l ga m o f t h e E n g l is h a n d t h e L a rs e n control of f4. f4! O f co u rse ! 33.exf4 gxf4 g7 The black pieces spring to the Opening, White decides to take Kasparov far 34.g4 from his renowned opening preparation, but to attack! 35.f3 e8 36.c2 ge7 37.d3 no avail. e5 4.b2 e4!? Black has an a6 38.f1 h7 39.e2 d8?! 40.h2? [ 40.d4 would exchange queens when e n o r m o u s c h o i c e i n t h i s e xt r e m e l y r a r e White would have real fighting chances in position, but the World no. 1 goes for the gain the endgame. ] of space, in line with his aggressive style. 40...xh2 41.xh2 d5 42.b3 dxc4 5.xf6!? [ A fifth-move novelty! White concedes the 43.xd8+ xd8 44.xc4?! Otherwise White bishop pair to weaken the defence of e4, has lost material for nothing, but now the dark 5.c2 d5 6.f3 f5 7.h3 g6 squares come back to haunt W hite. h4+ allowed Black to bolster his strong centre in 45.g2 g3+ 46.f1 xc4+ 47.xc4 xf3+ 48.e1 f6 Smyslov, V-Kortschnoi,V/Moscow 1971. ] 5...xf6 6.c3 e5 7.g2 f5 Black is 0-1 s l ig h t ly b e h i n d i n d e ve l o p m e n t , b u t h a s managed to maintain his strong centre. 8.e3 A15 a6! Thoughtful development! The knight 562 aims for the weak d3-square. 9.ge2 c5 Frois,A 2320 10.0-0 e7 Maiorov,N1 2542 [ There is little point to occupying the d3- 29th Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (1.41) square immediately, 10...d3 11.c1 ] [John Bartholomew] 11.b1 0-0 12.d4!? White plans a tactical operation to free his position. exd3 13.d4 Nothing earth-shattering happens in this one, f6 14.a4!? but I wanted to include it to show how easily [ this leads to the recapture of the d-pawn, B l a c k m a y o b t a i n a g o o d g a m e a g a i n s t but at the cost of a weakened structure. mechanical play from White. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 14.b4?! is worse, e6 15.xe6 dxe6 b6 3.g3 b7 4.g2 g6 5.0-0 g7 6.c3 and the attack on c3 allows Black time to 0-0 7.d4 e4 8.d2 Another continuation defend his d-pawn. ] rooted in Queen's Indian play. 14...xa4 15.bxa4 b6 16.xd3 a6 [ The double-edged 8.c2 xc3 9.bxc3!? 17.fd1 g6 18.bc1 is examined in Putka, V (2321)-Wojtaszek, [ Missing a nice opportunity to justify his play, R (2710) Jurmala 2013. ] 18.b5! is strong, the knight will land on the 8...d6 Normal, but certainly not the only move! f i n e d 6 o u t p o s t a s cxb5? 19.axb5 [ Black has tried several other approaches wins back the material with interest. ] here - a true testament to his flexibility. For 18...ad8 19.b3 h8 20.h4 c5 example: 8...c5 (the most attractive, in my 21.e2?! opinion) 9.xe4 ( 9.c2 xd2 10.xd2 [ Again missing 21.b5! as cxb5? 22.cxb5 cxd4 11.xd4 xg2 12.xg2 c8 13.b3 hits queen and bishop, and otherwise the b7+ 14.g1 c6 15.xc6 dxc6 knight goes to d6. ] was at least equal for Black in Jakovljevic, 21...e5 22.c2 e7 23.c1 h6 24.d3 V ( 2 3 9 0 ) - S a r i c , I ( 2 5 4 9 ) N e u m 2 0 1 1) c7 25.b4 c8 26.cd2 White has a 9...xe4 10.c3 c6! 11.e3 d6 12.c1 h a r m o n i o u s p o s i t i o n , b u t h i s we a k e n e d e6 13.e1 c7 14.b3 ad8 Jankovic, A queenside pawns will always be a liability. f6 (2543)-Edouard, R (2646) Aix les Bains 561
554
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2012 ] [ 8...a6!? 9.xe4 xe4 10.c3 c6 11.h4 xg2 12.xg2 b5!? 13.a3?! ( it looks better to play 13.cxb5 cxb5 14.a3 ) 13...bxc4 14.a4 b6 15.xc4 d5 16.d3 e5!? 17.dxe5 c5 18.d4 e4 19.f4 xd4 20.xd4 d2 21.fd1 b3 22.ab1 c5 23.e3 d4 Grunberg, M (2414)-Horvath, J (2560) Hungary 2011 ] [ 8...e6 9.e1 ( 9.c1 d6 10.c2 xd2 11.xd2 d7 12.b3 e7 13.e4 c5 14.fd1 ad8 15.e3 a6 16.c2 b8 17.cd2 led to a protracted maneuvering struggle in Vigh, B (2370) -Csom, I (2455) Hungary 1995. Black cannot be worse here with his influential dark square bishop, and indeed c6 18.d5 d4 looks quite good for him. ) 9...xc3 10.xc3 xg2 11.xg2 d5 12.b3 c6 13.fe1 a5 14.a4 a6 15.ad1 d7 16.e3 was agreed drawn in W erle, J (2556)-Speelman, J (2518) Sunningdale 2007, ] 9.xe4 [ 9.d5 xc3 10.xc3 xc3 11.bxc3 e5 12.e4 d7 13.h3 c5 was already a bit better for Black in Linqvist, G (2037)-Li, Y Seinajoki 2008. ] [ 9.c1 is reasonable, i.e. d7 10.d5 xd2 ( 10...dc5!? ) 11.xd2 c5 12.e4 a6 13.a4 Radulov, I (2359)-Bratanov, J Mizia 2002. Here Black can play e5 14.xe5 xe5 15.f4 d4+ 16.h1 c7 with fully adequate play. ] 9...xe4 10.c1 d7 [ 10...c5!? ] 11.c3 e6 12.d2 f6 13.fd1 b7 Both sides have been content to play quietly thus far. Black experiences absolutely no problems, so his opening can be thought of as a s u c c e s s . 14.c2 e4 15.e1 f6 16.c3 e4 17.d2 a5 18.b3 e7 19.f4 a4 20.d2 xg2 21.xg2 d7 [ Interesting is 21...d5!? . ] 22.f3 f5 [ This doesn't lead to much, so maybe Black sh ou ld go f o r an ot h er p a wn b re a k wit h 22...e5 , i.e. 23.e3 axb3 24.axb3 a2 25.a1 c2 26.ac1 a2= . ] 23.c6 a7 24.e3 e5 25.dxe5 xe5 26.xe5 xe5 27.f3 [ 27.b4! offered chances for a small edge. ]
27...b2 28.d5+ h8 29.d4 a5 30.c2 xd5 31.xb2 e5 32.c2 axb3 33.axb3 a8 34.b5 e7 35.dd2! e5 36.a2 xa2 37.xa2 White is definitely for choice now, but the players soon arrive at a peaceful result. c6 38.a7 e8 39.c7 e7 40.f4 [ 40.b5 e8 41.a3 followed by Na3-c2b4 was a possible winning attempt. ] 40...b2 41.a8+ g7 42.e8+ h6 43.xd6 Drawn by agreement. [ After 43.xd6 xe3 44.c8 xb3 45.xc6 a draw would indeed by the correct result. ] ½-½
563 Hentunen,Asko Fressinet,Laurent 20th ECC Izmir TUR (1) [Tony Kosten]
A15 2354 2637 03.10.2004
1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.a4!? White deters Black from an immediate ...d5, but this move i s v e r y a r t i f i c i a l . e5 The most natural, although [ 3...g6 4.g2 g7 5.e4 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.bc3 d6 leads to a Botvinnik type of position where the white queen is oddly placed, Kortchnoi,V-Bareev,E/Brussels 1992. ] [ 3...d5!? ignores White's previous move! 4.g2 ( 4.cxd5 b5 5.c2 cxd5 ) 4...e6 5.f3 bd7 6.d3 d6 and Black has a very reasonable Slav set-up, Csom,I-Guindy, E/Aarhus 1991. ] 4.g2 a6! Probably the most accurate, the knight will come to c5 with gain of tempo. [ 4...c5 is also logical, 5.c3 0-0 6.b3 a6 7.d3 d5! and Black is doing well, Csom,I-Farago,I/HUN 1993, as 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.xd5 xd5 10.xd5 b6 with a strong attack. ] 5.c3? This seems to be new, but for tactical reasons is worse than [ 5.d3 b4+ ( 5...c5 6.c3 0-0 7.f3 e8 8.0-0 Gyurkovics,M-Kiss,P/Cseppko 1997; now 5...c5 6.c2 d5 is met by 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.f3 and Black has problems defending e5) 6.d2 0-0 7.gf3 e8 555
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.0-0 d5 Black has successfully constructed a good centre, Abolianin,A-Van der Stricht, G/Westerlo BEL 2004. ] 5...c5 6.c2 d5 Natural and strong. 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.d3 d4 9.b1 e6 Black has a space advantage, a lead in development, plus strong play on the c-file. It is fair to say that W hite's opening has not been a success! 10.b4 cd7 11.d2 d5 12.a3 e7 13.f3 0-0 14.0-0 c8 15.b2 f5!? Black plays ambitiously on the kingside, but [ 15...b6 was a good alternative: 16.c1 a5 17.b5 xc1+ 18.xc1 c8 and Black's pressure on the queenside will soon bear fruit. ] 16.e4?! If White wants to play this, then why not [ 16.e3 dxe3 17.fxe3 as Black can capture on e3 en passant if he wants anyway? ] 16...fxe4 But this is even stronger. 17.dxe4 5b6 The knight aims for both c4 and a4. 18.c1 a4 19.d2 b5 20.e1 c7 21.d3 c2 White's pieces form a sad picture. 22.f4 f6 23.fxe5 xe5 24.f4 f7 25.xc2 xc2 26.d2 d3 27.d1 c4?! This wins material, although [ 27...g4 is also strong, winning a whole rook. ] 28.b3 xa1 29.xa1 a2 30.b3 cb2 31.xb2 xb2 Both rook on d1 and knight on b3 are attacked. 0-1
564 Hodgson,Julian M Efimov,Igor zt 1.1 Mondariz ESP (4) [Tony Kosten]
A15 2640 2520 06.09.2000
1.c4 f6 [ If Black wants to play a King's Indian Defence, 1...g6 might be more accurate, as W h it e co u ld n o lo n ge r play th e ga me 's system. ] 2.f3 g6 3.b4 Quite a popular method of countering the KID, which has the merit of avoiding too much theory, and a similar line was recommended by Dunnington in his 'Easy Guide to the Reti Opening'. g7 4.b2 0-0 5.g3 d6 6.g2 e5 A natural reaction, Black
closes the b2-bishop's diagonal. 7.c3 c6 [ This is more active than 7...bd7 when 8.0-0 e8 9.d3 e4 10.xe4 xe4 11.xg7 xf2?! 12.xf2 xg7 13.d2 favoured White, with his better centre, and open f-file, Plachetka,J-Adamski,J/Stary Smokovec 1974. ] 8.b5 e7 [ Perhaps 8...d4 is more active. ] 9.0-0 e6 10.d3 h6 The position resembles a main line King's English, with the exception that the white rook had not had to move to b1, to prepare b4. 11.d2 c6!? [ A new move, Black prepares ... d5, and this seems better than 11...b8 12.a4 c8 13.c2 d7 14.fc1 with a plus, Wittke,MGrigore,G/Berlin 1996. ] 12.a4 d7 13.a3 The a3-f8 diagonal is the best place for this piece. fd8 14.b1 c5 Played to control White's queenside play, but n o w t h e d 5 - s q u a r e i s w e a k e n e d . 15.e4! The touch of a strong player! White closes the g2-bishop's diagonal, but only to better open it later. h7 16.d5 f5?! [ Black mechanically 'attacks' on the kingside. 16...xd5 17.cxd5 h3 leaves Black with the lesser bishop, and hands the d2-knight the c4-square. ] 17.b6 a6?! [ 17...xd5 18.cxd5 axb6 19.b5 a5!? might be a better try. ] 18.exf5 See the note to move fifteen. gxf5 [ 18...xf5 allows White control of both d5, and e4. ] 19.c7 ab8 20.f4! Thematic, the f5-pawn is fixed, and will be a target. f7 21.fxe5 xe5 [ 21...dxe5 22.xc5 g6 is hardly an improvement. ] 22.f3 Seemingly out of nothing White's position has grown, and grown. g7 23.d4! White is in no mood to concede the initiative, and piles-on the pressure. xc4 24.e1 cxd4 [ 24...g5 25.dxc5 dxc5 26.xd7 xf3+ 27.xf3 xd7 28.xc5 g6 is unpleasant for Black, because of the b7-pawn, but might offer some defensive possibilities. ] 25.c1 f7 26.e6! Another blow, freeing the c7-square for the rook. c6?! [ It is probably better to sacrifice the queen imme dia tely b y 26...xe6 27.c7 c6 556
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28.xd7 xd7 29.xd6 bc8 although White is clearly on top. ] 27.xg7 xg7 28.xd4 f6 29.xc6 bxc6 30.e7! [ 30.e7 xe7 31.xf5+ wins the queen. ] 1-0
xa1 10.xa1 c6?! 11.b5 e7 12.c3 with a plus, Black has yet to use c5, Smyslov,V-Jimenez Zerquera,E/Havana 1964. ] 8...bd7 9.c3 [ 9.d4 is considered in Sulskis,S-Afek,Y [A15]. ] 9...c5 10.d4 This is to the point now that 565 A15 Black cannot contest the knight on d4, even Hoffmann,Michael 2450 though it temporarily cedes control of c5. [ 10.d3 e8 11.d2 h5!? led to interesting Wemmers,Xander 2350 play in Fuller,M-Plachetka,J/Copenhagen chT, NED Hengelo (4) 2000 1980. ] [Tony Kosten] 10...exd4 11.xd4 g4!? The knight heads for the other dark square weakened by 1.f3 f6 2.g3 [ 2.c4 g6 3.b4 is a different move-order that White's tenth move, e5, where it will attack is preferred by many good players, as White the backward c4-pawn. 12.d5 e5 13.c2 keeps his kingside options open (he can c6!? Black elects to play actively, but it is also play e3 and d4, instead of g3, say) and has loosening. 14.bxc6 [ 14.e3 e8 15.ad1 May be more an even greater queenside presence. See precise - White can capture on c6 when he the Sulskis - Afek game for this. ] likes. ] 2...g6 3.b4 g7 4.b2 d6 [ 4...c6!? is interesting: 5.g2 a5 6.bxa5!? 14...bxc6 15.e3 e8 16.ad1 f5? [ Ugh! 16...b8 is safer. ] ( 6.a3 is possibly better, with a likely t ra n s p o s it io n t o t h e Na rs isco Du b la n - 17.b5! Winning material. b8? [ Black should try the exchange sac 17...cxb5 Pedersen game) 6...xa5 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 18.xa8 e6 19.d5 b4 although 20.f4 d6 9.c4 a6 10.a4 h5 11.bd2 h3 clearly favours White. ] 12.c2 c5 and this is fine for Black, his pressure on the a-pawn is more important 18.xd6 e6 19.a3 To add insult to injury, than White's potential play along the b-file, B l a c k h a s a l s o l o s t t h e u s e o f c 5 ! cd7 Its non-stop fun for W hite! h8 and the c5-knight is strong, Campora,D- 20.d5! 21.f4 f6 22.xc8?! Moreno,J/Malaga ESP 1999. ] [ 22.e4! is crushing. ] 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e5 Black gains a foothold in 23.e4 fxe4 24.xe4 f7 the centre, and erects a dark-squared pawn 22...fxc8 Black is almost back in the game! 25.c1 e8 chain to stymie the white b2-bishop. 7.c4 T h i s m o v e i s t h e m o s t n a t u r a l , w i t h a 26.fd1 h6?! Probably Black should only try t r a n s p o s i t i o n t o t h e E n g l i s h , a l t h o u g h this after having removed his king from the a1-h8 diagonal. 27.d6 b7 28.c3 g8 Dunnington prefers the line [ 28...xf4? loses to 29.gxf4 xf4 [ 7.d3 keeping W hite's options open, c6 30.xc6 ] 8.bd2 e8 9.e4!? a5 ( 9...bd7 10.c4 A terrible move! Why not something c5 11.a3 and White can prepare f4, 29.b1? Hickman, J-Lappage,J/Jersey Open, St like [ 29.e1 with a masked pin on the e-file, Helier JCI 2000.) 10.a3 axb4 11.axb4 xf4? wi l l a g a i n l o s e : 30.gxf4 xf4 xa1 12.xa1 a6 13.a3 but this 31.xc6 ] doesn't look like too much for White, Marin, 29...xb1 30.xb1 xf4 31.gxf4 xc4 M-Georgiev,V/Andorra 1997. ] 7...a5 8.b5 Gaining space at the expense of Attacking both of White's once-proud bishops. 32.xc6 the c5-square. Otherwise: [ 32.e5 cxe5 33.fxe5 xe5 34.xc6 ] [ 8.a3 axb4 ( 8...h5 9.c3 f5 10.d3 with typical Closed English play, Taimanov, 32...xd6 33.d1 e4?! [ Better 33...e6 34.d5 f8 ] M-Jansa,V/Marianske Lazne 1962) 9.axb4 557
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 34.b3 xb3 35.axb3 White wins a knight back. ec5 36.xd7 d8 37.d5?? [ How to explain White missing the obvious, and forced, move 37.g4 , drawing? It can only be very severe time pressure. ] 37...xd7 38.f5 g5 Presumably White lost on time, as he can still capture the a-pawn and continue. 0-1
566 Kosten,Anthony C Jones 4NCL Telford ENG (5) [Tony Kosten]
A15 2545 2063 08.03.2003
A banal queen sacrifice? Yes, it does exist as in the following game I obtained more than enough pieces for the lady. 1.c4 f6 2.f3 g6 3.b4!? An 'anti-KID' system that I have looked at a couple of times. g7 4.b2 0-0 5.g3 d6 6.g2 e5 7.0-0 e8 A standard move, but we had only really considered [ 7...a5 8.b5 before, where Black can plant a knight on c5. ] 8.d3 bd7 [ 8...a5 is still possible, and might be best: 9.b5 bd7 10.fd2!? c5 11.c3 leading to a quick draw in Speelman,J-Nataf, I/Mondariz ESP 2000. ] 9.bd2!? An unusual square for this knight in the English, as White normally likes to gain further control of d5, but I wanted to keep the b2-bishop's diagonal unencumbered. [ 9.c3 c6 10.c1 f8 11.b5 led to typical Closed English play in Chistiakova,T-Huang Qian/Heraklio GRE 2002. ] 9...f8!? I was more concerned about [ 9...c6 to play ...d5, 10.a3 Lupu,M-Sykora, R/Prague 1989, d5!? ] 10.c2 A new move, previously White preferred [ 10.b3 to control d5, h5!? 11.h4!? 8h7 12.ac1 b8 13.c5! dxc5?! 14.xe5 wi t h a d v a n t a g e , K r e u za h l e r , M - L a u , M / Jedesheim 1991. ] 10...e6 11.e3 d7!? Black plans to get his kingside pawns rolling, but this neglects the centre. 12.d4 f5 13.dxe5 Black's kingside demonstration is countered in the centre.
dxe5 14.e4! I didn't want Black to play ...e4, with some space. f4 15.c5 Nc4xe5 is on the cards, White cannot allow Black to play ...g5g 4 u n o p p o s e d . g5 16.h3 h8?! Bla ck a vo ids a p in , but run s int o trou ble elsewhere. [ 16...h5 is no particular problem, 17.xe6+!? ( or 17.f5 g4 18.h4 ) 17...xe6 18.b3 e7 ( 18...f7? 19.h4! gxh4 20.gxf4 e7 21.g5 leaves Black in all sorts of trouble) 19.c6!? bxc6 20.xg5 c5 (forced) 21.bxc5 xg5 22.f3 g6 23.xe5 and White should win this. ] 17.c6! I felt that this move was a bit greedy and 'computer-like', but strong all the same. bxc6 18.xc6 Forking a8 and e6. b8 [ 18...b6 19.xe5 xe5 20.xe5 is also hopeless. ] 19.xe6 b6 20.xd7 Of course, White gets t o o m a n y p i e c e s f o r t h e q u e e n . xc6 21.xc6 e6 I was originally worried about [ 21...g4 but then I saw a simple win with 22.xe8 gxf3 23.h5 as xd2 loses to 24.ad1 xb2 25.d8+ f8 26.xf8+ g7 27.xc8 when White has a material plus, and there is no problem on g2 as the f3-pawn can always be captured. ] 22.d5 g4 After [ 22...e8 23.c4 e6 24.ad1 xd5 25.xd5 e7 26.a3 White has complete control and can capture e5 when he wants. ] 23.xe6! Simplest. xe6 24.fd1! The point, returning a piece to keep Black's counterplay to a minimum. gxf3 25.xf3 e8 26.xe5 fxg3 27.hxg3 [ After 27.hxg3 Black resigned, as he saw that White menaces to play Rac1xc7, and Black's only attempt at counterplay, h3?! l o s e s o n t h e s p o t t o 28.d8 xd8 29.f7+ ] 1-0
567 Putka,V Wojtaszek,R Vladimir Petrov Memorial (1.5) [John Bartholomew]
A15 2321 2710 15.02.2013
This game and Frois-Maiorov might more properly be classified in the "Daring 558
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Defences" section, but the play is so decidedly flank-oriented that I couldn't resist including them here (also, there seems to be no existing information on this line over in the "Daring" archives). 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 b7 4.g2 g6 I have to admit that I knew nothing of the existence of this system until a month or two ago. Thus, I was surprised to learn that many Grandmasters have been giving it a try of late! Essentially, Black is aiming for a super-flexible Double Fianchetto by holding off on any pawn advance in the center. It's an unabashedly hypermodern approach, and it's been seen since at least the early 1920s. As you can imagine, theory is chaotic at best in this line (and co m pa riso n s t o va rio u s I n dia n d e f en se s abound), so I'll use these games primarily to acquaint you with the themes. [ 4...e6 ] [ or 4...c5 would lead us to well-trodden territory, of course. ] 5.d4 g7 6.0-0 0-0 7.c3 [ White faces a Queen's Indian-like dilemma: should he play Nb1-c3 and allow Black's next, or delay it in favor of 7.e1 ] [ or 7.c2 ? ] [ Challenging is 7.d5!? , shutting the lightsquare bishop out of play. This has been t h e c h o i c e o f t o p p la ye rs l ik e G i ri a n d Grischuk: A) 7...e4 8.c2 f5 9.f4!? c6 10.fd2 f6 ( 10...cxd5! 11.cxd5 xd5 12.xe4 fxe4 13.xe4 xe4 14.xe4 d5 15.e6+ f7 16.c3 xc3! 17.bxc3 d7 ) 11.c3 h5 12.g5 h6 13.e3 e5 14.dxe6 dxe6 15.c5 d7 16.c4 xc5 17.xc5 bxc5 18.a4 Grischuk, A (2746)-Feller, S (2666) Khanty-Mansiysk 2011; B) 7...e6 8.c3 exd5 9.cxd5 e8 10.e1 c6 11.e4 ( 11.d6!? ) 11...d6 12.f4 cxd5 13.exd5 xe1+ 14.xe1 a6 15.d4 d7 16.d1 c7= Giri, A (2730)-Rodshtein, M (2616) Eilat 2012. ] 7...e4 In accordance with hypermodern principles, of course! 8.c2 [ More popular is 8.xe4 xe4 , i.e. 9.e3 ( 9.d2?! d5! 10.cxd5 xd5 11.b3 c5 12.b2 Malakhov, V (2682)-Taboas
Rodriguez, D (2296) Benidorm 2006 here d8 puts White under pressure; 9.d5!? a6 10.h3 (a common idea, White wants to move the knight and play e2-e4 without a l lo wi n g a n e xch a n g e o f b i sh o p s ) xf3 11.exf3 e6 12.b1 c6 13.f4 cxd5 14.cxd5 c8 15.e1 e8 16.d6 c7 17.dxe6 dxe6 18.f4 d5= Feller, S (2666)Vachier Lagrave, M (2722) Caen 201 1) 9...c5 ( 9...d6; and 9...d5 have also been played, while; 9...c6!? deserves attention) 10.d2 d6 11.h6 d7 12.fd1 f6 13.ac1 c7 14.b3 cxd4 15.xd4 xg2 16.xg2 b7+ 17.f3 fc8 18.e4 a6 19.a4 c5 20.xg7 xg7 21.c2 d7 22.dc1 g8 23.h4 ac8 24.b4 e5 25.b1 a8 26.b5 ec5 27.c6 8xc6 28.bxc6 xc6 29.b4 h5 30.b3 g7 31.f2 f6 32.g2 e5 33.bc1 h7 34.c3 h8 35.3c2 g7 36.c3 a5 37.a1 c5 1/2-1/2 (37) Radjabov, T (2788)-Kramnik, V (2797) Istanbul 2012 ] [ I examine 8.d2 in Frois, A (2320)-Maiorov, N (2542) Cappelle la Grande 2013. ] 8...xc3 9.bxc3!? A double-edged but possibly wrong decision. [ 9.xc3 c5 has held up well for Black, though: 10.e3 d6 ( 10...xf3!? 11.xf3 c6 ) 11.fd1 d7 12.d2 cxd4 13.xd4 f6 14.e1 c7 (Black has a more than acceptable Double Fianchetto) 15.b3 fd8 16.ac1 d7 17.d3 ac8= Trella, T (2 4 0 4 ) - Ma i o r o v, N ( 2 5 4 1 ) M i l a n 2 0 1 2 . Maiorov is a proponent of this line for Black, so interested readers may want to have a look at his games. ] 9...c6! I like this simple move a lot. W ojtaszek is showing his tremendous versatility. [ It's entirely possible for Black to proceed in standard fashion with 9...d6 10.e4 d7 , but the Polish Grandmaster sees no reason to define the central structure just yet. ] 10.b1 This doesn't look too useful. [ On 10.e4 Black would likely have continued with a5 11.d3 a6 12.d2 c5! re a c h in g a p o sit io n re m in isc e n t o f t h e Samisch variation of the Nimzo-Indian. ] [ Bu Xiangzhi recently tried to improve White's play, but Black was hanging tough: 559
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.d2 c8 ( or 10...a5 ) 11.e4 a5 12.e1 d6 13.f1 c5 14.d5 e5?! ( perhaps Black shouldn't rush this move, i. e. 14...a6!? 15.f4 d7 16.d3 ae8 with play similar to our main game) 15.b3 xb3 16.axb3 a5 17.f4 exf4 18.xf4 c7 19.d2 ae8 20.d3 c8= Bu Xiangzhi (2675)-Kjartansson, G (2430) Reykjavik 2013. ] 10...a5 11.d2 xg2 12.xg2 d6 13.e4 c5 14.d5 d7 15.f4 ae8 Black is fully co o rd in a t ed a n d e xtre m e ly com f o rt a b le . W hite doesn't have much to show f or his structural deficiency. 16.f3?! e6 Now watch W o j t a s z e k g o t o wo r k ! 17.dxe6 xe6 18.d3 f5! The game is opening in Black's favor. 19.exf5 xf5 20.f2 d5! Continuing to hammer White in the center. 21.g4 f7 22.f5 dxc4 23.f3 e3?! A small misstep that White fails to notice. [ Easier was 23...gxf5 24.gxf5 e5 25.b2 ef8 . ] 24.xe3 xe3 25.xc4?? Equivalent to resignation. [ 25.b3! would have given Black some problems, i.e. xc3 26.xa5 bxa5 27.f6! f8 ( the pawn is immune in view of 27...xf6 28.b8+ g7 29.b2 ) 28.b2 d3 29.c1 . ] 25...xc4 26.xe3 xe3+ 27.f3 c4 28.e4 gxf5+ 29.gxf5 d6+ 30.d5 xf5+- It's over. 31.e2 xc3 32.e8+ g7 33.g1+ h6 34.e6 f6+ 35.d5 d4 36.b1 e3+ 37.e4 c4 38.d3 d6 39.e7 f3+ 40.e2 f2+ 41.d3 c4+ W hit e resigne d. The re was quite a large rating mismatch in this game, but Wojtaszek's handling of this unexplored line was nearly textbook. Réti and Nimzowitsch would be proud! 0-1
against Black's King's Indian style set-up and have often played something similar in my own games (1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.b4). White takes space on the queenside and this often leads to an undermining of any centre Black tries to set up. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.b4 g7 4.b2 0-0 5.g3 b6 6.g2 b7 7.0-0 d6 8.d3 bd7 9.bd2 e5 [ Black can also consider 9...c5 but after 10.a3 White's space gives him slightly the better chances. ] 10.c2 e8 11.fd1 [ A n o t h e r p l a n w o u l d b e t o p l a y 11.e4 with the aim of preparing f2-f4. This would probably have been my preference in fact. ] 11...a5 12.a3 h6 13.f1 c5 [ 13...e4 14.dxe4 xe4 would have been fine for Black, though perhaps Capablanca wa s co n ce rn e d t h a t t h e p o sit io n m igh t become drawish. ] 14.b5?! White should not close the queenside like this. [ 14.e3 looks like a much better idea, keeping open possibilities of play along the b-file. ] 14...f8 15.e3 c7 16.d4 e4 17.c3 exd4 18.exd4 6d7 [ 18...e6 looks like a superior alternative. After 19.d2 cxd4 20.xd4 xg2 21.xg2 b7+ 22.f3 Black can play ( 22.c6 d8 ) 22...e4! 23.fxe4 xd4 24.xd4 xe4 etc. ] 19.d2 cxd4 20.xd4 xc4 21.xg7 xg7 22.b2+ g8 23.xd6 c5?! Leaving the queen exposed. [ 23...c7 would have been better. ] 24.ad1 a7 [ And here 24...e7 was better. ] 25.e3 h5? This could have lost on the spot. [ 25...c7 was better. ] 26.d4?! [ Missing an even stronger move in 26.1d5! 568 A15 xd5 27.g4 xf3 28.gxh5 xh5 29.c6 etc. ] Reti,Richard 26...xg2 27.xg2 e5?! Capablanca,Jose Raul [ 27...xe3 28.fxe3 xd1?? loses to New York (5) 22.03.1924 29.f5! , threatening both mate on g7 and [Nigel Davies] Black's queen. But 27...Rxe3 might have been a better chance in conjunction with 28... A famous game in which Reti put his opening Ne5. ] on the map. I quite like this method of play 560
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28.c4 c5 29.c6 c7 30.e3 e5? [ 30...xe3 was the last chance to keep fighting. ] 31.1d5 [ 31.1d5 c4 32.xc5 xb2 33.c2 threatening both the knight on b2 and 34. Nd5 is deadly. It rather looked as if both players were affected by nerves in this game, and certainly Capablanca looked far from at ease when facing Reti's indirect opening. ] 1-0
569 Sulskis,Sarunas Afek,Yochanan Open Lisboa POR (6) [Tony Kosten]
A15 2573 2381 26.08.2001
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.b4 g7 4.b2 0-0 This is by far the most common line here, Black simply completes development. [ The quick attack on the queenside is less effective here than when W hite has preferred g3 to c4: 4...c6!? 5.e3 d5 6.h3 0-0 7.a3!? b6 8.c3 e4 9.xg7 xg7 10.b1 White has the more comfortable position, Speelman, J-Gormally, D/Birmingham ENG 2000. ] 5.g3 [ T h i s i s a g o o d a p p r o a c h , b u t 5.e3 is preferred by many, continuing with d4. ] 5...d6 6.g2 e5 7.0-0 [ 7.d3 or ] [ 7.c3 are more common, when play resembles a Closed King's English line, a fine example is the Hodgson - Efimov game, also in [A15], but with the text White keeps the possibility of playing d4 on the cards. ] 7...a5 This is very common in such positions, when although Black allows White even more space on the queenside, he weakens White's hold on the dark squares, in particular c5, which provides a useful resting place for a black knight. 8.b5 [ For 8.a3 see the notes to Hoffmann Wemmers. ] 8...bd7 9.d4!? An interesting idea, White permanently concedes pawn control of c5, but gains space. [ 9.c3 with similar play, is seen in
Hoffmann - Wemmers. ] 9...exd4 10.xd4!? A novelty, keeping an eye on c5. [ 10.xd4 was also successful in Barcza, GHecht,H/Hamburg 1965 and may be stronger, e8 11.c2 c5 12.c3 e6?! Black lacks space for his minor pieces, but this loses control of c5, with serious consequences, 13.xe6 fxe6 ( 13...xe6? 14.xb7 ) 14.c5! with advantage, as dxc5?! would be countered by 15.a4 ] 10...e8 11.bd2 Another piece in the puzzle, as by playing the knight here, instead of to c3, White can play a later Nb3 to further contest a black knight on c5. c5 12.c1 f5 13.e1 A key position, Black has developed his minor pieces and has control of e4, how to proceed? fe4 [ 13...a4!? ] 14.xg7 xg7 15.d4 d7 16.e3 f5!? [ Black wants to keep a hold on e4, 16...xd2 17.xd2 a4 would maintain the knight on c5, and exchange a pair of pieces, but 18.e4 and f4 enhances White's space advantage. ] 17.2b3 The time has come to discuss the c5square. xb3 18.xb3 b6!? A very doubleedged move, defending a5, but weakening the h1-a8 diagonal. 19.f3 f6 20.d4 e7 21.f4 ad8 22.d2 White menaces the move e4, and Black must unpin his knight, but whe re sho uld he put th e king? h6?! Very doubtful, [ 22...g8 m u s t b e r i g h t , 23.e4 fxe4 24.xe4 xe4 25.xe4 (threatening a killer check on d5) g7 26.d5+ h8 is quite playable. ] 23.e4 fxe4 24.h3! With the simple idea of playing g4-5 when the black king proves to be b a d l y m i s p l a c e d . e3 25.g4 xg4! The only try, as [ 25...g5 is met by 26.c3! gxf4 27.xf4+ g7 28.cxe3 f7 29.g5 h5 30.d4+ ] 26.hxg4 xg4 27.f3 f8?! [ I think I would prefer 27...e4 and try my chances in the endgame. ] 28.g5?! [ 28.h2! xh2 29.xe3 f6 30.xf6 xf6 31.xh2 xf4 32.e7 is strong. ] 28...f6? [ Again, 28...f6! forcing the exchange of 561
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 queens, when the black king is safer. ] 29.c3 [ 29.e2! ] 29...df8? [ B l a c k m i s s e s t h e t h r e a t , 29...e8 was the best chance. ] 30.cxe3! xe3 31.xe3 Attacking the q u e e n , a n d t h r e a t e n i n g R h 3 + x h 7 . xf4 Forced. 32.xf4 xf4 33.xe7 xg5 34.xc7 The rest is trivial. h5 35.c6 h4 36.xb6 xc4 37.xd6 c1+ 38.h2 g5 39.b6 g4 40.d3 There was a threat of matein-one to deal with! b1 41.b7 a4 42.b3! Interference! 1-0
570 Agopov,Mikael Elsness,Frode 18th European Teams (6.16) [John Bartholomew]
A16 2450 2506 08.11.2011
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c2!? It's remarkable, but this unpretentious queen move was a novelty when Topalov played it in May. Since then I count 38 total games with 5.Qc2 with White scoring a robust 68% (+14, =15, -5). It's too early to say whether this move is any better than the more established lines (5.Qa4+, 5. Qb3, 5.e4, 5.g3, even 5.h4!?), as much of its su c c e s s c a n be co rrela t e d wit h th e h igh caliber of its handlers (>2500 FIDE average for White). Still, it's clear that 5.Qc2 is useful (mainly because White reveals little about his intentions!), and sets Black some unique problems that deserve our investigation. c6 This move has been gaining steam since the source game. [ Check the archives for 5...g7 6.e4 A) 6...b4 7.a4+ 4c6 This retreat looks a little extravagant to me. ( 7...8c6 8.d4 d7 transposes to the game.) 8.d4 d7 9.b5 0-0 A1) 10.e3 a6 11.d5 e5 12.xe5 xe5?! ( 12...xb5 13.xb5 xe5! ) 13.xd7 xd7 14.b3 b6 15.0-0 a5 16.f4 g7 17.ac1 a4 18.c4 a5 19.fd1 a6 20.e5 Mareco, S (2597)Hunt, A (2437)/Livigno ITA 2011.;
A2) 10.d5!? e5 11.xe5 xe5 12.0-0 c6 13.dxc6 xc6 14.d1 a6 15.xc6 bxc6 16.e3 c7 17.h3 ab8 Rozum, I (2464)-Smikovski, I (2541)/St Petersburg RUS 2011. Now 18.ac1! seems good because xb2?! 19.a3! works out well for White, e.g. b7 ( 19...xc3 20.xc3 ) 20.d5; B) 6...xc3 7.dxc3 should favor White. B1) 7...d7 8.h4!? ( 8.g5!? ) 8...h6?! 9.e3 c6 10.h5 g5 11.0-0-0 c7 12.d4 e5 13.f3 d7 looked a little su s p e c t f o r B l a c k i n L e n d e r m a n , A (2525)-Sedlak, N (2580)/Amsterdam NED 2011. 14.f5!?; B2) 7...0-0 B2a) 8.e3 b6?! 9.h4!? ( 9.d1 ) 9...g4 10.h2 e6 11.h5 c5 12.hxg6 hxg6 13.f4 Bitalzadeh, A (2409)-Cigan, S (2343)/Rogaska Slatina SLO 2011. ( 13.f3 ); B2b) 8.f4 c6 ( 8...c5 9.e2 c6 10.h3 a5 11.0-0 b5 12.a3 d8 13.e3 c4 14.a4! Plischki, S (2332) Seidl, S (2090)/ Teplice CZE 2011.) 9.h3 d7 10.e2 e5 11.e3 e7 12.0-0 Malakhatko, V (2543)-Kanter, E (2406)/St Petersburg RUS 2011.; C) 6...b6 , Topalov, V (2775)-Kamsky, G (2732)/Kazan RUS 2011/[Nigel Davies]. Other recent developments: ] 6.d4 [ A couple of players have experimented with 6.e4 db4 7.b1 , but g4! appears to be a convincing answer. ( 7...d4?! 8.xd4 xd4 9.a3 c6 10.d5 e5 11.d4! Nisipeanu, L (2659)-Atakisi, U (2370)/Konya TUR 2011. ) 8.a3 xf3 9.gxf3 ( 9.axb4 g4 is no problem for Black.) 9...a6 10.b5 g7 11.d3 ab8!? ( T h e r e ' s n o t h i n g w r o n g w i t h 11...c5 12.e3 d6 ) 12.e3 a6 13.c4 e6 14.f4 d4 15.d1 h4! Emphasizing Black's dark-squared control. 16.xd4 xd4 17.f3 c6 18.c1?! g5! Cabrera, A (2530) -Asis Gargatagli, H (2431)/Sitges ESP 2011. ] 6...g7 This is risky. [ Alarmingly, the creative resources in the line 6...db4 7.a4 d7 8.d1 e5! may h ave alrea dy b een exhau sted in a 562
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 matter of months! The current conclusion is that Black is doing quite well - thus, I would definitely recommend 6...Nbd4 over the text. Observe: ( Too routine is 8...g4?! 9.a3 d5 10.e4 xc3 11.bxc3 g7 12.b1 b8 13.e2 0-0 14.0-0 Kamberi, S (2283)-Bagi, M (2309)/Budapest HUN 2011. ) A) 9.a3 exd4 appears entirely acceptable f o r B l a c k : 10.b5 ( 10.axb4 dxc3 11.bxc3 g7 12.d2 0-0 Alekseev, E (2673)-Kurnosov, I (2633) /Taganrog RUS 2011. ) 10...a6 11.bxd4?! ( 11.g5! ) 11...xd4 12.xd4 c6 13.f3 e6 14.xd8+ xd8 15.g5 e7 16.xe7 xe7 with even slightly slightly better chances. Dorfman, I (2578)-Vachier Lagrave, M (2722)/Caen FRA 2011.; B) 9.dxe5 f5 10.g5 e7 11.e4 g4 12.xe7 xe7 13.a3 xf3 14.gxf3 d8 15.a4 d3+ 16.xd3 xd3 17.b5 xf3 18.xb7 d8 19.b4 xe5 20.d1 c6 21.0-0 e6 22.d6 xd6 23.xd6 0-0 Up till here both players had f o l l o w e d H o u d i n i ' s m a i n l i n e ! 24.g2 ( H o u d i n i s l i g h t l y p r e f e r s 24.fd1 , though probably Sutovsky had things figured out even here.) 24...d3 25.xd3 f4+ 26.f3 xd3= Vorobiov, E (2574)Sutovsky, E (2700)/Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2011. Kind of depressing, but it's a dogeat-dog chess world we live in today. If yo u d o n 't wo rk o u t t h e se s h a rp li n e s conclusively, your next opponent just might! ] 7.e4 db4 [ 7...xc3 is rather accommodating. 8.bxc3 0-0 9.h4!? Sambuev, B (2513) -Kleinman, M ( 2 1 9 5 ) / G u e l p h C A N 2 0 1 1 . ( 9.e2 Loncar, R (2385)-Debevec, B (2084)/Sentjur SLO 2011. )] 8.a4 [ The text has already been played three t i m e s , b u t 8.b3N merits investigation. xd4 ( Maybe White players are scared of 8...g4 , but 9.d5! xf3 10.dxc6 is st ron g.) 9.c4 0-0 and now 10.h6 makes much more sense because a5?? 11.xb4 c5 12.a4 is just winning for White. ] 8...d7 9.b3 xd4 Principled.
[ 9...e5 10.d5 d4 11.xd4 exd4 12.xb4 dxc3 13.bxc3 Khusnutdinov, R (2508) -Kozganbayev, E (2271)/Astana KAZ 2011. ] 10.c4?! [ 10.d5! is stronger, as Le Quang Liem demonstrated against Navara. A) 10...e6 11.c4 A1) 11...a5! is the only move. This might n o t b e s o b a d a f t e r 12.xb4 axb4 13.xe6 fxe6 b e c a u s e o f 14.xe6 ( 14.h6; or 14.0-0 ) 14...d6; A2) 11...b5?? 12.xb4 ( or 12.xb5 0-0 13.xc6 xc6 14.c4+- ) 12...a5 13.xb5+ 1-0 De Verdier, M (2359)Massoni, M (2294)/Krakow POL 2011.; B) 10...xd5 11.exd5 a5 12.a3 b6? ( 12...c5 ) 13.b4+- Gu, C (2209)Matlin, A (1989)/ICC INT 2011.; C) 10...a5 A couple disasters have been witnessed at lower levels in this very sharp line: 11.a3 a6 12.xd4 ( 12.xb7!? ) 12...xd4 13.c3 e5 ( 13...c5 14.e3 isn't pleasant either.) 14.xa6 c6 15.xb7 b8 16.e3 xb7 17.xd4 cxd5 18.xe5 0-0 19.0-0 dxe4 20.fd1 c8 21.e3 a4 22.d6 Le Quang Liem (2687)-Navara, D (2702)/Havana CUB 2011. Black has to show an improvement against 10.Nd5 (the closest thing I can see is 10...Be6 11.Bc4 a5), otherwise 6...Nbd4 should be preferred. ] 10...0-0 11.h6? White's game goes downhill fast after this error. [ 11.0-0 is best, but Black certainly isn't worse in the play after a5!? 12.xf7+ ( or 12.xb4 c5 13.xf7+ xf7 , transposing.) 12...xf7 13.xb4 c5 14.a3 b5! ] 11...a5! Powerful and unexpected. 12.xb4 c5 13.xf7+ [ 13.a3 xc4 14.b3 a5 15.c2 e8 ] 13...xf7 14.a3 b5! Black doesn't let up. 15.e2? Already teetering on the brink, White falters. [ 15.d1 is t h e o n ly m o ve . A f t e r c4 16.d3 a5+ 17.d2 xd2 18.xd2 xd2+ 19.xd2 af8 Black enjoys a pretty sizable advantage with the pair of bishops. ] 15...c4 16.b3 563
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 16.d3 a5+ 17.f1 xb2-+ ] 16...a5+ 17.c3 xb2-+ Winning further m a t e ria l. W h it e f la i ls h o p e le s sly f o r t h e r e m a i n d e r o f t h e g a m e . 18.0-0 xc3 19.ac1 b4 20.d5 d8 21.g5 e6 0-1
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A16
Anti Grunfeld Overview [Jonathan Rowson] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 [ 4.a4+ d7 ( 4...c6 5.d4! Appears to be somewhat better for White, for instance after d7 6.cxd5 xd5 7.xd5 xd5 8.xc6 xc6 9.xc6+ bxc6 And although Black managed to draw in Kramnik, V (2759)-Kamsky, G (2725)/Nice FRA 2009. White must be somewhat better. Here I like 10.b1!? intending a quick b3 and Bb2.) 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 A) 6...c6 Is a major alternative and does quite well for Black. However, personally I do not have full confidence in the mainline in which White gets three pieces for the queen. 7.d4 ( 7.e4 e5! is th e id e a) 7...g7 8.e4 0-0 9.e5 ( 9.h3!?; 9.e2; 9.e3 ) 9...e6 10.exf6 xc4 11.fxg7 xg7 12.xc4 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.e2 Black is probably ok here, but I would much prefer to be W hite, if only because I have more pieces to move. b4 15.0-0 fd8 16.b1!? Many previous games went ( 16.a3 b3 17.d1 c4 18.e2 with a repetition.) 16...d7 17.b3 g8 18.a4 ad8 19.a3 e4 20.e3 b6 21.c3 e5 22.bc1 d2 23.fe1 c5 24.c4 2d3 25.h6 h5 26.xd3 xh6 27.c4 e6 28.a4 d2 29.e4 d4 30.c3 f4 31.f3 b8 32.g5 f5 33.xe6 xc4 34.bxc4 d6 35.h4 d2 36.fe3 c2 37.g5 xc4 38.e8+ g7 39.1e7+ f6 40.xh7# 1-0 Nakamura, H (2648)-Mikhalevski, V (2584)/Bastia FRA 2007; B) 6...a6 B1) 7.e4 b5 8.e2 c5 appears to be fine for Black. ( 8...c8!? I am still fond of my extravagant novelty, but nobody
seems to have taken it seriously. ); B2) 7.d4 b5 ( 7...e6 8.d3 appears to be better for White.) 8.b3 c5! 9.dxc5 And now there are lots of move-order wrinkles that I haven't fully got my head around, but Black either plays Bc6 to attack e4 or goes for quick development with a combination of Nc6 and Be6 and possibly b4 or Nb4. The highest level example is the following, where Black was at least ok at the end. g7 10.e4 0-0 11.e2 c6 12.e5 fd7 13.e3 xe5 14.xe5 xe5 15.d1 a5 16.0-0 e6 17.f4 g7 18.a3 c7 19.c2 b4 20.axb4 b7 21.d6 xb4 22.fd1 a7 23.1d2 d7 24.xd7 xd7 25.d6 b7 26.d2 f6 27.f1 b8 28.d8+ f8 29.xb8 1/2-1/2 Topalov, V (2783)Svidler, P (2728)/ Morelia/Linares MEX/ ESP 2007 ] 4...xd5 5.a4+ [ 5.h4 Not a bad move, but not as good as those who play it feel it is when they release their h-pawn with a flick of the wrist. g7 ( 5...h6!? intending to keep the kingside closed with g5 after h5, is also very playable. ) 6.h5 xc3 7.bxc3 c5 8.a4+ d7 9.h4 f6 10.f4 f5 11.g3 g5 12.e3 c6 13.g2 d7 14.h6 c8 15.0-0 g8 16.e1 b6 17.d3 g6 18.a4 a5 19.e5 xe5 20.xe5 xh6 21.d3 c6 22.f5 d8 23.xc6+ xc6 24.a5 xa5 25.xa5 bxa5 26.e3 c6 27.b1 g6 28.c4 h6 29.f3 e6 30.xc5 h3 31.b5+ f8 32.f2 e6 33.g1 f6 34.b1 f5 35.c1 a4 36.h1 g8 37.d4 c6 38.c5 a6 39.g4 d5 40.c2 f7 41.xh7 xh7 42.c4+ f7 43.xa6 b3 44.c6 e6 45.c7 xa6 46.cxd8+ f7 47.d5 b5 48.d6 exd6 49.xd6 1-0 Aronian, L (2750)-Kamsky, G (2725)/Nice FRA 2009 ] [ 5.b3 is likely to transpose to the Qa4+ and Qb3 lines, but gives Black extra options because the bishop is not on d7 blocking the d-file, which sometimes makes it easier to attack the d-pawn. ] [ 5.e4 xc3 6.dxc3 was, for a brief time, t h o u gh t t o b e a p la u sib l e t r y f o r a t in y endgame advantage, but it seems Black can 564
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.b2 b8 18.c3 c5 19.e4 axb3 retain equality(at least) in lots of ways, the 20.axb3 a3 21.c2 b4 22.d2 b6 following being the game I remember most 23.a1 ba6 24.xa3 xa3 25.c3 d7 vividly. xd1+ 7.xd1 d7 8.f4 c6 26.d1 c6 27.d8 a8 28.xa8 xa8 9.c2 f6 10.d2 e5 11.e3 c5 12.xc5 29.b4 cxb4+ 30.xb4 e5 31.c5 f5 xc5 13.b4 a4 14.c4 d8 15.d6 32.a4 b7 33.c6 c8 34.f4 exf4 e7 16.d1 a5 17.b5 d8 18.xc8+ 35.gxf4 h6 36.d5 d7 37.c6 c8 axc8 19.xd8 xd8 20.b6 xb6 21.h4 38.e8 b7 39.h4 f6 40.b5 g5 h6 22.g3 c7 23.e2 c8 24.h5 g5 41.hxg5+ hxg5 42.fxg5+ xg5 43.c6 25.g4 d6 26.d3 b5 27.d1 e7 xc6+ 44.xc6 f4 45.xc7 e3 28.e3 b4 29.c1 b5 30.cxb4 axb4 46.d6 xe2 47.e5 e3 48.xf5 31.f4 gxf4+ 32.gxf4 d4 33.d3 a7 1/2-1/2 Gelfand, B (2733)-Svidler, P 34.fxe5 fxe5 35.b1 d6 36.xb4 a3+ (2726)/Dagomys RUS 2009 ] 37.d2 xa2+ 38.d3 a3+ 39.d2 g3 40.d1 b5 41.e2 g2 42.d3 h2 6.b3 [ 6.h4 43.d1 h3+ 44.d2 c5 45.a4 c3 A) 6...c6 keeps more tension in the 46.g4 g3 0-1 Gelfand, B (2713) position and is worth a try if you want to Ivanchuk, V (2702)/Batumi 19994 ] a v o i d d r a wi s h p o s i t i o n s . H o w e v e r , I [ 5.g3 is played quite often, and gives White suspect it also gives White more chances comfortable play but is not unduly t o a c h i e v e a n a d v a n t a g e e . g . 7.d4 threatening for Black, e.g. g7 6.g2 0-0 ( 7.e5 g7 8.xc6 xc6 9.e3 0-0 7.0-0 c5 8.a4 b6 9.h4 e6! 10.xd8 10.e2 e6 11.a4 ce7 12.d4 c5 xd8 11.d3 d5 12.g5 f6 13.d2 c6 13.xd5 xd5 14.dxc5 c3 15.b4 14.a3 f8 15.fb1 a5 16.a4 b8 xe2 16.xe2 g5 17.g3 ac8 18.d2 17.c1 b6 18.c3 de7 19.e4 g7 xc5 19.xb7 g4+ 20.f3 c4+ 20.ab1 f5 21.c3 h6 22.b5 d7 21.e1 xb2 22.d1 d8 23.e2 23.c3 e5 24.e1 e6 25.d2 d4 xe2+ 24.xe2 c2 0-1 Schandorff, L 26.b3 d5 27.xd5 xd5 28.f1 e6 (2520)-Howell, D (2593)/Dresden GER 29.f3 h5 30.c4 e4 31.dxe4 xb3 2008 ) 7...g8 8.e5 e6 9.xc6 xc6 32.xb3 xc4 33.bb1 b5 34.exf5 gxf5 10.a4 d7 11.e3 0-0-0 12.e2 35.d1 a4 36.a5 e8 37.c2 d4 ( 12.b5!?; 12.a3!? ) 12...db4 13.0-0 38.c3 b3 39.cb2 xc3 40.xc3 e3 d3 14.b4 b8 15.b5 ce5 16.f4 41.c1 b4 42.b1 b5 43.f2 e5 44.h3 xc1 17.axc1 d3 18.xd3 xd3 f7 45.g4 hxg4 46.hxg4 fxg4 47.fxg4 19.e4 f5 20.g5 ( 20.f2! d5 21.d4 b6 48.h1 f6+ 49.e1 d5 50.d2 g5 ) 20...xd2 21.f7 d5 22.b6 axb6 fd6 51.axb4 a3 52.xd5 a2 53.f1+ f6 23.e8+ a7 24.h6 a3 25.xg8 0-1 Grischuk, A (2748)-Svidler, P (2726)/ xe3+ 26.h1 xc1 27.e7 xf4 Dagomys RUS 2009/ ] 28.g1 a3 29.xd5 exd5 30.d7 d6 5...d7 31.xh7 d4 32.g3 e4+ 33.g2 d3 [ 5...c6 is solid, and playable, but there is no 0-1 Johannessen, L (2545)-Howell, D doubt that White is somewhat better after (2593)/ Dresden GER 2008; 6.xd5 xd5 7.e4 and d4. ] B) 6...xc3 [ 5...c6!? 6.e5 d6 ( 6...db4 7.a3 B1) 7.dxc3 c6 Here White has c2+ 8.xc2 xe5 9.d4! keeps some various ideas, but Black faces no advantage.) 7.xc6 xc6 8.xc6+ bxc6 theoretical problems White presumably has some way to prove B1a) 8.g3!? f6 ( 8...g7 9.f4 c8 an edge here, but it's not easy. Moreover, it 10.e4 0-0 11.0-0-0 e8 When Black will not be easy for Black to play to win from h a s a so lid a n d f l e xi b l e p o s it i o n .) such a position against a decent player. 9.b3 9.h4!? probably gives White some xc3 10.dxc3 ( 10.b2 d5 11.xh8 f6 ) initiative, so best might be the simple; 10...g7 11.b2 a5 12.g3 a4 13.g2 a6 B1b) 8.e4 e5 9.g5 e7 10.c4 h5 14.0-0-0 e6 15.c4 0-0 16.xg7 xg7 565
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.d4 c6 ( 8...g7!? ) 9.f4! ] 11.xe7 xe7 12.0-0-0 xh4 13.xh4 f8 and 0-0-0 is equal but 7...g7 8.f4 Currently the move of choice. [ 8.g5!? is also dangerous for Black. h6 not sterile.; 9.h4 e6 10.c2 c6 B1c) 8.f4 f6 9.h6; A) 11.d1!? Is more critical and leads to a B2) 7.d4 f6 8.xc3 c6 9.a3 ( 9.d4 highly curious and largely forced sequence e5! 10.dxe5 b4 ) 9...e5 10.d3 d6 that Black is probably well-advised to 11.e3 e7 fine for Black.; follow: The following notes are based on B3) 7.bxc3!? The latest wrinkle, that those of Ftatchnik's in Chessbase appears to give White a pleasant pull. c5 magazine. I would advise anybody 8.b1 c7 9.g3 xg3 10.hxg3 b6 choosing to play this line with either colour 11.e4 g7 12.d4 0-0 13.h6 cxd4 to check the details closely. My job for now 14.xg7 xg7 15.cxd4 d8 16.d2 is merely to state that I understand why all c6 17.e3 a5 18.c1 h5 19.d3 these fireworks are necessary- if Black ac8 20.a6 c6 21.e5 doesn't do something relatively forcing, he 1/2-1/2 Rustemov, A (2520)-Svidler, P will be sligh tly worse, a nd co uld f ac e (2727)/Baden Baden GER 2009 ] unpleasant positional pressure. Before [ 6.d4 f6 followed by Bg7 and 0-0 is plunging in, the point of Rd1 is not only to fine. ] support d4 but also to be able to meet Nb4 [ 6.c2 is a very tricky move, and still with Qb1 when the rook is already out of relatively underexplored. b4 is now critical, t h e c o r n e r . b4 12.b1 0-0 13.e3 because ( 6...b6 7.d4 g7 8.e4 ( 13.h3 f5!? JR ) 13...f5 14.e4 g4 and Be3 looks like a good Russian system 15.d5 ( 15.e2!? xf3 16.xf3 c6! for White. ) 7.b3 JR ) 15...f5 16.a3 g5 17.g3 f4 18.axb4 A) 7...c5 is the main recommendation fxg3 19.hxg3 xf3 here, but it requires a huge amount of A1) 20.gxf3 xf3 21.h2 xd1 work to navigate the tactics that can follow 22.xd1 d6 ( 22...a5!? ) 23.h3 f8 from this move. 8.e4 f5 ( 8...a5 24.e6+ h8 25.h5 e5 26.g6 is where the really sharp stuff kicks in, but f6 27.xf6 xf6 28.e5 f8 29.e4 my suspicion is that White is better.) 9.d3 c4 30.xg5 xe5 1/2-1/2 Herraiz xe4 10.dxe4 looks a bit better for Hidalgo, H-Fernandez Garcia, J/Burgos White.; 2003/ (43); B) 7...8c6 8.a3 e6 9.a4 d5 A2) 20.e2!?N xc3 21.xg4 10.e5 ( 21.bxc3 xe2 22.xe2 a4-+ ) B1) 10...xc3 11.dxc3 ( 11.bxc3!? ) 21...b3 ( 21...c4 22.e6+ h8 11...d7 12.xd7 xd7 13.e4 23.e5 e8 24.f5 g4 ) 22.e6+ h8 might be quite playable for Black, but ( 22...f8? 23.e5 xe5 24.g6+- ) certainly more pleasant for White due to 23.e5 e8 24.f5 c4! ( 24...xb2? the bishop pair.; 25.xg5 f8 26.f5! e6 27.dxe6 B2) 10...d6!? 11.xc6 xc6 xb4+ 28.f1 b5+ 29.g1+- ) 12.xc6+ bxc6 and although Black's 25.xg5 f8 26.d6 ( 26.f5 xe5-+ ) structure looks bad, we have seen in 26...xb2 ( 26...exd6!? 27.xc4 xb2 related lines that the lead in 28.d2 b1+ 29.d1 xb4 ) 27.f5 development and open lines often fully e6 ( 27...xe5? 28.dxe7 d3+ compensate, which also seems to be the 29.xd3 e8 30.e3+- ) 28.dxc7! case here, but it depends on the next A2a) 28...xb4+ 29.f1 d2+ few moves. ] 30.g1 exf5 31.xh6+ xh6 6...b6 7.d4 ( 31...g8 32.d6+- ) 32.xh6+ g8 [ 7.g5!? was played by no less than Victor 33.g6+ f8 34.f6+ g8=; Ko rtc h n oi a ga in st you r scribe , bu t it is A2b) 28...exf5 29.d8 b1+ 30.e2 designed to knock the opponent off balance b2+ ( 30...xh1 31.xa8 xa8 rather than achieve a theoretical edge. e6 566
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 32.d8+ xd8 33.cxd8+ h7 34.e6+- ) A2b1) 31.f3? xe5+ 32.e3 ( 32.f4 g4-+ ) 32...g4+ 33.d3 xf2+ 34.e3 g4+ 35.d3 xb4-+; A2b2) 31.d1 b1+ 32.c2 xh1 33.xa8 xa8 34.d8+ xd8 35.cxd8+ h7 36.e6 f1=; A2b3) 31.e1 b1+ 32.e2 b2+ 1/2-1/2 Bauer, C (2602)-Svidler, P (2723)/Germany 20040/ [Ftacnik]; B) 11.e3 These 'little centres' should not be un deres tim at ed. I f B la ck do es no t manage to achieve c5 or e5 he can easily b e s q u a s h e d . b4 12.d1 0-0 and now c5 is a threat that is not so easy for White to prevent. 13.a3 4d5 14.e4 d7 15.c1 Now Black can play solidly with c6, but given the lead in development he could also consider more aggressive play with f5 and g5 f5!? ] 8...0-0 9.e3 [ 9.d1 c8!? By no means forced, but an interesting reaction to white's move order. ( A more conventional interpretation is 9...c6 10.e3 a5 11.e2 a4 12.c2 f5 13.e4 g4 14.d5 b4 15.c1 xf3 16.xf3 a3 17.bxa3 xa3 18.e5 a5 19.0-0 4xd5 20.xd5 xd5 21.xd5 xd5 22.xd5 xd5 23.xc7 1/2-1/2 Reshevsky, S (2515)-Timman, J (2550)/Skopje 1976/MCD ) A) 10.a3 c4 ( 10...c5 11.dxc5 is not obviously working for Black. c4 12.b4 xb2 13.xb2 xc5 14.e4! ) 11.b4 ( 11.b3 b6 but Nd6 avoiding the repetition is also ok. ) 11...d6; B) 10.e3 c5 11.e2 ( 11.d5 e6 looks ok. ) 11...cxd4 12.exd4 g4 13.0-0 c6 14.b5?! ( 14.e3 and holding on, looks necessary.) 14...a5 15.b4 d5 16.d2 c4 17.xc4 xc4 18.c3 xf3 19.gxf3 xf4 20.xf4 e5 21.d2 exd4 22.e2 xa2 23.xd4 ad8 24.b4 d5 25.b5 xf3 0-1 Saravanan, V (2379) -Mirumian, V (2525)/Urmia IRI 2008 ] 9...e6 10.a3 And now we have some idea of why this, along with 4.Qa4+ and Qb3 is currently considered the critical anti-Grunfeld
test. This brings us to the relevance of the games selected for this update.
572 Aronian,Levon Areshchenko,Alexander WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (3.1) [John Watson]
A16 2724 2653 03.12.2005
Aronian has chosen to use the English opening at the highest level. As I've been telling you, it's a good way to avoid endless theory and still get a game. He doesn't extract much from the opening (do players get much against the Najdorf or Berlin W all?). The game remains complicated, however, and in the end we get to see the normal advantages of bishop-vs-knight in a simplified position with pawns on both sides of the board. White shows masterly technique. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c3 b6 7.d3 c6 8.e3 0-0 9.d2 e5 10.h4 A probing move. Needless to say, White has several choices, for example, [ 10.c1 and upon g4 with the idea ...Bxf3 and .. Nd4, 11.g5!? Preventing ...Nd4 due t o t h e a t t a c k o n t h e b 7 p a w n . h6? ( 11...d7 12.ce4! ) 12.ge4 h7 13.c5 ] 10...h5 [ 10...g4 11.h2 ] 11.g5!? Probing White wants to reduce the influence of the bishop on g7. [ 11.0-0-0!? ] 11...f6 12.e3 e6 13.e4 d5 14.0-0 A key decision. W hite doesn't fear the following exchange because it gives him 2 bishops. Nevertheless, Black is smart to do so, since his knights have good prospects and the bishop on g2 needs time to get to the weakened light squares. The play is roughly equal. xe4!? 15.dxe4 xd2 16.xd2!? [ 16.xd2! is more natural. These are very complicated decisions in spite of the somewhat reduced material, play is doubleedged. ] 16...c4! 17.fc1 [ T h e o b v i o u s 17.c3 is met by d6! 18.d2 b5! and there goes the bishop anyway. ] 567
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17...xd2 18.xd2 fd8 19.b3 f8! Areschenko controls the d-file temporarily. Now W hite finally activates his bishop and draws the king to the second rank. The next moves depend upon each player's assessment of a basic position: 20.h3! f7 21.e3 Positionally forced but it denies Black d4. a5 22.f1 a4 23.c5 xc5 24.xc5 d2 25.b5! d8 26.d5! [ 26.c1 c6 27.b6 e7! marching to c7. ] 26...xd5?! A dangerous move because it straightens out W hite's pawns. The natural move was [ 26...xb2 27.d7+ e8 28.xc7 ( 28.g7 e6 29.xg6 f7 ) 28...e6 29.h7 c8 preventing Bc4. ] 27.exd5 a3 28.bxa3!? [ Not awful because White wins the b-file. Still, 28.b3 is obvious and apparently good what was Aronian afraid of? Perhaps e7 29.c1 c6 30.c4 c8 , but 31.d3 continues to limit the knight's movements. In what follows White is only nominally better but strengthens his position. Likely both players are in some time trouble. ] 28...xa3 [ The pawn isn't going anywhere. Perhaps 28...e7 29.c1 d6 looks equal. ] 29.c1 c6 30.dxc6 xc6!? [ 30...bxc6 is anti-positional but covers the entrance squares. The king would quickly move in for defence. ] 31.b1 a5 The knight is cut off from c4, so unless Black wins the a-pawn this looks very passive [ 31...d8 32.c4+ e7 33.b6! has Bd5 in mind. Now we begin to see the normal advantages of bishop-vs-knight in a position with pawns om both sides of the board when there aren't many pieces left: ] 32.g2! g7 [ 32...e7 33.d5 d6 34.f7 ] 33.d5 f5 34.e4! fxe4 35.xe4 a4 [ 35...xa2 36.b6! and the kingside pawns are falling ] 36.d5!? d4 37.g2 [ Or 37.b5! Black is completely tied down and White hasn't even used his king! ] 37...d2 [ 37...a4! is the best try but 38.b6 ( or 38.b2 ) 38...xa2? 39.e4 repeats the
theme. ] 38.a3!? [ 38.e4! d4 39.f3 is winning, because Rb6 or Rb5 will follow. d6 , e.g., 40.b5 b6 41.xe5 ] 38...d3 39.e4 xa3 [ 39...d6 40.b5 ] 40.b6 We've seen this position before: White will win a n e xt ra p a wn an d re t ain a ll t h e adva ntages o f bisho p-ve rsus-knight . a4 41.xg6+ f7 42.f5 b5 43.b6 a1+ 44.g2 c4 45.xb5 a2 46.d3 The e- and h-pawn will f all. Incredible t e ch n i q u e ve rs u s a 2 6 5 0 p l a ye r i n wh a t seemed an innocent position. 1-0
573 Aronian,Levon Kamsky,Gata 24th ECC Kallithea GRE (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A16 2757 2729 20.10.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ d7 6.h4 xc3 7.bxc3 g7 8.b1 b6 [ 8...c6 is the topic of Carlsen-Svidler, Kallithea 2008, which is also to be found in this update. ] 9.d4 h6 [ 9...c5 10.e4 c7 11.e3 ] 10.e4 [ 10.g3 was played in Roggeveen, P-Polak, I /Maastricht NED 2007, doesn't offer White any real chances of an advantage after f5 11.b2 c5 ] 10...c5 11.e3 [ The first new move. Previously White had tried 11.d2 cxd4 12.cxd4 c6 13.d5 d4?! ( 13...e5 14.d4 e6 15.xd8+ xd8 is quite playable for Black, and if White now go es f o r 16.b5 0-0 17.f4 , then xb5 18.xb5 d7 19.dxe6 fxe6 leaves White with only a minor advantage.) 14.xd4 xd4 15.d3 e6 16.g3 exd5 17.0-0 with a strong initiative for White to compensate for the pawn, Roeder, M-Lopez Gonzalez, D/Campillos ESP 2006 ] 11...c7 12.c1 c6 13.e2 c8 [ Black can also consider regrouping his 568
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pieces with 13...d8 14.0-0 e6 15.e5 c6 ] 14.0-0 f6 While forcing the issue on exchanging the queens may not appear to be what Black should concern himself with the most, he has to do something about his king that is currently stuck in the centre. Despite the fact that the queens come off the board, Black's position is still very passive and fairly u n p le a s a n t . 15.g3 xg3 16.hxg3 g5 17.d5 [ Maintaining a broad, strong centre in this fashion has a natural appeal. However, you have to qu es tio n wha t wo uld h app en if White were to take the offered pawn on c5? I don't see a refutation or even a line that doesn't result in a solid plus for White, e.g. 17.dxc5 bxc5 18.xc5 0-0 19.fd1 e6 20.a3 fd8 21.xd8+ xd8 22.b5 , but I suspect that Aronian decided that the ga m e c o n t in u a t io n o f f e re d W h it e e ve n better chances, even if Black can improve on move 20. ] 17...a5!? [ The a lt erna tive is 17...e5 , but after 18.xe5 xe5 19.f4 g7 20.h5 ( 20.e5 h5 ) 20...gxf4 21.gxf4 White has a very pleasant game. ] 18.d2 e6 19.c4 e5 20.h5 0-0?! [ Now things start getting ugly for Black. I think Black's only reasonable option is to t r a n s f e r t h e k n i g h t t o d 6 wi t h 20...b7! 21.f4 d6! after which Black can decide whether castling or placing the king on e7 is the better choice. ] 21.f4 g7?! [ Black is trying to hold the position by letting White prove why he is better. However, the only way to stay in the game at this juncture is to exchange some pieces and open up the position, no matter how ugly it looks, such as for example 21...exf4 22.gxf4 b2 23.c2 d4 24.xd4 cxd4 25.fxg5 hxg5 26.e5 , and Black is still fighting. ] 22.f3 exf4 23.gxf4 g4? Black's position goes from being decidedly awful to plainly lost. 24.e5 If Black wants to avoid losing the gpawn, he has to add another centre pawn for White. xe5 25.fxe5 ce8 26.f4 c8 27.c3 With a series of precise cuts, White finishes Black off. h7 28.h2 g7 29.f6
e7 30.f4 h8 31.d6 b7 32.g3 f8 33.xh6+ 1-0
574
A16 Bacrot,Etienne 2613 Svidler,Peter 2689 FIDE WCh KO New Delhi IND (2.1) 30.11.2000 [Tony Kosten] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ d7 6.h4 The key move, W hite will follow with e4, and d4, bringing about a Grünfeld-style position where his queen is aggressively-placed on the kingside. xc3 7.dxc3 [ 7.d4 f6 8.xc3 is the alternative. ] 7...c6 8.e4 e5 9.g5 e7 10.c4 h5! Greenfeld's strong novelty, threatening ...f6, and ...g5, which seems to equalise for Black. [ P r e v i o u s l y , 10...h6 11.xe7 xe7 was played, when 12.g3! gives White an edge, e.g. 0-0-0 13.d5 h5 14.h4 de8 15.0-0-0 Vera,R-Gonzalez Diaz,D/Aceimar 1995. ] [ T h e t a c t i c a l 10...xg5? 11.xg5 h6 loses to 12.xf7+ f8 13.0-0-0 when the g5-knight is twice attacked, but can't be captured! ] 11.xe7 [ What else? 11.0-0-0?! achieves nothing: f6 12.xd7 ( forced, for the retreat 12.e3? allows g5 13.g3 h4 of course, leaving the white queen short of squares) 12...xd7 13.xf6 f8! 14.xe7 xe7 and White's compensation is insufficient. ] 11...xe7 12.0-0-0 [ The point of Black's tenth move is that 12.g3 no lo n ge r h a s a n y ef f e c t , h4 obliging 13.g5 ] 12...xh4 13.xh4 f8 14.d2 [ Mikhalevski's suggested improvement over 14.d5 , when the stem-game, Piket,JMikhalevski, V/Belgrade 1999, continued: 0-0-0 15.d3 e7 16.b3 f6 17.hd1 g4 with equality. ] 14...0-0-0 15.hd1 An unfortunate finish, many games were drawn quickly in New Delhi, wit h t he pla yers p re f errin g t o d ecide th e matches in the rapid chess because that way 569
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 they were guaranteed a bigger prize should they lose. [ After 15.hd1 a5 16.e2 g4 is possible, when they position looks quite level. ] ½-½
575 Batchuluun,Tsegmed Li Chao 6th ch-Asia Cebu City PHI (7) [Carsten Hansen]
A16 2415 2529 25.09.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 xc3 6.dxc3 [ Here 6.bxc3 will usually transpose to a standard Grünfeld. The text invites Black to exchange queens and a somewhat boring middlegame without queens, which, however, can be exceedingly difficult for Black if playing for a win. ] 6...xd1+ 7.xd1 g7?! Interestingly, this move is considered dubious, by some sources, and even a straight-out error. Black has a number of other moves available: [ 7...c6 8.e3 e5 9.c4 f6 10.c2 d8 11.a4 f7 12.d2 d6 13.d5 c6 14.b3 e7 15.f4! Timman, J-Kozul, Z Belgrade 1989 ] [ 7...f6! was first played by Korchnoi in 1960, and is Black's most popular move. The idea is to play ...e7-e5 to thwart White's hopes on a n in i t ia t i ve b a se d o n p re s su re o n t h e queenside. A recent example is 8.e3 e5 9.c4 d7 10.d2 c5 11.xc5 xc5 12.b4 d7 13.c2 b6 14.b3 a5 15.a3 e7 16.hd1 d8 17.c4 xd1 18.xd1 xc4 19.xc4 axb4 20.axb4 e6 , a nd Black ha s obviou sly successf u lly solved his opening problems, 1/2-1/2 Nalbandian, T-Petrosian, T/ Yerevan ARM 2007 ] [ 7...g4 was introduced by Botvinnik and has since been emp loyed by Ivanchuk. 8.e2 d7 9.h3 xf3 10.xf3 h5 11.c2 h6 12.xh6 xh6 13.ad1 e6 14.h4 e7= 15.d4 hh8 16.hd1 hd8 17.e2 e5 18.4d2 f6 19.f3 1/2-1/2 Kortschnoj, V-Ivanchuk, V/Luzern 1997 ] [ 7...c5?! transposes to a dubious variation
of the Symmetrical English ] [ 7...d7 was covered in Gelfand-Ivanchuk, Batumi 1999 - see the PGN archives ] 8.f4 c6 9.c2 d7 10.c4 [ White achieved little after 10.e1 c5 11.d2 1/2-1/2 Morozevich, A-Svidler, P/ T o g li a t t i R US 2 0 0 3 . N o t a p a r t i c u la r l y inspired effort by the two world class players. ] [ 10.a4 c5 11.d2 f5 12.f3 fxe4 ( 12...e6 13.e3 d7 14.exf5 xf5+ 15.d3 xd3+ 16.xd3 with a solid edge for W hite, 1-0 Halkias, S-Mouroutis, K/ Agios Nikolaos 2000) 13.fxe4 e6 14.e3 d7 15.a5!? f8 16.e2 e5 17.d4 f6 18.h3 d7 19.e3 g7 20.hf1 with a plus for W hite thanks to his more space and better coordinated pieces, Polovodin, I-Menzel, R/St Petersburg 1992 ] 10...b5 [ Black has played three other moves at this point: A) 10...0-0 A) 11.he1 c5!? ( 11...b6?! 12.b3 h6 13.a4 a5 14.h3 d7 15.e3 e8 16.ad1 1/2-1/2 Bjelobrk, I-Wastney, S/ Auckland 2000) 12.b4 ( 12.e5 e6 13.xg7 xg7 14.xe6 xe6 15.ad1 w i t h a t b e s t a s l i g h t p u l l f o r W h i t e) 12...e6! 13.xe6 xe6 14.e5 a5 15.xg7 xg7 16.a3 f4 , and Black has solved his opening problems, 1/2-1/2 Li Wenliang-Yin Hao/Beijing 1996; B) 11.a4 e5 ( 11...c5 12.d2 b6 13.e3 e6 14.f4 c7 15.b4 e5 16.hf1 with some initiative for White, 1/ 2-1/2 Ernst, S-Rosmuller, A/Utrecht 1998) 12.e3 h6 13.h4 e8 14.h5 g5 15.ad1 f8? ( 15...f6 16.d2!? g4 17.f3 xh5 18.b3 and White has suf ficient compensation f or the pawn) 16.xg5 b6 17.b3 hxg5 18.a5 g4 19.g5 d5 20.h6 e7 21.h7+ g7 , Aumann, W -Karius, T/GER 1996, and now 22.xf7 f5 23.exf5 xf7 24.xd5+ cxd5 25.xd5+- ] [ B) Probably Black's best is 10...c5!? A) 11.he1 a5 12.d2 ( 12.ad1 b5 13.f1 0-0= ) 12...b5 13.f1 0-0 14.e3 a4= 1/2-1/2 Treppner, G-Keller, M/ Krumbach 1981; B) 11.d2 e6 12.e2 0-0 ( 12...f5!? 570
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.f3 fxe4 14.fxe4 f8 15.hf1= ) 13.e3 d7 14.f4 f5 15.e5 d5 16.hg1 c5 17.b5 1-0 Mussoni, MBruns, M/Feffernitz 2000 ] [ C) 10...e5?! 11.e3 h6 12.ad1 a5 13.a4 f8 14.d2 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 A) 16.e2!? e4 ( 16...e7 17.e6 f4 18.c1+- ) 17.h4 e5 18.d4 xc4 19.xh8 f7 20.d4; B) 16.e1 e7 17.de2 e4 18.d2 g5 19.d4!+- 1-0 Libeau, R-Gauglitz, G/ Muenster 1992 ] 11.e2 c5 [ Black has tried a few other things here: A) 11...0-0 12.ad1 ( 12.hd1!? e8 13.e3 f6 14.d4 xe4 15.xc6 ) 12...c5 13.d2 f5 14.e3 xe4 15.f3 f4 16.xe4 fxe3 17.fxe3 g4 18.f3 ac8= Jansen, P-De Greef, H/Dieren 1990 ] [ B) 11...b7 12.d2 0-0 ( 12...a6 13.b3 c5 14.f3 c8 15.a4 c4 16.d2 0-0 17.axb5 axb5 18.a7 c6 19.ha1 f5 , Vaingorten, Y-Glinert, S/Toronto 2000, 20.exf5 xf5 21.g3 ) 13.f3 e5 14.e3 fd8 15.a4 a6 16.b3 ab8 17.hd1 f8 18.d2 e7 19.ad1 1-0 Richter, M-Voigt, U/Schoeneck 1996/ Juniors (30) ] [ C) 11...a5 12.a4 b4 13.e3 0-0 14.d2 e5 15.c5 , and here White chickened out and agreed to a draw despite his obvious advantage, 1/2-1/2 Logothetis, S-Caruana, F/Hamburg GER 2005 ( White can probably do even better with 15.cxb4 axb4 16.f4 d7 17.e5 ) 15...bxc3 16.bxc3 f6 17.f4 d7 18.a3 ] 12.d2 a5 [ Black has a couple of alternatives at this juncture: A) 12...f5 13.f3 fxe4 14.fxe4 f8 ( 14...e5 15.e3 f8 16.hf1 e7 17.b4 a4 18.a3 f8 19.c4 1/2-1/2 Berry, DMartinovsky, E/Lone Pine 1976) 15.e3 a4 16.b3 e6 17.c5?! ( 17.d4!? d7 18.af1 0-0-0 19.xf8 xf8 20.d1 a6 21.f3 is better for White) 17...xc5 18.xc5 f4 19.f3 g4 is perfectly fine for Black, Schippel, G-Keller, M/Finkenstein 2000 ] [ B) 12...0-0 13.e3 a4 14.b3 f5 15.f3 a5 16.d4 d7 17.ad1 fb8 Kwiecien, JKaczorowska, B/Lubniewice 1998, and now: 18.xf5 xf5 19.exf5 gxf5 20.d3 e6
21.g4 ] 13.e3 a4 14.b3 b4 15.c5 xc5 16.xc5 bxc3 17.bxc3 e6?! [ This allows White to penetrate via the b-file and the 7th rank. Instead Black should probably have tried 17...f5!? 18.d3 fxe4 19.xe4 f7 20.he1 e6 21.a4 f6 22.f4 ] 18.hb1 0-0 19.b7 fb8 [ Or 19...fe8 20.xe7 xe7 21.xe7 f5 22.d3 fxe4 23.xe4 a4 24.c5 ] 20.xb8+ xb8 21.xe7 f5? This move looks logical in the sense that Black wants to open the diagonals pointing down towards White's king. However, through very simple means, White closes Black's bishops off and generates a passed pawn, thus creating a winning position for White. 22.d6 e8 23.e5 d5 24.f3 xf3 25.gxf3 This position is winning for W hite, but in the game continuation, Black manages to make it look even easier than it is. f7 26.f4 g5 27.g1 g4?! [ 27...gxf4 28.g5 xe5 29.xf5+ f6 30.xf4+- ] 28.d3 e6 [ 28...d8 29.e3 f8 30.xf8 xf8 31.f3 gxf3 32.g5+- ] 29.f3 Now it's completely game over h5 30.fxg4 hxg4 31.h3 d8 [ 31...h6 32.hxg4 xf4 33.f1 xe5 34.xe5 d8+ 35.d4 c5 36.gxf5+ f7 37.f6 cxd4 38.cxd4+- ] 32.hxg4 h6 33.e3 h8 34.f3 d8 35.h1 fxg4+ 36.xg4 g8+ 37.f3 f8 38.xf8 xf8 39.e4 g8 40.h7 1-0
576 Bu Xiangzhi Lahno,Kateryna Trophee CCAS GpA rapid (2) [Carsten Hansen]
A16 2714 2488 26.10.2008
1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.f3 g6 5.a4+ d7 6.b3 We looked at this line several times last year, but this year too, this variation has been explored quite a bit. In the notes to this game, I have only included games from 2008. b6 7.d4 e6 571
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ The major alternative and the subject of much attention, including in most of the top games with this line, throughout this year is 7...g7 A) 8.g5 e6 ( 8...0-0 was discussed in Ionov-Klimov, St.Petersburg 2005, which can be found in the PGN archives) 9.c2 h6 10.f4 c6 11.e3 0-0 12.e2 c8 13.d1 b4 14.b1 4d5 15.g3 xc3 16.bxc3 d5?! ( 16...c5!? is perfectly acceptable for Black) 17.d3 c5 18.e4 cxd4 19.exd5 f5 20.b5 dxc3 21.0-0 c2 22.c1 , and Black doesn't have sufficient compensation for the piece, Shimanov, A-Nechepurenko, R/ St Petersburg RUS 2008; B) 8.e4 g4 is a regular line in the Grünfeld.; C) 8.f4 C1) 8...0-0 has also been tried: C1a) or 9.e3 a5 ( 9...e6 10.c2 c6 11.a3 d5 12.xd5 xd5 13.d3 Sfarlog, T-Voiteanu, G/ Timisoara ROM 2008) 10.e2 c6 11.0-0 b4 12.a3 e6 13.d1 4d5 14.g3 c6 15.e4 c8 16.d2 a4 17.h3 f6 18.xf6+ exf6 19.ac1 is comfortably better for White, Saric, A-Bykhovsky, A/ Plovdiv BUL 2008; C1b) 9.d1 c8 ( 9...a5 10.e3 a4 11.c2 c6 12.e2 b4 13.d2 e6 14.a3 4d5 15.e5 xc3 16.xc3 d5 17.c1 Wojtaszek, RKhmelniker, I/Plovdiv BUL 2008) 10.e3 c5 11.e2 cxd4 12.exd4 g4 13.0-0 c6 14.b5?! ( 14.e3 a5 15.b4!? ) 14...a5 15.b4 d5 , and Black is clearly better, Saravanan, V-Mirumian, V/Urmia IRI 2008; C2) 8...e6 C2a) 9.d1 is h a rm less, e. g. c4 ( 9...d5!? ) 10.e5 xe5 11.xe5 0-0 12.g3 c6 13.g2 f6 14.f4 xd4 15.xb7 b8 16.g2 e5 17.h6 f7 is fine for Black, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son-Tomczak, J/Vung Tau City VIE 2008; C2b) 9.a3 C2b1) 9...c4 10.e3 xf1 11.xf1
0-0 ( 11...c6 12.c5 e6 13.0-0-0 is quite pleasant for White) 12.e2 c6 ( 12...d5 13.xd5 xd5 14.fd1 ) 13.fd1 8d7 14.b3 e8 15.a4 e5 16.dxe5 xe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.h6 g7 19.xg7 xg7 20.a5 Roiz, M-Kurnosov, I/Dagomys RUS 2008; C2b2) 9...c6 10.e3 was scrutinized in t he games B u Xiangzhi-Vachier Lagrave, Wijk aan Zee 2007 and Jakovenko-Vachier Lagrave, Crete 2007, both games leading to advantages for White and both games are available in the PGN archives.; C2b3) 9...0-0 C2b31) 10.e4 C2b311) 10...g4 11.e5 c8?! ( This is an decision instead Black should play 11...e6 12.d5 d6 13.xd6 cxd6 14.dxe6 xe5 15.xe5 dxe5 16.exf7+ xf7 ) 12.d1 8d7 13.f3 f6 14.h3 c6 15.e2 e6 16.b3 h5 17.g5 h6? ( 17...f6 18.e3 c7 19.c1 ) 18.xe7 c7 19.d6 d7 20.xf8 xf8 21.c1 , and White is winning, Svidler, PKazhgaleyev, M/Almaty KAZ 2008; C2b312) 10...c6 11.d1 8d7 ( Black varies over the encounter be t we e n t h e sa m e p la ye rs a t Mexico 2007, which can be found in the PGN archives. 11...c4 ) 12.g5 g4 13.f3 h6 14.fxg4 ( 14.e3!? hxg5 15.fxg4 is quite possibly better) 14...e5 15.f3 ( 15.dxe5 hxg5 16.e3 xe5 is unclear and okay for Black) 15...exf4 16.e5 e8 17.e2 e7 18.xe7 xe7 19.0-0 c5 20.dxc5 xc5 21.d5 xd5 22.xd5 d7 , and Black wins a pawn, but due to the opposite coloured bishops, W hite h as d ecent cha nc es o f keeping the balance, Gelfand, B572
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.f3 bc4 ( 18...xf3+!? Svidler, P/Sochi RUS 2008; 19.gxf3 g5 is quite pleasant C2b32) 10.e3 for Black ) 19.xc4 xc4 C2b321) 10...c6 11.e2 a5 20.b3 d2 21.xb7 f7 12.c5 d5 13.xd5 xd5 22.b4 b8 23.d4 xe4 14.xd5 xd5 15.0-0 ( 15.xc7 24.xd2 xf3+ 25.f1 xh5 fc8 16.b6 b4 provides with chances to both sides, B l a c k a m b l e c o m p e n s a t i o n) Eljanov, P-Svidler, P/Foros 15...xf3 16.xf3 e5 17.dxe5 UKR 2008; xe5 18.xb7 ab8 19.d5 C2b32222) 11...d5 xb2 20.ab1 fb8 21.b3 12.xd5 xd5 13.e2 e8 , and the bishop pair and 14.0-0 c6 15.g3 b6 superior pawn structure provides 16.b3 W hite with a clear advantage, C2b322221) 16...a5 Gustafsson, J-Areshchenko, A/ 17.c4 b4 18.c1 e6 Plovdiv BUL 2008; 19.a3 ( 19.d2!? C2b322) 10...8d7 i s w o r t h c o n s i d e r i n g) C2b3221) 11.e2 c5 19...e7 provides Black C2b32211) In a brand-new adequate counterplay game, played just days ago according to Eljanov in in the Olympiad in Dresden, CBM; W h i t e t r i e d 12.0-0 c4 C2b322222) 16...e5 13.a4 ( White should 17.xe5 xe5 18.dxe5 consider 13.xc4!? xc4 xe5 19.c4 Eljanov, P14.fe1 , e.g. b6 15.ac1 Shirov, A/ Foros UKR fc8 16.b3 e6 17.e4 2008 ] , a n d I p r e f e r W h i t e) 13...db6 14.c2 f5 8.c2 g7 [ 8...c6 looks normal, but has only ( 14...cxd4 15.xd4 d7 amounted to an awful lot of headaches for 16.g5 ) 15.c1 cxd4 Black in the games it has been tested: 9.e4 16.xd4 d7 17.xc4 A) 9...g4?! 10.d5 b4 11.b3 a5? ( 17.g3!? c8 18.d1 ( 11...xf3 12.gxf3 is also very good for c a n a l s o b e c o n s i d e r e d) White, but better than the game 17...xc4 18.d5 e5 continuation for Black) 12.a3 a6 19.g5 f6 20.f4 c8 13.e5+Obregon, A-Barrionuevo, P/ 21.d1 c6 , and Black has Villa Martelli ARG 2008; solved his opening problems, B) 9...b4 10.d1 g4 11.a3 xf3 Bu Xiangzhi-Vachier Lagrave, 12.gxf3 c6 ( 12...a6 13.e3 g7 M/Dresden GER 2008; 14.d2 c6 15.0-0-0 h6 16.h4 e5 17.d5 C2b32212) 12.dxc5 c4 c7 18.b1 Saravanan, V-Antonio, V/ 13.b4 a5 14.b5 c8 New Delhi IND 2008 ) 13.d5 15.0-0 , and a draw was B1) 13...b8 14.d4 f6 15.e3 c6 agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in 16.h4 8d7 17.h5 g5 18.f4 h6 Radjabov, T-Vachier Lagrave, ( 18...gxf4 19.xf4 e5 20.dxe6 c5 ) M/Kallithea GRE 2008; 19.e5 fxe5 20.e4 , and White is C2b3222) 11.d1 winning, Ghaem Maghami, E-Antonio, V/ C2b32221) 11...c6 12.g5 Dubai UAE 2008; d5 13.e4 e5 14.dxe5 B2) 13...e5 14.f4 ed7 15.d4 xe5 15.xe5 xe5 16.h4 g8 16.h3 f6 17.e3 c6 18.d1 ( 16.f4!? - Eljanov - appears g7 19.b4 c7 20.a4 , and it seems to offer W hite the better like White is in control of the entire board, chances ) 16...e8 17.h5 f6 573
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Khmelniker, I-Tseitlin, M/Beer Sheva ISR 2008 ] 9.e4 c6 [ 9...g4 10.e5 leads to a better game for White: xe5 11.dxe5 c6 12.b5 d7 13.xc6 xc6 14.e3 d7 ( 14...c4?! is more aggressive, but also clearly better f o r W h i t e : 15.d1 c8 16.f4 g4 17.g3 h5 18.h3 g5 19.e2 h4 20.f4 xg2 21.g1 xe4 22.xe4 xe4 23.d4 xb2 24.xe4 d3+ 25.f1 c5 26.c4 e6 27.e3 gives Black three pawns for a bishop, but White is much due to his active pieces, Huzman, A-Livshits, G/ Israel ISR 2008) 15.d1 e6 16.0-0 0-0 17.f4 ad8 18.d4 f5 19.exf6 exf6 20.f5 gxf5 21.xf5 with a large advantage for White, Gelfand, B-Shirov, A/Dagomys RUS 2008 ] 10.f4 [ 10.e3 was played in Feller, S-Maze, S/ Pau FRA 2008, but reaches a position that has been seen several times in the Grünfeld the ECO reference is D96. ] 10...0-0 This position was first reached in a game from the 1945 Moscow Ch, AlatortsevFlohr, although using a decidedly unfashionable, both then and now, move order in the Grünfeld. 11.d2 Alatortsev played 11 Rd1, but didn't really get anything out of the opening. c4 [ This appears to be a reasonable choice for Black, at least at first glance. However, in the game continuation, White demonstrates that Black is more or less without any viable counterplay. Therefore Black should consider a move that was played in another v e r y r e c e n t g a m e : 11...8d7 12.h6 ( 12.e2!? ) 12...g4 13.xg7 xg7 A) 14.0-0-0!?; B) 14.g5 h6 ( 14...f6 15.e2 ) 15.h3 hxg5 16.hxg4; C) 14.f4 xf3 15.xf3 e5 16.0-0-0 exd4 17.xd4 g5+ 18.d2 ad8 , and with Black having fully equalized, the players settled on a draw, 1/2-1/2, Rodshtein, M-Nechepurenko, R/Gaziantep TUR 2008. ] 12.xc4 xc4 13.e2 b6 14.d1 a6 15.0-0 c7 16.g3! a6 This move is ugly, but she wants to play ... Nb5 to gain some
counterplay. Obviously, White is not going to l e t h e r g e t a w a y w i t h t h a t . . . 17.a4! This position is pretty depressing for Black who is essentially left without any counterplay. The next several moves are, like the previous ones, very accurately played by White, gaining a clear advantage. a5 18.d2 c8 19.fd1 d7 [ Or 19...e6 20.e5 e8 21.b3 with a solid plus for White ] 20.e5 e8 21.b3! White has plenty of time and continues to improve on his position until he is ready to break through in the centre. e6 22.d5! White gives up on his pure space advantage in order to gain other plusses, primarily a dominating piece position. cxd5 23.xd5 xd5 24.xd5 c5 25.d7! xd7 26.xd7 c1 27.d2 [ 27.xb7 c6 28.bd7 is also very good for White, but White prefers to keep Black restrained ] 27...xd1+ 28.xd1 c8 29.c7 e6 30.d5! xd5 31.exd5 Thanks to his activity, White is clearly better in the endgame. d8 32.xe7 xd5 33.h4 b6 34.e8+ f8 35.c7 g7 [ 35...f6 36.d8 xd8 37.xd8 ] 36.xb6 b4 37.g3 [ If White wants to play 37.d8!? , he should do it here and not on the next move, when Black's king is already in the centre. The p o i n t i s t h a t a f t e r xd8 38.xd8 , the bishop covers the f6-square, and the kings will enter the centre at the same time unlike in the game where Black has a head start. ] 37...f6 38.d8? [ This is a decidedly bad move, but of course White is likely in serious time trouble at this stage of the game. A much better choice is 38.g2 , hanging on to the pawn and decent winning chances. ] 38...xd8 39.xd8+ e5 Despite Black's king being far more active, W hite can still hang on to a draw with accurate play. 40.g2 d4 41.f3 c3 [ Or 41...h5 42.g4 c3 43.gxh5 gxh5 44.f4 xb3 45.f5 , and White will pick up both of Black's kingside pawns. ] 42.f4 xb3 43.g5 xa4 [ 43...e1 44.b6 xa4 45.h6 b5 574
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 46.xa5 is similar to the game continuation ] comp as d3 and b2 are chronically weak. ] 44.h6 b3 45.xa5! Forcing the draw 17.d4 a4 18.c6! White cannot realistically xa5 46.xh7 e1 47.g7 xf2 hold-on to the d-pawn, so decides to aim for ½-½ positional compensation based on his bishop pair and the backward c7-pawn. [ 18.c2 seems more natural, but then after xd4 19.b3 c5 20.b2 Black can play 577 A16 the surprising e6! as if 21.xd4 xd4 Bu Xiangzhi 2606 22.e4 xe5 23.ad1 c5 offers excellent Neverov,Valeriy 2527 co m p e n s a t io n f o r t h e e xch a n g e wit h a Aeroflot Open (8) 24.02.2004 strong knight and bishop (secure on dark [Tony Kosten] squares) plus extra queenside pawn. ] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 18...xd4 19.e3 d3!? Black prepares 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 g7 7.e4 c6 8.d3 another positional sacrifice, he was wary of 0-0 9.e2 a6!? Very much in the 'Hungarian playing the obvious [ 19...c4 b e c a u s e o f 20.xa6 xb2 System of the Russian Grünfeld' style (that's 21.xb5 xe5 22.xe5 xe5 a mouthful!), preparing queenside counterplay which appears OK, but Black may have with ... b5. Before we had looked at the main problems dealing with the passed a-pawn move supported by the two bishops, to be frank it [ 9...bd7 for example as in Piket, J-Bacrot, is a difficult one to call. ] E/Escaldes 1998. ] [ 9...fd7!? has also been played, and this 20.b3 xe3! This is the idea. 21.fxe3 b6 is more in Smyslov's style: 10.e3 e5 22.ad1 xe5 Black has won a pawn, and 11.b4 b6 12.b3 d7 with fair chances, the e 3-pawn is weak, plu s he has u sef u l control of the dark squares, but his knight is a Pelletier,Y-Moor,R/Lugano 1999. ] 10.0-0 Strictly speaking, an innovation, lot less impressive than in the note to move 18, although it is so natural, it hardly counts as and an exchange is an exchange! 23.g3 d6 24.g2!? White decides not to bother one! [ 10.h3 prepares Be3, to control d4 and c5: defending the ailing e-pawn. If [ 24.fe1 b4 and once he has secured his b5 11.b3 bd7 12.e3 e6 13.a4!? queenside pawns Black can think about bxa4 14.xa4 b5 15.c3 c5 16.0-0 returning the knight to the centre by ...Nd7b8 17.a3 and White's superior structure e5. ] g a v e h i m a n e d g e a g a i n s t o u r n e we s t contributor: Smirin,I-Mikhalevski,V/Saint 24...xe3 25.fe1 c5 This is forced, [ 25...g5?? 26.xd6 cxd6 27.xb6 Vincent ITA 2000. ] wins. ] 10...b5 11.b3 bd7 12.e5 Now White 26.xc5 xc5 27.b7 White pesters the doesn't want to stop ...Nc5 with [ 12.e3 b e c a u s e o f g4 , but the move black queenside. b8? This brings problems, played seems strong as the knight cannot the a-pawn cannot move as [ 27...a5? is met by 28.e5 winning pawns go to its natural square on d5, or can it? ] on the fifth rank, but ] 12...d5! A neat tactic, Black sacs a pawn for [ 27...b4! seems fine, as 28.xa6? a8 good play. 13.xd5 c5 The point, although gives a significantly improved version of the the surprising game. ] [ 13...xe5!? might also be possible: 14.c3 xf3+ 15.gxf3 d7 planning ... 28.xa6 a8 29.xb5 xa2+ 30.e2 xe2+ 31.xe2 White has made significant Qh3 with some attack. ] 14.xe7+ White has to grab the material, as progress, as he has not only won a pawn but otherwise Black has equalised at no cost. also managed to exchange a pair of rooks. xe7 15.c3 xf3! The simplest solution, S t i l l , b r e a k i n g B l a c k ' s g r i p o n t h e d a r k squares will be no piece of cake as the e2Black develops quickly. 16.xf3 ad8 [ 16...xe5!? 17.xa8 xa8 also provides bishop can hardly provide assistance. d6 575
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 32.g4 g7 33.b5 c8 34.h3 c5 35.d7 b6 36.f3 d6 Black has decided that this is the safest set-up with both minor pieces defended and well-placed. In particular the f7pawn is covered by the knight so that the white pieces cannot successfully gang-up on it. 37.c6 f6 38.h4 h6 39.d5 g7?! Probably Black didn't want to commit himself too much bef ore the time control, but he should certainly have played [ 39...g5 immediately. ] 40.f4 f6 41.b4?! This gives Black a second chance, [ 41.g5+! must be the correct move positionally: hxg5+ 42.hxg5+ g7 43.b4 and now Black can only move his king! g8 44.e5 f8 and maybe White can engineer a route for his king to c6, via d5, and then capture on c7 or d6. ] 41...g5+ 42.g3 g7 43.h5 f6 44.f3 g7 Now Black has a secure blockade, as with f4 controlled White cannot advance his king past the third rank except on the a-file but then it can't get beyond a4! 45.e2 f8 46.d3 e8 47.c6 f8 48.c3 g7 49.b3 f8 [ 49...f6 is more active, Black can only move his king but this is sufficient. ] 50.a4 g7 51.d5 f8 52.d8+ g7 53.b3 e3 Black allows the king to a5, as this is met by a knight fork on b7! 54.c2 f2 W hite has skilfully stopped the black king from moving, as now [ 54...f6? loses the h-pawn to 55.h8 ] 55.a8 White would like to bring his king to a6, so Black stops this. b6 [ 55...c4! is possibly even better, threa te ning a kn ight f o rk o n e 3, a s th e white pieces have become a bit scattered. ] 56.d3 Controlling the knight and putting Black into zugzwang, any move f rom the minor pieces a allows the white king into a6 or c6, so Black has little choice. f6 [ 56...d4?! is t o o r i s k y: 57.a5 b6+ 58.a6 d4 59.d8 and b5-6 is on the cards. ] 57.h8 d4 58.xh6+?! [ 58.a5! was a better chance, as now the rook becomes trapped. ] 58...e7 59.a5 g7 60.h7 f8 61.a6 [ 61.h6 d4 62.b5 g8 63.a6 e8
and Black draws easily as he can play the position like an opposite-coloured bishop ending - the rook is going nowhere. ] 61...g8 62.g6? A doubtful decision, but it is possible that both players were short of time. [ 62.a7 f5 63.xg7+ xg7 64.gxf5 g4 65.b8 g3 66.f1 xf5 67.g2 e3 68.e4 is a complete draw - Black can win the bishop but W hite will capture his remaining pawn on c7. ] [ 62.g6? can only give winning chances to Black af ter fxg6 63.hxg6 e4! 64.b7 f6 65.h1 ( 65.xc7? xh7 66.gxh7+ xh7 67.b5 g6 68.b6 e5+ 69.c8 f6 wins ) 65...f8 66.xc7 xb4 67.g1 g7 68.c6 xg6 69.b5 d6 70.c4 f7 and White has a lot of work ahead of him to draw this. ] ½-½
578 Bu Xiangzhi Vachier Lagrave,Maxime Corus B Wijk aan Zee NED (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A16 2644 2573 21.02.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ This move is not that problematic for Black, but there are a number of different ideas for White that Black needs to know how to handle. In the notes to this game, I have included all relevant recent games that have been played since the start of 2007 d7 6.b3 [ 6.h4 xc3 A) 7.dxc3 c6 A1) 8.g3 g7 ( 8...f6 9.e4 e5 is the main line in the ECO. Baramidze's choice looks more natural, but allows White to develop an initiative. However, Black may well be okay in this line too.) 9.f4 c8 10.e4 0-0 11.0-0-0 e8 12.e5 f5 13.d3 xd3 14.xd3 d8 15.xd8 xd8 16.h4?! ( 16.d1 c8 f o llo we d b y . . .Rd 8 is f in e f o r B la c k) 16...d5 and Black has already claimed the initiative, R.Buhmann-D. Baramidze, Koenigshofen (GER-CH) 2007; A2) 8.e4 e5 9.xd8+ xd8 10.c4 f6 576
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.e3 a5 ( 11...a5! 12.e2 e6 13.d2 b6 is fine for Black as in Kramnik-Yudashin, Wijk aan Zee (m/2) 1994 ) 12.d2 b6 13.a4 d6 14.e2 b8 15.f3 e7 16.hb1 h5 17.d1 e6 18.f2 , Peng Zhaoqin-P.Negi, Wijk aan Zee 2007, leaves White with a slight initiative; B) 7.d4 f6 8.xc3 B1) 8...e5 9.xe5! fxe5 10.xe5+ e7 11.xh8 c6 12.b3 e5? ( 12...b4 13.d1 0-0-0 14.a3 a5 is given in ECO, claiming compensation for the exchange for Black) 13.e3 0-0-0 14.a3 c5 15.c1+- G.Todorovic-I. Sarenac, Belgrade 2007; B2) 8...c6!? is a new idea: 9.e4 e5 10.a3 d6 11.c4 e7 12.d3 c5 13.e3 b6 14.0-0-0 0-0-0 15.d5 b8 with a good game for Black, G. Savchenko-W.Schmidt, Legnica 2006 ] 6...b6 7.d4 [ a) 7.h4?! e6 8.d1 h6 9.d3 g7 10.f4 c6 11.g3 g4 12.g2 e5 13.e3 d4 ( 13...d7!? also looks appealing) 14.xd4? ( 14.h2 c8 15.d2 c6 16.0-0-0 e6 is better than the game continuation, but nonetheless quite comfortable for Black.) 14...exd4 15.a4 0-0 16.0-0 e8 , and Black is completely in control of the game, M.Muse-A. Areshchenko, Berlin 2007 ] [ b) 7.g3 is a decent alternative, e.g. g7 8.g2 c6 9.d3 0-0 10.0-0 A) 10...e6 11.a3 ( 11.c2!? ) 11...d6 12.xd6 cxd6 is of course fine for Black; B) 10...e5 11.g5 Osuna Vega,ESolaroli,R, Catalan Bay 2007 ] 7...g7 [ 7...e6 is the main move in the ECO ] 8.f4!? [ 8.e4 g4 is a Grünfeld Defence, and therefore not to be discussed here ] 8...e6 9.a3 c6 10.e3 0-0 11.e2 a5 12.c5 a4 13.b5 a5 14.c1 d5 15.g3 Black is slightly ahead in development, but lacks in possible pawn breaks to take advantage of it. In fact W hite has a slight advantage at this point. g4 16.c4 e6 17.g5 f5 18.0-0 e5 19.f3 e6 20.c2
exd4 21.bxd4 xd4 22.xd4 White's advantage doesn't look like much, but it's nonetheless nagging Black, who has a hard time releasing himself from the pressure. d7 23.ad1 c6 24.b5 [ 24.e4!? f6 25.c4 looks very pleasant for White ] 24...f6 25.d6 xb2 26.xb2 xb2 27.xb7 a7 28.c5 c3 29.d2 a3?! [ 29...xe2+!? is possibly better, e.g. 30.xe2 a3 31.c2 f5 32.e4 xc5 33.exf5 a5 34.c4 with a slightly better game for White ] 30.c4 f5 31.f3 a5 32.d6 e8 33.e4 The material is even, but White is far better coordin ate d c8 34.d3 b5 35.xb5 xb5 36.xb2 axb2 37.b1 d8 38.a4 a5 39.bxb2 e6 [ 39...xa4 can also be considered, but the defensive task can well be long and unpleasant after 40.b8 e8 41.c7 ] 40.c7 xd2 41.b8+ g7 42.xa5 a2? [ The text move looks perfectly logical, but Black exposes his king to a direct attack. T h e ri gh t m o ve i s 42...c2 which still is rather difficult for Black ] 43.c3+ h6 44.f6 xa4 45.g4 xg4 This looks a bit desperate, but doesn't otherwise have an answer for 46 g5+ followed by 47 Rh8, and Black's king is trapped in a m a t i n g n e t . 46.fxg4 xe4 47.h3 e6 48.g5+ h5 49.h8 h4 50.g2 h5 51.gxh6+ h5 52.h7 1-0
579 Bu Xiangzhi Wang Yaoyao Torch Real Estate Cup (1) [John Watson]
A16 2630 2456 20.04.2005
1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.d3 g7 7.e3 c6 This move a n d t h e n e xt t ry t o a vo i d t h e d if f i c u l t ie s associated with 7...0-0 8. Qd2 (or 8.Qc1) and at some point Bh6. The problem is that Black's knight will no longer come to c6 to contest the centre. The immediate [ 7...c6 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.c1 has generally favoured White. ] 577
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.d2 h6 9.f3 8d7 10.0-0 a5 11.ac1 f6 12.h3 To prevent ...Ng4. But White was already far enough ahead in development to play [ 12.c5 0-0 13.e4 intending d4. ] 12...fd5 13.d4 0-0 14.xg7 xg7 15.e4! xc3 [ 15...f6 16.d4 demonstrates White's greater control of the centre. ] 16.xc3+!? [ 16.bxc3 is easier to play, with Rb1 and d4 to follow. ] 16...f6 [ 16...h7 is less weakening. This move comes back to haunt Black. ] 17.d4 e6 18.a3!? f7 [ It's interesting that Bu Xiangzhi allows ...a4, with 2 pawns holding up one. This is the same decision, traditionally considered positionally bad, that Timman took in his games versus Hermanson and Hector! Here 18...a4 19.b4 ties Black down a bit, although a6 with the idea ...Qd6 doesn't look so bad. ] 19.fe1 d6 20.h4! White takes aim at the weakness on g6, which for the time being seems trivial and not worth pursuing. e6 [ 20...h5!? ] 21.h5! This looks easy, but remember that the pawn on h5 could prove weak if White hasn't calculated correctly. a4?! Wasting time. [ The problem with 21...g5 is that it cedes the key f5 square after 22.d5! cxd5 23.d4 , e.g., c8 24.f5+ h8 ( 24...h7? 25.d3 ) 25.d4 e6 26.xh6 ] 22.c2 b6 23.h4! Suddenly the weakness on g6 is extremely serious and W hite probably already has a won game! ad8?! [ But 23...g5 24.f5+ h7 25.e5 is very bad for Black and ] [ 23...fc8 24.hxg6 xg6 25.xg6 xg6 26.e5+ f5 27.g4 leaves White with an overwhelming advantage. ] 24.d5! e5 [ 24...cxd5 25.exd5 g4 26.hxg6 xg6 27.xe7+ is crushing. ] 25.hxg6 xg6 26.f5+ h7 [ 26...xf5 27.exf5 d6 28.dxc6 bxc6 29.e6 d7 30.e4! f7 31.f3 h7 32.h5 g7 33.exc6 and Black can
resign. ] 27.dxc6 bxc6 28.xc6 d7 29.b4 axb4 30.axb4 e6 Black has no constructive moves. 31.e7!? [ 31.f4! b8 32.xe6 xb4 33.ed1 would be decisive. ] 31...f7 32.c7 xc7 33.xc7 e5 34.f4 d3 35.b1 h5 36.c6 [ or 36.b5 ] [ or 36.f1! and Rb3. White's technique may not have been perfect but he remains in control until the end of the game: ] 36...c8 37.xc8 xc8 38.e5 g6 39.d1 fxe5 40.fxe5 c7 41.b5 b7 42.f1 [ 42.b4! ] 42...c5 43.d6 e4 44.c4 g7 45.h2 b7 46.d8 c7 47.b6 c8 48.h3 g6 49.xe6 f5 50.h4 xe5 51.xc5 xd6 52.xe4+ e5 53.a6 b8 54.c5 d6 55.a4 g8 56.e2 a8 57.b5 g8 58.c3 c5 59.b7 b8 60.a6 b6 61.e2 xb7 62.xh5 c5 63.e4+ d4 64.d6 d7 65.f7 d5 66.g5 a7 67.f6 a6+ 68.g7 e6 69.g4 e7 70.h6 a5 71.f7 b5 72.g6 b6 73.f5 b5 74.h6 b2 75.g5 g2 76.g4 g3 77.g6 f3 78.h6 g3 79.g4 a3 80.e2 a7 81.c4 c7 82.d5 c5 83.f5+ 1-0
580 Buhmann,Rainer Nedilko,Vasily 11th EICC Men (11) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2587 2400 17.03.2010
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ c6 This natural move has the drawback that Black gets doubled c-pawns, though he does get some activity too. 6.e5 d6 7.xc6 xc6 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.g3 [ Another possibility is 9.b3 when xc3 10.dxc3 g7 11.b2 a5 12.g3 a4 13.g2 a6 14.0-0-0 e6 15.c4 0-0 16.xg7 xg7 17.b2 b8 18.c3 c5 wasn't much for White in Gelfand, B (2733)Svidler, P (2726)/Dagomys 2009. Of course defending a position without much in the way of winning prospects may not be 578
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 everyone's cup of tea. Nor is it suitable for 6...xc3 Nevertheless, Black is facing a every tournament situation. ] completely different kind of game in the 9...b8 This seems to be 'new', though I don't game continuation without the active see it revolutionising the assessment of this counterplay that characterizes the Grünfeld. line. Other moves are as follows: While White will definitely not see a large [ a) 9...g7 10.g2 e6 11.b3 0-0 12.b2 advantage in the game continuation, he will fd8 13.0-0-0 b4 14.a3 d5 15.a4 f6 have that annoying plus-over-equals 16.c5 f7 17.a6 d6 18.d4 pressure which can be difficult to face. ] was better for W hite in Kraai, J (2526)- 7.d3 c6 8.e3 0-0 9.d2 Bezemer, A (2364)/Hoogeveen 2009. ] [ In a survey in New In Chess Yearbook 79, [ b) 9...xc3 10.dxc3 e6 11.g2 d5 Marin claims 9.c1 to be the slightly more 12.e4 c4 13.f1 xf1 14.xf1 0-0-0 accurate move, somewhat limiting Black's 15.e3 was looking very pleasant for White options. ] in Mastrovasilis, A (2518)-Oreopoulos, K 9...e5 10.h6 e7 (2284)/ Kalamaria 2008. ] [ This move is what Marin recommends 10.g2 e6 11.b3 g7 12.b2 0-0 against 9 Qc1, but in this line it doesn't 13.xd5 xd5 appear particularly effective. The ECO main [ There must surely be a case for undoubling line is 10...d4 11.xg7 xf3+ Black's pawns with 13...cxd5 , though it's ( 11...xg7 12.h4 xf3+ 13.xf3 still White for choice after 14.xg7 xg7 Marin/Stoica ) 12.xf3 xg7 15.c1 fc8 16.c5 c6 17.0-0 intending A) 13.h4 h6 14.c1 ( 14.b4 c6 15.b2 18.Rfc1. ] d4 16.0-0 a5 , and Black has solved his 14.xg7 xg7 15.0-0 fd8 16.d3 xg2 opening problems successfully, Ribli, Z17.xg2 b6 This is a nightmare endgame Pribyl, J/Germany 1989; 14.0-0-0 c6 f o r B la c k wh o f a ce s le n g t h y t o rt u re . I t ' s 15.b1 Marin/Stoica) 14...e7 15.e4 difficult to see what attracts Black players to c6 16.c3 d8 17.c5 e6 18.a3 this line unless they actually enjoy this kind of ( 18.g4!? d5 19.g5 h5 20.a3 thing. 18.fc1 f8 19.c4 e8 20.ac1 l o o k s l i k e a n i n t e r e s t i n g a l t e r n a t i v e) d6 21.a4 a6 22.f4 d8 23.f3 c8 18...d5 19.g2 f5 20.d2 f6 24.c5 d5 25.ac4 d7 26.d4 xc5 Gil Reguera, J-Fernandez Cazorla, A/ 27.xc5 b5 28.c4 d6 29.e4 f5+ Madrid 1992 21.0-0; 30.d3 d5 31.b4 d6 32.c3 d7 B) 13.0-0 33.b3 d5 34.e3 b5 35.a4 d5 B1) 13...a5 14.e4 c6 15.fd1 e7 [ 35...b8 might have been better. ] 16.ac1 d8 17.c5 d5 36.c3 b5 37.b3 d5 38.c4 c8 B1a) 18.d4 39.a3 b7 40.a5 d6 41.e5 e6 42.h3 B1a1) 18...b6!? isn't mentioned by h5 43.d3 White's impending 44. e4 Marin/Stoica, but it may represent a persuades Black to halt his suffering. better option for Black, e.g. 19.e4 1-0 ( or 19.dxe5 bxc5 20.e4 e6 21.exd5 xd5 22.e3 xf3 23.xf3 xe5= ) 19...f5 ( 19...f5 581 A16 20.dxe5 xe5 21.d4 xd4 22.xd4 ac8 with no more than a Butnorius,Algimantas 2442 tiny edge for W hite) 20.c3 e4 Iordachescu,Viorel 2584 21.xd5 cxd5 22.g2 a6 23.c3 IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (3) 23.04.2008 dc8=; [Carsten Hansen] B1a2) 18...b4 19.e3 xa2 20.xe5+ xe5 21.dxe5 e8 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 22.a1 b4 23.e6 fxe6 24.xb7 xd5 5.g3 g7 6.g2 b6 xb7 25.d7+ f6 26.xb7 h5 [ It is arguably a question of taste whether 27.h3 ( 27.h4!? to fix Black's Black should prefer the text move or 579
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 k i n gs i d e p a wn s o n b l a ck se e m s m o r e l o g i c a l) 27...ed8 28.b6 ( 28.a4!? ) 28...c2 29.a4 ab8= Marin/Stoica; B1b) 18.a4 e6 19.a3 c7 Solleveld-l'Ami, Utrecht 2005, 20.c5 b5 21.e3 f6= Marin/Stoica; B2) 13...c6 14.b4 e6 ( This position is given as equal in ECO, but that is hardly t h e wh o l e t r u t h , s i n c e B l a ck is st i l l working to equalize well beyond this move. Alternatively in a more recent ga m e , B l a ck t rie d 14...c4 15.c2 d6 16.fd1 a5 17.ab1 axb4 18.xb4 e7 Teske, H-Joachim, S/ Panormo 2001, and now 19.db1 e6 20.a4 leaves White with a somewhat more comfortable game) 15.fc1 c4!? ( 15...f6?! 16.a4 f7 17.g2 f5 18.a5 d5 19.b5 cxb5 20.xb5 a6 21.a3 c8? 22.xc8 xc8 23.b2 e7 24.c4 f6 25.xe5 1-0 Komljenovic, D-Dragojlovic, A/Nice 2001) 16.c2 ( 16.d1!? d6 17.d4 c4 18.d5 cxd5 19.xd5 c8 is given as 'unclear' by Marin/ Stoica, but White has a clear initiative after 20.d3 b5 21.a4 a6 22.axb5 axb5 23.a7 ) 16...d6 17.b2 f6 18.e4 xe4 19.xe4 f7 20.a4 d6 21.c5 e8 22.ac1 R o b a t s c h , K - P o l u g a e vs k y, L / S o c h i 1974 ] 11.xg7 [ In an earlier game with this variation, White went for the more aggressive-looking 11.h4 xh6 12.xh6 f6 13.c1 g4 A) 14.h2 is a peculiar-looking alternative, e.g. d7 ( 14...e6 15.xc6 bxc6 16.0-0 is slightly more comfortable for White ) 15.a3 ad8 16.d5 ( 16.g4 d4 with sharp complications, though Black shouldn't have any problems) 16...xd5 17.xd5+ h8 18.f3 d6 19.e4; B) 14.0-0 ad8 15.e3 fe8 16.e4 d5 17.c5 f5 , Nedela, V-Konopka, M/ CZE 1997 , and now W hite should have played 18.xe7 xe7 19.c5 xf3 20.xf3 d4 21.xb7 xf3+ 22.exf3 b8 23.a5 xb2 24.c6 , and he is clearly not worse in the endgame. ] 11...xg7 12.0-0 d7 13.fc1
[ 13.ac1!? ] 13...ad8 14.b3 [ 14.e4!? f5 ( 14...c8 15.c5 f6 16.b4 ) 15.c5 c8 16.b4 e4 17.b2+ g8 18.e1 is very pleasant for White ] 14...f6 15.b2 f7 16.e4 c8 17.a3 d4 This is the move Black has been preparing wit h his la st co up le o f m o ves, b u t a s a n equalizer it doesn't fully do the job. 18.c5 [ White can even consider the not entirely obvious 18.xd4 exd4 19.a4 ] 18...c6 19.b4 e6 20.a4 d5 21.xe6+ xe6 22.cb1 a6 23.d2 b6 24.b5 , and in this position a draw was agreed upon, although only W hite can be better in this position, having all his pieces excellently coordinated to apply pressure against Black's queenside. ½-½
582 Carlsen,Magnus Svidler,Peter 24th ECC Kallithea GRE (5) [Carsten Hansen]
A16 2786 2727 21.10.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ d7 6.h4 xc3 7.bxc3 [ Somewhat surprisingly, we haven't covered this move before on ChessPublishing. com. The main move is 7.dxc3 about which you can find a couple of references to other Svidler games in the PDF e-books. ] [ The other alternative is 7.d4 f6 8.xc3 which leads to a complicated game and chances to both sides. ] 7...g7 [ Black has two other options to consider at this juncture: A) 7...c5 A) White doesn't achieve anything with 8.g3 , e.g. c6 ( Black has several other moves to consider as well: 8...g7 9.g2 c6 10.0-0 d7 11.d4 h6 12.dxc5?! xc3 13.b1 a5 14.e3 xa2 15.d4 g5 16.h3 xd4 17.xd4 xg2 18.xg2 xc5 , and White doesn't have enough for the pawns, Rajkovic, DKrasenkow, M/Ptuj 1989; 8...a5 9.e5 g7 10.xd7 xd7 11.h3 d8 12.0-0 0-0 13.b1 b6 14.a4 e5 15.b5 a6 580
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A) Black can also play 11...exd4 12.cxd4 16.e4 f5 17.c2 Urday Caceres, Hf5!? ( this is better than 12...b4+ 13.d2 Sion Castro, M/Palma de Mallorca 1991; xd2+ 14.xd2 0-0 15.c1 8...c6!? 9.g2 d7 10.0-0 e6 leaves W hite wit h th e be tter cha nce s 11.xd8+ xd8 12.c4 g7 , and with according to Mikhalevski in CBM) 13.e5 Black having solved all his opening b4+ 14.d2 xd2+ 15.xd2 a5 problems, a draw was prematurely agreed , and Black is doing pretty good.; upon, 1/2-1/2, in W inkeler, U-Loehr, M/ B) 11...g7 12.g5! b8 13.d1 exd4 Germany 1996.) 9.g2 e5 ( 9...g7 14.cxd4 0-0 15.e2 be8! 10.0-0 e6 11.f4 0-0 12.b1 b6= with a pleasant game for Black, Tunik, GH u l t i n , J - M o b e r g , K / M a n h e m s 1 9 9 8) Tseitlin, M/Beersheba 1996. ] 10.c4 e7 11.0-0 0-0 12.d3 c8 13.h6 e8 14.h4 e6 15.b5 d7= 8.b1 c6 [ 8...b6 is the subject of Aronian-Kamsky, Spassov, L-Webb, S/ Concordia 1977; Kallithea 2008, which is the next game of B) 8.b1 b6 ( 8...c7 9.g3 xg3 this update. ] 10.hxg3 b6 11.e4 c6 12.e5 a4 13.c4 e6 14.b3 xb3 15.xb3 d7 9.e4 [ This appear to be White's best, whereas 16.c4 b8 17.a4 a6 18.e2 b5 9.d4?! is simply mistaken, leaving Black with , and Black has sufficient counterplay, the better chances after d5 ] Milos, G-Fernandez Garcia, J/Buenos [ Of more interest is somewhat provocative Aires 1990) 9.d4!? ( 9.e4 c6 10.c4 9.d4!? d5 ( 9...xd4 10.xd4 xd4 e6 11.g3 g7 12.h4 b8 is quite 11.cxd4 d7 12.f3 0-0-0 13.e4 e6 comfortable for Black, Peng Xiaominfollowed by ... f7-f5 is probably okay for S v i d l e r , P / N e w D e l h i / T h e r a n 2 0 0 0) Black even if I would rather play W hite) 9...cxd4 10.cxd4 g7 11.h6! 10.e4 xa2 ( 10...e5? was played in a W ith this move, making use of the recent game, but should be avoided as otherwise oddly placed queen on h4, most evidenced by this game. 11.xd8+ xd8 of Black's potential counterplay is 12.exd5 exd4 13.xb7 dxc3 14.d6! e8+ prevented. 15.d1 cxd6 16.b5 c2+ 17.xc2 c6?? B1) This gets Black into trouble a rather 18.xc6 1-0 Shimanov, A-Kilpatrick, C/Vung s i m p l e i m p r o v e m e n t i s 11...xh6 Tau City VIE 2008) 11.xb7 ( 11.b2 e5!? 12.xh6 , and now c6 has been given without further evaluation by B1a) 13.g7 f8 14.e4!? ( 14.xh7 Mikhaelvski, but White seems to hold the xf3 15.exf3 xd4 is complete okay better chances in this line, e.g. 12.xd8+ for Black ) 14...xe4 15.b5+ c6 xd8 13.f3 e6 14.xb7 , and White 16.g5 d5 17.xh7 e4+ 18.d2 has the better pawn structure along with d7 is complicated; the possibility of scooping up the advantage B1b) 13.c1 d5 14.d2 d7 of the bishop pair with Ng5 in some lines.) 15.e3 b5! is at best marginally better 11...0-0 is given as unclear by Mikhalevski, for White; which is quite possibly an accurate B2) 11...0-0?! 12.e3 f6 13.c4+ h8 assessment, although I somewhat prefer 14.0-0 c6 15.bc1 a5 16.d3 c8 White after 17.e4 , and White has a clear advantage, A) 12.a3 f6 13.h6 c5! ( 13...c8 Macieja, B-Areshchenko, A/ 14.b2 c5 15.f3 ) 14.b3 xb3 Wattenscheid GER 2008 ] 15.xb3 a5 gives Black excellent [ B) Black's second alternative is 7...c6 counterplay; 8.e4 ( 8.d4!? can also be considered, but B) 12.f3 c5 ( 12...f6 13.e2 d6 has yet to be tested.) 8...e5 9.xd8+ xd8 14.b2 f7 15.0-0 ) 13.b2 a5 10.b1 b6 11.d4 ( 11.b5!? 14.xe7 c6 15.b7 fc8 16.a6 is less committal and probably also better, , and W hite seems to be doing rather yet Black should be fine after g7 12.0-0 well. ] 0-0 13.a3 fe8 ) 581
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...e6!? [ This is a new move. Previously Black tried 9...0-0 10.d4 e6 11.g5! f6 A) 12.c4!? e8!? ( 12...fxg5?? 13.xe6+ h8 14.xg5 h6 15.f7+ xf7 16.xd8++- ) 13.e3 is a suggestion of Mikhalevski's White is doing very well in this line too; B) 12.e3 This is a rather unpleasant version of the Exchange Variation of the Grunfeld, Black has hardly any counterplay and both his pieces and pawn structure leave him in an awkward position. e8! 13.d3 ( 13.c4!? M i k h a l e v s k i) 13...d7 14.0-0 d8 15.fd1 b6 16.d2!? a4 17.b3 Sakaev, K-Mikhalevski, V/ Beersheba 1998 ] [ Another option is 9...e5 10.xd8+ xd8 11.g5 '!' is given by Mikhaelvski without an eva lu a t io n , th o u gh h in t ing t h ro u gh t h e punctuation that is supposed to be better for White. However, Black seems to be only slightly worse after e8 This line, however, is n 't a s f le xi b l e f o r B la ck a s t h e g a m e continuation due to the limitations imposed by the e5-pawn on the bishop on g7. ] 10.xd8+ xd8 11.g5!? [ Strictly speaking, this is the novelty of the game, because Svidler premiered 9...e6 against Sakaev in the Russian Championship two weeks prior to this game. In t hat game W hite gave pref eren ce t o 11.d3 d7 12.c2 c5 A) 13.g5 was played in a brand-new game less than two weeks ago, but it is definitely not any threat to this line for Black: e8 14.d4 ( on 14.a3 b6!? looks satisfactory for Black) 14...h6! Black is already doing rather well. 15.xf7 xf7 16.dxc5 xc3+ 17.e2 b5 ( 17...ad8!? ) 18.b2 f6 19.f4 ( 19.xf6 xf6 20.hd1 e5 ) 19...hd8 20.xf6 xf6 21.hd1 g5 ( 21...e5!? 22.g3 xd1 23.xd1 b4 24.e3 a5 may even be better for Black) 22.g3 xd1 23.xd1 gxf4 24.gxf4 g8 25.f3 a5 26.a3 h5 27.e3 g2 28.d2 g1 29.d1 g2 30.d2 g1 31.d1 1/2-1/2 Khismatullin, D-Timofeev, A (2670/ Serpuhov RUS 2008;
B) 13.e5!? f5!? 14.exf6 xf6 15.a3 d7! 16.0-0 b6 17.fe1 e8 18.c5 xf3 19.gxf3 c6 20.e4 ( 20.b3 d7 21.f4!? gives W hite a little pressure) 20...c7 21.eb4 ( 21.be1 ad8!= ) 21...e7! 22.xb6+ axb6 23.xb6 eb8 24.e4 xa2 25.d4 a6 26.xa6 bxa6 27.xb8 xb8 28.xc6 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, Sakaev, K-Svidler, P/Moscow (Russian Ch) 2008 ] 11...e8 12.f3 White's position seems easier to play. W hile largely undeveloped at this juncture, White should be able to establish a solid centre and thereby gain a pleasant space advantage. Black, on the other hand, doesn't have access to the typical Grunfeld counterplay and is therefore at a disadvantage from the outset, though this disadvantage is fairly small. h6 13.h3 b6 14.d4 a4 15.f4 [ 15.d2!? ] 15...c5 16.d2 e7 17.d5 [ 17.d3 d8 18.d5 is also worth a thought. ] 17...g5 18.h5!? e5 19.g3?! [ This is a very dynamic move, but unfortunately for White, not a very good one. Instead W hite should have opted for 19.c4!? d7 20.0-0 after which White has perhaps a slight pull. Now Black takes over the control of the game. ] 19...exd5 20.exd5 c2! The target is the awkwardly-placed knight on h5. 21.c1 g6 22.f4 [ White tries to shake things up a bit, wellknowing that the pawns are very loose and w i l l f a l l . 22.g4 xh5 23.gxh5 d7 is obviously far from ideal for White ] 22...xh5 23.fxe5 The pawns look impressive and if White now only had time to p la y c3 -c4 , h e wo u ld b e n e a rly win n in g . However, in the game the pawns are just easy targets for Black, and as you will see, both are quickly picked up. d7 24.d6+ [ 24.g2 xe5 25.0-0 ae8 is inadequate for White ] 24...e6 25.h3+ g4 26.g2 ad8 27.0-0 xe5 28.c4 xd6 Black has won both of White's central pawns, but White has some compensation in his bishop pair, open files and Black's lacking piece coordination. This 582
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 allows White to stay in the game. 29.c3 f6 30.d5+ d7 31.xf6!? This wins back one of the two pawns. Carlsen may already have had the conclusion of the game in mind at this juncture. xf6 32.xe5 hf8 33.d1 c8 34.xf6 xf6 35.f1!? My computer objects to this move, but Carlsen may have judged this endgame to be an easy draw, which may or may not be right, depending on how you evaluate Black's chances in the lines given as alternatives after Black's 36th move. xf1+ 36.xf1 d7 [ Black can consider 36...a6!? 37.e2 b5 with reasonable winning chances. In the game continuation, White doesn't seem to have too many problems. ] [ Another idea to place the bishop on a better square, ideally d7, and then advance t h e p a w n s o n t h e q u e e n s i d e 36...e8 37.e2 c7 38.e3 c6 39.e6 ( 39.xc6? xc6 40.f4 h5 is of course an easy win for Black) 39...d7 40.d5 a6 41.f4 b5 with excellent winning chances for Black ] 37.e2 d6 38.b7 b5!? [ While this certainly is an interesting attempt at winning, Black may be able to do better with 38...f7 39.a6 e6 40.e3 e5 41.a3 d7 42.b7 b5 43.cxb5 xb5 44.c8 h5 with some chances. However, as with all lines in this endgame, Black has to be wary of the possibility of W hite exchanging all the pawns on the kingside and then sacrifice the bishop on the c-pawn, leaving Black with a-pawn and the wrongcoloured bishop. ] 39.cxb5 f7 40.a3 c4+ 41.d2 xb5 42.c3 Black has won the pawn back, but as long as White is able to maintain his king on c3 and the bishop on the a8-h1 diagonal (or at least prevent Black from using it for his king to penetrate the white kingside), White will be able to hold the endgame. The rest of the endgame sees Black trying to make it work, but Carlsen easily wards off all black attempts. c6 43.c8 d7 44.b7 e6 45.e4 e5 46.c6 c4 47.b7 h5 48.c6 f7 49.g2 d5 50.f1 e4 51.g2+ e5 52.f1 a6 53.a4 a5 54.xc4 c6 55.f7 xa4 ½-½
583 Chernyshov,Konstantin Malykin,Vitaly KB Czech Open (5) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2518 2410 23.07.2002
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c6 3.e4 d5 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.e5 fd7 A solid but rather passive move which leads to positions reminiscent of a French Defence. [ 5...e4 is more enterprising. ] 6.d4 b6 [ T h i s c o u l d w e l l b e b e t t e r t h a n 6...c6 wh i c h b l o c k s t h e c - f i l e a n d t h e e 8 - a 4 diagonal. After 7.ge2 b6 8.g3 g6 9.h4 h5 10.e2 d7 11.g5 Black came under strong pressure in Lautier, J (2645)Van Wely, L (2585)/Groningen 1995. ] 7.d3 [ After 7.ge2 Black gets a reasonable position with g4 8.f3 d7 9.g3 e6 and now ( 9...h5!? 10.h4 e6 is also possible) 10.h5 would be strong we r e i t n o t f o r h4+ , driving the knight back where it came from. ] 7...c6 8.ge2 e6 [ In some games between some not notably stron g p la yers Bla ck ha s pla ye d 8...g4 , but without notable success. For example 9.f3 d7 10.0-0 e6 11.a3 a5 12.b3 e7 13.c2 g6 14.h6 c8 15.d2 left Black very passively placed in Klauser, M (2260)-Silva, C/Zuerich 1986. ] 9.a3 a5 10.b3 d7 11.a4 [ This way of doing things looks quite creative, though I'm not convinced it's better than keeping it simple with 11.0-0 after which e7 12.c2 h6 13.e3 c8 14.d2 makes it difficult for Black to castle kingside due the possibility of a sacrifice on h6. White probably avoided this line because of a4 15.b4 a7 when Black gets at least some squares for his pieces on the queenside. ] 11...e7 12.e3 xa4 13.bxa4 a7 14.b3 b8 15.c3 The exchange of White's knight on a4 gives him the b5 square and some pressure on the b-file. But I can't help thinking this distracts him from playing on the kingside where his space advantage lies. 0-0 16.0-0 f5 17.f4 h6 18.fc1 h8 583
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.c2 g5 20.ac1 g8 21.b5 c6 22.f1 f8 Black has counterplay on the kingside now. 23.d2 d8 24.h3 g7 25.h1 g4 26.e3 b6 27.b1 d8 28.b3 c8 29.cb2 a8 30.e1 h5 31.c3 h8 32.d3 f7 33.g1 g7 34.f1 f7 35.e2 g7 36.d1 f7 37.c2 h4 38.b1 g7 39.a2 f7 40.d2 g7 41.e3 f7 42.c3 f8 43.e2 d8 44.b5 d7 45.d2 c7 46.c1 hc8 47.e3 d8 48.e1 c7 49.f2? A serious mistake. [ 49.c3 is about equal. ] 49...b4+! A real bolt from the blue. 50.b1 [ After 50.axb4 xb5 51.bxa5 ( 51.axb5 axb4+ 52.b1 a5 ) 51...c4 Black just wins. ] 50...c2 51.xd7 [ 51.c3 xb5 52.xc2 xc3 53.xc3 d3 is also winning for Black. ] 51...xe1 52.xc8 xc8 This result seems very strange because Black is winning here. ½-½
12.h3 cxd4 13.xd4 h6 14.d1 , and White is in control, Ivanchuk-Shirov, Polanica Zdroj 1998 ] 7.g3 This move isn't particularly popular and hasn't been discussed on this page before. It has seen a few outings in top level chess. The normal moves are of course 7 e4 and 7 d4 leading to lines we have discussed several times before. g7 [ The main alternative is 7...b5 A) Or 8.h4 c5 9.d3 c6 10.g2 A1) Black ca n a lso conside r 10...g7 11.h6 0-0 12.0-0 bd7 13.ac1 ( 13.xg7 xg7 14.b4!? c8 ) 13...c8 14.d1?! ( 14.xg7 xg7 15.fd1 e5 16.e3 h6 ) 14...e5= 15.e3 h5 16.xg7 xh4 17.xh4 , and here the players settled on a draw, 1/2-1/2, Nisipeanu, L-Timofeev, A/Dubai 2002, despite the fact that Black is doing rather well at this point.; A2) 10...h6!? 11.0-0 bd7 12.d2?! xg2 13.xg2 g5! 14.h3 g4 15.h4 g8 ( 15...e6!? 16.f3 e7! is very unpleasant for W hite, e.g. 584 A16 17.d1 h5 18.fxg4 xg4 19.h3 de5 , and Black is completely in Damljanovic,Branko 2595 command of the game.) 16.f3 e6 Areshchenko,Alexander 2650 17.de4 xe4 18.xd8+ xd8 IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (8) 29.04.2008 19.fxe4 h5 20.f4 g7 21.ac1= [Carsten Hansen] Davies, N-Rowson, J/Southend 2002; B) 8.b3 c5 9.d3 c6 10.g2 c8 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 B1) 11.e3 e6 ( 11...c4!? ) 12.d1 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 a6 d4 13.g5 d7 14.0-0 g7= 15.a4 [ T h e i m m e d i a t e 6...g7 is actually too b4 16.xd4?! cxd4 17.d5?? passive for Black, and White's score in this ( 17.ce4 0-0 ) 17...xd5 18.xd5 e6 variation in enormously in his favour, e.g. , oops and therefore: 0-1, Kongevold, H7.e4! 0-0 8.e5! g4 9.d4 Giemsa, S/Dresden GER 2007; A) or 9...e6 10.d5 f5 11.f4 d7 B2) 11.d1 g7 12.e3 ( 12.0-0 0-0 12.e2 f6 13.e6 de5 14.d1! c6? 13.e3 b4 14.h3 fd5 15.d2 b6 ( Mikhalevski has suggested two ideas, but 16.c1 c4 17.dxc4 xc4 n e i t h e r l o o k s c o n v i n c i n g : 14...xf3+!? with a pleasant game for Black, Psakhis, 15.xf3 e5 16.xe5 fxe5 17.e2 h5 L-Mikha levski, V / Ra mat Aviv 199 8) (necessary, White threatens g2-g4) 18.h3 12...a5 13.c1 0-0 14.b3 c6 15.0-0 h4 19.c4; 14...d6!? 15.d4! d3+ b7 16.h3 d7 17.xd7 xd7 16.xd3 xf4 17.g3 e5+ 18.e2 ) with more or less even chances, Wang 15.d4 d3 16.xd3 xd3+ 17.xd3 Yue-Predojevic, B/Lausanne SUI 2006 ] , and it was soon over: cxd5 18.e2 e5 19.b5 g5 20.e3 f5 21.xg5 f4 22.0-0 8.g2 c6 [ 8...0-0 g6 23.d1 1-0 Rustemov, A-Zezulkin, J/ A) 9.0-0 c6 10.d3 Swidnica POL 1999; A1) 10...e5 11.h4 f5 12.h6 g4 B) 9...c6 10.f4 a5 11.e2! c5 584
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 , and Black has a pleasant game) 13.xg7 xg7 14.xd8 axd8 15.fc1 18...b5 ("and Black is OK" c8 16.e4 f6?! ( 16...f5!? 17.c5 Mikhalevski) ( 18...xe5 19.dxe5 d6 makes more sense the chances are b5 20.a3 bxc4 21.f4 ) 19.c2 fairly level) 17.xf6 xf6 18.f1 d7 xe5 20.cxd5 d7 21.b4 a5 19.d2 , and White has the clearly 22.d2 f6 23.e3 xd5 24.xc7 better chances in the endgame, Jaracz, f8 25.dc1; P-Brkic, A/Nova Gorica SLO 2005; A2) 14...b6 15.a3 e8 16.ac1 A2) 10...g4 11.f4 d7 12.e5 d4! 17.d2 b5 18.b4 c6 19.a5 ( 12.g5!? ) 12...xe5 13.xe5 c6 d7 20.xd8 axd8= , and Black has 14.fc1 ac8 15.b4 h3 16.f3 e6 a t le a st e ve n ch a n ce s , T o p a lo v, V 17.c5 g4 18.g2 e6 , and Black Svidler, P/Dos Hermanas 1999; has solved his opening problems, B) 11.d2 Ionescu, C-Konopka, M/ Budapest B1) Bla ck sh o u ld co n sid e r 11...e6!? 2000; , e.g. 12.a4 ( If White plays 12.h4 B) 9.e5!? c6 10.xd7 bxd7 11.0-0 as in the game, Black has the clever c8 12.d3 a5 13.d2 h5 14.a4 a5 d7!? , and if White plays the natural15.h3 , and White has the somewhat looking, but careless 13.fc1? , then better chances, Miroshnichenko, Eg4! creates serious problems for the Timoshenko, I/Alushta 2000 ] w h i t e q u e e n) 12...0-0 , and here it 9.d4 seems as if White's dark-squared bishop [ 9.0-0 e5 10.d3 h6 Similar position with is somewhat misplaced on d2 Black White's queen on d1 can be reached by 1.c4 certainly shouldn't have any problems Nf62.Nc3 d5 3.cd N:d5 4.g3g6 5. Bg2 Nb6 6. here.; Nf3 Bg7 and so on. The position of queen B2) 11...0-0 12.h4 e8 13.xd8 on c4 is in the Black's favour as he can win xd8 14.ab1 f5 15.fc1 e6 16.e1 few tempos by the means of Be6 and then d6 17.b3 This looks utterly harmless Nd5 and Nb6. for Black, despite the fact that I would A) In an earlier game in this line, two of much rather play W hite in this type of today's top players tested the merits of position (the old Dragon itch is a difficult 11.d1 e6 12.a4 0-0 13.e3 d5 thing to shake off...) nevertheless Black 14.c5 soon ends up in a problematic position A1) Mikhalevski in CBM gives the on account of non-committal play. following line: 14...e8!? 15.d4 B2a) 17...e4!? 18.f4 ( 18.dxe4?! A1a) 15...exd4 16.xd4 xd4 xe4 19.xe4 fxe4 20.e3 f5 ) 17.xd4 xc3 ( 17...xd4 18...fe8; 18.xd5!+- ) 18.xc3 is quite B2b) 17...e7?! 18.a4 c6 19.a5 uncomfortable for Black; de8 20.c2 ( 20.b4!? b5 A1b) 15...xc3 16.bxc3 21.e3 ) 20...f4 21.b4 df5?! A1b1) 16...exd4 17.xd4 xd4 ( 21...d8! ) 22.c5!? ( 22.e4!? d4 18.xd4 ( 18.cxd4?! d5 ); 23.xd4 exd4 24.f3 ) 22...c8 A1b2) 16...e4 23.e4 h5?! , Rahman, Z-Gupta, A/ A1b21) 17.e1?! b5 New Delhi IND 2007, and now 24.c5 ( a l s o M i k h a l e v s k i ' s 17...f5 leaves W hite with a small, but clear is excellent for Black e.g. 18.d5? advantage. ] xd5 19.c4 b5! , and Black is 9...e6 10.a4 0-0 11.0-0 d5! winning ) 18.c2 d5; [ 11...b5 12.c2 b8 13.d1 ] A1b22) 17.e5 d5 ( 17...xe5!? 18.dxe5 g5 ) 18.c4 12.d1 b6 [ 12...b5!? isn't entirely hopeless, e.g. 13.e4 ( 18.c2!? - Mikh a le vski - e3!? xc3 14.bxc3 a5 with an interesting 19.f3 b6 20.a3 a5 21.c4 position ] xe5 22.cxd5 d6 23.b2 b5 585
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.f4 d5 14.g5!? h6 15.d2 b6 16.e3 a5 17.b3 f5 18.c1 [ In an old New In Chess Magazine from the 1980s, Timman wrote that it can be difficult to tear yourself away from thinking about what has just been played, rather than what is actually the best move in the position. I recalled this, because W hite's best move may actually be yet another move with the dark-squared bishop: 18.c1!? , and now d7 19.b2 ( 19.a3!? ) 19...h3 20.e4 leaves White with a comfortable edge. ] 18...g5?! [ 18...d7!? 19.e1 ad8 ] 19.e1 g6 20.d5!? [ White has an noteworthy alternative in 20.e4!? , e.g. d5 21.c5 b6 22.a4 ( 22.e6 fxe6 23.xc6 e8 is less clear) 22...a7 23.e2 e6 24.d3 with a clearly more comfortable game for White. ] 20...b4 21.e4 c6?! [ 21...e6 22.a3 a6 23.e3 exd5 24.exd5 ] 22.a3 a6 23.dxc6 bxc6 24.e3! b8 25.f4! d8 26.c2 gxf4 [ 26...d5!? 27.xd5 cxd5 28.f5 h5 29.exd5 c8 30.d2 d6 31.d3 ] 27.gxf4 h8 [ This is terribly passive and soon leads Black into an even worse position. Instead Black should have opted for something more active, e.g. 27...d5 28.xd5 cxd5 29.f5 h5 30.d3 d4 , and though White is also much better in this line, at least Black isn't passively awaiting the execution... The same can be said about the rest of the game, which is quite a lacklustre performance by Black. ] 28.f5 h7 29.f3 d7 30.a4 f6 [ Black needs to play more actively, such as 30...c5!? ] [ or 30...d6!? though White in either case is still much better ] 31.h1 [ 31.b6!? c8 32.h1+- ] 31...g4 [ 31...c5!? ] 32.g1 d6 33.b6! ab8 34.c4 Now things start coming undone for Black for real d3 35.xa5 e3 36.xd3 xd3 37.xe3 xe3 38.xc6 Black is not only two
pawns down, his minor pieces on h7 and a6 can't get into play. This is of course completely lost for Black, but White makes it looks eve n worse.. . a8 39.d2 e2 40.dc4 d4 41.f3 a2 42.b4 e6 43.b3 f2 44.b5 b8 45.c8+ g7 46.f6+ 1-0
585 David,Alb Salem,AR Gibraltar Open (10.18) [John Bartholomew]
A16 2598 2505 02.02.2012
1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 b6 5.g2 g6 6.d3 g7 7.e3 c6 [ Subscribers may want to peruse the game Ivanchuk, V (2709)-Mamedyarov, S (2580) / Bled 2002/[TonyK] in order to get a feel for the positions resulting from Bg2xc6 in this line. That contest went 7...0-0 8.d2 c6 9.xc6! bxc6 10.h6 (in our main game Black put a stop to this) c5 11.d1 b7 12.f3 with characteristically unbalanced play. ] 8.xc6+ Flank openings are replete with scenarios where one side (usually W hite) exchanges a fianchettoed bishop for a knight in hopes of exploiting the resulting structural deficiencies. Here I believe Black's dynamic potential outweighs such considerations, but I wo u l d n o t b e o f f e n d e d i f yo u d i s a g r e e ! Evidence to the contrary is 8.Bxc6's status as the main line, a healthy 60% score in White's favor, and the patronage of World Champions Vasily Smyslov and Tigran Petrosian. Nevertheless, you can find plenty of strong players taking up Black's cause, and the "eye in the sky" (current ly named Houdini!) is particularly good at unearthing the concrete resources at Black's disposal. [ L a s t m o n t h I i n v e s t i g a t e d 8.d2 . Black has adequate play in the line d4 9.c1 f5 , preventing the exchange of dark-square bishops. See Reinderman, D (2581)-Harika, D (2516)/ Wijk aan Zee NED 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] [ White may want to look in the direction of 8.f3 ] 586
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ or the newly fashionable 8.c1 . See the archives. ] 8...bxc6 9.d2 [ S m y s l o v a n d P e t r o s i a n p l a y e d 9.c1 , which look admittedly less natural than 9. Qd2. Black faces the same choice he had in the game, e.g. A) or 9...h6 10.f3 h3! 11.g1 ( 11.d2 0-0 12.de4 h7 13.f3 d5 14.c5 e6 15.f2 h3 16.d1 Malakhatko, V (2548) -Petrosian, T (2612)/ Dubai UAE 2010. f5! 17.c5 d6 ) 11...g4 12.d2 d5 13.xd5 cxd5 ( taking the opportunity to repair his pawn s t ru c t u r e , b u t 13...xd5 i s f i n e t o o .) 14.b3 d6 15.f3 d7 16.d4 Petrosian, T (2645) -Schmidt, W (2450)/ Skopje 1972. Here I like a5!? , i.e. 17.f2 a4 18.c5 b5 19.d2 h5! with active counterplay for Black.; B) 9...h5 10.f3 g4 ( 10...h3!? ) 11.g5 d5 12.xd5 xd5 13.f3 b8 ( 13...h4!? makes sense; there's nothing wrong with 13...0-0 either. ) 14.b1 d7 15.b3 Smyslov, V (2600) -Robatsch, K (2440)/Sochi 1974. Here Robatsch could have nabbed a pawn with a5+ 16.f2 xa2 . ] [ N a k a m u r a r e c e n t l y p l a y e d 9.c1 , which should probably be met by the old d5!? , e.g. ( 9...g4 10.d2 h5 11.h3 f5 12.f3 d7 13.h4 Nakamura, H (2710)-Mamedyarov, S (2717)/Mainz GER 2009. ) 10.d2 h5 ( 10...xc3!? 11.bxc3 d5 12.f3 g4 13.c4 h5 ) 11.xd5 xd5 12.f3 g4 ( 12...h3 ) 13.c5?! xa2 14.b4 xd2+ 15.xd2 d7 Ree, H (2470)-Van Dop, A (2340)/ Leeuwarden 1975. ] [ 9.f3 h3 could be similar to the game. ] 9...h5!? Black can treat this position a few different ways. The text makes sense: Black toys with the idea of ...h5-h4 and simultaneously prevents Be3-h6. [ 9...h6 is completely playable, and it's probably the move I would chose here. Castling is now more difficult to achieve, but in return Black guards against Ng1-f3-g5. A couple examples: A) 10.f3 h3! An important idea to remember - Black wants to force a small
concession ( 10...g4 has been played a couple times, but Vavrak's move is stronger. ) 11.g1 g4 (The optimal square now that White can't castle) 12.c1 d7 13.h4 d5 14.xd5 cxd5 15.d4 Dizdar, G (2548)-Vavrak, P (2466)/Plovdiv 200 8. At th is po in t I like t he en gin e's suggestion of c8!? with the idea of ...c7c5 and ...d5-d4 if W hite captures. After 16.c5 c6 White is somewhat lacking in ideas due to the poor arrangement of his kingside pieces, i.e. 17.f3 ( 17.g2 g5!? ) 17...h3 18.f2 ( Trying to trap the bishop with 18.g4?! backfires after h5! ) 18...g5 19.g2 0-0 planning ...Rf8-e8 and ... e7-e5 with excellent play.; B) 10.c1 a5! (exemplary flank play!) B1) Better is 11.h4 , i.e. d5 12.f3 xe3!? Black has an interesting dilemma: what minor piece scenario to go for? ( It's also very interesting to fight with two bisho p versu s t wo k nights : 12...xc3!? 13.bxc3 g4; 12...g4 ) 13.xe3 d6; B2) 11.f3 w o u l d b e m e t b y h3! as in Dizdar-Vavrak above. Notice that Black generally does well in waiting to commit his bishop until White has played h2-h4, Ng1-f3, or both.; B3) 11.f3?! a4 ( 11...d5; or 11...h5!? are also attractive.) 12.h4?! d5 13.xd5 xd5 14.a3 b8 15.d4 a2 Von Bahr, O (2284)-Tikkanen, H (2586)/ Stockholm SWE 2011. (23) ] [ 9...0-0 10.h6 would transpose to the af oremen tio ned Ivan chu k-Ma medyaro v game. ] [ Finally, I want to mention the slightly suspicious pawn sacrifice 9...c5?! , i.e. A) 10.h4?! c4 11.d4 b7 12.h2?! ( 12.f3 d7 ) 12...h5 13.h3 d7 14.0-0-0 a4 and White was clearly going off the rails in Cajbel, M (2104)-Kos, P (2220)/ Laczna 2002.; B) 10.h6!?N i s i n t e r e s t i n g : xh6 11.xh6 b7 12.f3! xf3 13.exf3 xd3 14.d1 xf3 15.0-0; C) 10.xc5 b7 11.f3 d7 Lerner, K (2494) -Khmelniker, I (2444)/Ramat Aviv 2 0 0 4 . H e r e 12.h4! looks good when Black's compensation is pretty nebulous. ] 587
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.f3 h3!? New, but entirely logical. [ 10...g4 had been played previously, when 11.0-0!?N is a critical response. After xf3 12.exf3 0-0 13.ac1 Black's pawn weaknesses are slightly more appreciable. ] 11.g5 g2 12.g1 d5 13.c1 0-0 14.ge4 This position is really difficult to assess. Houdini actually prefers White a bit, but (and I'm conjecturing here) I think it tends to overvalue static pawn weaknesses (c6+c7) when concrete counterplay has outwardly stalled. A human will probably wonder where White will put his king and how he intends to deal with the advance of Black's e and f pa wn s . Be s id es, m ost o f t he " p la ns" t h e computer suggests here for White don't make an ounce of sense (try it - you'll see!) f5!? 15.c5 h7 16.b3 g8 17.d4 This advance presents Black with a convenient opportunity for counterplay. e8! 18.d3 d8 Aiming to push the e-pawn. [ 18...a5!? is another good option. ] 19.b2 Trying to pitch the d-pawn. [ 19.f4!? was probably a smarter way to offer it, e.g. xd4 ( 19...d7!?; 19...c4!? ) 20.xd4 xd4 21.e3 d6 22.f2 ] 19...d7! Declined! [ 19...xd4 20.xd4 xd4 21.a4 e5 22.ac5 ] 20.f4?! [ White had better clamp down on c5 with 20.a4 when e5 produces complications. ] 20...c5! This is very well-timed. 21.a4 Damage control - White tries his best to close the floodgates. [ 21.dxc5?! e5! ] [ and 21.xc5 xc5 22.dxc5 e5! are not fun for White. ] 21...f6 [ 21...c4!? 22.bxc4?! f6 is also possible, hitting the knight on a4. ] 22.e5 [ Safer was 22.h3 . ] 22...g4! 23.xg4 cxd4 A key zwischenzug. 24.e5 xe5 25.fxe5 dxe3 26.c3 f4!? Refusing to lose momentum. 27.gxf4 xf4 28.xe3 dd4! 29.c5 b5 We've reached the climax of the game. 30.c3?? A very unfortunate square! [ White had several acceptable moves, i.e. 30.d3 ]
[ or 30.g3 . ] 30...c4! The proverbial "cold shower"! Suddenly White has too many loose pieces. 31.bxc4 There is no defense. [ 31.e3 xc1+ 32.xc1 b4+ 33.d2 ( or 33.d1 d4+ ) 33...xc5 34.xf4 xg1+-+ ] 31...xc5 32.g5 [ or 32.g3 g4! ] 32...f2+! The last accurate move. White resigned in view of 33.Kd2(d1) Rd4+ 34.Kc2 Rxc4. [ But not 32...xc4?? 33.e6! when White survives. ] 0-1
586 Filippov,Valerij Glek,Igor V Open Dubai UAE (3) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2632 2566 17.04.2001
1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 c6 An unusual m o ve , B l a c k wa n t s t o p l a y a s ym m e t r i c Fianchetto King's Indian. 4.e4!? [ W h it e t ries t o d et er .. .d 5 , 4.d4 d5 transposes to the KI, but with this move order (the knight on c3) it is impossible to play a Reti, ] [ 4.f3 d5 and ...d4 is a threat. ] [ However, 4.g2 d5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.b3 e6 7.f3 is quite possible, with a small plus. ] 4...d5 [ 4...d6 could transpose to a KI, but Black is more ambitious. ] 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.e5 d4!? [ No co ncessio ns, b u t 6...e4 is quite r e a s o n a b l e , 7.g2 g7 8.f4 xc3?! 9.dxc3 e6 10.e3 and White has a favourable French-style position, Spraggett, G-Girard,R/Quebec 1989. ] 7.exf6 dxc3 8.bxc3 exf6!? [ A perfectly logical innovation, although 8...e5 , the previously preferred try, also has its merits: 9.e2 ( if 9.f3 d6 10.c4 0-0 and . ..Nd7xf6, is also reasonable for Black ) 9...d6 10.d3 xf6 11.g2 0-0 Black is doing fine, Williams,S-Herraiz,H/ Menorca 1996. ] 588
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.d4 h5!? A typically eccentric Glek move, Black wants to play his bishop to d6, and so stops White from playing Bh6. 10.g2 d6 11.e2 c6 12.c4 White expands in the centre. b4+ 13.d2 xd2+ 14.xd2 White certainly seems to have a plus, Black's doubled kingside pawns are not particularly useful. 0-0 15.d5?! The pawns start rolling, but this is too loosening. e5 16.c5 h3 17.0-0 [ 17.xh3?? f3+ wins the queen. ] 17...c8 18.ac1 xg2 19.xg2 d7! Before W hite can properly support the advanced pawns. 20.c6 bxc6 21.xc6 b6 22.d1 e7 23.c2 b7 24.xc8 xc8 25.b3 g7 26.f4 c4 27.f3 d7 28.h4 d6 Strategically correct, the passed pawn is f irmly b lo ckad ed . 29.d2 c5 30.d4 b5 31.d3 a5 32.d2 a3 33.g1 White can make no progress. ½-½
[ 11...xf1? 12.gxf8+ queening with check and gaining rook and two pieces for the black queen and pawn. ] 12.xc4 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.e2 After the fireworks an unusual position is reached, three pieces is generally considered to be more than a match for a queen, but h e r e B l a c k h a s t w o p a w n s a s w e l l . c6 A new move, but it seems to change little, W hite should avoid the exchange of rooks and attempt to advance his queenside minority. [ 14...ad8 15.0-0 e5 ( 15...b4 16.b1 d7 17.e3 fd8 18.g3 c6 19.a3 b3 20.d1 xd1!? 21.fxd1 xd1+ 22.xd1 seems unclear but White went on to win in V l a d i m i r o v, E - S u t o vs k y, E / B a t u m i G E O 2001 ) 16.e3 d7 17.fe1 a5 18.a3 fd8 19.g4 f5 20.f3 e5 Kramnik,VIvanchuk, V/Belgrade 1997, when 21.xb7! c5 22.c6 seems to favour White. ] [ 14...fd8 15.0-0 c6 16.e3 b4 17.ab1 d7 18.fc1 ad8 19.h3 d2!? 587 A16 offers an exchange to gain some activity, which is a common theme in these positions, Friberg,H 2243 Janssen,R-Golod,V/Vlissingen NED 2000. ] Winge,Stefan 2262 Tch-2002-3 Sweden SWE (3) 13.10.2002 15.0-0 e5 16.e3 b4 17.ab1 ad8 The position is similar to that seen in the [Tony Kosten] previous note: the black rooks can control the 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 d - f i l e b u t t h e y c a n o n l y e n t e r t h e w h i t e 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 c6 7.d4 position at the cost of an exchange as the A more traditional Grünfeld-style approach, white pieces are covering all the important squares, so Black has to consider advancing previously I had analysed [ 7.e4 when e5 might be best, see Gerzhoy, his e and f-pawns to disrupt the white coo r d i n a t i o n . 18.h1!? fe8 19.f4?! L-Sutovsky,E/Tel Aviv ISR 2001. ] 7...g7 8.e4 0-0 9.e5!? The sharpest An unusual and interesting way of proceeding, attempt, other moves are certainly possible, White tries to lever open the f-file to attack the black kingside before Black plays ...f5-f4. for instance [ 9.e2 which blurs the line between the e4!? I am not sure that Black should close this English and the Grünfeld, and is considered column like this, as his rooks need files, why [ 19...exf4 when 20.xf4 d6 21.d4+ under [D90]. ] xd4!? 22.xd4 xd4 should favour 9...e6 This is the critical reply, as allowing Black. ] the knight to be displaced concedes control of 20.f5 f6 21.a3 a5 22.c4!? Offering the centre, e.g. [ 9...g4?! 10.f4 a5 11.e2 h8?! another pawn to weaken the black kingside. 12.h3 h6 13.xh6! xh6 14.e6 c6 gxf5 23.e2 e5? [ 23...e5!? ] 15.e5+ winning a piece, Vaulin,A-Vokarev, 24.g3 This regains the pawn with advantage S/Novgorod 1999. ] 10.exf6! Once again the only testing reply, for as the white pieces have found good squares. if the queen moves Black can play .. .Nd5. b5 25.xf5 bxc4 Returning the queen to reach an endgame where Black has rook and xc4 11.fxg7 xg7 And not 589
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 two pawns for the two white pieces, but where his pawn structure is significantly devalued. [ 25...d6 is met by the stunning 26.xf6!! xf6 27.f1+ g7 ( 27...g6? 28.f7+ g7 29.f5+ is even worse.) 28.f5+ regaining the queen. ] 26.xe5 xe5 27.g1 b5 28.e2 d3 29.d4 d5 30.c3 [ 30.xa7! ] 30...e3 31.g3 d1+? It is normally correct to exchange the opponent's one rook in such endgames, but here this move swaps a n active piece for a passive one, and allows the white king to win the e-pawn. 32.xd1 xd1+ 33.g2 g6 34.f3 f5 35.d4+ g5 36.xe3 Now White is winning. h1 37.f3+ g6 38.h4 c5 39.f2 b1 40.d2 d1 41.xc4 The weak pawns drop like ripe plums. d8 42.f3 f5 43.e3+ e6 44.f4 d7 45.h5 d8 46.g4 f5 47.e3 g8 48.h6 d8 49.xf5 d1 50.e3 h1 51.g7 h2 52.g4 h1 53.g5 White's technique is really very good and he leaves his opponent without a glimmer of a hope. f7 54.g4 f1+ 55.e4 d1 56.e5+ g8 57.g4 f7 58.e5+ g8 59.f6 d2 60.d3 c4 61.f4 f7 62.c3 h2 63.d5 h4 64.e5 g4 65.g6+! g8 [ 65...hxg6 66.h7 queens the h-pawn. ] 66.gxh7+ xh7 67.xc4 xh6 68.d5 g5 69.e6+ g6 70.d4 f7 71.b4 e8 72.c6 a6 73.a4 a5 74.b5 xa4 75.b6 a3 76.b7 b3 77.b8+ xb8 78.xb8 a4 79.d6 d7 80.a3 c8 81.c5 b7 82.b5 c7 83.d4 b7 84.xa4 1-0
castling rights. ] 6.dxc3 [ 6.bxc3 would lead to a Grünfeld Defence, of course. ] 6...xd1+ 7.xd1 d7 Black wishes to play ...e5, and then bring his f8-bishop out onto the a3-f8 diagonal (to c5 if possible)- the bishop has little future on g7 in this line. 8.f4 [ White tries to keep a grip on e5, but will have to lose a tempo later-on. Otherwise, he can try 8.c4 e5 9.e3 f6 10.d2 d6! 11.f3 e7 12.e2 a5 which seems fairly level, Gurevich,D-Gurevich,I/Chicago 1992. ] 8...c6 The reason that this line is less promising for White than the corresponding one in the Symmetric, is that the black c-pawn is not on c5, and therefore he can play this move and maintain control over the light squares. 9.c2 f6 Black persists with his plan. 10.d2 e5 11.e3 c5 [ The most straightforward move, exchanging White's best minor piece. 11...a5 12.h4 h5 13.h3 c5 14.d1 xe3 15.xe3 c5 allowed White to maintain a pull in Larsen, B-Cseshkovsky,V/Riga 1979. ] 12.xc5 xc5 13.b4 a4! [ Knights are normally badly placed when they wander offside like this, but Black has to find concrete answers to W hite's positional threats. 13...e6 would allow W hite to take hold of the initiative on the queenside by 14.c4 e7 15.a4 ] 14.c4 d8!? [ A new twist, the black king heads for the c7s q u a r e , r a t h e r t h a n t h e 14...e7 of Novkovic,M-Yandemirov,V/Eupen BEL 1999, which led to a quick draw after 15.e2 e6 16.hd1 xc4 17.xc4 a5 18.a3 b6 19.e2 axb4 20.axb4 xa1 21.xa1 588 A16 a8 ] Gelfand,Boris 2713 15.d6 [ White decides to exchange the black Ivanchuk,Vassily 2702 bishop. 15.e2 e6 16.a5 can be met, Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (6) 05.12.1999 simply, by c7 ] [Tony Kosten] 15...e7! A clever change of plan, the point of 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 which is revealed several moves later. 16.d1 a5 17.b5? xd5 5.e4 xc3 [ A m is t a k e , 17.a3 axb4 18.axb4 b5 [ By comparison with the similar line in the would be equal. ] S y m m e t r i c a l V a r i a t i o n , 5...b4?! w o u l d b e p o i n t l e s s a s a f t e r 6.d4 17...d8! Winning a pawn. 18.xc8+ axc8 White controls the centre without losing his 19.xd8 xd8 The rook needs to stay on the 590
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a minor role this year so far. xd5 5.a4+ [ Other moves include 5.e4 (played in our other main game in this section) ] [ 5.b3 ] [ 5.h4!? . Examples of these lines can be found in the PDF e-books and the PGN archive. ] 5...d7 6.b3 [ White's two main alternatives are 6.c2!? , which Tony Kosten gives as his preferred move in the PDF e-book, but unfortunately hasn't been covered in any of the updates on Chesspublishing.com thus f ar. I will return to this move soon, because W hite scores incredibly well with it and its treatment in the ECO is by and large very superficial ] [ and 6.h4 which clearly is the theoretical m a i n l i n e a n d i s p la ye d 8 - 1 0 t i m e s a s frequently as our main game move and 6Qc2 ] 6...b6 7.d4 [ As mentioned in the notes to Bu XiangzhiVachier Lagrave in the February update, White has a decent alternative in 7.g3!? ] 7...g7 8.f4 [ 8.g5 was seen in Ionov-Klimov, St Petersburg 2005, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] [ 8.e4 g4 is a regular Grünfeld ] 8...e6 9.a3 0-0 [ An alt ernat ive is 9...c6 Bu XiangzhiVachier Lagrave, Wijk aan Zee 2007, which was discussed in my February 2007 update and th us ca n b e f ou nd in th e a rc hives . W hite obtained in my opinion the better chances in that game ] 10.e4 [ A new move in this position. Previous encounters featured the more reserved, and in my opinion probably better 10.e3 8d7 589 A16 ( 10...d5 11.xd5 xd5 12.e2 d7 13.0-0 c6 14.g3 f6 15.e5 e4 Gelfand,Boris 2733 16.xg7 xg7 17.fd1 h5 18.e5 d6 Svidler,Peter 2735 19.d3 f6 20.c4 xc4 21.xc4 WCh Mexico City MEX (11) 25.09.2007 1/2-1/2 W ang Yue-Areshchenko, A/ [Carsten Hansen] Lausanne SUI 2006; 10...a5 11.e2 c6 12.0-0 8d7 13.fd1 c4 14.xc4 xc4 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 15.b3 d5 16.xd5 cxd5 17.ac1 b8 Gelfand started dabbling with 4 Qa4+ which 18.b4 c6 19.b5 a7 20.b6 xb6 has been quite popular all year. The text move 21.xe7 1-0 Granda Zuniga, J-Mikhalevski, is the main line move, which has played only
c-file. 20.b6 [ Now we see why the black king went to e7 instead of c7, as now 20.bxc6 meets xc6 which wouldn't be possible with the king in the way, and after 21.c4 b6 the black rook comes to b2, with a winning advantage. ] 20...xb6 And having won a solid pawn for nothing, the rest is, as they say, 'a question of technique' (or, at least it is at this level!) 21.h4 h6 22.g3 c7 23.e2 c8 24.h5 g5 25.g4 d6 Black doesn't want to allow a rook and pawn ending here, and anyway, his knight will prove stronger than the bishop because of the pawn structure. 26.d3 b5 27.d1 e7 28.e3 b4! Both creating a passed c-pawn, and exposing the isolated apawn on an open file, whilst at the same time establishing a powerful square for the knight on d4. 29.c1 b5 30.cxb4 axb4 31.f4 gxf4+ 32.gxf4 d4 33.d3 a7 Now the a2-pawn is a target. 34.fxe5 fxe5 35.b1 d6 [ 35...a3+! 36.c4 c2 seems more to the point, threatening mate in one. ] 36.xb4 a3+ 37.d2 [ If 37.c4 then xa2 wins easily enough, the white bishop is fairly useless here. ] 37...xa2+ 38.d3 a3+ 39.d2 g3 40.d1 b5 Black intends to bring his king to c5, thence d4, when the e4-pawn will drop. 41.e2 [ 41.c4 Would have held up Black more. ] 41...g2 42.d3 h2 43.d1?! h3+ 44.d2 c5 45.a4 [ 45.b2 h2+ 46.c1 xb2 47.xb2 d4 is equally hopeless. ] 45...c3 Winning the e-pawn with check. 46.g4 g3 0-1
591
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 V / L a L a g u n a E S P 2 0 0 7) 11.g5?! ( 11.e2!? ) 11...c4!? ( 11...f5!? 12.e4 e5 13.dxe5 xe5 14.e3 d6 15.a5 e5 16.exf5 ec4 17.xf7 e7 18.h6+ g7 19.xc4 xc4 20.f6+ xf6 21.d5 xa5 22.xe7 b4+ 23.e2 xe7= ) 12.xc4?! ( 12.0-0-0!? xf1 13.hxf1 c4 14.b3 db6 15.h4 , and I prefer White, but both sides have chances) 12...xc4 13.b3?! ( 13.b4 e5! 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.0-0 a5! 16.xb7 b8 17.a7 xb2 ) 13...e5 14.xc4 b6 ( 14...exf4!? 15.f3 fxe3 16.fxe3 e8 ) 15.b3 ( 15.d3 exf4 16.f3 fxe3 17.fxe3 d7 ) 15...exf4 16.f3 fxe3 17.fxe3 e7 0-1 Kottnauer, C-Richter, E/Chocen 1942 ] 10...c6 11.d1 [ 11.h4 xd4 ( 11...g4 12.e5 e6 13.0-0-0 ) 12.xd4 xd4 13.xe7 8d7 14.d1 f6 15.xf6 xf6 ] 11...c4 12.xc4 xc4 13.e5 a6 14.e3 [ 14.d5 ] 14...d6! 15.f4 [ This looks a bit odd, why does White allow Black to mess up his pawn structure. The answer lies in the fact that 15.xd6 exd6 16.d3 d7 while innocent-looking is quite u n c o m f o r t a b l e f o r W h it e t h a n ks t o t h e pressure Black can apply down the e-file and along the a6-f1 and h8-a1 diagonals, and White essentially is without any targets to focus his counterplay on. ] 15...xa3 16.bxa3 f6 [ 16...d8!? (intending ...Nd7) 17.h4?! d7 18.h5 ac8 looks very nice for Black ] 17.f3?! [ I don't agree with move, even if looks perfectly normal, overprotecting the d4-pawn which often becomes a target in the Grünfeld. Instead I tend to give preference t o t h e s o m e wh a t p ro vo ca t ive , ye t a ls o perfectly logical 17.d3 and now preventing Nc5 with A) Or 17...e6 18.c5 f7 19.d5 cxd5 20.xa6 xa6 21.exd5 exd5 22.xd5 fd8!? and the chances are about even; B) 17...d7 18.d5 c4 ( 18...f5 19.e5 ) 19.b2 f5 20.e5 xd5 21.xd5 cxd5 22.xd5 , and White should be okay; C) 17...c4!? also looks good, anticipating
White's Nc5, which now can be met with ... b6 18.f5 gxf5 19.exf5 d7 20.f4 b6 , and Black has at least a slight pull; D) 17...b6!? may be given preference e.g. 18.f5!? f7 ( 18...e6?! 19.fxe6 e8 20.f4 is better for White) 19.g4 d7 20.f4 c4 21.f2 fd8 , and despite W hite space advantage, Black has the slightly better chances thanks his better pawn structure ] 17...d7!? [ Black has another attractive option in 17...e6!? e.g. 18.h4 h5 19.f2 d7 20.he1 b6 21.d5 f5!? 22.d4 fxe4 23.xg7 xg7 24.xe4 exd5 and Black has the better chances ] 18.d5 b6 [ 18...fc8!? 19.dxc6 ( 19.f2 f7 20.d6 e8 21.dxe7 xe7 ) 19...xc6 20.d5 f7 21.b4 c3 22.f2 b5 looks very comfortable for Black ] 19.dxc6 bxc6 20.d4 fc8 [ Black has several good continuations at this juncture. The game continuation is one, but another one is 20...f7!? 21.f2 c4 22.c1 fc8 , and Black must be better with his well-placed knight on c4, bishop pair, and better pawn structure ] 21.e6 h6! 22.f2 And here a draw was agreed upon. [ 22.f2 rather prematurely I will say, because Black's position looks rather c o m f o r t a b l e a f t e r c4 23.c5 f7 followed by a knight to c4, and Black has every reason to be satisfied ] ½-½
590 Gelfand,Boris Vachier Lagrave,Maxime GM Biel SUI (5) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2755 2703 24.07.2009
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 g7 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 b6 [ This keeps more options with his pawns than 7...c6 as Black can still move his cpawn. On the other hand it moves a piece away from the centre. ] 8.d3 592
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 8.d4 c6 would be a regular Neo Gruenfeld, as would 8...Nc6 9.d4 Nb6. ] 8...a6!? This looks odd at first as Black is voluntarily putting his knight on the rim. On the other hand he is able to close the h1-a8 diagonal with ... c7-c6 which leaves Black's position very solid. [ Gelfand has also played against the more classical 8...c6 , for example 9.e3 e5 10.b4 e8 11.b5 d4 12.a4 e6 13.g5 b3 14.b1 d5 15.ge4 c6 16.b2 and he now had a clear edge in Gelfand, B (2758)-Obodchuk, A (2404)/Khanty Mansiysk 2009. ] 9.f4 Temporarily preventing ...e7-e5, which makes Black consume half a tempo (with ... Re8) if he still wants to get it in. [ White has played other moves here, for example 9.e3 h6 ( 9...e5 is certainly possible ) 10.c1 h7 11.d1 c6 12.d4 e6 13.f4 c8 14.e5 f6 15.f4 h3 was Khalifman, A (2662) -Bologan, V (2683)/ Moscow 2005, with a somewhat worse but still playable position for Black. ] 9...c6 The consistent follow up to 8...Na6. [ Another possibility is 9...e8 , for example 10.d2 c6 11.ac1 e6 12.fd1 d7 13.b3 ad8 14.h4 h3 15.h1 e5 16.h6 g4 17.h2 f5 didn't get anywhere for White in San Segundo Carrillo, P (2405)Balinov, I (2265)/Odessa 1990. White must surely be for preference in these positions, but converting his 'central pawn majority' into something more concrete is far from easy. ] 10.d2 g4 11.fd1 c7 12.e5 e6 13.d4 cd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.h6 xh6 16.xh6 b6 17.f3 f6 [ 17...xb2? 18.e4 f6 19.g5 is good for White, as even the clever doesn't help after xf2+ 20.h1 intending 21.e5. ] 18.d2 ad8 19.e3 c7 20.c2 f5 21.c4+ e6 22.e2 d5 23.e1 e5 24.dxe5 fxe5 25.f3 c5 26.g5 White is now better because of his possession of e4 in front of Black's isolated e5 pawn. But it's not much... e7 27.e4 g7 28.c2 e6 29.c3 g5 30.xg5 xg5 31.xd5 cxd5 32.f4 f6 33.xe5 xe5 34.fxe5 fe8 Things are petering out to a draw now. 35.ac1 d7 36.e4 xe5 37.xd5 exd5
38.exd5 xd5 39.c7+ f6 40.xb7 d1+ 41.g2 d2+ [ 41...d2+ 42.h3 h5 43.xa7 xb2 is never going to be anything but a draw. ] ½-½
591 Georgiev,Kiril Neverov,Valeriy 1st League TCh-SCG (9) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2637 2566 07.09.2003
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 g7 7.e5!? An ambitious attempt to gain the bishop pair, we had previously examined the move [ 7.e4 which aims to drive the knight from f6, or set-up a strong centre. ] 7...e6! A novelty, Black preserves his bishop at the cost of a pawn. [ 7...0-0 had been the automatic choice up till now, 8.xd7 bxd7 9.g3 e8!? 10.g2 d6 11.b3 c5 12.d3 White has the bishop pair, but Black enjoys a solid setup, Andonov,B-Zahariev,Z/Sofia 1992. ] 8.b5+ White has to grab the pawn, o t h e rwi se h i s se ve n t h m o ve wo u l d b e a complete waste of time. bd7 9.xd7 xd7 10.xb7 0-0 So, Black completes his development and is ready for action, while White is hardly developed at all. On the other hand, W hite has an extra pawn, and has made a hole in the black queenside structure. 11.e3 d5!? [ 11...fb8 12.a6 c5 is also possible, keeping the queens on the board. ] 12.b5 d6 13.c6 Naturally White looks for an exchange of queens. ab8 Black has to acquiesce, as [ 13...d8?! 14.0-0 leaves him with little to show for the pawn. ] 14.xd6 exd6 15.a4 White has to guard the c2-square. b4 16.0-0 c5 Black has excellent compensation for the pawn due to his strong queenside initiative. Two other possibilities worth consideration: [ 16...xc3!? 17.bxc3 xa2 would regain t h e p a w n , a l t h o u g h a f t e r 18.a3 Black m igh t ha ve pro blem s m oving h is knight from a2. ] 593
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 16...d3 must have been tempting, 17.b3 c5 with a strong bind. ] 17.b3 d5 18.a3 d4!? A good move, although Black could also keep the tension by [ 18...fc8 , say. ] 19.exd4 xd4 The bishop comes to a commanding central post. 20.ac1 fd8 21.xb4 Conceding the two bishops, but the b la c k k n i gh t wa s ju s t t o o p o we rf u l . cxb4 22.e2 f5! Black seeks to show that the a4bishop is misplaced, and thus there is no need to move the d4-bishop. 23.fd1 [ 23.xd4?! xd4 24.fd1 bd8 25.c4 a5 26.xd4 xd4 is better for Black, as he will play ... Bc2 and recuperate the d-pawn, when he will have the superior minor piece (as the white queenside pawns are fixed on light squares). ] 23...b2 24.c7 d3 25.c1 f5 26.h3!? White decides to play on, although this is a very risky decision, [ 26.e2 would repeat, while ] [ 26.xa7?! g4 27.f1 ( 27.f3?? d4+ ) 27...xd2 is excellent for Black, whose bishops dominate. ] 26...bc8 27.xc8 xc8 28.e2 c2 Black's initiative seems to be never-ending! 29.b5 Time to bring this piece back into play. f6 30.g3 xa2?! White is happy with a draw, but after [ 30...e6 31.d4 d5 he is clearly better as he will take the a-pawn and have two bishops and an active rook. ] 31.xf5 gxf5 32.d4 f8 33.d5 f4 34.d3 White tries to keep rooks on, as [ 34.d6 a1 is an immediate draw. ] 34...c3! 35.d6 d2 36.xd2 xd2 There is no chance of making any progress in this opposite-colour bishop endgame. ½-½
592 Georgiev,Kiril Safarli,Eltaj 30th Open Benasque ESP (6) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2675 2603 13.07.2010
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 a6 7.g3 e6 Here too Safarli seems well prepared with a
new and very reasonable move. In earlier games Black has played either 7...b5 or 7... Nc6 here, for example: [ a) 7...b5 8.b3 ( 8.h4!? is much more interesting) 8...c5 9.d3 c6 10.g2 g7 11.0-0 0-0 12.f4 c8 was fine for Black in Greenfeld, A (2560) -Baron, T (2299)/Haifa 2008. ] [ b) 7...c6 8.g2 g7 9.0-0 ( 9.d4 e6 10.a4 0-0 11.0-0 d5 12.d1 b6 13.f4 d5 was fine for Black in Damljanovic, B (2595)-Areshchenko, A (2650)/Plovdiv 2008 - see the Archives.) 9...e5 10.d3 h6 11.d1 e6 12.a4 0-0 13.e3 d5 14.c5 b6 15.a3 e8 16.ac1 d4 and the game was about equal in Topalov, V (2700)-Svidler, P (2713)/ Dos Hermanas 1999. ] 8.h4 [ 8.b4 is well met by c8 with ideas of ... Nb8-c6 and ... Be6-h3. ] 8...g7 9.d3 h6 Preventing Bc1-h6 and making the kingside less habitable for White's queen. 10.a4+ b5 11.d1 [ 11.xb5? loses to d7 . ] 11...c5 12.g2 bd7 13.0-0 0-0 14.e3 c8 Black has no problems here whatsoever. 15.h3 b4 16.a4 d5 17.d2 7b6 18.xb6 xb6 19.b3 ½-½
593 Gerzhoy,Leonid Sutovsky,Emil Open Ch Tel Aviv ISR (1) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2245 2604 09.04.2001
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 c6 [ W e h a v e s e e n 6...g7 several times before. ] 7.e4 e5! [ N e w , a n d e x t r e m e l y l o g i c a l , 7...a6 was examined in the archives, but the text stops White from further advancing his epawn. ] 8.d4 exd4 9.xd4 e5!? [ Black keeps control of the e5-square, although 9...g7 10.xc6 xc6 11.f4 is only marginally better for White. ] 594
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg7 11.xc4 is also feasible) 9...d5 10.g5 h6 11.xe6 fxe6 12.e4 is very awkward for Black, Adamski,J-Vujic, B/Valjevo 1984. ] 9.d4 e6 [ The 9...c6 of Ivanchuk-Shirov, was mentioned in the archives. ] 10.d5 f5 11.f4 d7 12.e2 W hite threatens to win a piece with h3. f6 13.e6 de5 [ 13...c5?! 14.c4 b6?! 15.d4 e5 16.xe5 fxe5 17.c6 e8 18.b4 is horrible for Black, Drogoon,A-Vorobiov,E/ RUS-Cup02/1998. ] 14.d1!? [ Considered stronger than the original 14.xe5 fxe5 15.h3 f6 of Goldin, AMikhalevski,V/Rishon Le Zion 1997, although here 16.g4 e4 17.d2 xd5 18.gxf5 seems to win a piece for next-tonothing. ] 14...d6! [ An improvement, suggested by Mikhalevski in h is n o te s to t h e ga me Ru st em ov, A Zezulkin,J/Swidnica 1999, which continued: 14...c6? 15.d4! d3 16.xd3 xd3+ 17.xd3 cxd5 18.e2 e5 19.b5 winning. ] 15.h3 [ This time 15.d4 can be answered by d3! 16.xd3? ( 16.xg4 xf1 17.xf1 xg4 18.xd6 cxd6 is not too bad for Black ) 16...xd3+ 17.xd3 xf4 ] 15...xf3+ 16.xf3 e5 17.e3 g5 594 A16 18.xe5 xe5 19.xe5 fxe5 20.b5 Golod,Vitali 2590 Reaching an endgame where White has the Tseitlin,Mark D 2445 better pawn formation, but Black has two ch-ISR Ramat Aviv Modiin ISR (3) 19.12.2000 bishops, and he hastens to free the darksquared one. e4 21.0-0 xc3!? 22.bxc3 [Tony Kosten] g7 23.fe1 ad8 24.d7 f6 The black 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ king is well-placed on the dark squares. 25.c4 Once again this idea of playing a favourable 5 b6 26.e3 g6 27.d2 e5 28.a3 d6!? [ Offering a pawn for activity, 28...a5 29.c5 Qb3 Grünfeld where the d7-bishop is is more awkward. ] misplaced. d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 g7 29.c5+! 7.e4 0-0 8.e5! [ 29.xa7 a8 30.xa8 xa8 31.a4 c5 [ This reveals the point of luring the bishop to forces W hite to passively defend his d7, as now black's knight can't retreat to its queenside pawns, his king is currently far n a t u r a l s q u a r e o n d 7 . 8.d4 g4 a w a y f r o m t h e a c t i o n . 32.b5 e8 would transpose to a normal Grünfeld. ] will lead to a drawn rook endgame. ] 8...g4 [ 8...e6?! 9.h4 ( 9.exf6!? xc4 10.fxg7 29...bxc5 30.a6+ e5 31.xa7 e8!
10.e2?! [ Not a very useful square for the queen, 10.b3 c5 11.c2 c6 12.g5 is more testing, as f4 is threatened, and the c2-knight can head for d5 via e3. ] 10...g7 11.f3 e7 12.g5 [ 12.xe5 xe5 13.f4 a5 14.e5 d5 15.d2 0-0-0 is also fine for Black, who can break with ...f6. ] 12...0-0-0 13.d5 d6 14.xe5 xe5 15.f4 d6 Although Black is getting kicked around, he has completed his development and is ready to apply pressure on the central files. 16.c3? [ 16.xf6 xf6 17.d1 g7 18.e3 would allow White to castle, but Black will be happy with his bishop pair. ] 16...g4 [ Good, but 16...xe4! 17.xe4 b4+ 18.f2 de8 is a killer. ] 17.c2 he8 18.e5 Otherwise the pressure on e4 is too great, but now Black hits out: xe5+! 19.fxe5 xe5+ 20.e2 xg5 Black has gained two pawns, and control of the dark squares, for the exchange. 21.0-0? [ This loses by force, but better alternatives a r e f e w , e . g . 21.c1 e5 and White cannot castle. ] 21...d2 22.xg4+ xg4 23.e4 h4 24.h3 d4+ 25.h1 xh3+! [ 25...xh3+ 26.gxh3 h2# ] 0-1
595
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 32.xc7 xd7 33.exd7 d6 34.c6+ xd7 35.xc5 White has managed to achieve a rook and pawn ending with a solid extra pawn, but the respective activity of the kings allows Black to draw. c8 36.b5 b8 37.xb8 xb8 38.d4 b1+ 39.h2 b2 40.g3 e2 41.a4 h5 42.b4 d6 43.a5 h4+ 44.h2 [ 44.g4 xf2 45.xg5 xg2+ 46.xh4 xd5 might even favour Black, as the white king is cut-off. ] 44...xf2 45.xe4 a2 46.e6+ [ 46.a6 xd5 47.xe7 xa6 48.g7 a4 49.xg5+ e6 is a simple draw. ] 46...xd5 47.g6 xa5 48.xg5+ e5 49.g4 a1 50.xh4 e4 51.g3 f1 52.h8 e3 53.e8 d4 54.h4 [ 54.h4 following d3 Black will queen the epawn, but the white king and h-pawn will be far up the board. ] ½-½
595 Gonda,Laszlo Rajlich,Vasik G FSGM April Budapest HUN (4) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2482 2459 06.04.2010
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ d7 6.h4 c6 7.d4 This series of queen moves looks very odd, but Black's defensive moves don't gain much time and he has to play some moves that are not very thematic in Gruenfeld like structures. f6 8.e3 g7 9.e2 e5 10.c4 d6 11.d4 d7 12.0-0 f5 13.b5 [ Vladimir Kramnik's choice in this position was 13.b3 when e4 14.d2 a5 15.a4 h5 16.b5 e7 17.c4 was a bit better for him in Kramnik, V (2710)-Gurevich, I (2575)/Biel 1993. ] 13...xb5 This seems to be new it avoids a loss of time by moving the queen back. [ Previous games have featured 13...e7 when 14.dxe5 xe5 15.xe5 xe5 16.d4 xd4 17.xd4 f6 18.xf6 xf6 19.d1 was slightly better for White in Do nc he v, D (2 4 55 ) -G h in da , M (24 80 )/ Bratislava 1983. ] 14.xb5 0-0-0 15.dxe5 xe5 16.d1 c6
17.b3 f6 18.d4 White seems a bit bett er here be cau se h is kin g is sa f er. h5 19.d2 g4 [ 19...b8 was better, trying to safeguard his monarch. ] 20.e1 [ White was probably scared of playing 20.h3 because of e5 21.hxg4 hxg4 22.g3 e4 , but he can also play 22.Ba6!? which seems very strong. ] 20...e5 [ 20...d6 seems better, helping cover the queenside. ] 21.g3 h4 22.xc6!? [ Interesting, but 22.a6! bxa6 23.xc6 wi t h f o l lo w- u p s s u c h a s 2 4 . R a c 1 wa s probably very strong. ] 22...bxc6 23.a6+ d7 24.c3 b8? This is just bad. [ Black should play 24...e4! when 25.b7+ e6 26.xc6+ e7 27.c5+ e6 gives him a draw but nothing more, the point being that 28.xg7? hxg3 would give Black a winning attack. ] 25.xb8 xb8 26.xg7 White is just a pawn up now with a powerful pair of bishops. hxg3 27.hxg3 h3 28.e2 h7 29.d4 e6 30.ac1 c8 31.e4! b6 32.a4! e5 [ 32...xa4 33.c4+ Double attack ] 33.f4 ed7 34.a5 a8 35.xa7 c5 36.c4+ e7 37.b5 e6 38.exf5+ gxf5 39.xd7 xd7 40.e1+ f6 41.xd7 c7 42.e6+ g7 43.a6 xd7 44.b8 1-0
596 Grinev,Valeriy Schukin,Igor ch Kiev UKR (3) [Tony Kosten]
A16
18.01.2004
1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 g6 5.g2 xc3 6.bxc3 g7 7.b1 0-0?! A surprisingly common mistake. [ 7...d7 i s b e s t , t h e n 8.f3 ( and not 8.xb7? xb7 9.xb7 b6 trapping the rook ) 8...0-0 9.0-0 is slightly better for White, with his big centre. ] 8.xb7 The unexpected point, [ 8.xb7?? xb7 9.xb7 d5 10.xb8 596
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xh1 is a quick way to lose! ] 8...xb7 9.xb7 d7 10.xa8 xa8 11.f3 [ 11.f3 is also possible, avoiding any problems along the diagonal, but it is u n n a t u r a l : c5 12.h3 b8 13.f2 ( 13.a4!? ) 13...c6 14.c2 a6 with counterplay, Bischoff,K-Henni,M/Tunis 1997. ] 11...e5 Black gets to damage the white pawn structure like this, and enjoys a lead in development although this doesn't count for t o o m u c h . . 12.0-0 xf3+ 13.exf3 d5 14.a4!? A new move that works well, but it is far from clear that is an improvement on the older moves: [ 14.a4 xf3 ( 14...e5 15.e4 e6 16.d4 d6 17.h6 b8 Scheuer,JThuesen,M/Hillerod 1980, and now 18.b1! looks good; 14...a5 15.g2 b8 16.d4 and although W hite's extra pawn is devalued, it is still a pawn! Vaulin,A-Honos, A/Budapest 1990) 15.d7 f6 16.xc7 h5 17.h4 g4 with some counterplay, Cekro,ELytchak,B/ GER 1999. ] [ 14.e2 f6 ( 14...xa2 15.xe7 ) 15.d4 c5 16.dxc5 xc5 17.c4 c8 18.h6 xc4 19.xc4 ( 19.c1!? e6 20.xe6 xc1+ 21.xc1 fxe6 should be drawn) 19...xc4 20.b1 c8 21.b7 a8 22.f1 with active pieces, Smejkal,J-Grimm,S/Porz 1992. ] 14...d8 15.e2 e5 16.g2 h6!? The start of Black's downfall, the bishop is b e t t e r d e f e n d i n g e 5 . 17.e1 f6? This weakness proves fatal, a good player would admit his mistake and return the bishop by [ 17...g7 he can't capture on d2 anyway. ] 18.a6 [ 18.d4! has its points: xc1 19.xc1 exd4 20.cxd4 attacks c7 with advantage. ] 18...a8?! This is based on a tactic that doesn't work. [ 18...d6! 19.xa7 c6 regains a pawn with some chances. ] 19.xf6 f8?! The white queen can't move because of f3, but he has seen a powerful retort. 20.xe5! 1-0
597 Grivas,Efstratios Liakos,Dimitris GRE-CupT Athens (1) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2498 2065 15.06.2008
1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.f3 g6 5.a4+!? c6!? 6.d4 [ 6.xd5 seems to be a simpler and more economical choice, my preference being for W hite because of his central pawn majority. ] 6...f6 7.e4 e5! [ 7...xc3? 8.xc3! e5 is difficult for Black after 9.c4 because he'll have trouble getting his king to safety and meanwhile White can open it up with d2-d4. ] 8.xe5!? xc3! The only good reply. [ Both 8...e7 9.xd5 cxd5 ( 9...fxe5 10.xe7 exd4 11.xc8 d7 12.xa7 xa7 13.a3 ) 10.b5+ d7 11.xd7 xd7 12.xd5 ] [ and 8...b4 9.xd8+ xd8 10.f7+ e8 11.xh8 c2+ 12.d1 xa1 13.b3 g7 ( 13...e6 14.c4 ) 14.xg6 hxg6 15.b2 xb3 16.axb3 are good for White. ] 9.xc3 e7 10.f3! xe4+ 11.e2 [ Rybka's novelty is 11.d1!? but is it really that great? I think Black can defend himself with d7 12.c4 d8! when 13.e1 g4 14.e6?! ( 14.g3 c7 is fine for Black) 14...xg2 15.d4 d6 is unconvincing. ] 11...g7? [ Black should play 11...d7! when 12.0-0 b4 13.e3 ( 13.b3 can be answered by c5 14.d1 d3 ) 13...xe3 14.dxe3 b6 15.d1 e6 16.a3 e7 17.d4 c4 18.xc4 xc4 19.b3 b6 20.e4 f7 21.e3 was just a tiny bit better for White in Franco Ocampos, Z-Krupkova, P/ Montecatini Terme 1998. ] [ On the other hand 11...e7? is strongly met by 12.0-0! when xe2 13.e1 b5 14.xf6 would win on the spot. ] 12.0-0! 0-0 13.e1 [ After 13.c4+ h8 14.e1 Black can hang on with f4! 15.d4 d6 . ] 13...h8 14.d4 d7 15.c4 f5?! [ 15...g4 was another try, though White c a n t h e n p l a y 16.b3 followed by 17.Ba3 which seems to win the exchange. ] 597
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.e6 b5 17.a4! b6 18.f4?! [ 18.h4! threatening 19.Nxg6+ would have been very strong, for example e5 19.xe5 fxe5 20.xg6+ hxg6 21.h3+ leads to mate. ] 18...d8 19.a5 [ Once again missing the deadly 19.h4! threatening 20. Nxg6+. ] 19...e5 [ 19...e8 might have been a bit tougher but even so White's lead in development gives him a winning advantage. A sample line is 20.a2 xe1+ 21.xe1 f8 22.b4 b6 23.c4+- threatening mate on g8. ] 20.xe5 xe6 [ Or 20...fxe5 21.xe5 xe5 ( 21...xe6 22.xg7+ xg7 23.xe6 ) 22.xe5 f6 23.e3+- with a good pawn up. ] 21.xg6+ hxg6 22.xe6 e8 [ 22...d7 23.d6 would not have helped Black much. ] 23.a6! xe6 24.h3+ 1-0
15...e7 16.c2 ( 16.g5 is worth considering here too) 16...e5 17.g5 e7 18.b3 g7 19.d2 d5 20.c5 h6 21.a3 h7 22.b4 d7 and Black was starting to get control of the position in Fressinet, L-Howell, D/Germany 2010. ] 15.g5 This seems to be new, though whether or not it was a 'prepared novelty' or just over the board improvisation is not clear. [ An earlier game featured 15.g5 f6 16.h6 c6 17.e3 f5 18.g5 dxe3 19.fxe3 c7 20.c5 d6 21.h1 f6 22.e4 xg5 23.xg5 e7! with approximate equality - Arkhipov, S-Leko, P/Nettetal 1992. To me the position after 14.Ne4 just looks like a tough middlegame in which both sides have their chances and there are many possibilities. ] 15...c6 16.fe1 a5 17.c5 e7 18.e4 f6 19.h4 f5 20.f4 g7 21.a3 e6 22.b4 axb4 23.axb4 d5 24.b5 h8 25.bxc6 bxc6 26.b1 f8 27.c2 e7 28.cb2 a5?! White is better in the endgame, though admittedly it proves difficult to win. [ Black should probably have kept queens on 598 A16 with 28...d7 when 29.b7 e6 would leave Black with an OK position. ] Huebner,Robert 2598 Kulaots,Kaido 2592 29.xa5 xa5 30.h3 a7 After contracting TCh-FIN 2010-11 (7.1) 13.02.2011 doubled f-pawns the position starts to look really nightmarish for Black. [Nigel Davies] [ As Black I'd try to avoid any further weakening by playing 30...e6 . ] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.f3 g6 5.g3 g7 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 b6 8.d3 31.xf5 gxf5 32.d6 xd6 33.xd6 a2 34.xa2 xa2 35.b2 a8 36.f3 d5 c6 9.e3 e5 [ Black can also try 9...h6 10.c1 h7 37.b4 h5 38.xd4 g7 39.b4 a7 followed by ... e7-e5, but does he really 40.b6 a2 41.e4 [ I'm rather loathe to criticize the endgame need to prevent an incursion on g5? play of someone as strong as Huebner, but Probably not. ] surely it must be better to improve the king 10.d2 e8 On the other hand it seems quite with 41.f2 rather than have his king important for Black to avoid the exchange of confined to the first rank. ] dark square bishops. [ After 10...d4 11.h6 e8 12.xg7 41...fxe4 42.fxe4 e6 43.xc6 h3 44.e5 xg7 13.b4! c6 14.xd4 exd4 15.e4 fxe5 45.xe5+ f7 46.d4 g2+ 47.h1 d5 16.b2 White was better in d2 48.h6 g4 49.g1 e7 50.f1 d7 Romanishin, O-Whiteley, A/Hastings 1976/ 51.g6 f3 52.f6 g4 53.b6 f3 54.b4 g4 55.f4 d3 56.f2 f3+ 77. ] 11.h6 h8 12.ac1 d4 13.xd4 exd4 57.e1 d3 58.e5 e6 59.f2 f3+ 60.g2 d3 61.b2 d5 62.f2 14.e4 d5 Not the only move. [ 14...c6 also makes sense here, for ½-½ example 15.fe1 ( 15.g5 f6 16.h6 d5 wo u ld tra ns p ose in t o 1 4. . .Nd 5 1 5. B g5) 598
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 599 Ibraev,Nurlan Gupta,Abhijeet 12th Dubai Open (9) [Nigel Davies]
A16 600 2405 Ibragimov,Ildar 2560 Odeev,Handszar 13.04.2010 Open Dubai UAE (3) [Tony Kosten]
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ d7 6.c2 [ T h i s s h o w s a t l e a s t t h a t 6.d4 is not W hite's only move, though I'm not sure he should avoid it. ] 6...b4 7.b3 c5 8.a3 e6 9.a4+ d7 10.d1 [ 10.b3 e6 could already be a way for the players to take an early bath. ] 10...4c6 11.e3 g7 12.d4? White hasn't played this way before but it seems quite dubious after Black's reply. [ When Karpov got this position as White he played 12.e2 after which 0-0 13.0-0 e5 14.b1 f5 15.d3 c4 16.e4 cxd3 17.xd3 e6 18.d5 d4 19.xd4 exd4 20.b5 left him with an edge in Karpov, A (2725)Bacrot, E (2555)/Cap d'Agde 1998. ] 12...e6! I think White must have missed this unpleasant reply. He tries to make the best of it with a dubious pawn sacrifice. 13.g5 [ 13.d5? just loses a pawn after xc3+ ] [ whilst 13.dxc5 leads to a horrific endgame after xd1+ 14.xd1 d7 followed by 15... Nxc5. ] 13...cxd4 14.xe6 fxe6 15.exd4 xd4 16.c4 bc6 17.0-0 0-0 18.e3 h8 19.c1 d6 It's not so much the pawn down that's the problem for White here but rather Black's superb grip on the d4 square. Of course it might not be easy to win for Black because the extra pawn is crippled. 20.a2 ad8 21.h1 e5 22.g4 f5 23.h4 f6 24.h6 a5 25.h3 f5 26.h6 g7 27.h4 e5 Black has had enough of repeating moves and he is rewarded with a mistake. 28.h6? f5 29.xg7+ xg7 W ith W hite's bishop pair gone Black gets a c c e s s t o s qu a re s li ke d 2 wit h h is ro o k . 30.c4 d2 31.ce1? A blunder in a bad position. xf2! 32.g1 d4 33.xe6 h4 34.e4 fd4 0-1
A16 2611 2425 30.04.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 g7 4.e4 This move order is used to allow the King's Indian Defence, whilst avoiding the Grünfeld. e5!? Black clearly doesn't want to allow a main line KI, and prefers this interesting sideline. 5.xe5 [ Critical, 5.d4 exd4 6.xd4 0-0 allows Black to play a K.I. position with a tempo more, he will continue with ...Re8, ... c6, and ...d5 in one go, without having to play ...d6, first. ] 5...xe4 6.xe4 xe5 7.d4 [ 7.g3 brought White a quick success after e7!? 8.d4 g7 9.g2 f5!? 10.g5 e6 11.0-0! in Epishin,V-David,A/Montpellier Masters (2) 1998. ] 7...g7 8.g5 f6 9.e3 0-0 10.c3 [ Sensible, the knight moves to a safer spot, 10.e2 provoked the advance of the f-pawn, f5 11.g5 e8 12.c3 d6 13.0-0 f7 14.e1 c6 15.d5 e5 with chances to both sides, Acebal Muniz, A-De la Villa Garcia,J/Cala Galdana ESP 1999. ] 10...f5!? [ An innovation, opening the dark-squared diagonal immediately, in Timman,J-Aronian, L/Las Vegas USA 1999, Black deferred this by 10...c6 11.d5 e7 12.d3 d6 13.0-0 f5 14.f4 h6 15.c1 f5 but White had the better position. ] 11.d2 c6 12.g3 [ 12.d5!? e5 13.d6 seems more critical. ] 12...d6 13.g2 f4! A fine positional offer of a pawn. 14.gxf4 [ 14.xf4 e8+ 15.e3 xd4 is equal. ] 14...g4 15.h3 h5 The idea is to stop White from castling long. 16.e4 h4 17.d5 e7 18.f5!? Before the knight can settle here. xf5 19.g5 h6 Forced, but adequate. 20.0-0 xg5 21.xg5 ae8 22.f4 h6 23.xh4 xh4 24.ae1 The endgame has been reached, and although W hite has more space, he is somewhat hampered by his weak kingside pawns. g7 25.c5 f5 26.b4 d8 27.c3 599
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f7 28.h2 df8 29.e4 a6 30.f2 h4 counterplay and thereby avoid the pressure 31.f1?! A risky idea that pins the f4-pawn, p l a y W h i t e i n t e n d s a g a i n s t t h e b l a c k and allows Black to win it. g5 32.e2 g6 queenside. 8.f3 33.c4 gxf4 [ White has tried several other things in this [ 33...xf4 is met by 34.cxf4 xf4 35.xf4 p o s i t i o n : A ) 8.c2 can actually lead to a gxf4 36.c6 creating serious counterplay on transposition to our main game it has been the queenside. ] used m>Gurevich on a couple of occasions. 34.g4 f3 0-0 9.f3 ( 9.d3 is also playable, but less [ After this White regains a pawn, although critical, e.g. d7 10.f3 b6 11.f4 b7 remains worse, 34...d3!? is an alternative, 12.0-0 a5 13.e4 c5 14.bc1 ac8 35.d4 h7 36.c4 as now g6 is free for 15.e2 a6 16.fd1 fd8 with a pleasant the knight, g6 coming to e5. ] game for Black, Gurevich, M-Sutovsky, E/ 35.cxd6 cxd6 36.e6 f4 37.c7+ f6 Essen 2001) 9...b6 10.0-0 b7 11.d4!? 38.xb7 e5 39.b5 axb5 40.xb5 c4 a5 12.e4 d7!? ( 12...c5 Black has a healthy initiative. 41.d1 f4 would transpose to our main game) 13.f4 [ 41...c1 is tricky, as after 42.b2 , g2 fd8 14.fe1 c5 15.d5 c4 16.bd1 e5!? menaces ...Ne3. ] 17.g5 f6 18.f1! 42.fb2 a8 43.5b4 a4 44.a3 axb4 A) 18...b5 19.xc4 fxg5!? ( 19...bxc4 45.xb4 xb4 46.axb4 c2 47.f2 a4 20.e3 /\21.Nd2 - Gurevich) 20.f1 h6 The exchange of rooks hasn't helped White's is given as unclear by Gurevich, while my position much, the advanced f3-pawn and computer likes White in this case I agree active king tip the scales heavily in Black's with the computer, Black's bishops are favour. 48.c8 To get his b-pawn moving. both quite awful and White can generate a b5 49.b7 e3 50.c6 fair amount of pressure against Black's [ 50.g1 is slightly better. ] queenside after 21.b1 a6 22.a4; 50...c4?? B) 18...d6 19.e3 with a slightly better [ Overlooking the simple 50...xf2 51.xb5 game for White, though Black's position is f5 which must win, the knight will come to solid and not without counterplay, e3, and either the f-pawn will queen, or Gurevich, M-Sulypa, A/French Team Ch Black will capture the d5-pawn, and his d1999 ] pawn will queen. Note that the white king [ B) 8.h4!? Tyomkin calls this "Perhaps, the is trapped in the corner. ] most annoying move for Black", but I'm not 51.g1 d4 52.b5 xd5 53.g4 c5 sure I agree. However, if Black isn't careful, 54.xd5 xd5 55.xh6 c5 56.f2 xb5 he will soon get in trouble. 57.g4 White will win the f-pawn by force. A) 8...d6 9.f3 ( 9.h5!? has been ½-½ suggested by Tyomkin and is a natural follow-up f or W hite) 9...b6 10.a4 ( 10.d4!? is tricky to deal with, and Black 601 A16 will likely have to hand over his darksquared bishop due to variations like b7 Iljin,Artem 2556 11.a4 ) 10...d7 11.c2 ( 11.a3 d5 Sutovsky,Emil 2630 12.b3!? ) 11...d8 12.d3?! ( 12.h5 ) IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (2) 22.04.2008 12...c5 13.b2 e6 ( 13...a5!? ) [Carsten Hansen] 14.0-0 0-0 15.fc1 h6 ( 15...xa2 16.a1 e6 17.a3 f5 18.g5 1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 g6 - Tyomkin ) 16.a4 g4 17.b3 e5?? 5.g2 xc3 6.bxc3 g7 7.b1 c6 ( Now Black's position falls apart. Instead T h i s i s a f a v o u r i t e o f S u t o vs k y' s i n t h i s o f t h e t e xt m o ve , B l a c k s h o u l d h a v e position. The more common moves are 7... c o n s i d e r e d 17...d6!?; or 17...a5!? Nd7, 7...c6 and 7...0-0. Black's idea behind in both cases with a fuly satisfactory game the text move is to play ... Qd7, ...b6, ...Bb7, for Black ) 18.a3 , and Black is more or ...Na5 and ...c5 with Gruenfeld style 600
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 less lost, Bischoff, K-Sutovsky, E/Ohrid 2001; B) 8...h5 is called "[A] strategical blunder" by Tyomkin in CBM, and indeed it does create some long-term problems for Black. B1) or 9.c4 0-0 10.d3 d4 ( 10...e5!? ) 11.e3 f5 12.b2 e5 13.f3 c6 14.0-0 c7 15.c2 Agdestein, S-Mikhalevski, V/ Port Erin IOM 2003; B2) 9.h3 Tyomkin, D: 'A very logical move - White intends to exploit the weak spots created by h5 ' B2a) 9...0-0 10.a3 e5 11.d3 c6 12.g5 c7 13.0-0 b6 14.b3! a6? ( 14...h6 ) 15.c4 ( 15.e4! more or less wins for White, the main threat being Bxg6, which is awfully difficult to prevent without material loss for Black ) 15...ab8 16.b2 Lo b ro n , E -Mikh a le vski, V / I n t e rn e t 2001; B2b) 9...d7 10.a4! d8 11.xd7+?! ( 11.a3! 0-0 12.0-0 e5 13.g5 as pointed out by Tyomkin, is very difficult for Black and rather ea s y t o pla y f o r W h ite , wh o ha s a small but clear advantage) 11...xd7 12.f4 c6 B2b1) 13.a4! 0-0 ( 13...b6 14.a5 b5 15.d3 - Tyomkin ) 14.a5 Tyomkin; B2b2) 13.a3 b6 14.0-0 c8 15.d4 e6 16.d3 c7 17.fc1 b5= Huzman, A-Tyomkin, D/ Montreal 2005; C) 8...d7 9.a4 ( 9.h5!? is logical and good ) 9...d8 10.c2 ( 10.xd7+ xd7 11.h5 b8 12.a3 ) 10...c6 11.h5 b6 12.f3 b7 13.d3 ( 13.d4!? a5 14.h6 f6 15.e4 ) 13...0-0-0 14.e3 b8 15.f1 h6 16.hxg6 fxg6 17.d2 df8 , and Black is doing well, Taylor, P-Knott, S/West Bromwich ENG 2003; D) 8...h6 D1) 9.c4?! 0-0 10.d3 e5 11.h3 d6 12.a4 d4 Bykhovsky, A-Khmelniker, I/ Givataim ISR 2005; D2) 9.f3 0-0 10.0-0 b6 11.h5 ( 11.c2!? ) 11...gxh5 12.b5 g4 13.h2 d7 14.xg4 hxg4 15.a4
and White has excellent compensation for the pawn, Rasmussen, K-Mikhalevski, V/Saint Vincent 2000; D3) 9.d4 0-0 D3a) 10.f4!? h5 11.f3 d5 12.0-0 ( 12.a4!? intending Rb5 in some v a r i a t i o n s i s w o r t h a t h o u g h t) 12...xa2 13.b3 a4 14.e5 xe5 15.fxe5 d8 ( 15...c6!? 16.g5 f6 is s im p ly b e t t e r f o r B l a c k W h i t e ' s initiative has simply run out) 16.g5 xe5 17.xe7 e8 18.g5 xg3 19.c4 with chances for both sides, Cvetkovic, S-Nikolic, Z/ Vrnjacka Banja 1989; D3b) 10.f3 a5 11.e4 c5 12.0-0 b6 13.e2 cxd4 14.cxd4 g4 15.d5 D3b1) or 15...c8 16.b2 ( 16.f4!? ) 16...c4 17.e3 xa2 18.xg7 xg7 19.e5 e2 20.fe1 c4 21.c3 d2 22.a1 ( 22.xd2 xd2 23.b4 a5 24.xe2 axb4 25.xd2 a1+ 26.f1 ) 22...h7 23.xe2 xe2 24.f1 xe4 25.xc4 Epishin, VLujan, C/San Marino SMR 2006; D3b2) 15...d7 16.b2 xb2 17.xb2 c4 18.d4 Matamoros Franco, C-Seger, R/Predeal ROM 2007 ( 18.c1!? xf3 19.xf3 e5 20.e2 )] [ C) 8.d4 0-0 9.f3 a5 10.d2?! ( 10.0-0 f5 11.b2 c5 ) 10...c5 11.e3 f5 12.b2 e5 , and Black has already taken over the control of the game, Chernin, O-Mikhalevski, V/Philadelphia USA 2004 ] [ D) 8.b2 0-0 9.d3 e5 ( 9...e5!? ) 10.c4 c5 11.d2 f5?! ( 11...b8 12.f4 g4 13.xg7 xg7 14.f3 f6 ) 12.xe5 xe5 13.f3 g7 14.xb7 b8 15.xb8 xb8 16.0-0 , and Black has inadequate co m p e n sa t io n f o r t h e sa crif ice d p a wn , Kotsur, P-Al Modiahki, M/Aden 2002 ] [ E) 8.a4 0-0 9.h4 ( 9.xc6?! bxc6 10.xc6 e6 11.a4 d5 12.f3 xa2 13.xa2 xa2 , and Black is in charge of the game, Ivanov, I-Sarthou, G/FIDE.com 2001; 9.h3!? e5 10.0-0 followed by f2-f4 is an interesting idea for W hite) 9...h6 10.f3 e5 11.0-0 e4 12.e1 ( 12.xe4?? f5-+ ) 12...e8 13.d3 xc3 14.xh6 d4 601
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.dxe4 xe2+ 16.h2 f6 17.d1 e7 with the better chances for Black, Cebalo, M-Nikolic, Z/ Novi Sad 1985 ] 8...0-0 [ 8...d7?! at this point is premature, e.g. 9.d4 b6 10.f4 b7 11.e5!? xe5 12.xe5 xe5 13.xb7 , and White is clearly better, Heberla, B-Ris, R/Plovdiv BUL 2008 ] 9.c2 [ A major alternative is the immediate 9.0-0 , and now A) or 9...a5 10.c2 c5 A1) 11.d3 c7 12.c4 c6 13.b2 e5 14.d2 f5 15.a3 d7 16.e3 b6 17.f4 ae8 18.be1 Mirzoev, A-Lujan, C/ Balaguer ESP 2006; A2) 11.g5!? h6 ( 11...g4 12.d3 c7!? ) 12.e4 f5 13.c4 b6 14.d3 c6 15.f6+ exf6 16.xc6 h3 17.e1 c8 18.d5 , and White is slightly better, Milos, G-Lujan, C/Sao Paulo BRA 2005; A3) 11.d1 d7 12.d3 e8 13.e1 a4 14.b2 c8 15.e3 d7 16.a3 b6 17.c4 c6 18.d2 xf3 19.xf3 xc4 20.dxc4 xd2 21.xa7 f6 22.ed1 c2 23.dc1 1-0 Kotsur, PKorniushin, N/Tomsk 2001; B) 9...e5 10.a3 e4?! , Drasko, MNikolic, Z/JUG 1989, and now ( 10...e8!?= ) 11.d4! e8 12.xc6 bxc6 13.d4; C) 9...b6 C1) 10.d4 xd4 11.cxd4 b8 12.d5 b7 ( Black can possibly improve with 12...e6!? 13.dxe6 xe6 14.c2 c5 , and I prefer Black's position) 13.b3 d7 14.d3 fd8 15.f4 bc8 16.fc1 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xc7 xb3 19.axb3 d7 20.f4 xc1+ ( 20...dd8!? ) 21.xc1 f5 , and the chances are more or less even, Gurevich, M-Konopka, M/ AUT 2002; C2) 10.c4 b8 11.d3 b7 12.a4 d7 13.e3 fd8 14.fc1 d4 15.xd7 xd7 16.xd4 xd4 17.xb7 xe3 18.fxe3 xb7 19.c5 b8 , and though White has the initiative in the endgame, Black should be able to defend, Berkovich, M-Dragojlovic, A/
Moscow 1990; C3) 10.d3 a5 ( 10...b7 11.f4 a5 12.d2 c5 13.h4 c4 with a satisfactory game for Black, Thompson, I-Knott, S/ Nottingham ENG 2005) 11.c4 c5 12.d2 c6 13.a4 d7 14.b3 g4 15.a4 d7 16.fe1 , and here a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Gulko, BM i k h a l e vs k i , V / C o p e n h a g e n 2 0 0 0 , though Black has every reason to be satisfied with the outcome of the opening. ] 9...b6 10.0-0 b7 11.d4 a5 12.e4 c5!? This is an interesting new idea, the background for which is illustrated in this game. Previously Black had played 12...Qd7 as seen in Gurevich-Sulypa in the first note to this game. 13.dxc5 c7! [ Black sacrifices a pawn for active piece play and pressure against W hite's queenside pawns. 13...bxc5?! 14.e3 ] 14.cxb6 axb6 15.g5 [ 15.d1!? ] 15...c4 16.b4 a3 17.d4 [ 17.b3= ] 17...d6 18.d2?! [ 18.e2?! fa8 19.a1 b5 ] [ 18.fb1!? xc3 19.e2 c5= ] 18...e5 19.b3 fa8 20.a1 f8 21.c1 3a6 22.d2 b5 [ 22...e8!? 23.bb1 a4! 24.c4 c5 leaves Black with excellent compensation for the pawn ] 23.f3?! [ 23.a3 c6 24.f1 is somewhat passive, but also solid the chances are more or less even. ] 23...a4 24.xa4 xa4 25.xe5 [ 25.d2!? ] 25...xe4 26.xe4 [ 26.d3 xg2 27.xg2 c6+ 28.g1 g7 , and Black's active pieces more than compensate for the pawn. ] 26...xe4 27.f4 g7 28.e1!? xc3 29.xc3 xc3 30.d7?! [ 30.c6! h5 31.e8+ h7 32.e7 xa2 33.e5 xe5 34.xe5 g8 35.xf7 , and White has decent chances of saving the endgame. ] 30...e4 [ 30...f5 31.e7 e4 32.e5 xe5 602
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 33.xe5 xa2 34.f4 will be difficult for Black to win on account of W hite's active pieces and the location of Black's king. ] 31.xe4 xe4 32.b6?! [ 32.f1!? c3 33.a3 f5 34.e3 f7 ] 32...c3 33.a3 d4 [ 33...e2+ 34.f1 xf4 35.gxf4 f8 36.a4 bxa4 37.xa4 d6 will also leave Black a pawn up, but winning the ensuing endgame will be quite difficult. ] 34.e3 xe3 35.fxe3 Thanks to White's weaker pawn structure and Black's somewhat better placed knight, Black has decent winning chances. However, W hite makes several big mistakes, making Black's job significantly easier. f5 36.f1? [ White has to play more aggressively, e.g. 36.f2 f7 37.e4! fxe4 38.e3 e6 39.d4 b1 40.a4 bxa4 41.xa4 f5 42.h3 h5 43.c5 d2 , and it is by no means certain that Black will convert his pawn advantage to a win. ] 36...f7 37.e1 e6 38.d2 b1+ 39.c2 xa3+ 40.b3 b1 41.c2 a3+ 42.b3 b4! 43.a4 d5 44.xb4? [ This loses a second pawn. White should have tried 44.b6+!? after which Black still wins, but at least it seems a little more complicated, e.g. c6 ( 44...e4 45.d7 xe3 46.f8 b1 47.xh7 d2+ 48.xb4 isn't clear) 45.a4 b5 46.b2 b1 47.c4 c5 48.h4 c3 49.e5 d5 50.c4 ( 50.g4 xe3 51.gxf5 xf5 52.d7+ b5 ) 50...h6 51.e5 xe3 52.xg6 f1 , and Black wins another pawn. ] 44...c2+ 45.c3 xe3 46.d3 f1 and Black picks up a second pawn, which caused White to resign, though he could have played on due to the limited material left on the board. 0-1
602 Ionov,Sergey Klimov,Sergey 78th ch-City (3) [John Watson]
A16 2527 2509 19.03.2005
W hite plays the Anti-Gruenfeld line that is often resorted to by 1.c4 players. I'm not sure that Black has found his best path here. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 [ I like this order better than 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 , which has been seen in several ChessPub games. ] 4...xd5 5.a4+ d7 6.b3 [ It's also not so easy for Black after 6.h4 xc3 7.dxc3 c6 8.g3! , as Tony analysed in the game Piket-Svidler, Zurich SUI 2001, although I think that he should be okay there. ( Instead, the blindfold contest of a few days ago between stars Vallejo Pons and Ivanchuk went 8.e4 e5 9.g5 e7 10.c4 h5 11.xe7 xe7 12.xe7+ xe7 with approximate equality. )] 6...b6 7.d4 g7 8.g5 0-0 9.e3 White isn't supposed to have much here, but his centre is difficult to crack open. a5!? [ 9...e6 is the most common move, which is not to say the best one. ] 10.e2 e6 11.c2 c6 12.0-0 a4? Logical but time-consuming. He might have tried [ 12...b4 13.b1 h6 14.h4 c6!? , since the knight finds a home after 15.a3 4d5 16.e4?! f4 ] 13.fd1 f5 14.c1 [ Not bad, but White had a straightforward ad va n ta ge b y 14.e4! g4 15.d5 b4 16.d2 a3 17.b3 ] 14...d5 15.h3!? Or [ 15.e5! ] 15...a3 Also slow. [ Probably better was 15...h6 16.h4 xc3 17.xc3 e4 ] 16.xd5! xd5 17.bxa3 a5 18.d5! A nice sacrificial idea that forces the pace since Bxe7 will answer a knight move. xa1 19.xa1 b8 20.xe7?! [ 20.h6 f6 21.d6! is a very strong and more-or-less standard idea. There is no good defence, e. g., cxd6 22.c4+ f7 23.g5! ] 603
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20...e8 21.f6!? Suddenly White's attack is faltering. He could have played [ 21.d6! cxd6 22.xd6 with Nd4 to come. ] 21...d7?! [ 21...xa3! 22.h8 f8 was better. ] 22.h8! There goes his best piece, but White retains an attack. He would also have good pressure after [ 22.b2 with ideas like d6 and in some cases Nd4. ] 22...f6 23.xf6 xf6 24.xf6 xa3 [ White's centre rolls after 24...f8 25.d4 ad8 26.c4 d6 27.e4 ] 25.d6! xa2 26.g5! h6? But the position was lost anyway. Now White finds one of the very few bad moves in the position: 27.d4?? [ Horrible. Among other immediate wins was 27.f3 c6 ( 27...f8 28.e7 ) 28.d5+! . But he gets one more chance to redeem himself: ] 27...a1+? [ T h e r i g h t d e f e n c e w a s 27...b1+ , when W hite doesn't seem to have more than a draw. Even if the opponents weren't in time pressure (which they probably were) these decisions were still difficult ones. ] 28.h2 hxg5 29.c4+ h7 30.dxc7?? Even for a 2500 player it's extremely hard to forget your blunders and settle down. Still winning was the subtle [ 30.d7 ed8 31.e7+! h6 32.f4! ( 32.h4+ gxh4 33.xh4+ g7 34.e7+= ) 32...g4 33.hxg4 xg4 34.g5+ g7 35.f5!! ] 30...a5! That's it. The idea of ...Qe5+ defends in all the critical lines. A tragic loss for W hite, although his opening came out beautifully. Black has a lot of repairs to make in this line. 31.xg5 xc7+ 32.g3 g7 33.f4 f8 34.e4 xc4 35.exf5 c6 36.g4 a1 37.xg6+ xg6 38.xg6+ h7 39.g4 a6 40.g5 b5 0-1
603 Ivanchuk,Vassily Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar Olympiad Bled SLO (8) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2709 2580 02.11.2002
1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 Somewhat rare than [ 4.f3 but quite playable, nonetheless. ] 4...g6 5.g2 b6 6.d3 g7 7.e3 0-0 8.d2 This line was my recommendation in 'The Dynamic English'. c6?! This is thought to be incorrect, and falls-in with White's plan. [ 8...e8 avoids the exchange of darksquared bishops, but brings me good mem orie s - my e xcit in g vict ory agains t Ganguly at Calcutta, 1996. ] 9.xc6! Creating 'doubled singleton' pawns on a n o p e n f ile . bxc6 10.h6 An important follow-up, having given one bishop W hite immediately exchanges the other bishop so that Black cannot enjoy the famous bishop pair. c5 Played to open the h1-a8 diagonal, [ 10...e5 11.xg7 xg7 12.f3 f6 13.0-0 was Saidy,A-Byrne,D/New York 1966, where W h it e m a n a ge d t o e xp l o i t t h e we a k c pawns. ] 11.d1!? A novelty from Ivanchuk has to be taken seriously, although the simple [ 11.xg7 xg7 12.f3 b7 13.e3 was very effective in previous games: c4 14.0-0-0 ( 14.d1 c8? 15.dxc4 wo n a pa wn in S h a m kovich , L -W e b b , S / Hastings 1977) 14...xf3 15.exf3 cxd3 16.xd3 e8 17.h4 c6!? an attempted improvement on ( 17...d8 18.xd8 xd8 19.h5 d5 20.e5+ f6 21.h6+ g8 22.d1 which was crushing in Serper,GAlterman,B/Manila 1992) 18.h5 c4 19.d4+ f6 20.d7 e5 21.xc6 xc6 22.d7 and the superior pawn structure was enough for White (who obviously learnt from the previous game!) in Alterman,B-Roesch, A/Germany 1997. ] 11...b7 12.f3 A different approach, avoiding the capture on f3. d6 13.xg7 xg7 14.e4 The point, regaining the light-squared bishop. xe4 [ 14...e5 15.c1 forces the exchange anyway. ] 15.fxe4 f5!? Black plays aggressively, relying 604
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 on his activity to counter-balance the pawn s t r u c t u r e . 16.exf5 xf5 17.f3 e6 A t t a c k i n g f 3 a n d a 2 . 18.0-0 af8 This is stronger than [ 18...xa2 19.c3+ g8 20.e4 f6 21.a1 e6 22.xc5 ] 19.g2!? White could also try [ 19.b3! d5 20.g5 which seems like a p l e a s a n t p l u s b e ca u s e o f h i s s u p e r i o r pawn formation. ] 19...xa2 20.a1 f7 21.xa7 Regaining the pawn, but allowing Black to generate an initiative on the kingside. g5!? 22.aa1?! Probably due to shortage of time, which was e n d e m i c a t t h i s O l ym p i a d , W h i t e c o u l d maintain the advantage with [ 22.g4! f4 23.xc7 xg4+ 24.h1 although Black has some play. However, White should certainly avoid ] [ 22.xg5? which loses to a series of checks: f2+ 23.xf2 xf2+ 24.h3 f5+ 25.g4 f1+ 26.g3 f2+ 27.h3 and now f6 and ...Rh6+. ] 22...f6 23.h3 c4 24.g4 b5 Switching to attack the queenside. 25.d4 [ 25.dxc4!? xb2 26.d3 lines-up some nasty threats along the f-file, c5 ( 26...e5? 27.xg5! xg5 28.xf8 xf8 29.a3+ forks b2 and f8) 27.a7 f7 28.d2 c6+ 29.e4 and Black still has problems to solve. ] 25...f4! 26.xf4 xf4 27.a2 h6 28.c1 e4 29.f2 b3 30.d2 f4+ 31.f3 e4 ½-½
604 Jakovenko,D Sutovsky,E 20th TCh-RUS 2013 (3) [Danny Gormally]
A16 2734 2671 09.04.2013
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.b3 b6 6.d4 g7 7.e4 g4 8.b5+ c6 9.g5 0-0 10.e2 xe2 11.xe2 a6 12.h3 h6 13.f3 h5 [ 13...d7 14.h4 A) S a f e r t h a n 14...g5?! which allowed White to launch the kind of long-burning attack which is very difficult to defend over the board 15.xg5! hxg5 16.xg5 fd8
17.h5 e5 18.0-0 f6? ( 18...c7 19.f4! was also extremely dangerous) 19.h7+ f8 20.f4! White has a deadly attack exd4 21.f5 fxg5 22.f6 h8 23.xh8+ f7 24.g7+ e6 25.f7 d6 26.xd4 c7 27.e5+ d6 28.e6+ 1-0 Navara, D (2710)-Ris, R (2407)/Reykjavik 2013/ CB08 2013; B) 14...h5! 15.h3? ( the more sedate 15.0-0 was more advisable) 15...c5! 16.g4 cxd4 17.gxh5 d3! 18.hxg6 fxg6 19.g5 f6 20.f4 d6 21.g1? c4 22.d5 b4 23.xf6+ xf6 And Black was well on top and went on to win in Fressinet, L (2714)-Sutovsky, E (2687)/Istanbul 2012 ] 14.g1! White is gearing up to an out and out kingside attack, but Sutovsky, himself known for some rather primitive attacking instincts, proves up to the challenge. d7! [ 14...c5 15.g4 cxd4 16.gxh5 is now inviting trouble for Black, with the rook already menacingly posted on the gfile. ] 15.g4 f6 16.g5?! too optimistic. [ 16.gxh5! a5+! ( 16...xh5 17.f4 looks rather dangerous for Black) 17.d2 xh5 18.xh5 xh5 19.0-0-0 fd8 20.e3 with a slight pull in the endgame for White. ] 16...hxg4 17.xg4 c8 18.f3 d8 [ 18...b4! 19.f2 ( 19.e5 h5 20.f4 c2+ 21.f2 xa1 22.xh5 gxh5 23.xh5 f5 rather puts a dent in White's attacking ambitions.) 19...c2 20.b1 d8 21.e5 h5 22.e4 xh3 23.xh3 d7 would have given Black the upper hand in the endgame. ] 19.e5! Now everything is forced and although it looks dangerous for Black, with best play it's just a draw. xg4 20.fxg4 f6 21.h7+ f8 22.xg6 fxg5 23.e6 g8 24.xg5 [ 24.f7+ h7 25.h5+ h6 26.f7+ h8 27.g6= ] 24...d5! 25.f7+ h8 26.h5+ g8 27.f7+ h8 28.h5+ g8 29.f7+ ½-½
605
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 other hand, W hite has the opportunity to A16 send Black to a full count. ] Jakovenko,Dmitrij 2710 Vachier Lagrave,Maxime 2634 21.g5 f5 22.f4? [ I don't know what Jakovenko missed the ETCC Crete GRE (7) 04.11.2007 text move is obviously less accurate than the [Carsten Hansen] more punishing 22.e4 , and now A) 22...f4 23.g3 f6 24.e5 c6 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 ( 24...xe5? 25.xf7 xf7 26.xb4+ xd5 5.a4+ d7 6.b3 b6 7.d4 g7 f8 27.f4++- ) 25.xb4 axb4 26.xf7+ 8.f4 e6 9.a3 c6 h8 27.e6+-; [ 9...0-0 10.e4 was the topic of GelfandB) 22...f6 23.e5 f5 24.g4 d3 Svidler of the October update. ] 25.xb4 axb4 26.xf7+ h8 27.e6 10.e3 0-0 11.b5!? f8 28.f7+ xf7 29.xf7 xe5 [ In the February 2007 update, we discussed 30.xe7 d5 ( 30...d4 31.xb7 ) the game Bu Xiangzhi-Vachier Lagrave, 31.f6+ xf6 32.xf6+ g8 33.d6 Wijk aan Zee B 2007. In that game White , and White should be winning ] continued with 11.e2 a5 12.c5 a4 13.b5 a5 14.c1 d5 15.g3 22...d5 23.xf7 xb3 [ 23...f6 24.xf6 exf6 25.e4 xb3 , and W hite obtained a slight edge, but 26.axb3 d3 27.xf6 xb3 28.c3 ] Vachier Lagrave undoubtedly had prepared a novelty in the event somebody would play 24.axb3 d5 [ 24...f6 25.xf6 exf6 26.e4 transposes this line against him. ] to 23...Bf6 above ] 11...d5 12.g3! [ Jakovenko apparently didn't like giving up 25.e4?! [ White seems to have a better and simpler t h e b i s h o p p a i r wi t h 12.xd5!? xd5 continuation in 25.xg7+ xg7 26.e6+ 13.xc6 xc6 , although White appear to f7 27.c7 ad8 28.xd5 xd5 29.f4 have an initiative after 14.0-0 d7 15.ac1 , and White is a pawn up and clearly better c6 16.g5!? f5 17.e4 g4 18.h3 e2 in the endgame ] 19.fe1 b5 20.f3 , and White has the upper hand. But as we will see, Jakovenko 25...d7 26.f3 a6 27.e5?! [ White has a couple of alternatives: A) aims for and achieves more with the 27.g3 is possibly better xb2 28.h4 chosen continuation ] ( 28.e5 c6 29.e4 d3 is very good for 12...cb4 13.c1 c5?! This aggressive Black ) 28...c6 29.e5 d5 30.e6 approach is quite typical of the Grünfeld, but (a n a t t e m p t t o m u d d l e t h e wa t e rs ) d4 in this case it falls short of achieving its goal 31.d6!? xc5! 32.xc5 cxc5 33.f7 of obtaining active counterplay. c6 34.xh7 , and now Black has to show [ 13...c6 14.e2 a5 15.0-0 b6 16.b3 some extra care if not to throw the with a small, but obvious advantage for advantage away by one inaccurate move: White ] b5 ( 34...f5?! looks perfectly normal, but 14.xd5 xd5 15.0-0 fc8 allows White back in the game with 35.g5 [ 15...xa2 16.xc5 b6 17.cc1 ] c3 36.f4 , and White is doing rather well) 16.c4 d7 17.dxc5 xc4 18.xc4 a5 35.c1!? xb3 36.xc6! b1+ 37.h2 19.b3 d8 20.h4 bxc6 38.xe7 f5 39.f3 , and White is [ 20.e5!? may be even better, e.g. d3 probably at least equal. ] 21.c3 ( 21.d4 xb3 22.axb3 c6 [ B) 27.e3 c2 28.e2 d4 29.e3 23.xg7 xg7 24.dd1 ) 21...xc3 Now Black can keep repeating the moves if 22.xc3 d5 23.a3 d3 24.c2 e5 he wants the draw, or play for the win with 25.xe5 xe5 26.c6 bxc6 27.xc6 ] c6 30.f4 xc5 , and Black has the better 20...e6? chances ] [ 20...c6!? 21.cc1 a4 22.c2 e6 28.e4 xb2 29.g5 e6 , and Black has some, but not entirely full, 27...xe5 compensation for the pawn. Now on the 30.h6 g7 31.xg7 xg7 32.c3 605
606
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ The text move invites a pure rook ending, which leaves Black with plenty of winning chances, but also the draw within reach. My computer gives preference to 32.e3 c2 33.g5 c6 ( 33...xe3? only serves White: 34.xe6+ f6 35.f8 xf1 36.xd7+ e6 37.f8+ f7 38.xf1 xf8 ) 34.e2 d4 35.d2 h6 36.e4 b6 37.cxb6 xb6 38.fd1 e5 ] 32...d3 33.a4 e5 [ can lead to a different type of R vs R e n d ga m e a f t e r 33...d5 34.b6 xc5 35.xd3 xb6 36.e1 e6! 37.f1 xe1+ 38.xe1 b5 39.d7 f7 with excellent winning chances for Black ] 34.h3 xc5 35.b6 d3 36.xd3 xd3 37.d1! Rook endings have a propensity for providing the defender with a certain level of drawing chances, almost no matter how dire the situation appears. Accuracy on the side of the advantage, however, will of course often lead to the desired win. b5 38.xd3 xb6 Black has excellent winning chances in this endgame, but at the same time, W hite also has decent drawing chances. I will not discuss the endgame in detail as this is hardly the forum for this. 39.d5 xb3 40.xa5 b1+ 41.h2 b5 42.g3 b3+ 43.f4 f6 44.a6+ e6 45.b6 g5+ 46.e4 b1 47.g3 b4 48.h4! Eliminating another pair of pawns helps White's defence. gxh4 49.gxh4 b3 [ The tempting 49...h1 50.xb4 xh4+ is unfortunately for Black answered by 51.f4 , and a draw is around the corner. ] 50.b5 b2 With this move Black eliminates his last real winning chances as the rook on b1 cannot leave its post without dropping Black's greatest asset. BY keeping the pawn on b3, Black would leave room for the king to run to b2 and thereby release the rook of its duty. This will likely also lead to a draw, but at least Black is still playing for a win. 51.f3 e5 52.g2 with the king carefully placed, away from any harmful checks, the draw becomes obvious. e4 53.b8 e5 54.b7 d4 55.b8 e5 56.b7 f5 57.b5+ g4 58.b4 f4 59.b8 g4 60.b4 h5 61.b7 h6 62.b4 e1 63.xb2 xh4 64.b8 g5 65.g8+ f6 66.h8 g7 ½-½
606 Jones,G Areshchenko,A TCh-ISL 2012-13 (6.1) [John Bartholomew]
A16 2653 2720 02.03.2013
I was teammates with GM Gawain Jones in the Icelandic league, so I was able to witness the following game first-hand. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 g6 5.g2 b6 6.d3 g7 7.e3 c6 8.xc6+ The main line. White parts with his bishop but obta ins clea r st ruct ural com pens atio n in return. [ Alternatives are 8.d2 ] [ , 8.f3 , ] [ a n d t h e n e w l y f a s h i o n a b l e 8.c1 . Refer to the archives for all of these. ] 8...bxc6 9.d2 h6 [ An alternative is 9...h5 , which was seen in David, A (2598)-Salem, A (2505) Caleta 2 0 1 2 / [ J o h n B a r t h o l o m e w] . T h a t g a m e continued 10.f3 h3!? 11.g5 g2 12.g1 d5 13.c1 0-0 14.ge4 f5!? with unusual, complex play. ] 10.c1!? This is undoubtedly a useful move. White leaves the knight on g1 for a moment, preventing ...Bc8-h3. [ G a wa i n h a d p l a ye d 10.f3 a couple months prior. Af ter h3 11.g1 b8 12.f4 g5 he tried to force the issue with 13.e5!? , when xe5 ( Houdini points out the unusual resource 13...c8! 14.xc6 d7 ) 14.xe5 f6 15.g4 fxe5 16.g3 d4 17.xh3 xg4 18.g3 f4= led to rough equality in Jones, G (2644)Alsina Leal, D (2511) Hastings 2013. ] 10...d5 The most popular reply. The knight was fairly useless on b6, so Black deploys it back to the center. [ R u n n i n g t h e a - p a w n w i t h 10...a5!? deserves attention, as I mentioned in the notes to David - Salem. Black secured great co u n t e rp la y in t h e o n ly ga m e wit h t h i s co nt in u at io n : 11.f3?! ( 11.h4!? ) 11...a4 12.h4 d5 13.xd5 xd5 14.a3 b8 15.d4 a2 Von Bahr, O (2284)-Tikkanen, H (2586) Stockholm 2011. ] 11.f3 White cannot afford to delay this move much longer. [ 11.xd5 xd5 12.f3 xa2 607
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 12...h3!? ) 13.0-0 was Sega, C (2252)Barreto Filho, C (2258) Yerevan 2012. Here the engine claims compensation for White after h3 14.fd1 xb2 15.c2 b5 16.c4 (intending Be3-d4), but I doubt Black would be opposed to such a continuation. ] 11...xe3 [ 11...h3 12.d4! f6 13.xf6!? ( 13.g1!? ) 13...exf6 14.e3+ f8 15.c5+ g8 16.d4 h7 17.xc6 d7 18.f3 he8 19.f2 Ruck, R (2582)-Nedev, T (2514) Yerevan 2001 ] [ Nobody has tried 11...xc3!? , possibly because the exchange sacrifice 12.xc3! is a very real possibility, e.g. xc3 13.xc3 f6 14.xc6+ d7 15.c4 ] 12.xe3 0-0 Apparently a novelty. [ The programmed 12...h3 can be met by 13.e5! , i.e. d6 14.f4 g5 15.f2 f5 16.a4 f6 17.c5 0-0 , Milanovic, D (2507) -Zinchenko, Y (2546) Metz 2010. Here 18.c4! leaves White firmly in control. ] [ P e rh a p s B la ck s h o u ld o p t f o r 12...h5!? , probing on the kingside and menacing ... Bg7-h6. ] 13.0-0 d6 14.d4!? With his king secure, White can proceed in a few different ways. The text further restrains Black's structure and lends support to the attractive outposts on c5 and e5. [ 14.e4 also suggests itself. ] 14...h3 15.fd1 ad8 16.b3 f5!? Black's position is of course strategically suspect, so he must do everything he can do unbalance the struggle. 17.a4 g5 18.d3 f4 19.c5 d5 20.c4 [ 20.e4 looks preferable, avoiding the possibility Black has on the next move. ] 20...d6? A significant error, allowing White to dictate the terms of the queen trade. [ Correct was 20...xc4! , taking advantage of a m om ent ary lack of coordin at ion in White's position. On 21.bxc4 ( the point is that 21.xc4 is met by e5! , setting Black's entire structure in motion and opening lines for the bishops) 21...g4 22.g2 d6!? Black maintains the dynamic balance, as lines like 23.b1 f5 24.b7?! could easily backfire, e.g. g4 25.h4 c2 26.d2 xd4 ]
21.xd5+! xd5 [ Nor is 21...cxd5 22.e5 very appetizing, e. g. f5 23.g4 h7 24.a4 . ] 22.d3 fxg3 23.hxg3 g4 24.b4 xf3 25.exf3 df5? Areshchenko is striving for a c t ive co u n t e r p la y, b u t t h is o n l y m a k e s matters worse. [ He had to try 25...xd4 26.xd4 xd4 27.xc6 e5 , with chances to hold. The r o o k a n d p a w n e n d i n g a f t e r 28.xd4 ( t h e p a t i e n t 28.g2 might have been Gawain's choice) 28...exd4 29.xc7 d8! is not simple at all , e.g. ( not 29...xf3 30.xa7 ) 30.f1 d3 31.e1 e8+ 32.d1 a5 33.a7 e2 34.xa5 xf2 35.a4 xf3 . ] 26.xc6 xf3 27.xe7+ h7 28.d2 No w W h i t e h a s e ve ryt h i n g s e c u r e d a n d remains a pawn to the good. On top of that, B l a c k ' s p a w n w e a k n e s s e s r e m a i n . 8f7 29.c6 h5 30.e5! Simplest. xe5 31.dxe5 e7 32.c6! g7 33.dc2 ff7 [ Or 33...xe5 34.xc7+ f7 35.xf7+ xf7 36.c7++- . ] 34.2c5+- Black cannot hold. f8 35.e6 g7 36.a5 Black resigned. This game is a vivid illustration of the problems Black experiences in the 8.Bxc6+ line. Players who are uncomfortable operating with a shattered pawn structure should definitely avoid this one. If you're keen to take up Black's cause, check the notes to David - Salem and, in the case of 10.Rc1, consider the reply 10...a5!?. 1-0
607 Kekelidze,M Robson,Ray 40th Annual World Open (7) [John Bartholomew]
A16 2494 2601 07.07.2012
Ray Robson is an extremely well-prepared Grandmaster. In this game he demonstrates a ll t h e im p o rt a n t id e a s in t h is qu ie t (b u t venomous) line of the Anti-Grunfeld. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 Ulf Andersson is the most noted practitioner of this "endgame" line. He amassed an impressive score of +5, =5, -0 with it in the period 1978-2009, and there's no doubting 608
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 that he's still searching for victims! xc3 [ 5...b6 transposes to a line of the Grunfeld where White can probably expect a slight edge. Korchnoi tried this against Andersson, b u t h e t o o c a m e t o g r i e f : 6.h3 ( the immediate 6.d4 is more common, but 6.h3 first is fully in keeping with Andersson's risk-averse style!) 6...g7 7.d4 0-0! 8.e2 c6 9.e3 f5 10.exf5 xf5 11.b3+ h8 12.d5 e5 13.d4 c6?! 14.d1 cxd5 15.xf5 xf5 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 c7 18.0-0! c6 19.fd1 xd5 20.xd5 Andersson, U (2635) -Korchnoi, V (2655)/Clermont Ferrand 1989 (1-0 on move 40). ] 6.dxc3 [ Of course White could seek a main-line G ru n f e ld wit h 6.bxc3 , but this isn't in the spirit of 5.e4. ] 6...xd1+ [ Andersson punished another opponent for getting creative: 6...d6?! 7.b3! g7 8.e3 0-0 9.d1 c6 10.c4 a6? ( 10...e6 11.0-0 ) 11.xf7+!+xf7 12.d8+ f8 13.e5 f6 14.xf7 xf7 15.h6 e6 16.xa8! xb3 17.axb3 c5 18.xf8+ xf8 19.xf8 xf8 20.e2 xe4 21.e3 d6 22.g4 e5 23.a1 a6 24.a5 f7 25.e4 e7 26.xe5+ 1-0 Andersson, U (2585)-Kouatly, B (2350)/ La Valetta 1980. ] 7.xd1 Theoretically speaking, the early exchange of queens is not considered dangerous for Black. All the same, he really ought to be aware of some key ideas to avoid n e e d l e s s t o r t u r e . f6 Black does best to immediately establish his pawn on e5. [ 7...d7 is another way of going about this, i.e. 8.f4 ( this eventually loses a tempo, so m a y b e W h i t e s h o u l d p r e f e r 8.e3 , as in our main game,; or 8.c4 ) 8...c6 9.c2 f6 10.d2 e5 11.e3 c5 12.xc5 xc5 13.b4 a4 ( 13...e6!? ) 14.c4 d8!? 15.d6?! ( 15.a5 is st ron ge r) 15...e7! 16.d1 a5 17.b5? d8 18.xc8+ axc8 Gelfand, B (2713)Ivanchuk, V (2702)/Batumi 1999/[TonyK]. ] 8.e3 e5 9.c2 [ Andersson most often began with 9.d2 . Here are a couple of his games, 30 years(!) apart: e6 ( per the strategy outlined in the
m a i n g a m e , I ' d r a t h e r p l a y 9...d7 intending 10...Bf8-c5) 10.c4 xc4 ( 10...f7 11.c2 d7 12.ad1 a5 13.a4 c5 14.xc5 xc5 15.f3 c6 16.xe6+ xe6 17.b3 e7= Andersson, U (2571)Atakisi, U (2393)/Budva MNE 2009 (1-0 on move 68). ) 11.xc4 d7 12.b4 b6 13.a5 (compared to Kekelidze - Robson, this knight is far more pesky on a5) 0-0-0+ 14.c2 e7 15.a3 f5?! 16.xb6!? axb6 17.c4 f6?! 18.a4! g7 19.he1 he8 20.b5 f4 21.a5 Andersson, U (2560) Franco Ocampos, Z (2360)/Buenos Aires 1979 (1-0 on move 42). ] 9...d7 10.d2 c5 Second order of business: exchange the dark-square bishops. The e3 bishop is W hite's best piece, while Black's own bishop is restricted by his e5/ f6 pawns. Thus, Black is quite eager to trade. 11.xc5 xc5 12.b4 [ 12.c4 ] 12...e6!? 13.c4 e7 14.a5 White's knight very often lands here, but Black has a convenient reply. d7! Accurately played. 15.a4 [ 15.xb7?! c6 16.a5 xe4+ 17.b3 ab8 ] 15...b6 16.c4? A positional error which Robson is quick to exploit. [ 16.b3 wa s n e e d e d . T h e n a f t e r a5 ( Black could also play more slowly i.e. 16...hd8= ) 17.bxa5 bxa5 18.c4= White maintains control over the crucial c5 square, and the game is balanced. ] 16...a5! Simultaneously fixing the pawn on a4 and ensuring control of c5. 17.b5 [ Neither does 17.bxa5 bxa5 18.f3 c5 19.b2 ab8 impress. Black has a clear plan of doubling on the b-file, whereupon White will be very tied down. ] 17...c5 18.e3 e6!? 19.c4?! [ For better or for worse, White should p r o b a b l y t r y 19.d5+ xd5 20.exd5 . Now he's just down a clear pawn. ] 19...xe4 20.d5 xf2! Perhaps White underestimated this reply. 21.xa8 [ The neat point is that 21.hf1 is powerfully met by g4!-+ . ] 21...xh1 22.f3 f2 23.f1 e4! 24.xf2 [ or 24.e2 d3 ] 24...exf3 25.xf3 d8-+ Black should win 609
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with decent technique, and Robson is very m u c h u p t o t h e t a s k . 26.g4 h8! A nice switchback. White cannot prevent the kingside from opening up. 27.g3 h5 28.g5 h4 29.g1 fxg5 30.xg5 f6 31.g1 g5 32.d3 d8+ 33.e2 g6 34.c1 g4 35.c4 d4 36.c5 Speeding White's demise, but there was no longer anything left to do. If White had chosen to sit tight (Rc1-c2-c1 etc.), Black could even just walk his king over to the queenside. xa4 37.cxb6 cxb6 38.c6 f7 39.xb6 a2+ 40.d3 xh2 41.b7+ f6 42.h7 f5+ 43.xf5 xf5 44.b6 g3 45.b7 b2 46.xh4 g2 47.h5+ g6 48.h8 xb7 All in all, an exemplary display from Black. This is the sort of line you can play with either color so long as you've done your homework. 0-1
608 Khalifman,Alexander McShane,Luke J ECC Rethymnon GRE (7) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2678 2619 04.10.2003
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 c6 McShane preferred [ 6...g7 against Krasenkow recently, but a similar queen swap occurred anyway, see the July 2003 update. ] 7.d4 g7 8.e4 0-0 9.e5!? e6 10.exf6! xc4 11.fxg7 xg7 12.xc4 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.e2 fd8 Possibly the most logical move, we looked at [ 14...c6 in the Friberg, H-Winge,S game, and ] [ 14...ad8 in the notes. ] 15.0-0 c6 16.e3 b4 17.ab1 d7 18.a3!? Actually a novelty, [ 18.fc1 was seen in Janssen, R-Golod,V/ Vlissingen NED 2000. ] 18...b3 19.e4 W ith a nasty threat. b6 20.d2 Driving the queen away from the b3square. e6 21.c4 Once again improving the white pieces with gain of tempo. [ An unfortunate decision, robbing us of the 'truth' in this line. 21.c4 a f t e r , s a y f5 22.fe1 ad8 23.e4!? both sides have
chances. ] ½-½
609 Kopinski,Tomasz Orzech,Dominik Lasker Mem A [Nigel Davies]
A16
03.06.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c6 3.e4 d5 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.e5 e4 6.xe4 Attempting to refute the gambit by taking it, but Black turns out to have excellent compensation. dxe4 7.a4+ c6 8.b5 [ After 8.xe4 d4 Black gets excellent compensation, for example 9.xd4 xd4 10.d3 d7 ( 10...e6!? ) 11.f3 ( 11.e2 is also possible here. Black should probably reply with xe2 12.xe2 c6 13.f3 e6 14.b3 e7 15.b2 0-0 16.ac1 fd8 with compensation for the pawn.) 11...xf3+ 12.gxf3 0-0-0 13.b3 e6 14.b2 c6 15.e4 b4 16.c3 xc3 17.dxc3 xe4 18.fxe4 d3 19.g1 g6 20.g3 hd8 21.a4 h5 22.e2 d2+ 23.f1 d7 24.a5 e7 was equal and rather drawish in Panchenko, A-Sergeev, V/Kiev 1986. ] 8...d5 [ Simple and strong, though Black may also have a reasonable 8...d7 9.xe4 b6 ] 9.xc6+ xc6 [ 9...bxc6 10.e2 b7 was also pretty strong. ] 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.f3 f5 12.e2 exf3 13.gxf3 d3 Black is clearly better here thanks to his bishop pair and massive bishop on d3. 14.b3 e6 15.b2 e7 16.h4 a5 17.f4 b5 18.a4 a6 19.c1 d7 20.c3 hb8 21.xa5 xb3 22.c3 a3 23.a5 a4 24.g2 c5 25.h5 b8 26.h4 a2 27.g4?! [ 27.e3 might have been a better chance, for example xe3 28.dxe3 e2+ 29.d1 xe3 30.d4+ c7 31.b4 b5 32.f4 with counterplay. ] 27...g6?! [ 27...b3! was stronger. ] 28.hxg6?! [ 28.e3 gxh5 29.g7 was better. ] 28...hxg6 29.h4 g5 30.h7 e7 31.h5? 610
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d3 [ 18.xc5? i s h o p e l e s s : xd5 19.xf8 [ 31...a3!? 32.d1 b3 threatening ... xh3 threatens mate on g2, and wins Rxc3 would have won immediately. White material, ] also allows this concept over the next few [ and 18.c3? is similarly hopeless, a4! ] moves whilst Black misses it, presumably 18...xd3 19.d2 the game being affected by time trouble. ] [ 19.a7!? appeared too risky to me at the 32.f4? g4 33.h6? g3 34.h3 f2+ time, b7 20.xb7 xb7 21.c5 d5 35.d1 e4 and I would prefer to be Black. ] 0-1 19...b7! Black has no time to defend the hpawn because of Rad1, but he has calculated everything. 20.ad1 xg2 21.xg2 d5+ 610 A16 22.h2 e4 Consolidating the knight's Kosten,Anthony C 2502 advanced position. 23.xh6!? Going for the Degraeve,Jean Marc 2536 king, [ 23.f4 c4 24.xd3 is met by fd8 ] tm 1st Monaco-Clichy (6) 1999 23...xh6 24.xh6 xa2 25.e3 c4 [Tony Kosten] 26.f4 bd8 Allowing White to escape with a 1.c4 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 f6 4.c3 0-0 draw, [ 26...xf4?! is dangerous for Black: 27.gxf4! The popular 'King's Indian Defence to the xb4 28.f5 with attack, but ] English'. 5.d3 d6 6.g5 Gurevich's line, [ 26...fd8 would have avoided the White wants to see how Black plays before perpetual. ] committing his central pawns. h6 7.d2 e5 This is no time for false bravery! 8.e4 A Botvinnik set-up is the appropriate 27.h5!? response to this. a6 9.ge2 b5 A pawn offer gxh5 Allowing a perpetual check, [ 27...gxh5 28.g5+ h7 29.xh5+ etc. ] that W hite dare not accept, in fact I didn't [ but, had the match situation been different, even bother to think about the possibility! Black might have been tempted by 27...d6 10.0-0 bd7 11.h3 b8 12.cxb5 axb5 e.g. 28.g5 renewing the threat of 13.b4 This fixes the b5-pawn, and hopes to perpetual, by Nf6-h5+. e3 ( 28...c3!? ) show Black's queenside play to be pointless. 29.fxe3 c2+ 30.g1 f2 31.e5 c6 14.e3 White is already for action, indeed and Black must take a perpetual himself. ] h e t h re a t e n s Q d 2 , a n d t h e n f 4 -5 , wit h a strong attack. d5!! A stunning riposte, I just ½-½ couldn't believe it was possible! [ The original game, Gurevich,M-Nijboer,F/ A16 B r e d a 1 9 9 6 , h a d g o n e r a t h e r m o r e t o 611 White's taste: 14...b7 15.a4!? a change of Kosten,Anthony C 2498 Griffiths,Ryan Rhys 2310 plans. bxa4 16.xa4 d5?! weakens c5, 31.03.2012 17.a7 a8 18.a5! d4?! 19.a4 e8 4NCL 2011-12 (7.34) 20.d2 d6 21.c5 xc5 22.xc5 [Tony Kosten] and White had a clear advantage, the b71.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 g6 bishop is particularly useless. ] 15.exd5 There is no other choice. cxd5 5.g2 b6 6.d3 g7 7.e3 c6 8.f3 [ 15...xd5!? with a likely transposition to I decided to play this over-the-board, trying to take my opponent out of his preparation. the game. ] [ My 'Dynamic English' recommendation was 16.xd5?! Trying to prove black wrong, but in 8.d2 when d4 9.c1 f5 10.c5 0-0 retrospect, 11.f3 is very slightly better for White, but [ 16.d4 m a y b e b e t t e r , e4 17.b3 it's not much, see Reinderman, D-Harika, D with play against d5. ] 16...xd5 17.xd5 c5! The point of in the January 2012 update. ] Black's tactic. 18.g2 The only move, but I 8...0-0 [ 8...e5?! is probably a bit dubious: 9.c5! felt that it must be good. 611
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a5 ( 9...e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.d4 exd4 12.xd4 with a nice plus, although the black position is solid, Sloth, J (2380)-Ogaard, L (2490)/Aarhus 1976.) 10.c1! d7 11.a3 f8 How else to castle? ( Black had hoped to play 11...b4?! but then realised that 12.b5 was awkward.) 12.xf8 xf8 13.d4 g7 14.0-0 xd4 15.xd4 exd4 16.xd4+ f6 Kosten, A (2514)-Fontaine, R ( 2 5 4 6 ) / F r a n c e 2 0 0 9 , w h e n 17.c5 was probably the most accurate move, with some advantage, Rfd1 is coming and the epawn can advance to e5. ] 9.0-0 It was only at this point that the idea to play my intended 'Anti-Reversed Dragon' line came to me, as I reasoned that the black bishop would be misplaced on the a1-h8 diagonal. [ 9.d2 is more common, intending to push the h-pawn: e5 10.h4 ( or 10.h6 ) 10...h5 11.g5 f6 12.e3 e6 13.e4 d5 14.0-0 although I'm not sure White has anything here, Aronian, L (2724)Areshchenko, A (2653)/ Khanty-Mansiysk 2005. ] 9...e5 The most common move here, preparing an outpost for the knight. 10.a4 a5 11.xb6 cxb6 12.d2 [ 12.b5 e6 13.d2 will likely transpose. ] 12...e8 [ 12...e6 is the main alternative, 13.c4 A) 13...f5 Blumenfeld, R-Szabo, L/Haifa/ Tel Aviv 1958, 14.c1; B) 13...e8 14.b5 ( 14.b3 a6 15.e4 e7 16.ac1 d4 17.d1 d7 gave White nothing in Ree, H-Benko, P/ W ijk aan Zee 1970.) 14...f8 15.c1 transposes below.; C) 13...b8 defending the b7-pawn frees the c6-knight. 14.c1 e8 ( 14...h6 15.e3 b4 16.xe5 g7 17.d4 xe5 18.dxe5 d3 19.b1 xe5 20.d5 with the better pawn structure, Korobov, A (2470)-Areshchenko, A (2462)/ Ordzhonikidze 2001.) 15.b5 f8 16.e3 c5 17.e2 e7 18.fd1 bd8 19.h4 h5 20.h2 f6 21.h3 fairly level in Korobov, A (2511)-Areshchenko, A (2470)/ Alushta 2002. ] 13.c4 f8 14.c1 e6
[ 14...b8 15.b3 ( 15.b5 would be my choice. ) 15...c5 16.d5?! e6 17.e4 d4 and now Black is better, Djukic, Z (2370)-Rogers, I (2450)/Nis 1983. ] 15.b3 So far I was playing my moves very fast, and simply following 'the plan', but I don't think this is right, [ 15.b5 first has to be more logical, as it is far from clear that the pawn is best on b3. ] 15...f6 16.b5 b8 A common move in t h e s e p o s i t i o n s , d e f e n d i n g b 7 . 17.e3 Having put my minor pieces on their ideal squares it was time to advance the d-pawn. f5 Hitting d3, but White was going to move this anyway! [ 17...c5 was a sensible option, 18.e2 d7 19.fd1 and White is almost ready to play d4, he must just take care to remove his queen from the vis-à-vis with the e8rook. ] 18.d4 exd4 19.exd4 b4 20.c3 To control d3, now White is ready to push the d-pawn to d6 if given half a chance. d7! An annoying move, Black will capture on b5, int rod ucing op posit e-colo ur bisho ps an d weakening the white formation. 21.bd6!? Probably not a very good move objectively, I just wanted to avoid ...Bxb5 and a likely draw against a lower-rated opponent. [ 21.d5 looks tempting, but xb5 22.axb5 d7 23.d6 xb5 24.d4 can simply be answered by c5! 25.xc5 bxc5 26.xa5 xd6 27.xb7 f8 28.xc5 ec8 and it will be very dif f icu lt to make an y progress. ] [ 21.e3 xe3 ( 21...xb5 22.axb5 d7 23.xe8 xe8 24.f3 f5 25.f4 k e e p s t h e i n i t i a t i v e .) 22.fxe3 f5 is also nothing special. ] 21...xd6 [ 21...e6!? was a worry, trying to trap the knight. I intended to sac the exchange: 22.xb7!? c8 23.xb6 ( 23.d2 xb7 24.d6 xd6! 25.xc8 xc8 26.xb7 xb7 and I like the minor pieces here.) 23...xc3 24.xd7 be8 25.d5 unclear. ] 22.xd6 g4 Forced, but good. 23.xg4 xd6 24.d1 Probably this position is just equal, the d4-pawn is passed, but if I play d5 then the bishop is impeded, and meanwhile the b4-knight is strong. e7 25.c8+ g7 612
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.xb8 xb8 27.h4 Trying to open a front on the kingside. h5! Black plays well. 28.f3 c8!? A little bit risky, as this allows the dpawn to advance. [ I had expected 28...d6 ] 29.d5! I only need to be asked once! g4! 30.xg4 hxg4 31.d6 [ 31.f3! first might be best, gxf3 32.xf3 planning g4, maybe d6, and then Kf2, with some real chances. ] 31...d7 32.f3 gxf3 33.h3 After a long thought. [ 33.xf3 c6 34.xc6!? bxc6 35.g4 f7 36.f2 was possible, hoping for e6? ( but 36...e8 is equal, 37.g3 d8 and the rook is freed.) 37.h5 gxh5 38.gxh5 and Black is losing. ] 33...f5 34.g4 f6! [ 34...fxg4 35.xg4 d8 36.d7 would be most unpleasant. ] 35.gxf5 gxf5 36.f2 c6 37.xf3 e5! Th e m o s t a c c u ra t e , f o rcin g a re p e t it io n . 38.e1+ f6 [ 38...xd6? 39.d1+ e7 40.xd7+ xd7 41.xf5+ e7 42.e3 would be difficult to defend. ] 39.d1 e5 40.e1+ [ I briefly considered 40.e3 but xd6 41.xd6 xd6 42.xf5 e5 43.g4 d4 didn't look very promising, 44.d3 xb3 45.c4 c5 and Black can draw by taking on a4 if he wants - W hite has the wrong rook's pawn. ] ½-½
612 Kosten,Anthony C Noordhoek,Henk P 5th Rohde Open (1) [John Watson]
A16 2507 2118 22.10.2005
1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 c6 This is passive but f airly solid. The main theoretical moves are [ 4...g6 ] [ 4...c5 ] [ and 4...e5 5.g2 b6 ] 5.g2 xc3 6.bxc3 g6 7.f3 g7 8.0-0 0-0 9.a4 To get Ba3 in, or even play with ideas like Qh4.
[ An ot he r ap proa ch is th e mo de s t 9.b1 d7 10.c2 b6 ( 10...e8 11.d3 e5 12.g5 ) 11.c4 Eventually White's central majority will give him the advantage. ] 9...d7 10.a3 e8!? [ More natural looks 10...b6 with the idea of bringing the c8 bishop out and answering 11.h4 by f6 ] 11.ab1 e5 12.d3 The d6 square is beginning to look inviting, with ideas like Nd2e4 or even Ng5-e4 if allowed. b6! 13.c2 e6 14.d2 f5 Black's pieces are coordinating pretty well. 15.c4 c7 16.b4! A star move. The idea of Ba5 makes Black's n e xt a lm o st o b liga t o ry. d7 17.a4!? Back again! This works out well, but [ 17.f3 h6 18.c3 was a sound alternative and probably better. ] 17...ac8! Clearing the long diagonal in preparation for ...b6 or ...b5. [ 17...c5?! 18.a5 b6 19.b3 ] 18.c5!? A good idea but it seems poorly timed. [ 18.f3 was possible, the exotic ] [ 18.a3 c5 19.c3 b6 20.b2 , preparing a4-a5. I still would rather be White in these positions. ] 18...f6?! Finally giving up on the queenside. Black could try [ 18...b6 anyway, or ] [ 18...b5!? , in both cases leading to 19.cxb6 axb6 20.fc1 c5 ( 20...b5!? ) 21.c3= ] 19.fc1 d5 20.e4! Now White is clearly better. e6 Black can test White's idea by [ 20...fxe4 21.dxe4 ( 21.xe4 xe4 22.xe4 xe4 23.dxe4 ) 21...e6 , but either 22.c4 or 22.Ba5 are quite nice for White. ] 21.a5 f7? A positional blunder. The queen might have retreated by [ 21...d7 , when Black is worse but still in the game. ] 22.f3 with the double threats of Nxe5 and Ng5. g4!? 23.g5 f6 24.xe6 xe6 25.exf5 Working on the light squares. [ 25.h3 and ] [ 25.xb7 fxe4 26.f1 are other very strong moves. ] 25...xf5 [ 25...gxf5 26.h3 h6 27.xb7 ] 26.f1! h5 It's pretty resignable whatever 613
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black does, so why not threaten mate and see i f T o n y i s d r e a m i n g a b o u t l u n c h ? 27.h4 Bh3 is an unstoppable threat. ce8 28.h3 e4 29.d1 1-0
613 Kosten,Anthony C Schwarz,Michael TCh-2003-4 Graz AUT (3) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2540 2409 30.11.2003
1.c4 g6 2.c3 g7 3.g3 f6 4.g2 0-0 5.f3 c6 An unexpected reply. 6.e4!? I searched for an alternative to [ 6.0-0 d5 which leads to a fairly boring symmetric line of the Fianchetto King's Indian: 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.d4 c6 9.e5 ] 6...d5 The critical reply, although KI players might prefer [ 6...d6 7.d4 bd7 which is a mainline Fia n c h e t t o V a ria t io n , a s in S o ro kin , M Chuprov, D/Novgorod RUS 1999. ] 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.e5 [ 8.exd5 xd5 9.d4 c6 10.0-0 e6 is fine for Black, El Ghazali,Y-Neverov,V/ Tanta 1997. ] 8...e4 9.0-0 c6 10.d4 g4 The most logical move, Black brings this piece out before playing ... e6 with a solid light-squared structure. [ 10...e6 keeps the bishop pair, 11.e2 f6 12.f4 d7 ( 12...g4!? has its points) 13.exf6 exf6 14.e3 fe8 15.d2 f7 looks fairly equal, Vijayalakshimi,S-Lalic,B/ Goodricke Open, Calcutta IND 2000. ] [ 10...xc3 11.bxc3 g4 12.h3 Transposes. ] 11.h3 xf3 12.xf3 xc3 Creating a backward pawn on an open file. 13.bxc3 e6 The evident follow-up, although it appears to be a novelty. [ 13...a5 14.b1 d7 15.e2 c4?! shows why ...e6 is wise: 16.e6! xe6 ( 16...fxe6 17.g4 wins an exchange) 17.xb7 xe2 18.xe2 e5! Rahimbekov,SBurschowsky,M/ Oropesa del Mar ESP 1998, and now 19.dxe5 xe5 20.b5 is good for White whose bishops dominate. ] [ 13...d7 is sim ila r : 14.h4!? very direct,
fc8 15.h5 a5 16.g2!? b6? ( 16...xc3 17.hxg6 hxg6 18.e1 ac8 19.d2 xf3 20.xf3 c4 is not too clear) 17.hxg6 fxg6 18.e6! d8 19.d2 c6 20.g5 xc3 21.h1 led to a winning white attack in Bukal, V-Duric,S/ Bjelovar 1979. ] 14.h4 As in the above note White cannot hang around as his queenside position is compromised - he plays to use his kingside space to inaugurate an attack. c7 15.g5 a5 16.c1 c4 17.g2 This is not necessary, I should have avoided this to save a move for the attack. ac8 18.d3 [ 18.h5 is not so good: h6 19.f4 g5 and the attack is stymied. ] 18...h6 19.f4 e7 Black defends against possible sacs on g5. 20.c2 Freeing c1 for the bishop. c6 21.h5 g5 22.c1 fc8 Both sides play on 'their' side of the board. 23.e2 a3 This was accompanied by a draw offer, but after a little thought decided that I could play on without great risk. 24.xa3 xa3 25.fc1 a6 This is a little slow, I had expected [ 25...f8 26.f4 a5 intending ...Ba3, but then 27.f5 ( 27.fxg5 is also good) 27...a3 28.b1! ( 28.fxe6!? xc1 29.exf7+ f8 30.h7! is also strong) 28...xc3?! 29.b5! and wins. ] 26.f4 gxf4 27.gxf4 b5 Black is menacing ... b4 in certain lines, but White's attack is more pertinent. 28.f5 exf5 [ 28...b4 29.cxb4 xc1 30.xc1 xc1 gains two rooks for the queen, but 31.fxe6 fxe6 32.xa6 hits e6 and wins easily. ] 29.f3 The point. d8 30.h1 This was my plan, to use the open g-file for the final attack, but I considered [ 30.xd5!? long and hard: xd5 31.f3 r e g a i n s t h e e x c h a n g e , b u t a f t e r cc5! 32.dxc5 xc5 The white position is open. ] 30...b4 Perhaps it was time to consider helping the kingside defence by, say [ 30...f6 ] 31.g1 xc3 32.xc3 xc3?! It was very difficult to see all the following, but [ 32...bxc3 was the better chance: 33.xf5 c2! ( 33...f8 34.e2! h8 35.xa6 a8 36.d3 g8 37.c1 xa2 38.xc3 is very unpleasant for Black, who can hardly move ) 34.f6 ( 34.xg7+? xg7 35.f6+ 614
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g8 36.xd8+ h7 loses! ) 34...f8 35.xg7+ xg7 36.xd8+ f8 37.c7 a3! the saving resource! 38.xc2 xf3+ 39.g2+ xg2+ 40.xg2 f8 draws. ] 33.xf5 White has some nasty threats, Qf6 and Rxg7+. e3?? [ 33...c8 i s t h e o n l y m o v e , 34.xc8 ( 34.f6?? would win if it were not for h3# ) 34...xc8 35.d1 d8 36.c1 and despite being a pawn down W hite is w e l l o n t o p , f8 37.c6 a5 38.a6 followed by Rxa5xd5. ] 34.xg7+! The simplest, but my computer also finds other wins, for instance [ 34.xd5 xd5 35.c8+ h7 36.g4 as g5 37.e4+ wins everything. ] 34...xg7 35.f6+ h7 [ 35...g8 36.xd8+ g7 37.f6+ g8 38.xd5 ] 36.xf7+ h8 37.f6+ h7 38.e7+ My opponent admitted that he had missed this check. [ 38.e7+ h8 39.xd8+ g7 40.f6+ h7 41.f7+ h8 42.e6 and the e-pawn will queen in a few moves. ] 1-0
6.bxc3 g7 7.c2 [ Another sensible way to develop is 7.d2 , which also seems to keep the possibility of playing a later Qc1 and Bh6. One game with this went 0-0 8.g3 b6 9.g2 b7 10.h4 h5 11.0-0 c5 12.b1 c6 13.g5 d7 14.e4 ad8 15.c4 c7 16.f4 c8 17.d2 d4 18.c3 xg2 19.xg2 fe8 20.fc1 f5 21.e4 c6 22.g1 d7 23.d1 ed8 24.a4 and White had some initiative in Sunye Neto, J (2415)-Popovic, P (2490)/Hastings 1980. ] 7...0-0 8.g3 After this we're going to transpose into a known position, but it doesn't normally come about via this 5.d3 move order. c5 9.g2 c6 10.h4!? In the style of Bent Larsen used to like pushing his h-pawn in the English W hite is spicing things up on the kingside where there aren't too many defenders. The other thing about h-pawn advances in flank openings is that the rest of your position remains very tough, so W hite isn't risking much here. [ An earlier game featured the quiet 10.0-0 after which b8 11.b2 e5 12.d2 c7 13.c4 b5 14.e3 e6 15.d5 d7 16.e4 f5 was fine for Black in Bachmann, K (2325) -Zimmermann, F (2255)/Germany 614 A16 1983/GER-chT. ] 11.d2 d5 12.b2 a5 Kramnik,Vladimir 2784 10...b4 L'Ami,Erwin 2628 Black is playing 'actively' but he makes little 73rd Tata Steel (9) 25.01.2011 impression on W hite's rock solid structure. 13.h5 b6 [Nigel Davies] [ 13...xc3 14.xc3 xc3 15.c1 xd2+ 16.xd2 will recover the pawn with the 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 better endgame. White's bishop on g2 has a xd5 5.d3 Many different moves have been lot of influence here. ] played here but this is rather rare. So it's 14.hxg6 hxg6 15.a4 d7 16.f1 xa4 interesting to see Kramnik adopting it. xc3 b6 After this White's attack [ Black's most popular reply has been the 17.g5 natural 5...g7 though he hasn't scored becomes very strong. [ 17...fe8 was worth considering, the idea particularly well with it. For example 6.d2 b e i n g t h a t a f t e r 18.e5 Black can gain 0-0 7.g3 c5 8.c1 ( 8.g2 c6 9.0-0 counterplay with ( Or 18.h4 ) 18...c4! c7 10.a4 d7 11.h4 e6 12.xd8 . For example after 19.d4 c7 20.d5 e6 axd8 13.ab1 d5 14.fc1 b6 15.a3 21.g4 xb2 22.f6+ f8 23.h7+ fe8 16.f1 ce7 1/2-1/2 Petrosian, TWhite's attack is good enough to draw but Kortschnoj, V/Tbilisi 1956.) 8...c6 9.g2 not more than that. ] xc3 10.bxc3 b8 11.h6 b6 12.h4!? d6 13.h5 f6 14.xg7 xg7 15.hxg6 18.h4 fe8 [ Another try was 18...f6 but then 19.h7+ hxg6 16.g5 was very dangerous for Black f7 20.h4 is good. ] in Har Zvi, R (2512)-Zinchenko, Y (2516)/ 19.c1 e5? Losing immediately. ICC INT 2008. ] 615
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Black should try 19...f8 20.h7 f6 , though he's probably losing anyway after 21.d4! threatening 22.Bg5!. ] 20.h7+ f8 21.h6 xh6 22.xh6+ e7 23.xe5 [ Black has no good defence, for example 23.xe5 f5 24.h4+ f6 25.xb7 xh4 26.xh4 wins material. ] 1-0
615 Kramnik,Vladimir Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar AZE vs World Rapid rapid (4) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2759 2725 08.05.2009
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 g7 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.a4 b6 9.h4 Larsen and Stein used to li k e t h i s k i n d o f k i n g s i d e s a b r e r a t t l i n g . Actually I'm not convinced it's anything for W hite if Black plays accurately, but it can quicken the opponent's pulse. e5 [ Another sound method for Black is 9...f6 10.h6 e5 , f o r e xa m p l e 11.d3 g7 12.g5 f6 13.d2 f5 14.b3 h6 15.a3 e8 16.ac1 e6 17.e4 1/2-1/2 was Ljubojevic, L (2600)-Ivanchuk, V (2735)/ Reykjavik 1991. But there seems no particular reason for Black avoiding the exchange of queens. ] 10.xd8 xd8 11.d3 d4 12.g5 [ White must be careful about reflex captures on d4 in such positions as they lead t o positions in which Black has a well defined spa ce ad va nta ge . For exam ple 12.xd4 exd4 13.e4 h6 14.b4 d5 15.a3 a5 16.bxa5 xa5 gave Black a clear advantage in Schlosser, P (2375)-Herbrechtsmeier, C (2305)/ Germany 1987/GER-chT. Kramnik's move is better, though Black still manages to force Nf3xd4. ] 12...f6 13.d2 g4 14.xd4 What else can White do when Black is threatening to capture on f3? exd4 15.e4 xe2 16.fe1 [ 16.fc1 xd3 17.xc7 might be better though this is none too exciting for White. ] 16...xd3 17.c5 c2 [ 17...c4 18.xb7 ab8 was stronger when White is struggling to find
compensation for his pawn. ] 18.xb7 c4 19.f4 d3 20.e7?! This inappropriately active move ends up hitting the jackpot when Black blunders. [ 20.b3 was better when a3 21.xd8 xd8 22.d2 would leave things 'dynamically balanced'. ] 20...d4? A serious mistake which changes the course of the game. [ 20...d2! 21.xd2 xd2 would force White to play 22.a5 xa5 23.xa8 . I'd have to favour Black's two minor pieces here. ] 21.xc7 g5 22.e3 xe3 23.fxe3 dd8 24.xd8 xd8 25.e4 e8? Losing on the spot. [ 25...a4 would have been much more tenacious. ] 26.d5+ h8 27.b3 1-0
616 Kramnik,Vladimir Shirov,Alexei Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (2) [Carsten Hansen]
A16 2766 2715 21.02.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 g7 7.e4 c6?! Shirov's move has not seen much action previously, Other ideas are 7...Na6, 7.. .Bc6 and 7...0-0. Recently Black has given preference to [ 7...0-0 which is also the main line in ECO 8.e5 A) 8...e6 9.exf6!? this is a very gutsy move, an idea also known from the Russian Variation of the Grünfeld Defence ( 9.b5!? ) 9...xc4 10.fxg7 xg7 11.xc4 c6 12.0-0 b4 13.d3 c6 14.e4 d5 ( 14...c2!? 15.b1 b5 16.b3 xd3 puts a question mark to White's idea) 15.d2 b6 16.b4 ad8 17.a4 h6 18.fe1 c7 19.a5 without any breaks for Black to destabilize White minor piece superiority, Black may well be in trouble fe8 20.d4 e6 21.e5 f6 22.d3 b6 23.g3 f7 24.e2 threatening Nef4, hitting the e6-pawn g5 25.g3 d7 ( 25...c7!? ) 26.b5! c5 27.dxc5 bxc5 28.e4 b4?? 616
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1-0 A.Shchekachev-R.Swinkels, Bethune 2006; B) 8...g4 is the ECO main line, e.g. 9.d4 e6 10.d5 f5 11.f4 d7 12.e2 f6 13.e6 de5 14.xe5 fxe5 15.h3 f6 16.d1 e4 17.e5 c6 18.dxc6 c7 19.cxb7 ad8 20.d7 xd7 21.exd7 xb7 22.b5 xd7 23.c4+ h8= Goldin-Mikhalevski, Rishon Le-Zion 1997; C) 8...e8 9.d4 c6 10.b3 ( 10.e2 e6 11.d3 f6 12.f4 d7 13.e3 fxe5 14.dxe5 b6 15.d4 c7 16.g3 c4= S. Ovsejevitsch-J.Owczarzak, Le gnic a 2 0 0 6) 10...c5 11.dxc5 c6 12.e3 c7 13.e2 c8 14.0-0 xe5 15.xe5 xe5 16.c4 c6 , J.Gustafsson-D.Baramidze, Koenigshofen (GER-CH) 2007 17.f3!? ] 8.d4 b5 9.b3 a5 10.e5 a4 11.d1 d5 12.xd5 cxd5 While the first exchanges h a ve h a p p e n e d , a n d W h i t e 's qu e e n h a s retreated to her starting square, White has a small but clear advantage thanks to Black's advanced queenside pawns and the weaknesses around them. The key focus for W hite now is to complete his development while preven ting Black f rom ope ning th e position. 13.e2 c6 14.0-0 0-0 15.e3 a5 16.b3 keeping Black's knight away from the attractive c4-square axb3 17.axb3 b6 18.e1 heading to the weak c5-square b4 19.d3 b5 20.c5 b7 21.xa8 xa8 22.xb5 xb5 23.d3! c6 24.a4 White is not interested in exchanging knights as it will make Black's defensive task f ar easier, an d in order f or Black to pre ven t White's knight from returning to c5 later on, Black will have to keep his knight on a rather awkward square, either on e6 or on b7. d8 25.c1 b7 26.c2 Thank you - that's the cf ile f or W h it e. Kra mn ik ma kes po sitio na l chess look easy. f6 27.f4! h6 28.g3! W hite is obviously not interested in letting B l a c k ' s b i s h o p b a c k i n t o t h e g a m e . fxe5 29.dxe5 e6 30.c6! With better piece coordination, more active pieces - particularly Black's beauty on h6 is troublesome - White has a clear advantage xc6 31.xc6 f7 32.f2 b8 33.e2 f8 34.d3 b7?? and Black resigned due to 35 Rxe6 Kxe6 36 Nc5+, nonetheless Black's position is rather
difficult and undoubtedly one Kramnik took great joy in playing. 1-0
617 Krasenkow,Michal McShane,Luke J 18th North Sea Cup (4) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2609 2592 07.06.2003
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 g7 7.e4 c6 By pressurising e4 Black hinders White from advancing d4. 8.d3 0-0 9.e2 bd7 10.0-0 Logical, we looked at [ 10.f4 in Piket,J-Bacrot,E/Escaldes 1998. ] 10...a5 The most precise, White might otherwise play the annoying b4-5, for instance: [ 10...e5 11.b4 a6 12.a4 b6 13.b3 and b5 would soon be a problem, Khalifman, A-Jansa,V/Tegernsee GER 2002. ] 11.e5!? A typical, sharp, Krasenkow innovation. [ 11.d1 e5 12.e3 ( 12.d4!? xe4 13.dxe5?! xc3 14.bxc3?! xf3! 15.xf3 xe5 won a pawn in Janssen,R-De Vreugt, D / W i j k a a n Z e e 1 9 9 9) 12...e7 Maksimenko,A-Sulipa,A/Lvov 1999, and now 13.d4 looks interesting, as now xe4? 14.d5 xc3 15.bxc3 wins. ] 11...b6!? Black willingly allows the queen for 3 pieces exchange. [ 11...e8 12.d4 b6 leaves White with a useful space plus, but is probably stronger. ] 12.exf6! A well-known idea in such positions. xc4 13.fxg7 xg7 14.dxc4 xf3! 15.xf3 c6 Compared to the Friberg-Winge game we examined a few months ago this must be somewhat better for White as he is ahead in d evelopmen t, and ha s an extra pawn. 16.b3! c7 17.b2 g8 18.ae1 W hite inhibits Black's main source of counterplay, the advance of his extra kingside pawn, because of the pressure on e5 from rook and bishop. ad8 19.e2 d7 20.fe1 fd8 21.a3! An annoying move, which gives B l a c k a n a w k w a r d d e c i s i o n . f4!? Black ditches the e-pawn. [ 21...e6?! allows 22.e4 with a nasty threat to check on f6. ] 617
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ but 21...e8 isn't impossible. ] 22.xe7 e8 23.a3? It is not like Krasenkow to miss a straightforward tactical win, [ 23.e4! leaves the black queen without any s e n s i b l e s q u a r e s , d2 ( what else? 23...f5 24.g4; 23...c7 24.a3 xe4 25.xe4 and Nf6+ decides) 24.d1 xd1+ 25.xd1 and after Black captures on e7 W hite will have two pieces for the rook, enough to win. ] 23...xe2 24.xe2 f5 25.e3 d4 26.g3 d2 White is still better, but Black's queen has become active, and things are not simple. 27.e2 f7 28.c5?! [ 28.c5! seems better, to play Bb6 and threaten the a-pawn. ] 28...e7 29.c4+ e8 30.d3 White certainly doesn't want to exchange both rooks, as his pieces cooperate better with a r o o k b y t h e i r s i d e s . c2 31.g2 The one major problem with White's set-up is that his bishop is looking a bit silly on a3, which is why his 28th move was not best. g5! 32.d1 This allows Black to exchange the last pair of rooks, better [ 32.h3 although d7 33.f3 f4 is not too clear. ] 32...d7! 33.b2 xd3 34.xd3?! I suspect White was in time-trouble here, as [ 34.xd3 c1 35.c4 a1 36.d6+ e7 keeps White well in the game. ] 34...xa2 35.c1 a4 The b-pawn is pinned. 36.xg5 e2! [ 36...axb3?! allows White to force a neat perpetual by 37.e5! c2 38.f7+ f8 39.h6+ e7 40.g5+ ] 37.f6 axb3 Yet another pawn drops, and this one is close to the queening square. 38.b2 e4+ 39.g1 f4! Black plays with great precision. 40.xb3?! e1+ 41.g2 e4+ 42.g1 fxg3 As ...Qf3 will fork both bishops. 0-1
618 Krasenkow,Michal Mikhalevski,Victor 1st ch-Europe (2) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2661 2499 04.07.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 a6!? [ A typical 'Grünfeld-type' move, although l e s s c o m m o n t h a n 6...g7 as played previously. ] 7.e4 [ The sharpest reply, Black had no particular problems after 7.g3 b5 8.b3 c5 9.d3 c6 10.g2 c8 in Psakhis,L-Mikhalevski, V/ Ramat Aviv ISR 1998. ] [ The other main possibility, 7.d4 brings play even closer to a real Grünfeld, and worked well for White after b5 8.b3 c6 9.f4 g7 10.e3 0-0 11.e2 e6 12.d1 b4 13.e4 , Lautier,J-Bacrot,E/ Enghien-lesBains FRA 1999. ] 7...b5 8.e2! [ This is possible now that the e-pawn has moved, 8.b3 is more 'normal'. ] 8...c6!? [ A novelty, 8...c5 9.e5 h5 10.e4 c6?! 11.xc5 f5 12.d3 ( 12.e6!? ) 12...e6 13.e4 b4+ 14.d2 f4 15.e3 d5 16.h6 f8 17.d6+!? xd6 18.exd6 xh6 19.xh6 was slightly favourable for W hite in Gelfand,B-Svidler,P/Haif a ISR 2000. ] 9.e5 b4? [ These type of combinations always seem very seductive to computers, but the knight r a r e l y e s c a p e s f r o m a 1 , b e t t e r 9...h5 although 10.d4 g4 11.e4 is more pleasant for White. ] 10.exf6! Krasenkow rarely shirks away from complications! c2+ 11.d1 xa1 12.b3 f5?! [ Hoping to withdraw the knight via c2, but 12...e6 13.b2 xb3 14.axb3 xb3+ was a better bet, although I prefer the pieces to the rook and pawns. ] 13.b2! c2 14.g4 [ 14.fxe7 xe7 15.e4 also wins the piece. ] 14...xg4 15.xc2 e6?? [ An unlikely blunder, but one that brings the 618
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g a m e t o a s w i f t c o n c l u s i o n ! 15...d7 should have been tried, although 16.g2 e6 17.e5! favours White anyway. ] 16.xb5+!! [ A stunning move, after 16.xb5+ axb5 17.xb5+ d7 18.xd7+ xd7 19.e5+ picks-up the bishop on g4. ] 1-0
619 Krasenkow,Michal Zezulkin,Jurij chT Zakopane chT (7) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2702 2529 09.09.2000
1.c4 f6 2.f3 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 c6 7.e4!? [ Actually, this typical move is actually a novelty here. Normally W hite prefers 7.d4 g7 8.e4 0-0 9.e5 when the queen for three pieces combination is possible: e6 10.exf6!? xc4 11.fxg7 xg7 12.xc4 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.e2 which is unclear, Kramnik,V-Ivanchuk,V/Belgrade 1997. ] 7...a6 8.e5!? White keeps his d-pawn in reserve. e6 9.a4 Of course, without the bishop on g7, capturing on f6 as in the Kramnik game is impossible. d7 10.d4 b6 11.d1 d7 12.e3 White has gained central space, but a hole on d5 has been created. f6!? Black wishes to attack the white centre, but many other plans were possible, too. 13.e2 g7 14.e4! Black cannot stop the knight from landing on c5, and forking qu e e n a n d b is h o p . fxe5 15.c5 d5 16.g5! Charge! f5 17.f3 e4! [ Returning the pawn immediately, as after 17...g8 18.dxe5 xe5 19.xb7 b4 20.0-0 the black queen is oddly-placed. ] 18.gxe4 0-0-0 19.g3 White can ruin the black structure thus. c4 20.xf5 gxf5 21.xc6 bxc6 22.c1! b4+ 23.d2 xd4 24.e2 Menacing the powerful Qxa6+, and forcing Black's reply. xd2+ 25.xd2 xd2 26.xd2 h6+ Obviously, without this Black would lose an exchange. 27.e2 xc1 28.xc1 So, the dust has settled, and Black is actually a pawn to the good. However, White recaptures this easily, and can then try to
exploit his better structure. a5 29.d3 d8 30.e5 d5 31.xc6 d7 32.f4 T h is p ro vid e s a n ice o u t p o st o n e 5 . d6 33.e5 c5 34.g3 d4 35.c3 a4 36.a3 c4 Black plays actively to compensate for his weaker pawns. 37.c2 d5 38.f3 d3 39.d2! White decides that he has better chances without rooks, as the black rook is the more active of the two. xd2+ 40.xd2 d7? [ 40...h6 is stronger, so that if 41.c3 c5 and ...Nd5+ will drive the white king back. ] 41.c3 Threatening Kb4, and winning a pawn. h5 [ 41...c5 is no longer sufficient, 42.d4 ] 42.b4 c5 43.d2 e5 No doubt the point of Black's play, he wants to seek counter chances on the kingside. 44.xc4 [ 44.fxe5 d3+ 45.xa4 xb2+ 46.b4 d3+ 47.c3 xe5 is only slightly better for White. ] 44...exf4 45.gxf4 d3+ 46.c3 xf4 47.b6+ e4 48.xa4 Will Black's lone passed pawn be able to match the two white ones? Perhaps, if it is quick enough. e3 49.b4 e2+ 50.c4 f4 51.b5 f3 52.b2! Forced, but this resource is very strong. f4 [ 52...f2?? fails to 53.d1+ f3 54.xf2 xf2 55.b6 and the pawn cannot be stopped. ] 53.d1+ [ Not 53.b6? d2! controlling d1, 54.b7 f2 and Black queens with check! ] 53...d2 [ 53...e2 is also hopeless, 54.c3+ e1 55.e4 and the f-pawn is halted. ] 54.f2 e6 55.b6 d8 56.a4 The white pawns are unstoppable. e2 57.h3 f1 58.g5 f2 59.h3 b7 60.b4 h4 61.a5 [ 61.a5 g2 62.xf2 xf2 63.a6 soon brings White a queen. ] 1-0
619
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A16 25.d1 Kuznetsov,Vadim 2224 ½-½ Petrov,Yury 2105 60th ch-RUS sf Urals (9) 22.03.2007 621 A16 [Nigel Davies] Lautier,Joel 2645 Van Wely,Loek 2585 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c6 3.e4 d5 4.cxd5 cxd5 Groningen 1995 5.e5 d4 6.exf6 dxc3 7.fxg7 [ After 7.bxc3 I t h i n k t h a t exf6 [Nigel Davies] may be Black's best, despite the fact that it has rarely been played. ] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c6 3.e4 d5 4.cxd5 cxd5 7...cxd2+ 8.xd2 5.e5 fd7 Solid but rather passive. [ 8.xd2 is nothing for White, for example [ 5...e4 is the more active knight move ] xd2+ 9.xd2 xg7 10.b5+ d7 [ and Black can also consider 5...d4 . ] 11.0-0-0 a6 12.d3 c5 13.c2 e6 6.d4 c6 14.e3 c8 with approximate equality in [ 6...b6 may be a more flexible approach, Johanssen, T (2001)-Strasser, J (1917)/ but I'm still not made about Black's Seefeld 2006. ] position. ] 8...xg7 9.b3 White has tried other moves 7.ge2! here but has nothing special, for example: [ Black is fine after both 7.xd5 db8! ] [ a) 9.c2 c6 10.f3 b6 11.c3 [ and 7.f3 b6 8.h3 (to prevent 8...Bg4) xc3+ 12.xc3 b4 13.xb4 xb4 f5 . ] 14.b5+ d7 15.xd7+ xd7 was equal 7...b6 8.g3 Making it difficult for Black to in Eibersberger, M (2155)-Bachofner, C develop his bishop on c8. g6?! (2085)/Austria 2000. ] [ After 8...e6? White has a strong reply in [ b) 9.b5+ d7 10.b3 b6 11.xd7+ 9.h5! when the knight is difficult to xd7 12.xb6 xb6 was pretty good for dislodge (...g6 allows Nh5-f6+) and Black's Black in Babos, L-Karpati, T/Balaton 1996. ] bishop is tied down to f8. ] 9...c6 10.e2 0-0 11.c3 e5 12.d1?! [ The best was probably to wait with 8...d7 [ 12.g3 was better, but Black would have a but I still don't like Black's position after 9.h4 dangerous initiative after e6 13.xb7 followed by 10.h5. ] d4 . ] 9.h4 h5 10.e2 d7 11.g5!? Initiating 12...e7 some interesting play on the kingside. [ 12...d4! looks even stronger after [ 11.e3 was the standard move when 13.xd4 exd4 14.f3 e6 etc. ] Black's position is far from pleasant. ] 13.a3 11...f6 12.d3 f7 13.e3! fxe5 14.f3+ [ Or 13.g3 d4 14.xd4 exd4+ 15.e2 g7 15.xd5 xd5 e6 , with a good game for Black. ] [ 15...g4? 16.e4 hits g6. ] 13...e6 16.xd5 e8 17.e4 With Black's king [ Black would also stand well after 13...d4 being vulnerable it makes sense to keep , f o r e xa m p l e 14.b4 xb4+ 15.xb4 queens on. exd4 18.d2 f7?! c2+ 16.d2 xb4 17.axb4 d8+ [ 18...e6 would have been better. ] 18.e1 xd1+ 19.xd1 f5 etc. ] 19.0-0 g8 20.f4! Preparing to set fire to 14.c2 fd8 15.xd8+ xd8 16.g3 d4 Black's ramshackle king position with f4-f5. 17.xd4 exd4 18.d3 b3+ g7 [ Black should have played 18...c8 when [ 20...e6 21.c4 d7 22.ae1 is also good 19.d2 f5+ 20.d1 xd3 21.xd3 h6 for White. ] leaves White in all sorts of trouble. ] 21.f5 e5 22.f4 d5 23.e2 xd3 19.e2 xe2+ 20.xe2 a6 21.0-0 b5 24.xd3 c6 25.g5?! 22.c1 c4 23.d1 b3 24.c1 c4 [ 25.ae1 was also very good. ] 25...d5 26.f2 b5?!
620
620
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Black should probably have tried 26...b5 but he certainly wouldn't be out of the woods after 27.d2 e5 28.h2 intending 29. Re1. ] 27.d2 e5 28.f3! xg3 29.xg3 xf5 30.xd4 h7 31.e1 c6 32.d2 f7? Cracking under the tremendous pressure. [ 32...f8 would have stayed in the game. ] 33.e5! f1+ 34.h2 h7 35.e3 g7 36.xe7 f6 37.h6+ g8 38.xg7+ 1-0
If you want to make a draw it's usually better to keep rooks on. You can learn this from Eugene Znosko-Borovsky in his 'How to Play the Chess Endings'. xa1 28.xa1 e6 29.b1 f5 30.exf5+ xf5 31.f1?! [ Suddenly White sees that the pawn endgame is lost after 31.xf5 gxf5 32.c2 d5 33.d3 e4+ 34.fxe4+ fxe4+ 35.e3 e5 etc. ] 31...d5 32.c2 e4 33.f4 c5 0-1
622
623
Laxman,Rajaram Safarli,Eltaj 12th Dubai Open (5) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2485 2606 10.04.2010
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 xc3 6.dxc3 xd1+ 7.xd1 f6 A very solid reply after playing ...e7-e5 Black's opening problems are over. Of course on e wou ld no t n ecessarily e xp e ct t o win games like this without a little bit of help from White. 8.c2 e5 9.e3 d7 [ Another possibility is 9...e6 , for example 10.d2 d7 11.a4 a5 12.c4 xc4 13.xc4 c5 14.hd1 xe3 15.xe3 b6 16.b4 e7 17.c4 c6 18.c5 d7 19.b3 hd8 20.c4 axb4 21.b6 xc5+ 22.xb4 xe4 23.xa8 xa8 24.f3 was a draw in Ribli, Z (2610)-Ftacnik, L (2535)/Germany 1992/GER-chT. ] 10.d1 White probably thought he could coast to a draw but he has to be careful. [ 10.d2 is a much better idea than just putting the rook on the open file, for example a5 11.f3 c5 12.c4 e7 was about equal in Kreizberg, M (2346)-Mikhalevski, V (2524)/Tel Aviv 2002. ] 10...c5 11.d2 d7 12.f3 h5 13.h4 a5 14.b3 e6 15.g3 c5 16.c4 b5 17.xc5 xc5 18.e3 c6 Black might claim to be e ve r s o s l igh t ly b e t t e r h e re a f t e r h a vin g gained space on the queenside. Of course it should still be a draw with accurate defence by White, though this is often easier said than done. 19.h3 xh3 20.xh3 e7 21.a3 hd8 22.xd8 xd8 23.b4 axb4 24.axb4 b7 25.h1 a8 26.b2 d6 27.a1?
Laznicka,Viktor Nechepurenko,Roman V WCh-Junior Gaziantep TUR (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A16 2601 2476 05.08.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ c6 The main lines is of course 5...Bd7, which we have examined several times. 6.e5 db4!? [ The alternatives are unconvincing: A) 6...b6? 7.xc6 xa4 8.xd8 xc3 9.xf7 xf7 10.dxc3 Krasenkow, MAzmaiparashvili, Z/Groningen 1997 ] [ B) 6...xc3?! 7.bxc3 d7 8.xd7 xd7 9.g3 g7 10.g2 , and White has the easier game plan, Vekshenkov, NKorniushin, N/Tomsk 2001 ] 7.a3 g7 8.axb4 [ 8.d4!? xe5 9.dxe5 d5 10.e4 b6 11.c2 d4 12.d1 e6 13.e3 ] 8...xe5 9.b5 b8 [ 9...d4 is examined by John Watson in the notes to the game mentioned in the note after White's 10th move. ] 10.g3 [ The alternative is 10.e3 which also leads to an advantage to W hite as evidenced in Steingrimsson-Sakalauskas, 2006 - which can be found in the PGN archives. ] 10...c6 [ A major alternative for Black and also the o n l y l i n e g i v e n i n t h e E C O i s 10...0-0 11.g2 A) 11...g7 12.0-0 c6 (here ends the coverage in the ECO with an '=' based on the below Timman game, though matters are, as suspected perhaps, a little more 621
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 b-file, White is doing rather well out of complicated than that) 13.d3 a6 14.bxc6 the opening b5! 16.a3 b7 17.d4 xc6 15.xc6 ( 15.g5!? h6 16.e3 d7 is an untried and promising alternative for C2a) Here Postny in CBM White; 15.f4 d4= ) 15...bxc6 recomm end s 18.e4 fc8 ( 18...b4? A1) The theory's stem game goes along i s s t r o n g l y m e t b y 19.b3! bxc3 with 16.h4 b8 17.a4 h5 18.d2 20.e3 Postny ) 19.g5; g4 19.f3 C2b) 18.b2?! This move is not really A1a) Black can improve with sound, the B is too passive on b2. 19...d4+ 20.g2 f5 21.c3 fc8= Sturua, Z-Goloshchapov, A/ ( 21.xd4 xd4 22.c3 c5 ) Batumi 2002; 21...e3 22.fe1 b5=; C3) 14.d3 b8 15.f4 xf4 16.xf4 A1b) 19...xb2?! 20.xb2 d4+ Lopez Martinez, J-Moor, R/ Zug 2001; 21.h1 xb2 22.ad1 xd2 23.xd2 D) 11...d7 Black has several e3 24.fxg4 xd2 25.xe7 hxg4 alternatives at this juncture, e.g. 12.0-0 26.f4 Timman, J-Tseshkovsky, V/ c5 Bled 1979; D1) Or 13.c2!? f5 ( 13...e6 14.b4 A2) 16.xc6 b8 17.d1 ( 17.c4 b3 15.a3 xc1 16.xc1 ) 14.d3 d7 18.h4 f6 19.g5 xg5 a6 15.e3 xd3 16.exd3 xd3 20.xg5 xb2= ) 17...b7 18.a4 c8 17.b3 xf1 18.xf1 axb5 19.xb5 19.f4 h3 20.e4 bd8 ( Black can , and White is close to having a winning i m p r o v e w i t h 20...e5 21.e3 f5 advantage, Sherbakov, R-Pribyl, M/ , and Black has decent compensation for Belgorod 1991; the pawn ) 21.e3 h8 22.c2 f5 D2) 13.c4 d6 ( 13...e6 23.f3 fxe4 24.dxe4 , and White has also leads to a clearly better game for stabilized the position and consolidated White: 14.e3 a6 15.bxa6 xa6 his advantage, Pogorelov, R-Perera 16.xa6 bxa6 17.d4 d6 18.b4 Gonzalez, P/Las Palmas 1999; Benko, P-Rajna, G/Szolnok 1975) 14.b4 B) 11...d7 12.0-0 ( or 12.e3 c6 e6 15.e3 a6 16.a5 g7 17.d4 b8 13.bxc6 xc6 14.d4 g7 15.0-0 a6 18.d5 d8 was Zacurdajev, M16.d1 Cools, G-Lavrenov, Y/ BEL Khakimov, T /Peterhof RUS 2007, and 2001 ) 12...c6 13.d1! ( 13.b6 a6 now White should have tried 19.e4 e5 14.d3 ) 13...cxb5 14.xb5 c6 15.d4 20.h6 e8 21.c1 , and Black is g7 16.f4 Savon, V-Rudolf, M/Warsaw struggling getting his pieces back to life ] 1992; [ F i n a l l y , B l a c k h a s a l s o t r i e d 10...d7 C) 11...c6 12.0-0 ( 12.d3 g7 13.f4 11.g2 b6 12.c2 f5 13.d3 c8 cxb5 14.xb5 a6 15.a5 c6 16.xd8 14.h3 d7 15.e4 d5 16.c5 e6 xd8 17.xc6 bxc6= Doettling, FA) White should probably opt for 17.c4!? Dunsbach, R/Bad Wiessee 2002) 12...a6 c6 18.xd7 xd7 19.bxc6 xc6 ( 12...b6 13.e4 f6 14.d3 f5 20.xc6+ ( 20.a5!? ) 20...bxc6 21.e3; 15.e3 d4 16.d2 a6 17.fc1 cxb5 B) 17.b3 c6 18.xd7 xd7 19.bxc6 18.xb7 a7 19.f3 Lobron, E-Schirm, bxc6 20.xd5?! , and a draw was agreed F /Wiesbaden 1993 ) 13.bxc6 xc6 upon, 1/2-1/2, in Bison, B-Brockbank, H/ C1) 14.xc6 doesn't produce anything corr CAPA 1995, although it is only Black for White: bxc6 15.d3 b8 16.e1 c5 who can be better in this position ] 17.a5 d4 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Sturua, Z-Turov, M/ 11.g2 0-0 [ On a few occasions Black has also given Dubai 2002, though Black has every 11...d7 a try: reason to be satisfied with the outcome A) Or 12.d4 g7 13.d1 0-0 14.0-0 of the opening.; c8 15.g5 ( 15.a4!? d8 16.c5 C2) 14.e3 xc3 15.bxc3! with a strong c8 17.e3 ) 15...e8 16.c1 ( 16.a4 centre, pair of bishops and a semi-open 622
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d8 17.c5 ) 16...h3 , Ligterink, GDuesterwald, M/Curacao AHO 2002, and now White should probably opt for 17.d3 a6 18.bxc6 xc6=; B) 12.b4 0-0 13.0-0 c8 14.d3 a5 15.h4 f6 16.g5 xg5 17.xg5 cxb5 18.xb5 Saric, I-Banas, J/Zagreb CRO 2006; C) 12.e4 g7 13.d3 0-0 14.0-0 e5 15.e3 a6 16.fc1 e6 17.b4 d7 18.e4 , and Black is in serious trouble, B is c h o f f , K -Hu e n e rko p f , H/ G e rm a n y 1988 ] 12.0-0 [ 12.d3!? ] 12...d7?! [ A better try is 12...a6 , for instance 13.bxc6 xc6 14.d3 ( 14.xc6?! bxc6 15.xc6 b8 ) 14...d6 15.g5 , and White has the somewhat more comfortable game, but Black is nowhere near suffering like he is in the game. ] 13.b4 d6 [ Black can also consider playing more actively with 13...a5 , e.g. 14.bxa6 xa6 15.xb7 d4 16.a3 ( 16.xa6?? b8 17.xb8 xb8 ) 16...a7 17.b3 e6 18.d1 b6 , which looks somewhat prom ising f or Black, until W hite simply c o n t i n u e s w i t h 19.e3 g7 20.d4 , and Black's compensation is rather limited. ] 14.h4 b6? [ This invites more trouble and further losses of time. Black should instead have opted for 14...e5 , though 15.xd8 xd8 16.d3 is clearly better for White. ] 15.d3! cxb5? [ After this added mistake, Black pretty much loses by force. The superior, but still not very good 15...c5 16.e3 f5 17.e4 also leads to a very clear advantage for White. ] 16.e3 c7 17.d5 d8 18.b6 c6 19.xa8 xa8 20.xa7! xa7 21.d4 c6 22.xc6 And Black resigned a bit early pe rh a p s , b u t p la ying a n e xch a n ge d o wn without any counterplay after being routed straight out of the opening isn't what most people consider fun. 1-0
624 Malakhov,Vladimir Ni Hua CHN-RUS Chess Summit (7) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2690 2607 17.08.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 g6 5.g2 xc3 6.bxc3 g7 7.f3 0-0 8.0-0 c6 9.c2 Rather than go for immediate activity White prefers to build up quietly. b6 [ The other plan is 9...e5 but it doesn't look like complete equality for Black either. For example 10.d3 d7 11.b1 b6 12.a4 b7 13.a3 fe8 14.fd1 ad8 15.d2 a5 16.xb7 xb7 17.c4 a5 18.e3 was slightly better for White in Rat, D (2316)Pg, M (2152)/Szombathely 2003. ] 10.b2 b7 11.c4 xb2 12.xb2 This looks quite nice for White because of his long term trump of having more centre pawns. This is an important factor even when Black neutralises the pressure along the h1-a8 diagonal. a5 New and better for White. [ T h e r e a g a i n 12...d6 13.ac1 ad8 14.fd1 f6 15.xf6 exf6 16.c5 fe8 17.e3 e7 18.d4 1/2-1/2 was also good for White in Thorarinsson, P (2149)-Seger, R (2400)/Pardubice 2001. This also illustrates the advantage of having a higher rating! ] 13.c5 d5 [ 13...bxc5 14.b5 would be extremely unpleasant. ] 14.ac1 bxc5?! Personally I would have gone to great lengths to avoid playing this move. 15.c3 c4 16.b1 ad8 17.b2 a8 18.e4 h5 19.g4! xg4 [ Black is losing a piece because 19...c5 is met by 20.d4! . But the game proves to be far from over... ] 20.xa5 xe4 21.h3 e6 22.e1 d5 23.b5?! [ 23.b4 looks stronger, intending just to take the pawn on c4. ] 23...c6 24.xd5 xd5 25.c3 d8 26.e2 b8 27.e1 xg2 28.xg2?! Another slip which lets Black right back into it. [ 28.e5! was better, followed by taking on g2 with the king. ] 28...e6 29.e5 b1+ 30.e1 b5 31.e3 f3 32.h4 a5 33.a3 [ 33.xc4?! b4 will get the h4 pawn. ] 623
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 33...h5 34.b1 f4 35.g2 d6 36.b7 with an ugly position for Black, Eingorn, Vb5 37.xb5 cxb5 38.xa5 e5 39.c3 Konopka, M/Graz 2001) 10.h6 xh6 e4 40.b2 c6 41.e3 h5 42.d4 a8 11.xh6 e5 12.f3 xf3+ 13.xf3 e7 43.c5 b7 44.f1 d7 45.e5 h7 14.0-0 c6 15.fd1 f5 16.e3 f6 17.b4 46.f4 g8 47.g3 e5 48.e4 e6 18.c5 Bischoff, K-Chabanon, J/Novi [ 48.g5! would have been very unpleasant Sad 1990 ] here. ] 9.d2 48...e7 49.g5 xa3 50.xe5 f3 [ White has a couple of alternatives at this 51.e8+ juncture: A) 9.h4!? [ This time missing 51.f6+! f8 52.c5+ A) 9...h6 10.f3 e5 ( 10...xf3+ g7 53.e8+ g8 54.d4 after which 11.xf3 c6 is relatively best) 11.e4 0-0 g4+ 55.xg4 hxg4 56.d6 gives White a 12.d2 h7 13.h5 g5 14.fxg5+ hxg5 winning endgame. ] 15.h6 ( Here White should probably have 51...g7 52.e5+ g8 53.c3 tried 15.xg5+!? h8 16.xd4 exd4 [ Aga in m iss in g 53.f6+ with a probable 17.f4 f5 18.xc7 with an on-going win. ] a t t a c k n o t e t h a t d5? 19.h6 f6 53...g4+ 54.g3?! After the exchange of 20.h7+ g8 21.h4 is unhealthy for queens Black's troubles are at an end. Black ) 15...f6 16.xf6+ xf6 17.h5 [ 54.f1 was the last chance to play for c6 18.xg5 g8 1/2-1/2 Eingorn, V-Finkel, something. ] A/Metz 1996; 54...b4 55.xg4 hxg4 56.d5 b3 57.g2 B) 9...h5!? 10.f3 xf3+ 11.xf3 c6=; b2 58.c3 g7 59.g3 f5 Black is in the C) 9...f5 10.d2 h5 11.f3 c6 12.0-0 driving seat now. 60.f4 h6 61.b1 h5 0-0 13.e1 d5 14.e4 xc3 15.bxc3 62.g3 g5 63.hxg5 xg5 64.f4+ f6 d6 16.f4 Eingorn, V-Bogdanov, V/ 65.f2 e6 66.c3 f6 67.g3 g6 Metz 1996 ] 68.h4 f6 69.g3 A lucky escape for [ B) 9.f3 xf3+ 10.xf3 c6 11.h4 h5 Black. 12.d2 e6 13.g5 , Stanec, N-Bogdanov, ½-½ V / A s c h a c h A U T 2 0 0 2 , a n d n o w d5!? is be st, e .g. 14.e4 b6 15.b3 g4 with a comfortable game for Black ] 625 A16 9...c6?! [ This passive move lets White gain an Marin,Mihail 2556 advantage without any problems. Instead Ris,Robert 2395 9...f5 has been established as the best IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (4) 24.04.2008 way for Black to proceed: 10.c5 0-0 [Carsten Hansen] A) 11.e3 is slightly premature on account of 1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 g6 A1) 11...e8 12.ge2 ( 12.f3 5.g2 b6 6.d3 g7 7.e3 c6 8.c1 will transpose to 11 Nf3 and offers White [ This is a quite rare line in this variation. better chances of an edge) 12...e5 The normal moves are 8.xc6+ ] 13.0-0 c6 14.b3 a5 15.fd1 d7 [ 8.d2 ] 16.a3 b6 17.c5 d7 18.a3 b6 [ and 8.f3 which was seen in Butnorius19.c2 , Gritsak, O-Zezulkin, J/ Iordachescu - see the next game in this Z a k o p a n e 2 0 0 0 , a n d n o w h6 month's update. ] is approximately equal; [ whereas 8.c1 is seen less frequently, but A2) 11...d7! 12.a3 e5 13.d1 in conjunction with Nf3 can be a handful for b8 14.f3 xf3+ 15.xf3 b6 16.0-0 Black to handle. ] c5 17.b4 cxb4 18.xb4 a5= 8...d4 Grigorian, K-Gulko, B/URS 1974; [ 8...0-0 9.d2 d4 ( 9...e8?! 10.h6 B) 11.f3!? h8 11.h4! d4 12.h5 e5 13.hxg6 hxg6 B1) 11...e8 12.e4?! ( 12.0-0 ) 14.e4 f6 15.f3 xf3+ 16.xf3 624
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12...h6 13.c2 xc1 14.xc1 , Zolt e k, T -K irov, N/ L od z 19 8 0 , d7 , and Black is already clearly better despite the absence of the dark-squared bishop; B2) 11...d7 12.a3 c5 13.0-0 b8 14.b4 cxb4 15.xb4 a5 16.a3 b5 , Dannevig, O-Bae, T/Bergen 2000, and now 17.e4 b4 18.b2 e5 19.c2; B3) 11...c6 12.0-0 e8 B3a) 13.c2 d7 14.a3 e5 15.xe5 xe5 16.e3 g7 ( 16...e6 17.e2 ) 17.d4 e6 18.b3 h5 19.fd1 with a solid plus for White, Vilela, J-Pribyl, J/Trnava 1979; B3b) 13.e3 e5 14.a3 ( 14.e4 e6 15.b3 d7 16.a3 d5 17.fd1 ) 14...e6 15.b3 d6 16.fd1 a5 17.c2 , Bischoff, KHouhou, O/Bad Zwesten GER 2006, and now Black could have obtained app roxim ate ly equal chan ce s wit h d5 ] [ Also 9...e5 has been tried, but after 10.h6 0-0 11.xg7 xg7 12.e3 e6 13.f3 f6 14.0-0 c6 , Bischoff, K-Seger, R/ Gladenbach 1997, White can obtain a clear advantage with 15.e4 ] 10.h6 0-0 11.xg7 xg7 12.e3! f5 [ 12...e6 13.f3 c7 14.0-0 f5 15.d4 cd5 16.fe1 , and White is clearly better, Schandorff, L-Holmsten, A/ Reykjavik 2000 ] 13.f3 f6 14.d4! This is like a dream version of a Gruenfeld for W hite: the dark-squared bishops have been exchanged, the black f orc es a re u nco ordinate d a nd W hite ca n expand in the centre more or less at will. h5?! This ugly move doesn't accomplish much, but serves to weaken Black's kingside further. W hite is now already clearly better. 15.h4! Whatever Black was trying to do with the hpawn has now been stopped and the weakness on g6 is of far greater importance than that on g4. h6 16.0-0 g4 17.c2 [ 17.e4!? followed by Nc5 is very unpleasant for Black, who is struggling a weak pawn structure and inf erior piece coordination ] 17...f7 18.e2 White wants to play Nf4, poking at the weak pawn on g6. [ 18.a4!? e5 19.a5 d5 20.xd5 cxd5
21.dxe5 xf3 22.xf3 xe5 23.g2 xa5 24.b3 ad8 25.fd1 ] 18...e5 19.dxe5!? [ 19.a4 d6 20.a5 d5 21.e4 b4 22.b3 exd4 23.exd4 ad8 is perfectly satisfactory for Black ] 19...xf3?? Routine pl ay, but missing an important detail. Black should have played 19... dxe5 with a small, but clear advantage for White. 20.xf3?? [ And White returns the favour... After 20.f4! the game would have been over. ] 20...xe5? [ 20...fxe5! is the lesser evil because it takes the f4-sqare away from White's knight on e2. White is of course still better after 21.cd1 f6 22.g2 ] 21.e4! f5 This is an necessity, otherwise White will play Nf4 with even more threats. 22.f4! f6 23.g2 ad8 24.cd1 h6?! [ 24...fe8 25.e4 ( 25.a4!? c8 26.b4 ) 25...fxe4 26.xe4 d5 27.xd5 cxd5 28.xd5 ] 25.d4! xd4?! This looks normal, but it actually creates an abundance of new problems for Black as the king on h6 now gets under fire. 26.exd4 g4 27.e1 f7 [ A passive defence with 27...g8 28.d2 h7 doesn't work either, e.g. 29.b4 h8 30.e6 f7 31.e7 xe7 32.xe7 g7 33.e8+ h7 34.e6 g8 35.e7+ h6 36.xb7 , and more pawns will fall ] 28.d2! e8 [ 28...c4 29.c1 only makes things worse for Black ] [ and 28...h7 29.e6 is also a disaster. ] 29.e6+ f4 Sadly this is the only move, yet it leads to a completely lost endgame. 30.xf4 xe1+ 31.xe1 d5 32.xd5 cxd5 33.e6! Gam e o ver! xe6 34.xe6 f6 Black is only a pawn down, but unfortunately for him, getting the king from h6 to f7 takes four moves because of the knight on e6. 35.f3 h7 36.f2 g8 37.e3 b6 If not the b7pawn will fall after 37...Kf7 38 Nd8+ 38.f4 f7 39.d8+ [ Or 39.e5 e7 40.f4 , and White wins the d5-pawn. ] 39...e8 40.c6 1-0
625
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 626 Meier,Georg Robson,Ray 5th SPICE Cup GpA (8) [John Bartholomew]
A16 2648 2583 23.10.2011
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 g7 6.g2 b6 A trendy move. The problem is that W hite gains some flexibility due to the lessened pressure on c3. He may effectively delay castling, while Black can't really do the same. [ Black players should seriously study the main line 6...0-0 7.0-0 when many reliable moves are available, i.e. ( White has also ventured 7.h4!? here. ) 7...c5 Check the archives. ( or 7...c6; or 7...b6 )] 7.d3 c6 8.e3 0-0 9.d2 e5 10.h4 Having scrutinized many Anti-Grunfeld games over the past few months, I can tell you there's a definite trend towards pushing h2-h4 in nearly every line! Actually, I can't even limit that statement to the Anti-Grunfeld: see, for instance, Radjabov - Ivanchuk in this update. [ 10.h6 is more common, ] [ while 10.0-0 transposes to a well-known line. For recent coverage of the latter, check the archives for Huebner, R (2598)-Kulaots, K (2592)/Porvoo FIN 2011/[Nigel Davies]. ] 10...g4 A novelty mentioned by John Watson in 2005. [ Black has previously played 10...h5 , i.e. 11.g5 ( 11.g5 d4! 12.ge4 c6 13.d1?! e7 Bukal, V (2400)-Leko, P (2255)/Dortmund 1991.) 11...f6 12.e3 Aronian, L (2724)-Areshchenko, A (2653)/ Khanty Mansiysk 2005/[John Watson]. ] 11.g5! Quite a thematic move. White has various ideas: capturing on c6, playing f2-f3, targeting the h7-pawn, opening the h-file, repositioning the knight to e4, etc. [ Watson gives the tempo-gaining 11.h2!? , which also makes sense. For instance, e6 12.xc6 bxc6 13.h5 . Meier's move is more intuitive to me, though W hite's position remains promising here as well. ] 11...e7 Black's position is already difficult, which makes m e question th e entire lin e beginning with 7...Nb6. Others: [ 11...d4!? offers a pawn and might be Black's best bet. After
A) 12.h5 xh5 ( 12...c6 13.hxg6 hxg6 14.0-0-0 ) 13.xh7 e8 ( 13...xh7? 14.g4 ) 14.f3!? ( 14.xb7 b8 15.g2 c6 ); B) 12.xb7 b8 13.g2 f6 14.ge4 f5 15.g5 d7 Black has some practical compensation with White's king in limbo. ] [ 11...f6 12.ge4 d4 13.c5 c6 14.xb7 e7 15.a5 ac8 seems like a less desirable version of 11... Nd4. ] 12.h5 [ White plans to part with the light-square bishop anyway, so he could consider 12.xc6!? bxc6 h e r e , e . g . 13.f3 ( 13.ge4!? ) A) 13...d7 14.h5 ( 14.ge4!? ); B) 13...c8 14.h5 d8 15.hxg6 hxg6 16.ge4 c4 17.c5! d6 18.g4 ] 12...xh5 13.xc6 [ Here 13.xh7!? is interesting. Black must e s s e n t i a l l y s a c r i f i c e a p a wn , a s xh7? ( 13...fd8; or 13...fe8 is necessary.) 14.g4+- is already decisive. ] 13...bxc6 14.ge4?! [ Now 14.xh7 should definitely be preferred. ] 14...f5!? Robson seeks the initiative with an exchange sacrifice. [ This looks unnecessary, as after 14...d7! Black could cover c5 and expect counterplay with ...f7-f5 coming. ] 15.c5 d7 16.xf8 xf8 17.c5 [ 17.f3!? fxe4 18.xe4 White will regain the piece with g3-g4. ] 17...e7 18.b3 [ 18.a6!? ] 18...e4 Opening lines while White is a bit disorganized. 19.0-0-0? [ 19.dxe4 fxe4 20.h4! enables White to fight for the advantage. ( 20.0-0 c4 )] 19...c5? Black misses an excellent chance. [ 19...xc3! would have put White in a predicament. For example, A) 20.bxc3 exd3 21.exd3 ( 21.xd3 xe2 ) 21...xd1; B) 20.xc3 xe2 21.d2 ( 21.de1 g5+ 22.d2 xd2+ 23.xd2 xd3 ) 21...xd3 22.xc6? f6! ] 20.dxe4 fxe4 21.e3 Now White is in control. c4?! [ 21...xc3 is a better chance, e.g. 22.xc3 626
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 22.bxc3 a4 ) 22...xe2 23.de1 f3 ] 22.d4 c5 23.db5 b8? A blunder. [ 23...g4 and Black can still hope. ] 24.g4! Meier is alert. a6 [ 24...xg4 25.f4+- ] 25.d6 [ 25.gxh5 axb5 26.hxg6+is more efficient. ] 25...xg4 26.dxe4 f5?! 27.xc5 b7 28.d6+Now White only needs to consolidate. e7 29.e4 e6 30.f4 xc3 31.bxc3 a4 32.e5 b6 33.xh7! A killer - forcing mate! xh7 34.xe6+ h8 35.e8+ g7 36.f5+ [ faster is 36.f7+ h8 37.f8+ g8 38.h1# ] 36...f6 37.e5+ It's mate after 37...Kf7 38. Qe7+ Kg8 40.Qe8. 1-0
627 Miton,Kamil Vachier Lagrave,Maxime TOP 16 GpA Evry FRA (3) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2581 2727 28.03.2010
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ c6 6.xd5 [ A m u c h s i m p l e r t r e a t m e n t t h a n 6.d4 . White will gain time on Black's queen and rely on his central pawn majority. ] 6...xd5 7.e4 d6 8.d4 d7!? A new order of moves Black may be able to play ...e7-e5 or ...f7-f5 quite quickly. [ In previous games Black had played the automatic 8...g7 , for example 9.e3 0-0 ( An interesting plan for Black is to play for ... f7-f5, for example 9...d7 10.d1 b6 11.c2 0-0 12.e2 g4 13.0-0 f5 14.h3 xf3 15.xf3 fxe4 16.xe4 d5 wa s f in e f o r Bla ck in S te in grim sso n , H (2547)-Areshchenko, A (2673)/Reykjavik 2009 ) 10.e2 g4 11.d1 d7 12.0-0 e5 13.dxe5 e7 14.g5 e8 15.h3 xf3 16.xf3 b6 17.d4 xe5 18.b4 and W hite was slightly better in Turov, M (2595)-Svetlov, D (2399)/St Petersburg 2009. ] 9.e2 [ 9.e3 c a n b e m e t b y b6 ( 9...e5?!
looks dubious after 10.0-0-0 ) 10.c2 g4 transposing. ] 9...b6 10.c2 g4 11.e3 g7 [ 11...f5!? , trying to hunt down light squares in the centre. ] 12.0-0 [ Offering a temporary sacrifice of the d4 pawn but it doesn't really achieve much. He could also play just 12.d1 when f5 makes sense for Black. ] 12...xf3 13.xf3 [ There's still time for Whit to keep his d4 pawn with 13.e5 but then e6 14.xf3 d5 seems fine for Black. ] 13...xd4 14.ad1 e5 15.xd4 exd4 16.e5 e6 17.c5 [ 17.xd4 0-0 would be fine for Black. ] 17...0-0-0 18.xd4 xd4 19.xd4 d8 20.f4 h5 [ And not 20...xa2? because o f 21.g4+ d7 22.d1 with a horrible pin on the knight on d7. ] 21.e1 e8 22.g4 d7 23.gxh5 xe5 24.h1 c7 It seems slightly bizarre to pin the knight on e5 to the king as well as the rook, but it doesn't look bad for Black. 25.hxg6 [ 25.h6 f6 is fine for Black. ] 25...fxg6 26.g2 d6 27.h4 e7 28.g3 d8 29.f3 e8 30.g2 f8 31.e4 e6 32.e2 f7 33.xd6+ xd6 34.h5 gxh5 35.xh5 d5 36.xf7 xf7 37.f3 d2 ½-½
628 Navara,David Svidler,Peter Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A16 2719 2728 21.02.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 a6 7.d4 [ 7.g3 c6 8.g2 e5 9.0-0 g7 10.d3 h6 11.d2 0-0 12.h4 e8 13.xd8 xd8 with at best a tiny little pull for W hite, Z. Rahman-A.Gupta, New Delhi 2007 ] [ 7.e4 b5 8.e2 c6 9.e5!? b4 10.exf6 c2+ 11.d1 xa1 12.b3 e6 13.g5 f5 14.g4 c2+ 15.e1 h6 16.h4 with a ridiculously complicated position, S. Arun Prasad-J.Aswin, Atul 2006 ] 627
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...b5 8.b3 [ 8.d3 c5 9.dxc5 g7 10.e4 0-0 11.a3 c6 12.d2 b4 13.d5 ( 13.a4!? ) 13...xd5!? 14.exd5 f5 15.c4 xb2 16.d1 bxa3!? 17.dxc6 e6 18.c2 b8 19.c4 xc4 20.xc4 b5 21.xb5 axb5 and Black's nasty passed pawn on a2 more than compensates for the sacrificed piece, T.Nyback-D. Howell, Stockholm 2007 ] 8...c6 [ 8...c5 9.dxc5 g7 10.e4 e6 11.c2 A) 11...bd7 12.c6 b6 13.f4 c8 14.e2 ( 14.d4 0-0 15.e2!? ) 14...c4 15.0-0 h5 16.e5 1-0 Sundararajan, K-Aswin,J/Atul IND 2006/The W eek in Chess 634 (34); B) 11...c6 12.e2 c7 13.0-0 0-0 B1) 14.a3 ad8 15.g3 a7 B1a) 16.e3 g4 17.d1 ( 17.d5 xd5 18.exd5 xd5 ) 17...xe3 18.xe3 a5 19.d5 xd5 20.exd5 xd5 21.ac1 h6 is fine for Black; B1b) 16.b4 xe4 17.b2 xc5 18.bxc5 xc5 19.ad1 b4 20.axb4 xb4 21.c1 c8 , and White is already in trouble, J.W erle-Vachier Lagrave, Wijk aan Zee 2007; B2) 14.h3 b4 15.b1 xc5 16.e3 c8 17.c1 c6 18.d4?! ( 18.b4!? b7 19.a4 looks like a better try for White ) 18...xd4 19.xd4 b8= Peng Zhaoqin-I. Nepomniachtchi, Wijk aan Zee 2007 ] 9.g5 [ 9.f4!? ] 9...e6 [ 9...h6 10.xf6 ( 10.f4 e6 11.d1 g5 also appears okay for Black) 10...exf6 11.d1 d6 12.g3 0-0 13.g2 e8 14.0-0 b4 15.a4 xe2 16.c5 xc5 17.dxc5 e8 1/2-1/2 V.Chuchelov-P.Popovic, Katernberg (GER-CH) 2007 ] 10.d1 g7 11.e3 0-0 12.e2 [ 12.d3!? b4 13.b1 c8 is okay for Black ] 12...d5 13.e4 h6 14.h4 f5 15.c5 d6 16.0-0 f7 17.b7 d7 18.g3 So far things look pleasant for Black, who now takes action to create counterplay. g5!? 19.a4 [ 19.c5 d8 20.a4 looks like a better way
to play it for Black, but things are rather complicated ] 19...f4 20.exf4 gxf4 21.h4 db4 22.axb5 axb5 23.xa8 xa8 24.xb5 d5 Black is fine now 25.e2 b8 26.c5 xd4 27.xd4 xc5 and despite plenty of play being left in this position, the players agreed upon a draw. ½-½
629 Ni Hua Li,Chao 6th TCh-CHN Ningbo CHN (3) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2667 2613 18.04.2010
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ d7 6.h4 c6 7.d4 g8 [ An interesting alternative to the preservation of castling rights with 7...f6 . Black supports the posting of his bishop on g7 so as to win time on White's queen. ] 8.e5!? e6 [ And not 8...g7 now because of 9.xc6 xd4 10.xd8 . ] 9.e4 b4 10.xd8+ xd8 11.d1 W eird but best. And now W hite enjoys an edge in the endgame because of his central pawn majority. e8 12.d4 f6 [ Maybe 12...d7 is better here, for example 13.xd7 xd7 14.e3 g7 15.c4 c6 16.e2 a5 17.d3 c5 18.dxc5 xb2 19.b1 e5 20.d4 ( 20.f4!? ) 20...c7 21.e2 ad8 which was OK for Black in Sargissian, G (2660) -Vachier Lagrave, M (2684)/Paris 2009. ] 13.f3 g5?! This advance of the g-pawn breaks with previous precedent, though I hesitate to call it a 'prepared novelty' because it probably wasn't! [ 13...c5 14.c4 d7 15.e3 cxd4 16.xd4 e7 was played in Halkias, S (2566)-Bykhovsky, A (2466)/ Benidorm 2009 and seems more logical to me. But I don't particularly like Black's game here either. ] 14.c4 f7 15.h3 c5 16.e5! cxd4 17.e4 Black's position is falling apart at the seams. He can thank 13...g5?! for a lot of the damage. d7 18.xf6 [ 18.exf6 might have been a simpler way to 628
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 play this. ] [ White usually chooses between the text and 18...c8 19.b3 9.b3 . A very recent example of the former: [ Suddenly it's not that easy an more, for b4!? ( Kaufman gives 9...xc3 10.dxc3 example 19.xg8 xc4 20.xg5+ c7 g7 11.b2 a5 12.g3 a4 , as in Gelfand, 21.b3 c2 22.a3 xg8 23.axb4 xf2 B (2733)-Svidler, P (2726)/ Dagomys RUS is looking a bit messy. But White could kill 2009. Black has good counterplay.) 10.d1 the counterplay here with 24.c1+ b8 e6 11.b2 g7 12.c1 0-0 13.a4 25.c2 , exchanging off Black's active rook. ] h6!? 14.c5 ad8 15.e3 f5 16.a3 19...xf6 20.exf6 b5 c2!? 17.a2 d5 with highly interesting [ 20...d5 was probably better. ] play. Postny, E (2653)-Shankland, S (2579)/ 21.xb5 c5 22.c4 c6 23.b2 xc4 Biel SUI 2012. ] 24.bxc4 e5 25.c1 h6 26.e1 g4?! [ 9.e4 b4 ] 27.xe5 xe5 9...g7 1-0 [ 9...b8 was seen in Buhmann, R (2587)Nedilko, V (2400) / Rijeka CRO 2010/[Nigel Davies]. ] 630 A16 10.g2 e6 11.a3!? Covering the b4 square. [ 11.b3 is more common, but after 0-0-0 Petrosian,Tigran L 2661 ( mo re a dve nt u ro u s is 11...0-0!? , i.e. Gupta,Abhijeet 2627 12.b2 b4 13.0-0 fd8 14.d3 g4 15.f3 21st Kavala Open A (7) 30.07.2012 d4+ 16.h1 e6 17.a4 e3 [John Bartholomew] Andreikin, D (2648)-Hammer, J (2583)/ L u b b u c k U S A 2 0 0 9 .) 12.b2 xc3 The early queen trade Black offers in the 5... 13.xc3 xc3 14.dxc3 d6 White is trying Nc6 Pseudo-Grunfeld used to be regarded to squeeze water from a stone. Black simply with suspicion, but many recent games have intends ...Rh8-d8 with a fully acceptable demonstrated the resiliency of Black's game, e.g. 15.d1 hd8 16.xd6 xd6 position. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 17.e4 c5! 18.c2 f5 19.e4 g4!? 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ c6 A move that has ( 19...xe4 20.xe4 e6 21.f3 f5= ) 20.f3 been steadily gaining in popularity. It was xf3 21.f1 xe4 22.xe4 e6 23.xf7 recently recommended by Larry Kaufman in xe4+ 24.d2 h5 and, though still "The Kaufman Repertoire for Black & White". objectively fine, White went on to lose the [ T h e p r i n c i p l e c o n t i n u a t i o n i s 5...d7 ending in Markos, J (2585)-Li Chao2 . See the "Pseudo-Grunfeld" guide in the (2669)/Shenzhen CHN 2011. Black is +2 =7 archives. ] -1 from the position after move 14. ] 6.e5 d6 12.e3 Now all of White's pawns [ White has better chances for an advantage 11...b8 in the line 6...db4!? 7.a3 . See Laznicka, occupy dark squares, so he'll have to take V ( 2 6 0 1 ) - N e c h e p u r e n k o , R ( 2 4 7 6 ) / extra care on the light squares left behind. 0-0 13.a4 c8!? Black senses an opportunity to Gaziantep 2008/[Hansen, Carsten]. ] 7.xc6 xc6 8.xc6+ bxc6 The evaluation s w i t c h h i s b i s h o p t o t h e e n t i c i n g a 6 - f 1 of this queenless middlegame determines the diagonal. [ A different strategy is 13...b6 14.c5 theoretical fate of 5...Nc6. Black's fractured d5 as in Lalic, B (2503)-Bakalarz, M (2320)/ pawns are offset by his excellent piece activity, Plovdiv 2003. Following 15.e4 ( 15.0-0 e.g. .. Ra8-b8, ...Bf8-g7, and the possibility of looks wiser) 15...c4 16.d3 d4! 17.dxc4 ...Nd5-b4. White must proceed cautiously if xc5 18.h6 fd8 19.c1 d4 20.c2 c5 he hopes to exploit his structural advantage. Black was slightly for choice. ] This position first appeared in 2008 according to my database, and 50 subsequent games 14.0-0?! [ All of this had occurred before in a highhave yielded respectable results for Black. level game from last year. That contest went Almost two-thirds of games in this line have 14.c5 , which looks stronger to me. White been drawn. 9.g3 629
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 doesn't allow the bishop to travel freely to a6. Nevertheless, after a5 15.0-0 b5 16.d4 e5! 17.a4 b6 18.dxe5 xe5 19.e4 b4 20.f4 ( 20.b1!? ) 20...xf4 21.gxf4 a6 22.fc1 d8 ( 22...xb2 is playable, e.g. 23.xa6 xa6 24.xc6 d3 25.xc7 fb8 ) 23.f1 xc5 24.xc5 xb2 25.xa5 g4 26.c5 e2 27.xe2 xe2 28.c4 dd2 29.f1 a2 a draw was soon agreed in Vitiugov, N (2720)-Areshchenko, A (2687) / Olginka RUS 2011. ] 14...b6! A perfectly timed response. Black is happy to part with a pawn to obtain a bind on the light squares. [ After 14...a6 15.e1 White can hope for a miniscule advantage with Na4-c5 looming. ] 15.xc6?! White accepts the offering, but he'll very quickly regret doing so. [ 15.xb6 doesn't bother Black, e.g. xb6 16.d4 e5! ] [ Gupta would have likely met 15.c5 with d7! , but perhaps this was best. A draw is the logical result after 16.xd7 xd7 17.d4 c5 18.dxc5 xb2 19.xb2 xb2 20.fd1= .] 15...xa4 16.xa4 a6 17.e1 d3 Black has convincingly won the theoretical discussion. White's extra pawn is of almost no signif icance, and Petrosian f aces th e unpleasant task of trying to free his position. 18.a2 b1 19.a1 d3 20.a2 c5! 21.d1 [ 21.b3? b1-+ ] 21...c4 22.e2 b3 23.a4 a5 24.d1 White has seemingly run out of ideas. [ Exchanging a couple pieces with 24.xd3 cxd3 25.a3 xa3 26.bxa3 c8 27.g2 may offer better chances to resist. ] 24...b4 25.e2 b3 26.d1 b6 27.e2 fb8 28.f4 e5 29.fxe5 xe5 30.xd3 cxd3 31.b3? An ill-timed bid for freedom. [ 31.a3 c8 ] 31...xb3 32.a3 c8!-+ Now the everpresent threat of ...Rc8-c2 essentially freezes White's entire position. In particular, the a2 rook is completely stymied. 33.f2 c7 Ta k in g a wa y t he e 7 squ a re just in ca se . 34.f3 f5! Zugzwang motifs begin to appear! 35.h3 h5 36.g1 f7 37.c1 Surely White wasn't thrilled about exchanging his only semi-
active piece, but there wasn't much he could do. [ 37.g4 fxg4+ 38.hxg4 h4-+ is hardly an improvement. ] 37...xc1 38.xc1 b1 39.a3 e6! Yup, the threat is simply ...Ke6-d5-c4-b3! White has no answer. 40.e4 d4 41.exf5+ xf5 42.g4+ hxg4+ 43.hxg4+ e5 44.e7 d5 45.f4 b7 46.d8 c4! 47.a3 b2 48.a2 b3 49.xb2+ xb2 50.xa5 c2 White resigned. White is going to have to come up with something big in the 5..Nc6 line, as the queenless middlegame is holding up very well for Black. 0-1
631 Piket,Jeroen Bacrot,Etienne zt 1.1 Escaldes AND (3) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2605 2555 08.11.1998
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 Clearly Black wants to play a Gruenfeld Defence, but one of the advantages of playing an English moveorder is that it permits White to avoid this. [ If Black had played 3...g7 instead, then White can play, not 4 d4, but 4.e4 ] 4.a4+ This is less common than [ 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ but is not without its points. ] 4...d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 g7 I n f a c t , t h e p o si t i o n re s e m b l e s a 5 Q b 3 Gruenfeld, except that the white d-pawn is unmoved. 7.e4 Played by Boersma a couple of times in 1988, and then f orgotten, ten years later it has suddenly been ' r e d i s c o v e r e d ' . c6 Black attempts to reorganise his queenside, the normal move is [ 7...0-0 when 8.e5 g4 9.d4 c6?! quickly turned to White's advantage: 10.f4 a5 11.e2! c5 12.h3 cxd4 13.xd4 h6 14.d1 b6 15.d2 f5 16.xf5 xf5 17.d5 d8 18.b4 and Black is in big trouble, Ivanchuk,V-Shirov,A/Polanica Zdroj 1998. ] 8.d3 The advantage of not playing d4, is that White can now play this move, which supports e4, and avoids giving Black a target on d4. 0-0 9.e2 bd7 10.f4 White menaces to take 630
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the c6-bishop by Nd4, and force Black to decentralise his f6-knight. h5 11.e3 e5 Oddly, we have reached a Boleslavsky Siciliantype structure which is very favourable for W hite as he has a firm hold on d4, and his q u e e n s i d e i s f r e e t o e x p a n d . 12.g3 To keep the knight out of f4. hf6 13.0-0 e8 14.b4! The advance of the b-pawn is very embarrassing for Black. a6 15.a4 b6 16.b3 d7 17.fd1 e6 18.c2 e7 19.g5! Keeping-up the pressure. d8?! It is understandable that Black wished to avoid [ 19...d7 20.a5 c8 21.d5 when he is being driven back, but nevertheless, this was his best chance. ] 20.xe6 xe6 21.b5 axb5 22.xb5 W hite's queenside initiative is very strong. a8 Ugly, but necessary, unfortunately this knight will stay here until the end of the game. 23.ab1 c6 24.a3 d6 25.c4 xc4 26.dxc4 With a powerful bishop pair, and a target on the b-f ile, W hite should win. b6 27.c5 At the same time this move frees the e2bishop, and creates an outside passed pawn. bxc5 28.xc5 fe8 29.xd8 xd8 30.b7 Rook to the seventh, threatening Bc4. h8 31.c4 Black has had enough, his position is a picture in passivity. 1-0
9...d5!? [ Black persists with his concept. 9...f6 10.e4 d7 11.f3 e5 12.c4 is a more solid approach, although White has a plus. ] 10.e4! [ Best, White sacs a pawn for the initiative, 10.xc7?! d8 11.f4 f6 is too dangerous. ] 10...xe4 11.e3 0-0-0 12.e2 e5?! [ P r o b a b l y B l a c k s h o u l d r i s k 12...xg2!? 13.d1 ( 13.g1 h6 14.xf7 xf7 15.xg2 is also feasible) 13...xh1 14.xd5 xd5 15.c4 e6 16.xe6 fxe6 which is none too clear following 17.g4 ] 13.0-0 There is a threat of Rd1, Black has no time to develop his f8-bishop because of the loose position of its e4 counterpart. d3?! 14.c4! With this further sac White guards the initiative. xc4 [ It transpires that the black pieces are awkwardly placed, 14...xc4?! 15.xd3 xd3 16.xf7 forks the two rooks, and wins. ] [ 14...xc4? 15.xe5 xe2 16.xh8 is even worse. ] 15.fd1 The point of White's play, d5, c4, e5, and f7 are all menaced, how can Black avoid material loss? d3 [ Giving the queen doesn't solve Black's problems: 15...xe2?! 16.xd5 xd5 and now 17.e4! threatening Nc3. ] 16.b3 632 A16 [ Another strong possibility is 16.xd3 xd3 17.ac1 e5 18.c3 xa2 (so that the d3Piket,Jeroen 2628 bishop is untouchable because of the backSvidler,Peter 2695 ra n k m a t e ) 19.c1! and the bishop is lost, Korchnoi Birthday KO (1.1) 29.04.2001 all the same. ] [Tony Kosten] 16...a6 17.f3 a5?! [ B l a c k m u st u n d e f e n d f 7 , a s 17...f5?? 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 is a blunder, 18.g4 ] xd5 5.a4+ d7 6.h4 xc3 7.dxc3 [ but 17...d6 is a better try. ] c6 8.g3 xb4 19.xf7 g7 20.ab1 [ White takes control of e5, 8.e4 gave White 18.b4! Thus White not only wins the exchange, but nothing in the archives, after e5 ] also retains a strong attack on the queenside. 8...f5 21.xh8 xh8 22.h3+ b8 [ Unusual, Black tries to hinder e4, instead, a5 23.xh7 f6?! 24.xg6 he normally prepares ...e5 with 8...f6 ] [ Good enough, but missing the opportunity 9.g5! to hit Black with 24.xb7! xb7 25.xd3 [ The critical reply. Although White moves winning further material because of the this piece twice, he regains control over e4. weak back-rank. ] 9.g5 f6 10.d1 c8 11.c1 e5 allowed Black easy equality in Krivoshey,S- 24...xa2 25.e4 1-0 Jasnikowski,Z/Katowice 1995. ] 631
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 633 Piket,Jeroen Svidler,Peter KasparovChess GP g/60, (3.2) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2630 2670 02.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.h4!? A speciality of Piket, this sharp move aims to exploit the weakness of the black kingside. f6 [ A new move! Black stops the further a d v a n c e o f t h e h - p a wn , b u t l o s e s t h e possibility of capturing, Gruenfeld-like, on c3. 5...g7 6.h5 f5 7.b3 c6 8.d4 is a little better for White, Ftacnik,L-Kouatly, B/Thessaloniki 1984, but ] [ 5...h6 is the preferred reply, with 6.e4 xc3 7.bxc3 g7 8.d4 c5 reaching a s t a n d a r d G r u e n f e l d p o s i t i o n , wi t h t h e exception of the two h-pawns, 9.b1 0-0 10.e2 d7 11.0-0 Ribli,Z-Smejkal,J/Novi Sad 1982, and now cxd4 12.cxd4 e6 13.e3 b6 is fine for Black. ] 6.d4 g7 7.e4 0-0 8.e2 c5 Black takes his first swipe at the white centre. 9.d5 e6 10.h5! White protects his centre from the side! xh5 [ Black might as well take the pawn. 10...exd5 is the other possibility, when White has the interesting line: 11.hxg6 hxg6 12.e5!? g4 13.g5 f6? 14.xd5+ xd5 15.xd5 fxg5 16.e7+ f7 17.xc8 xc8 18.xg5+ picking-up the loose knight on g4. ] 11.g4 f6 12.g5 b6 Black has to unpin t h e k n i g h t . 13.xf6 xf6 14.d2 Threatening both Qh6, and e5. At the cost of his h-pawn White has opened the h-file and obtained a slight lead in development. g7 15.0-0-0 d7 16.g5 c4 17.h2 White prepares to double his rooks on the hfile. e8 18.d6 d8 19.f4 With an unpleasant threat. a5? [ This allows a simple tactic. Perhaps Black should be prepared to part with his darksquared bishop: 19...xc3!? 20.bxc3 a5 21.b2 b6 with reasonable counterplay. ] 20.xh7! f5 [ 20...xh7? allows a quick mate, starting: 21.xf7 , threatening Rh1. ] 21.gxf6 xf6 22.xg7+ xg7 23.e5
[ After 23.e5 Black's king is too exposed, h5 24.h4 d7?! 25.e7+ g8 26.g5 forces mate. ] 1-0
634 Poldauf,Dirk Pezerovic,Edin Bundesliga 9900 (5.5) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2453 2447 11.12.1999
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c6 3.e4 d5 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.e5 d4 6.exf6 dxc3 7.bxc3 gxf6 Capturing towards the centre as they recommend in many books though I don't think this is the best. [ 7...exf6 would leave White with a passed dpawn but it's certainly not out of the question. The pawn would be difficult to advance and Black would get free play for his pieces plus a super strong kingside. ] 8.d4 f5 Black has tried a number of alternatives in the smattering of available games, but none of them look entirely satisfactory: [ a) 8...a5 9.d2 c6 10.f3 g4 11.e2 0-0-0 12.c4 a3 13.d5 b4 14.0-0 e5 15.b1 e4 16.d4 was horrible for Black in Ravikumar, V (2305)-Roth, R (2370)/Copenhagen 1980. ] [ b) 8...e6 9.d3 d7 10.f3 a5 11.e2 a3 12.d2 b2 13.b1 xa2 14.0-0 a3 15.e3 e7 16.c4 a3 17.c5 gave White a very strong initiative in Lautier, J (2660)-Bajarany, I (2405)/Berlin 1997. ] [ c) 8...c6 9.f3 g7 (This at least lends Black's kingside more protection) 10.e2 g4 11.h3 h5 12.0-0 0-0 13.b1 b6 14.a3 c7 15.h4 g6 16.xg6 hxg6 17.f3 fd8 18.xc6 xc6 19.xe7 d7 20.e1 xc3 was only a bit better for White in Lechtynsky, J-Tichy, V/Havirov 1971. ] 9.f3 e6 10.e2 c7 11.c4 White is simply better here because of his central control and the potential vulnerability of Black's king. Over the following moves he shifts gear to 'attack mode', but would also have been better with more modest play. d6 12.0-0 0-0 13.d5 d7 14.d4 [ White could have prepared this with 14.h1 632
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 .] 14...xh2+ 15.h1 e5 16.xf5 xa1 17.d6 a5 18.d3 h8 [ 18...exf5? 19.h5 would give White a winning attack. ] 19.h6 exf5 20.xf8 xf8? Presumably missing the reply. [ 20...xf8 was better and fine for Black. ] 21.h5! d2 22.xf5 h6 23.xa1 [ 23.f4 is just winning for White after g7 24.xa1 xf4 25.xd7 . ] 23...e5! 24.c5 g7 25.h4 b6 26.cxb6 axb6 27.d7! d8 [ 27...xd7 would lose a piece after 28.g4+ . ] 28.g3+ g5 29.xg5+ fxg5 30.b1 f6 [ And not 30...xd7? 31.d1 etc. ] 31.g4 xd7 32.xd7 xd7 33.xb6+ e5 34.xh6 d2 35.g2 xa2 ½-½
with 8.Bb5 in Kopinski - Orzech but didn't achieve much. ] [ Bocharov, D (2574)-Ivanov, S (2553)/St Petersburg 2004 varied with 6.d4 but after c6 7.ge2 f5 8.g3 xg3 9.hxg3 e6 10.e3 b6 11.d2 c8 12.e2 b4 13.0-0 0-0 14.ac1 a5 Black had an excellent game. ] 6...c6 7.c2 g6!? [ Shamkovich didn't like 7...xc3 8.dxc3 g4 because of 9.d4! xe5 10.f4 c6 11.f5 but he might well be able to improve with 8...g6. ] 8.xe4 dxe4 9.xe4 f5 10.f4 g7 11.c4 [ After 11.d4 S h a m k o vi c h l i k e d d5! intending 12...Nb4, 12...Be4 or 12...Rd8. But there could be other good moves such as the simple 11...0-0. ] 11...a5 12.e6 [ After 12.0-0 xe5 Black would simply be better because of the isolated White d-pawn 635 A16 and a simplified position. ] 12...xe6 13.xe6 fxe6 14.0-0 f5 Polugaevsky,Lev [ After the game Shamkovich preferred Shamkovich,Leonid 14...f8! , presumably intending 15.h4 USSR 1971 xf3 16.gxf3 d4 with good compensation [Nigel Davies] for the exchange. ] 15.c7 d5 16.xb7 b8 17.a6 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c6 3.e4 d5 4.cxd5 [ 17.c7? i s s t r o n g l y m e t b y e5 [ 4.exd5 cxd5 5.d4 would transpose into when W hite's queen needs urgent rescue the Panov Attack line against the Carobecause of Black's threatened .. .0-0 Kann Defence. But with White's knight on followed by ...Rfc8. ] c3 already he loses options such as 1.c4 c6 2.e4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.cxd5 Nf6 5.Bb5+ or 5. 17...0-0 18.e2 xb2 19.xb2 [ 19.xb2 xb2 20.e3 e5 21.ac1 Qa4+ and Gundaram's 4.d4 Nf6 5.c5. ] is fine for White. ] 4...cxd5 5.e5 [ After 5.exd5 xd5 6.d4 Black has quite a ½-½ good line in xc3 7.bxc3 g6 , for example 8.f3 g7 9.e2 0-0 10.0-0 c6 11.a4 A16 d7 12.a3 c8 13.g5 e8 14.ab1 636 Psakhis,Lev 2534 a5 was comfortable for Black in Khmelniker,Ilya 2430 Charleshouse, G-Arkell, K (2442), W igan 22nd Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (6) 2001. ] 5...e4!? Offering a pawn sacrifice that White [John Watson] probably shouldn't accept. Another win for White against the Gruenfeld [ Black has alternatives here in 5...fd7 ] with a Qa4+ system. W hite tries a daring [ and 5...d4 . ] queen sacrifice, with on the one hand activity 6.f3 [ As Shamkovich pointed out, Black gets a but on the other weaknesses. The former good game after 6.xe4 dxe4 7.a4+ prevails. 1.c4 f6 2.f3 g6 3.c3 d5 c6 8.xe4 d4! . White varied from this 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 a6 633
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black needn't be worried about any tactical incursions such as Nb5 so this move only serves to play the standard queenside expansion with ...b5. In my opinion this is not so good because it doesn't go well with . ..Bd7. Maybe just [ 6...g7 7.e5 0-0 8.xd7 bxd7 when the bishop pair has come at the cost of a lot of development, or ] [ 6...c6 7.d4 e6 ] 7.d4 b5 8.b3 [ 8.d3 may also yield some advantage because . ..b4 and ...Bf5 weakens Black's queenside. ] 8...g7 9.e4 0-0 10.e5! e6 11.exf6! The computer hates this 3-pieces-forqueen+pawn sacrifice, of course, claiming a wi n n i n g p o s i t i o n f o r B la c k . B u t P s a k h i s disagrees. Along with great development, the weakness of b3 actually helps his game by giving him the c-file. At least in a practical game, W hite has plenty of chances. xb3 12.fxg7 xg7 13.axb3 c6 14.e3 b4 Still a kill for Black according to the usually reliable HiArcs. 15.c1 d7 16.e2 e6?! 17.d5! xd5 [ 17...d6 18.0-0 xd5 19.xd5 xd5 20.xc7 fe8 ( 20...xb3 21.d1!? a2 22.d4+ g8 23.xe7 fe8 24.fe1 xe7 25.xe7 illustrates the kind of compensation that White can get: bishops and activity.) 21.c3 ad8 22.a1 d6 ( 22...d6 23.c5 c6!? 24.b4 threatens Rd1. )] 18.d4 d6 19.xd5 xd5 20.f3 d6 21.xa8 xa8 22.0-0 Now the material is nominally about equal, but the c-file and backward c-pawn grant W hite a lot of good squares. g8 [ 22...c5? 23.xc5 e5 24.c6 ] [ 22...e5 23.c6 g8 24.fd1 e6 25.b4 transposes ] 23.c6 e5 24.b4 e8 25.fd1 e6 26.h3 b3 27.h6? This slip doesn't end up hurting White, but [ 27.d7! xb2 28.h6 is decisive: Black can't move! ] 27...e6 28.c5 f6 29.d8 But why resign, o r i s t h is a m i s p ri n t ? P l a y m i g h t g o e7 30.cd5 [ White should go back and try something
like 30.c6! e6 31.a7 with pressure. Maybe the score was truncated. ] 1-0
637 Psakhis,Lev Lujan,C 2nd Open San Marino SMR (2) [John Watson]
A16 2551 2378 06.06.2006
Here's another 4.Qa4+ Gruenfeld and another win. Amazingly, Psakhis repeats his stunt from two months ago, in which we saw him give up his queen for three pieces and a pawn. This time it's for three pieces and two pawns! Furthermore, Black has no weaknesses. On the other hand, the bishop pair can be a mighty weapon. 1.c4 f6 2.f3 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 c6 [ The earlier Psakhis game went 6...a6 7.d4 b5 8.b3 g7 9.e4 0-0 10.e5 e6 11.exf6 xb3 12.fxg7 xg7 13.axb3 c6 14.e3 , when the d-pawn didn't fall (essentially, ...a6 and ...b5 cost time. I prefer the development with ... Nc6). b4 15.c1 d7 16.e2 e6 17.d5 xd5 18.d4 d6 19.xd5 xd5 20.f3 d6 21.xa8 xa8 22.0-0 g8 23.c6 e5 24.b4 e8 25.fd1 e6 26.h3 b3 27.h6 e6 28.c5 f6 29.d8 e7 30.cd5 1-0 Psakhis, -Khmelniker, Cappelle la Grande 2006 ] 7.d4 g7 8.e4 0-0 9.e5!? e6 10.exf6 xc4 11.fxg7 xg7 12.xc4 Exactly the same idea, but by comparison Black's ahead in development and can't resist the d-pawn. xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.e2 b4!? Maybe Black should play the standard restrictive move [ 14...c6 ] [ or if he feeling frisky, just get that kingside majority rolling by, e.g., 14...e5 15.e3 h4 16.0-0 f5! ] 15.0-0 ad8 16.a3 b3 17.d1 c4 [ 17...b6 ] 18.f3 b3?! Would Black honestly take a draw here? That shows a very negative and pa ssive a t t it u d e, so P sakh is, a bs o lu t e ly unobjectively but with a good psychological sense, turns down the draw. 634
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 18...c6! takes away key squares from White's pieces. ] 19.e1 fe8 20.e4 b6 21.d2 Psakhis is just messing around hoping that something will show up. c2 [ 21...d3! 22.e4 f6! with ...e5 to come. ] 22.e4 c5 23.b4 d4?! It probably doesn't hurt that much but Black seems to be determined to lose time. 24.a2 e5 25.c2 Okay, so now the omission of ...c6 at some point starts to hurt. c6 and c7 are both vulnerable. e7?! [ 25...d7 26.b2 f6 ] 26.h4!? [ More psychology. White could start to get real chances after 26.b2 d7 27.f4 f5!? 28.c6 d3 29.a4 ] 26...f5? He keeps losing tempi with every move! This one's really a mistake. 27.f3 xe4?? Black must be in time trouble, or Ps ak h is ' reje ct ion of t h e d ra w m ay ha ve thrown him off. Now White just vacuums up material: [ 27...d7 ] 28.xe4 fxe4 29.g5 d1+ 30.h2 f7 [ 30...exf3 31.xe7 fxg2 32.xg2 , b u t t h e e x t r a p i e c e wi l l b e a t t h e t w o pawns rather easily. ] 31.xe5 f5 32.xc7+ g8 33.g4 Maybe next time he'll spot Black queen and t h r e e p a wn s f o r h i s p i e c e s ! A t r i b u t e t o courageous play. 1-0
h6 The most common (although from such a small selection of games this is perhaps not too relevant), Black stops the g-pawn in its tracks. [ 4...d6 attacks g4, and prepares a square on d7 for the king's knight, 5.h3 ( 5.g5 fd7 ) 5...e5 6.g2 c6 ( 6...0-0 Claesen, P (2260)-Bastida, A Odessa 1990, 1-0 (40), 7.ge2 ) 7.ge2 e6 8.b3 h5 occurred in the stem game, and continued 9.g5 g8 10.h4 f6? too loosening! Vandevoort, P (2010)-Grooten, H (2340) Belfort 1989 (but 0-1 (20)), as now 11.a3! e7 12.e4 is seriously unpleasant, close to winning. ] [ 4...0-0!? is provocative, 5.g5!? ( 5.g2 d6 6.h3 bd7 7.ge2 is more solid (or 'sensible', as you prefer), b8 8.0-0 a6 9.d3 c5 10.a4 e8 11.b1 c7 12.b4 with an edge, Jadoul, M (2400)-Van der Stricht , G (21 75) G en t 1 99 5, 1-0 (3 3).; 5.h4!? ) 5...e8 ( 5...h5 6.e2 ) 6.h4 e5 7.f3 c6 8.h5 d5 ('counter a wing attack' etc.) 9.cxd5 cxd5 unclear, Fries Nielsen, J (2369)-Jacobsen, B (2306) Helsingor 2013, 1/2-1/2 (23). ] 5.g2 c6! A new move, and a good one Black prepares ...d5. [ 5...d6 6.h3 A) 6...c5 7.a3 ( 7.ge2 and d4 immediately is better.) 7...a6 8.ge2 c7 9.b4 0-0 10.d4 d7 11.0-0 b8 12.a2!? a nice idea, b5?! 13.dxc5 dxc5?! 14.d2! the point, Bc6 will win a p ie ce, A n de rse n, J (2 2 7 6 )Matthiesen, M (2304) Aarhus 2010, 1-0 638 A16 (26).; B) 6...e5 typical KID play, but White's h3 Rapport,Richard 2704 and g4 looks more useful than ...h6 Melkumyan,Hrant 2655 compared to a normal Staunton setup. Riga Tech op 4th (7) 22.08.2014 7.ge2 c6 [Kosten, Tony] B1) 8.d4 0-0 9.0-0 e8 10.b3 i s a g o o d p a w n a r r a n g e m e n t , exd4 1.e3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 g7 (This position 11.xd4 ( 11.exd4 ) 11...d5 12.cxd5 is also likely to arrive from the move-order 1 xd5 13.xd5 cxd5 14.b2 c6 c 4 N f 6 2 N c 3 g 6 3 e 3 B g 7 ) . 4.g4!? Vandevoort, P (2205)-Penson, T (2280) This is actually the 4th most popular move Brasschaat 1990, 1-0 (49), when here ... and the highest scoring for W hite! 15.c1! with a clear positional plus White intends to fianchetto his light-squared because of the IQP and likely weaker bishop, but grab more kingside space than light-squared bishop.; normally. It is an invention of Belgian Pascal B2) 8.b3 a5 9.b1!? ( 9.0-0 Vandevoort from 1989, but he stopped playing and then d4 is simple and good.) 9...e6 it soon after, and went on to become an IM. 635
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.0-0 0-0 11.f4!? ( 11.d4 ) 11...exf4 12.exf4 ( 12.xf4! simple and good, White will play Bb2 and use the open ffile. ) 12...h5! 13.f5! gxf5 Andersen, J (2300)-Borbjerggaard, L (2365) Denmark 1998, 1-0 (27), and now 14.gxh5 xh5 15.d4 promises excellent play for the pawn. ] 6.h4!? Treating a 2650 player with utter disdain! [ The normal 6.h3 d5 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.ge2 would lead to a less exciting game, perhaps. ] 6...d6 Taking aim at g4. [ 6...d5 7.g5 hxg5 8.hxg5 xh1 9.xh1 h7 10.cxd5 xg5 was also possible. ] 7.g5 hxg5 8.hxg5 xh1 9.xh1 h7!? This knight looks pretty dim to me, why not [ 9...fd7 or even ] [ 9...g4!? 10.d4 e5 and Black is certainly not worse. ] 10.f4 e5 11.e2 e7 12.b3 Planning Ba3 a n d 0 - 0 - 0 . exf4 Black wants to exchange queens. [ 12...a6 13.a3 c5 14.0-0-0 f5 was a sharper approach. ] 13.exf4 g4 14.xe7+ [ 14.f3 xe2+ 15.xe2 might offer more. ] 14...xe7 15.b2 Maybe threatening Nd5+, as the g7-bishop is loose. d7 [ 15...a6 is b e t t e r, a s t h e n 16.d5+?! is met by f8 ] 16.f3 f5 17.ge2 a6 18.a4 xb2 19.xb2 f6 Time to get the h7-knight back into the game. 20.f2 f8 21.h1 f7 Just in time. 22.gxf6 xf6 23.g3 c5 Black has no problems, and might even be a bit better. 24.h8?! g4+ [ 24...b1 is awkward, hitting the a2-pawn, 25.b4 e6 and White might have to play 26.h1 xa2 27.a1 to avoid losing a pawn. ] 25.g2 e6 26.d3!? Tricky. xd3 27.xg4 Pinning the knight. e7 [ 27...xf4?? 28.h7+ ] [ My computer likes 27...a6 although I'm not sure whether this is to play ... b5, or to avoid having the a-pawn hanging later on. ] 28.b8! xf4+ 29.f3! Walking into a discovered attack! d5+ There is nothing better. 30.g2 f4+ 31.f3 d5+ 32.g2
f4+ ½-½
639 Reinderman,Dimitri Greenfeld,Alon Amsterdam Batavia Grolsch 5th (7) [Danny Gormally]
A16 2599 2540 07.03.13
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ These anti-Grünfeld lines are becoming increasingly popular these days, and as a Grünfeld player myself are always annoying t o f ace- W h ite tends to set th e tempo. d7 6.c2 b6 7.d4 g7 8.e4 0-0 9.e3 g4 10.e5! xe5 Personally speaking I would be reluctant to make this decision- many Kings Indian and Grünfeld pla ye rs a re lo a th e t o give u p th e ir d a rk squared bishop under any circumstances. [ 10...e6!? Would be more in the spirit of the opening. 11.d1 c8 12.f4 c6 13.e2 f5! grabbing crucial space 14.0-0 fxe4 15.xe4 d5 16.d2 d7 17.g5 xe5 18.xe6 f3+ 19.xf3 xe6 White has less than nothing 20.c1 h8 21.c4 ad8 22.b3 d6 23.f2 b6 24.f5 gxf5 25.xf5 xf5 26.xf5 f8 27.d3 f4 28.xf4 xf4 29.h3? xd4+! 0-1 Szabo, G (2553)-Petrisor, A (2383)/Plovdiv 20128 ] 11.dxe5 c6 12.h3 e6 13.d1 c8 14.f4 It seems to me White has a comfortable edge, as not only does he possess the two bishops, but Black can undertake little in the way of constructive play. He has no pawn breaks to speak and no dynamism, a direct consequence of giving up the dark-squared bishop so easily. d8 15.c5 [ Nonetheless a player of the calibre of Kamsky was quite happy to defend this position 15.b3 b4 16.xd8+ xd8 17.b1 f5 18.exf6 exf6 19.e2 e7 20.0-0 f7 21.f2 d8 22.d1 xd1+ 23.xd1 c5 24.f1 c6 25.g3 g7 26.g2 h5 27.b5 c8 Topalov, V (2775)Kamsky, G (2732)/Kazan 2011. ] 15...xd1+ 16.xd1 e8 17.c1 d8 18.b5! a6 19.xc6 xc6 20.xe7 d7 21.f6 A bishop reaching this square spells doom for the Black king. a4 22.0-0 xc3 636
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.bxc3 xa2 24.f5 c4 25.f2 c5 26.f4 a5 Black's queenside counterplay is horribly slow, as W hite's next turn convincingly demonstrates. 27.e6! fxe6 28.fxg6 hxg6 29.e5 g7 30.xg7 xg7 31.f6+ h7 32.h2 d6+ 33.e5 d7 34.f8 1-0
with interesting play. ( or 10...c6 11.h6 xh6 12.xh6 d4!? ); C) 9...e5 C1) 10.0-0 0-0 is fine for Black. For instance, 11.h6 c6 ( 11...e8 12.xg7 xg7 is also fine for Black. White has tried 8(!) different moves here without particular success.) 12.xg7 xf3+ 13.xf3 xg7 14.b4!? c4 15.c2 d6 16.fd1 a5! 17.ab1 640 A16 axb4 18.xb4 e7 with an excellent ga m e . T e s ke , H (2 4 8 6 )-J o a c h im , S Reinderman,Dimitri 2581 (2443)/Panormo 2001.; Harika,D 2516 C2) 10.h4!? 74th Tata Steel GMB (4) 17.01.2012 C2a) 10...h6 11.c1 Picana, A[John Bartholomew] Calugar, A (2144)/Toronto CAN 2010. Now it looks best to play c6! , i.e. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 g6 12.0-0 ( 12.b4!? ) 12...e7! 5.g2 b6 6.d3 g7 7.e3 c6 covering the c5 square and intending Black's chief concern in this line is the 13...Nf5.; exchange of dark-square bishops with Qd1-d2 C2b) 10...h5 11.c1 c6 12.0-0 g4 and Be3-h6, very possibly in conjunction with 13.g5 0-0 14.h2 e7= h4-h5. The text aims to prevent this plan. Conquest, S (2513)-Areshchenko, A [ For 7...0-0 8.d2 see Ivanchuk, V (2709)(2570)/Coventry 2005.; Mamedyarov, S (2580)/Bled 2002/[TonyK]. ] C3) 10.c1 (I think this is best) 0-0 [ S u s p i c i o u s i s 7...c6 8.d2 h6?! 11.h6 xh6 ( 11...f6 12.xg7 xg7 , Bu Xiangzhi (2630)-Wang Yaoyao (2456)/ 13.0-0 a5 14.e4 Dimitrov, V (2512) Jinan 2005/[John Watson]. ] Pantale ev, P (2226)/ Tsarevo 2001 .; 8.d2 11...e8 12.h4 xh6 13.xh6 f5 [ The main alternative is 8.xc6+ bxc6 14.d2 h5 Talla, V (2367)-Dvorak, T , which leads to double-edged positions ( 2 3 3 1 ) / C z e c h i a 2 0 0 4 . 15.e4 ) where the empirical evidence has favored 12.xh6 f6 Redpath, J (2131)-Navara, W hite. In my opinion Black has plenty of D (2479)/Balatonlelle 2001. Now just reasons to be satisfied here, but I will save 13.0-0 looks a little better for White. ( or a thorough investigation for a future 13.xd4!? exd4 14.e4 )] update. ] [ White can also play 8.f3 , when 0-0 9...f5 [ P a s s i ve i s 9...c6?! 10.h6 , Marin, M 9.0-0 is a tabiya of the Pseudo-Grunfeld. (2556)-Ris, R (2395)/Plovdiv 2008/ [Hansen, ( In the archives you will also find coverage Carsten]. ] of other "delayed-castling" alternatives: 10.c5 0-0 9.d2; and 9.c1 . )] [ 10...d7 is also of interest: 11.a3 [ Finally, 8.c1 d4 9.d2 transposes. A) The computer is enthusiastic about ( For a round-up of the alternatives 9.h4!?; 11...e5!? , threatening 12...Bh6 when 13. and 9.f3 see the notes to Marin-Ris cited e3 would hang d3. An interesting line is below. )] 12.f4 c6!? 13.fxe5 h6 14.e3 8...d4 9.c1 White covers the c2 square ( 14.c2?! e3 ) 14...xe3 15.d1 xc1 and renews the threat of Be3-h6. 16.xc1 xd3 17.c5! 0-0 [ 9.f3 is also played, i.e. with a n un ba lan ce d po sit io n in whic h A) 9...f5 10.c5 0-0 is similar to the White retains the better prospects.; game.; B) 11...c6 12.f3 0-0 13.0-0 b6 B) I'm surprised that nobody has played 14.b3?! ( Unnecessary. I'd prefer 9...xf3+ 10.xf3 , e.g. h5!? 637
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.cd1; or 14.fd1 ) 14...d6 15.b2 f5?! ( 15...a5! ) 16.e4 g4 17.d4 Roesemann, R (2207)-W ahrenberg, R (1974)/Dresden 2007. ] 11.f3 [ This is better than 11.e3 when the old game Grigorian, K-Gulko, B/Soviet Union 1974 saw d7! 12.a3 e5 (the same Silic on -ap proved ma ne uve r as ab ove! ) 13.d1 b8!? ( 13...c6 also looks good.) 14.f3 xf3+ 15.xf3 b6 16.0-0 c5 with a balanced game. ] 11...c6 [ 11...d7 12.a3 c5 ( 12...e5 13.xe5 xe5 14.0-0 c6 15.fd1 g7 16.b3 McNab, C (2474)-Poobalasingam, P (2224)/ Edinburgh SCO 2009.) 13.0-0 b8 14.b4 ( It looks better to play 14.e4 b6 15.b4 cxb4 16.xb4 with a slight pull.) 14...cxb4 15.xb4 a5! 16.a3 b5 17.d5?! b7 Dannevig, O (2356)-Bae, T (2246)/Bergen 2000. ] [ 11...e8 12.0-0 ( Clearly unfavorable is 12.e4?! h6 Zoltek, T (2345)-Kirov, N (2455)/Lodz 1980.; but 12.h4!? deserves a t t e n t i o n .) 12...e5 and here 13.e3 or 13.Rfd1 is comfortable for W hite ( but again not 13.e4?! h6 14.c2 xc1 15.xc1 g7 with little compensation for the exchange. Talla, V (2417)- Toma, K (2224)/Frydek Mistek 2005. )] 12.e3 The first new move. White is playing for an immediate d3-d4, but Black can meet this wit h eit he r que en side activit y (. ..Nb6 -d 7 f ollowed by .. .a7 -a5 /. ..b 7-b 5), o r cent ra l counterplay (...Rf8-e8, ...Nb6-d7, and ...e7-e5). Harika decides on the latter. [ Cornette, M (2548)-Gislason, G (2318)/ L o n d o n E N G 2 0 1 1 w e n t 12.0-0 d7 ( 12...a5!? ) 13.a3 a5 14.e4 e8 ( 14...f6 looks playable as well.) 15.b3 . Now a4 would give Black good counterplay. ] 12...e8 [ Black should seriously consider 12...d7 13.a3 a5 as in the above game. I don't really see an edge f or W hite, e.g. 14.b3 ( 14.d4?! b5 is suddenly dangerous for White thus, he needs to take a time-out.) 14...a4!? ( 14...b6= ) 15.b4 ( 15.xa4?? b5-+; 15.bxa4?! a5 ) 15...d6
with mutual chances. ] 13.d4 This allows Black to carry out a key advance. [ 13.0-0 ] [ or 13.h4!? are better tries. ] 13...d7 14.a3 e5! Black should have few p ro b l e m s n o w. 15.dxe5 xe5 16.xd8 xf3+ 17.xf3 xd8 18.e4 e6 [ 18...a5!? ] 19.c5 xa2?! [ Slightly more accurate is the immediate 19...d5 e.g. 20.xd5 ( 20.e4 d4 21.g2 e8 ) 20...xd5 21.xb7 ( 21.e4 e5 22.0-0 d4 ) 21...b5 22.c5 xb2 23.xb2 xb2 24.a4 d8 25.0-0 and now Black can force a draw if she wants with xe3 26.fxe3 dd2= . ] 20.xb7 d5 21.xd5 xd5 22.c5 [ Not 22.xc6?! b5 ] 22...d6 23.a6! b5 24.b4 d6 25.xc6 xa3 26.bxa3 b2 27.c2 xa3 28.e2 White has managed to retain a small edge. Now he gets to press in an objectively drawn endgame. d7 29.a1 f8 30.a6 b7 31.d3 d7+ 32.e2 b7 33.g4 g7 34.g5 h6! Liquidation. Harika defends well. 35.h4 hxg5 36.hxg5 e7 37.xe7 [ Essentially agreeing to a draw, but 37.f4 d8! and ...Bd8-b6 was coming. ] 37...xe7 38.ca2 e5 39.f4 e4 40.2a3 ae8 41.f2 8e7 42.f3 h7 43.6a4 xa4 44.xa4 g7 45.e4 b7 46.g4 c7 47.f5 gxf5+ 48.exf5 c1= 49.xa7 g1+ 50.f4 f1+ 51.e4 e1+ 52.d3 e5 53.g6 xf5 54.xf7+ xf7 55.gxf7 xf7 Black is doing fine in the line 8.Qd2 Nd4 9. Rc1 Nf5. Of note is the plan for queenside co un te rp lay wit h . .. Nb 6-d 7 an d . .. a7 -a 5 , threatening ... b7-b5-b4. ½-½
641 Rustemov,Alexander Svidler,Peter Bundesliga 2008-9 (15) [Jonathan Rowson]
A16 2520 2727 29.03.2009
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ d7 6.h4 xc3 7.bxc3! I think this move is probably worthy of the 638
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 exclamation mark, because at the present time Black has no clear path to equality. [ 7.dxc3 is the main line. c6 8.g3!? always seemed to me to be the most dangerous test for Black here. ] [ 7.d4 f6 8.xc3 looks promising for White at first, but after c6 9.d4 is met by e5 so Black has time to get e5 Bd6 and Qe7 and generally develops comfortably. ] 7...c5 This move is not forced, but I guess the problem is that after [ 7...g7 8.b1 Black doesn't even have Qc7 and has to make do with a half-move. ( 8.d4 c5 9.h6! comes fast, but things are not so clear af ter a5 10.c1 xh6 11.xh6 cxd4 ) 8...b6 9.d4 and Bh6 is now threatened so W hite's initiative starts to build. ] 8.b1! A very annoying little probe. c7 [ 8...b6 9.e4 ( 9.d4!? looks more critical to my mind. g7 10.h6 f6 11.g5 0-0 12.e3 is at least somewhat better for White. ) 9...c6 10.c4 e6 11.g3 g7 12.h4 b8 13.g5 e5 14.xe5 xe5 Black's doing well, Peng Xiaomin (2657)Svidler, P (2689)/New Delhi/Teheran 2000. ] [ 8...c6 9.e5 ] [ 8...c6 9.xb7 b8 10.xb8 xb8 almost looks like promising counterplay, but White has 11.e4! g7 12.g3 f5 13.c2 e5 14.d3 c4 15.g2 0-0 16.0-0 cxd3 Hera, I (2530)-Roganovic, M (2458)/ S z o m b a t h e l y H U N 2 0 0 8 , 17.exd3 planning Ng5. ] 9.g3!? Safe and effective rather than forced, but the endgame is very pleasant for White. xg3 10.hxg3 b6 11.e4 g7 12.d4 0-0 13.h6 cxd4 14.xg7 xg7 15.cxd4 d8 16.d2 c6 17.e3 a5 18.c1 h5 19.d3 ac8 20.a6 c6 21.e5 W hite has quite a big advantage here, but Black has 200 rating points worth of compensation. ½-½
642 Shimanov,A Mchedlishvili,M Nakhchivan Open A 2013 (7.5) [Danny Gormally]
A16 2639 2640 29.04.2013
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.h4 g7 6.h5 An interesting idea test ed b y n o le sse r playe r th an Aron ian , amongst others. The main idea is to discourage kingside castling by Black. xc3 To some extent this justifies White's idea. [ By far the most popular and testing idea is 6...c6! to try and generate piece play in the center as soon as possible. There are now many possible ideas for White, but as the theory of this line is relatively new, the way forward is not exactly clear. A) 7.d4 g4 8.h6 f6 9.e4?! perhaps in the spirit of what has gone before, but this allows Black to launch strong counterplay ( 9.e3 seems more c i r c u m s p e c t) 9...db4 10.d5 d4 11.d3 c6! And Black had obvious counterplay and went on to win in Naiditsch, A (2712)-Volokitin, A (2695)/ San Sebastian 2012; B) 7.e4 b6 ( 7...db4 seems eminently playable, for example 8.d3 g4 ) 8.b5 g4 9.h6 f6 10.d4 xf3 11.xf3 xd4 12.e3 d6 13.f4 e6 14.0-0 0-0 15.xc6 bxc6 16.fe1 1/2-1/2 Vallejo Pons, F (2705)-Svidler, P (2755)/Porto Carras 20116 ] 7.bxc3 c5 8.g3! This may seem a rather strange switch to positional play, but the fact that White is opening the h-file just gives him a n o t h e r a t t a c ki n g o p t i o n , t o g o wit h t h e normal pressure. c6 [ 8...0-0 9.hxg6 hxg6 10.a4 e5 11.g2 ] 9.g2 e6 10.a4 a5 11.f4? Still harbouring attacking ambitions, but this could have backfired horribly. [ 11.xa5 xa5 12.g5 ] 11...f5? Black prepares the idea of taking on c3, but there was no need and it should have been played immediately [ 11...xc3! 12.b1 xa2 13.xb7 0-0-0! An easy move to miss in the calculations, it turns out Black has everything covered! 14.0-0 xb7 15.dxc3 f6 and although 639
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 W hite retains some chances due to the murkiness of the play, Black is certainly better after 16.e3 xc3 ] 12.g4! xc3 now this is just unclear. 13.dxc3 xc3+ 14.d2 xa1 15.gxf5 gxf5 16.0-0 g8 17.h1 d8 18.c2 xg2? panic. [ White still had to prove he was better after 18...e6 ] 19.xg2 g7+ 20.h1 g4 21.g1 xh5+ 22.h2 d4 23.g5 h3 24.xc5 d1+ 25.g1 xg1+ 26.xg1 h5 27.b5 g6+ 28.f1 b6 29.f3 White has consolidated and Black has an uphill struggle trying to save the game, which did not last much longer: d8 30.f4 e6? 31.g5 f6 32.xf7+! xf7 33.xc6 1-0
643 Steingrimsson,Hedinn Sakalauskas,Vaidas Keres Mem A Tallin EST (1) [John Watson]
A16 2439 2464 08.01.2006
For English players who need something versus the Gruenfeld (without transposing, maybe these Qa4+ ideas deserve a closer look. This game with 5... Nc6 follows theory straight through and W hite always stands better, even in the side notes. It seems that 5...Bd7 is still the most important move. 1.c4 f6 2.f3 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ c6 [ This is not uncommon but the main move must be 5...d7 . Here's a mni-overview, using some older games that I find still relevant: A) 6.h4 is popular nowadays. xc3 7.dxc3 c6 8.e4 e5 9.g5 e7 10.c4 h5!? 11.xe7 ( 11.0-0-0 f6! ) 11...xe7 12.xe7+ xe7 13.d5 h4 14.h3 f6 15.0-0-0 d8! = Vallejo Pons-Ivanchuk, Monte Carlo 2005.; B) 6.d4 and; C) 6.b3 are also played, and in fact the latter has scored rather well. I suspect that Black can equalise, however.; D) 6.c2 I prefer this option, although there are three fully legitimate alternatives: b6 7.d4 g7 8.e4 ( very Gruenfeld-like.
8.f4 is probably okay for Black if he reacts quickly, but it's not easy, e.g., 0-0 9.d1 c6 10.e3 c8!? 11.e2 b4 Postny, E-Huzman, Israel 2003 and here 12.b3!? was worth a try in view of a5 13.e4 c5!? 14.c1 c4 15.d1 , although it's only +=) 8...0-0 ( 8...g4 9.e5 e6 10.e3 0-0 11.f4 c6 12.e2 8d7 13.d1 Arsovic-Cornette, Obrenovac 2004) 9.e3 c6 ( 9...g4?! 10.e5! Piket-Avrukh, Biel 1999) 10.d5 These lines requre further practical tests. ( Volzhin analyses 10.0-0-0!? g4 11.d5 e5 12.e2 bc4 13.d4; and 10.d1!? g4 11.d5 e5 12.e2 xf3 13.gxf3 ec4 14.c1 d6 15.f4 ) 10...e5 ( 10...a5? 11.d1 g4? 12.b5 f5 13.b4 1-0 Engel-Estrin, corr 1978 ) 11.xe5 xe5 12.d1 e8 ( Volzhin prefers 12...c8!? ) 13.e2 c6 14.0-0 cxd5 15.xd5 ( 15.exd5!? c8 16.d2 ) 15...xd5 Volzhin-Baikov, Elista 2001, and here Volzhin suggests 16.xd5 in vi e w o f g7 17.fd1 c6 18.5d2 ] 6.e5 White has over a 200 point performance rating lead after this move. db4 7.a3 g7 8.axb4 xe5 9.b5 b8 [ 9...d4 hasn't done very well but deserves a look: 10.e3 A) 10...e6!? 11.d4 g7 ( 11...d6 12.h4!? g7!? 13.e2 d7 14.f3 c8 15.e4 a5 Fuchs-Schneider, Eppingen 2004 ) 12.c4 0-0 13.0-0 d7 14.a3 Rohde-Mirabile, Philadelphia 2003; B) 10...f5 11.d4 g7 12.g3!? ( 12.e2 ) 12...0-0 13.g2 d6 14.0-0 d7 15.b4 e8 16.c5 xb5?! 17.xb7 xc3? 18.bxc3 h3 19.e1 and White is winning, M Ivanov-Desinte Charleroi 2004. ] 10.e3 Why shouldn't White stand better? He has solid development and more importantly a central majority. 0-0 [ 10...d7 11.d4 g7 12.e2 0-0 13.0-0 b6 14.c2 ( 14.a2 e6 15.b3 has also been played) 14...f5?! ( 14...e5 is natural, although I still like W hite after 15.dxe5 xe5 16.e4 intending f4, for example, h4 17.g3 h3 18.e3 e6 ? but f4 follows regardless) 19.f4 g7 640
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.f5 ) 15.e4 d7 16.d1 e6 17.e3 wi t h a s o li d a d va n t a g e , K u s t a r - P ri b yl , Bayern 2004. ] 11.e2 [ 11.d4 g7 12.e2 c6 13.0-0 a6! ( 13...e6 14.f3 is unpleasant) 14.bxc6 xc6 is essentially a tempo up on our game for Black, but White seems to be a bit better regardless: 15.d1 ( 15.b3!? ) 15...d7 16.b3 b5 17.e4 f5 18.g3 d7 19.d2 e6 20.a3 J Rubinetti-Zukerfeld, Tres de Febrero 2003 ] 11...c6 12.0-0 cxb5 [ 12...a6! 13.bxc6 xc6 14.d4 g7 15.f3 again gains Black a sort of 'tempo' - see the last note. ] 13.xb5 c6 14.d4 g7 15.f3 a6 16.b3 a7 What else? 17.a4 b8!? [ 17...e6? 18.d5 a5 19.b4 ] [ 17...a5 18.a3 ( or 18.xc6 bxc6 19.c5 )] 18.d2 d7 19.fc1 e5? [ Maybe 19...b5 , but White is clearly better. ] 20.d5? White is clearly better but could have gained a decisive advantage: [ 20.b4 e8 21.d5 ] 20...b5 21.c5 xc5 22.xc5 d7 23.e4 Black's position is just bad, and he went on to lose: b8 24.e3 a8 25.c3 d8 26.a5 f8 27.b4 d6 28.ac1 b7 29.c7 xc7 30.xc7 b8 31.g5 e8 32.g4 h5 33.h3 f5 34.xd8 xd8 35.b6 f7 36.g3 a5 37.exf5 g5 38.f6 xd5 39.d7 c4 40.d8+ h7 41.xa8 c1+ 42.f1 c4 43.a7+ 1-0
644 Tkachiev,Vladislav Sutovsky,Emil 8th Karpov Poikovsky RUS (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A16 2649 2629 17.03.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 a6 7.d4 b5 8.b3 c5 [ 8...c6 was the move Svidler chose against Navarra - see the February 2007 update ] 9.dxc5 g7 10.e4 0-0 [ 10...c6 11.e2 e6 is an alternative
which was played on a couple of occasions in W ijk aan Zee this year in the groups B and C. These games were discussed in the notes to the aforementioned NavarraSvidler. ] 11.e2 c6 12.e5 fd7 13.e3 xe5 14.xe5 xe5 15.0-0 [ 15.d1 is Topalov-Svidler, Morelia/Linares 2007, which is analysed separately. ] 15...c7 [ 15...e6 16.a4 bxa4 17.xa4 c7 18.f4 g7 19.b6 is already very good for White, and Gelfand drove the victory home: a7 20.fd1 e8 21.c4 h6 22.f1 b7 23.f2 d7 24.xd7 xd7 25.xa6 xa6 26.xa6 g7 27.d2 a7 28.b6 a8 29.b5 xb5 30.xb5 b8 31.c4 a1+ 32.f2 xb2 33.c6 xd2+ 34.xd2 a7+ 35.e2 c7 36.a5 c8 37.c7 f8 38.c6 f5 39.c3 f7 40.e5 e7 41.d3 g5 42.g3 gxf4 43.gxf4 1-0 Gelf and, B-Svidler, P/Moscow RUS 2006 ] 16.f4 g7 17.ad1 [ In comparison with the Gelfand-Svidler game, the 17.a4 idea isn't as effective, since after bxa4 18.xa4 d7 Black will put a rook on b8 with a decent game ] [ However, 17.fd1!? may be worth a thought. A transposition to the GelfandSvidler game is still possible, and if Black tried to avoid it, with, say, b7 then 18.d5 e6 19.b6 a7 20.f1 is pleasantly better for White ] 17...e6 18.c2 [ 18.a4 can also be considered, e.g. bxa4 19.xa4 d7 20.b6 xb6 21.cxb6 b7 22.f3 xf3 23.xf3 fd8 24.ff1 and while White's advantage is by no means winning, he clearly has the upper hand t h a n k s t o t h e p a s s e d p a wn o n b 6 a n d Black's queen's obligation to stop it: f6 25.xd8+ xd8 26.d1 xd1+ 27.xd1 with excellent winning chances for White. ] 18...b7 19.f2 [ 19.f3 xf3 20.xf3 c6 21.e4 b4 22.b1 ad8 23.d6 c6 and the knight on b4 will retreat to d5 with a fine game for Black. ] 19...a5 20.d6!? d7 21.xc6 xc6 22.f3 a6 23.xa8 xa8 24.e4 641
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 24.d2!? is also worth consideration: f6 25.d6 c8 26.xb5 d5 27.d4 f8 28.f5 ( 28.e4 xd6 29.xd6 d7 30.f5 28 leads ultimately to the same as f5) 28...xd6 29.xd6 d7 30.e4 gxf5 31.h4 f6 32.xf6 xf6 33.xf6 a7 34.g5+ and now the players can agree to a draw af te r h8 35.f6+ g8 36.g5+ h8 37.f6+ ] 24...f6 25.xf6+ xf6 26.d2 c8 27.e4 c6 28.xc6 xc6 29.b3 [ 29.d7!? c o u l d b e w o r t h a t r y xb2 30.b7 b4 31.a7 c3 32.xa5 h5 A) 33.b5 g7 ( 33...a6? 34.b6 xa2 35.b8+ g7 36.c6 wins for White ) 34.b6 c7 35.f1 f6 and Black is okay; B) 33.a7 g7 34.f2 e5 35.fxe5 xe5 36.f3 f6+ 37.e4 e6 38.d5 and White has definite winning chances, e. g. xh2 39.d4+ f8 40.c6 ] 29...e7 30.f1 f8 31.e2 e8 and now after 32.a4 White decided to offer a draw which Black accepted. [ 32.a3 f6 33.d3 c7 34.c2 would have left White with an edge ] ½-½
645 Topalov,Veselin Kamsky,Gata WCh Candidates (1.4) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2775 2732 08.05.2011
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c2 [ I'm not sure if the line 5.b3 b6 6.d4 g7 7.f4 e6 is an English or a Gruenfeld, it can come about via either move order, but is more commonly arrived at via 1.c4 or 1. Nf3. So I've relegated it to the notes even though there was an innovation by Topalov. After 8.a3 c6 he played the super sharp A) 9.e3 had been played in a couple of earlier Kamsky games, for example a5 10.e2 ( 10.b5 0-0 11.xc6 bxc6 12.c5 d5 13.e5 xc3 14.xc3 d5 15.xg7 xg7 16.0-0 xf3 17.gxf3 d5 18.fc1 a6 19.c4 g5+ 20.f1 b6 21.b3 d8 22.c2 1/2-1/2 Eljanov,
P -K a m sky, G / O h rid 2 0 0 9) 10...b4 11.0-0 c6 12.g5 d5 13.fc1 h6 14.ge4 c4 15.xd5 xa3 16.c7+ f8 17.bxa3 d5 18.xd5 cxd5 19.c5 gave White compensation for the queen in Ivanchuk, V-Kamsky, G/Jermuk 2009; B) 9.0-0-0 A new move from Topalov. d5 10.g3 h6+ 11.e3 a5 12.h4 cb4 13.h5 c6 14.hxg6 hxg6 15.d2 f6 16.e4 b6 17.e2 c8 18.h4 f7 was more dangerous for White's king than it was for Black's in Topalov, V-Kamsky, G/ Kazan RUS 2011. ] 5...g7 6.e4 b6 7.d4 0-0 Despite its Gruenfeldy appearance, this position is only ever reached via 1.c4 or 1.Nf3. 8.e3 g4 9.e5 xe5 A radical way of playing the position. [ In earlier games Black has played mainly 9...e6 , for example 10.0-0-0!? ( 10.d1 c6 11.e2 8d7 12.0-0 xe5 13.dxe5 c8 14.f4 g4 was OK for Black in Malich, B-Vladimirov, E/Halle 1976; as was 10.f4 c6 11.d1 8d7 12.e2 f5 13.d5 cxd5 14.exd5 f7 15.xf7 xf7 16.0-0 c8 17.b3 c5 in Malich, B-Schmidt, W / Zinno witz 197 3) 10...c6 11.f4 c8 12.b1 xe5 13.dxe5 c6 14.c5 e8 15.f2 g4 16.d2 c7 17.c2 ad8 18.e3 c8 19.e2 b8 20.g4 st a rt e d a m a s sive kin gsid e b u ild u p i n Koneru, H-Nadig, K/Calicut 2003. ] 10.dxe5 c6 11.h3 e6 12.d1 c8 13.f4 d8 14.b3! This makes sense as taking control of c4 shuts down both the b6 knight and e6 bishop. It also happens to be a new move. [ 14.e2 b4 15.b1 xd1+ 16.xd1 was played in an earlier game Pogorelov, RFernandez Barrera, V/Albacete 2009, and now Black should probably have played c4 with annoying counterplay. ] 14...b4 [ 14...xd1+ 15.xd1 e8 followed by 16... Rd8 is also worth considering here as the c6 knight keeps the option of going to d4. ] 15.xd8+ xd8 16.b1 f5 17.exf6 exf6 18.e2 e7 19.0-0 White is slightly better now because of his bishop pair. Not to mention the fact that Black would probably 642
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 prefer to have his g6 pawn back on g7. f7 archives for Krasenkow-Mikhalevski, Saint 20.f2 d8 21.d1 xd1+ 22.xd1 c5 Vincent 2000 ] 23.f1 [ F i n a l l y a l s o 7.g3 has been seen with [ Another possibility was 23.f3 and after c4 frequency, though it is decidedly tamer than 24.bxc4 xc4 25.d4 c6 26.c5 the previous two options. Topalov has also White still has an edge. ] tried this line some years back and on this 23...c6 24.g3 g7 25.g2 h5 26.b5 site we examined the game-Damljanovicc8 27.d2 c4 28.bxc4 xc4 29.d4 Arashchenko, Plovdiv 2008 not too long b4 30.c1 The position would also favour ago. ] White after a queen exchange thanks to his 7...g7 two bishops. But Topalov still wants to play [ In one of the few games I have found, that against Black's weakened king. 8e7 31.a3 pertained to this variation, Black by a4 32.b2 b6 33.h2 f7 34.c3 a2 transposition reached this position in in 35.f5 Lechtynsky-Zezulkin, Czech Rep 2003 by [ 35.xc6 xc6 36.d4 was the quiet way transposition and now played the t o p la y it , o n ce a g a in wit h a n e d ge f o r aggressive: 7...b5 8.h4 White. ] A) Black is clearly concerned about White 35...c4 36.b2 e5 37.d2 g5 38.e6 playing Bh6, which may or may not be 7c6? Letting White in. just if ie d . Bla ck can inst ead cons ide r [ 38...b3 was better. ] 8...c6!? 9.g3 ( 9.h6?! xh6 10.xh6 39.d6! e8 40.c7+ f7 41.d5 e2 e6 is comfortable for Black) 9...g7 42.xf6+ e8 43.e6+ f8 44.g1? 10.g2 0-0 11.0-0 with an interesting After this neither king can find safety. game, though I prefer White's chances; [ 44.h6+ f7 45.g1 f3+ 46.h1 B) 8...h6!? 9.a4 c6!? ( 9...c6!? would have left Black with nothing, though can also be considered, e.g. 10.d4 g7 this isn't easy to accept at first. ] 11.e4 a5 12.e2 a6 13.axb5 b4 44...d1+ 45.f1 xd5 46.exd5 d4 14.0-0 cxb5 with a complicated position 47.f6+ g8 48.xg5+ f7 49.d8 c2 and chances for both sides) 10.axb5 axb5 50.g2 c1+ 51.h2 c2 52.g1 df3+ 11.xa8 xa8 12.xb5 a5+ 13.c3 53.h1 e1 54.f2 xf2 55.c7+ f6 B1) Black has an interesting alternative 56.d6+ f7 57.c7+ f6 58.d6+ f7 in 13...a1!? which immediately forces ½-½ W h i t e t o gi ve u p t h e r igh t t o c a s t l e 14.d1 ( 14.d2 gives Black a nasty initiative: g7 15.e3 a5 16.e2 0-0 646 A16 , and Black obviously has more than enough for the pawn) 14...g7 15.e3 Topalov,Veselin 2777 0-0 16.a4 a8 17.xa1 xa1 Shirov,Alexei 2741 18.e2 e6 19.d2 g4 20.f1 a5 XXIII Rapid Open rapid (9) 03.08.2008 21.d1 c5 , and Black's activity provides [Carsten Hansen] him with full compensation for the pawn, but probably not more than that.; 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 B2) 13...g4 14.g3?! ( Now White 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 a6 7.d3 ends up in severe trouble. Instead White [ As far as I know, this move have not been could have reached a reasonably played in this position before. White aims for comfortable position with 14.e3! a1 a position where Black doesn't have the 15.d1 g7 16.d4 , and White will be usual Grunfeld counterplay against White's able to complete his development and centre. The main line is 7.d4 which we have then start worrying about consolidating discussed several times previous, his pawn advantage.) 14...a1 15.f4 including Topalov-Svidler, Morelia 2007, e5 16.d2 b4 17.h3 f6 , and Black which can be found in the PGN archives. ] is already completely tied up. The rest of [ Also 7.e4 of interest - see the PGN 643
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the game wasn't particularly pleasant for White: 18.d1 d4 19.xd4 exd4 20.d2 xb2 21.a2 xd2+ 22.xd2 a1+ 23.c1 0-0 24.g4 a8 25.f4? ( 25.f3 d5 doesn't appeal either, but at l e a s t i t d o e s n ' t l o s e o n t h e s p o t .) 25...c6 26.g1 a2 27.xa2 xc1+ 28.f2 xf4+ 29.e1 c1+ 30.f2 e3+ 31.e1 xg1 0-1 Lechtynsky, JZezulkin, J/Czech Rep 2003 ] 8.g3 0-0 [ To claim that the text move is a mistake is perhaps taking it a bit too far, but I think Black is playing a little too much with the auto pilot on. Black has two very reasonable alte rn a tive s in 8...e6!? 9.b4 ( both 9.c5 d5; and 9.a4+ b5 are also fine for Black ) 9...c8 10.g2 c6 , and Black seems to be doing well. ] [ or 8...c6 9.g2 e6 with chances to both sides. ] 9.g2 c6 [ In another game, also reached by transposition, Black tried 9...c6 10.0-0 e5 11.h4 ( 11.d1!? b5 12.c5 e8 is also pleasant for White ) A) Or 11...g4 12.xd8 axd8 13.h3 f6 ( 13...h6 14.d2 f5 15.fc1 ) 14.g5 b8 15.ac1 fe8 16.e3; B) 11...f5 12.h6 g4 13.xg7 xg7 14.xd8 axd8 15.fc1 c8 16.e4 f6 17.xf6 ( White can also consider the 'Dragon' move 17.xc6 , which also leads to an advantage for White after bxc6 18.xe5 xe4 19.xe4 , but White undoubtedly found this to be unnecessary as the game continuation leaves W hite with a nagging positional plus and no much hope for counterplay f or Black.) 17...xf6 18.f1 d7 19.d2 e7 20.b3 b8 21.c5 f6 22.ac1 , and White has a fairly clear advantage, J a r a c z , P - B rk i c, A / N o va G o r i c a S L O 2005 ] 10.0-0 bd7 11.f4 xf3 [ This move looks decidedly radical, handing over the bishop pair to White without really b e i n g f o r c e d t o d o s o . T h e a l t e rn a t ive 11...b6 is of less consequence, but also promises White the better chances. 12.b3 fd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.c2 e5 15.g5
f6 16.e3 d7 17.ac1 ] 12.xf3 c6 13.b4 b6 14.b3 a5 15.e3 [ 15.ac1!? is also worth a thought ] 15...fd5 16.c5 [ White can win a pawn with 16.xd5 xd5 17.xb7 , but Black gets reasonable compensation after xe3 18.fxe3 h6 19.f2 b8 20.xc6 xb2 21.fb1 b8 , and the opposite coloured bishops and the we a k e 3 - p a wn p r o m i s e s B l a c k d e c e n t counterchances ] 16...d7 17.a3 5b6 18.fd1 e8 19.e4 a4 20.c2 d5 21.ac1 W h i t e h a s o n e o f t h o s e s m a l l, b u t c l e a r advantages that are so difficult to neutralize and which will keep you on the defensive forever. Black's defensive task in rapid play ga m e su ch a s t h is ga m e is ve ry dif f ic u lt because any break for activity will likely only increase White's advantage. b6 22.c3 b4 23.d2 [ White can also claim an edge after 23.xb4 xb4 24.d4 a3 25.b3 ad8 26.e3 , but keeping the bishop pair is a far better option as Black's task will be more difficult with more pieces on the board and no active plans where they can be of any use. ] 23...e6 24.d4 ed8 25.e3 d5 26.c2 b4 27.e2 f6 28.c4 f8 29.g2 a5 30.e2 White is not in any rush, his advantage is not running anywhere. bd5 31.xf8 xf8 Finally Black managed to eliminate White's pair of bishops, but Black is still suffering from a lack of counterplay, thus preserving an edge for White. 32.a3 [ 32.e4!? ] 32...g7 33.a2 [ 33.e4!? e7 34.c4 ] 33...b6 34.c2 b3 35.c1 b6 36.d3 a5 37.dc1 aa8 38.c4 b5 39.c2 a7 40.c5 White's advantage is slowly but surely taking on a more definite shape. His space advantage is significant and Black's counterplay is still non-existent. da8 41.e4 Finally! b6 42.b4 a5 43.c3 c8 44.g4 fd7 45.h4 Now we have the type of position we associate with Topalov: full-board pressure. White's advantage is nearly decisive at this point. g8 46.e3 e5 47.e2 d8 48.g5 e8 49.e3 f6 50.dxe5 bd5 644
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 51.exd5 xd5 52.d4 [ 52.h6! xb4 53.axb4 is even worse for Black ] 52...xb4 53.axb4 d8 54.d7 b6 55.d1 c5 56.bxc5 bxc5 57.d6 h8 58.c4 e7 59.f6 f8 60.g3 ab7 61.d2 b8 62.xb8+ [ 62.d5! bc7 63.c6 threatens Nd7 and the pawn on a4, deciding the game immediately. ] 62...xb8 63.f4 eb7 64.h5 xb2 65.d6 2b7 66.a6 g7 67.g5 gxh5 68.xh5+ f8 69.f6 g7 70.g4 b4 71.d5 d4? 72.a7 bb4 73.xf7+ [ Here White can mate Black with 73.h5! xd5 74.a8 , and now Black can only delay mate by giving up his two rooks. ] 73...g6 74.f8?? [ An incredible blunder, undoubtedly caused by severe time trouble of both players. Here 74.h5! mates, Black can only delay matters by giving up his two rooks. xf4+ 75.xf4+ xf4+ 76.xf4 ] 74...xf4+ 75.g3 fd4? [ Black can keep White's advantage within re a c h wi t h 75...f1 76.e6 e1 . In the game continuation, Black now once again is losing. ] 76.e6 d3+ 77.f3 bb3? 78.g4 xg5?! 79.e7 xf3+ 80.xf3 b8 81.f6 Up to W hite's 74th move, this game wa s brilliantly executed by W hite. A beautif ul game. 1-0
647 Topalov,Veselin Svidler,Peter XXIV SuperGM (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A16 2783 2728 21.02.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ So Topalov gets in on the f un as well, undoubtedly hoping to get something like the position Gelfand obtained against Svidler in Moscow 2006 - see the notes to the next main game. d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 a6 7.d4 b5 8.b3 c5 [ 8...c6 was Svidler's choice against Navarra - see the February 2007 update for
this line ] 9.dxc5 g7 10.e4 0-0 11.e2 c6 12.e5 fd7 13.e3 xe5 14.xe5 xe5 15.d1 [ 15.0-0 c7 16.f4 as in Tkachiev-Sutovsky may well be a better try - see the next main game ] 15...a5 [ Also 15...c7 , preventing White from castling right away, and 16.d5 xd5 17.xd5 c6 18.f3 ac8 looks okay for Black ] 16.0-0 e6 17.f4 g7 18.a3 c7 19.c2 [ 19.a4 bxa4 20.xa4 transposes to a line I have analysed at length in the TkachievSutovsky game, here each side has spent an extra tempo, W hite with a2-a3-a4 and Black with ...Qd8-a5-c7 ] 19...b4!? played to prevent White from playing b2-b4 with an uncomfortable bind for Black 20.axb4 b7 21.d6 xb4 22.fd1 a7 23.1d2 d7 24.xd7 [ Here 24.xa6 looks appealing, but after fd8! 25.xd7 xd7 26.f1 xd2 27.xd2 f8 28.f2 d7 Black wins the c5-pawn and is by no means worse ] 24...xd7 25.d6 b7 26.d2 f6 27.f1 [ 27.d1!? b8 28.d8+ e8 29.xb8 xb8 leaves White with no more than a nominal edge ] 27...b8 28.d8+ f8 29.xb8 [ 29.xb8 xb8 30.d4 e7 , and Black h a s e q u a l i s e d , w h i l e 31.xa6?! a7 32.d3 xc5 33.xc5 xc5+ gives Black the initiative ] ½-½
648 Turov,Maxim Hansen,Eric Oslo op (8) [Fier, Alexandr]
A16 2586 2584 29.09.2013
This line has been the subject of some recent games. Black believes the structural disadvantage is not enough to bring any real a d va n t a ge f o r W h it e . S t ill it 's a ri s k le s s position to play and Black can suffer sometimes. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.f3 g6 5.a4+ c6 The most forcing move here 645
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 5...d7 is the most played and was recently tried by Giri A) 6.h4 was Ni Hua's preference and his game was analyzed for Chess Publishing c6 ( 6...xc3 is another option 7.bxc3!? c5 8.b1 Gajewski, G (2653)-Tomczak, J (2564)/ POL-ch Chorzow 2013.) 7.d4 g8 8.e5 with an exotic position in Ni Hua (2667)-Li Chao2 (2613)/6th TCh-CHN Ningbo CHN 2010.; B) 6.b3 b6 7.d4 g7 8.e4 trying to transpose to the Russian variation of the Grünf eld with the bishop on d7 instead of c8. The verdict is still not clear, Wang Hao (2737) -Giri, A (2720)/Beijing Sportaccord blitz 2012. ] [ 5...c6 is not so goo d 6.d4 f6 7.e4 and White has a comfortable game, as seen in Li, C (2686)-Tazbir, M (2561)/Universiad Men 2013. ] 6.e5 d6 [ 6...db4 was tried on several occasions but the ball is in Black's court in this position 7.a3 g7 8.axb4 xe5 9.b5 b8 a n d h e r e b o t h 10.e3 ( and 10.g3 are enough for an advantage )] 7.xc6 xc6 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.b3 I think developing the queenside, where White has some weak points, is more important than bringing the bishop to g2. [ 9.g3 Black has decent results after this move g7 10.g2 e6 and Black's pieces are active enough to bring counterplay. It was analyzed in Petrosian, T (2661)-Gupta, A (2627) - see the Archive. ] 9...xc3 Going to an almost symmetric endgame but not with many chances for Black. My preference would be to keep the knights on: [ 9...b4 immediately questioning the queenside looks more interesting 10.d1 e6 11.b2 g7 12.c1 was played in some games and it's still not clear how W hite is going to finish his development. The main plan is to play Na4-c5, so probably Black can slightly improve from the played games with A) 12...0-0 this was played by Shankland, but after 13.Na4 the position can become annoying at some point, 13.a4 h6 ( 13...xb2+ 14.xb2 with 12...Rd8 this is
not possible ) 14.c5; B) 12...0-0-0 I'm not sure the king belongs on the queenside and sometimes the rook is more useful on the a or b-files, 13.d3 f5 14.a4 was more comfortable for White in Maksimenko, A (2554)-Le Roux, J (2551)/ POL-chT Warsaw 2012 (3.4).; C) 12...d8N this is basically aimed against 13.Na4 since the pawn on d2 is a t t a ck e d n o w 13.d3 ( 13.a4 xb2+ 14.xb2 0-0 15.a4 d5 defending c5 and soon Rdf8 will follow) 13...0-0 14.a4 d5 with a complex position. ] 10.b2 [ 10.dxc3 the bishop on g7 is more active than the bishop on b2, and after c4 White is going to exchange it anyway, so better to do it immediately g7 11.b2 a5 12.0-0-0 a4 13.c4 xb2+ 14.xb2 e6 enters the same kind of position as in the game, but with the pawn already committed to c4. ] 10...g7 11.xc3 xc3 12.dxc3 The endgame starts here. I'm always afraid to enter into early endgames where my opponent might have studied all the plans and doesn't have to make a real move with the head. White's plan is to expand the pawns on the kingside, and the king will be well centralized on e3. One of the key squares is c5, so Black probably needs to advance the c-pawn to control the position. e6 [ 12...a5 tries to get rid of one weak pawn and it's a respectable alternative. I thought about two plans for White A) 13.e3 to keep open the option of Bd3e4 at some point e6 14.d3 a4 15.b4 a3 ( 15...0-0 16.a3 and the a4-pawn can be an important factor later in the endgame ) 16.d2 and again White needs to be careful with ...c5 and invasions on the b-file since the pawn on a2 needs to be defended. But if nothing happens White should be better ( 16.e4?! 0-0-0 is too active for Black ); B) 13.g3 e6 14.g2 d5 B1) 15.0-0!? trying to quickly activate t h e p i e c e s a4 16.e4 e6 17.f4 with the idea of f5 and bringing the king to e3 again axb3 ( 17...0-0 18.f5 c8 19.g4 is comfortable) 18.axb3 0-0 19.b4 and White always needs to take 646
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 care of ...c5, but maybe there is some slight advantage.; B2) 15.e4 e6 16.c4 c5 was not much in Liascovich, L (2409) -Bacallao Alonso, Y (2580)/Pinamar Carilo 2012. ] 13.e4 0-0-0 [ 13...a5 is once again possible, and I believe it's the best plan, 14.d2 a4 15.b4 a3 with a similar kind of position as that analyzed in 12...a5. ] 14.a6+ b8 15.e2 d6 16.e3 c5 17.e2 The first part of the plan is complete, t h e k i n g i s we l l p l a c e d , n o w i t ' s t i m e t o advance the pawns. f6 18.f4 hd8 19.ad1 Exchanging one rook is good to avoid any counterplay on the d-file. xd1 20.xd1 But two rooks is too much! c4 Black needs to be active and get rid of the c-pawns. 21.c2 c5 22.f5! gxf5 This is committal, weakening the pawn structure but giving the bishop the d5-square. [ 22...f7 would be solid and can lead to a funny variation, 23.fxg6 cxb3 ( 23...hxg6 24.h4 and White can create a dangerous p a s s e d p a wn) 24.axb3 ( 24.gxf7 bxc2 25.c1 f8 26.xc2 xf7 should be ok for Black ) 24...xg6 ( 24...hxg6 25.h4 ) 25.a1 and White is better. ] 23.exf5 d5 24.d1 d6 25.g4 c7 So far things are under control 26.b4 b6 [ 26...cxb4 changes the position 27.cxb4 b6 with ...c3 and ...Bc4 ideas, and maybe ...a5 to exchange another pawn ] 27.h4 h6 28.e4 xe4?? This is just losing. [ 28...f7 was the move, and after 29.b1 ( 29.xd6+ exd6 30.bxc5+ xc5 31.b7 d5 and it looks like everything is under control. ) 29...d5 30.c2 White is trying to go lef t and right and Black needs to be careful. ] 29.xd6+ exd6 30.xe4 d5+ [ 30...c7 31.b5 and the king enters on d5 ] [ 30...cxb4 31.cxb4 ( 31.g5 also works hxg5 32.hxg5 b3 33.axb3 cxb3 but the king is in time 34.d3+- ) 31...d5+ 32.d4 followed by g5 winning ] 31.xd5 cxb4 32.xc4 Maybe this is what Black missed. bxc3 33.xc3 c5 34.b3 d5 35.b4 e5 36.c5 1-0
649 Vaganian,Rafael A Nedev,Trajce World Teams Yerevan ARM (2) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2650 2514 13.10.2001
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.0-0 c6!? [ 6...c5 is more normal, with a transposition to [A38]. ] 7.c3 b6 8.d3 0-0 9.e3 e5 Bringing play into a Reversed Dragon-style position, except that the black dark-squared bishop is on g7 here, not e7. 10.a4 [ White plays a typical Dragon schema, but 10.c1 is also not bad, intending Bh6. ] 10...a5 11.xb6!? This is just like the Hodgson-Gormally game, under [A29]. cxb6 12.b5!? [ An innovation, placing the knight on the fine b5-square. Previously White had preferred 12.d2 , when e6 13.c4 e8 14.b3 a6 15.e4 e7 was unclear in Ree,HBenko,P/Wijk aan Zee 1970. ] 12...e6 13.d2 As in the above game, the knight heads for c4. In return for his darksquared bishop White has devalued the black queenside structure, and gained two good square f or knights on c4, and b5. Still, a bishop is a bishop! e7 14.c1 ac8 15.c4 d4! Black contests the b5-knight's position. 16.bd6?! [ I think that this move is verging on the dubious, but White clearly wasn't happy with 16.xd4 exd4 17.xb6 xc1 18.xc1 b4 with more than enough play for the pawn. ] 16...cd8 [ Missing the lovely queen sac 16...xd6! 17.xd6 xc1 18.d2 ( 18.xc1 xe2+ is t h e p o in t) 18...c2 19.g5 xe2+ 20.h1 xb2 when Black is clearly on top, his piece s have go od square s, and th e extra queenside pawn (assuming W hite captures on b7) is useful. ] 17.e3 [ 17.xb7? d7 traps the knight. ] 17...f5?! [ 17...c6 18.b5 f5 is better, targeting the d3-pawn.. ] 18.b5 b4 The b6-pawn couldn't be 647
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 defended anyway. 19.xb7 e7 20.g2 xc4 21.xc4 xb2 Black regains his pawn, b u t s t r u c t u r a l l y h e i s w o r s e . 22.e1 With a nasty threat of Re2. a2 23.f1! [ Black stops 23.e2?? b e c a u s e o f xc4 as the d-pawn is pinned. ] 23...xc4 24.dxc4 xd1 25.xd1 Despite the opposite-colour bishops W hite has the advantage because he owns the d-file and threatens to molest the b6-pawn. c6? [ I feel that Black should open the a1-h8 diagonal for his bishop, whilst simultaneously closing the h1-a8 one, by 25...e4! 26.d6 c8 and there is no obvious way that White can bring his bishop into the game, as Black will continue with ... f5. ] 26.d6 c8 27.g2 This is why Black's 25th move was a mistake, the white bishop will come to d5 and attack f7. e4?! [ It is easy to understand why Black prefers this pawn sac to 27...b4 28.d5 xd5 29.cxd5 , b u t a f t e r c4 30.xb6 xa4 31.d6 a1+ 32.g2 d1 Black has reasonable drawing chances. ] 28.xe4 e5 29.d5 xc4 30.d7 e5 31.b7 The respective activity of the pieces says it all. c5 32.e4 c2 33.d6 d2 34.xb6 This is better than capturing the fpawn, as he will be able to attack it again later. f8 35.a6 h5 This hastens the end. 36.xf7! xf7 37.xg6+ g7 38.g5 The pretty point, Rf5 is the immediate threat. c2 39.xh5 c7 40.f5 The simplest, White will exchange the rooks and play with f o u r p a w n s a g a i n s t a l o n e b i s h o p . f8 41.g2 d4 42.h4 g7 43.xf7+ xf7 44.xf7 xf7 45.f4 e6 46.g4 d6 The only chance is to capture the a4-pawn and run his own, but the white pawns arrive much too quickly. 47.g5 c5 48.h5 b4 49.h6 [ 49.h6 xa4 50.g6 b4 51.g7 crowns a queen long before Black. ] 1-0
650 Vallejo Pons,Francisco Safarli,Eltaj Wch Rapid Khanty-Mansiysk (6) [Fier, Alexandr]
A16 2706 2660 07.06.2013
h4-h5 lines are tried in many different positions and are not always working. In the Anti-Grunfeld it's in fashion now, but I'm still not sure if it's sound. To spend 2 moves to open the file is sometimes too expensive. But if White manages to finish his development the attack can be dangerous, as seen here. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.h4 g7 6.h5 c6 [ 6...xc3 7.bxc3 c5 8.g3 is analyzed in Shimanov, A (2639)-Mchedlishvili, M (2640)/ Nakhchivan Open A 2013 2013 (7.5)/1-0 ] 7.d4 f5 [ 7...g4 A) 8.h6 was played before, and after f6 9.e4?! ( 9.e3 0-0= ) 9...db4! 10.d5 ( 10.a3 xd4 11.axb4 xf3+ 12.gxf3 xc3+ 13.bxc3 xd1+ 14.xd1 xf3+ ) 10...d4 And White was already in trouble in Naiditsch, A (2712)-Volokitin, A (2695)/ San Sebastian KO 2011; B) 8.hxg6 hxg6 9.xh8+ xh8 10.e4 b6 ( 10...db4 without a rook on h1 this doesn't work 11.a3 ) 11.d5 with a doubleedged position ] 8.b3 [ 8.g5 may be an interesting option d6 9.h6 f6 A) 10.xd5 A1) 10...xg5 11.c3 f6 can't be good ( 11...f6 12.e4 wins ); A2) 10...xd5 11.xf6 exf6 12.e3 0-0-0 with an unbalanced position; B) 10.xf6 xf6 11.e3 0-0 12.e2 with a playable position for both sides ] 8...xc3 [ 8...e6!? is a solid option and if White doesn't want to draw, he needs to enter into a not so exciting position A) 9.d1 f5= ( 9...g4 transposes ); B) 9.xb7 i s n o t g o o d db4 10.b5 d7 11.d1 c2 12.xc2 xd4+ 13.xd4 xb5 14.dxb5 c6 15.a3 xc3 16.bxc3 a5 is better for Black, White's pieces are not coordinated at all; 648
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 C) 9.hxg6 hxg6 10.xh8+ xh8 11.d1 and I don't see why W hite would be better ] 9.bxc3 0-0 10.hxg6 [ 10.xb7 is not in the style of the position, White has more important issues than taking a pawn A) 10...e4 is tempting but it looks like W hite survives 11.hxg6 hxg6 12.a3 b8 13.a6 xf3 14.gxf3 xd4! 15.cxd4 xd4 16.c1 b1! 17.d3 ( 17.xb1 c3+ 18.d1 d8+-+ ) 17...xc1+ 18.xc1 a1 19.d2 ( 19.d1 b2 20.d2 xc1 21.xc1 d8+-+ ) 19...xa2+ 20.d1 a4+ 21.d2 a2+=; B) 10...d7 11.hxg6 hxg6 12.b5 ab8 13.c5 e5 with good compensation ] 10...hxg6 11.h6 [ 11.xb7 is the same ] 11...xh6 12.xh6 g7?! It's not easy to understand why, and even more so in a rapid game, but this move already gives White the initiative. The rook is not doing much on h6, but now it's going to fulfil an important role. Central measures where necessary [ 12...e5! 13.e3 ( 13.xb7 f6 14.a6 exd4 15.xd4 e4 and compared to the game, Black's pieces are much more active, his rooks are ready to take the central files and W hite's king is not safe) 13...f6!? 14.xb7 ( 14.h1 ab8 15.e2 g7 is comfortable for Black) 14...exd4 15.cxd4 ab8! A) 16.a6 g7 17.xc6 ( 17.h1 b4-+ ) 17...xh6; B) 16.xc7 fc8 17.f4 b4 18.d1 c2+ 19.d2 xf4 20.exf4 f5 and even without queens Black's initiative is still dangerous, maybe W hite can defend the position, but he is certainly going to have to find some good moves. ] 13.h4! e5 [ 13...f6 to play 14...g5 is too optimistic 14.e4! g5 15.exf5 gxh4 16.xh4 and Black's king is going to suffer. ] 14.e4 c8 [ 14...g5 can be possible, but is hardly a move that any human would play 15.h5 xe4 16.xg5+ h8 17.h5+ g7 18.0-0-0 with a powerful attack. ]
15.0-0-0 exd4?! Black underestimates White's attacking chances and gives him too much liberty. Now the position becomes too dangerous. [ 15...h8 it's necessary to exchange the rooks without letting White's queen get to e3 16.dxe5 e7 17.xh8 xh8 18.b5 e6 19.b2 g7 with compensation for the pawn. ] 16.cxd4 e7? [ 16...h8 is not a move to make one happy, but at the cost of a pawn Black can finish developing his pieces 17.xh8 xh8 18.d5 d8 19.c3+ g8 20.xc7 g4 21.b1 c8 22.a5 but White is still a clear passed pawn up. ] 17.e3! Suddenly White's attack is decisive! With all his pieces aimed at the king there is no reasonable way to defend the position. h8 18.xh8 xh8 19.c4 g8 [ 19...g7 20.h1 and now 21.Qh6 will be check ] 20.h6 f6 21.g5 d8 22.h7! g7 23.h4 xh7 [ 23...c6 is brutally met by 24.h1 xd4 25.f6+ f8 26.h8+ e7 27.e8+ xf6 28.xf7+ e5 29.f4+ xe4 ( 29...d6 30.d1 ) 30.xg6+ f5 31.e1+ xf4 32.f1+ e3 33.h6+ f4 34.xf4# ] 24.xd8+ g7 25.xc7 g8 26.d8+ g7 27.c7?! This is not so bad, but misses a forcing continuation: [ 27.e8! and Black has problems defending his king with only the queen h6+ 28.c2 f4 ( 28...e6 29.xa8 xc4 30.xa7 h5 31.f3+- ) 29.h1 and soon the a8-rook will fall xf2+ 30.b1 ] 27...g8 28.d3 g4 29.f4 c8 30.c3 e6 31.d5 d7 [ 31...xd5 looks more active, but doesn't really help 32.exd5 b5 33.d6 bxc4 34.d7! d8 35.e4 h6+ 36.e3 g5 37.d4 and Black is completely paralyzed. ] 32.b2 b5 33.b3 xc3 34.xc3 h1 35.d6 a1+ 36.c2 e6 37.d7? Spoiling the game, as now White has no good way to avoid the perpetual. [ 37.d2 White should improve the position of the queen before advancing the pawn, like this the king has a secure path against 649
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the checks: xb3+ 38.xb3 b1+ 39.c3 a1+ 40.d3 f8 41.e3 f6 42.d4 g5+ 43.d3 e8 44.xa7+- ] 37...xb3+ 38.axb3 a2+ 39.c1 a1+ 40.c2 a2+ 41.c3 a1+ 42.d3 b1+ 43.e2 c2+ 44.e1 b1+ 45.e2 c2+ 46.d2 xe4+ 47.d1 b1+ 48.e2 e4+ 49.f1 b1+ 50.e2 e4+ 51.d1 ½-½
651 Vladimirov,Evgeny Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar Open Dubai UAE (6) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2605 2542 22.04.2002
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 g7 7.e4 c6 8.d3!? This novelty looks like an ugly move, but is not without its points, the bishop can drop back to c2 when W hite will be able to play d4 without worrying about his e-pawn which is solidly protected by his bishop and knight. We have examined the normal [ 8.d3 in the game Piket,J-Bacrot,E/Escaldes 1998. Otherwise, ] [ 8.e2!? is interesting, menacing to push the e-pawn, or d-pawn: h5!? 9.d4!? xd4 (if Black doesn't capture on d4 his 8th move loses any sense) 10.xd4 xd4 11.h6 keeping the king in the centre, d7 12.d1 e5 13.e3 f5!? unclear, Ehlvest,J-Isaev,J/ Elista 1998. ] 8...a6?! [ Black aims for a queenside advance, but two days later (!) Black preferred 8...bd7! 9.c2 e5 (to inhibit d4) 10.0-0 0-0 11.d1 e7 12.d4?! ( 12.b4!? ) 12...exd4 13.xd4 xe4 virtua lly f orced , 14.xe4 xe4 15.f4 ( 15.e1?! c5! ) 15...ec5 16.b5 1/2-1/2 Ehlvest,J-Goloshchapov,A/ Dubai UAE 2002, but Black is better here. ] 9.c2 b5 10.b3 bd7 11.d4 White has the centre, and Black has no obvious way of undermining it just yet, the white opening has been a success! e6 12.0-0 0-0 13.f4 b8 14.fe1 Simple chess - White just puts his p i e c e s o n g o o d , n a t u r a l s q u a r e s . a5?! W e a k e n i n g t h e qu e e n si d e , wh i ch W h it e hastens to exploit. 15.d3! b4 16.a4 b7
17.ac1 Both the c4 and c5 squares are weak, and the c7-pawn is a fat target sitting on the open c-file. fd8?! [ 17...fc8 avoids immediate defeat. ] 18.xc6! xc6 19.c1 b7 20.xc7 b8 All forced. 21.g3! [ The cool point, defending the bishop and threatening a nasty discovered attack on the b l a c k q u e e n . N o t e t h a t 21.g3? l o s e s c o n t r o l o f c 1 a n d a l l o w s c8! wh e n W h it e c a n n o t ca p t u r e t h e k n i gh t because of the back-rank mate. ] 21...e5?? Weak play from someone so highly classed, the only real try was [ 21...h5 with 22.xd7 xf4 23.xd8+ xd8 24.gxf4 xd4 White is clearly on top with two knights for a rook, but the game is not over yet, not by any means. ] 22.xe5! xe5 [ 22...xc7? lo s e s t h e q u e e n : 23.xf7+ h8 24.xg6+ hxg6 25.xc7 ] 23.xe5 d5 Hopeless, but how else to defend f7? 24.exd5 1-0
652 Wang Yue Howell,David UK-CHN Match (6) [Jonathan Rowson]
A16 2696 2519 09.09.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ d7 6.b3 b6 7.d4 g7 8.f4 0-0 9.e3 e6 10.a3 8d7 11.e2 [ 11.d1 Gives Black three possibilities, all of which look plausible, and all of which have been endorsed by super-GMs. A) 11...a5!? 12.d5 ( 12.e2 c4 ) 12...xc3+ 13.bxc3 xd5 14.c4 xf3 15.gxf3 White has quite serious compensation due to the two bishops, better coordination and kingside attacking chances, but the position can only be classified as 'unclear' and Black's play can probably be improved. e6 16.h4 f6 17.e2 e5 18.g5 c6 19.h5 f6 20.h6 f7 21.g1 Eljanov, P (2720)Vachier Lagrave, M (2716)/Emsdetten GER 2008, g5!? 22.f4 exf4 23.exf4 e8 unclear.; 650
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 11...c6 12.g5 d5 13.e4 e5 Very Grunfeldesque, but is it any good? 14.dxe5 xe5 15.xe5 ( 15.c1!? ) 15...xe5 16.h4 ( 16.f4!? ) 16...e8 17.h5 f6 18.f3 bc4 19.xc4 ( 19.b4 looks critical.) 19...xc4 20.b3 d2 21.xb7 f7 22.b4 b8 23.d4 xe4 24.xd2 xf3+ 25.f1 xh5 un cle ar, E lja no v, P (2 68 7)-Svidle r, P (2746)/ Foros UKR 2008.; C) 11...d5 12.xd5 xd5 13.e2 e8 14.0-0 c6 15.g3 b6 16.b3 e5 Black's play looks exemplary, but in these lines freeing the position does not always g u a r a n t e e e q u a l i t y . 17.xe5 xe5 18.dxe5 xe5 19.c4 xc4 20.bxc4 xg3 21.hxg3 It is hard to believe that Black is worse here, but no less tha n Shirov managed to lose from this position. e4 22.d7 ae8 23.c5 b5 24.xa7 a4 25.b6 xb6 26.cxb6 b8 27.b1 xa2 28.b4 c5 29.e4 b2 30.ee7 b1+ 31.h2 xb6 32.xf7 c6 33.g7+ f8 34.xh7 e8 35.d5 cc8 36.e5+ f8 37.xc5 xc5 38.h8+ e7 39.xb8 1-0 Eljanov, P (2687)Shirov, A (2740)/Foros UKR 2008 ] 11...c6 Perhaps a bit diffident. [ 11...c5! seems to be playable and therefore should be played. A) 12.dxc5 is of course critical. c4 ( 12...xc3+ 13.bxc3 d5 14.h6 e8 15.c6 bxc6 16.0-0 looks a bit better for White. ) 13.xc4 ( 13.b4 c8!? Looks like a useful detail. 14.xc4 a5 ) 13...xc4 14.b4 a6 with enduring compensation because White will probably have to castle queenside.; B) 12.0-0 c4 13.a4 db6 14.c2 f5 15.c1 cxd4 16.xd4 d7 17.xc4 xc4 18.d5 e5 Bu Xiangzhi (2714)Vachier Lagrave, M (2716)/Dresden GER 2008. ] 12.0-0 c4 13.fd1?! [ 13.xc4 xc4 14.b3 seems to make it harder for Black to break with e5. ] 13...xe2 14.xe2 e8 and now White cannot keep his 'little centre'. 15.a5 d5 16.g3 e5 17.c3 e4 18.xd5 cxd5 19.d2 e6 20.ac1 f5 21.c7 g5 22.d6 xd6 23.xd6 fc8 24.c7 f8
25.c2 e6 26.dc1 f7 27.g3 xd4!? This move must have been difficult to resist, and is not at all bad, but Black was a little better even in any case and could also have tried to play more simply. [ 27...e8!? ] 28.exd4 xd4 29.b3 xc2 30.xc2 e7 31.c3 d7 32.e5 xc3 33.xc3 c8?! [ 33...f4 ] 34.d4 f4 35.f3 f8 36.f2 f6 37.gxf4 gxf4 38.e2 f5 39.d4 b6 [ 39...e3+ 40.e1 b6 41.h4 d6 still favours Black. ] 40.h4 h5? [ 40...d6 ] 41.f6 h6 42.d4 Trapping the rook. d6 43.g2 e3 44.a3 a6 45.a4 c5 46.h3 e2 47.xe2 f5 48.d4+ c4 49.g4 f7 50.xb6 e7 51.d4 a5 52.b3+ c3 53.xf4 b7 54.c5 b8 55.e5 e8+ 56.xd5 d8+ 57.d6 1-0
653 Zvjaginsev,Vadim Najer,Evgeniy Aeroflot Open (5) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2671 2585 15.02.2003
1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.f3 g6 5.h4!? One of Piket's attempts to blast the Pseudo-Grünfeld. f6 The knight stops the hpawn's further advance. 6.d4 g7 7.e4 0-0 8.e2 c5 This looks like a perfectly normal Grünfeld position, except with a white h-pawn on h4! 9.d5 b5!? A sharp new move, [ 9...e6 10.h5! led to a fin e white victory in Piket,J-Svidler,P/ KasparovChess GP g/60, Internet (3.2) 2000. ] 10.e5 The alternative is [ 10.xb5 but then comes xe4! 11.xe4 a5+ 12.c3 xc3+ 13.bxc3 xb5 which is unclea r, Black's dark-s qua re d weaknesses are matched by White's lightsquared frailty. ] 10...g4 11.xb5 [ 11.d6!? is interesting, with the nasty threat of Qd5, b7 12.g5 f6 13.b3+! h8 14.xb5 and White seems to be well on top. a6 15.xc5 exd6 16.exf6! winning a 651
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pawn. ] 11...d7!? Black plays for speedy development, but this is risky, [ 11...xe5 12.xe5 xe5 13.h6 is a little awkward, however. ] 12.e6!? This appears interesting, but [ 12.g5 also has its points, hitting the g4k n i g h t , a n d a f t e r dxe5 ( 12...gxe5? 13.f4 ) 13.f4 the knight has nowhere to go, but then comes h6 14.h3 e6 15.0-0 xh4 16.fxe5 xe5 and Black has reasonable compensation for the piece - one o f t h e d ra wb a c ks o f p l a yi n g h 4 is t h a t kingside castling is no longer a solution to the king's problems. ] 12...fxe6 13.dxe6 de5 14.xd8 xd8 15.xe5 xe5 16.0-0 a6 17.e2 xe6 Black recuperates his pawn with a perfectly satisfactory position. 18.e1 f7 19.f4 c6 20.f3 ac8 21.g4 a8 22.f3 White decides to repeat. ac8 23.g4 ½-½
Black's next. ] 10...d5 11.d3 d4 Both gaining space and closing the a1-h8 diagonal. 12.c2 c7 13.d2 d7 14.0-0-0 So the reason White has been reluctant to advance his b-pawn is clear, he wanted to keep his queenside strong to serve as a haven for his king. However, in this line White is often happy to leave his king in the centre and attack on the wings. d6 The knight heads for the strong square on f5. 15.f4 fe8 16.e5?! This move allows multiple exchanges, and ends in a position advantageous to Black, White should prefer to keep more tension in the position by, say, [ 16.g3 e5 17.e4!? ] 16...xg2 17.xd7 Forced, [ 17.xg2? f5 18.xd7 xf4+ 19.d2 d6 and the knight is lost. ] 17...xd7 18.xd6 [ 18.xg2?! is again doubtful, e5 19.g3 b5! 20.cxb5 xb5 and Black has the makings of a strong attack on the b and cfiles. ] 18...xd6 19.xg2 ab8 White's potential 654 A17 kingside attack is a long way from achieving Agrest,Evgenij 2616 anything, yet Black can lever the b-file open Ivanchuk,Vassily 2716 almost immediately. Black is better. 20.d2 TCh-SWE 2003-4 (8) 28.02.2004 b5 21.e3 Attempting to respond in the centre, but Black has this well under control. b4! [Tony Kosten] More effective than [ 21...bxc4 which allows White the c4-square 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 0-0 after 22.xc4 ] It is always interesting to see how a really strong player responds to a critical variation, 22.axb4 [ 22.a4? is worse, c6 (hitting the rook on and here Ivanchuk is happy to put his king 'in g2) 23.e4 b3 24.b1 xa4 winning a the firing line'. 5.g5 e8 6.g1!? Vaisser's pawn whilst continuing the attack. ] move. Most attention has been concentrated [ 22.a4!? might be the best bet, bxa3 on 23.xa3 although Black is still better. ] [ 6.c2 as in, for instance, my game against 22...xb4 23.exd4 cxd4 24.g4!? Balogh earlier this year. ] 6...b6 Black brings the light-squared bishop to White looks to complicate, by offering the hthe long h1-a8 diagonal, a logical alternative pawn. [ 24.g3 is safer, yet eb8 25.d1 b3 to Sokolov's with a strong grip on the position, and once [ 6...d5 see the original game, against Black brings his queen into the attack the Vaisser. ] white position will be at breaking point. ] 7.c2 b7 8.a3 xc3 Conceding the bishop pair to help speed-up development. 9.xc3 24...xh2 25.f4 [ 25.xd4 g1+ 26.d1 xg5 c5 10.g2!? Why put the rook on g1 and wins a pawn, whilst retaining a big positional then play this? I think I would prefer plus. ] [ 10.b4 myself, bringing the important dark26.d1 b7 27.h4 b8 squared bishop onto the a1-h8 diagonal, 25...h1+ and pressurising the c5-pawn to hinder Tripling on the b-file and pinning White down 652
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 t o t h e d e f e n c e o f b 2 . 28.hh2 a6 pawn sac, Preparing a switch to the a-file. 29.c2 [ 15.0-0-0 xg2 16.xg2 is about level. ] [ 29.b1? a4 wins on the spot. ] 15...exd5 16.cxd5 e7! A good move, 29...e5! A far-sighted move that prepares the although once again taking the pawn by e6 -s qu a re f or t h e qu e e n . 30.fxe5 a4 [ 16...xd5!? i s p l a y a b l e : 17.g5 31.d1 The king must flee the danger zone. ( 17.xg6?! fxg6 18.xg6+ f8 19.g5 a1+ 32.e2 e6 This is the point of Black's looks good, but Black has the riposte e8! 29th move, the queen eyes g4. 33.f3 f5+ 20.xe8+ xe8 21.xd5 xd5 22.xd5 34.g3 xg5+ Forcing mate in a few moves. and now xg5 23.xg5 e5 regaining 0-1 material, with advantage) 17...ge7 18.h7 with a useful initiative. ] 17.g4!? White chooses the sharpest 655 A17 continuation at nearly every move. [ 17.xf4 xf4 18.g4 xc3+ 19.bxc3 Bareev,Evgeny 2721 f6 20.e4+ and now e6! is unclear. ] Naiditsch,Arkadij 2574 ECC Rethymnon GRE (5) 02.10.2003 17...xc3 [ 17...xd5!? might be playable, as 18.e4 [Tony Kosten] e5 19.xe5 ( 19.g5 d6 20.a4+ d7 defends ) 19...xe5 20.f4 xh2! 21.0-0-0 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 xf4! 22.xe5 xe5 23.xb7 d8 Still the most topical line in the English, and with a position that is difficult to evaluate, when 2700+ players use it is fair to say that it but probably more than OK for Black. ] h a s b e c o m e t h e m a i n l i n e i n t h e N i m zo English. h6 5.g1 b6 6.c2 This move has 18.xc3 xd5 [ 18...h5!? is interesting, so that if recently taken over from the sharp 19.xg7? f5 wins an exchange. ] [ 6.h4 ] 19.xg7 h3 20.g5!? Bareev has a good 6...b7 7.a3 e7 [ 7...f8!? didn't do too well in Mamedyarov, eye for tactics. xh1 [ 20...d3+!? has its points, 21.f1 xf2! S-Naiditsch,A/Lausanne SUI 2003, see the 22.g1 ( 22.xf2? xh2+ wins; 22.xd5 September update. ] xg4 ) 22...xh1 23.xh3 xh3 24.xh1 8.g5 hxg5 9.xg5 h5 White has a small material advantage, but [ 9...f8 Zvjaginsev,V-Adams,M/Moscow his king is awkwardly placed. ] RUS 2001. ] 21.xh3 xh3 22.f5! The tactical point of 10.d4 c6 Back to this logical move. [ 10...c5!? 11.d5 may be playable, but took White's play, there is a veiled threat to the h3knight, which has no escape square. c6 a knock in Najer,E-Pedersen,N. ] 11.f3 f6 12.d5!? Gaining space and The bishop escapes to safety, [ 22...d5? plans to drive the queen from e4, shutting-out the b7-bishop, Bareev attempts but after 23.f3! the bishop is trapped, and to improve on c6 24.d2! f2 25.f6 d6 26.xg6! [ 12.d3 a5 1/2-1/2 Guidarelli,L-Sakelsek, fxg6 27.xg6+ d7 28.f7+ c8 29.g1 T/Opatija CRO 2003. ] wins. ] 12...e5 13.g2!? g6 For obvious reasons 23.f6 e6 24.e4 White is materially behind, Black avoids [ 13...xc4!? 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.g5 but his strong bishop cuts through the heart of ( 15.b5!? is also dangerous) 15...xg2 t h e b la c k p o s i t i o n , a n d t h e h 3 - k n ig h t i s 16.g6+ although no win is evident after misplaced. f8! Freeing the e8-square for the b la ck ro o k . 25.xe6 dxe6 26.c1 b5 e7 ] 27.xc7 hf4 Rough material equality has 14.d2 [ 14.dxe6 dxe6 15.h4 xh4 16.xb7 been reached, and the h3-knight has returned b8 17.c6+ f8 is quite playable for to play. 28.g5?! This just wastes a move, as Black will play ...e5 anyway. Black, who can continue ..g6 and ...Kg7. ] [ 28.d2 e5 29.h4 looks best. ] 14...hf4 15.h1!? White offers another 653
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28...e5 29.c3?! A strange move, hoping for Rh3-h8 perhaps, but possibly just the result of tim e p re ss u re . d3+ Winning a pawn with check. 30.e2 The king must keep the f2pawn defended. xb2+ 31.f3 d3 [ 31...c4! to defend e5, followed by ..Re8e6 looks good for Black. ] 32.e3 e8? [ 32...b2! might be best, to go to c4 again, but having decided not to go there before, Black is hardly going to waste two moves getting there! ] 33.h4? Why not the obvious [ 33.xd3 xd3 34.xd3 e6 35.f5 with a small advantage to W hite, as the bishop is stronger then the knight. ] 33...c5 34.h5 d7!? [ 34...e6! 35.f5 e7 looks very promising for Black. ] 35.hxg6 xf6 36.c7 d7?! [ 36...fxg6 37.xg6 e6 (menace: ...Nd5+) 38.gg7 a5 39.cf7+ e8 40.a7 c6 seems better. ] 37.xa7 f6?! The g-pawn will prove to be a problem now, [ 37...fxg6 38.xg6 should be a draw. ] 38.g1! e7? Black gets his bits into a tangle. [ 38...e7 39.g7 g8 should hold this position. ] 39.h1 g8 40.a4 c4? The final nail in the coffin, the bishop had to continue defending the knight: [ 40...c6 41.d1! (planning Rd6xc6) ( 41.c1?! allows the neat tactic xe4! 42.xe4 c5+ 43.xc5 xa7 ) 41...e8 42.dxd7 xd7 43.xd7 a8 44.f7 xa4 with some slim chances to draw. ] 41.h7! [ There is no hope af ter 41.h7 xh7 42.gxh7+ xh7 43.xd7+ ] 1-0
656 Berkes,Ferenc Balogh,Csaba TCh-HUN 2005-6 (9) [John Watson]
A17 2597 2561 19.03.2006
A nice opening comb ination nets a large positional advantage and, soon, the game. 1.c4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 c5 5.g3 c6 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 d5 8.d3 xc3 9.xc3 d4 10.a3 d6?! [ 10...e7 11.e3 b4 12.b3 dxe3 13.xe3 e5 ] 11.e3 b4 [ 11...e5!? 12.exd4 exd4 13.f4 e7 14.ae1 e6 15.g5 ] 12.exd4! A big surprise. Black can't win material: c2 [ 12...cxd4? 13.d2! a5 14.xd4 xd4 15.xb4 ] 13.f4! The point. xf4 [ 13...e7 14.xc5 xc5 15.dxc5 xa1 16.xa1 and White's pawn mass will win for him. ] 14.a4 d6 15.xc2 cxd4 16.c5 d7 17.c4 [ 17.fe1 is also good: Black's quite tied down. ] 17...d8 18.b4 [ Or 18.fe1 ] 18...d5 19.fe1! [ 19.ac1 e5! isn't so clear. Now White will win something. ] 19...b8 [ 19...xc4 20.dxc4 leaves Black no hope but a5 21.b5 d7 , but it loses to 22.c6 c5 23.ad1! d3 24.e5 etc. ] 20.a3 [ Or 20.ac1 threatening Ne5. ] 20...e8 Black has nothing to do. Now the e n d c o m e s . 21.e4 xc4 22.dxc4 d3 23.d1 b5 24.cxb5 xb5 25.d4 d5 26.1xd3 c7 27.e5 f6 28.c6 1-0
654
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A17 9...a5!? [ A new move, but as mentioned above not a Bogner,Sebastian 2423 new plan. Previously Black had only tried Wirig,Anthony 2477 9...g4 10.e3 bd7 11.h3?! ( 11.e2= ) 5th GM Mulhouse FRA (7) 29.06.2008 11...xf3 12.gxf3 d5 13.0-0-0?! c5 [Carsten Hansen] , and Black is already better, Barbero, GTimman, J/Novi Sad 1990 ] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 d6 10.g3 axb4 11.axb4 xa1+ 12.xa1 b5!? 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 e5 7.b4 0-0 8.b2 e8 [ 8...a5 has recently proven quite successful T h i s is s im i la r t o t h e . . . b 7 - b 5 p l a y e d b y for Black in Tratar-Kosten, Graz 2008 and Ivanchuk against Kramnik in Monaco 2007, Kramnik-Ivanchuk, Monaco 2007. The text but with a white d2-d3 and a black ...Re8 mo ve is o f c ou rse f u lly pla ya b le , b u t if inserted. Nevertheless, it is still very effective, Black wants to employ the plan laid out by and this game is another advertisement for Ivanchuk, 8...a5 is more accurate than the th is p a rticu la r an gle o f a t t a ck f o r B la c k . 13.cxb5 text move. ] [ 13.g2 bxc4 14.dxc4 b7 15.0-0 a6 9.d3 , intending ...Qb8 with more or less equal [ White has a couple of alternatives here: A) chances. ] 9.g3 Black's position is already quite A) 9...bd7!? 10.g2 b6 11.0-0 13...d7 ( 11.c2!? ) 11...e4 12.d4 c5 comfortable, if not not outright better. 14.g2 , and Black is alre ady f ighting f or th e xb5 15.0-0 a6 [ Personally, I prefer 15...c6!? intending to initiative, Jelen, I-Kuzmin, G/Bled 1979; meet 16.h4 with d4 with a pleasant B) 9...b6 10.g2 b7 11.0-0 c5 game for Black ] ( 11...bd7 12.d3 c5 13.e4 f8 14.h4 e6 15.ae1 d4 16.c1 d7 17.f4 16.b1?! [ With this move, White initiates a series of a6 18.xd4 exd4 19.b2 b8 20.b5 moves without much plan or merit, , a nd th o ugh t h e ch an ces ob ject ive ly ultimately leading to a bad position. White speaking are probably about even, White's should instead consider 16.h4!? , e.g. position is easier to play, Schmidt, W d7 17.d2 c6 18.h3 ( 18.f4 a7+ Kholmov, R/Legnica 1994) 12.e3 bd7 19.h1 g4 20.f3 e3 21.b1 c7 13.d3 c8 14.e4 a6 15.h4 b5= 22.fxe5 dxe5 23.g2 xg2 24.xg2 d5 Szabo, L-Larsen, B/Lugano 1970 ] is also quite unclear and also not worse for [ B) 9.e3 bd7 ( 9...g4 10.e2 bd7 Black ) 18...d5!? 19.b1 e6 , and now 11.d3 f8 12.h3 , and a draw was 20.e4 dxb4 21.xb4 xb4 22.xb4 prematurely agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in xd3 results in an interesting distribution of Krivoshey, S-Epishin, V/La Laguna ESP material and a rather unclear position. ] 2007. In the final positional, I prefer White.; Black can also consider 9...a5 with similar 16...d7 17.d2?! d5!? Black grabs the ideas as in Tratar-Kosten, Graz 2008 - see initiative and at the same time prevents White PGN archives.) 10.d3 a5 11.e2 b6 from playing Nd2-c4-a3 to exchange the lightsquared bishop that is blocking the queenside. 12.c2 f5 13.0-0 d7 14.b5 e4 A) 15.xf6! exf3 ( or 15...gxf6 16.d4 18.e3 [ 18.f3 looks like a reasonable move, g6 17.dxe4 xe4 18.d3 ) 16.xf3 putting pressure on the Black centre and the gxf6 17.xb7 has White giving two minor a1-h8 diagonal. d4! 19.d2 c6 , and Black pieces for a rook and two pawns, but the has the better chances. ] minor pieces are severely restricted by White's pawn chain, and therefore White 18...d6 19.b3?! [ N o w i t i s d e f i n i t e l y t i m e f o r 19.f3 is clearly better.; , i n t e n d i n g d7 20.h4 with some B) 15.dxe4?! xe4 16.c1 f5 counterplay for White. ] with a comfortable game for Black, Ortega, 19...c6 L-Zelcic, R/Bratto 1997 ] 657
655
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 19...d7!? ] 20.h3 d7 21.b1?! [ 21.f3 f6 22.h4 should again be considered. I really don't know what White was hoping to accomplish with his passive play in the game. ] 21...c7 22.a3 f6?! [ Already at this juncture, Black can consider 22...d4!? , e.g. 23.d2 e6 , and Black is in complete control of the game ] 23.d2 h6 24.f3 [ After having missed out on this plan several times previously, White finally picks up on it. However, at this point in time, he could also try 24.c5! , e.g. xc5 25.bxc5 a6 26.d4! , and White can actually play for the advantage. ] 24...d4 25.exd4 [ 25.c5! is again an excellent option. ] 25...e4! 26.dxe4 xe4 27.b2?? [ This loses on the spot. Instead White shou ld have playe d 27.c1! , and after xb4 then 28.d7 e7 29.e5!? ( Or 29.g4 h5 30.f5 g5 31.e5 f6 32.c3 d6 33.g6 e8 with a messy position) 29...f6 30.xc6 xe5 31.dxe5 xc6 32.exf6 d2 33.f7+ xf7 34.c3 e4 35.xc6 f3+ 36.f1 xh2+ 37.g1 f3+ with a perpetual check ] 27...g5! Oops the old back rank problem! Game over! 0-1
658
A17 Buss,Ralph 2303 Mahesh Chandran,Panjanathan 2441 MTO Biel SUI (7) 26.07.2004 [Tony Kosten]
This is not a game of enormous theoretical significance, but the attack is amusing. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 b6 7.e3 b7 8.e2 e4!? Played in 'Dutch/Nimzo' style, I had previously only considered the normal [ 8...d6 9.0-0 bd7 as in Kramnik-Zhang Zhong, for instance. ] 9.c2 f5 10.0-0 This might be a case of 'castling into it', although W hite's defensive resources should be adequate here. In Ree,
H-Kortchnoi,V/Amsterdam 1976 W hite preferred [ 10.b3 d6 11.b2 d7 12.d4 e7 13.d3 ef6 and now the knight has been pushed away he could safely play 14.0-0 when the game continued ae8 15.ae1 c5 16.f3 xf3 17.xf3 e5 with equality. ] [ 10.d3 is met by g5 putting pressure on f3. ] 10...a5 This is often a useful move for Black in such positions, the threat of ... a4, fixing a weakness on b3, obliges W hite to play b3 instead of the b4 he would normally prefer.. 11.b3 d6 The first new move. [ 11...c5!? 12.b2 d6 13.d3 g5 was played in Soylu,S-Kurajica,B/Kavala 1985, which continued 14.h1?! ( 14.d1 ) 14...f4 15.b4?! e5 and Black's kingside pressure is considerable, 16.bxa5 bxa5 17.xg5 xg5 18.e4 c6 19.ab1 c8 20.f3 f6 21.fc1 h6 and White soon cracked. ] 12.e1 h4 Typical play in such positions, Black prepares to use his extra kingside space to swin g his ro ok int o th e at ta ck. 13.f3? White might well be lost after this move, if it was me I would play [ 13.f3 f6 14.d4 followed by Bb2 and Nd3, with two bishops and a reasonable position. ] 13...f6 14.g3?! [ 14.d3 is better, although h6 15.h3 g5!? 16.dxe4 g4 17.d1 xe4 18.d2 xg2 is incredibly dangerous for W hite, whose king has lost its defenders, e.g. 19.xg2 xh3 20.f4 g3 forcing 21.h4 although xh4 22.f3 is unclear. ] 14...h3 15.g2 Forced, [ 15.d3?? h6 leads to mate in a few moves. ] 15...g5! A neat tactic, although it has been seen many times before in similar positions from the Nimzo-Indian. 16.f4 Neither [ 16.xh3?? xh3# or ] [ 16.xb7?? h6 are playable. ] 16...h6! Black continues the 'joke'! 17.fxg5 Once again the only move. xh2+ 18.f2 xg2 19.xg2 h3 20.g1 [ 20.b2? A) 20...xg3+ 21.g1 h2+ leads to a draw, but Black can easily play on here 656
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with ( 21...d7 say, instead. ); B) 20...xg3 21.g1 d7 transposes. ] 20...d7! Black brings up some reinforcements, this is stronger than [ 20...xg3+ 21.f1 xg5 when Black has three pawns for the piece, but W hite can defend. ] 21.b2? The bishop needs to be controlling the f4-square. [ 21.d4 xg3 22.d2 keeps the game going. ] 21...xg3 22.d1?! White is losing anyway, even after the better [ 22.d4 f8 23.c1 t o s t o p . . . f 4 e5 and the attack is soon decisive. ] 22...f8 There is no way to counter the opening of the f-file by ...f4. 0-1
659 Cheparinov,Ivan Drasko,Milan ETCC Crete GRE (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A17 2670 2557 30.10.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 d6 7.e3 [ In our April 2007 update, we discussed the merits of 7.b4 as played in KramnikIvanchuk. The move chosen by Cheparinov is played much less frequently. ] 7...a5 [ Black has a number of alternatives at this juncture: A) 7...e5 A) 8.b4!? e8 ( 8...e7 9.b2 e8 10.e2 bd7 11.0-0 c6 Ilsley, GJ a c k s o n , D/ c o r r 1 9 7 5 , a n d n o w 12.d3 leaves White with a pleasant little edge) 9.b2 c6 10.e2 g4 11.d3 a6 ( or 11...d7 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 f5 14.0-0 g6 15.ad1 Sasikiran, KSatyapragyan, S/Mumbai 2003 ) A1) 12.h3! h5 ( 12...xf3 13.xf3 d5 14.cxd5 xd5 15.b3 ) 13.g4 g6 14.h4 - analysis by Chekhov; A2) 12.0-0?! d5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.c4 d7 , thus far, Timman, J-Larsen, B/ Buenos Aires 1980, and here Chekhov recommends 15.fd1 followed by Rac1 with White holding the upper hand;
B) 8.d3 a5 ( 8...e8 9.e2 c6 10.0-0 g4 11.h3 h5 12.c2 e4 13.dxe4 xe4 14.b3 g6 15.d3 e6 16.b2 a5 17.ae1 g5 , and a draw was soon agreed upon, but the moves quoted in Ch e ssBa se Ma ga zine a re h o p ele s s ly wrong, Dorfman, J-Almasi, Z/ Hilversum 1993. At this juncture I prefer White.) 9.b3 d7 10.e2 b5!? ( 10...c5 11.0-0 c6 12.b2 e7 is solid and probably good enough for equality.) 11.d4 b4 12.c2 exd4 13.axb4 c6 14.bxa5 dxe3 15.xe3 xa5 16.0-0 Dorfman, JSokolov, A/Marsailles 2001; C) 8.e2 b6 ( 8...a5 9.b4 axb4 10.axb4 xa1 11.xa1 c6 12.a3 e4 13.d4 1/2-1/2 Hartoch, R-Keene, R/ Amsterdam 1973 ) C1) 9.d3 a5 10.b3 e8 11.b2 c5 12.0-0 c6 13.fe1 g4 14.h3 h5 15.ad1 c8 16.c1 h6 17.a1 ( 17.c3 d5 18.cxd5 xd5 19.b2!? ) 17...d7 18.d4?! ( 18.c3 cd8 19.b2 ) 18...exd4 19.exd4 xe2 20.xe2 xf3 21.gxf3 xh3 0-1 Majorovas, V-Shneider, A/Vilnius 1984/MCD (29); C2) 9.b4 b7 10.b2 bd7 11.0-0 e8 12.d3 c5 13.d2 f8 14.a4 a5 15.bxa5 bxa5 16.b3 8d7 17.d2 b8 18.f4 exf4 19.xf4 1-0 Ree, HLangeweg, K/ Wijk aan Zee 1972 ] [ B) 7...bd7 8.e2 b6 9.b4 e4 10.c2 b7 11.b2 A) 11...g5 invites complications, and in the one game it was played, W hite im me diat ely ob lige d : 12.g1 ( 12.h4 xf3+ 13.gxf3 f5 14.0-0-0!? can also be c o n s i d e r e d) 12...xf3+?! ( 12...f5!? ) 13.gxf3 g6 14.f4 h4 15.f1 xh2 16.g3 h1 17.0-0-0 , and White has excellent compensation f or the pawn, Villalobos-Funes Castro, J/corr 1985; B) 11...a5 12.0-0 e7 13.d4 e5 14.b5 df6 15.f3 ( 15.d3 c6 16.dxe4 cxb5 17.f3 bxc4 18.bxa5 xa5 19.xc4 ) 15...c6 16.c3 g5 17.e2 e6 18.a4 d7 19.d3 h6 ( 19...h4!? ) 20.f4 axb4 21.axb4 exf4 22.exf4 1-0 Timman, J-Vogel, J/ Leeuwarden 1974 ] 657
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ C) 7...c5 8.b4 bd7 9.b2 e5 10.e2 e8 11.0-0 A) 11...b6 12.ae1 b7 13.d4 cxd4 ( 13...c8 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.b5 e7 16.d2 cd8 17.f3 f8 with chances to both sides, Roussel Roozmon, T-Hecht, H/ Kitchener CAN 2006) 14.exd4 c8 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.b3 c7 17.d1 f8 18.fe1 g6 19.f1 a5 20.h3 axb4 21.axb4 , and White has a pleasant plus thanks to his pair of bishops, queenside majority and in general well-coordinated pieces, Doettling, F-Balogh, C/Pula CRO 2003; B) 11...a5 12.d3 b6 13.b3 ( 13.bxc5!? a4 14.c2 xc5 15.d4 exd4 16.exd4 looks very pleasant for White ) 13...bd7 14.c3 b6 15.fe1 f8 16.d4 g6 17.bxc5 bxc5 18.d5?! ( Closing the centre doesn't strike me as the most sensible way to proceed. Opening the game for the benefit of the bishop pair makes f or a better overall strategy. 18.dxe5 dxe5 19.c2 b7 20.ed1 b6 21.d2 h4 22.f3 ) B1) 18...g4!? 19.h3 f5 20.g4 ( 20.d2 e4 is fine for Black) 20...e4 21.d2 h4 22.f3 g6 23.e4 also leaves White with the upper hand though my computer insists Black is at least equal here; B2) 18...e4 19.c2 f5 20.d3 g5 21.xg5 xg5 22.f4 exf4 23.exf4 xe1+ 24.xe1 xf4 ( 24...xf4? 25.c1+- ) 25.a4 ( 25.g3! g5 26.a4 f8 27.e8 b8 28.c3 is obviously very problematic for Black, e. g. f4 29.e7 , and it is time to throw in the towel.) 25...h6?! 26.c6?! ( 26.c3! prevents the counterplay Black is b a n k i n g o n , e . g . g4 27.f1 and the Black position is ripe to p e n e t r a t e d) 26...d2! , and Black is back in the game at full force 27.e8+ h7 28.xa8 xb2 29.e1 d4+ 30.h1 xd3 31.xc8 e5 32.e6 f4 33.xd6 f3 34.f8 d2 35.g1 fxg2+ 36.xg2 e1+ 37.g1 e4+ 38.g2 e1+ 39.g1 1/2-1/2 Pelletier, Y-Sokolov, A/Bled 200203 ] [ D) 7...b6
A) 8.b4 A1) 8...e4!? 9.c2 b7 10.b2 d7 11.e2 ( 11.d3 g5! ) 11...e7 12.0-0=; A2) 8...b7 9.b2 bd7 10.e2 e7 11.0-0 e5 12.d3 e8 13.d4 e4 14.d2 f5 15.d5 ef6 16.f4 exf3 17.xf3 1-0 Stokke, K-Revil, B/ Oslo NOR 2004; B) 8.e2 b7 9.0-0 c5 10.d4 ( 10.d3!? bd7 11.b4 e7 12.e4 ) 10...a5 11.b3 bd7 12.b2 ( 12.d2 e8 13.b2 g5 14.f3 g6 15.dxc5 xc5 16.ad1 ) 12...e7 13.ad1 fc8 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.d2 e8 16.d3 ( 16.e4!? a4 17.bxa4 xa4 18.b3 c6 19.g3 with excellent attacking chances for White ) 16...a4 17.bxa4 b6 18.c2 h6 19.b1 xa4 20.a1 c6 21.b3 ( 21.f4 cb8 22.e4 c7 23.xb8 xb8 24.xc6 xc6 25.e4 ) 21...c7 22.fb1 cb8 23.h7+ , and a draw was somewhat prematurely agreed upon, 1/2-1/ 2, Hansen, Cu-Werle, J/Katernberg GER 2003 ] 8.b3 e8 [ 8...bd7 9.b2 b6 10.e2 b7 11.0-0 e7 12.d4 e5 13.f5 e6 14.g3 e4 ( 14...c5 15.d4 fe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.d3 ) 15.xe4 xe4 16.d4 exd4 ( 16...g6 17.f3 f5 18.e4 h3 19.f2 exd4 20.xd4 c5 21.c3 ) 17.xd4 Berezjuk, S-Schmittdiel, E/Passau 1999 ] [ 8...e5 9.e2 g4 10.b2 c5 11.d3 c6 12.h3 h5 13.0-0 e7= Passerotti, PNaumkin, I/Montecatini Terme 2000 ] 9.d4 c6 10.b2 e5 11.d5 e7 12.d2 b5 13.e4 bxc4 [ 13...c6!? 14.dxc6 xc6 15.cxb5 d4 16.c1 d7 17.c4 c8 18.0-0 ( 18.d3 d5! 19.exd5 f5 20.g3 xd5 21.f3 f4! ) 18...d5 19.exd5 e2+ 20.xe2 xc3 21.xc3 xd5 22.e4 b6 23.c4 xc3 24.xc3 ] 14.xc4 d7 15.0-0 c6 16.dxc6 xc6 17.f4 [ 17.ad1!? ] 17...b6+ 18.h1 g6 19.fxe5 dxe5 20.a4 ad8 [ 20...ac8 21.g3 e7 is also perfectly 658
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 fine for Black ] 21.ac1 f4? [ 21...d7! would have avoided White's next move and aims to consolidate the position. However, White's bishops are well-placed and will hassle Black for some time to come, but objectively the chances are fairly even. ] 22.xf7+! Black likely had overlooked this s t r o n g m o v e . xf7 23.c4 d4? This speeds up the end by quite a bit, indeed Black just loses material. [ 23...e2 24.f3 xe4 25.xe2 b7 26.g4+- ] 24.xe5+ xe5 25.xd4 xd4 26.xd4 xe4 27.xf6 1-0
660 Conquest,Stuart Cox,John J 4NCL 2006-07 (8) [Carsten Hansen]
A17 2536 2404 04.03.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.e4 I have always felt that this move was rather annoying to play against when playing Black in a Hedgehog formation. Theoretically Black is doing reasonably well, but the standard plans that Black aims for, such as the ...b6-b5 and ... d6-d5 breaks are not that attractive after this set-up for White. In addition, White will aim at setting up a kingside attack in a fashion that is normally not available in the Hedgehog. b7 6.d3 d6 7.g2 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.g5!? This move looks rather bizarre and quite primitive: it is blatantly obvious that White will want to continue with f2-f4 and start kingside action. What is somewhat surprising is that it has not been tried more often. I only found two prior games on my database, one between two relatively unknown players from 1999 and then a game f rom 2003, where Morozevich used the move to beat the German grandmaster Lutz (this game can be found in the July 2003 update by Tony Kosten). The surprising thing isn't so much that other players haven't tried it in comparison to the lame continuations they have used instead. The theoretical main lines: 9 b3, 9 h3, 9 Qe2 and 9 Re1 don't exactly
kick-start the action. The text move is a good example that even in lines that are considered rather harmless or boring, simple and non-standard choices can help alter the general perception of a particular line. [ In one of the more recent games in the normal main lines in this variation, W hite tried to direct the play towards a standard Hedgehog: 9.h3 a6 10.a4 c7 11.e2 c6 12.e3 d7 13.d4 cxd4 14.xd4 fe8 15.ac1 f8 16.fd1 ac8 , Beliavsky-Su.B. Hansen, Bundesliga 2004, and Black has equalised. ] 9...c6!? In the previous games in this line, Black has tried to interfere with White's play on t h e kin gside , b ut th is st raight f o rwa rd developing move makes a lot of sense, taking control of the weakened d4-square, from where it can support Black's pawn-breaks in the centre with ...d6-d5 and on the queenside with ... b6-b5. [ In the aforementioned game, MorozevichLutz, Biel 2003, Black continued differently: 9...fd7 10.h4!? h6 11.h3 c6 12.f4 d4 13.e3 b8 14.h2 c6!? ( Tony K gave 14...a6 planning ...b6-b5 as safer; also 14...f6 looks logical) 15.xd4! cxd4 16.b5 xb5 17.cxb5 f6 18.g1! d7 19.a4 (White has the better chances at this juncture) a6 20.bxa6 a7 21.h3 xa6 22.f3 b5 23.a5 a7 24.g4 h7 25.g5 hxg5 26.hxg5 g6 27.d2 b4 28.f5 b5 29.a6 b6 30.fxg6 fxg6 31.xe6+ g7 32.d5 xa6 33.ac1 d7 34.g2 f4 35.g3 g4 36.e5 dxe5 37.f7+ h8 38.xh7+ xh7 39.h3+ 1-0 Morozevich, A-Lutz, C/Biel 2003 ] 10.f4 d7 [ Anyway, but Black has to keep an eye on how W h ite de velops his kingsid e p awn storm. My computer likes 10...d7 11.h3 ac8 12.f5 e5 13.e3 d4 for Black, even if I personally would pick W hite any day of the week on account of the potential for a kingside attack. ] 11.f3 [ 11.h4 h6 12.h3 d4 would be a transposition to Morozevich-Lutz above, but these moves are hardly forced from either side. ] 11...d4 12.e3 xf3+ 659
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Unlike in the note to Black's 9th move, here 12...f6?! do esn't work du e t o 13.xd4 cxd4 14.b5 and Black has a problem with his two d-pawns. ] 13.xf3 a6 14.g4 b5!? 15.g5 [ After 15.cxb5 axb5 16.xb5 a6 17.a4 a5 Black is doing very well. ] 15...e5!? [ 15...b4 16.e2 f5 17.h3 e8 18.g3 and White has the initiative ] [ 15...a5 16.h3 ] 16.g3 exf4! 17.xf4 e5! 18.ad1 a5 19.xe5 A decision such as this one should only be made with a heavy heart. White does win a pawn, but Black gets ample compensation on account of the dark-squared weaknesses everywhere in White's position, thanks to the central pawns being semi-fixed on light squares and the kingside pawns being s o f a r a d va n c e d . dxe5 20.xe5 ae8 21.g3 [ 21.f5!? ] 21...d8! [ Immediately attacking the dark squares; in contrast, Black can win a pawn back with 21...b4 22.d5 xd5 23.cxd5 xa2 24.d2 but White has the better chances since Black has less control over W hite's central pawns ] 22.h4 d6 Around this point, Black in my opinion has an excellent game: the darksquared bishop more than compensates for the sacrificed pawn. 23.g4 e7!? [ 23...e5!? ] 24.h3 [ 24.cxb5?! e5 25.f2 h2+ 26.f1 c8 27.h5 axb5 looks very attractive for Black, W hite's pieces are not particularly well placed and White's king in isn't very happy at the moment. ] 24...e5?! [ 24...e5 25.f2 c6 ] 25.cxb5 axb5 26.xb5 xb2 27.b1?! [ White should concern himself with securing e q u a l i t y . O n e wa y t o d o s o i s 27.d7!? xd7 ( 27...e5 looks attractive 28.xb7 g3+ 29.g2 b8 30.d7 xb5 but after 31.f3 d4+ 32.h1 White has the better chances ) 28.xd7 e7 29.g4 c6 30.a4 xb5 31.axb5 b8 and the chances are fairly even. ]
27...e5 28.a3 a6 [ 28...a8!? ] 29.f3 a8 [ When analyzing this position, my computer originally favoured 29...f5 which in many ways is a real computer move, that not many players would reason their way to, but at closer examination, it does look rather at t ra ct ive . 30.exf5 d4+ 31.h1 e2 32.c4 c2 and Black is taking over the seventh rank (W hite's second) in accordance with Nimzowitsch's recipe for success. ] [ However, 29...d8!? is possibly best, e.g. 30.d7 a5 and if now 31.xf7 then d4+ 32.h1 xd3 looks very good for Black ] 30.d7 xd7 31.xd7 c8 [ Here my computer likes 31...fd8 32.c6 xd3 33.xa8 xb1 34.d5 xd5 35.exd5 e4 36.f2 xd5 and it claims a slight edge for Black. This, however, is not a decision most of us would go f or and Cox's choice is both a simple and attractive solution ] 32.xc8 xa3 33.b7 c4?! This looks like a typical time trouble move, that looks good at first glance, but turns out to be a real stinker. Black gets a passed pawn on c3, but at the same time, White has passed pawns on both a2 and d3. White is now clearly better. [ Instead 33...xa2 34.d5 d4+ 35.h1 a1 36.xa1 xa1 37.g2 g6 may be defensible for Black, but clearly White is having all the fun. ] 34.d5 c3 [ 34...xd3 keeps Black in the game, whereas after the text move it is play to one goal. ] 35.b3 a7 36.h5 g6 37.f2 gxh5 38.e3 d8 39.bf1 d4+ 40.e2 dd7 41.h3 db7 42.xh5 xa2+ 43.xa2 b2+ 44.f3 xa2 45.e5 d2 46.e4 c5 47.e6 fxe6 48.g6 e2+ 49.f3 e3+ 50.g4 d6 51.gxh7+ h8 52.a1 g3+ 53.h4 f3 54.a6 e7+ 55.g4 f8 56.xe6 c8 57.xe7 c2 58.e1 c1 59.xc1 xc1 60.f4 c8 61.d4 d8 62.e4 1-0
660
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.b5 ] A17 Cornette,Matthieu 2325 21...d5 22.cxd5?! Why open the c-file when Adams,Michael 2723 the king and queen are on it? [ 22.d3 still offers hope. ] National I Bordeaux FRA (7) 07.04.2003 22...cxd5 23.xf5 xf5 24.b4 c8 [Tony Kosten] Simplest, although other moves are also good. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 xc3 25.b2 a5! 26.b5 d4 27.d2 dxc3+ [ 27...dxc3+ 28.xc3 d4 forks queen and 5.dxc3 d6!? Adams returns to this solid move, rook. ] we have already considered 0-1 [ 5...d5 in Krasenkow,M-Dydyshko,V. ] 6.g5 fd7 7.e3 Actually an innovation, although W hite will continue with a similar 662 A17 development to [ 7.c2 c6 8.h4 de5 9.xe5 xe5 Dorfman,Josif D 2602 10.g2 c6 11.e3 as the white pieces Chabanon,Jean Luc 2511 have reached the same squares, and now ch-Gp B Marsailles FRA (5) 17.08.2001 d7 12.b4 c8 13.h5 is more pleasant for [Tony Kosten] White, with two bishops and lots of space, Razuvaeva, J-Zvereva,M/St Petersburg RUS 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 1999, but Black could always play a quick ... Here we go again! h6 5.g1 b6 6.h4 b7 e5 as in the main game. ] 7.g5 hxg5 8.hxg5 e4 9.c2 xc3 7...e7 8.g2 e5 So this is Black's new plan, 10.dxc3 d6 11.e3 So far this has all been he has exchanged his dark-squared bishop seen before. c5!? and now sets-about putting his pawns on dark [ A new try, Black wants more central control, squares with a solid pawn structure. Both but this weakens his dark squares. Anyway, sides will likely castle queenside. 9.c2 c6 as we have seen some time ago, 11...c6 10.h4 b6 Necessary, to develop the rest of fared well in Van Wely,L-Timman,J/Wijk aan the qu ee nside . 11.b3 g6!? Interesting, I Zee 1999. ] would be wary of weakening the kingside like 12.0-0-0 e7 13.d2! A good plan, White th is , b u t if s o m e on e so st ro ng d o e s it is will try to exchange the dark-squared defender probably good! 12.d2 f5 13.e4 e6!? on d6. c7 14.f4 e5?! Black attempts to keep the central tension, if [ After a long thought, but this adds d5 to White captures on f5 Black will recapture with Black's list of problems, and what is so t h e f -p a wn t o ke e p co n t ro l o f e 4 . 14.a4!? wrong with 14...xf4 15.xf4 c6 ? As Positionally it is right to cramp knights like 16.c7 can be met by d5 ] this, but on the other hand, White should be [ Hamdouchi suggests 14...d6?! instead, but careful not to move the pawns in front of his 15.g2! keeps the threat to d6 alive, without king, so this makes long castling less secure. p e r m i t t i n g a c a p t u r e o n f 3 . ( instead of d7 Black must be able to answer White's a5 15.xd6 xd6 16.xd6 xd6 17.xd6 with ...a6. 15.h5 0-0-0 16.0-0-0 b8 17.h4 xf3 18.exf3 e7 when Black is OK. )] e7 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.dh1 xh4 20.xh4 15.g3 c6 16.g6! 0-0-0 White has gained control of the open h-file, [ Black has to allow the capture on f7, further but Black will react strongly in the centre. c6 weakening the black position, or go in for W ith the strong threat of ...d5, W hite's 16...f5?! 17.h4! e6 ( 17...xh4? position has suddenly become very difficult. is impossible: 18.xh4 xh4? 19.xd7+ 21.f1 If one has to play such moves then f8 20.f7# ) 18.g5 e7 19.h7 e6 that is a sure-fire sign that something has 20.h3 with powerful threats. ] gone drastically wrong! 17.gxf7 xf7 18.b3 h6 19.g2 d6 [ 21.d3!? d5 22.b2 is a better bet, as 20.e3 xd1+ 21.xd1 f5 22.g5 e4?! is e as ily an swered b y ( 22...xd3 Prepared by White's previous play, the knight 23.xd3 f5 keeps a plus) 23.cxd5 cxd5 makes its way to e4. b8?! 23.xb7+ xb7 661
661
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.e4+ xe4 25.xe4 Black has a bad bis h o p , a n d scru f f y p a wn st ru ct u re , a n d naturally White decides that the easiest way to exploit this in the endgame. h8 26.b4 cxb4 27.cxb4 h6 28.d3 g5?! A tactical trick, which only hastens the end. 29.xg5 c6 30.c3 d5 31.b2! xc4 32.xc4 dxc4 33.b5 This isolates the c4-pawn. a6 34.a4 d7 35.e4 axb5 36.axb5 f8 37.c3 g6 38.xc4 e7 39.c3 1-0
for the queen than after the habitual 10.c2 e.g. c5 11.0-0 c6 12.e3 c8 13.b3 e7 14.b2 fd8 and Black is fine, Van der Sterren,P-Dautov,R/Germany 1998/GERchT. ] 10...c5 11.b3 In order to control e5, before Black gets the opportunity to play e5. c6 12.b2 e8!? [ More aggressive than 12...e7 13.d3 fd8 as now Black envisages ...e5, and ...Nd4. ] 13.d3 e5 14.e3 [ To control d4, for if 14.0-0?! then d4 15.xd4 exd4 when Black has more space, 663 A17 and pressure on e2. ] A speculative piece sacrifice, Dydyshko,Viacheslav 2521 14...d4!? Dautov,Rustem 2597 opening the e-line, and setting-up various Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (7) 06.12.1999 tactics along the h1-a8 diagonal. 15.exd4! [ Correct! If 15.xd4? then the white queen [Tony Kosten] gets into trouble following cxd4 16.e4 c8 17.a4 c6 but ] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 Although [ 15.0-0 was also possible, not fearing b5?! White hasn't played d4, Black still plays as if a s t h e e x c h a n g e s a c r i f i c e ( 15...e2+!? he had, and indicates his acceptance of a m i g h t b e b e t t e r , 16.h1 dc3! Nimzo-style position. 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 as t h e o b vio u s 17.xc3 is met by d5 6.xc3 White has gained the bishop pair, 18.g4 xc3 with an edge) 16.xc5 xb3 without weakening his pawn formation. b6 17.xb5 xa1 18.xe5 seems promising 7.g3 for White. ] [ White avoids 7.d4 , as although this leads directly to a 4 Qc2 Nimzo-Indian, his knight 15...exd4+ 16.f1! [ The alternative 16.d2 leaves White in is on f3 which means that he cannot play the serious trouble after c3! 17.xc3 d5 most aggressive lines involving f3. ] 18.a4 ( for once, the queen for three 7...b7 8.g2 d5 Active central play, aiming p ie ce s swa p o f 18.b2 xc4 19.bxc4 to make something of Black's slight lead in favours the queen after b5! 20.cxb5 a5+ ) development. 18...dxc3+ 19.c1 e2 e.g. 20.f1?! xf3 [ More usual is either 8...d6 with 9.0-0 bd7 21.xf3 xd3 with mate to follow. ] 10.b4 e8!? 11.b2 e5 Illescas Cordoba, 16...f6 The point of Black's combination, M-Epishin,V/Dos Hermanas 1994, or ] [ 8...c5 as in, say, Kramnik,V-Nikolic,P/ menacing discovered attacks against the f3Monaco (rapid) 1997, which continued: 9.b4 knight. 17.c1! [ Skilful defence, for after a sensible d6 10.0-0 bd7 11.b2 c8 and in both a l t e r n a t i v e l i k e 17.c2 Black can play cases Black sets his pawns on dark squares, e3+! ( even 17...e3!? is possible, i.e. to compliment his remaining bishop, with 18.h4 xg3 19.xd5 xd5 20.hxg3 solid play. ] xh1 with play for the material) 18.fxe3 9.cxd5 xd5 xe3 with a strong attack, e.g. 19.c1 [ The fluid choice, 9...exd5 is also possible, xf3+ 20.g1 e8 ] intending to play a hanging pawn position: 10.0-0 ( 10.d3 d4! 11.c2 a5 ) 10...e8 17...e3+ 18.fxe3 xf3 [ Obligatory, as now 18...xe3?? is met by 11.e1?! c5 12.d4 e4 13.c2 c6 19.xe3 winning on the spot. ] 14.dxc5 bxc5 with active black play, 19.g1 xg2 20.xg2 c6+ 21.e4 f5 Speelman,J-Seirawan, Y/Saint John 1988. ] Black will gain two pawns, and some initiative, 10.c4!? [ A new attempt to find a more active square for his piece, but it shouldn't be quite enough. 662
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.c4+ h8 23.he1 fxe4 24.g1! [ Actually gaining a tempo over the immediate 24.dxe4 xe4 25.g1 ae8 26.f1 ] 24...g6 [ The pin on the c-file forces this queen move, if 24...e3? 25.xd4 ] 25.dxe4 xe4 26.f1 ae8 27.ad1 h6 28.xe4 xe4 29.f2 e6 30.d2? [ Dropping a further pawn, returning the bishop to the fray by 30.c1 was stronger. ] 30...f3 31.e1 [ 31.e1 after xb3 32.xe6 xe6 Black has nothing to fear, in fact he could well consider continuing. ] ½-½
664 Fridman,Daniel Meins,G 16th OIBM 2012 (9.6) [John Bartholomew]
A17 2670 2473 04.11.2012
The Nimzo-English with 4.g4 rose to prominence 10-15 years ago and still produces unbalanced encounters. Here Black chooses a positional continuation that may appeal to many Nimzo players. 1.c4 e6 2.c3 b4 3.f3 f6 4.g4 [ White has a host of viable alternatives. 4.c2 is the main line, and 4.g3, 4.Qb3, 4. e3!?, etc. are also played. See the "NimzoEnglish" guide in the archives. ] 4...h6 This has proven to be Black's preferred method in countering the g-pawn spike. [ You can find 4...d5 ] [ and 4...0-0!? in the archives. Both score reasonably well for Black, especially short castling. ] [ The radical 4...xc3!? can be compared to the game continuation. For example, 5.dxc3 ( possibly stronger is 5.bxc3 d6 6.g5 fd7 7.g2 c6 8.d3! , Nakamura, H (2710)Sokolov, A (2570)/Mainz GER 2009/ [TonyK] ) 5...d6 6.g5 fd7 7.e3 e7 8.g2 e5 with a similar structure and game flow. Cornette, M (2329)-Adams, M (2734)/ France 2003/[TonyK]. ] 5.g1 [ I'm not entirely taken by the concept of
5.a3!? A) More recently, 5...e7 6.d4 d5 7.g1 A1) 7...dxc4!? 8.e4 ( it's simpler to play 8.a4+ c6 9.xc4 with chances for a slight edge) 8...b5 9.e5 d5 10.xb5 Karttunen, M (2447)-Maki Uuro, M (2332)/Helsinki FIN 2012. Here Black s h o u l d c o n s i d e r b6 with obscure play.; A2) 7...b6 8.f4 looked like an a3Q u e e n ' s I n d i a n o r Q u e e n 's G a m b i t Decline permutation. b7 9.a4+ c6 10.0-0-0 dxc4 11.xc4 b5 12.b3 a5 13.g5 hxg5 14.xg5 b4 15.e4 Sitnikov, A (2506)-Polivanov, A (2435)/ Donetsk UKR 2011.; B) 5...xc3 6.dxc3 b6 7.a4 , but Boris Savchenko is 2-0 from this position as White. See Savchenko, B (2630)-Goganov, A (2 4 80 )/T a ga nro g RUS 20 11 / [ Nige l Davies] for the details. ] 5...xc3!? Fundamentally sound. Black makes good on his positional threat before White can play Qc2. [ More u sua l is 5...b6 . The position after 6.c2 b7 7.a3 e7 8.g5 hxg5 9.xg5 has been discussed some time back on this site for example, see Bareev, E (2721) Na i d i t s c h , A ( 2 5 7 4 ) / R e t h ym n o n 2 0 0 3 / [TonyK]. ] 6.dxc3 [ Or 6.bxc3 d6 7.d3 ala NakamuraSokolov. ( 7.h4!? )] 6...d6 7.h4 [ White can also consider the immediate 7.g5 , which was seen in David, A (2580)Rozentalis, E (2596)/ Turin 2006. After hxg5 8.xg5 e7 9.g2 e5 10.d2!? bd7 ( 10...xh2 11.c2 bd7 12.0-0-0 ) 11.f1 (White has his sites set on the e3 square) b6 12.h4 c6 13.e3 e6 14.d3 0-0-0 15.0-0-0 White had slightly better chances, though Black retained a very solid position. ] 7...c6 Leaving the d7 square open for the o t h e r kn ig h t . 8.g5 hxg5 9.hxg5 d7 10.g2 e5 [ Perhaps Black should play more flexibly with 10...e7!? , i.e. 11.e3 b6 12.d3 e5 13.d2 e6 . ] 11.e3 f8 12.b3 b8 13.0-0-0 663
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 W hite has completed his development and secured a nice spatial advantage to accompany his bishop pair. Despite his solidity, Black still has some problems to solve (his king, for example). b6 14.h1 [ I li k e t h e lo o k o f 14.d2 intending to transfer the knight to e4. ] 14...xh1 15.xh1? [ 15.xh1 is necessary so as to meet a5 16.b4 c5 with 17.xc5!+- . ] 15...a5! Forcing White to make an awkward decision. 16.a3 [ It's the decisive last round and Fridman outrates his opponent by 200 points, so he probably wasn't thrilled about a repetition after 16.b5+ d7 17.a6 c8 18.b5+ d7 etc. ] [ 16.b4 c5 is similar. ] 16...xc4 17.xa7 xe3 18.fxe3 b7 Black is fine, though things now get a little hairy. [ 18...e6!? ] 19.h8 c6?! [ 19...e7 ] 20.a6 d7 21.c4 e6 22.h4 e7 23.d2 d7 24.a4+ b5 25.a7 d8 26.g8 b6 27.b7 e7! 28.xg7? Finally swallowing the bait! d7! White's rook is trapped, and 29...Qh8 is the threat. 29.a8? Time was probably becoming a big factor. [ 29.e4 was necessary, controlling h7. ] 29...xa8? [ Missing 29...xb7! 30.xb7 h8 . ] 30.xa8 a6 31.e4 xa2 32.h7 a1+ 33.b1 a4 34.b4 f8 35.g6?! Black forfeits on time!? This is the result given by TWIC, which I confirmed by cruising over to the OIBM tournament website. [ An unfortunate end for Meins, as 35.g6 f6 36.c2 ( 36.g7+ g8 ) 36...xh7 37.gxh7 g7 38.xa4 bxa4 is clearly in his favor. So long as he's willing to manage a s li g h t l y c ra m p e d ( b u t f u n d a m e n t a l l y sound) position, 4...h6 5.Rg1 Bxc3!? is a reliable enough line for Black. . ] 1-0
665 Ftacnik,Lubomir Stocek,Jiri Jirasek mem Rakovnik CZE (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A17 2544 2559 11.08.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 d6 7.b4 a5 [ 7...e5 8.b2 a5 9.e3 c6 10.d3 d7 11.b5 e7 was played in Tratar, M-Kosten, A/ Graz AUT 2008. For annotations to the game, see the PGN archives. ] 8.b2 axb4 9.axb4 xa1+ 10.xa1 e5 11.g3 b5 12.cxb5 d7 13.d4!? [ Here White finally departs from the amazing Kramnik-Ivanchuk game from last year's Monte Carlo tournament this game has dictated several new developments in this line, all in involving the idea of ...b7-b5 f or Black. I n the abovem ention ed ste m game Black obtained the better chances after 13.e3?! c8 14.e2 b7 15.d3 xb5 as you can see for yourself by looking the game up in the PGN archives. ] 13...e4 14.d2 xb5 Black has already fully equalised. 15.d5! [ White has to play actively, if not Black will co m p l e t e l y t a k e o ve r t h e ga m e a n d i n particular the queenside will cause White a l o t o f h e a d a c h e s , e . g . 15.g2 d5 with a better game for Black. ] 15...e3! 16.fxe3 bd7 17.g2 e5 W hite has an extra pawn and t he pa ir o f bishops, but in this position, both are entirely irrelevant and Black has at least full compensation for the pawn. 18.0-0!? [ White decides to give up on the pawn right away. The alternative is 18.f3 a8 19.e4 a7 20.d4 a6 with full compensation for the pawn. ] 18...xe2 19.c1 d3!? [ Black decides to play it safe. The main alternative is the more aggressive, e.g. 19...e7!? A) or 20.xc7 f3+ 21.xf3 xe3+ 22.h1 xd5! ( 22...e4 leads to a draw after 23.d4 f2+ 24.g1 h3+ 25.h1 f2+= ) 23.d4 a3 24.c3 xb4 25.c6 xc3 26.xc3 c5 with an interesting endgame, where Black should not be worse; 664
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 20.e4 c8 21.e3 b5 e7 23.hg1 ] with approximately even chances ] 20.dxc6 c8 21.h4 xc6? 20.b1 e5 Inviting a draw by repetition, [ Black had to play 21...h5 to prevent White's White doesn't have much better than to follow next move. Now, however, Black loses a suit. 21.c1 d3 22.b1 e5 23.c1 piece ] ½-½ 22.h5! d5 23.hxg6 fxg6 24.e5 b5 25.cxb5 d4 26.c4+ h8? 27.xd4 [ 27.exf6!! wins immediately, e.g. xe3? 28.xh7+ xh7 29.h1# ] 666 A17 Gelfand,Boris 2736 27...xb3+ 28.xb3 xd4 29.xd4 xc4+ Adams,Michael 2729 30.b1 xe5 31.c1 xc1+ 32.xc1 h5 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (27) 22.11.2007 33.b6 e7 34.c7 1-0 [Carsten Hansen] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 b6 7.e3 a5 [ 7...b7 is the main line, the game continuation is quite rare ] 8.b3 [ 8.b4 c5 9.b2 axb4 10.axb4 xa1+ 11.xa1 a6 12.b5 b4 13.e2 b7 14.0-0 e7 15.b2 d5 16.d3 d8 17.a1 dxc4 18.dxc4 xf3 19.xf3 d3 20.a6 d6 21.h3 xb2 22.xb2 h5 23.c2 h4 24.c3 e5 25.c2 g6 26.d5 xd5 1/2-1/2 Prusikin, M-Jankovic, A/ Zemplinska Sirava 2004 ] 8...d6 9.b2 [ The only previous game saw 9.d4 e4 10.c2 b7 11.d3 f5 being tested and proved adequate for Black: 12.0-0 d7 13.d2 h4 14.f3 g5 15.f2 f6 16.f4 h3+ 17.gxh3 g6+ 18.f1 f6 ( 18...xh3+ 19.e1 xe3+ 20.e2 xd4 21.b2 g1+ 22.f1 xf1+ 23.xf1 g1 24.c3 e5 ) 19.e1 g1+ 20.f1 g2 21.a2 e4 22.d1 h5+ 23.e1 h4 24.d1 h5+ 1/2-1/2 Eng, HMeyer, H/Germany 1985 ] 9...e5 10.d4 e4 11.d2 e8 12.d5 f5 [ 12...bd7 13.e2 e5 14.0-0 ( 14.f4 exf3 15.gxf3!? ) 14...f5 15.ac1 c8 ] 13.e2 e5 14.f4 exf3 15.gxf3 This position looks quite messy, but Black's position is difficult to play, and Gelfand makes the process of winning look rather effortless bd7 16.e4 g6 17.0-0-0 c5 [ 17...h5 18.dg1 h4 19.e3 ee8 20.g4 e7 21.hg1 ] 18.e3 e8 19.dg1 c6 [ 19...h5 20.h4 d7 21.g2 f5!? 22.g5
667 Gelfand,Boris Eljanov,Pavel Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (13) [Carsten Hansen]
A17 2737 2692 27.01.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 b6 [ 6...d6 is an interesting alternative that was tested in Kramnik-Ivanchuk, Monte Carlo 2007 - see the PGN archives. We will return to this move in next month's update. ] 7.e3 b7 8.b4 d6 9.b2 bd7 10.e2 c5 This variation has been played numerous times, but it is my impression that the chances are clearly favouring White, even if his edge is minimal, because Black has very little hope of grabbing the initiative and will likely be forced to defend a slightly passive position with White holding the initiative. The score in top encounters is decidedly in White's favour, though it should be said, that it is usually the somewhat higher rated player who plays White in those games. 11.0-0 c8 [ Other tries are: A) 11...e8 has also been tested on a couple of occasions, for instance Kramnik-Zhang Zhong, W ijk aan Zee 2004 - the game can be found in the PGN archives. ] [ B) 11...e7 as for example played in Gustafsson-Khalifman, Cologne 2003 - see the PGN archives. I feel this is likely the continuation Black should give preference to. ] 12.d4 e4 [ It's difficult to say what is best for Black in 665
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d6 20.c2 f8 21.e2 ) 18...f6 19.g4 th is lin e, b eca u se h e is f a cing a t o u gh f7 20.f4 b8 , Stojanovic, M-Jeremic, V/ defensive task in every variation at this Mataruska Banja SRB 2007, and here White ju n c t u re . O t h e r t ri e s i n clu d e : A ) 12...d5 s h o u l d o p t f o r 21.c2 f8 22.a3 13.dxc5 ( 13.d2 e7 14.f3 c7 , and it's obvious that Black is in serious 15.ac1 fc8 16.bxc5 bxc5 , Claas, Mtrouble. ] Schmock, S/Bonn 1996, and now 17.cxd5 13.b3 xd5 18.a5 c4 19.e4 f4 20.c3 ) [ White has also obtained good positions with A) 13...bxc5 14.b5 ( 14.cxd5!? xd5 13.d3 , for instance 15.ac1 cxb4 16.xb4 b8 17.d4 ) A) Or 13...f6 14.d2 g6 15.f3 xd2 14...c7 15.a4 fe8 16.fd1 e5 17.cxd5 16.xd2 d5?! ( 16...fd8 17.ad1; xd5 18.c2 , and here a draw was 16...cxd4 17.exd4 e5 18.ad1 ) 17.dxc5 prem a tu rely a gre e d u po n , 1 /2 -1/ 2 , in bxc5 18.ac1 fd8? ( 18...g5 ) Kozak, M-Vyskocil, N/ Brno CZE 2007. A 19.cxd5 xd5 20.e4 b7 21.fd1! possible continuation is c4!? 19.a3 c3 , and Black is basically lost if he is to ( 19...7f6 20.d2 c3 21.c4 release himself from White's pressure, he , and White has the upper hand) 20.g5 will lose material, Kramnik, V-Kogan, A/ e4 21.g4 cd8 with chances to both Port Barcares FRA 2005; sides; B) 13...e7 B) 13...dxc4 14.fd1 e7 15.a4 bxc5 B1) 14.d2 f5 ( 14...xd2 15.xd2 16.b5 b6 17.a5 bd5 18.xc4 g5 16.f3 ) 15.f3 ef6 16.fd1 e5?! , and Black is clearly struggling, Zarkua, ( 16...fd8 17.b3 ) 17.dxc5 bxc5 D-Kalashian, D/Istanbul TUR 2006 ] 18.xf5 b6 19.g5 h6 20.h4 [ B) 12...e7 , and Black doesn't have enough for the A) 13.fd1 fd8 14.ac1 ( 14.b3!? pawn, W erle, J-Rozentalis, E/ a8 15.a4 d5 16.bxc5 bxc5 17.a3 Wattenscheid GER 2006; e8 18.a5 cxd4 19.xd4 , and White B2) 14.fd1 fd8 15.ac1 h6 16.d2 has pleasant initiative, Savchenko, Sxd2 17.xd2 g5 18.f3 f8 19.e4 Brunner, N/Metz FRA 2005) 14...cxd4 Savchenko, S-Agafii, V/Illichevsk UKR 15.xd4 e5 ( 15...d5!? ) 16.e1 e8 2006 ] 17.f3 g6 18.f1 g5 19.h1 a6 20.e4 with more space and the pair of 13...c7 [ Black has tried a couple other things here, bishops, W hite has a clear advantage, though without much success: A) 13...g5 Laznicka, V-Petrik, T/Steinbrunn AUT 14.xg5 xg5 15.f3 cxd4 16.exd4 c7 2005; 17.f2 fc8 18.d1 a5 19.c1 e7 B) 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.b5 fd8 ( 14...d5 20.f4 e5 21.e3 Llanos, G-Jimenez, J/ 15.a4 b6 16.d2 fd8 17.a5 xc4 Buenos Aires 1998 ] 18.xc4 dxc4 19.fd1 d5 20.xc4 [ B) 13...c7 14.fd1 fe8 ( 14...d5 Gurevich, M-Aagaard, J/Torrelavega ESP 15.ac1 b8 16.a2 fd8 17.a1 f6 2007 ) 15.a4 f8 16.d2 e5 17.f3 18.b1 a8 19.e1 d6 20.cxd5 xd5 xf3 18.xf3 g6 19.fd1 e4 20.c2 21.dxc5 bxc5 22.f3 xf3 23.xf3 f5 21.d2 xd2 22.xd2 , and White Ostenstad, B-Tallaksen, G/Bergen 2001) has a comfortable advantage, Seirawan, 15.ac1 a5 16.d2 xd2 17.xd2 axb4 Y-Damljanovic, B/Istanbul 2000 ] 18.axb4 b8 19.dxc5 dxc5 20.c3 f6 [ C) 12...cxd4 13.xd4 e7 14.fd1 d5 21.b5 cd8 22.cd1 e4 23.g4 15.cxd5 xd5 16.ac1 b8 17.h4 fd8 , and Black is suf f ering, Jakovenko, D18.e5 f8 19.c4 , and White is Tiviakov, S/Sochi RUS 2007 ] c o m p le t e ly in c o n t ro l, K o m lje n o vic, D 14.fd1 Vaillant, S/Metz 2001 ] [ Also 14.ad1 is perfectly good and [ D) 12...c7 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.b5 fd8 playable, e.g. a8 15.e1 d5 16.dxc5 15.a4 d5 16.a5 e8 17.cxd5 exd5 bxc5 17.f3 ef6 18.cxd5 exd5 19.bxc5 18.h4 ( 18.fc1!?; 18.fd1 f6 19.d3 666
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xc5 20.b4 cd7 21.d3 e8 22.f4 Huss, A-Bellin, J/Biel 1987 ] 14...e7 15.a4 [ White tries a new, but perfectly normal move. In an earlier game, White gained the better chances after 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.d2 ef6 17.b5 e5 18.f3 h5 19.f1 h4 20.d2 b6 21.a4 h3 22.g3 ( 22.a5!? hxg2 23.g3 c8 24.e4 h7 25.f5 g5 26.c1 is pretty terrible for Black) 22...d5 23.cxd5 bxd5 24.a5 ( 24.ad1!? ) 24...b4 ( 24...e4 25.f4 d8 26.ad1 ) 25.e4 Gelpke, P-Douven, R/ Hilversum 1989 ] 15...d5 16.dxc5 bxc5 17.b5 d6 18.cxd5 exd5 19.ac1 b8 [ 19...e4!? ] 20.c2 cc8 21.a3 h6 22.b2! e6 23.c3! White more or less forces Black to create an ugly long-term weakness on the light squares, something Black will suffer badly from later in the game. f6 24.h3 This gives th e king a brea thing h ole an d simultaneously prevents Blacks queen from m e s s i n g w i t h W h i t e k i n g f r o m g 4 . b6 25.c2 bc4 [ 25...d4!? 26.exd4 e4 27.d2 dc4 28.xc4 xc4 29.e2 xb2 30.xb2 xf3 31.gxf3 c4 ] 26.a1 Keeping the bishop, which long-term is much better than even Black's nice-looking knight on c4. e8!? 27.g6 bd8? [ This looks perfectly normal, but because Black's position is already a positional toilet with weaknesses everywhere, he should have thrown the kitchen sink at White with 27...xe3 28.fxe3 xe3+ 29.h1 e4 and some compensation for the piece and at le a s t s o m e c o m p li c a t io n s t o wo rk a n d confuse Gelfand with. Gelfand had a terrible tournament in W ijk aan Zee, so Black should have tried to rock the balance a bit. In the game, Black is taken apart without hesitation. ] 28.d3 e4 [ 28...f8 29.h4 is slightly better for Black than the game continuation, but Black's position is pretty terrible in any case ] 29.h4! cd6 Black plays actively, but now he loses the f irst pawn. 30.xe4 xe4 31.f5 d7 32.xh6+ f8 33.f5 d4?!
[ 33...c8 34.h7 b7 35.h4 f7 36.h5+ g8 37.g6+- ] 34.exd4 a2 35.f1 cxd4 36.xd4 d5 37.f3 d6 38.c5 1-0
668 Gelfand,Boris Timman,Jan H It Pamplona ESP (7) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2713 2650 03.01.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e7 6.c3 0-0 Black is clearly happy to pla y a Qu een 's In dia n Def e nce , m an y players would have preferred an early ...c5 to avoid this. 7.e1 [ White decides to avoid the QI, 7.d4 e4 with a slight edge to White, and goes for a Hedgehog. ] 7...e4 [ 7...d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.d4 leads to another, but this time inferior, version of the Queen's Indian where Black normally plays ...c5, and defends the resulting hanging pawn position. ] 8.xe4 xe4 9.d3 b7 10.e4 c5 11.d4 d5?! [ A new move, previously Black had chosen between 11...cxd4 12.xd4 c6 when 13.f4 c5 14.xc6 xc6 15.d6 xd6 16.xd6 b8 is almost equal, Ibragimov,ITiviakov,S/Elista 1997, 1/2-1/2 (54), and ] [ 11...d6 allowing White to play a Benonistyle position: 12.d5 exd5 13.cxd5 d7 14.f4 b5 with a plus to White, Krivoshey,SOral,T/Prievidza 1997, 1/2-1/2 (44). ] 12.exd5 exd5 13.e5 This is a constant theme in these lines, W hite's g2-bishop is more powerful than its b7-counterpart, simply b e c a u s e t h i s l a t t e r i s u n p r o t e c t e d . cxd4 14.xd4 a6 15.g4 [ 15.cxd5 b4 and the threat to fork on c2 regains the pawn. ] 15...b4 16.d1 Pinning the d5-pawn a second time, but along the column on this occasion, and avoiding the loss of an exchange (...Nc2 was threatened). [ 16.d1 also has its points, a3 is the menace. ] 667
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.b2 ) 14.d2 f5 15.f3 g5 16.f1 f6 17.d2 g6 18.h1 f6 19.e1 Nguyen Anh Dung-Naiditsch, A/Budapest 2000; B) 11.b3 g5 ( 11...f5 12.b2 d7 13.ad1 g5 14.xg5 xg5 15.f3 e5 16.d4 exd4 17.exd4 ae8 18.f2 e7 19.bxc5 dxc5 20.d5 Prusikin, M-Markos, J/Pulvermuehle GER 2006) 12.xg5 xg5 13.f3 c6 14.b2 e5 15.f2 ae8 16.bxc5 dxc5 17.a4 e6 18.c3 e7 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/ 2, Nielsen, P.H, -Rozentalis, E/Malmoe/ Copenhagen SWE 2004 ] 11.bxc5 [ White can also do without this exchange, f o r e xa m p l e 11.d4!? e4 ( or 11...e4 12.d2 bd7 13.bxc5 bxc5 14.b2 e7 15.d5 ) 12.b2 g5 13.xg5 xg5 14.f3 However, the opening of the b-file will likely benefit White more than it will Black ] 11...bxc5 12.d4!? White immediately takes countermeasures to Black's plan of keeping the centre closed. W ith the opening of the centre, White's bishops gain strength. exd4 13.exd4 e8 14.e1 cxd4!? [ This may not look entirely obvious, why does Black open the position further when an open position normally clearly favours the side with the bishop pair? The problem for 669 A17 Bla ck is th a t if W h it e ge t s t o clo s e t h e centre with d4-d5, Black's disadvantage is Grischuk,Alexander 2716 even greater because the bishop on b7 is Adams,Michael 2729 entirely out of play, and Black lacks FIDE GP Baku AZE (5) 25.04.2008 counterplay, thus reducing him to a sitting [Carsten Hansen] duck, for instance 14...bd7 A) 15.b2 is also okay, but less to the 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 point and less problematic for Black, e.g. 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 b6 7.e3 c5 8.e2 d6 e4 ( 15...e4 16.c1 ) 16.g5 b8 9.0-0 b7 10.b4 e5 17.dxc5 xc5=; [ This is a new move in this position, though B) 15.d5 b6 16.d3 xe1+ 17.xe1 the idea of playing ...e6-e5 in this variation a6 18.c3 , and White is completely in is hardly a new one. Nevertheless, W hite control. ] appears to obtain an edge after Black text move. Here 10...bd7 11.b2 has been 15.xd4 c6 16.xc6 xc6 17.e3 e4 discussed on this page previously - see the 18.d4 White clearly is in control of the game and Black is almost without counterplay. eBooks. ] [ Another try, which we haven't covered Black's can hope to throw a spanner in the works by playing actively and thus avoid a previously is 10...e4 A) 11.b2!? c6 ( 11...d7!? 12.d3 situation where he is waiting for W hite to g5 13.d2 ) 12.d4 d7 13.d1 e7 break through. c5 19.ad1 a4 20.b1 ( 13...f6 14.c2 f5 15.dxc5 bxc5 c8 21.h3 Taking time to make a breathing
16...c8 [ Removing the queen from both pins, if 16...d6 then 17.cxd5 c2 18.g5 is strong. ] 17.d2 d6 [ 17...c2?! fails to 18.ac1 f6 19.h6! xg4 20.xg4 ] 18.xb4 xe5 19.xc8 fxc8 20.cxd5 xb2 The point of Black's play, he recuperates the pawn, but White's passed dpawn, and active pieces leave him on top. 21.ab1 f6 22.h3 c4?! [ 22...c2 23.a3 d8 24.g2 e5 25.e7 d7 26.d6 might have been better. ] 23.d6 f3?! [ This concedes without a fight. Perhaps Black had intended 23...e4 but then saw that 24.f1! was possible, still, ( 24.dc1 xb1 25.xc4 xa2 26.c7 a5 27.d7 d8 is not so clear) 24...c2 might hold-out some chances. ] 24.dc1 xc1+ 25.xc1 d8 26.d7 N o w, t h e p o we r f u l d 7 - p a wn d e c i d e s . h5 27.c7 a6 28.c3! f8 [ Unfortunately, if 28...xc3 then 29.xc3 threatens both Rc8, and the f3-bishop. ] 29.c8 g5 30.d4 e7 31.xd8 1-0
668
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 disturbing factors. Instructive. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.f3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 b6 [ 6...d5 is also played. ] [ and 6...d6 prepares ...e5 freeing his bishop on c8. All these are matters of choice but I like this last setup. ] 7.e3 Establishing a purely English version of the ...Bb4 system. [ 7.d4 would be a line from the 4.Qc2 NimzoIndian. ] 7...b7 8.e2 c5 [ I like 8...d5 better, giving Black time for ... Nbd7 and ..c5. ] 9.b4 d6 10.b2 c6 11.0-0 e8 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 d5 15.cxd5 This isn't y (15. Qe5!?) but Gurevich wants to torture his opponent. Now we see the two bishops come into their own. xd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.ac1 ac8 18.fd1 xc1 19.xc1 c8 Black thinks that simplifying will help his cause. In fact, the closer that one gets to a pure minor piece two bishops ending the easier it should be for White. Watch the build-up over the next 20 moves. 20.xc8+ xc8 21.e4 e7 22.b5!? [ Or 22.f3 f6 23.f2 ] 22...f6 23.c3 f7 24.c4 g6 25.b4 e5 26.e2 b7 27.f3 d7 28.d6 g6 29.f2 f5 30.exf5 gxf5 31.g4!? A slightly strange solution. Yet opening the position makes Black's king a target. fxg4 32.fxg4 d5 33.e3 g6 34.h4 h6 35.h5+ g7 36.g3 f6 37.e5 f7 38.f4 g7 39.d4 e4 40.e5+ f7 41.f4 [ 41.b8 ] 41...g7 42.e5 [ White should win fairly easily after 42.b8! c5 43.xa7 d7 44.a4 f6 45.c3 ( 45.a5 bxa5 46.c3 ) 45...e7 46.b4 d6 47.a5+- ] 42...c3 43.d3 f3 44.d6 a4 670 A17 [ 44...xg4?? 45.e5+ ] Gurevich,Mikhail 2629 45.e5+ g8 46.g5! c5 47.g6 e4+ Sandipan,Chanda 2522 48.xe6 xg5+ 49.e7 e2 50.b8 a6 Gibtelecom Masters (7.5) 30.01.2006 51.bxa6 xa6 52.a7 f3 [ 52...b5 53.d3 ] [John Watson] 53.xb6 Now it's a matter of time. e5 Gurevich gives a convincing demonstration of 54.e8 c4 55.d4 d3 56.e3 g7 the power of two bishops in a neutral pawn 57.a4 b4 58.d4+ g8 59.a5 d5+ structure where there are no particularly 60.d6 f4 61.e3 f8 62.c6 xh5 hole for the king. It's difficult to fault W hite for doing this, the advantage is hardly running anywhere. c7 22.c3 [ Or 22.b2 ce7 23.eb1 e4 24.d5 4e5 25.d2 e4 26.d4 c5 27.f3 with a continued plus for W hite Black's pieces are placed as active as they can possibly be, yet Black has no counterplay worth talking about. ] 22...ce7 23.f3 h6 24.d5 [ This looks perfectly normal, but achieves little why block Black's weak backward pawn. To me it seems like Grischuk was either tired of the game and wanted to end the game or, more probable, he was short of time, which also explains the lacklustre play in the continuation. Instead W hite could consider 24.ec1!? c7 25.a5 d7 26.g4 c6 27.xc5 dxc5 28.e1 ] 24...c7 25.d4 [ Or 25.ec1!? ] 25...xe1+ 26.xe1 e6 27.xe6 [ White starts a series of exchanges leading to a draw. The only move offering any real chanc es to play f or a win is the b isho p retreat 27.e3 c6 28.d2 ( Winning a pawn with 28.xc6 xc6 29.xa7 doesn't achieve anything after d5 30.c5 d4 31.c1 c8 ) 28...c5 29.d1 offers White the slightly better chances ] 27...xe6 28.xe6 fxe6 29.c5 dxc5 30.xc5 a6 31.d4 d7 32.xd7 Now it's completely drawn of course. But even with the queens on the table, neither side has sufficient weaknesses to offer the opponent any kind of chances. xd7 33.d4 f7 34.h2 g5 35.g4 g6 36.g3 h5 37.gxh5+ xh5 38.f6 g6 39.d8 f5 40.h4 gxh4+ 41.xh4 ½-½
669
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 63.xh6+ f7 64.d5+ xd5 65.xd5 1-0
followed by ...Nh4, or ...Nd5-f4, so W hite prevents this. 18.d4 [ 18.a3!? ] 18...h4 19.d3 c4 20.c2 e4 671 A17 Black can't allow W hite to play f3 and e4. Gustafsson,Jan 2566 21.xe4 dxe4 22.d5! White must play this Khalifman,Alexander 2702 before Black gets the time to blockade the d5 Bundesliga 2002-3 (11) 09.02.2003 square, as this would leave the white darksquared bishop with nothing to do. f5 23.f4!? [Tony Kosten] exf3?! Risky, Black refrains from capturing the 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 pawn by [ 23...xd5 b e c a u s e o f 24.d1 d8 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 b6 7.e3 Probably the ( 24...e6? 25.d6! is the awkward point most popular move here, White completes his the black queen is tied to the g7-pawn, of kingside development before playing b4. b7 course. ) 25.f2! planning to double on the d8.e2 d6 9.0-0 bd7 10.b4 e7 11.b2 f il e t o p in t h e b ish o p , f7 ( 25...e6 c5 12.d3 fc8 This is the mainline at present, 26.fd2 xd2 27.xd2 f7 28.d6 ) one of Black's main plans is to open the a-file, 26.fd2 a7! (covering g7, and preparing to then swap both rooks (after playing ...Qf8 so d e f e n d d 5 ) 27.b1 (planning Ba2, then as to recapture on a8 with a major piece) and Rxd5 and Bxc4) c7 28.a2 and the black play for a draw. position is very uncomfortable, his pieces [ 12...e5 is a good alternative, blocking the can hardly move, and his knight doesn't a1-h8 diagonal. ] seem to helpful, nevertheless, after g6! 13.b5 Gaining more space on the queenside. 29.h1 dd7 he might be holding-on, as f8!? An innovation, normally Black continues 30.g3 f3 31.xd5 h5 a draw seems [ 13...a6 14.a4 axb5 ( or 14...f8 first, likely: 32.c2 xh2! 33.xh2 xd1+ 15.h3 axb5 16.axb5 xa1 17.xa1 a8 34.xd1 xd1+ ] 18.xa8 xa8 etc. Labollita,M-Ahmed,S/ Bled SLO 2002) 15.axb5 f8 16.d2 24.g3 [ 24.d1! seems very strong to me: fxg2 ( 16.fd1 is a waste of time, as Black plays 25.f4 g6 26.f2! and there is no xa1 17.xa1 a8 anyway, and the white defence to Bxf5-e6+. ] r o o k h a s m o v e d t wi c e , 18.e1 b8 19.xa8 xa8 20.a1 xa1+ 21.xa1 24...g2 25.xf5 xd5? In a complicated and White's bishop pair advantage is not too position the ex-FIDE champ goes astray, [ 25...xe1 26.e6+ h8 27.xe1 f8 much here, Shchekachev,A-Bunzmann,D/ 28.f2 g5 is far from clear, Black can play Bethune FRA 2001) 16...xa1 17.xa1 ...Bc8 to exchange the annoying bit on e6. ] a8 18.c1 xa1 19.xa1 a8 (o nc e a ga in, th is plan is re ally ea sy t o 26.e4! xe1 Forced, the black bishop cannot remember!) 20.g4 xa1+ 21.xa1 e8 move: [ 26...b7? 27.xf3! xe1 28.e6+ h8 and another quick draw occurred in Vera,R29.f7 is curtains. ] Vilela,J/Cienfuegos 1983. ] d3 28.d6! After this White is 14.a4 a5!? Completely closing the queenside, 27.exd5 clearly winning. g5 Forced, is a bit passive, [ 28...f6? loses to the elegant 29.e6+!! [ 14...a6 is still possible. ] h8 ( 29...f8 30.xf3! ) 30.xf6 gxf6? 15.ae1 White prepares for the central push. 31.xf6# ] g6 16.d2 d5!? The start of an interesting 29.xc8 f2+?! Not very good, but Black is plan to render the white b2-bishop obsolete. [ 16...e5 would be positionally desirable, losing anyway [ 29...xc8 30.d7! d e f l e c t i o n ! c7 when White will try lever the long diagonal 31.xg7+! xg7 32.d8+ f8 33.g5+ open again, 17.f4 e8 and Black is solid. ] ( 33.xc7?? f2+ 34.g2 e1+ 17.cxd5 exd5 Black hopes to be able to w o u l d b e e m b a r r a s s i n g !) 33...g7 reopen the h1-a8 diagonal with a timely ...d4, 670
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 34.xg7+ xg7 35.xg7 and wins easily. ] 30.xf2! xf2 31.d7 The black queen cannot guard the queening square, d8, and g7 simultaneously. h3+ 32.f1 f5+ 33.g2 f2+ 34.xh3 f1+ 35.h4 [ 35.h4 f8 36.xg7+ xg7 37.d8+ leads to mate. ] 1-0
672 Ivanchuk,Vassily Bologan,Viktor 21st ECC Saint Vincent ITA (7) [John Watson]
A17 2752 2700 24.09.2005
You always wonder why these top GMs (in this case 2700+) don't play the sort of unbalanced line that arises here. There's practically no t h e o r y , a n d t h e b e s t m a n t e n d s t o wi n . Interestingly, Ivanchuk has played varieties of the English Opening recently. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g3 0-0 5.g2 d5 6.a3 xc3 [ 6...e7 7.d4 is the other route, reaching a Catalan with White having played Nc3 and having the extra tempo a3. The latter may not be much, but is useful in more cases than not: dxc4 ( 7...bd7 8.c5!? e4 9.c2 , using a3 to good effect.) 8.e5 ( 8.a4 ) 8...c6 9.xc6 bxc6 10.xc6 e8 11.xe7+ xe7 12.a4 a5 ( 12...e5!? Ribli ) 13.g5 a6 14.0-0 c5 15.xf6 gxf6 ( 15...xf6 16.dxc5 ) 16.ad1 Kramnik-Salov, Madrid 1993. ] 7.dxc3 [ 7.bxc3 has done badly in practice, several games going c6 ( or 7...c5 8.0-0 c6 ) 8.cxd5 exd5 9.0-0 e8 with excellent piece activity. ] 7...c5 A logical but unusual move. Normally Black tries to play ultra-solidly by [ 7...bd7 8.cxd5 exd5 9.0-0 e8 . In spite of the interesting conflict between bishop and knight pairs, this line hasn't seen much action. There seems no particular reason for this, but play does seem about equal, e.g., 10.f4 ( 10.c2 e7 11.e3 c5 12.fe1 b6 13.ad1 b7= Schlosser-Lingnau, Werther 2003) 10...c6 11.c2 b6 12.a4 c4! 13.d4!?
( 13.ad1 ) 13...g4 14.b3 d6 15.fe1 h5 16.ad1 g6 17.c1 de4 18.f3 c5 19.e3 Eingorn-Popovic, Bor 1985. ] [ 7...dxc4 Ribli 8.xd8 xd8 9.e5 d5!? ( 9...bd7 Ribli 10.xc4 b6 11.a5 b8 12.0-0 e8 13.e3 f6 14.fd1 xd1+ 15.xd1 f7 16.d8! e7 17.xb7 d6 18.a5! xd8 19.c6++- Kaidanov,GNeverov,V URS-OT56 Blagoveshchensk 1988 ) 10.xc4 c6 11.0-0 e5 Ribli,Z-Speelman,J Manila olm 1992 ] 8.0-0 c6 9.g5!? Ivanchuk opts for the min or position al advant age o f t he bet te r bishop (on g2). dxc4 10.a4 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.xc4 The position turns out to be an irritating one for Black. e7 The problem is that natural development by [ 12...b6 can be met by 13.b4 ] 13.e1! A clever move threatening both Bxc6 and Nd3. e5 [ 13...a5!? ] 14.f4 g6 15.e3 c4 This looks awkward but is a good move, stopping Nd3. 16.f3 c7 17.a4!? [ 17.h4! will kick out Black's knight and retain the advantage. ] 17...d7 18.fd1 fd8 [ 18...c6 19.c5 ] 19.a5 e7!? The position is roughly equal, but now Ivanchuk plays a series of masterly moves eventually wearing Black down and forcing a concession: [ 19...a6 is probably better. ] 20.e5! ac8 [ 20...xe5? 21.xe5 wins a pawn ] 21.d4! e8 Black's bishop can't move due to Qxc7. 22.ad1 a4 23.1d2 f5 24.g4!? h5 25.e4 xe5 26.xe5 b3 27.h3! W hite takes the bishop off its beautiful diagonal in order to play to the 7th rank and b e a b le t o u se d 4 a s a swin g squ a re . g6 28.d7 f8? [ 28...c5! 29.xf7?! ( 29.a6! ) 29...a4 30.xb7 c6 is the computer defence. ] 29.xf5?! Okay, but [ 29.xg6! fxg6 30.xe6 c6 31.xc6 bxc6 32.e4 h6 33.xa7 is overwhelming. ] 29...exf5 30.ed4 c5 31.f4 xa5 [ 31...b5 32.c7 and Rdd7. Black's bishop on b3 is out of play. ] 671
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 32.xb7 c2 33.dd7 e4 34.xa7 xa7 35.xa7 d5 36.d7 d8 37.f6+ f8 38.d7! The rest is pretty much a high-level mop-up. xd7 39.xd7+ e7 40.e5 d6 41.f2 e6 42.e3 c5 43.d2 d6 44.c2 d5 45.f3 f6 46.d2 d6 47.b3 cxb3+ 48.xb3 c4 49.e3 e2 50.d2 c5 51.e4 g4 52.d3 h3 53.c4 d6 54.d4 fxe4 55.xe4+ e6 56.c5 g2 57.c6 e7 58.c7 h3 59.c5 d7 60.d6 e6 61.h4 g5 62.hxg5 fxg5 63.fxg5 e5 64.f7+ e6 65.g6 f6 66.d6 f5 67.e5 c8 68.c6 h3 69.e7 g4 70.g7 xg7 71.e5 1-0
673
A17 Kjartansson,Gudmundur 2356 Panchanathan,Magesh Chandran 2493 ch Edinburgh SCO (4) 14.07.2009 [Jonathan Rowson]
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 0-0 [ 4...h6 There are several playable moves here, and although I don't know the lines well, for what it is worth, ... h6 feels to me l i k e t h e b e s t m o ve , i f o n l y b e c a u s e i t generally forces White to compromise his kingside structure to make any 'progress'. ] 5.g5 e8 6.c2 d5 7.a3 [ 7.b3!? e7 ( 7...c6 might be better.) 8.g1 c5 9.e3 c6 10.d3! f5 11.gxf6 xf6 12.a3 e8 13.b2 h5 14.e2 and White had the initiative in Krasenkow, M-Romanishin, O/Lvov 2000. ] 7...e7 [ 7...xc3 looks better to me, but many strong(er) players have opted to retreat. ] 8.d4 b6?! [ 8...c5! Feels like the most thematic move. 9.dxc5 xc5 10.e3 e7 11.h4 dxc4?! ( 11...c6! ) 12.xc4 left White with a comfortable edge in Zvjaginsev, V Riazantsev, A Moscow 2003 ] [ 8...dxc4 is also plausible and after 9.e4 c5 ] 9.e4 dxc4 10.xc4 c5 11.d5 d6 12.a2 e5 13.g1 [ 13.xe5 xg5 ] [ 13.xe5 xg5 14.g1 xc1 15.xc1!
also looks promising. ] 13...f5 14.gxf6 xf6 15.e3 d7 16.0-0-0 b5 17.g5! xg5 18.xg5 b4 In positions with opposite side castling every tempo is precious and it is usually a matter of 'who lands first wins'. Not always, and perhaps not even here, but when in doubt it makes sense t o f o l l o w t h i s s p i r i t . 19.dg1! bxc3?! Perhaps Black underestimated the power of white's 21st move. He is not playing directly for mate, but for a more enduring attack. [ 19...f7?! 20.axb4 cxb4 21.b5! xb5 22.d6 is winning. ] [ 19...g6 looks too passive, but probably gives the best practical chances because even though white is better mobilised the position remains hugely unbalanced. ] 20.xg7+ h8 21.f4! cxb2+ 22.xb2! The idea is simply Qg2 with the assumption that Black cannot possibly stop all the mating threats. e8 23.g2! df6 24.d6! The dormant bishop wakes up. c4 25.xc4 g4 26.xg4 xg4 27.xg4 h6 28.fxe5 c8 29.e6! Elegant. xe6 30.xe6 g7 31.d5 Black is the exchange up, but he faces a hopeless battle against the bishop pair from hell supporting a pawn trio from somewhere even worse. ac8+ 32.d2 h7 33.e6 b8 34.d4 A sweet and powerful victory. 1-0
674 Kosten,Anthony C Balogh,Csaba Aut chT Velden (5.1) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2507 2456 23.01.2004
1.c4 e6 2.c3 b4 3.f3 f6 4.g4 0-0 5.g5 e8 6.c2 [ 6.b3 c5 7.a3 a5 8.e4 b6 is similar to this game, but the white queen is in a worse position, Huzman,A-Nikolic,P/ Neum BIH 2000. ] 6...c5!? This seems to be an innovation, I had expected [ 6...d5 as in the Zvjaginsev,V-Riazantsev,A game we examined previously. ] 7.a3 a5 The bishop gets stuck here for the rest of the game. 672
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 7...xc3 8.xc3 b6 9.b4 with the advantage because of the bishops. ] 8.e4!? Aiming for f6, but hitting c5 in the process. b6 9.b4! The point, g7 diagonal is opened with gain of tempo, and while the white dark-squared bishop will attack g7, its black counterpart is of absolutely no help to the king's defence. cxb4 10.b2 b7 This looks best, giving the option of capturing one of the dangerous white knights. Th e immediate threat was Rg1 and Nf6+ so the only serious alternative was [ 10...d5!? which is met by 11.f6+ gxf6 ( 11...xf6 12.gxf6 g6 might be playable, but the f6-pawn is a monster) 12.gxf6 xf6 ( 12...b3?! 13.d3! (keeps the threat of Ng5) d6 14.g1+ h8 15.g7 f5 16.g5 and wins ) 13.g1+ h8 14.g5 d4 (the only move to stop mate) 15.g2 wi n n i n g t h e a 8 - r o o k w h i l s t t h e a t t a c k continues. ] 11.g1 Really threatening Nf6+ now. [ 11.f6+?! doesn't work any more, gxf6 12.gxf6 xf3 13.g1+ h8 14.g7 xg7 15.fxg7+ g8 16.gxf8+ xf8 17.exf3 and Black is better because of the tatty white pawn structure. ] 11...b3!? This doesn't achieve a great deal, but Black didn't want to capture on a3, and drag the a1-rook into the attack, or allow W h it e t o t a k e o n b 4 wh e n it s u i t e d h i m . 12.d3 xe4 The knight had to go! [ 12...d5!? is very risky, A) 13.f6+!? xf6 ( 13...gxf6? 14.gxf6+ h8 15.g5 wins on the spot) 14.gxf6 g6 might defend, 15.e3 ( or 15.d1!? to free the queen and knight f rom the defence of d2) 15...d7 16.cxd5 xd5 17.h6 xf6 18.g5 e5 etc.; B) 13.g3! possible as the d5-pawn is pinned, d7 14.cxd5 exd5 15.f6+ exf6 16.gxf6 g6 17.e3 e8 18.h6 xf6 19.d4 planning Nf5 and also Nxb3, note that the black dark-squared bishop is a long way from its best post on g7! ] 13.xe4 c6 Clearly best, although there are alternatives: [ 13...d5?! 14.cxd5 xd5 15.xd5 exd5 16.d4 and Nxb3 leaves White with the bishop pair and a better structure. ] [ 13...a6 14.g3 c5 15.h4
and Rh3 wins. ] 14.g3 The attack continues - the immediate threat is Rh3 - and meanwhile White can pick t h e b 3 - p a w n u p w h e n h e w a n t s . f5!? The most obvious way to counter Rh3 and Qh4, however [ 14...d6 aims for f5, and may be better, 15.g4 ( 15.d3 is also possible, to take t h e b 3 - p a w n) 15...e8 (the king needs some space) 16.h3 e5 17.h5 xc4 18.xh7+ f8 19.b1 xb2 20.xb2 e4 and although the black king is bare he is still fighting. ] 15.gxf6 Simplest, opening the g-file, though I also considered [ 15.h4 when e7 16.h3 g6 17.d4 is unpleasant for Black who must constantly be on the lookout for mating attacks along the a1-h8 diagonal. ] 15...xf6 16.d3 e7 Black hopes to close t h e d i a g o n a l b y . . . e 5 . 17.g2?! The immediate [ 17.g5!? is more accurate: e5 18.g2 with a nasty threat of Bd5+ and Rh3. ] 17...c5 [ 17...h5! looks odd, but may be the best d e f e n s i v e p o s s i b i l i t y , 18.h3 f7 and Ng5 is impossible because f2 is hanging. ] 18.g5 e7 The point of Black's play, he wanted to prohibit Ng5. [ 18...d5? is met by 19.xg7+! xg7 20.g5 with a double threat of Qxh7 mate and Nxe6+, forking king and queen. ] 19.0-0-0 d5 20.cxd5 exd5 21.h4 [ 21.g1 is also strong, but I wanted to attack d5 as well as g7 (by Nf5). ] 21...ae8?! I had expected [ 21...c5+ 22.b1 c2+ 23.xc2 bxc2+ 24.xc2 but this is very good for White. ] [ 21...h8 22.g1 c7 23.b1 ad8 looks OK, but then 24.xd5! is good. ] 22.xd5+ h8 The knight on f6 is pinned. 23.xb3! [ 23.xc6?! i s n o t h i n g s p e c i a l : c7 and White has only succeeded in exchanging his powerful bishop, but ] [ 23.dg1 was tempting, e5!? ( 23...c5+ 24.b1 c2+ 25.xc2 bxc2+ 26.xc2 must win ) 24.xe5 c7+ with some chances. ] 673
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23...xe2 24.g6+! The neat point. hxg6 25.xg6 [ after 25.xg6 e7 is forced, , but then ( 25...e7? 26.h5+ mates ) 26.xf6 xf6 27.h5+ xh5 28.xh5+ h6 is quite hopeless. ] 1-0
White's attack. [ 19...gxf5 might be answered by 20.h5 ] 20.d5+ h8 21.h5! gxh5 22.g2! Tony gains a tempo on c6 and diverts a Black defender from the kingside. c8 23.be1!? To some extent a matter of taste. Alternatively, [ 23.h3! wins the f5 pawn, after which the advance of White's own f-pawn will prove decisive even if Black's king survives. ] 675 A17 Kosten,Anthony C 2527 23...e7 24.xb7 xb7 25.h3 g7 Van der Linden,Lucas 2263 26.xh5 f8 27.d2 d7 Breaking the pin 4NCL Nottingham ENG (6) 23.01.2005 to prepare ...d5, which W hite immediately prevents. 28.e3! fg6? This ends up being [John Watson] time-consuming, since the knight will have to Our fearless Webmaster plays a pretty game defend h7 anyway. Better [ 28...d4 , to divert White from an easy which illustrates again the power of the g4-g5 rook shif t to t he h -f ile , alt hough 29.h2 expansion in nearly every opening these days. e6 30.h3! f8 31.cd5 is hardly fun for 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.g3 e6 4.f3 b6 5.e4 Black. Perhaps ] b7 6.d3 In general this system hasn't given [ 28...c6 29.ed5 d4+ 30.h2 xe1 Black too much trouble. Still, he can't waste 31.xe1 g6 would have stabilised for a too much time getting a plan going. d6 7.g2 moment. Of course there remains the e7 8.0-0 bd7 Black forfeits the idea of ... problem that Black can hardly move! ] e5, ...Nc6-d4 and aims for a Hedgehog 29.e2! c6 30.h2 f8 31.cd5 d4 formation instead. 9.e1!? Preparing f4. [ 31...xb2 32.h3! d4 33.h1 [ 9.e1 0-0 10.d4 cxd4 11.xd4 c7 and the crucial f-pawn falls. ] 12.b3 a6 13.b2 would be a typical f o r m a t i o n f o r b o t h s i d e s . W h i t e m i g h t 32.c3 b7 [ 32...g8 33.c2! f7 ( 33...xc2 consider a g4-g5 plan at some point. ] 34.xg7 xg7 35.f6 ) 34.xd4 xh5 9...e5!? Now Black switches to a ...Nc6 35.xh5 cxd4 36.cb4! grabs every formation, which is logical but takes time. available square. ] [ 9...0-0?! allows 10.e5! xg2 11.exf6 xf1 12.fxe7 xe7 13.xf1 when White's pieces 33.h1 e6? 34.xd4 xd4 [ 34...cxd4 35.xf5! ] should outweigh the rook and pawn. ] 35.xf5 d8 36.xd4 cxd4 37.f5 [ But 9...c7 10.f4 0-0 11.e3 a6! is a standard setup that has served Black 1-0 well. Who knows? Maybe White can close h i s e y e s a n d p la y 12.g4!? . Amazingly, A17 Fritz8 pref ers W h it e slight ly inste ad o f 676 b l o wi n g a f e w c i rc u it s o ve r h is la c k o f Kramnik,Vladimir 2785 development. ] Carlsen,Magnus 2714 10.f4 c6 11.e3 0-0 12.c2 a6 13.g4! World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (5) 21.11.2007 Whether this objectively gains the advantage [Carsten Hansen] or not, it is perfectly sound and difficult to meet. W hite simply pushes Black's pieces 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g3 0-0 back and gains space. e8 14.g5 d7 5.b3 This combination of g3 and Qb3 is 15.h4 f8 16.d2 b8 17.a4 g6 18.ab1 somewhat of a Kramnik speciality, and one I have no idea what either side should be which scores well for him. This game is no doing here but Black's next seems logical, to exception... c5 6.g2 c6 7.0-0 d6 challenge the centre. f5 19.exf5 exf5?! [ Black has tried several other moves in this Opening the e-file yet underestimating p o s i t i o n : A ) 7...a5? is tempting, but 674
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 doesn't accomplish anything: 8.c2 xc4 9.a4! A) 9...b5 A1) 10.a3 a5 ( 10...bxa4 11.axb4 ) 11.xc5 Ribli; A2) 10.a3; B) 9...d5 10.a3 ( 10.d3 b6 11.xc5 bd7= Ribli ) 10...a5 11.d3 b6 ( 11...d6 12.xc5 ) 12.xc5 bd7 13.b4 B1) 13...c7! 14.b2 b6 15.xd7 xd7 16.e5 ( 16.xf6 gxf6 17.e4 c8 18.b3 c6 19.d4 a8 20.exd5 e5= Ribli; 16.fc1 c8 17.b3 Ribli ) 16...c8 17.xd7 xd7 which Ribli evaluates as very slightly better for White thanks to White's bishop pair; B2) 13...xc5 14.bxa5 B2a) 14...xa5 15.d2 c7 ( 15...b6 16.e3 fd7 17.fc1+- ) 16.ac1 ( 16.fc1 Ribli b6 17.d4+- ); B2b) 14...b6 15.e3 Garcia Ilundain, D-Psakhis, L/Benasque 1995 ] [ B) 7...d5 8.d3 xc3 ( 8...h6 9.e3 e8 10.a3 dxc4 11.dxc4 xc3 12.xc3 e5 13.b4 Kasparov, G-Anand, V/PCA-Wch/ 1995; 8...d4!? 9.a4 d6 10.e3 a5 11.exd4 cxd4 12.g5 e5 13.a3 h6 14.xf6 xf6 15.c2 g4 1/2-1/2 Izoria, Z - S a d y k o v , R / N a k h c h i v a n A Z E 2 0 0 3) 9.xc3 d4 10.a3 b6 11.f4 e8 12.e5 Ehlvest, J-Kortschnoj, V/Horgen 1995 ] [ C) 7...e7 8.d3 h6 9.a3 a5 10.e3 d8 11.c2 a6 12.d4 d5 13.dxc5 xc3 14.xc3 xc5 15.b3 b5 16.b2 bxc4 17.bxc4 Kramnik, V-Illescas Cordoba, M/ Yerevan 1996 ] [ D) 7...a6 8.d3 b8 9.d1 d6 10.g5 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.e4 e7 13.a3 a5 Ch u ch e lo v, V -B a kla n, V/ B in d la ch G E R 2006 ] 8.d3 h6 [ 8...b8 9.h4 d7 10.d2 a6 11.a3 a5 12.d1 b5 13.b4 c7 14.cxb5 axb5 15.b1 cxb4= Kavalek, L-Ree, H/NED/ 1969/ ] 9.e3 [ 9.a3 a5 10.e3 b8 11.d4 d7 12.d1 e7 13.d2 c7 14.b5 b6 15.dxc5
dxc5 16.c3 e5 17.a4 a6 18.a3 c7 1/2-1/2 Pelletier, Y-Mastrovasilis, A/Athens GRE 2005 ] 9...e5 [ 9...b8!? 10.a3 xc3 11.xc3 b5 12.b3 b6 13.d2 d8 14.b2 bxc4 15.xc4 c7 16.b4 cxb4 17.axb4 xb4 18.a5 Bezold, M-Kortschnoj, V/Muenster 1996 ] 10.d2 [ 10.a3 a5 ( 10...xc3!? 11.xc3 a5 ) 11.d2 e7?! 12.d5 xd5 13.cxd5 xd2 ( 13...b8 14.c4 ) 14.xd2 ( 14.dxc6? xc1 15.cxb7 xb7 16.xb7 ab8 ) 14...b8 15.d4 d7?! ( 15...cxd4 16.exd4 exd4 17.fe1 f6 Ribli ) 16.dxe5 xe5 17.f4 Kramnik, V-Hracek, Z/Berlin 1996 ] 10...f5 [ 10...xc3 this is natural, because the bishop on b4 is already out of the game, whereas the knight on c3 is part of the fight over control of the centre, in particular the d5-square. 11.xc3 A) Premature, Ribli gives 11...e6 12.f4 d7 13.fxe5?! ( 13.e4! looks better CH ) 13...dxe5 14.xf6? gxf6 15.e4 e7; B) 11...d5?! 12.cxd5 xd5 13.xc5 db4 14.b3 ( 14.d4 exd4 15.e4 e6 is comfortable for Black - Ribli) 14...xd3 15.c3 xc1 16.axc1 e6 17.e4 ( 17.xc6? bxc6 18.e4 a5 19.fd1= Ribli ) 17...e7 18.c5! Kramnik, VAdams, M/Dortmund 1996 ] [ 10...e6!? 11.de4 xe4= is given by Dolmatov ] 11.a3 xc3 12.xc3 d7 13.e1 h3 14.h1 ac8 [ 14...a5!? ] 15.b4 b6 16.b2 fe8 17.b3 h5 18.f3 f5 19.h4 d7 20.c3 h7 21.d1 g4 22.f3 h3 23.f4 f6 24.f3 g4 [ 24...g4!? ] 25.b5 d8 26.a4 e4 27.xg4 xg4 28.d4 [ 28.dxe4!? xe4 29.d5 e6 30.f5 ] 28...cxd4 [ 28...d5!? ] 29.xd4 f6 30.ed1 h3 31.xd6 g4 32.d2 [ 32.d2!? ] 32...xc4 675
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 32...e6! ] 33.d7 f8 34.xg7 xg7 35.f5+ h7 [ 35...g8 36.d6 c3 37.xe4 xe3 38.g5 xg3+ 39.hxg3 xg3+= ] 36.d6 c3??+[ 36...b4! ] 37.xe4 e6 38.xc3 xe3 39.d3+ f5 40.d5 d8 41.e4 h6 42.e5 xg3 43.f6+ h7 44.xf7+ g7 45.hxg3 xd5 46.xd5 xg3+ 47.g2 e3+ 48.h1 f5 49.g1 1-0
677
A17 Kramnik,Vladimir 2766 Ivanchuk,Vassily 2750 Amber Rapid Monte Carlo MNC rapid (5) [Carsten Hansen] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 d6 7.b4 Here also 7 d4 and 7 g3 have been played on several occasions. a5 [ 7...e5 8.b2 ( 8.g3 c6 9.b5 e7 10.g2 c5 11.bxc6 xc6 12.0-0 e8 13.b2 g4 14.h3 d7 15.d3 c8 16.d2 c7 17.e4 e7 with chances to both sides, Arduman, C-Maksimovic, S/ Katerini 1993 ) A) 8...b6 9.e3 c5 10.e2 b7 11.0-0 bd7 12.d3 c8 13.a4 e8 14.e4 cxb4 15.xb4 a5 16.a3 c5 17.d2 c6 with a fully satisfactory position for Black, Ivkov, B-Langeweg, K/Wijk aan Zee 1971; B) 8...c6 B1) 9.b5 e7 10.e3 b6 ( 10...f5!? 11.d3 a6 looks pretty decent for Black) 11.e2 b7 12.0-0 e4 13.c2 g6 14.e1 f5 15.f3 c5 16.d4 e6 17.d5 c5 18.d3 Portisch, L-Larsen, B/Palma de Mallorca 1971; B2) 9.e3 e4 10.c2 f5 11.e2 a5 12.d3 f6 13.b5 e7 14.c5 Portisch, L-Larsen, B/Las Palmas 1976; C) 8...e8 9.g3 ( 9.d3?! g4 10.e3 bd7 11.h3 xf3 12.gxf3 d5 13.0-0-0 c5 , and White is already in trouble, Barbero, G-Timman, J/Novi Sad OL 1990) 9...b6 ( 9...bd7 10.g2 b6 11.0-0 e4 12.d4 c5 13.c2 g4 14.fe1 c8
15.e3 a4 and Black has equalised without much effort, Jelen, I-Kuzmin, G/ Bled 1979 ) 10.g2 b7 11.0-0 c5 ( 11...bd7 12.d3 c5 13.e4 f8 14.h4 e6 15.ae1 d4 16.c1 d7 17.f4 Schmidt, W -Kholmov, R/Legnica 1994) 12.e3 bd7 13.d3 c8 14.e4 a6 15.h4 b5 16.f5 b6 with a doublee d g e d p o si t i o n , S za b o , L - L a r s e n , B / Lugano 1970 ] [ 7...bd7 8.g3 b6 9.g2 b7 10.0-0 c5 11.b2 A) 11...c7 12.d3 fc8 13.fc1 e5 14.h3 e8 15.e4 f8 16.h4 ( 16.a4!? ) 16...e6 17.d2 d8 18.xe6 fxe6 19.ab1 ( 19.a4!? ) 19...c6 20.e2 e7 21.g2 f7 with a satisf actory position f or Black , Illescas Cordoba, M-Karpov, A/Wijk aan Zee 1993; B) 11...e7 12.d3 fc8 13.e4 f8 14.fe1 a6 15.d2 ab8 16.d4 , and White has the upper hand, Lobron, EAdams, M Brussels SWIFT 25' 1992; C) 11...c8 C1) 12.d3 e8 ( 12...c7 13.a4 Georgiev, Ki-Lobron, E Tilburg1.1992) 13.e4 Kasparov, G-Karpov, An New York/Lyon Wch m(24) 1990; C2) 12.c2 c7 13.bxc5 bxc5 14.ab1 c6 15.c3 c8 16.d3 b8 17.e4 xb1 18.xb1 c7 19.d2 b8 20.xb8+ xb8 21.b3 xb3 22.xb3 and White has a slightly better endgame thanks to his bishop pair, and in fact managed to convert it to a win, Dueball, J-Hecht, H/ Bundesliga 1990 ] 8.b2 e5 [ 8...axb4 9.axb4 xa1+ 10.xa1 b6 11.g3 b7 12.g2 bd7 13.0-0 e7 14.b2 a8 15.d4 xg2 16.xg2 e8= Azmaiparashvili, Z-Corral Blanco, J/ Ponferrada 1992 ] 9.g3 [ 9.e3 bd7 ( 9...g4!? ) 10.e2 b6 11.c2 g4 12.0-0 e8 13.d3 d7 14.fd1 a4 15.c3 Furman, S-Kholmov, R/ USSR Ch (Baku) 1972 ] 9...axb4!? [ 9...e4 10.c2 g5 11.xg5 xg5 12.b5 d7 13.g2 c5 14.0-0 h5 676
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.d4 exd4 16.xd4 e8 17.fe1 Lengyel, L-Hecht, H/Budapest 1973 ] 10.axb4 xa1+ 11.xa1 b5!? This is a fascinating concept in this variation. Black appears to get a position where he plays for a win without any further ado. 12.cxb5 d7!? [ Even 12...d7 can be considered, but this is not part of Ivanchuk's concept. ] 13.e3 [ On 13.c4 Black still plays c8 and if 14.d4 then e4 15.d2 e3! 16.fxe3 b7 17.g1 xb5 with amble compensation for the pawn ] 13...c8 14.e2 b7 15.d3 xb5 [ 15...g4!? 16.e4 xb5 17.h3 xf3 18.xf3 c6 19.0-0 b8 20.g2 b7 21.b1 h6 ] 16.0-0 c6 [ 16...c6?! ] 17.b1 [ 17.b3 e7 18.c1 c6 19.e4 b5 ] 17...a6!? [ 17...e4!? 18.d4 xd4 19.xd4 a8 20.f1 exd3 21.xd3 xd3 22.xd3 e4 23.d4 f6 , and Black has the better chances. However, Ivancuk prefers to keep the pieces on due to White's lack of overall activity andcoordination ] 18.b3 a8 19.d2?! [ 19.e1!? a2 20.xa2 xa2 21.d1 a7 ] 19...a2 Black is already clearly better and on the verge of something more. 20.c3 xb3 21.xb3 a2 22.f1? [ 22.f3?! e7 A) 23.e4 fd5 24.b2 ( 24.e1 f5 25.d2 a4 26.b1 c2 27.c1 xb4-+ ) 24...h6 25.h4 a4-+; B) 23.b1 xd3-+ ] [ 22.b2 a1+ 23.b1 xb1+ 24.xb1 d5 25.f3 cxb4 26.d4 d3 27.xb4 xb4 28.c3 c5 29.dxc5 dxc5 ] 22...d5! and now Black wins a piece. The rest of the game is relatively interesting as Kramnik plays on, but never really has any chance and Ivanchuk rather methodically eliminates whatever counterplay Kramnik has dreamed up. 23.g2 ce7 24.b2 a4 25.a3 xb2 26.xa4 b6 27.a7 xd2 28.xc7 f8 29.b7 d1+ 30.f1 ec8 31.b5 a1 32.c7 g6 33.h4 b1 34.d4
exd4 35.exd4 e7 36.g2 h5 37.b7 bd5 38.b8+ g7 39.d8 b2 40.g1 f5 41.c4 b1+ 42.h2 f6 43.f3 b2+ 44.h3 xd4 0-1
678 Kramnik,Vladimir Zhang Zhong Wijk aan Zee NED (6) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2777 2639 17.01.2004
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 b6 7.e3 In some ways the least ambitious move, but if Kramnik plays it ... [ We have also looked at 7.g3 and ] [ 7.b4 ] 7...b7 8.e2 d6 9.0-0 bd7 10.b4 Kramnik plays this only af ter having f irst developed his kingside. c5 Black reacts in the centre, this move gives the possibility of pressurizing the c4-pawn. [ 10...e5 blocks the long diagonal, 11.d3 e7 12.b2 with a plus for White Vokac,MLechtynsky,J/Marianske Lazne 1978. In both ca se s B la c k p la ce s h is p a wn s o n d a r k squares to impede the white light-squared bishop. ] 11.b2 e8!? A novelty in a common position. [ 11...e7 is the most popular, and has similar ideas, see the game Gustafsson,JKhalifman ,A. ] [ 11...c8 puts pressure on the c-line, Portisch,L-Najdorf,M/Wijk aan Zee 1978. ] 12.d4 Gaining space at the (temporary) cost of the e4-square. e4 13.b3 b8 14.ad1 c7 15.d2 ef6!? Interesting, normally with less space Black should be happy to exchange a pair of pieces, and yet here he ref uses. Perhaps he con sidered that th e knight was misplaced on d2, or perhaps he simply wanted a more exciting position with m o r e p i e c e s . 16.c1 a5 17.fd1 e5 Black follows his plan of putting all his pawns on dark squares. 18.f1 axb4 19.axb4 h6 20.a1 ec8 Black plays solidly, ready to c o u n t e r W h i t e ' s p l a n s . 21.b2 A small repetition to gain time on the clock, 677
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 perhaps? e8 22.dxc5 dxc5 23.b1! The knight heads for the b5 square. cxb4 24.xb4 c5 The black knight finds a good square on c5, White's advantage (the bishop pair) seems to amount to very little here. 25.c3 bd8 26.b1 The b6-pawn is the target. c6 27.a1 xd1 28.xd1 d8?! Careless, B lack is keen on exchanging the last pair of rooks, when the draw would be close, but misses a neat tactic. 29.b5! xb5 Forced, [ 29...e7?! 30.xd8+ xd8 31.xe5 wins a pawn for nothing. ] 30.xe5! xe5 Black has little choice, the position of two knight versus rook and two pawns is unpleasant but otherwise he loses a pawn for nothing. 31.xd8+ e8 32.xb6 I am not sure that this position is winning for White, the c-pawn is well blocked, but it takes a lot of patience to defend it. e7 33.c8 fd7 34.c7 f8 35.g3 e6 36.c6 g6 Th e b la c k p o s it ion is so lid , b u t p a s sive . 37.h3 f5 If White is able to capture on e6 the c-pawn will be free to advance. 38.g2 g7 39.d5 ec5 40.a8 f7 41.a1+ f6 42.a7 White is probing the black position, hoping that Black will buckle under the pressure. a6 Black is unable to return to e7: [ 42...e7? 43.xc5 xc5 44.xd7 wins immediately. ] 43.xa6 xa6 44.f3 Without queens on the board W hite can advance his king and kingside pawns. ac5 45.f2 f6 46.c6+ e6 47.e2 e5 48.f4+ f6 49.d2 e7 B l a c k d e f e n d s w e l l . 50.f3 b3+!? Black plays a tactical sequence to simplify matters, but perhaps he should have preferred something like [ 50...a4 51.c2 dc5 ] 51.c3 a5 52.a6 Forced, or White loses t h e c 4 - p a w n . xc4 53.xe6+ xe6 54.xc4 An extra pawn on just one wing with bishop against knight is not the most promising scenario, but here the white king is active, and the black knight short of good squares. g5 55.d5+ f6 This takes the f6square from the knight but [ 55...d6 56.d4 f6 57.b7 is also difficult, Bc8 is a problem, attacking the f5-pawn. ]
56.c6 f8 57.d5 g6 58.d6 e7 59.b7 g6 60.f3 f8 Black hopes to survive by moving his knight from f8-g6, to break this W hite will have to advance his kingside pawns. 61.d5 g6 62.c6 f8 63.d7 g6 64.h3 h5 The best chance, [ 64...f8 65.h4! gxh4 66.gxh4 g6 67.h5 and Black loses use of the g6-square, and will soon be in zugzwang. ] 65.fxg5+ xg5 66.h4+! g4!? A difficult decision, if Black can only swap his knight for the g and e-pawns he would draw by virtue of the 'bad h-pawn', but it is difficult to achieve this. [ 66...f6! l o o k s b a d a f t e r 67.e8 but Black has the resource e5 68.d5 ( 68.xh5? c4+ draws ) 68...g4 69.d4 h2! (the knight works wonders!) 70.xh5 f1 and Black seems to have achieved his g o a l , b u t t h e n t h e r e i s 71.e4! fxe4 ( 71...xg3?! 72.e5+ g7 73.f3 ) 72.g4 with connected passed pawns, but Black is still not dead: g3! 73.g5+ f5 74.d1 f4! 75.g6 f5+ 76.c5 e5 77.h5 f6 and draws as the knight will play Nh4xg6. ] 67.e4 xg3 68.exf5 h8? A terrible decision, perhaps due to a shortage of time. [ 68...f8! might just do the trick: 69.f6 ( 69.e7 h7 70.f7 xh4 71.g7 g5 72.f6 g3 73.h6 f4 74.xh5?! h7 drawing ) 69...xh4 70.f7 g5 71.e7 g6+ 72.e8 f6 this looks bad but Black has a fabulous resource, e.g. 73.b5 g7 74.d3 f8 75.f5 h4 76.e7 h3! 77.xh3 g6+ 78.e8 f8 79.f5 (zugzwang?) h8! 80.xf8 stalemate!! ] 69.e7 xh4 70.f6! The knight is miserably placed on h8. g4 71.g7 g5 72.f6 [ 72.xh8?? f6 ] 72...h4 73.c8 h5 74.f5! [ 74.xh8?? g6 ] 74...g5 75.e6 g6 Black has to let the pawn advance, he has no other moves. 76.f7 f4 77.c8 h5+ Obviously hopeless, but [ 77...g6 is no better, 78.d7 ] 78.h7 1-0
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xh6 and Black may defend. ] A17 Krasenkow,Michal 2702 22...xd2+ 23.xd2 Black is temporarily a Dydyshko,Viacheslav 2525 p a wn t o t h e g o o d , b u t h a s n o m e a n s o f chT Zakopane chT (1) 02.09.2000 defending g7. g6 24.hxg6 fxg6 25.xg6+ f7 26.h7 [Tony Kosten] [ 26.h7 h8 27.f1+ e7 28.e1+! f7 29.g2 leads to a quick mate, the black king 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 has no cover, i.e. hd8 30.h8! xh8 xc3!? 31.f2+ g7 32.g1+ h6 33.h2# ] [ A newish idea, the idea being that after 4...d5 5.g5 it is not possible to bring the 1-0 knight to e4 after xc3 because of the reply 6.bxc3 e4 7.d3 xc3 8.b3 d4 9.xd4 A17 xd4 10.b2 with a large advantage. So by 680 capturing immediately on c3, Black can then Krasenkow,Michal 2661 play ...d5 and then ...Ne4, should W hite Romanishin,Oleg M 2578 recapture with the d-pawn. ] Leonid Stein Mem (1) 12.05.2000 5.dxc3 [Tony Kosten] [ 5.bxc3 is also possible, when Play might resemble a Nimzo-Indian after d6 , say. ] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 0-0!? 5...d5 Provocative, but undoubtedly playable. 5.g5 [ So this is the point of Dydyshko's idea, e8 6.c2 d5 7.b3 p r e v i o u s l y 5...d6 had been played, 6.g5 [ White allow s the pawn to advance, fd7 7.c2 c6 with a solid position for natu rally he pre f ers to ke ep the ce ntre Black, but W hite's extra space, and two closed, 7.a3 e7 8.cxd5 exd5 9.d4 bishops, means that he is on top, allows Black simple development, Roiz,MRazuvajeva, J-Zvereva,M/St Petersburg Alienkin,A/Beersheba 1998. ] 1999. ] 7...e7 6.g5 e4 It will prove difficult to force this [ A logical new move, 7...c6 8.b2 e7 knight to move from this strong square, now 9.g1 b4 10.b1 c5 11.h4 led to similar that White no longer has a d-pawn. 7.f4 0-0 play in Zhukova,N-Lakos,N/Nova Gorica 8.e3 b6 9.c2 b7 10.0-0-0 d7 11.g1 SLO 1999. ] a6 12.h4 b5 Both sides attack the opposing 8.g1 c5 9.e3 c6 10.d3!? A doubleking position. 13.cxd5 exd5 14.h5 dc5 edged move. f5 15.e5 However, it seems that White's attack [ 10...b4!? is wild: 11.xh7+ h8 12.b1 is quicker, already the thrust g6 is on the dxc4 ( 12...d4? appears strong, but loses cards. e6 16.d3 e7 17.f3! White does after 13.e4! dxc3 14.h4 manage to play this move, and, at the with a devastating discovered attack next temporary cost of a pawn, gains an move. ) 13.bxc4!? g6 14.xg6 fxg6 appreciable advantage. 4xg5 18.xg5 15.e5 unclear. ] xg5 19.f4 h6 11.gxf6 xf6 12.a3 e8 13.b2 h5 [ Surely not Black's original intention, but 14.e2 d4!? This turns-out to be more after the natural 19...e4? 20.xe4 dxe4 dangerous for Black than for White. 15.xd4 21.g2 is winning, as after f6 there is the xd4 16.exd4 xh2 The idea behind stunning move ( 21...f6 22.d7 ) 22.d6!! Black's play, winning a pawn, but at the same ( a rook sacrifice to close the sixth rank, the time this opens lines against his king. 17.0-0-0 immediate 22.g4 is easily met by b6 ) cxd4 18.e4 f4 19.d3 xe4 22...cxd6 23.g4 e6 24.f5 [ 19...g6 might be a better defence, 20.xd4 and the queen is lost, if she leaves the sixth xa3+ 21.b1 e7 ] rank then: c4 25.f6+ h8 26.xg7# ] 20.xe4 h6 21.xd4! Otherwise Black will 20.fxg5 xe5 21.gxh6 xe3+ 22.d2! play ...e5 to close the a1-h8 diagonal. f6? [ The endgame is crushing, no t 22.b1? [ After this Black doesn't even get a pawn for 679
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.0-0 e5 14.e3 c8 15.d3 c7 16.fd1 c8 17.ac1 a5 with chances to both sides, Uhlmann,W-Kortchnoi,V/Hastings 1976. ] 11...c6 12.e3 c8 13.b3 e7 14.b2 fd8 Black has finished his development with h i s p i e c e s o n i d e a l s q u a r e s . 15.ac1 White has yet to fully complete his mobilisation, but enjoys the bishop pair, and says to Black "how are you going to exploit your lead in development before my bishops get going?" f6 [ 15...c7 16.fd1 e8 17.b1 h6 s e e m s wo r s e , I b r a g i m o v, I - B e l i k o v , V / Moscow 1998, but ] [ 15...e5 is certainly possible now (or even earlier, as in the Korchnoi game). ] 16.fd1 h6 17.b1! White still bides his time, and brings the queen to b2 to augment the pressure along the a1-h8 diagonal. [ The immediate 17.c3?! allows b4! ] 17...h7!? A new move here, but maybe not the best. In Rubinetti,J-Polugaevsky,L/Toluca 1982 Black preferred [ 17...a6!? 18.d3 b7 19.c3 ( 19.a1!? ) 19...d5 20.a1 e5 with fairly equal play, and ] [ 17...a5!? is also possible, 18.c3 d5!? 681 A17 pu t t in g p re ssu re o n b 3 , a n d so 19.xa5 bxa5 and although the black queenside Malakhov,Vladimir 2672 structure is shattered he will have lots of Nikolenko,Oleg 2521 play down the b-file. ] City-ch Moscow RUS (3.1) 22.04.2003 18.c3 Preparing Qb2, and possibly b4. a5 [Tony Kosten] I am not sure this is entirely necessary, [ 18...g5 would justify Black's previous In many ways this game seems to me an move, e.g. 19.xg5 xg5 and if 20.b4 c4 ] 'ideal' Flank game: W hite allows Black the f6 Black has to blunt the bishop's centre and simply manoeuvers his pieces into 19.b2 st ro n g squ ares an d t hrea t en s f ro m a f a r, pressure on the diagonal, but this weakens Stopping ...Ng5 before countering in the centre, when the the kingside pawns. 20.h4 game explodes into sharp tactics, and White once and for all. a7 21.d4 White finally 22.e1 wins! 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 pla ys t h is ce n t ral t h ru st . b5 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 b6 7.g3 b7 White needs to preserve both his bishops to 8.g2 d5 9.cxd5 xd5 The most natural count on an advantage, and the knight an easily be driven b ack f rom b5 later. cxd4 reply, keeping the pawn structure solid, 23.xc8 xc8 24.a4 e4? [ 9...exd5 is the alternative. ] 10.c2 We have already examined the Black miscalculates the sharp tactics, the simple unusual [ 24...c3 i s b e s t , f o r a f t e r 25.xd4 [ 10.c4!? in Dydyshko,V-Dautov,R/Batumi B l a c k h a s t h e r e s o u r c e e5 26.d3 GEO 1999. ] (where else?) e4 27.d1 and providing 10...c5 11.0-0 Black can bring his h7-knight back into the [ 11.b3 c6 12.b2 could transpose, but game he should be OK. ] now Black played more aggressively: e8
h i s t r o u b l e s , 21...xa3+ 22.b1 e5 23.e3 and Black has the resource xe4! 24.xe4 f5 although White is slightly better after 25.xf5 xf5 26.xh6 ] 22.e3 d6 Menacing mate in two, starting 23...Qxa3+. 23.c5 a6 24.a4 a5? [ Black continues to play for an attack, but W h i t e g e t s i n f i r s t , b e t t e r 24...h8 although White is on top now. ] 25.xh6 Now Black is lost. b4 Can you find the forced mate? 26.xg7+!! xg7 27.h7+ h8 28.xg7+ xg7 29.g6+ h8 30.h5 [ 30.g1 amounts to the same. ] 30...xf2 [ 30...a3+ 31.c2 a2+ 32.c3 and the checks run out. ] 31.e4+ [ 31.f5+ is slightly quicker. ] 31...g7 32.g1+ f8 33.h6+ e7 34.g7+ f7 35.g5+ e8 36.g8+ [ 36.g8+ f8 37.h5+ e7 38.g7+ d8 39.h4+ is mate in a couple of moves. ] 1-0
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 25.axb5 b7 This is the point of Black's combo, the knight has no way to retreat and defend the g2-bishop as both h4 and e1 are occupied. However, it is now that the weakening of the black kingside comes into play. 26.h3! [ 26.e2 c2 27.d2 d3 28.d1 is a l s o p o s s i b le , a l t h o u g h s e e m s ve r y uncomfortable for White. ] 26...xf3 27.xe6+ h8 28.xd4 The simple solution, obviously White avoids the line [ 28.xc8 xc8 29.xd4 because of the retort g5! 30.hxg5 h3 when it seems that there is no defence to mate, but on 31.d8+ h7 32.c2+ f5 White wins by the astounding 33.g6+ xg6 34.c6+! xc6 35.bxc6 and Black has no way to stop the c-pa wn queen ing! The only try is f4 36.exf4 e6 but then 37.c7 xe1+ 38.g2 e4+ 39.h2 c2 40.c8 xf2+ 41.h3 f1+ 42.h4 h1+ 43.h3 and there is no perpetual! ] 28...e8 29.f5 f8 30.c2 White has an extra pawn and the bishop pair, so has every chance to win. f7 31.d3 h5 32.f4 e6? A tactical error, first [ 32...a8 is best, followed by ...Ne6, if possible. ] 33.xf3! White is on his toes. xf3 34.d7 c7 35.g6 e2 If the rook moves, then Q x c 7 w i n s . 36.xe8 This is good, but, objectively, [ 36.c3! must be even stronger. e.g. f8 37.xc7 d1+ 38.g2 xb3 39.c6 a4 40.d4 winning easily. ] 36...xe1+ 37.g2 xe8 38.xe8+ h7 39.e4+ h8 40.d4 b1 41.xb6 e4+ [ 41...xb3 42.xa5 is hopeless. ] 42.h2 f3 43.b8+ h7 44.f4 d5 45.b6 White's extra two pawns are more than sufficient to win the game. b5 46.e4+ f5 47.e6 1-0
682 Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar Naiditsch,Arkadij 4th YM Lausanne SUI (3.1) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2585 2574 21.09.2003
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 h6 5.g1 b6 6.c2 b7 7.a3 f8!? A novelty, the bishop returns to defend the g7pawn, Black hopes to gain a tempo over [ 7...e7 8.g5 hxg5 9.xg5 f8 ( w e e x a m i n e d 9...h5 in Najer, EPedersen,N) 10.d4 of Zvjaginsev,V-Adams, M/Moscow RUS 2001. ] 8.d4 In view of Black's last, White decides to ke ep g5 in re se rve . d6?! A little passive, Black aims for a solid set-up, but allows White to gain a lot of space. [ 8...c5!? ] 9.e4 bd7 10.e3 a6 11.0-0-0 I have to say that I like White's position here, he has a big centre, and has almost completed development. c5 Black strikes in the centre. 12.d5 e5 Black's play is logical in that he should be keeping the centre closed, but where is his counterplay? For his part, White can simply prepare the push of his g-pawn to open the black kingside. 13.h4 g6 [ 13...h5!? is also worthy of consideration, 14.g5 g4 and Black will exchange a piece. ] 14.g5 hxg5 15.hxg5 h5 The knight is temporarily safe, but without the support of the other black pieces will soon find itself driven from its post. 16.h3 g7 17.h1 Already threatening Bg4xh5. b5!? Black must h for some counterplay, as it is clear that he is in a bad way on the kingside. 18.cxb5 b6 19.bxa6 [ 19.f1! looks like a good move, too, Black's play for the pawn is significantly less than in the Benko. ] 19...xa6 20.g4 c4 Black has a couple of open files, and active pieces, in front of the white king, and in practical play, who knows? 21.xh5! At first sight White swaps a powerful bishop for a poor knight, but in fact, following Tartakower's dictum, it is not important which pieces have b een exchange d, but rathe r which pieces have been left - and a white knight will now come to f5 and dominate the 681
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g7-bishop. gxh5 22.h4 b6 [ 22...c8 controls f5, but after 23.dg1 White will continue Nf5, and after ...Bxf5 he will establish his other knight on e4. ] [ 22...xe3 23.fxe3 xg5? loses to 24.f5 f8 25.a4+ ] 23.f5 f8 24.dg1 Making room for the knight, although [ 24.h4!? b8 25.a4 seems strong, White will proceed with Rdh1 and capture the h-pawn. ] 24...b8 25.d1 Now b2 is solidly protected, and White can try to exploit his advantages on the other wing. a5 26.g6 f6 Ugly, but what else? 27.h3 c4 28.d2 b3+ 29.b1 a6 Black tries to generate some play, but short of a white blunder it is unlikely he will ge t ve ry f ar wit ho u t h is kin gsid e p iece s. 30.c3 xd2+ 31.xd2 e2 32.h3 [ 32.de3! immediately, is even simpler, the threat is to capture the 'bad' bishop on g7 and then play Nf5+ (that Tartakower dictum again!) ] 32...f1 33.c3 e2 34.de3! The same position is reached and White finds the right path. g4 There is nothing better. 35.c2 b5 36.b3 xf5 37.xf5 The culmination of W hite's strategy, the knight totally dominates the black bishop and kingside. b6 38.gg3 [ 38.xb6! xb6 39.a4 is very effective, Qd7 is the menace, and after b7 40.xd6 Blac k c ann ot parry b oth Qe 8 m ate an d Qd7. ] 38...h4 39.xb6 xb6 40.a4 White will force mate in a few moves. 1-0
5...b7 6.d3 d6 [ 6...d5!? is possible, 7.cxd5 exd5 8.e5 fd7 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 ( 10.b5!? ) 10...xe5 11.b5+ bd7 12.e2 e7 13.0-0 with a strong initiative for the pawn, Platonov,I-Grigorian,K/Leningrad 1971. ] 7.g2 e7 8.0-0 0-0 [ 8...a6 9.e1!? is another way to force f4, ( 9.b3 ) 9...c6 10.f4 0-0 11.g4!? d7 12.f3 e5 13.g5!? with interesting chance for White on the kingside, Dzindzichashvili, R-Browne,W/Tilburg 1978. ] 9.g5!? This looks ridiculous, but reminds me of various openings where the same idea is employed to free the f-pawn. [ 9.h3 is more 'standard', a6 10.b3 c6!? 11.b2 b5 12.e5!? dxe5 13.xe5 xg2 14.xg2 was nothing special for White in Portisch, L-Yudasin,L/Manila 1990. ] 9...fd7 Quite surprisingly, this position has been seen before, and there Black preferred [ 9...h6 which demonstrates the point of W h i t e ' s n i n t h : 10.h3 c6 11.f4 and the knight can always drop back to f2 to suppo rt the kin gsid e pa wn adva nce , Staricek,P-Flasik,R/SVK 1999. ] 10.h4!? White could also play his knight immediately to h3, but would prefer to provoke ...h6, which slightly weakens the black kingside. Black's idea was that after [ 10.f4?! he can play xg5 11.fxg5 c6 with great squares for his knights on d4 and e5. ] 10...h6 11.h3 c6 12.f4 d4 13.e3 b8 With the centre closed Black must look f o r cou nt e rp la y o n t he qu ee nside , a s h e cannot simply allow White to push his kingside and gain a strong attack. 14.h2 c6!? This allows a surprising tactic, perhaps 683 A17 [ 14...a6 was safer, planning ...b5. ] Morozevich,Alexander 2679 15.xd4! cxd4 16.b5 The knight forks a7 Lutz,Christopher 2631 and d4, and so Black's next is obligatory. 17.cxb5 It takes good judgement to It Biel SUI (4) 24.07.2003 xb5 realise that this position is good for W hite. [Tony Kosten] The b5-pawn hampers Black on the 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.g3 e6 4.f3 b6 queenside, and c6 may prove a useful staging Black aims to transpose into a Hedgehog. post for a white piece later in the game. f6 18.g1! White wants to force Black to defend 5.e4!? 19.a4 a6!? [ 5.g2 b7 would be more normal, but d4 by continuing Nf3. d7 White prefers to play a Hedgehog with the d- Opening the queenside, as the a-pawn is easily recuperated. 20.bxa6 a7 21.h3 pawn on d3, instead of d4. ] 682
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 This move controls g4, as the immediate [ 21.f3? allows g4+ 22.g1 e3 ] 21...xa6 22.f3 White obviously aimed for a position like this when he played his 15th move. Not only is he threatening the d4-pawn, but g4-5 is an annoying threat, which is why he wanted Black to play ...h6 earlier. b5 23.a5 a7 24.g4 h7 25.g5 hxg5 26.hxg5 g6 Black attempt s to defend his kingside, as his queenside counterplay does not amount to v e r y m u c h . 27.d2 b4 28.f5 Further breeching the black defences, it is at this point that he would like a light-squared bishop to defend the e6-pawn! b5 [ 28...e5 29.f6 d8 30.h1 will quickly force mate along the h-file, as the black king is all on its own. ] 29.a6! There is no need to give the a-pawn, as it might prove useful later-on. [ 29.f6 d8 30.f4 is strong, but after xa5 31.xa5 xa5 32.h4 Black may be able to sacrifice a piece for the f and g-pawns to stop the attack. ] 29...b6 30.fxg6 [ 30.f6 is not bad, once again. Psakhis once said to me that such a pawn 'is worth a rook!' ] 30...fxg6 31.xe6+ g7 32.d5!? Th is ke e ps a lid o n B lack's co un t erp la y, although [ 32.c4 d5!? 33.exd5 d6+ is probably nothing much. for Black ] 32...xa6 33.ac1 d7 34.g2!? White goes for gold. [ 34.xb4 is obviously quite good. ] 34...f4?! [ 34...h8 is t h e o n ly t ry, 35.g1 f8 but this only defers the end to a later date after 36.g3 planning Qh4, and Nxd4. ] 35.g3 g4 [ 35...f8 36.h4 h8 37.xd4 is also crushing. ] 36.e5!! A stunner! dxe5 [ 36...xg3 allows a nice mate: 37.f7+ g8 38.xe7+ f8 39.xg6# ] 37.f7+ h8 38.xh7+! xh7 39.h3+ It will be mate on h6. 1-0
684 Morozevich,Alexander Van Wely,Loek Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (1) [John Watson]
A17 2741 2679 15.01.2005
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.g3 e6 4.f3 b6 5.e4 b7 6.d3 It's hard to get anything out of this move. Black decides to set up a Hedgehog. c6 [ A more active approach would aim for ...d5, as in the line 6...e7 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 d5 ] 7.g2 d6 8.0-0 a6 [ Also possible is 8...e7 9.d4 e5!? ] 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c8 11.xc6 xc6 Black has already organized an ideal piece p l a c e m e n t . 12.e2 e7 13.d1 c7 14.f4 d7 15.ac1 b7 Versus Nd5. Now White has space but no real targets. 16.a4 c6 [ 16...c6 doesn't seem to allow anything b e t t e r t h a n 17.c3 when White has to switch plans. Now Black's position is typical of a solid Hedgehog with no real way for White to make progress. The play eventually simplifies. ] 17.b3 0-0 18.f1 c7 19.b4 e5 20.xe5 dxe5 21.c5!? bxc5 [ 21...b5! 22.b6 cd8 equalizes. ] 22.xc5 g5 23.c3 fd8 24.h4 d2 25.c4 b6 26.a3 c6 27.d3 h6 28.xe5 b5 29.xc8 xc8 30.e1 a4 31.b1 c2 32.a1 d4 33.f3 xe4 34.g5 xe1+ 35.xe1 g6 36.f1 c3 37.xa6 xa3 38.c1 a2 39.c4 b2 40.b5 a4 41.a1 b4 42.d3 f8 43.b6 h6 44.e4 c6 45.b1 xb1+ 46.xb1 f5 47.d2 c5 48.a2 f7 49.c4 e7 50.e5 ½-½
685 Najer,Evgeniy Pedersen,Ne 4th IECC Istanbul TUR (4) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2606 2508 02.06.2003
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 h6 5.g1 b6 6.c2!? [ 6.h4 is probably the main move here, see 683
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Van W ely,L-Timman,J, for example, but the ] [ 6.b3 of Zvjaginsev,V-Adams,M/Moscow RUS 2001, also has its adherents. ] 6...b7 7.a3 e7 8.g5 White opens the gfile. [ 8.h4?! seems erroneous now, as Black can gain a strong grip on d4 by xf3! 9.exf3 c5 10.f4 c6 as White now played the gr o v e l li n g 11.e2 Wallace,J-Johansen,D/ Melbourne AUS 2002. ] 8...hxg5 9.xg5 h5 Aggressive, but there is something to be said for Adams' move [ 9...f8 to keep g7 protected, 10.d4 c6 11.d5 d4 12.d1 c5 13.e3 f5 with chances to both sides, Zvjaginsev,VAdams,M/Moscow RUS 2001. ] 10.d4 c5!? Possibly a prepared innovation, [ 10...c6 11.f3 f6 12.d3 a5 1/2-1/2 Guidarelli,L-Sakelsek,T/Opatija CRO 2003, doesn't tell us too much, but level seems a fair assessment, as Black is threatening ...Bxf3 followed by ...Nb3xd4. ] 11.d5 Shutting down the bishop's diagonal, and gaining space. a6 12.d2 b8 13.h4 White is ready to castle long and then get on with his attack, and meanwhile Black is far from solving the problem of his monarch. e5!? 14.0-0-0 c7? This gets Black into some trouble, but it was not easy to find a good alternative, [ 14...exd5!? 15.f3!? ( 15.cxd5 is a ls o go o d) 15...e6 16.cxd5 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.e4 b7 19.c4 with a powerful initiative. ] 15.f4! The most direct, although the simple [ 15.f3 f5 16.xf5 exf5 17.h3 g6 18.e4 is also fairly convincing. ] 15...xf4 16.f3 f6 17.e4 h6 [ 17...f5 18.g5 also wins the knight. ] 18.g4 The knight is pinned, attacked, and cannot be defended. exd5 19.xf4 e6 [ 19...h5 i s n o b e t t e r : 20.g5! xg5 21.d6+ e7 22.xg5 is crushing. ] 20.f2 The only move, defending the rook, but sufficient. 0-0-0 21.xg7 xh4 22.xh4 xh4 23.e3 f6 24.g1 The white pawn structure is a bit ragged, but his extra piece is a match-winner. e6 25.g3 h5 26.cxd5 xd5? This makes things even worse. [ 26...c7 ]
27.xd5 xd5 28.a6+ b7 29.e4 Attacking both the queen and the check on d6. f3 30.d6+ b8 31.xb7+ 1-0
686 Nakamura,Hikaru Sokolov,Andrei 16th ORDIX Open rapid (6) [Jonathan Rowson]
A17 2710 2570 02.08.2009
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4!? xc3 Another move I would hesitate to play, but many strong players, not least Michael A d a m s , s e e m t o e n d o r s e i t . 5.bxc3 Probably best. Lunging with the g-pawn feels less purposeful when there is little tension in the centre. [ 5.dxc3 d6 6.g5 fd7 7.e3 e7 8.g2 e5 9.c2 c6 10.h4 b6 11.b3 g6 12.d2 f5 13.e4 e6 14.a4 d7 15.h5 0-0-0 16.0-0-0 b8 17.h4 e7 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.dh1 xh4 20.xh4 c6 21.f1 d5 With a clear advantage to Black was vintage Mickey in Cornette, M -Adams, M France 2003 ] 5...d6 6.g5 fd7 7.g2 [ 7.d4 leaves c4 weak, and turns the position into some sort of strange Nimzo Indian. b6 8.e4 b7 9.d3 c6 10.e3 e7 11.d2 e5 12.b1 0-0 13.h5 f6 14.g6 hxg6 15.xg6 f7 16.g3 f5! was better for Black in Gurevich, M -Istratescu, A) Antalya 2004 ] 7...c6 8.d3! Positionally astute. It is better to leave the d4-h8 and e3-a7 diagonals free for the bishop, and the d4 square free for the knight. e5 9.h4 b6 10.e3 e7 11.d2 d7 12.a4 [ 12.h5!? Begs the question of how Black will connect his rooks, and White can continue to build with Rg1 and Bf3 if necessary. ] 12...a5 13.b3 c6 14.xa5 xg2 15.g1 [ 15.h2 c6 16.xc6 bxc6 17.a5 d7 18.a4 c5 19.c6 0-0 20.xc7 e4 21.d4 appears to be better for White, but in rapid games strong players much prefer to keep the initiative. ] 15...h3 16.c5 684
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 16.xb7 looks simpler and better. c5 17.a5 0-0 however, does leave White's extra pawn looking only marginally relevant. ] 16...d5 17.xb7 xe3 18.fxe3 dxc5 19.b3 0-0 20.a3 ab8 21.xc5 [ 21.xc5! looks better. ] 21...f5 22.b3 [ 22.a2+ f7 23.c4 The knight on c5 is strong and should probably stay there. ] 22...f7 23.d2 As I mentioned, Nakamura has a reputation for uncompromising chess but while looking at his recent wins I noticed that many of them featured a fairly complex opening struggle, followed by grabbing a pawn, and then slowly absorbing the pressure and winning the ending! That said, Black has a very active position here, and the assessment is f ar f rom clea r. h5 24.h1 xh4+ 25.d1 g3 26.c5 g4 [ 26...e4!? ] 27.c2 xe2 28.d5+ h8 29.e6 xd3+! 30.xd3 fd8+ 31.c4 xd2? A forgivable blunder in a rapid game, but in fact [ 31...g2! appears to be winning quite easily. ] 32.xf5 h2 33.af1 h4+ 34.c5 g8 35.xh2 xh2 36.b1 e4?! Unnecessary [ 36...g3! leaves Black at least ok. ] 37.xe4 d6+ 38.c4 a6+ 39.b3 b6+ 40.a2 c5 41.h1! g6 42.d4+ xd4 43.cxd4 White now has a slightly better ending, perhaps clearly better, but I imagine Black lost on time rather than resigned. 1-0
687 Pelletier,Yannick Skalkotas,Nikolaos Acropolis GM Open (1) [John Watson]
A17 2604 2278 06.03.2005
This game between two respected grandmasters indicates how White can gain an advantage in the 1c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4 line, although it's mainly Black's system that is suspect. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.b3 [ 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 b6
has been played in hundreds of games. White can get only a very small advantage, if any. ] [ 4.g4!? is the newer and most entertaining move, played by top players in order to a vo id t h e ra t h e r d u ll o ld lin e s (in wh a t position ISN'T W hite playing g4 ?) Tony dealt with this in the game Bareev-Naiditsch, Rethymnon GRE 2003. The standard a n s w e r h a s b e c o m e h6 with a recent example being 5.g1 b6 6.c2 b7 7.a3 e7 8.e4 ( 8.g5 hxg5 9.xg5 ) 8...d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.e5 e4 11.b5+ c6 12.e2 g5 13.d4 xf3+ 14.xf3 Krasenkov-Naiditsch, Antalya 2004. ] 4...c6!? Playing for development first. [ 4...a5! is a good alternative. A game just played went 5.g3 d6 6.g2 e5 7.a3 c5! 8.d3 h6 9.0-0 0-0 10.c2 c6 an d B lack wa s a t le a st equ al, Ars ovic Fedorchuk, Sozina 2005. ] 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 d5!? It's a bit antipositional to play on the light squares and cede the long diagonal. [ 6...d6 intending ...e5 has been played with fair success. ] 7.e3 0-0 8.b4! The most testing move. [ 8.d4 is the solid alternative. Then a5! 9.b3 d7 would be a typical treatment, with White retaining just a formal edge after something like 10.d3 a4! 11.b4 dxc4 12.xc4 a7 13.0-0 b5 14.b2 c6 15.d2 Black's light square treatment characterises the plan following from 6...d5. ] 8...e5!? A dynamic sacrificial idea that tries to justify Black's setup. It is probably too much to ask of the position. Alternatively, Black has: [ (a) 8...e4 9.c2 g5!? 10.b2 ( or 10.xg5 -- Bareev ) 10...d7 11.cxd5 xf3+ ( 11...exd5 12.xg5 xg5 13.b5 ) 12.gxf3 exd5 13.g1 and White was clearly better in Bareev-Rozentalis, Pula 1997. ] [ (b) 8...e8 preparing ...e5, is the other ma in t ry a n d p ro b a b ly b e st , a lt h o u gh I prefer White after 9.b5 e7 10.b2 c6 ( 10...g6!? ) 11.g4! ] 9.b5!? [ It's probably more advantageous if seemingly risky to grab the pawn by 9.xe5! xe5 10.xe5 e8 11.d4! , for example, ( 11.c3? d4! 12.d3 e4! 13.b2 f6 685
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a n d W h it e i s in t r o u b le .; 11.b2!? ) 11...e4?! ( 11...f5 12.b2 e4 13.c3 d4 14.b3 ) 12.c3 d4 13.c2 dxe3 14.dxe3 f5 15.d3 xc4 16.xc4 xd3 17.d4 and Black lacks compensation. P e l l e t i e r p l a ys f o r a c e r t a i n b u t s m a l l advantage. ] [ On the other hand, 9.cxd5 xd5 10.c2 e8 is quite fun for Black: 11.d3 g4 ( or 11...f5!? 12.e4 d4 ) 12.e2 a5!? 13.b5 a7 14.b1 d7 and Black will play for a properly timed ...c6. ] 9...e4 10.bxc6 exf3 11.gxf3 d4 [ Or 11...bxc6 12.b2 f5 13.g1! g6 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.c6! and White's two b i s h o p s c o m e a l i v e : b8 ( 15...e8 16.d4! ) 16.e5 e8 17.c3 etc. ] 12.a5!? d6! [ 12...bxc6 13.b2 dxe3 14.dxe3 has the ideas of Rg1 and Rd1 again the bishops will rule the board. ] 13.b2 e8 14.0-0-0!? Good, although [ 14.g1! was very strong: e5!? ( 14...b6 15.g5 g6 16.e2 ) 15.b4! xc6 16.xd4 ] 14...e5!? [ 14...h6 15.xd4 b6 16.c3! ( 16.a4 f5 ) 16...xc6 17.xf6 xf6 18.xf6 gxf6 19.d4 will win in the long run. ] 15.b4! xc6 16.xd4 f5 [ 16...e6 17.e2 ] 17.g1 xf3 18.g2 xf2 19.df1 h4 20.e7! e6?? [ 20...xf1+ 21.xf1 was pretty bad anyway. ] 21.xf5 xf5 22.xb7 b8 23.xf6 xc4+ 24.c3 g6 25.e5 1-0
688 Ponomariov,Ruslan Motylev,Alexander WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (2.2) [John Watson]
A17 2704 2632 01.12.2005
Another effective opening sequence for White, wh o c o m e s o u t wit h a co n s id e ra b le a n d probably winning advantage. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g3 xc3 5.bxc3 b6 6.g2 b7 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 d6
[ Black can also post his pieces more actively by 8...c5 9.e4 c6 , not fearing 10.e5!? e8 11.e1 f6 12.d4 c8 ] 9.e4 bd7 10.h4 [ I tend to think that these positions should be better for White, since his centre is safe and he has two bishops. Another idea is to be able to meet ... d5 by e5 by, say, Qe2. Then Nh4 and f4 could follow. 10.e2 e7 11.h4 ] 10...d5?! [ 10...e5 11.f4 g6 12.f3 ] 11.exd5 exd5 12.f5! e8 13.g5 White threatens d5 and has won the opening struggle. e5!? [ 13...h6 14.h4! intends Qd2 with attack (cxd5 is a lso b e th rea t en e d ), e. g. , h7 15.d2 e5 16.g4 e8 17.f4! g5 18.xg5 ] 14.g4 h6 15.h4 c8 (with the idea ...dxc4) 16.e1! With the idea Ne7+ [ The alternative 16.f3!? stops ...dxc4 and threatens Nxh6+ still, I prefer the game move. ] 16...xe1+ 17.xe1 f8 18.xf6 White is better after several moves, e.g., [ 18.e7+ h8 19.xd5 also gains the advantage, since xd5 20.cxd5 xg4 fails to 21.d6 ] 18...xf6 19.e5! With the ideas Nxh6+ and Qxc7. xg4 20.xc7 b8 21.g3!? This should work out. On the other hand, [ 21.xb8+ xb8 22.cxd5 wins a (passed) pawn for virtually nothing. ] 21...xg3 22.hxg3 [ Similar is 22.fxg3! , and it leaves the option of h3 open: d8 23.e7+! ( 23.xd5 xd5 24.e7+ f8 25.xd5 b5! ) 23...f8 24.xd5 b5 25.e1 bxc4 26.dxc4 and the pawn is significant because Black's pieces are stuck (h3 is a threat). ] 22...d8 23.cxd5? After playing so well and securing a won game, Ponomariev slips up. Once again [ 23.e7+ f8 24.xd5 was strong, one cute line going e5 25.d4 xc4 26.xb6! xg2 27.xc4 ] [ or 23.xd5 xd5 24.e7+ f8 25.xd5 b5 26.e1 ] 23...g6 24.e7+ f8 25.c6 [ 25.e1 was the last chance but Black 686
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 holds after e8 26.d6 xg2 27.xg2 d8 28.d5 xd6 29.c4 ] 25...xc6 26.dxc6 xd3 27.c4 e7 28.d5 d6 29.e1 g5 30.e8 ½-½
689 Savchenko,Boris Goganov,Aleksey 64th ch-HL Taganrog RUS (1) [Nigel Davies]
A17 2630 2480 15.06.2011
1.c4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4!? An enterprising approach to a line which is often characterised by lengthy middle game manoeuvres. It's interesting how such moves seem to have become more popular as former 1.e4 players have switched over to Flank Openings in an attempt to get out of well studied lines. h6 [ I s u s p e c t t h a t t h e co ld b l o o d e d 4...0-0 is Black's best here. ] 5.a3 [ Although this has been played before it is less popular than 5.g1 , for example b6 6.h4 ( 6.c2 b7 7.a3 e7 8.g5 hxg5 9.xg5 f8 10.d4 c6 11.d5 d4 12.d1 c5 13.e3 f5 14.e4 d4 wa s v e r y o r i g i n a l b u t f i n e f o r B l a c k i n Zvjaginsev, V (2640)-Adams, M (2731)/ Moscow 2001) 6...b7 7.g5 hxg5 8.hxg5 e4 9.c2 xc3 10.dxc3 d6 11.e3 c6 12.0-0-0 e7 13.g2 0-0-0 14.d4 xd4 15.xb7+ xb7 16.cxd4 c6 1/2-1/2 was Stella, A-Naumkin, I/Forni di Sopra ITA 2011, again a highly original g a m e b u t wi t h a s u r p r i s i n g l y p e a c e f u l outcome in the end. ] 5...xc3 6.dxc3 b6 7.a4 a5 8.g1 b7 9.d4 e4 10.g2 h4?! This doesn't look very good for Black but Black might have been following a previous Savchenko game. It's also not easy to find great moves for him here, for example: [ a) 10...a6 11.b5 ac5 12.e3 looks quite awkward. ] [ b) 10...0-0 is quite dangerous with White's g-pawn creating some of the preconditions for an attack, for example 11.c2 d5 12.g5 hxg5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.xe4 dxe4
15.xg5 c8 16.f6 is terrific for White. ] 11.xe4 xe4 12.f4 a6 13.b5 d6? It's quite curious that this serious error should be the deviation from Savchenko's previous game in this line. Was it faulty preparation, no preparation or forgetfulness? In any case the position is very good for White now. [ Black is better off playing 13...0-0 but after 14.xc7 xc7 15.xc7 d5 16.g3 f6 17.f3 h7 18.cxd5 exd5 19.f2 Black was a pawn down for very little in Savchenko, B (2638)-Guliev, L (2426)/Baku 2009. ] 14.d4 g6? Another mistake. [ 14...b7 15.xg7 0-0-0 was the best chance. ] 15.xc7+! xc7 16.xd6 d8 [ After 16...a6 17.c6+ e7 18.d6+ f6 19.d7 White wins on the spot, so Black has to go two pawns down. ] 17.c6+ d7 18.xc7 c2 19.xb6 That's pawn number three! 0-0! 20.b5 e7 21.c1 h7 22.g5 hxg5 23.xg5 f6 24.h6 f7 25.d1 d8 26.c5 xd1+ 27.xd1 f5 28.c1 h7 29.e3 c7 Nobody ever won a game by resigning, and I guess that White has to be a bit careful here. 30.d1 e5 31.c4 e4 32.d6 d5 33.d3+ f5 34.f4 f6 35.xd5 exd5 36.xf6 gxf6 37.b4 g8 38.b5 f8 39.b6 1-0
690 Shchekachev,Andrei Prasad,Devaki V Metz Open FRA (5) [Carsten Hansen]
A17 2530 2413 18.04.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 b6 5.e4 xc3 [ 5...b7 6.e5 A) 6...xc3 7.dxc3 g8 8.e2 e7 9.h4 d5 10.h5 h6 11.f4 d7 12.0-0-0 V. Gavrikov-L.Couso, Gothenburg 2001; B) 6...g8 7.d4 e7 8.e3 d5 9.a4+ ( 9.c5!? bc6 10.a3 xc3+ 11.xc3 ) 9...bc6 10.cxd5 xd5 11.b5 d7 12.c2 a6 13.d3 J.Tisdall-R.Fyllingen, Oslo 2006; 687
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 C) 6...g4 7.d4! ( 7.h3 h6 8.a3 xc3 9.dxc3 f5 10.g1 xf3 11.gxf3 c6 Comp Chessica-G.Ligterink, The Hague 1996; 7.a3 xc3 8.xc3 f5 9.exf6 xf6 10.xf6 xf6 11.e2 , and White may h a ve a t in y p u ll t h a n k s t o t h e p a i r o f b i s h o p s a n d t h e a b i l i t y t o d e ve l o p a space advantage, A.Moen-K.Mork, Trondheim 2004) 7...c5 8.a3 xc3+ ( Or 8...a5 9.h3 (Chuchelov) h6 10.g5 xc3+ 11.xc3 cxd4 12.xd4 f5 13.c3 c7 14.e2 ) 9.xc3 c7 10.h3 h6 ( 10...cxd4 11.xd4 xf3 12.hxg4 b7 13.f4 c6 14.e3 according to Chuchelov) 11.xh6 gxh6 12.d5! exd5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.0-0-0 xf3 ( On 14...e6 Chuchelov gives 15.d6 c6 16.a6 ) 15.xf3 c6 V.Chuchelov-G.Dorenberg, Gent 2000, a n d h e r e C h u c h e l o v g i v e s 16.f6! with a clear advantage for White, but it is probably closer to a winning advantage, e. g. xe5 17.xe5+ xe5 18.e1 f6 19.f4 d6 20.b5+ f7 21.fxe5 fxe5 22.c6 ad8 23.d5+ ] 6.xc3!? [ 6.bxc3 e5 ( 6...d6 7.d4 b7 8.d3 bd7 9.0-0 e5 10.h4 g6 11.f4 h5 12.f2 xf4 13.xf4 exf4 14.xf4 e7 15.f3 0-0-0 16.ae1 A.Ramirez-V.Jeremic, ICC 2006 ) 7.e2 d6 8.d3 c6 9.d2 e7 10.f1 g6 11.h4 h6 12.h5 e7 13.e3 c6 14.a3 c7 15.d4 0-0 16.0-0 c5= V.Chekhov-A.Bagheri, Moscow 2000 ] [ Chuchelov analyses the third option 6.dxc3!? e5! ( 6...d6 7.e5 dxe5 8.xe5 b7 9.g5 ) 7.xe5 ( 7.d3 d6 8.h3 bd7 9.b4 0-0 10.0-0 e8=; 7.g5 d6 8.0-0-0 bd7 ) 7...e7 8.d3 ( C h u c h e l o v d o e s n ' t m e n t i o n 8.f4!? but it may well be worth a try, e.g. 0-0 9.f3 a6 10.g4 xg4 11.fxg4 h4+ 12.g3 xg4 13.d3 e6 14.e5 ) 8...xe4+ 9.e2 d6 10.xe4+ xe4 11.f4 b7 12.d5 a6 13.f3 ec5 14.b4 e6 15.d3 0-0 16.0-0 fe8= ] 6...xe4 [ The two tested alternatives favour White: 6...b7 7.e5 g8 8.d4 c5 9.e3 ( 9.dxc5!? bxc5 10.e2 ) 9...xf3 10.gxf3 cxd4 11.xd4 c6 12.d1 ge7
13.d3?! ( 13.e3 0-0 14.g1 ) 13...g6 14.e4 c8 R.Kipker-I.Varasdy, Dortmund 1988 ] [ 6...0-0 7.e5 e4 8.c2 g5 9.xg5 xg5 10.d4 e7? ( 10...h4 11.e3 b7 12.0-0-0 ) 11.d3 ( 11.e4 c6 12.d3 g6 13.0-0 ) 11...f5? ( 11...h4!? ) 12.exf6 xf6 13.xh7+ f7 14.e4+- B.Ciglic-B. Saxer, Bled 1998 ] [ However, the untried 6...d6 looks more solid, and could well be Black's best, e.g. 7.d3 0-0 8.e2 c5 according to Chuchelov. ] 7.xg7 f6 8.xf6 xf6 9.d4!? [ This is the first new move, but it appears a rather strong one. The previous game in this line saw White try 9.g3 b7 10.g2 c6 11.0-0 b4 12.e1 ( White tries to keep the dark-squared bishop in the hope that he can take advantage of the somewhat weakened dark squares in Black's position. The alternative allows Black more or less equalise: 12.d4 d3 13.d1 xc1 14.axc1 g8 15.e5 xg2 16.xg2 d6 , and White's advantage, if you can call it that, is negligible.) 12...xg2 13.xg2 c5 ( Here Black can consider 13...e7 , e. g. 14.b3 d5 15.b2 dxc4 16.bxc4 c5 and Black shouldn't be worse) 14.b3 d5 15.b2 d4 16.d3 e5 17.c1 g8 18.d2 c6 19.f3 0-0-0 20.g5 g7 M. Tyrtania-P.Cladouras, 2.Bundesliga 1996, and now 21.ae1 leaves White with a better game, e.g. dg8 22.f3 e8 23.h4 ] 9...b7 10.f4 d6 [ Trying to wreck White's pawn structure with 10...xf3 leaves White with the pair of bishops and space advantage 11.gxf3 d6 12.0-0-0 c6 13.d5 and White opens the position, allowing him to take advantage of his pair of bishops ] 11.0-0-0 bd7 12.g5 My computer engine doesn't like this move at all, but I must admit that I find it to be a fine positional idea. Black now has to decide whether he wants to keep his king in the centre to protect the f7-pawn or kick the knight away with ...h7-h6, which leave Black with the task of protecting it on h6 or pushing it further forward and weakening the dark squares. I'm not entirely sure which choice is the better for Black h6 688
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 12...e7 13.f3 ag8 14.b1 d5 ( 14...e5 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.e1 f8 17.d2 ) 15.g1 a6 16.b3 ] 13.h3 0-0-0 14.f3 dg8 [ Or 14...e5 15.e3!? ( 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.e3 e8! 17.d3 d6 18.b1 e4! 19.fxe4 e5 is good for Black) 15...c5 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.e2 with a structural advantage for White ] 15.e3! c5 16.d2! [ Another possibility is 16.dxc5 dxc5 17.g1 e5 18.b1 g6 ( 18...a6 19.b3 ) 19.d3 h4 20.d2 g7 21.f2!? hg8 22.xh6 xg2 23.gxg2 xg2 24.g5 , and White has the better chances. In the game continuation, W hite prefers to keep the game fluent and somewhat closed until White has all of his guns pointing where he wants them to. This is the modern way of exploiting the pair of bishops. ] 16...g7 17.f2 c7 [ 17...e5 18.d5! ( White doesn't achieve anything after 18.dxc5 dxc5 19.d3 h5 20.e1 h4 21.d3 h3 22.g3 e4 23.fxe4 xe4 24.xe4 xe4 25.f1 e5= ) 18...b8 19.g4 ( 19.g3 b5 20.b3 h5 21.d3 ) 19...b5 20.b3 and White controls the game. ] 18.d1 g8?! [ 18...cxd4 19.xd4 hg8 20.c3 a6 21.b1 ] 19.c3 a6 20.d3 e7 21.hd1 f5 22.f1! c8 23.e2 h5 24.a3 h4 25.b4!? [ 25.f4!? e8 26.f2 cxd4 27.xd4 e5 28.d5+ xd5 29.xd5 h8 30.b4 h6 31.b2 e7 32.5d2 f4 33.d3 h3 34.g4 fxg3 35.xg3 f6 36.e4 f5 37.f2 g2 38.c3 ] 25...e5?! [ 25...cxd4 26.xd4 g6 ] 26.dxe5 dxe5 27.f4 e4 28.c3 h6 29.d5+ b8 30.f2 cxb4 [ 30...hh7 31.e3 f7 32.c2 ] 31.axb4 f8? [ 31...f7 32.c5 bxc5 33.bxc5 ] 32.xb6!+- xb6 33.d8+ c8 34.xf8 a5 35.b5 [ 35.dd8!? c7 36.xf5 axb4 37.b5 b7 38.xb4+- ] 35...c7 36.c5 a4 37.c6 c3 38.dd8 1-0
691 Speelman,Jonathan S Gormally,Daniel Premier Hastings ENG (1) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2623 2499 29.12.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.e3!? [ Something of a speciality of Speelman's, he hopes to be able to transpose into a favourable Nimzo, 4.c2 is the standard riposte here, to play 5 a3 and recapture on c3 with the queen. ] 4...0-0 5.e2 c5 [ Actually, I have had this position as Black a g a i n s t J o n s e ve r a l t i m e s , a n d i n t h e English Championships 1991 (was this the one and only time this event was held?) one of our games continued: 5...b6 6.0-0 b7 7.a3 xc3 8.bxc3 d6 9.d3 (one advantage of delaying the d-pawn is this possibility) bd7 10.e4 h8 11.e1 e5 12.g3 g8 13.h4 e7 14.g4 f6 15.h3 c8 16.g2 a6 17.a4 b7 which is about equal. ] 6.a4!? [ A new move! The knight goes to a 'silly' square, but White avoids the doubling of his pawns, and threatens to win the c5-pawn. 6.0-0 xc3 7.dxc3 b6 8.d3 b7 9.e2 e4 10.d1 c6 didn't give White a lot in Kortschnoi,V-Bronstein,D/ Leningrad 1960/ URSS-ch. ] 6...d6 7.a3 a5 8.0-0 c7 9.b4 b6 10.c3 c6 11.d4!? [ A positional 'Benko-like' pawn sac to open t h e q u e e n s i d e , t h e p r e p a r a t o r y 11.b1 would allow Black to play d5 ] 11...cxb4 12.axb4 xb4 13.a4 a5 14.a3 d7 15.b3 c6!? [ Black decides to return the pawn for some si m p li f ic a t io n , 15...a6 16.fb1 c6 is quit e viab le, alt hou gh W hit e h as f ull compensation. ] 16.xb4 axb4 17.xb4 a5 18.b5 xb5 19.cxb5 xa1 20.xa1 d5 Freeing the bishop. 21.c1 d6 22.c3 b8 23.d3 h6 24.c6 d8 25.g3 f8! 26.g2 e7 27.c3 f8 28.h3 b7 29.c6 b8 There are no weaknesses in the black position. 30.c3 ½-½ 689
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 692 Topalov,Veselin Kramnik,Vladimir Sparkassen Cat XXI (1) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2711 2802 12.07.2001
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.b3 [ Putting the question to the bishop. 4.g4!? has been considered in some detail o n these pages, whilst ] [ 4.c2 is the main line. ] 4...c5 5.g3 c6 6.a3 a5 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 d5 Black expands in the centre. 9.d3 h6 [ The best move, in my opinion, guarding against the possibility of Bg5, pressurising the d-pawn. 9...d4!? is known to be dodgy: 10.a4 b6? ( 10...d7 is better, but even so, the c-pawn is exposed, and the darksquared bishop not particularly well-placed) 11.e5 xe5 12.xa8 with some advantage, Speelman,J-Seirawan,J Saint John m/1 1988, a s d7 13.g2 e8 c a n b e m e t b y 14.a2 xa4 15.b4 regaining the piece. ] [ 9...xc3!? is a reasonable alternative, conceding the bishops but forming a strong centre: 10.xc3 d4 11.c2 e5 12.d2 e8 13.b4 Granda Zuniga, J-Urday,H/Las Palmas 1989. ] 10.f4 [ A natural developing move, controlling e5. A t t a c k in g t h e c 5 -p a wn is , o n c e a ga i n , possible: 10.a4 b6 11.f4 d7 ( 11...e8 would transpose) 12.c3 xc3 13.xc3 d4 14.c2 e8 planning ... e5, but... 15.e5 xe5 16.xe5 g4 ( White wins the exchange anyway, 16...c8!? 17.b7 ) 17.xa8 xa8 18.f4 e5 19.c1 f5 20.f3 e3 21.xe3 dxe3 22.h1 c6 with some compensation for the exchange, Ehlvest,J-Romanishin,O/ Terrassa 1991. ] 10...e8 11.a4 [ A new move, although, as we have seen, this is a standard idea in this line. P r e v i o u s l y , 11.e5 w a s p l a y e d , xe5 12.xe5 , Filippov,V-Kiriakov,P/Krasnoiarsk 1998, when g4!? 13.f4 d4 14.e4 e5 15.c1 b6 is interesting. ] 11...b6 12.e5 d7! Black fights for control of e5. 13.e3
[ There was a menace of ...Nd4 and ... bxa4 t o d e a l wit h , a n d t a k in g t h e b is h o p b y 13.xd7 allows Black a nice position after xd7 14.c3 ad8 ] 13...g5! The bishop has nowhere to go, so the following moves are forced: 14.xc6 xc6 15.e5 g4 16.c3 xc3 17.xc3 dxc4 18.dxc4 xg2 19.xg2 e7 After the e xc h a n g e s , a l e ve l p o s it i o n h a s a r is e n . 20.e4?! [ Luring Black's pawns forward, but 20.h3 e5 21.ad1 was safer. ] 20...f5 21.h3 e5 22.c3 d7 23.d2 ad8 24.ad1 f6 25.f3 xd1 26.xd1 e5 White has only succeeded in giving Black a so l i d sp a c e a d va n t a g e o n t h e k in g s i d e . 27.c2 e4 28.g1 d8 29.e2 xd1! 30.xd1 d7 Black can do little without control of the d-file, and his advanced pawns give him real winning chances in the ensuing knight endgame. 31.xd7 xd7 32.b3 e5 33.c3 f7 34.g4! White cannot afford to hang around, and had obviously foreseen this resource beforehand. fxg4 [ Black counts on the advantage of an outside passed pawn, almost as effective in kn i g h t e n d g a m e s a s i n ki n g a n d p a wn endgames. 34...e6 35.gxf5+ xf5 36.b5 c6 also maintained an edge. ] 35.hxg4 xg4 36.xe4 e6 37.c3?! [ 37.g3 e5 38.f4 gxf4+ 39.exf4 c6 40.g4 appears stronger, with drawing chances. ] 37...e5 38.f4 gxf4 39.exf4 c6 40.b5 h5 41.g3 a5 42.c7+ f5 43.d5 d4 Black will simply swap his h-pawn for the fpawn, when his king will be the first to reach the queenside. 44.h4 [ 44.xb6 xb3 45.d7 h4+! 46.xh4 xf4 is also hopeless. ] 44...xb3 45.xh5 d2 46.xb6 xf4 47.a4 e4 0-1
690
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 693 Topalov,Veselin Tiviakov,Sergei Corus Wijk aan Zee NED (6) [Tony Kosten]
A17 694 2718 Tratar,Marko 2597 Kosten,Anthony C 20.01.2001 Austrian 1 Bundesliga (11) [Carsten Hansen]
1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 b7 4.g2 e6 5.0-0 e7 6.c3 0-0 [ 6...c5 at some point would bring play to a Hedgehog, whereas Black seems happy to allow White to play d4 unchallenged, when a Queen's Indian would result. ] 7.e1 e4 [ Nowadays this is preferred to the less flexible 7...d5 which allows White some advantage. ] 8.xe4 xe4 9.d3 b7 10.d4 [ 10.e4 is the other try, c5 11.d4 cxd4 12.xd4 c6 13.e3 c8 14.c1 a6 Black has sufficient space for his pieces, Chuchelov,V-Tiviakov,S/Haarlem 1999. ] 10...e4 The bishop returns, but otherwise White will play e4 with a full centre. 11.h4 [ The current favourite, fighting for the e4square, at the expense of exchanging a further pair of pieces. 11.d5 f6 12.d2 xg2 13.xg2 d6 14.e4 d7 gained little, Portisch,L-Karpov,A/Milan 1975. ] 11...xg2 12.xg2 d5 Again to stop e4. 13.cxd5 [ T o p a l o v ' s n e w m o v e , 13.a4 dxc4 14.xc4 c5 15.dxc5 xc5 16.e3 d7 dra w, S avch en ko ,S -T ivia ko v, S/ Ja ka rt a 1997. ] 13...xd5 [ 13...exd5 is worse, Black will be obliged to play ...c5 later, when weak hanging pawns will result. ] 14.e4 d7 15.f4 d8 16.e3 c6 Black gains counterplay against the d-pawn. 17.e2 f6 18.e5 e7 19.a3 f8 20.c2 e7 21.g5 dc8 22.xe7 The knight c a n n o t b e a l l o we d t o s e t t l e o n d 5 . xe7 23.ad1 c5 24.b3 [ 24.dxc5 e8 regains the pawn. ] 24...cxd4 25.xd4 c7 26.f4 ½-½
A17 2507 2511 16.03.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 d6 7.b4 e5 8.b2 a5 9.e3 [ 9.g3 was played in Kramnik-Ivanchuk, Monaco 2007 - see the PGN archives for this imaginative game by Ivanchuk. ] 9...c6!? [ This already appears to be a new move. The alternatives have proven to be better f o r W h i t e : A ) 9...bd7 10.e2 b6 11.c2 g4 12.0-0 e8 13.d3 d7 14.fd1 a4 15.c3 1-0 Furman, SKholmov, R/Baku 1972/URS-ch (39) ] [ B) 9...axb4 10.axb4 xa1+ 11.xa1 g4 12.d3 ( 12.e2 e4 13.d4 xe2 14.xe2 c6 15.0-0 Chuchelov, V-Taimanov, M/ Fuerth 1999) 12...xf3 13.gxf3 c6 14.b5 e7 15.d4 Ortega, L-Zelcic, R/Montecatini Terme 1997 ] [ C) 9...g4 10.h3 h5 11.d3 axb4 12.axb4 xa1+ 13.xa1 bd7 14.e2 e7 15.0-0 a8 16.b2 Ruck, R-Kristjansson, S/Crete GRE 2007 ] 10.d3 [ 10.b5 e7 11.d3 d7 transposes to our main game, but avoids Black's alternative on his next move. ] 10...d7 [ If Black wanted to stick to the style of the Kramnik-Ivanchuk game from last year, he could consider 10...axb4 11.axb4 xa1+ 12.xa1 , and now b5!? 13.e2 ( 13.cxb5 a7 is fine for Black) 13...d7 14.0-0 b8 15.b1 b7 with an interesting position and chances to both sides ] 11.b5 e7 12.g3 [ This is very ambitious and not particularly obvio us. In st ea d 12.e2 g6 13.0-0 looks solid and good. Black's problem is his lack of active counterplay such as we saw in Gelfand-Eljanov in last month's update. ] 12...c8 13.h3 g6 [ Black has to be a little careful. For instance 13...c6 is premature, e.g. 14.c5 ed5 15.c1 e4 16.d2 exd3 17.cxd6 ] 691
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.g2 [ 14.g4!? ] 14...e8 15.h4 [ 15.g4 h6 16.g1 c6 17.a4 h7 ] 15...h6 16.d2 c6!? 17.bxc6 bxc6!? [ Black can also take back with the bishop, and although his chances after 17...xc6 18.e4 d7 are no worse, his position isn't as dynamic as in the game continuation ] 18.e4 xe4 19.xe4 f5!? [ Another option is 19...g4!? , e.g. 20.g2 a4! 21.f3 d7 22.h5 f8 ] 20.g2 a4 21.e4 g4 22.c5?! [ This looks a decent idea, but it is overly a m b i t io u s . I n st e a d W h it e s h o u ld h a ve considered 22.f3 , for instance: d7 23.f4 b8 24.f5 b3 25.d2 f8 26.f3 b8 27.c1 d5 ] 22...dxc5 [ Black has several good choices, for example 22...b8!? also leads to a better game for Black: 23.c2 b3 24.b1 dxc5 25.f3 d7 26.0-0 a6 ] 23.f3 d7 24.xc5 b8 25.c3 b5! 26.e3 b3! 27.b4 f5!? [ Very sharp, yet 27...a6!? intending 28.f1 f8! looks very pleasant for Black ] 28.h5 f4!? [ 28...f8!? 29.0-0 e6 30.exf5 d4 31.f6 f5 32.fxg7 xg7 ] 29.d2 [ 29.a7!? f8 30.gxf4 e6 31.f5 d4 looks quite scary for White ] 29...f8 30.gxf4 exf4 31.xf4 [ Here White should have opted for 31.d4!? , e.g. d8 ( 31...e3+ 32.f2 e6 33.ae1; 31...e6 ) 32.xf4 e6 33.d6 b2 34.0-0 h4 ] 31...c5! 32.d2?! [ 32.c1 is relatively best, though a6 33.c3 e6 34.e3 d4 is very nice for Black ] 32...e6 33.g3 [ White's troubles are evident everywhere: his pieces are totally un coordinated, he is way behind in development and his king is stuck in the centre... and Black has only temporarily sacrificed a pawn to achieve this... 33.d6 b5 34.f1 ( 34.g1 xd3 ) 34...d4-+ ] 33...d4 34.c1
[ 34.f2 a6 35.f1 f6-+ ] 34...xd3 35.c3 [ 35.f2 b3 36.c2 xd2 37.xd2 xa3-+ ] 35...xe4+! [ 35...xd2! is also nasty: 36.xd2 b7! 37.hc1 b2+ 38.1c2 xc2 39.xc2 d4+ 40.e1 b5! , and it is game over for White ] 36.fxe4 xg3 37.xg3 b8 38.c3 [ 38.f2 f8+ 39.e1 c2+ 40.d1 f2-+ ] 38...b5! 39.f1 b1+ 40.f2 xe4 A b e a u t if u l a nd im p re ssive e f f o rt b y o u r webmaster 0-1
695 Vaisser,Anatoli Sokolov,Andrei ch Val d'Isere FRA (2) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2581 2587 20.08.2002
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 0-0 5.g5 e8 6.g1!? A new move, White bolsters his g-pawn and will decide on the exact placement of his pieces depending on Black's choice, we considered [ 6.c2 in Krasenkow,M-Romanishin, O/Lviv UKR 2000. ] 6...d5 7.b3 White attacks b4 and d5 at the same time, which shows one of the plus points of his sixth move. xc3 If Black wishes to avoid conceding his bishop he has to sac a pawn, for instance: [ 7...c6!? 8.xd5!? d6 ( 8...exd5?! 9.cxd5 e7 10.xb4 is worse ) 9.c3 e5 but it is hard to believe Black has sufficient comp here. ] 8.xc3 d6 9.b3 Both defending c4 and opening the a1-h8 diagonal. e4 10.c2 c5 11.b2 c6 Black develops sensibly. 12.a3 W hite has to take some prophylactic measures, firstly against ...Nb4, and then later against ...Qa5+ when he eventually plays d3 to chase the e4-knight away. b6 13.e3 f5?! A decidedly risky decision, Black hopes to open the f-file, but he also opens the g-file which certainly justifies W hite's sixth move novelty. 692
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 13...b7! 14.d3 d6 is simple and logical, although W hite's bishop pair give him the edge. ] 14.gxf6 xf6 [ 14...xf6!? i s n o b e t t e r : 15.d3! and the rook cannot capture on f3, ( 15.xf6? xf6 forking a1 and f3, 16.d1 e5 ) 15...xf3? 16.xg7+ f8 17.xe4 dxe4 18.xe4 winning. ] 15.cxd5! exd5 16.g5! Obvious and strong, s u d d e n ly t h e p o sit io n o p e n s f o r W h it e ' s bishops and g-file rook. d4 Black had to stop Bxf6 followed by Qxh7+. 17.g2 d7 [ 17...e8 18.xc6 xc6 19.xd4 exploits the c-file pin. ] 18.xc6!? [ 18.c4+! h8 19.xc6 xc6 20.f7+ xf7 21.xf7 is also possible, and must have been tempting, although I suppose W hite must have been worried about his lack of light-squared control here, i.e. g6 and ...Bd5 threatens to win the queen, still, White is clearly on top. ] 18...xc6 19.xd4 The point, White decides to take a pawn, but remove Black's c6-bishop. [ 19.e6 d6 20.xf8 xf8 is not so clear, as White's light squares are very weak. ] 19...cxd4? This move allows the white queen to infiltrate, [ 19...e4! 20.xe4 cxd4 is clearly superior, 21.c4+ h8 22.g5 dxe3 23.fxe3 d7 and Black has good play for the pawn, as the white king is awkwardly placed. ] 20.xc6 dxe3 21.fxe3 c8? This loses the exchange, although [ 21...e7 i s n o w m e t b y 22.e6+ exchanging the queens, when the extra pawn should decide. ] 22.e6+ h8 23.f7+ xf7 24.xf7 Black has no compensation for his material deficit, and even has to defend against the mate threat on g7. c7 25.e6 h6 26.e2 e7 27.f5 e4 28.a2 c7 29.g2 B la c k ' s m e n a c e s a re e a sil y p a rr ie d . e8 30.g6 e5 31.c2 f8 [ 31...xd2!? was worth a punt, although White has 32.g3! defending e3 and exchanging queens, ( 32.xd2? xe3+ 33.d1 xb3+ 34.c2 f3+ draws by perpetual check, and; 32.xd2!! xe3+
33.d1 e1# is even worse! )] 32.c6 White wants to finish with a queen sac on h6. g5! [ 32...xd2? 33.xh6+ gxh6 34.xh6# ] 33.h4? Careless, or were both players short of time? b5+? Black misses a great chance: [ 33...d5! is very strong, threatening ... Qf3+, and attacking the g2-rook, and brings B l a c k r i g h t b a c k i n t h e g a m e : 34.xg5 ( 34.f2 xf2+ 35.xf2 xd2+ ) 34...hxg5 35.hxg5 d8 and anything could happen here. ] 34.c4! The only move, but strong. xb3 [ 34...d5 is no longer so dangerous, 35.c6 f7 36.f4 ] 35.c2 White forces the queens off, and the ending is hopeless for Black. 1-0
696 Vallejo Pons,Francisco Adams,Michael SuperGM Linares ESP (11) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2629 2742 07.03.2002
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 c5 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.e1 e4 I have mentioned this possibility in previous games, Black takes to time to exchange a couple of pieces. He won't be able to stop W hite f ro m f orcing e4 an d d 4, but in th e ensuing Hedgehog position he will be less cramped. 8.xe4 xe4 9.d3 b7 10.e4 0-0 11.d4 cxd4 12.xd4 d6 13.b3 a6 14.e3! Actually this seems to be a new move here, but it is, of course, very logical. Previously White had brought his bishop out on a different diagonal: [ 14.a3 leads nowhere, c7 15.c1 d7 Janssen,R-W illemze,T/Leiden 1999, the kn i g h t c a n g o t o c 5 t o b lo c k t h e a 3 - f 8 diagonal. ] [ 14.b2 d7 15.f4 is better, Son,I-Drilinsh, A/Kherson 1990, although ...Qc7 and ...Bf6 gives Black reasonable chances. ] 14...d7 15.f4 e8 16.f2 This careful move gives the e-pawn extra defence. c7 17.c1 f6 18.d2 ad8 Both players have developed their pieces sensibly: White has carefully bolstered his space advantage, and 693
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black is ready to react to any aggression in t y p i c a l H e d g e h o g f a s h i o n . 19.g4!? This aggressive plan mirrors play in the main line, see Zhu Chen - Bischoff, for example. c5!? Luring White on, [ 19...xd4 20.xd4 e5 was an interesting alternative, 21.c3 exf4 22.xf4 e5 with goo d play, alth ou gh W hite 's d arksquared b isho p will a lways be a u sef u l piece. ] 20.b4 White advances on both fronts, but he risks becoming over-extended. g6 A little trick. 21.c2 Capturing the knight is a mistake: [ 21.bxc5? dxc5 ] 21...d7 22.g5 g7 23.e3 The white kingside advance starts to look very dangerous for Black, Ne3-g4 is the immediate menace. h5!? [ Apart from this, 23...f6 or ] [ 23...f5 24.exf5 gxf5 were also possible. ] 24.gxh6 xh6 25.g4 f8 The d6-pawn will n e e d d e f e n d in g . 26.h4 Although the g5pawn has disappeared W hite still has an initiative on the kingside dark squares. c8 27.g5 a5 Black counterattacks on the queenside - he can't let White have everything his o wn way. 28.a3 axb4 29.axb4 a6 30.f5! White ditches the c-pawn, and goes straight for the black throat, but it seems that Black has many resources. xc4 31.f6 e5?! [ Black should leave the knight on d7 to keep an eye on the f6-pawn, 31...b5 ] 32.h6+ xh6 33.xh6 Black was forced to concede his dark-squared bishop, and must now find a defence against the brutal threat of Bg7, and Qh6-h8 mate. b5 34.g7 b6+ 35.h1 g4 Absolutely the only move, Black stops Qh6, and even has a nasty threat of his o w n : . . . N f 2 + . 36.h3?! White misses something in the coming complications, [ 36.c2! is stronger, defending f2 and t h r e a t e n i n g h 3 : b3 37.b2 c2 (what else?) 38.h3 f2 (forced) 39.e2 h4 40.xc2 xc2 41.xc2 xf6 42.xf6 xf6 White has won a piece for two pawns, and although his structure is not very good he has every chance of winning the b5-pawn and the game. ] 36...f2 37.g5 This seems strong, but
B la ck h a s s e e n f u rt h e r ! e2! 38.hxg4 White accepts the draw, [ 38.xe2!? is too risky, xc1+ 39.xc1 xe2 40.hxg4 xg4 41.h6 h5+ stops the mate when the poor placement of the two white bishops, and the two extra pawns, make the black rook favourite to win. ] 38...f3 39.xf3 There is no choice, [ 39.g1?? xc1 40.xc1 h4# ] 39...xf3+ 40.h2 [ 40.g1 g3+ is also a draw. ] 40...f2+ 41.h1 f3+ ½-½
697 Van Wely,Loek Adams,Michael Corus Wijk aan Zee NED (5) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2646 2715 20.01.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 b6 7.b4 a5 [ I have always had a penchant for this move in similar positions. The idea is simple: as White enjoys the advantage of the bishop pair, Black 'shortens' the pawn structure, as his knights are happier in a restricted space. The disadvantage is that W hite can sometimes use the open a-file, and that the b6-pawn can become a liability after Black plays ...c5. 7...b7 8.b2 d6 9.e3 bd7 10.e2 c5 is the more normal way of playing, Ftacnik,L-Rozentalis,E/ Moscow 1994, 0-1 (56). ] 8.b2 d6 9.g3 axb4!? [ A new idea, and a good one. Instead of the standard 9...b7 10.g2 axb4 11.axb4 xa1+ 12.xa1 bd7 13.0-0 c5 with a solid position for Black, but a slight advantage to White, Budnikov,A-Kholmov,R/ Voronezh 1988, 0-1 (69), Black defers the development of his light-squared bishop, it might be more useful on the h3-c8 diagonal, and tries to make something of the extra tempo. ] 10.axb4 xa1+ 11.xa1 c5 12.g2 e5 A t yp ica l pla n, th e bla ck pa wn ch ain will restrict the a1-bishop, meanwhile, the weakness created on the light squares can be 694
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 defended by the black pieces. 13.0-0 c6! W ith t he b la c k bish op o n c8, t he re is n o reason that this piece shouldn't find a more active square tha n the hab itual d7 . 14.b5 d4 15.xd4 cxd4 This last move creates a square on c5 for the black knight, or queen. 16.b4 [ This square may not be the best, but 16.c2 also seems fine for Black: c7 17.e3 dxe3 18.fxe3 e6 19.c6 d7 ] 16...c7 17.e3 c5 18.xc5 dxc5 Shutting-out the white dark-squared bishop. 19.f4 dxe3 20.fxe5? [ Amazingly, this move loses. White had to re ca pt ure : 20.dxe3 e6 21.xe5 xc4 which should lead to a draw. ] 20...exd2! 21.h3?! [ Trying, unsuccessfully, to stop the black piec es f rom using g4, o therwise 21.exf6 g4 22.fxg7 e8 23.d5 e7 and Black is better, the d2-pawn queens. ] [ 21.d1 g4 22.xd2 e3 23.d5 e6 wins the c4-pawn. ] 21...d8 22.d1 g4! Anyway! 23.c3 e3 24.xd2 xd2 25.xd2 xg2! The simplest solution, the opposite-colour bishop position is hopeless for White, as he cannot defend h i s q u e e n s i d e p a w n s . 26.xg2 f8! The white bishop can't be allowed into d8. 27.e6 xe6 28.f4 xc4 29.c7 e7 30.f3 xb5 31.xb6 d6 White could only draw if the extra two black pawns were closer together. 32.h4 d5 33.e3 d7 34.d8 d6 35.a5 h6 36.f4 f6 37.d8 e6 38.e4 c6+ 39.d3 b5+ 40.e4 d7 Black bides his time before finding a winning plan. 41.d3 d6 42.e4 g4 43.f4 d1 44.e3 c2 45.d2 b1 46.e3 e6 47.b6 c4 48.d4 f5 49.c3 c2 50.f3 d1+ 51.e3 g5 Finally Black transforms his kingside majority into a passed pawn. 52.b2 h5 53.c3 f7 54.f3 d5+ 55.f2 c6 Black is in no hurry. 56.e3 a4 57.f3 d1+ 58.e3 g6 59.d4 e2 60.b4 h5 61.f8 f5 62.e5 d3 63.hxg5 hxg5 64.a3 g4 65.c1 e2 66.d2 d1 67.d4 b3 68.e5 a2 69.c1 c3 70.d4 c2 71.e5 b3 72.d2 a4 73.c1 d7 74.d2 xg3 75.xg5 f3 76.c1 e2 0-1
698 Van Wely,Loek Ivanchuk,Vassily Monaco (Blindfold) rapid (1) [John Emms]
A17 2683 2750 17.03.2007
1.c4 [ The Nimzo move order to reach the relevant position would be 1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3+ 6.xc3 b6 7.f3 b7 8.e3 a5!? ( discouraging b2-b4 we've mainly c o n c e n t r a t e d o n t h e p o p u l a r 8...d6; and the fairly new 8...d5 ) 9.b3 ( 9.b4 e4! is awkward for White, whose queen is forced to the undesirable b2-square.) 9...d6 followed by ...Nbd7, . ..Qe7, ...Ne4 etc. ] 1...f6 2.c3 e6 3.f3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 b6 Over the next few moves White can play d2-d4 and transpose to a Classical Nimzo (here he does so on move 12), although in practice those who play the English move-order often prefer to keep their d-pawn back and thus restrict Black's options regarding the e4-square. 7.e3 b7 8.e2 d6 9.0-0 a5 10.b3 bd7 11.b2 e7 12.d4 Now we are definitely back in the Nimzo. [ 12.d3 keeps an English flavour. Then c5 13.d2 e5 14.f3 xf3 15.xf3 fe8 16.d4 exd4 17.xd4 e5! 18.c2 e4! was equal in Cvetkovic-Rozentalis, Schellenberg 1991, but of course there are many other possibilities for both sides. ] 12...e4 Black begins the usual attacking plan on the kingside: ... Ne4, ...f7-f5, ...Rf6-h6/g6 etc. 13.c2 f5 14.e1 After this plausible move, simply trying to kick the knight away with f2-f3, White lands up in trouble, although it's not clear that this move is the problem. [ 14.b4!? is logical, even if Black can claim some sort of moral victory in that, given he has played b4 in two goes, White is a tempo down on the normal line. ] [ Another possibility is 14.fd1 - angling for d4-d5 df6 a n d n o w a f t e r 15.e1 Black no longer has ...Qg5. However, this also looks risky for W hite on account of g4! 16.d3 h4 17.xg4 fxg4 when W hite has to endure some worrying times on the kingside. ] 14...g5! Preventing White's f2-f3 plan, at 695
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 least for the moment. But there is more to B l a c k ' s m o v e , a s w e s h a l l s e e . 15.c1 W hite defends e3 and thus prepares f2-f3 again, but Black is not about to be dictated to! [ 15.f3?? not only blunders a pawn but also t h e k i n g a f t e r xe3+ 16.h1 g3+! 17.hxg3 f6 ] [ 15.c1!? is another way "forward" for W hite, as at least now Black has no trick with ...Qh5 after f2-f3 (see later in the main game). 15 Bc1 was played in the game Agrest-Ki.Georgiev, Turin Olympiad 2006, w h i c h c o n t i n u e d e7 ( 15...f6? now fails - the attack doesn't work after 16.f3! g3 17.hxg3 xg3 18.f4 h6 19.f3; 15...ae8!? 16.f3 ef6 ) 16.f3 ef6 17.b2 c5 with a typically complex and roughly level position. ] 15...f6!? [ 15...e7 16.d3 e5 17.c2 was M.Gurevich-V.Bologan, Sanxenxo 2004, and now Gershon gives g5!? (threatening ...Nd2) 18.f4 exf4 19.exf4 h6 as unclear. The text move is clearly more ambitious and it certainly does the business, but is there a flaw? ] 16.f3? [ Shredder likes 16.c5! - threatening c5-c6 and I'm finding it difficult to come up with a suitable answer for Black. For example, bxc5 ( 16...h6? 17.c6 h4 achieves nothing after 18.f3; 16...dxc5 17.dxc5 e5 18.f3 ) 17.dxc5 dxc5 18.f3! g6 19.xf6 xf6 20.d4 and Black certainly has some play for the material deficit but it's not clear how much. Note that e5 21.b5 xb3? loses to 22.c4+! ] 16...h5! Cleverly using the pin on the f3pawn - 17 fxe4 Qxe2 looks good for Black wh ile a lso lin in g u p t h e t h rea t of . .. Rh 6 . 17.g4? Panic, although I have a lot of sympathy for Van W ely. These sort of positions are hard enough to defend as it is with the board in sight, never mind trying to do so blindfold! [ Curiously (or perhaps not so given the number of games played these days), this position had been reached before: 17.d1 h6 18.fxe4 ( 18.h3 g5 gives Black a dangerous attack, and White must be wary of sacs on h3: 19.f4? xh3+! for example,
when the nicest line is 20.h2 xf4+! 21.xh5 e2!! ) 18...xh2+ 19.f2 f6 20.e2 (Miton-Balogh, Aarhus 2005), and here Mikhail Golubev in Chess Today advocates xe4 when it's true that Black has very good compensation for the piece, as well as excellent practical chances. ] 17...fxg4 18.fxe4 [ After 18.fxg4 - not that this would ever be the idea behind 17 g4 - Black has more than one winning move, but g3!? is the most e n t i c i n g . F o r e x a m p l e , 19.gxh5 ( and I particularly like 19.c2 xg4!! ) 19...xe2# ] 18...h6 19.f2 xe4 20.d2 h4! Threatening ... g4-g3, against which there is really no good defence. White's only chance is to try to chase the bishop off the diagonal, but he is too late and Black's impressive attack powers through. 21.d3 g3 22.g2 gxh2+ 23.h1 f8! 24.c2 hf6! 25.d5 e5 [ 25...f2 26.xe4 f1+ mates ( but not 26...xd2?? 27.xg7+! h8 28.xh7+! )] 26.e1 xg2+ 27.xg2 h1+! [ B l a ck m a t e s wi t h 27...h1+ 28.xh1 g4+ 29.h2 h6# A very well played attack by Ivanchuk, an a good illustration of the practical difficulties White faces in this line, even if objectively he may have an edge. ] 0-1
699
A17 Van Wely,Loek 2636 Timman,Jan H 2649 Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee NED (12) 30.01.1999 [Tony Kosten] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 h6 This might weaken the kingside, but at least it stops the f6-knight from having to wander around the board. 5.g1 b6 Black plays the position as if it were a Queen's Indian, [ 5...d5 is an important alternative, 6.a3 e7 7.d4 e4!? 8.c2 xc3 9.xc3 d7 10.g2 0-0?! 'Castling into it', and now, i n s t e a d o f 11.h1 when Black quickly played g5! and managed to keep the g-file from opening, Tukmakov, V-Shneider,A/ Donetsk UKR 1998, White could have gone 696
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f or 1 1 g5! hxg5 12 B h1 f 6 13 h 4 wit h a venomous attack. ] 6.h4 White is not a player for half-measures. b7 7.g5 So White manages to play this anyway, but at a cost in time. hxg5 8.hxg5 e4 Better this, than put the knight offside by [ 8...h5?! 9.e3 e7 10.b5 d5 11.a3 d6 12.cxd5 exd5 13.g6! c6 14.gxf7+ xf7 15.xd6+ cxd6 16.g5 e7 17.d4 and the black position is a mess, Piket,JNikolic,P/ Monte Carlo MNC 1999. ] 9.c2 xc3 10.dxc3 d6 An unusual square for the bishop. 11.e3 c6 12.d2? A careless slip, the obvious [ 12.0-0-0 maintained a small plus, e.g. e7 13.g2 ] 12...h2! Forcing the g1-rook onto an e xp o s e d l igh t s qu a re . 13.g2 The only square. e7 This is stronger than [ 13...e5?! which allows 14.xh2 xh2 15.f4 forking the two pieces. ] 14.f3 d6 And by returning, Black gains a useful move. 15.g4 g6 16.0-0-0 e7 17.g2 0-0-0 Black has a small advantage, he controls the h-f ile, and the g4-rook is m i s p l a c e d . 18.a4 a6 19.d4?! Now was the time for [ 19.d2 -e4. ] 19...xg2 20.xg2 b7 21.g4 e5 22.e4 f5 23.gxf6 gxf6 24.b3 White is hoping to generate some play against the black king, but he just puts his pieces on a w k w a r d s q u a r e s . c5! 25.f4 c7 Black prepares to play ...d5. 26.d2 d5 27.cxd5? Better to keep the fourth rank shut by [ 27.e3 so as to answer h4 with 28.g3 ] 27...exd5 28.e3 [ 28.xe5 dxe4 29.xe4+ was the last chance, although Black has a clear advantage. ] 28...h4! 29.f3 b5 Black wins a piece. 0-1
700 Werle,Jan Willemze,Thomas 10th Essent Open (5) [John Watson]
A17 2551 2384 24.10.2006
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 We have concentrated upon 3 e4. This move allows Black to enter into the Queen's Gambit by 3...d5 or keep it within the English Opening, as he does with his next move. b4 4.b3!? [ 4.c2 has been more common. ] 4...c5 5.g3 0-0 6.g2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d3 b8 9.a3 xc3 10.bxc3 b6 [ 10...e5! is consistent with Black's plan of giving up his dark-squared bishop in c o n j u n c t i o n wi t h . . . d 6 . T h e n h i s l i g h t squared bishop is good. White can try to use the fact that his pawn on c3 prevents ... Nd4 to bring a knight to d5, but Black can disrupt his development, e.g., 11.e1 g4 12.f3 e6 13.c2 ( 13.c2? b5 ) 13...a6 14.a4 d7 15.e4 b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.cxb5 xb5 ] 11.e4 a5 [ 11...e5!? ] 12.c2 e5 This is rather late because White already has the desired pawn structure set up. 13.a4 e8 14.h4!? f6 15.f5 d5?! B l a c k is p r o b a b l y n o t e xc it e d a b o u t t h e prospect of White transferring his knight to d5 vi a e 3 o r s u p p o r t i n g i t w i t h g 4 , b u t t h i s advance ends up costing material for insufficient compensation. [ 15...xf5! 16.exf5 d7 prepares ...Nc6, although I still like the bishops and White's k i n g s i d e p a w n m a s s a f t e r 17.f4 , for example, c6 18.d5+ h8 19.g2 ] 16.cxd5 xf5 17.exf5 d6 18.f4! c4! [ 18...xf5? 19.fxe5 fxe5 20.d4! establishes a huge centre. ] 19.fxe5 fxe5 20.dxc4!? [ 20.a3 cxd3 21.xd3 ac4 22.xd6 xd6 23.ae1 f6 24.g4 and White will try to enforce g5 by Qg3 and h4. ] 20...axc4 21.e2 c8 22.h5 Black's knights and rooks are ideally placed but White threatens on the kingside. c7 [ 22...e8!? ] 23.g4 cf7 24.f3!? h6 25.a2!? c7! 26.h3 c5+ 27.h1 e4? 697
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 27...f6 ] man who is intent upon tearing you limb from 28.xh6 xd5 29.e3 f6 30.d4 e5 limb. 31.e2?! [ Thus 7...c6 seems better after which [ 31.h7+ f7 32.f2 ] 8.dxc5 xc5 9.f4 b6 10.0-0-0 e5!? 31...c4 wo u l d g i v e B l a c k h i s f u l l s h a r e o f t h e [ 31...h6! ] chances in a complex game. ] 32.e1 8.a3 a5 9.dxc5 dxc5 10.e3 d7?! [ 32.g5! xf5 33.xe4! with the idea xe4 Another passive looking move, the knight 34.h7+ f7 35.xf5+ etc. ] should really want to come to c6. 32...h6 33.g5 df7 34.e3 xg4?? [ 10...e7 11.0-0-0 c6 looks more like it. ] [ 34...xh3 35.xh3 g5 isn't inspiring but 11.0-0-0 e7 12.e4 c7 13.d2?! keeps Black in the game. ] I can understand White wanting his bishop on 35.g3 xh3 36.xh3 the a1-h8 diagonal but this seems to lose a bit 1-0 of momentum. [ 13.g1 b6 14.a4 looks more like it, with B l a c k p r o b a b l y h a v i n g t o p l a y f5 701 A17 to get some freedom. ] 14.c3 b7 15.c2 d8 Williams,Simon Kim 2528 13...b6 Jones 2153 Sensible but still passive. [ Black needs to play 15...f5! when 16.gxf6 98th ch Sheffield ENG (10.13) 04.08.2011 dxf6 leaves him with rather a good [Nigel Davies] position. ] 16.g1 e5 17.h4 e6 18.e3 xe4 1.c4 e6 [ The position after Black's fourth move 19.xe4 f5 For many moves this has been would normally be reached via a different the key idea but here it is too late. 20.d5! move order: 1...f6 2.f3 e6 3.c3 b4 xd5 21.xd5 g6 22.e2 [ 22.e4! fxe4 23.h3! was much stronger, 4.b3 ( 4.g4!? ) 4...c5 etc. ] immediately cracking open Black's pawn 2.c3 b4 3.b3 c5 4.f3 f6 5.g4!? structure to get his light square bishop into This seems to be new in this particular play. ] position, though the idea is quite well known. Here are a couple of the quieter moves in 22...f7 23.gd1 e7 24.f3 g7 25.g2 e6 26.h4 f7 27.h1 df8? Blundering action: [ a) 5.a3 a5 ( 5...xc3 would stop the away an important pawn. [ H a n g i n g t o u g h , s a y w i t h 27...d6 bishop getting out of play) 6.e3 0-0 7.e2 , would still leave White wondering how he c6 8.0-0 d5 9.a4 d6 10.c2 d4 could win the game. ] 11.xc5 xc5 12.b4 xb4 13.axb4 xb4 14.b3 d3 15.xd3 xd3 16.xd3 c7 28.xe5 xd5?! [ And here 28...xe5 was a better try. ] 17.b2 d8 18.c3 b6 19.d3 b7 20.e5 e8 21.f4 was good for White 29.f6+ d6 30.cxd5 xd5 31.b5 xf6 because of her strong pawn center and 32.d1+ e5 33.f4+ A good example of the pressure on the a1-h8 diagonal in Stefanova, power of intimidation! But 5.g4 deserves more trials. A (2551)-Bojkovic, N (2368)/Plovdiv 2010. ] [ b) 5.g3 0-0 6.a3 xc3 7.xc3 b6 8.g2 1-0 b7 9.b4 d6 10.0-0 bd7 11.d3 c8 12.e4 c7 13.b5 fe8 14.e1 h6 15.h3 cd8 16.a2 c8 17.a4 e5 18.a5 f8 19.xc8 xc8 20.b2 was better for White because of his space in Topalov, V (2737)Abulhul, T (2076)/Tripoli 2004. ] 5...0-0 6.g5 e8 7.d4 d6 This feels wrong, it's usually better to stand up tall against a 698
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 702 Zhou Jianchao Bagheri,Amir 6th ch-Asia Cebu City PHI (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A17 2572 2495 21.09.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 d6 5.a3 [ if W h it e p la ys 5.d4 we arrive in an odd sideline of the Classical Variation of the Nim zo -I nd ia n bd7 ( or 5...0-0 6.g5 bd7 7.e3 e8 8.h4 e5 9.0-0-0 c6 10.d2 a6 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.de4 with as slight pull for White, Petrosian, TTaimanov, M/Moscow 1964) 6.g5 b6 7.e3 b7 8.d3 h6 9.h4 xc3+ 10.bxc3 e7 11.e4 e5 12.d2 g5 13.g3 h5 14.0-0-0 f4 , and Black is doing fine, Christiansen, L-Karpov, A/W ijk aan Zee 1993 ] [ Alternative, White can consider 5.g3 0-0 6.g2 c5 7.0-0 c6 8.e3 xc3 9.xc3 e5 10.b3 g4 11.h3 xf3 12.xf3 e4 13.g2 e5 14.b2 d7 15.c2 h5 ( 15...ae8!? ) 16.h2 e6 , thus far Gabriel, C-Sokolov, A/Swiss Team Ch 2001 17.d3 exd3 ( 17...xd3 18.xf6 gxf6 19.xe4 xe4 20.ad1 ) 18.c3 ae8 19.f4 c6 20.ad1 ] 5...xc3 6.xc3 e5 [ Black has a couple of alternatives at this juncture: A) 6...b6 A) 7.e3 bd7 8.b4 b7 9.e2 0-0 10.b2 e5 ( 10...e7 11.0-0 c5 12.fd1 fc8 13.d4 a5 14.b3 e4 15.d2 c6 16.dxc5 dxc5 17.b5 b7 , Roussel Roozmon, T-Kunte, A/Montreal 20 0 7 , a n d n o w 18.c2 ) 11.d3 e7 12.0-0 fe8 13.d2 a5 14.b3 axb4 15.axb4 eb8 16.e4 xa1 17.xa1 c5 18.a7 and White has the somewhat better chances, Benko, P-Schmittdiel, E/ Augsburg 1987; B) 7.g3 b7 8.g2 0-0 ( 8...e5 9.0-0 bd7 10.b4 0-0 11.b2 h5 12.d3 f5 13.c5 Fang, J-Jakab, A/Budapest 1998) 9.0-0 bd7 10.b4 ( 10.d3 c5 11.b4 d5 12.cxd5 xd5 13.b2 e7 14.d2 fc8 15.fc1 Jones, C-Kelson, R/Las Vegas 1994 (15)) 10...c5 11.b2 c7 12.d3 a5 , and here a draw was
prem a tu rely a gre e d u po n , 1 /2 -1/ 2 , in Benkovic, P-Vojinovic , G/Jahorina 2001, but after 13.e4 White has the better chances ] [ B) 6...0-0 A) 7.e3 e5 ( 7...c5 8.b4 bd7 9.b2 e5 10.e2 e8 11.0-0 a5 12.d3 b6 13.b3 bd7 14.c3 and I slightly p re f e r W h it e 's ch a n ce s, P e lle t ie r, Y Sokolov, A/Bled 2002) 8.d3 ( 8.e2?! e4 9.d4 c5 10.c2 g4 11.xg4 xg4 12.0-0 c6 13.h3 ge5 14.b3 d5 15.cxd5 xd5 , and White is facing uncomfortable pressure from Black along the open d-file, Chuchelov, V-Winants, L/ Belgium 2004) 8...a5 9.b3 d7 10.e2 b5 11.d4 b4 12.c2 exd4 13.axb4 c6 14.bxa5 dxe3 15.xe3 xa5 16.0-0 with a small but clear advantage for White, Dorfman, J-Sokolov, A/Marseilles 2001; B) 7.d4 b6 ( 7...bd7 8.g3 b6 9.g2 b7 10.0-0 a5 11.b3 e7 12.b2 e4 13.fe1 fe8 14.f1 Shulman, YBalandin, A/ Sioux Falls 2001) 8.g5 b7 9.e3 bd7 10.e2 c5 11.0-0?! ( 11.h4!? ) 11...e4 12.xd8 xc3 13.bxc3 fxd8 , and Black has at least equ alize d, Schu lz, M-S oko lo v, A/ Ba d Wiessee 2006; C) 7.b4 e5 8.b2 g4 9.h3 h5 10.g4 g6 11.g2 c6 12.0-0 e7 13.h4 Quist, V-Podolsky, A/corr ICCF 1984; D) 7.g3 e5 8.g2 D1) 8...c6 9.b4 ( 9.0-0 a5 10.b3 e4 11.e3 c5 12.b2 e8 13.c3 g4 14.c2 e4 Koenig, BHecht, H/Bayern 1998) 9...a5 10.b2 axb4 11.axb4 xa1+ 12.xa1 g4 13.h3 h5 14.d3 a8 15.g4 g6 16.0-0 a7 17.b5 e7 18.h4 Reis, G-Taimanov, M/Fuerth 1999; D2) 8...a5 9.b3 c5 10.0-0 c6 11.e1 g4 12.h3 f5 13.d3 h6 14.b2 d7 15.h2 fe8 16.e4 e6 , and Black has nothing to complain about, Hochgraefe, M-Sokolov, A/Germany 2001(43) ] 7.d4!? [ 7.g3 a5 8.b3 c5 9.g2 c6 10.0-0 g4 11.d3 d7 12.e1 h3 is comfortable for Black, Srebrnic, V-Balogh, C/Nova Gorica 699
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2004 ] 7...e4 8.g1 bd7 [ 8...0-0 9.f4 c6 10.e3 d5 11.g5 e6 12.h3 h6 13.xf6 xf6 14.cxd5 xd5 15.f4 ] 9.g5 h6 10.h4 0-0 [ 10...f8 11.e3 f5 can also be considered ] 11.e3 e8 12.e2 f8 13.d5 8h7!? [ A new move in this position. In an earlier game Black won using 13...e5 14.d4?! ( 14.f4! exf3 15.gxf3 e7 16.f2 b5 17.0-0-0 a5 18.e4 is complicated, but clearly better for White) 14...g6 15.g3 e8 16.c3 f5 17.0-0-0 d7 , and Black has a comfortable position, as W hite will have a hard time getting anything started on the kingside thanks to his bishop on g3, wh i l e B l a c k c a n a i m t o b l o w o p e n t h e queenside, Zhou Jianchao-Sokolov, A/ Paris 2006 ] 14.c2 e7 [ 14...c6!? 15.c3 A) or 15...cxd5 16.xd5 g5 17.f4 c7 ( 17...b5!? 18.cxb5 d7 ) 18.c1 f5 19.e2; B) 15...g5!? 16.xg5 hxg5 17.h4 g4 18.g3 cxd5 19.cxd5 e5 , and Black is p ro b a b ly o ka y, a l t h o u gh I st i ll p re f e r White ] 15.c3 g4 16.h3 h5 17.e2 [ 17.g4!? g6 18.0-0-0 is complicated, e.g. g5 19.xg5 ( 19.g2 d7 almost looks comfortable for Black the knight will continue to c5 and possibly d3.) 19...hxg5 20.g2 d7 21.h2 a5 22.dh1 c5 23.h4 d3+ ( 23...gxh4? 24.xh4 f6 25.f4+- ) 24.b1 gxh4 25.xh4 f6 26.f1 e1 , and White appears to be better, but Black is still playing ] 17...c5?! [ Black can try 17...g5!? , e.g. 18.f4 c6 and I don't see any reason why Black isn't okay ] 18.dxc6 bxc6 19.g3 g5? 20.d4 d7 [ is an attempt to complicate that will fall short: 20...c5 21.f5 e6 22.xh6+!? ( 22.xd6!? ) 22...g7 23.g4 xg4 24.hxg4 xg4 25.f3 f5 26.f4 g4 27.e2 xe2 28.xe2 g4 29.f5 xf5 30.0-0-0+- ]
21.c5! d5 22.a4! After this move, Black is toast, his queenside is falling apart and he is lo sin g m a te ria l. B lack n o w sa crif ic e s a n exchange to create at least some complications unfortunately for Black, White is still in complete control over the situation and wins rather effortlessly. e6 23.xe6 fxe6 24.a6 f8 25.d6 f7 26.b4 d4 27.b5 [ 27.exd4 e3 28.f3 e8 29.e5+- ] 27...cxb5 [ 27...dxe3 28.fxe3 e8 29.bxc6 d8 30.f1 xd6 31.cxd6 xd6 32.xf7 xf7 33.c2+- ] 28.xb5 xb5 29.xb5 dxe3 30.fxe3 d5 1-0
703 Zvjaginsev,Vadim Adams,Michael FIDE WCh KO Moscow RUS (3.1) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2640 2731 01.12.2001
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 h6 5.g1 b6 6.b3!? A newish idea, and quite a change from the sharp, and logical, [ 6.h4 which we have examined previously, intending to continue the kingside advance. Later in this same match, in the quick-play decider, White tried another idea: ] [ 6.c2 b7 7.a3 e7 8.g5 hxg5 9.xg5 (menacing Nxf7!) f8! 10.d4 which was qu it e u n cle a r (Zvja gi n se v, V - A d a m s , M / Moscow RUS 2001). ] 6...c5!? [ A new move, preparing to relinquish the bishop pair, but obtain good central play. In Miroshnichenko,E-Kuzmenko,Y/Kharkov U K R 2 0 0 0 , B l a c k p r e f e r r e d 6...c6 but then White returned to the 'traditional' plan: 7.h4 b7 8.g5 hxg5 9.hxg5 g8 10.d4 with some advantage. ] 7.a3 xc3 8.xc3 d5 Black's idea is to gain a central presence to compensate his loss of the dark-squared bishop. 9.cxd5!? exd5 10.b4!? White attacks the dark squares with sharp tactical moves. d4 And Black tries to block these same squares. [ 10...xg4?! is risky: 11.bxc5 bxc5 12.e5 ] 700
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.c2 bd7 12.e4 By strengthening his dark-squared pawn chain, Black has also weakened his light squares, this is a direct consequence of course, and so W hite prepares to bring his f1-bishop to c4 or b5. dxe3 13.dxe3 b7 A good way of playing in such positions is to remember to develop the pieces to good squares, and hope that the tactics take care of themselves! 14.e2 c8 A curious position has arisen where the white king will have to stay in the centre while Black will be obliged to castle, but into an attack on t h e g - f i l e . 15.b2!? Offering an interesting pawn sac. cxb4 16.a4 a5! [ Black is obviously not prepared to risk having his king stuck on e8 after 16...bxa3?! 17.xa3 ] 17.axb4 0-0 Black has successfully completed his development, but there is still the problem of his g7-pawn. Can he generate enough central counterplay? 18.g5! Naturally. hxg5 19.xg5 c6 20.a3 xf3! This all part of an elaborate defensive plan. 21.xf3 axb4 22.xb4 c5 Black's sixteenth move ensured that he could control c5, and so he now proposes to exc ha n ge W h ite 's d an gero us ro o k. 23.h4 c7 24.d1 e8 White has two mighty bishops, but the absence of white pawns on the queenside means that the black knights can operate effectively in a smaller area- the kingside and centre. 25.f1 e5 26.f4 e6 [ Black avoids the transparent trap 26...xf3?? 27.xg7+! xg7 28.xf6+ winning immediately. ] 27.g2 h7 28.g3 b5 29.d4 f6 30.g1 So, the white king does make it to the kingside eventually. c2 31.c3 b1 32.xb1 xb1+ [ After 32...xb1+ 33.h2 f5 W h i t e s h o u l d r e p e a t m o v e s , 34.g1 as there is a nasty threat of ...Ng4+, b1+ etc. ] ½-½
704 Zvjaginsev,Vadim Piket,Jeroen Fontys Tilburg NED (11) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2650 2605 04.11.1998
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 One of the duller lines in the English, W hite normally plays 4 Qc2, takes the bishop pair, and tries t o m a k e h e a d wa y a g a i n s t B l a c k ' s s o l i d formation. 4 d4 is a bit livelier, transposing into a Nimzo. 4.g4!? It says something about this amazing game, that novelties can still be found, as early as move four, in an established main line! White profits from the temporary weakness of g7 to drive the f6knight from its post. d5 The normal central reaction against White's wing attack. [ 4...xg4?! 5.g1 f6 6.xg7 is the tactical point of White's aggressive idea. ] 5.g5 e4 [ 5...xc3?! 6.bxc3 e4 is worse: 7.d3! xc3 8.b3 The knight is trapped. d4 9.xd4 xd4 10.b2 f4 11.xc3 xg5 12.h4 h6 13.xg7 xg7 14.xg7 White has a large advantage: two bishops and the better centre, Popov,V-Orlov, V/St Petersburg RUS 1999. ] 6.h4! White blithely continues his kingside advance. This is stronger than [ 6.a4+ c6 7.xe4 dxe4 8.e5 e3 9.fxe3 xg5 unclear, Krasenkow,M-Garcia, G/Groningen 1997. ] 6...c6 7.c2 Posing Black an awkward problem , he d oesn't want t o retre at, an d capturing on c3 only allows White to speed-up his development. f5 8.gxf6 xf6 9.a3 xc3 10.dxc3 White is more interested in bringing his c1-bishop out, than constructing a large centre with 10 bxc3. e7 11.g5 d7 12.0-0-0?! [ 12.cxd5 exd5 13.0-0-0 was stronger, with an edge. ] 12...dxc4! White doesn't get a second chance to capture this pawn. 13.h5 0-0-0 14.h6 White is attempting to undermine Black's darksquared control, and make his g5-bishop even stronger. hg8 15.h3 gxh6 16.h4! W h i t e m a i n t a i n s t h e a n n o yi n g p i n . df8 17.d2 Menacing the gain of material by Ne4. 701
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f7 18.xc4 e5! Otherwise the d7-bishop had no future. 19.xd7+ xd7 20.e3 c5 [ 20...g6 was best. ] 21.d5 d7 There was the threat of b4-5 to deal with, driving the c6-knight from its control of e7, and allowing Ne7+, winning the e x c h a n g e . H o w e ve r , t h i s m a n o e u vr e i s loosening, and [ 21...g6!? might still have been the best choice, e.g. 22.b4 e6 23.b5? ed4! 24.cxd4 xd5 and Black wins! ] 22.d3!? f5? 23.e4 e6 24.b4 P b 5 h a s b e c o m e a s t r o n g t h r e a t . f7? This loses serious material, [ 24...a6 25.a4 b8 had to be played. ] 25.c4 Threatening to win the c6-knight, with b5, and the black queen. a6? 26.b6+ 1-0
would prefer White. ] 13.d3 f5 Now that ... f5 is impossible (as the knight cannot recapture on f6) this move is forced. [ 13...g6? l o s e s q u i c k l y : 14.h5 xg5 15.hxg6 fxg6 16.xg6! xf3 17.xh7+ f7 ( 17...f8 18.e4 hits f3 and menaces Rh8+ ) 18.g6+ e7 19.xg5+ and Black can resign. ] 14.e4 d6 15.f4 Both developing and threatening to capture on d6 followed by e5. f5 16.exf5 xf5 17.0-0-0 Whilst Black has been fiddling with his king's knight (already 6 moves!) W hite has completed his development and already has some nasty threats lined-up. a5?! [ 17...b6 would stop the next move. ] 18.d4! White tries to blast his way past the f5-barrier. c6 [ 18...xd4 19.xh7+ h8 20.xd4 705 A17 is pretty awful, but was Black's best, e5?! 21.d5 ] Zvjaginsev,Vadim 2671 exf5 20.c4+ h8 21.d5 Riazantsev,Alexander 2538 19.xf5 Aeroflot Open (1) 11.02.2003 Suddenly the black queen is short of squares! c5 [Tony Kosten] [ 21...b6? 22.a4 ] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.f3 b4 4.g4 0-0 22.a4 b5 Forced. 23.xc5 d4 24.d1 b7 Unfortunately for Black, 5.g5 e8 6.c2 White decides not to try the [ 24...xa4 25.xd4 bxc4 restores material [ 6.g1!? which, as we saw, worked so well equality, but allows mate! 26.c7 g8 in Vaisser,A-Sokolov, A/Val d'Isere FRA 27.xg7! xg7 28.d8+ g8 29.e5# ] 2002. ] 25.xd4 The simplest. xh1 26.c3 ad8 6...d5 7.a3 [ 7.b3 was considered in Krasenkow, M- 27.d5 xd5 [ 27...xd5 28.xd5 e1+ leads nowhere, Romanishin,O/Lviv UKR 2000. ] 29.c2 e4+ 30.b3 and the king 7...e7 8.d4!? A novelty, White avoids the escapes to a2. ] capture on d5: Rather than have two pieces for a [ 8.cxd5 exd5 9.d4 as this frees Black's 28.c7! light-squared bishop, c6 10.f4 g4 r o o k W h i t e t a k e s a w h o l e p i e c e ! b3 29.xd8 Roiz,M-Alienkin,A/Beersheba 1998. ] 1-0 8...c5 [ 8...dxc4 9.e4 c6 10.e3 d6 11.0-0-0 b5 appears to be critical, Black goes pawnA18 grabbing but allows W hite space and the 706 Agrest,Evgenij 2607 c e n t r e , t h i s m i g h t c o n t i n u e 12.e5 ( 12.e5?! f5 13.xb5? xe3 14.fxe3 Sturua,Zurab 2536 Olympiad Bled SLO (11) 06.11.2002 d5 ) 12...b7 13.f4 with sharp play. ] 9.dxc5 xc5 10.e3 e7 11.h4 dxc4 [Tony Kosten] 12.xc4 d6?! Black has happily liquidated the centre to allow his pieces to develop, but 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d3 this is a mistake, [ 12...c6 13.d3 f5 is better, although I a6 9.c2?! This seems to be a new move, 702
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 as previously White had always preferred the natural [ 9.0-0 (with a passing threat of Nxe5) but is c5!? p o s s i b l e h e r e , t o o ? ( 9...d6 has been considered in some detail - see the [A18] eBook chapter) 10.c2 ( 10.e2?! e4 11.d4 d6 is more than fine for Black, Petursson,M-Marciano,D/Andorra 1991) 10...g4 11.d4! ( 11.e1 0-0-0 transposes to the game) 11...exd4 12.cxd4 and White is better than in the game, as Black still hasn't castled 0-0-0?! allowing the standard 13.g5 xf3 14.xf6 xd1 15.f5+ although after e6 16.xd8 e2 17.fe1 xc4 Black has a pawn for the exchange. ] 9...g4! [ 9...d6 10.0-0 would transpose to normal l i n e s , b u t B l a c k a s p i r e s t o m o r e ( wi t h some justification). ] 10.0-0 0-0-0 11.e1 c5 12.h3 h5 13.d4 xf3 14.xf3 xf3 15.gxf3 exd4 16.f5+ White was relying on this move to regain his pawn. d7!? Why didn't Black play [ 16...e6 ? I suppose he was worried about 17.g5 d6 18.f4 d7 19.xe6 fxe6 20.xe6 but Black has the resource dxc3! 21.d1 d6 22.xd6 cxd6 23.xd6?? c2! and the pawn queens! ] 17.cxd4 g6 18.e4 g7 Black has pressure on the d4-pawn, and has a slight advantage despite White's two bishops. 19.b1 [ 19.e3?! f5 20.c2 b6 21.c5 d5 is excellent for Black. ] 19...b6 20.c5 This concedes d5, and limits the effectiveness of the white central pawns, but White had no other way of defending d4. d5 21.g5 d7 22.b3 f5! 23.d3 [ 23.xd5? would be positional suicide, White would have bad bishop versus good. ] 23...c6 24.eb1 b6!? A simple choice, but [ 24...xd4! was even better, the attack on the b-file leads nowhere: 25.a6 ( 25.xb7 xb7 26.a6 h6! tran sp ose s) 25...h6! 26.xb7 (if the bishop on g5 moves, then B l a c k c a n d e f e n d b 7 b y . . . R h h 7 ) xb7 27.xb7 c7 or ( 27...hxg5 28.b4+ c7 29.xd4 xh3 and wins. )] 25.cxb6 axb6 26.e3 c7 [ 26...f4! 27.a6+ d8 28.d2 xd4 seems clear enough. ] 27.c4 b5 28.xd5 xd5 29.a4 White tries
everything to generate some activity, but the black position is too easy to play. b6 30.c1 e8?! Black, who is a very strong GM, is showing a bit too much respect to his opponent, and adopts a 'safety-first' policy, but [ 30...xd4 was simple. ] 31.bc3? [ 31.c5 gives some chances, e.g. xc5 32.dxc5+ a5 33.axb5 a4 34.d3 xb5 35.d7 ] 31...e6 32.axb5 cxb5 33.c8 xd4 34.f4 e5 35.e3+ b7 36.f4 b8 White's slight activity counts for little against Black's extra pawn and positional plusses. 37.8c2 e7 38.a2 g5?! Once again, I suspect a shortage of time might be involved here - this was endemic at the 2002 Olympiad. [ 38...e4! ] 39.fxg5? [ 39.a5! gxf4 40.c5 is messy. ] 39...f4 40.c5 ee5! 41.ac2 xg5+ 42.f1?! f3 Now Black wins by direct attack. 43.e7 h2 Flashy! 44.xg5 xg5 45.e1 g1+ [ 45...g1+ 46.d2 f4+ wins a rook. ] 0-1
707 Aronian,Levon Hou,Yifan Tata Steel Chess 2013 (8.3) [John Bartholomew]
A18 2802 2603 20.01.2013
Levon Aronian loves endgames, and he also happens to play them very well! Here he outplays Hou Yifan in a line that had already appeared in the 'B' group. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 [ 7.d4 is the old main line. See the "Mikenas Attack - 3...d5 & Intro". ] 7...e5 8.d3 Presently White's principal try for an advantage. [ 8.d4 c6! 9.d5 ("A computer move") was seen in Naiditsch, A (2698)-Fedorchuk, S (2634) Belfort 2012/[Kosten, Tony]. ] 8...g4!? Houdini's top choice, as played a week earlier by Arkadij Naiditsch in group B. [ Major alternatives are 8...a6 ] [ and 8...d6 . Check the aforementioned 703
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 "Mikenas Attack" guide in the archives. ] 9.e4 d7! This leads to an endgame nearly by force. [ The only other game in this line saw 9...c6?! 10.0-0 0-0-0 , but after 11.a4 d7?! 12.b1 f5 13.xf5+ xf5 14.b5+Black was swiftly crushed in Nakamura, H (2657)-Zarnicki, P (2523) Minneapolis 2005. ] 10.xb7 The following line appears best for both sides. b8 11.d5 c6 12.e4 c5 13.e2 xe4 14.xe4 xf3 15.xf3 xf3 16.gxf3 The computer claims that this endgame is dead equal, but in practice I think White is for choice. His extra pawn isn't too useful at the moment, but it could become significant when the respective structures eventually do clash. Moreover, it's harder to envision an effective plan for Black. In the post-game interview Aronian said that he had analyzed this ending some time ago an d found difficulties for the second player. d6 Taking prophylactic measures against f3-f4. [ Interesting is 16...c5 is best, tying White down to the f2-pawn for awhile. For example, 17.d3 0-0 18.e2 f5!? intending 19.f4 e4 20.d4 d6 . ] [ Instead, the source game Movsesian, SNaiditsch, Wijk aan Zee 2013 saw 16...d7 17.e2 ( 17.d1!? ) 17...d6 18.d1 he8 19.d3 f5 20.h3 f4! and Black was even better for awhile (though the game was eventually drawn). Both Aronian and Hou were undoubtedly aware of this game, so it's intriguing to see them repeat this endgame line. ] 17.d1! Aronian spots a nice summer home for his monarch on c2. d7 18.c2 f5?! This pawn should probably stay on f7. [ Maybe just 18...b6 , preparing to double on the b-file (...Rb6-a6 could also be annoying). ] 19.d3 hf8 20.g1 g6 21.h6 f7 22.ad1 e6 23.c1 Returning home now that the queenside rook has been freed. b6 Aronian questioned the wisdom of this plan. [ 23...fb7 looks logical. ] 24.f4!? a6?! [ Black should play 24...exf4 25.d4 c5 . ] 25.fxe5 xa2+?? It's hard to understand what Hou was thinking.
[ Necessary was 25...xe5 , i.e. 26.c5 c7 27.b3 f6 28.f4 . ] 26.b1 xf2 27.exd6 b7+ 28.a1 xd6 29.d2 f3 30.e1 d7 31.b1+Black is completely lost. It doesn't help that White is one of the best technical players in th e wo rld ! g5 32.c2 f4 33.a3+ c7 34.d4 g4 35.d5 cxd5 36.cxd5 h5 37.e7 g3 38.e5 e3 39.d6+ c6 40.xh5 Black resigned. 8...Bg4!? has the engine's blessing, so I suspect that we haven't seen the last of the ending that occurs after 16. gxf3. Initial impressions suggest that Black needs to have some knowledge of how to proceed (here Naiditsch coped better than Hou). 1-0
708 Aronian,Levon Kramnik,Vladimir Botvinnik Memorial rapid (6) [Nigel Davies]
A18 2807 2791 03.09.2011
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d4 exd4 9.g5 [ 9.cxd4 b4+ shows a plus score for Black in Megabase 2011, which testifies to its total lack of poison. After 9.Bg5 the defence is far more difficult. ] 9...e6+ 10.e2 e7 11.cxd4 xg5 12.xg5 f6 13.d2 0-0 14.0-0 c6 15.d5 [ In an internet game Garry Kasparov played 15.f3 but after g4 16.ad1 ad8 17.d5 xf3 18.xf3 e5 19.e2 b6 20.fe1 fe8 21.f1 d7 Black had an excellent position due to the nice outpost for his knight o n c 5 . A n d h e e ve n w e n t o n t o wi n i n Kasparov, G-Zarnicki, P/ICC INT 1998. ] 15...d4 16.e4 A new move from Aronian, merrily allowing Black to exchange his knight for the bishop on e2. [ In earlier games White had played 16.d3 , for example f5 17.xf5 xf5 18.e4 g6 ( 18...h4 19.fe1 fe8 20.d3 d6 21.g3 e7 22.xd6 xd6 was equal and later drawn in Bukal, V Rosandic, D/Zadar 1995) 19.fe1 ad8 20.f4 b6 21.a4 d6 22.xd6 xd6 704
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.xd6 xd6 24.a5 1/2-1/2 was Cramling, 4.cxd5 exd5 5.e5 e4 D-Wiedenkeller, M/Stockholm 1993. ] [ 5...d4 was played against me in August, 16...xe2+ 17.xe2 g6 18.fe1 f5 but somehow I was not able to remember [ In retrospect Black might have wished he'd my analysis and I needed to be caref ul p l a y e d t h e m o r e c o n s e r v a t i v e 18...b6 6.exf6 dxc3 7.e2+ ( 7.b5+ The following sequence, which leads to the w a s m y r e c o m m e n d a t i o n i n J u l y c6 loss of W hite's c4 pawn, gives W hite a 8.e2+ ) 7...e6 8.dxc3 xf6 9.b5+ dangerous initiative. ] d7 10.xb7 e5+ 11.e2 d5 12.b5 19.g3 d3 Going for it. c5 with good compensation, Fier, A (2595)[ But 19...d7 was safer. ] Van Ketel, R (2241)/Vienna Open 2013. ] 20.e5 xc4 21.f5 Threatening a nasty 6.f3 f o rk o n e 7 . h8 22.e3 d3 23.xc7 [ 6.d4 was the subject of Ding, L (2707)-Wei, The net result of the last few moves is that Y (2530)/Danzhou 4th 2013. ] White has secured a powerful passed d-pawn. 6...f5 7.e2 This position is far from easy for Black now. [ 7.b3 it looks like this move was popular e4 24.f4 fe8 25.f3 d3 26.ad1 h5 in correspondence in the 90's with terrible 27.d2 b5 28.ed1 ad8 29.d6 results for White c5 8.xd5 c6 The passed pawn is making its presence felt. A) 9.d4 b4 10.xd8+ xd8 11.g5 c6 30.d7?! As this was a rapidplay game ( 11.b5+!? can bring some funny we must forgive the players a few complications, but not necessarily good for inaccuracies. White c6 12.0-0 cxb5 13.dxc5 xc5 [ 30.c4 was better, keeping an iron grip on 14.g5 c8 15.xb5 d3 16.d6+ the position. ] xd6 17.exd6 xf1 18.e1+ d7 30...e6 31.c4 f6? Missing his chance. 19.e5+ e6 and the computer gives the [ Black should have played 31...xd7 when habitual 0.00 with 20.d7 or 20.Kxf1 32.e5 ( 32.xd7?? xd7 33.xd7 b1+ 20.g6+ ) 11...c2+ 12.d2 e7 would see W hite get mated) 32...xe5 13.xe7 xe7 14.d1 xd4 15.xd4 33.xe5 xd2 34.xd2 xf3 is far from xd4+ 16.e3 xd1 17.xd1 f6 clear. ] a n d B la c k is sl ig h t l y m o re a c t iv e b u t 32.xf6 gxf6 33.a5 g7 34.d4 f5 maybe White can hold the balance; 35.f2 b6 36.xc6 xc6 37.g3 B) 9.xd8+ xd8 10.d4 xd4 11.xd4 The rook endgame is winning for White. c2 xd4 12.e3 d7 13.d1 d3+ 38.f4 g6 39.e5 e2+ 40.d6 f6 14.xd3 xd3 is also not so nice to play 41.d5 xg2 42.c7 gg8 43.f4 gf8 with White; 44.g1 e7 45.d6 C) 9.b5 xd5 10.xd5 0-0-0 1-0 and the Black pieces are active enough to compensate the pawn and even give an advantage ] 709 A18 [ 7.d4 would be a normal way to develop A) 7...c5 here is not precise because of Aronian,Levon 2813 8.b3! c6 ( 8...xc3 fails here, but not Lysyj,Igor 2648 in the game 9.xb7! ) FIDE World Cup (2.2) 15.08.2013 A1) 9.xe4!? sends things out of [Fier, Alexandr] control dxe4 10.d5 b4 11.a3 xd5 ( 11...xd5 12.c4 ) 12.c4 c2+ One more time W hite goes for 4.cxd5 but 13.xc2 exf3 14.xd5 xc2 15.xb7 playing 6.Nf3 instead of the 6.d4 analyzed in fxg2 16.xa8 gxh1+ 17.xh1; Ding - Wey in July, probably based on another A2) 9.xb7 is better c8 10.b5 d7 game from Lisyj. Soon something went wrong 11.xc6 xc6 12.b3 c4 13.c2 for Aronian and Lisyj could have given him big and Black hasn't enough for the pawn; problems. I would take a look at playing 10. B) 7...b4 8.d2 ( 8.a4+ c6 9.b5 Nxd4 instead. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 705
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d7 10.d2 xc3 11.xc3 0-0 and both sides has their own plusses) 8...xd2 9.xd2 0-0 is given as equal by Ribli in Rojas, L (2455)-Milos, G (2555)/ Villa Martelli 1998. ] 7...c5N This is a natural novelty. [ 7...c6 8.0-0 d7 9.d4 e7 was some kind of Petroff, but there is not much reason to not bring the pawn to c5 and combat the center, Zvjaginsev, V (2678)-Lysyj, I (2628)/ EU-Cup 28th Eilat 2012. ] 8.d4 [ 8.b3 now this is not so threatening because xc3 9.dxc3 ( 9.xb7 is not possible xe2-+ ) 9...d7 10.0-0 e7= ] 8...c6 9.0-0 cxd4 10.b5 [ 10.xd4 is slightly better compared to the game xd4 11.xd4 c5! ( 11...xc3 12.bxc3 only helps White e7?! 13.b5+ ) A) 12.a4+!? is an idea to surprise Black d7 13.b3 0-0! Black needs to be quick, to compensate the lost pawn with activity ( 13...xc3 14.xc3 b6 15.e6! a n d B l a c k ' s k i n g wi l l n e v e r b e s a f e) 14.xd5 ( 14.xd5? e6 15.c4 b5-+; 14.xb7 f5 15.xd5 b8 16.c6 c8 17.b7 b8= ) 14...c6 15.xd8 axd8 16.xe4 xe4 and the idea of ...Bd4 makes things even.; B) 12.b5+ d7 13.xd5 xb5 14.xb5 ( 14.xd8+ is just drawn xd8 15.xb5 xf2 16.b4 h3+ 17.h1 f2+ 18.g1= ) 14...xd5 15.c7+ d7 16.xd5 ae8 17.f4 c6 18.c3 xc3 19.bxc3 d8 and probably Black is fine, but still this extra pawn can make a difference. ] 10...d3! The main point of this move is put the d3-bishop in the way of d4. If White manages to play Nbd4 without any problem, his position will be better. 11.xd3 c5 12.g5 [ 12.e2 is a normal setup, going to trade the black squared bishops, but still Black is ok. There will always be counterplay on e5 0-0 13.e3 xe3 14.xe3 g6= ] [ 12.e3 tryin g to m ix th in gs u p xe3 13.xe4 dxe4 14.d6+ f8 15.xf5 exf3 16.fxe3 fxg2 17.xg2 xe5 18.c1 with enough compensation for the pawn. ] 12...b6
[ 12...xg5 enters some unnecessary co m p lica t io n s, 13.xg5 ( 13.xf5 0-0 14.xg5 xg5 15.xh7+ xh7 16.c2+ g8 17.xc5 xe5 is u n b a la n c e d) 13...xg5 14.c7+ d7 15.xa8 d4! covering d5 ( 15...h3 would enter another typical computer line 16.e4 d4 17.xd5 xa8 18.c1 xc1 19.a4+ b5 20.xc1 bxa4 21.xc5 e2+ 22.f1 b8 23.gxh3 f4= ) 16.xf5+ xf5 17.c1 xe5 18.f3 xa8 19.xf7+ e7 20.xd5+ d6 21.f7+ e7= ] 13.h4 The position is nothing special for W hite, but after two moves it will become worse. I would not imagine White going back to 13.Be3 after just playing 12.Bg5, but it's hard to suggest anything interesting. [ 13.d6+ xd6 14.exd6 0-0 leads nowhere ] [ 13.e3 0-0 ( 13...xe3 14.xe4 dxe4 15.d6+ f8 16.fxe3 xe3+ 17.h1 complicates things with no reason) 14.xc5 xc5= ] 13...0-0 14.a3 [ 14.c3 does not work tactically xb2 ( 14...xc3 15.bxc3 ) 15.xd5 xe5 16.b1 xa2-+ and the d5-knight is also hanging ] 14...fe8 Now the e5-pawn is going to fall. 15.c1 [ 15.b4 e7 ( 15...f8 16.c1 a5 ) 16.xe7 ( 16.c1 xh4 17.xh4 e6 18.f3 g4 ) 16...xe7 17.d6 c3! 18.d2 xd3 19.xd3 xe5 20.xe5 xe5 21.xc3 xd6 with some play, but a pawn up for Black ] 15...xe5 16.xe5 xe5 17.xe4? xe4? [ 17...dxe4 was really strong, with the idea of 18...e3 18.g3 I imagine this was the reason he avoided this line, but Black has a trick, ( 18.c3 e3 ) 18...xf2+! 19.xf2 ( 19.xf2 xb5 ) 19...xb5 20.xa7 e3 21.d4 e2 22.fe1 ae8-+ ] 18.g3 f5 19.c3 And somehow White is back in the game! f8 [ 19...xb2? 20.a4 ] 20.e2 The rook on f5 is a bit misplaced and the e4-bishop is good but has no squares. e8 21.fd1 Threatening 22.Nxd5. e6 22.b5 d4 [ 22...xb5 23.xb5 b6 24.d4 h5 706
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 25.b4 is too discoordinated. ] 23.xb6 axb6 24.xe4 xe4 25.f3 e8 26.f2 fe5 27.f1 White might be slightly better, but nothing serious, Lysyj defended we l l a n d t h e r e s t o f t h e g a m e i s n o t s o interesting. g6 28.xd4 5e6 29.f2 g7 30.c2 a8 31.d3 c6 32.xc6 bxc6 33.xb6 xb2 34.c5 g7 35.e2 f8 36.xf8 xf8 37.d2 e7 38.c2 e6 39.b3 b8+ 40.c3 b1 41.c2 b7 42.c3 b1 43.d2 c5 44.c2 b7 45.d1 h5 46.a4 a7 47.b3 b7+ 48.c3 a7 49.a1 a5 50.h4 d5 51.b3 c6 52.c4 d6 53.a2 e5 54.g3 d6 55.a1 e5 56.f4+ d6 57.b3 c6 58.f1 a7 59.f5 b7+ 60.c3 a7 61.fxg6 fxg6 62.f4 d5 63.g4 e5 64.c4 d5 ½-½
[ 8...f5!? is also possible, perhaps. ] 9.e2 [ 9.xe4 dxe4 10.xe4 d7 and ...Bc6 gives Black bags of compensation for the piece, and ] [ 9.cxd5 exd5 10.xe4 dxe4 11.xe4 d7 likewise, but ] [ 9.d1!? is worth a try, planning to trap the e4-knight by d3, a5 10.e2!? (to unpin the d-pawn) b5 11.d3 xd3 12.xd3 bxc4 wi t h t w o p a w n s a n d l o t s o f p o s i t i o n a l compensation for the piece. ] 9...f5 Black bolsters his powerful knight. 10.0-0 0-0 11.d1!? Again hoping to win the e4-knight, White plans for more than [ 11.d3 xc3 12.bxc3 c6 13.cxd5 exd5 which is only equal. ] 11...dxc4 12.xc4 b5! Black will give White no time to play d3. 13.xb5 b6 14.c4 a6 15.e3!? Again the most ambitious, although 710 A18 [ 15.d3 is also possible, xc4 16.dxc4 fd8 17.f2 xf2 18.xf2 d3+ 19.g1 d7 Azmaiparashvili,Zurab 2676 and Black's control of the d-file and strong Ivanchuk,Vassily 2711 knight provides an excellent return for the Saraybahce Blitz Exhib (2) 08.2002 pawn. ] [Tony Kosten] 15...fd8 Carefully controlling d3. 16.b3 h8 d3 Black's knights form an T h i s is 'o n l y' a b l it z ga m e , b u t is a ve r y 17.g3 impressive crush, even so. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 impressive pair. 18.b2 d7 Black improves e6 3.e4 c6!? This is a move I hadn't seen his position. 19.c3 ad8 20.c2 [ 20.xa6 xa6 21.c4 is another way, but before, normally Black plays how can White shift those two knights? ] [ 3...d5 or ] 20...b7 Black eyes the weak h1-a8 diagonal. [ 3...c5 ] 21.ad1 c6 The way Ivanchuk's pieces 4.f4!? have all gravitated to superb squares is quite [ 4.d4 is more natural: b4 5.f3 d5 6.e5 22.xd3 xd3 23.e1? d7 7.cxd5 exd5 8.f4 but this isn't too bad amazing. for Black, Adorjan, A-McCambridge,V/New This is a blunder, but it is almost impossible to successfully defend such a position in a York 1984. ] blitz game. xe3?! This is winning, but 4...d5 5.e5 e4 [ 23...xc3 24.dxc3 h1+ 25.f2 xh2+ [ 5...d4 6.exf6 dxc3 7.bxc3 xf6 8.d4 is somewhat simpler. ] is like the 3... d5 mainline, except that with the pawn on f4 Black can no longer free 24.dxe3 xd1 25.xd1 xc3 26.f3 a6 himself with ...e5, Luetzen,M-Premke,S/ 27.h5 g6 28.h3 e2+ 29.f2 xa2 0-1 Passau 1999. ] 6.f3 ...Qh4+ was a threat. e7 7.c2 b4 8.b1 c5! A novelty, [ 8...xc3?! is too compliant, 9.bxc3 a6 10.d4 White has a strong centre, and the black knight has been driven offside, Stef f ensen,S-Fredericia,L/Copenhagen 1998. ] 707
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A18 there is no real defence. Bareev,Evgeny 2709 1-0 Rozentalis,Eduardas 2630 Bundesliga 2000-1 (13) 01.04.2001 712 A18 [Tony Kosten] Bratanov,Zsivko 2438 Antonov,Ognjan 2123 1.c4 e6 2.c3 f6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 29.08.2002 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d3 GP Izmir TUR (2) [Tony Kosten] d6 9.0-0 0-0 10.e4!? [ This is less usual, the main line, 10.c2 is examined in the archives, whilst ] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 [ 10.e1 is also seen there. ] 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 c5!? 10...c6 11.c2 h6 12.b1 White aims to This is the main alternative to cause Black problems on the queenside. [ 7...e5 ] a5?! 8.f3 h6 Black stops the threatened Bg5, but [ A new idea, Gelfand considered. 12...e6 [ 8...cxd4 is also a possibility, 9.g5 f5 to be forced, 13.d3 d8 14.d4!? xc4 10.cxd4 b4+ 11.d2 c6 1-0 Tal,M15.d3 e6 16.e1 c6 Gelfand,BSosonko,G/Wijk 1976. ] Yegiazarian,A/Yerevan 1996, when 17.e4 9.d3 c6!? Maybe best, Black retains the maintained an edge. ] central tension. 13.a4 f5 The tricky point of Black's play. [ 9...cxd4 is the main move, to develop the 14.xf5 xf5 15.b5 f 8 - b i s h o p wi t h c h e c k , 10.cxd4 b4+ [ 15.xa5? xb1 ] 11.f1!? ( 11.d2 xd2+ 12.xd2 0-0 15...b6 16.c5 So far this is forced. The text 13.0-0 offers White extra space, Oratovsky, seems strong as White wins a pawn. e7 M-Kruppa,Y/Budapest 1999) 11...c6 [ Rathe r tha n 16...xc5? 17.xc5 bxc5 12.b2 c5 13.c2 0-0 14.d3 18.xa5 e4 19.d4! d5 20.b3 favours W hite, Seirawan,Y-Kortschnoj,V/ and the c5-pawn is lost. ] Wijk aan Zee 1980. ] 17.cxb6 axb6 18.xe5 f6 So, White has 10.0-0! White offers the d-pawn as bait! won the e-pawn, what compensation does [ 10.b2 d6 11.0-0 0-0 12.e2 e5 Black have? Firstly, he has a slight lead in is plea sant f or Bla ck, as the b2 -bisho p development, and secondly the a2-pawn is does lit tle , Kramn ik,V -Ton g Yuanm ing/ weak, and on an open file. However, a pawn is Singapore 1990. ] a pawn! 19.e2 d6 20.fe1 f5 21.d4 10...cxd4 White scores very heavily after this d5 Training his sights on a2. 22.d3 fd8 pawn grab, perhaps 23.c2 f8 24.e5 d7 25.5e3 [ 10...d6 is more prudent, 11.b1 0-0 To cover the d3-pawn. c5 26.f3 c6 12.e2 e7 Black keeps the c-pawns 27.b1 d6 28.d2! White is doing his d o u b l e d , C r a m l i n g , D - S c h u l z, K / S l u p s k utmost to keep the advantage, the knight aims 1987. ] for d5. a5 29.e4 c6 30.c4! If Black 11.cxd4 xd4 plays ...c4 first, the c1-bishop will be weak. [ 11...c5!? might be possible, as the dd7 31.c3 ad8 32.h3 d6 33.g3 d7 pawn is pinned along he a1-h8 diagonal, but 34.d5 White has carefully prepared this I cannot find any examples of it. ] possibility, and now envisages developing his 12.xd4 xd4 13.b1 White prepares Bb2, bishop. b5! 35.f4 e6 36.xe6 xe6 h i s l e a d i n d e v e l o p m e n t i s m o r e t h a n 37.c7 a8 38.e3 g6 39.xb5 sufficient compensation for the pawn [ Strong, although 39.xa5 xa5 40.e8 sacrificed. d6 Black defends his g-pawn with mu s t s u re ly b e win n in g t o o , t h e kn igh t a little tactic, but maybe other moves could dominates the black bishop. ] also be considered: 39...c6 40.g3 e6 41.e3 g6 42.b7! [ 13...c5!? 14.b5 d6 15.f3 xa2 43.e8 White threatens Rxf8+, and 1/2-1/2 Krause,C-Kretschel,K/Bayern 1996, 711
708
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 although both sides could continue. ] [ 13...h4!? 14.g3 h3? Lellis, MZampronha,W/Sao Caetano do Sul 1999, and now 15.e4! is simple and strong. ] 14.b2 h4 [ 14...f4 15.g3 g5 transposes to the note below. ] 15.g3 h3?? A most unfortunate novelty! Clearly Black has hopes of playing . ..h5-h4 or forcing a perpetual should White snatch the gpawn, but there is a big flaw. [ 15...g5! is correct, A) 16.h4!? is aggressive, but weakening, e7 ( 16...c5! ) 17.g4 ( 17.c5!? xc5 18.xg7 g8 19.b5+ is good fun, d7 20.xd7+ xd7 21.xd7+ xd7 22.xb7+ with some advantage) 17...f6 18.g6+ f8 19.bd1 b5?? ( 19...c5 ) 20.xd6! xd6 21.f3 1-0 Cox,JRichmond,P/ Southport 1983, as W hite threatens the rook on a8 and Bxf6.; B) 16.e4 c5 17.c1!? e7 18.f3 1/2-1/2 Chekhov,V-Cherepkov,A/ Yaroslav 1982. ] 16.e4?! This is good, but [ 16.e2! threatens to trap the queen with Bg4, and to take the bishop on d6, and wins on the spot. ] 16...c7 17.d4 e5 18.c5 d7 19.a3 W hite has a truly virulent initiative, Black's game has already disintegrated. b6 20.c6! [ 20.c6 b8 21.bd1 xc6 22.xc6+ wins everything. ] 1-0
713 Bruzon Batista,Lazaro Zarnicki,Pablo Open Santo Domingo DOM (5) [Tony Kosten]
A18 2603 2513 30.11.2003
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d4 exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 e7 11.cxd4 xg5 12.xg5 e7 13.d2 c6 14.d5 e5 15.0-0 0-0 16.fe1 f5 17.f4 f6 18.f3 fe8 19.h4! Ivanchuk's innovation from last month. g6 20.xf5 xh4 21.f1 b6!? Already a new move, which is based on a subtle tactical point.
[ 21...d4 22.d7 xe1 23.xe1 c5 24.h4! allowed White to keep a useful initiative in Ivanchuk, V-Nielsen,P/ Skanderborg DEN 2003. ] 22.g3 All part of White's plan, driving the black queen away, followed by h4-5 to dislodge the black knight. [ 22.d7 i s l e s s e f f e c t i ve n o w , e5! 23.xc7 f4 (with a very nasty threat) 24.h1 ac8 and White has to be careful, e.g. 25.xa7?? ( 25.b7 is better, and this reveals the point behind Black's 21st move, with the pawn still on b7 this would win a further pawn! g4 26.g3 xf2 27.e2 d e f e n d s , a s t h e e 2 - r o o k i s i m m u n e) 25...g4 26.g3 xf2 forcing mate. ] [ However, 22.ad1 might be an improvement, as Black must find a useful move, and if ad8 23.g3 is stronger as the black queen cannot go to d4 or d8 (as in the game). ] 22...d8 [ 22...d4 is also possible. ] 23.h4 Continuing in thematic style, but White misses a chance to gain control over the e-file: [ 23.e4! xe4 24.xe4 d6 25.e1 a n d h e re h 4 -5 a n d B h 3 will h a ve m o re effect. ] 23...d6 24.h5 f8 [ 24...e5! is inte resting, 25.g4 xe1 26.xe1 e5 27.e4 e8 28.g2! e7 29.f5 d7 and Black seems OK. ] 25.h3 e7 Black takes advantage of White's inaccuracy to double rooks himself. 26.h6 g6 27.g5 ae8 Black has no problems. ½-½
714 Bunzmann,Dimitrij Riazantsev,Alexander FRA-chT Top 12 (5.3) [Kosten, Tony]
A18 2464 2692 28.05.2014
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 e5 8.f3 c6! This move brings back bad memories of my loss to Wesley So a couple of years ago! Time to have another look at it, and most importantly the games played during the last t w o y e a r s . 9.xe5 Not the best move, but 709
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Dimitrij plays very little these days (and was enjoying the Top12 in Saint-Quentin with his family) and might have been unaware of the fairly recent theory. [ 9.g5 still looks best, g6 10.d5 A) 10...e7!? has been played by Crouch a c o u p le o f t im e s, b u t 11.a4+! c6 ( 11...d7? 12.xd7+! Ouch! xd7 13.xe5+ ) 12.e3 f6 13.d1 with advantage, Reinderman, D (2597)Buscher, M (2334) Germany 2012, 1-0 (38).; B) 10...b8 B1) 11.h4 h6!? (m a yb e be st ) 12.h5 ( 12.e2!? hxg5 13.xe5 h5 14.g4 xg4 15.xg4+ d8 16.g2 Steingrimsson, H (2556)-Lysyj, I (2656) Plovdiv 2012, 0-1 (43), d7 when White doesn't have quite enough for the piece. ) 12...d6 13.e3 d7 14.d2 f6 15.e2 f5 16.0-0 e7 is nothing for White, Gerzhoy, L (2478)Adamson, R (2278) St Louis 2013 1-0 (74).; B2) 11.e3 d7 12.a4 c6 13.a5?! l o o k s v e r y o d d , b6 14.a4 b7 15.d3? but White was worse anyway, Bu, X (2662)-Wei, Y (2530) China 2013, 0-1 (32). Now Black has a choice of wins (which he didn't play!) For instance, xd3 16.dxc6 xc3+ 17.e2 c8; B3) 11.d2 d6 12.d3 h5 13.e3 a6 1/2-1/2 Abasov, N (2465)-Sadorra, J (2551) Richardson 2013.; B4) 11.d3 f5 ( 11...f5! was my recommendation in 'DW Flank'. ) 12.a4+ ( always played, but 12.xf5 xf5 13.0-0 d7 14.a4 is also possible. ) B4a) I've previously suggested 12...d7 here, let's see: 13.c2 f5 14.0-0 e4 15.fe1 d6 16.c5 xc5 ( or 16...0-0!? ) 17.xe4! fxe4 18.xe4+ f8 19.ae1 d6 20.b3 a6! 21.xb7 c8 (the a6-knight is in d ire ct ly d ef e n de d b y t h e que e n ) 22.e7+ g8 pretty unclear.; B4b) 12...d7?! 13.0-0 ( 13.h4! h a s n e v e r b e e n p l a y e d , b u t xg5 14.xf5 looks awkward for Black, d8 15.xd7+ xd7 16.f3 e7 17.0-0
m e n a c i n g b o t h N x e 5 a n d Q x a 7 .) 13...d6 B4b1) worse than the previously played 14.xf5 xf5 15.c5 xc5 16.xe5 f6 17.g4! xe5 18.ae1 0-0-0 19.xe5 xe5 20.e3 xe3 21.fxe3 b8 22.d4! ( 22.b1 b6 23.c4?! h5! Barnes, M (2335)Garcia, G (2540) London 1994, 0-1 (50). ) 22...h6 23.c4 he8 24.c5 with advantage, Kortschnoj, V (2645)Ashley, M (2460) New York 1996, 1-0 (36).; B4b2) 14.h4!? xg5 15.xf5 Williams, S (2515)-Faisal, A (2255) A l A i n 2 0 1 2 , 1 - 0 ( 2 6 ) , wh e n d8 is perfectly f ine for Black, he will castle and play ...Nc5. ] [ 9.e2 exd4 10.cxd4 b4+ 11.d2 xd2+ 12.xd2 (Wesley So told me he thought this was 'drawn') 0-0 13.h3?! ( 13.0-0 g4 14.d5 xf3 15.xf3 e5 16.e4 D'Israel, D (2250)-Leitao, R (2545) Sao Caetano do Sul 1999, 1/2-1/2 (25).) 13...d8 14.d1 xd4! 15.xd4 c5 winning a pawn, Nikologorskiy, K (2400)Shomoev, A (2571) St Petersburg 2012, 1/ 2-1/2 (64). ] [ 9.dxe5?! xe5 10.e2 d6 wa s m y ga m e a ga in st S o , W (2 6 5 3 ) a t Belfort 2012, 0-1 (37). ] 9...xe5 10.e2 e7 [ 10...f5!? looks like a mistake, but 11.f4 0-0-0 12.fxe5 g6 13.e3 e8 14.e2 f6 15.0-0 fxe5 16.dxe5 b6 17.h1 c5 18.f3 Ibarra Chami, L (2489)-Adamson, R (2 2 8 7 ) L a s V e ga s 2 0 1 3 , 1 -0 (3 3 ) , xe5 regains the pawn with advantage, as 19.f4 xe2! 20.xe2 d3 21.f3 xf1 22.a8+ d7 23.d5+ d6 24.xf1 f8 with the better structure. ] 11.dxe5!? The first new move, but it is no i m p r o ve m e n t , a n d i t wo u l d b e b e t t e r t o exchange queens by [ 11.xe5 xe5+ 12.dxe5 f5 13.e2 0-0-0 when, as I previously wrote: "Black has more than enough compensation for the pawn in the shape of W hite's poor queenside formation", Socko, B (2636)-Lysyj, I (2633) Moscow 2012, 1/2-1/2 (45). ] 11...g6 12.e3 710
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 12.h4!? ] 12...f5 13.e2?! [ 13.g3 is safer, but then he could have exchanged queens more easily on move 11. ] 13...xg2! Now the white king will have to stay in the centre. 14.f3 g6 15.xb7 b8 16.d5 c6! [ 16...0-0 17.g3 ] 17.xa7? [ W h i t e h a d t o r e t r e a t , 17.f3 0-0 although his position remains unpleasant. ] 17...d8 18.f3 [ 18.a4? 0-0! 19.xc6 xd5! 20.cxd5 ( 20.xg6 xe5+ ) 20...g2 21.f1 d3 forces mate. ] 18...g4! Black plays very accurately. 19.a3!? [ 19.xg4 e4+ 20.e2 xh1+ is also horrible. ] [ 19.g1? is impossible here, xf3 20.xg6 d1# ] 19...xa3 [ T h e c o m p u t e r m o v e 19...g5!! w i n s q u i c k l y , 20.xg4 e4+ 21.e2 xh1+ 22.f1 e4+ 23.e2 d2+ 24.d1 e3+ and the queen drops. ] 20.g1 Now this is possible. b2 21.xg4 d3 22.xc6+ f8 Black is slightly inconvenienced, but is still winning. 23.f3 Forced, otherwise ...Bxc3 was mate. xc3+ 24.f2 xa1 Now Black has a rook for two pawns, but White (who used to be a 2550+ player) manages to find some resources. 25.d5! c2+ 26.g1 f5 Defending f7. 27.a3+ g8 28.e7 f8 [ 28...b8! as 29.e6 b1+! forces mate. ] 29.e6 g6 30.exf7+ g7 [ 30...xf7 was legal, 31.xf7+ xf7 32.f4 xd5 33.cxd5 g7 but Black might have problems with his 'wrong rook's pawn'. ] 31.h4 f6 32.a7 b1+ 33.g2 c2+ 34.f1 h2 35.a4 xh4 36.a5 h1+ [ 36...h5! ] 37.g1 h3+ 38.g2 f5 39.e2?! d3! The threat of ...Qd1+ is very unpleasant. 40.e3 There is nothing else, but now it's trivial. xe3 41.xe3 xf7 42.xf7 xf7 43.a6 a8 44.a3 e6 45.g2 e7 46.a5 d8 47.a1 d6 48.d1+ c6
49.f4 c7 50.f5 gxf5 51.a1 b6 0-1
715 Delchev,Aleksander Pilgaard,Kim XXI Open Cullera ESP (4) [Tony Kosten]
A18 2629 2438 22.07.2001
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d3 d6 9.0-0 0-0 10.e4 c6 11.c2 h6 12.b1 c5! [ A novelty, Black takes measures to stop both d4, and Rb5 followed by c5. However, in a way this will only encourage W hite to expand with d4, but it seems that Black h o l d s o n b y a w h i s k e r . 12...a5?! came a cropper in Bareev,E - Rozentalis,E, wh ic h we h a ve a lre a d y e xa m in e d , la s t April. ] 13.e1 e8 14.b5 b6! [ This looks suicidal, weakening the h1-a8 diagonal, but if Black can get away with it, h e w i l l b e d o i n g w e l l . 14...d6? appears possible, but loses to the beautiful line: 15.d4! (thematic) exd4 16.cxd4 xd4 17.xd4 xd4 ( 17...xd4? 18.d5 ) 18.b2 d6 19.c3! ( much stronger than 19.h7+?! w h e n , a f t e r f8 20.xg7+ xg7 21.xe8 Black has the resource f5! 22.xf5 xe8 ) 19...f6 20.d5+ f8 ( 20...e6 21.xe6+ xe6 22.xe6 xe6 23.xc5 wins a piece) 21.xe8+ xe8 22.xc5 xc5 23.a3 b6 24.e1+ and Black has to play e6 to avoid mate, but it is hopeless. ] 15.d4 This is certainly critical, and if White tries anything else he will just find his rook driven back, Black will then finish his development (by ...Bb7, and ... Rad8, for in st a n ce ), an d m a y e ve n b e b e t t e r. exd4 16.h7+ [ 16.cxd4 xd4! will transpose. ] 16...f8 17.xe8+ xe8 18.e4+ [ Again, 18.cxd4 xd4 19.e4+ t r a n s p o s e s , a s d o e s ( 19.xd4 xd4 20.e4+ )] 18...e6 19.cxd4 xd4! 20.xd4? [ T h i s l e a ve s W h i t e i n t r o u b l e , 20.xc5! 711
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is t h e b e s t t r y: bxc5 21.xa8 e2+ ( 21...xf3+? 22.gxf3 ) 22.h1 xc1 23.xa7 xc4 24.xc7 ( 24.b8 d8 25.f5 a6 ) 24...e6 25.b8+ ] [ White has to eliminate the c5-bishop, as th e im me diat e 20.xa8?? allows mate in four: xf3+ 21.gxf3 e1+ 22.g2 xf2+ 23.h1 g1# ] 20...xd4 21.e3 [ The queen cannot capture either of the black pieces, e.g. 21.xd4?? e1# ] 21...c6! [ 21...xe4?! 22.xe4 xe3 23.e5+ f8 24.xa8 leaves White an exchange up, although Black is solid. ] 22.f5? [ and White, perhaps sensing that he was in trouble, punted the draw offer, which was a c c e p t e d . H o w e v e r , a f t e r 22.f5 t h e s i m p l e l i n e xe4 23.xe4 cxb5 24.xd4 ( 24.xa8 xe3 25.fxe3 bxc4 is quite hopeless) 24...b7! 25.xb7 d8 wins for Black!! ] [ 22.xd4!? cxb5 23.e4 b8 24.cxb5 may offer White's best practical chance. ] ½-½
same idea as 4. e5 d4, but the important difference is that the e-file is now open, giving White the opportunity to play Qe2+ sooner or later, 6.exf6 dxc3 7.b5+!? I prefer this move, developing one more piece bef ore the check ( 7.e2+ e6 8.dxc3 xf6 9.b5+ d7 10.xb7 e5+ 11.e2 d5 12.b5 c5 gives Black nice compensation. It's still not clear how White is going to finish his development.) 7...c6 ( 7...c6 would be natural, but allows White to wait before taking the pawn on c3 8.e2+ e6 9.c4 ) 8.e2+ e6 9.dxc3 ( 9.c4? is now answered by d4 ) 9...xf6 10.f3 d6 11.d4 0-0 12.xe6 ae8 13.c4 ( 13.xf8 xe2+ 14.xe2 xf8 i s a l s o p o s s i b l e) 13...fxe6 14.0-0 looks promising for White, with the bishop pair and better structure. ] 6.d4 [ 6.f3 c6 7.b5 is also interesting and wa s a n a l y ze d b y W a t s o n i n t h e g a m e Korchnoi-Nielsen, see the archives. ] 6...b4 7.a4+ c6 8.b5 d7 9.ge2 This is the main point of waiting to develop the knight. Here it protects c3 and d4 and leaves the f-pawn free to annoy the knight on e4. 716 A18 [ 9.xc6 makes little sense, xc3+ 10.bxc3 xc6 11.c2 b5 and Black has nothing to Ding,Liren 2707 worry about. ] Wei,Yi 2530 Danzhou 4th (2) 21.05.2013 9...0-0 10.0-0 xc3 [ 10...xc3 tries to keep the bishop but [Fier, Alexandr] White can claim an edge after 11.bxc3 e7 12.b3 h i t t i n g d 5 a5 ( 12...e6 Ding Liren is another one to try the less played 13.d3 ) 13.b1 xb5 14.xb5 c6 4.cxd5, which avoids the theoretical mainlines 15.d3 c4 16.g3 White has a clear in the Mikenas, and easily got a good position. pla n o f a tt acking o n t he kin gside wh ile I th in k t he po pu la rit y o f th is id ea sh ou ld Black still needs to find something concrete increase a lot in the coming months. 1.c4 f6 on the queenside. ] 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.cxd5 This line is increasingly popular since sometimes the 11.bxc3 [ 11.xc3 e8 ( 11...xc3 12.bxc3 e8 positions with 4.e5 are a bit too simple, 13.f4 ) 12.xc6 xc6 13.c2 ] [ 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 11...a6 12.xc6 xc6 13.c2 f6 is much more common by far. ] After this move Black is in real danger but the 4...exd5 5.e5 e4 [ 5...fd7 is comfortable for White 6.d4 c5 position is already more pleasant for White. [ 13...b5 would be an option, to activate the 7.f3 c6 8.b5 a6 9.g5 a5 10.xc6 bishop, 14.a4 bxc6 11.0-0 San Segundo Carrillo, P A) 14...xe2?! 15.xe2 f5 ( 15...xc3 (2495)-Mitkov, N (2455)/ESP-chT 16.e3 e4 17.f3+- ) 16.f3 g5 Ponferrada 1997. ] 17.xg5 xg5 18.a5 with a clear [ 5...d4 is the main alternative and has the 712
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 positional advantage.; B) 14...c4 15.f3 g5 16.f2 c5 17.xg5 xg5 18.f4 e7 19.f5 cxd4 20.cxd4 h4 21.f4 looks dangerous for Black as well. ] 14.f3 g5 15.xg5 fxg5 16.f4 d7?! I don't think Black can survive with two white pawns on e5 and f5. [ 16...b5 17.f5 g4 18.f2 doesn't change so much ] [ 16...gxf4 this should be played 17.xf4 g5 18.e6 xf1+ 19.xf1 g4 20.f4 ( 20.xc7? is not advisable c8 21.e6! White can still draw by finding some good moves xc7 22.f2 h6 23.f8+ h7 24.d8 b5 25.xc7 xf1 26.xf1 f5+ 27.g1 xe6= ) 20...f8 21.h3 g5 22.d2 White has a better knight and a passed pawn, but Black can still fight at least. ] 17.f5 a4 18.b1 b5 19.e6 [ 19.f2 xe2 20.xe2 xf5 21.xb7 is also good for White ] 19...e7 20.f2 h5 21.g4! h4 [ 21...hxg4 gives a nice place for the knight 22.g3 c5 23.d1 cxd4 24.cxd4 ac8 25.xg4 and Black is in trouble. ] 22.c1 c4 23.d3 xd3 24.xd3 a5 25.b1 b6 26.e2 fd8 27.f1 [ 27.e5! would be enough for the win d6 28.b5 ad8 29.a4 e8 30.f3 c6 31.g2+- ] 27...h8 28.f3 c6 29.e5 d6 30.f6 Opening the position. White is still better, but now the endgame requires precision and a lot of effort. gxf6 31.xf6+ xf6 32.xf6 e8 33.g2 g7 34.ff5 dxe6 35.xg5+ h6 36.h5+ g6 37.h3 xe5 38.dxe5 f8 39.xh4 f2 40.g5+ h6 41.h3 c2 42.g8 xc3 43.g5+ h7 44.d8 e3 45.d6 xe5 46.xc6 d4 47.d6 e2 48.a4 d3 49.xd3 e4+ 50.h5 xa4 51.g6+ g7 52.d7+ g8 53.b7 b4 54.h4 a4 55.g5 a3 56.h5 b5+ 57.f6 1-0
717 Ftacnik,Lubomir Kveinys,Aloyzas MK Cafe Cup Open A (10) [Tony Kosten]
A18 2589 2515 13.08.1999
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d3 d6 9.0-0 a6 10.c2 After my experience with 10 Re1 ( see the archives) players have once again turned to this move, hoping to extract an edge from the bishop pair in the ending. g4 11.d4 0-0-0? A logical move, hoping to delay the capture on f3, but it seems to lose. [ 11...xf3 12.xf3 xf3 13.gxf3 is the best line, see the archives. ] 12.g5! Normally this move is impossible when its defender is pinned, but for tactical reasons this is an important exception. xf3? Black captures first, which seems strong, at first inspection. [ Objectively, 12...xg5 is better, although 13.xg5 xd1 14.axd1 wins the h-pawn, when W hite will have a clear advantage despite the opposite-coloured bishops. ] 13.xf6 xd1 14.f5+! The point, moving the bishop away from c2 with tempo, for if [ 14.xd8 instead, White will lose material after xc2 ] 14...d7? Black should have seen the problem by now, and played [ 14...b8 instead, although following 15.xd8 e2 16.fe1 xc4 he will only have a pawn for the exchange. ] 15.xg7 g8 16.axd1 exd4 Hopeless, but after the obvious [ 16...xg7 White wins material by 17.dxe5 as the d6-bishop is pinned against the d7rook. Without this White would be losing! ] 17.xd4 g5?! 18.xd7+ xd7 19.c5 [ 19.c5 xc5 20.f4 d5 21.c4 wins a second exchange. ] 1-0
713
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 718 Ghaem Maghami,Ehsan Azarov,Sergei Aeroflot Open (6) [John Watson]
A18 2623 2565 20.02.2005
Two high-rated players test out an older line in the Mikenas System. I will try to give a pretty deep survey of theory. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 [ Tony and I have both talked about the newer (but now well-established) 7.f3 e5 ( 7...c5 8.d3!? ) 8.d3 ] 7...c5 [ What I think is a new idea was just presented in Seres - K Szabo, Budapest 2005: 7...e5 8.f3 e4 9.e2 ( perhaps 9.g5 e7 10.e2 f5 11.h3 is a good answer, with a small but definite advantage ) 9...e7 10.d2 ( 10.g5 transposes to my last note) 10...f5 11.g3 ( 11.e3 c5 12.e2 ) 11...c5 12.g2 c6 ( 12...cxd4 13.cxd4 c6 14.b2 b4 15.0-0 d3 16.c3! ) 13.b3 f6 ( a good idea is 13...cxd4 14.cxd4 d8 15.d5 b4+ 16.d2 xd2+ 17.xd2 e5 18.0-0 0-0= ) 14.0-0 e7 ( or 14...cxd4 15.cxd4 xd4 16.b2 xb3 17.xf6 gxf6 18.axb3 c5 19.e3 xe3 20.fxe3= ) 15.e3 0-0 16.f3 exf3 17.xf3 with a small advantage. ] 8.f3 cxd4 Azarov returns to this old line to sole Black's problems. [ 8...h6!? 9.d3 leads to Watson-Millar. ] 9.g5 f5 10.cxd4 Objectively best since it gives some advantage, but for those who are bored with fewer pieces on the board there are two fascinating alternatives: [ (a) A much-debated gambit follows 10.d3!? a5 11.0-0 dxc3 ( 11...h6 12.f4 dxc3 13.e5 d7 is complex, but now 14.g6?! of Drummond-Reeves, Canberra 1996 surely should have been a n s w e r e d b y fxg6! 15.xg6+ d8 and I find it extremely hard to believe that White has real compensation. Instead, 14... Rg8? 15.Nxf8 led to complications ) A) 12.c2 c6 13.fb1 h6 14.e3 e7 looks insufficient; B) 12.e2 c7 ( 12...c6 13.ab1 a6
14.e4 c5 15.xc6+ bxc6 16.e4 0-0 17.xc6 a7! should have been already close to winning in Kern-W uenderlich, Dortmund 1998) 13.ab1 e7!? 14.xe7 xe7 15.e5 f6 16.b5+ d7 17.fe1 0-0 18.g5?? Kanan AzerKalantari,/Arak 1998 lead to a win f or W h i t e b u t h e r e a6! 19.a5 b6! would have been curtains; C) 12.e1 (sensible) c6 13.e4 e7? ( 13...c5 ) 14.xc6+ bxc6 15.xe7 xe7 16.e5 c7 17.f3 f6? 18.xc6+ e8 19.ad1 (winning) d7 20.e5 a4 21.xa8+ 1-0 Gschwendtner-Forthauser, Niederbayern 2000; D) 12.b1!? This may not exert enough pressure. There have been a number of tries here: d7! ( 12...c6 13.c2 e7 14.b5 d8 15.xc3 with compensation, Mestel-Marusenko, England 1999) 13.c2 h6 14.f4 a6 15.fe1 e7 16.d4 c5 17.f5? ( Enterprising but unsound. 17.b3! xb3 18.xb3 was a better try) 17...xd3 18.xg7+ f8 19.xd3 xg7 20.e5+ f6 21.e3 and now ( 21.xc3 d8 22.g3+ g5 ) 21...f7 1-0 Bratanov,V-Djakov, K/Shumen 1997 (38) 22.Rg3 led to a win for W hite (still undeservedly) in Bratanov-Djakov, Shumen 1997. But ( 21...fxe5! 22.g3+ g5 would have ended the attack, e.g., 23.h4 d8 24.e2 c2! 25.xc2 d2 26.c1 xa2 27.hxg5 h5! )] [ (b) Remarkably, 10.xd4 c6 11.d2 seems to yield an attack because Bd3 will gain further tempi: c5!? ( 11...f6 12.e3 e5 ) 12.d3 g4 13.0-0 f6 ( 13...0-0 14.ae1 h5 15.f4 f6 16.d4! ) 14.h4 e5 15.h3 h5 16.e4! and White even haad the advantage in Timon Piote-Vega Gutierrez, Empuriabrava 1997. ] 10...b4+ [ I t ' s p e r h a p s s u r p r i s i n g t h a t 10...c6 causes Black more dif f iculties: 11.d2!? A bizarre move although logical in it's own right. White has two saner moves which lead to a small advantage: ( (a) 11.d3 b4+ 12.f1 a5 13.e4!?; (b) 11.e2 b4+ 12.d2 is the note to White's 12th move in t h e m a i n g a m e) 11...b4 ( 11...e5!?; 714
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11...e7 12.e2 0-0 13.c3 ) 12.c1 d3+?! ( 12...e7 13.b3! a5! 14.a3 a4 15.b2 e4+ 16.e3 d3+ 17.xd3 xd3 18.c3 and White is still to be preferred ) 13.xd3 xd3 14.c3 e4+ 15.e3 c6 16.e5 c7 17.0-0 ( 17.f3!? f6 18.xf6! gxf6 19.h5+ d8 20.f7+ d7 21.xh8 xc4 ) 17...d6 18.g4 0-0 19.h3 f6 20.h5 g6 ( 20...g5 21.c5 xe5 22.dxe5; 20...h6 21.g4 ) 21.xg6 hxg6 22.xg6+ g7 23.h5 f5 24.f4 d7 25.g3 e8 26.xg7+ xg7 27.g5+ f7 28.d5 exd5 29.xf5+ e7 30.e1+ d8 31.xd5 c7 32.c5 Nachon Menendez-Acebal Muniz, Asturias 1996. ] 11.d2 c6 Azarov picks a traditional solution but see the next note. The other two moves are: [ (a) 11...a5 12.b1! ( 12.d3 c6 13.b1 xd2+ 14.xd2 xd2+ 15.xd2 is a better version for White of the ending that follows, for example, 0-0 16.e4 a5 17.hc1 d8 18.e3 ) 12...xd2+ ( 12...c6?? 13.xb4! xb4 14.b3 ) 13.xd2 xd2+ 14.xd2 e7 ( 14...0-0 15.d3 d8 16.e3 isn't much better) 15.d3 d8 16.e4 c6 17.xc6!? ( 17.e3 a5 18.hc1 is again very strong ) 17...bxc6 18.c3 f6 19.h4!? d7 20.he1 b7 21.xb7+ xb7 22.b1 c8 Zdenek-Blahacek, Czechia 1997 and here the idea of taking over d6 is attractive: 23.d2! ( 23.c5!? ) 23...c5 ( 23...f5 24.f3; 23...d7 24.e4 ) 24.dxc5 e5 25.e4 ] [ (b) 11...xd2+ 12.xd2 c6 ( 12...0-0 13.d3 gives White a more active game with more central control) 13.d3! ( 13.e2 is examined below ) 13...f6 14.e4 ] 12.e2 [ Maghami might have rendered the game less relevant by 12.xb4! xb4 13.b1 , which exploits Black's move order: c6 ( 13...a5 14.d2 c6 15.d3 xd2+ 16.xd2 b6 17.hc1! Miles-Sosonko, Tilburg 1977; or 13...c2+? 14.d2 a3 15.b3 a5+ 16.e3! ) 14.d3 f6 ( 14...a5+ 15.d2 0-0 16.e4 gives the usual advantage) 15.e4 0-0 16.0-0 d8 17.xc6 bxc6 18.a4 e5
(wh at e lse? ) 19.dxe5 g6 20.b3 c5 21.a3 a6 22.xc5 xa2 23.a3 e2 24.d4 e4 25.b5 e6 26.d6 and White ws winning in D Cramling-Solin, Stockholm 1992. ] 12...a5 [ 12...0-0 13.0-0 has been played several tim es, b ut I th ink t ha t 13.xb4! xb4 14.0-0 is good because Black's knight on b4 will lose another tempo. ] 13.b1 xd2+ 14.xd2 e7!? [ 14...xd2+ 15.xd2 e7! ( 15...0-0 16.d3 b6 17.e4 b7 is also not bad) 16.e3 d8 favours White, but 17.hd1 b6 keeps the damage to a minimum. ] 15.xa5 [ The placement of the king on e7 close to the action definitely helps Black. White gets lit t le f ro m 15.d3 d8 16.xa5 xa5 17.e2 d7 ( 17...b6 18.c5 b7!? 19.cxb6 xf3+ 20.xf3 axb6 is another course ) 18.e3 ac8 19.c5 c6 20.e5 d5 is equal. ] 15...xa5 16.c5!? [ A plausible continuation was 16.c5 d7 17.0-0 c6 18.e5 d5 19.b5 b6! 20.cxb6 axb6 21.xb6 f6 22.f3 xa2 . But we can see that Black really shouldn't have equalised in this line, whatever the move order he chose. ] ½-½
719 Ghaem Maghami,Ehsan Moradi,Behrooz ch-IRI Tehran IRI (1) [John Watson]
A18 2581 2299 22.12.2006
I f i t ' s m y l a st u p d a t e , t h e r e h a s t o b e a Mikenas Variation. Here's the most interesting of this month's lot, in which W hite retains some edge. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d4 exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 e7 11.cxd4 xg5 12.xg5 e7 13.d2 0-0 [ 13...h6 14.f3 0-0 15.0-0 c5 ( 15...g4 16.ab1! c6 17.fe1 with space and advantage, Soffer-Nagetz, Bad Lauterberg 1991 ) 16.d5 d6 17.b2! d7 18.d3 f6 19.e2 d8 20.ae1 715
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 wi t h a s u b s t a n t i a l a d va n t a g e , I l le sc a s Cordoba-Pogorelov, Zaragoza 1996. ] [ We have also seen 13...c6 in numerous g a m e s , e . g . , 14.d5 e5 15.0-0 0-0 16.fe1 f5 17.f4 f6 18.f3 fe8 19.h4! g6 20.xf5 xh4 21.f1 with some advantage, Ivanchuk-Nielsen, S k a n d e rb o r g 2 0 0 3 a n d t h e la t e r g a m e Steingrimssom-Kulaots, Tallin 2006 - see earlier columns. ( 21.g4!? )] 14.0-0 d7 [ A slightly unusual move. There have been many games with 14...h6 ] [ and 14...c6 , all leading so some theoretical advantage for White. ] 15.fe1 f6 [ 15...h6 16.f3 c5 17.d5 d6 18.d3 f6 19.ab1 again favours White's greater space, e.g., b6 20.e5 e8 21.f4 ] 16.f3!? White has both space and activity, although Black is without weaknesses and hopes to keep things under control. [ P r e v i o u s l y 16.d3 was played in Christiansen-Lein, Philadelphia 1990. White stood better after d6 17.c5 d8 18.ab1 b6 19.f4 ( or 19.c2! )] 16...d6 17.c5 d8 18.ab1 c6 Notice that ...b6, as in the Christiansen-Lein game, is not available. 19.f4!? h6 20.e4 d5 Trading d5 for d6. [ 20...xd4?! 21.xf6+ xf6 22.xf6 gxf6 23.e7! ties Black down the other idea is ] [ 20...xe4 21.xe4 , when Black still has problems getting unwound, but this was perhaps best. ] 21.g3 b6 22.bc1!? [ Interesting and probably better was 22.d6 e6 23.xd5!? xd5 24.f5 f6 25.e7+ h8 26.xd5 cxd5 27.e5! xe5 28.xe5 bxc5 29.dxc5 d4 and White has excellent winning chances. 30.f1 ] 22...e6 23.a3 Slow. Still, [ 23.cxb6 axb6 24.xc6 xa2 is not convincing. ] 23...b5 24.d6 f6 25.e5 ab8 26.xd5!? xd5 This powerfully posted piece roughly evens the chances. 27.c3 d8? This retreat takes the queen from defence on the kingside. Better, for example, is [ 27...g6 28.f3 h8 ]
28.ce1 [ 28.f5! Prevents ...Qf6 due to Ne7+ and so prepares Rce1 and Qg3. It also introduces the idea of Rxd5. ] 28...e6 [ Black should return by 28...f6! ] 29.g3 [ 29.f3 ] 29...a5 [ Last chance for 29...f6 ] 30.f4! After f5, White will break through to the seventh rank. b4 31.axb4 axb4 32.f5 d5 33.e7 b3? Now it's over. [ 33...h7!? would hold on longer. ] 34.f6 g6 35.f5 e4 [ 35...h7 36.xh6! ] 36.xh6+ h7 37.7xe4 xf6 38.f4 d8 39.xf7 d5 40.e7 be8 41.e5+ 1-0
720 Grischuk,Alexander Aronian,Levon Norway Chess 2nd (3) [Kosten, Tony]
A18 2792 2815 05.06.2014
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 e5 8.f3 c6 Just as I was analysing last month's game between Bunzmann and Riazantsev, this one was being played! 9.g5! g6 10.d5 b8 11.h4 The mainline, but I did wonder whether [ 11.d3 wasn't a better try, as the standard c o n t i n u a t i o n f5 12.a4+ d7?! c a n b e m e t b y t h e n o v e l t y 13.h4! - see the notes to Bunzmann, D-Riazantsev, A in the PGN Archive. ] 11...d7 Normal, the knight heads for c5, but after this White has some advantage. [ I suggested that 11...h6!? 'maybe best' last month - see the analysis to Bunzmann, DRiazantsev, A. ] 12.d3 [ 12.h5 d6 13.d2 c5 14.b3 e7 15.e3 is nothing special for White, Najer, E (2640)-Ovetchkin, R (2499) Sochi 2012, 1-0 (42), after a4 ] 12...e4?! A new move, but not very good - it seems that Aronian had simply forgotten his 716
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 home preparation. [ 12...d6! is so lid e nou gh , 13.0-0 h6 14.e3 e7 15.e1 b6 ( 15...0-0 16.c2 ) 16.c5!? ( 16.a4 is an alternative, White has more space and an advantage in development, but the question is whether the h4-pawn helps with a kingside attack, or whether it is just a weakness.) 16...bxc5 ( 16...xc5?! 17.b5+ d7 18.c6 b8 19.xe5 ) 17.b5 0-0 18.c6 b8 19.d2 heading for e4 or c4. W hite had obvious positional compensation for the pawn in Zaslavsky, M (2450)-Bulmaga, I (2307) Plovdiv 2012, 1/2-1/2 (44), although maybe not quite enough after, say, g6 ] [ 12...f5 can be met by 13.g4! e4 14.gxf5 xf5 15.d4 g6 16.e2 f6 17.b5 d6 18.d4 with advantage. ] 13.h5! One advantage of having the h-pawn on h4 is to defend the g5-bishop, but the other is to be able to drive the black queen to a w o r s e s q u a r e . f5? The World number 2 overlooks a surprising tactic. [ 13...a6 was forced, 14.xe4 h6 15.e3 xc4 but 16.d4 e7 17.d2 a6 18.f3 followed by Bd3 with a clear plus. ] 14.h4!! This must have come as an enormous shock, Black is already lost! exd3 [ 14...c5 15.xe4! xe4?! ( 15...d7 ) 16.e2 wins, as Rxe4+ is decisive. ] 15.f4 The vicious point - the queen is t r a p p e d i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e b o a r d . c5 16.xf5 xf5 If Black was already castled he might hope for some compensation for his material loss, but instead White still has the initiative and soon wins the d3-pawn. 17.d4 d7 18.f1 Making room for a check on e1. [ 18.h6! is even more unpleasant, gxh6 19.f6 g8 20.d2 and Qe3+. ] 18...d6 19.b3 [ 19.e1+ f8 20.d2 is also good. ] 19...f6 [ 19...0-0 20.xc5 xc5 21.xd3 is similarly bad. ] 20.e3 b6 21.xc5 bxc5 22.xd3 Rounding up the advanced black pawn, White now has queen and pawn for rook and bishop, a significant material advantage. 0-0 23.d2 e8 24.h6 g5 25.b2! The queen will go to a3 and capture the c5-pawn. d7 26.a3 fe8 27.xc5 h2 28.e1
[ There doesn't seem to be much point continuing here, perhaps Black was hoping for 28.g3?? h3# ] 28...f5 29.xe8+ xe8 30.e3 White had to guard against ...Bd3 mate! f7 31.e2 e5 32.d2 g4 33.xa7 g6 34.a4 xh6 35.a5 c6 36.dxc6 c8 37.f3 f5 38.g4 e6 39.e7 xc4 40.d4 1-0
721 Ivanchuk,Vassily Nielsen,Peter Heine 1st Samba Cup (5) [Tony Kosten]
A18 2710 2626 14.10.2003
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d4 exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 e7 As I have mentioned before, [ 10...d3?! is a mistake, but that doesn't stop even quite strong players from falling for it! 11.0-0 c5 12.xd3 0-0 13.e1 a6 14.d4! h6 ( 14...d6 15.h5!? g6 16.h4 f6 17.f4 is also very good for White, Kaspi,A-Haimovich,T/Tel Aviv 1993) 15.h5 xd4 ( 15...d7 16.f5 f6 17.xh6+ gxh6 18.xh6 xf2+ 19.f1! is win n in g) 16.cxd4 d7 17.e7 e8 18.h4 f8 19.f3 a5 20.c5 a4 21.e4 f5 22.d5+ h8 23.e7 f6 24.c4! 1-0 Kosten,A-Gregoire,S/Cap d'Agde FRA 2003 as W hite wins an exchange whilst converting into a trivial endgame. ] 11.cxd4 xg5 12.xg5 e7 13.d2 c6 14.d5 e5 15.0-0 0-0 16.fe1 f5 17.f4 Back to this move, we saw the innovation [ 17.ac1!? in Rasmussen, K-Rozentalis,E/ Linares ESP 2002. ] 17...f6 18.f3 fe8 19.h4! Ivanchuk's subtle novelty. [ 19.d4 looks more logical, but after g6! (Banas,J-Rigo,Z/Prievidza 1998) 20.xf5 xd4 the black queen is well-placed in the centre of the board, and play is equal. ] 19...g6 20.xf5 xh4 And here is the allimportant difference: the black queen is on a s l i g h t l y i n f e r i o r s q u a r e ! 21.f1 d4 The queen centralises anyway, but now White 717
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 has an extra move! 22.d7 xe1 23.xe1 c5 24.h4! Typical Ivanchuk power play, he will try to drive the knight to a bad square so that he can use the seventh rank, and have the better minor piece. f8 How should Black react? Not [ 24...xh4? be ca u se a f t e r 25.e7 f8 26.xc7 White is winning, but ] [ 24...f6!? is possible, so that after 25.h5 e5 the knight reaches a central square with gain of tempo, 26.e6+ h8 27.h6 is clearly good for White, but Black is still fighting. ] 25.f5 g8 Black has to return, else he loses his h-pawn. 26.h5 f8 This is the problem, the knight becomes very passive. 27.g5! d6! To defend the d7-square. 28.g3 h6 29.e7 Penetrating to the seventh rank, White keeps a solid long-term initiative. d7 So the knight returns to the fray. 30.h3 c5 A natural move, but it may have been better to keep this piece close to the king with [ 30...f6 although White stays on top after 31.f5! ( 31.xd6 cxd6 32.e7 b8 is equal ) 31...xh5 32.c5! d8 ( 32...xd5?? 33.e8+ ) 33.d6 with a monster passed pawn. ] 31.f5! Controlling the b1-h7 diagonal sets up back-rank mating tricks whilst keeping the black knight in check (d3 is no longer accessible to this piece). b8 [ 31...f8 avoids the coming tactic, although White is still better after a simple move such as 32.g2 ] 32.e8+! f8 33.e7 White has simply achieved the 'transfer' of the black queen from the central d6-square to the passive f8 square. xe7 34.xe7 f8? This is a blunder, Black had to defend the c7-pawn: [ 34...a6 e.g. 35.f4 f8 36.d7 e8 37.f2 d8 38.xd8+ xd8 39.e3 e7 40.d4 d6 with fair chances. ] 35.xc7 a6 36.d6! This is what Black missed, after [ 36.d7 c5 37.c7 a6 he would force a repetition of moves. ] 36...d8 [ 36...xc7 37.dxc7 e8 38.c8 is hopeless, of course. ] 37.c5 b6 38.c6! b8 [ 38...xd6 39.xa7 hits the knight and
threatens c7-8 winning immediately. ] 39.e4 xd6 40.c8+ 1-0
722 Jobava,Baadur Brunello,Sabino 52nd It Reggio Emilia ITA (9) [Nigel Davies]
A18 2696 2507 06.01.2010
T h e F l o h r - M i k e n a s a t t a c k , wi t h W h i t e ' s attempt to throw his opponent on his own resources with 8.Bd3 prompted an extreme reaction in 9...g5!?. It's difficult to believe this can really be good, but it certain led to some fun. 1.c4 e6 2.c3 f6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 c5 [ One of my own efforts in this line is worth mentioning, if only because it shows I've played it! 1/2-1/2 Davies, N (2497)-Parker, J (2532), Birmingham 2000 went 7...e5 8.b1 e4 9.e2 e7 10.d4 h5 11.d3 exd3 12.xe7+ xe7 13.xd3 0-0 14.0-0 d8 15.f5 d7 16.e1 d6 17.g5 f6 18.h4 e5 19.xc8 dxc8 20.xb7 cb8 21.b3 xc4 with stone cold equality. ] 8.d3 Moves like this shouldn't be seen as a fight for the advantage but rather an attempt to put the opponent more on his own resources. With a rating difference of almost two hundred points W hite probably figured that a chess game was more to his advantage than a theoretical struggle. [ The 'theoretical' move is 8.d4 when h6 9.d3 has been covered in earlier games. ] 8...d6 [ S o m e p l a y e r s h a v e p r e f e r r e d 8...d7 so as to meet 9.e4 with c6 . Not that 9. Be4 is necessarily that dangerous. ] 9.0-0 [ 9.e4 is an argument against 8...Bd6 but doesn't seem to be that scary. For example 0-0 10.d4 h6 11.0-0 d7 12.b1 b8 13.e1 d8 14.e3 e7 15.c1 f8 16.f4 b6 17.g3 xg3 18.hxg3 f6 19.e5 b7 started to look quite equal in Kharlov, A (2633)-Jakovenko, D (2557), Batumi GEO 2002. ] 718
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...g5!? Needless to say this amazing move is new! Actually there seems to be a decent case for it with White having blocked his dpawn. [ A much more sensible approach is to play just 9...0-0 , f or example 10.e4 c6 11.d4 h6 12.e3 b8 13.b1 d8 14.e2 c7 15.fd1 a5 16.h3 b6 was very comfortable for Black in Valensi, B (2173)-Matnadze, A (2415), Izmir TUR 2002. ] 10.c2 g4 11.e1 h5 12.d4 c6 13.e3 d7 14.e4 g7 15.b1 [ This, if anywhere, might have been White's c h a n c e t o g e t a n a d v a n t a g e . 15.d3 looks like a good move when cxd4 16.cxd4 f5 can be met by 17.xc6 xc6 18.f4 intending d4-d5. ] 15...f5 16.xc6 xc6 17.d5 exd5 18.cxd5 e5 19.g3 xd5 Winning a pawn, but isn't Black's king in trouble? Not as much as it might seem at first sight... 20.g5 0-0 [ One can understand Black's interest in d e v e l o p m e n t , b u t m a y b e 20...e4 was a better move. ] 21.g2 f4!? [ At first sight 21...e4 looks very strong, but W hite can answer this with 22.f3 gxf3 23.e3 f2+ 24.xf2 without suffering any ill effects. ] 22.xf4 xf4 23.xf4 e4 24.f3 gxf3 25.f2 [ 25.xd6 d8 26.f2 xd6 is also very difficult to assess. ] 25...xf4 26.gxf4 xa2 27.b2 xf4 28.g1+ h8 29.g3 [ White is loathe to play 29.xf3 when the f3 pawn helps protect his king. But a couple of moves later he doesn't see a good alternative. ] 29...h4 30.h3 g5 31.xf3 [ And not 31.xf3?? because of g8 . ] 31...g8! This leads to a draw by perpetual check, an exciting end to an exciting game. 32.xa2 g1+ 33.e2 e8+ 34.d3 b1+ 35.c2 c4+ 36.d4 d8+ 37.xc4 c8+ 38.d4 d8+ 39.c4 c8+ 40.d5 d8+ ½-½
723
A18 Khalifman,Alexander 2667 Leitao,Rafael 2567 FIDE WCh KO New Delhi IND (4.2) 07.12.2000 [Tony Kosten] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d3 [ The older 8.d4 is rarely played nowadays. ] 8...a6 9.0-0 d6 10.c2 [ 10.e1 is covered in the archives. ] 10...g4 11.d4 xf3 [ 11...0-0-0? is also analysed in the archives. ] 12.xf3 xf3 13.gxf3 This endgame is considered to be slightly better for White, as, although his structure is compromised, his bishop pair is very effective. 0-0-0!? [ 13...exd4 is more common, but it allows the displacement of the black king: 14.e1+ d7!? ( 14...d8 15.e4 b8!? 16.cxd4 c5 17.e3 is fairly level, Milov,V-Dizdar, G/ Dresden 1998) 15.f5+ d8 16.cxd4 c5 also seems close to equality, Huebner,RStohl,I/Baden 1999. ] 14.c5! [ I like this better than 14.b1 c5 15.e4 b6 16.dxe5 xe5 17.b3 b8 18.e3 c7 19.fb1 c6 20.d5 d7 21.f4 draw, Gelfand,B-Jussupow,A/Erevan 1996. ] 14...f8 15.c6! [ A novelty, improving on 15.g5 which gave W hite nothing af te r f6 16.e3 exd4 17.cxd4 b4 18.f5+ b8 19.fb1 d5 in Suba,M-Pogorelov,R/Berga 1994. ] 15...exd4 [ O t h e r w i s e , 15...bxc6?! allows White to capture the e5-pawn after 16.f5+ b7 17.b1+ a8 18.dxe5 ] 16.cxb7+ b8 [ 16...xb7!? 17.b1+ c6 18.d1 and 19 Be4+ seems awkward for Black, but might be playable. ] 17.cxd4 b4 18.e4 d5 19.b1!? An interesting exchange sac, very much in Khalifman's style. c3 20.g5 f6 [ 20...xd4!? may be possible, answering 21.e3 with b4 ] 21.e3 xb1 22.xb1 White has only ga in ed a p awn f o r h is e xcha nge, b ut h is powerful b7-pawn's future is assured. d6!? 719
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Encouraging some tactics, Black could sittight with 22...d6 23.c6 a6 , say. ] 23.f4 b6 [ 23...d8 would admit a mistake, but is possible. ] [ However, 23...xd4?? would be positively disastrous: 24.xc7+ xc7 25.b8+ ] 24.xc7+! xc7 25.c1+ c5! [ Black could also aim for an opposite-colour bishop position by 25...d7 26.c8 g6 27.b8 xb8 28.xb8 f5 , but the text is better. ] 26.xc5+ b8 27.c6 d8 28.d5 White's two pawns provide more than enough compensation. xb7! This will be necessary, sooner or later. 29.xb7 xb7 30.g2 a6 31.a4 d7 32.g3 b6 Despite the pawn less Black has no problems. 33.c6+ a5 34.d6 xa4 35.c7!? [ 35.xa6+ b5 36.a8 g6 is drawn. ] 35...xd6 36.xg7 h5 37.h7 White's play appears to be very risky, as he has allowed Black to create a passed a-pawn. d5 38.h6 g5+? [ This must be a time-trouble error, 38...f5 39.f4 a5 40.f3 b3 41.e4 b5 42.xf6 a4 is far from clear. ] [ However, 38...a5 39.xf6 b4 is worth consideration as the a-pawn is hard to stop. ] 39.f4 g2? [ This drops the h-pawn, 39...c5 40.xf6 a5 is fine. ] 40.xh5 xf2 41.h4 a5 42.h8 The start of a clever winning plan. a3 43.h5 h2 44.h6 a4 45.h7 h5 46.g4 h1 47.f4 h2 48.f5 h4 49.e4 h5 50.f5 This leaves Black in zugzwang. a2 [ There is nothing else, 50...h1 51.d5 and Ke6xf6 is easily winning. ] 51.a8! xh7 52.xa4+ b3 53.a6 The black king is too far from the remaining pawns. e7+ 54.e6 f7 55.d5 c3 56.e8 a7 57.e6 a6+ 58.f7 d4 59.e6 Once White captures the pawn the black king remains cut-off. 1-0
724 Kortschnoj,Viktor Nielsen,Peter Heine Smartfish Masters (7) [John Watson]
A18 2601 2663 03.01.2005
Just when the theory of the Mikenas Variation was beginning to go in a single direction (however unclear - see the previous column), we realise that some of the old lines are still unresolved. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.cxd5 [ For 4.e5 d4 see the December Update. ] 4...exd5 5.e5 e4 6.f3 It's long be en known that 6.Nxe4 dxe4 7.Qa4+ Nc6 8.Qxe4 Qd4 or 8...Be6 give Black at least enough for his pawn c6 [ Moves like 6...c6 ] [ and 6...f5!? (7. Qb3 Nc5! ?) have only been played a couple of times but ma y indicate the direction to look in if you're Black. ] 7.b5 e7 [ Korchnoi's lengthy experience with this line includes his game versus Sharif in France 1987: 7...d7 8.xd5 ( 8.0-0 has also b e e n p l a ye d) 8...xe5 9.e2 xb5? ( 9...xf3+ 10.gxf3 c6 11.c4 cxd5 12.xd5 and White is better) 10.xe4 d6 11.d4!? ( 11.xe5! 0-0 12.e3 ) 11...c6 12.0-0 xd5 13.xd5 xf3+ 14.xf3 with the advantage. ] [ Another game Korchnoi-Unzicker, Johannesburg 1979 went 7...xc3 8.dxc3 e7 9.d4 d7 10.xc6 bxc6 11.d3 0-0 12.c2 h6 13.e3 with the advantage. ] 8.a4 This has been a very common move over the years, but I'm not clear why W hite can't play [ 8.xc6+! bxc6 9.a4 , which wins a pawn following xc3 10.xc6+ d7 11.xc3 0-0 12.0-0 c5 13.d4 . Black has some compensation but not much. See the next note. ] 8...d7 [ 8...xc3 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.xc6+ d7 11.xc3 transposes to the previous note. Then c5 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4!? ( 13.xd4 looks strong) 13...c8 14.e3 b6 15.0-0 c5 16.d1 0-0 17.f4 f6 18.e3 ce8 720
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.exf6 xf6 20.g5! d6 21.c2 f5 22.g3 b6? 23.b4 xe3 24.xe3 fe5 25.xd5 d6 26.e3 e7 was SerperSkomorokhin, Kstovo 1994. ] 9.xe4 a6! 10.f6+ [ White stands poorly after 10.e2 xe5 11.d4 xf3+ 12.xf3 dxe4 13.xe4 0-0 ] 10...gxf6 11.xc6 xc6 12.f4 g8 [ 12...d4! opens the long diagonal, and 13.xd4 xg2 14.g1 d5 15.exf6 d6 favours Black. ] 13.0-0 [ 13.exf6 d6 14.e3+ d7 15.d4 xf6! ] 13...d4! 14.exf6 d6! 15.d3 xf6 16.xf6 xf6 17.e1+ d7 18.f1 xg2? Flashy, but wrong. Black's bishops would have been dominant after [ 18...g6! 19.f4 ag8 20.g3 xf3 21.gxf3 h5! , for example, 22.h4 e7 23.e4 c5 24.ae1 d6 25.xd6 xd6 and Black should win. ] 19.xg2 g8+ 20.f1 xf3 21.f4 g4!? Black could just consolidate the position by [ 21...c5 when he has some chances for advantage. ] 22.g3 h5 23.ac1 c6 24.c5 d5 25.xd5+! cxd5 26.e5 d8 27.h3 g6 28.xd4 e6 29.e2 A lucky save for Korchnoi. There is plenty more for both sides to investigate in this old line. ½-½
Kasparov's opponents found-out to their cost in the early Nineties. ] 4.e5 d4 Best, Black refuses to give ground in the centre. 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 The critical position. 8.d3!? this unusual move has caught-on recently since it was found that the traditional move [ 8.d4 gives White little. ] 8...a6 9.0-0 White continues his development, he will defer playing d4, until it offers some concrete advantage. d6 10.e1 There is an alternative in [ 10.c2 which really does threaten d4, g4 is the problem, an d a f te r 11.d4 xf3 12.xf3 xf3 13.gxf3 exd4 14.e1+ d8 ( or 14...d7 15.f5+ d8 16.cxd4 c5 Huebner,R-Stohl,I/Baden SUI 1999.) 15.e4 b8 16.cxd4 c5 White's two bishops were offset by his structural weaknesses, Milov, V-Dizdar,G/Zonal 1998. ] [ 10.a3 - 51/(18) ] 10...0-0 Now, [ 10...g4 is nothing af ter 11.e4 c5 12.h3 h5 13.d4 ] 11.xe5? An unfortunate idea of Van Wely's, [ 11.c2 h8 12.e4 is more sensible, but gives White nothing after c5 Miles,A-Oll,L/ Szeged 1997. ] 11...xe5 In the original game, Black shied away from this, and instead played [ 11...c5?! but he was quickly worse after 12.c2 xe5 13.h5 xh2+ 14.xh2 d6+ 15.e5 Van Wely,L-Oll,L/Beijing (open) 1997, W hite's bishop pair the 725 A18 dominant factor. ] Kosten,Anthony C 2515 12.h5 xh2+! In my pre-game preparation I Dizdar,Goran 2570 had completely overlooked this possibility, Montpellier 1998 instead I considered [ 12...e8 when 13.xh7+ f8 14.a3+ c5 [Tony Kosten] 15.d4 leads to a powerful white attack. I should be more careful! ] 1.c4 e6 2.c3 f6 Black wants to play a Unfortunately, the move I want to Q u e e n 's G a m b it D e cli n e d p e rh a p s, o r a 13.xh2 Ni m zo - I n d ia n . 3.e4 White has other ideas! play, [ 13.xh2?? loses a piece to d6+ ] The sharp Mikenas Attack threatens to swamp This move helps Black's position no Black in double-quick time, by e5, and d4. d5 13...f5 Black's safest move, the only reasonable end. 14.f1 A retreat, but I felt it was in my own best interests to keep both my bishops. alternative is [ 3...c5 when 4.e5 g8 5.f3 c6 6.d4! fe8 15.a3 g5! 16.e3!? xe3 17.fxe3 The white queen is temporarily out-ofsacrificing a pawn, cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 e4! 8.db5 gives White enormous positional play, and the white central pawns awkward. g6 19.d1 d8 20.e5? compensation for the pawn- as several of 18.f4 721
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...c5 seems less critical. c6 The most logical, but there are others: [ 8...d8!? is intelligent, removing the queen f rom a n exp osed squ are , 9.c2 d7 10.0-0 g6 the point, 11.d4 g7 12.f4 e7 13.e2 0-0 14.ad1 White's space advantage, and better development must count for something here, Chandler, M-Levitt, J/London 1999. ] [ 8...d7!? plans exchanging Black's most pa ssive bit , 9.e4 c6 10.e2 xe4 11.xe4 c6 12.b1 0-0-0 13.d4 d7 14.f4 g6?? this was far better on the p r e v i o u s m o v e , ( 14...d6 ) 15.xc6+!! 1-0 Benjamin,J-Gamboa,N/Philadelphia 1995, the capture of the queen allows mate on b8. ] [ 8...d6 prefers developing the kingside first, 9.e4 0-0 10.d4 h6 (Bg5 was t h r e a t e n e d ) 11.0-0 d7 12.b1 b8 13.e1 ( 13.a4!? ) 13...d8 14.e3 e7 is fairly equal, Kharlov,A-Jakovenko,D/ Batumi GEO 2002. ] 9.e4 This is the idea behind White's last move, the bishop makes way for the d-pawn's advance, and at the same time attacks c6. d7!? A new move, and quite understandable, Black protects the knight, but it may be better to ignore this and get on with kingside development by [ 9...d6 10.d4 h6 11.0-0 0-0 12.b1 ( 12.a3! d8 13.xc6 bxc6 14.a4 is more to the point, e. g. cxd4 15.xd6 xd6 16.c5! d8 17.cxd4 and the c8bishop looks silly) 12...e5!? 13.dxc5!? (I would be very worried about playing such 726 A18 a move and then losing!) xc5 14.e1 b6 15.a3 e8 16.a4 c7 White has some Kosten,Anthony C 2514 pressure, but Black seems fine, Kortschnoi, Guedon,Stephane 2232 V-Ravia,M/Antwerp 1995. ] 11th Open St Affrique FRA (1) 19.07.2003 10.d4 This is the sort of move you play and [Tony Kosten] then try to look distracted, perhaps the 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 opponent won't notice that you are threatening 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 The most to win his queen!! h6 Black spotted it! [ 10...d6?? 11.g5 is a recurrent theme in flexible move, in my opinion, although this line. ] t r a n s p o s i t i o n i s l i k e l y . c5!? d6 12.b1 b8 13.e3 W e h a v e c o n s i d e r e d t h i s a f t e r 7 d 4 i n 11.0-0 B r a t a n o v, Z -A n t o n o v, O / I zm ir T UR 2 0 0 2 . White develops with tempo. cxd4 Removing 8.d3!? I wanted to take advantage of the fact White's doubled pawn, but after [ 13...e7 14.e1 0-0 15.c2 is a little that I had delayed d4, and this looks like the annoying, as White will continue with Qd3. ] similar line following 7...e5 8 Bd3, except that
After this things go rapidly downhill, [ I hadn't seen that after 20.d3 f6 21.f2! d7 the move 22.d2 is possible, because xd3? loses to 23.e4! xe4 24.g3 and so White holds the balance. ] 20...h5 21.e7?! d7 22.h4?? The bishop is not too well placed here. h7? A reprieve! [ 22...g4! wi n s , I h a d in t e n d e d 23.d4 xd1? 24.e8+ h7 25.xe4+ g6 26.e8 and 27 Bf6, with mate, but hadn't noticed that simply 23...Bc6, and White has two pieces en prise. ] 23.d4 f6 24.g3 e8 [ 24...c5! was more worrying, bringing the knight into the game. ] 25.h3 g5 Black was getting short of time hereabouts. 26.e1 g6 27.d2 h4 28.c5 My first positionally useful move for a while! f5 It looks bleak for White with his bishops so badly placed, and the black e4-bishop so strong, but I had been sneakily preparing some counterplay. 29.g4! fxg4?! [ 29...hxg3 30.xg3 h7 31.h2 should keep Black slightly ahead. ] 30.xg4 Suddenly White has some play, B x h 4 i s t h e i m m e d i a t e t h r e a t . f5 Black decides to force a draw, he could still go wrong, by [ 30...h6? for instance, 31.h2 g6 32.c6 and suddenly it is W hite who will be victorious. ] 31.f3 e4 32.g4 f5 33.f3 e4 34.g4 ½-½
722
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.cxd4 0-0 15.e1 My original intention had been to play [ 15.d5 to win the a-pawn, but then exd5 16.cxd5 e5 is fine for Black, as 17.xa7? is met by f4! which attacks e4, and h2. ] 15...fc8? Black is oblivious to the threat, [ 15...fe8 was far better, as then the e4bishop would be 'en prise' if White were to play d5, but even here White is on top after 16.c5! c7 17.e5 as xe5? 18.dxe5 xe5 19.xd7 xh2+ 20.f1 leads nowhere. ] 16.d5! Now that the e4-bishop is defended this move is strong. exd5 17.cxd5 b4 There is nothing better, as now [ 17...e5 18.xa7 a8 ( 18...f4 19.xe5 xe5 20.g3 wins, as e4 is defended ) 19.xe5 xe5 ( 19...xe5?? 20.h7+ ) 20.xb7 grabs two pawns. ] 18.d4!? This is nice, but my first thought was [ 18.a3 when a6 is f o r ce d , ( 18...a2 19.b3 c3 20.d4 wins the hapless knight ) 19.xa7 a8 20.xb7 winning easily. ] 18...d8 19.e5 f5 I had been expecting [ 19...xa2 when White wins with the sacrificial attack 20.xf7! xf7 21.h5+ g8 ( 21...f8 22.xg7+! xg7 23.g6+ f8 24.xh6+ forces mate in a few moves ) 22.g6 and Black can resign. ] 20.h5! The second tactical point. xe5 [ 20...fxe4 21.f7+ h7 22.xd7 is quite hopeless, and ] [ 20...e8 21.xe8+ xe8 22.xf5 is hardly any better. ] 21.xe5 fxe4 22.xb4! Of course, there is no way I would play [ 22.xb8? allowing d3! and play is unclear. ] 22...a5?? This shortens matters, [ 22...f8 is better, 23.bxe4 ( 23.b2 a8 24.xb7 may be even stronger) 23...c2 24.d4 and White should win quickly by a t t a c k i n g g 7 , p r o v i d i n g h e a v o i d s f5 25.e7?? when ( 25.4e3 ) 25...xe7! turns the tables, as the back rank is weak! ] 23.g6 There is no way to defend g7. 1-0
727 Kosten,Anthony C Horvath,Jozsef TCh-AUT 2005-6 (2) [John Watson]
A18 2507 2522 19.11.2005
Our Webmaster plays a theoretically important game with an interesting ending as a bonus. I hope that he wasn't counting upon my p r e vio u s a n a l ysi s i n t h is c o lu m n , wh i c h proved flawed. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d4 exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 e7 11.cxd4 xg5 12.xg5 e7 13.d2 c6 14.0-0 Annotating the game Timman-Kulaots, Prague 2004, I suggested that [ 14.d5 was probably a bit better. I may have b e e n r i g h t b u t n o t wh o l l y f o r t h e r i g h t reasons. ] 14...xd4 Otherwise White is clearly better off positionally and has a certain initiative. 15.h5 [ 15.xd4 xg5 16.f4 is worth thinking about. ] 15...0-0 [ 15...e6! A) 16.xf7+ xf7 17.fe1 e6 18.xe6 xe6 19.xe6 xe6 20.e1 xe1+ 21.xe1+ f7 22.b1 '!' ', which wins either the b-pawn or h-pawn, for example, ' ( [new note:] 22.e5 he8 23.xc7+ e7 24.a5 , about equal. Probably Black has what chances there because White has the weaknesses.) 22...he8 23.h4 ( 23.h3 b6 24.xh7 and the position looks balanced.) 23...b6 24.xh7 ad8 25.h5 'is another approach. I doubt that White will win this sort of thing however.' d6=; B) 16.xf7!? was the Timman game. I'll co m bin e n ot e s: xf7 17.xd4 xh5 18.fe1 e2 19.b2!? 0-0-0 ( 19...f7 20.xe2 f6 forces simplification: 21.xf6+ gxf6 . This looks drawish.) 20.ab1 b6 21.xe2 d7!? ( 21...c5! lo o ks like a so lid a lt e rna t ive . 22.xg7 xc4 23.e7 c2 24.f1 hf8 (intending ...Qxf2+!) 25.h3 h5= ) 22.h3 he8 23.xe8 xe8 24.c5 e6 25.b3 e7 26.f1 White has a small edge. The ideas of a4-a5 and Rc1 are available. Still, this isn't much...' [Timman went on to win] . 723
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 '...White should probably prefer the small advantage that he gets from 14.d5. ' ] 16.xf7+ h8!? [ In my analysis to that game I missed that 16...xf7! 17.xf7 c5! 18.g5 h6 19.f3 xf3+ 20.gxf3 e6 was playable. This looks like just enough for the Exchange. Fortunately Tony didn't have to deal with that one! ] 17.ae1 f6 18.d5 c5 [ I also missed that 18...c6! was better, since 19.f7+ ( 19.e4 f5 20.xf5 xf5 ) 19...g8 does nothing. ] 19.f4 [ I said that 19.e4 'yields a clear advantage. ' It does seem like the best move. ] 19...f5?! [ 19...h6 20.e4 with a some advantage because Black has to defend his b-pawn bef ore moving the bishop. There migh t follow b6!? ( 20...e7 ) 21.c3 b8 22.e7 d6 23.fe1 xf4? ( 23...d7 ) 24.e4! xe7 25.xf4 a8 26.d6! ] 20.xb7 ab8 21.e4 h6 22.xf5 xf5 23.e6 b2 [ 23...fe8 24.xc5 ] 24.d5 fb8 25.e5?! A little too careful. [ 25.xc5! turns out to be safe enough. d8 26.d7 g6 27.f2 ] 25...h4 26.f2 b1? [ The best chance was 26...xe5! 27.fxe5 xf2 28.xf2 b2+ 29.g3 ( 29.f1 xg2 30.xc5 xh2 isn't clear.) 29...g5 30.h3! ( 30.xc5 xg2+ 31.h3 c2 ) 30...xa2 ( 30...xg2 31.e4; 30...xg2?? 31.xg5! )] 27.xb1? [ Now it's White's turn. The not-so-obvious 27.ef1! xe5 ( 27...g6 28.d5 ) 28.fxe5 g6 29.e2 does the trick. 27.Rxb1 may still win but it gets a little difficult. ] 27...xb1+ 28.f1 xe5 29.fxe5 xf1+ 30.xf1 g6 31.xc5 xe5 32.e2 g8 33.e3 xc4+ 34.d4 White's king position should give him enough to bring the point home. I don't have any idea whether Black has chances here, but I'll give some superficial indications about what may be relevant lines. b6 [ 34...d6 35.d5 ( 35.e5 c4+ ) 35...f5 36.c6 f7 37.a4 e7 38.b7
and W hite will be ahead of the game continuation. ] 35.e5 f7 36.d6 White must be winning here but it looks as though there are a lot of subtleties. c4+ 37.c6 e3? Miscounting! Much tougher was [ 37...e7! 38.a4 , f o r e xa m p le , e5+ 39.b7 d6 ] 38.g3 f1 39.b7 xh2 40.xa7 and wins. f1 [ 40...h5 41.a4 g5 42.e4 ] 41.a4 xg3 42.a5 h5 43.a6 f5 [ 43...h4 44.b8 h3 45.d3! ] 44.e4 e6 45.b8 e5 46.c3 d4 1-0
728 Kuljasevic,Davorin Grigorov,Grigor TUR-chT 1st League (6.5) [Tony Kosten]
A18 2564 2494 26.06.2014
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d3 Could we see a return to this line? d6 9.0-0 a6 10.c2 g4 11.d4 xf3 12.xf3 xf3 13.gxf3 The critical endgame, White's bishops offer him a small plus, but Black is solid, his defensive plan is well worked out, and W hite's weakened pawn structure is a problem. exd4 Standard, I looked at [ 13...0-0-0 14.c5! in Khalifman, A-Leitao, R. ] 14.a4+!? A new try, first played by Aronian, although play will likely transpose later on. [ 14.e1+ is normal, d8 A) 15.e4 b8 16.cxd4 c5 17.b2 c7 18.d5 he8 ( 18...be8 19.f5 b8 20.e4 d7 21.xd7 xd7 22.ae1 should be level, Akopian, V (2660)-Sorokin, M (2572)/Dubai 2000.) 19.a3 e5!? 20.xe5+ xe5 21.f4 ee8 22.xh7 d6 the pawn is not worth too much, Van W ely, L (2675) -Rozentalis, E (2586)/ Istanbul 2003.; B) 15.cxd4 c5 16.d5 c7 17.b2 ( 17.a4 transposes to the main game.) 17...he8 18.a3 ad8 19.e4 ( 19.a4 xe1+ 20.xe1 b8 was quickly drawn in Morovic Fernandez, I (2573)-Vescovi, G 724
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 (26 48 )/ S ao Pa ulo 20 04 .) 19...xe4 20.fxe4 f6 21.h1 Kuzubov, Y (2639)D i z d a r , G ( 2 5 1 3 ) / D u b a i 2 0 1 4 , f8!? 22.f4!? ] 14...d8 15.cxd4 c5 Thematic, Black shouldn't allow White to play c5 when his light square bishop would be more powerful. 16.d5 c7 17.f4!? Positionally well-founded, the pawn restricts Black's remaining bishop. [ 17.e1 allows b4 18.d2 ( 18.e3?! b5! 19.cxb5 xd5 was nice for Black in Shishkov, M (2278)-Grigorov, G (2490)/ Sunny Beach 2013.) 18...d3 19.e3 e5 20.c1 g5 occurred in the stem game, after 21.a5+ b6 22.c3 f6 23.ce1 hg8 24.g2 af8 ( 24...xc4!? 25.e7+ xe7 26.xe7+ b8 27.c6 ) 25.e4 g6 26.h1 e5 Black was fine, but went on to los e in A ro nia n, L (28 16) -Naidit sch , A (2712)/Istanbul 2012. ] 17...b8 The knight heads for a more useful square. [ 17...b4 would be pointless with no rook on e1, 18.d1 and a3. ] 18.b1 b6 [ 18...d7? 19.xd7 xd7 20.xb7+ ] 19.g2 [ 19.b3!? is interesting, with a swinging rook, d7 20.a3 a5 21.g3 g6 22.h3 forcing weaknesses in the black structure. ] 19...d7 20.f3 Another point behind White's 17th, the knig has a nice safe square on f3. he8 21.b2 g6 22.fe1 xe1 23.xe1 g8 Black defends passively behind his wall of pawns. 24.h4 a6 25.c3 b5!? A well-timed bid for counterplay. 26.cxb5 [ 26.a5+ b6 27.cxb5 axb5 28.xb5 transposes. ] 26...b6 27.a5 axb5 28.xb5 a8 29.xb6+ xb6 30.a4 White has gained a pawn but the opposite colour bishops restrict his winning chances somewhat. a5! 31.e4 [ 31.h5 seems natural, but gxh5 32.h1 b4! and ...c4. ] 31...d8 32.e3 f5 33.e6 b4 34.d3 xf4 35.c4 d6 36.f6 d7 37.h5 xa4 38.hxg6 hxg6 39.xg6 Now the game is soon drawn. a5 40.g5 f4 41.g8 b6 42.c8 c7 43.a8 b7 44.e8 d6 45.b5 e7 46.c6+ b6 47.d8 c7
48.g8 e1 49.g6 d1+ 50.e2 ½-½
729 Mastrovasilis,Athanasios Papaioannou,Ioannis GRE-chT 42nd (5.2) [Tony Kosten]
A18 2512 2642 01.07.2014
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 e5 4.f3 c6 5.d4 exd4 6.xd4 b4 7.xc6 The most common, and strongest. [ I looked at 7.f3 in Navara, D-Istratescu, A, see the Archive. ] 7...bxc6 We've reached a Scotch Four Knights position, except that White has gained the c2-c4 move for free. Is this useful? [ 7...xc3+ 8.bxc3 bxc6 9.e5 e7 10.e2 g8 11.f4 offers White some space and the bishops for his weakened structure, Tichy, V-Lange, D/Prague 1990 ] 8.e5!? One advantage of having the pawn on c4, as now the knight can't go to d5! [ 8.d3 i s n a t u r a l , w h e n 0-0 9.0-0 has to be an improvement for White on the Scotch, as Black can't play ...d5 so easily, d6 10.g5 h6 11.h4 e8 12.c2 still, W hite has very little here, even so, Jobava, B (2658)-Melkumyan, H (2534)/ICC INT 2008. ] 8...e4 [ 8...e7 9.e2 is a bit awkward: g4?? ( 9...xc3+ 10.bxc3 and now g8 is forced, Hoelzl, F (2415)-Hasan, Y (2260) / Novi Sad 1990.) 10.xg4 xe5+ 11.e2 and Black can't capture twice on c3 as his queen is pinned! Sidon, M (2013)-Kottemer, J (2070)/Nickenich 2012. ] 9.g4!? The most forcing, and reminiscent of the 4 d4 King's English Four Knights. Still, such lines are always risky. [ 9.c2 xc3 10.bxc3 c5 11.d3 d6 12.exd6 cxd6 13.0-0 it's not easy for Black to castle, Khatanbaatar, B (2395) -Battulga, N (2420)/Ulaanbaatar 2011. ] [ 9.d4 f5 10.exf6 xf6 11.e2 0-0 12.0-0 c5 13.h4 xc3 14.bxc3 looks equal, Lucena, L (2161) -Shumyatsky, V (2352)/Brazil 2010. ] 9...xc3 Clearly best. 725
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 9...d5? 10.xg7 f8 11.a3! h4 12.g3?! ( 12.e3! ) 12...xg3 13.axb4 xh1 14.g2 h3 15.xh1 xf1 16.xf1 g8 was a bit wild, Hausner, I (2451)-Pagerka, M (2215)/Brezova 2010, but should favour White after 17.cxd5 ] 10.d2?! The first new move, but not a good one. [ 10.a3 f8 11.bxc3 e7 12.g3 d6 13.e2 xe5 14.f4 f6 15.g5 e5 16.f4 f6 17.g5 1/2-1/2 Svane, R (2394)-Rusev, K (2549)/ Copenhagen 2012 ] 10...0-0 11.bxc3 e7! [ 11...a5 12.d3 d6 is also satisfactory, 13.e4 g6 14.xc6 b8 Black has excellent compensation for the pawn. ] 12.e2!? Of fering a pawn. xe5 13.0-0 A n d a s e c o n d o n e . xc3 14.f4 f6 15.ac1 d6 16.f3 b2 17.b1 f5 W hite has zero compensation, and is objectively lost. 18.g5 xg5 19.xb2 ae8 20.b7 e4 21.g3 a5! [ 21...xg3 22.hxg3 xg2 23.xg2 xe2 m u s t h a v e b e e n t e m p t i n g , b u t 24.xc7 xa2 25.xc6 will be difficult to win, despite the two extra pawns. ] 22.d3 h6 23.h3 e6 24.xe4 xe4 25.d3 fe8 26.b8 4e5 27.b1 c5 28.b3 e4 29.b1 xb8 30.xb8+ h7 31.xc7 f4 32.f1 f6 Black has returned a pawn, but is still one pawn ahead and enjoys a dominating position. 33.h2 xc4 34.f4 c2 35.f3 Activating the rook. c1 36.d7 a1 Not the most efficient. [ 36...g1+ 37.g3 e1+ 38.h2 h5 39.f5+ h6 forces 40.h4 d1 threatens ...Qg1+ and ...Rd2. ] 37.c3!? g1+ [ 37...xc3? 38.f5+ forces a perpetual, g8 39.c8+ f7 40.d7+ ] 38.g3 b1? Stopping Qf5+, but it decentralises the queen. [ 38...e1+ 39.g4 e4 keeps control. ] 39.h4! f5 40.g3 b2 Black has to defend g7, but now White is OK. 41.xf5+ h8? [ 41...g8 ] 42.b3 f6+ 43.xf6 gxf6 44.h5! Menacing Kg6 and mate. e1!? [ 44...xa2 45.g4 e2 46.xh6 e8 47.g6 followed by the advance of the kingside pawns would be very difficult to
face, still any win is far off. ] 45.xh6 e8 46.g4 Now we reach the same p o s it i o n wi t h a p a wn m o re f o r W h i t e . d5 47.h4 d4 48.g5 f5! [ 48...fxg5 49.hxg5 d8 50.d3 c5 51.g6 c4 52.d1 d3 53.f5 d2 54.f6 is winning. ] 49.g6 g8? Time trouble, no doubt. [ 49...c5 would draw comfortably, 50.b7 ( 50.xf5? d8 and ...d3.) 50...d8 51.h5 d3 and White would have to take a perp. ] 50.h5 d8 51.h6 h8 52.f7 d3 53.g6 d7+ 54.f6 Now Black can't stop mate, what a turnaround! d8 55.h7 c5 56.g5 1-0
730 Naiditsch,Arkadij Fedorchuk,Sergey TCh-FRA Top 12 2012 (10.1) [Tony Kosten]
A18 2698 2634 09.06.2012
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d4 c6! "A computer move" - Wesley So told me after our game, and it's true that Houdini seems to like this move a lot. Unfortunately I hadn't noticed this particular game as our team had a free day (due to the forfeit of one of the teams) and I was sightseeing! The very next day it was played against me! 9.d5!? A novelty, but I don't think it will catch on. [ 9.g5! is critical, g6 10.d5 b8 A) 11.d3 f5 ( I gave 11...f5! 12.e2 e4 13.h4 d7 in 'DW-Flank' "when Black m i g h t e v e n b e b e t t e r " .) 12.a4+ Kortschnoj, V (2645)-Ashley, M (2460)/ New York 1996, d7!; B) 11.h4 d7 ( 11...h6 12.e2!? hxg5 13.xe5 h5 14.g4 xg4 15.xg4+ d8 was quite unclear in Steingrimsson, H (2556)-Lysyj, I (2656)/Plovdiv 2012.) 12.h5 ( 12.d3 d6 13.0-0 h6 14.e3 e7 15.e1 b6 16.c5!? Zaslavsky, M (2450)-Bulmaga, I (2307)/ Plovdiv 2012.) 12...d6 13.d2 c5 14.b3 e7 15.e3 b6!? 16.xc5 bxc5 17.b1 0-0 18.h6 g6 19.b5 a6 20.e2 d7 21.xc5!? offering the exchange for darksquared control, Najer, E (2640)-Ovetchkin, R (2499)/ Sochi 2012. ] 726
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 9.e2 exd4 10.cxd4 b4+ 11.d2 xd2+ 12.xd2 "is a draw" according to Wesley So. ] [ 9.dxe5?! is a 'morning move' - I simply couldn't think straight at all! xe5 10.e2 d6 A) 11.c5? wins a piece, but loses to A1) the obvious 11...g4? can be met by A1a) 12.cxd6? 0-0-0 is crushing, 13.c2 ( 13.xe5 he8 ) 13...xf3+ 14.gxf3 xf3 winning quickly, Hempson, P (2219)-Crouch, C (2424)/ Durham 2000.; A1b) 12.g5! f5 13.cxd6 xf3 14.d7+ xd7 15.0-0-0+ unclear.; A2) 11...0-0! the move I'd originally underestimated. 12.cxd6 g4 13.d2 xf3+ 14.gxf3 xf3 winning material.; B) 11.g5 A c h a n g e o f p l a n s ! e6! 12.d4 d3+ 13.d2 xe2+ 14.xe2 c5 with the better pawn structure for Black in Kosten, A (2493)-So, W (2653)/ Belfort FRA 2012. ] [ I thought a great deal about 9.xe5 when xe5 10.e2 is met by e7! ( 10...d6?! 11.f4 ) 11.xe5 xe5+ 12.dxe5 f5 13.e2 0-0-0 when Black has more than enough compensation for the pawn in the shape of White's poor queenside formation, Socko, B (2636)-Lysyj, I (2633)/Moscow 2012. ] 9...b8 [ 9...e4!? is certainly worth consideration, 10.g5 xc3+ 11.d2 d4 12.dxc6 c5 and White is in a bit of trouble. ] 10.d3 d7 [ Again 10...e4!? i s p o s s i b l e , 11.xe4 xc3+ 12.d2 xc4 ] 11.0-0 h6 12.e1 d6 13.c2 White has more space, but Black has a nice square on c5 and the better pawn structure. b6 14.b1 f8!? [ Black was clearly worried that after 14...0-0 White can aim for h7 by 15.d3 however, g6 16.xg6 fxg6 17.xg6 a6 18.d2 c5 gives compensation. ] 15.e3 g6 16.d2 d8 17.f4 g7 18.f5 f6 19.f1 [ 19.fxg6 fxg6 20.h3 with a small plus. ] 19...g5 20.h4 e7 21.e1 a6 22.d3?!
ag8 Too routine. [ 22...e4! i s t h e m a t i c , 23.xe4 xe4 24.xe4 f6 menacing ...Qxe4, ...Qe5 and ... Bxc4, and after 25.d3 e5 26.g3 xg3+ 27.xg3 xg3 I prefer Black. ] 23.e2 ½-½
731 Navara,David Istratescu,Andrei 5th IECC Playoff Bronze (2) [Tony Kosten]
A18 2602 2587 30.05.2004
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 e5!? An alternative to the normal moves [ 3...d5 and ] [ 3...c5 ] 4.f3 c6 We have reached Nimzovitch's System with an extra tempo for White! 5.d4 The most logical, although [ 5.e2 b4 6.d3 was tried in Ribli,Z-Hoelzl, F/Austria 1997. ] [ 5.a3!? would be my choice, stopping ... Bb4, d6 ( 5...a6?! 6.e2 c5 7.xe5! xf2+ 8.xf2 xe5 9.d4 with a clear advantage, fg4+? 10.e1 h4+ 11.g3 h3 12.f1 h5 13.dxe5 winning a piece, Damaso,R-Figueiras,J/2nd Open, Faro POR 1998 ) 6.h3 g6 7.g3 g7 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 e6 10.d3 h6 11.d5 and White is a move ahead of a normal Botvinnik-style setup, Badea,B-Barbu,I/Miercurea Ciuc ROM 2000. ] 5...exd4 6.xd4 b4 7.f3 Solidly defending the e-pawn, [ 7.xc6 is an alternative, xc3+ ( 7...bxc6 8.d3 0-0 9.0-0 e8 10.e1 d6 11.g5 h6 12.h4 with a plus, Schneider,B-Klings, P/Schoeneck 1988.) 8.bxc3 bxc6 ( 8...dxc6 9.xd8+ xd8 10.d3 led to a quick win for White in Spaan, H-Van de Bruinhorst,G/ Alkmaar 1984, but looks OK for Black here) 9.e5 e7 10.e2 g8 11.f4 offers White some space and the bishops for his weakened structure, Tichy,V-Lange,D/ Prague 1990 ] 7...d6 [ 7...0-0 8.e2 e8 9.g5 d6 10.c2 ( 10.c1!? but not; 10.0-0?? xd4 727
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.xd4?? c5 ) 10...xc3+ 11.bxc3 is not very inspiring, Berechet,O-Talla,V/ CZE-chT 1993. ] 8.e2 [ 8.e3 xc3+ 9.bxc3 e5 10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 fd7 12.f4 g6 is similar to positions that arise from the Four Knights with 4 d4 (A28), White has more space and t wo b i s h o p s , b u t B l a c k h a s t h e b e t t e r structure and a nice square on c5. Himanshu, K-Satyapragyan,S/Mumbai IND 2004. ] 8...0-0 9.e3 White must still take care not to castle! xc3+ 10.bxc3 e7!? Heading for g6, as in the above note, but [ 10...e5 seems more logical. ] 11.0-0 g6 12.a4 a5 13.d2 [ 13.b5 would be my choice, threatening Bg5xf6. ] 13...e8 14.f2 b6 15.fe1 b7 16.f5 [ Once again 16.b5 is a different idea, the pressure on c7 will stop Black from becoming too active. ] 16...d7! Both sides place their pieces c a r e f u l l y . 17.h4!? White decides to use his advanced knight to generate a kingside attack. [ 17.e3 can now be answered by g5 pinning the knight and menacing ...Nf4. ] 17...c5!? Black continues to place his hopes on his well-placed pieces. [ 17...e7 would help defend the kingside. ] 18.h5 e5 19.h6?! White attacks on the dark squares, Black has exchanged his darksquared bishop, of course, but this pawn will soon be lost. [ 19.xc5!? dxc5 20.f4 f6 21.g3 is another idea. ] 19...g6! Black should certainly not grab the 'poisoned exchange': [ 19...b3? 20.d1 xa1 21.xg7! f8 22.f5 and White can capture the knight on a1 when he wants and remain with a powerf ul attack on the weakened black king. ] 20.h4 f6 21.d4 The knight returns to cover b3. f7 22.d1 g5 The point, the h6pawn is c ut -o f f f ro m it s de f e nd er. 23.g3 xh6 24.c2 White still has some chances because of the weakened black kingside. f7 25.f2 White wants to use the opened h-file. c8 26.h1 h6 27.h5 d7 28.ah1 g7
E ve r yt h i n g i s s o l i d l y d e f e n d e d . 29.b1?! This all looks rather crude, White lines-up his queen and bishop battery. h8 30.f4?! e7 31.c2 gxf4 32.xf4 ag8 The king can simply escape to f8. 33.d2 f8 34.xh6+ xh6 35.xh6 xh6 36.xh6? [ 36.xh6+ e8 37.h5+ is better, although Black is still on top. ] 36...g7 [ 36...xe4! would be a neat way to finish the game, 37.xe4 xe4+ winning. ] 37.f1 g5 Black decides to force play into a favourable endgame. 38.xg5 fxg5 39.h7 [ 39.b5 stops the loss of the a-pawn, but after xb5 40.axb5 Black has a good knight against a terrible bishop. ] 39...g7 40.h8+ e7 41.c2 f7+ 42.f5+ f6 [ 42...xf5? 43.exf5 would actually be fine for White, who can attack the g-pawn. ] 43.e2 xa4 The a-pawn was bound to disappear, sooner or later! 44.xa4 xa4 45.d3 c5+ 46.d4 e6 47.g8 a4 The a-pawn is coming! [ 47...xe4! 48.xe4 xf5 would be another winning method. ] 48.xg5? a3 49.e3 a2 50.d4+ d7 51.c2 Stopping the a-pawn for a short while. f1 52.g7+ c8 53.g4 c1 54.d4 0-1
732 Nepomniachtchi,Ian Aleksandrov,Aleksej 11th Aeroflot Open A (2) [John Bartholomew]
A18 2735 2612 08.02.2012
1.c4 e6 2.c3 f6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 The old main line. [ The flexible 7.f3 is quite popular these d a y s . S p e c i f i c a l l y , t h e v a r i a t i o n e5 ( Transpositional possibilities abound between 7.d4 and 7. Nf3, i.e. 7...c5 8.d4 reaching the present game.; Black should a lso give s t ro n g c o n si d e r a t io n t o 7...b6 - see the note to Black's next move.) 8.d4 ( There's also 8.d3!? , forgoing d2-d4 in favor of development.) 8...exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 is still up for debate. See 728
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 "Mik en as A tt ack - 3. . .d 5 & In tro" f or a good launching point for the discussion. ] 7...c5 The most frequent reply. Now an exchange on d4 will result in a classic "hanging pawn" structure. [ Black has a couple noteworthy alternatives. 7...e5 8.f3 transposes to 7.Nf3 e5 8.d4. ( 8.e2!? has been tried by some very strong players, but e7! has proven to be a fully satisfactory response. )] [ The positional 7...b6 deserves attention. Black declines an immediate central clash (why allow White to easily rid himself of the double d c-pa wns?) in f avor of Queen's Indian-style development. After 8.e2 b7 9.f3 xf3 10.xf3 d6 11.0-0 0-0 12.h3 h6 13.e1 c6 Black was doing well in Nikologorskiy, K (1946)-Nikolaev, V (2186)/ St Petersburg 2006/[John Watson]. ] 8.f3 h6 Preventing the pesky 9.Bg5 but falling behind in development. [ John Watson thoroughly investigated the complications of 8...cxd4 9.g5 ( Compare 9.cxd4 b4+ 10.d2 xd2+ 11.xd2 to our main game: here Black has saved a tempo (no ...h7-h6) and W hite has yet to play Bf1-d3. This ensures Black an easy game after b6! , e.g. 12.e2 b7 13.0-0 0-0 with a bare-bones hanging pawn position where W hite has done nothing to obstruct Black's ideal piece arrangement. Though objectively level, I think such a position is already easier to play as Black, and this seems to be borne out in the statistics (Black is +3, =4 from this position). A brief example: 14.fd1 d8 15.e3 c6 16.d2 e7! (Black is fully coordinated) 17.ad1 f5 18.f4 d6 (insisting on a favorable queen exchange) 19.xf6 gxf6 20.c5?! e4 Quinn, M (2391)-Lenic, L (2531)/Kemer 2007.) 9...f5 in Ghaem M a g h a m i , E ( 2 6 2 3 ) - A z a r o v, S ( 2 5 6 5 ) / Moscow 2005. In addition to the game's 10.cxd4 , there are 10.Qxd4 and the risky gambit 10.Bd3!? ] 9.d3 cxd4 [ Alternatives can be found in the archives: 9...c6!? 10.0-0! cxd4 11.cxd4 xd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.b1 with excellent compensation, Bratanov, Z (2438)-Antonov, O (2123)/Izmir 2002/[TonyK] ]
[ and 9...d6 Watson, J-Miller, I/Buena Park G/ 60 1995/[John Watson]. ] 10.cxd4 b4+ 11.d2 xd2+ 12.xd2 0-0 [ White obtained an enduring positional a d v a n t a g e a f t e r 12...c6 13.e3 in Tomashevsky, E (2586)-Iljin, A (2510)/ Cheboksary 2006/[John Watson]. Aleksandrov prefers to develop the knight to d7. ] 13.0-0 Black experiences minor problems in completing development. This allows White to build pressure over the next few move and secure a nice advantage. d7!? A novelty that doesn't change the assessment of the position. [ The old game Golombek, H-Koenig, I/ Warsaw 1935 went 13...c6 A) A more recent contest saw 14.fe1 b6 , Agrest, E (2574)-Henriksson, J (2161)/ Dos Hermanas 2003. White should have reacted energetically, i.e. 15.d5!? ( or 15.e4!? b7 16.ae1 ) 15...exd5 16.cxd5 a5 17.e5; B) 14.e4 d7 15.ab1 ab8 16.fd1 fd8 . Here White rushed things with 17.d5 (Black is prepared for this advance) exd5 18.cxd5 and Black was fine after e5 ( or 18...e7 ) 19.e3 xf3+ 20.xf3 b6 21.a3 a5 22.bc1 bc8 . Perhaps he should have tried 17. c5!? with a slight advantage. ] [ White had an interesting idea in Oratovsky, M (2481) -Kruppa, Y (2602)/Budapest 1999: 13...d8 14.ae1!? ( 14.fe1 c6 15.ad1 is more natural and looks good for an edge. ) 14...c6 15.e4! g6! A) This peters out to equality. Instead, 16.c2!? b6 17.fe1 b7 18.d5 creates problems for Black. ( or 18.g4!? ); B) 16.xh6 xd4 17.xd4 xd4 18.xd4 xd4 19.d1 d7 20.c2 c3 21.xg6 fxg6 22.xg6+ f8 23.h6+ g8 24.g6+ h8 25.h6+ g8 1/2-1/2 ] 14.e3! Quite a useful move. White prevents ...e6-e5 and prepares his next. d8 [ The idealistic 14...b6?? loses instantly to 15.e4 . ] 15.e4 f8 [ Passive, but it's hard to fault Black for re ject in g th e co mp u t er's sugge st ion o f 729
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15...g5!? ] 16.ab1 e7 17.c5! Positionally desirable W h i t e f i x e s t h e B l a c k p a w n o n b 7 . c7 18.b3!? [ It was also possible to play in the center with 18.fe1 . As usual, the side with the space advantage has the luxury of playing all over the board! ] 18...b8 19.fb1 b6 20.e5 d7?! [ Better was 20...b7! , i.e. 21.cxb6 axb6 22.xc7 xc7 23.xb6 d7 . Black has decent drawing chances despite the pawn deficit. ] 21.c6?! [ White has controlled the game excellently until now. W ith 21.a4! (threatening a4-a5) he could have gained a big advantage, i.e. f6 22.xc7 xc7 23.a5 d7 24.axb6 axb6 25.d2! ] 21...f6! Nepo may have missed this resource. 22.g3 xg3 23.hxg3 c7 24.c3 f7 No w W h it e 's e d ge is wit h in m a n a ge a b le b o u n d a r i e s . 25.cc1 g6 26.d5!? A reasonable decision. W hite sacrifices a pawn to support his waning initiative. exd5 27.d4 a6 28.a4 f8 29.f4 g6 30.e1 f5! 31.bc1 e6= Black has consolidated well. 32.xe6?! A tempting exchange sac, but probably a little optimistic. [ W h it e s h o u ld h a ve se t t le d f o r 32.xe6 xe6 33.xa6 d8= ] 32...xe6 33.xa6 d7 34.f2 e8 35.b5 a8 36.h1 h5 37.e1 e7 38.e5!? d8 39.a6 a8 40.b5 d8 Black acquiesces to the repetition. [ H e m u s t h a v e f i g u r e d t h a t 40...xe5 41.fxe5 offered him few chances to win, but g5!? was interesting since 42.xf5? e6-+ allows Black to decisively active his king. ] 41.a6 a8 42.b5 ½-½
733 Ni Hua Aleksandrov,Aleksej Open Calcutta IND (9) [John Watson]
A18 2611 2659 15.11.2004
exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 f6 Although it's not been seen as much recently, this has been considered a relatively solid option. This game challenges that assessment. 11.xd4 f7 12.h6! [ A terrific innovation! Here White has played 12.f4 in many games, doing fairly well. Objectively he shouldn't get much, however, after c5 and a timely ...c6 and/or ...Na6. ] 12...c5? Confronted with a new idea like the Bh6 shot even a first-class player can become disoriented. This move gives away b5 to the knight and horribly weakens d6. Of course Black can't respond by [ 12...gxh6?? 13.h5 but he can limit the damage with ] [ 12...g6 , after which there are several o p t i o n s f o r W h i t e i n c l u d i n g 13.d2!? , for example, xh6 14.xh6 f8 15.f4 f7 16.0-0 0-0 ( 16...a6 17.f3! ) 17.c5! ] [ Notice that 12...d6 13.h5 g6 14.e2 f8 15.d2 transposes to 12...g6. ] 13.b5 f5! This prevents Bh5 in lines like [ 13...c6? 14.xg7! xg7 ( 14...xg7 15.d6+ ) 15.h5+ e7 16.d6# ] [ and 13...e6? 14.xg7 etc. ] 14.0-0 d7 [ 14...c6? 15.h5 g6 ( 15...g6 16.e1+ ) 16.e1+ e5 17.xg6 hxg6 18.f4 and White's threats are overwhelming. ] [ 14...gxh6? 15.h5 g6 16.e1+ e7 17.d6+ ] 15.f4 a6 16.e1! f7 There's nothing else to do, for example, [ 16...xd1 17.h5+ d7 18.axd1+ c6 19.d6! ] [ or 16...0-0-0? 17.xa7# ] 17.f3 d8 18.xb7 [ Or 18.d5+ g6 19.f3 , but the move played traps Black's knight on a6. ] 18...g5 19.g3 b8 20.h5+ g7 [ 20...g6 21.f3 ] 21.ad1 xb7 22.xd8 c6 23.d5 g6 24.g4 h5 25.d7+ h6 26.e6 a8 27.xf6 e7 [ 27...e7 28.exe7 xe7 29.h4 ends it. ] 1-0
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 e5 8.f3 730
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 734 Nikologorskiy,Konstantin Nikolaev,V White Nights Open (1) [John Watson]
A18 1946 2186 23.06.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 b6 8.e2 b7 9.f3 xf3 10.xf3 d6 11.0-0 0-0 12.h3 h6 13.e1 c6 14.a4 a5 15.c5 f4 16.a3 [ 16.xf4 xf4 ] 16...fd8 17.ab1?! [ 17.e4 seems to give White some advantage. ] 17...f5! 18.b4?! c4 A great outpost. B l a c k s t a n d s b e t t e r . 19.c6 d5! Correctly judging that the resulting ending will be very difficult for W hite. 20.xd5 xd5 21.g3 g5 22.xg5 xg5 Now White has no compensation for the huge disparity between the minor pieces. W orse, ...a5 is threatened, so Black gets another open file. 23.cxb6 cxb6!? [ Why not 23...axb6 ? It seems very strong. ] 24.g2? [ 24.a1 intending a4-a5. ] 24...d5 25.g4 d7 Again ...a5 is threatened and Black is winning (and won) 0-1
735 Pelletier,Yannick Bakker,Sven Gibtelecom Masters (8.19) [John Watson]
A18 2579 2308 31.01.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 [ White can't possibly have gotten an advantage in the following game and in fact probably stood worse, but the final position is worthincluding! 7.d4 e5 8.f3 exd4 9.xd4 e7 10.e3 c6 11.xf6 xf6 12.d4 0-0 13.0-0-0 a6 14.xc6 bxc6 15.c2 e6 16.d4 ab8 17.d3 fd8 18.f4 a5 19.b1 e7 20.xb8 xb8 21.f5 d7 22.c5 f6 23.b1 xb1 24.xb1 h5 25.xf6 gxf6 26.h4 1-0 Ubilava -Mascaro, Platja de Muro ESP 2005. ]
7...c5 8.d3 d7 9.0-0 d6 10.c2 c6 11.e4 xe4 12.xe4 c6 13.d4 0-0 14.d1 cxd4? Now White has what he wants: space and pawn mobility. The doubled pawns were Black's main advantage, and he should have played [ 14...a5! or even ] [ 14...g6!? ] 15.cxd4 ac8 16.b1 b6 17.b5! All of White's pieces are gaining scope and Black properly tries to simplify: g6 18.e2 Now we are treated to a comedy of errors! fd8?? 19.g5?? Mutual blindness. Winning was [ 19.h4 , trapping the queen and forcing xd4 20.xd4 f6 21.f3 , game over. ] 19...h6? [ 19...f6 looks bad but retains a playable game, e.g., 20.g4 ( 20.b2 e7 ) 20...h6 Versus Bg5 21.b2 f5 22.h4!? f6 ] 20.h3? [ 20.d5! leads to the machine idea a5 ( or 20...e7 21.f5! g6 22.h4! ) 21.f5 g6 22.h4! ] 20...e7?! [ 20...f6 ] 21.g4?! [ This time the analytical engine finds the bizarre 21.c5! xc1 ( 21...g6 22.xc6! xc6 23.e5 ) 22.xc1 bxc5 23.dxc5 xc5 24.g5! and Black lacks compensation, although this isn't resignable by any means. ] 21...h5 22.b2 Now White's advantage is rather small, especially if Black opposes bishops by ...Bf6. f8!? 23.g5 h6 24.d5 a5 [ 24...e7 is better, centralising. ] 25.g4! f5? 26.c1! Pelletier doen't miss this one! fxg4? [ 26...h5 27.xe6+ f7 had to be tried, however ultimately hopeless. The rest is easy. ] 27.xh6 gxf3 28.xe6+ h8 29.g5 e8 30.f5 xc4 31.xf3 c5 32.f4 f8 33.g3 cd8 34.d6 xd6 35.xd6 f6 36.xc5 xd1+ 37.h2 h6 38.g4 d5 39.d4 f7 40.e6 dd7 41.xh6+ 1-0
731
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A18 white queen should have retreated the move 28.c3 xf4? Returning the Pelletier,Yannick 2624 before. Ribli,Zoltan 2568 compliment, [ 28...b6! 29.h1 g8 is better, te being a Bundesliga 2002-3 (8) 11.01.2003 pawn down Black can take advantage of the [Tony Kosten] open g-file, 30.e6 xe6 ( 30...xg4?? is a b lu n d e r, 31.xf6+ g8 32.f8# ) 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 31.xg8+ xg8 32.dxe6 xe6 and Black 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 is OK! ] The old main line seems to be coming back 29.xf4 xf4 30.h5 e5 31.xe5?! into fashion, since This may have been a Sunday morning round, [ 7.f3 e5 8.d3 offers little. ] 7...e5 8.f3 exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 as I can see no reason why White cannot play e7 11.cxd4 xg5 12.xg5 f6!? the simple [ 31.xf6 xc3 32.xc3 with an extra We have already analysed a couple of games pawn. ] involving the more usual 31...fxe5 32.f1 g8 33.f5 d7 34.g4 [ 12...e7 ] 13.e4!? A novelty, the knight moves again, White is still better, as his pieces are more active, but the win is far from obvious. c8?! but gains a tempo on the black queen. [ 13.d2 had been the almost inevitable Black should stop the rook getting onto the choice here: 0-0 14.0-0 f5 ( 14...c6 seventh rank, perhaps, by [ 34...h6 35.f6+!? ( 35.f2 f8 36.xf8+ 15.d5 d4 16.d3 f5 17.xf5 xf5 xf8 37.e3 f7 38.e4 offers better is almost equal, Cramling,D-Wiedenkeller, chances ) 35...xf6 36.xf6 f8 ( 36...g7 M / S t o c k h o l m 1 9 9 3) 15.ad1 e8 37.e6 ) 37.xh6 f4 38.h3 xc4 1/2-1/2 Stohl,I-Zarnicki,P/Moscow 1994. ] when W hite has two connected passed 13...g6 14.g3 0-0 15.0-0 One immediate pawns, but the black rook is very active. ] advantage of having the knight on g3, instead of g5, is that W hite no longer has to worry 35.g5+ h8 36.g7 f6 This is Black's about defending it, and so can concentrate on intention, to play the rook and pawn ending, xh5 h i s o t h e r p i e c e s . d8 16.c1 f6 but his rook is very passive. 37.e7 Black's logical plan is to force the d-pawn to 38.gxh5 h6 39.f2! The e-pawn is not going advance and then put his queen's knight on to run away, and so White keeps control of t h e c 5 - s q u a r e . 17.d5 a6 18.h5!? the seventh. b5 40.c5 g8 41.e3 a5 T h i s l o o k s o d d , b u t t h e y o u n g S w i s s 42.e4 b4 43.xe5 a4 44.e6 There is no Grandmaster is trying to create a weakness in real defence against Kd7xc7 when the two white pawns march to the queening square. Black's kingside structure. e5 [ 18...h6!? would keep g7 under 1-0 surveillance. ] 19.f3 c5 20.e1 d6 21.d4 A18 White achieves his desired piece set-up. f6 737 22.e3 White's extra space, and control of the Rasmussen 2397 e-file give him a certain plus. d7 23.g4! Rozentalis,Eduardas 2598 F r e e i n g t h e t h i r d r a n k f o r t h e r o o k . e8 Anibal Open Linares ESP (6) 06.03.2002 24.g3 White's kingside initiative is taking on [Tony Kosten] a l a r m i n g p r o p o r t i o n s . xg4 25.xg4 Attacking both g7 and f6, this wins a pawn. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 h8 26.xg7 e5! The knight's retreat will [ 4.exd5 exd5 5.d4 transposes to a lesser not be so easy. 27.f4?! This move is a useful line of the exchange French, although this resource, but it should be prepared, can still be dangerous, Miezis, N[ 27.d1! d7 28.f4 e7 29.h5 Gunnarsson,A/Reykjavik ISL 2002. ] and White is a pawn to the good. ] 4...d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 27...e4 Gaining a tempo, which is why the 8.d4 exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 e7 736
732
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 10...d3?! seems like a good idea, but 11.0-0! d6 ( 11...xe2? 12.e1; 11...dxe2?? 12.d8# ) 12.xd3 0-0 13.e1 d7 14.c5!? xc5 15.e5 d6 16.h5 gave White a powerful attack, Cramling,DOrnstein,A Gausdal 1980. ] [ 10...f6 is playable, though: 11.xd4 f7 12.f4 c6 13.0-0 e7 and White's development advantage is balanced by his weak queenside. ] 11.cxd4 xg5 12.xg5 e7 13.d2 c6!? An interesting alternative, threatening to capture on d4. 14.d5 e5 [ 14...d4?! is too flashy, 15.xd4 xg5 16.0-0 0-0 17.f3 a5 18.fe1 a6!? 19.e5 d8 20.ae1 with complete control of th e e-f ile, Gulko ,B-Plieste r,L/ Arub a 1992. ] 15.0-0 0-0 16.fe1 f5 Black has managed to develop his minor pieces to active squares, but will they prove to be targets for W hite? 17.ac1!? White provokes a weakness on c6, although I am far from sure that this novelty is much better than [ 17.f4 w h e n a f t e r f6 18.f3 fe8 White has next-to-nothing, Banas,J-Rigo,Z/ Prievidza 1998. ] 17...b6 To stop c5. 18.f4 f6!? Risky, [ 18...f6 19.f3 fe8 is similar to the previous note. ] 19.f3 d7 20.xe5 fxe5 21.e3 c5?! This leads to unexpected problems. 22.dxc6 xc6 23.c5! b5 [ 23...bxc5 24.xc5 xc5 25.xc5 forks c6 and e5, winning a pawn. ] 24.d3 f7 25.a3 ad8 Black seems to have reasonable play at the moment, but sooner or later he must find some real compensation for his weak pawn on e5. 26.f3 This puts pa id to any tactics along the f-file, and prepares Be4 to remove the bishop from its blockade of the c5-pawn. d4 27.c2 h8?! Black ditches the e-pawn, but [ 27...e8 28.b3 d5 29.xd5 xd5 30.c6 was also unpleasant, as the c-pawn is very dangerous. ] 28.xe5 g4?! The tricky point, but it leads nowhere. 29.f5! Exchanging queens is the simplest. xf5 30.xf5 a4 31.e4 a6 [ 31...xe4? 32.xe4 xa3 re-establishes material equality, but after 33.c6 Black will
have to give a rook to stop the pawn, i.e. h6 34.c7 c8 35.d4 h7 36.d8 ] 32.ed1 g8 33.d6 f6 34.xf6 gxf6 35.f2 f7 36.xc6 xc6 37.e3 e7 The extra white pawn, and the passive black rook, are enough to assure W hite the full point. 38.d4 a6 39.c3 d7 40.d5 a4 41.c6+ c7 42.e3 b6 43.e7 xa3 44.b7+ a6 45.b8 d3+ 46.e6 c3 47.d7 d3+ 48.c8 h5 49.c7 d2 50.b7 Kb8 and c8(Q) follow. 1-0
738 Ronchetti,Niccolo Brunello,Sabino XIII Luigi Serra (3) [John Watson]
A18 2421 2391 03.07.2006
1.c4 e6 2.c3 f6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 e5 8.f3 exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 f6 11.xd4 f7 12.f4 The old move. Either White doesn't like or didn't know about Ni Hua)-Aleksandrov, Calcutta IND 2004, which I analysed in a previous column. Here is the game and a few of my notes: [ 12.h6! A) 12...gxh6?? 13.h5 but he can limit the damage with; B) 12...g6 , after which there are several o p t i o n s f o r W h i t e i n c l u d i n g 13.d2!? , for example, xh6 14.xh6 f8 15.f4 f7 16.0-0 0-0 ( 16...a6 17.f3! ) 17.c5!; C) 12...c5? 13.b5 C1) 13...c6? 14.xg7! xg7 ( 14...xg7 15.d6+ ) 15.h5+ e7 16.d6#; C2) 13...f5! This prevents Bh5 in lines like 14.0-0 d7 ( 14...gxh6? 15.h5 g6 16.e1+ e7 17.d6+ ) 15.f4 a6 16.e1! f7 ( 16...xd1 17.h5+ d7 18.axd1+ c6 19.d6! ) 17.f3 d8 18.xb7 g5 19.g3 b8 20.h5+ g7 ( 20...g6 21.f3 ) 21.ad1 xb7 22.xd8 c6 23.d5 g6 24.g4 h5 25.d7+ h6 26.e6 a8 27.xf6 e7 1-0 ( 27...e7 28.exe7 xe7 29.h4 ends it. )] 733
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12...c5 [ 12...a6!? ] 13.a4+! c6 14.b3 e7?! [ 14...a6 ] 15.0-0 [ 15.xb8! gives some advantage after xb8 16.xa7 d6 17.d1 ] 15...0-0 16.fe1 d7 17.c5 e5! 18.e3?! e6 19.d4 d5 20.f5 fe8 Black is wellcentralized. 21.h4 [ 21.xe7+?! xe7 threatens ... Qg6. ] 21...f8 22.d4? g6 23.g3 d3 24.xd3 xd3 Black has 2 bishops, lightsquare control and play against White's weak pawns. 25.f4 xe1+ 26.xe1 b6!? [ 26...xa2 with a passed a-pawn. ] 27.g4! g6 28.xg6 hxg6 29.cxb6 c5 30.e3 [ 30.b7! b8 31.e3 splits the pawns, although the bishops should eventually prevail. After this White is clearly lost and plays until mate. Perhaps the clock was an issue. ] 30...axb6 31.b1 xa2 32.h4 a6 33.d1 c6 34.h5 gxh5 35.xh5 f7 36.f4 a7 37.f3 b5 38.c1 a3 39.f2 a2+ 40.f1 g5 41.d3 g4 42.xc5 gxf3 43.gxf3 xf3 44.b3 a3 45.e1 d5 46.d4 c4+ 47.g1 b2 48.b1 d3 49.d1 a1 50.xa1 xa1 51.d2 b4 52.cxb4 xd4+ 53.g2 e6 54.f3 d5 55.f4 e5+ 56.f3 c4 57.g4 d6 58.b5 xb5 59.e3 c4 60.f3 d5 61.d2 f5 62.e3 e4+ 63.e2 f4 64.xf4 xf4 65.f2 d4 66.e2 c3 67.f2 d2 68.f1 f3 69.f2 g4 70.f1 e3 71.g2 e2 72.g1 f3 73.f1 g3 74.e1 c1 75.f1 d2 76.g1 e2 77.h1 c3 0-1
739 Smirin,Ilia Kulaots,Kaido Monarch Assurance (9) [Tony Kosten]
A18 2671 2593 03.10.2004
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d3 [ 8.d4 seems to have recovered its crown
now, so I was surprised to see this move. ] 8...d6 9.0-0 a6 10.e1 After my game against Dizdar I thought everyone had gone back to [ 10.c2 although this only seems equal. ] 10...0-0 11.xe5?! xe5! [ 11...e8 12.f3 g4 was about equal in Schlosser,P-Wells,P/Herzliya 1998, while ] [ 11...c5? 12.c2 xe5 13.h5 was very good for White in Van Wely,L-Oll, L/Beijing 1997. ] 12.h5 xh2+ The unpleasant problem. 13.xh2 f5 14.f1 [ 14.xf5!? xf5 15.d4 might be the best chance, d3 16.g3 xg3 17.fxg3 might not be too bad for White, despite the pawn structure, as his bishop is good. ] 14...fe8 15.a3 g6!? An innovation, but no improvement on the [ 15...g5! of Kosten,A-Dizdar,G - see the archives. ] 16.g3 The square h2 is not a satisfactory post for a queen! c6 [ 16...c5!? ] 17.g5! White stops the knight from returning into play. xe1 18.xe1 a4 19.c1 e8 [ 19...xa2?! i s t o o g r e e d y , 20.b5 threatens mate on e8 and wins the b-pawn. ] 20.xe8+ xe8 21.d4 Now I would say that W hite is better as his two bishops should prove important. h6 22.d2 e4 23.b2 e1! 24.d2 Of course, [ 24.xb7? xc1 25.xa6 d3 would lose a piece. ] 24...d1 25.c1 a4 26.b2 White decides to repeat moves, but [ 26.a3 was possible, perhaps, b6 27.f4 and White still has reason to hope with the better minor pieces. ] 26...d1 27.c1 a4 28.b2 ½-½
740 Steingrimsson,Hedinn Kulaots,Kaido Keres Mem A Tallin EST (8) [John Watson]
A18 2439 2558 12.01.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 [ 3...c5 4.e5 g8 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 734
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7.xd4 is seen less and less often. See previous ChessPublishing games - W hite seems to win them all! ] 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d4 [ 8.d3 has received a lot of attention in these pages. Frankly, I don't think tha t White gets even the tiniest advantage. ] 8...exd4 9.g5 [ 9.xd4 was an original capture played in Ubilava-Mascaro March, Platja de Muro 2005. I seriously doubt that W hite gets anything from this line, but the ending is nice! e7 10.e3 c6 11.xf6 xf6 12.d4 0-0 13.0-0-0 a6 14.xc6 bxc6 15.c2 e6 16.d4 ab8 17.d3 fd8 18.f4 a5 19.b1 e7 20.xb8 xb8 21.f5 d7 22.c5 f6 23.b1 xb1 24.xb1 h5 25.xf6 gxf6 26.h4 ] 9...e6+ 10.e2 e7 [ The line 10...f6 11.xd4 f7 was almost put to rest by 12.h6!! c5? ( 12...gxh6?? 13.h5; 12...g6 ) 13.b5 f5! 14.0-0 d7 15.f4 a6 16.e1! f7 17.f3 d8 18.xb7 and wins, Ni Hua-Aleksandrov, Calcutta 2004. ] 11.cxd4 xg5 12.xg5 e7 [ For 12...f6!? see earlier ChessPublishing c o l u m n s , f o r e xa m p l e , P e l l e t i e r - R i b l i , Tegernsee GER 2003 went 13.e4!? g6 14.g3 ( 14.f3 ) 14...0-0 15.0-0 d8 and here instead of 16.Rc1!?, I gave 16.d3 d6 17.e1! intending moves like d5, Qc2, Rad1 etc. ] 13.d2 c6 [ We've also seen a number of games with 13...h6 , generally favouring White. ] 14.d5 [ 14.0-0!? xd4 15.h5! e6! should have been about equal in Timman-Kulaots, Prague 2004. ] 14...e5 15.0-0 0-0 16.fe1 f5 17.f4 f6 18.f3 fe8 19.h4 [ Ivanchuk's improvement on 19.d4 g6! (Banas, J-Rigo, Z/Prievidza 1998) 20.xf5 xd4= ] 19...g6 20.xf5 xh4 Since the queen goes to d4 next, White has gained a sort of tempo. 21.f1 [ M y p r e v i o u s s u g g e s t i o n 21.g4!? also de serves co nsideration, since th e
queen doesn't get back to d4. Potentially White might have to worry about back-rank tricks but not obviously so. The real question is whether W hite needs an improvement, since things go so well for him. ] 21...d4 [ Tony suggested several improvements for W hite after 21...b6!? from Bruzon-Zarnicki, Santo Domingo 2003. ] 22.d7 xe1 23.xe1 c5 24.h4 f8 25.d3!? An innovation on move 25! Whether it is ne ce ssa ry is n ot cle a r, bu t W h ite is certainly in charge and the move has several advantages. The elegant stem game IvanchukP Nielsen, Skanderborg 2003 went [ 25.f5 (threatening h5) g8 ( 25...xh4? 26.xh7 g6 27.d3 ) 26.h5 f8 27.g5! d6! 28.g3 h6 29.e7 with a clear advantage. ] 25...d6!? Trying to hang on. Although White threatened h5 again, that won't be true if the queens come off. [ 25...xh4?! doesn't suffice after 26.h3! d4 ( 26...g6 27.xg6 fxg6 28.xh7 f7 29.e4 ) 27.e4 a1+ 28.h2 g6 29.xh7 ] 26.f5 [ 26.b5!? hits the b-pawn but Black can defend after b6 27.h5 ( 27.b2!? ) 27...f4 28.xh7 xh5 ] 26...f4 [ 26...g8 27.h5 f8 28.g5 is at least as good as the Ivanchuk game, and there are other good moves. ] 27.h5 g8 28.e3!? [ 28.g3! would ask Black where he's going, e. g., d6 ( 28...d4 29.f5; 28...f6 29.e2 d6 30.h5 f8 31.e7 ) 29.g5 and Black is still tied down. ] 28...b6 [ 28...d4 29.g3! threatens Qf5 again. ] 29.g3! d6 30.xg6?! Incomprehensible. Obviously W hite still keeps the advantage, but consistent with all the previous play was [ 30.g5! ] [ or 30.e2 ] 30...hxg6 31.e2 f8?! It not clear what the threat was. Maybe a slower move was called for. [ 31...c8 has the idea of ...c6 if White strays: 32.h5 ( 32.e5 ) 32...gxh5 33.xh5 735
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c6 34.e4!? cxd5 35.cxd5 g6 36.h6 by Tony. Let me add a few brief notes. The c5! ] key game Pelletier-Ribli, Tegernsee GER 32.h5! gxh5 33.xh5 Now Black has lost a 2003 continued 13.e4!? g6 14.g3 critical tempo. h6 ( 14.f3 appears a bit better for White as [ 33...g8 34.e4! threatens Rh4, but h6 well) ) 14...0-0 15.0-0 d8 and here instead 35.f5 f6 can be answered by 36.d7 of 16.Rc1!?, I t hink tha t 16.d3 d6 ( or 36.xf6 gxf6 37.g2 ) 36...d8 ( 16...f6 17.e1 c6 18.d5 d4 19.d2 ( 36...d6 37.xd6 cxd6 38.e7 c8 c5 20.e4 g6 21.h1 ) 17.e1! 39.xa7 xc4 40.a8+ h7 41.d8 ) prepares moves like d5, Qc2, Rad1 etc. I 37.h3 ] think this whole line is better for White ] 34.f5 f6 35.d7 13.d2 c6 [ There are several good ideas, e.g., 35.h7 [ Timman had another game versus h6 36.e4 d6 37.g2 ( or 37.g4 Naiditsch in Dortmund 2002 which went threatening Rh3 )] 13...h6 14.f3 0-0 15.0-0 c5 ( 15...g4 [ Even 35.xf6 gxf6 36.g2 likely wins, but 16.fe1 c6 Karpov-Yusupov, Linares it ' s e a s i e r t o ge t t h e k in g t o g2 b e f o r e 1991, and now 17.e5! xe5 18.xg4 entering the ending. ] h4 19.xe5 xg4 20.ae1 keeps the 35...d6 36.h3 h6 37.d7 d6 pressure on Black) 16.d5 d6 17.fe1 Terrible. W hite must have been completely ( 17.b2! d7 18.d3 left Black a little tied out of time towards the end. His winning down in Illescas Cordoba-Pogorelov, chances are excellent. Zaragoza 1996.) 17...d7 18.ab1 e8 ½-½ 19.d3 xe1+ 20.xe1 f6 and Tony's idea 21.e5 xe5 22.xe5 looks better for White after b6 23.a4! ] 741 A18 [ Also promising for White is 13...0-0 14.0-0 d7 15.d3! h6 16.e4! intending c5 Timman,Jan H 2602 17.d5 ] Kulaots,Kaido 2597 As far as I can see this is a novelty. Promopro Matches (1) 03.12.2004 14.0-0!? Which is not surprising since it allows Black to [John Watson] capture on d4. [ 14.d5 is probably better and yields a small 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 This variation is advantage: e5 15.0-0 0-0 16.fe1 f5 still critical and unresolved after 60 years of 17.f4! f6 18.f3 fe8 19.h4! g6 regular practice. d5 20.xf5 xh4 21.f1 ( 21.g4!? ) 21...b6!? [ 3...c5 4.e5 g8 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 ( 21...d4 22.d7 and White is much 7.xd4 is seen less and less often. See better, Ivanchuk-P Nielsen, Skanderborg previous ChessPublishing games - W hite 2003 ) 22.g3 ( Tony's 22.ad1 also give a seems to win them all! ] small edge to White.) 22...d8 , and here 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 T o n y s u g g e s t s s i m p l y ( 22...d4 e5 8.d4 might be met by 23.ad1! c3 24.xe8+ [ 8.d3 has received a lot of attention in xe8 25.d7 e5 26.d6! cxd6 27.xa7 ) these pages. Frankly, I don't think tha t 23.e4! xe4 24.xe4 d6 25.e1 White gets even the tiniest advantage. ] intending h4-5 and Bh3. ] 8...exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 e7 14...xd4 Black's usual choice. [ This looks logical. Safer is 14...0-0 15.fe1 [ White develops too quickly after 10...d3?! f6 16.d3 ( or 16.d5 ) 16...f5 17.xf5 11.0-0! ] xf5 18.f3 but White remains with a [ For 10...f6 , see Ni Hua-Aleksandrov. ] nagging edge. ] 11.cxd4 xg5 12.xg5 e7 [ For 12...g6 see the next game Valden- 15.h5! The point. [ 15.xd4 xg5 has the idea 16.f4 c5! Stavrianakis. ] 17.c3 f6 ] [ 12...f6!? has been looked at thoroughly 736
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15...e6! Accurate defence. [ 15...0-0? 16.xf7+ h8 17.ae1 f6 18.d5 c5 19.e4 yields a clear advantage. ] 16.xf7!? White has trouble getting more than a simplified position after this. A few more chances were given by [ 16.xf7+ xf7 17.fe1 e6 18.xe6 xe6 19.xe6 xe6 20.e1 xe1+ 21.xe1+ f7 22.b1! , which wins either the b-pawn or h-pawn, for example, he8 23.h3 ( 23.h4 b6 24.xh7 ad8 25.h5 is another approach. I doubt that White will win this sort of thing however.) 23...b6 24.xh7 and the position looks balanced. ] 16...xf7 17.xd4 xh5 18.fe1 e2 19.b2!? 0-0-0 [ Or 19...f7 20.xe2 f6 f o r c e s s i m p l i f i c a t i o n : 21.xf6+ gxf6 . This looks drawish. ] 20.ab1 b6 21.xe2 d7!? [ 21...c5! looks like a solid alternative. 22.xg7 xc4 23.e7 c2 24.f1 hf8 (intending ...Qxf2+!) 25.h3 h5= ] 22.h3 he8 23.xe8 xe8 24.c5 e6 25.b3 e7 26.f1 White has a small edge. The ideas of a4-a5 and Rc1 are available. Still, this isn't much, and Black plays poorly over the next few moves. b7 27.d5+ c6!? 28.cxb6 axb6 29.d1 f6!? [ 29...c5! 30.f3 c3 should draw ] 30.g4!? a7 31.d4 b5!? 32.g5 c1+ 33.g2 b6 34.h4 h6 The position is roughly equal and remains so for some moves u n t il T im m a n we a rs h is o p p o n e n t d o wn . 35.d3 b4 [ 35...c6= ] 36.a3! c3 37.axb4 [ 37.xc3 bxc3 38.c4 b2! ] 37...xd3 38.xd3 xb4 39.g3 hxg5 40.hxg5 e7 41.f4 b6 42.g4 c5 43.f5 c6 44.a6+ d5 45.a8+ e5 [ 45...d6 ] 46.c6 d4?! [ 46...d6! After this the game appears to be lost for Black. ] 47.f6 e2+ 48.f3 e6+ 49.h5! f7+ [ 49...gxf6 50.xf6+ d5 51.xe6+ xe6 52.h6 etc. ] 50.g6 f8 51.f7 c4 52.f4+ d3 53.f5+ e3 54.e6+ f3 55.c6+ g3 56.c7+
f3 57.g5 e3 58.g4 d3 59.d7+ c3 60.e8 c5 61.f8 g1+ 62.f5 Timman's 14.0-0 created a lot of problems. Objectively, however, White should probably prefer the small advantage that he gets from 14.d5. 1-0
742 Timman,Jan H Naiditsch,Arkadij Sparkassen Match (6) [Tony Kosten]
A18 2623 2581 19.07.2002
Leo Martinez wrote: "I was wondering about a line in the English opening. After 1 c4 Nf6 2 Nc3 e6 3 e4 d5 4 e5 d4 5 ef6 dc3 6 bc3 Qf6 7 Nf3 (or 7 d4 transposing I would think) e5, you say that 8 d4 is rarely played nowadays. I play this line on occasion as Black and I was just wondering what is wrong with this move and what I can do against it." 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 It is true that I have focussed exclusively on the trendy [ 7.f3 e5 8.d3 here, so it is time to consider the old alternative. ] 7...e5 8.f3 exd4 9.g5! [ 9.cxd4 b4+ is too easy for Black. ] 9...e6+ 10.e2 e7 [ Certainly not 10...dxc3?? 11.d8# ] 11.cxd4! Again the most accurate. [ 11.xe7?! d3! equalises. ] 11...xg5 12.xg5 e7 13.d2 h6 [ 13...0-0 14.0-0 d7 15.fe1 h6! 16.f3 c5 is also OK for Black, Adorjan,A-Petrosian, A/Shenzhen 1992, and ] [ 13...c6!? is considered in another game this month. ] 14.f3 0-0 15.0-0 c5 [ 15...g4 16.ab1! ( 16.fe1 c6 17.h3 xf3 18.xf3 was equal in Karpov,AnYusupov, A/Linares 1991) 16...c6 17.fe1 gave White an edge in Soffer,R-Nagetz,F/ Bad Lauterberg 1991. ] 16.d5 White has obtained a protected passed d-pawn, but it impedes his bishop and is easily blockaded. d6 17.fe1 Actually the first new move. [ 17.b2 d7 18.d3 f6 19.e2 d8 737
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.ae1!? gave White a spatial plus in Illescas Cordoba,M-Pogorelov,R/Zaragoza 1996. ] 17...d7 18.ab1 e8 19.d3 xe1+ 20.xe1 f6 21.d2!? [ 21.e5 is an interesting try, hoping to break the blockade of the d-pawn. xe5 22.xe5 b6 but Black is very solid here. ] 21...g6! White's previous move was aimed against [ 21...b6 when 22.e4 xe4 23.xe4 g6 24.e8+ offers him some initiative. ] 22.h3 b6 23.e3 g7 24.f4 White plans Qe5, and tries to make something of his extra space and development advantage, but Black has a sound pawn structure and will soon bring his remaining pieces into the game. a6 25.e5 d8 26.b3! White's best chance, t h e r o o k t h r e a t e n s t o c o m e t o a 3 . b5!? Black also has his ideas, and decides that it was time to undermine the d5-pawn, [ 26...xe5? is faulty: 27.fxe5 d7 28.f3 e8 29.a3 c8 30.xa7 xe5 31.xe5 xe5 32.d6 and the passed d-pawn wins a p i e c e . W h a t d i d Ni m zo vi t c h s a y a b o u t keeping this criminal "under lock and key"? ] [ 26...c8 is a solid alternative.. ] 27.cxb5 b7? A faulty follow-up, [ 27...xe5! would have justified Black's idea: 28.fxe5 xd5 29.e4 ( 29.bxa6?! b4 with equality) 29...f4 30.f1 c8 with counterplay, although W hite is still better. ] 28.c4! xe5 [ 28...xd5 29.d3 leaves Black in a terrible pin. ] 29.fxe5 xd5 [ 29...d7 30.a3 xe5 31.xa7 xd5 32.xd5 xd5 33.e4 is a better try although the two passed white pawns should prove decisive. ] 30.d3 d7 31.b3 c7? This is hopeless, although [ 31...b6 32.xd7 xd7 33.e6 fxe6 34.xe6 is not much better as the c-pawn is lost. ] 32.xd5 c4 33.xc4 xc4 34.d7 c8 35.xa7 [ 35.e6! is perhaps even more effective as xd7?? 36.exd7 and a queen is born. ] 35...b4 36.c7 e6 37.c5 xa2 38.e6
xb5 Black tries his hardest to stay on the board by removing as many white pawns as possible. 39.e7! But the e-pawn decides the game. The win is problematic after [ 39.xf7+?! g8 40.c7 b1+ 41.h2 e1 ] 39...b8 [ 39...b1+ 40.f2 b2+ 41.e3 doesn't change the result. ] 40.e4 b3 41.b7! A nice trick, Black had only considered [ 41.d6? a4 ] 41...xb7 42.e8 e6 43.d8 h5 44.d4+ f8 45.h8+ e7 46.f6+ f8 47.c5 1-0
743 Timofeev,Andrei Airapetian,Gor 14th Chigorin Mem (4) [John Watson]
A18 2344 2328 25.10.2006
I 'm re lu c t a n t t o sh o w t h i s e m b a rr a s s in g miniature, but it has such compelling features. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d6?! Now this is a Mikenas Variation gone sour! Perhaps Black was afraid of the theory after 3...c5 or 3...d5. In a few moves, however, it's looking up a little. 4.d4 bd7 5.f4 Of course it can't be bad, but I don't like this move, which justifies Black's ...d6 and ... Nbd7. [ Obviously 5.f3 has to be a good move, and as it turns out, probably better. But Black can still confuse things by c5 ] 5...c5! Why not? 6.d5 [ The problem is that Black seems to be able to get a decent Sicilian Defence out of 6.f3 cxd4 7.xd4 ( 7.xd4 e5!? with the idea 8.fxe5?! dxe5 9.xe5?? c5 ) 7...e7 , when 8.f5 allows 0-0! , intending 9.fxe6 c5! 10.exf7+ xf7 and White's position is a mess in view of ...Ng4, ...Nfxe4, ...Qb6 and other problems. ] 6...exd5 7.cxd5 e7! 8.d3 An interesting coincidence: Now we have the same position that arises in the Benoni Defence after 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e6 4Nc3 exd5 5cxd5 d6 6 e4 g6 7 f4 Qe7 8 Bd3, except that ...Nbd7 has been substituted for ...g6! This means that Black can't develop actively by ...Bg4, but it 738
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 also means that Black can play 8...Nxe4, whereas in the Benoni that would lose to 9 Qa4+! a6? [ The consistent move was 8...xe4! A) 9.xe4 f5 10.e2 ( 10.f3 fxe4 11.0-0 f6 12.e1 f5 13.a4+ d7! ) 10...fxe4 11.xe4 d8!?= or perhaps better for Black.; B) 9.xe4!? f5 10.f3! fxe4 11.0-0 f6 12.e1 f5 ( an unclear position arises after 12...d7 13.xe4 xe4 14.g5 0-0-0 15.xe4 f7 ) 13.a4+ f7 14.g5+ g8 15.d2! ( 15.xe4?? xe4 16.xe4 e8 ) 15...b5!? ( 15...e8!? ) 16.xb5 h6 17.f3 g6! ( 17...f7!? ) 18.h4 g7 19.xf5 gxf5= ] 9.e2?! [ Maybe with luck Black can survive 9.f3 b5 10.e5 ( but much better is 10.0-0! ) 10...dxe5 11.fxe5 xe5 12.0-0 xd3 13.xd3 d6 14.e1+ e7 15.e4! xe4 16.xe4 f5 17.h4 a7 ] 9...b5 [ 9...c4!? 10.c2 b5 11.f3 b4 12.a4 ] 10.f3 g6? No sense of danger! Black had to respond to the threat of e5 by [ 10...b7 11.0-0! b4! 12.d1 g6 13.e1 g7 14.e5 xd5 15.exd6 xe2 16.xe2+ f8 and Black is still in the game. ] 11.e5 Now it's real trouble! g4 [ A fun line for White is 11...dxe5 12.fxe5 g4 13.d6 e6 14.e4 a7 15.d5 f5 16.e6 ] 12.h3 h6 13.e4 dxe5 14.fxe5 xe5 15.xe5 Black must have played the last few moves in shock. 1-0
744 Tomashevsky,Evgeny Iljin,Artem U20ch-RUS Cheboksary RUS (7) [John Watson]
A18 2586 2510 08.03.2006
5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xd4!? 8.xd4 e7!? (this allows White to control d6) 9.f4 c6 10.e3 a5 11.0-0-0 b6 12.b1 a6? A waste of time that will be important soon because Black will need an extra tempo to free his queen. 13.e4 b7 14.e2 c5 ( 14...0-0-0!? 15.g5 f6 16.f7 c5 ) 15.d6+ f8? ( 15...xd6 16.xd6 e7 17.d3! c5 18.f3! Again the bishop pair will dominate once the queens go off.) 16.f3 b8 17.d2 xe5 18.f4 a4 19.xb7 xb7 20.xe5 1-0 Narciso Dublan-Spoelman, Cappelle la Grande FRA 2006 ] 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 [ 7.f3 c5 8.d3 isn't my favourite line although it succeeded after c6 9.0-0 d6 10.e4 d7 11.b1 b6 12.d4 h6 13.a3 e7 14.c2 0-0 15.d3 g6 16.dxc5 xc5 17.xc5 bxc5 18.b7 in Rusev-Petkov, Svilengrad BUL 2006. ] 7...c5 8.f3 h6 9.d3 cxd4 10.cxd4 b4+ 11.d2 xd2+ 12.xd2 c6 13.e3 Now W hite has the kind of positional advantage that we've seen before. Only he can win, and Black can suffer for a long time. 0-0 14.0-0 d7 15.fe1 fd8 16.e4! e8 17.ad1 d6 18.d5! exd5 19.cxd5 e7 20.e5 b5 21.c5 b6? Effectively a blunder. 22.d6 g6 23.xg6 fxg6 24.d7 d8 25.a4 a6 26.xg6! h7 27.e5 e6 28.d5 e7 29.h3 b6 30.e4+ g8 31.g4! 1-0
745 Topalov,Veselin Rozentalis,Eduardas Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (1) [Tony Kosten]
A18 2690 2586 29.11.1999
1.c4 e6 2.c3 f6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 e4 5.f3 e7 6.h4! [ A powerful new move in this standard position, making it dif f icult f or Black t o M i k e n a s f a n s m i g h t e n j o y t h e f o l l o wi n g castle. 6.c2 had been the preferred move positional crush. As we have seen before, up till now, attempting to force the knight to Black needs to play actively in this system. capture on c3, although c6 7.xe4 b4 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 offers Black some play for a pawn. ] [ 6.d4 also promises White some [ Another recent game went 3...c5 4.e5 g8 739
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 advantage. ] 6...xc3? [ This facilitates White's task, I think it is b e t t e r t o k e e p t h e t e n s i o n , b y 6...c6 for instance, e.g. 7.d4 0-0 8.d3 ] 7.dxc3 dxc4 Hoping to play the ending, but White has other ideas! 8.a4+ d7 9.xc4 c6 10.g4 The white queen has been drawn to the powerful square g4, from where it menaces the weakened black kingside. xf3 Black needs to find some space for his bits. 11.gxf3! Conceding doubled pawn is perhaps surprising, but this decision is absolutely correct tactically. f8 12.f4 The former gpawn is looking at a bright future, acting as a battering-ram against the black position. d7 13.e3 c6 14.0-0-0 a5 Black is ready to bring his king to safety on the queenside. 15.f5!! Just in time. xa2 [ Maybe 15...xe5 is the best bet, although the black king finds itself stuck in the centre on 16.e4 exf5 17.xf5 e.g. g6 18.f6 g8 19.g5 ] 16.fxe6 xe6 17.f4 d8 [ This loses, but there was no escape for the king 17...0-0-0 18.h3 a2 19.d4 a3 20.bxa3! and after a few checks White will win. ] 18.c4 e7 19.he1 Black is already lost, he has no real defence against e6, ripping open the e-file. h5 20.g3 [ A strong move, threatening Bg5, but 20.e6! fxe6 21.e4 was instantly decisive. ] 20...xe5 21.xd8+ xd8 22.f4 xc4 [ What else? 22...f6 23.xe5 fxe5 24.g5 wins the queen. ] 23.xe7 xe7 24.d3 [ 24.d3 b6 25.d6+ e8 26.b8+ wins all of Black's queenside pawns. ] 1-0
we're accustomed to this sort of "rule breaking" these days. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 [ Last month we analyzed the consequences of the semi-forced endgame variation 7.f3 e5 8.d3 g4 9.e4 d7 10.xb7 b8 11.d5 c6 12.e4 c5 13.e2 xe4 14.xe4 xf3 15.xf3 xf3 16.gxf3 . See Aronian, L (2802)-Hou, Y (2603) Wijk aan Zee 2013/[John Bartholomew]. ] 7...e5 8.f3 exd4 This capture remains the main line. [ Instead, 8...c6 (! - Kosten) was examined in Naiditsch, A (2698)-Fedorchuk, S (2634) Belfort 2012/ [Kosten, Tony]. ] 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 e7 Again the most u s u a l c o n t i n u a t i o n . 11.xd4!? A fresh perspective from Vachier Lagrave. Previously this move had attracted almost zero attention at Grandmaster level. [ The line 11.cxd4 xg5 12.xg5 has been analyzed thoroughly. The current theoretical verdict favors g6 , for example ( t h e o t h e r q u e e n m o v e s a r e 12...f6 , i.e. Aronian, L (2807) -Kramnik, V (2791) Moscow 2011/[Nigel Davies]; and 12...e7 , as in Timman, J (2602)-Kulaots, K (2597) Pra gu e 20 04 /[Joh n W a tson ]) 13.f4!? ( 13.f3 Valden, P (2204)-Stavrianakis, I (2045) Athens 2004/[John Watson]) 13...0-0 14.0-0 c6 ( 14...h6!? ) 15.d5 e7 16.d2 h6 ( 16...b6+ 17.h1 f5 18.d3 h6 19.f3 c6 20.ab1 c5 21.fe1 Grachev, B (2669) -Wojtaszek, R (2721) Lublin 2011) 17.f3 d6 18.ad1 c6 19.dxc6 xd2 20.xd2 xc6 21.e4 e8 22.f3 g4 23.xg4 xe4= Grachev, B (2669)-Socko, B (2654) Lublin 2011. ] 11...d6 A novelty that doesn't have much independent value. 746 A18 [ On a few occasions Black has played 11...e5 , which transposes after 12.xe7 Vachier Lagrave,M 2715 xe7 . ] Ris,R 2407 Reykjavik Open 2013 (9.7) 26.02.2013 12.xe7 [ 12.d2!? ] [John Bartholomew] 12...xe7 13.0-0 0-0 14.e1 [ Craftier than 14.f3 d7 15.e1 , i.e. f6 Very few players have pulled the trigger on 11. ( or 15...c5 ) 16.b1 ( 16.b5!? ) 16...c6 Nxd4!? in the Mikenas Attack. Accepting 17.e4 g6 18.d2 c5 19.c2 e6 double-isolated pawns is a big decision, but 740
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.xe6 fxe6 21.e3 b6 and Black was at least equal in Pfaff, T-Racherbaeumer, M (2270) Griesheim 1998. ] 14...f6 [ Black has tried 14...a6!? a couple times: 15.d3 ( 15.f3!? ) 15...f6 ( 15...g5 16.e3 c5 17.c2 g6 turned out fine for Black in Kamp, C (2280)-Ivanov, S (2505) Cologne 1994 ) A) now 16.c5!? is worth consideration, e. g. d7 ( 16...xc5 17.xh7+ xh7 18.h5+ g8 19.xc5 ) 17.h5 g6 18.e5 xe5 19.xe5 fe8 20.xe8+ xe8 21.c6 c8 22.xa6 bxa6 23.f3; B) 16.b1 g6 17.b5 c5 18.f3 was Labok, B-Grushevsky, A Podolsk 1993. Now xf3 ( or 18...g7 ) 19.xf3 b6 would be totally fine for Black. ] [ 14...d7N also makes sense. ] 15.f3 c6 16.e2 d7 17.ab1 c5 18.e3 f5? [ Safer is 18...d7! when White would probably aim for the position after 19.e5 xe5 20.xe5 d3! 21.e7 c5 22.b3 xb3 23.axb3 c8 . However, after (say) 24.be1 g6 it's difficult to find anything convincing for White, i.e. 25.c7 a5 26.a1 d8 and Black begins to unravel. ] 19.xf5 xf5 20.h3! A powerful 'quiet' move! Now W hite threatens 21.Bg4, and Black doesn't have time to solidify his knight on c5. b6?! [ It looks better to retain the c-pawn with 20...h5!? . Then 21.e5 ( 21.d5!? ) 21...xe5 22.xe5 d3 23.xh5 snaps a clean pawn, though converting to a win will take some serious work, i.e. g6 24.a5 b6 25.a3 e5 26.e2 g5 . ] 21.xc6 ac8 22.d5 c7 23.bd1 Black is in for a difficult defense. e6 24.h4 [ White isn't interested in the double rook ending after 24.xe6 xe6 25.xe6 fxe6 26.xe6 . Why hurry? ] 24...g6 25.g3 g7 26.d3! Signaling a nice regrouping. e8 27.d2 ce7 28.f3 h3 29.ee3 h5 30.e1 f8 31.b1! g7 32.e4 The heavy artillery is now in place. f6 Black buckles under the strain, but it was hard to blame him. [ A g a i n s t p a s s i v e d e f e n s e l i k e 32...h7 White works his way into the position, e.g.
33.e5 g8 34.f6 h7 35.e4 g8 36.g4+- trapping the queen. ] 33.e1! Menacing Rf3-e3. It's practically zugzwang! g4 [ Lashing out with 33...g5 loses trivially: 34.xe7+ xe7 35.xe7+ f8 36.fe3+- ] 34.xg4 hxg4 35.fe3 f7 36.f3!+- f5 37.fxg4 fxg4 38.f2 f6 39.xe6+ xe6 40.xe6+ xe6 41.xe6 xe6 42.e3 e5 Black resigned, as the pawn endgame is easily won. I'd like to see 11.Nxd4!? get a few more outings before passing judgment. It appears to be a worthwhile departure from the norm, though. 1-0
747 Valden,Petros Stavrianakis,Ioannis Acropolis IM Open (3) [John Watson]
A18 2204 2045 18.11.2004
1.c4 e6 2.c3 f6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 e5 8.f3 exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 e7 11.cxd4 xg5 12.xg5 g6 This move has been see more recently and may be replacing 12... Qe7 as the way f or Black to maintain the balance. 13.f3!? [ The alternatives are: (a) 13.d2 0-0 ( 13...h6 14.f3 0-0 15.0-0 h3 16.e1 f5 ) 14.0-0 h6 15.f3 h3 16.e1 f5 17.d3 transposes to the note to White's 16th but with ...h6 in. ] [ (b) 13.f4!? mixe s it u p : 0-0 ( 13...f6 14.0-0 h6? 15.e4 with space and some initiative.) 14.0-0 ( 14.h5?! f5 15.0-0 h6 ) A) 14...h6 15.f3 c5 16.d5 d6 17.d2 f5 18.h4 d7 19.b2! e8 ( 19...b6? 20.e5 ) 20.f5 b5 21.f6 e5 22.xe5 xe5 23.ae1 a6 ( 23...e4 24.f3 bxc4 25.d2 ) 24.f3 followed by fxg7 with better prospects; B) 14...c6 15.d5 ( better was 15.d3 f5 16.xf5 xf5 17.d5 e7 18.b3 b6 19.ae1 g6 20.e3! ) 15...e7 16.h1 #0 Mulyar-A Gorlin, Saint Paul 2000, and f5! would have evened the play; 741
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 C) 14...f5 15.g4 c2 16.d2 h6 17.ac1 hxg5 ( 17...a4 18.d3 d6 19.f3 c5 20.d5 favours White with his space advantage.) 18.xc2 gxf4 19.b2 with the initiative after b6 20.f3 c6 21.xf4 Perhaps 13.f4 is best it definitely should be considered by those seeking double-edged play. ] 13...0-0 14.0-0 [ 14.d2?! e8 ( 14...xg2 15.g1 h3 16.xg7+ xg7 17.g5+ draws ) 15.0-0 h3 is better for Black than the game. ] 14...h3 15.e1 f5 16.f3?! [ 16.d3! is the only way to play for a very slight advantage. At least White retains the center pawns. Instead, ] [ 16.f3!? c6 gives Black the more aggressive pieces and instant equality. ] 16...e4!? [ The theoretical discussion ends with Black playing for the advantage. 16...h3 17.e1 f5= ] 17.e1 c6 18.h4 f6 19.f3 xf3 20.xf3 fe8! [ 20...ad8 21.d5 a5 22.a4 b6 23.ad1 and White stands better. ] 21.d2 [ 21.a4!? ] 21...b6 22.ad1 h6 23.d5 e5 24.xe5 xe5 25.xe5 xe5 26.e1 d6 27.g3 [ White should probably settle upon the s i m p l i f y i n g 27.e3 c6 28.e7 xe7 29.xe7 cxd5 30.cxd5 d8= ] 27...d8 28.e3 b4?! Too fancy. Simply [ 28...c6 was at least equal, for example, 29.dxc6 xc6 30.e7 d7 31.e8+ h7 ] 29.e7 xe7 30.xe7 c8 31.e3 f8 32.c5?! [ 32.g2 e8 33.f3= ] 32...d8 [ 32...bxc5 33.c3 ] 33.cxb6 axb6 34.c3 d7 35.d6? [ Further compromising his position. Instead, 35.c6 e7 36.d6+ cxd6 37.xb6 d5 38.f1 would have left Black only somewhat better. ] 35...c5! 36.a3 [ 36.d3 f5 37.g2 f7 38.f3 e6 and Black is winning. ] 36...xd6 37.a7 e8 38.b7 g6
[ 38...c4! 39.c7 b5 40.a4 bxa4 41.xc4 a6 ] 39.f1 e6 Cutting off the king. In the rest of the game Black's passed pawn is decisive. 40.h4 f5 41.a4 d8 42.a5 bxa5 43.a7 a4 44.xa4 c7 45.h5 gxh5 46.f4 e5 47.h4 d6 48.xh5 c4 49.xh6+ d5 50.h8 c3 51.c8 d4 52.f3 d3 53.d8+ e3 54.c8 d2 55.d8+ c1 56.g4 f4 57.d4 c2 58.xf4 c5 59.e4 d2 60.e2+ d3 61.e1 b5 62.f2 b1 63.e8 c1 64.d8+ c4 65.c8+ d5 66.xc1 xc1 67.g3 e5 68.f4+ e4 69.f5 e5 70.h4 f6 0-1
748 Watson,John L Miller,Ike S Park G/60 Baena [John Watson]
A18
1995
I've managed to sneak in one of my own efforts for the edification of the readership (or for my own egotistical reasons). It is quite relevant for the assessment of Black's most solid line. In the notes, a very recent game between two lower-rated players illustrates so m e o t h e r t h e m e s . B l a c k is f a c e d wit h co n sid e ra b le d an ge rs an d mu st d e ve lo p quickly. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 c5 8.d4 h6 9.d3 [ P Petrovic-Marinkov, Belgrade 2005 went 9.b1!? c6 10.e2!? ( An unclear but dangerous gambit would be 10.d3 cxd4 11.cxd4 xd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.0-0 ) 10...g6?! ( 10...d6! 11.0-0 0-0 is p ro b a bly e qu a l - co m p a re m y ga m e) 11.e3 A) Horribly slow. 11...Be7 was a bit better. But the only way to justify 10...Qg6 is to grab the pawn. Unfortunately, 11...xg2 12.g1 h3 13.a4! looks very dangerous: ( 13.d5?! d8 14.f4 d7; 13.g3 f5 14.d3 f6 15.e4 d6 ) 13...cxd4 ( 13...d7 14.xb7 ) 14.cxd4 f5 15.b5 e4 16.d2! h4 17.f3! ( 17.g4 xh2 18.d5!?; 17.f3 e4 is a draw ) 17...d8 18.d5 e5 19.xb7+ 742
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d7 20.a6 c8! 21.h1! exd5 22.xd5 d3+ 23.f1 b4 24.a5 xd5 25.xd5 and Black still has problems to solve; B) 11...b6? 12.0-0 f6 13.e1 e7?! 14.d5 ( 14.e5! xe5 15.dxe5 xe5 16.f3 b8 17.d4! d6 18.e5 xd1 19.bxd1 wins ) 14...b8 15.d2!? ( 15.d6! f8 16.d4! cxd4 17.xd4 and wins ) 15...0-0 16.d6 xd6 17.e4 xh2+ 18.xh2 h4+ 19.g1 b7 20.d2 d8 21.f3 xf3 22.xf3 and wins. Still, 9. Rb1 Nc6 10.Be2 Bd6 makes this move order look a bit slow. ] 9...d6 [ 9...c6 10.0-0 ( 10.e4 is less risky and keeps an edge.) 10...cxd4 11.cxd4 xd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.b1 is the line we saw above-W hite has a dangerous attack ( 13.b3!? d6 14.b2 c5 ) 13...c5 14.e3 c7 15.d4 ] [ 9...cxd4 10.cxd4 b4+ and now 11.Bd2 is good, but 11.f1! introduces a fun attack that seems to win every time. ] 10.0-0 0-0 11.e2 c6!? 12.g4! I've actually tried this idea in a couple of positions. Needless to say it's all or nothing. First, White wants to play Qe4. [ The immediate 12.e4 achieves nothing after f5! ] 12...g5!? [ Not 12...f4?? 13.e4 ] [ The most important move is 12...e5 13.g5 A) 13...e6 14.d5 g4+ ( 14...h3 15.dxc6 g4 16.e4 ) 15.h1 e7 16.gxh6 g6 17.g1 h5 18.g5 h3 19.xe5; B) 13...hxg5 14.xg5 e6 15.d5 g4+ 16.h1 d8 ( 16...f6 17.g1 h5 18.dxc6 fxg5 19.e4! ) 17.g1 h5 18.f6! g4 ( 18...g6 19.g5 h3 20.ag1 ) 19.h4! ( or 19.xg4 xg4 20.g1 xg1+ 21.xg1 ) 19...xh4 20.e4 f3+ 21.xf3 xh2+ 22.xh2 e4+ 23.h1 and mate follows ] 13.h4 f4 [ 13...gxh4 14.g5 g7 15.h1 hxg5 16.xg5 with a winning game. ] 14.e4 g6 15.hxg5 xe4 16.xe4+xc1 17.axc1 hxg5 18.xg5 [ 18.g2!? intending Rh1 was an option. ]
18...a5 19.dxc5 d7 20.h7!? [ 20.cd1! a4 21.d4 e5 22.d6 xc4 23.xb7 was much easier ] 20...fd8 21.f6+ g7 22.xd7 xd7 23.b1 c7 24.b5 xc4 25.xb7 [ 25.fb1 ] 25...b8 26.c6 d6 27.b3 with a winning advantage. White went on to win a tough rookand-pawn ending. 1-0
749 Zontakh,Andrey Poobesh Anand,S Open Moscow RUS (9) [John Watson]
A18 2545 2413 06.02.2006
Our customary Mikenas line. In the main game W hite may have to play a bit more ambitiously in the opening in order to get anything substantial. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d4 exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 h6 11.xd4 [ 11.h4! is White's best chance, when g5 ( 11...e7 12.xe7 xe7 13.cxd4 ) 12.xd4 ( 12.g3 dxc3 ) 12...d7 13.g3 g7 14.0-0 0-0 15.c2 leaves Black with more weaknesses and W hite with more activity than in the main game. ] 11...d7 12.e3!? Objectively fine. [ 12.h4 is more active it can lead to the odd line c5?! ( 12...e7! ) 13.e6!? fxe6 ( 13...xe6 14.d8# ) 14.h5+ f8 15.f3+ g8 16.d1 d6 17.c5 with advantage. ] 12...c5 13.0-0 Possessing better development and space, White safely retains a small advantage but his pawn structure makes it difficult to create anything. [ 13.b5!? was interesting but not c o n v i n c i n g : xe3 ( 13...e7 14.xc5 xc5 15.d4! ) 14.xd7+ xd7! ( 14...xd7 15.d1+ c6 16.fxe3 with some initiative.) 15.xc7+ d8 16.xa8 c5 17.0-0 c8 18.f3 ( 18.ad1 b6 19.f3 c6 20.d3 b7 ) 18...c6 19.g4+ d7 20.f3 c6= ] 13...0-0 14.f3 This is a familiar position from similar positions except that Black's queen 743
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 isn't normally on d7. Perhaps W hite could attack it, e.g., [ 14.c2 a6 15.ad1 c6!? ( 15...e7 ) 16.fe1 d6 17.b3 e7 18.d4 ] 14...a6 15.e1 c6 16.d2 c7 17.ad1 [ or 17.f4 d6 18.xd6 xd6 19.ab1 ] 17...d6 18.g3 e5 19.h4 h3 20.h2 d7 Black doesn't seem to have a good spot for this bishop. 21.b5! cxb5 22.xd7 bxc4!? [ White stills holds a small advantage after 22...bxc4 23.xc7 xc7 24.b1 ] ½-½
750 Bacrot,Etienne Dorfman,Josif D ch-Gp B Marsailles FRA (2) [Tony Kosten]
A19 2653 2602 14.08.2001
A key point in Etienne's third consecutive French title, was this fine victory against his former trainer. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 g8 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 8.db5 a6 9.d6+ xd6 10.xd6 f6 11.e3 e7 12.b6 f5 13.c5 e7 [ We have already looked at the alternative 13...d6 in Hodgson,J - Barsov,A. ] 14.xe7+ [ The endgame is a good choice, but if White w a n t s t o a v o i d t h i s t h e n 14.a5 is a reasonable alternative. ] 14...xe7 15.f4 g6 16.g3 d6 17.h3! [ Why did no-one play this move before? Previously, 17.d3 had been preferred, e.g. h6 (to avoid the capture on f5) ( 17...d7 18.0-0-0 ac8 19.he1 f7 20.xf5 exf5 21.xd6 c6 22.b4 with some advantage, Thorsteins,K-Luther,T/Borsodtavho 1991.) 18.0-0 d7 19.fe1 c6 20.b4 Ribli,Z-Luther,T/Altensteig 1992. ] 17...d7 Now, with the bishop on h3, moving the f5-knight from f5 would expose the e6pawn. 18.0-0-0 c6 [ As the white bishop is not on d3 here, and t h e c 4 - p a w n u n p r o t e c t e d , 18...ac8!? was worth consideration, but 19.he1 e5 20.c5 and Black's centre is buckling under the pressure. ] 19.he1 The other advantage of Bacrot's
novelty is that both of the central files are unencumbered, the white rooks come immediately to pressure the e- and d- pawns. f7 20.d5! [ 20.xf5 exf5 21.xd6 is similar to the Thorsteins game, and certainly good for White, but Bacrot wants more. ] 20...exd5 [ Black must capture, Nc7 was the threat, f o r k i n g a 8 a n d e 6 , a n d e v e n 20...ae8 doesn't stop this: 21.c7 e7 22.xe6 xe6 23.xf5 and after regaining his pawn t h e t wo wh i t e b i s h o p s wi l l o f f e r W h i t e every chance of taking a whole point. ] 21.xf5 f8 [ Black must cover the e6-square, if 21...dxc4?! 22.e6+ f8 23.c7 with powerful threats. ] 22.c5!? [ An interesting idea, the simple 22.cxd5 d7 23.c2 (keeping both bishops) maintains a sure advantage. ] 22...dxc5? [ This allows White's rook to the seventh. 22...d7 must be an improvement, 23.c2 dxc5 24.xc5 e6 offers real defensive possibilities. ] 23.xc5 Menacing Re7+. h5 [ 23...e8 24.xe8 xe8 25.e1+ f7 ( 25...d8?? allows a neat mate: 26.b6# ) 26.e7+ g8 locks the black pieces in a box. ] 24.e7+ g8 25.de1 h6 26.c7 g6 Else White doubles his rooks on the seventh. 27.h4! Killing any hopes of counterplay. Black is bound hand-and-foot, his extra pawn is an irrelevance. a5 28.c8 a4 29.d2 h8 30.f5 h6 31.a3 d8 32.c3 h8 33.b6 a8 34.c8 g8 35.d4 [ White has prevaricated, but he knows that t h e r e i s n o t h i n g B l a c k c a n d o . 35.xb7 is convincing enough. ] 35...h8?! 36.e6+ h7 37.xf6 he8 38.xg7+ h6 39.c7 [ Good enough, Bg5 mate is a powerful t h re a t , t h o u g h 39.f5! forces mate more quickly. ] 1-0
744
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.d5+ f8 27.b3 xb3 28.xb3 g7 29.a5 e8 30.c7 e7 Bareev,Evgeny with a draw, Osnos, V-Salov, V/ L'Ami,Erwin Leningrad 1980; 3rd NH Amsterdam NED (1) B1b) 20.d3!? f5 21.0-0 f6 22.f4 [Carsten Hansen] b5 23.d4+ e7 24.xg7 e8 25.e5 xe5 26.fxe5 b7 27.f4 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 g8 , and White has the initiative, Hoelzl, 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 F-Gruenfeld, Y/Biel 1980; 8.db5 a6 9.d6+ xd6 10.xd6 f6 B2) 19...b5!? 20.h4 ( 20.d3!? b7 11.e3 e7 12.b6 f5 13.xd8 21.0-0 ac8 22.b4 provides White with [ 13.c5 is considered the critical move and a long-term initiative) 20...b7 21.h3 the subject of L'Ami-W ells from this ac8 22.a3 hd8 23.g3 g6 month's update. The game continuation is 24.gd3 e5 25.f4 e4?! ( Black could almost never played anymore, but as can be safely pick-up the pawn, e.g. 25...exf4 seen in the analysis given below, there is 26.b4 g5 27.a5 d7 ) 26.d4 e6 plenty of fertile ground for discoveries on 27.g4 , and White has some both sides. ] co m p e n sa t io n f o r t h e p a wn , G a rc ia 13...xd6 14.c7 e7 15.c5 e8 16.b6 Gonzales, G-Browne, W /Banja Luka [ 16.a5!? is a suggestion of John Watson's 1979; from his 1979 book. The idea is that after d5 C) 18...b6!? 19.xb6 17.cxd6+ xd6 18.b4 the bishop is better C1) 19...f5 20.0-0-0 b7 21.c5+ placed on b4 than it is on c5 in the note e8 22.f3 is better for White, Kaiszauri, after W hite's 18th move. It isn't entirely K-Botterill, G/London 1980; clear that it is so, but it is certainly worth a C2) 19...b7 20.c5 ( 20.d4!? try. ] is quite possibly an improvement White 16...d5 17.cxd6+ xd6 18.0-0-0 threatens to exchange on e5 and if Black [ 18.c5!? is likely more critical, even if the retreats the knight to f7, White has time theory claims Black to be at least okay. to complete his development and claim A) 18...b5 was tried in one of the most an edge thanks to the pair of bishops.) recent games involving a grandmaster, but 20...ac8 21.a3 hd8 22.0-0-0 ef7 W hite should be able to claim an 23.e2 e8 24.he1 Uhlmann, Wadvantage after this move: Kurajica, B /Sarajevo 1980; A1) 19.a4 is less convincing, e.g. bxa4 C3) 19...d7 20.e3 b7 21.f3 hc8 20.xa4 ( 20.f4 ef7 21.xa4 22.d1 Garcia Gonzales, G-Morales, H/ is a better try) 20...b7 21.b6 ad8 Bayamo 1980 ] 22.f4 d7 23.xd6+ xd6 24.xa6 xa6 25.xa6 c5 26.a3 c6 18...ef7 [ This is another important juncture. Black , and Black has a strong initiative in the has several moves available: A) 18...d7 endgame, Schneider, B-Huebner, R/ is fairly straightforward Solingen 1986; A) 19.f4!? is a noteworthy alternative, e. A2) 19.f4 ef7 20.d3 b7 21.0-0 g. ef7 ( 19...ec4! is the right answer, ac8 22.b4 , and White has established forcing the game into an even endgame: an unpleasant pressure.; 20.xc4 xc4 21.c5+ e8 22.d4 B) 18...ef7 19.d1 c8 23.xc4 b5 24.xb5 axb5 B1) 19...d8 is the line given in ECO, 25.c2= ) 20.d3 c6 21.d2 ac8 but is likely not the most critical line: 22.b1 g6 23.e1 he8 24.c2 B1a) 20.h4 d7 21.h3 ac8 Hellbing, B-Albert, V/IECG Email 2001; 22.b4 c6 23.g3 g6 24.e3 e5 B) 19.c5 ef7 20.e4 ac8 ( or 24...b5 25.a4 e5 26.axb5 axb5 ( 20...hc8 can of course also be 27.xb5 e6= Salov, V-Siegel, G/ conside red : 21.b1 c6 22.a3 e5 G r o n i n g e n 1 9 8 1) 25.c4 a4 751
A19 2655 2610 20.08.2008
745
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B2) 21.b3 b6 22.d4 ( 22.d4 e5 23.d3 , Richards, B-Domanski, R/corr 23.bxc4 exd4 24.xd4 e6 25.d6 1991, and now e8 24.xd6+ xd6 xc4 26.xb6 hc8 leaves Black with 25.xh7 f5+ 26.xf5 xf5 the initiative in the endgame, Hellbing, Bis comfortable for Black.) 21.b1 c6 V a n B o m m e l , T / I E C G E m a i l 2 0 0 1) 22.a3!? ( 22.e2 e5 23.a3 f5 22...bxc5 23.xc4 b7 24.f3 ac8 24.d3 d8 is given as equal several 25.d1 c6 26.a4 e7 27.b2 b7 places, quoting the game, Miles, A-Karpov, 28.a5 h5 29.a4 h4 30.xc5 d5 A / L o n d o n 1 9 7 7 , b u t t h is m u st p a rt l y , a n d B l a c k i s b y n o m e a n s wo r s e , have something to do with the outcome of Quinteros, M-Abramson, H/Buenos Aires the game, which was a draw. At this point 1978 ] of the game, however, only Black can be [ C) 18...d7 19.a5 b6 20.b4 c5 better. ) 22...hc8 23.e2 e5 , Tolhuizen, 21.a4 xa4 22.xd6 a5 23.a3 d8 L-Kerkmeester, H/Eindhoven 1983, and 24.xd8+ xd8 25.f8 d7 26.xg7 e7 now White should continue with 24.f3!? 27.h6 c8+= Huebner, R-Wockenfuss, K/ f5 25.a1 b6 26.xd6 xd6 Germany 1981 ] 27.xd6 xd6 28.xb7 c4 29.xa6 cd4 30.e1 d7 31.xd6 xd6 32.b3 19.c5 [ The pin on the d6-knight is a common , and W hite has excellent winning theme in this variation. White, however, has chances. ] several alternatives available: A) 19.e2 [ B) 18...ec4!? d7 20.d2 hc8 21.hd1 a4 22.e1 A) 19.d4!? is possibly White's best, e.g. e4 23.d4 c6 24.d3 f5 25.xe4 A1) 19...d8!? 20.xc4 ( 20.f4!? b6 xe4 26.f3 c6 27.d2 , Quinteros, M21.d3 intending b2-b3 looks better for S o f r e v s k i , J / S t i p 1 9 7 7 , a n d n o w e5 White ) 20...xc4 21.b3 e5 22.xe5 would have left Black with the better xd1+ 23.xd1 fxe5= Melson, G-Mielke, chances. ] K/corr 1986; [ B) 19.g3 d7 20.h3 hc8 21.he1 A2) 19...b6 20.b3 e5 21.xb6 b7 A) 21...f5 is a suggestion of John 22.c5 Huebner, R-Gruenfeld, Y/ W a t so n ' s f ro m 1 9 7 9 b o o k, b u t W h it e Luzern 1982; ap p e a rs t o b e do in g f in e a f t e r 22.b1 B) 19.xc4 xc4 20.c5+ f7 c6 23.f4; B1) 21.d4 b5 22.b3 e5 ( 22...a5!? B) 21...g5! on the other hand, is quite 23.hd1 e5 24.d6 , and here Ftacnik uncomfortable for White, e.g. 22.g4 ( or claims that White has compensation for 22.g2 c6 , and Black is gaining t h e p a wn , b u t t h i s i sn 't p a r t i c u la rl y control ) 22...f5 23.e2 ge4 convincing after b7 25.c6 xc5 , White clearly has insufficient 26.xc5 g4 27.c7+ g6 28.f3 compensation for the pawn.; hc8 with a solid extra pawn for Black.) C) 21...e5?! 22.g2 c6 23.h3 d7 23.d5 a5 24.b6 b7 ( 24...c6 24.g2 c6 25.h3 , and a draw was 25.d6 e7 26.hd1 b7 27.g3 agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, Miles, Ais unc lea r accord in g t o Fta cnik, bu t Polugaevsky, L/Reykjavik 1978. ] again this seems unconvincing on [ C) 19.d3 d7 20.he1 ac8 21.f4 a4 account of hc8 28.b2 b4 29.a4 22.d2 c6? ( Black should opt for 22...c4 c6 30.c5 ab8 31.a7 b5 23.de2 d7 24.f2 fd6 ) 23.b1 b5 , and Black has an extra pawn and is 24.xb5 xb6 25.c7+- , and White is b e t t e r c o o r d i n a t e d .) 25.hd1 close to winning, Melson, G-Kutscheid, H/ Here a draw was agreed upon in Miles, corr BdF 1986 ] A - H u e b n e r , R / T i l b u r g 1 9 7 7 e8 26.b2 e6 27.5d2 ac8 28.e4 19...b5 20.a4 [ The text move is the most forcing c6 29.d6+ xd6 , and in this continuation. An interesting alternative is position a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/ 20.d3 in order to activate the h-rook and 2, Jund, C-De Backer, P/corr 1994; 746
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 put pressure on Black's entire position, for instance b7 21.he1 ac8 22.b4 e5 23.f4 g6 24.g4?! ( This looks normal, but W hite can do better with 24.fxe5 fxe5 25.e4 xe4 26.xe4 xc5+ 27.bxc5 xe4 28.xe4 c8 29.e2 xc5+ 30.c2 , and White has the slightly better chances in the endgame.) 24...hd8 25.g5 e6 26.f1 fxg5 27.fxe5 f5 Uhlmann, W-Csom, I/Berlin East 1979 ] 20...b7 [ This is more accurate than the alternatives: A) 20...bxa4 21.c4 d8 22.he1 d7 23.d5+ De Kok, W-Brkusanin, D/Bela Crkva 1983 ] [ B) 20...d7 21.axb5?! ( 21.b4!? is better, e.g. hc8 22.e4 c6 23.e2 ac8 24.axb5 axb5 25.b2 e5 26.f4 gives W hite some initiative) 21...axb5 22.b1 hc8 23.b4 c6 Lehto, VTolonen, L/Finland 1998 ] 21.axb5 axb5 22.xb5 [ The text move invites Black to liquidate into a complicated endgame with three minor pieces against two rooks that can be difficult t o e v a l u a t e . T h e a l t e r n a t i v e 22.b1 , and now hb8 23.f3 c6 24.b4 a7 25.e2 gives White full compensation for the pawn and should therefore is a perfectly playable alternative. ] 22...hc8 23.b4 a3 [ B l a c k c a n a l s o o p t f o r 23...xg2 which after 24.hg1 a1+ 25.b2 xd1 26.xd1 g5 gives Black a position, where it is doubtful that W hite can claim full compensation for the sacrificed pawn. ] 24.b2 xc3 25.xc3 xc5+ 26.bxc5 xb5+ 27.b4 c7 28.f3 d5 29.a5?! [ This looks like the logical move, trying to break through on the queenside with the king, but the progress is soon halted. I n s t e a d W h it e sh o u l d lik e l y h a ve t r ie d 29.a1!? , e.g. e5 30.hd1 c6+ 31.c3 b5+ 32.d3 , and White can continue his efforts to breakthrough on the queenside. However, Black's position is difficult to crack provided Black keeps his minor pieces protecting each other and managing the white c-pawn. ] 29...e5 30.b6 [ 30.b1!? d3 31.b6 a8+ 32.a7
c7 leads to a draw without any further ado a n d t h e re f o r e is b e t t e r t h a n t h e g a m e continuation. ] 30...d7 31.d4 a8+ [ Black heads for a draw. He can consider 31...c4+!? 32.xc4 xc4 , but endgames o f t h i s t yp e a re n o t o ri o u sl y d i f f ic u l t t o evaluate because the knight and bishop work quite poorly together. Nevertheless, I think Black can play for a win in this position. ] 32.b5 c7+ 33.b6 a8+ ½-½
752 Cramling,Dan Bergstrom,Christer opJ Hallsberg (7) [Tony Kosten]
A19
1975
Concerning the Mikenas Attack, Jeffrey Reep asks: "I do not understand at all why 10 ...f6 is played." So in this game I decided to have a look at the alternatives. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 g8 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 8.db5 a6 9.d6+ xd6 10.xd6 g6!? The knight retreats from its central square, but its new placement is not particularly good - where will it go next? [ 10...c6 is the other possibility: 11.e3 ( 11.g3!? f6 12.xg7 g8 13.h6 regains the pawn, but after d4 Black has go o d co un t e rp la y) 11...ge7 12.d3 (to stop ...Nf5) 0-0 Jahnke,K-Eckhardt,C/ Germany 1996, and now 13.0-0 looks best, when b6 14.e4 leaves Black in a terrible bind, while White can play Rad1 to eye the backward d7-pawn. ] [ 10...f6! is best, keeping the knight in the centre, and preparing a later retreat on f7 which will control the d6-square. ] 11.e3 [ 11.c5 also has its points, stopping ...b6 and ...d6, and if Black can't play either of these he won't be able to develop his queenside, which may prove to be a handicap! Still, Black has a resource: 8e7 12.d3 h4!? planning ...Nf5 to regain some control over d6. ] 11...e7 747
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 11...8e7!? m a y b e b e t t e r , 12.b6 ( 12.d3 Berg,D-Rosen,W/Germany 1990 should also be met by h4! to f5. ) 12...f5 ( e l s e t h e q u e e n i s l o s t ! ) 13.b4!? ( 13.xd8! xd6 14.b6 is rather good for White, as he will follow-up with c5 and the b l a c k q u e e n s i d e wi ll b e ' p u t t o s le e p ') 13...e7 14.c5 0-0?! ( 14...d5 was surely forced 15.cxd6 xd6 16.xd6 xd6 17.0-0-0 f5 with reasonable chances) 15.e4?! ( 15.0-0-0!? t o c o n t r o l d 6) 15...e5? ( 15...f4! to get to d5,) 16.d1 c6 17.c3 e5 18.d6 (end of game!) fd4 19.c4 h8 20.0-0 e6 21.fe1 Black can never move his queenside and might as well resign, Rotzinger, M-Kuepferle, E/Germany 1993. ] 12.b6!? Planning Bc5. [ 12.e4! ke ep s a ho ld o n d6 , e. g. f5 13.xe7+ xe7 14.c5+ d8 15.d6 h6 16.b6+ e7 17.0-0-0 f7 18.c5 and on ce again t he black quee nside is 'dead'. ] 12...d6? A bad, if understandable, move. [ 12...d8 13.b4?! I don't know why White players refuse these endgames, ( 13.xd8+ xd8 14.b6+ e7 15.0-0-0 f6 16.c5 looks good) 13...8e7 14.d3 0-0 15.d1 e5 16.e2 ( 16.c5!? ) 16...5c6 17.b3 f5 18.b6 f6 19.a4? d5 and Black has escaped from the dark-squared bind, Tassi,O-Adianto,U/Dortmund 1980. ] 13.e4 This attack on d6 just wins. d7 14.xd6+ f8 15.c5 8e7 16.0-0-0 f6 [ 16...f5 might last a few extra moves. ] 17.e4 c6 18.xc6 [ 18.xc6 bxc6 19.d8+ f7 20.d6# ] 1-0
giving up a pawn as he does after 5...Nc6 6.d4, but Black develops relatively smoothly. [ T h e m a i n l i n e i s 5...c6 , as seen in Machalik-Petrik. ] 6.exd6 [ 6.d4!? hasn't been tried, as far as I can see, but HiArcs suggests the line. A) 6...dxe5?! 7.dxe5 ( maybe 7.d5!? There are some interesting ideas here) 7...xd1+ 8.xd1 c6 ( 8...d7 9.d3 c6 10.e2 d7 11.e4!? ) 9.d3 ( or 9.b5 ) 9...b4 10.e4 f5 11.exf6 xf6 12.a3 xe4 13.xe4 d3 14.c2 xc1 15.axc1 The two knights look quite a bit better than the two bishops with the isolated pawn, especially when you factor in development.; B) 6...cxd4 7.xd4 ( 7.g5? f6 8.exf6 gxf6 9.xd4 fxg5 10.h5+ d7 11.d1 f6 ) 7...c6 8.e3 , supposedly with a small edge, although ge7 9.d3 g6 10.exd6 xd6 11.0-0 0-0 isn't much. ] 6...xd6 [ 6...c6 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 xd6 is another approach, which doesn't seem very good: A) 9.e3 has been played f6 10.e2 d7 11.0-0 b8?! 12.c5! e7 ( 12...xc5?? 13.xc6+- ) 13.b4! xb4 ( 13...a6 14.b3 0-0 15.fd1 ) 14.b1 a5 ( 14...bd5?! 15.xd5 xd5 16.c6; 14...c6 15.a6! b6 16.cxb6 axb6 17.xc6 xc6 18.xb6 xb6 19.xb6 xa6 20.d4 ) 15.a3 c6 16.f3 c7 17.cb5 with a very strong attack, AdorjanLarsen, Riga (izt) 1979.; B) 9.xc6 (I think that this is best my a n a l y s i s f o l l o w s ) xc6 10.e2! with the idea xg2 ( 10...f6 11.0-0 ) 11.f3 h3 ( 11...g6? 12.b5+- b4+ 753 A19 13.d2 xd2+ 14.xd2 ) 12.b5 b4+ 13.e2 e7 14.c7 b8 15.a4 ] Flores,Diego 2514 Garcia 2228 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 [ 8.xd4 a6 has worked out well for Black, XXIV Andorra Open (1) 08.07.2006 but our game Tsarouhas-Vouldis featured a [John Watson] promising innovation with 9.Nb3!. See that contest. Otherwise, play has gone 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 g8 A) 9.e2 f6 10.0-0 0-0 11.g5 h6 5.f3 d6!? This move may be 12.h4 c7! 13.xf6 gxf6 14.f3 underestimated. I've merged in the major ( 14.e4 e7! /\\ f5=/+ ) 14...d8= games with it over many years, and White has Ermenkov-Kolev, Bulgaria 1992 (notes in found nothing special against it. White isn't 748
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Informant).; h5 11.f3 f5 should appeal to King's B) 9.e3 f6 10.f3!? ( 10.e2 0-0= ) Indian players as White is several tempi up 10...0-0 11.0-0-0?! bd7! ( 11...c7 on a typical KI position here, Stjazhkina,O12.g4 ) 12.b1 ( 12.xe6 fxe6 13.xd6 Brodsky, M/St Petersburg RUS 2000. ] e8! with a double attack, although [ 6.exd5 plans capturing on d5 with a piece 14.d1 xd6 15.xd6 f6 16.xd8 instead of a pawn, the Williams,S-Emms,J xd8 17.f3 is still complex) 12...c7 g a m e f r o m H a s t i n g s 1 9 9 5 w e n t exd5 13.h3 e5 14.e2 d7 15.b3?! 7.xd5 xd5 8.xd5 ( 8.cxd5 transposes ( 15.g5= ) 15...g6 16.f3!? e5 17.f2 t o t h e m a i n ga m e) 8...f5!? instead, xc3 18.b6 c8! 19.bxc3 e5 ( 8...b4 9.e4 d3+ 10.xd3 xd3 Korchnoi-Vladimi orchnoi-Vladimi 11.e2+ xe2+ 12.xe2 g4 orc h no i-Vla d im irov, Sa la ma n ca 1 9 9 1 again Black has sufficient compensation for Black went on to win. (notes by the pawn, Rumiancev,G-Cherniak,L/ Odessa Vladimirov). ] 1991. ) 9.f3 e7+ ( 9...b4!? 10.0-0 8...f6 xd5 11.cxd5 xd5 12.e1+ e7 13.d4 [ 8...e5!? 9.e3 ( 9.d3 c6 10.e3 ) g4 14.e2 0-0 15.xe7 xf3 9...f6!= ( S a l o v ) b u t 10.c5 ( 10.xe5? looks mighty dangerous for White) 10.f1 0-0 ) 10...c7 11.b5+ d7 12.0-0 xb5 h3+ 11.g1 0-0-0 12.d4 which was 13.xb5 should favour White slightly, I unclear ] think. ] 6...exd5 7.xd5 xd5 8.exd5 b4 9.a3!? 9.g5 c6 10.h4 e7 11.d1 a5 [ 9.d3 e7 10.e2 xd5 is obviously very 12.e2 pleasant for Black, Paehtz,T-Vogt,L/Plauen [ 12.d2 (Salov) this doesn't look 1980. ] impressive. ] 9...d3+ 10.f1 e7!? A sensible novelty, 12...0-0 13.0-0 h6 14.d2 f5 15.f4 [ 10...f5?! allows the neat tactic 11.e4! xf4?! xc1 ( 11...xe4?? 12.a4+ d7 [ 15...e5! improves. ] 13.xe4+ wins! ) 12.xf5 xd5 13.a4+ 16.xf4 b6 17.b5 b7 18.d6 xd6 e7 19.xd6 fd8 20.fd1 xd6 21.xd6 f8 A) 14.h4+! f6 15.f4 is almost winning: 22.e5 xe5 23.xe5 White has a big d3 ( 15...xh1?? 16.c7+ e8 advantage due to his bishop pair. But Black 17.d7# ) 16.c7+ e8 17.xd3 xd3+ had improvements and I doubt that W hite 18.g2; stands more than slightly better. B) 14.f4? b3 15.e1+ d8 1-0 wh i c h i s wi l d , B r o c h e t , P - R o t s t e i n , A / Montpellier - Masters. ] 11.b3?! 754 A19 [ 11.e4 xc1 12.xc1 f5 13.f3 is stronger. ] Hertneck,Gerald 2525 Black is not afraid of sacrificing Zeller,Frank 2440 11...f5! 12.g4? This allows Black to BL2-S9798 Germany 1997 pawns! demonstrate his tactical ability. c4! 13.xb7 [Tony Kosten] [ 13.xc4? b6 14.h3 c8 wins. ] 13...b8 14.xa7 Now White has 3 extra 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.g3 e6 4.e4!? p a w n s , b u t t h e e n d g a m e i s f a r o f f . c5 [ 4.f3 is the best move here. ] 4...c6 5.g2 d5! It is difficult to even really 15.a4+ d7 16.xc4 h4 The triple call this a sacrifice, as Black will get so much at ta ck o n f 2 brings t h e gam e t o a c los e . 17.e4+ There is nothing better: play. 6.cxd5 [ 17.h3 b5 18.e4+ d8 and ] [ 6.d3 is the solid choice, d4!? ( 6...dxc4 [ 17.e2 b5 18.xb5+ xb5 19.xd3 7.dxc4 xd1+ 8.xd1 led to a quick draw xg4 are both hopeless. ] i n S m y s l o v , V - B a l a s h o v , Y / L v o v 1 9 7 8) 7.ce2 e5 8.h3 d6 9.f4 exf4 10.gxf4 17...d8 18.f3 e8 749
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 compensation. ] [ after 18...e8 19.e2 xg4 mate follows 19.e2 e3 20.d2 3d5 21.xd5 xd5 in 3 moves. ] 22.b1 xf4 0-1 [ B l a c k g r a b s a n o t h e r p a w n , 22...dxc5 23.xc5 b6 was another possibility. ] 755 A19 23.f3 d5 24.hd1 Threatening g3, and Hodgson,Julian M 2640 when the knight moves, Rxd5! . b5 25.e3 26.xd5!! Now is the time to strike, Barsov,Alexei 2534 g6 2nd Viking York ENG (5) 17.12.2000 before Black can bring his remaining pieces into play, and organise his defences. exd5 [Tony Kosten] 27.xd5+ f8 28.c6 Threatening Bc5+, the 1.c4 e6 2.c3 f6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 g8 black king is terribly exposed. e5! 29.cxb7 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 xb7 30.xb7 b8 31.a4! [ This resource had to be envisaged at move 8.db5 Black has grabbed the e-pawn, but 26, the plausible 31.a3+?! e8 32.d6 White has strong positional pressure on the allows Bla ck to escape by virtue of th e dark squares, especially when he exchanges s n e a k y t a c t i c xb2+! 33.xb2 c4+ the f8-bishop, more space and open lines. f6 34.c3 xd6 35.xd6 xb7 36.d8+ f7 [ The logical 8...d6?! leaves Black with grave 37.xh8 xb6 ] difficulties after 9.c5! e.g. dxc5? 10.f4 f6 31...xa4 32.c5+ f7 33.d4 b5 11.xe5 fxe5 12.h5+ winning. ] [ 8...a6 9.d6+ xd6 10.xd6 f6 11.e3 34.c7+ g6 35.c2+ f7 36.c7+ W hite plays a repetition to gain time. g6 transposes. ] f7 38.d5+! e8 39.c7 9.e3 a6 10.d6+ xd6 11.xd6 e7 37.c2+ 12.b6 f5 The point, saving the trapped Threatening to capture, not the rook, but the knight which guards c6. b6? queen. 13.c5! d6 [ 39...c8 40.e6 b8 might be a better [ The ending that follows 13...e7 14.xe7+ chance. ] xe7 15.f4 5c6 16.0-0-0 also favours W hite, Karpov,An-Ribli,Z Reggio Emilia 40.xe5 fxe5 41.c8+ e7 42.c7+ [ 42.c7+ d7 43.xe5+ d8 44.f3 1989/90. ] wins the queen. ] 14.a5 d7 [ 14...e7 15.0-0-0 0-0 16.f4 c6 17.a3 1-0 e5 18.g4 fd4 19.d5 f7 20.f5 g6 21.g1! gxf5 22.g5 with an edge to White, 756 A19 Kasparov,G-Sokolov,A Belfort 1988. ] 15.f4 c6 16.a3 ce7 L'Ami,Erwin 2610 [ To bring the queen to c6, and free the Wells,Peter K 2526 b l a c k p o s i t i o n t o s o m e e x t e n t , 16...e5 6th Staunton Memorial (9) 16.08.2008 17.d3 0-0 18.0-0 exf4 19.xf4 fe7 [Carsten Hansen] 20.d1 g6 21.ff1 ge5 22.e4 m a i n t a i n e d a s t r o n g p o s i t i o n a l b i n d , 1.c4 e6 2.c3 f6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 g8 Kasparov,G-Beliavsky,A/Linares 1991. ] 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 17.0-0-0 c6 18.c5!? 8.db5 a6 9.d6+ xd6 10.xd6 f6 [ A sensible novelty, 18.b3 d7 19.g1! 11.e3 e7 12.b6 f5 13.c5! d5! 20.g4 d6 21.cxd5 xd5 22.xd5!? [ K a s p a r o v ' s m o v e 13.xd8 is the less exd5 23.g2 e4 24.e1 led to unclear p o p u la r a l t e rn a t ive a n d t h e su b j e c t o f complications in Psakhis,L-Greenfeld, A/ Bareev-L'Ami, also from this month's Israel 1991. ] update. ] [ 18.a5!? ] 13...d6 18...f7 [ 13...e7 has also been the topic of [ 18...d5 19.b5 axb5 20.xa8 wins the discussion a couple of times as can be seen exchange, although Black may have some in the PDF e-books, most recently in 750
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Ramesa-Ljubicic, Omis 2006. ] 14.a5 d7 15.f4 c6 16.a3 ce7 [ In the 'old' game Kasparov-Beliavsky, Linares 1991, Black instead tried 16...e5 17.d3 ( 17.0-0-0 exf4 18.d5 0-0 Kasparov ) 17...0-0 18.0-0 , Kasparov, GBeliavsky, A/Linares 1991, and now Black should have played f7 , but 19.d5 ( 19.fxe5 fxe5 20.d5 g6 21.e4 also leaves White with amble compensation f o r t h e p a wn) 19...e6 20.e4 ac8 21.fxe5 fxe5 22.d3 leaves White with adequate compensation for the pawn according to Kasparov. ] 17.0-0-0 [ 17.g4 c6 18.a4 d7 19.xc6 xc6 20.g1 h4 21.0-0-0 h5 22.h3 hxg4 23.hxg4 d5 24.g3 c8 25.e3 f7 26.b1 hg6 27.f5 Aleksandrov, ABalashov, Y/Kstovo 1998 ] 17...c6 18.b3 [ White has tried several things in this position, not all of them equally good. A) T h e m a i n a l t e r n a t i v e i s 18.c5 which immediately threatens Bb5, winning the exchange, but as we shall see the threat may be an illusion A) 18...f7 19.e2 d7 ( 19...e3?! was played in Hodgson, J-Barsov, A /York 2000, which can be f ound in the PGN archives ) 20.f3 d5 21.d2 e3 was seen in the interesting Michalik, P (2330)-Petrik, T (2523)/Banska Stiavnica SVK 2006, which can also be found in the PGN archives. This line deserves s e rio u s c o n s id e ra t io n f o r B la c k, wh o according to John Watson in his notes to the game gave Black's chances a thumbs up.; B) 18...dxc5 19.d8+ f7 20.xh8 xb6 is given as unclear by Ribli and that seems just about right, though I prefer W hite, e.g. 21.e2!? d6 22.g3 c6 23.e1 , and White has the initiative.; C) 18...0-0 19.d3 ( 19.b5? axb5 20.xa8 dxc5 , and Black is already winning, Salo, K-Ljungberg, R/corr 1991) 19...e3 20.d2 7d5 21.e4 f7 22.xd5 xd5 23.hd1 dxc5 24.xc5 xc5+ 25.xc5 c7 26.c2 f7 27.xd5 exd5 28.xd5 e6 29.d6
xa2 , and White has drawing chances, Baermann, J-Heyn , U/Germany email 2002; D) 18...d5! is probably best, though by no m e a n s t h e o n l y m o v e t r i e d : 19.d3 ( 19.b5 axb5 20.xa8 e3 is also clearly better for Black.) 19...e3 20.d2 0-0 21.e1?! d4 22.d1 7d5 Like Dzindzi, I will say that Black has the pawn and the compensation. 23.e4 c4 24.d3 cxb6-+ 25.xh7+ h8 26.h3 xf4 27.h4 xc5+ 28.c2+ g8 29.xf4 e5 30.e4 e6 31.f2 ac8 32.h7+ f7 33.e4 b4 34.a3 xc2+ 0-1 Speelman, J-W ells, P/ London ENG 2007. A very one-sided game where White didn't stand a chance. No wonder Wells was eager to play this variation again. ] [ B) 18.a5!? A) 18...g6 19.d3 xf4 20.e4 xc4 21.he1 e5 22.g3 g6 23.b3 f7 24.d5 , and despite being three pawns down, White is in complete control of the game and has more than sufficient compensation for all of the pawns, Van Deursen, P-Leyen, P/IECC Email 1999; B) 18...0-0 19.g1 d5 ( 19...d7 20.d3 d5 21.xf5 xf5 22.cxd5 c4 23.g3 ac8 seems to leave Black with the better prospects ) 20.c5 d6 21.d3 b8 22.b4 1/2-1/2 Maiffret, P-McLeod, F/ IECG Email 2001; C) 18...d5 is suggested in the ECO, but this looks less convincing, e.g. 19.b1 0-0 20.cxd5 exd5 21.xd5 xd5 22.xd5+ xd5 23.xd5 e6 24.d2 with an edge for White.; D) 18...d7 19.g1 0-0 20.d3 Nitti, F-Britten, D/corr 1996 ] [ C) 18.f2 d5 ( 18...f7 19.g1 h5 20.g3 d7 21.c5 d5 22.b1 ad8 23.d3 g6 24.h3 g7 25.g4 hxg4 26.hxg4 , and W hite has more than adequate compensation for the pawn, Ramesa, DMazi, L/Trieste ITA 2006) 19.e2 c7 20.g3 0-0 21.b1 e8 22.cxd5 xd5 23.xd5 exd5 Kahlert, T-Meier, G/ Nuernberg GER 2007 24.h5 g6 25.f3 with more or less even chances. ] [ D) 18.b4 A) 18...d7 19.g1 c8 ( 19...d5 20.g4 751
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 gives White a good initiative for the pawn, Marek, S-Trebula, J/corr 1997) 20.f2 fe7 21.g3 b8 22.g2 c7 , Newman, N-Lentes, H/IECC Email 1999, and now 23.e4 promises White the better chances, e.g. d5 24.b3 0-0 25.b1; B) 18...0-0 19.g1 a5 20.b5 d5 21.xc6 bxc6 22.g4 h4 23.c5 e8 , and W hite has compensation for the pawn, but certainly no more than that, Kruse, H-Bennborn, J/ ICCF Email 1999 ] 18...0-0 [ Again here we have a couple of alternatives to look at: A) 18...d7 19.g1! ( 19.b1 c8 20.g1 h5 21.e2 f7 22.b4 h4 , Kovalyov, A-Goldwaser, C/Buenos Aires ARG 2007 23.g4 hxg3 24.hxg3 h2 25.a1 xe2 26.xe2 xc4 27.xc4 xc4 28.g4 c6 29.a7 h6= ) 19...d5! ( 19...c8 20.f2 h5 21.e2 ) 20.g4 ( 20.cxd5? xd5-+ ) 20...d6 21.cxd5 xd5 22.xd5!? ( 22.g2 xb6 23.xd5 e3+ 24.b1 0-0 25.f5 exd5 26.xd5+ f7 27.xd6 c6 1/2-1/2 Rak, P-Elburg, J/ ICCF Email 1999) 22...exd5 23.g2 e4 24.e1 c8! 25.b1 e6 26.xe4 dxe4 27.xe4 xb3 28.xc6+ f7 Ps ak h is -G ree nf e ld , I srae l 1 99 1 , 29.e4 ( 29.d7 cd8 30.xd8 xd8= Psakhis ) 29...c4 30.b3 b5 31.d5+ g6= ] [ B) 18...e5 A) 19.fxe5 fxe5 20.c5 d4! 21.xd4 ( 21.a4 xa4 22.xa4 g4 ) 21...exd4 22.b5 e6 Karason, AEdelstein, M/corr 1995; B) 19.g1!? B1) 19...exf4 20.g4 e3 ( 20...h6 21.c5 ) 21.xe3 fxe3 22.g2 c7 23.d5 xd5 24.xd5; B2) 19...e6 20.g4 h4 21.g5 c8 22.gxf6 gxf6 23.b4 , and White has excellent compensation for the pawn, Vujadinovic, M-Heinrich, A/ IECC Email 2001; C) 19.d3 e6 20.g4 h6 21.f5 f7 22.e4 xc4 23.xc4 xc4 24.b3 d5 25.g2 d4 26.bxc4 xg4 27.d5 xd5 28.xd5 e3 , Barendswaard, W-Van der Muysenberg, F/ corr 1993, 29.dg1 c8 30.e6 c6 31.c5 g6 32.d2 e7
33.b3 xf5 34.d5 e3 35.xc6 bxc6 with a fascinating endgame, where my computer prefers to bail out with 36.g3 c4+ 37.d3 b2+ 38.c2 c4 39.d3 b2+ , with a draw by repetition to come shortly. ] 19.g1 d5 20.g4 d6 21.c5 f7 22.g2 h8!? [ Only now the game parts from the path laid out previously. In the earlier game, Black went for 22...a5 23.h4 f5 24.gxf5 xf5 25.f1 a4 in Kleindl, P-Skalicky, F/corr ICCF 1997, and now 26.b4 d7 27.d3 7h6 is rather unclear, but White seems to have sufficient play for the pawn. ] 23.h4 d7 24.h5 [ 24.b1!? a5 25.h5 can also be considered ] 24...c8 25.a5 [ 25.xd5?! looks tempting to restore material balance, but Black instead obtains a n a c t u a l a d v a n t a g e i n r e t u r n : exd5 26.xd5 b5 27.xf7 xb6 28.cxb6 c6+ 29.b1 e4+ 30.a1 a4 , and Black seems to be on the road to victory. ] 25...xc5 26.b4 e3+ 27.b1 , and a draw was agreed upon, though I'm not entirely why, if some special circumstances dictated Black agreeing to W hite's of f er, because he appears to have the better chances after 27...Re8. intending ...Nb6 and Black's pieces are finally coming to life. ½-½
757 Michalik,Peter Petrik,Tomas ch-SVK Banska Stiavnica SVK (9) [John Watson]
A19 2330 2523 16.07.2006
T h is m a in lin e b e ca m e we l l-kn o wn a f t e r Kasparov (as White) won two fantastic games against Sokolov and Belyavsky. White's two bishops provide compensation for the pawn. The question seems to be: do they offer more than enough, or can Black hold the balance? 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 g8 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 [ Moves like 7...a6 8.f4 ] 752
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ and 7...c7 have gone by the wayside, although the latter may deserve a new try. ] 8.db5 a6 [ 8...f6 9.e3!? a6 ( 9...b6 10.f4 c6 11.f5! ) 10.d6+ xd6 11.xd6 transposes to the game. ] 9.d6+ xd6 10.xd6 f6 11.e3 e7 12.b6 f5 13.c5 d6 [ Tony reported on the game Bacrot-Dorfman, Marsailles FRA 2001, which went 13...e7 14.xe7+ xe7 ( 14...xe7 15.c5! 0-0 16.0-0-0 won two nice games for White in the Informant. Black is terribly tied down.) 15.f4 g6 16.g3 d6 17.h3! d7 18.0-0-0 c6 19.he1 f7 20.d5! exd5 21.xf5 with a nearly winning position already. ] 14.a5 d7 15.f4 c6 16.a3 ce7 17.0-0-0 c6 18.c5 [ 18.b3 has been played, and ] [ 18.a5 recommended. ] 18...f7 19.e2 d7 Finally a new move. [ 19...e3 20.d2 3d5 21.xd5 xd5 22.b1 xf4 23.f3 d5 24.hd1 b5 25.e3 g6 26.xd5! exd5 27.xd5+ f8 28.c6 led to a victory for White in Hodgson-Barsov, York ENG 2000. ] 20.f3 [ Or 20.h5+!? g6 21.f3 ] 20...d5 21.d2 e3! Threatening ...Nc4. 22.b3 3f5 [ 22...hc8 also looks good. Black seems to have found a good answer to this line. ] 23.e1 h4!? 24.h5+ g6 25.d1 c8! 26.a5 b6 27.cxb6 b8?! [ 27...xb6 . It's hard to see much compensation for the pawn, and W hite's king is as exposed or more so than Black's. ] 28.c2 d6? [ 28...xb6 ] 29.xd6 xd6 30.b2!? [ 30.g3 hf5 31.a4! ] 30...c8?! [ Time pressure? 30...hc8! ] 31.g4 h5?! 32.h3!? [ 32.xd5! hxg4 33.xf6 is strong, but that's certainly hard to see. ] 32...f5! 33.a4! xa4 34.bxa4 e8 [ 34...xb6 35.c7+ d7+ 36.a3 hd8 37.xf5 gxf5 ] 35.c7+!?
[ 35.xf5 gxf5 36.c6 ] 35...e7 36.xe7+ cxe7 37.xf5 xf5 38.c1 b7 39.c8 d6 40.c7+ xc7 41.bxc7 e8 42.c3 f5 Black wins a pawn but can't bring a point home. The somewhat tragic details I'll leave for you: 43.b3 d7 44.b4 xc7 45.d4 c6 46.a5 b7 47.b4 e4 48.a5 c6? [ 48...g5! 49.fxg5 ( 49.g3 h4 50.fxg5 hxg3 51.hxg3 xg5 ) 49...xg5 50.b2 f7 and ...e5 soon will win. ] 49.b4 b7? 50.a5 Now the notation falls apart. The game was quickly drawn after Black refused to play ...g5. ½-½
758 Miezis,Normunds Tissir,Mohamed Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (2) [Tony Kosten]
A19 2525 2303 14.02.1999
Concerning the Mikenas Attack, Jeffrey Reep says that "I have encountered numerous other moves on White's fourth. So far, I have not yet had to defend your mainline. However, moves like 4. Nf3 and 4.d3 have shown up for me. (And one 4.g3, in which I forgot about d5!. )" So here is a look at some alternatives. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 c5 Black plans ...Nc6, to control d4, and then ...d5 to grab his share of the centre so W hite cannot afford to hang around. 4.e5 Absolutely critical. Others: [ 4.f3 c6 5.e2 d5 is OK, see this month's Mohr,G-Haba,P/St Veit AUT 2003. ] [ 4.g3 c6 5.g2 tries to restrain ...d5, but after d5! Black is doing well, see Hertneck, G-Zeller,F/ Germany 1997. ] [ 4.d3?! is really too limp, d5!? 5.exd5 exd5 6.g5 e7 7.g3?! ( 7.xf6 xf6 8.e2+ e6 9.xd5 c6 favours Black who has a lead in development) 7...0-0 8.g2 g4 9.f3 e8! 10.xg4 xg4 11.xg4 xg5+ 12.f1 dxc4 13.dxc4 f6 with advantage, Bistric,F-Zelcic,R/Makarska 1996. ] 4...g8 5.d4 I think Tony Miles once wrote that: "less creative players tend to prefer this move"! The pawn sac [ 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 8.db5 is strong, see the Mikenas Attack-3... 753
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c5 eBook. ] 5...cxd4 6.xd4 c6 7.e4 f5!? This does nothing to counter W hite's advanced e-pawn, [ 7...d6! is the best move, 8.f3 dxe5 9.xe5 d7! ( 9...f6 10.xc6 b6 11.f3 bxc6 12.g3 b7 13.g2 gave a pull to W hite in Kortchnoi,VAndersson,U/ Johannesburg 1981) 10.xd7 xd7 11.g5 (to hinder ...Nf6) b4 12.d1 xc3+ 13.bxc3 c7 14.e2 f6!? with an interesting battle of two knights against two bishops and doubled pawns in Miezis,N-Aleksandrov,A/Bad Wiessee GER 1999, which later turned in Black's favour. ] 8.e2 ge7 9.f4 b6 10.f3 g6 11.e3 White's space advantage and pressure on the d-file keeps him on top. b4 12.c1 0-0 13.a3 Putting the question to the bishop. e7 14.d1 b7 15.d3 Attacking d7 and preparing to complete his kingside d e ve l o p m e n t . f7 16.e2 c8 17.b4! Stopping ...Na5. h6 Black is short of ideas, his position is passive and he has no real p a wn b r e a k s , a p a r t f r o m . . . g 5 wh i c h i s do u b le -e d ge d . 18.g3!? Miezis continues in his inimitable style, many players would prefer to castle or play [ 18.b5 to d6 with a complete bind, but he has his eyes on a kingside attack. ] 18...f8 Ready for ...g5, but White is prepared for this. 19.h4 g5!? This looks desperate, but if White plays h5 Black can only sit and wait. 20.hxg5 hxg5 21.h5! gxf4?! Opening a further file in front of the black king. [ 21...g4 is slightly better. ] 22.gxf4 g7 23.f2 g6 24.g1 a5?! Now Black hits out on the queenside as well. 25.b5 b8 26.a4 As well as s space advantage, and kingside attack, White is also w i n n i n g t h e b - p a w n ! e4 27.d4!? This is complicated, but quite sufficient. [ T h e s i m p l e r 27.c3 was curtains for Black. ] 27...d5?! [ 27...c2!? looks attractive, as then 28.xb6 c5 wins the white queen, although 29.xc8! xd4 30.xd4 xc8 31.xc2 should win easily enough. ] [ 27...xa3 allows 28.hg5 f7 29.h4 e7 30.xg6 ( 30.h5 also kills) 30...xg5
31.xg5 xg6 32.h5 winning material. ] 28.exd6 xd6 29.xg6! A nice crush. [ 29.xg6 xd4 30.xd4 xg6 31.h8+ f7 32.e5+ wins everything. ] 1-0
759 Mikhalevski,Victor Vaibhav,S 11th Aeroflot Open B (3) [John Bartholomew]
A19 2525 2448 09.02.2012
1.c4 e6 2.c3 f6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 g8 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 8.db5 a6 9.d6+ xd6 10.xd6 f6 11.e3 e7 12.b6 f5 13.b4 c6 14.c5 e7 Suri Vaibhav has played this twice in the past six months. [ I examine 14...d6 in Potkin, V (2671)Grandelius, N (2536)/Emsdetten GER 2012. W hite wins the pawn back af ter 15.xd8 dxc5 16.b6 and seems to keep a small advantage in the resulting positions. ] 15.xe7+ [ I would be remiss if I failed to mention that 12.Qb4!? was first essayed by Korchnoi against Timman in 1991. Korchnoi played 15.0-0-0 , but he later evaluated the position after xc5 16.xc5 d6 A) Subsequently 17.a3 has been tried, but e5! ( 17...e7 18.d3 fd4 19.he1 Neuman, P (2428)-Petrik, T (2457)/ Czechia 2004.) 18.e4 e6 19.xd6+ xd6 20.xd6 f7 was level in Akermann, T (2149)-Rusev, K (2541)/Zurich SUI 2008.; B) 17.xd6 xd6 18.xd6 e7 as equal. Indeed, the game continuation 19.c5 d7 20.g3 ac8 21.h3 e5 22.hd1 hd8 proved absolutely fine for Black. Korchnoi, V (2610) -Timman, J (2630)/ Brussels 1991/Candidates. ] 15...fxe7 A small improvement over his previous game. [ I n A u gu st V a i b h a v p r e f e rre d 15...xe7 , but after A) t h e s i m p l e 16.0-0-0 might be even better, i.e. A1) 16...d6 17.d3 gives White easy play with full compensation. ( 17.g4!? ); 754
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A2) 16...f7 17.c5!? h5 Brenke, A (2357)-Romanov, O (2340)/NRW 2000 here 18.c4 ( or 18.e4 look very nice to me. ); B) 16.c5 d5 17.cxd6+ xd6 ( 17...xd6!? ) 18.c5 e5 19.e4 ef7 20.0-0-0 d8 21.xd6 xd6 22.e2 Black was compelled to give the pawn back with b6 (23.Rxd6 was a big threat). Then 23.xb6 d7 24.b3 b7 25.he1 c8+ 26.b2 was pleasant for White with the two bishops and queenside majority. Turov, M (2630)-Vaibhav, S (2430)/ Haarlem NED 2011. ] 16.0-0-0 [ If 16.c5 then b4! is a clean equalizer, i.e. 17.c1 bd5 18.a5 ( 18.e4!? c6 19.d6+ e7 20.d1 xb6 21.cxb6 e5 with the idea of 22...Nf7.) 18...d6 19.cxd6 b6 20.xb6 xb6 21.dxe7 xe7= ] 16...d5! As in Potkin-Grandelius Black is willing to give back the pawn to facilitate development. 17.e2 [ The immediate 17.cxd5?! xd5 18.xd5 exd5 19.xd5 allows e6 with the idea of 20...Bxa2 or 20...Rc8 when Black is definitely not worse. 20.d3 c8! ] [ On 17.b3!? t h e e a si e s t m a y b e d4 18.xd4 xd4 19.xd4 d7 when Black is very close to equality. ] 17...f7 18.f4! Controlling the e5 square. [ The natural move is 18.he1 , but e5! s e e m s t o wo r k o u t f i n e f o r B l a c k . F o r example, ( 18...d7 19.b3 ) 19.cxd5 xd5 20.xd5 exd5 21.f4 g6 22.f3 e6 ( 22...xf4?! 23.g3 ) 23.f5!? ( 23.xd5 ac8+ 24.b1 xd5 25.xd5 xf4 26.d7+ g6= ) 23...hc8+! 24.d2 ( 24.b1? xf5+ ) 24...xf5 25.xd5+ f8 26.c1 e5! 27.xb7 xc1 28.xc1 b8 29.c7 c4+ 30.xc4 xb7 with a completely drawn opposite colored bishop ending. ] 18...d7 Black does best to hunker down and complete development. [ The computer endorses 18...dxc4 19.xc4 b4 (a familiar idea: bring the knight to d5), but 20.e4! ( 20.he1 bd5 21.xd5 xd5 22.xd5 exd5 23.xd5 e6 of f ers W hit e no trace of a n advantage) 20...bd5 21.d6+ forces Black to tread
c a r e f u l l y : g8 ( 21...f8? is poor on account of 22.c5 when xf4? 23.f5!! is a d e c i si ve l in e -o p e n e r .) 22.d8 with sustained pressure ( not 22.c5?! can be safely met by xf4 )] 19.g4?! This proves to be an unnecessary weakening of the position. [ 19.f3 ac8 20.b1 he8 21.he1 is a more natural continuation. W hite shouldn't hurry to capture on d5 since this will only free Black's position. If Black plays by analogy with the game with b8?! , then ( 21...d4? 22.e4 is highly unpleasant; Black should probably play a non-committal move like 21...g6 when White can win the pawn back at any moment, but its unclear if he can achieve any real edge.) 22.cxd5 exd5 23.xd5 is a big improvement for White he has played Rh1-e1 and refrained from the weakening g2-g4. ] 19...he8 20.f3 ac8 21.b1 b8! Fo rcin g W h ite t o ca p tu re o n d 5, t he re b y easing the pressure. 22.cxd5 exd5 [ 22...xd5 23.xd5 c6!= was a more ruthless equalizer. ] 23.hf1!? c6 24.c5 cd8 25.f5?! Still searching for an advantage, but Black has a convincing counter-argument. [ 25.b6= ] 25...d4! 26.xd4 xf3 27.xf3 bc6 28.fd3 h5! 29.h3 hxg4 30.hxg4 h8 Now it's clear that only Black can be better. 31.e4?! [ Safer was 31.a3 when h4 allows 32.xf6! xf6 33.xd8 xd8 34.xd8 xg4 35.d7= ] 31...h4 32.c3 xd3 33.xd3 b5?! [ 33...xf5! i s s t r o n g e r , e . g . 34.d7+ ( 34.gxf5 xe4 ) 34...fe7 35.xb7 xg4 .] 34.f2 h2 35.e4 g2 36.g3 xg3 37.xg3 d5 38.c2! White is losing a pawn, but he does his best to active his king. [ or 38.d2 e5 when g4 falls. ] 38...e3+ 39.d3 xg4 40.e4 e7 41.d5 d7 42.h5 e7+ 43.c5?! Unnecessarily pushing things, though (remarkably) this still appears to draw. [ 43.e4 ho ld s co mf orta bly, i.e . f2+ 44.f3 d1 45.e4!= ] 43...xf5 44.b6 ge3 45.xa6 c6 755
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 46.a4 bxa4 47.a5 d5 48.xg7! Mihalevski knows his endgames! [ Instead, 48.xa4 xc3+ 49.bxc3 d5 wins for Black, i.e. 50.f4+ ( the knight is trapped after 50.b5 e5! 51.c4 g6-+ ) 50...e4 51.g6 e3 52.b5 f5-+ ] 48...xg7 49.xf6 xf6 50.xa4 The famous Troitzky ending! To refresh our m e m o r i e s , t h e s o - c a l l e d " T r o i t zk y l i n e " (extending from a5-b3-c4-d5-e5-f4-g3-h5) establishes that Black can force a win here only if White's pawn is blockaded on b3 or b2. Thus - as the Tablebase confirms - W hite draws since his pawn will reach b4. Knight pawns are in general the best pawns for the defending side to have in the Troitzky ending by contrast, a W hite central or rook pawn could be blockaded on the fifth rank and still allow Black to force a win. By the way, don't take the above as absolute truth: in practice, the 50-move rule and/or a very poorly placed defending king will complicate things! d5 51.a5 c7 52.b4 d5 53.c3 f5 54.d3 b5 55.b4 fd6 56.e3 e5 57.f3 f5 58.g3 e4 59.g4 f7 60.g3 e5 61.f2 d3 62.g2 e2 63.g3 e3 64.h4 f4 65.h5 f5 66.h4 g6 67.h3 h5 68.g3 g5 69.f2 f4 70.e2 c4 71.d3 e3 72.d2 e4 73.e2 g4 74.d2 f3 75.c2 e4 76.d2 f3 77.c2 e3 78.b3 d3 79.a4 c4 80.a5 f6 81.b6 d5+ 82.c6 dc7 83.d7 d5 84.e7 e5 85.d7 f6 86.c6 e6 87.c5 d6 ½-½
760 Potkin,Vladimir Grandelius,Nils Schachbundesliga 2011-12 (8) [John Bartholomew]
A19 2671 2536 04.02.2012
1.c4 e6 2.c3 f6 3.e4 Chess nomenclature is f unny. Gary Lane writes that 3.e4 was originally referred to as the "Flohr Attack" in homage to the great Czech player, while others began calling it the "Mikenas Attack" when Vladas Mikenas used it to score several victories in the 1950s and
60s. The "Flohr-Mikenas System" seems like a good compromise (is 3.e4 already an "attack"?), but on ChessPublishing we refer to it as the "Mikenas Attack" for consistency's sake. c5 [ The game Flohr, S-Kashdan, I/Folkestone 1933 saw 3...d5 4.e5 ( Mikenas also tried 4.cxd5 exd5 5.e5 ) 4...d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 . This position remains critical tod ay: se e t he gam e Nepo mniach tch i Aleksandrov from this update as well as "Mikenas Attack - 3... d5 & Intro". ] 4.e5 g8 5.f3 [ For the immediate 5.d4 check out Miezis, N (2525)-Tissir, M (2303)/Cappelle la Grande 1999/[TonyK]. ] 5...c6 [ 5...d6 is less principled. See Flores, D (2514)-Garcia Paolicchi, R (2228)/Andorra 2006/ [John Watson]. ] 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 8.db5 a6 9.d6+ xd6 10.xd6 f6 [ Second-rate alternatives such as 10...g6 ] [ and 10...c6 are examined in Cramling, DBergstrom, C/Hallsberg 1975/[TonyK]. ] 11.e3 e7 12.b6 f5 13.b4!? This retreat has proven popular at GM level in the p ast year. It was also Tony Kos ten's recommendation in "Dangerous W eapons: Flank Openings". [ The main line is 13.c5 . The problem is that d6 14.a5 d7 15.f4 c6 16.a3 ce7 17.0-0-0 c6 hasn't panned out for W hite. Search the archives and the "Mikenas Attack - 3...c5" guide by Nigel Davies. ] [ 13.xd8 is no longer considered dangerous for Black. After xd6 14.c7 e7 15.c5 e8 16.b6 d5 17.cxd6+ xd6 White has full compensation but no more. Bareev, E (2655) -L'Ami, E (2610)/ Amsterdam 2008/[Hansen, Carsten]. ] 13...c6 Critical. [ 13...e7 A) On 14.c5 Black ought to play A1) 14...c6?! 15.a4!? gives White excellent compensation , i.e. ( 15.a3 d5 16.cxd6 xd6 17.xd6 xd6 18.0-0-0 f7 19.c4 0-0 20.a4 ce5 21.b3 d7 1/2-1/2 Silseth, S (2295)-Kohlweyer, B (2420)/Gausdal 756
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1993/TD ) 15...d5 16.cxd6 xd6 17.d1 f7 ( 17...0-0?? 18.c5 d8 19.a3+- ) 18.e2 d7 19.0-0 0-0 20.f4 and Black will not find it easy to free himself.; A2) 14...d5! , i.e. 15.cxd6 xd6 16.xd6 xd6 17.0-0-0 ( or 17.d1 df7 ) 17...df7 A2a) 18.f4 g6 19.g3 looks like a better try, though Black is OK after 0-0 ( 19...d7; or even 19...e5!? ); A2b) 18.c5?! d7 19.f4 c8! 20.b4 c6 21.c5 ce5 22.f2 g6 23.g3 Zugic, I (2465)-Bluvshtein, M (2462)/Toronto 2004. Now after b5 24.b1 c6 25.g1 0-0 White's compensation is lacking.; B) 14.a5!? tries to reach a popular line of the 12.Qc5 line after d6 ( 14...0-0; and 14...c6 have also been played.) 15.0-0-0 , e.g. Ramesa, D (2253)-Ljubicic, F (2404)/ Omis 2006/ [John Watson].; C) 14.xe7+ transposes to a favorable ending more commonly reached via 13. Qc5 Qe7. See Bacrot, E (2653)-Dorfman, J (2602)/Marseille 2001/[TonyK]. This is probably White's best option, though there are a couple alternatives: ] 14.c5 d6 [ 14...e7 leads to a different type of queenless middlegame. This was played in Mikhalevski, V (2525)-Vaibhav, S (2448)/ Moscow RUS 2012, just a few days after our present game. I have analyzed it eparately in this update. ] 15.xd8 dxc5 16.b6 So, White will win the c5 pawn and re-establish material equality. Black isn't tore up about this, though in return he gets a good moment to complete development. Still, W hite seems to keep a small advantage in the resulting positions. e5 This is new. [ 16...fd4 17.0-0-0 e5 18.d3 e6 19.xc5 ( 19.e4! looks more promising. ) A) T h e e n e r g e t i c 19...b5! should be preferred, for example 20.cxb5 ( 20.e4 c8 21.cxb5 axb5 22.xc6+ xc6 23.b4 f7 intending 24...Ne6 is fine for Black.) 20...axb5 21.e4 a6!?; B) 19...0-0-0 20.b6 d7 21.b3 f7 22.he1 g6 23.d5 Neuman, P
(2414)-Rusev, K (2409)/ Aschach 2006. ] [ Vachier Lagrave, M (2715)-L'Ami, E (2628)/ W i j k a a n Z e e N E D 2 0 1 1 s a w 16...d7 17.0-0-0 e5 . Here A) 18.e2?! resulted in a quick handshake: c6 19.xc5 xg2 20.he1 f3 ( cooperative Black had full license to play for more, e.g. 20...c8 ) 21.xf3 xf3 22.d3 c6 23.xe6+ f7 24.e2 1/2-1/2. Structure-wise Black has a slight pull in the final position, but L'Ami decided not to test his opponent's defensive technique.; B) The immediate 18.xc5?! is met by c8 19.b4 a5! , undermining White's shaky queenside construction.; C) 18.e4! is best, attacking the c-pawn twice. ] 17.xc5 d7 18.b4!? Ambitiously played and probably correct. [ A s e d a t e a l t e r n a t i v e l i k e 18.b6 is not challenging enough, i.e. c6 19.f3 h5! (a useful prod against White's f3-g2-h2 construction) 20.e2 h4 21.0-0 h3 22.g3 g5!? and Black's knights are quite wellplaced in the center. ( 22...d7 23.f2 e5 is also possible )] [ Likewise, I don't see much of anything after 18.f4 g6 19.g3 c6 20.g1 d8 21.d1 xd1+ 22.xd1 f7 23.d3 h5 . ] [ 18.0-0-0?! c8 transposes to the variation with 18.Bxc5?! above. ] 18...a5?! Committal. Black is trying to equalize by brute force when there isn't a pressing need to do so. [ He had more than one normal move at his disposal, i.e. 18...c8 ] [ 18...h5 ] [ or even 18...g5!? , preventing f2-f4 and solidifying the knight on e5. ] 19.b5 c8 20.e4 b6 Otherwise the inclusion of ...a6-a5 and b4-b5 is clearly in White's favor. 21.f4 White decides to sacrifice a pawn for solid positional compensation. [ 21.xb6! is the real test. Following xc4 22.c5 xb5 23.c1 Black must choose between two depressing endings: A) or 23...cd6 24.xb5+ xb5 25.b1! c3 ( 25...c7 26.g4 h6 27.d6+ d7 28.xc8 xc8 29.h3 is even worse) 26.xc3 xc5 27.b8+ 757
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f7 28.xh8 xc3 29.d2 a3 30.a1; B) 23...c6 24.xc4 xe4 25.xe6 c6 26.b3 the crossfire from White's bishops forces Black to shed material after xg2 27.g1 , e.g. f3 28.a4 f7 29.xc6 xc6 30.e3 . Players with good technique would surely look forward to pushing in either of these endgames. ] 21...xc4 22.xc4 bxc5 23.f2 e7 24.a4 White's position is easier to play, but I don't think he can claim a concrete advantage. d4 [ B r e a k i n g o u t i m m e d i a t e l y wi t h 24...e5 deserved serious attention. ] [ R e r o u t i n g t h e b i s h o p w i t h 24...e8!? is also interesting. ] 25.ac1 f5?! Black begins to drift after this. [ Once again, Black ought to break free without delay: 25...e5! ] 26.d2 h6 27.h4 f6 28.a2! Preparing Nd2-c4. e8 29.c4 h5 [ 29...a8?! 30.e5 c8 31.d3 ] 30.he1 hd8?! [ Black should be looking for counterplay, i.e. 30...g5! ] 31.xa5 [ 31.e5!? with the idea of doubling on the cfile was also interesting. ] 31...a8 32.b7 xa4 33.xe6! e2 [ Black is also hurting in the semi-forced variation 33...xe6 34.xe6+ xe6 35.xc5+ e7 36.xa4 d4 , though 37.c3! A) 37...xf4+?! 38.e3 xh4 39.b6 pushes the second player to the brink: d8 ( 39...b4?? 40.d5++- ) 40.b5 e4+ 41.f2 e7 42.d4 b7 43.e6+ e7 44.xg7 g4 45.c6 h5 46.e6 d7 47.d4 with excellent winning chances despite equal material.; B) 37...d2+! 38.g1 d6 39.b1 c7 offers him reasonable chances of holding. ] 34.c4! d2 [ The b-pawn is a decisive factor after 34...xc1 35.xd8 f7 (forced Black has to prevent 36.Re6) 36.xf7 xc4 37.e5 xf4+ 38.g3 d4 39.b6+- ] 35.xe2 xe2 36.xe2 aa2?! [ 36...e4! 37.e1 c2 is much tougher to
break down. ] 37.e1 db2? Probably the decisive error. [ After 37...d7! 38.xc5 d5 39.b3 xb5 40.c1 ( 40.d4 b4 41.d1 g5 ) 40...c2 41.d3 Black finds a moment to play g5! , looking to exchange as many pawns as possible. ] 38.xc5 xb5 39.d7+ e7 40.e5 f6 41.f1 ba5 42.h5! Freezing Black's kingside structure. a1 There's not much else. 43.xa1 xa1+ 44.f2 Now it only remains for White to organize an attack on f5. a2 45.f3 a3+ 46.d3 b3 47.g3 a3 48.e3 a2 Immediately losing the pawn, but it's too late anyways. [ One illustrative variation is 48...a1 49.c4 h1 50.f3! xh5 (otherwise Nc4-e3 wins the f 5 pawn ) 51.g2 (the rook is trapped) g5 52.e2 g4 53.e3 e7 54.c4 f6 55.a6 e7 56.c8 f6 57.d7 (zu gzwa ng) e7 ( 57...g6 58.e8++- ) 58.xf5 f6 59.xg4 and White will win. ] 49.d7+ e7 [ or 49...e6 50.c4+ , winning. ] 50.xf5 The rest is very straightforward. a3+ 51.f2 b3 52.e5 a3 53.g4 c3 54.f3 a3 55.g3 c3 56.g5 hxg5 57.fxg5 c4 58.e5 a4 59.g6+ f7 60.f4 g8 61.g4 h8 62.d3 a5 63.e4 b5 64.d5 a5 65.f5 h7 66.e6 a6+ 67.f7 a7+ 68.f8 a6 69.h6 a4 Allowing a nice mate. [ 69...gxh6 70.g6+ xg6 71.e4+- ] [ 69...g6 70.f7+- ] 70.g8+ h8 71.g6# 1-0
761 Ramesa,Davor Ljubicic,Filip Goodbye Summer Open (4) [John Watson]
A19 2253 2404 06.10.2006
A good test of the main line of the 3 e4 c5 Mikenas System. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 g8 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 8.db5 f6 9.e3 a6 10.d6+ xd6 11.xd6 e7 12.b6 f5 13.c5 d6 14.a5 e7 15.0-0-0 All seen countless times. As a practical matter, 758
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black has a difficult time holding off White's initiative. d7!? This seems slow, although it has turned out to be playable in previous contests. [ A more interesting approach is 15...0-0 16.f4 c6 17.a3 a5!? 18.g4 ( 18.d3 b4! ) 18...h6 19.e2 b4!? ] 16.f4 c6 17.a3 c8 18.d3 [ 18.g4 h6 19.e4 f7 20.b1 is also better for White, and perhaps best. ] 18...0-0 [ 18...fd4? 19.e4 ] [ 18...e5? 19.g4 fd4 20.d5 f8 21.f5! ties Black up beyond salvation. ] 19.xf5 exf5 20.he1 f7 21.xd6 [ 21.d5 fe8 22.xe8+ xe8 23.xd6 c8 is probably in White's favour, but only just so. ] 21...b8! Apparently the best try. [ 21...fe8 22.xe8+ xe8 23.d5 is very difficult, for example, f8!? 24.e6+ f7 25.xf5 xd5 26.xd5+ h8 27.d7 ] 22.c5!? c6! 23.e7 e6!? This isn't terrible but leads to difficult decisions. [ With 23...e6! 24.xf7+ xf7 Black comes close to equality. I don't think that W hite has any large improvement on the last few moves, so 15...Bd7 hasn't come out too badly. Probably 18 g4 deserves the most consideration. ] 24.xf7+ xf7 25.e2! e8 Nd4 will come in any case. 26.d4 cc8 27.b1 [ 27.xe6 xe6 28.xe6 xe6 29.b4 d7 30.d6+ e7 31.c2 favours White, whose majority is the better one. Nevertheless, Black is very much in the game. ] 27...d7 28.g3!? e4! 29.xe4?! Sec uring B la ck bo th a pa sse d pawn an d activity! fxe4 30.c2 b5 31.d4!? [ White can bail out with 31.d6 d7 32.b4 , but then his bishop on b6 is a liability, and xb6 33.xb6 c6 definitely favours Black. ] 31...d7 32.b4?? [ 32.a4 c6 33.e3 ( 33.a5 xb6 34.axb6 b5 35.b4 a5! gives Black a pull d u e t o W h i t e ' s p a w n w e a k n e s s e s .) 33...xb6 34.cxb6 g6 ] 32...c6 Perhaps a typo, given White's
resignation in two moves the game may have gone [ 32...xb6 33.cxb6 d3 34.d7+ e8 35.c7 xc7 36.bxc7 d7 ] 33.e3 xb6 34.cxb6 g6 Surely not the re a l f i n is h . B la c k s t a n d s b e t t e r, b u t t h e position is hardly resignable. At any rate, W hite held the advantage throughout the opening and early middlegame. The only question is whether it was enough to win with. 0-1
762 Reinderman,Dimitri Werle,Jan Open A Groningen NED (4) [Nigel Davies]
A19 2575 2565 24.12.2009
This game is a real theoretical duel, with the players following known paths for some 22 moves before White innovates. This is quite a rare thing for a flank opening. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 g8 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 8.db5 f6 9.e3 a6 10.d6+ xd6 11.xd6 e7 12.b6 f5 13.c5 [ The old move is 13.xd8 , but this is less dangerous for Black. ] 13...d6 [ Black can also reach an endgame after 13...e7 but then 14.xe7+ ( 14.a5!? ) 14...xe7 ( Or 14...xe7 15.c5! ) 15.f4 g6 16.g3 d6 17.h3! was better for W hite in Bacrot, E (2653)-Dorfman, J (2602)/Marsailles FRA 2001, see the PGN Archive. ] 14.a5 d7 15.f4 c6 16.a3 ce7 17.0-0-0 c6 18.b3 0-0 19.g1 d5 20.g4 d6 21.c5 f7 22.g2 a5 [ B l a c k h a s a l s o p l a y e d 22...h8 , f o r e xam p le 23.h4 d7 24.h5 c8 25.a5 xc5 26.b4 e3+ 27.b1 1/2-1/2 was L'Ami, E (2610)-Wells, P (2526)/ London ENG 2008. Black probably agreed to the draw because of his habitual time trouble as Carsten Hansen pointed out he's probably better after e8 . ] 23.a3!? Well this is it, the 'theoretical novelty'. [ In one correspondence game (Kleindl, P Skalicky, F, ICCF 1997) White played 23.h4 759
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 after which f5 24.gxf5 xf5 25.f1 a4 was played and now 26.b4 d7 27.d3 7h6 would have been produced an ongoing lack of clarity. ] 23...d7 24.b1 a4 25.c2 c8 26.e2 c6?! [ 26...e8 looks like a better idea when B l a c k c a n m e e t 27.f5? with exf5 . Now White's f4-f5 gives him the edge. ] 27.f5 e5 28.fxe6 [ 28.g5!? is very interesting, for example xf5 29.gxf6 gxf6 30.xd5+ h8 31.e4 leaves Black's king more exposed. ] 28...xe6 29.a1 h8 30.g5 d4 [ As White can just take this pawn, maybe Black should play 30...ae8 instead. ] 31.xd4 f5 32.b4 ae8 33.xc6 xc6 34.e4 White now has very strong pressure and he isn't even down a pawn any more. f7 35.f1+- e6 36.gxf6 gxf6 37.b5 g8 38.c7 e8 39.a5 ee7?! [ Losing, but 39...g8 40.c3 is hardly any better. ] 40.c3 h6 41.h5 g8 42.fe1 g7 43.d6 d5 44.f5 d3 45.xg7 xh5 46.xh5 [ 46.xh5 xe1 47.xf6 xe4 48.xe4+ forces Black to give up a piece with f6 . ] 1-0
763 Tsarouhas,Konstantinos Vouldis,Angelos 35th TCh-GRE (3) [John Watson]
A19 2282 2521 05.07.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 g8 5.f3 d6 6.exd6 xd6 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 a6 9.b3! A promising innovation that very simply threatens c5 and targets the dark squares. It may not achieve a large advantage, but other moves haven't done much. [ For 9.e3 ] [ and 9.e2 , see the notes to FloresGarcia. ] 9...c7 10.c5!? [ 10.g4 e5 11.d2 is another idea. ] 10...e5 [ 10...xc5 11.xc5 xc5 12.e3 wins all the dark squares with a large lead
in development. This looks like way more than enough for a pawn. ] 11.e4!? Now Nd6+ is unavoidable, but White has used a lot of time to get there. [ 11.d2!? with the idea d7 12.f4 ] 11...f6 12.d6+ e7 13.c4 c6 14.xe5!? xe5+ 15.e2 f5 [ 15...xe2+?! 16.xe2 gives White the bishop pair and dark squares, although e5 isn't too bad. ] 16.c4 d8 17.e2 White's taken a long time to get castled and he doesn't quite make it. e5 18.h4? [ 18.b4 ] 18...d3+ 19.f1 [ 19.xd3 xd3 20.d2 e5 is obviously better for Black, but so is the text. ] 19...xc1?! [ Why? 19...e5 ] 20.xc1 g5? [ 20...d7 is one good move. ] 21.g3 a5 22.h4!? a4 23.a1 a3 24.b4 g4 25.g1? This leaves everything unprotected and doesn't even develop the knight on a1. [ 25.b3 and White is practically equal. ] 25...d2 26.b5?? [ Still, 26.e3 xa2 27.d3 d5! gives Black a solid advantage. ] 26...e4 0 - 1 , b e c a u s e 27.e3 xf2+ 28.xf2 xf2 wins more material. 0-1
764 Aronian,Levon Shirov,Alexei 2nd Grand Slam Masters (5) [Nigel Davies]
A20 2773 2730 11.09.2009
In a slightly unusual line Aronian 'innovates' with 10.h3, preventing the exchange of his light square bishop via ...Qd7 and ...Bh3. Both sides had their chances in the tough struggle which ensued, with White coming out on top towards the latter stages. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.b3 d6 8.b2 0-0 [ 8...e7 9.d3 0-0 10.fd2 ( After 10.c3 Gurevich suggest that he could have e q u a l i se d wi t h a3!? , when 11.xa3 760
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xa3 12.b5 e7 is assessed by him as 'e q u a l ' . T h is m a y we l l b e t r u e , t h o u g h personally I would prefer to play White after, say, 11.Qc1 Bxb2 12.Qxb2.) 10...g4!? 11.c3 d7!? 12.e1 ae8 and Black stood quite well in Hertneck, G (2605)Gurevich, M (2620), Strasbourg 1994 because of his potential counterplay with ... f7-f5. ] 9.d3 [ I must admit that I'd prefer this move to either 9.d4 ] [ or 9.c3 . I play the Kan Sicilian quite a bit and like to keep the diagonal open for my queen's bishop there too. So 'naturally' I want to put the knight somewhere which doesn't block the bishop. ] 9...g4 10.h3 [ It seems that this is a new move, with 10.bd2 d7 (planning .. .Bh3) having been more commonly played in the past. White's idea is clear, he wants to prevent the exchange of his light square bishop. Sorokin - Rublevsky, Krasnoyarsk 2003 continued 11.a3!? h3 12.b4 xg2 13.xg2 a6 14.b3 ae8 15.e4 h8 when Black was ready to get some counterplay with 16.. .f5. ] 10...h5 11.bd2 e7 12.e4 f5 13.xd6 cxd6 14.b4!? Trying to generate some initiative on the queenside. The battle between these two great players proves to be quite closely fought for some time to come. xb4 15.b3+ 4d5 16.xe5 dxe5 17.xd5+ xd5 18.xd5+ h8 19.fe1 ae8 20.ac1 f4 21.g4 f7 22.e4 g6 23.g2 This looks a bit passive but Aronian evidently wanted to keep the game going. [ 23.d5 f7 24.e4 would repeat the position. ] 23...f7 24.c5?! xa2?! Perhaps time pressure was starting to rear its ugly head hereabouts. [ Black seems to have a strong move in 24...e4! when 25.dxe4 b6 26.c3 xe4 27.f3 xa2 seems better for Black. ] 25.b5?! [ A n d h e r e W h i t e s h o u l d p l a y 25.xe5 to rule out the possibility of 25...e4. ] 25...b6?! 26.a1 Now White has the initiative be c a u s e o f t h e we akn e ss o f . . . . g7 . f7
27.xe5 b3 28.xe8 xe8 29.d4 b4 30.d5 e7 31.c1 h6 32.f3 d6 33.b2 h7 34.c4 b5 35.c6 b4? Under persistent pressure Shirov goes wrong. [ 35...b8 would have kept his defences intact. ] 36.c3 e7 [ 36...b1+ 37.g2 leaves Black facing the twin threats of 38.Qxf4 and 38.Rc7. ] 37.xf4 f8 38.e3 [ 38.d4 was even stronger. Black now could (and should) have bailed out into an endgame. ] 38...f7? 39.e5 e8 40.f4 d7 41.c5 e7 42.c7 xc5+ 43.xc5 1-0
765 Azmaiparashvili,Zurab Kotronias,Vasilios 31st TCh Halkidiki GRE (2) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2676 2578 06.07.2002
1.g3 f6 2.g2 e5 3.c4 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.c2!? A new idea at move seven in one of the most popular m a i n l i n e s ! e7 8.a3 0-0! 9.d3 g4 Black's main problem is deciding the most appropriate manner of responding. The text threatens to capture on f3, but Black could also consider [ 9...a5 or ] [ 9...d4 amongst others. ] 10.e3 d7 [ 10...d5 11.c5 xc5 12.xc5 d6 would equalise comfortably, but Black aims for more. ] 11.bd2 f5!? This is always a double-edged move in such positions, Black makes aggressive noises on the kingside, but also weakens his e-pawn and the a2-g8 diagonal. 12.b4 d6 13.b5 e7 14.c4 xc4 [ 14...xb5? loses the e-pawn after 15.fb1 ] 15.xc4+ h8 16.d4 White reacts in the centre - completely thematic! f4!? Black plays the sharpest move, [ 16...e4?! is not very good, 17.e5 xe5 18.dxe5 with a clear edge because of the dark-squared bishop, but ] 761
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 16...xf3!? is an alternative: 17.xf3 e4 18.g2 g6 menacing ...f4. ] 17.dxe5 Critical. e6 [ 17...fxe3 18.exd6 exf2+ 19.xf2 cxd6 20.af1 confers a small plus on White. ] 18.e4 fxe3 As played Black can capture on d6 with his queen. [ 18...d5 19.d3 fxe3 20.exd6 exf2+ 21.xf2 cxd6 22.af1 threatens Ng5, and virtually obliges Black to play xf3 23.xf3 with a plus because of the superior minor piece. ] 19.exd6 exf2+ 20.xf2 xd6 21.af1 Again we reach this same type of position, but W hite has two main threats: Ng5 which would threaten mate on h7, and the rook on f8, and would win immediately, but also Qxb7. g8?! Black should prefer [ 21...d5! both defending f8, and blocking the h1-a8 diagonal: 22.g5 g8 so that if 23.d4!? xf2 24.xf2 xa3! 25.xd5 c1+ 26.f1 xg5 recuperates the piece. ] 22.xb7 Of co urse . xa3 23.xc7 d5 24.c1! The threat to the black queen stops B la ck f ro m p la yin g h is kn igh t t o e 3 . b4 25.b1 This doesn't look best, [ 25.d2 is more natural. ] 25...xb1?! Black acquiesces to an ending a pawn down, but perhaps thought that h e would win it back. [ 25...c5 is a better chance, keeping the pieces on the board. ] 26.xb1 c3 27.b4 a5 Probably Black thought he could play [ 27...ab8 28.d4 xf2 29.xf2 a5 when he traps the white rook, but the last laugh is on him, as White has the resource 30.bxa6 ( 30.b2?? d1+ ) 30...xb4 31.a7 a4 32.a8 xa8 33.xa8 ] 28.bxa6 xa6 With so few pawns on the board Black has some drawing chances, but it is difficult. 29.e4 h6 30.f1 d8 31.e1 Behind the pawn! a2 32.f1 f8 33.e5 h7 34.d3 f7 35.e5 e8 36.f4 The knight careefully prepares the e-pawn's advance by each time attacking the square in f ron t o f th e p awn . d5 37.d3+ h8 38.c4! Simplest. xf4? [ 38...xb4 39.xf7 forks both rooks. ] 39.xa2 h3+ 40.g2 xa2 41.xh3 Now Black has lost an exchange as well, and
can resign. e6+ 42.g2 g5 43.d1 g7 44.d6 f7 45.b5 c8 46.b7 1-0
766 Bourquin,Pascal Vnukov,Denis WC-2002-S-00004 [Tony Kosten]
A20
05.03.2000
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.d3 e7 8.bd2 [ An interesting alternative to the normal 8.c3 ] 8...0-0 9.a3 a5 10.b3 e6 11.b2 f6 12.c2 d7 Black completes his development in a sensible way. 13.e3!? [ This move of Chernin's prepares the th em a tic d 4 -m o ve , lib e ra t in g t h e whit e pieces. 13.ac1 fd8 14.fd1 is less committal. ] 13...fd8 14.d4 exd4 15.xd4 xd4 [ 15...d5?! led to a White plus in the stem g a m e , a f t e r 16.xd5+ xd5 17.xc6 xc6 18.xc6 bxc6 19.fd1 Chernin, ASmejkal,J/Altensteig 1991. ] 16.xd4 c5! The critical reply. 17.xc5 [ W hite has little choice, as 17.c3 a4 may even favour Black. ] 17...ac8 18.b4 d5! [ The strongest move, which I discovered when writing The Dynamic English. 18...axb4 19.axb4 d5 20.d3 xb4 21.xd7 xd7 is equal, Matamoros Franco, C-Volzhin,A/Hamburg 1999. ] [ Chernin only considered 18...a4 when 19.e4 b6? 20.ad1 e8?? 21.xe7! wins material. ] 19.b3!? [ This was my suggestion, but may not be the strongest, 19.xd5!? is possible, xd5 ( 19...xd5 20.e4 f5 21.a2 xa2 22.xa2 might just favour White) 20.e4 e6 21.fd1 b5 is unclear ] [ 19.b2 allows xc5 20.bxc5 xe3 21.fxe3 xd2 when Black has no difficulties. ] 19...b6 20.e4 xb4! [ This exchange sacrifice seems better than my line 20...bxc5 21.exd5 f5 22.a2 762
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 axb4 23.d6 and White wins a pawn. ] 21.axb4 axb4 22.fd1 c7 23.d4 [ Pascal Bourquin also analyses 23.xe7? but after xc2 24.xd8+ ( 24.xd8 xb3 25.h3 a8 26.xb6 xa1 27.xa1 xe4 28.g2 e5 is no improvement) 24...xd8 25.xd8 xb3 26.xb6 c3 27.a8+ f7 28.a7+ g6 and he correctly indicates that White is lost, the b-pawn will cost another white piece. ] 23...xd4 24.xd4 bxc5 25.c4! [ White says: 'The only move I found to stay in the game. Not a computer move!' indeed, after the obvious 25.c1 b3 26.d2 e5 27.a4 c4 28.a7 ( B o u r q u i n ) c3 the passed black pawns are unstoppable. ] [ Pascal Bourquin also examines 25.dd1 when c4 26.a6 ( 26.f1 b3 27.c3 e5 28.d4 b4 wins,; 26.a4 c3 27.b1 d7 28.axb4 xb4 29.xb4 d2 likewise ) 26...b3 ( 26...f7!? ) 27.c3 g4 28.f3 b7 A) 29.a5 c3 30.fxg4 c2; B) 29.a4 b5 ( 29...e6 !? ) 30.aa1 e6 ( 30...b4 !? 31.b2 e6 32.e2 c5+ 33.h1 c3 also wins at a canter) 31.h1 b4 32.xb4 xb4 33.a6 c3; C) 29.aa1 b4 and the blockade of the pawns is broken, White can resign. ] 25...xc4?! [ Allowing White a strong light-squared b l o c k a d e , B o u r q u i n p r e f e r s 25...b8!? so that 26.b1 ( White may be able to try 26.f1!? b3 27.b2 e5 28.b1 ) 26...xc4 27.xc4+ h8 achieves a similar situation to that of the game, but where the white rook is less active. ] 26.xc4+ f8 27.h3 d8 28.e6 Now the black queenside pawns will need a lot of help to advance past White's light-squared barrier. g6 29.g8 d6 30.d5 g7 31.a8 xa8 32.xa8 e5 33.d5 a7 34.g2 d4 35.g8 [ White can also play more actively with 35.b5 as, providing White keeps queens on the board, Black will be unable to activate his own queen- the black king is too exposed. ] 35...e7 36.e6 a7 Black has no serious winning chances. ½-½
767 Buhmann,Rainer Balogh,Csaba TCh-AUT 2009-10 (2) [Nigel Davies]
A20 2603 2613 07.11.2009
W h it e go t n o wh e re in t h is ga m e a n d h is position even became very dangerous when he tried to prove something when he had n o t h in g. 3 . . . h 6 se e m s t o h a ve a c e rt a i n provocation value. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 h6 4.c3 b4 This would probably be my choice, but it's not the only move. [ 4...c5 is also possible here, one of the ideas being that 5.f3 can be met by e4 when W hite's knight can't go to g5. After 6.g1 e7 7.c2 d5! 8.xd5 ( 8.cxd5 f5 ) 8...xd5 9.cxd5 f5 Black has compensation for his pawn in the form of rapid development. ] 5.e4 c6 6.ge2 c5 This second move with the bishop makes sense once White has committed himself to e2-e4 and weakened the d4 square. Of course it also costs a tempo. 7.0-0 d6 8.a3 a6 9.h3 [ In an earlier game, Cekro, E (2433)-Jaracz, P (2542), Belgium 2003, White played 9.b4 af t er wh ich a7 10.h3 Black could have played in a similar way to Balogh with just 0-0 ( 10...d4 was the move played in the game ) 11.d3 e8 . ] 9...0-0 10.h2 e8 11.d3 d4 The hole on d4 will prove a source of great frustration to W hite in his attempts to attack on the kingside. 12.f4 c6 13.b4 a7 14.f5 b5 15.a2 bxc4 16.dxc4 a5 17.b5 b7 18.bxc6 xc6 19.g4?! Aggressive but also loosening, and White's position starts to fray at the edges. [ This was probably time for the pedestrian 19.e3 after which xe2 20.xe2 xe3 21.xe3 is solid enough for White. ] 19...b8 20.d2 xe2 21.xe2 b3 With Black's pieces storming into the vacant holes, White's position is starting to look very dubious. 22.d3 d4 23.d5 xd3 24.xf6+?! This just helps Black. [ 24.xd3 was better. ] 24...xf6 25.xd3 h4 26.d2 b8 27.e1 d8 28.f6 b2?! Black in turn goes wrong. 763
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 28...a4 was better, supporting the rook's advance to b3. After 29.b4 ( 29.fxg7 b3 is good for Black) 29...g6 Black has the preferable game because of White's many strategic responsibilities. ] 29.fxg7 a8 30.f3?? This seems aggressive but it should lose. [ 30.d2 was the right move, shutting down the rook's activity along the 7th rank. ] 30...b7 [ Missing the powerful 30...f5! after which 31.gxf5 ( 31.xf5 xg2+ ) 31...xe4 leaves White without a saving check on f8. ] 31.f2 xf2 [ 31...xe4 was still better for Black, for example 32.xe4 xe4 33.xe4 xf2 34.d5 xg7 35.g2 e3+ 36.f3 f4 with a good extra pawn in an admittedly difficult endgame. Now it fizzles out. ] 32.xf2 xf2 33.xf2 xg7 34.d2 xe4 35.xe4 xe4 36.xd6 e2+ 37.g3 e3+ 38.g2 e2+ 39.g3 e3+ ½-½
768 Carlsen,Magnus Anand,Viswanathan Amber Rapid Nice FRA rapid (7) [Carsten Hansen]
A20 2733 2799 22.03.2008
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 e4 4.d5!? [ This is a very aggressive continuation, aiming to prevent Black from establishing a firm centre with pawns on e4 and d5. 4.c3 d5 is discussed in Narcisco Dublan-San Segundo Carrillo, Sanxenxo 2004, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] 4...f6 5.g2 b4+ [ Black's alternatives at this juncture have only bee n te sted in obscure game s: A ) 5...b5 6.c3 ( 6.d6!? ) 6...bxc4 7.dxc6 d5 8.g5 e6 9.a4 b6 Chavira, WStefurak, D/USA 1990, and now W hite's best is 10.xf6 gxf6 A) 11.0-0-0?! A1) 11...xf2? 12.c7+ d7 13.xd5 h6+ ( 13...xg2 14.xf6+ e7 15.xd7+- ) 14.b1 xd5 ( 14...xg2 15.xf6+ f8 16.xd7+ g7 17.b5+- ) 15.h3 0-0 16.xd7+-;
A2) 11...xc6! 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5 b8 14.d1 h6 15.xe4 0-0 , and it is White who's in trouble; B) 11.c7+ c6 12.0-0-0 f5 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 g7 15.b5 xf2!? ( 15...xc7?! 16.xf5 ) 16.xf5 xf5 17.xc6+ e7 with a messy position and chances to both sides ] [ B) 5...cxd5 6.cxd5 c5 7.h3 0-0 8.c3 e3 9.f3?! ( 9.xe3!? xe3 10.fxe3 d6 11.0-0 ) 9...d6 10.0-0 a6 11.d3 e8 12.d1 bd7 , and Black has the better ch a n c e s , Ho ld , A -B e h n k e , D/ G e rm a n y 1997 ] [ C) 5...c5 6.c3 e7 7.e3 ( 7.h3!? d6 8.g5 seems to offer White the slightly better chances; 7.c2 e3 8.xe3 xe3 9.fxe3 0-0 10.e4 , and Black has some compensation for the pawn on account of White's weak dark squares) 7...d6 8.b3 b4 9.ge2 g4 10.b2 cxd5 11.cxd5 bd7 12.0-0 xc3 13.xc3 e5 Arsenault, L-Uranga, P/IECC Email 1998 ] 6.d2 e7 [ Black may also consider 6...c5 A) 7.c3 e7 8.h3 ( 8.g5!? xf2+ 9.f1! b6 10.xe4 0-0 11.d6 ) 8...d6 9.g5; B) 7.b3 0-0 8.h3 d6 9.c3 e8 10.0-0 e3 ( 10...e7!? is fine for Black) 11.fxe3 xe3+ 12.xe3 xe3 13.f2 e7 14.c2 c5 15.fe4 xe4 16.xe4 f5 17.xf5 xf5 18.xf5 Brugnoli, PSiqueira, F/IECG Email 1998 ] 7.c3 0-0 8.a3 [ The alternatives are: A) 8.h3 (this is possibly White's best option at this juncture) e8 ( 8...cxd5 9.cxd5 d6 10.0-0 f5 11.f3 a6 12.g4 g6 13.g5 d7 14.xe4 xe4 15.fxe4 Perez Fungueiro, M-De la Villa Garcia, J/Sanxenxo ESP 2007) 9.0-0 c5 10.h1 ( 10.g5!? ) 10...h6 11.a3 a5 12.c2 ( 12.a4!? d6 13.xc5 dxc5 14.c3 cxd5 15.cxd5 d8 16.xf6 xf6 17.c2 f5 ) 12...d6 13.ab1 f5 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 d4 16.e3 b6 ( 16...xc3 17.xc3 cxd5 18.xf6 xf6 19.cxd5 d7 ) 17.f4 bd7 with a complicated game and chances to both sides, Kudriashova, I-Gansvind, V/Moscow 1996 ] [ B) 8.e3 e8 9.ge2 d6 10.dxc6 xc6 764
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.a3 xc3 12.xc3 g4 13.h3 xe2 14.xe2 ac8 15.0-0 e5 , and Black has taken over the control of the game, Giardelli, S-Campora, D/Asuncion PAR 2003 ] 8...c5 [ A novelty. In an earlier game, Black tried 8...xc3 9.xc3 d6 10.e3 ( 10.d2 bd7 ) 10...bd7 11.e2 c5 ( 11...cxd5!? ) 12.0-0 e5 13.xe5 xe5 with a pleasant game, Granados Gomez, MCampora, D/Lanzarote ESP 2003 ] 9.e3 d6 10.ge2 cxd5 [ 10...g4!? ] 11.xd5 xd5 12.cxd5 d7?! [ 12...g4!? should have been Black's choice. Now White grabs the initiative. ] 13.0-0 f6 14.c3 g4 15.xf6 xf6 16.b4 b6 17.xe4 a5?! [ 17...fe8!? 18.g2 b2 19.e1 xe3 ( 19...ac8!? ) 20.fxe3 xe3 21.f1 ae8 22.c1 e5 23.a2 f3 24.b2 g5 25.d4 ] 18.bxa5 xa5 [ 18...c5!? 19.d3 xe2 20.xe2 xa5 21.d3 e5 22.c2 ] 19.xh7+! xh7 20.b1+ g6 21.xb6 Now W hite is up two pawns, and the counterplay Black may have hoped for on the light squares around White's king soon prove to be going nowhere fa8 22.d4 [ 22.d4!? ] 22...f3 23.c3 e8 24.h3! f5 25.f6 g8 26.ab1 xe3 27.xb7 c8 28.d8+ g7 29.xc8?! [ 29.xf7+! xf7 30.fxe3 wins much faster ] 29...xc3 30.xf7+ [ 30.d8 xd5 31.b8 h5 32.f8+ f6 33.xd6+ g7 34.d1+- ] 30...xf7 31.d7+ f6 32.d8+ [ 32.e1! ] 32...f5 33.xa5 [ 33.e1! wins faster, but after the game continuation White doesn't risk anything and wins in convincing fashion ] 33...xa3 34.b4 e5 35.d2 d3 36.g5+ f5 37.e1+ xd5 38.xf5+ gxf5 39.g2 a3 40.h4 d4 41.h5 d5 42.h6 a7 43.f3 h7 44.e6 c3 45.c6+ d3 46.f4 f7 47.g5 e2 48.d6 1-0
769 Chabanon,Jean Luc Kasparov,Garry tt France [Tony Kosten]
A20 2425 2805 1993
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 d5 6.g2 e6 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.f3 c6 9.a4 c5 10.0-0 0-0 11.e1?! [ Planning Nd3-f4, but 11.g5 is more usual, h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.fd1 ( 13.e4 dxe4 14.xe4 is a quick equaliser, e7 15.xc5 xc5 16.fd1 ad8 17.a3 and a draw was so o n a gree d , P irc,V -K e re s, P/ B e lgra d e 1956; 13.e1 offers a little edge, ad8 14.d3 d4 15.ac1 fe8 16.f4 e5 17.e3 xc3 18.bxc3 , Seirawan,Y-Sokolov,I/ Wijk 1995 ) 13...b6 14.b5 fd8 15.a4 d4 ( 15...d4!? ) 16.xb6 axb6 17.xb6 xa2 18.xb7 db8 19.d7 a7 20.g4 xb2 equal, Romanishin, O-Agdestein,S/ Taxco 1985. ] [ 11.b5?! aims for d4, but b6 12.e3 e4 13.bd4 fe8 14.a3 g4 Black is very act ive, Schwaiger,A-Ivan ov, I/ Dea rb orn 1992. ] 11...d4 Gaining space. 12.d3 b6 13.b5 d5 14.h3!? To avoid the exchange of his light-squared bishop, but it appears strange. Af ter the game Kasparov told me that he couldn't predict any of his opponent's moves! e8 Again, with the black pawn on d4, e2 is seriously weak. 15.f4 e4 16.d1 e7 17.a3 d3! Black opens the g1-a7 diagonal and exposes the white king. 18.exd3 [ If 18.xd3?! d4 19.f4 c6 wins. ] 18...f3 19.f1 g4 20.d2 ce5 21.g2 xf2! 22.xf2 xg2 23.xg2 xf2 24.xf2 g5 The point of Black's combination. 25.e4 [ 25.h5 xd3+ 26.g1 c5+ is crushing. ] 25...gxf4 26.gxf4 h4+ White is an exchange down for nothing. 0-1
765
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 770 Colin,Vincent Libiszewski,Fabien 81st ch-FRA Besancon BRA (1) [John Watson]
A20 2415 2482 14.08.2006
This is a game with extraordinarily clearcut positional issues having to do with space and minor pieces. I'll try to provide some opening notes of use. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 h6 The mighty 3...h6 has been played by leading players for a few years now. As with so many modern moves, it's a useful waiting move that depends upon White to commit to a particular formation before reacting. At the same time, it serves a purpose in most logical continuations that the players might agree upon. W hite's task is simply to find a setup which is normally either not available to him without the extra tempo that Black hands him, or h armles s wit ho ut . .. h6 bu t f a vo urab le because of W hite's extra move. The game continuation is appropriate in that regard. 4.f3 For example, 1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e4 4.Nd4 is slow for several reasons, one being 4...d5 5.cxd5 Qxd5, with the ideas of ...Qxd4 and ...e3 (...Qh5 and . ..Bh3 can f ollow). c6!? [ The critical 4...e4 5.d4 is quite a bit more promising for White than in the above note. W hether Black equalizes is unclear my guess is that W hite remains with a slight advantage in most lines. A few samples out of many: A) 5...c6 6.c2!? c5 7.c3 e7 8.0-0 ( 8.e3 0-0 9.ed5 ) 8...d6 9.d3 exd3 10.exd3 0-0 11.d4 b6 12.e1; B) 5...d5 6.cxd5 xd5 B1) or 7.c2 , f o r e x a m p l e , c6 ( 7...h5 8.h3 ) 8.c3 e5 9.0-0 f5 10.d4 exd3 11.exd3 0-0-0 12.xc6 bxc6 13.f4 a5 14.d4 followed by Re1. There are almost countless variations for both sides here; B2) 7.b3 d6 ( 7...f5 8.c3 d7 9.d3 b4 10.0-0 xc3 11.bxc3 0-0 12.f4 with an edge) 8.c3 e5 9.d3 exd3 10.xd3 ] 5.d4 Black can choose among several versions of the main line 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Nc6 4.g3 after
[ 5.c3 .Then he also has the unique move e4 , which would normally be met by Ng5. ( 'normal' would be 5...b4 6.0-0 e4 7.e1 xc3 8.dxc3 0-0 9.c2 e8 10.e3 and Nd5, with the c1 bishop going to e3 or f4 ) 6.h4 ( 6.g1 e7 ) 6...e7 ( 6...e7 7.d3 exd3 8.xd3 e5 9.c2!; 6...d6 7.xe4 (e l se . . . g5 ) g5 8.xf6+ xf6 9.f3 ) 7.f5 0-0 8.xe7+ xe7 9.0-0 with advantage. All this is wide open to improvements by both sides. ] 5...b4+!? [ 5...exd4 6.xd4 c5 7.b3 b4+ 8.d2 xd2+ 9.xd2 0-0 10.c3 d6 11.0-0 e8 and W hite has space whereas Black can develop fairly smoothly. The first player has a small edge. ] 6.d2 [ Perhaps 6.c3 yields something, e.g., A) 6...e4 7.d2 ( 7.e5!? ) 7...xc3 8.bxc3 e7 9.c2 e3 10.e4!; B) 6...d6 7.dxe5 xc3+ 8.bxc3 dxe5 9.xd8+ xd8 10.a3 ] 6...xd2+ 7.xd2 d6 8.d5 [ 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.xd8+ xd8 10.c3 is safe for White, and mildly better for him. One gets the impression that 4... Nc6 has conceded some advantage. ] 8...e7 [ 8...b8 9.c3 a5 10.0-0 a6 is an option, but W hite stands better, in particular because he can expand on the queenside. ] 9.c3 0-0 10.0-0 a5 11.e1!? d7 aiming for c5. Now we have arrived at a basic position with White having space and Black having the better bishop. Compare 1.d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Qe7 5.g3 Bxd2+ 6. Nbxd2 d6 7.Bg2 e5. Here White gets a knight on c3 instead of d2 and should stand better. Developing by [ 11...g4 is an option, but the bishop can get stuck on the kingside after 12.h3 f5 13.e4 h7?! ] 12.d3 f5?! This simple and obvious move condemns Black's bishop to passivity on c8. A better choice was [ 12...b6 13.e4 c5 ] 13.f4! e4 This is undesirable, leaving the bishop in the lurch, but much better than [ 13...exf4? , when 14.xf4 is awful. ] 766
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 13...g6? 14.e4! exploits White's space and better development. ] 14.e1 White's strategy until the end of the game is standard stuff. It is important to get a knight to the ideal blockading square e3, from which the break with g4 is supported. b6 15.b3 c6 16.c2 cxd5 17.cxd5 d7? Black should be preparing for g4 by ...Kh8, ... Ng8-f6, ...h5 etc. Of course, W hite is also better on the queenside. 18.ac1 h7 19.e3 g8 A tempo short. 20.g4! g6 21.gxf5! [ 21.d4 e7 22.g5!? ( 22.h1 bc8 23.g1 ) 22...h5 23.c2 and Rfc1. The pawn on g5 cramps Black's pieces. ] 21...gxf5 22.d4 e7 23.h1 g6 24.g1!? [ 24.xe4!? fxe4 25.xe4 is a typical combination. Rg1 and f5-f6 are among the threats. But evidently Black can't stop this anyway. ] 24...f6 [ Or 24...c8 25.xe4 fxe4 26.xe4 ce7 27.xg6! xg6 28.xg6+ xg6 29.g1+ h5 30.e4 g8 31.f3+ h4 32.g3! ] 25.xe4 fxe4 26.xe4 e8 27.c7+! [ Or 27.g4 ] 27...d7 28.g4 f8 29.xd7+! xd7 [ 29...xd7 30.f6+ xf6 31.xf6 g7 32.e6! f7 33.xg6+ xg6 34.xg6 xe6 35.xe6 ] 30.xg6+ xg6 31.xh6+ h5 32.g7 f6 33.g5+ h4 34.xd7 1-0
771 Damljanovic,Branko Vasilevich,Tatjana Open Kavala GRE (8) [Nigel Davies]
A20 2551 2420 07.08.2009
Here's a rare 4th move alternative for White which seems designed to sidestep the equally rare 4.Nc3 Bb4. It doesn't look very dangerous but may cast some light on what Damljanovic thinks about this line. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 e4 4.b3!? [ Presumably this is designed against the line 4.c3 b4 which seems quite interesting despite its main proponent having been an
unknown Dutch player called Van Weersel. For example 5.d2 xc3 6.xc3 ( 6.bxc3 f6 7.g2 d5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.b3 0-0 10.xd5 cxd5 11.b1 b6 12.h3 a6 was quite good for Black in Smokina, K (2283)-Van W eersel, A (2169), Kusadasi 2006. ) 6...d5 7.b3 f6 8.cxd5 xd5 9.e3 xb3 10.axb3 0-0 11.b4 e8 12.d6 bd7 was Landa, K (2609)-Van Weersel, A (2173), Vlissingen 2005. White eventually won this game but it had a lot to do with him being 400 points higher rated. At the moment the position looks fine for Black. So will we now get a transposition back into normal lines after 4... d5 5.cxd5 cxd5? This was probably Damljanovic's hope, but Black has another way to play it. ] 4...d5 5.cxd5 xd5 Exactly. And the endgame looks fine for Black. 6.xd5 cxd5 7.c3 e6 8.f3 f6 9.fxe4 xe4 10.xe4 dxe4 11.e3 c6 12.d2 b4 13.b5+ d8 14.f2 c8 15.xb4 c2+?! [ Just 15...xb4 16.e2 e7 would have been at least equal for Black. The text gets slightly carried away by the prospect of having an active rook and Black ends up suffering a little for his enthusiasm. ] 16.e2 xb4 17.a4 d2 [ And not 17...xb2 18.ab1 xb1 19.xb1 a5 20.a3 xa3 21.xb7 which would be very dangerous for Black what with White's rampaging rook on the 7th. ] 18.hd1 xe2+ [ 18...xb2 is dubious here too after 19.ab1 xe2+ 20.xe2 g4+ 21.f2 xd1 22.xd1 a5 23.a3 xa3 24.xb7 , once again with a powerful rook on the 7th. ] 19.xe2 g4+ 20.f2 xd1 21.xd1 f5 22.a3 d6 23.g2 White is slightly better now. It's still not much but he gets full points for effort. e7 24.c1 f8 25.b3 d8 26.h3 b6 27.f1 f8 28.d5 g6 29.g4 b8 30.b4 d8 31.c6 f4 32.f2 f8 33.h1 fxe3+ 34.xe3 f3+ 35.xe4 xa3 36.b5 a5 37.bxa6 xa6 38.b5 a5 39.b1 d6 40.c4 c6 41.c1 a7 42.d5+ d7 43.g8 d6 44.b1 e7+ 45.d3 c7 46.f1 g7 47.f7 d8 48.c4 e7 49.d5 d6 50.e4 c7+ 51.d3 a7 52.f8 e7 53.b8 c7 767
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 54.h8 a3+ 55.e2 xh3 56.xg6 f6 57.f8 xd4 58.f7+ d6 59.xh7 g3 60.f5 b5 61.b7 c5 62.d3 xg4 63.xb5+ d6 64.h5 f6 65.f3 g5 66.e4 ½-½
772 Davies,Nigel R Cherniaev,Alexander 7th Staunton Memorial GM (5) [Nigel Davies]
A20 2493 2428 12.08.2009
Cherniaev seemed much better prepared than me for this game but that doesn't always help. I was blissfully unaware of the fact that my improvised 5th move sidestepped his preparation and created a lot of confusion to boot. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 e4 4.c3 d5 5.f3 [ My opponent was probably inspired to play this way by the game Davies, N - Cornette, M, 4NCL 2008: 5.h3 a6 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.b3 c7 8.f4 d6 9.f3 exf3 10.exf3 e7 11.b5 xf4 12.xf4 0-0 13.f2 f5 14.d3 xb5 15.xb5 xd3 16.xd3 b6 1/2-1/2 which was all very comfortable f or B lack. Of course I was no t going t o repeat this as long as I remembered it, and the move played (5.f3) looked quite good to me. I found out later that it hasn't been played much. ] [ One of the critical lines here is 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.b3 c6 7.xd5 xd5 8.xd5 xd4 which I'll take a closer look at in Gelfand Karjakin. Does the inclusion of the moves f3 and .. . f5 make a difference to these lines? I could have asked this question in th e game. ] 5...f5 [ There's probably a good case for 5...exf3 6.xf3 f6 , for example 7.g2 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.e5 e6 with complex play. ] 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.b3 c6 8.xd5 xd5 9.xd5 xd4 10.f2 [ 10.c7+ is similar to Gelfand - Karjakin and looks critical. But with ...f7-f5 included Black has an additional possibility in f7!? , f o r e x a m p l e 11.xa8 c2+ 12.f2 ( 12.d1 xa1 also needs checking
carefully ) 12...c5+ 13.e3 xa1 14.c7 f6 15.c4+ e7 looks fine for him. I can't say tha t I pa rticula rly trust this line f o r White. ] 10...e6 [ During the game I was more concerned abo ut t he lin e 10...c2!? 11.b1 e3+! , w h e n I wa s i n t e n d i n g t o p l a y 12.xe3 ( 12.xe3?! c5 looks strong) 12...xe3 13.xe3 without having a huge amount of confidence in it. Actually I think Black has plenty for the pawn after d6 14.h3 e6 15.hf4 f7 intending ...g7-g5. ] 11.g2 [ Fritz likes the move 11.h3!? , which is something I hadn't really considered at the board. It looks quite strong, for example exf3 12.xf3 e7 13.d1 xd5 14.xd5 seems better than the game because Black is forced to waste time defending his f5 pawn. ] [ My opponent on the other hand preferred 11.fxe4 fxe4 12.g2 which I rejected because of c5+ 13.e3 e7 14.xe4 g5 . I was probably wrong to have done so a s W h i t e i s a p a w n u p a f t e r 15.d3 . The move I played is not bad and keeps an easy game for W hite. Though in view of Black's excellent defence it's tempting to look for improvements here. ] 11...exf3 12.xf3 e7 13.d1 xd5 14.xd5 c5+ 15.e3 xe3+ 16.xe3 0-0 17.c1 White of course has 'strong pressure' but can this be converted into something more tangible? b8 18.e5 f4+ 19.d2 fxg3 20.hxg3 e8 21.d6 f8 [ I spent some time wondering about the rook endgame that arises after 21...g5 22.d7 xd7 23.xd7 e4+ 24.xe4 xe4 25.cc7 g4 26.xb7 xb7 27.xb7 xg3 28.xa7 . After the game Jon Speelman, who understands such things, opined that it looked good for White because the e-pawn would shield my king from checks. I'll take his word for it. ] 22.xc8!? I'd seem some spectacular lines after this and the way Black plays it I keep an edge. But he could have equalised immediately by recapturing with the right rook. bxc8?! Just not this way. [ After 22...exc8 I don't see anything for me 768
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 apart from perpetual check with 23.d5+ E-Hertneck, G/Muenchen 1994 and now h8 24.f7+ g8 25.e5+ etc. ] 12.d1 e6 13.c3 0-0 14.e4 23.d5+ h8 24.f7+ g8 25.g5+ h8 would have been slightly better for White) 26.f7+ g8 27.d8! This keeps an edge 11.d1 b6 12.e3 c5 13.xc5 xc5 though it's not enough to win. c5 The only 14.b4 b6 15.c3 0-0 16.a5 move. and White had a slight edge in Lobron, E[ After 27...cxd8 28.xd8+ h8 29.f7+ Kharlov, A/ Leeuwarden 1997. ] g8 30.d6+ e6 31.xb7 White wins a 10.xg7! This is good for White but not pawn ] everyone has played this way. [ and on 27...exd8 28.xd8+ h8 [ 10.e4 c6 11.c3 e6 12.e3 0-0 29.f7+ g8 30.d6+ it's a whole rook. ] 13.fd1 c7 14.ac1 fd8 15.a3 xd1+ 28.h6+ h8 29.f7+ g8 30.h6+ h8 16.xd1 d5 17.xd5 xd5 18.a4 31.xe8 xd5+ 32.e3 gxh6 33.xf8+ 1/2-1/2 was Ruck, R-Rogic, D/Porec 1998. ] g7 34.c8 So White has the better pawn 10...f6 11.h6 c2 12.c3 structure but Black's doubled h-pawns come [ Jon Speelman later commented that my in handy in many lines. After the game opponent's resignation was a very deep Cherniaev thought that perhaps he should move! He does appear to have a lost game have retreated his rook to d7 here, but either as a later game amply demonstrated: way it looks like a draw. b5 35.b3 e5+ 12.c3 xa1 ( 12...xc3 13.bxc3 xa1 36.f3 e7 37.e4 f6 38.f4 e6 39.f8 14.g7 is also winning) 13.d1 d7 d7 40.e8+ f7 41.h8 e6 42.e8+ ( 13...e7? is met by 14.d5; and 13...d4 f7 43.a8 a6 44.f5 d2 45.b8 f2+ by 14.g5 d6 15.xd6 cxd6 16.xd4 46.e5 b5 47.b7+ g8 48.a4 bxa4 etc ) 14.d5 e7 ( Or 14...e5 15.g5 49.bxa4 h5 50.b6 f3 51.xa6 xg3 c8 16.f6+ etc ) 15.g7 f8 16.h6 52.f4 h4 53.a8+ (Threatening 17.Nf6+ Bxf6 18.Qxf8 mate) f6 ½-½ 17.f3 f5 18.h5+ g6 19.xg6+ hxg6 20.xg6+ d7 21.xf6+ c6 22.e4+ 1-0 Franco Ocampos, Z-Needleman, A/ 773 A20 Buenos Aires 2003. ] Davies,Nigel R 2510 1-0 Thiel,Thomas 2320 Lloyds Bank op 18th (3) 1994 774 A20 [Nigel Davies] Ding,Liren 2742 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 Balogh,Csaba 2637 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 exd4 Tromsoe ol (Men) 41st (3.2) 04.08.2014 After this I think White has an edge. [Kosten, Tony] [ A more critical response is 7...e4!? 8.e5 f5 , for example 9.xc6 bxc6 10.c3 0-0 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.f3 e4 11.f3 exf3 12.exf3 ( 12.xf3 might be a 5.d4 d5 6.cxd5 xd5 7.e3 Currently better way) 12...f6 13.e1 b8 14.f4 f a s h i o n a b l e . e5 Moving off the h1-a8 b4 gave Black excellent counterplay in diagonal is prudent, and is the 2nd most Carlsen, M-Gelfand, B/Moscow 2007. ] popular move, scoring well for Black. 8.xd4 xd4 9.xd4 b4 This tempting [ The most common, 7...c5 was analysed move pretty much loses by force. by Alex Fier a few months ago, see [ Black has to play 9...f6 when 10.a4+ Savchenko, B-Kravtsiv, M. ] ( 10.xd8+ xd8 11.c3 c6 12.b4 0-0 [ 7...c5 8.c3 e5 is also possible, 9.db5 13.a4 e6 14.b2 a6 15.b5 a5 16.bxc6 ( 9.f4 Miroshnichenko, E (2602)-Guner, S bxc6 17.e4 was marginally better for (2041)/Kocaeli 2014, 1-0 (39), e7 ) 9...a6 W hite in Lalic, B-Mohr, G/Zagreb 1993) 10.a4 c6 11.xe4 xe4 12.xe4 10...c6 ( 10...d7 11.c2 c6 was Lobron, looks greedy, but might be playable, d7 769
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.f4 ] 8.f4!? White revives an old idea. [ 8.c3 c5 ( 8...a6 9.0-0 b4 10.d3!? is possible, as xd3?! 11.xe4!; 8...c5 9.db5 as above. ) 9.d3! ( 9.b3 b6 is quite pleasant for Black.; Likewise 9.de2 0-0 10.0-0 Bilek, I (2485) -Gheorghiu, F (2530)/Teeside 1972, 1/2-1/2 (24), d8 ) 9...exd3 10.xd3 0-0 11.0-0 a6 12.a3 b6 13.b4 d8 14.c2 c7 ( 14...xd4 15.exd4 xd4 16.f4 gives good play for the pawn, h5 17.ad1 ) 15.ce2 e6 16.b2 xd4 17.xd4 with an edge to White, Zhigalko, A (2619)-Balogh, C (2630)/ Warsaw 2013, 1/2-1/2 (60). ] 8...exf3 A fairly human reaction, but not forced. [ 8...e7!? is p o s sib le , 9.c3 ( 9.c2 ) 9...a6 10.0-0 but White is a little better here, e4 is a target and it is not easy for Black to complete his kingside development. Still, after g4 11.a4 d7 Black may even consider ...h5-4. ] 9.xf3 h5 10.0-0 e7 11.c3 0-0 12.d4! W hite will continue e4 next move when his centre is very dynamic. e6 [ The only previous time this position was reached Black preferred to exchange the light-squared bishops: 12...h3 13.e4 bd7 but then 14.e5! is a wkward , d5 15.xd5 cxd5 16.b3 the d5-pawn is a problem, b6 17.a4 ab8 ( 17...xg2 18.xg2 f5!? i s b e t t e r , 19.a5 c4 20.b5 menaces b3, b6 21.axb6 xb6 ) 18.a5 c4 19.b5 b6 20.xd5!? ( 20.axb6 xb6 21.xd5 wins a pawn.) 20...xa5 21.xh3 xh3 22.g5 bd8 23.e4 d7 24.ad1 with some advantage b e c a u s e o f t h e m o b i l e c e n t r a l p a wn s , Chuprikov, D (2422)-Zakhartsov, V (2526)/ Voronezh 2002, 1-0 (66). ] 13.e4 bd7 14.c2 ad8 Black's pieces are a little bit congested. 15.e2! Heading for f4. [ 15.h4 g6 16.e5 can be answered by e8!? and the knight can reroute to a useful square via g7 or c7. ( 16...d5 17.f3 g4 18.xd5 cxd5 19.d1 xf3 20.xf3 and Black has a weakish d-pawn again. )] 15...b5 16.f4 c4! 17.b1! g4 18.b3 b4
[ 18...a6 looks safer, 19.h3 xf3 20.xf3 b6 21.e3 c5 22.e5 e8 23.d5 e6 W hite has the bishops, but his centre is weakening. ] 19.b2 [ 19.e3 ] 19...fe8 A natural move, but the f7-pawn lacks a defender later on. 20.c2 b6 [ 20...f8 -g6 is better, if Black can exchange a piece he will be more comfortable. ] 21.h1 h5 22.d3! White strives to keep pieces on the board, and anyway his knight on d3 is more useful than Black's on h5. hf6 It's a bad sign if Black can only sit and wait. 23.d2 Nc4 is the threat. [ 23.g5!? is crude, but quite effective: f8 24.h3 ( 24.f2 ) 24...h5 25.f4 g6 26.xg6 hxg6 27.e5 d5 and now 28.xf7! xf7 29.xg6 threatens the rook o n f 7 a n d B e 4 f o l l o w e d b y Q h 7 , df8 30.e6 e3 31.f3 xg2 32.xf7 xf7 33.f1 regaining the two knight deficit with interest. ] 23...f8?! Black goes downhill rapidly now. 24.c4 c7 25.e3! A strange but harmonious position for the white knights. The g4-bishop is under attack and Black is already in big trouble. c8 26.f2 Now e5 is coming, when f7 is undefended. h5?! Losing. [ 26...e6 ] 27.f4 g4 28.xg4 xg4 29.d5?! [ 29.h3 d7 30.d5 is completely crushing, B x g 7 i s t h r e a t e n e d , s o : f6 31.e5! transposing to the game. ] 29...f6?! [ 29...d6 30.h3 xf4 is the only hope, 31.hxg4 e5 32.xf7+ h8 when Black is still fighting. ] 30.h3 d7 31.e5! With a decisive attack. fxe5 32.h5 f6 33.xf6+ gxf6 34.xf6 xh3 35.xe5 Bla ck can re sign . xe5 36.xe5 g6 37.f6 f8 38.g5 xf1+ 39.xf1 xg2+ 40.xg2 e8 41.d6 e4+ 42.f3 1-0
770
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 775 Ehlvest,Jaan Charbonneau,Pascal ch-Marshall CC (4) [Jonathan Rowson]
A20 776 2601 Foisor,Cristina Adela B 2507 Kosten,Anthony C 09.12.2007 Aubervilliers [Tony Kosten]
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.b3 d6!? Now that the bishop is going to b2, it is not clear whether the bishop is needed on e7 to control g5 and the kingside more generally. Indeed this move looks like the most efficient form of development, but on the other hand, wi t h t h e k n i gh t o n b 6 , a n d wh i t e h a vi n g fianchettoed on the kingside, Black is unlikely to s ucce ed t hrou gh f orce of arm s on th e kingside. Play in the centre and the queenside is more common, and for that purpose it can be useful to have the d-file unobstructed. 8.b2 0-0 9.c3 e8 10.c1 g4 11.h3 h5 12.e4 The other issue with the bishop being on d6 is that it is more likely to be snaffled by a knight. f5 13.xd6 cxd6 14.d3 a5 15.d2 Intending Qg5. h6 16.e3 d7 17.h4 g5 18.f3 [ 18.xf5 xf5 19.g4 was probably plan A, but xg4 20.hxg4 xg4 leaves White without any sensible way to regain control on the kingside. ] 18...f7 19.h2 a4 [ 19...g6 20.f4 ] 20.g4!? axb3 21.a3 g6 22.f4 a4 [ 22...gxf4 23.exf4 a4 is more accurate. 24.gxf5 h5 25.g4 xg4 26.hxg4 xb2 27.xb2 d4 is one of many lines that leads to a fairly random position. ] 23.gxf5 h5 24.fxg5 hxg5 25.a1 ac8 [ 25...c5 obliges White to find something better than Bb2, (or Ba1 after Na4) if he wants to avoid a repetition. ] 26.c4 b6 27.cc1 a4 28.g4! xg4 29.hxg4 d5 30.b1 c5 31.f6 Black's suddenly position looks hopeless. e4 32.f5 [ 32.f2! is even stronger. ] 32...xd3 33.xg5+ f8 34.xb3 ce5 35.c3 e6 36.b1 xf6 37.xe5 f2 38.f5 1-0
A20
1996
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 d5 6.f3 e6 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.0-0 c6 9.a4 c5 10.a3 0-0 11.b4 b6 12.b2 e4 With the bishop on the g1-a7 diagonal, and the knight on e4, f2 is a target. 13.bd2 c8 14.ad1 e7 15.e3 g4 16.h3 h5 17.g4 White breaks the pin, but it leaves the kingside weaker. g6 18.b3 fd8 I have always liked this variation as you often obtain such fine attacking set-ups for Black, every piece is on a strong square. 19.fe1 h5 20.d4?? White cracks (this was only a rapid game) xd4! 21.exd4 xd2! She had clearly overlooked this possibility. 22.a2 [ 22.xe7? xb3 ] 22...e4 23.f3 hxg4 24.hxg4 h4 25.fxe4 xg4 26.e5? White is lost anyway, but this should hasten matters. xb4 [ 26...xe5! is even stronger. ] 27.b3 [ 27.axb4? c2 forces mate. ] 27...c2 28.f3 xf3 29.xf3 d3 30.xd3 xd3 31.a4 c2 Black has a winning material advantage. 32.a3 e4 33.d1 d2 34.a5 c8 35.e2 cc2 36.f1 xe2! 0-1
777 Galkin,Alexander Alsina Leal,Daniel LIII TCh-ESP CECLUB Gp1 (2) [Nigel Davies]
A20 2608 2544 21.09.2009
I have some sympathy for White's 2.a3 here it's almost always a useful move for Black to have in the Sicilian Defence. Black's 3...c6 is a sensible reply as ...a7-a6 is of questionable merit against the 2.c3 Sicilian. But W hite could have spiced things up with 3.b4!? or maybe 5.exd4. 1.c4 e5 2.a3 f6 3.e3 [ 3.b4!? is worth considering here, the point being tha t c6 4.b2 denies Black time to 771
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 play ...d7-d5 because of the attack on the e5 pawn. It's an original position and I won't spare you the cliché that it 'deserves tests'! ] 3...c6 An intelligent choice by Black, using a plan that makes White's 2. a3 rather useless. From a theoretical point of view it's easy equality for Black, but there are a few things W hite might have tried to spice it up. 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 [ One idea worth noting is 5.exd4 d5 6.c3 e7 7.c5 , reaching a position similar to some lines of the Tarrasch French with colours reversed in which Black plays ...c5c4. I don't think this is any 'advantage' for W hite, but it would create an original position on the board. This is the point of playing moves like 2.a3, one is not attempting to win any 'novelty of the year awards'. ] 5...d5 6.f3 e7 [ Other moves are also not bad, for example 6...d6 7.c3 dxc4 8.xc4 0-0 9.e4 c7 10.xd8 xd8 11.g5 f8 12.f4 h6 13.xf7 xf7 14.e5 fd7 wasn't really good enough in Bosboom, M (2423)Tiviakov, S (2663), Hilversum 2007, the point being that 15.e6 e7 pins the epawn. ] 7.c3 0-0 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.e2 c6 10.d3 This position will be familiar to 2.c3 Sicilian players as we've got one with reversed colours with White having a2-a3 in. A nice position for those who like playing against isolated pawns. g4 11.0-0 d7 12.b3 [ 12.d1 may be better. ] 12...fd8 13.b2 f5 14.d1 d4 15.exd4 A massive liquidation is in the offing. ½-½
sides. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 e4 4.c3 d5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.b3 c6 7.xd5 xd5 8.xd5 xd4 9.c7+ d8 10.xa8 c2+ 11.d1 xa1 This is a quite critical line in which computer analysis is likely to feature heavily. I do have one or two thoughts to add to some earlier analysis on Chesspublishing. com and this high level game also deserves inclusion. As far as I can see Black is doing very nicely here. 12.e3 I'm surprised that a (normally) well prepared player like Gelfand would go into this line without having anything sp ecia l in m in d. P erha ps h e avoide d his normal stuff because of Karjakin's excellent preparation only to find himself out of the proverbial frying pan and into the fire. [ a) 12.f4 was dealt with by John Watson following a question from Jose Blades. I don't have anything to add here. ] [ b) 12.b3!? is Tony Kosten's idea, but I think B l a c k i s O K a f t e r b6 , for example ( 12...b5!? 13.b2 xb3 14.axb3 b7 15.e3! b4 16.c4 f6 17.h3 xa8 18.e2 e7 19.a1 c8 20.f4 with attack was Tony's line) 13.b2 xb3 14.axb3 b7 15.xb6 axb6 16.e3 f6 17.c4 b4 with no problems for Black. ] 12...e6 13.xa7 New but rather good for Black. [ Two years earlier the game Solak, D (2567)-Volokitin, A (2645), Murska Sobota 2 0 0 6 h a d g o n e 13.b3 xb3 14.axb3 xb3+ 15.c1 a3+ 16.d2 b4+ 17.c1 b6 18.b2 d5 19.xb6 axb6 20.xb6+ e7 21.d4 f6 22.e3 b8 and Black had a strong attack despite the absence of queens. ] 13...f6 14.b3 [ M a y b e W h i t e s h o u l d p l a y 14.h3 , though after xa2 15.b6+ e7 16.c5+ e8 17.c7+ d8 it still looks very 778 A20 dangerous for White. ] Gelfand,Boris 2737 14...a3 15.d4 e7 16.b6 d8 17.e3 Karjakin,Sergey 2732 c5 18.a4?! [ 18.c1 might have been more tenacious 2nd ACP World Rapid Cup rapid (2.4) 6.1.08 but xd4 19.exd4 xb6 gives Black two [Nigel Davies] pieces for a rook and all the chances. The fact that the d4 pawn is falling means that Alexander Cherniaev told me about this game the knight on a1 is alive. ] after our encounter in the 2009 Staunton. It was a rare opening disaster for Gelfand and a 18...xd4 19.exd4 xb3! Everything is clear few days later he would be seen changing now. Black goes a solid pawn up and gets his 772
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 knight back into the game. 20.c3 xd4 21.c1 c8 22.b2 d5 23.ge2 xe2 24.xe2 b4 25.d4 d8 [ I don't see a good reason to avoid 25...xa2 though maybe the clock was playing a role. ] 26.xe6 fxe6 Another surprising move. [ But after 26...xe6 27.c4+ e5 28.c3 d5+ 29.xd5 xd5 30.b1 it's not easy for Black. ] 27.c4 d3+ 28.c3 [ 28.xd3 xd3 would win the f2 pawn. ] 28...xf2 29.b1 d1+ 30.b4 e3 31.b5 d5+ 32.b3 c8 A bad loss for Ge lf an d. It wou ld be int e re st in g t o kn o w exactly how his opening went so wrong. 0-1
king and white's control of the centre are much more important factors. e6 13.e4 0-0 14.e2 a3 15.c2 e7 16.f4 f7 17.ad1 d7 18.d3 ac8 19.c3 [ 19.xa7!? is not very practical(unless you are really confident and play it quickly) but Rybka seems to think you can get away with it. ] 19...c5 20.f4 e6 21.xe6 xe6 22.e5! fxe5 23.xe5 3 4v has become 3v 2 and Black's king begins to feel slightly drafty. cd8 24.e4 h6 25.xd8 xd8 26.e1 b4 27.c3 xc3 28.xc3 Black has eased the pressure, but even here W hite keeps a niggle due to superior control of central squares and long term king safety. Moreover, Black has an immediate tactical issue to deal with on the e-file. f7 [ 28...d6 seems to retain material equality, 779 A20 though it is not straightforward. 29.e3 h3 30.xa7 d2 31.e3 xa2 ] Georgiev,Vladimir 2538 Krush,Irina 2447 29.e3 d5 30.xd5 xd5 31.xa7 d2 Winter Invitational (8) 12.01.2006 32.h4 h7 33.f1 g8 34.a5 d5 35.xd5+ cxd5 36.a4 d4 37.g2 d3 [Jonathan Rowson] [ 37...d3! 38.b1 f7 trying to win the micro-battle for king activity, looks more 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 tenacious. ] 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.b3 e7 8.b2 f6 38.c1 c2 39.d1 c3 40.b4 b6 41.f3 9.d4 exd4?! a3 42.b5 f7 43.e3 xa4 44.xd3 b4 [ 9...e4 10.fd2 f5 11.d5 A) 11...f6 An interesting if slightly 45.d7+ f8 46.d5 e7 47.f4 b3+ irrelevant line: 12.xf6 xf6 13.c3!? 48.f2 c3 49.h5 c2+ 50.f3 c3+ xc3 14.c1 xd5! 15.xc3 xc3 51.g4 e6 52.e5+ f6 53.h4 c4 16.e1 d4 17.h1! ( 17.e3 c2 54.e3 b4 55.e5 c4 56.h3 b4 is an amusing may for the queen to meet 57.g2 b2+ 58.f3 b3+ 59.f2 b2+ her demise.) 17...0-0 ( 17...cxe2 18.f3 60.e3 b3+ 61.d4 xg3 62.d5 d3+ e3 19.c4 e6 20.xe3 f4 21.gxf4 0-0 This seems to lose a precious tempo. [ 62...g4! keeps some practical drawing 22.c2 keeps an edge for White. ); chances alive. ] B) 11...xd5 12.xg7 g8 ( 12...f7 i s m o r e s t y l i s h b u t 13.xh8 xh8 63.c6 d4 64.xb6 xf4 65.c5 g5 14.xe4 e6 15.bd2 fxe4 16.xe4 66.hxg6 xg6 67.a6 f2 68.b6 a2+ d8 17.e3 is hard to assess.) 13.b2 69.b5 h5 70.b7 h4 71.c6 b2 72.b5 e6 14.c3 f6 and again Black looks 1-0 comfortable. ] 10.xd4 xd4 11.xd4 c6 12.c3 Now W hite has an enduring edge. In many openings this structure arises and the rule of thumb is that with the queens off Black is better because he has a potential outside passed pawn and W hite's queenside pawn duo can become weak, but with the queens on, Black's relative lack of pawn shield for his 773
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.e4 b6 19.d6 ab8 A20 17...b7 Gonzalez Zamora,Juan Carlos 2524 20.xb7 xb7 21.xc6 and so forth... Estrada Nieto,Julian 2361 1-0 XVII Torre Mem (7) 18.12.2004 [John Watson] 781 A20 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 b4+ 4.d2 xd2+ Gulko,Boris F 2622 5.xd2 d6 6.c3 f6 7.g2 0-0 Harikrishna,Penteala 2514 If Black wants to play the ...Be6 idea, he Corus B Wijk aan Zee NED (4) 20.01.2001 should do so now. 8.e4 e7 This move [Tony Kosten] appears innocuous but places the queen on a square that may not be the best one. Black 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 can set up in numerous other ways: 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 e4 8.e5 f5 [ (a) 8...e6!? resembles the 8.e3 Be6 lines Probably Black's only good reply. 9.xc6 that have been discussed in this column, but bxc6 10.f3 W hite has clamped down on ...d5. Black [ White hits the important e-pawn head-on. switched strategies in Gurevich, M-Godena, 10.c3 0-0 11.a4 d6 12.xd5 cxd5 Istanbul2003by 9.b3 ( 9.d5 cxd5 10.cxd5 13.f4 a6 led to near equality in Dorfman, d7= ) 9...b5!? 10.cxb5 ( 10.d5 cxd5 J-Ivanchuk,V/Debrecen 1988. ] 11.exd5 d7 12.xb5 xb5 13.cxb5 [ 10.a4 was considered previously. ] --M Gurevich, and now I think Black should 10...exf3 11.xf3 0-0 12.c3 e6 play b6 14.a4 a6!= ) 10...cxb5 11.dxe5 [ 12...f6?! 13.e4! xc3 14.bxc3 fxe4 dxe5 12.xd8 xd8 13.xb5 c6 when 15.xe4 a6 16.e1 favoured White in 14.c7 should have led to some Zita, F-Hromadka,K/Prague 1943. ] advantage. ] 13.a4!? [ (b) 8...bd7 is the main line: 9.f3 ( 9.d5 [ A novelty, White hopes to pin Black down cxd5 10.cxd5 b5! 11.ge2 b4 12.d1 to defence of the c6-pawn, but fails, 13.e3 c5 13.f3 b6 14.e3 a6 was better xc3 14.bxc3 d5 , Spraggett,K-Vehi for Black in Ekeberg-P Carlsson, Bergen Bach,V/Ampuriabrava 1997, is equal, but ] 2001; 9.ge2 a6 10.0-0 b5 11.cxb5 axb5 [ 13.e4 may be best, fxe4 14.xe4 b8 12.a3 b7 13.fd1 b6 14.b4 fe8= 15.f2 e8 16.g5 d8 17.xe7 xe7 Rotstein-Fontaine, Montpellier 1999) 9...a5 18.c5 f5 , Sher,M-Smirin,I/Moscow 10.0-0 a4! 11.ab1 a5 12.fd1 e8 1990, 19.g4 with advantage, as the e613.b3 axb3 14.axb3 exd4 15.xd4 e5 bishop is loose. ] 16.f3 h5 --analysis by M Gurevich. ] 13...b6! 14.xc6 d7 [ ( c ) F i n a l l y , t h e o d d 8...c5!? 9.d5 [ 14...d7 15.b7 c8 forces a perpetual pits W hite's centre versus Black's better attack on the queen. ] bishop. One idea is a6 10.ge2 c7 ½-½ 11.0-0 a6 12.a4 b8 13.f4 e7 ] 9.ge2 bd7 10.0-0 a6 [ 10...a5 11.f4 exd4 12.xd4 c5 782 A20 13.ad1 e8 ] Gurevich,Mikhail 2652 11.f4! b5?! Anand,Viswanathan 2788 [ Black's best is 11...b6 12.ad1 b7 ] Corsica Masters KO (2.2) 04.11.2005 12.c5! exd4?? [John Watson] [ 12...dxc5 13.dxe5 e8 14.ad1 with the advantage. ] A confusing game between leading 13.cxd6 xd6 14.e5 c5 15.xd4 g4 grandmasters. First Anand uncorks the bizarre 16.h3 h6 17.h2 move 3...h6!? and Gurevich, without trying to [ 17.ac1 . White is in complete control. In exploit it, finds a way to get back to a normal the game he won convincingly after ] variation. Then W hite does everything that 780
774
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 he's supposed to do in this line but somehow gets in trouble. Finally we get a premature resignation. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 h6!? What's this? It's amazing what players can get away with these days. Is ...h6 really useful in every variation? Maybe White should play 1. e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.h3!? 4.d3!? I almost gave this a '?!' because Gurevich makes no attempt to make Black pay for ...h6. It would be much more interesting to play some other formation, e.g. , [ 4.c3 b4 ( 4...c5 5.e3 ) 5.e4!? ] [ or 4.f3 e4 ( 4...c6 5.d4 ) 5.d4 ] 4...c6 5.a3!? [ 5.c3 c5 6.f3 d6 7.0-0 is a position in which ... h6 is normal and useful. ] 5...c5 It seems that everyone's playing this way. Anand recently played the Moeller versus the Spanish Game: 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5. 6.e3 [ 6.b4 d4 7.a2 a6 8.e3 a7 9.e2 might be tried. ] 6...a6 7.c3 0-0 8.ge2 d6 9.0-0 Back to book! It's instructive to see Anand counter White's traditional buildup. e8 10.h3 a7 11.h2 b8 12.b4 e7 13.b2 b5!? This is Anand's idea: he wants to chip away at the centre while preventing b5. White needs to react quickly on the queenside. 14.cxb5 axb5 15.d4 [ I wonder if the players looked at 15.xb5!? , which I would have skipped by without Fritz' oversight. Then xb5 ( 15...xh3 16.xa7 xg2 17.xg2 b7 18.d4! ) 16.a4 b6 17.xa7 a6 could follow: 18.b8 c6!? (threatening 19...Nd7! 20.Qxd6 c5) ( 18...d7!? also gives a lot of play, since ...Rb6 and ...Bb7 can follow) 19.b5 b6 20.a7 xb5 ] 15...g6!? [ 15...b7 16.xb7 xb7 17.dxe5 dxe5 is at best slightly better for White ] 16.dxe5?! Strange to say, this might be a mistake, ceding the c4 square. Unless the tactics in the next few notes are good for White. [ 16.a4! is a good option. ] 16...xe5 17.d4 [ Again, 17.xb5 xb5 18.a4 should be looked at, when Black's only counterattack begins xh3! 19.xh3 ( 19.xb5? xg2
20.xg2 a8+ 21.f3 fg4 with more than enough attack.) 19...f3+!? ( 19...b8 20.xe5 bxe5 21.c6!; 19...fg4+ is anothe r complicated move , probably better f or W hite af ter 20.h1 ) 20.g2 ( 20.h1 h5 ) 20...a8 21.xf6 gxf6 22.f4! d2+ 23.g1 g5! unclear, intending 24.g2 xg3! 25.fxg3?? xe3+ ] 17...d7 18.d5 White is flailing around a bit, and this move allows Black to activate his centre. xd5 19.xd5 c6 20.g2 b6 [ More aggressive was 20...c5! 21.c2 c8 with a clear advantage already! W hat did White do wrong? ] 21.f3 c4 A monster knight. Anand has gained the advantage without seeming to have done anything special. 22.c3 d5!? 23.d4 c7?! [ 23...f5 or ] [ 23...a8 would have been more effective. Anand is trying to keep pieces on, perhaps underestimating Gurevich's next few moves: ] 24.d3! d6!? 25.fe1 [ 25.c3 f8 ] 25...a8 26.c3 f8 27.e5! a6?! [ 27...xe5! 28.xe5 g5 29.f4 g6= ] 28.xd7? [ 28.e4! gives White a standard central advantage: e6 29.exd5 cxd5 30.d3! ] 28...xd7 29.e4 White has lost time, but he needs to do something about the queenside pressure after ...Rea8. ea8 30.exd5 cxd5 31.f3 xa3 32.xa3 xa3 33.f4! White accedes to loss of a pawn, since [ 33.xd5 xd5 34.xd5 d3! wins material after 35.xc4 bxc4 36.c5 xc5 37.bxc5 d5 ] 33...a8 34.c3 d8 35.d4 c6 36.h4 b6 [ 36...b6!? ] 37.e3!? Gurevich tries to shore up his position but puts his rook on a vulnerable square. a4 38.d2 c4! Suddenly e v e r y t h i n g i s c r i t i c a l f o r W h i t e . 39.d3! Sharp defence. [ 39.xc4? dxc4 40.e1 d1 is killing. ] 39...b2 [ The game may have ended due to a time forfeit because there was no harm in playing on by 39...b2 40.xc4 xc4 ( 40...bxc4 775
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 41.xd5 ) 41.c3 White seems to have real compensation for his pawn because of the d5 and d4 squares. Black still has the edge after b6 42.d4 a4 43.b3 , yet the two bishops shouldn't be underestimated. ] 0-1
783 Gurevich,Mikhail Malakhov,Vladimir WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (4.3) [Nigel Davies]
A20 2652 2670 08.12.2005
After having lost famously to Anand in this line, Gurevich is seen repeating his 4.d3. Black in turn takes fright at the thought of an improvement and finds himself on the receiving end of a technical grind. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 h6 4.d3 Despite his lack of success with this move in an earlier game against Anand, Gurevich persists with his choice. Presumably he thinks he can do better this time. c5 [ Anand played 4...c6 and after 5.a3!? ( 5.c3 looks more 'normal') 5...c5 6.e3 a6 7.c3 0-0 8.ge2 d6 9.0-0 e8 10.h3 a position arose which was similar to the current game, except that White's a2-a3 meant that the c4 square was not as well su p p o rt e d . I nd e e d A n a n d th e n t rie d t o exploit this with a7 11.h2 b8 12.b4 e7 13.b2 b5!? (Gurevich, M (2652)Anand, V (2788), Bastia 2005). ] 5.c3 a6 This makes room for the bishop to retreat to a7, but I can't help thing that Black's loss of time is what enables White to choose an effective set-up for his pieces with 6. e3 and Nge2. [ U s u a l l y B l a c k h a s p l a y e d 5...0-0 a n d o n l y a f t e r 6.f3 ( After 6.e3 Black can play c6 ) 6...d6 7.0-0 should he play a6 . For example 8.a3 a7 9.b4 c6 10.b2 b8 11.d2 e7 12.d5?! fxd5 13.cxd5 f5 was nice for Black in the game Perez Fungueiro, M-Hamdouchi, H, Sanxenxo 2006 which was analysed by John Watson. ] 6.e3 c6 7.ge2 d6 8.b3 0-0 9.0-0 f5 10.h3 I know there are people who think this kind of thing is fine for Black what with all his
pieces going to natural squares. But I can't help thinking that his lack of effective pawn levers is a serious problem on a 'Philidorian' level. e8 11.b2 h7 12.d2 d7 13.a3 ab8 14.b4 a7 15.ac1 e4?! This attempt to gain counterplay just makes things more difficult. [ He should probably have tried 15...e7 when 16.e4 xe4 17.dxe4 is better for White but the position's not as nasty as the game. ] 16.xe4 xe4 17.dxe4 xe4 18.c5 xg2 19.xg2 e6 20.cxd6 cxd6 21.fd1 I t ' s n o w ve r y c l e a r t h a t W h i t e i s b e t t e r b e ca u se o f B la c k' s sick d -p a wn a n d t h e weakness at d5. And this is not the kind of position one would want against a master t e c h n i c i a n l i k e M i k h a i l G u r e v i c h . e4+ 22.g1 f3 23.d4 xd4 24.xd4 xd4 25.xd4 e6 26.d5 xd5 27.xd5 Black has only pain and more pain to look forward to here. f8 28.f1 e8 29.d3 d8 30.e2 d7 31.g4 e7 32.dc3 d5 33.c7 d6 34.xd7+ xd7 35.c5 d6 36.c8 h5 Giving up a pawn in order to try and get so me co un terplay. A nd wh o ca n blame him from trying to escape the rack? 37.gxh5 h6 38.g8 xh5 39.xg7 e6 40.g8 xh3 41.b8 b5 42.a8 d4 43.xa6+ d5 44.f6 dxe3 45.fxe3 h2+ 46.d3 a2 47.e4+ e5 48.f5+ d6 49.xb5 xa3+ 50.d4 b3 51.d5+ c6 52.c4 e3 53.b5+ b6 54.d6+ c7 55.c6+ b7 56.d5 b3 57.f6 xb5+ 58.d6 c8 59.xf7 b6+ 60.e7 b7+ 61.e8 b6 62.e7 [ 62.f8 c7 63.e7 was the right way to do it. ] 62...b7+ 63.f8? A rare slip from Gurevich. [ 63.e8 b6 64.f8 is again the way. ] 63...b5? [ I don't see a win for W hite after 63...b1 (or for that matter after 63...Rb2, Rb3 or Rb4!), for example 64.e8 e1 65.e7 h1 66.e5 h8+ 67.f7 d8 etc. ] 64.f5 b4 65.e5 d7 66.f6 e4 67.d6+ c7 68.e6 h4 69.g6? Another slip. [ 69.f7 h7+ 70.g6 h8 71.d6 is winning. ] 69...e4? 776
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ And here I don't see how White wins after 69...d8! , f o r e xa m p l e 70.d6+ c7 71.f7 h5 . After the move played it's easy. ] 70.e6 f4+ 71.e7 h4 72.g1 h7+ 73.f6 h6+ 74.f7 h7+ 75.g7 h8 76.g1 h7+ 77.g6 h2 78.d1 1-0
784 Gurevich,Mikhail Rublevsky,Sergei TCh-Nat1 GpA (2) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2656 2655 31.01.2004
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.b3 This move is being seen quite often in top-flight games these last few years. The immediate attack on e5, and possibility of playing the liberating d4 thrust, offers extra possibilities. d6 8.b2 More natural than [ 8.c3!? which we saw in Hertneck,GTimman,J. ] 8...0-0 9.d3 Simply better than [ 9.d4?! exd4 10.xd4 Hramtsov,AV o r o b i o v , E / M o s c o w 1 9 9 6 , w h e n e5!? is a wk wa r d , 11.xc6 ( 11.xc6? xd1 12.xd1 xb2 13.e7+ h8 wins an exchange) 11...bxc6 12.c3 d5 with good play. ] 9...g4 10.bd2 e7!? [ 10...d7 is more common, planning ...Bh3, and has been played by Rublevsky before: 11.c1 ( 11.a3 h3 12.b4 xg2 13.xg2 a6 14.b3 ae8 15.e4 h8 planning ...f5 with counterplay, Sorokin,M-Rublevsky,S/ Krasnoyarsk RUS 2003) 11...ae8 12.e4 h3 13.c5 xc5 14.xc5 xg2 15.xg2 f6 16.b4 with a slight edge to White, Korchnoi,V-Rublevsky,S/St Petersburg RUS 2001. ] 11.a3 White has the set-up I recommended in my book whilst Black has been forced into a d i f f e r e n t p i e c e p l a c e m e n t t o n o r m a l . a5 A new move, although perfectly normal in such positions, [ 11...f5 Dizdarevic,E-Zelcic,R/Solin/Split CRO 2000, could have been met by 12.b4 ] 12.h3 h5 13.e4?! White wants to play d4
without allowing the reply ...e4, but it s very committal for if Black gains control of d4 W hite will be worse. c5 14.c2 fd8 15.fc1 d7 16.h4 a7 17.f5 e8!? [ 17...e6 seems more natural. ] 18.b1?! This move allows a tactical sequence, W hite should have taken more care, e.g. [ 18.g4 g6 19.f3 although I still prefer Black. ] 18...c5 19.c3?! Better, first [ 19.f1 d7 then 20.c3 ] 19...e2 20.f1 xd3 [ 20...xd3!? 21.xe2 xf2 22.f3 xe4+ 23.g2 xc3 24.xc3 is not entirely clear. ] 21.xd3 xd3 22.xd3 d7 The point, the bishop on d3 is pinned. [ 22...d8 23.c4 xd2 is also quite good, maybe even better. ] 23.c4 xd2 24.a2! The only move to protect f2 successfully. xb3? This is a blunder, but Black's position was not as good as it looks: [ 24...xe4 25.xe5 c3 is met by 26.f1! xa2? ( 26...d7 27.h6+ gxh6 28.xc3 is unclear) 27.xf7+! xf7 28.c4+ e8 29.g8+ d7 30.f7+ d8 31.xc7+ c8 32.d6+ wins - an amazing resource. ] [ 24...d8 is best, although the position after 25.d4! g5 26.e3 f6 27.b4 is messy. ] 25.a1! xf2+ [ 25...c1+ 26.xc1 xc1 27.c2 traps the knight. ] 26.g2 d7 There is nothing better, but now Black drops a piece. 27.xf2 xa1 28.xa1 f8 29.b2 Black has 3 pawns for the piece, but the white pieces are perfectly placed and the attack decides. h8 30.d5 d4 [ 30...b6 31.xc6 xc6 32.xe5 f6 33.e7 is crushing. ] 31.xb7 1-0
777
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 785 Hertneck,Gerald Timman,Jan H Bundesliga 2000-1 (15) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2576 2620 29.04.2001
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.b3!? Rare, White prepares an immediate attack on the e5-pawn. d6 The logical reaction, e5 is supported. 8.c3!? [ White changes tack, and prepares to pester the d6-bishop . 8.b2 0-0 9.d4 exd4 10.xd4 xd4?! ( 10...e5 ) 11.xd4 f6 12.c3 is more normal, and slightly favours W hite, Hramtsov,A-Vorobiov,E/Moscow 1996. ] 8...0-0 [ This natural move seems to be new, 8...g4 9.b2 d7 was played in the game Reiter,U-Dehm,J/Eppingen 1988, when the move 10.d4 suggests itself. ] 9.b2 g4 10.d4!? In the Sicilian, if this freeing move is playable, it is often good, and sometimes bad, but here will W hite's extra tempo help? xf3 [ Black enters the complications, if 10...exd4?! 11.xd4 White is better, he has opened both bishop's diagonals in one fell swoop. ] 11.xf3 exd4 [ 11...xd4?! 12.xb7 b8 13.g2 c4 14.c1! leaves the black queenside horribly ragged. ] 12.b5 e5 13.c1 e8?! [ Th e c rit ic a l lin e wa s 13...a6 14.a3 ( 14.xc6?! axb5 15.xb7 xa2 is more than a bit awkward) 14...d5 15.c4 f6 16.e3 when White will regain his pawn, by capturing on d4, but will have an IQP (balanced by his bishop pair), so play is about level. ] 14.xc6!? [ Flashy, but the simple 14.xc6 bxc6 15.xd4 d5 16.c2! ad8 17.d2 should confer an edge- Black's queenside pawns are a mess. ] 14...bxc6 15.xc6 b8 [ 15...d3?! 16.xe8 xe8 17.xd3! ( 17.xe5? xb5 hits e5 and e2) 17...xb2 18.xc7 clearly favours White. ]
16.xe8 xe8 17.d3 Black's pawn formation is worse, but his pieces are active. c6!? Very dangerous, but for whom? 18.xa7! [ 18.a3 allowed the tactical line a4!? 19.xd4 d8 20.e3 c5 with equality. ] 18...b7 19.xd4!? [ Provoking exciting complications, but the clever 19.e4! xa7 20.xd4 forks knight and bishop- and both pieces are pinned! e7 21.xb6 xg3 22.g4 d6 23.d4 should favour White. ] 19...c7 The knight is trapped, how best to react? 20.xg7! xa7 [ 20...xg7?! 21.c3+ e5 22.xc6 gains a lot of pawns for the piece. ] 21.d4 a5!? [ Black is worried about his open king, and d i d n ' t f a n c y 21...xa2 22.f5 e6 23.g5+ when his king is forced to wander the board. ] 22.f3 e6 23.c1 d5 24.a4 a6?! A strange move, although Black's position is difficult to play- there is no clear defensive plan- the end of the game looks like it was played in a time scramble. 25.c4 e7 26.b2 a5?! This verges on a blunder, but somehow Black escapes. 27.e4 [ Avoiding the tempting, and false, variation 27.c3?! e5 28.f4? b6+ and it is the white king who is suddenly in trouble. ] 27...e5 [ The only move, 27...d6? loses to 28.f6 xf6 29.xf6 g6 30.e8+ f8 31.e7 ] 28.e3 f6 29.f4 It seems that the bishop's days are numbered, but it somehow manages to survive! f5 30.f3 [ 30.b6!? looks like a killer, but d4+! 31.xd4 xd4 32.xd4 d5 33.e3 g4 is annoying, the black queen enters on the light squares and W hite will have to calculate lots of checks. ] 30...d6 31.e3 f5 32.e4?! [ White accedes to the draw, but with more time he would no doubt have found the line 32.g4+! f7 33.h5+ g8 34.h3! pinning the knight, f7 35.xh7+ e8 36.h3 with excellent winning chances. ] 32...d6 33.e3 f5 34.e4?! ½-½
778
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.h6! Black had obviously only considered [ 11.xf3 xd2 12.xd2 when f5! 13.c3 e5 forks f3 and c4. ] 11...f5 12.g5 The point of White's play, t h e t h r e a t t o h 7 i s u n s t o p p a b l e . e8? This move compounds the problems, stopping 1.c4 e5 2.g3 g6 3.d4 Played before Black the black king's escape, [ 12...d8 is b e st , wh e n 13.xh7+ f8 can gain control of d4 14.h8+ g8 15.h7+ e8 ( 15...e7 [ 3.g2 is also possible, of course. ] 16.g5+ d7 17.h3! xh3 18.f6+ 3...exd4 wins the queen) 16.xg8+ e7 17.g7 [ 3...d6 4.dxe5 dxe5 5.xd8+ xd8 e6 18.g5+ leaves White a pawn up with is a little b ett er f or W hite, an d led to a a strong attack. ] famous victory of Seirawan over Karpov. ] 13.xh7+ f8 14.h3? This is winning, but 4.xd4 f6 White misses a mate in two: [ 4...f6 is safer. ] [ 14.e6+! xe6 15.h6# ] 5.d2!? A new move, planning Nc3, b3 and Bb2 to embarrass the black queen on the 14...f6 [ 14...xg5 15.xg5 g8 is quite open a1-h8 diagonal. previously many moves hopeless. ] have been played, e.g. [ 5.e3+ e6 6.c3 f6 7.h3 xe3 15.e6+ Now he sees the mate! 8.xe3 with a small edge for White, 1-0 Kortschnoj,V-Karpov,A/Roquebrune 1992. ] [ 5.xf6 xf6 6.c3 g7 7.g2 0-0 A20 8.f3 e8 9.e3 a6 10.0-0 d6 11.d4 787 again W hite has a plus in the endgame, Horvath,Jozsef 2519 Pigusov,E-Dvoirys,S/Kharkov 1985. ] Rabiega,Robert 2522 5...c6 TCh-2003-4 Graz AUT (3) 30.11.2003 [ 5...c6!? is not the sort of move that a [Tony Kosten] human would want to consider, but thre aten s to win a p awn , 6.d4! f6 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 b4+ ( 6...xh1?! 7.xh8 xg1 8.xg8 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 d6 7.c3 0-0 8.e4 and White is winning because of the threat The most ambitious move gaining space and of Bh6! ) 7.f3 c5 8.e5+ e7 setting-up a large centre, if relatively rare. I with unclear play. ] have always preferred 6.c3 b4 It seemed at the beginning that [ 8.e3 which leaves the bishop's diagonal this piece was destined for g7, but Black open. Still, it is always useful to have an changes tack as this stops b3. 7.f3 d6 extra weapon. ] 8.g2 ge7 8...bd7 [ 8...e6! hits the loose c4-pawn, and may [ 8...a6 9.f3 g4!? 10.0-0 xf3 11.xf3 be best, 9.a3 xc3 10.bxc3 xc4 11.b1 bd7 12.fd1 b5 is also playable, with compensation for the pawn. ] Khalifman,A-Rublevsky,S/Elista 1996. ] 9.0-0 0-0 Now 9.f3 e8 Black solidly defends e5. This [ 9...e6 is met by the unpinning 10.e4! looks like a King's Indian position where the bu t t h is is t he la st ch a n ce f o r B la ck t o dark-squared bishops have been exchanged, capture on c3 and double the white pawns, and this should be to Black's liking as he has perhaps he underestimated W hite's next less pieces so his lack of space is less of a move. ] disadvantage. 10.0-0 a6 The .. .b5 thrust will 10.e4! xf3? This loses in surprising p r o v i d e B l a c k w i t h c o u n t e r p l a y o n t h e fashion, Black should play queenside, plus a square on b7 for his bishop. [ 10...g7 when 11.f4 f5 12.ed2 11.fd1! An innovation, is a little better for White, but not too much. ] [ 11.h3 seems unnecessary, b5 12.cxb5 786
A20 Hoelzl,Franz 2360 Schwarz,Michael 2410 TCh-2002-3 Fuerstenfeld AUT (10) 15.03.2003 [Tony Kosten]
779
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 axb5 13.a3 b6 is equal, Mandl,R-Hecht,H/ Germany 1991. ] 11...b5?! Thematic, but White was wellprepared for this, perhaps the preparatory [ 11...e7 is better. ] 12.c5! This is the positional point of White's play, undermining the e-pawn. b4 This looks critical. [ 12...dxc5 is met by 13.dxe5 g4 ( a s t h e d 7 - k n i g h t i s p i n n e d ) 14.f4 when the ugly h6 is forced. ] [ 12...exd4 is possible, though, 13.xd4 (hitting c6) e5 and now 14.xc6!? xc6 15.e5 xe5 16.xa8 g4 17.g2 might offer W hite a plus, because of the pressure on d6. ] 13.a4 a5 The alternative is [ 13...xe4 when 14.c2 d5 15.xe5! xe5 16.xe4 dxe4 17.dxe5 a5 18.b6 b8 19.d6 leaves White with a powerful dark-squared bind. ] 14.c2 dxc5 15.dxe5 xe5 16.xe5 xe5 17.f4 Structurally White is on top, as he can recapture the c5-pawn whenever he wants after which the c6-pawn will be very exposed. e8 18.b3!? White wants to capture on c5 with his queen without leaving his knight hanging, but he could have 'cashed in his chips immediately': [ 18.e5!? d5 ( 18...g4? 19.xc5! xa4? 20.xc6 wins material) 19.xd5 cxd5 20.xd5 b7 21.xc5 winning a pawn, but the weakness of the long diagonal may prove to be a problem, so he prefers to keep complete control. ] 18...g4 19.e1 ad8 20.xc5 xc5+?! Black drags the a4-knight to a strong square, [ 20...b5 is more tenacious, 21.ac1 d2 with some counterplay to compensate the pawn structure. ] 21.xc5 c8 22.ac1 d7 [ 22...d2 23.e5 g4 24.a1! wins the c6pawn, and there is also a threat of Ne4-d6.. ] 23.d3 a5 24.b2! [ 24.xc6 b8 25.b6 is also strong, but there is no need to bother with calculating this. ] 24...b6 [ 24...b7?! 25.c4 attacks the a-pawn, and threatens Nd6, forking the rook and bishop. ]
25.xc6 Now White has a good extra pawn. d2 Black's only chance is to pin White to the a-pawn. 26.d1?! A strange move, [ 26.xb6 xb2 27.a1 is playable, if a bit passive. ] 26...d7?! [ 26...e6!? seems to equalise! Note the logic - Black exchanges a passive piece for an active one! 27.xe6 xe6 and the a2pawn is lost, W hite can try 28.f5 d7 29.e3 xa2 30.d1 e8 31.e5 w h i c h g a i n s s o m e i n i t i a t i v e , b u t f8 should hold. ] 27.e3 b7 [ 27...xa2? loses a piece: 28.ec1 b7 29.c7 ] 28.c2 xc2 29.xc2 c5 30.e5 xg2 31.xg2 White has exchanged the active rook, and has every prospect of converting his sound extra pawn. c8 32.d4 e6! B la ck h o p e s f o r t h e we ll-kn o wn d ra win g chances in rook endgames. 33.xe6 fxe6 34.f3 f7 35.e3 The king heads for the queenside to stop infiltration on c2, but this risks conceding the other wing, [ 35.e2 looks right, followed by Ke4, and then g4, f5. ] 35...h5 [ 35...c2 leads nowhere after 36.e2 ] 36.d2 d8+ 37.c2?! g6 38.d1 xd1? A time-trouble mistake, the king and pawn ending is hopeless, so Black had to play [ 38...c8+ 39.b2 c3! ( 39...h4 40.g4 c3 is also interesting.) 40.d6 f5 when he has serious counterplay on the kingside. ] 39.xd1 f5 40.e2 e4 41.h4 g6 42.f2 d4 43.g4 hxg4?! [ 43...e4 44.g3 d5 45.f3 d4 keeps the suspense for a little while longer. ] 44.g3 c3 White can win immediately by 45 h5 or 45 f5 which both allow a pawn to queen. 1-0
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 play xe5? as in the game because of A20 15.hxg6 and the knight hangs. ] Hulak,Krunoslav 2557 Fedorov,Alexei 2595 13...xe5 14.b3 f7 15.d4 Black's ...f4 TCh-CRO Rabat CRO (1) 07.09.2003 pawn sac has resulted in W hite gaining a m a s s i v e c e n t r e ! e7 16.e3 b5!? [Tony Kosten] Black searches for complications in a 1.c4 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 e5 4.e4 desperate situation. 17.cxb5 b8 18.a4 a6 White tries to keep the queenside W hite is ready to play a Botvinnik System, 19.b6 and puts paid to any ideas of an immediate ... closed, but [ 19.h5! i s a g a i n s t r o n g , e . g . cxb5 f5. h6!? Amazingly I didn't find any game ( 19...axb5 20.hxg6 hxg6 21.a5 ) 20.hxg6 with this move in this exact position - the hxg6 21.f4 f6 22.d5 with extra English Opening is still a very fruitful area for material and a strong attack. ] originality! Actually the move reminds me of the line Gary Lane discussed recently in the 19...a5 Black isolates the b-pawn. 20.h5 d8 Closed Sicilian, but with colours reversed. 21.hxg6 hxg6 22.f4 xb6 23.a2!? f6 5.d3 0-0 6.e2 f5 7.bc3 f4!? 24.0-0-0 b4 25.d2 A useful prophylactic This aggressive advance appears a little move to defend the b-pawn, which is a bit 26.c2 premature before W hite has castled. Black exp ose d o n t he ope n f ile . a6 W hite reminds his opponent that the black could play more simply with [ 7...d6 8.0-0 ( 8.h4!? ) 8...c6 transposing pawns are even weaker than the white ones. t o a c o m m o n l i n e , e . g . 9.d5 e6 d5! The best practical chance, [ 26...c8 27.h3 c7 28.g1 Larsen,B-Spassky,B/Tilburg 1979. ] leaves Black on the brink of disaster. ] 8.f3 Stopping the f-pawn's advance, [ 8.gxf4 h4 is a little annoying for White, 27.exd5 [ 27.e5? is a mistake: xe5! 28.dxe5 xe5 as the f4-pawn is pinned. ] 29.d2 fxf4 and Black has swapped the 8...c6 9.h4! I like this idea, White really exchange f or two p awns, and f reed his threatens to capture on f4, as h4 is covered position. ] by the rook, and can also consider playing g4. The point, Black clears the long The white king is quite safe in the closed 27...xd4! centre, and will later go to the queenside. d6 diagonal. 28.xc6!? White is also doing well after This is certainly better than [ 28.e6!? (forking the rooks) d3! 29.d2 [ 9...fxg3? when White has the strong move cxd5 30.xf8 xf8 but Black is active. ] 10.g5! e7!? ( 10...e8 11.b5 f7 [ 28.xd4? is a blunder, of course, xf4+ 12.xc7 b8 13.d2 is also pretty and ...Qxd4. ] convincing) 11.d5 xd5!? 12.xd8 e3 29.e1 xf4 30.d2? 13.d2 xg2+ but now 14.f1 and Black's 28...e5 c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r t h e q u e e n i s q u i t e White cracks, [ 30.xa6 is best, b4 31.e2 ( 31.d2?! insufficient. ] xb2! 32.xe5 xa2 33.e7 b8! 10.d5 Strongest, although and White is in trouble) 31...f5 which is a [ 10.gxf4 is also possible immediately. ] bit of a mess. ] 10...e7 [ 10...fxg3 11.g5 is still unpleasant: d7 30...c4+?! [ 30...e2! is a difficult move to find, but 12.xg3 f7 13.h3 and Black must part surprisingly strong, 31.c3 ( 31.b3 xd5 with his queen. ] 32.c2 e5 33.xe2 d3+ 34.d1 b4 11.gxf4 c6 12.xe7+ xe7 13.fxe5 wins material) 31...d4 with strong threats [ 13.h5! seems very strong, White levers the and a piece more! ] h-file open when the h6-knight will wonder why it didn't go to f6 instead! f6 and now 31.xc4 xd5 pinning the rook against the ( 13...f7 14.hxg6 hxg6 15.e3 queen, but White can defend it. 32.f1 d6 followed by Qd2 and long castles is good for 33.b3 xc4 34.bxc4 f7 35.b3 xf3 White ) 14.fxe5 is awkward, as Black cannot Finally reaching a position with equal material! 788
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 36.d3 [ 36.xf3! is awkward for Black, because of xf3 37.g2! a3 38.d5+ f8 39.f1+ e8 40.f7 with good chances. ] 36...c8 And in this unclear position, Black must have lost on time. 1-0
13.xb4 xb4+ 14.d2 xd2+ 15.xd2 a6 16.e4 c5 17.he1 ae8 18.f3 e5 19.e2 g6 20.g2 f5 21.f4 xe4+ 22.xe4 xe4 The rook endgame is a draw. ½-½
790 789 Ivanchuk,Vassily Gelfand,Boris Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (3) [Nigel Davies]
A20 2751 2737 14.01.2008
It's interesting to see Gelfand playing the Black side of this line just 8 days after his game with Karjakin - the Karjakin game was on January 6th whilst this one was on the 14th. White's failure to get anything with 4.Nc3 has thrust 4.d5!? into the limelight, but Black proved to be well prepared. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 e4 4.d5!? White's failure to get very far wit h 4 . Nc 3 h a s t h ru st t h is m ove in t o t h e limelight. White cuts off support for Black's e4 pawn in the most radical way, but in doing so he gives Black some squares for his pieces and uses valuable time. b4+ 5.d2 e7 6.c3 f6 7.g2 0-0 8.h3 Possibly White's best. [ 8.a3 featured in Magnus Carlsen's win over Anand but it wasn't because of the opening. ] 8...cxd5 [ After 8...e8 9.0-0 c5 I think it's interesting to play 10.g5!? for example ( 10.h1 h6 11.a3 a5 12.c2 d6 13.ab1 f5 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 d4 was quite promising for Black in Kudriashova, I-Gansvind, V/Moscow 1996) 10...e3 11.fxe3 xe3+ 12.h1 d6 13.xe3 xe3 14.xf6! gxf6 15.ge4 with more than enough for the exchange. Gelfand's move looks better. ] 9.cxd5 d6 10.xe4 [ 10.0-0 f5 11.f3 can be met by c5+ 12.h1 e3 , causing quite a lot of disruption. So Ivanchuk's decision to remove the pawn is understandable, even though the game now peters out. ] 10...xh3 11.xf6+ xf6 12.xh3 xb2
Ivanchuk,Vassily Sutovsky,Emil FIDE WCh KO Moscow RUS (3.2) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2731 2664 02.12.2001
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 b4+ 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 d6 7.c3 [ I still like 7.e3 first. ] 7...0-0 8.e3 e6 This move, and the plan it entails, is a critical test of White's set-up. 9.b3 exd4 10.xd4! [ In my book, The Dynamic English I suggest t h a t t h is m o ve 'is m o re p e rt in e n t ' t h a n 10.exd4 Lobron,E-Huzman,A/Budapest 1996. ] 10...d5 [ Black should also investigate the move 10...a5!? pinning the knight, 11.ge2 d5 , Jiro vsky,M-St oce k,J/CZE 2 000 , whe n 12.cxd5 xd5 transposes to the game. ( 12...xd5!? 13.b4 )] 11.cxd5 xd5 [ 11...cxd5!? also requires tests, 12.ge2 c6 13.d2 b6 14.0-0 ad8 with a reasonable IQP position, ] [ 11...xd5!? also has its points, 12.f3!? a6 13.ge2 c5 14.h4 c6 15.0-0 level, Chabanon,J-Fontaine,R/Bescanon FRA 1999. ] 12.ge2!? [ This is Ivanchuk's new idea, eschewing the possibility of isolating Black's d-pawn, e. g. 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5 cxd5 14.e2 ( 14.f3 1/2-1/2 Ionescu,C-Marin,M/ Bucharest ROM 2001) 14...c6 15.b2 e7 16.0-0 e4!? 17.ad1 e5 18.d4 ac8 with fair chances, Kurajica,B-Fressinet, L/Solin/Split CRO 2000. ] 12...a5 13.a4! xa4 14.xa4 a6 Black plans ...c5, and then ...b5. 15.d4! ad8 Brazenly allowing White to capture on e6, but he is not interested. 16.0-0 c8!? 17.fc1 White needs both his rooks on the 782
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 queenside to support his coming queenside attack. dc7!? Black needs to shift the knight from d4, to be able to exploit the open d-file, so this knight heads for e6, but he temporarily g i v e s h i m s e l f ' l i n k e d k n i g h t s ' . 18.f1! Putting paid to Black's plan, as the ensuing capture on a6 would wreck his queenside. d5 Black has to force-through the advance ... c5. 19.h4 g6 20.a3 c5 21.f3 b6 Black has finally managed to set-up a solid queenside structure, but he needs one more move to separate his knights. 22.b4! e6!? [ 22...cxb4?! 23.axb4 opens the a-file, and the b-pawn cannot be captured because of the hanging knight on c7. This is often the problem with 'linked knights'- they are fine defending each other, but are unable to do anything else at the same time. ] 23.c3 [ White could win a pawn by 23.e4 dd8 24.xa6 xa6 25.bxc5 but has reasoned that the black counterplay is significant after d4 ] 23...f5 24.d2 cxb4 25.axb4 xb4 26.xa7 Now we can see how far-sighted White was when he put his king's rook on c1 as far back as move seventeen, and left his other rook on a1. After much effort Black has solved his knight problem, but his isolated bpawn is a weakness and the white kingside is rock-solid. c6 [ 26...d8 27.c4 c6 28.aa1 b5 29.b6 also loses the b-pawn. ] 27.aa1 d8 28.ce4 a5 29.ab1 e7 30.xb6 Inevitably the b-pawn has dropped, but Black still has some drawing chances, if he reaches an ending with rook and three pawns against rook and four, for instance. g7 31.c4 c5 32.b3 xe4!? [ Sheer desperation, if 32...xb3 33.xb3 Ng5 is the menace, and we see that Black suffers from the absence of his e-pawn, f7 is e x p o s e d , h6 34.d6 and Black must permit a further deterioration of his structure. ] 33.xa5 d2 This counterattack wins f2, but it is quite irrelevant. 34.f1! By controlling h3 White avoids ...Nxf2-h3+. [ 34.b3? xf2 35.c7?! f5 is a bit messy. ] [ and not 34.f1? h3 ]
34...xf2 35.c4 a2 36.b2 The point, the rooks are exchanged and Black's temporary initiative vanishes. xb2 37.xb2 e4 38.c7 f6 39.h2 e6 40.g2 f2 Black has a solid position, but an exchange is just too much. 41.g1 g4 42.e4 e5 43.d1 7c6 44.e3 d4 45.f1 ef3+ The knight goes on a 'wild goose chase'. If he could only swap his d4-knight for the white knight on e3, and leave himself with a knight on e5, he might have a chance, but as it stands he does not have enough squares for t wo k n i gh t s . 46.f2 g5 47.d5+ e5 48.g2 g4 49.e3 e1 50.h1 f5 51.f4 ec2+ Black has been forced to weaken his st ru ct u re , a n d h is kn igh t s h a ve n o go o d squares. 52.d2 fxe4 53.c5+ [ 53.xe6 e3+ 54.d3 is also more than adequate. ] 53...d6 54.xc2 e3+ 55.c3 xc2 56.xc2 f5+ 57.c3 e5 58.d3+ 1-0
791 Ivanchuk,Vassily Vachier-Lagrave,Maxime SportAccord Rapid Men 2013 rapid (5.6) [Fier, Alexandr]
A20 2731 2745
A complicated game with ups and downs, as is usual in rapid chess. White tries a new idea with 8.h4, to push the pawn forward if the queen leaves, and in a few moves it proved to be quite important. 1.c4 e5 Vachier-Lagrave tried this move 3 times in China, twice connected with the idea of ...c6, and nobody can say it didn't work, since he won against Ivanchuk and Leko. 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.f3 [ 4.d4 another important option and tried by L e k o i n C h i n a exd4 5.xd4 a6 personally I like this move, and it brings positions full of play ( 5...d5 is the main variation and after 6.f3 e7 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.0-0 c6 9.a4 0-0 10.c3 we are in a position quite similar to a Tarrasch) 6.c3 c5 7.d1 0-0 8.f3 e8 9.0-0 and the position was level in Leko, P (2730)-Vachier-Lagrave, M (2745)/ SportAccord Blitz Men 2013 (17.7). ] 783
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 4...e4 5.d4 d5 6.cxd5 xd5 The same idea as in the Alapin which starts with 1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 7.c2 h5 8.h4!? This move is based on diverse plans. The first one is to keep the king safe in case of 0-0 at some point, the second one is to push the pawn to h5, to divert the black pieces from the defence of the e4-pawn. If the pawn is still alive after h5, h6 will be annoying since White plans to put the bishop on b2. [ 8.h3 is the main line and was the choice of Svidler against Adams in the London Chess Classic A) 8...g6 is the most played, waiting one more move to see where best to put the pieces 9.c3 c5 ( 9...d6 the bishop can come here, too 10.e3 0-0 11.c2 e8 12.b3 and Black was ok in Andriasian, Z (2624)-Petrosian, T (2636)/ ARM-ch 72nd Yerevan 2012 (5).) 10.d4 I don't believe in this plan exd3 11.xd3 xd3 12.exd3 e6 and Black was fine in Sale, S (2416)-Kotsur, P (2572)/Dubai op 5th 2003 (9).; B) 8...a6 played by Svidler in 2005! And surprisingly the choice of Adams against him in London 9.c3 g6 10.e3 c5 11.a4 trying to create weaknesses on t h e q u e e n s i d e b5 12.c2 a n i m p r o v e m e n t ( 12.d1 0-0 and W hite is missing some space, the queen is not well placed on d1, Leko, P (2749)- Svidler, P (2735)/Amber-blindfold 14th rapid 2005 (1).) 12...b4 13.b1 xe3 ( 13...0-0!? 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4 f5 is also interesting 16.g2 f4 17.xg6 hxg6 and Black has counterplay b e c a u s e o f t h e c 2 - s q u a r e p r o b l e m) 14.dxe3 and White had a more comfortable position in Svidler, P (2758)Adams, M (2754)/5th Classic KO 2013 (1. 2). ] 8...c5 9.c3 g6 After this move White has a dangerous initiative. [ 9...f5 was also possible and maybe more precise. It's not clear the queen is doing well on h5, but at least it blocks the 'dangerous' hpawn 10.b4 b6 11.e3 0-0 ( 11...xe3 it's always a committal decision to give the bishop f or a better structure. Af ter this
White's c1-bishop can become a monster 12.dxe3 0-0 13.b2 and I slightly prefer White ) 12.0-0 d8 13.xf5 xf5 14.c2 with a double-edged position ] 10.b4 Typical, to bring the bishop to b2 to win a tempo. b6 11.h5! One of the main ideas of the 8.h4 move is now realized. Probably Black needs to change the central pawn for t h e h - p a w n . f5?! It's not a good idea to keep this pawn alive. [ 11...xh5 was better and Black has a trick to bring the knight back to a better position 12.xe4 f4!? 13.f3 d5 14.b2 but still it's a dangerous position for Black, even more so in a rapid game ] 12.e3 e5 After 5 queen moves, it's still not safe. 13.b2 0-0 [ 13...d4 does not help so much but tries to complicate the position 14.c1 xh5 ( 14...0-0 15.h6 d8 16.hxg7 and White has the powerful idea of Rh4 to increase the pressure on Black's center) 15.c4 xf2+!? an interesting practical chance, but st i l l a l l t h e p i e c e s a r e h a n g i n g 16.d1! ( 16.xf2 is also possible, but less precise xg3+ 17.g1 f4 18.f1 h3 19.e3 and everything is defended) 16...xg3 17.xh5 xg2 18.d6+ e7 19.cxe4 f1+ 20.c2 xc1+ 21.xc1 is hard to evaluate, but this position is better than the one after 16.Kxf2. All the pieces are at full p o we r a n d i t 's i m p o s si b l e f o r B l a c k t o avoid material losses ] 14.c2 d4 15.c4 [ 15.h6! including this move before Nc4 is good, since it creates one more tactical theme in the position g6 16.c4 e7 17.xe4 xb2 18.xb2 this is the point and Black has nothing to do, since after xe4 19.g7# is mate ] 15...f5 [ 15...e6 attacking the knight is better. White still has an extra pawn, but things are less clear 16.xe4 xb2 17.xb2 xe4 18.xe4 f6 19.c2 a5 and at least Black has some compensation for the pawn ] 16.e3 xc3 [ 16...e6 was still possible 17.a5 e5 18.h6 g6 19.xe4 xe4 20.xe4 with advantage to White ] 17.xc3 It's hard to imagine that Black can 784
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 survive without the bishop. The computer a l r e a d y g i ve s a wi n n i n g a d va n t a ge , b u t Vachier Lagrave keeps finding resources to survive. d8 18.h4 [ 18.h6 was still possible, but White prefers to improve one more piece beforehand a6 19.a3 c7 trying to bring the knight into the game 20.h4 cd5 21.d4! and soon some pawns are going to fall ] 18...g5 Defending g7. 19.h6 f5 20.hxg7 d5 With a white pawn on g7 the battery on the diagonal loses a bit of its force. Of course the pawn is also dangerous here, and, after all, White is a pawn up. 21.b3 e7 22.e5 [ 22.e2 would be my choice, just trying to bring one more piece into the game d7 23.ah1 7f6 24.a3 and it's hard for Black to come with anything useful ] 22...d7 23.xe4? Overlooking some small tactics. Now the position is again far from clear. [ 23.xd7 was better, and after xd7 24.b5 White is clearly better ] 23...xe5 This move is also good, but allows White an ingenious defence. [ 23...xe4 was the move to play, when W hite is losing a piece 24.xe4 5f6! and th ere is n o good wa y to def end e 5 25.xf7 ( 25.c4 xe4 26.xe4 xe5 27.xe5 xb4 and Black is already better) 25...xf7 26.h4 e8 and Black can already think about an advantage ] 24.xf5 Losing an exchange. [ 24.h5! this nice move could save the exchange and keep some advantage for White. A hard move to see in a rapid game, though A) 24...xe3 25.xe3 only move ( 25.dxe3? this is already losing by force d3+ 26.xd3 xd3 27.c4 xe3+-+ ) 25...d3 ( 25...d3+ simplifies the p o s i t i o n a n d a f t e r 26.xd3 xe3+ 27.dxe3 xd3 28.d4 White is better) 26.xf5! xe3+ 27.fxe3 g6 28.c3 and with all the pieces looking at the king, it's hard to believe Black has chances to survive; B) 24...xe4 25.xe5 xb4 26.xd5! this is easy to overlook when you are ana lyzing s om e mo ve s be f o re . W h it e recovers the piece and stays a pawn up
a5 27.xd8+ xd8 28.c3 c5 but still the position remains unclear. Now the bishop on e4 is much more dangerous than the one on c3. ] 24...f3+ 25.e2 xh4 26.gxh4 xh4 Logical, taking the pawn and keeping one eye on h7. [ 26...f4+ was also possible, trying to activate as soon as possible 27.d1 d5 28.c2 xh4 with a clear advantage for Black ] 27.g1 d6 Bringing more pieces to the defence. [ 27...h5+!? this was a nice way to improve the queen's position 28.g4 g6 29.g3 e4 attacking b4 and also with Nf4+ ideas ] 28.d1 Threatening 29.Rh1. [ 28.c2 ad8 29.xh7+ doesn't really work because after xh7 30.xh7+ xh7 31.h1+ h6 wins ( 31...g6 32.g1+= )] 28...h6 29.a3 e8 It's not easy for White to find any good plan with his king in the center. 30.c2 h5+ 31.f1 e7 32.e4 g6 F i n a l l y e ve r yt h i n g i s d e f e n d e d . 33.h1?! There is not much reason to exchange the rooks, since the black rook on h6 is not active. [ 33.e1 improving the king was a good idea to stay in the game ] 33...b5+ 34.g1? [ 34.d3 was still possible, avoiding the i n v a s i o n o n e 2 xh1+ 35.xh1 h5 36.e4 e5 and Black is better, but there is still fight ] 34...xh1+ 35.xh1 e2 Now Black is just winning. 36.e4 g4+ [ 36...g4+ 37.g2 h4 ] 0-1
792 Janssen,Ruud Van den Doel,Erik Dutch Open Dieren NED (8) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2437 2607 25.07.2001
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 e4 8.e5 f5 9.xc6 bxc6 10.d2 [ Another move for White here, the knight heads for b3, to stop Black playing ...c5. We have previously examined 10.a4 and ] 785
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 10.f3 ] 10...c5? [ A novelty, immediately liquidating the forward c-pawn before it is too late, but I think it loses, 10...0-0 11.b3 e6 12.d2 f6 13.c1 left Black with queenside problems, Milos,G-Adla,D/Buenos Aires 1991, and the wild ] [ 10...h5!? 11.b3 h4 12.d2 d6 13.c1 a6 14.e1 h5 descended into anarchy after 15.c5 , Foisor,C-Minnebo,A/ Liechtenstein 1996, ( but 15.g4!? fxg4 16.c5 c8 17.xe4 was interesting )] 11.dxc5 xc5 12.c2!? [ Good, but there is also the sharp tactic 12.xe4! (softening-up the long diagonal) fxe4 13.a4+ f7 ( 13...d7? 14.xe4+ ) 14.c6 forking c5 and a8, and regaining the piece with interest. ] 12...d6 The only move. 13.c4?! [ Why not 13.xe4! fxe4 14.xe4 winning a pawn, or two, and destroying the black centre? ] 13...e6 14.a3 0-0 15.b4 e7 16.a5 f6 17.b2 xb2 18.xb2 f4 Black's queenside is ragged, so he gambles all on the other side of the board. 19.d4! f6?! [ T h e t e m p t i n g 19...f3?! 20.exf3 exf3 c a n b e m e t b y 21.fe1 f7 22.f1 with advantage. ] [ but 19...fxg3 20.hxg3 f6 avoids the loss of the f-pawn. ] 20.gxf4! Of course. f7 [ 20...a6 21.fe1 g4 22.e3 is no better. ] 21.ac1 h8 22.c6 The black c6-pawn may no longer be there, but the square is still weak! h5 23.e3 h3 Trying to drum-up some attacking chances. 24.c5 [ T h i s i s e f f e c t i v e , b u t 24.e5! is even stronger, as then h4 25.g5 exchanges the queens. ] 24...h4 25.g5 xg2 26.xg2 ae8 27.e5 With his extra pawn, and superior structure, W hite should certainly win. e6 28.g3 Rh3 is the nasty threat. g8 29.xe4 h6 30.h3 d8 31.c1 e7 32.g5 g8 33.c6 f6 Black has shed two pawns now, but his position has not improved one iota. 34.c4 c8 35.f5 e8 36.e6 a4 37.e7 d1 38.exg7 xh3 39.g8+!
xg8 40.xg8+ [ 40.xg8+ xg8 41.f7# ] 1-0
793
A20
Keres,Paul N,Archana [Tony Kosten] 1.c4 e5 2.g3 [ 2.c3 f6 3.g3 c6 As White hasn't forced Black to play ... Nc6, thus obstructing the c-pawn, this is a strong move, intending to set-up a strong centre with ...d5. The problem with having the knight on c3 is shown by the line A) The alternative line, where White lures the black centre forward in Alekhine's Defence fashion, is 4.f3 e4 5.d4 b6 as seen previously, and ( This is rarer than 5...d5 6.cxd5 b6 which also offers Black fine play.; the surprising sac 5...b5!? has also been analysed in Silva,F-Efimov, I. ); B) 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 d5 6.cxd5 ( 6.g2 m a y b e s a f e r , e6 7.cxd5 cxd5 transposing to a later note ) 6...cxd5 B1) 7.g5 c6 8.a4 d4 9.d1 ( if 9.0-0-0 d7 10.h3 then xh3!? 11.xh3 c8 is also possible here) 9...d7 10.h3 xh3 11.xh3 c8 12.xf6 gxf6 13.d5 xh3 14.xf6+ d8 15.xd4+ c8 16.c4 b8 White's compensation for the piece is insufficient, Losoff, A-Alburt,L/Chicago 1989.; B2) 7.g2 c6 8.a4 when the move d4! is awkward, i.e . 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.e4 b4+! ( 10...xe4? 11.xc6+ ) 11.xb4 xe4 12.f3 c5 with advantage.; B3) 7.f3 is considered in elsewhere, whilst: ] 2...f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 exd4 The most aggressive move, whereby Black accepts an IQP in exchange for active piece play. [ 4...b4+ is a more solid choice. 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 d6 7.c3 ( I think that 7.e3 first, is more accurate) 7...e7 8.e3 ( 8.e4!? d5!? is analysed somewhere else.) 786
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8...0-0 9.ge2 has also been seen. ] 5.xd4 d5 6.f3 [ 6.cxd5 allows the f8-bishop to come directly to c5, without having to play . ..Be6, i. e. cxd5 7.f3 c6 8.a4 c5 although play is likely to transpose, anyway, o n e e x c e p t i o n i s 9.0-0 0-0 10.c3 when instead of ...Be6 I tried d4!? 11.c4 b4!? 12.b5 e6 13.d3 c5 14.f4 c8 15.a3 a6 16.b4 axb5 17.bxc5 c4 with good play, Koshy,V-Kosten,A/Calcutta 1996. ] [ Players wishing to try this as Black should note 6.c3!? as e6 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.g5 c6 9.a4 will bring quick pressure on d5, and dissuades Black from playing ...Bc5: e7 10.d1 0-0 11.f3 b6 12.b5 Usachi,M-Kosten,A/Oberwart 1993, with equality. ] 6...e6!? [ This rare move is becoming popular through the efforts of Krashenkov. Black wan ts t o f orce W h it e to ca pt ure o n d5 , which allows Black to bring his f8-bishop to a m o re a c t ive squ a re . T h e m o re u su a l 6...e7 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.0-0 c6 9.a4 0-0 10.e3 g4 11.d4 allows White a firm control of d4. ] [ 6...dxc4!? is an interesting alternative, if Black wishes to avoid the IQP. ] 7.cxd5 [ 7.g5 might be better, dxc4 8.xe6 b4+ 9.d2 xd2+ 10.xd2 fxe6 11.xc4 with a small edge, Jaderberg,B-Adler,B/ Sweden 1998. ] 7...cxd5 8.0-0 [ 8.a4+!? is an interesting finesse, seen in Urban,K-Krasenkow,M, White decides to 'fall before he is pushed'. c6 9.d4 ( 9.0-0 c5 would transpose into the main line, see t h e a r c h i v e s .) 9...d7 10.0-0 c5 play is similar to normal lines. ] 8...c6 9.a4 c5 10.c3 This is the most important move, although most games with this come from a 2 Nc3 move-order. [ 10.bd2 0-0 11.b3 b6 is a little passive ] [ The new idea 10.e5!? , attacking c6, is considered in Markowski,T-Krasenkow,M. ] [ 10.g5 is a critical line, exploiting the absence of the bishop from e7, 0-0 ( 10...h6
11.xf6 xf6 12.c3 also transposing) 11.c3 transposing to 10 Nc3, h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.fd1 ( I prefer 13.e1! planning Nd3-f4; 13.ad1?! fd8 14.e1 d4 already favours Black, Ekeberg,C-Myhrvold, R/Bergen NOR 2000.) 13...b6 14.b5 fd8 seems fairly level, Romanishin,OAgdestein, S/Taxco 1985. See the archives for more details. ] [ 10.a3 plans b4, but, again allows Black active play, see in Foisor,C-Kosten,A. ] 10...0-0 and now this position is examined in [A25].
794 Kortschnoj,Viktor Bacrot,Etienne (m/4) Albert [Nigel Davies]
A20 2610 2545 1997
With 6...Nc6 being all the rage in this line it's easy to forget that there is an alternative. 6... Ne7 looks playable in conjunction with 11... Qd7. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 e4 4.c3 d5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.b3 e7 [ This looks like a playable(ish) alternative to 6...c6 (Gelfand - Karjakin), but with the latter doing so well then should Black be bothered? ] [ On the other hand 6...f6 seems strongly met by 7.g5! , f o r e x a m p l e c6 ( 7...bd7 8.h3 intending 9.Nf4 is strong) 8.xf6 xf6 9.xd5 xd4 10.xd4 xd4 11.0-0-0 winning the e4 pawn. ] 7.f4 Threatening Nc3-b5. a6 8.f3!? [ Exchanging off White's 'bad' bishop with 8.xb8 xb8 9.e3 is sound enough but i n n o c u o u s . A f t e r e6 10.c1 c6 Black is certainly no worse. On the other hand this would be quite a good idea if Black now played 8...f5 because of the inviting home for W hite's g1 Knight on the f4 square. ] 8...exf3 9.xf3 [ In his notes to the game Korchnoi analysed 9.e4!? bc6 when White's best is probably ( 9...dxe4? 10.c4! is good for W hite) 10.xf3 , transposing back into the game. ] 9...bc6 10.e4 e6 [ After 10...g4 Korchnoi gave the line 787
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.xd5 xd5 ( 11...xf3 12.c7+ xc7 13.xc7 xh1 14.d5 is strong ) 12.exd5 xf3 13.xf3 xd4 14.e4+ e7 15.xe7+ xe7 16.0-0-0 with the better endgame for White because of his bishops. ] 11.d1 [ 11.0-0-0!? looks very interesting, all the more so because Korchnoi didn't mention it. ] 11...dxe4 Black has several alternatives here: [ a) 11...a5?! 12.a4+ ac6 ( And not 12...b5 b e c a u s e o f 13.xb5+ axb5 14.xb5 ac6 15.xa8 etc. )] [ b) On 11...d7 Ko rchn o i ga ve 12.g5 as being good for White, but this isn't simple after g4 ( 12...a5 13.xe6 xb3 14.c7+ d8 15.xa8 seems to give W hite more than enough for the queen) 13.e2 ( Both 13.exd5!? a5; and 13.xd5 xd5 14.exd5 b4+ 15.f2 xd1 seem to rebound on W hite) 13...xe2 14.xe2 a5 15.c2 f6 and Black repels borders with a very reasonable position. This looks like the way Black should play it because now he runs into trouble. ] 12.d5 xd5 [ 12...a5? is bad because of 13.a4+ b5 14.xe4 f5 15.e2 threatening 16.d6. ] 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 d6 This looks like Black's only move. [ After 14...c8 there follows 15.g5 c5 16.xf7! xf7 17.c7+ g6 18.e6+ f6 19.g4+ f7 20.c4+ winning ] [ whilst 14...exf3 15.c7+ e7 16.e3+ f6 17.g5+ wins Black's queen. ] 15.xb7 0-0 [ And not 15...a5? b e c a u se o f 16.c7+ xc7 17.xe4+ f8 18.xc7 etc. ] 16.xd6 xd6 [ 16...e8 17.xc6 exf3+ 18.f2 c8 19.c7 would defuse Black's play and leave him ruinously behind in material. ] 17.xc6 xc6 18.e7+ h8 19.xc6 exf3 The complications have fizzled out into an endgame but one in which White is clearly better. It still needs accurate handling of course. 20.f2 ac8 21.b4! c1 22.d3 [ And not 22.g2?? because of c4! . ] 22...a1 23.g2 xa2 24.xf3 d8 25.c1 g6 26.e3 g7 27.c7?! [ Korchnoi later felt that 27.c5! intending
Bf3-d5 was the correct way to regroup. ] 27...a5 28.a7?! [ And here 28.c6 may have been better. ] 28...d6 29.g4 b5 30.b4 h5 31.gxh5 gxh5 32.b7 bb6 33.c8 f6? The losing move. [ 33...bc6 would have held the draw. ] 34.c5! g6 35.xa6 f5 36.h4 f4+ 37.f3 f6 38.xb6 xb6 39.d3 c6 40.b7 c3 41.xf4 f6 42.e4 b3 43.e3 b1 44.d4 g1 45.b5 e6 46.b6 1-0
795 Kortschnoj,Viktor Rublevsky,Sergei Korchnoi 70 St . Petersburg RUS (3) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2639 2657 20.03.01
1.c4 f6 2.g3 e5 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.d3 d6!? [ A novelty! The bishop goes directly to a more active square than normal. 7...e7 is almost invariably played here, leading to normal main lines. ] 8.b3 [ O n e o f m a n y p o s s i b i l i t i e s , 8.c3 being the most obvious, intending to take th e bish o p pa ir at som e p oint , b y Ne 4 / b5xd6. ] 8...0-0 9.b2 g4 10.bd2 d7 Black co nt inu es h is de ve lo pm e nt , wh ils t keeping his e5-pawn well-guarded. 11.c1 ae8 12.e4 h3 As Black is going to lose his dark-squared bishop, he quickly exchanges W hite's other bishop so that he won't have the bishop pair. 13.c5 xc5 14.xc5 xg2 15.xg2 f6 Black's opening seems reasonably successful, he has completed his development, and bolstered his centre. 16.b4! White needs to obtain some counterplay on the queenside. f7 [ 16...xb4? 17.b3+ 4d5 18.e4 wins a piece for insufficient compensation. ] 17.a3 d4! A standard positional ploy, Black opens the e-file against the backward e2pawn. 18.xd4 exd4 19.c2 fe7 20.e1 h8 [ 20...a6 stops White's further queenside expansion. ] 788
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.b5 d6 22.a4! Swapping the a-pawn for the d-pawn. xa4 23.c4 b6 24.xd4 a3 25.h4!? [ Very ambitious, White wants to win by direct attack, but some simple move such as 25.e3 could be considered, removing the need to defend the e-pawn. ] 25...a6 26.d4 h6 27.h5!? [ W hite wants more than 27.bxa6 xa6 28.e4 but starts going down the wrong path. ] 27...a5! Pinning the b-pawn. 28.g4 axb5 29.g5 d5! Ouch! This puts a spanner in the works. 30.f5 [ 30.gxh6?? f4+ ] 30...c6 31.e4! [ Not 31.gxh6?? g6 32.xg6?? f4+ ] 31...d8 32.gxh6?? [ W hite f a lls f or th e sam e trick, 32.exd5! xe1 33.xe1 xe1 34.gxh6 g5 35.h4 is roughly equal. ] 32...g6 33.g4 gxh5 34.h4 g8+ 35.f1 [ Presumably both players were in time trouble, and Black lost on time, as otherwise he is simply a rook up after 35.f1 g4 I expect we may see a lot more finishes like this with the new FIDE time controls! ] 1-0
endgame is quite pleasant for Black who can play ...d5 and free his position. Previously, [ 7...e7 was played, to keep the queens on, 8.0-0 0-0 9.c3 e8 10.d4 ( 10.d1!? b4 11.d4 ) 10...c5 (again!) 11.d1 d6 12.b3 f5 13.b2 e7 14.d4 Black hasn't managed to play ...d5, and White has an edge, Cekro,E-Van Mechelen, J/Antwerp 1997. ] 8.xe7+ xe7 9.0-0 White cannot stop Black from playing ...d5, and recapturing with a piece, i.e. [ 9.c3 b4 ( 9...d5 might be worse, 10.cxd5 b4 11.dxc6!? c2+ 12.f1 xa1 13.d4 and, surprisingly, White will regain a piece while the a1-knight remains awkwardly-placed on a1.) 10.0-0 d5 11.cxd5 ( 11.a3!? c2 12.a2 dxc4 13.d1 f5 14.e5 is unclear) 11...bxd5 Black has no worries. ] 9...d5 10.cxd5 [ 10.bd2 e6 11.b3 0-0 12.b2 retained more tension, but Black is fine. ] 10...xd5 11.e4!? I wanted to 'prove' that I had some advantage, but this simply weakens t h e d 3 - s q u a r e ( a n d l a t e r d 4 , t o o ) . db4 12.e1?! This was my idea, menacing the win of a piece by a3, but it is too ambitious it was time to develop some bits: [ 12.c3 d3 13.d1 xc1 14.axc1 796 A20 Black has snatched the bishop pair, but W h i t e h a s a h e a lt h y p o si t io n , a n d c a n Kosten,Anthony C 2551 consider e5, and Ne4-d6, for instance. ] Collins,A 4NCL 24.11.2002 12...c5 13.d2 a5 14.c3 e6 15.b3? [ 15.xg7? is also a mistake, g8 16.d4 [Tony Kosten] c4 winning the exchange, but I should have played ] 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 exd4 [ 15.d2 so that if xa2 ( 15...0-0 16.a3 5.xd4 a6 6.f3 c5!? A move first bd3 17.xd3 xd3 18.f3 p la ye d b y L a r ry Ch r is t ia n s e n , I b e lie ve , appears fairly level) 16.xg7 g8 17.d4 gaining a tempo on the white queen. 0-0-0 18.ef3 play is completely obscure. ] [ 6...e7 was played in my game against 16.d2 fd8 17.ef3 Miltner (see the second-move note to Miezis- 15...0-0 I had originally intended Zapata) ] [ 17.c4? b u t t h e n n o t i c e d a4! 7.e5+ and White is in trouble. ] [ 7.d1 allows Black to equalise easily: 0-0 An interesting idea, to exploit the 8.c3 e8!? ( 8...d5 9.cxd5 b4 10.0-0 17...g4!? bxd5 is completely equal, Kelly, B-Motwani, weakness on d3. 18.a3 xf3! The simplest, I P/Lichfield ENG 2000) 9.0-0 d6 10.a4 had been busily analysing [ 18...c2 19.a2 xa3 20.xa3 xf3 f5 11.a3 d5 with chances to both sides, ( 20...xe4?! looks good, but then there is Zueger,B-Christiansen,L/Bern 1996. ] 21.a4! xc3 22.xg4 and White wins a 7...e7!? A novelty, and why not? The 789
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 piece ) 21.xf3 xe4 22.xe4 xa3 23.c4 b4 which isn't very clear. ] 19.xf3? I miss assessed the resulting position, as my opponent pointed-out after the game, I should play [ 19.axb4 axb4 20.xb4 with fair chances to draw. ] 19...c2 20.a2 d4! Again I thought my opponent intended [ 20...xa3!? 21.xa3 xe4 as above, but this is much stronger. ] 21.d1 Played after a long reflection, I had t h o u gh t t h a t t h e o p p o sit e -c o lo u r b is h o p position was possible, but [ 21.xd4 xd4 22.b1 g5 23.c4 a4! ( 23...xe4 is not bad either) 24.b4 b3 and White is lost, the knight is hanging, and if it moves ...Nd2 forks rook and bishop. ] 21...b5 22.a1 xa3 Winning a pawn. 23.xa3?! This hasten s matters, I could still have tried to do something with my bishop pair after [ 23.e5 ] 23...xd2 24.b4 [ 24.c3 xe4 25.xa5 xa5 26.xa5 b2 27.b6 c5 is also hopeless. ] 24...d3! A killer, I had hoped to generate some tactical chances on the kingside after [ 24...xe4 25.e3 f5 26.g4!? (although White is still lost, of course). ] 25.xa5 [ 25.c3 also fails to xb4 ] 25...xa5 26.bxa5 c5 With a triple attack on f2. 27.b3 xf2 28.g2 h5!? (Threatening mate!) 29.g4? Time trouble, [ 29.c3 e2 ( 29...d3? 30.xf7+! xf7 31.e1 ) 30.e1 xe1 31.xe1 xe4 was a big improvement. ] 29...xg4+ 30.g3 d3+ 31.f3 xf3+ 32.xf3 xh2+ 33.g2 g4 34.c3 f8 I would normally resign, but as the match situation was still unclear ... 35.e5 e7 36.f3 g6 37.f4 e3 38.d2 d5+ 39.f3 d4 40.e4 c3 41.g5+ e6 42.c4 xe5 43.a6 bxa6 44.xa6 f5+ 45.f3 f6 46.c1 c5 0-1
797 Kosten,Anthony C Jones,Gawain C Masters Bunratty [Nigel Davies]
A20
27.02.2011
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 b4+ 4.d2 xd2+ 5.xd2 d6 6.c3 f6 7.g2 0-0 8.e3 e6 9.d1 a6 10.b3 [ This has been played almost as a matter of course though it's worth mentioning that 10.f3!? is legal here. After e4 11.g5 xc4 12.gxe4 xe4 13.xe4 f5 14.d3 the position looks about equal, but with more imbalance than after 10.b3. ] 10...exd4 11.xd4 b4!? A new idea which appears to equalise. [ P r e v i o u s l y B l a c k h a s p l a y e d 11...a5 which a lso se em s very re ason ab le , f o r example 12.d2 ( 12.ge2 d5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.0-0 xc3 15.xc3 xc3 16.xc3 fd8 17.h3 f8 wasn't really anything for W hite either in Glud, JMortensen, E/Denmark 2009.) 12...c7 13.ge2 ( 13.f3 might have been a better choice ) 13...d5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.xd5 xd2+ 16.xd2 xd5 17.0-0 xg2 18.xg2 fd8 19.fd1 xd2 20.xd2 f8 21.c3 e7 22.f4 d7 1/2-1/2 was Reinderman, D-Giri, A/Groningen 2009. ] 12.d2 f5 13.e4 e8 14.ge2 [ 14.ce2!? appears to be very embarrassing as he's attacking two pieces. But Black gets a strong attack after xe4 15.xe4 xe4 16.xb4 f6 17.f3 c3 18.xd6 e5! , f o r e x a m p l e ( 18...a5 19.xf6 axb4 20.d6 xe2 21.xe2 xa2 22.d2 a1+ 23.d1 a2 is only a draw) 19.d2?! ( 19.f2 xe2 20.d2 c3 21.d3 seems to hang on, but I don't like it) 19...xe2 20.xe2 a1+ 21.f2 xe2+ 22.xe2 ( 22.xe2 xh1 ) 22...xa2+ 23.f1 d8 etc. ] 14...xe4 15.xe4 xe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.xb4 e7 18.d2 e8 19.0-0 c5 [ 19...c5 20.a5 xe2 21.xe2 xe2 22.xa7 leaves it equal. ] ½-½
790
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.a1 d5 23.b1 b6 24.xe5! Tactical opportunism of the best variety. Kotsur,Pavel White takes the chance to change the nature Naiditsch,Arkadij of the position before Black strengthens his WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (1.1) grip. fxe3 [Jonathan Rowson] [ 24...fxe5 25.g5 e7 26.xe6 xe6 27.e4 is comfortable for White- Black's 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 remaining light squares will be very weak. ] 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.b3!? e6 8.b2 f6 9.c2 A curious move that only makes 25.fxe3 fxe5 26.c4 h5 27.b2 f6 sense when you realise that White is trying to 28.f2 d7 29.g2 h6 30.e4 b5 play d2-d4 in one move without allowing ...e5- 31.cd2 b6 32.f2 Now White appears to be better, but Black manages to complicate e4 in return. 33.f3 [ 9.d3 is absolutely fine, but White then enough to hold the balance. e8 loses whatever he sting the idea of a quick d5 34.e2 b4 35.xe5 c3 36.b2 [ 36.g4!? is more fun. ] d2-d4 has in this move order. ] 37.d4 g8 38.dxc5 xc5 [ 9.d4 is the most straightforward approach, 36...xb3 but is unlikely to give any advantage- if 39.axb4 a4 40.a3 xe3 41.xc8 xf2+ anything the opposite. e4! As a rule of 42.xf2 xc8 43.g1 b6+ 44.e3 xb4 thumb, these French-like pawn structures 45.c6 b6 46.xa7 xe3+ tend to be favourable in almost all openings ½-½ other than the French! For instance in the open Sicilians, W hite usually meets ...d5 A20 with e5, and here, in some sort of reversed 799 dragon, the same issue applies- if W hite Kramnik,Vladimir 2785 goes for d2/d3-d4, Black usually tries to Bacrot,Etienne 2695 respond with ...e4 when possible. Perhaps World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (36) 22.11.2007 the point is that in the French Black's pieces [Carsten Hansen] tend to be on squares to help a quick source of counterplay, for instance the knights on 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f5 After 2 g3 this move much d7 and c6 hit the e5 point, contribute to p l a y a b l e t h a n a f t e r 2 N c 3 , t h o u g h control of d4 and make ...f6 and g5 plausible. nevertheless still considered dubious by some In this case, the bishop on g2 might be a u t h o rit ie s, su ch a s R ib li in C h e s s B a s e slightly misplaced, as is the bishop on b2, Magazine. 3.d4 exd4 while Black's knight on b6, which is [ 3...e4 4.h3 ] otherwise a bit unsure of itself, now looks at 4.xd4 c6 5.e3+!? This is considered the juicy d5 square with glee. the critical line e7 A) 10.e1 f5 11.f3 exf3 12.xf3 [ The alternatives are: A) 5...e7 6.c3 ( 12.exf3!? d7 and 0-0-0 looks good for ( 6.f3 is h armless: f6 7.d4 xe3 Black ) 12...e7 looks very comfortable for 8.xe3 b4+ 9.d2 xd4 10.xd4 e4 Black; 11.e3 b6 12.a3 xd2+ 13.xd2 xd2 B) 10.fd2 f5 and again Black has some 14.xd2 b7= Spanton, T-Rosen, D/4NCL sort of good reversed French. ] (Birmingham) 2002) 6...f6 ( 6...b4?! [ 9.a3 d7 ( 9...a5 10.c2 a4 )] 7.d2 ) 7.g2 xe3 8.xe3 b4 9...b4! Equally strange, and effective. Noroozi, O-Barzigar, B/Tehran IRI 2004, and 10.c1 c5! 11.d3 e7 12.bd2 0-0 now 9.d2! leaves White with a small plus. ] 13.e4 c8 14.a3 c6 Black is very [ B) 5...f7 is unnecessarily artistic and comfortable. 15.d1 d4 16.fd2 d7 p r o v o c a t i v e 6.f3 ( 6.h3!? ) 6...f6 17.e1 fd8 18.c1 f8 19.e3 f5 20.f1 7.g2 b4+ 8.d2 ( 8.c3 e8 9.d3 The position is roughly equal, but I would take Ribli ) 8...e8 9.b3 c5 ( 9...xd2+ Black. In any case it feels like Black slightly 10.bxd2 e7 11.0-0 Ribli ) loses his way around here. h8 21.c2 f7 A) 10.0-0 e4!? ( 10...xe2 11.c3 798
A20 2587 2641 27.11.2005
791
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e8 12.g5 Ribli ) 11.c3; B) 10.c3 h6 ( 10...g8 11.g5 ) 11.0-0 d6 12.ad1 a6 13.a4! e4 ( 13...a7 14.c5+ Ribli ) 14.xc5 xc5 15.a3 xe2 ( 15...a5? 16.b4 ) 16.e3 e4 ( 16...e6 17.c5 ) 17.d4! xd4 18.xd4 B1) 18...g5 19.c3 g6 ( 19...e6 20.d5 ) 20.c5 Ribli; B2) 18...e7 19.f3 g5 ( 19...d2 20.xe4+- ) 20.h5+! g6 ( 20...f8 21.h4 e6 22.xe2 xd4 23.xd4 xe2 24.c5 Ribli ) 21.xe2 xe2 22.e3! xe3 23.xe3 Delchev, ANikcevic, N/France 2003 ] 6.g2 f6 7.c3 0-0 8.h3 [ 8.d5 e8 9.xe7+ xe7 10.xe7 xe7 11.g5 f7 12.xf6 xf6 13.h3 e7 14.0-0-0 d6 15.he1 b8 16.f4 Rivas Pastor, M-Castro Valero, J/Mallorca 2000 ] 8...e8 Others: [ 8...d6 9.0-0 e5 A) 10.b3 c6 11.d1 e8 12.d4 a5 13.a4 ( 13.d2!? ) 13...fd7 14.d2 c5 15.b1 c7 16.a5 f8 17.f3 e6 18.f2 ad8 Romero Holmes, A-De la Villa Garcia, J/Leon 1996; B) 10.d5 c6 ( 10...xd5 11.cxd5 c5 12.f4 ) 11.xe7+ xe7 12.b3 d7 13.a3 fg4 14.d2 f6 15.ad1 f7 16.fe1 Just, J-Kuehn, P/Berlin 1978 ] [ 8...b4 The idea behind this move isn't just ...Nc2+, but also to play ...c7-c6 and ... d7d5. 9.d2 a5 10.f4 c6 11.0-0 A) 11...d6 12.b3 ( 12.a3?! a6 13.b3 c5 is fully adequate for Black. ); B) 11...a6 12.d3 ( 12.b3 c5 13.b2 ) 12...d6 13.b3 e8 14.b2 d8 15.ae1 e4 16.c2 ( 16.xe4?! fxe4 ) 16...ec5?! ( 16...ac5 17.xc5 xc5 18.e3 Ribli ) 17.d1 Miezis, NDamljanovic, B/Istanbul 2000 ] [ 8...b4 9.0-0 ( 9.d2 d6 10.d5 xd2+ 11.xd2 e4 12.c2 d4 13.d3 e6 14.0-0 c6 15.df4 6c5 Wiener, RKrivda, M/corr 2001) 9...e7 10.a3 xc3 11.xc3 d5 12.d1 c6 13.b4 a5 14.b1 axb4 15.axb4 e8 16.b2 Kern, G-Todts, B/Vlissingen 2005 ] 9.0-0 f8
[ 9...b4 10.d3 e5 11.c2 c6 12.a3 f8 13.b3 d6 14.b2 e6 15.g5 e7 16.ad1 ad8 17.xe6 xe6 18.e3 Chernin, A-Bologan, V/ Geneve 1996 ] 10.d2 e5 11.b3 d6 12.f4 c6 13.d1 c7 14.a3 f7 15.ac1 d7 16.e3 ad8 17.b4 [ 17.b4!? ] 17...e5 18.e2 [ 18.b2!? ] 18...g5 19.h5 xh5 20.xh5 e6 21.xg5+ g7 22.xg7+ xg7 23.b5 [ 23.b2 xc4 24.c2 d3 ] 23...xc4 24.bxc6 xa3? [ 24...bxc6 25.xc6 xa3 26.xe8 xe8 ] 25.cxb7 xc3 26.xc3 c4 27.d5? [ 27.d5! e7 28.xc4 xb7 29.c1 b2 30.a5+- ] 27...xd5 28.xd5 b6 29.a5 b8 30.c7 f8 31.xa7 f7 32.xf7 [ 32.c6 fxb7 33.xb7 xb7 34.xd6 c4 with decent drawing chances for White. ] 32...xf7 33.a4 e6 34.a5 d7?? [ 34...d5! 35.g2 d7 36.f3 c6 37.e4 fxe4+ 38.xe4 b4 39.f4 d5+ 40.d4 b5 41.c3 c6-+ ] 35.g2 d5 36.f3?? [ 36.a6 c5 37.f3 e5 38.h4 xa6 39.xa6 xb7 40.a5+ leaves White with excellent winning chances ] 36...c6?? [ 36...e5+ 37.f4 c6 38.a8 xb7 , and now it is Black who can play for a win ] 37.a6 c5 38.a8 c7 39.a7! xb7 40.c8+! 1-0
800 Kramnik,Vladimir Carlsen,Magnus 6th Tal Memorial (3) [John Bartholomew]
A20 2800 2826 18.11.2011
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 h6 Possibly a slight nod to Kramnik's tremendous theoretical prowess. 3...h6 is not new to the top level, though GMs have been more likely to ve n tu re it a t b lit z/ rap id t im e co nt ro ls . Regarding the merits of 3...h6, I agree with 792
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 what John Watson wrote in his notes to Colin Libiszewski (below): "The mighty 3...h6 has been played by leading players for a few years now. As with so many modern moves, it's a useful waiting move that depends upon White to commit to a particular formation before reacting. At the same time, it serves a purpose in most logical continuations that the players might agree upon. W hite's task is simply to f ind a set up which is normally eit her no t available to him without the extra tempo that Black hands him, or harmless without ...h6 but favourable because of White's extra move. " With that in mind, let's see how the game unfolds. 4.c3 [ Quite interesting is 4.f3 c6 ( 4...e4!? 5.d4 ) 5.d4 , see Colin, V (2415)Libiszewski, F (2482)/Besancon 2006/[John Watson]. ] [ G M G u r e v i c h t w i c e p l a y e d 4.d3 , which doesn't make a serious attempt to profit from 3...h6. See the archives for c6 , Gurevich, M (2652)-Anand, V (2788)/Bastia 20 05 06 / [J oh n W at so n] , ( and 4...c5 Gurevich, M (2652)-Malakhov, V (2670)/ Khanty Mansiysk 2005/ [Nigel Davies]. )] [ In the only previous game where Carlsen vent ure d 3. ..h 6, h is oppo nen t tried th e unc onvinc in g 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 c6 6.d1 . T h e g a m e c o n t i n u e d b4+ ( 6...c5 ) 7.d2 xd2+ 8.xd2 0-0 , with level chances, though Magnus went on to lose. Ostenstad, B (2480)-Carlsen, M (2673)/Moss 2006. ] 4...b4 5.e4 Ambitious - Kramnik is trying to put the 'extra' move to good use with unabashed central play. We see 5.e4 in more common form (with .. .0-0 instead of ...h6 for Black) in Naidtisch - Topalov. [ The text is most popular, though 5.f3 also makes a great deal of sense. Now Black has three main possibilities: A) 5...e4 6.d4 is a bit better for White, i. e. xc3 7.dxc3 0-0 8.0-0 e8 9.b3 d6 10.c2 b6 11.e3 b7 12.d5 , completing a typical maneuver. Markowski, T (2610)-Pavlovic, M (2593)/ Plovdiv 2003.; B) 5...xc3 6.dxc3 ( or 6.bxc3 - this recapture may be more promising, e. g. e4 7.d4 0-0 8.0-0 with a typical
stru ctu re in which W h ite sho uld have better chances. Ribli, Z (2585)-Rustemov, A (2564)/ Germany 2005.) 6...d6 7.0-0 c6 8.e1 e6 9.b3 d7 10.e4 0-0-0!? Hulak, K (2564)-Bologan, V (2676)/Ohrid 2001.; C) 5...c6 Logical development. 6.0-0 d6 ( or 6...0-0 ) 7.d3 ( 7.d4!? would be the most ambitious, when xc3 8.bxc3 0-0 prod uces a com plex p osit io na l f igh t .) 7...0-0 8.d2 e6 9.h3 d7 10.h2 fe8 11.a3 c5 12.b4 b6 13.c1 a6= wi t h a p o s i t i o n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e Karpov Variation. Rukavina, J (2418)Balogh, C (2567)/Zuerich 2005. ] 5...c6 [ More common is 5...xc3 6.bxc3 0-0 7.e2 , when the Naidtisch - Topalov game indicates to us that Black would love to get in ...c7-c6 and ...d7-d5. Here White can beat him to the punch: c6 ( The solid 7...d6 is normal; while 7...e8!? 8.0-0 c6 is a real attempt to achieve ...d7-d5 White can try to parry with 9.b3 , i.e. a6 10.a3 b6 11.d3 d6 12.ad1 c7 13.f4 c5 14.c2= Cekro, E (2410)-Glek, I (2575)/Vlaardingen 2005.) 8.d4 , although this seems acceptable for Black: d6 9.0-0 e8 10.e1 bd7 11.a3?! c5! Tkachiev, V (2642)-Fressinet, L (2625)/ Cannes 200607. ] 6.ge2 c5 Carlsen doesn't mind losing further time in order to enhance his control of the dark squares. 7.d3 [ We've actually seen this line before. Check the archives for 7.0-0 Buhmann, R (2603)Balogh, C (2613)/Jenbach AUT 2009/ [Nigel Davies]. ] 7...d6 8.h3 Prophylaxis against ...Bc8-g4. h7!? I really like this idea - the knight is headed to d4 via g5-e6. We're very familiar with White's occupation of d5 in the Botvinnik English via Ne1-c2-e3-d5 (or Nd2-f1-e3-d5) and the underlying positional logic behind such a maneuver. As he does so frequently, Ca rlse n de cide s to p ut a lit tle twis t on a standard concept. Great imagination from the world 1! [ 8...0-0 9.0-0 e6 would be very standard. Theoretically speaking, Black stands well at this point, so W hite needs to rethink his 793
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 strategy against 3...h6. ( or 9...a6; or 9...a5 )] 9.a3 a6 [ T h i s i s a c a s e w h e r e 9...a5 seems preferable to prevent W hite's queenside expansion. ] 10.0-0 g5 Gaining a tempo to accomplish the intended maneuver. 11.h2 e6 12.f4 d7 13.b4 Kramnik is correctly playing on both wings. a7 14.d5 ed4 [ Trying to further soften White's kingside with 14...h5!? is intriguing. ] 15.ec3 The knight seems a little superfluous on c3, but evidently Kramnik didn't want to allow an exchange on e2 followed by ...Nc6-d4 and ...c6-c7, kicking White's knight from d5. [ T h e i m m e d i a t e 15.fxe5 dxe5 16.c5 was possible, shutting out the bishop. ] 15...e6?! I don't see the point of this move. [ 15...h5!? ] 16.f5 d7 17.b1 White is beginning to g e n e r a t e s o m e c o n c r e t e t h r e a t s . b8!? 18.c5!? [ 18.g4 f8 and now Houdini's top move is 19.d1 , so it's safe to say things are unclear:) ] 18...dxc5 19.bxc5 c8 Carlsen is really playing matador to Kramnik's bull in this game! [ Black's position looks shaky after 19...xc5 20.xb7 d6 21.e3 bc6 , but I don't see anything clear-cut. ] 20.h5 The game is reaching a critical stage. [ On ChessBase. com, GM Ramirez examines 20.g4 f8 ( Ramirez claims that 20...g5! is stronger, with the nice supporting line 21.h5 c6 22.xg5 xg5 23.xg5 hxg5 24.c7+ d8 25.xa8 xc5 26.b6 xb6 27.xb6 b5! wh e n t h e r o o k i s t r a p p e d .) 21.h5! , with the idea that d7 is now met by 22.f6 g6 23.xh6+ e8 24.xg6!!+- when Black can't take the queen. ] 20...d7! 21.a4 c6!? Carlsen doesn't back down. [ 21...f6 22.xf6+ xf6 was safer. ] 22.db6 xc5! 23.f6 [ 23.xa8 xa4 24.f6 g5 25.xg5 transposes to the game. ( 25.h4!? )] 23...g5 24.xg5 [ 24.xc8!? ] 24...xa4 25.xa8 [ 25.xa4?! b5 26.c3 e6 (Ramirez) ]
25...b5 26.e3 A very messy position has arisen that revolves around the future of the a8 knight. Should Carlsen be able to win, he will have an overwhelming material advantage he n ce, K ram n ik will b e th ro win g vario u s ro a d b lo ck s in h is wa y. b8 White was threatening 27.Qxe5+ 27.g4 Now g4-g5 is on th e ca rd s. g8!? 28.xh6 e6 29.bc1 d7! 30.xd4 Again, White has to play with a sense of urgency. exd4+ 31.e5 c3 32.xc3! [ Carlsen was probably hoping for 32.f4 a7 , and with the d4 pawn solidly defended Black will pick up the knight. ] 32...xe5+ 33.h1 dxc3 34.e3 Kramnik is scrambling well. b8 35.c5 d6 36.a7+ d8 37.xa6 d4! 38.a5+ c8 39.a6+ d8 40.a5+ c8 41.a6+ Draw! If you've been following the coverage of the Tal Memorial, you'll now what computers (and thus commentators!) were quick to point out: b8 is likely winning for Black. After the forced 42.b6 , both Kramnik and Carlsen missed the excellent move c8! , when Black wins - for example, 43.xc8 xc8 44.a4 b4 45.c4 c5 etc. The majority of this game was clear as mud, but Carlsen's 3...h6 gave him a fine position out of the opening. His 7... Nh7!? conception as well as the possibility for completely normal play with 7...0-0 means W hite will have to go back to the drawing board. ½-½
801 Kuzmicz,Krystian Socko,Bartosz DMP Ekstraliga (5) [Jonathan Rowson]
A20 2400 2627 10.09.2008
1.g3 e5 2.g2 d5 3.c4 f6 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.b3!? An attempt to be distinctive. [ 7.d3 e7 8.a3 a5 9.b3 0-0 10.b2 f6 11.bd2 A) 11...g4!? Given White intends e3 and d4, it makes some sense to place the bishop out of the range of a prospective knight on d4. 12.c2 d7 13.fd1 ad8 14.ac1 h3 15.h1 d5 ( 15...g4 ) 794
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.e4 g4 17.c5 xc5 18.xc5 h8 19.b5 b6 20.e1 h5 21.d4 f7 22.dxe5 fxe5 23.c5 h6 24.e3 de8?! ( 24...d5 ) 25.xc6! bxc6 26.xe5 f6 27.f4 and White was clearly better in Mchedlishvili, M -Kasimdzhanov, R Emsdetten GER 2008; B) 11...e6 12.c2 Now if White is given the opportunity, he will play e3, Rfd1 and d4, possibly with Ne4 included. However, Bla c k ra re ly h a s t o a llo w t h is id e a t o proceed smoothly, and has various ways to compete e8 ( 12...f7!?; 12...d7!? ) 13.e3 d5 14.d4 exd4 15.xd4 xg2 16.xg2 xd4 17.xd4 c5 18.b2 c6+ 19.g1 a4 and Black has a slight initiative. ] 7...g6!? [ 7...d6 is probably best here, but many Black players stubbornly associate this line with the presence of bishops on e7 and e6. 8.b2 0-0 9.d3 I would prefer White but I am a life-long Sicilian player. Objectively Black should be fine. ] 8.b2 [ 8.c3!? g7 9.a3 looks more testing, b u t B l a c k m i g h t b e f u l l y o k a f t e r a5 intending Nb4 and 0-0 ] [ 8.a3!? a l so l o o k s i n t e r e st in g . g7 ( 8...xa3 9.xa3 0-0 is probably fine, but other things being equal these structures should slightly favour White.) 9.e1!? a5 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.c3 with highly unclear play. ] 8...g7 9.d3 0-0 10.c2 This feels a bit p r e m a t u r e . e8 11.bd2 f5 12.c4?! This looks compliant, but I am not sure White had anything better. [ 12.a3 e4! ] [ 12.fd1 e7 doesn't seem to help. ] 12...xc4 13.dxc4 e7 14.ad1 e6 15.c3 ad8 [ 15...e4 16.d4 xd4 17.xd4 ad8 l o o k s m o r e p r e c i s e . 18.b2? xd4 19.xd4 c5 ] 16.b2 e4 17.xd8 xd8 18.e5 xe5 19.xe5 xe5 20.xe5 d6 Black is clearly better. 21.c3 d4 22.a5 b6 23.c3 f7 24.e3 c5 25.a1 b6 26.f1 d6 27.c5?! An unforced error, doing Black's work for him. xc5 28.xc5 bxc5 29.c1 d5
Temporarily awkward, but Black now has extra sp a c e a n d h a lf a p a wn - e n o u gh t o h a v e se rio u s win n in g ch a n ce s. 30.c4 e5 31.f1 xc4+ 32.xc4 a6 33.e2 d5 34.a4 d6 35.c4 d5 36.a4 d6 37.c4 c6 38.h4 [ 38.f3 exf3+ 39.xf3 e6 40.e4 fxe4+ 41.xe4 looks drawish. ] 38...e6 39.d2 d5 40.c3 a5 41.a4 a6 42.c4 c6 43.a4 b5 44.c2 d6 45.c4 d8 46.c1 h6 47.c2 d5 48.c1 d6 49.c2 a6 50.a4 f6 51.c3 d6 52.c2 e6 53.d2 e8 54.c3 f8 55.c4 b6 56.a4 f6 57.c4 e6 58.a4 g5 59.hxg5 hxg5 60.g4 f4 61.d2 f3 62.c3 b5 63.c4 e8 64.a4 b6 65.c4 c6 66.a4 d6 67.xa5 h8 68.a6+ c6 69.a4 d5 70.a7 h4 71.d7+ e6 72.d2 xg4 73.a4 g1 74.b2 e1 75.a3 e2 76.d8 xf2 77.a5 f1 78.b2 f2 79.f8 e7 80.f5 d7 81.f7+ c8 82.a6 b8 0-1
802 Kuzmicz,Krystian Vovk,Yuri Najdorf Mem GpA (9) [Jonathan Rowson]
A20 2418 2557 28.07.2007
1.g3 e5 2.g2 f6 3.c4 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.b3 e4!? I suspect this is a bit dubious, though gambiteers who are at ease with being a pawn down for nebulous compensation might like it. I wrote this line before looking at the position very closely, but after a little analysis it seems the compensation is actually quite enduring, so I am no longer sure about ...e4. 8.e1 f5 [ 8...f5 9.b2 followed by d3, will leave Black's position rather loose. ] 9.c3 [ 9.b2!? ] 9...f6! 10.c2 0-0-0 [ 10...g6 11.e3 ] 11.xe4 [ 11.xe4!? xe4 12.xe4 f5 13.f3 intending Nf2, is also worth considering, but even here Black has quite easy play for the pawn. ] 795
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11...e6 [ 11...g6 12.d3 b8 followed by h5 looks plausible. Again, I don't think it is a pawn's worth, but there is no denying that Black's position is quite easy to play (Kb8 is not forced but it is useful to have c8 available for the bishop after Ne3). ( 12...h5 13.e3 e6 14.f4!? )] 12.d3 e7 13.g5 xg5 14.xg5 f6 15.e3 h3 [ 15...d5 keeps more tension in the position but the way Black plays almost seems to keep the balance so I am not sure it is an improvement. ] 16.xb6 Perhaps a bit simplistic. [ 16.e1!? ] [ 16.h1!? h5 17.g1 ] 16...axb6 17.d2 h5 18.e3! d7 19.f4 xg2 [ 19...h4! and seems to be fully adequate for Black. ] 20.xg2 h4 21.g4 he8 22.e3 d4 Now Black is winning material and is clearly better. 23.f5 g5 24.xd4 c6+ 25.e4 xd4 26.xd4 d7 27.f5 h3+ 28.xh3 xd3+ 29.f3 h8+ 30.g3 d2 31.h3 d8 32.f2 f4+ 33.g2 c6 34.e1 b5 35.e5 fxe5 36.e7+ b8 37.g6 b4 38.ee2 d1 39.xe5 f4 40.f1 xf1 41.xf1 g3 42.d3 xf3+ 43.f2 c5 44.c2 b6 45.e1 c7 46.e2 c4 47.c2 c3 48.b4 d6 49.e2 d5 50.e4 c2 51.d2 xe2+ 0-1
for Black, Gutsu,S-Dobrin,C/Eforie Nord 1998. ] 6.d2 b4 [ 6...xe5 7.xc4 is slightly to White's advantage. ] 7.gf3 c3?! [ Tempting, but in the light of what follows, 7...e6 is safer. ] 8.bxc3 xc3 9.0-0!! Blithely leaving a rook en prise! e7?! [ I suppose Black had to capture, but 9...xa1 10.c4 c7 ( 10...xa2? 11.d6+ f8 12.xc8 g6 13.d8+ g7 14.d6 wins ) 11.d6+ f8 12.a3 regains a piece with enormous compensation. ] 10.c4 d5 11.d6+ Now White obtains the attack without sacrifices. f8 12.xc8 xc8 13.a3+ g8 14.xd5 [ 14.xd5 cxd5 15.ac1 wins a bit. ] 1-0
804 Lenic,Luka Gajewski,Grzegorz ETCC (Open) Warsaw POL (4.42) [Fier, Alexandr]
A20 2637 2634 11.11.2013
One more game quickly following unknown paths. Lenic tries an idea of just going for the pawn on e4 and actua lly he takes it. Bu t Gajewski proves that the activity of Black's pieces a re e no ugh co mp en sa tion . 16 .b 6 would be more prudent in my view. 1.g3 e5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 e4 4.d5 Basically aimed to 803 A20 avoid 4...d5. It resembles the Sicilian with 1. Lauvsnes,Arild 2274 e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 d5 4.e5 d4!?. This move Grotnes,Nils Ragnar 2291 was played by some strong players including TCh-Final Langesund NOR (2) 24.05.2001 Carlsen against Anand! b4+ [Tony Kosten] [ 4...f6 was Anand's choice and trying to keep the bishop later with 6...Qe7 5.g2 1.c4 c6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 e5 Transposing into b4+ 6.d2 e7 7.c3 0-0 a type of Keres system. 4.d4!? with a complex game in Carlsen, M (2733)[ Interesting, first 4.cxd5 would be more Anand, V (2799)/Amber Rapid Nice FRA usual. ] 2008. ] 4...dxc4 5.dxe5 a5+!? 5.d2 xd2+ Actually a novelty! But a quite [ A novelty! 5...xd1+ 6.xd1 is the normal normal move. way of playing this, c5 7.e3?! ( 7.d2!? [ 5...e3 is a t h e m a t ic s a cr i f i c e 6.fxe3 xf2 8.xc4 is fun ) 7...g4+ 8.e2 d7 ( 6.xb4 b6! 7.fxe3 xb4+ 8.d2 xb2 9.f4 0-0-0 10.e1 seems very promising and Black should be ok) 6...e7 7.b3 796
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c5 8.d3 with typical compensation due to W hite's strange structure in Carlstedt, J (2386)-Goh Wei Ming, K (2382)/Budapest FS03 GM 2011. ] [ 5...e7 allows transposition to Carlsen Anand: 6.c3 f6 7.g2 transposing. ] 6.xd2 f6 7.c3 0-0 8.g2 e8 9.d4 An ambitious idea, but Black has enough resources to hold the balance. [ 9.d6 tries to block Black's position, but allows another break: b5! 10.cxb5 ( 10.h3 i s a l s o p o s s i b l e bxc4 11.0-0 a6 followed by 12...Rb8) 10...cxb5 11.xb5 a6 12.h3 b8 13.c3 b6 with compensation. ] [ 9.h3 h6 ( 9...d6 10.dxc6 e3 11.fxe3 xh3 12.xh3 xc6 gives insufficient compensation because of the d5-square for t h e k n i g h t .) 10.0-0 e7 11.ad1 could be a possible follow up with a small advantage for White. ] 9...d6! Not losing time, suddenly all Black pieces are going to enter the game. 10.xe4 xe4 11.xe4 c5 12.d3 a5+ 13.f1 g6 A difficult position to evaluate, if White can coordinate his pieces the extra e-pawn will make the difference, so Black needs to be quick. 14.g2 [ 14.h4!? trying a brutal attack d7 15.h5 f6 16.hxg6 ( 16.xg6 hxg6 17.hxg6 c7 18.f3 e7 19.gxf7+ xf7 is also possible, but now Black's queen is h e l p i n g m o r e t h a n i n t h e m a i n l i n e .) 16...xe4 ( 16...xe4 17.gxh7+ h8 18.h6 g4 19.xe4 xh6 20.f4 xh7 21.f3 looks good for White with the rook coming to the h-f ile.) 17.gxf7+ xf7 18.xh7+ g6 19.h4 f5 with chances for both sides in a chaotic position. ] 14...b5! Creating counterplay on the other wing. 15.cxb5 [ 15.b3 maintains the pawn chain, bxc4 16.bxc4 f5 17.f3 d7 and ...Rb8, ...Ne5 are sufficient to keep the position alive ] 15...a6!? [ 15...d7 16.c2 ( 16.f3 this sacrifice can be played in this position and in the next variation, f5 17.xf5 gxf5 18.xf5 xb5 19.g5 e7 20.e6 xb2 21.g5+ f7 22.h6 g8= ) 16...xb5 17.f3 b8 again with enough
counterplay. ] 16.h3 [ 16.b6 makes sense, and it's a typical B e n k o m o v e , d7 17.f3!? ( 17.h3 xb6 18.c2 b4 19.f3 e5 20.g5 f5 and Black is fine.) 17...f5 18.xf5 gxf5 19.xf5 xb6 20.g5 e7 21.e6 f7 22.g4+ h8 23.g5 f8 but with only two white pieces attacking Black should be fine again. ] 16...axb5 With this structure Black will always ha ve so m e b re a ks a n d e xp a n sio n s . T h e position is about equal, but still easier to play for Black. 17.a3 d7 18.hd1 I'm not sure if this move is really useful. [ 18.f4 was possible f6 19.f3 f5 20.d1 a7 with the idea of bringing the q u e e n t o e 7 - e 5 21.h4 e7 22.e3 with a complex position. ] 18...c4 [ 18...d8!? the computer prefers using the queen on the other side, where it can better control the dark squares and White needs to t a k e s o m e c a r e s i n c e 19.f4 fails to ( 19.f3 e5 20.c3 f6 is also interesting for Black) 19...e7 20.f3 g5! 21.h5 g4!-+ winning a piece. ] 19.f3 e5 20.f6 xh3+ 21.xh3 b6 22.f4 c3!? Activating all the pieces [ 22...b4 was another possible break, and after 23.axb4 xa1 24.xa1 xb4 25.b1 c5 with the idea of playing 26...f5 in case of 26.Kg2. ] 23.bxc3 a4 24.d4 It's necessary to give the pawn back, but it's hard to evaluate if it was better to have the pawns on b2 and c4 or a3 and b5 xd4 25.cxd4 xd4 26.b1 c4 27.b2 c5 28.g2 c4 29.b3 xa3 Finally recovering the pawn, but now White has time to organize his pieces. 30.f3 f8 31.h4 c4 32.h5 And the counterplay is enough to hold the balance. d4 33.d3 xd5? This is a blunder, probably caused by time trouble. [ 33...xf4 was necessary and the position is ok for both players after 34.xf4 c8 35.hxg6 hxg6 36.d4= ] 34.xc4? Returning the favour. [ 34.hxg6! hxg6 35.xg6 and Black's king is now too open to resist, for example, e6 36.d3 e5 37.h4 h8 38.g5+ g7 797
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 39.xb5 e5 40.f5 and Black is just lost. ] 34...bxc4 35.h6 e6 36.d4 e5 37.xc4 g5 38.d4 xh6 39.xd6 Now it's just drawn. g5 40.f4 xf4 ½-½
20.g2 f8 21.f5 d8 22.xd6?! [ Strong enough, although the elementary 22.h8+ g8 23.xg8+! xg8 24.h3 force mate. ] 22...e7 23.h8+ g8 24.h3 1-0
805
806
Markowski,Tomasz Gajewski,Grzegorz 58th ch Warsaw POL (12) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2595 2344 30.03.2001
1.g3 e5 2.c4 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 b4+ 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 d6 7.c3 e7 8.e3 [ 8.e4!? d5! 9.cxd5 exd4! was examined in previously. ] 8...0-0 9.ge2 e4!? [ Unusual, and provocative, 9...bd7 and ] [ 9...e8 were evaluated in previous games. ] 10.d5! [ White 'isolates' the e4-pawn. Previously, 10.0-0 e8 11.h3 h5! (else White plays g4) 12.f3 exf3 13.xf3 h7! yielded nothing in Franco Ocampos,Z-Conquest,S/Saint Vincent ITA 2000. ] 10...c5 11.h3 h5 Again, Black has to stop White from playing g4, and Ng3, winning the e4-pawn. 12.0-0-0 [ 12.g4!? hxg4 13.hxg4 xg4 14.g3 is also possible, but White prefers to bring his king to safety first. ] 12...a6 13.c2 e8 14.g4! Thematic, and s t r o n g. W h it e u n d e r m in e s t h e e -p a wn ' s defence, and opens files on the kingside. hxg4 15.g3! [ 15.hxg4 xg4 16.h2 and 17 Rdh1 also has its points. ] 15...gxh3 16.xh3 xh3 17.xh3 g6 18.dh1 The attack down the h-file is already decisive. bd7 19.f4! [ This move, freeing the second rank, is e v e n s t r o n g e r t h a n 19.gxe4 xe4 20.xe4 xe4 21.xe4 xe4 22.h8+ which picks-up an exchange. ] 19...g7 [ 19...exf3 loses to the pretty variation: 20.f5! gxf5 21.g3+ g4 22.xg4+! fxg4 23.h7+ and mate next move. ]
Markowski,Tomasz Krasenkow,Michal TCh-POL Lublin POL (2) [Nigel Davies]
A20 2632 2651 13.09.2009
Markowski's 3.Bg2 is probably designed to avoid the line 3.d4 exd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Bg2 Na 6 . B u t h e lo se s so m e o p tio n s a gain s t Krasenkow's choice because his bishop is already committed to g2. Black equalises with some ease but finds himself outplayed in the middle and endgame. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.d4 e4 6.c3 c6 7.h3 b4 [ Black can also play 7...e7 , for example 8.a3 (this looks passive) h6 ( Presumably delaying 8...f6 because of 9.g5 but then b6 seems quite playable) 9.f4 f6 10.b4 ( 10.b3 can be answered by a5 ) 10...g5 11.h3 f5 gave Black a good ga m e in Ja n o sch ka , A (2 3 0 4 )-S o rm , D (2371), Bad Homburg 2008. ] 8.0-0 ge7 9.f4 0-0 10.b3 xc3 11.xc3 [ 11.bxc3 a5 would immediately exploit the weakness of the c4 square. ] 11...d6 [ Varying from a previous Markowski game, Markowski, T (2549)-Jenni, F (2483), Bled 200 2. In t hat o ne Black p la ye d 11...g6 a f t e r wh i c h 12.xg6 hxg6 13.b3 f5 14.a3 was a bit better for White. ] 12.f3 f5 Keeping White's g2 bishop out of the game by supporting the granite barrier on e4. 13.fxe4 fxe4 14.d2 f5 15.e3 Passive. [ White should have given 15.b4 a try, ] [ or maybe even 15.c5 . ] 15...g5 16.h3 h6 Black has obtained an easy game from the opening, so his early play can be considered and unqualified success. Of course after the opening the gods placed t h e m i d d le a n d e n d ga m e . 17.f2 h5 798
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.b3 h7 19.ac1 d7 20.b4 h4 21.g4 e6 22.h3 g7 [ 22...xb4 would have been at least equal for Black and was probably better than the move played. Could it be that Black wanted to keep pieces on because he thought it was the best way to aim for the full point? ] 23.a3 f7 24.c3 g8 25.c5 af8 26.d6 [ 26.xe4 is tempting, but Black can meet it with b6 ( And not 26...dxe4? 27.xg5+ ) 27.b5 a6 28.xa6 dxe4 when White will struggle to find adequate compensation. ] 26...xd6 27.xd6 d8 28.a3 c8 29.d1 d6 30.b3 b5 31.c5 c8 32.xf7 xf7 33.f1 c7 34.c3 e8 35.a3 b8 36.f2 a6 37.e1 g6 38.d2 c7? This should lose a pawn. [ 38...f6 was better. ] 39.e2? [ Just before the time control White misses a n im m e d i a t e wi n vi a 39.xd5! xd5 40.xc7 xc7 41.d6 , winning back the piece and keeping the extra pawn. ] 39...d7 40.f1 c6 41.a4 ef6 42.e7 g8 43.b4 gf6 44.a3 c8 45.b2 c6? After White's strong reply Black feels obliged to present his opponent with a quee nside p awn majority a f te r wh ich his chances of holding the game diminish sharply. [ 45...e8 w a s b e t t e r w h e n 46.c1 ( 46.c5?! is simply met by xc5 47.dxc5 xc5 ) 46...xc1 47.xc1 is better for White but by no means as good in the game. ] 46.c5! xc5 47.dxc5 d7 48.b4 e6 49.d4 e8 50.f8 e7 51.c3 f7 52.xf7 xf7 53.e5 e6 54.d4 a4 55.h2 f6 56.c7 d7 57.d8 e5 58.xg5 b5 59.xb5 f3+ 60.c3 axb5 61.d8 f7 [ A l s o a f t e r 61...d7 White's queenside pawns will march sooner or later, for example after 62.f6 e6 63.g5 h2 64.a4 . ] 62.g5 e5 63.f6 c6 64.b3 e6 65.c3 f5 66.a4 The beginning of the end. bxa4+ 67.xa4 d4 68.exd4 e7 69.b5 d5 70.e1 xg5 71.b6 f4 72.b5 e3 73.c4 1-0
807 Markowski,Tomasz Krasenkow,Michal chT Zakopane chT (9) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2568 2702 11.09.2000
1.g3 e5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 exd4 4.xd4 d5 5.g2 e6 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.f3 c6 8.a4 c5 9.0-0 f6 10.e5!? An innovation, att ackin g c6 . c8 11.c3 0-0 12.d3 Revealing the real idea, the knight drops back to d3, when it can be used to attack the d5pawn from f4. d4! [ Black has to be prepared to capture the c3knight, 12...b6? allows 13.g5 e8 14.f4 with unbearable pressure on d5. ] 13.g5 xc3 14.bxc3 h6 15.e3 The bishop will be able to defend the c3-pawn from d4. g4 16.f4 [ 16.fe1 would avoid the coming combination, but after e8 17.f4 e4 Black enjoys reasonable chances. ] 16...g5! 17.xd5 xd5 18.xg4 [ 18.xd5?! xe2 19.xc6 xc6 20.fe1 f3 is much too risky- the white king is liable to mated on g2 later. ] 18...xe3 19.fxe3 e7 White's extra pawn is useless. 20.d5 xe3+ 21.h1 e5 22.f5 xc3 23.e4 g6 24.d5 White decides to force a draw by threatening f7 and h7, alternatively. e5 [ 24...e7!? 25.xf7+ g7 26.e6 c6!? 27.xe7 c7 is possible, but can hardly offer any winning chances. ] 25.e4 g6 26.d5 ½-½
808 Markowski,Tomasz Krasenkow,Michal Rubinstein Mem (6) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2568 2702 23.08.2000
1.g3 e5 2.c4 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 exd4 [ The most aggressive move, whereby Black accepts an IQP in exchange for active piece play. 4...b4+ is a more solid choice. ] 5.xd4 d5 6.f3 e6!? [ Black wants to force White to capture on d5, which allows Black to bring his f8-bishop to 799
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a m o re a c t ive squ a re . T h e m o re u su a l 6...e7 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.0-0 c6 9.a4 0-0 10.e3 g4 11.d4 allows White a firm control of d4. ] [ 6...dxc4!? is an interesting alternative, if Black wishes to avoid the IQP. ] 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.0-0 c6 9.a4 c5 The point of Black's move-order, the bishop points at f2. 10.bd2 [ A solid idea, White will bring a piece to d4, but 10.g5 may be a better method exploiting the absence of the bishop from e7, 0-0 11.c3 h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.fd1 ( I prefer 13.e1! planning Nd3-f4) 13...b6 14.b5 fd8 seems fairly level, Romanishin, O-Agdestein,S/Taxco 1985. ] 10...0-0 11.b3 b6 12.bd4 d7! [ A new move, menacing to win a piece by capturing on d4, and putting pressure on W h it e . P r e vio u sly B la ck h a d p re f e rre d 12...c8 which also defends c6, 13.e3 d7 14.d1!? e8 15.xc6 bxc6 16.d4 c5! 17.xf6 xf6 18.xd5 b5 with advantage to Black, Karlsson,LBackelin,R/ Gausdal 1990. ] 13.xe6?! [ The problem with this capture is that it strengthens the black centre, and opens the f - f i l e , b u t t h e a l t e r n a t i v e 13.xc6 is little better: bxc6! 14.e5 e8 15.xc6 f5 16.f4 d4 and Black regains his pawn, with advantage. ] 13...fxe6 14.d1?! The rook should stay on f1, to defend f2. e5 15.e3 Blocking the g1-a7 diagonal to the b6-bishop, but weakening f3. f5 [ Lining-up the pieces on the f-file, but 15...e4 16.d4 g4 is also strong. ] 16.f1 ad8 All Black's pieces are aggressively placed. 17.d2 e4 18.ad1 h5 19.h4 [ Forced, if 19.e1? then e2 attacks d2, and f2, and wins. ] 19...g5! Obliging White to part with his lightsquared bishop. 20.xe4 dxe4 21.g2 d6 Threatening both ...Rfd8, winning the d2b i s h o p , a n d . . . R h 6 . 22.c3 h6 This is simply winning. 23.h4 gxh4 24.c4+ [ 24.xh4 g4 25.g2 h3 26.h4 xh4 27.gxh4 h8 with mate to follow. ] 24...h8 25.xh4 g4 26.d5
[ White gives-up his knight, but there is little choice, 26.g2 h3 27.h4 xh4 28.gxh4 g4+ 29.h2 f3 leads to a quick mate. ] 26...xh4 27.xe5+ xe5 28.xe5+ g8 29.d5 xe3 0-1
809 Markowski,Tomasz Savchenko,Stanislav Masters KO, (3.2) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2530 2570 2000
1.g3 e5 2.c4 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 b4+ 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 d6 7.c3 e7 This tricky move again, and in this game the exact point of Black's move-order is revealed. 8.e4!? [ This natural move may be inappropriate here, 8.e3 0-0 9.ge2 has been analysed previously. ] 8...d5!? Black exploits the opposition of his queen against the opponent's king. 9.cxd5 [ 9.dxe5 xe4 10.xe4 dxe4 11.0-0-0 d7 12.xe4 xe5 is level. ] 9...exd4! [ Now, 9...cxd5?! 10.dxe5 xe4 loses a pawn to 11.xd5! xd2 12.xe7 xe7 13.xd2 ] 10.xd4 cxd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.xd5 0-0 What compensation does Black have for the pawn? W ell, the white king is still two moves from castling, and Black will gain time kicking the exposed white queen around. 13.e2 e6 [ Another possibility is 13...d8 , but after 14.b5 a6 15.b6 c6 16.0-0 d2 17.c3 menacing Nd5, White's problems are behind him, Kelly,B-Ryan,J/IRL 1995, 1-0 (25). ] 14.d2 [ Perhaps 14.b5 is a better choice here, too. ] 14...d8 15.e3 b4+ 16.c3 c6 17.f4 [ A new try, but one that fails. The natural 17.0-0 allowed d2 18.xb4 xb4 19.c3 xb2 20.ab1 xb1 21.xb1 xa2 22.xa2 xa2 23.xb7 a5 when the passed a-pawn granted Black the advantage, 800
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Davies,N-Khenkin,I/Tel Aviv 1992, 0-1 (36) ] 17...c4! Confining the king to the centre. 18.f1? Overlooking a tactic that regains the pawn. xa2! 19.e2?! [ If 19.xa2 xe4+ wins. ] 19...xe4 20.f3 White seeks to justify his eighteenth move, but the tactics favour Black, which is only to be expected considering his better mobilisation. f5 21.d3 [ Once again, 21.xa2? loses, but this time to b1+ ] 21...e5+ 22.xe5 xe5 23.e4 c4 Black has emerged from the complications with a pawn more, and the better position. 24.f2 [ White cannot capture the pawn: 24.xb7? ab8 25.xa7?! d7 26.a5 dxb7 27.xe5 xb2 and White can resign, it is almost impossible to stop ...Ra8-a1. ] 24...d2+ 25.e3 ad8 26.xa7 g5 27.xb7 The f4-knight cannot move without allowing ...Re2 mate. gxf4+ 28.xf4 d3+ 0-1
810 Markowski,Tomasz Wells,Peter K 2nd IECC Ohrid (11) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2590 2520 2001
1.g3 e5 2.c4 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 b4+ A popular line for Black, when he wants a solid position with good drawing possibilities. How will White react? 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 d6 7.c3 0-0 8.dxe5!? [ To beginners it might seem odd that White captures on e5 now, after Black has castled, rather than the move before when he could have displaced the black king to d8 with check. The reason is simple, in such an endgame the black king would be wellplaced on c7 (particularly as White has no dark-squared bishop), much more active than o n g8, as n ow. P revio usly we ha d co n s id e re d 8.e3 let us see if the endgame offers White more. ] 8...dxe5 9.xd8 xd8 10.f3 e8 [ 10...bd7 is worse, 11.0-0-0 threatens the e - p a w n a g a i n a n d f o r c e s e8 anyway, when the c8-bishop is temporarily
blocked-in. ] 11.0-0 So what advantage does White enjoy in this endgame? Firstly, not much, the black position is solid, but d6 is weak, and W hite will be able to claim the d-file. f5 [ A new move. In the original game in this line, Akopian,V-Gelfand,B/Cap d`Agde 1996 (a r a p i d g a m e ) B l a c k p r e f e r r e d 11...a6 12.fd1 f5 13.h3 h6 14.g4 h7 15.e1 c5 16.b4 with a tiny plus for White. ] 12.d2! [ 12.fd1 a6 would transpose to the above game. ] 12...a6 13.b3 So the point of White's play is revealed, he will bring this knight to a5 to pressurise the black queenside. ac8!? [ Possibly Black should have preferred 13...ad8 14.a5 c8!? as now White gains complete control of the d-file. ] 14.fd1 f8 15.a5 c7 16.d2 White prepares to double rooks on the only o p e n f ile , a n d B la ck ca n n o t o p p o s e t h is without losing his b7-pawn. e4! Black shuts the h1-a8 diagonal to free his queenside. 17.ad1!? [ 17.e3 b6 18.b3 d7 allows Black to contest the d-file. ] 17...b6 18.b3 e6 It seems that Black's plan to attack c4 will regain the equilibrium, but White profits from the tactical possibilities of his position. 19.d4!? c5 [ 19...e3!? first, is interesting. ] 20.d6 xc4?! [ This allows the b3-knight back into play with gain of time. As the c4-pawn is not going to run away, 20...e3! is good, when not 21.c6? because of xc6! 22.xc6 exf2+ 23.xf2 g4+ 24.g1 e3 and Black will capture the c4-pawn, and then the c6-rook, which is trapped. ] 21.d2 e6 22.dxe4 xe4 23.xe4 xa2!? Black was clearly depending on this shot, winning the a2-pawn. 24.c6 e6? [ Black should have tried 24...ec8! 25.d7 d8 26.xa2 e7 27.b5 xd6 28.xd6 xd6 29.xa6 c4 with really good chances as the a6-bishop is marooned, and Black has a useful queenside majority. ] 25.d8+ e7 26.b5 b4 Everything is defended, but W hite has seen further: 27.xa2 xa2 28.c4 Forking a2 and e6, 801
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and winning the exchange. b4 29.xe6 xe6 30.e8+ f5 31.d6 f6 32.ed8 e7 33.d2 Care is required, as Black's 3 to 1 majority on the queenside can soon become decisive. e6 34.2d6+ A little re p e t it i o n t o ga in t im e o n t h e c lo ck (t h e tournament featured the new fast FIDE timec o n t ro l) . f5 35.f1 e4? Black starts going to pieces. 36.8d7 c2 37.d2 c4 38.xa7 g5 39.b7 d4 40.xb6 c1+ 41.g2 g4 42.h3 h5 43.hxg4+ hxg4 44.b4 1-0
811
A20 Matamoros Franco,Carlos S 2513 Belkhodja,Slim 2478 36th Olympiad (11) 26.10.2004 [John Watson]
12...a5 13.a4 xa4 14.xa4 a6 [ 14...d7 looks like a fine alternative and easier to play. ] 15.0-0 [ Ivanchuk,V-Sutovsky,E/Moscow 2001 was annotated by Tony. There followed 15.d4 ad8 16.0-0 c8 17.fc1 with approximate equality. ] 15...ad8 16.fe1 b6!? [ 16...c5!? 17.ed1 b6 is suggested by HiArcs 9. ] 17.ac3 d5 18.a4 b6 19.ac3 d5 The whole system with 4...Bb4+ is looking like an equaliser. White needs new ideas. ½-½
812
A20 Matamoros Franco,Carlos S 2462 Volzhin,Alexander 2569 A c rit ic al lin e of t he 2 .g3 Ke re s line h a s 5th Wichern op (8) 21.10.1999 received some tests. Can Black equalise? [Tony Kosten] 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 [ 2...c6 3.d4 b4+ 4.d2 xd2+ 5.xd2 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 d6 6.g2 usually transposes by f6 ] 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 b4+ 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 [ To keep control of d4, if 6...e7 then d6 We have seen this system more than once 7.d4!? e4 8.e5 is interesting. ] in Tony's surveys. It is not easy to make 7.d3 e7 8.bd2 progress against. 7.c3 [ An attempt to avoid the heavily analysed [ 7.e3 e6 8.b3 (I'm not sure that Tony's lines after 8.c3 ] p r e f e r e n c e f o r 7 . e 3 o ve r 7 . N c 3 r e a l l y 8...0-0 9.a3 a5 Probably the most accurate improves W hite's lot here) ( 8.c3 exd4 move, keeping a lid on W hite's queenside and ...d5 doesn't inspire) 8...exd4 9.exd4!? expansion. 10.b3 e6 11.b2 f6 12.c2 ( 9.xd4 ) 9...d5 10.c5 0-0 11.c3 d7 13.e3! Chernin's move, planning the was a new but unimpressive plan in Rotstein, positionally advantageous d4-thrust. fd8 A-Rabiega,R Graz 2004. At this point the [ T h e m o s t n a t u r a l m o v e , 13...f5!? simplest answer was b6! in view of 12.b4? c a n b e m e t b y 14.e4 fd8 15.fd1 a5 13.a4 bd7 with a clear advantage. with an edge. ] White's play was too slow. ] 14.d4 exd4 15.xd4 xd4!? 7...0-0 8.e3 e6 9.b3 [ I have suggested that this might be Black's [ 9.d5 was again proven harmless after cxd5 b e s t m o v e . 15...d5?! was played in 10.cxd5 d7 11.b4!? a6 12.b1 c8 Chernin,A-Smejkal,J/Altensteig 1991, and 13.ge2 c4! in Granda Zuniga,J-Rohl,J after 16.xd5+ xd5 17.xc6 xc6 Calvia 2004. ] 18.xc6 bxc6 19.fd1 White enjoyed the 9...exd4 10.xd4 d5 11.cxd5 xd5 superior structure. ] Tony has also indicated that 16.xd4 c5!? 17.xc5 White has little [ 11...cxd5!? and ] choice, as otherwise Black will continue with ... [ 11...xd5!? are reasonable moves. ] a4, with a strong queenside set-up. ac8! 12.ge2 [ Chernin also gave 17...dc8?! 18.b4 a4 [ A string of equal positions have resulted but then 19.e4 b6 20.fd1 b5 is hit by from 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5 cxd5 ] 21.d6! and Black is in trouble. ] 802
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.b4 axb4!? [ 3...exd4 4.xd4 d5 is the most popular. [ C h e r n i n m e n t i o n s t h e l i n e 18...a4?! Refer to the "Keres" guide in the archives. ] 19.e4 b6? when White wins by 20.ad1 4.c3 By far the most common response. e8?! 21.xe7! ] [ However, 4.d5!? deserves attention, 19.axb4 d5! 20.d3 preven ting B la ck f ro m co nstructing h is [ The safest response. If White wants to desired pawn chain with ... d7-d5. Carlsen, hang-on to the pawn he can try 20.xd5!? M (2733)-Anand, V (2799) Nice 2008/ xd5 21.e4 but it is quite risky, ] [Hansen, Carsten]. ] [ 20.b2?! is nothing, xc5 21.bxc5 xe3! [ 4.b3!? was tried in Damljanovic, B (2551)22.fxe3 xd2 23.xd2 xd2 Vasilevich, T (2420) Kavala 2009/[John with equality. ] Bartholomew], presumably to avoid ...Bf820...xb4 b4. ] [ One of several reasonable choices, 20...b6 4...d5 5.g2 '!'' according to Marin. This is seems fairly equal after 21.xe7 xe7 something of a parting of the ways: 22.f3 xb4 23.e4 with the intention of [ A critical (and bloody!) line runs 5.cxd5 playing Nd4, ] cxd5 6.b3 c6 ( ! ) - M a r i n ( 6...e7 [ 20...xc5 21.bxc5 xc5 is also level. ] is probably playable too, as in Kortschnoj, 21.xd7 xd7 22.xb4?! V (2610)-Bacrot, E (2545) Albert 1997/ [ An odd decision, 22.xe7 xe7 23.fb1 [Nigel Davies].) 7.xd5 xd5 8.xd5 is better, although Black should be able to xd4 9.c7+ d8 10.xa8 c2+ maintain equality on d5 24.a7 cc7 ] 11.d1 xa1 . Black appears to be doing 22...xb4 fine here see Gelfand, B (2737)-Karjakin, S ½-½ (2732) Odessa 2008/[Nigel Davies]. ] [ 5.h3 angles for Nh3-f4 and there also makes sense. Narciso Dublan, M (2487)813 A20 San Segundo Carrillo, P (2516) Sanxenxo 2004/[John Watson]. ] Movsesian,Sergei 2688 [ W hite tried the totally unexplored 5.f3!? Grandelius,Nils 2572 in Davies, N (2493)-Cherniaev, A (2428) Tata Steel Chess 2013 (12.11) 26.01.2013 London 2009. ] [John Bartholomew] 5...b4!? Grandelius had already used this An early space-gaining line against Marin's move in December to draw rather effortlessly favored English move order (2.g3) leads to with Normunds Miezis. 6.b3 [ M a r i n ' s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n i s 6.d2 fine positional play for Black. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 , b u t t h i s h a s n 't ca u gh t o n m u c h . O n e c6 In "Grandmaster Repertoire 3 - The English r e c e n t e x a m p l e : xc3 (White was Opening vol. 1" Mihail Marin refers to this as threatening Nc3xe4) 7.xc3 ( Marin advises the "Accelerated Keres". Black wastes no time 7.bxc3 , but after, say, f6 8.cxd5 cxd5 in preparing his central play. 9.h3 0-0 10.0-0 h6 11.f4 g5! [ Transpositional possibilities to the Keres Black's position looks entirely reasonable) " p r o p e r " w i t h 2...f6 3.g2 c6 7...e7 8.f3 f5 ( 8...f5!? looks more are plentiful. ] promising ) 9.cxd5 ( 9.fxe4! xe4 10.xe4 3.d4 e4 Staking a claim to as much space as dxe4 11.c2 f5 12.h3 ) 9...cxd5 possible. 10.fxe4 xe4 11.f3 0-0 12.0-0= [ There are some unanswered questions in Barbier, S (2088)-Dusthageer, I (2212) the line, for instance 3...b4+ 4.d2 xd2+ Chennai 2011. ] 5.xd2 d6 6.c3 f6 7.g2 0-0 8.e3 [ 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.h3 c6 8.0-0 ge7 e6 9.d1 a6 10.b3 exd4 11.xd4 9.f3 exf3 10.exf3 0-0 was equal in Miezis, b4!? and White hasn't been able to prove N (2596)-Grandelius, N (2583) Al Ain 2012. ] anything more than a draw. See Kosten, A (2498)-Jones, G (2593) Bunratty 2011/[Nigel 6...a5 [ Since Black ends up exchanging his darkDavies]. ] 803
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 squared bishop anyways, it deserves attention to develop with 6...a6!? , i.e. 7.cxd5 xd5 8.xd5 cxd5 9.h3 e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.f4 c7 12.d2 d6! 13.f3 f5 and Black was fine in Zenzera, A (2170)-Bezgodov, A (2494) Kazan 2010. ] 7.h3 h6 A useful move in many lines. 8.0-0 f6 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.f4 xc3! 11.bxc3 0-0 [ It's also possible to play actively with 11...g5!? , though 12.h3 0-0 13.f3 exf3 14.exf3 c6 15.f2 definitely looks more favorable for White when compared to the game. Black risks overextension in the entire line with 3...e4, so he ought to exercise some discretion. ] 12.f3 c6! 13.fxe4 dxe4 14.e3 b6 15.a3 [ Perhaps W hite should consider 15.b5!? , i.e. a5 16.h5 xh5 17.xh5 . ] 15...a5 16.b5 e8 17.b4?! d7 18.a6 c8 19.b5 a6! 20.e2 g4 21.e1 c4 Cementing the knight on a beautiful square. 22.a4 a5 23.a3 g5! 24.h3 f3!? [ Or simply 24...d5 . White's bishop pair has been totally neutralized. ] 25.f2 xg2 [ It looks better to play 25...d5 ] [ or 25...g4!? . ] 26.xg2 d7 27.c1 d5 28.d1 ac8 Black is clearly on top. Unfortunately he plays somewhat hesitantly from here on out, and Movsesian escapes with a half point. 29.a2 d6 30.a3 c4 31.c1 g7 32.e2 f6 33.g1 c7 34.h5 f7 35.e2 e6 36.h5 ec8 37.h4!? d6 38.h2 f7 39.g4 d7 [ 39...f5! suggests itself, e.g. 40.e2 gxh4 41.gxh4 h7 and White is still very much in trouble with his numerous weaknesses and poor minor pieces. ] 40.h5 e8 41.g4 d7 [ 41...f5! ] 42.h5 e6 43.a3 c4 44.c1 c6 45.hf2 e8 46.g4 8c7 47.h2 e6 48.h5 d6 49.hf2 h3 50.h2 e6 51.hf2 f7 52.d2 d6 Draw agreed. 2... c6 3.d4 e4 isn't the most popular line, but it's eminently playable and forces White to solve some unique problems. Grandelius's concept
with 5... Bb4!? is highly attractive. ½-½
814 Narciso Dublan,Marc San Segundo Carrillo,Pablo XLVIII TCh-ESP (8) [John Watson]
A20 2487 2516 25.11.2004
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 e4 This move seems viable. W hite should attack Black's center q u i c k l y, b u t i t ' s n o t e a s y . 4.c3 d5 A critical position 5.h3!? A logical try but it has drawbacks. [ In his book, Tony suggests simply 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.b3 ( 6.h3!? c6 7.f4 f6; 6.f3!? ) 6...c6 7.xd5 xd5 8.xd5 xd4 9.c7+ d8 10.xa8 c2+ 11.d1 xa1 12.f4 , but f6 13.c7 ( 13.c1 d5 14.b1 xf4 15.gxf4 b6 16.xa1 b7 ) 13...e3! (preparing ...Bf5 or . . . N e 4 b u t a l s o c r a m p i n g W h i t e ) 14.f3 ( 14.f3 e4 15.c1 exf2 16.b1 b3 17.axb3 g5! ) 14...h5 ( or 14...f5! ) 15.d5 e6 and White is in trouble. White can also try the rather passive-looking ] [ 5.g2 , when an interesting move is h6!? , for example, ( 5...a6!? ) 6.cxd5 ( 6.b3 f6 7.h3? dxc4 8.xc4 b5 ) 6...cxd5 7.b3 f6 8.f4 ( 8.h3 c6 ) 8...e7 ] [ Finally, 5.b3 m i gh t b e m e t b y dxc4 6.xc4 b5!? ( or 6...f6 7.g5?! b5 8.b3 xd4 ) 7.b3 e6 ( 7...xd4 gives W hite attacking chances but it's not clear how effective they are.) 8.d1 f6 9.g2 b4 10.g5 d5 ( 10...xc3+ 11.bxc3 d5 ) 11.f3 exf3 12.xf3 xc3+ 13.bxc3 h6 14.f4 0-0 15.0-0 e8 with double-edged play. ] 5...e7 [ A problem with 5.Nh3 is 5...dxc4!? , when 6.xe4 b4+ 7.c3 f6 isn't pleasant. S o m e t h i n g l i k e 8.e3 ( 8.g5? xh3 9.xh3 d5! ) 8...0-0 ( 8...e4 ) 9.f4 d5 doesn't look promising. ] 6.g2 [ Also not attractive is 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.f4 ( 7.b3 c6! 8.xd5 e6 9.hf4 b4+ 10.d1 xd4! ) 7...f6 8.b3 c6 ] 6...f6 804
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 6...dxc4!? ] 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.g5 g8!? 9.e3!? [ The critical line must be 9.xe7 xe7 10.f4 . This may yield some advantage, e. g., b6!? 11.b3 b7 12.cxd5! xd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.xe4 c7 15.f3 d7 16.xa8 xa8 17.xa8+ xa8 18.e4 and W h ite's big centre will make Black suffer. ] 9...c6 10.0-0 f6 11.f3 exf3 12.exf3 0-0 13.f4 e8 14.f2 h5!? A strange move, preparing ...Bf5 without getting hit by g4.. Simply [ 14...a6 15.e1 d6 ( or 15...b5 also keeps the balance. )] 15.e1 f5 16.a3 c8 17.f1 a6 [ 17...d7 ] 18.c1 b5?! 19.b4! Now Nd3 aiming at c5 is a p r o b l e m . d7 20.b3 ed8 21.d3 xd3 22.xd3 g6 23.b1 [ 23.xb5!? axb5 24.xb5 hits c6 and e7, so f8 25.c3 xb4! 26.xd7 xc3 27.xc3 xd7 28.b1 ( 28.axb4 xb4 29.cc1 xe1= ) 28...a6 29.b5 with an unclear situation. ] 23...f8 24.d1 g7 25.d3 [ 25.a2 e8 ] 25...e8!? [ 25...e8 ] 26.a2 c7 27.e2 e7 28.ec2 h7 29.e2 e6 30.xc8 xc8 31.c3 c7 32.xc7 xc7 33.f4 g8 Simplification h a s r e s u l t e d i n a n e ve n g a m e , wi t h t h e bishops of opposite colours endgame lurking in the background. 34.b3 c6 [ 34...h4 ] 35.g2 c1 36.e3 a1 37.c2? [ 37.b1 xb1 38.xb1 is equal. ] 37...f5 38.f2 e6? [ T h e o b v i o u s 38...xd4 is strong due to 39.xd5 xd5 40.xd5 xf2 41.xf2 ( 41.xf2 d4+ ) 41...e5 42.f4 ( 42.c5 xd5 ) 42...e3+ 43.h1 a1+ 44.g1 xa3 ] 39.xd5?? time pressure. [ 39.xd5 was correct. ] 39...xf4+? [ 39...h4+! wi n s o n t h e s p o t : 40.gxh4 ( 40.h3 f1+ 41.xh4 f6# ) 40...xf4+ ] 40.gxf4 xd4 41.c7? h6??
[ 41...h4+! wins: 42.g3 ( 42.xh4 g1+ 43.h3 f1+ 44.g3 f2# ) 42...xf2+ 43.xf2 d4+ ] 42.d6 h7 43.xf7 xf7 44.d5 [ 44.xd4= ] 44...g7 45.xf7 f6 46.b7 h6 47.g3 h4+ 48.g4 f5+ 49.xh4 xf4+ 50.h3 e5 51.g3 f5+ Quite a struggle, marred by the end. But 3... e4 is very alive. ½-½
815 Paunovic,Dragan Topalov,Veselin XXIII Rapid Open rapid (8) [Jonathan Rowson]
A20 2539 2777 03.08.2008
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 The move that Nb6 is designed to avoid, but is it really a problem? e4 [ 7...exd4?! 8.xd4 xd4 9.xd4 f6 10.a4+ c6 11.d1 d7 12.c3 0-0 13.e4 was somewhat better for White in Reinderman, D-Hou Yifan W ijk aan Zee NED 2009 ] 8.e5 f5 9.xc6 bxc6 A curious position. The c-pawns are obviously an issue, but they are not the only issue. Black has a strong central knight, a space advantage and the chance to quickly open the position with ...c5, while white's bishop on g2 is a bit snuffed out, and it's not easy to f ind a role f or the c1 bishop. 10.d2 [ 10.a4 d7 intending ...c5 tends to be at least ok for Black. ] [ 10.f3 exf3 11.xf3 0-0 12.c3 e6 also looks fine for Black. ] [ 10.c2!? looks like the critical test. A) 10...d6 11.c3 e6 ( 11...0-0 12.xd5 xd5 13.e3 looks better for White. ) 12.xd5 xd5 13.f4 d7 14.f3 exf3 15.xf3 0-0 Black seems to be holding on, but somehow it feels like White should be better here.; B) 10...c5 11.dxc5 e6 12.d1 b8 gives White too many tactical ideas, not least taking on e4.; C) 10...d7 is probably best. The bishop on c8 can emerge on a6. 11.c3 0-0 805
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.xd5?! ( 12.f3 exf3 13.xf3 f6 14.d1 feels a little bit promising for White. ) 12...cxd5 13.f4 c6 14.fc1 b7 At first blush W hite may look better, but Black will play Rf c8, a5 and Ba6, and sooner or later c5, so in fact if anybody is better here it is Black.; D) 10...b4 11.a4 d7 ( 11...d7 looks best. 12.c3 c5! 13.xd7+ xd7 14.dxc5 xc5 And now there are lots of lines, but I imagine White has reasonable chances of creating a small edge here.) 12.a3 c5 13.d1 c6 ( 13...d5 lo o ks t oo sp e cula tive . 14.dxc5 e6 15.c2 0-0 16.d1 ) 14.dxc5 xc5 15.f4 g5 16.d2 e7 17.c3 d4 18.c1 0-0 19.b5 b6 20.xg5! xg5 21.xd7 and White soon won in SandipanKrush, Gibraltar 2007. ] [ 10.c3 0-0 11.f3 exf3 12.exf3 ( 12.xf3 e6 looks fine for Black.) 12...f6 13.e1 b8 14.f4 b4 15.xd5 cxd5 16.e3 xb2 17.a4 Subtle preparation from Carlsen. Black has to be careful to retain e q u a l i t y d e s p i t e b e i n g a p a wn u p , b u t manages to do so. a6 18.ab1 xb1 19.xb1 d6 20.c1 d7 21.a5 b5 22.xc7 xc7 23.xc7 c4 24.c5 xa2 25.xd5+ xd5 26.xd5 a8 27.xf5 a5 28.c5 a4 29.c2 a3 30.a2 f7 31.f5 g6 32.fxg6+ hxg6 33.g2 e6 34.c1 e7 35.h4 d5 36.g4 c4 37.g5 xd4 1/2-1/2 Carlsen, M -Gelfand, B/ Moscow RUS 2007 ] 10...0-0 11.b3 a5! 12.d2 a4 13.a5 [ 13.c5 xc5 14.dxc5 f6 appears to favour Black. ] 13...d7 14.xa4 [ 14.c1! e8 15.e3!? a3 16.b3 keeps the position very tense. ] 14...e8 15.b3 [ 15.c2 might save time. ] 15...h8 16.c4 You might think White is ok here, but Black has the initiative on both sides of the board, so his compensation seems adequate. c5 17.e3 b6 18.dxc5 xc5 19.c2 d6 20.fe1? [ 20.fd1!? White has to become more creative and transform his extra pawn into something else. f7 21.b3 f4 22.xe4 fxe3 23.xe3 and White is at least not
worse. ] 20...f7 21.d1 xa2 22.xa2 xa2 23.c3 f7 Now Black is simply better- more sp a ce a n d b e t t e r p i e c e s . T o p a lo v lo s e s control slightly, but gets there in the end. 24.f4 xf4 25.gxf4 h6 26.e3 e6 27.b5 c4 28.d4 c5 29.c6 d7 30.c3 d3 31.a1 e6 32.e5 xe5 33.fxe5 c4 34.d4 e8 35.a5 h7 36.h3 e2 37.d5 e7 38.h2 h4 39.f4 f3 40.d2 a8 41.d7 a6 42.d6 a2 43.d8? xg2 44.xg2 c3! Ouch. An unusual overloading motif. 0-1
816
A20
Reader Q From Jose Blades N,Archana [John Watson] Reader Jose Blades writes: "I really have been feeling for a while that one of the best counter to the move order 1.c4 2.g3 is ... e5 ... c6" He presents the following variation: [jw: all the move analysis in the notes is mine] 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 e4 4.c3 d5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.b3 c6 7.xd5 xd5 8.xd5 xd4 9.c7+ d8 10.xa8 c2+ 11.d1 xa1 12.f4 And here GM Tony Kosten writes in his book (page 61): "Preparing to retrieve the a8 Knight". But I think this is just bad for White." He's probably right, so White should consider [ 12.b3! (Tony Kosten's new suggestion) b5!? 13.b2 xb3 14.axb3 b7 15.e3! b4 16.c4 , slightly favouring White's more active bishops, e.g., f6 17.h3 xa8 18.e2 e7 19.a1 c8 20.f4 with attack. ] [ On the other hand, Blades' challenge also applies to slow moves like 12.e3? e6 13.b3 xb3 14.axb3 xb3+ 15.c1 a3+ 16.b1 f6-+ ] 12...e6 13.b3 xb3 [ jw: Also not bad is 13...f6 14.c7 d7 15.h3 ( 15.e3 a3 16.b5 xb5 17.xb5 e7 ) 15...a3 ( 15...h5 16.e5 f6 17.xa1 xc7 ) 16.e5 c8 17.xa1 xc7 18.xf6 gxf6 19.f4 d6 an d Bla ck's b ish o p s a re ve ry st ron g in 806
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 conjunction with his rook. ] 14.axb3 xb3+ 15.c1 a3+ 16.b1 e7 [ jw: Curiously, a recent game saw 16...f6 17.c7 a6 18.e3 g4 19.h3 h6?! ( 19...g5! 20.xg5 xf2 21.g1 h6 22.h3 d3 ) 20.e2 g5? 21.xg4 gxf4 22.d5! fxe3 23.fxe3 e8 24.c3 e5 25.d1 c4 26.c2 f5 27.d1+ c7 28.f4 b5 29.ce2! a5 30.d4 a4 31.h3? ( 31.g6! c5 32.h4 ) 31...b4 Now it's about equal. 32.fe2 ( 32.xa4!? bxa4 33.c1 c5 34.fe6+ xe6 35.xe6+ d6 36.xc5 xc5 ) 32...b6 33.a1 c5 34.c1 c3+ 35.b1 a5 36.ce2 b4 ( 36...xd4 37.xd4 b4 ) 37.g4! fxg4 38.hxg4 c7? ( 38...xe2! 39.xe2 g5 ) 39.xe4 a3 40.xc3 1-0 Kovalyov-Monier, Buenos Aires 2005. xc3 41.xb5+ xb5 42.c1+ ] 17.c7 a6 Jose: "The Nc7 is trapped and Black's chances of winning are at least as much as Whites." This is an understatement. [ jw: 17...c4! HiArcs! But same verdict can be applied to 17...a6 ] 18.h4 d7 [ j w : B e t t e r i s 18...g6!-+ 19.g2 f5 ( 19...xf4 20.gxf4 e3 ) 20.a8 xf4 21.gxf4 c5-+ ] 19.g2 f5 [ 19...d6 20.xd6 xd6 21.b2 a4 22.xa6 bxa6 23.xe4 b5 -HiArcs. But this isn't finished yet - at least there are opposite-coloured Bishops. ] 20.h3 d6 21.xd6 xd6 22.g4 a4 23.gxf5 xc7 24.xe4 f8 25.g3 xf5 26.xf5 xf5 27.xg7+ b6 28.xh7 xf2 Blades seems to think that White is lost and that looks true: 29.g7 [ 29.b2 g2 ] 29...h2 30.g4 d7 31.d4 c6 Now Black has the ideas of ...Rg2 and advance on the queenside. In the meantime White's pieces and pawns are immobilised: 32.g4 c5 33.c2 b5 34.d3 a5 35.f3 xf3 36.exf3 a4 etc.
817 Rotstein,Arkadij Bacrot,Etienne N1 France [Tony Kosten]
A20 2553 2653 2002
The IQP endgame that follows is very instructive , an d sh ould be stu died b y all English Opening players, as the same schema can occur from many different variations. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 b4+ 4.d2 xd2+ 5.xd2 d6 6.c3 f6 7.g2 0-0 8.e3 e6 9.b3 exd4 10.xd4 d5 11.cxd5 xd5 12.xd5 [ The standard move, we considered the i n t e r e s t i n g 12.ge2!? in Ivanchuk,VSutovsky,E/ Moscow RUS 2001. ] 12...xd5 Black prefers to exchange his bishop, rather than recapture with the pawn when this piece would be passively placed. 13.xd5 a5+?! [ An unfortunate idea, Black wishes to force a weakness on c4 before exchanging quee ns, bu t t he endgame prove s t o b e u n p l e a s a n t f o r h i m . 13...cxd5 is more normal, 14.e2 ( 14.f3 c6 15.c3 e7 16.0-0 e4 draw, Sher,MPopovic,P/Bad Ragaz 1994) 14...c6 15.b2 e8 16.0-0 e5 17.d4 f6 White has a firm grip on d4, but Black has some activity on White's weakened kingside light squares. 18.e2 a6 19.ac1 ac8 and W hite failed to make anything of his tiny advantage, Psakhis,L-Avrukh,B/ ISR 2002. ] 14.b4 xd5 15.xd5 cxd5 16.f3 a5 17.b5 Black weakens the c5-square as well, but the advanced b5-pawn proves to be a match-winner. d7 18.e2! Of course, the king is well-placed in the centre. Alex Baburin points-out that this endgame would be level wi t h o u t r o o k s, b u t wit h r o o ks B l a c k h a s severe diff iculties. fc8 19.ac1 f8 20.d4 b6 21.g4! A move worth noting, White gains space on the kingside which may prove important later. g6 22.h4 e7 23.h5 a4 24.d2 c5 25.f3 Keeping the knight from e4. e6 26.xe6 xe6 27.d3 d6 28.hxg6 hxg6 29.d4 The d4-square is not just a useful post for a knight, but also provides a safe, yet advanced, spot for the 807
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 king. a4 30.a3 b6!? With the simple idea of pla yin g . . .Rc 5 , B la ck d id n 't wan t t o st a y passive and allow White to play g5, but the w e a k e n i n g o f c 6 i s i m p o r t a n t . 31.e4! A really difficult move to find if White is just concerned with exploiting his structural plus, as White goes from two pawn islands to three in his favour, to the other way around. However, after Black's previous move, concrete tactical factors are paramount here. dxe4 32.fxe4 e6 33.e5! The point White's plan becomes clear: Rf1-f6xb6. d8+ 34.e4 ac8? [ The critical position, and Black misses a g o o d o p p o r t u n i t y t o g o a c t i v e : 34...f5+! 35.exf6 xf6 36.c6+ g5 37.xb6 d2 The black king has found a safe square, and the black rooks should be able to force a perpetual check. ] 35.hf1 Now Black can't stop White penetrating on either f6 or c6. c5 36.xc5 bxc5 37.f6+ e7 38.b6 d4+ 39.e3 c4 So that Black can get behind the b-pawn by ...Rc3(+)-b3. 40.g5 c3+ 41.e4 xa3 42.d5 The king comes to ensure the further advance of the b-pawn, and can use the black c-pawn as cover against checks. b3 43.e6!? Simplest. [ 43.c6 c4 44.f4 must also win, although White has to be certain of his analysis: b4 45.b7 e6 46.c7 a3 47.f6+ d5 ( not 47...xe5? when 48.b6 xb6 49.xb6 a2 50.b8+ is check! ) 48.f3 a2 49.a3 c3 50.xa2 c4+ 51.d7 b4 52.a5+ e4 53.a4! and wins. ] 43...fxe6+ [ B l a c k s h o u l d a l s o l o s e a f t e r 43...xb6 44.xf7+ e8 45.a7 for instance: b1 ( 45...c4 46.xa4 c3 47.c4 ) 46.xa4 d1+ 47.e5 e1+ 48.f6 f1+ 49.xg6 e7 50.c4 and the g-pawn will win the game. ] 44.xe6+ f7 45.f6+ Driving the king far f ro m t he que enside . g7 46.c6 c4 The c-pawn is more of a hindrance than a help, stopping Black from checking the white king from behind. [ 46...a3 47.f4 b4 48.f3 a2 49.a3 wins easily, W hite will queen his b-pawn and easily win the a and c pawns. ] 47.b7 a3
[ 47...c3 48.c7 a3 changes nothing. ] 48.c7 a2 49.a6 c3 50.xa2 1-0
818 Savchenko,Boris Kravtsiv,Martyn Minsk Bronstein Memorial op-A (8) [Fier, Alexandr]
49.f2
A20 2556 2618 18.02.14
White tries 7.e3 which is not so ambitious, but also no worse than the other moves. After a series of small inaccuracies, White was able to improve all his pieces and increase the pressure. I think Black could play something other than 14...a5 or 17...Ba7. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.f3 e4 5.d4 d5 6.cxd5 xd5 7.e3 One of the many options in this position. White just wants to keep the knight in th e cen te r. Th e ligh t squ ares are no w weakened, but if W hite has time to play d3 there are good chances for an advantage. [ 7.c2 h5 8.h4!? was a new idea which I analyzed for Chess Publishing in December, see Ivanchuk, V (2731)-Vachier-Lagrave, M (2745)/SportAccord Rapid Men 2013 (5.6). ( 8.h3 g6 9.c3 d6 is the most played variation, Andriasian, Z (2624)-Petrosian, T (2636)/ARM-ch 72nd Yerevan 2012 (5). )] 7...c5 [ 7...c5 is a respectable alternative, forcing W hite to retreat the knight, 8.c3 e5 9.de2 c6 10.a4 d7 was seen in Anastasian, A (2606)-Stocek, J (2496)/ Ubeda op 5th 2000 (9). and it's dangerous to take the pawn 11.xe4 b4 12.xf6+ xf6 13.b3 a6 and White can have some problems to solve ] [ 7...a6 also makes sense and was tried by Timman 8.d3 b4+ 9.c3 xc3+ 10.bxc3 c5 11.dxe4 e5? Cekro, E (2410)Timman, J (2625)/Vlaardingen op act rapid 2005 (8). and after ( 11...cxe4 was more natural and prudent) 12.f4 White would be clearly better ] 8.d3 Protecting the knight on d4 by tactical means. e5 Black decides to keep the queens on. [ 8...xd4 enters an endgame which is hard 808
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to evaluate: White has a strong bishop pair but the king in the center can give Black some activity 9.exd4 xd4 10.dxe4 xd1+ 11.xd1 0-0 12.c3 and Black managed to block the position in Miroshnichenko, E (2624)-Roiz, M (2668)/Bundesliga 1112 2011 (7.4). ] 9.dxe4 [ 9.c3 was also played, but Black can answer in a good way exd3 10.xd3 0-0 11.0-0 a6 12.a3 b6 the counterplay is based on attacking the queen on d3 13.b4 d8 and it's not clear if White can consolidate the position, Zhigalko, A (2619)-Balogh, C (2630)/EU-chT (Men) 19th 2013 (9.14). ] 9...xe4 10.c3 White doesn't care about isolating the pawn. [ 10.0-0 0-0 11.b3 d7 12.b2 df6 13.d2 ] 10...f6 Now both players can finish their development before something happens. [ 10...xc3 11.bxc3 0-0 12.0-0 d7 13.e4 and the pawn on c3 helps White's strategy a lot, but the position is also playable for Black ] 11.f3 e7 12.c2 A good move, avoiding ...Bf5 and also leaving the d-file. 0-0 13.0-0 bd7 14.a3 a5 I'm not sure if this move is really necessary. After this and the next move Black needs to take some care. [ both 14...d6 15.d1 e5 16.d4 c7 ] [ and 14...b6 15.b4 e5 16.xe5 xe5 17.b2 f5 are ok for Black ] 15.h3 e5 16.xe5 xe5 17.d5! With some subtle exchanges White can put pressure on the a5-pawn and thus discoordinate the Black pieces. Still it's not su c h a b ig d e a l b u t t h e p o sit io n is m o re pleasant for the first player. a7 [ 17...cxd5 is a move that nobody wants to play, but it's a concrete way to deal with the position 18.xc5 e4 19.d4 ( 19.b5 e6 and White has problems developing the c 1 b i s h o p .) 19...xd4 20.exd4 a6! creating pressure on the b-file 21.f4 b6 22.ab1 a4 and Black is still ok ] 18.xf6+ xf6 19.d2 Black can now defend the pawn in several ways, but always d o i n g s o m e t h i n g u n n a t u r a l . e8?! Black wants to play actively, but there are
some problems with the a7-bishop in this line. [ 19...f5 20.b3 d8! attacking the b i s h o p o n d 2 21.fd1 c7 22.ac1 and White's pieces are a bit more harmonious ] [ 19...b8 is probably the best move, followed by a bishop exchange 20.c3 e5 21.xe5 xe5 22.fd1 e6 23.d4 fd8 24.ad1 xd4 25.xd4 and White is slightly better, but the position is close to equal ] 20.xa5 h6 [ 20...d4 stays a pawn down 21.exd4 xa5 22.fe1 d8 23.ad1 and Black will suffer for a long time ] 21.b3! b6 and Black will get the h3-pawn. [ 21...xh3 22.xb7 xe3 doesn't work, because the f-file is now open and the f7 pawn hangs, 23.fxe3 xe3+ ( 23...xa5 24.xf7++- ) 24.f2 and the attack is over. ] 22.c3 xh3 23.a4 ab8 Locking the bishop on a7, since ...b5 is not realistic. [ 23...xg2 was not so different, but Black still has b8 for the bishop 24.xg2 g6 25.c4 and White is more comfortable ] 24.c2 c5 25.fd1 xg2 26.xg2 c6+ 27.g1 bc8?! There is not much reason to avoid fighting for the d-file. [ 27...bd8 28.xd8 xd8 29.d1 d7 was more consistent, but White will have a be t t e r qu e e n , b e t t er b isho p a n d b e t t e r pawn structure in the endgame ] 28.f5 c7 29.d5 White has increased the pressure a lot over the last few moves and B l a c k ' s p o s i t i o n i s a l r e a d y d e l i c a t e . f6 30.ad1 xa4? Now Black is just lost. [ 30...e6 was still possible, and better, but White has a large advantage after 31.h5 f7 32.e2 e6 33.b5 ] 31.d7 [ 31.d8 also wins ce7 32.1d7 xd8 33.xd8+ e8 34.e6+ f8 35.b3! a nice shot, the queen is not able to come back from b5, b5 36.xf6 gxf6 37.xf6+ g8 38.d5 winning. ] 31...b8 32.xf6 e4 33.g5 g6 34.d5+ 1-0
809
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 wins the e-pawn. ] A20 Schlosser,Philipp 2505 35.e2 f4 36.f2 xg2?! [ 36...g5! ] Khenkin,Igor 2622 Bundesliga 1999-2000 (7) 08.01.2000 37.xg2 d3 38.d2 d5 39.e6?! [ 39.f3 xe5 40.f4 d5 41.e4 c5 [Tony Kosten] 42.xd3 should be drawn, but White has all the chances. ] 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 b4+ 4.d2 xd2+ 5.xd2 d6 Having exchanged dark-squared 39...fxe6 40.fxe6 f8 41.f3 e7 42.e4 bishops, Black seeks to place his central d6 43.xd3 pawns on dark squares. 6.c3 f6 7.g2 ½-½ e7 8.e3 0-0 9.ge2 e8 [ The model game in this line was Dorfman,JA20 Razuvaev,Y/Burgas 1992, which continued: 820 9...bd7 10.h3! e8 11.g4 b6 12.b3 Soffer,R 2506 a5? 13.0-0 a4 14.ae1! axb3 15.axb3 d5 Belousov,D 2340 16.c5 bd7 17.g3 f8 18.g5 6d7 Chigorin Memorial (8.40) 03.11.2012 19.f4 e4 20.f5 d8 21.d6 and Black [John Bartholomew] was lost. However, Dorfman mentions that Black could have played 10...h5!?, to stop A new position by move four in the King's this plan of h3, g4, and Ng3-f5. ] English! 1.c4 e5 2.g3 h5!? The tenth(!) 10.h3 h5! As the Dorfman game showed, most popular move (53 games out of 16, allowing W hite to play g4, and Ng3, is very 00 0 +) a n d n e ve r p revio u sly e xp lo re d o n risky, and although moving the black h-pawn ChessPublishing.com. Compared to other weakens his king position, it may be the lesser obscure rook pawn sorties, this one seems of evils. 11.e4!? fairly logical. One nice point is that 3.Nf3 can [ White changes plan, 11.0-0 e4 12.ae1 still be met by 3...e4, so Black isn't compelled f5 13.d1 bd7 14.f4 g6 to go crazy and sacrifice an exchange (though wo u l d t r a n s p o s e t o S h e r, M- L a ke t i c, G / that might be interesting: 3...h4!? 4.Nxf3 Rxh4 Belgorod 1990, 1/2-1/2 (14). ] etc.). Also, should White respond with 3.h4 or 11...a6 12.0-0 b5! 13.b3 bd7 14.f4 3.h3, Black has the luxu ry of ch oosing a White plays aggressively, but Black is more King's English line where the inclusion of rook comfortable in these type of positions when he p a w n m o v e s m i g h t b e n e f i t h i m . 3.d4?! has no dark-squared bishop. b7 15.a3 Principled, but unconvincing. Of course there's ad8 16.ad1 bxc4 Black will target the no established theory on 2. ..h4!?, so White weak c4-pawn. 17.bxc4 a5 18.a2 a6 has met Black's last move in a number of 19.c5! Hitting the black pawn chain at its base. different ways. exd4 20.cxd6 xd6 21.xd4 c5 [ Most common is the no-nonsense 3.h4 Black's pieces are actively placed, and he . Now manages to avoid any disadvantage. 22.h2 A) Th ere 's also 3...d5!? 4.cxd5 f6 f8 23.xd8 xd8 24.e5 d5 25.f3 ( 4...xd5!? ) 5.f3 g4!? , as in Larsen, W hite is hoping to use his strong kingside B (2575)-Shirazi, K (2430)/New York 1986. pawn chain as a basis for an attack, but the Shirazi actually managed to "out-Larsen" queenside and centre are too open. xc3 Larsen in this one and went on to win!; 26.xc3 d4 27.f2 c5 28.e3 d3 B) 3...f6 4.g2 c6 5.c3 c5 6.d3 Stopping White from playing f5. 29.e2 looked like a normal Karpov Variation until [ 29.f5?? xc3 ] B la ck p la ye d g4!? (making use of the 29...xe2 30.xe2 h4! 31.g4?! e6 32.f5 s q u a r e we a k e n e d b y h 2 - h 4 ) w i t h a n f4 The one passive black piece has been interesting game: 7.h3 d6 8.a4 b4+ activated, and W hite must take care not to 9.d2 a5 ( 9...xd2+ 10.xd2 f6= ) lose. 33.xd4 cxd4 34.f2 d3 10.0-0 d4 11.e3 f5 12.a3 xd2 [ 34...g5! is tempting, as 35.fxg6 xg6 13.xd2 h6!? Kovacevic, B (2460)819
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Bosiocic, M (2593)/Zadar CRO 2011. ] [ 3.h3 is another normal (if hesitant) reaction. h4 4.g4 e7!? (setting his sights on the f4 square) ( I'd be tempted to gambit a pawn with 4...d5!? 5.cxd5 f6 6.a4+ c6 7.dxc6 xc6 ) 5.d3 g6 6.c3 c6 7.g2 e7 8.e3 ( 8.e4! ) 8...d6 9.ge2 a6 10.d4 c7 11.d5 d7 12.e4 0-0 13.c2 e8 14.d2 c8 Khropov, B (2235)-Szabo, Z (2305)/Budapest 1994. ] [ With 3.g2 White resolves to ignore B l a c k ' s d e m o n s t r a t i o n , b u t a f t e r h4 the constant threat of ...h4-h3 is annoying. 4.c3 c6 5.a4?! (trying to discourage Black from playing ...d7-d6?) f6 6.d3 c5 7.a3 a5 8.h3 d6! 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.xc6+ d7 11.g2 b8 12.g5 d4 13.d1 h3 Swinkels, R (2483) Rakhmanov, A (2585)/Shenzhen CHN 2011. ] [ Similar is 3.c3 . Following h4 4.g4 I like e7!? , as in Kovacevic-Bosiocic (above). ( 4...h3?! 5.xh3 h4 was the bizarre course of Dzindzichashvili, R (2565)-Shirazi, K (2450)/ Durango 1992. Black shouldn't have sufficient compensation after 6.d3 . )] [ Finally, 3.f3!? e4 4.h4 is a critical test After ( 4.d4 c6 ) 4...e7 ( 4...d6; or 4...f6 also look fine) 5.f5 d6 6.xe7 xe7 7.c3 f6 A) 8.d3 h4!? ( 8...c6 9.g5 King, D (2500)-Smith, A (2265)/Dublin 1993 ); B) 8.g2 h4 9.d3 exd3 10.xd3 h3 11.f3 c6 12.0-0 e5 13.d1 xf3+ 14.exf3 e6 15.g5 0-0-0 16.e1 W hite was f or choice in Markowski, T (2573)-Andriasian, Z (2540)/Polanica Zdroj 2007. ] 3...exd4 4.f3 A novelty! [ It looks stronger than the 4.xd4?! c6 5.e4+ of Schmitt, T-Lisanti, A (2300)/ G r i e s h e i m 2 0 0 0 . N o w a f t e r e7 I think Black is definitely for choice. ] 4...h4! Black plays his trump card without delay. [ I like this better than 4...c5 5.e3 dxe3 6.xe3 . ] 5.gxh4?! Rather unsightly. [ White should keep his structure tidy with 5.xh4 . Then c6 ( 5...c5!? 6.e3 c6
7.f3 f6!? 8.exd4 cxd4 9.xd4 c5 ) 6.g2 c5 7.0-0 d6 leads to a balanced fight. ] 5...c6 6.g5 [ Or 6.xd4 xh4 . ] 6...b4+ 7.bd2 ge7 8.a3 xd2+ 9.xd2 f6 10.f4 f5 11.d3?! d6 12.0-0-0 e6 13.e4 dxe3 14.fxe3 d7 15.g3 0-0-0 Black already stands better in view of White's abysmal structure and array of weaknesses. 16.e4 h6 17.c3 e8 18.c5!? dxc5 19.xd8+ xd8 20.xc5 g4 21.d2 d4 A queen trade simplifies White's defensive task. [ I'd prefer 21...f7!? , intending to active the rook via h5. ] 22.xd4 xd4 23.c4 e6 24.f2 xc4 25.xd4 e6 26.g1 h7 27.f3 f7 28.d2 b6 29.e3 d6 30.f4 d7 31.e5 e8 32.exf6 gxf6 33.d1 e7 34.e1 [ 34.b4!? might be a little better, just trying to frustrate ...c7-c5. ] 34...h5 35.f2 f7 36.d4 d7 37.g3 c5! Black begins to active his queenside majority. 38.e2 d6 39.f3 f5 [ 39...c4!? ] 40.f4 xh4+ 41.f2 f5 42.d1 e6 43.d8 g6 44.e3 e5+ 45.d2 e4 46.xg6 xg6 Black is up a clean pawn, but the presence of opposite color bishops means he probably can't win. 47.b8! a4 48.d6 f7 49.c6 d4+ 50.e3 f5 51.c7+ f6 52.xa7 e4+ 53.f2 c4 54.b4 cxb4 55.axb4 f4 56.c7 f5 57.c8! Soffer defends impeccably. d4 58.f8+ g4 59.h3+ g5 60.c7 b5 61.d8+ g6 62.c7 d2+ 63.f3 d5+ 64.xf4! Definitely the simplest. f2+ 65.e5 xf8 66.xd5 h8 67.c6 xh3 68.xb5 Draw agreed. Though it hasn't caught on, 2... h4!? certainly has merit against the "Marin" move order with 2.g3. My recommendation for White is to play 3.Nf3 e4 4.Nh4 in search of an edge. ½-½
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.xb4 xb4 23.d3 a5 is far from clear, A20 as the two bishops are strong, and ...a4 an Sorokin,Maxim 2574 awkward threat. ] Makarov,Marat 2527 Chigorin mem (7) 08.11.1999 20...xe6 21.xe6+ f8 Forced, but the i n c o n ve n i e n c e o f t h e b l a c k k i n g i s o n l y [Tony Kosten] temporary, and White cannot bring any other 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 pieces over to help the queen. 22.a4 c7 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.b3 An idea of 23.b2 g5 24.h4 e7 25.xe7+ Speelman's, intending to put quick pressure ½-½ on e5. e7 [ This position may call for a change of plans A20 now, and 7...g6 has its points, ready to 822 def e nd e5 wit h t he bishop on g7 , 8.c3 Svidler,Peter 2738 g7 9.a3 a5!? 10.e1 b4 11.d3 Gelfand,Boris 2720 e7 12.f4 led to unclear play in Speelman,J- Tal Memorial Blitz blitz (30) 30.08.2008 Oll,L/Pula 1997. ] [Carsten Hansen] 8.b2 f6 [ The most natural means of defending e5, if 1.c4 e5 2.f3 This is a very rare bird that we 8...f6 9.c3 f5 10.d3 threatens Ne4. ] haven't covered previously on 9.d4!? Chesspublishing.com, but I couldn't resist the [ If this is possible, then why not? 9.a3 e6 temptation because it gives me a chance to 10.d3 a5 11.bd2 0-0 as in Speelman,J- q u o t e a f e w o l d g a m e s b y t h e l i k e s o f Romanishin,O/Moscow 1985, leads to more Nimzowitsch, Alekhine, Rubinstein and Euwe. normal lines. ] e4 3.d4 c6 4.c2 9...exd4 [ 4.xc6 dxc6 5.c3 ( 5.d4 exd3 6.xd3 [ 9...e4 10.fd2 f5 seems like a more xd3 7.exd3 f5 8.d4 0-0-0= Alekhinecritical test. ] Tartakower/Warsaw/1935) 5...f6 6.h3 10.xd4 xd4 11.xd4 ( 6.d3 exd3 7.e4 c5 8.h3 e6 [ T h e m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g c h o i c e , 11.xd4 is very good for Black, Shatskes-Seredenko, is also possible, aiming for a slight edge in V/USSR/1967) 6...b4 7.c2 d4 8.e3 the ending, e.g. xd4 12.xd4 c6 13.a4!? e5 9.d4 exd3 10.xd3 xc3+ 11.bxc3 e6 14.a5 d5 15.d2 although Black is e6 , and Black has the upper hand, Murey, fine, Hramtsov,A-Martin,A/Moscow 1991. ] Y-Ivanov, AV/ New York 1989 ] 11...c6 12.c3 e6 13.d3 0-0 14.ad1 4...f6 5.c3 c5 6.d4 White hopes that his slight lead in [ White has a number of alternatives at this development, and the weakness of the e6juncture: A) 6.b3 0-0 7.g3 ( 7.b2 e8 square is enough to give him an advantage. 8.d4 exd3 9.xd3 e5 10.d2 c7 15.e4 is more solid, though still rather comfortable [ Another way to approach this position would for Black ) be 15.e4 ad8 16.c2 fe8 17.e3 A) 7...e8 8.g2 a5 9.0-0 d6 10.e3 , a n d l a t e r f 4 , h o p i n g t o u s e h i s e xt r a d4 11.d3 exd3 12.xd3 d7 central pawn. ] with approximately equal chances, 15...f7 16.h3 fd8 17.f5 g6 Rubinstein, A-Saemisch, F/Breslau 1925; Black refuses to weaken his light squares. B) 7...a6 8.g2 e8 9.0-0 d6 10.e3 18.e6 f5 19.xb6 d4 11.d3 ( 11.b2 c6 12.d3 f5 [ 19.xf7+ xf7 20.e3 doesn't lead to 13.xf5 xf5 14.dxe4 xe4 15.xe4 much either, after f8 ] xe4 16.e3 g5= Lisenko, A-Fradkin, B/ 19...xb6!? Offering a pawn sacrifice. 20.c4 Sverdlovsk 1989) 11...exd3 12.xd3 b8 [ Evidently White had intended to win a pawn 13.b2 c6 14.cd5 e5 15.d2 c6 by 20.xf5 but then thought better of it. In 16.xf6+ xf6 , and the chances are fact, the ending after xd1 21.xd1 b4 about even, Rubinstein, A-Tarrasch, S/
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Breslau 1925; C) 7...d5! When I wrote my book on 1 c4 e5, I rather indiscriminately quoted ECO, wh i c h g i v e s t h i s m o v e a s l e a d i n g t o equality (probably based on the outcome of the game, which was a short draw), but matters are far from that simple. Alternatively Black has also tried a couple o f le s s c rit ica l c o n t in u a t io n s : 8.cxd5?! ( 8.g2 dxc4 9.bxc4 is relatively better, but still quite good for Black. ) C1) As Alekhine himself pointed out (and I'm baffled why this hasn't made it into the ECO), Black has the considerably stronger 8...g4! available (the following analysis is by Alekhine, except where noted), e.g. C1a) 9.e3 ce5 10.xe4 ( 10.d4 f3+ 11.e2 gxh2! 12.dxc5 g4-+; 10.e2 d3+! 11.xd3 exd3 ) 10...xd5 ( CH: 10...f5!? also looks rather promising 11.d3 xd5 12.f3 ad8 with a distinct advantage for Black ) C1a1) CH: 11.g2! is the lesser evil, e.g. d3+ 12.f1 f5 13.f3 ( 13.f4!? ) 13...b6 14.a3 e8 15.h3 h6 16.g4 , and while ugly, White's position is probably survivable; C1a2) 11.f3 f5! ( CH: Again Black s h o u l d g i v e t h o u g h t t o 11...f5!? , e.g. 12.d3 ad8 13.h3 h6 with a strong initiative to compensate for the pawn. ) C1a21) CH: This is just an absolutely terrible move that loses o n t h e s p o t , w h e r e a s 12.c4!? xc4 ( 12...xc4 13.bxc4 xc4 14.xc5 is much better for White analysis by ChessBase) 13.f6+ xf6 14.bxc4 d3+ C1a211) The editorial team at ChessBase only off ers 15.e2 gf2 16.f1 ( 16.g1! isn't mentioned either, e.g. e6 17.b2 h6 18.d4 xc4 19.xc5 h3 20.b1 xc5+ 21.d3 xd3+ 22.e1 e8 23.b4 b6 24.d2 a5 , and Black still has the initiative
and the slightly better chances) 16...e6 17.b2 h6 18.b1?! ( Here White can improve with 18.a3 xc4 19.xc5 xc5+ 20.xf2 xf1 21.axf1 with approximately even chances ) 18...xc4; C1a212) 15.f1; C1a22) 12.xc5 xf3+ 13.e2 , and now rather than Alekhine's xc5 , which is only clearly better for Black ( Black should have played 13...fxh2! 14.xh2 xh2 15.f2 xf1 16.xf1 xc5 with a won game. ); C1b) 9.e3 xe3 10.fxe3 f6 11.c2 ( 11.xe4 xa1 ) 11...f2+ 12.d1 f5 C1b1) 13.xe4 b4 14.b1 xe4-+ Alekhine; C1b2) 13.dxc6 d8 14.e1?? ( 14.b1 f2+ 15.e1 xh1 16.xe4 h5 17.b2 f5 ) 14...f2+ 15.d1 xe3# - analysis by the ChessBase editorial team; C1b3) 13.e1 b4 Alekhine; C1c) 9.xe4 xd5 10.g2 ( 10.f3 xe4 ) 10...xf2+ 11.f1 f5 Alekhine; C2) 8...b4?! 9.xb4 xb4 10.g2 e8 11.0-0 f5 12.b2 xd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.d3 ad8 15.dxe4 xe4 16.xd5 , and here a draw was agreed, 1/2-1/2, Euwe, M-Alekhine, A/ N L D 1 9 3 5 a f t e r xd5 17.fd1 , the position is completely drawn. ] [ B) 6.g3 A) 6...0-0 7.g2 e8 8.0-0 d6 A1) 9.e3 h5 10.ed5 f5 11.e3 h4 ( 11...xd5 12.cxd5 b4 13.xh5 g6 14.g4 e7 leaves Black with excellent compensation for the pawn) 12.xf6+ xf6 13.f3! was played in Chabanon, J-Cramling, P/France 1997, a n d h e r e B l a c k s h o u l d o p t f o r e6! 14.fxe4 g4 15.b3 h3! 16.h1 d4! 17.xb7 ab8 18.a6 e2+ 19.xe2 xe2 20.f4 xc4 with an unclear position; A2) 9.b3 f5 10.e3 xe3 813
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 10...d7!? ) 11.fxe3 d7 12.b2 e5?! ( 12...a6!? ) 13.c2 Gorbatow, A-Rotstein, A/Arco 1999; B) 6...e5 7.b4?! ( 7.g2 xc4 8.xe4 xe4 9.xe4= ) 7...e7 8.g2 ( 8.d3!? ) 8...xc4 9.xe4 xe4 10.xe4 d5 11.g2 c6 12.b1 a5 13.b5 c5 14.d4 ( 14.d3!? ) 14...f5 Lisenko, A-Cebalo, M/ Makarska 1994; C) 6...d6 7.g2 ( 7.b4 xb4 8.xb4 xb4 9.g2 f5 10.b1 is a suggestion f rom my book, but Black seems to b e doing fine after a5 11.a3 a6 12.xb7 c5 13.b2 0-0 with approximately equal chances ) 7...f5 C1) 8.0-0 d7 9.e3 h3 10.ed5 xg2 11.xg2 h5 12.h4 was Rejfir, JFlorian, J/ Prague 1955, and now xd5 13.cxd5 e7 is about even; C2) 8.b4!? b6 ( 8...xb4 would transpose to the line given above after 7 b4.) 9.e3 d7 10.0-0!? xe3 11.fxe3 xb4 12.f4 with an unclear position and chances to both players; C3) 8.e3 g6 ( 8...xe3 9.dxe3 d7 10.d5 xd5 11.cxd5 e7 12.d4 0-0 13.xe4 xe4 14.xe4 ae8= Gutop, Y-Rutman, A/Moscow 1999) 9.b3 d4 ( 9...0-0 10.b2 e8 11.0-0 a5= Lis enk o, A-It kis, B/B ucharest 1 99 3) 10.b2 h5 11.h4 0-0 12.c1 e5 13.cd5 xb2 14.xb2 xd5 15.xd5 c6 16.f4 f6 17.c3 , a n d t h e c h a n c e s a r e a b o u t e ve n , Lisenko, A-Lerner, K/Beltsy 1981 ] [ C) 6.e3?! d4?! ( 6...d6!? ) 7.b3 ( 7.ed5! d6 8.b4 xd5 9.xd5 c6 10.bxc5 cxd5 11.cxd5 ) 7...b5 8.b2 a6 9.cd5 ( 9.ed5!? b7 10.e3 e6 11.c2 is actually better for White) 9...xd5 10.xd5 c6 11.b4 a7 12.c5 e6 13.e3 d6 14.cxd6 xd6 , and Black is clearly better, Pliester, L-Welling, G/Dieren 1987 ] [ D) 6.a4 e7 7.g3 d5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.g2 0-0 10.c3 e5 11.0-0 e8 is comfortably better for Black, Tate, E Dougherty, M/ Philadelphia 1993 ] 6...exd3 7.exd3 d5 8.d4 e7 9.c5 0-0 [ Here we depart the established theory. However, I'm quite certain that the move
chose by Gelf and doesn't constitute an improvement. An old classic game c o n t i n u e d w i t h 9...f5 10.d3 xd3 11.xd3 b6 12.0-0 0-0 13.g5 h6 ( 13...bxc5 14.dxc5 b8 15.b3 d4= ) 14.h4 bxc5 15.dxc5 e5 16.d4 g6 17.g3 c6 18.b4 c8 with a comfortable game for Black, who eventually won the game, Reti, R-Nimzowitsch, A/Marienbad 1925 ] [ Another option is 9...g4 , for example 10.e2 xe2 11.xe2 0-0 12.0-0 e8 13.d3 e4 , and Black has equalised, Kwatschewsky, L-Petschar, K/Austria 1989 ] 10.d3 b6 11.cxb6 axb6 12.0-0 a6 13.g5 [ 13.xa6 xa6 14.g5 h6 15.d3 a8 16.h4 d7 is about even ] 13...h6 [ 13...xd3 14.xd3 d7 15.f3 is also slightly better for White ] 14.h4 xd3 15.xd3 h5!? 16.f3= [ After this move, I don't think White can claim any advantage. Instead White should consider 16.g3!? , e. g. f6 17.ad1 e7 18.b4 , and White has the initiative ] 16...xh4 17.xh5 f6 18.fd1?! [ This looks like a case of the wrong rook. White would be doing fine after 18.ad1!? e7 19.e3 c6 20.g4 d6 21.f4 , a l t h o u g h B l a c k c a n e q u a l i s e w i t h c5 for instance: 22.xf6+ xf6 23.dxc5 bxc5 24.xd5 xd5 25.xd5 xb2 26.xc5 xa2 27.f2 ] 18...e7 19.a4 [ 19.e3 c6 20.g4 d6 is slightly better for Black ] 19...c6 20.g3 [ White could possibly do better with 20.e1 d6 21.ad1 g6 22.g3 with only a minimal disadvantage for White. ] 20...d7 21.f3 f5 [ Black invites a repetition of moves. Alternatively he could consider 21...g6 with an edge. ] 22.e2 e6 [ 22...h3 23.d3 h5 leaves Black with the initiative and the better position, but unf ortunately he is ready to settle for a draw. ] 23.d3 f5 24.e2 e6 , and here a draw 814
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Black has some tempting possibilities which unfortunately rebound, for example 10...d4+ 11.c2 xd1+ 12.xd1 xd5 13.h3 e3+ 14.d2 xg2 15.xf2 leaves Black's knight on g2 trapped. ] [ or 10...xd5 11.f3 e3+ 12.c2 e4+ 823 A20 13.d3 e3+ 14.d2 xd3+ 15.exd3 Svidler,Peter 2730 xg2 16.f1 e1 17.h4 g5 18.f5 Mastrovasilis,Athanasios 2547 gives W hite a massive attack even in the 12th ch-EUR Aix les Bains FRA (4) 25.03.2011 endgame. ] [Nigel Davies] [ As the endgame that arises after 10...fxg1 11.xg1 xg1 12.xg1 is also bad Black 1.g3 e5 2.c4 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 e4 5.d5 decides just not to recapture his sacrificed cxd5 piece. But this leaves him with woefully [ Most of the strong players who've reached inadequate compensation. ] this p os ition with Black h ave p re f erre d 5...b4+ 6.d2 e7 , for example 7.c3 11.f3 f5 12.c3 0-0 13.b3 d8 e8 15.xf2 g4 16.e1 0-0 8.a3 ( 8.e3 e8 9.ge2 d6 10.dxc6 14.hf1 xc6 11.a3 xc3 12.xc3 g4 White can comfortably afford to offer some of was quite good for Black in Giardelli, S- the booty back. e7 17.e4 d7 18.e2 Campora, D/Asuncion 2003.) 8...c5 9.e3 g6 19.xb7 h5 20.c7 ge5 21.xe5 22.xd7 xe2 23.xe2 g5 d6 10.ge2 cxd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.cxd5 xe5 d7 13.0-0 f6 14.c3 and now the 24.xd6 speculative g4 left Black with inadequate 1-0 compensation for the pawn after ( 14...f5 wa s b e t t e r) 15.xf6 xf6 16.b4 b6 A20 17.xe4 in Carlsen, M-Anand, V/Nice 824 2008. ] Thiede,Lars 2432 6.cxd5 b4+ Graf,Alexander 2630 [ 6...a5+ 7.c3 b4 8.d2 xc3 9.xc3 Bundesliga 2002-3 (8) 11.01.2003 xd5 is very bad for Black after 10.xf6 [Tony Kosten] xd1+ 11.xd1 gxf6 12.xe4 etc. ] 7.d2 e3?! This might have seemed like a Another look at the anti-Reversed Dragon line good idea at the time but it works out bady. that I recommended in The Dynamic English, [ B l a c k h a d p r e v i o u s l y p l a y e d 7...e7 but the judgement is unchanged. 1.c4 e5 i n t h i s p o s i t i o n w h i c h a l t h o u g h l e s s 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 spectacular is probably just a better move. c6 6.0-0 b6 7.d3 e7 8.bd2 After 8.a3?! ( 8.c3 looks more natural) Of course, White can always try the mainlines 8...c5 9.c3?! Black could now have with played xf2+ ( 9...d6 10.xe4?! xf2+ [ 8.c3 ] 11.xf2 xe4+ 12.xe4 xe4 8...0-0 9.a3 a5 10.b3 e6 11.b2 f6 was quite good for Black in Hala, V-Koys, 12.c2 d7 13.e3?! Chernin's move relies M/Czechia 2007) 10.xf2 e3+ when on a tactical continuation that seems to be 11.xe3 g4+ would have put White in faulty. desperate straights. ] [ 13.ac1 ad8!? (the other rook seems 8.xb4 exf2+ 9.d2 b6 stronger) 14.fd1 h3 15.h1 g4 [ Th e im me d ia t e 9...fxg1 looks nice for 16.e4 fe8 Lobron,E-Fritz 5/Frankfurt W h i t e a f t e r 10.xg1 g4 ( 10...d6 1998, when 17.d4!? xf3 18.xf3 exd4 11.e3+ is strong ) 11.d4 g5+ 12.f4 ] 19.c5 xc5 20.xc5 is interesting: White [ but 9...a6 10.a3 fxg1 11.xg1 d6 will capture on c6, then on d4. ] 12.e3+ f8 looks kind of playable. ] [ 13.fd1! fd8 14.c4!? ( 14.ac1 f8 10.a3 d6 15.d4? exd4 16.e4 f7! attacks b3 and was agre ed, alth ough Bla ck's position is undoubtedly to be preferred. ½-½
815
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 wins a pawn, Giddins,S-Gurevich,M/ Amsterdam NED 2000 ) A) 14...d5 15.e4!? ( 15.d4?! e4! 16.xe4? f5 17.h4 g5 traps the queen ) 15...b6 16.xb6 cxb6 17.d4; B) 14...xc4 15.bxc4 ( 15.dxc4!? e8 16.h4 and Be4 is interesting) 15...a4?! ( 15...c5!? ) 16.d4! exd4 17.xd4 xd4 18.xd4 c8 19.xd8+ xd8 20.e4 W hite enjoys some advantage with his centralised pieces, Pecorelli Garcia,HFranco Ocampos, Z/Havana CUB 2001. ] 13...fd8! Critical, although other moves have been tried: [ 13...d5 14.fd1 fd8 15.c4 e6 16.ac1 with complex play, Vallejo Pons,FTiviakov,S/Ohrid MKD 2001. ] [ 13...f5 14.e4 fd8 15.d4!? exd4 16.xd4 xd4 17.xd4 d5 equal, Van Me c h e le n , J -Gu re vich , M/ Ch a rle ro i B E L 2001. ] 14.d4 exd4 15.xd4 Not forced, as against Yakovich, at Gausdal in 2000, fellow contributor Nigel Davies preferred [ 15.xd4!? xd4 16.xd4 d5 17.c4 xg2 18.xb6 cxb6 19.xg2 d5+ agreed drawn. ] 15...xd4 16.xd4 c5! 17.xc5 ac8 18.b4 d5! Stronger than [ 18...axb4 as we saw in Matamoros Franco, C-Volzhin,A. ] 19.b3!? b6 20.e4 xb4! 21.axb4 axb4 22.fd1 c7 23.xd8+?! This attempted improvement on [ 23.d4 xd4 24.xd4 bxc5 25.c4! which we considered in Bourquin,P-Vnukov, D/IECG 2000, seems weaker - or was White simply not aware of this game? ] 23...xd8 24.f1 My Fritz suggests the tricky line [ 24.d4!? xd4 25.h3! f7 ( 25...xh3? 26.b3+ f8 27.xd4 ) 26.xe7! but then Black has xe7 ( not 26...xc2?? 27.a8+ e8 28.e6+ h8 29.xe8# ) 27.c6 d6 28.a8+ d8 29.a1 but Black's forward b-pawn is very dangerous. ] 24...xc5!? [ 24...bxc5 25.c4 allows White some c h a n c e s o f b lo c ka d i n g t h e p a wn s, b u t appears more logical. ]
25.c1 d7 26.c4?! White should take the pawn: [ 26.xc5 bxc5 27.xc5 c8!? 28.xc8+ xc8 29.xc8+ xc8 30.c4+ f8 and White has fair chances of defending this ending. ] 26...f8 27.d4 xc4 28.xc4+ f7 29.e6 d6 [ 29...b3! i s a w k w a r d , 30.f4 ( 30.xd8? xc4 31.xc4 b2 makes another queen; 30.xb3? d6 win s a p ie ce .) 30...b2 31.b1 c5+ 32.f1 ( 32.h1 a8 wins. ) 32...a8! wins, as 33.xb2? a1+ 34.e2 h5+ forces mate. ] 30.xf8 d1+ 31.g2 xc1 32.xc1 xf8 After the tactics Black has a simply winning queen and p awn e nding. 33.c8+ e8 34.c4 e7 35.d5 b3 Offering to swap one of the b-pawns for the white e-pawn. 36.f3 b4 37.d8+ f7 38.d7+ e7 39.d4 c5 40.d7+ Once White runs-out of checks the game will be short-lived. g6! 41.h4 [ 41.g4+ g5 ] 41...h5 42.g4 hxg4 43.fxg4 b2 44.d3 e5 45.f3 h7 46.h5 b5 47.b3 d4 48.c2 e5 49.b3 h6 Presumably the players are short of time, as [ 49...h2 wins on the spot, the threat is ... Qh1+ and b1(Q). ] 50.b4 h2! Finally! 51.xb5 h1+ 52.g3 b1 53.g5+ xh5 0-1
825 Topalov,Veselin Timman,Jan H Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee NED (1) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2700 2649 16.01.1999
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 [ 5.c3 b6 6.f3 would transpose into the main variation. ] 5...c6 6.0-0 A tricky little move. e7 [ 6...b6 is the normal move, keeping hold of the d4-square. ] 7.d4 Thematic, if Black doesn't stop this, then White has to play it! e4 8.e5 f5 The only m o v e t o a vo i d d i s a d v a n t a g e , t h e b l a c k queenside pawns will be severely hamstrung, 816
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 but his e-pawn is strong. 9.xc6 bxc6 10.a4 d7! By immediately breaking the pin on the c6-pawn, Black manages to force the move .. .c5. [ 10...d6 11.c3 had been played previously. ] 11.d1 c5! Exchanging the first of the doubled pawns. 12.xd7+ xd7 13.dxc5 e6 Defending the knight before recuperating t h e c 5 - p a w n . 14.d2?! Very dangerous, W hite tries to keep some advantage, but should have been happy with equality by [ 14.c3 xc3 15.bxc3 xc5 16.f4 ] 14...0-0-0 15.a3?! e3 Black has a large lead in development, and now sets-about the white position. 16.f1 exf2+ 17.xf2 xc5+ A good time to recover his c-pawn, with check s o a s n o t t o l o s e t i m e . 18.e1 he8 Bringing the last piece into play. 19.g5 d6 20.ac1 White manages to develop his queen's rook. b6 21.f3 White carefully protects the e2-pawn, and moves the bishop from g2, in preparation for playing Bf4, else, if the immediate [ 21.f4?! then xf4 22.xd6? xg2+ wins. ] 21...h6?! A case of forcing White to do what he wanted to do anyway! 22.f4 Possible as t h e d 5 - k n i g h t i s p i n n e d . d7 23.e5 White's disadvantage is limited now that this piece has found a good square. g5 24.d4 g4 25.h1 f7 26.xb6 axb6 White has eased his position somewhat, but his knight is passive, and his pawn structure worse (somewhat ironic if compared with the respective pawn structures after the opening). 27.c6 Not best, the rook's placement will a ll o w a s m a l l t a ct ic . f4! 28.f2 h5 Missing the line [ 28...f3! 29.exf3 f4! winning the exchange, 30.gxf4 ( 30.xd7?? allows the surprising 'snap mate' h3+ 31.g2 e2# in either move order.) 30...xd1 31.fxg4 b1 32.c2 c5 and the possibility of swapping off the white rook by ...Bb3, and ... Rd8, leaving t he wh ite b -pawn sho rt o f defence, is good for Black. ] 29.d4! fxg3+ 30.xg3 Having activated this piece, W hite is close to equality. e5 31.h6 d8 32.e1 d6 33.h8+ d7 34.h7?! Missing the simple
[ 34.e4 g6 35.c3 forcing off pieces, and which should be drawn. ] 34...e8 35.a4 And again, but this time with serious consequences. f4?? A terrible blunder, just at the moment when Black's centralised pieces gave him the advantage, once again, e.g. [ 35...f6 36.h8+ e7 and both white rooks are offside. ] 36.xf4 1-0
826 Turner,Matthew Yastrebov,A2 4NCL Telford ENG (10) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2519 2207 04.05.2003
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 exd4 4.xd4 d5 5.g2 dxc4!? There is nothing wrong with this move, although up till now I have mainly concentrated on [ 5...f6 6.f3 e6 7.cxd5 cxd5 with the standard IQP position. My recent game against Shchekachev, French Tch 2003, continued 8.0-0 c6 9.a4 c5 10.g5 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.c3 0-0 13.e1 fd8 ( 13...ad8 was Seirawan,YSokolov, I/Wijk 1995) 14.d3 d4 15.ac1 a6 16.f4 b5 new, ( 16...e5 17.e3 xc3 18.xc3 d4 was level in Taylor,M-Berry,N/ Telford ENG 2003) 17.d1 e7 18.e3 xc3 19.xc3 ac8 20.xc8 xc8 21.d2 d4!? which turned-out to be fairly level. ] 6.xc4 The critical line is [ 6.xd8+!? xd8 7.f3 when Black has a large choice: f6 ( 7...d6 8.0-0 f6 9.d1 c7 10.bd2 b5?! 11.e4 e7 12.f4+ won very quickly in Rotstein,A-Rahls,P/Arco 1998, and; 7...b4+ 8.d2 xd2+ (8...Na6!?) 9.bxd2 f6?! 10.xc4 c7 11.c1 favoured White in Suba,M-Peric,S/ Geneve 1995) 8.0-0 bd7 9.d1 e8 10.bd2 b6 11.e5 e6 12.xc6!? is unclear, Suba,M-Sax,G/Baile Herculane 1982. ] 6...e6 7.c2 f6 8.f3 a6 The most aggressive, [ 8...b4+ 9.bd2 h6 10.0-0 0-0 11.b3 a5 12.b2 bd7 13.ad1 h5 14.d4 817
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is slightly better for W hite, Serper,GVakhidov,T/Bishkek 1993. ] 9.c3!? A novelty, as normally White has played [ 9.a3 to keep the knight from b4: c5 ( 9...h6 10.b4 e7 11.0-0 0-0 12.b2 c8 13.bd2 with an edge, Raicevic,MPaunovic,T/Belgrade 1988) 10.bd2 d5 11.0-0 e7 12.b4 ce4 13.c4 0-0 14.b2 e8 15.ad1 planning to gain the bishop pair by Ne3, Spraggett,K-Schroer,J/ Quebec 1986. ] 9...b4 10.b1 bd5 Black can also wait until his knight is 'kicked' for this move, and play [ 10...c5 say. ] 11.0-0 xc3 Black is playing a lot of moves with his knight, although this is hardly critical as yet. 12.bxc3 b6 13.e3! White simply plays natural developing moves. a6 [ 13...xb1 14.fxb1 is more than a little awkward, as the b-pawn needs defending. ] 14.d4 e7 15.b2 d5 16.fd1 d8 Again, whilst this move is not actually bad, [ 16...0-0 seems simpler. ] 17.f1!? An original idea which succeeds im m e d ia t e ly, W h it e t h re a t e n s e 4 , wh ic h discovers an attack on the black queen. a3?! A queen move would be best, i.e. [ 17...a4 as the b-pawn is indirectly defended 18.xb7?? c5 wins a piece. ] 18.c2 e4?? Black expected a repetition of moves, no doubt, and was looking-forward to a draw with his strong opponent, but this loses on the spot! [ 18...e7 i s s t i l l O K : 19.e4?! xe4! 20.xe4 xf1+ 21.xf1 xe4 22.xg7 g8 and Black has no problems. ] 19.xf6! [ After 19.xf6 Black drops a piece, gxf6 ( 19...xc2? 20.xd8# ) 20.xe4+ ] 1-0
827 Urban,Klaudiusz Krasenkow,Michal chT Zakopane chT (2) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2472 2702 03.09.2000
1.g3 e5 2.c4 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 d5 6.f3 e6 7.cxd5 [ 7.g5 Might be better, dxc4 8.xe6 b4+ 9.d2 xd2+ 10.xd2 fxe6 11.xc4 with a small edge, Jaderberg,B-Adler,B/ Sweden 1998. ] 7...cxd5 8.a4+!? An interesting finesse, White decides to 'fall before he is pushed'. c6 9.d4 [ 9.0-0 c5 would transpose into the main line. ] 9...d7 10.0-0 c5 11.xc6 White hopes to exploit the hanging pawns on the c and d-files. bxc6 12.c3 0-0 13.g5 g4 14.ac1 b6 15.d1 An odd move, but White wishes to bring his knight to c5 via a4, and, of course, the queen was in the way. e5 16.a4 h3 17.b3 [ 17.c5 is met by f5 , hitting the g5bishop. ] 17...fe8 18.d2 xg2 19.xg2 d4!? Menacing to fix the e2-pawn, and threatening ...Qd5+. 20.e4 f5! 21.exf5 d3!? [ Black continues to advance the newlypassed d-pawn, not bothering with 21...xf5 although this is also good. ] 22.xb6?! [ Opening the a-file is dangerous, if 22.f4 then f7 maintains the pressure, but this is certainly a better bet. ] 22...axb6 23.e3?! d5+ 24.f3 Forced. g4! 25.ce1 xa2! Lightning strikes from the side! 26.xa2 xe3+ 27.xe3 xe3 At the end of the tactics Black is lost, the d3pa wn is t o o stro n g, an d th e b la ck he a vy pieces well centralised. 28.f2 h5 29.d2 e5 30.h3 c5 31.g4 h4 32.f4 e4+ 33.h2 e2 0-1
818
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 828
A20 Wang Hao 2733 Rublevsky,Sergei 2681 27th ECC Rogaska Slatina SLO (4.1) 28.09.11 [John Bartholomew]
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 e4 8.e5 f5 9.xc6 bxc6 This position is critical to the e v a l u a t i o n o f 7 . d 4 . H i g h - l e ve l d i s p u t e s continue to flare up. 10.d2 White scored 2/2 with this move at the European Club Cup against 2680+ opposition. Positionally speaking, it is quite desirable to maneuver the knight to b3 in order to clamp down on c5 and prevent the liquidation of Black's doubled pawns. Past updates have dealt with the alternatives: [ 10.a4 d7! Topalov, V (2700)-Timman, J (2649 )/Wijk aan Zee 1999/[TonyK] ] [ Jonathan Rowson gives the popular 10.c3 , as in Carlsen, M (2714)-Gelfand, B (2736)/ Moscow 2007, ] [ and 10.c2 good coverage in his notes to Paunovic - Topalov. Check the archives. ] 10...0-0 [ Premature is 10...c5? Janssen, R (2437)Van den Doel, E (2607)/ Dieren NED 2001/ [TonyK] ] 11.b3 d6 Black begins to shift his resources to the kingside, but this may not be the best way to handle the position. [ Rowson gives 11...a5 an "!", but the pawn sacrifice 12.d2 a4 13.a5 d7 ( 13...c5! i s a m o v e t o i n ve s t i g a t e .) 14.xa4 ( 14.c1!? Rowson. ) 14...e8 in Paunovic, D (2539)-Topalov, V (2777)/Villarrobledo 20 08 /[ Jo n at ha n Ro wso n] h as no t be e n repeated since. ] [ The natural 11...e6 was played earlier this year. 12.d2 b6 13.c2 c4 14.e3 ( 14.c3 is more accurate.) 14...xd2?! ( Here 14...a5! is strong. If White attempts to stop the a-pawns advance with 15.a4 then d5 threatens to embarrass the knight on b3. ) 15.xd2 ( 15.xd2!? ) 15...d5 16.c4 a5 17.fc1 c5 18.dxc5 xc5 19.d1 c6 20.e5 d6 21.d7 xd7 22.xc5 Matamoros Franco, C (2549)Lapshun, Y (2438)/Philadelphia USA 2011. White holds a marginal advantage. ]
[ A d a y a f t e r t h e t e x t g a m e , 11...d6 was tried in Vitiugov, N (2726)-Motylev, A (2690)/Rogaska Slatina SLO 2011. Black again ta kes aim at W hite 's king. 12.d2 ( 12.c2 is flexible.) 12...e8 13.e3 e6 ( 13...a6!? seems like a more useful diagonal, i.e. 14.e1 b8 15.f1 b5 , when Black isn't making it easy for White to exploit his positional advantage on the queenside.) 14.c1 e7 15.a5 d5 16.b3 f6 17.e2 h5 18.h4 g6 19.c4! Hurrying back to eliminate the dark-square bishop. e8 20.e5 xe5 21.dxe5 e6 22.c3 ( 22.a5!? ) 22...h6?! ( After 22...g4 23.xg4 hxg4 24.a5 g6 25.xc7 xe5 26.xe5 xe5 27.c5 t h e re a rise s a n e n d in g t h a t re se m b le s Matamoros Franco - Lapshun (though in slightly b ett er f orm ). W hite h as a n ice , w o r k a b l e a d v a n t a g e .) 23.f4!? A h u m a n d e c i s i o n . ( The computer is unimpressed with Black's kingside display and wants to continue 23.h3 g5 24.a6 ) 23...exf3 24.xf3 g6 25.h2 xf3 26.xf3 g4 27.d3 g5?! ( 27...e6 ) 28.d7 I feel it's speculative to stake everything on a kingside attack as Motylev did in this game. ] [ I believe 11...b8N ] [ or 11...a6N also deserve practical outings. ] 12.c2 g6 13.d2 f4? This is simply unsound. Black is extremely underprepared to breach White's defenses. [ Straightforward development with 13...a6 was called for, i.e. 14.fe1 ab8 15.ac1 b4!? ] 14.fc1 [ White can also just take the pawn: 14.xe4 f5 15.xf5 xf5 16.ac1 and Black's threats are largely illusory. ] 14...f6 15.a5 [ or 15.xe4 ] 15...f3 [ Maybe 15...fxg3 16.hxg3 f5 17.xc6 d6 had a better shot at confusing the issue. If White finds 18.e5! things would be fairly straightforward for Wang Hao. ] 16.exf3 exf3 17.xg6 hxg6 18.f1 W ith more than half his pawns as targets, Black is clearly suffering. d7 19.a3 e8 819
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.b4 f8?! 21.g5! Black's rickety position can't handle the strain. f5 [ 21...d6 22.c4 de6 23.h3+- ] [ 21...fe6 22.h3 d6 23.xd7 xd7 24.xc6+- ] 22.h4 e7 23.c4 d5 24.e5 xd4 25.e3 d5 26.c4+- White wins material and the game is decided. e6 27.xd5 xd5 28.xa7 f5 29.xg6 d6 30.c5 h7 31.h5 xc5 32.xc5 d4 33.d1 e2+ 34.h2 h6 35.g4 e4 36.h3 d4 37.g3 g5 38.xd4 xd4 39.e5 f6 40.xc6 d3 41.b5 1-0
829 Xu Jun Christiansen,Larry Mark 2nd Summit Shanghai CHN (3) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2654 2559 14.07.2002
Sometimes it doesn't pay to take too many risks to win - especially against a very strong opponent! 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 d5 6.f3 e6 7.g5!? Pestering the bishop. We have considered [ 7.cxd5 many times, and the resulting IQP position seems to give Black good tactical play, so it is certainly appropriate to consider this critical alternative. ] 7...bd7 I think this is best, Black simply gets on with his development, hoping that the strengthening of the black centre will provide compensation, [ 7...d7!? also allows White to capture the bishop, 8.xe6 xe6 9.0-0!? dxc4 10.d2 bd7 11.xc4 xc4 12.xc4 b6 13.xb6 axb6 White's bishop pair give him the edge, Serper,G-Zagorskis,D/ Lyon 1994 ] [ 7...dxc4?! is worse, though, 8.xe6 b4+ 9.d2 xd2+ 10.xd2 fxe6 11.xc4 e7 12.0-0 0-0 13.f3 White has the superior pawn structure, Jaderberg,B-Adler,B/ Sweden 1998. ] 8.xe6 fxe6 9.e3 The white queen was going to be attacked anyway, so moves before b e i n g p u s h e d . f7!? A new idea, Black decides to castle 'by hand'. [ 9...b4+ was the previous try, and would
be my choice: 10.d2 e7 11.0-0 c5 12.b3 b6 13.cxd5 exd5 Black has good p ro sp e ct s d e sp it e c o n ce d in g h is ligh t squared bishop, Serper,G-Xu Jun/Jakarta 1994. ] 10.h3 b4+ 11.d2 xd2+ [ 11...e7!? could now be met by 12.xe6+ xe6 13.xe6+ xe6 14.xb4 dxc4 although both sides have chances. ] 12.xd2 e8 13.0-0 b6 14.c3 a5 15.e3 b4 Black feels more comfortable in the ending, in f act his king might prove wellplaced there. 16.ac1 xc3 17.xc3 e5 18.cxd5 exd5 19.g2 a4 20.d1 ad8 21.f3 c4 22.d4!? e4 [ 22...xb2? 23.b1 c4 24.xb7+ is good for White, but ] [ 22...c5!? 23.e2 b5 is interesting. ] 23.c2 f6 24.e2 a3! 25.b3 b2 26.f1 d3 27.xe4 dxe4!? A risky winning attempt, [ 27...xe4 would be most players' choice. ] 28.c4 e5 Black seems to making slow but sure progress. 29.a4 [ 29.xe4? f3+ 30.g2 xe4 ] 29...d3!? [ 29...d2!? 30.c3 f5 31.xa3 c2 also keeps a useful initiative. ] [ 29...a8 was more circumspect, 30.xa8 xa8 31.d1 f8 level. ] 30.xa3 b5!? [ 30...ed8 31.a4 f3+ 32.g2 e5 33.c1 might also favour White. ] 31.a6 g5?! But this is going too far, was Larry hoping to set-up a mating net? 32.d4 d2 33.a4 bxa4 34.bxa4 Now Black is a p a wn d o wn wit h n o n o t i ce a b l e c o m p . c5 35.e6+ g4 36.g2! [ 36.xc5 h3 would allow some cheapo chances. ] 36...e7 37.xc5 c4 38.e1 b2 39.h3+ h5 40.b3 d5 41.d4 d3 42.e2 g6 43.a5 c5 44.g4+ h4 45.f4! c4? [ 45...exf3+?? 46.xf3# ] 46.f5+! After the knight is captured White mates on h6 with his rook. 1-0
820
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 830 Agrest,Evgenij Conquest,Stuart 19th Open Reykjavik ISL (8) [Tony Kosten]
A21 2604 2563 12.04.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 e7 4.d4 d6 5.e3 [ An unusual alternative to the normal 5.e4 f6 6.xe7 xe7 7.f3 when Black has reasonable play, although White's bishop pair and extra space offer him long term advantages. ] 5...f6 [ 5...f5!? is the aggressive alternative, 6.e2 f6 7.ec3 0-0 8.e2 xd5 ( 8...e6 9.0-0 bd7= ) 9.xd5 g5 10.0-0 c6 ( 10...c6!? ) 11.c3 and Black has no reason to be unhappy with his position, Lobron,E-Bologan,V/Moscow 1994. ] 6.xe7 xe7 7.e2 0-0 [ 7...f5!? 8.g3 g6 9.e2 c5 10.d5 is favourable to White, Williams,S-Pert,N/ Birmingham ENG 1999. ] 8.d5 bd7!? [ Conquest's innovation, which prepares a more aggressive strategy than the positional 8...a5 to gain the c5-square, 9.c3 a6 10.e4 c5 11.f3 h6 12.h3 h7 13.g4 (e l s e B l a c k p la ys . . . f 5 ) h4 14.e2 and White has more space, and the pair of bishops, Onischuk,A-Bologan,V/W ijk aan Zee II 1996. ] 9.c3 e4 The idea behind Black's previous move, he plays ...e4 before White can do it himself. Which will be more important, Black's extra space on the kingside, or the open a1-h8 diagonal for White's c1-bishop? 10.h3 c6 11.dxc6 bxc6 12.b3 Menacing Ba3. d8 13.a3 e5 14.d2 a5 15.e2 c5 Another committal move, as now d5 is weakened, but the black pieces can control this square easily, and it is more important to block White's bishop. 16.a4 b7 17.c3 c6 18.b2 fd7 [ 18...xa4!? is certainly possible, but playing with two knights against two bishops is not everyone's cup of tea. ] 19.0-0 g5 Black has plans on the kingside, his ninth move does give him a space advantage here. 20.h2 e8! 21.ad1 e6
22.g1 h6 Storm clouds are gathering around the white king. 23.f4! The best move, at the price of weakening the kingside, White gains some valuable space, and opens the gfile. exf3 24.gxf3 h5 25.g3 xf3? [ This seems tempting, but White can defend. I prefer 25...g6 , when 26.dg1?! allows ( 26.xg6! xg6 27.g1 is better, although h5 28.g3 e8 favours Black) 26...xf3! 27.xf3 xf3!! the point, for if 28.xf3?? xf3+ 29.h1 xg1# ] 26.xf3 xf3+ 27.xf3 e5 Defending against the mate on g7. 28.df1 xf3+ 29.xf3 g6 The g7-square had to be defended again. 30.e4 [ Possibly, in his habitual time trouble Black had missed this resource, the only move to defend the rook, otherwise, if 30.f2?? g5 wins. ] 30...e8 31.e3! White is ready to play Nc3d5, when his troubles will be behind him. f5!? A good practical try, as the rook will be more influential in the endgame. 32.xf5 xf5 33.exf5 xe3 34.fxg6 e2+ 35.g3 hxg6 W h it e is su re l y b e t t e r, b u t h a s d if f ic u lt y moving his pieces without losing his queenside pawns. 36.f3 h2 37.e4!? White decides to jettison his h-pawn and go after the black queenside pawns, but this will allow Black counterplay on the kingside, of course. f7 38.d5 e7 39.c6 xh3 40.c1 [ White prefers to keep an eye on the gpawns, 40.c3!? g5 41.xa5 g4 42.c7 h6 is very risky. ] 40...e6 41.b6 h2 42.a4?! [ White wants to create a passed a-pawn, but 42.f4 xa2 43.xd6 g5 44.a4 g4 45.xc5+ is very promising. ] 42...h3 43.b5 e5 44.d5 xb3+ 45.xa5 g5 46.a6? [ After this Black is better, the evident 46.xg5 keeps White on top. ] 46...g4 47.f4+ e6 [ 47...d4 48.xd6 g3 is excellent for Black. ] 48.a5 g3 49.e3 d7 50.a7 c6 51.a6 g5! This move wins one of the white pieces for t w o p a w n s . 52.xg5 g2 53.xg2 g3 54.e3 xg5 55.d5 Amazingly, this appears to be drawn as the black king cannot 821
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 approach the a-pawn. g7+ 56.b8 g8+ 57.a7 e8 58.f6 e7+ 59.b8 f7 60.d5 h7 61.a8 [ For after 61.a8 h4 62.b8 xc4 63.a7 a4 64.e7+! b5 65.d5 xa7 66.xa7 c4 67.c3+ b4 68.e2 White has time to bring his king back to stop the pawns. ] ½-½
14.gxf4 The white structure has been we a k e n e d , b u t h e h a s a p o we r f u l d a r k squared bishop as compensation. e4 [ 14...f5 and ...Be4 is also possible, but Black clearly doesn't want to allow W hite to generate too much pressure along the a1-h8 diagonal. ] 15.c1 f6!? Always a double-edged decision: Black impedes the b2-bishop's influence, but weakens his kingside light squares. 16.d4 b6 17.e3 d7 18.h5 Attacking d5 from 831 A21 the side! xd4!? 19.xd4 [ 19.xd5+!? e6 20.xe4 c6 21.c2 Agrest,Evgenij 2599 is also good, Black doesn't have a lot to Sasikiran,Krishnan 2650 show for his pawn. ] Ordix Open Mainz GER (10) 18.08.2002 19...d6? A bad mistake, [Tony Kosten] [ 19...e6 avoids losing a piece. ] Of course! The knight has no retreat as 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 d6!? 20.f3 Unusual, Black intends ...c6 and ...Bc7, we d6 is occupied by the queen. g6 21.h4 g5 22.h6 have previously considered 1-0 [ 3...a5 and Shirov's ] [ 3...e7 ] 4.d4 Obviously best, White is not going to let A21 Black develop too easily. c6 5.dxe5 xe5 832 6.f4!? An innovation, White spurns gaining Almasi,Zoltan 2693 the bishop pair by Vallejo Pons,Francisco 2700 [ 6.f3 d6 7.xe5 ( 7.f4!? is clearly a 49th Capablanca Elite 2014 (6.3) 14.05.2014 move much liked by Agrest! e7?! 8.xe5 [Fier, Alexandr] dxe5 9.xd8+ xd8 10.d3 f6 11.b3 wa s f a v o u ra b l e t o W h i t e i n A g r e s t , E - In a reverse d Gra nd Prix Att ack po sitio n Moberg,K/Haninge 1997) 7...dxe5 8.c3 W h it e ch o o s e s t o st a rt t h e ga m e o n t h e xd1+ 9.xd1 e6?! ( 9...a6 or; 9...a5 queenside before Black is able to castle. 9.c5 are superior) 10.b3 a5 11.b2 f6 12.c3 is interesting, but I'm not a big fan of 10.Bg5?! a6 13.0-0-0 h6 14.h3 f7 15.e3 0-0 1.c4 f5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 e5 4.c3 16.e2 b4 17.f4! b5 18.g4 led to a fine [ 4.d4 d6 Black has excellent results in the white win in Salov,V-Kramnik,V/Linares m i d d l e g a m e w i t h o u t q u e e n s ( 4...exd4 1993, the e6-bishop is a problem. ] 5.xd4 b4+ 6.d2 xd2+ 7.xd2 d6 6...f6 7.f3 c7 As the white knight is no 8.c3 c6 9.h3 was slightly better for longer on d5 Black can simply withdraw his W h i t e in P o p o v, V (2 5 4 8 )- G o r o v e t s , A bishop, rather than play as above with (2467)/Petersburg Summer rapid 2013.) [ 7...d6 ] 5.c3 ( 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.xd8+ xd8 8.g3 0-0 9.g2 d5 Black correctly heads for and the king is not really exposed) 5...e7 an IQP position, if he plays with ...d6 his was played twice by Kasparov in blitz games position will become too passive. 10.cxd5 6.e3 0-0 7.ge2 c6 KEB-Kasparov, G/ cxd5 11.0-0 c6 12.b3 e8 13.b2 Internet blitz 1998. ] White menaces the capture on f6, destroying 4...b4 5.f3 xc3 6.bxc3 d6 Black enters the defence of d5. xf4 a typical 1...e5 English position, but with the [ 13...e6 is a viable alternative, but then his difference that the pawn is on f5 instead of f7. previous move doesn't make a lot of sense - This brings some extra attacking chances. it would be better to leave the rook on the f- 7.d3 file should White play Nxe6. ] [ 7.0-0 0-0 8.d4 is more active, but White 822
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 needs to take care of the c4-pawn ( 8.b1 would be a solid way to play e7 9.e1 bd7 10.d3 c6 with a complex middlegame in Shimanov, A (2516)-Volkov, S (2594)/ Rilton Cup 40th 2010.) 8...e4 9.d2 e8 ( 9...e7 is also possible) 10.e1 bd7 11.c2 and White's plan should be to play 12.f3 and bring the knight to e3, as seen in Simic, R (2495)-Nikcevic, N (2450)/YUG-chT Igalo 1994. ] 7...c6 8.b3 This idea has two purposes. To make Black lose a tempo defending the b7pawn to develop his bishop and to gain the a2g8 diagonal. White thinks he is quick enough to combat Black's center. [ 8.b1 would be normal, and a possible continuation would be 0-0 9.0-0 e8 with a typical Dutch attack ] 8...b8 [ 8...0-0 would be usual and it would bring a similar position compared to the game if 9.c5+ d5 10.g5 b8 11.xf6 xf6 and now W hite can take the d5-pawn by force ( 11...xf6 12.g5 e7 13.c4 d4 14.d5+ xd5 15.cxd5 is an interesting idea with a complicated position) 12.d2 e7 13.xd5+ xd5 14.xd5+ e6 15.f3 bd8 but Black should have enough compensation for the pawn ] 9.c5 Setting some kind of trap. Black can't take the pawn. d5 [ 9...dxc5 10.g5 and because of the rook on b8, Black has problems defending f7 and c6 at the same time d7 11.xc6! xc6 12.f7+ d8 13.0-0 g8 14.d4 and Black's king is in danger ] 10.g5?! Since White can't take the pawn on d5, this move doesn't make much sense to me. I would prefer to keep the bishop pair. [ 10.d4 is t he most direct e4 11.e5 it looks like White's pawns are going to be shattered, but Black's center is also not so stable xe5 ( 11...d7 12.f4 0-0 13.0-0 b6 14.a3 is interesting, White has many ways to fight against Black's center) 12.dxe5 g4 A) 13.a4+ f7!? ( 13...c6 14.h3 xe5 15.f4 e7 16.d4 is the idea) 14.d4 e8 and Black's king is doing well on f7; B) 13.f4 exf3 14.xf3 xe5 15.xd5 e7 and here White's pawns can become
weak 16.0-0 c6 17.g2 e6 18.b4 d8 and Black should be fine; C) 13.f4 this is the best g5 14.c1 xe5 15.h4 gxh4 16.xh4 0-0 17.h5 and big complications are on the way ] [ 10.0-0 is also ok, bringing more pieces to the game before striking in the center 0-0 11.d1 e7 12.e4 fxe4 13.dxe4 a5 14.a4 dxe4 15.g5 g4 16.e1 c6 17.xe4 xe4 18.xe4 f7 19.e3 e6 with an interesting position. Of course, nothing of this is forced ] 10...h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.0-0 [ 12.xd5?? would be embarrassing e6-+ ] 12...e6 Black is ready to finish his development and White had no reason to give t h e b i s h o p p a i r . 13.ab1 e4 14.d4 White makes a temporary sacrifice to create some counterplay. [ 14.d2 is possible, but Black is also fine here 0-0 15.c2 b6 16.b3 e5 and Black's chances are slightly preferable ] 14...xd4 15.cxd4 xd4 16.dxe4 fxe4 17.a3 [ 17.bd1 is the alternative e5 ( 17...xc5 is not necessary 18.xe4 c6 19.g6+ f7 20.xf7+ xf7 21.f3+ g8 22.e4 with compensation) 18.c6 trying to recover the pawn in a strange way 0-0 ( 18...b6 19.a3 is not what Black is looking for) 19.cxb7 c5 20.b1 f7 with some advantage to Black ] 17...0-0 18.e3 f6 19.xa7 g4! Activating the bishop, now W hite has some coordination problems. 20.a5 Sacrificing an exchange to rearrange the pieces, but White has insufficient compensation. [ 20.xb7?? a8 wins the queen ] [ 20.be1 is a sad move, but at least White defends e2 c6 21.a3 a8 22.b3 h8 and White's pawns on the queenside are too weak ] 20...e2 21.d2 d3!? Black is not in hurry to take the exchange. The bishop is basically stronger than the white rooks. [ 21...xf1 is also ok, but White can take the ce n t ra l p a wn s 22.xd5+ h8 23.xf1 fe8 24.xe4 e5 and the c5-pawn will fall 25.g2 xd5 26.xd5 e5 27.b3 xc5 and Black should be close to winning ] 22.bc1 b6 23.c6 823
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 23.cxb6 xb6 and the rook enters the game 24.f4 d6!? Black just doesn't want t h e e x c h a n g e 25.fd1 c5 26.f1 c4 27.c3 c5 28.e1 a8 and Black is dominating ] 23...xf1 Finally, Black goes for the exchange, now it's just matter of technique. [ 23...a8 is also good, but less human 24.fd1 b5 25.f1 c4 26.xc4 dxc4 and White is in trouble ] 24.xd5+ f7 25.xf7+ xf7 26.xf1 f5 27.a4 d8 [ 27...c5 was already possible, the endgame without rooks is hopeless 28.xc5 bxc5 29.b5 f7 30.f1 e6 31.e2 d5 and because of the weak f-pawn White is lost ] 28.c4 e5 29.c2 c5 And the c-pawn falls. 30.b2 xc6 31.b4 c1 32.g2 c2 33.xe4 f8 34.c4+ h8 35.h3 cxf2 36.e7 c6 37.e4 c2 38.f7 f2 39.c4 h5 40.c7 g5 41.e6 d8 42.f7 g4+ 43.h4 xh2+ 44.g5 h4 45.xg4 h3 46.e5 hd2 47.xh3 2d7 48.xd7 xd7 49.e6 e7 50.g4 g7 51.f5 b5 52.axb5 cxb5 53.h5 b4 54.d1 c7 55.e5 c3 56.a4 b3 57.e7 b2 58.d6 d3+ 59.c5 e3 60.d4 0-1
15.xh8 xg5 16.xg8 h6 resulted in a sudden and quite unexpected agreement to a draw. The position is quite unclear, for example one possibility is 17.d5 e3 18.fxe3 f7 19.xf8+ xf8 20.d4 with weird and wonderful play. ] 8.bc3 [ I think that White also has a pull after 8.xe7 but after xe7 9.c3 e6 I think White should play 10.b3 ( 10.e3 c6 11.b4 d5 looked fine for Black in Williams, S ( 2 4 8 7 ) - H o we l l , D ( 2 3 4 8 ) / C a l e t a 2 0 0 5) 10...c6 11.g5 0-0 12.e3 and maybe 13. d5 next. ] 8...0-0 9.xe7+ [ Another possibility is 9.g3 , for example e6 10.xe7+ xe7 11.d5 f7 12.h3 g4 was Speelman, J (2533)-Howell, D (2501)/Sunningdale 2007, and now 13.0-0 looks interesting after which ( Rather than Speelman's 13.xg4 ) 13...h5 14.f3 exf3 15.exf3 e5 16.b5 xc4 17.d4 is suddenly very good for White. ] 9...xe7 10.g5 f7 A new move from Volkov. [ In an earlier game Black played 10...e6 after which 11.e3 bd7 12.e2 c6 13.0-0 f7 14.d5 cxd5 15.b5 e5! 16.xd6 g6 17.xf6 ( 17.f4!? ) 17...xf6 18.cxd5 d7 19.c4 xc4 20.xc4 f4 gave Black counterplay in Lautier, J (2620)-Shirov, A 833 A21 (2685)/ Tilburg 1996. ] Andreikin,Dmitry 2696 11.e3 c6 12.e2!? At first sight this looks Volkov,Sergey 2607 l i k e a b l u n d e r b u t i n r e a l i t y i t i s a m o s t Baku Open A Baku AZE (6) 11.08.2011 interesting pawn sacrifice. [ Having said that White could also get a [Nigel Davies] nice position with 12.h4 a f t e r w h i c h h6 13.xf6 xf6 14.h5 leaves him with a 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 e7 4.d4 d6 pleasant looking reversed French. ] 5.f3 e4 6.d2 f5 7.b1 This paradoxical retreat makes perfect sense the knight is not 12...g6 13.h4 h6 14.xf6 xg2 15.d2! well placed on d2 but really good when it gets xf6 16.d5 f7 17.g1! The brilliant point. to c3. So why not simply reposition it even if White goes into a pawn down endgame but one in which Black has serious problems. Very this involves some undevelopment. [ White's most popular choice has been 7.e3 deep and inventive chess. xg1 18.hxg1 f4 .] [ 18...f8 19.f4 would renew the threat of 7...f6 20.Bh5. ] [ Bogdan Lalic playced his own undeveloping f8 20.xc7 b8 21.e8 move with 7...f8 in Solonar, S (2445)-Lalic, 19.h5 B (2590)/Manresa 1995 after which 8.h4 c6 The knight's journey continues, this time 22.xd6 e6 9.g5 d7 10.f4 f7 11.h5 xc4 forking d6 and g7! h8 12.c3 f7 13.g6 hxg6 14.hxg6 xg6 23.g6 g8 24.ag1 fd8 25.c5 b6 824
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.xg7 bxc5 27.7g6 d7 the sake of the two bishops. 8.e3 [ 27...cxd4 28.xh6+ h7 29.f7# [ 8.e2 exd4! ( 8...f5!?; 8...0-0!? ) would see White's heroic knight deliver the A) 9.g4!? For the bold or slightly insane. mate! ] h4+ ( 9...f6 10.xd4 0-0 11.e2 28.dxc5 xa2 29.xh6+ h7 30.xh7+ looks comfortable.) 10.d2 f6 11.xd4 xh7 31.g6+ h8 32.exf4 xb2+ h5 12.gxh5 xh5 13.c2 is unclear.; 33.e3 b3+ 34.xe4 b4+ 35.e3 a5 B) 9.xd4 c6 10.d2 f5 11.exf5 36.f7 b3 37.xb3 xb3+ 38.e4 b2 e5! As pointed out by John Watson in 39.d5 d8 40.e4 It's fitting that the last the third edition of Mastering the Chess move should be made with this knight. Black Openings, works well for Black. ] now has no good defence to the threat of 41. 8...f5 Nf6 and 42.Rg8 mate. [ 8...exd4 9.xd4 c6 10.c3 0-0 1-0 intending f5 next, is also playable, ] 9.exf5 f6!? 10.e2 [ 10.g4!? e4 ( 10...exd4 11.xd4 c6 ) 834 A21 11.h3 does not lend itself to an immediate refutation. If this were Black's only way of Aronian,Levon 2739 playing it would be worth investing some Shirov,Alexei 2755 more time here, but given the alternative on XXV SuperGM Morella Linares MEX/ESP (5) move eight and the more general sense that [Jonathan Rowson] White is trying too hard, I think it's best not to get embroiled any further. ( 11.f4 h5 )] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 e7 4.d4 d6 5.e4 I think many, myself included, have 10...exd4 11.xd4 xf5 12.d2 c6 a s s u m e d t h a t t h i s is t h e b e st m o ve d u e 13.0-0-0 [ 13.c3 e5 ] principally to Kasparov-Shirov below. However, 14.g4 g6 15.f4 xd4 Black's play can be significantly improved 13...0-0-0 16.xd4 b8 17.h4 f7 18.d3 f6! [ 5...c6 6.xe7 xe7 7.e2 f5 8.dxe5 At first I felt W hite made quite a generous xe5 9.exf5 f6 10.d4! xf5 11.f4 offer, but in fact if anybody is better in the a5+ 12.c3 xc3+ 13.xc3 0-0 final position it is probably Black e.g. [ 18.d3 c5! 19.f2 c7!? 20.g5 d5! ] 14.0-0-0 d5 15.d6 c8 16.f3 bd7 17.g4 e6 18.g5 e8 19.cxd5 xd5 ½-½ 20.g3 e6 21.d3 c5 22.c2 d8 23.h4 f7 24.e4 xe4 25.fxe4 f8 A21 26.df1 g8 27.h5 d7 28.f2 d6 835 Aronian,Levon 2739 29.g6 e6 30.gxh7+ h8 31.h6 g6 Shirov,Alexei 2755 32.f6 e8 33.xg6 c4 34.e1 xh7 35.g3 e5 36.c3 c4 37.g7+ 43 XXV SuperGM Morella Linares MEX/ESP (5) 1-0 Kasparov, G (2805)-Shirov, A (2740)/ [Carsten Hansen] Novgorod 1994/CBM ] 6.xe7 xe7 7.f3 h5! Black has to play 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 e7 Black has q u i c k l y a n d u s e h i s a s s e t s - p r i n c i p a l l y also tried several other moves here including development- before W hite can show the 3...Ba5 and 3...Bc5, but the text is considered relevance of his extra space and bishop pair. the most solid and best 4.d4 d6 5.e4 f6 My f eeling about this line is that if W hite 6.xe7 xe7 7.f3 h5 [ This is considered the main line in this wants to invest some time making sure he can variation complex. Nevertheless, Black has tread a tightrope for the next few moves then tried several other things in this variation: A) it might be rewarding, but on the face of it, I 7...c5 8.d5 ('+/=' Ftacnik) h5 ( 8...0-0 believe in Black's prospects, because his 9.g5 h6 10.h4 bd7 11.d2 e8 position is sound and active and there is only 12.d3 b5 13.cxb5 xe4 14.xe7 xd2 so much suffering one should put up with for 825
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.xd6 e4 16.xd2 exd3 17.xd3 a6 Degerman, L-Davies, N/Stockholm 1995, and now 18.h3 axb5 19.he1 ) 9.e2 0-0 10.e3 f5 11.c3 ( 11.exf5 xf5 12.g4 e4! ) 11...f4 12.f2 a6 13.e2 c7 14.d2 d7 Ater, G-Rausis, I/ Calella 1994 ] [ B) The only move previously covered here o n C h e s s p u b l i s h i n g . c o m i s 7...exd4 , where the game Cu.Hansen-I.Sokolov, Groningen 1995 was the subject, but since this is the main line and it has been played a lot since that game, let's take a closer look at that variation: 8.xd4 c6 ( 8...c5?! 9.d2 e6 10.d3 c6 11.e2 0-0 12.0-0 a6 13.b3 ab8 14.c3 d4 15.b2 b5 16.d5 xd5 17.cxd5 Karpov, A-Illescas Cordoba, M/Dos Hermanas 1994) 9.c3 ( 9.d1?! h5! 10.g3?! f5 11.g2 fxe4 12.fxe4 f6 13.g5 0-0 14.e2 h6 15.xf6 xf6 16.0-0-0 e5 Grant, J-Zueger, B/Ohrid 2001 ) A) 9...e5 10.e2; B) 9...0-0 B1) 10.e2 B1a) 10...e5 11.e3 a6 12.f4 c5 13.e2 d7 14.0-0 b5 15.fd1 fd8 16.b3 Lenz, A-Ganaus, H/Vienna 1998; B1b) 10...d7 11.f4 B1b1) 11...h4+!? 12.g3 d8 (Ribli) 13.e3 de5 14.g2; B1b2) 11...f5!? is likely Black's best: 12.d5 h4+ 13.g3 d8 14.exf5 ( 14.h4!? c5 15.g5 d7 16.h3 f7 17.0-0 e6= ) 14...e7! ( 14...xf5 Ribli 15.f4!? ) 15.e3 xf5 16.xf5 xf5 17.e3!? xf3 18.g2 f8 19.0-0-0; B1b3) 11...b6?! 12.a4 ( 12.e3 ) 12...a5 13.e3 d7 14.d5 d8 15.d1 b6 ( Ribli suggests 15...c5 16.xc5 dxc5 17.b6 xd1+ 18.xd1 cxb6 with some compensation for Black for the queen on account of the d4-square where Black will place a knight, but whether it is fully adequate is an open question) 16.d3 c5 17.c2 e6 18.0-0 xd5!? 19.cxd5 b4
20.d4 xc2 Marin, M-Dizdarevic, E/ Istanbul 2003, and now 21.xc2 with a space advantage and better chances for White; B1c) 10...e8 11.f4 f5 12.d5 f7 13.exf5 xf5 14.e3 f6 15.0-0-0 a5 16.a3 a4 17.d3 xd5 18.cxd5 a5 19.c2 xc2 20.xc2 b3+ 21.b1 a5 22.d3 , and now Megacorr 3 gives this as e n d i n g i n a d r a w, 1 / 2 - 1 / 2 , a t t h i s juncture in the game Wrba, K-Gehret, A/corr 1997, but Black is clearly better after e8 23.he1 e5!; B1d) 10...h5 11.g4 ( 11.e3 f5 12.exf5 xf5 13.g4 ae8 ) 11...h4+ 12.d1 f6 13.g3 e6 14.e3 Lalic, B-Shirov, A/Moscow ol/ 1994; B2) 10.g5 B2a) 10...e5 11.d2 ( 11.xe5 xe5 12.xf6 gxf6 13.e2 xc4 14.c3 b6 15.b5 d7 16.xc7 ac8 17.b5 xb5 18.xb5 c2= Kubasky, A-Koch, C/IECG Email 2002 ) 11...e8 12.e2 a6 13.c3 e6 14.d1 h6 15.f4 a5 16.e2 ab8 17.d5 Olarasu, G-Ionescu Brandis, I/Iasi 1999; B2b) 10...e5 11.e2 e8 12.g3 h6 13.xf6 xf6 14.e2 d7 15.xf6 xf6 16.f2 e6 17.hd1 g6 18.f1 d7 19.e3 Williams, SBuckley, M/ Scarborough 2001; B2c) 10...e8 11.d2 ( 11.xf6 gxf6 12.0-0-0 f5 13.d3 Lalic ) 11...h6; B3) 10.e3 (+= Shirov) B3a) 10...e8 11.e2 e5 B3a1) 12.g3!? c6 13.0-0-0 d5!? 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.exd5 d7 16.c5?! ( 16.b1!? ac8 17.b3 xf3 18.f4! ) 16...d8 17.a3 c8 18.b1 c7 19.c1 xd5 with a complicated game and chances to both sides, Chernin, AMoberg, K/Gothenburg 1996; B3a2) 12.f4 eg4 ( 12...g6 13.0-0-0 was Hansen, Cu-Sokolov, I/ Groningen 1995 - see the PGN a rc h ive s wi t h T o n y a n n o t a t i o n s) 13.d2 ( 13.fxg4? xe4 14.a3 826
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 10.d2 ) 10...f4 11.e2 cxd5 xg4 15.d5 d8 leaves White's 12.cxd5 h4+!? ( 12...xe2 13.xe2 ) king temporarily stuck in the centre, 13.f2 f6 14.xf4 ( 14.c1 ) 14...exf4 f a c i n g a n a s t y d e f e n s i v e t a s k .) 15.d4 Nielsen, P-Pedersen, S/Aalborg 13...d7 ( 13...xe4?! 14.fxe4 2000 ( 15.d2 )] xe4+ 15.e2 g5 16.0-0 gxf4 [ E) 7...xe4 8.fxe4 h4+ 9.d2 f4+ 17.xf4 g6 18.f3 leaves White ( 9...xe4 10.f3 f5 11.c3 exd4+ with amble compensation f or the 12.xd4 e5 13.d3!+- ) 10.d3 f2 pawn ) 14.e2 e5 15.0-0 a6 11.f3+Raetsky, A-Kleinert, J/Biel SUI 16.b4 b5 17.fc1 bxc4 18.xc4 2003 ] a4 is Kund, W-Zawadka, A/IECG Email 2001, and now 19.f1 c6 8.e3 [ 8.e2 0-0 20.d3 fd7 21.f2 intending f3-f4 A) 9.g4!? is probably the critical line, leaves W hite with the better though largely ignored, e.g. h4+ 10.d2 chances; A1) S v i d l e r d i s m i s s e s 10...f4 B3b) 10...h5!?; , but matters aren't as clear as Svidler B3c) 10...d7 11.e2 f5 12.exf5 leads us to believe, for instance 11.xf4 e8 13.f2 de5 14.g3 f7 exf4 12.c2 (+/- Svidler) c6 13.d5 15.e2 xf5 16.h3 e6 17.b3 g6 f2+ 14.e2 ( 17...f6!? ) 18.he1 f8 19.g1 A1a) 14...d4+ looks promising, but f4 20.d2 e5 with a comfortable is probably better for White I couldn't position for Black, Ibragimov, Ifind anything for Black in the following Kovacevic, B/Djakovo 1994; line: 15.d3 b5 16.cxb5 xe2 C) 9...e6 10.e3 0-0-0?! ( 10...0-0!? ( 16...a6? 17.e1 xe1 18.xe1 11.0-0-0 a5 12.b1 a4 is rather doublexe2 19.xe2 g5 20.c2 a7 e d g e d , a n d s h o u ld b e f i n e f o r B l a c k) 21.bxa6 xa6+ 22.d4+- ) 17.xe2 11.0-0-0 d7 12.xg7 hg8 13.c3 f5 b6 18.a4 d7 ( 18...a6 19.b4 ) 14.exf5 xf5 15.e2 c5 16.d4 19.e1 f5 20.gxf5 xf5 21.g1 Popov, V-Evertsson, K/Stockholm 2001 ] ( 21.exf5?? xf5+-+ ) 21...b7 [ C) 7...0-0 22.d4; A) 8.e2 c6 9.c3 d5 10.cxd5 cxd5 A1b) 14...xg4! 15.fxg4 f3 16.f1 11.dxe5 xe5 12.xd5 c6 13.c4 xe2+ 17.xe2 d4+ 18.d3 xe2 d8 14.0-0 e6 15.e1 xd5 16.exd5 19.f1 h5 20.xf3 ( 20.gxh5?! f5! ) d6 , and here a draw was agreed upon, 20...hxg4 21.f1 xc1+ 22.axc1 1/2-1/2, in Mellado Trivino, J-De la Villa , and White has more space, but Black Garcia, J/Zaragoza 1995, but White has a should be able to defend; strong initiative after 17.g5! , e.g. c5+ A2) 10...f6 11.e1 h6+ 18.h1 d7 ( 18...xc4? 19.xd8 xd8 ( 11...xe1+ 12.xe1 ) 12.d1 g6 20.dxc6!! xd1 21.exd1 f8 22.d8+ 13.g1 fd7 14.d5 c6 15.e3 cxd5 e7 23.cxb7+- ) 19.c2 xd5 20.f5 16.cxd5 a6 Fridman, D-Sulskis, S/ d6 21.f4 dd8 22.ac1; Riga 1995 17.c3 ac5 18.c2 B) 8.g5 h6 9.h4 exd4 10.xd4 c6 (Svidler); 11.xf6 '!' Ribli. gxf6 12.d2 f5 13.0-0-0 B) 9.e3 fxe4 14.xh6 f5 15.fxe4 xe4 16.f3 B1) 9...exd4 f5 17.d3 Uhlmann, W-Onischuk, A/ B1a) 10.xd4!? c6 11.d2 Dresden 1994 ] ( 11.d5 e5 12.g3 xg3 [ D) 7...c6 13.hxg3 e6 14.d4 c5 15.c3 f5 A) 8.g5 d5 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.exd5 16.exf5 xf5 Svidler ) 11...f5 exd4+ 11.e2 ( 11.e2 xe2+ - > 9 . . . f 5 ! ? 12.c3 fxe4 13.xe4 12.xe2 xd5 13.xd4 ) 11...b4+ ( 13.fxe4?! g4! is a positional toilet 12.d2 xd5 13.xd4 Ribli; for White ) 13...f5 14.d3 e5 B) 8.d5!? h5 9.e3 0-0 10.g4!? 827
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c6 12.d2 xf5 13.0-0-0 ae8= 15.0-0 xd3 16.xd3 xe4 17.fxe4 was played in Lautier, J-Shirov, A/Las f6; Pa lm a s/ 1 9 9 4, a n d n o w Sh iro v c a lls B1b) 10.xd4?! c6 14.f2 g6 15.c3 f7 equal, but as I B1b1) 11.c3?! is given as equal already pointed out in my book on the by Gulko in Informator, but as King's English, this position already feels mentioned in my book, Black is just more comfortable for Black, a verdict my better after f5 12.d5 f7; computer now (I didn't have an chess B1b2) 11.d2!? is probably best, engine when I wrote the book) agrees though Black is quite comfortable with, e.g. 16.c5!? f4 17.cxd6 b4 after e6 12.c3 xd4!? 18.d4 ( 18.dxc7?? xa2+ 19.xa2 ( 12...f5!?; 12...e5 ) 13.xd4 g5 xa2-+ ) 14.d2 c5 15.0-0-0 b5; B3a) 18...xa2+ 19.xa2 e2 B1b3) 11.g4?! xg4 12.fxg4 xe4 20.d2 xa2 21.xe2 b1+ 22.d2 13.gxh5 xh1 Gulko, B-Granda c2+ 23.e3 b3+ 24.d2 c5!? Zuniga, J/Moscow ol/1994; ( 24...c2+= ) 25.xc5 d3+ B2) 9...c5?! 10.dxc5 dxc5 11.d5 ( 25...xb2+= ) 26.c1 b1+ 27.d2 a6 12.0-0-0 xb2+ 28.d1 b1+ 29.d2 B2a) 12...e6 13.d6 f6 b2+=; ( 13...h4? 14.xe5+- ) 14.c3 fd8 B3b) 18...c5! 19.xc5 ( 19.c4? ( 14...f4 -12...Qf6 ) 15.d5! h4 fd3+ 20.xd3 xd3+ 21.xd3 16.e7 xe7 17.xe7+ f8 xd3 22.xd3 g6-+ ) 19...xa2+ 18.d5 Svidler; 20.d2 ( 20.xa2 c8-+ ) B2b) 12...f6 13.c3 ( 13.xc5? 20...xc3-+ ] e6 14.d6 xc5 15.xc5 fc8 16.d6 xc4 17.xf6 xa2+! 8...f5 [ This is Shirov's novelty, immediately Svidler ) 13...f4 14.d6 e6 sharpening the game by opening the centre Svidler: ' -12...Qf6' ' -12...Qf6' with only a few pieces developed and both ( 14...xd6 15.xd6 e6 16.d5 kings still on their original squares. Normally, d4 17.f4 Yakovich ) Black castles first before playing this pawn B2b1) 15.d5? xd5 16.cxd5 advance. Black has also tried a couple of fd8 ( 16...ad8 17.dxe6 xd6 other things in this position: A) 8...0-0 18.xd6 e7 Yakovich 19.exf7+ A) 9.e2?! f5 ( 9...exd4?! is Gulko, Bxf7 20.xa6 bxa6 21.d5 ) Granda Zuniga, J/Moscow 1994 - see 17.dxe6 xd6 18.xd6; above ) B2b2) 15.xc5 fd8 16.e7 xc5 A1) 10.dxe5 dxe5 ( 10...xe5?! 17.xc5 xg2 18.xg2 g5+ 11.d5+ xd5 12.exd5 ) 11.c3 c6 19.b1 xg2; 12.exf5 xf5 13.g4?! xg4 14.fxg4 B2b3) 15.d2 b4 ( 15...ad8 h4+ 15.d2 d8+ 16.d3 a6! Yakovich 16.d5 xd5 17.exd5 ) Shirov; B2b31) 16.d5 bxd5 A2) 10.exf5 exd4! 11.xd4 ( 11.xd4 ( 16...xd5 17.cxd5 ) 17.cxd5 xf5 12.g4 xg4! 13.fxg4 e4 d7 18.b1 b6 19.g3 g6 14.g1 f4 15.g3 c6 Shirov ) 20.f4; 11...xf5 ( 11...c6 transposes to B2b32) 16.xc5 fd8 17.e3 Lautier, J-Shirov, A/Las Palmas 1994 xd1+ 18.xd1 xa2+ ( 18...c6 above ) 12.0-0-0 c6 13.d2 f7 Yakovich 19.b1! b6 20.a3 14.c3 ( 14.g3!? ) 14...e6 15.e2 d8 21.c3 ) 19.b1 d8 a6 16.g4 f6 17.g5 d7 18.d5?! ( 19...d8 Yakovich 20.f2 ) ( 18.g6! hxg6 19.he1! ) 18...xd5 20.f2 Yakovich, Y-Solozhenkin, 19.cxd5 b4 20.g6 hxg6 21.g5 e5 E/St Petersburg 1995; 22.f4 e4 23.b3 c5 , and Black is B3) 9...f5!? 10.exf5 exd4 11.xd4 828
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 clearly better, De Ramos, J-Bui Vinh/ Phu Quoc VIE 2007; B) 9.d5 f5?! ( 9...g6 (Ribli) 10.d2; 9...a6!? 10.d2 d7 11.g4 f4 12.h4 c5 13.0-0-0 a5 looks fine for Black) 10.exf5 f4 ( 10...xf5? 11.g4 xg4 12.fxg4 h4+ 13.d2 g3 14.hxg3 xh1 15.h3 /\ g5 - Ribli) 11.g4 b5 12.cxb5 ( 12.d2!? Ribli ) 12...b7 13.c4 g2+ ( 13...d7 14.e2 g2+ 15.f2 xe3 16.xe3 g5+ 17.f2 h4+ 18.g3 e4 19.fxe4 f6 20.g2 xg4 21.d4 Ledger, A-Hebden, M/ Hastings 1995 ) 14.f2 xe3 15.xe3 ] [ B) 8...exd4!? 9.xd4 c6 10.c3 e5 ( 10...f5 11.exf5 0-0 12.g4 e8 13.d2 f6 14.e1 e5 15.d4 b6 16.xe5 dxe5 17.h3 b7 Williams, S-Pert, R/ W itley 1999) 11.e2 d7 12.0-0-0 0-0 13.g4 f6 14.h4 fe8 15.g1 Smirin, I-Lehner, O/Vienna 1998 ] 9.exf5 f6! [ W h ite ca n claim a n e d ge af t e r 9...exd4 10.xd4 c6 11.d2 0-0 ( 11...xf5 12.g4 ) 12.0-0-0 xf5 13.g4 e5 14.f2 ] 10.e2 [ W hite should of course consider 10.g4!? , e.g. d7 11.g2 exd4 12.xd4 c6 13.c3 0-0-0 14.0-0-0 , and White appears to have the better chances. What did Shirov have in mind in this variation? ] 10...exd4 11.xd4 [ Taking back with the queen doesn't offer W hite anything: 11.xd4 c6 12.c3 xf5 13.g4 d7 14.0-0-0 b4!? ( 14...0-0 15.g3 e5 16.d2 ) 15.d2 a5 with a complex position where Black by no means is worse ] 11...xf5 12.d2 [ 12.g4 grabs space and attempts to gain a tempo, but Black is doing very well after d7 13.g2 c6 14.0-0 0-0-0 15.e1 f7 16.c1 g5 ] 12...c6 [ Or 12...0-0 13.0-0-0 c6 14.g3 e6 15.c3 ad8= ] 13.0-0-0 0-0-0 14.g4 g6 15.f4 xd4 16.xd4 [ 16.xg6 hxg6 17.xd4 b8= ] 16...b8 17.h4 [ 17.d3 xd3 18.xd3 d7 19.he1
f7= ] 17...f7 18.d3 [ 18.d5 xd5 19.cxd5 he8 20.d3 g6= ] 18...c5!? 19.f2 d7!? [ 19...d5 looks tempting, but White keeps the balance: 20.h2 ( 20.g5 h5 21.xd5 xd5 22.cxd5 xd5 23.h2+ c7 24.xc7+ xc7 25.c2 f4 26.e4 e5= ) 20...e3+ 21.b1 a8 22.he1 xf3 ] 20.he1 e5 21.b1 f6 , and here a draw was agreed upon, but Black already has a pleasant game. According to the comments online, Black was already quite short of time. ½-½
836 Cheparinov,Ivan Stevic,Hrvoje CRO-chT Bol (9.4) [Fier, Alexandr]
A21 2687 2626 22.09.2013
One of our subscribers asked about the other lines without 6.f4 in the Erdos - Stevic game, so I'm giving an overview of the options in these positions when Black has a setup with ... e5, ...f5 and ...Be7. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 d6 3.g3 f5 4.g2 f6 5.d3 [ 5.d4 when I received the email, ChessPub Support mentioned that the critical lines are with 5.d4 or 5.e3, so I'm also taking a look at these moves: e7 6.f3 forces some definition in the center ( 6.e3 0-0 7.ge2 c6 8.0-0 a6 9.b1 c7 10.b4 e6 11.b5 xc4 12.bxc6 b5 Kovalyov, A (2606) -Arencibia Rodriguez, W (2526)/Quebec-ch op 2013. ) 6...e4 7.g5 c6 8.d5 these kind of position are hard to understand. White can sometimes play a committal f3 g4 9.h4 0-0 10.f3 exf3 11.exf3 e8 12.e6 xe6 13.fxg4 f7 ( 13...cxd5 is bad, but was played in Khismatullin, D (2 6 57 )-S kob e rn e , J (2 5 09 )/E U-c h 1 1 t h R i j e k a 2 0 1 0 . 14.gxf5 and White has the a d v a n t a g e .) 14.0-0 fxg4 15.xg4 with a complex position, which looks slightly better for White ] [ 5.e3 is a slower approach where White tries to play a reversed closed Sicilian e7 829
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 5...g6 is analysed in Wang Yue-Smirin, see the PGN Archive.) 6.ge2 0-0 7.d3 c6 8.0-0 e6 9.f4 e8 and in this kind of positions I feel that the bishop would be better on g7, Das, A (2470)-Pert, N (2563)/ Hastings Masters op 87th 2011. ] 5...e7 [ 5...g6 would transpose into another kind of position, basically a Closed Sicilian with reversed colors ] 6.f3 [ 6.e4 was another interesting option suggested by Tony K, entering a Botvinnik System 0-0 7.ge2 c6 8.0-0 a6 and White can try one of the typical ideas in this position, with 9.h3 e8 10.exf5!? to open the center before Black develops his pieces in a harmonous way xf5 11.g4 e6 12.f4 with good prospects in McNab, C (2466)-Greet, A (2433)/Edinburgh Quality Chess 2009. ] [ 6.f4 was analyzed in Erdos, V (2650)Stevic, H (2626)/CRO-chT Bol 2013. ] 6...0-0 7.0-0 c6 [ 7...e8 is an interesting alternative 8.b4 ( 8.c5 doesn't make too much sense to me, and after c6 9.cxd6 xd6 10.g5 h8 Black has good potential for an attack, he has good squares for all his pieces 11.xf6 xf6 12.e3 d7 and Black is fine and managed to win in Flores, D (2578)-Peralta, F (2609)/ARG-ch 88th Resistance/Saenz Pe n a 2 01 3 .) 8...h5 Black goes for a full attack 9.b3 h8 10.d2 f4 11.d5 xd5 12.cxd5 and Black can try ...g5-g4 and then meet Rac1 with ...Bd8. The question will be whether White's counterplay is faster or not Morley, P (2315)-De Carlos Arregui, I (2361)/email 2011. ] 8.b4 h8 [ 8...a6 9.a4 h8 10.b1 transposes. ] 9.b1 [ 9.b5 is also possible and after A) 9...cxb5!? it's strange to open the qu ee n sid e, bu t B lack ca n get th e c6 square for the knight 10.cxb5 ( 10.xb5 c6 11.b2 a6 12.c3 e6 is also level) 10...a6!? 11.b1 axb5 12.xb5 c6 with chances for both players; B) 9...e8 10.a4 h5 11.c5 it looks like
White's chances are slightly preferable ] 9...a6 10.a4 e6 11.b5 axb5 12.axb5 fd7 [ 12...c7 is more logical, trying to finish d e v e l o p m e n t 13.bxc6 bxc6 14.b3 with a typical kind of position, as seen in Spraggett, K (2585)-Dolmatov, S (2615)/ Hastings 8990 1989. ] 13.d2 f6 14.b2 c5 15.c2 [ 15.b3 is a thematic move and the game could continue like this: xb3 16.xb3 c7 17.fc1 ] 15...c7 16.bxc6 bxc6 17.b5! d7 18.d4 a2 [ 18...a4 is also logical, but White can claim an advantage after 19.dxe5 dxe5 20.a3 e7 21.xe7 xe7 22.a1 b6 23.c5 xa1 24.xa1 d5 25.d6 with a pleasant position for White ] [ 18...exd4 is just bad 19.xd4 g8 20.e3 and White is clearly better ] 19.dxc5 cxb5 20.b3 a7 [ 20...a4 is n ot e nough 21.xb5 xb5 22.cxb5 dxc5 23.b6 and White's passed pawn is much more dangerous than Black's one ] 21.c6 [ 21.cxd6 was more precise bxc4 22.xc4 and W hite can go away f rom the pin by tactical means a6 23.fc1 d7 24.b7! and both knights are hostages, so White is better ] 21...bxc4 22.xc4 a6 [ 22...xc6 was quite direct, but Black's position can be unpleasant after 23.xc6 b8 24.d3 xc4 25.xc4 axb2 26.xb2 xb2 27.e6 e7 28.xf5 since W hite's bishop is much better than Black's one ] 23.a1 xc6 Fearlessly going into some strange complications. [ 23...c5 was also possible 24.a3 xc4 25.xc4 xc4 26.xd6 c8 27.xb8 xb8 28.xa6 xa6 29.a1 c4 30.c7 c8 31.b7 xc7 32.a8+ g8 33.d5 h5 34.xg8 g6 ] 24.xc6 xa1 25.xa1 c5 26.b5 b8 27.a5 [ 27.a4 was more prudent g6 giving some air to Black's king ( 27...d5 28.b4 d8 29.a4 and White is somehow getting out 830
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 o f t h e p i n s c6 30.a3 h6 31.b3 and f inally the piece s a re more o r less unpinned d5 32.xc6 xb3 33.xb3 xb3 34.c4 and White can try to work in t h e e n d g a m e) 28.a3 ( 28.b4 xc4 29.xc4 xb5 30.c2 d5 31.c8+= ) 28...xb5 29.xc5 xb3 30.xd6 d5 31.f3 c3 32.a3 b3 and the endgame is level ] 27...d8 28.a3 [ 28.d7 it's hard to understand what's going on in this position, since there are too many pieces hanging A) 28...xb3 i s o k f o r W h i t e 29.xc5 xd7 30.d5 and the d6-pawn is going to fall c7 31.xd6 g8 ( 31...xb2 32.f7+ g8 33.xd7= ) 32.d2 with a draw; B) 28...xa5!? since everything is hanging, the natural laws of chess are not working 29.xb8 e1+ 30.g2 d5+ 31.f3 xe2+ 32.g1 d1+ 33.f2 xf3+ 34.e1 h1+ 35.d2 xh2+ 36.d1 and Black has an initiative, but White should be ok, since the threats on the back rank give enough counterplay ] 28...xc4? Now the exchanges leads to a draw. [ 28...d4! was better, and sufficient to enter the same position with a pawn up, since White can't get away from the pins 29.b2 xc4 30.xd4 xb3 31.a7 xa5 32.xb8 b4 and the pawn on d6 is still alive, so Black has chances. ] 29.xc5 xb3 30.xd6 xa5 31.xb8 c3 ½-½
837 Cook,Robert Williamson,Harvey BCCA v Bccs [Tony Kosten]
A21
2004
Harvey Williamson writes: "What do you think of 3...Na6!? with the idea of a later ...Nc5 - is ...Na6 a good move? Or an interesting novelty?" 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 a6!? This is Harvey's new move, it resembles [ 3...c6 but keeps the possibility of ejecting the white knight with a later ...c6. ]
4.a3 [ 4.xb4 xb4 5.b3!? is Dill,J-Sidi,M/ Buenos Aires 1978, although starting with 3...Nc6. ] 4...a5!? The most ambitious. 5.b4 c6 This is the point of Black's play, a retreat square on c7 is prepared. 6.c3 [ 6.bxa5 cxd5 7.cxd5 f6 8.e4 c5 is similar to the 3...Ba5 4 b4 c6 mainline, and seems fine for Black. ] 6...c7 7.d4 The natural central thrust, if [ 7.e4 f6 8.f3 Black might try d5!? ] 7...e7!? One of several possible replies, Black keeps the f-pawn's advance unhindered should W hite decide to close the position. 8.e4 White grabs even more space, other possibilities: [ 8.f3 exd4 9.xd4 0-0 10.b2 c5!? to justify the a6-knight's placement, 11.bxc5 f5 12.d5 d6 with some play for the sacrificed pawn, McMahon,F-Williamson,H/ BCCA v Bccs 2004 ] [ 8.d5 d6 9.e4 might be the most unpleasant for Black, sidelining the a6knight. ] 8...exd4 9.xd4 0-0 10.b2?! [ 10.c5 b6 11.b2 is superior, but Black's development compensates for the offside knight. ] 10...c5! This pawn sac prepares a lovely square for the a6-knight on c5, and is the key theme in this line. 11.bxc5 c6 Gaining time on the queen. 12.e3 e8 The line-up of the white king and queen on the e-f ile spells problems. 13.d1 b6! 14.cxb6 xb6 15.d2 c5 16.f3 a6 Black's pieces have found active squares, and W hite is yet to d e ve lo p h is k in g sid e a n d t h is wi ll p r o v e dif f icult be cau se o f t he we aken ed g1 -a 7 diagonal. 17.e2 e5 18.d5 If White loses th e c-p a wn he will b e worse wit h ou t a n y material compensation. b7 19.d2 f5! There is no let-up for White, Black levers the e - f i l e o p e n . 20.d5 a5 Keeping the pressure on, although [ 20...xe4! 21.fxe4 h4+ 22.g3 xe4 appears crushing as the h1-rook has no escape. ] 21.c3 xc3 22.xc3 fxe4 23.f1 d6 24.fxe4 xe4 25.d4 h4 Black has a crushing attack, and isn't even materially 831
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 down. 26.h3 xd5 27.cxd5 f8+ 28.g1 ac8 The threat is ...Rc3xh3 and mate on f2. 29.g3 xh3 30.xe4 c4! 31.xc4 f3+ 32.xf3 [ 32.f2 g5+ 33.e3 xe4 is also quite hopeless. ] 32...xf3 33.f1 c8 Intending ...Qc5+, or ... Qc2. 0-1
838 Crouch,Colin S Norwood,David 4NCL Birmingham ENG (7) [Tony Kosten]
A21 2424 2518 25.03.2000
1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.f3 e4 4.fd2 [ Slightly more passive than the usual 4.g5 f5 5.c3 , but playable, nonetheless. ] 4...f5 5.e3 f6 6.c3 e7 [ Black can also consider a more active placement of his dark-squared bishop, on g7, after 6...g6 ] 7.f3 White contests Black's central space advantage head-on. exf3 [ T h e p a w n s a c , 7...0-0!? is also worth consideration: 8.fxe4 fxe4 9.dxe4 xe4 10.xe4 d5 11.f2 b4+ 12.d2 e7 13.e2 c6! 14.cxd5 xd4 15.exd4 xe2+ 16.xe2 xd2+ 17.xd2 xf2 an d B la c k s oo n re cu p e ra te d h is p a wn , Raicevic,V-Guzijan,M/Niksic 1996. ] 8.xf3 0-0 9.d3 f4!? [ Very much in David Norwood's style, he at t e m p ts t o 'b lo w W h it e awa y', b u t t h e position doesn't really justify this. Normally Black defends his f-pawn: 9...g6 10.0-0 c5 ( 10...c6 11.e4 fxe4 12.dxe4 xe4 13.xe4 xf1+ 14.xf1 f5 15.f3 xd3+ 16.xd3 is a fairly drawish line, L e n t r o d t , T - P o h l K u e m m e l, J/ G e rm a n y 1997. ) 11.b3 c6 12.e2 cxd4 13.exd4 b6 14.b2 e5 led to a great position for Black in the game Potocnik,P-Kanstler,B/ Ljubljana 1992, after 15.g3? h5 16.e3 f4 17.xf4 xf4 but 15 Qe3 was more sensible. ] 10.exf4 [ 10.xf4 may also be playable, although Black has some initiative f ollowing g4
11.e4 g6 ] 10...c6 11.b3 g4 12.f2 b4 13.b1 d5 For his sacrificed pawn Black has gained a certain initiative. 14.cxd5!? fxd5 15.0-0 White plans f5, to free his c1-bishop. d6 [ Black's pieces are aggressively placed, and now he must find a way to increase their activity. The text plans to attack f4, but as the pawn can advance it may be better to l o o k f o r o t h e r m o v e s . 15...h4!? is annoying for White, and after 16.g3 f6 Black has real positional compensation for his pawn. ] 16.f5! g6?! [ Attempting to justify his previous move, but White was on top anyway, i.e. 16...c6 17.h3 h5 18.e4 and a3 is coming. ] 17.xd5 xd5 18.e4 f6!? [ Otherwise 18...c6 19.xd5+ cxd5 20.f6 is strong, the f6-pawn will be a constant problem for Black. ] 19.d3!? [ White is afraid of entering the complicated line 19.xb7 xf5 20.xa8 because of xh2+! b u t h e ca n p l a y 21.h1 g4 22.e1 xa8 23.h4 although Black has various tactical chances. ( 23.f4? e4 )] 19...gxf5? [ It is probably better to return to the previous note, by 19...d5!? 20.c4 c6 ( and not 20...xf5? 21.xd5+ xd5 22.f7+ winning ) 21.xd5+ cxd5 22.f6 ] 20.h6 This wins material. f7 [ 20...e8? loses quickly to 21.h3 h5 22.xf5 e7 23.g5+ with mate to follow. ] 21.c4 e4 22.xf7+ xf7 23.e3 h4 Threatening mate, but it is easily countered. 24.f4 e2 25.xe4!! [ 25.xe4 as after fxe4 26.g5+ xf1 27.xf1+ g6 28.xh4 White has an extra piece. ] 1-0
832
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White a pawn up. ] A21 Damljanovic,Branko 2611 26.f2 c7 27.c4 e7? Rather setting Drazic,Sinisa 2501 himself up for White's powerful reply. [ 27...h6 would have been a better idea TCh-SRB Premier Men (5.5) 31.08.2011 when 28.g4 doesn't have quite the same [Nigel Davies] impact. ] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 e7 4.d4 d6 28.g4 g6 [ 28...h6 W h i t e w i n s w i t h 29.e5! 5.f3 c6 6.c3!? I can understand why , for example dxe5 30.g5 hxg5 31.fxg5 nobody has had the idea to play this move xg5 32.g2 h6 33.d6! etc. ] before - W hite retreats an apparently well placed piece. White's idea is that there's now 29.g5 g7 30.f5 e5 31.f6 [ 31.b5! would have been even better. ] a positional threat to gain space with 7.d5, and Black's knight on c6 does not have a 31...f8 32.c1 xa4 33.f4 e8 34.e3 35.xa3 bxa3 36.e3 h6?! convenient retreat square. And meanwhile a3 Helping White to open up the kingside. The Black can't play 6...e4. [ In earlier games White has often preferred later stages of this game bear the marks of 6.e3 , for example e4 7.g1 g5 8.h4 t i m e t ro u b l e wi t h b o t h s id e s co m m it t i n g e7 9.e2 f5 10.ef4 f6 11.xf6+ certain inaccuracies. 37.gxh6 d7 38.g1 xf6 12.d5 0-0 13.d2 e7 14.xf6+ h7 39.d3 d8 40.g5 f5 41.h3 xf6 15.d5 g6! 16.c3 e5 17.xe5 xh6 42.f3 c8 43.h4 c4 44.c2 b7 dxe5 18.c2 c5 was about equal in 45.h5 b2 46.g2? [ 46.e2! was strong here, for example Gelfand, B (2685)-Shirov, A (2710)/Moscow xa2 47.hxg6+ fxg6 48.e5 xe5 1992. ] 49.xg6+ wins Black's queen. ] [ Another popular move has been 6.xe7 but then xe7 7.d5 d8 8.e4 f5 9.d3 46...e5 47.g3 xa2 48.hxg6+ fxg6 fxe4 10.xe4 f6 was fine for Black in 49.c1 a1 50.xa3 d4?! [ 50...h5+ 51.g1 xa3 52.xa3 f7 Me llad o Trivino , J (2 39 5)-Sp ra gget t, K would have seen Black escape into an equal (2550)/Casablanca 1994. ] endgame. ] 6...exd4 Opting for a 'little centre' structure in 51.e3?! which White has more space. [ 51.g5 was better but then xg5 52.xg5 [ Old timers like myself would probably prefer xf6 53.e3 f7 gives Black play on the to keep their outpost in the centre with dark squares. ] 6...f6 7.d5 b8 with transposition into a 51...h5+ 52.g1 e5 kind of Old Indian Defence. ] [ 52...xf6 is just fine for Black. ] 7.xd4 xd4 8.xd4 f6 9.d2 e6 10.e4 e7 11.e2 0-0 12.0-0 c6 13.b3 53.a7+ h8? 54.a8 g8 [ 54...xf6 55.f2 shows why black should d4 14.d3 a6 15.b2 c6 16.d1 b5 have put his king on g8 on his 53rd move. ] 17.e3 c5 [ 17...e8 looks interesting here also, 55.xg6+ f7 56.g2 g4 57.a7+ e7 keeping his pawn structure flexible for as 58.fxe7 h8 59.e8+ long as possible. As the game progresses 1-0 the knight on d4 looks very impressive but without pawn levers it's difficult for it to A21 gain support. Meanwhile White can advance 840 his kingside pawns. ] Erdos,Viktor 2650 18.h1 e8 19.ae1 b8 20.c3 b4 Stevic,Hrvoje 2626 21.b2 a5 22.f4 a4 23.bxa4 a8 24.d5 CRO-chT Bol (2.5) 14.09.2013 xd5 25.cxd5 a5 [Fier, Alexandr] [ And not 25...xa4 b e c a u s e o f 26.xd4 xd4 27.b5 c3 28.e2 a7 29.xe8 Here White plays 6.f4 before developing the xe1 30.xf7+ xf7 31.xe1 , leaving g 1 - k n i g h t wi t h t h e i d e a o f s t o p p i n g a n y 839
833
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 attacking ideas for Black. I like the 10.exf3 idea and soon W hite got a tangible space advantage. For Black I would take a look at 1 2 . . . e xf 4 . 1.c4 e5 2.g3 d6 3.c3 f5 This is quite a flexible setup. 4.g2 [ 4.d4 is the main line and played by various t o p p l a y e r s e4 5.h3 was analyzed in Kramnik, V (2788)-Svidler, P (2738)/Tal Memorial Blitz 2008. ] 4...f6 5.d3 e7 6.f4!? In a strange way this is the same idea Black made some moves ago. With this move it's much harder for Black to cre a te an y at t a ck on t he kin gsid e . 0-0 7.f3 c6 8.0-0 d4 9.h1 xf3 10.exf3! White is going to exchange the f4pawn and then bring another pawn to f4. With this in mind White has time to bring the rooks to the center and expand on the queenside. c6 Now the d6-pawn can be an issue if White plays something with d4. [ 10...e8 could be a solid option 11.e1 f8 def ending e 5 12.e3 and White still has a lot of useful moves like Qd2 and b4, a4. For Black is not clear where the pieces should go. ] 11.e1 d7 12.e3 f6 [ 12...exf4 is more active, more or less winning a tempo compared to the game 13.xf4 e5! all the counterplay is based on the f4-square. If Black manages to play ... f4 the position should be fine even a pawn down 14.e3 ( 14.d2 is too slow g6 15.e3 f4 and Black is fine; 14.xe5 dxe5 15.xe5 d6 16.e1 f4 and Black has good activity) 14...h5 ( 14...g6?! 15.f4 locks the knight) 15.f4 g4 16.g1 and we reach a similar position compared to the game, with the difference that the pawn is already on h5. Now a quick expansion on the kingside can work h4 17.f3 hxg3 18.hxg3 g5!? with a risky position for Black, but full of life. ] 13.d2 [ 13.d4 exd4 14.xd4 c5 15.d2 ] 13...exf4 [ 13...a5 waiting is not good, since White still has useful moves like 14.ad1 with the idea of 15.d4! ] 14.xf4 e5 15.e3 f4 is coming and Black won't have counterplay on the kingside in time. The position is already more pleasant for
White. [ 15.b3 to play d4 doesn't work g6 16.e3 f4 and Black is fine. ] 15...d7 16.f4 g4 [ 16...f7 I prefer this move. The knight on g4 soon needs to go to h6. From f 7 it's passive but still better placed, 17.e2 c7 18.ae1 ae8 19.b4 with the same kind of position as in the game. Now Black can try a5 20.b5 xc3 21.xc3 cxb5 to complicate matters. Still 22.Bd4 can come and the position remains dangerous for Black. ] 17.g1 e8 [ 17...h5 18.f3 h4 19.g2 hxg3 20.hxg3 g5 and we reach a similar position to the 12...exf4 note where the f6-bishop is not so useful ] 18.h3 h6 19.b4 Now we see the White position improving little by little. c7 20.a4 a6 21.a5 xe1 22.xe1 e8 23.a4 xe1 24.xe1 The basic plan for White is to keep expanding on the queenside, since all the pieces are aiming there. Maybe Black can defend successfully, but the task is far from easy. f8 25.b6 e8 26.d4 e7 27.d2 It's important to keep the queens on, otherwise the lack of space is not so prob lema tic. f7 28.d5 Finally the break, Black is almost lost. c5 29.bxc5 dxc5 30.e3 c7 31.a8 c8 32.b6 c7 33.a8 c8 34.d6! It's necessary to open the position for the bishops. xa8 35.d7 e7 36.dxe8+ [ 36.d5 was a nice finesse, making one useful move, since Black's bishop can't get away, xd7 37.xd7 d8 38.xb7 xa5 39.c8+ d8 40.xf5 with a clear advantage for White ] 36...xe8 [ 36...xe8! activating the pieces was necessary 37.xb7 d6 38.d5 e4 39.xe4 fxe4 40.d5 a4 and Black is still in the game. ] 37.d5 d8 38.xb7 xa5 39.h2 This is not necessary. [ 39.c8+ w a s s i m p l e r d8 ( 39...d8 40.c6+ f7 41.xf5+ g8 42.e4 wins ) 40.xf5 and Black's position will soon collapse. ] 39...g6 40.b8+ d8 41.a7 d3 834
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 41...d6 defending the pawn was better and it's not clear how W hite is going to make progress. 42.d5 f8 ] 42.xc5 xc5 43.xc5 d2 [ 43...h5 44.c6+ d8 45.d5 e2+ 46.g2 h4 ] 44.c8+ Now W hite is just winning e7 45.b7+ d7 46.xa6 c7 47.a3+ e8 48.c5 h5 49.d5 f8 50.e3 g5 51.fxg5 h4 52.g6 e5 53.h6+ g7 54.xh4 xg6 [ 54...xg6 55.h8+ e7 56.xe5+ wins ] 1-0
842 Estremera Panos,Sergio Georgiev,Vladimir XVIII Open Andorra AND (2) [Neil McDonald]
A21 2353 2538 25.06.2000
1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.f3 e4 4.g5 f5 5.c3 f6 6.g3 White's strategy is fundamentally different from Xu Jun's in the no te ab ove . He pre f e rs to f ian che tt o h is bishop rather than develop it on e2 and plans to attack the black centre with f2-f3 rather than gain space with d4-d5. e7 7.g2 0-0 8.h3 c6 9.0-0 a6 10.f3 h8 11.g5 e6 12.b3 d5 Now we have a similar 841 A21 structure for Black as in Sultanov-Poluljahov, Ernst,Sipke 2392 which featured 4 Nfd2 instead of 4 Ng5. Once Dunnington,Angus J 2372 again, W hite is attempting to dismantle the IM Lichfield ENG (5) 10.07.2000 black centre. Black agrees to this, but makes sure it is dissolved under conditions which are [Neil McDonald] favourable to him. 13.f4 d7 14.h3 b4 1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.c3 exd4 4.xd4 c6 15.c1 exf3 16.exf3 dxc4 17.xe6 xe6 ad8! This threatens 19...Rxd4! 5.d3?! Black has been unable to 18.bxc4 Most of Black's centre has disappeared but demonstrate a way to equality after [ 5.d2! -see the analysis in Tratar- his pieces are enjoying their activity and there is a clear target on d4. Srebrnic. ] [ On the other hand, dangerous would be 5...e5 6.c2 Besides the time lost, the 18...xc4 19.e4 f7 20.xf6 gxf6 queen will prove worse here than on d2. g6 21.h6 ] [ Not 6...xc4?? 7.a4+ ] 19.e4 White strives to activate his bishops, 7.g3 g7 8.g2 f6 9.b3? [ White is playing with fire. The modest 9.f3 b u t t h e e n d g a m e t h a t r e s u l t s f r o m h i s combination turns out to be unfavourable for was essential. ] xe4 20.fxe4 xd4! 21.exf5 9...0-0 10.b2 e8 11.e4 him. Of course if This is unsatisfactory, but if [ 21.xd4 c5 ] [ 11.f3 f5 12.d2 d3+ is painful. ] 11...b5! The beginning of a brilliant attack. 21...xd1 22.fxe6 c5+! This accurate move 12.xb5 c6 13.d4 d5 14.0-0-0 xe4 forces the white king one square further from 15.f3 d6 16.f4 c5!! Black gives up a piece the centre as going to g2 loses a rook to 23... 23.h1 fxf1+ 24.xf1 xc1 to open lines for his bishops against the white Rfxf1. king. 17.fxe5 cxd4 18.exd6 f5 19.f2 25.xc1 c7 26.h3 g8 Black now has h6+ 20.d2 a5 21.d1 xa2 an evident advantage because the passed A really severe punishment for White's failure pawn is a weakness rather than a strength. 27.f4 e8 28.g2 f8 29.f3 g1 to develop his king's knight. 30.e5 e7 31.g4 c5 32.h4 g6 33.h5 0-1 d6 34.d4 b6 35.hxg6 hxg6 36.e3 f6 37.d4+ e5 38.e3 c5 39.f2 d6 40.e3 Here White resigned or lost on time before Black could play xc4 0-1
835
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 843 Friedgood,David James,David J Four Nations Chess League 2000 [Paul Motwani]
A21 844
2000
Curiosity of the Month Consider game W11, the encounter D.Friedgood-D.James in the UK's Four Nations Chess League (4NCL) at Birmingham on 1 May 2000. David Friedgood is especially renowned for his prowess in endgame studies, but on this occasion there was no possibility of testing his skills in that a r e a . . . b e c a u s e h e f o u n d a d e va s t a t i n g combination immediately after the opening, and won at lightning speed in only 16 moves! Here's wha t happene d 1.c4 The English Opening has long been David's favourite e5 2.c3 f5 Certainly playable, although Black should be aware of the fact that he is really a tempo down compared to what White got with 1 e4 c5 2 f4 ingameW10 3.d4 e4 [ I would pre f e r 3...exd4 4.xd4 c6 5.e3+ f7!? intending rapid active piecedevelopment with ...Bb4, ...Nf6, and ...Re8, which is a speciality of Finland's GM Heikki Westerinen ] 4.h3! The white knight has spotted a promising position for itself at f4 f6 5.g5 c6 6.f4 e7 7.e3 0-0?! [ Missing the strength of White's next move Black should have played 7...d6 ] 8.c5! White's f1-bishop is eager to deliver a big check at c4! d5 9.cxd6 xd6 10.c4+ h8 11.h4! White goes straight for Black's king with a powerful case of "h for hunting"! b5? [ 11...g8 may not look very appealing, but at least it would stop 12.g6+ ] 12.g6+!! hxg6 13.h5 g8 [ Black is dead lost, as is demonstrated by lines like 13...bxc4 14.hxg6+ g8 15.xf6 xf6 16.h8+ xh8 17.h5+ g8 18.h7+ f8 19.h8# ] 14.hxg6+ h6 15.xh6 gxh6 16.h5 Black resigned, having no satisfactory way to protect his h6-pawn, since 16...Bg5 is crushed instantly by 17 Qxg5. 1-0
Gajewski,Grzegorz Heberla,Bartlomiej POL-ch Warsaw (3) [Fier, Alexandr]
A21 2629 2544 27.03.2014
A good game for W hite. It's always a good sign when it's hard to define where it went wrong for Black. My guess is that c5 doesn't help the counterplay and afterwards Black should try something with ...f5. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.c2 White just tries to play the position like a normal English Opening. [ 3.d5 is the main move and it was seen many times on ChessPublishing e7 4.d4 d6 5.f3 ( 5.e4 f6 6.xe7 xe7 7.f3 was extensively analyzed in Aronian, L (273 9)-S hiro v, A (2 755)/XXV Sup erG M Morelia/Linares MEX/ESP 2008.) 5...e4 6.d2 f5 7.b1 is a thematic idea that was tried and analyzed in several games, such as Andreikin, D (2696)-Volkov, S (2607)/ Baku Open A AZE 2011. ] 3...f6 4.f3 e7 5.e4!? 0-0 [ 5...a6 was played last year by Sokolov 6.d3 c6 7.a3 a5 8.b4 b6 keeping the f le xib i lit y 9.e2 d6 and both sides have their pluses and minuses, Short, N (2688)Sokolov, I (2650)/Canadian op 50th 2013. ] [ 5...xc3 6.bxc3 d6 7.b1 0-0 8.d3 bd7 Bachmann Schiavo, A (2555)-Volkov, S (2594)/Dubai op 11th 2009. ] 6.e2 xc3 The idea behind this exchange is to close the position with the pawns on dark squares. 7.bxc3 Another thematic idea. With the pawn on d2 the structure is not so bad and with the pawn on c3 the d4-square is under control. d6 8.0-0 c5 Consistent, but not forced. [ 8...bd7 A) 9.d4!? this is always a committal move, b u t h e r e i t c a n w o r k exd4 ( 9...b6 10.h4 ) 10.cxd4 xe4 ( 10...xe4 11.d3 f5 12.e1 df6 13.g5 d8 14.h3 with good compensation) 11.d3 e7 12.b2 and White's bishops are quite scary; B) 9.d3 c5 5 would also be possible here and was the Volkov idea in the note to move ] 9.d3 c6 10.g3 White slowly prepares his 836
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 expansion on the kingside. h3 Somehow I already don't like this move. White's plan will work really well in the game, and probably it's around here and over the next few moves that Black should seek something different. [ 10...e8 is one of the options, preparing the pieces for ....f5 11.h4 g6 12.g2 ( 12.f4 exf4 13.xf4 g7 ) 12...h3 A) 13.f4 A1) 13...exf4 14.xf4 xg2 15.xg2 g7 16.f2 ( 16.e3 f5 is not what W h i t e w a n t s) 16...f6 17.h6 and W hite can be better, but Black's position is solid; A2) 13...g7 14.f2 f5 15.f3 g4!? otherwise the bishop on f3 can become too strong 16.xg4 fxg4 17.e3 e6 18.d5 f7 with a double-edged game; B) 13.e1 f5 and Black has much more play than in the game ] 11.e1 h6 12.h4 h7 13.d1! It's funny, but now the position is already unpleasant for Black. White is ready to start the game on the kingside and the last moves of Black are not helping anything. [ 13.f5 it looks tempting to take the second bishop, but Black is fine after xf5 14.exf5 f6 15.f3 d7 16.g4 fe8 17.h3 d5 with chances for both sides ] 13...e6 Coming back to keep the bishops in the game. [ 13...ab8 14.g4 this is the move Black wanted to avoid. Without the bishops, the knight will be stronger on f5 xg4 15.xg4 f6 16.e2 b5 17.f5 d7 18.cxb5 xb5 19.d4 with a slight advantage for White ] [ 13...d7 avoids 14.Bg4 14.b1 b6 15.g4! and the bishop is out of play e7 16.f5 ] 14.f5 d7 15.g4 ab8 16.e3 h8?! [ 16...a6 looks like a better option, Black needs this move to play ...b5 under good c o n d it i o n s 17.f4 ( 17.h1 b5 18.cxb5 axb5 and Black is doing ok) 17...h8 18.d2 and White is at least attacking with some danger now. His king can become too e x p o s e d a t s o m e p o i n t b5 19.d4 is an entertaining position with too many p o s s i b l e c h a n g e s . F o r e x a m p l e : xf5 20.gxf5 cxd4 21.cxd4 exd4 22.xd4 xd4 23.xd4 bxc4 24.xc4 b4 and Black is
ok ] 17.h1 b5 [ 17...e7 is another idea, but it's not so clear what the knight is doing here A) 18.d4 looks nice, but probably its not n e c e s s a r y t o o p e n t h e c e n t e r c7 ( 18...exd4 19.cxd4 is also good for White; 18...cxd4 19.cxd4 only helps White ) 19.dxc5 dxc5 20.d6 xd6 21.xd6 b6 22.f3 and White will try to play on the d-file; B) 18.g1 is more to the point a6 19.d2 b5 20.cxb5 axb5 21.d4 now this move is b e t t e r a n d g i ve s s o m e a d v a n t a g e t o White ] 18.cxb5 xb5 19.d4 And White has a clear advantage, Black is going nowhere on the queenside. b2 20.dxc5 [ 20.d5 is not good because xf5 21.dxc6 xe4+ is with check ] 20...d5 21.exd5 xd5+ 22.f3 f6 23.c4 xf3+ 24.xf3 Black is a pawn down and h a s n o g o o d s q u a r e s f o r t h e k n i g h t s h5 Opening the kingside for the white pieces, but there was not much to do. [ 24...e8 25.g5 and White is winning ] 25.gxh5 e7 26.xe7 xe7 27.d4 b7 28.c6 1-0
845 Gonzales,Jayson Sadorra,Julio Catalino ch-PHI Finals (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A21 2524 2470 03.07.2008
1.c4 e5 2.c3 [ A related line 2.g3 f5 3.d4 was the subject of Kramnik-Bacrot, Moscow 2007. ] 2...f5 3.d4 e4 [ The text move is considered somewhat dubious, whereas 3...exd4 is supposed to be somewhat more critical ] 4.f3 [ 4.h3!? was discussed in FriedgoodJames, 2000, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] 4...exf3 [ Black's best option is possibly 4...f6!? ] [ As discussed in my book on 1 c4 e5, White 837
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h a s t h e b e t t e r c h a n c e s a f t e r 4...b4 , for instance: 5.h3 f6 6.d2 e7 7.e3 0-0 8.b3 xc3 ( 8...a5 9.e2 h8 10.f2 c6 11.f4 d5 12.c5 xc3 13.xc3 c7 14.a3 , and White has the clearly better chances, Stuart, P-Ker, A/Auckland NZL 2003 ) 9.xc3 d6 10.0-0-0 e8 11.e2 bd7 12.f2 f8 13.f4 d5 14.hg1 , and White has the better position and a simple plan to follow, Petursson, MVidarsson, J/ Gardabaer 1996 ] 5.xf3!? [ White can also obtain the better chances with the simple and straightforward 5.exf3 , e.g. f6 6.d3 d6 7.ge2 c6 8.c2 g6 9.e3 d7 10.a3 g7 11.0-0-0 0-0 12.b1 Vescovi, G-Rodrigues, A/Itabirito 1998 ] 5...f6 6.c2 [ At this juncture, in addition to the text move, W h i t e h a s t wo wo r t h wh il e a lt e rn a t i ve s available: A) 6.g3 c6?! ( 6...b4 7.h3 xc3+ 8.bxc3 d6 9.h4 ) 7.g2 d6 8.0-0 e6?! 9.d5 cxd5 10.cxd5 d7 11.e3 , and Black is already in severe trouble, Engel, G-Bachler, W/Graz 1995 ] [ B) 6.g5 e7 7.xf6 ( 7.e3 0-0 8.d3 is quite pleasant for White.) 7...xf6 8.e4 fxe4 9.xe4 A) 9...0-0!? A1) Or 10.xf6+ xf6 11.e2 ( 11.d3 e8+ 12.d2 c6 ) 11...d6 12.0-0; A2) 10.d3 h4+ 11.xh4 xh4+ 12.g3 h6 13.d2 h5; B) 9...e7 10.d3 b4+ 11.d2 xd2+ 12.xd2 e7 13.eg5+Cuadras Avellana, J-Lopez, E/Catalunya 1996 ] 6...d6 7.g3 [ White has another good continuation a v a i l a b l e : 7.e3 g6 8.d3 c6 9.a3 ( 9.0-0!? g7 10.d2 0-0 11.a3 ) 9...g7 10.b4 0-0 11.0-0 e7 12.d5 Eitel, PKuehl, R/Germany 1992 ] 7...g6 8.g2 g7 9.0-0 [ White can also send the king in the opposite direction with 9.f4 0-0 10.0-0-0!? , a n d wi t h o u t a n e -p a wn f o r B l a c k , h e appears to have a harder time generating real counterplay. ]
9...0-0 10.g5 [ 10.b4!? is also worthwhile of consideration. ] 10...h6 11.xf6 [ 11.d2!? ] 11...xf6 12.e4!? [ 12.e3!? ] 12...c6 13.ad1 g5 [ 13...f7 14.d5 ] 14.exf5?! [ 14.d5 e5 is pleasant for Black ] [ White, however, can improve further with 14.d5! , for instance: d8 15.e5! b8 ( 15...f7 16.fe1 with a very uncomfortable position for Black. ) 16.f2 a6 17.fe1 ] 14...xf5 [ While the exchange of queens are in Black's interest due to the open position and Black holding the pair of bishops, White can ea sily side ste p it. The ref ore Blac k sh o u l d c o n t i n u e h i s d e ve l o p m e n t wi t h 14...xf5!? 15.b3 ab8 with a doubleedged position ] 15.d2 [ White has a couple of alternatives here: A) 15.b3 d7 16.c5+!? ( 16.d5 e7 17.e4 b6= ) 16...h8 17.cxd6 cxd6 ( 17...xd6 18.b5 d8 19.d5 leaves White with the initiative) 18.d5 d8 with chances to both sides ] [ B) 15.e1!? lets Black exchange queens, keeping in mind the somewhat soft Black q u e e n s i d e . xc2 ( 15...g4 16.xf8+ xf8 17.f2+ f5 18.b5 xf2+ 19.xf2 g4 20.d2 c8 21.xc6 bxc6 22.xa7 a8 23.xc6 xa2 24.e3 ) 16.xf8+ xf8 17.xc2 g7 18.b5!? g4 19.f1 e8 20.f2 e2 , and the chances are about even. ] 15...g6 16.d5 [ The alternatives don't have much to offer f o r W h i t e : 16.b5 f7 17.d5 e5 18.xe5 xe5 19.xf7 xf7 20.f1 h7 , and Black has almost equalised. ] [ Or 16.d5 f7 17.b4 e6 18.xc7 xc7 19.d5 f7 20.dxc6 bxc6 21.c1 f6 ] 16...e5 17.xe5 xe5 [ 17...xf1+!? 18.xf1 xe5 19.b5 h7 with an identical position to the one after 16 Nb5 above in the note after W hite's 16th move. ] 838
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.xf8+ xf8 19.b5 g7?! [ Now Black is getting himself into a bit of trouble. The correct move is 19...h7! , e.g. 20.d4 ( 20.f1+ g8 21.e2 f5 ) 20...g8 21.e6 xe6 22.dxe6 c6 23.h3 , and White's advantage is truly minimal. ] 20.d4? [ White returns the favor He can obtain an advantage with 20.f1+! g8 21.e2 g4 ( or 21...a6 22.xc7!! xc7 23.h5 d4+ 24.h1 g7 25.e4 ) 22.e4 d7 ( 22...a6 23.xc7 xc7 24.g6+ g7 25.e8+ h7 26.e4+ ) 23.xc7 f8 24.e6 xe6 25.dxe6 xb2 26.d1 e5 27.xb7 xb7 28.xb7 , and White has excellent winning chances. ] 20...g8?! [ Here 20...xd4+ equalizes effortlessly: 21.xd4 xd4+ 22.xd4 d7 23.e4 a5 . Now on the other hand, White grabs the initiative once again, and Black has to play accurately. ] 21.e6 xe6 22.dxe6 c6 23.e2 [ 23.b4 to soften up Black's queenside and remove Black's protection of the d5-square makes perfect sense: f6 24.b5!? ( 24.h3 f3 25.d3 xd3 26.xd3 h5 27.f5 f8= ) 24...c8 25.bxc6 bxc6 26.e7 xe7 27.xc6 g7 28.d5 , White's advantage mainly consists of Black's weak light squares around the king, whether W hite can a ct ua lly e xp lo it th is weakne ss is a different issue altogether. ] 23...e8?! [ Black continues his parade of inaccuracies. Instead 23...g4 also leads to a better game for W hite, e.g. 24.e4 f8 25.b4 f6 26.e7 xe7 27.xg4+ ] [ whereas 23...g6! challenges White more, for instance 24.g4 ( 24.b4 initially looks like a good idea, intending xe6 25.b5 , b u t t h i s p l a n i s r e f u t e d b y d4+ , and it is game over for White.) 24...e8 25.h3 xb2 26.e2 a3 27.f1 , and White has compensation for the pawn, but not much more than that. ] 24.h3 d4+ [ 24...xb2!? 25.xd6 a3 26.d7 c5+ 27.h1 f6 28.a4 ( White can play 28.xb7 , but it invites nothing but problems
after a1+ 29.g2 g1+ 30.f3 h5 31.g7+! h8! (taking the rook loses for Black) 32.f7 d4 33.g4 h4 , and Black has successfully dug his way into the game again. ) 28...e7 29.d1 ] 25.h1 e5?? [ B l a c k s h o u l d h a v e p l a y e d 25...e7 , a n d t h e n o n l y a f t e r a m o ve l i k e 26.b4 Black could proce ed wit h e5 , after 27.d3 c3 28.a3 , White has a small but clear advantage. ] 26.d3! Game over, Black gets mated or loses the bishop on d4. f8 27.f1+ e7 28.h7+ g7 29.f7+ 1-0
846 Gulko,Boris F Short,Nigel D Elenite [Tony Kosten]
A21 2620 2645 1995
1.c4 e5 2.c3 d6 3.f3 White wishes to play d4, but should Black capture this, to be able to recapture with the knight on d4, rather t h a n t h e qu e e n . f5 Now that Black will not want to take on d4, he needs to control e4, ready to answer d4 with ...e4. The alternative is playing ...Nd7, with a transposition to an Old Indian. 4.d4 e4 5.g5 Sometimes other kn igh t m o ve s a re p la ye d , b u t t h is is t h e modern preference, the knight is unlikely to rest on g5, but will go to the important square f 4 , v i a h 3 . c6 Preparing to bolster the e4pawn by ...d5, [ 5...e7 6.h3 c6 will transpose. ] 6.g3 This way White can develop his lightsquared bishop whilst keeping the c1-h6 diagonal open for the use of his brother. [ 6.h3 a6 7.e3 is the, nowadays less popular, alternative, ( 7.g3 will transpose) 7...f6 8.f4 c7 planning . ..d5, or ...Ne6, to challenge W hite's forward knight. 9.d5! e7 10.b3!? The c1-bishop must be developed. 0-0 11.b2 d7 12.e2 g5! with unclear play, Timman,J-Yusupov,A/ Amsterdam 1994. ] 6...e7 7.h3 f6 8.g2 [ 8.d5 is possible here, but it seems to me that it might be premature as Black's 839
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 queen's knight can 'change course', and instead of heading for c7, can go to e5. bd7 9.g2 A) 9...b6!? i s t r i c k y , a s , i f 10.b3? then Black wins a pawn: ( 10.dxc6 bxc6 11.b3 is better, but equal.) 10...cxd5 11.cxd5 bxd5! 12.xd5 a5+ 13.d2 xd5 Lazarev,V-Gofshtein,L/Oberwart 1993.; B) 9...e5 10.b3 0-0 11.0-0 e8 12.f3 exf3 13.exf3 f8 14.dxc6?! ( 14.e1 keeps more control, d7 15.e3 c5 16.f4 f7 17.c2 with a space advan ta ge , Nikolic,P -V an de r W iel,J/ Netherlands (ch) 1997.) 14...bxc6 15.f2 d5! 16.cxd5 a6! 17.e1 c5 18.e3 d3! 19.xd3 xe3+ 20.h1 cxd5 Black's pieces have exploded into life, Poluljahov,A-Kotsur,P/ Novgorod RUS 1999. ] 8...0-0 9.0-0 a6 A key manoeuvre, borrowed from the Advance French, the knight comes to c7, either to prepare the ...d5-push, or to continue towards the kingside via e6. 10.f3 Attacking the black pawn chain head-on, but now is a good time for [ 10.d5 both gaining space in the centre, and stopping Black from playing ...d5himself. c7 11.h1 ( 11.f4 is met by g5 with sharp play.) 11...cxd5 12.cxd5 b5! with the annoying threat of ...b4, winning the d5-pawn. 13.b4 a5 14.b1 axb4 15.xb4 d7 16.b1 g4 17.f3 exf3 18.exf3 f6 with good play, Piket,J-Adams,M/Tilburg 1996. ] 10...exf3 Black prefers not to defend e4, but [ 10...c7!? is also possible, 11.fxe4 fxe4 12.d5 b5!? 13.dxc6 bxc4 14.b3! e8 15.f2 xc6 16.cxe4 d5 with chances f o r b o t h s id e s, P o rt is ch -G u lko , B i e l I Z 1993. ] 11.exf3 c7!? 12.d5 cxd5 13.cxd5 b5! Black mounts a concerted attack on the d5pawn, did this pawn cross the boundary too soon? 14.b4 A little bit weakening, [ 14.a3 a5 15.f4 might be an improvement, b7 can be met by 16.e6 xe6 17.dxe6 unclear. ] 14...a5 15.b1 axb4 16.xb4 d7 17.a3 a6 18.b1 c7 Black is happy to sacrifice the b-pawn, knowing that his piece activity will
be enough to recuperate the a, or d-pawns. 19.d4 [ 19.xb5 c5+ 20.d4 ab8 21.xc5 xc5 and ...Nxd5, is typical of the possibilities. ] 19...c5 20.xc5 xc5 The endgame is pleasant for Black who has two targets- the w e a k w h i t e q u e e n s i d e p a w n s . 21.e1?! After this move White's game slips downhill, [ 21.d1! was necessary, protecting the dpawn, and preparing to bring the g2-bishop into the game on f1. ] 21...d8 22.xb5 d3 23.d1 b6+ B la ck 's ' b a d ' b i sh o p h a s f o u n d a s t r o n g diagonal. 24.h1 xc1 25.dxc1 c5 26.f4 e3! 27.c4 xb5 Time to garner the fruits of his previous play, first Black takes the a-pawn. 28.xb5 xa3 29.b1 fa8 The white king is awkwardly placed, and the back rank weak. 30.f1 g5 31.e6 xd5 Now Black is a pawn up, and still retains his positional plusses. 32.c2 a1 33.cb2 c3 34.xa1 xa1 The black pieces are homing-in for the kill. 35.g2 f7 36.c7 d5 Black has another trump: the passed dpawn. 37.d3 g1+ 38.h3 f6?! [ 38...d1 39.e2 f2+ would have been more immediate. ] 39.f4 gxf4 40.gxf4 d1? 41.b3! A clever trick, for if 41...Rxd3 there is 42 Rxc3 Rxc3 43 Nxd5+, drawing. White doesn't give up, but uses all the resources at his disposal. d4 42.a6 g6 43.b8 f6 44.b6! e4 45.e8 d2 46.c8 h5 The opposite-colour bishops may yet prove a problem for Black. 47.d6 xd6 48.xd6 h4 49.e6? Careless, now Black is back on track . d4 50.d7 e2 51.c6 e3+ 52.g2 h3+ 53.f1 f7 54.d7+ e6 55.h7 d3 56.f2 d4 57.d7 c5? Strange, a computer would play [ 57...e4+ 58.f3 d2 and queens, without a moment's reflection. ] 58.d8 f6 59.f1 b6 60.d6+ e7 61.d7+ e6 62.d5 c7 63.d4 f6 Forcing a curious zugzwang. 64.b7 [ 64.b5 would lose to f3+ 65.e1 a5+ 66.d1 f1# ] 64...xf4! 65.a6 [ 65.xf4 d2 66.d4 e1+ forces the dpawn through. ] 840
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 65...f3+ 66.e1 xh2 67.xd3 g3+ 68.e2 White would draw, easily, if he could exchange the rooks. f2+ 69.e3 h2 70.d1 f4+ 71.d3 b2 72.c4 e5 Unfortunately, with the rooks on the board, Black wins easily! 73.c3 g2 74.d5+ e4 75.h5 f3 76.d5+ e3 77.h7 e5+ 78.c4 g1 0-1
27.a5 1-0
848 Gurevich,Mikhail Topalov,Veselin Bosna SuperGM (9) [Tony Kosten]
A21 2694 2702 26.05.2000
1.c4 g6 2.c3 g7 3.g3 e5 4.g2 f5 An aggressive move, Black makes his intentions on the kingside clear. 5.d4!? Gupta,Abhijeet [ A sharp reaction, White exploits tactical Nanjo,Ryosuke features of the position to make this XLIII WJun Kochin IND (1) advance, 5.e3 e7 6.ge2 d6 7.d3 ( or [John Watson] 7.d4 ) 7...0-0 8.0-0 a5 9.a3 c6 is more typical, Hort,V-Byrne, R/Sousse 1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.f3 e4 4.g5 f5 1967. ] 5.c3 e7 This has been a reliable system used by professionals for many years now. It 5...exd4 [ Best, 5...e4!? maintains Black's central often arises from the move order 1.c4 e5 2. pawn, but allows White a plus, 6.g4!? ( 6.f3 Nc3 d6 3.Nf3 f5 4.d4 e4 5.Ng5 Be7. Of course is simpler) 6...c6 7.gxf5 gxf5 8.h3!? in that case White has options like 3.g3, 4.g3, xd4 9.d5 d6 10.g5 d7 11.e3 xb2 and 5.Bg5!?. 6.h3 f6 7.g3 c6 8.g5 12.b1 g7 13.h5+ with some initiative, [ 8.g2 0-0!? 9.0-0!? d5 10.cxd5 cxd5 Miles,A-King,D/Moscow 1990. ] 11.g5 e6 12.f4 f7 looks equal. ] 6.b5 c6 8...e6! 9.d5 cxd5 10.cxd5 f7 11.g2 [ Naturally, 6...c5?? allows 7.d6+ ( 7.f4 [ It's hard to get any pressure on Black's a6 8.d6+ f8 9.xb7 is also strong) c e n t r e , f o r e x a m p l e , 11.b3 d7 7...f8 8.xb7 ] ( 11...bd7!? ) 12.xf6 ( 12.e3! ) 12...xf6 13.f4 a6! and with ...Nc5 Black will have 7.f3 f6 8.f4?! [ White tries to extract the utmost from the the better game. ] position, but the bishop proves misplaced 11...bd7 12.0-0 0-0 13.d2?! here, 8.0-0 is more solid e4! ( 8...d5? [ 13.b1 b6 14.xf6 xf6 15.f4 ] 9.f4 ) 9.bxd4 xd4 10.xd4 0-0 13...b6! 14.f3 exf3 15.xf3 d7 ( 10...d5? loses a pawn, prettily, 11.cxd5 [ 15...h6! 16.xf6 ( 16.e3 c4 ) 16...xf6 xd5 12.xf5! xf5 13.a4+ ) 11.b3 17.d3 ( 17.f4 c4 ) 17...d7 ( 17...c8! is level, Benko, P-Petrosian,T/Curacao 18.xf5 c4 ) 18.f4 fc8 and Black 1962. ] seems to have the better of it again. 8...d6 9.fxd4 White's whole setup looks suspect. ] [ A new move, if an exceedingly obvious one, 16.b3 ac8 17.a4 e4? Losing material. 9.c5!? e4 10.cxd6 cxd6 11.0-0 0-0 Naturally Black was in no trouble and could 12.bxd4 xd4 13.xd4 b6 14.b3 have played e6 allowed Black sufficient activity to [ 17...h6 ] co u n t e r-b a l a n c e h is we a k d 6 -p a wn , i n 18.xe4 fxe4 19.xe4 xh3?? Gaspar,A-Santos,C/Loures 1996. ] [ But 19...ce8 20.f5 is very strong for 9...xd4 10.xd4!? White. ] [ The logical follow-up, 10.xd4 e4 11.0-0 20.xe7 fe8 21.f5 h5 22.g4 g5 would allow Black active kingside play. ] Trapping the queen. h3 23.f3 xf3 24.exf3 xe7 25.xc8 xc8 26.c1 b6 10...0-0 11.c5 e4 Once again , opening the long diagonal a1-h8, for the g7-bishop, and 847
A21 2412 2154 20.11.2004
841
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 u s i n g t h e e 4 - o u t p o st t o r e s t ra in t h e g2 bishop's influence. 12.c4+ d5 13.b4 a5 14.a3 f7 [ 14...c6 15.d6 b6 is also reasonable. ] 15.d1 g5!? Black plays very aggressively. 16.e3 [ 16.xc7 xc7 17.xc7 xc7 18.xd5 e6!? is dangerous for White. ] 16...e8 17.c3 [ 17.d4 also allows f4 ] 17...xc3 18.bxc3 f4! 19.gxf4 [ 19.d4 f3 20.f1 fxe2 21.xe2 g4 22.e3 e4 also leaves White on his knees. ] 19...gxf4 20.d4 g4 [ 20...f3 21.f1 fxe2 22.xe2 g4 is also dangerous, but 23.e3 defends for a while. ] 21.0-0? [ The kingside will prove to be an inhospitable place for the king, perhaps 21.f1 was the best try, xe2 22.xe2 f3 allows 23.d2 fxe2 24.g1 with real chances. ] 21...a6! [ The last piece in the jigsaw, the rook will make its presence f elt on the kingside. 21...xe2 22.xd5 h8 is not so effective. ] 22.f3 [ This is positionally undesirable, but if 22.xd5? then g6 23.h1 xe2 threatens mate on f3, and wins. ] 22...f5 23.f2 g6 24.f1?! [ This loses a piece. 24.h1 was a better bet, but although White may have avoided immediate mate, his position is still awful. ] 24...xd4 25.xd4 fg7 With an unstoppable threat of capturing the g2bishop. 26.xd5 h3 [ 26...xg2 27.xg2 h3 also wins. ] 27.b3 [ 27.xh3?? g1# ] 27...h8 28.d1 xg2+ [ It is surprising that White plays on, which suggests that Black was short of time. Here, 28...xg2 29.xg2 xg2 30.d4+ g8 is even more straightforward. ] 29.e1 h3 30.d4 g1+ 31.d2 e3+ 32.xe3 fxe3+ [ 32...d1+ 33.xd1 fxe3 is an amusing
t rick, t ra p p in g t h e ro o k, b u t t h e t e xt i s stronger. ] 33.xe3 e6 34.d4 7g5 35.e4 g8 36.f4 xc5 37.f5 g7 38.f6+ g6 39.e7 f7 40.d4 c4+ 41.d3 c6 0-1
849 Hansen,Curt Sokolov,Ivan Groningen [Tony Kosten]
A21 2635 2630 1995
1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 e7 A surprising move, popularised by Shirov. Black seems happy to lose the pair of bishops, h e wi l l p l a c e h i s p a w n s s o l i d l y o n d a r k squares. 4.d4 d6 5.e4 The most ambitious move, White takes control of the centre. f6 The safest choice, perhaps, Black wishes to oblige White to capture on e7. The alternative is [ 5...c6 although the risk here is that the d6square might be weakened. 6.xe7 xe7 7.e2! f6 ( 7...f5!? is too risky, 8.dxe5 xe5 9.exf5 f6 10.d4! xf5 11.f4 a5+! 12.c3 xc3+ 13.xc3 0-0 14.0-0-0 with an ideal endgame for the bishop pair, and a consequent advantage for W hite, Kasparov, G-Shirov,A/Novgorod 1994. ) 8.f3 ( 8.c3 may well be superior.) 8...d5!? 9.dxe5 xe5 10.c2?! dxe4 11.f4 f5 12.0-0-0 0-0 13.c3 c5 14.g4 e6 Smirin,I-Stisis,Y/Tel Aviv ISR 1999, but Black's computer-like pawn grabbing came out on top. ] 6.xe7 xe7 7.f3 Black has a lead in de ve lo pm en t, bu t, m uch as in t he 4 Q c 2 Nimzo, unless he manages to achieve something concrete with it, White's bishop pair, and space advantage, will gradually come into their own. exd4 8.xd4 c6 9.c3 0-0 10.e3 A perfectly logical move, preparing to evacuate the king to the queenside if n e ce ssa ry, a n d p o ss ib ly b e t t e r t h a n t h e alternative [ 10.e2 although this might transpose. ] 10...e8 11.e2 e5 12.f4 Both continuing development, and keeping an eye on d5. g6 13.0-0-0 xf4 14.xf4 a6 842
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Hoping to generate some queenside play, with ...b5, but it may be too late for Black as White has almost completed his development and can start making his trumps count. 15.h4 e6 16.g4 With a strong hold on the centre, White can happily advance on the kingside, Black risks being flattened. d7 17.g5 b5?! Black's best chance lay in [ 17...f8! planning to answer h5 with ...f5, and thereby attempting to put up some sort of defence on the kingside. ] 18.h5 f8? After this, the game slides quickly out of Black's finger-tips, [ 18...f6 was better, although Black is really struggling. ] 19.h6 g6 Black's dark squares are horrifically weak, and of course he has no bishop to d e f e n d t h e m ! 20.xd6! The thematic darksquared explosion. b4 [ If 20...cxd6 then 21.xd6 wins the black queen, which cannot leave g7 undefended. ] 21.d4 ad8 22.xd7? A bad mistake that ruins White's previous fine play, [ 22.xa6! wa s st r o n g, a s c5 23.f6 xa6? allows mate in five, starting 24.e5 ] 22...xd7 Now Black is fine, and may even be better. 23.b3 h3 24.b2 xf1 25.xf1 d3 26.xc7 c3+ 27.b1 c5 Black has managed to free the queen from the defence of g7. 28.f4 d8 29.e2 d4 30.c1 a5? Black's turn to err, [ h e s h o u l d k e e p q u e e n s o n b y 30...d3 31.b2 c5 as the endgame is more dangerous for Black than it might appear at first sight. ] 31.b2 d3+ 32.xd3 cxd3 33.f2 [ 33.g7! would have asked some searching questions, for how will Black manage to extricate his king from g8? ] 33...f8 Phew! 34.c2 e3 35.e5 e8 36.c7 c3+ 37.b2 a8 The position is level. 38.a3? A time-trouble mistake, worried bout the further advance of the black a-pawn, White tries to stop it, and only encourages it! Preparation of the c-pawn's advance was called-for. a4! 39.bxa4 xc4 40.d6 bxa3+ 41.xa3 cxa4+ Black has liquidated the queenside pawns, and has obtained a serious advantage again. Can Black set-up some sort of f o rt re s s ? 42.b3 4a6 43.d2 d8 Forcing the exchange of a pair of rooks, which
is desirable, but more chances were offered by [ 43...c8 cutting the white king off from the defence of the kingside. ] 44.b4 xd2 45.xd2 f6 46.c4 a2 47.d3 a3+ 48.e2 The white king has come back, winning with the limited number of pawns remaining will take care. f7 49.f4 a5 50.gxf6 xf6 51.f2 h5? Black misses the clear-cut line [ 51...g5 52.e3 g6 53.f4 g4 54.f5+ h5 55.f4 a3 when White has two connected passed pawns, but his king is cutof f , and stopping the g4-pawn won't be easy. ] 52.e3 h2+ Now, if [ 52...g5 then 53.d4+ g6 54.g7 defends the h6-pawn. ] 53.g3 e2 54.d4+ g5 55.g7 The black king cannot pass, and the position is therefore drawn. e3 56.f8 b3 57.g7 h5 58.f8 g5 59.f2 b2+ 60.e3 b7 61.g7 f7 62.e2 h4 63.e3 g3 Black has managed to force the white king away, but at a cost, it is now perfectly-placed to aid the passed e-pawn. 64.e5 h4 [ 64...xf3+ 65.e4 g4 66.e6 a3 67.e7 a8 68.f5 will be drawn, but only if Black is careful. ] 65.f6 h5 66.e4 g6 [ 66...xh6 67.f5 is simple for White. ] 67.f4 gxf4 68.xf4 f8 69.e4 xh6 70.f5 e8 71.e6 h5 72.g7 xe6 ½-½
850 Hodgson,Julian M Psakhis,Lev Metz [Tony Kosten]
A21 2570 2585 1994
1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.g3 This is certainly a very logical reply, White ignores the threat to his pawn structure and continues his d e v e l o p m e n t . xc3 Little point putting the bishop on b4 unless Black plays this. 4.bxc3 d6 5.g2 f5 Perhaps a trifle over-optimistic, Black wants to play as in a Grand-Prix Attack reversed. 6.c5! If this is good, it is the refutation of Black's previous move. W hite 843
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 frees the position for his bishops, and rids himself of his doubled pawn. [ 6.d4 is much less critical. ] 6...dxc5 Black shows no fear, of course he doesn't want White to capture on d6, when he will have no compensation for the bishop pair, but [ 6...d5!? is possible. ] 7.a3 d6 8.d4! No expense spared in opening the position! exd4 9.cxd4 xd4 10.c1! A computer would be very happy with this position, I suppose, Black has two extra p a w n s , a f t e r a l l . f6 Black attempts to complete his development, defending the cpawn by [ 10...d7? w o u l d a l l o w 11.b2 g4 12.f3 g6 13.h5! deviating the queen from her defence of g7, and winning material. ] 11.h3 White is in no rush to capture the cpawn, but prefers to complete his development. d7 12.0-0 e7 13.b2 f7 14.e4!? White further exposes the soft black underbelly, but [ 14.e3! was also good, with a strong initiative. ] 14...0-0 15.g5 g6 16.exf5 xf5 17.e1 The strong b2-bishop, and awkwardly -placed black knights, cause Black no end of problems. d5 [ 17...xg5? e n c o u n t e r s 18.f4 g6 19.xe7 and Black will soon lose. ] 18.h4! 7b6 19.xc5 Black was obliged to return a pawn to develop his queenside. c6 20.e4 White decides to 'cash-in' but 20 h5! was more in the spirit of his previous play. h6? [ 20...a4! would change the powerful b2b i s h o p , w h e n B l a c k wo u l d h a ve s o m e compensation for the exchange he is about to lose. ] 21.f3 a4 Too late! 22.c2 xb2 23.d4! Of course, the b2-knight is going nowhere, and now White can take the f5-rook with his knight. e7 24.xf5 xf5 25.xb2 White is no ahead on material, and retains t h e b e t t e r p o s i t i o n , s o s h o u l d w i n . f7 26.c2! c5 [ 26...e6? would not have successfully countered the threat of 27 Bb3, because of the evident 27.xe6! xe6 28.b3 ] 27.b5! Renewing the menace of Bb3. e6
28.xc5 c8 29.xc8+! After 29...Bxc8 30 Bb3, W hite finds himself in an ending with two extra exchanges. 1-0
851 Illescas Cordoba,Miguel Arencibia Rodriguez,Walter Spanish Teams (1) [Tony Kosten]
A21 2605 2550 05.09.1998
1.c4 e5 2.c3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.xd4 c6 [ 4...f6 5.g3 c6 6.d2 will transpose. ] 5.d2 g6 6.b3 There is no reason to defer t h e d e ve lo p m e n t o f t h e q u e e n 's b i s h o p , although it is quite playable: [ 6.g3 g7 7.g2 f6 8.h3 0-0 9.f4 Getting a grip of d5. a5 10.0-0 e8 11.e1?! ( Now would certainly be a good time for 11.b3 , with an edge.) 11...a4 Forcing W hite to prepare the b3-move. 12.b1 d7 13.b3 axb3 14.axb3 ce5! 15.c2 c5 16.b4 f5 17.e4 e6! and the e1-rook allowed Black to conjureup favourable complications, Petursson,MAnand,V/Manila 1990. ] 6...g7 7.b2 f6 8.g3 The best time to develop the king's bishop. 0-0 9.g2 f5?! [ 9...e8 might be superior, and if 10.h3 d5 exploiting the h3-knight's temporary sojourn on h3. ] 10.h3 e8 11.f4! This way round Black fails to liberate his position, White's hold on d5 should give him a certain plus. e5 12.0-0 c6 13.e4 The problem for Black is that his pieces can be driven away from their, apparently active, posts. g4 14.f3 b6+ 15.h1 d7 16.ad1 White has finished his development, and has a consequent space a d v a n t a g e . g5?! 17.d3 g4 Black, understandably, tries to generate some play, but only succeeds in compromising his position. 18.xe5 dxe5 19.f4 Suddenly Black is lost, the tactics are working against him. ad8 [ Not 19...exf4? 20.xf4 with unstoppable threats along the f-file ] 20.fxe5 xe5 21.a4 White picks-up the exchange, but the d-f ile pin assures that Black will obtain absolutely no compensation 844
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 for it. c7 22.f4! Precise to the end. de8 23.xe5 xe5 24.xd7! A further, killing, blow. xd7 25.xf7+ h8 26.d1 Winning significant material. 1-0
852 Iordachescu,Viorel Kritz,Leonid 16th Monarch Assurance (7) [Carsten Hansen]
A21 2584 2571 28.09.2007
1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 e7 4.d4 d6 5.f3 c6 6.xe7 [ This is the normal move, White can also retreat his knight, although this leads to an Old Indian with an extra tempo for Black 6.c3 d7 ( 6...c7 7.e4 f6 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 h6 10.h3 e8 11.e1 f8 12.d5 a5 13.e3 with a typical Old Indian type set-up for Black, and a white space advantage that matches W hite has a slight plus, Gofshtein, L-Stisis, Y/Panormo 2001) 7.g3 gf6 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 b8 10.c2 a6 11.d1 c7 12.c5 e8 13.g5 h6 14.cxd6 xd6 15.dxe5 xe5 16.xe5 hxg5 17.c4 e5 18.d6 d8 Felecan, F-Nanu, C/Tusnad 1997 19.xc8 bxc8 20.f5 with a better game for White ] 6...xe7 7.c5 [ The text move markedly sharpens the battle with immediate effect. White has a couple alternatives here: A) 7.g5 f6 8.e3 ( 8.d2 g4 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.b3 a6 11.e3 0-0-0 12.a4 b8 13.a5 b6 14.c5 xc5 15.xg4 bxa5 16.c1 Grant, J-Shaw, J/Scottish Ch 1994) 8...a6 9.g3 f7 A) 10.d2 f5 11.g2 f6 Gulko ( 11...f4? 12.e4! Gulko ); B) 10.b3 e7 11.g2 0-0 , and Black has a very decent position, Renet, OGulko, B/St Martin 1993 ] [ B) 7.e3 f6 8.h3 ( 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 g4 10.h3 h5 11.b4 bd7 12.a4 fe8 13.b2 ad8 14.e1 f8 15.b5 c5= Hansen, C-Lutz, C/Groningen 1993/) 8...0-0 9.e2 e4 10.0-0 d7 11.c2 f5 12.b3 c5 13.b2 b6 14.d3 b7 15.d5 df6= Lutz, C-Renet, O/Kaufbeuren 1993 ]
7...e4 8.cxd6 xd6 9.e5 e6 10.b3 b5 Thus far everything has been played before, and that was nearly a decade and a half ago. 11.f3!? [ In the only previous encounter in this line, White instead went with 11.h3 e7 A) 12.e3 f6 ( If 12...h5 then 13.e2 g6 14.0-0 f6 15.c2 fxe5 16.dxe5 d7 17.xe4 d5 18.c2 with messy complications is acceptable for W hite) 13.g4 d7 14.b2 d8 15.e2 f5 16.h2 0-0 , and Black has the upper hand; B) 12.b2?! A brave and gutsy move, but at the same time a very bad one too. h5 13.c2 f6 14.xe4 fxe5 15.dxe5 d5 16.c2 a6 17.e4 c5 , and White has nowhere near enough compensation for the piece, Miles, A-Mainka, R/ Copenhagen 1993 ] 11...f6 12.g4 xg4 [ Black shouldn't necessarily rush to make this exchange, but clearly Black thinks this will leave him with a long term advantage. A l t e r n a t i v e l y , 12...e7 13.f2 exf3 14.gxf3 f5 15.g2 0-0 16.0-0 like ly f ollowed by e2 -e4 will le a d t o a n unclear position ] 13.fxg4 e7 14.g3 h5 [ 0.64 Deep Shredder 10: 14...a6 15.g2 b4+ 16.d2 e3 17.xb4 xb4 18.e4 bd5 19.b2 ] 15.g5 f5 16.f4 b4+ 17.d2 xd2+ 18.xd2 g6 19.e3 xf4 20.gxf4 g6 The smoke has cleared and we are down to a position with two rooks and a minor piece on both sides. W hite has a clear advantage thanks to his ability to break with both a2-a4 and d4-d5 in addition to penetrating on the dark squares with the king, play along the open c-file with his rooks and the fact that nearly all of Black's pawns are fixed on light squares, the colour of White's bishop. 21.a4! bxa4 [ The alternative pretty much sucks too: 21...b4 22.a5 e7 23.a4 c5 24.dxc5 d8+ 25.c2 d7 26.xb4 xc5 27.c4 , and White is a pawn up and should win the endgame ] 22.bxa4 [ White figures the b-file will be even more 845
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 useful to him than the a-file, though 22.xa4 h7 23.a5 b7 24.c4 d7 25.ha1 also looks promising for White ] 22...h7 23.e2 [ 23.b1 c7 24.e2 d7 25.a5 transposes to the game continuation. ( 25.hc1!? )] 23...c7 24.a5 [ 24.hc1!? ] 24...d7 25.ab1 e7 26.hc1 d6 27.c4 f8 [ 27...b8 28.f7 xb1 29.xb1 f8 30.c4 c5 31.d5 d7 32.c3 e7 33.a6 followed by Bb7-c6, and White will penetrate decisively on the queenside. ] 28.a6 c5 29.b7 [ W h i t e c a n a l s o c o n s i d e r 29.b5!? , f o r e x a m p l e : cxd4 30.xc7 dxe3+ 31.xe3 xc7 32.b7+ d6 33.xa7 b8 34.c4 , and White has every chance of winning, but Iordachescu undoubtedly prefers to keep matters simple and waits to open up the position ] 29...b8?! [ Here 29...cxd4!? looks like a better shot, e. g. 30.exd4 b6! 31.a6 xc1 32.xc1 d5 33.xd5 xd5 34.c7 xd4 , and this is no longer a win for White ] 30.a6 e8 [ Now 30...cxd4 isn't as strong as on the previous move, because White doesn't need to spend a tempo guarding the bishop on b7, and therefore gains a winning advantage with 31.exd4 xc1 32.xc1 f8 33.e3 d8 34.d5 e7 35.d4 d6 36.c6+ ] 31.b5 d8 32.c4 e8 33.c2 f8 34.b3 b8 35.a3 f8 36.c2 b8 37.b2 f8 [ 1.35 Deep Shredder 10: 37...h4 38.h3 c4 39.c3 b6 40.b4 e6 41.c1 e7 ] 38.c4 b8 39.c2 f8 40.b3 b8 41.b2 f8 42.c1 b8 43.d1 f8 44.b2 cxd4 After a bit of shadow boxing to get past the time control, Black decides to exchange on d4 before White place a rook on d 2 a f t e r w h i c h t h i n g s c a n b e c o m e ve r y un co m f o rt a ble . 45.xc7 xc7 46.c2+ b6?! [ This isn't exactly the best place, though it is hard to fault Black for not wanting to put his king on the back row. One line runs
46...d8 47.exd4 e8 48.d5 e7 49.e2 g8 50.c7 d6 51.c6+ e7 52.c8 d8 53.xd7 xd7 54.xg6 xd5 55.g7+ and White wins without too many headaches. ] 47.c6+ b5 48.exd4 b6 49.xg6 Now the win is elementary - the g-pawn will decide d8 50.f6 xd4+ 51.e1 a4 52.xf5+ c4 53.g6 c3 54.g7 1-0
853 Kelly,Brian Speelman,Jonathan S ch-GBR, ENG Torquay (3) [Tony Kosten]
A21 2390 2605 1998
1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 This is an alternative method of reaching this position, which will be of interest to anyone thinking of playing this line as black, against 1 c4. however, there are two things to note with this move-order, first White can play 2 e4, with likely transposition into a Pirc, and secondly, 3 dxe5 dxe5 4 Qxd8+ is possible, and although this ending is fine for Black, it might not be to everyone's taste. 3.f3 e4 4.g5 f5 5.c3 c6 6.f3!? A more direct approach, aiming to dissolve the black centre before black has time to defend it. e7 [ 6...exf3 is not bad either, 7.xf3 f6 8.e3 g6 9.d3 g7 10.0-0 0-0 11.c2 a6 12.a3 c7 13.d2 d5 14.b3 h8 and with a firm hold on e4, Black has no reason to be unhappy, Hodgson,J-van der Wiel,J/ Amsterdam 1995. ] 7.h3 f6 Black prefers to keep his e-pawn for the moment. 8.g5 0-0 9.e3 White is loathe to capture on e4 because of the opening of the h3-c8 diagonal. [ 9.b3 h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.0-0-0 is another way to castle long, but the black f 6 -b is h o p l o o k s o m i n o u sl y s t r o n g , exf3 12.exf3 h8 13.f4 e8 stopping h4-5 because of the threat to play ...Qe3+, and then driving the knight away by 14...g5, Than Soe Aung-Mas,H/ Yangon MYA 1999. ] 9...a6 10.d2 c7 11.0-0-0 The white king looks quite safe here, but appearances 846
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 can be deceptive! d5 Black has managed to keep his e-pawn safe, and can now give it further support. 12.cxd5 fxd5! d5 provides a fine square for a black knight, Black keeps e4 def ended with tactical motif s. 13.xe7 xe7 14.c4 [ 14.fxe4 fxe4 15.xd5 xd5 16.f2 is passive. ] 14...e6 15.f2?! Black achieves an edge after the following exchanges, but if [ 15.fxe4 fxe4 16.xd5 then xd5 17.xd5 xd5 and White doesn't have time for Nf4, because the a2-pawn is hanging. ] 15...xc3 16.xc3 exf3 Black picks the right time to capture this pawn, the white central pawns will be very loose. 17.gxf3 xc4 18.xc4+ h8 19.de1 d5 20.d1 An ugly move, White would like to play Nd3-e5, but he doesn't have the time, [ 20.e2 ae8 and White has to play 21.d1 anyway. ] 20...b5! Switching attack from the centre to t h e q u e e n s i d e . 21.e2 c5 22.xb5 W h a t e ls e ? fc8 23.b1 ab8 24.a5 The black attack has developed quickly, but wh a t n e xt ? cxd4! Black throws a piece onto the fire. 25.xd5 c7 26.a3 Forced. c2+ 27.a1 [ 27.a2 is scarcely better, c4 28.e5 b3+ 29.b1 d3 and Black should win. ] 27...c3! The threat is 28...Rxa3+. 28.a2 cb3 [ 28...cb3 if 29.xd4 then xa3+ 30.xa3 b3# ] 0-1
0-0 11.e2 d7 12.g3 a5 with an unclear position in Xu Jun-Adams, Yerevan 1996. Black is ready to play Nc5 and Bf6 etc. ] 7...a6 8.g3 The fianchetto doesn't really fit in with the d4-d5 advance. Maybe he should play [ 8.f4 to aim for the Xu Jun line given above. ] 8...f6 9.g2 c7 10.0-0 0-0 11.f3 After this White's centre proves too loose and Benjamin plays in incisive style to further soften up White's defences. cxd5 12.cxd5 b5! 13.b4 a5! 14.a3 a6 15.b1 d7 16.d4 h5 17.fc1 [ If 17.fxe4 f6 18.d2 axb4 ( 18...b6+!? 19.h1 fc8 ) 19.xb4 xb4 20.xb4 a5 looks awkward for White. ] 17...f6 18.e3 e5 19.f4 xc3 20.xc3 axb4 21.xb4 xb4 22.xb4 xa2 23.a3 xa3 24.xa3 b6+ 25.e3 f6 26.d4 c5 27.b3 a8 28.f1 a3 0-1
855 Kramnik,Vladimir Svidler,Peter Tal Memorial Blitz blitz (2) [Carsten Hansen]
A21 2788 2738 29.08.2008
1.c4 e5 2.c3 d6 3.g3 f5 4.d4 This is White's most aggressive response to Black's set-up. I have preferred 4 Bg2 in my own games, following up with 5 e3, 6 Nge2, 7 0-0, 8 d3, and then either f2-f4 or Rb1 and a p a w n a d v a n c e o n t h e q u e e n s i d e . e4!? Svidler goes for a fairly obscure line that is 854 A21 seen only very rarely in games invo lvin g Kleist,F strong players. Alternatives such as 4...Nc6 or Benjamin,Joel 2577 4...Be7 allow early queen exchanges after 5 Canadian Open (4) 10.07.2000 dxe5 and are considered slightly better for [Neil McDonald] White and therefore they can be thought of as right up Kramnik's alley. There are more 1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.f3 e4 4.g5 f5 de ta ils on t his in t he P DF e -b oo k on t h e 5.c3 e7 6.h3 c6 7.d5 By advancing his King's English. The text move was first played d p a w n W h i t e p r e v e n t s B l a c k f r o m by Tal. 5.h3 consolidating his pawn chain with d4-d5, as [ This move was given as interesting in my occurred for example in Estremera Panosbook on 1 c4 e5, but without further details Georgiev. However, this move seems and the ECO doesn't mention it all, but premature here. A more solid method was compare with the lines after 1 c4 e5 2 Nc3 [ 7.e3 f6 8.f4 a6 9.h4 c7 10.d5 d6 3 Nf3 f5 4 d4 e4 5 Ng5, and now after 847
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 both main moves 5...c6 and 5...Be7, White chooses set-ups involving Nh3 and g2-g3. Therefore you would think that White should have a safe edge, having spared a couple of tempi by developing the knight to h3 in one go. The alternative is 5.f3 , which is also what is mentioned in the ECO: f6 A) 6.g5!? exf3 7.exf3 e7 8.d3 0-0 ( The sharp 8...c5!? looks like a much better way for Black to proceed.) 9.ge2 h5 10.xe7 xe7 11.d2 c6 12.0-0-0 , and White has the better chances, Frog, I-Yuferov, S/Moscow 1989; B) 6.g2 exf3 7.xf3 g6 ( 7...e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.d3 c6 10.a3 a6 11.g5 d7 12.ae1 with a comfortable edge for W hite, Lerner, K-Savchenko, S/St Petersburg 1992) 8.0-0 g7 9.d5 ( 9.e4 fxe4 10.g5 0-0 11.gxe4 xe4 12.xf8+ xf8 13.xe4 c6 14.e3 f5 , and Black already had nothing to worry about in Toran Albero, R-Tal, M/ Ob e rh au s e n (E U-chT )1 9 6 1) 9...0-0 10.g5 e7 ( 10...e8 11.e4 a6 is given as unclear in the ECO, but White may have a little initiative) 11.e4 xe4 12.gxe4 fxe4 13.xf8+ xf8 14.xe4 g7 , and Black has a comfortable game, McNab, C-Kilgour, corr 1993. I think it is safe to say that Black doesn't have much t o wo r r y a b o u t i n t h e l i n e a f t e r 5 f 3 , provided the suggestion of 8...c5!? holds up in the 6 Bg5 line. ] 5...f6 [ This strikes me as a little odd. Usually in the 3 Nf 3 f 5 4 d4 e4 5 Ng5 line, Black only commits to this move later. Black has a couple of alternatives here: A) 5...g6 6.g5 f6 7.f4 g7 8.h4 c6 9.h5 f7 10.d2 a6 11.0-0-0 c7 12.f3 exf3 was Vanderwaeren, S-Lanzani, M/Haifa (EUc h T ) 1 9 8 9 , a n d n o w t h e s i m p l e 13.exf3 would have left White with a position that is nothing short of outstanding. ] [ B) 5...c6 6.g2 e7 7.f3 exf3 8.exf3 f6 9.d5 e5 10.f4 f7 11.g1 ( 11.f2 0-0 12.e3 looks very comfortable for White. But in the game W hite is targeting the soft e6-square.) 11...0-0 12.ge2 e8 13.0-0 Kourkounakis, I-Myhrvold, R/ Gausdal 1992 ]
[ C) 5...c6 6.g2 f6 7.g5 e7 8.f4 a6 9.e3 0-0 10.b3 c7 11.0-0-0 , Lappalainen, S-Tuutti, P/Finland 2001, and here Black can equalize with g4 12.xe7 xe7 ] 6.g2 [ Either here or on the next move, White should give serious thought to 6.g5!? ] 6...e7 [ Or 6...g6 7.f3 exf3 8.exf3 g7 9.0-0 0-0 10.d5 bd7 11.b5!? e5 12.b3 h5 13.g5 d7 14.d4 Galego, L-Leonardo, J/Lisbon POR 2007 ] 7.0-0 0-0 In the main line with 3 Nf3 f5 4 d4 e4, White normally only reaches this position with Black having played ...c6 already and is now to move again (3 Nf3 f5 4 d4 e4 5 Ng5 c6 6 g3 Be7 7 Nh3 Nf6 8 Bg2 0-0 9 0-0). So with two extra tempi White should be on top here, yet in our main game he goes down in a hurry. 8.d5 [ In an earlier game, White played the equally good 8.f4!? c6 9.h4 ( 9.f3!? ) 9...h8 10.b3 a6 11.f3 exf3 12.exf3 c7 13.e1 Mascarinas, R-Romero Holmes, A/ Novi Sad 1990 ] 8...c5?! [ Here Black can consider 8...bd7!? 9.f4 e5 with an interesting position and chances to both sides ] 9.f4 a6 10.f3 exf3 11.exf3 c7 12.e1 e8 13.d3 d7!? 14.xf5?! [ White's last chance of retaining the advantage is 14.e6!? xe6 15.dxe6 f8 16.d5 , and White is in control ] 14...e5 15.e6 xe6 16.dxe6 f6 17.f4?! [ After this weak move, Black takes over the initiative. Instead White should have given preference to 17.d5 , e.g. xe6 18.xf6+ gxf6 19.c2 f7 , and although Black will pick up the c4-pawn, W hite will have adequate compensation ] 17...xe6 18.c2 g4 19.f3?! [ White is playing too passively. A radical and better choice is 19.xe6 d4+ 20.h1 f2+ 21.g1 xe6 22.d5 f6 23.g2 h8 , and Black has the better chances, though White can still play. ] 19...xc4 20.xe8+ xe8 21.e4?! d4+ 22.g2 d5 23.d2?! g6 24.e1? 848
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Everything is pretty ugly at this point, but relatively best is 24.c1 e3+ 25.xe3 xe3 , though this too is clearly better for Black. ] 24...f2 25.e3 d3 26.e2 b4 0-1
Black might have thought that the d-pawn is untouchable because of the fork on b5, the apawn being pinned, but it was probably his only chance: [ 27...xd6 28.b5 axb5 29.xa7 bxc4 30.c7 d3 31.xe5 White is better, but can he win? ] 28.xe5 xc4 29.d1 f7 30.e7 a5 856 A21 The black a-pawn looks dangerous, but it is Lalic,Bogdan 2530 the white d-pawn that is the real match-winner. a4 32.f4 g6 33.e6 Ivanov,Alexey 2455 31.d4! Maidstone 1994 With a powerful triple attack, on a7, d8, and g7. aa8 [Tony Kosten] [ 33...xe7 34.dxe7 d1+ 35.f2 f7 allows the pretty finish: 36.e8+! xe8 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 The critical 37.f8# ] reply. a5 4.b4 c6 Clearly forced. 5.bxa5 cxd5 6.cxd5 xa5 7.e4 The dust has 34.xd8 a3 35.e6 a2 The a-pawn is h8 37.a7! settled, and White has gained the bishop pair, u n s t o p p a b l e ? 36.xg7+ and a space advantage in the centre, but has No, 37...Rxa7 is impossible because of 38 Rf8 yet to develop a piece. f6 8.f3 d6 9.e2 mate, and the other alternative is: [ 37.a7 a1+ 38.xa1 xa1+ 39.f2 The knight is coming to the g3, or c3-square, a8 to stop Rf8 mate, 40.d7 and the da s a p p r o p r i a t e . 0-0 10.b2 a6 pawn queens. ] Black intends to place this piece on c5, and then play for ...f5. He must be quick, for if 1-0 White completes his development, and plays d4, he will have a dominating position. 11.c3 A21 Chasing the queen from its aggressive post. 857 a3 Obvious, but it doesn't work out too well, Lautier,Joel 2666 perhaps he should have retreated. 12.d4 d7 Fressinet,Laurent 2637 13.b3! Showing-up the problem of Black's ch Val d'Isere FRA (4) 19.08.2004 eleventh, the endgame is very pleasant for [Tony Kosten] White. xb3 14.axb3 f5 15.exf5 c7 16.dxe5 xe5 Black is fighting hard to 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 a5!? d e s t r o y t h e w h i t e c e n t r e . 17.xe5! Well, we've looked at almost every other legal It is always difficult to give-up such a piece, move in this position, it was time we looked at but it has to be made for tactical reasons, the this one! 4.a3 e7 Now the position newly-created d-pawn will decide the game. r e s e m b l e s a 3 . . . B e 7 v a r i a t i o n , w i t h t h e dxe5 18.g3 e8 Black must try to a d d i t i o n o f a 3 a n d . . . a 5 - I wo u l d h a v e blockade the d-pawn. thought this favoured Black, but lets see what [ 18...xf5? would demonstrate the point of happens afterwards. 5.d4 d6 6.f3 White's 17th move: 19.d6 this pawn is now [ 6.e4 also makes sense, c6 7.xe7 xe7 passed, e8 20.c4+ h8 21.xf5! xf5 8.e3 f6 9.f3 0-0 10.e2 with a white 22.d7 d6 23.xa7! winning. ] plus, Schaller,S-Kalinitschew,S/Chemnitz 19.c4 d6 20.e4 Absolutely correct, 1997. ] W h i t e m u s t b r e a k t h e b l o c k a d e - b y 6...e4!? The sharpest possibility. exchanging the blockader. xc4 21.bxc4 [ 6...c6 7.xe7 xe7 8.g5 ( 8.c5!? ) 8...f6 xf5 22.d6 b6 23.0-0 g6 24.fe1 9.e3 c5!? 10.dxc5 dxc5 11.g3 c7 The frailty of the a7 and e5-pawns 12.g2 e7 looks OK for Black, although guarantees White a plus. fd8 25.b5 a6 White has the bishop pair, and went on to 26.c7 a7 27.d6! 'Passed pawns must be win, Renet,O-Glek,I/ Groningen 1992. ] pushed'. d3? This loses to a nice tactic. 7.d2 f5!? An aggressive new move, 849
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 supporting the e-pawn and gaining some space on the kingside. [ 7...c6 8.c3 f5 is similar, 9.e3 f6 10.f3 d5 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.b5+ c6 13.fxe4 fxe4 14.0-0 0-0 and Black was doing well in Zak,U-Luther,T/Catalan Bay ENG 2003. ] 8.b1! This move is worth an exclamation mark because of the thought behind it! White prepares to bring this knight to c3 to further control d5, and meanwhile his dark-squared b is h o p i s f re e t o m o ve ( h e wo u ld like t o develop this outside the pawn chain before playing e3). d7 [ 8...c6 is another possibility, White will hardly play Nc3 here, as t his square is p r o m i s e d t o t h e b 1 - k n i g h t , s o : 9.xe7 ( 9.f4!? f6 10.c3 ) 9...xe7 10.f4 f6 11.e3 0-0 12.c3 with the two bis ho ps an d h armo nio us de ve lop me nt , although Black has more space. ] 9.bc3 df6 10.f4 h5 Black refrains from ...c6 once again, and drives the bishop back . 11.d2 [ 11.b5?! is very dodgy: c6 12.dc7+ f8 13.xa8 xf4 and Black gets two pieces for the rook, as 14.c3 d7 and the knight on a8 is lost. ] 11...hf6 12.f4 h5 13.d2 hf6 14.e3 White decides to refuse the repetition, even though this means hemming his bishop in. c6 Finally! 15.xe7 xe7 16.c2 0-0 17.f4!? White coul d play to attack the centre by f3, but as Black can easily defend this by ... d5, instead Lautier closes the kingside (much as in some lines of the French) to play on the queenside. d7 [ 17...exf3!? is risky, 18.gxf3 and White will castle long and has a mobile centre, and the open g-file. ] 18.e2 b8 Black also has designs on this sector of the board. 19.a4!? White puts paid to possibilities of ...b5, and prepares to play Rb1 and b4 with pressure on the b-file. [ 19.0-0 is also good, as Black cannot really play b5?! b e c a u s e o f 20.cxb5 cxb5 21.xb5! xb5 22.b3+ h8 23.xb5 b6 24.a4 with a good pawn more. ] 19...h8 20.0-0 h6 21.ab1 g5?! A lt h o u gh i t s e e m s ri gh t t o a t t a ck o n t h e kingside, the problem is that Black weakens the a1-h8 dia gonal, and he has n o dark-
squared bishop to counter White's. [ 21...e6 is more sensible, although 22.b4 axb4 23.xb4 b6 24.fb1 is more pleasant for White who has a straightforward plan of attack on the b-file. ] 22.b4 axb4 23.xb4 g6 24.b2 Aiming at b7 while at the same time lining-up threats against the black king. c8 25.d5 a8 26.h1 h7 The king has to get off the l o n g d i a g o n a l s o o n e r o r l a t e r . 27.dxc6 Now White hits on the queenside, by creating a p a ss e d a -p a wn . bxc6 28.b8 xb8 29.xb8 e7? Black is worried about playing an endgame with White's bishops and a-pawn, but it might have been the better chance anyway: [ 29...e6! and if 30.xd8 xd8 31.b1 gxf4 32.exf4 d5 with plenty of counterplay. ] 30.b6 d5!? [ 30...d7 is more circumspect, but then 31.a5 and the pawn is difficult to stop. ] 31.cxd5! The simplest, although [ 31.xc6 se em s p erf ect ly le ga l, dxc4 32.xc4 d8 33.c1 and White is a whole pawn ahead. ] 31...cxd5 32.d4 e6 33.b1 g8 34.a5 Passed pawns must be pushed! g7 [ 34...gxf4 35.exf4 is better, but then g7 36.g3 and Black's attack grinds to a halt. ] 35.fxg5! Closing the g-file. hxg5 36.a6 f4 37.b7 f7 38.a7 h4 39.b8 The white apawn will queen. 1-0
858 Lautier,Joel Kramnik,Vladimir Cannes m (1) [Jonathan Rowson]
A21 2645 2685 1993
1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 c5 I have to admit that I am a bit confused by this line, mainly because I can't find any line for White that looks particularly compelling. 4.f3 [ 4.e3 f6 5.e2 xd5 6.cxd5 0-0 7.g3 d6 8.d4 A) 8...b4+ 9.d2 ( 9.c3 ) 9...xd2+ 10.xd2 e4 11.g2 f5 12.0-0 followed by f3, looks pleasant for White.; B) 8...exd4 9.xd4 e8 10.g2 d7 850
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.0-0 f6 12.d3 d7 13.b3 e7 14.b2 e5 15.c4 h5 I don't think Black is worse here. 16.fe1 e7 17.b4 b6 18.a4 h3 19.f3 g4 20.g2 ae8 21.a5 xd4 22.xd4 f3 23.xa7 xg2 24.xg2 g4 25.h3 xd5+ 26.g1 xf2 27.xf2 f5+ 28.g2 e4+ 29.f2 f5+ 30.g2 c2+ 31.g1 xb2 32.xb7 h6 33.ab1 f6 34.a6 c5 35.c6 e5 36.b5 d5 37.h2 f5 38.b2 c8 39.d6 e6 40.d7 a8 41.b7 ee8 42.b6 f6 43.ee2 1-0 Azmaiparashvili, Z (2658)-Bruzon Bautista, L (2677)/Beersheba 2005 ] 4...e4?! [ 4...c6 5.c3 A) 5...d6 allows 6.e4!? b6 7.c5 dxc5 8.xe5 f6 ( 8...e7 9.c4! ) 9.xf6+ xf6 10.f3 0-0 11.e3 Bricard, ETaimanov, M Wildbad 1990; B) 5...e7 B1) 6.e3 d6 ( 6...e4 7.d4! exf3 8.dxc5 fxg2 9.xg2 xc5? 10.e4 ) 7.d4 w h a t e l s e ? ( 7.e2 e4 ) 7...exd4 8.xd4 f6 and I doubt White has any real advantage.; B2) 6.d4 exd4 7.xd4 d6 8.f4 f o l l o w e d b y e 3 , o r p o s s i b l y ( 8.g3 but in all these cases, with the bishop on c5 I feel Black is active enough to claim his full share of the chances. )] 5.g5! [ 5.d4!? exf3 6.dxc5 fxg2 7.xg2 also looks promising. ] 5...e3! [ 5...f5 6.d4 ] [ 5...c6 6.xe4 cxd5 7.xc5 dxc4 8.a4 ] 6.d4! [ 6.dxe3? c6 7.e4 cxd5 8.xc5 a5+-+ Kramnik. ] [ 6.fxe3 c6 7.e4 h4+-+ Kramnik. ] 6...exf2+ 7.xf2 e7 8.xe7 xe7 9.e4 d6 [ 9...c6!? ] 10.d3 c6 [ 10...c5? 11.dxc5 dxc5 12.e5! c6 13.e1 ] 11.c2 f6 [ 11...f6+ 12.f3 g4 13.e3 ] 12.e1?!
[ 12.h3! indicated by Korchnoi and Kramnik, followed by Re1 and Kg1, keeps full control. ] 12...g4! 13.d3 [ 13.f3 xf3 14.gxf3 h5 ( 14...h5 Korchnoi 15.e3 h4+ )] [ 13.d2! ] [ 13.f3!? Ribli ] 13...d7! [ 13...b4 14.a4+ d7 15.b3 ] 14.a4 [ 14.e3!? ] 14...h6 [ 14...f6+ 15.g3 h5 ] 15.e5!? [ 15.f3 xf3 16.gxf3 h4+ ] [ 15.g3 f6+! ] [ 15.xc6 Ribli bxc6 16.f3 0-0 ] 15...dxe5 16.d5 d4!? By this point the game has become random and is no longer theoretically relevant, so I will spare you the worst of the complications and just give the remaining moves. [ 16...b4! Ribli ] 17.e4 e2! 18.h3 b5! 19.xb5 xb5 20.xe2 d4 21.d1 h4+! 22.f1 0-0 23.e3 f5 24.c2 xe3+ 25.xe3 f5 26.g1 ae8 27.f2 e4 28.c3 f6 29.g3?! h5 30.f1 d7! 31.g2 e5 32.h3 f4! 33.gxf4? xf4 34.xe4? g6+ 35.g3 xf2+ 36.xf2 xe4+ 37.h2 xc4 38.xc7 xd5 39.xa7 d6+ 40.g2 e3+ 41.h1 d5+ 42.h2 d1 43.g2 d6+ 44.h1 e1+ 45.g1 d5+ 0-1
859 Markowski,Tomasz Sasikiran,Krishnan 34th Olympiad (13) [Tony Kosten]
A21 2568 2573 10.11.2000
1.g3 e5 2.c4 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 d6 5.d3 f5 6.e3 a5 7.ge2 f6 This time Sasikiran plays the black side of this structure. 8.0-0 0-0 9.b3 c6 10.a3 a6 [ 10...e8 11.c1 a6 12.d2 c7 13.b2 e6 14.a4 f7 15.fd1 g5 16.c5! is unclear, Serper,G-Isakov,D/ Leningrad 1989. ] 851
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.c1 [ A new move, bringing the white pieces to their optimum squares before undertaking a n y a c t i o n , 11.d4 b4 12.d2 c7 13.b2 e6 14.a3 a6 15.ac1 f7 16.fd1 ae8 offered chances to both sides in Ledger,A-Mestel,A/Hastings 1991. ] 11...b8! [ A fine move, preparing ...b5, and removing the rook from the h1-a8 diagonal. 11...e8 would transpose into the Serper game. ] 12.b2 d7 13.d4 [ 13.f4 is a more flexible way of proceeding. ] 13...e4 14.d5 e7 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.d2 White eyes the d6-pawn. fd8 17.cd1 e8 18.a4 b4 19.c1 [ Played to control the d3-square ready to kick the knight from b4, but 19.c3 c5 20.a3 xa4 21.bxa4 d3 22.c1 was only level, anyway. ] 19...c5!? Black plans to capture on a4, and decides that the weakening of the d5-square is unimportant. In passing he sets a devilish trap. 20.c3? [ Obvious, but bad, 20.a3 c6 21.f3 ( or 21.c3 and there is everything to play for. )] 20...d5! This move grants Black a huge advantage, and the funny thing is that White's last move was expressly played to avoid this! 21.xd5 [ There is not much of a choice, 21.e2 d4 22.b1 d3 is horrible. ] [ and 21.cxd5 fxd5 22.e1 xc3 23.xd8 xd8 24.xc3 b5 wins the exchange. ] 21...fxd5 22.xg7 [ 22.cxd5 xd5 23.e2? b5 ] 22...c7 23.d4 White has lost a piece, and Black retains a good position as well. e6 24.e2 a4 25.b2 cxd4 26.exd4 axb3 27.axb3 d3 [ 27...d3 28.c3 f6 wins one of the two pawns. ] 0-1
860 Miezis,Normunds Popov,Valerij 39th Rilton Cup (6) [Nigel Davies]
A21 2530 2588 02.01.2010
People have been queuing up to play this line against the predictable Miezes, though like Uhlmann and his French Defence he understands the position well. Maybe not well enough... 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.g3 xc3 4.dxc3 d6 5.e4 [ The Latvian GM has also played first 5.g2 , for example c6 6.e4 e6 7.e2 d7 8.h3 ge7 9.f3 h6 10.b3 0-0 11.a3 a5 12.d1 was Miezis, N (2540) -Davies, N (2478), Liverpool ENG 2008, and now in retrospect I might have done better to play b6 and on ( rather than 12...fd8 ) 13.d2 play f5 . ] 5...c6 6.f3 h6 This has been played quite a lot against Miezes, though it doesn't look that natural. Alternatives: [ a) 6...f6 7.e2 h6 8.g2 e6 9.h3 d7 10.d2 g5 11.f1 0-0-0 12.e3 e7 13.b3 was probably better for White in Mi e zi s , N (2 5 0 2 ) - Ja k o b s e n , O ( 2 3 7 9 ) , Copenhagen DEN 2004 because Black's king can become vulnerable whilst W hite has maintained flexibility about where he intends to castle. ] [ c) 6...f5 7.exf5 xf5 8.h4!? e6 9.h5+ g6 10.e2 f6 11.g2 d7 12.f3 h3 13.xh3 xh3 14.g5 0-0 15.xf6 xf6 16.g5 g2 17.f1 xf1+ 18.xf1 was fine for Black at this stage in Miezis, N (2547)-Borisek, J (2489), Nova Gorica SLO 2005. I'm not sure Miezes would repeat his 8.Nh4 as it cost quite a bit of time. ] 7.h4 It looks like Miezis hasn't played this way before and neither has anybody else. So 'novelty'... [ A number of his earlier games featured 7.g2 e6 8.e2 ( 8.b3 d7 9.h3 ge7 10.d2 0-0 11.h5 a6 12.a4 a5 13.0-0 b5 14.f4 f6 gave Black good counterplay in Miezis, N (2547)-Gyimesi, Z (2602), Cork IRL 2005 ) 8...d7 9.h3 a6 10.d2 ge7 11.f1 a5 12.e3 b5 13.b3 b8 ( 13...bxc4 14.b4 b7 15.f4 f6 16.0-0 852
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 was similar in Miezis, N (2527) -Hammer, J 8.xc3 e4 9.d4 e5 10.f4! exf3 (2306), Gausdal NOR 2006) 14.f4 f6 15.0-0 11.xf3 e8 12.0-0 g4 13.b4 xf3+ bxc4 16.b4 b7 17.f2 a5 18.a3 c5 14.xf3 xf3 15.xf3 e4 16.c2 a5 19.xc4 axb4 20.fxe5 xc4 21.xc4 17.b5 d5 18.f4 g5 19.b2 e4 dxe5 22.axb4 cxb4 23.d2 was quite 20.cxd5 xd5 21.xe4 xe4 22.d3 g5 promising for White at this stage in Miezis, 23.a4 e6 24.e4 g5 25.f1 c5+ N (2 5 2 4 ) -J o n e s, G (2 5 2 6 ) , P o rt o S a n 26.f2 e3 which was equal in Kosten, A Giorgio ITA 2007. ] (2515)-Sokolov, I (2625)/Tilburg 1992. ] 7...ge7 8.h5 g6 9.e2 So White's queen 4.d5 c6 5.g3 Fairly insipid, but White just goes back after having weakened Black's wants to play chess. dark squares. Not a bad idea. e6 10.h3 [ White normally plays the aggressive 5.g3 d7 11.g2 a5 12.b3 a4 13.b4 a7 f8 ( 5...f8 6.e3 d6 7.e2 f6 8.a3 14.f4?! An attempt to take the initiative that c5 9.ec3 h5 was playable for Black, backfires this time. B a n a s, J (2 3 7 0 )- W e is s , C (2 2 9 0 )/ L i n z [ White should probably have settled for 1996. ) 6.e3 ( 6.d4 xd4 7.xe5+ e6 14.f3 so as to meet c6 with 15.d2 . ] is nothing, Luce, S (2395)-Bedos, M (2170)/ 14...c6 15.c5 dxc5 16.e3 0-0-0 17.bxc5 France 1990.) 6...d6 7.d3 ge7 8.xe7 [ 17.0-0 b5 would also be better for xe7 9.e2 e6 followed by ...g6 and ... Black. ] Bg7, Soffer, R (2520)-Gyimesi, Z (2360)/ 17...g5 18.f3 exf4 19.d4 fxg3! 20.xh8 Budapest 1994. ] xh8 21.e3 g6 White is the exchange up [ 5.e3 f6 6.d3 0-0 7.e2 xd5 8.cxd5 but his position is a total wreck. 22.0-0 b5 e7 9.a3 d6 10.c3 c6 equal, Pelletier, 23.fe1 d8 24.d4 xc5 25.xe6 Y (2478)-Gyimesi, Z (2518)/Bad xe3+ 26.xe3 fxe6 27.f1 a3 28.xg3 Woerishofen 2000. ] e5 29.c1 b5 30.g2 b7 31.e2 b6 5...f6 A novelty. 32.f2 g6 33.d1 xd1+ 34.xd1 f4 [ 5...d6 6.e3 ( 6.g2 ge7 7.f3 e4! 35.h2 b1 36.c2 c5 37.c4 b4 38.g4 W oe rd em an n, M (2 30 5)-Dunn in gt on , A c3 39.a3 b3 40.xc3 b2 (2445)/Rotherham 1997.) 6...f5 7.g2 e4 0-1 8.a3 c5 ( 8...a4!? ) 9.c3 e5 10.d4 b4!? Wow! 11.axb4 d3+ A) 12.f1! axb4 13.xd3! xa1 861 A21 ( 13...exd3 14.xa8+- ) 14.c2 with some advantage.; Morozevich,A 2739 B) 12.e2? axb4 13.xb4 (now White Vitiugov,N 2719 can't capture on d3 as ...exd3 would be FIDE World Cup 2013 (3.7) 19.08.2013 check!) xa1 14.xd3 exd3+ 15.xd3 [Gormally/Kosten] f6 and Black went on to win, Hodgson, J (2545)-Wolff, P (2485)/London 1989. ] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.b3 A sensible l o o k i n g m o v e a t t a c k i n g t h e b i s h o p a n d 6.g2 0-0 7.e3 xd5 8.cxd5 e7 9.e2 avoiding doubled pawns. It was quite popular c6 10.a3 d6 11.c3 cxd5 [ 11...b6! 12.0-0 a6 ] 20 years ago, but doesn't give White anything. xd5 Black is playing safely. [ White should certainly play 3.d5! e7 12.xd5 4.d4 when generally speaking he can count 13.xd5 b6 14.0-0 c5?! [ 14...c7 followed by ...d6, ...Ra7 and ... on some advantage. ] Be6 would be fairly equal. ] [ but not 3.g3?! xc3! 4.bxc3 c6 when I learnt many years ago that Black 15.d3 xd5 16.xd5 a4 17.d2 a6 18.ac1 W hite is no w m uch be tt er. b5 scores very well from this position ] 19.b4?! 3...a5 [ 19.e4 followed by f4, or Be3, must be good [ 3...c6 s e e m s m o r e n a t u r a l , 4.f3 for White. ] ( 4.d5 a5 would transpose to the game.) 4...d6 5.e3 f6 6.e2 0-0 7.a3 xc3 19...xb4 20.axb4 d6 21.f4 853
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 21.c7 a3 22.bxa3 xa3 23.fc1 h3 24.b7!? xd3 25.e4 g5 and Black has no real problems. ] 21...exf4 22.xf4?! [ Moro was obviously not on good form, as he misses the simple tactic 22.xf7+! xf7 ( 22...xf7 23.xf4+ e7 24.xf8 xf8 25.xc8+ e7 26.c7+ f6 27.f2 with a pawn more.) 23.xc8+ f8 24.xf8+ xf8 25.xf4+ e7 26.f5 with some chances, but perhaps he considered this was too drawish? ] 22...e6 23.d4 h6 24.c3 e8 [ 24...c8! ] 25.e4 [ 25.c6! is possible: c8 26.xd6 f8 27.e4 ] 25...g6 [ 25...c8! ] 26.f2? [ 26.c6! again! ] 26...g7 27.e3 f6 28.c7 b8 29.f4 g5+ 30.e3 c8 Finally Black contests the cfile. 31.b7 c2 32.xe6 fxe6 33.xb5 xb2 34.a5 c6 35.xd6 xd6 36.e5+ e7 37.exd6+ xd6 38.xa4 xh2 ½-½
B c 2 , B b 2 a n d d 4 , wi t h a 4 t h ro wn i n t o prevent counterplay- White achieves these objectives, and the onus is on Black to show how it can be stopped. a6 9.f3 d6 10.b2 c5 11.c2 d7 12.a4! 0-0 13.e2 ac8 14.c3 a6 15.d4 exd4 16.xd4 a5+ 17.f2 e8 18.g4 c7 19.g5 b5 20.f4 b4 21.d2 b6 22.a5 b5 23.hb1 b3 24.d1 7a6 25.e2 b7 26.h5 g4 27.xg7 b4 28.g1 c2 29.fxg4 xe4 30.f5 fe8 31.d3 xa1 32.xa1 b4 33.d4 xd4+ 34.xd4 d2 35.d1 c2 36.b5 b8 37.d3 a2 38.c3 b2 39.xd2 1-0 Lautier, J (2580)-Kotronias, V (2550)/ Chalkidiki 1992 ] 7...d6?! An instructive error. [ 7...f6 first is necessary. The point being t h a t a f t e r 8.f3 d6 9.a3 e4! is an important resource, after which Black can stabilise the position by using the c5 square. ] 8.a3 f6 9.xd6 bd7 10.f3 e4 11.d4 b6 12.b5 White already has a decisive advantage and could probably have won even more easily than he did. bxd5 13.a3 e6 14.d6+ d7 15.xb7 b6 16.c5+ d8 17.e3 xb3 18.axb3 b6 19.xe6+ fxe6 20.a6 c8 21.e2 b8 862 A21 22.hc1 d7 23.c4 xb3 24.d4+ c7 Petursson,Margeir 2555 25.c5 e5 26.c4 b6 27.c2 d7 Sokolov,Ivan 2630 28.c4 xc4 29.xa7+ e6 30.xc4 c8 Manila ol (Men) 1992 31.b4 d3 32.b6+ f5 33.xg7 xc5 34.f7 c2 35.bxf6+ g5 36.f4+ exf4 [Jonathan Rowson] 37.exf4+ g4 38.g7+ 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 a5 I remember 1-0 this move being popular around 1990, because my first serious chess trainer, A21 Donald Holmes used to play it. Since then 863 however, it has always looked somewhat Poldauf,Dirk 2405 dubious to me, but I suppose it has some Graf,Alexander 2649 value in unblancing the game very early, Bundesliga 2000-1 (12) 31.03.2001 which is not such a bad thing against 1.c4 [Tony Kosten] players who tend to be a bit on the stodgy side. 4.b4 c6 5.bxa5 cxd5 6.cxd5 xa5 1.c4 e5 2.c3 d6 3.f3 f5 4.d4 e4 7.b3 5.g5 e7 6.h3 f6 7.g3 c6 8.d5 [ 7.e4!? might be better, and the following [ Gaining space, and stopping ...d5, 8.g2 game makes a strong impression. Lautier's is considered elsewhere. ] b e s t g a m e s a r e / w e r e a l w a y s h i g h l y 8...g4!? thematic. f6 8.d3!? Odd-looking, but this [ A novelty, intending to play the knight to e5, is an odd position. White's utopia is Ne2, 0-0, and bishop to f6. 8...bd7 is analysed in a 854
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 note to a previous game, whilst the other possibility is ] [ 8...a6 9.g2 c7 10.0-0 0-0 11.f3 exf3 12.exf3 cxd5 13.xd5 fxd5 14.cxd5 f6 with reasonable chances, Urban,K-Chekhov,V/Lubniewice 1995. ] 9.f3 This must be the critical reply. e5 [ 9...exf3 10.exf3 e5 11.f4 cuts right across Black's plan. ] 10.fxe4 xc4?! [ 10...fxe4 11.xe4?! 0-0 (menacing ... Rxf1+, and then ...Bxh3) 12.g2 xc4 is m ore awk wa rd , st o p pin g W h it e f ro m castling. ] 11.exf5 xf5 12.e4 Forking c4 and f5, and f o r c i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g e x c h a n g e . xh3 13.xc4 This stops Black from castling, because of the discovered check. [ 13.xh3 is also interesting, but allows Black to establish a knight on e5. ] 13...d7 14.f4 f6 15.d2 White intends to simply castle long, with enormous pressure on d6, so Black enters into the f ollowin g complications. xc3 16.xc3 cxd5 [ 16...g2?! 17.g1 xe4 also favours White after 18.dxc6 xc6 19.0-0-0 ] 17.xd5 c6 18.0-0-0 e7!? [ Black tries to 'buy' the right to castle, but, a n y w a y , h e i s i n a b a d w a y , 18...c8 19.b1 g4 20.d2 e5 21.b4 only puts off the inevitable, he still cannot castle, and d6 is dropping. ] 19.xg7 0-0-0 20.b3! There is no point a llo win g B la c k t o ca p t u re t h is a n d f o rce opposite-colour bishops. c6+? [ This pawn-grab loses a piece, and hastens th e en d, o bjective ly 20...c7+ 21.c3 xc3+ 22.bxc3 c7 is better, but quite hopeless. ] 21.b1 xe4+ 22.c2 e6 23.he1 f5? 24.c3+ 1-0
864 Poldauf,Dirk Kasimdzhanov,Rustam ECC Rethymnon GRE (3) [Tony Kosten]
A21 2404 2664 30.09.2003
1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 c5 A perfectly logical move, although out-of-fashion at the moment. 4.f3 The critical reply, hitting the black e-pawn, that provokes bizarre com plicat io ns. e4!? More exciting than the older [ 4...c6 5.c3 e7 as in Adorjan,A-Timman, J/Linares 1985, although this is fairly level. ] 5.g5! A surprising counter. e3!? The pawn cuts across the c1-h6 diagonal, but there are other possibilities: [ 5...f5 is preferred by 'Mr Mo', 6.d4 e7 7.f4 (menacing to win the queen with Bxc7) a6 8.e3 f6 ( now 8...xg5?! is met by 9.h5+ g6 10.xg5 with advantage) 9.xe7 xe7 10.h4!? curious, ( 10.e2 0-0 11.h4 d6 12.h5 h6 13.h3 Vigorito,D-Dembo,Y/Budapest HUN 2003; 10.c5 l o o k s s t r o n g e s t : h6 11.h3 menacin g the capture on a 6) 10...h6 11.h3 d6 12.e2 e6 13.h5 c6 14.g3 f7 15.f4 c7 draw agreed, McNab,CMotwani,P/Edinburgh SCO 2003. ] [ 5...c6?! is nicely met by 6.xe4 cxd5 7.xc5 and ] [ 5...xg5?! by 6.d4 ( rather than 6.xc7+?! d8 7.xa8 when the knight is trapped )] 6.d4 C l e a r l y b e s t . exf2+ 7.xf2 e7 8.xe7 White might as well grab the bishop pair, although [ 8.f3 is also plausible, f6 9.xf6+ xf6 10.e4 when White has a big centre, but his king isn't ideally placed, Renet, OSteingrimsson,H/Reykjavik 1993. ] 8...xe7 9.e4 d6 10.b3!? A novelty in the st e m ga m e , t e n ye a rs p re vio u sly, W h it e preferred [ 10.d3 c6 11.c2 f6 12.e1?! ( 12.h3 first, is good for White) 12...g4! 13.d3 d7! 14.a4 h6 and Black was at le a st e qua l, a s th e kn ight h ad n o e a s y retreat, Lautier,J-Kramnik,V/Cannes 1993. ] 10...c6 11.f3 f6?! A strange move from such a strong player, [ 11...f6 i s n a t u r a l , 12.d3 g4+ 855
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.g1? ( 13.e1! ) 13...xd4! 14.xd4 f6 winning. ] 12.d3 f7 13.f1 ge7 Black has chosen a solid set-up, but White's centre and bishop pair give him the edge. 14.g1 White has had time to get his king to safety. h5 15.a3 0-0 16.b4 White's space advantage is b e c o m i n g p r e o c c u p y i n g . a6 17.a2! A nice way to bring the rook into play. e8?! 18.e2 g6 19.e1 d7 20.g3 White has a large advantage, his pieces are well placed behind the powerful centre and Black can only sit and wait. ce7 21.fe1 d8 22.b2 e6 23.h4 h5 24.e3 b6 25.c5! The time for action has come. bxc5 26.bxc5 dxc5 27.d5 Opening the b2bishop's diagonal. g4 28.xc7 [ 28.xa6 looks good, after all, the weak Black c-pawns are hardly going anywhere. ] 28...xf3 29.gxf3!? White elects to strengthen his centre, although [ 29.xf3 is very promising. ] 29...d7!? [ 29...xh4 is worth a try, although White is still on top. ] 30.g3 b8! The point of Black's play, exchanging queens and hoping to tie White to the h-pawn in the endgame. 31.xb8 xb8 32.a1 a5 The a-pawn was en prise. 33.a4 c8! The knight is looking for a better square. 34.b5 db7 35.c3 d6 36.f1 White has to keep his bishops on the board. a8 A bit passive, Black avoided [ 36...xh4 because it concedes control of f4, and 37.f4 is unpleasant, with the idea of e5, but Black can try g6 ( 37...xe4!? 38.xe4 f3+ 39.f2 xe1 40.xe1 but the two bishops dominate here.) 38.e5 c8 which is not so clear. ] 37.h2 e5? After this Black has no compensation for the centre and two bishops, he should have tried [ 37...xh4 which is still met by 38.f4 but b3! ( 38...xe4?! 39.xe4 f3+ 40.g2 xe1+ 41.xe1 b3 42.e3 is still good for White ) 39.e5 e4! is unclear. Could Black have rejected this because of the rating difference: wanting to win and trying to ke ep t he p osit ion as complicat ed a s possible? ] 38.g3 Defending the h-pawn and preparing
to push the centre. dc4 39.3e2 b3 40.c2 a3 41.cc1 Black's temporary initiative is easily parried. d7 42.h3 b6 43.d6! The advance of the d-pawn is decisive, the black pieces are stuck on the queenside and unable to help stop it. c4 44.e5!? [ 44.d7 is even easier, followed by Red1, or Bxa5. ] 44...fxe5 45.xe5 a7?! [ 45...d8 46.e6+ f8 47.f5+ e8 48.e1 is also crushing. ] 46.e6+ h7 47.f5+ [ 47.f5+ g8 48.ce1 xc3 49.e8+ f7 50.8e7+ xe7 51.dxe7 makes a queen. ] 1-0
865 Popov,Valerij Konovalov,Nikolay Chigorin Mem A (2) [Jonathan Rowson]
A21 2580 2453 02.12.2007
1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 a5!? I am surprised this move is not played more often, because in general the inclusion of a3 and a5 should favour Black, and it is rarely a good idea for White to take on b4(the extra space and a-file are typically worth more than the bishop pair. 4.a3 Not forced of course. [ 4.g3 f6 5.g2 is also viable, and there are so me scena rio s whe n t aking on b 4 might be ok. ] 4...c5 [ 4...e7 5.d4 d6 6.f3 ( 6.e4 f6 7.xe7 xe7 8.f3 h5 In most cases a5/ a3 should favour Black in this line, because White's king looks (even) less safe on the queenside, where it generally has to seek refuge.) 6...e4 7.d2 f5 8.b1 d7 ( 8...f6 9.bc3 0-0 10.xe7+ xe7 11.g5 e6 12.e3 bd7 ) 9.bc3 df6 10.f4 h5 11.d2 hf6 12.f4 h5 13.d2 hf6 14.e3 c6 15.xe7 xe7 16.c2 0-0 17.f4! An instructive decision, although it is difficult to say why. The main point is to avoid the f5-f4 pawn sacrifice/ breakthrough. d7 18.e2 b8 19.a4! h8 20.0-0!? h6 21.ab1 g5 22.b4 axb4 23.xb4 g6 24.b2 c8 25.d5 a8 856
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.h1 h7 27.dxc6 bxc6 28.b8 xb8 8.a3!? h6 ( 8...xb2?? 9.a4 ) 9.c1 g5 29.xb8 e7 30.b6 d5 31.cxd5 cxd5 10.e3 intends Qh5+ and b4; 32.d4 e6 33.b1 g8 34.a5 g7 B) 7.e3 f6 8.f4 c7 is the standard 35.fxg5 hxg5 36.a6 f4 37.b7 f7 38.a7 idea that has held up for years. Tony cites h4 39.b8 1-0 Lautier, J (2666)-Fressinet, T i m m a n - Yu s u p o v, A m s t e r d a m 1 9 9 4 , L (2637)/Val d'Isere 2004 ] w h i c h w e n t 9.d5! e7 10.b3!? 0-0 5.e3 11.b2 d7 12.e2 g5! with unclear [ 5.f3 play. ] A) 5...c6 6.c3 d6 ( 6...e7 6...f6 Black's position looks suspect here, but I [ Previously in ChessPublishing we saw can't see any clear refutation. 7.e3 ) 7.e4 6...e7 7.h3 f6 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 a6 a7 8.c5; A key manoeuvre, borrowed from the B) 5...e4 6.g5!? e3 is very similar to Advance French, the knight comes to c7, the main line with Bc5 7.d4 still looks either to prepare the ...d5-push, or to better for White. ] continue towards the kingside via e6. 10.f3 5...c6 6.f3 f6 Attacking the black pawn chain head-on, but [ 6...e4 7.d4! ] now is a good time for ( 10.d5! ) 10...exf3 7.d4 d6 8.c5! xd5 9.cxd6 e4 10.d2 ( 10...c7!? ) 11.exf3 c7!? 12.d5 cxd5 f6 11.d5! White plays with impressive 13.cxd5 b5! 14.b4 a5 15.b1 axb4 vigour. e5 12.xe4! xe4 13.d4 cxd6 16.xb4 d7 and Black stood well in Gulko14.xe4 0-0 15.e2 b6 16.0-0 a6 Short, Elenite 1995. ] 17.xa6 xa6 18.d2 a8 19.ac1 c8 7.g2 h6 8.h3 g5 This kind of position has 20.h3 xc1 21.xc1 e8 22.b3 h6 23.c3 usually been satisfactory for Black, whose b8 24.d4 f6 25.d2 b7 26.f4 g6 kingside pawn formation is solider than it look. 27.d3 e7 28.e4 c8 29.xc8+ xc8 9.g1 30.e3 c7 31.c4 b7 32.f5 f7 [ 9.0-0 f4!? looks playable, due to the well33.b5 c8 34.f2 e7 35.g4 c7 know tactic ( 9...d5 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.f3 36.c4 b7 37.c3 f7 38.h4 e7 with approximate equality) 10.gxf4? ( 10.d5 39.d4 b8 40.g3 c8 41.xc8 xc8 g7 with a complex position) 10...g4! 42.a4 f8 43.f3 f7 44.e3 e7 trapping the knight and forcing W hite to 45.e2 d8 46.d4 e7 47.d3 d8 sacrifice a piece by 11.g5 hxg5 12.fxg5 48.g5 d5! , intending 13.gxf6? c7 ] 1-0 9...d5 10.h4 g8 [ 10...gxh4 11.xh4 dxc4 may look antipositional, yet Black wins a pawn. Best 866 A21 seems 12.h3 and 13 Nf4 compare the game. ] Prohaszka,Peter 2392 Vitor,Antonio 2414 11.hxg5 hxg5 12.h3 [ 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.h3 h6!? ] FSGM October (9) 15.10.2006 12...g4 13.f4 dxc4 14.f3 b4 [John Watson] [ S a f e r t h a n 14...gxf3!? 15.exf3 xg3 16.e2!? ] We take another look at one of Black's most successful def ences to the English when 15.fxe4 fxe4 [ 15...xe4! ] White has committed to Nf3. 1.d4 [ The game variation commonly arises via the 16.0-0 e7 Too slow. [ 16...f5 is better, since e4 is the key English move order 1.c4 e5 2.c3 d6 defensive square. ] 3.f3 f5 4.d4 e4 5.g5 ] 1...d6 2.c4 e5 3.f3 e4 4.g5 f5 5.c3 17.c2 xc3 Otherwise e4 falls. 18.xc3 e6 19.b3 Already intending Ba3, which only c6 6.g3 becomes better af ter W hite's next move. [ 6.h3 a6 A) 7.g5!? is in t e re st in g, wh e n b6 cxb3?! 20.axb3 d5 21.xd5 857
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Or 21.a3 ] 21...xd5 22.c2 f6 23.f5!? [ 23.a3 e6 24.f4 is extremely strong. ] 23...bd7 24.g5?! xg5? [ 24...d6! h i t s d 4 a n d g3 , b u t 25.c3 ( 25.xf6 xf6 26.e3 0-0-0 ) 25...d5 is equal. ] 25.xg5 d6 26.c3 d8 27.e3 c7 28.f4 xf4 29.gxf4 a6 30.e3 White is obviously winning. b5 31.f1 d5 32.xb5 b8 33.c4 xe3 34.xa6 xc4 35.bxc4 b1+ 36.f2 b7 37.a2 b6 38.g7+ b8 39.c2 b4 40.g3 xc4 41.h2 d6 42.h8+ c8 43.gg8 xd4 44.xc8+ b7 45.b8+ a7 46.a8+ b7 47.ab8+ a7 48.xg4 1-0
867 Ruban,Vadim Miles,Anthony J Belgrade [Tony Kosten]
A21 2395 2500 1988
1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 Transposing into the 2...d6 King's English. 3.c3 [ The endgame after 3.dxe5 dxe5 4.xd8+ xd8 is equal. ] 3...exd4 4.xd4 f6 5.b3 g6 6.b2 g7 7.g3 0-0 8.g2 bd7!? The knight will come to c5, to survey the e4-square. [ 8...c6 9.d2 is the mainline. ] 9.f3 c5 Threatening a nasty discovered attack, with ...Nfe4. 10.d2 a5 11.d4 Directed against ...Bf5. e8 12.0-0 c6 13.ab1 [ 13.ad1 i s a b e t t e r m o v e , b6 the position has become typical of a KID Fianchetto Variation, Classical line, 14.e3 a4 with chances to both sides. ] 13...e7 14.a3 h5! Very strong, the h-pawn will soften-up the white kingside. 15.c2?! [ White is soon in trouble after this, he should aim for exchanges with the immediate 15.b4 axb4 16.axb4 ce4 17.xe4 xe4 18.c1! ] 15...h4 16.b4 axb4 17.axb4 ce4 18.xe4 xe4 19.f3? By allowing the black bishop to f5 W hite loses. h3! This leaves the white king without any moves. 20.h1 f5 21.b3
[ The queen and rook were both on the same mined diagonal, and there was no time for 21.xg7 as xg3 menaces the queen, and Nxe2+. ] 21...xf2!! A killer! 22.xf2 [ Forced, as 22.xg7? xh1 23.b2 xg3 24.hxg3 e3+ 25.h1 xb1 26.xb1 f2 wins, as does ] [ 22.xf2 xe2+ 23.g1 c2 ] 22...xb1 23.xg7 xg7 24.xb1 f6! The point, ...Ra1 is the immediate threat. 25.d2 [ If 25.f1 xe2 and ...Raa2 wins easily. ] 25...d4 26.d3?? [ This allows a neat mate, the only possibility was 26.b3! (to guard a1) xc4 27.b2+ e5! 28.a5 b5 29.d4 g8 but White's minor pieces are no match for the rooks (and pawns). ] 26...a1+ [ 26...a1+ 27.f1 xf1+! 28.xf1 a1+ leaves the king somewhat embarrassed! ] 0-1
868 Salov,Valery Kramnik,Vladimir Linares 11th (8) [Jonathan Rowson]
A21 2660 2685 1993
1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 d6 Some people love to put their bishops on d6, in front of their d-pawns. It is almost like the dark squared bishop is the elder brother of the light squared bishop on c8, and delights in dominating him by refusing to let him out until he is ready...but sometimes it's actually a decent move, although here I think Black has better ones. 4.d4! c6 [ 4...c6 5.f3 e4 6.g5 f5 ( 6...f6 7.a3!? e7 8.xf6+ xf6 9.xe4 xd4 10.e3 looks like a decent Budapest Gambit for both sides, which means that White is p ro b a b ly b e t t e r .) 7.c5! f8 8.b3 is actually winning! ] 5.dxe5 xe5 6.f3 What follows is pleasant for White, but perhaps nothing special from a theoretical point of view, and a stronger Black player could certainly outplay somebody who didn't have a feeling for where to put his 858
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pieces in the queenless middlegame that results. [ 6.f4!? f6 7.f3 c7 8.g3 0-0 9.g2 d5 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.0-0 I like White's position here, even if just from an optical perspective- those knights on f4 and f3 are a pleasure to behold. c6 12.b3 e8 13.b2 xf4 14.gxf4 e4 15.c1 f6 16.d4 b6 17.e3 d7 18.h5 xd4 19.xd4 d6 20.f3 g6 21.h4 g5 22.h6 1-0 Agrest, E (2599)-Sasikiran, K (2650)/ Mainz 2002/CBM 089 ext ] 6...d6 7.xe5 [ 7.c3!? xc3+ 8.bxc3 is probably not worse for White. ] [ 7.f4 is not an exact transposition to 6. Nf4 above, because there is no longer any question of the bishop going to c7. e7 8.g3 f6 9.g2 0-0 10.0-0 is quite a strange position, because the bishop on e5 lo o k s b o t h a ct ive a n d m isp la ce d , b u t I suspect White is somewhat better due to his extra space and prospect of having the bishop pair. ] 7...dxe5 8.c3 xd1+ 9.xd1 e6?! A natural move, but given that White is going to play b3 anyway, the bishop was better deployed on f5. [ 9...a5!? ] 10.b3 a5 11.b2 f6 12.c3 a6 13.0-0-0 h6 14.h3 [ equally good is 14.e3 g4 15.e4 b4 16.h3! ] 14...f7 15.e3 0-0 A concession. [ 15...e7!? 16.a3+ ( 16.d3 ) 16...b4 17.a4 d6! is not so clear, but it's easy to understand that Black didn't want to walk into pins on the a3-f8 diagonal. ] 16.e2 b4 17.f4 b5! 18.g4 [ 18.cxb5 cxb5 19.xb5 fc8 20.d2 ( 20.b1 exf4 21.exf4 f5+ ) 20...exf4 21.exf4 d6! ] 18...exf4 [ 18...bxc4 19.f5 c8 ( 19...d5 20.e4 ) 20.xc4 a6 21.a3 xc4 22.bxc4 a6 23.e4 fd8 24.c3 a4 25.a5 ] 19.exf4 bxc4 20.bxc4 f5 21.a3 a6 22.a4 ab8 23.hg1 fxg4 24.hxg4 fe8 25.d2 d8 26.f5 f7 27.g5 b7 28.g6 hxg6 29.fxg6 e6 30.g5! bd8! 31.xd8 xd8 32.e5 e8! 33.d2 d6 34.d4
c7 35.c3 f5! 36.d3 [ Ftacnik points out a neat trick here: 36.c5? xg6 37.f3 cb5+! 38.cxb5 xb5+ 39.c4 f7+ 40.d3 d8 41.e4 g6 42.b3 c5! ] 36...xd3 37.xd3 d8? [ 37...e6! is still viable. ] 38.c5 a8 39.e4 xe4 40.xe4 c7 [ 40...c7 41.b6 c8 42.xc7 xc7 43.e8# ] 1-0
869 Savchenko,Boris Shirov,Alexei World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (5) [Carsten Hansen]
A21 2583 2739 21.11.2007
1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.f3 xc3 4.bxc3 [ I more or less dismissed this line in my book on 1 c4 e5 and instead gave preference to 4.dxc3 , but Black should be okay in that line too. White's best may well be 4 bxc3 after all. ] 4...d6 [ Black has also tried 4...e4 ] [ 4...e7 ] [ , and most frequently 4...c6 ] 5.d4 [ The most aggressive, which almost seems odd a f ter the more rese rved 3rd move . White has also tried: A) 5.g3 A) 5...c6 6.g2 ( 6.b1 ge7 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 b8 9.d3 h6 10.e4 g4 11.h3 e6 Kanellopoulos, P-Kritz, L/ E r m i o n i G R E 2 0 0 6 , a n d h e r e 12.e2 d7 13.g4 a5 14.h4 ) 6...ge7 ( 6...e6 7.b1 c8 8.b3 b8 9.g5 ge7 10.xe6 xe6 11.0-0 0-0 12.d3 h8 13.e4 Raicevic, I-Perunovic, M/Nis 1994; 6...g4 7.d3 d7 8.h3 h5 9.b1 b8 10.g4 g6 11.h4 Hansen, VSteinbacher, M/Bad Wiessee 2000) 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 ( 8.a3 g6 9.b1 b8 10.d3 b6 , was played in Kantorik, M-Laketic, G/ Cheliabinsk 1991, and at this point White should have tried 11.d2 b7 12.e3 a5 13.xb7 xb7 14.f4 f5 , but as it turned out Kantorik was having the worst tournament of his life and lost all 859
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 his games in this tournament) 8...b8 9.a4 ( 9.c2 g4 10.h3 e6 11.g5 f5 12.e4 g6 13.f4 was Orchard, CClough, P/corr BPCF 1995) 9...e8 10.e4 b6 11.h4 d7 12.g4 d8 13.f4 exf4 14.xf4 g6 , O'Rourke, R-Brady, S/ Drogheda 1999, and now 15.xg6 fxg6 16.a5 appears best; B) 5...e6!? 6.d3 c6 7.g2 ge7 8.0-0 f6 9.b1 b8 , Perez, J-Lugo, B/ Fuerteventura 1992, 10.e4 0-0 11.e3 d7 12.h4 b6; C) 5...f5 6.d4 e4 7.g5 f6 8.d2 h6 9.xf6 xf6 10.g2 0-0 11.0-0 f7 12.e3 d7 13.f3 exf3 14.xf3 f6 15.e2 Schweda, R-Rogozenko, D/ Stockerau 1993; D) 5...e7 6.g2 0-0 7.c5 e4 8.cxd6 cxd6 9.d4 d5 10.0-0 bc6 11.a4 d7 ( 11...xd4 12.cxd4 g4 13.f3 exf3 14.xf3 xf3 15.xf3 e8 16.b1 c8 17.a3 f5 18.e3 ) 12.a3 e8 13.d3 e5 14.b3 exd3 15.exd3 c6 16.fe1 Raicevic, I-Maric, D/Nis 1995; E) 5...e4 6.d4 f6 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 e8 9.d3 c5 10.c2 exd3 , Silseth, SBreivik, L/Gausdal NOR 2005, and now W hite c an o bta in a b et ter gam e af te r 11.exd3 g4 12.f3 d7 13.b1 b6 14.g4 h6 15.e3; F) 5...f6 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 F1) 7...e8 8.d3 ( 8.c2 h6 9.b1 bd7 10.d3 c6 11.d2 c7 12.e4 b6 13.f4 Kovtun, S-Khmelnitsky, S/ UKR 1986 ) 8...bd7 9.e4 f8 10.h4 c6 11.f5 d5 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.f3 dxe4 14.dxe4 Rahman, Z-Handoko, E/ Dhaka 1995; F2) 7...h6 8.d3 bd7 9.b1 b8 10.d2 c5 11.a3 b6 12.d4 cd7 Vita, F-Klinova, M/Bratto 1997, and here 13.e4!? looks like a worthwhile try; F3) 7...c6 8.d3 e4 9.d4 exd3 10.exd3 d7 11.b1 b8 12.h3 h6 13.e3 Pitam, E-Klinova, M/Dresden 1998; F4) 7...bd7 8.d3 e4 9.d4 ( 9.g5!? exd3 10.exd3 ) 9...e8 10.b1 c5 Meyer, E-Christiansen, L/New York 1985 11.f3 exd3 12.exd3 d7 13.g4 ] [ B) 5.c2 c6 6.g3 ge7 7.g2 0-0
8.d3 h8 9.b1 b8 10.0-0 f5 , Pils, W-Weinzettl, E/Vienna 1986, and here 11.g5 e8 12.h4 d7 13.f4 ] [ C) 5.d3 A) 5...f6 6.e4 0-0 ( 6...h6 7.g3 0-0 8.g2 e6 9.0-0 c6 10.a3 a6 11.a4 e8 12.fb1 Diehle, J-Annabi, S/ Ronneburg 1996 ) 7.e2 A1) 7...c6 8.0-0 e7 9.b1 d8 10.e1 e6 11.c2 ( 11.f4!? ) 11...f4 12.e3 c6 13.f3 Levieux, P-Amram, R/Cappelle la Grande 1995; A2) 7...bd7 8.0-0 h6 9.e1 c5 10.f4 e8 11.c2 c6 12.e3 exf4 13.xf4 Hiebel, J-Maier, C/Gladenbach 1992; B) 5...c5 6.g3 c6 ( 6...d7 7.g2 c6 8.0-0 d7 9.c2 gf6 10.e4 f8 11.d2 e6 12.h4 Orchard, CMcMillan, N/corr 1994) 7.g2 ge7 8.e4 0-0 9.0-0 h6 10.b1 b8 Lerner, KOnischuk, A/Cuxhaven 1993 11.e2 g4 12.h3 e6 13.d1 c8 14.h2 c7; C) 5...f5 6.g3 f6 7.g2 0-0 8.a3 e8 9.d2 c6 10.e4 b8 11.0-0 e6 12.f4 g4 13.e2 d7 14.h3 h6 ( 14...f6 15.g4 fxg4 16.f5 f7 17.hxg4 ) 15.h2 bd8 16.f2 Musikhin, P-Frolov, A/Ufa 1999; D) 5...d7 6.g3 g4 7.g2 xf3 8.xf3 c6 9.b1 c7 10.0-0 f6 D1) 11.d4 bd7 ( 11...e4?! 12.g2 0-0 13.f4 h5 14.xe4 xf4 15.gxf4 d7 16.d3 f6 17.g2 ) 12.b3 b6 13.c2 0-0 14.g5; D2) 11.g5 bd7 12.c2 h6 13.xf6 xf6 14.b2 h5 15.fb1 b6 , Schre ib er, W -B a st ia n , S/ G erma n y 2001, and now 16.d2; E) 5...e7 6.c5 bc6 7.cxd6 cxd6 8.g3 0-0 9.g2 e6 10.0-0 d7 11.a3 ad8 Jungbluth, R-Deinert, W/ Recklinghausen 2005 12.g5 g4 13.f3 h5 14.f4; F) 5...c6 6.g3 f5 7.g2 f6 8.b1 0-0 9.0-0 e8 10.c2 ( 10.d2 b8 11.e4 fxe4 12.xe4 xe4 13.xe4 f5= Gonzalez, J-Estrada Nieto, J/ Merida 2002 ) 10...b6 11.d2 b7 12.e4 e7 13.f3 c6 14.exf5 xf5 15.e4 d7 860
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.f4 e7 17.d2 Avery, R-Bisguier, A/ Chicago 1987 ] [ D) 5.c5!? appears to be White's best chance for an edge in this variation: A) 5...c6 6.cxd6 cxd6 7.g3 ge7 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 b6 10.c4 c7 11.d3 h6 12.a3 b7 13.c1 fe8 14.d2 ad8 15.e4 1-0 Dzindzichashvili, RKhmelnitsky, I/Philadelphia 1992; B) 5...f6 6.cxd6 B1) 6...cxd6 B1a) 7.d4 e4 8.d2 0-0 9.e3 a5 10.c4 d5 11.a3 d8 12.b3 e8 13.d2 f5 , Gerasimov, VHasangatin, R/Tomsk 2001, and now 14.c4 g6 15.0-0 c6 ( 15...h3 16.xf7+ xf7 17.xf7+ xf7 18.gxh3 f6 19.f3 exf3 20.xf3 ) 16.d5 f6 17.f3 xd5 18.xd5 exf3 19.xf3 e6 20.e4; B1b) 7.g3 0-0 8.g2 c6 ( 8...c7 9.0-0 c6 10.d3 b6 11.g5 d7 12.d2 h6 Thompson, I-Davies, N/ Port Erin IOM 2003 ) 9.0-0 B1b1) 9...e8 10.d4?! ( 10.d3!? ) 10...e4 11.d2 d5 12.e3 g4 13.a4 a5 14.a3 e2 15.fe1 d3 16.b3 xb3 17.axb3 b5 18.b4 a5 Gerasimov, V-Glek, I/ Tomsk 2001; B1b2) 9...f5 10.d3 d7 11.c4 h3 12.e4 ab8 13.a4 g4 14.e3 e8 15.d2 xf3 16.xf3 Arkell, K-Pert, N/Hastings 2000; B2) 6...xd6 7.a4+ bd7 8.a3 c5 9.d4 0-0 10.e3 c7 11.c1 b6 12.e2 b7 13.0-0 Knott, S-Davies, N/ Scarborough 1999; C) 5...e4 6.a4+ d7 7.xe4++Wiese, D-Keller, S/IECC 1997; D) 5...dxc5 6.xe5 f6 7.e3 0-0 8.e2 e8 9.f3 b6 10.0-0 b7 11.a4 d6 12.d4 bd7 13.a3 e4 14.c2 h6 15.ad1 Arkell, K-Plaskett, J/ Hastings 1988 ad8 ] 5...e7 [ 5...c6 6.g5 ( 6.e4!? ) 6...ge7 7.e3 0-0 Kulczyk, P-Merklejn, K/Bydgoszcz 2001 ] [ 5...e4 6.d2 f5 ( 6...e7 7.e3 f6 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 bd7 10.a3 b6
Datta, A-Lee, W/Stillwater 2002) 7.e3 f6 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 c5 10.f4 c6 11.b3 b6 Oakley, P-Brilla Banfalvi, S/corr 1983 ] 6.c5!? [ White may also consider another sharp move: 6.e4!? A) 6...exd4 7.cxd4 f6 ( 7...xe4+ 8.e3 ) 8.d3 0-0 9.0-0; B) 6...f6 7.d3 bd7 ( 7...exd4 8.cxd4 xe4 9.0-0 f5 10.e1 0-0 11.g5 f6 12.xe4 fxe4 13.xe4 g6 14.b2 ) 8.0-0 0-0 9.e2 e8 ] 6...e4! 7.cxd6 cxd6 8.d2 e3 Shirov as expected doesn't hesitate to sacrifice a pawn to gain a lead in development 9.fxe3 f6 [ 9...xe3? 10.a4+ d7 11.a3 (threatening Nc4) e6 12.e4 d5 13.d3 , and Black is in danger of being beaten to pulp. ] 10.g3 0-0 11.g2 g4 12.f1?! [ This is simply too passive, all just to hang on t o a pa wn . T h e b et te r a lte rn a tive is 12.b3!? , e.g. f5 13.0-0 g6 14.d2 c6 15.f4 f6 16.a3 fe8 ( 16...h5?! 17.e4! ) 17.af1 ad8 ] 12...f5 13.f3 d7 [ 13...e8!? ] 14.b3 b6 15.g1 [ 15.a4 ac8! 16.a5 c4 17.xb7 c7 18.d5 c2 19.a2 f6 20.g5 e4 ] 15...ac8 [ Black should consider 15...e6!? 16.c2 ac8 17.e4 f5! ] 16.e4 e6 17.d5?! [ 17.b4!? is relatively best: c4 ( 17...fe8 18.a4 ) 18.a5 c7 19.d2 a4 20.g5 f6 ] 17...d7 18.f4 c5 19.d2 [ 19.a3 a5 20.b2 c4 21.xb7 ge5 ] 19...fc8 20.c1 xh2 21.e3?! [ 21.c4 xf3+ 22.exf3 xd5 23.xb7 xf4 24.gxf4 d5!? ] 21...b5 [ 21...xd5!? ] 22.a3 xd5 23.xa7? [ 23.d4!? xf3+ 24.exf3 f5 25.f2 fxe4 26.xe4 c6 27.c4 a6 28.xa6 bxa6 29.cxb5 axb5 , and Black has the much better game and should win in the long run, but there is a lot of work left before the win 861
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 can be scored on the tournament table. ] 23...xf3+ [ 23...b6 24.c4 a5 25.b2 xa7 26.cxd5 xc1+ 27.xc1 xf3+ 28.exf3 transposes to the game continuation ] 24.exf3 b6 25.c4 a5 26.b2 xa7 27.cxd5 xc1+ 28.xc1 xa2 [ 28...f6! 29.a3 d4-+ ] 29.b1 a6 30.b4?! [ 30.b2!? f5 31.f2 fxe4 32.xe4 f7 33.b3 b5 34.c1 h5 35.c7 a2+ 36.e3 h6+ 37.d3 ( 37.f4? h2 38.xd7 e2+ 39.d4 a4+-+ ) 37...h2 38.c2 xc2 39.xc2 h5-+ ] 30...f5 31.e2 fxe4 32.xe4 a4!? [ 32...b5!? 33.c1 a2+-+ ] 33.xb6 g4! 34.f2?! [ 34.d2 a2+ 35.e3 a3+ 36.d2 xf3 37.e1 h6 38.d4 ( 38.xd6?! b7!-+ ) 38...f5 39.a1 e5 40.c3 f5-+ ] 34...a2+ [ 34...f8!? ] 35.e3 a3+ 36.d2 xf3 37.b8+? [ 37.e1!? f8 38.xd6 a7 39.c5 a2+ 40.d3 c8 41.b4 f5-+ ] 37...f8 38.b4 f3!? [ 38...e5! 39.c3 f2+ 40.d3 e2+ 41.c2 c4+ 42.b1 d4-+ ] 39.e1 xe4 40.xe4 g5+ 41.e3 h5!? [ 41...d8! 42.g4 a5+ 43.e2 b5+ ] 42.e6+ h7 43.d3 f5 44.d4 g4+ 45.c3 g5 [ 45...f3! 46.xg4 xe3+ 47.d2 hxg4 48.xe3 g6 49.f4 f6 ] 46.d4 f6 47.e4+ h6 48.c4 g6 49.b5 d8 50.f4+ h7 [ 50...g5 51.e6+ h7 52.xd6 xd5+ 53.xd5 xd5+ ] 51.e4?! [ 51.f5!? g5 52.xg5 xg5 53.c6 g6 54.f3 h6 55.f7!= ] 51...b8+ 52.c6 c8+ 53.b5 c5+ 54.a6 h6 55.f4+ g5??+[ 55...h7! ] 56.e6+ h7 57.xg5 c8+ 58.b6 b8+ 59.c6 c8+ 60.xd6 a6+ 61.e5 a1+ 62.f5 f1+ 63.f4 d3+ 64.g5 xd5+ 65.f5+ This is not a just outcome of the game, where Black created everything and obtained a winning advantage,
and all W hite did was to fight to stay in the game, though only barely so, though his effort is prize-worthy. 1-0
870 Skembris,Spyridon Lazic,Miroljub 11th Open Verona ITA (7) [John Watson]
A21 2446 2512 07.01.2005
1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.f3 e4 4.g5 f5 5.c3 A position also arising from 1. c4 e5 2. N c 3 d 6 3 . N f 3 f 5 4 . d 4 e 4 5 . N g 5 . c6 This move has become a standard solution versus d4 and Ng5. White has yet to make a dent in it. 6.h3 e7 [ Avoiding 6...f6 7.g5 with the idea e3 and Nf4. ] 7.e3 [ 7.f4 f6 8.e3 a6 9.e2 0-0 is equal ] 7...f6 8.f4 0-0 9.h4 Versus ...g5. a6 10.e2 c7 11.b3 b8 [ Another course is 11...b6 12.d2 d5 ] 12.d2 e6 13.d5 xf4 14.exf4 c5 [ 14...cxd5 15.cxd5 b5!? ] 15.h5 d7 16.a4 h6 17.0-0-0 a6 18.de1 b6 Black should definitely consider [ 18...b5!? ] 19.f3 exf3 20.xf3 ½-½
871 Sorokin,Maxim Tseshkovsky,Vitaly 99 Krasnodar RUS (10) [Tony Kosten]
A21 2574 2547 22.11.1999
1.c4 d6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 f5 4.d4 c6 5.dxe5 The standard method of treating such positions, the resulting ending is not quite as simple as it might seem. dxe5 6.xd8+ xd8 7.f3 e4 8.d4 f6 9.g5 e7 Forced, as Bxf6+ is a serious positional threat. 10.h3 [ 10.d1 seems tempting, but Black may be able to hold on af te r c7! ( 10...e8? 11.h3 g6 12.xf6 xf6 13.xe4 862
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 wins a good pawn) 11.h3 g6 12.db5+ cxb5 13.xb5+ ( 13.xf6 xf6 14.d5+ c6 15.cxb5+ xb5 is not so bad for B l a c k , a n d h i s k i n g s i d e p a wn c h a i n i s strong ) 13...b6 14.xf6 xf6 15.d6+ c5 16.xf6 ] 10...h6?! [ It might not be a good idea to weaken g6 like this, better 10...g6 as now 11.d1 can be met by d7 ] 11.f4 g6 12.f3 White only allows Black to ad va nc e h is pa wn s so th a t th ey be co m e easier to attack! exf3 13.xf3 [ Threatening Ne5, with an attack on f7 and g6, but 13.0-0-0 e8 14.exf3 opening a second central file against the king, is also tempting. ] 13...g5 14.e5 h7 15.0-0-0+ e8 16.d2 a6?! [ 16...bd7! is best, exchanging the annoying e5-knight, or obliging it to retreat. ] 17.hf1 g4? [ After this inaccuracy the black position d i s i n t e g r a t e s , h e h a d t o t r y 17...d6! whilst W hite cannot defend this with Bf4, 18.d3 g4 19.g2 and now e6 gains a tempo attacking the c4-pawn. ] 18.g2 c7 19.e4 e6 [ Black is forced to seek compensation for his f-pawn, as 19...fxe4 20.xe4 is extremely disagreeable for him. ] 20.exf5 d4 21.f4 c5 [ 21...xf5 loses material after 22.df1 ] 22.e1 h5 it is difficult to suggest any better, Black is a pawn down with a rotten position. 23.b5 xb5 24.cxb5 a6 25.b6 a5 26.c4 f8 27.c3 It is indeed a bad sign for Black when W hite's pieces find strong squares so easily. h6 28.e5 d6 29.f2 d7? [ 29...d7? 30.xd7+ xd7 31.e6 xe6 32.fxe6+ wins the knight. ] 1-0
872 Speelman,Jonathan S Howell,David 4NCL 2006-07 (5) [Jonathan Rowson]
A21 2533 2501 13.01.2007
1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 e7 This is currently the most popular retreat, and White's approach in this game is not the most critical line, but is noteworthy nonetheless, and as far as I can tell it does yield some advantage. 4.d4 [ 4.f3 I include the following striking game (Ehlvest-Shirov) more for entertainment than theoretical value, but it is worth noting that White doesn't have to meet Be7 with d4. A) 4...d6 5.b3!? ( 5.d4 ) 5...f5 6.b2 f6 looks fine for Black.; B) 4...e4!?; C) 4...c6 5.xe7 xe7 6.b3 d5 7.e3 h6 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.a4 c6 10.a3 e6 11.c1 d7 12.b4 f6 13.b5 d8 14.e2 f5 15.0-0 d6 16.b3 b6 17.d4 e4 18.d2 8b7 19.f3 f5 20.fxe4 fxe4 21.b1 1-0 Ehlvest, J (2655)-Shirov, A (2580)/Manila 1990 ] 4...d6 5.f3!? e4 [ 5...c6 seems unnecessary, though it does give Black the option of playing ...f5 before ...Nf6. 6.xe7 ( 6.c3 doesn't make sense, si n c e W h it e h a s e f f e c t i ve ly l o s t h a lf a tempo. ) 6...xe7 There are several ways to play now, but after something simple like 7.e3 f5 8.e2 f6 9.0-0 0-0 10.b4 White remains somewhat better, but it will take some skill to show it e.g. e4 11.d2 e6 ( 11...d5 12.a4! ) 12.a4 bd7 13.a3 f7 14.b5 c5 15.b3 b6 16.a5 ] 6.d2 f5 7.b1 f6 8.bc3 0-0 9.g3!? Perfectly playable, but White can probably do better. [ 9.xe7+ xe7 10.g5 e6 ( 10...h6 11.d5 ) 11.e3 bd7 12.e2 c6 Un d e rst a n d a b le , b u t n o w W h it e 's d a rk squared bishop is strong. 13.0-0 f7 14.d5 ( 14.b3 is also playable, and somewhat better for White.) 14...cxd5 15.b5 e5 ( 15...dxc4 16.xd6! and Nc7 or Nd4.) 16.xd6 g6 17.xf6 ( 17.f4! xc4 18.xb7! xb2 19.d4 c4 20.c5 863
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and White has positional domination for his pawn and will increase the pressure with Rab1-b7. ) 17...xf6 18.cxd5 d7 19.c4 xc4 20.xc4 f4 21.exf4 h3 22.g3 xf4 23.d6+ h8 24.d5 xf1 25.xf1 ff8 26.d1 ad8 27.g2 f6 28.d2 e3 29.fxe3 h6 30.d3 f6 31.d2 h6 32.d3 f6 1/2-1/2 Lautier, J (2620)-Shirov, A (2685)/Tilburg 1996 ] 9...e6 10.xe7+ xe7 11.d5 f7 12.h3 g4! 13.xg4 fxg4 14.e3 [ 14.d4 g6 15.b3 d7 16.b2 ] 14...d7 15.d4 g6 16.0-0?! This gives Black a very clear and strong plan of Q-h5 followed by Ne5-f3 or Qh3 and Rf5-h5. [ 16.h3!? is fine for White, who can still castle queenside. ] 16...ae8 17.xa7 e5! 18.fc1 h5 19.f1 [ 19.d4 h3 20.d1 looks a bit passive, but many good ideas do, and in this case it is not clear how Black strengthens his attack, because White can play Qf1-g2 to bolster his king's defences. ] 19...c5 20.a3 xh2 21.e1 Black now has various ways to win. W hite's rooks are not pulling their weight. a8 22.b4 d3+ 23.exd3 g1+ 24.d2 xf2+ 25.e2 xe2+ 26.xe2 g2+ 27.d1 exd3 28.e1 f8 29.f4 e8 30.e3 f8 31.f4 e4 32.c3 e8 33.c1 g6 34.d1 e2 35.d2 f2 36.b3 e4 37.xg4 f1+ 38.b2 xd2+ 39.a3 f5 40.h4 xa1 0-1
873 Suba,Mihai Bosboom Lanchava,Tea 6th Open Malaga ESP (5) [Tony Kosten]
A21 2501 2325 25.02.2003
1.c4 d6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 f5 [ 3...c6 is my preferred move in 'The Dynamic English', keeping control of d4. Play is then likely to transpose into a normal Closed English. ] 4.d4 This is the thematic reply, as now Black can only capture on d4 at the cost of conceding the f4-square to a white knight. d7 Black defends e5. Alternatives:
[ 4...exd4 5.xd4 c6 6.e3+ e7 7.g2 e5 8.b3 f6 9.b2 0-0 Van't Veen,GJanssen,E/Haarlem 1988, and now 10.h3 is logical, followed by Nf4. ] [ We considered 4...c6 in the game Sorokin, M-Tseshkovsky,V/Krasnodar RUS 1999. ] 5.h3!? A surprising novelty! It seems so automatic to bring the light-squared bishop to g2 t h a t m a n y o f u s wo u l d d o s o wi t h o u t thinking. [ 5.g2 is good, of course, gf6 ( 5...c6 6.e4!? Smokina,K-Martyniuk,T/Tapolca 1996 ) 6.e3 ( 6.f3!? e7 7.0-0 e4 8.g5 f8 9.f3 is better for White, Davies,NHartm an,C/ Katrineholm 199 5) 6...g6 7.ge2 g7 8.0-0 0-0 9.b3 with a standard type of position, except that the black queen's knight is more passively placed on d7 than on the habitual c6, Vehreschild,A-Kovalev,A/Cappelle la Grande 1996. ] 5...b6?! Maybe not the best, after [ 5...g6 I assu me W h ite in tende d 6.e4 to soften-up the diagonal, fxe4 7.xe4 gf6 with unclear play, whilst ] [ 5...e7 is also possible. ] 6.dxe5! dxe5?! This almost loses by force, Black should try a pawn sac with [ 6...e6 ] 7.xd8+ xd8 8.g5+ e7 9.0-0-0+ Everything with check! d7 10.xe7+ xe7 11.c5 Each move of White's is forcing, but will his initiative achieve anything concrete? c4 [ 11...bc8 12.f3 wins. ] 12.f3 e8 13.b3 The answer is yes, Black is forced to jettison material. e4 [ 13...a5 14.xe5 e6 15.b5 is even worse. ] 14.xe4! c6 15.eg5 a5 16.e6 W hite has a pawn more, the more active pieces, and the black king is misplaced enough for a quick victory. f7 17.xc7 xf3 [ 17...ac8 fails to trap the knight because of 18.e5+ g8 19.xc6 axc6 20.d7 ] 18.exf3 ad8 Again, [ 18...ac8 19.d7 leads nowhere for Black. ] 19.b5 a6 20.d6+ f6 21.f4 W ith W hite's two extra pawns and various other advantages the game is effectively over. 864
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 b8 22.he1 g6 23.f1 b5 24.g2 hd8 25.d2 ec6 26.de2 b4 27.e6+ g7 28.e7+ g8 29.b1 ac6 30.c7 d3 31.xc6 [ 31.d5+! h8 32.f7+ g7 33.g5+ forces mate. ] 31...e5? [ 31...xe1 is hopeless, but allows Black to continue: 32.d5+ f8 ( 32...h8? 33.f7+ ) 33.f7+ g8 34.e7+ f8 35.xe1 ] 32.d5+ f8 33.f7+ g8 34.e7+ 1-0
10...c6 11.0-0 e6 12.b3 b6 13.d2 [ White would like to exploit the weakness of c6 but 13.b5 c8 14.d2 d6 15.c1? would fall for the Greek Gift xh2+ 16.xh2 g4+ 17.g1 h4 etc. ] 13...a6 14.e1 d6 15.c1 e7 16.h5+ g6 17.h4 0-0 White is att acking with his pieces without the support of his pawns and so he proves unable to put the black centre under any real pressure. It remains intact, and so confers a space advantage on the black pieces without any drawbacks. 18.xg6 hxg6 19.e1 b8 20.h3 a7 21.e2 af7 22.g3 d7 23.xd6 xd6 24.g3 xg3 25.xg3 b5 26.f2 e8 27.xf7 xf7 874 A21 28.c8 e7 Black has a clear advantage in Sultanov,Alexander V 2290 the endgame as his bishop is clearly the best Poluljahov,Aleksandr 2525 minor piece on the board. Both white knights 53rd ch-RUS Samara 2000 are passive and cannot easily find anyrthing to attack. Meanwhile the black king is active [Neil McDonald] while its counterpart is shut in on g1. 29.c1 White cannot exploit the c file for if 1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.f3 e4 4.fd2 [ 29.b8 f6 planning Rc6. ] [ White can also play more aggressively with 4.g5 for example f5 5.c3 e7 6.h3 29...d7 30.c2 d6 31.b3 a5 32.a4 a6 c6 7.e3 f6 8.f4 a6! 9.h4 c7 10.d5 33.c3 f5 34.ge2? [ 34.xf5 White had to bite the bullet with 0-0 11.e2 d7! clearing the way for Bf6 gxf5 ] and heading for the active c5 square 12.g3 a5 with unclear play in Xu Jun-Adams, 34...g5! Zugzwang! 35.g3? A fatal weakening of the f3 square. The only move was Yerevan 1996. ] [ 35.h2 when if c8 36.g1 xc3 4...f5 5.e3 f6 6.c3 c6 A well established 37.xc3 xe3 38.f2 would keep up the alternative, which has also brought Black fight. ] some impressive successes over the years, is [ 6...c5!? aiming to counterattack against d4. 35...e7 36.g2 f3 37.g1 Losing, but I n t h e p r e s e n t g a m e B l a c k a d o p t s a there was no answer to the threat of 37...Nf5. completely different plan. He prepares to f1+ 38.h2 f2+ consolidate a space advantage in the centre. 0-1 The question is whether W hite is able to disrupt Black's build up with a blow from 875 A21 the flanks. ] Tratar,Marko 2435 7.f3 Srebrnic,Vojko 2200 [ Instead 7.d5 g6 looks unclear, though I 11th Open Ljubljana 2000 suspect fine for Black. ] [Neil McDonald] 7...d5 8.cxd5 [ 8.b3 a6! 9.e2 b5 10.c5 a5! d6 2.c4 e5 3.c3 exd4?! turned out well for Black in Ribli-Quinteros, 1.d4 Black concedes the centre. This isn't Las Palmas 1974. ] 8...cxd5 9.fxe4 fxe4 10.e2 This seems too recommended as although Black gains time slow to hurt Black. Much more enterprising with his next move he doesn't seem to be able t o ge n e ra t e e n o u g h d yn a m i sm t o o f f s e t would be [ 10.b5+ perhaps in combination with Qa4 White's space advantage and control of the d5 square. 4.xd4 c6 5.d2 g6 6.b3 or Qb3. ] 865
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g7 7.b2 f6 8.g3 0-0 9.g2 e8 10.h3!? The knight is heading for the f4 square where it will clamp down further on the important d5 centre point. This persuades B la ck t o p a rt wit h t h e t wo b ish o p s . xh3 11.xh3 e4 12.xe4 xe4 A couple of exchanges have eased the congestion in Black's camp, but he still suffers from a space disadvantage. Furthermore, W hite's light squared bishop will soon demonstrate its superiority over the black knight. 13.g2 e8 14.0-0 e7 15.e3 a5 16.ac1 xb2 17.xb2 d8 Black cannot find a constructive plan. All he can do is bolster his defences in anticipation of W hite's coming attack. 18.fd1 b8 19.a3 With all his pieces on optimal squares, White decides it is time for a queenside pawn advance. e6 20.c3 b6 21.c6 ed8 22.b4 axb4 23.axb4 dc8 24.a1 d8 25.g2 b5 26.a7 bxc4 27.d5 e8 28.xc4 c6 Th is b id f o r f re ed o m me et s wit h a sha rp response. 29.xf7+!? [ 29.g2 Of course, another way to keep up the pressure was the quiet ] 29...xf7 30.xd6 d8? [ 30...a8 Black reacts badly to the sacrifice. H e wo u l d h a ve d r a wi n g c h a n c e s a f t e r 31.xa8 ( 31.b7 ab8 32.a7 draws. ) 31...xa8 32.xc6 though stopping the past b pawn would be a demanding task. ] 31.e6 f8 32.ee7 d5 33.xf7 xb4 34.g7+ This is a drastic warning about the dangers of conceding the centre if you don't gain a lot of piece play as compensation. 1-0
876
A21 Vera Gonzalez Quevedo,Reynaldo 2530 Hodgson,Julian M 2590 Winnipeg 1997 [Tony Kosten] 1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.c3 exd4 4.xd4 c6 5.d2 Seems like an odd square for a queen, but it is very common in similar positions. The c1-bishop will be developed on b2, so the queen will be able to defend both the bishop on b2, and the g3-knight, from d2. f6 6.b3 e6 Threatening the freeing move 7... d5.
7.e4 And stopping it! g6 Sensibly continuing development, Black plays his bishop to the a1-h8 diagonal, but [ the immediate attack on the queenside 7...a5 is favoured by some, 8.b2!? a4 9.d1 freeing the a1-square for the bishop, otherwise ...a3 would be annoying. axb3 10.axb3 A) 10...g6 is also reasonable, 11.d3 g7 12.ge2 0-0 13.0-0 d7 14.d5 Lautier, J-Piasetski,L/Manila 1990, and i n s t e a d o f xd5?! which allowed White some advantage along the open c-file after exchanging dark-squared bishops, and recapturing on d5 with the c-pawn, ( 14...a2! might be OK for Black. ); B) 10...e7 11.ge2!? ambitious, perhaps 11 Bd3, and then 12 Nge2, was safer. 0-0 12.f4 d7 13.fd5 the point of White's play, ...Bf6 is ruled out, but White is getting behind in d e v e l o p m e n t . c5 14.c2 f5! and the opening-up of the position proved embarrassing to White, Akesson,JAgrest,E/ch-SWE, Ronneby SWE 1998. ] 8.b2 g7 9.d3 0-0 10.ge2 g4! Black's pieces are ready for action, already the white king is under fire. 11.h3 Driving the knight to the central e5-square, but [ the natural 11.0-0 was dangerous: h4 12.h3 ge5! (threatening 13...Bxh3) 13.f4 xd3 14.xd3 f5 with good play. ] 11...ge5 12.0-0-0!? White obviously felt that the king was safer here, but it is rarely the case. b4 Black passes immediately to the attack, although [ 12...xd3+ was also playable. ] 13.b1 xc4! Shattering the king's defences. 14.bxc4 xc4 15.f4 e5 16.h6 [ 16.g4? would lead to an amusing finish: h5! 17.f3 g5+ and the poor white king has no escape squares. ] 16...c6 [ 16...g7 with a repetition on the queen, would draw immediately, but Black strives for more. ] 17.d4! Sensibly returning material to blunt the attack. xd4 18.xd4 xb2 19.xb2 e8 An unbalanced position has arisen, W hite's two pieces should be a match for Black's rook and two pawns, but the openness 866
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 of the white king is also a factor. 20.d1 f6 21.f4 Risky, White cuts his queen off from the rest of his forces, [ 21.d2! was better. ] 21...a6 22.f5 c5 Countering the threat to d6, with an even bigger menace: ...Na4+. 23.e5 Desperately trying to close the diagonal. dxe5 24.d6 e6 25.xe6 fxe6?! [ 25...xe6 was far better, keeping the pawn structure intact with a clear advantage. ] 26.fxe5 f8 27.xf8+ xf8 28.e3 The endgame should certainly favour Black as rooks tend to come into their own in this phase of the game. d7 29.e4 xe5 30.c2 d8 31.c3 Trying to defend all the entry squares, if the black rook is passive, White will have drawing chances. b6 32.g5 d6 Short of time, Black allows a repetition of position, but [ jettisoning the pawn by 32...c5 at one point in the next few moves, would keep a plus, e. g. 33.xe6 d6 34.c7 f7 ] 33.e4 d8 34.g5 d6 35.e4 d8 36.g5 ½-½
877 Wang Yue Smirin,Ilia WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (2.3) [John Watson]
A21 2585 2673 02.12.2005
A good example of how to play one of the main ...e5/...f5 English Opening lines. White's setup is good but he can't slip up because Black's pieces are always ready to spring into action. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 d6 3.g3 f5 4.g2 f6 5.e3 g6 6.ge2 g7 7.b4 c6 8.b5 e7 9.a4 0-0 10.d3 b8 11.a3 e6 12.c1 h8 13.0-0 All standard stuff, but the rook's placement on c1 is an improvement over b1, and allows him to play f4 without c3 hanging. g5 I've always been a little skeptical of this kind of attack, but it certainly is difficult to face over the board! 14.d2 g6 15.d5 [ 15.f4! gxf4 16.exf4 ] 15...f4 16.exf4 gxf4 17.ec3?! The knights step over each other a bit. A good alternative was
[ 17.d4! ] 17...h6 18.cd1 g8 19.f3? This is a bad sign! 19.d4 was better. The rest of the game shows Black executing a very nice attack. h5 [ Or 19...xd5 intending exchanges on d5 and ...Ne7-f5. ] 20.e2 [ 20.g4 h4 21.de1? ( 21.e2 c6 ) 21...xg4! 22.fxg4 xg4 23.e2 f3 24.xh6 fxe2 ] 20...g7 21.c1 h4! 22.e1 fxg3 23.hxg3 xc1 24.xc1 g5 25.h2 bg8 26.g1 xg3 27.xg3 h6 28.e3 xf3# 0-1
878 Zvjaginsev,Vadim Tseshkovsky,Vitaly 56th ch Krasnoyarsk RUS (8) [Tony Kosten]
A21 2653 2538 11.09.2003
1.c4 e5 2.c3 d6 3.g3 f5 4.d4 e7 [ Not long ago we looked at 4...d7 5.h3!? in Suba,M-Bosboom Lanchava,T/Malaga ESP 2003. ] 5.h3!? Again this amazing idea, and again it is a novelty. [ 5.dxe5 is common, dxe5 6.xd8+ xd8 7.g2 f6 8.b3 c6 9.b2 but this ending doesn't offer White too much, as he hasn't even displaced the black king, Taimanov, M-Vaganian,R/Leningrad 1977. ] 5...exd4 This looks best, Black probably wanted to avoid [ 5...f6 because of 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.xd8+ xd8 8.e4 when the f-pawn is pinned. ] 6.xd4 c6 7.d1 White loses time with his queen, but, as I have stated many time s before, this structure is very favourable to White: he can use the f4 and d5 squares, the e6 and f7 squares are weak, and the black light-squared bishop is curbed by the f-pawn. e5 Trying to hinder White's natural development. 8.f3!? Offering to take play in a new direction, [ 8.g2 followed by Nh3-f4 was a reasonable alternative. ] 8...c6 Black threatens the c4-pawn, which could not be captured immediately because of 867
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the queen check on a4. [ 8...xf3+ 9.exf3 f6 10.0-0 0-0 11.e1 is nice for White because of his extra space and open central files. ] 9.c2!? Rather than defend the c-pawn White counterattacks the f5-pawn. xc4 10.xf5 xf5 11.xf5 d7 [ 11...d5 is also possible. ] 12.d3 e5!? An odd decision, Black prefers to play an endgame with an isolated e-pawn, rather than play the logical-looking [ 12...d5 as 13.e4 is no particular problem: dxe4 14.xe4 d6 15.c2 f6 with equality. ] 13.xe5 dxe5 14.xd7+ Now White is ha p py t o e xc h a nge qu e en s, a s h e ha s a weakness to exploit. xd7 15.e4 f6 16.e2 e6 17.f3 c5 18.a4 d4 19.e3 xe3!? Again this seems a bit too compliant, but perhaps Black was worried that [ 19...b6 20.xd4 exd4 21.d3 c5 22.b4 d7 23.f4 left the white pawns mobile and the black pawns rather static. ] 20.xe3 b6 21.b4 White hinders ...c5, which straightens the black structure, he will try to p r e s s u r i s e t h e b a c k w a r d c - p a w n . hc8 22.ac1 c7 23.c2 d8!? Black prefers not to defend to passively, but [ 23...ac8 is not so bad, for after 24.hc1 Black has the resource c5! 25.bxc5 d7 and the c-pawn is pinned, 26.c6 b8 with no particular problems. ] 24.hc1 d4 This is his idea, the b-pawn is pinned against the knight. 25.a3! [ 25.xc6+ xc6 26.xc6+ d7 27.c2 xb4 is nothing for White. ] 25...c5?! Black follows his defensive plan, but [ 25...d6 is better. ] 26.b2 d7 27.d3 This is the problem, now Black has no method of breaking the pin o n t h e c - l i n e a n d w i l l d r o p a p a w n . g5 To hinder f4. [ 27...c4? is n o im p ro ve m e n t : 28.xe5! xe5 29.f4+ wins an exchange and pawn. ] 28.bxc5 bxc5 29.xc5+ xc5 30.xc5 xc5 31.xc5 a4 Black is a pawn down in the rook ending, but plays for activity - his only chance. 32.c6+ f7 33.c3 h5 34.h4 gxh4 35.gxh4 e7 36.f4 exf4+ 37.xf4 White has been forced to liquidate two of the k i n g s i d e p a wn s t o f r e e h i s p o s it io n . f6
38.c6+ e7 39.c5! The only try - if White is tied down to the a-pawn he can never win. xa3 40.xh5 a5 41.f5 h3? I am not so sure about this, perhaps he should try [ 41...a1! 42.h5 a4 43.a5 a3 44.e5 (the king seeks cover in front of the pawn, otherwise Black would win by ...a2, and then rook somewhere check) a2 45.a7+ f8 46.h6 ( 46.e6 e1 47.xa2 xe4+ draws ) 46...g8 and how can White make progress without dropping his e-pawn? ] 42.h5 a4 43.g4 h1 Perhaps Black had missed that after [ 43...e3?! White has 44.h6! xe4+ 45.g5 e1 46.h7 h1 47.g6 and wins, as the white rook comes to h5. ] 44.a5 g1+ 45.f5 h1 46.g6 g1+ 47.h7 a1 Now Black puts his rook on a1, but the difference with the note at move 41 is that White has brought his king over to help the h-pawn. 48.h6 a3 49.g6 g1+ 50.f5 h1 51.a7+ f8 [ 51...d6 52.xa3! xh6 53.a6+ ] 52.h7 a2 53.xa2 g7 [ 53...xh7 54.a8+ f7 55.a7+ leads to a winning king and pawn endgame. ] 54.e5 [ 54.e5 xh7 55.g2 cuts the black king and wins in textbook fashion. ] 1-0
879 Boensch,Uwe Ftacnik,Lubomir TCh-AUT 2006-7 (1) [John Watson]
A22 2524 2580 03.11.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 c6 4.f3 d6 Black goes for the Old Indian formation. [ 4...e4 is the traditional move. ] 5.g2 e7 6.0-0 0-0 7.e4!? Now White is ready for d4, but if Black stops that we get a so rt o f B o tvin n ik with Nf 3 in . T h is is n o t necessarily b ad, because t he knight ca n always go to h4 to support f4 or perhaps play Nf5. In this game Black tries to exploit the knight position, but not too successf ully. g4!? [ To White's horror, Black might play 7...c5! 868
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 , cancelling out d4, 8.d3 c6 9.h3!? b8 might follow, with W hite going for f4 and Black for f5. ] [ Other ideas are: 7...bd7 8.d4 ] [ 7...e6 8.b3 a5 intending ...b5!? ] 8.h3 h5 [ 8...xf3 9.xf3 c5 10.d3 c6 is still irritating, but this time W hite can play for f4-f5, g4, etc. ] 9.d4 bd7 10.e3 [ An interesting juncture. Traditionally, White is supposed to have some advantage in p o s i t i o n s l i k e 10.g4 g6 11.e1 because Black's bishop is so bad, but it's not clear how he can show that. ( Maybe 11.h4! with the idea xe4 12.xe4 xe4 13.f5 is a goo d gambit : ef6 14.f4! and Black faces some real problems. I think that White is better, and almost certainly so in practice. )] 10...e8 11.e1 [ Better 11.g4 g6 12.h4! ] 11...exd4! 12.xd4 [ 12.xd4 gives more hope to get a little so me th in g ou t of t he p osit io n, b u t a5! l o o k s e q u a l ( 12...f8 13.c2 e5 14.d2! )] 12...e5!? [ or 12...c5= ] 13.xe5 dxe5 14.xe5 a3! 15.d4 xb2 16.ab1 xc3 17.xc3 xe4 18.d4!? [ 18.xe4! xe4 19.xb7 , but the opposite colours will make it difficult to get anything. ] 18...xd4 19.xd4 d2 20.xe8+ xe8 21.xb7 f3+ 22.xf3 xf3 23.e5!? a6 24.b8 xb8 25.xb8 e2 26.c5 f6 27.f4 f7 28.a4 d1 ½-½
880 Chernyshov,Konstantin Kachur,Alexander Geller Memorial op-A 3rd (1) [Tony Kosten]
A22 2570 2284 08.09.2007
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.a4 [ 6.d3 e7 7.a4 was the move order in Karlsson, L-Narciso Dublan, M, though this might be less accurate. ]
6...a5 7.d3 e7 [ With this move order 7...b4 is possible, 8.f3 c6 9.0-0 0-0 the bishop is more active on b4, Leepin, P-Alekhine, A/ Munich 1941. ] 8.e3 0-0 9.xb6 cxb6 10.f3 c6 11.0-0 e6 12.b5 [ 12.d2 is analysed in Karlsson, L (2482)Narciso Dublan, M (2544)/Badalona 2011. ] 12...c8 [ 12...f5 13.d2 ( it is probably better to keep the knight on f3 when Black plays .. .f5, so 13.e3 should come into consideration.) 13...d7 14.c4 c5 15.xe5!? xf2+ ( 15...xe5 16.d4 ad8 17.dxc5 bxc5 18.c2 b6 19.fd1 is about equal.) 16.xf2 xe5 17.f4 g5!? 18.d4 e7 19.c1 ac8 20.xc8 xc8 21.d2 c5 22.xb7! xb7 Blot, J (2324)-Colin, V (2324) / Mans 2001, 23.d8+ g7 24.d4 d5 25.d6 with advantage. ] [ 12...f6 13.d2 c8 ( 13...d7 14.c4 c5 15.c1 fd8 16.c2 ac8 17.fd1 b4 18.b1 f7 19.b3 White plays all his useful moves, next up e3 and d4 is on the c a r d s , b u t B l a c k b l u n d e r s f i r s t ! d7? 20.xb6! winning, Vedral, O-Plasgura, P (2186)/ Czechia 2001.) 14.c1 f7 15.c4 c5 16.h1 Kortschnoj, V (2639)-Zhu Chen (2497)/Amsterdam 2001. ] 13.c1 h8 Black waits for White to move his f3-knight before pushing his f-pawn. [ 13...f6 is again good, 14.d4!? ( 14.e3 d7 15.d4 should not be answered by exd4 as 16.fxd4 leaves White with a positional plus, Nagy, A (2090)-Turkova, K (1908)/ Banska Stiavnica 2010.; 14.d2 would be the normal move, heading for c4, f7 15.c4 c5 transposing to the 12...f6 note.) 14...e4 15.d2 f5 16.e3 b4 17.b3 is possible, White will prepare the f3 break, Dableo, R (2453) -Panopio, R (2212)/ Manila 2007. ] 14.d2 f5 15.c4 g5 This seems a bit pointless, the bishop is best on the a3-f 8 diagonal, protecting d6. 16.c3 [ Or 16.e3 ] 16...e7 17.b3 e8 18.e3 White simply continues 'the plan'. b4 19.c1 White is ready to push d4, or play first Qe2, Rfd1 and then d4. xc4?! Introducing opposite-colour bishops. 20.xc4 869
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 20.bxc4 must also have been tempting. ] 20...f6 21.c2 ed8 22.d1 g5?! W eakening the kingside when W hite was r e a d y t o e x p a n d i n t h e c e n t r e . 23.d4 Of course, this gains in strength now that Black's king is exposed. exd4 24.exd4 f4 25.d5 e7 26.d4 The knight has done its job on b5 and now heads for e6. [ 26.c7! also stops Black exchanging rooks. ] 26...fxg3 27.hxg3 xc4 28.bxc4 g6 29.e4 f8 30.g2 e8 31.f5 W hite dominates on the light squares. e5 32.f3 c5 33.h6 White has a number of routes here, as both [ 33.d6 and ] [ 33.h1 were also natural and strong. ] 33...f6 34.g4 g7 35.h1 g8 36.f5 I suspect both players were short of time here, but Black is completely lost anyway. d4 37.h5 g6 38.d6 f8 39.d5+ h8 40.xg5 c5 41.e4 g8 42.h6 f7 43.xh7! xh7 44.xg6+ 1-0
881 Griffiths,Ryan Rhys Howell,David 4NCL 2011-12 (5.12) [John Bartholomew]
A22 2310 2633 11.02.2012
1.c4 f6 2.g3 e5 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.e3!? A high-profile victory in an u n e xp l o re d li n e is a su re -f i re r e c i p e f o r copycat games in subsequent TWIC updates! c5 Interestingly, Howell is content to repeat Navara's play until move 15. [ Two new games saw the logical 6...c6 7.ge2 . Here Black has a choice: A) Zygouris, H (2205)-Felgaer, R (2571)/ Caleta ENG 2012 went 7...f5 8.0-0?! ( My recommendation last month was 8.d4! when White gets the upper hand in the complications of b4 9.0-0 c2 10.e1 g6 11.f4! . See Nakamura, H (2759)-Navara, D (2712)/W ijk aan Zee NED 2012/ [John Bartholomew].) 8...d3 ( I s u g g e s t e d 8...d3 the text is also fine. ) 9.f4 exf4 ( 9...h5!? ) 10.xf4 d6 11.d4!? ( W h i t e c o u l d p l a y 11.f2
though 0-0 12.f4 xf4 13.xf4 e7 isn 't m u ch .) 11...xf4 12.xc6 bxc6 13.xc6+ f8 14.gxf4 ( 14.xa8 xg3 15.hxg3 xa8 ) 14...b8 15.b3 h5! 16.a3+ g8 17.f3 h6 18.c1 a6 19.d4?? g6+ and White resigned in view of 20.h1 ( 20.f2 h4+-+ ) 20...xc6 21.xc6 b7-+ .; B) 7...e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.f4! exf4 ( I gave 9...f6; Zvjaginsev, V (2663)-Mikhalevski, V (2584) / Aix-les-Bains FRA 2011/[Nigel Davies] went 9...a5 10.fxe5 xe5 11.d4 g6 12.b3 c6 13.e4 c5 14.e3 cxd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.xd4 d7 17.d5 ) 10.xf4 e5 11.d4 g6 (this maneuver l o o k s a l i t t l e s u s p i c i o u s ) 12.xg6 ( 12.d3!? ) 12...hxg6 13.e4 c5! 14.d5 c4 15.f4 g5! 16.e2 gxf4 17.xc4 fxg3 18.e5! gxh2+ 19.h1 h4 20.e4 b5 21.e2 e8? 22.e6! fxe6 23.h5 e5 24.f7+ h8 25.d6 g4 26.g6 1-0 Matinian, N (2438)-Grover, S (2532)/ Moscow RUS 2012. A spectacular victory! ] [ Turov, M (2645)-Brandenburg, D (2527)/ Wijk aan Zee NED 2012 was played in the "C" section several rounds after NakamuraNavara. It continued 6...e7 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 f5 (this is somewhat loosening) 9.d4! A) 9...e4 10.f4 ( or 10.f3 exf3 11.xf3 ); B) 9...exd4 10.exd4 f6 11.d5 (White has several good alternatives, too) 8d7 12.f4 e5 13.e1 e8 14.h5 d7 . A t th is po in t 15.f4 looks very promising for White. In my opinion these recent practical tests should not at all dissuade you from venturing 6.e3!? in your own games. ] 7.ge2 c6 8.0-0 e7 9.f4 exf4 10.xf4 0-0 11.b3 f5 12.b2 d7 13.e4 ad8 14.f2 b4 15.f1 g6 A safe novelty, a d d re ssin g t h e t h re a t o f N f 4 -h 5 . H o we l l doesn't feel the need to refute Nakamura's previous play rather, he's aiming for a solid position in which he can outplay his lowerrated opponent. [ The source game went 15...xe4 16.xe4 6d5 17.h5 g6 18.a3!? a6?? 19.xd5 xd5 20.f6!+- and White won beautifully. Nakamura, H (2759)-Navara, D (2712)/ Wijk 870
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 aan Zee NED 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] 16.xg6 [ E x p e c t e d , b u t 16.c1! is much more challenging, i.e. c8 ( 16...xa2? 17.xc5 is definitely not advisable; I like White's attacking potential with the bishop pair after 16...xe4 17.xe4 f5!? 18.b1 ) 17.a3 4d5 18.xg6 hxg6 19.c3 ] 16...hxg6 17.d4 cxd4 18.exd4 6d5 Black has a sound position. 19.c5 [ 19.e1!? ] 19...c7 [ 19...xc5 20.dxc5 e3 21.e1 bd5! was an unbalanced alternative. ( 21...bc2? 22.c3+- )] 20.a3 e3 21.b5 xc5 22.c1 d7 23.xc5 xg2 24.xb4?! [ White is admittedly passive after 24.xg2 d5 25.xd7 xd7 26.e2 , but this was his best bet. ] 24...e3 25.d5?! Trying to offload the weakness. f6!? 26.e4 f5 [ 26...d1!? ] 27.e6+ f7 28.fc2 xe6 [ 28...e7! was stronger. ] 29.dxe6 e7 30.e2 de8 31.f2 xe6 32.xe6 xe6 33.c7 b6 [ It's unclear why Black refrained from the natural 33...e7 since a rook trade is not in White's best interest. ] 34.b4 a5 35.g4 d6 36.d4 a6 37.c5 e4+ 38.e3 xc5 39.c8+ f7 40.xc5 W h ite ha s go o d d ra wing ch a nce s in t h is ending. axb4 41.axb4 e6+ 42.d4 d6+ 43.e4 c6 44.b5 b6 45.h4 e6 46.h5 g5 47.d4 d6+ 48.e4 f7 49.e3 e6+ 50.d4 g6 51.hxg6+ xg6 52.d3 e1 Seeing no other way to make progress, Black makes for the g-pawn. 53.xb6 g1 54.e6?! Missing a sure draw. [ 54.b5 xg4 55.c6! b4 56.c5 s a ve s t h e d a y, in t e n d i n g K c 3 -c2 wh e n Black's rook cannot maintain an active post. For example, h5 ( 56...g4 57.c3 b1 58.c2 b4 59.c3 b1 60.c2 h1 61.b6 h7 62.b5 b7 63.d3= f5 64.e3 g5 65.f2= ) 57.c3 b1 58.c2 b4 59.c3 b1 60.c2 e1 61.b6 e8 62.d3 b8 63.b5 g4 64.e3 g3 65.e4 with an easy draw, e. g. g4 66.b3+ h2 67.f4 f5 68.b7 g2
69.xf5 g3 70.f4 f8+ 71.g4 g8+ 72.f4= ] 54...xg4 55.e4? A fatal miscalculation. [ 55.c3! still offered chances for the half point. ] 55...xe4 56.xe4 f7 Black gets back in time. 57.d5 e7 58.c6 d8 0-1
882 Grigoriants,Sergey Sadvakasov,Darmen Tournament for the 21st Century (4) [Tony Kosten]
A22 2503 2509 21.12.00
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 b4 4.g2 0-0 5.e4 xc3 The simplest line, this must be played now before White can play his other knight to e2. 6.bxc3 c6 I always felt that this was Black's strongest option here, he will play for ... d5. 7.a3 e8! [ Black is not worried about the bishop's incursion to d6, judging correctly that he can regain control of this square. W hen I had t h i s p o s i t i o n m y s e l f , I p r e f e r r e d 7...d6 , but this means Black will have to play ...d5 in two moves. Nevertheless the game turned out rather successfully for me: 8.e2 e8 9.b3 a6 10.c5?! to stop Black from p l a y i n g . . . b 5 , b u t i t w a s t e s t i m e , dxc5 11.xc5 b5 12.d1 e6 13.a3 bd7 14.d6 b6 the menace is ...c5, trapping the bishop, 15.f4? too aggressive, ( 15.d4 c4 was only slightly better for Black,) 15...g4 16.f1 xh2 17.fxe5 xf1 18.xf1 c5 Black won easily, Miezis,NKosten,A/Elgoibar 1995. ] 8.b3 White needs to control the d5-square. b6 9.e2?! [ 9.d3 b7 10.f3 d5 11.d2 ( 11.cxd5?! cxd5 12.exd5 xd5 13.c4 e4 is overwhelming) 11...a6 12.0-0 c7 which is fairly level, Huebner,R-Christiansen, L/Munich 1992. ] 9...b7 10.d6 [ White still strives to stop ...d5, 10.c5 a6 11.c4 bxc5 12.xc5 d6 13.a3 c5 ( 13...d5!? ) 14.0-0 a5 15.d3 c6 is fine for Black, Balduan, M-Lingnau,C/ Germany 1999. ] 871
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 fe8 13.d2 xf4?! 14.xf4 h3 15.h1 ad8 16.b2 e7 17.f2 White is certainly f o r p ref ere nce , b ut Karjak in's defensive skills came to the fore and he won this rapid game in the end anyway, Nepomniachtchi, I (2703)-Karjakin, S (2786)/ Moscow 2013. ] [ 7...f5!? Is a very natural way to play, with two ideas, either to clamp down on the d4 break by playing ..Bd3, or just by continuing with the straightforward ..Qd7 and ..Bh3. The problem though is that it runs into an equally natural response: 8.d4! exd4 ( 8...d6 9.d5! Is awkward for Black) 9.xd4 xd4 10.exd4 Now Black may feel the absence of the light-squared bishop from th e qu e en side - h an din g W h it e o bvio u s pressure so early in the game is a risky path. c6 11.0-0 e6 12.d5 Obvious, but strong. cxd5 Diagram 13.e3?! I feel this throws away any claims to an advantage. ( 13.d4! f6 14.xf6 gxf6 15.e3 was a very promising endgame) 13...e7 14.f4!? ( 14.xb6 xb6 15.xd5 xd5 16.xd5 0-0 17.f3 ad8 18.fe1 f6 Looks extremely drawish) 14...0-0 15.f5 d7 16.xd5 c6 Delchev, A (2622)Cheparinov, I (2664)/Panagyurishte 2012. ] 8.b3!? [ 8.0-0 g7 9.f4 0-0 10.fxe5 xe5 11.d4 883 A22 c6 12.f4 e7 13.b3 c6 14.a4 a5 15.d2 f5 16.ad1 Artemiev, V (2461)Hera,Imre Jr 2573 Brodsky, M (2563)/Tyumen 2012. ] Ribli,Zoltan 2554 Black is thinking smartly in the AUT-chT 1213 (11.2) 24.03.2013 8...a5!? opening. You may think this is played with the [Danny Gormally] intention of playing ..a4, but in fact it is also 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 a defensive measure, Ribli understands that 5.c3 b6 6.e3!? An interesting approach W h i t e will p la y B a 3 a t so m e p o in t i f t h e bishop goes to g7, so gets ready to meet this which has gained some popularity lately. [ Instead of the normal stuff with 6.f3 c6 with the neutraliser ...Nb4! It's so easy to drift 7.0-0 Which like most main-line theory these through the opening phase without paying days has been analysed to death, W hite attention to things- with the attitude that "any p la n s t o p u t t h e kn igh t o n e 2 a n d p la y old move will count" but if you see chess as a fight of ideas from move one, then you will be directly in the center with d4. ] less likely to overlook your opponent's plans. 6...c6 7.ge2 g6 [ Already it has become clear that there are 9.0-0 g7 10.a3 b4! 11.f4 0-0 12.fxe5 many ways of playing against this line . xe5 13.d4 g7 14.d2 I'm unconvinced An o t he r ap p roa ch is t he n at u ra l 7...d6 a b o u t t h i s c o m b i n a t i o n o f B a 3 a n d f 4 , After 8.0-0 0-0 9.f4! exf4 10.xf4 somehow it just doesn't feel right. On the A rather original position has arisen, with bright side White has an extra center pawn, very unclear play. f5 11.d4 d7 12.b3 but his position looks a bit clumsy. Black soon
10...e6 11.a3?! [ New, 11.xb8 xb8 12.0-0 d5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.exd5 xd5 favours Black because of his superior pawn configuration, Bruzon, L-Sadvakasov,D/Istanbul TUR 2000. ] 11...c5 Forcing this move is obviously White's plan, now Black can no longer play ...d5, but he has overlooked a tactical point. 12.xb8 xe4! 13.xe4 xe4 White's bishop is trapped! 14.f3 f6 15.xa7 c8 16.0-0 b7 17.b2 xa7 After recapturing the bishop Black retains a plus- he has the better pawn st ructure . 18.d4 h6 19.a4 a6 20.a2 e8 21.fb1 d6 22.d5 ea8 23.f2 The weakness of a4 and c4 seems to be balanced by the frailty of b6, so Black must open up a new front. e4! 24.fxe4 e8 25.b5 ae7 Now the white pieces look to be on the wrong side of the board. 26.a5 bxa5 27.xa5 c8 Black requires his most powerful piece in the attack. 28.a8 g4 29.xe8+ xe8 30.f4 g5 31.g2 xe4+ 32.g1 xc3 33.d2 f3 Decisive, there is no defence. 34.e1 [ 34.f2 e2+ 35.f1 d3 leads to a killer discovered check. ] 34...e2 0-1
872
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 initiates strong counterplay in the center. c5! 15.ad1 cxd4 16.exd4 e8 17.f4 f5 18.g4 e6 19.xb4? When your opponent keeps finding strong moves, then it's easy to lose patience, but this just gives away the ga m e in o n e m o ve . W h it e e m b a rks o n a forcing tactical line, that it wasn't difficult to see would not end in his favour. [ Nevertheless Black's game was already clearly preferable, as the f ollowing line might indicate 19.xb7 b8 20.f3 6d5! 21.xd5 xd5 22.d2 c8! Leaving W hite with an extremely difficult choice, either exchange the knight on d5, which will almost certainly lead to his king being butchered on the light-squares, or allow the knight into e3, where it will inevitably cause havoc. ] 19...axb4 20.d5 xg4! Perhaps White had missed this strong blow in advance. Either way, the game is now more or less over. 21.xg4 bxc3 22.f3 c2 23.c1 xd5 [ 23...xa2! 24.xf7+ h8 25.f4 e7 26.xg6+ hxg6 27.xg6 e5 W a s t h e m o s t e f f ic ie n t wa y o f wi n n in g according to a computer, but a human will almost always choose a less hair-raising path... ] 24.xc2 e3 25.xf7+ h8 26.c7 g8 27.fc1 xa2? [ 27...g5! 28.f3 xa2 was killing, as the Rc 8 re s o u r c e i sn 't g o i n g t o h u rt B la c k anymore. ] 28.f4? Returning the compliment. [ D o u b t l e s s W h i t e s a w 28.c8! But dismissed it, as Black's forces look far too active for him to resist for long. But this was certainly the way he should have played, even if Black is still much better after xc8 29.xc8 xc8 30.e6 f8 31.xe3 a1+ 32.c1 c8 ] 28...g5 [ Perhaps I'm cheating by putting this game through an engine, as then the commentator always looks like a genius, while the players look like patzers (if only this was always true in real life.) The computer indicates that the m o s t b r u t a l k i l l w a s w i t h 28...d2! Don't quote me on this, as I rarely understand computer moves anyway, but I think the idea is to play ..Rd1, followed by
taking on d1, then when the king goes to f2, the Knight retreats to f5, and a splendid slaughter on the dark squares will then ensue. Basically to cut a long story short the computer just smells mate. ] [ I did wonder why Black couldn't just play 28...d4 with the smothered mate threat, This is also very strong, for example 29.d7 d5+ 30.h1 xf4-+ ] 29.c8 xg2+ 30.h1 xh2+ 31.xh2 g4+ 32.h3 f2+ 33.h2 h4+ 34.g2 g4+ 35.f1 xc8 36.xc8+ xc8 37.xf2 f8 Nevertheless the smoke has now cleared and Black is easily winning. 38.xf8+ xf8 39.f3 g8 40.e4 f7 41.d3 d6 42.d5 e7 43.f2 h5 44.e4 c7 45.c5 b6 0-1
884 Jones,Gawain C Le Roux,Jean Pierre Politiken Cup 36th (6) [Kosten, Tony]
A22 2665 2560 25.07.2014
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.e3!? This fashionable move was covered extensively by John Bartholomew a year or so ago, and of course Gawain would have seen this. c6 [ W e've also looked at 6...c5 quite a lot, 7.ge2 c6 8.0-0 e7 9.f4! as in Nakamura, H-Navara, D, for instance see the Archive. ] 7.ge2 f5 This seems critical, and JeanPierre is not one to shy away from a fight! [ 7...e7 is solid, and the most popular here, 8.0-0 planning f4, see Zvjaginsev, VMikhalevski, V in the PGN Archive. ] [ 7...g6 8.b3!? a5!? was analysed by Danny in Hera, I- Ribli, Z. ] 8.d4! This was recommended by John Bartholomew in his notes to the Nakamura game. [ 8.0-0?! d3 ( or 8...d3 ) 9.f4 e4 Nakamura, H (2760) -Fressinet, L (2700) Beijing 2012. ] 8...b4 Obviously critical. [ 8...exd4 is the alternative: A) 9.exd4 is OK, but b4?! is a waste of 873
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 time, ( 9...e7 10.0-0 0-0 looks almost level. ) 10.0-0 c6 ( 10...c2?! 11.g4 g6 12.xb7 xa1 13.c6+ d7 14.f4 is strong.) 11.a3 ( 11.f4 Grigoryan, K (2604)-Licznerski, L (2354)/Al Ain 2013, 1-0 (42), e7 12.a3 4d5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.xd5 cxd5 15.b3 e6 16.xb7 is Black's best bet, with a pawn less. ) 11...4d5 12.f4 ( 12.xd5 ) 12...xf4 ( 12...xc3! 13.bxc3 e7 ) 13.xf4 e6 Kuenitz, K-Mendl, M (2155) St Veit 1995, 1-0 (54), 14.d5! xd5 15.xd5 cxd5 16.e5 and Black can hardly move.; B) 9.xd4 xd4 10.exd4 c6 11.0-0 White is ahead in development, and d5 is coming, B1) 11...e6 doesn't help: 12.d5! cxd5 Delchev, A (2622)-Cheparinov, I (2664)/ Panagyurishte 2012, 0-1 (42), when 13.a4! is lo gica l , ( 13.d4!? ) 13...d4 ( 13...c5 14.a5 c4 15.a4+ almost forces f8 16.b3 e5 17.f4 with a strong attack.) 14.e2 c5 15.b4! xb4 16.a5 and Black is in big trouble.; B2) 11...e7 12.d5! xd5 13.xd5 cxd5 14.xd5 0-0 B2a) 15.f4 b6 16.f3 xb2 17.xb7 ( 17.ae1! ae8 18.e5 ) 17...ad8 there are too few pawns left, Mejzlik, O-Bechyne, J (2155) Czechia 1999, 1/2-1/2 (28).; B2b) 15.e3 c o u l d b e b e s t , h3 16.xb7 b8 17.g2 xg2 18.xd8 fxd8 19.xg2 xb2 20.fb1! with some advantage in the endgame.; B2c) 15.b3 a5! 16.e3 ad8 17.fd1 ( 17.xb7!? e6 18.c3 b5! 19.g2 f6 20.c5 xb2 should draw.) 17...b6 18.ac1 d7 an d with accu ra t e play B lack he ld q u i t e c o m f o r t a b l y i n B o c h a r o v, D (2602)-Ponkratov, P (2603)/KhantyMansiysk 2013, 1/2-1/2 (47). ] [ 8...d6 is a sensible try, 9.d5 e7 10.e4 d7 11.a4 0-0 12.0-0 c6 13.a5 bc8 Cuenca Jimenez, J (2481)-Zaragatski, I (2488)/Hamburg 2014, 1/2-1/2 (44), 14.e3 ]
9.0-0 c2 10.e1 [ 10.d2?? c4 11.e1 d3 would be extremely embarrassing! ] 10...g6 11.f4! 'With an initiative:' - John. c2 [ 11...exd4 12.xd4 ] 12.f2 xa1 [ It's too late to turn back: 12...exd4 13.f5 h5 14.xd4 and Black virtually has to play xa1 anyway, 15.xb7 ] 13.xb7! 'with complications favoring White.' according to John, let's see if he was right. exd4?! White's powerful play refutes this move. The alternatives: [ 13...c2 i s h o p e l e s s , 14.c6+ d7 15.f3 ( or 15.fxe5 b4 16.f4! ) 15...b8 16.f5 h5 17.xh5 exd4 18.f6! gxf6 19.e4 e7 20.g5! f8 21.e6 c8 22.xf8 xf8 ( 22...xf8 23.exd4 ) 23.xf6 now it's a forced mate: d8 24.xf7 e7 25.xh7 a6 26.g8+ 1-0 Rooze, J (2340) Geske, J (2402)/Augsburg 2014. ] [ 13...b8 14.c6+ d7 15.f5 f6 ( 15...h5 16.dxe5 ) 16.g2 xf5 17.g4 ] [ 13...b4 might be the best chance, trying to get the king to safety, 14.c6+ d7 15.f3 0-0 16.f5 b8 17.fxg6 hxg6 18.d5 with a strong initiative for the exchange, and the knight has yet to escape from a1. ] 14.c6+ d7 15.f5! Actually the first new move, and a big (if obvious) improvement over [ 15.xd4 c5 16.f5 0-0 17.xa8 ( 17.fxg6 fxg6 18.e2 xd4 19.xa8 xf1+ 20.xf1 is rather more convincing.) 17...xa8 18.fxg6 ( 18.e2 ) 18...fxg6 19.g2 xf1+ 20.xf1 xg2+ 21.xg2 wi t h a s m a l l a d va n t a g e i n t h e e n d i n g , b e c a u s e o f B l a c k ' s d o u b l e d g - p a wn s , Mogranzini, R (2461)-Baron, T (2467)/Ortisei 2012, but 1/2-1/2 (57). ] 15...h5 [ 15...dxc3 16.fxg6 f6 17.f5! is no better. ] 16.xd4 d6 Black is getting ready to castle, and is still a rook up! 17.e6! Decisive! This powerful move just wins. f6 [ 17...fxe6 18.fxe6 f8 19.xd7+ e7 20.d5# ] 18.e4? [ St ra nge t ha t Ga w sho uld miss 18.d5! e5 19.e4! fxe6 20.f4 winning the 874
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 queen, 0-0 21.xe5 xe5 22.xa8 xa8 23.fxe6 Black has 3 pieces for the queen, but this is only temporary as the a1-knight is trapped. ] 18...e5 19.xd6+ xd6 20.xg7+ White still has a strong attack. f8 21.xa8 [ 21.e6+ fxe6 22.xa8 e5 23.b4 and Bb2 might be better. ] 21...xg7 22.g2 f6 23.e4 The position is not so clear now. White has 2 pawns for the piece, and the a1-knight is trapped, but he has to f irs t win it a n d t h e n co n so lid a t e . d3! Jean-Pierre is a tough fighter and will make the most of his chances. 24.d2! xd2 25.xd2 c2 [ 25...b8!? 26.xa1 xb2 returns the piece for a pawn and some activity. ] 26.c1 d4 27.xc7 d8 28.xa7 [ 28.a5! keeps the pressure on. ] 28...f7 [ 28...e8 defends d7 and avoids the exchange of rooks. ] 29.a5 c6 30.xd8 xa7 31.a3 4 pawns and the two bishops should vanquish the two knights and bishop, but only two of the pawns are passed and Black has a good square for a knight on e5. c6 32.c7 b3 33.f2 c5 34.e3 a4 35.d2! The king is rushing over to the rescue! f7 36.g4 e7 37.h4 d7 38.f4 a5 39.f1 c4 40.xc4 xc4+ 41.c2 c5! Tricky! 42.c3 xb2 Regaining one pawn, but now W hit e a dva nce s o n t he kin gside and th e knights are stranded too far away. 43.g5 [ 43.xb2 d3+ 44.c3 xf4 45.a4 might also be enough, but why exchange the strong bishop? ] 43...fxg5 44.hxg5 d1+ The next few moves were probably played with increments. 45.d4 b3+ 46.d5 a5 47.e5 c3+ 48.c5 e4+ 49.d4 f2 50.e6+ e7 51.d5 1-0
885 Kamsky,Gata Gelfand,Boris Tal Mem Moscow RUS (1) [Carsten Hansen]
A22 2714 2736 10.11.2007
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 b4 4.f3 This is a rare variation, and not considered particularly dangerous for Black, but against a strong theoretician like Gelfand, especially when you are not that strong in that particular department, like Kamsky, this isn't necessarily a bad policy. [ The variation played in this game can also be reached after 4.g2 xc3 5.bxc3 0-0 6.f3 e4 7.d4 ( White can also consider, although Black scores very well in that line too. 7.g5 )] 4...xc3 5.bxc3 [ If my analysis of Black's 7th move alternative, 7... c5!?, is correct, White may want to consider 5.dxc3 as discussed in the game Taimanov-Rublevsky, St Petersburg 2 0 0 1 , wh i c h c a n b e f o u n d i n t h e P G N archives ] 5...e4 6.d4 0-0 7.g2 d5 [ Black has a number of alternatives available here: A) The main continuation is 7...c5!? 8.c2 d5 9.cxd5 xd5 A) 10.f3 A1) 10...h5?! 11.fxe4 h3 12.f3 g6 13.d3 c4?! ( 13...c6 14.f4 h5 15.e3 ) 14.f4 c6 15.e3 cxd3 16.exd3 fe8 17.f2 ad8 18.e2 b5 19.a3 a5 20.hc1 b4 21.axb4 axb4 22.a6 e6 Kreizberg, M-Shevelev, D/Tel Aviv 2002, and now White has 23.xc6! xc6 24.e5 e8 25.xc6 xc6 26.f3; A2) 10...e6 11.0-0 b6 12.d4 exd3 13.exd3 b7 14.e1 c6= Costello, CBoersma, P/Leeuwarden 1993; B) 10.e3 h5 11.h3 c6 - Ribli; C) 10.d4?! d8 11.0-0 c6 12.e3 e5 13.e1 g4 14.f3 xf3+ ( 14...exf3 15.xf3 e4!? 16.b2 c4 ) 15.xf3 exf3 16.xf3 xf3 17.xf3 xf3 18.xf3 e4 , and Black has a comfortable edge in the endgame, Gollain, M-Danielian, O/ Paris 1994; D) 10.0-0 h5 11.e3 h3 12.f3 875
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 12.xh3 xh3 13.a3 bd7 14.f4 exf3 15.exf3 fe8 16.g2 ad8 17.e1 e5 18.f4 f5 19.f1 c4 20.c1 e3 21.dxe3 xd1 22.xd1 c2 23.f1 d8 24.e4 d1 25.xd1 xd1+ 26.f2 g5 27.e2 g4 28.b2 c2 29.a3 gxf3 30.xf3 xe4+ 31.f2 g4+ 32.f1 f3+ 0-1 Gordienko, ADolzhikova, K/Kiev 2005/CBM 107 ext) 12...xg2 13.xg2 D1) 13...d5!? D1a) 14.d3 exf3+ 15.xf3 c6 16.xd5 xd5 D1a1) 17.b3!? d7 ( 17...c4!? ) 18.f4 a5 19.a3 b6 with chances to both sides, though I prefer Black due to W hite's loose pawn structure, along with Black's ability to apply pressure along the open e- and d-files; D1a2) 17.c4?! h5 18.b2 fe8 19.d2 e5 20.xe5 xe5 , and Black is in control of the game, Shuraev, A-Vysochin, S/StPetersburg RUS 2006; D1b) 14.b3 xe3+ 15.dxe3 b6 16.d1 c6 17.d5 g6 18.b2 a5 19.a4 e6 with a terrible position for W hite, Alterman, BOratovsky, M/Jurmala 1989; D2) 13...c6 14.d3 ( 14.fxe4 xe4 15.f5 g6 16.f1 b6 17.d5 d6 18.f4 g5 19.e3 ae8 , and Black has the initiative thanks to his better coordinated pieces and better development, Stopkin, V-Vysochin, S/ K y i v U K R 2 0 0 3) 14...exd3 15.xd3 ( 15.exd3 ad8 is thanks to the weak d3-pawn better for Black) 15...fe8 16.f5 ad8 17.c2 e7 18.g4 ( 18.xe7+ xe7 19.e4 ed7 20.e3 d3 21.ad1! ) 18...g6 19.e4 i s g i v e n a s u n c l e a r i n E C O xg4!? ( 19...h5 20.h4 h7 21.g5 d7 Ribli 22.a4 g6 23.f5 h4 24.b1 ) 20.xe7+ ( 20.fxg4? xf5 21.exf5 xg4+ 22.h1 e2-+ Ribli ) 20...xe7 21.fxg4 xg4+ 22.h1 D2a) 22...xe4 23.f2 f6 24.e3 R i b l i , . e . g . e5 25.ae1! c4 26.g2 d7 ( 26...xc3 27.h6 d7
28.c1 ) 27.g1; D2b) 22...xe4+ 23.xe4 xe4 24.f4 f6 with an interesting endgame with fairly even chances, Anastasian, A-Danielian, O/ Protvino 1993 ] [ B) 7...e8 8.0-0 d6 9.f3!? ( 9.d3 bd7 10.c2 c5 11.g5 h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.ab1 exd3 14.exd3 g6 15.fd1 g4 16.d2 e7 , and Black has the upper hand, Psakhis, L-Adianto, U/London 1994) 9...c5 10.c2 exf3 11.xf3 c6 12.d3 d5 13.g5 dxc4 14.xf6 gxf6 A) 15.f4!? e5 ( 15...cxd3 16.exd3 d6 17.b1 ) 16.d4 ( 16.dxc4!? ) 16...cxd4 17.cxd4 g6 18.f2; B) 15.d4 cxd4 16.cxd4 e6 17.f4 e7 18.d2 , and a draw was prematurely agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, Marin, M-Garcia Ilundain, D/ Barcelona 2000, clearly there is plenty of play left in this position ] [ C) 7...c6 8.0-0 e8 ( 8...e5 9.d3 c5 10.c2 d5 11.f4 e7 12.e3 exd3 13.exd3 dxc4 14.dxc4 d8 was played in Portisch, L-Cao, S/Szekesfehervar HUN 2006, and now W hite can obtain a large advantage with 15.d5! xd5 16.cxd5 f6 17.e1 ) A) 9.a4 xd4 10.cxd4 d5 11.b2?! f5 12.ac1 c6 13.cxd5 xd5 14.c5 d7 15.fc1 h3 16.h1 g4 ( Also 16...f4 17.d1 g4 18.f3 is quoted on Me ga Co rr wit ho ut an e va lu at io n, a n d although Black is still better, White is still in the game g6 19.e5 e6 20.xe6 ) 17.c2 b6 18.c4 ( 18.xc6 b4 19.c7 xc2 ) 18...xe2 19.xe4 xe4 20.xe4 e8 21.c2 xc4 22.xc4 e6 , and Black has a positionally won position the knight is many times stronger than the lame dark-squared bishop, Altschuler, B-Grivainis, K/corr 1987; B) 9.d3 '+/=' exd3 10.exd3 xd4 11.cxd4 h6 12.h3?! ( 12.b1!? d5 13.f4 g4 14.a4 ) 12...d5 13.b1 b6 14.f4 ( 14.f4!? e6 15.c5 ) 14...b8 15.c5 a6 16.cxb6 axb6 17.f5 e7 18.f4 , and in this even position, the players agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2, in Ha n s e n , C u - R o g o ze n ko , D / G e r m a n y Bundesliga 1999 ] [ D) 7...a6 8.0-0 d6 9.f3 c5 10.c2 exf3 876
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.xf3 b8 12.d3 d7 13.a4 c7 14.f4 e7 15.d2 e8 16.e4 Marin, M-De Vreugt, D/Tel Aviv 2000 ] 8.cxd5 [ 8.a3 e8 9.cxd5 xd5 10.b3 h5 11.h3 b6 12.c4 bd7 13.b5?! ( 13.g4 e5 14.b2 b7= ) 13...a6 14.c3 c5 15.xc5 xc5 , and Black is in the driver's seat, Vaulin, A-Gavrilov, A/St Petersburg 2001 ] 8...xd5 9.f3!? [ A novelty, previously White had only tried 9.d3 , which is also perfectly fine for White, e.g. c5 ( 9...e8 10.0-0 c5 11.dxe4 xe4 12.b5 ) 10.c2?! ( 10.dxe4!? xe4 11.b3 c4 12.b5 e6 13.a3 d8 14.b1 is very nice for W hite) 10...d8 ( 10...e5 11.d4 cxd4 12.cxd4 h5 , and Black is already in control, Dominguez, H-Velasquez Ojeda, C/Santiago 1994) 11.c4 h5 12.b2 h3 13.xh3 xh3 14.xf6 gxf6 , Winants, L-Danielian, O/ Cappelle la Grande 1993, and now White's best chance to stay in the game is 15.e3 c6 16.d5 g7 17.d2 exd3 18.xd3 e6 , and Black has the initiative ] 9...c5 [ I'm not too keen on this move on account o f W h i t e ' s s t r o n g 1 1 t h m o ve c o u n t e r . Instead the normal continuation is 9...exf3 10.xf3 e5 11.d3 e7 with chances to both sides, though I think White's has the upper hand thanks to his bishop pair ] 10.fxe4 xe4 11.b3! h5?! [ This is an attempt at grabbing the initiative at the cost of a pawn, but as Kamsky will demonstrate, this approach falls flat on its f a c e . S o l i d a n d b e t t e r i s 11...e5 , although I af ter 12.f3 e7 13.0-0 prefer White ] 12.xe4 cxd4 13.cxd4 c6 14.b2 h3 [ 14...e8 15.f3 g4 16.xg4 xg4 17.0-0 e7 18.e3 ] 15.f3 g5 The following three moves from Kamsky are very good and change the nature of the game, from Black having some compensation for the pawn to White having t h e e xt r a p a wn a n d " t h e co m p e n sa t io n " 16.c1! ad8 17.c5! f6 18.h5! c8 19.d5!? [ 19.e4!? is also good: g6 20.f1 e7
21.h4 , but White doesn't seek complications when already having a winning position ] 19...d4 20.xd4 xd4 21.h4 e5 [ Now White can start consolidating before proceeding to slowly but surely advance his central p awns. 21...a1+ 22.f2 e5 23.c1+- ] 22.0-0 b6 23.d4 g5 24.e4 a6 25.d1 c8 26.f4 d8 27.e5?? [ This move is difficult to explain White is on the road to win, and then blunders away a central, passed pawn. Needless to say, most moves than don't blunder material away in this position are better than this, e.g. 27.a3 b5 28.e5 a6 29.d6 , and Black is going down ] 27...c4 28.b2 xd5 29.b5 [ 29.g2 xf3 30.xf3 e7 31.b3 ] ½-½
886 Karlsson,Lars Narciso Dublan,Marc Badalona op 37th (8) [Tony Kosten]
A22 2482 2544 08.08.2011
1.g3 e5 2.c4 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.d3 This move order might gain a few seconds on the clock. [ 6.f3 c6 7.d3 ( 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 0-0 9.e3 e6 10.a4 might not transpose as Black can prefer d5 ) 7...e7 8.a4 a5 9.e3 0-0 10.xb6 ( or 10.0-0 e6 11.xb6 ) 10...cxb6 11.0-0 would be the right way to transpose to the game from alternative move orders (more specifically the Four Knights.) ] 6...e7 [ T h e p o i n t i s t h a t 6...c6 could be answered by 7.xc6+!? ( although I would probably not bother to actually capture on c6 myself, and prefer 7.f3; or 7.e3 ) 7...bxc6 8.f3 d6 9.0-0 0-0 10.d2 g4 11.c2 f5 12.ac1 e8 13.h4 h5 14.fe1 g5 but this looks dangerous for W hite, Ivanchuk, V (2762)-Ruisinger, W (2175)/ Mainz 2007. ] 7.a4 [ 7.e3 0-0 8.a4 is another move order. ] 877
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...a5 The white a-pawn must be stopped, [ 7...c6?! 8.a5 d7 9.a6 c5 10.e3 with pressure on the queenside, Demidov, D (2017)-Yakovenko, A (1898)/Novosibirsk 2007. ] 8.e3 0-0 [ 8...c6 9.f3 8d7 10.b3 ( 10.0-0 ) 10...b4 11.0-0 0-0 12.fd1 e7 Kincs, I (2225)-Ruck, R (2435)/Harkany 1994, 13.d4 exd4 14.xd4 c5 15.c2 with a small plus. ] 9.xb6 [ 9.f3 c6 10.0-0 ( 10.xb6 ) 10...e6 11.xb6 cxb6 ] 9...cxb6 10.f3 c6 11.0-0 So we reach a key position. White has conceded the bishop pair but has weakened Black's queenside pawns, White has nice outposts on b5 and c4 for his knights, while Black has b4. W hite's simple, but effective plan is to put his pieces on these light squares and then prepare the advance of his (extra) d-pawn. e6 12.d2 The knight heads for c4. [ 12.b5 is considered in the game Chernyshov, K (2570)-Kachur, A (2284. ] 12...f6 A standard plan to control d4, Black intends ...Rf7, ... B-f8 (or c5/b4) and ...Rd7, [ 12...f5 i s m o r e a g g r e s s i v e , 13.c1 ( 13.c4 e4 Jolivel, P-Brunner, N (2407)/ Metz 2006.) 13...c5 14.b5 d7 when 15.f3 might be best, h6 16.xe5! xe5 17.d4 still, this does suggest that Nd2-c4 can be delayed a bit. ] 13.c4 f7 14.c1 b4 [ 14...c8 15.b5 c5 16.h1!? ( W h i t e w o u l d l i k e t o p l a y 16.e3?! but with Black's clever play this would be ans we red b y d7 ) 16...d4 ( 16...d7 ) 17.xd4 xd4 18.e3 c5 19.f4?! this looks weakening, ( I would play 19.e2 and Rfd1. ) 19...exf4 20.xf4 d7 21.d4 xd4! 22.xd4 xd4 23.exd4 1/2-1/2 Kortschnoj, V (2639)-Zhu Chen (2497)/Amsterdam 2001, as xc4 24.xc4 xc4 25.xb7 is fine for Black. ] 15.e3!? [ White can also continue to improve his pieces: 15.b5 d7 16.b3 c5?! 17.h3! the exchange of the light-squared bishops should normally favour White with t h i s s t r u c t u r e , e7 ( 17...xh3?!
18.xb6+ ) 18.xe6+ xe6 Wirig, A (2304)Abergel, T (2307) /Hyeres 2002, 19.xa5! ] 15...d7 16.e2 xc3 [ 16...xd3 17.xb6 d2 18.e1 b8 19.d5 is the tricky point, although xd5 20.bxd5 xd5 21.d1 threatening e4, ca n b e m e t b y e4 when 22.f3!? exf3 23.f2 xc3 24.bxc3 is messy, White will win a piece but Black will get some pawns. ] 17.xc3 b4 18.d4! White can achieve this ad va n ce a s th e e 6 -b ish op is lo o s e . exd4 19.exd4 f7 20.e3! b8 Defending b7, which is always a problem for Black in this line. [ 20...xd4 21.xb7 b8 22.f5 d2 23.g4 g6 24.e4 gives White play on the kingside, xb2? 25.fc1 wins, a2 26.d5+ h8 27.h4 b1 28.c7 ] 21.f5 White is a bit better here, as his IQP ju s t h a s t o b e m o r e u s e f u l t h a n B l a c k ' s doubled b-pawn. g6 22.h6+ g7 23.xf7 xf7 24.c4+ [ 24.e1! is more natural, and stronger: xd4 25.e6+ g7 ( 25...f8?! 26.c7! xc7 27.xf6+ g8 28.xd4 ) 26.e7+ xe7 27.xe7+ h6 28.cc7 with advantage. ] 24...g7 25.d1 d5 26.xd5 xd5 27.e2 d6 Black is close to equal as long as he keeps the d4-pawn well blockaded. 28.e3 f8 29.e6 d8 30.c4 f7?! This careless move drops a pawn. [ 30...d6 ] 31.xb6! xb6 32.xd5 xb2 33.xa5 This position won't be easy to win, but isn't that easy to draw either! b3 34.e1 b6 Black decides to head for a rook endgame as they are often drawish. [ 34...d7 ] 35.b5 xb5 36.axb5 d7 37.e6 xd4 38.xb6 g5? Making room for the king but allowing White to activate his rook. [ 38...b4 39.b7+ h6 looks right. ] 39.c6 b4 40.b6 g6 41.f1 b2 42.e1 h5 43.d1! The older GMs know h o w t o p l a y r o o k e n d g a m e s ! xf2? This loses by force. 44.c1 f5 The only m o ve t o st o p b 7 . 45.c2! b5 46.b2 Nice technique! c5+ 47.d2 c8 48.b7 b8 49.d3 f5 50.d4 g4 51.d5 f5 52.c6 f4 53.gxf4 xf4 Black is much too 878
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 slow. 54.f2+ e4 55.f7 h4 56.h3 h8 57.c7 g4 58.hxg4 [ 58.hxg4 h3 59.b8 xb8 60.xb8 h2 61.f1 ] 1-0
887 Kosten,Anthony C Salem,Zahed Golden Cleopatra (5) [Tony Kosten]
A22 2545 2319 05.06.2003
When I prepared for my Egyptian opponent I noticed that he had played this sharp, but perhaps slightly unsound, line before, and so with a little preparation I went into the game feeling very confident. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 e4!? A sharp idea of the Spanish GM Bellon-Lopez, but just what I was hoping for! Of course, since the advent of ChessBase such lines only have surprise value the first time you play them, as on the second occasion your opponent is almost certainly ready! 4.g5 b5 5.d3! This is well-known to be the best move here, as accepting the pawn by either [ 5.xb5 c6 6.c3 d5 or ] [ 5.cxb5 d5 allow Black a strong centre and useful initiative for the pawn. ] 5...exd3 [ 5...bxc4 6.dxe4 is the other main variation, but is very dangerous for Black: h6 7.xf7! the shot that justifies this line for W hite, xf7 8.e5 c6 ( 8...b7 9.exf6 xf6 10.e4 e6 11.e2 c5 12.0-0 with a clear advantage to White, because of the better s t ru c t u re a n d sa f e r k in g , C ve t k o vi c, S Nedeljkovic,M/ Jugoslavija 1976; 8...g8? 9.d5+ wins the a8-rook) 9.exf6 xf6 10.e4 d5 11.exd5! c5 12.e3 e8 Psakhis, L-Sermek,D/Groningen 1995, and now Psakhis gives 13.h5+ f8 14.xc4 xe3 15.fxe3 xe3+ 16.e2 e5 17.f1! as winning. ] 6.cxb5 h6 7.f3 dxe2 8.xe2 The key position, W hite has a lead in development, and free play for his pieces. a6!? This may be too ambitious, [ 8...c5 is possibly stronger, 9.0-0 b7 ( 9...0-0 10.e5 d5 11.f3 b7 12.d3
d6 13.f4 puts the d-pawn under strong pressure, Shahade,G-Tamburro,P/Chicago 1994 ) 10.d4 0-0 ( 10...xd4?! 11.xd4 0-0 12.b4 d6 13.b2 worked well for Black, but White is clearly on top here, Plaskett,JHe m p so n , P /B la ckp o o l 1 9 8 8) 11.e3 (with a threat!) b6 12.f3 d5 13.f5 e8 14.e1 with a big advantage, Ghitescu, TErmenkov,E/Moscow 1977/EU-chT. ] [ 8...b7 is similar, 9.0-0 e7 10.d4 0-0 11.f3 d5 12.f5 and once again Black is under pressure, Smejkal, J-Bueno Perez,L/ Leipzig 1977. ] 9.0-0 e7 [ 9...c5 came a cropper in the game Stean, M-Regan,K/New York 1977: 10.d4 0-0 11.f3 a7 12.e3 axb5? missing the menace ( 12...b6 was better, if still not too inspiring ) 13.c6! ( 13.e6! is also rather strong, maybe stronger) 13...xc6 14.xc5 forking the black rooks, b7 15.xf8 xf8 16.e1 with a significant advantage. ] 10.d4 0-0 [ 10...d5 11.f4 0-0 12.a4 d6 13.xd6 xd6 14.f3 b7 15.e1 d7 16.b3 c5 17.bxc6 xc6 18.ad1 e7 19.a5 ab8 20.a4 Kalevic,S-Stojanovic,A/Herceg Novi YUG 2001/The Week in Chess 344 ] 11.f3 d5 12.b3!? [ 12.f4 may be simpler. ] 12...axb5 [ 12...b7 13.f4 is also pleasant for White. ] 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 a6 [ After the game a spectator suggested 14...a4! when 15.d1 b4 ( 15...g4!? ) 16.f3 g4 ( 16...c6!? 17.xc6 xc6 18.xc6 g4! is a nice trick, 19.xd8 xd8 and Black recuperates the queen.) 17.xg4 xd5 18.f5 ( 18.a3!? a4 19.xh6 f6 20.e3 ) 18...e5 is better for White, if hardly earth-shattering. ] 15.d1 b4 16.f4 White's nicely centralised position, and better development give him a c l e a r e d g e . d6?! Falling for a nice trick. 17.b5! This gave my opponent a jolt. b6 [ 17...xf4 18.xf7+ h8 19.xd8 xd8 20.xb4 is crushing. ] 18.xd6 cxd6 19.g3 [ 19.e3 a6 20.xb4 is also good, of course. ] 879
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19...f6 20.ac1 d7 Black desperately tries to finish his queenside development. 21.e3! a6 I had expected [ 21...c5 when 22.d4 g5 23.xg5 hxg5 24.xc5 dxc5 25.xc5 wins a good pawn. ] 22.c4 c6? This loses material, although the better [ 22...a5 is hardly fantastic: 23.xd6 xb2 24.xh6 ] 23.xf7+ This may be the best move objectively, but in retrospect perhaps I should have preferred [ 23.d4 g5 ( 23...e5 24.f4 ) 24.xg5 hxg5 25.xf7+ xf7 26.xc6 with an exchange and pawn more in the endgame. ] 23...xf7 24.xc6 I had expected my opponent to resign here, after all an exchange a n d t wo p a wn s d o wn a ga in st a G M ? f6 25.xd6 g4 26.f3 d7 27.cc1 [ 27.c7 wins, but I didn't want my opponent to regain the exchange by e8 28.xd7 xc7 although this is still hopeless, naturally. ] 27...xa2 28.xb4 f7 29.b7 e8 30.d4 P l a n n i n g e x c h a n g e s . e2 W ith a tact ical threa t, th at do esn't work! 31.b8+ Of course, I had intended [ 31.xf6! but didn't want my opponent to play xg2+ as there were so many s p e c t a t o r s ! 32.h1! ( 32.xg2? h3+ 33.xh3 xb7 34.e5 xf3+ is problematic) 32...xf6 33.xg2 g5+ 34.h1 and there are no more checks - but why give him the pleasure? ] 31...h7 32.xf6 xf6! 33.xd7! g5 Hitting g2 and c1, but White had seen further. 34.xg7+! xg7 [ 34...xg7 35.c7+ ] 35.c7 e7 [ 35...xg2+? 36.f1 and the queen is lost. ] 36.xe7 xe7 37.h3 To stop the mate threat! e1+ 38.h2 h5 39.b4 h4 40.b5 b4 41.b6 Black has no way to stop Qc7, b7 and b8(Q), and there are no checks for White to worry about. 1-0
888 Mestel,A Jonathan Hynes,Anthony 4NCL West Bromwich ENG (7) [Tony Kosten]
A22 2496 2289 01.05.2004
1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.e4 e5 4.f3 d6 Black wants to keep his e5-pawn, after [ 4...g7 5.d4 Black has to capture, exd4 6.xd4 see Lautier,J-Taddei,B. ] 5.d4 e7?! A new move, [ 5...exd4 6.xd4 g7 leads to a King's Indian, while ] [ 5...g4? lo se s m at eria l, 6.dxe5 xf3 7.xf3! ( 7.gxf3 dxe5 8.xd8+ xd8 9.g5 e7 10.0-0-0+ is also promising, Santos,L-Reis,L/Evora 1995) 7...dxe5 8.g5 e7 9.xf6! ( 9.d1 fd7 is less effective, Chabanon, J-Grimberg,G/ Toulouse 1995) 9...xf6 10.d1 d7 11.g3 and Bh3 will win material. ] [ However, 5...bd7 is a superior method of defending e5, and leads to the KID, once again. ] 6.g5 Menacing Nd5. c6 7.c5! The most incisive, the position opens-up and Black is in some trouble. g4?! [ 7...exd4? 8.cxd6 xd6 9.e5 wins ] [ 7...dxc5? 8.dxe5 likewise, but the only real chance was ] [ 7...h6 although 8.h4 g5 9.cxd6 xd6 10.g3 b4 11.a3! is very unpleasant for Black. ] 8.cxd6 [ 8.b3! may well be even stronger, Black can hardly protect b7, e.g. xf3 9.cxd6! xd6 10.xb7 transposing to the game, whilst avoiding Black's superior alternatives. ] 8...xd6 9.b3 [ 9.dxe5 xd1+ 10.xd1 fd7 11.c1 xf3 12.gxf3 h6 is obviously good for White, but Black is still fighting. ] 9...xf3?! [ 9...exd4 10.e5 b4 11.xf6 dxc3! is a far better bet. ] 10.xb7 The a8-rook is lost. exd4 11.d5!? W hite plays to the crowd, and goes for an attack, but [ 11.gxf3! i s p e r h a p s s i m p l e r , dxc3 ( 11...e7 12.b5 cxb5 13.xb5+ f8 880
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.h6+ g8 15.c1 ) 12.d1 and Black can happily resign. ] 11...cxd5 12.b5+ bd7 13.xf6 Clearly best, [ 13.xa8+?! e7 14.xd7 ( 14.gxf3? b4+ forks king and bishop) 14...xd7 15.gxf3 g7 16.xd5 xd5 17.exd5 d6 gives Black fair chances in the endgame, as his better structure and active king compensate the lost exchange. ] 13...d8 Obviously forced. 14.xd8 xd8 [ 14...xg2 is not much of an improvement: 15.g5 f6 ( 15...xh1?? 16.c8# ) 16.c1! h3 17.d2 with extra material and an attack. ] 15.gxf3 dxe4?! Black doesn't have time for this. [ 15...b6 ] 16.c1! White threatens Rc8+, and then Rc7, winning another piece. b6 [ 16...g7 17.c8+ e7 18.xd7 xd7 19.c7 is also hopeless. ] 17.0-0 Calm development. e5? This allows mate in two, but even after [ 17...g7 say, White wins by 18.c6 d7 ( 18...e7 19.b8+ ) 19.xb6 ] 18.c8+! 1-0
setup. ] 8.f3 a6 This has been played successfully for 50 years or so. It is also a good plan with colours reversed. Another proven idea is [ 8...a5 intending ...a4 or ...Nc5. ] 9.0-0 [ 9.a4?! c5 hits b3, when 10.d2 a5 11.0-0 c6! makes it difficult for White to find a plan. ] 9...b5! Still book. The idea is to grab the light squares by force, and after ...Bb7, White will have to defend e4 but watch out for ...d5 as well. 10.d1! Switching plans. Inferior would be [ 10.cxb5 axb5 11.d2 ( 11.xb5? a6 ) 11...c5 ] 10...bxc4 11.xc4 a5 12.e2 a6 13.c4 a4! 14.b1 b7!? [ 14...e7 , to prepare ...Nc5 and in some cases ...Rfb8, is also logical. Then 15.h4 e6! 16.b3 axb3 17.axb3 c5 18.f5 g6 19.h6+ g7 achieves little. ] 15.h4!? c5 16.e3 fd7 17.f5 g6 [ 17...xe4?? 18.xe4 xe4 19.g4 ] 18.h6+ The knight isn't doing much here. h8 19.f4 e7 [ Again, grabbing the pawn runs into tactical trouble: 19...xe4? 20.xe4 xe4 21.fxe5 xe5?? 22.f4 ] 20.fxe5 xe5 21.d4 e6 889 A22 [ or 21...f6 ] Miezis,Normunds 2547 22.c3 c5?! Black hopes for ...Nd4 at some Olsen,Heini 2345 point but the timing is wrong. Simply [ 22...f6 was good, when White's e-pawn is Nordea Cup Dianalund DEN (9) 20.02.2005 the only weakness in the position. ] [John Watson] 23.g4! d4 [ Black would like to have been able to play ... With the move 3.Bb5 being so popular after 1. Nxg4 if ...f6 had been in, but now 23...f6 e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6, it's interesting to take a look 24.e3 brings the knight back from h6 to a at the reversed position. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 useful post. So Black mixes it up, but his 3.g3 b4 More than the Keres Variation pawn sacrifice is unsound. ] [ 3...c6 4.f3 e4 , this move drove people away from 3.g3 (as opposed to 3.Nf3 Nc6 4. 24.xd4 cxd4 25.xd4 f5 26.exf5 xg2 27.xg2 b7+ 28.d5 ae8 29.fxg6 xg6 g3, which is still going strong). ] 4.g2 0-0 5.e4 xc3 6.dxc3 d6 7.e2 30.d2 White is practically winning, and [ 30.d3! would have been even better, bd7 preventing Black's only idea of ...Re4. ] [ In the long history of this variation, Black h a s v e r y s e l d o m c h o s e n 7...c6 30...g7?! [ 30...e4! (h i t t i n g c4 a n d g4 ) 31.c3+ with the idea of ... Be6 and ...Qd7, as White e5 ] does in the reversed position. I don't think that the Rossolimo will continue to be much 31.h3! e4 32.h1?! [ 32.xd6! ] of a threat if White has to count upon that 881
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 32...xc4 33.xd6 b7+ 34.d5 xd5+ significant pressure, and Adams went on to 35.xd5 c2 36.g1?? White is two pawns win. Miezis, N (2547)-Adams, M (2734) / up and can consolidate by 36.Re3. Also good Porto Carras GRE 2011. ] is 6...c6 Preparing the ...d7-d5 advance is the [ 36.b5! , in view of f3? 37.b8+ g7 most critical challenge. 38.b7+ and Re1 or Rd1 g8 39.e1! ] [ S t r a n ge ly, 6...d6 , as in Smirin, I (2685)36...f3 Uh-oh. Now the tactics don't quite Comp Deep Shredder/ Kasparovchess.com work out and Black recovers. 37.d8+ g7 2002/[TonyK], is much less worrisome for 38.d7+ g8 39.d8+ g7 40.d7+ g8 W hite. One might think that with W hite's 41.h6+ doubled pawns and bishop pair, Black ought [ 41.e1 xg3+ 42.f1 f3+ ] to play this way to keep the game closed. 41...h8 42.f7+ Instead, experience has shown that Black [ Or 42.h1 e5 43.e7 ff2 as occurs in has at least equally good play in the open the game. Now the game is drawn. ] positions after 6...c6 and 7.. .d5. A 42...g8 43.h6+ h8 44.h1 e5 possible justification is that White's pawn 45.e7 ff2 46.xe5 h2+ 47.g1 cg2+ weaknesses will not simply disappear (the 48.f1 c2 49.e8+ g7 50.f5+ f7 a2/c3/d2 cluster is doomed to fragility), and 51.d6+ g7 52.g1 cg2+ 53.f1 c2 the open nature of the position will make it 54.g1 cg2+ 55.f1 c2 easier for Black to target them. ] ½-½ 7.b1!? White has an extremely wide choice. Various alternatives have been covered in this site: 890 A22 [ 7.d4!? Vallejo Pons, F (2674)-Aronian, L (2724)/Khanty Mansiysk 2005/[John Naiditsch,Arkadij 2712 Watson]. ] Topalov,Veselin 2768 [ 7.d3 Rogers, I (2569)-Acs, P (2623)/Wijk 18th European Teams (5.2) 07.11.2011 aan Zee 2003/ [TonyK]. ] [John Bartholomew] [ 7.a3 Grigoriants, S (2503)-Sadvakasov, D (2509)/ Subotica 2000/ [TonyK]. ] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 b4 [ A kind of tabiya for this variation is reached The possibility of this tried and true move is after 7.e2 d5 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.exd5 xd5 one of the reasons why 2.g3 has become so 10.0-0 c6 . White's practical results from popular. 4.g2 0-0 5.e4 this position have been mind-boggling poor: [ Most common is 5.f3 ] +1, =14, -21!!! Seriously, confirm for 5...xc3 6.bxc3 yourself! Of course, this is an anomaly and [ Another game from the European Team isn't a reflection of the true assessment of Championship, Miezis-Adams, saw Black the position. Also, play has a tendency to having success after the alternative capture, merge with other move 7 alternatives - for 6.dxc3 . Interestingly, I discovered that instance, 11.b1 (most common and Miezis has an incredible devotion to this line. possibly best) reaches our main game - and The database shows him playing the White thus we can't take the statistics for gospel side of this position some 45 times! He has truth (you never can!). However, one thing preferred 6.bxc3 on only seven occasions. that these games suggest is that with his d6 7.e2 bd7 8.h3!? fewer weaknesses, perhaps Black may have ( See the archives for 8.f3 , Miezis, N the easier/more manageable game in (2547)-Olsen, H (2345)/Dianalund 2005/ practice. ] [John Watson].) 8...a6 9.f3 b5! A typical [ Finally, 7.b3 aims to prevent the ...d7-d5 pawn offering in the 6.dxc3 variation. 10.e3 advance entirely, but a6 (other moves are ( Accepting is reckless: 10.cxb5 axb5 playable) 8.a3 d6 9.e2 ( 9.d3 b5 11.xb5?! c5! ) 10...bxc4 11.xc4 a5! 10.cxb5 e6 1/2-1/2 Kasimdzhanov, R 12.d3 a6 13.c2 b8! 14.f2 a4 (2 6 9 0 ) - T k a c h i e v, V ( 2 6 5 7 ) / N e w De lh i / 15.b1 d5! White was already under 882
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Teheran 2000.) 9...c5 has done very well for Black. ( or 9...e6 )] 7...d5 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.exd5 xd5 10.e2 c6 11.0-0 e8 My feeling is that Black is quite comfortable here and thus has a few good ways of proceeding. [ Carlsen played the immediate 11...b6 in a blitz match against Nakamura a couple years ago. That game continued A) 12.a3 e8 13.d3 f5 14.c1 e4!? 15.b5 f6 16.dxe4?! xe4 17.xe4 xe4 Olafsson, H (2445)-Christiansen, L (2550)/Grindavik 1984. This is the sce na rio W hit e n e ed s to avo id: cle a r pawn weaknesses with no bishop pair or other compensation.; B) 12.c2 g4 ( 12...e6 13.d3 d7 1/2-1/2 Benko, P-Hecht, H/ Olot 1971.) 13.d3 d7 14.g5 h6 15.e3 d5 16.b3 ac8 17.c4 de7= 18.f4?! f5 Askarov, M (2421) -Plischki, S (2366)/ Karvina 2005.; C) 12.d4 C1) 12...e6 13.d2 ( 13.a4 c4 14.e1 d7 15.a3 fd8 16.c5 d5 Pribyl, J-Hecht, H/ Bamberg 1972. ) 13...d5 14.dxe5 xe5 15.xd5 xd5 16.h1?! b6 ( 16...a5 Ivkov, B (2570)-Olafsson, F (2570)/ Wijk aan Zee 1971. ); C2) 12...g4!? Kasubke, M (1950)Maus, S (2270)/Germany 1988.; C3) 12...f5?! An inaccuracy. 13.b3?! ( 13.b5! creates more problems.) 13...e6 14.d5?! xd5 15.xd5 xd5 16.a3 e8 17.xb7 c8 Nakamura, H (2715)-Carlsen, M (2801)/Oslo NOR 2009. ] [ Perhaps unnecessary (though not bad) is 11...b8 , i.e. 12.a3 e8 13.b5 e6 ( 13...e4!? ) 14.b1 d7 15.e1 a6 16.b2 b5 17.d3 f5 Budnikov, A (2535)Naumkin, I (2450)/London 1993. ] 12.d3 [ 12.a3 Stein, L (2620) -Gheorghiu, F ( 2 5 2 0 ) / L a s P a l m a s 1 9 7 3 . a5!? ( 12...b6 is Olafsson-Christiansen above. )] [ Black was fully coordinated with a superior pawn structure after 12.c2 g4! 13.e1 d7 14.a3 ad8 , Stefansson, H (2525)Olafsson, H (2535)/Vestmannaeyjar 1994. ]
12...b6 [ 12...g4!? is thematic, threatening 13... N x c 3 . A f t e r 13.f3 e6 14.xb7 White's rook gets stranded, but he can make it ugly: b6 15.f4! c8 16.xb6 axb6 17.f5 xa2 18.f6 ] 13.e3 g4 [ I'd prefer the simple 13...f5 with fine play. ] 14.c2 e7 A useful move, securing b7. 15.c1 e6?! White has a little something to work with after this. [ 15...d5 gels better with Black's last move. ] [ 15...c8 is likewise good. ] 16.b5!? [ 16.b3 seems more natural, but Naiditsch wants to pressure the e-pawn. ] 16...d5! G o o d d e f e n s e ! 17.c4 xe3 18.fxe3 c8 19.b2 Black has to pitch his epawn, but fortunately he'll get decent compensation in return. White must exchange off his good bishop and will still suffer from multiple pawn weaknesses. b6 20.xc6 xc6 21.xe5 f6 22.e4 h3 23.ff4?! An awkward square for the rook. [ After 23.xe7 xe7 24.e1 White faces a long road in converting his extra pawn, but there's no doubt about his advantage. ] 23...f5! Topalov brings the evaluation level with this alert move. 24.xe7 xe7 25.f2 e6 26.d2 b7! 27.e4 Not a move White wanted to make, but the threat of 27...Qg2+ must be addressed. e8 28.e2 fxe4 29.e3 c6 30.xe4 [ or 30.d4 a4 with counterplay. ] 30...f8+ 31.f4 e8 32.e4 f8+ 33.f4 e8 34.f3? Naiditsch's decision to play on was likely influenced by the match situation (Bulgaria won the match 3-1). His fighting spirit is commendable, but unfortunately White is a little worse now. c5+ 35.d4 [ 35.d4?? g5-+ ] [ 35.e1 g5! ] 35...xc4 36.g4?? [ Nece ssary is 36.e4 , when the B vs. N endgame after e6! 37.f4 f7 38.xe8+ xe8 39.d5+ xd5 40.xd5 f7 is a bit more pleasant for Black. ] 36...g5! Of course, the other possibility is that N a i d i t s c h j u s t m i s s e d t h i s m o v e ! 37.f5 883
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Naiditsch resigned here due to [ After 37.f6 xg4! 38.xg4 xe2+ 39.xe2 xd4+ and 40...Qxf6, Black should convert the queen ending. ] 37...xe2+ 38.xe2 xe2+ 39.xe2 xg4+-+ 0-1
891 Nakamura,Hikaru Navara,David 74th Tata Steel GMA [John Bartholomew]
A22 2759 2712 19.01.2012
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.e3!? Nakamura is fond of e2e3 setups in the English, and this time he strikes gold. The text is extremely unusual (I find only 76 games of nearly 4400 to reach this position), with the similarly creative Vadim Zvjaginsev being the only other GM to have ventured it here. [ In the first round Navara got nowhere in the main lines after 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 . See Navara-Topalov in this update. ] 6...c5 Navara chooses to clamp down on d4. This is logical, and one might now expect W hite to adopt a reversed Hedgehog formation with Ng1-e2, 0-0, d2-d3, a2-a3, b2b3, Bc1-b2, etc. Nakamura has a different idea in mind. [ Zvjaginsev, V (2663)-Mikhalevski, V (2584)/ A i x - l e s - B a i n s F R A 2 0 1 1 w e n t 6...c6 7.ge2 A) He could consider a disruptive move like 7...f5 , but then 8.d4! ( 8.0-0?! d3 is annoying,; 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.d4 d6 and I'd prefer Black.) 8...b4 (critical) 9.0-0 c2 10.e1 and now an attempt to force a repetition with ( 10.d2?? c4 11.e1 d3 would be an embarrassing queen trap) 10...g6 can be met by ( or 10...f5 ) 11.f4! with an initiative: ( 11.d1 c2= ) 11...c2 12.f2 xa1 13.xb7! with complications favoring White.; B) I like the look of 7...g4!? , for example B1) Black has a completely sound position af ter 8.d4 exd4 ( 8...f6!? and 9...0-0-0 is friskier.) 9.exd4 d6 10.0-0 0-0=;
B2) 8.0-0 d7! is very flexible Black may castle queenside and unbalance the struggle, or simply complete development and castle kingside.; B3) 8.h3 h5 9.0-0 d6 10.g4 g6 11.d4 0-0 12.f4 f6!? 13.dxe5 fxe5 14.f5 f7 with an interesting game.; C) 7...e7 . Black reacts normally, but he has grounds for a more proactive approach: 8.0-0 0-0 C1) Better than 9.d4 exd4 10.xd4 xd4 11.exd4 ( 11.xd4 c6 12.xd8?! xd8 O'Siochru, M (2100)Quinn, M (2275)/Dublin 1992. ); C2) 9.f4! a5 ( 9...f6 looks preferable) 10.fxe5 xe5 11.d4 g6 12.b3 c6 13.e4 c5 14.e3 cxd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.xd4 d7 17.d5 . See Nigel Davies's notes in the archives. ] [ Black has also played 6...e7 , though after 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 Black will probably revert to A) or 8...c5 9.d4! ( 9.f4!? ); B) 8...c6 as in the Zvjaginsev game. ] 7.ge2 c6 8.0-0 e7 [ 8...d6 Scheidegger, U-Habibi, A (2255)/ Ba d Ra ga z 1 9 9 0 . He re 9.f4!? is again possible. e.g. ( 9.d4 cxd4 10.exd4 0-0 11.dxe5 w a s t h e g a m e w h e n xe5 is very close to equal.; 9.b3!? ) 9...0-0 10.b3 with a more comfortable game for White. ] 9.f4! The key idea of 6.e3, perhaps contrary to early expectations. W hite breaks down the center with f2-f4 instead of d2-d4. exf4 [ White is for choice after 9...0-0 10.fxe5 xe5 11.b3! , i.e. d3 12.f4! ] [ , but 9...h5!? was interesting. ] 10.xf4 0-0 11.b3 f5 12.b2 [ 12.g4!? ] 12...d7 13.e4 ad8 14.f2 Black has developed strictly according to principle, yet W hite has still emerged with a slight edge. His minor pieces have secured slightly better squares, and Black has no real weaknesses to attack. b4 15.f1! xe4 Not ideal, but White was menacing Nf4-h5. 16.xe4 6d5 [ 16...f5 17.g2 g6 was preferable, though White is still sitting pretty with the bishop pair. ] 17.h5 g6 [ Black must weaken the long diagonal since 884
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17...f6? 18.a3 c6 19.f5 d6 20.d3 leads to disaster on a corresponding diagonal, e.g. h6 21.h7+ h8 22.g6+- ] 18.a3!? [ There was also the remarkable possibility of 18.f5!? when Black cannot take: gxf5 19.xf5 d6 ( 19...c7 20.xh7+ and 21. Qf5+ mates quickly.) 20.h3! and with threats like 21.Qg4+, 21.Bxh7+, and 21.Nf6+ hanging in the air, Black is lost. ] 18...a6?? Overlooking a pretty idea. [ 18...f5! was necessary. ] 19.xd5 xd5 20.f6! Now Black must allow the knight to f6 to avoid a decisive loss of material. d6 21.xe7 xe7 22.f6+ g7 23.c4!+Deadly geometry. Black is unable to defend against the direct threats of Qc4-c3 and Qc4-h4 in addition to the simple e s c a l a t io n o f p re s su re wi t h Ra 1 -f 1 . e5 24.af1 h5 25.xh5+! Nakamura concludes the game with an efficient sequence. xh5 26.xf7+ xf7 27.xf7+ h6 28.f4+ g5 [ 28...g5 29.h7++- ] 29.f6+ g6 30.f1! Nice! Now the threats are 31.Rf6 and 31.Qh3+ Qh5 32.Rh7+. h5 31.xb7 Black is totally helpless. c4 [ 31...xd2 32.f6+ g6 33.h8+ mates. ] 32.f6+ g6 33.xd8 b1+ 34.f2 Black resigned, since White easily escapes the checks. It's too early to declare 6.e3!? theoretically challenging, but it's telling that a seasoned 2700 could not equalize out of the opening. W e'll definitely be seeing more of this line. 1-0
6.e3!? , which he used to beat Navara last year in the same event. See Nakamura, H (2759)-Navara, D (2712) Wijk aan Zee 2012. It's worth noting that Laurent Fressinet de f ea t e d Na ka m ura in t his va ria t ion in December at the W orld Mind Games in December: c6 7.ge2 f5 8.0-0?! ( I r e c o m m e n d e d 8.d4 in the notes to Nakamura - Navara) 8...d3 9.f4 e4 10.a3 e7 11.b4 f6 12.a2 0-0-0 13.c2 he8 and White was somewhat paralyzed in Nakamura, H (2760)-Fressinet, L (2700) Beijing 2012. ] 4.f3!? An attempt to enter standard Four Knights territory. [ 4.g2 is examined in the archives. See the guide "King's English - Moves other than 3 Nf3". ] 4...e4 [ Nakamura has experience against 4...xc3 as well: 5.bxc3 c6 ( 5...e4 6.d4 0-0 7.g2 d5 8.cxd5 xd5 Kamsky, G (2714)Gelfand, B (2736) Moscow 2007/[Hansen, Carsten] ) 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 e8 8.d3 e4 9.d4 exd3 10.exd3 xd4 11.cxd4 d5 12.e3 and White obtained some advantage in Nakamura, H (2758)-Howell, D (2633) London 2011/[John Bartholomew]. ] [ 4...c6 would transpose to the Four Knights. ] 5.d4 c6 6.c2 xc3 7.bxc3!? Somewhat rare. [ White usually captures away from the c e n t e r w i t h 7.dxc3 , which lends more support to d5. For example, h6 8.g2 d6 9.e3 0-0 10.0-0 e8 11.c2 e5!? 12.d2 e7 13.f4 exf3 14.exf3 f5 15.g4 e8 16.ae1 e6= Portisch, L 892 A22 (2650)-Timman, J (2620) Amsterdam 1981. ] Nakamura,Hikaru 2769 7...0-0 8.g2 d5 Also the choice of superSokolov,Ivan 2667 solid British GM Michael Adams. [ The fact that Karpov has also played this Tata Steel Chess 2013 (2.6) 13.01.2013 position for Black only adds to the line's [John Bartholomew] pedigree: 8...e8 9.0-0 d6 10.e3 d7 11.c2 a5 12.d3 c6 13.d2 d7 Many English authorities consider W hite's 14.ae1 b6 15.f3 exd3 16.exd3 h5!? move order in this game (2.Nc3, 3. g3) to be 17.f2 e7 18.fe2 ae8= and Black went suboptimal, but Nakamura has displayed a o n t o wi n a h i g h l y i n s t r u c t i ve g a m e i n clear preference for it in recent years. 1.c4 e5 Huebner, R (2630)-Karpov, A (2715) Baden2.c3 f6 3.g3 b4 Baden 1992. ] [ A reputable line that avoids Nakamura's patented 3...d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 9.cxd5 xd5 10.f3 Challenging Black in the 885
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 center, but with logical moves Black soon obtains a great position. Nor do the alternatives seem to promise much. [ Amanov, Z (2401) -Adams, M (2728) W heeling 2012 took a dif f erent course: 10.d4 h5 11.h3 e6 12.f4 fe8 13.d2 a5 (immediately exploiting the w e a k e n e d c 4 s q u a r e ) 14.e3 c4 15.xc4 xc4 16.e5 d5! 17.xe4 f6 18.f3 f7 19.f4 xf4 20.gxf4 xe2+! 21.xe2 e8 22.e3 xe3 23.fxe3 d5 24.g1 e6 25.g3 b6 and Black later won. ] [ On 10.0-0 it looks logical for Black to play h5 intending ...Bc8-h3. ] [ Likewise 10.e3 ought to be answered by h5 . ] 10...exf3 11.xf3 a5 12.g2 f5 13.0-0 e4! 14.e3 [ Black has good play after 14.xf6 xg2 15.f4 h3 . ] 14...xg2 15.xg2 fe8 16.f5?! e5 17.f1 ae8 Black is fully mobilized and enjoys a wonderfully coordinated position. 18.xf6 True to his style, Nakamura opts to u n b a l a n c e t h e ga m e ra t h e r t h a n d e f e n d passively. gxf6 19.xf6 8e6 20.f3 e7! Pitching the b-pawn to engage White's strong knight on e3. 21.xb7 f5 22.c4 c5 23.b3 e4 [ Here 23...c6+! would have been very strong. For example, 24.g1 d4 25.d3 ( 25.b8+ e8 26.b2 xe2+-+ ) 25...d6 and White's position collapses. ] [ Likewise, 23...d4 makes a lot of sense since 24.b1? is refuted trivially: e4+ 25.g1 b6-+ . ] 24.d3 xe3+ 25.dxe3 xc4?! [ 25...f6! ] 26.d8+ g7 27.b2+ f6 28.f1 Nakamura has managed to coordinate some of his pieces, thereby minimizing the damage. c6 29.g1 d6 30.xd6 xd6 The game now enters a technical phase. 31.c1 xe3 32.xc7+ g6 33.f2 ee6 34.c2 c6 35.d2 ed6 36.xd6 xd6 This endgame ought to be winning for Black. 37.a3 a5 38.c3 a4 39.b4 b6 40.c5 b5 41.d6 b3 42.h4 f5 43.e7 g4 44.d6 f5 45.g2 h6 46.f2 h5 47.g2 f4?!
[ Computers were quick to point out a win: 47...c3! (White must give ground with his king) 48.f2 ( 48.h2 e3 picks up the ep a w n a n d w i n s t r i v i a l l y) 48...h3 ( z u g z w a n g ) 49.e3 g4 50.e2 b3 (zugzwang again!) 51.f2 b2+ 52.e1 f3-+ . ] 48.gxf4 xh4 49.e4 g4 50.f5 d3 51.b4 h4? This move significantly complicates things. [ 51...f3! freezes White's pawns and ought to be decisive. ] 52.f6 h3+ 53.h2 f3 54.e5 f2+ 55.h1 h5 [ Unfortunately for Black, the natural 55...g3 would be a huge blunder in view of 56.e1!+- . ] [ 55...h2 56.f7 xf7 57.xh2 is the game. ] 56.c5 f3 57.h2 g4 58.b4? [ Better is 58.b6! ] [ or 58.a7! , covering f2. On f5 59.b8 e6 60.d6 it appears that White can hold. ] 58...f2+ 59.h1 h2 60.f7 xf7 61.xh2 Can Black win? If he can nab the e-pawn and keep the White king sufficiently far from the apa wn , t h en yes. Ho we ver, it 's e xt re m e ly difficult to pull off, and in the game Sokolov was unable to figure it out. The analysis of this endgame is better suited to an engine/ tablebase, so I won't say much more. f2+ 62.g1 e2 63.d6 f3 64.f1 e4 65.g1 e1+ 66.h2 d1 67.b4 d4 68.d6 h4+ 69.g1 h6 70.f8 h8 71.d6 h6 72.f8 b6 73.d6 b1+ 74.h2 e1 75.c7 a1 76.d6 d1 77.b4 d4 78.d6 g4? [ The engines indicate that Black can eventually win the e-pawn with 78...d2+ 79.g1 d1+ 80.h2 e1 . ] 79.e6! Advancing the pawn to e7 makes White's defensive task much, much easier. g2+ 80.h1 e2 81.e7 g4 82.g1 f5 83.f1 e6 84.f2 g6 85.f3 f7 86.b4 e8 87.c5 d7 88.b4 b6 89.c5 c6 90.b4 c4 Draw agreed. White should probably opt for 6.dxc3, though I don't think he has much there either. Sokolov was understandably upset after his failure to win this game, but I think even he wo u ld a d m it t h a t h is re a ct io n wa s k in d a 886
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 funny! http: //www.youtube.com/ watch?v=pTg46f85RBQ ½-½
893 Nepomniachtchi,Ian Lintchevski,D 65th ch-RUS HL (11) [John Bartholomew]
A22 2716 2563 27.06.2012
A rec ent d evelo pm en t in the 6 .e 3 K in g's En glis h f ro m th e Russian Ch am pion sh ip Higher League. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.e3 You'll recall that Nakamura's victory over Navara in Wijk aan Zee was the catalyst for the explosion of interest in this line. g6!? A fresh approach. Given that White's plan is to assault Black's center with f2-f4 (or perhaps d2-d4), directing the bishop to the long diagonal is entirely logical. On g7 Black can monitor the dark squares from afar. [ 6...c5 was Nakamura, H (2759) -Navara, D (2712)/W ijk aan Zee NED 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] 7.ge2 g7 8.f4 Consistent with White's stated goal. [ The only prior game with 6...g6 went 8.0-0 0-0 9.d4 (too straightforward to pose any problems) exd4 10.xd4 c6 11.f3 a6 12.d1 e7 13.a3?! c5 14.b4 e6 Schwabe, M-Koch, T/ Griesheim 1997. ] 8...exf4 9.xf4 c5?! Reverting to Navara's strategy to discourage d2-d4, but the available games have shown that this isn't necessarily the ideal structure for Black. [ It looks better to maintain some flexibility. After 9...0-0 10.0-0 Black has many viable options, i.e. c6 ( or 10...e8; or even 10...a5!? ) 11.d4 e7 intending ...c7-c6. Black is doing well from a structural point of view so long as he refrains from ... c7c5. ( 11...a5!? )] 10.0-0 0-0 11.b3 c6 12.a3 b4 13.c1 Black already experiences problems with the c5 pawn. W hite is ready for Nc3-e4. d7?! 14.xb4 [ Good enough for the advantage, but the computer is enthralled by the exchange sacrifice with 14.e4!? xa2 15.xc5!
xc5 16.xc5 , for instance e8?! ( 16...a5 17.d5! ) 17.d6 e7 18.d5 with spectacular threats, i.e. e6 19.xf7! xf7 20.xe7 xe7 21.xg6! hxg6 22.xf7 xf7 23.xf7+ xf7 24.b4!+- ] 14...cxb4 15.cd5 a5 16.c2 e5 17.c7 [ 17.c5!? ] 17...c6 18.d4 xc7?! [ 18...a4!? looks more competitive. ] 19.xc7 b8 20.d3?! [ It's unclear why Nepomniachtchi rejected 20.xc6 bxc6 21.xc6 . Other than the bishop pair (which isn't even very effective here), Black has no compensation for the missing pawn. ] 20...g4 21.fe1 e7 22.c5 b6 23.b7 h5 24.b5 e6 25.7d6 fd8 26.c7 d5 27.xd5 xd5 Now it's a similar story to 20.Bxc6 bxc6 21. Rxc6, but White doesn't have the luxury of an extra pawn. 28.c4 [ 28.e4!? suggests itself. ] 28...e6 29.d1 dc8 30.d5 g4 31.d2 xc7 32.xc7 c3 33.f2 d7 34.d6?! f8 [ Here Black could have given White a sweat with 34...e5! . 35.xf7? doesn't work in view of ( 35.cb5 f6 ) 35...h3 , wh e n W h it e ' s l a c k o f co o r d i n a t io n i s evident, i.e. 36.cb5 d8-+ ] 35.cb5 xb5 36.xb5 d8 37.d6 e5 38.d2 f6 39.f2 f7 40.f3 e6 41.c2 c3 42.a4 [ 42.xc3 bxc3 43.xc3 xd6= ] 42...c8 43.c1 Draw agreed. 6...g6!? is definitely worth further investigation, especially if Black works to maintain some flexibility in the center. ½-½
894 Olafsson,Helgi Kortschnoj,Viktor Chess@iceland rapidplay Group A (4) [Tony Kosten]
A22 2491 2659 1.4.00
1.c4 e5 2.e3!? Very rare, but not bad at all. Lines with an early e3 were recommended by W atson many years ago, but have neve r r e a l l y c a u g h t o n . f6 3.c3 b4 Here lie s t he ad van ta ge of de f erring th e 887
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g1-knight's development, W hite is ready to gain the bishop pair without losing time, or ruining his pawn structure. [ Very logical, as is 3...d5 4.cxd5 xd5 with a reversed Taimanov Sicilian, 5.f3 xc3 6.bxc3 d6 7.d4 e7 8.b1 0-0 with mutual chances, Hansen,S-Hector,J/ Helsingor DEN 1999. ] [ 3...c6 ] 4.ge2 c6!? [ Preparing to setup a strong centre, the one time I had this position myself I preferred 4...0-0 5.a3 ( 5.g3 c6 6.a3 a5 7.b4 c7 8.e2 d5 is more than reasonable for Black, Milov,V-Morozevich,A/Tilburg 1994.) 5...xc3 6.xc3 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.c2 c6 9.d3 h8!? with sharp play, Johnstone, P-Kosten,A/Birmingham ENG 1999, although 0-1 (21). ] 5.d4 e4!? [ Watson considered this move to be a mistake, and it certainly didn't succeed too well in this game, so perhaps Black should prefer 5...exd4 6.xd4 0-0 7.d2 e8 8.d1 d6 9.g3 g4 seems fairly level, Rivas Pastor,M-Garcia Ilundain,D/ Cala Galdana 1994. ] 6.d5! Before Black can play his own pawn to d5. cxd5 [ A new move. In the game Torre-Balinas/ Marboro PHI 1977, Black tried 6...0-0 7.a3 d6 8.g3 e8 9.e2 a5 which is more comfortable for White. ] 7.cxd5 a6 8.d2 0-0 9.g3 e8?! [ L o s i n g, o r s a cr if ic in g, a p a wn . 9...e7 is better, keeping the b4-bishop defended. ] 10.xa6! bxa6 11.cxe4 xe4?! [ Aiming for opposite-colour bishops, but 11...xd2+ 12.xd2 b8 gave more chances ( 12...xd5?! allows 13.c4 wh e n t h e k n i g h t c o m e s t o d 6 t o g o o d effect. )] 12.xb4 a5 [ So as to try to keep the white king in the c e n t r e , i f 12...b7 then 13.d4 f6 14.c3 xd5 15.f5 is favourable to White. ] 13.c3 a6 14.d4 h4 15.h5 White must drive the active black queen away. e7 16.a3 xg3 17.hxg3 With a brief mate threat on h7. d3
[ 17...h6?? loses quickly to 18.xg7 xg7 19.xh6+ ] 18.d1 g6 19.e2 g5 20.c3 Despite the drawish nature of the oppositecolour bishops, the presence of other pieces, and his far superior pawn structure, mean that W hite should win. a4 21.d6 e6 22.h4! With his king perfectly safe in the centre, W hite decides to develop his rook straight to a strong post. ae8 23.f1 [ W hite doesn't fall for 23.xa4? xe3! 24.fxe3 xe3 winning the queen. ] 23...c5 24.c4 f5 25.g1 c2 26.d2 [ 26.xa4?! xa4 27.xa4 c2 28.dd4 would throw away much of W hite's advantage. ] 26...c1+ 27.h2 e5?! 28.g4?! [ An odd move, when 28.xa4 won more material. ] 28...e4!? [ 28...h5+ 29.h4 he5?! would repeat the position, although White would simply c h a n g e h i s m i n d , a n d p l a y 30.xa4 , no doubt. ] 29.xe4 xe4 30.xa4?? [ Both players must have been short of time, I suppose, as this allows a draw. Better 30.b5! c6?! (else White captures on d7) 31.g5 with an almost unstoppable mate. ] 30...f6?? [ 30...f6?? after 31.xd7 g6 32.c6 the d-pawn will queen. ] [ but Black might have saved the game by 30...f1! 31.f3 e6 32.g4! e1 A) the only other possibility is 33.d5!? with the point that h4+ 34.g1 xd5 35.xd7 h6 ( 35...b7!? ) 36.c8+ h7 37.d7 wins!!; B) 33.g5 h4+ 34.g1 e1+ and a draw. ] 1-0
895 Papaioannou,Ioannis Gelfand,Boris EuTCh Plovdiv BUL (1) [Tony Kosten]
A22 2577 2703 11.10.2003
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.e3 This move has a certain novelty value, but for the moment it 888
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 doesn't seem to bring White particularly good positions. b4 4.ge2 0-0 We looked at [ 4...c6!? in Olafsson,H-Korchnoi,V. ] 5.a3 e7 Black preserves his bishop pair. [ 5...xc3 also has its points, Black is willing to concede the bishop for straightforward development: 6.xc3 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.c2 c5!? ( 8...c6 Johnstone,P-Kosten, A / G B R 1 9 9 9) 9.d3 xc3 10.dxc3 ( 10.xh7+? h8 11.dxc3 f5 12.g6 g5 wins the hapless bishop) 10...f5 11.0-0 e6 12.c4 c6 Black has more space, White the bishop pair, Franco, Z-Morozevich,A/ Pamplona 1994. ] 6.g3!? The knight controls e4 and f5. [ 6.d4 exd4 7.xd4!? a5 8.b3 a6 9.b2 c5 the pressure on b3 gives Black good play, Quinteros,M-Kouatly,B/Luzern 1985. ] 6...c6 The most ambitious move, attempting to construct a strong centre. [ 6...d5 7.cxd5 xd5 leads to an Open Sicilian structure, 8.c2 e6 9.d3 g6 10.b4 c6 which was previously preferred by Gelfand, against Klaus Bischoff, Dortmund 1990. ] 7.d4 Virtually forced if White wants to hinder Black's plans, [ 7.f5!? d5 8.xe7+ xe7 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.d4 c6 hands Black a useful lead in development. ] 7...exd4 8.exd4 [ 8.xd4 d5 9.e2 c5 10.d1 dxc4 11.xd8 xd8 12.xc4 c6 favours Black, Novgorodskij,V-Sherbakov,R/Omsk/Perm 1998. ] 8...d5 9.c5 White grabs space on the queen side, this pawn can have a s evere cramping effect on Black. The alternative was to play an IQP position: [ 9.e2 dxc4 10.xc4 bd7 11.0-0 b6 12.b3 bd5 13.e1 e6 but of course, Black is fine here, Bezold,M-Lukacs,P/Gyula 1997. ] 9...e8 10.e2 b6! A strong novelty which relies on a neat tactic to break the queenside bind. [ 10...h5!? is also interesting, to embarrass the knight, 11.xh5!? ( 11.g5 ) 11...xh5 12.xh5 xc5+ 13.e3 d6 and Black is doing well, Corral Blanco,J-Campos Moreno, J/Barcelona ESP 2000. ]
11.b4 In view of what follows White could prefer [ 11.e3 ] 11...bxc5 12.bxc5 xc5! The point. 13.dxc5 d4 14.0-0 [ 14.g5 dxc3 15.xd8 xd8 16.xf6 gxf6 17.c1 is similar to the game continuation, and if the knight moves ] [ 14.a2 then Black recuperates his piece by d3 ] 14...dxc3 15.xd8 xd8 16.g5 a6!? Black heads for a drawn endgame. [ 16...bd7 17.fc1 h6 is also perfectly sound. ] 17.xf6 gxf6 18.ac1 xe2 19.xe2 a6 20.xc3 d5 The black kingside is weakened but he will liquidate most of the queenside pawns and remain with active pieces. 21.f4!? xc5 22.xc5 xc5 23.c1 e8 The knight is taboo because of the back-rank mate. 24.g4 [ 24.g3 e5 is also equal, Black's extra pawn doesn't count for too much. ] 24...e4 Exchanging into a drawn rook endgame, [ 24...e5?! encounters 25.h5 ] 25.xc5 xf4 26.h3 a4 27.xc6 g7 [ 27...xa3 28.xf6 g7 is quite drawn. ] 28.c3 f5 29.gxf5 f6 30.g2 h5 31.f3 h4 32.f1 e4 33.c3 a4 ½-½
896 Rogers,Ian Acs,Peter GMB Wijk aan Zee NED (3) [Tony Kosten]
A22 2569 2623 14.01.2003
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 b4 4.g2 0-0 5.d3 [ 5.e4 xc3 6.bxc3 c6 is a more habitual move-order, and should transpose, although White can defer playing d3. ] 5...xc3+ 6.bxc3 c6 7.e4 d5 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.exd5 xd5 10.e2 c6 11.0-0 I always thought that these positions were slightly better for Black, who enjoys easy development, play on the light squares and pressure against the white central pawns, whilst White's bishops have little immediate 889
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 scope. e8 [ 11...g4!? i s a l s o p r o m i s i n g , 12.f3?! ( 12.d2 ) 12...f5 13.h1 d7 and the d3-pawn is a problem, Hibbeler,SAbel,E/Germany 1992. ] 12.b2 In this rare position this is new. [ 12.h3 f5 13.b3 b6 14.d1 d7 15.h2 Arbakov,V-Naumkin,I/Warsaw 1992, and now Black can probably snatch the dpawn: xd3! 16.e4 d4! which unpins the bishop by blocking the d-file! 17.xd3 xb3 18.xd7 xc1 and wins a pawn. ] 12...f5 13.d2 White develops his pieces s e n s i b l y b e h i n d h i s c e n t r a l p a w n s . e4!? The young Hungarian tactician plays true to style, [ 13...d7 and ...Rad8 is a reasonable alternative, but he wants more. ] 14.c4! Provoking wild complications, but this is better than [ 14.d4? a5 to c4, which is positional suicide. ] 14...e3!? [ 14...exd3 15.cxd5 xe2 16.f4 e7 ( 16...xb2 17.dxc6 ) 17.d4 f6 is far from clear. ] 15.e1 White cannot capture the pawn as the knight lands on e3. b6 16.c3 e5 17.f4 a4 The other good move was [ 17...xd3!? , forcing 18.fxe5 xe2 19.fe1 xc4 20.xe3 and Black has won a pawn, although White's bishops might yet save him. ] 18.a3 xd3 It looks like White's position is falling apart, but he keeps trying to play the best moves. 19.d4 b6 [ 19...d7 20.c5 also leaves the black knights looking misplaced. ] 20.c5 c4 Perhaps too complicated, [ 20...d5 might have been simpler. ] 21.c3 d2 22.xg7! e6? Black underestimates White's next move, [ 22...xf1 23.h6 ( 23.h8!? f6 24.xf6 is a ls o me ss y) 23...f6 24.b3+! h8 25.xb7 d7 26.a6 e6 27.c6 might be good for Black, but calculating this over the board would not be simple. ] 23.d4! White grabs the lifeline he's been thrown - now he is better as the black pieces are all loose. xf1?! [ 23...c8 24.xe6 fxe6 is better, Black's e-
pawn could still prove useful. ] 24.xf5 e2 25.h6+! White doesn't waste the chance he has been given, and plays accurately till the end. xh6 26.xh6 f6 27.e4! e1 28.xe1 xe1 A picture! Black is a ro o k up , b u t lo ses b y f o rce ! 29.b3+ h8 30.xb7 Hitting h7, g7 and a8. [ 30.f7! is perhaps even stronger, but W h i t e p r o b a b l y d i d n ' t wa n t t o h a v e t o calculate the checks: f3+ 31.xf1 d1+ 32.f2 d4+ 33.xf3 and they soon peterout. ] 30...d4+?! [ 30...f3+ 31.xf3 d4+ 32.xf1 g8 would allow Black to carry-on a few moves. ] 31.xf1 c4+ 32.xe1 A sad end for the two knights! c1+ 33.e2 c4+ 34.f2 1-0
897 Smirin,Ilia Deep Shredder Smirin vs Computers (1) [Tony Kosten]
A22 2685 14.04.2002
Smirin showed good 'anti-machine' tactics in his match against a selection of four of the best programs, and managed to come out on top. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 b4 4.g2 0-0 5.e4 A good practical choice, White closes the centre and aims for a position d e v o i d o f t a c t i c s . xc3 6.bxc3 d6 Not a good decision from the program. I think [ 6...c6 is best, and leads to a more open position where the computer's tactical ability may well come to the fore, see Grigoriants, S-Sadvakasov,D/Subotica YUG 2000. ] 7.e2 g4!? New here, but this 'pseudoactive' move achieves little, Black has a wide choice here, although [ 7...bd7 may be best , 8.d3 a6 9.0-0 ( I prefer 9.a4! keeping a lid on Black's queenside play) 9...b5 10.cxb5 axb5 11.f4 with chance for both sides, Sakharov,AGavrikov,V/Beltsy 1977. ] 8.f3! White wants to keep pieces on the board. e6 9.d3 c5? Absolutely g. When left to their own devices (i.e. when their opening knowledge runs out) computers often play p o o r p o s it io n a l m o ve s. B la ck s h o u l d b e 890
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 playing for ...b5, or ...c6 and ...d5. 10.0-0 h6?! Black wishes to avoid Bg5, which wasn't a t h re a t (! ) a n d p lays a m o ve wh ich ju st weakens his kingside. 11.h3 White's intention is to play f4-f5 with a powerful kingside attack, b u t m u s t c o n t r o l g 4 f i r s t . a6 12.a4! I always play this move in similar positions White is happy to close the queenside as he hopes to mow Black down on the other (more important) side of the board. b6 13.f4 c6 14.f5 d7 15.g4 c7? [ Black should probably try to defend against g5 by playing 15...h7 and ...f6. Notice how Blac k su f f ers f rom conceding h is d arksquared bishop in the opening, as if this piece were still on e7 he would be able to control h4 and g5 and White's attack would be more difficult to construct. ] 16.g3 a5 [ Black is quite lost, as it is now too late for 16...h7 : 17.f6! stopping Black from playing ...f6 himself, xf6 18.xf6! gxf6 19.h5 and Black 's king is trapped on the kingside without any defenders, and will be mated in a few moves, e.g. fb8 20.d2 f8 21.xh6+ e8 22.h8+ e7 23.xf6+ e8 24.h8+ e7 25.g5+ ] 17.h4 It is all too simple for White. h7 18.g5 hxg5 19.hxg5 b7 20.e3 b5 21.axb5 axb5 22.h5 His big space advantage on the kingside allows White to bring his pieces over whilst stopping Black from doing likewise. bxc4 23.f6 The simplest, although White has many other ways to prosecute his attack, for instance [ 23.f2 (t o b rin g a ro o k t o h 1 ) b2+ 24.f3 xg5+ (what else?) 25.xg5 f6 26.h1 fxg5 27.h7+ f7 28.g6+ g8 29.h7 f7 30.ah1 ] 23...fc8 24.fxg7 g4 Desperation, Black has n o d ef en ce against W hit e's multiple threats, like Qh6 with Nh5/or Nf5, or Kf2 and Rh1. 1-0
898 Taimanov,Mark E Rublevsky,Sergei Korchnoi 70 St . Petersburg RUS (7) [Tony Kosten]
A22 2454 2657 22.03.01
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 b4 4.f3!? [ White wants to force Black to play .. .Nc6, a n d e n t e r n o r m a l l i n e s . 4.g2 is more common, and is seen in the archives. ] 4...xc3!? [ Black prefers to avoid the main line with 4...c6 ] 5.dxc3 [ Again unusual, 5.bxc3 is more ambitious, e4 6.d4 0-0 7.g2 with typical play, Marin,M-De Vreugt,D/Tel Aviv ISR 2000. ] 5...d6 6.g2 h6 7.0-0 c6 8.e1?! [ Actually, this is a new move here, although this is a very thematic idea in such positions: the knight manoeuvres to d5 via e1, c2, and e3. However, whilst this works well when Black has already castled kingside, there is a big problem here. More drastic measures are called for: 8.c5! d5 ( if 8...dxc5 9.xd8+ xd8 10.e3 d7 11.ad1 e7 12.d2 frees the position for White's bishops) 9.b4 a6?! 10.c4! dxc4 11.xd8+ xd8 12.b2 e8 13.fd1+ d7 14.a4 White has a powerful initiative, Uhlmann,W-Gavrikov,V/Tallinn 1987. ] 8...e6 9.b3 d7! 10.c2 h3 This is the problem, the white knight no longer defends the kingside so Black castles long and leversopen the h-file. 11.e3 h5 12.d5 xg2 13.xg2 h4 14.h1 White is already forced into playing this ugly move. 0-0-0 15.g5 f5 16.xf6 [ The h-pawn is poisoned, 16.gxh4? e4 or ] [ 16.xh4? g5 ] 16...gxf6 17.d3 g5 18.e3 g6 Na t u r a l ly W h it e a vo i d s t h e e xch a n ge o f queens. 19.b4 b8 20.d3 f5 21.b5 e4! To free the e5-square for the knight. 22.e3 e5 23.d4?! [ White should grab the opportunity to exchange his weak c-pawn by 23.c5 ] 23...g4 24.f4 dg8 25.f1 W hite's position is a mess, and it simply 891
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 remains for Black to find a killer blow. hxg3 26.fxg3 f3! 27.f2 [ An unfortunate necessity, 27.exf3? xf3+ 28.g1 xg3+ mates. ] 27...d2+ 28.e1 xc4 With an extra pawn, and a dominating position, the end should not b e f a r o f f . 29.a4?! xg3! Another shot! 30.hxg3 xh1+ 31.f1 xf1+ 32.xf1 xg3 33.f2 xc3 Black now has four extra pawns! 34.h1 a5?! [ Perhaps Black was short of time, as otherwise he would surely pref er 34...c6 , controlling d5. ] 35.d5 c2 36.h8+ a7 37.xc7 b6 [ This is fine, but 37...e3+ 38.g3 ( 38.f3? e5+ 39.xe3 xc7 ) 38...xe2 would force a quick resignation. ] 38.e8 d5 39.d6 White has managed to drum-up some counterplay, but it has to be insufficient. f4 40.h7 c4 [ 40...f3 41.xf7 xe2+ 42.g3 c4 wins easily. ] 41.c8+ b8 42.e7 e3?? [ A dreadful blunder, 42...d4 43.h8+ c7 44.d5+ d6 45.xf4 d3 is still crushing, and there were many other good lines, too. ] 43.b6 Threatening mate! This must have come as quite a shock. c8 Fortunately for Bla ck he is s till slightly bet te r a f t er th is. 44.xc8 [ 44.xf7 d8 45.xf4 d1+ 46.e1 c3 47.e3 is also worth consideration as the black king and rook are confined to the back rank. ] 44...xc8 45.xf7 c4 46.c7+ b8 47.c5 xb6 48.xa5 c7 49.c5+ d6 50.b5 c6 51.b4 c4 So, the situation has clarified, White has an exchange for two pawns, but without passed pawns of his own, or weak pawns to attack, the rook is hardly stronger than the knight. 52.b1 e3+ 53.g2 d2 54.b4? [ 54.c1+ d6 55.c8 keeps the game alive, the rook is most active when behind pawns. ] 54...d4! 55.xd4 f3+ 56.exf3 e2 Black has skilfully arranged for one of his pa wn s t o qu e e n . 57.xd2 e1 58.d4 e2+ 59.g3 e5+ 60.f4 d5 61.g4 g7+ 62.h3 e5 63.g4 c7 64.g2 f5 65.e4 White attempts to form a barrier
against the advance of the black king. g7+ 66.f2 b2+ 67.g3 d2 68.g4 e1+ 69.g2 e2+ 70.g3 d2 71.e4 b6 72.g4 e1+ 73.g2 e3! 74.g3 [ The problem is that 74.e4 loses to xe4! 75.fxe4+ xe4 and the pawn ending is lost. ] 74...g1+ 75.h3 f2 Now that the white king has been forced to concede ground, the rook has to defend the f-pawn, and W hite loses. 76.g3 f4 77.g4+ xf3 78.g6 f1+ 79.h2 e2+ 80.h3 e5 81.h4 e4+ [ Black pragmatically captures the pawn, but 81...f5! 82.g1 f4+ 83.h5 h2+ wins the rook, instead. ] 82.h5 xa4 83.f6+ g3 84.g6+ h3 85.f6 g4+ 86.h6 b5 87.h7 0-1
899 Turov,Maxim Edouard,Romain Tata Steel Chess 2013 (7.8) [John Bartholomew]
A22 2630 2686 19.01.2013
Two strong 2600s debate a line that ha s underwhelmed us in the past. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 b4 4.g2 0-0 5.e4 xc3 6.bxc3 [ T h e a l t e r n a t i v e r e c a p t u r e 6.dxc3 is a persona l f avorite o f GM Normund s Miezis (he had played it 45 times at my last count!). Black ought to have good play, i.e. d6 7.e2 bd7 8.f3 a6 9.0-0 b5! s e e M i e zi s , N ( 2 5 4 7 ) - O l s e n , H ( 2 3 4 5 ) Dianalund 2005/ [John Watson]. ] 6...c6 7.e2 [ 7.a3 e8 8.b3 b6 9.e2?! b7 10.d6 e6 11.a3?! c5 12.xb8 xe4! was excellent for Black in Grigoriants, S (2503) -Sadvakasov, D (2509) Subotica 2000. ] 7...d5 8.exd5 cxd5 9.cxd5 xd5 10.0-0 c6 A tabiya for the 6...c6 line. At the end of 2011 I mentioned White's unbelievably poor practical results from this position (+1, =14, 21 at the time). W ell, it's my duty to report some improvement in 2012: White scored a single win to bump his stats to +2, =14, -21. 892
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Hallelujah! In all seriousness though, it will take something major from White to overturn the theoretical assessment of this line. Perhaps Turov has something in mind? 11.d3 [ The position after 11.b1 was reached in Naiditsch, A (2712)-Topalov, V (2768) Porto Carras 2011 (W hite actually played it on move seven in that game). Following e8 12.d3 b6 13.e3 Black could have p l a y e d t h e s i m p l e f5 with fine play. Naiditsch, A (2712)-Topalov, V (2768) Porto Carras 2011/[John Bartholomew]. Readers may want to have a look at the notes to this game as I detail a lot of the early alternatives in this line. ] 11...g4!? Tony called this "promising" in his notes to Rogers-Acs (below). [ Black also had excellent play after 11...e8 12.b2 f5 13.d2 e4!? in Rogers, I (2569) -Acs, P (2623) Wijk aan Zee 2003/ [TonyK]. ] 12.b2 [ 12.f3?! f5 13.h1 d7 14.d4 exd4 15.cxd4 fe8 was hardly attractive for W h it e in Hib b e le r, S -A b e l, E G e rm a n y 1992. ] 12...d7 [ Another game saw 12...e8 13.h3 f5 ( 13...e6 ) 14.b3 b6 15.fd1 e7 16.d4?! , Giles, N-Ardovsky, P Dos Hermanas 2003. Here a5 17.b4 ac4 suggests itself. ] 13.e1 b6 I don't think there was a compelling reason to withdraw this knight from the center. [ Instead 13...ad8 14.d2 b6 15.ad1 c4 16.c1 xb2 17.xb2 fe8 was at least equal for Black in Strozewski, F (2046)-Diesner, M Germany 2010. This underscores the fact that Black doesn't have to do anything particularly impressive to obtain a good game in this line. ] 14.a4 ad8 15.a5 c8 A little passive. [ 15...d5= is safe enough. ] 16.d4! 8e7 17.a4 h3 18.xh3 xh3 19.a3 fe8 20.a6 White has a slight initiative, but it doesn't amount to much. c8 21.axb7 xb7 22.c5 g6 23.a6 d7 24.ed1 e4?! [ 24...exd4 25.cxd4 b8 26.d3 ( 26.xa7?? xe2 ) 26...g4 ]
25.a4 e6 26.c4! f6 27.b3 [ Better is 27.a3! preventing ...e4-e3 and allowing White to keep an eye on the knight on c3. ] 27...e3! 28.f1 f3 29.c2 g4?! [ Black had more active possibilities for example 29...ce5!? 30.dxe5 d2 31.a4 xe5! with threats of ...Ng6-h4, ...Rd2xe2, and ... Re5xc5. ] 30.f3 c8 31.a3 a5 32.c1 [ 32.a4! ] 32...a6 33.d1 c8 34.f4 f8 35.d5 b8 [ 35...d7!? 36.xe3 b4 ] 36.xe3 xe3 37.xe3 xc4 38.a3 a4 39.d4 b5 40.d3 b6 41.g2 bd7 42.c4 xc4 43.xc4 e3 44.xf8 b6 45.b5 xf8 46.h3 xd5 47.xd5 xe2 48.d8+ e8 49.xa5 c8+ Draw agreed. White got a little something from the opening here, but it's hardly e nough to upse t th e theoretical assessment. There's a reason why this line isn't very popular. ½-½
900 Turov,Maxim Potapov,P 6th Agzamov Memorial (3) [John Bartholomew]
A22 2658 2473 08.03.2012
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.e3 e7 7.ge2 c5 8.0-0 0-0 9.f4 exf4 10.xf4 c6 11.b3 f5 12.b2 d7 13.e4 b4?! Immediately heading for the d5 square. [ Black attempts to improve on 13...ad8 , which was seen in the source game Nakamura, H (2759)-Navara, D (2712)/ Wijk aan Zee NED 2012/[John Bartholomew]. The position after 14.f2 b4 15.f1 i s p r o m i s i n g f o r W h i t e a f t e r xe4 ( o r H o w e l l ' s m o r e s o l i d t r y 15...g6 , wh ich we d iscu sse d la s t m o n t h - s e e Griff iths, R (2310)-Howell, D (2633)/ Sunningdale ENG 2012.) 16.xe4 6d5 17.h5! , as Nakamura demonstrated. ] 14.a3 4d5 [ 14...d3?? just drops a piece: 15.xd3 xd3 16.xf5+- ] 15.d3! A strikingly similar motif to 893
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Nakamura-Navara above (17.Nh5!). Black's kn igh t s a re ra t he r su p erf lu o us, wh ere a s White's contain plenty of dynamic potential. Thus, Turov avoids a trade. Black is already under significant pressure here, so I believe 13...Nb4 ought to be discarded. [ N o t i c e , h o w e v e r , t h a t 15.h5?! is less effective because of g4 , e.g. 16.f3 xh5 17.xh5 f5! 18.f2 f6 ] 15...ac8?! [ It's marginally better to surrender the b i s h o p p a i r i m m e d i a t e l y w i t h 15...xe4 , but here too after 16.xe4 f5 17.g2 ad8 18.e5! ( not 18.c1? xe3 ) 18...d6 19.c2 White has a very pleasant advantage to work with. ] 16.c1 xe4 17.xe4 f5 18.g2 cd8 19.e5 e6 20.c2 Black has made fairly normal moves, but he's already in big trouble. g6 [ 20...d7! is a tougher defensive try. ] 21.e4! Thematically opening the position. [ The preparatory 21.fe1! is possibly even stronger. ] 21...fxe4 22.xe4 [ 22.xe4! was more direct in view of f6 23.xg6! xb2 ( 23...hxg6? 24.xd5 xd5 25.xg6+ h8 26.c4!+- ) 24.xf8 d4+ 25.h1 xf8 26.xh7+ g7 27.xf8 xf8 28.f5+ xf5 29.xf5 . ] 22...xf1+ 23.xf1!? g5 24.c2 f5? Black wasn't doing too badly here, but he had to keep queens on board. [ 24...e7!? 25.g2 ] 25.xf5 gxf5 After this it's impossible to trust t h e s c o re . W h i t e o f f i ci a l ly p l a ye d 26.f3 but the further moves [ I suspect that 26.d3 was actually seen, when Black will lose a pawn. ] 26...e8?? 27.h3?? surely would not have been played. Black's bishop hangs for the next several moves. e7 28.xc5 d8 29.xf5 xd2 30.e6+ f8 31.f1 e3 32.e5 d3 White is completely winning in this final position after 33.Ke2. Despite the finish, this game further illustrates the dangers Black has encountered in the newlypopular 6.e3 lines. 13...Nb4?! is dubious, but even Navara's 13...Rad8 gives White an edge. 1-0
901 Vallejo Pons,Francisco Aronian,Levon WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (4.1) [John Watson]
A22 2674 2724 06.12.2005
In a battle of heavyweights, Vallejo Pons plays an odd variant that turns out worse that the normal line. But he proceeds inventively and holds a balance, after which a complex battle ensues. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 b4 4.g2 0-0 5.e4 xc3 6.bxc3 [ 6.dxc3 d6 isn't much better for White than when Black plays it in the Rossolimo Sicilian, f or example, 7.e2 bd7 8.f3 c5 9.d2 a5= ] 6...c6 A line that has always been considered comfortable for Black. [ 6...d6 7.e2 a6 intending ...b5 is also played. ] 7.d4!? This move wasn't played in the old days and I can f ind only 3 examples. But White never did very well with [ 7.e2 d5 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.exd5 xd5 10.0-0 c6 anyway, 11.d4 b6! ] 7...exd4 [ Black can also be content with the superior structure following 7...d6 8.e2 . Then ( 8.f3!? ) 8...c5!? is double-edged because it forgoes the idea of ...c6 with play on the cfile. Thus Black needs to get immediate access to c4, or White might sacrifice that p a w n i n o r d e r t o a t t a c k : ( a positional approach is 8...e6! 9.d5 d7; 8...e8 ) 9.d5 ( 9.0-0! c6 10.d3 ) 9...e8 ( 9...bd7! 10.0-0?! a5 11.f4 a6 ) 10.h3 g6 ( 10...f5 ) 11.h6 g7 12.g4 ( 12.0-0 f5 13.f4! would exploit the absence of Black's dark-squared bishop) 12...d7 13.g3 f6 14.f1 a5 15.d2 b6 with approximate equality, Sorokin-Motylev, Calcutta 2002. ] 8.xd4 White's point, operating on the d-file. [ 8.cxd4? xe4! 9.xe4 e8 ] [ In notes to the Sorokin game, Ribli gives 8.e5!? e8 9.cxd4 d6 10.f4 dxe5 11.fxe5 "W hite possesses the bishop pair and a strong pawn centre in return Black has a lead in development". Interesting, because after c5 that centre is collapsing and White is forced into a line that might be good for 894
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 him: 12.f3 c6 ( 12...cxd4 13.0-0 g4 14.g5! ) 13.0-0 e4 14.d5! xe5 15.xe5 xe5 16.b2 e8 17.xe4 xe4 18.xf7! ] 8...e8 9.e2 [ 9.g5 c5 10.xf6 b6 11.d3 xf6 12.e2 c6 ] 9...d5!? [ Stirring things up with a pawn sacrifice. It would be interesting to see what White had in mind after 9...d6 10.f4 ( 10.0-0 c5! and ...Nxe4 or ... Nc6-e5; 10.g5!? ) 10...c5! 11.xd6 xd6 12.xd6 xe4 13.xe4 xe4 14.xc5 g4 15.e3 xc4 wi t h t h e l i g h t s q u a r e s . W h i t e ' s w h o l e variation looks a little suspicious. ] 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.exd5 f5 12.d1 [ 12.e3 e4! ] 12...g4 [ 12...e4 13.xe4 xe4 14.g5 bd7 15.0-0 is unclear, but White still has his pawn, ] 13.f3 f5 14.c4 bd7 Black has superb development for the pawn, and moves like . .. Ne5, ...Rc8, and ....Qb6 all have to be dealt with. White properly runs away. 15.0-0 e5 [ A tempting move although it runs into a little trick. Also unconvincing is 15...c8 16.g4 g6 17.g5 h5 18.f4 b6+ 19.h1 e4 20.xe4 xe4 21.d3! cxc4 22.b1 ] [ The simple 15...c5 with the idea 16.a3 a5 looks best to me. ] 16.g4 b6+ [ 16...d3!? 17.g5!? ] 17.c5!? A surprise. [ 17.h1 d3!? 18.b3 f2+ 19.g1 h3+ 20.h1 is only a draw. Maybe Black could try 17...Bg6. ] [ 17.d4? d3! ] 17...xc5+ 18.d4 c2! [ Oddly unconvincing is 18...xd4+ 19.xd4 d3 20.d1! xd5 21.f4 c3 22.d2 ad8 23.fxe5 xd4 24.b2 and White actually stands better. ] 19.d1! Another subtle move. The obvious [ 19.gxf5 xe2 20.g5 ed7 21.d6 is interesting, but still in Black's favour. ] 19...c4 [ 19...c5+ 20.d4= ] 20.d4 xd1 21.xd1 d7!
[ 21...g6 22.b5! establishes definite counterplay, and the bishop pair may well be active shortly. ] 22.d6!? [ 22.b3= ] 22...xd6! This has to be well calculated, since t h e b ish op on d7 will h an g. 23.b3 b5! 24.g5 c3 25.d6 [ 25.d3? e2+ 26.f2 b5 ] 25...e1+ 26.f1 Always bold. The draw was to be had by [ 26.f2 e2+ 27.g1 ( 27.g3?? h5+ ) 27...e1+ ] 26...h3 27.b2 xf1+ 28.xf1 e8! 29.xc3!? [ 29.d2 xf1 30.xf1 xa2 is bad. ] 29...xd6 30.d1 b5 A slugfest. Now it looks lke Black is winning but W hite keeps coming up with resources until he manages to escape. 31.e5 e8 32.d5 a3 33.d2 c2 34.f4 b4?! [ 34...b6 ] 35.b5 d3 36.xb7 xe5 37.fxe5 h6 38.gxh6 xe5 39.xa7 e2 40.a8+ h7 41.hxg7 xg7 42.a3 g2+ 43.h1 xd2 44.xh3 xa2 ½-½
902 Van der Elburg,Freddie Van Beek,Alexander 10th Essent Open (7) [John Watson]
A22 2359 2379 26.10.2006
1.c4 c6 2.e4 e5 3.c3 f6 [ 3...a5!? is the subject of Postny-L'Ami in this month's column. ] 4.d4 [ 4.f3 i s p r o b a b l y b e s t , w h e n b4 is an old move that gives W hite the edge after ( Black's best is the normal 4...d6 5.d4 bd7 with an Old Indian after ... Be7 and perhaps a King's Indian after ... g6 and ..Bg7, although White has options in the second case. ) 5.xe5 e7 A) or 6.f3 xc3? ( 6...xe4! 7.e2 d5!? 8.cxd5 0-0 is an interesting gambit, but W hite must still be better) 7.dxc3 xe4 8.e3 is very good for White; B) 6.d3 xc3 ( 6...xe4 7.e2! xc3 895
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.dxc3 xe2+ 9.xe2 e7 10.f4 ) 7.dxc3 xe4 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 with the advantage due to active piece play and Black's backward pawn. ] 4...b4 5.f3!? [ An odd move. White is trying to avoid 5.dxe5 xe4 6.d4 xc3 ( 6...a5 7.ge2 c5!? threatens ...Nb3 (HiArcs' suggestion), when 8.d1 e4 9.d4 repeats ) 7.bxc3 e7 with moves like ...Na6c5 and perhaps ...Qa5 to come. ] 5...exd4 [ or 5...d6 6.dxe5!? xc3+ 7.bxc3 dxe5 8.xd8+ xd8 and Black's king looks safe enough on c7. ] 6.xd4 e7 [ Black can also emphasise development by 6...0-0 , i n t e n d i n g 7.f4!? d5! 8.cxd5 xc3+ 9.xc3 cxd5 10.0-0-0 e6= with chances against White's king. ] 7.g5 h6? [ 7...c5 ] 8.xf6 xf6 9.xf6 gxf6 10.ge2 d6 11.a3 c5 12.0-0-0 [ 12.b4 e3 13.d1 e7 14.d4 ] 12...e7 13.d4 a5 14.f5+!? [ 14.e2 is calm and good. I'm not sure that W hite wants the opposite-coloured bishops. ] 14...xf5 15.exf5 d8 16.d3 d5? Losing material and giving up central squares at the same time! [ 16...d7 17.he1+ f8 18.f4 , stopping ...Ne5, and Black is tied down although this doesn't look so bad. ] 17.he1+ f8 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.e4 Perhaps Black missed this. d4 [ 19...c6 20.xd5 ac8 21.b1 ] 20.a4?! [ 20.xb7! is less complicated that it looks after a7 21.e4 c8 22.b5! ] 20...d6 21.b1 xh2? [ 21...c6! 22.xc6 bxc6 23.xd4 xh2 24.c4 d2 25.g4 g7 26.xc6 h5 is better for White but not so easy. ] 22.c5 a7 23.xb7 d7 24.c5 d8 25.d3! d6 This really IS a bad bishop, and it can't cover all of Black's weaknesses. [ 25...d7? 26.h1 ] 26.c1 c7 27.xc7 xc7 28.c1 b6 29.f4 d6 30.d5 d8 31.c4 c6
32.c2 g7 33.b4 axb4 34.axb4 d3+!? (a little desperate) 35.d2 e5 36.c8!? b6 37.b8 [ 37.f4! g4 ( 37...d7 38.xd3 ) 38.xb6! xb6 39.c4 and Black's knight i s s t u c k , e v e n a f t e r f2 40.d5 , the c-pawn will win. ] 37...a7 38.b7 a6 39.c3? A mistake at time control. Simply [ 39.xd3 a2+ 40.c2 c4+ 41.c3 d6 42.d7 ] 39...d4 40.d5 d6 41.b5 xc3+ 42.xc3 c6 43.b3 d2! 44.d1 e7 45.a5 d5+ 46.xd2 xb4+ 47.e1 ½-½
903 Wen,Yang Sasikiran,Krishnan Asian Continental 13th (9) [Fier, Alexandr]
A22 2581 2680 25.04.2014
This game really impressed me with the ease that White got the advantage. I don't think this idea actually leads to a concrete plus, but B la ck n e e d s t o t a ke ca re t o n o t ge t in t o trouble. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.c3 b4 4.g2 0-0 5.f3 e8 6.0-0 c6 Black tries to control the center using the fact that the knight is still on b8. Later White tried to play a plan with 8.Ne4, not afraid to allow doubled pawns since with the pawn on c6 the black dpawn may prove exposed on d6. [ 6...e4 is the main line 7.d4 c6 8.c2 xc3 and here 9.bxc3 was seen in Kanep, M (2510)-Sammalvuo, T (2458)/TCh-FIN 2006-7. ( 9.dxc3 is the main line )] [ 6...c6 7.e1 is an interesting sideline h6 8.c2 c5 9.d3 d4 10.b1 a6 11.b4 with a n orma l En glish t yp e of p os it io n , analysed for ChessPublishing in Malakhov, V (2679)-Roiz, M (2605)/8th ch-Euro Dresden GER 2007. ] 7.d3 h6 8.e4!? Apparently this is a committal decision and White won't have an easy pawn break after 8...Nxe4, but all the pieces have good squares to go to and White will create annoying pressure on the d-file. a6 Keeping the options open. Black thinks that without the open d-file it will be harder for 896
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White to create play in the center. [ 8...xe4 it's hard to say if this is better than t h e ga m e o r n o t . I t h i n k b o t h lin e s a r e equivalent 9.dxe4 A) 9...f8 i s a l s o o k 10.e3 ( 10.b3 maybe this is a better option, bringing the bishop to the long diagonal) 10...d6 11.d2 e6 12.ac1 d7 with a level position, as seen in the rapid game A d i a n t o , U (2 5 2 0 ) -B a re e v, E (2 6 7 5 ) / Tilburg rapid20 1994.; B) 9...a5 getting some space on the queenside 10.b3 d6 11.b2 e6 12.h4 c5 13.a3 and the position is ok for both players, Polgar, Z (2510)-Torre, E (2530)/San Francisco 1991. ] 9.a3 A quite logical move, expanding on the queenside and still leaving the knight on e4 for the moment. [ 9.xf6+ would avoid any structural change xf6 10.e4 avoiding 10...d5 d6 11.h3 c5 12.a3 c7 13.b4 b6 14.b2 and I think White has a tiny plus. It was interesting to see both Kosintseva sisters forced to play against each other in the W orld Cup, Kosintseva, N (2539)-Kosintseva, T (2515)/ Wch World Cup (Women) 2012 (3.6). ] 9...f8 10.b4 d5 Active, but it also gives White some targets. [ 10...d6 11.b2 c7 would be a solid way to play. Probably one day one of the players will lose the contest and finally exchange the knights. For example: 12.fd2 xe4 13.dxe4 ( 13.xe4 d5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.c5 b6 16.b3 g4 with interesting game ) 13...a5 14.c2 e6 with a middlegame full of play ] 11.xf6+ xf6 12.b2 White has all his minor pieces targeting Black's center. So, the question is whether Black can finish development without making any big c o n c e s s i o n . d6?! Black tries to keep the center together, but it's too slow to spend one more tempo on the queen. [ 12...d4!? aiming against the bishop on b2. It's a committal decision, but then Black has more freedom for the other pieces 13.e3 c5 14.bxc5 ( 14.b5 is less good, White should try to open the position c7 15.d2 a6 16.a4 b8 and Black is fine) 14...xc5 15.exd4 exd4 16.d2 f5 17.e4 e7
with a complex position. White has a lot of potential, but Black's pieces also active ] 13.c1 f5? Now this is a mistake, Black overlooked something, maybe 15.e4. [ 13...g4 was a better square for the bishop 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.d4 e4 16.e5 e6 17.f3 is an active answer, and maybe White can h a v e a s m a l l p l u s exf3 ( 17...f6 is not interesting for Black 18.g6 f5 19.xf8 xf8 20.b5 c7 21.a4 and the bishop will find a good diagonal on a3 ) 18.exf3 ac8 19.f4 with some pressure ] [ 13...d4 was still possible 14.c5 d8 15.e3 dxe3 16.fxe3 f6 17.h4 e6 18.e4 and W hite's position is promising, but if Black's knight arrives on d5 before he get mated he should be ok ] 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.e4! This is not a real pawn sacrifice, but activates all the position while the black pieces are still uncoordinated. g4 Black wants to take the d5-pawn with the knight, but there is no time for his. [ 15...dxe4 was probably a better option, but W h it e st ill h a s so m e a d va n t a ge 16.h4 ( 16.dxe4 is probably not enough xe4 17.xd6 xd6 18.fe1 c6 19.xe5 xg2 20.xg2 c7 and with some precision Black should hold) 16...h7 17.dxe4 b6 18.f5 with good prospects ] 16.exd5 c7 17.h3 The most forcing. [ 17.e1 would also win a pawn but Black h a s a b i t o f c o m p e n s a t i o n a f t e r xd5 18.b3 b6 19.xe5 e6 20.d1 d5 ] 17...h5 18.g4 g6 19.e1 f6 [ 19...xd5 20.xe5 and the difference now is that the bishop can't go back to the long diagonal ] 20.h4 f7 21.f5 First activating the knight [ 21.d4 was also an interesting option and similar to the game, enough for an advantage e4 22.xe4 xd5 23.f5 b6 24.c2 Black's pieces are poorly placed and the king is not that safe ] 21...d7 22.d4 e4 23.xe4 [ 23.d6 trying to put the bishop in the way was slightly better xd6 24.xe4 d5 25.f3 and now the knight is attacked c7 26.c3 ad8 27.d2 with a dangerous attack ] 23...xd5 24.f3 a5 25.bxa5 b5 897
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 25...xa5 was a better way to try to hold t h e p o s it io n 26.d3 g6 27.e3 g7 and it's not so easy to break Black's position ] 26.c2 ac8?? A wrong idea, now White is winning with a simple trick. 27.xc8 xc8 28.xh6+! gxh6 29.f5 1-0
this passive position, but he should not be giving up a pawn here. [ 21...ge5 would have been much tougher. ] 22.xg6 hxg6 23.xc5 g4 24.b1 axb3 25.axb3 f3+ [ 25...f6 would have been better here. The text allows White to set up a mating net. ] 26.xf3 xf3 27.f1 e2 [ Perhaps Black's initial calculations had not 904 A22 t a k e n a c c o u n t o f t h e l i n e 27...xe4 28.e7+ h7 29.f4 threatening both the Zvjaginsev,Vadim 2663 bishop and mate on h4. ] Mikhalevski,Victor 2584 12th ch-EUR Aix les Bains FRA (6) 27.03.2011 28.e7+ h7 29.f4 a1+ 30.g2 a2 31.h4+ h5+ 32.h3 h6 33.g4 [Nigel Davies] Winning a piece. f5 34.exf5 e8 35.g5+ 36.fxg6+ f6 37.d5+ xg6 1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 e5 xg5 5.g2 b6 6.e3!? Welcome to the World of 38.xh5 Va dim Zvjagin sev. He's f o rever crea tin g 1-0 original positions with unusual opening moves, and in practice this can be a very effective 905 A23 approach. c6 [ One of the very few games to feature 6.e3 Al Hadarani,Hatim 2356 varied here with 6...e7 after which 7.ge2 Soon Wei Yee 0-0 8.0-0 c6 9.d4 ( 9.f4!? would have 14th Asian Cities (2) 22.03.2004 been interesting here.) 9...exd4 10.xd4 [Tony Kosten] a6 11.h5 g6 12.e2 f6 13.d1 e7 14.e4 d8 wasn't much for White in 1.c4 c6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 e5!? Dornieden, M-Usachyi, M/Naumburg 2002. ] Very ambitious, but can it be good? 4.cxd5 7.ge2 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.f4 This might be We looked at what attracted Zvjaginsev to 6.e3, the [ 4.d4!? in Lauvsnes,A-Grotnes,N. ] possibility of undermining Black's e-pawn with 4...cxd5 5.b3 Critical, White puts immediate f2-f4. pressure on the black centre and on the long [ T h e s t a n d a r d p a w n l e v e r i s 9.d4 diagonal. f6 The most common, but , but this doesn't bring much apart from [ 5...d4!? i s i n t e r e s t i n g : 6.xb7 c7! simplification. For example exd4 10.xd4 (the neat point) 7.xa8 xc1+ 8.d1 xd4 11.xd4 c6 12.xd8 xd8 13.e4 xb2 and now White must force a draw, e6 14.f4 c4 was nothing for White in 9.b3 c1+ ( 9...xa1!? 10.xb8 e7 O'Siochru, M-Quinn, M/Dublin 1992. ] 11.f3 is wild ) 10.d1 etc. ] 9...a5 10.fxe5 xe5 11.d4 g6 12.b3 6.c3 e4!? The most popular choice here is [ Af te r t he im me d ia t e 12.e4 Black can the strong pawn sac blockade the central pawns with c5 13.d5 [ 6...c6! with the continuation 7.xd5 d4 d6 . So White first prepares it. ] 8.xf6+ xf6 and White has certain 12...c6 13.e4 c5 14.e3! The point behind development problems, 9.d3 d7 10.e3 1 2 . b 3 B l a c k c a n n o t p l a y 1 4 . . . N c 4 . cxd4 c6 11.e4 0-0-0 12.b1 e6! 15.xd4 xd4 16.xd4 d7 17.d5 with a strong initiative, Gurevich,MIt's now clear that White has an edge because Sveshnikov,E/Alekhine mem op 1992. ] of his lead in development and powerful knight 7.d3 White continues his assault on the on d5. c5 18.ac1 b6 19.xc5 bxc5 centre. exd3 20.fd1 a4 21.ef4 de5? An active player [ 7...c6!? i s a g a i n p o s s i b l e : 8.d2 like Victor is not going to be comfortable in ( 8.dxe4!? ) 8...exd3 9.xd5 c5 10.xd3 898
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 0-0 Black has some play for the pawn, Njirjak,J-Starostits,I/Szombathely 1993. ] 8.xd5 dxe2?! An unsuccessful innovation. [ 8...xd5 is best, 9.xd5 ( 9.xd5!? b4+ 10.f1 dxe2+ 11.xe2 0-0 12.e3 seems about level, Wexler,B-Bazan,O/Mar del Plata 1960) 9...b4+ 10.d2 xd2+ 11.xd2 xd5 12.xd5 dxe2 13.xe2 and W hite has a slight development advantage, Duarte,R-Ramalho,J/Lisbon 1999. ] 9.xe2 [ 9.e3+! i s a w k w a r d t o m e e t : e6 10.xf6+ gxf6 ( 10...xf6? 11.xb7 ) 11.xe2 c6 12.0-0 with the better structure. ] 9...c6?! Black plays inaccurately, [ 9...xd5 10.xd5 b4+! is almost level. ] 10.g5 e7 11.d1 Piling-on the pressure. a5+? [ 11...xd5! is the best chance, 12.xd5 b4+ ( 12...xg5? 13.xf7+ e7 14.xd8 ) 13.d2 xd2+ 14.xd2 e7 15.0-0 0-0 and Black succeeds in getting his king to safety. ] 12.d2 d8 13.c3 Now Black is in real trouble. d6 14.xf6+ gxf6 15.0-0 0-0 16.f4 Heading f or h5. f5 17.h5 a5 18.f6+ h8 19.xd6 When the queen captures on d6 it is lost to a discovered check from the knight. 1-0
which also offers Black fine play. ] 6.c2 [ Probably the best square for the knight, as 6.b3?! is met by a5 menacing the win of the knight by ...a4, but ] [ 6.e3 is a good alternative, d5 7.c2 ] 6...d5 7.g2 [ Better than 7.cxd5 which allows the black knight the c6-square: cxd5 8.g2 e6 9.d3 c6! 10.0-0 d8 with good play for Black, Andersen,B-From,S/Nykobing 1961. ] 7...dxc4! [ The simplest solution to the pressure on the black centre, 7...e6 8.0-0 e7 allows 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.d3 Hentunen,A-Rytshagov, M/Espoo 1993, although, even here c6!? s e e m s r e a s o n a b l e , a s 11.dxe4 dxe4 12.xe4 xe4 13.xe4 d8 14.e1 f6 is active. ] 8.0-0 e6 [ T h e a g g r e s s i v e 8...h5!? is worth a thought. ] 9.xe4 xe4 10.xe4 d7 11.e3 [ Planning to exchange the light-squared bishops, and weaken the black c4-pawn which exerts a cramping effect on the white position. 11.g2 was agreed drawn in Perez-Barreras,A/Fuerteventura 1992. ] 11...f6 [ A logical innovation, that improves on 11...d4 12.f5 xf5 13.xf5 e4 14.e3 Dorfman-Karasev/USSR (ch) 1976. ] 12.f5! 906 A23 [ White uses Dorfman's recipe, which is not too surprising as he was Dorfman's student Bacrot,Etienne 2613 for many years! 12.g2 offers little. ] Svidler,Peter 2689 FIDE WCh KO New Delhi IND (2.4) 02.12.2000 12...xf5 13.xf5 b5 14.c2 0-0-0 15.e3 Thus we see the point of White's play, [Tony Kosten] the c4-pawn is compromised. e8 Black uses e4 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 c6 Keres' line is tactics to defend his c-pawn. 16.e1 17.b3! effective here because of the c3-knight. 4.f3 [ Best, White gives-up trying to win the c[ The problem with having the knight on c3 is pawn, if 17.f3 then d4 and White has only shown by the line 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 d5 succeeded in weakening his dark squares. ] 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.g2 c6 8.a4 when the move d4! is awkward, i.e. 9.xc6+ 17...h5!? [ Playing for the attack, but it is dubious, bxc6 10.e4 b4+! ( 10...xe4? 17...cxb3 18.axb3 is positionally good for 11.xc6+ ) 11.xb4 xe4 12.f3 c5 White, who has a strong centre, but had to with advantage. ] be played. ] 4...e4 5.d4 b6 [ This is rarer than 5...d5 6.cxd5 b6 18.b2 899
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 18.bxc4?! c5 ( 18...xe3? 19.dxe3 g4 leads nowhere after 20.h4 ) 19.b2 xe3 20.dxe3 g4 21.h4 he8 gives Black a useful initiative. ] 18...g4 19.xg4 xg4 20.bxc4 d6 Although White's kingside light squares are weak, the black attack appears insufficient for the moment. 21.e4 e8 22.d4 e6 23.e5 b4 24.f3? [ The beginning of White's troubles, 24.e3 h6 25.f4 consolidates. ] 24...f4! A surprising blow, regaining a pawn as both e1, and f3 are attacked. 25.f1 [ 25.gxf4? g6+ wins the white queen, or allows mate. ] 25...xf3 26.e4?? [ The second mistake, 26.xf3 xf3 27.b3 exchanges the queens with a positional advantage in the endgame, because of the powerful, and mobile, white centre. ] 26...h6! Of course! 27.h4? [ W h i t e c o m p l e t e l y c r a c k s , 27.c2 i s t h e o n l y c h a n c e , xg3+ 28.h1 leaves him some chances. ] 27...xf1+ 28.xf1 e2 The white queen can 't move with out allowing ma te on h2 . 29.f2 e1+ 0-1
907 Kapostas,Z Kallai,Gabor Hungarian Team Championship 20 [Paul Motwani]
A23
[ Better is 8.xf6+ , but even then Black still obtains excellent play via gxf6 9.d1 c7 , threatening to cash a big 'cheque' with the check & fork ... Nc2+. ] 8...d7 9.xf6+ xf6 10.d1 c8 Clearly, Black has an even stronger version of what he was getting in the notes at move 8. 11.b1 [ If 11.f1 t h e n 1 1 . . . a6 creates the deadly duo of threats ...Ba4 and ...Nc2. ] 11...a6! 12.b3 [ I n t h e c a s e o f 12.a3 a4 13.b3 Black wins on the spot by capturing the b3pawn with his knight or bishop. ] 12...b4! [ Black's actual move in the game is more devastating than 12...xa2 since it carries the crushing threat of ...Bf5, which W hite will not be able to meet with d2-d3 because his d-pawn is now pinned. ] 13.b2 f5 14.xd4 [ After 14.e4 c2+ White is horrified to find that his king cannot move, and so he's then f orce d to give up h is qu ee n f o r th e c2 knight. ] 14...xb1 15.xb1 xa2! Black brings this neat game to a classy finish. 16.b2 [ 16.xa2 c1# was another way for White to exit. ] 16...exd4 White doesn't wish to see any more, and so he throws in the towel here. 0-1
2001
B36: "Crushed by Keres' System!" 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 Known as the Keres System, this is a very logical counter to W hite's last move, because Black's c6-pawn blunts the effect of the opponent's bishop which is about to be fianchettoed on the long h1-a8 diagonal. 3.g2 f6 4.c3 [ 4.d4 is a more popular option, by which White acts in the centre just before Black's d-pawn can do so. ] 4...d5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.b3 c6! The gambit that goes with this move is known to be strong for Black, as he will get a powerful lead in development in return for sacrificing his d5pawn. 7.xd5 d4 8.a4+?
908 Kosten,Anthony C Fedorchuk,Sergey A Open Marseille FRA (8) [John Watson]
A23 2504 2576 06.07.2006
Our W ebmaster provides yet another demonstration of the power of 1 c4 versus top opposition. 'I think it is an interesting game as I couldn't quite believe that he played this line when I was doing my prep, and was hoping that he would play it against me, which he did! It might not be so bad for Black, but I personally f eel very comfortable in these positions where White gets to dictate the play. ' He provides a few notes and I add some others, particularly about the opening. 1.c4 e5 900
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2.c3 f6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 c6 5.e3 d6 [ jw: It seems to me that there are two moves tha t are m ore consiste nt with .. .c6 : (a ) 5...0-0 6.ge2 ( 6.d4 exd4 7.exd4 b4 8.ge2 d5 ) 6...d5 7.d4 exd4 8.exd4 b6 ( 8...b4 9.cxd5 xd5 10.0-0 e6= ) 9.cxd5 xd5 10.xd5 cxd5 11.c3 c6 12.e3 e6= ] [ (b) 5...d5 6.cxd5 A) HiArcs suggests 6...0-0!? 7.d4 exd4 8.exd4 b6 but then 9.g5! h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.ge2 f5 ( 11...g4!? ) 12.0-0 is better for White; B) 6...cxd5 B1) 7.b3 c6 ( 7...d4 8.xb7?! xb7 9.xb7 bd7 10.e4 0-0! W hite stands poorly.) 8.xd5 0-0 9.xf6+ xf6 and Black has plenty of compensation.; B2) 7.d4 exd4 8.exd4 e7 ( 8...b6 9.ge2 c6 10.g5 e6 11.0-0 0-0 , about equal.) 9.ge2 c6 10.0-0 g4!? 11.h3 xe2 12.xe2 b6= ] 6.ge2 a5 7.d4 a7 8.b3 [ jw: 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.xd8+ xd8 10.a4 a6 11.d2 b4 12.0-0 e7 with a balanced game. ] 8...a6 9.b2 Tony K: I don't really believe this system for Black, White has all the pawn breaks: d5, dxe5, c5 plus f4, and also h3 followed by g4. [ jw: Again 9.dxe5 doesn't achieve much: dxe5 10.xd8+ xd8 11.b2 e7 12.0-0 f5 , about equal ] 9...0-0 10.h3 e8 11.d2 f5 12.0-0 h6 13.ad1 h7?! 'Careless, [ 13...e4!? 14.d5 ] [ 'I had expected 13...c7 ' ] 14.d5! cxd5 15.xd5 Tony K: Control of this square will win the game! e4 16.c1 b4 17.a3 c6 [ 17...xd5 18.xd5 c5 19.c3 f6 ( 19...xc3?! 20.xc3 ) 20.d2 e7 ] 18.b4 c8 19.ec3 xc3 20.xc3 [ 20.xc3!? ] 20...b8?! [ 20...b5! and at least Black is hanging in there. ] 21.bxa5 c5 22.b4! xa5 23.c3 c5 24.xb7 d7 25.b5 e6 26.c3 a4 27.c7 xc7 28.xc7 e7 29.c6 a7
[ 29...xc4? 30.d5 ] 30.d5 e6 31.b4 c2 32.d2 a4 33.b5 xb4 34.axb4 xb5 35.cxb5 b7 36.a1 b6 37.a6 xd5 38.xd5 f8 39.c6 e7 40.b6 d7 41.b5 Tony K: Just in time! f6 42.e4 Tony K: Black is completely dominated, I started wandering around the tournament hall expecting him to resign! h5 43.d2 h6 44.h4 e6 45.g2 g6 46.f3 f5 47.e3 f6 48.f3 b8 49.a2 e6 50.a7 f4+ 51.gxf4 xf4 52.g7! a8 53.cc7 a3+ 54.d2 a2+ 55.c1 1-0
909 Kveinys,Aloyzas Stocek,Jiri 9th HIT Open (7) [Tony Kosten]
A23 2511 2552 03.02.2004
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 d5 6.f3 White refrains from the immediate exchange, [ 6.cxd5 b e c a u s e o f cxd5 7.f3 c6 8.a4 d4! as we saw in Ljubojevic,LGelfand,B/Monaco MNC 2001. ] [ 6.g2 is a similar idea, see ChabanonKasparov. ] 6...a6!? We have seen ideas like this before in the Keres, Black plans ...Nb4 to menace winning the white queen. This is borrowed from the c3-Sicilian. [ 6...e7 is solid, 7.cxd5 ( 7.g2 c5 8.d3 d4 is level ) 7...cxd5 8.g2 c6 with a transposition to the mainline here. ] [ 6...e6 is more ambitious, 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.g2 c6 9.a4 c5 bringing the bishop to a more active diagonal. ] 7.g5! The most precise, [ 7.g2 c5 ( 7...b4! 8.0-0 c2 9.e5+ e7 ) 8.e5+ e7 9.xe7+ xe7 10.cxd5 b4 May,F-Lambert,A/GER 1998, and as I pointed-out in the notes to my game against Collins, 11.dxc6! c2+ 12.f1 xa1 13.d4 is probably good for White. ] 7...c5!? An innovation, [ 7...e6 8.cxd5 b4 Couso,L-V anderwae ren,S/Sa longerna s 1996, and now 9.xf6 gxf6 10.0-0-0 xd5 901
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 looks a tad better for White. ] [ 7...e7 is best, in my opinion. ] 8.e5+ e6 9.0-0-0 [ 9.cxd5!? cxd5 10.e3 is worth a try, b4 11.b5+ ] 9...d6 [ 9...xf2? is to o gree dy, 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.e4 with nasty threats. ] 10.d4 c5 11.xf6 This brings the slightest of advantages in the ensuing endgame, [ 11.h4 d4 12.d5!? might offer more. ] 11...cxd4 12.xd8 dxc3 13.a5 cxb2+ [ 13...c2 14.xc2 c8 is no improvement, 15.e3 b5 16.c3 bxc4 17.e4! taking advantage of the d-file pin. ] 14.xb2 d4!? [ 14...c7 15.cxd5 xa5 16.dxe6 fxe6 17.d4 gives White a very slight plus, but the opposite-colour bishops give significant drawing chances. ] 15.xd4 xc4 16.e4 xf1 17.hxf1 0-0 18.f4 White gains some space, and his pieces are slightly more active. fc8 19.e5 f8 20.f5 c5 21.c3 ac8 Black defends well, and his pawn structure is solid, so the draw seems close. 22.f3 b5+ 23.a1 b4?! Threatening mate, but [ 23...bc5 i s s t r o n g e s t , wh e n 24.b2 ( 24.d4?! d5 is a self pin 25.fd3 b4 and W hite has got his pieces in a tangle) 24...b5+ is a repetition. ] 24.xb4 xb4?? Losing a piece, [ 24...xb4 25.fd3 g6 26.a3 is better for White, but there is plenty of play left in this position. ] 25.b3! Pin and win! b6?! 26.xb4 [ 26.xb4 xb4 27.e7+ wins a piece. ] 1-0
910 Ljubojevic,Ljubomir Gelfand,Boris Amber Blindfold (1) [Tony Kosten]
A23 2566 2712 17.03.2001
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 d5 6.cxd5 [ 6.g2 may be the most accurate, e6 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.f3 c6 9.a4 stops the ... d4 thrust c5 with transposition into a main
line. ( 9...d4? 10.xd4 xd4?? 11.xc6+ )] 6...cxd5 7.f3!? c6 8.a4 d4! This space-gaining advance is the reason why the Keres can be so effective when the white knight is on c3 too soon. 9.b5 b4+ [ Good but so is 9...c5 10.g2 0-0 11.0-0 a6!? 12.c2?! e7 13.a3 b4 14.d1 d8 Black is on top, Uhlmann,W-Gligoric,S/ Moscow 1956. ] [ and 9...e4! (planning ...Nc5) is probably even stronger, although I cannot find any examples of it being played, for instance 10.g2 c5 11.a3 ( 11.d1 a5+ ) 11...f5 12.b4 d3+ winning. ] 10.d2 xd2+ 11.xd2 0-0 The e2-pawn is seriously exposed on the e-file. 12.g2 e8 13.f3!? [ A new attempt to make this line work, 13.xc6 bxc6 14.xd4 c5 15.4f3 , Kubicek,A-Kozma,J/Luhacovice 1968, is difficult to believe as the white light squares are too weak without the bishop. ] 13...d3 14.e3 g4 15.0-0 d7 16.c3 ad8 Black certainly seems to be well in charge here, he has a powerful passed dp a wn , a n d p e rf e ct d e ve lo p m e n t . 17.ad1 e5 [ Tempting, but 17...f5! is very strong. ] 18.xd7 fxd7 19.xe5 The only move. xe5 [ White is saved by the variation 19...xd1 20.xd3 when he will win the b7-pawn, and gain two pawns for the exchange. ] 20.f3 e6 21.b3 c8!? [ 21...a6 first, is better. ] 22.b5 c2?! [ 22...ed8 ] 23.f2 ec8 24.d4 Although Black has played aggressive moves, it seems that White has managed to defend, and his strong d4knight gains equality. xf2?! [ 24...c1 ] 25.xf2 Now White is much better, he can simp ly pla y Bf 1 xd 3 . d7 26.f1 f8 27.xd3 c1 28.e2 xd1 29.xd1 d3+ 30.f1 e7 31.a3 a5 32.e2 e5 33.e4 Now the win is just a matter of technique, even in a blindfold game. d6 34.e3 c5 35.e2 f6 36.f4 c6 37.xc6 xc6 38.c4 d6 39.d4 b6 40.h4 h6 41.f7 d7 42.b4 axb4 43.axb4 g4 44.e5+ 902
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 fxe5+ 45.fxe5+ e7 46.g8 d1 47.c4 g4 48.a6 d1 49.c8 f3 50.e3 d1 51.f4 c2 52.g4 d1 53.g5 c2 54.g4 b3 55.e2 e6 56.gxh6 gxh6 57.g4+ e7 58.h3 d5 59.f1 b3 60.e4 e6 61.d4 d1 62.h3+ e7 63.f5 f7 64.d5 e7 65.c6 1-0
911 Marin,Mihail Bacrot,Etienne Spanish Team Ch Gp2 (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A23 2533 2709 29.06.2007
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 c6 4.f3 e4 5.d4 d5 6.cxd5 b6 7.b3 a5 8.d3 a4 9.e3 [ Based on the evidence from the analysis below, W hite's best choice is likely 9.d2 , and now: A) 9...exd3 10.c4 ( 10.g2 cxd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.xd5 e6 13.g2 dxe2 14.xe2 e7 15.0-0 0-0 , so far V.Duart-Z.Smuk, corr 1998, and now: 16.e4 c6 17.e3 a5 18.fc1 , and White has the initiative) 10...c5 11.exd3 cxd5 12.d4 e7+ 13.e3 e6 14.b5+ ( 14.g2 d7 15.0-0 e7 16.f4 ) 14...c6 15.0-0 a3 16.f4 b4 17.b1 A. Nikitin-A.Gorchakov, Moscow 1970; B) 9...a3 10.c4 b4 11.d2 cxd5 ( 11...exd3 12.exd3 axb2 13.b1 e7+ 14.e2 xe2+ 15.xe2 ) 12.bxa3 c5 13.a4 c7 14.cb6 a6 15.f4+D.Komljenovic-F.Salamero Pelay, Zaragoza 1994; C) 9...cxd5 C1) 10.g2 a3 11.bxa3 c5 12.0-0 e3 13.b3 exf2+ 14.h1 xa3? ( 14...0-0 15.xc5 xc5 16.b2 e8 17.e4 ) 15.xa3 xa3 16.c1+W . Ch o wa n ie c-M. S zcze d ryg in , co r r 1993; C2) 10.dxe4 C2a) 10...c5 11.e3 a3 ( 11...dxe4 12.xa4 c6 13.xc5 xc5 14.g2 ) 12.bxa3 xe3 13.b5+ c6 ( 13...d7 14.0-0 xd2 15.xd2
dxe4 16.e3 ) 14.fxe3 xe3+ 15.e2+was seen in R.Nowak-J. Widera, Wisla 1998; C2b) 10...xe4 11.dxe4 dxe4 12.c2 f5 ( 12...f5 13.d5 a5+ 14.d2 xd5 15.xc8+ ) 13.g2 xf2+ ( 13...c5 14.0-0 0-0 15.xa4+- ) 14.xf2 e3+ 15.xe3 xc2 16.ac1 f5 C2b1) 17.b5 a5 18.c7+ e7 19.b6! e5 20.d4 a5 21.d5+ e6 ( 21...d7 22.c7++- ) 22.e4 g6 23.b6+-; C2b2) 17.b5! 1-0 H.Heemsoth-J. Lorenzen, corr 1966; C2c) 10...dxe4 C2c1) 11.e3 b4 12.c2 ( or 12.g2 0-0 13.0-0 xc3 14.bxc3 g4 15.c2 e2 , N.Hocevar-F. Bentivegna, Cutro 2005, and now: 16.b1 a6 17.xe4 xe4 18.xe4 c6 19.a3 d3 20.g4 fd8 ) 12...0-0 13.g2 f5 14.0-0 xc3 15.bxc3 e6 16.b1 b6 17.a3 c8 18.b4 d5 19.c4 , G.McIntrye-S.Kerr, CCLA 2001, d7 20.xe4 xc4 21.xf5 xc3 22.xe6 xc2 23.xd5 a5=; C2c2) 11.dxe4 xe4 12.xe4 b4+ 13.d2 0-0 14.g2 d8 15.c1 xd2+ 16.xd2 e6 17.0-0 c6 18.f3 ac8 19.f4 xb2 20.xa4 xe2= , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, W.Hort-P. Leisebein, e-mail 2002; C2c3) 11.g2!? a3 ( 11...e3 12.fxe3 d7 13.0-0 xe3+ 14.h1 T.Krovel Velle-N. S p i r i d o n o v , I E C G E m a i l 2 0 0 0) 12.b3 xb3 13.axb3 axb2 14.xb2 xa1+ 15.xa1 e3 16.fxe3 c6 with a complicated game, M.Sorokin-A.Raetsky, Pardubice 1992 ] 9...b4 10.d4 [ This line is both rare and not particularly good, a somewhat odd choice for player with Marin's expertise in the English Opening. Another inadequate line is 10.dxe4 axb3 11.a3 A) 11...a5 12.g2 c5 13.xc5 xc5 903
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.b1 b4 14.d4 leads to 14.0-0 0-0 15.e3 b6; fascinating play one possible line is c5 B) 11...e7 12.xb3 g4! 13.h3 h5 ( 14...xd5!? ) 15.xf6 gxf6 16.d1 ( 13...b4 14.axb4 xa1+ 15.d2 xh1 xa2 17.xb2 xb2 18.xb2 b5 16.f4 ) 14.f4 ( 14.0-0 h4 15.d6 19.d1 a3 20.c2 exd3+ 21.xd3 e6 ) 14...d7 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.0-0 g5 c4 22.f4 d6 23.g2 e7 24.a1 17.d2 de5; , and the complications continue; C) 11...c4 12.d4 cxd5?! ( Black can B2) 11.cxe4 xd5 12.bxa3 xa3 do better by getting the queen away from 13.b1 ( 13.g2 f5 14.b1 a5 t h e c - f i le wit h 12...a6 13.e3 a5 15.0-0 xe3 16.fxe3 fxe4 17.c4 14.xf6 gxf6 15.g2 g7 16.xb3 a7 18.xa3 xe3+ 19.h1 xa3 a6 , now White has a number of 20.b3 d6 21.xe4 ) 13...a5 in te re st in g a lt erna tive s o ve r th e ne xt ( 13...xe3 14.fxe3 a4 (ChessMail) several moves:) 13.e3 ( 13.c1! c7 15.xa4 xa4 16.c3 a3 17.b3 14.xd5 xd5 15.xc7 xc7 16.e5 ) , and Black has insufficient 13...c7 14.exd5 ( 14.c1 a5 15.xf6 compensation for the pawn) 14.d4 gxf6 16.exd5 ) 14...a6 ( 14...g4 15.f3 xa2 d7 16.e4 a5 17.c1 ) 15.xb3 B2a) 15.c1 is given as interesting in ( 15.xf6 gxf6 16.g2 ) 15...c5 ChessMail, but Black appears to be ( 15...e7 16.c4 xc4 17.xc4 f5 better in this line too, e.g. b4 16.c2 18.d1 ) 16.d1 ( 16.xf6 gxf6 17.b5+ f5 17.c5 a3 18.xg7 ( 18.g2 d7 18.d1 ) 16...g4 17.xa6 c3 19.xc3 xc3 20.0-0 xc5 ( 17.b5+ d7 18.xg7 g8 19.h6 21.b1 b3 22.c1 xb1 23.xb1 xd1 20.xd1 0-0-0 21.c2 d6 ) a3 24.a2 b4 25.c2 e5 ) 17...bxa6 18.a4+ d7 ( 18...f8!? 18...c3 19.c1 g8-+; 19.xc5+ xc5 20.d2 h3 ) 19.xc5 B2b) 15.a1 b4! 16.c1 g4 17.f3 xd1 20.e4+ e5 21.xd1 xe4 e6 18.c5 xc5 19.xc5 b6 22.xe4 xc5 23.xc5+- S.Hutchings-d. 20.h3 0-0 21.xe6 fxe6 22.c4 Sherman, Brighton 1972 ] a5 23.c3 with a complicated [ 10.d2 game; A) 10...cxd5 B2c) 15.e3?! b4 16.xg7 g8 A1) An untried, but excellent alternative 17.e5 g4 18.e2 xe2 19.xe2 is 11.a3!? which promises a relatively d7 20.a1 f5-+; simple road to an advantage, e.g. a5 B2d) 15.g2 f5 16.g5 b4 ( 11...xb2? 12.xa4+17.gf3 c3 18.xc3 xc3 19.c1 is much worse) 12.g2 exd3 13.exd3 e6 20.c2 b3 21.xa2 xa2 e7 14.0-0 ( 14.f3 g4 15.f4 c6 W.Etzold-Fritsch, corr 1988; 16.0-0 e6 ) 14...0-0 15.d4 c6 C) 10...exd3 11.c1 a3 12.bxa3?! 16.c2 d8 17.f3 g6 18.g5; ( 12.b3!? improves, e.g. e7 13.g2 0-0 A2) 11.c1 e6 12.dxe4 c6 13.exd5 14.0-0 g4 15.dxc6 xc6 16.h3 dxe2 ( White can claim an advantage with 17.xe2 d7 18.c4 ) 12...xa3 13.a3! a5 14.b4 axb3 15.xb3 d8 13.db1 ( A slight improvement is 16.g2 ) 13...xd5 14.g2 ( 14.g5 13.cb1 xa2 14.c3 a3 15.cb1 xc3 15.bxc3 a5 16.e4 h6 a1 ) 13...xa2 14.xd3 xd5 15.d2 17.e3 xa2 ) 14...xe3 15.fxe3 xc3 16.xc3 a3 17.e3+ e6 xb2 16.c2? ( 16.d5 is better, but 18.g2 c5 19.e5 d7 20.c7 0-0-+ still leaves Black better: d8 17.c4 , with an extra pa wn and much bette r b4 18.0-0 a5 ) 16...xc2 17.xc2 position for Black, P. Nikolic-D. Rajkovic, b4 18.c1 a3 , and Black is winning, Borovo 1981 ] Machler-Schilde, corr 1988; 10...xd5 B) 10...a3! is Black's best: [ 10...a3 looks attractive, but promises White B1) Or 11.c2 xb2 12.xb2 axb2 904
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the better chances immediately after 11.c2! xb2? ( 11...a5 12.b4 xb4 13.xb4 xb4 14.c1 ) 12.d4 b4 ( 12...c5 13.xf6 gxf6 14.xe4 e7 15.d6 f5 16.dxe7 fxe4 17.g2 e6 18.0-0 xa2 19.xe4 b3 20.d4 d7 21.b1 xc2 22.xc2 xe7 23.xb2 axb2 24.ab1 a2 25.b3 ) 13.xb4 xb4 14.xf6 gxf6 15.d2 exd3 16.b1 a5 17.xd3 0-0 18.g2 d7 19.0-0 e5 20.d4+B.Schneider-T.Van Houtte, Antwerp 1999 ] 11.d2 [ Black also obtains the better chances after 11.a3 xe3 12.fxe3 xb2 13.xe4 f5 14.h3 fxe4 15.xc8 c3+ 16.f2 xa3 17.e6 f8+ ( 17...exd3 18.exd3 b2+ 19.g1 f8 ) 18.g2 b5 ( 18...d7 19.a2 c5 20.c2 a5 ) 19.f1 a7 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in E. Pet it -M. Ge ene n, Clichy 19 98, a nd no w 20.xf8+ xf8 21.c1 a5 22.d5 c7 23.xc6 b6 24.xb8 xc1 25.xc1 xb8 26.c6+ d8 27.xe4 a3 28.d5+ e7 29.xh7 b4 30.g8 ] 11...xe3 12.fxe3 exd3 13.exd3 g6 14.g2 [ Or 14.c2 b6 ( 14...e7 15.e4 h5!? 16.d4 h4 17.g2 e6 18.f2 g5 19.d2 xd2+ 20.xd2 h6+ ) 15.g2 g7 16.0-0 0-0 17.ab1 d8 ] 14...h6 15.c2 e7 16.0-0 0-0 17.ae1 d7 18.d4 It's easy to second guess White's choices in this game, White obviously wanted to grab control over some squares, but the text move weakens the light squares and gives Black several targets to play against right away. b6 19.a3 [ This prevents Black's knight from jumping to c4, but also places the white knight on an awkward square. Alternatively 19.d5!? cxd5 20.d4 d8 21.xd5 xd5 22.xd5 looks slightly better than the game continuation, but Black's better pawn structure and bishop pair promises Black the upper hand, e.g. f5 23.d1 e6 24.e4 g7 25.b4 a5 26.d6 ae8 27.e7+ h8 28.exf5 ( 28.xe6 c5+ 29.f2 fxe4-+ ) 28...xf5 29.xf5 xf5 ] 19...e6 20.d3 ad8 21.f2 g7 22.d2 fe8 23.e2 h5
[ This is standard ploy to break up White's kingside structure further. A different plan is 23...f5!? 24.f2 f7 25.dd1 d5 26.xd5 xd5 27.xd5+ cxd5 ] 24.f2 b4 25.f3 h3 26.e4 f5 [ White is gradually pushed backwards into a hold position. The alternative is 26...e7 27.de2 d5 28.c2 b5 29.b1 c4 30.b3 f5 31.c3 xc2 32.xc2 axb3 33.axb3 xe3 34.xb5 xc2 35.xc2 cxb5 36.d5 h4 the opposite coloured b i s h o p s a n d W h i t e ' s we a k e n e d k i n g ' s position promise Black a long-term initiative. ] 27.c3 c5!? [ Black opens the position up for his better coordinated pieces and his bishop pair, W h i t e i s i n s e r i o u s t r o u b l e . 27...e6!? was also possible, but the text move seems more effective. ] 28.dxc5 xc5 29.e4?? [ This loses on the spot, but White's situation isn't exactly easy. The alternatives are as f o l l o w s : A ) 29.xb7 xc3 ( 29...xd2 30.xd2 h4 31.gxh4 e7 32.f3 h6 33.c2 xc2 34.xc2 xh4 ) 30.xd8 xd8 31.bxc3 xa3 32.e4 h3-+ ] [ B) 29.ab5 xd2 30.xd2 c4 31.d5 e5 32.xc5 xc5-+ ] [ C) 29.xd8 xd8 30.ab1 a3 ( 30...e8!? 31.a3 xe3 32.xe3 d4 33.d1 c4-+ ) 31.xa3 xc3 32.bxc3 xa3 33.e4 h3 34.xb6 d3 35.e2 xc3 36.f2 d2 37.e3 f6+ 38.f3 b6+ 39.e3 a5-+ ] [ D) 29.cb5 d7 30.d4 h3 31.d3 g5 32.ab5 h4 33.g2 hxg3 34.xg3 xg3 35.hxg3 g4 36.b3 axb3 37.axb3 c8 ] 29...xf2+ 30.xf2 d4 (White could have continued a bit longer, but most likely thought it a waste of time given Black's very effective play so far, and Black is winning anyway) 0-1
905
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A23 powerful black knight on e5. xd3 25.xd3 Markowski,Tomasz 2550 e6 26.d2 c5? [ A careless move, 26...c8 first was best, Hickl,Joerg 2600 and the black knight can come to c5 next Bundesliga 2001-2 (3) 24.11.2001 go. ] [Tony Kosten] 27.d5! This is the problem for Black: White 1.g3!? Markowski is a specialist with this hits f7 and forces the exchange of queens, move, but to play it against the '1 g3 king' is and the ironing-out of his structure. xd5 [ 27...e6 28.xc6 xc6 29.fd1 v e r y d a r i n g ! e5 2.c4 Play returns to the wins the d-pawn. ] English. c6 And then to a Keres System. 28.exd5 Black's pieces are shut-out of the 3.g2 f6 4.c3 e7!? [ We have already considered the critical game on the queenside, and d6 is a problem. c8 29.df2 This is strong, although 4...d5 ] [ 29.g5 , h4 and Bh3 is another logical plan, 5.e4!? White puts a clamp on d5 to prevent bringing the maximum pressure to bear on Black's freeing move. 0-0 6.ge2 a6 the black position. ] Hickl likes wing play. 7.0-0 This exact position seems to be new, although it soon returns to 29...f6 30.d4 Another good move, although I would possibly have been tempted by the the fold. [ 7.d4 d6 8.0-0 b5 is fairly level, Ujtelky,M- exchange sac [ 30.xf6!? xf6 31.xf6 a4 ( 31...d8 Csom,I/Amsterdam 1969, but in the main is n o b e t t e r , 32.xd6 axd6 33.xd6 game White decides to keep his d-pawn on xd6 34.xc5 a6 35.d6 xg2 36.xg2 d3 to protect c4. ] a8 37.b6 and the d-pawn costs Black 7...d6 8.d3 b5 9.h3 Often a useful move in dear. ) 32.bxa4 xa4 33.xd6 such positions, stopping Black from using the with a powerful position, note that if xc4 s q u a re o n g 4 , a n d p r e p a ri n g a ki n g si d e 34.f1 ] advance. [ 9.c2 bd7 10.f4 risks weakening 30...d7 31.e2 e5 Black tries his utmost W hite's dark squares, Hole,O-Jansson,J/ to stop an invasion along the e-file. 32.g5! fxg5 33.xd6?! NOR-ch 1993. ] [ If only White had continued his plan of 9...bd7 10.e3 b7 11.g4 undermining e5 by 33.c5! as Black has no White envisages Ng3-f5. e8 12.d2 g6 b e t t e r t h a n f8 when 34.xd6 xd6 Black controls the f5-square, and thinks about 35.cxd6 d7?! 36.e7 and the end is expanding on the kingside himself, by ... Ng7, nigh. ] and ...f5. 13.f4 exf4 Obviously forced, Black would be foolhardy to allow f5 when White's 33...xd6 34.xe5 e8 35.fe1 c5+ k i n g s i d e s p a c e a d v a n t a g e w o u l d b e 36.h1 a4 Black has managed to blockade s i g n i f i c a n t . 14.xf4 g7 15.h6 b4 t h e p a s s e d wh i t e p a wn s a n d g a in s o m e 16.d1 c5! Black opens the h1-a8 diagonal counterplay. 37.b2 xe2 38.xe2 axb3 for his light-squared bishop, and prepares the 39.axb3 a2 40.f3 f7?! [ 40...h5! ] e5-square for his knight, at the cost of the loss of control over d5. Sometimes it can be 41.g2?! [ 41.g4! to e6+ keeps White in the driving very difficult to judge which are more important, seat. ] the advantages of a move, or the disadvantages. 17.d4 a5 18.f2 cxd4 41...c8! 42.c1 [ 42.d6! kept some advantage: e6 43.d7 19.xd4 b6 20.ad1 fe8 Both sides e7 ( 43...xd7? 44.d5+ f8 45.g7+ have strengths and weaknesses, and with all xg7 46.xa2 wins an exchange.) 44.d5 the pieces still remaining on the board a xd5+ 45.cxd5 a7 46.f2+ g8 47.d6 c o m p l e x s t r u g g l e i s a c e r t a i n t y . 21.b5 d8 48.d4 xd7 49.c5 followed by White takes aim at d6. a6 22.e3 c6 advancing the white king. ] 23.b3 e5 24.d3! Of course White is 43.xe2 h6 44.f1? happy to swap his passive knight on f2 for the 42...xe2+ 912
906
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Adding weight to the defence of h3, but he overlooks Black's threat of ... Bf5-c2. [ 44.g4 f5! looks like a draw. ] 44...f5 45.f3 e7! Black must keep the dark-squared blockade, [ 45...c2? allows White to free his passed pawns by 46.e3 xe3 47.xe3 xb3 48.d4 and these two pawns will take some stopping. ] 46.e2 [ 46.e3 is met by d6 , naturally. ] 46...c2 47.g2 xb3 48.d3 a2! 49.f1 b1+ 50.e2 f5 51.f3 d4 White can no longer stop the b-pawn from continuing its route, except at the cost of a piece. 0-1
913 Miezis,Normunds Zapata,Alonso 11th Monarch Assurance (6) [Tony Kosten]
A23 2510 2549 03.10.2002
1.c4 f6 2.c3 With a different move-order, [ 2.g3 e5 3.g2 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 a6 is likewise possible (someone even had the effrontery to play it against me!), and n o r m a l l y t r a n s p o s e s , a l t h o u g h 6.f3 ( 6.h3!? c5 7.e5+ e7 8.xe7+ xe7 9.f4?! b4 10.d1!? g4 and White was forced to return: 11.h3 0-0 and Black was better, Bezold,M-Collinson, A/Birmingham ENG 2001.) 6...e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.c3 the advantage of the 2 g3 moveorder is that I have been able to complete my kingside development very fast, and only play this move afterwards, d6 ( 8...d5!? 9.cxd5 c5 ) 9.b3 a5 10.b2 h5 11.h4 aiming for a slight edge in the endgame, Kosten,A-Miltner,A/Menton 2001. ] 2...e5 3.g3 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 a6!? I had been meaning to examine this move for some time, Black plays much as W hite sometimes does with the c3 Sicilian, the knight can hop to b4 to threaten to fork the white queen and king, and then recapture on d5. [ 5...d5 is the standard move, of course. ] 6.g2 Others:
[ 6.e4?! xe4 7.xe4+ e7 8.g5 Breier,A-Feist,P/ Pinneberg 1996, and now f6 9.d2 b6 10.c3 d5! 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.xd5 b4 looks like lots of fun for Black. ] 6...e7 A novelty! Previously Black had preferred [ 6...c5 gaining a tempo on the queen, 7.d1 ( 7.e5+! e7 8.f3 0-0 9.0-0 e8 10.d4 is best, although fairly level, Shestakov, S-Dokuchaev,A/Tula 1998.) 7...d5 ( 7...b6!? 8.e3 b4 is interesting) 8.cxd5 b4!? 9.f3 ( 9.dxc6 xd1+ 10.xd1 xc6 offers fair compensation for the pawn ) 9...bxd5 10.xd5 xd5 11.0-0 0-0 Black has avoided the IQP, and ha s equ a lise d , 12.a4 ( 12.b3?! h5 13.b2 g4 14.d2 e8 15.ac1 b6 is d an ge rou s f o r W hite , O'Cin ne id e, MSutovsky,E/Halkidiki GRE 2002) 12...e4 13.xe4 xe4 14.d2 xd2 15.xd2 e8 16.e3 f5 17.c3 is completely equal, Kelly,B-Motwani,P/Lichfield ENG 2000. ] [ 6...d5 7.cxd5 b4 is also a good idea, 8.d1 bxd5 9.xd5 xd5 10.f3 b4+ 11.d2 0-0 12.0-0 equal, Tsivelekidis,GKogan,A/Athens 1999. ] 7.h3!? White wants to bring this piece to f4 to further control d5, but it is ambitious. [ 7.f3 0-0 8.0-0 is sounder, and transposes to my game in the note to move 2. ] 7...d5 8.cxd5 b4 Again, this move is the theme of this line. 9.0-0! xh3 [ 9...c2?! fails to 10.a4 xa1 ( 10...xh3 11.xc2 ) 11.dxc6 bxc6 12.xc6+ d7 ( 12...f8 13.xa8 xh3 14.g2 xg2 15.xg2 e8 16.d1 traps the knight, and once White recuperates it he will have a pawn or two more. ) 13.d1 b8!? 14.e4 b7! 15.g5 with a virulent initiative - remember, White may have a rook less but he can recapture the a1-knight at any time when he will have two pawns for the exchange. ] 10.xh3 0-0 [ 10...c2!? is again very risky: 11.a4 xa1 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.xc6+ f8 14.g5 and now if c2 15.a4 d4 ( there is no escape for the knight, 15...b4 16.xf6 gxf6 17.a3 ) 16.d1 White recuperates the 907
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 k n ig h t a n y wa y! xe2+ 17.xe2 b6 18.g2 and although White only has a pawn for the exchange, the awkward position of the black king is a def inite f actor in his favour. ] 11.d6!? xd6 12.f5 e7 13.f4 g6 14.b1!? The bishop is taking a torturous route to the queenside. bd5 15.f3 xc3 16.xc3 d5 17.f3 f6 18.h4!? This is typical of Miezis' aggressive 'hit or miss' chess. [ 18.a3 e7 19.a2 seems more logical. ] 18...e7 19.g2 fe8 20.e3 ad8 Black simply centralises his pieces. 21.a3 b6! 22.h5 If [ 22.a2 then d7 prepares ...Ne5-d3. ] 22...c4 23.a2 White is getting into a tangle on the queenside. e6 24.hxg6? A careless move, White obviously hadn't reckoned with the possibility of being attacked along the hfile he has just kindly opened for Black! hxg6 25.b4 g7! 26.h1 h8 27.xh8 W hite has to give way on the h-file as his queen's rook is unable to return to the first rank to help out. xh8 28.g1 e5 29.e4 h3 30.b2 h5! This move, threatening both ...Qd1+ and ...Nf3+, wins. 31.g4 Forced. xg4 32.f3 h2+ 33.f1 h1+ The bishop never did leave b1!! 0-1
7.dxe4 with an interesting position. ] 6...c5 7.c2 d5 8.g2 b7 9.d3 W hite must try to disarm the black centre before Black finishes his development. e7 10.0-0 [ 10.dxe4 is met by d4 ] 10...a6 Benko-style play to free the queenside columns and to rid Black of the annoying b5pawn. 11.bxa6 xa6 12.dxe4 d4 13.d5 [ The tactical line 13.e5 xg2 14.xg2 fd7 15.d5 xe5 also allows Black good compensation. ] 13...xd5 14.exd5 xd5 15.xd5 xd5 White has managed to exchange a couple of pieces, but still has problems because of Black's extra space, and 'swinging' rook. 16.b4 Continuing his counterattack against the black central pawns. 0-0 17.bxc5 xc5 18.e3 d3 19.d4 xd4 20.xd3 This fork is the point of White's clever play, reducing the black centre to nothing. c6 21.exd4 [ 21.xa6?? allows xa1 ] 21...fa8 Defending the a6-rook, and m e n a c i n g . . . N e 5 . 22.d1 Necessary, to defend the queen. h5 23.h4 b4 [ 23...xa2 24.xa2 xa2 might be OK for Black, who has the superior minor piece, but no more. ] 24.e2 f5 Black attempts to keep some initiative, as he is the stronger player and probably hopes to win, but he is playing with 914 A23 fire. 25.e3 [ If 25.a3 then e6! ( and not 25...c2? Sliva,Frantisek 2327 when 26.a2 xa3 27.xa3 xa3 Efimov,Igor 2445 28.xa3 xa3 29.d5 is winning, as the 15th ECC Gp 3 (3) 03.10.1999 p a w n i s t o o s t r o n g .) 26.d2 f3 [Tony Kosten] with threats. ] Black is still nurturing his initiative. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 c6 As White 25...a3 h a s n ' t f o rc e d B l a c k t o p l a y . . . N c 6 , t h u s 26.ac1?! [ Hoping to free his position by returning one obstructing the c-pawn, this is a strong move, of the pawns. No doubt a computer would intending to set-up a strong centre with ...d5. be very happy with something like 26.d2 4.f3 e4 5.d4 b5!? e8 27.b2 d5 28.b5 e6 29.c5 [ An incredible innovation, offering a pawn in but then axe3 30.fxe3 f3 grants Black a return for a strong centre which will sweep strong attack. ] the white knights away. The main move here 26...xa2 27.d2 2a3 28.d5?! Returning is 5...d5 but Tal's move, ] th e second pawn, but a draw is still far off as [ 5...b6 is also popular. ] White's light squares are weak. xd5 29.c5 6.cxb5 30.xa1 xa1+ 31.d1 xd1+ [ Acceptance of the gambit is often strongest, a1 but 6.d3 was also possible, e.g. bxc4 A strange decision, swapping the rooks, if 908
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black wants to win. 32.xd1 c3 33.d8+ h7 34.e3 e2+ 35.g2 e4+ 36.f1? [ L o s i n g a p a w n . A f t e r 36.h2 b1 White was no doubt worried about the threat of mate in two, but 37.d5 defends h1, and draws comfortably. ] 36...xg3+ 37.fxg3 xe3 38.b8 f6 W ell, I suppose this should be drawn relatively easily, but White has a lot of work before him yet. 39.c7 h6 40.b8 e5 41.b3 g6 42.g2 e4+ 43.h2 f5 44.f7 e2+ 45.h3 g4+ 46.h2 e2+ 47.h3 g4+ 48.h2 e5 49.c7+ e6 50.c6+ f7 51.c7+ g6 Black can afford to take his time, to see how White will defend. 52.b8 e2+ 53.h3 f5 54.f4+ e6 55.b8 f7 56.c7+ e7 57.b8 g5 Exchanging a pair of pawns, but Black has realised that he won't be able to make progress otherwise, as his g7-pawn will need d e f e n d in g . 58.hxg5 fxg5 59.b2 e6+ 60.h2 g6 61.b1+ f5 62.b6+ f6 63.b1+ h6 64.a2?! [ Black should take the opportunity to centralise his queen at some point. Here, 64.e4 is good, for instance, as after f2+ 65.h1 Black cannot capture the g-pawn without allowing a perpetual. ] 64...d6 65.g2 g4 66.b2 g6 67.c2+ f6 68.f2+ e6 69.c2 d5+ 70.h2 f3!? Giving the h-pawn with check, but this does allow his king to cross to White's side of the board. 71.g6+ e5 72.xh5+ d4 73.h8+ d3 74.b8 Black's winning chances reside in the fact that the king and pawn endings are almost all winning for him. e2+ 75.g1 d1+ 76.h2 d2+ 77.h1 e2 78.b5+ d3 79.b2+ e1 80.c1+ d1 81.e3+?? [ One check too many! As is often the case, it only brings the king to a better square. Simply 81.f4 should be played, cutting the black king from the f-file. After f3+ 82.g1 holds comfortably. ] 81...f1 82.d2 [ An obvious stalemate attempt, if 82.g1+ in s t e a d , t h e n e2 swaps queens, with a simple win: 83.xd1+ xd1 84.h2 e2 85.g2 e3 86.h1 f3 87.h2 f2 88.h1 xg3 and the king on the sixth rank, in front of his pawn, always wins, regardless
of opposition. ] 82...f3+ 83.h2 f2+ 0-1
915 Biocanin,Goran Rankov,Petar Belgrade Cup (1) [John Watson]
A24 2273 2127 05.04.2005
1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 e5 5.e4 0-0 6.ge2 d6 7.0-0 e6 The position from Motwani-Apicella. 8.d3 [ 8.b3 (with the idea d4) was briefly analysed in that game. ] 8...d7 9.d5 Again foregoing the f4-f5 idea in order to harass Black first. This should be harmless. xd5?! Not terrible, but it would be much easier to play [ 9...c6 10.xf6+ xf6 11.f4 g7 ] 10.cxd5 h3 11.e3 [ I prefer an idea that I used repeatedly when I w a s a c 4 / e 4 p l a y e r : 11.f4 g4 ( Probably better is 11...xg2 12.xg2 exf4! 13.xf4 a6 14.d4 ) 12.f5! gxf5 13.h3! xe2 14.xe2 fxe4 15.dxe4 f5 (else Rf5 and/or h4 and Bh3) 16.exf5 xf5 17.e3 with more than enough compensation: a6 18.xf5 xf5 19.f1 ( 19.b5! ) 19...d7 20.h5 f8 21.e4 xf1+ 22.xf1 f7+ 23.xf7+ xf7 24.xh7 with the two bishops and two dangerous passed pawns. ] 11...xg2 12.xg2 c6 13.dxc6 xc6 14.d4 exd4 15.xd4 fe8 16.f3 d5 [ 16...f5!? also looks good. Black is too active for White and stands better. ] 17.xc6 bxc6 18.d4 dxe4 19.xg7 exf3+?! [ Black would have had the better game after 19...xd1 20.axd1 e3 ( 20...xg7 21.fxe4 xe4 22.d7 ) 21.fe1 xg7 intending 22.d3 ad8 ] 20.xf3 xd1 21.xd1 xg7 [ The draw may be slightly premature as Black can play on by 21...xg7 22.d7 e2+! ( 22...f8?! 23.c7 ) 23.f1 ( 23.h3 f8 -the White king is a little exposed, e.g., 24.b3 h5 25.xa7 d8! 26.bb7 dd2! 27.xf7+ h6 28.h7+ 909
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g5 29.a5+ f6 and wins ) 23...xb2 24.fxf7+ h6 25.xh7+ g5 26.xa7 xa7 27.xa7 xh2 , etc. ] ½-½
916 Bruzon Batista,Lazaro De la Paz Perdomo,Frank Guillermo Premier I (7) [Tony Kosten]
A24 2568 2462 01.06.2000
1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 5.d3 d6 6.e3 e5 7.ge2 c6 In this typical position, Black normally prefers to play his knight to c6, but controlling d5 thus, is a good idea. 8.0-0 d5!? [ Very ambitious, but rarely played, normally Black prefers careful preparation, by say, 8...e8 or ] [ 8...e6 9.b4 d5 10.cxd5 xd5 11.b1 d7 12.c2 h3 13.e4 xg2 14.xg2 xc3 15.xc3 a6 16.e3 c7 leading to a Sicilian-type position, slightly favourable to White, Nunn,J-Gruenfeld,Y/ Groningen 1974. ] 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.b3 Necessary, if White wants to punish Black. d4!? [ A new idea, leading to sharp tactics, 10...c6! i s t h e o t h e r m o v e , 11.d2 ( superior to 11.xd5 xd5 12.xd5 a5 13.b5 a6 14.c5 h3 15.g2 xg2 16.xg2 xd3 and if anyone is better, it is Black ) 11...d4 12.exd4 exd4 13.e4 xe4 14.dxe4 e6!? with counterplay, Hofland,L-Ligterink,G/Leeuwarden 1977. ] [ Otherwise , 10...a6 11.d4 e4 12.f3 with pressure on the black position. ] 11.exd4 exd4 12.xb7! Critical. xb7 13.xb7 bd7 14.xd4 c5 15.b5 c8 [ W h it e h a s ca lc u la t e d we l l, i f 15...xd4 16.e3 xd3 17.xc5 Black has no compensation for the pawn. ] 16.c6 d7 17.e5! h3 [ The tactics f avour W hite af ter 17...d6 18.f4 h5 19.xf7! xd3 20.h6+ h8 21.e3 ] 18.d4 fe8 19.e2 xe5! [ The point of Black's seventeenth move, and nearly leads to mate, but W hite has sufficient resources, 19...a6 20.c4 e6
21.xa6 xd4 22.xd4 xe5 offers some compensation, but not enough. ] 20.f4 [ Not 20.dxe5?? when g4 forces mate. ] 20...e6!! 21.xe5 [ O n c e a g a i n f o r c e d , 21.dxe5?? xf4 22.xf4 g4 and mate. ] 21...xf4 22.xf4 g4 23.e1 Giving the king some room. h6 [ Winning material, the obvious 23...xh2+ 24.f1 c2 seems strong, but after 25.e8+ f8 26.d2 is forced, but su f f i cie n t h1+ 27.e2 xa1 28.b8 and White is winning. ] 24.f3 xh2+ 25.f1 c2 26.e2 The best defence. h3+ 27.e1 xc1+ 28.xc1 xc1 29.e7 Black has won two pieces for a rook, but finds his pieces slightly misplaced. h6 30.d5 c8 [ 30...xb2 31.d6 f8 32.c6 will win a piece, although the game is far from finished. ] 31.d6 g5 32.d5!? c1+ [ 32...xe7 33.dxe7 g7 34.e5+ f6 35.e8+ and White is in charge, once again. ] 33.e2 xb2+ 34.f1 f6? [ An unfortunate inaccuracy at the end of a beautifully-played game, 34...f6! draws, 35.e8+ g7 36.d7 g4 forcing 37.c5 , when b1+ 38.g2 b7+ 39.g1 b1+ forces a perpetual. ] 35.e8+ g7 36.d7 g4 37.c5 a1+ But now there is no perpetual, the queen is on the wrong square. 38.g2 e3+ 39.fxe3 1-0
917
A24 Contin,Daniel 2371 Sabia,Corrado 2173 64th ch-ITA Montecatini Terme ITA (1) 29.1.05 [John Watson] In this game we see the standard e4/c4 setup against a King's Indian with ... c6. Black plays well and it's not at all clear that White could have achieved an advantage from the opening. 1.c4 c6 2.e4 e5 3.c3 d6 4.g3 f6 5.g2 bd7 6.ge2 g6 7.d3 g7 8.0-0 0-0 The basic position. White would like 910
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to play standard moves like h3, Be3, and d4. Failing that, an alternate idea is f4-f5 and advance on the kingside. 9.h3 a6 10.a4 Preventing Black from breaking up W hite's centre, for example, [ 10.f4 b5 11.f5 ( 11.fxe5 dxe5 12.e3 e7= ) 11...gxf5 12.exf5 b7 13.g4 b6+ ( 13...h6 14.g3 d5 ) 14.h2 h6 15.g3 d5 16.cxb5 axb5 17.h4 b4 18.b1 b3! 19.a3 d4! and White's kingside play comes too late. ] [ Also too slow is playing for d4 by 10.e3 b5 11.cxb5 axb5 12.d4 b4 13.b1 a6 ] 10...a5 The standard positional idea to capture the c5 and b4 squares. Maybe Black could also angle for ...b5 by [ 10...b8!? ] 11.f4 c5 12.e3 fd7!? Black prepares for f5. Perhaps [ 12...e7 preventing d4 and preparing .. Bd7 was playable, for example, 13.f5 h6 14.g4 h7 ] 13.f5 [ The critical move here now that ...Nfd7 has released pressure on e4 is 13.d4 exd4 14.xd4 ( 14.xd4 xd4+ 15.xd4 b6 16.f2 e8 ) 14...e8 Black seems okay with careful play. Here are some thematic alternatives: ( 14...b6 15.b3 f5 16.exf5 xf5 17.xf5 gxf5 18.c1 f6; 14...b6 15.de2 e8!? ) 15.e1 b6!? ( 15...b6! is probably best, thinking about ...f5 as well as ...Qb4 ) 16.b3 d7 with the idea ...f5, e.g. , ( 16...f5!? 17.e5! ) 17.h2 ( 17.f2 f5 18.exf5 xe1+ 19.xe1 xd4! 20.xd4 xb3; 17.d2 f5 18.exf5 f6 ) 17...f5! with at least equality ] 13...f6! With the idea ...Bg5. 14.h4 [ 14.h6 e8 ( or 14...g7 15.xg7 xg7 16.g4 f6 -White's bishop on g2 is a liability )] 14...b6 15.a3 g5!? [ 15...b7 ] 16.d2 [ 16.h5 h6= ] 16...h6 [ 16...gxh4! 17.g4 h8 with the idea 18.g5 g8 ] 17.g4 h7 18.h1 g8 19.h5 Now neither side should be able to make legitimate progress. That doesn't stop them from trying, but I'd recommend going to the next game.
It's amusing that the players go 48 moves wit h o u t a n e xc h a n ge a f t e r 2 5 . Nxb 4 . b7 20.d1 e7 21.c1 ad8 22.f2 ge8 23.1a2 b8 24.b4 axb4 25.xb4 ba6 26.c2 b8 27.a2 a8 28.f1 b3 29.g1 bc5 30.aa1 ed8 31.ab1 c7 32.c1 e8 33.e3 d7 34.b2 ac5 35.f2 b7 36.c2 a8 37.a1 g8 38.db1 eb8 39.c1 h7 40.d2 g8 41.e2 a6 42.b4 b7 43.c3 bc5 44.f3 c8 45.b2 h7 46.ab1 c7 47.a3 b7 48.g2 a5 49.b4 aa8 50.f1 g8 51.e2 a6 52.a3 ac5 53.a1 g7 54.f1 a7 55.e3 aa8 56.ba2 g8 57.b4 a6 58.a3 ac5 59.c1 g7 60.d2 c8 61.a3 a7 62.a2 ba8 63.b1 b8 64.e1 ba8 65.f2 g8 66.f1 a6 67.d2 b8 68.e3 a8 69.b4 a7 70.b1 ab7 71.b2 g7 72.b3 c7 73.xc5 xc5 74.aa2 g8 75.d1 e7 76.b1 g7 77.ab2 h7 78.b4 g7 79.1b2 h7 80.b1 c7 81.d2 g7 82.d1 g8 83.c2 g7 84.g1 e7 85.e2 g8 86.f3 g7 87.g3 g8 88.h3 g7 89.b1 g8 90.d2 g7 91.b1 g8 92.4b2 g7 93.f3 h7 94.d4 exd4 95.xd4 d7 96.e1 c5 97.e5 cxd4 98.exf6 xf6 99.xd4 c7 100.e7 bc8 101.xf6 xf6 102.xc7 xc7 103.d2 e7 104.b3 ½-½
918 Gurevich,Mikhail Lanzani,Mario 12th Aosta Open (2) [Tony Kosten]
A24 2656 2352 09.02.2004
1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 5.d3 d6 6.e3 [ 6.e4 would save a move! ] 6...e5 7.ge2 c6 8.e4!? A curious decision, White plays a Botvinnik System with a tempo down, [ 8.0-0 is more normal, see Bruzon,L-De la Paz,F/Santa Clara CUB 2000. ] 8...a6 9.0-0 h5 Black inhibits f4, and prepares f4, but [ 9...c7 to e6 is quite f easible, 10.d4 911
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 curiously reaching a King's Indian position, will tu rn ou t t o h ave wea ken e d Bla ck 's wit h W h it e h a vin g lo st t wo m o ve s! e7 kingside pawn structure. A better move is 11.h3 d8 ( 11...exd4!? ) 12.d5! 13...f5!? although 14.f4 c6 15.exf5 gxf5 leaving the c7-knight misplaced, Espig, G16.fxe5 dxe5 17.d4 is very pleasant for Werner,V/Germany 1997. ] White ) 14.f4 f5 15.d4 h4 16.dxe5 dxe5 10.e3 e7 11.d2 c5 12.ad1 17.exf5 gxf5 18.d5 a6 19.fxe5 e8 Gurevich improves over his game against 20.f4 1-0 Bruzon Bautista, L-Kobese, W/ Grischuk, A/ Ca nnes FRA 2001 , wh en h e L i s b o n 1 9 9 9 ( An alte rna tive is 20.d4 played the immediate which is very problematic for Black, e.g. [ 12.d4 d7 13.ad1 e8 14.b3 hxg3+ 21.g2 xe5 22.xf5 xf5 which looks very promising for W hite, his 23.xf5 and White is winning )] loss of two moves is balanced by Black's ... 9.h3 Na6-c5-d7, also losing two tempi! ] [ 9.b1 12...a5 13.d4 exd4!? Black could follow A) 9...a5 Grischuk's lead, and play A1) 10.a3 h5 11.g5 c5 12.b4 [ 13...d7 but he prefers to maintain his ( 12.d4?! e6 13.e3 exd4 14.xd4 strong knight on c5. ] g4 is better for Black) 12...axb4 14.xd4 f6 So here Black loses two tempi 13.axb4 e6 14.d2 h4 ( 14...d7!? ) by ...Nh5-f6, thus bringing about a KID-style 15.c1 hxg3 16.fxg3 g4 17.h1 position after all! 15.g5 Pinning the knight ( 17.h3 can also be tried, but leads to a protects the e4-pawn. h6?! A small tactic, messy p osition : b6+ 18.c5 dxc5 radically unpinning the knight, but it rebounds 19.hxg4 cxb4+ 20.e3 d4 21.h3 on Black, better e6 22.h1 a5 and Black appears to [ 15...e8 for instance. ] have sufficient compensation for the 16.xh6 fxe4 17.xe4 xe4 18.xe4 piece ) 17...b6 18.d1 d4 19.ec3 xh6 ( 19.xd4 is worth a t ry, e. g. xd4 [ 18...xe4 is no im p rove me n t , 19.fe1 20.h3 f6 21.b2 ) 19...f5 20.e3 g4 20.xg7 xg7 21.c3 with a big xe3 21.xe3 c7 with chances to advantage. ] both sides, Ye Rongguang-Strikovic, A/ 19.xh6 xe4 20.fe1 g4 21.f3 d7? Novi Sad 1990; Bringing the game to a swift conclusion, A2) 10.h3 c5 11.e3 fd7 12.d4 [ 21...h5 was a far better try, although after exd4 13.xd4 e8 14.c2 e7 22.xh5 gxh5 23.e4 White can win the h15.fe1 a4 16.b4 axb3 17.axb3 f6 pawn by Rh4xh5. ] 18.b4 e6 19.b3 is a typical 22.e4 Black can only stop Rh4 and Qh8 Fianchetto King's Indian position, that is mate by giving his queen for the rook. better for W hite on account of Black's 1-0 lack of space and counterplay, Spiridonov, N-Radev, N/Pernik 1976; B) 9...a6 10.b4 ( or 10.b3 e8 11.h3 b5 919 A24 12.a3 b7 13.g5 b8 14.d2 c5 15.e3 , and the players prematurely Harikrishna,Penteala 2673 agreed upon a drawn, 1/2-1/2 Vakhidov, Poldauf,Dirk 2427 T-Kakageldyev, A/Bishkek 1993, but there Bundesliga 2006-7 (13) 18.03.2007 obviously loads of play left in this position, [Carsten Hansen] and I prefer W hite.) 10...e8 11.a4 ( 11.g5 f8 12.d2 e6 13.e3 g4 1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 14.h3 xe3 15.fxe3 h6 is pleasant for 5.e4 d6 6.ge2 e5 7.0-0 bd7 8.d3 c6 Black ) 11...a5 12.b5 c5 13.h3 d7 [ 8...a5 9.h3 c5 10.e3 fd7 11.d2 14.e3 ( 14.f4!? ) 14...c8 15.h2 c7 e6 12.h2 a4 13.ad1 h5?! 16.c2 ( 16.f4!? looks very good for ( this move is very weakening, because one White ) 16...ad8 17.fd1 c8 18.d4 side or the other will play f5, and then this 912
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 18.f4!? ) 18...exd4 19.xd4 is another position that is just pleasant for W hite, Teske, H-Van der Weide, K/Seville 2004 ] 9...c5 [ 9...a5 10.e3 A) 10...e8 11.d2 ( 11.f4 f5 12.exf5 gxf5 13.d4 e4 14.d5 Florian, T-Fletzer, G/San Benedetto 1957) 11...f5 12.ad1 a4 13.exf5 gxf5 14.f4 e7 15.h2 f7 16.c2 a3 17.b4 Kashljak, A-Gorshkov, A/Yaroslavl 1995; B) 10...e7 11.d2 c5 12.ae1 b6 13.f4 a6 14.f5 b5 15.g4 ( 15.cxb5 cxb5 16.g5 ) 15...b4 16.d1 fd7 17.g3 ab8 18.g5 f6 19.h4 Schmittdiel, E-Lendvai Wells, N/Oberwart 1995; C) 10...e8 11.d2 c5 12.f4 exf4 13.gxf4 e7 14.g3 a4 15.ae1 fd7 16.d4 e6 17.f5 Jeric, S-Mazi, L/ Feffernitz 2000; D) 10...b8 11.f4 b5 12.f5 bxc4 13.dxc4 b6 14.b3 gxf5 15.g5 d5 16.exd5 cxd5 17.cxd5 d6 18.h2 d7 19.d2 ( 19.g4!? f4 20.d2 ) 19...a4 20.bxa4 a8 21.ab1 xa4 22.xa4 xa4 with a complicated struggle, Kotov, AGeller, A/Leningrad 1956 ] [ 9...a6 10.e3 b5 A) 11.b3 b7 A1) 12.c1 b4 13.a4 c5 14.f4 c6 15.fxe5 xe5 16.b2 ( 16.c2 e8 17.f2 fd7 18.cf1 ) 16...a5 17.c2 b6 18.f2 b7 19.d1 a4 20.e3 axb3 21.axb3 a3 22.d5 xd5 23.exd5 d7 24.d4 f5 25.d2 xb3 26.dxe5 xe5 27.g4 d3 28.fe1 a6 29.f1 a3 30.ed1 e4 31.h6 f5 32.g5 b2 0-1 Turner, M-Kristensen, B/ Hafnarfjordur 1996; A2) 12.d2 e7 13.ac1 fe8 14.fd1 c5 15.b4 e6 16.a4?! ( an alternative is 16.b1 d7 17.a4 d4 18.cxb5 cxb5 19.axb5 xb5 20.xb5 axb5 21.c3 ) 16...a5! 17.b2 bxc4 18.dxc4 axb4 19.xb4 c5 20.b1 d4 21.d3 c6 and Black is in control, Eingorn, V-Van der Weide, K/Bad Wiessee 2004; B) 11.d2 B1) 11...b8 12.b3
B1a) 12...e8 13.f4 exf4 14.gxf4 ( 14.xf4!? ) 14...h5 15.ac1 b4 16.a4 f5 17.ce1 f8 18.c5 dxc5 19.e5 e6 20.xc6 Hebert, J-Ree, H/Luzern 1982; B1b) 12...c5 13.ae1 e8 14.c2 fd7 15.f4 e6 16.d2 d4 17.f5 b7 18.f2 xe2+ 19.xe2 d5 Hebert, J-Spraggett, K/Montreal 1982 20.fxg6 hxg6 21.ef1 d4 22.h6; B2) 11...b7 12.f4 exf4 13.gxf4 e8 ( 13...h5 14.f3 b4 15.d1 c5 16.xh5 gxh5 17.g3 h8 18.h2 g8 19.f5 Ruettinger, J-Dobrovolsky, L/Bayern 2002) 14.g3 ( 14.b3 e7 15.ae1 ad8 16.f2 Tempone, MP e r a l t a , F / M a r d e l P l a t a 1 9 9 8 b4 17.a4 a5= ) 14...b6 15.a4 b4 16.ce2 a5 17.b3 c5 18.ad1 e7= Lein, A-Vasiukov, E/USSR ch (Tbilisi) 1966 ] [ 9...h6 10.e3 h7 11.d2 g8 12.d4 Liebert, H-Hoshino, I/Siegen 1970 ] [ 9...h5 A) 10.h2 c5 11.e3 e6 12.d4 c5 13.dxc5 dxc5 14.d5 d4 15.f4 e6 16.f5 xd5 17.exd5 f6 18.g4 ( here 18.b4!? is best, e.g. b6 19.fxg6 fxg6 20.bxc5 bxc5 21.c3 is very good for W h i t e , d u e t o b e t t e r p a wn s t r u c t u re , passed pawn on d5 and the bishop pair) 18...gxf5 19.gxf5 h8 with a complicated struggle, Bilek, I-Gligoric, S/Teeside 1972; B) 10.e3 c5 11.d4 B1) 11...d7 12.c2 f5?! 13.exf5 gxf5 14.dxe5 dxe5 ( 14...xe5!? 15.b3 ) 15.f4 exf4 16.xf4 xf4 17.xf4 e5 18.ad1 Makarichev, SPetrovic, V/Novi Sad 1983; B2) 11...exd4 12.xd4 e5 13.f4 xd4+ 14.xd4 b6 15.f5 d3 16.xb6 axb6 17.b3 e5 18.ad1 Miezis, N-Schuurman, P/Seefeld 2000; B3) 11...e6 12.d5 cxd5 13.cxd5 g5 14.g4 xh3+ 15.xh3 h4 16.g2 f5? ( Better is 16...xg4 although this is h a r d l y d e s i r a b l e f o r B l a c k : 17.xg4 xg4+ 18.g3 f4+ 19.xf4 xf4 20.ce2 ) 17.gxh5 f4 18.h1 fxe3 19.e6+ 1-0 Kroll, O-Oney, F/ Groningen 197300 ] 913
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 9...e8 10.e3 f5 11.d2 df6 12.b3 c7 13.exf5 ( 13.f4!? ) 13...gxf5 14.f4 exf4 15.xf4 Kourkounakis, I-Novidis, N/Hania 1993 ] [ 9...b6 10.b3 ( 10.f4!? ) 10...d5 11.exd5 cxd5 12.g5 e6 13.d2 ( 13.d4!? ) 13...d4 ( 13...d6 14.f4 c5+ 15.h2 ) 14.b5 d7 A) 15.f4!? h5 16.g4 xf4 ( 16...f6 17.fxe5 fxg5 18.xg5+- ) 17.xf4 exf4 18.xf4; B) 15.h2 e8 16.h6 xh6 17.xh6 f5 18.f4 a6 19.a3 Gurevich, M-Wortel, M/Gent 1997 ] [ 9...e8 10.e3 a6 11.d2 b5 12.b3 ( 12.f4!? ) 12...b7 13.ae1 ( 13.f4!? ) 13...a5 14.f4 exf4 15.gxf4?! ( 15.xf4 ) 15...h5! 16.f3 g3! 17.f2 xe2+ 18.xe2 xd2 19.xd2 c5 Deng, K-Shaked, T/Honolulu 1997 ] [ 9...b8 10.e3 a6 11.a4 b6 12.b4 b7 13.b5 ( 13.f4!? ) 13...axb5 14.axb5 c5 15.f4 exf4 16.gxf4 h5 17.d2 f5 18.a7 e8 19.f2 Talla, V-Cerveny, M/Czech Rep 2006 ] 10.e3 e7 [ 10...a5 11.f4 exf4?! 12.gxf4 e7 13.d2 b8 ( the alternatives are no more promising: 13...h6 14.g3 e8 15.d4 h4?! 16.dxc5 xg3 17.f3 h4 18.cxd6+Hickl, J-Venkataramanan, T/ Calcutta 1994; or 13...d7 14.g3 ae8 15.ae1 c8 16.f5 David, P-Kaposztas, M/Slovakia 1998) 14.ae1 cd7 15.g3 e8 (from here onwards the annotations are from the tournament bulletin) 16.d4 c7 17.e5 dxe5 18.fxe5 b4 ( 18...c5 19.g5 e8 20.ce4 ) 19.h6 xc4 20.xg7 xg7 21.e4 e6 22.h4 h5 23.d5! A) 23...cxd5 24.xh5+! gxh5 ( 24...h8 25.f6+ g7 26.h7#; 24...g8 25.h6! gxh5 26.xh5+- ) 25.g2+ h6 26.f5!+- ( 26.g4?? xd4+!-+ ); B) 23...xf1+ 24.xf1 cxd5 25.xd5 b6 26.f4 xf4 27.xf4 a6+ 28.g1 d3 29.g5 h8 30.h6+ 1-0 Markland, PHort, V/Hastings 1970/[Bulletin] ( 30.h6+ g8 31.xh5!+- )] 11.d2 [ 11.b3 a5 12.d2 e8 13.fe1 e6 14.d4 exd4 15.xd4 ad8 16.ad1 c8
17.f4 c7 18.f2 b6? 19.xc6! xh3 20.xd8 xg2 21.xg2+Csom, I-Suradiradja, H/Surakarta 1982 ] 11...fd7 12.f4 e6 13.f5 d4 14.g4 a5 15.g3 [ Also 15.g5 f6 16.xd4 exd4 17.xd4 fxg5 18.xg7 xg7 19.d4 is very good for White, but White doesn't need to hurry, as we s e e i n t h e r e s t o f t h e g a m e , B l a c k doesn't have any counterplay of significance, so White can take all the time he needs to get his pieces on the right squares before breaking through ] 15...c5 16.f2 f6 17.h4 d7 18.af1 f7 [ Trying to run the king away from his kingside woes may appeal for a short while, but once you look at White's simple answer, the appeal quickly drifts... 18...f7 19.ce2 xe2+ 20.xe2 a4 21.g5 e8 22.d4 exd4 23.xd4 and Black's position reeks badly ] 19.ce2! Forcing the exchange of Black's only truly active piece. xe2+ 20.xe2 e8 21.g3 d7 22.g5 af8 23.h3 [ 23.h5!? gxf5 ( 23...fxg5 24.xg5 e8 25.f6 h8 26.d4 exd4 27.hxg6 hxg6 28.xd4 e6 ) 24.g6 f4 25.f5 xf5 26.gxf7+ xf7 27.xc5 dxc5 28.exf5+- ] 23...d8 24.h2 c8 25.g2 [ 25.h5!? fxg5 26.xg5 e8 27.h6 h8 28.h4 b5 29.cxb5 cxb5 30.h5 is clearly also very dangerous for Black, but W hite decides he is not in any hurry and continues to build up his attack undisturbed ] 25...h8?! This doesn't make any sense when looking at what follows, but clearly Black is at a loss of good moves 26.e2 fxg5 [ Or 26...d7?! 27.fxg6 hxg6 28.h5 and Black is in the ropes ] 27.hxg5 g8 28.gf2 [ Also 28.f6 h8 29.xc8 xc8 30.d2 is pretty awful for Black, but by keeping the tension and the pawn on f5, Black is left waiting for White to make a move, while White can improve on his position in several ways. ] 28...h8 29.h1! Black is being torn apart, and with White transferring the rooks to the hfile, the conclusion of the battle is approaching rapidly. b5 A rather desperate 914
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 attempt at counterplay, but it doesn't help at all because Black has no immediate follow-up, and also White's attack is quite menacing on t h e k i n g s i d e 30.cxb5 cxb5 31.g1! Getting out of the way of the rooks, Black is lost. b4 [ Or 31...c7 32.fh2 e8 33.fxg6 xh3 34.xh3 xg6 35.h6 f7 36.g6+- ] 32.fh2 g7 33.g4 e8 34.xh7 gxf5 35.exf5 b7 36.1h3 e4? 37.d4 d3 38.h2 1-0
920 Kosikov,Andrey Solomaha,Andrey ch-Kiev Kiev UKR (1) [John Watson]
A24 2210 2384 15.01.2005
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 5.0-0 d6 6.c3 e5 7.d3 bd7 Here we see the line without ...Nc6. Normally Black plays some combination of . . . c6, Re8, and ...h6 here. This game shows an independent plan that has enjoyed some success for Black but probably favours White with perfect play. I'll give it without many notes: 8.b1 c5 9.b4 e6 10.b5 d7 11.a4 f5 12.d5 g5!? 13.d2 [ 13.xg5!? xg5 14.xg5 xg5 15.xc7 b8 16.d5+ h8 17.e6 e7 18.xf8 xf8 is very unclear ] 13...f4 14.e4 dc5 15.xc5 xc5 16.a3 e6 17.c1 [ 17.e3 g4 18.f3!? ] 17...g4 18.c5 f7 19.cxd6 cxd6 20.c4 g5?! 21.gxf4 exf4 22.xf4 h3+ 23.xh3 gxh3 24.xc8! xc8 25.d5 h8 26.h1?! [ 26.xd6! allows for Bg3 and destroys the vestiges of Black's centre. Now the play degenerates, probably due to mutual time pressure: ] 26...f6 27.g1?! d7 28.e1? f4 29.e4 af8 30.b4 g4 31.e1 d4 32.d1 gf4? [ 32...xf2 wins outright ] 33.f3? [ 33.c1! xf2? 34.e3! ]
33...h5 34.f1 g4 0-1
921 Motwani,Paul Apicella,Manuel ch-FRA Top 16 GpA (7) [John Watson]
A24 2543 2543 03.04.2005
In this game Black allowed W hite's ideal attack and should have lost. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.e4 d6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 0-0 6.ge2 e5 7.0-0 Here we are again by the King's Indian route. e6 An unusual move not found in Hansen but appearing in three games of this update. Black plays without committing his queen's knight to either c6 or d7 (or a6). Nor does he decide upon ...c6. In most cases he wants to exchange the g2 bishop, but even that might (or should) depend upon White's move order. By attacking c4 and immediately playing ...Qd7, Black prevent h3 followed by Be3. 8.d3 [ An option is 8.b3 , thinking about d4: d7?! ( 8...c6 is probably fine. White can try the speculative 9.f4!? d4 10.f5!? . Sounder is simply 9.h3 Qd7 10.Kh2; 8...c5!? 9.f4 exf4! 10.xf4 c6 11.b2 e8 is unclear) 9.d4 exd4 10.xd4 h3 11.f3! xg2 12.xg2 e8 13.de2! intending c6 14.f4 ] 8...d7 9.f4 h3?! I don't like this move, which allows W hite to set up his ideal formation. Preferable seems [ 9...c6 , when 10.f5?! ( 10.h1 intending Be3 is logical) 10...gxf5 11.g5 e8 12.b3 followed by Qd2 offers some compensation for the pawn but nothing impressive. ] 10.f5 This is the consistent follow-up and in theory poses the greatest challenge to Black's plan. White inaugurates a flank advance by h3, g4 and g5. The exchange of his bad bishop on g2 is not unwelcome, since it isn't needed for defence of the kingside. Nevertheless, this attack is begun before W hite is developed and allows central counterplay. Another good move is [ 10.e3 , which still intends f5 but adds the idea of Qd2 and Bh6 to its effect. In some cases the bishop will support the move d4 915
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 (especially in the case of ... exf4). W hite retains a definite advantage. ] 10...xg2 11.xg2 c6 The other and probably better way to get central counterplay is [ 11...c6 12.h3 h6 13.g4 d5!? 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.fxg6 fxg6 16.b3 a6! 17.e3 ( 17.exd5 c5 18.c4 ac8 with plenty of play. ) 17...c7 ] 12.h3 [ 12.d5! forces the kind of position that White achieves in the game. Now Black gets a chance to break the bind. ] 12...gxf5?! [ 12...e7! 13.g4 gxf5 14.exf5 h6 15.g3 d5 changes the equation ( or 15...c6+ 16.h2 d5 )] 13.xf5! Not part of White's original game plan, but from now on he controls the key f5 square and allows Black no counterplay. [ 13.exf5 e7 would be the last note. ] 13...e7 14.f2 h8 15.g4 b5!? This probably isn't sound but Black wants to kick-start his play before moves like Ng3 and g5 happen. 16.g3 A good move, although [ 16.xb5 d5 ( 16...c6 17.bc3 d5 18.g3 ) 17.g5! is also strong ] 16...b4? It makes no sense at all to close the position and give White a free hand. On the other hand, Black stands worse even after [ 16...bxc4 17.dxc4 c6 18.g5 fg8 19.e3 ] 17.ce2 c6 18.g5 fg8 19.h5 f6 20.d2 a5 21.eg3 d5 22.c2 [ 22.e2 keeps an eye on the kingside attack but it doesn't matter much. Black's problem is that he has no effective break, and opening the d-file doesn't stop White's attack. ] 22...ad8 23.af1 dxc4 24.dxc4 d4 25.c1! g6 No better is [ 25...f7 26.e3 d6 27.g5 , e.g., df8 28.xg7 xg7 29.gxf6+ xf6 30.h6+! xh6 31.xf6 xf6 32.h5+ ] 26.xg7 h4+ 27.h1 xg7 28.e3 [ 28.g5! wins on the spot because Bxh4 and Nh5+ are both threatened. The play goes fxg5 29.xg5+ g6 30.f5+ xf5 31.exf5 etc. ] 28...d6 29.h6+? Probably ti me trouble is setting in for both players, but W hite sells
himself too cheaply. [ 29.g5! intending gxf6+ and/or Nh5+ would leave Black no good defence. ] 29...xh6 30.h5+ g6 31.xf6+ xf6 32.xf6+ xf6 33.xf6 Suddenly things have gone wrong. White is probably better but has won less material than he might have and left his king exposed. f7!? [ 33...d3! would have posed very real problems, since at the very least White's hpawn falls and king can't escape without material loss, e.g., 34.h2 f3+ 35.g2 h4+ 36.f2 ( 36.g1 xh3 ) 36...f3+ 37.e2 xf6 38.g5 f4 39.gxh6 xe4+ etc, ] 34.e1!? [ 34.f1 , covering f3 and d3, was more a c c u r a t e . T h e n g5 35.d5! cxd5 36.exd5 threatens Qf2 and creates dangerous passed pawns. ] 34...f3 35.e3? [ Last chance for 35.f1! ] 35...7g5?? Black's attack is probably winning after [ 35...d1+! 36.g2 e1+ ( 36...d3?! 37.c5 xf6 38.xc6+ g7 ) 37.f2 ( 37.h2 xf6 , when 38.c5 loses to d2+ ) 37...d3+ 38.g3 f4 ] 36.d5! This is still good, but White loses his way: d7 [ 36...cxd5?? 37.b6+ ] 37.b6 [ 37.c5! d4 38.e7+ f7 39.xc6 is winning. ] 37...d4 38.e3 xe4 39.xa5 f3 40.g2?? This allows a simple perpetual check. W hite could have penetrated into Black's camp by [ 40.a8 , when there's no defence to a coordinated attack by White's pieces. ] 40...h4+ 41.f1 d2 42.f5 f3 43.a7 h2+ ½-½
916
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 922 Rotstein,Arkadij Scharrer,Patrick Open Verona ITA (3) [John Watson]
A24 923 2528 Sareen,Vishal 2210 Ahlers,Ben 03.01.2006 Essent Open Hoogeveen NED (2) [John Watson]
A play o n th e Bo tvinn ik S yste m. W hite 's misplaced knight turns out to be well-placed indeed. 1.c4 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 d6 4.f3 f6 5.c3 0-0 6.0-0 e5 7.d3 h5 8.e4 I used to be dogmatic that one shouldn't play this when the knight was on f3 instead of e2. However, the combination of ...Nf6 and ... e5 in the Sicilian is sometimes best, so why not here? c6 9.g5! f6 10.e3 Threatening d4. f5 [ 10...d4? would be the thematic answer were ... f6 not in, whereas he it simply loses a pawn. ] 11.exf5 xf5 12.d4 [ P r o b a b l y b e s t , a l t h o u g h 12.g5!? has the ideas g4, Nd5 and Nge4. The most reasonable move is f6 13.h3 h6 14.g4 d7 15.ge4 and I like White. ] 12...exd4 13.xd4 d7 14.c5!? [ or 14.d2 White is somewhat better in both cases. ] 14...dxc5? [ 14...xd4 15.xd4 c6 ] 15.xc6 xc6 16.xc6 bxc6 17.xc5 e8 [ The lesser evil was 17...xd1 18.axd1 fe8 19.fe1 ] 18.b3+ h8 19.ad1 g5 20.d4 [ 20.c4! would tie Black down more. ] 20...f6? [ 20...xd4 ] 21.c4! c5 It's hard to find a good move, and c6 is hanging anyway. 22.xc5 g4 23.d4 e5 24.xe5 xe5 25.d5 e6 26.fd1 c6 27.c5 xc4 28.xc4 It's all over. xc3 29.xc3 e2 30.xc6 xb2 31.d7 xa2 32.cc7 a6 33.xh7+ g8 34.h4! Zugzwang. Neither rook can stray from the afile due to Rxa7, and Ra6-anywhere is answered by ...Rcg7+ and Rxg6. And 34...Kf8 allows mate in one. 1-0
A24 2375 2198 22.10.2005
This game illustrates what happens if White manages to establish the f5/g4 structure in t h e B o t vin n ik S yst e m a n d B la ck d o e s n ' t obtain early counterplay. The play is flawed yet the basic idea is clear. 1.c4 f6 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 d6 5.e4 0-0 6.ge2 e5 [ 6...c5 transposes into the Symmetrical version of the Botvinnik, probably a better (or at least easier) version. A recent example shows something new for Black: 7.d3 c6 8.0-0 a6 9.h3 b8 10.a4 d7 11.e3 e8 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 c7 14.h2 e6 15.de2 a5! 16.b3 b5! 17.cxb5 axb5 18.b4 c4 19.a7 bxa4 20.xb8 xb8 21.d5 e8 with full compensation, Alekseev, E (2632)Mamedyarov, S (2674), Istanbul TUR 2005 ] 7.0-0 c6 [ A typical sequence after 7...c6 is 8.h3 d4 ( 8...h8 ) 9.f4 h5!? ( better is 9...e8 10.d3 c6 11.e3 f5 ) 10.f5 c6 ( 10...gxf5 11.xd4 exd4 12.xh5 dxc3 13.dxc3 ) 11.g4 xe2+ 12.xe2 f4! 13.xf4 exf4 14.xf4 d4+ 15.h1 g5 16.f1 f6 and Black has some compensation but he needs a plan before White unwinds. ] 8.d3 e6?! [ Asking for f5. One better line is 8...bd7 9.h3 a6 A) 10.a4 a5 11.e3 c5 12.f4 b6 ( or 12...e7 13.f5 gxf5 14.exf5 h6 ) 13.c2 fd7 14.f5 b3 15.d2 b4!; B) 10.f4 b5 11.f5 ( 11.cxb5 axb5 12.fxe5 b6+ 13.h2 dxe5= ) 11...gxf5 12.exf5 b7 13.g4 h6= ] 9.f4!? [ 9.h3! first makes sense, also preparing Be3. ] 9...b6+ 10.h1 g4 11.f5 c8 12.e1 e3 [ Black should probably try the computer idea 12...gxf5 13.exf5 d7 14.f3 ( 14.h3 ) 14...e3 15.a4 a6 16.xe3 xa4 17.g4 but he is still faced with g5, regardless 917
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 of whether he plays moves like ...h6 and/or ...f6, even if the queens go off after c2 18.c3! xc3 19.xc3 ] 13.a4 [ The extent of Black's difficulties is even more clearly shown after 13.f6! xg2 14.xg2 h8 15.b3 ] 13...xg2 14.xg2 d8 15.g4 Black is stuck. This is the desired result for a Botvinnik System. The only drawback is that White has rid himself of his bad bishop, which could be used for defence! Still, White can neutralize a counterattack. d5 16.ac3 d4 17.d1 [ 17.b1! b5 18.a3! ties Black down while White progresses on the kingside. ] 17...d7 18.f3!? [ 18.g3! b5! 19.b3 and something like Nf2 and g5 can follow. ] 18...f6 19.d2!? [ 19.h6 e8 20.g3 g5 21.xg5 xg5 22.f2 b8 23.c1! xc1 24.xc1 g5 is still threatened, and g5 25.f6!? c5 26.f5 keeps the edge. ] 19...g7 20.h3 [ 20.f2 ] 20...f6 21.f2 h5! 22.g3?! h4 [ Blac k misses th e ch ance f o r 22...xg4! 23.xg4 hxg4 24.xg4 h7 and ..Rh8. ] 23.f3 h7! 24.h3 g5? Locking up the position gives W hite free rein on the queenside. Better was [ 24...b5 ] 25.f1 [ Or 25.b1 ] 25...a5 26.eg1 f6 Necessary, but now the highly-desirable manoeuvre ...Bf6-d8 can't occur. 27.f3 f7? Allowing the following tactic, but W hite was clearly better on the queenside. 28.hxg5! xg5 29.xg5 fxg5 30.xg5 xg5 31.xg5 f6 To stop Bxh4 nevertheless White's pawns are too strong. 32.xf6 xf6 33.g5 f7 34.h3! h7 35.g4 d7 36.g6 h8 37.g5! A nice finish. c5 38.a4 [ 38.f6! ] 38...a6 39.f2 b6 40.af1 d6 41.f6 e6 42.f7+ 1-0
924 Adianto,Utut Sorbe,Stephane 2nd Dato' Arthur Tan Malaysian Open (7) [John Watson]
A25 2588 2340
1.c4 f5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.e3 0-0 6.ge2 d6 [ There are many ways to approach this standard position, for example, one game analysed in this colum n proce eded (b y transposition) 6...e5 7.d3 c6 8.b1 h8 9.b4 a6 10.a4 a5!? 11.b5 b4 12.a3 c5 13.bxc6 dxc6 Rogozenko-Sadler, H e n g e l e 2 0 0 0 , w h e n 14.xb4 axb4 15.xb4 d6 16.b2 d8 would have given Black excellent compensation for the pawn. Note the value of omitting ...d6, which can sometimes come in handy if one wants to play ...Ne7 and ...d5 in one go. ] 7.0-0 White can try to gain time by delaying castling. Another ChessPublishing game Moor-Gallagher, Zurich 2000 went (again by transposition) [ 7.d3 e5 8.b1 c6 9.b4 ( 9.b3 ) 9...g5!? 10.b5 e7 11.f4! h6 with complications. ] 7...e5 The Dutch has become a full-fledged E n g l i s h O p e n i n g . 8.d3 c6 9.b1 Now we're back to "normal". a5 In his book on the ...e5 English Hansen makes a case that this is not the best move, since Black doesn't win the a-file anyway. [ 9...e7 is another way to reorganize for example: 10.b4 ( 10.b3 ) 10...c6 11.f4 e6 12.b5 c7 ] [ The most interesting try is 9...g5!? 10.f4 ( 10.b4 f4 ) 10...h6 11.b4 and now 11.. . Qe8 or h8 12.d5!? xd5 13.cxd5 e7 14.e4 gxf4 15.gxf4 g6 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.exf5 h4 Kurajica-Piskov, Skopje 1991. ] 10.a3 e6 11.d5 [ Also normal and good is 11.b4 , e.g., axb4 12.axb4 b8 13.b5 e7 14.a3 b6 15.b3 g5 16.d4 e4 17.d5 d7 18.d4 ] 11...b8 [ 11...f7 12.xf6+ xf6 ( 12...xf6 13.c3 ) 13.c3 e4!? 14.d5 with advantage, according to Hansen. ] 12.d2 [ 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 e7= ] 918
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12...d7 Perhaps considering ...b5, but I don't like this. f6 was a good square for the knight and where's it going now? 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 e7 15.ec3?! [ 15.b5! c5 16.c2 . Then Bb4 and f4 are themes. ] 15...c6 16.xe7+ xe7 17.b5? [ 17.e4!? ] 17...e4! 18.dxe4 xc4 19.e1 fxe4 20.xe4 d5! Black has a nice advantage with his centre and bishops but there are tactics to consider. 21.b4! f7 [ 21...c5? 22.xc5 xc5 23.xd5+ xd5 24.xd5+ ] 22.xf8 xf8 23.bxc6 [ 23.d6 xf2+ 24.h1 c3 is unclear. ] 23...bxc6 24.b7 [ 24.d6! ] 24...dxe4 25.xd7 xf2+ 26.h1 c3!? [ Black has more than enough for the exchange after 26...d3! ] 27.g1 xe3 28.c1 f3! 29.d8+ [ White could launch a dangerous counterattack by 29.a3! ] 29...g7 30.d7+ g8 31.gd1 d5 32.d8+ g7 33.d7+ g8 34.a3 Not quite as effective now. d4 35.d8+ g7 36.e7+ f7 37.e8 f6?! 38.d7+ f7 39.f1 b3 40.dxf7+ xf7 41.xe4 c5 42.e7 e6 43.a7 Avoiding the 2bishop ending. The rest of the game is a lengthy attempt by White to make progress that shouldn't have succeeded but eventually did: h5 44.b1 g8 45.b8+ g7 46.f4 e3 47.f3 d4 48.d1 b3 49.e2 e6 50.e4 e5 51.f3 f6 52.d3 e6 53.b1 a2 54.f3 f2?? No ned for this at all. 55.xf2 xf2 56.g2 d4 57.b7 f6 58.b6+ g7 59.d6 e5 60.d7 f6 61.d5 xd5+ 62.xd5 c4 63.f3 e6 64.e4 f6 65.c5 c3 66.c6+ f7 67.h3 h8 68.d5 g7 69.c7+ g8 70.e6 h7 71.g4 h6 72.g5+ h7 73.f7 e5 74.c6 f4 75.xg6 1-0
925 Balashov,Yuri S Najer,Evgeniy IV Russian Cup Final (11) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2575 2597 30.08.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 b4!? A move that is becoming popular, the idea is to delay the development of the g8-knight so that it may go to e7 (instead of the habitual f6), or Black may be able to play first ...f5, and only then ... Nf6. 4.d5 [ O b v i o u s l y t h e c r i t i c a l r e p l y , i f 4.g2 then Black can play xc3 5.bxc3 d6 ( 5...f6 is considered previously) 6.f3 f5 7.d3 f6 with a respectable reversed Grand Prix Attack, Cvek,R-Jovanovic,Z/Patras GRE 1999 (9). ] 4...c5 5.g2 ge7 6.e3 0-0 [ The first new move of the game, previously 6...xd5 had been preferred, 7.cxd5 e7 ( the 7...b4 of Balashov,Y-Pribyl,J/ Schwaebisch Gmuend 1998, is mentioned elsewhere ) 8.e2 c6 9.c3 d6 10.0-0 0-0 11.d4 with an edge, Gunter,D-Lalic,S/St Heliers 1997. ] 7.e2 xd5 8.cxd5 e7 9.0-0 f5!? [ This is the second innovation of the game! This position has been reached before, via the move order 1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Nd5 Bc5 6.e3 0-0 7.Ne2 Nxd5 8 . cxd 5 Ne 7 9 . 0 -0 , wh e n p l a y n o rm a l l y continues: 9...d6 10.d4 b6 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.c3 c6 13.dxc6 xc6 14.d5 with a tiny plus, Dorfman,J-Nedev,T/Cannes 1996. ] 10.b3 [ Simple development, but White could also shake-off Black's attempted hold on d4 by the standard trick 10.d4 exd4 11.e4 d6 12.xd4 with a space advantage. ] 10...d6 11.b2 b6 12.a4 d7?? [ B l a c k h a s o ve r l o o k e d a t a c t i c , 12...a5 is much more prudent, preparing a 'luft' for t h e b i s h o p , 13.d4 f6 with reasonable chances. ] 13.d4! [ This is all the stronger for being delayed. 13.a5 c5 14.d4 b4 ( 14...exd4?? loses a piece as below, 15.e4 e7 16.b4 xb4 17.xd4 etc. ) 15.e4 e7 16.dxe5 919
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 dxe5 17.xe5 is also pretty miserable for Black. ] 13...c5 [ Black is obliged to ditch his e-pawn, as he needs to make space for his b6-bishop, 13...exd4? loses, as 14.e4 e7 15.a5 c5 16.b4 wins a piece: xb4 17.xd4 f6 18.xb4 ] 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.xe5 With a solid extra pawn, and a strong centre, White is winning. e8 16.b2 d6 17.f4 c8 18.c1 a5 19.h5 [ A good move, forcing a weakening of the black kingside, and making Black further regret the absence of his e5-pawn, but 19.xc5 xc5 20.d4 is also strong. ] 19...f6 20.f4 The knight returns to eye the newly-created hole on e6. c4?! A further mistake, in a hopeless position. 21.a3 b6 22.xd6 xd6 23.bxc4 Black has had enough. 1-0
employed by Black previously. 11.b1?! [ 11.exf5! xf5 12.h3 followed by f4, and g4, is just as effective here, as in the previously cited link. ] 11...fxe4 12.xe4 h3 Hoping to gain a tempo to ease his development problems. 13.f4? Flashy, but faulty. exf4 [ B e t t e r t h a n 13...xf1?! 14.e6 e7 15.xf8 f6 16.g5 ] 14.h5 f6 15.xh3 xe4 16.e6+ h8 17.xe4 f3! [ In view of the rating difference, Black wants m o r e t h a n t h e t i n y e d g e o f 17...fxg3 18.hxg3 b8 ] 18.f4 d7 Menacing ...Qh3. 19.h4 [ W h i t e h a s l i t t l e c h o i c e , 19.xf3? loses a piece to g5 ] 19...e5 [ Now if 19...h3?! 20.xf3 and ...g5 is no longer possible. ] 20.h2 [ Again forced, 20.xe5?? loses the queen after h3 ] 20...ae8? 926 A25 [ Missing a straightforward win: 20...xd3! 21.xd3 xf4 is st ro ng, 22.gxf4?? g4 Cekro,Ekrem 2390 23.g1 xh4# ] Georgiev,Kiril 2661 34th Olympiad (5) 01.11.2000 21.xe5 xe5 22.xb7 g4? [ 22...g5! is much more to the point. ] [Tony Kosten] 23.xc7 White sees no win for his opponent, 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.c3 b4 so grabs another pawn. g6 24.b8 xb8 e8 26.b1 h6 27.d4 5.e4 xc3 6.bxc3 The move that White most 25.xb8+ Agreed drawn, but W hite has a clear wants to play. 0-0 7.e2 d6 8.d3 a6!? [ Planning to play ...b5, to gain the advantage. ascendancy on the queenside, otherwise: ½-½ 8...e6 9.0-0 a6 10.f4 exf4 11.gxf4 the white centre gets bigger, and bigger, A25 g4 12.e1 xe2 13.xe2 d7 14.h3 927 Chabanon,Jean Luc 2455 with advantage, Schuh,K-Pinkas,K/Weilburg Godard,Maxence 2340 1995, and ] 02.05.2010 [ 8...e8 was roughly treated in another Top 16 Marseille (7) [Nigel Davies (Based on analysis by GMI Jean-L] annotated game. ] 9.a4! [ The right move, in my view, keeping a lid on 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 t h e b l a c k q u e e n s i d e c o u n t e r p l a y , b u t 5.b1 a5 [ S o m e o l d b o o k s a r g u e t h a t 5...f6 strangely an innovation, 9.0-0?! is careless, is a good reply to White's early 5.Rb1, for b5 10.cxb5 axb5 11.f4 b4! (to weaken d4) example the game Taimanov, M (2580)12.b2 e7 13.h3 a6 with good Gulko, B (2480)/Vilnius 1975 went 6.b4 0-0 possibilities for Black, Skalkotas,N7.b5 e7 8.f3 d5! 9.cxd5 exd5 Pandavos,E/Serres 1990. ] 10.b2 e8 11.0-0 e4 with a very good 9...e8 10.0-0 f5 The same plan as 920
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 game for Black. But White does not need to plunge in with b2-b4-b5 and can instead try to exploit the fact that Black's knight on f6 is not optimally placed for the middle game because it blocks his f-pawn. So 7.d3 is one of several improvements. ] 6.a3 d6 [ 6...f6 is very similar to Taimanov - Gulko above and features in the game Ivanov Razuvaev. Once again White should avoid getting too excited and play just 7.b4 0-0 8.d3 . ] 7.b4 axb4 8.axb4 ge7 [ The alternative treatment is 8...f6 ] 9.e3 Taking the d4 square away from Black's knight on c6 which no longer has e7 to retreat to. [ 9.d3 transposes into Davies, N (2500)Sadler, M (2440)/London 1991. ] 9...f5 [ Black can also play 9...0-0 , a famous example proceeding 10.ge2 e6 11.b5 a5 12.d3 c6 13.0-0 d5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.a3 e8 16.b4 b6 with a good game for Black in Kasparov, G (2800)-Kortschnoj, V (2625)/Paris 1990. ] 10.d3 d7 11.h3 Preventing the exchange of White's light square bishop via ... Bf5-h3, though White will not be able to castle right away. 0-0 12.f3 h6 13.b5 d8 14.e4 e6 15.d5 h7 16.h4 c8 [ After 16...f5 White can play 17.xe7 xe7 18.exf5 gxf5 19.0-0 White has some pressure. ] 17.e3 c6 [ This time 17...f5 can be strongly met by 18.exf5 gxf5 19.h5 . But Black's delay also has serious consequences on account of White's brilliant reply. ] 18.hf5! gxf5 [ After 18...h8 W hite can play 19.d2! , f o r e x a m p l e h5 20.g4 gives White a dangerous attack. ] 19.exf5 e7 20.h5 d5 21.bxc6 bxc6 22.fxe6 xe6 [ 22...xe6 might have been better, though the bish op p air still gives W hit e all th e chances. ] 23.0-0 f5 24.cxd5 cxd5 25.b5 e4 26.dxe4 [ 26.xd5! seems very strong here, for
example xd5 27.dxe4 c3 28.exf5 f6 29.c5 with three pawns and a powerful initiative for the piece. ] 26...dxe4 27.h4!? dc6 28.h3 d4 29.b7 ae8? Allowing White's powerful reply. [ 29...a2 was better. ] 30.a3! d5 31.xf8 [ 31.xg7+! was also good, for example xg7 32.b2! b6 33.xe8 xe8 34.xd4+ xd4 35.xf5+ etc. ] 31...xf8 32.fb1?! [ 32.a1! was much stronger intending to double on the 7th rank. ] 32...xe3 33.fxe3 f3+ 34.h1 e5 35.f7 xg3 36.xf5+ g8 37.xf8+ xf8 38.g4+?! [ H e r e W h i t e s h o u l d p l a y 38.e6+ , for example h8 39.f6+ g7 40.f4 etc.. ] 38...xg4 39.xg4 xh4 40.f1! c5 41.f4 g7? 42.xe4? [ 42.h5 is much simpler. ] 42...f6 43.e6+ g5 44.d1 a7 45.e7 b6 46.c2 f3 47.g7+ h4 48.f5 [ A n d h e r e W h i t e s h o u l d p l a y 48.d1! , for example e1 ( Or 48...e5 49.e7! ) 49.h2 h5 50.h7 g5 51.xh5+ g6 52.e4 with a win in sight. ] 48...g5 49.e4? This could have thrown away the win. [ White should have activated his king with 49.g2! a f t e r w h i c h xe3 50.c7! le a d s t o a wi n n in g a t t a c k , d e s p it e t h e paucity of material. For example d2 ( Or 50...h5 51.g3 d4 52.f4 h4 53.c2 ) 51.c2 e3 52.c3 d2 53.d3 a5 54.d7 h5 55.e8+ g4 56.d4+ f5 57.d5+ wins the bishop. ] 49...g3! 50.g6 e3? Forgetting that White's passes pawn must be kept under lock and key. [ 50...d4! is much better when it's difficult for White to win. ] 51.e5 f4 52.e6 c5 [ 52...xf5 53.e7 xg6 54.e8+ picks up the bishop on e3. ] 53.c2! e5 54.b3 e7 [ Black also loses the h6 pawn after 54...f8 55.xh6! because his bishop is needed where it is to stop White queening. ] 921
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 55.xh6 f5 56.a4 e5 57.d7 58.h2 e4 59.a2 c5 60.d2+ 61.c8 g5 62.e2+ d6 63.g2 64.c2 d6 65.a2 c7 66.a8 67.f3 e5 68.a7 d6 69.g4 70.f5 h4 71.h7 e7 72.h8 73.h1 c5 74.d1+ c7 75.d7 76.b5 e7 77.g6 xe6 78.f7 1-0
d6 e5 c7 d6 e7 d3 d6
the open e-file. e7 15.e1 d8 [ Black wants to avoid conceding the e6square, 15...d6 16.g5 h6 17.e6 ] 16.d6! Larry is a master of attack, and sets about the black position with gusto. First, he o p e n s t h e a 2 -g 8 d i a go n a l wi t h a t y p i c a l sacrifice hindering Black's development - the two black pieces remaining on the queenside will stay there till the end of the game. cxd6 [ 16...xd6? lose s immed iat ely, 17.g5 with twin threats of Qh5, and Qb3+. ] 928 A25 17.xe7! White wants to use the g5-sqaure, Christiansen,Larry Mark 2578 so eliminates its defender. xe7 [ 17...xe7 18.g5 h6 19.d5+ h8 Charbonneau,Pascal 2405 20.h5 is also crushing. ] WCN Ch-North America (4) 14.06.2002 18.g5 d5 [Tony Kosten] [ T h e o n l y t r y , 18...h6 19.b3+ d5 20.xd5+ h8 ( 20...xd5?! 21.xd5+ O n e r e v i e we r d o u b t e d t h a t t h e E n g l i s h h8 22.f7+ xf7 23.xf7 g8 24.g6 variations that I recommended in The with decisive threats against g7) 21.f7+ D y n a m i c E n g l i s h we r e ' D yn a m i c ' . W e l l , xf7 22.xf7 regains the exchange with an perhaps he should have a look at this enormous positional advantage. ] attacking masterpiece! 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 19.e2 h6 20.e1! hxg5 21.xe7 xe7 3.g2 c6 4.c3 b4 5.d5 Black has no sensible defence [ I like this move, and recommend it in my 22.xe7 book on the English, although we have against Rxg7+. mostly considered 5.e4 which is also quite 1-0 good. ] 5...c5 6.e3 Placing a barrier between the A25 bish o p o n c5 an d t h e se n sit ive f 2-p awn . 929 Davies,Nigel R 2500 xd5?! Sadler,Matthew 2440 [ This is probably premature, I prefer 6...0-0 ] London WFW 1991 7.cxd5 e7 8.b4!? [ 8.e2 and d4 is also good, but this exploits [Nigel Davies] the fact that Black hasn't castled. ] 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 8...d6!? [ 8...b6 9.b2 d6 10.d4 exd4 11.xd4 5.d3 [ G i v e n t h e p o t e n t i a l d a n g e r s o f 5.b1 0-0 12.e2 left White with a nagging edge (i.e. that Black may be able to play f6 in Stanec,N-Ganaus,H/Austria 1999, because of the potential c-f ile pressure followed by ...Nc6-e7 and a quick ...d7-d5) it makes sense to wait for Black to play ...d7against c7. ] d6 before lunging forward with b2-b4. ] [ 8...xb4 allows White to destroy the black kingside: 9.g4 c5 10.xg7 g6 5...d6 6.b1 a5 7.a3 ge7 8.b4 axb4 9.axb4 0-0 10.f3 11.h6 ] [ T h e r e ' s d e f i n i t e l y a c a s e f o r 10.e3 9.b2 0-0 10.a3 f5?! , stopping Black's c6 knight from going to d4. [ This weakens the kingside, and does Aronian, L (2420)-Chipashvili, M (2320)/ nothing for Black's development, 10...c6 Pasanauri 1997 continued e6 11.ge2 would justify Black's eighth move. ] d7 12.d5 xd5 13.cxd5 a7 14.0-0 11.f4 White will lever-open the a1-h8 diagonal. b5 15.b3 a6 16.b2 c6 17.c3 g6 12.f3 e8 13.0-0 exf4 14.exf4! xc3 18.xc3 b6 19.a1 xd5 20.xd5 Recapturing the other way would be cxd5 21.xd5 c8 with approximate positionally correct, but White wants to use 922
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 equality. ] 10...d4 11.0-0 xf3+ [ The game Geller, E-Mazzoni, G/Monte Carlo 1967 varied with 11...c6 after which 12.e1 f5 13.f4 h8 14.h1 g8 15.b2 f6 16.e3 e6 17.c2 exf4 18.exf4 d7 19.d2 c7 20.f2 e6 21.h3 e8 22.a1 left White with a slight edge. This kind of indirect manoeuvring battle is typical of this line which is more dependent on positional understanding than theoretical knowledge. ] 12.xf3 h3 13.e1 c6 14.g5 [ 14.b5 might have been better here, setting up immediate pressure on the queenside. ] 14...f6 15.d2 f5 16.b5 d7 17.bxc6 bxc6 18.b3 e6 19.b7 [ 19.b6 was stronger as then after e4 20.dxe4 Black does not have ... Bd4 available. W hite would stand better after xc4 21.b4 f7 22.c7 . ] 19...e4 20.dxe4 d4 21.b3 xf2+! Once the tactics started Matthew Sadler was immensely strong. 22.xf2 fxe4 23.xe4 xe4 24.g1 f5 25.e3 e6 26.b7 f7 27.c3 [ 27.eb1 would have been more testing. ] 27...h5 28.g5 af8 29.h6 e8 30.a1 g4 White's position is still more comfortable, but it's dif ficult to see where the winning chances will come from. ½-½
930 Davies,Nigel R Tebb,David BCF-chT 9798 (4NCL) (2.1) [Nigel Davies]
A25 2505 2280 1997
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.b1 a5 6.a3 d6 7.d3 f6 8.b4 axb4 9.axb4 0-0 10.b5 Various other moves have been tried here but I still like my choice. Other strong players have also tended to prefer it. e7 [ A n o t h e r p o s s i b i l i t y i s 10...d4 when Dgebuadze, A (2510)-Vaznonis, V (2282)/Dresden GER 2007 continued 11.e3 e6 12.ge2 h5 13.0-0 f5 14.d5 e8 15.d2 f7 16.f4 exf4 17.gxf4 c5
18.b4 with the better game for White. ] 11.b2 [ I seem to have been in a minority in my preference for this move, a more common one being 11.f3 . A n e xa m p le i s h6 12.0-0 e6 13.b3 d7 14.a3 f5 15.d2 b8 16.d5 c5 17.bxc6 bxc6 18.xe7+ xe7 19.c2 which was slightly better for White in Schlosser, P (2564)-Nataf, I (2552)/Cannes FRA 2008. ] 11...h5 Nobody else seems to have played this way. [ The critical line is 11...d5! , for example 12.cxd5 ( 12.a1 xa1 13.xa1 seems better) 12...exd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.f3 e4 15.dxe4 ( 15.e5 is better, but b y n o m e a n s c o m f o r t a b l e f o r W h i t e) 15...c3 16.xc3 xc3+ was good for Black in Vinke, A (2070)-Roemer, U (2250)/ Seefeld 199600. ] 12.f3 f5 13.0-0 h6 14.d2 Now White is better, his pressure on the queenside being far more significant than anything Black can do on the opposite flank. h8 15.a1 xa1 16.xa1 g5 17.a8 b6 18.a1 White is gaining serious control of the position whilst Black's play on the other flank is stillborn. f4 19.de4 fxg3 20.hxg3 f5 21.d5 [ I did not want to weaken myself with 21.g4 , despite the fact that it would win a piece. ] 21...f4 This, on the other hand, is an offer tha n ca n no t be ref used . 22.gxf4 gxf4 23.b8 e8 [ After 23...h4 White can kill the attack with 24.xc7 e8 25.a7 g6 26.xg7+ etc. ] 24.a8 g6 25.xc8 xc8 26.xc8+ h7 27.xc7 h5 28.f1 h6 29.h3 h4 30.d7 h5 31.xf5 xf5 32.xg7 h3+ 33.g1 f3 34.c1 Closing the mating net around Black's king. He has no good defence to the threat of a knight coming to f6. 1-0
923
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A25 29.e2 Dorfman,Josif D 2600 1-0 Kishnev,Sergey 2495 Bundesliga 2000-1 (9) 18.02.2001 932 A25 [Tony Kosten] Dorfman,Josif D 2608 Libiszewski,Fabien 2451 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 Monte Carlo MNC (5) 05.02.2004 5.b1 a5 6.e3 d6 7.ge2 h5!? [ An aggressive move that is popular in [Tony Kosten] similar positions, a more positional approach is 7...f5 8.d3 b4 9.e4 e6 10.0-0 e7 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 d6!? 11.a3 bc6 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 0-0 A rare line, trying to speed-up the queenside 14.b5 b8 15.e3 d7 16.c2 c6 development, W hite has no real advantage, Gulko,B[ 4...g7 is normal. ] Karpov,A/Moscow 1992. ] 5.b1 e6 6.b4! xc4?! A doubtful novelty. 8.h3 f5!? Previously Black had played [ Black is really going flat-out! However, this [ 6...d7 7.b5 ( 7.a4 g7 8.d5 ge7 hyper aggressive novelty, also has its down 9.xe7 xe7 10.xd7+ xd7 11.d3 d5 sides, the kingside, and in particular g5, is is very nice for Black, Azmaiparashvili,Zloosened. 8...e6 9.d3 d7 10.d5 f6 Malaniuk,V/Moscow 1983) 7...d8 8.d4! f5 11.ec3 h7!? deters White from short 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.b3 f7 11.f3! castles, Foisor,C-Ibragimov,I/Linares 1994. ] excellent! e4 ( 11...xc4? 12.a4 g7? 9.h4! Obviously White has to play this before 13.g5 wins the c4-bishop) 12.g5 e7 Black plays ...h4 himself. e6 10.b3 f4!? 13.0-0 f6 14.b2 with some advantage, I suppose this is only to be expected from as the black pieces are misplaced, Smyslov, Black's previous play! 11.exf4 g4 12.fxe5 V-Kupreichik, V/URS 1969. ] dxe5 So, Black has the open d and f files to 7.a4 Menacing to win a piece in two ways, play with, and controls d4. Still, a pawn is a and given as best by Gelfand, but pawn! 13.d3 e4? [ 7.b5 is also effective: ce7 8.a4 e6 [ A sharp, if doubtful, tactic, but 13...ge7 9.xb7 b8 10.xa7 and White has an 14.g5 0-0 was a sensible alternative, extra pawn. ] Black has some compensation. ] 7...e4 It is difficult to suggest anything better, 14.xe4 d4 15.f3! [ 7...e6 allows 8.b5 d4 9.e3 f5 [ 15.b2!? f3+ 16.xf3 xf3 17.0-0 10.xb7 b8 11.b6+! d7 12.bxa7! xa4 was another option, White is happy to give 13.axb8 xb8 14.c6+ xc6 15.xb8+ the exchange, and can easily defend his wining an exchange. ] kingside light squares. ] 8.b5! 15...xf3+ 16.xf3 xf3 17.0-0 g4 [ 8.xe4 d5 is Black's idea, no doubt. ] 18.g5 Without having done anything special, 8...e5 9.xe4?! Simple, but White misses White finds that he has an extra pawn, and a [ 9.d4! exd3 10.f4 which wins a piece for large development advantage. e7 19.d2 limited compensation. ] f5 20.f6+ xf6 21.xf6 0-0 22.xf5!? 9...d5 [ Simply 22.g5 is very strong. ] [ 9...d5! is stronger, and avoids problems 22...gxf5 23.h6 along the a1-h8 diagonal. ] [ Black's weakening of his kingside returns to 10.b2 g7? It is surprising how many errors h a u n t h i m . 23.g5+ f7 24.f1 ca n o ccu r in t h e o p e n in g d u rin g a ga m e is also very unpleasant. ] between two very good players when there is 23...xf6 24.xf6 xd3 25.g5+ f8 no theory to follow! 26.e1 e4 27.f2 d8 28.c3 c2+?? [ 10...e7! is the best bet: 11.f4 ( 11.b6+! [ An inexplicable blunder, 28...d4+ 29.e3 c6 12.xa7!? xa7 13.bxa7 d8 d7 keeps the game alive. ] 14.xe5 might be good for White, though) 931
924
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11...d3+! the tactical point, 12.exd3 xd3 13.c1 xe4 14.xe4 f6 regaining the piece on e4. W hite can try 15.b6+ c6 16.xc6 but after xe4+ 17.xe4+ dxe4 18.e6+ d7 19.xe4 axb6 White's advantage is minimal. ] 11.f4 After this Black is in real trouble. dxe4 12.xe5 xe5 13.xc4 d4 The only reasonable try, if the bishop moves then Qxe4 is check and b7 will drop immediately afterwards. 14.c2 d6 [ 14...g7 is slightly superior, 15.e3 d3 16.xd3 exd3 17.xb7 d8 but objectively Black is lost here. ] 15.e3 c5 [ 15...d3 16.xd3 exd3 17.xb7 b8 18.e4 wins a second pawn. ] 16.xe4+ e7 17.f3!? The practical move, but there was absolutely nothing wrong with grabbing the second pawn by [ 17.xb7 0-0 18.e2 ] 17...0-0 18.0-0 fe8 19.fc1 [ 19.xb7 is still good. ] 19...b6 20.c4 f5 21.h1 Played to free the e-pawn's advance and avoid any tactical tricks. White has an extra pawn and the better position so Black decided to avoid wasting his time! Two possible continuations: [ 21.h1 e7 ( or 21...g7 22.e4 e6 23.f5 g7 24.d4 gxf5 25.e5 e7 26.xc7 with a trivial endgame win) 22.e4 h6 23.e5 g4 24.d4 and the bishop is lost. ] 1-0
12.b4 a6 13.b5 b7 14.fxe4 fxe4 15.xe4 forced, White cannot allow Black to play ...Bxd5 for free, xe4 16.xe4+ e7 17.f3 xd5 18.g4 0-0 White's problems on the light squares are worsening, 19.f1 , Pismenny,A-Zemerov,V/ Budapest 1994, f6 with a clear advantage ] [ 8.d3 is the safest, xd5 9.f3 b4+ 10.d2 xd2+ 11.xd2 d6 12.0-0 0-0 13.ac1 e6 Black enjoys a comfortable equ a lit y, Lo b ro n, E -S oko lo v, I / Nus s lo c h 1996. ] 8...f6?! [ This is not sufficiently forcing. 8...d3+ 9.e2 fxe4 10.xe4 c5 11.d3 offers reasonable positional compensation for the (doubled) pawn. ] [ but 8...c6! appears strongest, for if 9.dxc6 d3 threatens ...Nc2+. ] 9.d3 c5 Black plays for pressure on the ffile. 10.f3 fxe4 11.dxe4 g4 12.a3 0-0 [ Better than 12...a6? 13.h3 when the pin is broken, and White can consolidate. ] 13.axb4 xb4+ 14.f1 xf3 15.xf3 xf3 16.xf3 xf3 17.e3 a6 18.e2 af8 19.hc1 The backward c-pawn assures White a positional plus. 3f7 20.f4 exf4 21.gxf4 e8 22.c4 a5 23.ac1 b5 24.d4 d7 25.f3 ed8 26.c6 White prepares his win c a r e f u l l y. f8 27.d2 a4 28.dc2 b4 29.xc7 xc7 30.xc7 a3 31.bxa3 bxa3 32.a7 b8 33.e5 1-0
934 933 Filippov,Valerij Volzhin,Alexander XIII Torre Open (5) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2593 2556 18.12.2000
Franco Ocampos,Zenon Akopian,Vladimir Anibal Open Linares ESP (10) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2482 2656 17.01.2001
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 f5 4.c3 f6 5.e4 d6 5.e3 d5!? 6.xd5 xd5 7.cxd5 b4 [ A couple of my opponents have tried The thematic point, Black threatens to 5...d4 6.ge2 c5 completely closing the recapture on d5, but also to check on d3, centre, although W hite maintains a very slight plus. ] exploiting the slight weakening of the white light squares on White's fifth move. 8.e4!? 6.ge2 ge7 7.0-0?! [ In the light of what follows, this may be [ A novelty, hanging on to the pawn by 8.b3!? is risky, e4 9.f3 d3+ 10.e2 p r e m a t u r e . 7.d3 retains White's options, c5 11.c4 b6 those light squares again! and will lead to a normal position. ] 925
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...h5 A new move here, although quite common in similar Botvinnik positions. 8.h4 White wants to stop the further advance of the h-pawn, of course. d4 [ T h e i m m e d i a t e 8...g5!? 9.hxg5 h4 is also possible. ] 9.xd4? [ White doesn't want Black to establish a p i e c e o n d 4 , b u t co n t r o l l in g g 5 b y 9.d3 was certainly safer. ] 9...exd4 10.e2 g5! 11.hxg5 d3! Black f rees the d4-square f or his bishop. 12.f4 h4 13.h5 d4 14.f6+ [ 14.gxh4 g6 fails to stop the white king's cover from disintegrating. ] 14...f8 15.gxh4 g6 16.h5 f4 17.f3 e2+ 18.h1 xf6 [ 18...xf6 19.gxf6 e8 is decisive, White cannot stop Black from play ...Qe5, and ... Rxh5+, mating the white king. ] 0-1
935 Georgiev,Kiril Sokolov,Ivan Bosnia 2001 Sarajevo BIH (1) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2676 2659 13.05.2001
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.b1 f5 Typical reversed Closed Sicilian play: Black expands on the kingside, but concedes the queenside to White. 6.b4 a6 7.a4 f6 8.b5 The White queenside initiative is well advanced, and he has yet to complete his kingside development. axb5 9.axb5 e7 10.b3 d6 11.d3 0-0 12.f3 h8 13.0-0 W hite has brought his king to safety, and Black must now find a good way of continuing his kingside expansion. fg8!? [ I really don't know what to make of this new move. 13...h6 is more common, planning ... g5, but the white queenside attack is very fast, 14.c5! g5 15.b6! (hitting the pawn chain at its base!) c6 16.a3 e8 17.cxd6 xd6 18.b4 Black's position is already disintegrating, Anilkumar,N-Saravanan,V/ Calcutta 1993. ] 14.b2 f4 15.a1 b8!? Black prefers to keep pieces on the board, and reasons that the a-file is not too useful for W hite. 16.d4!
With his pieces perfectly developed, and the black ones awkwardly placed, White strikes in the centre. fxg3 17.hxg3 exd4 18.d5 c5 [ Black cannot hang-on to the d-pawn, 18...f5 19.fd1 ge7 20.xd4 and W hite opens the a1-h8 diagonal, whilst maintaining a structural advantage. ] 19.bxc6 xc6 20.fd1 e6 21.f4 f7 22.xd4 f6?! [ A l l o wi n g a c o m b i n a t i ve li n e , 22...xd4 23.xd4 xd4 24.xd4 b5 is Black's best chance. ] 23.xc6! xb2 24.xb2 xb2 25.xb8 xa1 26.d7 d8 So far all forced. 27.c5! T h e k e y p o i n t , w i n n i n g m a t e r i a l . e5 28.xb7 e8 29.d5 h6 30.e3 b8 31.b6 f5 32.d7 c8 33.g4 h4 34.xe5 dxe5 35.d6 c7 36.xf7+ xf7 37.d8+ g7 38.d5 White's extra pawn, and superior minor piece, is decisive. e7 39.c5 h5 40.gxh5 gxh5 41.c6 1-0
936 Goganov,Aleksey Khismatullin,Denis Samara Polugaevsky Memorial 4th (8) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2590 2680 9.7.14
1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 Presumably White is aiming for a 4 Knights, but I would avoid this particular move order myself, and prefer [ 3.g3 ] 3...f5 4.d3 [ 4.d4 e4 is critical, with a reversed Frenchstyle setup, although we haven't looked at it too much on ChessPub [A27]. ] 4...f6 5.g3 b4 6.g2?! [ 6.d2 avoids the doubled pawns, and is definitely best, as is the case with reversed colours. ] 6...xc3+ 7.bxc3 d6 This is like a Reversed Grand Prix Attack, which is generally thought to b e qu ite go o d f o r W h it e (wit h c o lo u rs reversed), but here does the extra move make any difference? 8.0-0 [ 8.b3 b8 was Almasi, Z-Vallejo Pons, from a few months ago. ] 8...0-0 9.b1 The rook goes to the open file, 926
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to pressure the b7-pawn together with the bishops on g2 and hinders the development of the c8-bishop. [ 9.c5!? is probably incorrect, but opens the position for the bishops, d5 ( 9...dxc5!? 10.a3 d7 11.h4 with some initiative.) 10.c4 ( 10.d4 e4 11.e5 xe5 12.dxe5 g4 13.f4 b6 14.h3 h6 15.a4 e8 favoured Black in Wohl, A (2458) -Jones, G (2561)/Sydney 2010.) 10...dxc4 11.b2 e7 12.a4 e6 1/2-1/2 Kosten, A (2535)Degraeve, J (2525)/Montpellier 1998. ( 12...cxd3 13.exd3 and Rfe1 with play for the pawn. )] 9...e8 The queen heads for h5 "with a typical Dutch attack" - Alex. This position scores very well for Black, his play is simpler, he will aim f o r th e st an da rd . .. f 4 , .. .B h3 a nd . .. Ng4 . 10.e1 Probably best, , heading for d5 via b4 o r e 3 , a n d p r e p a r i n g a p o s s i b l e f 4 . b6 Playing in more positional style, Black protects the b-pawn and can try to exchange the light square bishops. The alternatives are also good: [ 10...h5 continues the kingside build-up, 11.f4 ( 11.c2 f4 12.e3?! g4 13.f3 fxg3 14.hxg3 Froitzheim, R (1870)-Witte, T ( 1 6 6 8 ) / T r o i s d o r f 2 0 0 8 , c8!? with advantage.) 11...e4 12.c2 e8 and I would pref er to be Black, W hite's extra tempo doesn't seem to help at all, 13.d4 xd4 14.cxd4 b6 ( 14...c6 15.e3 f7 also favours Black, he will gain the e4square for his knight, Bagheri, A (2531)Gerard, N (2272)/Nantes 2003.) 15.e3 ( 15.d5 looks right, followed by an eventual Bb2. ) 15...xd1 16.xd1 d7 17.dxe4 xe4 18.xe4 xe4 Black is slightly better, but the opposite colour bishops make this drawish, Dornieden, M (2279)-Ljubarskij, J (2338)/Dresden 2004. ] [ 10...b8 is slower, 11.c2 d7 12.b4 ( 12.e3 e7 13.d5 exd5 14.cxd5 b6 15.f4 e4 16.c4 h5 Wang, H (2724)Vitiugov, N (2722) /Ningbo 2010, 17.dxe4 fxe4 18.b2 is about equal, as g4 19.h3 e3 20.d4 f5 21.c3 xe2 22.fe1 d3 23.g4 regains the pawn.) 12...e7 13.g5 c6 14.d4 g6 Ihsan, J (2166) Safin, S (2510)/Al Ain 2008, 15.c5!? ] [ 10...f4!? 11.e3 g4?! ( 11...fxg3 ) 12.f3
fxg3?! 13.fxg4 gxh2+ 14.xh2 g6 15.h3 Black doesn't have nearly enough for the piece, Anwesh, U (2413)-Roshan, R (2062)/New Delhi 2012. ] 11.c2 b7 [ 11...d7 makes a lot of sense, 12.b4 xb4 ( 12...a5 13.d5 xd5 14.cxd5 e7 15.c4 Cruz, F (2338)-Sustach, M (2254)/Arequipa 2003, can be answered by f4 when White has no real counterplay.) 13.cxb4 c6 14.xc6 xc6 15.b5 b7 with a slight plus to Black has his minor piece is more useful in this closed position, Pfleger, H (2500)-Hort, V (2615)/Germany 1984/ GER-chT. ] 12.b4 a5 13.d5 Thematic, the knight finally reaches its destination on d5. [ 13.f3?! also keeps the bishop pair on the board, Heinrich, P (2240) -Hughes, B (1920)/ Sa n t a Mo n ica 1 9 7 4 , b u t c5 is strong, 14.c2 d5 15.cxd5 xd5 with advantage. ] [ P o s s i b l y W h i t e s h o u l d o p t f o r 13.g5 and take on f6 - his dark-squared bishop is no better than the knight. ] 13...f7 14.xf6+ xf6 15.f3 f4 So simple, White's structure is worse, and his bishops stymied. 16.e4 ae8 [ 16...c8! looks good, stopping White's next. ] 17.h3 h6 18.g4 g6 19.b2! Swinging the rook to the kingside . fxg3!? Black decides to sacrifice the exchange to 'prove' his advantage, but it would be better to keep the position closed. 20.hxg3 h5 [ 20...c8 21.xc8 xc8 22.g2 is almost level, but Black certainly isn't worse. ] 21.f5 xf5!? 22.exf5 xf5 23.d2 e6 Planning ...Rg6. Black has enough compensation with his light squared play, but n o m o re a s is k n i gh t i sn ' t p a r t i c i p a t i n g . 24.g5!? White switches to attacking mode, it's possible that a shortage of time for one or both players contributed to this decision. [ 24.e3 g6 25.g2 h3 26.f2 f5 27.e3 with a likely repetition. ] 24...xd3 25.d8+?! [ 25.xh5 i s s t r o n g e r , xc4 26.h2 looks dangerous ... for both players! ] 25...h7 26.h2 xf3 27.g5 g6? 927
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Missing a trick. [ 27...f6! protects f3 and stops Qd8, 28.g4 ( 28.xh5+ g8! 29.h2 xc4 30.hf2 d5 and ...e4 with domination.) 28...g8! 29.gxh5 ( 29.xh5?? loses on the spot to xf1+ 30.xf1 xg4+ ) 29...f5 an d with c4 d ro p ping B lack will ha ve 3 strong pawns for the exchange. ] 28.xf3! xf3 29.xh5+ h6 Forced. 30.xh6+ gxh6 31.xh6+ g8 32.e6+ White has a perpetual. g7 33.e7+ g6 34.e6+ f6 35.g4+ f7 36.d7+ e7 37.f5+ e8?? An awful blunder, any other m o v e d r e w ! 38.g5 d7 39.f6! W a s t h i s t h e m o v e B l a c k m i s s e d ? h7 40.e6+ [ 40.e6+ f8 41.h6+ ] 1-0
D (2217) -Sanzhaev, D (2056)/Kazan RUS 2008, 13.b3! ) 13.xe4?! ( 13.d4! opens the centre while Black is unable to castle ) 13...f6 14.f3 e6? ( 14...h6 ) 15.d4! exd4 16.g5 f7 17.xd4 c6 18.xe6 xe6 19.e1 and Black soon re si g n e d , W e b st e r, A ( 2 4 3 0 ) -V a n d e Berkmortel, T (2262)/ Sutton 1999; C) 10...f6 the best way to solve the problem of the loose knight, C1) 11.b3!? 0-0 12.b2 aims for a nice Reversed Dragon setup, and would be my choice, e7 13.c2 d7 ( 13...b8 14.e4 fxe4 15.dxe4 g4 16.h4 Stryjecki, M (2420)-Miton, K (2636)/ W arsaw 2005) 14.d2! ab8 15.c4 with a small plus, Markowski, T (2560)Miton, K (2592) /Poznan 2005; C2) 11.b3 to hinder Black from castling, e7 12.e4 fxe4 13.dxe4 937 A25 ( 13.g5!? exd3 14.e3 is fun, e4 15.d4 and White will recapture the Grischuk,Alexander 2720 pawns with an edge) 13...c6 to defend Cobbers,Martin 2102 b7 laterally, and prepare ...Be6 Mainz CCM5 simul 08.2005 ( 13...f7!? 14.c3 h5 15.d2 0-0 [Tony Kosten] 16.f3 Gofshtein, L (2507)-Mitkov, N (2509)/Lisbon 1999) 14.e3 the most 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 f5 4.c3 f6 logical, ( 14.g5 e6 15.c2 0-0 5.e3 The natural move, White is ready to play is nothing for White, Portisch, L (2600) Nge2 which both defends the knight on c3 Polgar, S (2480)/London 1996,; 14.d2 (against ...Bb4xc3) and prepares d4 (against c5!? 15.c2?! 0-0 16.b3 b6 ...Bc5). Instead, I recommended 17.f3?! a6 18.e1 g4 [ 5.d3 in 'The Dynamic English', to avoid was already crushing for Black, Ruck, R Black's next. ] ( 2 3 6 0 ) - N a j e r , E / B r a t i s l a v a 1 9 9 3) 5...d5!? This is the problem, the weakness of 14...e6 15.c2 0-0 16.h3 h6 17.h4 d3 allows Black to play an Open Sicilian-type fe8 18.fd1 c7 19.f5 xf5 position. 6.cxd5 b4 7.d3 bxd5 8.xd5 20.exf5 with advantage, Dzagnidze, N xd5 9.f3 The question is whether this is a (2484)-Kovalevskaya, E (2471)/Mallorca good Sicilian position for Black (because of 2004. ] the potential weakness of d3) or for W hite (active bishop on g2, pressure on e5). b4+!? 10.d2 xd2+ [ 10...e7 11.xb4 xb4+ 12.d2 e7 This allows Black to castle quickly, but also ( 12...xd2+? 13.xd2 and the e-pawn is helps W hite as his undeveloped bishop is lost ) 13.0-0 c6?! 14.e4! fxe4 15.dxe4 f6 exchanged. 16.c3 and the e-pawn is in trouble, d7 [ 9...d6 is the main move, 10.0-0 Schmittdiel, E (2387) -Giroux, F (2204)/ A) 10...c6?! 11.e4! fxe4 Velikov, P Avoine 2006, when White can brazenly play (2329)-Gerard, N (2283)/Angers 2006, is 17.h3 0-0 18.fd1 ready to capture on d7 met by 12.xe5! 0-0 13.dxe4 xe5 then on e5. ] 14.exd5 with an extra pawn; B) 10...e6?! also defends d5, but then 11.xd2 d6 12.0-0 0-0 At first glance this 11.e4! fxe4 12.g5 puts Black in all sorts position looks to be quite satisfactory for Black, of trouble, g8 ( 12...d7?! Ospennikov, but he is slightly behind in development and 928
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e5 is more exposed as there is no knight on c6. 13.fe1! The key move, White threatens e4 to expose the e5-pawn. [ 13.a5!? b6 14.b5 c5 15.c4 e6 16.g5 ad8 is fine for Black, Komljenovic, D (2 4 2 5 ) -P s a k h is , L ( 2 5 6 5 )/ B e n a sq u e 1998. ] [ 13.ac1 e6 14.g5 c6 15.xe6 xe6 16.fe1 ad8 17.a5 a6 18.e4 is about level, Lobron, E (2590)-Sokolov, I (2665)/Nussloch 1996. ] 13...f4! Taking the sting out of e4. [ 13...e6 is the main alternative, A) 14.e4! i s t h e m a t i c , fxe4 15.xe4 when f5 ( 15...f6 16.xe5 g4 17.e4 f6 18.d4 with a pawn more) 16.xe5 g4 fails to 17.g5! xf3 18.xf3 xf3 19.xd5 b6 20.f1 xb2 21.d7 menacing Qd5+; B) 14.g5 ad8 15.e4 f6?! Mareco, S (2187)-Garcia, G (2453)/ B u e n o s A i r e s 2 0 0 5 , 16.xe6 xe6 17.exf5 xf5 18.xb7 xd3 19.e2 with a structural plus. ] 14.e4 [ 14.gxf4! exf4 15.e4 e7 16.d4 gives White a mobile centre, and a certain edge. ] 14...b6 [ 14...e7! m i g h t b e b e t t e r , 15.d4 (else ...Nc6) g6 16.c3 exd4 17.xd4 e5 with a good hold on e5. ] 15.c3 H i t t i n g e 5 a g a i n . e8 16.d4 The 'equalising' Sicilian move, but here it gives White the advantage. exd4 17.xd4 e5 18.ac1 c6 19.b3+ h8 20.f3 Freeing the e-pawn's advance. f6 21.e5 e7 22.d4 e6? [ 22...fxg3 23.hxg3 g4 is obviously better, but even so 24.e4 h5 25.f4 gives White an obvious advantage, with the e and fpawns marching up the board. ] 23.xe6 xe6 24.xe6 xe6 25.gxf4 This leaves White with an extra pawn to add to his other plusses. d8 [ 25...f8 was a better try, 26.h3 g6+ 27.h1 xf4 28.e6 f8 29.e7 e8 30.cd1 winning easily, e.g. d5 31.xd5! cxd5 32.d7 ] 26.f5 e7 27.cd1 xd1 28.xd1 g8 29.f4 c4? But the position was hopeless
anyway. 30.e6? A mistake but at this stage of a simultaneous display it is normal to feel tired, and play worse. [ 30.d8+ f7 31.e6+ f6 32.f8+ leads to mate. ] 30...h6?? [ 30...g6! keeps the game alive, 31.d7 f8 32.h3 gxf5 33.xf5 xd7 34.exd7 e7 although W hite should certainly triumph after 35.xh7 ] 31.d8+ h7 32.d7 [ 32.e4! ] 32...e8 33.f6 xe6 34.f7 f6 35.e4+ 1-0
938 Gurevich,Mikhail Gagunashvili,Merab 3rd IECC Playoff (1.2) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2641 2472 27.06.2002
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.b1 A popular and flexible idea, White wants to expand on the queenside, but keeps his kingside development plans hidden. a5 6.d3 d6 7.e3 f5 8.ge2 f6 9.b3 This piece set-up is a very popular one for W hite, but with the white rook on b1, and black pawn on a5, it is even better, as, for one thing White doesn't have to worry about tactics along the a1-h8 diagonal. 0-0 10.b2 e6 One of many alternatives tried by Gurevich's opponents here: [ 10...h5!? 11.f3 ( 11.0-0 f4! is the point) 11...e6 12.0-0 f7 13.g2 e8 14.d2 Gurevich,M-Ehlvest,J/ Reggio Emilia 1991, ] [ 10...d7?! seems inferior, 11.d2 b8 12.0-0 b6 13.be1!? planning f4, e4 h8 14.f4 led to a nice victory for White in Gurevich,M-Kamsky,G/Reggio Emilia 1991. ] 11.d5 Black was intending the freeing ...d5. d7!? This appears logical, but is actually an innovation: [ 11...f7!? intending 12...Nxd5 which, if played immediately would lose a piece, 12.ec3 xd5 13.xd5 b8! 14.c3 c6= , Gurevich,M-Nikolic,P/ Antwerp 1997. ] 12.0-0 h6 13.d2 White often plays these opening moves fairly quickly, as his pieces 929
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 almost always go to the same squares. h7 14.be1!? White intimates that he will play f4 and e4 to attack in the centre. ae8 15.ec3 b6!? I prefer [ 15...f7! so that if 16.b5 Black can play xd5 17.cxd5 b4 ] 16.b5!? [ 16.a3 is safer. ] 16...c8?! This offers the exchange, [ 16...xd5! is better, 17.cxd5 b4 18.c3 e4! and Black has dynamic compensation for the white bishop pair, in particular his knight threatens to land on d3. ] 17.xf6+ xf6 18.xc6! White boldly takes t h e m o n e y. xc6 19.a7 f3 20.xc8 f4?! This threatens ...Bh3, and forces White to exchange the queens! [ 20...xc8 is better, although after 21.d4! White is well on top, f4 ( 21...b7 22.d5 and the long diagonal is closed.) 22.e2 b7 23.f3 h3 with some play for the exchange. ] 21.e2 xe2 [ 21...b7? 22.xd6 cxd6 23.f3 is much worse than the previous line. ] 22.xe2 f3 23.d2 xc8 24.d4 e4 Black tries to keep the position closed, as the rooks can only function if they have open lines. 25.c1 e7 26.c5! This is the problem, White offers a temporary pawn sac to free the d and c-files. dxc5 [ 26...b5 might be a better chance. ] 27.dxc5 xc5 28.d4! d8 29.dc2 xd4 [ 29...d6 is also insufficient: 30.xb6! cxb6 31.xc8 ] 30.xc7+ g7 31.xc8 d2 32.8c2 d7 Black could easily resign here. 33.c4 d2 34.xe4 xa2 35.h4 g5 36.h5 b5 37.e7 a4 38.bxa4 b4 39.cc7 1-0
( 3.f3 c6 4.g3 This is one of the main lines, but now I have noticed that many top players pref er to put their bishop on c5 rather than b4. c5 and theoretically, as far as I can tell, this line is fine for B la c k(a lt h o u gh ve ry r ich in id e a s , a n d certainly fine for W hite too).) 3...b4 is comfortable, because without the knight on c6 Black can castle and play Re8, and not only is Nd5 not such a big threat(knight on c6 is not attacked after it is captured) but Black also has the option of c6 and d5, or of taking on c3 and then perhaps putting the b8 knight on a different route(e. g. d7c5). ] 2...c6 [ 2...f6 3.g2 Here is where Black would sort of like to play Bb4, but it makes no sense without a knight on c3 and putting the bishop on c5 before White has played Nf3 runs into e3 and d4. c6 4.c3 b4 ( 4...c5 5.e3 intending Ne2. Now this line is not obviously bad for Black, and there are complications with Black playing d5 around here, but we will revisit that.) 5.d5 is probably somewhat better for White. ] 3.g2 c5!? An interesting set-up against the so-called 'Kostenites' i.e. those who rely on Tony Kosten's book on the English for their White opening repertoire and therefore begin with 2.g3 4.c3 a6 Perhaps not necessary, but [ 4...ge7 5.a4!? looked annoying. ] 5.e3 d6 6.ge2 [ 6.d4!? exd4 7.xc6+ bxc6 8.exd4 looks too ambitious, but I must admit that it scared me a bit at the time. ] 6...ge7 7.0-0 0-0 So Black has achieved the solid Bc5 line set-up but now with his knight on e7 the idea of e3 and d4 is not so t h r e a t e n i n g . 8.d4 I wouldn't go so far as to say this was a mistake, but it does make 939 A25 good sense of Black's piece set up, all of wh ic h i s d ir e c t e d a t t h e d 4 s q u a re . I t i s Hanreck,Alan E notable that the two top W hite players who Rowson,Jonathan Brentwood Weekender 17.02.2008 have faced this line, Van W ely and Peter Heine Nielsen, have both preferred set ups [Jonathan Rowson] where d4 is delayed or avoided. After looking at these lines for a while, you find that it is 1.c4 e5 2.g3 [ My understanding of these move orders is not so easy to play Black's position because t h a t a f t e r 2.c3 f6 ( 2...b4!? ) 3.g3 unless W hite plays d4, the knight on e7 is 930
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 r a t h e r a w k w a r d l y p l a c e d . a7 9.d5 I am not sure about this move. I suspect whatever White gains is not as much as he loses by making my bishop on a7 so influential. [ 9.a3 exd4 10.exd4 f5 11.e3!? not as bad as it looks- taking on e3 leaves white with some tender dark squares and a weakened king, but the bishop on a7 is a little bit snuf fed, and white's remaining pieces are rather good. ( 11.xc6 bxc6 12.b4 is strategically critical, because if White gets c5 then my bishop will be snuffed out, perhaps forever. c5! comes just in time and after 13.bxc5 dxc5 14.d5 Black is better, mainly because there is no convenient way to protect c4 (after ...Nd6) and the bishop on a7 has a future on a5. )] 9...b8 10.b4 d7 11.h1 h5 I am not sure about this move. [ 11...f6!? looks more flexible 12.e4 g4 13.e1 f5 is a bonus. ] 12.e4 [ 12.e4!? didn't occur to me, and is not very human, but actually quite annoying. ] 12...h4 13.d3 a5 [ 13...h3 14.xh3 c5 15.bxc5 xh3 16.g1 xc5 17.g4 ] [ 13...g6 14.f4 hxg3 15.f5 f4 16.xg3 I found this position hard to judge, but Black is probably ok. ] 14.a3 b6 15.e3 xe3 16.xe3 hxg3 17.fxg3 c6?! A bit too ambitious. I knew that if the position were to open the bishop on g2 and knight on e2 might look very badly placed, and that is indeed what ultimately happened, but I take too many liberties to achieve this goal. [ 17...axb4 18.axb4 xa1 19.xa1 c5 is more solid. ] [ 17...f5!? was also a better move. ] 18.c5 axb4 19.axb4 xa1 20.xa1 f6 21.cxd6? [ 21.a8! I saw this, and wasn't scared, but perhaps I should have been. ] 21...xd6 22.c5 Superficially White is better, but keep an eye on the bishop on g2 and knight on e2- terrible pieces that struggle to play a role. d8 23.h3 [ 23.a8 h7!= ] 23...g6 24.h2 g7 25.xd6 xd6 26.g4
e8 [ 26...cxd5 27.exd5 fxd5 28.xd5 xd5 29.d1 e4 30.xe4 e6 is clever, but just enough for a draw. ] 27.dxc6? xc6 28.c1 [ 28.d1 ] 28...e6 29.d5? White was getting short of time, but this walks in to a lost ending. xd5 30.exd5 xc1 [ 30...b6 also looked good, but I couldn't see any defence for him after what I did. ] 31.xc1 f5 32.gxf5 gxf5 33.e2 e4 34.f4 f6 35.g3 e5 36.h4 f6 37.h5 exd5 38.xd5 xd5 39.h6 f6?! [ 39...f4+ 40.h4 f6 41.g5 f3 42.h1 f2 43.g2 e3 44.f1 h7+ 45.g6 f8+ 46.f7 e6 an instructive little dance! It seems I can win the pawn by force. ] 40.h3 It now seems obvious that I should play f4 while I had the chance, but at the time I didn't want to commit myself. e7 41.f4 g6+ 42.e3 f8? To control h7, but... 43.g2 [ 43.h7! We both completely missed this move, which narrows Black's winning margin, though doesn't close it. xh7 ( 43...g6 44.d4 is tense. ) 44.f4 e3! 45.xe3 e5 should eventually win. ] 43...e5 44.h3 h7 45.f1 f4+ 46.d2 f6 [ 46...f5 ] 47.h3 b6 48.b5 h7 49.d7 g5 50.g4 f6 51.h5 h7 52.d1 g6 53.c2 f6 54.c3 xh6 55.d4 f3 56.e3 g5 0-1
940 Hansen,Curt Hodgson,Julian M Bundesliga 2000-1 (11) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2619 2596 11.03.2001
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e3 d6 6.ge2 h5 This aggressive response, is very popular, and White has to know how to handle it. 7.d4 [ White replies in the centre, in classical fashion, but 7.h4 is a sensible alternative. ] 7...exd4 931
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ The further advance of the h-pawn is the main alternative, but allows White to play a promising KI position : 7...h4 8.d5 ce7 9.e4 f5 10.g5 h3!? , Sokolov,I-Chernin,A/ Debrecen 1992, and now W hite pref ers 11.f1 with prospects of an advantage. ] 8.xd4 ge7 9.de2?! [ White preserves pieces, and avoids the exchange on d4, e.g. 9.h3!? xd4 10.exd4 f5 11.e4! 0-0 12.0-0!? ( 12.g5 ) 12...xd4 13.g5 f6 14.xd4 fxg5 15.d5+ h8 16.xg5 f6 when Black's bishops promises him good play, Geller,EKholmov,R/Moscow 1964. ] [ However, 9.xc6 is more popular. ] 9...h4 The critical reply, before White can play h 3 , o r h 4 . 10.0-0? This is really asking for trouble, but W hite obviously feels that his kingside is easily defendable. hxg3 11.hxg3 h3 12.xh3 xh3 13.f4 [ White has difficulty opposing rooks on the open h-file, i.e. 13.g2? d7 14.h1 xh1 15.xh1 0-0-0 and ...Rh8. ] 13...h7 14.c5 A desperate attempt to open the position, but it is not as if W hite has a development advantage. xc3! 15.bxc3 dxc5 16.f3 d7 17.a3 0-0-0! [ W hite was hoping for 17...b6 18.ad1 , although even here Black has no problems. ] 18.ad1 [ This fails, but recapturing the pawn allows Black a winnin g at tack: 18.xc5 e5 19.e4 7c6 20.d4 f5 21.g2 g5 etc. ] 18...e5 19.e4 xd1 20.xd1 xd1+ 21.g2 7c6 The exchange of two rooks for the black king has done nothing to dampen the black attacking prospects. 22.h3 [ Hopeless, but 22.xc5? f5 23.c2 dh1 forces mate. ] 22...b6 23.g4 b7 24.g3 f5 25.gxf5 gxf5 26.xf5 g7+ White must jettison material to avoid mate. 0-1
941 Hulak,Krunoslav Almasi,Zoltan TCh Pula CRO (1) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2566 2630 10.09.2001
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e3 d6 6.ge2 h5 7.d4 h4 [ T h e a l t e r n a t i v e 7...exd4 fared well in Hansen,C - Hodgson,J. ] 8.d5 Gaining space, and taking play into a type of KI position. ce7 9.e4 f5 10.g5 h3 11.f3 [ Personally, I feel that the bishop can be awkwardly placed here, and I prefer 11.f1! f6 12.exf5 ( Chernin indicates 12.d2 xe4 13.xe4 fxe4 14.c3 followed by the recapture on e4 with a positional advantage because of Black's 'KI bishop'. One possible continuation: g4!? 15.e2 f3 16.xf3 exf3 17.d3 but this doesn't look to be too clear to me .) 12...gxf5 13.d2 a6 14.f3 d7 15.g1 and the h3pawn was a problem, Larsen, B-Karlsson, L/Copenhagen 1985. ] 11...f6 12.0-0 0-0 13.d2!? [ A novelty, but it allows some interesting tactics. 13.h1 seems safer, removing the bishop from the f-file, h7 14.e3 g5?! 15.exf5 xf5 16.d2 g4 17.e4 e7 18.b3 c5 19.f3 gxf3 20.xf3 when White's space, and possession of e4, give him an edge, Comas Fabrego, L-Gual Pascual,A/Terrasa 1995. ] 13...h7! 14.e3 f4! 15.gxf4 exf4 16.d4 [ 16.xf4? g5 wins a piece, and this is why White hastened to move the bishop from f3 in the previous note. ] 16...h6 17.c5!? Possibly White was worried about Black playing ...c5 himself, but putting his king in the corner, and bringing a rook to the g-file, may have been better. g5 18.h1 f7 [ 18...f3 19.g3 leads nowhere, the knight has no useful discovered attack. In fact, its real destination is f7, to control e5. ] 19.cxd6 cxd6 20.d3 h7 21.fe1 e5!? 22.xe5 dxe5 23.ad1 g8 24.d6 T h i s p a wn s e e m s s t r o n g . f6 25.f3 Now that the f-file is closed this is a much safer square for the bishop, of course. d7 932
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.d5 xd5 27.xd5 g7 28.h1? [ Pawn-hunting by 28.xb7!? b8 29.xa7 xb2 30.h1 was worth consideration. ] 28...b6 29.f1 [ 29.g1 might be the best move, but it is difficult to admit one's mistake. ] 29...ac8!? [ 29...xb2 is possible, although 30.b1 a3 31.b3 xa2 32.c3 a6 33.e2 gives White some initiative. ] 30.d3 f6! Out-of-the-blue the d-pawn is being rounded-up. 31.c3 xb2 32.d5 f7 [ Preferring to avoid opposite-colour bishops after 32...xd6 33.f6+ xf6 34.xd7 ] 33.b1 d4 34.b3?! [ 34.xd4 exd4 35.xb7 offers better chances. ] 34...e6 35.bd1 c5 36.d3 White defends the d6-pawn with tricks, but it shouldn't hold-out for long. c4!? [ 36...d8 37.d2 fd7! ( 37...xd6 38.f6+ xf6 39.xd6 xd6 40.xd6 is p la ya b l e f o r W h i t e) 38.b2 b6 and the pawn is lost next go. ] 37.b1 c6 38.c7 d7 39.g1 f8 40.c1 d4 41.b3 With a passing threat of capturing the loose rook on f7. f6 42.d5 fxd6 43.cd1 xf2 44.f6+ xf6 45.xd7+ g7 ...Rc2 is the nasty threat, and White is quite lost. 46.d1 f3 Now, ...Qg2+ is threatened. 47.d3 c3! 48.xg7+ [ 48.xc3 g2+ 49.xg2 fxg2+ 50.g1 f1# would be a nice way to finish (for Black!) ] 48...xg7 49.d7+ f7 50.xh3 xg1+! [ 50...xg1+ 51.xg1 f2+ 52.f1 xh3 is quite hopeless. ] 0-1
enough that its soundness isn't in question." John Watson. [ The text certainly does score much better than the routine 5...0-0 ] [ and 5...d6 . ] 6.cxd5 b4 7.f3!? A novelty. Chucky ignores the light-square weaknesses and carries on with development, leaving Black to weigh the ramifications of this decision. A strategy well-suited to the time control, I'd say! [ The main continuation is 7.d4 exd4 8.exd4 e7 , i.e. Sarakauskas, G (2414)-Kiik, K (2452)/Jyvaskyla 2006/[John Watson] and Rogozenco, D (2577)-Parligras, M (2377)/ Iasi 1999/[TonyK]. ] [ White also often chooses 7.d3 , aiming for a reversed Sicilian-type position after bxd5 8.xd5 xd5 9.f3 . This quiet approach has some venom. One recent example: ( or 9.a3 ) 9...b4+ 10.d2 xd2+ 11.xd2 d6 12.0-0 0-0 13.d4! e4 14.e5 f5 15.fc1 e6 16.c5 f6 17.ac1 c6 18.b4 d7 19.xd7 xd7 20.f1 a6 21.c4 xc4 22.1xc4 ad8 23.a4 Vachier Lagrave, M (2699) -Hunt, A (2462)/ Caleta ENG 2012. ] 7...d3+ Svidler "calls." [ It's a close decision between the text and 7...f5!? . Following 8.0-0 c2 ( 8...c2? 9.e4+- ) 9.e1 d3 ( 9...e4!? ) 10.e2 0-0 White can begin the process of untangling, i. e. 11.e1 xe1 12.xe1 e4! 13.c4 e7 14.a4 xa4 15.xa4 ] [ Natural is 7...e4 , but 8.e5! isn't too promising for Black. ( 8.g5!? obviously comes into consideration as well. )] 8.e2 f5?! Now this isn't such a good idea. [ 8...xd5! w a s n e c e s s a r y . 9.a4+!? ( clearly not 9.xd3?? f4+ with mate to come ) 9...d7 10.e4 xc3+ 11.dxc3 ( 11.bxc3!? ) 11...xc1+ 12.hxc1 f6 942 A25 13.d1 gives White a semblance of an initiative, though the position remains fairly Ivanchuk,Vassily 2769 balanced. ] Svidler,Peter 2749 World Rapid Final (15) 08.07.2012 9.a4+! A disruptive check. c6?! [ Black can't claim much compensation after [John Bartholomew] 9...d7 10.c4 xc1+ 11.hxc1 d6 12.f1 , but maybe this was the best Ivanchuk's innovative 7.Nf3!? catches Black practical chance. ] off-guard in this unbalanced line. 1.c4 e5 [ Similar is 9...f8 10.c4 d6 11.e4 2.g3 c6 3.g2 f6 4.c3 c5 5.e3 xc1+ 12.hxc1 . ] d5!? "This move has been around long 933
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.h4! Svidler begins to realize that he's been caught wrong-footed by his wily opponent. xc1+? Essentially losing. [ 10...b5! was the last chance to make a mess of things. Then 11.b3 c8 12.e4!? xc1+ 13.axc1 g4+ 14.f3 d7 leaves W hite in control, but not without plenty to consider. ] 11.hxc1 g4+ 12.e1 Of course. White has no interest in blocking the h1-a8 diagonal. b5 A day late and a dollar short! 13.xb5! cxb5 14.xb5+ d7 15.xc5 0-0 16.c3 Th e re st is ea sy, even u nd er a f ast tim e control. b8 17.c4 f6 18.b3 c8 19.b4 b8 20.a4 d7 21.c4 c8 22.d3 b8 23.f5 b5 24.c2 g6 25.a4! gxf5 26.axb5 e4 27.f1 xd5 28.c5 As a su rp rise wea po n 7. Nf 3! ? wo rked t o perfection in this encounter. It looks legitimate, so keep an eye out for further developments. 1-0
943 Ivanov,Alexander Razuvaev,Yuri S URS-ch FL46 Ashkhabad (13) [Nigel Davies]
A25 2395 2465 1978
10...c6 11.d4 d5! 12.exd5 exd4 13.xd4 cxd5 14.cxd5 exd5 15.0-0 xc3 16.bxc3 d5 17.d2 a4 18.e1 a6 19.f3?! [ 19.e4 was better. Black's reply takes the initiative. ] 19...xc3! 20.xc3 xd4 21.bd1 d6 22.b4 f6 23.e4 xf2+ 24.h1 xe1! 25.xd8 xb4 26.d1? [ 26.d4 is better after which e7 27.xf8+ xf8 28.g4 h6 29.h4 g5 30.xa4 will probably lead to a draw. ] 26...xa3 27.xa4 c5 28.a1 f2 29.e5 b6 Now Black has more than enough for the queen and with a little help from his opponent grinds out the win. 30.h3 h5 31.f1 xf1+ 32.xf1 e6 33.f6 a8 34.g4 hxg4 35.hxg4 a4 36.e2 a2 37.d8+ g7 38.d1 e3 39.d3 g5 40.g1 f6 41.f1 a1+ 42.f2 a2 43.f1 b2 44.d6 g5 45.c6 b4 46.e1 e5 47.f3 b1+ 48.e2 b2+ 49.f1 b5 50.e2 b4 51.e4 c3 52.c4 b1+ 53.f2 e1 54.c6 c1! 55.e4 xc4 [ After 55...xc4 56.xc4 e1+ the queen is lost. ] 0-1
944 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.b1 a5 6.a3 f6 7.e3 I don't like this much in this position. [ I think White has several very reasonable moves that prevent a Black central expansion, for example 7.d3 and ] [ 7.e4!? will both do the job quite nicely. ] [ Another possibility is 7.b4 , looking to consolidate the centre after this queenside expansion. W hat he should avoid is axb4 8.axb4 0-0 9.b5? e7 when Black is getting ready for a quick ...d7-d5. ] 7...0-0 8.ge2 d6 9.d3 e7!? An interesting plan, aiming to play ...c7-c6 and ...d6-d5. It goes without saying that if Black achieves this without making serious concessions elsewhere he will have a very comfortable game. 10.e4?! Razuvaev's reply gives him a good position. [ If White wants something here he should try 10.d4! a f t e r w h i c h f5 ( 10...c6!? is probably better ) 11.e4 is quite good. ]
Kortschnoj,Viktor Kasparov,Garry Korchnoi Birthday KO (1.2) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2643 2827 29.04.2001
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.e3!? An unusual move, recommended by John Watson many years ago, but it has never caught on. c6 4.d4!? [ Sensible, yet 4.ge2 (taking the sting out of an eventual ...Bb4) or ] [ 4.a3 (aiming for a reversed Sicilian) are more usual. ] 4...b4 5.d5 xc3+ 6.bxc3 e7 Aiming for a Nimzo-style position, but White has other ideas. 7.d6!? [ White attacks on the dark squares, previously other moves had been tried, i.e. 7.e4 d6 8.f3 0-0 9.e2 d7 10.g4 c5 giving Black a reasonable Nimzo, Garcia Gonzales,G-Bronstein,L/Rio de Janeiro 1979. ] 934
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...cxd6 8.xd6 a5 9.b4 c7 Obviously Black cannot iron-out the white pawn structure by capturing on b4. 10.a3 c6 11.b1 d6 12.d3 a5! Black plays with great precision. 13.xd6? Too optimistic, W hite is obliged to sacrifice the exchange. f5! 14.xf5 [ There is little choice, 14.d2 e4 ] 14...xc3+ 15.e2 xa1 16.f3 d8 17.c5 White has trapped the black king in the centre, but it is obviously not enough, especially as the white king is hardly ideallyplaced! xa2+ 18.d2 d5 19.g4 g6 [ Not bad, but 19...c3+! 20.d3 a4 is instantly decisive. ] 20.d3 d4+ 21.e1 [ Awkward, but 21.exd4? f4+ wins the queen. ] 21...xd6?! Hardly necessary. 22.cxd6 a1+ 23.b1 a5+ [ Kasparov decides to give a half-point as a 70th birthday present! 23...b4 24.d1 dc2+ is still very good for Black. ] 24.d1 a4+ 25.e1 a5+ ½-½
945 Kosten,Anthony C Touzane,Olivier Montpellier (3) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2551 2350 06.07.2002
1.c4 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 e5 4.c3 c6 5.e3 I decided to play the 'Staunton set-up' (double fianchetto, and the knights on e2 and c3) just as in the Gurevich game this month, but [ 5.b1 might be a more accurate way to do this, enticing Black to play ...a5 and removing the white queen's rook from the a1-h8 diagonal. ] 5...f5 6.ge2 f6 7.d3 0-0 8.b3 e4?! Bla ck t ries t o e xp lo it t he we aken ed lon g diagonal but W hite f orces a positionallyadvantageous structure whilst avoiding any tactics. 9.a3! Simple and good, [ 9.dxe4 fxe4 10.xe4 xe4 11.d5+ f7 12.xe4 wins a pawn, but allows Black some play on the light squares. ] 9...exd3
[ 9...e8 10.0-0 d5!? was a more principled choice, 11.cxd5 xd5 12.xd5!? ( 12.c1 xc3 13.xc3 xd3 14.xd3 exd3 15.d5 d8 16.fd1 is a calmer choice) 12...xa1 13.xa1 xd5 14.dxe4 fxe4 15.c3 f5 16.d1 leads to a lot of fun for White, who ca n combine threats to the e4pawn with mating possibilities along the a1-h8 diagonal. ] 10.xd3 e8 11.0-0 We reach a structure that is known to favour White - he has good squ a re s o n d 5 a n d f 4 f o r h is kn igh t s . b6 12.ad1 b7 13.d5! An important point, the knight closes the diagonal for the b7bishop, Black dare not capture the knight as it opens the c-file against the c7-pawn. e4 14.c2 d6 15.b2 d7!? 16.f3 This is the dif f e rence be twee n W h ite's square s an d Black's - th e black knights can eas ily b e driven from e4 and e5. c5 17.b4 [ 17.f6+?! xf6 18.xf6 xe3 favours Black. ] 17...e6 18.f4! Re-opening the g2-bishop's diagonal. This time [ 18.f6+?! xf6 19.xf6 allows xb4 ] 18...a5 19.a3 Of course White cannot advance the b-pawn as it would concede the c5-square to Black. f7 [ 19...axb4 20.axb4 a2 21.ec3 leads nowhere. ] 20.ec3 It seems that White gives-up on his efforts to play a knight to f6, but has he? ad8 21.g4! Unexpected and strong! a8 [ 21...fxg4 allows White to bring another knight to f6: 22.e4 h8 23.g5 xg5 ( 23...d7 24.b5 a7 25.f6 xg2 26.xd7 wins ) 24.fxg5 e6 ( 24...d7 25.f6 c8 26.xe8 is crushing) 25.xc7 xe3+ 26.h1 e7 27.xd6! ( 27.d5 is a good alternative, gaining an exchange) 27...xb2 ( 27...xd6?? 28.f8#; 27...xc7?? 28.xd8+ xd8 29.f8# ) 28.xb2+ e5 29.xe5+ xe5 30.df6! and the threat to capture a piece on c6 cannot be successfully countered. ] 22.gxf5 This was a difficult decision, as [ 22.g5 e7 23.f6+ xf6 24.gxf6 was also very promising. ] 22...gxf5 [ 22...xf5 allows 23.e4 ] 23.f3! Crude but effective! The rook swings 935
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 over to g3 to put further pressure on Black's anyway, after, for example 7.d4 ( or 7.d3 dark-squared bishop. f8 24.g3 bxd5 8.xd5 xd5 9.f3 ) 7...exd4 [ 24.b5 is also quite good, d7 25.xg7 8.exd4 e7 9.d6!? xd6 ( 9...xd6 10.a3 xg7 ( 25...xg7 26.c3+ winning. ) c6 11.ge2 0-0 12.0-0 Raeva, E (2286)26.g3 g6 27.xf5 is very good fro Bulmaga, I (2258)/Albena 2010, 1/2-1/2 White. ] (40). ) 10.ge2 c6 ( 10...f5 11.0-0 c6 24...e6 I had expected 12.a3 bd5 Jepson, C (2394)-Hector, J [ 24...g6 although 25.b5 is winning (2584)/Copenhagen 2010, 0-1 (51).) 11.f4 much as in the last note. ] as analysed by Marin. d8 12.0-0 0-0 25.xc7! The most elegant. d4! 13.e5 bd5 14.b3 b6 15.f4 g4 [ 25...xc7 26.d5 wins on the spot, both 16.ad1 xe5 17.dxe5 c7 18.e6 Nxc7 and Rxg7+ are menaced. ] ( 18.fe1 g4 19.c1 Marin. ) 18...g5 26.xd4 xc7 27.b5 e7 28.xa8 19.ce2 Bacrot, E (2709)-Gelfand, B (2733)/ One of a number of wins here, perhaps Odessa 2007, 1/2-1/2 (51). ] [ 28.xd6! is the best: exd6 ( 28...xe3 5...a5 Radically stopping b4, but this move 29.xf5 e1+ 30.f1 ) 29.xd6 g6 weakens b5. ( 29...xd6 30.xg7+ is no improvement) [ 5...a6 immediately (or later), might be 30.xd8+ and White is a rook to the good. ] better, preparing a retreat square for the 28...xa8 29.g2 Hitting a8. g6 The only dark square bishop, although the downside chance. is it allows W hite to expand on the [ 29...b8 30.xd6 g6 31.xf5 q u e e n s i d e . 6.e3 ( of course, White can is obviously hopeless, and ] always transpose back into 4 Knights lines [ 29...xe3 is simply countered by 30.xg7+! anyway by, say 6.d3 d6 7.f3 h6 8.0-0 xg7 31.xg7+ xg7 32.e4+ ] 0-0 9.b4 a7 10.b2 reaching Marin's 30.xa8! After Black's checks run out he will main position. ) 6...d6 7.ge2 0-0 resign: xe3+ 31.f1 xg3 32.hxg3 xd4 A) Marin only gives 8.b4 a7 9.0-0 f5 33.d5+! e6 34.xd4 d3+ 35.g2 ( or 9...e7 10.b2 c6 11.d4 ) 10.d4 1-0 ( 10.d3 d7 ) 10...e8 11.h3 exd4 12.exd4 d7 13.h2 h6 14.e3 d8; B) 8.h3 a7 9.d3 is another, more 946 A25 flexible approach.; C) 8.0-0 Kosten,Anthony C 2455 C1) 8...a7 9.d4 ( I mentioned 9.f4!? Velten,Paul 2429 in 'D E ', b u t i t n e ve r r e ce i ve d m u c h TCh-FRA Top 12 2014 (11.7) 03.06.2014 testing. ) 9...exd4 10.exd4 h6 11.h3 [Kosten, Tony] e8 12.b4 ( 12.e3 e7 plans ...d5, Tallarico Tallarico, O (2216)-Korneev, O 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 f6 4.c3 c5 ( 2 5 8 3 ) / M o n d a r i z 2 0 0 2 , 0 - 1 ( 3 1 ) .) According to Jonathan Rowson: "theoretically, 12...e7 13.c5 c6 14.f4 probably as far as I can tell, this line is fine for Black a b o u t e qu a l a s B l a c k c a n b r in g h i s (although very rich in ideas, and certainly fine bishop into play via b8, Reinderman, D for White too)." Which seems about right. 5.a3 (2560)-Quick, S (2197)/Canberra 2009, In his GM Repertoire book Marin considers 1-0 (57).; this move dubious, and prefers C2) 8...f5 9.d4 a7 10.h3 ( not 10.b4 [ 5.f3 transposing to a 4...Bc5 Four Knights, d7 and ...Bh3. ) 10...e8 see Istratescu-Navara, this month. However, C2a) 11.d5 e7 ( 11...b8 12.e4 he later wants to play a3 and b4 anyway, so g6 13.b4 bd7 14.d3 1-0 (39) this makes no sense. ] Af ek, Y (2 301 )-L ampe rt, J (22 67)/ [ 5.e3 would be nice, if it weren't for d5 Haarlem 2012.) 12.e4 d7 13.d3 6.cxd5 b4 see the Archives for some 1-0 (36) Edouard, R (2607)-Lampert, J examples. Still, I was tempted to try this as (2205)/Deizisau 2012.; White gets some very, very slight advantage 936
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 C2b) 11.g4!?; C2c) 11.h2 h6 12.b3 exd4 13.exd4 e4 14.e3 1/2-1/2 (23) Sielecki, C (2424)-Scheerer, C (2140)/ Heringsdorf 2000. ] [ 5...0-0 could transpose if Black plays a quick ...a6 or ...a5, 6.e3 d6 was already played by my opponent a couple of times: 7.ge2 ( 7.b4 b6 8.ge2 a5 9.b5 e7 10.0-0 e6 11.xb7 b8 12.g2 xc4 13.d3 e6 14.d4 0-1 (72) Pogorelov, R (2403)-Velten, P (2385)/San Sebastian 2013. ) 7...f5 8.d3 ( 8.d4 b6 9.b4 a6 10.h3 must be better with the bishop on b6.) 8...h6 9.h3 a6 10.g4!? a nice kingside plan, h7 11.g3 b8 12.h4!? h8 13.b4 ( 13.g5 g8 ) 13...a7 14.b2 e7 15.g5 fg8 with sharp play in Wohl, A (2362)-Velten, P (2422)/Naujac sur Mer 2013, 1/2-1/2 (72). ] 6.e3 d6 7.ge2 I like this setup for White, for several reasons, one being, as I mentioned in 'DE ' : " W h i t e c a n st a rt a s t ro n g k in g sid e initiative with f4-f5, h3, g4 as the f2 pawn's advance is unhindered." 0-0 8.0-0 [ W hite can also play the immediate 8.h3 and then d3, g4, f4, etc., but it makes sense to play d4 and chase the bishop back. ] 8...f5 [ 8...e8 is another good move, 9.d4 ( 9.d3 g4?! 10.h3 e6? 11.d4 won material in Grivas-Miles, Komotini 1992.) 9...a7 10.h3 h6 11.b3 d7 12.h2 c8 13.b2 ( 13.d5?! was Psakhis, L (2598)-Janev, E (2445) in the Archive.) 13...e4?! 14.c2 f5 15.ac1 h5?! (to stop g4, but the cure is worse than the disease) 16.d5 h7 17.ef4 g5 18.e2 and Black is almost lost, Kosten, A-Janev, E/Aurec 2001. ] [ 8...g4 is actually the most played move, but after 9.h3 the bishop has to go back, h5 ( 9...xe2?! 10.xe2 is clearly good for W hite, Lie, E (2266)-Meyer, F (2348)/ G a u s d a l 2 0 0 3 , 0 - 1 ( 6 0 ) .; 9...e6? is a known b ut quite com mon, blunder: 10.d4 exd4 11.exd4 and Black loses a piece, Czebe, A (2496)-Frink, F (2239)/ Zalakaros 2004, 1-0 (25), as a7 12.d5; 9...f5 loses a move on the mainline, 10.d4 b6 11.g4!? g6 12.f4! Garcia, H-Saadi, J Cordoba 1970, 0-1 (36).) 10.g4 g6 11.d4
a7 12.b4 ( 12.f4! ) 12...axb4 13.axb4 with advantage, Trauner, R (2233)Waldmann, G (2153) Austria 2006, 1-0 (69), as xb4? 14.xb7 ] [ 8...e6? aga in lo se s a p ie ce t o 9.d4 and this has occurred a number of times! ] 9.d4 [ 9.d3 is worse here, d7 and ...Bh3. ] 9...a7 [ 9...exd4 10.exd4 a7 11.h3 transposes below. ] 10.h3! A necessary move, otherwise Black will play ... Qc8 (or maybe ...Qd7) and exchange the light square bishops with ...Bh3. Further White may harbour aggressive intentions on t h e k i n g s i d e w i t h g 4 , N g 3 a n d f 4 . h6 A logical move, preparing a luft for the f5bishop, and also ... exd4 without having to worry about Bg5 after. Alternatives: [ 10...exd4 11.exd4 e8 ( 11...h6 12.g4 h7 13.b5 b6 14.ec3 e8 15.e3 with more space, Miezis, N (2557)-Nikolajev, D (2325)/Riga 2012, 1-0 (63).) 12.g4! e4 ( 12...g6 13.e3 ) 13.xe4 xe4 14.c3! xf2?! 15.xf2 xd4+ 16.g3 e5+ 17.f4 f6 18.d2? ( 18.xc6 bxc6 19.d2 sh o u l d wi n .) 18...g5! 19.xe5 xe5+ 20.f2 c5+ 21.g3 e5+ 22.f2 c5+ 1/2-1/2 Frumkin, E (2029)Hess, R (2439) New York 2007. ] [ 10...h5!? 11.h2 d7 12.d5 xd5 13.cxd5 e7 14.e4 g6 15.f4 f5 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.fxe5 fxe4 18.f4 Favoured White, Skembris, S (2420)-Botsari, A (2335)/Athens 1996, 1-0 (36). ] 11.h2 It was a morning game, and I just wanted to play 'simple chess', so protected h3 and moved the king off the g1-a7 diagonal as a precautionary measure. It turns out that this is a novelty. [ 11.d5 (I don't like this move in such positions myself) e7 12.e4 d7 13.h2 g6 14.f4?! ( 14.d3 ) 14...exf4 15.xf4?! xf4 16.xf4 e7 17.d2 ae8 e5 and e4 are weak, as are W hite's dark squares, Serafimov, D (2157)-Van Elst, A (2258)/Condom 2006, 0-1 (43). ] 11...e8 12.b3 exd4 13.exd4 e4 Black's play is very logical, he uses the e4square to exchange some pieces. [ If 13...h7 then I was planning to play 937
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.b5! b6 15.ec3 and Na4, embarrassing the b6-bishop. Curiously, the idea came to m e f rom a game I h ad a s Black against Tony Miles 30-odd years ago, with the same queenside structure where he h a d p l a y e d t h i s wa y . I t h i n k I a c t u a l l y managed to draw, and stop him winning the G ra n d P rix, b u t n o t a f t e r c o n sid e ra b l e suffering. ] 14.e3 White has more space and a small advantage, while Black must find a way to bring the a7-bishop into the game. b8!? Played to reposition the knight and continue ... c6. 15.xe4! [ 15.b5 d7! 16.xa7 xa7 and it didn't s e e m t o m e t h a t m y e 3 -b is h o p wa s s o useful. ] 15...xe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.c3 e7 [ 17...e8 18.g4 h8 ( 18...e6 t r a n s p o s e s t o t h e g a m e .) 19.ae1 with advantage, d7?! 20.f3! forking f7 and b7. ] 18.g4 Menacing to take on h6, perhaps. e6 [ 18...d7 i s m o r e n a t u r a l , 19.ad1 ( 19.xh6 f5 20.g5 xd4 21.d5 f7 22.xd8+ xd8 23.ad1 might also be a bit better for W hite.) 19...f6?! 20.f3 and this time b7 and h6 are threatened. ] 19.d5! I was happy to gain a small but sure positional advantage, while avoiding any sharp tactics. g6 20.e4 xe3 21.xe3 d7 22.ae1 This position is very pleasant for White, he has more space and controls the only open file. In the meantime the g6-rook is offside, has no easy route back into play and must beware f4-f5 and Ne4. f5?! To play ... Rf6-f7, but now the weakness on e6 is a 2nd serious problem for Black. In my opinion he is now already lost! [ He suggested 22...h5 in the post mortem, to hide the rook on h6, but 23.e2 c5 24.e4 xe4 25.xe4 f6 26.fe1 keeps Black passive, g5 27.f4 f5 28.e7 ] 23.e2! f6 24.f4 f8 25.e2 Preparing to triple the heavy pieces on the efile. d7 26.fe1 f7 27.c3! b6 Solid, but now he loses any possibility (however slim) of creating some counterplay. 28.e3 I was in no rush, the game should 'win itself '. This prepares R1e2 and Qe1. h7
29.e6 g6 30.f4! Stopping ... Ne5 and ...f4 ideas. g8 31.c2 h8 32.e2 Tripling the heavy pieces again. f6 [ 32...h7? 33.g5+ hxg5? 34.h5# was one idea. ] 33.d4 f7 34.h5 f6 35.h4! Preparing a later h5 and Re7, Black is totally passive and c a n o n l y a w a i t t h e i n e v i t a b l e e n d . . f7 36.e2 c8 37.h5 f8 38.e7 g8 39.d3 g5 Desperation. [ I was e xpe ct in g 39...h7 to defend f5, when 40.b5 ( 40.g2 leaves Black in some sort of zugzwang, the only move to avoid immediate material loss is g8 when 41.c6 h8 42.a7 d8 43.xc7 ) 40...g8 41.xc7 starts taking some material. ] 40.xf5 gxf4 41.g7! [ 41.g7 xg7 42.xg7 xg7 43.e7+ g8 ( 43...f7 44.xf7+ xf7 45.f5+ forks king and rook. ) 44.gxf4 and Qg3+. ] 1-0
947 Macieja,Bartlomiej Pavlidis,Antonios GRE-chT 42nd (5.3) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2607 2478 01.07.2014
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.c3 c5 5.e3 An interesting choice, this move is by far the most popular here even though it is not considered very accurate. d6 [ We have only looked at the critical 5...d5 previously, I wonder what Maiceja intended against this? ] 6.ge2 f5 Logical. [ Marin looks at both 6...a6 7.0-0 0-0 8.d4 a7 9.h3 ] [ and 6...0-0 7.d4 b6 8.0-0 ( 8.b4 ) 8...e8 in his book. ] 7.d4 This exposes the drawbacks to the . .. Bc5 lines, the bishop is a target for the white pawns. I remember Alekhine considering them weak for this reason. b6 Not a very good square, which is why Black often prefers an early ...a6 so the bishop can retreat to a safer s q u a r e o n a 7 . 8.b4! If this is good, then it seems critical, White threatens to suffocate the b6-bishop with c5. 938
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 8.0-0 allows d7 stopping h3, ( 8...0-0 9.h3! ) 9.dxe5!? xe5 10.xb7 b8 11.g2 xc4 12.d4 g4 13.c2 Khasin, A (2503)-Gubajdullin, A (2305)/St Petersburg 1999, e5 ] [ 8.a3 see ms unn ece ssa ry, a5 9.0-0 transposing to 5 a3 lines. ] 8...d7 Probably best, supporting the knight on c6. [ 8...a6?! was the only previous try, giving the bishop some room, but 9.c5! a7 10.xc6+! bxc6 11.dxe5 e4!? ( 11...dxe5 leaves no way for the a7-bishop to escape.) 12.exd6 cxd6 13.d4 g5 14.f4 h3?! 15.e4! xe4 16.xe4+ Black is in a bad way, Kuljabin, V (2360)-Cisler, P (2165)/ Klatovy 1997. ] [ 8...a5!? is risky: 9.b5 b4 10.0-0 b8 (t o d e f e n d b 7 ) ( 10...c2 11.e4 xe4 12.xe4 xa1 13.b2 favours W hite.) 11.e4 ( 11.a3 d3 might be OK.; 11.h3 ) 11...g4 12.d5 and a3 will win material. ] [ 8...xb4? is im possible : 9.a4+ c6 10.d5 ] 9.a3 Defending b4 and renewing the threat of c5. [ 9.c5?! i s n o t h i n g : dxc5 ( or 9...exd4 10.xd4 dxc5 11.xc6 bxc6 12.a4 0-0; 9...xb4?! 10.cxb6 c2+ 11.f1 xa1 12.xb7 d8 13.bxa7 ) 10.dxc5 xb4 ] 9...a5 [ If 9...a6 10.c5 a7 11.a4 is awkward. ] 10.b5 d8 11.h3! A key move in such positions (see my game with Velden last month, for another example), both stopping the simplifying ...Bh3 and preparing kingside e x p a n s i o n . h5 T o s t o p g 4 . 12.a4 I like W hite's extra queenside space and f l e x i b l e p a wn f o r m a t io n . c6?! 13.a3 Eyeing d6 and supporting the c5 advance. exd4 14.xd4 c5 15.xc5 Simple and good. [ 15.bxc6 bxc6 16.xf5 xf5 17.b5 also wins material. ] 15...dxc5 16.xf5 xf5 17.d6! White is already winning. c8 18.0-0 e6 19.xc5 d7 20.a7 [ 20.d4 0-0 21.fd1 f6 should also win. ] 20...0-0 21.xa5 xc4 22.e4 White is a good pawn up with the better minor pieces.
e6 23.bxc6 xc6 24.xh5 a8 25.g5 h6 26.xh6 gxh6 27.e4 This is now a formality. a5 28.fb1 a6 29.b5 c8 30.d1 c7 31.xa5! xa5 32.xd7 xd7 33.f6+ f8 34.xd7+ e8 35.f6+ e7 36.g8+ f8 37.xh6 b6 38.c6 1-0
948 McNab,Colin Anderson Hodgson,Julian M MSO Ron Banwell mem (5) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2416 2640 24.08.2000
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.c3 c5 5.a3 [ To control the b4-square, as the obvious 5.e3 allows d5 6.cxd5 b4 as we have seen before. ] 5...d4!? [ A speciality of Julian Hodgson. Stopping b4 by 5...a5 is the normal reply, when White can continue 6.e3 and Nge2. ] 6.c2 [ A very sensible reply, the Scottish GM wishes to avoid doubled c-pawns, and so d e f e n d s c 3 w i t h h i s q u e e n . 6.d5 had been preferred in the game Spraggett,KHodgson,J/ W innipeg 1997, which continued: 0-0 7.f3 b6 8.d3 h6 9.0-0 d6 10.xb6 axb6 11.b3 with a plus to White. ] 6...xc3 Anyway! 7.xc3 d5 8.b4!? [ White refrains from playing a reversed Sicilian position after the natural 8.cxd5 xd5 9.c5 ] 8...0-0 9.b2 e8 10.d3 a5! [ W h i t e w a s c l e a r l y h o p i n g f o r 10...d4 leading to a Benoni structure in which he is well-versed, but, instead, Black embarks on a sharp tactical operation to exploit the white king's extended stay in the centre. ] 11.b5 d4 12.e3 a4! Of course, the d4knight is untouchable f or the moment, so Black prepares a strong square for it on b3. 13.f3? [ White brings a deluge down upon his head, there was still time for 13.cxd5 i.e. xb5 14.c5 with balanced chances. ] 13...h3! Undermining the f3-knight's support 939
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 in the most dramatic way. 14.xh3 xf3+ 15.e2 [ 15.f1 dxc4 16.dxc4 e4 is also awkward. ] 15...d4+ The knight turns to this apparently inhospitable square, but Black has to achieve something quickly, for otherwise White's two bishops will prove usef ul. 16.f1 b3 17.d1 c6 To open a queenside file for the rook. 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.c2 d4 20.e4? [ Closing the position does nothing to help the white bishops, 20.g2 seems better. ] 20...b8 21.g2 c5 The knight finally reaches a safe square, and what a strong one it is too! The threat of infiltration along the bline is difficult to counter. 22.he1 b3 23.g1 h5 24.e2 a5 25.c1? [ White overlooks a tactic, but after 25.f1 eb8 26.d2 the white position is near breaking-point anyway. ] 25...xd3! 26.d2 [ Of course, if 26.xd3?! xd3 27.xd3? then xe1+ but White could just as well resign. ] 26...c5 27.f1 xc4 28.g5 b2 29.xc4 xc4 30.xf6 gxf6 31.d7 d8 32.xc6 At least one of White's bishops has found some activity, but it is far too late to save W hite. xa3 33.a1 xa1 34.xa1 c8 35.xa4 a8 Pinning, and winning. 36.a2 d3 [ White loses a piece after 36...d3 37.f1 ( 37.b3 xa2 38.xa2 d2 39.b3 b2 ) 37...d2 38.e2 xa4 39.xa4 d1+ 40.xd1 b2+ ] 0-1
8.ge2 Transposing to the mainline, but [ 8.fxe5!? i s t e m p t i n g : e8 ( 8...xf2+ 9.xf2 e4+ 10.e1 f2 leads nowhere a f t e r , s a y , 11.h5 ) 9.f3 ( is Black's compensation sufficient after 9.xc6!? dxc6 10.d4 ? ) 9...d6 10.d4 xd4? 11.xd4 xe5+ 12.e3 g4 13.c2 won easily in Andrade,J-Santos,A/ Odivelas POR 2000. ] 8...d6 9.0-0 This is good, although I recommend [ 9.h3 e8 10.e4 in my book, as I don't like committing the white king too early here. ] 9...e8 This is the standard manoeuvre in all these lines, the queen heads for the kingside. 10.e4! This is known to be best since: [ 10.a4?! d4! 11.xd4 exd4 12.h3 ( 12.a3 a5 13.b3 and White managed to draw in Karpov,A-Bellon Lopez,J/Madrid 1973 ) 12...h5 13.a3 a5 14.b3 g6 and Black won a beautiful game, see Saidy, A-Fischer,R/New York 1969. ] 10...xe4 11.dxe4 h5 12.h1 Played to unpin the f-pawn so that White can repel ... Bg4 with f3. f6 Black's play is direct, but this m a y we ll le a d t o a qu ick m a t e a ga in s t a w e a k e r o p p o n e n t ! 13.f5!? A new move, covering h6. [ 13.c3 g4?! ( 13...xd1 14.xd1 xf2 ) 14.f3 h6 15.h4 e6 Oepen,L-Hermann,T/Germany 1987, and now 16.d5 looks good. ] 13...g6! Black forces open the f-file. 14.fxg6?! A risky reply, better [ 14.e3 when White's position is preferable. ] 14...xf2? A pity, [ 14...g4 was the right way to continue: 949 A25 15.d5+ ( 15.f3 xf3! 16.g1 xf1 17.gxh7+ xh7 18.xf1 g7 with threats Miezis,Normunds 2523 of ...Rf8, and ...Rh8.) 15...h8 16.c3 Simonsen,Olavur 2265 xf2 which is dangerous for White, e.g. Troll Masters (2) 08.01.2003 17.f4? xf4! 18.gxf4 g3 winning. ] [Tony Kosten] 15.d5+ h8 16.f4! The e-pawn is pinned Fischer's pawn sacrifice is rarely seen these along the rank. h6 17.d3 And now the 18.g5 f3 days, but still contains a lot of venom. 1.c4 b i s h o p i s p i n n e d . f8 c6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 f5 4.g2 f6 5.d3 W ith a very, very tiny hope that W hite will c5 6.e3 f4?! Fischer's famous pawn sac, capture the rook! 19.xf2 xf2 20.xf2 borrowed from the similar line with colours xf2 21.f1 1-0 reversed. 7.exf4 0-0 [ 7...d6! is more accurate. ] 940
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 950 Moor,Roger Gallagher,Joseph G Christmas Open (3) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2360 2514 27.12.2000
1.c4 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 e5 4.c3 c6 5.b1 f5 6.d3 d6 7.b4 f6 8.e3 0-0 9.ge2 g5!? Very aggressive, Black plays for out-and-out attack on the kingside. 10.b5 e7 11.f4 A standard device, White doesn't want to let Black play ...Ng6, and ...f4, himself, wh e n h e r is k s b e in g m o wn - d o wn o n t h e kingside, so stops the pawn's advance. h6 [ Keeping the tension, 11...exf4 12.exf4 ( 12.gxf4!? ) 12...g4 13.0-0 h5 14.e1 h4 should favour W hite, Lange,C-Rechel,R/ Kassel 1996. ] 12.d4!? [ A new idea, 12.0-0 e8 13.b3 g6 14.d5 xd5 15.xd5+ h7 is not so clea r, J an s en , C-A ub el, J/ NLD-ch T 94 9 5 1994. ] 12...e4?! [ 12...gxf4 13.exf4 e4 14.d5!? followed by Nd4, is interesting. ] 13.fxg5! hxg5 14.h4 White thereby gains the f4-square for his knight. gxh4 15.f4!? [ Sacrificing a pawn for a square, 15.xh4 g6 limits White's advantage. ] 15...hxg3 16.ce2 e8 [ Perhaps Black should try to evacuate his king by 16...f7!? 17.xg3 e8 ] 17.xg3 g6 18.gh5 xf4 19.xf4 f7 20.f1 g4 21.e2 c6 22.h5 a6 23.b6 d7 [ Blac k ha s to b e very ca re f u l, 23...h6? 24.xg4 xf4 25.exf4 fxg4 26.g5+ h8 27.d5 and Bb2 wins. ] 24.d2 fd8 25.xg4 fxg4 26.d5! The diagonal must be opened. cxd5?! [ 26...c5 would at least keep d5 out of White's hands. ] 27.g5 f6?? [ Presumably a time-trouble blunder, 27...f8 28.a3 f5 29.xd5 xd5 30.xd5 e6 is uncomfortable, but it may be possible to hold it. ] 28.xd5+ f8 29.b2 1-0
951 Movsesian,Sergei Acs,Peter FIDE WCh KO Tripoli LBA (2.2) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2647 2548 22.06.2004
1.g3 e5 2.g2 c6 3.d3 g6 4.c4 g7 5.c3 d6 By transposition we arrive at a standard Closed English. 6.e3 ge7 7.ge2 h5 We have already examined this idea with the white d-pawn on d2, which gives W hite the possibility of playing d4. 8.h3 d7!? As far as I can see a new move, Black wants to play .. .Qc8 and a ttack the h3-pawn t o hinder White from castling. [ 8...e6 has the same idea, but is met by 9.d5 which eyes c7, d7 10.d2 a6 11.b3 b8 12.b2 Sokolov,A-Bern,I/ Cappelle la Grande 1994. ] [ 8...h4 is clearly critical, 9.g4 f5 10.gxf5 xf5 11.d5 d7 12.ec3 0-0-0 with sharp play, Otero,E-Pecorelli Garcia, H/Cienfuegos 1991. ] 9.d2 White often plays this move first to protect c3 and avoid tricks along the a1-h8 diagonal, but I don't think it is necessary here, as there is nothing wrong with [ 9.b3 ] 9...c8 10.b3 d8 11.b2 This is the standard white set-up in this line, a piece formation that has been popular since first played by Staunton. It is true that here White cannot castle, but he often retards castling in this line, waiting to see how Black places his pieces and adapting his subsequent play a cco rd in gly. 0-0?! 12.g4! Perhaps Black should have thought twice about castling kingside too! h4 Black elects to keep the h-file closed, he hopes to open the kingside later with ...f5, but his h-pawn will prove a problem. [ 12...hxg4 13.hxg4 xg4 wins a pawn, but is very risky, 14.0-0-0 c6 15.f3 e6 16.f4 planning moves like Rdg1, Qe1-h4, etc., with a strong attack. ] 13.d4 White is still hesitant about castling, first he gains space, and makes sure that he has plenty of central play to dissuade Black from a kingside attack. a5 14.f4 Another typical move in this line, which has the advantage of stopping Black from playing ...f5-f4. [ 14.a4 is also a good idea, stopping Black's 941
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.0-0 g7 11.e3 ( Or 11.a3 0-0 12.b3 g4 13.d5 xd5 14.cxd5 b6 15.c4 b7 16.ac1 f7 17.c2 c5 A.Perkins-J.Tarjan, Graz 1972, and now 18.xc5 dxc5 19.a5 ) 11...0-0 12.b3 g4 13.a5 a6 14.d2 c8 , so far F. Svoboda-J.Simek, corr 1996, and now: 15.c5+ e6 16.b4 ( 16.a3!? ) 16...axb5 17.cxd6 cxd6 18.fc1 ] [ B) 8...h6 9.0-0 ( Another interesting try is 9.d4!? xc4 10.dxe5 g7 11.0-0 xb5 12.xb5 xb5 as played in V.Privalov-A. Zajarnyi, Lvov 1998, and now 13.a3 dxe5 14.b1 a6 15.b3 e4 16.d2 f5 17.c4 offers White excellent compensation for the pawns) 9...g7 10.e4 ( 10.b2!? ) 10...e7 11.a4 0-0 12.d2 f5 13.d5 c6 14.xe7+ xe7 , H.Hoffmann-T.Escher, Germany 1990, and here 15.h4 f6 16.exf5 xf5 17.xf5 xf5 18.e2 h7 19.ab1 ] [ C) 8...g7 9.g5!? e4 ( Or 9...f5 10.e4 g4 11.f3 e6 12.e3 ) 10.b2 exd3 11.xd3 a6 12.h4 axb5 13.cxb5 e7 14.d2 ( 14.h5!? is another fun line, so f orgive me f or taking the ana lys is a bit longer than can reasonably be expected to be accurate: d5 15.0-0-0 f5 16.e4 g4 17.f3 d4 18.fxg4 xg4 19.f3 dxc3 20.h3 h6+ 21.b1 xg3 22.hxg6 xg6 23.xc3 f6 24.hg1 f7 25.d7+ f8 26.xd8+ xd8 27.xd8+ e8 28.xe8+ xe8 29.e6+- ) 14...0-0 15.h5 gxh5 ( 15...h6 16.xe6 xe6 17.d1 e8 18.hxg6 fxg6 19.0-0 ) 16.xh5 f5 17.e4! ( 17.d5!? xb2 18.xb2 xd5 19.xd5 e8 20.c4 e5 21.d1+- ) 17...g6 18.xh7+- xh7 19.xh7+ h8 20.0-0-0 g8 21.h1 h6 22.d5 f6 23.e4 xa2 24.xh6 xh6 25.xh6 g7 26.h4 1-0 Tigran V. Petrosian-Y. Estrin, 952 A25 Moscow 1968 ] Navara,David 2720 9.xh3 xh3 10.d4! g7 [ Black recently tried 10...f6 and obtained a Ledger,Andrew 2413 quick draw, but analysing the few moves 4NCL 2006-07 (11) 07.05.2007 they played reveals that Black is on his [Carsten Hansen] heels in this line too: 11.e3! g7 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.a4 b6 ( 13...f7 14.e4 c8 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 d6 4.c3 e6 15.d1 ) 14.d5 ( 14.c5 c8 15.d1 5.d3 d7 6.b4 g6 7.b5 d8 8.f3 h3 e7 16.g4 e6 17.c4+- ) 14...e6 [ The alternatives for Black also offer White 15.a3 ( 15.d1! f7 16.c5+- ) 15...f7 the better chances: A) 8...f6 9.a4 e7
qu e en s ide pla y, t h e wea kn ess o f b4 is irrelevant. ] 14...a4 15.bxa4!? exd4 16.xd4 dc6 [ 16...xa4 17.f3 wins the h4-pawn. ] 17.0-0 As so often in this particular line, White castles quite late, and only when he has maximised the possibilities of his pieces. a5 The c-pawn is weak, but relatively easy to defend, and difficult to attack. 18.d3 e8 19.ae1 White continues to strengthen his position, grabbing the h-pawn by [ 19.f3?! is worse, c6 20.xh4 xg2 21.xg2 e6 with lots of counterplay against the weakened white queenside. ] 19...ac6 The attack on the c-pawn has not amounted to too much, and so Black decides to exchange some pieces to get some room to breathe. 20.e2 xd4 21.exd4 c6 Targeting d4. 22.e4! The knight aims for the kingside, suddenly the black pieces seem far away. xa4 [ 22...f5 is tempting, but ... 23.g5! xe2 24.xe2 fxg4 25.d5+ h8 26.f5! a n d B l a c k i s l o s t , e . g . xf5 27.e1 (threatening Qxh4+) g3 28.f4 h6 29.xh4 g7 30.xc6 and d5+. ] 23.d5 The point, the f6-square beckons. b4 24.d1 f6 The situation is grim. [ 24...xb2 25.xb2 and there is no defence against the threats of Nf6+, Black must lose an exchange. ] [ 24...d8 controls f6 for one move, but then comes 25.g5 ] 25.a3 a6 26.xf6+ xf6 27.xf6 xe2 28.xe2 e8 29.f2 Black must have been rueing putting his h-pawn on h4! xa3 30.e1 [ 30.xh4 immediately is also winning, of course. ] 1-0
942
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.d1 f8 17.b2 A.Colovic-D.Otero, Havana CUB 2007 ( 17.b3!? )] 11.dxe5 [ 11.d5!? ] 11...e6? [ After this move, Black is on the brink of d i s a s t e r . A b e t t e r m o v e i s 11...dxe5 though after 12.b2 f6 13.d3 ( 13.a4 ) 13...f7 14.a3 c6 15.bxc6 bxc6 16.b1 ( 16.e4 c8 17.0-0 ) 16...e6 17.e4 White is much better. ] 12.d5 [ Or 12.b2!? dxe5 ( 12...0-0-0 13.d5 dxe5 14.a4+- ) 13.d5 f6 14.a4 f7 15.d1 ] 12...0-0-0?! [ 12...dxe5 is marginally better: 13.g5! ( 13.b2 f6 14.a4 is less convincing) 13...g2 14.f1 c8 15.a4 e7 16.b6+ c6 17.bxa7 0-0 18.b1 , and White is winning ] 13.a4 dxe5 14.e3 e4 [ Or 14...f6 , and now 15.b6! completely c r u s h e s B l a c k : axb6 16.xe5! b8 17.xb6 c5 18.b1+- ] 15.0-0-0! exf3 [ 15...xd5? 16.g5! xg5 17.b6 c6 18.bxa7+- ] 16.xa7 [ Another winning line is 16.b6 a6 17.bxc7 xd5 18.e8+ xc7 19.cxd5 d4 20.xf7+ e7 21.xd4 xd4 22.xe7++- ] 16...d6 17.b6+ cxb6 18.xd6 e5? [ 18...fxe2 represents a better chance as it complicates matters considerably, yet White still wins: 19.xb6 f1+ 20.c2 d4+ 21.xd4 e1+ 22.d1 d3+ 23.xe1 h6 24.c5+ b8 25.xg7 e8+ 26.e5 e4+ 27.d2 xe5 28.xe5 xe5 29.e1+- ] 19.c6+!? [ Elegant, but 19.a8+! c7 20.xb6 d8 21.d1 wins even faster ] 19...bxc6 20.bxc6 d8 21.a6+ b8 22.xb6+ c8 23.d1 c7 24.a6+ b8 25.xd8+ 1-0
953 Pelletier,Yannick Hansen,Sune Berg Bundesliga 2002-3 (15) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2624 2537 30.03.2003
1.c4 c6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.e3 d6 6.ge2 e6 This move is similar to the 5 Be3 line that is currently 'all the rage' in the Closed Sicilian, Black wants to force White to defend his c-pawn when he will continue w i t h . . . Q d 7 a n d p o s s i b l y . . . B h 3 . 7.d4! This temporary pawn sac, f irst played by Botvinnik over 60 years ago, is the critical reply. d7 Black prefers to keep the position closed. [ 7...xc4?! is generally considered a mistake: 8.d5 xe2 ( 8...ce7 9.a4+ b5 10.xb5 is very good for White; 8...b8 9.a4+ b5 10.xb5 xb5 11.xb5+ d7 12.e4 likewise, Botvinnik,M-Levenfish,G/ Leningrad 1937 as W hite's light-squared bishop will be too strong) 9.xe2 b8 10.b5+ d7 11.xb7 a6 ( 11...b8?! 12.xa7! c5 13.a5! the only move, but good f5 14.0-0 and Black had insufficient compensation, King,D-W olff,P/New York 1990 ) 12.c6 e7 13.c4 0-0 14.e4 f5 15.0-0 with a white positional advantage because of the open c-file and bishop pair, Suba,M-Karlsson,L/Las Palmas 1982. ] [ 7...exd4 8.xd4 d7 ( 8...xd4 9.exd4 d7 10.0-0 e7 11.e1 0-0 12.d5 f5 13.h3! is very nice for White, Quinteros,MHo rt , V / V in ko vci 1 9 7 0) 9.0-0 ge7 10.de2! otherwise Black can capture on d4 when he likes, 0-0 11.b3 c8 12.b2 h3 13.xh3 xh3 14.f4 d7 15.e2 with an edge to White, Delchev,A-De Vreugt, D/Ohrid MKD 2001. ] 8.d5 [ 8.0-0 c8 9.d5 h5 10.ec3 is also perfectly reasonable, Krasenkow,MFritsche,L/Germany 1993/GER-chT. ] 8...ce7 9.c5!? A sharp novelty. [ 9.e4 would be 'normal', f5 10.f4 h6 11.fxe5 dxe5 12.0-0 f7 13.c5 with advantage, Kennedy,M-W alls,B/IRL 1992. ] 9...f6 Black decides to avoid the challenge, [ 9...dxc5!? puts White's move to the test, 943
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.e4 b6 11.d6 c6 12.2c3 f6 13.b5 cxd6 14.bxd6+ is unclear, as although the black king has been forced to move, and the white knight is in the heart of the black position, Black has a solid pawn structure, and a pawn more. ] 10.b3 b8 11.cxd6 cxd6 12.a4 0-0 13.e4 A King's Indian position has been reached. h8 14.0-0 c8!? [ 14...e8 and ...f5 seems more normal. ] 15.f3 g8 16.e3 h6 17.f2 Naturally White doesn't want to swap his better bishop. f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.f4 This is a standard method of treating such positions, which is helped by the presence of the white knight on e 2 - t h e b l a c k p a w n s a r e b l o c k e d . f6 20.h1 g4 21.g1 e8 22.ae1 h5 This looks menacing, but White can defend easily. 23.c4 b6 24.b4 c8 25.b5 f6?! Both defending d6 and hoping to bring this piece to h6 as the black attack is in need of reinforcements, however, [ 25...xb5 might have been a better idea to avoid losing the a7-pawn. ] 26.f3 g7 27.ec3 After considerable manoeuvring White finally threatens to capture on e5, and forces the pawn to advance. e4 28.xg4! Players don't normally like exchanging their fianchettoed bishop, but here its counterpart is blocked by the black pawn chain. xg4 29.xa7 And White wins a pawn for no compensation. e8?! [ 29...xa7 30.xa7 g8 31.f2 h6 offers better chances. ] 30.c6! h5 Black threatens ... Qf3+ with a nasty smothered mate, but it is easily avoided, and then Black can resign. 31.d4 h3 32.g1?! [ 32.xf6 xf6 33.f2 appears even stronger. ] 32...g6 33.e3 f3 34.fxf3 bxc6 [ 34...exf3? 35.e8# ] 35.xg7+ [ 35.xb8?? xd4 would completely turn the tables! 36.xc8+? g8 37.xc6 exf3 and mate follows. ] 35...xg7 36.xb8 exf3 37.c7+ h6 38.xf3 h5 39.e3 The knight on c8 is lost. 1-0
954 Psakhis,Lev Janev,Evgeni Open Ubeda ESP (8) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2598 2445 28.01.2001
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.c3 c5 5.a3 [ This is my personal preference, 5.e3 allows d5!? see the archives. ] 5...a5 [ Hodgson's 5...d4!? was considered previously. ] 6.e3 0-0 7.ge2 d6 8.d4 [ T h i s i s g o o d , a l t h o u g h 8.d3 is more flexible. ] 8...a7 [ Best to keep the central tension. 8...exd4?! 9.exd4 a7 frees the c1-bishop, 10.0-0 g4 11.h3 h5 , Rehorek,L-Rehorek,R/ Brno 1999, would tempt me to play 12.g4 g6 13.f4 h6 14.f5 with a wonderful position. ] 9.h3 e8 [ Theoretically this seems to be a new move, although, curiously, Black played it against me recently! W as it before, or after, this game? 9...h6 10.0-0 exd4?! 11.exd4 e8 12.h2 f5 13.b4! axb4 14.axb4 xb4 15.xb7 c2 16.a4 won an exchange for White, Chabanon,J-Caposciutti,M/Cannes 1995. ] 10.0-0 h6 11.b3 d7 12.h2 c8 13.d5?! [ I don't really like this move myself, White ga in s e ve n m o re sp a ce, b u t o p e ns t h e g1-a7 diagonal. I preferred 13.b2 e4?! 14.c2 f5 15.ac1 h5?! (to stop g4, but the cure is worse than the disease) 16.d5 h7 17.ef4 g5 18.e2 and Black is almost lost, i.e. g6 19.h4 f3+ 20.xf3 exf3 21.xf3 e4 22.xh5 e7 23.xe7+ xe7 24.d5 f8 25.g4 , Kosten, A-Janev, E/Aurec 2001, and White h a d t h e a t t a c k t o a d d t o h i s e xt r a t wo pawns! ] 13...e7 14.e4 g6 15.d3 c6 16.e3 If W hite must exchange his 'better' bishop, then Black should be fine. xe3 17.xe3 cxd5 18.xd5 xd5 19.cxd5 b5 20.fc1 b7 21.b4 e7 22.d2 a4 23.c3 f5
944
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.d1 ½-½
955 Rahman,Ziaur Kortschnoj,Viktor Goodricke Open (1) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2465 2659 06.02.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 b4!? [ An unusual move, Black plans to capture on c3 and double the white c-pawns. 3...g6 is normal here, of course. ] 4.g2 [ White is happy to allow Black to concede his dark-squared bishop. The alternative is 4.d5 c5 ( 4...f6!? 5.g2 0-0 6.a3 c5 7.b4 d4 8.b1 d6 9.e3 b6 10.e2 looks to be very promising for White, Miles,A-Rossiter,P/ GBR 1999.) 5.g2 ge7 6.e3 xd5 7.cxd5 b4 8.d4 exd4 9.exd4 d6 10.a3 a6 11.e2 c6 12.c3 cxd5 13.e2+ e7 14.xe7+ xe7 15.xd5+ with an edge, Balashov,YPribyl,J/Schwaebisch Gmuend 1998. ] 4...xc3 5.bxc3 f6 [ A n a t u r a l d e ve l o p i n g m o ve , b u t 5...d6 is more flexible, so that Black can play ... Nge7, if he wants, and the f-pawn is unhindered, e.g. 6.f3 f5 7.d3 f6 8.0-0 0-0 9.g5 e8 1/2-1/2 Cvek,R-Jovanovic,Z/ Patras GRE 1999 (9) ] 6.e4! A fine move, the white pawns will act as a barrier to the black bishop. normally this position is reached from a different moveorder, 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 Bb4 5.e4 Bxc3 6.bxc3 etc. 0-0 7.e2 d6 8.d3 e8 9.0-0 f5 Black plays the same plan as in the Nimzovich Variation (1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4.e4), but here the white knight is on e2, instead of f3, and this may prove important. 10.exf5 xf5 11.h3! [ Careful play, the immediate 11.f4?! d7! and the white kingside expansion is stopped, 12.d4?! e4 13.d5 a5 14.d4 f6 15.xf5 xf5 16.e2 ae8 17.e3 g4! winning the c4-pawn, Solomon,DIvanov,I/Philadelphia 1994, 0-1 (22). ] 11...e6 12.f4 b8 13.g4! Not only does White gain space on the kingside, but he will
also stymie the black bishop. e7 14.f5 f7 15.g3 It becomes clear that e2 was a superior square for the white knight, after all, and now it threatens to hop into e4, and then g5. d5 16.c5 c6 17.g5 The white kingside majority continues on its way. b6 18.g4 g6 19.a3 b5 20.f6 White drives this pawn deep into the black king position. The black position is in a critical state. a5 21.ab1 b4 22.cxb4 axb4 23.b2 [ Good, but there is nothing obviously wrong with 23.xb4 , winning a pawn. ] 23...b5 24.d4 exd4 25.xd4 xd4?! [ F o r c i n g W h i t e t o wi n a p a wn , 25...a5 may be better, but still looks pretty grim for Black. ] 26.xd4 c6 27.xb4 c7 At least this piece has found a square. 28.xb5 xb5 29.h4 h5 Offering another pawn to stop threats of Qh6-g7. 30.gxh6!? On the one hand this wins a pawn, but, on the other, W hite allows the break-up of his pawn chain. h7 31.a4 c7 32.b4 With two extra pawns, and a clear positional advantage, White should win easily. a8 33.b1 a6 34.a5 c8 35.f1 c7 36.a7 e6 37.b7 f7 38.h2 xh6 39.b8 [ Aiming for an endgame, where he hopes to use his a-pawn, but 39.b6 is stronger, returning the queen to the fray. ] 39...g5 Black simply picks up the f6-pawn. 40.a5 xf6 41.xc8 xc8 42.b6 e6 43.a6?! [ 43.xc6 b7 44.b6 c7 45.a6 a8 46.d3 retains some chances. ] 43...c7 44.b8 d7 45.b7 c8 46.b8 d7 47.b7 ½-½
956 Rogozenco,D Parligras,Mircea ch-ROM Lasi ROM (14) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2576 2377 26.12.1999
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g2 c5 5.e3!? [ This temporary weakening of the d3-square has interesting consequences, I prefer 5.a3 myself, and on a5 then 6.e3 is fine. ] 945
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 5...d5! 6.cxd5 b4 Threatening both ...Nd3+, and to recuperate the d5-pawn. 7.d4 exd4 8.exd4 e7 9.ge2 f5?! [ In the light of this game, perhaps Black should prefer either 9...0-0 10.0-0 bxd5 11.b3 ( 11.f4 xf4 12.xf4 c6 is equal ) 11...c6 12.g5 h6 13.xf6 xf6 14.d5 which seems fairly level, Bunzmann,DHodgson,J/Germany 1999, but 0-1 (34). ] [ Or the immediate 9...bxd5 10.0-0 e6 11.f4 xf4 12.xf4 c6 13.e5 0-0 14.xf6 xf6 15.d5 cxd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 and the draw is not far off, Foisor,CKorneev,O/Paris 1995, 1/2-1/2 (33). ] 10.0-0 c2 [ Thought to give Black a draw, but it is not t h e c a s e ! I t i s t o o l a t e f o r 10...bxd5? now, as 11.xd5 xd5 12.b3 wins a pawn. ] [ However, 10...d7 is feasible. ] 11.g4! [ In the previous game, Chernin,A-Miles,A/ Moscow 1989, both players made attempts to win bef ore settling on a draw: 11.b1 b4 12.a1 c2 13.g4 g6 14.g5!? d7 15.b1 b4 16.a1 b6?! ( 16...c2 draws on the spot) 17.f4 c2 18.d2 h6 19.g3 c4 20.f2 d3 21.d1 c2 22.f1 ( 22.e1! ) 22...d3 23.d1 c2 1/2-1/2 ] 11...g6 12.f4!! A powerful novelty that refutes the variation. xa1 [ 12...xg4 13.f5 xa1 transposes, ( if 13...xf5 14.xf5 xa1 15.d2 and, after the capture of the a1-knight, the two white pieces are superior to the rook and pawn,; 13...ge3? 14.xe3 xe3 15.a4+ is also good for White. )] 13.f5 xg4 14.g3 [ Trying to gain a tempo on 14.fxg6 hxg6 15.h3 ] 14...xh2?! [ Tempting, but faulty. 14...d7 loses to 15.xg4 as White will pick-up either the g6bishop, or the pathetic a1-knight. ] [ 14...f6 15.fxg6 hxg6 16.f4 may be best, but the white pieces look good here. ] 15.xh2 d6 16.ce4 h4+ 17.h3 xe4 [ Desperation, but after 17...xg3+ 18.xg3 White will capture the g6-bishop, and pick-
up the a1-knight later. e.g. 0-0 19.f4 f6 20.d2 ] 18.e1 xe1 19.xe1+ f8 20.fxg6 hxg6 21.g2 [ Safe, and good, but 21.d1 is also strong, keeping the knight 'in the box'. ] 21...c2 22.f2 b4 23.e6 It transpire that White is not only material up, he also has a strong attack. f6 [ If 23...f5 24.f1 threatens Nxf5, and Qb5. ] 24.f4 h4 25.xd6+ cxd6 26.d2 a6 27.d3 g5 [ If 27...h6 28.b5 threatening Qd7, and Qxb7, and mate on f7. ] 28.b5 [ Not bad, but 28.g6 leads to mate in a few moves. ] 1-0
957 Rogozenco,D Sadler,Matthew chT, NED Hengelo (4) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2560 2630 2000
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.c3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.b1 f5 An aggressive treatment by Black. 6.d3 f6 7.e3 0-0 8.ge2 a6 An interesting move, whose point becomes clear later. 9.b4 h8 [ This novelty is a useful waiting move, which rem ove s th e bla ck kin g f ro m th e e x p o s e d a 2 - g 8 d i a g o n a l . 9...e7!? h a s a lso b e e n p la ye d , wit h a n e n t ire l y different idea, 10.b3 h8 11.0-0 d6 12.a4 g5 13.f4! gxf4 14.exf4 g6 with an un cle a r p osit ion , Mo ut o us is, K Prasad,D/ Manila 1992. ] [ 9...d6 would return play to more familiar paths. ] 10.a4 [ Obviously White should play this move if he wants to force-through b5 (and he always d o e s ) , b u t i t we a k e n s b 4 . I t w o u l d b e interesting to see whether Black could find another non-committal move after 10.0-0 or whether he would be obliged to continue with d6 ] 10...a5 The first point. 11.b5 b4 This move 946
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 justifies Black's playing of ...a5 in two goes, as now his well-posted knight will hold-up the white queenside onslaught. Of course, this whole idea is only possible after White plays a4, as otherwise White would now win a piece with a3! 12.a3 c5 13.bxc6 dxc6 O n l y n o w c a n we s e e wh y B la c k h a s s o studiously avoided playing the 'automatic' move ...d6. By recapturing this way he highlights the potential weakness of d3. 14.0-0 [ Capturing the pawn by 14.xb4 axb4 15.xb4 is critical, although Black will have good compensation after d6 16.b2 d8 be c a u s e o f h is b ish o p p a ir, a n d b e t t e r pawn formation. ] 14...h5 [ Preparing ...f 4. 14...c5?! concedes too many important light squares. ] 15.c1 [ 15.xb4 axb4 16.xb4 is now countered by f4 with strong pressure on the dark squares (not to mention the threat to win a piece with ... f3). ] 15...f4 This is always a double-edged move, for, the kingside threats are balanced by the loss of control over e4. In this position it is perfectly justified, as Black cannot afford to lose the initiative. 16.e4 f6 17.xf6 xf6 18.xb4 [ White hereby allows the further advance of the f-pawn, but the only move to stop this, 18.f3 is obviously too artificial. ] 18...axb4 19.xb4 f3 20.h1 g5 If Black can bolster the f3-pawn, the h1-bishop will be completely shut out of the game. 21.a2 e4! A positional sacrifice to stop the knight coming to e4. 22.dxe4 g4 23.c2 a5! Black swings another piece over, to molest the white king. 24.c5 e7 25.c1 e6 26.h3 White attempts to open the kingside. h5 27.e5 h4! Black switches to direct attack. 28.hxg4 hxg3 29.fxg3 f2+ 30.f1 xe5 31.e4? [ A n u n f o r t u n a t e m o v e , 31.g2 avoided immediate loss. ] 31...d5?! [ Good, but I suppose Black was in his habitual time-trouble, otherwise he would surely have found 31...h7! 32.g2 h2 winning a lot of material, e.g. 33.xe5 g1+ 34.e2 xg4+ 35.d3 xg2 and the f-
pawn queens. ] 32.xe5 xe5 33.xd5 xd5 34.e4 [ If 34.c3+ g8 and the a5-rook cannot be captured because of 35...Qh1+. ] 34...e5 35.d2 [ 35.c3 xc3 36.xc3 xc5 is quite hopeless. ] 35...xe4 36.h6+ After White's checks runout, he will be a whole exchange down for nothing. g8 37.g5+ h7 38.h5+ g7 39.g5+ g6 40.e5+ g8 41.d1 xg4 0-1
958 Rustemov,Alexander Mchedlishvili,Mikheil Bundesliga 1213 (11.2) [Danny Gormally]
A25 2544 2651 16.03.2013
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 f6 4.c3 b4 5.d5 c5 6.d3 h6 7.e3 In these reverseSicilian lines White generally prefers a slow build up, the serious questions will be asked later on. 0-0 [ 7...d6 was the choice of the great Vassily Ivanchuk. I do recommend you study his games in great detail- they will undoubtedly deepen your strategic understanding! 8.e2 a6 9.a3 a7 10.0-0 0-0 11.b4 xd5 12.cxd5 e7 13.d4 f6! 14.h3 d7 15.e1 ( 15.e4 b5! Is B lack's ide a) 15...c6 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.c3 cxd5 18.xd5 e6 19.xe7+ xe7 Black has completely equalised 20.b2 fd8 21.e2 d5 22.ed1 xg2 23.xg2 b6 24.xd8+ xd8 25.d1 xd1 26.xd1 e6 27.d3 c7 28.e4 c6 29.g4 b5 30.d5+ xd5 0-1 Kotsur, P (2548)-Ivanchuk, V (2769)/ Astana 2012. I'm not exactly sure what happened here, but in the bishop ending only Black can possibly hope to win, as the d-pawn is a potential weakness ] 8.e2 a6 9.0-0 d6 10.h3 a7 11.d2 f5?! The problem with putting the bishop on this square, is that it aims at little. White can easily defend the h3 pawn if Black elects to attack it with ..Qd7 at some point. [ 11...xd5 12.cxd5 e7 Would have been a normal approach, similar to the Ivanchuk game. 13.c3 d7 14.d4 g6 15.a4 e7 947
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 W hen W hite can probably lay claim to a slight advantage, due to having more space and more potential plans of action, (for example at some point he might play Qb3, or Ba5, teasing the queenside, but Black would remain extremely solid. ] 12.c3 xd5 13.cxd5 e7 14.h2 c6 The typical freeing move. White was already intending to continue with a Kingside advance, so it wa s im p ort an t to f ight f or sp a ce a s quickly as possible. [ 14...g6 15.e4 d7 16.f4! And there is a d a n g e r y o u w i l l g e t s t e a m r o l l e r e d . f5 17.exf5 xf5 18.g4 d7 19.f5 h4 20.g3 Would be very pleasant for Whitethe pawn on f5 rather cramps Black. ] 15.dxc6 xc6 16.d4! Effectively cutting the a7 bishop out of the game. If Black elects to exchange on d4, he risks making both his d and b pawns potential targets. e7 [ 16...exd4 17.xd4 xd4 18.xd4 xd4 19.xd4 Is White's dream and Black's nightmare- the weak black pawns are easy t a r g e t s . I m a g i n e t r yi n g t o d e f e n d t h i s against Carlsen! ] 17.d2 ad8 18.ae1?! A measured buildu p , b u t p e r h a p s i t wa s t i m e t o b e m o r e proactive. [ There was certainly an argument for 18.d5 b8 19.e4 g6 20.f4 gaining crucial space. f6 21.f5 f7 22.g1! Diagram Intending to cycle the knight around to the g6 square. ] 18...e4 Unable to withstand the tension anymore, Black decides to gain some space in t h e c e n t e r . B u t t h is d e ci sio n is a l s o n o t without it's risks, as potentially the e4 pawn c o u l d b e c o m e w e a k . 19.d5 e5 But of course, the knight is much better placed on e5 than b8, so really White should have committed to playing d5 earlier. 20.f4 fe8 21.c2 h7 22.d1 c8 23.e2 d7 24.c1 c5 25.fd1 b5 26.a3 b6 27.g4 e7 28.h5 g6 29.xe5 xe5+ 30.f4 h7 31.g1 Diagram c5? A serious error. [ Easy equality could be found with 31...g5 32.h5 g6! This would solve the key st ra t e gic qu est io n of t h e ligh t -squ a re d bishop, which in the game effectively remains a spectator, unable to exert any meaningful influence on the action. 33.a4
bxa4 34.xa6 xc1 35.xc1 xb2 Is the difference- in the game White gets b4 f or f ree, ensuring tha t su ch a variatio n cannot save Black. ] 32.xc5 xc5 33.b4 b6 34.a4! So simple. All of a sudden Black is in serious trouble on the queenside. bxa4 35.xa6 b8 36.xa4 c3 37.e2 c4 38.d4 xd4 39.xd4 c1+ 40.f1 g6 41.c6 c8? 42.c4! [ 42.c4 xc6 43.dxc6! And the pawn goes through. ] 1-0
959 Sarakauskas,Gediminas Kiik,Kalle 16th Heart of Finland Open (8) [John Watson]
A25 2414 2452 15.07.2006
This gam e f e atu res a po pular t empo rary sacrifice for Black that has become a fixture and seems to offer equality. I give the game with only a few notes because of the entertaining battle in the middlegame: 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 c5 5.e3 d5! This move has been around long enough that it's soundness isn't in question. W hether White can gain even a small advantage is still being disputed. 6.cxd5 [ 6.xd5 xd5 ( 6...f5!? ) A) 7.xd5 b4 8.e4 ( 8.g2?? d3 ) 8...f5 9.a3 d3+ 10.xd3 xd3 11.e2 xe2+ ( 11...b3! 12.d4 e7 m a y b e b e t t e r) 12.xe2 e4!? with compensation, probably just enough.; B) 7.cxd5 ] 6...b4 7.d4 exd4 8.exd4 e7 [ 8...xd4?? 9.a4+ ] 9.ge2 bxd5 10.b3 c6 11.0-0 0-0 12.xd5 xd5 13.c3 xc3?! This strengthens White's centre. Better [ 13...b4!? 14.d5!? f5 15.dxc6 bxc6 ] 14.bxc3 d6 15.c4 b8 16.b2 f5 17.d5 c5?! Black may well be equal after this, but W hite gets all the practical chances. From now on W hite gains the initiative and eventually breaks through. The attack is fun so I'll leave it to you to look at. 18.fe1 c7 19.e4 d7 20.a4 be8 21.c2 b6 948
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.d3 f5 23.f4 a6 24.c3 xe1+ 25.xe1 f7 26.d3 xa4 27.e6 f8 28.e5 b7 29.xf5 b5 30.e8 bxc4 31.b8 xb8 32.xb8 xf5 33.c8 f7 34.xa6 e8 35.d6 d7 36.e5 f7 37.c8 e6 38.xc5 g6 39.f2 f7 40.f3 b7 41.g4 d7 42.h3 h5 43.gxh5 1-0
960 Seirawan,Yasser Kriventsov,Stanislav G ch Seattle USA (4) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2644 2415 08.01.2002
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.e3 g7 5.e2 d6 6.bc3 h5 7.h4 [ This is the most radical solution to the problem of stopping the advance of the black h-pawn, although it weakens g4. We have considered the main alternative, 7.d4 in both Hansen,C - Hodgson,J, and Hulak,K Almasi,Z. ] 7...g4 8.b4!? An innovation, attacking straightaway on the queenside, but is it good? [ The two most common moves are: 8.d3 f6!? 9.d5 xd5 10.cxd5 e7 11.b3 c8 12.c3 0-0 13.d2 with a tiny edge to White, Larsen,B-Spassky,B/Malmo 1968, and ] [ 8.b1 e.g. d7 9.b4 ge7 10.d3 d8 11.b5 with chances to both sides, Suba,MHort, V/Reggio Emilia 1986, but if White can play b4 in one go, why prepare it? ] 8...d4!? Wow!! I bet Yasser didn't expect this one! Surely [ 8...xb4 had to be tried, 9.a4+ c6 10.b1 and now c8! is critical. ] 9.exd4 exd4 10.xb7 [ The knight can't move, i.e. 10.d5?! d3 attacking a1 and e2. ] 10...dxc3 11.dxc3!? White enters into the spirit of things, offering an exchange (although this game was played a full two weeks after Christmas), but simply [ 11.d4 looks adequate, the c3-pawn will be picked-up later. ] 11...xc3+ 12.d2 xd2+?! [ 12...xa1 13.xa1 f6 14.f4 will certainly offer White plenty of play for the
exchange, but Black could have tried this. ] 13.xd2 b8 14.g2 White has a small, but certain, advantage. e7 [ 14...e7? achieves nothing: 15.0-0 xe2 16.fe1 and the bishop is recuperated with advantage. ] 15.f4 0-0 16.0-0 c8 17.b5 a6 In principal a good idea, swapping his weak apawn. 18.a4 axb5?! Black could certainly delay this. 19.cxb5! Capturing away from the centre, but the a-pawn will prove very da n ge rou s. b7 20.xb7 xb7 21.fe1 c6? Missing a simple tactic, [ 21...d7 is preferable. ] 22.bxc6 xc6 23.d5 c7 24.xg6 This is the problem, the f7-pawn is pinned. b4 25.b3 Good, but White misses a sweet tactic: [ 25.e7+! xe7 26.xh5 f6 27.g4+ forking king and knight, and winning quickly. ] 25...c2 26.xf8 xf8 27.a5 a8?? Black is lost anyway, but this should hasten matters. 28.b2 The threat of mate in one allows White to pin the knight. g8 29.ec1 c8 30.a2 With an exchange and a pawn less, Black should certainly resign this. d4 31.xc7 f3+ 32.g2! The most accurate. xh4+ 33.f1 [ Of course, White is never going to fall for 33.gxh4?? g4+ 34.f1 d1+ with a perpetual. ] 33...h3+ [ If 33...xc7 then 34.gxh4 is now possible. ] 34.e2 g4+ 35.d3 f5+ 36.c3 The checks soon run out. f3 37.e2 f6+ 38.b4 1-0
961 Spangenberg,Hugo Slipak,Sergio ch-Najdorf mem (11) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2531 2521 02.12.1999
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.b1 A popular and flexible line for White, who initiates queenside play before deciding h o w b e s t t o d e v e l o p h i s k i n g s i d e . a5 949
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 The normal response, stopping b4 at the cost of a slight weakening of the b5-square. 6.e3 d6 7.ge2 ge7 8.d3 0-0 9.0-0 e6 Black threatens ...d5, exposing the d3-pawn. 10.d5 The inevitable reaction in such positions, d5 is occupied while Black is unable to capture. d7 11.ec3 [ A perfectly logical move, if quite unusual, reinforcing White's control of d5. Normally, White prefers to continue with direct action on the queenside, by 11.a3 and b4. ] 11...d8 [ Intending to play ...Nc8 (else White can answer ...c6? with Nb6), and ...c6, expelling the powerful d5-knight. 11...f5 has also been played, when, as well as the standard 12.a3 returning to normal positions, as in Abel,P-Klemanic,E/SVK 1997, there is also 12 Qa4!?, as in the game, menacing 13 Nxe7+. ] 12.a4 [ A tricky move, which is the point of White's subtle move order. 12.b3 led to nothing for W hite f ollowin g xd5 13.xd5 a6!? 14.a3 c6 15.c3 Bazaj Bockai,S-Stadler, B/Pula 1996. ] 12...xd5! [ The best reply, making a fine temporary p a w n s a c . O f c o u r s e , 12...xa4?? is a blunder, allowing the Zwischenzug 13.xe7+ winning a bit, h8 14.xa4 ] [ t h e p a w n s a c r i f i c e 12...dc6? is also unsound, as after 13.xe7+ xe7 14.xc6 bxc6 15.xc6 Black's compensation is almost nothing- as the light-squared bishop is equalled by the white knight, which threatens to hop into d5. ] [ 12...ec6?! is the only sensible alternative, bu t le ave s t h e b la ck p ie ce s a wkward ly placed. 13.a3 ] 13.xd7 xd7 [ The move 13...xc3? seems tempting, at first sight, as Black picks-up a rook and two pieces for the queen, but the knight on b1 will be trapped, and following a sequence like 14.xc7 xb1 15.b6 a4 16.e4 , and c1-bishop moves, the knight is lost, and Black too. ] 14.xd5 [ Winning material, but, in retrospect 14.cxd5
might promise more. ] 14...e6 [ The point of Black's defence. Obviously not 14...c6?? because of 15.b6 ] 15.e7+ h8 16.xb7 ae8! The key, forcing the two advanced white pieces into a tangle. 17.c6 c5 [ No t b a d , b u t 17...a4! was worth serious consideration: A) after 18.b4?! White only escapes material loss by the skin of his teeth, b8 19.c6 xc6 20.xc6 b6 21.a5 ( 21.e7?? c6 traps the poor knight) 21...c5 22.d1 a8 23.d2 xd3 with an edge to Black; B) 18.a5 c5 19.c6 xc6 20.xc6 xd3 21.e4 f5 with good play. ] 18.xa5 Obviously forced. xb7 19.xb7 a8 Cutting off the knight's retreat. 20.d2 [ 20.a3? fb8 and the knight is lost, and a l t h o u g h W h i t e wi l l h a ve t h r e e p a wn s following 21.xd6 cxd6 , it is not enough. ] 20...xa2 21.c3 fa8 22.a5!? [ An interesting alternative to 22.b4 ] 22...d5! [ The best chance, if 22...e4 then, simply 23.d4 ] [ but the real point of White's 22nd move is that following 22...2xa5? 23.xa5 xa5 B l a c k i s i n a b a d wa y : 24.a1 xa1 25.xa1 and, despite his two bishops, Black will experience great difficulties defending his queenside pawns, g8 26.a7 f5 27.e4 g4 28.xc7 e2 29.b4! the b-pawn will cost Black a bishop. ] 23.b3 [ If 23.cxd5 Black can now take the knight, 8xa5 24.xa5 xa5 as, on 25.a1 xa1 26.xa1 the c7-pawn can be defended by f8 27.a7 d6 ] 23...dxc4 24.dxc4 f5 Black remains a pawn down, but his bishop pair will provide reasonable compensation. 25.a1 d3 26.xa2 xa2 27.d1 e4 28.d4 [ 28.xg7+? xg7 and Black regains either the c or b pawns. ] 28...h5 [ Creating a bolt-hole for the king, if 28...xc4?? 29.e6! and the threat of mate wins a piece. ] 29.c5 h7 30.h3 a4 31.c1 g8 32.g2 950
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f8 33.g4 h4 This keeps the white king confined. 34.b3 xc3 35.xc3 b4 36.c1 xb2 37.xd3 exd3 38.xd3 c2 The black activity is enough to assure the draw. 39.d5 e7 40.g5 e6 41.e4 c3 42.f4 [ White is unable to improve his position, as 42.f3 allows c2+ confining the king to the back rank, and other tries lose either the hpawn or c-pawn. ] 42...e3 43.e5+ d7 44.f5 gxf5 45.xf5 e6 46.f6+ [ 46.f6+ e7 47.c6 d7 and White must repeat moves, or lose his e-pawn. ] ½-½
962 Timman,Jan H Jussupow,Artur Remco Inv Wolvega NED (5) [John Watson]
A25 2565 2600 26.11.2006
An odd game between two top-level GMs. Timman seems to miss something in a very conservative opening because he allows Black a positional advantage for free. Then, just when Black is about to cash in, Yusupov p l a y s i n a c c u r a t e l y a n d a l l o ws W h i t e a n unlikely drawing combination. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.e3 Avoiding standard theory. I once wrote extensively about 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 e3. g6 [ 3...f6 can be answered by 4 Nf3 with a main line, or by a Sicilian Reversed idea such as 4 a3 but I don't like 4.d4 due to b4 ( 4...exd4 5.exd4 d5 is also adequate, but not as likely to gain an advantage) 5.d5! ( 5.dxe5 xc3+ 6.bxc3 xe5 obviously favours Black, and; 5.f3 exd4 6.exd4 0-0 gives Black an irritating lead in development) 5...xc3+ ( or 5...e7 6.d2 0-0 ) 6.bxc3 e7 7.e4 d6 with a doubleedged position that I think is harder for White to play. ] 4.d4 d6 5.d5 ce7 6.f4?! I'm not sure what the point is, except to hope for 6... exf4. Black will be glad to activate his bishop along the long diagonal. [ 6.e4 ] [ or 6.f3 would be normal. ] 6...g7
[ 6...exf4 7.d4! forces the awkward response f6 ] 7.fxe5 xe5 8.f3 g7 9.e4 f6 We've reached a standard position in which Black has the e5 outpost in front of a backward pawn. If W hite doesn't move to change the structure he will probably stand a little worse. Now and for some time to come, my engine prefers White by almost a whole pawn! 10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 g4 To secure e5. 12.e1 [ Perhaps 12.h3 xf3 13.gxf3 was worth a look, but it's dangerous after h5 14.g2 f5 ] 12...xe2 13.xe2 d7 14.d3 c8!? A clever move to activate Black's queen and reinforce the blockading square, as we will see. 15.d2 [ 15.e3 e7! ( 15...cb6 16.c5 )] 15...cb6!? [ 15...e7 ] 16.b3 e5 17.xe5 xe5 18.ac1 d7 19.d1 [ perhaps 19.b4 a5 20.a3 was best. Then Black's piece activity comes into play: axb4 21.axb4 h4 22.g3 h3 ] 19...e7 20.c3 f5! [ 20...ae8 21.d2! c5 22.e1 holds everything together, although I still prefer Black by just a bit. ] 21.xe5 [ 21.exf5?? xh2+ ] [ 21.f2 f6 ] 21...xe5 22.c3 ae8 23.b5 c5?! The simple 23...Re7 preserves a moderate superiority, but it's surprising that Yusupov would miss [ 23...f6! with a substantial and possibly winning advantage, e.g., A) No better is 24.g3 xe4; B) or 24.d3? c6! 25.dxc6 bxc6 26.d4 ( 26.xa7?? fxe4 with ...Qc5+; 26.xd6? fxe4 27.d1 c5+ 28.h1 e6 29.b7 b4 30.d8 d6 ) 26...fxe4 27.c3 g4 28.g3 xf1+ 29.xf1 e3 and wins; C) 24.cd1 is perhaps best, but then g4 25.g3 g7! covers c7 and will win a central pawn; D) 24.xc7? g4 25.g3 d4+ 26.h1 xe4 and Black breaks through. ] 24.xc7! Leading to a well-calculated 951
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 simplification. e7 25.e6 xe6 26.dxe6 c5+ 27.f2 fxe4 28.xc5 dxc5 29.xf8+ xf8 30.f2 xe6 There's really nothing positive to do after 31 Ke3. ½-½
useful queenside pawns in return. ] 19.b5 e7 20.fe1 d8 21.d3 de8 P i l i n g t h e p r e s s u r e o n e 4 . 22.d5 White decides that it is time to stop the threat of ...exd4. c5 23.b5 d8 24.h4 a6 25.f1 c8 26.c4 White has more space, but Black has a strong grip on the queenside 963 A25 dark squares and White will almost certainly Vallejo Pons,Francisco 2648 never be able to play c5 to break through. Smirin,Ilia 2676 ee8 27.g3 d7 28.f3 h7 29.g4 g6 GM Biel SUI (9) 31.07.2002 30.e3 e7 31.f2 Pawn breaks are few and far between, and neither player wants to [Tony Kosten] take unnecessary risks. d6 32.h3 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.e3 c6 4.c2!? ½-½ W hite plays in reversed Sicilian style, we have examined 964 A25 [ 4.d4 b4 in a game Korchnoi-Kasparov. ] 4...d5 A novelty at move four! However, this Watson,John L 2345 move is so natural that it is hard to believe Enhbat,Tegshsuren 2408 that it hasn't been played before, somewhere, ch Seattle USA (4) 12.01.2003 although I can't find any examples of it! [Tony Kosten] [ 4...g6 is generally favoured here, 5.a3 g7 6.b4 0-0 Sunye Neto,J-Karpov,A/ 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.c3 b4 Amsterdam 1985. ] 5.d5 c5 6.e3 xd5 Black can also defer 5.cxd5 b4!? But this is any interesting idea, this capture, but [ 5...xd5 would lead to known position[ 6...0-0 7.e2 xd5 8.cxd5 b4 9.d4 types. ] exd4 10.exd4 transposes. ] 6.b1 White wouldn't be happy with 7.cxd5 b4 This sort of tactical sequence is [ 6.b3 f5 7.d3 xd3 8.xd3 xd3+ t e m p t i n g f o r a c o m p u t e r a s . . . N d 3 + i s 9.e2 c5 ] threatened, but, as we shall see, Black simply 6...bxd5 7.d3 b4 8.d2 0-0 9.f3 gets rebuffed. So, a Sicilian position has been reached, [ 7...e7 8.b4!? led to a crushing tactical although the black knights are on odd victory for W hite in Christiansen,Lsquares. e8 10.e4!? This is not too bad, as Charbonneau,P/Richmond CAN 2002. ] there is no black knight on c6 capable of 8.d4! controlling d4, and the problem for White was [ 8.b3?! is not so good, a5 ( 8...c6! ) 9.a3 that a4? ( 9...a6 ) 10.c3 a6 11.xe5+ [ 10.e2 can be met by xc3 11.bxc3 e4 wins, Nemeth,Z-Bordas,G/Budapest HUN breaking-up the white pawn structure. ] 2000. ] 10...xc3!? 11.bxc3 c5 12.e2 b6 8...exd4 9.exd4 White has doubled pawns in 13.c2 h6 14.d1 a6 15.a4 b7 the centre, but they control important squares, 16.0-0 White has completed his development, and drive Black's two developed pieces back. and he has more central pawns, and will try to e7 This is best, manage the d4-thrust although then the e[ 9...xd4? loses, but you should know how: p a wn wo u l d n e e d lo t s o f d e f e n ce . d7!? 10.a3 ( 10.xd4?? c2+ ) 10...f6 11.f3 17.xd7 xd7 18.d4!? d6 Black is not ( 11.e2+ d8 12.axb4 e8 13.e3 tempted by xb2 14.b1 c3+ 15.d1 is also good [ 18...exd4 19.cxd4 xe4!? 20.b5 for White ) 11...c3+!? ( after 11...xb2 ( 20.d3? g4 attacks f3) 20...c6 21.d3 12.xb2 xb2 13.axb4 xb4+ 14.d2 xd4 22.xd4 xd4 is an interesting Black has 3 pawns for the piece, but this is exchange sac whereby Black obtains two insufficient, as the pawns are all on their 952
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 starting squares and are good targets for the white rooks.) 12.f1! the most accurate, although ( 12.bxc3 xc3+ 13.d2 c2+ 14.d1 xd2+ 15.xd2 xa1 16.d6! cxd6 17.b2 is also favourable to White) 12...a6+ 13.g1 f6 at first glance it appears that Black has avoided losing a piece, but the knight has no squares, 14.f1 good, but ( 14.f4 xd5 15.xd5 0-0 16.xc7 is very convincing) 14...b5 15.f4 xd5 16.xd5 b7 17.e1+ d8 18.d3 and White soon won, Spraggett,K-Gonzalez Galvan,J/Dos Hermanas ESP 2000. ] [ 9...d6?! is unnatural, 10.a3 a6 11.e2 c6 12.c3 cxd5?! 13.e2+ e7 14.xe7+ xe7 15.xd5+ with a significant advantage, Balashov,YPribyl,J/ Schwaebisch Gmuend 1998. ] 10.a3 a6 A sad square for a knight! 11.e3?! This new move is White's mistake, better to play the natural [ 11.e2 0-0 ( 11...d6 12.0-0 g4 13.h3 xe2 14.xe2 0-0 concedes the bishop pair, Vandevoort,P-Schuermans,R/BEL 1992, when I would be te mpted to pla y 15.b5 as the knight's future looks bleak) 12.0-0 c6 Black will have to play this move, sooner or later, if he wants to be able to recycle his offside knight, but it allows White to undouble his pawns, and establish a piec e on d5 . 13.f4! the key move, White stops Black from playing ...Nc7. This is why this piece should not go to e3, as in the main game. cxd5 14.c3! d6 ( 14...c7 15.xc7! xc7 16.xd5 d8 17.e1 f6 18.c1 is crushing) 15.xd5 e6 16.e1 ( 16.b3!? ) 16...e8 17.xe7+ xe7 18.h5 d5 19.xd5 xd5 20.xe7 xe7 21.xd5 White has a solid extra pawn, Gil Reguera,J-Servat,R/Orense 1997. ] 11...c6 12.e2 c7! Black manages to bring the knight back. 13.c3 xd5 14.xd5 cxd5 15.0-0 0-0 16.xd5 White has still got an edge because of his extra space, and better development, but the absence of black weaknesses means that exploiting this may not prove easy. a5!? 17.b3 Should White be concerned by the possibility of ...a4 ? [ 17.e1 d6 18.d3 a4 19.ac1 keeps White on top. ] 17...a6!? Very provocative. 18.c4 a8
19.f3 b8 20.fe1 f6 21.a4 b6 22.f4 b7 23.d5 Exchanging the light-squared bishops is positionally desirable, as the black queenside pawns are stuck on dark squares. xd5 24.xd5 c8 25.d6? This is where White throws away his advantage, [ 25.ac1! is more natural, e8 26.xe8+ xe8 27.c7! and Black is in serious t ro u b le , a s xc7? 28.xc7 Hoovers the queenside. ] 25...e8 26.ac1 e6 27.g2 xe1 [ 27...c6 would be prettier! ] 28.xe1 Although White could still continue here. ½-½
965 Bareev,Evgeny Azmaiparashvili,Zurab FIDE World Cup KO (1.4) [Tony Kosten]
A26 2702 2673 08.09.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 d6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.d3 e7 6.e4 A good choice given the ma tch situ a tio n: W h ite ne e ds to dra w t o qualify. This avoids the typical black kingside attack that occurs when W hite plays exclusively on the queenside. bc6 7.ge2 h5 8.h4 [ The best reply, White doesn't want to place too many pawns on light squares by 8.h3 h4 9.g4 ] 8...e6 9.g5 f6 10.e3 d7 11.d5 0-0 12.0-0 [ It is difficult to believe that 12.d2 h7 13.0-0-0 can be better, f5 14.b1 ab8 15.g1 b5 with sharp play, Beikert,GHamdouchi,H/FRA 1999. ] 12...f5 13.g5 f7 14.d2 af8 15.ae1 [ A logical innovation, and completely in keeping with White's game plan, 15.b4 c8 16.ac1 allows White possibilities on the queenside, Ribli,Z-Nunn,J/ Plovdiv 1983, but Black is not devoid of counterplay. ] 15...fxe4 [ A common idea is the redevelopment of the badly-placed e7-knight by 15...c8 but then 16.exf5! is strong, A) 16...gxf5? keeps control of e4, but closes the f -f ile 17.f4 ( even 17.f3 953
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is possible ); B) 16...xf5 and White can place a knight on e4. ] 16.dxe4 g4 17.b3 h7 [ 17...f3?! appears tempting, but is a positional error, as after 18.xf3 xf3 19.g2 3f7 Black has merely exchanged his good bishop for White's worse one. ] 18.f4 Played to reduce Black's pressure on t h e f - f i l e . g8 19.e3 h3 20.f5! Forcing Black to play the unfavourable exchange, and creating an outpost on f5. xg2 21.xg2 ce7 22.fxg6+ xg6 23.xf7 xf7 24.c3 f6 25.f1 g4 Now W hite forces further exchanges that l e a v e B l a c k i n t r o u b l e . 26.xf7 xf7 27.xe7 xe7 28.f5+ f8 29.g5 f6 Forced, but now the remaining black knight is swapped, and only the bad bishop remains. 30.d5 f7? [ A mistake, simplifying White's task, but 30...xe4 31.xh5 f6 32.g5 is also losing, the white kingside pawns are free to advance. ] 31.xg7 xd5 [ Obviously not 31...xg7 32.xf6+ ] 32.cxd5 xg7 33.d8+ f7 34.xc7+ g8 35.xg7+ And a draw was agreed, as t h is wa s s u f f icie n t t o gu a ra n t e e W h it e ' s qualification, but Black could otherwise resign this. ½-½
966
A26 Belotti,Bruno 2419 Collutiis,Duilio 2332 ch-Playoff Montecatini Terme ITA (2) 01.12.02 [Tony Kosten] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.d3 d6 6.e4 f5 7.ge2 f6 8.0-0 0-0 9.d5 e7!? Edward Dearing wrote on the Forum that he was having difficulty proving an advantage against this move, whereby Black hopes to chase the knight away from d5 (with ...c6), or exchange it. 10.xf6+ xf6 11.d4 'The logical reaction' as I wrote in my book, although [ 11.h6!? g7 12.xg7 xg7 13.d4! ( 13.exf5 xf5 14.d4 exd4 15.xd4 f6
gave White nothing in Psakhis,L-Collutiis,D/ Bled SLO 2002) 13...c6!? 14.d5 e7 15.f4! favours White, Hanley,C-Meis,F/ Hoogeveen NED 2002. ] 11...fxe4! This is the problem, in my book I gave [ 11...c6 when White gained an appreciable advantage by 12.dxe5 xe5 13.h6 e8 14.d4 fxe4 15.xe4 d5 16.cxd5 xd5 17.e1 f6?! 18.b3+ h8 19.f3 Serper,G-Ludwikow,T/Gausdal 1991. ] 12.xe4 Automatic, but perhaps White should prefer Dearing's suggestion [ 12.d5!? (planning to use the e4-square by Nc3xe4) g4 13.xe4 c6 14.f3 h3 15.f2 b6 and now I like 16.c3!? f5 17.d3 f7 18.d2 af8 19.b3 when I prefer White, as Black's pieces are 'all dressed up with nowhere to go'. ] 12...h3 13.e1 [ 13.g2 xg2 14.xg2 is just level, Sadorra,J-Tay,J/ Singapore SIN 2001. ] 13...c6 14.h6 For what it is worth, a novelty, [ 14.dxe5 dxe5?! ( 14...xe5! ) 15.h6 xd1 16.axd1 fd8 is slightly better for W h i t e , b e c a u s e o f t h e i s o l a t e d p a wn , Dannevig,O-Sagafos,M/Asker NOR 2000. ] 14...f7 15.d2 d7 16.dxe5 xe5 17.d4 f5 Black invites exchanges. 18.xf5 xf5 19.ad1 xe4 20.xe4 f5 21.e2 The backward d-pawn, and White's efile build-up promise him a slight plus. g7? [ 21...h3 ] 22.xg7 xg7 23.xd6 Now White is winning. af8 24.f4 [ 24.f4! White controls both central files, and has an extra pawn. ] 24...c5 25.xf7+ xf7 26.e6 b5 27.cxb5 cxb5 28.e5+?! Quite unnecessary, we all know that rook and pawn endings are drawish, whilst with the queens on W hite has every chance of winning (particularly as his king is safer). xe5 29.xe5 b7 30.b4 f6 31.c5 h5 32.h4 Black seems quite passive here, but he soon activates! b6! 33.g2?! [ 33.a3 a6 34.c3 was a better chance. ] 33...a6 34.xb5 xa2 35.f3 b2 36.e3 a6 37.b8 f5 38.f8+ e5 39.e8+ f5 40.f8+ e5 41.f4 a5! Swapping the last queenside pawn brings about a theoretical draw. 42.bxa5 b3+ 43.e2 a3 44.b4 954
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xa5 Of course, this is a draw, although I almost lost one like this against I. Sokolov once at Tilburg! 45.b6 f5 46.f3 a2+ 47.e3 a3+ 48.f2 ½-½
967
A26
Botvinnik N,Archana [Tony Kosten] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.e4 d6 I don't want to dwell too long on the strategic aspects of this line, they will be very familiar to anyone who has a copy of The Dynamic English. So, rather than repeat that (which probably wouldn't go down too well with my publishers!) I have decided to concentrate exclusively on the most recent games. One of the advantages of this line for W hite is that the opponent often only has a vague idea of how to respond, although there are a few signs (in particular with 8...Nd4!?) that some players have been preparing. The Latvian GM Miezis has been playing this line a lot with White and has scored very well, so there are a lot of his games mentioned at various points. 6.ge2 ge7 This is generally considered to be one of the two main lines. [ 6...f5 is an important move, because this position can arrive from various move orders where Black plays an early ...f5 (i.e. 1 c4 f5). 7.d3 A) 7...h6 8.h4 fxe4! as I suggested in my book, this is Black's best try, 9.g5 d7 10.dxe4!? ( White keeps a hold of f5, but loses the uses of the e4-square, I prefer 10.xe4 ) 10...f7 11.d5 d4!? 12.xd4 exd4 , Delchev,A-Grigore,G/ Budapest HUN 2000, and now White has several tempting continuations, for instance 13.a4+! ( 13.xh6 xh6 14.xd4 ) 13...c6 14.f3 and; B) 7...f6 8.0-0 0-0 9.d5 The best move, this and alternatives are discussed in Mie zis,N-Ru st emo v, A/ Tallinn ES T 2001. ] [ 6...f6 7.0-0 0-0 is examined in Bruzon,LKempinski,R/Linares ESP 2001, whilst 8.d3 d7!? , where Black plans to bring his
knight to e6, is seen in the archives. ] [ 6...e6 Can transpose to 6...Nge7, but Black can also play more aggressively: 7.d3 d7 8.d5 d8 ( not 8...f6? 9.h6!; b u t m o ve s s u c h a s 8...f5 are fine, and transpose elsewhere,) 9.0-0 c6 10.e3 f5?! allowing White to play his normal exchange: 11.exf5! gxf5 12.f4 f7 13.d4 exd4 14.xd4 0-0-0 15.b1! f6 16.b4 White's typical queenside advance proves even more effective when the black king is in the way! d5 17.b5 dxc4 18.xe6 xe6 19.a4 d5 20.xa7 Black can resign, Franco Ocampos, Z-Mantovani,R/8th Valle d'Aosta Open, Saint Vincent I 2000. ] 7.d3 Simplest, and best. [ 7.0-0?! s e e m s t o b e a m i s t a k e , h5! , Franco Ocampos, Z-Akopian,V/Linares ESP 2001, see the archives for the gruesome details! ] 7...0-0 [ 7...h5!? is often played at move six, so that B la ck re t a in s t h e o p t i o n o f p l a yin g h i s king's knight to h6, instead of e7, but just recently it has also been tried at this juncture a number of times, have a look at Miezis, N-Seirawan,Y/Istanbul TUR 2000. ] 8.0-0 e6 [ 8...d4!? 9.xd4 exd4 has been resuscitated recently, with Black finding new ideas that have been giving W hit e problems, look at the analysis in Zueger,BGallagher,J/ Pontresina SUI 2000. ] 9.d5 f5 10.e3 reaching the main position, which is considered in Miezis,N-Praytino,S/ Jakarta INA 2001.
968 Bruzon Batista,Lazaro Kempinski,Robert Anibal Open Linares ESP (9) [Tony Kosten]
A26 2584 2543 16.01.2001
1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.e4 d6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 c6 6.ge2 0-0 7.0-0 e5 8.d3 [ Solid, the move 8.f4 is tempting, one recent example: exf4 9.gxf4 g4 by pinning the knight, defender of d4, Black hopes to put pressure on the dark squares. 10.h3 ( but 10.d4 is critical, if Black cannot exploit this, 955
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 he could be worse, e8 11.e5 d7 12.h3 with an edge) 10...xe2!? 11.xe2 e8 stopping White from playing d4, 12.d3 a5 13.e3 a4 14.d2 White has the better prospects, Ostenstad,B-Mortensen,E/Aars DEN 1999. ] 8...e6 [ 8...d7!? is seen in the archives. ] 9.d5 [ 9.f4 is best, threatening f5. ] 9...d7 10.e3 a5 11.d2 c5 12.f4 White prefers to play this advance after due preparation. exf4 13.dxf4 Menacing both t o p l a y d 4 , a n d t o c a p t u r e o n e 6 . e5 The attack on c4 holds-up pawn to d4. 14.h1?! [ To prepare the g1-square for the darks q u a r e d b i s h o p , b u t t h e s i m p l e 14.b3! is strong, preparing d4 again, g4 15.d4 xe3 16.xe3 d7 and now, 17.xe6 fxe6 18.e5 opens the g2-bishop's diagonal with great advantage. ] 14...g4 15.ad1? [ White prevaricates again, but this time it is really serious, 15.h3 kept an edge. ] 15...cxd3! 16.xd3 xc4 17.c1 xb2! The point, Black gives two pieces for a rook, b u t g a i n s a t h i rd p a wn , a s we l l . 18.xb2 xe2 19.a4 d7 20.c2 xf1 21.xf1 b5!? 22.e5 ae8 23.d3 bxa4 24.c6 h3 25.g1 b8 26.exd6 cxd6 27.xa4 e6 28.a7 bc8 29.f4 White manages to coordinate his bits, and regain equality. e5 30.d5 h8 31.b7 ce8 32.c6 c8 33.b7 cd8!? Black has the draw in hand. 34.xa5 b2 35.c7 de8 36.f4 d4+ 37.xd4+ xd4+ 38.h1 d2 39.g2 e1 40.c4 xf1+ 41.xf1 g7 42.e2?! e8 43.g2?? g5 0-1
969 Cebalo,Miso Tkachiev,Vladislav CRO-Cup Rabat CRO (2) [Tony Kosten]
A26 2524 2643 27.05.2003
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.d3 g6 5.g3 g7 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 d6 8.g5 With this move W hite's plan is to exchange
his dark-squared bishop for the knight and then play for control of d5, and eventually a good knight versus imperfect bishop position. [ 8.a3 is the main move for White here, but will often transpose should White play a later Bg5, and to avoid this Black often plays h6 ] 8...h6 9.xf6 xf6 10.b1 a5 Not so much to restrain b4, as White can easily force this move, but to ensure that his rook will enjoy an open a-file when W hite does play b4. 11.a3 e7 Possibly the best move, the knight makes way for the c-pawn, so that Black can control d5 with ...c6, and aims for f5. [ 11...e8 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 d4 14.d2 g7 15.e3 e6 is an alternative method of playing, but the knight may not be optimally placed on e6, Gelfand,B-Anand, V/Linares 1991. ] 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 g7 14.d2?! Falling into an instructive trap, and one that often occurs in this line. [ 14.b5 e8 15.d2?! e4 is similar, Vaganian,R-Lautier,J Manila izt 1990. ] [ 14.c2 is safer, defending the knight, c6 15.d2 d5 16.e4!? e6 17.fd1 d6 18.exd5 cxd5 19.cxd5 xd5 20.c4 d8 21.xd5 xd5 22.xd5 xd5 23.b6 a2 24.c4! and White was getting on top, Rotstein,A-Wahls,M/Vienna 1991. ] 14...e4! This is the surprising shot! Still once yo u h ave se en it yo u sho u ld n 't f o rge t it ! 15.c2 [ 15.d4 might be better, xd4 16.dxe4 g7 17.d5 ( 17.b3 e6 18.b5 b8 19.d5 xd5 20.cxd5 f5 21.c4 b6 22.bc1 e8 23.c3 a3 24.a2 a7 25.b4 a4 26.e4 d7 Sloth,J-Jansa,V/ Svendborg 1981/ MCD) 17...xd5 18.xd5 e6 ( 18...b8 19.fd1 f5 20.c5 is about equal, Berkes,F-Acs,P/Budapest HUN 2003 ) 19.xb7 a2 ( 19...xc4!? ) 20.c5?! f5! and White was in trouble, Rotstein,A-Herndl,H/Werfen 1989. ] [ Note that 15.cxe4? f5 and ] [ 15.dxe4? f5 both lose a piece. ] 15...exd3 16.exd3?! This novelty is probably an error, conceding control of d4, [ 16.xd3 seems better, c6 ( 16...a3 17.b3 xb3 18.xb3 c6 19.xc6!? bxc6 20.d1 f5 and I prefer Black, but White managed to hold this, Georgiev, V956
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Benjamin,J/Europe vs Americas, Mermaid doesn't stand at all badly. ] Beac h B ER 199 8) 17.xc6!? ( 17.d5 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 d6 e5 18.c2 c6 19.e3 isn't so bad for [ In this situation it's more risky to play White ) 17...bxc6 18.b5 and by gaining 7...d5!? because White can answer with control over d5 White managed to hold the 8.cxd5 xd5 9.xe5!? . Even so the balance, Jirovsky, M-Makharadze,J/ Batumi p o s i t i o n i s f a r f r o m c l e a r a f t e r xc3 GEO 2002. ] 10.xc6 xe2+ 11.xe2 bxc6 12.xc6 16...c6 17.fe1 White does not even b8 because Black is very active. ] contest d4 with 8.d3 h6 9.b1 [ 17.f3 ] [ After the immediate 9.b4 Black might try 17...d4 18.d1 h5!? Menacing the e4!? but then 10.e1! g4!? 11.d2 e3 annoying ... Bg4. 19.d5?! Perhaps White 12.fxe3 xc3 13.xc3 xe3 14.c1 xf1 should play 15.xh6 e5 16.f3 was very dangerous [ 19.h3 ] for Black, Horvath, G-Farago, I, HUN tch 19...g4 20.f3 A tactical error, White thinks 1992. ] t h a t h e h a s t i m e f o r N e 3 , b u t t h e r e i s a 9...e6 10.b4 d7 11.b5 d8 12.a4 problem. [ In the game Kortschnoj, V (2615)-Lutz, C [ Still, 20.f3 e6 21.f4 f5 is nothing to (2580), Garmisch Partenkirchen 1994 the write home about! ] great Victor played the immediate 12.e4 20...a2! 21.b5? This misses the threat, when Black saw no immediate reason to [ 21.f1 avoids the worst. ] excha n ge W hit e's n e wly in h ib it ed ligh t 21...xf3 22.xf3 d2! square bishop with 12...Bh3. The game went [ 22...d2 23.xd2? xf3+ wins the c6 13.h4 h7 14.a4 and now h3 queen. ] 15.bxc6 bxc6 16.xh3 xh3 17.a3 d7 0-1 18.c5 dxc5 19.xc5 e8 20.e3 left White slightly better. ] 12...h3 970 A26 [ Here too there's a case for delaying this move with 12...a6 . ] Gelfand,Boris 2758 xg2 14.xg2 e8 15.e4 Vachier Lagrave,Maxime 2718 13.d5 As White definitely wants to play this once the World Cup Khanty Mansiysk RUS (4.8) light square bishops are gone it makes sense [Nigel Davies] to play it straight away. [ Officially it seems that this is the 'new move' Gelfand's failure to get much after 4.g3 Nd4 as 15.b3 had been played in an earlier saw a switch to 4.a3 in this game. Black was game. But after e6 16.a3 h7 17.bc1 doing OK until he got edgy with 16...f5 and f5 18.c2 c6 19.c3 d4 was already within a few moves had White at his throat on slightly better for White in Seul, G (2415)the kingside. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 L u t z, C (2 5 5 0 ), G e rm a n y (B u n d e s liga ) c6 4.a3 g6 This move makes a lot of sense 1993. ] because White's 4.a3 is not his most useful 16.b2 Looking to play d3-d4, move in this kind of Reversed Sicilian. Usually, 15...e6 for example, the idea of b2-b4 will be prepared wh i c h i s p e r h a p s w h a t i n s p i r e s B l a c k ' s b y R b 1 , g e t t i n g t h e r o o k o f f t h e h 8 - a 1 loosening reply. f5? After this White obtains a powerful initiative. diagonal. 5.g3 g7 [ Black sh ould probab ly p lay jus t 16...a6 [ If Black wants to play an Reversed Open , when his position is a little worse but by Sicilian with ...d7-d5 it's probably best to do no means decisively so. ] so before White has his bishop on g2. Thus 5...d5 6.cxd5 xd5 7.d3!? ( 7.g2 17.h4! h7 18.exf5 gxf5 19.h5 [ 19.f4 would also have been very strong. might be met by xc3 8.bxc3 e4 ) 7...g7 After the text Black should play 19...Qf7. ] 8.xd5 xd5 9.g2 brings about a reversed Sicilian Dragon in which Black 19...c6?! 20.bxc6 bxc6 21.e3 f4 22.ef5 957
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f6 23.d4 Opening the position like this 14.c1 xf1 15.xh6 e5 16.f3 exposes the weaknesses in Black's camp. is very dangerous for Black, Horvath, Gexd4 24.xd4 xd4 25.xd4 e6 Farago,I/HUN tch 1992. ] [ 25...f7 was probably more stubborn. ] 10.b1 e6 11.e4!? A key idea that has 26.f5+ g8 27.fe1 c7 28.xg7 xg7 o f t e n b e e n u t i l i s e d b y G u r e v i c h , W h i t e 29.b7 e7 30.xe7+ xe7 31.xf4 g8 transposes into a Botvinnik structure with his 32.f5 knight on f3. This can be even more effective 1-0 when Black plays ...Re8 instead of ...Be6, as then the rook is misplaced. d7 12.d5 e8 13.b2 h7 14.d4 White opens the 971 A26 centre, but restraining ..f5 by [ 14.h4 is also possible, as in my game. ] Gurevich,Mikhail 2644 Plischki,Sebastian 2310 14...g4 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.e3 Hitting the KB Czech Open (1) 18.07.2003 b i sh o p , a n d t r a n sp o si n g i n t o a s u p e ri o r e n d g a m e w i t h t h e g r e a t e r s p a c e . xd1 [Tony Kosten] 17.fxd1 xf3 Black has to concede the By simple moves W hite gains a crushing bishop pair, as [ 17...e6?! 18.b5 axb5 19.cxb5 advantage. This game is worth seeing for the wins a pawn. ] plan White employs. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.a3 g6 5.g3 g7 6.g2 18.xf3 d6 This knight will just get kicked Both players head for a Closed English, and and have to return, [ 18...d4 looks better. ] this can transpose into [A26] at any moment. 19.g2 fd8 20.c5 e8 21.d5 d4 0-0 7.d3 22.f4 White is gaining lots of space. c6 [ 7.0-0 d5!? is seen in Ruck - Romanishin. ] 7...h6 To stop Bg5, or later Ng5 when the 23.d3 exf4 24.gxf4 xb2 25.xb2 g7 26.bd2 By a series of simple moves White black bishop comes to e6. [ 7...d5!? is pla ya b le he re, to o , 8.cxd5 has gained a dominating position. f6 27.h4 ( perhaps White can try 8.g5!? ) 8...xd5 f7 28.h3 Every white piece finds a good 9.xd5 xd5 10.0-0 b5 which is level, post. ab8 29.a4 b6 30.b5 axb5 31.axb5 H o r v a t h , G - R u c k , T / S z o m b a t h e l y H U N a5 32.c3 xd3 33.xd3 bxc5 34.d7+ A f t e r ga in i n g c o n t r o l o f t h e d - f i le W h i t e 2003. ] infiltrates the 7th rank. f8 35.e6 d6 8.0-0 d6 Maybe not the best, after [ 8...a5 9.b1 d6 10.b4 Black can open the 36.e5 fxe5 37.fxe5 xb5 38.f7+ g8?! a-file by axb4 11.axb4 e6 and now I Now Black gets mated, but [ 38...e8 39.e4 amounts to much the surprised my opponent with the same idea same. ] of the main game: 12.e4!? d7 13.d5 e7 14.h4!? h7 15.h1 xd5?! 39.d5 d4 16.cxd5 f5 17.exf5 xf5 18.xf5 1-0 ( 18.xg6!? xg6 19.e4 f6 20.g4 xe4 21.gxf5+ xf5 22.dxe4 f7 A26 is nothing special for White) 18...gxf5 19.f4 972 (fixing the weak f-pawn) e8 20.c2 c8 Gurevich,Mikhail 2667 Shirov,Alexei 2746 21.fxe5 xe5 22.d4 g6 23.b2 b5 24.xf5 and won, Kosten,A-Gozzoli,Y/St FIDE WCh KO New Delhi IND (3.4) 05.12.2000 [Tony Kosten] Affrique FRA 2003. ] 9.b4 a6 With the rook on a1 [ 9...e4!? is possible: 10.e1! ( 10.dxe4!? 1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 xe4 11.xe4 xa1 12.xh6 g7 5.f3 d6 6.0-0 c6 Black provokes White 13.g5 was not very clear in Haase,W- into playing d4, when transposition into a Bu c h e na u , F/K a ssel 1 9 9 5) 10...g4!? King's Indian, Fianchetto Variation, would 11.d2 e3 12.fxe3 xc3 13.xc3 xe3 occur. 7.b1 a5 8.d3 White prefers to play a 958
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 King's English, to avoid any early dissipation of tension. Having lost the first rapid game he had to win this game at all costs to stay in the tournament. e5 9.h3!? [ A very unusual move, normally White c o n t in u e s h is q u e e n sid e p la y wit h 9.a3 when play often goes: h6 10.b4 axb4 11.axb4 e6 and chances for both sides. ] 9...h6 10.e4!? Very unusual, White transposes into a Botvinnik-style structure. Now we see why he play h3 on the move before, it was to stop Black from continuing ... Bg4, and winning the fight for the d4-square. d7 [ T e c h n i c a l l y a n i n n o v a t i o n , 10...e8 had been played before, with the idea of stopping d4, but e8 is a worse square for the k night , 11.e1?! ( 11.e3 ) 11...e6 12.e3 d7 13.h2 f5 14.exf5 xf5 15.d2 with rough equality, Junquera,MFrois,A/Candas 1992. ] 11.e3 c5 [ This shows the disadvantage of Black's tenth move- he can no longer stop W hite from playing d4, 11...d4?! would lose a pawn to 12.xd4 exd4 13.b5 although Black's g7-bishop offers some compensation. ] 12.d4 exd4 13.xd4 The position resembles a K i n g ' s I n d i a n p o s i t i o n a f t e r a l l . d7 14.db5! White avoids simplification, and shows-up the disadvantage of Black having a knight on c6, instead of a pawn. e5 15.e2 c6?! 16.bd1 [ 16.xc5! dxc5 17.f4 d7 18.e5 is tempting. ] 16...ed7 White doesn't get another chance t o c a p t u re o n c 5 , a n d cr e a t e a k in gs id e majority. 17.d5 xd5 18.cxd5 e8 Black hopes for active piece play to compensate White's space advantage, and two bishops. 19.c2 h5 20.fe1 a4 21.f4 a5 Black finds an original way of attacking the b5-knight that appeared to be u n t o u c h a b l e . 22.a3 h4 23.g4 b5!? Shirov in his element, somehow he manages to conjure-up complications out of nothing. To avoid Nc4, and the positional bind, he sacrifices an exchange. 24.d2 a8 [ 24...a6? 25.xb5 would just lose a pawn for nothing. ]
25.xa5 xa5 26.h1 b4 27.c4 b3!? 28.axb3 axb3 29.e2 [ 29.xa5? bxc2 30.d2 xe4! 31.xe4 xe4 is far from clear. ] 29...b4 30.e5!? White shows that he can also play sharply. b6!? [ 30...dxe5 31.d6 cxd6 32.xd6 e7 33.d5 is White's idea, reclaiming the initiative. ] 31.xb6 cxb6 32.d2 Effectively forcing the exchange of queens. xd2 33.xd2 g5 34.e6!? I am not sure that this is the best, W hite excha nge s a p air of ro oks b ut th e p o s i t i o n b e g i n s t o l o o k d r a w i s h . gxf4 35.exf7+ xf7 36.xe8 xe8 37.f1 f7 38.g2 e4 39.d3 c5 Having played the whole game as though he had to win at all costs, Black now shows that he hasn't forgotten that a draw would be quite alright, t h a n k yo u ! 40.f3 xb2 41.xf4+ g6 42.b4 e5 43.c4 b2 This strong b-pawn will present enormous technical difficulties to White. 44.a2 g5 45.b1 d7 46.f3 f6 47.b5 d4 48.c2 d7 49.e4 e5 50.e3 f4+ 51.e2 e5 52.f5 c5 53.b4 f6 54.f3 [ 54.xb6 is no better, a4 55.b8 c3+ 56.d2 xd5 and White's winning chances are problematic, to say the least. ] 54...c3! 55.xb6 e5 So, Black wins the dp a w n a n y w a y . 56.b1 xd5 57.g5 The g-pawn's route to g8 is opened. d7 58.b7 e5+ 59.f4 c4 [ 59...c6 60.h7 c4 61.g6 d2 62.a2 b1 63.xb1 xb1 64.g7 also wins for White. ] 60.g6 c6 61.g7 e5+ 62.f5 e3+!? [ Shirov continues to try and bamboozle his opponent, 62...xg7 63.xg7 d2 64.g1 is hopeless for Black. ] 63.e4 [ 63.g5 xg7 64.xg7 c4 65.xh4 d2 66.d3 wins easily enough, ( but not now 66.g1?? f3+ )] 63...d5 64.f7?? [ A typical move at the end of a fifteen minute game, 64.d3 wins immediately, Black has to concede his bishop for the g7-pawn, and that is that! ] 64...c3+ 65.d3 xg7 66.xg7 xb1 67.c2 Fortunately White has this move or he 959
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 would even lose! d2?? [ A n d n o w i t i s B l a c k ' s t u r n , 67...c3 68.xb2 d1+ 69.c2 f2 wins White's last remaining pawn, and draws. ] 68.xb2 d5 69.c2 f3 70.d3 e5 71.g4 f5 72.e3 The king comes over in time to help the rook, the h3-pawn will win the game. g5 73.xh4 d5 74.f4+ g6 75.h4 d4+ Tricky to the end, neither white piec e c an ta ke th e p awn . 76.d3 f5 77.h8 e6 78.c4 e4 79.h4 f5 80.g8 e4 81.h5 d3 82.c3 f5 The h-pawn is unstoppable. 1-0
973 Kasparov,Garry Paehtz,Elisabeth ZMD Blitz Munich GER blitz (6) [Tony Kosten]
A26 2838 2349 13.11.2002
1.g3 e5 2.c4 d6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.d3 c6 6.e4 I think that this move is less accurate here, as we shall see. d4 [ 6...h5! is best, 7.h4 ( 7.h3!? d4 8.ge2 xe2 9.xe2 e6 was quickly drawn in Miles,A-Sadler,M/ Hastings 1998) 7...d4 8.ce2 ( t h e p o i n t i s t h a t 8.ge2 is n o w a ns were d b y g4 and White no longer has the possibility of h3) 8...e6 9.f3 ( 9.e3 f6 10.f3 0-0 11.d2 led to exciting play in Kosten,A-Georgadze,A/ P . S . G e o r gi o 1 9 9 4) 9...f6 10.g5 which is fairly equal in Chernin,A-Karpov,A/ Tilburg 1992. ] 7.ge2 With the h-pawns on their original squares this is good. g4 8.h3! f3 [ 8...f3+?? 9.f1 wins a piece. ] [ 8...xe2?! 9.xe2 xe2 10.xe2 e7 11.h4! c6 12.g5 f6 13.e3 h5 14.0-0-0 e7 15.h3 White's bi shop pair give him a pleasant edge, Csom,IKindermann,S/ Debrecen 1989. ] 9.xf3 xf3+ 10.f1 Black's check counts for nothing, as the white king will go to g2 with tempo, and Black has simply exchanged his better bishop. e7 [ 10...c6 11.g2 d4 12.xd4 exd4 13.e2 e7 14.h4 is similar to the game, Benko,P-Szabo,L/Winnipeg 1967. ]
11.g2 d4 12.xd4 Perfectly logical, although it is a novelty here, I recommend a similar ploy in related positions, the d4-pawn hinders the black bishop. [ 12.g5 e6 13.h4 c6 14.e3 is nothing special, Salov,V-Khalifman,A/St Petersburg 1997. ] 12...exd4 13.d5 c8!? [ 13...xd5 14.cxd5 leaves White with a small advantage - the better bishop and an open c-file. ] 14.h4 [ 14.g5!? xg5 15.xc7+ might be possible. ] 14...c6 15.f4 d7 16.h5 e7 17.b4 Typical Botvinnik System play, W hite has stabilised the centre, and attacks on both wings. 0-0-0 Probably the safest choice, kingside castling looks very risky when Gary can open the h-file! 18.a4 f5 Black looks for counterplay on the f-file. 19.exf5 xf5 20.b5 g5 21.g4 f7 22.h3 h6 23.b1 hf8 24.f1 e5 25.a5 This is a very quick game, of course, so there is not too much subtlety in the play. c5 26.a6 b6 27.f4 Having established a mighty queenside pawn chain, and in particular a possible spot on b7 for the white queen later-on, White utilises his extra kingside pawn. He has to act quickly as B l a c k wo u l d b e p l a yi n g . . . d 5 s o o n . gxf4 28.xf4 g7 29.f3 A little mate-in-one threat to keep Black on her toes! d5 30.h1 Played to unpin the g-pawn as ...Nf5 was a possibility. xf4 31.xf4 g5 32.b2 d6 Both sides bring their weight to bear on the ffile. 33.bf2 d7 [ 33...df6 34.g3 e5 looks more logical. ] 34.h2 ff6 35.g3 dxc4 36.dxc4 g8?! the knight was badly placed, but a move like [ 36...e5 was indicated. ] 37.f3 W ith a nasty threat. e5 38.g2 e7 39.d3? OK, it is difficult to criticise moves that are played instantaneously, but [ 39.e2 g5 40.b7+ was one of many wins here. ] 39...g5 40.b7+ e8 41.b8+ f7?? [ 41...d8 is far from clear. ] 42.xd6 The rook was not defended as its partner is pinned! xg4+ 43.g3 1-0 960
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 dark-squared pawns. 16.fxe3 xf1+ 17.xf1 The white queen is required on the queenside. Kharlov,Andrei d7 18.g1 d5! Popov,Valerij [ This is the best way to free his dark5th Russian Cup Final (5) squared bishop, Black has no time to play [Tony Kosten] 18...g4 as 19.b5 h5 20.a4 and the pressure on c6 is too great. ] 1.c4 e5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 d6 5.d3 f5 6.e4 The advantage of playing a 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.a4!? d6 [ 20...xa4 21.xa4 f8 22.a3 d6 Botvinnik structure against such aggressive is also fine, the bishop covers the c7-square black systems (with ... f5) is that White has a and stops the rook from infiltrating on the csay on the kingside, and should be able to file. ] avoid being 'mown down' there. c6 7.ge2 21.b5 c8 22.e2 ge7 8.0-0 0-0 9.d5 [ 22.xb7 d4 23.e2 xc1+ 24.xc1 [ 9.e3?! allows the annoying reply d4! dxe3 25.xa7 is a bit risky, if playable. ] , it is important that White can capture on 22...xc1+ 23.xc1 f8 24.xb7 xb4 d4 with a knight. ] 25.xd5 xb7 9...h6!? [ Both sides head for a draw. 25...e1+!? [ In my book I say that this move 'does not 26.g2 d2+ 27.f3 g4+ 28.e4 h8 appear to be overly useful', we will see if I 29.b3 is far from clear. ] am right! 9...e6 10.e3 d7 leads to the 26.xb7 a3 27.b3 xb3 28.axb3 c5 main line. ] The opposite-colour bishops assure the draw. 10.e3 g5!? [ An innovation, planning a kingside pawn 29.f2 g4 30.c8 h5 31.h3 gxh3 32.xh3 avalanche, but White should be well-placed f7 33.f3 b4 34.d4 t o h a n d l e t h i s . I n S e r p e r , G - H a r l e y , A / ½-½ Hastings 1990, Black pref erred 10...d4 11.xd4 exd4 12.xe7+ xe7 13.d2 c6 A26 14.b3 fxe4 15.xe4 h7 16.ae1 f7 975 17.f4 but White's mobile kingside pawn Kokarev,Dmitry 2650 majority gives him an easy plus. ] Levin,Evgeny A 2501 11.xe7+!? Samara Polugaevsky Memorial 4th (7) 8.7.14 [ Apart from the fact that White exchanges a [Tony Kosten] well-placed piece that has moved twice for a piece that has only moved once, this move 1.g3 g6 2.g2 g7 3.c4 e5 4.c3 d6 also suffers from the disadvantage that it 5.d3 makes it easy for Black to cover the d5[ 5.e4 is slightly more accurate if White is square with .. .c6. 11.exf5 xf5 12.b4!? g o i n g t o p l a y a B o t vi n n i k S ys t e m , b u t is an interesting alternative, White will try to perhaps he wanted to keep his options open play b5 as quickly as possible in order to here. ] gain light-squared domination. e4?! 13.d4 5...f6 6.e4 c6 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 d7!? e8 14.b5 favours White. ] "Black plans to bring his knight to c5, and 11...xe7 Black needs to be able to recapture then possibly to e6, to control d4." on f5 with a knight. 12.exf5 Almost forced, [ The mainline 8...e6 Bruzon, L-Kempinski, White cannot allow Black to play ...f4. xf5 R, and ] 13.c3 The knight eyes e4 and d5. c6 [ 8...d4!? Prusikin, M-Schunk, E, are both 14.c1 e6 15.b4 White plans b5, softeninganalysed in the Archive. ] u p t h e l o n g d i a g o n a l a n d t r yi n g t o g a i n 9.e3 In my view this 'automatic' move is a c o m p l e t e c o n t r o l o f d 5 . xe3!? slight mistake. This exchange has been on-the-cards for [ Otherwise, 9.f4 is popular, some time, Black gains the bishop pair, but A) 9...f5?! 10.exf5 gxf5 11.e3 d4 risks seeing his g7-bishop stymied by all his 12.xd4!? ( 12.fxe5 dxe5 13.xd4 exd4 974
A26 2656 2559 06.10.2001
961
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.d5 is only a little better for White, because of the f 4-square, Rotstein, A (2525)-Krasenkow, M (2676)/Izmir 2004.) 12...exd4 13.b5 s e e m s s t r o n g , c6 14.xd6; B) 9...exf4 10.gxf4!? ( 10.xf4 d4 Black has good dark-squared control. 11.e3 xe2+ 12.xe2 Popov, V (2542)Ba rba s hin , I (2 24 0 )/ E le t s 2 00 8 , e5 ) 10...d4 11.e3 xe2+ 12.xe2 f5 13.exf5 xf5 14.e4 f8 15.f5 gxf5 Stean, M-Biriescu, I/Teeside 1973, 16.xf5!? ] [ My preferred 9.d5 is seen in Kosten, ALilley, G, where I say: "As I explained in my book, this is almost invariably superior to 9 Be3"! ] 9...d4 This is the problem, Black occupies the d4-square, and White cannot capture with the knight. 10.d2 [ 10.xd4 exd4 11.b5 can be answered by b8 12.bxd4 c5 13.c2 xb2 regaining the pawn (on b2), 14.b1 g7 Lju bicic , F (24 80 ) -Ja nkovic, A (2 54 8)/ Sibenik 2007, 15.f4 c6 fairly level. ] 10...c6 An innovation, although play will later transpose. [ 10...c5 is the most common, when 11.f4 ( 11.b4 ce6 ) 11...c6 12.ae1 f5 transposes to the game. ] [ 10...a5?! stops b4, but is too slow, 11.xd4 ( 11.h3 c5 12.f4 c6 with good play for Black, Rodrigues, J-Askarov, B/St. Lorenzo 1995. ) 11...exd4 12.b5 winning a pawn. ] 11.f4 f5 12.ae1 c5 13.h1 a5 14.g1 Finally White can take on d4 with his knight. ce6!? Another new move, but perfectly logical. [ 14...xe2 is simpler, 15.xe2 Marantz, M (2420)-Ginsberger, A (2200)/Israel 1984, fxe4 16.dxe4 g4 which looks pretty good for Black. ] [ 14...a4!? Burwick, M (2239)-Couso, L ( 2 3 4 5 ) / S w e d e n 2 0 0 2 , 15.exf5 xf5 16.xd4 exd4 17.e4 Fairly equal. ] 15.exf5 Such positions can be a gold mine for the stronger player, as we often reach s it u a t io n s wit h a d yn a m ic t e n sio n in t h e centre (e4 and f4 against e5 and f5) and a difficult choice of which exchange to make, or whether it's better to keep the tension and
allow the opponent the same choice. [ 15.xd4 xd4 16.xd4 exd4 17.d1 would be an interesting alternative here, planning Nf2 and doubling rooks on the ef i l e . T h e n fxe4 18.xe4 and White can push his kingside pawn majority. ] 15...xf5 16.fxe5 dxe5 This double exchange favours White slightly, his backward d-pawn is less of a problem than the e5-pawn, and he has the e4-square for a knight. However, Black has good control of d4 and ... Bh6 can be awkward. [ 16...xe5?! 17.d4 ] 17.e4 [ 17.a4! is interesting, aiming at the b6square and answering h6 with 18.c3 when e5 is hanging. ] 17...h6 18.d1 e3 19.xe3 xe3 20.g1 xf1 21.xf1 xg1! I like this decision, the bishop was quite strong, but it is not the pieces that leave the board that are important, it is those that are left, and now Bla ck h as th e po t en t ially su pe rio r min o r pieces. [ 21...d4 22.d2 e7 as also playable, but 23.f3 keeps the pressure on, at some point Nf6+ will be a problem. ] 22.xg1 A strange choice, the rook was perfectly placed on the f-file, and [ 22.xg1 d4+ 23.h1 xb2? is no problem: 24.f3 and wins. ] 22...d4 23.c5 [ 23.f1 might be best, and if so the last move is shown to be a mistake. ] 23...e6 24.d6 xa2 25.e1?! White plays for the initiative, but it is not sure t hat this is the best square for the rook, [ 25.xb7 b8 also favours Black, 26.a1 xb7 27.xa2+ g7 because of his strong knight, but White is still in the game. ] [ 25.a1! is right, b3 26.xb7 b8 27.d6 and the difference is that the bpawn is defended. ] 25...f6 26.xb7 b8 27.d6?! [ 27.f1 e6 28.xa5 xb2 leaves the material equal. ] 27...xb2 28.e4 e7 29.c3?! These last few moves smell of severe time trouble. f7 30.a1 xg2! 31.xg2 c2 32.c1 xe1+ 33.xe1 xc5 Two extra pawns should prove decisive. 34.h3 e6+ 962
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 35.g4 b4 36.d4 xd4 37.e4 d3+ [ 12...xf5 concedes control of e4. ] 38.h4 d8+ 39.g3 f8 40.h3 f4+ 13.f4 cd4?! This allows White to force a 41.h4 h6 favourable adjustment of the pawn structure. 0-1 14.fxe5! Much better than [ 14.xd4?! exd4 (threatening to win the d5knight by 15...c6) 15.b5 a5! (renewing the threat by controlling the knight's escape 976 A26 s q u a r e , b 4 ) 16.bxa6 xa6 and Black is Kosten,Anthony C 2515 doing well. ] Lilley,Graham 2235 14...dxe5 15.xd4 xd4 16.xd4! 86th ch-British (4) 04.08.1999 Co nced in g th e b isho p pa ir, b ut in re tu rn [Tony Kosten] White closes the gap on d4, gains control of 1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 the f4-square, and isolates the f5-pawn. exd4 5.d3 e5 6.e4 Botvinnik's set-up is a good line 17.b5 So that if Black tries to chase the knight wh en Bla ck p lays . . .e 5. Th e g2-b is h op 's away from d5 he will give himself a weakness 18.e1 h8 h1-a8 diagonal is only likely to be closed on c6 (after b5xc6). d7 temporarily, as Black nearly always plays ...f5 19.h5 Black's loose kingside provides useful 20.bxc6 at some point, when White's reply e4xf5 will squares for the white pieces. c6 re-open it. c6 7.ge2 d6 8.0-0 d7!? bxc6 21.f4 f6?! [ 21...e8 was the only chance. ] Black plans to bring his knight to c5, and then p o s s i b l y t o e 6 t o c o n t r o l d 4 . 9.d5 22.e7! e8 [ 22...xe7?? is impossible because of As I explained in my book, this is almost 23.g6+ , of course. ] invariably superior to [ 9.e3?! w h i c h a l l o w s : d4! as here 23.e2 f7 24.e1 The move [ 24.c7 is also strong, justifying White's 10.d2 ( 10.xd4 exd4 11.b5 seventeenth move, but how could I resist can be answered by a6 12.bxd4 c5 tripling on the e-file? ] regaining the pawn (on b2).) 10...a5 11.h3 This brings the game to a swift c5 12.f4 c6 with good play for Black, 24...fe8? conclusion. I had expected Rodrigues,J-Askarov,B/St.Lorenzo 1995. ] [ 24...h6 although 25.e5 xe5 26.1xe5 [ Otherwise, 9.f4 is popular, but after exf4! xf4 27.gxf4 e8 28.b7 followed by 10.xf4 Goeslbauer, H-Schwarz,C/Graz doubling rooks on the seventh, would win 1994, d4 Black has good dark-squared easily. ] control. ] 25.xe8+! xe8 26.xe8+ xe8 27.xe8+ 9...c5 [ 9...a5 is possibly superior, stopping White's f8 28.e6 Black loses a piece. next, 10.b1?! ( 10.e3 ) 10...c5 11.e3 1-0 d4 12.d2 c6 13.dc3 e6 14.f4 f5 and Black was doing very well, Turner,M977 A26 Haydon,R/ENG-chT 1997. ] 10.b4 Taking the opportunity of gaining some Kosten,Anthony C 2533 space on the queenside. e6 11.b2 f5!? Renner,Christoph 2431 This is always a do uble-edged ad van ce . Bundesliga 2-Sud 17.03.2002 Previously, Black had played [Tony Kosten] [ 11...ed4 i.e. 12.xd4?! (White's play is timid, better ( 12.b5 xe2+ 13.xe2 d4 I arrived in Munich for this match, rushing 14.xd4 exd4 15.a4 wi t h a n e d g e )) straight from the Austrian league, after 1am in 12...xd4 13.e3 c6 14.c2 g4!? 15.f3 the morning, and by the time I found my hotel Mchedlishvili,M-Banikas,H/Zagan 1995, and it was almost 2am. I was awoken before 8 the now xc2 16.xc2 e6 should be next morning, as although we didn't play till 10, played. ] apparently the venue was some way away. 12.exf5 gxf5 However, the car I was assigned to didn't 963
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 leave until after ten, and I arrived over 40 minutes late! I was not very happy, to say the least, and rather than my planned preparation, decided to play something I knew very well, so that I could blitz-out my first 15 moves ... 1.c4 f5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.d3 d6 [ Against Santo-Roman, a few weeks later the game differed here: 5...0-0 6.e4 d6 7.ge2 fxe4 8.dxe4 e5 9.0-0 c5!? not a bad idea, as Black will follow-up with ... Nc6-d4 the backward d6-pawn will be safe, 10.h3 e6 11.b3 c6 12.g4!? d4 13.g3 d7 Black intends ...Qh4, ...Nf6, and a possible sac on g4, 14.d5! b6 15.e3 xd5 16.exd5 d7 17.c1 c7 18.e4! the right piece! Placing the knight here would block the bishop on g2. Now White planned Kg2, f3, and then h4-5 with a kingside attack, and this was carried-out successfully. ] 6.e4 c6 [ 6...e5 may be more accurate, 7.ge2 0-0 A) 8.0-0 is more natural, but allows f4!? 9.gxf4 h5 10.f5! ( White should return the pawn, 10.fxe5?! dxe5 gives Black excellent compensation f or the pawn, because of the weak white dark squares, K o s t e n - P h i l i p p e , C a p D ' A g d e 1 9 9 8) 10...gxf5 11.g3 xg3 ( 11...f4?! 12.xf4 exf4 Rychel,D-Gruschinski,R/ Heimbach W eis 1997, and now 13.xf5 xf5 14.exf5 favours W hite) 12.fxg3 but this looks a little better for White, so may be best.; B) 8.exf5!? I gave this an exclamation mark on page 121 of my book The Dynamic English, so I was happy to try it, but now I am not so sure ... gxf5 9.f4?! this is probably faulty, I was still worried about Black playing ...f4, and so I decided to 'nip it in the bud', but this is too we a k en in g, ( 9.0-0 c6 10.d4 was my recommendation (maybe I should read my own book?!)) 9...c6 10.0-0! e6 11.h3 d7 12.e3 ae8 1/2-1/2 Kosten,AMcDonald,N/Birmingham ENG 2002, I decided to accept Neil's draw offer, as a f t e r m y i n t e n d e d 13.d2 I was a bit concerned about d5!? 14.fxe5 xe5 15.d4 f7!? 16.c5 dxc4 sacrificing the
exchange for dark-squared control. ] 7.ge2 e5 Play returns to a pure Botvinnik System. 8.0-0 [ I had an idea that my opponent might capture on e4, after 8.h3 he had played fxe4 9.dxe4 e6 against Danny King, Germany 1997, and had drawn. ] 8...fxe4?! [ This fixing of the pawn structure is premature, in my opinion, 8...0-0 9.d5 is normal. ] 9.dxe4 g4?! This loses a move, as f3 is useful for White. [ After 9...0-0 Spraggett has been known to play 10.f3 anyway. This demonstrates the u se f u ln e ss o f kn o win g t yp ica l p la n s i n such positions. ] 10.f3 e6 11.d5 d7 12.e3 0-0 13.d2 f7 this is the standard plan in such positions, ever since Botvinnik successfully employed it, against Benko. However, I remember playing similarly as Black against John Piggot when I was very young, and being crushed by a quick c5! Since that time I have learnt my lesson! 14.b4 b6 15.ac1 It always pays to remove this rook from a1 - you never know when the a 1 - h 8 d i a g o n a l m i g h t b e o p e n e d ! af8 The position is very similar to the Psakhis Danielsen game I have examined, but here it i s W h i t e t o m o v e ! 16.fd1?! I was a bit doubtful about moving this rook f rom the defence of the kingside, but I had already managed to catch-up on the clock, and w a n t e d t o k e e p t h e p r e s s u r e o n ! h3 17.xf6+!? Giving my opponent something to think about. xf6! [ 17...xf6 18.c5 puts the pressure on Black's centre. ] 18.f1! The rook returns to defend f3. I wrote about this in my '101 tips' book: one should never be afraid of taking a move back. [ 18.xh3? xh3 19.d5+ h8 20.xc6 xf3 and there is no way to defend the bishop on e3. ] 18...xg2?! I am not too sure about this move, the black bishop is much more active than its counterpart, so why exchange it? [ 18...e6 19.c5!? bxc5 20.bxc5 d5 is almost level. ] 19.xg2 f7 20.g1 Black's initiative turnsout to be quite temporary, as once the f-pawn 964
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is well-defended, White can concentrate on the centre and queenside. d4? This loses. 21.xd4 exd4 22.b5! Sealing the d-pawn's fate, White has mobile kingside pawns, and a potentially food knight versus bad bishop. h6?! 23.d3 Freeing the knight. a6 24.a4 g5 25.e2 g4 26.f4 [ 26.xd4 gxf3+ 27.xf3 is also sufficient. ] 26...h5 27.f5 [ 27.xd4 h3+ 28.g1 xf4?! is Black's little trick, but even here, after 29.xf4 xf4 30.f5 White wins. ] 27...a8 28.f4 g5 [ 28...e8 29.d5 f7 30.f6 h8 31.e5! dxe5 32.g6+ is devastating. ] 29.e6 xe6 [ 29...e3 30.xe3 dxe3 31.xc7 a7 32.d5 is also without hope for Black. ] 30.fxe6 e5 31.f7! a7 32.a5! The cleanest kill. axb5 33.axb6 a2+ 34.f2 xf2+ 35.xf2 cxb6 36.cxb5 xe6 37.c4 xc4 38.xc4 f7 39.c7+ g6 40.c6 1-0
978 Ledger,Andrew Rendle,Thomas ch-EU Cork IRL (10) [John Watson]
A26 2450 2370 31.03.2005
1.c4 f5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d6 4.g2 g6 5.d3 g7 6.e4 c6 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 e5 N o w we ' v e t r a n s p o s e d t o t h e R e ve r s e d Closed Position with ...f5 and ...Nf6, extremely popular at the top levels. 9.b1 Not given in Hansen but a good waiting move. White wants to play b4 but he is also waiting for ...Be6 before he plays Nd5. e6 [ 9...fxe4 10.dxe4 g4 11.f3 e6 12.d5 is no improvement. Sometimes Black plays aggressively with ] [ 9...h5 intending ... f4, when White has 10.exf5 ( or 10.f3!? with the idea f4 11.g4 f6 12.d4 xd4 13.xd4 exd4 14.e2 ) 10...xf5 ( 10...gxf5 11.d4 or 11.f4, both with advantage) 11.h3 e6 12.d5 d7 13.g4 ( 13.h2 ) 13...f6 14.f4 ae8 15.ec3 d4 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.xf6+ xf6 18.xf6 xf6 19.e4 e7 20.h6
and Whites pieces seem better-placed than Black's (Qd2 and Rf1 is an obvious plan). ] 10.d5 d7 [ 10...fxe4 11.dxe4 d7 12.g5 intends Qd2. Then ... Bh3 is impossible because Black's c-pawn hangs. ] 11.b4 d8 This sort of reorganisation is a normal idea, intending ...c6 to expel or trade off the knight. Also typical is [ 11...e7 , but in this particular instance it loses a pawn to 12.xe7+ xe7 13.exf5 xf5 14.xb7 ] 12.b5 [ 12.xf6+ xf6 13.exf5 xf5 14.h6 g7! offers Black no problems. ] 12...c6 13.bxc6 bxc6 14.exf5 Accommoda ting. [ 14.xf6+ xf6 15.f4 at least unbalances the play. Black shouldn't have too many difficulties, but fxe4 16.fxe5 xe5 17.xf8+ xf8 18.xe4 d5 leaves Black's king is a little loose and I would rather play White. ] 14...xf5 15.e3 h3 16.d4?! This both isolates the c-pawn and cedes the e4 square. xg2 17.xg2 f7 [ 17...exd4! 18.xd4 e4 and White has some problems, probably solvable, with ideas like ...Nc3 and ... Ng5. ] 18.f4?! More loosening play as now e4 becomes a permanent outpost. exf4 [ 18...exd4! 19.xd4 e4 puts real pressure on, e.g., 20.b2 ae8 21.e1 h6! ] 19.xf4 d5 20.cxd5 xd5 21.exd5 cxd5 22.b3 White is fine but he has the worse bishop, so [ 22.a3 fe8 23.c5 is a better solution. ] 22...ad8 23.d2! fe8 [ 23...xd4 24.d3 g7 25.a5 e5 26.b3 is roughly equal. ] 24.h4? These innocent-looking positions are often the hardest play. Better was [ 24.a5 c8 25.xd5 c2+ 26.h1 ] 24...xd4 25.d3 e5 [ Even better is 25...e4! with a pawn and very nice game. In any case Black stands very well and either time trouble or ratingfear must have influenced his decision to split the point. ] ½-½
965
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 979 Lyanguzov,Oleg Klimov,Sergey Czech Open A (2) [John Watson]
A26 2355 2481 22.07.2006
When you're on the White side of the English Opening, one of the scariest things to face is a massive pawn advance on the kingside, even if you know that it's premature or shouldn't be correct. It's important to study and think about these positions. Here's a cautionary tale: 1.c4 g6 2.f3 g7 3.g3 e5 4.c3 c6 5.g2 d6 6.0-0 f5 7.d3 h6!? Presumably Black is trying to avoid [ 7...f6 8.g5 , although it's difficult for W hite to get anything ou t of the lin e h6 9.xf6 xf6= ] 8.b1 [ White's preparation for b4 is logical and perhaps best, but I used to play the move 8.d2 in such positions, with the idea b3 and Bb2, e.g., g5 9.b3 g4 ( 9...ge7 10.b2 0-0 11.e1 f4 12.d5 ) 10.h4 ge7 11.b2 ] 8...g5!? 9.d5 Since the knight can't stay here White loses some time and control over d5. Two preferable courses were [ 9.d2 a5 10.a3 f6 11.b4 axb4 12.axb4 intending b5, and ] [ 9.d2 a5 10.a3 f6 11.b4 axb4 12.axb4 ] 9...ce7! One good thing about this standard retreat is that it does no good for W hite to reinforce d5 in view of ...c6. 10.xe7 xe7 11.b4 g6!? Black is asking a lot from his kingside attack, although W hite has no obvious counterplay. Also possible was simply [ 11...e6 12.d2 c6 , simply preparing ... d5. ] 12.d2 [ 12.b2 might be met by 12...c6 (best?), or 0-0? 13.d2 ( the central break 13.d4 is reasonable but unimpressive following e4 14.d2 d5 15.cxd5 xd5= ) 13...e6 ( 13...e7 14.b5 ) 14.b5 ( 14.xb7 b8 15.d5 xd5 16.cxd5 xb4 ) 14...c8 15.a4 f4 ] 12...g4!? Plunging ahead! Black plays singlemindedly. 13.a4+ [ 13.b2 h5 14.d4 has the idea 14...exd4
15.Nb3!, but h4 keeps the initiative. ] 13...d7 14.b5 c8 15.c5!? This is the logical way to continue W hite's queenside atta ck, and hard to f au lt in spite of wha t happens. [ 15.a3 a6! looks effective. ] 15...dxc5 16.c4 b6! Not only good, but p o s i t i o n a l l y f o r c e d . 17.xa8 xa8 With the light squares, an extra pawn, and ... h5 -h 4 co m in g, B lack ha s e no ugh f or t h e excha nge . Bu t h e ha sn't castled an d his centre is a bit loose. 18.e4?! This is the key point. From now on White's defensive task is a tre me n do us bu rde n . I t hin k th e wa y t o counter Black's attack was to close the long diagonal: [ 18.f3! A) 18...h5?! 19.fxg4 hxg4 ( 19...h4 20.gxf5 hxg3 21.e4! ) 20.e4! cuts off the attack and has the idea Ng5 or even Bg5; B) 18...gxf3 19.xf3 c6! 20.a4 e4 ( 20...h5? 21.g5 ) 21.e1 ( 21.dxe4 cxb5 22.axb5 xe4! creates new chances because 23.xe4+ fxe4 24.e1 e7! with the idea ... Nd5 emphasizes White's weaknesses on b5 and e2. That's probably about equal.) 21...cxb5 22.axb5 and alth ough Black is quit e a ctive h e needs a plan. Perhaps e7 ( 22...exd3 23.xd3! ) 23.b2 e5 24.b3 d8 is a start, although W hite's position has improved considerably and he stands better overall. ] 18...f4 19.f3 What else? c8!? [ 19...h5! would ask White what he's going to do about the attack. ] 20.b2 e6 21.c2 d7 22.c4 [ 22.fxg4 makes sense, before ...h5 comes. There might follow xg4 23.c4 fxg3 24.hxg3 h5 , when I prefer Black's attacking chances (... h4 and ...Bh6 are themes) but at least 25.e3 grabs some squares. ] 22...h5?! [ 22...fxg3! 23.hxg3 gxf3 24.xf3 h5! looks more accurate. It's very difficult to say, especially over-the-board. ] 23.a4? This ultra-conservative defence of the b-pawn throws away the last opportunity: [ 23.gxf4 at least gets this move in before Black can recapture with the knight (23... 966
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c8 Black needs to move his knights if he wants to play ...c6, to drive the powerful d5knight back, but as soon as the e7-knight moves, White has the following stratagem: 16.exf5! xf5 17.d4 h3 18.dxe5 xe5 19.f4 g7 20.xh3 xh3 21.d4 the black rooks are now misplaced on the ffile, White is almost winning, e6 22.xg7 xg7 23.d4 d7 24.f3 c6?! , Davies,N-Duncan,C/ Scarborough ENG 1999, White winning quickly, but in fact he could have won immediately by: 25.e5! as dxe5?? 26.f6+ wins the queen! In cide n t a lly, Nige l t o ld m e th a t he h a d started playing this line after reading my book! ] 11.d2 h7 12.ac1 With less pressure on his kingside W hite is free to start his queenside play. g8!? [ Trying to bring the knight to a better square, 12...d7 is more natural, 13.b4 ab8 14.b5 d4 15.xd4! (White will play with his knights on the light squares- worth remembering!) exd4 16.ef4 c5 17.xe7 xe7 18.ce1 Black has problems on the efile, f7 19.xe6 xe6 20.exf5 xf5 21.e7 White has a strong initiative, despite the opposite-colour bishops, Istratescu,ANikolaidis,K/ Halkida GRE 2000. ] 13.b4 d4?! 14.xd4! As in the previous note, but this time a tactic is involved that guarantees the f4-square for White's knights. exd4 15.df4 c8 [ A necessary retreat, 15...d7?! 16.exf5 xf5 17.xb7 wins a pawn. ] 980 A26 16.exf5 gxf5 17.c5 c6 18.a4 e7 19.a2 Miezis,Normunds 2532 a5 20.b5 dxc5 21.xc5 d6 22.fc1 Prayitno,Sugeng 2391 White's queenside initiative gathers in pace. Wotulo Mem Jakarta INA (5) 26.03.2001 d7 23.bxc6 xc6 24.b3 ab8 25.b6 f7?! 26.xa5! f8 27.ac5 e5 28.g6! [Tony Kosten] A s i m p l i f y i n g c o m b o . xg6 29.xe5 1.c4 g6 2.c3 g7 3.g3 d6 4.g2 c6 As the knight is now pinned. h7 30.xc6 5.d3 e5 6.e4 ge7 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 f5 xc6 31.xd4 xa4 32.xf5! e8 [ 32...xf5 33.xf5 xf5? 34.c7+ 9.d5 e6 10.e3 h6!? wins the exchange. ] [ Quite a common move in OTB chess, Black puts his king in a safer spot, and controls g5, 33.c7 e1+ 34.g2 ee7 35.e6 e8 but it is not that useful. 10...d7 is best, 36.xf7+ xf7 37.xb7 xe6 38.xf7+ 11.d2 f7 12.ae1 ( I also like 12.f3 g6 39.g7+ f6 40.c7 f irs t , b u t t h e t e xt is q u it e re a so n a b le ,) 1-0 12...af8 13.b4!? a6 14.a4 d8 ( 14...fxe4 15.dxe4 g4 is possible) 15.a5
Nxf4? 24.Nxe5), so there might follow exf4! ( 23...xc4 24.dxc4 xf4 25.bd1 ) 24.xg7 xg7 25.b2 h7! 26.xg7 xg7 27.f2!? xc4! 28.dxc4 e5 You can see how little material need be on the board for an exchange sacrifice to retain i t s p o s i t i o n a l e f f e c t . 29.e2 xf3 ( 29...xc4 30.fxg4 xg4 also looks good White may be all right but he's struggling.) 30.xf3 gxf3+ 31.xf3 and White is stilt worse but can probably hold. ] 23...fxg3 24.hxg3 h4! This is decisive. Apart from the obvious threat of crashing through on the h-file, the move ...hxg3 will win the f4 square for a knight, and even ...Bh6 can be part of the attack if necessary. 25.f4 [ 25.gxh4 xh4 26.fxg4 xg4+ 27.f2 xc4! (to keep the knight from defending at e3) 28.dxc4 f4 and White should resign. ] 25...hxg3 26.f5 h2 27.d1? [ 27.fxe6 e7! 28.xh2 ( 28.b3 h4 and mates ) 28...gxh2+ 29.h1 isn't bad materially, but W hite's position has too man y h oles f o r h im to survives, e .g. , a pretty line is g3 30.e3 f4 31.xf4 exf4 32.f5 g5 33.xg7+ f8 34.e7+ xe7 35.f5+ e8 and there's nothing to be done about ... Qg4. ] 27...f4 . White resigns (0-1). ...Nh3+ and ... Ne2+ are threatened, while 28.xf4 exf4 29.xg7 xg7 actually mates within just a few moves. 0-1
967
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A26 12...af8 13.f4!? [ White decides to allow a hanging pawns Miezis,Normunds 2518 structure, but Black is well-placed to handle Rustemov,Alexander 2534 this, 13.f3 is my preferred move, ] Keres Mem Rapid rapid (2) 06.01.2001 13...fxe4 14.dxe4 e8 15.b3 g4 16.ec3 [Tony Kosten] exf4 17.gxf4 d4 18.h1 e6 Black's play 1.c4 g6 2.c3 g7 3.g3 f5 4.g2 f6 is normal, he tries to put pressure on the 5.d3 d6 6.e4 c6 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 e5 hanging pawns. 19.f5! But these pawns have great dynamic potential! xg5 20.xg5 h5 9.d5 Suddenly it seems that the black [ 9.f4!? is an interesting alternative, White is 21.h3! happy to play with hanging pawns on e4 and q u e e n i s o n a n e x p o s e d d i a g o n a l . c6 f4, but it lacks the strategical bite of the 22.g2?! [ White unpins the f-pawn, at the cost of a main line, fxe4 10.dxe4 e6 11.d5 d7 piece! However, whilst this may succeed in a 12.d3 h5 13.e3 f7 14.ad1 exf4 q u i c k g a m e , o b j e c t i v e l y 22.f4! 15.gxf4 with chances to both sides, is far stronger, for if xc3? 23.fxg6 wins. ] Movsziszian,K-Lautier,J/Cala Galdana ESP 22...cxd5 23.xd5 1999. ] [ Unf ortunately, if 23.fxg6 Black has the 9...e6 resource: f2+! 24.xf2 xf2+ 25.xf2 [ 9...xd5?! if this move were possible, there xh3 and wins. ] would be little point W hite playing Nd5 ! 10.cxd5 d4 with drawish intent, but the 23...h6! 24.h4 c6? [ Missing 24...f6! for 25.xf6+ xf6 open c-file, and target on c7, assure White a 26.fxg6 xg6+ is check. ] plus, 11.xd4 exd4 12.d2 h6 13.c1 a5 14.c2 f7 15.f4 a6 16.fe1 White also 25.fxg6 xg6 26.xf7 xf7 [ Not 26...xf7?? 27.e7+ ] has more centre pawns, e7 17.e5! dxe5 h7 28.xf7 xf7 29.e7 18.fxe5 xe5 19.xh6 d6 20.g5 27.e6 30.f4 White is well on top, Istratescu,A-Agouridis, White has a strong initiative. g6 f6?? 31.e6 No w W h it e wins . xe4+ A/Korinthos GRE 2000. ] 32.g1 h5 33.xe4 b6+ 10.g5 [ 33...xe4? 34.f8+ ] [ I think this is the most accurate, but 10.e3 is also worth consideration, the ideas are the 34.c5 dxc5 35.g4 c4+ 36.f1 same: d7 11.c1 h5 12.exf5! 1-0 the standard plan, gxf5 13.f4 f6 14.d4 thematic! g4 ( Black has little choice, A26 14...e4? 15.xf6+ xf6 16.d5 982 loses a piece) 15.dxe5 xe3 16.xe3 Miezis,Normunds 2518 dxe5 17.fxe5 xe5 18.f4 White has Seirawan,Yasser 2647 c o n c e d e d t h e i m p o r t a n t d a r k - s q u a r e d 34th Olympiad (3) 30.10.2000 bishop, but has gained f4 for his knight, and [Tony Kosten] weakened f5, c6 19.b3 h8 20.cd1 e7 21.xe6 xe6 22.c5 the f5-pawn is 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 soon lost, Nogueiras,J-Paramos Dominguez, 5.d3 ge7 6.e4 d6 7.ge2 h5 8.h4 0-0 R/Santa Clara CUB 1999. ] [ 8...d4!? 9.xd4 exd4 10.e2 a6 10...d7 11.d2 f7 11.0-0 b8 Black plays aggressively on the [ Possibly not the best move, for 11...h5 queenside, 12.b4 b5 13.cxb5 xb5 14.a3 , intending ...f4, see the note in the 0-0 15.g5 g4 16.f3 e6 17.c1 archives. ] the pressure on the c-file assures White an 12.ae1 slight pull, Franco Ocampos,Z-Pazos [ To me, the most logical, although 12.f3!? Gambarrotti,P/Havana CUB 2001. ] is also good, see the archives. ] [ 8...e6 is examined in the excellent game [ 12.ac1 is likewise examined therein. ] Bareev,E-Azmaiparashvili,Z/Shenyang CHN 981
968
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2000, see the archives. ] 9.0-0 g4 10.f3 e6 11.d5 d7 12.g5 f6 13.e3 A typical main line position is re ac he d, e xc ep t th a t th e two side s ha ve a d v a n c e d t h e i r h - p a wn s t wo squ a r e s . f5 The problem from Black's viewpoint, is that this standard advance concedes control of g5. However, Seirawan is a great English Opening expert, so must be aware of this. 14.d2 f7 15.g5 h7 16.b4 White has nothing to fear on the kingside, so expands on the queenside to accentuate his space advantage. g8 17.ab1 af8 18.b5 ce7 19.f4!? Most players would continue on the queenside, but Miezis certainly believes in this move in such positions. c6 20.bxc6 bxc6 21.e3 h6 With so many pieces clustered together on the kingside the s i t u a t i o n t h e r e i s v e r y t e n s e . 22.d4!? More oil on the fire! exd4 23.xd4 fxe4 24.xh6! xh6 25.xe4 White's idea is revealed, the f4-pawn acts as a barrier to the black rooks, and meanwhile the e4-bishop points at g6, and c6. g7?! 26.b7!? xb7 27.xe6 d7 28.xf8+ xf8 29.f5 White attacks on the light squares. g8 [ 29...xf5 30.xf5 gxf5 31.d3 is more awkward for Black than it appears at first glance, Qg5 is a strong threat. ] 30.d3 e5 31.g2 d5!? Black wants to exchange pieces, even at the cost of a pawn. 32.cxd5 cxd5 33.fxg6 xf1 34.xf1 e6 [ Forced, 34...dxe4?? 35.f7+ h8 36.h7# ] 35.f5 To win White would like to swap his bishop for the black knight, as otherwise the opposite-colour bishops will present technical problems. f6 36.f3 d4? Time-trouble, no doubt. 37.d5 Forced, but strong. xd5 38.xd5+ f8 39.a8+ e7 40.xa7+ f8 41.a8+ e7 42.b7+ f8 43.c8+ g7 44.d7+ f8 45.a4 e7 46.xe7+ xe7 47.a5 The passed a-pawn makes all the difference, as without it this would be drawn. 1-0
983 Mulyar,Michael A Revesz,Zoltan 34th World Open (2) [John Watson]
A26 2391 2161 29.06.2006
As far as I can make out from the PGN search there isn't a game in the ChessPublishing database with this popular position, one of B l a c k ' s f a vo r i t e s i n t h e C l o s e d S i c i l i a n Reversed (White's Botvinnik setups dominate the A26 system). It is considered fully equal, but the move chosen by Mulyar, 8.Nd5, isn't even mentioned in Hansen's excellent survey of the ...f5, ...Nf6 system. Here W hite produces a nice positional win in a game with almost no tactical element. This is a difficult variation against which to gain an advantage, and Mulyar makes it looks easy, lower-rated opposition or not. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.d3 d6 6.f3 f5 7.0-0 f6 8.d5 This is a good way to defuse Black's attacking setup, but has the drawback that it allows Black a choice of safe lines. Nevertheless, there seems a little poison in 8. Nd5, and 8.Bg5 hasn't gotten White very far. The main line has been the saame for many years, generally considered to lead to equality: [ 8.b1 a5 9.a3 0-0 10.b4 axb4 11.axb4 h6 12.b5 e7 13.b2 ( 13.b3 with the idea Ba3 was played by Seirawan verus Kamsky in Tilburg 1990. One of the better answers seems to be h7 14.a3 d7 -Kamsky.; 13.c5!? is best answered by e6 ) 13...e6 with dynamically balanced play. ] 8...0-0 [ 8...xd5 9.cxd5 e7 10.g5!? is messy, e.g., h6 ( 10...c6 11.a4 h6 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.xc6+ xc6 14.xc6+ d7 15.xd6 hxg5 16.xg6+ f8 17.xg5 gives White four pawns for a piece, albeit against two bishops. Only his h-pawn is passed, however, so it seems fair to call the position only slightly better for White. )] 9.g5 e7!? [ 9...d7!? 10.xf6+ xf6 11.xf6 xf6 12.d2 gave White a small edge in Romanisin-Kupreichik, USSR Ch 1981. This is similar to the game: ] 10.xf6+ xf6 11.xf6 xf6 12.c5!? 969
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 12.b3 b8 13.c3! ( 13.d4 e4 14.d2 d5 15.cxd5 xd5 looks fine for Black )] 12...g7!? Out of the a2-g8 frying pan into the a 1 - h 8 f i r e . 13.b3 c6 14.c3! e7 15.b4! d5 [ 15...dxc5 16.bxc5 d7 17.ab1 b8 18.e3 and d4 keeps a small edge. ] 16.b5 d4 17.b2 d8 18.e3! xc5 [ 18...dxe3 19.fxe3 xc5 20.xe5! xe5 21.xe5 and Black is under a lot of pressure. ] 19.exd4 exd4 20.xd4 No threats, but that d a r k - s q u a r e d d i a g o n a l i s o m i n o u s . d7 21.fe1 a6 22.e2 axb5 23.ae1 d6!? [ 23...h6 is the machine recommendation, although White has a lot of activity following 24.xb5 : e6 (vs Re7) 25.xe6 xe6 ( 25...xe6 26.a3 threatens both Bxb7 and Re5 ) 26.xb7 b8 27.e5 b6 28.xf5! d4! ( 28...gxf5 29.f6+ h5 30.f3# ) 29.f4 c5! 30.d2 xb7 31.xd4 cxd4 32.f7+ g5 33.h4 ] 24.e7+ g8 25.xb5 xb5 26.xb5 c6 27.b3+ h8?? [ 27...f7 28.xf7 xf7 29.xb7 xa2 30.xc6 with an extra pawn. ] 28.b2?? [ 28.e8+ f8 29.1e7! hits f8 and there's no defence: ] 28...g8 29.d7? There may be time trouble hereabouts. White's perfect buildup could still be rewarded after [ 29.e8+ f8 30.1e7 (threatening mate) f7 31.xf7! xf7 32.xa8 xa8 33.xb7+ ] 29...xd7 30.xf6 f7 31.d6! White is still way on top, but it's become a technical affair. f8 32.d7! f7 33.xb7 xa2 34.xc6 b4 35.e8+ g7 36.d5 a7 37.g2! d6 38.c4 d7 39.e6 d4 40.e7 xe7 41.xe7 f6 42.xf7+ xf7 1-0
984 Nikolaev,Leonid Cyborowski,Lukasz Open A Krakow POL (4) [John Watson]
A26 2301 2564 30.12.2004
The old but ever-popula r lin e with W hit e playing d3 versus a King's Indian is still of great interest. Here Black's system includes the move ...Nc6. If White is going to give up his bishop pair by Bg5 and Bxf6 he needs to esta blish a p ositio nal bind. Th at doe sn't happen in this game. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 c6 5.d3 d6 6.b1 a5 7.a3 f6 Delaying castling can be useful for Black because it forces W hite to commit. Here White deviates early but transposes by a circu ito u s ro u te to a ma in lin e . 8.g5?! Perhaps not really weak, but this move is too early to challenge Black, who can now transpose into a favourable line. h6 9.xf6 xf6 10.f3 g7 11.0-0 0-0 12.d2 White has had a hard time here. The point is that Bg5 is appropriate after Black has committed to a plan like ...Bf5 or ...Re8, but not before because Black can wait to pick his best plan. 12.Nd2 is a concession in that Black now needn't fear d4 or Nxd4 after ... Nd4. [ (a) By f ar the main m ove here is 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 A) or 13...e7! 14.b5 ( 14.d4!? ) 14...e6 15.d2 e4! 16.c2 (upon a knight capture on e4, ...f5 wins) exd3 17.exd3 c6 gave Black a small edge in KharlovBacrot, playchess 2004; B) 13...e6 is also commonly played; C) 13...e8!? 14.b5 d4 ( 14...e7 15.b3 e6 is equal ) 15.d2 a3 16.b3 C1) (Probably unnecessary. White's only plan is e3, so even a cheeky move like 16...g5! -from HiArcs- looks good: 17.d5! ( 17.e3? g4! ) 17...c6 ( 17...d8!? is equal! ) 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.b4 c5! ( 19...g4!? 20.xd4 exd4 ) 20.d5 g4! with the idea 21.e1? xe2 22.xe2 xb3; C2) 16...c6!? 17.e3 xb3 18.xb3 xb3 19.xb3 and according to Kapengut and Gelfand White is slightly 970
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 better. I think that's true after, e.g., c7 20.a1 f5 21.e4 e6 22.a7 ] [ (b) 12.e1!? c a n b e m e t b y g4 (among others) 13.h3 e6 14.c2 d7 15.h2 f5 and Black's attack is coming pretty fast ] 12...e8 [ 12...e7 and ] [ 12...d4 are also played. The text is a useful semi-waiting move that supports Black's centre after an eventual ...c6 and ... d5. ] 13.d5 [ 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 e4! ( or 14...e7 ) 15.b5 ( White loses a piece after 15.cxe4?? f5; or 15.dxe4?? f5 ) 15...exd3 ( or 15...e7 ) 16.bxc6 ( 16.exd3 d4 ) 16...xc3 17.exd3 b6 18.c2 d4 ( 18...g7 19.xb6! ) 19.b3 g7 and Black's two bishops and open files give him the advantage. ] 13...e7 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 c6 16.xe7+ xe7 Now ...d5 is in the air. 17.b3 [ 17.b5 d5 18.b3 e6 ] 17...e6 18.b5 d5 It's been so easy. Black is better. The rest of the game is instructive: 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.fc1 d7! 21.f1 h5 22.b6 h4 23.c7 h3! 24.h1 e4! 25.bc1 e5 26.7c2 exd3 27.exd3 d4 28.c7 f6 [ or 28...d6!? 29.xb7 a6 ] 29.c2? xb6 30.xd7 xd7 31.d2 e6 32.e3 d4 33.b1 a3 34.e2 c5 35.xb7 xd3 36.b8+ g7 37.f5+ Spite check. [ 37.xd3 xd3 and the bishops will escort the d-pawn in even if W hite survives that long. ] 37...xf5 0-1
985 Paunovic,Dragan Marholev,Dimitar XXVIII Open San Sebastian ESP (3) [John Watson]
A26 2518 2381 20.03.05
1.c4 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 e5 4.c3 f5 5.d3 c6 6.e4 f6 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 d6 9.d5 There a kind of "rule" in these positions
that Nd5 (or ...Nd4) is best delayed until after ...Be6 (or Be3) is played. Then the opposing knight can't capture the intruder without being forked. Nevertheless, such an exchange does open W hite's c-file and more importantly, it t ra d e s o f f o n e o f B la ck 's m o s t e f f e c t iv e attacking pieces. In Ledger-Rendle, Cork 2005, White played 9.Rb1, waiting for ...Be6, which transposed to another typical position. [ W h i t e p l a y s 9.h3 extremely often, for example, e6 ( Like hundreds before him, Black doesn't play 9...f4! , the remarkable m o ve f r o m R o c a - P e r a l t a , I T T R i c a r d o Lettieri 2005 in the March column.) 10.d5 d7 11.h2 fxe4 12.dxe4 d4= was Harpur-Almond, Cork IRL 2005. ] [ The most attractive alternative to 9.Nd5 is 9.exf5 xf5 ( 9...gxf5 10.d4 or 10.Nd5 ) 10.h3 , but apart from the normal 10...Qd7 Black can try b4!? , which looks good and isn't mentioned in any modern source that I know of. ] 9...xd5 [ A main line is 9...e6 , when White can play 10.g5 d7 11.d2 with only a small edge if that, e.g., h5! ( 11...f7!? 12.exf5 xf5 13.xf6+ xf6 14.xf6 xf6 15.f4 ) 12.exf5 xf5 13.ae1!? ( 13.ab1 f7 14.b4 ) 13...f7 14.b4 af8 15.b5 d8= ] 10.cxd5 e7 11.f4!? This activates Black's bishop on g7. . It's better to play in the centre or on the queenside, e.g., [ 11.b3 ,as given by Hansen with an '!', but he follows up with two poor examples that went h8 12.e3 c5 ( 12...c6 is natural and roughly equal, in my opinion) 13.f4 exf4 ( Black can play 13...fxe4 14.dxe4 g4 ) 14.gxf4 , with 14...Qc7? in one and b6? ( perfectly fine is 14...fxe4! 15.dxe4 g4 16.c3 d7 ) 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 xe5 17.d4 cxd4 18.xd4 xd4+ 19.xd4 d6?? 20.c3 1-0 Klimera-Radecki, corres 1993 ] [ Also logical (and perhaps best) is 11.e3 , intending Rc1 or sometimes d4. The play should be about equal. ] 11...c6!? This is the standard break after the ... Nxd5 and ...Ne7 sequence. It might be better to open the diagonal for the c8 bishop first, [ 11...fxe4 12.dxe4 ( 12.xe4? h3 or ...Bg4 gives Black what he wants) 12...c6 971
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( or 12...h8 , to avoid diagonal tricks) 13.b3! ( 13.c3 b6+ 14.h1 exf4 ) 13...b6+! ( 13...cxd5 14.c3! ) 14.xb6 axb6 15.c3 b5! 16.fxe5 xf1+ 17.xf1 xe5 with the idea of ...b4 and the more active pieces ] 12.e3 Developing normally. [ A natural-looking sequence that gains some central control is 12.fxe5 A) 12...dxe5 13.b3 cxd5 ( 13...b6+?? 14.xb6 axb6 15.d6 ) 14.exd5; B) 12...xe5 13.d4 g7 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.b3+ h8 16.g5 , e.g., h6 17.e3 b6 18.e5!? dxe5 19.dxe5 xb3 20.axb3 xe5 21.xh6 with superior activity. ] 12...cxd5 [ Again, 12...fxe4! looks advantageous, if m e s s y , a f t e r 13.dxe4 exf4 14.xf4! ( 14.xf4 b6+ 15.h1 cxd5 ) 14...xb2 15.b1 e5 16.dxc6 bxc6 17.b3+ h8 ( 17...g7? 18.d3! f6? 19.xf6! xf6 20.d4 ) 18.d3 xf1+ 19.xf1 g7 ] 13.exd5 h8! [ The difference is clear in a line like 13...exf4 14.xf4 xb2 15.b1 g7 16.e6! xe6 17.dxe6 etc. Still, the text conceals a potent idea. ] 14.d2?! It turns out that d5 needs protection and that W hite should move to activate his pawns, e.g., [ 14.fxe5 dxe5 15.c3! intending g8 16.c5 e8 17.b5 ] 14...g8! A nice reorganisation. Black wants to pressure d5 without being harassed by fxe5 and d6. This follows Black's long-term plan of capturing on d5 and then attacking it. 15.h3!? A slow move that anticipates ...Nf6-g4. [ 15.ac1!? ] [ 15.b4!? ] 15...f6 16.h2?! [ A more active move was 16.ac1 , e.g., b6 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.d6 b8 19.d4! xd6 20.c6 d7 21.dxe5 xd2 22.xd2 e4 23.xe4 fxe4 24.xf8+ xf8 25.e6 ] 16...b6! From here on out Black is better because White is tired to the d-pawn. 17.c3 [ Or 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.d6 b8 19.d4 e4 ] 17...b7 18.ae1 d7 19.f3 f7!? [ 19...fe8 ] 20.g2 a6 21.d1 ae8 22.fe1 h5!?
23.a4 [ 23.c1 d7 ] 23...xd3!? [ 23...c8! and ...Rfe8 might prepare this better. ] 24.xd3 [ 24.fxe5! dxe5 25.xd3 e4 26.dd1 exf3 27.xf3 is a much-improved version of the game. ] 24...e4 25.dd1 exf3 26.xf3 e4 27.xe4 xe4 28.f2 fe8 29.b3 h7?! [ 29...8e7! with ...Qe8 to follow is a good idea. ] 30.h4 d4? 31.xd4! xe1 32.xe1 xe1 33.c4 W hite has escaped. e7 34.h3 h6 35.c3 h1+ 36.g2 e2+ This is drawn, although the game result is given as '0-1'. Perhaps a tragic time forfeit? 0-1
986 Prusikin,Michael Schunk,Eduard 76th ch-GER Altenkirchen GER (1) [John Watson]
A26 2540 2337 18.02.05
A mini-game whose opening shows another typical structure. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.e4 d6 4.g3 c6 5.g2 e5 6.ge2 g7 7.d3 0-0 8.0-0 d4 9.xd4 exd4 A position with a 'dead point' on d4 is usually held to favour W hite's mobile kingside pawns but any advance is difficult to achieve, since ...f5 will be available. Anyway White, a 2500+ player, didn't see much reason to try. 10.e2 e8 11.h3 c6 12.b4!? [ 12.b3 c7 13.b2 e6 14.f4 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 16.d2 a5 is an illustration. White can play g4 at some point and try for kingside play. Should White do nothing, I wonder if Black can try for ... Bd7-e8-h5/g6 in addition to using the g-file? ] [ 12.f4 f5 ] 12...a5 13.b5 cxb5 14.cxb5 a4! 15.d2 b6 ½-½
972
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 987 Psakhis,Lev Danielsen,Henrik 3rd Int Torshavn FAI (2) [Tony Kosten]
A26 2611 2519 07.10.2000
1.c4 f5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d6 4.g2 g6 5.d3 [ White avoids the main line of the Leningrad D u t c h w h i c h w o u l d a r i s e a f t e r 5.d4 , and plays a Botvinnik structure instead. ] 5...g7 6.e4 c6 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 e5 9.d5 e6 10.g5 d7 11.d2 f7 [ P o s s i b l y n o t t h e b e s t m o v e , 11...h5 intends ...f4, and has more venom, 12.exf5 xf5 13.b4 ae8 14.b5 d8 15.e3 c6! 16.bxc6 bxc6 17.dc3 f6 18.c2 1/2-1/2 Gavrikov,V-Ibragimov,I/Katrineholm 1999. ] 12.f3!? [ A new move in this position, although the plan is a typical one, 12.ac1 af8 13.exf5 xf5 14.xf6 xf6 15.xf6+ xf6 16.d4 is another possibility, but offers White little, Marszalek,R-Bielczyk,J/Warsaw 1988. ] 12...af8 13.ac1 fxe4 This capture leads to a favourable structure for W hite, but Black had few other useful moves. 14.dxe4 e8 15.e3 h3 Played to weaken the white king position, but this exchange leaves White with the better bishop. 16.c5 xg2 17.xg2 a6 18.cd1 c8 19.c2 h8 20.b4 White prosecutes his queenside attack, and meanwhile Black has dif f iculty achieving anything on the other wing. g8!? In order to bring the bishop to f8. 21.a4 dxc5 22.xc5 e6 23.c1 f8 24.d3 The knight arrives in time to recapture on c5 if necessary. d6 25.b2 gf8? 26.b5 axb5 27.axb5 b8 28.b6! White undermines the black bishop. d7 [ 28...cxb6 29.xd6 xd6 30.xe5+ xe5 31.xe5 wins material. ] 29.3f4! The black queen is trapped in its own side of the board! xf4 30.xf4 xf4 [ Black has to concede a further exchange, as 30...f7 is met by 31.bxc7 xc7 32.xf8 ] 31.xd6 [ 31.gxf4?? xc5 ] 31...xd6 32.gxf4 c4 33.bxc7 c6 34.xd7 xd7
[ 34...xd7 35.xb7 is decisive, and, anyway, ] [ 34...xb2 35.d8+ is no better. ] 1-0
988 Roberts,Paul Rowson,Jonathan ch Edinburgh SCO (8) [Jonathan Rowson]
d6
36.d1
g7
36.c8
A26 2176 2591 18.07.2009
1.f3 [ 1.e4 Not a flank opening I know, but you need to be familiar with the following game to understand the main ideas in the English lines that follow. c5 2.c3 d6 3.g3 c6 4.g2 g6 5.d3 g7 6.f4 f6 7.f3 0-0 8.0-0 b8 9.h3 b5 10.a3 a5 11.e3 b4 12.axb4 axb4 13.e2 b7 14.b3! a8 15.c1! This idea of ceding the a-file and p l a yi n g b 3 i s b a s i ca l l y a wa y o f s e m i permanently stabilising the queenside, and limiting Black's targets to the c2 pawn. By avoiding or at least delaying the exchange of rooks Spassky also makes it less likely his extended kingside will be infiltrated by major pieces. a2 16.g4 a8 17.e1 a6 18.f2! ( 18.h4? xc2! 19.xc2 xd3 is bad news for white.) 18...a7 19.f5 b5 20.fxg6 hxg6 21.g5 a3 22.h4 c8 23.xf6! exf6 24.h7+ f8 25.xf7! xc2 26.h6 xc1+ 27.xc1 xf7 28.xg7+ e8 29.g5 f5 30.xg6+ d7 31.f7+ c6 32.exf5+ 1-0 Spassky, BGeller, E/Sukhumi 1968/Candidates ] 1...g6 2.c4 g7 3.g3 d6 4.c3 e5 5.g2 c6 6.d3 f5 7.0-0 f6 8.b1 Black can meet Rb1 in three main ways. Ignore it, delay it(a5) or wait for b4 and play a6. In most cases the details won't matter much, because the structure is likely to be the same. It is really just a question of when the a-pawns are exchanged. Against a5, White plays a3 and b4 and chop chop if b4 a6, white plays a4 and b5 then chop chop, and if Black does nothing, white plays b4-b5 and follows up with a4-a5 and Black usually feels obliged to stop b5-b6 by playing b6 himself, leading to chop chop and the same structure! T here are som e 973
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h id d e n n u a n c e s, b u t yo u a r e u n like ly t o remember them so it is more important to grasp the basic structural themes and pay a t t e n t i o n a t t h e b o a r d . h6 Given an exclamation mark by Psakhis in his notes to the following game. The ideas that follow are based partly on that game, and partly on it's precursor from the Closed Sicilian. I have included Spassky-Geller because it is really the model of how to play these positions and players on both sides should be aware of it. [ 8...a5 9.g5! According to Psakhis's notes in Informator, but what the plus-equals sign really means is that such positions are relatively easy for White to play rather than that pinning the knight gives him the advantage. That said, there is an issue with this particular move order. Ideally Black would meet Bxf6 and Nd5 with Qf7, and then after b4-b5 the knight comes to e6 via d8 and the coordination is good. However, when Black plays an early a5, it means that when a White knight lands on d5 it can only be chased away by weakening b6. In that case the queen needs to be on d8 and Black will probably have to meet b5 by exchanging knights on e7, which is not usually ideal, because it makes it easier for White to attack the queenside. ] 9.b4 a6!? [ 9...0-0 10.b5 e7 11.a4 e6! 12.a3 ( 12.c5? dxc5 13.xe5 e8!-+; 12.d2 d5 ) 12...c8! ( 12...b6? 13.xe5!; 12...b8 13.c5 ) 13.d2 b6 14.e3!? ( 14.a5 g5 15.axb6 axb6 16.b2 d7 17.a1 Interesting assessment- Psakhis clearly thinks that such positions are generally slightly in Black's favour.) 14...g5 15.d4 exd4 16.exd4 f4!? 17.e1 g4 18.f3! d7 19.c5 ce8 20.c1! f5 21.d3 h8! At this moment the position is merely tense and unclear, but Black eventually won in Psakhis, L (2575) -Kasparov, G (2800)/La Manga (m/5) 1990. ] 10.a4 0-0 11.b5 axb5 12.axb5 e7 13.b2 e6 14.b3 b6 15.a1 c8! F o l l o w i n g S p a s s k y ' s e x a m p l e . 16.d2?! Perhaps not a mistake, but the knight doesn't have much perspective here and to my mind it makes much more sense to play [ 16.e1 intending Nc2-b4. ]
[ 16.a7!? g5 17.fa1 e8 18.1a4 h5 19.a2 f4 20.a8 intending to defuse the attack by swapping rooks, is another plausible approach. ] 16...e8?! I think this is probably a bit inaccurate, but it shouldn't have done me any harm. [ 16...g5 makes more sense, so that the queen stays guarding c7 for now. ] 17.a7 g5 18.d5?! [ 18.b7!? is often played in such positions and tends to be annoying, but I forgot about it. d8 19.g2 ( 19.d5 xd5 20.cxd5 d7 leaves White's kingside vulnerable.) 19...c8 not forced, but after anything else it is no longer as easy to play in the thematic style of Spassky-Geller. ] [ 18.fa1!? The position is very rich so there are lots of ways for White to compete with B l a c k ' s p e n d i n g k i n g s i d e a t t a c k . h5 19.b7 cd8 20.f3 g4 21.g2 d7 22.a8 ] 18...exd5 19.cxd5 d7 d5 and b5 are weaker than c7, so Black should probably be better, but I was not in good enough form to find the relevant details over the next few moves. 20.c1 h5! 21.f3 This felt dubious to me at the time. [ 21.f3!? is better than it looks and probably ke ep s th e ba la nce . e8 Rybka prefers White but doesn't offer any plan to improve the position. Black's idea is Bf6-d8 followed by bringing the knight back to f6 and generally attacking on the kingside. 22.c4 f6 23.e4 f4 24.g4 h4 25.h3 h5 26.c3 g7 and I prefer Black's practical chances. ] 21...e8 22.ca1 f4 23.a8 f6 [ A f t e r t h e g a m e I f e l t t h a t 23...f7!? is probably much better. 24.xc8 xc8 25.f1 ( 25.a8 b7! is one point, and otherwise Black plans to take on g3 and play g4 and Qf2.) 25...b7 26.d2 f6 27.e4! A typical computer detail that we missed in our post-mortem analysis- White is not doing so badly after all. fxe3?! 28.fxe3 xd5 29.xd5 xd5 30.xf6! ] 24.xc8 xc8 25.a7 e8 26.c2 The trouble is that White's moves are almost f orce d, so I didn't give my op ponen t an y difficult decisions. xb5 With a heavy-heart! [ 26...e4 was plan A, and I had intended this 974
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 when I played Nf6, but then I saw an annoying detail a few moves down the line: 27.dxe4 xe4 28.xe4 xe4 29.xg7 xg7 30.e5! f5 31.c6! f6 32.d4 and here I felt W hite was at least ok and probably better. The immediate threat is to t a k e o n f 4 , t h e n f 5 a n d p l a y B h 3 + e5 33.xf5 ( 33.c6+ forcing a draw was the reason I didn't look any further.) 33...xf5 34.gxf4 c3!? with a complex ending. ] 27.xc7 d7 28.d2 b5 29.a3 f8 30.e4 xe4 31.xe4 a8 [ 31...d8 is obviously the soundest move, but I began to feel that the resulting endgame was unwinnable. 32.xc8 xc8 I felt White could take on c8, play Bb4 and exchange some pawns and I didn't see myself winning, but Paul said he was going to keep the queens on, after which I can at le a s t h o p e t o g e n e r a t e s o m e c h a n c e s although I don't think I am actually better. ] 32.b2 a4?! Fishing in murky waters without any bait. In a vain ef fort to win, I generate plenty of losing chances. 33.e3 [ 33.d4! exd4 34.h7+ h8 35.f5! ] 33...fxe3 34.fxe3 d8 35.b7 [ 35.d4! ] 35...a2 36.b3 a5 37.c3 [ 37.xd7 e1+ 38.g2 e2+ ] 37...a3 [ 37...a1+ Actually forces a draw so would have been a better move, but I was short of time and placed all my hopes in my peace offer. 38.xa1 ( 38.g2 a2+ ) 38...e1+ 39.g2 e2+ 40.g1 e1+ ] [ 37...a3 38.xa3 xa3 39.xe5 dxe5 40.xd7 I felt it was better to offer the draw before we actually reached this position, because the b-pawn looks much less scary than the d-pawn here. ] ½-½
played in this position. I have appended a lot of analysis to show the ideas. 1.c4 g6 2.c3 g7 3.g3 d6 4.g2 f5 5.d3 f6 6.e4 c6 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 e5 9.h3 A standard move, but Black's response makes a good case for [ 9.f3 ] [ Instead, 9.exf5 xf5 10.e3 d7 is comfortable for Black. ] 9...f4! Out of the hundreds and hundreds of games (including those at the top levels), I can find only 7 rather obscure games with this move, 3 of them leading to very quick wins for Black. In fact I see nothing wrong with it! 10.gxf4 [ It's pretty easy to see that slow alternatives such as 10.h2 g5 are undesirable, but even worse is ] [ 10.d4?! h5! ( or 10...f3 11.xf3 xh3; 10...fxg3 11.fxg3 exd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 e6! with a nice advantage) 11.d5 ( 11.g4?? f3 ) 11...d4 12.gxf4 h4! ] 10...h5 11.f5 [ (a) an important defensive try is 11.d5 h4! 12.f5 ( 12.xc7 exf4! ) 12...gxf5! 13.g3! ( 13.xc7? f4 14.xa8? -- but otherwise h3 falls -- f3 and Black's attack is simply winning) 13...xg3 14.fxg3 xg3 15.xc7 b8 16.f3!? Balashov,YDubinsky,R/Moscow 1999/, when Black s h o u l d h a v e p l a y e d xf3 ( instead of 16...h4? 17.e3 f4 when the players agreed to a draw Black would also get an a d v a n t a g e f r o m; 16...g6 ) 17.xf3 ( 17.xf3 fxe4 18.xe4 xf1+ 19.xf1 xh3+ 20.g1 d4 ) 17...d4 18.f1 f4! ] [ (b) 11.fxe5 and: (b1) A) (b2) 11...dxe5!? 12.d5 h4 A1) 13.xc7! xh3 14.xa8 xg2 15.xg2 f3! 16.g3! ( 16.xf3? h3+ 17.g3 d4+ 18.e3 h6+ 19.f4 xf4 and wins ) 16...xg3+ 17.fxg3 xg3+ 18.h1 h3+=; A2) 13.f4? xh3 14.e1 g4 15.e3 989 A26 d7 16.xh3 xh3 17.f5 ad8 0-1 Gelman,A-Annakov,B/Moscow Roca,Alfredo 2366 1997; Peralta,Eduardo 2252 B) 11...h4 12.f4 ( 12.d5 xh3 ITT Ricardo Lettieri (7) 14.03.2005 13.xh3 xh3 14.ef4? xf4 15.xf4 [John Watson] xf4! 16.xf4 xe5 17.f3 f8 18.xe5 xe5 ) 12...xh3 13.e1 g4 14.f2 I'm not sure why the pawn sacrifice employed xe5 15.d1 c6 16.d4 xg2 17.xg2 by Black in the following game is so rarely 975
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg2+ 18.xg2 xc4 MarinangeliPanesso, Bogota 2004. ] 11...gxf5 [ 11...h4 is also possible and apparently equal: 12.d2?! ( B e s t l o o k s 12.g3! xg3 13.fxg3 xg3 14.f3 h4 15.b5 d4= ) 12...h6 ( 12...gxf5! 13.g5 xg5 14.xg5= --Ribli, but fxe4 15.dxe4 f4 should favour Black) 13.f3 gxf5 14.e1 xe1 15.xe1 b4 ( 15...e6 16.d5 f7 --Ribli ) 16.d1 c2 17.b1 c6 18.d2 #0 Gurevich-Maiwald, Germany 2003 and now the easiest course was f4! 19.b4 e3 with an obvious advantage. ] 12.g3 [ 12.exf5 i s p r o b a b l y b e s t : h4?! ( 12...xf5! results in equality or perhaps a slight Black advantage after 13.g3! xg3 14.fxg3 d7 15.g4 g6 ) 13.g3 f4? ( 13...xg3 14.fxg3 d4+ 15.h2 xf5 16.b5! b6 17.e2 intends Be3 and White has a definite advantage) 14.g4! xg4 15.hxg4 xd3 16.d5?! ( 16.b5! wins a pawn and shatters Blacks position.) 16...d7?? ( 16...f7 17.h5 and Black is tied down ) 17.xc7 ad8 18.b5 1-0 S Williams-R Palliser,Birmingham 2002. One of White's only successes. ] 12...f4! 13.xf4 exf4 14.xf5 xf5 [ Black played the riskier but interesting 14...e5!? in Heilinger-H Dobosz, Vorarlberg 1997: 15.h5!? ( 15.d4 xc4 16.e2 is another try, when b6 17.xg7 xg7 18.f3 c6 is probably about equal) 15...f3! 16.xf3 g5+! 17.h1 xh5 18.xh5 xf5 19.exf5 xd3 20.d5 ab8 ( 20...c6 ) 21.ab1 c6 22.e2 c5 23.e3 e4 with rough equality ] 15.exf5 xf5 [ A dynamic try was 15...d4!? 16.xb7?! ( 16.g4? xf5 ) 16...b8 17.d5+ h8 18.b1 xf5 , but 16.Be4 is a solid response. ] 16.e4 It's hard to come up with another move in the face of ...f3, e.g., [ 16.h1 f3! 17.xf3 h4 18.g2 af8 ( 18...h5!? 19.b3 d4 20.xb7 af8 ) 19.g4! (only move) xg4 20.hxg4 xf2 and Black stands better. ] 16...g5+ 17.h2 e5!? [ This time 17...d4! is more effective
b e c a u s e Q g 4 i s n ' t a v a i l a b l e : 18.xb7 ( 18.g1 c6! 19.xg5 xg5 20.g4 xg4 21.hxg4 f3! and ideas like ..Be5+ and ... Rf8f4 give White problems) 18...b8 19.d5+ h8 with threats of ...Rxb2 and ...f3. Black stands better. ] 18.g1 h8 19.xg5 xg5 20.g4 f3+ 21.h1 h6? Now White's attack is better than Black's. Black would have maintained at least equality by [ 21...xg4 22.hxg4 d4 23.b5! f8 24.xd4 ( 24.e1 f4 25.xd4 xd4 26.xb7 h5 27.gxh5 xf2 28.e4 f5! ) 24...xd4 25.g1 f4 ] 22.g1 f8 23.d5? [ White has a clear advantage after 23.b5! f4 ( 23...xb2 24.xc7 , as in the game.) 24.xf4 xf4 25.xc7 h4 26.xf3 ] 23...xb2? [ 23...d4! 24.g3 e5 25.g4 d4 26.g3 draws. ] 24.xc7 e5 25.e6? [ A cute win follows 25.g3! c6 26.d5! (threatening mate on g8) e7 27.e6 g8 28.xg8+! xg8 29.g5! ] 25...xe6 26.xe6 f6 27.b1 c3? The last mistake. Black should try [ 27...xe6 28.xb2 b6 ] 28.c7 h6 29.xb7 xh3+ 30.g1 d5?? B u t W h i t e wa s wi n n i n g . 31.e6 g8 32.b8+ f7 33.g5+ f6 34.xh3 dxe4 35.dxe4 d4 36.f4 b6 37.d5+ 1-0
990 Tatisic,Milan Blesic,Vaso Belgrade Cup (1) [John Watson]
A26 2281 2254 05.04.2005
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 c6 4.g2 g6 5.d3 g7 6.e4 d6 7.ge2 e6 [ 7...0-0 8.0-0 h5 ( 8...d7!? -in this case with the idea of ...Nc5- 9.d5 c5 10.b4!? e6 11.b2 Kosten-Lilley,Scarborough 1999 ) 9.h3 f5 10.exf5 gxf5 11.f4 gave W hite some advantage in SmejkalBruckner, Bundesliga 1990/91. Here Black benefits by not castling. ] 8.d5 d7 This is the same idea as in the 976
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 last note. [ 8...0-0 9.g5! , when Black is stuck in the pin for a while in view of h6? 10.xf6+ xf6 11.xh6 ] 9.e3 0-0 10.d2 f5 11.f3 Normally this is played both to take the bite out of ...f4 and to enforce d4. Bruzon-Kempinski, Linares 2001 saw the plan f4 instead - see ChessPub f6 12.0-0 d7 Now this looks like one of the ...f5 systems, but White has gained two tempi due to ...Nd7-f6. 13.h1 [ 13.b4 is a normal plan. ] 13...ae8 14.g1!? e7 15.d4?! fxe4 16.fxe4 exd4 17.xd4 g4 White's pawn on e4 is isolated and he must stand slightly worse. 18.g5!? h6 [ Better was 18...exd5 19.exd5 e5! ] 19.d2 h7 20.ac1 eg8 21.f4 h5!? 22.xh5 xh5 23.h3 g5 24.g4 f7 25.b3 e5 26.h2 e7 27.f5 e6 28.f2 The position is relatively closed and a draw seems a fair result. ½-½
991 Vachier Lagrave,M Aronian,L 6th Final Masters (4) [Fier, Alexandr]
A26 2742 2795 10.10.2013
This was a great game of prophylaxis in the opening with subtle manoeuvres and unusual ideas compared to the normal English. 10... Ne7 is aime d a gainst W hite's qu een sid e expansion but to retreat the knight before being attacked allows White to choose plans other than the normal 11.b5. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 g6 In this order Black tries to go to a King's Indian setup, but allows White to immediately play in the center. 5.g2 [ The direct 5.d4 is also quite common exd4 6.xd4 g7 is the subject of plenty of strong games and was analyzed recently in Jones, G (2641)-Swiercz, D (2609)/ Bundesliga 1213 2012 (12.3). ] 5...g7 6.0-0 0-0 7.d3 [ 7.d4 is still possible and can transpose to a n e a r l y d 4 exd4 8.xd4 e8 was a nalyzed in Gretarsson, H (2 516)Bacrot, E (2671)/Hrokurinn Reykjavic ISL
2003. ] 7...h6 8.b4!? Without ...d6 played this move become possible. It looks a bit dangerous to open the diagonal with the rook still on a1, but there is no good way to use it. d6 [ 8...xb4 could be one attempt to 'refute' 8. b4 9.xe5 e8 ( 9...e8 10.b3 defends everything a5 11.f3 ) 10.f3 A) 10...fd5? is not good since Black cannot really take the exchange, 11.cxd5 xc3 12.xh6 xd5 ( 12...xa1 13.xa1 f6 14.d4+- Black's position is just too open. ) 13.e4; B) 10...d5 11.b1 c6 12.cxd5 xd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.c2 and White has two good files to use and all his pieces can quickly be active. W hite's chances are preferable. ] 9.b1 Now the position transpose to the normal path. [ 9.b5 d4 10.d2 would be a normal way to continue, but with the rook on a1 it does not really work a6! and 11.a4 is not possible since the rook is undefended. ] 9...a6 10.a4 e7!? One of the ideas of moving the knight before it is attacked is that against 11.b5 Black is not forced to capture anymore. On the other hand, W hite is not forced to play 11.b5 either. [ 10...e6 11.b5 axb5 12.axb5 e7 is the main line and almost one thousand games were played in this position so far, 13.b2 was seen in a recent top level game c8 ( 13...d7 is more common) 14.e1 with chances for both players in Movsesian, S (2693)- Andriasian, Z (2608)/EU-ch 14th Legnica 2013. ] 11.a3 Preparing 12.c5. [ 11.b5 would be logical, a5 ( 11...axb5 12.axb5 just transposes to the line with 10... Be6 ) 12.c5 allows Black to finally use the diagonal ( 12.a3 d7 and Black stops the a d v a n c e j u s t i n t i m e 13.d2 b8 followed by 14...b6 can be one option.) 12...dxc5 A) 13.xe5 looks like a blunder, but in fact can lead to a funny repetition, or a messy position h5! 14.f4 xe5 15.fxe5 d4+ 16.e3 xc3 17.b2! a n d t h e q u e e n c a n n o t r u n a w a y b4 18.d4 a3 19.a1 b4 20.b1 cxd4 977
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 20...a3 21.a1 b4 22.b1= ) 21.xb4 axb4 22.exd4 with unclear consequences; B) 13.b2 d7 14.d2 would be a gambit plan, and I'm not sure the compensation is enough for the pawn. ] 11...c6 With the bishop on a3 White can't go for b5 anymore, so ...c6 makes a lot of sense. 12.c5 e8 [ 12...ed5 is another idea A) 13.b2 xc3 ( 13...e8; 13...xb4 14.cxd6 xd6 15.xe5 xe5 16.e4 e7 17.xf6+ xf6 18.xf6 xf6 19.xb4 ) 14.xc3 e8; B) 13.c2 puts the queen in the line of fire, xc3 14.xc3 e4! 15.d4 ( 15.dxe4 xe4 16.c2 c3 and Black is too active) 15...exd3 16.xd3 d5 and Black should be fine ] 13.e4 Gaining some space in the center and restraining Black's position [ 13.c1 defends the bishop, and threatens b5 d5!? 14.xe5 f5 ( 14...d4 recovers the pawn, but allows White to use the c4square 15.d1 f5 16.c4 xe2 17.b6 b8 18.b2 and White is slightly better) 15.f4 ( 15.f3 d4 gets the pawn back) 15...d7 with good compensation ] 13...g4 Without the bishop on c8 the knight can go to d7, where it's more useful. [ 13...b5 is forcing, but usually opening up the queenside is better for White. Aronian wants to wait for cxd6 first, 14.cxb6 xb6 15.c2 ] 14.b3 d7 15.d2 [ 15.cxd6 does not win a pawn, since c8 16.b5 axb5 17.axb5 e6 18.b2 c5 is fine for Black ] 15...c8 16.c2 f8 Forcing matters, now the position opens up in a dangerous way. 17.cxd6 [ 17.d1!? hold the pawn on c5 with idea of bringing the knight to e3 dxc5 forcing 18.bxc5 b6!? 19.cxb6 xa3 20.b7 b8 21.bxc8 xc8 22.e3 and White has a go o d s qu a re on c4 . Me a nwh ile B lack' s bishop will also be strong on c5. ] 17...xd6 18.b3 b5! An important move for Black, W hite's bishop needs to find another place to go. 19.h3 e6 20.fd1 Black also needs to be careful here, if d4
arrives without any good counterplay White is better. bxa4!? Opening space for the d6kn igh t t o sto p d 4 p lan s. 21.xa4 b5 22.b2 xb3 23.xb3 c5 Now everything will be a mess! 24.bc1 [ 24.bxc5 is not the dream position for White xc5 25.xc5 xc5 and Black is slightly better. ] 24...b8 25.a2 [ 25.bxc5!? is also possible, sacrificing the exchange, d4 26.a2 e2+ 27.h2 xc1 28.xc1 a5 and White probably h a s e n o u g h c o m p e n s a t io n t o h o l d t h e balance. ] 25...cxb4 Black wins a pawn, so White needs t o b e qu ick in o rd e r t o f in d co u n t e rp la y. 26.c6 g7 27.d4 Finally opening the position. Both players are probably soon getting into time trouble so it's quite easy to lose control for both sides. b3 28.b1 exd4 29.xd4+ xd4 30.xd4 Here is the critical position! The computer says Black is better, but with a hard move to find over the board. a5 It is natural to escape from the pin, but now White finds counterplay on the seventh rank just in time. [ 30...e7 doesn't really unpin the queen 31.c7 ed8 32.b2! ( 32.d1 b2 33.xb2 xb2 34.dxd7 xd7 35.xd7 f6 and White is under pressure) 32...g8 33.d2 e5 34.cxd7 b2 35.xb2 xd7 36.xd7 xb2 now the queen is on e5 instead of f6 37.d5 xd5 38.xd5 b4 and W hite will find sufficient counterplay with Bf1-c4. ] [ 30...g8 this is the computer move, a bit mysterious but in some variations the king is better here, 31.d3 ( 31.e5!? to avoid ... Ne5! xe5 32.d3 e7 33.d5 g7 34.xg6 f8 35.xg7 xg7 36.xb3 and the computer says Black is better, but there is still fight) 31...e5! and Black is just winning! 32.xd8 exd8 33.xa6 xc6 34.xc6 d1+ 35.h2 b2 36.xb2 xb2 and there is no way to stop the rooks going to the second rank, surprisingly White has n o c h a n c e s a n y m o r e , 37.e5 ( 37.f6 dd2 ) 37...xf2 38.e6 dd2 ] 31.xd7 xa4 32.e5 [ 32.cc7! it looks like Black is promoting w i t h c h e c k , b u t i t ' s n o t e n o u g h , a2 978
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 32...b2 looks really scary 33.xf7+ g8 34.e5! a1 35.h2!! xb1 36.d5 and Black is just mated!) 33.xf7+ g8 34.d3 bringing all the pieces into the attack b2 ( 34...e7 35.e5! xf7 36.d5+ g7 37.c6 and there is no way to defend g6 d6 38.xd6 c2 39.d7+ h8 40.d4 ) 35.d7 b1+ 36.h2 ba1 37.xf8+ xf8 38.d6+ g8 39.xg6+ f8 40.f5+ g8 41.g6+= of course, all this lines are hard to see for a human. ] 32...e7! Now W hite is in trouble. 33.dd6 a2? But now White is winning! [ 33...b2 wa s d e c i s i v e , 34.xg6+ fxg6 35.xg6+ h8 36.e4 xe4 and the pawn promotes ] 34.xg6+ fxg6 35.xg6+ h8 36.d5 g7 37.xh6+ h7 38.e6 [ 38.g6! was necessary, g7 ( 38...g7 39.h5+ h7 40.g4 now the queen is better placed g7 41.h6++- ) 39.e4 h6 40.f5! and the threats of Rxh6 and Rc8 are unstoppable ] 38...b1+ Bringing the queen back to the defence. 39.g2 g7 40.c8 xc8 41.xc8 g8 Black is not getting mated anymore and the a6 pawn proves to be quite i m p o r t a n t i n t h e e n d g a m e . 42.b7 Trying to keep some pieces on. [ 42.xg8 was another option, but also not enough e4+ ( 42...xg8 43.e6+ h8 44.f6+ g7 45.d8+ is a draw ) 43.h2 xg8 44.e6+ h8 45.xb3 ( 45.f6+ g7 46.d8+ h7 and the checks are over ) 45...xe5 and Black's pawn will be quicker than White's counterplay. ] 42...h7 43.xb3 g5 44.e3 e7 Black's plan is to advance the p awn an d exchange the queens. It's hard for White to advance his pawns in order to create counterplay without exchanging anything, so Black is probably winning. 45.f4 g7 46.f5 g5! 47.xg5 xg5 48.g4 g7 49.e6 f6 White can play g4-g5 at some point but Black d o e s n 't n e e d t o wo rry so m u ch a b o u t it . 50.g3 a5 51.h4 g8 52.g5 g7! [ 52...a4 allows counterplay 53.f4 g7 54.h5! and the position is drawn, h8 55.h6+ xh6 56.gxh6+ xh6= ] 53.f4 h8! The most precise. [ 53...a4 54.h5= ]
54.g4 [ 54.gxf6+ xf6 55.e3 a4 56.e7 ( 56.d4 d8 wins ) 56...xe7 57.e6 ( 57.d3 d8-+ ) 57...d8-+ ] 54...b8 55.gxf6+ xf6 56.e7 [ 56.h5 d8 57.a2 d2 58.b1 a4 ] 56...a4 And the pawn is decisive. 0-1
992 Yudin,Sergei Stellwagen,Daniel WYb18 Heraklio GRE (6) [John Watson]
A26 2419 2512 08.11.2004
When Black plays the king's Indian Defence a g a i n s t t h e E n gl i s h O p e n i n g a n d W h i t e chooses d3 instead of d4, a classic struggle between White's queenside attack and Black's on the kingside. After at least 50 years of theoretical and practical examination it's very unclear who stands better. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 5.d3 d6 6.f3 e5 7.0-0 c6 8.b1 a5 9.a3 f5 Here various moves such as [ 9...h5 ] [ 9...e8 ] [ and 9...d4 have been played. ] 10.d2 [ The plan with 10.g5 (to prevent ...e4 as we ll as t o in crea se p re ssu re a lon g t h e h1-a8 diagonal) h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.d2 h a s n 't b e e n a c h i e vi n g m u ch , e . g . , g7 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 b8 15.b5 e7 16.b3 c6= Oll,L-Jussupow,A, Elista 1998. ] 10...d7 11.e1 h3 12.h1 h6 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 g4 [ Another and safer plan is 14...ab8 15.b5 d8 16.b2 c6= ] 15.b5 d8 16.b3!? It's a bit odd to abandon the kingside. White want to get either c5 or d4 in. The normal plan is still dangerous if Black over commits: [ 16.b2 f5 ( 16...f5!? 17.f3 e6 18.d5 h5 19.a1 and Black's attack was going nowhere, Kuehn,P-Lindinger,M, Berlin 1996.) 17.a1 xa1 18.xa1 f4 19.ce4 f5?! 20.f3 fxg3 21.hxg3 h5 22.a7 with a clear advantage, Shurygin,S979
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Czakon,J, Koszalin 2001. ] thematic 15.exf5! as the knight can no 16...f5 17.c5 dxc5! longer recapture on f5. ] [ 17...f4 18.f3 h8 19.cxd6 cxd6 9.xd4 exd4 10.e2 a5!? 20.d5?! should have been met by fxg3 [ This move shows some thought. As White 21.hxg3 xb5 in Aleksieva,S-Zielinska, needs to play b4 at some point, either to Elista 1998, in view of 22.c7?? b6 ] attack the d4-pawn, or to deflect the c518.d5+ pawn (if Black plays ...c5), Black simply [ 18.xc5?? d4 ] stops it! 10...b8!? is another good idea, 18...h7 19.xc5 e7 20.3a4 e4 Black intends to counter on the queenside Pointing out the weakness of White's kingside. with ...b5: 11.b4 ( White can stop ...b5 with The Re1/Bh1 plan always carries this risk. 11.a4?! but then a5 stops b4 for good,) N o w W h i t e b l u n d e r s : 21.dxe4? fxe4 11...b5 12.cxb5 xb5 13.d2 c5! 22.e3? xf2! 23.xe4 ( curiously, just before this game Davies had [ 23.xf2 e3 24.d3 exf2+ 25.xf2 e3 ] this position again, but this time as White, 23...g2+ against Murshed,N, also at Dhaka (BAN) [ 23...g2+ 24.xg2 xe3+ 25.h1 f2+ 2 0 0 1 . T h a t g a m e c o n t i n u e d , 13...b8 wins the queen, for starters. ] 14.c2 c6 15.ab1 h6 16.fd1 g4 0-1 17.f3 d7 18.a4 and White has some advantage, but clearly Nigel had spotted the potential of the line!) 14.bxc5 dxc5 993 A26 15.c2 b6 16.ab1 d7 if the white knight could get to c4, Black's queenside Zueger,Beat 2416 would be weak, and White would be clearly Gallagher,Joseph G 2514 better. However, the knight is miles away ch Pontresina SUI (5) 17.07.2000 f r o m c 4 , a n d t h i s c h a n g e s e ve ry t h in g ! [Tony Kosten] 17.xb5 xb5 18.b1 a6 19.f4 c8 20.h4 e5 preparing ...c4, with equality, 1.c4 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 e5 4.c3 c6 Miezis, N-Davies,N/Dhaka BAN 2001. ] 5.d3 d6 6.e4 ge7 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 11.d2 c6 12.c2 d7 13.f4 f5 14.ae1 d4!? [ This appears to be a respectable alternative W hite develops sensibly, his one problem to the standard 8...Be6. Other oddities: piece is the knight on e2 which, just as in the 8...a6!? 9.e3?! even the best can forget previous note, has no useful square to hop to. 15.h1 P r e p a r i n g N g 1 - f 3 . fxe4 that this is wrong! d4! the problem, White h8 can no longer capture on d4 with his e2- 16.dxe4?! [ White hopes to use d3 for his knight, a knight, 10.f4 c6 11.a4 e6 12.h3 d5!? common idea in these lines, but I would Black decides to liquidate the central prefer 16.xe4 myself, followed by Ng1-f3, tension, 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.fxe5 xe2+ and attempting to exploit the extra kingside 15.xe2 dxe4 16.d4!? d5 17.d2 c8 pawn. ] 18.f4 xf4 19.xf4 d5!? 20.xe4 xe4 21.xe4 d5 Black has positional 16...b4 17.xb4?! [ This concedes the bishop pair, and opens c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r t h e p a wn , M ie zi s, N the a-file. Obviously White wasn't too keen Ibrahimov,R/Dubai UAE 1999. ] on a move like 17.b1 as d3 18.c3 c2 [ 8...g4?! shows that Black doesn't know is possible, but this is probably less this line too well, as f3 is a move White will serious. ] of ten want to play anyway! 9.f3 e6 10.d5 d7 11.g5 ( 11.e3 17...axb4 18.c1 c5 19.b3 Necessary, to will transpose directly into my main line in defend the a-pawn, if W hite wants to play The Dynamic English, with White having an Nd3. b5 20.f2 a5 21.cxb5 xb5 extra move) 11...f5 12.d2 f7 13.ae1 22.e5?! ae8 23.d5 f5 [ Something has gone wrong for White, and af8 14.b3 c8 Mecking, H-Vescovi,G/Sao Black could even win a pawn by 23...dxe5 Paulo BRA 2000, when I would play the 980
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.fxe5 f5! although the move played is dark-squared bishops, as the weak c-pawns strong enough. ] will drop off eventually. ] 24.d2 dxe5 25.fxe5 d7 26.g2 d3!? [ 12...b8 has the best reputation, 13.cxd6 [ 26...f7 27.fe2 fe7 28.d3 c7 ( 13.d1 g4 14.e1 b4 15.g5!? should win the e5-pawn without too many xc5!? 16.xe7 fe8 17.h4 g5 problems. ] wa s m e s s y , S m y s l o v , V - Q u i n t e r o s , M / 27.g4!? Buenos Aires 1970) 13...cxd6 14.f4 d8 [ 27.f3 is an alternative. ] Illescas Cordoba, M-Godena,M/Lisbon 1993, 27...xg4 28.xf8+ xf8 29.xd3 e7 when 15.fd1 b4 brings about a fairly In an open position the bishop pair is very typical position for this variation: Black's useful. 30.g3 f5 31.d3 d8 32.b2 pawns remain weak, but he has open files d2 33.c4 The knight reaches a good for his rooks, and diagonals for his bishops. ] s q u a r e , b u t a t t h e c o s t o f a p a w n . xa2 13.d1 g4!? 34.e6?! xe6 35.b8+ f8 36.xf8+ xf8 [ An improvement on the previously played [ 36...xf8 37.xe6 a1+ regains the 13...f5?! allowing 14.e5! d7 ( 14...xe5?? piece. ] 15.e2 ) 15.f4 when Black had managed to 0-1 incarcerate both his bishops, Arsovic,ZCertic,B/Belgrade 1994. ] 14.d3 c8 15.g5 dxe4?! 994 A27 [ Another concession, 15...e8 is better, as 16.xe7?! xe7 17.exd5?! drops an Bruzon Batista,Lazaro 2569 exchange to f5 ] Quesada,Yuniesky 2411 f6 17.f4 b8 18.e1 Guillermo ALFIL (8) 27.05.2002 16.xe4 Black certainly seems to be poorly-placed [Tony Kosten] here, the white pieces are active, centralised, 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 g6 4.d4 and he has the superior queenside structure. This is the pertinent reply to Black's third move, f5 19.a4?! [ 19.xf5! xf5 20.a4 xb2 21.xc6 before he has time to play ...Bg7 and control wins the c-pawn for zero compensation. ] d4. exd4 5.xd4 g7 6.xc6 Doubling the b la c k p a wn s a ss u re s W h i t e a p o sit io n a l 19...xb2 20.xf5 xf5! [ 20...xf5? transposes into the previous advantage, but Black will always have active note. ] pieces in compensation. bxc6 7.g3 e7 8.g2 d6 9.0-0 0-0 Actually, ECO considers 21.c4+ d5 22.xd5 cxd5 23.xd5 this position part of A41, that arises after 1 d4 The attack on the queen, and threatened d6, but I personally feel that this is an English discovered check would finish many a game, but here Black can survive. c2 24.d4!? Opening. 10.c2 f5!? [ White could certainly consider the endgame [ Black provokes e4 so that the pressure here, 24.xc2 xc2 25.e7 c8 26.dd7 along the h1-a8 diagonal is cut, and White's f8 27.xh7 is obviously very good for control of d4 is lessened (e3 is no longer him. ] possible), but 10...e6 may be better, 11.b3 24...f5 25.e5 b1! A neat intermediate d7 12.d1 h3 with good play. ] 11.e4 e6 12.c5! This move is positionally move. 26.xb1 xb1+ 27.g2 xe5 strong, W hite certainly cannot afford to do 28.xe5 xa2!? [ This is very risky, 28...b7+ 29.h3 c6 nothing and wait for Black to play ...c5, . ..Nc6favours White, but at least the second rank d4. d5!? is protected. ] [ A drastic reply that leaves the c-pawns as White threatens mate and forces the we a k n e s s e s f o r t h e r e s t o f t h e g a m e . 29.e7 30.e8+ f8 12...dxc5?! is difficult to believe, 13.a4 c4 following continuation. f7 14.g5 e8 15.fd1 c8 , David,P-Pribyl, 31.xf8+ xf8 32.d8+ g7 33.xc7+ J / P r a g u e 1 9 9 0 , a n d n o w 16.e3 Material is equal, but the black king is open, looks simplest, intending to exchange the and White's c-pawn is very close to queening. 981
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 This should be enough to win the game for White, but Black has one useful resource: if he can get his queen to e4 he might be able to force a perpetual. f6!? [ This move allows White to check the black king around until he puts his queen on the best square to help the c-pawn, I prefer 33...f7 34.d6 c4 to control e4, when it will need some fancy footwork from White to avoid the perpetual. ] 34.d8+ f7 35.d7+ f6 36.d4+ e6 37.c6 c2 From here the queen surveys the c-pawn and the crucial e4-square. 38.d7+ f6 39.d6+ f7 40.c7 White is ready to play Qd7+ and c8(Q), but it is Black's turn, and he tries to force a perpetual. e4+ 41.f3 [ 41.f1 b1+ 42.e2 c2+ is also a draw, the white king cannot escape. ] 41...e2+ 42.h3 xf3?? [ 42...g5! threatens mate in one and draws comfortably: 43.d5+ g6 ] [ 42...f1+! 43.h4 xf3 is also a reasonable try, 44.d7+ f6 and White must take the perpetual, as otherwise there is no defence to the two mate-in-one threats. ] 43.d7+ f6 44.d4+ White stops the threat of perpetual, and queens his pawn next go. 1-0
often, when Black usually plays ...c6 and/or ...0-0-0 while White develops naturally by Bf4, 0-0, Rfd1 etc. ] 8...xd1+ 9.xd1 [ 9.xd1 retains the option of castling on either side. Bawart,M-Psakhis,L Vienna 1995 went c6 10.f4?! ( 10.d2 ) 10...e6 11.b3 0-0-0 ( or 11...b4+ 12.f1 e7 ) 12.h4 b4+ 13.f1 f6 14.f3 d6 and Black was better. ] 9...c6 10.c2 [ A fine example of a leading player handling the Black pieces is 10.f4 f6 11.e3 e7 12.e2 e6 13.b3 g5!? 14.e5 f7 15.ad1 he8 16.h4 g4 17.a4 ad8 18.d4 h5 19.d3 b4 20.hd1 f4+! 21.exf4 xd4 22.e3 ( 22.xd4 xc4# ) 22...xd1 23.xd1 d8+ 0-1 Schlindwein, R-Bareev,E Germany 2001. ] 10...f6 11.f4 c5 12.e3 e6 13.b3 0-0-0 14.h3 Versus ...Ng4. White is drifting a b i t b u t t h e p l a y i s s t i l l b a l a n c e d . h5 15.e5?! [ 15.h2 f4!? ] 15...he8! 16.f3 f7 17.h2 [ Black's point is 17.xh5?! xh5 18.xg7 f4! with a powerful attack, e.g., 19.a4 g6+ 20.c1 e7 21.d4 fxe3 22.fxe3 a3+ 23.b2 xe3! 24.xa3 e2 , winning. ] 17...g5! Straightforward aggression. 18.ad1 g6 19.b2 f8 Heading for g7. 20.e2 995 A27 f6! Heading to e4. [ 20...g7+ 21.c1 h6 22.xd8+ xd8 Ghaem Maghami,Ehsan 2558 23.d1 b2+ 24.c2 a3!? yields only a Agdestein,Simen 2589 small edge. ] 36th Olympiad (7) 22.10.2004 21.hg1 e4 22.xe4 fxe4 23.xd8+ [John Watson] xd8 24.c2 b4 25.c3 [ 25.d1 f8! 26.f1 c5! 27.g3 Espe cia lly be twe en two pla yers o f e qua l To protect the rook on f1 versus ...Bxe3. h5! strength, White's choice of the innocuous line and ...h4 win s the e-pawn. In general White that follows indicates a possible early draw. is cramped in these positions due to But in the end Agdestein accumulates Black's expansion on the kingside. ] advantages and shows that things are not so 26.g3 e7 27.h1 h5 easy. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f5 4.d4 25...f8 e4 5.d5 This is considered a harmless Preventing Rd1 and preparing ...Bf3. It's close continuation. 5.Ng5 is the most common move to over. 28.h4?! f3 29.h2 g4 30.h5 f5 e2 with 5.Nd2 less so. Interestingly, however, out To answer Bh4 with ... Rxh5. 31.b1 of a database of 84 games with 5.d5, 60% 32.f4 b5! 33.d2 d3+ 34.d1 b4! have had a decisive result. exf3 6.dxc6 fxg2 35.h6 a5 36.g2 f6! [ What an awful position for White. ...Rxa2 7.cxd7+ xd7 8.xg2 [ 8.xd7+ xd7 9.xg2 is played more 982
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 997
and a quick win follows. 36...f6 ] 0-1
996 Schlindwein,Rolf Bareev,Evgeny Bundesliga 2000-1 (6) [Tony Kosten]
A27 2441 2702 27.01.2001
1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f5 4.d4 e4 5.d5 [ This leads to multiple exchanges, 5.g5 is more ambitious. ] 5...exf3 6.dxc6 fxg2 7.cxd7+ xd7 8.xg2 [ 8.xd7+ xd7 9.xg2 is more popular, Taimanov,M-Polugaevsky,L/Baku 1961, although this allows Black to develop his queenside more quickly. ] 8...xd1+ 9.xd1!? [ 9.xd1 is also possible, c6 10.f4 e6 11.b3 0-0-0 but Black is fine, Bawart,MPsakhis,L/Vienna 1995. ] 9...c6 10.f4!? [ New. White will place his king on e7, but it proves exposed. 10.c2 might be stronger, e6 11.b3 c5 12.b2 f6 fairly level, Navabi,S-Stajic,S/Yerevan 1999. ] 10...f6 11.e3 e7 12.e2 e6 13.b3 g5! 14.e5 f7 15.ad1 he8 16.h4?! T h i s p a wn m a y p r o ve t o b e a lo n g - t e r m weakness on h4. g4 17.a4 ad8 18.d4?! [ White is forced to retain pieces on the board, a consequence of his sixteenth move, as 18.xd8 xd8 19.d1? loses a pawn: xd1 20.xd1 h5 the h-pawn is lost, as 21.g3? xg3 22.fxg3 d6 is even worse. ] 18...h5! This move carries a nasty threat. 19.d3? [ White had to admit the error of his ways by 19.e5 ] 19...b4 20.hd1 f4+! Brutally opening the e-file. 21.exf4 xd4 22.e3 [ The point is that 22.xd4? allows mate in one: xc4# ] 22...xd1 23.xd1 d8+ The black rook will infiltrate on the second rank, and 'Hoover' the white pawns. 0-1
Seirawan,Yasser Kritz,Leonid TCh-NED 2006-7 (5) [Carsten Hansen]
A27 2638 2597 21.02.2007
1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 g6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 g7 6.xc6 bxc6 7.g3 e7 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 d6 10.g5 [ In an earlier update 10.c2 was discussed. Now Black has tried a couple of different moves: A) 10...e6 11.b3 d7 ( Or 11...c8 12.d1 h3 David,P-Kulhanek,T, Czech Rep 2005, and now 13.g5 f6 14.f4 xg2 15.xg2 e6 16.c5 looks very good for W hite) 12.d1 ( 12.b2 h3 13.ad1 xg2 14.xg2 f5 15.f4 e6 with chances to both sides Christiansen,LL u g o vo i, A , A n t we r p 1 9 9 5) 12...f5 13.d2 e6 14.b2 h5?! 15.e1 h7 16.ad1 h6 17.e3 Georgiadis,IKoukoufikis,G, Athens 2005; B) 10...f5!? 11.e4 B1) 11...g4!? 12.b3 ( 12.e3 c5 13.f3 d7 14.ad1 ) 12...c5 13.h3 e6 14.b2 c6 15.e2 xb2 16.xb2 b8 is fairly even, Biolek, RArutinian,D, Olomouc 2006; B2) 11...e6 12.c5! b8 ( 12...d5 13.d1 g4 14.d3 c8 15.g5 dxe4 16.xe4 , and Black's position is quite ugly, Bruzon Bautista-Quezada,Y, Santa Clara 2002)) 13.cxd6 ( 13.g5!? Ribli ) 13...cxd6 14.f4 d8 15.ad1 ( 15.fd1 b4 16.d2 c4 17.b3 c5 18.ac1 Ribli ) 15...b4 16.d2 c4 17.b3 c5 18.c1 ac8 so far Illescas Cordoba-Godena, Lisbon 1993, and now 19.e3 d4 20.xd4 xd4 21.fd1 f6 22.e2 g4 23.f3 e6 24.d2 is better for White ] 10...f6 I criticized this move in my book on the 1 c4 e 5 E n g li s h , b u t i t h a s b e e n p l a y e d several times, even by rather strong players. Nevertheless, 10... Rb8 is still considered b e s t a n d i s p l a ye d f a r m o r e f r e q u e n t l y . However, I can't imagine a young, strong grandmaster like Kritz would enter a line like t h i s w i t h o u t l o o k i n g a t i t f i r s t . 11.f4 White has two other options at this juncture: a) 983
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 11.d2 A) Or 11...b8!? 12.b3 e6 13.e4 d7 14.c3 be8 15.h4 h3 16.d3 xg2 17.xg2 c5 A1) 18.f3 e6 19.ad1 f5 20.e3 ( 20.h2 d4! ) 20...h6 21.fe1; A2) 18.h5?! f5 and Black is grapping the initiative, Gasanov-Mamedyarov, Baku 2002; B) 11...e6 12.a4 d7 ( 12...d7?! 13.c5 d5 14.e4 f5 15.exd5 cxd5 16.h4 is much better for White, B.LarsenE.Torre, Leningrad IZT 1973) 13.ad1 h3 14.c5 xg2 15.xg2 d5 16.e4 ad8 17.e3 f5 18.exd5 cxd5 19.xd7 xd7 20.c6 xc6 and a draw was agreed upon, C.McNab-J.Rowson, Scotland 1995 ] [ b) 11.e3 d7 12.b3 a5 13.c1 h8 14.d2 c8 15.e1 h3 16.h1 Eliseev,A-Iljushin, Moscow 1996, and now e6 offers Black almost equal chances. ] 11...b8 [ 11...e6 12.c5 ( 12.a4!? d7 13.ad1 ) 12...d5 13.a4 d7 14.fd1 g5 15.c1 fd8 16.e4 g4 17.d3 h3 18.f3 Kutuzov,D-Gorkavij,V, Rybinsk 2001, and here Black can obtain a good game with g6! ] 12.c5 [ 12.b3 e6 13.d2 c5 C.Cobb-Thiruchelvam, 4NCL (Birmingham) 2001. and here 14.h4 f5 15.d5 e8 16.h5 with a better game for White ] 12...d5 13.a4 g5?! [ Black should probably have tried taking in b2: 13...xb2 14.xa7 b7 15.a4 and unlike in the game, White's advantage is rather manageable. ] 14.c1 b7 15.e4! dxe4 16.d1 e8 17.xe4 f5 18.e2 h6 19.e1 f6 20.b3!? f7 [ 20...xc3? 21.c4+ f7 22.xc3 wins for White ] 21.b2 f4 This is a rather desperate attempt to obtain counterplay. 22.ad1 b4 23.h3 g7 24.a4 [ 24.a3!? can also be considered, e.g. f3 25.xf3 xc3 26.xe7 xe7 27.xc3 followed by Bb2 and White is winning ] 24...d5 25.xf6 xf6 26.e5 g6
[ After 26...xe5 27.xe5 f3 28.f1 only White is enjoying himself. f5 29.g4 c2 30.d2 g6 31.c4 with a terrible position for Black ] 27.c3! After this simple move, Black's fragile position falls apart very rapidly. It is worth noting that Black's pieces, while seemingly active, completely lack coordination. f6 28.xc7 fxg3 29.fxg3 c2 30.d8 xc3 31.xf8+ xf8 32.xc8+ g7 33.c7+ [ White can also convert the win with 33.e7+ g6 34.f8 f5 ( or 34...xg3 35.g7+ h5 36.xf6 ) 35.g4+ f4 36.h2 g3+ 37.h1 c3 38.e6 and Black loses a piece. Seirawan's choice of line is more safe and more predictable, thus preventing any unpleasant surprises in time trouble. ] 33...g6 34.e5! xe5 35.xe5 W ith the queens off the board, W hite can start hoovering the black queenside pawns off the board. d7 36.e6+ f5 37.xc6 d4 38.c7 e5 39.xa7 d1+ 40.f2 d2+ 41.f1 1-0
998 Urban,Klaudiusz Krasenkow,Michal 58th ch Warsaw POL (6) [Tony Kosten]
A27 2429 2658 23.03.2001
1.c4 e5 2.c3 d6 3.g3 g6 4.d4 Th e correct a nswer to Bla ck's re f us a l t o control d4. g7 5.f3 [ T h e e n d i n g f o l l o w i n g 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.xd8+ xd8 offers White a small plus. ] 5...exd4 6.xd4 c6 7.xc6 bxc6 8.g2 e7 9.g5 f6 10.f4 e6 Putting the question to the c4-pawn. 11.c5!? [ This innovation certainly appears logical. Previously, both 11.a4 d7 12.0-0 0-0 13.fd1 with a small positional advantage to White, and some practical chances to Black, Staiger,F-Frick,C/Germany 1992, and ] [ 11.b3 d7 12.0-0 h3!? 13.xh3 xh3 14.c5 g5!? 15.cxd6 d8 Permiakov,VKlochko,R/Vladivostok 19 95, ha d bee n played. ] 11...d5 12.a4 0-0 13.a5 Placing more 984
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pressure on Black's static doubled pawns. c8 14.0-0 g5 Black cannot wait for White to increase his strategic advantage, and strikes back in active fashion. 15.d2 d4 16.d1 d5 17.e4! c4 18.e1 g6 19.b3 e6 20.a6 [ Note that the a-pawn is always poisoned, 20.xa7? a8 21.b7 d7 and ...Rfb8, winning the queen. ] 20...d7 21.b2 The knight aims for one of the fine squares c4 or d3. h3 Black stakes his chances on weakening the white king position. 22.xh3?! [ 22.h1 might be more prudent. ] 22...xh3 23.f1 h5 24.e2 g4! [ Black dare not risk the ending after 24...xe2 25.xe2 f5 as his queenside will be a permanent liability. ] 25.d3 e5 The point of Black's play is revealed: the threat of ...Nf3+ obliges White to capture on e5, which both strengthens d4, and opens the f-file for Black. 26.xe5 fxe5 27.a6 cd8 28.f1 f6 29.xa7 Quite a good practical decision. White goes pawn-grabbing, reasoning that he might as we ll g e t s o m e t h in g f o r h is t ro u b le s . h6 Played to gain access to h6. 30.ad1 df8 31.xc7 h3!? [ Gambling everything on the h-file, 31...xd2 32.xd2 h6 allows White to defend easily, by 33.h4 gxh3 34.f4 ] 32.xe5 e3! Interference! 33.xe3 dxe3 34.g5+ Forced. h8 35.d7?? [ But not this! White misses a tactic. He had to play 35.xe3 h6 36.fe1 when xh2+ 37.f1 hf6 38.d2 is dangerous for him, but defendable. ] 35...exf2+ 36.xf2 White obviously relies on his threat of mate in one, but it is Black to move: xh2+! [ Of course, this stunning move is easily m i s s e d ! A c t u a l l y, f o r p u r e l y a e s t h e t i c r e a s o n s , I p r e f e r 36...g2+! 37.xg2 ( 37.xg2 f1# ) 37...xf2+ 38.g1 f1+ 39.g2 8f2# ] 37.xh2 [ 37.xh2 f1+ 38.g2 8f2# ] 37...xf2+ 38.g1 f1+ 39.g2 8f2# Very pretty! 0-1
999 Vitiugov,Nikita Blagojevic,Dragisa IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A27 2617 2532 24.04.2008
1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f5 4.d4 e4 5.d5 [ This looks sharp, but usually quickly leads to drawish positions and short draws. The m a i n a l t e r n a t i v e i s o f c o u r s e 5.g5 , but several other moves have been tried here, e.g. ] [ 5.d2 ] [ 5.g5 ] [ and Christiansen's sharp 5.e5 ] 5...exf3 [ Most books, including the ECO and my own b o o k o n 1 c 4 e 5 , o f f e r 5...ce7 as an alternative f or Black to avoid the bo rin g ma in line , b u t Fo r so me re a s o n noone has tried A) the established move for White is 6.d4 c5 7.dxc6?! ( 7.db5 d6 8.a4 f7 is given as unclear by Kupreichik, but 9.h4 a6 10.a3 f6 11.g5 looks somewhat better for White) 7...dxc6 8.g4 fxg4 9.g2 f5 10.xf5 xd1+ , Sher, M-Kupreichik, V/ Gistrup 1997, and here 11.xd1 xf5 12.xe4 0-0-0+ ( 12...e6 13.d3 f6 is better with perhaps a tiny edge for Black) 13.c2 xe4+ 14.xe4 d4 is deemed slightly better for Black by Kupreichik, but in fact W hite has the better chances after ( 14...e8= ) 15.c3! f6 16.e3; B) 6.d6! , which looks pretty good for White cxd6 ( 6...exf3?? is severely punished by 7.b5! ) 7.d4 a6 8.g4 d5 9.cxd5 fxg4 10.g2 , and White has the better chances. ] 6.dxc6 fxg2 7.cxd7+ xd7 [ 7...xd7 8.xg2 c6 9.f4 ( 9.b3!? c7 10.e3 e7 11.0-0-0 f6 12.c5 ) 9...e7 A) 10.g5!? e6 11.b3 b6 12.0-0-0 xb3 13.axb3 g6 14.h4!? ( 14.e4 f4 15.e2 e7! , and Black equalises) 14...e7=; B) 10.e3 g6 11.h5 b4 12.0-0 0-0 13.g5 e8= Benko, P-Benjamin, J/New York 1989 ] 8.xd7+ 985
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 8.xg2 can be found discussed in a couple of games in the PGN archives - see the PDF eBooks for reference. ] 8...xd7 9.xg2 c6 [ E C O g i v e s p r e f e r e n c e t o 9...0-0-0 , and now 10.f4 ( 10.e3 f6 11.0-0 makes more sense for White as in MikenasFurman belo w) 10...f6 11.0-0-0 c5 12.e3 e6 13.b3 c6 14.f3 xd1+ 15.xd1 d8 16.e5 xd1+ 17.xd1 is correctly given as equal in the ECO. ] 10.0-0 [ White has tried a few other moves in this position: A) 10.f4 e6 A) 11.0-0-0 c5 ( 11...b4 12.c2 e7 13.b3 g6 14.d6= 1/2-1/2 Mellado Trivino, J-Gual Pascual, A/ Ponferrada 1997 ) 12.e4 xf2 13.hf1 h4 14.exf5 xc4 15.f3 d8 16.e3+ e7 17.xd8+ xd8 , and Black has a good game, Romsdal, T-Royset, J/NOR 1998; B) 11.b3 b4 12.c1?! e7 13.h4 g6 14.e3 f7 15.f1? ( 15.h5 e7 16.d2 a6= ) 15...hd8 16.a4 d2 17.xd2 xd2 0-1 Winter, K-Ikonnikov, V/ Munich 1996 (23) ] [ B) 10.e3 f6 11.d4 e6 12.b3 ( 12.xf6?! gxf6 13.b3 d8 14.d1 b4 15.xd8+ xd8 is, if anything, better for Black, Bezman, V-Bukhman, E/Simferopol 1990 ) 12...a3 ( 12...d8 13.0-0-0 b4 14.b2 f7 15.a3 e7 is at best a tiny bit better for White, Liebert-Kivipelto, Aarhus 1971 ) 13.d1 f7 14.0-0 hd8 15.a4 with a tiny edge for W hite, which nevertheless was converted to a win in Mikenas, V-Furman, S/Leningrad 1965 ] [ C) 10.b3 f6 11.b2 e7 12.f3 ( 12.d1 0-0-0 13.0-0 e6 14.e3 xd1 15.xd1 d8 16.xd8+ xd8 17.e2 g6 18.d4 1/2-1/2 Ree, H-Gheorghiu, F/ T e e s i d e 1 9 7 2) 12...0-0-0 13.g1?! ( 13.0-0-0!?= ) 13...g6 14.0-0-0 he8 15.a4 e4 16.xe4 fxe4 17.d4 b6 , and Black has the clearly better chances, Cappello, R-Meulders, R/Groningen 1970 ] 10...f6 [ There is nothing wrong with the alternatives either: A) 10...e6 11.b3 f6 12.e3 d6 13.ad1 e5 14.d4 xd4 15.xd4 d8 16.e3 ( or 16.fd1 e7 17.a4 xd4
18.xd4 d8 19.xd8 xd8 1/2-1/2 Braga, F-Filguth, R/Sao Paulo 1979) 16...e7 17.e2 g6 18.f4 f7 19.fd1 d7 20.f1 1/2-1/2 Taimanov, M-Polugaevsky, L/ Baku 1961/URS-ch ] [ B) 10...b4 11.d2 0-0-0 12.g5 f6 13.ac1 , Bellia, F-Verrascina, R/Rome 1991, he8 14.e3 h6= ] 11.f4 [ A novelty - sound of trumpets! However, it hardly constitutes a major improvement over the previously played moves, which unsurprisingly failed to provide White with a n y a d v a n t a g e : A ) 11.g5 e7 ( 11...e6!? ) 12.ad1 e6 13.b3 f7 14.e3 d7? ( 14...g4!? 15.d4 hd8 16.e4 fxe4 17.xe4 f5= ) 15.a4?! ( 15.d5! d6 16.f4 , and White picks up one of Black's bishop with a small, but clear, advantage as the result.) 15...f6 16.d4 , Du ri ga , S -P rie h o d a , V / T rn a va 1 9 8 5 , hd8= ] [ B) 11.b3 b4 12.b2 f7 13.ad1 he8 14.a3 a5 15.b4 c7= Berebora, F-Ulibin, M/Andorra 1996 ] 11...e7 12.fd1 e6 13.b3 White has at best a slight initiative thanks to his slight space advantage and somewhat better placed pieces. The problem for White is that Black can force exchanges of the rooks on the d-file. f7 14.e3 ad8 15.e2 xd1+ 16.xd1 d8 17.xd8 [ 17.d4!? d7= ] 17...xd8 With the heavy pieces exchanged, White's minor space advantage has very little significance, nevertheless W hite tries for a few more moves. 18.d4 d7 19.f3 c8 Black is obviously not interested in handing White the bishop pair. Now the draw should be a certainty. 20.e5+ e6 21.d3 e4 22.b8 ½-½
986
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1000 Agrest,Evgenij Akopian,Vladimir NY Open New York (3) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2525 2660 1998
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 White avoids the doubling of his pawns, as Black might thereby achieve a favourable Nimzo-style position, having a greater central presence due to the e5-pawn. 0-0 6.d5 The only way to exploit Black's omission of ... Bxc3. e8 7.f5 This odd move is still at the centre of the theoretical debate, although its heyday was after its introduction in the late Seventies. Although behind in development, White moves his queen again, but considers the threat to Black's pawn structure more important than the time lost. d6 8.xf6+ xf6 taking play into the ending. [ 8...gxf6 is quite playable, but after 9.h5 Black must beware attacks on his weakened kingside. ] 9.xf6 gxf6 Which is m ore important: B la ck ' s le a d in d e ve lo p m e n t , o r W h it e ' s superior pawn structure? 10.a3 c5 11.b4 b6 12.b2 a5 An important move, weakening the proud white queenside pawns. 13.b5 e7 14.d4 Tony Miles' new move, W hite expands bravely in the centre, and 'ignores' the possible disadvantages of having his king on the same file as the black rook. [ 14.a4 and 14 Be2 had been played before, without achieving a great deal. ] 14...a4! Freeing the a5-square for the b6bishop, and much stronger than the [ 14...g4?! played in the seminal game. That continued: 15.c5! Attacking the black dark squares, and showing why a ...Ba5+ re s o u r c e wo u l d h a ve b e e n u se f u l . a7 ( 15...dxc5 16.dxe5 with a clear advantage to White. ) 16.b6! This pawn structure deserves a diagram! xf3 17.gxf3 b8 18.g1+ f8 19.d1!! and the black pawn structure was on the verge of disintegration, Miles,A-Rodriguez,A/Yopal 1997. ] 15.0-0-0 Removing the king from the e-file, and e1-a5 diagonal. g6 Black bolsters the e5-pawn. 16.d2 If White is looking for an improvement, it will probably be found here, or hereabouts. exd4 Now that White cannot
re ca p t u re o n d 4 wi t h h i s kn i gh t . 17.xd4 xd4 18.exd4 The black kingside is feeble, b u t t h e p a w n s a r e d i f f i c u l t t o a t t a c k . c6 19.bxc6 bxc6 20.g3 d5 21.g2 f5 22.he1 eb8 Although the black queenside pawns are on light squares, and susceptible to attack, the white king is awkwardly placed. 23.e3 e6 24.f4 e7 25.g4!? Aggressive, White plays to win, but the weakening of the f4-pawn may prove a problem. f5 26.h3 f8 [ 26...fxg4 was also feasible, 27.xg4 xg4 28.g1 and now f5 will likely transpose. ] 27.g1 fxg4 28.xg4 xg4 29.xg4 f5 30.h3 White continues in an active vein. e8 31.f3 e3?! A risky exchange sacrifice, Black hopes to get amongst the weak white pawns, but rooks are very powerful pieces in the endgame! [ 31...h6 was safer. ] 32.xh7 xf3 33.h8+ e7 34.xa8 At the moment Black doesn't have a lot to show for his sacrifice. c3+ 35.b2 xc4 Th e po in t, h e will ob ta in two co nn ec te d , p a s s e d p a wn s a f t e r h e c a p t u r e s o n d 4 . 36.a7+ f6 37.g8 Difficult to criticise such a move in time-trouble, but Akopian considers that White has an edge after [ 37.g1! with the threat of Rc1. ] 37...xd4 38.d8 xf4 39.dd7 e6 40.dc7 Quite a transformation! White has playe d act ively, bu t lost t wo pa wn s . d4 41.e7+ d6 42.xf7 e4 Of course, Black must avoid the exchange of rooks, as the knight would be incapable of stopping the hpawn by itself. 43.f2 [ 43.fd7+ c5 44.e7 h4 45.h7 would force a draw through the perpetual attack on the rook. ] 43...e6 44.h7 c5 45.f5?! Allowing Black va lu ab le t im e, t ha t he will use to s et h is pawns in motion, charging the h-pawn up the board by [ 45.h4 -h5 was called-for. ] 45...c4 46.a7 c5 47.h5 e2+ 48.b1 d2 Trying to weave a mating net around the wh i t e k i n g . 49.a8? The last mistake, Whit had to keep the d5-pawn under attack by [ 49.a5! so as to answer b3 (with the threat of ...c3, and mate next move) by 50.h6+ e5 51.h5+ e4 52.xa4 987
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and the c-pawn is pinned. ] 12...f5 13.g3? 49...c3 Now it is too late for White. 50.h6+ [ White should control c4 at all costs: 13.d2 e5 51.e8+ f5 52.f8+ g5 d3+ 14.xd3 xd3 15.c4 and he is still in Side-stepping the checks. 53.h3 b2+ the game. ] Forcing mate. 54.c1 b3+ 13...e6! For the pawn Black has hegemony 0-1 over c4, and will try to ensure that the b2bishop has a miserable future. 14.f4?! [ This looks a bit desperate, but 14.e4 c4 menaces the capture on f1, followed by a 1001 A28 knight intrusion on d3. ] Agrest,Evgenij 2529 15.f5 b3 16.e4 e3 Anand,Viswanathan 2794 14...g4 Rapidplay Villarrobledo ESP rapid (4) 18.8.01 White's pawn moves have only succeeded in w e a k e n i n g h i s p o s i t i o n f u r t h e r . 17.f2 [Tony Kosten] White jettisons the exchange, but it doesn't help too much. d1+ 18.xd1 xd1 19.e2 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 e7 [ This move is not nearly as popular as the xh1 20.xh1 d8 21.c1 f6 22.c4 d1 23.f1 c2 24.g3 e5 The rest is too theoretical 4...b4 , but has its points. ] easy f or B lack. 25.e3 xg3+ 26.hxg3 5.a3 [ 5.d4 is the other line, but took a body blow xe4 27.f6 d3 28.xa7 xf1 29.xf1 after the game Timman,J-Karpov,A/Montreal a8 30.d4 xa3 31.fxg7 xg3 1979: exd4 6.xd4 0-0 7.xc6 bxc6 0-1 8.e2 d5 9.0-0 d6 10.b3 e7 11.b2 dxc4! 12.bxc4 b8 13.c1 g4 14.g3 A28 e8 15.d1 xh2! 16.c5 ( White didn't 1002 like the looks of 16.xh2 h4+ ) 16...xf1 Agrest,Evgenij 2554 17.cxd6 xg3! 18.fxg3 xd6 ] Piket,Jeroen 2635 5...0-0 6.b4 d5 Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (1) 29.11.1999 [ 6...e4!? 7.g5 a5 8.b5 e5 is unclear, [Tony Kosten] Miles, A-Nikolic,P/Niksic 1983. ] 7.cxd5 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 [ Black is happy with a reversed Sicilian 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.e2!? position, but 7.b5 may be stronger, e4!? Agrest has made this move his speciality, he 8.cxd5 a5 9.g5 f5 10.a4 is simply happy to play a reversed Sicilian with some advantage, Agdestein,S-Xu Jun/ structure with the two bishops. 0-0 8.d3 d5 Biel 1993. ] 9.cxd5 7...xd5 8.b2!? [ 9.0-0 Previously, White had been loathe to [ A novelty, previously White has preferred to allow Black's pieces to gain tempi like this, keep e4 under control by 8.c2 i.e. xc3 a n d h a d p r e f e rre d e4 10.d2 exd3 9.dxc3 f6!? 10.d3 h6 11.0-0 11.xd3 e5 with equality, as in with a slight edge to White, Hansen,C-Lutz, P o l u g a e vs k y, L - M a t a n o vi c , A / B e l g r a d e C/Tilburg 1993. ] 1974. ] 8...xc3! 9.dxc3 9...xd5 10.c2 g4 [ White intends a queenside expansion [ A couple of days later, at the beginning of involving three pawns, 9.xc3 e4 10.b5 December, Damljanovic,B played 10...f5! is about equal. ] against Agrest,E (Batumi GEO 1999), and 9...e4 10.xd8 xd8 11.d2 Intending to obtained a good position with alarming ease: continue with c4, but Black's fine next move 11.e4 db4 12.c3 g4 13.e3 a6 opposes this. e5!! 12.xe4 14.g1 and a draw was agreed. ( 14.0-0 [ W h it e gra b s t h e p a wn , 12.c4 d3+ Allowing the exchange on f3 is risky, xf3 13.xd3 exd3 would concede the bishop 15.xf3 fd8 and ...Nd4. )] pair. ] 11.a3 ad8 988
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Very sharp play resulted after 11...a5 12.b3 ad8 13.b2 d6 14.h3 c8 15.d2 g6 16.f3 d8 Agrest,E-Sokolov,I/Stockholm 1998. ] 12.h3 h5 [ 12...c8 is perfectly reasonable, as in the Sokolov game. ] 13.g4!? White plays to sideline the bishop, but at some cost to his structure. g6 14.e4 b6 [ The best square for this knight, 14...f4 15.xf4 exf4 16.0-0-0!? is nothing special. ] 15.d2! d7 [ I n t h e l i g h t o f w h a t f o l l o w s , 15...d6 might be more accurate. ] 16.c1 c8! Rather than rote play, Black has evolved a definite plan involving a queenside onslaught. 17.c5 d6 The ending would be ve ry n i c e f o r W h it e , wit h h i s k in g n i ce l y centralised, and his bishop pair. 18.b4 a6 19.e3 e8 The black plan takes shape. Returning the bishop to the f ray by ...f 6 , would be met by Nh4-f5. 20.f1?! [ Solving the problem of his king, it will come to g2 but, at the same time, the h1-rook stays at its post to p re-e mpt any Black attempts at kingside attack. However, the obvious 20.0-0 is better. ] 20...a4! 21.c2 d4 22.xd4 exd4 23.g2 c5 24.he1! Prophylaxis, defending against the threat of ...c4. For the moment the c-pawn is pinned. c3 [ As now, 24...c4 25.dxc4 xe4 is countered by 26.d3 pinning along the efile. ] 25.bxc5 xc5 26.f1 c6 Both guarding against e5, as the h1-a8 diagonal would be opened, and defending the powerful c3-knight. 27.d2 f6 28.h2 d8 29.g2 c7+ 30.h1 f7 Black finally brings his wayward bis h op b ac k in t o t h e ga m e , it se e ms h is strategy has worked to perfection. [ However, after this the game becomes messy. It might be simpler to leave the bish op o n g6, ke ep in g a lid o n W hite 's counterplay with Nh4-f5, and advance his queenside pawns, instead. 30...b5 ] 31.h4 a5?! [ This wins a pawn, but sends the rook offside, and loses control of the fifth rank, 31...g6 (to stop the knight from going to f5) 32.f4 c8 favours Black. ]
32.f5 xa3 33.e5 On the queenside White is completely lost, so must search for tactics involving his strong f5-knight. a2 34.f4 h6?? [ My French cl ub team mate seems prone to such blunders in winning positions, he has simply overlooked the White threat. Anyway, the position is now far from clear, 34...d5 for instance, 35.xd4 xg2+ 36.xg2 a4 37.d2 axd4 38.xc3 e7 39.e6 and f4-f5. ] 35.xd4? [ Missing 35.xg7! fxe5 ( as 35...xg7?? allows 36.exf6+ with a discovered attack on the queen ) 36.xe5 when the black king is wide open. ] 35...fxe5 36.xe5 d5 37.xc7 xf4 38.f5 e6?! [ 38...xd4 39.fxf7 e6 40.xb7 xd3 is less clear. ] 39.xb7 g5? [ 39...xd4 40.fxf7 had to be played, once again. ] 40.c6 xd3 41.h4 e6 42.hxg5 xf5 43.gxf5 a1+ 44.h2 hxg5 45.b8+ h7 46.e5 d6 47.f7 Threatening both the d6rook, and mate on h8. 1-0
1003 Beim,Valery Rublevsky,Sergei Ordix Open Frankfurt GER (5) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2563 2662 17.06.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c2 e7 7.e3 0-0 [ Simpler than trying to stop White's next move, by 7...a6?! when 8.xd5! xd5 9.d3! d7 ( 9...g4? 10.e4 d6 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.xe5 and wins, is the tactical point) 10.b4 e6 11.b2 d6 12.g5! g4?! 13.h4! xg2 14.0-0-0 g4 15.dg1 led to a powerful white attack in Chernin,A-Polgar,Z/ Brno 1993. ] 8.b5 g4 9.xc6 xf3 10.gxf3!? [ A n e w t ry, a lt h o u g h 10.xb7 xg2?! 11.xd5 xd5 12.xa8 was successful before. ] 10...bxc6 11.b3 xc3 12.dxc3?! 989
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ White is clearly worried about tactics along t h e a 1 - h 8 d i a g o n a l , a f t e r 12.xc3 , but now he loses the pressure along the cfile, and Black's feeble c-pawns become less of a problem. ] 12...d5 13.e2 [ 13.e4 may be more circumspect. ] 13...e4!! 14.xe4 [ 14.fxe4 may be better, but h5+ 15.e1 ad8 16.b2 f3 17.g1 h4 grants Black a strong initiative. ] 14...xb3 15.b1?! [ 15.d2 ] 15...a2+ 16.b2 xa3 17.xc6 f6 W hite's king is looking decidedly the more exposed of the two. 18.b7 a5 19.b2 ad8 20.a1 White has a strong attack on the queenside, but the real action will occur on the other side of the board! f5 21.e4 d7 22.c2 c6 23.axa7 c4+ 24.e1 d3?? [ Carelessly leaving the c7-pawn hanging, 24...d7 was a better way to proceed. ] 25.xc7 d5 26.c4? [ Another error, after 26.e4 b5 27.cb7 c4 28.b4 c5 29.xd3 xa7 White has every chance to win. ] 26...f5 27.e4?? [ 27.xf6! xe3+ 28.fxe3 xc2 may allow White to hold the draw. ] 27...xf3 Now Black is winning. 28.xf6 xe4+ 29.f1 h1+ 30.e2 f3+ 31.e1 gxf6 32.d7 xd7 33.xd7 e8+ 0-1
development here, as he will continue with ... g6 and ...Bg7 later. 6.d3 [ 6.f3 is the alternative: exf3 7.xf3 d6 8.e3 g4 9.e2 g6 10.0-0 g7 Black has a reasonable game, Horvath,GRuck,R/Budapest 1995. ] [ 6.c2?! which would be good after any other fourth move from White, is weak here on account of d4 7.b1?! b3 ] 6...exd3 7.e4!! An ambitious novelty, and very strong, White offers a pawn to be able to recapture on d3 with his bishop, relying on the fact that the black queen is awkwardly placed on an open e-file once Black captures the e4pawn. [ 7.xd3 had been invariably played, e5 8.c2 d6 ( 8...xc4? 9.b5 c5 10.e4 is horrible for Black, and; 8...h6 9.ge4 xe4 10.d5! d6 11.xe4 also favours White ) 9.e3 g6 10.e2 g7 11.h3 0-0 12.d2 h6 13.f3 f5 Black has every reason to be happy with his position, K o rt sch n o i, V -I va n ch u k, V / Ro qu e b ru n e 1992. ] 7...h6 8.f3 d5!? Probably best, Black forces White to block the d5-square, as [ 8...xe4 9.d5 d8 10.xd3 c5 11.0-0 offers White a powerful initiative for the pawn, with Re1(+) coming. ] [ 8...e5 9.xe5 xe5 10.f4 e6 11.xd3 gives White everything he wants. ] 9.cxd5 xe4 The point, now White cannot r e p l y N d 5 . 10.e3 xc3 11.bxc3 e5 12.xd3 Of course White doesn't capture on e5 as this solves Black's development problems. g4 The position is already difficult 1004 A28 for Black and he decides to close the e-file, at Beliavsky,Alexander G 2652 the cost of moving his knight a further two Turov,Maxim 2518 times. It is a pity that he didn't try [ 12...g4 as after 13.b5+ c6 ( 13...d8! 24th Politiken Cup (11) 26.07.2002 14.e2 xf3 15.xf3 c4 might just be [Tony Kosten] playable ) 14.dxc6 bxc6 I am sure Beliavsky w o u l d h a v e p l a y e d 15.xe5!! xd1 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 e4!? 16.xc6+ d8 17.xd1+ c8 18.d5! Very sharp, so far I have only considered with two pieces and a massive attack for the [ 4...d5 and ] queen. ] [ 4...g6 ] 5.g5 e7 The advanced e-pawn is further 13.0-0 xe3 14.fxe3 d7 Black prefers not bolstered and Black threatens to send the to have his king trapped in the middle of the white knight offside by ... h6, so White must board by [ 14...xe3+?! 15.h1 e7 16.e1 c5 keep the pressure on e4. Note that the queen 17.e2 ] d o e s n ' t r e a l ly h i n d e r t h e b l a ck b i s h o p ' s 990
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.e4 c5+ 16.h1 Black has the bishop pair, but the white centre is more important, if he can play c4 and e5 he will dominate the middle of the board. 0-0-0!? This doesn't look too hot, although I don't see any move that is much better! 17.b3 [ 17.e5 e8 18.xf7 xf7 19.xf7 wins a pawn, but loses control of the dark squares - White doesn't want an oppositecolour bishop position. ] 17...e8 [ If 17...f6 18.e5 ] 18.a4 Otherwise White couldn't move his queen's rook without leaving the a-pawn en prise. a5 19.e5 g5!? 20.b5 xb5 21.axb5 b6 [ 21...g4 22.d4 xe5 23.xa5 d7 24.a4 is winning. ] 22.a4! Both stopping ...g4, and menacing Rc4. b7 23.c4 a3 24.c2 Black has no moves, [ 24.c2 g7 ( 24...c5?? 25.a4 wins the queen.) 25.d6 cxd6 26.e4+ b8 27.d4 and mate is not far off. ] 1-0
1005 Belozerov,Andrei Rublevsky,Sergei Team Smolensk RUS (1) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2487 2662 15.04.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.a3 d5 8.d4 exd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4 0-0!? [ Black normally prefers 10...c5 here, but there seems to be nothing wrong with the text. ] 11.c5!? [ Belozerov played this novelty twice recently, White tries to exploit the opportunity to stop ...c5. 11.e2 would return to normal lines after c5 12.h4 Onischuk, A-Pena,E/ Mamaia 1991, and ] [ 11.cxd5 gains nothing on d8 12.e2 ( 12.c4 xd5! 13.xd5 e6 ) 12...xd5 13.h4 f5 when Black has only succeeded in speeding-up the black development, Biehler, T-Arnold,L/Germany 1990/GER-chT2. ]
[ The other attempt to take advantage of Black's tenth is 11.b4 a5 12.c5!? ( 12.b5 ) 12...axb4 13.axb4 xa1 14.xa1 e4 but here, too, Black has no reason to complain, Veinger,I-Birnboim,N/Jerusalem 1986. ] 11...e4!? [ Aggressive Korchnoi preferred the positional exchange of bishops by 11...b6 12.b4 bxc5 13.bxc5 e6 14.d3 a6 and the game is level, Belozerov, AKorchnoi,V/Smolensk RUS 2000, 0-1 (76). ] 12.b4 h4 13.a2 [ White doesn't wish to allow a weakening of his light squares by 13.g3 ] 13...g5 14.f3 f6 15.f2 c6 16.d3 e8 [ 16...f5? 17.e5 ] 17.0-0 White's position seems quite reasonable, if he can sort-out the problem of his e3-pawn, and then develop his c1-bishop, he could be better, with his two bishops. e5!? [ Possibly a psychological ploy, inviting play into an ending where W hite has an edge. 17...e6 18.e4 h4 is playable. ] 18.h4!? [ As he obtains a dangerous attack, it is easy to understand why W hite refuses the endgame, but, nevertheless, 18.xe5 xe5 19.e4! ( 19.e1 and 20 Bb2 is also promising ) 19...e6 ( 19...dxe4?! 20.fxe4 e7 21.g5 i s a w k w a r d) 20.b2 is clearly better for White. ] 18...e6 19.b2!? [ W h it e p la ys f o r m a t e, a lth o u gh 19.e1 is simpler. ] 19...xe3 20.d1 h6 21.xf6 gxf6 22.f4! [ White continues to play for the attack, as after 22.xf6 a5 Black threatens to infiltrate on the a-file. ] 22...g7 23.f1 f5 24.f3 d4 25.g3+ f8 26.e1? [ White had no reason to reject the obvious 26.xh6+ e7 27.e1! d8 28.xf5 when he has every chance to win. ] 26...h8 Of course, if White doesn't take it, Black will hang-on to it. 27.ge3 g7 28.h3 [ 28.g3 h8 29.ge3 will only draw. ] 28...a5!? 29.e5? [ Although 29.bxa5 is anti-positional, it s e e m s q u i t e g o o d , a s a f t e r xa5? 991
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 W h i t e p l a y s 30.xf5 xc5 31.xe6 and Black is lost. ] 29...axb4 30.axb4 a2 Black has found some counterplay! 31.g4? [ Rather risky, 31.1e2 is about equal. ] 31...ea8 [ Missing 31...fxg4! 32.hxg4 a4! and White is in trouble, as 33.f5 loses to xb4 34.fxe6? f4+ ] 32.xf5 xf5 33.xf5 b2? [ 33...g8 ] 34.e7+ g8 35.g5? [ 35.xb7 is very strong, as the a8-rook can't leave the back rank (because of Re8+), and the queen can't leave the f7-pawn. ] 35...g6 36.xb7?? [ One move too late! 36.d7 kept everything together. ] 36...xf5 37.xa8+ g7 38.a3 xf4+ White is suddenly mated! 0-1
1006 Bischoff,Klaus Pert,Nicholas ch-EU Liverpool ENG (10) [John Watson]
A28 2533 2503 15.09.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.d3 b4 5.d2 0-0 6.e3 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 This type of Sicilian Reversed never seems to give Black any problems, but it is very unbalanced and can lead to a full-fledged game. 8.e2 xc3 9.xc3 [ 9.bxc3 looks natural enough, but is passive. Black can even try e4! ( 9...f5 10.e4!? ) 10.dxe4 f6 11.c2 e8 12.d3 A) or 12...g4 13.h3 ( 13.0-0? xf3 14.gxf3 d7! ) 13...h5 intending ..Bg6.; B) 12...e7 13.0-0 xe4 14.ab1 b6= ] 9...e7 10.c2 d8!? [ A standard setup which equalises is 10...f5 11.0-0 ( 11.e4 xc3 12.bxc3 g4 ) 11...ad8 12.fd1 a5 ( or 12...e4 13.dxe4 xe4 14.b3 xc3= )] 11.a3 a5 [ To get to an improved version of the game idea, Black could play 11...xc3 12.xc3 ( 12.bxc3 f5 13.e4 g4 14.0-0 c5! ) 12...g4 13.0-0 d6!? ]
12.0-0 d6!? [ 12...g4 is solid and less ambitious. ] 13.d2!? [ 13.d2! would preserve the bishops I doubt that Black's attack will amount to much. ] 13...f5 14.e4 h6 Black's position has plenty of resilience, so he can afford this only moderately-useful move. [ Instead, 14...xc3 would have secured easy equality, e.g., 15.bxc3 xe4 16.dxe4 b8! 17.ab1 b6 18.fd1 xd1+ 19.xd1 d7 20.d3 c5 21.d5 f8 . White has some advantages, but they are at least neutralised by the superb knight on c5. ] 15.g3 d7?! The first move in the wrong direction. Black should settle for [ 15...xe4 16.dxe4 xc3= ] 16.c5 c8 [ A d m i t t i n g h i s m i s t a k e b y 16...e7 w a s r i g h t , w h e n 17.d2?! ( 17.e4 ) 17...f4! is Shredder's idea, when 18.f3 d8 19.exf4 ( 19.gxf4 h4 ) 19...d4 20.d1 xc5 isn't clear ] 17.f3! de7 18.b4 This looks more like a successful English opening, with the rook on h6 looking out of sorts. b6 19.e4 h3 20.fc1 f5 21.e2 f8!? [ Because his rooks are uncoordinated, Black needs to avoid 21...axb4 22.axb4 xa1 23.xa1 ] 22.bxa5 bxa5 23.ab1 g6?! [ 23...d8 ] 24.b5! f5 25.d2 f4 26.xe5 xe5 27.xe5 fxg3 28.hxg3 f5 Black is a pawn down and everything is collapsing positionally. 29.d5+ h8 30.f3 g4 31.f4?! [ 31.e4! h5 32.f1 , and the game is basically over: g5 33.xc7 xg3 34.fxg3 and there's no follow-up. ] 31...h5 32.f1 g5! Here's the difference now 33.Qe4 runs into 33...Nxg3!, when the p a w n o n g 5 p r e v e n t s R x h 5 . 33.xf5 Still good enough. At least Black temporarily wins the Exchange for a pawn, however weak everything else is. [ 33.e4? xg3 34.fxg3 f3 ] 33...xf5 34.e5+ hf6 35.c6 g6 36.e4! d7 37.xc7 g7 38.e3 White has everything back under control. The rest of the game is easy. g6 39.c4 gf6 40.e3 992
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 6f7 41.xg7+ xg7 42.d4 c8 43.a7 a4 44.e5 c6 45.a6 xd5 46.xd5 c4 47.f6 e7 48.d5! g7 [ 48...xe5 49.a7! ] 49.d6 xe5 50.d7 d4 51.e8+ f8 52.d6 1-0, in view of e7 53.d8+ xd8 54.f7+ 1-0
1007 Bosboom,Manuel Podgaets,Mikhail VAM Open Hoogeveen NED (9) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2476 2490 23.10.1999
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 0-0 6.d5 e8 7.f5 Once again, this funny move resurfaces. d6 8.xf6+ xf6 9.xf6 gxf6 Black is counting on his lead in development to compensate him for his weakened pawn complex. 10.a3 c5 11.b4 b6 12.b2 a5 13.b5 e7 14.g4!? [ Another weapon in White's arsenal in this position, W hite tries to fix the f-pawn. For Tony Miles' move, 14.d4 see the archives. ] 14...g6 Menacing the g4-pawn, the immediate capture being impossible because of the subsequent pin on the g-file after 15 Rg1. 15.g1 e6 16.h4! I like this move. White is playing entirely on the flanks, relying o n h is s t ro n g c e n t r e t o h id e h is ki n g . e4 17.h5! The point behind White's previous move. exf3 18.hxg6 fxg6 19.xf6 W h it e 's s t r a t e gy h a s t ri u m p h e d , h e h a s swapped his h-pawn for Black's f-pawn, and f3 is weak. c6 20.g5 To consolidate the powerful bishop on f6. cxb5 21.cxb5 ac8 Black has to find counterplay quickly, as White is intending to round-up the f3-pawn. 22.g3 d5 23.h3 c2 24.g4 The critical position. If White can simply take the f3-pawn he will be a sound pawn up with the better structure. Black must react, but how? xe3!? Probably not sound, but the best practical try. 25.dxe3 xe3+ 26.f1?! [ White has been bluffed. He was naturally afraid of 26.fxe3 as f2+ 27.f1 c4+ seems crushing, but he has the computerlike resource: 28.e2! ( 28.g2?? f1# ) 28...xe2 29.g2 a2 30.f1 xf1+
31.xf1 xa3 32.b6 and White will win. ] 26...xa3! Exploiting the weak back rank. 27.e1 d3?! [ 27...aa2 28.d4 d2 seems more to the point. ] 28.g1 To free the e1-rook from its defence of the first rank. a4 At first glance it seems that White is in trouble, as, although he has extra material, his pieces are offside and the a-pawn is very fast. However, he actually manages to conjure a mating attack. 29.h3! a3 30.d7! [ White is playing for the win, as he has a simple draw here: 30.e8+ f7 and now 31.e1 forcing g8 ] 30...f7 Forced, as Re8+ and Rxh7 mate was threatened. 31.h4?! [ A natural move, bringing the rook back into play. In fact, the rook was already perfectly placed, oddly enough, as W hite had the powerful move 31.e8! continuing twine the black king in a mating net, I can see nothing b e t t e r t h a n e2 for Black, when White should win easily enough by 32.xf7+ xf7 33.xh7+ as f8?? loses on the spot to 34.c1 ] 31...c4! The h-rook is too dangerous. 32.xc4 xc4 33.e8+ f7 34.e7+ f8 35.xh7 a2 Will this pawn be enough to save Black? 36.h8+ f7 37.a8 d2?! [ I m m e d i a t e l y 37...d1+ 38.h2 d5 is superior. ] 38.e8+ e6 39.xg6 d5 The threat is ...d4, cutting the bishop off from a1. 40.c3? [ 40.e8+! d6 41.e1 is better, avoiding what follows. ] 40...d1+ 41.h2 c1 [ 41...d4! ] 42.b2 b1 43.d4?! This is not the best square for this piece. d1 44.g7 d4 Amazingly, Black is better! His d-pawn will stop the g7-bishop from controlling a1. 45.h7 d7 46.f5+ d6 47.e4 White doesn't have time to push the g-pa wn as the c4 bishop controls the queening square, so, as he is about to lose his rook for the a-pawn, must try to garner as many black pawns as possible. c5 48.xb7 a1 49.xa1 xa1 50.xf3 The dust has settled, and White has two pawns for the exchange, but the d4-pawn is very strong. d5 51.g2 d3! A nice trick. 993
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 52.c3 [ 52.xa1?? loses to d2 of course, and the pawn queens. ] 52...c4 53.d2 xf3+ [ After this move the white king manages to return to help the bishop, and White's two passed pawns assure the draw. If 53...a2 instead, then it is now W hite's turn for a surprising resource: 54.g6! as xd2?? loses to 55.xd5+ xd5 56.g7 ] 54.xf3 xb5 55.e4 c4 56.f4 d1 57.e3 g1 The position is drawn. 58.f2 d1 59.e3 g1 60.f2 d1 61.e3 ½-½
White's d-pawn but it's easily defended. c8 28.h2 d6 29.g3 f7 30.e2 g8 31.ah1 g7 32.d1 ad8 33.e3 d6 34.e1 ½-½
1009 Bukal,Vladimir Sr Olsen,Heini OSS January It (8) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2424 2255 31.01.2004
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.d3!? Unusual, the mainline is 1008 A28 [ 7.a3 although this seems fairly level, and Agrest has had some success with ] Bu Xiangzhi 2640 [ 7.e2 although this is likely to transpose. ] Bacrot,Etienne 2708 37th Olympiad (11) 02.06.2006 7...d5 8.cxd5 xd5 Black is rig ht to aim for the reversed Sicilian position in which his [John Watson] knights are well placed. 9.c2 0-0 10.e2 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e4 Possibly not the most accurate, better to This move was first drawn to general attention control b4 by [ 10.a3 a5 11.b3 as in Chernin,A-Polgar,Z/ by Nimzowitsch, who never seemed much Budapest 1993. ] perturbed by traditional weaknesses. One idea This is the most annoying for is to answer 4...Bc5 by 5.Nxe5!? b4 5.d3 10...db4! d6 6.g3 g4 Not worrying about the bishop White. [ 10...e6 11.a3 a5 12.b3 f6 leads to fairly pair if it means better control over W hite's typical Sicilian play, Bosboom,M-Cuijpers, weakness on d4. 7.h3 xf3 8.xf3 d4 F/Hilversum 1988. ] 9.d1 c6 10.g2 0-0 11.0-0 c5! 12.h2 [ 12.a4 e7 13.xc5?! dxc5 11.c3 g4 [ 11...f5 12.e4 g4 has been played a simply leaves W hite's d-pawn more couple of times against Agrest, 13.e3 a6 vulnerable. ] 14.g1 (draw agreed in Agrest 12...a5 13.f4 b5 A big decision. The Damljanovic!) e6 15.h3 d4!? 16.f3 defensive option was ( 16.xd4 exd4 17.xd4 b4 18.c1 [ 13...h6 14.f5 e7 15.g4 h7 ] xa2 f a vo u r s B l a c k) 16...c5! 17.a3 14.f5!? b4 15.a4 d7 ( 17.xe5 b4 ) 17...f6 and Black is better, [ 15...a7 16.g5 h6 17.h4 ] Agrest,E-Mchedlishvili,M/Ohrid MKD 2001. ] 16.xc5 dxc5 12.a3 xd3+! Black is well-prepared. [ 16...xc5 17.f6! ] 13.xd3 e4 14.c4? White attempts to 17.g4 f6 18.h4 h6 complicate against his lower-rated opponent, [ 18...a4 19.g5 e8 is double-edged. ] 19.d2 f7! White's only real plan is g5, so but this new move is much worse than [ 14.e2 exf3 15.gxf3 ( 15.xf3 xf3 Black's king runs away before that move can 16.gxf3 e5 leaves Black with the superior threaten him. 20.f2 e7 21.g1 h8 minor piece.) 15...h5 16.g1 with the 22.f3 b6 23.d1 a4 24.g2 a3 25.b3 bishop pair and possibilities of attack along e8 26.g3 g5 27.f2 Now everything is the g-file, Agrest,E-Xu Jun/Istanbul TUR closed and there are various ways for Black 2000. ] to ensure the draw. The method in the game 15.gxf3 exd3 16.xd3 is good enough. It would be nice to go after 14...xf3 994
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White has found himself in a position similar to that in a previous note. If he could play b4, Bb2 and Rg1 simultaneously he would be better, but as it is he never gets to complete h i s d e v e l o p m e n t . ad8 17.e4 f6! This puts paid to W hite's queenside! 18.0-0 fe8 The black rooks are naturally drawn to the open central files. 19.f4 This looks disgusting, but what else? [ 19.g4 loses to e5 20.g3 xf3+ 21.g2 e5 22.e4 d2 23.xd2 xd2 and White will lose at least two pawns. ] 19...xf4 20.exf4 d4 There is no let-up for W h i t e i n t h e e n d g a m e . 21.e3 xf3+ 22.h1 b6 23.fc1? Things were bad, but this makes matters even worse. xe3! [ 23...xe3 24.fxe3 d2 forces mate. ] 0-1
1010 A28 Carlsen,Magnus 2733 Topalov,Veselin 2780 XXV SuperGM Morella Linares MEX/ESP (12) [Carsten Hansen] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.d3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.e4 b6 [ As you may ember, we looked at this peculiar variation back in the October 2007 update, where 6...f6 was tried, and now 7.e2 g4 8.0-0 xf3 9.xf3 d4 with a fascinating struggle, Morozevich, AGrischuk, A/Mexico City MEX 2007 - see the PGN archive ] 7.e2 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.a4 e6 This natural move deviates from the lines given in the annotations to the above game, where only 9... a5 was discussed. 10.e3!? [ White achieves less after 10.a5 , e.g. d7 11.a6 bxa6 12.d4 xd4 13.xd4 exd4 14.xd4 c5 15.d2 b8 with chances for both sides ] 10...d7!? Anyway! 11.d4?! [ This move look s so obvious, it is hard to believe that it isn't the best move. However, in the continuation, Black faces no problems and soon White has to be creative to keep the balance. Therefore this may be the time and place to try something different, e.g. 11.b1 a5 12.d4 exd4 13.xd4 xd4
14.xd4 c5 15.d3 c6 with approximately even chances ] 11...exd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 [ 13.xd4?! c5 is fine for Black ] 13...c6 14.a5 [ White doesn't achieve anything with 14.ad1 , e.g. a5 15.d2 b4 with a pleasant game for Black ] 14...c5 [ 14...c7!? can also be considered, though a draw is likely after 15.f4 ad8 16.f5 c5 , and now 17.b4 b3 18.a4 c5 19.b4 d3 leads to a repetition. Topalov undoubtedly played for more as usual... ] 15.e5 b3 [ 15...b8 is playable for Black: 16.xb8 fxb8 17.f4 d8 , and Black should be fine ] 16.a4 d6 17.h5 g6! 18.h6 e5! Topalov transfer the dark-squared bishop to the h8-a1 diagonal where it is of much more use than on d6. 19.g5?! [ 19.d1 e7 seems fine for Black, but the game continuation is even worse for White ] 19...c7 20.e3!? xa5 21.f4 g7 22.h4 b3 23.d4!? A necessary sharpening of the game retreating the rook to a3 or a1 leaves White with insufficient compensation for the pawn ad8! [ 23...xd4 can also be considered, but the weak squares around the king after 24.xd4 f5 very likely didn't appeal to Topalov who would probably prefer to play the White side in this position. The text move is solid and good. ] 24.e5 xd4 25.xd4 c5 [ 25...c4 has been suggested several places, but White may be okay after 26.f2 ( 26.xc4 xc4 27.f2 d8 28.e4 a5 is b e t t e r f o r B l a c k) 26...b6 27.e4 which gives White some compensation for the pawn ] [ The second alternative is also playable: 25...c4 26.f5!? xe5 ( 26...xe5?? 27.xc4+-; 26...e8 27.e6 xd4+ 28.xd4 b6 29.xb6 axb6 30.e4 e7 31.exf7+ xf7 32.f3 with some initiative for White though Black should be able to defend.) 27.f6 h8 A) 28.e4 d8 29.c5 ( 29.g5 h5 ) 29...a2 with a double-edged position; 995
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 28.f5 d7 29.h5 xf6 30.xf6 xf6 31.xf6 gxh5 32.g5+ h8 33.f6+ with a draw by perpetual check ] 26.e3 f6! 27.b5 d8 28.f5!? [ 28.e6!? is also worth a thought, e.g. xe6 ( 28...e7?! 29.f5! gxf5 30.f3 is quite dangerous for Black, particularly if in time trouble ) 29.xc5 f5 30.f2 f7 31.xa7 c4 32.d4 , and White is more or less okay. According to TWIC's coverage of the tournament, Carlsen thought for a long time before playing 28 f5, so he must have felt that it offered better chances than 28 e6, th ou gh m y an alysis d oe sn 't m at ch t ha t evaluation entirely. ] 28...fxe5 29.g5 b6 30.f6 c4+ [ This check looks safer than retreating the bishop on h8, which leaves the black king without breathing space the bishop awkwardly passive, yet it is worth considering, for example 30...h8 31.c3 b4 32.g3 d4+ 33.h1 c6 34.h3 f7 , and White doesn't have enough for the two sacrificed pawns. ] 31.h1 xb5 32.fxg7 xf1+ 33.xf1 xg7?! [ This obvious move allows White at least a pe rp e t u a l c h e ck. T he a lt e rn at ive s a re : 33...d7 34.h6 c6 35.xc4+ xc4 36.xc4+ f7 37.c1 d8 , and Black has all the chances, but whether it is enough to win is dubious. ] [ 33...d5 34.h6!? ( 34.e2?! xg7 35.h6+ f7 36.f2+ e8 37.f8+ d7 38.g4+ c6 39.f3 e4 40.e8+ b6 41.e3+ a6 42.xe4 d1+ 43.g1 d6 , and Black has excellent winning chances ) 34...c6 35.e2 e6 36.h3 with a continued complicated struggle ] 34.d8! Setting a nasty trap... c6?? [ ...which Topalov completely misses. A terrible blunder that loses the game on the spot. Instead 34...d5 would have lead to a draw by perpetual check: 35.xa5 xa5 36.e7+ , and Black's king can't escape the checks ] 35.f6+ g8 36.e6+ f8 37.g5! This may have been the move that Topalov missed when he played 34...Nc6?? 1-0
1011 Chernin,Alexander Bareev,Evgeny ECC Panormo GRE (5) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2601 2719 27.09.2001
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.a3 d5 8.d4 exd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4 0-0 11.d2!? A new move! d8 [ 11...c5 12.h4 dxc4 13.xc4 e6 wo u ld b e a n o t h e r, st a n d a rd m e t h o d o f treating this position. ] 12.b4 e8 13.c5 d7! 14.d3 b5 This simple plan either forces the exchange of the light-squared bishops, or obliges the white king t o st ay in t he cen tre a wh ile . 15.c2 W hite pref ers to keep his bishop pair. b6 16.a4 a6 17.f3 bxc5 18.xc5 d7! 19.f2 [ White has to part with his bishop pair all the same, 19.xd5? e5 20.b3 c6! 21.d4 xf3+ 22.gxf3 xf3 strips the white king bare. ] 19...xc5 20.xc5 d6 21.ac1 d4!? 22.exd4 e2+ 23.g3 [ The king has to try the other side of his kingside pawns, 23.g1?? e3# ] 23...d3 Cutting the bishop's control of g6, and therefore threatening ...Rg6+. 24.xd3 xd3 25.h3 d2 [ 25...d2 26.hg1 xb2 27.xc7 xd4 is level. ] ½-½
1012 Delchev,Aleksander Dabo Peranic,Robert 9th Open Bosnjaci CRO (4) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2583 2330 05.01.2003
Sometimes it is difficult to know how to react when your opponent offers to repeat a line you have already played - does he have a novelty prepared? 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 e4 5.g5 e7 6.d3 exd3 7.xd3 It is strange that Delchev returns to the old move, when as we saw not so long ago, Beliavsky's move [ 7.e4! seems very effective: h6 8.f3 d5! 996
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.cxd5 xe4 10.e3 xc3 11.bxc3 e5 12.xd3 xd3+!? an attempted improvement on the ( 12...g4 of Beliavsky, A-Turov,M ) 13.xd3 d8 14.0-0 e7 15.c4 and White made his space advantage count, Delchev, A-Papa,S/Zurich SUI 2002. Perhaps Delchev feared an improvement on this game? ] 7...g6!? A new idea. [ 7...e5 is the normal choice: 8.c2 d6 9.e3 g6 as in Kortschnoj, V-Ivanchuk,V/ Roquebrune 1992, and others. ] 8.f3 g7 9.g5 e5! This unpins the knight and defends against the menace of Nd5. 10.xe5 xe5 11.f4! c5 12.0-0-0 0-0 13.h3 There is no rush, the immediate [ 13.e4 allows g4 ] 13...e8 14.e4 White has a serious space advantage, but the black position is solid. d6 15.g4 h6 16.h4 a5 Else b4 was always a potential problem. 17.h2! White develops his rook, but leaves the light-squared bishop on f1, to defend the c4-pawn. Note this also defends f2 in prophylactic fashion, so that Bf2 becomes possible. a4 Freeing the a5-square for the queen's retreat. [ 17...g5!? would be the sort of move Black would consider in a Sicilian-style position, to gain control of e5, but thanks to White's last move this would be answere d b y 18.f2 c6 19.g2 with nasty threats to the black queen. ] 18.c2!? a6?! An inventive move, but perhaps he should have considered [ 18...g5!? now, as 19.f2 ( 19.g3!? ) 19...a5 20.d4!? gxf4 21.f2 g5 is very playable. ] 19.f3! The queen frees the d-file, and lends her presence to the f-file, squelching Black's dreams of counterplay. d7 [ 19...g5?! is no longer feasible: 20.f2 a5 21.c5 ] 20.d5 This is good, but the more forcing [ 20.f2! a5 21.c5 is even better, xc5 22.xc5 dxc5 23.xa6 xa6 24.e5 and Black's compensation for the exchange is non-existent. ] 20...c6? Black cracks completely, [ 20...a8! keeps the game alive, although I know which colour I would prefer to have here! ]
21.c7 24.c5 1-0
e6
22.f2
a5
1013 Ehlvest,Jaan Harikrishna,Penteala FIDE World Cup Gp D (1) [Tony Kosten]
23.xe6
fxe6
A28 2600 2551 10.10.2002
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e4 b4 [ 4...c5! ] 5.d3 d6 6.g3 h6!? This is a very rare move, [ 6...c5 is the mainline (and holds very fond memories for me, see the eBook), whilst ] [ 6...0-0 is also common, with the follow-up 7.g2 xc3+ 8.bxc3 e8 9.0-0 f5 but after 10.exf5 xf5 11.h4 e6 12.f4! White is better. ] 7.g2 xc3+ Black opts to double the white pawns, but it concedes the bishop pair, and allows White to regain control of d4, he can also play for control of d4 by giving his other bishop: [ 7...g4 8.h3 xf3 9.xf3 a6 10.0-0 c5 11.g2 d4 but I prefer to have the two bishops here, Land enbergue,C-Lutz,C/ Garmisch 1994. ] 8.bxc3 e6 9.d2! A strong novelty, White plans Nf1-e3 in order to bring the knight to d5. Otherwise White can play the knight to f5: [ 9.b1 b6 ( 9...b8 10.0-0 0-0 11.h4 a6 12.a4! is similar, Tarasenko,A-Smirnov,Y/ M o s c o w 1 9 9 5) 10.0-0 ( 10.d2 could transpose to the game) 10...0-0 11.h4 b8 12.b2 ( 12.f4 is also possible, Black's problem is that he lacks meaningful counterplay) 12...g5?! 13.f5 xf5 14.exf5 e7 15.h4! with advantage, Hjelm, N-Plesec,D/ Budapest 1993. ] 9...h5!? 10.b1 b6 11.h4! White cannot allow the h-pawn to advance further. d7 12.f1 e7 13.e3 From e3 the knight does a f ine job cont rolling d5 a nd f 5, but als o defends c4 so that playing d4 becomes a possibility. f6 14.d4 f8 I always found, whenever I played this variation, that although the black position is super-solid, it is White who enjoys all the meaningful pawn breaks, 997
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and the bishop pair are always useful. 15.b2 A standard plan in such positions, the darksqua red bisho p is f ine wh ere it is so th e queens' rook goes around it. c8 16.f4 Adding further pressure to the black centre. d7 17.a4 c6 18.d2 c7 19.a3 Now the bishop finds a good diagonal attacking d6, weakened by Black's 17th move. b5!? He could also have tried [ 19...c5 which blocks the a3-bishop although he probably didn't want to lose pawn control of d5. ] 20.d1!? An interesting pawn sac. [ 20.b4 was also strong. ] 20...bxc4 21.0-0 White has placed all his pieces on their ideal squares, and with the centre about to explode he can castle in safety. Note that Black is unable to castle kingside because of the weakness of his h-pawn. exf4 22.gxf4 f5?! A dubious move which just aids White in smashing the centre, [ 22...d8 is a better try, adding defence to d6, and waiting for White to decide how he will advance his big centre. ] 23.d5! [ 23.e5 d5 would suit Black fine. ] 23...cxd5 24.exf5! f7? Black is already in serious trouble, [ 24...xf5? loses to 25.xf5 xf5 26.e2+ d8 27.xd5 forking a8 and f5, but ] [ 24...b6!? was worth a shot, 25.d4 f7 and Black is still in with a shout. ] 25.xd5 xd5 26.xd5! White prefers to giv e h i s r o o k ra t h e r t h a n o n e o f h i s t wo massive bishops! 0-0 This is hopeless, but Black was lost anyway: [ 26...xd5 27.xd5 0-0-0 (forced) 28.a8+ b8 29.b1 d7 30.d5 is winning, Bxc4-a6 is the immediate threat. ] 27.xd6 b6+ 28.h1 xf5 29.xf5! xf5 30.xa8 d8 31.e4 xh4+ 32.g2 b5 33.e2 1-0
1014 Filippov,Valerij Joachim,Sven ECC Rethymnon GRE (7) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2630 2438 04.10.2003
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.e3 e7 A reasonable alternative to the ever-popular [ 4...b4 ] 5.d4 The whole point of 4 e3, White expands in the centre. We looked at [ 5.a3 in Agrest,E-Anand,V. ] 5...exd4 6.xd4 0-0 7.e2 d5 Black strikes b a c k i n t h e c e n t r e . T a l , wh o wo r k e d a s Karpov's second, revealed that this line was prepared for Karpov's match against Kortchnoi. . 8.xc6 White doubles the black pawns, but strengthens the centre. [ 8.cxd5 is fine for Black: b4! A) 9.e4?! xe4! 10.db5 ( 10.xe4?! xd5 11.f3 xd4! (the point) 12.xd4 c2+ 13.d2 xd4 should win) 10...f5 with a pleasant position for Black, Bagirov, V-Nei,I/URS 1979; B) 9.0-0 bxd5 10.xd5 xd5 11.b5 c6 12.xd5 xd5 13.d4 f6 14.d1 d8 with some pressure, Mikenas,V-Keres, P/Moscow 1950. ] 8...bxc6 9.0-0 d6 A second move of the bishop, but Black's plan revolves around an attack on the kingside - there is no white k n i g h t o n f 3 t o d e f e n d i t . 10.b3 e8 Karpov preferred [ 10...e7 which threatens the fork ...Qe5, h i t t in g h 2 a n d t h e kn i gh t o n c 3 , 11.b2 dxc4! Zaitsev's idea, ( 11...d8 12.cxd5 e5 13.g3 h3 14.e1 b4 15.c2 f5 16.c1 cxd5 17.f3 was fairly level in Keene,R-Jansson,B/Haifa 1976) 12.bxc4 b8! 13.c1 g4 14.g3 e8 15.d1?! xh2! and Black won a fine game in Timman,J-Karpov,A/Montreal 1979. ] 11.c2 e7 12.b2 dxc4 Zaitsev's plan works here, sa well. It looks illogical, but takes the pressure off the d5-pawn. 13.bxc4 [ 13.xc4 is positionally correct, but takes another piece away from the queenside, allowing e5 14.g3 h5 with a strong attack, ... Ng4 is the main threat, but ...Bg4f3 is also on the cards. ] 13...b8 All according to the Karpov recipe. 998
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.ab1!? Bolstering the b2-bishop, this is an attempted improvement on [ 14.fd1?! when e5 ( 14...g4 is a ls o in t e re st in g, a s 15.xg4 xg4 looks good for Black) 15.g3 g4 16.f3?! f6 17.g2 xf2+! 18.xf2 xf2 which looks winning, Stryjecki,M-Pinski,J/ Trzbinia 1999. ] 14...g4 This is just too easy for Black to play. 15.g3 Best. [ 15.h3? is a losing blunder: e5 16.g3 xe3 and the knight cannot be captured. ] [ 15.xg4 avoids immediate disaster, but after xg4 White will have to defend very well to avoid defeat, e.g. 16.a1 e5 17.g3 f5 winning a pawn. ] 15...xh2! Forcing a draw, at least. [ 15...e6 16.a1 h6 is also worth a try. ] 16.xh2 Forced, as [ 16.c5? loses to xf1 17.cxd6 xe3 hitting the queen, 18.fxe3 g5 ] 16...h4+ 17.g1 [ 17.g2 changes nothing, h3+ 18.g1 xg3 transposing. ] 17...xg3 18.fxg3 xg3+ 19.h1 h3+!? In view of the enormous rating difference Black decides to force a perpetual, but he could certainly play for more with [ 19...xe3! 20.e4 (there is nothing else) h4+ 21.g1 xe4 regaining one piece, but maintaining a strong attack and a number of pawns, 22.f3 g3+ 23.g2 e3+ etc. ] [ 19...e6 would win if White hadn't further defended his dark-squared bishop on move 1 4 , b u t n o w 20.h5 (the one and only move) h6 21.h2 xh2+ 22.xh2 xh5+ is unclear. ] 20.g1 g3+ 21.h1 h3+ ½-½
1015 Filippov,Valerij Svidler,Peter TCh Tomsk RUS (7) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2632 2695 20.05.2001
[ 8...e5 9.f4 was seen in the archives. ] 9.e3 e5 10.b5!? [ A sharp line, wasting more time chasing the c7-pawn, 10.f3 has been investigated in the archives, and is more positional. ] 10...d6 A good reaction, Black ignores the t h r e a t , a n d co n t i n u e s h i s d e ve l o p m e n t . 11.xf6 [ This is the whole point of White's play, of c o u r s e , a l t h o u g h t h e q u i e t 11.e2!? is possible, maintaining the 'threat', and vacating the f1-square for the king: g6 12.xf6 xf6 13.xc7 xc3+ 14.f1 b8 15.d5?! ( 15.b5!? e5 16.d4 wins the a or d pawn, and is worth consideration) 15...a5 16.h4 e6 17.h5 e5 18.h4 fe8 agreed drawn, Istratescu, A-Tkachiev,V/Ohrid MKD 2001, although Black might wish to continue. ] 11...xf6 [ 11...gxf6? is too ugly to contemplate. ] 12.xc7 f3+! The tactical justification of Black's tenth move! 13.e2 [ 13.gxf3? xc3+ 14.e2 xc4+ forks king and knight. ] 13...g4 'Protecting' the a8-rook by t h re a t e n i n g a d e a d ly d i sc o ve r e d c h e c k . 14.d5! xh2+! [ A novelty, previously Black had preferred 14...e5+ 15.e1 d8 16.d4 a5 17.e2 e6 18.e7+?! h8 19.f4 fe8! 20.fxe5 dxe5 left Black on top, Alterman,BHuebner,R/Yerevan 1996. ] 15.e1 g5 16.d4 xf1 17.xf1 e6 Black has regained his pawn and has the b e t t e r p a wn s t ru c t u r e . 18.d1 ac8!? P r o vo k i n g a s t r i n g o f p a wn e x c h a n g e s . 19.xa7 a8 20.b6 xa2 21.xd6 xd5 22.xd5 f6 23.f3 xc3 24.h4 a1 25.hd4 Having brought his king's rook into the game, White has equalised the position. fa8 26.xb7 ½-½
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 b4 6.g5 h6 7.h4 xc3+ 8.bxc3 0-0 999
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1016 Fritz 6a Junior 6.0 Cadaques Tournament (15) [Tony Kosten]
A28
26.01.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 0-0 6.d5 e8 7.f5 d6 8.xf6+ xf6 9.xf6 gxf6 10.a3 c5 11.b4 b6 12.b2 a5 13.b5 e7 14.d4 Miles' move gets another outing. a4 [ 14...g4?! was the original Miles, ARodriguez,A game from Yopal 1997. ] 15.0-0-0 g6 16.h4 [ As I suggested in the archives an i m p r o v e m e n t o n W h i t e ' s 16.d2 of Agrest,E-Akopian,V/Ne w York 1998 , would be found at this point, however, I didn't imagine that it would be a computer which would do it! ] [ Incidentally, my version of Fritz6 prefers 16.e2 , here! ] 16...h5 Stopping the onward march of the hpawn, but the black h5-pawn will be a weakness. 17.e2 g7 18.h2! The knight will come to g3. h8 [ 18...xh4 19.f1 f5 20.xh5 might be a better choice. ] 19.f1 e7 20.g3 g6 [ 20...g4 21.xg4 hxg4 22.h5 is hardly The End of the World! ] 21.hf1 f5?? Such an ugly move, walking into an unbreakable pin. The computer sees that he won't lose the piece immediately, but doesn't see that he can never extract his pie c e s f ro m t he p in , it is ove r h is 'e ve n t horizon'. 22.d3 e8 23.h1 d5 24.cxd5 exd4 25.exd4 d8 26.he1 a7 27.e4 c6 Now Black sees that Rd3-f3 is menaced, and tries everything to avoid this, but only s u c c e e d s i n l o s i n g e ve n m o re m a t e ri a l . 28.dxc6 c7 29.d5 a5 30.cxb7 f4+ 31.c2 d7 32.d3 xb5 33.xf5 xf5 34.xf5+ xf5 35.e7 g6 36.f3 e5 37.xe5 fxe5 38.exf7 This sort of position is very easy for a computer. b6 39.e7 b8 40.g3+ h6 41.gg7 b5 42.d3 xd5+ 43.e4 c5 44.f3 c4+ 45.d5 xh4 46.g3 h3 [ 46...h3 47.xe5 threatens mate in two by Rh7+, and Reg7. Not one of Junior's
better performances, but, to be fair, this was one of only two Fritz wins, opposed to the six Junior victories. ] 1-0
1017 Gajewski,Grzegorz Tomczak,Jacek POL-ch Warsaw (9) [Fier, Alexandr]
A28 2629 2544 02.04.2014
An interesting game and I like White's idea. This variation is similar to a Paulsen with reversed colors, with the difference being that White didn't play a3 and also has the extra t e m p o o f t h e f ir st m o ve . W i t h t wo s m a l l inaccuracies Black's position simply collapsed. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.e3 White tries to enter a Sicilian with a tempo up. d5 [ 4...b4 is the main move and it was an a lyze d in G risch u k, A (2 7 8 5 )-G iri, A (2737)/FIDE GP Paris 2013 (8.5). ] 5.cxd5 xd5 6.b5 xc3 7.bxc3 d6 8.d4 So far everything is normal, and now Black has several alternatives. I'm not a fan of closing the center so quickly, but it's quite a popular idea in the Paulsen. e4 [ 8...d7 I like this move more. Compared with the position with reversed colors, the difference is that Black is not looking for an advantage, but only a way to equalize 9.0-0 0-0 and here 10.xc6 leads nowhere, White will miss the light squared bishop ( 10.e2 is better and the position is normal after e8 11.d5 e7 12.e4 Bachmann Schiavo, A (2519)-Cubas, J (2430)/Asuncion Roggio Cup 2008. ) 10...xc6 11.dxe5 xf3 12.xf3 xe5 13.a3 c5! 14.xc5 xh2+ 15.xh2 c7+ 16.g1 xc5 17.xb7 xc3 with a dead equal position Nikolaidis, I (2555)-Skembris, S (2463)/GRE-ch 62nd Athens 2012. ] [ 8...exd4 is another way to play, releasing the pressure, but it's not so nice to give the central pawns so easily 9.cxd4 0-0 10.0-0 f5 11.d3 and I think White already has a small advantage, Pala, V (2333)-Mudrak, J (2363)/CZE-chT2E 1011 2010 (5.1). ] 9.d2 g5 10.f1 It looks like Black did well 1000
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 from the opening, forcing the bishop to retreat to f 1, winning space and transferring the queen to an active position. However, things are not that clear, since the e4-pawn now a target and the bishop is much more useful on g2 than it was on b5. g6 11.g3 0-0 [ 11...h5 i s c o h e r e n t 12.g2 ( 12.h4 would probably be similar to the game, but White's light squares are slightly weakened) 12...f5 13.b3 h4 14.c4 hxg3 15.xd6+ cxd6 16.hxg3 xh1+ 17.xh1 f7 with a double edged position in Hess, R (2579)-Izoria , Z (2562)/USA tt ICC INT 2013. ] 12.g2 e8 13.0-0 g4?! There is no need for this move. [ 13...f5 was better. Probably Black was afraid of 14.f3 ( 14.b1 ab8 15.b5 d7 is a better version of the game, since the e4pawn is not threatened) 14...exf3 15.xf3 g4 16.f2 h5 17.e4 f6 18.b1 ab8 19.a4 a6 and White has a beautiful position, but the strong pawns can become weak at some point ] 14.c2 [ 14.b3! was better because of a nice trick ab8 ( 14...c8 15.b1; 14...b6 is maybe the best chance 15.xe4 a5 16.b1 f5 17.f3 and White is a bit cramped, but has a pawn up) 15.xe4 xe4 16.f3 e6 17.b1 and the rook ran out of squares ] 14...f5 15.b1 ab8 [ 15...b6 weakens the long diagonal, but it's not worse than the text 16.b5 d7 16 wit h t h e s a m e id e a o f t h e va ria t io n o n Black's move ] 16.b5! G o i n g f o r t h e s a c r i f i c e . a6? A mistaken judgement of the position. The bishop and central pawns more than compensate the rook, and I even think that Black is already close to lost after this move. [ 16...d7 was better. It looks like White is winning a pawn, but there are some problems on the way 17.xe4 ( 17.b1 d e f e n d s t h e ro o k b6 18.xe4 xd4 19.cxd4 xb5 20.xb5 xe4 21.xe4 xe4 22.b2 is ok for Black) 17...xe4! now it's Black's turn to sacrifice the exchange 18.xe4 xd4 19.xg6 hxg6 and the rook has no satisfactory place to go
20.a5 ( 20.b1 e2+ 21.g2 xc3 22.a1 e8 with full compensation) 20...c6 21.d5 e6 22.d3 and the rook i s t e r r i b l y p l a c e d e5 23.d4 b5 so the position is level ] 17.xf5 xf5 18.xe4 h5 19.g2 White's plan is quite easy: he just wants to start pushing pawns. Black has little to do against this, so White has a clear advantage. a5 Trying to create counterplay with ...c5. [ 19...g6 20.e4 f8 21.f4 is also not funny for Black ] 20.e4 c5 21.e5 f8 22.f3 g6 23.e4 h5 24.f3 cxd4 25.cxd4 c6 26.g2 f6 Black still tries to somehow combat White's center. [ 26...g6 would not help, since 27.b3 h6 28.d5 d8 ( 28...e7 29.xh6 xh6 30.xc6 wins ) 29.xh6 xh6 30.h4 g7 31.g5 e7 and Black is dominated ] 27.h3 f5 Now Black is lost. [ 27...h8 is the computer move, but White can just play without hurry 28.e3 bc8 ( 28...fxe5 29.g4 f7 30.g5 d7 31.b3 d8 32.xh7 e6 33.dxe5 and Black's position will fall soon) 29.b3 a n d B l a c k c a n n o t t a k e t h e p a w n fxe5? 30.g4 wins the queen ] 28.d5+ h8 29.g5 xd4 30.c4 c6 31.f7+ g8 32.xc6 1-0
1018 Gajewski,Grzegorz Volokitin,Andrei FRA-chT Top 12 (5.2) [Kosten, Tony]
A28 2641 2638 28.05.2014
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.bxc3!? I've often wondered ab ou t t h is m o ve , I kn ow it se em s o d d t o voluntarily recapture with a pawn after having defended the knight with the queen, but it's true that Black captures on c3 without being provoked, so White's not losing time, and he do e s give h imse lf a b igge r cen t re . S u b a consistently used this line over more than 30 years, although not with particularly good results. [ 6.xc3 is the mainline, of course, and 1001
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 we've covered it here on many occasions, but it is also a bit dull and drawish! ] 6...d6 This allows White to close the centre with e4. [ 6...e4 is a critical alternative, 7.g5 A) 7...d5 is normally met by A1) 8.b1!? is tricky: h6? 9.cxd5! hxg5 ( 9...xd5 10.b5 and e4 drops, is the point! ) 10.dxc6 bxc6 11.a3 stranding the king in the centre, and with his obvious structural advantage White was close to winning in Zagorskis, D (2515)-Sammalvuo, T (2395) Copenhagen 1998, 1-0 (36).; A2) 8.f3 exf3 ( 8...h6 9.cxd5 hxg5 10.dxc6 exf3 11.gxf3 bxc6 12.a3 d5 13.e4 White's bishops and centre leave him on top, Persson, J-Svensson, L (2285) Lidkoeping 1994, 1-0 (29).) 9.xf3 g4 10.a3 d7 11.d4 ( 11.cxd5 xd5 12.b3 xf3 13.c4 d7 14.gxf3 a5 regains one 'small exchange', with a good game, Lukin, A (2470)-Rekhmann, P Moscow 1990, but 1-0 (38). ) 11...0-0-0 12.a4 xd4 13.xd7+ xd7 14.cxd4 e8 is fine for Black, Shimanov, A (2649) Pa la c , M (25 6 1 ) Ye re van 2 0 1 4 , 0 -1 (46).; B) 7...e7 8.f3 (White can't allow his knight to be kicked back by ...h6.) exf3 9.xf3 d6 ( 9...0-0 10.e2 d6 t r a n s p o s e s .) 10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 Reaching a key position, White has more cen tral p awns, an op en f -f ile an d th e bishop pair, but his centre is a bit unwieldy and Black has free play for his pieces. g4 12.d3 White will continue e4 to free his dark square bishop. ( 12.b1 b6 13.d3 is similar, Suba, M (2501)-Mishuchkov, N (2379) Condino 2009, 0-1 (38).) 12...d5 ( 12...fe8 13.e4 h6 14.b1 ab8 15.h3 d7 Poloch, P (2264)-Sosovicka, J (2149) Frydek Mistek 2011, 1-0 (39), 16.d4!? to f5. ) 13.cxd5 ( Houdini likes 13.d4! e.g. ae8 14.cxd5 xd5 15.e4! ) 13...xd5 14.d2! ( 14.e4? c5+ ) 14...f5! (else e4) 15.c4 ( 15.h3 h5 16.d4? loses material to xe2 17.xc6 bxc6 18.xe2 xc3 19.c2 d5 20.xc6 xe3 although White has good chances to
hold, Kovalevskaya, E (2427)-Turova, I (2384) St Petersburg 2009, 1/2-1/2 (52).) 15...f6 16.h3 h5 17.b1 b6 18.h4 g6 19.b2 xe2 20.xe2 h5?! ( 20...d7 21.f3 ae8 ) 21.xf5! xf5 22.xf5 g3 ( 22...gxf5 23.xh5 ) 23.f3 xf5 24.d5+ f8 25.xc6 Nikolaidis, I (2493)-Brkic, A (2568) Leros 2010, 1-0 (32), when Black should prefer xe3+ 26.h1 d8 27.xc7 xd3 28.e1 d7 29.e5 g7! with chances to defend. ] [ 6...0-0 is the most common, 7.d3 ( after 7.e4! d6 we transpose below.) 7...d6 8.e2 e7 9.d2!? ( 9.e4 is more thematic, e8 10.0-0 f5 11.exf5 xf5 Kovacevic, B (2440)-Ruck, R (2485) St Veit 1998, 1/2-1/2 ( 2 1 ) , w h e n 12.b1 b6 13.g5 f6 14.h4 and Bf3 might give White a small edge. ) 9...g4!? 10.e4 f5 11.xg4 fxg4 12.f1 e6 13.e3 a6 14.a4 a5 15.d5 d7 16.e3 e7 17.0-0 g6 with good p la y, K i n g, D (2 5 6 0 )- K o s t e n , A (2 5 1 0 ) Hastings 1990, 1/2-1/2 (33). ] 7.e4 Positionally this seems right to me. White will continue with d3 when his wall of pawns on light squares stymie the black bishop while increasing the power of his own dark square bishop. h5 This might not be a good idea as White will play g3 and Be2 anyway. [ 7...0-0 is normal, A) 8.e2 h5 ( 8...e7 9.d4 g6 10.0-0 e7 11.d3 h6 looks more like a Nimzo-Indian! Bocharov, D (2600)Matlakov, M (2668) Tyumen 2012, 1-0 (40). ) 9.d4 f4 10.xf4 exf4 11.h4 e8 12.d3 g4 13.g1 f5 14.f1 is t yp ically b izarre p la y f rom Ric h a rd Rapport! Rapport, R (2621)-Zaragatski, I (2460) Germany 2013, but he won, of course! 1-0 (69).; B) 8.g3 now Black has a wide choice of moves, but here plans are more important, and White's plan is to play Nh4, Bg2, d3, 0-0, but he might also try d4 and Be2 depending on Black's play. Black, meanwhile, will often seek to play ...f5. h8 ( 8...a6 9.a4 a5 10.d3 h5 11.e2 g4 12.h3 d7 Suba, M (2470)Romanishin, O (2580) Yerevan 1980, 0-1 ( 4 1 ) , w h e n 13.xe5!? dxe5 14.xh5 1002
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is perfectly playable.; 8...e8 is thematic, p l a n n i n g . . . f 5 , 9.h4 e7 Suba, M (2535)-Komarov, D (2580) Sovata 1998, 1/2-1/2 (40), 10.g2 b6 11.0-0 with a slight plus.; 8...h5 was the move order of Suba-Sutter, and transposes to the text.) 9.h4 g8 10.g2 ge7 11.d3 f5 this is always a go o d wa y t o g e t c o u n t e r p l a y i n s u c h po s it ion s , 12.g5 fxe4 13.xe4 e8 14.b1 b8 15.0-0 h3 16.fe1 f5! 17.g2 with an edge, Banikas, H (2535)Ivanisevic, I (2460) Dos Hermanas 2000, 1-0 (55). ] 8.g3 0-0 [ 8...g4 9.h4 g6 10.d3 h6 11.b1 b6 12.h3 d7 13.d1 g7 14.g2 e6 15.e3 f8 16.g2 h5 17.h4 b8 18.d5 after a period of 'manoeuvering knights around', White has some advantage as it is difficult to shift his knight from d5 wi t h o u t t h e w e a k e n i n g . . . c 6 , S u b a , M (2512)-Conquest, S (2514) Calvia 2005, 1/ 2-1/2 (43). ] 9.h4 Heading for f5, and stopping Black f ro m p la yi n g t h e f re e in g . . . f 5 m o ve . e7 Fighting for the ...f5 advance. [ 9...g6?! looks too weakening without a dark square bishop, 10.d3 f5 11.exf5 gxf5 12.h6!? ( 12.e2 g7 13.f4 a n d 0 - 0 l o o k s s o m e wh a t s i m p l e r , wi t h advantage.) 12...g7 13.f4 ( 13.g2 f6 ) 13...e8 14.0-0-0 led to sharp play in Suba, M (2475)-Sutter, O (2310) Bern 1995, 1-0 (49). ] 10.e2 f6 Black has to retreat, and has lost two tempi. 11.d3 g6 12.g2! This knight is heading for e3 where it surveys f5 and d5. h3 13.e3 d7 14.g1! Typical Gajewski, with the centre closed he launches a kingside attack. h5!? Fighting for control of g4, but weakening the king's shield. 15.d1 g4 16.f5 f6 17.g4! This came as a big surprise when I wandered over to see how my team mate was doing in this crunch match. hxg4 18.xg4! The point, White sacrifices the exchange for a strong, maybe winning, attack. [ 18.g5 is also interesting, h7 19.e3 g3 20.xg3 ] 18...xg4 19.xg4 d5 This looks a bit
desperate, but Black must find some counterplay. [ 19...xg4 20.xg4 threatening Nh6+, ad8 21.h4 and there is no defence to h5, winning the knight. ] [ 19...c6 looks reasonable, intending ...d5, but 20.g5! xg4 21.xg4 ad8 22.f6!! is winning, gxf6? 23.h5 and Qh6-g7. ] 20.cxd5 xd5 21.g5!? More really imaginative play, White intends Qf3 and then Nxg7. [ 21.g3 was also promising, if less flashy, as Black must stop the simple h4-h5 winning the g7-pawn. ] 21...xc3 22.f3 b5 [ 22...b5 23.d2! b2 24.c1 White threatens Rxg6! b1 25.e3 c6 26.e2 xe2+ 27.xe2 a3 28.h4 and h5. ] 23.xg7! d4 The only chance. [ 23...xg7? 24.f6+ g8 25.h3 forces xg4 ] 24.h3 f5 Andrei keeps finding resources. 25.xf5 xf5 26.exf5 xf5 27.0-0-0 The king looks pretty exposed over on the queenside, but Black's pieces are tied to the o t h e r w i n g . ae8 I couldn't find anything better: [ 27...f3 28.h6 c6+ 29.c4 d6 30.g1 f7 31.h7+ e8 32.e3 is crushing, as is ] [ 27...a5 28.d2 a6 29.dg1 ] 28.e3? Spoiling a beautiful attack. [ 28.dg1 is obvious, and winning: e6 29.d2 and there is no satisfactory defence t o Q h 6 a n d t h e c a p t u r e o n g 6 , a s ff6 30.xg6+ xg6 31.xf5 ] 28...e6! 29.g3 [ 29.dg1 xd3 30.xg6+ xg6 31.e6+ g7 and White can only draw, by 32.e7+ f7 33.xe5+ ] [ 29.g2 is better, though not enough to win. ] 29...a6 30.h4 ff6 Planning some checks on the 6th rank. 31.d2 f7 Andrei was mightily relieved to have saved this! Still, it was a shame for Gajewski who played fantastically well. ½-½
1003
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1019 Ghaem Maghami,Ehsan Hernandez,Holden III Open Calvia ESP (6) [John Watson]
A28 2581 2524 25.10.2006
White has the usual problem of trying to get something out of a Reversed Sicilian. The way the game goes is promising but the players agree to a draw in an interesting position. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.d3 b4 5.d2 A reverse Moscow Variation (1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 Bb5+ Nc6). White has had a difficult time getting anywhere in this position, but the course of this game is original. 0-0 6.e3 e8 Setting up a possible ...e4. He might also play .. .Bxc3, when Bxc3 doesn't threaten the epawn. [ 6...d5 7.cxd5 xd5 is reasonable. White can try to set up a typical Sicilian formation by 8.c2 ] [ 6...xc3 7.xc3 e8 8.e2 d5 9.cxd5 xd5!? is also possible, with another position from the Sicilian reversed in which Black would normally castle queenside. Black is generally okay in these positions but at least this is all interesting stuff to play. ] 7.e2 d6 [ A more ambitious line is 7...xc3 8.xc3 d5 9.cxd5 xd5 10.c1 ( or 10.c2!? f5 11.d1 ) 10...xc3 11.xc3 e6 12.a3 would be a typical line. ] 8.0-0 f5 9.c1 [ 9.d5!? xd2 10.xd2 is another way to play it. Then xd5 11.cxd5 e7 12.c1 puts a little pressure on Black ( 12.b3 c6! is messy )] 9...xc3 10.xc3 e4 11.d4! xd4 12.xd4 b6 13.dxe4 xe4 [ 13...xe4 14.f3 and e4 is similar. ] 14.f3 g6 15.d2 d7 16.e4 a5 Versus b4. 17.fe1 [ 17.a3? a4 ] 17...f6 18.b3 e7 19.f1 White soon stops trying, apparently thinking that the e5 blockade won't be broken down and tha t other advances will be weakening. But two bishops and a space advantage should count for something, especially in a semi-closed position in which Black can do little else but wait around. Here's a good place to take a
look at alternatives. Clearly White will have to attack Black's pawn structure by one of e5, g5 or c5, or at least cause f avourable pawn t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s a l o n g t h e wa y. I f B l a c k follows the plan in the game, the move e5 will be almost impossible to enforce, because f4 will lose White's e-pawn. The g5 option is not unthinkable, and even the idea of trying to lock the kingside (by, for example, h4-h5, provoking ...h6) and then proceed on the queenside makes sense. The most ambitious plan involving attack on Black's king would be to bring W hite's king all the way to the queenside(!) and then throw the kingside pawns forward, with an emphasis on the move g5. All these strategies are possible, but rather exotic. The next thing to do is look at queenside expansion and in fact it looks fairly easy and almost risk-free to enforce the move b4. For example: I'm sure that this isn't best play for either side, but you get the idea. At any rate, White doesn't attempt to do anything and the game is quickly drawn. [ a) 19.b2 f8 20.a3 c5 ( 20...ae8 21.b4 axb4 22.axb4 f5 23.exf5 xf5 24.c3 ) 21.d1 ae8 22.b4 ] [ b) 19.c3 f8 20.a3 c5 21.d1 ( or 21.d1 , and if a4?! , 22.b4 b3 23.b1 f5 24.d5+ h8 25.exf5 xf5 26.d3 ) 21...f7 ( 21...d7 22.d4 f5 23.c2! fxe4 24.xe4 xe4 25.xe4 ) 22.b4 axb4 23.axb4 e6 24.c2 ee8 25.f4! ] 19...f8 20.f2 [ 20.f2 ae8 21.g3 e5 22.h3 ] 20...ae8 1/2-1/2 ½-½
1020 Grischuk,Alexander Giri,Anish FIDE GP Paris (8.5) [Fier, Alexandr]
A28 2785 2737 30.09.2013
Grischuk goes for an old line that even nowadays doesn't have a clear verdict. Giri plays 14...Ng6 instead of the critical 14...a4 and after one superficial idea got into big trouble. Also interesting is the sub-line with 8... gxf6. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 0-0 1004
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 5...xc3 6.xc3 e7 is the main line and some recent games went to an unclea r endgame after 7.e2 d5 8.0-0 d4 9.exd4 exd4 10.a3 xa3 11.bxa3 f5 and here 12.e1 was played in Short, N (2698)Rublevsky, S (2693)/Poikovsky Karpov 13th 2012. ( 12.b2 was seen in a blitz game Dubov, D (2624)-Karjakin, S (2772)/Moscowch blitz 67th 2013. )] 6.d5 e8 7.f5 d6 8.xf6+ xf6 This move is the mainline and tries to compensate the bad structure with a development advantage. [ 8...gxf6 looks more logical, winning a tempo and keeping the queens on to open the position, and leads to big complications. Still, sometimes Black is afraid of an attack on the kingside. A) 9.h5 is played much more, A1) 9...e4 10.a3!? the basic idea is to make Black spend one more tempo (with ...d5 in order to play ...Bf8 A1a) 10...c5 11.b4 b6 ( 11...exf3 12.bxc5 e5 13.xf3 ) 12.b2! exf3 13.gxf3 with a strong attack; A1b) 10...exf3 11.gxf3!? e5! ( 11...c5 12.g1+ and White is b e t t e r i n t h e c o m p l i c a t i o n s h8 13.h6 g8 14.xg8+ xg8 15.d3 f5 16.b4 e5 17.b2! with a strong attack xd3+? 18.e2 followed by 19.Rg1+ winning.) 12.g1+ g5 13.xg5+ fxg5 14.d3!? not in hurry to take the bishop! f6 ( 14...c5 15.xh7+ f8 16.h6+ e8 17.b4 b6 18.b2 with good c o m p e n s a t i o n) 15.axb4 xb4 16.xh7+ f8 17.e4 which is unclear.; A2) 9...d5!? 10.d3 entering a dangerous line e4 11.cxd5 looks kind of p r e c a r i o u s f o r W h i t e a f t e r f8! to keep the light squares open, ( 11...exd3 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.b3 is goo d f or W hit e) 12.xe4 xe4 13.dxc6 d3 ( 13...bxc6 14.0-0 g4 15.a5 xf3 16.gxf3 c8! draws. ) 14.h3 bxc6 15.g1 with the 16.Qe2 idea is totally unclear.; B) 9.c2!? is quite interesting, it was only played 3 times but it's no worse than the
main line. B1) 9...d5 i s b e t t e r a g a i n : 10.cxd5 xd5 11.c4 ( 11.a3 f8 12.c4 f5 13.d3 d7 14.e4 is slightly better for White ) 11...f5! 12.xf5 xc4 13.xf6 ad8 14.f5 d4 15.exd4 exd4+ 16.d1 d3 17.g5+ f8 18.h6+=; B2) 9...e4 10.a3!? is a similar idea to the one used in the 9.Qh5 line ( 10.g1 d5 11.a3 f8 is Kharlov, A-Korotylev, A, in the PGN Archive.; 10.h4 is not so good, the knight strays a bit out of play here, f5 11.g3 d5 and Black is fine.) 10...c5 ( 10...exf3 11.axb4 xb4 12.c3 fxg2 13.xg2 a5 14.g1 g i v e s W h i t e g o o d c o m p e n s a t i o n) 11.g1 d5 12.b4 now the bishop reaches f8 with more one tempo, f8 13.cxd5 xd5 14.e2 with good chances for an edge, since both the bishop and the knight have good squares to go to. ] 9.xf6 gxf6 10.a3 c5 11.b4 b6 12.b2 a5 13.b5 e7 14.d4 The most active move. Now White is threatening 15.c5! and if 15... Ba7 16.b6! with a picturesque structure! [ 14.a4 avoids 14...a4, but now the bishop can go to b4: c5! 15.e2 c6 was ok for Black in Hansen, C (2590) -Gurevich, M (2605)/Antwerp 1993. ] [ 14.g4 is an original move, avoiding ... Bg4 ideas and looking for kingside expansion. It wa s a n a l yze d f o r C h e s s P u b l i s h i n g i n Bosboom, M (2476)-Podgaets, M (2490)/ VAM Open Hoogeveen NED 1999. ] 14...g6 This is not the critical variation, but it's possible that Giri was not so well prepared in this specific line. [ 14...a4 opening an important diagonal for Black's bishop 15.0-0-0 A) 15...a5 allows the Nd2-e4 plan, 16.d2 g4?! 17.f3 f5 ( 17...c8 18.e4 g7 19.g4 with a comfortable position for White) 18.g4 g6 19.e4 and White has good prospects.; B) 15...g6 16.e2!? the most flexible, b e i n g a b l e t o a n s w e r ( 16.d2 is looking to play Ne4, but there is no time for this exd4 17.xd4 xd4 18.exd4 c6 and Black is fine, Agrest, E (2525)Akopian, V (2660)/New York op 1998 .; 1005
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.h4 h5 was also analyzed in Fritz 6aJunior 6.0/Cadaques Tournament 2000.) 16...g4 with 17.h3 is an interesting option and worth trying. ] 15.a4 I like this move, now any counterplay o n t h e q u e e n s i d e i s m o r e d i f f i c u l t . g4 Usually in these positions it's good for White to exchange the knight on f3 since the g-file will be opened and Black's bishop will be missing. 16.0-0-0 exd4 Trying to define everything quickly, but the resulting position is just sad for Black. [ 16...c6 is logical, trying to open the position on the queenside, but W hite still has the better chances after 17.h3 e6 ( 17...xf3 18.gxf3; 17...d7 18.dxe5 wins a pawn) 18.d2 this is one of the key plans for White, e 4 i s a g o o d s q u a r e f o r t h e k n i g h t , f5 ( 18...exd4 19.e4! this is the difference, in the Agrest game, Black's bishop was not in the way g7 20.xd4 xd4 21.xd4 with a clear advantage) 19.c5 dxc5 20.dxe5 and W hite plans to put the knight on c4 a n d e xc h a n g e o n c6 , b re a k in g B la ck' s structure. Probably this is enough for some advantage, but Black has some active pieces too. ] [ 16...e4 doesn't win a piece because of the simple 17.h3 and after xf3 18.gxf3 exf3 19.g1 will recover the pawn with a clear advantage. ] 17.xd4 xd4 18.xd4 xf3?! Now Black has no active plan and the knight has no good square. Even if the position is defensible it's not an easy task. [ 18...e6 keeping the bishop is better 19.e2 ( 19.b6 is premature ac8 20.bxc7 xc7 21.xd6 e5 with counterplay.) 19...e5 20.b2 gives White some advantage because of the structure. ] 19.gxf3 b6 20.f4 It's clearly visible that the bishop is better than the knight and the light square weaknesses are soon going to be decisive. e7 [ 20...f5 ties the knight to the defence of the f5-pawn, 21.d3 e7 22.g1+ h8 23.g3 ] 21.g2 ab8 [ 21...ad8 is basically the same, 22.d5 ] 22.d5 This move gives Black a choice, and I'm not sure if it's really necessary, but since
the choice is between two unpleasant positions, Black is still under pressure. f8 [ 22...xd5 would be my choice, but Black s t i l l h a s p r o b l e m s t o s o l v e 23.cxd5 ( 23.xd5 e4! ) 23...f5 with the idea of exchanging one rook, which makes the defence of c7 easier 24.c4 bc8 25.d2 e4 26.hc1 xc4 27.xc4 f8 28.d3 now Black's king can't both control c7 and stop an invasion on the g-file at the same time e7 29.c1 d7 30.g1 and move by move White can improve his position. ] 23.g1+ h8 24.dd1 xd5 25.xd5 Now this is possible, there is no ...Re4. g8 26.g3 g6 27.h5! Avoiding any counterplay, now W hite is ready for a royal march. [ 27.d2 h6! 28.h3 g8 and White can't defend the kingside in a satisfactory way. ] 27...g7 28.d2+And there is nothing B l a c k c a n d o a g a i n s t K - d 4 - d 5 - c 6 . h8 29.d3 xg3 30.hxg3 f5 31.xf5 h5 32.e4 h4 33.gxh4 xh4 34.d5 h1 This game shows that this endgame can be re a l ly d a n g e ro u s f o r B la c k if n o t p l a ye d correctly. A nice victory from Grischuk! 1-0
1021 Gritsak,Orest Sokolov,Ivan ECC Halkidiki GRE (2) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2542 2677 23.09.2002
This game is instructive for two reasons: Firstly, the B lack piece set -up out of th e opening, which is worth remembering as it is often playable, and secondly, the poor White 27th move which breaks one of the basic chess rules, and hastens White's defeat. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.d3 I have played this solid move a few times myself, but I feel that is less interesting than the various alternatives. b4 The standard move, [ 4...d5 is possible but Black plays a Sicilian position with a tempo less. ] 5.d2 e7!? Normally Black prefers [ 5...0-0 and then ...Re8, but here Sokolov has other ideas - he prefers to bring his 1006
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 king's rook to the d-file to pressurise d3. ] 6.e3 0-0 7.e2 xc3 8.xc3 d5! I have been unable to find another example of t h i s m o v e a n y wh e r e , a l t h o u g h i t s e e m s perfectly logical. Previously: [ 8...d6 9.0-0 e8 10.b3 h6 11.a3 a5 is a solid line, but White's bishop pair confer a long-term edge, Ubilava,E-Monakov,A/ Rostov 1976, whilst ] [ 8...e4!? 9.g5 exd3 10.xd3 e5 11.c2 d6 12.0-0 h6 13.f3 only opens the position for White's bishops, Nei,I-Lehto, V/Espoo 1989. ] 9.cxd5 xd5 10.0-0 d8 This is the aggressive 'raison d'etre' of Black's opening play, the opposition of rook and white queen already throw up certain tactical possibilities. 11.a4 d6 And now Black prepares to double rooks, and can also swing this over to the kingside. 12.ac1 f5 13.fd1 [ 13.e4? f4 ] 13...ad8 Black has achieved a strong set-up at the cost of the bishop pair, and he has strong pressure on the d-file. Still, we know from experience that W hite's extra central pawn in such Sicilian positions is a useful plus. 14.e1!? This appears overly passive to me. e4!? 15.dxe4 xe4 The bishop point s men acin gly a t g2 . 16.f3 xc3 Black elects to take this before it decides to go away! 17.bxc3 h6 18.xd6 xd6 19.d1 xd1+ 20.xd1 b6 After the mass of exchanges on the d-file Black has a tiny edge because of the extra white pawn island. 21.a4 a5 22.d2 d5 23.f3 e6 24.b3 xb3 25.axb3 White has managed to 'iron-out' his queenside pawn structure, but the draw is still far from sure, as Black has a queenside pawn majority which will prove useful in any subsequent endgame. a5 26.h4 g6 27.h5? White should no better than to put his pawns on light squares when he has a light-squared bishop! g5 28.c6 d6 29.b4 W hite had to free his queen from the b3pawn's d ef ence, even th ought th is help s Black create a passed pawn. e5 30.bxa5 bxa5 31.c4 Another pawn on a light square, but this time White had little choice, as [ 31.d4? xd4 32.cxd4 b3 wins a piece, as otherwise ...a4-a3-a2 is unstoppable. ] 31...c5 32.b5 c6 The simplest. 33.xc6
[ 33.a6? b6 ] 33...xc4 Black forces the exchange of queens as he has two trumps in the ending: the passed a-pawn, and the target on h5. 34.xc4 xc4 35.a4 f6 36.f4?! This doesn't help matters, [ 36.f3 was necessary, to defend the h-pawn with g4, f7 37.f2 e6 Black is clearly better, but White can still play on. ] 36...f7 [ 36...e2! is even simpler, 37.e8 d1 and Black proceeds with ...a4, Bb3, a3-a2. ] 37.fxg5 fxg5 [ after 37...fxg5 Black's position is hopeless, e.g. 38.g4 e6 39.d1 g7 or ( 39...f7 40.f2 a4 41.xa4 xg4 and ...Bxh5) 40.f2 d7 41.e1 a4 42.d2 f6 43.c3 a3 44.e2 ( 44.b3 a4+! ) 44...e6 ] 0-1
1022 Gurevich,Mikhail Bareev,Evgeny Corus Wijk aan Zee NED (4) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2641 2707 16.01.2002
The reason I gave-up playing 4 d4 was this sharp line for Black. I couldn't find anything f o r W h it e , b u t p e rh a p s G u re vich c a n d o better? 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 b4 6.g5 h6 7.h4 0-0!? [ A critical line, Black plays dynamically and aims for a lead in development. 7...xc3+ is the traditional move, doubling the pawns at the cost of the bishop pair, and we have already analysed this in Zvjaginsev,V-Van W ely,L, and more recently in Filippov,VSvidler,P. ] 8.c1 White doesn't give Black a second chance to double the pawns. e8 9.e3 xd4! Black draws the white queen to an exposed square, [ 9...e4 is less effective: 10.xf6 xf6 11.db5 d8 12.e2 a6 13.a3 xc3+ 14.xc3 White is better, Kosten,A-Moen,O/ Slough 1997. ] 10.xd4 c5! T h e p o i n t . 11.d1 g5 Black has to break the pin to play his next 1007
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 move. 12.g3 d5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.xd5 xd5 The key position, Black's kingside weaknesses have less importance in the end gam e, wh ich is why he was ha ppy t o exchange queens. 15.h4 [ 15.b5 d8 16.h4 g7!? ( 16...g4 would transpose) 17.hxg5 hxg5 18.e4 xc3 19.e5+ f6 20.xc3 is level, Zvjaginsev,V-Chernin,A/Portoroz 1997. ] 15...g4! Black continues to develop quickly. 16.hxg5!? This seems new, although the contours of the position are similar. [ I preferred 16.b5 when I had this position, ed8 17.f3 d7 18.xd7 xd7 19.e4 ( in Gelfand,B-Kortschnoj,V/Groningen 1996 (by transposition), White played 19.hxg5!? instead, xc3+ 20.bxc3 xe3 21.f2 xg2+ 22.f1 f4 unclear ) 19...xc3+ 20.bxc3 f4 21.xf4 gxf4 22.d1 which is equal, although I went on to win the rook and pawn ending, Kosten, A-Degraeve, J/Belfort 1997. ] 16...hxg5 17.b5 Incidentally, Gurevich was also playing in the Belfort GM tournament, an d wo uld ce rt ainly ha ve see n my gam e against Degraeve. e7! Black is on his toes. [ The idea behind the immediate capture on g5 is shown by 17...ed8 18.f3 when d7? is no longer possible: ( 18...e6 ) 19.e5 f6 20.c4 winning a pawn. ] 18.f3! White needs to drive the black pieces away. a6 [ 18...xe3+? 19.f2 xc3 20.bxc3 e6 21.c4 wins material. ] 19.f1 The only square. [ 19.e2? xe3 20.f2 xc3+ 21.bxc3 xc3 22.xc3 xc3 23.fxg4 e8 ] 19...e6 20.e4 f4 21.a3 a5 22.f2 b6 23.e3 White threatens g3, he has solidified his central position and his king will be wellplaced in the centre, whilst his rook can use the open h-file. d7! 24.d1 [ Now 24.g3 allows d3+ ] 24...ad8 25.xd7 xd7 26.xf4 W h i t e s im p l if i e s , b u t a n ywa y h e c a n n o t maintain any advantage. gxf4 27.xa6 [ The f4-pawn is poisoned: 27.h4?! b5! 28.xf4? c7 29.f6 g3+ 30.e2 c4+ ] 27...xc3+ 28.bxc3 a7 29.b5 xa3 30.d2 a2+ 31.d3 xg2 32.h4 b2 33.c4 b5 A drawn rook and pawn endgame
is reached. ½-½
1023 Hansen,Curt Dautov,Rustem Julian Borowski A (3) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2618 2602 29.04.2000
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.e2 White perseveres with this move. 0-0 8.0-0 [ 8.d3 was played in the archives. ] 8...d5 [ Perfectly normal, but what had White p l a n n e d o n 8...e4 ? Smyslov, V-Gipslis,A/ USSR 1975, continuing: 9.e1 d5 10.b3 d8 11.c2 g4 12.a3 e6 with a good position for Black. ] 9.d4 [ Probably best, after 9.d3 e4 10.d2 e5 11.b3?! exd3 12.xd3 xd3 13.xd3 dxc4 14.xc4 d8 Black had equalised in Maksimenko,A-Dvoirys,S/Moscow 1991. ] 9...exd4 10.xd4 xd4 11.xd4 c5 12.f4 This position greatly resembles that reached after 7 a3, except that W hite has gained a bishop move for pawn-a3, but it won't change much. dxc4 [ A l o g i c a l i n n o v a t i o n , b u t 12...e6 is not bad, by any means, 13.cxd5 xd5 14.e5 ad8 15.d2?! f4!? ( 15...g4! 16.xe7 xe7 17.xg4 xd2 looks good) 16.exf4 xd2 and this is not unpleasant for Black, Ksieski,Z-Kaminski,M/Suwalki 1999. ] 13.xc4 e6 Reaching a known position (for instance Timman,J-Balashov,Y/W ijk 1982) except that the a-pawn is normally on a3, not a2! 14.b3 xc4 15.xc4 e5 16.b1 e4 With this little manoeuvre Black exchanges queens. 17.xe4 xe4 18.f3 c3 19.b2 fd8 Black lays first claim to the open d-file. 20.c2 d3 21.d2 White finally manages to d r i v e t h e k n i g h t a w a y . b5 22.xc5 This leads to a drawn position, but other moves would have allowed Black the advantage. xd2 23.xb5 c8! Activity is most important in such endings, the rooks will double on the second rank. 24.xb7 g6 25.h1 1008
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ How else to defend the g-pawn? 25.b4?! d7 12.d4 exd4 13.xd4 c5 14.f5 f6 cc2 26.g4 xa2 leaves White passively when Black's active pieces hold the balance, placed. ] Renet,O-Ristic,N/ Dortmund 1989, 1/2-1/2 25...cc2 26.g1 xa2 27.h4 Black can win (44). ] the b-pawn at his leisure, when the position is 10...xg2?! drawn. [ An exceedingly hopeful exchange sacrifice, ½-½ either 10...b4 11.axb4 xb7 12.0-0 xb4 or ] [ 10...xe3 11.dxe3 xb7 should have been preferred, when White has the better 1024 A28 pawn structure, but Black can count on his Harikrishna,Penteala 2354 two bishops. ] Dao Thien Hai 2550 Goodricke Open (8) 13.02.2000 11.xd5 [ Naturally, if 11.xa8?! xh1 White has [Tony Kosten] nothing. ] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 11...xd5 [ Forced, 11...xh1? 12.xe7+ xe7 This is a perfectly sensible move, stopping ... 13.xh1 wins two pieces for a rook. ] Bb4, and preparing c2 for the white queen, just like a Sicilian (with colours reversed). d5 12.xa8 xa8 13.g1 f3 Black wishes to 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c2 e7 7.e3 Indeed, the play ...e4, and play on the light squares, but f5 players ha ve reache d a perf ectly norma l he does not have enough time. 14.d3 Sicilian position, where White has an extra 15.e4!? [ White fights for the light squares, at the cost tempo. 0-0 of a certain loosening of his centre. 15.b4 [ Simpler than 7...a6 , which allowed White a appears to be simpler, e4 16.c4+ f7 very active position after 8.xd5 xd5 17.b2 ] 9.d3 d7 10.b4 e6 11.b2! A) 11...xb4? fails to 12.c4 g4 15...h8 16.e3 fxe4 17.dxe4 d6 18.g3 13.axb4 xg2 14.e4!! ( 14.e2 ) a5 19.c1 h4 [ 19...a8 i s s t r o n g e r , 20.c6 xc6 14...xh1+ ( 14...f5 15.d5 xh1+ 21.xc6 xe4 recuperating one pawn, with 16.e2 g2 17.g1 h3 18.f7+ d8 gain of tempo, although the ending is 19.xg7 also wins ) 15.e2 g2 16.g1 certainly favourable for White. ] h3 17.xf7+ d8 18.xe5 xe5 19.xe5 c8 20.xg7 when the black 20.h3 h6 [ Now, 20...xe4 21.xe4 xe4 is met by king is hardly likely to survive very long.; 22.c5 exchanging one of the bishops, and B) 11...f5!? Chernin, A-Hertneck,G/ W hite is well on top. Still, in seeking to Austria 1993, as the tactic ] avoid exchanges, and maintain the initiative, 8.b5 B l a c k o n l y s u c c e e d s i n wo r s e n i n g h i s [ Pressurising the e5-pawn, 8.xd5 xd5 position. ] 9.c4 d6 10.b4 f6 11.b1 is nothing h5?! 22.d2 d8 23.c4 special for White, Smyslov, V-Kapengut,A/ 21.d3 Suddenly the black 'attack' has evaporated, USSR 1979. ] and W hite starts probing the black 8...g4!? 24.xa5 e7? [ Doub le-e dged . 8...xc3 9.bxc3 d7 w e a k n e s s e s . h7 i s s i m p l e r , ( or 9...d5!? 10.c4 e6 Black continues to aim for tricks, but it is he 1/2-1/2 Smyslov,V-Miles,A/Bugojno 1984/ who has missed a crucial tactic. 25.xc7! It was too late to back-out now. MCD (10) ) 10.e2 d6 11.d4 e8 d4?! and Black enjoys good prospects, Poluljahov, 26.xg7+! xg7 27.xe5+ f6 28.xd4 1-0 A-Popov,R/Krasnodar 1997, 0-1 (65). ] 9.xc6 xf3 10.xb7!? [ A new idea in a sharp position. Previously, 10.gxf3 had been played, bxc6 11.e2!? 1009
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 12...xb2! 13.b1 g7 challenges White A28 to prove compensation. ] 2645 2646 13.b6 d7 14.e3 f6 [ 14...xb2 ] 19.09.2005 15.dc3 d5! 16.d3 g4 [ 16...xd3 17.xd3 e5 18.e2 fc8= ] O n e o f t h e wo rld 's u p - a n d -co m in g s t a r s 17.e2 xe2 18.xe2 e4 19.d1 xc3 m e e t s a n o t h e r . B l a c k d i d n ' t s e e m t o 20.xc3 d4?! [ 20...xc3+ 21.bxc3 e5 22.f4 a6= ] u n d e r s t a n d t h e o p e n i n g a n d wa s i n b i g trouble until White tried for too much too soon. 21.b5!? [ 21.0-0! , and upon a6 , 22.b5! ] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.a3 A fairly unusual move. The point is that in a 21...ae8? [ 21...a6! 22.xd4 xd4 23.xd4 d6 Sicilian Defence ...a6 is almost always useful, 24.0-0 d8 ] so why not here? a5?! I don't like this. The 22.xd4 d5 23.f3 Just like that Black is a real problem is [ 4...g6! , for example, 5.b4 ( 5.d4 exd4 pawn down for nothing. b3 24.c5 xb2 6.xd4 g7 7.xc6 bxc6 8.e4 0-0= ) 25.0-0 xa3 26.b1 xb1 27.xb1 xc5 Black has a rook-and-bishop for the 5...d5 ( 5...e4 6.g5 g7 7.c2 e7 28.xb7 8.b2; 5...g7 6.b5 ) 6.b5 ( 6.cxd5 xd5 queen. However. his pieces are too exposed 7.b2 g7 ) 6...d4 7.xe5 e7 8.f3 for his position to hold. b8 29.xb8 xb8 xf3+ 9.gxf3 dxc4 . Nevertheless, there's 30.g4 f8 31.a6 b1+ 32.g2 c1 33.h4 c2 34.g5 b4? still much to be discovered here. ] [ 34...h6 35.e4 e7 36.g5 hxg5 5.d4!? Harikrishna exploits the fact that Black 37.hxg5 ] can't put a bishop on b4. Still, Black has other 35.b7 ways to proceed. [ 5.e3! improves upon 4.e3, since there too ... 1-0 Bb4 is a key defensive move. ] 5...exd4 A28 [ 5...e4 is usually an option here it falls short 1026 after 6.g5 h6!? (6...Bb4 would be normal) Ivanchuk,Vassily 2729 7.gxe4 xe4 8.xe4 d5 ( 8...h4 Karjakin,Sergey 2660 9.d3 f5 10.c3 xd4 11.xf5 ) 9.c3! Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (13) 29.01.2006 dxc4 10.e3 d6 11.xc4 with a clear [John Watson] positional advantage. ] 6.xd4 g6? The last round of W ijk aan Zee. Ivanchuk [ 6...c5 is the best way to force the pace. achieves a respectable result (3rd-4th) with Then 7.e3 0-0 8.e2 e8 9.0-0 b6 h i s u s e o f a v a r i a t i o n l o n g c o n s i d e r e d is equal. ( 9...d6 10.xc6 bxc6 11.f3 )] harmless. In spite of this loss Karjakin 7.db5! Exploiting the move ...a5. g7 8.f4 impressed everyone with his play and finished A f orcef ul move: Black has great trouble +1. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 defending c7. The other good and perhaps b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.a3 d5 better move was 8.d4 exd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4 c5 [ 8.g5! , threatening Nd5. ] [ 10...0-0 has also been played. ] 8...d6 9.c5! h5 10.cxd6! 0-0 11.h4 e6 Playable, but not my favourite [ 10...xf4 11.xc7+ f8 12.xa8 ] move. 11.e3 [ W e h a v e s e e n p r e v i o u s l y t h a t 11...0-0 [ 11.xc7! is objectively stronger. 11.Be3 12.cxd5 xd5 ( or 12...e5! ) 13.xe7 should also be effective. ] xe7 14.d2 e6 is about equal (here the 11...cxd6 12.d5!? Risky. bishop pair has few prospects), and I [ 12.xd6! ] suggested ] 12...f5 [ 11...g5!? in the same column, one line 1025 Harikrishna,Penteala Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar 6th YM Lausanne SUI (3.6) [John Watson]
1010
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 going 12.xg5 g8 13.f4 ( 13.h6 g6 14.h4 g4= ) 13...g4 14.f3 dxc4 with double-edged play. ] 12.cxd5 xd5 13.xe7+ xe7 14.b5+ You can see that things are a little more comfortable for White this time than in the last note, although Black should still not be in troub le. Notice , by the way, t hat W hite's kingside majority is just as good as White's on the queenside. No dogma for Ivanchuk! d7 15.e2 [ 15.xd7+ xd7 16.b3 ad8 17.b2 f6 18.e2 e6 19.hc1 b6 20.b4 c8 is roughly equal ] 15...f6 Slow [ Maybe better was 15...c6 16.0-0 ( 16.f3 0-0 17.e4 f5 ) 16...0-0 , delaying e4 for a while. ] 16.e4 f7 17.e3 hc8 18.f3 The problem for Black is that this is beginning to look like a classic "two-bishops-with-pawns-on-bothsides-of-the-board"! Objectively the game may well be lost already. e6 19.c1 b6 20.a6 d8 21.b4 cxb4 22.axb4 c8 23.e2 e6 24.f2 ac8 25.a1 [ 25.f4 is also good. ] 25...c6?! [ The power of the bishops stays intact after 25...d7 26.hc1 xc1 27.xc1 c7 28.f4 c2 29.e3 ] 26.a6 [ 26.hc1! i s m o r e a c c u r a t e : xb4 ( 26...d7 27.a6 b8 28.b5 ) 27.xc8 xc8 28.xa7+ g8 29.xb6 c2 30.c7+- ] 26...b8 27.b5! [ 27.f4 e5 ] 27...xb4 28.xa7+ g8 29.e7 f7 30.a1 a8 31.d7 dc8 32.xa8 xa8 33.xb6 h6 The bishops are dominant and White is a pawn up. The rest is technique. [ 33...b8 34.d6 c2 35.a4 ] 34.g3 c8 35.d6 e8 36.e2 c6 37.xc6 xc6 38.f4 e5 39.c7 d7 40.e3 [ 40.xe5 g5+ 41.e3 fxe5 ] 40...f8 41.d4 f7 42.a5 e5 43.b4+ e8 44.c5 g6 45.d2 e5 46.d6 a4 47.f4 f7+ 48.c7 d7 49.b4 a4 50.c4 h8 51.g3 f7 52.h4 h8 53.d6 g6 54.e2 h8 55.c4 g6 56.e5 fxe5
57.fxe5 e7 58.e6 g6 59.c5 f5 60.d3 e7 61.d6 h5 62.e5 f5 63.f6 c6 64.e7 1-0
1027 Karpov,Anatoly Bacrot,Etienne Match g/5 Cannes (6) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2695 2590 2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 0-0 6.d5 e8 7.f5 This move continues to attract attention. d6 8.xf6+ xf6 9.xf6 gxf6 10.a3 c5 11.b4 b6 12.b2 a5 13.b5 d8!? [ An unusual alternative to 13...e7 ] 14.d4! [ This seems like the critical reply, although 14.e2 has also proved successful, a4?! ( 14...e6 is better, Badea,B-Adams,M/ Prestwich 1990, 1/2-1/2 (21).) 15.0-0-0 c6 16.d4 cxb5 17.c5! dxc5 18.xb5 with a clear advantage, Stone,R-Dlugy,M/ Toronto 1989, 1-0 (38). ] 14...g4!? [ B l a c k ' s n e w t r y . P r e v i o u s l y , 14...e6 w a s p l a y e d , 15.d1 ( 15.c5! is more thematic, dxc5 16.dxe5 fxe5 17.xe5 with a clear advantage) 15...f8 16.e2 g4 17.h4 d7 18.0-0 and White is better, Serrano Marhuenda,SNamay Caceres,S/Catalunya 1996, 0-1 (45). ] 15.c5! White attacks the pawn chain at its weakest link. dxc5 16.dxe5 a4?! [ Black should at least take the pawn by 16...xf3 17.gxf3 fxe5 although after 18.0-0-0 White is better, anyway. ] 17.c4!? [ Pawn-grabbing with 17.exf6 a5+ 18.d2 is fine, Black has no compensation, whatsoever. ] 17...a5+ 18.f1 xf3 19.gxf3 fxe5 20.g1+ f8 21.d1 White enjoys open files for both his rooks, and good diagonals for his bishops. c6 22.g5 Black has to defend his pawns before he manages to complete his development. cxb5 23.xb5 f6! 24.f5 e6 25.c4 g7? 1011
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Black offers the exchange to ease his p o s i t i o n , b u t t h i s l o s e s , 25...c6 was the best bet, 26.f4 ( even stronger than 26.xe5 e7 ) 26...f7 27.fxe5 d8 and although Black is clearly worse, his queenside majority offers some chances. ] 26.xe6? [ A mistake, missing a simple win, but this was only a blitz game, of course. Black was hoping for 26.xd8? xd8 27.xe6 d6 28.c4 d2 regaining the piece, but ] [ 26.d7+! win s im m ed ia te ly, i. e . g6 27.d3 ] 26...xe6 27.h5 g6 28.h4 h5? [ Black is hoping to cut the h4-rook out of the game, but this loses material. The move 28...b5 offered real chances, as the advance of Black's queenside majority will create two passed pawns. ] 29.d6 e8 30.xa4 Now White is back on track for a win. c7 31.d7 d8 32.xd8 xd8 33.a7 b6 34.e2 c4 35.d7 h4 36.h3 f5 37.c3 c7 Black would have resigned this long ago in a normal time-limit game. 38.b4 [ 38.e7 wins a piece- the threat is e4+. ] 38...b8 39.d2 g5 40.b7 xh3 41.xb8 g5 42.e2 g6 43.h8 h7 44.f1 1-0
1028 Kharlov,Andrei Diu,Viacheslav TCh Tomsk RUS (6) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2639 2445 19.05.2001
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.a3 a5 [ Tryin g to s top b 4, b ut it d oe sn 't ! 7...d5 is more common. ] 8.b3!? [ 8.b4 is examined in the notes to a previous game. ] 8...d5 9.d4 exd4 10.xd4 e5!? 11.f3! [ A strong new idea, which works here, but could not have been tried in this month's other 4 e3 game. 11.cxd5 xd5 12.c2 was the previous choice, with 0-0 13.e2 g4 14.h3 gf6 15.0-0 e4 16.d3
W hite has an edge, Nei,I-Tal,M/Tallin n 1977. ] 11...xf3+ 12.gxf3 Planning to pressurise the g7-pawn along both the a1-h8 diagonal, and the g-file. dxc4 13.xc4 e6 14.e2! W hite needs to kee p the bishop pair. 0-0 15.b2 e8! To construct a barrier against the queen/bishop tandem, and unpin the knight. 16.g1 f6 17.c1 c6 18.d3 f7 Hoping to tie White to the defence of his bpawn. 19.d4!? h5 [ 19...xb3!? 20.h4 f5 21.g5 is dangerous, but possibly playable. ] 20.c5? This doesn't work-out as White hoped. xh2 21.g3 f7 22.e4 h1+ 23.f1 c7 24.d4 d8!? Black counterattacks. 25.xa5 fd7 26.f4 xd4!? Black hopes to catch the white king in the centre. 27.exd4 d5 28.e4?! d7!? [ 28...e8 almost forces 29.a8 ( as 29.h3 allows xf1+ 30.xf1 xh3+ )] 29.xd5! The only move. cxd5 30.xd5+ h8 31.f7? e8+ 32.d2 h6+ 33.d1 [ This loses, but if 33.c2 c8+ 34.c4 f5+ is also unpleasant. ] 33...c6? [ B l a c k m i s s e s t h e n e a t l i n e 33...e1+!! 34.xe1 c1+ 35.e2 b5+ winning. ] 34.f4 White is back in the game. d8 35.e1 d5 36.e7 g8 37.e3 h5 38.h3 f7? Allowing a tricky mate. 39.xh7+! xh7 40.h3+ g6 41.f5+ g5 42.e2 [ This is sufficient, but 42.e3+! xf5 43.d3+ leads to mate. ] 42...g6 43.f4+ xf4 44.h4+ e3 45.f2+ e4 46.f3+ [ 46.f3+ xf5 47.xd5+ wins the queen. ] 1-0
1029 Kharlov,Andrei Korotylev,Alexey ch Krasnodar RUS (9) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2609 2558 04.09.2002
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 0-0 6.d5 e8 7.f5 d6 8.xf6+ gxf6!? I had been looking forward to finding a decent recent game in this line, as a lot of the theory dates from the 70s. Previously I had 1012
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 only analysed the endgame after [ 8...xf6 9.xf6 gxf6 ] 9.c2!? A rarer move, theory has mostly concentrated on [ 9.h5 d5 ( 9...e4!? Lerner,K-Romanishin, O/Kiev, 1977 ) A) 10.a3 f8 11.d4 ( 11.d3!? e4 12.cxd5 exd3 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.b4 is unclear, Horvath,G-Sadler,M/Clichy 1993 ) 11...e6 12.d3 e4 13.c2 e7 14.d2 led to the famous game GoodmanNuun/ENG, 1978, which W hite won quickly after f5 15.cxd5 xd5 16.f3 c6? 17.xe4! xc2 18.f6+; B) 10.cxd5 xd5 11.e2 e6 12.a3 ( 12.0-0 e4 13.xd5 xd5 14.h4! equal, Kortschnoj,V.Karpov,An/ A m s t e r d a m , 1 9 8 7) 12...e7 13.d3 preventing .. .e5-e4, Black's centralised pieces compensate the doubled pawns, Timman, J-Portisch,L/Montreal 1979. ] 9...e4 10.g1! This move was recommended by Timman 30 years ago, but never played! [ 10.h4?! leaves the knight offside, f5 11.g3 d5 12.cxd5 e5 13.b3 e7 14.d4 exd3 15.xd3 xh4 16.gxh4 f3+ 17.d1 and the white king was awkwardly placed, Keene,R-Timman,J/Bad Lauterberg 1977. ] 10...d5 11.a3! Timman's analysis continued [ 11.cxd5 xd5 12.a3 d6 13.e2 f5 14.c3 e6 unclear, but Kharlov's move is stronger, as the black bishop is forced to a more passive square. ] 11...f8 12.cxd5 xd5 13.e2 f5 14.c3 d8 The difference between this position and that at the end of the previous note is small, but significant: the black queen and darksquared bishop are less active. 15.d4 exd3! 16.xd3 [ 16.xd3!? also allows Black to infiltrate on b3: d4 17.d1 e6 ] 16...e6 17.xd8 exd8 An endgame is re a ch e d wh e r e t h e b l a c k kin gs id e p a wn structure is a mess, but the black pieces are more active and Black is ahead in development. 18.b5 a5 19.e2 b3 20.b1 c5 Black also has a queenside pawn majority, and doesn't hesitate to set it in motion. 21.d1 xd1 22.xd1 a6 23.a4 d8+ 24.e1 xc1?! Perhaps Black should
have preferred taking the other white bishop by [ 24...b5 25.xb3 xb3 followed by ...Bg7, and ...b4. ] 25.xc1 b5 26.d1 g7 Black's bishop pair and queenside pawns look menacing, but the white position is very solid. 27.c2 f8 28.d1 e7?! I think this move is antipositional, Reti indicated that the two bishops work best with a pair of rooks on the board. [ 28...b8 29.d6 b4 seems more to the point. ] 29.xd8 xd8 30.d2 e7 31.c1 Defending the b2-pawn frees the knight. e5 32.e2 h6 [ 32...xh2? 33.g3 traps the bishop. ] 33.f4 c7? Black finds the worst square for the bishop! [ 33...d6 i s b e t t e r , a s 34.g3 f6 35.h5+ e7 36.g7 f6 37.e8+ e7 defends the bishop. ] 34.g3 White finally manages to exploit the doubled black pawns. f6 35.h5+ e7 [ 35...g6?! is worse, 36.g4 and Ng3 wins the f-pawn. ] 36.g7 c4 Now we see why the bishop sh o u ld n 't b e o n c7 , B la ck ca n n o lo n ge r defend the f-pawn: [ 36...f6?? 37.e8+ ] 37.xf5+?! Why allow the drawn oppositecolour bishop ending? [ 37.xf5! seems fine, b6 38.d2 d5 ( 38...f6 39.xe6 xg7 40.c8 a5 41.a6 and White wins a second pawn.) 39.c8 with every chance of winning. ] 37...xf5 38.xf5 b6 39.d2 d6 40.g4 c5 41.h5 f6 42.d1 a5+ 43.e2 b6 44.g4 b4 45.axb4+ xb4 46.h4 White obviously tries to win, but a single pawn advance is rarely enough to decide such positions. a5 47.f3 c3 48.bxc3+ xc3 49.g5 fxg5 50.hxg5 hxg5 51.fxg5 d8 52.g6 f6 53.e4 c4 54.c2 [ 54.e2+ c5 55.f5 h8 56.e6 a4 57.d1 c4 58.xa4 d3 wins the epawn with an immediate draw. ] 54...g7 55.f5 d5 56.b3+ Now even without the a-pawn Black would be drawing simply by putting his king on d6 and blocking the dark squares. ½-½ 1013
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1030 Kortschnoj,Viktor Rublevsky,Sergei TCh-RUS Dagomys RUS (10) [Carsten Hansen]
A28 2598 2695 12.04.2008
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c2 xc3 [ Previously we have only discussed 6...e7 on this website, but the text move is an important alternative for Black ] 7.bxc3 [ W hite can also consider 7.dxc3 d6 8.e4!? ( 8.g3 e7! 9.g2 e4 10.g5 f5 11.f3 h6 12.h3 exf3 13.xf3 e5 , and here a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, though Black seems to be doing quite well, Horvath, J-Varga, P/Austrian Ch-T 2002) 8...0-0 9.e3 e7 10.d3 c5 11.xc5 xc5 12.b4 d6 13.0-0 , and White has the slightly better chances, Tereick, BKarpatchev, A/Senden 2006 ] 7...d6 8.g3 [ This is the main line. The alternatives, haven't proved particularly good: A) 8.d4 exd4 9.cxd4 0-0 10.e4 g4 11.b2 f4 12.d1 e7 with a pleasant game for Black, Tartakower, S-Kostic, B/Budapest 1921 ] [ B) 8.e4 is the most interesting of White's alternatives: 0-0 9.e2 e7!? ( 9...h8 10.d3 f5 11.exf5 xf5 12.0-0 e7 13.b3 e4 14.dxe4 xe4 15.g5 d5 16.c4 g8 17.xb7 Beim, V-Lenz, A/ Aschach 2000) 10.0-0 b6 11.d4 g4 12.g5 f6 13.e3 h8 14.h3 ( 14.d5 a5 15.h4 d7 16.c4 b7= ) 14...d7 15.fe1 xa3 16.h4 d6 , and it is dubious whether White has enough for the pawn, Bauer, C-Karpov, A/Ajaccio FRA 2007 ] [ C) 8.e3 0-0 9.d4= ] 8...e7 [ Black has several alternatives at this juncture: A) 8...g4 9.g2 d7 10.h3 ( 10.b1 b8 11.g5 h6 12.h3 h5 13.e4 0-0 14.xd6 cxd6 15.a4 bc8 is comfortable for Black, Kovacs, GGolubovic, B/Oberwart AUT 2003) 10...f5 11.d3 f6 12.d2 b8 13.b1 d8 14.c4 c6 15.e4 e7 16.e3 0-0 17.g4 g6 18.xa7 a8 19.e3 Razuvaev, Y-Pieper
Emden, C/Germany 1990/GER-chT ] [ B) 8...0-0 9.g2 A) 9...h6 10.0-0 b8 11.d4 e7 12.e4 A1) 12...b6 13.e3 a5 14.dxe5 xe5 15.xe5 xe5 16.d4 ( 16.f4!? ) 16...e7 17.c4 e6 18.c3 f6 19.e5 f5 20.d5 bd8 , and Black has taken over the control of the game, Gurevich, M-Sanikidze, T/Izmir TUR 2006; A2) 12...d7 13.e3 b6 14.d2 a5 15.f4 f6 16.f3 c4 17.c1 b5 18.h4 e8 19.d1 c5 20.dxe5 fxe5 21.f5 Gurevich, M-Karpov, A/Cap d'Agde 2000; B) 9...e8 10.d3 d7 ( 10...a5 11.0-0 c5 12.c4 c6 13.b2 g4 14.h3 h5 15.e3 c7 16.fd1 f5 17.c3 e7 18.b2 b6 19.d2 ad8 20.h4 g6 21.d5+ Schlosser, P-Babula, V/ Werder Bremen GER 2007) 11.0-0 c8 12.e1 b8 13.d4 g4 14.b2 h6 15.e4 a5 16.d2 c5 17.dxe5 xe5 18.f4 d6 19.c4 c6 20.b3 Lalic, B-Zufic, Z/ Zadar 2000; C) 9...h8!? 10.0-0 f5 11.d3 ( 11.d4!? e4 12.g5 e7 13.h3 e6 14.f4 ) 11...e8 ( 11...d7 12.b1 b6 13.d2 e8 14.c4 c5 15.e3 c8 16.a4 a5 17.xa5 bxa5 18.a1 Gurevich, M-Han, H/Izmir TUR 2006) 12.b2 ( 12.c4!? f4 ) 12...h5 13.c4 f4 14.d4 fxg3 15.hxg3 f5 16.c3 exd4 17.xd4 e5 18.e3 ad8 , and White is in trouble, Ilic, ZDancevski, O/ Skopje 2002; D) 9...f5!? 10.d3 ( 10.d4 e4 11.g5 h8 is fine for Black) 10...f6 11.0-0 h8 12.b2 d7 13.d2 ae8 14.b3 d8 15.a4 c6 , and Black has taken over the initiative, Naumann, A-Krupkova, P/Montecatini Terme 1997 ] [ C) 8...b6 9.g2 b7 10.0-0 0-0 11.d4 e7 12.g5 g6 13.d1 a5 14.xb7 xb7 15.e4 fe8 16.e1 f6 17.f3 f7 1/2-1/2 Stohl, I-Mikhalchishin, A/ Istanbul 2000 ] 9.d3 b6 [ This makes perfect sense, counterbalancing White fianchetto bishop on g2 with one of his own on b7. Nevertheless, t h e a l t e r n a t i v e 9...0-0 has proven fully 1014
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 acceptable for Black too: 10.g2 d7 11.0-0 a5 ( 11...b6 12.d2 f5 13.c4 ae8 14.a4 f4 15.a5 c5 16.axb6 axb6 17.d2 f7 18.e4 with approximately even chances, Wahls, M-Werle, J/ Germany 2003 ) 12.d2 c5 ( 12...c6 13.e4 d7 14.a2 h8 15.a4 b6 16.xd6 cxd6 17.d5 xd5 18.xd5 c6 19.xc6 xc6 20.c4 ad8 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Kovacs, G-Ruck, R/ Oberwart 2001) 13.e4 f5 14.xd6 xd6 15.f4 ae8 16.fxe5 xe5 17.f2 c6 with chances for both sides, Vaganian, RChernin, A/Nabereznye Chelny 1988 ] 10.g2 b7 11.0-0 a5 [ This is a novelty. Previously Black had tried the perfectly good 11...0-0 12.e4 ( 12.d2 f5= ) 12...c5! 13.d1 ( 13.d2 a5 ) 13...ad8 14.b2 f6?! ( 14...a5!? 15.xe5 xe5 16.d4 h5 17.dxc5 xc5 with a comfortable game for Black ) A) Here Ribli suggests 15.d4! A1) Or 15...exd4 16.cxd4 xd4 ( 16...xd4 17.e5+-; 16...xd4 17.xd4 xd4 18.xd4 xd4 19.e5+- ) 17.xd4 xd4 18.d3 f3+ ( 18...d8 19.e5+- ) 19.xf3 xb2 , and Black doesn't have full compensation for the exchange; A2) 15...d6; B) 15.ac1 c8 16.d4 g4! Poluljahov, A-Sutovsky, E/Moscow 2003 ] 12.c4 0-0 13.d2 e4 14.h4 exd3 [ Black can also consider 14...e5!? 15.d4 xd4 16.f5 e5 17.xd4 xd4 18.xa5 bxa5 with approximately even chances ] 15.exd3 xg2 16.xg2 c6 17.c3 e5 [ 17...f5 18.ae1 f7 19.a4 leaves White with a slight initiative. ] 18.fe1 f6 [ Black was clearly angling for the game continuation, but had definitely underestimated White's initiative. 18...c5!? instead is definitely worth a thought. ] 19.xe5 xe5 20.d4! c6+ 21.g1 xc4?! [ When I first saw this game, I thought Black could fairly easily ward off White's kingside initiative. Now, however, I feel that Black should probably try to bail out with 21...f3+
22.xf3 xf3 , and although White has the in it iat ive , t his is d ef init ely com f ort ab le compared to what he encounters in the game. ] 22.e4 g6 [ My computer prefers 22...d3 though 23.e3 c1 24.f5 can only be better for White ] 23.f5 Although Black's position seems fairly solid on the kingside and overall pleasant on account of the extra pawn, he is actually on his heels. The knight on g6 can easily be removed by advancing the h-pawn h2-h4-h5 and in combination with a Qg4, Black has issues to deal with. I have looked for a while, b u t I d o n 't se e a n y e n t i re l y s a t i sf a c t o r y continuations for Black in this position, though B la ck so o n m a k e s t h in gs m u c h wo r s e . . . e6?! [ Black tries to consolidate his position with this "clever" offer for an exchange of queens. A better choice is 23...a4 , though White has an excellent game after 24.h4 ae8 25.g4 xe1+ ( 25...h5 26.xh5 a5 27.ec1 is clearly better for White) 26.xe1 xa3 27.h5 , and White wins a piece for three pawns ] [ 23...ad8 24.h4 h5 25.ac1 a4 26.f3 ] 24.f3 f6? [ This turns out to be a rather unfortunate square for the queen. Black probably wanted to avoid 24...d7 25.h4 , which is quite annoying for Black, e.g. ae8 26.g4 xe1+ 27.xe1 a4 28.h5 xa3 29.hxg6 fxg6 30.e7+ h8 31.e4 , and Black is in serious trouble ] 25.ac1 Black is a pawn up, but he is actually in serious trouble though on the surface it doesn't appear so. c5 [ Black gives up his extra pawn, hoping to find a defendable position after some exchanges. However, his troubles are far from over. A better alternative is possibly 25...fe8!? 26.xe8+ xe8 27.h6+ f8 28.xf6 gxf6 29.xc7 e7 , although White still has every chance of winning the game after the retreat 30.c1 ] 26.h6+ h8 27.xf6 gxf6 28.dxc5 bxc5 [ 28...fc8 29.c6 ( 29.xf7+ g7 30.d6 xc5 31.xc5 bxc5 32.c1 d8 33.f5+ 1015
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f7 34.xc5 is also much better for White) 29...e5 30.xe5!? fxe5 31.xf7+ g7 32.xe5 , and White enjoys a significant advantage. ] 29.xc5 e5 30.d1 ad8?! [ Black is in a difficult spot, but this definitely isn't the best. However, also after 30...fc8 31.xc8+ xc8 32.f4 c4 33.xf7+ g8 34.h6+ h8 35.c1 b6 36.xc8+ xc8 37.f5 White has excellent winning chances ] [ Nor does 30...g7 look particularly promising for Black, e.g. 31.f5+ g6 32.e7+ g7 33.f4 g4 34.f5+ g6 35.h3 h6 36.e7+ g7 37.c6 with an uncomfortable defence ahead ] 31.xd8 xd8 32.f4 d1+ 33.g2 d3? [ This looks perfectly normal, but Black actually ends up in a mating net. Instead B l a c k s h o u l d h a v e t r i e d 33...d2+ , though White still seems to have excellent winning chances after 34.h3 f3 35.c8+ g7 36.f5+ g6 37.g4 ( 37.e7+ h6 38.g4 d4 39.d8 e2 ) 37...h5 ( 37...g1+ 38.h4 xh2+ 39.g3 h3+ 40.g2 of course wins for White) 38.g8+ h7 39.g7+ h8 40.xf7 g1+ ( 40...xh2+ 41.g3 hxg4 42.xa7 c2 43.xg4 d2 44.h5 , and Black will have a hard time defending the f-pawn while at the same time avoid getting mated) 41.h4 xh2+ 42.g3 a2 43.gxh5 xa3+ 44.g4 e2 45.xf6 , and White should win ] 34.c8+ g7 35.f5+ g6 36.e7+ h5 37.f3?? [ This throws the win away. Most likely White was in time trouble, otherwise he wouldn't h a v e m i s s e d 37.h8! h6 38.g8 , and Black will have to give up the knight to prevent g3-g4+ followed by Nf5 mate ] 37...f1+ 38.e2 e1+ 39.xd3 xe7 40.h3 e1! Active defence is often the best approach in rook endings 41.c5+ [ 41.c7 g6 42.xa7 g1 43.g4 g3+ is similar to the game, and without any real winning chances for White ] 41...g6 42.a5 [ Or 42.d4 h1 43.h4 g1 , and White will not be able to make any progress ] 42...g1 43.g4 g3+ 44.e4 xh3
45.xa7 c3 Of course White could play on, because he is the only one with chances to win, but Black normally should make a draw rather effortlessly, so the handshake at this point is perfectly understandable. ½-½
1031 Kortschnoj,Viktor Rublevsky,Sergei ECC Rethymnon GRE (4) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2628 2672 01.10.2003
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 d5 In the same tournament Ivan Sokolov played the rare [ 4...d6 against Korchnoi, the game continuing 5.d4 exd4 6.xd4 g6 7.g5 g7 8.e3 0-0 9.e2 h6 10.h4 e8 11.xc6 bxc6 12.0-0 with a very slight edge to White in another mammoth (135move) draw. ] 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c2 e7 7.e3 0-0 8.b5 g4 9.d3!? A really surprising novelty from the great man, pressurising the d5-knight. We have already examined the mainline [ 9.xc6 , and the rare ] [ 9.e2 ] 9...xc3 [ 9...xf3 10.gxf3 b6 doubles the pawns, but concedes the bishop pair. ] 10.xd8 White elects to play the endgame with a bigger centre. xd8 11.bxc3 e4! Black plays this to handicap the white st ru ct ure, m a king t he d -p a wn b ac kward , bef o re W hite has th e ch ance t o p lay d4 . 12.e5 e6 13.e2 Better this than grabbing the light-squared bishop by [ 13.d7?! e8 14.c5 c6 15.xe6 xe6 as after 16.e2 c5 Black is better, the c1-bishop has little perspective. ] 13...f5 This allows White to free his game, [ 13...f6! is more accurate, 14.c4 c6 15.d4 exd3 16.xd3 ad8 17.e2 and Black has an improved version of the game, as the white knight is far from the fine square on f4. ] 14.d4! exd3 15.xd3 This way the knight reaches a fine square on f4. c6 16.b1 a5 Aiming for the tender queenside light 1016
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 squares. If Black can exchange light-squared bishops, c4 will provide a great square for his knight. 17.f4 a2 18.b2 f7 [ 18...c4!? loses a pawn, although it achieves its positional objectives: 19.xc4+ xc4 20.xb7 d6 with reasonable play for the pawn. ] 19.b5 The fork of knight and f-pawn deflects t h e a 5 - k n i g h t f r o m t h e c 4 - s q u a r e . b3 20.0-0?! [ 20.b2 c5 21.d3 is more accurate, contesting the strong black knight. ] 20...c5 21.c4 ad8 Black has a clear edge, because of the superior pawn structure. 22.h3 c6 23.b2 f6 24.c2 The rook returns here to help exchange the c1-bishop. e4 25.b2 The bishop was useless on c1, and so this exchange is a small victory. xb2 26.xb2 d7 [ 26...g5!? is interesting, and much in R u b l e v s k y ' s t a c t i c a l s t y l e , 27.h5 ( 27.d3? xc4 ) 27...b6 and the white knight is awkwardly placed on the edge. ] 27.c1 fd8 28.h4! White shows his great exp erien c e, an d co n so lid a te s h is stro n g knight's position. b6 29.g4!? fxg4 30.xg4 d2 31.xd2 xd2 32.f3! White has equalised. xf2 33.c5 The point, White will liquidate the queenside pawns. d3 34.cxb6! e5 [ 34...xc1? 35.bxa7 d8 36.xc6 wins. ] 35.xc6 axb6 36.e4 With only three pawns each still left on the board, one might expect a draw, but both players are fighters. c4! 37.d3 b5 The knight cannot move because of Rc8+. 38.a4 bxa4! A neat try, the pawn is as strong as the knight . 39.xc4 xc4 40.xc4 a3 Black threatens a2, Rd1+ and the a-pawn makes a queen, but White has lots of resources. 41.c8+ f7 42.c7+ [ 42.c1? fails to a2 43.f1 g8 44.e6 (threatens mate) h6 45.d4 b2 46.h5 g6!! 47.hxg6 h5! and amazingly White can do nothing about the threat of h5-4-3-2+, and then Rb1, i.e. 48.e4 h4 49.e5 h3 50.e6 h2+ 51.h1 b1 ] 42...e8 [ 42...f6 allows the simple draw 43.a7 a2 44.d5+ xd5 45.xa2 ] 43.e6 White aims for a drawish ending of knight and 2 pawns versus rook and one. a2
44.xg7+ f8 45.e6+ g8 46.c8+ f7 47.g5+ g6 48.c6+ h5 49.a6 h6 50.h3 b2 51.a4 b1+ 52.g2 a1 53.xa1 xa1 54.g3 White actually menaces mate in one! g6 55.g4 a5 56.f4+ This posit ion is not fun to play, but is probably drawn as the white knight and king can defend the two pawns and keep the black king away. f6 57.h5+ e5 58.f3 a4 59.f4 f5 60.g2 a1 61.f4 h1 62.g3 g1+ 63.f3 a1 64.e2 e5 65.f4 g1 66.f2 g8 67.f3 f5 68.e2 e5 69.g3 g7 70.h5 g6 71.f4 f6 72.g4 f5 73.h5 f7 74.f4 f6 75.h5 White has become active - if he can capture the h-pawn the draw is assured. g7 76.g4 e7 77.f3 e5 78.d3 a5 79.f4 h5 This just makes the pawn weaker, as it will be attacked by the knight. 80.f2 f6 81.f3 e5 82.d3 f5+ 83.e4 a5 84.f4 g7 85.d4 h6 86.e4! With the black king out of the way it i s t i m e f o r t h e p a wn t o a d va n c e . a4+ 87.d5 b4 88.e5 b2 89.f5 h2 90.e5 xh4 91.e6 g7 92.g5 g4+ 93.f5 xf4+ A great fight! ½-½
1032 Kortschnoj,Viktor Salov,Valery St . Petersburg [Tony Kosten]
A28 2635 2665 1997
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.a3 Compared with the Najdorf Sicilian, this move makes a lot of sense, guarding the b4-square, and preparing queenside expansion. The problem is that Black will probably not fall in with White's plans, and play 4...d5, of course. g6 The most sensible reply, preparing the kingside fianchetto. 5.d4!? Quite a logical move that only surfaced just recently, under the aegis of Korchnoi, White profits from the fact that Black can no longer play a later ... Bb4. But will a3 prove a useful move later-on? [ Transposition to slower lines with 5.g3 is the normal preference. ] 5...exd4 6.xd4 g7 7.g5!? The most aggressive, White limits Black's possibilities 1017
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with this pin. h6 8.h4 0-0 9.e3 White is ready to complete his development, once successfully achieved, W hite's central preponderance will assure him a plus. e8 The alternative is [ 9...xd4 10.xd4 d6 11.e2 g5 12.g3 f5 13.d2 e4 14.xe4 xe4 15.0-0 a5 to fix the b2-pawn. 16.d3 e7 17.ad1 with a small plus to White because of the weakness of the black kingside, Korchnoi,VHuebner,R/Switzerland 1997. ] 10.e2 xd4 11.exd4 This time White is obliged to recapture with the pawn, as [ 11.xd4? allows g5 12.g3 e4 with an initiative. ] 11...g5 If Black hopes to get any active play, he must break this pin. The down side, as ever, is the weakness of the black kingside. [ 11...d6 12.0-0 g5 will transpose. ] 12.g3 e4 13.0-0 d6 14.d3! A pawn sacrif ice to exploit the weakened b1-h7 diagonal, [ 14.f3? seems worse, xg3 15.fxg3 f5?! ( 15...c6 16.d2 b6 17.ad1 e6 is stronger.) 16.h5 f8 17.d2 d7 18.ad1 unclear, Atalik-Epishin, Philadelphia 1998. ] 14...f5 Black prefers to support the knight, rather than play [ 14...xg3!? 15.fxg3 xd4+ 16.h1 g7 17.f3 with a white attack. ] 15.xe4! fxe4 16.e1 e6!? 17.b3! W hite keeps-up the pressure against the black weaknesses. f7 18.xe4! xd4 19.ad1 From being behind in development, W hite has built up an impressive piece arrangement. The black bishop pair provide insufficient compensation for White's activity. g7 20.xb7 b8 The mark of an experienced player who knows that his best chance resides in an endgame, where the bishops' power can be felt. 21.c6 b6 22.d7! White wriggles away, knowing that he needs to keep queens on to exploit his attacking chances. ad8 23.f5 xb2 Re-establishing material equality, and defending against the menaced Nf6+. 24.h4 e6 25.a5! White would prefer to play [ 25.g6 of course, but f7 26.f5 e6 repeats. ] 25...b6 Back again! 26.a4 d7 27.c2
a5 28.hxg5 hxg5 [ 28...a4!? 29.f6+!? f7 30.b1 xd1 31.g6+ leads to White's advantage. ] 29.c1! c6 30.xg5 Further denuding the b l a c k k i n g . f5 31.c5!? xc5?! A time-trouble error, [ first 31...xe1+ 32.xe1 had to be played. ] 32.xc5? White fails to gain from his previous, powerful play due to zeitnot, simply [ 32.e6! xc1 33.xc1 d7 34.xc6 de7 35.d1 xe6 36.xc7 should win. ] 32...dxc5 33.xd8 xd8 34.c1 d5 35.e6 b2 36.b1 xa3 37.b8+ h7 38.c8 d7 39.xc7 White's active pieces more than counter-balances the two black bishops, for once. g8 40.xa7 b4 41.f4 d1+ 42.h2 c4 43.c7 c3 Black is unlikely to lose with his superior minor pieces. 44.e2 d3 45.c4 [ 45.e5 a5 46.c5 b6 is a draw. ] 45...a5 46.f3! Having removed his f-pawn from danger, White threatens to win the c3pawn. e6 47.c6 d5 48.c8+ f7 49.f4 d2 White is getting close to achieving definite winning chances. 50.xd5 xd5 51.c4 e6! 52.h3 b5 53.f2 d5 The king comes to help the c-pawn, and White decides to force a draw. 54.d4+ c6 55.c4+ d5 ½-½
1033 Kortschnoj,Viktor Spassky,Boris V Match Kalmykia RUS (5) [Nigel Davies]
A28 2567 2548 23.12.2009
T h is ga m e is qu it e f u n a s K o r ch n o i a n d Spassky rolled back the years to play in very frisky style. Korchnoi evidently didn't know about 8.Nxd5 Qxd5 9.Bd3 and found himself in trouble after 10...f5. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f6 4.a3 d5 A simple and straightforward reply, arguing that even with an extra tempo the Sicilian is still essentially a defensive formation. 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c2 e7 7.e3 a6 [ A conservative but sensible approach from Spassky, preventing White's Bf1-b5 which 1018
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is interesting after 7...0-0 . 7...a6 can also come in useful when White plays b2-b4 as it inhibits the further advance of White's bpawn. ] 8.c4 [ If Victor Korchnoi were a subscriber to Chesspublishing.com he might well have played 8.xd5 xd5 9.d3! which has been covered previously by both Carsten Hansen and Tony Kosten. ] 8...b6 9.d3 d7!? Very creative play by the old guy, preparing ...f7-f5 and having the idea of ...Qd7-g4 should White capture on h7. 10.b3 [ There might well have been a case for 10.e2 when f5 can be answered by 11.d3 and Black will nee d to move the quee n again to let his c8 bishop out. Instead we see Korchnoi attempt to justify the positioning of his pieces after which he runs into trouble. ] 10...f5 11.e4? [ As White ends up sacrificing a piece on his next move anyway, there was a case for offering one here instead. After the cool 11.b2!? B l a c k c a n p l a y e4 but then 12.xe4 fxe4 13.xe4 f6 14.xf6 gxf6 15.0-0 gives him a certain amount of compensation. ] 11...g5! 12.exf5!? [ White has suddenly found himself in the most awful position which explains why he now sacrifices a piece. After 12.0-0 g4 13.e1 f4 his position would be horribly passive. ] 12...g4 13.xe5 xe5 14.e4 c6 15.e2 f6 16.b1 d6 White now has scant little real compensation for the piece, though he does succeed in getting Black's king to go for a walk. 17.h3 gxh3 18.xh3 d7 19.d3 f8 20.xc6 xc6 21.e3+ d7 22.b2 d5 23.d3 xb2 24.xb2 [ Or 24.f4 d6 etc. ] 24...xa3 25.c2 ae8 26.d4 c8 0-1
1034 Kosten,Anthony C Ahmed,Esam Aly 1st Misr Closed (7) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2514 2403 07.09.2003
I am not really that interested in the Dragon, as such, but I couldn't help but notice the recent coverage of the exchange sacrifice on Ch r is W a r d 's Dr a go n s s e ct i o n , a n d t h i s greatly influenced my play in this game ... 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 I have recently experimented with this move, w i t h s o m e s u c c e s s . h6!? A surprise, presumably the idea is to threaten ...e4 by stopping the reply Ng5. My experience of Egyptian players suggests that they are good practically, and strong tactically, but their theory knowledge is not too good(Englishlanguage opening books are too expensive). 5.d3 I am not sure that this is the most accurate here, alternatives: [ 5.d4 exd4 ( 5...e4!? worried me, as 6.d2 e3!? looked a bit messy) 6.xd4 c5 7.b3 e7 8.e4 d6 9.e2 0-0 10.0-0 with a nice space advantage, Goldstern,FMiralles, G/SWZ 1995. ] [ 5.e4 might be strongest, as Black can no longer play ...Bb4 as in Nimzovitch's line, and c5 is met by 6.b4 d4 7.b5 e7 8.xd4!? exd4 9.e5 which seems quite favourable. ] 5...d5! The best move, I think, although White will effectively have a Sicilian position with two extra tempi (as ...h6 isn't particularly helpful). That said, [ 5...a5 is alright, 6.g3 ( 6.e4!? ) 6...d4!? 7.g2 xf3+ 8.xf3 c5 with a position akin to the 4 g3 Nd4 line, Downey,KSummers,C/Cardiff 1998. ] 6.cxd5 xd5 Leaving White with the choice of which Sicilian-style plan to choose. 7.g3 I decided to go for a Reversed Dragon, where a 3 m i gh t p ro ve a h e l p ( a s W h it e a lm o s t always plays this in the mainline) but ...h6 almost certainly wouldn't. [ 7.e4 aims for Najdorf-style play, but after xc3!? ( 7...f6 is also OK) 8.bxc3 c5 the a3-move wouldn't help White at all. ] 7...e6 [ 7...e7 8.g2 b6 9.0-0 0-0 10.b4 1019
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is exactly what I was hoping for. ] 8.g2 d7!? Black decides to play in Yugoslav Attack style, but then what is his hpawn doing on h6? [ 8...e7 is safer, 9.0-0 0-0 10.d4 which is probably only equal. ] 9.0-0 d6 10.d4 The standard Dragon liberating move, except that White has extra tempi here. 0-0-0 [ 10...xc3 11.bxc3 e4 is well met by 12.d5! exf3 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.xf3 with two bishops and the better structure. ] 11.e4! Flank Opening players always enjoy the moment when they construct their own centre! xc3 12.bxc3 exd4?! I don't like this move much, and had expected [ 12...c4 when I was toying with the idea of 13.e3!? anyway. ] 13.cxd4 c4 14.e3!? An exchange sacrif ice played in the style of the 9...d5 Dragon, although [ 14.e1 is good and without risk, as the pseudo-active e5 15.xe5 xe5 16.e3 d3 leads nowhere after 17.e2 ] 14...xf1 15.xf1 Threatening to win on the spot with Bh3. b8 16.e5!? I wasn't entirely sure about this move, as although it opens the h1-a8 diagonal for my unopposed bishop, it also makes it more difficult to use my other minor pieces. [ 16.b1 keeps the powerful centre mobile, but after b6 ( 16...xa3?! 17.d5 b4 18.d1 and Qb3, winning material) 17.a6 rather than f6?! ( 17...c8 seems tenable) 18.e5! fxe5? ( 18...e7 ) 19.dxe5 e7 and now 20.d4 wins. ] 16...f8 17.b1 White targets the b7-pawn. The attack is very dangerous, but what I thought made it decisive was that this game was played first thing in the morning! e8? A mistake. I had thought that [ 17...e6! was forced, so that Black can block the d5-square with the rook and nullify th e wh ite b ish op o n g2, a n d no w I h a d intended 18.b5!? a6 19.d5! xd5 20.xd5 xd5 21.d4 regaining material: xe5 22.xc6+!? ( if 22.xc6 then c5 23.b1 b6 defends, although White is better ) 22...bxc6 23.xa6 a1+ (forced) 24.f1 c5 25.b5+ a7 26.c6 d6 27.xc5+ xc5 28.xc7+ a8 29.xc5
when the black king is wide open, but as long as Black can keep the white bishop out of the game he has some chances to defend. ] [ 17...b6?! l o s e s i n s t r u c t i v e l y : 18.d5! the pawns advance to free the white bishops' diagonals, e7 19.d6! f5 ( 19...cxd6? loses immediately to 20.xb6! axb6 21.xb6+ c7 22.a6 ) 20.d4! xd4 21.xd4 a4 (e lse Qa 6 ) 22.d3 and Qf3 or Qe4 is decisive - the 'Dragon' bishop! ] 18.e6! Freeing the e5-square for the knight. xe6 Relatively best. [ 18...xe6 19.d5! xd5 20.d4 win n in g, e . g . e4 when the most elegant win is 21.xb7+ ( 21.xc6+ xc6 22.d3 is also decisive) 21...xb7 22.b1+ c8 23.xe4 d6 24.xc6 ] [ 18...fxe6 19.xb7+! xb7 20.e5 is completely crushing. ] 19.d5! xd5 20.d4 d7 [ 20...xd4 is little help, 21.xd4 xd4 22.xb7+ ] 21.b5 [ After 21.b5 b6 22.xc6+ xc6 23.xc6 d6 24.f3 there is no way to stop disaster on b7. ] 1-0
1035 Kosten,Anthony C Farago,Ivan Amantea [Tony Kosten]
A28 2515 2510 1992
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.e4 Nimzovich's move, White takes a firm grip on the centre, and stops Black from liberating his play with ...d5, but at the cost of weakening the d4-square. b4 Black probably doesn't want to capture on c3, but instead play ...Bc5 without allowing the Nxe5 trick, but it is timewasting. 5.d3 d6 6.g3 c5 Now that the e5pawn is firmly supported by the d6-pawn, Black can safely play this move. 7.g2 d4 8.xd4 xd4 So, Black has achieved his goal, his bishop is firmly established on d4. The problem is that this has taken several moves to achieve, and that the 'victory' might 1020
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 be a temporary one- White can still fight for, and win, control of d4 when he will have a s p a c e a d v a n t a g e . 9.h3 e6 10.f4!? This is an aggressive move, but [ 10.0-0 is risky, Black might be tempted to play h5!? ] 10...c6 Another advantage of Black's seventh is that he can play this move, controlling d5. [ Karpov preferred 10...a6 against Gulko. ] 11.e2 c5 Black cannot afford to concede the bishop pair. 12.f3! A good move, White (that is, I) intend to 'castle' slowly, by Kf1-g2. b6 13.f1 e3?! I suppose that this is 'positionally correct' in the sense that the black dark-squared bishop is on the same colour squares as his central pawns, but, on the other hand, it is much more active than its white counterpart. [ 13...d8 would have been a more useful move, but not ] [ 13...0-0? when Black would risk being wiped off the board by 14.f5 and g4-5. ] 14.g2 exf4 15.gxf4 xc1 16.xc1 d5 Presumably, this central strike is the point of Black's play, and it certainly appears reasonable at first sight. 17.f5 Unfortunately for Black, the white central pawns now sweep forward, overturning everything in their path. dxe4 18.dxe4 d7 19.e5 g8 20.c5 c7 21.e6! Will they never stop? fxe6 22.fxe6 xe6 23.d4 Black is allowed no respite. d7 24.g5 f6 25.ae1+ f8 Virtually forced, the move [ 25...f7? would lose, on the spot to 26.e7+! xe7 27.xg7+ which decimates the black position. ] 26.hf1 [ carefully avoiding, 26.e7? which is not c h e c k , a n d is m e t b y xh3+ and 27... Qxe7. ] 26...h5 Hoping to bring the h1-rook to the defence. 27.d5! h6 The only move, [ both 27...cxd5? 28.xf6+ and ] [ 27...d8 28.e8+!! win beautifully. ] 28.xh6!! So you thought that the English Opening was dull? gxh6 29.xf6+ g7 30.f7+ White has swapped his queen for a rook and minor piece, but more importantly he has eliminated the black king's only defenders. g6 [ If 30...h8 then 31.ee7 threatens Rh7
mate, and wins quickly. ] 31.b3! A good move, although the alternative [ 31.e6! also won, xe6 32.xe6+ xf7 33.xc6+ with a piece to the good. ] 31...a5 Or [ 31...c8 32.ee7 xh3+ 33.h2 when the threat of 34 Bc2+ is terminal. ] 32.f3! The immediate threat is Ne5+, forcing mate. e8 33.xe8 xe8 I was now very short of time, but I had planned the mate a few moves ago, so: 34.e5+ g5 35.h4+ xh4 36.f3+ [ 36.f3+ g4 37.e6# ] 1-0
1036 Kovacevic,Blazimir Zelcic,Robert Bizovac Metalis op 08th (7) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2457 2500 25.02.2001
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.d4 e4 5.g5 h6 6.gxe4 xe4 7.xe4 h4 8.d3 d5 9.cxd5 b4 10.b1 f5 11.d6+ [ 11.g4 xg4 12.f3 h4+ 13.d1 xd5 Obviously favours Black. ] 11...xd6! This improvement was brought to my intention by Topnotch on the Forum. I had previously looked at [ 11...cxd6 12.xf5 g6 13.f4 in Smirin, I (2677)-Johannessen, L (2422)/Istanbul 2000 - see the Archive. ] 12.xf5 g6 13.b1 [ 13.f3!? c2+ ( 13...xd4 14.b3 xd5 15.d2 might be playable) 14.d1 xa1 15.e3 ( 15.e3 f5 16.c1 f4 17.g3 f6 18.h3 0-0 19.gxf4 xf4 and the position is opening up on the kingside much too soon for White's liking.) 15...0-0-0 16.b3 b4 17.g3 ( 17.b2 d6 ) 17...h5 18.xh5 gxh5 19.g2 is not too clear, White is a rook down in an endgame, but will win the trapped knight, d6 ( 19...c3 20.e2 c2 21.h3+ b8 22.d3 b4+ 23.xc3 xa2+ 24.c4 xc1 25.xc1 ) 20.b2 a6 21.c1 ] 13...xd4 14.a3 [ 14.e4 mentioned by Markovich, 1021
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A) 14...f5 15.b5+ e7 16.e3 xe4 17.xe4+ fxe4 18.0-0-0 White can be happy with his two bishops, e.g. xa2+ 19.b1 a6 ( 19...b4 20.d4 ) 20.e2 b4 21.d4 f6 22.xe4 he8 23.d4+ f5 24.e3!; B) 14...c5 15.e2 (what else?) ( 15.d1 xf2 16.a3 d4+ 17.e2 ( M a r k o v i c h )) 15...c2 16.b4! xb4 17.b2 0-0-0 18.e3 b5+ 19.f3 d7 I don't think many humans would feel too comfortable here!; C) 14...xd5! 15.exd5 ( 15.d3 ) 15...b4+ 16.e2 0-0-0 (Markovich) is dangerous, 17.d3 e5+ 18.f3 xd5 ] [ 14.d2 0-0-0 15.c3 xd5 16.e3 ( 16.xh8? f4 with winning threats) 16...he8 17.a3 c6 White has the bishop pair, but a woeful lack of development. ] 14...0-0-0! 15.d2 [ 15.g3! xd5 16.h3+ f5 17.0-0 gets the king to safety, but he8 18.g2 c6 ( 18...xe2 19.f3 e5 (else Rd1 wins material) 20.d1 c4 21.xh6 and White is OK ) 19.f3 Black is nicely centralised, but White has got over the worst. ( 19.xh6 xe2 hits b2 )] 15...xd5 16.e3 f6 17.c2 he8 Black simply develops. 18.e2 [ 18.c4! e5 19.0-0 is playable. ] 18...b8 19.0-0 f4! 20.f3 [ 20.c4 xg2 21.xg2 g5+ 22.h1 xh2 wit h a p o we rf u l a t t a ck , 23.fd1 ( 23.xh2? h4+ 24.g1 g4+ 25.h1 e5 ) 23...h4 24.e1 d6+ 25.g1 h2+ 26.f1 xe3 27.d5 g3! 28.e4 h3+ 29.e2 g5 with 3 pawns and a strong initiative for the piece. ] [ 20.d1!? d3 ( 20...xg2 21.xg2 g5+ 22.h3 ) 21.e2 xf2!? 22.xf2 xh2+ 23.f1 h4 24.f3 g3 forces 25.xg3 xg3 which is not too clear. ] 20...h3+ 21.h1 g5 22.c3 e7 23.e2 e4 24.g1 f5 The knight is powerfully placed and is more than a match for a white bishop. 25.ae1 h5 26.d3? A simple blunder. [ 26.f3 g5 27.e2 ] 26...xh2+! 27.xh2 d6+ White not only loses a pawn, but also finds himself with the
inferior minor piece. 0-1
1037 Kovalyov,Anton Cubas,Jose Fernando IV Magistral (10) [John Watson]
A28 2381 2426 28.11.2006
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c2 e7 7.e3 xc3 8.bxc3 0-0 9.d4 This is a basic position that arises time and again in the English Opening and the Sicilian Def ence (with colours reversed). After all these years I'm not sure if anyone knows who stands better. It's probably dynamically equal, but one feels that with accurate play Black has to be careful not to cede a positional advantage based upon White's extra central pawn. d6 10.b2 [ An approach that doesn't solve the basic issue of Black's central threats (in particular ...e4) is 10.e2 e7 ( 10...e6!? 11.e4 exd4 12.cxd4 g4 13.e3; 10...f5 is another good move, however) 11.0-0 e4 12.d2 f5 13.c4 ad8 14.xd6 xd6 ] [ The key to these positions is probably to get c4 and/or e4 in, e.g., 10.b1 b8 11.d3 f5 12.e4 f6 13.d5 e7 14.c4 c5 15.g5 g6 16.xe7 xe7 17.0-0 f6 18.c5 ( or 18.a4 c5 19.exf5 xf5 20.fe1 )] 10...e7 11.e2 d7 [ 11...e4 12.d2 f5 is still a problem for W h i t e . A g a i n , 13.c4 looks right, with the idea g5 14.g3 fe8 15.g4 d7 16.h4 h6 17.0-0-0 ] 12.0-0 ae8 13.fe1 f5 [ 13...e4! 14.d2 h4 15.g3 e7 16.c4 b6 17.b3 is double-edged. ] 14.c4 b6 15.c5! bxc5 16.dxc5? [ 16.dxe5! xe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.xe5 xe5 19.ac1 destroys Black's pawn structure, and his disadvantage may be fatal after f4 20.xc5 fxe3 21.fxe3 xc5 22.xc5 ] 16...xc5 17.b5 b8! 18.xc6 xc6 19.xe5 e4 20.c4+ h8 21.d4 d6! Rather than grab the a-pawn Black keeps his initiative growing. Now W hite finds himself 1022
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 defending and soon finds Black's passed cpawn a might force. 22.f4 c5 23.c3 b7 24.e2 e7! 25.ad1 f6 26.a1 b3!? [ There's no reason to cede material. Much better is 26...fd8 wit h the ide a 27.c4 xd1 28.xd1 b3! ] 27.d7 xa1 28.xa1 c4 29.ec1?! [ 29.xf8 xf8 30.d1! ] 29...c3 Now it's very difficult to both stop the pawn and defend elsewhere. 30.xf8 xf8 31.d1 c2 32.e1 d8 33.ac1 h6 34.f1 c3 35.f2 xa3 36.xc2 xc2 37.xc2 xe3 38.h3 a5 The rest is self-explanatory: 39.h2 a4 40.f3 e4 41.c7 e8 42.a3 h7 43.d6 e6 44.d2 b6 45.a1 b4 46.g3 b3+ 47.h2 a3 48.e1 a4 49.d6 a2 50.e5 b5 51.e6 d3 52.d1 g3+ 53.h1 b1 0-1
1038 Mailbox Question Chris N,Archana from Hannover [John Watson]
A28
2005
Chris from Germany writes" "Two days ago, we had a team-competition taking place in Hannover. Against my 2300-rated opponent, I tried out the following idea I found on ChessPublishing in one of Beliavsky's games [ j w H e r e f e r s t o B e l y a vs k y - T u r o v , 2 4 t h Politiken Cup 2002] we arrived at the following position: 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 e4 5.g5 e7 6.d3 exd3 7.e4 After making this move, my opponent looked rather surprised and spent a lot of time on his n e x t m o ve . W h il e h e wa s c o n si d e ri n g , I wondered if White had any advantage at all after 7. ...Ne5 and guess what he played? 7. ...Ne5, of course." e5 "I do not know if this is a novelty or not, the game continued 8. Bd3: d6, 9. O-O c6, 10. f4!? (perhaps 10. Be2 is stronger?) Nd3:, 11. Qd3: Qc7, 12. e5?! (I guess 12. Be3 followed by Bd4 is better) Ng4! and in the end, I lost due to a blunder which of course had nothing to do with the opening anymore. What is your opinion on 7. ...Ne5? Is it preferable to the usual 7. .. .h6? 7. ...h6 se em s to wo rk o u t nice f o r W h it e , bu t is
played by strong GMs so it cannot be bad. I am looking forward to hearing from you! " Reply from John: I'm going to answer this by commenting on various options along the way. First, let's take a brief look at [ 7...h6 8.f3 d5 ( 8...xe4 9.d5 d8 10.xd3 c5 11.0-0 offers White a powerf ul initiative f or the pawn, with Re1(+) coming.; 8...e5 (too late!) 9.xe5 xe5 10.f4 e6 11.xd3 gives White everything he wants.) 9.cxd5 xe4 10.e3 xc3 11.bxc3 e5 12.xd3 g4 . This was Turov's choice versus Belyavsky. Another game went ( 12...xd3+ 13.xd3 d8 14.0-0 e7 15.c4 (White has space and is better) c5 16.f4 0-0 17.d2!? b6 18.ae1 d6 19.xd6 xd6 20.e3 with the better game, Delchev-Papa, Zuerich 2002 ) 13.0-0 xe3 14.fxe3 d7 ( 14...xe3+!? 15.h1 e7 16.e1 c5 17.e2 ) 15.e4 ( 15.h1 ) 15...c5+ 16.h1 0-0-0 17.b3 and Belyavsky stood better. ] 8.xd3 You also had a promising pawn sacrifice here: [ 8.f4! xc4 9.xd3 b6 ( 9...d5? 10.xd5 xd5 11.xc4 ) 10.0-0 ( or 10.e3 h6 11.f3 , for example, d5 12.e5 g4 13.g1 c6 14.c2 ) 10...h6 ( 10...c5+ 11.h1 h6 12.f3 transposes ) 11.f3 A) A sample line might go 11...d6 12.e1 d8 13.a4! e7 ( 13...a5 14.e3 e7 15.xb6 cxb6 16.b5+ d7 17.xd7+ xd7 18.d4 d8 ) 14.a5 bd7 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 g4 17.e6!; B) 11...c5+ 12.h1 B1) 12...e7 13.e5! ( or 13.e2 0-0 14.e3 h5 15.xb6! axb6 16.e5 e8 17.e4 ) 13...fd5 14.e4 c6 15.e6!! f6! ( 15...dxe6 16.e5; 15...fxe6 16.e5; 15...xe6 16.d4 g6 17.f5 h7 18.f6+- ) 16.d4 a4 17.h5+ d8 18.b4 c6 19.f7 dxe6 20.xg7 e8 21.d2; B2) 12...d5 13.e5 g4 14.e1 h5 15.f5! ( or one of: 15.h3 d7 16.e6!; and 15.e6 fxe6 16.g6+ )] 8...d6?! JW: This is so natural but from now on Black's queen on e7 hurts his cause badly. HiA rc s su gg e st s a m o ve t h a t I p ro b a b l y 1023
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 wouldn't have thought of: [ 8...d6! 9.e2 ( 9.b5 xd3+ 10.f1 c6 11.xd3 d6 and White is only slightly better if at all.) 9...xd1+ 10.xd1 h6 11.f4 ( 11.f3 d6 , about equal) 11...eg4 12.h3 d6 ] 9.0-0 c6 [ 9...h6 10.f3 g4 ( 10...xd3 11.xd3 d7 12.d5! ) 11.e2 leaves White much better. Black's position after 9.0-0 is worse than it appears because he never has time to play ..Qd8 and ...Be7 and unravel. ] 10.f4 [ "Perhaps 10.e2 is stronger?" JW: That would be a good move, but 10.f4 is also strong. ] 10...xd3 11.xd3 c7 12.e5 "?!" [ "I guess 12.e3 followed by Bd4 is better". JW: Actually, 12.e5! looks great! And you're right that 12.Be3 shows that W hite has a clear positional advantage. Something like ] [ 12.b4!? also looks strong. ] 12...g4! "and in the end, I lost due to a blunder which of course had nothing to do with the opening anymore." JW: On the other hand isn't your attack strong? W hite should play 13.exd6! xd6! [ 13...b6+? 14.h1 f2+?? 15.xf2 xf2 16.e3 xb2 17.e1 wins. This is no t ju st a n a tt a ck b ut B la ck's qu e en is trapped, for example, e6 18.c5 0-0-0 19.xe6 fxe6 20.b1 xd6 21.xb2 xc5 22.e4 ] [ 13...xd6 is also inferior after 14.e1+ e6 15.xe6 fxe6 ( 15...xd3 16.c5+ ) 16.e4 ( good but not great is 16.xd6 xd6 17.h3 c5+ 18.f1 f6 19.xe6+ f7 20.f5 ) 16...0-0-0 17.e3 xe3 18.xe3 c7 19.b4 ] 14.e1+ e7 15.e3! xe3 16.xe3 h6 17.f3 e6 [ 17...f8 18.ad1 g4 19.d2 xf3 20.xf3 ] 18.ad1! 0-0?? [ 18...f8 19.e5 ] 19.f5 winning a piece.
1039 A28 Matamoros Franco,Carlos S 2460 Korneev,Oleg 2613 XXVIII Sevilla ESP (5) 14.01.2003 [Tony Kosten] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.a3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c2 e7 7.e3 0-0 8.b5 White can also play the more conservative [ 8.e2 when g4!? would transpose to the game, except that Black has an extra tempo! 9.0-0! but why not ( 9.g5! xg5 10.xg4 anyway? ) 9...d7 ( 9...a5 10.d3 h8 Horvath,G-Parkanyi,A/Balatonbereny 1994) 10.d3 ad8 11.d1 fe8 with typical Sicilian play, Paehtz,T-Goldberg,A/Eilenburg 1984. ] [ 8.b4 ] 8...g4!? [ 8...xc3 9.bxc3 d7 is safer, Poluljahov, A-Popov,R/Krasnodar 1997. ] 9.e2!? White loses a whole tempo over the note to move 8, does he consider that provoking ...Bg4 justifies this? [ 9.a4!? is a possible alternative, hoping to provoke Black into capturing on f3 whilst retaining both white bishops, xc3 10.bxc3 d7 11.e4 d6 12.h4!? f5 13.d5+ h8 14.g5 with double-edged play, McNab,C-Mendoza,R/Moscow 1994. ] [ We have already considered the mainline 9.xc6 xf3 a couple of times, e.g. in Beim, V-Rublevsky,S. ] 9...h8?! Played to continue with ...f5, when the king is off the a2-g8 diagonal, but [ 9...d7! seems like a good idea, as at move eight, Black defends the bishop. ] 10.g5! Simply gaining the bishop pair with the double threat of mate on h7, and the a t t a c k o n g 4 . xg5 11.xg4 f5? Black, obviously annoyed at the turn of events, tries to justify his play with sharp tactics. 12.xf5 d4? 13.exd4 This is forced, but good. exd4 14.xd5 xd5 Forking f5 and g2, but there is a flaw. 15.e4 d3 [ 15...ae8 16.d3 leads nowhere. ] 16.xd5 ae8+ 17.f1 [ 17.d1 dxc2+ 18.xc2 xf2 is also winning. ] 17...dxc2 18.d3 f6 19.a2 d4 20.f3 After this it is clear that Black has no 1024
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 compensation for his piece, and can resign - centre by a flanking blow. f7 just what had he missed? e3 21.a1 d4 [ 21...fxg4 22.dxe4 dxe4 23.c4+ e6 22.e4 f6 23.e2 e5 24.a2 24.xe4 leaves White well on top. ] 1-0 22.dh1 f8 23.d1! ac8 24.g5 g6 25.gxf5 xf5 26.dxe4 dxe4? [ This loses, but even after the better 26...xe4 White has a powerful attack: 27.f3 1040 A28 f5 28.g4 e7! ( 28...d7 29.d3! xe3 Miles,Anthony J 30.xh7! xd3 31.xg7+! xg7 32.xd3 Kindermann,Stefan wi n n i n g b a c k t h e p i e c e wi t h i n t e r e s t .) Biel 1983 29.gxf5!! xg5 30.fxg6 xe3+ 31.b1 [Tony Kosten] and the bishop is untouchable, for xe2? 32.gxh7+ h8 33.xg7+! xg7 34.h8+ 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.e3 f6 4.f3 b4 xh8 35.g1+ and Qxe2. ] 5.d5!? This move is less popular nowadays, in fact White hopes to lure the e-pawn to its 27.xf5! xf5 28.c4+ h8 The simplest, d o o m , b u t a c c e p t s a d i s a d v a n t a g e i n winning the queen 29.h5! [ although 29.xh7+ was also winning: xh7 d e v e l o p m e n t . e4 The critical reply, and 30.h1+ h4 31.xh4+ g6 32.g3+ almost universally tried. 6.g1 The knight is g5 33.f7+ f5 34.h3+ g4 35.h7+ forced to return home. 0-0 7.a3 d6 8.e2 g6 36.xe8 etc. ] Mile s' n o ve lt y a t t he t im e , a lt h ou gh n o w [ After 29.h5 xf2? 30.xh7+ xh7 considered the main line. e5 9.g3 e8 31.h5# ] 10.c2 The point of White's opening is revealed, he menaces to capture on f6, then 1-0 e4. xg3!? [ 10...d6 is possible, and possibly superior, A28 tempting White to take the pawn: 11.xf6+ 1041 xf6 12.xe4 g6 with some initiative, Milov,Vadim 2676 although the white position is super solid. ] Lopez Martinez,Josep Manuel 2563 11.hxg3 d6 12.h4! Spanish Team Ch Gp1 (2) 21.06.2007 [ A lovely idea, attacking the e-pawn again, [Carsten Hansen] although 12.b3 and Bb2 is also good. ] 12...xd5 13.cxd5 e5 14.d3! 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.e3 c6 4.a3 [ The e-pawn cannot be captured: 14.xe4? (Milov likes to play these Sicilians with an g6 and ] extra tempo with the White pieces. Essentially [ 14.xe4? f5 loses an exchange in both these lines should be fairly harmless the ECO cases. ] claims equality for Black in any number of 14...f5 ways, yet White scores much better than with [ 14...exd3 15.xd3 xd3+ 16.xd3 the colours reversed. Is the tempo really all is actually very favourable to White, despite that important? The answer is both yes and no. the opposite-coloured bishops, as Bd2-c3 Of course the extra tempo offers something and 0-0-0 follows with a strong kingside better than with the colours reversed, but not attack. ] much. However, the psychological aspect is 15.d2 g6 16.h5 d7 17.c3 always an interesting one in lines such as this White has an edge because of his powerful c3- one. When Black loses he makes one of two bishop. c5 18.dxc6 bxc6 19.0-0-0 mistakes: 1) He plays too aggressively, as he W hite is catching-up on his development, would in a normal Sicilian, and here the extra whilst retaining his positional plusses. d5 tempo comes to benefit the first player, or 2) [ T h e t a c t i c 19...f4? 20.dxe4 g4 he plays too slowly, in a way he would never f a l l s t o t h e r e j o i n d e r 21.c4+ h8 have done with the colours reversed and 22.xh7+! ] White therefore easily gains the upper hand. 20.e2 e7 21.g4! Breaking-up the black The problem for Black in this line is to find a 1025
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 good balance, yet in the present game you will see that even a strong player don't find it particularly easy to do so.) g6 5.f3 g7 6.d3 0-0 7.e2 a5 [ This way of restraining White's queenside expansion is a common ploy for Black, but it also weakens Black's queenside and makes it easier for White's pawns to make contact with their black counterparts and therefore speeding up the interaction on the queenside. Alternatively, Black has tried 7...d6 A) 8.c2!? has been used by another specialist in this set-up for White, and to great effect: a5 ( 8...e8 9.d2 f5 10.e4 d7 11.b4 h6 12.h3 , and the players prematurely agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2 W.Schmidt-K.Typek, Lubniewice) 9.b1 h6 10.b4 axb4 11.axb4 e6 12.0-0 h7 13.b5 e7 14.d4 g5?! 15.dxe5!? ( 15.xg5 hxg5 16.d5 d7 17.e4 c8 18.e3 b6 19.d2 f6 20.f3 ) 15...xf3+ 16.xf3 xe5 17.xb7 xc4 18.xa8 xa8 19.d1 b8 20.b2 f5 21.e4 ( 21.a1!? b7 22.a4 xb5 23.xb5 xb5 24.xe5 dxe5 25.c4+- ) 21...xe4 22.xe4+M.Gurevich-E.Sobjerg, Korinthos 1998; B) 8.0-0 B1) 8...e6 9.b1 h6 10.b4 d7 11.b5 e7 12.c2 h7 13.d4 f5 14.d3 xd3 15.xd3 e6 16.e4 S.Barbeau-S.Dupuis, Quebec 1986; B2) 8...h6 9.c2 e6 B2a) Or 10.b1 e8 11.b4 a6 12.d5 f5 13.a4 ( 13.d4 e4 14.d2 xd5 15.cxd5 e7 16.f3 exf3 17.xf3 ) 13...e7 14.xe7+ xe7 15.d4 g5 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.b2 Z.Franco Ocampos-H. Fioramonti, Biel 1989; B2b) 10.b4 h7 11.b5 e7 12.d4 f5 13.d1 c6 14.a4 exd4 15.xd4 d7 16.b2 g5 17.d2 , Black's pieces are not particularly well-placed or well-coordinated, so White has an easy game and a solid advantage, P.Harikrishna-M.Sebag, Cap d'Agde 2006; B3) 8...g4 9.d2 f5 10.c1 f4
11.exf4 exf4 12.d4 h6 13.d5 e5 14.xe5 xe5 15.f3 g5 (this is being called 'unclear' by ECO, but I nonetheless prefer W hite after) 16.g4 f7 17.b4 M.Taimanov-S.Ionov, St Petersburg 1998; B4) 8...f5 9.c2 ( Or 9.e4 g4 10.e1 e6 11.f4 d4 12.f3 1/2-1/2, V.Milov-R.Dautov, Dresden 1998 ) 9...e8 B4a) 10.g5 h6 ( 10...g4!? ) 11.ge4 xe4 12.dxe4 d7 13.b4; B4b) 10.d2 g4 11.de4 xe2 12.xf6+ xf6 13.xe2 g7 14.b4 f5 15.b2 d4 16.exd4 exd4 17.d2 dxc3 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in K. Robatsch-K.Hulak, Lublin 1976, which seems entirely reasonable after for example 18.xc3 d7= ] [ Black's best option probably lies in 7...d5 which takes the ga me over in the ope n Sicilian terrain: 8.cxd5 xd5 A) 9.d2 is less convincing: A1) 9...a5 10.a4 h6 11.b3 b6 12.c1 ( 12.0-0 e6 13.c2 d7 14.ac1 de7= ) 12...d6 ( 12...ce7!? ) 13.0-0 d7 14.fd1 ac8 15.c3 xc3 16.xc3 C. Goritsas-V.Kotrotsos, Salonica 2006; A2) 9...xc3!? 10.xc3 a5 11.0-0 a4 12.d2 ( 12.d4 exd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 xd4 15.exd4 e6 16.c1 c6 ) 12...e6 A2a) 13.f4!? looks rather bizarre, but is n o t e wo rt h y n o n e t h e le ss , e . g. f5 ( 13...exf4 14.xg7 xg7 15.xf4 f5 16.xa4 ) 14.fxe5 xe5 15.f3 d6 16.c1 fe8=; A2b) 13.b4?! axb3 14.xb3 e7 15.b2 a5 16.xa5 xa5 17.c2 fa8 18.fc1 c5 M.Cebalo-J. Smejkal, Vrsac 1981; B) 9.c2 B1) 9...b6 10.0-0 b7 11.d2 ce7 12.b4 d7 13.ac1 ac8 14.b1 ( 14.e4!? xc3 15.xc3 c6 16.b3 ) 14...c5!= 15.bxc5 xc5 16.xd5 xd5 17.xc5 bxc5 18.c1 c8 19.e1 a6 20.d2 b6 21.e4 1/2-1/2, V.Savon-I.Farago, Yerevan 1026
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 similar to the game, and also quite 1982 c4 22.dxc4 xc4 23.xc4 comfortable for White ] xc4=; B2) 9...a5 10.d2 b6 11.c1 h8 15.d1 h6 16.h3 e6 17.f1 [ 17.b5!? e7 18.e4 is also very good for 12.b5 f5 13.e4 ( 13.0-0!? e6 ) W hite Black has a passive position with 13...e6 ( 13...f4!? ) 14.b3 c8 15.0-0 hardly any counterplay ] d6 16.a4 g8 17.c3 d7 17...h7 18.d5 e7 19.e4 d8 20.e3 E.Lobron-L.Oll, New York 1997 ] [ 20.b5!? ] 8.0-0 [ Other moves include 8.b3?! which should 20...xd5?! [ I really don't like this move since Black is be met by the untried e4!? 9.d4 xd4 stuck with defending the backward c-pawn 10.exd4 exd3 11.xd3 e8+ 12.e2 d5 ] the rest of the game with no real prospects [ Or 8.c2 e8 9.0-0 d5 10.cxd5 xd5 of ever becoming active. Possibly better is 11.b1 ( 11.e4!? ) 11...b6 12.xd5 20...c5 although White can obtain a rather ( 12.e4!? ) 12...xd5 13.b3 b7 14.b2 clear advantage in any number of way, e.g. ad8 15.fd1 d7= C.Horvath-P.Acs, 21.bxc5 ( 21.b2!? ) 21...bxc5 22.b2 ] Balatonlelle 2002 ] 21.cxd5 d7 22.dc1 c8 23.d4! 8...d6 9.b1 e8 10.c2 [ Or 10.e4!? g4 ( 10...d4 11.xd4 exd4 (White puts even more pressure on Black's 12.b5 c5 13.f4 a6 14.b4 ) 11.b5 position, as Black now also have to consider xf3 12.xf3 d7 13.g4 c5 14.f4 the o ption o f W hite pe ne trating t he ligh t 24.xd4 This idea is the brain child of my chess squares with Bf1-a6-b7-c6) exd4 engine, but looks like something that can h4 25.f3 g5 (Black tries to stage some counterplay as a last resort before W hite be considered as a decent alternative. ] crushes Black positionally, but unfortunately 10...f5 [ Opening the centre with 10...d5 11.cxd5 for Black, White can ward it off rather easily) xd5 looks like an attractive option as it will 26.f2! h5 27.e2!? (Now a ... Bxh3 is take the game into a Scheveningen Sicilian met Nf4) h7 (necessary as the queen was with the colours reversed in which Black otherwise trapped after Nf4) 28.c2! [ 28.g3 h4 29.a6 looks like an should not be worse, but White still appears attractive option, but it actually just lets to have a s light pull af te r 12.e4 f5 Black back into the game a8 30.b7 a3 13.d1!? ] 31.xc7 xe3 32.xe3 xg3 33.xd7 11.d2 g5 with counterplay ] [ My computer loves 11.e4!? g4 12.b5!? 29.bc1 d8 30.d4 e5 , and claims an edge for White. While it is 28...f6 interesting and a noteworthy idea, I doubt it 31.b5! xb5 32.xb5 f6 33.d4 g5 34.h4 h5 35.xd6 is White's best... ] 1-0 11...d7 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 g4 14.f3 [ An alternative is 14.b5 e7 15.xg4 xg4 16.e4!? with a better game for White. A28 However, White's idea is to only exchange 1042 pieces when it suits him in his plan, and Morozevich,Alexander 2749 right now the plan is to only allow Black to Adams,Michael 2744 exchange his bishops for White's knights, Sparkassen Cat XXI (5) 16.07.2001 thus creating a favourable imbalance for [Tony Kosten] White, or to retreat. Over the next several moves we will see how White consistently 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.e4 pushes Black towards the latter until White I was amazed to see Morozevich choose this has taken complete control over the board move I had a great deal of success with it and Black is left with no counterplay at all. ] some years ago, but only because my 14...b6 opponents chose inferior defences. b4 [ 14...e7 15.h3 e6 16.d1 is somewhat [ It is a pity that Mickey didn't play 4...c5 1027
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 , in my opinion the critical line, to see what Morozevich intended here. ] 5.d3 d6 6.e2!? [ Another surprise, White disdains the ' a u t o m a t i c ' 6.g3 and Bg2, as in my game against Farago. ] 6...h6 7.0-0 c5 [ Taking immediate control of d4 preserves more options than 7...0-0 although this is perfectly reasonable, too, e.g. 8.d5 c5 9.b1 a5 10.a3 xd5 11.cxd5 d4 12.xd4 xd4 with equality, Nei,I-Gipslis,A/ Tallinn 1975. ] 8.d2!? A new idea in this rare positionWhite intends to play Nb3, Kh1, and f4, with a k in g s id e a d va n ce . d4 9.b3 xb3 10.axb3 0-0 11.h1 c6 12.f4 d4 [ Perhaps it was time to consider conceding control of d4: 12...exf4!? 13.d4!? ( 13.xf4 d4 ) 13...b4 14.xf4 ( 14.a2 a5 15.b4 c7 16.c3 e8 is unclear) 14...c5 ( 14...xc3!? 15.bxc3 g5 16.f1 xe4 i s r i s k y , b u t p l a y a b l e) 15.b5!? with complications. ] 13.f3 Clamping-do wn on d5, and preparing to contest d4 with Ne2. White has managed to 'fianchetto' his light-squared bishop, anyway, without allowing any light-squared weaknesses, or losing control of g4. a6 14.h3 e7 15.e2 a7 16.d2?! [ T h i s lo o k s c a re le ss , 16.g3 first, is indicated. ] 16...b5?! [ Missing the opportunity to play 16...g4! 17.xg4 ( 17.hxg4?? h4# ) 17...xg4 with good play. ] 17.g3 Quickly rectifying his previous omission. b8 18.f5 xf5 19.exf5 Freeing the f3-bishop. bxc4 20.bxc4 d4 [ B l a c k h a d p o s s i b l y i n t e n d e d 20...xb2 but then 21.c3! ( if 21.xa6 b7 is OK, as 22.xc6? loses material to e4 ) 21...b6 22.e1 d7 23.d4 leaves Black in serious trouble. ] [ On the other hand, 20...e4!? 21.e1 d5 looks playable. ] 21.xa6 b7 22.a2 [ Once again 22.xc6? fails to e4 and now 23.xd6 exf3 menaces to capture on g2, so White has no time to take the bishop. ] 22...b3?
[ The ending is not good for Black, at all. I can see nothing wrong with the obvious 22...xb2 23.fxe5 dxe5 as 24.a4?! a8 25.a5 e4! leaves White fighting to draw- ... Bc3 is threatened. ] 23.xb3 xb3 24.fxe5 dxe5 25.xc6 c8! [ White is simply a pawn up after 25...xb2 26.xb2 xb2 27.b1 d4 28.b7 ] 26.f3 xd3 27.b4! A simple tactical point that guards d2, whilst the c4-pawn is untouchable because of Be2, winning the exchange. c3 28.xc3 xc3 29.e2 b3 [ The immediate 29...e4 doesn't seem to help, 30.h2 b3 ( 30...g3 31.b1 xe2 32.xe2 3xc4 33.xe5 should win) 31.b5 c3 32.f3 e4 33.g3 xa2 34.xb3 c1 35.b2 xe2 36.xe2 xc4 37.b2! 'rook behind the pawn', and wins. ] 30.b5 e4 31.f3 b1+ [ 31...xf3 32.xf3 ( rather than 32.gxf3? c3 33.b2 xe2 34.xe2 xc4 35.xe5 c2 drawing ) 32...d6 ( 32...xc4 33.b6 ) 33.b6 xc4 ( 33...e4 34.xe4! ) 34.b7 wins at a canter. ] 32.h2 d6 33.fa3! h7 [ 33...xc4? 34.a8 wins the knight: b6 35.xc8+ xc8 36.a8 c1 37.b6 ] 34.a8 xa8 35.xa8 The two passed pawns have survived, and therefore Black is lost. b2 36.f1?! [ This obvious move brings unexpected problems, 36.c5! xb5 37.d3 (menace: Rb8) d4 38.f6+ g6 39.f8 b7 40.c4 seems like the quickest kill. ] 36...e4 37.c5 xb5! [ 37...xf5 38.c6 e3 39.c7 xf1+ 40.g1 c2 41.b6 will crown a white queen. ] 38.b8 e3 Black's last desperate fling. 39.c4! [ 39.xb5 e2 40.xe2 xe2 41.c6 c2 may draw. ] 39...e2 40.xf7 With a threat of Bg6 mate. g5? [ The win is still not obvious after the superior 40...g6!! 41.xg6+ g7 42.e8 ( 42.b7+? f6 43.f7+ can now be met by g5 44.e7 d4 and Black's e-pawn will win a rook!! ) 42...d4 43.h5 f6 ] 41.g6+ g7 42.b7+ f6 43.f7+ e5 1028
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 44.e7+ d5 45.f6 d4 46.h5 b1 [ This loses to a cute tactical point, but 46...b8 47.f7 f8 48.e8 e6 49.f3+ e5 50.g4 is also hopeless. ] 47.f7 f1 48.xe2! [ 48.xe2! xe2 49.f3+ blocks the f-file, and queens the f-pawn. ] 1-0
also concerned about getting this in before White regrouped with 16.Nd2 or even 16. Qb2 Q b 3 1 7 . Q a 1 . 16.xb3 xb3 17.e4 g6 18.fe1 fe8 19.d2 a4!? An original and double-edged decision, putting the bishop on an offside looking square but stops W hite' f r o m p u t t i n g h i s r o o k s o n d 1 . 20.g3 It's not quite clear to me why White felt this was necessary. [ The imme diat e 20.exf5 gxf5 21.c4 1043 A28 loo ks b et te r to m e, t ho ugh I do ub t it is enough to particularly trouble Black. ] Morozevich,Alexander 2750 Gelfand,Boris 2758 20...g8 21.exf5 gxf5 22.h5 f8 23.c4 Tal Memorial (4) 08.11.2009 g5 24.a1 xd3 25.b2 xc3 26.xa4 c2 [Nigel Davies] [ Perhaps 26...d2 was a better try, for example 27.ed1 c2 leaves White unable He re we ge t a kno wn lin e o f t h e S icilia n to regroup his bishop on h5 with Bh5-d1. ] Scheveningen but with colours reversed. It's easy to overestimate the value of an extra 27.c5 e4 28.d1 b2 [ And here it might have been better to play tempo in these colours reversed defences and 28...c3 . ] it never looked like very much for White. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.d3 d5 5.cxd5 29.b3+ h8 30.ab1 xb1 31.xb1 d4 xd5 6.e3 e7 7.e2 0-0 8.0-0 e6 32.xb7 f4 33.c5 e3 34.gxf4 This leads 9.d2 f5 What we have here is a to a general liquidation and equality. xf4 Scheveningen Sicilian with colours reversed 35.fxe3 xe3+ 36.h1 xb3 37.xb3 and an extra tempo for W hite. W ill this be xc5 38.bxc5 f1+ 39.g2 c1 40.b8+ enough to give him an advantage? Certainly g7 41.a8 xc5 he won't be worse off than in the analogous ½-½ line, and it presents the players with a new playground. 10.xd5 xd5 A28 [ Usually Black has taken with the Bishop 1044 Morozevich,Alexander 2758 here, and that in fact is how Gelfand played it in a previous game: 10...xd5 11.c3 Grischuk,Alexander 2726 27.09.2007 f6 12.c2 h8 13.b4 e4 14.dxe4 fxe4 WCh Mexico City MEX (12) 15.d2 xc3 16.xc3 d6 17.b5 e5 [Carsten Hansen] was Alekseev, E (2616) - Gelfand, B (2714), Sochi 2004. Had this been repeated I think 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.d3 d5 that Morozevich might have played 18.ad1 5.cxd5 xd5 6.e4 This is an unusual move with what looks to me like an edge for White in this position, but nonetheless a playable after ( Rather than 18.d4 as played in the one that several grandmasters have used over the years. It looks like a Boleslavsky Variation game ) 18...e6 19.b3 . ] with the colours reversed, but as we will see 11.c3 ad8 [ The only earlier example of this line (10... White plays somewhat differently than Black Qxd5) I could find went 11...f6 12.c2 a5 normally does in that variation. For starters, it 13.a3 1/2-1/2 which was Schmidt, W (2469)- appears White doesn't have a problem with Grabczewski, R (2344), Wroclaw 1972. This Black playing ...Bg4 here, whereas in the Boleslavsky, Black immediately prevents doesn't tell us too much! ] 12.c2 h8 13.a3 f6 14.b4 a6 15.ac1 White from playing Bg5. I doubt this variation b3 White would not normally do such a thing will become very popular, but it can certainly against the Sicilian, but with Black we are be wheeled out on occasion to surprise an usually satisfied with less. He was probably opponent who likely never studied it, and as 1029
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 we will see in the game, Morozevich uses it to beat a fellow member of the 2700+ club, so it can't be bad. f6 [ 6...b6 A) 7.e2 A1) 7...g4 A1a) There is no tactical justification for 8.xe5?! xe5 ( 8...xe2? 9.xc6 xd3 10.xe2 xe2+ 11.xe2 bxc6 12.f4 0-0-0 13.hd1 d6 14.g3 Ermenkov, E-Russell, M/ T u r i n I T A 2 0 0 6) 9.xg4 xd3+ 10.e2 xc1+ 11.xc1 g5 12.f3 d8 13.c2 d6 14.g3 ( 14.hd1!? ) 14...0-0 15.h4 f6 wi t h a c l e a r a d va n t a g e f o r B l a c k , Csom, I-Garcia P alerm o, C/ Szira k 1986; A1b) 8.0-0 d7 9.e3 d8 10.c1 e7 11.h3 xf3 12.xf3 A1b1) This is too impatient, almost as if Black overlooked the consequences of White's 14th move. A b e t t e r c o n t i n u a t i o n i s 12...0-0 13.b5!? ( 13.a3 d4 14.g4 d6= ) 13...h6 ( 13...a6? 14.g4 ) 14.g4 xd3 15.xa7 xa7 16.xc7 xe3! ( 16...xd1? 17.xd1+- ) 17.fxe3 xd1 18.xd1 g5 19.xb7 xe3+ 20.f1 c4 21.b4 , and White's queenside pawns provide him with a clear advantage; A1b2) 12...xd3? 13.xd3 xd3 14.d5 d4 15.xd4 xd4 16.xc7+ f8 17.b5+Harikrishna, P-Saptarshi, R/Calcutta 2000; A2) 7...e7 A2a) 8.a4 g4 9.0-0 0-0 10.e3 xf3 11.xf3 d7 12.d5 f6 13.b3 ( White has two interesting a l t e r n a t i v e s i n 13.xe7+ xe7 14.b3 ab8 15.ac1 fd8 16.c5 d7 17.fd1; and 13.xf6+ xf6 14.c1 g5 15.d2 xe3 16.fxe3 also with an edge for White) 13...xd5 14.exd5 d4 15.xd4 exd4 16.xb7 d6 17.a5 a6 18.c6 Jobava, BRukhaia, K/ Batumi GEO 2003; A2b) 8.e3 0-0 9.0-0 f5!? 10.exf5
xf5 11.e4 d5 12.c2 ac8 13.a3 a5 , and Black has solved his opening problems successfully, Spraggett, K-Lautier, J/Correze 1989; A2c) 8.0-0 0-0 ( 8...h5?! 9.e3 g4 10.a4 a5 11.b5 0-0 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 h4 14.c1 d7 15.d2 e8 16.d1 f8 17.b3 e6 18.f4 Cox, J-Heiberg, T/Hamar 1982) 9.a4 a5 A2c1) Or 10.e3 f5 11.c1 ( 11.b5!? f4 12.xb6 cxb6 13.d4 looks pleasant for W hite) 11...f4 12.d2 b4 13.b5 xd2 14.xd2 h8 15.h3 e6 16.f3 g8 , thus far, Agdestein, SIvanchuk, V/Tilburg 1993, and now: 17.d4 exd4 18.fxd4 f6; A2c2) 10.b5 e6 11.c2 f5 12.d1 f6?! ( 12...c8 13.e3 f4 14.c5 xc5 15.xc5 ) 13.e3 f7 14.d4! b4 15.c1 fxe4 16.dxe5 d5 was played in Cramling, D-Astrom, R/Sweden 2000, and now 17.g5!? xg5 18.xg5 c8 19.e6! xe6 20.d8+ xd8 21.xd8 xd8 22.xc7 would leave W hite with a solid, if not winning, advantage; B) 7.e3 g4 8.e2 xf3 9.xf3 d4 10.g4 e7 11.0-0 0-0 12.e2 xe2+ 13.xe2 e8 ( 13...c6 14.ad1 f6 15.h1 e8 16.c2 c8 17.b3 d6 18.a4 Labuckas, A-Gomez Esteban, J/ Istanbul 2000) 14.fd1 g5 15.ac1 c6 16.g3 xe3 17.xe3 e7 18.d4 with a better game for White, but Black's position is solid and fully playable, Franco Ocampos, Z-San Segundo Carrillo, P/Cala Mendia, Mallorca 2001 ] [ 6...xc3 7.bxc3 A) or 7...d6 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 h6 10.e1 h8 11.e3 f5 12.exf5 xf5 13.d2 ( 13.b3!? ) 13...e7 14.b3 b6 15.f1 ( 15.f3!? c6 16.ad1 d7 17.d4 ) 15...d7 16.e4 e6 17.c4 f5 with an edge for Black, Ermenkov, EBotsari, A/Chania 1999; B) 7...c5 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 h8 ( 9...b6 10.a4 e8 11.b1 h6 12.c2 a6 13.e3 xe3 14.fxe3 e7 15.fe1 1030
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with at best a tiny edge for White, Svenn, G-Astrom, R/Sweden 2000; 9...e7 10.d4 d6 11.d5 a5 12.c4 b6 13.b2 b7 with chances for both sides, Ginsburg, MKraai, J/San Francisco 1999) 10.b1 b8 11.xe5 xe5 12.d4 d6 13.dxe5 xe5 14.a4 d7 15.xa7 b6 16.a3 c6 17.b4 e8 18.b5 xb5 19.xb5 xc3 20.c4 , and in this position the players agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2 Tal, M-Chernin, A/Sochi 1986 ] 7.e2!? [ White has never really achieved much by preventing Black from playing ... Bg4 with h2h3: 7.h3 c5 8.e2 0-0 ( 8...h6 9.0-0 a6 10.e3 xe3 11.fxe3 0-0 12.e1 e7 13.g3 e8 14.h4 , and Black is facing an uncomfortable kingside initiative by White, Duer, A-Dueckstein, A/Austria 1990) 9.0-0 e8 ( 9...a6 10.a3 h6 11.c2 e7 12.b4 a7 13.e3 d8 14.ac1 d4 15.xd4 exd4 16.a4 e8 17.c5 an White has a nice little edge and pressure against Black's queenside, Shatskes, B-Volovich, A/ M o s c o w 1 9 6 1) 10.a3 ( 10.e3 d4 11.c1 b6 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 exd4 14.b1 a5 15.f4 a4 16.c4 d7 with a complicated position, where I think I prefer Black's queenside play to W hite's kingside/centre playAkesson, R-Schinzel, W/Polanica Zdroj 1981) 10...d4 ( 10...a5 11.b1?! h6 12.a4 f8 13.e3 d4 14.xd4 exd4 15.b4? (premature) axb4 16.axb4 h5 17.c5 f4 18.d2 xe2+ 19.xe2 b6 20.b3 xb4 21.bxd4 c5 and Black has the upper hand, Masculo, JCastro, A/Sao Paulo 1991) 11.g5 c6 12.xd4 xd4 13.c2 h6 14.h4 d6 15.ad1 h7 16.h5 g6 17.e2 h5 18.d2 e6 with a complicated battle and approximately even chances, Jobava, BIvanchuk, V/Rethymnon 2003 ] 7...g4 last book move [ 7...e7 8.h3 0-0 9.0-0 b6 ( 9...e6 10.e3 c8 11.d4 exd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 h6 14.a4 , and White has a pull, Cvek, R-Revuckij, V/Rymarov 1999) 10.e3 b7 11.c1 d7 12.d5 d6 13.a3 e7 14.c3 c5 15.b5 b8 16.b4 cxb4 17.axb4 c6 18.b3 e7 19.b1 a6 20.c3 d6 and Black has more orless
equalized, Dzindzichashvili, R-Timman, J/ Amsterdam 1978, ] 8.0-0 xf3 9.xf3 d4 This looks like the type of position you will see in the instructional books, demonstrating a strong knight vs a bad bishop. So why did Morozevich play e2-e4 and on top of that allow Black to exchange his bishop on f3? W ell, Morozevich isn't exactly bending to convention and here he soon demonstrates that there is absolutely nothing wrong with his position. 10.g3 c5 11.g2 0-0 12.a4 b6 13.e3 d6 14.f4 [ 14.xb6 axb6 15.f4 d7 , with chances to both sides ] 14...d7 [ Black can also consider 14...exf4!? , e.g. 15.xf4 e2+ 16.h1 xf4 17.gxf4 d4 18.c1 g4 19.xg4 xa4 , and Black has a pleasant game ] 15.h1 ad8 [ 15...fd8 16.c1 ( 16.xb6 axb6 17.a3 e6 18.e2 ) 16...e6 ( 16...c6 17.h5!? ) 17.xb6 axb6 18.a3 dc5 19.f5 d4 ] 16.c1 c6 17.xb6 axb6 [ Or 17...cxb6 18.b3 h6 19.c3 d4 20.d1 c5 21.e1 with the better chances for White ] 18.c3 [ 18.fxe5 dxe5 19.d4 xd4 20.xd4 xd4 21.xd4 xd4 22.xc7 d2= ] 18...c5 19.a3 [ At this juncture, 19.fxe5!? may be even stronger, e.g. xe5 20.f5 e6 21.d5 b4 ( alternatively 21...xd5?! 22.exd5 xe3 23.dxc6 bxc6 24.d4 e4 25.xe3 f2+ 26.g1 xd1 27.e2; 21...f6 and 22.xc5 bxc5 23.cxc5 are both very pleasant for White) 22.xc5 bxc5 23.dxc5 xa2 24.b3 ] 19...xd3 20.c2 c5 21.xc5 bxc5 22.xc5 fe8 [ Black is trying to establish a blockade on e5, which will help him claim on knight on c6 to be a better piece than White's light-squared bishop, but matters are rarely this simple. As White after Black's 22nd move grabs the initiative, Black could instead also consider: 22...exf4 23.gxf4 d4 24.c3 b6 25.b4 ( 25.c4!? ) 25...c6 26.g5 fe8 27.g3 1031
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e6 28.g4 c7 29.e5 ] [ 22...d4 23.c3 exf4 24.gxf4 c6 ( 24...b6 leads to the same position as af ter 22...gxf 4) 25.c4 e2 26.c2 ( 26.f3 d2 27.f2 e1+ 28.f1 d2= ) 26...d4 27.c3 e2 with a possible draw by repetition ] 23.d5 e7 24.b3 exf4 [ If 24...xd5 then 25.exd5 ( 25.xd5 b8 doesn't appear to lead anywhere) 25...d8 26.e1 d6 27.f3 e7 28.g2 ] 25.xb7! xd5 26.exd5 d4 [ An attempt to play active. Black also had 26...d8 available, but after 27.b3 fxg3 28.xg3 b7 29.c3 d6 30.a4 Black's prospects aren't exactly filled with hope. ] 27.xf4 c5 28.f1 g6 29.a6 e2 30.d6! [ Or 30.b4 c2 31.d6 cxd6 32.xd6 and we have transposed to the position that is reached in the game ] 30...cxd6 [ H e r e B l a c k c o u l d h a ve t r i e d 30...xd6 as well, but after 31.xd6 cxd6 32.b1 d2 White has possibly all the winning chances he needs, so in time trouble Grischuk decides to keep the queens on in the hope for something to emerge... ] 31.b4 c2 32.xd6 f5 33.d8+ [ Complications arise rather quickly after what appears to be the simplest continuation 33.c6 b3 A) 34.b5? e3 35.f3 f2!! ( 35...xh2+ 36.xh2 xf1+ 37.g2 e3+ 38.h3 f1 39.b6 xa3 ) 36.e1 c2 37.e8+ ( 37.c1?? e3! w i n s f o r B l a c k) 37...g7 38.e5+ with a draw by perpetual; B) 34.f3 c2 35.e8+ g7 36.e5+ f6 37.e4 b2 38.g1 xh2 39.g2 xg2+ 40.xg2 xa3 41.b7+ h6 42.b8 and White still has winning chances, but with the open king and Black having the dynamic duo of queen and knight to attack with on the kingside, it may be a bit problematic. ] 33...g7 34.d5 b2? [ A better opportunity to save the game is 34...f6!? 35.b7+ ( or 35.g1 e3 36.b7+ h6 37.h3 b2 38.f3 xg2 39.xg2 xg2 40.xg2 xa3 41.d2+
g7 42.h2 a4 , and White's king position is too open to make winning attempts realistic) 35...h6 36.f3 b2 although 37.g1 ( 37.f4+ g7 38.c7+ h6 39.c1+ e3 40.xb2 xb2 41.g1 c2 42.a4 xb4 and I don't think W hite will win) 37...e3 38.f2 c1+ 39.f1 xf2 40.xf2 xa3 41.d2 g7 , and W hite has a long and complicated road ahead if he is to win this endgame ] 35.g4! d2 36.f3 d6 37.h3 [ W hite can also consider 37.b5!? d4 38.g5 f5 39.b1 b2 40.xb2 xb2 41.f1 h6 42.gxh6+ xh6 43.f4+ g7 44.a4 with a won endgame ] 37...f5?! [ This probably speeds up the end of the game, but it is the typically chancy move that you play in time trouble in the hope that something will fall out of the sky and save y o u . N e v e r t h e l e s s 37...g8!? would probably have been better, trying to avoid what happened in the game continuation, e.g. 38.g3 ( 38.f4 h6 39.f3 g5 40.e1 g7 , and Black is still playing ) 38...g5 39.e1 h6 40.f1 c2 41.g1 , and White is consolidating his advantage ] 38.g3 c2? [ In heavy time trouble, as per usual for Grischuk in this event, Black doesn't play the best move. Not that Black necessarily would have saved the game after 38...f6 b u t i t wo u ld h a ve g ive n B l a c k a b e t t e r chance to offer resistance, e.g. 39.a4!? A) 39...e5 40.xe5+ xe5 41.e1+ d4 42.gxf5 xf5 ( Or 42...gxf5 43.a1 b2 44.a5 xb4 45.a6 c8 46.a7 xa7 47.xa7+- ) 43.a5 e3 44.b7 a2 45.a6 wins for White; B) 39...xb4 40.h4+ f7 41.xh7+ f6 42.h8+ f7 43.e1 e4 44.xe4 fxe4 45.f1+ e6 46.g8+ e5 47.xg6+- ] 39.gxf5! [ My computer tried to convince me that 39.e5+ is better than the game move, but after f8 40.d5 xd5 41.xd5 e4 42.g1 e2 Black can still play for a tricks a little while longer, whereas in the game continuation, there is no doubt. ] 1032
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xc5 15.xc5 0-0-0! 16.h3 f5 17.e4 e6 and, having forced the concession e4, Black had complete equality, Xu,JHjartarson,J/Lucerne 1993. ] 12...0-0 13.e2 d8 Black has a simple plan, he will pressurise the d3-pawn, and try to force the move e4, when d4 will provide a square for one of his knights. 14.0-0 f5 15.ac1 White seems to have a normal Sicilian type of formation, and was probably 1045 A28 feeling quite happy with his opening. d6 Morris,Charles F 2240 Intending to double rooks. 16.e4 Possibly a Komarov,Dimitri 2570 concession, [ 16.fd1 ad8 17.c3 allowed White to ECC (qual) gp 6 (3) 18.10.1998 maintain a flexible structure, albeit, [Tony Kosten] somewhat passively. ] If Black can protect his c-pawn, he 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 16...g4 5.c2 xc3 Black's safest choice, he would threaten to capture on f3, and then play concedes the bishop pair, but gains important Nd4. 17.e3 Fighting for the critical square. Putting paid to any ideas White had time to get on with his development. 6.xc3 d7 e7 7.a3 d5 Here is the pay-back for Black, about playing Bc5, and preparing a later he gets to free his position, and obtains a knight manoeuvre to f8, and then e6. 18.e1 A good idea, White doesn't want to be left with reasonable Sicilian-style position. 19.xe2 d8 [ 7...a5 is also popular, but suffers from the a b a d b i s h o p . xe2 disadvantage that it doesn't actually do what Having removed his queen from the a3-f8 it is intended to do, that is, stop b4: 8.b4! d ia go n a l, N f 8 -e 6 - d 4 b e co m e s a s e ri o u s anyway! axb4 9.axb4 xa1 10.xa1 e4 possibility. 20.f4?! White didn't want to wait if Black captures on b4, he loses his e-pawn. for Black to occupy d4, but this creates further 11.b5 exf3 12.bxc6 fxg2 13.cxd7+ xd7?! weaknesses. f6 21.f2 exf4 22.xf4 de5 14.xg2 0-0 15.0-0 and White has a big One senses that W hite's position is on the advantage, because of his two bishops and brink. 23.xe5 fxe5!? An interesting choice, I extra central pawns, Agdestein, S-Adams,M/ would have preferred [ 23...xe5 myself, with a sure plus. ] Hastings 1991. ] 8.cxd5 The most ambitious reply, and the 24.c5 [ 24.f7+ h8 25.c5 was more most common, after enterprising. ] [ 8.d4 exd4 ( 8...xd4 9.xd4 exd4 amounts to the same.) 9.xd4 xd4 24...h8?! There was nothing wrong with the 10.xd4 c5 11.h4 dxc4 12.xc4 0-0 immediate [ 24...d4 menacing a knight fork on e2. ] 13.d2 e6 14.c3 xc4 15.xc4 e4 Blundering a rook, White should 16.0-0 fd8 Pomes,J-Epishin,V/ Terrassa 25.b5?? 1991, Black has complete equality, in fact, have grasped the chance to play [ 25.f3! while it was there. ] his queenside pawn majority might even 25...d4 It is always nice when you achieve prove to be the decisive factor. ] 8...xd5 9.b3 b6 10.d3 a5 your positional threat, and it wins tactically! An interesting attempt at embarrassing the White cannot even get by with 'just' losing a white queen, and fixing the white queenside, rook, as 26 Qc4 is met by 26...Rc6. 0-1 although [ 10...0-0 is OK, too. ] 11.d2 a4 12.c2?! Obvious, but not best, [ 12.b5! is more active, keeping pressure on the e5-pawn, d7 13.c1 f6 14.c5 39...xf5 [ Or 39...d1 40.e5+ f8 41.h8+ e7 42.f6+ e6 43.g8+ e5 44.f7 xf1+ 45.xf1 c6+ 46.h2 xf7 47.xf7+- ] 40.xf5! Game over! Black gets mated or loses more material after 40...Qxf5 41 Qc3+ xg2 41.e5+ h6 42.e3+ 1-0
1033
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.e4 b8 16.a6 b6 17.c1 regains the A28 pawn. ] 2268 Played without any complex! This 2552 14.xc6! 30.04.2006 move concedes the powerf ul bishop, but completely ruins the black queenside. bxc6 15.c1 xc1 [ 15...b6 keeps the queens on the board, 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 g6 but 16.b1 a6 17.c2 allows White easy 5.g3 d5 Black plays this now, as play against the doubled c-pawns. ] [ 5...g7 6.d3!? of Gurevich, M-Plischki, S 16.axc1 d5 can be met by 7.g5 perhaps? ] [ 16.fxc1?! i s m o r e n a t u r a l , b u t e4 6.cxd5 xd5 7.d3!? hits the other rook. ] [ 7.g2 is quite possible, of course, and 17.e4 f5 18.c5 d8 simpler as W hite doesn't have to worry 16...h6 Time to evaluate the position: Black still has about tactics on c3. ] his extra pawn and bishops, but the light7...g7 8.xd5 The simplest, although [ 8.g5 xc3 9.bxc3 d6 10.d2 f5 s q u a r e d o n e i s l o o k i n g v e r y s a d a t t h e 11.g2 0-0 12.g5 is possible, Chuchelov, moment, completely dominated by the white V-Zhu Chen/Deizisau 1999, W hen W hite knight o n c5. Me anwhile , the a5 -pawn is another weakness that White can win when he can use his centre and the e4-square. ] [ 8.d2 is a bit passive, a5 9.g2 de7 wants, so despite the pawn less the structure 10.0-0 0-0 11.c1 with a Dragon reversed means that White has all the chances. 19.c2 position, Svetushkin, D-Hasangatin, R/Abu To cover the bishop. f8 20.f3 d5 [ 20...xc5+? is absolutely no help, as after Dhabi 2003. ] 21.xc5 Black has no less than 4 pawns [ Eric naturally avoided 8.g2? because of hanging! ] xc3 9.bxc3 e4 10.dxe4 xc3+ ] 21.fc1 f7 22.f2 h5 23.c4 e7 8...xd5 9.g2 0-0 [ 9...a5!? 10.0-0 a4 11.e3 b5 12.g5!? 24.1c2 d8 25.f4! exf4 26.xf4 d6 White is dreaming of a good knight with similar ideas to the main game, De la 27.h4! Rocha, R-Garcia Palermo, C/ Zaragoza v e r s u s b a d b i s h o p e n d g a m e ! xf4? A bad misjudgement, in his eagerness to win, 1992. ] 10.0-0 b5! This is known to be the best and free his rook from the defence of the a5pawn, Romanishin plays an awful positional here. [ 10...d6 11.c2 g4 12.e3 d7 move. [ 27...b8 was better, and if 28.d2 then 13.ac1 1/2-1/2 Shchekachev, A-Avrukh, B/ a8 to see if White can continue to improve Biel 2003, but I would prefer White. ] his position. 29.f4 repeats, but ( 29.b2 11.a4!? A surprising novelty. could be tried without any risk. )] [ 11.c2 is the most common here, e6 12.e3 b3 13.c5 xc5 14.xc5 fd8 28.gxf4 b8 29.e3 e7 Black has no 15.ac1 a5 is fairly level, Horvath, G-Ruck, activity, and a terrible minor piece - somehow he h a s t o try t o ge t t h is o u t to a n a c t ive T/Szombathely 2003. ] [ 11.b1 a5 12.e3 e6 13.b3 square. 30.e2?! White takes his time, but [ 30.4c3! is better, planning Nb3 to attack is Gurevich's attempt to improve this, d4 the a-pawn or d4 and Nd3-e5 to win the c614.b4 a2! 15.xd4 exd4 16.b2 d5 pawn. White has a clear advantage. ] Black has an edge, with his bishops and space, Gurevich, M-Balogh, C/Kusadasi 30...d6 31.d2 b6 By defending c6 twice Black prepares ...Be6 or ...Bd7. 32.d4 d7 TUR 2006. ] 11...b4 12.d2! White offers a pawn for the 33.4c3 b4? Objectively speaking [ 33...b1 is best, intending ...Rh1 to win the initiative and two open queenside files. xb2 h4-pawn. I imagine Eric would have replied 13.g5 a5 The natural reply, Black is worried 34.c1 b2+ 35.3c2 b4 36.c4 about the advance of the white a-pawn. with a draw. ] [ 13...d4 14.a5 keeps the initiative, h6
1046 Moskow,Eric Romanishin,Oleg M Classics GMA (8) [Tony Kosten]
1034
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 34.b3! xb3 35.xb3 Now the a-pawn is attacked, and there is no way to defend it. e6?! [ 35...c5! 36.xc5 ( 36.xc5 e8 ) 36...xa4 37.xa5 c6 is unpleasant to play, but with his enormous experience Romanishin might have been able to draw. ] [ 35...d5 is no help: 36.c5 e8 37.b2 followed by Rb7 and if necessary Ra7 and Rxa5. ] 36.xa5 d5 37.b7 f6 38.c5 Coming back to base camp having gained a strong passed pawn. f8 39.c3 d6 40.b2 e8 41.d2 a8 42.c3 e8 Only now does Black show any willingness to draw! 43.e2 No thanks! b8 44.e1 e7 45.g1 f7 46.a1 Rook behind pawn! e6 47.a5 c8 48.a6 a8 49.a7 e7 50.b4 W hite can win pretty much as he pleases here. d6 51.c4 e7 52.a5 [ 52.d3 to e5 will win a pawn, but there is no rush. ] 52...d6 53.a3 e7 54.c3 d6 55.a5 e7 56.d3 b7 57.c5 c8 58.a1 d6 59.d3 b7 60.c4 c8 61.e5 At last! e6+ 62.c3 [ 62.b4 was possibly even more accurate. ] 62...c5 63.a6+ d5 64.dxc5 c8 65.a5 e4 Black is only playing with his king! 66.d2 g5 67.hxg5 h4 Some counterplay! 68.a4+? [ 68.c6! h3 69.e2 weaves a mating net: h2 70.d3 and both Re5 mate and Nf2 mate are threatened. ] 68...d5 69.c6?! h3 70.f3 White is really wavering hereabouts. xc6 71.e2 b7 72.a1 d6 Black can win the a-pawn by [ 72...b6 but then 73.f2! (other moves probably only draw) xa7 74.xa7 xa7 75.g3 c5 76.h4 c4 ( 76...e4 77.g6 c4 78.g7 d5 79.xf5 c3 80.d4 ) 77.xf5 and wins, the knight can stop the cpawn, and meanwhile the 3 white passers march home. ] 73.f2 c5 74.g3 c4 I imagine Eric must have been a little bit nervous around here! 75.d4 e4 76.xh3 c5 77.g3 c3 78.f2 b4 79.g6 c2 80.g3 c3 81.h4 b2 The black king has really worked hard in this game! 82.xc2 Forced. xc2 83.g5 d2 84.a3 d3 85.f6
xe3 86.g7 e4 87.a4+! [ 87.g8? xg8 88.a8+ xa8 89.xa8 xf4 is a draw. ] 87...e3 88.f7? Nearly jeopardising the win. [ 88.b4! and Rb8 will make a whole queen! ] 88...b5?? [ 88...c2! would have forced White to find a few accurate moves: 89.a5 xf4 90.f6! ( 90.a3 d3! 91.xd3? xa7+ 92.g6 xg7+ 93.xg7 e4 is a theoretical draw. ) 90...b3 91.a3 g8 92.a4+ f3 93.xf5 and I imagine White wins this by bringing the king to b6 and then playing Rf8, but I am not sure, perhaps Black can play ... Bd5 and ...Rg8 at the right time and hang on. It is important to note that White cannot give up his rook for the bishop at any moment the two pawns against rook is a draw when the pawns are so far apart. ] 89.g8 Of course! xa7+ [ 89...xg8 90.xg8 xa4 91.a8 ] 90.xa7 c4+ 91.f6 The quickest win, although all the other king moves also win. [ 91.f8 xg8 92.xg8 xf4 93.h7 e3 94.g6 f4 95.e7+ d3 96.f7 e3 97.g5 f3 98.g4 f2 99.g3 for instance. ] [ 91.f6 xg8 92.xf5 d4 93.d7+ c4 94.e5 and the pawn will cost Black his bishop. ] 1-0
1047 Naiditsch,Arkadij Savchenko,Stanislav 2nd President's Cup (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A28 2654 2545 06.05.2007
1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f6 4.d4 exd4 [ The main alternative is 4...e4 which has supposedly been under a cloud since the game Smirin-Johannessen, Istanbul OL 2000. However, matters aren't that clear and Black has in fact been doing rather well since that game: 5.g5 h6 6.gxe4 xe4 7.xe4 h4 8.d3 ( 8.c3 was the old main line, which is considered to be leading to equal play. The text move was brought 1035
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.g2 f5 and Black is by no means to attention by Smirin's win in the worse.; aforementioned game.) 8...d5 9.cxd5 b4 B2) 13...xd4 14.a3 ( or 14.e4 c5 10.b1 f5 11.d6+ 15.d1 xf2 16.a3 d4+ 17.e2 A) 11...cxd6 12.xf5 g6 13.f4! a6 18.e3 e5 with chances to both ( 13.b1? c8! 14.g3?! xd4-+ sides ) 14...0-0-0 ( 14...xd5!? ) 15.d2 15.h3 c2+ 16.f1 xd5 17.g1 xd5 16.e3 f6 ( 16...he8!? ) 17.c2 c7 0-1 R.Mathy-W.Pelzer, corr 1985) he8 ( 17...e5!? ) 18.e2 b8 13...c2+ 14.d1 xf4 15.xf4 xa1 ( 18...e5!? 19.b1 d6 and Black A1) 16.e4!? 0-0-0 17.d2 g7 continues to control the initiative) 19.0-0 18.e3 f5 19.f3 fxe4 20.fxe4 f6 f4 20.f3?! ( 20.c4!? stops Black's 21.c4 de8 22.c1 d8 23.d3? plans in their tracks, and leaves White ( 23.d3 b3+ 24.axb3 g5 25.b4 ) with a very decent game. Now, on the 23...xe4! 24.xe4 e8+ 25.d3 other hand, Black again takes ove r) xe3+ 26.d2 g5 , and Black 20...h3+ 21.h1 g5 22.c3 e7 eventually converted his advantage to a 23.e2 e4 24.g1 f5 25.ae1 h5 win, H.Spjelke-Iweborg, corr 1969; 26.d3? ( 26.d1 f4 ) 26...xh2+ A2) 16.e3 a6 ( 16...g5 17.g3 h5 27.xh2 d6+ and here White, 18.b5+ e7 19.h4 is fine for White; somewhat prematurely decided to resign, 16...c8 17.d3 (Smirin) is given 0-1, B. Kovacevic-R.Zelcic, Bizovac without evaluation, but looks better for 2001 ] White ) 17.d3 d7 18.d2 g7 ( S m i r i n h a s s u g g e s t e d 18...b3+!? 5.xd4 b4 6.g5 0-0 7.e3 h6 8.h4 and; 18...h5 intending . ..Bh6, in both e8 9.xc6 [ This is a rare line. The alternatives have cases without evaluations, but in both been tested examined in far greater detail: cases White appears to have the better 9.e2 chances. ) 19.xa1 h5 20.h4 ae8 A) 9...e4!? 10.g3!? ( 10.xf6 xc3+ ( 20...h6!? 21.h2 he8 is suggested 11.bxc3 xf6 12.0-0 e8= by Smirin in ECO, but again W hite M.Zacurdajev-A.Demianjuk, St. Petersburg seems to hold the upper hand, e. g. 2006 ) 10...xd4 11.exd4 e7 12.f1 22.a4 ac8 23.b4 followed by a5 and xc3 13.bxc3 with a complicated game, b5 with a better game for White) 21.a4 where I prefer White with the bishop pair C. h6 22.h2 f5 23.a3 hf8 24.b3 Grant-A.Kapstan, Manitoba 1990; c7 25.e2 f6 26.f3 g5?!+B) 9...g5 10.g3 e4 11.c1 xd4 27.hxg5 xg5 28.c3+ d7 29.b4 ( 11...xc3+!? 12.bxc3 d6 13.0-0 d7 ) g8 30.b5 axb5 31.xb5+ d8 32.a5 12.xd4 c5 13.d3 d5 14.xd5 g7 33.d3 h4 34.b3 c7 35.b6 , and now instead of 1/2-1/2 E.Agrest-P. e7 36.g3 hxg3 37.xg3 d7 38.f4 Cramling, Orebro 2000, W hite should h4 39.b1 1-0 I.Smirin-L.Johannessen, probably have played on, e.g. f6 15.0-0 Istanbul OL 2000. A beautiful xc3 16.bxc3 xc3 17.d2 xe2+ performance by Smirin.; 18.xe2 b6 19.f3 with a slight pull for B) 11...xd6!? 12.xf5 g6!? White; ( This is new, and a clear improvement C) 9...xc3+ 10.bxc3 e5 11.f3 g6 ove r S m irin 's 12...xd4 13.e3 xd5 12.f2 d6 ( 12...c5!? 13.b3 b6 14.0-0 14.xd5 xd5 , wh i c h a f t e r 15.d2 d5 is identical to Simutowe-Sokolov leaves White a small but clear below ) 13.0-0 d7 , and the players advantage. ) 13.b1 prematurely agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2 B1) Also 13...xd5!? can be considered, E.Ghaem Maghami-F.Vallejo Pons, e.g. 14.e4 b4+ 15.e2 f6 16.g3 Oropesa del Mar 2000; ( 16.a3? xe4! 17.axb4 xf2+ D) 9...e5 18.d3 0-0-0 19.e3 xd4+! 20.xd4 D1) 10.f3 g6 11.f2 d5 12.0-0 c5 d8-+ ) 16...xe4+ 17.xe4+ xe4 1036
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.b3 xc3 14.bxc3 b6 15.e1?! ( 15.cxd5 xd5 16.d2 c7= ) 15...e6 16.cxd5 xd5 A.Simutowe-I. Sokolov, Tripoli 2004; D2) 10.b3! a5 11.0-0 g6 12.xf6 xf6 13.d5 d8 14.a3 ( 14.a4!? c6 15.b4 cxd5 16.bxa5 dxc4 17.xc4 e5 U.Calgaro-A.Benassi, Email 1998 18.a6 bxa6 19.ab1 ) 14...c6 15.b4 c7 16.xc7 xc7 17.b5!? c5 18.b6! xb6 19.ab1 d8 ( 19...c7 20.b5 e5 21.fd1 ) 20.xc5 b6 21.d6 ( 21.d5 a6 22.fd1 ) 21...b7 22.c5 e4 23.b5 bxc5 24.xc5 L.Szabo-V.Smyslov, Budapest Candidates 1950 ] [ The new main move is 9.c1! and after xd4 10.xd4 c5 11.d1 g5 12.g3 d5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.xd5 xd5 White should opt for 15.h4!? ( 15.a3 xc3+ 16.bxc3 d7 17.e2 c6= A.Shariyazdanov-V.Kuporosov, Tula 2001) 15...g4 16.b5 d8 17.e2 xc3+ 18.bxc3 a3 19.c7 f8 20.b1 a6 ( 20...e6 21.d3 d5 22.f3 fe8 23.c4 c6 24.f5 gxf3+ 25.gxf3 ) 21.c4 ( 21.d3!? ) 21...b5 22.d5 a7 23.f4 g7 24.b3 d8 25.e4 B.Kohlweyer-E. Van den Doel, Vlissingen 2002 ] 9...bxc6 [ Or 9...xc3+ 10.bxc3 dxc6 11.xd8 xd8 12.e2 e6 13.b1 b6 14.b2 c5 15.xf6 gxf6= Y.El Ghazali-T.Najdoski, Internet Chess Club 2002 ] 10.d3 xc3+ 11.bxc3 c5!? 12.b1 [ Worthy of consideration is 12.f3!? a6 ( 12...b8 13.xf6 xf6 14.xf6 gxf6 15.0-0 ) 13.0-0 b8 14.fb1 b6 15.f5 d6 16.xf6 xf6 17.xf6 gxf6= ] 12...d6 13.0-0 d7 14.f3 g5 15.g3 g4 16.b7 b8 17.a6 c8! 18.a4?! [ 18.xc8?! exc8 19.f3 d7 20.b3 b6 21.fb1 cb8 ] [ White's best is possibly 18.xa7!? a8 19.b7 xa2 20.f3 d7 21.fe1= ] 18...d7! 19.c2 [ Or 19.xa7 a8 20.b7 xa2 21.f3 g7 22.fc1 d2 ] 19...xb1 20.xb1 c6 21.e1 e4 22.f3 xg3 23.hxg3 e6 24.f2 g7 25.c1 a5! White doesn't have much of chance to
develop any counterplay, so Black takes the opportunity to tie W hite up a bit more 26.e4 a4! 27.e3 f6 28.c2 e6 29.e2 e5 30.d3 f8 [ 30...b8!? ] 31.a3 g7 32.h1 e7 [ Black can also consider 32...b8!? 33.b1 xb1 ( 33...h8!? intending ...h5-h4) 34.xb1 h5 ] 33.g4 e8 34.g3 b8 35.b1 h8! 36.e3 h5 37.gxh5 xh5 38.g2 f5?! [ Black is in too much in a hurry. The solid 38...f6!? leaves White suffering a while longer. Now on the other hand, White finds an elegant and surprising solution to his problems ] 39.h1! h6 [ 39...xh1 is obviously met by 40.xg5+ f7 41.xh1 xc3 42.xf5+= ] 40.xg5+!!= Very nice! Now White steers the game into a drawn endgame xg5 41.f4+ xf4 [ Black can also try 41...g6!? but after 42.fxe5 xh1 43.xh1 A) 43...xe4+?? 44.xe4 fxe4 45.exd6 cxd6 46.g2 f5 47.f2 g4 48.e3 f5 ( 48...xg3 49.xe4 f2 50.d5+- ) 49.g4++-; B) 43...fxe4 44.exd6 cxd6 45.g2 g5 46.f2 g4 47.e3 xg3 48.xe4 d7= it's a draw after all ] 42.gxf4+ g6 43.xh5 xh5 44.f3 xe4+ 45.xe4 fxe4+ 46.xe4 g4 47.f5?? [ White blunders the game away in this relatively simple pawn endgame. The draw can be reached after 47.e3! f5 48.f3 c6 49.e3 d5 50.f3 d4 51.cxd4 cxd4 52.c5 d3 53.e3 d2 54.xd2 xf4 55.c3 e3 56.b4 d4 57.xa4 c4 58.a5 xc5 59.a4 d4 60.b6 c5 61.a5 ] 47...g5-+ 48.d5 xf5 49.c6 e4 50.xc7 d3 51.xd6 xc4 52.c6 b3 53.xc5 xa3 54.c4 b3 0-1
1037
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A28 33.h6 g7 34.h7 g8 35.c7 [ 35.f5! is right, when c4 36.e3 b3 2521 37.c1 which is not too clear. ] 2602 25.10.2003 35...c4 36.c2 d4! Black is searching for activity at any price. 37.xd6 [ 37.xf7!? g2 38.a5 xf2 39.c7+ is more combative, keeping the rook in the 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 game: xb5 40.d2! e1 41.d1! xd2 5.c2 0-0 6.d5 e8 7.f5 d6 8.xf6+ 42.c2 regaining the bishop. ] xf6 9.xf6 gxf6 10.a3 c5 11.b4 b6 12.b2 a5 13.b5 d8 The knight aims for 37...g2 Now White is in big trouble, his extra e6. 14.d4! a4!? A novelty as we previously pawns count for nothing. 38.d2 [ 38.xf7 xf2 39.b4 e1+ 40.b1 xb4 saw, 41.axb4 b3 42.c1 a3 also loses. ] [ 14...g4!? 15.c5! proved good for White in 39.e5 The bishop must be Karpov,A-Bacrot,E/Match g/5, Cannes FRA 38...xf2 protected against the discovered check. c5+ 2000. ] 15.0-0-0 g4 This is the point of Black's play, 40.c1? The wrong square! [ 40.d1 d3 41.g7 h2 42.c1 by delaying this move until White castles he keeps some chances. ] tries to side-step the c5 trick. 16.h3 [ 16.c5?! is ineffective now, dxc5 17.dxe5 40...e3+! This move forces mate. 41.b1 [ 41.d1 d3 42.g7 c2 mates by ... fxe5 and the f3-knight is pinned so that the Rc1. ] e5-pawn is safe from capture. ] The triumph of Black's king march! 16...xf3 17.gxf3 e6 18.g1+ f8 19.c5! 41...b3 Anyway! a5 Black's 14th move provided a 42.g7 d2 Mate is unavoidable. 0-1 useful square for the black bishop. [ 19...dxc5 20.dxe5 fxe5 21.xe5 opens the position for the powerful white 1049 A28 bishops. ] 20.g4 Navara,David 2656 [ 20.c4 is a good alternative, White must Rublevsky,Sergei 2676 have an edge here. ] World Cup Khanty Mansiysk RUS (2.4) 20...exd4 21.cxd6 cxd6 22.xd4 [Carsten Hansen] W hite is not worried about a possible opposite-colour bishop position, as rooks are 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 d5 on the board, and the black structure is a 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c2 e7 7.e3 0-0 mess. ec8+ 23.b1 c3 24.b6 f5 [ The main alternative is 7...a6 8.xd5 25.c4 xc4 26.xc4 White has played very xd5 accurately and has a clear plus due to the A) 9.c4 can also be considered, e.g. bishop pair and better pawn structure. e7 d6 10.b4 0-0 ( 10...g4!? ) 11.b2 27.d5!? I don't like this move so much, and e6 12.0-0 xc4 13.xc4 ad8 14.fd1 would prefer either , and W hite's position is easier to play, [ 27.d5 to target the b7-pawn, or the Gurevich, M-Atakisi, U/Izmir 2002; positional ] B) 9.d3 , and in this position, Black has [ 27.f4! fixing the f5-pawn on a light square. ] tried several things 27...f4 28.h5 c8 29.xe6? Why swap this B1) 9...e6 10.0-0 ( 10.e4!? d6 powerful bishop for the knight? 11.0-0 d5 ) 10...h6 11.b4 b3 [ 29.d5 keeps White in the driving seat. ] 12.xb3 xb3 13.b2 f6 14.e4 29...xe6 30.xh7 e5 Black is a pawn 0-0-0 15.fc1 d5= McNab, Cdown but his pieces are nicely centralised. Rodriguez Uria, J/Oviedo 1993; 31.h4 d5! The king is coming! 32.exf4 B2) 9...d7 10.b4 e6 ( 10...xb4?! f6!? 11.e4 a5 12.b1 d6 Prabhakar, [ 32...c4! looks better, pinning the f-pawn. ] K-Gutsche, D/ICCF Email 2000 13.b2 1048 Narciso Dublan,Marc Illescas Cordoba,Miguel LXVIII ch-Gp A (2) [Tony Kosten]
1038
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 him ) 12.b2 g6 ( 12...h6?! 13.c1 b8 14.0-0 ) 11.b2 d6 0-0 14.0-0 fe8 15.d3 g6 16.d2! ( 11...0-0-0!? is a suggestion by Ribli, but g7 17.b3 Mchedlishvili, M-Wang W h it e lo oks mo re com f o rt ab le a f t e r Yu A/Beer Sheva 2005) 13.0-0 0-0 12.0-0 b8 13.ac1; 11...f5 12.c4 14.d4 exd4 Vrbica, L-Cacko, J/corr f6 13.0-0 d6 14.fc1 f8 15.d3 2000 15.xd4!? xd4 16.xd4 e7 16.d5 0-0-0 17.ab1 xd4 17.ad1 c5 18.bxc5 xc5 Chernin, A-Hertneck, G/Austria 1994) 19.xd4 xc2 20.xc2 with the 12.g5! g4?! 13.h4! xg2 14.0-0-0 tiniest of edges for White ] g4 ( 14...d5 15.c4+- ) 15.dg1 [ 7...xc3 is the third move in this position h5 16.c4! 0-0 ( 16...d8 17.f4 ) for details see Kovalyov-Cubas, Pinamar 17.f4 ( White may also consider 17.e2 2006 in the PGN archives ] h6 18.d3 f5 19.c4+ h8 20.f7+ , an d W h ite p icks up t he exch an ge) 8.xd5 [ 8.b5!? has been discussed several times 17...h8?! 18.d5 ae8? ( 18...f6!? ) on this website - look in the PDF e-books 19.xf7+! xf7 20.g5 , and White and the PGN archives for the many games won shortly, Chernin, A-Polgar, Z/Brno discussing this option. ] 1993; B3) 9...a5?! 10.0-0 d7 11.b1 g6 8...xd5 9.d3!? [ Initially the bishop may look a little clumsy 12.b4 d5 13.b2 f5 14.c4 d6 on this square, but it is only a temporary 15.d4 , and it is already more or less station. Usually W hite will follow up with game over for Black, Badea, B-Haas, R/ either Bc4 or Be4, once Black has Wattens 1994; we a k e n e d h i s k i n g s i d e . T h i s t h e m e i s B4) 9...e6 10.b4 f5 11.b2 f6 obviously also known from the Sicilian. An 12.c4 d6 13.d3 e6 14.0-0 alternative is the direct 9.c4 which has Grimm, S-Oswald, H/Germany 1996/ been tested in several high-level encounters, GER-chT2; though it has proven less effective, e.g. d6 B5) 9...d6!? A) 10.h4 g4 11.b4 f6 12.g5 h6 B5a) This move is critical, the 13.e4 h5 14.b2 h8 ( 14...g6 a l t e r n a t i ve 10.b4 is less challenging 15.g4 h5 16.e4 g6= ) 15.f5 for Black: e6 11.b2 f6 12.c1 1/2-1/2 Nogueiras, J-Zambrana, O/Havana d8 13.e4 d5 14.0-0 xe4 2004; 15.xe4 0-0 16.c4 fe8 17.fc1 B) 10.b4 d3 ( 17...e6 18.a4 Delchev, AB1) 10...e6 is an important alternative, Bilobrk, F/Zadar CRO 2002) 18.c3 e.g. 11.b2 a6 12.0-0 ( 18.g4? was played in Dolgopolov, AB1a) 12...f6 13.d3 h6 ( 13...g6!? Rjabenko/Roslavl 1989, but Black now 14.e4 d5 15.d3 fd8 16.d2 ) m i s s e d t h e a m a z i n g b l o w d4!! 14.h7+ h8 15.e4 d5 19.xd4 xd4 20.xd3 xd3 B1a1) 16.d3!? 21.xc7 b5 22.xe5 xe5 23.xe5 B1a11) 16...xe4 17.dxe4 e6 xd2 ) 18...e6 19.xd3 xd3 18.e1! ( 18.d2!? fd8 19.b3 20.e4 e7= Mastrovasilis, A-Skembris, e7 20.ad1 ); S/Athens 1999; B1a12) 16...ad8 17.ad1 e6 B5b) 10.e4!? d7 11.b4 f6?! 18.d2 e7 19.c4 f5 20.xd5 ( Ribli suggests 11...e6!? 12.b2 f5 xd5 21.d4 e4 22.e5; 13.xc6 xc6 14.xe5 xg2 B1a2) 16.c3 fe8 17.xd5 xd5 15.g1 e4 16.d3 d5 , which is 18.d3 ad8 19.fd1 d7 20.e4 offered without evaluation, but White e6 21.ab1 ed8 22.h3 e7 seems to be doing pretty good after 23.h2 g6 24.g3 h5 25.a1 17.e4 fxe4 18.dxe4 b3 19.xc7 (1/2-1/2 Kuchtova, R-Kuchta, J/corr f6 20.c1 , and Black has a very CZE 2003) c6 , and in this unpleasant defensive task ahead of 1039
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c4 18.d3!? Agrest, E-Young, R/ New interesting position with chances to York 1998 ] both sides, the players agreed upon [ B) 10.c4 d6 11.b4 f6 12.b1 e7 a draw, in Gurevich, M-Khalifman, A/ 13.d3 f5 ( 13...g4!? ) 14.d2 ( 14.0-0 Wijk aan Zee 2002; c6= ) 14...b5!? 15.xb5 d5 16.e4 xb5 B1b) 12...ad8 13.ac1 d5 17.exf5 xf5 18.f3 ad8 19.b3 ( 13...xc4 14.xc4 f6 15.fd1 Kovalyov, A-Korneev, O/Alcala de Henares d3 16.a4! e4 17.xf6 gxf6 18.e1 ESP 2007 ] xc4 19.xc4 Ibragimov, I-Joachim, S/Fuerth 2000) 14.xd5 ( 14.fd1!? ) 10...d6 11.c3!? [ A new move, but also a reasonably strong 14...xd5 15.c4 ( 15.d4!? exd4 one, Black wants to play ...f7-f5 to chase 16.xd4 xd4 17.xd4 d6 18.c3 the bishop on e4 away and again space for with a slight initiative for White) 15...f6 his pieces, but the text move attempts to 16.fd1 , and here a draw was prevent that, because Black needs to keep prematurely agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in his e-pawn protected. Earlier tries include Dizdarevic, E-Georgiev, K/Skopje 2002, the following moves: A) 11.b4 f5! 12.xc6 despite the fact that xc4 17.xc4 bxc6 13.b2 f6?! ( 13...e4!? 14.d4 d3 18.e1 b3!? looks worth a try d7 15.c3 f6 ) 14.0-0 a5 15.c3 for Black; ( 15.d4!? e4 16.e5 axb4 17.axb4 xa1 B2) 10...h8 11.b2 f5 12.h4 e4 18.xa1 xe5 19.dxe5 xb4 20.d4; 13.g5 e5 14.c1 Vehre jr, J15.c5!? ) 15...a6 16.fc1 d3 17.b2 Lindholm, N/corr ICCF 1989; ae8 18.e1 a6 19.c2!? e4 20.bxa5 B3) 10...f6!? 11.b1 e7 ( 11...g6 xc3 21.xc3 Malakhatko, V-Vernay, C/ 12.d3 f5 13.d2 g7 14.e4 e7 Geneve 2007 ] 15.0-0 Smyslov, V-Kapengut, A/ [ B) 11.b3 f5 12.xc6 bxc6 13.b2 e4 Moscow 1979) 12.d3 f5 13.h3 ad8 14.e5 a6 ( 14...e6!? 15.0-0 d5 ( 13...a5 14.g4 g6 15.g5 b5 16.xb5 16.b4 ad8 17.ac1 f6 18.f4 exf3 xg5 17.bxa5 f6 ) 14.e4 e6 19.xf3= Turati, P-Van der Houwen, P/ICCF 15.xe6 ( 15.e3!? ) 15...xe6 16.0-0 Email 2003) 15.xc6 ac8 16.c2 f6 d7 17.d1 fd8 18.e3 a6 19.a4 h6 17.c4 xc4 18.bxc4 xb2 19.xb2 fd8 20.b3 xb3 21.xb3 g6 22.f1 20.0-0 b8 21.c3 xd2 22.e5 d7 , a n d wi t h t h e c h a n c e s r e a s o n a b l y , and the chances are objectively speaking balanced, the players agreed upon a even, although W hite went on to win the draw, 1/2-1/2, Piket, J-Ivanchuk, V/Wijk game showing excellent technique, giving up aan Zee 2001 ] t wo r o o k s f o r a q u e e n , o n l y t o e x p l o i t 9...h8 Black's weak pawns, Degerhammar, R[ Or 9...h6 10.0-0 e6 11.h7+ h8 Yepez Gutierrez, J/ ICCF Email 2002 ] 12.e4 d6 13.b4 d5 14.d3 f5 15.xd5 xd5 16.b2 a5 17.e4 d6 , and even a 11...f6?! [ After this solid move, Black drifts into a draw was agreed upon in this position, 1/2-1/ pa ssive p osit io n with o ut m uch h o pe o f 2, in Peralta, E-Cubas, J/ Asuncion PAR counterplay. Black should instead fight for 2006, I clearly prefer White after 18.b5 fxe4 the initiative with 11...f5!? anyway! the play 19.dxe4 d4 20.xd4 exd4 21.ad1 f6 could continue as follows 12.xc6 e4 13.d4 22.f4 ] ( 13.d4 bxc6 14.xc6 xc6 15.xc6 10.e4 f6 ) 13...bxc6 14.e5 c5 15.xc5 xc5 [ This seems better than the alternatives: A) 16.dxc5 e8 17.c6 xc5 18.d2 e6 10.b4 f5 11.b5?! ( 11.b2!? ) 11...e4 19.d4 b6 20.b4 d6= ] 12.c4 c5?! ( 12...d6! 13.bxc6 exf3 14.gxf3 xc6 15.b2 f6 16.xf6 xf6 12.b4 a6 [ 12...a5 13.b5 d8 14.a4 b4 15.c2 f5 17.d3 d6 ) 13.d4 exd3 ( 13...b6 16.d5 d6 17.a3 ] 14.d2 a5!? ) 14.xd3 xc2 15.xc2 [ 12...g4 13.0-0 f5!? 14.xc6 xf3 f6 16.b1 e5 ( 16...a5!? ) 17.d4 1040
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.xf3 e4 16.xe4 fxe4 17.b2 ] 13.b2 White's set-up is so simple that it is amazing to see how Black gets wasted in this game. The problem for Black is that W hite obtains a solid yet very dynamic position that allows for easy development and fast coordination of the pieces. Very shortly, White will have his king safely tucked aside and rooks on the c- and d-files, ready to break with d2-d4, which Black due to his much more passive set-up will be ill-equipped to face. e6 14.c2 ad8 15.0-0 d7 [ 15...g4 is met by 16.ac1! ( 16.d4 xf3 17.xf3 exd4 18.exd4 xd4 19.xd4 xd4 20.fe1 d6 21.xb7 b6 22.c6 ) 16...xf3 17.xf3 xd2 18.b3 d7 19.fd1 e8 20.xd8 xd8 21.c2 , and White wins the pawn back with interest in form of a destroyed queenside structure for Black ] 16.ac1!? [ Navara plays patiently a promising alternative is constituted in 16.d4 , e.g. exd4 17.xd4 xd4 18.xd4 c8 19.c5 e6 20.f5 f7 ( 20...e5 21.f4+- ) 21.xh7 xc5 22.g6 e7 23.bxc5+- ] 16...e6 17.fd1! [ Again taking his time, but Black's passive position is running nowhere. The alternative is 17.d4!? exd4 18.xd4 xd4 19.exd4!? ] 17...d6?! [ Either Black has underestimated the strength of White's next move, overlooked something or was trying to bluff White into believing that Black has everything under control. In any case the punishment falls swiftly from here onwards. Black should h a v e o p t e d f o r 17...f5 18.xc6 xc6 19.xe5 d6 20.xc6 xc6 21.d3 th o u gh t h is is h a rd ly a n y f u n f o r B la ck either. ] 18.xh7!! A gutsy, but great move. Even if the bishop is trapped after Black's next move, it is left lingering and untouchable, while W hite systematically blows Black's position to bits. f5 19.e4! e7 20.d4! exd4 21.xd4 c6?! [ 21...c6 22.d5 e7 23.a5 h6 24.e5! ( 24.xf5 b6 25.xd7 bxa5 26.e5 xd7 27.exd6 xd6 )] 22.e5! xf3 23.h4! d5 24.exd6 xd6
25.gxf3 c6 26.e2 xc1+ , and Black has finally had enough 1-0
27.xc1
1050 A28 Nevednichy,Vladislav 2582 Labib,Ibrahim Hasan 2426 FIDE WCh KO New Delhi IND (1.1) 27.11.2000 [Tony Kosten] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.d4 This move was once considered the main line, bu t is n o w t h o u gh t qu it e h a rm le s s . T h a t doesn't stop the line f rom claiming many victims, though! exd4 5.xd4 b4 6.g5 h6 7.h4 xc3+ 8.bxc3 e5 9.f4 [ This is the main line 9.e3 is considered in the archives. ] 9...g6 [ 9...xc4? 10.e4 e3 11.e2 xf1 12.e5 0-0 13.f5 wins. ] 10.xf6 xf6 11.g3 h5!? [ An interesting alternative to the standard 11...0-0 12.d2 d6 13.g2 e7?! 14.b5! c6 15.xd6 with some advantage, Smirin, I-Adams,M/Cap d`Agde 1996. ] 12.h4!? [ This new move aims to fix the h5-pawn, but c o n c e d e s t h e g 4 - s q u a r e . 12.g2 allows Black to open the h-file, h4 13.0-0!? hxg3 14.hxg3 d5?! ( better 14...a6 15.e4 d6 16.a4+ d7 17.b4 which is unclear ) 15.cxd5 g4 16.a4+ d7 17.b4 e7 18.e4 should be winning for White, Yanin,P-Kotov,V/Nizhnij Novgorod 1998. ] 12...0-0 13.g2 d6 14.0-0 g4!? 15.d2 [ 15.xb7 ab8 16.g2 b2 offers Black good prospects. ] 15...ae8 16.e4 e7 17.c2! c6 18.e3 C o n t r o l l i n g d 5 , a n d g 4 . fe8 19.d4 This leaves Black an awkward problem to face. f8! [ Probably the best, Black allows White to d o u b l e h i s k i n g s i d e p a w n s . 19...xd4?! 20.cxd4 would be too kind to White. ] 20.c5!? [ 20.xg4 hxg4 21.xf6 gxf6 22.ab1 can be answered by f5!? 23.exf5 g7 -f6. ] 1041
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20...xd4 21.cxd4 dxc5 22.dxc5 e6 The knight returns to the game. 23.fc1 d8 24.c3 ed7 25.f1 d4 26.c4 [ 26.xg4 hxg4 27.f2 is better, although Black should be OK. ] 26...f3+ 27.f2 d2 28.e3?! [ 28.xd2 xd2+ 29.e3 8d7 might offer White a slight edge. ] 28...xe4! An advantageous simplification. 29.xe4 e8+ 30.e5 Obviously forced. f6 31.d3?! fxe5 32.xd7 [ 32.fxe5? de7 is worse. ] 32...exf4+ 33.xf4 xd7 And Black has won a pawn. 34.c4+ e6?! [ This allows White to draw easily, but even after 34...h7 35.b1 c8 White' s active king will give him reasonable chances. ] 35.xe6+ xe6 36.b1 e7 37.g5 Simply winning the h-pawn. h7 38.xh5 e5+ 39.g4 xc5 40.xb7 a5 41.c7 xa2 42.xc6 a4+ 43.h5 a5+ ½-½
1051 Nogueiras Santiago,Jesus Harikrishna,Penteala 37th Olympiad (10) [John Watson]
A28 2556 2680 31.05.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 e7 We're more used to seeing [ 5...xc3 6.xc3 e7 here. ] 6.d5 Otherwise White's setup doesn't make much sense. xd5 7.cxd5 e4 8.g1!? [ 8.dxc6 exf3 9.cxd7+ xd7 10.xc7 looks promising at first, but c8! ( 10...c6 11.xe7+ xe7 12.g3 h5!? 13.h3 ac8 is unclear White has an extra pawn but it's dif f icu lt to d evelop .) 11.xb7 d6! This has several points. One is that Rg1 within the next few moves allows ...Qxh2. There's also the direct threat ...Rxc1+ and ... Qxd2 mate. Finally, by forcing White's queen back, Black can bring his rooks into play. 12.e4+ d8 13.c4 ( 13.d3?? fxg2 14.xd6 gxf1+ 15.xf1 xd6 ) 13...e8 14.d5 fxg2 15.g1 c6 ] 8...b8 9.xc7 0-0 Again Black has development for a pawn and White's pawn on d5 is weak. Still, this gives W hite time to
u n d e r m i n e t h e e 4 p a w n . 10.c2 b6 11.h3?! [ 11.a3 d6 12.d3! is the way to go, when f5 13.dxe4 fxe4 14.e2 intends Nc3 or Nd4. ] 11...b7 12.b3 d6 13.b2 xd5 Black recovers the pawn with no problems, whereas W hite still needs to do something with his knight on h3. 14.c4 xc4 15.xc4 c6 16.0-0 b4 17.c3 ac8 18.d4 f6 19.f4 [ Simplification by 19.xb4 xb4 20.f4 gives White close to equality. ] 19...c6 [ 19...e5 20.xe5 fxe5 21.xb4 xb4 22.d5 a3 23.c3 should be satisfactory, since c6 24.ad1 b4 25.xe4 d5 26.c3 d8 is about equal. Black will generally win a pawn as W hite frees his game. ] 20.d5+ h8 21.f3! xf4 22.exf4 exf3 23.xf3 f7!? 24.d3! xd5 25.xd5 fd8 26.e1 White has a little edge with bishopversus-knight and active rooks, but it's not much. The game continues normally for a while: g8 27.e3 f7 28.ed3 c7 29.f2 e7 30.b5 d5 31.a4 e6? [ 31...c5!= ] 32.a5 c6 33.g4 g6 34.b4?! [ 34.d4! attacks the b-pawn and every defence has a drawback: dd6 ( 34...bxa5 35.e3+ f7 36.b7; 34...b8 35.axb6 axb6 36.e3+ f7 37.h3 g8 38.c3; 34...c8 35.e3+ f7 36.axb6 xb6 37.c3 xc3 38.dxc3 and the bishop is much better than the knight, while Black's apawn will probably fall soon. )] 34...c8 35.f5+!? gxf5 36.gxf5+ xf5 37.bxd5+ xd5 38.xd5+ e6 39.h5 c7 40.axb6 axb6 41.e3 e7 42.xe7 xe7 43.d4 ½-½
1042
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B2) 15.a4? c4 16.c2 f5 Kwatschewsky, L-Brandner, S/ Oberpullendorf 2002; C) 8...e7 9.0-0 c5 10.f3 xf3+ 11.exf3 xc3 12.xc3 d5 13.g5 d4 14.d2 d7 15.b4 xc4 16.ac1 d5 17.e7 e8 18.f4 b5 19.fe1 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f6 4.d4 exd4 with a large advantage for White, Varga, Z5.xd4 b4 6.g3 Aagaard, J/Budapest 1996 ] [ This is Reti's move, but it is quite rare [ There is also 8.a4 , but Black is doing these days. The normal move is 6.g5 ] very well after e7 ( 8...c5!? 9.c2 xc3+ 6...0-0 10.bxc3 d6 11.e3 d7 12.b3 a5 ) [ Other moves include 6...e4 ] 9.0-0 xc4 ( 9...xc3 10.bxc3 d6!? ) [ and 6...e5 ] 10.cb5 c6 11.a3 c5 12.xc4 d5= 7.g2 e5 13.d3 cxb5 14.xb5 g4 15.e3 d7 [ Here Black has also tried 7...d5 ] 16.b4 b6 17.b2 f5 18.e2 g4 19.f3 [ 7...xc3+ ] fe8 20.d4 xd4 21.xd4 h3 [ , a n d f i n a l l y 7...e8 , which is the most Bui Vinh-Pham Chuong/Hue VIE 2005 ] popular move. ] 8...xc3 9.bxc3 xc4 10.e4 d5 11.exd5 8.0-0!? [ This is a new move. White sacrifices a xd5 12.b3 db6 13.f4 c5 [ 13...g5!? looks like a move Aronian would pawn for the initiative and a lead in play without much hesitation, considering development. Previously White has played his almost addiction to pushing the g-pawn 8.b3 which has provided White with an forward. In this case it leads to a doubleadvantage in most of the previous games: edged position one line runs 14.c1 e8 A) 8...c5 15.d1 g4 16.e1 c5 17.xe8+ xe8 A1) 9.f3 xf3+ 10.xf3 d6 11.0-0 18.b3 e7 19.xc5 xc5 20.d8+ f8 A1a) 11...h3 12.g2 ( 12.d1!? 21.g5+ h8 22.f6+= ] b8 13.a4 ) 12...xg2 13.xg2 b8 14.g5 h6 15.f4 e8 16.ae1 14.b5 d2 [ H e r e B l a c k s h o u l d o p t f o r 14...g4! d7 , and Black has solved his 15.fe1 , and now ( 15.xb7?? a5-+ ) opening problems, Plazas Oliveros, A15...g5!? (Shredder) 16.c7 d7 17.xb6 Martinez, R/ Cali 1998; d2 18.c2 axb6 19.e5 f3+ 20.xf3 A1b) 11...e8 12.a4 b6 13.xb6 xf3 21.xg5+ h8 22.f5 c6 23.c4 ] axb6 14.e3 g4 15.d4 e5 16.g2 c6 17.e3 f6 18.fd1 15.xd2 xd2 16.xa7 xa7 17.xb6 f5 with a pleasant game for Black, a3?! [ Black should keep White's plus under Krasenkow, M-Van der Sterren, P/ co n t ro l wit h 17...xa2!? 18.xa2 xa2 Germany 1998; 19.xc5 b2 ] A2) 9.c2 d6 10.a4 b6 11.xb6 axb6 12.e3 e6 13.c3 c8 14.h3 18.ad1 g5 [ 18...xc3? 19.d8+- ] e8 15.b3 c5 16.d2 c7 17.b2 ad8 18.f4 c6 19.xf6 gxf6 20.0-0 19.d5 f6!? [ 19...g6 20.xg6 hxg6 21.xc5 d8 Claesen, P-Van der Sterren, P/Escaldes 22.e1 ] 1998; B) 8...c5 9.f3 xf3+ 10.xf3 d5 20.xf6 gxf6 21.xc5 xa2 22.b1 [ White can claim a clear advantage with 11.cxd5 h3 12.g5 h6 13.xf6 xf6 22.d5 d2 23.b1 d8 ( 23...f5 14.0-0-0 a5 24.xf7+ xf7 25.xf5 g6 26.f4 f7 B1) 15.a3 c4 16.e4 d8 ( 16...cxb3 27.b6 ) 24.c4 , though of course it is by 17.xf6+ gxf6 18.axb4 fc8+ 19.b1 no means an easy win, but the defence may axb4 20.c1+- ) 17.e3 d6 18.xd6 well be long and unpleasant. ] xd6 19.f4; 1052 A28 Onischuk,Alexander 2674 Andriasian,Zaven 2546 World Cup Khanty Mansiysk RUS (1.2)25.11.07 [Carsten Hansen]
1043
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22...b6!? 23.d5 [ White can maintain a slight edge with 23.c6 f5 24.d1 g7 25.h4 ( 25.xb6 d8! 26.bb1 xd1+ 27.xd1 c2= )] 23...bxc5 24.xa2 d8 25.h4 [ 25.b8 f8 26.b3 e8 27.c2 g7 28.d3 e1+ 29.g2 e6= ] 25...g4 26.c4 [ 26.b5 f3 27.g4 c8 28.g5 fxg5 29.hxg5 g7= ] 26...d2?! [ 26...f3! is a more accurate move order, preventing White's option on the next move ] 27.e1?!= [ If White were to play for a win, then 27.b5!? would be the order or the day, but in all fairness, it is still quite drawn after f3 28.g4 xg4 29.xc5 , though it is only White who has chances in this endgame. ] 27...f3 28.f1 c2 29.e3 d5 30.g2 c1+ 31.h2 e6 32.f3 f5 33.c6 g7 34.f4 f6 35.g2 c4 36.f2 f1+ 37.g2 c1 38.f2 ½-½
1053 Onischuk,Alexander Baklan,Vladimir Bundesliga 98/99 (6) [Tony Kosten]
advantage. ] 10.a3 Cutting the black position in two. g5! Hitting the e5-pawn, the problem with 8 Qd3 is now revealed. [ 10...d6 11.exd6 0-0 12.0-0-0 cxd6 13.xd6 is marginally better for White. ] 11.d4?! Too time-wasting, [ 11.g3!? i s b e t t e r , d6 ( 11...xe5+? is unplayable, 12.d2 d8 13.e1 g5+ 14.f4 and Black loses.) 12.f4 g6 13.0-0-0 with unclear play. ] 11...d6! Now Black can open the position to try to exploit his slight lead in development. 12.exd6 0-0 13.e2 e8 Black holds-on to the initiative, and stops White from castling. 14.f1 cxd6 15.xd6 g6 16.d1 c2 17.d2 White is happy to escape into an endgame. xd2 ½-½
1054 Onischuk,Alexander Benjamin,Joel 29th World Open (9) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2658 2581 08.07.2001
A28 2630 2585 13.12.1998
1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.a3 d5 8.d4 exd4 9.xd4 xd4 [ I am looking forward to seeing Georgiev's 9...e5!? given further trials. ] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e4 c5 10.xd4 c5 If this move is playable, and I think it is, then [ 10...0-0 a l l o w s B e l o z e r o v ' s 11.c5 it must be Black's best. 5.xe5 xe5 - examined in two earlier games. ] [ The pawn sacrifice, 5...0-0?! is doubtful, 11.h4 d4!? my game against Bareev, at Oviedo 1992, [ Completely new in such positions, Black continued : 6.f3 e8 7.d3 d5 8.cxd5 aims for a closed pawn structure. 11...e6 xd5 9.e2 when Black's compensation was OK for Black in a previous game of was non-existent. ] Onischuk. ] 6.d4 b4 7.dxe5 xe4 8.d3 A new idea, 12.d3 e6 13.0-0 d8 Just in time to the normal move is protect the d-pawn, and threaten damage [ 8.d4 wh e n , a f t e r xc3 9.bxc3 e7 a lo n g t h e d -f ile . 14.e4 White's potentially 10.g4 Black has f8! 11.g3 d6 12.e3 mobile kingside pawn majority, allied to his h4! 13.f4 dxe5 14.xe5 f6 bishops, could quickly prove deadly, can with good play for Black, Tarasenko, A- B l a c k d i f f u s e t h e p o s i t i o n q u i c k l y ? d7 Pankratov,A/corr 1995. ] 15.g3 0-0 16.f4 8...xc3 9.bxc3 a5! The point of White's [ 16.f4?! seems strong, but then Black fixes play is that after the f-pawn by f5! ] [ 9...e7 10.g3 White gains a key tempo 16...b6 17.b3 h8 18.e5 de8 19.g5 on the old line, with good chances of an d7 White was planning f4-5, so Black has to 1044
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 be ready to play ...Bf5, stopping the f-pawn on a dark square. 20.f4 [ Controlling f5. 20.f6?! is fun, but not quite correct: gxf6 21.xh7?! ( 21.h4 f5 22.f6+ g8 23.g5+ draws ) A) 21...xh7!? seems risky, but might be playable, 22.h4+ g6 ( 22...g8?? 23.exf6 and mate ) 23.f4 d8 24.f3 fxe5 25.g3+ g4 26.xg4+ f6 unclear; B) 21...fxe5 22.h4 f5 23.xf5+ g8 and the queen can guard the seventh rank. ] 20...c8 The knight is needed to help on the o t h e r w i n g . 21.h4 e7 22.h5 h6! A good practical approach, the pawn cannot be allowed to continue its march all the way to h6- Black's dark squares would take a fatal hit. 23.xh6! f5 [ The point, Black certainly didn't intend 23...gxh6?? 24.xh6+ g8 25.h7# ] 24.xf5 xf5 25.g5 f6 26.exf6 gxf6 27.h4 h7 The critical position- that Black clearly planned some time ago. White has an extra pawn, but Black has freed his position and has pressure on the g and h files. 28.g4 f7 29.fe1 g8 30.h3 xh4! [ The h-pawn is untouchable: 30...xh5?? 31.xf6+ ] 31.xh4 f5 By defending f6 Black prepares to double rooks on the g-file. 32.h6 h7 33.g3 g6 34.g2 xh6 Black finally regains his pawn- his earlier judgement was irreproachable! 35.xh6 xh6 36.e6 h7 37.b4! White retains a slight initiative, anyway, and Black must take care. g6!? 38.bxc5 c8 39.b1 [ 39.d1! xc5 40.xd4 a5 41.dd6 might offer better prospects. ] 39...h7 40.b5 d7 41.d6 cd8 42.xb7 xd6 43.cxd6 xd6 44.c5 [ If 44.xa7?? d3 queens the d-pawn. ] 44...a6 45.f3! [ 45.d7 xa3 46.xd4 c3 draws comfortably. ] 45...f5! The king can't be allowed into e4. 46.g4+ e5 47.e7+ d5 48.d7+ e5 49.e7+ d5 50.d7+ ½-½
1055 Onischuk,Alexander Gurevich,Mikhail Rubinstein Mem (6) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2657 2643 22.08.1999
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.a3 d5 8.d4 W hite's safest move, as mentioned in the archives. exd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4 c5 11.h4 e6!? Another weapon in Black's arsen a l. p revio usly, B la ck h a d a ch ie ve d satisfactory positions with both [ 11...dxc4 12.xc4 0-0!? 13.d2 e6 Pomes,J-Epishin,V/Terrassa 1991, and ] [ 11...0-0 12.cxd5 xd5 13.xe7 xe7 Makarichev-Dvoirys, Sochi 1983. ] 12.cxd5 xd5 13.f3 White aims for central expansion, to free his c1-bishop. [ 13.b5+ d7 14.xe7+ xe7 15.d2 might offer White a tiny advantage. ] 13...0-0 14.e2 e6 Played to remove the black queen from the pin, and answer 15.e4 with 15...Bc4 15.0-0 fd8 16.e4 d7!? The e-pawn is pinned, of course. 17.e3 c4 18.xc4 xc4 19.ad1 f6 20.f4 Black has no problems, indeed he has two good plans here: firstly he can play 20...Nb6, intending ...Qb3, and ...Nc4. Alternatively, there is 20. ..Nf8, planning ...Ng6, or ...Ne6d4. ½-½
1056 A28 Onischuk,Alexander 2627 Shirov,Alexei 2746 FIDE WCh KO New Delhi IND (2.4) 02.12.2000 [Tony Kosten] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.a3 d5 8.d4 exd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4 0-0 11.c5 This move of Belozerov was first seen in last month. b6 [ 11...e4 was tried in the afore-mentioned game. ] 12.b4 bxc5 13.bxc5 e6 Played in or der to exchange light-squared bishops. The swap of one pair of bishops is the standard method of fighting against the bishop pair. 14.d3 a6 1045
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.c2 White retains his bishops, of course, but now will be unable to castle. c6!? [ Shirov's novelty, Black will have the possibility of playing ...Qb5 at some point, wi t h a m a t e t h r e a t o n e 2 . P r e v i o u s l y , 15...g4 16.f3 e5 17.b2 f6 had been played in Belozerov, A-Korchnoi,V/Smolensk RUS 2000. ] 16.b2 ab8 [ Threatening ...Qb5, the immediate 16...b5 achieves nothing on 17.d1 ] 17.c3 fe8 18.g4!? A sharp move, trying to blast the a1-h8 diagonal open. b5!? [ Typical Shirov! Black complicates, as if at first glance 18...b5 looks like a good move, if 19.d1? ( but the surprising 19.0-0-0! is strong ) 19...e4 wins a pawn. ] 19.g5 xc5! 20.a4 [ 20.gxf6? fails to c4! 21.d2 d4! and the entire white position seems to be en prise! ] 20...b6 21.xe8 [ And now, 21.gxf6?! e4 22.d2 xa4 23.g1 g6! 24.d4 is hit by xa3! with a back-rank attack. ] 21...xe8 Black has gained a pawn and good play for the exchange, especially as the white king is awkwardly placed. 22.f3 c6 23.d2 b5 24.f2 e2+?! [ 24...c2 25.he1 d7 keeps the flame of Black's initiative lit. ] 25.g3 c2?? A dreadful blunder. 26.e5?? [ W h i t e r e t u r n s t h e f a v o u r , 26.a4 threatens mate and wins the c2-rook, thus ending the game. It should be noted that this was a rapid play-off game. ] 26...d6?! [ 26...b5! would avoid the coming backrank tactic, and win the d2-bishop. ] 27.ab1 b5 [ 27...c8 28.b8 f8 29.xc8+ xc8 30.b4+ c5 31.xd5 is not clear, either. ] 28.xb5 xb5 29.c3 At the cost of the exchange White lines-up a very nasty threat of mate. d4! [ W h at e ls e ? 29...e8? loses to 30.b1 d7 31.b8 ] 30.xd4 f5+ 31.f4 xd4 32.exd4 xe5+ 33.xe5 After the wild complications have petered-out W hite finds himself in a pleasant rook endgame. f8 34.b1 e7
35.b7 d7 36.xa7 xh2 37.a8 h6 38.g8 hxg5 39.xg7 e7 Black plays accu rat ely and the draw b eco mes lik ely. 40.g8 e2+ 41.d5 e3 42.a4?! [ 42.xg5 should be played, but White tries to win. ] 42...xf3 43.c6 c3+ 44.b5 b3+ 45.c4 a3 46.b4 d3 47.a5 xd4+ 48.c5 a4 49.b5 a1 50.a6 White tries desperately to queen the a-pawn. f6 51.d8 b1+ 52.c5 a1 53.b5 b1+ 54.c5 e5 ½-½
1057 Rowson,Jonathan Ansell,Simon 4ncl Dresden GER [Jonathan Rowson]
A28 2585 2405 19.01.2009
1.c4 Played in the knowledge that I was probably goin g to be writing about Flan k openings fairly soon. I hoped to generate some content to get myself thinking about the English more generally (but also because the brief time you get before the game at the 4ncl is not enough time to refute the Slav...) f6 2.c3 [ 2.d4 c6 3.f4 is actually quite a good antiSlav weapon, mainly because b6 4.d2 e4 5.c2 xd4 6.e3 wins a piece but it occurred to me that Simon might want to play the Benko, which also didn't appeal to me at the time, so I carried on in Flank opening style and soon ended up with...a reversed Sicilian... ] 2...e5 3.f3 c6 4.a3!? To the uninitiated this move looks really harmless, and a little bit pointless, but I have gradually developed some affection for it. I first realised that it might be a serious weapon after getting a lost position as a resu lt of seemingly n atura l moves against Tiger Hillarp Persson in York back in 2000. The idea is simply to stop ...Bb4, prepare b4, and play a Sicilian a tempo up. It is not theoretically challenging for Black, but it is a good way to force your opponent to think for themselves. d5 [ 4...g6 5.g3 g7 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 d6 ( 7...d5!? ) 8.d3 h6 ( 8...d4!? ) 9.b1 1046
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 9.b4 e4 ) 9...e6 10.b4 d7?! 11.b5 e7 12.d4 f5?! 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.xd7 xd7 15.e4 g4 16.h3 xf3 17.xf3 c5 18.e3 e6 19.d5 c8 20.c5 c6 21.bxc6 bxc6 22.b4 e7 23.a6 fd8 24.b7 And White was much better, though I eventually won in Hillarp-Persson-Rowson, York 2000. ] 5.cxd5 xd5 6.d3 This is of course playable, and I was glad to have a familiar position with an extra move, even though I didn't really expect to be better. [ 6.c2 is critical, and numerous games by Mikhail Gurevich have shown that White has some chances to be better here. e7 7.e3 0-0 8.b5 ( 8.d3!? ) 8...g4 9.xc6 xf3 10.gxf3 bxc6 is considered fine for Black. ] [ 6.e4 seems to make sense, but the trouble is that Black can play an equalising line where the pawn being on a3 gives W hite nothing extra(if anything the opposite due to the weakness on b3). f4! 7.d4 exd4 8.xf4 dxc3 ] 6...g4 [ 6...xc3 7.bxc3 d6 is playable, but there is no need to make further strategic concessions. ] [ 6...e7 It is also possible just to play classically because white's extra tempo merely makes his position comfortable and safer, but not necessarily better. ] 7.e3 d7 8.h3 I have played the equivalent li n e a s B la c k ( wh e re W h it e h a s a lr e a d y castled queenside) and I noticed that this allowed me to pose some tricky questions s t r a ig h t a wa y . e6 Simplest and probably best. [ 8...h5 9.xe5 ] [ 8...f5 9.xd5 xd5 10.e4 Doesn't work when there is already a rook on the d-file due to Bxe4. ] [ 8...xc3 9.bxc3 f5 10.d4 and now Bb5 becomes an idea. ] 9.d2 [ 9.g5 was plan A. In the comparable position White has Nxc6 and Bc5 due to the pin on the d-file, so I hoped that might be important, but on closer inspection I saw nothing wrong with Black's position after xc3 10.bxc3 f5 For instance 11.b3 a5 followed by Be7 and castling and White
is probably a bit worse. ] [ 9.e2 and castles is probably best, when the extra tempo may yet prove useful. ] 9...f6 10.c2 0-0-0 11.a4?! This odd idea(in conjunction with Qc2) was based on a half remembered idea from Yermolinsky's book on the Classical Sicilian. I remembered there was some value in delaying the development of the king's bishop because it can sometimes be fianchettoed, but it turns out that the idea I had in mind- Na4(or Na5) was recommended in a position with the pawn on f5(or f4) rather than f6(f3). The general idea is to avoid an exchange of knights, but even with an extra tempo this turns out to be too ambitious here. b6! 12.c5 Consistent, but probably making things even worse- I am losing too much time. [ 12.xb6+ axb6 13.e2 is more solid ] 12...xc5 13.xc5 f7 Not bad, but I have no idea how I would have held my position together if Black had played more directly with [ 13...g5! followed by h5 and g4. ] 14.e4 a4 [ 14...g5 ] 15.c1 b3 16.e3 d6 17.e2 g5 18.0-0 [ 18.h4!? ] 18...h5 19.d2 d4 20.xd4 xd4 21.e1 [ 21.b1!? c5 22.c1 b6 23.c3 ] 21...hd8 22.f1 b6 23.g3 c5 24.xh5 f8 25.e2 e6 26.b1 [ 26.b4 b3 27.c6 4d6 28.a8+ d7 29.xa7 a8 30.b7 xa1 31.xa1 c8 32.xc8+ xc8 I felt I was more likely to be worse than better here, but I could be wrong. ] 26...d6 27.b4 xd3 28.xd3 xd3 29.e3 d1+? A bad misjudgement, going from slightly better to clearly worse. [ 29...b7 ] 30.xd1 xd1+ 31.xd1 xd1+ 32.h2 d7 33.h5 From here to the end I am quite pleased with my technique, but the earlier part of the game was terrible. e7 34.c3! This is what Simon had missed, in particular he overlooked that after d6 [ 34...d7 35.c6 he can hardly move. ] 35.xf6 c5 36.g3! b1 [ 36...c4 But no Kc5-d4 because I didn't take on c5 ] [ 36...cxb4 37.axb4 b1 38.a3! ] 1047
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 37.bxc5+ bxc5 38.d3+! I didn't like the look of my rook on c3 being stuck behind the c4 pawn so I thought I should get active. [ 38.h7 c4 39.xg5 b3 40.xb3 cxb3 41.f3 b2 42.d2 a2 43.f3 c5 44.e3 b1 45.xb1 xb1 46.h4 also felt winning but I saw no reason to risk this. ] 38...e7 39.d5+ f7 40.f3+! g7 41.c3 c4 42.xc4 b3+ 43.f3 xa3 44.c5 a5 [ 44...xd5 45.xd5 f6 46.d6+ f7 47.g4 a2 48.g3 a3 49.xg5 xf3 50.g4 e3 51.a6 xe4+ 52.f5 ] 45.c7 d7 46.d5 c8 47.d8 b7 48.b5 My first win with 1c4 for a long time, but not a particularly auspicious new beginning. 1-0
a bit loose, and the black pieces are active. h3 [ 13...e6 14.b1 1/2-1/2 Rechlis,GGelfand,B/Ramat Aviv ISR 2000 is not too revealing! ] 14.e1 [ 14.g2?! xg2 15.xg2 b3 16.d1 d5+ 17.e4 d8 regains the pawn immediately. ] 14...b6!? A new move, [ 14...d6 also seems good, but 15.c2 fd8 16.e4 d7 17.b1 f5 18.c4+ h8 19.g2 xg2 20.xg2 d5+ ( 20...xd3?? 21.e8+! ) 21.xd5 xd5 22.f4 White was better, Chernin, A-Kolev,A/ Villarrobledo 1998, for xb2?? loses in several ways, most notably 23.e2 db5 24.bxb2 xb2 25.e5+ ] 15.c2 e6! This move contains a nasty threat. 16.e4 Not [ 16.b1? when White loses a piece to b3 1058 A28 17.c5 d4 ] [ but 16.g2 may be best, although Black Ruck,Robert 2550 has plenty of play for the pawn. ] Romanishin,Oleg M 2561 11th GM Lippstadt GER (3) 09.08.2003 16...d7 17.c5 It is difficult to find a useful move for White here, [Tony Kosten] [ 17.b1 a2 18.a1 e6 repeats. ] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 g6 17...d4 18.a5 b5 Black is happy with a 5.g3 g7 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 d5!? Black takes draw, but [ 18...f5!? was possible, 19.g2 f4 20.gxf4 play into a Reversed Dragon type of position, c5 and Black can play against the weakened [ 7...d6 8.d3 would be more normal, with a white kingside. ] transposition into a Closed English, [A26]. ] [ 7...e8!? attempts to delay ...d6, 8.d3 h6 19.a6 [ 19.d2 avoids the repetition, but is an ugly 9.e4!? again with a Closed English move. ] structure. ] 8.cxd5 xd5 9.xe5! This is obviously the 19...b6 20.a5 b5 21.a6 b6 22.a5 ½-½ critical reply, [ 9.xd5 xd5 10.d3 d4 11.xd4 xd4 12.c2 c6 13.e3 d8 is fairly level, 1059 A28 Agrest,E-Sjoegren,B/Sweden 1998. ] Seirawan,Yasser 2630 9...xc3 Van Wely,Loek 2635 [ 9...xe5?! 10.xd5 wins a pawn for ol Elista RUS (5) 03.10.1998 nothing. ] 10.xc6 xe2+ Again best, damaging the [Tony Kosten] white pawn formation, for [ 10...xd1?! 11.xd8 xb2 12.xb7! 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.d4 b8 13.xb2 xb2 14.a2 leaves White a The old main line, but it fell into disuse when good pawn ahead, Petrov,V-Milesi,L/Open, Black started exploiting the doubled pawn Cannes FRA 2000. ] complex. Still, it has come back into favour 11.xe2 bxc6 12.xc6 b8 13.d3 recently, and its surprise value has gained a White has grabbed a pawn, but his pawns are number of victims. exd4 5.xd4 b4 6.g3 1048
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A recent idea, [ 6.g5 is the traditional choice, but instead White wishes to take the play along different lines. ] 6...0-0 7.g2 xc3+ Black 'jumps before he is pushed', and decides that he would prefer the better pawn structure to the bishop pair. 8.bxc3 e5 9.c5 e7 10.b3?! Passive, Seirawan prefers [ 10.b1 which gains a powerful initiative for W hite af ter xc5 11.b5 c4 12.d4 xd4 13.cxd4 ] 10...b8! Black needs to play ...b6 to co m p le t e h is d e ve lo p m e n t . 11.0-0 b6 12.e1? White plays for activity, at the cost of a pawn, rather than submit to a slight positional disadvantage. bxc5 13.f4 c4 This is the ideal square for a black knight in s u c h N i m z o p o s i t i o n s . 14.e4 d6 Black's position is very solid. 15.e2 a6! 16.a5 e6 Black is not prepared to concede his outpost so easily. 17.f5 e5 18.c6 White takes the exchange, [ 18.xc4? loses even more material after xc3 ] 18...xc3 19.xb8 xb8 So, White has won back some material, but the black pieces have become even more active. 20.f4 d7 Heading for the powerful e5-square. 21.f1? Trying to pin the c4-knight, but just s u c c e e d i n g in e xc h a n gi n g b i sh o p s, a n d weakening his light squares. b2 22.d3 a5 23.d5 cb6 24.d1 xf1 25.xf1 The passed black c-pawn is ready to roll. c4 26.d4 c3 27.f3 a4 28.e1 b6 29.xb6 axb6 Things are looking bleak for W hite who has zero influence on the q u e e n s i d e . 30.e5 xe5 31.xe5 dxe5 32.xe5 h5 Giving the king a bolt-hole. 33.e4 xa2 Not bad, but [ 33...c2 34.c4 b5 35.xc7 b4 threatens ...Nc3, and then ...c1(Q), and wins immediately. ] 34.f2 a1+ 35.g2 c5? Black blunders his c-pawn, [ 35...c5 and the further advance of the queenside pawns will conclude quickly. ] 36.c4 c1 [ 36...a4! was worth a try, 37.xc3 e4 38.xc7 xf2 39.xf2 a5 and wins. ] 37.f3 c2+ 38.h3 e2 39.fxc3 e4?
From bad to worse, Black could still keep an edge by [ 39...e5 ] 40.c2 Now Black is obliged to change a pair of rooks. xc2 41.xc2 c5 42.b2 d6 43.f6! Playing for the win, [ 43.xb6 xf5 leads to a theoretical draw. ] 43...b5 44.d2 e4 45.d8+ h7 46.fxg7 xg7 47.e8! Clever play by White who forces weaknesses in the black position. f5 48.b8 b4 49.h4 f6 50.xh5 d2 51.h3 e4 52.g4 fxg4 53.xg4 White has created a dangerous passed pawn. f2+? There goes Black's last chance, [ 53...e5 54.h4 d4 still held the position, as 55.h5?! is met by f6+ 56.g5 xh5 57.xh5 and it is now White who will have to fight to draw against the two black pawns. ] 54.g3 xh3 55.xh3 e5 56.g2 d4 57.f2 This time the white king is too close to the pawns. c3 58.e1 b3 59.d1 b2 60.c8 a1 61.xc5 b2 62.a5+ b1 63.b5 1-0
1060 Seirawan,Yasser Winants,Luc TCh-NED 2005-6 (7) [John Watson]
A28 2635 2535 04.03.2006
1.c4 Yassar Seirawan isn't playing much these days, which is a shame for English Opening aficionados. Here he demonstrates the power of the bishop pair, albeit in unclear complications. e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.a3 d5 8.d4 exd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4 0-0 [ I like 10...c5 best, and 11.h4 g5!? then deserves attention, as explained in my previous columns. ] 11.c5! The most radical move: Seirawan will hold the position closed so that he can slowly bring his bishops into play. Allowing ... c5 and ...dxc4 or even ...d4 would make it easy for Black. [ 11.cxd5 d8 can only favour the second player. ] 11...b6 12.b4 bxc5 13.bxc5 b8 14.b2 1049
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e6 15.d3 a6 16.c2! c4 17.c3 c5 , e.g. 11.h4 e6 12.cxd5 xd5 fe8 18.h3! Now that the bishops are on safe 13.xe7+ xe7 14.b5+ d7 15.e2 squares and his king is protected. White tries , and White later won, V.Ivanchuk-S.Karjakin, to drive Black's pieces away from protection Wijk aan Zee 2006 - this game can be found of the kingside. h6 in the pgn archives a very instructive effort [ 18...a6 19.g4 e2!? 20.g5 f3 by Ivanchuk. ] threatens mate. Then 21.d3 c8 22.g1 7...d5 8.0-0 h5 23.g3! e4 24.e2! wins big [ A both rare and surprising move. White has material. ] several move popular alternatives at this 19.g4 a6 20.h4 b3 21.f5 c4 22.g5! juncture: A) 8.d4 exd4 ( 8...e4?! 9.c2 Our theme fo r the day: with or without queens f5 10.cxd5 b4 11.a4+ d7 12.b3 on the board the bishops will give W hite a exd4 13.xd4 F.Dreke-Goldberg, corr winning advantage. xd4 23.xd4 e4 1989 ) 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4 24.gxh6 g6 25.d7 e7 26.c6 White is A) 10...dxc4 clearly better here, and Seirawan uses the A1) Or 11.xc4 0-0 12.0-0 d8 bishops to great effect, although there are 13.c3 f5 ( Here Black should have technical inaccuracies along the way, tried 13...e4!? 14.a5 c5 15.f3 b6 especially just before move 40. Then Black 16.e1 d6 17.d3 f6 18.d2 e6 has a shot at an easy draw. Missing it is fatal. 19.c3 h6 ) 14.f3 c6 15.e4 c4 27.g1 b3 28.f3? A.Mihalik-I.Kubis, Slovakia 1998; [ 28.h5 h7 29.g2! seems more accurate A2) 11.xc4 0-0 12.0-0 e6 compare the game: ] ( 12...d8!? 13.c2 e5 14.f3 b6 28...c3 29.g2 b5! 30.c5 e5? 15.e4 ) 13.c2 d5 14.f3 c6 15.e4 [ 30...exe3+! 31.xe3 xe3+ 32.f2 fe8 16.e1 a5 17.e3 a4 18.ad1 ( 32.d2 d3+ 33.c1 d4! ) 32...e2+ I.Stohl-K.Mokry, Trnava 1984; 33.g3 xg2+ 34.xg2 h7= ] B) 10...c5 31.f2 d4 32.exd4 ee3 33.h5 xf3+ B1) 11.d1 dxc4 12.xc4 e4 34.g1 d5 35.hxg6 fxg6 36.e1 h7 13.b5+ d7 14.xd7+ xd7 15.0-0 37.e8?! d8 16.b3 ( 16.f3 b4 17.c2 e5 [ 37.e6! ] 18.b3 0-0 ) 16...0-0 17.b2 e5 37...f6 38.g5? c3= 39.e7 e2+! was H.Teske-A.Baburin, German 40.xe2 b1+ 41.h2 h1+ 42.g3 Bundesliga 2000; g1+?? Pure blindness. B2) 11.f4 dxc4 12.xc4 0-0 13.b3 [ 42...f3+ draws. ] e6 14.b2 xc4 15.xf6 xf6 43.h3 h1+ 44.h2 f3+ 45.g3 ff1 , and although a draw was agreed upon 46.xh1 xh1+ 47.g4 e1 48.g5 xe7 in this position in the game C. Cobb-S. 49.xg6+ h8 50.c3 e6 51.f5 d6 Bryn ell, 20 0 4 , W h it e h a s t h e be t t e r 52.e3 xc6 53.e6 chances in the endgame after 16.xf6 1-0 gxf6 17.bxc4 thanks to his better pawn structure; B3) 11.h4 dxc4 1061 A28 B3a) Another interesting move is 12.xc4 0-0 13.0-0 e5 14.d1 Short,Nigel D 2691 e6 15.c2 ad8 16.d2 b6 Morozevich,Alexander 2762 17.c3 g5 18.a4 ( or 18.f4!? h4 XXXVII Bosnia GM (1) 19.05.2007 19.xd8 xd8 20.e1 h6 [Carsten Hansen] 21.d1 ) 18...a5 19.xd8 xd8 20.d1 ( 20.h4 f5 21.d1 xd1+ 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 22.xd1 d5 23.xf6 gxf6 24.a3 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.e2 xd1+ 25.xd1 ) 20...xd1+ [ This line is a bit passive the critical line is 21.xd1 d5 22.f1 I.Stohl-L. 7.a3 d5 8.d4 exd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4 1050
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 K e it li n gh a u s , G e rm a n B u n d e slig a 1994; B3b) 12.xc4 0-0 13.0-0 e6 ( 13...d8 14.b3 e5 15.b1 e4 16.xe4 xe4 17.b2 e6 18.xe6 fxe6 19.f3 f6 20.e4 Cu.Hansen-M. Petursson, Espoo 1989) 14.d3!? d7 15.c2 b5 16.f3 e2 17.d1 d3 18.f2 fd8 19.c2 b5 20.b3 a5 was E.Jeske-D. Neukirch, Rostock 1979, and now W hite could have obtained the better chances with 21.b2 , e.g. d2 ( 21...d2 22.e1 b6 23.c1 f8 24.a1 ad8 25.b1 ) 22.ad1 xf2+ 23.xf2 c4 24.d4 ] [ B) 8.cxd5 xd5 9.b3 b6 A) 10.0-0?! (calling this move dubious is maybe a bit strong, but it certainly isn't White's best move) A1) 10...0-0 11.d3 a5 ( 11...e6 12.c2 fd8 13.a3 f5 14.d2 a5 15.b3 d7 16.e4 f6 17.b2 , and the players agreed upon a draw, 1/ 2-1/2, A.Hauchard-E.Bacrot, Vichy 2000 a possible continuation is xe4 18.dxe4 e6 19.ad1 ) 12.d2 a4 13.c2 d8 , so far C.McNab-N.Pert, Oakham 2000, and now 14.b4 axb3 15.axb3 f5 16.b4=; A2) 10...g4 11.d3 0-0-0 12.a3 f5 13.c2 b8 14.e1 e4 15.dxe4 fxe4 16.d2 f5 17.b4 e5= R.Cifuentes Parada-H.Hoeksema, Dutch Team Ch 1993; A3) 10...e6?! 11.c2 0-0 12.a3 d5 13.b4 e4 14.e1 a6 15.f4 exf3 16.xf3 e4 17.d3 g6 18.e4 I . Ro s s ik h in -J. T a t a rcza k, B e n a squ e 2000; A4) 10...e4 11.e1 0-0 ( 11...e6 12.c2 d5 13.b3 0-0 14.b2 f5 15.c3 f4 16.exf4 xf4 17.c2 V. B.Quist-H.Rittner, corr 1991) 12.d3 ( 12.c2 f5 13.b3 b4 14.d1 ad8 15.c2 xc2 16.xc2 d5 17.b2 g5 S.Conquest-J.Shaw, Groningen 1997) 12...e6 13.c2 b4 14.b1 exd3 ( 14...f5 15.d2 xd3 16.xd3 d7 17.f4 xd2 18.d1 a5= P.Cerisier-Y.Yakovich, Cappelle la
G r a n d e 1 9 9 3) 15.xd3 f5 16.f3 xd3 17.xd3 xd3 18.xd3 ad8 19.b3 c5 Z.Nikolic-B. Damljanovic, Vrnjacka Banja 1985; B) 10.b5?! 0-0 11.xc6 bxc6 12.d4 exd4 13.xd4 c5 14.e2 a6 M.Walach-P.Hudziak, Koszalin 1998; C) 10.d3 C1) 10...0-0 C1a) Or 11.d2 d8 12.0-0 d6 13.h3 f5 14.e4 e6 15.a3 f5 ( 15...f6!? ) 16.ac1 G.Michelakis-J. Hector, Copenhagen 2003; C1b) 11.a3 a5 12.d2 ( 12.0-0 e6 13.c2 fd8 14.d2 f5 15.fd1= ) 12...a4 13.c2 f5 14.c1 fd8 15.e4 g4 16.c5 d6 ( 16...d7! 17.0-0 xf3 18.xf3 xd3 19.e3 b3 ) 17.0-0 xf3 18.xf3 e6 19.e2 d4 20.d1 c6 21.b4 d8 22.xc6 xc6 23.e3 E.Ubilava-Y.Yakovich, Oviedo 1991; C2) 10...e6 11.c2 b4 12.b1 f5 13.a3 c6 14.d2 a5 15.0-0 0-0 16.e4 e6 17.c2 d7= Z . A zm a i p a r a s h vi l i - B . D a m l j a n o v i c , Groningen 1979 ] [ C) 8.d3 has been used several times by Swedish Grandmaster Agrest A) 8...g4!? 9.h3 ( 9.0-0 d4 10.b3 0-0-0 11.e1 ) 9...xf3 10.xf3 e4 11.e2 exd3 12.xd3 0-0-0 13.0-0 e4 14.b3 c5 15.a3 xd3 16.xd3 e4 17.xe4 dxe4 D. Bronstein-F. Cuijpers, Antwerp 1996; B) 8...0-0 B1) 9.0-0 d4 ( 9...d8 10.b3 e4 11.d4 e5 12.dxe4 dxe4 13.b2 g4 14.xg4 exg4 15.h3 h6 16.ad1 e8 17.e2 E.Maurer-M. Voss, corr 1998) 10.exd4 exd4 11.c2 e8 12.d2 g4 13.ae1 d6 14.g5 h6 15.h4 h5 16.d1 g6 17.d2 a5 L.B.Hansen-L.Psakhis, Ostende 1991, and now 18.g3 xg3 19.fxg3 d6=; B2) 9.a3?! dxc4 ( 9...e4!? 10.dxe4 dxe4 11.d4 e5 ) 10.xc4 e6 11.a4 d7 ( 11...d7!? 12.c2 a5 ) 12.c4 e6 13.a4 d7 14.c4 e6 15.a4 1/2-1/2 L.Psakhis-V. Gavrikov, 1051
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Sverdlovsk 1984; B3) 9.cxd5 xd5 10.c2 g4 ( 10...f5 11.e4 db4 12.c3 g4 13.e3 a6 14.g1 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in E. Agrest-B. Damljanovic, Batumi 1999; 10...db4 11.c3 g4 12.a3 xd3+ 13.xd3 e4 14.e2 exf3 15.gxf3 h5 16.g1 f6 so f ar E.Agrest-Xu Jun, Istanbul OL 2000, and now W hite should try 17.e4 a5 18.h6 g6 19.e3 ) 11.a3 a5 12.b3 ad8 13.b2 d6 14.h3 c8 15.d2 g6 16.f3 d8 17.c1 e6 18.c5 h4 19.g3 h6 20.h4 E.Agrest-I.Sokolov, Stockholm 1998 ] 8...d4 9.exd4 exd4 10.b3 0-0 11.e1?! [ The text move is perfectly logical and for all means and purposes, it appears to challenge Black by placing the rook opposite Black's queen. However, it appears t h a t W h i t e c a n d o b e t t e r w i t h 11.d3 , and now: A) An interesting, but untried option is 11...g4!? 12.f4!? xe2!? ( Or 12...fe8 13.h3!? xh3 14.ae1 c8 15.d1 d7 16.g5 e6 17.a3 ) 13.fe1 xf3 14.xe2 xe2 15.xb7 e7 16.e5 xd3 17.xd4 g6 18.b3; B) 11...e8 12.d2 b6 13.ae1 b7 14.g5 ( White has a cute, but quite good idea in 14.b5!? , e.g. d7 15.g5 ) 14...d7 15.f3 h6 16.e4 xe4 17.xe4 a6?! ( Now Black gets himself into trouble. Instead 17...a5! , equalizes: 18.xa5 xe4 19.dxe4 bxa5 20.d3 c5= ) 18.a4 e7 19.f4 E.Maurer-H. Doderer, corr 1998 ] 11...g4 12.d1 d6 13.d3 d7 14.d2 a5 15.h4?! [ 15.b5 c5 16.f4 xf4 17.xc5 fe8 ] 15...c5 16.a3 d7 17.e2 b6 18.ad1 h6 19.b3?! [ 19.g3 g5 20.g2 h3-+ ] 19...f6 20.f3 ae8 21.b2 g4-+ White has yet to lose material, but it is really only a matter of time, as White has no way of releasing himself of Black's complete domination. The rest of the game is pure execution, and by the way quite instructive
22.c2 xe2! 23.xe2 xf3 24.gxf3 xf3 (White has no defence against Black's simple plan of ...f5, ...Rf6-g6) 25.c1 f5 26.h3 f6 27.h2 g6 28.g1 xg1 29.xg1 xd3 30.e3 ce5 31.xd4 f4 0-1
1062 Simutowe,Amon Sokolov,Ivan FIDE WCh KO Tripoli LBA (1.2) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2442 2690 20.06.2004
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 b4 6.g5 0-0 7.e3!? White rejects the normal [ 7.c1 which prevents Black from doubling the c-pawns at the cost of an important tempo. ] 7...h6 8.h4 e8 Black is hopin g that White wil l p la y Rc 1 a n ywa y, so t h e re wi ll b e a transposition to the sharper of the two mainlines (see Gurevich,M-Bareev,E/Wijk aan Zee NED 2002 for instance). Watson thought that this was doubtful way back in 1979, but since then Black has discovered lots of active antidotes to White's system. [ 8...xc3+ 9.bxc3 e5 would transpose to the other main line, we have analysed this in Zvjaginsev-Van Wely, for instance. ] 9.e2 e5 The knight ady to evict the h4bishop, but Black has several more interesting alternatives: [ 9...xc3+ is still possible, but slightly less effective now, as it is not 100% clear that ... Re8 is a useful move, 10.bxc3 e5 11.0-0 ( 11.f3!? g6 12.f2 keeps the bishops, and must be better) 11...g6 Black regains the bishops, 12.xf6 xf6 13.b3 d6 14.ad1 e5 Black is doing well, Hasenbank,D-Hawranke,D/Pinneberg 1995 ] [ 9...e4!? has its points: 10.g3 ( 10.xc6 bxc6 11.g3 might be simpler) 10...xd4 11.exd4 e7 with pressure, Grant,CKapstan,A/Manitoba 1990. ] [ 9...g5!? is another radical solution, 10.g3 e4 11.c1 xd4 12.xd4 c5 13.d3 d5 14.xd5 1/2-1/2 Agrest,E-Cramling,P/ Orebro SWE 2000 ] 10.f3!? New in this position, although perfectly 1052
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 normal in this line, White prepares a 'luft' for his bishop on f2, and controls e4. [ 10.b3! may be best, the b4-bishop is no l o n g e r p r o t e c t e d , a5 ( 10...xc3+ 11.xc3 d6 12.f3 g6 13.f2 looks good for White ) 11.0-0 g6 12.xf6 xf6 13.d5 d8 14.a3! c6 15.b4 c7 16.xc7 xc7 17.b5 c5 18.b6! with a plus, Szabo,L-Smyslov,V/Budapest 1950/ Candidates. ] 10...g6 11.f2 d5 12.0-0 c5 Black counters in the centre - one problem for White in this line is that he is often behind in development. 13.b3 xc3 14.bxc3 b6 15.e1?! White should take care to defend his c3-pawn. This position has already been reached by transposition in the game Vakhidov,T-Neelotpal,D/Dhaka BAN 2003, and there play continued [ 15.c2 e7 16.fd1 b7 17.ac1 e5 18.cxd5 xd5 and a draw was soon agreed. ] 15...e6! 16.cxd5 [ 16.d2 is passive but avoids losing a pawn. ] 16...xd5 17.c2? Did White miss Black's next? [ 17.c1 f6 18.c4 c3 19.f1 allows Black a fair initiative, but White has every reason to hope to use his centre and bishops. ] 17...xe3! Ivan is a fine tactician, of course, a n d is h a rd ly go in g t o m iss t h is . 18.xe3 xb3 19.axb3 xe3 Black has won a pawn, and exchanged White's dark-squared bishop. 20.c4 g5 21.xe3 xe3+ 22.f1 e5 Black is not ready to relinquish the initiative just yet. It is often in positions like this that weaker players think that the win will come by itself, play some inferior moves, and mess it up! 23.d5 [ 23.e1? is met by xc4! ] 23...e8 24.e1?? The final mistake. [ 24.xa7?? is also impossible, White will find himself mated after g4! ] [ 24.d1 kept some chances, White's bishop may yet prove to be the better of the two minor pieces. ] 24...g4! Now lightning strikes from the other side, both ...Nxh2 mate and ... Qxe1 mate are threatened. 25.xf7+
[ 25.xe3 xe3+ 26.f2 xc2 leaves Black a rook up. ] 25...f8?! Good enough, although I see nothing wrong with [ 25...xf7! for if 26.f5+ g8 the fork on e3 still works! ] 0-1
1063 Slobodjan,Roman Georgiev,Kiril 2nd IECC Ohrid MKD (1) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2529 2676 01.06.2001
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.a3 d5 [ Similar play is seen this month after 7...a5!? ] 8.d4 exd4 [ 8...xd4 9.xd4 exd4 could transpose, but cuts down on Black's options. ] 9.xd4 e5!? [ An innovation, although the same idea is quite common after 7...a5, see the archives. Black wants more than the approximate equality of the standard 9...xd4 10.xd4 considered in 3 games from the archives. ] 10.cxd5 [ White heads for a Sicilian-style position. 10.f3?! does not have the same effect here, as with the pawn on b3, instead of c a p t u r i n g o n f 3 , B l a c k w i l l p l a y xc4 11.xc4 dxc4 with advantage. ] 10...xd5 11.c2 0-0 12.e2 c5 Driving the well-placed knight away from the cent re. Bla ck's extra spa ce, and sm oot h developmen t, a re mo re th an a matc h f o r White's bishops. 13.f3 g4 14.h3!? [ 14.e4 xf3 15.gxf3 might be a better try. ] 14...xf3 15.gxf3 fe8 16.f1 [ Now 16.e4?! meets the rejoinder c6! ] 16...ac8 17.d2 c4 18.g1 d3!? Black sacs a pawn to open some central files. 19.d1? [ How can White allow the knight to take up residence on d3? 19.xd3 cxd3 20.xd3 had to be played, when Black has some compensation, but no more, after ed8 ] 19...h4 20.g3 Necessary, to defend f2 and h3. xe3! 21.b3? 1053
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ If 21.xe3?! xg3! wins! ] [ 21.c3 is the only chance. ] 21...xf2! It never rains, but it pours! 22.e1 [ 22.xf2 xe2+ 23.xe2 xg3 is no help. ] 22...xg3 23.xd5 xh3+ 24.xf2 ce8 A massacre! 9...Ne5 will undoubtedly catchon after this! 0-1
1064 Smirin,Ilia Johannessen,Leif Erlend 34th Olympiad (1) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2677 2422 28.10.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.d4 e4 [ Considered a good equalising move, 4...exd4 5.xd4 b4 is more ambitious. ] 5.g5 h6 [ The theoretical favourite, 5...b4 6.d5 xc3+ 7.bxc3 a5 8.d4 e7 9.c5! is good for W hite, Zagema,W -Larsen,P/ Hinnerup 1979. ] 6.gxe4 xe4 7.xe4 h4 The point, it seems that Black will recuperate his pawn. 8.d3!! Watson mentions that this move loses to [ Long considered a losing blunder, but obviously this is White preparation. 8.d2 xd4 9.e3 e5 10.e2 doesn't offer White much, Cygielman,M-Horn,P/Germany 1988, and ] [ 8.c3 xd4 9.e3 is equal. ] 8...d5 [ 8...b4+ 9.d2 ( or 9.d1 ) 9...xd2+ 10.xd2 displaces the white king, but doesn't recover the pawn. ] 9.cxd5 b4 10.b1 f5 11.d6+ cxd6 [ All part of the plan, Black needs to use the c-file, 11...xd6 12.xf5 xd4 13.e3 xd5 regains the two pawns, but Black will suffer in this endgame against the white bishop pair. ] 12.xf5 g6 [ T h e c o m b i n a t i o n c o n t i n u e s , 12...xd4 13.e3 xd5 14.b5+ is even worse than before. ] 13.f4! [ The clever point, forcing the exchange of
queens. After the obvious 13.b1 then c8 is the point of Black's play, when ...Nc2+ is unstoppable. ] 13...c2+ 14.d1 xf4 15.xf4 xa1 So, Black has won a whole rook for two pawns, but as the knight can't escape then White will enjoy the two bishops and strong centre for t h e e xch a n ge . 16.e3 a6 17.d3 d7 18.d2 Regaining the piece. g7?! [ 18...b3+ 19.axb3 would, at least, damage the white queenside. ] 19.xa1 h5 20.h4 After all th e excitement White has a clear edge, especially as there are few open files for the black rooks. ae8 21.a4 h6 22.h2 f5 23.a3! hf8 24.b3 c7 25.e2 f6 26.f3 g5 This does little to help the black position. 27.hxg5 xg5 28.c3+ d7 29.b4 g8 [ Ideally, Black would wish to exchange a pair of rooks, but 29...c8? only aggravates the s i t u a t i o n : 30.xc8 xc8 31.f4! xf4 32.xf4 and the black kingside falls prey to the white king. ] 30.b5 axb5 31.xb5+ d8 32.a5 g7 33.d3 h4 34.b3 c7 35.b6 e7 [ 35...c3 36.e2 c7 offered better chances. ] 36.g3 hxg3 37.xg3 d7 38.f4 h4 [ 38...xf4 39.xf4 wins the f-pawn. ] 39.b1! [ 39.b1 White quickly brings his rook over, f7 40.h1 e7 41.h5 and the f-pawn goes, when the white pawn mass will advance. ] 1-0
1065 Solleveld,Maarten Sutovsky,Emil Lost Boys Open (8) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2451 2658 02.08.2002
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 b4 6.g5 h6 7.h4 0-0 8.c1 xd4!? A relatively recent idea, first played by Svidler, I think, Black tries to improve on the line [ 8...e8 9.e3 xd4! 10.xd4 c5 see Gurevich,M-Bareev,E/W ijk aan Zee NED 2002. ] 1054
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.xd4 g5 10.g3 c5 11.d6!? W hite attempts to keep the d-pawn back, whilst pinning the knight against the h6-pawn. [ 11.d1 d5 ( or 11...e4 12.e3 f6 ) 12.cxd5 xd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.e4 e8 15.f3 is another possibility, similar to the Gurevich-Bareev game. ] 11...e4! [ 11...e8 is also playable: 12.e3 ( 12.f3!? e6 13.d2 b5!? 14.e4 bxc4 15.xc4 xe4! 16.fxe4 xe4+ Williams,S-Gormally, D/ Scarborough 2001, and now 17.xe4 looks like fun) 12...e4!? 13.xh6 d5! 14.cxd5 xd5 15.d1 e6 and Black has more than enough play for the pawn, Smirin, I-Svidler,P/Istanbul TUR 2000. ] 12.d3?! White refuses the 'gift': [ 12.xh6 b6! (otherwise White might follow-up with Be5) 13.xb6 axb6 14.a3 xc3+ 15.bxc3 xa3 16.c7 f5!? 17.f3 xc3 18.xb6 a4 and Black's active pieces just about compensated the two bishops, Lukacs,P-Varga,Z/ Budapest HUN 2001. ] 12...d5! Black plays out-and-out for the initiative as W hite is still a long way from castling. 13.xd5 [ 13.cxd5 f5 is also unpleasant. ] 13...e7 14.e5? [ 14.e3 is superior: d8 15.e5 xc3+ 16.bxc3 xe5 17.xe5 although Black has excellent play after f6 18.g3 d2 ] 14...xe5! The ending is going to be very unpleasant for White. 15.xe5 e8 16.g3 f5 17.f3 xc3 18.bxc3 a3 19.b1 f4 20.f2 b6 White is a pawn up, and the black bishop on a3 has no squares, but White will ha ve e n o rm o u s d if f icu lt y d e ve lo p in g h is kingside. 21.g3 f5 22.b3 c1 23.gxf4 ad8! Now White can resign! 24.e4?! [ 24.g2 d2+ 25.f1 gxf4 is a minimal improvement. ] 24...d2+ 25.e2?! [ 25.d1 xf4+ avoids immediate mate, at least. ] 25...xe4+! 26.fxe4 g4# Very pretty! 0-1
1066 Stuart,Peter Li Oceania zt Auckland NZL (8) [John Watson]
A28 2146 03.02.2005
The 4.e3 variation of the Four Knights main line is still a regular visitor to tournament play even though its flame has dimmed at the top levels. But there are still issues to resolve. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.a3 d5 8.d4 exd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4 c5 [ Tony has given a number of games and ideas in this line, particularly after 10...0-0 , which he calls "the current preference". The archetypical game is Onischuk-Shirov, New Delhi 2000. See the downloadable PDF E-Books for an overview of and references for this variation. ] 11.h4 0-0 [ I seem to remember an idea from the m i d - 1 9 7 0 s o r s o t h a t g o e s 11...g5!? (o r m a ybe it wa s in a sim ila r po s it io n ? Anyway, the move deserves attention as a way to quash any W hite hopes for a d v a n t a g e ) 12.xg5 ( 12.g3 e4 13.f3 h5!? ) 12...g8 13.f4 ( 13.h6 g6 14.h4 g4= ) 13...g4 14.f3 dxc4 with double-edged play, for example, A) 15.d2 e4 16.c3? g4! 17.xf6 ( 17.xf6 xe3+! ) 17...e6! 18.g3 xf6 with a clear advantage; B) 15.h3 e4 16.d2 d7 17.c1 c6 18.c3 d5= ] [ Tony indicates two alternative paths from le ad in g G M ga me s: 11...e6!? 12.cxd5 xd5 13.f3!? Onischuk-Gurevich, Polanica Zdroj 1999 and ] [ 11...d4!? 12.d3 e6 13.0-0 d8 14.e4 Onischuk-Benjamin, Philadelphia 2001. ] 12.cxd5 xd5 [ 12...e5! is very old theory. ] 13.xe7 xe7 14.d2 e6 This looks equal. White has two bishops but is behind in development and lacks good squares for the bishop on d2. 15.c3 f6 [ Or 15...d5! 16.e5 ad8 and ...f6 next. ] 16.e2 d5 17.0-0-0?! [ An exotic move. White may have thought 17.d2 too passive, but fd8 18.c1 ac8 1055
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.e4 is more interesting. ] 17...xc3 18.bxc3 fd8 [ W r o n g r o o k ? 18...ad8! 19.f3 b5! with a small advantage. ] 19.f3 ab8 20.xd8+ xd8 21.d1 [ 21.xb7! b8 22.e4 b3 23.c4! xa3 ( 23...xc4 24.d1 ) 24.b2 a4 25.d5 is comfortably equal. ] 21...xd1+ 22.xd1 b6 23.d2 f7 24.b7 e7 [ 24...c4! still poses White difficulties. The game ends up in disaster for Black: ] 25.f4 d6 26.e4 c4 27.c8 b5 28.g4 a5 29.e3 b3 [ 29...e6! ] 30.e2! c6 31.g3 c4?? [ 31...e6 ] 32.d4 d6 33.g4 [ 33.e5+ should also win. ] 33...a4 34.h4 c2?! 35.f5! a4 36.xh7 e7 37.f5 f7 38.c5 e7 39.c8 g6 40.a6 1-0
1067 Sulskis,Sarunas Socko,Bartosz 18th European Teams (1.14) [John Bartholomew]
A28 2577 2635 03.11.2011
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.d4 This was the main line in decades past, but 4. g3 and 4.e3 (amongst others) have largely stolen the spotlight. Frankly, I think these moves are more promising than 4.d4, but it's still quite useful for the practical player to mix things up once in awhile. exd4 5.xd4 b4 The established antidote to 4.d4. [ 5...c5 is quite reasonable too. ] 6.g5 Counter pinning and fighting for the initiative. [ See the archives for 6.g3 0-0 7.g2 e5 8.0-0!? xc3 9.bxc3 xc4 10.e4 Onischuk, A (2674) -Andriasian, Z (2546)/ Khanty Mansiysk 2007/[Hansen, Carsten]. ] [ T h e w e l l - i n t e n t i o n e d 6.xc6 bxc6 actually scores miserably for W hite. He hopes to exploit his marginal structural advantage but allows Black too much control of the strategically crucial d5 square. The
game Timman - Karpov, Montreal 1979 (with a bishop on e7 instead of b4) is a vivid illustration of the dangers White faces. With both sides castled short, the W orld Champion played . ..d7-d5 and confidently launched a kingside attack via ...Be7-d6 and ... Nf6-g4. White had no chance for active counterplay, and Karpov even made the "anti-positional" move ...d5xc4! The result wa s m o r e o p e n l i n e s i n B l a c k ' s f a v o r . Timman's kin g was chased all over th e board, and he resigned on move 31. ] 6...h6 7.h4 xc3+ Positionally correct. [ However, 7...0-0!? is a critical test. It enables White to avoid doubled pawns after 8.c1 , but matters are not clear: ( W h i t e s h o u l d p r o b a b l y p r e f e r 8.e3 , see the archives: Naiditsch, A (2654)Savchenko, S (2545)/Baku 2007/[Carsten Hansen]. ) 8...e8 9.e3 xd4! 10.xd4 c5! 11.d1 Gurevich, M (2641)-Bareev, E (2707)/Wijk aan Zee 2002/[TonyK]. ] 8.bxc3 e5 9.f3!? A fresh approach - White plays for a bind with f2-f3 and e2-e4. Sulskis had success with this on one occasion in 2010. [ Check the archives for the popular 9.f4 g6 ( 9...xc4? 10.e4! ) 10.xf6 xf6 11.g3 , i.e. h5 12.h4!? , Nevednichy, V (2582)-Labib, I (2426)/New Delhi/Teheran 2000/[TonyK]. ] [ 9.e3 is probably too restrained. Black's position is completely sound, so he has many ways to proceed. One instructive example: d6 10.e2 g6 11.g3 e4 12.c2 e7 13.f3 xg3 14.hxg3 e5 15.b1 c6 16.e2 g6 17.d2 h5! Degerman, L (2485) -Chernin, A (2640)/ Stockholm 199899. W hite has difficulties finding any targets or organizing any pawn break. ] 9...g6 [ Socko must have been reluctant to venture it, but 9...xc4 must be critical. I found one o l d g a m e t h a t c o n t i n u e d 10.f5!? ( Compared to 9.f4 Nxc4? 10.e4 above, here 10.e4 is simply met by e5 . White had scarce compensation after 11.d3 d6 12.0-0 g6 13.f2 0-0 in Sassi, P (2141)Luukkonen, T (2171)/Jyvaskyla 2002/ EXT 2004. ) 1056
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A) 10...0-0 results in approximate equality: 11.xh6+ ( 11.d4 d5! ) 11...gxh6 12.d4 e3! ( 12...a3? 13.0-0-0 ) 13.xf6 c2+ 14.d1 xd4 15.xd8 xf3 ( or 15...xd8 16.cxd4 with maybe the tiniest of edges to White.) 16.xc7 g5; B) 10...g5! 11.d4 d5?! ( 11...gxh4 is better, i.e. 12.xc4 d5 13.f4 xf5 14.xf5 e7 ) 12.g7+ e7 13.g3 wit h a ve ry m essy p osit io n. K ah n, MPietzsch, W/Grossroehrsdorf 1949. It will b e in t e re s t in g t o se e if / wh e n S u lski s ve nt ures t his line a ga in , be ca use I'm skeptical that W hite can prove full compensation after 9...Nxc4. ] 10.f2 Improving on his previous game. [ 10.g3 0-0 11.e4 d6 12.d2 e8 13.0-0-0!? led to an unbalanced struggle. Sulskis, S (2544)-Andersen, M (2385)/Borup DEN 2010. ] 10...d6 11.e4 d7 Black angles for the c5 square. [ Simply awaiting developments with 11...0-0 was possible. ] 12.h4!? Playing for an extended bind! Maximizing space is smart: W hite has an inferior pawn structure but possesses the bishop pair. Thus, he will look to open the position at some point and would like to do so under optimal spatial conditions. c5 13.h5 e7?! Socko launches this knight on a faulty trajectory. [ 13...e5 This seems like the best square for the knight, so why not go there at once? ] 14.g4 In the spirit of W hite's 12th. e6 15.f5 g8?! [ Black avoids 15...0-0?! 16.xc5 xf5 ( 16...dxc5? 17.xd8 axd8 18.xe7++- ) 17.e3! e6 18.g5 , but the text also compromises his position. ] [ Best is 15...xf5 16.gxf5 c6 ] 16.xc5!? An interesting decision. White trades his good bishop, but favorably alters the pawn structure. dxc5 17.b3 xf5? Questionable. [ Black should stand firm with 17...b6 18.d1 d7 . Now one idea is to try to swing the other rook to d2 with 19.h2!? , but the nonstandard xf5! 20.exf5 ( 20.gxf5 f6 and ...0-0-0 to follow.) 20...f6 (the point
behind 18...Bd7 - keeping the queen active). 21.e2+ d8 is a good answer. Note that 22.ed2? h4+ 23.e2 e8+ 24.d3 c8 definitely isn't what White has in mind. ] 18.gxf5 [ It's a tough call between this and 18.exf5!? , e.g. d6 19.xb7! g3+ 20.e2 d8 21.e4 and White's extra pawn will be significant. ] 18...d6 19.d1?! Controlling the pace of the game, but passing up a good opportunity. [ Black has some pseudo-play after 19.xb7 d8 , but following 20.f2 e5 21.e2 White is effectively getting his pieces out. B la ck c a n 't r e a lly wh ip u p a n in i t ia t iv e without the participation of his e7 knight and g8 rook. Here xc3? would be simply bad due to ( 21...f6! planning 22...Kf7 is best.) 22.ad1 with devastating threats of 23.Qxc7 and 23.Qb5+ ] 19...g3+ 20.e2 b6 A unique position. Both sides have somewhat clumsy pieces, and neither king is totally safe. It's roughly level. 21.a4+ White forces a small concession. c6 This pawn may become weak, and it's significant that the knight can't occupy this square in the future. [ 21...f8? 22.xa7 ] 22.d3 f6 23.d1 f7 24.d2 b8 Black aims to contest the d-file with ...Rg8-d8. 25.f4 d8 26.hh3 c7 27.f2 xd3 Not strictly necessary, but things don't stray far from equality. [ Black could wait, e.g. 27...e8 ] 28.xd3 e8 29.g3 d8 30.d3 f8 31.e3 c8 [ White's queen is momentarily overloaded ( d e f e n d i n g f 4 a n d d 3 ) , s o 31...b5!? is possible. If White tries to fight fire-withf i r e , h e m u s t b e c a r e f u l : 32.e5?! ( Some thing like 32.g1= i s p r u d e n t .; G r a b b i n g a p a w n w i t h 32.cxb5 cxb5 33.xb5 i s d a n g e r o u s d u e t o c4! when White's bishop risks being cut off. ) A) Black should have few issues in the en d ga m e a f t e r 32...b4 33.cxb4 cxb4 34.c5 b6! 35.xb6 axb6 i.e. 36.e3 c5 ( or 36...a8 37.g2 a3= ) 37.e6 d4 38.g4 ( 38.g1? b5! 39.cxb5 d5+ ) 38...c6 39.g1 a5 40.c1 1057
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e7= It's hard for either side to make progress.; B) 32...bxc4!? 33.xc4 d7! ( 33...xf5?! 34.xc5+ ) 34.d3 d5 ] 32.e2 c7 33.e5! g8 34.e4 fxe5! 35.fxe5 e8 36.e6 f6 37.f3 d8 38.e2 f4+ 39.g2 e8 40.h3 e7 B o t h s i d e s a r e p l a y i n g w e l l . 41.e3!? At first I thought this was a move-after-timecontrol blunder, but in fact it's an interesting ploy. W hite doesn't have a real convenient w a y t o d e f e n d h 5 , s o w h y n o t ? d6? Black takes White at his word! [ I guess Socko didn't like the look of 41...xe3 42.xe3 xh5 43.g4 f6+ 44.f4 , when it appears White might walk his king to d6. This isn't really achievable, t h o u g h . F o r i n s t a n c e : c7 45.e1 ( 45.e5?? g4+ ) 45...e7 46.g1 d6 47.d1 e7 48.g1= ] [ 41...xh5 42.xf4 xf4+ 43.g4 would force Black to find g5! ( Despite the p a wn d e f i c i t , o n ly W h i t e ca n win a f t e r 43...xd3 44.xd3 )] 42.e2! Defending h5. Now the plan is to put the bishop on f3 and target c6. Despite the shaky looking White position, Black can't do much active. e8 [ 42...h7 43.g1 g5+ 44.g2 isn't much of a problem. 45. Rd1 is coming. ] 43.g1 c7 44.a4 a5 45.f3 e7 46.g6 d6 47.g2 c7 48.g1 e8 49.e1! A f t e r m a r k i n g t i m e , W h it e g e t s d o wn t o business. g8?? A totally nonsensical decision. [ 49...d6 is more tenacious. ] 50.e5! That's it! Black's c6 weakness will be his downfall. e7 [ 50...xe5 51.xe5 c8 52.e1+and 53.Rb1 is hopeless for Black. ] 51.d1 c8 52.d6 Insisting on a queen trade. xd6 53.xd6 f8 54.d1! e7 Black is hurrying to correct the error of his 49th, but the three weaknesses (b6, c6, and g7) keep him tied down. 55.b1 b8 56.g1 [ It's too early for 56.xc6?! : xh5 ] 56...g8 57.g3!+- Getting the king involved. B la ck is h e lp le ss. h7 58.xc6 d8 59.d5! f6 60.f4 xh5+ 61.e5 g8 62.b1 b8 63.g1 g8 64.b7! f6 [ 64...b8? 65.f3+- ]
65.b1 b8 66.xb6 e8 67.d5+- d6 [ Slightly better practical chances are offered by 67...h5 68.xc5 h4 , though 69.g2+is pretty convincing. ] 68.xd6 xb7 69.xc5 The rook ending is a total win. h5 70.c6 b2 [ 70...h4 allows a familiar mate: 71.d7+ xd7 72.exd7 d8 ( 72...h3 73.c7 ) 73.d6 h3 74.c5 h2 75.c6 h1 76.c7# ] 71.d7+ f8 72.c5 h4 73.d6 d2+ 74.e5 xd7 75.exd7 e7 76.f4 In the square! xd7 77.g4 c6 78.xh4 xc5 79.g5 1-0
1068 Van Wely,Loek Rublevsky,Sergei Masters Frankfurt GER (12) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2646 2662 25.06.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.a3 d5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.b3 b6 10.d3 a5 [ Probably the most accurate, for if 10...0-0 then White can play 11.c2! and answer a5 with 12.b3 , protecting his queenside light squares. ] 11.c2!? [ 11.d2 a4 12.c2 would transpose, but ( 12.b5 had been considered, stronger, although d7 13.c1 f6 14.c5 xc5 15.xc5 0-0-0! is only equal, Xu,JHjartarson,J/Lucerne 1993. )] 11...a4 12.d2 e6!? [ Black aims for control of b3, but practice indicates that the bishop is more effective on f5, i.e. 12...0-0 which was successful in a previously analysed game, and another game was Lerner,K-Makarichev,S/Frunze 1979, which continued: 13.c1?! d8! 14.e2 ( now 14.c5?! can be met by e8 15.e2 f5 with an edge) 14...f5 15.0-0?! e4 16.dxe4 xe4 and Black is better. ] 13.c1 b3 [ A new move in this position, although the reasoning behind the previous effort, 13...g6 o f W in t ze r, J-P isko v, Y/ B o n n 1 9 9 5 , is a mystery to me! ] 14.c5 xc5 Now, of course, the exchange 1058
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 of queens cannot be avoided. 15.xc5 f6 16.g4! White shows a good understanding of this ending, he can undermine the e5-pawn from the side. 0-0-0 17.g1 d6 [ 17...d5 18.h4 g5 19.f5 h5 is a more aggressive treatment, although the f5-knight is very strong. ] 18.h4 hd8 19.h5?! [ White continues his plan, the threat is now g 5 , wh e n t h e b l a c k k i n g s i d e wi l l s t a r t creaking, and also the g7-pawn is fixed on a dark square, but Black has prepared a little surprise of his own. Had White seen what was coming he would have preferred 19.g5 as now e4 20.dxe4 e5 21.xe5 xd2 22.gxf6 gxf6 23.f3 is fine for him, d1+?! 24.e2 b1?? n o w l o s i n g t o 25.h3+ , thus we see the importance of opening the h3-c8 diagonal! ] 19...e4! 20.dxe4 d7!? [ Perhaps he should have given preference to 20...e5 , forcing 21.xe5 ( 21.xe5? xd2 22.f3 d1+ 23.e2 b1 is rather awkward) 21...fxe5 22.e2 d7 23.c3 when White doesn't have enough compensation for the exchange. ] 21.xc6 [ Forced, 21.c1? de5 22.xe5 xe5 is devastating. ] 21...bxc6?! [ Better to have allowed the knight fork by 21...xc6 22.d4 a s h e ca n p la y e5 23.e2 cd6 although White has a good position after 24.b4 , anyway. ] 22.d4 e5 23.e2 c5 24.xb3 axb3 25.c3 h6 26.f4 d3+ 27.xd3 xd3 28.e2 c4 29.c1 The complications have finished and, taking into account the white kingside pawn mass, and the weakness of c4, W hite is better. e8 30.e5 c5 31.d4! Even the tactics favour White. fxe5 [ 31...cxd4? 32.xc4+ d7 33.xd3 regains the exchange. ] 32.xe5 ed8 33.xc4 d2+ 34.f3 c2 35.c3 dd2 Black desperately tries to activate his position, as passive defence is doomed- his kingside is too weak. 36.xc5+ d7 37.b5 f2+ 38.e4 xb2 39.xb2 xb2 40.f5 b1 41.e4 The rook ending is quite hopeless. c6 42.a4 b2 43.e5 c7 44.e6 d6 45.b6+ e7 46.b7+ e8
47.a5 a1 48.xb2 xa5+ 49.g6 a4 50.f2 a7 Although tactically dodgy, it is clear that White's nineteenth move was very strong positionally, as the fixing of the g7pawn continues to bear its fruits. 51.f5 a4 52.xg7 xg4+ 53.f6 1-0
1069 Vladimirov,Evgeny Harikrishna,Penteala 12th Goodricke Open (5) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2612 2514 10.02.2001
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 0-0 6.d5 e8 7.f5 d6 8.xf6+ xf6 9.xf6 gxf6 10.b3 [ A more restrained approach, we have seen the standard 10.a3 c5 11.b4 in several other games. ] 10...a5 11.a3 c5 12.b2 f5!? [ A n e w i d e a , 12...e6 is normal in this position, 13.c1 e4 14.d4 exd3 15.xd3 e5 16.e2 f5 White has a positional advantage, Baumgartner,U-Cebalo,M/San Bernardino 1989. ] 13.d3 a4 14.b4 xb4!? A positional piece, sac that creates a dangerous passed pawn. 15.axb4 xb4+ 16.d1 a3 17.c1 c5 18.d2 d7 19.e2 b5 20.xb4?! [ White has problems bringing his pieces over to the action on the queenside, 20.cxb5 xb5 might be preferable, though. ] 20...cxb4 21.c2 bxc4 22.dxc4 a4+ 23.b1 d5!? [ Black keeps hold of the initiative, 23...eb8 24.d2 c6?! 25.b3 allows White to blockade the pawns. ] 24.cxd5 ec8 25.a2 c3 26.d2 d8? [ 26...ac8 is more to the point. ] 27.c4? [ 27.e4 cc8 ( 27...b3+?! 28.a1 c8 29.a6 c7 30.d6 and the d-pawn wins) 28.xf6+ g7 29.h5+ must have been difficult to resist. ] 27...c8 B a c k o n t r a c k . 28.a1 8xc4 29.xc4 xc4 30.b1 b3 31.d2 f8 Black is at least equal. 32.d6 e8 33.d7+ d8 34.a1 c2 35.a2 f5? [ 35...c3 first leaves Black well on top. ] 1059
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 36.b3! W h it e g r a b s h is ch a n c e . e6 37.a4 The black pawns will not be able to advance properly. Ideally, Black will play ...b3b2, keeping the pawns on dark squares. f5 38.a1 g4 39.f3 c4 40.b5 f4 41.e4 [ 41.d6 c2 42.xb4 wins the b-pawn, but the a-pawn should assure the draw. a2 ] 41...h5 42.h4 c7 43.xb4 a2 44.dd1 b7+ 45.c5 xd7 46.b4 xd1 47.xd1+ e7 48.a3 f6 49.b2 g6 50.d6 g7 Black has an impregnable fortress, as the a2-pawn ties one of the white pieces down. 51.c6 b3 52.c5 f6 53.a5 e6 54.c3 g6 55.d2 f7 56.a7+ e8 57.d3 f7 58.a8+ e7 59.c3 e6 60.b2 f7 ½-½
1070 Williams,Simon Kim Rowson,Jonathan Open London ENG (2) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2288 2512 15.12.2001
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e4 c5! 5.xe5 xe5 6.d4 b4 7.dxe5 xe4 8.d3!? White tries this interesting idea of Onischuk's. [ 8.c2 was also tested by the system's founder: xc3 9.bxc3 c5 10.d3 h4 11.0-0 0-0 but White's free play barely compensates his weakened pawns, Nimzowitsch,A-Colle,E/ Bled 1931. ] [ 8.d4 is the main line. ] 8...xc3 9.bxc3 a5! 10.f4? An unfortunate innovation, which is ruthlessly exploited by Black. [ We have considered the superior 10.a3 in Onischuk,A-Baklan,V/Germany 1998. ] 10...d6! 11.a3 f5!? [ F l a s h y , a l t h o u g h t h e s i m p l e 11...dxe5 12.xd8+ xd8 13.0-0-0+ e8 is also good, Black wins a pawn for zero compensation. ] 12.xf5? [ After the better 12.g3 0-0 Black is better, but White is still on the board. ] 12...xc3+ 13.f2 xa1 14.d3 [ There is nothing to be gained from 14.exd6 0-0! 15.d7 ( 15.dxc7 d2+ ) 15...d4+
16.g3 c5 Black has a solid extra exchange. ] 14...dxe5! 15.f3?! [ Played to threaten the a1-bishop, as 15.xa1? allows d4+ , but the king proves misplaced here. ] 15...g6 16.e4 f5 17.e2 d4 [ Not falling for 17...e4+? 18.xe4 fxe4+ 19.xe4+ f7 20.xa1 with some chances, but ] [ 17...xd3+ 18.xd3 e4+ is also crushing. ] 18.fxe5 0-0-0 Black has extra material, a lead in development, and a strong attack! 19.d1 g4+ 20.f2 d4+ 21.f1 f4+ 0-1
1071 Ye Rongguang Al Modiahki,Mohamad Xiapu Xiapu CHN (14) [John Watson]
A28 2472 2569 21.06.2005
1.c4 Nimzowitsch's favourite 4.e4 in the following game has always attracted some experimenters and is considered soundly equal. The question is whether W hite can gain anything from using 4.e4. Ye Rongguang succeeds in raising our interest level about this. e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e4 c5 5.xe5 A variation from days long past - does White have something up his sleeve? 0-0!? This leads to unclear but probably insufficient compensation for the pawn: [ (a) 5...xf2+? 6.xf2 xe5 7.d4 leaves Black uncoordinated, e.g., eg4+ 8.g1 d6 9.h3 h6 10.g5 ] [ (b) But 5...xe5 6.d4 b4 is logical and previously held to be equal: 7.dxe5 xe4 8.d4 xc3 9.bxc3 A) 9...a5 10.a3 ( Maybe White could try 10.c5!? and bring the bishop to f4 ?) 10...d6 11.exd6 0-0 is another theoretical line, considered dynamically equal after 12.0-0-0 cxd6 13.xd6 xd6 14.xd6 e8 15.b2 d7; B) 9...e7 10.g4 ( Ye Rongguang probably had something new hereabouts. Maybe 10.c5!? intending 0-0 11.d3 ) 10...f8 11.g3 d6= ] 1060
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 6.f3 e8 [ 6...xe4?! 7.xe4 e8 8.e2!? ( 8.d3 f5 9.e2 fxe4 10.dxe4 ) 8...f5 9.xc5 xe2+ 10.xe2 e7 11.b3 gives White too much material for his queen, even after b4 12.f1 ] 7.d3?! [ Instead, the natural move looks considerably better: 7.d3! d5 ( 7...g4 8.d4; 7...d6 8.e2 ) 8.cxd5 xd5 9.e2 ] 7...d5!? [ 7...d6! 8.0-0 g4! makes it surprisingly difficult for W hite to get organized, e.g., , 9.h3! h5 10.b3 ( 10.e2 xe4 ) 10...d4 11.e2 xe2+ 12.xe2 d4 ] 8.cxd5 g4? This is way too ambitious. Better was [ 8...xd5 or ] [ 8...b4 9.c4 xe4 ] 9.0-0 ce5 10.b5 Reasonable, but safer is [ 10.e2 ] 10...d6 11.g3!? f6 [ 11...h6 12.h4! ] 12.xe5 xf2 13.f3? This must have been a complete miscalculation. [ 13.e2! w i n s a f t e r xe5 ( 13...xe4+ 14.d4! xd4+ 15.h1 hits the queen) 14.xf2 g4 15.e1 ] 13...xe5 14.xf6 xe4+ 15.g2 [ About the same thing results from 15.f2 xf2 16.xf2 h3! 17.e2! xf2+ 18.xf2 xd5 ] 15...xf6 16.d3 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 The situation is completely altered: Black has even material and pressure on the weak dpawn. To make things worse White's king is exposed. 18.c4 f5 19.f4? d6? [ 19...b5! 20.xb5 b7+ 21.h3 h5+ 22.g4 xh2 is winning. A typical line would be 23.xc7 h5+ 24.f4 b4! 25.ad1 e2 ( or 25...d2+ 26.xd2 xd2 )] 20.ae1 f8 21.d4 xf4 22.gxf4 d7 23.e5 f6! 24.e3 [ 24.xf5 xf5 leaves Black a pawn ahead with control over the key squares. ] 24...e8 25.xe8+ xe8 26.g3 f7 27.c1 xc4 28.xc4 c6 29.a4 a6 30.b3 e7 31.h4 h5 [ Or 31...d5 ] 32.c4 d6 33.c2 a5 34.e2 d5 35.f3
xd4 36.g2 The result is marked "1-0", but that is either a typo or Black's flag fell. 1-0
1072 Zvjaginsev,Vadim Van Wely,Loek Fontys Tilburg NED (4) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2650 2635 26.10.1998
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 b4 6.g5 The most logical move, by pinning the f6-knight, W hite exploits the absence of Black's dark-squared bishop from e7. h6 7.h4 xc3+ 8.bxc3 e5 9.e3 A modest move, but possibly better than the 'standard' [ 9.f4 g6 ( and not 9...xc4? 10.e4 e3 11.e2 xf1 12.e5 and wins. ) 10.xf6 xf6 11.g3 which only leads to equality. ] 9...0-0 10.f3 A perfectly normal move in such positions, White controls e4, and prepares an escape route for his queen's bishop, should B l a c k t h r e a t e n i t . d6 11.e2 White's development might seem unimposing, but his two bishops and mobile e and f-pawns are ready for action. e7 12.0-0 a6 13.a4! C l a m p i n g d o w n o n t h e q u e e n s i d e . e6? A careless move, Black should first break the annoying pin by [ 13...g6 14.f2 and then bring a knight to c5, by d7 after all, the weak white queenside is Black's compensation for the bishop pair, he might as well exploit it. ] 14.f4! After this blow Black's pieces find themselves unfortunately placed. xc4 [ 14...c6 15.e4 is also unpleasant. ] 15.f3 d5 16.xc4 dxc4 17.e4 The threat of e5 appears crushing. g5 What else? The pin on the f6-knight is too strong, [ 17...g4 18.e5 xf3 19.xf3 wins material, and continues the attack. ] 18.fxg5 xe4 19.e1! xg5 20.xg5 hxg5 21.e5! The key move, cutting out defences based around ... Qc5+, and threatening various mating manoeuvres. fe8 22.e1? [ 22.f6 f8 23.xe6 xe6 24.xe6 fxe6 25.f1 should win quickly, the black king is completely isolated. ] 1061
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22...ad8! Black is not ready to give-up yet, [ Black often stops b2-b4 entirely with 8...a5 and finds a clever resource. 23.g3 g4 , as in Aronian, L (2744)-Topalov, V (2783)/ Forced, obviously. 24.f4? White concedes Wijk aan Zee 2007/[Hansen, Carsten] . ] control of the fifth rank, and allows Black to 9.d3 Restraint in response. White prepares a find a defence, retreat square on d2. [ 24.e4 w a s s i m p l e s t , f o r c i n g xd4 [ Gulko introduced the pawn sac 9.b4!? g4 25.xd4 and White has every chance to 10.e1 xb4 , see Khalifman, A (2667)win. ] Lutz, C (2595)/New Delhi/Teheran 2000/ 24...c5! 25.e5 b6 26.h6 b1+ [TonyK]. ] 27.f2 f5!! The brilliant point behind Black's [ Khalifman recently had success with 9.b3!? stubborn defence, just when it seemed that , reminding Black that the g-pawn rush has R g 5 + w a s u n s t o p p a b l e . 28.ge3 come at a price: the a1-h8 diagonal is now Shell-shocked, White decides to take a draw, weak. Now h5 ( Black should probably try but 9...g4 10.e1 h5 ) 10.d4!? exd4 11.b5 [ 28.xg4+ g6 29.h4 f6 30.e6 d2+! f5 12.b2! was an energetic follow up. 31.xd2 fxe5 32.h8+ f7 33.xe8 b6+ xb1 13.xb1 d7 14.bxd4 xd4 34.g3 xe8 was not very clear, anyway. ] 15.xd4 0-0-0?! ( 15...g8 16.e3 ) 28...xe5 29.g5+ h7 30.h5+ 16.xh8 xh8 17.d1 e6 18.e3 f6 [ 30.xe5 xd4 31.cxd4 g6 is playable, if 19.c2 h4 20.d4 xd4 21.xd4 hxg3 risky, the c-pawn is very strong. ] 22.hxg3 c6?! 23.c5 g6?? 24.h3+ 30...g7 31.g5+ h7 32.h5+ g7 1 -0 K h a li f m a n , A (2 6 3 8 ) -B u k a v s h in , I 33.g5+ (2458)/Moscow RUS 2011. ] ½-½ [ 9.a3?! as in Wu Wenjin (2560) -Ganguly, S (2464)/Calcutta 2001 is inconsistent with 8. Rb1. g4 10.e1 h5 ] 1073 A29 9...g4 [ Check the archives for 9...h5 10.e3 g4 Almasi,Zoltan 2707 11.d2 ( I want to note that 11.h4!?N Wang Hao 2736 is possible here. If Black gets greedy with Sportaccord WMG Rapid rapid (1) 09.12.2011 xh4 12.gxh4 xh4 , then 13.c1! [John Bartholomew] is a cute retort, when the threat of 14.Bg5 forces Black on the defensive: e7 14.b5 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 d7 15.g5! . Black's position is on the 5.g2 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.b1 verge of collapse, e.g. a6 16.xc6 bxc6 Flirting with b2-b4 in spite of the absence of 17.e3+. 12. ..Nd4 is better, with unique a2-a3. A major benefit of this omission is that play. ) 11...d4 Miezis, N (2505)-Smirin, I White avoids the typical weakening of the b3 (2590)/New York 1998/[TonyK]. ] square. The idea can also be employed on the previous move: 7.Rb1!?, as in Hodgson, J 10.d2 [ 10.e1 looks less logical to me, but it has (2605)-Gormally, D (2476)/Scarborough 1999/ attracted the attention of a couple strong [TonyK], and Korchnoi, V (2601) -Stefanova, players. The maneuver Nf3-e1-c2 actually A (2523)/Drammen 2005/[John Watson]. g5!? isn't uncommon in this line, as it facilitates An uncomprimising jab we've come across b2-b4. h5 11.c2 h4 many times on Chesspublishing.com. Of the A) 12.b4 hxg3 13.fxg3 xb4?! elite Chinese players, Wang Hao seems to be ( 13...a5!? ) 14.xb4 d4+ 15.e3 xc3 the most willing to mix things up, and no 16.d5 xd5 17.xd5 e6 18.xe6 doubt the short time control emboldened him fxe6 19.xb7 Hodgson, J (2625)-Bareev, further. E (2660)/Belgrade 1993.; [ Most common is 8...0-0 , when White can B) The unprejudiced engine suggests follow through with 9.b4 Kasparov, G (2849)giving up the light-square bishop with Tim ma n, J (26 29 )/ W ijk aa n Ze e 20 01 / 12.xc6+!? bxc6 13.d4 , but a human [TonyK]. ] 1062
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 eye can see that Black will have serious c h a n c e s in t h e o p e n b o a r d , e . g . exd4 14.xd4 d7 15.f4 a6 with counterplay.; C) 12.e3 d4 13.d2 c6 14.b4 a5!? 15.a3 f5 Sorokin, M (2559)Nepomniachtchi, I (2520)/Tomsk 2006. ] 10...d4?! A standard sortie, but Black causes more harm than good by inducing e2e3. [ 10...e6 is rote, but White has better chances here too: 11.b4 ( The computer is a g a i n k e e n o n 11.xc6+!? ) 11...d5 12.xd5 ( 12.b2!?; or even 12.a4!? are interesting.) 12...xd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.b5 d4 15.b2 ( 15.e3 ) 15...h5 16.xd4 exd4 17.b3 0-0-0 was at least equal for Black in Degerman, L (2490)Hector, J (2540)/Reykjavik 1995. ] [ Maybe 10...h5 is best. Now the queen trade after 11.c4 xc4 12.dxc4 xd1 13.xd1 comes in a better form for Black: d4! when 14.e3 is met by f3+ 15.xf3 gxf3 with excellent counterplay on the light squares. ] 11.e3 e6 12.c4 White aims for a pleasant queenless middlegame. [ 12.e2! is more ambitious, intending to blast the center open with Rf1-d1 and d3-d4. Black has problems completing queenside development and his kingside diversion is l o o k i n g i n a d e q u a t e . F o r i n s t a n c e , h5 13.d1 c6 14.d4 exd4 15.b3 d3! 16.xd3 c7 17.d1!? with e3-e4, Bc1-e3, and Rb1-c1 to come ( the immediate 17.e4!? m a y b e e v e n s t r o n g e r s i n c e c4 (trying to control e5) is hammered by 18.d5! cxd5 19.exd5 with a very dangerous initiative. )] 12...xc4 Removing the threat to e5 and c l a r if yi n g t h e p o s it io n . 13.dxc4 xd1 14.xd1 0-0 15.b4 g5 16.d5 d8 17.e4! c6 18.e3 White remains a bit better, b u t W a n g H a o d e f e n d s a c c u r a t e l y . e6 19.f5 [ 19.b5!? ] 19...f6 20.d6 b6 21.a4 fd8 22.e3 f3+! Securing the bishop pair and inching closer to full equality. 23.xf3 gxf3 24.c5 e7! 25.f5 xf5 26.exf5 bxc5 27.bxc5 ab8= Now Black is totally fine. 28.h3 xb1
29.xb1 d5 30.h6 This shouldn't change the result, but it's a step in the wrong direction. [ White ought to simplify the position, e.g. 30.f6 xf6 31.b7 when e4! results in a draw, e.g. 32.xa7 ( or even 32.b4 g5 33.xg5 xg5 34.xe4 xc5 35.f4 c3 36.g4 with Kh2-g3 and Rxf3 to come.) 32...d4 33.e7 xe3 34.fxe3 d1+ 35.f2 d2+ 36.f1 d1+ 37.f2 d2+= ] [ The straightforward 30.b7 should also end in a draw provided White doesn't lose his head: xc5 31.xc5 xc5 32.xa7 and now c1+ ( Black can also try 32...h5 but it's not enough.) 33.h2 f1 34.g4 saves the day, e.g. xf2+ 35.g3 f1 36.e7 f6 37.e6 f7 38.a5 a1 39.xc6 xa5 40.xf3= ] 30...f6 31.b7? The wheels begin to come off. [ 31.e3 is still drawn, i.e. xc5 32.b8+ f7 33.xc5 xc5 34.b7+ f8 35.g4!= ] 31...xc5 32.g7+ f8! White may have underestimated this in time pressure. 33.g4?! [ Guarding the first rank with 33.b7+ e8 34.b1 was the last chance. ] 33...e8!-+ 34.g5 [ White is helpless against the threats of ... Rd1+ and ...Bxf2 or ...e4, ...Rd1+, and ...Bd6, for instance 34.e3 d1+ 35.h2 xe3 36.fxe3 f2-+ ] 34...e4 [ or just 34...fxg5-+ ] 35.g8+ d7 36.g7+ c8 37.g8+ b7 38.g7+ a6 39.gxf6 d1+ 40.h2 d6+ 41.g3 d5! Declining to win the exchange and transitioning to a completely won rook and pawn ending. 42.f7 xf5 43.f8 xf8 44.xf8 xf8 45.g1 d8 0-1
1074 Anand,Viswanathan Topalov,Veselin WCHM 2010 Sofia [Nigel Davies]
A29 2787 2805 09.05.2010
1.c4 I must admit that I find Anand's switch a wa y f r o m 1 . e 4 t o 1 . d 4 a n d e ve n F l a n k Openings to be very interesting. Probably he 1063
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 reasons, as I do, that older players on the tourn amen t circuit have mu ch t o ga in b y switching the emphasis of the struggle to the middle game. e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.d3 f6 11.e4!? [ Quite a rare move in this position, White's most popular choices having been 11.e3 ] [ and 11.b2 . Anand's move makes a lot of sense because Black will lose time driving the knight away with a second move of his fpawn. And meanwhile he stays flexible with the development of his queen's bishop. ] 11...e8!? Topalov was probably making it up at the board given the rarity of both 11.Ne4 and Anand's adoption of the English Opening. [ 11...d7 is another possibility and features in the game Berkes, F (2593)-Munoz, L (2342)/ Turin 2006. ] [ 11...a5 seems critical, after which 12.c5 xc5 13.bxc5 d5 14.b2 ( 14.c2 is Miezis, N (2579)-Danin, A (2498)/Utrecht 2009 ) 14...a4 is Uhlmann, W (2417)Jackova, J (2360)/Marianske Lazne 2008. ] 12.c5 I hate to criticise the World Champion, but this does not seem to be that much in the spirit of the flexible English Opening. Could it be that in this tense situation Anand was inclined towards forcing moves? [ A couple of more flexible options come to mind in 12.b1!? ] [ and 12.c2!? . ] 12...xc5 13.bxc5 d5 14.b2 Looking to break open the centre with d3-d4 at some point. [ 14.d2 was another possibility, leaving the b-file open so as to possibly occupy it with a rook. ] 14...d8 15.c2 de7 A solid regrouping manoeuvre, making the bishop on e6 more active and inhibiting W hite's idea of d3-d4. 16.ab1 a2 17.bc1 f7 18.c3 d7 19.b2 b8 20.fd1 e6 21.d2 h6?! [ A leisurely looking waiting move, though as White has the plan of doubling on the b-file it might have been better to play 21...d5!? to exchange off the potentially dangerous dark squared bishop. I don't see much for him after that. ] 22.b1 d5 After this it starts to look quite nice for White.
[ Black would probably do better to play either 22...h5 ] [ or 22...b6 . ] 23.b2! b6 24.cxb6 White could probably have waited with this exchange. cxb6 25.d2 d6 26.bc2 White now seems to be slightly better because of his c-file pressure and bishop pair, though there's no doubting the solidity of Black's formation. It's also very hard to f in d a p la n b y wh ich W h it e ca n b re a k through. d7 27.h4 d8 28.b5 de7 29.b2 d5 30.b4 xb4 31.axb4 c6! 32.b5 xc2 33.xc2 e6 34.d4!? Trying to stir something up. e4 [ After 34...exd4 35.d2 f5 White can play 36.e4!? . ] 35.d2 xd4 36.xe4?! This looks natural but the White doesn't actually do much here. [ It might have been better to play just 36.xd4 xd4 37.xe4 with what looks like an equal position. ] 36...xb2 37.xb2 f7 38.e3 g5 39.hxg5 hxg5 40.f4 White doesn't want Black to play . . . g 5 -g 4 , f i xin g h is ki n gs id e p a wn s . gxf4 41.exf4 d4 42.f2 f5 43.f3 d5 44.d2 xf3 45.xf3 a4 46.g4?! I think a lot of tension started to creep into the game at this point. [ 46.d2! would have been the solid move, with a likely draw. ] 46...d6?! [ 46...e7! is better when White should fight f or a dra w wit h 47.d2 ( 47.g3 d5 48.f5 e3! 49.h2 c4 looks very dangerous ) 47...xf4 48.g3 b4 49.d7 xb5 50.xa7 etc. ] 47.g3 e4+ 48.h4! d6 49.d2? A very risky move, sacrificing a pawn to go active. [ 49.g3 was much safer, with a draw in prospect. ] 49...xb5 50.f5 e4 [ 50...c3!? might have been a better winning attempt. ] 51.h5! e3 52.h4 c3 53.d7+ e7 54.d3! e4 55.g6 c5 56.a3 d7 57.e3 g7 58.g5 b5 59.f4 b4 60.g6! b3 61.c3 d4! [ 61...b2?? would get Black mated after 62.xc5! b1 63.e6+ g8 64.c8+ etc. ] 1064
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 62.xc5 xf4 63.c7+ g8 64.b7 f3 65.b8+ g7 ½-½
1075 Anastasian,Ashot Sadvakasov,Darmen Aeroflot Open (2) [John Watson]
A29 2568 2635 16.02.2005
4 . g 3 a l wa y s t o p s t h e c h a r t s i n t h e F o u r Knights English. In an important main line we see how easily Black's activity can express itself when White opens the position. As so o f t e n t h e e a rl y o p e n in g o f l in e s f a vo u r s Black's two knights. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.e1 e8 8.c2 xc3 9.dxc3 h6 10.e3!? This is a better square for the knight in most varia tions, but W h ite spe eds his development and stops ...e3. b6 [ 10...d5 11.cxd5 xd5 12.d2 xe3 13.xe3 e7 14.ad1 ] 11.c5?! I think that this is a conceptual mistake. A major point of this variation is to control d5. By eliminating his doubled pawns, W hite gives Black's central majority a free hand. b7 [ 11...g4 is also possible but then ...Nxe3 is hardly a threat since a knight on e3 is well-placed. There is no need to worry about the bishop pair. ] 12.h3 e7 13.cxb6 axb6 14.c4 e5 Black's setup is fairly typical for this variation but W hite's knight is misplaced and ...d5 cannot be prevented. 15.b3 d5!? [ 15...ad8 might have been even more irritating: the threat is stronger than the execution. In any case Black has a solid advantage. ] 16.cxd5 xd5!? This allows White to activate his bish op . S ad va ka sov h as a pa rt icula r dynamic solution in mind. [ Instead 16...ad8!? is more flexible and forces White to find a useful move in view of 17.d4 xd5 ] 17.d4! c5! 18.b2 ad8 19.c1 e3! This is Black's point: he gets a wedge in White's position. The only drawback is that the bishop on g2 is finally activated.
[ 19...f6 or ] [ 19...a6 were also worth considering, both with advantage. ] 20.f4! [ A n a s t a s i a n a v o i d s 20.xe3 xe3 21.xe3? ( but 21.fxe3 xg2 22.xg2 d7! is pretty awful) 21...xg2 22.xg2 b7+ 23.f3 ( 23.g1 d3 24.d2 xf2 tears W hite apart) 23...xf3! 24.xf3 xe2+ 25.g1 xf3 26.xf3 xb2 and Black will win easily ] 20...c6! [ The bishops exert their influence after 20...d7 21.d1 7f6 22.e5! ] 21.d1?! Abandoning the kingside defences. However, [ 21.h2 a6! 22.e1 f5 intending ...Qe6g6 wasn't very attractive. ] 21...e6 22.h2 [ W i s e l y a vo i d i n g t h e a p p e a l i n g 22.d3 because of g6! 23.h2 xf4! 24.gxf4 d4! 25.xb7 xe2 26.e1 xd3 and wins ] 22...ce7! Black is play ing perfectly timed moves. Now White must attend to ...Nf5 and ... Qg6. 23.xe3?? After the burden of def en din g f rom a po or op ening situ at io n White collapses. Instead, [ 23.f3 was probably necessary, with a large disadvantage after f5 ] 23...xe3?? [ Black miscalculates horribly just as he was to cash in on a well-played game. Winning outrightwas 23...xe3 24.xd8 ( 24.c3 d4 25.xb7 xd1 ) 24...xd8 25.xb7 ( 25.c3 3f5 26.xb7 xe2+ a n d . . . R d 2) 25...d1 26.c3 f1+! (probably what Sadvakasov missed) 27.g1 ( 27.g2 xe2+ 28.g1 h2# ) 27...xg3+! 28.xd1 xe2+ 29.f2 xc3 30.xc3 xh3 ] 24.xe3 A forced series of moves follows that leaves Black o nly nom inally better. xe3 25.xd8 xd8 26.xb7 d2 27.c3!? [ 27.e5 is probably better because it isn't subject to attack on c3. xe2+ 28.g1 7d5 29.xd5 xd5 30.d1! . Now things get iffy: ] 27...xe2+ 28.g1 7d5! 29.e1!? [ 29.xd5 xd5 30.e1 is an instructive example of active-versus-passive pieces. 1065
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 The pawn on the same colour as the bishop restrain its scope. h5! 31.d1 ( 31.h4 e3; 31.f2 h4 ) 31...f6 and the a-pawn needs defence. 32.a4 e3! ( or 32...e4 ) 33.b1 e4! 34.g2 f5 and White has trouble finding a useful move. ] 29...c2 30.d1 xf4! 31.gxf4 xe1 32.a4 e7 33.d8+! h7 34.a6 Heading for c4. f3+!? [ 34...g6! 35.c4 c2 heads for the rooka n d - p a w n e n d i n g a f t e r 36.b8 e3 37.xb6 xc4 38.bxc4 e4 , which seems to give decent winning chances. ] [ 34...c2?? 35.d3+ ] 35.f2 d4 36.c4 g6 37.d6+ f5 38.xb6 xf4 39.a5 d7 40.a6 f5 41.b4 [ 41.b4 cxb4 42.xb4 e4 could still be tried, but the a-pawn will suffice to draw, and Black may have been disgusted with the easy win that he missed. ] ½-½
1076 Anastasian,Ashot Simonenko,Sergei Masters Abu Dhabi UAE (2) [John Watson]
A29 2595 2431 15.08.2005
exd4 18.xb7 That was easy! b8 19.f3? [ 19.c6! xb2 20.f3 puts White a clear pawn up since xa2? 21.xd4 paralyses the bishop and forces d6 22.c2! xc2 23.xc2 e6 24.xa7 etc. ] 19...xb2 20.b3 [ 20.c4 b8 21.ab1 xb1 22.xb1 g5 23.b7 c5= ] 20...d7 21.h4!? xb3? Now the opposite coloured bishops definitely favour W hite. Better was just [ 21...f7 ] 22.axb3 c5 23.a6! g5 A little desperate. 24.hxg5 fxg5 25.ca1 xb3?? [ 25...f7 26.xa7 xa7 27.xa7+ e7 28.b7 isn't at all easy. Black's bishop is awful, however. ] 26.g4 e7 27.e6+ xe6 28.xe6 b7 29.ea6 c4 30.dxc4 c7 31.xa7 xc4 32.d7 c8 33.a5 h6 34.xd4 f7 35.a6 c7 36.g2 g7 37.d5 e7 38.e3 b7 39.g4 e7 40.da5 e8 41.a7+ g6 42.5a6+ f6 43.a8 1-0
1077 A29 Aronian,Levon Gelfand,Boris White comes up with a truly unique plan. He 21st ECC Saint Vincent ITA 2005 perhaps rightly feels that knights are stronger [John Watson] t h a n b i s h o p s in so m e o f t h e se r e ve rse d Dragon positions. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 The combination of 7.Qb3 and g4 has given d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 White small edges for the most part. In this 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 0-0 9.e3 e6 10.d2!? high-level game Gelfand tries to develop An odd move that looks silly but shouldn't be simply and avoid weaknesses. 1.c4 e5 dismissed from a near 2600 player! f6 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 [ The natural 10...d5 doesn't solve all of xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.d3 c6 Black's problems: 11.fc1! xe3 12.xe3 [ 8...h6 prevents Bg5 and has been the main move, but it's weakening and White can play f6 13.d4! xd4 14.xd4 xd4 15.xd4 the same idea, e.g., 9.g4 c6 10.h4! exd4 16.d5 xd5 17.xd5+ h8 18.xc7 and the opposite-coloured bishops with a complex battle : e7 ( 10...b6 11.xb6 xb6 12.g5 hxg5 13.hxg5 won't save Black. ] xh1+ 14.xh1 h7 15.f4 11.fc1 e8 12.d1!? The point?! White takes 2 extra moves to get Rfc1 in. Oh well... Van der Sterren-Balcerak, Germany 2000) f7 13.d2 f8 11.g5! hxg5 12.xg5 d6 13.0-0-0 c7 14.dg1! e6 15.e3? ( better is 15.h5! [ 13...f5!? 14.b5?! d7 ] 14.a4 xa4 0-0-0 16.b1; or 15.b1 ) 15...f8 [ 14...f5! at least puts some pressure on ( 15...d5! ) 16.h5 d5 17.g5 dxc4 18.dxc4 d7 about equal, Mikhailuk-Sagalchik, White ] 15.xa4 d4?! 16.xe8 xe8 17.xd4 Seattle 2002 ] 1066
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.g4 This remarkable flank thrust has a winning record of about 80%! Needless to say, Black is developing defences after the initial shock has worn off. d6 [ 9...h6 transposes to 8... h6 ] 10.g5 d7 [ 10...g8 11.e4 b6 12.c2!? ( 12.h5! g6 13.f3; 12.d2 ) 12...c7 ( 12...e7 ) 13.c5!? dxc5 ( 13...d5 14.d6+ xd6 15.cxd6 xd6 16.e3 d4 17.d2 with some compensation) 14.xc5 e7 15.d2 e6 16.a3 b6 17.c1 d5 Zvjaginsev-Svidler, Moscow 2001 W hite went on to win. ] 11.e4!? [ 11.h4!? is more thematic but allows 11... Qb6. In the resulting queenless middlegame White can still try to make something of his space advantage yet it must be equal with careful play. ] 11...0-0 12.g1 b6 13.e3!? xe3 14.fxe3 f5 15.gxf6 xf6 16.0-0-0 The position contains chances for both sides. It's probably about equal. h8 17.d4!? [ Better seems 17.b4 d5 18.xf6 xf6 19.b1 ] [ 17.g3!? is also reasonable. ] 17...e7 [ 17...xe4! 18.xe4 h4 looks safe and potentially advantageous. ] 18.c3 [ 18.d5 xe4 19.xe4 f5 ] 18...xe4 19.xe4 f5 20.d3 xe4 21.xe4 ae8 [ 21...f7! 22.dxe5 xe5! 23.xe5 dxe5 must f avour Black somewhat in view of White's weak pawns. ] 22.dxe5 dxe5 23.g4 d8 24.d3 h6 ½-½
[ 10.d1 but it doesn't give White much hope of an edge. ] 10...exd4 [ 10...d6 11.d1 e8 12.c3 c6 13.dxe5! ( 13.e3 d7 14.e4 f6 15.xf6+ xf6 16.dxe5 xe5 17.d4 e7 18.a3 d8! saw Black hold a draw in Nielsen, PCaruan a, F/ Amsterdam 20 10. Black is holding tight and his problems seem quite m a n a g e a b l e .) 13...dxe5 14.g5 g4 ( 14...h6 15.xf6 xf6 16.e4 e7 17.c5 ) 15.xe7 xe7 16.e4 ] 11.d1 c5 This attempt to hold into the pawn must be critical but it doesn't seem to have been played before. [ Other players have just allowed White to recapture with 11...d6 after which 12.xd4 d7 13.f4 f6 14.d2 e5 ( 14...e5 15.e3 e7 16.c3 f6 17.d5 xd5 18.cxd5 gave White some pressure down the c-file in Wang Hao-Eljanov, P/Moscow 2010 ) 15.g2 g5 16.e3 xf4 17.exf4 d7 18.f3 f6 19.e1 and White was clearly better in Malakhov, V-Rodshtein, M/ Plovdiv 2010. ] 12.e3 dxe3 13.xe3 c7 [ 13...a5?! is less good, for example 14.e1 e8 15.g5 d6 ( 15...f8 16.xf6 xf6 17.xe8+ xe8 18.e3+ f8 19.e1 g6 20.xc5 is very strong) 16.xf6 gxf6 17.c3 gives White more than enough for the pawn. ] 14.c3 [ 14.d2 is also worth considering, for example d6 15.c3 e6 16.e1 gives White strong pressure for the pawn. ] 14...a6 15.g4!? The creative way of trying to get his knight on d5. [ 15.g5 h6 16.xf6 xf6 17.d5 d8 would also leave Black with a square on d4. ] 1078 A29 15...h6 16.h4 d6 17.g5 hxg5 18.hxg5 h7 Aronian,Levon 2808 19.d5 d8 20.b6 [ 20.xc5 xg5 21.b6 b8 Giri,Anish 2690 would transpose back into the game. ] 20th Amber Blindfold (1) 12.03.2011 20...b8 21.xc5 xg5 22.g2 g4 [Nigel Davies] 23.d2 e6 24.a3 f4 25.c5 We have to 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 give the players a certain latitude because of 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.0-0 this game having been played blindfold. [ But Fritz says that 25.e1 was better. ] 0-0 9.a4 e7 10.d4!? An enterprising 25...h4 26.d5 e6 27.e3 xd5 choice by White. 1067
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ This leads to the win of White's queen but it's not the best way. 27...xg2 28.xg2 e8 would have been easily winning for Black. ] 28.xf4 g5 29.xg5 xg5 30.xd5 g4 31.cxd6 Despite the fact that White has just two bishops for the queen this position is far from easy. The main problem is the massive White d-pawn which will keep Black's rooks tied down. fd8 32.e1 bc8 33.e4 c1+ 34.h2 g6 35.d7 h6+ 36.g3 g1 [ With pieces to look at I suspect Giri would have found 36...f5 37.e8+ h7 38.xd8 g5+ 39.f3 g4+ 40.e3 e1+ 41.d2 e2+ 42.c3 c1+ 43.b4 c4+ 44.a5 c7+ , winning back his rook whilst leaving White's king very bad. ] 37.e8+ h7 38.xd8 g6+ 39.f4 f6+ 40.e3 [ 40.g3 was better with a draw by r e p e t i t i o n . B l a c k d a r e n o t p l a y xd8 because of 41.e7! . ] 40...xd8? [ 40...e1+ was good for Black, for example 41.d3 d1+ 42.c4 h4+ 43.c5 xf2+ 44.c4 h4+ 45.b3 xd5 46.xd5 xd8 etc. ] 41.e4+ g6 42.f3 g5?! 43.e7 b6+ [ 43...xd5 was necessary, but Black probably couldn't bring himself to struggle for a draw in an endgame af ter being a queen up. ] 44.d4 a5 45.xg5 [ 45.d8! was quicker as Black's checks will co me to no t hing. B u t I can un d ersta n d Aronian's decision to simplify. ] 45...xg5+ 46.f2 d8 47.xb7 a5 48.a3 g7 49.b4 axb4 50.axb4 f5 51.b5 f4 52.e4 g5 53.e2 f6 54.d5 e6 55.b6 g4 56.fxg4 f6 57.b7 1-0
new subscribers or those interested in more details, I refer you to the PDF e-book, the PGN archives and in particular the August and September updates from 2007, which covered this line in detail. 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.d3 c6 9.0-0 [ This line is considered quite harmless. Instead 9.g4!? is a good way to kick some energy into the game. ] 9...0-0 10.g2 h6 [ 10...e8 11.d2 b6 12.c2 h6 13.a4 c7 14.ac1 d6 15.b4 d7 16.c3 c8 17.fe1 ( Or 17.b5 h3 18.bxc6 xg2 19.xg2 bxc6 20.b1 e6 21.a4 , and here a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Ludgate, A-Davies, G/corr ICCF 1992, though Black seems to be doing rather well after for example d5!? ) 17...h3 18.h1 a6 19.a4 a5 20.b1 ( 20.b5 b6 21.b1 g4 22.e3 b8 23.e4 Belchev, BErofeev, S/corr ICCF 1989) 20...axb4 21.xb4 a5 with chances to both sides, Portisch, L -Huebner, R/Abano Therme 1980/Candidates ] 11.d2 [ 11.e3 is Lautier, J-Sebag, M/Montpellier FRA 2007, which can be found in the PGN archives ] 11...e8 12.ac1 [ Both 12.h3 , Stefansson, H-Vallejo Pons, F/ Havana 2001 ] [ and 12.ad1 Popov, V-Sargissian, G/ Moscow RUS 2007 are discussed in the notes to Lautier-Sebag, mentioned in the note to White's 11th move. ] 12...f8 13.h3 d6 14.h2 a6 15.e3 e7 16.cd1 [ 16.g4 e6 is okay for Black ] 16...b8 [ 16...e6 is possibly better, for instance 17.d4 exd4 18.xd4 ab8 19.d2 ec8= ] 17.a7 a8 18.b6 d7 19.e3 f5 [ Black can also give consideration to 1079 A29 19...c5 20.c2 e6 , though White's chances are probably slightly preferable ] Aronian,Levon 2737 Svidler,Peter 2738 20.c5+ h8 [ The alternatives lead to a better game for 2nd FIDE GP Sochi RUS (9) 09.08.2008 White: A) 20...d5 21.xd5+ cxd5 22.xd5 [Carsten Hansen] f7 23.c7 xb3 24.axb3 f4 25.d2 xc5 26.xe8 f5 27.c7 , and White is 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 an exchange up. ] We haven't looked at this line for a while. For 1068
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 20...f7 21.xf7+ xf7 22.cxd6 xd6 23.f4 , and White is minimally better. ( 23.a4 b8 )] 21.cxd6 f6 22.d4 [ With his affinity to weird g-pawn moves, I'm a little surprised that Aronian passed on the s h a r p a n d i n t e r e s t i n g 22.g4!? , which appears to promise W hite decent chances for an advantage after for example xd6 23.gxf5 xf5 ( 23...e4+ 24.g1 exd3 25.xd3 ) 24.e4 ] 22...e4 23.f3 exf3 24.xf3 xd6 25.f4 xf4 26.xf4 e3 27.d5 [ Here White should have opted for 27.df1 f8 28.b6 g5 29.4f3 with a pleasant advantage. The complications that arises in the game are not necessarily to W hite's advantage. ] 27...c5 [ 27...xg3 28.xg3 g5+ 29.h2 xf4+ 30.h1 c5 31.d6 c4 transposes to the game continuation ] 28.d6 xg3 29.xg3 [ Or 29.d5 g6! ( 29...g5 30.xf5 xg2+ 31.h1 g6 32.df1 f6 33.xf6 gxf6 34.xg2 h5 35.h2 ) 30.f3 f6 with a messy position and chances to both sides. ] 29...g5+ 30.h2 xf4+ 31.h1 c4 32.b4 a5 33.b5 f6 34.b6 d7 35.e3?! [ Now White starts getting himself into serious trouble. With 35.d5 h4 36.xb7 d8 37.xf6 xf6 38.c7 a4 White is the one who has the better chances, but Black should be able to hold on. ] 35...g3 36.xb7 e8 37.f3 xf3 38.xf3 xe3 39.g2 g5 40.d5 xd5 41.xd5 g4?! [ 41...d3 If Black is still playing for a win, and I assume he is because otherwise there is no point in continuing the way he did in the game, then Black should have played 42.xa5 g7 which maintains good winning chances. In the game continuation, Black forces a rook ending on the board where he is two pawns up, but which unfortunately is a well-known draw. ] 42.hxg4 fxg4 43.xg4 xg4 44.d7 xd7 45.xd7 e2+ 46.f3 xb2 47.c7 c2?! [ 47...xa2 48.xc4 is also a draw, but may
be a little more difficult for White than the game continuation. ] 48.a4 c3 49.e4 c1 50.c5 c2 51.d3 a1 52.xc2 xa4 53.b3 b4+ 54.c3 a4 55.b3 a1 56.b2 e1 57.xa5 g7 58.c2 g6 59.d2 e8 60.a3 g5 61.e3 f8 62.e2 g4 63.e7 h5 ½-½
1080 Aronian,Levon Svidler,Peter WCh Mexico City MEX (13) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2750 2735 28.09.2007
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 c5 5.xe5 An interesting choice. The normal move is 5 Bg2, but the text move aims to e x p l o i t B l a c k ' s m o v e o r d e r . xf2+ Black hands the bishop pair to White in return for weakening the position of W hite's king. This weakness has yet to prove fatal, but it sets some limits to how White can proceed in his attempts to exploit the advantage of the pair of bishops. Usually W hite, in order to stabilize the position seeks a rather static pawn structure and will then try to build up a threatening position from this foundation. [ The much less played alternative is 5...xe5 which I dismissed in my book on the English Opening: 1...e5, but Ribli gives it a '!?' in ChessBase Magazine 97. 6.d4 A) or 6...e7 7.dxe5 g4 ( 7...xe5 8.g2 Ribli ) 8.e3 xe5 9.f4 ( 9.g2!? xc4? 10.d5 Ribli ) 9...c6 10.g2 b4 11.d3 Gulko, B-Pedro, F/Buenos Aires 2003; B) 6...d6!? 7.dxe5 xe5 8.g2 I called this position clearly better for White in my book, whereas Ribli assesses it as equal the truth is probably somewhere in the middle, I will definitely prefer White's side. Black's bishop is bit clumsily placed in the center, and White has a strong bishop on g2 and has the ability to generate pressure along the semiopen d-file. ] 6.xf2 xe5 7.e4 In accordance with the plan outlined in the comment after Black's fifth move. White would like to play d2-d4, but 1069
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 du e t o th e e xp o se d kin g, a mo re ca ref u l approach is prudent. [ 7.b3?! is ambitious, but too slow and not very good, Black soon has a signif icant a d v a n t a g e : d5! 8.d4 ( 8.cxd5 xd5 is also very good for Black) 8...c6 9.h3 0-0 10.g2 dxc4 11.d5 e5 , and Black has the better chances, although W hite managed to hold the draw in Topalov, VKarpov, A/Monte Carlo1997 ] 7...c5 This is more or less necessary as White otherwise at some point will throw d2-d4 in the mix with a great centre and dominant bishop pair. [ 7...d6 8.h3 ( 8.d4!? is a little played, but very interesting alternative, e.g. c6 9.h3 0-0 Kilgus, G-Mikac, M/Aschach 1993, and now 10.g2! e8 11.f1 and White w ill soon have finished castling-by-hand an excellent position in hand.) 8...0-0 9.d4 ( 9.d3 c6 10.d4 g6 Abdul Ghafour, ZPantebre Martinez, J/Buenos Aires 1978, and now W hite does best to play 11.g1 b6 12.h2 , and White's king is out of immediate danger, and can start worrying about consolidating; 9.g2 e7 10.d4 g6 11.d3 c5 12.dxc5 dxc5 13.g5 e5 , and Black has at least equal chances, Mukhin, A-Kavalenia, L/St Petersburg 1999) 9...g6 10.g2 e6 ( 10...b8 11.f1 e6 12.b3 c8 13.g4 h6 14.g1 h7 15.e2 g5 16.g3 h4 17.b2 xg2 18.xg2 Poldauf, D-Timman, J/Forchheim 2000 ) 11.b3 c6 12.e3 ( 12.d5?! With this impatient move White grabs more space, but should have focused on completing his development and tucking his k in g a wa y b e f o re p ro c e e d i n g wi t h t h i s undertaking. IN return for W hite's aggressive space grabbing, Black gains control over the e5-square. cxd5 13.exd5 d7 14.d4 e8 15.b2 e5 16.hf1 c8 , and now instead of 17 Kg1 which lead to unclear complications in Johannessen, LSebag, M/ Malmo 2003, W hite should instead try 17.g4!? with a position in which I favour White's chances.) 12...a5 13.d2 h6 14.ad1 ad8 15.f3 c8 16.g2 fe8 17.f2 Timman, J-Beliavsky, A/ Sombor 1972 ] 8.h3
[ White has tried several other things at this juncture: A) 8.e2 A) 8...d6 9.g2 e6 10.d3 d7 11.h3 h6 12.f4 a6 13.d4 cxd4 14.xd4 Vernales, G-Daguer, J/Tucuman 1977; B) 8...c6 9.d3 0-0 ( 9...d6 10.g2 h6 11.f1 0-0 12.e3 e5 13.d4 cxd4 14.xd4 1-0 Johnsrud, J-Schreber, D/ Email 2000) 10.f1 d6 11.g2 e8 12.e3 c7 Pham Minh Hoang-Galyas, M/Budapest 1998, 13.d2 e6 14.d5 d7 15.f4; C) 8...0-0 9.d3 d6 C1) 10.g2 e8 ( 10...d7 11.h3 h6 12.e3 e8 13.d2 e6 14.b3 b6 15.af1 d7 16.f2 ac8 17.d5 xd5 18.cxd5 is also slightly better for W hite, Schwartzman, G-Comp Lyon/ Dortmund 1991 ) 11.e3 c7 C1a) 12.g4?! e6 13.h4? ( 13.f1!? ) 13...c6 14.d2 ed4 15.d5 , thus far Paehtz, T-Malich, B/ Halle 1974, but now Black for some r e a s o n d e c i d e d a g a i n s t xe2 16.xe2 e5 17.g5 g4 which looks awfully appealing for Black.; C1b) 12.d2 e6 13.d5 b6 14.hf1 b7 15.f5 d4 16.xd4 cxd4 17.af1 xd5 18.exd5 , and W hite has the better chances, Moehring, G-Packroff, H/Erfurt 1973; C2) 10.h3 e8 ( 10...e6 11.g2 fd7 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 c7 14.b3 ad8 15.b5 Chernin, A-Groszpeter, A/AUT 1998; 10...a6 11.g2 b5 12.b3 b4 13.d5 xd5 14.exd5 e8 15.d4 cxd4 16.xd4 Volodin, A-Savchenko, A / V o r o n e zh 1 9 9 9) 11.g2 c7 12.e3 ( 12.d4!? cxd4 13.xd4 b6 14.e3 e6 15.d2 b7 16.hd1 ) 12...e6 13.d5 c6 14.d2 ed4 Garcia Gonzales, G-Uhlmann, W/Leipzig 1973, and now 15.hf1 e6 16.f4 ] [ B) 8.d4 cxd4 9.xd4 0-0 A) 10.g2 e8 11.g5 h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.e2 b6 14.hf1 ( 14.b5!? ) 14...c6 15.ad1 b7 16.g1 Joachim, S-Epishin, V/Bad Zwesten 2002; B) 10.f4 d6 11.h3 e6 12.e2 c8 ( 12...c8 13.b3 c6 14.d2 b6+ 15.g2 looks better for White) 13.ac1 1070
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xh3!? ( This is a rather risky move, but in the game it pays off 13...c6!? 14.xd6 xh3 looks like a good alternative for Black ) 14.d5 e6 ( 14...xd5? 15.cxd5 d7 16.xe5 dxe5 17.xe5+- ) 15.c7 e7 16.xa8 c6 17.e3 I va n c h u k , V -A n a n d , V / W ij k a a n Ze e 1999 ] [ C) 8.d3 d6 ( 8...d5 9.xd5 xd5 10.exd5 0-0 11.h3 f6+ 12.g2 f5 Pham Minh Hoang-Khechumyan, G/ Budapest 1999, 13.e2 g6 14.f1 xd3 15.xd3 xd3 16.g4 a6 17.b3 ) A) 9.g2 0-0 10.e2 e6 ( 10...e8 11.e3 f5 12.d2 f6 13.af1 fxe4 14.dxe4 Zapletal, J-Chachalev, J/Karvina 1992, and now e6 15.b3 d7 ) 11.h3 fd7 12.g4 b8 13.e3 bc6 14.d2 a6 15.hf1 d4 16.d5 xd5 17.exd5 b5 18.b3 b6 19.ae1 with a complicated struggle with chances to bot h sid es, K no tt, S-Fried go od, D/ London 1979; B) 9.h3 0-0 ( 9...h5?! 10.e2 h7 11.g2 h4 12.g4 g5 13.e3 d7 14.d2 e6 15.b4! with a clear advantage for White, Botvinnik, M-Keres, P/Moscow 1966; 9...e6 10.e2 fd7 11.g2 c6 12.e3 de5 13.d5 0-0 14.f4 e7 15.f1 , and the players agreed upon an all too premature draw, 1/ 2-1/2 W elin, T-Svenn, M/Lulea 1980. I think W hite's chances are preferable at this point. ) B1) 10.g2 fd7 11.f1 c6 12.e3 de5 B1a) Black was threatening ...Nb4. Also 13.g1 can be considered, e.g. e6 ( 13...b4?! 14.e2 bxd3 15.ad1 e6 16.b3 b4 17.xc5 dxc5 18.xd8 axd8 19.d5 ) 14.b3; B1b) 13.a3 a6 14.d2 b5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.xb5 ( 16.g1 b4 17.d5!? ) 16...a6 17.a4 Wirthensohn, H-Friedgood, D/Caorle 1972, and now b6 18.g1 xb5 19.axb5 xa1 20.xa1 xb5 with a better game for Black; B2) 10.g1 e8 11.h2 c7 12.f2 This is an unusual way of castling by
hand, but it appears to work quite well, White already has the upper hand at this stage. e6 13.e3 d4 14.b5 ( 14.h2!? e6 15.g2 d7 16.d2 ) 14...ec6?! ( 14...xb5 15.cxb5 e6 looks fully playable for Black now, on the other hand, W hite advantage becomes significantly bigger) 15.h5 a6 16.xd4 xd4 17.g2 e6 18.b4! Contin, D-Fiore, M/Formia 1995; B3) 10.g2 d7 11.f4 c6 12.e2 e8 13.d2 c7 14.b4?! ( 14.hf1 f5 15.d5 d7 16.h2 e6 17.e3 with chances to both sides) 14...cxb4 15.d5 a5 16.a3? bxa3 17.xa3 b5 Contin, D-Godena, M/Montecatini Terme 1997; B4) 10.e2 e8 11.g2 c7 12.e3 ( 12.g4 e6 13.e3 a6 14.d2 b8 15.d5 b5 16.b3 d4 17.d1 e6 18.c1 b7 with pleasant game for B l a ck , G a rc i a M a rt i n e z, S - B o e y, J / Skop je 19 7 2) 12...e6 13.d2 a6 14.a4 c6 15.d5 ed4 16.ab1 e6 17.d1 a5 18.f4 with chances to both sides, Jakobsen, O-Jansson, B/ Copenhagen 1974 ] 8...0-0 9.d3 [ 9.d4 is unnecessary: cxd4 10.xd4 d6 11.c5 c6 12.xd6 a5 , and Black has sufficient compensation for the pawn ] 9...a6 [ Black's alternatives are: A) 9...d6!? 10.g2 d7 11.f4 c6 12.e2 ( 12.h2!? intending Bf1-g2 is probably better) 12...e8 13.d2 c7 14.b4 cxb4 15.d5 a5 , and White has some compensation for the pawn, Contin, D-Godena, M/ Montecatini Terme 1997 ] [ B) 9...d5?! 10.cxd5 b5 11.f4 e8 12.g2 c4 13.xe5 xe5 14.d4 , and W hite is much better, Pham Minh Hoang-Khechumyan, G/Budapest 1998 ] 10.g2 b5 11.f1 d6 12.g1 h6 13.b3 e6 14.e3 b8 [ Only here Black steps off the path of what has been played before: 14...h7 15.h2 d7 16.d2 f6 17.e2 g5 18.f4 fe8 19.ad1 f7 20.f2 , and White has the better chances, Garcia Palermo, C1071
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Dzindzichashvili, R/Buenos Aires 1978 ] 15.e2 [ 15.d2!? ] 15...e8 16.c1 d7 17.c2!? [ White plans to play Ne2-c3 and then t ra n s f e r t h e c -ro o k t o f 2 . A ls o 17.d2!? deserve consideration: e7 18.h2 b4 19.f4 g5 20.e2 c6 21.cd1 a5 22.f2 with a better game for White ] 17...bxc4 [ I don't like this move at all, leaving the dpawn very vulnerable on an open file, but the alternative isn't entirely pleasant either, e. g. 17...e7 18.c3 e6 19.cf2 threatening Nc3-d5 h7 20.d5 g6 21.h2 ] 18.dxc4 c6 19.c3 b7 20.cf2 h7 Otherwise W hite can play Rxf6 with a very u n c o m f o r t a b l e p o s i t i o n f o r B l a c k 21.h4 Preventing ...Ng5 be7 22.d2 a5 23.c2 [ I think that White may have either overlooked or underestimated Black's 25th move in the continuation. Instead of the text move, White could also consider 23.d5!? d7 24.df2 xd5 25.xd5 f6 26.d2! xd2 ( 26...d8?! 27.xf6 gxf6 28.xh6 ) 27.xd2 eg4 28.f4 xe4 29.xe4 xe4 30.xd6 xd6 31.xd6 with a better endgame for White ] 23...g4 24.f4 hf6 25.e1 d5! [ If 25...e6 then White obtains the better c h a n c e s a f t e r 26.xd6 xe4 27.xe4 xe4 28.xe4 xe4 29.xe4 xe4 30.xe4 xd2 31.xc5 ] 26.e5?! [ After this move everything very quickly gets terminated down to a drawn endgame. The a l t e r n a t i v e i s 26.cxd5!? after which the complications take on a different shape, but Black may well be okay after xd5 27.xd5 xd5 28.ee2! c6 ( Or 28...b7 29.d6 xe4 30.xc5 xc5+ 31.xc5 e6 32.xe4 xe4 33.xe4 xe4 34.g2 with a clear advantage for White) 29.d6 e6 30.xc5 xc5+ 31.xc5 f5 32.e5 xe5 ( 32...xg2 33.xg2 xe5 34.d5 f7 35.a4 with a clear advantage for White in the endgame: bishop vs knight with pawns on both wings and W hite has a pawn majority on the queenside) 33.xe5 xe5 34.xc6 xc5 35.d5+ f8 36.f3 c1+
37.g2 e7 , and Black has excellent chances of holding the draw. ] 26...xe5 27.de2 d4 28.xe5 xg2 29.xf6 xe2 30.xe2 xe2 31.xe2 [ If 31.xe2 then b7 32.f2 ( of course not 32.e5?? e1+ 33.h2 h1# ) 32...gxf6 33.f4 d8 and Black has the clearly better chances thanks to his protected passed pawn and the soft light squares around White's king ] 31...gxf6 32.g4+ f8 33.c8+ e7 34.xg2 dxc3 35.b7+ d8 36.d5+ c8 37.c6+ b8 38.e8+ b7 39.e4+ c8 40.c6+ b8 41.e8+ b7 42.e4+ c8 43.c2 a3 44.xc3 xa2+ 45.f3 b1 46.e3 And a draw was agreed upon as evidenced by the last several moves neither side can make any progress. ½-½
1081 A29 Aronian,Levon 2739 Topalov,Veselin 2780 XXV SuperGM Morella Linares MEX/ESP (8) [Carsten Hansen] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 d4 [ 11...a5 is the other main line - see the PDF eBooks ] 12.d2 [ W e l o o k e d a t 12.e3 in the game Van Wely-Tiviakov, Wijk aan Zee 2007 - see the PGN archives ] 12...c6 [ 12...d5 was discussed in Bauer-Sokolov, Chartres 2005 - see PGN archives ] 13.de4 [ This move has seen a lot more action than our PDF eBook on the King's English appears to tell us thus far we have only covered this sub-variation with one game, so t h e b e l o w s h o u l d g i ve yo u a t h o r o u g h update on the current status of the this line. Alternatively 13.b2 was played in BareevTopalov, Dortmund 2002 and can be found in the PGN archives ] 13...d5 [ Black has several alternatives available: A) 1072
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13...f7 A) 14.d2 A1) 14...b8 15.a4 d5 16.e3 f5 17.c5 xc5 18.bxc5 xc3 19.xc3 d7 20.c2 e7 21.a1 ( 21.xc6 c7 22.e4 xc5 23.d2 ) 21...bd8 with chan ce s to both side s, though W hite's position is probably easier to play, Ljubojevic, L-Ivanchuk, V/ Monaco 2002; A2) 14...d5 15.e3 xc3 16.xc3 b5 17.b2 f8 18.c2 a5 19.a4 c7 , and Black has solved his opening problems successfully, Hjartarson, JBareev, E/Novi Sad 1990; B) 14.e3 b5 15.xb5 ( 15.b2 xc3 16.xc3 d7 17.d4 exd4 18.xd4 c4 19.c1 d5 20.d1 e6 21.d2 xg2 1/2-1/2 Zueger, B-Cvitan, O/ Turin ITA 2006 ) 15...cxb5 16.b2 B1) 16...d5 17.h3 a4 18.a1!? ( 18.c3 xc3 19.xc3 b6 20.e4 e6 21.xe6 xe6 22.b3 xb3 23.xb3 d8 with an insignificant plus for White, Pheby, J-Shikalov, A/RCCA 2004 ) 18...f8 19.c1 b6 20.c2 e8 21.fd1 e6 22.xe6 ( 22.g2!? also looks better for White his pieces are b e t t e r p l a c e d a n d c o o r d i n a t e d) 22...xe6 23.d4 exd4 24.xd4 Rotstein, A-Psakhis, L/Groningen 1990; B2) 16...c8!? 17.d4 c4 18.d5 d7 19.g4 b6 20.g3 d6 21.c1 a5 with a complicated position and chances to both sides, Alavkin, A-Demianjuk, A/ Kazan RUS 2007; B3) 16...a4 17.a1 B3a) 17...f5 was played in Yakovich, Y-Demianjuk, A/Salekhard RUS 2006, which can be found in the PGN archives; B3b) In his annotations to the Yakovich game, Watson indicated that 17...a5 leads to better game for Black, but I have to disagree on that point, e. g. 18.d4! ( Watson only offered 18.bxa5 xa5 after which I agree that Black has a comfortable game, but 18 d4 is considerably better) 18...exd4 19.xd4 xd4 20.xd4 axb4 21.axb4 , and White can claim a small
plus on account of his better placed minor pieces; B3c) 17...c8 18.d4 f5 19.c5 xc5 20.bxc5 c4 21.xb7 b8 22.g2 xf1 23.xf1 , and White has amble compensation for the exchange, Bareev, E-Ponomariov, R/ Moscow 2002 ] [ B) 13...f7 14.e3 ( 14.c5?! b8 15.h3 xc5 16.bxc5 d5 17.d2 h5 18.f3 f5 , and Black is in control of the game, Winants, L-Vyzmanavin, A/ Ostende 1991) 14...e6 15.g4 d5 16.e2 d7 17.d1 fd8 18.h3 f8 19.b2 e7 20.e2 g6 wi t h c h a n ce s t o b o t h si d e s , B a u e r , C Motylev, A/Katernberg GER 2007 ] [ C) 13...g4!? A) 14.e3 d7 ( 14...a5!? ) 15.d2 h8 16.h3 h5 17.f4 f5 18.g5 h6 ( 18...f6!? ) 19.f3 xf3+ 20.xf3 e8 with a complicated game, though White White's position appears more dynamic, Georgiev, K-Kharlov, A/ Niksic 1996; B) 14.h3 h5 15.g4 f7 16.e3 e6 17.c2 d7 18.d1 h5 ( 18...d5 ) 19.e2 hxg4 20.hxg4 g6 21.b2 f5 with a complicated game and chances to bo t h side s, S t oh l, I -Bio lek, R/ P ra gu e 1992; C) 14.f3!? c8 ( 14...h5 15.c5 c8 16.e3 e6 17.3e4 ) 15.e3 e6 16.f4 White re-opens the diagonal for the bishop on g2 and attempts to grab some space. Ideally, White would like to play f4-f5 and follow up with a kingside attack while have a go o d gra b o n th e imp o rt an t c en t ra l squares as well as a space advantage on the queenside. f5 ( 16...exf4 17.gxf4 f5 18.g3 Ribli ) 17.f2 exf4 18.gxf4 with a double-edged position, Lapshun, YGoldin, A/Seattle 2003 ] [ D) 13...d7 14.e1 ( 14.e3?! f7 15.xd4 exd4 16.a4 d5 17.ac5 c7 18.c2 f5 19.d2 e8 20.f3 f6 , and Black is clearly better, W hite has ended in the type of position he should strive t o a vo id , Z u e ge r , B -A n a s, N/ T u r in I T A 2006 ) 14...ad8 15.d2 d5 16.c5 xc5 17.bxc5 xc3 18.xc3 f7 19.xd4 xd4 20.c2 fd8 21.b2 h5 22.eb1 c8 , and while I prefer White's chances, the 1073
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ga m e is m o r e o r le s s b a l a n c e d a t t h i s juncture, Georgiev, K-Goldin, A/Niksic 1996 ] 14.e3 [ The young flank opening connoisseur, T o m a s h e v s k y i n s t e a d t r i e d 14.b2 in another recent game: f7 ( 14...xc3 15.xc3 d5!? ) 15.xd5 xd5 16.xd4 exd4 17.c2 e8 18.d2 f8 19.fe1 h8 20.xd5 xd5 21.c4 d7 22.f3 , a nd W h ite 's po sit io n is easier t o p la y thanks to Black's passive bishop and the re l a t i ve l y we a k d -p a wn , wh ic h m a ke i t difficult for Black to come up with an active plan, whereas W hite can advance on the queenside at will while warding of f an y potential counterplay from Black without too many headaches, Tomashevsky, EKhismatullin, D/Tomsk RUS 2006 ] 14...xc3 15.xc3 f5 16.c2!? [ This is the first new move. White aims to grab space in the centre and play actively by advancing his d-pawn quickly. Black doesn't appear to have any major problems in the continuation. In an earlier game, which may have been unknown to Aronian W hite tried 16.b5!? cxb5 17.xb5 c8 18.d5 xd5 19.xd5 h8 20.f3 d6 21.b1 , and White's chances seem slightly preferable on account on his well-placed central knight and more active position, Heitmann, M-Bradtke, K/ corr 1998 ] 16...c8 17.d1 d7 18.d4!? [ Aronian plays the sharpest continuation, taking on an isolated d-pawn. The a l t e r n a t i v e s i s 18.e4 , b u t a f t e r b6 Black has no reason to complain ] 18...exd4 19.exd4 d6 [ The actual merit of this move doesn't strike as immediately obvious, but Topalov probably wanted to get his queen away from the d-file and instead play for the control over the weak light squares on W hite's q u e e n s i d e . H o w e v e r , I t h i n k 19...fe8 20.e4 h8 is a more solid and sensible continuation. Now White grabs the initiative ] 20.e4! cd8 21.b2!? [ White may also consider 21.b5!? cxb5 ( 21...d5 22.bxc6 bxc6 23.b2 fe8 24.e1 is complicated but probably more pleasant for White) 22.d5 f7 23.h3 g6 24.b3 with a complicated game and
chances to both sides ] 21...f7 22.d2?! [ This solid move looks normal, but White can do better with 22.b5! cxb5 ( 22...b3 23.xf6+! gxf6 24.xf5 xd1 25.xd1 with a pleasant game for White) 23.d5 c8 24.d3 a6 25.bc1 , and White has good compensation for the pawn ] 22...d5 , and the chances are fairly even White's pawn on d4 is of course not ideal, but it guarantees W hite space and an active position 23.e1 b8 24.de2 b6 25.d2 xg2 26.xg2 d5+ 27.g1 b5 28.b3 d6 29.a5 c8 30.c1 c7 31.d3 fc8 32.ec2 g6 33.f1 f7 34.g2 e7 35.e1 h5 At this point the game is still fairly balanced, but up towards the time control on move 40, Topalov sharpens the game 36.h4 [ 36.e4 f5!? ] 36...f5!? Very aggressive and typical of Topalov White now has to be careful not to end up in trouble. 37.c1?! [ White undoubtedly expected Black's next move and counted on his planned 38th move to deal sufficiently with it, but I feel White should most likely have settled for the ugly and uninspiring 37.f4 which will likely f o rce t h e gam e t o e nd pe a ce f ully a f t e r s o m e t h i n g l i k e g8 38.ec1 e7 ( 38...f6 39.xc6 xg2+ 40.xg2 e8 41.c3 e4 42.3c2 f6 is another r e p e t i t i o n) 39.e1 with an invitation to a draw by repetition ] 37...f4 38.xe7+?! [ A dynamic response from Aronian, though quite possibly not best (see the note after Black's 39th move), but clearly he wanted to avoid 38.xf4 xf4 39.gxf4 f5 which is pleasant and without much risk for Black ] [ By the way, 38.e4 fxg3 39.fxg3 f5 doesn't inspire confidence for White either ] 38...xe7 39.xf4 xg2+? [ With his penultimate move before the time control, Black throws his advantage away and ends up in a worse position. Instead 39...d6! would have left Black with a comfortable game, e.g. 40.xd6 xd6 41.f3+ f6 , and Black has the upper hand. ] 40.xg2 d7 41.xc6 g7 42.d5!? 1074
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 42.e5+!? f7 43.f3 followed by Ke4 Romanishin, Polanica Zdroj 1993. ] also looks attractive for W hite. However, 11...cxb6 12.e3 This is a new move. The the advance of the d-pawn puts f urther alternatives are: pressure on Black who is already suffering [ 12.a4!? has been played by Kasparov, badly at this juncture ] which should indicate that this is W hite's 42...a6 43.f3 f6 44.e4 e7+ 45.d3 best. d7 46.d6 After this move, the writing on the A) 12...f6 13.fd1 e8 14.e3 f7 15.d4 wall has become obvious, W hite is winning exd4 ( 15...b4 16.d5! , e.g. xd5? rather easily. e8 47.d4 f7 48.f3 a5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xe5+- ) 16.exd4 b4 49.c5 axb4 50.axb4 b7 51.d2 a8 17.d5 f5 18.d6! xd6 19.xd6 xb1 52.e4 d8 53.d5 a3+ 54.d4 b3 20.xb1 xa2 21.xa2+ xa2 22.fd2 55.c5 e6 56.d2 b1 57.e2 d7 , a n d W h it e e ve n t u a lly co n ve rt e d h is 58.d5 d1+ 59.d2 xd2+ 60.xd2 e8 advantage, Kasparov-Faulks, London 61.e6 b6 62.g5 c6 63.xd8 xd8 (simul) 2003; 64.g5 e8 65.f7 B) 12...f5 13.fd1 f6 14.e3 e7 15.d4 1-0 e4 16.d2 b4 ( 16...ad8 17.b5 c7 18.bc1 a7 19.e2 d7 20.a4 ) 17.f1 ac8 18.a3 d5 1082 A29 19.dc1 fd8 20.c4 f7 21.xd5 xd5 22.b5 c6 23.c3 f4? Aronian,Levon 2744 ( 23...xc4 is better, although 24.xc4 Topalov,Veselin 2783 d5 25.xd5+ xd5 26.bc1 Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (9) 21.02.2007 is quite pleasant for White) 24.xd5 xd5 [Carsten Hansen] 25.xc6 bxc6 26.xc6+- H. Stefansson-T. Bjornsson, Iceland 1993 ] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 [ 12.d2?! b5! (according to Ribli, Black is 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 alre a dy a t le a st e qu a l a f t e r t h is m o ve ) 8.b1!? This move has in recent years 13.c1 ( 13.xb5 xa2 14.a1 e6 become a popular alternative to 8 a3 and 8 15.c4 c5 with chances to both sides d3. a5 The evaluation of this move has also (Ribli) ) 13...b4 14.a4 c8 ( Ribli has been rocked a bit. At the time when I wrote given 14...xa2 as bad on account of my book on the 1 c4 e5 English (1999), it was 15.xc6 bxc6 16.b3 g5 17.e3 xd3 considered dubious. However, the Hungarian 18.a1 but White may well play better with grandmaster Zoltan Ribli, who is an expert on 15 b3!? immediately.) 15.b3? ( 15.xc6!? th e E n glis h O pe n in g, give s it a n '! '. T h e bxc6 16.c4 - Ribli ) 15...d4! 16.xc8 alternatives are numerous: 8...f6?!, 8... Be6, ( 16.xb7 xc1 17.xc1 d7-+ ) 16...xc8 8...f5, 8...0-0 and finally the fun 8...g5!?. The 17.ac5 a4! 18.xd4 ( 18.xa4 xb3 latter two have previously been discussed in 19.xb3 b5-+ ) 18...xd4 19.e4 this column. 9.d3 ( 19.xa4 b5 20.e3 a7-+ ) 19...xb2-+ [ Here 9.b3!? was previously considered , and Black is winning Gabriel-Kir. Georgiev, best, although it has since been established Altensteig 1995. ] that Black is okay, e.g. 0-0 10.b2 e6 [ 12.c1 c8 13.a4 f6 14.fd1 d4 ( or 10...f5 11.d3 h8!? 12.d2 e6 15.xd4 xd4 16.d5 xd5 17.xd4 13.c4 f6 with chances to both sides, exd4 18.xd5 is pleasant for White, Levin-Romanishin, Bad Endbach 199 5) Hodgson-Gormally, Scarborough 1999. ] 11.d3 f6 12.d2 d7 13.c4 d5 14.e1 fd8 15.c1 h8 , and Black is 12...b5!? 13.xb5 xa2 14.c1 a4 15.c3 a l r e a d y d o i n g f i n e , T u r o v - Y a k o v i c h , b3 16.e2 e6 17.a1 a3 This is a prelude to further exchanges down to an even Krasnodar 2002 ] endgame. If White is allowed time to organize 9...e6 10.e3 0-0 11.xb6 [ Or 11.c1 e8 12.a3 h6 13.d2 b8 his pieces properly, Black may encounter 14.b3 d5 15.d2 d7= L.B. Hansen- problems hanging on to his queenside pawns. 1075
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.bxa3 xa3 19.xa3 xa3 20.b5 e7 21.d4 g4!= [ 21...exd4 22.fxd4 leaves White with the initiative ] 22.h3 xf3 23.xf3 exd4 24.exd4 f6 25.d1 b6 26.c4 [ 26.d5 d4 27.xd4 xd4 is nothing substantial for White ] 26...d8 27.g2 xd4 28.xd4 xd4 ½-½
firm hold of the initiative. a6 15.a3 c5 16.a5 d7 Once again forced. 17.c7! d8 18.xd8 xd8 19.b2 b6 20.c6 White plans to win the b-pawn. f6? 21.fb1 [ Good, but 21.xc5! is very strong, as after d7 there is 22.xb6! xb6 23.xb6 b8 24.a7 and now Black's attempt at activity, b2 allows 25.xf6 ] 21...d6 [ Perhaps 21...g4!? 22.f2 e4 offered better possibilities. ] 22.xb6 xb6 23.xb6 e6 24.xc5 d7 1083 A29 This is Black's idea, forcing an oppositeAzmaiparashvili,Zurab 2675 colour bishops' ending, but the two pawns are xb6 Simonenko,Sergei 2440 to o m u ch e ve n f o r t h is. 25.xd7 1st ch-Europe (8) 11.07.2000 26.xb6 xd7 27.f2 e6 28.e4 f8 29.a3 e8 30.e3 g6 31.c5 h3 32.d4 [Tony Kosten] White creates two connected passed pawns. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 d7 33.d5 f1 34.c6+ d6 35.a5 f5 36.b4+ c7 37.f8 h5 38.g7 g2 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 [ 38...d6? loses on the spot, 39.xe5+ [ White ignores the possible threat to capture xe5 40.c7 ] on c3, to double the white pawns, the more 39.xe5+ b6 40.exf5 xd5 41.c7 prudent 8.c2 was seen in the archives. ] 1-0 8...h6 [ Played to avoid a pin by Bg5, which would inhibit the plan ...c6, and ...d5. The A29 immediate 8...c6 might be more accurate, 1084 Bacrot,Etienne 2664 although 9.g2 e8 10.b3 c5 11.d2 Sutovsky,Emil 2646 b6?! ( 11...d6 ) 12.a4! xb3 13.axb3 and Black is almost losing, Uhlmann,W - ch-Europe Internet Blitz blitz (5.1) 09.11.2003 [Carsten Hansen] Ungureanu,E/Bucharest 1978. ] 9.g2!? [ An obvious new move, White doesn't fear 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 xf3+ 6.xf3 c5 7.d3 h6 t h e d o u b l e d p a w n s , p r e v i o u s l y 9.d2 5.g2 was preferred, c6 10.c1 e8 11.a3 xc3 Black makes the practical decision to prevent 12.xc3 d5 which seems fine for Black, White from playing Bg5 as he may well do if P e t u r s s o n , M- K r i s t e n s e n , L / G r o n i n g e n allowed. 8.h4?! [ This idea is less convincing here compared 1977. ] to after 6...Bb4 7 Qb3 Bc5 8 d3 h6 9 h4 as 9...xc3!? discussed in the August update. If W hite [ Black decides to call White's bluff, but wa n t s t o a vo i d t h e m a i n l i n e s , h e c a n perhaps 9...e8 is more prudent. ] instea d conside r 8.a3 0-0 9.e3 c6 10.bxc3 d6 11.b1 The rook goes to the Black prepared ...d7-d5 while reducing the open file, and increases the pressure exerted scope of the bishop on f 3 10.b4 e7 by the g2 bishop. b8 12.f4!? White attacks ( 10...b6!? ) 11.d4 exd4 ( 11...d6!? ) the solid black pawn structure, and tries to 12.xd4 d5!? open the position for the bishop pair. e7?! A) Ribli, while liking the combative and [ Missing the interesting, and thematic, directness of Sutovsky's idea, doubts its p o s s i b i l i t y 12...e4! 13.dxe4 e7 100% correctness, and offers the following and Black will recapture the pawn, whilst analysis: 13.cxd5! xd5 14.xd5 simultaneously ruining the white structure. ] ( 14.xd5? f6 - Ribli - 15.xf7+ xf7 13.fxe5 dxe5 14.a4! Now White takes a 1076
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.xd8 xd8 17.b2 a5 18.e2 g4+ 19.f3 e6 20.hd1 axb4 21.axb4 xa1 22.xa1 c4+ 23.e1 xd1+ 24.xd1 e7 ) 14...cxd5 15.xd5 f6 A1) 16.b1?! c3+ 17.d2 xd5 18.xd5 xd2+ 19.xd2 d8 20.e4 e6= - analysis by Ribli; A2) 16.xd8 xd8 17.a2 a5 ( 17...e6 18.c2 16 transposes to line with Ra2 ) 18.b5 f5 19.b2 xb2 20.xb2 ac8 21.0-0; A3) 16.a2 e6 ( 16...c7 17.c5 ) 17.xd8 fxd8 18.c2 ac8 19.xc8 xc8 20.0-0 , and White has won a pawn for insufficient compensation for Black. However, Black's active bishops and rook will nonetheless making the conversion of the extra pawn be a little difficult; B) 13.0-0? dxc4 14.xc4 d7! In ChessBase Magazine, W ells in his excellent column on chess strategy makes the following insightful comment: "I rather suspect that this is what Lautier underestimated. Far more purposeful than the routine 14...Be6, the text presages a promising future for all of Black's minor pieces", and Ribli adds "the knight comes to e5 with tempo and aims for c4 or d3". Indeed White all of a sudden has problems to face. 15.g2 e5 B1) 16.e4!? f6 17.b2 ( Ribli also gives 17.d1 c7 18.b2 e6 , and a knight will soon land on c4 with a better game for Black) 17...e6 18.a4 ( 18.ad1 e7 looks good for Black) 18...d5 19.f5 xg2 20.xg2 d5+ 21.h3!? , and despite the last move looking quite ridiculous, W hite has a pretty decent position; B2) 16.e2?! g4! 17.f3 e6 18.d1 b6 , and here I will quote Ribli: "Black has excellent play for his pieces and the c4-square is an eternal positional hole in th e wh it e po sition ". I nd ee d, B la ck' s pieces are well-placed and due to the weak c4-square, and W hite not being ready to counter Black's control of this square, W hite will a difficult time getting counterplay started, Lautier, JSutovsky, E/Gothenburg 2005 ]
8...d6 [ 8...c6!? This is Sutovsky's attempt at an improvement over 8...d6 as played in our main game. Here Bacrot promptly went astray with A) 9.e3 d6 10.d4 ( 10.b1 b6 11.b4 e6 12.a4 d5 also looks pleasant for Black ) 10...b4 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.xd8+ xd8 13.d2 e6 14.b3 e7 , and Black has already equalised; B) 9.g4 d5! All of a sudden all of Black's minor pieces spring to life with this text book central counter punch to W hite's premature flank attack. White is already in t r o u b l e . . . 10.g5 ( 10.cxd5 xg4 ) 10...hxg5 11.xg5 b6 12.0-0 h3 13.a4 a5 14.xc5 xc5 15.cxd5 xf1 ( 15...xd5!? ) 16.dxc6 h3 17.cxb7 b8 18.c1 a5 with a rat her messy position, wh ere W h ite with his passed pawn on b7 and bishop pair has some compensation for the exchange and wrecked kingside structure, Bacrot, ESutovsky, E/ playchess.com INT 2003 ] 9.b4 d4!? [ 9...b6 10.e3 c6 11.b2 e6 ] 10.d2 0-0 11.e3 xc3 12.xc3 d7!? 13.0-0 [ 13.g1!? h3 14.e2 c6 15.f1!? e6 ( 15...f5 16.g4 xf3 17.g3 xg3 18.fxg3 xg4 19.d2 ) 16.g4 h7 17.g5 hxg5 18.hxg5 g6 19.0-0-0 a5 20.b5 ] 13...e8 14.g2 d5 [ 14...f5!? ] 15.b3 dxc4 [ 15...c6!? ] 16.xc4 [ 16.dxc4 c6 17.ad1 c7 18.b2 f5 19.c5 e4 20.xe4 xe4 21.d6 f6 22.f3 d5 23.e4 e6 24.fd1 ] 16...c6 17.a4 f5 18.e4 g6 19.b5 [ 19.b3!? b6 20.b2 g4 21.fe1 ] 19...d7 20.fe1 ac8 21.b3 [ 21.bxc6 xc6 22.ac1 g4 23.b4 cd8 24.b2 d7 25.d4 ] 21...cxb5 22.axb5 xb5?! [ 22...g4! is a typical computer move that most human chess players will miss, but is one which is very strong 23.b2 b6! the idea behind the previous move now White's queen is burdened with the defence 1077
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 of t he f 2- a nd b5-p awns along with th e h6 bishop on c3. White's best now is 24.ec1 [ In my opinion this is the most logical c5 25.d4 xb5 26.d2 , when White continuation for Black, not allowing White to better coordinated pieces compensate for pin the knight on f6. However, a number of the sacrificed pawn. ] other tries have been made for Black in this 23.xb5 xc3 24.xa7 c2 position: A) 8...d6 9.a3 h6 10.b4 d4 [ 24...b6 25.f1 cc8 26.h3 c3 27.a6 11.d2 xc3 ( 11...c6!? ) 12.xc3 b8 h5 28.xb6 d8 29.d4! exd4 13.d4 e4 14.g2 d5 15.cxd5 xd5 ( 29...xd4? 30.b8+ h7 31.f5+ g6 16.d2 e7= Rosmej, S-Auge, A/Germany 32.xe5 xe4 33.xg6+ xg6 34.xe4 2003 ] xe4 35.xc3+- ) 30.f5! g6 31.xf6+- ] [ B) 8...a6 9.g5 h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.e4 [ 24...d8!? 25.xe5 cxd3 26.xb7 d1 e7 12.xc5 xc5 13.d2 a5 14.c3 27.b1 xb1 28.xb1 g4 ] d6 15.fd1 b8 16.b3 a3 As Ribli points 25.xb7 h5?! out, with this elegant little move, Black [ 25...d2!? 26.f3 ] prevents White from executing his traditional 26.b3! d2 27.f3! g6 28.d1!+plan of a2-a3 and b3-b4, which would be This position is evaluated as just slightly uncomf ortable f or Black in the long run better for White by Ribli, but I will contend that 17.d4 exd4 18.xd4 e6 19.c1 xc1+ White is winning. However, White throws the 20.xc1 fd8 21.e3 c5 ( 21...b6 better part of his advantage away on the very doe sn 't we aken th e d6 -pa wn , but d oe s next move. xd1+ 29.xd1? expose the light squares to further [ 29.xd1!! threatening Qc4 and Bb3, which weaknesses. W ith the text move, Black will force Black to a passive set-up with his defends more actively, and counts on the rook, queen and king tied up in the defence fact that with the king on e7, Black will be of the f7-pawn. meanwhile White can pick able to defend the backward d-pawn and at up the e5-pawn and obtain an easily won t h e sa m e t im e r e t a in t h e p o ssi b il it y o f position. ] possibly breaking with ...b7-b5 if 29...d8 30.b3 e8 31.h5! f6 32.g2 necessary.) 22.d2 f8 23.a4 Stopping d6 33.c7 e8 a n y co u n t e r p la y o n t h e qu e e n s id e e7 [ 33...c8!? 34.b5 ] 24.d5 a8 25.c3 d7 26.f4 34.a7 d6 35.g4 , and although White has more space and [ 35.d5! threatens 36 d3-d4, and e8 more active pieces, the black position is is met by 36.xf7 xd5 37.xf6 xf6 solid and perfectly defensible, Timman, J38.exd5 , and White should win ] Portisch, L/Nice 1974. ] 35...g5 36.f3 h7 37.d4 [ C) 8...c6 [ 37.a2!? leaves Black with a very A) 9.c2 h6 10.a4 e7 ( 10...d6!? ) uncomfortable position to defend ] 11.c5 d5 12.cxd6 xd6 13.e1 c7 37...exd4 and here the players settled for a ( 13...e7!? ) 14.d2 h3 15.a3 d7 draw, although it appears White may still have ( 15...e7!? ) 16.b4 f5?! ( 16...ad8!?= ) the upper hand after 38 Qd5!? 17.b5 ( 17.c4+! h7 18.h4 g4 ½-½ 19.xg4 fxg4 20.xg4 ) 17...cxb5 18.b3+ h8 19.xb5 e4 , so far Cummings, D-Treppner, G/ Manchester 1085 A29 1980, and now W hite should have proceeded with 20.ac1! d8 21.dxe4 Bacrot,Etienne 2653 xa3 22.cd1 fxe4 23.xe4 with a clear Sutovsky,Emil 2664 advantage; Match Albert FRA (4) 12.10.2001 B) 9.a3 a5 10.g2 h6 11.a4 a7 [Carsten Hansen] 12.c5 d5 13.d2 g4 1/2-1/2 Apel, STyrtania, M/German 2. Bundesliga 1996; 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 C) 9.g5 h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.e4 e7 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 c5 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 1078
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.xc5 xc5 13.d2! a5 14.a3 a4 15.ac1 f5 ( 15...d6 ) 16.fd1 e7 17.c5 1-0 Smejkal, J-Campora, D/Vrsac 1981 ] [ D) 8...e8 A) This is not exactly the critical way to approach Black's set-up. Instead W hite sh o uld co n sid e r 9.g5!? , and now for instance h6 ( or 9...c6 10.e3 e7 11.d4 d6!? ) 10.xf6 xf6 11.e3 d6 12.b4; B) 9.c2 h6 10.b1 c6 11.b4 d4 12.c5 d5 13.cxd6 ( 13.e3 xc3 14.xc3 f5 is quite pleasant for Black) 13...xd6 14.d2 g4 , and here the players prematurely agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2, in Tal, M-Browne, W/Wijk aan Zee 1976, b u t B l a c k a lr e a d y h a s a c o m f o r t a b l e position ] 9.a3 [ A) 9.g2 c6 10.d2 ( Or 10.b3 b6 11.d2 d6 12.h3 d7 13.h2 c5 14.d1 a5 15.f4 f5!= Najdorf, M-Camara, H/Sao Paulo 1978) 10...d6 11.a4 d4 ( 11...b6 ) 12.e3 b6 13.xb6 axb6 14.c3 e8 15.d4 e4 16.d5! e7 17.a4 c5 18.b4 f5 19.bxc5 bxc5 20.b3 ad8 21.fb1 ( 21.a5!? ) 21...d7 22.b2 ( 22.h3!? ) 22...g4 23.a3 e5 24.xe5 xe5 25.xe5 xe5 26.ab3 Smejkal, JPortisch, L/Milan 1975 ] [ B) 9.b1 A) 9...e8?! 10.b4 f8 11.b3 d6 ( 11...c6 12.b5 ) 12.b5 h3?! 13.xb7! xf1 14.xf1 ( Of course not 14.xa8?? xa8 15.xf1 h1# ) 14...b8 15.c6 , and with a pawn for exchange along with complete dominance on the light squares, White has a clear advantage, Cummings, D-Wells, I/Brighton 1979; B) 9...a5 10.a3 e8 11.b4 B1) 11...axb4 12.axb4 f8 13.d2 d6 14.b5 h3 B1a) 15.xb7! xf1 16.xf1! ( Ribli, who also offers the following line 16.xa8 xe2 17.xe2 xa8 18.e4 ) 16...a5 17.c6; B1b) 15.e1 c8 16.e3 ( 16.a1!? ) 16...f5 17.c1?! ( 17.e2!? ) 17...e4 B1b1) 18.g2 c6 19.b2 ( 19.bxc6 bxc6 20.dxe4 xe4 21.xe4
xe4 ) 19...exd3 20.e4 e6 21.xd3 g4; B1b2) 18.e2 exd3 19.xd3 xd3 20.xd3 h3 21.f1 h5 Urpilainen, E-Pietarinen, P/Finland 2001; B2) 11...f8 12.b3 d6 13.g2 ( 13.b5!? ) 13...g6 14.d2 g7 15.c2 axb4 16.axb4 c6 17.a1 e6= Vovsha, E-Tseitlin, M/Biel 2000; C) 9...a6!? 10.d2 d6 11.c1 c6 12.e3 d4= 1/2-1/2 Andersson, UTimman, J/Bad Lauterberg 1977 ] [ C) 9.e3 d6 ( 9...c6?! 10.d4 exd4 11.exd4 b6 12.d5 cxd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 Turko, S-Seraphim, L/ IECC Email 2002) 10.d4 b6 11.b3 ( 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.c2 e7 13.d1 c6= ) 11...e7 ( 11...h3!?= ) 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.b2 ( 13.c2 c6= ) 13...c6 14.e4 h3 15.xf6+ xf6 16.g2 xg2 17.xg2 g6 , and Black has a pleasant position, Balatoni, GGombkoto, O/HUN-ch corr 1999 ] 9...a6 [ A) 9...a5 10.a4?! ( with 10.b1!? e8 11.b4 White can trans pose to Urpilainen, EPietarinen, P as in the note after White's 9th move ) 10...e7 ( 10...a7!? ) 11.d2 d5 ( 11...c6!?; 11...d6!? ) 12.g2?! ( 12.cxd5!? xd5 13.b3 f6 14.ac1 ) 12...e6 13.b3 c6 14.c2 b5 15.b2 b6 16.e4 ab8 with a clearly more comfortable game for Black as in Kuusava, E-Valkama/corr 1989 ] [ B) 9...c6 10.e3 ( 10.a4 e7 11.c5 d5 12.cxd6 xd6 13.e3 h3 14.e1 e7= S c h m o l l , W - L i n h a r t , W / A u s t r i a 2 0 0 0) 10...e8?! ( 10...b6!? 11.d4 d6 ) 11.d4 f8 12.dxe5 xe5 , and here the players very prematurely agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/ 2 in Hanel, R-Linhart, W/Salzburg 2001, but White's position looks preferable after 13.b4 d6 14.b2 ] 10.e3 a7 11.b4 c6 12.d4 exd4 13.exd4 d5 14.cxd5 [ 14.c5!? f5 ( 14...e8 15.f4 h3 16.e1 d7 17.d3 f5 18.xf5 xf5 19.g2 ) 15.e1 d7 16.f4 fe8 17.d2 ( 17.e5 e4= ) 17...e4 18.xe4! dxe4 19.d5 cxd5 20.ad1 ] 14...xd5 15.xd5 cxd5 16.e3 h3= 1079
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 This position is given as equal by Ribli, but White nonetheless still holds a light initiative thanks to this slightly better coordinated pieces and ability to break on the queenside. These are very miniscule factors, but they allow White to keep pushing for a while. As we will see in the game, Black is able to fend o f f W h i t e ' s a d va n c e s wi t h o u t t o o m a n y headaches. 17.e1 c8 18.c1 xc1 [ 18...d7!? ] 19.xc1 d7 20.b1 c8 21.c1 xc1+ 22.xc1 f5 23.d1 g5!? 24.e2 e4 25.f3 f5 26.e2 g7 White offers a repetition and Black declines 27.f3 c8 28.b3 e6 29.f2 f6 30.d3 f5 31.e2 e6 32.b5 axb5 33.xb5 f7 34.b3 h5 35.g2 h4 36.d3 e6 [ 36...hxg3 37.hxg3 b8 ] 37.f2 hxg3 38.hxg3 e7 39.a4 e6 40.a5 f5 41.a6 bxa6 42.xa6 ½-½
Rahman,Z-Guseinov,A/Doha op (4) 1992.) 14...a5 (the point, the rook swings into action) 15.e3 xb5 16.c2 with chances t o b o t h s id e s, G u r e vi c h , M -J a n s s e n , R / Haarlem 1999. ] 14.bxc6 xc6 15.b5?! Etienne is famed for his serious home preparation, but this is one move that he will want to f orget in a hurry! The weak b5-square is occupied, but after Black's next few logical moves the knight is forced to return home. Others: [ 15.c1 seems sensible, d7 16.ce4 a4 17.c5 xc5 18.xc5 fairly level, Stryjecki, M-Kuemin,S/Tallinn 1997. ] [ 15.a4 b8 16.c1 xa4 17.xa4 b5 with good play, Romano,T-Marinelli,T/Caorle 1988. ] [ 15.b1?! a4 16.c1 seems artificial, Kunte,A-Koneru,H/Guntur, AP IND 2000. ] 15...a4! Fixing the a3-pawn, and stopping White from playing a4 to defend the knight on b5. 16.c1 a5! Black wins the fight for control of b5, and White has to admit that his 1086 A29 fifteenth move was a mistake. 17.c3 f7 Bacrot,Etienne 2649 A typical move in such positions, Black intends Topalov,Veselin 2739 ...Bf8 and ...Rd7 with central pressure. 18.f4?! FIDE GP Dubai UAE (5.1) 08.04.2002 White should prefer keeping his position solid, he has no justification for such 'activity'. exf4 [Tony Kosten] 19.xf4 f5! Pointing-out the weak c1-h6 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 diagonal. 20.h1? White is already clearly 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 worse, but this move does not help matters, [ 20.b1 g5 21.f1 avoids material loss, 0-0 9.a3 e6 10.b4 f6 as xd2 22.xd2 c4 23.f4 [ The immediate 10...a5 was examined in and the bishop is defended by the rook. ] Nimzo 7.32 - Fritz 6a. ] 20...g5 21.f1 xd2! A 'petite 11.b2 [ I prefer 11.b1 which gives the advance of combinaison'. 22.xd2 c4 The d-pawn is the white b-pawn more power, and we have pinned. 23.c2 Other moves are no better. e3 Black wins the exchange, and with it the seen this idea in several games. ] 11...a5 12.b5 d4 13.d2 c6 A standard game. 24.d2 xf1 25.xf1 h6 26.f4 move in th ese lines, exchanging W hite's b3 27.e1 e7 28.f2 d5 Black aims annoying b5-pawn, and allowing the black for piece exchanges, of course. 29.d4 d7 30.xd5 xd5 31.e4 c6 32.c3 b5! knight to return to c6 before White plays e3. [ 13...d7 14.xb7 ab8 15.g2 xb5 White has no compensation for his material. 16.xb5 xb5 17.c2 leaves White the 0-1 superior structure, Beliavsky,A-Cvitan,O/ Bled 1998. ] [ 13...a4!? is an interesting alternative, Black no t o n ly f ixe s t h e wh it e a -p a wn o n t h e exposed a3-square, but gains control of b3, 14.xb7!? ( 14.e3 b3 15.xb3 xb3 16.e2 b8 gives Black good counterplay, 1080
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 20.a5!? b6 21.b2 is worth trying, though ) 20...f6 ( 20...e5?! 21.xe5 dxe5 22.d3 b8 is worse: 23.e3 ) 21.d3 e8 ] 19...b5! Forced, but good, when the knight retreats Black can activate his bishop on b6. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 20.a5!? xa5 21.bxa5 xa5 22.a4 bxa4 23.xa4 b5 24.xa7 xa7 25.xa7 5.d5 [ I am surprised that this move is not more White has regained his pawn, but his bishop popular, it avoids the doubled pawns of the pair has less importance when there are no pawns on the queenside. b7 26.d1 e7 sharp main line with 5.g2 ] 27.b6 5...c5 6.g2 d6 7.d3!? [ The 'interesting' symbol is not for the move ½-½ itself, but for the concept: W hite retards kingside castling the maximum possible. A29 7.0-0 was considered in the game Van Wely, 1088 L-Salov,V. ] Bareev,Evgeny 2698 7...h6 Obviously, Bg5 was the immediate Shirov,Alexei 2709 t h r e a t , a n d s o B l a c k s t o p s t h i s . 8.d2 7th Karpov Poikovsky RUS (1) 18.03.2006 White continues his plan. [John Watson] [ 8.0-0 would return to normal lines, e.g. 0-0 9.e3 xd5 10.cxd5 e7 11.d4 exd4 T h e sa m e o ld C lo se d S ic il ia n Re ve rs e d 12.xd4 with a plus to White, Valdes, L- variation, and again with Bareev as W hite. Martinez,C/MEX 1997. ] Shirov finds an early way to wrest the 8...xd5 9.cxd5 d4 A new move in this advantage but for some reason misses a e xa c t p o s it io n , a lt h o u gh qu it e n o rm a l in fairly straightforward continuation, letting his similar ones. opponent off the hook. Soon Bareev has a [ 9...e7 was played in Aleksandrov,A-Acs, large advantage but returns the favour. The P/Ohrid MKD 2001: 10.b4 b6 11.0-0 0-0 game features an interesting ending. 1.c4 e5 12.c4 d4 13.b1 White is harassing the 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 black bishop. ] b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 10.e3 f5 11.d4! Black seems to have a e6 powerful hold on d4, and yet ... this positional/ [ As explained in previous columns, White's tactical device is worth remembering. move order prevents 9...g4? due to 10.b5 [ W i t h t h e b l a c k k n i g h t o n f 5 11.b4? d4 ( 10...xf3 11.xf3 d4 12.xb7 is a blunder, xe3 12.fxe3 xe3 winning. ] b8 13.g2 ) 11.xe5 ] 11...exd4 12.e4 e7 13.b4 b6 10.b1 [ Black must retreat, 13...xb4?? 14.a4+ ] [ We've discussed the virtues of this exact 14.c4 c6 15.f4 c7 16.xd4 move order before. The less precise 10.d3 The end of the 'petite combinaison', W hite allows a5 ( or 10...f5 11.b5 d4 etc. ) has regained his d4-pawn has a space 11.b5 d4 12.xe5 f6 13.f4 b3 ] a d va n t a ge , a n d a ggre ssive p ie ce s . cxd5 10...f6 11.d3 a5 17.exd5 0-0 18.0-0 White would have a clear [ For 11...d4 , see earlier games in the advantage if he could play a4, say, to archives. ] maintain his knight on the strong square c4, 12.b5 d4 13.d2 c8 but It is Black to move, he must react [ I guess Shirov isn't the one to fall for immediately. 13...d5?? 14.xd5 xd5 15.e3 e6 [ 18.a4 allows f5 19.d3 e8+ 20.e4 16.e4 ] xg3!? 21.hxg3 f5 which is very messy. ] 14.e3 f5 15.e2 Bareev has played this 18...g6 19.e3 before and obviously has some faith in [ 19.d2!? b5 20.c3 leads nowhere after White's position. d6 This stops Nc4 a move 1087 Bareev,Evgeny Gelfand,Boris NAO Masters Cannes FRA (2) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2707 2703 23.02.2002
1081
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 earlier than [ 15...a4 , which was seen in our annotated game Bareev-Yakovich, Kazan 2005: 16.b2!? ( 16.c4! ) 16...d6! 17.f4!? ( 17.de4 was a simpler idea.) 17...exf4! 18.xf4 c6? ( 18...d7! ) 19.bxc6 bxc6 20.f3 c5 21.d2 a7 22.a1! ] 16.a4 So White stops ...a4. g4 17.f3 e6 18.f4 This looks like a slightly improved version of Bareev's game in the last note, but Black does have the b4 square to play with, so perhaps it's a wash. f7 19.b3?! [ 19.b2 is probably the only chance for a lasting advantage. The text has tactical problems. ] 19...b4 Now the a-pawn is under attack and only defended tactically. 20.c2 h3 21.e4 xg2 22.xg2 f5 [ 22...xa4!? 23.xa5 xa5 24.xa4 is similar to the game, but without e4 in. ] 23.f2 e6 24.e4?! Beginning a petit combination that doesn't improve his position. xa4 [ Or 24...fxe4 25.dxe4 xa4 ] 25.xa5 xa5 26.xa4 b6 Black could also wait with this and play [ 26...fe8 , but then 27.exf5 xf5 28.c4 threatens g4. ] 27.b3 [ 27.exf5 ] 27...xb3 28.xb3 exf4! 29.xf4 [ 29.gxf4 d8! intends ...Ne6. ] 29...fxe4 30.xe4! [ 30.dxe4 a2 Things have gone wrong for Bareev, who perhaps simply underestimated the . ..Bb4 answer to Nb3. ] 30...a2+ 31.h3 d8? It's unlike Shirov to miss the direct [ 31...g5! 32.d2 ( 32.c1? g4+ ) 32...g4+ 33.h4 ( 33.xg4? e5+ ) 33...e5! 34.xf8+ xf8 with multiple threats. Then W hite 's be st is 35.f4 xh2+ 36.g5 f3+ ( 36...g6!? ) 37.xg4 d4 ] 32.c1 d5!? Bluff? 33.xc7 e3 34.h1 h5+ 35.g4 hxh2 36.xh2 xh2 37.f5!? The game begins to get tactical in spite of reduced material. c2 38.c3 b2? 39.e5! Well calculated. Now White has a c l e a r a d v a n t a g e . xe5 40.c8+ f7 41.d6+ e7 42.xe5 b6 43.e8+ d7 44.g8 d4+ 45.d5 b3 46.xd4 xd6
47.c4 a3 48.b4 a1 49.xg7 b6 50.xh7 [ 50.b7 may be better. The b-pawn is the more important one. ] 50...b1+ 51.c4 c1+ 52.d4 b1 53.h6+ c7 54.h5 b4+ 55.e3 g4 56.f3 d4 57.g4!? d6 58.g3 xd3+ 59.h4 d1 60.g5 d4 61.f5 b4 62.h6+ c5 63.g5 xb5 64.g6 b1 65.h5 f1+ 66.e6+ c4 67.h4+ c3 68.g4 f8 69.g7 g8 70.f7 Acceding to the draw, but [ 70.d5! A) 70...d3!? 71.g3+ ( 71.c6 e3 72.xb6 f3= ) 71...d2 ( 71...e2 72.e6 f2 73.f7 ) 72.d4 e2; B) 70...d2! also holds B1) 71.d4 e2 72.e5 d2 73.d6 ( 73.f6 c3 74.e6 b5 75.d5 b4 76.g3+ d2 77.c4 e2= ) 73...b5 74.c5 e3 75.xb5 f3=; B2) 71.g3 b5 ] 70...xg7+ 71.xg7 b5 72.e6 b4 73.d5 b3 74.g3+ c2 75.c4 b2 76.g2+ c1 77.c3 b1+ 78.d3 a3 79.d2 b1 80.c2+ d1 81.b2 c1 82.c2+ d1 83.c8 a3 84.c7 b1 85.c2 a3 86.b2 c1 87.b4 b1 88.b3 d2 89.c3+ d1 90.c8 b1 91.e4 ½-½
1089 Bareev,Evgeny Topalov,Veselin Sparkassen sf Playoff (1) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2726 2745 17.07.2002
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 d4 12.d2 c6 [ 12...d5 13.b2 c6 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5+ xd5 16.xd4 xd4 17.a4 f5 18.b5 c5 didn't give Black any particular problems in Kramnik,V-Tiviakov,S/Singapore 1990. ] 13.b2 This natural move is new. Previously Black had preferred to aim for the c5-square by 1082
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 13.de4 e.g. g4 14.e3 d7 15.d2 h8 16.h3 h5 17.f4 with unclear play, Georgiev,K-Kharlov,A/Niksic 1996. ] 13...f7 A common idea, Black can move the e7-bishop and then swing the rook over to the open d-file. 14.e3 f5 15.c2 f8 16.fd1 d5 17.c4 Both sides follow their game plan. b5!? A really surprising move, which c a u s e s a c a t a st ro p h ic we a ke n in g o f t h e queenside but is based on a tactical operation. 18.a5 I would be tempted to play [ 18.e4!? myself, so that if bxc4?! 19.dxc4 wins the pinned knight on d5. ] 18...dxe3! This is the point of Black's previous move, of course. 19.fxe3 xe3 20.f2 xg2!? Black prefers to take the important white bishop. [ 20...xd1 21.xd1 c8 22.xc6 is the other possibility, but the two white pieces should prove stronger then the black rook here. ] 21.xg2 c8 22.d4! [ 22.xc6? b6+ ] 22...b6 23.e2 [ 23.e4!? d5 24.c2 and Nc5 is another try. ] 23...d7 24.bc1?! Did Bareev miss Black's next move? [ 24.f2 would unpin the d-pawn and maintain an advantage. ] 24...c5!! Cleverly ridding himself of his backward c-pawn. 25.dxc5 xc5+ 26.bxc5 [ 26.h1 may be superior, but it is easy to understan d that W h ite wante d to avoid having both his king and queen on the same colour squares as the black light-squared bishop. ] 26...xc5 Black is now two pieces ahead, but the threatened discovered check, and the loose a5-knight mean that Black will regain one of them. 27.d4!? Played to weaken the black pawn structure. exd4 28.xc5 xc5 29.c6 e5 30.c1 [ 30.xd4 allows Black to force an i m m e d i a t e d r a w : e2 31.c1 xd4 32.xd4 h3 33.d2 e3+ 34.h1 f3+ 35.g1 etc. ] 30...e4 31.e1 Black now has three pawns for the piece, plus some attacking chances on the light squares, so White is happy to draw. ½-½
1090 Bareev,Evgeny Volkov,Sergey ch-RUS Superfinal (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2675 2614 22.12.2005
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 c5 7.0-0 0-0 8.e3 d6 [ A) 8...b4 9.g2 xc3 10.bxc3 A) 10...e4! is a recommendation of Ribli's, and now he analyses 11.f3 exf3 12.xf3 d6 13.d3 d7! , and here Ribli only mentions A1) However, White has at least two interesting alternatives: 14.d4!? c5 A1a) 15.b1 b6 16.dxc5 dxc5 17.a3 a4 18.f2 a5 19.b5 xc3 20.d5 h3 ( 20...xa3?? 21.b3+- ) 21.b3 e5 22.f4 h5; A1b) 15.a4 a5 16.e4 b6 17.d3 a6 18.f4 xc4 19.fc1 e8 20.f1 a5 21.xa6 bxa6 22.cb1; A2) 14.b1!? e5 15.e2 e7 ( 15...g4 16.c2 ) A2a) 16.d4 g4 17.c2 xc4 18.xb7 e6 ( 18...xe3? 19.e1 xc2 20.xe7+- ) 19.a4 ( 19.e4 b6 is fine for Black) 19...fb8 20.b5 xb5 21.axb5 d5 22.e4; A2b) 16.c5!? dxc5 17.d4 d7 18.a3 e6 19.xb7 xb7 20.xb7 fb8 21.xc7 d6 22.xc5 xc5 23.xc5; A3) 14.e4 e5 15.e2 g4=; B) 10...c6 11.e4 e8 12.a4 d6 13.d3 g4 14.f3 h5 15.b1 b6 16.a5?! ( 16.g4! g6 17.f4 Ribli ) 16...d7 17.axb6 axb6 18.f2 f6 19.fb2 f7 20.e3 a6 21.f4 c7 22.g4 ea8 23.g5 exf4 24.xf4 fxg5 25.xg5 a2 26.e3 xb2 27.xb2 a3 28.b3 a2 29.f1 d5 , and here the players agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2, Ivanchuk, VSeirawan, Y/ Groningen 1997, but at this stage Black is at least clearly better, e.g. 30.g2 dxe4 31.dxe4 g6! ( 31...xc4 32.b1 c5 ) 32.c1 xe4 33.b2 xb2 34.xb2 xg2 35.xg2 c5 , and Black 1083
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 should win ] [ B) 8...e8 9.d4 b4 10.d5!? ( 10.dxe5?! xc3! 11.bxc3 xe5 12.d4 a5 13.e4 d6 14.b1 d7 15.b2 e7 16.e2 b6 17.f4 b7 18.f3 e8 with a fairly clear advantage for Black in Obodchuk, A-Gwaze, R/Bled 2002, White has more space, but his deficiencies in his pawn structure along with Black's wellcoordinated pieces give Black the upper hand. ) 10...xd5 11.cxd5 ( 11.xd5 c6 12.g2 d6 13.a3 a5 14.b4 b6 15.b2 ) 11...e4 12.g2 A) 12...b6 13.f3 a6 14.f2 d3 15.fxe4 xe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.c2 ( 17.xf7?! looks attractive on account of xf7 18.f3+ g8 19.xe4 , but after f6 followed by either ...Rf8 or ...Re8, Black has more or less sufficient compensation for the pawn) 17...e8 18.e4; B) 12...c6 13.b3 e7 ( 13...b6 14.f3 exf3 15.xf3 e7 16.c2 ) 14.f3 exf3 15.xf3 a5 16.a3 d6 17.e4 a4 B1) White can possibly improve with 18.c2!? f6 , and here Ribli stops his analysis, but a possible continuation is ( 18...cxd5? 19.e5+- ) 19.e3! cxd5?! 20.e5 fxe5? 21.xd5+ h8 22.f7 d8 23.af1+-; B2) 18.c4 cxd5 19.xd5 e6 20.e5 , Oskooei, M-Rezaei, R/Iran 1994 ] 9.d4 [ 9.a3 b6 10.d4 c6 11.d5 h3 12.e1 c8 13.d3 d7 14.a4 c7 15.c3 g4 16.dxc6 bxc6 17.c5 d5 , and Black is already comfortably better with his broad centre and pieces well-placed for a kingside assault, Olafsson, H-Aronian, L/ Reykjavik ISL 2004 ] 9...b4 [ 9...b6 A) 10.b3 has also been tried, and now: A1) 10...h3!? looks like an equalizer, e. g. 11.g2 ( or 11.e1 a5 12.d2 xc3 13.xc3 e4 14.e2 d7 ) 11...xg2 12.xg2 exd4 13.exd4 d7=; A2) 10...c6 11.d5 ( 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.a3 e8 13.xd8 xd8 14.fd1 )
11...c5 12.g2 a5 13.e2?! ( 13.b2 f5 14.e2 ) 13...f5 14.b2 e7 15.f3 ae8 16.e4 g6 17.g4 h5 18.g3 d8 , Sasseville, J-Gilman, A/ Beloeil 2000, and now White has a clear plus wit h a m ove like 19.f5 xf5 20.gxf5; B) 10.b4!? c6 11.a4 exd4 12.exd4 d5 13.a5 c7 14.g5 dxc4 15.a6?! ( 15.e4!? is more challenging, e.g. d6 16.xf6+ gxf6 17.h6 e8 18.a6! b6 19.d5 c5 20.a4! e7 21.axb7 xb7 22.b5! e5 23.xc4 d4 24.a3 , and White has clear plus on account of Black's weakened kingside) 15...b6 ( 15...h6 16.xf6 xf6 17.axb7 xb7 18.e4 g6 19.c5 c8 20.a4 ) 16.d5 bxa6 17.dxc6 e6 , and a draw was very prematurely agreed upon, 1/2-1/ 2, in Marin, M-Olafsson, H/Turin OL ITA 2006. W hite can continue with 18.xa6 xd1 19.xd1 , and claim a clear advantage ] 10.d5!? [ 10.b3 xc3 11.xc3 e4 12.g2 g4 13.d5 d7 14.b3 f5 15.b2 fe8 16.fe1 h5 is approximately equal, Stean, M-Nunn, J/London 1980 ] [ 10.e2?! allows Black a comfortable game in more ways than one, e.g. e4 ( Both 10...h3 11.g2 xg2 12.xg2 c5!?; and 10...c5 11.a3 a5 12.g2 e6 lead to comf ortable positions f or Black) 11.g2 c6 12.a3 a5 13.b4 b6 14.d5 cxd5 15.cxd5 e8 16.b2 g4 , and Black has without any headaches obtained a pleasant position where he can play for a win at very little risk, Damljanovic, B-Bacrot, E/Gothenburg 2005. ] 10...xd5 11.cxd5 h3? [ Here Black has to play 11...exd4 12.xd4 ( 12.exd4? h3! 13.a4 xf1 14.xf1 f6-+ ) 12...c5 13.c3 h3 14.e1 a5 15.a3 d7 ( note that 15...b4?? doesn't work 16.axb4 axb4 17.xa8 bxc3 18.xd8+- ) 16.d2 g4 with chances to both sides ] 12.a4! Oops! The bishop is trapped! xf1 13.xf1 a5 14.a3 e8 [ 14...exd4 15.exd4 f6 16.d1 ] 15.d1 e4 1084
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 15...exd4 16.axb4 dxe3 17.xe3 axb4 18.c1 also leaves White with a solid advantage ] 16.e2 c6 17.axb4 axb4 18.d2 b6 [ Or 18...xa1 19.xa1 c5 20.b5 f8 ( 20...e7? 21.dxc5 dxc5 22.d6 e6 23.d7+- ) 21.a7 b6 22.b7 , and White will win sooner or later ] 19.c1 c5 20.b3 a5 21.g2 g6 22.h4 h5 23.d1 d8 24.c2! f5 25.dxc5 dxc5 Finally White has his pieces perfectly aligned and opens the position up with two decisive pawn breaks. 26.f3! exf3+ 27.xf3 f6 28.e4! fxe4 29.xe4 And the game is essentially over. a2 30.c1 f8 31.d6 h7 32.xc5 a5 33.xa5 f2+ 34.h3 e2 35.xg6+ 1-0
11.d3 a5 Black's most popular move. [ For 11...d4 , see Bauer-Sokolov and the notes to Bareev-Topalov in the archives. ] 12.b5 d4 13.d2 c8 [ As Tony keeps pointing out, 13...d5?? (as is played without the insertion of ...a5 and b5) now runs into 14.xd5 xd5 15.e3 e6 16.e4 ] 14.e3 f5 15.e2 We have seen both 15.a4 and 15.Qc2 here (featured last month in Marin - Komljenovic). Bareev has found a promising move, since it keeps an eye on the kingside and avoids key losses of tempo that ca n otherwise arise . a4! The most challenging move (in both of the last games on ChessPublishing White felt it was necessary to stop this move by playing a4). [ 15...b8 would protect the b-pawn in order to move the queen away and perhaps play ... c6, e.g., 16.b2 d7 ( 16...c6 17.bxc6 1091 A29 bxc6 18.fc1 ) 17.c4! (not possible with the queen on c2 or d1) xc4 18.dxc4 c6 Bareev,Evgeny 2688 19.fd1 e8 20.e4 . This isn't much but Yakovich,Yuri 2560 Black's queenside is rather vulnerable. ] 58th ch-RUS Semi-Final (1) 03.09.2005 16.b2!? [John Watson] [ 16.c4! looks better because Black's next move prevents it. I pref er W hite in that 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 case. ] 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 17.f4!? An interesting although Very common these days. By skipping d3 for a 16...d6! w h i l e , W h i t e i s a b l e t o b y p a s s c e r t a i n unclear way to begin play on both flanks. Black can allow fxe5 but it would create a defences. 0-0 9.b4 e6 [ For example, the common move (with d3 in) wonderful outpost for White's pieces on e4. [ 17.de4 was a simpler idea. ] 9...g4 now fails to simply 10.b5 d4 ( 10...xf3 11.xf3 d4 12.xb7 b8 17...exf4! 18.xf4 c6? [ 18...d7! ] 13.g2 ) 11.xe5 ] [ and 9...f6 10.b3+ (preventing ...Be6) 19.bxc6 bxc6 20.f3 c5 21.d2 a7 h8 11.d3 cuts out certain lines, for 22.a1! a6 23.e4 d8? Now White breaks example, g4 12.e3 xf3 13.xf3 d4 through. Better [ 23...f7 24.d5 xd5 25.exd5 14.xd4 exd4 15.a4 ] ,when White still has a substantial edge. ] 10.b1 Still waiting on d3. This Rb1 and b5 strategy/move order is the method that has 24.e5 The end. e8 25.exf6 d7 26.xa4 the most success in reversed position where 1-0 Black in the Dragon is fighting against White's Classical setup with Nb3, Be2 etc. [ Instead, 10.d3 allows a5 ( or 10...f5 11.b5 d4 etc. ) 11.b5 d4 12.xe5 f6 13.f4 b3 ] 10...f6 A solid and good response. [ The popular f ormation begun by 10...f5 is n o lo n ge r p o ssib le h e re d u e t o 11.b5 etc. ] 1085
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 transpose if Black decides to play ...Qd7 and A29 ...Bh3. ] 2440 2306 11.c1 [ I didn't appreciate it during the game, but 17.10.2011 a n g l i n g f o r 1 2 . N d 5 w i t h 11.d2!? makes a lot of sense. Black will likely have to forfeit the bishop pair, e.g. d7 12.d5 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.c3 c5 xd5 ( 12...a7?! 13.xf6+ gxf6 14.e3 5.f3 d6 6.d3 h6 7.a3 a6 8.0-0 0-0 9.b4 is hardly ideal for Black.) 13.cxd5 e7 b6!? Marin doesn't consider this retreat in 14.b3 with a slight edge to White. "GM Repertoire 3 - The English Opening vol. ( 14.e4!? )] 1", and understandably so! It appears nonsensical to p ut the bishop o n a more 11...d7 12.e3 e7 Rerouting the knight to exposed square, and 9...Bb6 has yet to be g6 is a typical plan. Black has other choices: [ L o g i c a l i s 12...h3 , and if 13.d4 played by any strong players. Still, the move ( White should delay this central push, i.e. has merit. For example, one of White's major 13.e1; 13.c2; or 13.b3 ) 13...exd4 plans in this line is to play Bc1-b2, Ra1-c1, e2A) 14.exd4 fe8 ( 14...g4!? ); e3, and Nc3-d5, encouraging Black to capture B) 14.d5 (a resource approved by Marin on d5 and open the c-file. With the bishop on with the bishop on a7), then Black can a7, the c7 pawn becomes a bit tender, but play ala my note to 11...Bg4 12.Rc1: xd5 now it is solidly defended. The major 15.xh3 xh3 16.cxd5 and now e5! downside to 9.. .Bb6 is that c4-c5 - a common 17.xe5 dxe5 18.exd4 e4! and once idea to idea to restrict the bishop - will come again it pays to have c7 defended. ] with tempo. Finally, I want to note that in the [ On 12...fe8 White again has an variation with 7...a5 (instead of 7...a6) it's o p p o r t u n i t y f o r 13.d2 , e.g. h3 actually quite common for Black to retreat the 14.de4!? ( 14.d5 xd5 15.xh3 xh3 bishop to b6 in anticipation of e2-e3 and d4-d5. 16.cxd5 e7 17.e4 f5 ) 14...xe4 Taking all this into account, let's see how 15.dxe4 xg2 16.xg2 ] things unfold. [ T h e m a i n - l i n e i s 9...a7 i.e. Perez 13.c5!? A critical test of Black's idea. [ Another option is 13.d2 ab8 ( 13...c6?! Fungueiro, M (2255) -Hamdouchi, H (2559)/ runs into 14.c5! wit h t h e id e a o f dxc5 Sanxenxo ESP 2006/[John Watson] ] 15.a4 a7 16.xc5 xc5 17.bxc5 10.b2 e6 Standard. However, in view of when White stands quite well.) 14.de4 the option I had on the next move, I think g4 ( 14.e1; 14.ce4!? ) 14...xe4 15.xe4 ] or f5 is a better square. [ 13.e1!? is quite useful. Marin approves of [ 10...g4 11.e3 ( I would prefer 11.h3; t h i s l i t t l e m o ve t o f a c i l i t a t e t h e d 3 - d 4 11.c1 with an eye toward Nc3-d5 is the advance (c4 won't be captured with tempo). move Marin likes in the analogous 9...Ba7 A) 13...g6?! 14.d4! vindicates White's line, but Black will just take on d5 here, e.g. idea, i.e. exd4 ( 14...xc4 15.dxe5 dxe5 d7 12.e3 h3 13.d5 xd5! 16.xd7 xd7 17.d2 e6 18.xb7 ) The point - Black can play this without fear. 15.xd4 g4 ( 15...xc4 16.xb7 ) Normally he would be losing c7 after 14. 16.b3 c6 17.c5!; Bxh3! Qxh3 15.cxd5 Ne7 16.Rxc7. 14.xh3 B) 13...c6?! 14.c5! is a problem once xh3 15.cxd5 e7 16.b3 a5! more.; Black has excellent counterplay.) 11...d7 C) 13...fe8 14.d4 exd4 15.xd4 xc4 12.c2 f5?! ( 12...h3 is much more 16.xb7 with 13...Rae8 this last move logical. ) 13.h4! d7 14.fe1 h7?! wouldn't come with tempo.; 15.d5 a7 16.b5 Ostenstad, B (2439)D) 13...ae8 The placement of the rooks Harestad, H (2196)/Bergen 2001. ] is a little odd, but Black needs to take [ 10...f5N is a fine square for the bishop in m e a s u r e s a g a i n s t d 3 - d 4 . 14.d2 the 9...Ba7 line and is also playable here. ( W h i t e s h o u l d a v o i d 14.d4 exd4 Note that all of these bishop moves may 1092 Bartholomew,John Troff,Kayden 5th SPICE Cup GpC (5) [John Bartholomew]
1086
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.xd4 xc4 16.xb7 c5!; 14.a4!? could be interesting. ) 14...c6 15.c5!; E) Finally, 13...a5!? fits well with the bishop on b6. Still, Black doesn't seem totally prepared for action on the q u e e n s i d e . 14.a4! ( 14.d2 axb4 15.axb4 c6 16.a1 h3=; 14.c5 axb4! 15.axb4 a7 16.d4 e4 ) 14...a7 ( 14...axb4 15.xb6 cxb6 16.axb4 ) 15.bxa5 c6 16.c3; F) 13...ad8 I think this is the most reliable move. Let's see why: 14.d2 c6 and now Black is well-prepared for 15.c5?! i.e. dxc5 16.a4 xd3 so White ought to prefer 15.Nde4 with typical play. ] [ Also useful is 13.c2 ] 13...a7 [ Blac k m ust lo se a te mpo , a s 13...dxc5? 14.xe5 is ugly, for instance d6 15.c4 xc4 16.dxc4 cxb4 17.xd6 cxd6 18.axb4 ] 14.c2 I wasn't quite sure how to proceed, so I decided to connect the rooks and prepare d3d4. [ The immediate 14.d4 e4 15.d2 d5 favors Black. He will shift his forces to the kingside, whereupon the bishop may reemerge with ...c7-c6 and ...Ba7-b8. ] 14...g6 15.e4?! [ The text provokes Black into a dubious retreat, but I can't explain why I refrained from 15.d4! , completing White's magnificent pawn chain and totally confining Black's dark-square bishop. ] 15...e8? This knight will give Black nothing but headaches. [ My opponent didn't like 15...xe4 16.dxe4 when White controls a lot of key squares. Still, it will not be easy to overcome Black's resilient position, i.e. ac8!? 17.fd1 e7 ] 16.c6 Aiming for a pleasant queenless middlegame. [ White's pieces are better placed, so it also ma k e s s e n s e t o ke e p th e t en sio n, e . g. 16.fd1 ] 16...bxc6 17.xc6 xc6 18.xc6 Black's pieces are a little awkward and I have some nice targets on a6 and c7. W hite is slightly better. b6 19.fd2 b8 20.c2 e7 21.c3 The long diagonal has been opened for White's g2 bishop. f5 22.e4
d7 23.d5 xd5 24.xd5 I was happy with this exchange, as I felt my knights had been competing for the same squares. f6 25.c6 f5 26.e4 h7?! Black is again reluctant to exchange on e4. [ Passive defense awaits him after 26...xe4 27.dxe4 e6 28.fc1 a5 29.b5 , though this is the best choice. ] 27.fc1 g6 28.g4 [ P l a y e d t o p r e v e n t . . . f 7 - f 5 , b u t 28.a4! i s b e t t e r . f5 29.c3 f4 30.exf4 exf4 31.d5! works out great for White. ] 28...h5? [ 28...a5! makes it harder for White to create a passed pawn. ] 29.gxh5 xh5 30.a4 g6 31.d5! a5 Otherwise White plays a4-a5 and wins the c7 pawn. 32.bxa5 xa5 33.c3 b6 34.b2 [ I didn't want to allow 34.a5 xa5 35.xa5 b5 when Black has more chances of resisting. ] 34...h8? [ Black really needed to try 34...f6 ] 35.a5+This pawn is too much for Black to cope with. a7 36.xb8 xb8 [ 36...xb8 37.e1 ( or even 37.xe5 dxe5 38.xc7 ) 37...c8 38.xd6+- ] 37.a6 f5 38.g3 f4 39.e4 a7 40.d2 b6 41.b1 xe4 42.xe4 f6 43.c6 e8 44.exf4 exf4 45.h4 Black is virtually in zugzwang, so I didn't see any harm in picking up the f4-pawn. [ 45.a5 is a more surgical way of ending things. ] 45...g8 46.b4 g6 47.xf4 g7 48.d5+ 1-0
1093 Bauer,Christian Dorfman,Josif D 81st ch-FRA Besancon BRA (8) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2599 2586 22.08.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.xe5 e7 6.f4 d6 7.d3 f5 This position is usually evaluated as clearly better for Black in most sources, but things a re n o t t h a t sim p le , wh ic h Jo h n W a t s o n pointed out back in 1979. 8.f2! [ Wisnewski gives preference to 8.e3 e4 1087
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( This is given an '!' by Wisnewski, but Black c a n p r o b a b l y d o b e t t e r w i t h 8...g4! , and I haven't found a good reply for White, e.g. 9.e2 xe2 10.xe2 e4 11.f2 g2 12.b3 e4 13.f1 xf2 14.xf2 h1+ ) 9.xe4 xe4 10.f2 c2+ 11.e2 g6 ( Wisnewski doesn't offer any alternatives, but they are 11...d4+ 12.e1 c2+ 13.e2= with a draw or; 11...xc4+ 12.d3 c5 13.b1 a5 14.a3 ) A) Wisnewski doesn't make any mention o f t h e m a s s i v e l y s t r o n g e r 12.g2! which seems to offer W hite the clearly better chances, for example A1) or 12...d5 13.b1 d4+ ( the alternatives don't offer Black much re lie f e ith e r 13...xe3 14.a4+ c6 15.dxe3 xb1 16.cxd5 b5 17.b3+-; 13...a3 14.a4+ d8 15.d3 xc4 16.b3 b6 17.a5 ) 14.exd4 xb1 15.b3; A2) 12...c6 13.b1 xe3 14.dxe3 xb1 15.b3+-; B) 12.b1 B1) Also the only move given by Wisnewski, but Black should probably opt for 12...h5+ instead, e. g. 13.d3 b4+ 14.c3 B1a) 14...e4+?! 15.xb4 c5+ 16.b3 xf2 17.f3 xh1 18.xb7 d8 19.g2 ( 19.xh1?! d5 20.c2 e7 21.b4 c6 ) 19...d5 20.xd5 xd5 21.xd5 f2 22.xc5 xc5 with a complicated endgame ahead; B1b) 14...xa2+ 15.b3 a5 16.a1 xc1+ 17.xc1 b6+; B2) 12...xe3 13.a4+ c6 14.d3 xf1 15.xf1 d5 is clearly better for Black according to Wisnewski, but after t h e o b v i o u s 16.g2! White is already b e t t e r , e . g . d6 17.e1+ f8 18.b3 ] 8...0-0-0 [ This move isn't covered by Wisnewski, who instead gives preference to 8...c6 A) After this move, White lands in serious tro u b le a s illu st rat e d b y W isn e wski's analysis, but if W hite instead tries the m o r e s o l i d 9.e1! , he stands a good cha nc e o f kee ping Black a t b ay: 0-0-0 10.e3 e6 11.d3
A1) 11...h5 12.f3 b8 13.e4 g4 14.e2 d5 15.exd5 cxd5 16.cxd5 xd5 ( 16...c7 17.e1 ) 17.xd5 xd5 18.e3 d8!; A2) 11...g5 12.fxg5 xg5 13.e4 g4 14.e2 xe2 15.xe2 e6 16.e3; A3) 11...d5 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.e2 b8 14.f3 d4 15.exd4 xd4 16.xd4 xd4 17.h3 d7; B) 9.e3? g4 10.a4 e4+ 11.xe4 xe4 12.g1 f3+ 13.e1 h5 14.f2 ( 14.exd4 e4+ 15.f2 xd4+ 16.g2 e4+ 17.f2 f3+ 18.e1 h6 j u s t w i n s - W i s n e w s k i) 14...h6 wit h a d an gerou s a tt ack a cco rd ing t o Wisnewski, I agree! ] 9.e1! h5 10.e3 e6 11.d4 g5 12.d5 e4+ [ 12...xd5 13.cxd5 h4 14.dxe6 ( 14.g2 hxg3+ 15.hxg3 xh1 16.xh1 gxf4 17.dxe6 fxg3+ 18.xg3 g5+ 19.f2 h4+ 20.g1 fxe6 21.g2 h3 22.f4 ) 14...hxg3+ 15.g1 gxh2+ 16.xh2 xh2 17.xh2 fxe6 ] 13.g1 d7 14.d3 gxf4 [ 14...g7!? 15.c2 e6 16.f3 f6 ] 15.xe4 xe4 16.f6 c6 17.d5 xc4 18.xe4 xe4 19.dxe6 fxg3 [ 19...xe6 20.d4 h6 21.xa7 fxg3 22.hxg3 hg8 23.f2 de8 24.a8+ d7 25.a4+ c6 26.b3 f5+ 27.f3 c7 28.d2 e6 29.af1 ] 20.hxg3 [ 20.d4 f5 21.e4 g6 22.hxg3 g7 23.xa7 xg3+ 24.g2 fxe6 ] [ 20.exf7 g6 21.hxg3 xg3+ 22.g2 h7 ( 22...h4 23.e1 g6 24.xh4 g7 25.xh8 xh8 26.f1 ) 23.d5 d7 24.xh5 dxf7 25.f5 ] 20...fxe6! [ 20...g8?! 21.f3 xe6 22.xh5 b8 23.g2 c6 24.f4 ] [ 20...g6!? 21.exf7 xg3+ 22.g2 h7 23.d5 d7 24.xh5 dxf7 25.f5 ] 21.d4 h7 22.xa7 g8 [ 22...g6 23.a8+ d7 24.xb7 xg3+ 25.g2 g8 26.b5+ c8 27.e2 h4 28.f1 e7 29.f4 e5 30.a6+ d7 31.b5+= ] 23.a8+ d7 24.xb7 xg3+ [ 24...d5 25.b5+ c8 26.f2 d6 1088
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 27.a6+ d7 28.a4+ c8 29.d2 df8+ 30.e2 xg3 31.c1 f5 32.d1+- ] 25.f2! h4 26.b5+ c8 27.a6+ b8 28.b5+ c8 29.d2 [ 29.c4!? ] 29...d5 30.a6+ [ 30.f3 e4 31.xh4 e7 32.xg3? ( 32.a6+ d7 33.b5+= ) 32...xh4+ 33.xh4 g8+ 34.f2 g2+ 35.e1 xh4+ 36.d1 g1+-+ ] 30...b8 31.b5+ [ 31.a4!? d4! 32.b5+ c8 33.a6+= ] 31...c8 32.a6+ b8 33.b5+ ½-½
1094 Bauer,Christian Sokolov,Andrei ch-FRA Chartres FRA (8) [John Watson]
A29 2641 2603 23.08.2005
26.fb1 xc4!? 27.dxc4 d6 28.d5?! [ 28.5b3! t h r e a t e n s c 5 , a n d xc4?? loses to 29.d5+ ] 28...xc4 29.d7 e4 [ Black should hang onto his pawn by 29...a3 30.c1 h8 31.cc7 b5 32.b7 a1+ 33.f1 g8 ] 30.xe4 e5 31.c7 d8 32.h4 d7?! Black concedes. Better was [ 32...d2 ] 33.c8+! [ 33.b7 xb7 34.xb7 a7 35.d5+ f8 36.xb6 isn't easy. ] 33...f7 34.xh7 Now Black is doomed. g6 35.g8+ g7 36.e6 d6 37.c7+ h6 38.g8 d7 39.b4 a1+ 40.g2 ad1 41.e4 g5 42.e6 b5 43.hxg5+ fxg5 44.f5 1d5 45.g4 1-0
1095 A29 Berkes,Ferenc 2593 A nice demolition job by White in a top-class Munoz,Lisandro 2342 match up. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 Turin ol (Men) 37th (1) 21.05.2006 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 [Nigel Davies] e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 d4 12.d2 d5 13.b2 a5!? This seems 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 fine, but one also wonders about f6 10.d3 e6 11.e4 d7 [ 13...c6 of Kramnik-Tiviakov, Singapore 9.b4 1990, which went 14.xd5 ( 14.e3? xc3 Looks sensible, connecting the rooks and 15.xc3 b5 ) 14...xd5 15.xd5+ xd5 preparing a possible exchange of the bishop 16.xd4 xd4 ( 16...exd4!? ) 17.a4 f5 on g2 with ...Bh3. But my impression is that (I don't like this move ( 17...a6 ) 18.b5 c5?! Black is somehow agreeing to a long and and now 19.b3+ h8 20.e6 d i f f i c u l t d e f e n c e u n l e s s h e s e e k s s o m e counterplay. 12.b1 ab8 13.c2 fc8 is awkward for Black. ] 14.bxa5 14.d2 h8 15.fc1 g4 16.e3 d8 [ 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5 xd5 16.xd4 17.e1 c6 18.fd2 Artfully transferring the exd4 ( 16...xd4 17.bxa5 ) 17.b3! xb3 knight to b3 from where it eyes c5 and a5. 18.xb3 with a very small edge. ] White's space advantage on the queenside gives him long term pressure, but will he be 14...xa5 15.c4 a7 16.a4 b6 able to turn it into something more concrete? [ 16...xc3 17.xc3 d5 ] 17.e3 xc3 18.xc3 f5 19.a5! c5 e6 [ 19...xc4 20.axb6! ] [ A t t a c k i n g t h e d 3 p a w n w i t h 18...e2 20.b4!? e7 bears little fruit after 19.b3 intending 20. Nc5 or 20.Nc4. ] [ 20...xb4 21.axb6 cxb6 22.xb4 d7 23.c2! The tactics are all starting to turn 19.b3 f8 20.ec5 f7 21.h3 h5 out right for White. ] 22.a5 c7 23.b3 d8 24.xf7 xf7 25.c2 d7 26.f4 e6? Under serious 21.xc5 xc5 22.axb6 cxb6 23.b3 [ 23.xb6! was safe enough. ] pressure Black allows a breakthrough. [ 26...xc5 27.bxc5 g6 was better when 23...b8 24.b5 xb5 25.xb5 a6 1089
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 W h i t e s h o u l d p r o b a b l y p l a y 28.e4 (intending 29.Bf2). Play might continue b5 29.cxb6 xb6 30.a1 , when White's pressure against e5 may be enough encouragement for Black to give up the centre with exf4 31.gxf4 . This looks a bit better for White but it's far from winning. ] 27.cxb7! bxb7 28.xb7 xb7 29.xc6 A rook and two pawns for two minor pieces is not always a good trade. But in this position White also has ongoing pressure. b6 30.f5 d8 31.c8 e7 32.b5 b8 33.bc1 g8 34.xb8 xb8 35.c8 d7 36.b4 b6 37.b8 d7 38.a8 b6 39.xe7 1-0
1096 Bischoff,Klaus Ruck,Robert TCh-AUT 2009-10 (3) [Nigel Davies]
A29 2569 2556 08.11.2009
Ruck plays 11...Nd4 a move earlier than usual, the standard line being 11... a5 12.b5 and then 12...Nd4. Bischoff shows the dark side of this plan with his 13.Nb3! and goes on to win a model game. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 e5 5.g2 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e8 10.d3 f8 11.d2 d4 [ Black usually plays this after 11...a5 12.b5 an d o n ly t h e n d4 , f o r e xa m p le 13.e3 e6 14.f3 c5 15.d4 exd4 16.exd4 cd7 17.g5 f6 18.e5 with some initiative for White in Sargissian, G (2642)Wen, Y (2508), Al Ain 2008. Ruck evidently thinks his position will be better without the moves . ..a7-a5 and b4-b5, but this presents White with an additional possibility which Bischoff promptly takes advantage of. ] 12.e3 e6 13.b3! Putting his finger on the difference with the Sargissian - W en encounter - White's knight is extremely well placed on b3 and cannot be harassed by ... a5a4. White is better now, and what follows is a beautiful model of how to play the English Opening. c6 14.b2 f6 15.c2 c7 16.ac1 f7 17.e4 d5 18.a5! I often advise students about the strength of knights on this square. The b7 pawn is under
pressure and also rooted to the spot because of the need to defend c6. d8 19.a1 h5 20.b1 f7 21.d2 b8 22.f3 a8 23.fd1 dc7 24.b3 b5 25.a4 bc7 26.b5 c5 [ After 26...cxb5!? 27.axb5 d5 there might follow 28.xe5!? xe5 29.xe5 fxe5 30.xb7 with a rook, two pawns and the initiative for two minor pieces. Though this might have been a better chance for Black than the game. ] 27.d2 b8 28.dc4 Intending b5-b6. e8? [ Perhaps Black should have tried 28...g5 . After the move played his position becomes deeply unpleasant. ] 29.b6 a6 30.c2 h8 31.f4! With Black tied up White opens up a second front on the kingside and brings his bishop on a1 to life. Classic stuff. exf4 32.gxf4 e7 33.f5 f8 34.e4 Defending both f5 and d3 whilst clearing the g-file for occupation by his major pieces. d6 35.xd6 xd6 36.c4 e7 37.g2 d7 38.f1 f8 39.f4 e5 Desperation. 40.xe5 fxe5 41.xe5 f6 42.g6+! The killer blow. White transmutes his advantages into a mating attack. hxg6 [ There's no declining White's offer as after 42...g8 there is 43.d5+ xd5 44.xd5+ f7 45.xf7+ xf7 46.xf8 with an easily winning endgame. ] 43.fxg6 e5 44.g3 e7 45.h4+! xh4 46.xh4+ 1-0
1097 Botvinnik,Mikhail Portisch,Lajos Monte Carlo (7) [Jonathan Rowson]
A29
1968
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 e6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 b6 8.d3 e7 9.a3 a5 10.e3 0-0 It is noteworthy that the great strategist chose not to take on b6 here, which is not to say he was correct... 11.a4 [ 11.c1 d5 12.xd5 xd5 13.a4 d6 14.c5 e7 15.e4 c6 16.c2 b6 B l a c k' s p o si t i o n i s wo r se t h a n it l o o k s 1090
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 16...f5 17.g5 causes problems) 17.d4! bxc5 18.dxc5 b8 19.fd1 d8 20.d2 b5 21.f1 h6 22.cxd6 cxd6 23.c7 d7 24.xb8+ xb8 25.xb5 xb5 26.c4 f6 27.xd6 c7 28.d8+ h7 29.d2 a n d W h it e c o n ve rt e d t h e a d va n t a ge i n Polugaevsky, L -Huebner, R Bugojno 1982 ] 11...xa4 [ 11...d5 12.c5 is probably somewhat better for White too. Black should probably play d6! and try to take back with the cpawn to keep the knight out of c5. ] 12.xa4 d5 13.fc1 e8 14.c2! [ A modern version of the same idea featured is 14.c3 Possibly just as good as Rc2, and with the added idea of Rb3 in some positions. A) 14...f5!? 15.b3!? ( 15.b5 a4 16.d2 xg2 17.xg2 c8 and it is not clear Whether White has any advantage. 18.c4?? a5 is certainly not the way forward. ) 15...f6 ( 15...xb3 16.xb3+ h8 17.xb7 gives White the advantage in every line.) 16.b5 and Black appears to be under pressure.; B) 14...f6?! I am always uneasy about this move- blocking the f-pawn and putting the bishop on a strange square. 15.c5 d4 Black's tactics look a bit contrived, and sure enough W hite emerges with a winning position. 16.xd5 xe2+ 17.f1 xd5 18.e1 e4 19.dxe4 h5 20.f3 e5 21.d3 b5 22.d1 c3 23.c2 e6 24.bxc3 ad8 White should be winning, but somehow lost control 25.c1 c4 26.e2 xe4 27.g1 e7 28.a1 c5 29.xc5 xe2 30.xe2 xe2 31.d4 d2 32.c5 b4 33.axb4 axb4 34.a7 bxc3 35.xc3 c2 36.d4 h5 1/2-1/2 Cvitan, O -Jobava, B Sibenik 2007 But White should certainly play on in the final position- there is a long slog ahead. ] 14...f8 15.ac1 b8? Trying to relieve the pressure on the c-file by playing ...c6 but thereby walking into one of the most famous combinations in chess history. [ 15...e4 16.dxe4 xe4 17.d2 keeps the pressure on. f6 18.c4! ] [ 15...d6 16.b5! ] 16.xc7 c6 17.1xc6! bxc6 18.xf7!! h6 [ 18...xf7 19.c4+ wins in all lines. ]
19.b7 c8 20.c4+ h8 21.h4 xb7 22.g6+ h7 23.e4 d6 24.xe5+ g6 25.xg6+ g7 26.xh6+ Powerful stuff. 1-0
1098 Carlsen,Magnus Cheparinov,Ivan FIDE GP Baku AZE (8) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2765 2696 29.04.2008
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.d3 f6 11.b1 d4 12.d2 c6 13.e3!? [ This line is seen rather infrequently. The normal move is 13.de4 as seen in several recent updates. For a complete reference guide, see the eBooks ] 13...b5 [ In another recent game, Black tried 13...f5 14.b3 d5 A) This looks a little artificial, but that has hardly ever been a problem for the original Rumanian grandmaster. The idea is that Black's knights are placed somewhat awkward and W hite can gain time through the advance of his e- and fpawns while Black shuffles his knights around. A promising alternative is 15.xd5!? cxd5 16.c5 xc5 17.bxc5 d7 ( 17...c7 18.d2 ) 18.b3 f7 19.d2 , and I prefer White.; B) 15.e2!? d6 16.e4 c7 17.f4 b6 ( 17...g4 18.h3 h5 19.g4 f7 20.b2 ) 18.b2 f7 19.c2 c5 20.bxc5 bxc5 21.a5 ( 21.f5!? xb3 22.xb3 b8 23.c4 ) 21...b5 22.c6 c7 23.a4?! ( 23.xe7+!? xe7 24.f5 d7 25.c4 d4 26.c3 fc8 27.a4 ) 23...xc6 24.axb5 b6 25.h1 a6! 26.bxa6 xa6 27.c3 c4 28.dxc4 , and any hint of advantage for either side has disappeared, 1/2-1/2, Suba, MSokolov, A/Bazna ROM 2007 ] 14.c2 [ White has an important alternative in 14.xb5 cxb5 which promises White decent chances f or an ad vantage af te r 15.b3 ( White accomplishes nothing with 1091
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.e4 a4! 16.b2 a5! 17.a1 , and the players agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/ 2, which it is hard to fault White for agreeing to Black almost seems to have the better c h a n c e s , V a u l i n , A -S t o h l , I / Z l i n 1 9 9 5) 15...a4 16.b2 d5 ( 16...d7 17.a1 ac8 18.c1 xc1 19.xc1 c8 20.e2 a5 21.f4 axb4 22.axb4 xb4 23.fxe5 fxe5 24.xe5 Kharlov, A-Brenninkmeijer, J/ Leeuwarden 1995) 17.e4 ( 17.a5 xb2 18.xb2 xg2 19.xg2 d5+ 20.f3 xf3+ 21.xf3 , and White has a light initiative in the endgame, Kharlov, A-Palac, M/Halkidiki 2002) 17...f7 18.d4 c8 19.d5 d7 20.e2 d8 21.a1 b6 22.bc1 a6 23.h4 , and White has the better chances, though Black's position is quite solid, Vallejo Pons, F-Ponomariov, R/ Linares 2002 ] 14...xc3 15.xc3 d7!? [ This is a new move, and a clear improvement over the previously played 15...d5?! which hands White the initiative and an easily pursuable plan, e.g. 16.e4 a2 17.a1 e6 18.b3 c8 19.a4 h8 20.c5 g4 21.f3 h5 22.e3 d7 23.h3 , and Black's position is very un c o mf o rta b le, Con t in, D-Ze lcic, R/ S t Vincent ITA 2004 ] 16.b3 ad8 17.d1 g4 18.d2 h8 [ Black has a couple of decent alternatives in 18...c8 19.c5 d5 ] [ and 18...d5 19.c4 e6 ] 19.c5 c8 20.b2 d5 [ 20...d7!? ] 21.c2 c7 22.c1 [ W hite can also consider 22.d4!? xc5 23.bxc5 exd4 24.xd4 xd4 25.xd4 ] 22...e6?! [ Here Black should likely opt for 22...xc5 , e.g. 23.xc5 a6 24.a5 ( 24.d4 e6 25.c2 exd4= ) 24...f7 25.d4 fd7 26.a4 ] 23.h4? [ Carlsen possibly overlooked a petite combination starting with 23.xb7!? xb7 24.c4 , winning back the piece with a better game, e.g. e4 25.h3 f5 ( 25...xh3 26.xh3 g5 27.g2 ) 26.g4 g6 27.xe6 d6 28.c4 exd3 29.d4 , and White is clearly better ]
23...xc5 24.bxc5 e6 25.d4!? While White can line up pressure on the b-file, it will in itself hardly present a problem for Black. Opening up the centre unbalances the position a bit and offers White better chances for exploiting his advantage. exd4 26.xd4 d7 27.e4! xe4 28.xe4 White has more space, the more active pieces, a backward pawn to target and the initiative, but Black's position is very solid and therefore taking his advantage all the way will demand a H e r c u l e a n e f f o r t o n W h i t e ' s p a r t . e8 29.g2 f8 30.b2 g8 31.cb1 ee7 32.b4 h5! This is a good practical decision, if Black doesn't grab some space he will face W hite playing f2-f3, g3-g4 and h4-h5, and suffer for a long time to come. 33.1b2 f7 34.f3 e6 35.f2 g6 36.f1 g7 37.a4 a6 38.ab4 f5 39.xg7 xg7 40.e4 fxe4 41.xe4 f5 42.xe7+ xe7 White has the initiative on account of all of Black's pawns being on light squares and the b-pawn needing constant protection. However, Cheparinov demonstrates Black's inconvenience is minimal. 43.c4 f6 44.e2 c8!? This is a good practical decision, by using the bishop to guard the b7pawn, the rook on e7 is released from protective duty and can be used actively to t a rg e t W h i t e 's p a wn o n c5 , t h u s f o r c i n g White's rook to guard it, making the draw the obvious result. 45.d2 e5 46.c2 a5 47.c3 d5 48.e3 e5+ 49.f2 d5 50.e3 e5+ 51.f2 ½-½
1099 Carlsen,Magnus Kramnik,Vladimir Chess Classic (1) [Nigel Davies]
A29 2801 2772 08.12.2009
This was Magnus Carlsen's key victory in the London Chess Classic. Kramnik plays the interesting 16...a4!? but his passive follow-up lets White gradually assume the initiative. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 [ This move order by White prevents 1092
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...g4? because of 10.b5 d4 11.xe5 etc. ] 10.b1 [ After 10.d3 Black has the option of playing or f5 11.b5 d4 when 12.xe5 f6 13.f4 b3 threatens both the rook on a1 and ... Qd4+. ] 10...f6 [ The popular f ormation begun by 10...f5 is n o lo n ge r p o ssib le h e re d u e t o 11.b5 etc. ] 11.d3 a5 [ Black can also play the immediate 11...d4 when 12.e4 may be bet met by d5 . ] 12.b5 d4 13.d2 [ 13.xd4 exd4 14.a4 d5 is nothing for W hite, so he keeps the tension in the position. ] 13...c8 Defending b7 and preparing a possible ...Be6-h3. 14.e3 f5 15.c2 [ 15.a4 is a reasonable alternative, and in view of Kramnik's 16th move novelty it might well become the preferred option. ] 15...d8 16.b2 a4 [ B l a c k h a s a l s o p l a y e d 16...h6!? t o t ra n s f e r h is kn igh t t o f 7 , t h o u g h it ' s possible he can implement the same idea more efficiently with ] [ 16...d6 , which simultaneously prevents a White knight coming to c4. ] 17.fc1 d6 [ 17...a5!? is interesting here, starting to gang up on the b5 pawn. ] 18.de4 e8 19.e2 A new move from Carlsen in a known position, so presumably we're seeing some high level preparation. f8?! [ And here Black might have played 19...d7 . After the passive text W hite takes the initiative. ] 20.f4 exf4 21.gxf4 d7 22.d4 c6 [ After 22...f5 W hite plays 23.c5 when xc5 24.dxc5 makes the bishop on b2 very strong. ] 23.c5 xc5 24.dxc5 c4 [ 24...d5 might have been better. White's extra space and bishop pair adds up to an a d v a n t a g e b u t i t ' s n o t e a s y, n o t l e a s t because of his potentially vulnerable king. ] 25.d1 c7 26.c1 a5 27.bxc6 bxc6 28.xa4 xd1+
[ 28...c4 29.c2 is also better for White. ] 29.xd1 d8 30.c2 f7 31.c3 h5 32.e2 f5 [ 32...f8 might have been more tenacious, in t e n d i n g t o m e e t 33.e4? with b3! 34.xb3 xb3 35.xb3 xe2 etc. ] 33.e4 g4 34.g3 f7 35.f1 e6 36.c3 a8 37.b4 d7 38.f5 f7 39.f4 d1 40.f2 b3 A desperate attempt to counterattack which is coolly rebuff ed by Carlsen. 41.e2 b1 42.c4 xa3 43.e2 [ After 43.e2 xc4 44.xc4+ f8 45.b7 it will be mate in a few moves. ] 1-0
1100 Conquest,Stuart Butnorius,Algimantas ch-IRL Dublin IRL (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2536 2442 08.07.2008
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.g5 xc3 8.bxc3 e8 9.f3 e3!? The Karpov-Zaitsev Gambit. A few new developments have taken place in this line. 10.dxe3 [ 10.d3 d5 11.b3 a5 12.a3 c6 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.f4 d7 ( 14...g4!? has been discussed at length on several previous occasions - see the PDF e-books for references.) 15.f3 c6 16.b2 g4 17.d6 e7 18.e5 xe5 19.xe5 g4 20.fe1 b6 21.a3 f6 22.d6 xd6 23.xd6 ad8 24.c5 b6 ( 24...c6!? 25.ab1 b6 26.a3 e7= ) 25.xe3 f5 26.f2 xe2 27.a4 f8 ( 27...xd3 28.xd5+ f8 29.xe8+ xe8 30.c6+ f7 31.a5 ) 28.a5 xd3 29.axb6 xe1+ 30.xe1 axb6 31.xb6 d7 32.d1 c4 33.h3 g6 34.b1 f7 35.d4 e7 1/2-1/2 Cvitan, O-Gonda, L/Sibenik CRO 2008 ] 10...h6 [ 10...b6 11.e4 h6 12.h3!? transposes to Cu. Hansen-Brynell, Malmoe 1998, which can be found in the PGN archives. ( 12.xf7?! was played in Topalov, VGelfand, B/Novgorod 1997, but considered inadequate for White. )] [ In another recent Conquest game in this 1093
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 va ri a t i o n , B l a c k t ri e d 10...e7 11.e4 ( 11.h3 as in Kasparov-Sadvakasov, Astana 2001 is possibly better - see the PG N a rc h ive s f o r t h e co m p le t e ga m e .) 11...c5+ 12.h1 h6 13.h3 xc4 14.f4 d6 15.d2 b6 16.d1 a6 17.b1 ad8 18.b2 a4 19.e1 c4 20.d5 xd5 21.exd5 e5 , and Black is completely sitting on top of White, who at the moment is without any counterplay, Conquest, S-David, A/ Liverpool ENG 2008 ] 11.h3 d5 [ Black has two important alternatives at this juncture: A) 11...e5 12.e4 xc4 13.d4 d5!? ( 13...e5 14.c4 d6 15.f4 b6 16.d5 c5 with chances to both sides, Gulko, B-Illescas Cordoba, M/Oropesa del Mar 1996 ) 14.f4 c6 15.exd5 cxd5 16.e4 b6 17.xd5 xd5 18.exd5 xd4+ 19.cxd4 b6 A) 20.f4 b7 21.d6 ed8! ( 21...ad8 22.fe1= ); B) 20.d6 b7 21.d7?! ( 21.f4 ed8 ) 21...e7 22.h3 c6 23.f4 ( 23.f5 xd7 24.d3 c8 25.f4 ) 23...xd7 with a clear advantage for Black, Kopilov, N-Raetsky, A/Voronezh 1990 ] [ B) 11...b6 12.f4 is Hansen, Cu-Brynell, S/ Malmo 1998, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] 12.f4 [ 12.f2 dxc4 13.a4 e5 14.d1 e7 15.e4 d7 16.a3 xa3 17.xa3 ad8= Rothkugel, W-Van der Straat, G/corr 1998 ] 12...dxc4 [ 12...a5? 13.cxd5 g5 14.d3 xd5 15.e4 b6 16.f4 bc4 17.e5 with a very large advantage for White, Chatalbashev, BMansson, J/Hastings ENG 2007 ] 13.e4 b6 14.a3 [ 14.xd8 xd8 15.a3 is an excellent alternative, leaving White somewhat better in the qu een less m idd legame af te r b7 16.ad1 ] 14...b7 15.c2 e7?! [ Black can maintain fairly even chances with 15...e5 16.fd1 e8 ] 16.ad1 b8 17.a4 g5 18.h3 c5 19.xc4 g6 20.a4 [ Or 20.b3 ] 20...e5 21.b2 e7 22.f2 a6 23.b3
[ White can also obtain a large advantage with 23.c4 e5 24.f4 gxf4 25.gxf4 eg4 26.xg4 xg4 27.h3 f6 28.e5+- ] 23...b5 24.c4 e5 25.c3! fd7?! 26.g4? [ White wins convincingly with 26.f4 b4 27.b3 gxf4 28.gxf4+- , and Black will lose material to avoid getting mated. ] 26...b4 27.d2?! [ With this move White throws the last chunk of his advantage away. Instead he should have opted for 27.e3 xg4 28.fxg4 e5 29.xe5 xe5 30.f5 , and White is still in control of the game ] 27...xg4 28.fxg4 e5 29.c1 ad8 30.d5? [ White is also clearly worse after 30.xe5 xe5 31.f5 c3 ] [ but 30.xd8 xd8 31.h3 f6 ke e p s W h it e's d isa d van t a ge a t a m o re manageable level. ] 30...f6 31.xe5 fxe5 32.xd8 xd8 33.h4?! f8 [ Or 33...c8 34.hxg5 hxg5 35.f3 e6 ] 34.f5 c8 35.xf8+ xf8 36.hxg5 xg5 37.xg5 hxg5 , and White resigned. Quite a tragedy after a well-played opening and early middlegame. 0-1
1101 Cvitan,Ognjen Sermek,Drazen Rapid 1hr Solin-Spilt CRO rapid (12) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2562 2590 17.12.02
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e8 10.d3 f8 11.b2 g4 B l a c k d e ve l o p s a n o t h e r p i e c e , we h a v e considered [ 11...a5 several times before, e.g. 12.b5 d4 13.e3 xf3+ 14.xf3 Sturua,Z-Xu Jun/Istanbul TUR 2000. ] 12.h3 h5 13.c1 f5!? An aggressive treatment, played to stop g4, e.g. [ 13...d7 14.g4 g6 15.h4 a6 16.e4 White has control of important light squares, ad8 17.c2! ( 17.c5 xc5 18.xc5 is met by e4 as in Rausis,I-Alterman,B/ 1094
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Corfu/1993.) 17...d5 18.e3 a5 19.bxa5 xa5 20.fd1 White's position is preferable, Gulko, B-Waitzkin,J/San Francisco 1995. ] [ 13...a5 is the most thematic, 14.b5 d4 15.g4 ( Alterman suggests 15.xd4!? exd4 16.e4 ) 15...g6 16.xd4 exd4 17.e4 f5!? 18.c5 ( 18.gxf5!? xf5 19.c2 ) 18...fxg4 19.xb7 h4 20.hxg4 xg4 which is a bit unclear, Rezan,S-Fercec,N/ Pula CRO 2002. ] 14.e4!? f4 15.e2! This move defends d4, attacks f4 and puts pressure on the e5-pawn. fxg3 Opening the f-file is to White's advantage, as the black rook cannot contest its control, but [ 15...d6 i s n o b e t t e r , 16.b5 d4 ( 16...b8!? ) 17.xd4 ( 17.exd4!? exd4 18.b3+ f7 19.c2 fxg3 20.fxg3 xg3 21.xd4 is also p ro m isin g) 17...exd4 18.gxf4 White has won a pawn, but Black will obtain counterplay against the weak white queenside after, say, h8 ( 18...a6 19.e5 e7 20.fxd4! ) 19.b3 a6 although it is not enough. ] 16.fxg3 a6?! [ 16...d6 17.b5 b8 is unpleasant, but Black is still fighting. ] 17.g4 g6 18.xc6! The thematic Sicilian exchange sac, which destroys the queenside and wins the e-pawn. bxc6 19.xe5 d6 20.b3+ h8 21.xg6+ hxg6?! Although [ 21...xg6 22.f4 d6 23.f7 is awful for Black, the threat is Nh5 while the simple improvement of the position by d4 and/or e5 is also possible. ] 22.f4 d7 23.h4 [ 23.f7! h7 24.d4 e7 25.b3 is also a killer, e5 is coming. ] 23...e5 24.d4 [ 24.d4 xg4 25.e5 d8 26.xg6+ h7 27.xc6 is too horrible for words, xg6 28.c2+ h6 29.c1+ etc. ] 1-0
1102 David,Alberto Svetushkin,Dmitry TOP 16 Poule Basse (8) [Jonathan Rowson]
A29 2587 2615 28.05.2009
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c5 Generally speaking, the lines with Nf6, Nc6 and Bc5 are a very reliable defence to most versions of the English, because the position is solid and flexible, but Black has to be patient to generate an initiative of his own. 4.c3 0-0 5.f3 c6?! [ 5...d6 looks more accurate. ] 6.0-0 [ Several games have shown that 6.xe5! xf2+ 7.xf2 xe5 8.b3! intending a quick Rf1 and Kg1 is probably somewhat better for W hite, though Black has plenty of counterchances against White's weakened king. ] [ 6.e3 d6 7.d4 b4! was McNab-Rowson, analysed in Chess for Zebras. ] 6...d6 7.e3 a6 8.d4 a7 9.h3 e8 10.b3 h6 11.b2 e4?! A strategic error that must have been played without the consent of the bishop on a7. The pawn on e4 is quite an easy target for White and when White plays f3 the bishop on a7 will be missed f rom the defence of the kingside. [ 11...f5 looks better, probably followed by Bh7 and only then e4 if the time seems ripe. Black can also take on d4, play Qd7 and double on the e-file. Needless to say, White also has ideas, so you should never get too attached to any particular idea. ] 12.d2 f5 13.a3 b8!? A creative attempt t o re ga in co n t ro l o ve r e 4 . 14.f3! exf3 15.xf3 c8 16.ce4 bd7 17.g4 W hite has a clear advantage in space and time, but Black has no real weaknesses so White should be wary of over-pressing. e7 18.g3 b8 19.a4 xe4 20.xe4 f8 21.f2 f6 22.h4 h7 23.af1 e6 24.d5 The position looks ripe for changing. [ 24.a5!? ] 24...d7 25.d4 a8 [ 25...xd4 26.exd4 looks like a slightly better version of the game for Black. ] 26.a5 xd4 27.exd4 ad8 It is not clear to me that Black gained anything by waiting for 1095
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 W hite to play a5. 28.e2 f8 29.ff2?! Either there has been an input error, or White over-estimated his position. The time was now ripe to win some material and enter a more technical phase. [ 29.xf6+ xf6 30.xf6 xf6 31.f3 or something similar, should eventually be winning for W hite. In fact it doesn't look particularly difficult, because W hite also has trumps on the queenside. ] 29...de8 30.h2 d8 31.e1 f7 [ 31...f5!? ] 32.c5 g6 33.h5? [ 33.cxd6 is still much better for White. I imagine Alberto David must have been very short of time. ] 33...xg4 34.xg4 xg4 35.cxd6 cxd6 Had white fought back to this position he could have put up some resistance, but after the commanding position he had, I can understand why White couldn't find the will to continue. 0-1
Ba7 is not bad ( 9...a6 is the main line 10.b3 a7 11.b2 Anand, V (2786)-Gelfand, B (2755)/Moscow Tal Memorial 8th Blitz 2013 )] 7.bxc3 e8 [ 7...d6 8.d3 e4 9.d4 exd3 10.exd3 xd4 11.cxd4 enters into a similar position but with ...d6 played instead of ...Re8, which is less useful since sometimes Black strikes with ...d5 at once ] 8.e1!? I like this move and lately it's scoring well, the idea is to avoid 8...e4 and leave the road free for the center pawns. [ 8.d3 is the main line e4 9.d4 exd3 10.exd3 xd4 11.cxd4 was analyzed in Seirawan, Y (2653)-Gulko, B (2618)/ch-USA Semi-Finals playoff g/25 1999 ] 8...h6 This is a typical move in these kind of positions, avoiding Bg5 and waiting for White to choose his setup. [ 8...d5 was tried on two occasions in the last 12 months by top level players 9.cxd5 xd5 10.c2!? a mysterious move that is actually working, I imagine the idea is to keep the option of going with the knight to d 3 i n s o m e l i n e s g4 11.f3 e6 1103 A29 a n d h e r e w e h a v e a d i v i s i o n ( 11...h5 12.d3!? where it has good prospects of Dubov,Daniil 2624 going to c5 or holding things together on d3) Fedorchuk,Sergey A 2669 12.e4 ( 12.f4 exf4 13.gxf4 f5 14.e3 b6 FIDE World Cup 2013 (1.1) 11.08.2013 15.d3 also gives White a nice center, [Fier, Alexandr] Khismatullin, D (2658)-Tomashevsky, E (2709)/RUS-ch Higher League 66th 2013) Against the solid 6...Bxc3 White goes for the 12...b6 13.d3 d7 14.f4 with a good 8.Ne1!? idea. I like this variation and it's position f or W hite in Svidler, P (2747)making a lot of points lately. Dubov created a Ponomariov, R (2735)/EU-Cup 28th Eilat strong attack on the kingside and won without 2012 (5.1) ] any problems. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 [ 8...e4 9.f3 e3 10.d3 ] c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 xc3 Now things are clear. White goes for a [ 6...e4 is the old main line, famous because 9.e4 o f t h e K a s p a r o v - K a r p o v m a t c h 7.g5 kingside pawn expansion and Black needs to ( 7.e1 xc3 8.dxc3 h6 is a slower setup) quickly find some counterplay on the other 7...xc3 8.bxc3 e8 9.f3 was discussed a side, by hitting c4. d6 10.d3 a6 11.a4 a5 [ 11...b8 as a Panno player against the lot about 25 years ago ] King's Indian, I would think about this move, [ 6...d6 looks like the latest fashion in 12.f4 ( 12.b1 d7 13.f4 a5 14.f5 b5 important games, and then 7.d3 h6 8.d5 arrives in time) 12...b5 13.cxb5 axb5 c5 9.e3 b6 Eljanov, P (2702)-Sutovsky, 14.axb5 xb5 15.f5 ( 15.c4 b8 16.f5 E (2660)/ Poikovsky Karpov 14th 2013, was d4 with the idea of 17...c6 and 18...d5) a new idea introduced by Sutovsky in the 15...a5!? 16.b1 ( 16.xa5 xa5 17.c4 Poikovsky against Eljanov. Soon he c6 ) 16...d5 with counterplay ] sa c rif ic e d a n e xch an ge b ut af t er so m e c6 This is also logical, but in a less small imprecisions lost the game. Still, the 12.f4 idea of not losing much time with ...a6 and ... h a r m o n i o u s w a y . W h i t e n o w h a s s o m e 1096
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 chances to close the queenside. 13.b1 b5 14.axb5 axb5 15.cxb5 b6+ 16.h1 cxb5 17.c4! A strong move, trying to force things on the queenside and afterwards get free play against his opponent's king. Also it's important to stop ...d5 ideas b4 [ 17...d7 18.c2 eb8 ( 18...ec8 19.e3 is just better for White) 19.e3 d8 20.c5 exf4 21.xf4 dxc5 22.b2 with a huge initiative ] [ 17...g4!? trying to disrupt White's coordination before going to d7, but it's not enough 18.d2 ( 18.f3 d7 and the f3bishop is in the way) 18...d7 19.c2 eb8 20.a3 ( 20.e3 d8 21.c5 dxc5 22.fxe5 g4! this is the point! With the queen on d2 this move is possible 23.c3 xe3 24.xe3 c8 ) 20...c7 21.fxe5 dxe5 22.xf6! gxf6 23.f1 and Black comes under heavy attack anyway ] 18.c2 [ 18.fxe5 wins a pawn, but loses attacking chances, dxe5 19.a4 this is the idea, threatening the b4-pawn and 20.Rxf6 g4 20.xb4 e6 21.e3 but the hole on d4 can give Black some chances to hold ] 18...b3 [ 18...c6!? makes sense, trying to keep one eye on d4, White can win a pawn but Black activates, 19.e3 b8 A) 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.xb4 xb4 22.d2 A1) 22...a3! 23.xb4 d6 24.d4 ( 24.d1? xd3 ) 24...xe4! ( 24...xe3? 25.c5! wins ) 25.xe4 xe3 26.xe3 ( 26.c5 a6 and here the f 1 - ro o k i s h a n g in g 27.xe3 xf1+ 28.g1 e2 and finally White is under pressure ) 26...xb4 27.d5 b7 28.f3 xd5 29.xd5 e7 30.dxe5 e6 31.e1 c8 with good drawing chances; A2) 22...a4 23.c5 the point of 20. fxe5; B) 20.xb4 xb4 21.d2 ( 21.d2 now this doesn't work because there is no 22.Bc5 a4 ) 21...g4 22.f3 a2 23.xb4 a7 with counterplay ] 19.e3 d7 20.g4?! [ 20.fxe5! was more direct dxe5 21.f3 threatening 22.Nd5 e6 22.d5 xd5 23.exd5 with idea of 24.Bxh6 ]
20...ab8? Too slow. [ 20...exf4! 21.f5 A) 21...g5 is original, but such moves are usually not good 22.xh6+ g7 23.f5+ xf5 24.gxf5 d7 25.f6+! xf6 ( 25...xf6 26.g4 e5 27.f5++- ) 26.b2 with attack; B) 21...xf5 and now things are not so clear 22.gxf5 d7 23.xf4 d4 and Black can try to hold the Black squares ] 21.g5 hxg5 22.fxg5 h7 23.d5 d8 24.h5 Now all the pieces are ready for the attack, Black is already lost. e6 25.f6+! gxf6 26.gxf6 h8 27.h6 g8 28.h3 Trying to eliminate the defender of the f7pawn. d7 [ 28...xh3 29.g7+ xg7 30.fxg7+ xg7 31.xf7+ g8 32.xh7# ] 29.g1 xg1+ 30.xg1 b2 31.g7+ g8 32.f8+ [ 32.f8+ xf8 33.xh7 1 with mate in ] 1-0
1104 Eljanov,Pavel Salgado Lopez,I 11th Aeroflot Open A (5) [John Bartholomew]
A29 2690 2618 11.02.2012
1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 e5 5.g2 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 d4 Topalov used this principled continuation to a ch ie ve n e a r-e f f o rt le ss e qu a lit y a ga in s t Navara at this year's Wijk aan Zee event. The promising Spanish Grandmaster Ivan Salgado Lopez has worked as a second for the former World Champ, so it is not surprising that he would prefer the same line. [ For 11...a5 12.b5 d4 13.d2 see Carlsen, M (2801)-Kramnik, V (2772)/ London ENG 2009/[Nigel Davies]. ( I examined alternatives such as 13.e3; 13.xd4; and 13.e1 in the notes to Navara-Topalov, quoted below )] 12.h4!? It's likely that Eljanov executed this novelty with few pretensions that it was any better than the standard choices. In fact, he would probably admit that 12.Nh4 is a rather 1097
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 awkward and unpromising looking move! Still, he knows that successful tournament chess has at least as much to do with forcing your opponent to solve unique practical problems as it does with the relative strength of any given move. In that respect, 12.Nh4!? certainly has a right to exist. [ That alternatives have been found wanting only adds credibility to Eljanov's unorthodox a p p r o a c h . F o r i n s t a n c e , 12.xd4 is too simplistic to arouse concern. Black was comfortable after exd4 13.e4 d5! followed by a favorable exchange of light square bishops with ...f6-f5 in Navara, D (2712)-Topalov, V (2770)/Wijk aan Zee NED 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] [ T h e m o s t p o p u l a r a p p r o a c h i s 12.d2 , though Black has not experienced serious theoretical problems here either after c6 or 12...Nd5. See the "Four Knights 4 g3 - 4... d5 Reversed Dragon" guide. ] 12...c8?! An unnecessarily mild reaction. [ It's unclear what Black feared, as 12...g5 is definitely the critical response. Eljanov probably intended A) 13.f3 a5 14.b5 d7 leaves White down a couple tempi compared to normal 11...a5 lines ...g7-g5 is an i n c o n s e q u e n t i a l we a k e n i n g ( 14...a4!? looks even more challenging ); B) 13.e3 , but af te r gxh4 ( Black could also just play solidly with 13...c6 14.f3 d7 intending 15...Rad8) 14.exd4 xd4 ( 14...exd4?! 15.e2 and White's play in the center and on the kingside promises excellent compensation) 15.b2 d7 16.xb7 ad8 I don't see much of anything for White, i.e. 17.a6 ( 17.h5 c5 ) 17...g4!? with fully acceptable play. The computer thinks this is close to equal, but in a practical game I suspect must players would prefer Black with W hite's king looking the draughtier of the two. ] 13.e3 f5 14.xf5 xf5 15.e4 Highly typical for this line - White aims for the c 5 s q u a r e . d8 16.c5! This is possible thanks to W hite's superb coordination. c6 Black decides to hunker down. [ The alternative was 16...xc5 17.bxc5 xd3 ( 17...xd3? 18.e2 leaves Black hanging everywhere in view of 19.cxb6, 19.
Bxb7, or 19.e4.) 18.cxb6 axb6!? , i.e. 19.b3+ h8 20.e1 xb1 21.xb1 . While it won't be easy to breach Black's defenses, the bishop pair is a huge asset and leaves Black lacking in the counterplay department. ] 17.e4 g6 18.c2 a5 19.e3 axb4 20.axb4 Eljanov's novelty has achieved the desired effect: White has a pleasant edge to work with. f7 21.a1 f8 [ Black parts with this bishop soon anyways, s o m a y b e t h e i m m e d i a t e 21...xc5 wa s b e t t e r. T h e n a f t e r 22.bxc5 xa1 23.xa1 he could try a8! with the idea of ... Na8-c7-b5-d4. ] 22.h4 d7 Essentially surrendering the bishop pair, but it's already difficult to see how Black can create meaningful play. 23.h3 xc5 24.bxc5 c7 25.f4!? Gaining space. f8 26.f5 h5?! [ 26...d7! was better, reminding White about his d-pawn. ] 27.fb1 d7 28.b2 xa1 29.xa1 b8 30.a7 d7 31.f1 a6 32.a8+ h7 33.f2 e7 34.e2 d7 35.b2 e8 Perhaps Black can delay a queen trade, but he's running short on constructive moves. 36.xe8 xe8 37.g4 hxg4 38.xg4 d7 39.e2 f7 40.h5 e8 41.e1 W hite's eventual winning plan involves the dual pawn breaks d3-d4 and h5-h6. Black can do little but sit tight and look for an opportunity for counterplay. f7 42.d2 g8 43.b1 f7 44.c2 e8 45.c1 f7 46.d2 g8 47.g1 h7 48.h1?! b4?! [ This was the first chance to transfer the kn i g h t t o a b e t t e r s q u a r e wi t h 48...c7! . If White waits, then Black will continue with 4 9 . . . N b 5 , s o 49.h6 would be expected. However, following g5 50.fxg6+ xg6 51.f1 xe4 52.xf6 it seems Black can draw with accurate play: d5!? 53.d6 f5! 54.h5 xd6 55.cxd6 xe3 56.xe3 d7! 57.f3!? (the trickiest, intending 58. Bg4) ( 57.e4 xh6 58.f3 g7 59.xe5 b6 is completely drawn) 57...c5! 58.g4 c6+ 59.e3 b5! and the draw is ensured, i.e. 60.f3 d7 61.e4 xh6 62.xe5 g7 and the coming ...c5-c4 will remove any doubt. ] 49.c3 a2+ 50.d2 b4 51.a1 a6 1098
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 52.c3 d8?! [ The second opportunity for 52...c7! ] 53.b1 b8? Perhaps Black only now had hopes for ...Na6-c7, but the timing is extremely poor. [ He should have continued waiting with 53...d7 . ] 54.d4! exd4+?! [ This was the f inal chance f or 54...c7 , making it much tougher for W hite to destroy the e5-f6-g7 pawn chain. ] 55.xd4 c7 Too late! 56.h6! e8 There are several possible lines here, but all of them appear inadequate: [ 56...xh6 is mate in two: 57.h1+ g5 58.e3# ] [ 56...gxh6 57.xf6+- is terminal ] [ Two to ugh er tries are 56...e8 , i.e. 57.f2! gxh6 58.a6! a8 ( 58...c7 59.xb7+- ) 59.xb7 a3+ 60.b4 f3 61.g1 h5 62.xc6+- ] [ and 56...g6 57.xf6 b5+ when 58.d2! o u g h t t o w i n . ( Black has more chances to draw the opposite color bishop ending after 58.xb5 cxb5 59.xb5 gxf5 60.exf5 d5 )] 57.xb7 e7 58.hxg7 b5+? Understand able, but now Black is truly lost. [ He may have considered his position h o p e l e s s a f t e r 58...xg7 59.d3 , though White will have to prove the win. ] 59.xb5 cxb5 60.xf6 xe4 [ or 60...b4+ 61.d4 d7+ 62.e3 b3 63.c6 c7 64.b5+- ] 61.xb5 e1 62.d4 d5 63.d7 c1+ 64.d2 c4 65.d3 c1 66.c3 d1+ 67.e2 f3+ 68.xf3 d3+ 69.e4 xc3 70.f6 [ 70.f6 xc5 71.f5+ is decisive. While innovative, we can conclude that Eljanov's 12.Nh4!? does not hold up under the theoretical microscope. The critical 12...g5 appears to provide Black fully adequate play. ] 1-0
1105 Elwert,Hans Marcus Tiemann,Hagen 18th WChCorr (3) [John Watson]
A29 2693 2513 01.06.2004
W hen such a highly theoretical and critical line is tested in a correspondence game by world-class players, it's worth taking note! 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.g5 xc3 8.bxc3 e8 9.f3 e3 10.d3 d5 11.b3 [ 11.cxd5 xd5 12.b3 a5 13.a3 xg5 14.xa5 e5 is considered equal. It might be fun to test this! ] 11...a5 12.a3 c6 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.f4 g4 [ 14...c6 was Karpov's move versus Kasparov in what was probably the stem game. People haven't been too thrilled with this after 15. Rb1, which is not to say that we won't see a lot more of it. ] 15.f3 In my opinion this is the critical move. [ Tony has looked at 15.e1 at some length, for example, A) 15...h6 16.f3 c6 17.b1 d7 18.b2 ( 18.d4 h3 Lautier,J-Illescas,M/ Dos Hermanas 1995, and Tony analyses 19.e5!? xe5 20.dxe5 xg2 21.xg2 g4 wi t h u n c l e a r p l a y .) 18...h3 ( 18...h5!? 19.c4 d4 ) 19.c4 xg2 20.xg2 d4 21.c5 ad8 unclear, Schacher-Maki Uuro, Izmir 2004; B) 15...c8!? 16.h3 d7 17.b2 b6 18.ad1 h6 19.f3 h5 20.h2 f6 with a large advantage, Nimzo 7.32-Junior 6.0, Cadaques 2000 ] 15...c6 [ 15...xf3 16.xf3 ( 16.xf3 looks stronger, e.g., d4 17.b2 c6 18.ff1 and I like the bishops ) 16...h5!? 17.b1 c8 18.b4 b6 19.f5 d6 with a messy position in Quinn,MAllen,K, Port Erin 2000. ] 16.h3 d7 [ 16...xf3 17.xf3 d4 18.b2 is the last note ] 17.h2 c7 [ 17...b6!? might divert White's pieces after 18.b2 c7 or 18.Qb2 Qc7. ] 18.b1 b6 Given White's dynamic reply, I'm not so sure about the loss of time here. 1099
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 18...ac8 is natural,, e.g., 19.b2 b5!? 8.dxe5 with the idea 20.c5 a5 ] [ 8.0-0 [ and HiArcs suggests 18...e6!? to double A) This is the move White is trying to rooks and maybe swing kingward later. ] prevent by playing 8 Bg2 himself in the 19.b2 ad8 20.c4! dxc4 21.bc1! e6 main lines. Another independent line was [ A big moment. I'm sure that both sides reached after 8...e7 9.b3 0-0 10.b2 l o o k e d a t l i n e s l i k e 21...cxd3 22.xf6 c7 11.e3 ( with 11.g2 White can ( 22.e5! ) 22...d2! 23.xc6 xc6 24.xd8 belatedly reach the variation discussed xd8 ] u n d e r lin e A) 11...h3 12.e1 d7 [ and 21...a5 , which at least tempts White 13.g2 xg2 14.xg2 f5 , and Black to play Bc3 and Bxa5 at some point and give had equalised in Krupenski, I-Leito, P/ up his monster bishop. ] Tallinn 1999; 22.g5 d5 Again, B) 8...h3!? 9.e1 e7 10.b3 c7 [ 22...a5 should be considered. After the 11.b2 h5!? ( 11...0-0 is solid and good, text, things get double-edged. ] and should leave Black with more or less 23.xd5!? even chances) 12.d3 h4 13.e4 d7 [ 23.xf6!? gxf6 24.xd5 ] ( 13...hxg3!? 14.fxg3 xe4 15.xe4 23...xd5 24.xc4 d7 25.fc1 f6 26.f3 0-0-0 looks pretty good for Black) 14.e3 e6 27.e4 de8 Somewhere around here ( 14.g4!? ) 14...0-0-0 15.dxe5 ( 15.g4!? things go downhill for Black. Maybe he should looks like a fun alternative) 15...dxe5 simply let the rook stay on e4 by 16.c5 hxg3 17.fxg3 h6 ( 17...f5 [ 27...d6 ] 18.d6+ b8 ) 18.b4 f5 19.d6+ 28.xe6 xe6 29.a4 d6!? It's a bad sign xd6?! ( This is overly optimistic even if if this is necessary. 30.a3 cb4 31.b3 does look rather attractive. Instead Black a5 32.d4! h8 33.b2 h6 34.c4 e7 can obtain the better chances with 35.f7 bd5 36.f5 White controls the whole 19...xd6 20.cxd6 xd6 21.xa7 e4 board. c7 37.a4 ed5 38.xd7 xd7 , and Black is control.) 20.cxd6 xd6 39.g2 g8 40.f3 f7 41.c6 h5 21.a3 b8 22.ad1 e4 23.g2 xg2 42.e6 e8 43.a3 ec7 44.xc7 24.xg2 , and Black no longer has [ 44.xc7 xc7 45.xc7+ xc7 46.xe3 sufficient compensation for the exchange, b5 47.d4! bxa4 48.c5 etc. A fascinating Kraehenbuehl, G-Laird, C/Copenhagen positional struggle. ] 1981 ] 1-0 8...dxe5 9.xd8+ xd8 10.b3 [ 10.0-0 e6 11.b3 1/2-1/2 Danner, L-Sehrt, J/Germany 1999 doesn't tell us anything ] 1106 A29 10...f5 11.b2 e4 [ I don't like this move at all as it provides a Fahnenschmidt,Gerhard 2350 target for W hite and blunts Black's lightTreppner,Gerd s q u a r e d b i s h o p . I n s t e a d 11...c5 GER-chT fin Bad Kissingen (3) 1978 seems perfectly playable ] [Carsten Hansen] 12.g2 c5 [ I don't know if this is Black's best move, 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 because White achieves the better position 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 c6 7.d4 d6 through a series of simple, yet good moves. [ 7...e4? has rather surprisingly been played A n o t h e r t r y i s 12...c7 but whether it by an ELO-rated player, and although he represents an actual improvement is a hard eventually held a draw, the result doesn't call, as I still pref er W hite after 13.0-0-0 speak for the objective value of the text ( both 13.0-0 h5 14.h3 d8 15.ad1 move, which essentially drops a pawn for e7; and 13.h3 e3!? 14.fxe3 e8 nothing 8.xe4 xe4 9.xe4 d5 10.cxd5 seem okay for Black) 13...b4 14.h3 h5 cxd5 11.f3 b6 12.0-0 h3 13.e1 15.e3 followed by Nc3-e2 ] 1/2-1/2 Meyer, A-Heisel, G/Germany 1996 ] 1100
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.h3!? h5 14.0-0 e7 15.a4!? d6 16.d4!? hd8 17.c3 [ This wins a pawn, but whether it's White's best move is up for debate. Another try is 17.c5 xc5 18.xc5+ e6 19.e3 followed by f2-f3 and g3-g4 with an initiative and excellent chances for White ] 17...a5 [ 17...b4!? 18.xf6+ xf6 19.xe4+ g6 20.a3 e7 21.a2 a5 offers Black some counterplay on account of his ability to double his rooks on the d-file along with the pair of bishops. ] [ 17...a3!? 18.ad1 xd4! 19.xd4 b2 20.xe4+ xe4 21.xe4 d8 22.c5 b6 23.d3 xd3 24.exd3 xd3 25.xc6 d4 with an endgame which will be exceedingly difficult for White to win ] 18.ad1 b4 19.xf6+ xf6 20.xe4+ xe4 21.xe4 e5 White has won a pawn, but the limited material, Black's activity and the opposite-coloured bishops mean that Black has decent drawing chances, although, there is plenty of play left in this position. 22.c2 g5 23.g2 d2 24.xd2 xd2 25.d1 d8 26.e3 d6! Intending ...Bb4, s e e k i n g s o la c e in a n o p p o s it e c o l o u r e d endgame. 27.f4+ f6 28.f3 b4 29.xd6+ White doesn't achieve anything by avoiding the exchange of rooks, so rather go for the win in a still complicated oppositecoloured bishop endgame, which despite its drawish tendencies still offer plenty of play and winning chances if conducted well. xd6 30.e4 [ Which is the best continuation at this point is difficult to determine. The move chosen by W hite in the game gives him decent chances to squeeze out more than a half, but naturally W hite can try a number of other things, such as 30.a4 c5 31.h7 gxf4 32.exf4 d4 33.g4 hxg4+ 34.xg4 but whether it wins, is a topic that isn't particularly relevant to our discussion of t h e o p e n i n g va r i a t i o n i n q u e s t io n . F o r further comments, please look at the closing comment at the end of this game. ] 30...gxf4 31.gxf4 e6 32.e5 b4 33.h7 f5 34.exf6 xf6 35.a4 e6 36.e4 e7 37.g6 h4 38.f5+ d6 39.c8 b6 40.f5 c5 41.g6 d8 42.f7 e7 43.g4 d8
44.f5 e5 45.e8 g5 46.d7 f6 47.c6 d2 48.xb6 b4 49.c6 a3 50.d5 b4 51.e4 e1 [ And a draw was agreed upon. While it looks like a rather obvious draw on account of W hite's three queenside pawn being blocked by Black's two pawns and bishop, and W hite's extra kingside pawn b ein g stopped in its tracks by Black's king, there are still things White can try. The main idea for W hite is tie Black's king to f6 and the black bishop to the defence of the h-pawn, while keeping his own bishop on c2, and then break with the b-pawn, which will create a second passed pawn for White. This plan may still not guarantee the win, but nevertheless it is worth a try, because with two extra pawns, White has some freedom to continue before getting himself in trouble. The following variations are examples of what can happen. They may not represent optimal play from either side, but may give you an idea about what White can try and the dangers involved in Black's defence. Opposite coloured bishops are no guarantee for a draw even if it looks drawn... 51...c3 52.e2 e7 ( 52...e1 53.f4 c3 54.g4 e1 55.d3 f2 56.b1 e1 57.c2 f2 58.b4 cxb4 59.f4 c5 60.e4 g5 61.d5 g1 62.c5 b3 63.xb3 xf5 64.d6 h2+ 65.d7 , and White wins) 53.f4 f6 54.g4 d6 55.h5 d8 56.g6 e5 57.d1 f6 58.b4 cxb4 59.c5 e7 60.c6 d6 61.f6 f8 62.f3 b3 63.e4 e6 64.f7 e7 65.h7 b2 66.g8 h6 67.c7 d7 68.f8 xf8 69.xf8 xc7 70.e7 , and White wins ] ½-½
1107 Flores,Di Vallejo Pons,F FIDE World Cup 2013 (1.1) [Gormally/Kosten]
A29 2578 2706 11.08.2013
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 f6 4.f3 c5 5.0-0 d6 6.c3 0-0 7.d3 This introduces the strategic idea of Bg5, while retaining other options. h6 This is the most common 1101
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 response for Black in this line, a useful move that prevents the irritating Bg5 W hite now goes for queenside expansion. [ 7...a6 8.a3 d4 Black chooses a different mode of play, but it's less successful 9.e1! c6 10.e3 f5 11.f3 a7 12.b4 e8 13.b2 b8 ( 13...d5! is better, as seen in another Gulko game, against Cramling in the Archive.) 14.c1 A very typical way of playing the English. Rather than committing his forces too early, White simply goes for slow expansion.. perhaps Black will lose patience and try to lash out, creating a weakness that can be exploited? A) The pseudo-active central push 14...d5 is not very effective either- 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.a4! d4 ( 16...e4 ) 17.e4 d6 18.c5 where Black is somewhat cramped.; B) 14...b5 15.c5! The whole strategic idea of the English is put into action- you exchange your wing pawn for a central one! B1) 15...d5 16.e4! ( or 16.e2! are both good ); B2) 15...dxc5 16.e4 cxb4 17.xe5 ( White would surely regain the pawn after 17.axb4 as both c6 and e5 are hanging, but he is punting f or more) 17...bxa3 18.a1 xe4 19.xe4 g5 20.xc6 b7 21.xa7 xa7 22.c5! f6 23.c2 e6 24.xf5 xf5 25.e4 After creative middlegame play, White has made decisive material gains g6 26.xf5 f7 27.c3 a2 28.d5 b7 29.a3 b4 30.xa2 b5 31.xa6 1-0 Gulko, B (2580)-Sadler, M (2665)/ Luzern 1997. ] 8.a3 a6 9.b4 a7 10.b2 [ 10.e3 e6 11.h3 d7 12.h2 e7 13.e2 g6 Everything is now set fair for Black to expand in the center with ..c6 and .. d5, or even the immediate ..d5. Realising this, White elects to lash out in the center himself.. 14.d4 exd4 15.xd4 ( 15.exd4 d5! 16.c5 c6 followed in short order by Ra e 8 , a n d B b 8 , give s B la ck ve ry go o d counterplay. The idea of re-routing th e bishop from the a7-g1 diagonal, to the b8-h2 one, is a typical idea in this line.) 15...xd4 16.exd4 ae8 17.e3 d5 18.c5 e4!
gave Black very good counterplay, and he went on to win in Valiente, C (2275)-Hellsten, J (2534) Santiago de Chile 2007 ] 10...e6 [ 10...b8 is Perez Fungueiro-Hamdouchi, by John Watson in the Archive. ] 11.c1 d7 Black unpretentiously develops all his pieces on natural squares. That's what I like about this line, it's very easy to play. 12.e3 g4!? A really novel idea in a position where Black has already tried a lot of alternatives. [ 12...h3 is the most common, 13.d4 xg2 14.xg2 exd4 15.exd4 ( 15.d5!? e4 16.exd4 fe8 17.d3 looks better, Eckert, D (2247)-Kavutskiy, K (2301)/Saint Louis 2012. ) 15...ae8 16.d3 White doesn't have much, Marin, M (2601) -Jerez Perez, A (2405)/Andorra 2001. ] [ 12...e7 13.e1 g6 14.d4 ad8 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.xd7 xd7 17.c5 wi t h a s l i g h t e d g e , N a va r a , D ( 2 7 3 1 ) Movsesian, S (2723)/Pardubice 2010. ] 13.d5 Simply defending e3. [ 13.h3!? i s o b v i o u s l y m e t b y xe3 ( 13...f6 14.h2 ) 14.fxe3 xe3+ 15.h2 xc1 16.xc1 with unclear play, although I don't think I would be too unhappy with White here, the rooks have no open files. ] 13...xd5!? [ 13...e7 is more solid, 14.xe7+ xe7 15.e1 ] 14.cxd5 e7 15.d4 I'm not so sure about th is, W h it e sh u t s o ut t h e a 7 -b ish o p , b u t doesn't do much for his own one on b2. [ 15.d2 would definitely be my choice, heading f or c4 while defending d5. The question is whether Black can play xe3 16.fxe3 xe3 garnering rook and two p a w n s f o r t w o p i e c e s , 17.b3 xf1 18.xf1 g6 ( 18...ae8 19.c4 ) 19.d4 not too clear. ] [ 15.e4 f5 16.e2 is another possibility, although I don't like o pening t he g1-a 7 diagonal. ] 15...e4 16.d2 f5 17.b3 f6 18.f3 exf3 19.xf3!? Tempting Black into some interesting complications. [ 19.xf3 would defend d5 directly. ] 19...fxd5 20.g4! h8 The knight must be unpinned. 1102
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 20...fxg4?? 21.xf8+ xf8 22.xd5+ ] 21.gxf5 xf5 22.g3 [ 22.h3! first is also possible, and may be stronger, g5+ 23.h1 e8 24.e4 f6 25.xc7 regaining the pawn, although after g6 it's a bit of a mess, e.g. 26.f1 xe4 27.xe4 xe4+ 28.f3 xf3+ 29.xf3 c6 30.c8! xd4 31.xd4 xd4 32.f8+ h7 33.f5+ xf5 34.xa8 d4 with fair drawing chances. ] 22...af8! Offering the exchange, [ 22...f6 23.xb7 ( 23.h3 d5 ) 23...f8 24.xa6 h5 25.d3 f5 26.xf5 xf5 27.c2 c5! was also reasonable. ] 23.h3 e8 24.e4 [ 24.xf5 xf5 25.f3 ( 25.xd5? xg3 26.hxg3 xe3+ winning. ) 25...fxe3 26.xf8+ xf8 27.d3 c6 with more than enough for the exchange. ] 24...f2 25.f3 xb2 26.xb2 f6 After a fairly forced series of moves Black might be slightly better - both d4 and e4 are under pressure. 27.g2? A mistake, in time trouble no doubt. [ 27.xc7 xe4 28.e2 g6 ( 28...xg3 29.hxg3 c6 30.xe8 xe8 31.xb7 xd4+ 32.xd4 xd4 33.b6 regains the pawn with a plus.) 29.xb7 c6! 30.xg6 ( 30.xa7? f4 31.d1 xg3 32.hxg3 xh3+ with advantage.) 30...xb7 31.e3! and the game goes on! ] 27...xe4 28.g4 f6 29.g3?! f5 Now White is quite lost. 30.h3 g4 [ 30...e3+ 31.h1 e4 32.f1 xd4 was more precise. ] 31.d2 g6 32.xc7? [ 32.h4 xh4 33.xh4 ] 32...xd4! 33.h1 [ 33.xd4 xd4+ 34.xd4 b1+ leads to mate. ] 33...xf3 34.xf3 xf3 [ 34...xf3 35.xf3 f2+ is horrible. ] 0-1
1108 Gelfand,Boris Svidler,Peter Cat. 19 Dos Hermanas ESP (8) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2691 2713 16.04.1999
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 The most popular move, with a number of objectives: attacking the b4-bishop whilst avoiding the doubling of the white pawns, and c o n t r o l l i n g d 5 . c5 8.0-0 0-0 9.d3 Gelfand recently revived the old idea [ 9.a4!? with e7 10.d1 d6 11.c3 d7!? Black prefer to keep d6 solidly defended, the previous move was ( 11...c6 12.d4 c7 but White has an edge.) 12.d4 f6 'Strongpoint philosophy'. 13.dxe5 xe5 14.e3 f6 15.c5 with a plus, Gelfand,BTimman, J/Wijk 1998. ] 9...h6 10.d2!? Perhaps not overly useful, [ 10.g2 e8 11.h3 c6 12.h2 is the other, better, possibility. ] 10...e8 11.g2 c6 Black always plays for an eventual ...d5 in this line. 12.ac1 b6 13.a4!? White has to move his queen again if he wants to play on the queenside with b4. d6 White was still controlling d5, indirectly, as [ 13...d5? loses a pawn to 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.xd5 xd5 16.xd5 and the bishop cannot be captured because of the hanging e8-rook. ] 14.b4 e6 15.b5 A structure typical of the English, Black is ready to play ...d5, just as W hite is trying to undermine Black's light squares. d5! Just in time, [ 15...cxb5?! 16.xb5 would concede d5 to White. ] 16.bxc6 bxc6 17.cxd5 White has to allow Black to set-up his centre, for he is worse after [ 17.xc6 c8 18.a4 dxc4 ] 17...cxd5 Black's opening has been a complete success. 18.a3 Planning Na4-c5. b8 19.a4 a5! 20.c3 d4! 21.xa5 xa5 22.c5 a6 Keeping the a4-knight pinned, it will never reach its destination. 23.c6 b6! Keeping up the pressure on the o f f s i d e k n i g h t . 24.xb6 axb6 25.b4 E ls e B l a ck wo u ld wi n t h e a 4 - kn ig h t . c8 26.a3 c2 Black has infiltrated the c-file, and his advantage is beginning to look 1103
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 consequent. 27.e1 d7 28.f4 White tries to break-up the black centre. b5 29.b2 It is clear that things have gone very wrong for White if he has to put his knight on such a square. c3! Black has decided that the simplest plan is to take the a-pawn, and then queen his passed b-pawn. 30.fxe5 b3 31.xd4 xa3 32.d1 The black centre has completely disintegrated, but the important factor is the b-pawn. b1 33.f1 a4 The point of Black's clever play, to save his knight White has to exchange queens and this p u t s t h e b l a c k p a wn e ve n f u r t h e r o u t o f W hite's reach. 34.xa4 bxa4 The a-pawn will cost a piece. 35.c3 xf1+ 36.xf1 a3 37.d4 b6 Black is i n no rush, he can win the knight when he wants, but wants to assure that he will be winning the ensuing position, with piece against two pawns. 38.e1 a2 39.xa2 xa2 40.d2 f8 If the white epawns were not doubled, he might have some drawing chances, but this position is very difficult. 41.e4 c4+ 42.d3 e7 43.f3 d7 44.c3 b6 45.d5 e7 46.d4 d7 47.g4 b3 White seems to have made the most progress. 48.h3 f8 49.g4 a4 Black doesn't want to touch his pawns because every pawn exchanged will favour White, but how to make progress otherwise? 50.e2 d7 51.h4 h3 52.b5 g4 53.c4 g6 54.b3 Black has placed his pieces on their ideal squares. f6 55.e6 Difficult to resist such a passed pawn, but [ 55.exf6+ must offer some prospects, although if Black can force his king to e5, and knight to d6, he will inevitably win. xf6 ] 55...d6 56.c2 e5 57.e3 c5 58.a4 Threatening d7, winning. g6 59.b3 d6 60.d4 f5 Exchanging the support of the d5pawn. 61.e7 xe7 62.e5 Creating two connected passed pawns, but at a cost. f4 63.gxf4 xf4 64.c5?! g6 Winning another pawn. 65.e6 xh4 66.d6+ The pawns progress, but the extra black piece i s n o t f a r a w a y . d8 67.e7+ e8 It is still possible to lose, by [ 67...d7?? 68.f7 and Black gets mated! ] 68.c2 d7 69.d1 g6 Careful defence. 70.d5 f5 71.e5 h5 72.f6 xd6
73.xg6 g4 Killing White's last hope- of taking the last black pawn. 74.c2 xe7 75.g5 f7+ 76.h4 f6 77.a4 d6 0-1
1109 Gelfand,Boris Vachier Lagrave,Maxime World Cup Khanty Mansiysk RUS (4.3) [Nigel Davies]
A29 2758 2718
Gelfand and Vachier Lagrave had something of a theoretical duel in this 4... Nd4 line. Given that Gelfand switched to 4.a3 I'd score this duel as having been won by Black. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 This is a tough move to break down. The best winning chance may be to take that pawn on e5. 5.g2 [ 5.xe5 e7 6.f4 d6 7.d3 f5 8.f2! was Bauer, C (2599)-Dorfman, J (2586), Besancon BRA 2006, which was covered by Carsten Hansen when he was running this section. Of course not every English Opening player is up for this kind of mayhem... ] 5...xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.d3 c6 [ The nonchalant 8...0-0 is also possible as in Vitiugov - Grischuk. ] 9.0-0 0-0 10.d2 h6 11.a4 [ In the previous game in which he had White Gelf and played 11.g2 a f t e r wh i c h b6 12.a4 c7 13.c5 d5 14.cxd6 xd6 15.b4 e6 16.a3 xb4 17.xb4 b8 18.c5 e8 19.xe6 xe6 left him with little advantage to speak of and the game was soon agreed drawn (Gelfand, B (2758) Vachier Lagrave, M (2718)/Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2009). And after coming close to losing this game he switched to the anti-theoretical 4.a3, winning that one rather easily! ] 11...e7 12.g2 d6 13.c3 c7 14.ac1 e8 15.f4 White is getting some space with this but at the same time it leaves him a bit loose. exf4 16.gxf4 a5 17.e3 h5 18.d1 [ 18.f3!? was interesting. ] 18...g4 19.e1 d5 20.cxd5 cxd5 21.b5 e2 [ 21...ac8 22.xc8 xc8 23.d4 1104
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 would allow White to get well entrenched, so Black sacrifices the exchange for a pawn and the initiative. ] 22.c7 xd3 23.xe8 xe8 24.f3 e4 25.b4 f6 26.d1 b5 27.h3 This allows Black to recover the sacrificed exchange, but Gelfand then bails out into a tenable endgame. xd1+ 28.xd1 d7 29.h5 g4 30.hxd5 xd1 31.xd1 xb2 32.f1 b6 33.e2 a5 34.e1 a3 35.d4 d6 36.d3 c5 37.c3 h7 38.c6 e7 39.f3 f5 40.h4 g6 41.d5 e4 42.e5 f6 43.xf6 So White gets opposite colour bishops and with 44.a4 blocks Black's queenside pawns. A draw is very much on the cards. xf6 44.a4 g5 45.hxg5+ hxg5 46.fxg5+ xg5 47.e4 fxe4+ 48.xe4 f7+ 49.g3 f2+ 50.g2 f4 51.c6 c5 ½-½
1110 Georgiev,Kiril Akopian,Vladimir FIDE WCh KO Las Vegas USA (4.1) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2650 2646 09.08.99
1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f6 4.g3 g6 5.d4 exd4 6.xd4 g7 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 e8 9.xc6 Not thought to offer White too much, [ 9.c2 is commonly preferred. ] 9...dxc6 10.f4 e7 11.c1!? In Tukmakov, V-Romanishin,O/ Erevan 1980, White played the more obvious [ 11.e4 although after the further g4 12.c2 c5?! 13.h3 e5 14.b3 e7 15.e3 f6 16.ac1 f3+ 17.h1 g5 the position was unclear. ] 11...c5 12.b3 h5 13.e4 [ 13.xc7?! i s d a n g e r o u s , a f t e r h3 14.xh3 xh3 15.f3 h5 White is in trouble. ] 13...h3 14.f3 ad8!? Provoking wild complications, [ 14...xg2 15.xg2 a5 was quite reasonable. ] 15.e5! xg2?! After this Black has great difficulty avoiding the loss of his queen, which is short of squares. [ A l t h o u g h a f t e r 15...d7!? 16.g4
forces Black to sacrifice his bishop by xg4 17.fxg4 xg4 , the outcome is far from clear. ] 16.xg2 g5!? If [ 16...d7?? then 17.g4 h4 18.g5 would be embarrassing. ] 17.exf6 xf6 18.g4? [ 18.xc7! is better, why drive the black queen to a better square? d3 19.e4 xa1 20.xa1 and the threat of Nf6+ will oblige Black to play xe4 which certainly looks winning for White. ] 18...g6 19.g3 [ 19.xc7 is no longer so effective: d3 20.e4? xe4! 21.fxe4 xe4+ is winning for Black. Such a slight difference in the p o s i t i o n , c a n , i n r e a l i t y, b e a wo r l d o f difference! ] 19...d3 Now, after [ 19...d3 White has the resource 20.e1! xe1 21.xe1 ] 20.d1?! [ 20.xc7 merited consideration. ] 20...xa1 21.f2 e2 22.xa1 The dust has settled, and White has two pieces for rook a n d p a wn , a r e a s o n a b l e e xc h a n g e . e6 23.b1 h6 24.xc7 d2 Black has lost his c7-pawn, but is very active. 25.a4 b2 26.f5 xb3 27.d1 b2 28.d8+ e8 29.xe8+ xe8 30.e5 White has eased his position by exchanging a pair of rooks. Now, if he had time to bring his knight to e4, Black would soon be mated. e2 31.d4 e6 32.xe6 [ 32.a5 appears more aggressive. ] 32...fxe6 33.xa7 a2 34.c5 xa4 35.b6 f7 36.e4 White may seem to have gained the upper hand, but rooks are very useful pieces in the endgame. e5 37.d6+ e6 38.f5?! Inaccurate, although after the better [ 38.xb7 e4!? gains useful activity. ] 38...a2+ 39.g3 a3 Threatening ...e4. 40.g2 a2+ 41.g3 a3 42.d6 d5 Black is now fine. 43.e4 d4 44.c7 Attempting to return the bishop to the fray. a1 45.f2 a2+ 46.g3 a1 47.h3 e3! Conceding the e5-pawn, but gaining the f3pawn, and even more activity. 48.xe5 f1 49.g2 xf3 50.d6 f2+ 51.g3 f3+ 52.g2 f2+ 53.g3 f3+ 54.g2 ½-½ 1105
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1111 Georgiev,Kiril Gurevich,Mikhail TCh Mulhouse FRA (7) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2676 2694 01.04.2001
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 The main line. 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 [ An interesting finesse, White delays 10.d3 when a5 follows, but play will transpose anyway. ] 10...f6 11.d3 a5 12.b5 d4 13.d2 c8!? [ Defending b7, whilst avoiding any w e a k e n i n g o f t h e q u e e n s i d e . 13...c6 and other possibilities here, are discussed in the archives. ] 14.e3 f5 15.a4!? [ Georgiev's improvement over 15.c2 d8 16.d1 a4 17.ce4 d7 18.c5 xc5 19.xc5 d6 in a previous game against Gurevich,M, at Niksic 1996, when Black is at least equal. By playing a4 before Black does, White concedes the b4-square, but does not have to worry about having Black target his a3-pawn. ] 15...d8 16.c2 b8 17.d1 c6!? So, Black f eels he h as to play this move anyway, in order to gain some space. 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.ce4 d5 20.b3!? [ White refuses the pawn sac, 20.xb8 xb8 21.xc6 f7 gives Black free play. ] 20...b4 21.e2 c5 Black uses his isolated c-pawn to stop the d3-pawn from advancing. 22.d2!? White provokes complications, r e l y i n g o n h i s s o u n d e r s t r u c t u r e . xd3 23.xa5 d7 24.dc1 a3 25.xc5 xa4 [ Obviously not 25...xc5? 26.xc5 e7 27.xb4 winning. ] 26.e1! Forced, but good. xc5? [ B l a c k s l i p s - u p , 26...a6 held the equilibrium. ] 27.xc5 xa5 28.xe6 Black has temporarily won the exchange, but the double pin on the b4-knight will cost material. a4 29.c6 a2 30.xb4 b6 31.d5 The white pieces dominate. a5 32.c5+ h8 33.d7 a7 34.xa5 A rout! 1-0
1112 Georgiev,Vladimir Dzagnidze,Nana 5th Open Istanbul TUR (9) [John Watson]
A29 2518 2437 07.09.2006
Another Reversed Dragon, but this time with b 3 i n st e a d o f a 3 a n d b 4 . W h it e t ri e s a n enterprising sacrifice of the Exchange, and although the result is some sort of equality, Black wins in the complications. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 e6 9.b3 A plausible alternative to the lines with a3 and b4. d7 [ The surprising move 9...g5!? has been played, with the idea ...g4 and ...h5-h4. White should probably strike back by 10.d4! , when it's not clear who stands better. ] 10.b2 0-0 11.c1 [ A better try is 11.e4! ( h i t t i n g e 5 ) f5 ( 11...f6 12.d4!? ) 12.eg5 ] 11...f5!? [ 11...f6 is safe and sound. This is where White benefits from a3 and b4, in that he can disturb Black's queenside. ] 12.d2 h6 13.b1 White is considering the direct Rxc6! Another approach is [ 13.e3 f4! ( 13...d6 14.h4!? ) 14.gxf4 exf4 15.e4 f5= ] [ And unimpressive is 13.e3 ad8 14.fd1 f4! ] 13...f6 14.xc6!? xc6 15.xe5 d6 16.g6 f7 17.xb7 e8 18.f3 The material is about equal. Except for his awkwardly-placed kingside pieces W hit e would stand better. But they make a difference: xb2 19.xb2 d7 20.h5 f6 21.f4 g6 22.f3 g5 23.h5 f7 24.c1 c5 25.c3 [ 25.c2 c6 26.xc6 xc6 and ..Qg6 will be a problem for White. Taken as a whole, one can say that this opening resulted in complex, dynamic play, and the chances appear more-or-less nearly equal. ] 25...c6 26.xc6 xc6 27.h3 [ 27.e4! is much better. ] 27...d7 28.g4? f6! 29.g3 [ The f-file is too much of a problem following 29.xf6+ xf6 30.e3 ( 30.f1? fxg4 31.hxg4 d4 ) 30...fxg4 31.hxg4 ef8 ] 1106
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 29...fxg4 30.hxg4 xg4 31.ce4 e6 32.f3 f6 [ 32...e3! ] 33.xc5 xe4 34.dxe4?? [ 34.xe4 g4 keeps the initiative, but at least Black's king is airy as well. ] 34...d6 Ending the game with a double attack. 35.c3 xg3+ 36.f1 ef8 37.c4 h7 38.f5 xf5 39.exf5 h3+ 0-1
1113 Gormally,D Gretarsson,H Scottish championships (5) [Daniel Gormally]
A29 2496 2511 10.07.2013
Having got to 3.5/4 in the Scottish with a nice wi n a g a i n s t M a r k H e b d e n , I wa s p a i r e d against the rising Icelandic superstar, Gretarsson. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 This seems like a very good way to play for Black. 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 [ While 6..Bb4 is by far the more preferred c h o i c e f o r B l a c k p l a y e r s , 6...c5 I s ve ry p la ya b le a s we ll . 7.e3 ( 7.d3 Of course is also possible, Black usually re s p o n d s wi t h h6 like in the ..Bb4 line) 7...0-0 8.0-0 d6 9.a3 c6 10.d4 b6 11.b4 e6 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.e2 e7 14.b2 ad8 15.fe1!? Some may question the validity of this move. W hat the hell is the Rook going to do on e1?? But Loek is not a supergrandmaster for nothing- such players tend to have incredibly deep insights into the position. By putting the rook here he avoids exchanges down the d-file, and he also over-protects the queen on e2- a point which will only become apparent later. c7 16.ac1 f5 17.e4 e6 18.d1 d7 19.e3 d3 20.c5 xe2 21.xe2!! W e can see with this Re1 move Loek is really Nostradamus! If he had to take back with the bishop, he would have dropped the e-pawn. Now everything is ok in W hite's world, but still he doesn't have much- Black has control over the d-file. d3 22.c3 h5 23.ee1 fd8 24.g2 g6 25.h4 3d7 26.f3 e8 27.f1 a6 28.a4 a8 29.c4 xc4 30.xc4 f8 31.b1 White has a
nice edge, but Black later defended well and the game ended in a draw in the game Van Wely, L (2652)-Sargissian, G (2676) Linares 2009 ] 7.0-0 [ I t i s m y b e l i e f t h a t t h e m o v e 7.d4! is most testing for Black here. W hite immediately puts the question to Black in the center. After all he has lost some time wit h t h is Nd 4 xf 3 m a n o e u vre , so W h it e should play as dynamically as possible to take advantage of this. xc3+ 8.bxc3 e4 9.g2 h6 10.c2 ( 10.c5!? 0-0 11.c4 b6 12.0-0 e8 13.a4 bxc5 14.dxc5 is more pleasant for W hite, Romanov, E (2625)-Caruana, F (2767)/Sochi 2012.) 10...0-0 11.0-0! In my view, is a serious try t o p r o v e a W h i t e e d g e . ( 11.xe4 White is still very slightly better after this, and you may ask why not take a pawn, but the problem is that the absence of the lightsquared bishop makes the White king more vulnerable, which gives Black sufficient counterplay. xe4 12.xe4 e8 13.f3 e7 see Jobava, B-Aronian, L in the PGN Archive. ) 11...b6 ( 11...e8 12.f3 e7 13.fxe4 xe4 14.f4 f6 15.d2 d6 16.e1 And White is ready to motor with e4 ) 12.f3! exf3 13.xf3 b8 14.e4 d6 15.f4 Looks quite nice for White ] [ 7.b3 Is by far the main-line, but in my (admittedly controversial view) this line is a bit insipid. Black generally tends to e q u a l i s e wi t h o u t m u c h e f f o r t , b u t s e e Williams-Van Kampen in this update. ] 7...0-0 8.d4 I was unfamiliar with the theory of this line at the time (what's new!) and played what I thought was the most natural move in the position! [ 8.b3 Would transpose back into the main line after c5 9.d3 h6 ] 8...xc3 9.bxc3 e7?! [ 9...e4 10.g2 h6 11.c2 Was this line we already discussed, where I believe that White's chances are preferable. However I still feel this was a better choice than the one played in the game, as I had a chance to get a opening advantage. ] 10.dxe5 xe5 11.d4! d6 12.b1? I spent some time here trying to find the right path, as my gut told me W hite should be 1107
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 better here, but still failed to find the correct solution. Later on I discussed this position with Mark Hebden, and even blindfold he was able to point out the right idea[ 12.f4! I saw this but could see no way f orward af ter a5 but now the star move, found by Mark, 13.fb1! A move that didn't even occur to me! Not only does White not have to worry anymore about the a2 pawn hanging, he also handily prevents any Bh3 moves coming with tempo. The old master still has it! b8 14.b5 a4 15.g5 ( or 15.h6! ) 15...e8 16.c5 xd4 17.cxd4 h6 18.h5 with an endgame edge. ] 12...e8 13.b5 xd4 14.cxd4 e4! I started to get worried here, as I could see he had visions of playing ..b6 followed by Ba6, where the game would have 0-1 written all over it, so I decided I better get on with things.. 15.c5 c6 [ 15...c3 16.b2 d5 17.c2 e4 18.c6! b6 19.f4 looks good for White. ] 16.a5 dxc5 17.dxc5 f5?! [ I was surprised he didn't avail himself of the chance to play 17...h3! which would have "punished" White for moving the wrong rook earlier. I would then have a difficult choice between playing Bg2, or leaving the bishop on h3, giving Black some useful backrank tricks. 18.e1 a6 followed by Rad8, and I don't see any problems for Black. ] 18.e3 h6 19.c1 f6?! 20.d4 d7 21.a3 e4 22.xe4 xe4 23.e3! I now felt very happy, as it was clear I could push for a win without any risk. It is clear that Black is going to be on the defensive over the next few moves, as I can tie him down to the defense of the weakling b-pawn. e7 24.b1 f8 25.ab3 b6 [ I think it now started to dawn on Hjorvar t h a t p a s s i v e d e f e n c e w i t h 25...b8 was not holding on- 26.a4! f6 ( 26...e6 27.e5+- ) 27.a5! a6 28.b6! And a pawn inevitably drops. ] 26.cxb6 axb6 27.xb6 e6 [ Other tries do not really help either 27...xa2 28.b8! f6 29.c5 f7 30.d8 c2 31.d6 And Black will drop a piece. ] [ during the game I thought his best try was 27...ee8 covering the back rank and getting ready to take the a2 pawn. However as
"Horvie", as he is affectionately known, pointed out, White can then just win with the simple 28.a1! e6 29.a4 xd4 30.exd4 e4 31.a5 xd4 32.a6 d7 33.xc6 And the extra a-pawn should ultimately be decisive, even if there are some technical problems to solve. ] 28.b8+ e8 29.a7! Forcing transition into a w i n n i n g B i s h o p v K n i g h t e n d i n g . f8 30.xa8 xa8 31.b8+ xb8 32.xb8 e7 33.f1 d7 34.e2 c5 [ Black has very little hope of saving this ending, as the outside passed pawn greatly favours White as well as the extra pawn: for example 34...c5 35.f3 a4 36.d3 c5 37.e4+- ] 35.d3 c6 36.a4 b6 37.c4 g5 38.d5 a5 39.h4 h3 40.xc5 I saw a chance to remove his passed pawn, and march my king into his pawns, wiping out his kingside, rather like packman in the video game, where he eats all the ghosts. [ 40.f4 f2 41.d6 c4 42.xc4 e4 43.c7+ xa4 44.f5 was also sufficient. ] 40...xf2 41.d6 g4 He simply cannot remove enough pawns on the kingside to make a draw. [ for example, 41...g5 42.h5 xa4 43.e7 f5 44.e6 g4 45.xf5 xe3+ 46.g6 g4 47.d6! and the bishop comes around to f8, where it's curtains. ] 42.a7?! [ 42.e4! f6 43.e5 e4+ 44.e7 xg3 45.xf7 was simplest. ] 42...h5 [ 42...xa4 43.e7 f6 44.f7 g5 45.h5 b3 46.g6 c2 47.f5 f2 48.xf6 and the h-pawn is dropping. ] 43.e7 h6 44.e4! f6 45.f8 g5 Now I calculated it to a finish. 46.hxg5 [ 46.g7 g4 47.g6 xa4 48.xh5 was easily winning of course, but I wanted to force immediate resignation. ] 46...fxg5 47.e5 h4 48.e6 g4 [ 48...f5 49.g4! h3 50.g1 was my idea, and the e-pawn romps through ] [ 48...h3 49.e7 h2 50.e8 h1 51.b5# was a nice variation. ] 49.d4 his knight is controlled, so finally he resigned. 1-0 1108
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 36.h3 f5 37.d8+ f7 38.g4 e6 [ And not 38...xe3+?! because of 39.f3 .] 39.f2 e7 40.a8 b6 41.a7+ d7 42.g3 d5 43.h4 f7 44.g5 h5 45.a8 d1 46.a7 h6 47.g6 Marking out the g7 Knowing Grand a's distaste f or extensive pawn as a target. h5 48.e4 c2 49.f3 opening preparation I guess his 14th move d1+ 50.e3 exf4+ 51.xf4 g4 52.e3 was more a case of inspiration rather than d6 53.f2 c5?! [ 53...f5 54.exf5 xf5 was a better try. Now perspiration. But he should probably have the g7 pawn becomes a real problem. ] settled for 16.bxc6 rather than his overly inventive 16.Nc4. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 54.e3 b6 55.a8 e5 56.g8 xg6 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 57.xg7 xh4 58.f7 f5 59.exf5 xf5+ 7.d3 e7 8.a3 e6 9.b4 a5 10.b5 d4 60.f4 This endgame is drawn. d4 61.h7 e6+ 62.g3 d4 63.f4 c5 64.g5 11.0-0 0-0 12.b2 f6 13.d2 d7 14.a4 [ Declining the offered pawn, though this f3+ 65.g6 e5+ 66.g5 f3+ 67.g6 leaves White with less than nothing. After h4 68.xh4 xh4+ 69.g5 f3+ 70.xg4 14.xb7 ab8 15.g2 ( 15.a6 ½-½ would leave White's bishop out of play and t h e l ig h t s qu a r e s a ro u n d h i s ki n g ve r y A29 vu lne rab le .) 15...xb5 16.xb5 xb5 1115 17.c2 c5 recovered the pawn with a Gretarsson,Helgi Ass 2516 comfortable game in Smetankin, S (2486) Bacrot,Etienne 2671 Mikhalevski, V (2566), Schaumburg USA Hrokurinn Reykjavik ISL (7) 25.02.2003 2006. ] [Tony Kosten] 14...c6 15.e3 f5 16.c4 [ 16.bxc6 bxc6 17.e2 was probably best, Taking Etienne Bacrot on in a theoretical though after ab8 the position is hardly very battle involving his pet line against the English promising for White. But Granda's attempt to is always a risky affair! 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 s h o w h e h a s s o m e t h i n g l e a v e s h i m 3.f3 c6 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 0-0 struggling to draw. ] 7.d4 exd4 8.xd4 e8 9.c2 16...xc4 17.dxc4 d6 18.c5 c4 We have already looked at 19.xd7 xd7 20.d5!? xc5 [ 9.xc6 dxc6 in Georgiev,K-Akopian,V/Las [ And not 20...cxd5 21.xd5+ h8 22.xc4 Vegas USA 1999. ] when W hite gets his piece back with the 9...d6 10.e4 e5!? 11.b3 c6 12.a3 d5! better endgame. ] The young French champion is known for the 21.fc1 xb2 high level of his preparation, and is the first to [ Here too Black could have gone wrong with spring a novelty. As we saw a little while ago, 21...cxb5 a f t e r w h i c h 22.axb5 xb5 he was horribly crushed following ( 22...xb2 23.xc5 would leave White with [ 12...fd7 13.e2 c5 14.ad1 more than enough for the pawn) 23.c7 in Ma la kh o v, V -B a cr o t , E / Ha lk id ik i G R E ac8 24.xb5 xb2 25.xb7 would win 2002. ] material. ] 13.f4!? Black's pawn sac attempts to exploit 22.bxc6 bxc6 23.xc5 cxd5 24.xd5+ the temporary looseness of the white pieces, h8 25.xa8 xa8 26.b1 xa4 27.xa5 and weakness of the long a1-h8 diagonal, So White eliminates the last queenside pawn patrolled by the 'King's Indian bishop', and which certainly increases his drawing chances. White's reply risks further weakening his dark But make no mistake, the best he can hope squares. Nevertheless, there was nothing for is survival. c8 28.a7 f5 29.a1 c3 better: 30.a8 g8 31.f4 g4 32.1a3 e4 [ 13.exd5 seems the simplest, although after 33.g2 d2 34.xg8+ xg8 35.d3 c4 g4! 14.f3 f5 15.d4 d3 16.f2 cxd5 1114 Granda Zuniga,Julio E Georgiev,Kiril XIX Magistral (9) [Nigel Davies]
A29 2640 2672 29.12.2009
1109
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black is doing very well, so instead ] [ 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.xd5 might be safest, when g4 15.f3 xd5 16.xd5 b6+ 17.c5 c7 18.d6 xc2 is unclear ( and 18...b6+ draws )] 13...g4 14.d2 f3+! 15.xf3 xf3 16.e5 The point of Black's play is that [ 16.xf3!? xe4 17.xe4 dxe4 hits d2, a1 and f3 simultaneously, 18.xd8 axd8 19.ff1 xa1 20.xa1 d2 21.e3 ed8 gains control of the open d-file and infiltrates the second rank. ] 16...e4 17.e3 g4 18.xe4 dxe4 19.xe4 f6 20.e3?! As we often note on ChessPublishing.com, the surprise effect of a new move often unbalances even the best of players, and after having reacted well, White cracks. [ 20.b2 f5 21.g2 fxe5 22.fxe5 xe5 23.xe5 xe5 seems fairly level. ] 20...e2! 21.f2 fxe5! Now White is in trouble. 22.c1 [ 22.xe2? exf4 23.xf4 xa1 wins. ] 22...d3 The bishop has made a very unusual manoeuvre in the heart of the white camp. 23.f3 a5 24.d6 e4 25.d1 ad8 W hit e h as m ana ged to just h ang-on, bu t Black's bishop pair, and greater activity are hard to contain. 26.c5 d4 27.e1 xe1+ 28.xe1 b6 Undermining the white bishop. 29.c7 c8 30.cxb6 axb6 31.d6 c5 32.f5 b5 Black gets ready to add a passed cpawn to his other advantages. 33.fxg6 hxg6 34.f4 c4 35.bxc4 bxc4 36.a4 c3 37.g2 f8 38.a2 xf4 The simplest. 39.gxf4 xe3 40.xe3 c2 The c-pawn will cost White a rook, this game was powerfully played by Black. 0-1
1116 Gulko,Boris F Charbonneau,Pascal Montreal Empresa-A (2) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2570 2501 09.08.2006
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 c5 7.0-0 0-0 8.a4 e7 9.d4 d6 10.g2 [ 10.c3 e8 11.b3 c6 12.d5 c5 13.e4
h3 14.g2 d7 15.f3 a6 ( 15...d8!? ) 16.a4 d8 17.a5 b8 ( 17...h5!? ) 18.f2 xg2 19.xg2 g6 20.e3 h5 21.a4 Kimmelfeld, R-Shabanov, Y/Briansk 1975 ] [ 10.e1 b8 ( 10...c6!? ) 11.c3 e6 12.b3 c6 13.b2 g4 14.d5 d7 15.e4 f6 16.d2 c5 17.a4 Moreland, HRodger, P/corr 1986 ] 10...c6 11.c3 a5 [ 11...g4!? 12.d3 d7 deserves attention, although 13.d5 c5 14.c2 still seems preferable for White to me ] [ 11...b6 12.d5 f5 13.b3 xb3 14.axb3 ] 12.d5!? cxd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5! c7 15.b3 b8 16.e3 [ 16.d3 e6 17.a4 is also worth a thought ] 16...e6 17.d2 b5!? [ Black pursues the counterplay very actively and sacrifices a pawn to activate his pieces. After the more solid 17...b6?! , White will play 18.a4 d7 19.fd1 , and Black has a pretty depressing position to look at and not much counterchances to go for ] 18.cxb5 d5 [ 18...xb5?! 19.fc1 is worse ] 19.fc1 d7 20.a5 xb5 [ 20...d4!? is also worth a look, e.g. 21.c6 d8 22.xd8 fxd8 23.d2 a3 24.d1 g4!? ( 24...d6 25.e3 bd8 26.a5 c8 27.d2 ) 25.f3 f5 26.f2 b2 27.b4 ( it appears that 27.a5 is less accurate, for instance dc8 28.e4 xa1 29.xa1 e6 30.b1 , and while White's position looks pretty good at the moment, it is less convincing, when Black gradually starts improving on his position, and W hite is unable to do the same: f6 31.e2 g5 32.a3 f7 33.b4 e8 34.c1 xc6 35.bxc6 b6 , and the seams are coming apart in White's position) 27...xa1 28.xa1 d3 29.e4 d7 30.a5 xc6 31.bxc6 dc8 32.c7 b5 33.b4 xa5 34.bxa5 xc7 35.e3 , and Black shouldn't lose. ] 21.xa7 xa7 22.xa7 a3 [ I t h in k t h a t 22...a8!? first is probably a better defence for Black, e.g. 23.e3 a6 , and Black keeps all the pieces on the board and doesn't allow W hite's rook on the seventh rank. ] 1110
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.c7 a8 24.e3 [ A n o t h e r i d e a i s 24.e4!? d4 25.f1 , W h i t e a p p e a rs t o h a ve g o o d win n in g chances after a5 26.b6 b2 27.xa5 xa1 28.c5 f6 29.d3 b2 30.b4 , and White should win by exchanging the light-squared bishops, transferring the king to d3, and then starting the advance of the queenside pawns. This may prove an easier way to win than the one chosen by White in the game. c3 31.c4 xc4 32.xc4 f7 33.f1 g6 34.e2 f5 35.d3 ] 24...f8 25.a7 The exchange of a pair of rooks should be to White's advantage xa7 26.xa7 a5 Black's more active pieces and nice central pawns provide him with a bit of co m pe n sa t io n , b ut on ly e no u gh to ma ke White's winning progress slow down. 27.b6 [ My computer gives preference to 27.b8 , but after d4 28.c7 a3 29.xe5 xb3 30.xd4 xa2 31.xa2 xa2 winning this endgame will prove very difficult ] 27...a3 28.e3 d4 29.c1 a7 30.b2 While the conversion of his pawn advantage by no means is easy, W hite is close to a winning advantage at this stage. The rest of the game will be left without annotations. c5 31.c6 c7 32.b5 b4 33.c1 a7 34.a4 h5 35.c2 f6 36.f4 f5 37.c4 d2 38.c1 c3 39.f2 e7 40.a3 b7 41.c5 b1 42.fxe5 fxe5 43.xe5 xa2 44.e7 b6 45.c5 f6+ 46.g2 f5 47.d6 d2 48.d7 a5 49.e6+ h7 50.c4 b1 51.e5 a1 52.xh5+ g6 53.e5 e3 54.h3 f5+ 55.g4 c8 56.e8 b7 57.e6+ 1-0
1117 Gulko,Boris F Cramling,Pia Sigeman & Co, Malmoe (4) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2605 2495 2001
9.e1!? [ Unusual, and ambitious. 9.xd4 xd4 10.c2 c6 is fine for Black, Lippmann,HSchmid,A/ Wuerttemberg 1997, but ] [ 9.d2 is a major alternative: c6 10.b4 a7 11.b2 f5 12.e3 e6 13.f3 h6 offered chances to both sides in Gelfand, BKarpov,A/Sanghi Nagar 1995. ] 9...c6 10.e3 f5 11.f3 Preparing to play d4, and grab the centre. This could also have arisen after 9 Nd2 c6 10 e3, of course. a7 12.b4 [ 12.d4 is conceivable. ] 12...e8 13.b2 d5! [ An innovation, Black plays the most obvious move. In Gulko,B-Sadler,M/4th World Team Ch, Lucerne SUI 1997, Black was crushed after 13...b8 14.c1 b5 15.c5!? dxc5 16.e4 the point e5, c5, and c6 are all exposed, cxb4 17.xe5 bxa3 18.a1 xe4 19.xe4 and now Black should have tried an exchange sac: c5!? ] 14.e4 [ White decides to clarify the central situation immediately, 14.c5!? kept more tension. ] 14...dxe4 [ I would be tempted to hop back into d4 immediately, with 14...d4 myself. ] 15.xe4 d4! Well-judged, Black allows the doubling of her kingside pawns, but it turnsout not to be significant. 16.xd4?! [ This leads nowhere, 16.c5 g4 17.d6 had to be tried. ] 16...xd4 17.xd4 xd4! 18.xf6+ gxf6 19.e1 g4 Black is ready to play ...Rad8 and attack the weak d3-pawn. 20.f3 f5 21.xg4 xg4 [ Not 21...fxg4? 22.e4 ] 22.e3 Black has nothing to fear in the endgame. ½-½
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 c5 5.d3 d6 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 a6 8.a3 d4!? [ Black seeks immediate exchanges, we have seen 8...h6 9.b4 a7 10.b2 in T imm an , J-K arpo v,A n/ A rn h em (m /5 )/ 1993. ] 1111
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1118 Gulko,Boris F Hansen,Curt North Sea Cup (1) [Tony Kosten]
A29 e4+ 23.d2 b4+ 24.e2 e4+ 25.d2 2643 xh4 26.f3 b4+ [ 26...b4+ 27.d1 b2+ 28.e2 e8+ 2613 and the king has no place to go. ] 07.07.2000 0-1
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.h4!? [ Tryin g to o bt ain mo re t ha n af te r 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 , but the move is not very natural. ] 5...c6 [ Black's typical plan in this line, he wishes to set-up a full centre. 5...g5?! is unnecessarily w e a k e n i n g : 6.f3 xf3+ 7.exf3 c5 8.e2 e7 9.d3 g8 10.h4 h6?! 11.hxg5 hxg5 12.xg5! xg5 13.d5 and Black was in some trouble because of his weak back rank, Botterill,G-Botto/England 1977. ] 6.e3 e6 7.d4?! [ A novelty, but it seems worse than 7.g2 g6 ( 7...b4 8.0-0 0-0 9.d4 exd4 10.exd4 d5 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.b3 a5 13.d1 d8 14.f5 allowed White to bring his offside knight to a strong post, Liberzon,VTatai, S/ Beersheba 1976.) 8.d4 exd4 9.exd4 d5 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.0-0 g7 12.e3 0-0 13.b3 with a slight edge, Huzman,A-Svidler,P/Haifa ISR 2000. ] 7...exd4 8.exd4 d5 9.c5!? [ Ambitious, but if 9.cxd5 Black can now recapture with a piece, xd5 ] 9...b6 10.b4 a5 Thematic, Black must break the white attempt at gaining a queenside space advantage. 11.a4 d7 12.b5 b7! White is unable to consolidate his c5-pawn satisfactorily. 13.a3 [ 13.cxb6 xb6 14.a3 c4 is also favourable to Black. ] 13...bxc5 14.dxc5 dxc5 15.c1 xa4 16.xf8 xf8 17.bxc6?! [ Loses, but 17.xa4 c5 18.g2 d4 is hardly any better, as W hite cannot castle without dropping an exchange. ] 17...xc6 18.xc6 e8 The unfortunate point, the rook is attacked, and a deadly discovered check is also threatened. 19.c1 f4+ 20.d2 [ 20.e2? b2 21.d2 bd3+ wins everything. ] 20...e4 21.gxf4 What else? xf4+ 22.e1
1119 Gulko,Boris F Hector,Jonny Politiken Cup (5) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2643 2509 21.07.2000
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.d3 h6 [ As I have mentioned before, this move is more common than the 8...c6 tried there. ] 9.h4!? [ The first novelty! White prepares a kingside pawn advance, thinking that he has good con tro l o ver th e cent re, an d t hat Blac k cannot break-out with ...d5 for a while. 9.0-0 is the common move, 0-0 10.g2 e8 11.h3 c6 12.h2 with fairly equal play, Hansen,C-Westerinen,H/ Reykjavik 1998. ] [ To be exact, 9.g4 was actually played in the Timman game, below, and then h4, although this amounts to the same. ] 9...c6 10.g4 d5!? [ The second novelty in this game! Black offers material for free play. 10...d6 11.g5 hxg5 12.xg5 Azmaiparashvili,Z-Timman,J/ Oviedo 1993, was mentioned in the archives. ] 11.g5!? [ Very risky although taking the pawns by 11.cxd5 xg4 12.xb7 also entails a certain amount of danger, as after ( 12.xg4 xg4 hits f2 ) 12...xf3 13.xc6+ d7 14.exf3 c8 the white pawn structure is a mess. ] 11...hxg5 12.hxg5 xh1+ 13.xh1 g4 14.cxd5 [ The best practical move, as 14.e3? xg5 leaves White on the verge of defeat. ] 14...xf2+ 15.d1 b6 16.c2 The white k i n g i s n o t t h a t b a d l y p l a c e d h e r e . d7 17.dxc6 bxc6 18.d2 e3?! [ Planning to win the g5-pawn, but protecting the c-pawn by 18...c8 is better. ] 1112
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.f1 Of course, White hits the f7-pawn. e7 [ Because of Black's previous move, the natural 19...e6?? is not feasible, 20.xc6+ wins. ] 20.e4 e6 21.a4 f8 Both kings have had to 'castle' on their own! 22.f3 xd2 23.h1! The idea behind White's previous move, he turns to the h-file- thus justifying his early opening of it. h6?! [ 23...g8 24.xd2 leaves the t out-on-alimb, and various combinations in the air, but the text is quite passive. ] 24.xd2 g8 25.xc6 b4+ 26.c3 W hite can afford to offer the exchange of queens, he is now a pawn up with the better position. a5 27.c5 f4+ 28.d1 e8 29.xe6+ xe6 30.c5+ e7 31.h8 [ 31.h8 xg5 32.c8+ e8 33.xg8+ xg8 34.xe8+ wins a piece. ] 1-0
plans by e6 20.cxd4 d5 21.xe3 xe3 22.xe3 xg3 with completely unclear play. ] 17.xf3 [ Once again you might want to consult the archives for the move 17.xf3 , played in Jensen-Soza, Zonal Latinoamericano G1 2002. The theory of this line is broad and complex, with every offshoot for both sides producing new problems, few of them resolved! ] 17...d4 18.b2 c8 19.b1 a5!? A strange move that has some interesting ideas behind it. Normal moves are [ 19...dxc3 20.xc3 d5 ] [ and 19...b6 ] 20.cxd4 b4!? The point, with the ideas of ... Nc2 and ...Nd5, strengthening protection over e3. 21.c1? [ 21.ff1 looks right, to challenge the g-file. White's kingside appears to hold together after bd5 ( 21...c2 22.a4; 21...c2 1120 A29 22.f3; 21...fd5 22.fc1 ) 22.fc1 xc1+ ( 22...b6 23.a4 h5! 24.xc8 xc8 Gulko,Boris F 2570 25.c1 f5 may be the best sequence, Korneev,Oleg 2638 although White still stands better) 23.xc1 Empresa A Montreal CAN (9) 16.08.2006 b6 24.a4 h5 25.h4! d6 26.h3 ] [John Watson] 21...xc1+? [ Both sides probably overlooked the tactic An interesting theoretical game in an 21...c2! 22.a4 xd4! , winning material. extremely theoretical variation. Black tries a Play goes 23.xc8 xf3+ 24.xf3 xc8 funny-looking idea that needs a closer look. . Then White can fight back by 25.xf6 gxf6 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 26.xb7! c1+ 27.h2 but Black 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.g5 xc3 8.bxc3 maintains an edge after d8! ( 27...b8 e8 9.f3 e3 10.d3 d5 11.b3 a5 12.a3 28.xa5! g7 still seems to favour Black, c6 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.f4 g4 15.f3 although his king is exposed) 28.xa5 [ T h e o t h e r m a i n a l t e r n a t i v e i s 15.e1 xd3! with the idea 29.h5 d1 ( 29...d2 . The best example of this line in the 30.d5 c7 31.a4 d1 ) 30.e4 d2 ] archives is Schacher-Maki Uuro, Izmir 2004, annotated and researched by Webmaster 22.xc1 h5 23.b2 b6 Obviously there's a lot to play for. My uninformed impression is Tony. ] that White will probably trade off some minor 15...c6 16.h3 xf3!? [ 16...d7 was analysed at some length in pieces and equality will result. ½-½ Elwert-Tiemann, 18th WChCorr 2004. ] [ 16...c8!? might be an interesting option, now that W hite's kingside is slightly vulnerable. Ideas such as ...h6, ...g5, and ... Nh5 might follow, with Black's queen and rook potentially participating. White would try to attack e3 and d4 quickly, probably by 17.e1 h5!? 18.f3 ( 18.g4? g3 ) 18...d4 19.c2 when Black might switch 1113
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c1 -b i sh o p . d6 15.f4 b6 16.d5 c5 A29 17.c3 xd5 18.cxd5 with unclear play, 2595 Gulko,B-Illescas Cordoba,M/Spain 1996. ] 2475 a5 13.c5 The pawn sells itself 1998 12.f4 dearly. e7!? 14.cxb6 axb6 Black prefers activity to pawn hunting, in particular the a-file 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 b4 Just one of may prove useful. 15.e4 c5+ 16.h1 b7 Daring Black to take the c-pawn, the possible move orders that reach the same 17.d3 position. 4.g2 0-0 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 e4 which would liberate the a1-h8 diagonal for The critical line, Black displaces the f3-knight the white dark-squared bishop. c4 18.f4 a n d g a i n s s p a c e i n t h e c e n t r e . 7.g5 d6 19.c2 d7 In return for the pawn Black has lots of little positional plusses, the White's most aggressive line, [ 7.e1 is the alternative, intending Nc2-e3- squares e5, c5, and c4, not to mention the afile. 20.fd1 e6 Vacating c4 for the knight. d5, and appeals to more positional players. ] c4 22.d4 Nice square for a 7...xc3 Forced, to defend e4. 8.bxc3 e8 21.e3 9.f3 White wants to open the f-file, and gain a bishop, but Black will always be able to drive central preponderance, which will advance, it away by ...c5, but at a cost: the ensuing 23.f4 supported by the bishop pair. e3 Zaitsev's we a k n e s s o f d 6 , a n d b 6 . a5 famous innovation, first played by Karpov White plays to undermine c4. e7 24.b3 against Kasparov, which led to him winning b5 25.a4! ea8 Keeping the knight on c4 by xa4 27.xb5 the second match game at Seville, 1987. tactical means. 26.ac1 10.dxe3 Originally considered an error, in the White has skilfully managed to rid himself of 28.h5 8a5 continual search for new ideas this move has his we a k a -pa wn . db6 29.h4 g5 recently been rehabilitated. [ 29...xh4 30.gxh4 weakens the white [ 10.d3 is the main line, d5 11.b3 a5 structure, but opens the g-file. ] 12.a3 c6 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.f4 c6 with chances for both sides, Kasparov,G- 30.b1 a2 31.g1 c6 The black pieces seem active, but need a target, and e2 is Karpov,A/Seville 1987. ] sufficiently defended. 32.f1? 10...h6! The most accurate, [ 32.xg5 hxg5 33.h5 keeps an edge. ] [ delaying this move can have serious consequences: 10...b6 11.e4 Advancing 32...a4! Embarrassing the rooks. 33.e1 c5 the mass of pawns. h6 ( 11...a6?! 12.f4 34.f2 xh4 35.gxh4 c2 36.bc1 b2? [ 36...d2 wins the exchange, 37...Nb3 can't h6 13.xf7 xf7 14.e5 is even more be stopped. ] dangerous for Black.) 12.xf7!? Topalov's big idea, sacrificing a piece to open the 37.h5?! Time-trouble, perhaps [ 37.a1 had to be played, contesting the ablack king position, and advance the file. ] n u m e r o u s k i n g s i d e p a w n s . ( 12.h3 was the previous move, and will transpose 37...aa2?! [ 37...a3 ] to the game.) 12...xf7 13.f4 g8 14.e5 38.a1 At last White finds the right idea. a4 h7 and now, instead of A) 15.f5 should be played, e7 ( or 39.d5 b3 40.g3 The white pieces are 15...b7 16.f6 xe5?! 17.d5+ starting to find squares. c2 41.xa2 xa2 with a strong attack.) 16.f6 gxf6 17.d5+ 42.h3 c2 43.f5 Cutting-off the king's escape square, and introducing back-rank g7 18.d2 with attack.; B) 15.a3? handing Black an important mate possibilities. e5 [ 43...xc3 44.xc3 xc3 45.a1 tempo, Topalov,V-Gelfand,B/ Novgorod is White's idea. ] 1997, ] 11.h3 b6 The other possibility to pick-off the 44.b1 b2 45.xb2 xb2 46.e7+ f8 47.c8 White has a clear advantage in this c4-pawn is [ 11...e5 with 12.e4 xc4 13.d4 e5 ending. bc4 48.h3 f6 49.e6 a4 14.c4 opening the a1-h8 diagonal for the 50.f2 a3 51.xd6! A little tactic that wins 1121 Hansen,Curt Brynell,Stellan Sigeman, Malmoe (1) [Tony Kosten]
1114
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a second pawn. e7 52.b7 e8 [ 52...xe6 53.xc5+ and 54 Nxa4. ] 53.d5 c4 54.a5 b5 55.xe5 fxe5 56.xc4 f6 57.e3 xc3 58.g4+ e7 59.xe5 xh5 After all the weak pawns have been captured, White remains with two pawns t o t h e go o d . 60.b3 e8 61.e3 f6 Many players would resign this position, but yo u n e v e r k n o w! 62.c4 b5 63.d3 Trapping the knight to force further exchanges. xc4+ 64.xc4 a4 65.d4 b6 66.e5+ e7 67.b5 The rest is quite trivial. c8 68.e4 b6 69.h4 e6 70.h5 e7 71.f4 e6 72.e3 e7 73.d4 e6 74.c5 c8 75.f1 The bishop finds an ef f ective diagonal. e7 76.h3+ f7 77.d6 f8 78.d7 g6 79.hxg6 xg6 80.f5 h4 81.f6 f7 82.e6+ e7-8 cannot be stopped. 1-0
1122 Hodgson,Julian M Gormally,Daniel 86th ch-British (5) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2605 2476 05.08.1999
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.b1!? This move has been something of a speciality of the Latvian GM Miezis here, it is more commonly seen after White has castled. a5 The mo st ac curate , in my opinion, Black clamps-down on White's queenside play, at the cost of weakening b5. [ 7...e7 falls in with W hite's plans, 8.b4 attacking on the queenside, as in Miezis,NTukmakov,V/Biel 1995, and relying on the standard tactic: xb4?! 9.xe5! ] 8.0-0 e7 9.d3 Curiously, this most obvious of moves is relatively unusual here, preference normally being given to [ 9.b3 as in one of my personal favourite games, Kosten,A-Sarno,S/ Anzio 1994, which continued: 0-0 10.b2 e8 11.d3 f8 12.d2 d4 13.e3 f5 14.c4 c6 15.e4!? f6 16.h5!? d5 17.bd1! b5!? when I hit my opponent with the surprising reply 18.a4! and went on to win in brilliant style. ]
[ Previously Julian Hodgson had preferred 9.a3 i.e. 0-0 10.b4 axb4 11.axb4 f5 12.b5 as in his game against Romanishin, at Groningen 1993. ] 9...0-0 10.e3 e6 11.xb6!? A somewhat surprising idea, W hite concedes the bishop p a i r t o we a k e n B l a ck ' s qu e e n s i d e . T h i s particular positional exchange doesn't tend to do all that well in general. Actually, Julian had already tried this scheme as Black, in his game against Smirin, W innipeg 1997, and thought that it must be even better with a t e m p o m o r e ! cxb6 As Julian s aid to me, concerning the frailty of Black's queenside structure, "if the black a-pawn were on a7, in st e a d o f a 5 , h e wo u l d h a rd ly c o n s id e r playing the move ...a5, would he?" 12.c1!? This is Hodgson's simple novelty, bringing his rook to the open file. [ In the original game in this line White played 12.d2?! but this allowed Black to so rt -ou t h is qu ee nside p rob le m s b y b5! 13.c1 Too late! ( 13.xb5 meets xa2 which is only possible because the rook is s t i l l o n b 1 .) 13...b4 14.a4 c8 with good play f or Black, Gabriel, CGeorgiev,K/Altensteig 1995. After the game, Georgiev suggested ] [ 12.a4 as an improvement, with play similar to the game. ] 12...c8 [ 12...b5!? might still be possible, as 13.xb5 xa2 14.b3 can be met by b6 which is unclear. 15.c3 xb3 16.b1 a4 17.xa4 xd1 18.xb6 xe2 ] 13.a4 f6 14.fd1 White's play seems unpretentious, but he soon gains the advantage. d4!? Very committal, but White was menacing Pd4. 15.xd4 xd4 16.d5! A surprising in-between move, forcing-off the light-squared bishops. Black's remaining bishop will be far easier to handle on its own. xd5 17.xd4 exd4 18.xd5 c5 The smoke has cleared, White has the better pawn structure, and potentially superior minor piece. 19.f4 Else Black would trap this piece with ...g5. f7 20.g2 Starting a long manoe uvre to bring the knight to a more u s e f u l s q u a r e . g5?! Anti-positional, Black should put his pawns on light squares. 21.e1 g4?! This stops the knight from going to f3, 1115
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 but weakens Black's kingside pawn chain. 22.g2 fd8 23.c2 b5 24.dc1 b6 25.f4 b4 26.g2 With a strong positional threat. a4?! Which Black overlooks! [ 26...a8 was more circumspect. ] 27.e4! White rids himself of his backward epawn. b3 Because of the pin along the c-file, [ 27...dxe3?! i s d a n g e r o u s : 28.fxe3 (threatening d4) b8 29.d4 d6 30.c6 infiltrating the c-file, with a considerable advantage. ] 28.axb3 axb3 29.c4 a8 30.h3! Punishing Black f or his hasty 21st move, W h it e o p e n s a n o t h e r a ve n u e f o r a t t a ck . gxh3+ 31.xh3 a2 32.b1 c8 33.g4 b5 34.cc1 aa8 35.h1 g8+ 36.f3 h8 37.h5 Black's position is in tatters. 1-0
1123 Howell,David Gordon,Stephen J 98th ch Sheffield ENG (4.1) [Nigel Davies]
A29 2625 2533 28.07.2011
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.d3 0-0 9.g4!? A quite startling and creative novelty f rom the you ng English GM, f irst suggested on ChessPublishing.com however, breathing life into what has been known as a rather dull variation. Previously W hite has chosen between a couple of rather quie t moves: [ a) 9.0-0 h6 10.a4 e7 11.e3 d6 12.c3 c6 13.ad1 c7 14.d4 h3 15.fe1 h8 16.c5 d5 17.dxe5 d7 18.g2 xg2 19.xg2 xc5 20.c2 1/2-1/2 was Aronian, L (2739)-Eljanov, P (2692)/Wijk aan Zee 2008. ] [ b) 9.g5 h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.e4 b6 12.xc5 xc5 13.c3 a5 14.0-0 d6 15.fd1 b4 16.ac1 xc3 17.xc3 c6 18.d4 e8 19.e3 f8 20.f1 e6 wasn't much f or W hite in Vitiugov, N (2694)-Grischuk, A (2736)/Moscow 2009. ] 9...d6 10.g5 d7 11.h4 c6 This is OK but it might wait whilst Black brings his knight round to c5 and e6. [ 11...b6 12.h5 c5 13.d1 c6
looks very comfortable for Black. ] 12.a4 a5 13.xc5 xc5 14.c3 e6 15.e3 f5 16.gxf6 xf6 17.0-0-0 d4 18.xd4 exd4 19.d2 e6 [ 19...a4 was another possibility. ] 20.g5 d5?! I'm not sure what Black missed when he played this move but something must have happened with his calculations. [ Black has a number of decent moves here w i t h m y f a v o u r i t e b e i n g 20...e5 intending 21. ..Rf5. ] 21.cxd5 xg5+ 22.hxg5 xf3? Making matters worse by throwing in the exchange. [ 22...xd5 23.xd5+ cxd5 24.f3 a6 se e m s b e t t e r , b a n k i n g o n t h e d ra wi s h properties of rook endgames. ] 23.exf3 xd5 24.de1 f8 25.e7 This invasion of the 7th rank is going to win for W hite. b5 26.he1 xa2 27.a7 xf3 28.ee7 xf2 29.xg7+ f8 30.xh7 g8 31.g6 a4 32.hg7+ h8 33.gc7 f1+ 34.d2 g8 35.xc6 1-0
1124 Huebner,Robert Ruck,Robert Mitropa Cup Leipzig GER (3) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2628 2569 05.05.2002
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.d3 e7 7.f3 c6 8.0-0 0-0 9.a3 e8 The main alternative to [ 9...e6 which prepares to give the e-pawn extra support. ] 10.b4 f8 11.b2 a5 The standard response in such positions, Black lures the bpawn forward to weaken it. 12.b5 d4 White can hardly capture this as it would open t h e e - f i l e f o r t h e b l a c k r o o k . 13.d2 Keeping the pieces on the board, although [ 13.e3 led to a terrific attacking win for W hite in Sturua,Z-Xu Jun/Istanbul TUR 2000, one of our analysed games. ] 13...c6 Attacking the b-pawn, and preparing the d4-knight's retreat, although this is not entirely necessary, [ 13...a4!? is possible, 14.e3 e6 15.c4 c5 but now, instead of there is ( 15...c5 1116
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 U h l m a n n - K o z u l , N o v i S a d ( o l ) 1 9 9 0) 16.xb6! cxb6 17.d4 b3 18.dxe5 xa1 19.xa1 White has good play for the exc h an ge , E rme n ko v, E -Ko zu l, Z/ Osije k 1992. ] 14.bxc6 xc6 15.b5 a4 This is highly reminiscent of the Bacrot - Topalov game that we considered last month. 16.b1 The rook moves to the open b-f ile. Of course, this would have little point in the Bacrot game just mentioned as the black light-squared bishop was more active there, and could go to b3 or a2. g4 A novelty, and a sensible one, hitting e2. [ 16...e6 was played n Petursson,MFernandez Garcia,J/Novi Sad 1990, when the game continued 17.e3!? ready to play d4, a2 ( 17...xd3 drops the exchange to 18.c7; but 17...d7 is sensible) 18.c1 d5 19.f3 fairly level, Petursson,MFernandez Garcia,J/Novi Sad 1990. ] 17.e1 d7 Black has stopped White from playing e3 and prepares to kick the knight fromb5. 18.a1 The bishop drops back to a l l o w t h e r o o k t o u s e t h e b - f i l e . e6 Planning ...Ba2 to dislodge the rook, and then ...Bd5. 19.c2 ec8 20.b2 The queen moves f rom the exposed c-f ile, and both controls d4 and possibly menaces the b6knight. f6 21.d4 In general, if this move can be played in Sicilian-style positions then it is o f t e n g o o d . b4?! Obviously prepared by Black, this trappy and unusual move leads to wild complications, but [ 21...exd4! was better, and was certainly safer, 22.xd4 xd4 23.xd4 xd4 24.xd4 c4 25.xc4 xc4 26.xb7?! ( 26.e3 xa3 27.b6 f7 28.a1 f8 29.xb7 is better ) 26...d8 27.b2 b8 28.f3 b3 and Black is on top, the pin on the bishop is awkward, and the a3-pawn is lost. It is important to note that the a3-pawn is a persistent problem for W hite in these lines. ] 22.dxe5! [ There was a nice trick: 22.axb4? a3! 23.xa3 a4 and the white queen is amazingly trapped on b2! ] 22...c2 23.d4 The only square, but one is enough! xd2 [ 23...xb5 defends the b6-knight, but after:
24.exf6! c4 25.fxg7 c5 26.f6 White wins. ] 24.xb6 c2 25.f1 [ W h i t e p r o b a b l y r e j e c t e d 25.c7! because of xe1 26.xe1 xe2! but then 27.f1 w i n s a n e x c h a n g e ( and not 27.xe2?? d1+ 28.f1 h3 )] 25...xa1 26.c7! The strongest, [ 26.xa1 c4 is equal. ] 26...a2 27.xa1 c8 Black thereby seems to avoid losing an exchange, but there is a sting at the end: 28.xa2! xa2 29.d5+ h8 30.xa2 xc7 31.e6 Mate on g8 is the important threat. xa3 32.exf6 gxf6 33.xf6+ So White has won a pawn, but with the opposite-colour bishops it is Black's open king that is the most important factor. g7 34.e6 f8 35.c4 b2 36.b1 f6 37.f3 White's king is well-protected by the pawns and so he can concentrate on trying to win the queenside pawns, while the black pieces are more or less tied to the defence of the king. e5 38.xb7 c5+ [ 38...c5+ 39.g2 xc4 40.xc4 a8 avoid s ma te, but af te r 41.d3 his last kingside pawn drops and the writing is on the wall. ] 39.g2 e3?! 40.b1 g1+ 41.h3 Black can no longer avoid mate. 1-0
1125 Huzman,Alexander Svidler,Peter 22nd ECU Club Cup (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2585 2750 11.10.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.d3 0-0 8.0-0 c6 [ Black has two alternatives: A) 8...h6 A) 9.d2 c6 10.a4 e7! ( or 10...a5?! 11.a3 xc3 12.xc3 e8 13.fd1 M . G u r e v i c h - E . V a n d e n D o e l 1 9 9 9; 10...c5?! 11.b4 ) A1) 11.ac1!? d5 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.b3 ( 13.b5 a6 ) 13...e6 14.xb7 b8 15.xa7 xb2 (M.Gurevich) 16.b1 d4 17.a4; A2) 11.fd1 1117
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A2a) Here Gurevich analyses 11...d5? 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.b3 d4 ( Now 13...e6 doesn't work because in variation 14.xb7 b8 15.xa7 xb2 bishop on d2 is protected to c o m p a r e w i t h 1 1 R a c 1 16.ab1 ) 14.d5 xd5 15.xd5; A2b) 11...d6 12.b4 A2b1) 12...d5 13.b5 ( 13.e1 a6!? ) 13...d4 14.bxc6!? dxc3 15.xc3 bxc6 ( 15...c7 16.cxb7 xb7 17.xb7 xb7 18.xe5 ) 16.xc6 ( 16.xc6 b8 17.xe5 b7 ) 16...d7 17.xe5 c8 18.xd7 xd7 Analysis by Gurevich; A2b2) 12...g4 13.xg4 xg4 14.b5 c8 15.bxc6 bxc6 16.f3 f6 17.ab1 d5!= 1/2-1/2 Gurevich, MAvrukh, B/Antwerp 199900/ [Avrukh, B] (40); B) 9.g2 xc3 10.bxc3 d6 was played in Z.Azmaiparashvili-S. Simonenko, Saint Vincent 2000 - see the PGN archives; C) 9.c2 c6 10.a3 e7 11.e4 d6 12.g2 a6 13.h3 b5 14.e3 e6 15.cxb5 axb5 16.d4 b8 ( 16...c8 17.h2 c4 ) 17.d5 cxd5 18.exd5 d7 19.a2 c8 with a complicated struggle, E.Bacrot-L.Van Wely, Leon 2001; D) 9.d5 xd5 10.xd5 c6 11.g2 c5 12.e4 d6 13.e3 b6 14.e2 f5 , and Black already has a pleasant position, H. Hoffmann-M.Zaitsev, Boeblinger 2003; E) 9.a4!? a5 ( 9...xc3 10.bxc3 c6 11.a3 ) 10.d2 d6 11.a3 xc3 ( 11...c5!? 12.b4 b6 13.g2 ) 12.xc3 g4?! E1) G u r e v i c h o f f e r s 13.xb7!? a s a p o s s i b l e i m p r o v e m e n t : xe2 ( 13...a7 14.f3 ) 14.fe1 xd3 15.xa8 xa8 16.e3; E2) 13.xg4?! xg4 14.c5 g5 15.cxd6 cxd6 16.e4 ( on 16.d7 G u r e v i c h g i v e s h5 17.h4 fd8 18.xb7 d5 intending 19...g5 with c o u n t e r p l a y) 16...h5 with a complicated position, M.GurevichE.Van den Doel, Haarlem 1999 ] [ B) 8...e8 9.g5 ( 9.b3 f8 10.d1 c6
11.d4 was played in V, Ivanchuk-L.Aronian, Turin OL 2006 - see the PGN archives) 9...xc3 10.bxc3 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.a4 d6 13.a5 b8 wit approximately even chances, A.Belozerov-Y.Balashov, Omsk 2001 ] 9.b3 [ 9.g2 e8 10.b3 ( 10.e4 c5 11.h1 d6 12.h3 a6 13.f4 b5 14.f5 b4 15.e2 d5 , and Black is already in control after this perfectly timed counterpunch in the centre, B.Gulko-J.Hector, Malmo 2001) 10...c5 11.d2 ( 11.g5 h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.e4 e7= ) 11...b6?? ( 11...d6!? ) 12.a4 xb3 13.axb3 b6 14.b4 f8 15.xb6+W.Uhlmann-E. Ungureanu, Bucharest 1978 ] [ 9.g5 h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.a3 e7 12.b4 a6 13.b3 d6 14.g2 e6 15.a4 fc8 16.a2 f8 17.e3 d8 18.a5 c7 , and W hite a slight initiative, though Black's position is perfectly playable, S. Jo achim-J. He ct or, Ge rm an B un de sliga 2001 ] [ 9.d2 e8 10.g2 h6 11.c1 xc3 12.xc3 d5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.b3 d4 15.d2 g4 16.fe1 , and White's pieces are ideally placed to nag at the many weaknesses in Black's position, E.VasiukovA.Kochyev, Beltsy 1981 ] 9...e7 [ 9...a5 10.c5 d5 11.cxd6 xd6 12.e3 e8 13.fc1 e7 14.a4 c7 15.g5 f5 16.h4 h6 17.xf6 xf6 18.xf6 gxf6 19.e4 g7 20.c5 c8 21.b4 a6 22.a4 , and White has everything under the co n t ro l, S . B e lt ra n Ru e d a -D. Ca m p o ra , Oviedo 1993 ] 10.d1 d6 11.d4 c7 12.g2 h6 13.c2 h7 14.b4 [ 14.d5 c5 15.f1 g5 16.e3 followed by f2-f4 looks better for White ] 14...exd4 15.xd4 g5= 16.e3 f6 17.dd1 e8 18.d3 a5 19.b5 xc3 20.b6 e7 21.xc3 g4 22.d3 ½-½
1118
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 25.f4 hg8 26.f3 ] A29 2622 24...b6! 25.a4 White is cutting it close. [ 25.f3 h5 ( 25...hg8 26.a2! 2596 -2nd rank defence is the way to neutralise 30.10.2005 any number of attacks!) 26.h4!? xg4+ 27.xg4 g8 28.a2 xg4 29.g2 xh4?? 30.f6 wins for White. ] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 d6 7.d3 h6 8.d2 e6 25...h5! 26.a5 g7 [ After 26...hxg4 , 27.h4! xh4 28.axb6 9.a3 xc3 10.xc3 d7 11.e4!? cxb6 29.a8 xa8 30.xa8+ g7 31.b8 [ 11.d4 xc4! 12.dxe5 e4 achieves looks to win. ] nothing for White. ] 27.axb6 cxb6 28.b7 hxg4 29.h4 gh5 11...h7 [ 11...g4! is a little hard to answer because 30.a7 e8 31.e7 xh4 32.e1 h3 isn't possible. Probably 12.d2 a5! 1-0 13.b3! h3= leads to equal chances. ] 12.h4 g5!? A29 [ 12...g5! 13.f4 g4 14.d2 h3+ 1127 15.h1= ] Istratescu,Andrei 2595 13.f5 xf5 14.exf5 f6?! Mullon,Jean Baptiste 2325 [ 14...xf5 15.e4 d7 was a more critical 2nd Open Nantes FRA (4) 28.12.2003 option because given the time Black will play [Tony Kosten] ...f5. ] 15.g4 g7 16.b4 Now White has space and 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 two bishops. Although Black's outpost on d4 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 is nice, White's threats of pawn breakthrough e6 9.d3 0-0 10.b4 f6 11.b2 d7 a r e s e r i o u s . h8? Black is going to lose Straightforward development, material. [ 11...a5 12.b5 d4 is more aggressive, [ 16...d5 is the only move that really makes see Bacrot,E-Topalov,V/Dubai UAE 2002. ] sense. Otherwise White just advances the 12.e4 ad8 Again Black continues his pawns and Black can only sit there. ] sensible policy, 17.b5 d4 [ 12...a6 13.c2 h3?! 14.c5! [ 17...d8 (t o p r o t e c t b 7 ) 18.d4! e7 le d t o a n ic e wi n f o r W h i t e in M il e s , A 19.dxe5 dxe5 20.e1 ] Timman,J/Tilburg 1984. ] 18.f4!? A great-looking move even if it's not 13.c1 strictly best. [ 13.c2 h8 14.c5 xc5 15.bxc5 c8 [ The obvious 18.xd4 exd4 19.xb7 ab8 16.ab1 8e7 and Black was fairly solid, 20.c6 wins a pawn for nothing. Perhaps Johannsson,I-Limbos,P/Moscow 1956. ] White thought that he could simply break 13...h8!? A new move, but possibly not the t h r o u g h t o t h e k i n g a n d f o r g e t a b o u t most useful. Others: everything else. ] [ 13...d5 was agreed drawn in Relange, E18...gxf4? Bacrot,E/ch-FRA Gp B 2001. ] [ 18...c5 19.fxg5 hxg5 20.d2 h7 21.f6+ [ 13...a5 14.b5 d4 15.xd4 exd4 16.a4 f8 22.xd4 cxd4 23.f5 isn't immediately c8 17.c5 with an edge to White in Janz, decisive, of course, but at some point h4 is F-Korsus,B/Neumuenster 1999, while ] going to be strong. ] [ 13...d5 14.c2 e6 15.ed2 d7? 19.xd4 exd4 20.f3 This is winning. ag8 16.e4 a2 17.b5 b8 18.d4 left Black in 21.xf4 f8 22.h3 g5 trouble in Plachetka,J-Nun,J/Trinec 1988. ] [ 22...c5 23.bxc6 bxc6 24.xd4 g7 14.c2 a6 15.fd1 With the menace of 25.f4 ] advancing the d-pawn to embarrass the black 23.xd4 d8 24.xa7?! queen. g4 Apparently stopping d4. White's [ Much more clear would be 24.xb7! h5 pieces are all well-placed, how to continue? 1126 Istratescu,Andrei Berkes,Ferenc TCh-HUN 2005-6 (2) [John Watson]
1119
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.d4! S u r p r i s i n g , a n d d e e p . xf3 Black captures the knight to control d4, this is obviously better than [ 16...exd4? 17.xd4 with a clear advantage. ] 17.xf3 exd4 Forced, [ 17...xd4? 18.xd4 exd4 19.c5 xc5 20.bxc5 c8 21.xb7 and Black's queenside disintegrates. ] 18.c5 xc5 19.xc5 So, this is the p o s i t i o n W h i t e w a s a i m i n g f o r wh e n h e sacrificed his d-pawn: he threatens to capture on c6, and the knight cannot move as it would leave the c7-pawn hanging. a4 [ 19...e6!? 20.xc6 xe2 21.xb7 xb2 22.xc7 was an alternative, but this is also good for White. ] 20.c2 xb2 21.xb2 White has been forced back, but the threat to c6 remains - the knight is unable to drop back to d8 to defend b7. f5 22.xc6 bxc6 23.c4 White has analysed this far and sees that he has a clear advantage because of the weakness of the black queenside. e6?! [ 23...c5 may be the best chance: 24.bxc5 ( 24.xc5 f4 with some counterplay.) 24...e7 25.d2 with a clear advantage. ] 24.cxd4 xd4 25.xd4 The smoke clear s an d W h ite h a s re ga in e d h is p a wn wh ilst retaining his superior structure. f4 26.d2 fxg3 27.hxg3 h6 28.d7 e5 29.d4 g5 30.g2 e8 31.xc7 The black pawns drop 'like ripe plums', as the saying goes. 1-0
( 13...ac8! 14.b3 a6 15.a3 fd7 was Packroff, H (2206)-Diebl, L (2213)/ Germany 2005, 0-1 (30).) 14.hd1 ac8 15.b3 ( 15.b4! c7 16.b5 forces d7 17.xd6 xh3+ 18.g1 when the elimination of the d6-pawn makes White's f4bishop more effective.) 15...a6 16.ac1 h6 level, Salgado Lopez, I (2627) -Fedorchuk, S (2638)/Saint-Quentin FRA 2014, 1/2-1/2 (25). ] 5...d6 6.0-0 0-0 7.d3 h6 Stopping Bg5. A couple of days later Navara tried to make do without this precaution: [ 7...a6 8.a3 d7!? very rare, but quite sensible as the bishop can find itself exposed on the squares e6 and f 5. 9.b4 a7 10.g5 this is a new move, but critical, as if White doesn't play this then Black can gain a tempo by simply avoiding ...h6. h6 11.h4!? d4! exchanging the f3-knight, ( 11...g5? 12.xg5 hxg5 13.xg5 wins, as there is no defence against Ne4 and Nd5. ) 12.xd4 xd4 13.xf6 obviously forced now, as c3 was hanging and ...g5 threatened, xf6 14.c1 xc3 15.xc3 c6 16.a4 e7 17.a5 g4 18.d2 d7 19.b1 h3 20.h1 ( 20.d4 ) 20...e7 21.cb3 e6 which is fairly equal, Ipatov, A (2613)-Navara, D (2708)/Saint Quentin 2014, though 0-1 (38). ] 8.a3 a6 Best, in my opinion. [ 8...a5 is actually more common, and we have a couple of examples in the Archive, see Marin, M- Karpov, A, for example. ] 9.b4 a7 [ 9...b6!? is Bartholomew, J-Troff, K, in the 1128 A29 Archive. ] This is the mainline, and the start of Istratescu,Andrei 2667 10.b2 Navara,David 2708 Marin's examination. d4 This is only the fifth FRA-chT Top 12 (6.1) 29.05.2014 most popular move for Black, but scores well. The idea is to exchange the knight (or if this is [Kosten, Tony] not possible retreat to e6) and then play ...c6 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 c5 and ...d5. [ 10...f5 is t h e 6 t h ! 11.c1 ( Marin likes This Karpov Variation was very popular at the 11.h4!? d7 12.c1 ) 11...d7 12.d5 recent French Team Championships. 5.g2 ( 12.e3 keeps more tension.) 12...xd5 [ 5.xe5 xf2+ 6.xf2 xe5 7.e4 c5 13.cxd5 e7 14.d4 f6!? ( 14...e4! 15.d2 8.d4 was also given an outing: cxd4 9.xd4 h3 16.xe4 xg2 17.xg2 xd5 0-0 10.f4 d6 11.h3 e6 12.g2 new! 18.d2 f5 Black is doing well, Torrecillas ( 12.e2 was analysed by me in Ivanchuk, VMartinez, A (2372)-Jerez Perez, A (2460)/ Anand, V. ) 12...a5 13.e2 returning to Martinenc 2001, 1/2-1/2 (41).) 15.d2 ac8 k n o wn lin e s , ( 13.b5 ad8 ) 13...fd8 1120
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.c4 h3 17.e4 g6 18.e3 xg2 19.xg2 ce8 20.f5?! e7 21.xe7+ xe7 22.dxe5 fxe5 23.e2 ef7 24.f3 b6 and if anything I prefer Black, Koch, J (2455)-Velten, P (2429)/Saint-Quentin FRA 2014, 1/2-1/2 (71). ] [ 10...e6 is the most common here, see Flores, D-Vallejo Pons, F, annotated by Danny and I. ] [ 10...b8 is Perez Fungueiro, M-Hamdouchi, H, see John Watson's notes in the Archive. ] 11.xd4 [ 11.d2 c6 12.e3 g4!? 13.b1 ( 13.f3 is met by f5 14.fxg4 xe3 15.e2 fxg4 16.h1 xf1 17.xf1 e3 w h e n B l a c k h a s t h e b e t t e r c h a n c e s .) 13...e6 Movsesian, S (2702)-Najer, E (2640)/Plovdiv 2012, 0-1 (42). ] [ 11.e3 xf3+ 12.xf3 ( 12.xf3 c6 followed by ...Bh3.) 12...c6 doesn't present Black with any problems. 13.e2 e8 Medvegy, Z (2561)-Burg, T (2502)/Germany 2013, 1/2-1/2 (41). ] 11...exd4!? Blocking in the a7-bishop, but opening the e-file and gaining some space in the centre. [ 11...xd4 scores well, 12.e3 a7 13.d4 ( 13.h3 c6 14.h2 seems a bit too slow here, e8 15.d2 d5 Nielsen, P (2530)Elbilia, J (2350)/Yerevan 1996, 1/2-1/2 (51). ) 13...exd4 14.exd4 e8 15.d3 W hite has more space, but Black is solid and can exchange rooks on the only open file, Mulyar, M (2408)-Iwu, O (2161)/ Wheeling 2012, 1-0 (33). ] 12.d5 The first new move. [ 12.b1 e8 13.d2 c5 Black will expand on the queenside with ...c5 and ...b5, 14.e1 b8 15.b3 A) 15...d7 16.a4 led to exciting play after g4!? 17.h3 e3!? this must have b e e n a s h o c k ! 18.fxe3 xe3 19.f1 ( 19.f3 ) 19...xg3 20.f3 g6 with a dangerous attack, Ghosh, D (2425)Laxman, R (2456)/Kolkata 2012, but 1-0 (40).; B) 15...b5 16.a5 d7 17.cxb5 axb5 18.c6 xc6 19.xc6 e6 Ghosh, D (2477)-Solak, D (2598)/Golden Sands 2013, 0-1 (58), 20.a4!? bxa4 21.b5 ] 12...xd5 13.cxd5 The position looks a bit
sterile, but due to the mutual doubled dpawns Black will have pressure on the e-file and W hite on the c-file. e8 14.e1 a5 15.c2 d7 16.ac1 axb4 17.axb4 b6 18.c4 The only real attempt at getting any ad va nt age . f6 Defending the d4-pawn, but the tactical [ 18...g5!? was also possible, 19.xd4?! xd4 20.xd4 xe2 is the point, with equality. ] 19.e4 dxe3! En pa ssa n t ! 20.xf6 exf2+ 21.f1 fxe1+ 22.xe1 xe1+ 23.xe1 gxf6 The position is completely equal as Black can easily defend his pawns, W hite has no useful pawn breaks and the white bishop is not at all useful. 24.f3 a1+ 25.e2 f5 26.g4 d7 27.h3 g1 The rook goes to a defended dark square, that way Black doesn't h a v e t o w o r r y a b o u t a n y t a c t i c s . 28.e4 White sees no way to break the fortress, and so went off for a drink. [ 28.a2?! could win the b7-pawn, but it is irrelevant, and g3 29.a8+ g7 30.xb7 xh3 favours Black. ] ½-½
1129 Ivanchuk,Vassily Anand,Viswanathan Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee NED (6) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2714 2784 23.01.1999
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 c5 5.xe5 Considered doubtful for many decades. xf2+ 6.xf2 xe5 7.e4 c5 Else W hite would play d4, and his mobile centre would push the two knights off the board. 8.d4! Why did nobody think of this before? [ The solid 8.d3 had been the almost invariable choice, d6 9.h3 Botvinnik,MK e r e s , P / M o s c o w 1 9 6 6 , a n d n o w 0-0 followed by manoeuvring the f6-knight to e6, via e8, and c7, gives Black a good game, as his knights have excellent squares. ] 8...cxd4 9.xd4 0-0 The knight is safe, of course, because of the fork on g4. 10.f4 d6 11.h3 Although the e4-pawn is isolated, the d6-pawn is at least as weak, and so White's bishop pair give him an edge. e6 12.e2 1121
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c8 Black plays for complications, he attacks h3, and c4. 13.ac1! xh3 14.d5 e6 Black is obliged to play an exchange sacrifice, as [ 14...xd5? loses, 15.cxd5 d7 16.xe5 dxe5 17.xe5 and White wins because the black bishop has no squares, Qh5 will pick it up. ] 15.c7 e7 16.xa8 c6 Attacking the white queen, and e4. 17.e3 [ Anand prefers 17.xd6 xe4+ 18.e1 xd6 19.h4 although Black is not without compensation for the exchange. ] 17...xe4+ 18.f3?! This doesn't look right to me, [ 18.g1 must be good f or W hite, f5 19.c5! xa8 ( 19...dxc5? 20.g4 g6 21.c7 and the knight escapes!) 20.cxd6 should be better for White, with care. ] 18...f5! 19.d3 e8 Amazingly, Black defers capturing the a8-knight. 20.he1 d8 Following this little switch, Black manages to maintain his advanced knight on e4. 21.g2 xa8 22.f3 Removing the queen from the exposed e-file, but now a draw is forced. d4 23.e3 c6 [ 23...b5?! 24.xd4 c5+ 25.d5 xd3 26.xe8+ xe8 27.xf5 xc1 28.xc1 favours White. ] 24.f3 ½-½
will win a pawn. ] 13.d5!? To cut off support for the e-pawn via ... d5. [ White could preface a central move by 13.f4 , since d5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.e5 is good. ] 13...d6 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.f4 f5 16.ac1 b8 17.c2 a5 18.d2 b6 19.c5! xb2 20.xb2 [ 20.cxd6 xd2 21.xd2 ] 20...xb2 21.cxd6 b4 22.h3 g5?! 23.e3 a6 24.g4 g6 From now on this bishop is stuck out of play. White stands much better and I'd guess that with perfect play he should be winning. 25.d4 [ HiArcs suggests the nice retreat 25.b1! , which is particularly odd since the knight had more plenty of influence where it was! But it's just the kind of dumb, unprincipled move that probably wins. After all, there's nowhere else for the knight to go if White is to attack the c-pawn, and how (concretely) will Black defend? c8 26.c5 b5 27.a4! bb8 ( 27...a5 28.b6 xa4 29.d7 ) 28.d2 d8 29.c4 with an obvious advantage. The bishop on g6 is particularly bad. ] 25...a5 26.a4 c8 27.xb4!? [ 27.a3 xd4 28.xd4 continues to give B l a c k p r o b l e m s w i t h t h e d - p a w n : d5 ( 28...d7 29.c5 xc5 30.xc5 ) 29.e5 f6! 30.g3 f4 31.xf4 gxf4 32.d7 d8 33.b6 ( 33.xc6 xd7 34.c3! e3 1130 A29 35.fxe3 fxe3 36.d5 g7 isn't so easy) 33...xa3 34.xc6 is quite a bit better for Ivanchuk,Vassily 2731 White because Rc4 follows and frees the g2 Aronian,Levon 2756 bishop. ] 37th Olympiad (9) 30.05.2006 27...axb4 28.b6 d8 29.d7 e7 30.xc6 [John Watson] xd7 31.d5 f8 32.c2 a8 Black has White was better most of the way, and had a escaped but his pawns are weak so White still few good chances, but those were difficult to gets activity. 33.d2 a6! 34.xb4 xb4 find and Aronian defended well to hold the 35.xd7 xa2 36.d8+ g7 37.d4+ f6 draw. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 38.d7+ f8 39.e3?! [ 39.xf6! xe2 40.f1 e1 41.g2 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.d3 0-0 , but this may not be enough to win. ] 8.0-0 40.d6 xf2+! 41.f1 e7 [ 8.b3 c5 9.g4! is the fun line. After 39...e1 White has castled, g4 won't be in the cards 42.xf6?! [ 42.b6! ] for a while. ] 8...e8 9.b3 f8 10.d1 c6 11.d4 e4 42...xe3! 43.xg6 xd4 44.xe4 f2+ 45.e1 f6 12.g2 h6 [ 12...d5? 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.g5 ½-½ 1122
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1131 Ivanchuk,Vassily Kramnik,Vladimir 18th Amber Rapid (9) [Jonathan Rowson]
A29 2779 2759 24.03.2009
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 [ 8.a4 a5 9.b5 0-0 10.d4 exd4 11.f4 d5 12.fxd4 cb4! was comfortable for Black in McNab-Rowson, Scottish Championship, Abderdeen 2001. ] 8...0-0 9.e3 e6 [ 9...f5 10.c1 f6 is a different way to playm o re a c t ive b u t a l so we a ke n in g e 5 . I n almost all cases White has to try to play a3 and b4 to make anything happen on the queenside. ] 10.c1 f6 11.a3 d4! This move is almost always an important part of Black's strategy. If White takes, Black has more space and can redirect his attention to the e2 pawn, and the move also allows him to play ...c6, securing the queenside. [ 11...a5 12.xb6! cxb6 13.a4 ( 13.e3!? )] 12.e4 b3 13.d2 xf3+ 14.xf3 d5 15.c2 c6 Note the standard recipe. Black doesn't weaken the queenside at all, but secures his position in the centre. In this particular case W hite whipped up a slight initiative and had some advantage, but in a rapid game we shouldn't take the moves too seriously. 16.d2 h8 17.fd1 f5 18.b4 g5?! [ 18...f6 19.a4 xf3 20.xf3 d5 ] 19.xg5 xg5 20.a4! Exploiting the temporary disharmony to force some sort of concession. e7 21.a5 xf3 22.xf3 e4 23.dxe4 fxe4 24.d2 e3 25.axb6 exd2 26.xd2 axb6 27.d4 ae8 28.e3 White has some advantage- hard to say how much- but the rapid time control no doubt made it difficult to convert. f7 29.d3 b5 30.d1 h6 31.d2 ef8 32.f4 b6 33.d6 f6 34.f2 e8 35.xf6 xf6 36.d7 g6 37.f5 h5 38.h4 e5 39.e4 xe4 40.f6 gxf6 41.xc6 f5+ 42.g2 e7 43.xb6 g7 44.f2 e5 45.h2 e6 46.b7+ e7 47.c6 e6 48.d7+ e7 49.g4+ h7 50.h3 h5 51.f3 g7 52.h2 d4 53.f5 e1 54.f3 e7 55.h3 e5
56.c6 e6+ 57.xe6 xe6 58.f5 g6 59.xb5 e2 60.b8 b2 61.b5 g7 62.b6 f5 63.b7 h7 64.f8 xb7 65.xf5 ½-½
1132 Jakovenko,Dmitrij Shirov,Alexei World Cup Khanty Mansiysk RUS (5.2) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2710 2739
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.b3!? This isn't exactly the most obvious choice in a must win situation, but maybe Jakovenko had made so me conside rations in regard s t o Shirov's style of playing and general attitude towards chess, that made Jakovenko think that this move could be the way to play for a win against Shirov. 0-0 9.b2 g4 10.h3 [ This is the best move. White has yet to prove anything after the alternatives: A) 10.c1 f5 11.a4 e4 12.e5 xe5 13.xe5 c6 14.xb6 axb6 ( 14...xb6 15.d4 ad8 16.c2 f6 17.c4+ h8 18.fd1 de8 19.d6 Simagin, VBebchuk, E/Moscow 1967) 15.c2 a5 16.c3 d5 17.e1 e8 , Black is completely in control, From, S-Hyldkrog, L/ corr 1979 ] [ B) 10.d3 A) 10...d7 11.c1 ad8 ( 11...fd8 is less accurate, because the f-rook will be needed on either f8 or e8 to support the advance of these pawns. Now White obtains a pleasant game: 12.e4 f5 13.c5 xc5 14.xc5 e4 15.e5 xe5 16.xe5 c6 17.h3 h5 18.xe4 fxe4 19.xh5 exd3 20.exd3 Dudas, JHudecek, J/Prague 1992) 12.e4 f6 13.c2 h8 14.a3 a5 15.fd1 e6 16.e1 f7 17.fd2 d7= , and Black has solved his opening problems, Bareev, E-Topalov, V/Monaco 2002; B) 10...e8 11.d2 f5 12.e4 d7 13.d5 d6 14.e3 b4 15.c2 ad8 16.a3 f8 17.fd1 g6 18.b4 , and I prefer W hite, Pekar, K-Lisko, F/ SVK 1998; C) 10...f5 11.c1 ( 11.d2 b8 12.c4 1123
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xc4 13.bxc4 d4 14.f3 h5 15.e3 e6 16.d2 c6 17.e2 f6 Tataev, M-Yakovich, Y/Belgorod 1989) 11...a6 ( 11...f6 12.b4 d4 13.d2 c6 14.f3 h5 15.e3 e6 16.g4 g6 17.gxf5 xf5 18.de4 Grivas, EGoldberg, A/Germany 2002) 12.h3 h5 13.b1 f6 14.bd2 d7 15.a3 f7 16.c2 e8 17.e4 d8 18.exf5 xf3 19.xf3 xf5 Seidemann, U-Wagner Michel, A/Frankfurt/Oder 1977 ] [ C) 10.a4 a5 ( 10...a6 11.a5 d7 12.d5 d6 13.e3 e6 14.d4 exd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.xd4 b8 17.a7 a8 18.d4 b8 19.f4 c5 20.b4 xd4 21.xd4 f6 22.d2 Kaidanov, G-Janjgava, L/Belgrade 1988 ) 11.b5 ( 11.c1 f5 12.b5 f6 13.d4 e4 Schmuggerow, K-Kraai, J/ Lincolnwood 1990, 14.e5! h5 15.xc6 bxc6 16.xc6 ) 11...f6 12.d3 d7 13.d2 ac8 14.c1 h3 15.xh3 xh3 16.a3 fe8 17.e4 e7 18.xe7 xe7 19.c5 with chances to both sides, Arkhipov, S-Zaichik, G/Moscow 1988 ] [ D) 10.e1?! d7 11.c1 ad8 12.d3 h3 13.e4 xg2 14.xg2 d5 15.c3 e6 16.c2 f5 17.a3 d4 18.xd4 exd4 Wagenbach, J-McLaughlin, K/corr 2001 ] 10...h5 [ 10...e6 11.h2 f6 12.d3 d7 13.c1 a5 ( 13...ad8 14.a3 fe8 15.e4 d4 16.xd4 exd4 17.c5 xc5 18.xc5 c6 with a position that is easier to play for Black, but probably is about even, Gray jr., W Green, W/corr 1996) 14.a3 fd8 15.b5 a4 16.b4 b3 17.d2 ac8 18.c3 c4 19.dxc4 xd2 20.xd2 xd2 21.a1 d8 22.f4 exf4 23.xf4 c6 , and Black is in control of the game, Hickl, J-Ekstroem, R/ Biel 1998 ] 11.d3 [ There are a number of move orders after t h e i m m e d i a t e 11.c1 Black has had a good record, but it is hardly any proof that it is weaker than the text move. f5 ( 11...d7 12.h2 ad8 13.d3 f5 14.a3 e6 with a pleasant game for Black in Gheorghiu, F-Miralles, G/Switzerland 1997 ) 12.d3 A) 12...f6 is also playable, though things quickly got quite messy: 13.e4 g6 14.e2
d7 15.h2 ad8 16.exf5 gxf5 17.g4 g6 A1) 18.xc6 bxc6 19.f4 d5 20.d2 exf4 ( 20...e4 21.dxe4 xf4 22.xf4 xb2 23.gxf5 xc1 24.xc1 d3 25.f4 d4+ 26.f2 f7 27.g4 ) 21.xf6 xf6 22.xf4 xd3 23.gxf5 h5 24.g4 xf5 25.xf5 xf5 26.f3 d3 27.c4+; A2) 18.g3 g5 ( 18...g7!? ) 19.c5 e7?! ( 19...e7 20.xc6 bxc6 21.xe5 f6 22.e2 ) 20.a3 fxg4 21.xg4 g7 , Bistric, F-Rogic, D/Pula 1999, and now 22.xc6! bxc6 23.xe5 xd3 24.a1+-; B) 12...h8!? 13.h2 ( 13.c2 xf3 14.exf3 g5 15.cd1 d4 16.b1 f4 17.g4 d5 18.fe1 e8 19.e4 e7 G o u w, C - B e r t h o l e e , R / W i j k a a n Z e e 2000 ) 13...f6 14.d2 b8 15.c4 d4 16.e1 c6 17.a3 e8 18.h1 d5 Nadera, B-Torre, E/Makati 2002 ] 11...e8 12.c1 f8 13.e4 d7 14.g4 g6 15.g3 a5 16.d4 e4 17.e5 [ 17.d2 f6 18.e3 d5 19.e2 ad8 20.a3 d6 ] 17...dxe5 18.dxe5 h4 19.e3 [ Now Black takes over the initiative. It a p p e a r s t h a t W h i t e c a n d o b e t t e r wit h 19.c2!? , and now e3 looks critical, but White has the better chances after 20.f5 exf2+ 21.xf2 g5 22.xc6 bxc6 23.e4 h5 24.g2 h4 25.d4 ( 25.xc6!? )] 19...ad8 20.c2 b4! [ This is much to be preferred over 20...xe5 , which allows W hite to keep the balance after 21.xe5 xe5 22.xc7 d6 23.b6 ee8 24.cd1 e7 ] 21.e2?! [ This is the beginning of a series of dubious and outright bad moves. Possibly the nerves started to fail the young Russian 21.xc7!? d3 22.d4 xc1 23.xc1 ] 21...c6 22.xe4?! d3 23.c4?! [ 23.cd1 xe4 24.xe4 xb2 25.xd8 xd8 26.xb2 xh3 27.e2 e8 ] 23...xe5 24.xe5 xe5 25.d1?-+ [ 25.f4 xe4 26.fxe5 d3 27.f3 xc4 28.bxc4 e7 ] 25...xd1+ 26.xd1 b5 27.d4 c5 28.d5 xe4 29.xe4 xe4 30.d8 e7 31.b8 1124
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 72.xe7 f6+ 1-0
b4 32.e2 d6 0-1
1133 Janous,Petr Soza,Jose Champions League Q14-2 [Soza, JW]
A29 2333 2307 02.06.2002
Another Dragon Reversed line in which I think t h a t W h i t e i s s l ig h t ly b e t t e r t h ro u g h o u t . Probably not enough to win against perfect def en ce, but what othe r op enin g is? 1.c4 Soza: In this game I choose a line that Salov uses, now I'm not sure if this is good alternative line for Black. e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 0-0 9.a3 e6 10.b4 d4 11.b2 xf3+ 12.xf3 c6 13.e4 d7 14.c2 d5 15.d2 xf3 16.xf3 d6 17.d2 e7 18.e4 ae8 19.xd6 xd6 20.a4 f5 21.b5 c5 with complications, Salov-Kasparov USSR 1988. 22.e3 h8 23.d4 exd4 24.exd4 c8 25.c3 f7 [ 25...f6 could be better to protect g7. JW: But then W hite wins at least a pawn after 26.dxc5 xc5 ( 26...c7 27.ac1 ) 27.d4! xd4 ( 27...c7 28.a3 d5 29.xa7 ) 28.xd4 c2 29.xa7 ] 26.dxc5 xc5 27.ac1 f4 [ 27...b6 28.fd1 f8 29.d4 ( JW 29.a5 )] 28.e5 f8 [ 28...xe5 29.xe5 fxg3 30.fxg3! ] 29.fe1 b6 30.d4 fxg3 31.hxg3 with some advantage - JW . The rest of the game ref lects this: g8 32.d5 h8 33.e5 d7 34.c4 dc7 35.e2 d8 36.c3 h6 37.f3 g8 38.e3 cd7? 39.xc5 bxc5 40.xc5 c8 41.e3 . JW: White is winning. d1+ 42.g2 c4 43.e2 xe2 44.xe2 c7 45.f8+ h7 46.e6 d2 47.a6 e7 48.h3 d1 49.g4 d5 50.f5 d2 51.f4 d4 52.h5 d3 53.e5 b7 54.h4 d1 55.e3 f7 56.g4 d4 57.f3 b7 58.g4 f7 59.e4 d3+ 60.e2 g3 61.f5 h5 62.gxh5 g5 63.e5 xh5 64.d3 c7 65.ae6 h3+ 66.e3 d7+ 67.c4 h4+ 68.3e4 c7+ 69.d5 h5 70.e7 xf5+ 71.d6 xe7
1134 Jensen,James Soza,Jose Zonal Latinoamericano G1 [John Watson]
A29 2303 2351 04.2002
This game is a contribution from Jose Soza. It is a long and close-to-forced theoretical line. I think that Black has enough play and I've supplemented Jose's analysis with a note that indicates the same. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.g5 xc3 8.bxc3 e8 9.f3 e3 10.d3 d5 11.b3 a5 12.a3 c6 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.f4 g4 15.f3 c6 16.h3 xf3 17.xf3 h5 [ JW: 17...d7 18.h2 h5 seems to me a better order, following a 1990-1991 correspondence game Garriga, Rufenacht cited by Hansen: 19.b2 h4 ( 19...f5 20.g2 ac8 ) 20.g4 c7 21.g2 ad8= 22.ac1 h7!? ] 18.c5 c8 19.b1 b6 20.b5 d6 21.g2 h4 22.gxh4 e7 23.b4 d7 24.h2 f5 25.h5 c5 [ 25...h4 ] 26.a3 ec8 27.b2 b5 28.a4 h4 29.d4 f5 30.a4 h4 31.d4 ½-½
1135 Jobava,Baadur Almasi,Zoltan 2nd IECC Ohrid (13) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2540 2640 2001
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.e1 [ A solid variation, and a good alternative to the sharp main line with 7.g5 , the knight aims for d5. ] 7...xc3 8.dxc3 h6 Black doesn't want to a l lo w B g 5 wh e n h is e - p a wn wo u l d b e i n trouble. 9.c2 d6 10.b3 [ 10.e3 should amount to the same, e5 ( 10...e8 ) 11.b3 a5 12.d5 e8 13.e3 1125
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 eg4 limiting White's advantage, Damljanovic,B-Illescas Cordoba,M/Elista 1998. ] 10...e8 11.e3 d7!? [ As far as I can see, this is a new move. 11...a5 12.a4 b6 13.c2 b7 is normal, Polugaevsky,L-Kholmov,R/Moscow 1969. ] 12.c2 [ Aiming at e4, but 12.d5 might be better. ] 12...e7! Black rearranges his minor pieces, and dares White to take his e-pawn. 13.d1 c8! [ White's previous move was designed to stop 13...f5?! when 14.c5 is strong, using the pin along the d-file. ] 14.xe4? [ Very risky, White wanted to prove he had some advantage, and other moves allow B l a c k e q u a l i t y , e . g . 14.d5 exd5 15.cxd5 h3 ] 14...xe4 15.xe4 f5 16.d3 xe3 17.xe3 c6 Black will have a powerful attack on the light squares, that more than compensates for the pawn. 18.e1 h3 19.f3 White is relying on this pawn move to close the long diagonal. e6 [ 19...e5 20.f4 h5 21.g4 h4 is also dangerous- ...Rxg4+ is threatened. ] 20.f2?! e5! 21.g4 Else ... Rh5 and the h2pawn is lost. g5 22.g3 xg4 23.f2 e8 24.g1 g6 Black has regained his pawn, and his attack persists. 25.d4 f5 26.f4 f6 27.g4 g5! [ 27...e4? seems strong, but after 28.fxe4 xg4 White saves his bacon by 29.xf6! gxf6 30.g1 ] 28.ag1 f8 29.xg5 [ W h a t e l s e ? I f 29.e3 fe6 wins immediately. ] [ and 29.d2 l i k e w i s e , a f t e r xe2+! 30.xe2 xf3+ 31.e1 e6+ ] 29...hxg5 30.xg5 e6 [ Sufficient, but 30...xf3+!! would be the ideal way to finish the game: 31.exf3 xf3+ 32.g2 e2+ 33.h1 ff2+ 34.5g2 xg2 35.xg2 xg2 and a discovered check will win the queen. ] 31.g8+ e7 32.xe8+ xe8 33.xa7 d7 34.d4 h6 White has insufficient compensation for the piece. 35.f4 h5 36.g5 xg5 37.xg5 e5 38.xe5 dxe5
39.e4 e6 40.e3 b6 41.a4 f6 42.f4 To keep the black king out of g5, but now e4 needs constant defence. e6 43.c5 bxc5 44.a5 b7 45.b4 cxb4 46.cxb4 f6 47.b5 f7 48.a6 a8 49.a7 g6 50.fxe5 fxe5 0-1
1136 Jobava,Baadur Aronian,Levon Sparkassen Chess Meeting (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2651 2761 01.08.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.d4!? [ 7.a4 is harmless c6 8.0-0 0-0 9.d4 e4 10.g2 d5 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.b3 e7 13.f4 b6 14.fc1 ( 14.f3 a6 15.c3 c4 16.c2 exf3 17.xf3 d7= ) 14...a6 15.d1 h5 16.d2 , and the players prematurely agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2, V.Ivanchuk-P.Svidler, Wijk aan Zee 1999 ] [ 7.d5?! allows Black a comfortable game, and shouldn't be repeated A) 7...c5 8.0-0 0-0 9.d3 c6 10.xf6+ xf6 11.d2 a5 12.c3 d6 13.e3 b4 14.c1 e7 15.g2 f5 16.e1?! ( 16.d4 f4 17.dxe5 dxe5 18.exf4 exf4 19.e1 g5 ) 16...e6 17.d4 e4 is already comfortable for Black, I.Snape-B.Lalic, Scarborough 2001; B) 7...xd5 8.cxd5 B1) 8...0-0!? 9.0-0 e7 10.d4 exd4 11.xd4 c5! 12.dxc6 ( 12.f4 d6 is also pleasant for Black) 12...dxc6 13.e3 xd4 14.xd4 d8 is fairly even, but easier to play for Black with his que e n side m a jorit y, J. B on in -A . Stripunsky, New York 2003; B2) 8...c5 9.e3 0-0 10.0-0 d6 11.g2 ( 11.d4?! is p re m a t u re exd4 12.exd4 b6 13.g2 f5 14.a4 a5 15.g4 d7 is better for Black, D.ContinA.Kizov, Gothenburg 2005) 11...f5 12.d3 d7 13.e4 g4 14.f3 f5 15.e3 h3 is already very problematic for White, M. Krasenkow-L. Van Wely, German Bundesliga 1998 ] 7...xc3+ [ 7...e4 8.g2 0-0 ( Here 8...xc3+ 9.bxc3 1126
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h6 10.c2 0-0 11.xe4 transposes to Korchnoi-Bareev below) 9.0-0 xc3 10.bxc3 e8?! ( 10...h6!? (Ribli) 11.f3 exf3 12.xf3 e8 13.f1 d5 14.cxd5 xd5 15.d2 ) 11.g5! h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.f3! exf3 ( 13...e3 14.f4 d6 15.b1 ) 14.xf3 g5 15.d5 e7 16.d3 c6 ( 16...d6? 17.xf7 xf7 18.f1+- ) 17.f5! g4 ( 17...g6? 18.xf7+- ) 18.f3 g6 19.h5 h7 20.e5! xd3 21.exd3 e6 22.b1 g6 23.xe6! dxe6 24.f3 f8 25.c5 a5 26.c4 a7 27.f2 e7 28.e3 d7 29.a3 e8 30.b6 d8 31.d5! c7 32.d6+ 1-0 Kamsky, G-Campora, D/Buenos Aires 1993/CBM 35/[Ribli] ] 8.bxc3 e4 9.g2 h6 10.c2 [ 10.b1 0-0 11.0-0 b6 12.c2 b7 13.d5 e7 14.d1 d6 15.d4 ae8 16.h3 c8 is comfortable for Black, Kerndl-Dunne, IECG Email 1999 ] 10...0-0 [ This move was given a '?' by Ribli in ChessBase Magazine and was ignored by W isnewski, who instead focused on 10...e7 , and now White has tried a couple of different things: A) 11.a4 d6 12.a3 0-0 is a line given by Ribli in ChessBase Magazine and has yet to be tested; B) 11.g4 looks wonderfully hip and in a c c o rd a n c e wit h t h e c u rre n t t re n d o f throwing the g-pawn forward to g4 whenever feasible. In this case though, it doesn't offer W hite anything special: d6 12.g5 ( 12.h3!? ) 12...hxg5 13.xg5 f5 14.b1 b6 15.e3 f8 16.xf6 ( If White postpones the exchange of the bishop on g5 f or the knight on f 6, the bishop can end up stranded as a target, e. g. 16.h4 e6 17.a4 h5 ) 16...gxf6 17.d2 c5 18.h4 c8 is fine for Black as in S.Makarichev-A.Vyzmanavin, Moscow 1987, and now White started floundering and soon had a terrible position. Instead 19.d5 h5 20.h3 d7 21.xf5 xf5 22.bf1 h7 23.f3 e8 24.fxe4 xe4 25.xf6 hxh4 26.hf1 h2+ 27.1f2 xf2+ 28.xf2 allows White to continue fighting; C) 11.f3 b6 C1) In lack of any real game material,
W isnewski offers some unconvincing analysis to support his opening concept: 12.fxe4 ('?!' by Wisnewski, but his analysis doesn't support that criticism) b7 13.d5 c5?! ( '!' by Wisnewski, but t h a t ' s w a y o f f . I n s t e a d 13...g4!? offers Black a decent game and good compensation for the pawn 14.d1 0-0 15.0-0 e5 16.f4 ) 14.d3 ( 14.e5 g4 is correctly given as better for Black by Wisnewski, e.g. 15.f5 xc4 16.0-0 0-0-0 17.d3 c5+ ) 14...a6 15.e3 xc4 C1a) Also 16.e5 goes unmentioned by W isnewski, which is strange since White seems to be doing rather well, e. g. g4 17.d4 0-0-0 ( or 17...xd3 18.exd3 0-0-0 19.0-0 ) 18.xc4 xc4 C1a1) or 19.f3!? h5 20.h3 h6 21.e4 ( 21.g1 ) 21...c5 22.e3; C1a2) 19.0-0 f6 20.exf6 xf6 21.xf6 gxf6 22.xf6 xe2; C1b) 16.xc4 xc4 , and this position is evaluated as clearly better for Black by W isnewski, even if 17.d4 leaves White with the better chances; C2) 12.0-0 and 1/2-1/2 was the tame outcome of B.Gulko-A. Chernin, New Delhi 2000, and a possible continuation b7 13.fxe4 xe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.d3 d6= ] 11.xe4 This position is evaluated as clearly better for W hite by Ribli based on the Korchnoi-Bareev below, but Aronian's 13th m o ve m a y c h a n ge t h a t e va l u a t io n . xe4 12.xe4 e8 13.f3 e7!? [ This is an intended improvement over 13...b8 , but Black may actually be okay in this line as well 14.0-0 b6 15.e1 ( 15.d1 e7 16.e3 a3 17.f4 d6 18.c5 a6= ) 15...a6 ( 15...d6!? ) 16.g4 h8 17.d5 d6 18.d4 c5!? (This is a strong answer to W hite's otherwise dominating position, and though White is still better, it allows Black to create some confusion, in which W hite soon throws away his advantage) 19.dxc6? ( 19.d3 d7 20.a4 f5 21.f3 according to Bareev) 19...e6 20.f4? ( 20.a4 (Bareev) c8 21.a5 bxa5 1127
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.xa7 xc6 23.xf7 xc4 24.f3 d5 25.e3 Marin ) 20...c8 21.c5 bxc5 22.a4 xe2 ( Black can also the consider the simpler 22...b6 23.e4 g5 24.e3 xc6 25.xc6 xc6 , and Black has equalised ) 23.xa7 e7 24.a4 e8! 25.xd6 e4 26.c2 f3 27.xe4 xe4 28.e2 xc6 29.xc5 f3 30.d3 e4 31.e2 1/2-1/2 V.Korchnoi-E.Bareev, Tilburg 1991 ] 14.e3 b8 15.a4 b6 16.a5 a6 [ 16...e6!? 17.d5 g6 ] 17.axb6 xb6 18.0-0 xc4 19.xa7 f6 20.g4 g6 21.f3 f6 , and a draw was agreed upon White is still up a pawn, but it is hardly convertible. ½-½
approximately equal, J. Lautier-V.Salov, Madrid 1993; B) 10.g5 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.e4 d8 13.c5 d5 14.cxd6 xd6 15.c1 e6 16.a4 d5 17.xd6 xd6 18.xd5 xd5= Z. Azmaiparashvili-V. Epishin, Tallinn 1988 ] [ C) 8...c6 A) 9.d4 d6 1/2-1/2 was E.TomashevskyP.Eljanov, Dresden 2007, which of course doesn't tell us anything. White can try a number of things here, e.g. 10.b3 ( or 10.g5!? ) 10...a5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.d1 e7 13.g5 , and White has some initiative; B) 9.b3 c5 10.d3 ( 10.e3 b6 11.f4 d6 12.c2 exf4 13.xf4 d5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.b3 d4 16.a4 dxe3 17.xb6 xb6 18.dxe3 e6 is given as equal by 1137 A29 Ribli based on the game M.Gurevich-A. Vyzmanavin, Jurmala 1983, which seems Jobava,Baadur 2650 a b o u t r i g h t a f t e r a l i n e l i k e 19.b2!? Mchedlishvili,Mikheil 2583 xe3+ 20.f2 xf2+ 21.xf2 d5 66th ch-GEO Tbilisi GEO (9) 23.03.2007 22.xf6 xg2 23.xg2 gxf6 24.xf6 ) [Carsten Hansen] 10...h6 ( 10...e8 ) 11.d2 e8 12.c2 b6 13.a4 c7 14.ac1 d6 15.b4 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 d7 16.c3 c8 17.fe1 ( 17.b5 h3 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.0-0 0-0 8.g2 18.bxc6 xg2 19.xg2 bxc6 20.b1 [ RR8.d3 c6 9.d2 e8 10.g2 h6 e6 21.a4 1/2-1/2, A.Ludgate-G.Davies, 11.c1 xc3 12.xc3 d5 13.cxd5 cxd5 corr ICCF 1992) 17...h3 18.h1 a6 14.b3 d4 15.d2 e6!= Vasjukov ] 19.a4 a5 20.b1 axb4 21.xb4 a5= 8...h6 L. Po rtisch-R.Huebn er, A bano Term e [ The alternatives are: A) 8...d6?! 9.b3 1980 ] ( 9.c2 a6 10.d3 h6 11.h3 c6 12.e4 h7 13.h2 f5 1/2-1/2, Y.Averbakh-V.Korchnoi, 9.d3 e8 10.e4 d6 11.f4 c6 12.h1 c5 Palma de Mallorca 1972 14.f4!? ) 9...a5 My computer calls this position equal, but it ( 9...a5!? Ribli ) 10.a3 c6 11.d3 h6 12.b4 isn't a particularly easy position for Black to b6 13.c5 c7 14.cxd6 xd6 15.b2 play: White has a solid grip of the d5-square Z.Azmaiparashvili-S.Kindermann, Dortmund thus preventing Black from breaking with ...d6d5, and W hite already a kingside attack on 1990 ] [ B) 8...e8 9.d3 ( 9.c2 c6 10.a3 xc3 the move after f4-f5 and g3-g4-g5 Black will 11.bxc3 d6 12.b1 h6 13.d3 c7 14.e4 be facing a very problematic defence. 13.b1 b6 15.f4 , and White has some initiative, but a6 14.f5 b5 15.g4 b4 16.a4 d4 17.g5!? objectively speaking, Black is probably okay, hxg5 18.xg5 c5 [ Black's headaches have already become Zhang Zhong-S.Volkov, playchess. evident, and some simple analysis shows com2004 ) 9...c6 the severity of Black's situation: 18...d7 A) 10.b3 c5 11.h3 ( 11.g5 h6 19.e1 a5 ( 19...d5 20.h4 dxe4 12.xf6 xf6 13.e4 e7 14.xc5 21.xe4+- ) 20.xf6 gxf6 21.h4 xa4 xc5= Ribli ) 11...h6 12.h2 b6 22.xf6+- ] 13.a4 ( 13.f4! Salov ) 13...c7 14.e4 [ 18...d5 19.e1 dxc4 20.dxc4 b8 21.f3 b8 15.c3 a6 16.a4 d6 17.e3 b5= f8 22.h4 e7 23.d1+- ] with a position Ribli assesses as 1128
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.e1! d7 [ 19...a5 20.xf6 gxf6 21.h4+the black king isn't running anywhere - the game is over ] 20.h4! xa4 21.f3 d7 22.h3 Oh oh! f8 23.h8+ g8 24.xd8 exd8 25.h7 1-0
1138 Jones,G Gormally,D Scottish championships (2) [Daniel Gormally]
A29 2643 2496 07.07.2013
My E n gli s h s u m m e r. O ve r t h e su m m e r I played some games in the English, with both colours, I'd like to share with the readers. The first game was against England's rising star Gawain Jones in the Scottish chess championships, held in the beautiful town of Helensburgh, located only a few miles away from the historical Loch Lomond. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 [ Incidentally, 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 c5 And now Black has to be aware that 5.xe5!? is a serious try for White here. However xf2+! 6.xf2 xe5 7.e4 c5 8.d4 cxd4 9.xd4 0-0! Allows Black to maintain equal chances. ] 2...f6 3.g2 c6 4.c3 c5 5.f3 d6 In my view, this line is very solid for Black and a very good way of fighting against the English. T h e p o s it i o n s t h a t a rise a re ve ry r ich i n possibilities, and there are any number of different strategical plans each player can adopt. 6.0-0 [ White also has the important option of playing quietly here, with 6.d3 a6 7.0-0 h6 8.a3 0-0 see Flores, D (2578)-Vallejo Pons, F (2706)/Tromso NOR 2013 in this update. ] 6...a6 7.e3 0-0 8.d4 a7 9.h3 Understand ably, White wishes to discourage ..Bg4. [ White also has the option of resolving the c e n t r a l i s s u e i m m e d i a t e l y , w i t h 9.dxe5 but this didn't work out too well f or him either- dxe5! I think this is the correct way to recapture, as we shall see later in my Jones game. It is tempting to take on e5 with the knight and exchange pieces, but this makes the bishop on g2 much more of a potent
force 10.e2 e7 11.d5 xd5 12.cxd5 b4 13.e4 d7 14.a3 ( White cannot get an easy life by avoiding the coming complications with something like 14.a4 e i t h e r , a s a f t e r c6! Black is very nicely placed and the knight on b4 becomes a serious irritant, impossible f or W hite to eject from proceedings.) 14...b5 15.d2 f5! Black calculates the consequences of this phase of play very finely 16.g5 f4 17.f3 fxg3 18.hxg3 xf1 19.xf1 xf3! 20.xf3 f8 21.xb4 ( 21.e2 c2! ) 21...xb4 22.axb4 xf3 23.b5 xf2+ 24.e1 f6 The upshot of this tactical exchange is that Black is now technically winning, and went on to convert in Bacrot, E (2470)-Hellsten, J (2490) Yerevan 1996 ] 9...h6 I'm not sure what I wanted to achieve with this move, as Bg5 is no longer a threat. Although sometimes ..h6 can be useful in any case, it creates luft for the King, and f a cilita te s th e ide a of . .Nh 7-g5 , a us ef u l manoeuvre in many positions. In fact I was playing quickly at this point, and for most of the game, as it was the final of W imbledon and I had a bet on Andy Murray. My philosophy was, if I lost quickly, no big deal I can go and watch the tennis! Better to get it out of the way rather than be ground down slowly in some endgame and don't get to watch the final either. Admittedly this is not a very professional attitude adhered to by the World's elite. The previous year in the same eve n t I ha d do n e t h e sa m e t h ing o nly t o watch painfully as Murray was beaten in the final by Federer.. that was even worse as I offered a quick draw (playing with the White pieces) to my 2200 rated opponent, who was quite clearly shocked, so everything went badly that day! Also that year I fell short of the prize winners, getting 6.5/9, this year he won and I came first equal, so clearly my fortunes are quite closely intertwined with those of Murray. Check the date also, 7/7/13. I'm sure Kasparov would have been salivating over the significance of such numbers! Actually It's not always a bad idea to play quickly against stronger opposition. They like to dominate both on the clock and on the board. What you don't want to do is play slowly and hesitantlystrong players can smell weakness. I once 1129
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 played a game against Sasikiran where I played very quickly, I had noticed that he generally played fast and liked to be ahead on the clock. He was taken out of his comfort zone, being behind on the clock for once, and I won easily. [ 9...b8 Probably makes more sense as it contains a concrete plan- to play ..b5. 10.b3 b5! 11.dxe5 xe5 12.xe5 dxe5 13.e2 b4 14.d5 xd5 15.cxd5 c5 16.b2 e7 17.ac1 d6 18.f4 f6 Black has comfortably equalised, and the game ended in a draw in Damljanovic, B (2625)Miladinovic, I (2584) Zlatibor 2006 ] 10.b3 e8 Solid, but perhaps not the best. [ 10...f5! was the choice of the "professor" Evgeny Tomashevsky, and who would argue with this renowned openings expert? 11.b2 exd4 12.exd4 e8 13.h2 d7 14.a3 h7 15.b4 ad8 16.d2 d5! 17.c5 e4 18.d1 b8 19.b3 xc3 20.xc3 e7! putting into motion the strategic plan indicated earlier- where Black frees the dormant bishop by means of ..c6. 21.e5 e6 22.b5 axb5 23.xb5 f6 24.g4 h5 25.e3 c6 26.xb7 h4! Black has excellent compensation for the pawn, and we n t o n t o win in Ma la kh o v, V (2 6 9 2 ) Tomashevsky, E (2664) Budva 2009 ] 11.dxe5 [ 11.b2 e4?! was David-Svetushkin, in the Archive. ] 11...xe5?! [ I underestimated the strength of 11...dxe5! during the game. 12.b2 e4! ( 12...f5 13.d5 e4 14.h4 xg2 15.xg2 xd5 16.cxd5 e7 17.e4 d6 about level in Vachier Lagrave, M (2705)B a l o g h , C ( 2 6 6 4 ) / S a i n t L o u i s 2 0 1 2 .) 13.xd8 xd8 14.h2 f5 15.g4 xg4 16.hxg4 xg4 17.xe4 d2 seems to at least equalise for Black. ] 12.xe5 dxe5 [ Originally I had intended to recapture with the rook, 12...xe5 but then I started to realise that after 13.b2! life would be far from a bed of roses. Black has real problems generating counterplay in this structure. White is threatening Nd5, and any attempt to develop the bishop on c8 simply hangs the b7 pawn, while if Black plays ..c6
first, then the d6 pawn can become terminally weak. e8 14.c2 ] 13.a3 c6 14.xd8 I was surprised he went for this queen exchange. This didn't seem to play to his strengths, as Gawain is a tactical genius who scores many brutal victories in the middlegame. Still, Black has problems to solve in the endgame as well. [ 14.c2 a5 15.b2 e6 16.ad1 ad8 17.h2 gives White a nagging edge. Later, he will move his knight to e4. ] 14...xd8 15.e7! d3! [ While the position after 15...e8 16.xf6 gxf6 17.e4 g7 18.g4! was probably just about holdable, I didn't fancy struggling to defend with this bad pawn structure against a 2650 player. Already White has a plan of Ng3, followed by Be4 and light squareddomination. ] 16.ac1 [ 16.xf6 gxf6 17.ac1 is now not a problem, as Black has f5! And there will be no bind on the light squares. If anything, I prefer Black then. ] 16...e6 17.fd1 xd1+ 18.xd1 d7 [ 18...h5!? was an idea, to prevent White's next. 19.d6 d7 20.e4 f6 21.a3 ] 19.g4 e8 20.d6 g6 21.d5! Here it comes. I seem to allow this idea a lot, as Yang-fan Zhou had the chance to play this against me in the final round of the British Championships, with a big advantage, but declined and the game ended in a draw. It's not anything like so dangerous as it was in that game, but W hite does bag the two bishops. Fortunately I'm compact enough to not experience any serious problems... or am I? b8 22.c7 xc7 23.xc7 f5 24.gxf5?! [ There was certainly an argument for 24.f3! with more of a slow-build up, of Kf2-Kg3. These endings where you are defending against the two bishops can be torturous. I had a similar game in a recent tournament in Ghent, where I was crushed easily by my 2500 rated opponent in such an endgame. You ne ed to ge t some ou tp ost f o r you r knight, to gain some counterplay somehow, or it's going to be a long day. ] 24...gxf5 25.f3 [ 25.f4 e4! With the point of playing against the white light-squared bishop, allows Black 1130
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to maintain the balance. ] 25...c8 26.d6 f7 27.h5+ f6 I felt comfortable at this stage, as while he may have the two bishops, my position seemed very compact, I have very few weaknesses and all my pieces are well placed. Over the next few moves he even started over-pressing to the point where he risked losing. 28.f4 b5! Fighting for space. 29.e2 bxc4 30.bxc4 c5 31.fxe5+ Gawain had a big think before playing this, as it suddenly started to dawn on him that his bishop on d6 was in danger of getting trapped. [ If White plays a neutral move like 31.f2 then he needs to find something quickly against e4! With the threat of .. Rc6, ..Bf7 and ..Ke6, winning the bishop. 32.d2 c6 And White must jettison a pawn with 33.h5 xc4 to prevent the aforementioned plan. ] 31...xe5 32.f2 c6 33.f8?! xc4?! [ 33...xc4! and Black is starting to get serious chances. During the game I feared t h e s e q u e n c e 34.xc4 xc4 35.xh6 with the idea of running the h-pawn, but in fact Black's c-pawn is the more dangerous. d6! 36.h4 e4+ 37.f3 c4 38.f4? b6 Illustrates the dangers facing W hite, as suddenly the threat of Rb2-f2 mating, rears it's ugly head... ] 34.xh6 d6 35.f3 And with this move he offered a draw, so we were off down the pub to watch the final set and half of the tennis. In fact after the game I asked Gawain why he played the English, as I was expecting more of a main-line d4 opening. He told me it was because he had read my article on chess publishing where I explained that I did badly against openings like the English where it's a slow-build up. Perha ps I shouldn't be so honest in future! ½-½
1139 Jones,Gawain C Swiercz,Dariusz Bundesliga 1213 (12.3) [Danny Gormally]
A29 2641 2609 17.03.2013
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 g6 4.f3 c6 5.d4 exd4 6.xd4 g7 7.xc6 bxc6
8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 e8 10.a4 Played with two intentions in mind: firstly to concretely discourage the central break ...d5, and also to prepare Rd1, a very natural square for the rook. However it could be argued that this m o ve i s m o s t e f f e c t i ve wh e n B l a c k h a s already committed the rook to the b-file with .. Rb8, as then White would also create a threat against the a-pawn. [ The major alternative is to immediately activate the bishop with 10.f4 In that case W hite can also lay claim to a slight a d va n t a g e . b8 11.b1 g4 12.a4! xc3 13.bxc3 xb1 14.xb1 g5!? A very direct approach that is typical of Ernst, who takes few prisoners. Recently in the 13 round W ijk Aan Zee B group, I believe he only drew one game! Don't expect any dull draws when he's near a chessboard. 15.d2 xe2 16.d1 A) And now best would have been 16...e7! 17.xg5! ( The greedy 17.b8?! d o e s n ' t wo r k o u t ve r y we l l a f t e r xf2 18.xc8+ g7 19.c2 h3+! 20.xh3 c5+ 21.h1 f2-+ ) 17...xf2 18.xe7 xd1 19.f6 e1+ 20.f1 e6 21.d4 c5 22.xc5 xc3 23.b8 e8 24.a3 a6 25.d3 Is certainly better for White, but Black has certain holding chances.; B) 16...xf2? Was played in the game. Black doesn't really get enough for the e x c h a n g e a f t e r t h i s . 17.h3 xd2 18.xd2 e5 19.e2 f6 20.b8 Timman, J (2635)-Ernst, S (2300)/ Rotterdam 1998. ] 10...a5!? [ 10...b7 Was the choice of the Mercurial Ukrainian genius Ivanchuk, who in my eyes at least is one of the f oremost opening experts in the world. He seems to have unique and original ideas in every opening under the sun! 11.f4 c8 12.ad1 a5 13.d2 h6 14.fd1 c5! ( 14...g5 15.e3 xe3!? 16.fxe3 e8 Would have been similar to our main game, Black has plenty of action for the exchange, but there is no need for radical measures 17.e4 e5 ) 15.xb7 xb7 16.b5 d6 Already Black's position looks far more harmonious and Miles feels forced into the following dubious combination. 17.xd6 cxd6 18.xd6 c7 1131
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.xe8 xe8 20.e3 f8 21.d3 h5 22.a3 a8 23.h4 d6 24.c2 c6 25.a4 c7 26.c2 f8 27.e4 e8 28.e3 g7 29.d3 e6 30.d7 d8! Miles, A (2580)-Ivanchuk, V (2660)/Biel 1989. ] 11.d1 b7 [ 11...e7 12.f4 g4 13.xc7? A rather greedy pawn grab which is quickly p o u n c e d u p o n b y B la c k , c5! 14.e3 ( 14.f1 xc3 15.bxc3 xe2 16.d1 xf2 17.d4 xd4 18.cxd4 xg2+ 19.xg2 e3+ ) 14...xf2! 15.xf2 xe3+ 16.f1 a6 Black has more than enough action for the piece 17.f4 c5 18.f3 g5! Vaganian, R (2625) -Akopian, V (2605)/ Yerevan 1994. ] 12.f4 h5!? [ 12...c8 Would transpose into the aforementioned Ivanchuk game. ] 13.e3? From a practical point of view this is a poor decision, and rather akin to putting your head into the opponent's jaws. However Jones, who has made fantastic strides over the last few years, is not averse to taking risks in order to unbalance the situation on the bo a rd . I t b a c kf ire d o n h im t h is t im e , b u t overall this highly-aggressive approach works in his favour. [ 13.d2 e7 would have kept things fairly balanced. ] 13...xe3! Petrosian would have played this without batting an eyelid. 14.fxe3 e7 Objectively speaking after the exchange sac the game remains fairly balanced, but Black's position is much easier to handle- his moves are fairly obvious, while White has a difficult task trying to defuse the initiative. And in this go ld e n a ge f o r p ra g m a t i c c h e ss p la ye rs , practical chances mean everything. 15.d3 f6 16.ad1 g4 17.e4 e5 18.c3 h5! Intending to "soften up" the kingside. It is not clear what W hite should do- his rooks lack meaningful targets. 19.f2 h4 20.gxh4 xh4 21.d4 g5 22.e4 h4 23.f2 h5! 24.d1 f8 25.h3 d6 26.c5 a6 27.f3 xf3+ 28.exf3 xd4 29.xd4 xf3 Black has got the exchange back and White now faces an uphill struggle trying to save the game, something he was not able to do. 30.e4 [ 30.e4 f5 31.f6+ f7 Leads nowhere. ]
30...f4 31.cxd6 cxd6 32.g4 c5 33.e3 xe3+ 34.xe3 b8 35.e5 dxe5 36.xc5 xb2 37.xa5 b7 38.xe5 xa2 39.c5 e2 40.c3 g7 41.g4 d5 42.f1 b2 43.g1 e6 Despite the limited material White is really suffering- the Black position is far more compact. Perhaps only an endgame genius like Carlsen could save the white position. (or failing that, Houdini 3.) 44.c5 f8 45.a5 e7 46.a7+ f8 47.a5 c2 48.a8+ g7 49.a5 d2 50.c5 a2 51.b5 a4 52.f2 h6 53.e5 a2 54.c5 e2 55.a5 e3 56.h2 f5! 57.h4 h5 58.a4 d5 59.f4 e4 60.h3 e2+ 61.g1 g2+ 62.h1 g4+ 63.h2 xh4 64.f2 g5 65.g1 g3 66.a2 g4 67.b2 a3 68.e2 g3+ 0-1
1140 Kamsky,G Svidler,P Makedonia Palace GP (6.5) [Daniel Gormally]
A29 2741 2769 28.05.2013
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.f3 c6 7.d3 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.e3 e6 10.c1 f5 11.a3 f6 [ In another game, Black chose to force mat ters.. . 11...f4!? Although this concedes control of the e4 square. 12.xb6 axb6 13.e4 h8 14.c3 d5 15.fd2 d7 16.e3 e6 17.c2 ac8 And Black had good chances, the game later ended in a draw in Granda Zuniga, J (2648)-Mecking, H (2602) Sao Paolo 2012 ] 12.d2 h8 13.b4 I must confess that I had a dif f icult time when tryin g this cla ssica l English from the Black side. The reason for this is quite simple- I'm good at what I call reaction chess, tactics and so on, positions where the pieces collide in open combat and you have to react to your opponents threats, but at slow, strategic chess, where you have to think up plans and think about where your pieces belong, I'm absolutely hopeless, a complete beginner. This is because I belong to the Facebook generation, the twitterati, that seeks instant gratification and has the sort of patience that would shame a goldfish. Kamsky 1132
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 on the other hand, is a master of positional play, honed by hours of deep study of the finer points of strategy as a youngster, and t h e s o r t o f s l o w- b u i l d u p we s e e i n t h i s opening plays right into his wheelhouse. b8 Simply played to protect the b-pawn, so that the knight on c6 can move. 14.c5 e7 15.b5 bc8 16.a4 b6 17.a3 d6 18.c2 c8 19.c1 d7 20.e1 fd8 21.e4! J u s t a t t h e ri gh t m o m e n t . T h e se kin d o f central breaks often cause a headache for Black in this variation. Because of the slow build-up, it's often difficult to switch from m a n o e u ve r in g p la y t o t h e c a lcu la t i o n o f concrete variations. g5 22.a1 c5 23.f3 f6 24.b2 g6 25.h4 h5 Understandably, Black desires to prevent any dislodging of the knight with h5, but by doing so he creates another potential weakness, which Kamsky expertly demonstrates. [ Given how the game pans out after this, Kamsky almost makes ..h5 look like a forced loss! 25...c4 May have made White's task som ewh at to ugh er. Af te r 26.d2 f7 27.exf5 xf5 28.h5 cxd3 29.hxg6 xg6 Black gains some serious compensation for the piece. At least this would sharpen things up a bit- in the game Black loses with a fight. ] 26.d5 f7 27.d1! f4 Practically forced. 28.h2! g4 29.xg4 hxg4 30.gxf4 xh4 31.f5 h6 32.f3! gxf3 33.xf3 f7 34.h5 g8 35.e3 b3 36.d2 c4 37.dxc4 b4 38.d5 xd5 39.cxd5 g5 40.f2 c3 41.xc3 xc3 42.h2 f4 43.e2 An extremely accurate game by Kamsky, who was ruthless in the prosecution of his advantage. 1-0
1141 Kanep,Meelis Sammalvuo,Tapani TCh-FIN 2006-7 (5) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2510 2458 19.11.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 b4 4.g2 0-0 5.f3 e8 6.0-0 e4 7.d4 c6 8.c2 xc3 9.bxc3 This is generally considered to be less accurate than 9 dxc3, but can still be
considered as an alternative, but it has to be said that Black has scored remarkably well after the text move. [ A couple of lines concerning 9.dxc3 h6 10.e3 d6 11.c2 ( 11.f4 exf3 12.exf3 d7 13.h3 e7 14.c2 d5= Lautier, JKarpov, An Biel-A 1990 CBM/19) 11...e5 (also 11. ..Bd7, 11...b6, and 11...a5 have been tried here) 12.d2 d7 13.f4 exf3 14.exf3 c8 15.fe1 e8 16.d5 xd5 17.xe8+ xe8 18.cxd5 e5 19.c4 f8 20.h3 e8 21.f4 g6 22.c3 c5 23.h2 e7 with, according to the ECO, equal chances, Polugaevsky-Savon, Petropolis IZT 1 9 7 3, b ut it h a s t o b e sa id I wo u ld rather play W hite than Black here due to White spatial advantage and bishop pair. ] 9...d5 [ 9...d6!? has also been tried a this point, but 9...d5 is the main line ] 10.cxd5 xd5 11.d4 [ This is considered as best by Ribli. But if Sammalvuo's new idea holds up, then White will have to look for alternatives at this juncture. The alternatives are: 11.d3 h5 12.e3 h3 13.d4 ( 13.dxe4?! xg2 14.xg2 xe4 15.b1 b6 J.Sajtar-R. Fuchs, Leipzig 1965) 13...ad8 14.c2 e7 15.f3 xg2 16.xg2 g6 17.b1 b6 18.g4 a5 19.d2 A.Sznapik-J.Pribyl, Stockholm 1975 exf3 20.exf3 d5 21.e3 d7 ] [ 11.e3 h5 and here several things have been tried: A) 12.b1 A1) 12...e5 13.d4 ( 13.f3?! exf3 14.exf3 d3 15.c2 d8 16.c4 c5 17.b3 b4 18.b1 c6 D.Juswanto-V.Sadvakasov, Bali 2000) 13...eg4 14.xg4 xg4 15.h3 f6 R.Flacco-L. Christianse n, Lone Pin e 1972 16.g4 d5 17.b3 c6 18.e3; A2) 12...b6!? 13.f3 e5! 14.fxe4 eg4 15.xg4 xg4 16.c2 xe2 17.e1 f3 18.d3 xg2 19.xg2 c5 B.Larsen-M.Adams, Buenos Aires 1991 20.c4!? (Korchnoi) with chances for both sides; B) 12.f3 exf3 ( 12...e5! (Korchnoi) 13.fxe4 eg4 14.xg4 xg4 Ribli ) 13.exf3 1133
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B1) 13...e6!? 14.d4 ad8 15.d2 d5 16.e1 ( 16.f4!? xd1 17.xd1 f5 18.e1 f6 19.e3= ) 16...xe3 17.xe3 d5 18.e2 ( 18.xe8+ xe8 19.f1 f6 20.b1 b6= ) 18...f6 19.b1 f7 20.f1 P.Byway-D.King, Morecambe 1981 a5!?; B2) 13...d5 14.f4 xd1 15.xd1 b6 B2a) 16.f5 a5 17.e3 ac4 18.xc4 xc4 19.b1 ( 19.f6!? g6 20.d3 d6 21.f4 ) 19...d6 20.g4 d7 21.d3 A. Gamundi Salamanca-J. Campos Moreno, Olot 1996; B2b) 16.e3 B2b1) 16...f6 17.d4 ( 17.f5 d7 18.d4 ) 17...d7 18.d2 ad8 19.fe1 e6 20.f5 f7 21.xc6 bxc6 22.g2 c4 1/2-1/2 A. Perkins-A.Williams, Brighton 1972; B2b2) 16...a5 17.d3 E. Geller-J. Dorfman, URS-ch (Yerevan) 1975; C) 12.d4 g4 13.xg4 xg4 14.f3 exf3 15.exf3 h3 ( 15...e6 16.f4 a5 17.d3 ad8 18.fe1= B.Heggheim, BD. King, Hamar 1982) 16.xh3 xh3 17.f4 d7 ( 17...e7!? 18.e1 d5 19.d2 xe1+ 20.xe1 d7 and Black has the initiative) 18.d2 a5 19.ae1= R.Stoutenborough-A.Bisguier, Ventura 1971 ] [ 11.f3?! c5+ 12.h1 exf3 13.xf3 g4 14.xf6 gxf6 15.e3 xe3 16.dxe3 d8 E, Ubilava-N.Rashkovsky, Kujbyshev 1986 ] 11...c4!? [ This is a brand new idea, and it appears a rather effective one. 11...h5 A) 12.f4 h3 ( here 12...d5!? 13.d2 h3 14.b1 xg2 15.xg2 a5 looks rather pleasant for Black) 13.e3 ( 13.e3!? ) 13...f5 ( 13...g4 looks very tempting, but after 14.f3 xg2 15.fxg4 h3 16.f2 f3 17.f1 xg4 18.e1 e7 19.xf3 exf3 20.xf3 the chances are about even) 14.f3?! ( 14.b1!? ) 14...xg2 15.xg2 exf3+ 16.xf3 J.Perez Martin-V.Gomez Polo, Malaga 1984 e4 17.c4 d7; B) 12.c4 a6 13.f4 b5 B1) 14.cxb5!? axb5 15.f3 e7 ( 15...a7 16.a3 exf3 17.xf3 g4
18.h4 g6 19.e4 ) 16.d2 d5 17.g5 e3 18.xe3 f5 19.f4 e4 20.xe4 xe4 21.d3 f5 with some compensation for the pawn, but this may be worth a try for White.; B2) 14.f3 bxc4 15.xc7 h3 ( 15...d5! 16.d6 h3 is very unpleasant for White and a clear improvement over the game) 16.g4 h6 17.c1 xc1 18.fxc1 xg2 19.xg2 d5 and Black has the slightly better chances, Bobotsov-Fuchs, Sochi 1966; C) 12.f3 h3 ( 12...exf3!? 13.exf3 d5 14.d2 a5 15.a3 b6 is equal according to I.Sokolov) 13.g4 h4 14.e3 g6 ( Black has to be a little careful h e r e , e . g . 14...xg2 15.xg2 h3 16.g5 d5 17.b3 is far from desirable; whereas 14...exf3 15.exf3 e7 16.d2 fd5 17.e1 xe1 18.axe1 xg2 19.xg2 b6 is fine for Black ) C1) 15.b3!? a5 ( 15...ab8 16.xh3 xh3 17.g5 h5 18.fxe4 d8 19.e5 wins for White) 16.a4 c6 17.c4 is clearly better for White; C2) 15.d2 exf3 16.xh3! f2+ ( 16...xh3 17.xf3 h4 18.g2 xg4 19.xf6 xe2 20.f2+- Ribli ) 17.xf2 ( 17.g2!? keeps the extra piece ) 17...xe3 18.xe3 xh3 19.f3 xg4+ 20.h1 and White was clearly better, but nonetheless still failed to convert the advantage, Ljubojevic-I. Sokolov, Groningen 1993 ] [ 11...a5 12.e3 c6 13.d5 xc3 14.d2 a3 15.c1! Ribli ] 12.b2 b5 13.b1 e6 14.a1 [ This is not exactly where White ideally want to put his bishop, but better alternatives are not easy to find, e.g. 14.a3 a6 15.a1 a5 ] 14...a6! This is a beautiful, yet remarkably simple move by forcing White to push his apawn to a3, the bishop on a1 becomes even worse, and at the same time, by maintaining control over the c4-square, Black contains White's game, and his ability to free himself. 15.a3 c4 16.e1 d5 This is textbook stuff, maintaining a light-squared strategy while controlling the opponent's active counterplay. 17.d2 1134
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 17.b4 cxb4 18.axb4 e3 ( 18...f5!? ) 19.f4 g6 ( 19...ad8 20.c2= )] 17...b6 18.b4 cxb4 19.cxb4?! [ This simply loses a pawn for no co m p en s a tio n . W h ite u nd o u bt e d ly h a d hoped to bring some life to his pieces, but not much of this is gained in the game. Somewhat better, and not losing a pawn is 19.axb4 c8 20.c2 e6 ] 19...xa3 20.c2 a2 21.b2 xb4 22.xc7 a4 White has so me more activity than before and a passed d-pawn, whereas Black's pieces are lined up on the a-file with two passed pawns barely out of their starting blocks. Yet it is important to notice that White h a s n 't a c c o m p li sh e d m u ch co m p a re d t o bef ore, since Black's pieces have easier access to the important squares and files, while W hite's are still in each other's way. 23.c1 b3 [ 23...d5!? ] 24.f4 [ On 24.bb1 d5 Black is also clearly better ] 24...d5 25.f5 g6! 26.g4 f5! This weakening of the dark squares could be a serious issue, if White's dormant bishop on a1 is let out of its cage. On the other hand if Black can maintain the blockade on d5 and keep up his light-squared strategy, then he will b e we ll o n h is wa y t o victo ry. 27.h3 ac8 28.f1 d1 29.d2 xa1 30.dxd1 b2 31.e3 Black's strategy has triumphed, he is in complete control of the board with more space, better placed and coordinated pieces and a couple of passed pawns that can make life truly miserable for W hite. If Black m a i n t a i n s h i s g r i p h e s h o u l d w i n . c3 32.de1 e2+ 33.h1 c1 Black is pretty much doing what he pleases at this point. 34.g4 A desperate lunge for activity and counterplay. f4! [ 34...d3!? is also very good. ] 35.xe4 When White has to play something like this, the end is near. xe4 36.f3 e7 37.exf4 f7 38.e3 a2 39.e6 c3! 40.xa2 f3+ 41.g1 xg4+ 42.h1 f3+ 43.g1 g4+ 44.h1 xf4 45.e7 c1! 0-1
1142 Karpov,Anatoly Bacrot,Etienne Gp A Cap d'Agde FRA (1) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2699 2613 29.10.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 g6 5.d4 exd4 [ Black must concede the centre, 5...d6?! 6.dxe5 xe5 7.xe5 dxe5 8.xd8+ xd8 9.g5 e7 10.0-0-0+ d7 11.h4 f6 12.e3 c6 13.h5 is difficult for Black, Petrosian, T-Bannik,A/URSS. ] 6.xd4 g7 7.xc6 [ 7.g2 keeps more tension, and is considered in the archives. ] 7...dxc6! [ At first sight this recapture (away from the centre) seems wrong, but actually after this Black has two pawn islands, as opposed to the three after 7...bxc6 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 a5 10.e3 with an edge, Gheorghiu,F-Hebert,R/ Buenos Aires/1978. ] 8.xd8+ xd8 Black's active pieces give him real compensation for the doubled c-pawns, and displaced king. 9.g5!? [ A new try from Karpov, previously White had not been particularly successful with: 9.d2 e6 10.e4 e7 11.e2 hd8 12.f3 d7 13.0-0-0 e5 equal, Uhlmann,W-Lau, D/Dortmund 1990, ] [ 9.e4 g4 ( and not 9...xe4? 10.xe4 e8 11.g5+ f6 12.0-0-0+ winning ) 10.e2 xe2 11.xe2 e8 12.f3 d7 13.g5+ c8 14.ac1 a5! with good co u n t e r c h a n c e s , G u l k o , B - K r a m n i k , V / Novgorod 1995. Actually, the structure is reminiscent of the Berlin Defences employed by Kramnik in his match against Kasparov. ] [ 9.f3 e6 10.e4 d7 11.e3 c8 12.0-0-0?! e8 13.e2 b6! 14.c5 d7 15.c2 f8! 16.b4 a5 17.a3 f5 with good play for Black once again, Janssen,R-Bacrot, E/Wijk aan Zee 1997. ] [ and 9.g2?! is worse, e6 10.c5 ( 10.b3? e4 ) 10...d7 and the c-pawn is a problem. ] 9...h6 10.d1+ e7 [ So, White obliges the black king to go to e7, instead of c8, its favourite square in this line, 1135
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 as 10...d7?! 11.xf6+! xf6 12.e4 xb2 13.h3 f5 14.c5 and Black has problems. ] 11.e3 e6 12.c5+ e8 13.e3 d8 14.xd8+ xd8 15.d4 e8 16.d2 b6 17.b4 e7 18.d3 f8 19.a3 d7 Black is having some problems bringing his pieces to their ideal squares, and meanwhile White increases his space advantage. 20.a4 f5 21.e4 f7 22.e1 d8 23.exf5 gxf5 24.c2 a5 25.bxa5?! [ A l l o w i n g B l a c k l o t s o f p l a y , 25.c3 might be better. ] 25...a8! 26.c3 xa3 27.d2 d6 [ 27...bxa5!? ] 28.e2 f6 29.f3? [ 29.c5! bxc5 30.b2 creates a useful passed a-pawn. ] 29...bxa5 30.c5 f8 31.b1 a7 32.d3 d5 33.b8 f6 34.e3 d7! 35.b1 e5 Taking aim at the f-pawn, now Black is clearly on top. 36.f4 [ 36.e2 d5 37.f1 is too passive. ] 36...xd3 37.xd3 a8 [ 37...c8! 38.d4 a6+ 39.c2 b5 would free the a-pawns path. ] 38.b7 d8+ 39.d4?! Self-pinning moves like this are always dangerous. d7? [ Missing 39...b3! 40.xb3 g7 regaining the piece with a big plus. ] 40.e3 c4 41.a7 Now White is fine. e7+ 42.e5 g7 43.c3 b3 [ 43...xe5 44.fxe5 xe5+?? 45.d4 ] 44.xa5 xe5 45.fxe5 xe5+ 46.d4 e7 Black is now a pawn up, but his structure is poor. 47.a3 e6 48.e5 d7+ 49.f4 e1 50.a5 f1+ 51.e3 h1 52.h4 e1+ 53.e2 e6 54.d2 b1 55.a7 d5 56.xc7+ f6 57.h7 b2+ 58.d3 e4+ 59.e3 b3+ 60.d4 d3+ 61.c4 e3 Black has jettisoned a pawn for some activity. 62.f4 xg3 63.xh6+ [ 63.h5+ g6 64.xh6+ xh6 65.xg3 is also equal, and transposes to the game. ] 63...g7!? [ 63...e5 64.g6+ f6 65.f4+ draws immediately. ] 64.h5+ [ 64.xc6! g4 65.c7+ f6 66.d5+ offered better chances. ] 64...xh6 65.xg3 d5+
[ 65...b1 ] 66.d3 f4 67.e2 f3 68.f4 e4+ 69.e3 h7 70.h5 c2 71.g3 d1 72.f5 g6 73.d4 h5 74.xf3 g4 75.e5+ xh4 76.f4 a4 77.f5 g3 78.e6 f4 79.d6 e4 80.xc6 White has won the c-pawn under favourable circumstances, but it is still a theoretical draw. d3 81.c7 c4 82.b6 d5 83.a7 d7 84.b5 c4 ½-½
1143 Karpov,Anatoly Vyzmanavin,Alexey Tilburg (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2760 2605 1993
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.c2 0-0 [ 7...c6 8.0-0 0-0 9.d3 h6 10.d1 ( 10.a3 is Kasimdzhanov-Timman, W ijk aan Zee 1999 - see the PGN archives) 10...d6 11.g2 e7 12.d2 a5 13.a3 c5 14.e1!? g4 15.ab1 d4 16.h3 e6 17.e3 a7 18.h2 h5 19.e2 d7 ( 19...d5!? 20.cxd5 cxd5; 19...h4!? ) 20.e4!? xe4 21.dxe4 f6 ( 21...h4!? 22.g4 e7 ) 22.bc1 f7? ( 22...h4!? ) 23.xa5 xe3 24.xe3 xa5 25.xd6 xc4 26.d2 b5 27.b4+1-0 Tomashevsky, E-Pert, R/Dresden GER 2007 ] 8.0-0 [ 8.d3 c6 9.a3 e7 10.0-0 d5 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.g5 e6 13.fc1 d7 ( 13...h6!? 14.xf6 xf6 ) 14.a4 xa4 15.xa4 ac8 16.xf6 gxf6 17.e3 , and thanks to his superior pawn structure, W hite has a slight, but enduring initiative, which allowed him t o to rt ure Black f or a con sice ra ble amount of time, before agreeing to a draw, E.Bareev-B.Gelfand, Monte Carlo (blindfold) 2005 ] [ 8.a3 xc3 9.xc3 ( 9.dxc3!? ) 9...d6 10.0-0 h3 11.e1 c6 12.e4 d7 ( 12...g4!? 13.d4 f6 is quite pleasant for Black ) 13.d4 f6 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.b4 fe8 16.b2 b6 17.d1! V.Ivanchuk-A. Khalifman, USSR Ch (Moscow) 1988 ] 1136
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8...e8 9.d3 [ 9.d1 c6 10.d4 ( 10.a3!? ) 10...xc3 11.bxc3 ( 11.xc3 e4 12.g2 d5 13.g5 dxc4 14.xc4 h6= ) 11...e4 12.g2 d6 13.g5 f5 14.c5 ( 14.d2!? ) 14...h6 15.f4 d5 ( 15...dxc5!? 16.dxc5 a5 looks like a decent option for Black, who can't be worse) 16.ab1 c8 17.e3 h3 18.b3 xg2 19.xg2 d7 20.c4 dxc4 21.xc4 with pressure along the b-file, R. Vaganian-A.Yusupov, Rostov 1980 ] 9...h6 [ 9...c6 A) 10.g2 h6 11.b1 d5 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.b3 xc3 14.bxc3 b6 15.a4 g4 16.e1 d7 17.d2 ac8 18.a5 bxa5 19.a3 b8 is comfortable for Black, A. Karpov-J. Smejkal, Milan 1975; B) 10.a3 xc3 11.xc3 d5 12.cxd5 xd5 13.c2 c7 ( 13...e6 14.d2 d7 15.fe1 c7 16.c5 g4 17.xg4 xg4 18.b4 d7= P. David-S.Berezjuk, Czech Rep 2004) 14.b4 h3 15.d1 e6 16.b2 f6 17.ab1 ad8 and Black has least equalised, J.SmejkalV.Korchnoi, Palma de Mallorca 1972; C) 10.g5!? C1) or 10...h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.e4 g6 13.a3 ( 13.c5!? ) 13...f8 14.c5 f5 15.d2 d5 16.cxd6 xd6 17.c4 c7 with fairly even chances, J.TimmanM.Tal, Tilburg 1980; C2) 10...e7 11.fd1 d6 12.b4 a6 13.d4 exd4 14.xd4 , and White has t h e u p p e r h a n d , B l a c k' s p o si t i o n i s uncomfortably passive, M.Tal-A.Kochyev, Moscow 1981 ] 10.d2 [ White should probably give preference to 10.a3 xc3 11.xc3 d5 12.cxd5 xd5 13.c5 ( 13.b3!? c6 14.d1 a5 15.e4 f6 16.e3 ) A) or 13...c6 14.d2 b6 15.xb6 axb6 16.a4 c7 17.e3 b5?! 18.axb5 xa1 19.xa1 xb5 20.b6 ( 20.a8!? ) 20...d4 21.xd4 exd4 22.a4 d8 23.a8 e8 24.a4 d8 25.a7 h3 26.g2! ( 26.xb7?? a8-+ ) 26...xg2 27.xg2 d7 28.a8+ h7 29.a7 g6 30.f4 e7 31.f3 e3+ 32.f2 e7 33.b4 f6 34.a8 h5? ( 34...d7 )
35.d8 1-0 Cvetkovic, S-Skalkotas, N/ Kavala 1990/CBM 21/[Ribli]; B) 13...f6 14.c2 c6 15.b4 g4 16.h1 d7 17.b2 ad8 18.fe1 a6 19.ad1 e6 20.f3 h3 21.e4 d7 ( 21...a2 22.f4!? ) 22.d4! exd4 23.xd4 ed8 24.ed1 a2 , and here a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, I.FaragoM.Tseitlin, Polanica Zdroj 1978, but I think that White still has the better chances after 25.xd7 xd7 26.e1! , and White will start rolling with his e- and f-pawns ] 10...c6 11.ac1 d6 12.g2 e6 13.h3 a5 14.a3 d5 15.b4 b6 16.a4 d7 17.h2 ac8= 18.cd1 f5 19.e4 g6 20.xb6 axb6 21.c1 b5 22.c5 cd8 23.b2 c7 24.fe1 h7 25.e2 dxe4 26.dxe4 f6 27.h4 f8 28.xd8 xd8 29.d1 e6 30.d3 f7 31.d1 xd3 32.xd3 b6 33.cxb6 xb6 34.d2 d4 35.c3 c5 36.bxc5 xc5 37.b4 c6 38.c3 c4 39.e3 c2 40.d2 xb4 41.axb4 c7 42.h3 f7 ½-½
1144 Kasimdzhanov,Rustam Timman,Jan H Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee NED (5) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2595 2649 21.01.1999
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 Black breaks the first rule of the opening, m o v i n g a d e v e l o p e d p i e c e t w i c e . 5.g2 No-one ever takes the pawn by [ 5.xe5?! as after e7 6.f4 ( 6.d3?? f3# is the point.) 6...d6 7.d3 f5 Black has a virulent initiative. ] 5...xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 What is the idea? The c6-knight is often awkwardly placed in 4...Bb4 lines, but here not only is e5 no longer attacked, but Black might also be able to play ...c6, and ...d5. 7.0-0 [ 7.a4!? was tried by Ivanchuk, against Svidler, at Wijk aan Zee 1999, but following c6 8.0-0 0-0 9.d4 e4 10.g2 d5 Black had no problems whatsoever. ] 7...0-0 8.c2!? White controls e4, and dissuades Black from capturing on c3, but [ 8.g2 is simpler. e8 9.d3 c6 10.b3! 1137
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 otherwise Black would play 10...d5, and may even have the advantage. c5 11.h3! h6 12.h2 b6 Lautier,J-Salov,V/Madrid 1993, and now 13.f4! would give White a plus. ] 8...c6 9.d3 h6 Black prevents the pin Bg5 in orde r t o p la y . . .d 5 . 10.a3 e7 11.e4 A standard idea in the English, by preventing the freeing move ...d5 White keeps control of t h e c e n t re . d6 12.b4 h7 13.g2 f5 Black looks for his counterplay elsewhere, and while the centre is static can afford to expand on the wing. 14.f4! exf4 15.xf4 g5 16.h1 fxe4 17.dxe4!? A doubleedged decision, [ 17.xe4 xe4 18.xe4 h3 leads to immediate equality, aiming for more, White isolates his own e-pawn, but hopes for play against the d6-pawn along the dfile. ] 17...e6 18.e3 xf1+ 19.xf1 g5 Of course, with this pawn formation Black would like to exchange his lesser bishop. 20.xg5 Personally, I would play [ 20.g1 in such a position. ] 20...xg5 21.d3 e5 The fruit of his 19th move, the queen settles happily on the central e5-square. 22.a4 g5 23.c5 f7 24.cxd6 xd6 25.c5 g4 26.b3+ h8 27.d3 White manages to break the blockade of e4. d4 28.f4?! A misjudgement, White had to play the natural [ 28.e5 freeing his g2-bishop, even though c4 29.f4 a1+ 30.f1 only leads to a draw by repetition. ] 28...c4! 29.g6+ h7 30.f8+ g8 Black is not happy with a draw by 30...Kh8 now. 31.g6 e8 32.b5 e6 33.a4 f7 Trying to shift the annoying white knight. 34.h4 cxb5 35.xb5 e3 36.f5! White takes the opportunity to even-out his pawn structure. xf5 37.exf5 b6 38.c6 The extra black queenside pawn may prove useful in an endgame, so W hite decides to use his trump- the f5-pawn. e2 39.f6 gxf6 Black has no more than a draw after [ 39...xg2 40.c8+ h7 41.xg2 ] 40.a8+? In zeitnot White sends his queen offside, [ 40.xf6 xf6 41.xf6 is better for Black, because of the queenside majority, but should be defensible . ]
40...g7 41.xa7 g6! Black unpins the bishop so that it can take part in the decisive attack. 42.a6 xg2! 43.xg2 d5+ [ 43...d5+ 44.h3 e4 threatens mate with ...Be6+, and wins the house. ] 0-1
1145 Kasparov,Garry Sadvakasov,Darmen It Astana KAZ (5) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2827 2585 25.05.2001
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.g5 xc3 8.bxc3 e8 9.f3 This move led to many famous World Championship battles with Karpov, it is interesting to see what tricks Kasparov has ' u p h i s s l e e v e ' ! e3 This was Karpov's immediate reaction. The e-pawn is sacrificed to further weaken the white c-pawns. 10.dxe3!? [ Interesting, Kasparov had first played 10.d3 (see the archives for this move) and then had switched to ] [ 10.d4 with success. Now he tries the third possibility. ] 10...e7!? [ An unusual alternative to 10...h6 and ] [ 10...b6 , both considered in the archives. ] 11.h3!? [ One of the ex-World Champion's many innovations, the knight is misplaced, and so returns to the fray via h3, and f4. 11.e4!? c5+ 12.h1 h6 13.h3 xc4 leads to similar play, Zagorskis,DSammalvuo,T/Copenhagen 1998. ] 11...c5 As in the previous note, Black heads f o r t h e c 4 - p a wn . 12.f4 xc4 13.e4 What is the advantage of White's move-order, as he seems to have an almost identica l position to the Zagorskis game? Well, he has avoided having to move his king, and thus Black hasn't played the useful move ...h6. d6 [ 13...xc3!? 14.b1 b6 15.b2 is very risky, the b2-bishop could become very strong. ] 14.d3 e5 [ Not 14...xd3? 15.exd3 evening-out the white formation, when his bishops would 1138
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 give him a plus. ] 15.xc4 xc4 16.g4 White mobilises his mass of kingside pawns. b8 17.d1 b6 18.g5 d7 19.d5 b7 20.f4 Controlling the e5-square, and threatening to displace Black's powerful c4-knight. f8 21.d4 a5 [ 21...b5!? was also possible, but Black had to evaluate the line 22.a4!? c6 23.e3 e6 24.xc4 xd4 25.xd6 ] 22.f5 d7 23.b1 c5 24.d3 a4 Black's solid structure offsets the disadvantage of W hite's bishops. 25.f4!? The World no.1 sacs the exchange to correct his pawn structure. c2 26.b2 xd3 27.exd3 d8 28.h4 c6 29.h5 e7 30.e3 bd7 At the moment the black rooks have no open files, and the black knights no go o d squ a res , b ut W h ite h a s t o ach ie ve something concrete before Black can correct this situation. 31.g4 c6 32.h6 e5! The k nigh t arrive s just in t im e to red uce W h i t e ' s d a r k - s q u a r e d p r e s s u r e . 33.xe5 dxe5 34.hxg7 xg7 35.f1 d6 The pawn couldn't be defended, but at least Black has opened the d-line. 36.xe5 [ 36.f6+ h8 37.xe5 g8 is worse, as it allo ws th e f 8-kn igh t t o co m e to a go o d square, e6 or g6. ] 36...f6 37.g4?! [ 37.c4 c6 38.gxf6+ xf6 39.f2 appears stronger, e5 is a strong threat, and if d7 40.h2 is very awkward. ] 37...fxg5 38.h2 e8 39.e5 d5 40.f6+ h8 41.h6 White has allowed Black to blockade the pawns, and so decides to force a perpetual check. dxe5 42.f7+ g8 43.h6+ ½-½
1146 Kasparov,Garry Timman,Jan H Corus Wijk aan Zee NED (11) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2849 2629 26.01.2001
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.b1 W hite wants to play b4 without a3, so that there is no later weakness on b3. 0-0 [ Stopping b4 by 8...a5 is likely to transpose
into games in the archives. ] 9.b4 The tactical point. xb4!? [ A v e r y u n u s u a l c a p t u r e , 9...a6 is more usual, when W hite continues virulently on the queenside, by 10.a4 f5 11.b5! Serper,G-Kamsky,G/Dortmund 1993. ] [ 9...xb4?! 10.xe5 xe5 11.xb4 simply hands W hite the bishop pair, and both central pawns. ] 10.xe5 c6!? [ Timman's innovation. 10...a5 11.d4 4d5 12.xd5 xd5 13.b3 b6 14.d1 certainly looks good for White, Kobalija,MSolomon,K/Elista 1998, as he can attack along the queenside files, or use his centre, as he wishes. ] 11.a3 4d5 12.xd5 cxd5 This is clearly the point of Black's idea, he recaptures with the c-pawn to restrain the white centre. 13.a4 f6 14.d4 f5 15.b5 a6 16.b2 c8 17.f4 xe5!? Black thereby gains the c4square for his knight. 18.xe5 e8 19.e3 e7 Freeing the knight by defending the b7pawn. 20.g4!? The start of an aggressive plan on the kingside, White clearly feels that he cannot win on the queenside alone. e4 21.f3 c4 22.e2 g6 23.h4 f6 [ 23...xe5!? 24.dxe5 ec7 seems strong, as the c2-square is prepared for the bishop's u s e , b u t t h e n c o m e s , 25.e4 xh4 ( 25...dxe4 26.xd8+ xd8 27.f4 h5 28.f5 ) 26.exd5 and the white d-pawn is very strong. ] 24.f4 d7 25.fe1 c6 26.h5 f7 27.e4 dxe4 28.xe4 xe4 29.xe4 d5 W hite has two bishops, but Black has nice squares for his minor pieces, and can push his b-pawn. 30.e2 c8 31.h6 g5 32.g3 e8 33.e1 xe2 34.xe2 f8 35.d3 b6? [ Allowing White to fix the queenside, 35...b5 would have left Black with at least equality. ] 36.a5 c4 37.f1 The previously moribund bishop finally does something useful. e7 [ The a5-pawn is indirectly defended: 37...xa5? 38.a3+ ] 38.c3 e3+ 39.xe3 xe3 40.d3 c4 41.e1 g8 42.f2 b5 43.b4! [ 43.axb6 xb6 44.xa6 is much worse, as the Black hold on d5 may defend. As played W hite will attack, and win, the a6-pawn 1139
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 when his own a-pawn will be decisive. ] 43...b2 44.f5 c4 45.e3 d5 46.c8 c4+ 47.e2 1-0
1147 A29 Khalifman,Alexander 2667 Lutz,Christopher 2595 FIDE WCh KO New Delhi IND (2.3) 02.12.2000 [Tony Kosten] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.b1 g5!? 9.b4!? [ Gulko's move- a wing thrust is countered by ...another wing thrust! White decides to rip open the queenside before Black's kingside a t t a c k g e t s g o i n g . 9.d4!? is the more traditional counter, but after exd4 10.b5 f5 Black exploits the rook's position on the b-file, 11.a1 ( is 11.e4?! possible? xe4 12.e1 xb1 13.xg5 xa2 14.fxd4 0-0! su gge st s n o t) 11...e4 12.bxd4 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 xg2 15.xg2 0-0-0 and Black has some advantage, Claesen,P-Gurevich,M/Antwerp 1994. ] [ The alternative 9.d3 h5!? was seen in the archives. ] 9...g4 [ 9...xb4? 10.xe5 ] 10.e1 xb4 11.c2 [ 11.f4!? exf4 12.xf4 4d5 13.xd5 xd5 14.f1 is unclear, Rothermel,TGelfenboim,J/W uertemberg 1999, as c3 15.b3 xe2+ 16.h1 0-0 17.b2 gives White some play. ] 11...c6 [ Played to leave the c2-knight misplaced, 11...xc2 12.xc2 c6 13.a4 promises White plenty of compensation for the pawn, the black kingside is draughty. ] 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.d4 f6!? [ 13...exd4 14.xd4 f6 looks strong, but 15.xc6 d7 16.e4! is possible, e.g. g7 17.h6!! xd1? 18.xg7! winning material, because of the threat of Nf6 mate. ] 14.dxe5 [ G u l k o p r e f e r s 14.d3!? when e6 ( 14...exd4 15.xd4 c5 ) 15.e4 d7
16.dxe5 f5 17.e6 is unclear ] 14...xd1 15.xd1 fxe5 16.a3! [ This move, swapping one of Black's bishops, is the FIDE W orld Champion's improvement on 16.b4 when f5! 17.e4 xb4 18.xb4 e6 19.g5 f8 20.b2 f3 was better for Black in Gulko,BBenjamin,J/US Ch 1997. ] 16...a5?! [ Probably 16...xa3 17.xa3 e6 would be a better try, although the black structure is still very ragged. ] 17.xe7 xe7 18.e1! The knight is coming to d3, to attack e5, and c5. a6 19.d3 xd3 20.exd3! hd8 21.e4 d5 22.bc1 a6 23.a3 h5 24.e1 b6 Black has managed to defend his weaknesses, and must n o w t r y t o a c t i v a t e h i s p i e c e s . 25.d2! This wins the e5-pawn. f6 26.c4 b3 27.xe5 xd3 28.xh5 Re-establishing material equality, whilst maintaining the better pawn formation. c3? [ After this Black loses further material, 28...c5 kept him in the game, although White is certainly on top. ] 29.xc3 xc3 30.e3 d4 31.c5 [ 31.xa5 is also strong. ] 31...b5 32.xc6+ f7 33.c5 c6 34.c4 e6 35.g2 a4 36.h3 gxh3+ 37.xh3 d6?! 38.b6 b5 39.xc6+ f7 40.c4 d2 41.f4+ g7 42.xa4 An object lesson in the exploitation of weak and isolated pawns, every single one of Black's pawns has disappeared! The rest is simplicity itself for White. xa3 43.c5 c2 44.e4 d5 45.g4+ f7 46.g5 d4 47.c5 e1 48.g5+ f6 49.g4 d3 50.f5+ g6 51.f3 f4+ 52.g3 h5+ 53.h4 d1 54.h3 g7 55.f4+ h7 56.d5 f1 Hard as Black tries, he cannot a void th e inevitable. 57.d3 a1 58.d7 g8 59.d5 e6 60.e7 d4 61.f4 f8 62.e4 f3+ 63.g3 d2 64.e2 a3+ 65.e3 e4+ 66.f3 d6 67.c2 f7 68.c7+ e8 69.f5 f7 70.f4 d6 71.d5 a4+ 72.g5 f7+ 73.f6 d6 74.g5 a5 75.e6 a6 76.f6+ [ 76.b4 b6 77.c6 was even easier. ] 76...f8 77.d7+ g8 78.b8 b6 79.c6 1-0
1140
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 has the more attractive position, but it will be hard to make progress. 20.e4 h8 21.a2 d4 22.e3 d5?! [ Rather than exchange queens, Black could play ...f5 or even 22...g4!? 23.f3 h3 ] 23.b2 f5 24.xd5 xd5 25.xc5 bxc5 Now the a- and c-pawns are targets. The old man tackles a reversed Dragon one 26.b6! more time. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 e6 27.f3 c8 28.c1 d6 29.b5 S u d d e n l y B l a c k i s t i e d d o wn a n d W h i t e 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.b1!? [ If nothing else this sidesteps 7.0-0 e7 controls the play. dc6 30.c4 g8 31.f2 8.b1 g5!? White tries to get the queenside f7 32.f4! exf4 33.gxf4 g6 34.xa5! xb6 pawns rolling as early as possible, but this 35.d4 d8 36.dxc5 b1 37.b5 dd1 has an artificial feel and the results haven't 38.cb4 xb4 39.xb4 d8 40.d4 e6 41.b6+ c6 42.e3 The ending is not easy been particularly good. ] b u t K o r c h n o i e v e n t u a l l y c o n v e r t s . h1 7...f6 [ Recently 7...g6 has been looking like a 43.g3 e1 44.f3 h1 45.g3 e1 complete solution: 8.0-0 g7 9.b4 ( 9.d3 46.b2 h6 47.h4 h5 48.f2 a1 49.xb7 h6 10.b4 0-0 11.b5 d4 12.d2 a6 xa4 50.b6 d5 51.b1 d4 52.c1 13.a4 axb5 14.axb5 f5= --Ribli ) 9...0-0 c6 53.g1 xc5 54.xg6 a2 55.xd4+ 10.d3 d4 11.xd4 ( 11.a4 g4 12.xd4 xd4 56.e6 a1 57.e5 h1 58.e3+ exd4 13.e4 d5 14.c2 c6= d3 59.d5+ c4 60.xf5 xh4 61.e5 Miezis-Bromann, Gausdal 2003) 11...exd4 d3 62.f5 h2+ 63.f3 12.e4 d5 13.g5 f6 14.d2 b6 1-0 15.c1 ( 15.c2 ) 15...e6 16.c6 e8= Mulyar-Baburin, San Francisco 2001. ] A29 [ 7...g4 8.0-0 f6 9.d4 xd4 10.xd4 1149 exd4 11.b5 d7 12.xd4 xd4 Kortschnoj,Viktor 2643 13.xd4 0-0-0 14.h3 h5 15.e3 f7 Svidler,Peter 2695 16.b3 c5 17.b5 a6 18.c3 d5= Korchnoi Birthday Gp B (4) 28.04.2001 Serper-Oratovsky, North Bay 1998 ] [Tony Kosten] 8.d3 e6 9.a3 e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.b4 a5 The most aggressive. Alternatively, a nice 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 example (by no means forced) went 5.h4 d5!? [ 11...d4 12.e4 a2!? 13.xd4! exd4 [ A new idea, previously 5...c6 had been 14.c5! xb1 15.b3+ f7 16.xb7 e8 preferred, as in the archives. ] 17.a5 xd3 18.exd3 d8 19.c6 d6 6.e3 c6 7.cxd5 xd5 8.d3 This doesn't fit 20.b5 f8 21.a4 a6 22.a5 axb5 23.xb5 too well with the pawn on g3, as the lightwith a solid advantage in Miezis-Agopov, squared bishop cannot easily defend both the Oslo 2003. ] kingside and d3. e7 9.f3 0-0 10.g2? 12.b5 d4 13.d2 [ 10.a3 covers b4. ] [ White achieves nothing by 13.xd4 exd4 10...db4! Of course! 11.e2 14.a4 d5 ( Or 14...d5 )] [ Ugly, but how else can White defend d3? 13...d5 11.d4 losing a pawn t o exd4 12.xd4 [ Or 13...c6 . Black's strategy has been a xd4 13.exd4 xd4 14.xd4 c2+ ] success. ] 11...e6 12.e1 14.h3 e6!? [ Unfortunately, White cannot chase the [ 14...a4 or ] knight away immediately, as 12.a3 b3! [ 14...f7 preparing ...Nd5 were more 13.xb3?? loses to xd3+ 14.e1 c2+ ] challenging. ] 12...d7 13.a3 d5 14.c2 ad8 15.xe6+ xe6 16.b3 d7 17.c4 c5 A 'normal' Sicilian-style position has been 18.xb6 cxb6 19.a4 ad8 Stefanova still reached, but the presence of the white king on 1148 Kortschnoj,Viktor Stefanova,Antoaneta Smartfish Masters (9) [John Watson]
A29 2601 2523 05.01.2005
1141
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e 2 i s a s e rio u s p ro b le m . 15.d2 h8 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.f3 f5 19.c4 d7! [ 19...xc4 20.dxc4 e4 is favourable to Black, but keeping queens on the board is clearly best. ] 20.hd1 b5! 21.c2 [ Not 21.xb5?? e4 when any knight move wo uld allo w . .. Nd 4+, winn ing t he whit e queen. ] 21...f4 Opening a route to the weakened kingside for the black queen. 22.ac1? [ The threat to c6 is illusory, better 22.f1 to defend the f3-knight. ] 22...fxg3 23.fxg3 [ 23.xc6?? xd3+ 24.e1 g2 forces mate. ] 23...e4! Freeing the e5-square for the knight. 24.dxe4 g4 [ 24...h3 is also a killer. ] 25.f1 xf3 26.xf3 e5 27.cf1 xf3 [ 27...xf3 28.xf3 f8 wins the rook. ] 0-1
1150 Kosten,Anthony C Jean,Olivier Open Marseille FRA (1) [John Watson]
A29 2504 2193 30.06.2006
Another triumph by Tony. Not a very compelling game, but illustrating many ideas related to good squares, centralization, and opportunism. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 e8 This older move is perfectly reasonable, intending . ..Rd8 and perhaps ... Qf7 at some point. But it's slow by comparison with [ 11...a5 12.b5 d4 , as in this month's game Van Wely-Tiviakov, Bareev-Shirov, Poikovsky 2006 in our April Update the earlier Bareev-Yakovich, Kazan 2005. As we've seen that variation has been holding up well for Black. ] 12.e4 [ 12.b2 limits White's coordination after f7!? ( or 12...a5 13.b5 d4 14.xd4 exd4 15.e4 d7 ) 13.d2 fd8
and Black has no problems. ] 12...d8?! [ Black does better to adjust to the new rea lity b y 12...a5 13.b5 ( 13.c5? a2 14.b2 axb4 15.axb4 xb4! ) 13...d4 ] 13.c5 c8 14.c2 White's pieces are wellplaced and now he can work towards a central bre a k wit h d 4 . d6 15.b2!? Again the bishop may not be ideally placed here. [ 15.e3 is another possibility, since White can recapture with a piece if Black tries ... Bxc5. Then d5 16.c4 is a bit awkward f o r B la ck. A ll t h e se d e cisio n s a re ve ry technical and unclear. ] 15...e7 Black would like to dislodge the powerful knight on c5, but he could also play the immediate [ 15...xc5!? 16.bxc5 ( 16.xc5 a4 17.c2 xb2= ) 16...d5 with a nicely centralized position. I prefer W hite's two bishops, yet the game is almost in balance. ] 16.e3 [ Or 16.fc1 , to discourage ...a5. ] 16...de8 [ 16...a5! th re at e ns . .. a xb 4, a n d 17.b5 ( 17.bxa5 xc5 18.axb6 xb6; 17.a1? axb4 18.axb4 xb4; 17.d4!? ) 17...xc5 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.d4 d6 20.xc6 ( 20.dxe5 fxe5 21.xc6 isn't bad, but d7 leaves the queen short of good squares in view of ...Na4 or ..Bf5) 20...d7 21.c2 e4!? 22.d2 f5 is muddy. ] 17.d2 d8 18.d4! exd4 19.xd4 c6 20.bd1 f7 21.ce4 White has a definite positional advantage. All of his pieces except the rook on f1 are active. e7? [ 21...g6! 22.c1 e7 is the way to avoid the following tactic. ] 22.c5 White can cash in by [ 22.xb6! axb6 23.c4 , winning a pawn with no real consequences. ] 22...g6 23.f3 e6?! Probably missing White's next. 24.h4! h5 [ Or 24...f7 25.xe7! xe7 26.d6 h5 27.f3 e5 28.e4! ] 25.f3 g4 26.xg4 xg4 27.xe7 xe7 28.d6 g6 Black tries to cover the monster square f5, but W hite's pieces are still more active and this weakens the kingside. 29.d4 e6 30.fd1 d7? A typical blunder under pressure. Probably the only worthwhile try was 1142
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 30...d5! 31.b5! a6 ] 31.e4 h3 32.xg6! hxg6 33.h4 e6 34.xg6+ g7 35.h5 1-0
1151 Kosten,Anthony C Pert,Richard G 4NCL 2006-07 (10) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2517 2455 06.05.2007
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.0-0 0-0 9.a4 [ White has an interesting alternative in 9.d1!? A) 9...a6 10.e3 d6 11.d4 exd4 12.exd4 a7 13.f4 h6 14.c5 dxc5 15.dxc5 e7 16.a4 b8 17.e1 e6 18.c3 ( 18.c2!? ) 18...d7 19.c6 bxc6 20.xc6 M.Marin-L.Christiansen, World Chess Network 2000; B) 9...d6 10.e3 e8 11.d4 exd4 12.exd4 xd4 13.xd4 e1+ 14.g2 d7 C h r i s t i a n s e n 15.g4 h5 16.h3 intending Rd1 with a won position - Marin; C) 9...e7 10.d3 c6 ( 10...h6 11.a4 d6 12.xc5 dxc5 13.e3 Marin ) 11.g5 h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.e4 e7 14.xc5 xc5 15.c3 ( 15.e3 e7 ) 15...e7 16.c5 ( 16.d4 e4 ) 16...d8 17.d2 d5 18.cxd6 xd6 ( 18...xd6 19.b4 ) 19.ad1 e6 20.d4 exd4 21.xd4 e7 22.a3 f6 M. Marin-F. C u i j p e r s , S i t g e s 1 9 9 9 23.h4! xd4 24.xd4 d8 25.xd8+ xd8 26.e5 Marin ] 9...e7 10.d1 c6 [ This appears to be Black's best choice at this juncture. Other tries are: A) 10...e8 11.d4 e4 (this move leaves the e4-pawn a target that White will have a relatively easy time attacking) 12.g2 h6 13.c3 f8 14.e3 b6 15.c2 b7 16.d5 ( 16.f4!? ) 16...g4 17.d4 f5 18.f3 e5 19.fxe4 xc4 W.Uhlmann-Z.Jasnikowski, Polanica Zdroj 1981 20.b3 e5 21.exf5+- ] [ B) 10...c5!? may in fact also be perfectly playable, if a bit passive: 11.d3 d6 12.c3 e8 13.a3 b8 14.a2 d7 15.d5 h3
16.xf6+ xf6 17.b1 g4 18.xg4 xg4 with approximately even chances, though Miles eventually managed to win a drawn endgame against a young Sadler, who had his mom sitting next to the table throughout the entire game (I also played in this tournament and saw most of this game live) A.Miles-M.Sadler, Ostende 1991 ] [ C) 10...d6 A) 11.d4 exd4 ( 11...d7 12.g2 c6 13.e4 c7 14.e3 b6 15.ac1 b7 16.c2 ad8 17.h3 b8 18.c3 S.Makarichev-V.Epishin, Tashkent 1987) 12.xd4 b8 13.c3 e6 14.a4 e8 15.e3 c6 16.e4 xe4 17.xe4 , a nd W hit e ha s the som ewhat b et te r chances, A.Ludgate-G.Kubach, corr 1999; B) 11.c3 d7 12.d4 f6 ( 12...exd4!? 13.xd4 e5 offers Black a better chance for equalising) 13.dxe5 xe5 14.e3 f6 15.c5 e6 16.xb7 b8 17.xa7 xb2 18.d4 xd4 19.xd4 with a solid advantage for White, B.Gelfand-J.Timman, Wijk aan Zee (blitz) 1998 ] 11.c3 [ 11.d4 e4 12.g2 d5 13.cxd5 ( 13.c3 b6 14.f4 e6 15.a4 e8 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.xe8 xe8 18.f3 f5 19.ac1 , and W hite's chances are preferable, P. K o e n i g - H . D o d e r e r , I C C F E m a i l 2 0 0 0) 13...cxd5 14.f4 b6 15.c3 e6 16.ac1 d7 17.b5 ac8 18.c7 h6 19.f3 d6 (the beginning of a series of exchanges that will inevitably lead to an equal endgame) 20.xd6 xd6 21.fxe4 xe4 22.xe4 xc7 23.xc7 xc7 24.xd5 xd5 25.xd5 c2 , and Black is fine, G.SerperK.Aseev, St Petersburg 1994 ] 11...d6 12.d4 c7 13.c2 [ 13.g2 A) 13...exd4 14.xd4 e6 15.c2 ad8 16.b3 d5 17.cxd5 e5 18.e3 cxd5 19.ad1 d7 20.4d2 ( White can consider 20.f4!? h5 21.f3 h3 22.e5 , which looks pretty good for White, but what concerned Erik Bang, who is one of the best correspondence chess players in the world, I'm not sure, but he must have had something in mind.) 20...c8 21.d4 h5 22.b2 b6 23.c2 dc7 with chances for both csides, E.Bang-F. 1143
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Berry, corr 1989; B) 13...f5 14.h3 exd4 15.xd4 d7 16.d1 c5 17.e3 a5 18.d2 fe8 19.b3 ad8 20.c1 h6 21.h4 f8 , and Black has neutralised W hite's pressure, in addition White has to consider it a possibility that Black may sacrifice the exchange on e3. 22.d4 e6 23.e3 c5 24.d4 e6 25.e3 c5 , with a draw by repetition, 1/2-1/2, Cu. Hansen-J.Gustafsson, German Bundesliga 2000 ] 13...h3 [ 13...a5 Black has also done well with 14.dxe5 ( 14.b3 h3 15.a3 g4 16.e4 fd8 17.dxe5 xe5 18.h1 a4 19.b2 f5 20.d2 f6 21.g2 axb3 22.axb3 g4 23.f1 xa1 1/2-1/2 Baiocchi, G-Morgado, J/ corr 1995/MegaCorr3) 14...dxe5 15.a4 e6 16.e4 b6 17.c5 ( 17.e3!?= ) 17...b5 18.b6 ad8 19.d2 a4 (although the material balance is still intact, Black is more o r l e s s wi n n i n g a t t h i s p o i n t i f h e c a n manage to exchange all pieces and isolate the white knight on b6, he will be a piece up in the endgame. I will not give any more comments to the rest of this game, bu t despite this game being exceedingly long, take your time to play through and enjoy the technique of the then young grandmaster from Minsk, Gelfand, who had his international breakthrough that year) 20.e3 g4 21.xd8 xd8 22.xg4 xg4 23.g2 g5 24.c3 f6 25.xg5 xg5 26.b3 axb3 27.axb3 d8 28.h3 e6 29.b4 h5 30.a8 xa8 31.xa8 d8 32.b6 d1 33.h4 h3+ 34.h2 g4 35.g2 e2 36.e3 xe3 37.fxe3 f8 38.f2 f6 39.a8 e7 40.c7 d8 41.a8 d1 42.b6 c2 43.f3 d1+ 44.f2 c2 45.f3 g5 46.a8 b1 47.b6 d3 48.a8 c2 49.b6 b1 50.a8 g4+ 51.f2 d3 52.b6 c2 53.e2 c7 54.a8+ d7 55.b6+ d8 56.f2 xe4 57.e2 b1 58.f2 c2 59.e2 b1 60.f2 f5 61.a8 c2 62.b6 d3 63.a8 c4 64.b6 e6 65.a8 e7 66.c7 c8 67.a8 f6 68.c7 d7 69.g2 f4 70.gxf4 exf4 71.exf4 f5 72.g3 e4 73.a6 d4 74.b8 e8 75.a6 g6 76.b8 e4
77.f5 e5 78.f6 xf6 79.f4 d5 80.d7+ e7 81.b6 e6 82.a8 h1 83.c7+ d7 84.a8 f3 85.b6+ e6 86.c8 d5 87.d6 e2 88.f5 c4 89.g3 d3 90.xh5 xb4 91.e3 c3 92.f4 h7 93.d5+ c4 94.f6 f5 95.f4 g3 96.xg3 b4 97.f4 b3 98.xf5 b2 99.h5 b1+ 100.g5 c1+ 101.g6 g1+ 102.h6 xc5 103.e4+ d5 104.g5 e3 105.g6 e8+ 0-1 Miles, A-Gelfand, B/Moscow 1989/TD ] 14.b4 [ 14.b3 h6 ( 14...g4 15.g2 xg2 16.xg2 exd4 17.xd4 f5 18.h3 e5 19.a3 f4 20.xf4 xf4 21.gxf4 g6 22.e3 W.Taylor-B.Dabulawicus, corr 1995 h4+ 23.h2 f3+ 24.g2 h4+ with a draw by perpetual) 15.b2 h7 16.c5 g5 17.cxd6 xf3+ 18.exf3 55 1/2-1/2 Gulko, B-Nikolic, P/Polanica Zdroj 1996/CBM ] 14...g4 15.g2 xg2 16.xg2 b6 [ 16...f5!? 17.dxe5 xe5 18.b3 c8 19.f4 e6 , and Black has a pleasant game ] 17.b1 exd4 18.a4 d3 19.exd3 c7 20.h3 f6 21.e3 d5 22.d4 fd8 23.c3 h6 24.e2 h7 25.cxd5 cxd5 26.g4 f6 27.xf6 xf6 28.d4 b6 , and Black's activity will compensate for the inferior pawn structure after the exchange of queens, e.g. 29.xb6 axb6 30.d2 d4 31.e2 b5 ½-½
1152 Kovacevic,Blazimir Potkin,Vladimir Czech Open Pardubice CZE (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2457 2591 23.07.2007
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.d3 c6 [ 8...0-0 A) 9.a4!? e7 10.0-0 e8 ( 10...c6 11.c3 d6 12.d1 c7!? ) 11.d1 d6 12.c3 f8 13.c2 c6 is given as equal b y W i sn e ws k i b a s e d o n t h e ga m e V . Tukmakov-M.Hebden, Hastings 1982, but I quite like W hite's chances after 14.d4 1144
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 exd4 15.xd4; B) 9.g5 c6 10.0-0 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.e4 was played in J.Timman-J.Hector, Copenhagen/Malmoe 2005 - see the PGN archives; C) 9.g4!? C1) 9...d6!? 10.g5 ( 10.g5 d7 ) 10...h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.e4 h4 13.xc5 dxc5 14.h3; C2) 9...d5 10.g5 ( 10.xd5 xg4 is fine for Black) 10...dxc4 ( 10...g4!? 11.xg4 xg4 12.cxd5 b6 13.c4 ) 11.xc4 d7 12.e4 e7 13.e3 h8 14.0-0-0 with the idea d3-d4 or h4h5 (Watson) ] 9.g5 [ 9.g4 in ChessBase Magazine, Ribli calls this move interesting, but he doubts Black needs to fear White's threat of g4-g5 so far the games in this line have supported his o p i n i o n . . . d6 ( 9...d5!? 10.g5 dxc4 11.xc4 d7 12.e4 e7 is wonderfully c o m p l i c a t e d) 10.g5 g8 ( 10...d7!? was tested in L.Aronian-B.Gelfand, Saint V i n c e n t 2 0 0 5 - s e e t h e P G N a rc h ive s) 11.e4 ( 11.a4 is F, Vallejo Pons-B. Gelfand, Pamplona 1999- see the PGN archives ) 11...b6 ( 11...e7 ) 12.a3 c7 13.c5 ( 13.d2 e7 14.b4 f5 ) 13...dxc5 ( 13...d5 14.d6+ ) 14.xc5 e7 15.d2 e6 16.a3 b6 17.c1 d5 , so far V.Zvjaginsev-P.Svidler, Moscow 2001, and now 18.h4!? offers White a good game ] 9...e7 10.d1 h6 11.c1 [ 11.xf6 xf6 12.e4 d6 13.0-0 0-0 14.g2 e7 15.d4 c7= ] 11...d6 12.d4 c7 13.g2 0-0 [ 13...f5 14.e4 d7 15.0-0 0-0 16.c2 ] 14.0-0 exd4 [ 14...g4!? ] 15.xd4 White has the slightly better ch a nc e s t h an ks t o his a b ilit y t o b u ild u p pressure along the d-file and Black's relatively passive set-up e6 16.c2 c5 17.b5 b6 18.dd1 a6 19.a3 fd8 20.b3 d5 21.cxd5 xd5 22.c4 c7 23.d2 a5 24.a4 f6 25.f4 b4 26.b1 ab8 27.f5 xc4 28.bxc4 e7 29.e4 xe4 30.xe4 d4 31.f4 e8 32.xb7 xe2 33.de1 xe1 34.xe1 xc4 35.e8+ h7 36.a8
c2 37.xa5 c4 38.a8 c3 39.c8 a2 40.e4 c2 41.d2 g5 42.xb4 c1+ 43.xc1 xc1 44.c6 e3+ 45.h1 h5 46.e7 f6 47.e8 h6 48.h4 d4 49.d6 e5 50.xe5 fxe5 51.g6 xa4 52.g2 a6 53.e8 f6 54.d7 g6 55.fxg6 e4 56.b5 xg6 57.e8+ h6 58.b5 e3 59.g1 f2 60.e8 f3 61.b5 xg3+ 62.f1 g4 63.e2 e4 64.d3 xh4 65.xe3 h3+ 66.e2 g5 67.c4 f4 0-1
1153 Lautier,Joel Bu Xiangzhi Sanjin Hotel Cup (9) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2666 2620 26.07.2004
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.d5 c5 Normal, but what had Lautier planned against [ 5...e4!? as in his game against Kasparov? ] 6.d3 White threatens Bg5, although this should transpose. We had previously looked at [ 6.g2 ] 6...h6 7.a3 a5 8.g2 0-0 9.e3 d6 10.0-0 xd5 The knight on d5 is annoying, so Black decides to exchange it, he could also keep the tension by [ 10...f5 11.d4 a7 as in Uhlmann,WKraut,R/Germany 1999. ] 11.cxd5 e7 12.d4 White immediately evens-out his structure. exd4 13.xd4 g6 A n e w m o ve , t h e kn igh t a im s f o r e 5 . I n Barczay,L-Petran,P/Budapest 1978 Black preferred to exchange a piece by [ 13...f5 14.xf5 ( 14.b3!? ) 14...xf5 15.e4 d7 16.d2 c6 17.dxc6 xc6 18.c3 a4 White has a nominal edge. ] 14.b3 d7 15.h3 e8 16.b2 This is a typical position for this line, White has more space, and possible play on the c-line, but Black's pieces are active. a4!? 17.b4 b6 18.c1 e7 19.h2 Safety-first play, GMs of ten pref er to put their pieces on better squares before undertaking anything committal. ac8 20.e1 f8!? 21.c4 [ 21.b5 l o o k s g o o d , a8 22.c4 f6 23.c2 and to avoid losing the a-pawn Black 1145
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 has to try g6 but White is clearly better. ] 21...f5!? To control e4, but Black gives himself more weaknesses. 22.d3 f7 23.ec1 [ 23.b5 a g a i n l o o k s e f f e c t i v e , a8 ( 23...xd4 24.xd4 is horrible for Black, t h e c 7 p a w n i s t o o w e a k .) 24.c2 and the a-pawn's future looks bleak. ] 23...g6 24.e6! e5 [ 24...b5 25.xg7 e5 26.xe5 xe5 27.e6 gives plenty of compensation for the exchange, the black kingside is weak and the e6-knight very strong. ] [ 24...xe6? 25.dxe6 xe6 26.xb7 d8 27.d5 is hopeless for Black. ] 25.xe5 dxe5 26.xc7 Just winning a pawn. e4 27.d1 ed8 28.b5 e8 29.d6 h7 30.f1 White brings his one inactive piece back into the fray. d7?! [ 30...xc7 31.xc7 xc7 32.xc7 a2 33.g1 xa3 wins a pawn, but after 34.d7 f7 35.xb7 White has every chance of winning. ] 31.xa4 h5 This is a bit desperate. 32.d1 h4 33.d5 hxg3+ 34.fxg3 a7 35.c7 W h it e h a s t wo e xt r a p a wn s, a n d a go o d position. f4 36.exf4 f2 37.g2 g6 38.e7! The most accurate, Black only gets one check. xg3+ 39.h1 h4 (Qh5 mate was threatened.) 40.xd7! [ 40.xd7 xc1 41.xe4+ g6 42.xg6+ xd7 43.xh4+ wins everything. ] 1-0
11.b3 d5 Black wins. ] 6...0-0 7.g2 e8 8.0-0 c5 [ Black decides it is time to preserve his darksquared bishop, 8...d6 9.d3 exd3 10.xd3 xd5 11.cxd5 e5 12.c2 c5 13.b3 e7 14.b2 was slightly better for White in Lautier,J-Karpov,A/Dortmund 1993. ] 9.d3 Black's advanced e-pawn must be eliminated, else the knight on h4 might find itself short of squares. exd3 10.xd3 e5 11.c2 c6 12.e3 [ A little trick, 12.c3?! is worse, xc4! 13.a4 f8 14.xc4 b5 regaining the piece with advantage, Smyslov, V-Mecking, H/Petropolis 1973/IZT. ] 12...cxd5 13.xc5 d6 14.d4 dxc4 Black has grabbed a pawn, but White should be able to win it ba ck when he likes, bu t would like to do this whilst maintaining an advantage. 15.ad1!? [ A novelty, normally White prefers to place the other rook here, reserving the queen's r o o k f o r u s e o n c 1 : 15.fd1 e7 ( 15...d5!? ) 16.d2 c6!? 17.xf6 xf6 18.xc4 with an edge, Smejkal, J-Mecking, H/Rio de Janeiro 1979/IZT, but Black's play could probably be improved. ] 15...d5 This seems critical, and the idea was probably prepared by Kasparov for use against 15 Rfd1. 16.e4 [ Rather than 16.xe5?! xe5 17.xc4 g4 winning the e-pawn. ] 16...g4 17.f3 d7 18.exd5 b5 The dust h a s s e t t l e d a n d W h it e h a s r e g a in e d h i s 1154 A29 sacrificed pawn, without having to concede Lautier,Joel 2675 one of his two bishops. However, Black can Kasparov,Garry 2838 be happy with his queenside pawn majority FIDE GP Moscow RUS (2.1) 02.06.2002 and possible use of the d3-square. 19.xe5?! [ Why return the powerful dark-squared [Tony Kosten] bishop? 19.fe1 d3 20.xe8+ xe8 21.f1 is better, and appears fairly level. ] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 19...xe5 20.f4 b6+ Black hastens to 5.d5 Lautier's favourite. e4!? [ A s h a r p r e p l y , 5...c5 is standard, exploit the weak white dark squares. 21.h1 ee8 22.h3 Obviously directed against ...Ng4preserving the bishop. ] e3. e3 23.f3 ae8 24.xe3 xe3 6.h4 [ 6.xb4?! is worse, xb4 7.d4 g4! 25.h2 g6 Black provides a square for his crude, but very effective: ...Qf6 is the nasty king, whilst controlling the f5-square. 26.f3 threat, and if 8.h3? ( 8.f4 0-0 9.c2 The knight was doing little on h4. f5 27.f2 xc2+ 10.xc2 d5 with an edge to Black, e4 28.g1 d6 The black knight reaches Skembris,S-Kumaran,D/Kopavogur 1994) the fine blockading square on d6, the passed 8...xf2! 9.xf2 f6+ 10.e3? c5 d-pawn needs top be kept 'under lock and key', 1146
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 as a moment's lack of concentration is all it A1b) 17.c6?! bxc6 18.xc6 f5; needs to allow this pawn to advance to the A2) 16...dxc5 17.e4 e7 18.xc5 queening square. 29.d4 d3! Black wants xc5! 19.bxc5 fd8 S.Skembris-M. a passed pawn. 30.xd3 cxd3 31.e3 c4! Drasko, Belgrade 1994; 32.e8+ g7 33.f3 B) 9...d6 10.a4 d7 11.g2 a5 [ 33.xf5+? gxf5 34.b3 d4! and the d12.xc5 xc5 13.c3 e7 14.e3 e4 pawn cannot be stopped. ] 15.dxe4 xe4 16.d4 e8 17.b3 e5 33...e3 34.xe3 xe3 Black has correctly 18.b2 W.Uhlmann-V. Korchnoi, judged that this endgame is very promising for Amsterdam 1972; him, the d3-pawn is strong and the black C) 9...e8!? 10.d2 ( 10.g5 h6 knight very active. 35.d2 c4 36.xc4 11.xf6 xf6 12.e4 e7 13.xc5 bxc4 37.f3 d2 38.d1 White has done all xc5 14.c3 a5= Ribli ) 10...c6 11.ac1 he can to stop the d-pawn, but he also has a h6 12.a4 ( 12.a4 f8 13.c5!? Ribli ) problem with the h-pawn which needs 12...f8 13.fd1 ( 13.b4 d5! 14.cxd5 def ending. f6 39.g2 h5 40.g4 e4+ cxd5= 15.xd5?? xd5 16.xd5 41.f2 h4! Fixing the h-pawn on a light xd5 17.xe8 h3 18.e4 xd3-+ square. 42.e3 xd5 43.g5+?! Hjartarson ) [ 43.xd2 w a s t h e o n l y c h a n c e , g2 C1) 13...d5?! 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.b3! 44.e2 xh3 45.e3 with some drawing ( 15.b5 d7 16.b3 c6=; 15.xd5 possibilities. ] xd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.xe8 h3-+ ) 43...e7 44.xd2 e6 45.g4?? 15...d4 16.d5 e6 17.xf6+ xf6 [ A blunder, but even after 45.e2 xh3 18.xb7 xa2 19.b4 Hjartarson; 46.xc4 e6! Black wins the a-pawn, White C2) 13...d6 14.b4 g4= Cu.Hansen-J. cannot play the king-and-pawn endgame Hjartarson, Reykjavik 1997 ] because of the outside h-pawn. ] 9.0-0 0-0 10.g2 45...xg4 [ 10.a4 e7 11.c5 d5 12.cxd6 xd6 0-1 13.e3 e7 14.ac1 e6 15.c2 d5 16.g2 fc8= S.Silseth-P.Leito, Ringsted 1992 ] 1155 A29 [ 10.a3 h6 11.c2 e7 12.d1 d6 13.d4 c7 14.b3 h3 15.b2 h7 16.c5 Lautier,Joel 2661 R.Janssen-J.Van der Veen, Dieren 1997 ] Sebag,Marie 2479 [ 10.g5 e7 ( 10...h6 11.xf6 xf6 TCh-FRA Top 16 (5) 29.04.2007 12.e4 e7 13.xc5 xc5 14.c3 a5= [Carsten Hansen] Hjartarsson 15.fd1!? e7 16.c5 d8 17.e4! d5 18.exd5 cxd5 19.e1 d4 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 20.c4 ) 11.fd1 d6 12.ac1 h6 13.d2 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.d3 c7 14.g2 f5 15.a4 d7 16.b4 a6 c6 17.b3 b5= E. Tomashevsky-P.Svidler, [ 8...0-0 9.0-0 ( 9.g5 h6 10.xf6 xf6 Russian Ch (Moscow) 2005 ] 11.e4 e7 12.xc5 xc5 13.0-0 d6 14.c3 a5 15.fd1 1/2-1/2, F.Gheorghiu-J. 10...h6 11.e3 [ 11.d2 e8 Smejkal, EU-chT 1977 ) A) 12.ad1 f8 13.h3 a6 14.h2 d6 A) 9...a6 10.a3 d6 11.g2 b8 12.c2 15.f4 e7 16.f5 c7 17.e3 d7 e6 ( 12...h6!? ) 13.b4?! ( 13.g5! h6 18.c1 ( 18.b6 c8 19.e4 c5! 20.d5 14.xf6 xf6 15.e4 e7 16.xc5 xd5 21.cxd5 a5! 22.a4 a6; 18.a4!? dxc5 17.b4! Damljanovic, B) 13...a7 c8 19.g4 looks promising for White) 14.g5 ( 14.b2 c6 ) 14...h6 15.xf6 18...d8 19.g4 b8 20.a7 c8 21.f2 xf6 16.c5 b8 22.e4 b5 23.c2 d5 A1) 16...e7 with a complicated struggle ahead, V. A1a) 17.cxd6 cxd6?! ( 17...xd6!? ) Popov-G. Sargissian, Moscow 2007; 18.d5; 1147
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 12.h3 b6 13.a4 a5 14.b3 b8 d6 21.c2 ac8 (this looks terribly 15.a4 d6 16.c5 bxc5 17.c2 b5 comfortable for Black) 22.fe1 c5 23.bxc6 18.e3 d5 19.xc5 xc5 20.xc5 d6 bxc6 24.b3 c5 25.b5 d5 26.c4 21.e4 c5 22.c3 b4 23.d2 b8 b6 27.cc1 d5 28.c4 b6 29.c2 1/2-1/2, H. Stefansson-F.Vallejo Pons, d5 30.c4 , and a draw was agreed upon, Havana 2001 ] 1/2-1/2, Van Wely, L-Karjakin, S/Nice FRA 11...b6 2008, e7 31.a3 c3 32.xa5 d5 [ 11...e8 12.h3 f8 13.d2 d6 14.d4 looks better for Black ] c7 15.d5 d7 16.a3 b6 17.b3 12...c6 13.de4 f7!? W.Uhlmann-H.Pohla, Tallinn 1977 ] [ The alternatives are: A) 13...f7 14.d2 12.a4 c7 13.e4 a6!? 14.c5 d6! 15.cxd6 d5 15.e3 xc3 16.xc3 ( A new move xd6 16.e3 b8 17.h3 e6! 18.c3 d7 16.xc3 was played in Hjartarson-Bareev, 19.d4 If not for this move, it is difficult to which can be found discussed in the notes prescribe a good way for W hite to proceed. Aronian-Topalov, Morelia/Linares 2008.) However, after the text move, Black is allowed 16...f5 17.c2 f8 ( 17...d7 18.fd1 to e qu alize t hro ugh a se rie s of accu ra t e d8!? looks like a possible improvement. moves. b5! 20.c5 exd4 21.xd4 xc5 The chances are probably about equal, but I, 22.xc5 b4! 23.d4 xc5 24.xc5 c8! as someone who enjoys playing the Dragon 25.g4 b5 26.e3 c5 27.f4 c4!? 28.f5 as Black, prefer White's chances. White can d7 29.ac1 , and a draw was agreed upon. expand on the queenside and route the Black can play 29...Qc5 after which Black's knight to c5, whereas Black's plans are not ac t ivit y a n d a d va n ce d qu e e n sid e p a wn s that obvious.) 18.fd1 a5 19.a4 axb4 balance out White's advanced pawns in the 20.xb4 h8 21.xf8 xf8 22.c5 c8 centre and on the kingside. An excellent effort 23.a4 d6 24.b4 (White has a clear by Black against her much higher opponent. advantage, the exploitation of which Aronian [ 29.f6 g5 is better for Black ] makes look easy.) f5 25.b2 h6 26.h3 ½-½ c8 27.g4 e6 28.d4 e4 29.xe6 xe6 30.d5 cxd5 31.d2 a5 32.d4 b6 33.xd5 b7 34.xa5 bxa5 35.c2 f5 1156 A29 36.gxf5 xf5 37.xe4 g5+ 38.g2 d8 39.d5 f6 40.xa5 f8 41.a8 a1+ Leko,Peter 2753 42.f1 a3 43.d2 c6 44.xf8+ xf8 Kramnik,Vladimir 2799 45.d5 f6 46.g2 a1+ 47.h2 e5 Amber Rapid Nice FRA rapid (2) 16.03.2008 48.d4 xd4 49.exd4 c4 50.g3 g5 [Carsten Hansen] 51.g4 1-0 Aronian, L-Karjakin, S/Nice FRA 2008 ] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 [ B) 13...d5 was the move played in 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 Aronian-Topalov from last month's update. ] 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 d4 [ The other moves discussed in last month's 12.d2 update are (C) 13...g4 ] [ V a n W e l y t r i e d 12.xd4 , but this is [ and (D) 13...d7 ] generally not considered particularly critical this game follows the same pattern: exd4 14.e3?! [ A new move in this exact position, but one 13.e4 d5 14.b2 f5 15.d2 xg2 fairly typical of the Dragon and the ( 15...f6 was discussed in Soza-Muzyka, Reversed Dragon. The alternatives 14.c5 ] ICCF 2004, which can be found in the PGN [ and 14.e3 were both discussed in the archives. ) 16.xg2 e8 ( 16...d5+ notes to Aronian-Topalov, Morelia/Linares 17.f3 c5 18.bxc5 xc5 19.a4 d7 2008, which can be found in the March 08 20.c1 b6 21.c2 ae8 22.c4 xc4 update and of course in the PGN archives. 23.xc4 xe2 24.xd4= , DeMauro, JThe text move, however, is unlikely to start a Heilemann, P/corr CAPA 1994; 16...f6 ) new trend, because Black obtains an easy 17.f3 f6 18.c1 h8 19.a4 a5 20.b5 1148
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 game rather effortlessly. ] 14...a5! 15.c5 axb4 16.axb4 a3!? [ 16...c7!? is also perfectly acceptable, but the text move is far more aggressive. ] 17.3e4 c7 18.xd4?! This is just an ugly move, which seems to confirm the fact that Leko is ill at ease in this type of position. After this peculiar decision, Black is clearly better and White has very little counterplay. exd4 19.h3?! Huh? I guess he wanted to threaten to possibly jump a knight onto the e6square and also prevent Black from playing . .. f6-f5, but neither represent a major problem for Black. fa8! 20.c1 d5 21.b2 c3 22.xc3 dxc3 23.c2 e5 24.fc1 b5 25.e4 a2 26.a1 xb4 27.xa2 xa2 28.b3+ h8 29.xb4 c2 30.f1 b2 31.xb2 xb2 32.d2 c5 33.f4 [ 33.g2 d8 34.f4 c4 35.f2 f5 36.c6 cxd3-+ ] 33...c4! 34.f3 [ 34.f2 c3 35.f3 aa2 36.d4 b4-+ ] 34...b4! 35.dxc4 d8 36.e1 b3 37.f2 d1 38.d3 xd3! 0-1
1157 Lesiege,Alexandre Zugic,Igor It Montreal CAN (2) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2564 2440 03.08.2001
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.g5 xc3 8.bxc3 e8 9.f3 exf3 10.xf3 d5 11.d4 e4 12.c2 dxc4 13.b1 f5 [ One of several alternatives we examined in this position, in the notes to the game Lewis, J - Garcia,H, where the interesting 13...f6!? was tried. ] 14.g4! All part of Kasparov's preparation, W h ite at t em p t s t o e xp lod e Bla ck's ligh t squared control, and undermine e4. fxg4!? [ Well, I suppose the analysis of Kasparov had to be tested sometime! In the inaugural game in this line, Kasparov,G-Ivanchuk,V/ Moscow 1988, Black preferred 14...e7?! 15.gxf5 d6 16.g5 xe2 17.d5+ h8 18.xe2 xe2 19.f4 Black was quickly massacred. ]
[ Black didn't last much longer after 14...g6?! 15.f4 e6?! 16.xb7 d5 17.gxf5! xd4 18.cxd4 xb7 19.fxg6 hxg6 20.e5 eit he r, in S mirin , I-A vru kh , B/ G ro n in ge n 1996. ] [ However, 14...d6!? is worth examination, 15.g5 d7 16.h4 f7! 17.xf5!? xd4 18.cxd4 xd4+ 19.e3 xg4 20.xf7 xf7 21.f3 is very messy, David,P-Polak,T/ Olomouc 1995. ] 15.e5 This is the point of White's play, cutting the legs from under the e4-knight.. xe5?! [ This seems obvious, yet Kasparov suggests 15...d6!? 16.xc6 bxc6 17.e4 w i t h c o m p e n s a t i o n . ( 17.xc6 d7 of f ers t h e e xch an ge in ret u rn f o r ligh t squared control. W oe is he who doesn't follow mighty Kasparov's analysis! )] 16.xe4 g6 17.xg6 hxg6 18.xg6 e7 [ The World number one only considered 18...d7 when his analysis continued: 19.d5! b6 20.a3 (controlling f8 allows White time to set-up a mating attack with his queen and rooks) b7 21.e4 c5 22.f5! xe4 23.bf1 xd5 24.h5 with mate to follow on h7. ] 19.b5! Now that b5 is not guarded by the queen. e6? [ 19...f8 appears to be Black's only chance. ] 20.h5 The immediate threat is Re5, and Black has no good defence. g6 21.h6 [ 21.h6 d7 22.g5 wins immediately. ] 1-0
1158 Lewis,J Gracia,H ICC [Tony Kosten]
A29 2127 1999
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.g5 xc3 8.bxc3 e8 9.f3 exf3 [ This older alternative to 9...e3 is still perfectly valid. ] 10.xf3 d5 11.d4 Kasparov's strong move. e4 12.c2 dxc4 13.b1 f6!? [ Considered a blunder by Kasparov, but is 1149
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 it? The alternatives are: 13...f5 14.g4! e7?! ( 14...fxg4 15.e5 d6!? is less clear) 15.gxf5 d6 16.g5 xe2 17.d5+ which is crushing for White, Kasparov,G-Ivanchuk,V/ USSR (ch) 1988, ] [ 13...e7 14.d2 g5 15.e4 h3 16.xh3 xh3+ 17.g2 g5 18.h4 xe4 19.xe4 xe4+ 20.xe4 xe4 21.xb7 with an edge in the endgame, Hodgson,JNaumkin,I/Amantea 1995, and ] [ 13...h6 14.h4 ( 14.e5! ) 14...e7 15.f5 xf5 16.xf5 ab8 17.f4 s e e m s l e ve l , V i vo , M - S a x, G / P o r t o S a n Giorgio 1995. ] 14.e5 fxe5 15.xe4 This is the position given as +- by Kasparov, the black kingside is a t t a c k e d , h o w c a n B l a c k d e f e n d ? h3 He doesn't! The king is left to look after itself. 16.xh7+ h8 17.g6? [ Tempting, White goes straight for the throat, but 17.g6 is stronger, d5 ( 17...xf1? loses, 18.f5 xe2 19.h3+ with a swift mate ) 18.f3 exd4!? ( better to give the exchange, 18...f8 19.e4 xe4 20.xe4 exd4 21.xb7 is very difficult for Black) 19.xe8 xe8 20.g6 e6 21.xe6 xe6 and Black is not bereft of chances in this endgame. ] 17...xf1 18.g5 e6! [ A fine resource, 18...d7!? 19.xf1 h3 20.h4 f8 21.b1 forces f4! although this may be sufficient, however, not ] [ 18...e7? when 19.h5 xe2 20.h3 is winning g4 21.h4 ] 19.xd8 [ There is some choice, as 19.f5!? d6 20.xf1 exd4 21.h3 h6 22.xh6 xh6 is only slightly better for Black, but ] [ 19.h5? xe2! 20.h4 h6 favours Black. ] 19...xg6 20.xg6 xe2 21.xc7 exd4 Black is slightly better. 22.cxd4 [ Best, 22.xb7?! d3 23.xd3 cxd3 allows Black a dangerous passed d-pawn. ] 22...xd4 23.xb7 d3 24.xd3? [ A mistake, 24.h5 keeps the black passed pawn under control. ] 24...cxd3 25.f4?? [ This loses, 25.b4 e6 26.f4 is forced. ] 25...d2! 26.b1 [ 26.xd2 f3+ ]
26...e2+ 27.f2 c3 0-1
1159 A29 Ljubojevic,Ljubomir 2570 Van Wely,Loek 2668 Amber Rapid Monte Carlo MNC rapid (3) [Carsten Hansen] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.0-0 0-0 9.d3 h6 10.d2 [ 10.c2 is pretty harmless: c6 11.b1 ( 11.e4 xe4 12.dxe4 d6 13.b1 a5 14.b3 f5 15.e3 f6 16.b2 fxe4 17.xe4 h3 18.fe1 ad8 , and Black has equalised comfortably, H.Saldano-J.Campos Mo re n o , Ma n ch a R e a l 2 0 0 0) 11...d5 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.xd5 xf2+ 14.xf2 xd5 15.d2 e6 16.b3 c8 17.b2 d6 with a complicated position and chances to both sides, R.Tomaszewski-P. Botto, Graz 1978 ] [ 10.e3 is much more interesting, e. g. A) 10...a6 11.d1 a7 12.d4 e7 13.dxe5 xe5 14.d5! ( 14.c2 d6 15.b3 f5= Ribli ) 14...xd5 15.cxd5 d6 16.d2 c5 ( 16...b8 17.ac1; 16...f5 17.c3 e7 18.xb7; 16...h3 17.ac1 - analysis by Ribli) 17.c3 f5 18.g2 a5 19.d4 , and with his space advantage and potential to put Black's queenside under pressure, White has the b e t t e r c h a n ce s , L . V a n W e l y- J . P i k e t , Merrillville1997'; B) 10...d6 11.a4 gives White the pair of bishops and a small plus; C) 10...c6 11.d1 e8 12.d4 d6 13.c2 exd4 14.exd4 b6 15.c5 bxc5 16.b5 b8 17.dxc5 b7 18.b3 , and Black is being pushed backwards off the board, P.Kleindl-W .De Cort, Email 2000; D) 10...e8 11.c2 ( 11.d1 f8 12.c2!? d6 13.d4 g4 14.xg4 xg4 15.f3 exd4 16.exd4 f6 17.d5 , and W hite has the easier position to play ) 11...f8 12.g2 c6 13.e4 d6 14.f4 b5 15.cxb5 cxb5 16.h1 a6 17.e3 b7 18.d4 c8 R.Zysk-M.Grynszpan, 1150
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.g2 xg2 18.xg2 f5 . and Black is Sharjah 1985 ] already in the driver's seat, since his attack [ 10.g2 e8 ( 10...c6 11.d2 b6 is bound to touch down sooner than 12.ac1 d6 13.fd1 e8 14.e1 b8 W hite's queenside action, R.Dieks-L. 15.e4 c7 , and a draw was very Christiansen, Teeside 1973 ] prematurely agreed upon, C.Duncan-A. [ 10...a6 11.c2 d6 12.g2 c6 13.ab1 Collinson, England 2000; 10...d6 11.a4 c7 ( 13...g4 14.h3 e6 15.b4 a7 b6 12.d2 g4 13.xb6 axb6 14.fe1 16.h2 ) 14.b4 d4?! ( 14...a7!? ) 15.e3 L.Ljubojevic-L.Van Wely, Villarrobledo rpd xc3 16.xc3 e6 17.b2 d7 18.f4 1998 ) H.Pecorelli Garcia-R.Castellanos, La Paz A) 11.h3!? c6 12.h2 b6 13.a4! 2002 ] A1) 13...xb3 14.axb3 d6 ( 14...f8 [ 10...c6 11.fd1 ( 11.a4 e7 12.c5 d5 15.b6 b8 16.xa7 c5 17.e3 ) 13.cxd6 xd6 is perfectly comfortable for 15.d2 Ribli; Black ) 11...a5 12.a4 a7 13.ac1 d6 A2) 13...a5 14.xc5 xc5 15.e4 14.c5 dxc5 15.xc5 e7 16.a3 d5= e7 ( 15...d6 16.e3 a5 17.f4; H.Froberg-T.Klausen, corr ICCF 1999 ] 15...d5 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.exd5 ) 16.e3 d6 17.f4 Cu.Hansen-H. 11.ad1 [ 11.ac1 b8 12.a4! a6 13.b4 f8 Westerinen, Reykjavik 1998; 14.b5 Cu.Hansen-L.Christiansen, Munich B) 11.c2 c6 12.b1 f8 13.e4 a6 1992 ] 14.b4 , and with a good grip on the centre, [ 11.g2 c6 12.ac1 f8 ( 12...b6 and excellent prospects of a successful 13.a4 d6 14.b4 e6= B.Gelfand-P. wing attack on the queenside, White has Svidler, Dos Hermanas 1999 - see the PGN the better chances, H.Liebert-S. archives ) 13.a4 a6 14.b3 d6 15.e3 Kalinitschew, Halle1987 ] e7 16.a4 g4 17.fe1 ad8 18.h3 [ 10.a4 e7 11.e3 ( 18.b6 c8 19.e4 may be a possible A) 11...d6 12.c3 c6 13.d4 c7 14.d5 improvement for White, though Black should ( 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.ad1 e6=; 14.ad1 be okay ) 18...e6 19.h2 b5 20.b6 g4!? 15.c1 exd4 16.xd4 e5 1/2-1/2 Z.Izoria-N.Pert, Hoogeveen 2003 ] 17.g2 - Khalifman) 14...h3 15.fc1?! ( 15.g2 xg2 16.xg2= ) 15...c5! 11...c6 12.g2 f8 [ 12...b6 16.d2 h7 17.g2 xg2 18.xg2 f5 A) White has an noteworthy idea at this , and Black has a definite initiative. M. point, 13.e3!? b7 and now... 14.c1! Petursson-A. Khalifman, Narva 1998; ( 14.e4!? xe4 15.dxe4 a5 ) 14...f8 B) 11...c6! (preparing the counteraction in 15.d4 exd4 ( 15...e4 16.f3 exf3 17.xf3 the centre, if W hite gets to frisky on the d5 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.f5 ) 16.exd4; q u e e n s i d e ) 12.c5 d5 13.cxd6 xd6 B) 13.a4 b7 14.b4 f8 15.b5 ( 15.e4 14.fc1 e7 wit approximately even d5 16.exd5 cxd5 17.cxd5 xd5 18.e4 chances (although I once again like White d6 19.fe1; 15.b3 d5 16.b5 cxb5 slightly better) A.Minasian-Pr.Nikolic, 17.xd5 bxc4 18.dxc4 ) 15...c8 Yerevan 1996 ] 16.b3 c7 ( 16...cxb5 17.cxb5 xg2 10...e8 18.xg2 a6= ) 17.a4 ad8 18.b1 a8 [ 10...d6 11.g2 a6 12.ab1 d7!? 19.fe1 c5 20.a5!? ( 20.e4 xe4 13.c2 ( 13.xb7?? looks tempting 21.dxe4 d6 22.e3= ) 20...bxa5 21.a4 because b8 can be answered with b4! 22.xb4 axb4 23.xb4 cxb5 14.xc8 , but af te r fxc8 15.a4 h3 24.xb5 xg2 25.xg2 b8 ( 25...d5 Bla ck all of a sud den ha s a mu rde rou s 26.c5; 25...e4!?= ) 26.c5 xc5 attack that will cost White at least a piece to 27.xc5 d5 28.xb8 xb8 29.cxd5 parry: 16.c6 e4! 17.xe4 g4-+ ) xd5 30.a1 c3 31.f3 b5 13...g4 14.d5?! ( 14.b4!? a7 15.b5 32.a4?? ( 32.d7! a5 33.c1 a4 axb5 16.xb5 b8 17.c3 a7 18.e3 ) 34.c8+ h7 35.e4 ) 32...a5-+ 14...xd5 15.f3 g6 16.cxd5 h3 1151
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 0-1, Y.Yakovich-A.Zatonskih, Port Erin 2005 ] 13.fe1 d6 14.c1 [ 14.e4 c7 15.e2 c5 16.c3 is probably about balanced, but I nonetheless still prefer White's chances. ] 14...c7 15.d4 e4 16.d5 c5 17.h3 g6 18.g4!? g7 19.f4 a6 20.c2 e7 21.f3 h5 22.g5 h7 23.xe4 f5 24.h4 xe4 25.xe4 xe4 26.fxe4 e5 27.e3 b5 28.e2 b4 29.f1 a5 30.ef2 a7 31.h3 g7 32.g2 a4 and despite his extra mat erial, W h ite will no t b e a ble to brea k through Black's fortress. ½-½
1160 Malakhov,Vladimir Bacrot,Etienne ECC Halkidiki GRE (7) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2668 2653 28.09.2002
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 g6 This is something of a pet system of Etienne's, [ 4...b4 or ] [ 4...d5 are more common. ] 5.g2 We analysed [ 5.d4 exd4 6.xd4 g7 7.xc6 dxc6 8.xd8+ xd8 in Karpov,A-Bacrot,E. ] 5...g7 6.0-0 0-0 7.d4 [ 7.d3 is quite possible, of course, and very common, but the text is the most ambitious. ] 7...exd4 8.xd4 e8 9.c2 In principle this is correct, with more space W hite wants to retain as many pieces as possible on the board. [ 9.xc6 would allow dxc6 see Georgiev, KAkopian,V, and this is similar to the Karpov-Bacrot game, except that the black king is less exposed. ] 9...d6 10.e4 This is best, as otherwise, [ 10.b3 f5 controls e4, 11.b2 e4!? 12.xe4 xe4 13.xg7 xg7 14.e3 a5 Black has few problems, Psakhis,L-Akopian, V/Elista 1998. ] 10...e5!? Bacrot's improvement over his previous effort: [ 10...d7!? (possibly planning to capture on c3) 11.d2 a6 12.b3 b8 13.b2 b5
14.e3 Kortschnoj,V-Bacrot,E/Linz 1997, when Korchnoj suggests Black should play c5! 15.cxb5 axb5 16.cd5 b4 17.xg7 xg7 18.fd1 d7 with unclear play. ] [ 10...e6 is also possible, 11.b3 d7 12.b2 h3 13.f3 xg2 14.xg2 e5 15.d5 with more space, Poldauf,D-Zaitsev, I/Podolsk 1991. ] 11.b3 c6 12.a3 fd7 Black plays in similar style to the Classical line against the Fianchetto King's Indian. 13.e2 White gains nothing by capturing on d6: [ 13.xd6?! xc4 14.bxc4 xc3 ] [ 13.xd6?! xc4 14.bxc4 xc3 ] 13...c5 14.ad1 c7 15.d2 White returns to pester the d-pawn, although it is still not really 'en prise'. f5!? Black plays dynamically, moves like [ 15...f8 are too passive, but ] [ 15...b6 is reasonable, 16.xd6?! xd6 17.xd6 b7 18.dd1 xc4 19.bxc4 xc3 ] 16.f4 f7 This doesn't work too well, [ 16...ed3!? is more active, but allows 17.e5! dxe5 18.b4 which wins the knight, and altho ugh Black certainly has som e compensation after e4 19.bxc5 it may not b e e n o u g h , e . g . e6 ( still, 19...e7! is worth trying, Black's powerful knight is worth a lot.) 20.xe4! fxe4 21.xe4 ed8 22.d6 b2 23.xb2 xb2 24.d4 with advantage. ] 17.e5 d8? This leads to an inferior position by force, [ 17...f8 18.exd6 xd6 is superior although the black pieces are awkwardly placed, and White has some advantage. ] 18.exd6 xd6 19.e3 xd1 20.e8+ f8 21.xd1 e7?! 22.e1! xe8 23.xe8 The rook on the eighth wins for White, Black is unable to complete his development. d7 24.d4 h6 25.e6 f7 26.xf8+ xe6?? A blunder in a bad position, [ 26...xf8 27.xf8 g7 is quite awful, as the black bishop still can't move, but can be played. ] 27.e8+? White misses the pretty [ 27.d5+! cxd5 28.cxd5# ] 27...f7 28.e7+ Of course, White is still winning. g8 29.d5 A nice tactic, but [ 29.b5! has the same idea, but is even 1152
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 stronger: g4 30.e8+ g7 31.d6 wins the bishop. ] 29...g4 [ 29...cxd5?! 30.xd5+ f8 31.xh7+ e8 32.h8+ f8 33.xf8+ etc. ] 30.c7 b8 31.e6 df6?! [ 31...a5 ] 32.d6 a8 33.c7 b8 34.h3 h6 35.e8 xe8 36.xe8+ f7 37.e7+ [ 37.e7+ f6 38.xh7 attacks the rook and the knight. ] 1-0
1161 Malakhov,Vladimir Nepomniachtchi,Ian 8th ch-Euro Dresden GER (8) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2679 2602 11.04.2007
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 In the February update some of the lines after 8 Rb1 and 8 a3 were discussed 0-0 9.a4 This line is relatively rare, more common are 9 Be3 and 9 a3. a5 10.e3 e6 [ ECO's main line runs 10...g4 11.c1 e8 12.d2 b8 13.b5 b4 ( or 13...d7 Eingorn-Yakovich, USSR ch 1986, and now Kortchnoi gives 14.c4 xc4 15.xc4 as leading to an equal position) 14.xc6 bxc6 15.a7 h3 16.xc6 d5 17.f3 a8 18.xb4 axb4 19.e1 xa4 20.xc7 b3 with compensation for the pawn as seen in the game Kortchnoi-Petursson, Lugano 1986. ] 11.d2 [ This isn't even mentioned in ECO. Maybe for a good reason, because Black is doing rather well in the continuation. However, the alternatives are worth a look. W hite has several options available to him: A) 11.c1 is the most popular move A) 11...d5 12.xd5 xd5 13.d2 xg2 14.xg2 d4 15.xd4 exd4 16.b3 b6 17.f3 c5 18.e4= Evans, L-Donovan, J/ Omaha 1949; B) 11...f6 12.b5 B1) 12...d7 B1a) 13.xb6!? cxb6 14.d4 fd8 ( 14...e4 15.d2 f5 16.e3 ) 15.dxe5
fxe5 16.xd7 xd7 17.fd1 with chances to both sides.; B1b) 13.c5 ac8 14.d2 xc5 15.xc5 e7 16.c1 b4 ( 16...d8!? ) 17.b3 ( here 17.xc6 bxc6 18.a7 a8 19.xc6 xb2 20.a1 g4 offers about even chances. ) 17...d5 18.c4?! ( 18.e4!? d4 19.c5 f7 20.xb7 xb5 21.axb5 xb5 22.c5= ) 18...e7 19.b1 cb4 20.cc1 c6 21.c3 xc3 22.xc3 d5 , and Black has already obtained a pleasant position, Soto, G-Gamboa, N/Bogota 1992; B2) 12...f7 13.xb6 cxb6 14.d2 c8 15.c4 c5 16.c3 d7 17.e4 b4 18.f4 exf4 19.xf4 d4 20.b3 b5 21.axb5 a4 22.f1 axb3 23.b1 f5 24.ed2 xd2 25.xd2 c2 26.d1 a5 27.xb3 xb3 28.xd4 b6 29.xb3 xd4+ 30.f1 dc7 31.b1 7c3 32.f3 b6 33.h4 e3 34.g2 g6 35.g1 xd3 36.xe3 xe3 37.a1 exe2+ 38.xe2 xe2+ 39.f3 b2 40.f4 g7 41.a7+ h6 42.e5 xb5+ 43.f6 b3 44.h5 xg3 45.hxg6 hxg6 46.a8 h5 47.h8+ g4 48.xg6 f4 49.b8 f3 50.xb6 f2 0-1 Waltemathe, A-Sandor, B/Beverwijk 196601; C) 11...f5 C1) here 12.d2 f4 ( not 12...d5?! 13.b3! cb4 14.xd5 xd5 15.xb7 xe3 16.fxe3 b8 17.c6 d6 18.c4 ) 13.xb6 cxb6 transposes to our main game, Malakhov, V-Nepomniachtchi, I; C2) 12.b5 f6 C2a) 13.c5 f7 14.d2 d7 15.xb6 cxb6 16.xc6 bxc6 17.xc6 e4 ( 17...c8!? 18.xd7 xd7 leaves Black with adequate compensation for the pawn) 18.xa8 xa8 19.c2 exd3 20.exd3 d8 21.e1 d5 ( 21...f7!? ) 22.c4 b7 Bordoni, N-Villarreal, H/Mar del Plata 1993, and now 23.e6!? d5 24.xb6; C2b) 13.xb6 cxb6 14.d2 C2b1) 14...d7 15.c4 ad8 1153
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.xb6 f7 17.e1 ( Obviously 17.xc6 need to be examined as it picks up a second pawn for W hite: bxc6 18.xc6 e4 19.d6 e7 20.bc4 xb2 21.xb2 xd6 22.xd6 xd6 23.dxe4 xd1 24.xd1 fxe4 25.c3 ) 17...f4 18.c3 h5 19.e4 d4 Johnson, R-Bagherabadi, M/Lansing 1985; C2b2) 14...f7 15.xc6 bxc6 16.xc6 d5 17.d6 d7 18.c4 xd6 19.bxd6 f4 Gilles, RP a p a c e k , S / C l i c h y 1 9 9 0 20.e4 c8 21.b3; C2b3) 14...c8 15.c4 e7 C2b31) 16.e3!? c5 17.e2 e8 18.xe5 ( 18.fd1 f7= ) 18...xe5 19.d4 xd4 20.xc8 xc8 21.d6 d7 22.exd4 xd6 23.xe5; C2b32) 16.f4?! exf4 17.gxf4 c5+ 18.h1 f6 19.c3 h6 Littman, G-Reshevsky, S/New York 1940 ] [ B) 11.e4 d5 12.c5 h6 ( or 12...f5!? 13.xe7 xe7 14.eg5 db4 15.xe6 xe6 16.c1 h8 17.c3 ad8 18.ad1 d7 19.fe1 fd8= Ost Hansen, J-Schoch, H/Winterthur 1974) 13.c1 d6 14.fd2 f5 15.xd6 cxd6 16.a3 de7 17.c4 c8 ( 17...d5 18.d6 b8 19.b5 ) 18.e3 ( 18.xc6! bxc6 19.xd6 xd6 20.xc6 ) 18...f7 19.d4 exd4 20.exd4 Piro, V-Lipiniks, L/Buenos Aires 1946 ] [ C) 11.d4 exd4 ( 11...xd4 12.xd4 exd4 13.xd4 c8 14.d3 c6 15.fd1 f6 16.e4 e7 so far Nuesken, FKirchhammer, R/Schwerin 1951, and here 17.xf6+ xf6 18.b3 c5 19.b5 le a v e s W h i t e wit h a c o m f o r t a b l e p l u s) 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 ( 13.xd4 c6 14.e4 d5 15.c1 e8 16.e3 f8 Iglesias, A-Van Riemsdijk, H/ Mar del Plata 1994 17.g4 e6 18.h5 ) 13...c4 14.xb7 b8 15.d5 xe3 16.xe3 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xe7 xb2= Savon, V-Timoscenko, G/ Kischniev 1975 ] [ C) 11.xb6 is the only move covered in ECO now cxb6 12.c1 ( Two alternatives
are 12.b5 f6 13.d2 c8 14.c3 e7 15.fc1 b4 16.d1 f6 17.e3 e7 18.e2 fd8 , and a premature draw was agreed upon, despite Black having solved his opening problems successfully and can be quite pleased with his position, 1/2-1/2 Petran, P-Liebert, H/Stary Smokovec 1975; and 12.d2 h5 13.c4 h4 14.c1 c5 15.e3 hxg3 16.hxg3 f5 which is given as unclear in the ECO based on the game Kraidman-Lederman, Netanya 1975. White can pick up a pawn with 17.xc6 bxc6 18.xe5 e8 but the weaknesses on the light squares in W hite's position, particularly around the king provide Black with some compensation. Whether or not it is sufficient is difficult to say.) 12...d7 13.d2 f6 14.c4 c5 15.e4 c7 16.e3 ad8 17.e2 d7 18.fd1 g4 19.f3 xf3 20.xf3 f5 , and Black has the better chances as in Levitina, I-Yakovich, Y/Helsinki 1992, although Black in the end of the game managed to throw all of his advantage away and finally lose on time on move 39. ] [ D) 11.c1?! f6 12.b5 d5 13.c5 cb4 14.d1 c6 15.xe7 xe7 16.c3 b6 is already very pleasant for Black, Tassi, O-Roos, J/Luxembourg 1981 ] [ E) 11.b5!? A) 11...h6 12.c1 d5 13.d2 xg2 14.xg2 f5 15.xc7 xc7 16.b3+ h8 17.xb6 d7 18.b5 g5 19.cd1 ( 19.e3!? d8 20.c4 is probably better for White ) 19...xd2 20.xd2 f4 21.f3 fxg3 22.hxg3 e4 23.d4 f5 24.d5 h5 and here the players chickened out and agreed upon a draw (1/2-1/2) in Robledo, N-Casoy, G/Buenos Aires 1994, but there is obviously still plenty of play left in this position, though Black is the one who has to pro ve tha t h is kin gside initia tive is sufficient to compensate f or the pawn 25.g4 g5 26.g3 d6+ 27.f4 e7 28.e3 f5+ 29.f2 xg4 is a fun and messy, but definitely not bad for Black; B) 11...d5 12.d2 B1) 12...f6 13.c1 d7 14.e1?! ( White can do much better with 14.e4! b6 15.d4! exd4 16.f4 fc8 17.fxd4 ) 14...ac8 15.f4 d4 16.f5 1154
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f7 Cohen, L-Denker, A/ Chicago 1994; B2) 12...d7 13.c1 ac8 ( or 13...f6 14.e4 b6 15.d4 exd4 16.f4 fc8 17.fxd4 ) 14.xc6! bxc6 15.xe5 d8 ( 15...e8 16.a7 b8 17.axc6 xb2 18.xa5 ) 16.d4?! ( 16.a7 a8 17.axc6 d6 18.xe7+ xe7 19.c6 d6 20.c2 ) 16...c5 17.xe6 fxe6 18.xa5 f6 19.c4 b8 20.a1 1/2-1/2 Vehreschild, AJung, T/Goch 1993 ] 11...f5!? [ An improvement over a game played 43 years ago 11...d5 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.c1 d6 15.b3 xb3 16.xb3 fe8 17.c5 xc5 18.xc5 1Averbakh, Y-Bebchuk, E/ Moscow 1964 ] 12.c1 f4 13.xb6 cxb6 14.c4 c5 [ 14...g5!? ] 15.e4 b4 16.ed2 [ 16.e3!? ] 16...c5 17.e4 b4 18.h1?! [ This just hands Black the initiative and better position. Instead 18.e3!? should be co n sid ere d, e. g. f7 19.h5!? xd3 20.xe5 xe5 21.xe5 b3 22.gxf4 with chances for both sides ] 18...d4 19.c3 g5! Black's initiative is worth more than the pawn on b 6 20.xb6 ad8 21.c4 [ 21.d5 h6 22.xe6+ xe6 23.c4 f3 24.exf3 h3 doesn't work for White ] 21...h5 22.d2 xc3 [ 22...g4!? 23.f3 fxg3 24.fxg3 f7 is quite unpleasant for White ] 23.bxc3 fxg3 24.fxg3 xe2? Now Black enter s a forced sequence of moves that ends up being better for White. [ Black, however, has a much better alternative available: 24...xf1+ 25.xf1 f5 A) 26.e4?! d5! ( 26...e3? 27.d2 ) 27.e1 xe4+ 28.dxe4 e3; B) 26.e1 e3 27.g1 d7 28.b1 c6 is rather uncomfortable for White ] 25.f3 e4 26.xe2 exf3 27.xe6+ h8 28.f1 de8 [ Also 28...b5!? 29.axb5 xb5 30.b1 h5 can be considered ] 29.d6 d8?!
[ At this juncture 29...b5!? may be Black's b e s t , e . g . 30.axb5 xb5 31.e1 c8 and while W hite is b ett er, B la ck is st ill playing ] 30.b6 f2 31.e3 b5 32.a1?! [ Here 32.axb5! xb5 33.b1 a4 34.e4 looks like an easier solution W hite is winning. ] 32...de8 [ A more difficult move to face is possibly 32...bxa4 e.g. A) not 33.xa4?! because things immediately gets complicated, e.g. de8 ( 33...d1? 34.xa5 e1 35.e5 xd3!? 36.xd3 xe5 37.f3 , and W hite is winning) 34.f4! xf4 35.xf4 c5 36.e4 f8 37.e3 ( 37.xf8+? xf8 38.c4 a4 39.c3 a3= ) 37...a4 38.g2 a3 39.d2 b8 and Black's passed a-pawn provides an uncomfortable level of counterplay.; B) 33.g2! b5 34.e4 b3 ( 34...d7?! 35.c5!+- ) 35.c5 g8 36.c4! and White should win ] 33.e4 bxa4 34.c4 b8 [ A practical move that intends to follow up with ...a4-a3-a2 and ...Rb1, which can be difficult to deal with in time trouble, but under normal circumstances, W hite shouldn't have any problems facing this line. Th e alt e rna t ive 34...e5 allows White to co n s o l i d a t e 35.g2 e8 36.c5 ef5 37.a2 and White should win ] 35.h3 a3 36.c5! f3+!? [ Exchanging the queens allows White to c o n s o l i d a t e : 36...xc5 37.xc5 fe8 38.e4 b3 39.g2 followed by Ra2 and c5. ] 37.h2 [ 37.g2?? loses on the spot f1+! 38.xf1 xf1+ 39.xf1 a2 40.g2 a1+-+ ] 37...a2?! A typical time trouble move that can only serve to confuse White due to threats like ...Rb1 or ...Rb2, but its objective value doesn't account for much as White can win in several ways. [ 37...h5 38.xa3 h4 39.e7 hxg3+ 40.xg3 f4 41.xa5 f6 42.e5+- ] 38.a3 [ W h i t e c a n a l s o g o f o r 38.xa2!? but in time trouble, the concern of a passed 1155
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a-pawn supported by rook and queen may have caused White to go for the text move. Nonetheless after d1 39.xf2 xf2+ 40.xf2 a4 41.a7 f8 42.g2 White should win without any further ado ] 38...b1? Black may have been in time trouble at this point, because this move just loses. Obviously the alternatives aren't too pretty either, but most other moves are better than the text move, e.g. [ 38...h5 39.xa2 h4 40.c1 hxg3+ 41.xg3+- ] [ 38...f5 39.xa2 d1 40.a1 e1 41.g4! ff8 42.xa5 b1 43.c5!+- ] 39.d2 f5 40.xb1 axb1 41.xb1 h5 42.b5 1-0
1162 Malakhov,Vladimir Roiz,Michael 8th ch-Euro Dresden GER (10) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2679 2605 13.04.2007
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e8 7.e1 [ 7.d5 is the main line move ] 7...h6 [ 7...f8 A) An interesting alternative is 8.c2!? d6 9.d4 h6 ( 9...f5 10.d5 e7 11.g5 ) 10.e4 d7 ( 10...exd4 11.xd4 d7 is solid for Black, but gives W hite more space and an easier position to play, as Black in this of position often runs out of go o d m o ve s to p la y, wh ile W h it e ca n peddle his pieces around forever before deciding to break open the position.) 11.h3 h7 12.f4 exd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 Kurz, E-Herbrechtsmeier, C/ 2. Bundesliga1990; B) 8.d3 d6 9.c2 ( 9.d5 xd5 10.cxd5 e7 11.d4 f5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.d3 e4 14.f4 d6 15.e3 Bergstrom, C-Kinnmark, O/Boras 1979 d7 with a comfortable position for Black) 9...d4 10.b4 ( 10.g5 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.e3 xc2 13.xc2 c6 14.b4 d8 15.b5 d7= Sieglen, J-Hoffmann, H/ Wuerttemberg 1979) 10...c6 11.b5 e6
12.bxc6 bxc6 13.g5 e7 14.e3 g4 15.f3 xc2 16.xc2 Gurevich, MF e d o r o w i c z , J / N e w Y o r k 1 9 8 9 , d7 with an equal position according to Fedorowicz ] [ 7...d6 8.c2 xc3 A) 9.bxc3?! looks like a decent move but is in fact rather passive, e.g. e4 10.d3 h6 11.f3 exd3 12.exd3 d5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.b2 f5 15.d2 b6 16.ad1 e5 17.e1 Jorgensen, J-Kolbak, J/Vejle 1974, and now: xd3! ( 17...a4!? can also be considered) 18.xd3 c4 19.c2 e3 20.e5 xc2 21.xd8+ xd8 22.xc4 e2 and Black is clearly better thanks to his exce lle n t co ord ina t ion a nd a ct ive pieces, and White's lack of both; B) 9.dxc3 e6 10.e3 a5 ( 10...g4!? ) 11.b3 g4 12.d5 c6 13.b4 f5 with chances to both sides accord ing to ECO, quoting the game , Averbakh, Y-Passerotti, P/Reggio Emilia 1977. However, I think this is partly based on the continuation chosen by White in the game, 14 e4, which does lead to a rather unclear position, but instead 14.h3 f6 15.g5 f8 16.d3 gives White the more pleasant position ] [ 7...xc3 8.dxc3 e4?! ( 8...h6!= (as quoted by Kortchnoi in the ECO and his ECO monograph 'A29' the point is that it doesn't allow White to play Bc1-g5) 9.c2 e4 10.e3 , and now with d6 the play would have entered the main lines that arise after 6... e4 7 Ne1 Bxc3 8 dxc3 h6 9 Nc2 Re8 10 Ne3 d6) 9.g5! h6 ( or 9...d6 10.c2 e5 11.d2 e6 12.b3 h6 13.xf6 xf6 14.f4 Averbakh, YBronstein, D/USSR 1976) 10.xf6 xf6 11.c2 A) 11...b6?! 12.e3 e5 13.c1! a6 ( Relatively better is 13...b7!? 14.xd7 ad8 15.g4 d2 16.c2 with 'only' a clear advantage according to Averbakh) 14.d5 b5 15.fd1 b8 16.b4 bxc4 17.xc4 b5 18.xb5 axb5 19.a3 b7 20.c4 , and while this is evaluated as 'clearly better f or W hite' by Averbakh based on the game Averbakh, Y-Suetin, A/ USS R 1 97 8, th e t ru th is th at Black is probably even worse of f than that his 1156
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 position is a hopeless mess, pieces are totally uncoordinated and he will likely lose th e e-pa wn , while W hite 's pieces a re ideally placed; B) 11...d6 12.e3 B1) 12...e5 13.b3! ( or 13.d2 g5 14.fe1 e8 15.ad1 f5 16.f4 exf3 17.exf3 e6 18.f4 Petrosian, TKorchnoi, V/Tbilisi 197 6) 13...b8 14.ad1 b6 15.c2 f5 16.d5! be8 17.fd1 Uhlmann, W-Reshevsky, S/ Skopje 1976; B2) 12...d8!? 13.c2 f5 14.ad1 f6 15.d5 f7 16.f3; B3) 12...f5?! 13.f4! e7 14.g4 d7 15.e1! c6 16.h4 ad8 17.g3 Averba kh , Y-Ro drigue z, R/P olan ica Zdroj 1975 ] 8.c2 c5 9.d3 d4 10.b1 a6 11.b4 a7 12.a4 c6 13.xd4 xd4 14.b3 [ 14.e4 d6 15.e3 xe4 16.dxe4 a7 17.a5 ( 17.a3 b5!= ) 17...e6 18.d3 c5 19.a3 c7 ] 14...d6 15.b5 axb5 16.axb5 d7 17.d2 c8 [ 17...e7 18.e3 c5 19.a1 is about level, but I pref er W hite's position due to the re l a t i v e ly e a s y a c c e ss t o a qu e e n s i d e breakthrough. ] 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.a4 [ 19.e3 c5 20.a4 a7 gains a tempo for W h ite o ve r t h e ga m e con t inu a tio n , b u t wh e t h e r W h i t e c a n u s e t h e t e m p o f o r anything is questionable ] 19...d5 20.e3 a7 21.b7 c7 [ Also 21...a8 22.cxd5 cxd5 23.c3 e6 can be considered. The text move invites a draw by repetition ] 22.b3 c8 23.b7 c7 24.a6!? 24 Black being clearly satisfied with a draw, White tries something other than continuing the repetition of moves with Qb3 c8 25.a5 f5 26.b3 d7 [ 26...dxc4 27.dxc4 e6 28.b2 followed by Bc3 and Rd1 is pleasant for White ] 27.xd8 dxd8 28.cxd5 and the players agreed upon a draw, despite Black having solved his opening problems successfully. ½-½
1163 Malakhov,Vladimir Sargissian,Gabriel 25th ECC Ohrid MKD (6) [Nigel Davies]
A29 2715 2678 09.10.2009
An interesting game in which Black came up with a new move in 12...Nd4. He goes a pawn down but has plenty of compensation because of W hite's pawn weaknesses. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.d3 e6 10.e3 d5 11.xd5 xd5 12.c1 [ In view of Black's reply maybe White should prefer 12.a4 , for example Hansen, C (2616) -Sadvakasov, D (2595), Skanderborg 2003, continued d6?! (perhaps not best) 13.ac1 e6?! ( 13...fd8 looks better) 14.b5 a6 15.xb7 fb8 16.xc7 xb2 17.g5 xg5 18.xd5 xd5 19.xg5 h6 20.xc6 hxg5 21.d6 and White went on to win. ] 12...d4 A new move in an old position, and one which seems to neutralise this line. [ Black had previously played 12...d6 when 13.d2 ( 13.c5 e7 14.xd6 cxd6 15.b4 1/2-1/2 was fine for Black in Uhlmann, W (2505)-Seirawan, Y (2510), Thessaloniki 1988 ) 13...xg2 14.xg2 d7 15.e4 fe8 16.f3 ad8 17.b3 b6 18.c4 and White had a pull in Uhlmann, W (2510)Pfrommer, C (2325), Baden-Baden 1993. ] 13.xe5 Winning a pawn, but Black now gets to inflict permanent structural damage. Frankly I think that this position is unwinnable for W hite, though this doesn't stop him trying. xg2 14.xg2 d5+ 15.f3 xf3 16.exf3 W hite's extra pawn on the kingside cannot produce a passed pawn in any endgame, so its value is very limited. And meanwhile he has some liabilities because of the isolated dpawn. c6 17.c2 fd8 18.fd1 d7 19.c4 f6 20.xd5 xd5 21.c2 b5 22.dd2 a6 23.f1 d8 24.e2 b3 If you ask Fritz it seems to think that all these positions are good for White. But that's only because the extra pawn throws out all its evaluations. 25.d4 b5 26.b4 bd5 27.c5 5d7 28.c4 g6 29.a4 g7 30.b5 cxb5 31.axb5 axb5 32.b4 d5 33.db2 xd4 34.xd4 xd4 35.xb5 4d7 36.xb7 1157
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xb7 37.xb7 d5 38.f4 h5 39.h4 a5 40.d7 h5 41.f3 f5 42.e3 a3+ 43.d3 ½-½
1164 Marin,Mihail Fluvia Poyatos,Jordi VII Sants Open (8) [John Watson]
A29 2537 2458 02.09.2005
The ..Bc5/...Bf5 setup so popular for Black is probably still okay but White plays wonderfully in this game to break it down. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 c5 5.d3 d6 6.f3 This opening usually arises from 3.Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Bc5 5.Bg2 d6 6.0-0 0-0 etc. 0-0 7.0-0 h6 8.a3 a5 9.e3 b6 10.b3! f5 This kind of position used to be considered good for White, but Black has held his own for some years now. Marin does a brilliant job of crawling forward and squeezing Black, not the least based upon the restricted position of the bishop on b6. I'll supply few notes and let you watch this artistic achievement unfold: 11.h3! d7 12.h2 h7 [ 12...ae8!? ] 13.b2 fe8 14.g1! e4 [ 14...d8 15.ge2 b8 16.d5 xd5 17.cxd5 ] 15.d5 xd5 16.cxd5 d8 17.dxe4 xe4 18.xe4 xe4 19.f3! f5?! [ 19...e7 20.e2 c6 21.f4 ] 20.g4! f7 21.gxf5 [ Also good and probably even better than the text are 21.xf5 xf5 22.gxf5 ] [ or 21.e2! , both giving huge advantages to White. ] 21...g5 22.g2 ae8 23.f6! h4 24.ae1?! Now things start to slip. White should play [ 24.fxg7! ] 24...f7 25.g3? [ 25.fxg7! ] 25...h5! 26.g4 g6 [ 26...e4!? ] 27.e4 h7 28.f4 f8 29.e2 g5 30.g1 h7 31.e2 g5 A sad end f or White, who did everything right except play the obvious moves while cleaning up. ½-½
1165 Marin,Mihail Karpov,Anatoly TCh Lanzarote ESP (6) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2568 2686 11.05.2003
W hite plays a sharp exchange sacrifice to weaken Black's kingside defences, but then misses two crucial opportunities to gain the advantage. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 c5 The former World Champion still likes this system, although he wouldn't dream of playing like this with a tempo more as White! 5.g2 d6 6.0-0! 0-0! 7.d3 h6 8.a3 a5 9.e3 e8 this, and Black's next few moves, are fairly interchangeable. 10.b3 f5 11.b2 a7 This retreat seems to be a novelty in this particular position, as [ 11...b6 had been preferred: 12.h3 d7 13.h2 e7 14.d4 ( 14.e1 c6 15.e4 h7 16.d4 is another way of treating the position, Delchev,A-Savchenko,S/ 2nd IECC Playoff g/15, Ohrid MKD (3.1) 2001) 14...e4 15.d2 d5 16.a4 which occurred in another game of Delchev,A-Savchenko,S/ 2nd IECC, Ohrid MKD 2001. ] 12.h3 The exact position of the black darksquared bishop doesn't change the contours of the game too much, and W hite simply continues with the normal improving plan. d7 13.h2 White's last two moves stop the e xc h a n ge o f l ig h t - s qu a r e d b i s h o p s . h7 14.g1! The knight aims for e2. This plan was seen in an almost identical position (with the bla ck b ish o p o n b 6 , n o t a 7 ) in t h e ga m e Gurevich, M-Sokolov, I/Belgrade 1991. It is easy to know what to do when you have seen how the super-GMs handle a given position, but it seems to me that if the knight is better placed on e2 why not play 2 g3, and put it t h e r e d i r e c t l y ? ! d8 15.ge2 c6 Black menaces ...d5, so White stops it. 16.e4 e6 17.f4 White has the more dynamic position with distinct kingside possibilities. b5 Black aims for quick queenside counterplay he doesn't want to be mown-down by f5, g4 etc. 18.cxb5 cxb5 19.fxe5!? An unusual move, but part of a sharp tactical operation. dxe5 20.xf6! This shatters the black kingside, but is a genuine sacrifice as the co m pe n sat ion is e nt irely p o sit ion a l. gxf6 1158
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.d5 d8 22.d2 c7! The best practical decision as the d5-knight is too strong, and so Black hastens to exchange it. 23.ef4!? White will not give-up his outpost so easily! [ 23.xc7!? xc7 24.c3 is an alternative, d8 25.f1 e6 and now White might try 26.xb5!? ] 23...xd5 [ 23...exf4?? is impossible: 24.xf6+ f8 25.xh7+ destroys Black. ] 24.xd5 e6 25.g4?! Time is of the essence! White goes for complete control of f5, but this is quite unnecessary as Black can hardly contemplate an immediate ...f5 - see the next note: [ 25.f1! is simple and good, c8 ( 25...f5? just loses to 26.exf5 d6 27.f6 xd5 28.xh6 f8 29.g5+ h8 30.xd5 ) 26.xh6 f5 27.d2 and White has a pawn and attack for the exchange - I would judge that he is better. ] 25...c8 26.f1 c5 The bishop returns to help defend the kingside. 27.c3! [ 27.xh6 f5 28.d2 fxg4 shows the folly of White's 25th move. ] 27...a8 [ 27...a4!? ] 28.b2?! White must have been short of time to lay this passive move, as he has a nice trick here: [ 28.xh6! f5 29.c1! (the point - the c5bishop is loose) fxg4 ( 29...xa3 30.xa3 b4 is completely unclear, as White can play the wild 31.exf5!? bxa3 32.fxe6 fxe6 33.f6+ g7 34.xe5 with at least a draw by perpetual.) 30.xe5! xe5 31.xc5 and if anyone is better, it is White. ] 28...aa6 29.e1 f8 30.b4 axb4 31.axb4 d4 32.e2 ed6 33.c7 ab6 34.d5 bc6 Naturally Black plays on here. [ 34...a6 35.c7 could lead to a draw by repetition. ] 35.h4 d8 36.a2 g7 Black plays useful prophylaxis moves. 37.e2 a6 38.f3 Trying to keep Black pinned-down to the def ence of f 6. xd5!? The radical solution. 39.exd5 d6 With a nasty threat of ...e4. 40.h1 g6 41.c1?! By taking the pressure off f6 White allows Black to capture his b-pawn. xb4 42.c6? The point, but it
s h o u l d l o s e ! xc6? Returning the compliment, [ 42...a1+ 43.f1 b1 and White can resign, e.g. 44.xf6+ h7 45.g2 a2+ 46.h1 e4+! 47.dxe4 xe4+ and mate. ] 43.dxc6 e4 To def end f 6. 44.dxe4 e5 45.c7 c5 46.f1 b4 47.d3 xc7 The black light-squared bishop is stuck out of play, but the b-pawn is a monster. 48.g2 b3 49.f2 c1 50.e3 b2 51.e1 h5 W hilst W hite is tied-down to stopping the pawn, Black switches his attention to the kingside. 52.b1 hxg4 53.hxg4 f4 54.e2 h2+ 55.f1 h3+ 56.g1 h2+ 57.h1 g3+ 58.g1 xf2+ 59.xf2 h2+ 60.e1 g1+ [ 60...h1+ 61.f1 xe4+! 62.xe4 xe4 would be an amusing way to win! ] 61.f1 xg4 62.d3 g1+ 63.d2 c1+ 64.e2 h5+ The bishop returns to the game! 65.f2 h6 66.g2 e1 67.c2 g5 68.b1 e2+ 69.xe2 xe2 70.f2 g4 71.e3 f5 0-1
1166 Marin,Mihail Komljenovic,Davor 25th Ann Champions (7) [John Watson]
A29 2537 2473 12.07.2005
W e haven't seen many Dragon Reversed games. Here's a look at a battle which follows main-line theory well into some murky positions. White eventually emerges with the better game but strangely agrees to a draw in much the better position. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 [ 10.d3 f6 11.b2 a5 12.b5 d4 is Bacrot-Topalov in ChessPub. ] 10...f6 11.d3 a5 [ Black can also forego this move by 11...d4 12.d2 c6 , as in Bareev-Topalov, to be found in ChessPub. ] 12.b5 d4 13.d2 All theory thus far. c8 Avoiding the trap that Ton y has so of te n pointed out and has been played a remarkable number of times: [ 13...d5?? 14.xd5 xd5 15.e3 1159
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with the idea e6 16.e4 ] [ 13...d5!? --Kosten ] 14.e3 f5 15.c2!? [ A natural move that has been played several times. But W hite succeeded with 15.a4 in K Georgiev-M Gurevich, Mulhouse 2001. It seems a good idea to stop . ..a4. The game, with some of Tony Kosten's notes, went d8 16.c2 b8 17.d1 c6!? ( 17...b4!? ) 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.ce4 d5 ( 19...d7 20.b3!? xa4 21.xa5 xb1 22.xb1 d5 would be extremely unclear) 20.b3!? ( 20.xb8 xb8 21.xc6 f7 gives Black free play -- Kosten) 20...b4 21.e2 c5 with dynamically balanced play. ] 15...d8 16.d1 h8 [ An earlier game went 16...a4 17.ce4?! ( 17.c4!? xc4 18.dxc4 xc4 19.xd8+ xd8 20.xa4 unclear ) 17...d7 18.c5 xc5 19.xc5 d6 with double-edged play. ] 17.a4! Finally stopping ...a4, something White sh ou ld p rob ab ly h a ve d on e o n mo ve 1 5 . d5?! [ 17...b8 and . ..Qd7 is solid. ] 18.xd5 xd5 19.xd5 xd5 20.b2 b4 21.f3 White has taken over the centre and should have good chances. d7 22.e4 c5 23.e2 d4 24.xd4 exd4 25.bc1 xc1 26.xc1 c6 27.h5 [ Or 27.bxc6 bxc6 28.c2 c5 ( 28...c8 29.c4 ) 29.g2 , when Black's bishop on b4 is cut off. ] 27...c5?! 28.c4 e8 29.g2 e5 30.h3 xh3+ 31.xh3 g5 32.c1 g7 33.f4 gxf4 34.xf4 e6 35.g4 g6 36.f3 1/2-1/2. A strange draw. With the bishop stuck on b4 it's hard to believe that W hite can't make progress on the kingside, for example, [ 36.f3 f5! ( 36...b6 37.c2 (or 37.Bc7, tying Black to the defense of the b-pawn) Among several plans he has g4, h4-h5, and a well-timed Re2 and e5.) 37.e5 e8 38.c2 b6 39.h3 h5 40.g2 c8!? 41.g4 hxg4+ 42.hxg4 c4 ( 42...fxg4+ 43.xg4+ f7 44.e4 ) 43.gxf5+ xf5 44.g5+ e6 45.e4! with Rg6+ to come. The c-pawn can be held off until it's meaningless, e.g., c3 46.g6+ e7 47.xb6 a3 48.a6 c2 49.xa5 c1 ( 49...f8 50.g5+ d7
51.a7+ ) 50.xc1 etc. ] ½-½
1167 Marin,Mihail Lemos,Damian Porto Mannu Open (6) [Jonathan Rowson]
A29 2564 2511 20.05.2009
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 e6 9.b4 0-0 10.b1 [ 10.b5 d4 11.xe5 b3 12.e1 c2 ] 10...f6 11.d3 d4 as indicated elsewhere, [ 11...a5 12.b5 d4 13.d2 c8 ] [ and 11...a6 are both viable alternatives. ] 12.d2 [ 12.xd4 exd4 13.e4 d5 followed by f5. ] 12...d5 13.b2 c6 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5+ xd5 16.xd4! xd4 [ 16...exd4 17.b3 is better for White, mainly because d4 proves to be harder to defend than e2. ] 17.b3+ h8 18.fc1 ad8 19.c4 d5 20.b5 c5 White has achieved a small but clear strategic advantage and could probably have made more of it. Marin's play looks a bit lacklustre in what follows, perhaps caused by too many repeat visits to the bountiful buffet in Porto Mannu where this game was played. 21.a4 [ 21.a4!? ] 21...xb3 22.xb3 [ 22.xb3 a8 23.a5 fb8 24.f1 ] 22...a8 White should have quite a com f o rt able ad van ta ge he re , but p ro ve d unable to show it. 23.g2 [ 23.g4 ] 23...g8 24.c4 fd8 25.f3 f7 26.c2 e6 27.c4 d7 28.e4 [ 28.e3!? ] 28...ad8 29.e2 d4 30.d2 g6 31.c4 f8 32.bc3 d6 33.a4 e7 34.b3 xc4 35.xc4 c8 36.c2 c7 37.a5 d7 38.c4 d4 39.c1 d6 40.g1 c7 41.a1 [ 41.g4 intending Rg3-h3, obliging the rook to return to d7, and then trying ne3 to d5, looked like the best chance to increase the 1160
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pressure. ] 41...d8 42.a5 [ 42.g4 ] 42...d7 43.a4 a6 44.b6 ½-½
1168 Marin,Mihail Varga,Zoltan Rumania [Tony Kosten]
A29 2530 2565 1998
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 Black plays an open Sicilian reversed, and forces White to play a 'Dragon' with an extra tempo. 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 Not only is White threatening a discovered attack against the d5-knight, but also the freeing move d4 which, once played, will allow him a central predominance. b6 This is not forced, but is easily Black's best move, he keeps a firm hold on d4. 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 White starts an attack on the e5-pawn, he plans b4-5, dislodging the e-pawn's defender. [ 8.d3 is the more usual move-order, and can transpose. ] 8...0-0 9.b4 e6 Black defends actively against the threat to his e-pawn. 10.d3 a5 Active play, Black can play 10...Nd4 immediately, but prefers to weaken the white queenside first. 11.b5 d4 The point of Black's play, he threatens to bring a piece to b3. 12.b1 Controlling b3, and further supporting the b5-pawn, the one big advantage of this move is that W hite maintains his attack on e5 for a further move. [ 12.xe5? is punished by f6 as there are lots of juicy targets along the a1-h8 diagonal, and if 13.f4 then g5 with complications favourable to Black. ] [ but 12.d2 is more common, planning e3, and hides a terrible trap, for if Black plays th e 'e vide n t ' d5? White wins a piece by 13.xd5 xd5 14.e3 e6 (or 14...Nf5) 15.e4 ] 12...f6 Black takes time out to defend his epawn, but [ 12...d5 might be the most accurate, 13.a4 e8 ( 13...xf3+ 14.xf3 d6 15.d2 fd8 16.b2 c6 17.c3
is not bad either, Georgadze,G-Yakovich,Y/ Barnaul 1988.) 14.xd4 exd4 15.b2 d8 16.xd4 xa3 17.c5 f4 unclear, Azmayparashvili,Z-Romanishin,O/Yerevan 1989. ] 13.d2 c6 One of a number of possibilities for defending the b7-pawn, [ 13...b8?! is the most obvious, 14.e3 f5 15.c2 d6 16.b3 but this shows the disadvantage of 13...Rb8, the a5-pawn is undefended, Azmayparashvili, Z-Olafsson,H/ Moscow 1989. ] [ 13...d5?? is the move all English players dream of, White wins a piece, again, with the standard combination: 14.xd5 xd5 15.e3 and on knight moves, 16 e4. ] [ but 13...d5!? is possible, 14.xd5 xd5 15.e4 f5! 16.e3 fxe4 17.exd4 exd4 and now, instead of 18.xe4 which led to equality in Georgiev,K-Rublevsky,S/ Elista RUS 1998, ( 18.b2 could be tried. )] 14.e3!? xb5 15.xb5 cxb5 16.xb5 d5?! White quickly gains the advantage after this, perhaps [ 16...a7 is safer, 17.c2 h8 18.b1?! a4 19.xb7 c3 20.b6 Dumpor,ALengyel, B/Budapest HUN 1998, and now xb7 21.xb7 e2+ is good for Black, he will take the c1-bishop, and then the a3pawn. ] 17.b2 Better than [ 17.xb7 ] 17...b8 18.c4 b6 19.b3 With his extra centre pawn, and pressure on the b6-pawn, W h i t e h a s a c l e a r a d v a n t a g e . c5!? Black provo kes wild co mplica tions . 20.d4 W hite is obliged to call Black's bluff . c7 21.dxc5 xb5 22.xb5 bxc5 [ 22...d3 is interesting. ] 23.xc5 c8 This is stronger than [ 23...d3 when W hite can play 24.xe5 fxe5 25.xe5 when he has two pawns, and a strong position, for the exchange. ] 24.c6 Forced. a6 25.c1? A silly mistake, allowing the c6-bishop to be pinned, [ 25.d5 was forced, h8 ( the point is that 25...fc8? loses to 26.xa5 ) 26.xe6 xe6 27.xe5 fxe5 28.xe5 with an edge. ] 25...fc8 26.xe5? This further error seriously compromises White's chances, 1161
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 26.d6 xc6 27.xc6 xc6 28.xc6 xb2 would have been OK ] 26...xb2 27.d6 fxe5 28.xe6+ h8 White has only managed to get one pawn for his exchange, and the c6-bishop remains pinned. 29.d1 bb8 30.d7 xe6 31.xe6 So, the queens have been exchanged, and Black has a serious advantage. Fortunately, as is often the case in the English, W hite's kingside pawns still represent one solid mass without weakness, if the a-pawns were not on the board W hite would draw easily. c3 32.a4 a3 33.d7 a2 Black wants to attack f2 and force White into passive defence. 34.d5 White decides to play actively, and tries to eliminate the black pawns. f8 35.xa5 g6 To give the king a square. 36.f4 Now that White has been forced to play this move, his king is cut-off on the second rank and Black can try to mate him. d2 37.e6 e4 38.e5 a8! 39.d5 White must be very careful, [ 39.xe4?? loses to b8 and 40...Rb1+. ] 39...e2 40.d4 b8 Black has achieved his objective with skilf ul play, W hite's sof t u n d e rb e lly is e xp o se d . 41.d1 xe3?! Tempting, but [ 41...bb2 could be played as the e3-pawn is not running away. ] 42.d2! Giving the white king a safe spot on the second rank. a3 43.e2 b4 44.d5 e3 45.g2? White should certainly have defended his a-pawn first, by [ 45.c6 ] 45...bxa4 46.f3 d4 47.e4 d2?! Black could have hung-on to his e3-pawn by [ 47...d1 as 48.xe3? loses to f1+ 49.e2 e1+! 50.xe1 xe3+ so White would have been a whole exchange down for nothing. ] 48.xe3 xe3+ 49.xe3 xh2 50.g4 W h it e th re at en s to p la y g5 , an d th en f 5 , swapping-off a further pair of pawns when the reduced material will allow him to draw. h5 51.xg6 h4 Black creates a passed pawn, but provided White can keep the black king away, he should draw. 52.g5 g2 53.e4 The white pawns and bishop are complimentary- the rule about not putting your pawns on the same colour-complex as your bishop applies equally to all phases of
the game. g3+ 54.f2 g7 55.f3 f7 56.d5+ e7 57.f3 e6 58.e4 a3 59.g2 a4 60.f3 h3 61.g6 If the black king is allowed in to f5, Black will win. h2 62.g2 a2+ 63.h1 f2 64.h7 xf4 65.g8+ f5 66.xh2 g4 67.g6 xg6 White has managed to win the black pawn, in exchange for his two, but now finds himself in the wrong corner. 68.e6 g5 69.h3 White heads for the right corner (the opposite colour to his bishop), no strong player would have to think for more than a second about this decision. f6 70.h4 g7 71.c8 e5 72.h5 He co n t in u e s o n h i s wa y . f4 73.h6 c7 74.h3 c3 75.d7 d3 76.e8 d6+ 77.g6 Now he cannot be stopped. g4 78.g7 g5 79.h7 Black can make no progress, [ 79.h7 d7+ 80.h8 h6 81.g8 d8 is stalemate. ] ½-½
1169 McNab,Colin Anderson Stark,Lars It Hereford ENG (1) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2433 2419 29.08.2006
1.c4 f6 2.f3 c6 3.g3 e5 4.c3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 c5 7.e3 [ White has two other continuations that we will consider here: A) 7.a3!? d6 ( 7...a6 8.e3 0-0 9.d4 exd4 10.exd4 e8+ 11.e3 is an, for White, improved version over the continuation in the McNab-Stark game as Black no longer has .. .Bb4 available; 7...d5 8.cxd5 0-0 9.0-0 h3 10.e1 g4 11.xg4 xg4 12.e3 ) 8.d3 h6 9.a4 A) 9...0-0 10.xc5 dxc5 11.b4 c6 ( 11...d6 12.b3 h3 13.e3 e4 14.dxe4 e6 15.xc5 fd8 16.c3 xe4 17.xe4 xe4 18.f3 g6 19.f2; 11...e7 12.0-0 cxb4 13.axb4 h3 14.e1 c6 15.b2 ) 12.g2 ( 12.g2 d6 13.d2; 12.bxc5 h3 ) 12...cxb4 13.axb4 d4 14.b1; B) 9...b6 10.c2 e7 ( 10...0-0!? ) 11.0-0 0-0 12.g2 e8 ( 12...c5 13.b4 ) 13.d2 b8 14.b4 d7 15.xb6 axb6 16.a4 e4 17.c3 c6 1162
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.fe1 ( 18.b2!? ) 18...e3 19.f3 h7 ( 19...a8 20.b5 d7 21.f4 a7 22.b2; 19...e6 20.b2 ) 20.b2 g5 21.a5 bxa5 22.xa5 ( 22.f4!? g4 23.xc6 bxc6 24.bxa5 ) 22...g6 23.c3 b6 24.a7 b7 25.b5 h5 26.d4 h6 27.h4 f8 28.f4 xg2 29.xg2 e7 30.f1?? ( 30.ea1 ) 30...e6?? ( 30...c5-+ ) 31.xe3 ee8 1-0 Aleksandrov, A-Lugovoi, A/Moscow RUS 2002 ] [ B) 7.b1?! a5 8.a3 ( 8.e3!?= ) 8...c6 9.b4 axb4 10.axb4 d4 11.b3 d5 ( 11...0-0!? 12.d3 d5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.g5 e6 ) 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.e3 e4 14.g2 e5 15.0-0 e6 A) Here White can consider 16.d4 e.g. exd3 17.a4 e4 18.c5 c3 19.xd3 xb1 ( 19...f6!? 20.b2 d4 21.c2 dxe3 22.xe3 f5 23.c5 a6 24.e1+ e6 25.xe6+ fxe6 26.f1 b6 27.e3 0-0 28.b3 d5 ) 20.xe5 c7 21.xb1 xe5 22.b2 g5 23.f4; B) 16.e2? d4 17.d1 d3 ( 17...a2! is more problematic for White) 18.f4 a2 19.b2 xf4 20.gxf4 xb1 21.xb1 0-0 ( 21...e7!? ) 22.xf6 xf6 23.xe4 B1) 23...fd8!? 24.xb7 ( 24.xd3 h4 25.e4 g4+ 26.h1 xd2 27.xh7+ h8 28.e4 ad8 ) 24...ab8 25.e4 h4 26.f3 b5 27.b3 db8 28.xd3 xb4; B2) 23...e6 24.xd3 g4+ 25.h1 f3+ ( 25...fd8!? 26.xh7+ f8 27.e4 xd2 ) 26.g1 g4+ 1/2-1/2 Mamedyarov, S-Najer, E/Khanty Mansyisk RUS 2005/The Week in Chess 578 ] 7...0-0 8.d4 exd4 9.exd4 e8+ 10.e3 [ 10.f1?! makes less sense: b4 11.g5 xc3 12.bxc3 h6 13.xf6 xf6 14.g2 d6 15.b1 b8 16.h4 b6 17.c6 b7 18.xb7 1/2-1/2 Lisenko, A-Vainerman, I/ Lvov 1986 xb7 19.f3 xf3+ 20.xf3= ] 10...b4 11.b3 [ 11.0-0!? is also of interest: c6 12.d5 ] 11...xc3+ 12.bxc3 d6 [ Here I think Black should seriously give 12...e4!? some consideration, for instance:
13.0-0 b6 14.c2 b7 15.fe1 d6!? ( 15...d6 16.g2 d7 17.f3 f6 18.g5 ) 16.xb7 xb7 17.f4 d6 18.e4 d7 19.ae1 a5 20.e2 xe4 21.xe4 c8 , and Black has almost equalised ] 13.0-0 b8 14.fe1 h6 15.a3 g4 16.g2 a6 17.c5 d5 18.c6 [ White can possibly improve with 18.f4!? xe1+ 19.xe1 h5 20.d2 f6 21.a5 with uncomfortable pressure ] 18...bxc6 19.xa6 d7 20.f3 a8 21.e2 f5 22.d2 [ 22.g4 g6 23.a4 a5 24.d1 ea8 25.f1 ] 22...a7 23.g4 g6 24.f4 [ 24.f2!? ea8 25.h4 d6 26.g3 ( 26.e2 a3 27.g3 d7 28.e7 xc3 29.a4 c4 30.a5 xd4 31.a6 ) 26...d7 27.e3 ] 24...ea8 25.e2 e8 26.e1 [ 26.ae1!? d6 27.e7 d8 28.xd6 cxd6 29.xa7 xa7 30.f4 ] 26...d6 27.e7 d8 28.xd6 ½-½
1170 Miezis,Normunds Danin,Alexandre Utrecht OKU op (4) [Nigel Davies]
A29 2579 2498 06.06.2009
1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 e5 5.g2 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.d3 f6 11.e4 a5 12.c5 xc5 13.bxc5 d5 14.c2 This natural lo o kin g m o ve h a s b e e n qu it e a co m m o n ch oice f o r W h ite b ut it d oe sn't lo o k ve ry dangerous. [ P e r s o n a l l y I p r e f e r t h e m o v e 14.b2 as in Uhlmann, W (2417)-Jackova, J (2360)/Marianske Lazne 2008. ] 14...a4 [ The game Askarian, K (2274)-Khodotov, J (2364)/Kharkov 2000 varied with 14...d7 15.b1 ab8 16.b2 b5 17.cxb6 cxb6 and produced a structure very similar to that which eventually arose in Anand - Topalov, except that W hite was now able to play 18.d4 , opening the game. Black now blundered with e4? , probably missing the 1163
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 fact that after 19.xe4! he could not play f5? because of 20.e5 xe4 21.xd7 etc. ] 15.b1 This makes more sense than in Uhlmann - Jackova because White is at least attacking b7. a7 [ Improving on the 15...a5 of Fridman, D (2515)-Hanley, C (2010)/Port Erin 1998, a f t e r w h i c h 16.d4! e4? ( 16...b3 is relatively best) 17.xe4 f7 18.c2 b3 19.e4 e7 20.b2 gave White a winning position. ] 16.b2 de7 17.e3 a2 18.bc1 d5 19.e2 d7 20.fd1 g4 21.h3 h5 22.e4 b3 23.d2 d8 Black has achieved a very co m f o rt ab le p o sit io n he re . 24.e3 aa8 The rook's job on a7 has been done so he sets about bringing it back into play. 25.d4 exd4 26.xd4 xd4 27.xd4 c6 28.xd8+ xd8 29.g4 f7 30.f4? White logically advances his kingside pawns but Black's reply is immensely strong. [ 30.e5 was objectively better after which xe5 31.xe5 fxe5 32.xe5 would have been about equal. ] 30...a5! 31.c3 c4 32.e2 xa3 That's not just a pawn that guy on a4 is a monster and White's king is weak. 33.e5 fxe5 34.fxe5 c6 35.e4 f4 36.e1 b5 37.g2 xc3 38.xc3 xc1+ 39.xc1 d1+ 40.xd1 xd1 0-1
1171 Miezis,Normunds Smirin,Ilia NY Open New York (7) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2505 2590 1998
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 A perfectly normal reversed Dragon position. 8.b1 Whereas, with the colours reversed, Black would play 8 d3, W hite often tries to achieve something more with the extra tempo. Here he plans a quick queenside advance. g5!? An extremely provocative line, Black will charge his kingside pawns up the board, to open the white king position. 9.d3 [ 9.d4!? is possible, but Black will be able to
gain an important development move by a later ...Bf5. ] 9...h5 10.e3 White wants to play d4, with the standard central counter to a wing attack, b u t B l a c k i s a l e r t . g4 11.d2 d4 Else White may have been tempted to wreck t h e b l a c k q u e e n s id e p a wn st ru c t u re , b y Bxc6+. 12.c1 It may have been better to continue with the queenside action, by b4, etc. h4 Despite his lack of development, Black ge t s-o n wit h h is a t t a ck . 13.c4 xc4 14.dxc4 c6 15.d3 f5 16.fd1 f6 Black secures his post on d4, and thereby limits White's potential central counterplay. 17.f4 gxf3 18.exf3 f7! Black finds an original manner of bringing his queen to the hf i l e , t h e k i n g s e e m s s a f e o n f 7 . 19.f1? This seems rather passive, [ the immediate 19.f4 is more aggressive. ] 19...hxg3 20.hxg3 g8! Black side-steps out of the d-file pin, and prepares to bring his queen to the h-file. 21.e1 h7 22.f4 Finally undermining the d4-outpost, but it is too late as Black's attack is too advanced. e6 23.d5!? A reasonable practical try, sacrificing a piece to embarrass the black king, [ 23.fxe5 would lose to h2+ 24.f2 xe5 with a decisive attack. ] 23...cxd5 24.fxe5 f4! The success of the attack depends on the participation of the e6bishop. 25.xd4 [ 25.xf4? allows mate by f3+ 26.xf3 h2+ 27.f1 h3+ -the point of Black's 24th move. ] 25...f3 The f-pawn continues its journey, this time the displacement of the g2-bishop is the aim. 26.exf6 fxg2 A weird position. 27.xg2?! This loses, perhaps [ 27.f2 is better, trying to use the g2-pawn as protection for the white king. ] 27...ae8 The threat of a discovered attack on the white queen is winning. 28.e5 g4 29.e3 h2+ Forcing mate. 30.f1 h1+ 0-1
1164
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19...f2+ 20.d2 h6+ 21.f4 xh1 A29 22.fxe5 ] 2447 2531 12...d6 13.0-0-0 c7 14.dg1 e6 15.e3 [ 15.xf6!? xf6 16.e4 0-0-0 17.xf6 10.01.2002 gxf6 18.h5 should be very pleasant for White ] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f6 4.g3 d4 15...f8 16.h5 d5 17.g5 dxc4 18.dxc4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.d3 d7 19.e3 [ 19.d1!? f6 20.e3 ] h6 9.g4 [ 9.h4 h7? ( 9...c6 10.g4 transposes to 19...f5 [ 19...b6! ] the main game and should be given p r e f e r e n c e) 10.e4 e7 11.b5! 20.h6 gxh6 21.h5+ d8 22.f3 c5 is better for White - see J.Piket-B.Avrukh, 23.xc5 xc5 24.d1+ c8 25.a3 b6 26.b4 d7 27.a6+ b7 28.xb7+ Amsterdam 2001 in the PGN archives ] [ 9.a4 e7 10.b5 d6 11.0-0 c6 xb7 29.f7 f8 30.xe6 xe6 31.d7+ 12.b3 e7 13.d1 0-0 14.c3 c5?! c7 32.h5 af8 33.e7 e8 34.f7 f4 ( 14...d6 15.d4 c7 ) 15.e3 e7 16.d4 35.e4 e6 36.c5 b8 37.c2 d8 38.h7 a6 39.c3 bxc5 40.bxc5 d5 W.Uhlmann-E.Degtiarev, Dresden 2002 ] 41.f5 e8 42.ff7 xc5 43.f6 c8 9...c6 10.h4 e7 [ Black has tried several other things at this 44.xd5 cxd5 45.b4 e4 46.fxe4 dxe4 47.xf4 e6 48.ff7 c7 49.c5 e3 stage: A) 10...d6!? 11.g5 hxg5 A) This allows Black to equalize without 50.d4 e6+ 51.xe3 d8 52.xa7 c6 t o o m u c h e f f o r t . I n s t e a d W h i t e c a n 53.ag7 e6+ 54.f2 c8 55.g8 f6+ c o n s id e r t h e n a t u ra l 12.hxg5 xh1+ 56.g3 d6 57.hh8 c7 58.xd8 xd8 13.xh1 d7 ( 13...g4 14.e4 b6 59.xd8 xd8 60.a4 d7 61.e4 15.a3! must be better for White) 14.e4 1-0 e7 15.d2; B) 12.xg5?! b6 13.xb6 xb6 A29 14.a4 a5+ 15.f1 e6 16.b1 d8 1173 , and Black has already a very comfortable Miles,Anthony J g a m e , Z . A z m a i p a r a s h vi l i - J . T i m m a n , Timman,Jan H Oviedo 1993 ] Tilburg 1984 [ B) 10...d5 11.g5 is very risky - see B.Gulko- [Tony Kosten] J.Hector, Copenhagen 2000 in the PGN archives ] After ten moves, when there was a solid block [ C) 10...b6 11.xb6 xb6 12.g5 hxg5 of black pawns on the a1-h8 diagonal, who 13.hxg5 xh1+ 14.xh1 h7 15.f4 could imagine that the end of the game would ( 15.e4!? lo oks eve n be tt e r) 15...d6 revolve around Black's exposed g7-pawn. 1.c4 16.e4 c7 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.b4 a6 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 19.e3 , and White is clearly in control, P. xd5 6.g2 b6 The Reversed Dragon Van der Sterren-J. Balcerak, Bundesliga promises chances to both sides. Miles played 2000 ] the Dragon superbly as Black so would clearly 11.g5 hxg5 12.xg5 be very happy to have an extra move! 7.0-0 [ 12.hxg5!? looks very good, e.g. xh1+ e7 8.a3 0-0 9.d3 e6 10.b4 f6 13.xh1 g4 14.f3 h2 and now 15.g6! [ Solidly defending the e-pawn, although is ve r y p r o b l e m a t i c f o r B l a c k , e . g . c5 n o w a d a y s t h e a c t i v e 10...a5 is often ( 15...fxg6 16.c5! f8 17.e4 is very ugly preferred, see Nimzo 7.32-Fritz 6a/ for Black ) 16.gxf7+ xf7 17.e4 h4+ Cadaques 2000. ] 18.d1 g4 19.xc5 ( 19.fxg4 xh1+ 11.e4 The c5 square beckons. d7 12.b2 20.c2 b6 21.b1 g2 22.d2 a6 13.c2 h3 This allows White a very is also better for White, but less convincing) interesting, and quite surprising, combinative 1172 Mikhailuk,Slava Sagalchik,Gennadij USA-ch Seattle (6) [Carsten Hansen]
1165
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 p o s s i b i l i t y . 14.c5 xc5 15.xh3! To weaken the light squares for White's next move. xh3 16.b3+ h8 17.bxc5 d7 18.d4! White had no intention of grabbing the b-pawn, but instead starts working on the a1-h8 diagonal. ab8!? [ 18...exd4? 19.xb7 e6 20.xd4 xd4 21.xd4 loses a pawn without compensation. ] 19.dxe5 dxe5 20.xe5 fxe5!? 21.ad1 f6 T h r e a t e n i n g t o g o t o h 6 . 22.f4! White single-mindedly prepares the bishop's future. xf4 [ Black's tactical idea. If instead 22...bf8?! then W hite can capture the b-pawn, as 23.xb7 b8?? allows a back-rank mate: 24.xb8+! xb8 25.d8+ ] 23.xf4 The g-pawn is pinned, of course. exf4 24.f7 The goal of White's previous play, the a1-h8 diagonal is laid bare, and the g7-pawn is exposed. g8 25.f1! g4 [ T h e g - p a w n i s t o o h o t : 25...fxg3?? 26.xg7+ xg7 27.f8# ] 26.xf4 g5 27.g2?! [ Immediately 27.e4! is more accurate. ] 27...xc5? [ 27...d8 was the only chance. ] 28.e4! Threaten ing Qxg7 + again . f8 Forced. 29.h5! [ White can also win more mundanely, as the black queen and rook cannot move, e. g. 29.d7 a5 30.xc7 ] 29...e7 The only defence against Rh4. 30.g5! g6? [ Loses on the spot, but 30...c8 31.h4 e8 32.f5 c6+ 33.h3 h6 34.f7 is also crushing, and ] [ 30...c6?! 31.h4 f7 32.h6! f5 33.e4 is even worse. ] 31.xg6 [ 31.xg6 hxg6 32.h4# ] 1-0
1174 Morozevich,Alexander Motylev,Alexander ch-RUS Superfinal (11) [John Watson]
A29 2707 2632 30.12.2005
In the last round Morozevich (who forfeited a point by oversleeping!) needed a win to secure a respectable finish. What opening to select? The English, of course! 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.d3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g3 b6 7.g2 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.a3 We are in the main line of the Reversed Dragon, discussed at perhaps too much length in this column. Black's next has always been considered somewhat inferior. Perhaps that verdict should be reconsidered, although this g a m e d o e s n o t h i n g t o d i s p r o v e i t . a5!? 10.e3 e8 A solid move, as opposed to [ 10...f5!? 11.a4 ( 11.b3+ h8 12.fc1 a4 13.d1 e6 ) 11...h8 12.c1 f6 ( 12...e4!? ) 13.d2 xa4 14.xa4 d7 15.c2 a4 16.b4! axb3 17.xb3 e7 18.c5 c8 19.b2 Makarov-Semeniuk, Kuibyshev 1990. ] 11.c1 h6 [ 11...g4 could be tried, although 12.d4! looks +=, e.g., c4 13.d5 xe3 14.fxe3 xf3 ( 14...b8 15.xe5 ) 15.exf3 ( or 15.xf3 b8 16.b3 ) 15...b8 16.b3 ] 12.xb6 [ 12.a4 xa4 13.xa4 ] 12...cxb6 13.d2 f8?! Awfully slow maybe just [ 13...e6 Now comes a clever manoeuvre to attack the a-pawn ] 14.c4! a4 15.d2! This forces Black into a tactical solution: d4 [ 15...b5 16.xb5 b6 17.c3 xb2 18.c4 b3 19.d2! ] [ 15...d4 16.d5 ] 16.e3 e6 17.xa4 b5 18.c3 xd3 19.d5 Threa te ning B e4 . g6 20.e2 W hite wins a pawn and the game is pretty mu ch o ve r. d8 21.xb5 d7 22.xb7 ab8 23.a7 g5 24.h4! Temporarily sacrificing a pawn. This begins a long forcing sequence. h3+ 25.h2 xb2 26.c7 bb8 27.c4 bc8 [ 27...f5 28.xe5! leaves the knight hanging on h3. ] 1166
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28.xe5 e8 29.b2 h5 30.cb6 A pretty finish. xc1 31.xd7! xd5 [ 31...xf1 32.7f6+ ] [ 31...c6 32.b5! threatens N5f6+ and Qxh5 ] 32.xd5 xf1 33.xh3 1-0
1175 Nakamura,Hikaru Bauer,Christian TCh-FRA Top 16 Gp A (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2670 2614 10.04.2008
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 0-0 9.a3 e6 10.b4 a5 11.b5 d4 12.b1 f6 13.e3 The main line is 13 Nd2 which has been discussed on several previous occasions - see the PDF eBooks xf3+ 14.xf3 b8 [ B l a c k ' s m a i n a l t e r n a t i v e i s 14...d5 , a n d n o w W h i t e h a s t r i e d 15.c2 ( Two other ideas are 15.a4 c8 16.e4? (W hat was he thinking? Black is now just better) b6 17.xb6 cxb6 18.b2 c5 19.c1 d6 20.c3 cd8 , and Black is clearly better, Pinjagin, D-Arkhangelsky, B/ Ozery 1997; 15.b3 looks very provocative, but it doesn't achieve anything, other than Black easily securing equality f4 16.c2 xd3 17.xd3 xd3 18.xb7 ad8 19.e4 h3 20.d5+ h8 21.d1 xc1 22.dxc1 xa3 23.c2 c5 24.a4 b6 1/2-1/2 Thiede, L-Gustafsson, J/Germany 1998/GER-chT) 15...xc3 16.xc3 d5 17.xd5+ xd5 18.e4 d7 19.a4 fd8 20.d1 b4 21.c4+ f7 22.e3 xc4 23.dxc4 , and White has a space advantage, b u t e ve n t u a lly B la c k's p o sit io n p ro ve d s u f f i c i e n t l y s o l i d t o wi t h s t a n d W h i t e ' s pres su re , Pa nn o, O -B ro nste in , L/ A RG 1991 ] 15.c2 [ The first new move. In the only previous game with this line, White instead opted for 15.e2 f7 16.g2 f8 17.f4!? d7 18.d1 exf4 19.gxf4 a4 20.d4 b3 21.xb3 axb3 22.b2 h8 23.xb3 with a complicated game and chances for both players, Oussama, O-Lalic, B/ Balaguer
2005 ] 15...f7 16.d1 f8 17.d4 exd4 18.e2 This was Hikaru's idea now W hite has the somewhat better chances on account of his pieces having access to more active squares, as well the ability to contain Black's majority on the queenside, while being able to provoke weaknesses elsewhere. d3 19.xd3 d7 20.e4 g6 21.b2 xd3 22.xd3 a4 23.c1 Matters are getting a little uncomfortable for Black, and therefore he opts to get some counterplay by sacrificing a pawn. b3 [ G u a r d i n g t h e c - p a w n w i t h 23...d6 is hardly advisable, e.g. 24.xg6! hxg6 25.xg6+ f8 26.xf6 d7 27.d4 , and Black is in severe trouble ] [ Or 23...c8 24.e4 b3 25.c3 c4 26.d4! xb2 27.xb3 , and White is clearly on top ] 24.xc7 xd3 25.xb6 d6 26.xd6 xd6 27.d4 d5 28.f3 f5! White got his pawn, Black his pair of bishops. W hite of course has the better chances, but it's a hard call if White has enough to win. 29.f2 f7 30.b6 d8 31.h3 h5 32.f4 This is a rather provocative approach, aiming to claim that Black's pawns on the kingside are weak when fixed on light squares. [ 32.g4!? fxg4 33.hxg4 h4 34.g5 g3+ 35.g2 e6 36.c2 , and White has the better chances ] 32...e7 33.f3 [ My computer recommends 33.b5 c6 34.xd6 xd6 35.d4 , but I don't see how White is going to win this ] 33...a8 34.h4 a6 35.xg6+ e6 36.d4 xa3 37.c8 d6 [ 37...b4!? is similarly complicated, e.g. 38.e5 e7 39.c7+ e6 40.f7 e7 41.g5+ xg5 42.fxg5 a3 43.c1 ( 43.c5 b3 44.e7+ d5 45.d4 a2 46.g6 a1 47.xa1 xa1 48.xb7 a2+ 49.f3 e5 50.d7 c2 , and Black secures a draw) 43...f7 44.c5 e6 45.g6 a8 46.c1 a2 47.g7 d6 , and W hite has winning chances, but it isn't going to be easy ] 38.e5 e4? [ Now Black starts drifting towards serious trouble. An important alternative is 38...e7 1167
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 39.g6+ e6 40.e8+ d7 41.h8 a3 42.xh5 a2 43.g4 e4 44.gxf5 a1 45.xa1 xa1 White has four pawns for the piece, but it isn't clear if White can win, e.g. 46.e5+ e7 47.h7+ e8 48.h6 a2+ 49.g3 g2+ 50.h4 e7+ 51.f6 f8 , and there is still a long way to go. ] 39.g4 fxg4 [ 39...hxg4 40.hxg4 fxg4 41.e8+ transposes to the game ] 40.hxg4 hxg4 41.e8+ d5 42.xg4 f5 43.h6 d7? [ This looks like a perfectly good, but in fact it allows Nakamura to finish Black off with a series of accurate moves. White would be f a c in g a m uc h m o re d if f icu lt t im e a f t e r 43...g6!? 44.g8 e4 45.f5 a3 46.d8 a2 47.f7 xb6 48.f6 a6 49.xd6 xd6 50.a8 e6 51.xa2 , and though White still has excellent winning chances, and can prove rather complicated. ] 44.d8 c6 45.f7 a3 46.h8! a4 47.d8+! d5 [ 47...b5 48.xb7 e7 49.d8 ( 49.h5+ a6 50.h7 xd4 51.exd4 a2 52.xe7 a1 53.c5+ xb6 54.xd7 doesn't leave W hite many chances of winning ) 49...xd8 50.xd8 c6 51.d7 a8 52.a7 xa7 53.bxa7 a6 54.f5 b7 55.f6 d5 56.g3 a2 57.f4 a1 58.xa1 xa7 59.e5 c4 60.d6 , and Black's king will not make it back to help the bishop ] 48.xb7 xf4 49.h5+ c4 50.c5 a5 51.exf4 a2 52.b7 b5 [ Or 52...xd4 53.b3+ d3 54.xa5 , and White of course wins easily ] 53.xd7 xb7 54.a5 and while Black can win both of White's pieces at the cost of just the a-pawn, White also gets to exchange the rooks, leaving him with an easily won pawn endgame. 1-0
1176 Nakamura,Hikaru Howell,David 3rd Chess Classic (5) [John Bartholomew]
A29 2758 2633 08.12.2011
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 b4 4.f3 This move order is a little unusual but might be the most accurate. White forces Black to te n d t o h is e-p a wn , t h e re by d e n yin g t h e second player some flexibility. Mihail Marin attributes this finesse to Portisch. [ 4.g2 is the automatic move. Nakamura m a y h a v e wa n t e d t o a vo i d t h e l i n e 0-0 5.f3 e8 6.0-0 , in which Black scores well with e4 ( or 6...c6 , refusing to commit h i s k n i g h t t o c 6 .; Black could also play 6...c6 , reaching a tabiya of the Four Knights.; or 6...xc3 7.bxc3 c6 transposing to the game. )] 4...xc3 Howell responds in kind. Certainly there is nothing wrong with this standard trade, but if Black intends to commit his knight to c6 as he does in the game (instead of the critical 5...e4 - see below), then there isn't a pressing need to trade on c3 so early. [ 4...c6 5.g2 ( or 5.d5 ) 5...0-0 6.0-0 reaches the big main line. See Carsten Hansen's guide "Four Knights 4 g3 - 4...Bb4 The Main Line" for an excellent roadmap. ] [ 4...e4 5.d4 0-0 ( or 5...c6 6.c2 xc3 7.dxc3 ) 6.g2 e8 7.0-0 c6 8.c2 xc3 9.dxc3 transposes to a line t h a t wa s p o p u l a r in t h e 7 0 ' s a n d 8 0 ' s . W hite retains slightly better changes see Anastasian, A (2568)-Sadvakasov, D (2635)/ Moscow 2005/[John Watson] for a recent example. ] 5.bxc3 [ For 5.dxc3 , see Taimanov, M (2454)Rublevsky, S (2657)/St Petersburg 2001/ [TonyK]. ] 5...c6 Now the game merges with a more well-trodden path. [ Critical is 5...e4 6.d4 0-0 7.g2 d5 . I refer you to Kamsky, G (2714)-Gelfand, B (2736)/Moscow 2007/[Carsten Hansen], as well as to Marin's outstanding notes to th e sa m e ga m e in Ch e ssB a se . ( 7...c5!? is another important move that both commentators examine in-depth. )] 1168
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xd4 16.b3 d8 was totally fine for 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 e8 Black in Shaikh, N (2071)-Troff, K (2216)/ [ 7...d6 is a solid alternative. ] Porto Carras GRE 2010. ) 14...xd4 8.d3 e4 9.d4 Best. A) 15.c2 Kallio, H (2493)-Fressinet, L [ White has not done particularly well with ( 2 6 5 4 ) / P l o v d i v 2 0 0 3 . N o w f5!N 9.g5 exd3 10.exd3 . Now h6 is the most i s s t r o n g b e c a u s e 16.xc7 xd3 direct, e.g. 11.e4 ( 11.f3 b6 12.d4 17.ad1 (if the other rook moves, then 17... b7 13.a4 a5 14.f4 xg2 15.xg2 Re2 comes, attacking f2). c4! 18.xc4 b7 16.fe1 c5 17.c2 d6 18.e2 xc4 19.fe1 xe1+ 20.xe1 d7 19.ae1 xe2 20.xe2 e8 and Black can even play for the win with 21.b3?! e6! 22.c1 d5! was model h i s q u e e n s i d e m a j o r i t y , i . e . b5!? play for Black in Schiffler, G-Unzicker, W ( 20...xa2 21.a1 c4 22.d6 d8 (2450)/Bad Liebenzell 1995.; 11.h3 23.xb7 xd6 24.xa7 is an immediate can be met by d5 12.cxd5 xd5 ) draw. ); A) 11...b6 12.f4 b7 13.e1 a5 B) 15.c1 San Segundo Carrillo, P (2511)14.f3 d5 15.xf6+ xf6 16.d2 c5 Perez Felipe, M (2305)/El Sauzal ESP Taimanov, M (2580)-Bronstein, D (2590)/ 2010. Now I propose g4!? , e.g. 16.b3 Tallinn 1975.; ( 16.d2!? ) 16...e2 17.fe1 xd3 B) 11...xe4 12.xe4 d6 13.b1 e5! 18.xb7 ab8 19.xe8+ ( 19.xc7 14.f4 Cordara, M (2185)-Naumkin, I xe1+ 20.xe1 b2 21.f4 xf4 ( 2 5 0 0 ) / C e l l e L i g u r e 1 9 9 5 . H e r e h3 22.gxf4 xa2= ) 19...xe8 20.f1 p r o v i d e s e xc e l l e n t c o u n t e r p l a y , e . g . ( 20.xc7 e2 21.f4 is the same as 19. 15.e1?! ( 15.xe5 xf1 16.xg7 xd3 Qxc7. ) 20...e4 ( or 20...xf1 21.xf1 17.xd3 xg7 ) 15...g4! and 16... e5= ) 21.g2= ] Nf3+.; [ 12.f4 A logical square for the bishop. c6 C) 11...d6 Alternatives are also decent: ( Black could try to dispense with ...c7-c6 by 12.e1 ( 12.b1 xe4 13.xe4 e5! 12...f5 ) 13.e1 ( This allows Black to is 11... Nxe4 above.) 12...g4!? 13.f3? s i m p l i f y , s o 13.e5!? was worth ( 13.c2 e5 ) 13...xe4 14.dxe4 considering.) 13...xe1+ 14.xe1 f5 e6 Hanauer, M-Reshevsky, S/New York 15.c3 h6 16.h3 dxc4 17.dxc4 e4 1938. Black was already much better due 18.e1 xg2 19.xg2 d7 20.e5 h7 to his White's obvious pawn weaknesses. ] 21.h4 e8 22.f4 xe1 9...exd3 Here and over the next few moves 1/2-1/2 Mamedyarov, S (2646)-Kobalia, M Black sometimes plays ...h6. It's not clear to (2614)/Abu Dhabi 2005. ] me that preventing Bc1-g5 is necessary, [ Aronian played 12.b1 against Gelfand in since W hite's bishop often goes elsewhere 2008. Although he lost (a rarity with White!), anyways. 10.exd3 xd4 11.cxd4 d5 this useful move looks good enough for a Howell plays directly through the center, fixing slight plus. h6 ( 12...g4 13.c2 dxc4 White's doubled d-pawns. 14.dxc4 xd4 15.e3 e5 16.xb7 f5 [ An example of the 11...h6 strategy: 12.d5!? Friedel, J (2527) -Gupta, A (2587)/Chalkis d6 13.b2 . Despite Black's efforts, White GRE 2010. 17.b2 xb2 18.xb2 e4 f ound a b ette r diagona l f o r th e bishop . 19.d1 The endgame is more comfortable Seirawan, Y (2653)-Gulko, B (2618)/Salt for W hite.) 13.f4 b6 14.e5 Aronian, L Lake City 1999/[TonyK]. ] (2757)-Gelfand, B (2719)/Dresden GER 12.e3 Nakamura mentioned in the post2008. This last move is a standard idea game comments that he was on his own at that Nakamura also implemented in the this point. White has tried several moves here. game W hite exerts some slight pressure [ First, what happens if White makes good on with the bishop pair. Strangely, the play his 'threat' with 12.g5 ? Now in fact h6! re m i n d s m e o f so m e m a i n - li n e s o f t h e i s a s m a r t r e p l y . 13.xf6 ( 13.f4 Petroff. ] is possible, but admits to a loss of time.) A novelty. Again, I'm not convinced 13...xf6 14.cxd5 ( 14.xd5 c6 15.g2 12...h6 1169
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 this move is necessary. [ 12...e6 was seen in an old Botvinnik game. The Patriarch played 13.c1 ( 13.c5 Botvinnik soon played this move anyways, so maybe he could have saved the Ra1-c1 tempo.; 13.b3 is also logical.) 13...h6 14.h3 c6 15.d2 , but didn't get much of anything after d7= Botvinnik, M-Basman, M/Hastings 1966. ] [ Another clash of young super-talents saw 12...f5 This is the most desirable move provided Black doesn't run into problems with b7 or d5. Following 13.b3 d7 ( or 13...c6 since White isn't planning on taking on b7 wh en d3 is h an gin g wit h tem po .) 14.fe1 ( White has an extra pawn after 14.cxd5 h3 15.xb7 xg2 16.xg2 ab8 17.c6 xd5+ 18.xd5 xd5 , but it's difficult to believe he'll win.) 14...c6 15.g5 A) A normal-looking alternative is 15...dxc4 16.dxc4 e4 ( 16...xd4 17.xf6 xf6 18.xb7 ) 17.e3 ad8 ( 17...f6!? ) 18.ad1 with a customary small advantage for White, though Black's position is reliable.; B) 15...xe1+! Forcing the tempo. 16.xe1 e8 17.xe8+ xe8 18.h3 e1+ 19.h2 Giri, A (2672)-So, W (2674)/ Biel SUI 2010. Now dxc4 20.dxc4 xh3! leads to total equality, though it's im p o s s i b l e t o m a k e t h i s a ss e s sm e n t without a strong engine:) For example, 21.xf6 ( 21.xh3 xf2+ 22.g2 g4+ 23.h3 h5!; 21.xh3 e6+ 22.h2 g4+ 23.h3 xf2+ 24.h2 g4+ 25.h3 when Black can even try to play on with h6 ) 21...xg2 22.xg2 gxf6 23.xb7 e4+= . So played the immediate 19...Bxh3, which turned out to be slightly inaccurate. It's possible he had analyzed this temporary bishop sacrifice before and simply forgot to insert the capture on c4. ] 13.h3 [ 13.e1 might be a bit better. If Black chooses the plan with ...Be6 and ...Qd7 below, then White must lose time to defend h3. ] 13...b6 Nakamura questioned this plan. [ Instead, he gave the sample line 13...e6
14.b3 b6 15.ac1 c6 16.a4 d7 17.h2 , in which Black is very solid. ] 14.c1 d7 15.f4! Heading for e5 to harass the knight on f6. Black also experiences problems with the c-pawn. b7 16.e5 h7 17.c5 Hikaru burned a ton of time before playing this move. [ The players examined the cute variation 17.cxd5 ac8 18.g4 xg4 ( 18...f5!? ) 19.hxg4 f6 20.xf6 gxf6 21.d6 xg2 22.d7 xf1 23.xc7 cd8 24.dxe8+ xe8 25.xf1 d8 26.xa7 xd4 , concluding that Black draws. ] [ They also examined 17.g4!? which may in fact be most promising. ] 17...ac8 Not bad, but Howell admitted that he underestimated White's next few moves. [ Instead 17...c6!? is interesting. ] 18.h4 f8 19.h2 bxc5 20.h3 e6 21.xc5 f6 22.f4 d8 [ 22...f7!? ] 23.a5 [ Attacking a7, but maybe the restrained 23.c1 was preferable. ] 23...c5!? Bold! Howell was drifting into bad time trouble around here. [ 23...a6 24.e1 ] 24.xa7 b6 25.a4 xd4 26.h5 [ Black has excellent compensation for the exchange after 26.xc8 xc8 . Knowing Nakamura's style and (taking into account Ho we l l 's t i m e p re s su r e ) , yo u c o u l d b e almost certain that White would counterattack rather than bank material. ] 26...c6?? A blunder with his flag about to fall. [ 26...f5! is necessary. White has full compensation after 27.xd4 cxd4 28.xf5 a8 , but Black has all his bases covered. ] 27.b1?! [ 27.xd4 was immediately winning, e.g. cxd4 28.f5 e7 29.g6 f8 30.h7 . Black can barely move and will soon be crushed: a8 31.g6 e6 32.d6+- ( or 32.e1+- )] 27...a8? [ 27...f5 was again necessary. 28.a7 e7 29.a4 ] 28.xa8 xa8 29.g2 [ 29.e1+- ] 29...e6? The final mistake. 30.xb7! xb7 1170
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 31.xd5 c8 32.xh6! Removing any doubts about the result. a6 [ 32...gxh6 33.g6+ f8 ( 33...h8 34.xh6+ g8 35.g6+ h8 36.xf6+ g7 37.h6# ) 34.xf6+ e8 35.xe6 c6 36.e5+- ] 33.e3 d6 34.xc5 xd5 35.xd5 f7 36.e3 a6 37.c4 a8 38.d4 1-0
1177 Navara,David Topalov,Veselin 74th Tata Steel GMA (1) [John Bartholomew]
A29 2712 2770 14.01.2012
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 [ L a s t m o n t h w e e x a m i n e d 8...a5!? , a line whose stock is on the rise. ] 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 d4 Strategic a lly p r in c ip l e d . W h it e ca n 't t o l e ra t e t h i s centralized knight for long, so Black typically extracts some minor concession for its removal. He also gains the ability to play ... c7c6, blunting the long diagonal. [ It's interesting that Topalov has always preferred this direct and positionally sound move, as inserting 11...a5 12.b5 before d4 is a bit more unbalanced. Now the big main line A) Nakamura showed an intuitive approach with 13.e3 xf3+ 14.xf3 b8 15.c2 in Nakamura, H (2670)-Bauer, C (2614)/France 2008/ [Hansen, Carsten]. Ch a n c e s a re rou gh ly equ a l h ere (t h e combative f5!? might be best), though White went on to outplay his opponent.; B) 13.xd4 exd4 14.e4?! makes less s e n s e h e r e d u e t o ( Relatively better is 14.a4 , though Black has zero problems after d5 . ) 14...f5 15.d2 d5 , when W hite has to part with his lightsquare bishop in order to avoid 16...Nc3. Compared to 13.Ne4 f5?! below, W hite doesn't have the luxury of 15.Nc5, nor does his a-pawn enjoy adequate protection.; C) In 1993 Korchnoi defeated Tukmakov with 13.e1!? , a move to which the victor
(Viktor!) attached an '!'. Tukmakov later improved with c8 ( 13...c6?! 14.bxc6 xc6 15.e3 was Korchnoi, V (2605)Tukmakov, V (2605)/Wijk aan Zee 1993, when White already had good cause for optimism. ) 14.e3 f5 , scoring wins over Gulko and Van der Sterren. Comparing this to the main-line variation 13.Nd2 Qc8 14.e3 Nf5, it's diff icult to say that the position of the knight on e1 offers any benefit over its normal place on d2. In fact, I would much prefer the latter scenario.; D) 13.d2 has received plenty of coverage on ChessPublishing, with Carlsen, M (2801) -Kramnik, V (2772)/ London ENG 2009/[Nigel Davies] being a recent high-level example. Alternatives: ] 12.xd4 Navara played this against Karjakin in 2008. [ As in 11...a5 12. b5 Nd4 above, avoiding t h e k n i g h t e x c h a n g e w i t h 12.d2 is the most popular approach. Nevertheless, in recent practice Black has not experienced major problems with either c6 or 12...Nd5. For more details consult the archives for the "Four Knights 4 g3 - 4...d5 Reversed Dragon" guide. ] [ For 12.e3 xf3+ 13.xf3 c6 , see Van Wely, L (2683)-Tiviakov, S (2667)/Wijk aan Zee 2007/[Hansen, Carsten]. ] 12...exd4 13.e4 [ Harmless is 13.a4 d5 , for instance 14.xd5+ xd5 15.c2 Cvetkovic, S (2420)-Skembris, S (2470)/ Kavala 1997. Now xa4 16.xa4 a5! 17.b5 fe8 is a bit more comfortable for Black. ] 13...d5! Ensuring a favorable exchange of bishops. I don't think Black has anything to fear once he executes this idea. [ M o t y l e v r e c e n t l y p l a y e d 13...a2? and lived to tell about it, but the exchange sacrifice 14.c5! is really quite strong, for example ( Too accommodating is 14.a1 d5 , with obvious similarities to the game.) 14...xb1 15.b3+ h8 ( 15...f7 makes it a "true" exchange sacrifice, to Black's detriment: 16.xb7! e8 17.a5 xd3 18.exd3 d8 19.c6 d6 20.b5+Miezis, N (2516)-Agopov, M (2376)/Oslo 2003. Here an evaluation of "with compensation" would be selling W hite's 1171
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 achieve: 19.b3+ ( 19.c1 d6 20.b3+ position far too short! His minor pieces f7 21.e3! dxe3 22.fxe3 d5 23.xd5 completely dominate the board, and Black xd5 24.e4 b6 25.xf5 xf5 26.exf5 didn't last much longer in the face of c6= ) 19...f7 20.fc1 d6 21.a4 c5 threats like Rf 1-e1, a4-a5, Bc1-f4, etc.) ( 21...a5 22.a3 d7 23.c5= ) 22.a5 16.e6 ( 16.xb7!? is possibly superior.) d7! Black is playing for more. ( 22...d5 16...d7 17.xf8 xf8 18.xb7 23.a3 c8 24.xd4 b6 25.axb6 axb6= ) A) Black has better chances to draw with 23.xb7 e8 ( 23...af8!? ) 24.a3 f4 18...xd3 19.exd3 c5 , i.e. ( or 19...c6 25.xa7 Fedoseev, V (2428)-Khairullin, I 20.a6 c5 ) 20.f3 cxb4 21.axb4 a4 (2617)/St Petersburg RUS 2010. Now 22.xa4 xa4 23.b5 ( 23.d2 c3 A) 25...xe2? 26.xc5 xc5 27.b8+ 24.a1 xb4 25.xa7 e2+ 26.xe2 f8 28.xf8+ xf8 29.xc5; xd2 ); B) 25...f6 was the game. After 26.xc5 B) 18...a4?! 19.xb1 c6 20.a2! B1) 26...f3? 27.exf3 e5 fails in xb4 21.e6 xa3 22.xc6 b4 s p e c t a c u l a r f a s h i o n : 28.b8!! 23.e4 f5?! 24.xf5 a4 Thorfinnsson, (this is not possible with Black's queen B (2 4 1 2 )-M o t yle v, A (2 6 9 0 )/ Ro ga sk a on e6) xf3+ 29.h1 e5 ( 29...xa7 Slatina SLO 2011. Here 25.xa3 ( 25.f4 30.xe8+ f7 31.f8++- is the point.) c3 26.e5 e7 27.xe7 xe7 30.xe8+ xe8 31.a6! and suddenly 28.g4 was the game, when Black Black has no decent way to parry the m a n a g e d t o e s c a p e w i t h a d r a w .) threat of 32.Bxd4, threatening 33.Rc8. 25...xa3 26.b1+- is cleanest. Black is White is winning.; objectively lost. ] B2) 26...fxg3 27.xd4 gxf2+ 28.xf2 [ Unlike 11...a5 12.b5 Nd4 13.Nxd4 exd4 14. xe2 29.f1 White held on for a draw.; Ne4, here 13...f5? makes no sense due to C) 25...e6! is the most threatening. The 14.c5 ] main idea is 26.xc5? f3! 27.exf3 e5-+ 14.b2 .] [ In Hracek, Z (2628)-Karjakin, S (2763)/ Porto Carras GRE 2011, White obtained a 15...xg2 [ Th e f a ct th a t 15...f6 is a fully playable s m a l l a d v a n t a g e a f t e r 14.e3 a5 alternative only enhances this line's ( the forcing line 14...f5 15.c5 xg2 credibility: 16.xd5+ xd5 17.c1 f7 16.xg2 xc5 17.bxc5 d5+ 18.f3 ( 17...c6 is very logical too) 18.c5 e6 xc5 is a cleaner way to equalize, i.e. ( 18...d7 19.b3 e8 20.e1 a6 19.xb7 c2! ) 15.bxa5 xa5 16.exd4 Krause, U (2340)-Sher, M (2505)/Hamburg f5 17.e1! , but Black was never in serious 1992. Now 21.b5! a5 22.f3 looks a little danger: a8 18.c5 xg2 19.xg2 d5+ better for W hite he may try to double or 20.g1 fe8 21.e6+ xe6 22.xe6 triple on the c-file while Black is somewhat d6 23.c5 a7 24.b5 g6 25.e3 tied to the d-pawn.) 19.e1 ( Maybe White ( 25.g5!? ) 25...d5 26.xb7 xe3 s h o u l d p r e f e r 19.f3 d8 20.c2= ) 27.xd6 cxd6 28.e1 xa3 29.xe3 xe3 19...c6 20.f3 d7! (a common idea ) 30.fxe3 xd3 31.d5 and a draw was 21.c2 d5 22.a1?! a5! Timman, J agreed. ] (2630)-Bareev, E (2680)/Tilburg 1991. ] [ Neither does 14.c2 impress much, e.g. f5 15.c5 xg2 16.xg2 d5+ 17.g1 a5!? 16.xg2 h8 Again, Black has more than 18.e4?! ( 18.b2= ) 18...dxe3 19.xe3 one reliable line here. [ The first move to consider is 16...d5+ . axb4 20.axb4 a2 21.b3 xb3 22.xb3 17.f3 ( Better than 17.g1 a5 , Seret, J d5 Tsapin, I (2295) -Veliev, S/Sevastopol (2 4 0 5 ) -M ir a l l e s , G (2 4 6 0 )/ L yo n 1 9 9 0 .) 2000. ] 17...f6 ( 17...c5?! 18.a1 cxb4 19.axb4 14...f5 15.d2 f6 20.b3 xb3 21.xb3 ad8 22.c1 [ White can offer a pawn with 15.c5 xg2 Vidarte Morales, A (2394)-Ayas Fernandez, 16.xg2 d5+ 17.g1 xc5 18.bxc5 A (2256)/Barcelona 2002.) 18.c1 d7 xc5 , but equality is the maximum he can 1172
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.b3+ h8 Danailov, S (2445)-Yakovich, Y (2525)/Seville 1992. At this point 20.b5!? looks best White discourages ...c7-c6 and p la n s t o d o u b le o n t h e c -f il e (a 4 - a 5 i s another idea). White's play seems a touch easier to me, though Black has nothing major to complain about, i.e. f4!? ] [ Similar is 16...f6 , i.e. A) 17.c1 d7 18.b3 ae8 19.c5 f7 20.g1 ( 20.xb7?? d5+-+ ) 20...c6 21.a4?! d5 and Black enjoyed a very coherent position in Baumegger, S (2433)-Ragger, M (2527)/Leoben 2008.; B) 17.b3+ h8 18.bc1 a5 ( 18...d7 t r a n s p o s e s t o 1 6 . . . Q d 5 +; 18...c6 is a ls o f in e .) 19.c5 axb4 20.axb4 Sunye Neto, J (2465)-Huebner, R (2585)/ Manila 1990. ( 20.xf5!? ) 20...d7= ] [ Karjakin had played 16...e8 prior to his game with Navara, but maybe he ditched it due to 17.b3+ ( 17.f3 f6 18.c1 h8 19.a4 a5 20.b5 d6 21.c2 ac8= Van Wely, L (2681)-Karjakin, S (2732)/Nice 2008. ) 17...h8 18.e4!? dxe3 19.fxe3 , when White has some slight pressure. ] 17.f3 f6 18.c2 This is new. White aims to complete development with Rf1-c1 before undertaking activity on the queenside. [ The players had been following Navara, D (2646)-Karjakin, S (2727)/Sochi 2008. That game went 18.a4 a5 ( 18...d7; and 18...f4!? also look good .) 19.b5 e8 ( 19...d5 ) 20.e1 c5?! (unnecessarily creating a weakness) 21.bxc6 bxc6 . Now 22.c2 or 22.Qb3 look normal. White's weaknesses on a4 and e2 are less burdensome than Black's on a5, c6, and d4. ( or 22.b3 )] 18...d7! 19.fc1 c6 20.a4 [ 20.b5!? is a funny engine suggestion. I really doubt Black has any problems after cxb5 21.c7 , i.e. f7 ( 21...d5!? ) 22.xd7 xd7 23.c5 a6! 24.xf5 a4 , though he's also entitled to decline the bpawn with 20.. .Rac8. ] 20...f4!? Creating counterplay on the kingside without delay. [ I 'd p ro b a b ly p la y 20...ae8= first, but Topalov's sense of the initiative is much more refined than mine! ] 21.b5 cxb5 22.axb5 d5! 23.xd4 ae8
[ 23...g4! was more testing. The main threats are ...Bxd4 and ... f3+, plus ...fxg3 and Nd5-f4+. White has to tread carefully, i. e. 24.b3 ( 24.c4 fd8! ) 24...ad8 25.f3! xb2 ( White doesn't stand too poorly after 25...fxg3 26.c4 f4+ 27.xf4 xf4 28.hxg3 . ) 26.xb2 fxg3 27.fxg3 ( 27.c4 f4+ 28.xf4 xf4 29.hxg3 ) 27...f4+ 28.g1 xd3 ( 28...de8 29.c4!; 28...fe8!? ) 29.e5!? xe5 30.xe5 fe8 31.d1! g6 32.c5 with an un deniably shaky (bu t possibly savable) heavy-piece endgame. ] 24.f3 xb2?! [ Black should have settled for a perpetual: 24...fxg3 25.hxg3 f4+ 26.gxf4 g4+ A) or 27.h1 h5+ 28.g2 ( 28.h2? xe2 ) 28...g4+ etc.; B) 27.f1 h3+ 28.g1 ( 28.e1? xf3 ) 28...g4+= ( 28...xb2 29.xb2 xf4 30.c4 also forces Black to take the draw with g4+ . )] 25.xb2 e6 [ Now 25...fxg3 26.hxg3 f4+?? just doesn't work because of 27.gxf4 g4+ 28.h1 h5+ 29.h2 xe2 30.d4 . ] 26.d4 Leading directly to a peaceful conclusion. [ White could play on with 26.c5!? ] 26...fxg3 27.hxg3 xe2! 28.xd5 e3 W h i t e m u s t g i v e t h e p i e c e b a c k . 29.e1 xf3+ 30.xf3 exf3 31.b2 xd3 Here the p layers agreed a draw. A likely conclusion is 32.Re7 Rdf3 33.Rxb7 R3f7=. Thus, it appears White cannot rely on even a hint of an advantage with the straightforward 12.Nxd4. ½-½
1178 Nepomniachtchi,Ian Bocharov,Dmitry Final Russian Rapid GP rapid (2.1) [John Bartholomew]
A29 2730 2609 02.12.11
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 a5 Weakening the queenside to prevent b2-b4. Dra go n players gen erally p rof it f ro m th e inclusion of ...a6 and a4 in lines of the 1173
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Classical, so surely this should hold true in the Reversed Dragon? Ironclad logic, but Black has a specific idea in mind. [ The main line with 8...0-0 9.b4 is still incredibly popular. See Nigel Davies's guide "Four Knights 4 g3 - 4...d5". ] 9.d3 0-0 10.e3 e6 The usual bishop configuration. [ With the flexible 10...e8 , Black very often drops the dark-square bishop back to f8 or develops the other one to g4. See Morozevich, A (2707)-Motylev, A (2632)/ Moscow 2005/[John Watson]. ] 11.c1 [ 11.a4 is a typical procedure. See Botvinnik, M-Portisch, L/Monte Carlo 1968/ [Jonathan Rowson]. d5 is likely the best reply. ] 11...a4!? What's this? Isn't Black blundering a pawn? [ The most prominent move here has been 11...f5 , i.e. 12.a4 ( 12.b5!?; 12.d2!? ) 12...e4!? 13.e1 ( The analogous 13.d2 d5 14.c5 is more promising.) 13...d5 ( 13...xa4 14.xa4 exd3?! 15.xd3 d5 16.f4 xg2 17.xg2 c8 18.fd1 Davies, N (2500)-Hartman, C (2370)/ W r e x h a m 1 9 9 6 .) 14.c5 e3!? ( T h e m u n d a n e 14...f6 is also acceptable.) 15.fxe3 g5 16.c2 Shilov, S (2255)-Korobov, A (2590)/ P a r d u b i c e 2 0 0 8 . ( 16.xd5 xd5 Cebalo, M (2480)-Sertic, R (2401)/Djakovo CRO 2011. ) 16...f6! ] [ 11...d5 12.xd5 xd5 13.a4 is a bit better for White. For instance, d6 14.d2 xg2 15.xg2 h8 16.b5 b8 17.c4 Mamedov, R (2586)-L'Ami, E (2577)/Heraklio 2007. ] [ 11...f6 is familiar from the 8...0-0 9.b4 main line , bu t with t he b isho p alre ad y on e 3 Marin's 12.d4! is a convincing retort. exd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 xd4 15.xd4 fd8?! 16.b5! c5 17.xc5 xc5 18.c7 ( 18.xc5 ) 18...c4 19.xa8 xa8 20.xc4 xc4 21.d5+ f8 22.xc4 Marin, M (2549)-Strambu, M (2206)/Amara 2007. ] 12.xb6 Swallowing the bait. [ 12.e4 Playing for the c5 square is normal, but non-critical. d7!? , with ideas of ...
Be6-b3 and ...f7-f5. ] 12...cxb6 [ I think the text is best, though 12...b3!? is also testing. 13.xc7 xc7 14.d2 ( 14.e1!? is less aesthetic, but does prepare Nf3-d2. Volosin, V (2286) Karacsony, A (2333)/Budapest HUN 2010.) 14...b6 Now ( 14...ad8 Iglesias Valle, JEstevez Jacome, J/Asturias 199202. Now 15.e3!? with the idea of 16.Nd2 should d e n y B l a c k a d e q u a t e c o m p e n s a t i o n .) 15.e4?! ( 15.e3 fd8 16.e2 is a better way to unwind. After e6 17.fd1 b3 18.d2 ac8 White is for choice, though Black has undeniable practical compensation with the bishop pair and open c / d - f i l e s .) 15...f5! 16.c3 ad8 was ideal compensation for Black in Hofirek, B (1980)-Papan, C (2119)/Ostrava CZE 2011. ] 13.xa4 e4! This disruptive pawn push is the key. By now I ought to tell you that 11...a4!? is Houdini's top move. It's probably not coincidental that Bocharov (and Karacsony/ Papan above) took a sudden interest in a move that hasn't been seen since 1992 (and only once prior to that!). I don't say this to belittle the achievement of such a find (Karacsony may get the credit for 11...a4's resurrection since he played it in 2010) - it's more an illustration of how opening fashion develops these days. 14.e1 [ The second pawn is immune: 14.dxe4?? xd1 15.fxd1 xa4-+ ] [ On 14.d2 , g5 is good, i.e. 15.e3 ( 15.xc6 bxc6 16.xe4 e7; 15.c3 e3! 16.fxe3 xe3+ 17.h1 g5! ) 15...exd3 ] 14...d4? A clear imprecision. [ The source game for 11...a4 is Cekro, E (2365)-Komljenovic, D (2380)/Medulin 1983. T h a t c o n t e s t c o n t i n u e d 14...g5! , which Houdini also approves. Black has excellent piece play, and appears to have full compensation with chances for more. For example: A) 15.a1 , i.e. exd3 16.xd3 d4 (17...Bb3 was threatened) 17.c3 b3 ( Black can also take an immediate perpetual 17...b3 18.b1 c2 19.a2 b3 20.b1 c2= ) 18.xb7 ( 18.a2 1174
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d2 19.e1 b3 20.a1 looks terrible for W hite to me, though the computer thinks its close to equal) 18...a7 19.g2 xa1 20.xa1 resulting in an interesting middlegame. Material is balanced, and so are the chances. Either side can realistically push for a win.; B) 15.c3 f6 and now we have a r e p e t i t i o n a f t e r ( 15...d4!? 16.b4; 15...f5!? ) 16.c1 g5; C) 15.c3 xc1 16.xc1 exd3 17.xd3 c8; D) 15.e3 exd3 16.xd3 f5 ( 16...xa4! is probably stronger, i.e. 17.xa4 xd3 18.fd1 e2 ) 17.c3 f6 18.e4! g6 19.e5 . N o w t h e f o r c i n g l i n e xe5 20.xe5 xe5 21.xd8 fxd8 22.xb6 xc3 23.xa8 xb2 24.xb7 xa3 25.f3 should of course be drawn, though only Black can push with the bishop pair. An amazing conception from Komljenovic. One wonders whether it was the result (Komljenovic chose 19... Be7?! and went on to lose) or the lack of game proliferation that caused 11... a4 to go unnoticed for so long. Regardless, if this analysis holds the system with ...a5 should receive a much-needed shot in the arm. ] 15.c3! Coordination. Now Black has little compensation. g5?! The same idea, but a move too late. [ 15...b3 16.b1 exd3 17.xd3 ] [ 15...b3 16.d2 e6!? ] 16.e3 b3 17.xe4!? Giving the exchange under favorable circumstances. [ There was also nothing wrong with 17.c2 exd3 18.xd3 ] 17...xc1 18.xc1 d7 19.d4 xd4?? Clearly overlooking W hite's next. W hite is comfortably better anyways, as Black has very little to attack. 20.f4+- Decisive. xf4 21.xf4 d7 22.c2 fe8 23.d4 ad8 24.f1 e7 25.b5 d6 26.xh7+! White has a million ways to win but chooses a forcing continuation. xh7 27.h5+ g8 28.e4 c7 29.h4 f6 [ 29...c1+ 30.g2 xb2+ 31.f3 changes nothing. ] 30.xf6+! Superb calculation for a rapid game. f8 [ or 30...gxf6 31.h8+ f7 32.h7+ g6
33.h6+ g5 34.xf6+ g4 35.h4# ] 31.f4 c1+ 32.g2 gxf6 33.xf6+ g8 34.g6+ f8 35.h8+ f7 36.f6# 1-0
1179 Nimzo 7.32 Fritz 6a Cadaques Tournament (8) [Tony Kosten]
A29
04.01.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.d3 a5 This move is commonly preferred in these positions, Black challenges W hite's queenside build-up, and can often make use of the b3-square after a further ... a4. 11.b5 d4 12.d2 c6 [ One of the s of this line for White is that Black sometimes falls for the trap 12...d5? 13.xd5 xd5 14.e3 winning a piece, as e6 allows 15.e4 when the bishop has nowhere to go. ] 13.bxc6 xc6 14.b1 The open b-file will be put to good use. c8 [ P r o b a b l y b e s t , t h e n a t u r a l 14...a4 a l lo ws t h e su rp ri si n g 15.xc6!? bxc6 16.c2 c5?! ( 16...f5 ) 17.d1! a6 18.c4 with a positional plus, Vladimirov,ESavchenko,S/Helsinki 1992. ] 15.de4 [ 15.b2 e8 16.e1 f8 17.a4 d5 wa s s a t i s f a c t o r y f o r B l a c k , Z u e g e r , B Romanishin,O/ Cannes 1998. ] 15...a4 16.e3 d4 17.xd4 xd4 18.xa4!? [ An optically surprising move, seen by computers, but not so easily by humans, and a possible improvement on 18.e3 d8 19.xa4 xa4 1/2-1/2 Karlsson, LRo m a n is h i n , O / T a l li n n 1 9 8 7 , a s a l l t h e queenside pawns will come off the board after 20.xa4 f5 21.d2 xd3 22.xb7 xa3 ] 18...xa4 19.xb7 The point is that White will regain the piece when he plays e3, as the black queen can no longer support the knight from d7. xa3 20.e3 b2 21.exd4 xd1 22.xd1 exd4 23.a1 c1?! [ 23...c1+ 24.xc1 xc1 might favour 1175
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 W h it e , b e c a u se o f h is a ct ive ro o k, b u t should be a draw. ] 24.h4 fd8 25.aa7 Now White has two rooks on the seventh. c2 26.f3 f8 27.h5 f5? [ Any human would play 27...g6 28.d1 a2 wh e n W h i t e ' s c h a n c e s o f w i n n i n g a r e slight. ] 28.xg7! This move is a good winning attempt without risk, as W hite will always have a perpetual check to fall back on. fxe4 29.xh7 g8 30.dxe4 dc8 [ Black is in serious trouble, as his attempt at counterplay by 30...d3 is met by 31.ag7+ f8 32.g6 a2 33.e5 and e6 will threaten mate, and win a piece. ] 31.ag7+ f8 32.f7 xf7 33.xf7+ g8 34.fg7+ f8 35.d7 g8 36.hg7+ W hite plays like a human, and checks his opponent around a bit to gain time on the clock! f8 37.df7+ e8 38.a7 f8 39.e5 e2 40.h5 xe5 41.h6! Of course, computers rarely miss such tactical operations, winning back his piece. xh6 Otherwise h7, a n d R g 8 m a t e w o u l d f o l l o w . 42.h7 Menacing mate on h8. g8 43.xh6 d5 44.hh7 d3? [ This allows transposition into a trivial rook endgame, 44...cd8 was the only chance, aiming to push the d-pawn. ] 45.ag7+ f8 46.d7 xd7 47.xd7 c1+ 48.g2 c3 49.f3 e8 50.d4 f7 51.e3 d2+ 52.xd2 Now Black can resign, but it seems that this is too much for his pride! c6 53.g4 g6 54.f3 e6 55.a4 g5 56.e3 f7 57.f4 d5 58.g5 g6 59.a6+ g7 60.g4 d1 61.f4 d4 62.g6 d5 63.f5 h6 64.f4 d1 65.a7 d4+ 66.e5 d8 1-0
1180 Nimzo 7.32 Junior 6.0 Cadaques Tournament (2) [Tony Kosten]
A29
09.01.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 b4 4.g2 0-0 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 e4 7.g5 xc3 8.bxc3 e8 9.f3 e3 Zaitsev's move is still considered
to be strongest. 10.d3 d5 11.b3 a5 12.a3 c6 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.f4 g4 [ Generally considered stronger than Karpov's 14...c6 from his Seville match against Kasparov. ] 15.e1 c8!? [ The interesting thing about computer chess is that they can trot-out the f irst twenty moves of theory or so, directly from their hard disc 'memory', and when they get to the end of this, and have to 'think' for themselves, they might be able to find a new move of value. This appears to be a novelty, although bringing a rook to an open file is obvious, to say the least. Before this 15...h6 16.f3 c6 17.b1 d7 18.d4 h3! ga ve B la ck go od ch an ce s in La u t ie r, J Illescas Cordoba,M/Dos Hermanas 1995, and ] [ 15...c6 16.b1 d7 17.f3 b6 18.b2 is also reasonable, Soffer,R-Kindermann,S/ Bern 1990. ] 16.h3 d7 17.b2 b6 18.ad1 h6 19.f3 h5 An important move, the e3-pawn cuts the white position in two, and makes it difficult to defend the g3-pawn. 20.h2 f6 21.g1 White had to do something about the threat of ...Qg6. c6 22.h4? g5! Ouch! 23.c4 d4 24.xc6? [ An attempt to avoid 24.fxg5 that comes u n s t u c k , a l t h o u g h , i t i s t r u e t h a t hxg5 25.f3 xg3! is rather awkward, as 26.xg3?? is impossible, f4# ] 24...xc6 25.xa7 c8 26.g2 [ T h i s l o s e s , b u t 26.fxg5? is no longer possible, e6! 27.g4 d6+ 28.h1 g3+ and wins. ] 26...xg3!! Ripping out the heart of the white king's defence. 27.b8 [ Hopeless, but 27.xg3 f5 28.h1 gxf4+ 29.h2 f3! 30.exf3 g6 leaves White without defence to the threats. ] 27...f5 28.xc8 The only mov e to avoid immediate mate, the rest of the game is a mere formality. cxc8 29.xg3 ed8 30.a4 a8 31.a1 h5 32.af1 xa4 33.fxg5 e5+ 34.f4 a2 35.b1 f5 36.f3 b5 37.cxb5 xb5 38.a1 c6+ 39.g3 c8 40.bc1 f5 41.f3 h4 42.g6 d6 43.gxf7+ xf7 44.c7+ d7 45.c4 e5 46.c8 b5 47.cc1 b7+ 48.g4 d8 1176
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 49.c5 g8+ 0-1
1181 Ostenstad,Berge Agdestein,Simen ch-NOR Mons NOR (4) [John Watson]
A29 2480 2575 10.07.2006
In this game we look at the early push of the g-pawn in the Dragon Variation, both as Black (where it is an established idea) and by White (where it is virtually untried), a tempo ahead! As so often, the extra tempo in a Reversed opening can be useless, or even an impediment. 1.c4 [ Black's idea of 8...g5 has held up fairly well. What if White tries the same system but a tempo up? For example, 1.e4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 g6 5.c3 g7 6.b3 f6 7.e2 0-0 and now: A) 8.0-0 d6 and now the g4 idea has lost the point of h4-h5, but still resembles the main game after 9.f4 a6 10.g4 b5 11.g5 e8 12.f3 ( or 12.h1 h3 13.g1 ) 12...h3!?; B) 8.g4 d5! 9.exd5 b4 10.g5 - see the note to 9.b4 about 9.d4 - this is a direct transposition, because Black has played ...d5 in one move whereas there White plays d4 in two moves.; C) 8.e3 d6 9.g4 d5 10.exd5 b4 11.f3 ( 11.d6!? looks like a try for a d v a n t a g e b u t xd6 12.c5 f4! takes advantage of the weakness created by g4 ) 11...xg4! 12.xg4 xg4 13.xg4 xc2+ 14.e2 xa1 15.xa1 xc3 16.bxc3 xd5 17.d1 e5 and White has the two minor pieces for a rook and two pawns but his king is loose and another pawn my fall; D) 8.h4 d6 9.g4 d5! 10.exd5 b4 D1) 11.g5 fxd5 ( 11...xg4 12.xg4 xg4 13.xg4 xc2+ 14.e2 xa1 15.xa1 xc3 16.bxc3 xd5 is very messy, but White's exposed king is a problem. ); D2) 11.f3 xg4! 12.xg4 xg4 13.xg4 xc2+ 14.e2 xa1 15.xa1 xc3 16.bxc3 xd5 17.d1
xa2+ etc.]; D3) 11.h5 bxd5 12.hxg6 ( 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5 xd5 ) 12...xc3 13.gxf7+ xf7 14.c4+ e8 15.xd8+ xd8 16.bxc3 xg4; D4) 11.0-0 fxd5 12.xd5 xd5 13.c3 ( 13.f3 b4 ) 13...d6 14.f3 d8= . No matter what extra tempo tries to use in the 'reverse g4' system, he gains little or nothing from it. ] 1...e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 g5 9.b4 [ 9.d4! leads to positions with exciting possibilities: exd4 10.b5 g4 11.fxd4 ( 11.xg5 xg5 12.xg5 0-0 13.f3 ) 11...xd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 0-0-0 ] 9...g4 10.e1 f5 [ Or 10...h5 , which has been played before, with the simple plan ...h4 and playing for mate! ] 11.d3 0-0 12.b2 [ 12.h6 may well be better, e.g., f7 ( 12...f6 13.g5 g6 14.xe7 xe7 15.f3 ) 13.c2!? with the idea f4 14.e4 This all needs more investigation. ] 12...f6 13.c1 h8 14.xc6!? A very good positional move but a little risky b e c a u se o f t h e we a k e n e d l ig h t s q u a r e s around White's king. bxc6 15.a4 [ 15.f3!? ] 15...d6 16.c5!? [ 16.c2 ] 16...a5! 17.e4?! [ 17.d2! ] 17...axb4 18.axb4 f4 19.g2 f3 20.e3 g7 21.e1!? It's time to challenge the a-file. W hite's idea is that after a move like Nf5, capture on f5 will open a key file for White's rook. h5 22.d4!? I'm not sure what Ostenstad is doing. Perhaps he underestimated Black's ability to retain the dpawn. exd4 23.c2 c4? [ 23...d8 forces White to consider his material deficit. ] 24.xd4 d8 25.e5!? [ 25.a1! xa1 26.xg7+ xg7 27.xa1+ g6 28.c3 ] 25...xe5 26.d2 f7 27.cd1 g8 28.c3 g6 29.xg7 xd1 30.xd1 xg7 31.d4 f5 Black's extra pawn isn't worth 1177
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 much, but the restrictive pawn on f3 is very s t r o n g a n d n o w h e 's g o t g o o d p i e c e s t o s u p p o r t i t . 32.c1 f6 33.h4 d8 34.cb3?! [ 34.xf5 xd1+ 35.xd1 xf5 36.d3!? would be interesting. ] 34...e4 35.c5 d5! 36.a7? c2! 37.e1 xb3 38.xb3 c3 39.e3 [ 39.b1 xb4 40.xc7 c3 and Black has the extra pawn and a hugely superior position. ] 39...xe3 40.fxe3 b5 41.d4 [ White hangs it up because 41.d4 xb4 42.xc6 b2 threatens ...f2+, but then 43.d1 d6 followed by ...Ne4 or .. .Nf5 will lead to an irresistible attack. ] 0-1
1182 Pelletier,Yannick Chernin,Alexander XLVIII TCh-ESP (4) [John Watson]
A29 2589 2584 21.11.2004
This game illustrates a sideline of the main 1... e5 English 4 Knights. W hite has never achieved much here, and Pelletier commits the error so many have made: he pursues positional goals and neglects his kingside. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 d6 [ The main line with 6...e4 7.g5 ( 7.e1 xc3 8.dxc3 e8 9.c2 isn't played that much any more) 7...xc3 8.bxc3 e8 9.f3 e3 has been discussed by Tony in this column. Black seems to be doing okay. ] 7.d5 [ 7.d3 is the most common alternative, when White must be ready for xc3 8.bxc3 e4!? ] 7...c5 8.d3 xd5 9.cxd5 d4 This idea has been played for many years in this and similar positions. W hite has had difficulty finding anything promising, and this time it's no different. 10.d2?! [ 10.xd4 exd4 gives White problems down the e-file unless he tries 11.e4 , when f5 12.d2 a5 isn't bad for White but it's not what he wants. ] 10...g4! 11.e1 f5 12.b4!? b6 [ 12...xb4 13.f3 h5 14.e3 b5 15.b3
results in too many problems. ] 13.c4 f4! 14.xb6 axb6 What now? White has removed the bishop but can hardly defend his kingside. 15.h3?! [ But 15.f3 d7 (with the idea ...Ba4) 16.a4 e8 17.a5 bxa5 18.bxa5 fxg3 19.hxg3 g6 20.g4 f7 wins the d-pawn. ] 15...xe2! 16.xe2 f3 17.e4 fxg2 18.b2? [ White should play 18.xg2 , although d7 19.b2 f3 transposes. ] 18...f3+ 19.xg2 d7 20.e3 g5 21.h4 h3+ 22.g1 f7? [ 22...f5! threatens both ...Qxf2+ and ... Nh3+. White has to try the desperate 23.f4 ( 23.e2? h3+ 24.g2 xf2 ) 23...exf4 24.e7 f7! 25.xf7 xf7 26.f3 e5 27.xe5 xe5 28.f1 d4+ 29.h1 xa2 and wins. ] 23.e2 [ 23.d4 ] 23...h6 24.e4 f7 [ 24...c6 is also strong, e.g., 25.dxc6 bxc6 (in te n din g . .. d 5 ) 26.h5! a7! 27.h4 ( 27.d4 af7 28.f1 f3! ) 27...e6 28.a4 af7 29.f1 f5! 30.g4 e3! ] 25.c1 [ This is probably better than 25.d4 af8 26.f1 f5 27.ae1 g4 28.dxe5 ( 28.xg4 xg4 29.dxe5 f3! 30.e2 xg3+ 31.fxg3 xf1+ 32.xf1 f3+ ) 28...xf2 29.e6 h3+ 30.g2 xf1+ 31.xf1 xf1 32.xh3 h5! ] 25...f5 26.e3 e7 27.d4 xd5 28.dxe5 c3 29.g4 xg4 30.xg4 dxe5 31.d2 b5?! [ 31...e2+! 32.f1 d4 followed by ... Raf8 . Black has a pawn and the attack. 33.e4 c2 34.c1 xa2 ] 32.e4 e7?! [ 32...d7! 33.e3 d4 ] 33.f4 ae8 34.ae1 Now it's about equal, as the game demonstrates. d4 35.g2 c6 36.g5 e6 37.c1 h6 38.e3 b5 39.c5 b6 40.xb5 a8 41.d5 xa2 42.b5 e7 43.dxe5 xe5 44.xe5 f7 45.f4 g6 46.e4 c2 47.h5 xf4+ ½-½
1178
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1183 A29 1184 Perez Fungueiro,Manuel Antonio 2255 Petrosian,Tigran V Hamdouchi,Hicham 2559 Ree,Hans III Open Sanxenxo ESP (2) 27.06.2006 1971 Wijk aan Zee [John Watson] [Paul Motwani] 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 h6!? All the rage following Anand's use of it (with a few other GMs preceding him). The idea is that ...h6 will come in handy in every line, so Black doesn't show his cards yet. White is still looking for the right system with which to counter this. 4.d3 White doesn't want to commit. [ Maybe a move like 4.b3!? would irritate Black. ] [ O n e o f B la c k's id e a s is 4.c3 c5 ( even after 4...c6 5.d4 exd4 6.xd4 a6 , ...h6 is a handy moves, although W hite should stand better) 5.f3!? e4 and g5 isn't available for the knight, but 6.g1 e7 7.c2 d5! 8.xd5 ( 8.cxd5 f5 ) 8...xd5 9.cxd5 f5 isn't very convincing for White. ] 4...c5 5.c3 0-0 6.f3 d6 7.0-0 a6 8.a3 a7 9.b4 c6 10.b2 b8 11.d2 e7 12.d5?! This move almost always helps Black if he can capture without creating some awful weakness (or of course, if White can't recapture with a piece). Black gains time and clears the way for an attack. The bishop on a7 cooperates nicely with attack by ...f5-f4. Better was [ 12.a4 or ] [ 12.c2 or ] [ 12.b3 with the idea d4. ] 12...fxd5 13.cxd5 f5 14.c1 d7 15.c2 c8 16.c4 f4 17.h1 e8 Black pursues a more-or-less mindless and stock attack, but what to do about it? 18.gxf4 [ 18.d2 h5 doesn't help, since 19.d4? fxg3 20.fxg3 f5 is already close to winning. ] 18...xf4 19.e3 h4 20.e2 b5! 21.d2 g4! 22.f3 f5 23.e4 Versus ...Ng3+ h5 Now Black threatens both the e3 pawn and ... Rxe4! and there's little to be done. 24.c6!? xe3 25.c1 b6 26.e1 e7 27.f4 f8 28.b2 exf4 29.f3 g3+ 30.g2 [ 30.xg3 xe1 31.xe1 xf3# ] 30...xe4 0-1
A29
1971
W 37: "Black nightmare in the English Four Knights!" 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 [ Reader's Challenge W37P1: Consider the line 2...c6 3.f3 f5 4.d4 e4 5.g5 f6 6.d5?! exf3 7.dxc6 fxg2 Why is it fatal for White to move his c6-pawn left or right now? An answer appears at the end of the game W37. ] 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.d5 xd5 [ I would prefer 5...e4 ] 6.cxd5 e4?? [ B l a c k s h o u l d h a v e p l a y e d 6...d4 and he can always at least hope for 7.xe5?! e7 8.d3?? f3#! ] 7.dxc6 exf3 8.b3! This move caused GM Hans Ree to resign! Black loses a piece after 8...Qe7 9 a3, because when the b4-bishop retreats White simply plays the capture & fatal fork cxb7. Solution to W37P1 8 cxb7?? Bxb7 clearly leaves W hite in double trouble at f1 and h1. A more hidden pitfall is 8 cxd7+? Nxd7!!, intending 9 Bxg2 Qxg5 or 9 Bxd8 gxh1=Q with a winning material advantage for Black. 1-0
1185 Piket,Jeroen Avrukh,Boris Lost Boys Open (9) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2630 2598 19.08.2001
Brilliant and inventive opening play from Piket gains a big advantage. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 This is White's best move here. c5 [ 7...a5 is rarer, but possible: 8.0-0 0-0 9.d1! d6 10.d4 gives White a small plus, Uhlmann,W-Gelfand,B/Debrecen 1989. ] 8.d3 h6 9.h4!? [ Again this interesting move of Gulko's, preparing g4-g5, but it is less weakening than the immediate 9.g4 ] 1179
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...h7? [ A new defensive plan, Black wishes to preempt g4-g5, but misses W hite's counter. 9...c6 10.g4 d5 11.g5 1-0 Gulko,B-Hector, J/Copenhagen DEN 2000 ] 10.e4! e7 11.b5! Moving the queen again in the opening looks wrong, but this move is very strong! The e5-pawn is attacked and the d-pawn can't defend it because it is itself pinned. c5 [ Positionally ugly, Black concedes control of d5, but following 11...f6 White can play 12.xf6+ ( and 12.g4 is also effective) 12...xf6 13.d4! exd4 14.f4 with great play on the dark squares, and on ] [ 11...f6?! 12.h5+ is horrible. ] 12.e3 [ Rather than 12.xc5? a6 13.xb7 axb5 14.xd8 b8 and the knight is trapped. ] 12...a6 13.a4 c7 14.c3 Of course! Black has avoided immediate disaster, but ju s t lo o k a t t h a t ga p in g h o l e o n d 5 ! d8 15.b4! White hammers the nail further in. His pieces are all aiming at Black's queenside, so he wastes no time opening the b-file, and g1-a7 diagonal. f8 [ W hat else? 15...cxb4 16.d5 (menace: Bb6) b5 17.cxb5 b7 18.b6 axb5 and now W hite can win the exchange by 19.xa8 xa8 20.xd8 ] 16.bxc5 e6 17.b4 White holds-on to his extra pawn. 0-0 18.d5 f5 19.xe7+ xe7 20.d5 h8 Black is trying his utmost to generate some counterplay, ...f4 is coming. 21.xe6! The simplest, the opposite-colour bishops will not save Black. a5 22.b2 xe6 23.f4! The point, White opens the long diagonal to Black's king. e4 [ 23...exf4? is worse, 24.d4 e7 25.gxf4 and a white rook will soon appear on the gfile. ] 24.d4 The contrast between the two bishops is striking. f7 25.d2!? a6 26.e5?! [ Stopping ...d6, but Black has another pawn break. 26.ab1 d6 27.cxd6 xd6 28.e5 is simpler. ] 26...b6 27.cxb6 xb6 28.d4 c6?! [ Missing a good chance: 28...exd3 29.exd3 c6! planning both to embarrass the bishop with ...d6, and to check on g2. 30.he1 d6! 31.xd6 xd6 32.xd6 xd6 33.e8+
h7 34.xc8 White momentarily has two extra pawns, but... fd7 Black has excellent drawing chances. ] 29.c5 Consolidating the e5-square, and now the game resumes its normal course. exd3 30.exd3 a6 31.h5 c8 32.hb1 c6 33.b6 g2+ 34.c3 c6 35.ab1 White is coming down the b-file. f3? [ 35...h7 is Black's only hope. ] 36.xc6 dxc6 37.d6 Threatening both R b 8 + , a n d Q x h 6 + . xh5 38.xc6 Not to mention this, winning the bishop! a7 39.b6 [ Not bad, but 39.h1 is a real killer. ] 1-0
1186 Pogorelov,Ruslan Tiviakov,Sergei III Open Calvia ESP (5) [John Watson]
A29 2462 2680 24.10.2006
Any time that Tiviakov plays a Dragon or Dragon Reversed, players take notice. Here we follow down a familiar path in the main line (isn't it time that we move on to something else?), with a somewhat different structure arising. Pogorelov slowly outplays his opponent, but on the verge of winning he lets Tiviakov escape into a drawn position. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 a5 12.b5 d4 13.d2 c8 14.e3 f5 15.e2 [ 15.c2 d8 16.b2 h6!? was successful in L Van Wely-S Tiviakov, Hilversum NED 2006. Black is transferring his knight to f7. ] 15...d6 [ 15...a4 16.b2 d6 17.f4!? was unclear in Bareev-Yakovich, Kazan 2005. ] 16.f4 [ 16.a4 (stopping ...a4) g4 17.f3 e6 18.f4 was seen in Bareev-Shirov, Poikovsky RUS 2006, with similar intent. After f7 , W hite should simply have played 19.b2 , with perhaps a very small edge, because Black has no effective plan. ] 16...exf4 [ 16...a4?! 17.fxe5 fxe5 18.xf8+ xf8 1180
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.de4 gives White a nice outpost in front of the isolated pawn. ] [ 16...g4 17.f2 d7 wouldn't concede anything in the centre. ] 17.xf4! f5! 18.b3 xb3 Lest Nc5 follow. 19.xb3 e6 20.b1 g5 21.f3 The opening is pretty much over and looks equal. Black's central pressure makes up for W hite's two bishops. ae8 22.c2 d7 23.h3 h8 24.e2! e5 25.f2 d7 26.a4 c5?! [ 26...g6 was an easier way to hold down White's play. Now things turn favourable for White. ] 27.bxc6 xc6 28.f4 b4 29.b3 f7 30.d4!? White needn't be in a hurry to make this move, although it works out well. As it happens, ceding e4 gives Black some counterplay, but not enough to equalise. d6 31.a3 e4 32.xe4 fxe4 33.xb4! axb4 34.g2 xf4?! [ 34...e7 ] 35.xf4 xf4 36.gxf4 g5! 37.f5! White keeps the g-file closed and the pressure on. g4!? An odd pawn sacrifice for activity, but after [ 37...xf5 38.f1 e6 39.xb4 and White stands clearly better. ] 38.hxg4 g7 39.d1 g5 40.e2? On the treacherous 40th move, White gives back most of his advantage. [ 40.xb4 xe3 41.d5! keeps the extra pawn while threatening Qd4+ and Rxb7. After this Black manages to equalise and the game ends with a raft of checks. ] 40...g8 41.f1 h4 42.f4 h5 43.d5 [ 43.b5! xg4+ 44.xg4 xg4+ 45.h2= ] 43...xg4+ 44.xg4 hxg4 45.b2+ g8 46.e5 h3+ 47.g1 xe3+ 48.h1 c1+ 49.g2 c2+ 50.h1 d1+ 51.h2 d2+ 52.h1 e1+ 53.g2 d2+ 54.h1 h6+ 55.g2 h3+ 56.g1 e3+ 57.h1 f3+ 58.g1 g3 59.e8+ g7 60.g6+ f8 61.f6+ e8 62.e6+ d8 63.d6+ c8 64.e6+ c7 65.e7+ c8 66.e8+ c7 67.e7+ ½-½
1187 Poldauf,Dirk Timman,Jan H German Team Cup (1) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2459 2655 18.03.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 c5 5.xe5 xf2+ 6.xf2 xe5 7.e4 d6!? [ B l a c k a v o i d s t h e n o r m a l 7...c5 w h e n I v a n c h u k ' s 8.d4 gives White the edge. ] 8.d4 g6 9.h3 0-0 10.g2 b8!? [ This is Timman's new idea, a subtle waiting m o ve . P r e vi o u s l y h e h a d e xp e r i e n c e d 10...e6 although from the white side, Timman,J-Beliavsky,A/Sombor 1972, continuing: 11.b3 c6 12.e3 a5 13.d2 with an edge. ] 11.f1?! [ Black's move gains an immediate recompense, better 11.e3 when Black will continue a6 intending a later .. .b5. ] 11...e6! 12.b3 c8 The point, White has moved his king's rook too fast, and his hpawn needs defending. 13.g4!? [ Obvious, but this weakens the kingside dark squares. 13.g5 e8 14.g4 is better. ] 13...h6 Consolidates g5, and prepares to bring the f6-knight to this square, via h7. 14.g1 h7 15.e2 g5 16.g3 h4 17.b2 xg2 18.xg2 f6 19.f4 d7 20.d3 b5 Black needs to obtain some queenside counterplay. 21.cxb5 xb5 22.c2 e8 23.h4 e6 24.f2 d7 25.f5 d5! 26.e5 Otherwise, White would be left with an IQP on d4. fxe5 27.dxe5 d4 Black is better, he has a dangerous passed pawn, and can control the h1-a8 diagonal. 28.e1 b6!? [ 28...bd8 is more logical. ] 29.d2 d4 becomes the focus of attention c5!? [ A combination that serves to expose the white king, 29...c5 permits 30.d6 ] 30.xd4 d5+ 31.h3 [ 31.f3 c6 ] 31...e4 32.xe4 xe4 33.xb6 axb6 34.f4 xf4 [ Better than 34...xe5? when 35.xh6+ demolishes the pawn shield, h7 36.xe4+ xe4 37.f5 with a good extra pawn. ] 35.xf4 xe5 36.f2 h5! 37.gxh5?? 1181
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ W alking into a nasty pin. 37.d2 f7 d6 ( 10...b6 ) 11.b3 ( 11.c2 and there are 38.g3 kept the balance. ] several moves here, but analogous to the 37...d7 38.g4 c5 Threatening ...Kf7-f6, game is e5!? 12.d1 with some picking-up the unfortunate knight. 39.a4 e6 difficulties for Black.) 11...a5 12.c2 a4 40.f3 h8 41.g5 White tries to keep the 13.b1 axb3 14.axb3 e7 15.d1 d7 opposing king away, but goes from one pin to 16.c5!? dxc5 17.c4 a6 18.b2 c8 another. h7 Leaving White in zugzwang. 19.a1 xa1 20.xa1 f5 21.d2 d4 42.f2 22.xd4 cxd4 23.xd4 c6 24.b6 e6 [ 42.g4 g6 43.hxg6+ xg6 44.h5+ f6 25.h4 h5 26.d4 d7 27.a5 f5 28.h3 wins the knight. ] g6 29.c3 f8 30.g2 d8 31.f4 f7? 42...xb3 43.f4 d5 44.b2 c4 45.e4 32.xe4 L Portisch-Izoria, Warsaw POL [ 45.e4 The powerful black c-pawn will win 2005. ] the game. ] 9.g5! e5!? 10.f4! e6 45...c5 'Rook behind the pawn', Black [ 10...exf3 11.xf3 e6 (else the move intends .. .c3. 46.d4 xa4 47.xb6 c3 Bxf6 will soon decimate Black's kingside) 48.e2? 12.d4 xd4 13.xd4 d6 14.d5 e5 [ 48.b1 was a better try. ] 15.xf6 gxf6 16.ad1 with a clear 48...c2 49.c1 xh5 advantage. ] [ 49...xh5 50.d3 xh4 and Black creates 11.c2 e7? Now Black is lost. But things a passed g-pawn, too. ] were bad anyway after 0-1 [ 11...h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.e3 e8 14.c2 e7 15.fd1 ] 12.f5 d6 13.c1! e5 14.e3 h6 1188 A29 15.xf6 xf6 [ 15...xf6 16.d5 d8 17.b3! c6 Portisch,Lajos 2525 18.a3 ] Warakomski,Tomasz 2384 6th EICC Warsaw POL (2) 19.06.2005 16.d5 c5+ 17.h1 d6 18.f6 g5 [ Or 18...xc4 19.e7+ h8 20.fxg7+ [John Watson] xg7 21.f5+ ] Portisch knows the Classical main-line Four 19.f5! xd5 [ 19...e6 20.xg5+ hxg5 21.xg5+ g6 Knights English and coasts to victory in this 22.e7+ , winning Black's queen. ] game, while grinding out another win in the same variation (in the notes). 1.c4 e5 2.c3 20.cxd5 d6 21.xg5+ A win in the old style f6 3.g3 c6 4.g2 b4 5.f3 of English Opening play. Here were at the starting point of thousands 1-0 of games. 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.e1 The older move this knight heads for e3 via c2 in order 1189 A29 to strengthen White's control over d5. Savchenko,Boris 2583 [ 7.g5 xc3 8.bxc3 e8 has been the Carlsen,Magnus 2714 critical variation for many years. ] World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (3) 21.11.2007 7...xc3 The classic example of [ 7...e8?! 8.d5! is ... Portisch-Huebner, [Carsten Hansen] Tilburg 1983: h6 9.d3 xe1 10.xe1 e5 11.dxe4! xc4 12.xf6+ xf6 13.c2 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 c6 14.f4 e5 15.ac1 xc2 16.xc2 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 So far so good. White's next move takes us off c6 17.d1 with a large advantage. ] the path from our theoretical survey a few 8.dxc3 e8!? [ Traditionally the move 8...h6 has been months ago 8.b5!? I'm at loss for the exact played in order to prevent W hite's next. reasoning that lead to this move. It seems to T h e n a n o t h e r P o r t i s c h g a m e f r o m t h e me that Black is interested in playing ...Qe7, . sametournamentwent 9.c2 e8 10.e3 ..c6 anyway so why f orce and encourage 1182
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black to get these moves for free? Maybe White wanted to clear the path for b2-b4, but this is surely not the best way. Nevertheless, I give it '!?' because it is bizarre enough to merit attention. e7 9.d3 c6 10.a4 0-0 11.0-0 [ An important alternative for White is 11.g5 , e.g. d4 ( 11...h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.e4 e7 14.xc5 xc5 15.a3! xa3 16.bxa3 with pressure on Black's queenside; 11...d8 12.0-0 d6 13.e4 h3 14.fd1 a5 15.c2 a7 16.xf6+ gxf6 is actually rather nice for Black) 12.e4 d5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.xf6+ gxf6 15.d2 d8 with chances to both sides. After White's 11th move in the game, Black takes over the initiative. ] 11...h6 12.a3 a6 13.b4 a7 14.e3 d8 15.b3 d6 16.b2 e6 17.c2 d5 18.c5 b8 [ 18...h3 19.fe1 h7!? ] 19.g2 c7 20.e4 dxe4 [ While this approach looks normal and pretty good, I'm not sure it is actually Black's best as it allows W hite an opportunity to exchange some piece at no particular for Black. Instead Black can consider 20...a5!? 21.fe1 ( 21.e2 h5!? ) 21...d7 22.ad1 d4 23.e2 with a sort of Ruy Lopez Chigorin, but with the colours reversed, and one where Black in this position is doing quite well. ] 21.dxe4 c4 22.fd1 e6 23.xd8+ xd8 24.d1 d4 25.e2? [ White must have miscalculated or overlooked something in the continuation, possibly Black's 26th move. Instead White should have tried 25.c1 b3 ( 25...d7?! 26.xd4 exd4 27.b1 ) 26.xd4 exd4 27.e2 d3 28.d4 c4 29.e5 d7 30.f4 , and both sides still have chances, though I a c t u a l ly wo u l d n 't m in d p la yi n g W h it e here... ] 25...xe4! 26.xe4 b3 27.b1 xd1 28.f5 b3 29.c3 f3 30.c2 e6 31.d1 xd1 32.xd1 f8 33.h4 c4 34.d2 e7 35.e3 d5 36.xd5+ xd5 37.e2 g6 38.h5 g5 39.g4 e6 40.e2 f5 41.g4 e4 42.gxf5 xf5 43.g7 f4 44.f1 h4 45.e1 h1+ 46.d2 f4+ 47.c2 c1+ 48.b3 b1+ 49.c4 g4
50.c3 f7 51.b2? [ After this White loses rapidly. White can continue the game with 51.a4 , but is of course still losing in the long run, being a pawn down and more exposed king. ] 51...a2+ 52.d4 d5+ 53.c3 e5+ 54.c2 d3+ 55.xd3 exd3+ 56.b3 d2 0-1
1190 A29 Savchenko,Boris 2583 Rublevsky,Sergei 2676 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (14) 21.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 [ This line isn't played as frequently as 8.a3 ] [ and 8.b1 at the top level anymore. Examples of those lines can for example be found in the February 2007 update. The text move is considered more harmless because it is m o re in a cco rd a n ce wit h t h e lin e s Black would play in a Classical Dragon Variation in the Sicilian. Nevertheless, White can still play for a win in this fashion. ] 8...0-0 9.e3 e6 10.a3 [ 10.d2 was the topic of AnastasianSimonenko, Abu Dhabi 2005, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] 10...f5 11.c1 h8 12.b4 [ White has tried a couple of other things in this position: A) 12.a4 f4 ( While 12...e4 13.e1 exd3 14.xd3 is better for White as indicated by Ribli; Black should definitely consider 12...xa4!? 13.xa4 d5 14.fe1 a6 15.c5 e4 16.xe7 xe7 , and with lack having solved his opening problems successfully, the players agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2 Vaganian, R-Portisch, L/Moscow 1994.; 12...d7 13.d2 d5 14.c3 g8 15.b4 a6 16.a4 b3 17.c5 xc5 18.xc5 d6 was Andrade Ocana, J-Rasgadinho, J/Aveiro 2000, and now White could grab on to the initiative with 19.g5!? d7 20.h4 ) 13.c5 ( 13.c5!? xa4 14.xa4 d5 15.b5 Ribli ) 13...d5 14.d2 xc5 ( 14...b8 15.b4 Ribli ) 15.xc5 e7 16.b4!? ( 16.c1 f7 17.b4 xf3 18.xf3 d4 19.d1 c6 1183
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with chances to both sides, Cebalo, MRomanishin, O, Taxco IZT 1985) 16...f7 ( 16...ad8!? intending ...e5-e4 as suggested by Romanishin in the notes to the Cebalo game, is perf ectly adequate f or Black to equalise the game.) 17.e4! fxe3 18.xe3 A) 18...h6 19.g5! ( 19.h4 e6 20.e4 is given as clearly better for White by Ribli, but Black appears to be okay after g5 21.g6+ g8 22.b5 d4 23.xd5 xd5 24.xd4 exd4 25.e1 xg6 26.xd5= ) 19...hxg5 20.h5+ g8 21.xd5 xd5 22.xd5 , and White has an enduring advantage.; B) 18...af8? 19.g5+- Ribli; C) 18...d6 19.g5 C1) 19...e7 20.h5 ( 20.xd5 xd5 21.h5 f6 22.f7+ g8 23.xd6 xh5 24.xb7+Ribli ) 20...g8 21.e4; C2) 19...d7 20.h3 e7 21.h5 with a large advantage f or W hite, Ibragimov, I-Schwartzman, G/ Odorheiu Secuiesc 1993 ] [ B) 12.d2 f4 13.xb6 cxb6 14.e4 g5 15.xc6 bxc6 16.ce4 d5 17.c3 , and here a draw was much too prematurely agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, Gavrikov, VTukmakov, V/Barcelona 1993 ] 12...f6 [ In his analysis to the above-mentioned game with Cebalo, Romanishin here recommends 12...a5 13.b5 d4 14.xe5 xa3 15.xb7 xc1 , and now rather than Romanishin's continuation, which is covered in the line with 16 Bxc1, White should opt for 16.xc1! ( 16.xc1 d5! 17.xd5 xd5 18.xa8 xa8 Roma nishin /) 16...b3 17.b2 f6 18.xa8 xa8 19.xb6! cxb6 20.a4 ] 13.c5 f7 14.e4 d7 15.e2 xd3 16.b5?! [ White has an interesting alternative in 16.exf5!? , e.g. xf5 ( 16...c4 17.e4 d7 18.fe1 d3 19.g4 c4 20.b5 6a5 21.e4 ) 17.b5 d4 18.xd4 exd4 19.e4 b3 20.d1 xb5 21.xf6 xf6 22.xd4 d6 23.xb7 ] 16...c4 17.bxc6 xc3 18.d2 xf1?! [ Black starts down the wrong track, and
apparently must have calculated something t e r r i b l y w r o n g . I n s t e a d 18...d3!? looks good, e.g. 19.c2 a6 20.fe1 fxe4 21.xe4 d5 , and Black has perhaps the slightly better chances in this complicated position. ] 19.xc3 xg2?? [ After this blunder White has a very simple win. With 19...a4 , Black could have keep W h it e 's ad va n ta ge at mo re acc ep t ab le levels, e.g. 20.b3 b6 21.xa4 xg2 22.xg2 bxc5 23.xc5 ] 20.cxb7 b8?! [ 20...fxe4 21.xb6 axb6 22.xe5 b8 23.f7+ g8 24.b3 e7 25.d8+ h8 26.c6+- ] 21.xg2?? [ Here White missed a very simple win with 21.xb6! A) 21...axb6 22.xc7 ( 22.xg2? c5 ) 22...xb7 ( 22...xf3 23.xb8 xb8 24.c8+ ) 23.xb7 xf3 24.c8; B) 21...xb7 22.xc7 xc7 ( 22...f8 23.xg2 fxe4 24.xe5+- ) 23.xc7 xf3 24.xd8+ xd8 25.c8+- ] 21...fxe4 22.xe5 d5 23.xb6 xe5?! [ 23...e3+ 24.f3 xe5 25.d4 f8 ( 25...xd4 is fascinating, though the exact consequences are difficult to make out in their entirety, e.g. 26.xc7 e5 27.c8+ g8 28.f5 e8 29.c8 b8 30.xe8 xe8 31.c8 g8 32.f4 h5 , but Black shouldn't lose) 26.xe5 xf3+ 27.g1 f2+ with a draw by perpetual/ repetition ] 24.c5 xb7 25.xe5 e3+ 26.h3 xb6 27.fxe3 h6+?! [ After this move, Black consigns himself to defend a difficult rook ending. Instead he should try 27...c8! 28.f1 c5 29.f7 g8 30.c7 h6+ 31.g2 a6 , and Black is not worse ] 28.g2 d6 29.xd6 cxd6 30.c7 a5 31.a7 g8 32.xa5 f7 33.h4 b3 34.f3 e6 35.a4 g6 36.g4 b4 37.e4 h5 38.gxh5 gxh5 39.f4 b3? [ This loses without too much resistance, whereas Black can fight on with 39...e7!? ] 40.xh5 h3 41.a5 a3 42.b5 h3 43.h5 a3 44.h6 h3 45.a6 h4+ 46.e3 xh6 47.a5 h8 48.a7 a8 49.d4 d7 50.d5 c7 51.a3 b7 52.xd6 d8+ 1184
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 27.cxb6 axb6 28.eb1 xa2 29.5b2 e6 30.xb6 d5 31.e5 [ 31.h4 is more circumspect. ] 31...xe5! Exciting, and sound. 32.fxe5 g6 1191 A29 33.xc6!? The alternative is [ 33.f3! when h3+ 34.g1 xe5 Schacher,Gerd 2246 is awkward, 35.f6! (to play Qh4) ( 35.g2 Maki Uuro,Miika 2390 g4 36.6b2 h3+ 37.h1 f2+ 20th ECC Izmir TUR (2) 04.10.2004 draws. ) 35...d7 36.b8 h7 37.xe8 [Tony Kosten] xe8 is not too clear, as 38.xd4?? a8 forces mate! ] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 34.f3 c2 35.b7 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.g5 xc3 8.bxc3 33...xc6+ e8 9.f3 e3 This is the sharp mainline since White counters the threats with an attack of the time of the Kasparov-Karpov matches. his own. f8 36.xd4 xd3 Menacing a deadly fork! 37.h3? I expect the quick FIDE 10.d3 d5 11.b3 a5 [ 11...d4!? is interesting: 12.c5?! e7 13.f4 time control must have been rearing its ugly h6 14.f3 xc5 and Black is doing well, head at this point! [ 37.g1 is forced. ] Bra une , S -Gymno pou lou s,K /Ma nnh eim 37...e1! Suddenly, Black wins. 38.f6 e4 1994. ] [ 38...xe2! is even stronger as 39.e6 h5+ 12.a3 c6 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.f4 g4 40.h4 f5+ 41.g4 f1+ 42.h4 g2+ 15.e1 h6 43.h3 f4+ 44.h4 g5+ captures the [ 15...c8!? was examined in Nimzo 7.32poor white king. ] Junior 6.0/Cadaques 2000. ] 16.f3 c6 17.b1 d7 18.b2 39.e6 g2+ 40.g4 xe2+ 41.f4 f3+ T h e t w o p l a y e r s t r o t o u t t h e t h e o r y i n 42.e5 xb7 0-1 impressive style, [ 18.d4 is t h e a l t e rn a t i ve , wh e n h3 Lautier,J-Illescas,M/Dos Hermanas 1995, A29 could be met by 19.e5!? xe5 20.dxe5 1192 xg2 21.xg2 g4 with unclear play. ] Schlosser,Philipp 2562 18...h3 19.c4 This is the point of White's Naumann,Alexander 2549 play, the threat of capturing on f6 allows him TCh-AUT 2006-7 (7) 21.01.2007 this flanking blow. xg2 A strong, if obvious, [Carsten Hansen] innovation. [ 19...h5!? is interesting: 20.cxd5 xg2 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 21.xg2 ( 21.dxc6? h3 22.cxb7 ab8 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 c6 is probably winning for Black, the threat is ... [ Note that 6...c5 7.0-0 0-0 8.a4 e7 Nxg3 ) 21...xd5 22.bc1 with chances to 9.d4 d6 10.g2 c6 11.c3 reaches the both sides, Biegler,M-Simons,J/St Ingbert same position as after Black's 9th move in 1998. ] our main game, but with the exception that 20.xg2 d4 Black retains his strong centre. Black is to move(!)... a5 12.d5 cxd5 21.c5 ad8 An interesting position, 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 c7 15.b3 b8 featuring an unusual central constellation. 16.e3 e6 17.d2 Gulko, BWhich will count for more, Black's extra space, Charbonneau, P/Montreal CAN 2006 ] or White's pressure on d4? 22.a1 g4!? [ 6...e7 7.g4!? A fun idea that is very much 23.b3 f2 A curious spot for a knight, but it in line with how W hite kicks some energy does hamper the white king to some extent. into otherwise solid systems in the English 24.h5 Played to stop ...Qh3+, although I am (and for that matter other openings too). d6 not too sure this was a big threat. b6 25.b5 8.g1 ( 8.e3 0-0 9.d4 is also fully The white pieces are creeping around the playable ) 8...h6 9.d4!? c6 10.e3 ( 10.d5 edges! b7 Rd5 was the threat. 26.c5 a6 cxd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.xd5 b8 53.e7 a8 54.d7 1-0
1185
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 because it represents very instructive play 13.d2 e6 14.d3 0-0 is fine for Black) by the Polish International Master, showing 10...d7 11.d5 c5 12.d2 ( Here White how to penetrate on the queenside, and can consider 12.d3!? , e.g. a6 13.a4 exploit such an advantage. g6 19.bxc5 g5 14.e4 with a better game for White, bxc5 20.f4 g7 21.b5 xb5 22.xb5 who has restrained most of Black's b8 23.a4 c7 24.f5 e7 25.fxg6 fxg6 potential counterplay and has according to 26.b3 xb5 27.cxb5 c7 28.c4 d8 plan good grip on the light squares.) 12...a6 29.xf8+ xf8 30.d2 d7 31.f1+ f7 13.c2 b5!? Before White gains too much 32.e2 e8 33.h3 f6 34.e6 c7 control over the position, Black decides a 35.c4 g7 36.a5 b8 37.g2 b7 Benko-style pawn sacrifice to gain some 38.f3 b8 39.g4 h6 40.h4 c7 41.g2 counterplay. 14.cxb5 axb5 15.xb5 a6 e8 42.d3 h5 43.g5 h7 44.f1 e7 16.c3 h4 17.e4 f6 18.g3 ( 18.b4! 45.b6 axb6 46.a6 b8 47.b5 a7 l o o k s l i k e t h e c r i t i c a l m o v e , e . g . xe4 48.c6 f8 49.h3 g8 50.e3 g7 19.xe4 f6 20.g2 0-0 21.bxc5 dxc5 51.f2 g8 52.e2 f7 53.d3 b5 22.a4!? c4 23.a3 and I doubt Black has 54.xb5 c4+ 55.xc4 xe3 56.xe3 enough compensation for his pawn, one a7+ 57.f3 g1 58.f1 d4 59.g3+ possible continuation being b7 24.g5 e7 60.f3 a1 61.f1 d7 62.b5 hxg5 25.f3 a6 26.xg5 xg5 27.xg5 d8 63.xd7 xd7 64.f7+ d8 xa4 28.h7+ h8 29.xa4 xa4 65.f6+ c7 66.e7+ b6 67.xd6+ 30.h5 ) 18...g6 19.b4 cxb4 20.c6+ e7 a7 68.f6 e1+ 69.f3 f1+ 70.e3 21.xb4 b8! 22.c3 f8 23.a5 e7! e1+ 71.d3 b1+ 72.c4 xe4+ 24.b4 f8 25.a3 g7 Now Black has full 73.c5 e3+ 74.d6 e4 75.e7 c5+ compensation for the pawn 26.d2 b6 76.d6 e3 77.e6 xa6 78.e8 c6+ 27.e3 hc8 28.d1 , and while the players 79.f7 b5 80.b3+ a5 81.a3+ b5 agreed upon a draw at this stage, 1/2-1/2 82.b2+ c4 83.c2+ b5 84.b3+ Romero Holmes, A-Nikolaidis, I, Mallorca a5 85.e6 f3+ 86.xg6 e2 87.d7 2004, but at this stage I actually prefer Black. d3+ 88.xh5 h7+ 89.g4 xd7 White's pieces are rather clumsily 90.xd7 e1 91.d5+ b6 92.g6 e2+ arranged whereas Black's are well93.g5 e7+ 94.h5 f6 95.g5 g7 coordinated and his position can rather 96.f5 d4 97.g5 e3+ 98.f4 g1+ easily be improved upon. ] 99.h6 1-0 Sznapik, A-Bernard, R/ 7.d4 d6 8.g2 e7 9.0-0 0-0 10.b3 Augustow 1975 ] [ 10.e4 b6 ( 10...c7!?; 10...exd4 [ 10...d7 11.b2 f5 12.d2 f6 13.ad1 11.xd4 g4 12.b3 e8 13.b2 f6 e8 14.b4 ( 14.dxe5!? dxe5 15.a4 e4 14.d2 ) 11.d5 d7 12.e2 ae8 16.c3 h5 17.f3 ) 14...h5 ( 14...f7!? ( 12...g4 13.e3 d4!? 14.h3 ) 13.e3 15.d5 d7 16.c5 fd8 ) 15.d5 d7 16.c5 c5 14.h3 h8 , so far Perkins, A-Bennett, ( 16.dxc6 bxc6 17.b5 e4 18.a3 g4 G / E a s t b o u r n e 1 9 7 3 , a n d n o w 15.ab1 19.h4 ) 16...dxc5 17.d6 d8 18.bxc5 ( 15.g4!? can also be considered) 15...a5 Poldauf, D-Beckemeier, W/Dortmund 1998 ] 16.a3 offers White the clearly better 11.e4 d7 chances ] [ 11...g4 12.f3 d7 13.e3 b8 14.c1 [ 10.d5 d7 11.dxc6 bxc6 12.g5 c7 d8 15.h3 b5 16.cxb5 cxb5 17.f4 c6 13.e4 xe4 14.xe7 fe8 15.xe4 18.d5 e8 19.fxe5 dxe5 20.g4 h6 xe7 16.d3 Herman-Vist/www.playchess. 21.e2 h7 22.g3 g5 23.xg5 hxg5 de 2002 ] 24.f5 b6+ , and a draw was prematurely 10...f5 agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Gheorghiu, F[ 10...b6 11.d5 c5 12.e4 e8 13.e3 Portisch, L/ Skopje 1972. White is clearly d8 14.d2 d7 15.a3 c8 16.d3 f6 better after 25.h2 ] 17.b4 b6 18.ab1 , and White is clearly [ 11...e6 12.b2 a5 13.d3 b6 14.a4 better, but I will nonetheless leave you with c7 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.c5 d7 17.c3 the rest of the game score of this game, 1186
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g4 18.f3 e6 19.fd1 Eckert, D-Schafer, N/ICCF Email 1999 ( 19.f4!?; 19.ad1!? )] 12.b2 c8 13.e2 c7 14.d2 fe8 15.h1 [ 15.ad1 ] 15...g4 16.f3 h5 The bishop doesn't look too pretty on h5 and can't do much for quite a while to come, but at least it isn't in the way of the other pieces... 17.ad1 a5 18.c3 ad8 19.c1 d7 20.a4 f6 21.d5 c5 [ This is a really ugly move, but the alternatives are pretty grim too. Therefore B la c k d e c id e s t a ke o n t h is u n p le a sa n t position, hoping to fend White off thanks to the closed nature of the pawn structure 21...c5 22.c3 is comfortably better for White, who has a space advantage, and has control over both wings and therefore can de c id e wh e re a n d whe n t h e a ct io n will commence. ] 22.xc5 dxc5 23.c3 [ White may also consider 23.g4 g6 24.f4 h6 25.cd1 although it is strikingly similar to the game if White at some point proceeds with f4-f5, sending the black bishop back to h7. ] 23...b6 24.f4 d6 25.ce1 h6 26.b2 g6 27.f3?! [ This allows Black to effectively seal off the queenside by advancing his b-pawn and possibly grab control over the a-file. Therefore it makes sense to examine the a l t e r n a t i ve s : 27.dxc6 xc6 ( 27...c7 28.f5 h7 29.d1 xc6 30.d5 c7 31.fd1 g6 32.g4 is clearly better for White, but Black's position is still solid, and may prove difficult to crack) 28.fxe5 g5 29.h4 e7 30.e6 xe6 31.xg7 ] [ 27.e2 d7 28.a4 h7 29.f5 will also lead to rather one-sided play where Black will be suffering, while W hite figures out wh e t h e r h e c a n b r e a k t h r o u g h o n t h e kingside or not. ] 27...b5! 28.e2 b4 29.b2 a4 30.f5 h7 31.h4 a8 32.c1 a5 33.e3 ea8 34.c1 axb3 35.axb3 a3 White still has the somewhat better chances, but Black is back in the game and can expect to have decent chances of a successful defence. 36.d3 e7 37.g2 f8! 38.f2 g8! Getting the bishop activated 39.b2 f6
40.h5 This may look a bit odd, why is White inviting the exchange of Black's tall pawn for a bishop which has more space to roam on? Evidently feeling that White will benefit more from the exchange on account of Black's weakened light squares than Black will from getting rid of this terrible piece, White decides it is the right way to go. Personally, I'm not entirely sure W hite is making the right decision as Black's bishop is unlikely to ever grab an active role in the game, whereas White's can be used to protect the b3-pawn, releasing the rook on b2 from its defensive duties thus allowing it to switch to the kingside where it can help g3-g4-g5 pawn break along. Which approach is more effective is an open question, but as it turns out in the game, W hite doesn't achieve much and from all appearances, he doesn't try much either, so maybe he had already internally settled for a draw, unless Black made a dumb, unprovoked blunder. f7 41.e2 xh5 42.xh5 a2 43.e2 xb2 44.xb2 a3 45.f3 [ Trying to get the queen out of the way first with 45.h3 doesn't necessarily produce b e t t e r p o s i t i o n s , e . g . cxd5 46.cxd5 ( 46.exd5 d7 is probably okay for Black) 46...a6 47.c4 a2 48.c1 a1 49.c2 a2 50.d1 a1 51.c1 xc1 52.xc1 h5! ( White has the upper hand if Black h e s i t a t e s i n h i s d e f e n c e , e . g . 52...d6 53.g4 followed by Kh5 and g3-g4-g5 when convenient) 53.e3 d6 54.g4 hxg4+ 55.g3 f7 56.h5 f8 57.h6 gxh6 58.xh6+ e7 59.e3 d7! , and Black is fine ] 45...cxd5 46.cxd5 [ The only truly interesting option, whereas, 46.exd5 e4+! 47.g2 d7 48.f1 d6 49.c2 e7 appears perfectly fine for Black ] 46...a6! 47.c2 [ This is the logical move, to put a cork in the weak diagonal a6-f1, where the Black queen along with a rook penetrating on a1 or a2 can cause a substantial amount of headaches. If White instead opts for 47.c4 then h5 followed by Ra2 can become annoying ] 47...a2 48.c4 [ This just terminates the game in a drawn 1187
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 endgame, although there is still some play left, though not the way the players continue. A n i n t e r e s t i n g a l t e r n a t i v e i s 48.d1!? but again after h5 49.g4 h2 50.a1 hxg4+ 51.xg4 e2+ 52.xe2 xe2 53.a8+ f7 54.f3 b2 55.a7 e8 , the game fizzles out in a draw ] 48...xc4 49.xc4 b2 50.xc5 xc5 51.xc5 xb3+ 52.f2 [ This leads to an immediate draw a little more play would be the result af ter the more enterprising 52.g4!? e3 53.d6 ( 53.b5? xe4+ 54.h5 e7 55.b7+ d6 56.xg7 b3 57.b7 e3 58.g4 e4 looks like White will lose) 53...e8 ( Or 53...xe4+ 54.h5 d4 55.c8+ f7 56.c7+ f8= with a draw by perpetual) 54.c7 xe4+ 55.h5 b3 56.b7 d4 57.xb3 xd6 58.g6 d7 59.g4 ( 59.b8+ d8 60.b7 d7 61.b8+ i s a d r a w b y r e p e t i t i o n) 59...d8 ( 59...e7?? 60.b8+ d7 61.b7+ d6 62.xe7 xe7 63.xg7 e4 64.g5 hxg5 65.hxg5 d7 66.gxf6 e3 67.f7 e2 68.f8 e1 69.g8 , and White wins due to Black's king being too close to White's pawn, and therefore Black will not be able to check his way to a draw, as his king will usually be the subject of a counter-check.) 60.e3 e7 61.a3 e4 62.a8+ d7 63.a7+ d6 64.xe7 xe7 65.xg7 e3 66.g5 hxg5 67.hxg5 fxg5 68.f6+ d7 69.f7 e2 70.f8 e1 71.f5+ e6 72.xg5= ] 52...b2+ 53.e3 b3+ 54.f2 b2+ 55.e3 ½-½
to use the d4-square. Oddly, the greatest specialist with this line as White is Gulko, who has the black pieces in this game. [ 9.g5 is still possible, of course, but offers White little after exd3 10.exd3 h6 11.e4 b6 ] 9...exd3 10.exd3 xd4 11.cxd4 White's bpawn has made its way to d4, where it could become very useful, despite being doubled. h6 Stopping White from playing an annoying Bg5. Black has to be careful, as for instance should he play [ 11...d6?! he will have problems, viz. 12.b1! b8 13.a4! Uhlmann,WKrasenkov,M/Germany 1992, as now, if a6 then 14.g5 ] [ 11...d5 is better, i.e. 12.g5 c6! 13.cxd5?! cxd5 14.b3 b6 15.xf6 xf6 16.xd5 a6 and black is close to equalizing, Gulko, B-Huebner,R/San Francisco 1995. ] 12.d5 A new idea, on the plus side White gains more space in the centre, and opens th e a 1 -h 8 d ia go n a l f o r h is d a rk-s qu a re d bish op. Howeve r, h e a lso clo ses the g2 bishop's diagonal. [ 12.f4 had been tried previously, d5 13.b3 ( 13.b1 c6 14.e5 d7 is level, Uhlmann,W -Georgadze,T/Decin 1977. ) 13...c6 14.fe1 with a slight edge to White, Azmayparashvili,Z-Martin,B/ Sydney 1990. ] 12...d6 13.b2 d7 14.e1 h7 15.d2 b6 Black is a little cramped, but has a very solid structure, which makes it difficult for White to envisage a breakthrough. 16.e3!? This doesn't seem to achieve much, perhaps [ 16.xe8+ xe8 17.e1 would be better. ] 16...xe3 17.fxe3 White has another central 1193 A29 pawn, but it is not especially helpful. g5 Seirawan,Yasser 2653 18.f2 f5 Both gaining some space on the Gulko,Boris F 2618 kingside, and restricting the e3-pawn. 19.f1 20.h3?! This leads nowhere. h5 ch-Semi-Finals playoff g/25 (1) 06.09.1999 f8 21.g2 White is obliged to repeat position, [Tony Kosten] [ 21.g2?? would be a horrible mistake: g5 ] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 21...f6 An interesting decision, rather than 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 xc3 A solid alternative to [ 6...e4 , which has the merit of avoiding the repeat moves, hoping for a draw by repetition, Black prefers to improve his position. 22.h3 sharper lines based on White playing f3. ] 7.bxc3 e8 8.d3 e4 Black plays this only g6 23.h2 h5 24.f3 g6 25.d4 f7 after White has played d3. 9.d4 As Black 26.a3 Neither side can profitably improve their has already captured on c3, this allows White 1188
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 position. ½-½
1194 Seirawan,Yasser Werle,Jan TCh-NED Netherlands NED (7.3) [Nigel Davies]
A29 2638 2574 12.03.2011
1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f6 4.g3 g6 5.d4 exd4 6.xd4 g7 7.xc6 bxc6 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 e7 10.f4 Simple chess, just latching onto the pawn on c7 and inviting Black to get in the way of his own pieces (i.e. the ...Qe7-b4 possibility) with 10...d6. Werle goes for counterplay instead, and rightly so. [ 10.c2 b4 11.b3 d5 12.cxd5 f5 13.d2 cxd5 14.b2 e4 ( 14...c6! would have been better when it's not that easy for White to neutralise Black's active pieces ) 15.xe4 dxe4 16.fd1 e6 17.a4 xd2 18.xd2 xb2 19.xb2 and White had a comfortable endgame edge in King, D-Duncan, C/London 1994. ] 10...b4 [ This looks like the most natural but there were some other interesting possibilities here such as 10...e8 ] [ and 10...e6 . ] 11.b3! Attempting to snuff out Black's counterplay with a queen exchange. [ An earlier game between lower rated players had gone 11.d2 a6 ( 11...xc4 12.xc7 d5 13.ac1 g4 would have left Black very active.) 12.xc7 fe8 13.fd1 xc4 14.ac1 d5? 15.xd5! winning a pawn in Donnenfeld, P-Thiriet, B/Montpellier 1991. ] 11...a5 12.xc7 a6 13.fd1 xc4 14.c2 d5 15.e5 fe8 16.d4 a4 [ And not 16...c5 because of 17.xf6 xf6 18.xd5 xd5 19.xd5 xb2 20.c4 . The text makes it difficult for W hite because his queenside is so cramped. ] 17.e3 eb8 18.xa4 Freeing himself but allowing Black to liquidate his pawn weaknesses. [ A n i n t r igu in g a l t e r n a t ive wa s 18.b1!? , protecting the b2 pawn and preparing to bring the knight to a3 from where it can
harass the bishop on c4. It actually looks a b i t b e t t e r f o r W h i t e , f o r e x a m p l e e4 ( 18...c5 19.c3 b6 20.a3 is just good for White ) 19.xg7 xg7 20.a3 xb2? l o s e s a p i e c e a f t e r 21.xb2+ xb2 22.xc4 . I guess that Seirawan would have considered 18.Nb1 but decided that the text was even stronger. ] 18...xa4 19.b3 xa2! 20.xa2 xb3 21.d2! Sacrificing a pawn to transpose into an endgame in which Black is quite precariously placed. [ 21.a6 would have led to a draw after xd1 22.xd1 b7 23.xb7 xb7 24.c1 e4 25.xg7 xg7 26.xe4 dxe4 27.xc6 etc. ] 21...xd1 22.xb4 xb4 23.a8+! f8 24.xf6 b1 Perhaps not sensing the danger. [ Black should have tried to eject White's rook from the 8th rank with all haste, for e x a m p l e v i a 24...b7 intending ...Bg4, ... Rc7-Rc8. ] 25.h3 f3+ 26.h2 xg2 27.xg2 With the light square bishops off the board Black is unable to drive White's rook away so his kingside remains hamstrung. b7 28.d8 c5 29.g4 c7 30.h4 h6 31.g5 hxg5 32.hxg5 b7 [ Black's c-pawn isn't going to get very far, for example 32...c4 33.c3 b7 34.f3 b3 35.f6 b7 36.c8 etc. ] 33.f3 c4 34.e2 c7 35.d2 b7 36.c2 a7 37.c1 b7 38.c8 a7 39.b2 b7+ 40.c3 a7 41.d4 d7 42.f4 It's zugzwang, and Black will still be helpless after shedding all his pawns. 1-0
1195 Socko,Bartosz Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar ETCC (Open) Warsaw POL (3.17) [Fier, Alexandr]
A29 2661 2757 10.11.2013
In this game Mamedyarov shows the danger of this kind of Reversed Sicilian for W hite. Af te r on e or t wo imp re cise m oves W hit e already needs to be caref ul, since ...Nf 4 themes are always in the air. Probably 17.a4 was not so good 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 1189
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.d3 d4 This move is basically new on Chess Publishing. Black has two main alternatives here: [ 10...a5 11.b5 d4 was analyzed for Chess Pub in Granda Zun iga, J (2 640)Georgiev, K (2672)/XIX Magistral 2009. ] [ 10...f6 is the most played move and analyzed in several games, such as Anand, V (2787)-Topalov, V (2805)/W CHM 2010 Sofia 2010. ] 11.xd4 [ 11.xe5 is almost never played, and for a good reason: f6 12.f4 b3 and 13... Qd4+ is a deadly threat, 13.b2 xa1 14.xa1 xe5 15.fxe5 c6 with advantage to Black. ] [ 11.b1 xf3+ ( 11...f6 is often played and tra ns po ses t o 10. .. f 6 .) 12.xf3 c6 was Movsesian, S (2698)-Zilka, S (2513)/ Hustopece op rapid 2012. ] [ 11.b2 is the main line, xf3+ 12.xf3 c6 13.e4 and this position has been played by dozens of 2700+ players for both sides, one of the most important games in this variation is Kasparov, G (2760)-Salov, V (2595)/ URSch55 Moscow 1988. ] 11...exd4 This exchange of the knights is thematic in different variations of the English a n d a f t e r it t h e st ru ct u re is m o re st a t ic , compared with the lines with Nd2, or Bb2 for example. W hite has some goals on the queenside, c-file and light squares. Black needs to create enough counterplay in the center and on the kingside. In this game, the counterplay proved to be too dangerous. 12.e4 d5 Neutralizing White's bishop and preparing to exchange it. 13.b2 f5 14.d2 xg2 15.xg2 f6 [ 15...d5+ i s a l s o p l a y e d , 16.g1 is suggested by Krasenkow and after a5 17.b3 transposes to Popov, V (2592)Matlakov, M (2604)/St Petersburg-ch 83rd 2010. f6 18.fc1 c6 without the queens White has more chances to be successful with his queenside play. 15...Bf6 is more to the point. ] 16.f3 A novelty, but not necessarily a good one. [ 16.b3+ was played before and reaches
the same kind of position as in the game, h8 17.ac1 a5 18.c5 enters Sunye Neto, J (2465)-Huebner, R (2585)/Manila Interzonal 1990 by transposition. ] 16...d7 17.a4 This move is not good in my opinion. White has no time to bring his pieces to the queenside and expand with a4 b5. Right now it doesn't look like Black has a dangerous attack, but after 3 more moves the position is already scary. [ I think 17.b3+ is a better way to play the position: h8 18.ac1 f4 again this plan is supposed to be the most dangerous, 19.c5 th is ma no e uvre is im p orta n t, ma kin g it difficult to bring Black's knight into the game, ae8 20.e1 c6 and now White can create some counterplay on the queenside with 21.b5 and a complicated position. ] 17...f4! Starting to open the files. 18.b3+ h8 19.d2?! Mixing plans, after this move the position is already better for Black. [ 19.b5 is more consistent but Black will probably have draw at his disposal in most of the lines, d5 A) 20.ac1 is another line that shows the danger of White's position ae8 21.c2 fxg3 22.hxg3 f4+! 23.gxf4 g4+ 24.h1 e5! and the attack is lethal, 25.d5 ( 25.g1 h3+ 26.h2 xf4 27.g2 xh2 28.xh2 f1#; 25.fxe5 xf3 26.exf3 h3+ 27.g1 xe5 28.f4 g4+ wi t h m a t e .) 25...xf4 26.xe5 ( 26.h2 h5 27.g2 g4 ) 26...h5+ 27.g1 xe5 28.d8+ e8 and White needs to give the queen.; B) 20.c4 ae8 21.fe1 ( 21.ae1 fxg3 22.hxg3 f4+ 23.gxf4 g4+ 24.h1 e5 25.fxe5 xf3 26.exf3 h5+ with a perpetual.) 21...fxg3 22.hxg3 f4+ 23.gxf4 g4+ 24.h1 e5!? 25.fxe5 ( 25.h2 h5 26.d5 e5 27.xe5 xh2+ 28.xh2 h4+ is also drawn.) 25...h5+ 26.g2 g4+ with a perpetual. ] 19...d5 20.e4 e5 21.c5 c6 With almost all of his pieces on the queenside, it's hard for White to resist the attack. 22.g1 [ 22.e4 going back with the knight doesn't help much, fxg3 23.hxg3 e6 passing the queen to the kingside and threatening a d i s c o v e r e d c h e c k 24.a2 ( 24.c4 1190
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg3-+; 24.c2 xg3-+ ) 24...xg3 25.fxg3 e3+ 26.g1 xf1+ 27.xf1 xa2 ] 22...fxg3 23.hxg3 f4! And the position is already lost. 24.e4 [ 24.gxf4 g6+ 25.h1 xf4 with mate. ] 24...xe2+ 25.g2 g6 Black is attacking and even has a pawn plus. 26.ae1 h5 27.f4 xf4+! 28.gxf4 xf4 29.g3 g5 [ 29...xg3 30.xg3 g5+ 31.h3 f5 32.xf5 xf5+ 33.g2 g4+ 34.h2 h4+ also wins. ] 30.xf4 xf4 31.e2 f3+ 32.h2 f4 33.g2 h4+ 34.g1 e3+ 0-1
1196 Soza,Jose Divanbaigyzand,Mehran Friendship 2003 [Soza, JW]
A29 2505 2419 28.06.2003
Jose Soza writes: "I'm a new subscriber, just today. I would like to ask some questions in English opening, especially A29 which I like to play with White and Black." 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 0-0 9.a3 e8 10.b4 f8 11.b2 [ 11.b1!? "may have been better, preparing Nd2 if Black plays ...Nd4, and planning Ne4 with Be3 aiming at c5." JW: As featured in this column. Refer to ChessPub and the archives. ] 11...a5 12.b5 d4 13.d2 c6 14.bxc6 xc6 15.b1 [ JW: 15.c1 e6 16.ce4 looks a little better and about equal. ] 15...a4 16.b5 e6 17.e3 d7 18.e2 [ J Soza: 18.d4 a5 19.c3 b3 20.xb3 [JW:] axb3! ] [ 18.c4 xc4 ( 18...xc4 19.dxc4 xd1 20.fxd1 xc4 ) 19.dxc4 ed8 20.xd7 ( 20.d5 ) 20...xd7 21.d5 a5 ] 18...ed8 [ J Soza: 18...g4 19.f3 f5 20.e4 [JW: a5 ] [ 18...ad8 19.d4 ( 19.c4 xc4 20.dxc4 a5 21.fd1 xc4 22.xd7 xe2 23.xd8 xd8-+ ) 19...a2 ( 19...f5 20.be1 c8 21.d5 xd5 22.e4 g4
23.f3 c7 24.fxg4 xb5 25.xb5 xd2 26.xb7 e7 27.c1 c2 28.h1 ) 20.a1 d5 21.e4 xd4 22.xd4 exd4 ] 19.d4 a2 [ JW: 19...a5 ] 20.a1 e6 21.fd1 a5 22.d5 g4!? [ JW: 22...xd5 seems to work despite the pin. ] 23.f3 h5 24.xe5 xd5 25.ab1 [ JW: 25.c3 might keep White alive, although seriously worse. ] 25...e6 26.d4 c6 27.e1 h6 [ jw: 27...xd4! 28.exd4 xe2 29.xe2 ac8 ] 28.c4 xd4 29.exd4 a6 in a 20 moves more game finish in favour of black. 0-1
1197 Soza,Jose Muzyka ICCF Champions League [Soza, JW]
A29 2463 2487 01.12.2004
Another Reversed Dragon from Mr. Soza. Again I'll make only cursory comments and let his notes speak for themselves. I don't think that White's 12th move gives any chances for advantage. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 d4 12.xd4 [ J Soza: 12.e4 ] [ JW: The move analysed in this column has consistently been 12.d2 . This gam e and qu i t e a f e w o t h e r s s u gg e s t t h a t W h i t e should probably go that route. ] 12...exd4 13.e4 d5 14.b2 f5 15.d2 f6 16.xd5+ xd5 17.c1 c6! Here for me is not clear how white must play [ 17...f7 18.c5 e6 19.f3 Tim m a n. JW : Ma yb e , b u t W h it e h a s t o b r e a k d o w n a s i m p l e d e f e n c e l i k e d8 and ...c6, perhaps with ...f4 to follow. ] 18.b3 [ JW: How about 18.c5 e6 19.f3 ad8 20.e1 ? After Qc2, White can seriously contemplate e3 or e4. ] 18...a5 19.a1 xb3 20.xb3 axb4 21.axb4 fd8 22.e3 1191
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ J Soza: 22.c5 a7 23.e3 ( 23.e4 fxe4 24.xe4 a3 25.fe1 d5 ) 23...f7 ( 23...d5 24.b5 c3 25.xc3 dxc3 26.b6 a2 27.d4 c2 28.xb7 b8 29.d6 xb6 30.xf5 bb2 31.g2 f7 32.d6+ e6 33.e4 e7 34.f4 b3 35.f3 a3 36.c5+ )] 22...dxe3 [ J Soza: 22...d5 23.xd4 xd4 24.xd4 xb4 25.b1 a4 26.e6 d5 27.d4 b6 28.a1 xa1 29.xa1 f7 30.g5+ g6 31.b1= ( 31.f3= )] 23.xf6 gxf6 [ 23...exf2+ 24.xf2 gxf6 25.c5 a7 26.xf5 d5 27.b5 cxb5 28.e6 d6 29.d4 e7 ( 29...a5 30.h5 e3 31.h4 ) 30.xb5 ( 30.f4 d5 31.c7 g6 32.c8+ f7 33.c7+ e8 34.e4+ e5 35.e6 ) 30...xf5 31.xa7 xd3 32.c8+ g7 33.c7+ g6 34.xb7 d2 35.c6 h5 36.e7+ xe7 37.xe7 f5 38.h3= ] 24.fxe3 xd3 [ 24...d5 25.xf5 xb4 26.d4 a3 27.c5 xe3 28.xb7 xd4 29.xf6 d2 30.f2 xf2 31.xf2 b3 32.c4 d3+ 33.e2= ] 25.c5 d2 jw: It certainly looked as though Black was a bit better throughout. It seems that the pawn on d4 has a lot of cramping influence and is never weak.
offers reasonable chances to Black. ] 13...xf3+ 14.xf3 a4 Played to weaken White's control over b3, and before he has time to defend his b5-pawn with a4 himself. 15.c2 With the white bishop pointing at the b7-pawn, Black must find a way to develop his queen's bishop. f5 [ A novelty, Black attacks d3, otherwise 15...h3 i s p o s s i b l e , w h e n 16.fc1 ( the positional exchange sac 16.xb7!? xf1 17.xf1 a7 18.c6 is worthy of consideratio n) 16...a7 17.e4 a5! restricted White's advantage, Spraggett,KHartman,B/Canada 1992. ] 16.fd1 a7 Ugly, but b7 and a4 needed defence. 17.e4 e6?! [ Black is relying on the menace of ...Bb3, but 17...d7 is safer. ] 18.d4!! b3 [ Black is obliged to play the complications, as 18...g6 19.dxe5 wins a good pawn. ] 19.xh7+ h8 20.f5 g6 [ 20...xd1 21.xd1 f6 22.h5 leaves Black in all sorts of trouble, e.g. d6 23.e4 h6 24.xf7! f8 25.xd6 and Black suffers from not being able to use his queen's rook. ] 21.h3 c8 [ Now 21...xd1?? is completely impossible, 22.xg6+ g7 23.h7+ f6 24.e4+ e7 25.xf7# ] 22.g4 g7 Trapping the white bishop, but now the weakness of the a1-h8 diagonal tells. 1198 A29 23.e4 c4 [ 23...xd1 24.xd1 c4 fails to 25.dxe5! Sturua,Zurab 2594 and if xb2? there is the surprising shot: Xu Jun 2668 26.g8! xg8 27.f6+ g7 28.h7# ] 34th Olympiad (9) 06.11.2000 24.c3 d6? [Tony Kosten] [ L o s i n g o n t h e s p o t , b e t t e r 24...xd1 although 25.xd1 d8 26.h4 maintains 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 the threats. ] 5.c3 b6 6.d3 e7 7.f3 c6 8.0-0 0-0 25.f6?! 9.a3 e8 [ M i s s i n g t h e p r e t t y 25.g8!! xe4 [ A good plan, Black intends to support his ( 25...xg8 26.f6+ g7 27.dxe5 e5-pawn by playing ...Bf8, when ...Nd4 will is immediately decisive) 26.h7+ f6 become feasible. The main alternative plan 27.dxe5+ e7 28.b4+ d6 29.exd6+ involves 9...e6 and was seen in the winning. ] archives. ] 25...xb5 10.b4 f8 11.b2 a5 12.b5 d4 13.e3 [ 25...xd1?! 26.dxe5 wins. ] [ Quite common nowadays before White o f t e n p l a y e d 13.d2 so as to chase the 26.b2 xf6? [ 26...xd1 appears less clear, e.g. 27.dxe5 knight with e3, but then c6 14.bxc6 xc6 1192
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 27.xd1 d8 ) 27...xa3 provides the f8square for the king's escape. ] 27.dxe5+ e6 [ 27...g7 28.e6+ f6 29.xg6! leads to mate. ] 28.g5+ e7 29.e6! Freeing the a1-h8 diagonal, Bf6+ is unstoppable. fxe6 30.f6+ [ 30.f6+ f7 31.g8+! xg8 32.h8+ f7 33.h7+ g7 34.xg7# ] 1-0
1200 Sunye Neto,Jaime Morovic Fernandez,Ivan Buenos Aires (13) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2470 2535 1990
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 a5 8.0-0 [ 8.a3 c5 9.d3 0-0 ( 9...c6 10.0-0 0-0 11.d2 e8 12.ab1 d6 13.g2 c7 14.g5 d7 15.c2 f8 16.b4 d4 17.d2 is fairly even, although I slightly 1199 A29 prefer W hite's chances, W .Uhlmann-R. Greger, Valby 1991) 10.0-0 e8 11.g2 Suba,Mihai M.Illescas Cordoba-A.Chernin, Groningen Garcia,S 1993, and here Illescas gives d6 12.g5 h6 2001 Malaga 2001 13.xf6 xf6 14.e4 e7 15.xc5 [Paul Motwani] dxc5= , which I might add looks quite comfortable for Black ] W39: "Unlucky 13!" The curious thing about Black's blunder at move 13 in the following 8...0-0 [ 8...c6!? 9.d3 0-0 10.a3 xc3 11.xc3 very recent game is that it has all happened e8 12.b3 d5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.c2 c7 before...to numerous other players! Would you 15.b2 b5 is quite comfortable for Black, bet on this being the final time?! 1.c4 e5 2.g3 D.Poldauf-L.B.Hansen, Budapest 1989 ] f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 [ 5...xc3 6.bxc3 gives White a nice cluster 9.d3 [ 9.d4!? exd4 10.b5 d6!? ( 10...d5 of pawns near the centre, and possibilities 11.f4 c6 12.xd4 dxc4 13.xc4 g4 to increase the pressure towards b7 by 14.xg4 xg4 15.a3 e7 16.e6 fxe6 playing Rb1 soon. ] 17.xe6+ h8 18.ad1 e8 19.xg4 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 A. Adorjan-B.Toth, Biel 1983) 11.xd4 e8 10.b1 12.d1 e4 13.e3 e7 14.d3 d7= [ 10.b5 d4 11.xe5?? would be a horrific 15.c2 c6 16.xb4 axb4 17.a3 bxa3 blunder because of b3 ] 18.xa3 xa3 19.xa3 h6 20.b4 b5 10...f6 11.d3 a5 12.b5 d4 13.d2 21.d3 d7 22.c5 d5 , and here a draw d5?? Diagram W39D1 was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in B. Zueger-D. [ 13...d5!? merits attention, although it Campora, Swiss Team Ch 1995, but at this m i g h t l o o k s t r a n g e t o a l l o w 14.xd5 point White has the better chances ] , because after xd5 Black threatens ...Nc3. [ 9.d1 d6 10.d4 exd4 11.xd4 A possible further continuation is 15.b2 W.Uhlmann-B.Gelfand, Debrecen 1989 c5 a4 ( but not 15...xb5?? because of 12.d1 a7 13.g5 h6 14.xf6 xf6 16.b3 c6 17.e4 a4 18.a2 which would is given as equal by Gelf an d, but I still cost Black his pinned d5-knight )] prefer White after 15.d5 d8 16.c3 ] 14.xd5! xd5 15.e3! Black resigned, realising too late here that when his knight 9...d6 [ 9...h6 10.a4 ( 10.e3 xc3 11.xc3 retreats, White wins material after 16 e4. d6 12.c5 e8 13.cxd6 xd6 14.fd1 c6 1-0 15.c5 c7 16.b3 g4 17.xg4 xg4 18.e4 f6 19.f3 h7 20.d4 D.BronsteinL . P o l u g a e v s k y , P e t r o p o l i s I Z T 1 9 7 3) 10...e8 11.e3 f8 12.c5 d5 13.cxd6 xd6 14.fc1 e4 15.dxe4 xe4 16.d1 J.Smejkal-L.Bronstein, Rio de Janeiro IZT 1193
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1979 ] [ 9...e8 10.a4 ( 10.g5 xc3 11.bxc3 h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.c5 B. Lalic-Ristic, Metz 1995 ) 10...f8 11.g5 h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.c5 b8 14.fc1 c6 15.c3 ( 15.b6 d5 16.cxd6 xd6 17.xc8 exc8 18.a3 ) 15...d8 ( 15...d5!? ) 16.a3 d5 17.e4 h3 18.b6 f6 19.g2 xg2 20.xg2 bd8 21.e1 dxe4 22.xe4 e7 23.b4 R.Vaganian-M.Tseitlin, Telavi 1982 ] 10.g5!? [ 10.a4 d7 11.d1 c5 12.xc5 xc5 13.d4 e6 14.e3 f6 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.a4 d4 17.xd4 exd4= S.MakarichevV.Eingorn, Moscow 1989 ] 10...xc3 11.xc3 h6 12.d2 e8 13.g2 e4 14.e3 c5 15.d4 e7 16.ad1 f5 17.d2 b6 18.fd1 [ 18.h3 (intending g4 and Bf4 with a slightly better game for White - Sunye Neto) ad8 19.fd1 ] 18...g4 19.dxc5 dxc5 20.f4 g5 21.d6 e6 22.e3 ad8 23.b3 f6 24.c7 d3 25.xd3 exd3 26.xb6 xb6 27.xb6 d7 28.xa5 e5 29.c3 xc4 30.e4 xe4 31.xe4 xe4 32.xd3 e2 33.b3 a3 34.d2 e8 35.b2 b5 36.c2 c8 37.e5 a3 38.c1 b5 39.a4 a7 1-0
1201 Svidler,Peter Carlsen,Magnus Tal Memorial Blitz blitz (26) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2738 2775 30.08.2008
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.0-0 0-0 9.d3 h6 10.g2 c6 11.d2 e8 12.h3 [ 12.ac1 was discussed in last month's update in the main game Aronian, L-Svidler, P /Sochi 2008 ] [ Another move is 12.ad1 as in Popov, VS a r g i s s i a n , G / M o s c o w 2 0 0 7 , wh i c h i s c o v e re d i n t h e n o t e s t o L a u t ie r-S e b a g (details below) ] 12...b8 [ Here the game deviates from existing t h e o r y , w h i c h p r o c e e d e d w i t h 12...b6 as in Stefansson, H-Vallejo Pons, F/Havana
2001, which is discussed in the notes to Lautier-Sebag, Montpellier 2007 (see the PGN archives). For further references on the 4...Nd4 line, please see the August and September 2007 updates. 13.ad1 ] 13.ac1 a6 14.a4 a7 15.c5 d6 16.cxd6 xd6 Thus far Black has every reason to be satisfied with the outcome of the opening Black's p ie ces a re we ll place d an d wellcoordinated, only the bishop on c8 remains to be developed. 17.b4 c7 18.a3 d8 [ 18...a8 19.d6 d8 leads to the game continuation. ] 19.d6 a8 20.c5 xc5!? [ 20...e6!? 21.b4 d7 is another option, also leading to approximately equal chances. ] 21.xc5 a5 22.b4 a7 [ The alternative is 22...d5 , and now the sharp 23.b5!? leads to unclear complications after b6 24.a4 cxb5 25.xd5 xh3 26.c6 xf1 27.xe8 bxa4 28.xf7+ xf7 29.xf1 d7 , and the situation isn't entirely resolved, but I imagine the chances are about even, although Black's king seems more exposed than his white counterpart. ] 23.b3 a4 24.a5 e6 25.fd1 d5?! [ I'm not too sure about this move as it appears to hand White a couple of tempo and with that the initiative. A good alternative is 25...d7 26.h2 e7 27.c4 aa8 28.e4 ( 28.xe5?! xa2 ) 28...c7 with a position not unlike that in the game, but without the initiative to White. ] 26.e4 e6 27.c4 d4!? 28.d2 d6 [ 28...d7 29.h2 aa8 30.f3 d6 ( 30...c7 31.b5 ) 31.d4 xe4 32.dxe5 c7 33.e3 f5 34.a3 ] 29.f3 c7?! [ Black has to play accurately at this juncture and the text move isn't the most accurate. T h e c o r r e c t c o n t i n u a t i o n i s 29...aa8! , a n d a f t e r 30.d4 xe4 31.dxe5 , B l a c k h a s t o p l a y b8! 32.d4! ( White gains less from 32.e3 d5 33.b5 f6 34.bxc6 bxc6= ) 32...xe5?! ( This is inaccurate, instead Black should play 32...d5! 33.f4 f6 34.e6 f5 35.xf5 xe6 36.e1 d8 37.e3 ) 33.f4 d5 34.e3 ( 34.xc6? xa2 ) 34...xh3 1194
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 35.xh3 g5 36.g2 xe3 37.xd5 cxd5 38.fxg5 xg3+ 39.f2 xg5 40.c7 b6 41.a3 , and White has excellent winning chances. This line is obviously too long, and there are undoubtedly flaws in several spots along the way. ] 30.d4 exd4 [ 30...xe4 31.e3 d5 32.dxe5 ] 31.xd4 b6 [ 31...e7 32.xe6 xe6 33.d4 aa8 34.cd1 e7 35.f4 ] 32.e5 d5 33.xe6 [ W hite has a strong alternative in 33.b5! with the idea of cxb5 34.c5! , and all of a sudden, Black's position is rather loose, e.g. xc5 35.xc5 b4 36.xe6 fxe6 37.d2 c6 38.xb5 with an endgame that is much better for W hite both thanks to W hite's superior pieces and Black's miserable pawn of which several are placed on the colour of White's bishop. ] 33...fxe6 34.c4 [ 34.d3 f8 35.d4 xd4 36.xd4 d8 37.f4 aa8 38.cd1 ] 34...f8 35.d2 [ 35.dd4 aa8 36.d3 leaves White with a solid edge ] 35...aa8 [ Or 35...f5 36.e4! g5 ( 36...xe5 37.e2 c7 38.f4 ) 37.h4 xe5 38.b2 c7 39.f4 b6 40.xc6 bxc6 41.xe5 xe5 42.fxe5 d7 43.d6 ] 36.d3 [ White doesn't gain anything from 36.b2 a3 37.c2 f5 38.e4 af8 39.cd4 c3 40.e3 d5= ] [ But 36.e4!? on the other hand leaves W hite with the better chances, e.g. c7 37.f4 ] 36...ad8?? [ A terrible move that hands White the win. Black can still defend with 36...f5! 37.e4 ( 37.g4? xe5 38.e4 xe4 39.xe4 xb4 40.xe6+ h8 41.d1 a3 ) 37...af8 38.cd4 c3 39.e3 d5 40.e4= with a repetition of moves. ] 37.g6 f4 [ A rather desperate move, but other moves allow White to continue the penetration of the weak light squares on the kingside. 37...de8 38.e4+- ]
[ 37...fe8 38.e4 c7 39.h7+ f8 40.g6 xe5 41.e4+- ] 38.xf4 xf4 39.xd8+ [ Strictly speaking, 39.gxf4 is more accurate, e.g. xd2 40.e8+ h7 41.e4+ and mate follows shortly, but the text move gets the job done. ] 39...xd8 40.gxf4 d1+ 41.h2 d4 42.xe6+ f8 43.d6+ 1-0
1202 Timman,Jan H Bareev,Evgeny Corus Wijk aan Zee NED (6) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2605 2707 19.01.2002
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 c5 5.g2 [ T h e i m m e d i a t e 5.xe5 was seen in Ivanchuk,V-Anand,V and Poldauf,D-Timman, J. ] 5...0-0 6.xe5!? [ The normal 6.d3 was Gulko,B-Cramling,P, but W hite wishes to punish Black for his 'omission' of ...d6. ] 6...xf2+ 7.xf2 xe5 8.b3 By defending the c-pawn like this White prepares to drive the knight from the centre by d4. [ The 8.d3 of Vidarte Morales,A-Ater,G/Vila de Salou 1995, is also possible, but less incisive. ] 8...e8 Black continues his development. [ 8...fg4+?! 9.g1 f6 10.f1 b6+ 11.e3 leads nowhere, Vettel,M-Schneider,B/ Germany 1989/GER-chT2. ] 9.f1 White brings his king to safety, when he can hope to exploit his centre, and bishop pair. d5!? Bareev's sharp innovation, [ 9...c6 10.g1 h6 11.d4 g6 12.e4 wa s cl e a rl y ve ry p le a s a n t f o r W h it e i n Conquest,S-Loginov,V/Budapest 1996. ] 10.d4!? White declines the pawn, which is possibly the wisest choice. [ W h a t d i d B a r e e v i n t e n d a f t e r 10.cxd5 , perhaps c6 11.dxc6 b6+ 12.e3 d3+ 13.g1 bxc6 with good light-squared control for the pawn sacrificed. ] 10...eg4+ 11.g1 dxc4 12.bxc4 e3 B l a c k re g a i n s t h e d a rk - sq u a re d b is h o p . 1195
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.xe3 xe3 14.d2 e8 15.ad1 White suddenly finds himself with the better development, if he can get his centre going he will be well on top. c6 16.f4!? [ The direct 16.e4! looks best, g4 17.de1 c5 18.d5 and Black is under real pressure, e.g. cxd4?! 19.xf6! ( 19.xd4 i s a l s o p r o m i s i n g) 19...gxf6 20.f4 with a winning attack. ] 16...g4 17.f2 h5 Intending ...Bg6, to control e4, but also defending the f7-pawn. 18.d5 cxd5 19.xd5 At the cost of his pawn structure White has obtained a very dynamic position. g4! If Black hadn't had the foresight to defend f7, this manoeuvre would be impossible. 20.ff1!? [ Perhaps White should take the offered queen: 20.e3 xe3! ( 20...c8?! 21.xg4 xg4 22.xg4 xg4 23.xb7 wins a pawn for nothing) 21.xd8 axd8 22.h3 Black has a compact position, and is unlikely to lose. ] 20...e5 21.c1?! Menacing the black queen, again. xe2! [ A strong queen sac, although the a l t e r n a t i v e 21...a5 22.f4 g4 is also pleasant for Black. ] 22.f6+ gxf6 23.xd8 axd8 24.xb7 g7 25.d5 [ 25.c5!? is a good alternative: 'passed pawns must be pushed'! ] 25...xf1 26.xf1 b8 White's first and second ranks are both weak which means that Black will always enjoy plenty of tactica l possibilities. 27.f2? [ 27.f5 b2 28.e4 keeps the game alive, although after g6 Black is better. ] 27...d3! 28.xa7 e1+ 29.g2 b2+ 30.h3 e5 Winning, there is no defence to the threat of ... Ree2. 31.g4 ee2 32.g3 xa2 33.c5 ad2 ...Rd3+ leads to mate. 0-1
1203 Timman,Jan H Hector,Jonny 13th Sigeman & Co (3) [John Watson]
A29 2607 2513 17.04.2005
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 [ 4.e3 is discussed briefly in TimmanHermanson. ] 4...d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 The starting point of many top-level battles. I prefer White, but not because of the way this game proceeded. 8.d3 [ A blindfold game between Bareev (White) and Svidler from Amber-Melody 2005 went 8.0-0 c6 ( 8...0-0 9.d3 h6 was played in Gelfand-Svidler, Dos Hermanas 1999, with approximate equality) 9.e3!? 0-0 10.d1 d5!? 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.xd5 ( 12.d4! ) 12...e6 13.xf6+?! ( 13.d4 ) 13...xf6 14.d5 ad8 15.xe6 fxe6 16.f1 e4 17.xb7 f3 18.d4 h5!? 19.b3 ( 19.dxc5?? d1 ) 19...d5! 20.d2 ( 20.d1!?; 20.dxc5?? h4 ) 20...d6 21.d1 f5 22.e2 h4 23.ac1 h3 24.c6 f3 25.xd6! xd6 26.c1 d5 27.f1 f5 28.e1 g6 29.c6 f6 30.e2 hxg3 31.hxg3?! ( 31.fxg3 ) 31...h5 32.c8+ h7 33.f1?? g4 Bareev-Svidler, Monte Carlo MNC 2005. ] 8...0-0 [ Timman was on the Black side of 8...h6 9.g4!? c6 10.h4 d6 11.g5 hxg5 12.xg5 in Azmaiparashvili,Z-Timman,J/Oviedo 1993. Perhaps he was going to skip h4 and try g5 immediately. ] [ The game Vallejo Pons-Gelfand, Pamplona 1999 went 8...c6 9.g4 . It was anno tated by Tony in a much earlier instalment - see the ChessPub files. ] 9.g5 [ This shouldn't lead to anything I quite like the looks of 9.g4 , for example, d5 10.g5 ( 10.xd5 xg4 ) 10...dxc4 11.xc4 d7 12.e4 e7 13.e3 h8 14.0-0-0 with the idea d4 or even h4-h5. ] 9...c6 [ 9...h6 10.xf6 ( 10.d2 ) 10...xf6 11.e4 e7 12.xc5 xc5 13.0-0 is perhaps a shade better for W hite, but Black should be able to unravel easily. ] 1196
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.0-0 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.e4 e7 13.xc5 xc5 14.c3 a5 To prevent b4, although [ 14...e7 15.d4!? ( 15.b4 d6 ) 15...d6 is equal. ] 15.a3 a4 The standard method of holding up W hite's queenside. W e see this 3 times in this month's update! I'm not sure if Timman was better off preventing this he doesn't seem to generate much in return. 16.fc1 e7 17.c5 d5 18.cxd6 xd6 19.b4 c7 [ 19...d8 is another natural move. It's hard to believe that either player has anything at this point. ] 20.c5 e6 21.ac1 fd8 22.b5 d7 23.h4 b3 24.b6 f8 25.c5 f5? Right idea, wrong timing. This is an ambitious move and changes the tenor of the game, but it has a tactical problem. 26.b4?! [ White apparently overlooks 26.xb3! axb3 27.d5+ , when the presence of the rook on f8 means that Black will have to give back an exchange and leave the b3 pawn out to dry: xd5 ( 27...ff7 28.xb3; 27...cxd5 28.xc7 xc7 29.xc7 f7 30.c3 ) 28.xd5+ f7 ( 28...f7 29.xf7+ xf7 30.c3 ) 29.xb3 etc. ] 26...f6 27.g2 e7 28.b6 d7 29.a7 ff7 [ Or 29...f4 . Black has some pressure on W hite's slightly weakened kingside and allowing .. .a4 has eliminated any queenside chances for White. ] 30.c5 e6 31.e3 f6 32.f3? White is having a hard time holding off threats on the kingside but this fails miserably. He should probably just sit by means of a move like [ 32.c5 ] 32...e4! 33.dxe4 xb2 34.d1 xa3 35.d8+ h7 36.bd4 a1+ 37.h2 d5? [ This isn't awful, but throws away the win and even allows W hite to get good attacking chances during what was p r e s u m a b l y t i m e p r e s s u r e . 37...c5! and ..Qe5 would have consolidated Black's game with a winning advantage due to the passed a-pawn, and b-pawn if needed. ] 38.d3 fxe4 39.xe4 xe4 40.xe4+ xe4 41.xe4+ g6 42.f4! f6 43.h5 e7!? [ Black might also just defend by 43...g7
but there's still no obvious plan after ] 44.hxg6+ g7 45.d3 xe2+?! The point, but Black's king is exposed and White gains a key tempo. Perhaps Black can hold down thefortwith [ 45...b5 ] [ But 45...a3! 46.f5 e5! ( 46...a2 47.c4 ) 47.e4 a2 48.b3 a1 49.g8+ ( 49.g8+?? f6 -- ...Qe5 has vacated f6-50.h8+ g5 ) 49...f6 50.f8+ g5 51.e3+ g4 52.e2+ g5 53.e3+ is a draw ] 46.h3! [ 46.xe2? xd8 47.f5 f6 48.d3! threatens a perpetual check beginning with Qd7+ ] 46...e7?! [ 46...e3! 47.d7+ e7 48.f5 a3 49.d6 a2 50.xf6 a1 51.e6! xe6 52.d7+ f6 53.xe6+ g5 54.g2 will probably lead to perpetual check by one side. ] 47.f5 a3 48.a8 e5 49.f3!? [ Threatening f6+. Or 49.xa3 ] 49...f6 50.d3 e5 51.f3 f6 52.xa3 e5 53.g4 h5 W hat else? 54.e3 hxg4+ 55.xg4 d5 56.f4 d8 [ 56...d4 57.e7+ ] 57.e4 c5 58.g5 [ 58.h2! will mate soon, but it doesn't matter much. ] 58...xg5+ 59.xg5 b5 60.e7+ f8 61.g7+ An error-filled game but there were so many ways for both sides to go wrong that it's hard to fault the players. 1-0
1204 Tomashevsky,Evgeny Rublevsky,Sergei ch-RUS Superfinal (6) [John Watson]
A29 2564 2652 24.12.2005
Pure theory. Rublevsky the super-prepared plays a new move in an old variation and equalises. It looks like Black is okay again in this line, which would simplify his task against the irritating 5.Nd5. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.d5 e4 6.h4 0-0 7.g2 e8 8.0-0 c5 9.d3 exd3 10.xd3 e5 11.c2 c6 12.e3 cxd5 13.xc5 d6 1197
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.d4 dxc4 15.fd1 d5! A novelty, e5 19.dxe4 xe4 20.xe5 xe5 replacing 21.xe4 xe4 22.xc7 with some, but not [ 15...e7 16.d2 c6 17.xf6 xf6 quite full compensation for the pawn, Zueger, 18.ad1 Smejkal-Meking, Rio de Janeiro B-Godena, M/Cattolica 1994 ] 1979. ] 11.cxd5 e7 12.b3 c6 13.dxc6 xc6 16.c3 c6 17.f5 [ 13...bxc6 14.c2 f5 15.b4 d7 16.fc1 [ Now 17.xf6 xf6 is too slow because fc8 17.a3 h6 18.e4 e6 19.c3 g4 Black has 18.xd5 d4! ] 20.d2 e6 with chances to both sides, 17...e6 though I slightly prefer W hite's chances, [ An unbalancing try was 17...xf5 18.xf5 Rensen, M-Borst, J/IECG Email 2000 ] xe2 19.xd5 xd5 20.xd5 , but White's 14.c3 b8 bishop is quite strong. ] [ In an earlier Tomashevsky game, Black 18.e3 e7 19.xd5 xd5 20.xd5 xd5 went for 14...b6!? 15.a3 d8 16.a4 21.xd5 xe2 22.xe2 xe2 23.c5 d8 f6 17.d4 e4 18.d2 d5 , and Black seems [ 23...ae8 24.xc4 c2 doesn't really give to be doing okay, Tomashevsky, E-Turov, anything either: 25.d1 ( 25.f4 f6 ) 25...f6 M/Krasnoyarsk 2007. However, given that 26.d2 xd2 27.xd2 e2 28.c3 c2 W hite repeatedly this line by playing it in 29.f1= ] our main game, we should expect that he ½-½ either thinks he has an edge in this example o r t h a t h e h a s a n i m p ro ve m e n t re a d y . Svidler must also have thought about this 1205 A29 given he doesn't repeat Black's choice of 14th move. ] Tomashevsky,Evgeny 2646 Svidler,Peter 2732 15.d4 [ This improves over 15.a4 e6 16.c2 60th ch-Superfinal (7) 26.12.2007 c8 17.d2 a5 18.fe1 g4 19.h3 xf3 [Carsten Hansen] 20.xf3 d5 as in Uhlmann, W-Lein, A/Bad Wildbad 1997, where Black obviously has 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 a comfortable game ] 5.d5 c5 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 d6 8.e3 a6 15...e4 16.d2 d5 17.f3 exf3 18.xf3 e6 9.d3 a7 10.d2 [ Incredibly, only now does the game exit [ W h i t e ' s m a i n a l t e r n a t i v e i s 10.c3 what has been played before. In a , and now: correspondence game, Black tried 18...e8 A) Or 10...f5!? 11.h3 ( 11.d5 xd5 19.d2 e6 20.e1 ( Intending Ne1-d3-f4, 12.cxd5 e7 13.h4 d7 14.d2 ) hitting the d5-pawn. 20.ac1!? ) 20...g5 11...h6 12.e4 e6 13.e3 xe3 14.fxe3 21.f2 , Hefka, V-Wegman, W/ICCF Email b5 15.d5 h7 16.c1 e7 17.d4 2002 f6 22.d3 f7 23.f4 ed8 exd4 ( 17...c6!? ) 18.exd4 bxc4 19.f4 24.h3 ] Hansen, Cu-Miles, A/Esbjerg 1984; B) 10...h6 11.a3 e6 12.b4 d7 19.h1 e8 20.f2 [ 20.d2!? b5 21.ac1 ] ( 12...e4 13.dxe4 xc4 14.e1 ) 13.b2 ae8 14.c1 e7 15.e1 g6 16.d2 20...b5 [ 20...f6!? ] c6 17.ce4 xe4 18.dxe4 f5 19.exf5 xf5 20.e4 b8 21.e2 h3 22.ed1 21.d2 f5 22.af1 [ 22.e5!? xe5 23.xf5 c4 24.d3 xg2 23.xg2 e6 , and I prefer White, xb2 25.c2 c4 26.xd5 xe3 though objectively speaking the chances 27.xe3 xe3 28.xf7+ h8 29.d5 ] are about even, Bischof f , K-Short, N/ 22...e4 23.e1 b7 Garmisch 1994 ] [ 23...f6!? ] 10...xd5 [ 10...h6 11.c1 f5 12.e1 e8 13.f3 24.xe4 xe4 25.d3 d7 26.a4 bxa4 xd5 14.xf5 f6 15.f3 ( 15.c2!? ) 27.xa4 e6 28.c1 c7? [ 28...b8 ] 15...e4 16.e2 d5 17.cxd5 xd5 18.c3 1198
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 29.f4 d6 30.a5+- xa5 31.xc7 b6 17.c5 J.Smejkal-C.Garcia Palermo, 32.c3 h6 33.c2 e8 34.f5 g6 35.d3 German Bundesliga 1989) 10.d1 e7 g7 36.g2 11.xe7+ xe7 12.d4 d6 13.b3 exd4 [ 36.xa6 e4+ ( 36...e7 37.d3 14.xd4 b6 15.d2 a5 16.d3 d8 gains a pawn without further ado.) 37.g1 17.a3 e6 18.ad1 xc3 19.xc3 b1+ 38.f1 is an easy win. ] E.Dizdarevic-C. Garcia Palermo, Zenica 36...c6 37.e2! 1987 ] [ 37.xa6 is liked by my computer, but it 8.0-0 quickly becomes messy, which is not [ 8.a3 a5 9.c2 c6 10.b4 b6!? 11.c5 something you need when you are having a c7 12.d3 a5 13.b1 0-0 14.0-0 d5 winning position against a grandmaster of 15.cxd6 xd6 (Black is already okay) Svidler's calibre: e4+ 38.f3 g5 39.xb6 16.b2 axb4 17.axb4 h3 18.d1 g4 40.f2 xf3+ 41.e1 h1+ 42.d2 with approximately even chances, V. xh2+ 43.e2 , and White wins, but try to Ivanchuk-J.Ehlvest, New Delhi/Teheran work it out when you are in time trouble, 2000 ] not easy! The game continuation is by far to 8...0-0 9.d3 be preferred. ] [ 9.e3 c6 10.g2 e8 11.d3 xc3 37...a5 38.f3 e7 39.g4 h7 40.f3 12.xc3 d5 13.b3 f5 14.b2 ad8 a4 Having reached the time control, White can 15.ad1 e6 ( 15...d4 16.exd4 exd4 now concentrate on converting the material 17.a5 d7 18.xa7 ) 16.a5 a6 and positional advantage 41.g4 f6 42.h3 17.b6 T.Kotanjian-M.Tseitlin, St g7 43.g3 a5 44.c1 b6 45.d3 Petersburg 2000 ] 1-0 9...c6 10.g5 xc3 11.xc3 d6 [ 11...h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.fd1 d6 14.d4 f5 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.d2 fd8 17.ad1 1206 A29 xd2 18.xd2 e7 19.e4 h3 20.e2 e8 21.c5 , and thanks to White's Topalov,Veselin 2735 dominance over the d-file (in particular the Karjakin,Sergey 2556 d6-square), W hite's better placed pieces Leon 16th rapid (1.4) 06.06.2003 and Black's limited counterplay, White has [Carsten Hansen] the clearly better chances, A.Kosten-D. Prasad, Metz 2007 ] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f6 4.g3 d4 12.b4 h6 13.xf6 xf6 14.b5 c5 15.g2 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 e7 [ 7...e7 8.0-0 c6 ( 8...0-0 9.d1 d6 e7 16.e3 g4 17.f4 f5 [ 17...ad8 18.ae1 ] 10.d4 d7 11.d5 c6 12.xe7+ xe7 13.c2 f5 14.b4 e4 15.g2 f6 16.a4 18.ae1 g5 [ 18...ae8 19.e4 fxe4 20.xe4 d7 e6 17.a3 h6 18.b5 g5 19.c3 21.fxe5 xf1+ 22.xf1 f5 23.e2 ] M. Sorokin-P.Nakhapetiane, Moscow 2007) 9.d1 d6 10.d4 c7 11.g2 0-0 12.c2 19.e4 gxf4 20.gxf4 exf4!? [ 20...fxe4 21.xe4 h8 22.fxe5 dxe5 e6 13.b3 F.Gheorghiu-W.Hartston, 23.d2 ] European Team Ch (Bath) 1973 ] [ 20...g7 21.h1 h8 22.d2 ] [ 7...a5 A) 8.0-0 0-0 9.d3 d6 10.a3 c6 11.b4 21.xf4 [ At first glance it may look like both sides b6 12.g5 h3 13.fc1 a6 14.c5 c7 kings are wide open, but Black's king is in 15.cxd6 ( 15.e4 e8 16.h4 ) severe draf t and W hite's pieces are f ar 15...xd6 16.b2 h6 17.xf6 xf6 better placed. Here White can also consider 18.e4 e7 19.xd6 xd6= 21.exf5!? g5 22.h1! (to prep the g-file J.Timman-D.Campora, Amsterdam 1984; for a rook) xf5 23.e4 ( 23.xb7 af8 B) 8.a3! c6 9.0-0 c7 ( 9...b6 10.d3 24.e4 e5 25.g1 looks dangerous for e7 11.b4 d6 12.g5 h3 13.fc1 0-0 Black, but af ter f3! , and now 26.xg4 14.b5 ac8 15.bxc6 bxc6 16.e4 fd8 1199
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg4 27.g1 xg1+ 28.xg1 f2+ 29.f1 g5 30.d5+ h7 31.e4+ g8 32.d5+ with a draw by repetition) 23...e5 24.d4 ( 24.xb7 xe1 25.xe1 f8 26.d5+ h7 is probably okay for Black; 24.g1 h8 25.d4 cxd4 26.xd4 f8 is fine for Black) 24...cxd4 25.xd4 ae8 26.d5+ , and White has the better chances ] 21...g5 22.d2!? ae8 23.ef1= [ 23.h1!? fxe4 ( 23...b6 24.g1! h7 25.f2 is even more unpleasant for Black) 24.xf8+ xf8 25.xg5+ hxg5 26.xe4 o f f e rs W h it e t h e b e t t e r ch a n ce s in t h e endgame ] 23...fxe4 24.xf8+ xf8 25.xg5+ hxg5 26.xe4 xf1+ 27.xf1 b6 This endgame should be drawn, but only Black has chances thanks to W hite's queenside pawns on the bishop's colour. Karjakin does his best to produce something out of very little and does get an 'A' for effort. 28.f2 g7 29.e3 e6 30.f3 f6 31.e4 f5+ 32.e3 e5 33.d5 d7 34.f7 c8 35.d5 h3 36.a3 d7 37.f7 c8 38.d5 h3 39.f3 e6 40.e2 d5 41.f1 g4 42.g2 e6 43.f1 f7 44.e2 e6 45.f1 g4 46.g2 d4+ 47.f2 f5 48.f1 f4 49.e2 g6 50.f1 h7 51.e2 f5 52.f1 c8 53.g2 a6 54.bxa6 xa6 55.c6 c8 56.e4 g4 57.h7 h5 58.e4 d1 59.h7 g4 60.e4 b3 61.c6 f4 62.f3 a4 63.e4 d7 64.d5 f5 65.e2 g4 66.g2 h4 67.d2 g4 68.e2 f4 69.c6 e5 70.f3 d6 71.d2 c7 72.g2 b8 73.c6 a7 74.e8 a6 75.e2 a5 76.c6 g6 77.d7 h7 78.e8 f5 79.c6 a6 80.e8 b7 81.b5 c7 82.e8 d6 83.h5 e5 84.f3 f4 85.c6 g4 86.g2 h4 87.d2 g4 88.e1 f5 89.d2 h3 90.e4 g4 91.e2 g3 92.hxg3+ xg3 93.d2 f4 94.c6 e5 95.e8 d6 96.b5 c7 97.e2 g4+ 98.d2 d7 99.c2 xb5 100.cxb5 d6 101.a4 d5 102.d2 c4 103.dxc4+ xc4 104.a5 xb5 105.axb6 xb6 106.d3 c5 107.d2 c4 108.c2 d3+ 109.d2 d4 110.d1 e3 111.e1 d2+ 112.d1 d3 ½-½
1207 Uhlmann,Wolfgang Jackova,Jana Snowdrops vs Old Hands (2) [Nigel Davies]
A29 2417 2360 30.11.2008
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.a3 e7 7.f3 c6 8.b4 e6 9.d3 0-0 10.0-0 f6 11.e4 It's interesting that a connoisseur of the the English like W olfgang Uhlmann would choose this variation. Black's reply looks critical. a5!? 12.c5 [ After 12.b5 B l a c k c a n p l a y d4 af t er wh ich 13.xd4 exd4 gives Black a typical and annoying space advantage. ] 12...xc5 13.bxc5 d5 14.b2 Looking to open the game with d3-d4 at some poin t whilst preparing to defend his advanced cpawn along the c-file. [ 14.c2 is featured in the game Miezis, N (2579)-Danin, A (2498)/Utrecht 2009. ] [ Another sensible move is 14.d2 when a4 15.b1 leaves White able to lop off any knight that lands on a5. I couldn't find any practical examples of this move so we wait with baited breath for a trial... ] 14...a4 15.b1?! Given White's evident aim of a central expansion (14.Bb2) then I find this unconvincing. Surely it would be better if the rook could go directly to d1!? [ With this in mind I suggest 15.d2 a5 16.ad1 , intending to advance with e2-e4, d3-d4 and/or maybe f2-f4 at some point. ] 15...d7 16.a1 [ With White's piece disposition as it is, 16.e4 makes less sense after de7 17.d4 b3 etc. ] 16...a5 17.d2 ab8 18.c2 b5 19.c3 xc3 20.xc3 b3 21.xb3 xb3 [ 21...axb3 looks very nice for Black, for example after 22.e3 there is b4! 23.axb4 a4 , lending big time support to the pawn on b3. ] 22.fc1 fd8 23.e4 f5 24.g2 d4 25.a5 b4 26.axb4 xb4? [ 26...d7 is better when there's still everything to play for. ] 27.xc7 e4?! 28.dxe4 a3 29.exf5 d4 30.a5 a2 31.xb3 a1 32.xa1 xa1 33.xa1 xb3 34.c1 White is winning 1200
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 easily here but perhaps Black's prolonged B2) 10.cxd5!? xd5 11.b3 xc3 resistance was a deliberate tactic by the 12.dxc3 ( Now White wins a pawn, as 'Snowdrops' to wear the 'Old Hands' out. a3 Black can't protect both his b-pawn and 35.b7 d7 36.c8 c7 37.e6+ f8 e-pawn (the threat is Qb5+) 12.bxc3!? ) 38.c6 a6 39.d7 a2 40.e4 e2 41.c4 12...d6 13.xb7 0-0 14.e4 e7 42.f1 d2 43.a4 d6 44.h4 e5 Black has absolutely no compensation 45.f4+ d6 46.a5 e7 47.h5 h6 48.e5 for the pawn. ] c2 49.a8 h2 50.g1 e2 51.h1 f2 8.g2 0-0 9.d3 52.g1 e2 53.a4 f8 54.g4 f7 [ With 9.d4 we would have entered the lines 55.e6+ e7 56.d5 d2 57.g2 c8 covered under line 'A'. ] 58.g5 b8 59.a7+ f8 60.gxh6 gxh6 9...c6 10.e4 g4?! 61.f6 b1+ 62.h2 bb2 63.g7 e2 [ This move is given a '?' by the fantastic 64.h3 b3+ 65.g3 bb2 66.d5 h2+ bulletin, and while it may be asking f or 67.g4 b8 68.e6 trouble, it is by no means a big mistake. 1-0 T h e i r s u g g e s t e d a l t e r n a t i v e 10...e8!? intending ...g6 and ...Ng7 is nevertheless an interesting option that is likely better 1208 A29 than the game continuation ] b6+ 12.h1 e6 13.f4 Uhlmann,Wolfgang 2530 11.f3 Rossetto,Hector 2465 Black's problem is that he thanks to his ...Bc8Skopje ol (Men) fin-A (1.1) 27.09.1972 g4-e6 manoeuvre has lost the time he needed to counter White's advance on the kingside. [Carsten Hansen] De sp it e my co mp ut er st ill co m plaining a 1.c4 c6 2.c3 f6 3.f3 e5 4.g3 d4 comfortable game for Black, White clearly has the upper hand at this stage. e8 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 d6 7.0-0 e7 [ The alternatives aren't that rosy either: [ Instead of this perfectly good continuation, 13...g4 14.e1 fe8 15.f5 ] the "Bulletin" (acc. to MegaBase) offers [ or 13...exf4 14.gxf4 g4 15.e1 d7 7...h3!? as a possible alternative, e.g. 16.e3 d8 17.f5 ] A) 8.xb7! isn't mentioned by the same bulletin, even if White wins at least a pawn, 14.e2 a5 15.e3 d8 16.d4 [ I like 16.f5 better, but in either case White e.g. xf1 9.a4+ d7 ( 9...e7 is clearly holding the upper hand ] 10.xf1+- is even worse) 10.xa8 xa8 11.d5 b7 12.xf1 , and Black has 16...exd4 17.xd4 a4?! [ This looks a bit like an attempt at no compensation for the lost pawn.; generating counterplay on the queenside, B) 8.g2 xg2 9.xg2 d5 is evaluated but ending up just wasting tempos he can ill as equal by the same bulletin, but White afford to waste. Instead Black should has several roads to an advantage at this attempt 17...f6 18.ad1 xd4 19.xd4 juncture. Instead Black could consider the f6 with a passive but at least somewhat solid 9...Be7, and he is probably about playable position ] even. B1) 10.d4!? is also an attractive option 18.ad1 a5 [ 18...f6 is probably, once again, better than for White thanks to his lead in Black's 'active' plan for counterplay. ] d e v e l o p m e n t exd4 11.xd4 dxc4 12.xc4 c6 13.g5 ( 13.d1 c8 19.f5 c8 20.a3 f6?! [ Black takes a very passive approach, and 14.e4 e6 15.xe6+ fxe6 16.f3 wil l q u i ckl y b e ru n o ve r, a n d wh i le t h e is also very pleasant for White, though alternatives aren't exactly bringing a lot of n o t a s c o n vin ci n g a s t h e m a in lin e) h o p e t o t h e t a b l e , i t i s c e r t a i n l y wo r t h 13...e7 14.fd1 ( 14.xf6?! xf6 considering a more active continuation, e.g. 15.ad1 e7= ) 14...a5 15.xf6 xf6 20...g5 although W hite after 21.f2 f6 16.e4 e7 17.d6+ xd6 18.xd6 22.c5 dxc5 23.xc5 f7 24.f3 e5 19.ad1; 1201
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 again is smacking Black around ] 21.e3 g5?! This isn't exactly the move Black wa n t s t o p la y, b u t h e will f o rce d t o d o it sooner or later as W hite otherwise will play Rf 4 - h 4 f o ll o we d b y Q h 5 . 22.h4 e5?! I don't know what Black had in mind when he played this move, but he must have overlooked White's next move, which is just one of several really good moves for White. 23.d4 [ 23.g4!? f7 24.hxg5 fxg5 25.d5 f6 26.xg5+ g7 27.xe7+ xe7 28.h6 xg3 29.f4 xe4 30.f6 ] 23...a5 24.hxg5 fxg5 25.h5 d7 26.h3! 27 White prepares the move he plays on move d8 [ 26...f7 was relatively better, but obviously still losing. ] 27.f6! xf6 28.xf6 xf6 29.xf6!+[ Now it is completely curtains for Black. In the bulletin, which is quoted on Ch e s s B a s e's Me ga Ba se , t h ey m e n t io n 29.e5 g7! without an evaluation, as if it may save Black or at least improve his chances. However, with a f ew accurate moves, White still wins rather easily. 30.f3! xh3 31.exf6 a5 32.d5! xf1 33.xf1 cxd5 34.fxg7 xg7 35.f7+ h8 36.e1 , and game over ] 29...xf6 [ 29...xf6 30.xd7+- ] 30.xg5+ f7 31.xd6 h6 32.f4 xh3 [ 32...g7 33.e5+- ] 33.xd8 xd8 34.e5 1-0
Moscow RUS/[John Bartholomew] 2012 saw 12...c8?! (an unnecessarily mild reaction) 13.e3 f5 14.xf5 xf5 15.e4 d8 16.c5! and White obtained a nice advantage. ] [ 12...g5 still looks critical to me. See the notes to the above game. ] 13.e3 f5 Cooperatively allowing the knight exchange - again very much along the lines of Eljanov-Salgado Lopez. [ Houdini advocates the enterprising pawn sac 13...b5!? 14.xb5 cxb5 15.xb7 b8 16.g2 ( 16.c6?! a4 ) 16...d7 followed by putting a rook on d8. If W hite pu sh e s d 3 -d 4 t h e n B la ck' s kn igh t ge t s access t o t h e c4 squ a re wit h e xc e lle n t c o m p e n s a t i o n , i . e . 17.b2 bd8 ( a p p a r e n t l y a b i t b e t t e r t h a n 17...fd8 which can be met by 18.e4 , when f5 19.g2 xd3 20.xd3 xd3 21.xe5 h i t s t h e r o o k o n b 8) 18.d4 c4 . This is further evidence in support of the idea that Black may be better served in taking a more adventurous stance against the slightly artificial-looking 12.Nh4!? ] 14.xf5 xf5 15.b3+ h8 16.e4 g6 17.d1 f7 [ 17...h5!? ] 18.c2 c7 19.b2 Natural moves all around. W hite has a miniscule edge, and I think this is about the maximum he can expect out of 12.Nh4!? a5!? 20.d4 [ 20.b5!? looks more promising. ] 20...axb4 [ Black should seriously consider blocking out his opponent's light-square bishop with 20...f5 21.c5 e4 . ] 1209 A29 21.axb4 c4 22.dxe5 fxe5 23.c5 fd8 Vachier Lagrave,Maxime 2715 24.f1 xb2 25.xb2 d5 26.a1 xa1 Fedorchuk,Sergey 2635 27.xa1 f8 [ 27...b5= ] Schachbundesliga 2011-12 (15) 15.04.2012 28.g2 xc5 29.bxc5 f7 30.d2 xg2 [John Bartholomew] 31.xg2 Black has some minor problems to 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 s o l v e d u e t o h i s s l i g h t l y i n f e r i o r p a w n 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 s t r u c t u r e . e4 32.h4 h6 33.b2 f3+ 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 d4 34.g1 f5!? [ 34...f7 is close to equality. ] 12.h4!? Eljanov's novel treatment of the xc5 36.g2 c3?? position. c6 As in the source game, Black 35.xb7 prefers a solid reply over a more forceful An unfortunate slip. [ 36...f5 holds the balance because refutation attempt. 37.xc6?? unexpectedly loses to c8! ] [ Eljanov, P (2690)-Salgado Lopez, I (2618)/ 1202
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 37.e7! g8 [ White is technically winning after 37...xd2 38.xf8+ h7 39.f5+ g8 40.e6+ f8 41.xc6+- . ] 38.e6+ h8 39.a2! c5 40.xe4 f6 41.d5 c8 42.c2 e7 43.c4 c7 44.g4 b6 45.g5 h5 46.f7 c6+ 47.f3 g6 48.e4 a6 49.g3 a1 50.f4 b2 [ The rook ending with 50...g7 51.xg7+ xg7 52.c4 was the last chance, though it's pretty bleak. ] 51.e8+ xe8 52.xe8+ h7 53.f7+ h8 54.f8+ h7 55.h6+ g8 56.xg6+ White easily forces the queens off. 12.Nh4!? isn't too dangerous, but the fact that another 2600+ Grandmaster succumbed to this 'artificial' move should put Black players on notice! 1-0
1210 Vallejo Pons,Francisco Gelfand,Boris It Pamplona ESP (1) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2519 2713 27.12.1999
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 A f t e r l o s i n g s o c o n vi n c i n g l y wi t h W h i t e against this move (se the archives) it is not surprising that Gelfand wants to try it himself! 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.d3 [ A sensible alternative to the more normal 8.0-0 although a transposition would normally be likely. ] 8...c6!? [ A new move is, fairly common, position. Normally Black precludes the possibility of Bg5 by 8...h6 although, even here White can play as in the game: 9.g4!? ( 9.0-0 0-0 would bring us to the Gelfand-Svidler game) 9...c6 10.h4 d6 11.g5 hxg5 12.xg5 b6 13.xb6 xb6 which seems fairly level, Azmaiparashvili,Z-Timman,J/ Oviedo 1993. ] 9.g4!? [ Well, these g4-moves are certainly all the rage in the English Opening these days! White will advance on the kingside while the centre is closed. A more positional approach would be 9.g5 , e.g. h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.e4 e7 12.xc5 xc5 when White
should be shade better after castling, and preparing d4. ] 9...d6 10.g5 g8! The knight is going to e7, a square with far more perspective than d7. 11.a4?! e7!? [ An interesting decision, Black is clearly happy with the following structural change, as instead he enjoyed the possibility of playing 11...a5+ when the grovelling 12.c3 seems wise, in view of ( 12.d2? xf2+ )] 12.xc5 dxc5 13.e4 Necessary, to control the f5-square. 0-0 14.c3 f5!? [ A r i s k y p a wn s a c , t h e s i m p l e 14...d6 seems fine. ] 15.h4!? [ I am not sure that Black has too much compensation after 15.xe5 d4 16.d1 ] 15...d4!? Black has decided to burn his bridges, and stakes everything on a sacrificial attack. 16.e3 f5! 17.g2! [ If instead 17.gxf6 then, xf6 18.f4 f5 19.xe5 xe5 20.fxe5 g3 21.g1 xe4 22.dxe4 with another 'IPC' and a likely draw. ] 17...e8 18.d2 [ 18.f1 is also possible, but f4! ( or 18...e6 19.xe5 ) 19.exd4 f3 20.h3 exd4 21.c2 xh3+ 22.xh3 e6 with real play for the piece. ] 18...f4?! [ I don't think that this is sound, simply 18...e6 must be strongest, and if 19.c3 d4 with a draw, but obviously Black wanted more. ] 19.exd4 f3 20.f1! [ 20.h3 weakens the light squares on the kingside. ] 20...exd4+ 21.d1 g4 22.b3 g6 23.a3 b6 24.c2 a5 25.g1 h5 26.e1 It seems that W hite has successfully consolidated his position, where is Black's c o m p e n s a t i o n n o w ? a4 27.b4 cxb4 28.xb4 xh4 29.g3 c5!? Black realises he is lost, and so aims to expose the white king, even at the cost of some more material. 30.d2 [ Keeping the queen close to the king, and the b-file closed, if 30.xb6? then Black can draw, and White may well have to suffer a little after h2! 31.xg4 xf2+ 32.d1 1203
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ab8 ] 30...ae8 31.c1 h5 32.xe8 xe8 33.f4? [ White must still be ultra-careful. Instead 33.h3 g4 34.h1 should be better for him ] 33...h1 34.h3?? [ The decisive error, the only move was 34.h3! with t he point tha t af te r xf1 35.xh5 e1 say, 36.d2 a1 37.f5! should be a draw, for if g6 then 38.d5+ is awkward. ] 34...e2+ Now Black is winning! 35.d2 a1 36.b8+ e8 37.e6+ Desperation. xe6 38.xf3 xa2+ 39.d1 b1+ 40.c1 b3+ 41.d2 a2+ [ Forcing mate in a few moves, although 41...c3+ 42.d1 e1# was a quicker mate- time trouble, no doubt. ] 0-1
[ 13...xe4 doesn't solve anything, rather the contrary. 14.dxe4 xd1 15.xd1 fd8 16.e1 d4 17.xd4 xd4 18.e3 d6 19.ec1 c6 20.a4 ad8 21.h3 is very unpleasant for Black, Sunye NetoVan Riemsdijk, Brasilia 1982 ] 14.b5! xe4 15.dxe4 d4 16.xd4 exd4 17.e5! White opens up for his bishop and as a result, shatters Black's pawn structure further. xe5 18.xb7 b8 19.e4 White is clearly better at this stage, an evidence that Black's o p e n i n g e x p e r i m e n t f a i l e d g r i m l y . d5 20.d3 g6 21.h6 e8 22.fe1?! [ 22.c4!? c3 23.c6 g8 24.d2 is also decidedly unpleasant for Black. ] 22...d6 23.c4 c3 24.c6 ed8 25.g2 [ 25.f4 g7 26.e6 f8 27.g5 looks crushing, but d3! 28.xd8 xd8 affords Black some counterplay ] [ However, 25.d2!? g7 26.f4 f6 27.g4!? is a fascinating line and worth 1211 A29 consideration. ] Van Wely,Loek 2683 25...d3 26.f4 [ Here both 26.f4 f6 27.g5 ] Motylev,Alexander 2647 [ and 26.d2 can be considered. ] Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (3) 21.02.2007 26...e2 27.e3 [Carsten Hansen] [ 27.xe5+ xe5 28.ad1 is another possibility, leaving W hite with the better 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 chances. ] 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 e6 9.d3 f5?! This set-up is relatively rare at 27...d4 28.xd3 xa1 29.xd6 xd6 grandmaster level it was last seen back in the 30.xe2 a6 31.f4 axb5 32.xd6 cxd6 1980s. 10.b4 f6 11.e4!? If you flip the 33.d2 b6 34.xd6 b2 35.a4 bxa4 b o a r d a r o u n d , t h i s m o ve i s r a r e l y e ve n 36.d8+ g7 37.d7+ h8 38.xa4 considered in the regular Classical Dragon Despite W hite's best efforts, this endgame 39.c6 d4 V a r i a t i o n , b u t i n t h e E n g l i s h , t h i s should end in a draw. b4 counterpunch is much more common. 0-0 40.h4 c5 41.f7 d4 42.h3 g8 43.c7 d6 44.b5 xf2 45.c4+ h8 12.exf5 xf5 13.e4 [ 13.b3+!? h8 14.e4 g4 46.c8+ g7 47.c7+ h8 48.c8+ g7 ( Eliminating the strong knight on e4 with 49.g8+ h6 50.g4 e3 51.g5+ xg5 14...xe4 also leaves White with a better 52.hxg5+ xg5 53.g7 c6 game 15.dxe4 d6 16.b2; 14...a5!? ½-½ 15.b5 a4 16.c2 a7 17.c5 xe4 18.dxe4 e7 19.e3 d6 20.b1 e8 may be playable for Black) 15.b2 xf3 ( 15...a5 16.b5 ) 16.xf3 e7 17.g2 d4 18.xd4 xd4 19.ac1 c6 20.c5 fb8 21.e4 , and White is completely in control, Adorjan-Fedorowicz, New York 1981. ] 13...h8 1204
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1212 A29 Van Wely,Loek 2622 Nyback,Tomi 2655 TOP 16 GpB Chalons en Champagne FRA (7) [Jonathan Rowson] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 Important not to forget this one. [ 6...e7 7.xe5! ] 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 [ 8...a5 prevents b4 but weakens the queenside. White typically continues with d3, Be3 and Bxb6 in that case. ] 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 d4 [ 11...a5 12.b5 d4 13.d2 There is nothing wrong with this way of playing with Black, but personally I do not feel comfortable with the resulting structural changes. ( 13.xd4 exd4 14.e4 a4 and b5, a3 and e2 are at least as weak as d 4 , c 7 a n d b 7 .) 13...c8 ( 13...d5? i s a w e l l k n o w n o p e n i n g t r a p . 14.xd5! xd5 15.e3 and White wins a piece with e4 after ne6 or nf5.; 13...d5!? playable but I always felt this was somewhat artificial. 14.xd5 xd5 15.b2 a4 and the position is unclear- too much so for my liking, and I would feel a bit insecure as Black without my light squared bishop- although that has more to do with my needs than those of the position. ) 14.e3 f5 and now the game continues, with a pertinent example being 15.c2 ( 15.a4 ) 15...d8 16.b2 h6!?N ( 16...d6!? /\Nf7 ) 17.fd1 ( 17.bc1 h3!? remains approximately equal.) 17...f7 18.bc1 f8 19.h4? ( 19.e2!? ) 19...h3 and Black was already a bit better in Van Wely, L-Tiviakov, S Hilversum 2006 ] [ 11...a6!? is plausible, but somewhat passive. 12.e4! a2 13.b2 d5 14.c5 b8 15.e4 f7 16.e3 d7 17.c2 ( 17.b3!? ) 17...xc5 18.bxc5 d7 19.fb1 and White had the initiative in Gulko, B-Seirawan, Y USA 1989 ] 12.d2 c6 13.e3 b5?! This has been played before, and has a respectable re p u t a t i o n , b u t I wo n d e r if i t m i gh t b e a mistake after all. It is certainly strategically risky because it gives White a central pawn majority.
[ 13...f5 keeps more tension in the position, but White has the more flexible position after 14.e2 which is not to say he is really better, but as a little thought experiment, imagine colours were reversed and it would look like a very successful Sicilian. ( 14.b3 )] 14.xb5 cxb5 15.b3 a4 16.b2 d5 [ 16...xb2 Simplest. 17.xb2 b6 A) 18.a5 ab8 temporarily passive given time Black will play Rfd8-d7 and Rbd8 19.d4 fd8 20.e2 exd4 21.exd4 f8 22.xb7 xd4 and Black is at least ok. ( 22...c4 23.xd8 xe2 24.d5+ h8 25.f7+ g8 26.xe2!? ); B) 18.d4 ad8 ( 18...c4 19.dxe5!? fd8! ) 19.c5 c4 20.e1 xc5 21.bxc5 a5 and Black appears to be fine. ] [ 16...d7!? Perhaps getting a rook to the cfile is more important than challenging the bishop on g2. 17.a1 fc8 18.c1 xc1 19.xc1 a5 gives counterplay. ] 17.a1 A novelty, and possibly quite an important one. [ 17.e4!? f7 18.d4 c8 19.d5 ( 19.a1 c3 20.xc3 xc3 ) 19...d7 20.e2 d8 21.a1 b6 22.bc1 a6 was a strategically risky approach f rom Black, but seemed to work out in Vallejo Pons, F-Ponomariov, R Linares 2002 ] 17...xg2 18.xg2 c8 [ 18...b6!? helps to generate counterplay with a5, but is a little scary because it takes away the main retreat square of the knight on a4. 19.e4!? a5 20.bxa5 bxa5 21.d4 looks a bit better for White. ] [ 18...f5!? 19.f3 ( 19.xe5 d5+ )] 19.f3 d7 20.d4! White has won the strategic battle. c3 [ 20...d6 was probably better. ] 21.xc3 xc3 22.fd1 exd4 [ 22...e6!? ] 23.xd4 f5 24.e2 d3 25.f4 xd1 [ 25...d6 looks slightly more tenacious, but White is still much better. 26.xd6 xd6 27.d5+ h8 28.c1 ] 26.xd1 c6 27.xc6 bxc6 28.d7 S u p e r s m o o t h p l a y f r o m V a n W e l y . e8 29.xa7 c5 30.b7 c4 31.xb5 a8 32.d5 f8 33.a5 c8 34.c3 g6 35.b5
1205
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g7 36.a2 b8 37.a4 c3 38.a6 1-0
1213 Van Wely,Loek Salov,Valery Hoogovens Wijk (1) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2605 2680 1998
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.d5 A favourite of Lautier's, White avoids any lines with doubled c-pawn complexes. c5 The position is similar to 4...Bc5 lines, except that the white knight is on d5, not c3. 6.g2 d6 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 h6 To stop Bg5. 9.e3 White aims for a flexible development, and avoids committing his central pawns too soon. a6 The black dark-squared bishop will need an escape square on a7 pretty soon, to avoid W hite playing a3, and b4, but it is a matter of taste whether to play this move, [ 9...a5 which restrains White's queenside expansion, but weakens b5. 10.b3 a7 11.c3 Otherwise, Black might play 11... Nxd 5 1 2 c xd 5 Ne 7 wit h go o d p la y. e6 12.b2 keeping e5 under surveillance, thereby stopping ...d5. c8 13.a3 e8 14.c1 g4 Black's disadvantage is minimal, Hansen, C-Gabriel,C/Porz GER 1999. ] 10.a3 a7 11.b4 In view of what follows, p e rh a p s h e re is a g o o d p la ce t o f in d a n alternative for W hite. xd5 A typical ploy, Black rids himself of the annoying d5-knight. 12.cxd5 e7 13.d2 f5 And, having exchanged his f 6-knight, Black is f ree to ad va n ce on th e kingsid e . 14.c4 f4!? A s t r o n g p o s i t i o n a l e xc h a n g e s a c r i f i c e , levering o pen the wh ite king's def ences. 15.exf4 exf4 16.xf4 xf4! 17.gxf4 g6 the point, ...Nxf4, and ...Qg5 is the threat. 18.f3 f6 19.ae1 White's dark squares are sensitive, but he does have extra material, and a lead in development. d7 20.e6!? A n in t e re s t i n g p ra ct i ca l d e cis io n , W h it e returns material to free his position. xe6 21.dxe6 b8 b7 had to be defended. 22.e3 xf4 Black finally gets to capture the pawn on f4. 23.g4 d4 24.e1 White is banking on his p asse d e-pawn . d5 Firmly closing the h1-a8 diagonal. 25.e3 c6 26.f5 xf2+!?
A tempting combination, but [ 26...c3 hitting the rook, is strong. ] 27.xf2 xf2+ 28.xf2 xd3+ 29.e2 xe1 30.xe1 The dust has cleared, and Black has gained a rook and two pawns for his two pieces, but the e6-pawn may prove a problem. e8 31.d4 g6 32.h3 g7 33.b3 Coming to the strong square c5 to menace the black queenside. e7 34.c5 g5 35.d7 An important move, keeping the black king away from the e-pawn. h5 36.f5 g4 37.f2 h6 Threatening ...Kg5, winning t h e e - p a w n . 38.h4 The o nly mo ve . d4?? A time-trouble blunder, I suppose, [ 38...gxh3 kept some chances. ] 39.c5?? White returns the compliment, [ 39.f6 won easily, the threat is Ng8, and if g7 then 40.xh5+ f8 41.xg4 ] 39...g7 40.e4 Trapping the king from a different square. e8 41.e2 f8 42.g3 f6 43.d3 e5 Black has managed to escape from the cage. 44.e7! White sensibly forces a draw. e8 45.xh5 xe7 And not [ 45...xf5?? 46.g7+ f6 47.xe8+ winning. ] 46.xg4 c7 47.d2 White's knight is awkwardly placed, but there is no fear of it being lost. c5 48.bxc5 xc5 49.a4 c3 50.d7 b6 51.g4 a3 52.d7 White does some problems to solve, but once he gets his pieces co-ordinated he should have no real trouble. d6 53.e8 h3 Picking-up the hpawn, but allowing the knight back into the game. 54.f4 xh4 55.d3 h2+ 56.c1 d5 57.f7+ e4 58.g6+ e3 Black's pieces are as well-paced as possible, but it is not enough. 59.b4 h6 60.c2+ f4 61.d3 a5 62.xd4 [ 62.xd4 as e3 63.f5+ xd3 64.xh6 is drawn. ] ½-½
1214 Van Wely,Loek Tiviakov,Sergei Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (6) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2683 2667 21.02.2007
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 1206
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 d4 12.e3 [ 12.e1!? d5 13.b2 xc3 14.xc3 c6?! ( 14...b5 15.b2 c6 16.a4 c7 has been suggested as an improvement by Stohl ) 15.a4 Kortschnoi-Stohl, Tilburg 1993 ] 12...xf3+ [ White seems to get an edge after 12...c5 13.e4 xf3+ 14.xf3 cxb4 15.c5! xc5 ( or 15...d5 16.xd5+ xd5 17.axb4 ) 16.xc5 f7 17.xb6!? axb6 ( 17...xb6 18.xb4 a6 19.a4 ) 18.axb4 Seirawan, Y-Gurevich,M, Biel izt 1993 ] 13.xf3 c6 14.c2 This is van Wely's new move, but as Tiviakov quickly demonstrates, it doesn't offer W hite any hopes of a lasting advantage. Previous tries have included: a) [ 14.e4 A) or 14...d5 15.a4 f5?! ( 15...d7 is probably a better choice - Curt Hansen) 16.d2 d7?! ( 16...f6!? 17.a5 c8 ) 17.xd5+! cxd5 18.b3 Serper-Tiviakov, Kherson 1991; B) 14...d5 15.d2 b6 ( 15...f5 16.c5 ) 16.a4 ( 16.c2 Ribli d7 17.fc1 fc8 ) 16...d7 17.fc1 fc8 18.c3 b5= Schwartzman-Tiviakov, Wijk aan Zee 1995 ] [ b) 14.c5 d5 15.xd5 cxd5 16.b3 e8 17.fc1 d7 18.b5 xc5 19.xc5 ac8 20.bc1 e4 21.dxe4 xc5 22.xc5 dxe4 23.g4 xb3 24.xd7 e7 25.g4 b6 with an even endgame, Timman-Bareev, Ubeda 1997. ] 14...f7!? 15.c5 d5 16.e4 b6! 17.xe7 xe7 18.fd1 c8 19.e3 f5 20.bc1 d7 21.e2 e7 22.c3 and a draw was agreed upon. White never got close to obtaining any kind of advantage. ½-½
1215 Van Wely,Loek Tiviakov,Sergei ch-NED Hilversum NED (9) [John Watson]
b e gin n i n g t o lo o k li ke B la ck h a s n o re a l problems here, especially with White's queen on c2. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 a5 W e sa w 1 1 . . . Q e 8 i n K o st e n - J e a n i n t h e August Update (in which this game was meant to be included). 11...a5 is more critical and arguably the most important move for the assessment of the overall variation. 12.b5 d4 13.d2 c8 14.e3 f5 15.c2 [ B a r e e v p l a y e d 15.e2 twice here, as described in earlier columns. ] 15...d8 16.b2 h6!? A strange idea. Black is transferring his knight to f7, but you'd think that [ 16...d6 (preventing Nc4) would be a more efficient way to implement the manoeuvre. ] 17.fd1!? [ Black is also okay after 17.fc1 f7 ( 17...h3 ) 18.e2 d6!? ( 18...f5 19.e4 d7! ) 19.e4 f8! , with the idea 20.xc7 a4! ] 17...f7 18.bc1 f8 19.h4? With the point of stopping ...Ng5 (apparently), but this is too slow. Better was [ 19.e2! , intending the key move d4. ] 19...h3!? 20.h1 g4 21.e1 [ 21.f3 f5 22.de4 ] 21...f5! 22.ce4? [ 22.de4 d7 23.ed1 g4 24.f3 e6 ] 22...d7 Hitting d3 and b5 Black has a substantial advantage at this point. 23.xc7 a4! [ Or 23...xb5 24.b1 a4 25.c1 xd3 with a clear advantage. ] 24.a1 xa3 25.c4 [ 25.xd7 xd7 26.cd1 xd3 ] 25...xb5 Black is simply winning. 26.b1 b4 27.bc3 d7 28.b1 xc3 29.xc3 xd3 30.bxb4 axb4 31.xb4 ac8 32.e7 d7 The queen is trapped. 0-1
A29 2655 2669 27.06.2006
Once again, two top players test the new 'm a in li n e ' o f t h e R e ve r se d D r a g o n . I t ' s 1207
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1216 Vitiugov,Nikita Grischuk,Alexander 62nd ch-RUS Moscow RUS (2) [Nigel Davies]
A29 1217 2694 Williams,Simon Kim 2736 Van Kampen,Robin 21.12.2009 London Classic op 4th (9) [Gormally/Kosten]
A b o ri n g lin e ge t s e ve n d u ll e r h e r e wit h Grischuk's 15...Qb4 leaving White with very little. It's not easy to break this 4...Nd4 move down. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.d3 0-0 [ M o r e n o n c h a l a n t t h a n t h e 8...c6 of Gelfand-Vachier Lagrave. But in either case it's difficult for White to get much. ] 9.g5 h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.e4 b6 12.xc5 xc5 13.c3 [ 13.0-0 d6 14.e3 a5 15.fd1 was Maslak, K (2548) -Vysochin, S (2518), Peterhof 2007 and now b4 would have been a super solid way to play it. ] 13...a5 14.0-0 d6 15.fd1 b4 A new move after which the position just looks equal. [ Black had to struggle harder for the half point in 1/2-1/2 Timman, J (2540)-Portisch, L (2645), Nice 1974, the game going 15...b8 16.b3 a3 17.d4 exd4 18.xd4 e6 19.c1 xc1+ 20.xc1 fd8 21.e3 c5 22.d2 f8 23.a4 e7 24.d5 a8 25.c3 d7 26.f4 d8 27.f2 c7 28.f3 e8 29.g4 with White still pressing. ] 16.ac1 xc3 17.xc3 c6 18.d4 e8 19.e3 f8 20.f1 e6 21.d5 h3+ 22.g2 xg2+ 23.xg2 c5 24.b3 eb8 25.a4 [ After 25.b6 Black plays a6 . ] 25...e4 26.h4 g6 27.b6 a6 28.b5 b6 29.g4 g5 30.hxg5 hxg5 31.h1 g7 32.b3 a7 33.h5 f6 34.c3 g6 35.c1 h7 36.xh7 xh7 37.f3 exf3+ 38.xf3 g6 39.e4 h8 40.g3 e8 41.f3 h8 ½-½
A29 2515 2570 09.12.2012
1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.d3 In a critical game played in the last round of the London Classic open, the Dutch player Robin Van Kampen played the sedate 0-0 No doubt expecting some kind of sedate reply in return. However he was facing the Ginger Gm himself, Simon Williams. Simon took this as a red rag would to a bull and responded with the ultra-aggressive [ 8...h6 A typical idea as we have already seen, Black prevents any ideas of Bg5. 9.0-0 0-0 10.d2 e8 11.ac1 b8 ( 11...c6 12.a4 f8 13.c5!? Is a trifle annoying for Black- he must exchange a central pawn for a wing pawn if he wants to complete his development. Nevertheless after d5 14.cxd6 xd6 15.e3 e7 Black shouldn't have any real problems.) 12.a4 d6 13.b4 d4 14.e3 xc3 15.xc3 h3 16.g2 xg2 17.xg2 d7 18.xd7 xd7 19.e4 Simple chess as ever by Aronian, and although this ending is surely holdable for Black, he was able to grind out a win by displaying impeccable technique in the game Aronian, L (2773)Istratescu, A (2624) Novi Sad 2009 ] 9.g4!? First played by David Howell. However I'm not convinced this approach will really catch on, as judging by the course of the ga m e , it lo o ks a s if B l a ck h a s s u f f i c ie n t defensive resources. c6 This may be best, Black will play his knight to c7 and then ...d5 in one go. [ 9...d6 10.g5 d7 11.h4 is Howell, DGordon, S, in the PGN Archive. ] 10.g5 e8 11.d2 [ 11.h4 White might as well play this i m m e d i a t e l y , c7 12.e3!? ( 12.d2 transposes to the mainline.) 12...d4 13.d2 ( 13.0-0-0!? ) 13...d5! 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.xd5 e6 16.e4 f5 and Black had good prospects in the game Fridman, D (2648)-Gordon, S (2527)/Legnica 2013. ] 11...c7 12.h4 e6 1208
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 12...d5! might be possible here, too, 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.xd5 ( 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5 b6 ) 14...e6 15.c1 b6 16.e4 c8 with great compensation - castling kingside will always be a risky enterprise for White. ] 13.e3 f5! An excellent move, grabbing some important central squares. 14.0-0-0 [ Sadly for White he cannot countenance taking this pawn, as after 14.gxf6 xf6 15.h3 f5 Black wins material 16.g3 xd3 17.e4 d6 ] 14...d6 15.a4 b6 16.c5?! This pawn sac does not work out very well. [ 16.b1 c7 17.g2 with everything to play for. ] 16...xc5 17.xc5 dxc5 18.c3 c7 19.h5 b5! 20.h6 g6 White's kingside attack had ground to a halt. Later on Black took over the initiative with moves like ..b5 and ...a5, resulting in a painful loss for Si. 21.h4 a5 22.a4 c4 23.dxc4 b4 24.e1 xg5 25.e2 e6 26.f4 e4 27.fxe5 xe5 W hite's bishops look rather sad. 28.d3?! But W hite was lost anyway. c5 29.d6 xe3+ 30.d2 b3+ 31.b1 xe2 32.g5 a7 [ 32...f4! threatens a nasty mate, e.g. 33.hh1 f5+ 34.a2 xc4 and ...Nc1+. ] 33.d3 d7 34.xd7 xd7 35.xd7 e1+ 36.a2 c1+ 37.xc1 xc1 Incidentally, despite being very well placed going into the last round, by losing this game W hite went home with zero prize money. Rather harsh don't you think? But this is the reality of chess these days. Unless you are ranked in the top twenty in the world, or have a good run in a big money tournament like the world cup, the reality is you are going to struggle to make money by being a chess pro. This is why so many struggling and desperate grandmasters like myself are turning to writing to try to scrape together a living, or even worse, chess coaching... 0-1
1218 Yakovich,Yuri Demianjuk,Alexander Polyarniy Krug (5) [John Watson]
A29 2576 2345 03.12.2006
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 d4 [ The main line has been 11...a5 12.b5 d4 , but the immediate ....Nd4 avoids potential weaknesses that arise from ...a5. The move is o k a y, b u t I t h in k t h a t 1 1 . . . a 5 f o r c e s White into a narrower set of options. ] 12.d2 [ 12.xd4 exd4 13.e4 d5 14.b2 f5 15.d2 f6 16.xd5+ xd5 17.c1 c6! was featured in Soza, J-Muzyka, Y/ICCF Champions League 2004 on ChessPub and seemed fine for black. ] 12...c6 [ 12...d5 13.b2 A) 13...a5!? 14.bxa5 xa5 15.c4 a7 16.a4 b6 ( 16...xc3 17.xc3 d5 ) 17.e3 xc3 18.xc3 f5 19.a5! was slightly better for White in Bauer, CSokolov, A/Chartres FRA 2005; B) 13...c6 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5+ xd5 16.xd4 xd4 17.a4 f5?! ( 17...a6 ) 18.b5 c5 Kramnik, V-Tiviakov, S/Singapore 1990, and here I suggested 19.b3+ h8 20.e6 , which is awkward for Black. ] 13.de4 [ Bareev, E-Topalov, V/Dortmund GER 2002/ went 13.b2 f7 14.e3 f5 15.c2 f8 16.fd1 d5 17.c4 b5!? with complications that ended in equality. ] 13...f7 The standard idea, swinging the rook to the centre. [ 13...g4 14.e3 d7 15.d2 h8 16.h3 h5 17.f4 with unclear play, Georgiev, K-Kharlov, A/Niksic 1996. ] 14.e3 b5 15.xb5 cxb5 16.b2 a4 17.a1 f5!? [ 17...a5! is simple and advantageous, in view of 18.bxa5 xa5 ] 18.c5! xc5?! This all looks reasonable for Black, who has seized the initiative, but now he plays inaccurately. [ 18...xc5! 19.bxc5 xc5 20.xb5 xd3 1209
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.xb7 d7! 22.xa8 xb5 with a small advantage due to the well placed knight. ] 19.bxc5 d7? A tactical error. Better is [ 19...a6 with the idea 20.xb7?! ( 20.xe5 xc5 21.a4 ) 20...a7 21.g2 xc5= ] 20.xe5 d5 [ 20...xc5? 21.d4 and d5 wins material after d6 22.d5 xe5 23.dxe6 xe6 24.d5 ] 21.d4 xg2 22.xg2 a6 23.f3 It's not just White's pawn, it's his centre. d8 24.a4 d5 25.xd5 xd5 26.f4! Black resigns: The finish could be [ 26.axb5 xc5 27.bxa6 bxa6 28.fc1 is also good. ] 26...bxa4 27.xb7 d8 28.a1 and pawns fall, whereas c6-c7 is also threatened. 1-0
1219 Zhigalko,Andrey Ipatov,Alexander ETCC (Open) Warsaw POL (4.22) [Fier, Alexandr]
A29 2619 2630 11.11.2013
Ipatov tries an unusual move order, playing 6...0-0 instead of the normal 6...h6. Maybe the way to try to punish it is to play 7.Bg5, but is this really a problem? It will be similar to the ...g6 lines where using 3 moves to bring the bishop to f6 is not ideal, of course, but it is not the end of the world. Af terwards it transposed to a more common line. I don't like 11...Ne7, as it looks like Black is spending a lot of time travelling with the knight, and for W hite I would propose 16.a5!? 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.d5 c5 6.d3 0-0!? [ 6...xd5 is also playable, and used by the ex-world champion 7.cxd5 d4 Hansen, C (2610)-Anand, V (2753)/Middelfart SIS-MH Masters rapid 2003. ] [ 6...h6 is more common 7.g2 d6 8.0-0 0-0 9.e3 was analysed in Van Wely, L (2605)-Salov, V (2680)/Hoogovens, W ijk aan Zee NED 1998. ] 7.g2 [ 7.g5 e7 8.xf6 xf6 9.g2 is not so problematic for Black, but still it looks like a King's Indian setup with some
wasted moves ] 7...xd5 8.cxd5 d4 9.d2 d6 10.e3 f5 11.c4 e7 For me this idea is a bit slow, and the knight is not so good on e7. Black can try a queenside expansion instead. [ 11...a5 would be my personal preference and it was played twice before: 12.d2 a4 13.b4 ( 13.0-0 b5 14.a5 e7 and Black is fine.) 13...axb3 ( 13...a7 14.a5 e8 15.0-0 e7 Makarichev, S (2500)-Meduna, E (2405)/Frunze 1979.) 14.axb3 xa1 15.xa1 b5 16.a5 e7 17.0-0 Ivanchuk, V (2751)-Anand, V (2799)/ Amber rapid 17th 2008. ] 12.0-0 [ 12.a3 is less to the point, b5 ( 12...a5 13.d2 a4 is also possible, with equal chances ) 13.d4 exd4 14.exd4 b6 15.xb6 axb6 16.0-0 b4 exchanging the bpawn, Black's position is quite acceptable, Levin, E (2488)-Pacher, M (2361)/EU-ch U18 18th 2008. ] 12...f5 [ 12...b5 makes less sense now: 13.d4 exd4 14.exd4 b6 15.xb6 axb6 16.e1 and White is better. ] 13.d4 exd4 14.exd4 b6 15.a4 W hite already has some advantage, Black needs to move the queenside to save the bishop and White can take advantage of this. c6 16.dxc6 [ 16.a5!? was more precise, and now Black is under pressure A) 16...c7 17.e3 ( 17.a6 looks good, but Black can hold the position in a strange way cxd5 18.axb7 b8 19.e3 e4 20.f3 f5 ) 17...d7 18.b4 with pressure on the queenside.; B) 16...cxd5 17.axb6 dxc4 18.xb7 wins material. Still the position is not so clear, but White has good chances to get some advantage ( 18.bxa7 its not clear that the pawn on a7 is weak or strong d5 19.e1 c6 20.b3 c3 21.f3 e4 22.xc3 xg2 23.xg2 ) 18...xb6 ( 18...b8 does not gives enough for the queen 19.bxa7 xb7 20.a8 xa8 21.xa8 xa8 22.e1 ) 19.xa8 xa8 20.f3 d5 21.a3 c6 22.c5 with a slight advantage for White. ] 16...xc6 17.f4 1210
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 17.a5 makes less sense, just exchanging pieces xa5 18.xa5 xa5 19.xb7 b8= ] 17...d5 18.d6 With several pawns hanging it's hard to evaluate quite what is happening. It's still hard f or Black to take on d4 in a proper way, so it seems W hite is slightly better here, too. e6?! [ 18...d7 is better, since it's not such a bad deal to exchange the strong knight on d6 for t h e b i s h o p o n f 5 , 19.xf5 ( 19.a5 just exchanges one pawn xa5 20.xd5 c6= ) 19...xf5 20.b4!? defending the pawn indirectly f6 ( 20...xd4 21.b5 xa1 22.bxc6 bxc6 23.xa1 should be good for White.; 20...xb4 doesn't work at all 21.a5 d8 22.d6+- ) 21.e3! ( 21.xd5 will hardly bring any advantage for White, fd8 22.xc6 xc6 23.c1 d5 and the block is enough for equality) 21...a5 22.b5 b4 ( 22...xd4 23.a2 is annoying ad8 24.d2 f5 25.xb6 xb6 26.xd5 with a good advantage.) 23.c1 with some advantage, but Black does not have many problems either. ] 19.xb7 Now White has a stable edge and the initiative. e7 20.c5 xd4 21.b4! c6 Giving material, but the position is already not so easy. [ 21...f5 22.xe6 fxe6 23.e1 ad8 24.a2 and Black has problems with the e6pawn. ] [ 21...xc5 22.bxc5 f5 ( 22...xc5? 23.e3+- ) 23.c1 is almost winning. ] 22.xe6 fxe6 23.a5 c7 24.c1! And W hite wins material, Black's center is shaking because of the king on the a2-g8 diagonal. xf4 The best chance, but White is just an exchange up. [ 24...xf4 loses to 25.xc6 d6 ( 25...h6 26.xe6+-; 25...d7 26.xe6 ad8 27.h3 b8 28.h6 e7 29.e6+ h8 30.xh7+ xh7 31.h5# ) 26.xd5! ad8 27.e1 f6 28.b5 with a healthy pawn up and the better pieces. ] 25.gxf4 xb4 26.f5 xa5 27.e1 b6 [ 27...f8 was another try but it's refuted in a beautiful way: 28.a4 b6 29.xe6 g5 30.c8! xf2+ 31.h1 and it's just over. ] 28.xe6 g5 29.b1 c8 [ 29...xf2+ 30.h1! ( 30.xf2 xf5+
31.g1 xe6 32.xb4 d8 is not so clear. ) 30...c8 31.e2 c5 32.xd5++- ] 30.e1 h5 31.e8+ h7 32.xc8 d3 33.e6 1-0
1220 Anand,Viswanathan Gomez Esteban,Juan Mario Country vs. World Rapid rapid (2) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2764 2463 01.05.2003
Life is simpler when your opponent falls into a known trap! 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 Is the DoubleFian ch et t o go in g t o ma ke a co me -b ac k ? 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.b3 0-0 12.h4 a6 13.ac1 White has brought all his pieces to good squares. c7 A nice move which frees the eighth rank so that the black queen can come to a8 to augment the pressure along the h1-a8 diagonal. W e have previously considered [ 13...e8 14.g4!? ( although here 14.h3!? could be similar to the game, Fancsy,ID u d a s , J / B u d a p e s t / 1 9 9 4) 14...b5! Filippov,V-Nikolic,P/Neum BIH 2000. ] 14.h3! This looks odd, but is well-founded, White moves his bishop off the same diagonal as the black queen's bishop, thus avoiding a possible exchange. [ 14.g4 h6! 15.h3 g5 16.g3 b5 was nice for Black in Kramnik,V-Karpov,A/ Dos Hermanas/1999. ] 14...a8? Black continues his plan, but misses the disguised threat. [ 14...b8?! i s s l i g h t l y b e t t e r , 15.h6! ( 15.xd7? xd7 16.xb6? xf3 wins ) 15...xf3 16.xg7 xg7 17.exf3 e5 18.g2 b5 19.cxb5 axb5 20.b4! gave Black later problems with his b-pawn, Topalov,V-Psakhis,L/Las Vegas 1999. ] [ 14...e8 m a y b e b e s t , 15.h6 c5!? 16.g5 b5 17.d5 xd5 18.cxd5 xc1 19.xc1 xh6 20.xh6 f8 defending against the threats to h7, Arsovic,Z-Almasi, Z/Budapest/1991. ] 15.xd7! The point, White had previously missed this tactic: 1211
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 15.d2?! e8 16.g4 b5 17.g5 with some advantage, anyway, Yeke,SHarmon,C/Budapest HUN 2003. ] 15...xd7 [ 15...xd7 16.xe7 is even worse, and ] [ 15...xf3 16.h3 b7 17.xb6 just wins a pawn for nothing. ] 16.a4 This is the unpleasant reason for White's previous moves, he wins the important b-pawn. xf3?! I think that Black should at least hang-on to this piece, [ 16...b8 17.xb6 c7 18.d4 is obviously good for White, who has a solid extra pawn, but Black might have some practical chances. ] 17.xb6 b7 18.exf3!? The pragmatic move, Anand wants to avoid any counterplay after [ 18.xd7 xd7 ( 18...h1 19.f3 wins ) 19.exf3 e5 20.h3 xf3+ 21.f1 although this should be winning - White has an exchange more. ] 18...c7 19.d5 xd5 20.xd5 So, White is a pawn up, and Black has no real compensation, now Anand's technique takes over. d8 21.g2 f6 22.f4 cd7 23.cd1 g7 24.h4! f8 25.h5 White still has a space advantage, so he can attack on either wing, but before advancing his queenside pawns he decides to soften-up the b l a c k k in g s i d e . e6 This weakens the dark s qu a re s , b u t h e h a d t o f in d co u n t e rp la y somewhere. 26.5d3 d5 27.hxg6 [ 27.d4! dxc4 28.f6 is also sufficient, xd4 29.xd4 xd4 30.xd4 wins easily. ] 27...hxg6? [ 27...fxg6 may be ugly, but is the only way to stop a disaster on the h-file. ] 28.h1 g7 29.h4 It is as easy as ABC! d4? [ 29...f6 held-on a little longer. ] 30.g5 There is no sensible defence to Bf6 and Qh8+! so Black resigned. 1-0
1221 Anand,Viswanathan Vallejo Pons,Francisco XXII SuperGM (12) [John Watson]
A30 2786 2686 08.03.2005
This game occurred at an important time in this Super-tournament. Anand was trying to finish his comeback after a poor start. White has a hard time cracking this form of Hedgehog but with correct play Black has to sit around hoping that White won't be able to b r e a k t h r o u g h in a n e n d in g . No t f o r t h e average player. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 c6 9.f4 b8 At one time this was considered weaker than the Hedgehog with ...d6 and ...Nbd7 because W hite now gains a bind on d6. Black tries to prove that this doesn't mean much. 10.xb8+ [ 10.b5 d6 is useless, but ] [ 10.d1 ] [ and 10.e4 have been played. The latter probably exposes to e-pawn too early and allows Black quick counterplay. ] 10...xb8 11.f4 c8 12.b5 e4 13.fd1 a6 14.d6+ [ 14.c7+?! d8 15.d4 xd4 16.xd4 f6! intending 17.xe4 xe4 18.xe4 e5 ] 14...xd6 15.xd6 xd6 16.xd6 e7 17.ad1 c7 The key position. Anand demonstrates that W hite can keep a small ad va nt a ge , a lt ho u gh it isn 't mu ch . A b ig question is why Black wants to suffer without counterchances. 18.b3 f6 19.e1 b8 20.c2 c8 21.f4 d8 Preparing ...Nf7, although that may not be of much use. [ Black can also play the consistent move 21...b5 , f or example, 22.c5!? ( 22.cxb5 axb5 and ...b4 equalises; 22.e3 bxc4 23.xc6 b6 24.xc4 bxc6 25.e4 b7 26.6d2 ) 22...b4 23.xc6 xc6 24.xc6 dxc6 25.d6 d7 26.d4 c8 27.e4 ] 22.e4 f7 23.6d2 b7 24.a4!? [ 24.e3 g6 ( 24...d6 25.a4 prepares f5.) 25.h4 ] 24...a5!? Tantamount to a draw offer, since now Black has no positive plan. The challenge f o r A n a n d i s t o m a k e p r o g r e s s . 25.h4 Grabbing space is always useful. d8 26.f2 c5 27.d4 a8 28.e3 b7 29.f3 a8 1212
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 30.f5? A very strange move that concedes the e5 square and further locks in W hite's bad bishop. Obviously Anand's idea was tactical but perhaps he underestimated Black's next move. I think White can still progress slowly by [ 30.g4 A) 30...g6 31.g5!? ( or 31.b5 c6 32.c3 d6 33.g5 ); B) 30...c6 31.g5 with hopes of making progress while maintaining the pressure. ] 30...e5! [ 30...e5?? 31.xe6 ] 31.g4 d6 Now Black has all the keys squares and W hite can't defend e4. 32.fxe6 dxe6?! [ 32...xe4! keeps the initiative: 33.f5+! xf5 34.xd7+ xd7 35.xd7+ xe6 36.a7 may be best, but it allows xf3+! 37.xf3 c6 ] 33.b5! f7 34.xd8 xd8 35.a7?! [ 35.d6 ] 35...b7 36.b1 d7 37.b4? This seem to be a case trying too hard to win. Anand may not have wanted to defend against e-pawn threats, but this exposes everything. Instead, [ 37.b5 was the safest move. ] 37...axb4 38.xb4 a5! 39.b5 c6 Black has a very large advantage in view of White's weak pawns and bad bishop. Anand m a n a g e s t o e s ca p e b u t sh o u ld n 't h a ve . Nevertheless, one can see that the whole plan with ...Qb8 doesn't free one from a lengthy defence. 40.b1 e5 41.e2 xa4 42.c3 a3 [ Or 42...xc4+! , since Black is winning after 43.xc4 ( 43.f2 a3! ) 43...xc4 44.d3 c6 ] 43.d2 c6 44.g5! At least this generates some counterplay. a6! Not near enough if Black plays accurately. 45.gxf6 gxf6 46.f1 xc4+ 47.xc4 xc4 48.xf6 b5 49.d5!? xd5 [ or 49...d6 ] 50.exd5+ xd5 51.f7 h5 52.h7 e5 53.xh5 d4 54.h8 a2+ 55.d1 h2 [ 55...e4 56.h5 h2 ] 56.h5 b4 57.h6 d3 58.c1 c3 59.c8+ b3 60.h8 c3 61.c8+ b3 62.h8 e4 63.d1 b2 64.e1 b3 65.h7 e3 66.d1 b1?? After near-perfect play, Vallejo Pons falls asleep and blunders. Black had a
relatively easy win by [ 66...d2+ 67.e1 d7 , for example, 68.e2 ( 68.e8 xh7 69.xe3 a2 ) 68...e7 69.e1 e2 and wins, White is in zugzwang. ] 67.b8 xh7 68.xb3+ ½-½
1222 Aronian,Levon Kramnik,Vladimir 21st ECC Saint Vincent ITA [John Watson]
A30
2005
The big boys like to play with the Double Fianchetto version of the Symmetrical English, in which Black plays a Hedgehog with ...g6 instead of ... e6. Names like Kasparov, Karpov, Kramnik, Anand, and Topalov are associated with this line, partly because both sides think tha t it is re la tive ly sa f e . It t urns o ut t ha t there are plenty of opportunities for both sides. When Aronian and Kramnik recently fought it out in this variation, the game was pretty interesting, but mainly I've tried to give an overview of the most important moves. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 g7 8.c3 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 [ Tony has reported before on Kramnik's play with White is this line. A relevant example goes 10.b3 0-0 11.b2 c8 12.ac1 ( 12.e3 e8 13.ac1 a6 14.a1 c5! Karpov-Kasparov,WCh London Leningrad 1986 ) 12...a6 ( 12...c5 ) 13.d2 c7!? This resembles the idea in our main game but with a queen on d2. The difference may be slightly in White's favor because of his direct central con trol, especially of d5 : 14.e1 xg2 ( 14...a8 15.d5 ) 15.xg2 a8 16.e3 e8 17.cd5 c6 18.a4 with White having a nice bind in Kramnik-J Polgar, Dos Hermanas 1999 ] 10...c8 [ 10...0-0 11.h4 c8 12.h3? xf3 13.exf3 e5 14.g2 xc4-+ Topalov-Kasparov, Wijk aan Zee 1999. ] 11.ac1 0-0 12.h4 a6 13.b3 c7 This is an extremely popular idea . Blac k intends ...Qa8 and ...Rfc8. The older method 1213
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is [ 13...e8 A) 14.h6 h8 15.h3 xf3 16.exf3 c5 17.g2!? ( 17.g4 e5 18.g3 of Arsovic-G Timoshenko, Belgrade 1995 also promises White an edge. He played f 4 a n d Q f 3 .) 17...h5 18.f4 g7 19.xg7 xg7 20.d4 g8 21.d5 Piven-Ikonnikov, Werfen 1991; B) 14.h3 c7 15.h6 c5! ( 15...xf3 16.exf3 c5 17.xg7 xg7 18.d4 Wojtkiewicz-Palkovi, Stara Zagora 1990) 16.g5!? b5! 17.d5 xd5 18.cxd5 xc1 19.xc1 xh6 20.xh6 f8= Arsovic-Almasi, Budapest 1991 ] 14.h3 There's an interesting choice here: [ 14.e1 a8!? 15.h3!? intends Bxd7 and Na4 ] [ 14.g4 h6 15.h3 g5 16.g3 b5! 17.h4 bxc4 18.hxg5 hxg5 19.b4 a8 20.xg5 e8= Kramnik-Karpov, Dos Hermanas 1999 ] 14...b8 [ One-sided but instructive was 14...a8? 15.xd7! (a standard trick) xd7 16.a4 xf3 17.xb6 b7 18.exf3 ( or 18.xd7 ) 18...c7 19.d5 xd5 20.xd5 d8 21.g2 f6 22.f4 cd7 23.cd1 g7 24.h4! f8 25.h5 e6 26.5d3 d5 27.hxg6 hxg6 28.h1 g7 29.h4 d4 30.g5 1-0 Anand-Gomez Esteban, Santurtzi 2003. ] 15.g4 [ 15.h6 b5! drawn, Gelfand-Topalov, Batumi 1999 ] 15...e6! A novelty. The move may not equalise but is solid and challenges W hite to make progress. [ 15...a8 16.g5! e4 17.xe4 ( 17.a4! t h r e a t e n s b o t h B xd 7 a n d N xb 6 , b u t b5 18.b6 xb6 19.xb6 c6 20.xe4 xb6 21.e3 c6 22.xe7 ) 17...xe4 18.d2 c6 19.xd7 xd7 20.xb6 Pogorelov-Colovic, Balaguer 2003 ] 16.g5 e8 17.g2 [ 17.d4! a8 18.a4 d8 19.xe6! fxe6 20.xe6+ h8 21.xb6 ] 17...b5! 18.e4! bxc4 19.bxc4 d5 20.cxd5 xd5 21.c5 xc5 22.xc5 d6!? Just as White seems to be winning, Kramnik uncorks a surprising and clever idea. He
would concede material following [ 22...b2 23.e4 xa2 24.f4 e5 25.e3 ] 23.b1! [ 23.xd6?! xc1 24.xb8? xd1+ 25.f1 xb8 ] 23...xb1 [ 23...d8 24.b6 ] 24.xb1 xc5 White may stand better, yet Black has rook and piece for the queen with two active bishops. 25.a4 e4! 26.xa6 c2 27.d3?! [ 27.a4 c3 28.e1 ] 27...xa2 28.c1 fa8 ½-½
1223 Banikas,Hristos Aroshidze,Levan 14th Open Kavala GRE (5) [John Watson]
A30 2548 2463 15.08.2005
The Main Line of the Hedgehog, with a little twist. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 d6 7.e1 a6 8.e4 e7 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 11.e3 0-0 12.c1 bd7 13.f4 h5!? With the simple idea of holding up White's expansion via g4. Black also has the immediate idea of ...Ng4. 14.h3 [ 14.h1 is a careful response, giving a have at g1 for the bishop. Play might go c5 ( or 14...fe8 defending e6 against f5 and intending ...e5 at some point) 15.g1 h4 16.g4 h3 17.f3 ] [ C r a z y p l a y r e s u l t s f r o m 14.f5!? , f or example, g4 ( 14...e5? 15.d5 ) 15.e2!? ( 15.fxe6 xe3 16.xe3 g5! 17.d2 e5 18.d5 xd5 19.cxd5 a7 20.exf7+ xf7 21.e6 xe3+ 22.xe3 and Black is probably holding just enough squares to complement the exchange, so this is also unclear.) 15...xe3 16.xe3 c5 ( 16...e5 17.fxe6 g4 18.d5! ) 17.b4! ( 17.fxe6?? g5 ) 17...e5 18.h3 , utterly unclear ] 14...fe8 15.f2 [ White can try g4 anyway, but it may be too risky: 15.g4 hxg4 16.hxg4 c5 17.f2 d5 ( 17...e5? 18.f5 exf4 19.b4 cd7 20.g5 1214
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h7 21.g6! ) 18.e5 fe4 19.cxd5?! ( 19.e3 dxc4 20.xe4 xe4 21.c2 c5 22.xc4= ) 19...xf2 20.xf2 h4+ 21.f1 xe1 22.xe1 d8? ( 22...exd5! 23.b4 e6 is strong ) 23.b4 h4+ 24.f1 d7 25.dxe6 xg2+ 26.xg2 fxe6 27.e4 with advantage. ] 15...f8 16.d5!? [ 16.e2 is "normal" here, when Black has to deal with e5. ] 16...exd5 17.cxd5 d8 18.c6 xc6 19.dxc6 c5 20.c7 xc7 21.b4 ab8 [ 21...ad8!? ] 22.bxc5 bxc5 23.d4 d7!? 24.xh5 Now the material is even and White has two bishops - very unclear. a5 25.d5 [ 25.c3 xa2 26.g4!? intending g5-g6. ] 25...b6 26.g5 xa2 27.a1 e6 28.cd1 [ 28.f5 h6 29.xh6 gxh6 30.f1 is complex. ] 28...e7 29.xe7 xe7 30.e5 dxe5 31.xe5 bd8 32.c7 xd1 33.xd1 c4 34.c6 c8 35.d7 d6 36.d8+ [ 36.d5! xc7 37.xf7+ f8 38.xc7 xc7 39.xc4 is a draw. ] 36...xd8 37.xd8 a3 38.b7 c4 39.a5 I think I'd rather be Black with his c-pawn. There can't be much, however. ½-½
1224 Bareev,Evgeny Leko,Peter Amber Rapidplay rapid (6) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2707 2713 22.03.2002
After his resounding success with a quick d4 in the Symmetric Variation last month, Bareev tries it again against the same opponent. 1.c4 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 c5 4.e3 e6 [ 4...c6 5.e2 e6 6.d4!? was the Bareev Leko game from Cannes. ] 5.d4 This was first tried by Gurevich,M also against Leko. [ In the Austrian league, a few weeks ago, I essayed 5.e2 e7 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 bc6 8.xc6!? bxc6 9.0-0 0-0 10.c2 a6 11.d2 , Kosten,A-Horvath,T/ Austria 2 0 0 2 , b u t W h it e ca n ' t r e a l ly cla im a n y
advantage. ] 5...e7!? [ New, in the initial game Leko preferred 5...cxd4 ] 6.d5 White tries to prove he has some advantage by going into a Benoni-type position. [ 6.e2 would transpose into my game, above. ] 6...exd5 7.cxd5 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.f3 This is the best square for the knight, as from here it can head for c4 via d2. a6 10.a4 d7 11.0-0 This position is very typical of a Fianchetto Benoni, except that the white epawn is on e3, and the black king's knight is on e7, instead of f6. f5! So that the knight can hop into d4 in the event of White playing e4. 12.c2 e8 13.d1 e5 14.xe5 [ The problem with 14.d2?! is that White can never kick the e5-knight with f4 because of the hanging e3-pawn - the black knight seems to be very useful on f5 instead of f6! ] 14...xe5 15.d2 b6 16.ab1! d7 17.b4 W hite decides to break on the queenside. c4!? This pawn is passed, but well blockaded. 18.b5! White stops Black from defending his passed pawn with ...b5. axb5 19.xb5 xb5 20.xb5 c3! Black tries to complicate matters on the queenside. 21.e1?! [ In a quick game it is difficult to calculate all the con sequ ences o f such a m ove, bu t 21.xc3! could certainly be played: c7 22.b3 ec8 ( 22...xa4?! 23.xb6 xb6 24.xa4 hits e8 and wins a pawn) 23.d3! (perhaps White missed this) xc3 24.c1 b7 25.bxc3 xc3 26.xc3 xa4 27.c6 White has a clear advantage, the d6 an d b6 p awns a re wea k, a nd t he b la c k knight is worse than the white bishop. ] 21...a5 22.b4 a8 23.e4 White has regained piece control of d4, and this move becomes possible. e7 24.f4 g7 25.f2? At first sight W hite seems to have a large advantage, he has constructed his centre, whilst the black knight is awkwardly placed, and b6 is weak. [ I think that 25.f1! was the best move here, White intends Bb5 to defend a4 and keep the a-file closed. ] 25...b5! However, Black has a passed c-pawn, and this tactic keeps him more than alive. 1215
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.xb5 [ 26.axb5? a2 27.b3 b2 is very unpleasant for White. ] 26...xa4 27.e5!? Blow for blow! c8 [ 27...dxe5? 28.d6 ] 28.exd6 a2 29.c1 f5 30.d7 d8 Something has gone wrong for W hite, suddenly the black pieces are all well-placed and very active while the c3-pawn is still on the board! 31.d6 a6 32.f1 c6 33.e1 W h it e 's o p e n kin g p o sit io n is d if f icu lt t o manage in a rapid game, and defending the d6-pawn by [ 33.bd5 do e s lit tle t o h e lp , a s xd7 34.d3 xf2! 35.xf2 a7+ 36.f3 d4+ forces 37.xd4 xd4 with excellent winning chances. ] 33...xd7 34.d5 xf2! 35.xf2 a7+ 36.f3 a8 Pin and win ! 37.c4 xd6 38.b3 f5 39.ed1 d4+!? [ A nice interference, but the banal 39...e7 wins even more easily. ] 40.1xd4 [ 40.f2! xd5 41.xd5 xd5 42.xc3 is worth a try. ] 40...xd4 41.e4 f6 42.d1 b8 43.f3 xb3 44.xb3 c2 Even great players sometimes allow their opponent too much counterplay! 0-1
gives White some slight pressure, Berg,KVegh,E/Budapest 1983. ] 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 dxe6 [ Black, one of the most solid players in the World, prefers to avoid the slight weakening of his pawn structure entailed in the other re ca p t u re , 9...fxe6!? 10.b3 0-0 11.f4 5c6 although this looks OK for him. ] 10.xd8+ xd8 11.0-0! White cannot sat isf actorily d ef e nd th e c-p awn , and s o leaves it to its fate. d7!? [ Black could certainly consider grabbing the pawn: 11...xc4 12.d1+ e8 13.bc3 b8 14.b3 b6 15.b5!? with some initiative for a pawn, e.g. d7 ( 15...xa1?? 16.c7+ f8 17.h6+ and Rd8 mate!) 16.d6+ ] 12.d1 c7!? This is why Black didn't take the pawn, he wants to keep the c-file closed so that his king is safe here, and he can allow his rooks to communicate. 13.bc3 a6 14.f4 c6 [ 14...ad8 i s n o b e t t e r : 15.d4 c8 16.e4 c6 17.xc6 7xc6 18.c5 and Nd6+. ] 15.d4 ad8 [ W h i t e i s g e t t i n g o n t o p a f t e r 15...xg2 16.xg2 as the pin on e5 forces c8 ] 16.xc6 7xc6 17.e1! Menacing to c a p t u r e o n c 6 a n d w i n a p i e c e . b6?! The most aggressive method of freeing the knight, but the king proves too exposed here. 1225 A30 18.a4+ a7 19.g5! d6 [ Black avoids weakening e6 by 19...f6!? as Bareev,Evgeny 2707 20.e3+ b8 21.c5 follows. ] Leko,Peter 2713 NAO Masters Cannes FRA (1) 22.02.2002 20.ed1 d4 [ Black finds himself in difficulty, 20...xc4 [Tony Kosten] is met by 21.xd6 xd6 22.xc6! bxc6 23.d1 and the entry of the rook on the 1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.e3 c6 seventh will prove unpleasant. ] Black keeps a firm grip on d4 this month, 21.e7 xc4!? Black offers an exchange, as against Gurevich last month Leko preferred [ 21...df3+ 22.xf3 xf3+ 23.g2 xd1 [ 4...e6 when White found the novelty 24.xd1 e5 25.c5+ b8 26.d6+ 5.d4!? ] is very awkward. ] 5.e2 White still refrains from playing his [ and 21...d7?? 22.c5+ wins the knight. ] queen's knight to c3. e6 6.d4!? Again White plays this quick d4, is this the way forward for 22.xd6 xd6 23.f1 e5 24.ac1 d8 the English Opening? cxd4 7.exd4 ge7!? 25.c5 b8 26.d5 c7 27.c5 e8? An innovation. Previously Black had stopped Black is worse, but his position was playable until this blunder. 28.c1 Threatening a killer the further advance of the d-pawn by [ 7...d5 when 8.cxd5 exd5 9.bc3 ge7 discovered check, the king can't leave the c10.g5!? h6 11.xe7 xe7 12.b3 file because it is needed to protect the knight 1216
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 on d6. h6 29.xa6+ 1-0
1226 Bartel,Mateusz Almasi,Zoltan 40th Olympiad Open (6.7) [John Bartholomew]
A30 2654 2713 03.09.2012
I really enjoy investigating the Double Fianchetto. It's a nuanced line with a great pedigree where an aficionado can make his mark with either color. Here we see a nice effort from one of its 2700 exponents, Zoltan Almasi. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.e3 bd7 10.ac1 c8 11.b3 0-0 12.h4 a6 13.fd1 c7 14.h3 [ 14.g4 c8!? Jakovenko, D (2729)-Karjakin, S (2766)/Sochi RUS 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] 14...b8 15.g4 [ The Double Fianchetto expert Sergey Karjakin has twice upheld Black's position after 15.h6 b5! 16.xg7 xg7 . See Topalov, V (2752) -Karjakin, S (2779)/ Astana KAZ 2012/[John Bartholomew] ] 15...e6! 16.g5 e8 17.d4!? This is likely White's best try for an advantage. [ Black had adequate counterplay after 17.g2 b5! in Aronian, L (2724)-Kramnik, V (2744)/Saint Vincent 2005/[John Watson]. The text was actually recommended by Watson in his notes to this game. ] 17...c5 Almasi also played like this against Vallejo Pons last year. [ The retreat 17...a8!? is intriguing. Black need not alter the position much, so adding force to the ...b6-b5 break and toying with ... Qb8-b7 is useful. One game went 18.g3 ( 18.g2 looks better) 18...c8 and here the b old s trok e 19.xe6? backfired after xd4! 20.xd7 b7! 21.d5 xe3 22.xe3 xd7 with an extra piece. Tratar, M (2466)-Babula, V (2593)/Austria 2006. ] 18.g3 Pressurizing d6 and postponing a major decision. [ Vallejo preferred 18.b4 d7 before going "all-in" on 19.xe6!? (this sacrifice on e6 is far more appropriate than Tratar's version
above) fxe6 20.xe6+ h8 . Here 21.f4! was best , with a complicated fight after (for instance) ( 21.d5?! xd5 22.cxd5?! e5 23.d4 xc1 24.xc1 c7 Vallejo Pons, F (2705) -Almasi, Z (2707)/ Beijing CHN 2011. ) 21...d8 . Almasi was apparently ready to defend Black's position again after 19.Nxe6!?, so it will be interesting to see if there's any takers for 21.f4. ] 18...e5 19.f4 g7 20.g2 e5!? Activating his position at the expense of the d5-square. [ Black could also sit tight with 20...xg2 21.xg2 , i.e. c8!? , overprotecting e6 and intending to push the f-pawn. ( the immediate 21...f5 looks worse after 22.gxf6 xf6 23.b4 xd4 24.xd4 )] 21.f3 [ 21.fxe5! dxe5 22.f3 looks stronger, for instance f5!? 23.gxf6 xf6 24.g5!? h5 25.h3 with a complex position where I'd marginally prefer White. ] 21...exf4 22.xf4 f6! A key move: Black's pieces come to life. 23.d5 xd5 24.cxd5 e7?! [ I t l o o k s m o r e n a t u r a l t o p l a y 24...fxg5 25.xg5 f6 ] 25.d4! fxg5 26.xg5 f6 27.g3 [ 27.h6! ] 27...xd4! Nearly forced, but still a nice concept. Almasi doesn't mind playing against W hite's bishops when he has such great footholds for his knights. 28.xd4 g7! H e a d i n g f o r f 5 . 29.b4? This only allows encourages Black to bring the knight to a better square (e5). f5 30.g4 d7 31.a1 b5 32.h1 a7 33.f1 e3! Black dominates the center. 34.c2 e5 35.xe5 xe5 Almasi has achieved an ideal position. 36.f3? A tactical oversight, after which White is technically lost. [ W h it e is a n h igh ly p o sit io n , b u t 36.f4 was more tenacious. ] 36...xd5! 37.f1 d4 38.h3 xh3 39.xh3 xb4 Almasi is two pawns to the good, and he has no problems converting his a d v a n t a g e . 40.c6 a4 41.e4 e7 42.xf8+ xf8 43.xd6 xa2 44.f6+ g7 45.b6 e2 46.xa6 xe4 47.b6 b4 48.g1 h5 49.f2 f4+ 50.g3 d4 51.e6 f6 52.c8+ g5 53.b5+ f5+ 1217
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 54.f3 f4+ 55.g2 c4 56.e6 e4 [ Note that White would be fully justified in 57.d7 f4 58.b6 d4 59.e8 h4+ reverting to normal lines with 11.e3 c8 60.h3 g5 61.b5 e4 62.f6+ e5 12.ac1 a6 13.b3 . ] 63.h6 e3# Almasi timed his e and f-pawn 11...c8 12.b3 a6 breaks very nicely this game (20...e5!?, 22... [ Kavutskiy continues in standard fashion, but f6!). At present 17.Nd4!? remains critical, and here and on the next move Black can also it would be especially insightful to see another play 12...c5 , exploiting the fact that White encounter in the line 17.. .Nc5 18.b4 Nd7 19. no longer covers c5 and threatening 13... Nxe6!?, ala Vallejo Pons - Almasi. R h 5 . A f t e r 13.g5 ( 13.xg7 xg7 0-1 14.d4 has been played many times, but it doesn't look like much to me) 13...xg2 14.xg2 Black has a respectable in e8 1227 A30 ( or 14...a8+ 15.g1 e8 , Braga, F (24 35)-Olsze wski, M (25 43 )/B rat to IT A Bartholomew,John 2446 2010. ) 15.xg7 , preparing to drop the Kavutskiy,Konstantin 2284 bishop back to h8. xg7 16.ge4 a8 SPICE Cup Open (3) 17.10.2012 was agreed drawn in So, W (2674)-Svidler, [John Bartholomew] P (2734)/Amsterdam NED 2010. ] Can White punish Black for castling early in 13.ac1 c7 [ White launched a promising kingside attack the Double Fianchetto? Sergey Karjakin and after 13...xh6!? 14.xh6 b5?! 15.g5! many pros prefer to defer castling until the in Gustafsson, J (2571)-Babula, V (2567)/ preparatory moves ... d7-d6, ...Nb8-d7, ...Ra8Germany 2004 [T onyK]. Followin g xg2 c8, and ...a7-a6 have been exhausted, but 16.xg2 bxc4 17.d4! cxb3 18.h4+the question remains open. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 Black should have lost (though he escaped b6 3.g3 b7 4.g2 c5 5.c3 g6 6.0-0 with a draw). ] g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 0-0 [ 13...c5 is again possible. ] [ A m o r e c o m m o n m o v e o r d e r i s 8...d6 9.d1 ( 9.h4 h6; 9.b3 ) 9...bd7 10.e3 14.g5!? I was surprised to discover that this c8 11.ac1 and only now 0-0 ( or 11...a6 natural move was a novelty. [ Previously only 14.h3 had been tried, i.e. 12.b3 0-0 , as Karjakin prefers. That way, if xf3!? ( or 14...a8 , Harika, D (2461)White tries an early Qd4-h4 (e.g. 9.Qh4 or K a z i m o v a , N ( 2 1 4 8 ) / G a z i a n t e p 2 0 0 8) 10.Qh4) Black has a strong 15.exf3 a8 16.xg7 xg7 17.g2 b5! counterargument in ...h7-h6!. The threat of ... B in d rich , F (2 5 2 2 )-C o rd o va , E (2 5 6 0 ) / g6-g5 then becomes annoying for W hite, Chotowa POL 2010. Funnily, the position and Black tends to score very well from after 13...Rc7 has also been reached with these positions. The downside of the text is BLA CK t o mo ve . If you 've be en p ayin g that after 9. Qh4 there is nothing attention, you should know why! Hint: it has preventing White from doing Bc1-h6 in one to do with the "one go" I mentioned earlier. ] go, so W hite gains an extra option. I suppose the only thing Black really gains 14...xg2 15.xg2 e8 [ 15...a8+ is a worthy alternative. ] in return is the ability to prevent a queenside fianchetto setup with 9.b3 (this 16.d5 a8 [ Not 16...xd5?! 17.xg7 , when Black has would be met by 9...Ne4, winning), but that to play h5 , e.g. ( 17...5f6 18.h6! c o n t i n u a t i o n i s k n o wn t o b e h a r m l e s s is dire for Black in view of Rd1-d4-h5, which anyway. )] is actually tough to stop! a5 19.h8 ) 9.h4 d6 10.d1 18.cxd5 xg7 19.c6 e5 20.d4 g8 [ Or the immediate 10.h6 . ] 21.xb6 . ] 10...bd7 11.h6 The critical test. White would love to follow with Nf3-g5 and evict 17.f3 cc8 Black is very solid here. I couldn't Black's knight from f6, but this has proven find any convincing way to proceed with the attack, so I chose a calmer continuation. difficult in practice. 1218
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.xg7 xg7 19.d4! Centralization. Black has a few problems to solve. b5 [ B e t t e r w a s 19...g8! , as 20.xb6? backfires because of the attractive ( 20.e4 xd5 21.cxd5 xc1 22.xc1 c8 i s o n l y v e r y s l i g h t l y b e t t e r f o r W h i t e) 20...xb6 21.xb6 c5! , hitting g5 and cutting off the queen's escape. Black wins a piece because 22. ..Rb8 is also threatened. ] 20.e4! bxc4 21.bxc4 [ Here I missed 21.exf6! exf6 ( 21...xf6? 22.b6+- ) 22.e4 with advantage to White because cxb3?! is met by 23.c7 xc7 24.xc7 c5 25.c4! . ] 21...c6 22.g4?! Encouraging mass simplifications. [ Stronger was 22.c3! , menacing Nd5xe7 and Rd1xd6. After g8 A) 23.xe7+ xe7 24.xd6 b7 25.xf6+ ( 25.xf6 xe4! ) 25...xf6 26.xf6 xe2+; B) 23.dxf6+ xf6 24.xd6! xe4 25.xc6 xc3 26.xc8 xc8 27.xc3 W hite has good chances to win the ending. ] 22...g8 23.dxf6+ xf6 24.xf6+ exf6 25.e4 e6 26.d2 White remains a tiny bit better in this heavy piece ending. b8 27.c5 c8?! 28.dc2 b8 29.g3 dxc5 30.xc5 d6+ 31.xd6 xd6 32.c8+ xc8 33.xc8+ g7 34.a8! I was quite satisfied with the transition to this technical (almost textbook!) rook endgame. Such positions are far from trivial to defend with the passive rook, and I was eager to put my opponent to the test. c6 35.h4 h6 36.a4 f5! Kavutskiy correctly decides on active defense. [ If Black waits, i.e. 36...d6 37.f4 c6 38.e3 d6 39.a5 h7 , I had a strong id e a in m in d : 40.b8! , intending 41.Rb6. Black would be very hard-pressed to defend. ] 37.gxf5 gxf5 38.e5 g6 39.d8!? f4+! 40.xf4 c4+ 41.g3 xa4 42.d6+ f5! [ 42...g7 would also be drawn, but the text is even easier. ] 43.f6+ xe5 44.xf7 b4 45.h5 a5?! The first in a series of missteps. [ Black should immediately activate the rook: 45...b1 46.f4+ ( or 46.h7 b6 47.g4 b4+= ) 46...e6 47.h7 f5!= 48.xh6
b3+ 49.h4 b4= . ] 46.f4+ e6?! [ 46...e4! ] 47.a7 a4?! After this, Black cannot prevent a transition to an "f+h" vs. "a" ending. [ Again, Black should go for activity, this time at the expense of his relatively useless apawn. 47...b1 48.a6+ f5 49.xa5+ f6 50.g4 ( 50.a6+ f5 ) 50...g1+ 51.f3 f1+= . ] 48.g4 f6 49.h7 b1 50.xh6+ g7 51.g6+! h7 52.a6 a1 53.g5 g1+ 54.f6 a1?! [ 54...h6! ] 55.f5 a3 56.f7 a2 57.f6 h1? [ Ama zin gly, 57...h6! is still a draw. Now Black should lose. ] 58.xa2 xh5 59.a7?? We were both very low on time at this point. [ After I made the text move I recalled that 59.f2!+- is the correct procedure. The poor position of Black's king prevents him from transferring his rook to the long side, and Black cannot cope with the advance of the fpawn, i.e. h1 ( or 59...h8 60.e6 g8 61.g2+ f8 62.a2+- ) 60.f8 e1 61.f7 e3 62.h2+ g6 63.g8+- . ] 59...b5! 60.e7 g6?? [ 60...b8= is a theoretical draw. ] 61.f7+- Whew! Now it's a win. e5+ 62.f8 h7 63.a1 f5 64.e7 g7 65.g1+ h7 66.h1+ Just to avoid any stalemate tricks. g7 67.f8+ xf8 68.g1+ Black resigned. Early castling in the Double Fianchetto seems reliable enough, but it only gives White an additional option in Bc1-h6. I would prefer the usual move order where Black waits until White commits to Bc1-e3. 1-0
1228 Beckhuis,Gernod Sulskis,Sarunas Vienna Operation Capablanca (5) [John Watson]
A30 2324 2535 28.08.2005
1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 b7 4.g2 c5 5.c3 g6 6.0-0 g7 7.e1 e4 8.xe4 xe4 9.d3 b7 10.e4 0-0 11.e5!? This is a curious way to breathe life into a 1219
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 deadly dull variation. White simply stakes out territory and hopes to disrupt Black's development. d5 [ 11...d6!? is more confrontational. Possibly W h i t e c a n t a k e a c h a n c e w i t h 12.e6!? ( 12.exd6 xd6 13.f4 d7 14.e5 xe5 15.xb7 xb7 16.xe5 f6! 17.c3 c6 ) 12...f5 ( 12...fxe6 13.g5 xg2 14.xg2 ) 13.h4!? c6 14.h5 c7 15.h4 d4 ( 15...e5 16.xb7 xb7 17.f4 ) 16.hxg6 hxg6 17.xg6 xg2 18.xg2 b7+ 19.f3 f6 20.f4 h6 21.d5 xe6 22.xe6 xe6 23.h1 f8 24.h5 with a moderate edge. This "needs tests", as they say. ] 12.f4 [ This time 12.e6! is more attractive: dxc4 13.exf7+ ( 13.dxc4 xd1 14.xd1 f5!? ) 13...xf7 14.e5 xg2 15.xf7 xf7 16.xg2 ] 12...dxc4 13.dxc4 xd1? [ 13...c6 14.e2 and Rad1 with e6 in the air. ] 14.axd1 e6 15.b3! To play Rd6 without allowing ...Na5 with tempo. [ 15.g5 xg2 16.xg2 c6 17.d6 ac8 18.f3 fd8 19.ed1 is only optically better for White. ] [ 15.d6 c6 16.ed1 ( 16.d7 ) 16...ad8 p r o b a b l y f o r c e s s o m e t h i n g l i k e 17.b3 anyway. ] 15...h6 16.h4 c6 [ 16...c6 17.d7! a5 18.ed1 ] 17.d6 c8 18.ed1 f8 19.6d2 [ It's not easy to see at this point, but it seems that 19.6d3! would be better, since it leaves d2 open for W hite's knight, for example, g7 20.d2 xg2 21.xg2 c6 22.e4 d8 ( 22...d4 23.c1 d8 24.b2 c6 25.d6 with an advantage.) 23.d7 a6 24.1d2 xd7 ( 24...e7 25.b7 ) 25.xd7 a7! 26.f6! e7 27.e8+ ( 27.xa7 xa7 28.d7 with some but probably not enough a d v a n t a g e .) 27...f8 28.xa7 xa7 29.c7 g5 30.d2 gxh4 31.gxh4 g7 32.h5 a5 33.f3 c6 34.e4 d4 35.e8+ f8 36.f6 intending g7 37.xh6+! xh6 38.g8+ xh5 39.xe7 e2 40.a4 d4 41.c8 xb3 42.xb6 g4 43.d7 and Black will have trouble
defending. ] 19...g7 20.d3 [ 20.g4!? e7 21.g5 h5 22.d3 a6 23.a3 d8 ] 20...e7 21.c1 a5 22.a4 a7! 23.b2 e4 24.e3 a8 The play is equal. 25.ed3 [ 25.c3 d7 26.xd7 xd7 27.d2 xg2 28.xg2 d8 29.e4 b8 30.d6 c6= ] 25...e4 26.e3 a8 27.ed3 cc7 28.d2 xg2 29.xg2 d7 30.e4 xd3 31.xd3 d7 32.xd7 [ 32.xd7 xd7 33.f3 still causes some trouble: b8 34.d6 c6 35.c8 d8 36.e4 Not winning, of course, but it was worth playing on. ] ½-½
1229 Beliavsky,Alexander G Kurajica,Bojan zt 1.2 Pula CRO (4) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2640 2530 14.04.2000
1.f3 c5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c6 4.g2 d5 5.cxd5 xd5!? [ An extremely rare, and somewhat surprising, m o ve , B la c k a l m o s t i n va r i a b l y p r e f e r s 5...exd5 when 6.d4 will transpose to a Tarrasch. ] 6.c3 [ A new move, it appears, although it is a ve r y e vid e n t o n e . I n t h e o n ly p re vi o u s example of this line that I could find, S m yslo v, V -B ro n st e i n , D / M o sc o w 1 9 6 6 , White omitted this, and played for d4: 6.0-0 d8 7.b3 e7 8.b2 f6 9.d4 0-0 10.dxc5 xc5 11.xd8 xd8 12.bd2 with a slight edge. ] 6...d8 7.d3 f6 8.0-0 e7 9.e3 g4! [ Black cuts across the White plan, for after 9...0-0 White could force Black into a certain passivity by 10.a4 d7 11.c1 ] 10.d2 0-0 11.c1 d7 12.e4 b6 13.c3 c8 Black has completed his development, and has no particular worries. 14.ed2 [ White decides to continue manoeuvering, his problem is that his most important pawn break, 14.d4?! leads to a disadvantage after f5 15.ed2 cxd4 16.xd4 xd4 17.xd4 1220
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xc1 18.xc1 b5! so he must bide his time. ] 14...f6 15.c4 e7 16.e4!? Very committal, as d4, and d3, are weakened, but White couldn't do nothing and allow Black to take control of the game. xc3 17.bxc3 b5 [ 17...e5 isn't bad either. ] 18.cd2 d6 19.b3 e5 20.e2?! [ Missing a chance to liquidate the centre by 20.d4 cxd4 21.cxd4 exd4 22.bxd4 xd4 23.xd4 which is fairly equal, although W h i t e m i g h t h a ve b e e n w o r r i e d a b o u t Black's queenside majority. ] 20...fe8 21.h3 f6 22.e3 d8 23.h4 c4 Played to drive the b3-knight to an inferior square. 24.dxc4 bxc4 [ The tempting 24...xc4 leads to equality on 25.xa7 a4 26.e3 xa2 27.a1 ] 25.fd1 b6! Taking play into an endgame where Black has the more useful bishop, and more space on the queenside. 26.xb6 axb6 27.d2 a4 28.e1 g6 29.b1 b5 30.f3 e6 With a very real threat of coming to d3 via c5. 31.d1 xd1 32.exd1 c5! 33.xb5 fxe4 34.xe4 xe4 35.c1 a8 36.c2 a3 Black has the more active pieces and the better structure. 37.f3 xc3?! [ Possibly in time trouble, Black lets slip his a d v a n t a g e . A f t e r t h e o b v i o u s 37...f6 perhaps he was worried about weakening his second rank, but after 38.b4 , say, c8 39.d2 xd2 40.xd2 xc3 41.d7 White's threats are a tempo too late, d3! 42.a7? ( 42.xc4! xg3+ 43.fxg3 xc4 44.a7 might draw) 42...c3 43.bb7 c2 and there is no perpetual as the black king can escape to d8. ] 38.xe5 [ 38.xe5 xe5 39.xc3 c5 40.c2 c3 still favours Black. ] ½-½
1230 Berkes,Ferenc Almasi,Zoltan It Budapest HUN (8) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2578 2676 19.04.2003
1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d3 An alternative to the mainline with [ 7.d4 where White tries to blunt the effect of the b7-bishop. ] 7...0-0 8.e4 d6 9.h3 c6 10.e3 White plans playing d4 and recapturing with a piece (instead of with the queen as in the mainline). e6!? Unusual, Black will be able to react with ...d5 in the centre, the best move might be [ 10...c8! to inhibit d4, 11.d2 ( 11.d4? cxd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 xc4 ) 11...d7 12.h2 a6 13.h4 d4 14.f4 b5 with a Botvinnik-style position, Speelman, J-Browne,W/London 1980. ] 11.d4 a5!? A new idea, [ 11...cxd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 had been played previously, e7 14.e2 fd8 15.fd1 White has a typical Maroczy position, and a plus, Vaganian,R-Contin,D/ Reggio Emilia 1994. ] 12.d3 d5! This is Black's plan, liquidating t h e c e n t r e . 13.cxd5 exd5 14.dxc5!? 'This move frees the d4-square for W hite's pieces, at the cost of activity, but anyway' [ 14.e5 e4 is nothing special for White. ] 14...xe4 [ 14...dxe4?! 15.xd8 axd8 16.d2 favours White. ] 15.cxb6 axb6 16.fc1 After the complications W hite has the better pawn structure but the black pieces are very active. c5! The immediate [ 16...c4 appears strong, but following 17.d4! xb2 18.b5 c4 19.xe4 dxe4 20.xg7 xg7 21.xc4 exf3 White saves himself by 22.c3+ f6 23.xf6+ xf6 24.cb1! as fxg2? is met by 25.xb6+ ] 17.d1!? [ 17.c2 seems necessary, to defend the bpawn, but Black has a very pleasant game after d4! 18.d1 ab3! 19.axb3 xa1 20.xa1 dxe3 ] 17...c4 Black's play is based on this move, 1221
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 which f orks b2 and the e3-bishop. 18.d4 The best practical chance, White gives a pawn but retains his better structure. xb2 19.c2 xd4 20.xd4 ba4! 21.cb5 f6 After Black's excellent play he has won a pawn, but certain technical difficulties remain his bishop must passively defend the d5-pawn for the moment, and his queenside pawns are split. 22.d1 e4 23.f3 xf3 24.xf3 ac5 25.c2 a4 The white a-pawn is the target. 26.d1 a5 [ 26...c4!? is interesting, White can hardly capture on c4 as this evens-out the black p a w n s , s o . . . 27.g2 d3 28.e2 (the threat was ...Ne1+) a6 with a powerful initiative. ] 27.g2 d8 Perhaps the players were becoming short of time, as here Black missed a good chance to activate his bishop: [ 27...a6 and if 28.c7 d3 29.cc1 f6 ] 28.b1 g5 The knight heads for e6 to contest control of d4, [ 28...d6 29.xd6 xd6 is simpler. ] 29.cb2 ge6 30.f3 a4 31.d1 W h i t e h a s t o h o l d t h e d 4 - s q u a r e . a6? A bad mistake, that can only be attributed to time-trouble, which messes-up an almost won position. 32.c6! Ouch! f8 33.c3 a3 34.xd5 White has regained his pawn, and is now better because of his active pieces. d3? It never rains, but it pours! This move loses another pawn, [ 34...b7 was still OK: 35.xb6 ( 35.xb6? xf3! ) 35...xa2 ( or 35...xc6 36.xc6 xa2 and in both cases the last queenside pawns are exchanged with a likely draw. )] 35.b3 xb3?! Perhaps Black should have preferred [ 35...xa2!? 36.bxd3 xd3 37.xd3 b2 when W hite has two pieces for rook and pawn, but the absence of white queenside pawns makes a draw likely. ] 36.axb3 g7 There was no way to defend the b6-pawn. 37.xb6 g5 38.d5 c5?! 39.b4 ce4 40.a1 b7 41.a7 xc6 42.xc6 b8 43.b7 xb7 44.xb7 d6 45.d5 f6 46.c4 The outside passed pawn is quite enough to win the game. b5 47.d2 e7 48.e4 xe4 49.xe4 c3 50.f3 d6 51.f4 d1 52.f3 f6 53.h4
The winning plan is simple, White will use the b-pawn to deflect the black pieces while he inf iltrat es th e black kingside p awns . c3 54.g4 e6 55.e3 d6 56.d3 a4 57.d4 b6 58.f4 d7 59.g5 fxg5 60.hxg5 b6 61.b5 [ 61.b5 d7 62.d5 f8 (else Bg8 wins the black pawns) 63.g8 c7 64.c5 etc. ] 1-0
1231 Berkes,Ferenc Stohl,Igor 37th Olympiad (10) [John Watson]
A30 2593 2538 31.05.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.g3 e6 4.f3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 a6 Move orders are huge in the Hedgehog. Assuming that White isn't going to move into a standard setup with b3 and/or e4, B l a c k h a s t wo p o t e n t i a l wo rr i e s. A t t h i s juncture, the main 'problem' with 9...0-0 is 10. Bg5, and if Black then plays 10...Nbd7, 11. Nb5. But after 9...a6, the main unique challenge is the one played in this game: 10.g5 xg2 11.xg2 0-0 12.ce4 d5!? I really don't think this move is sufficient to maintain a balanced game, although a completely convincing answer hasn't been established yet. Black's most frequentlyplayed move is 12...Ra7. The idea is to pin White's knight via ...Rd7 should White ever be so foolish as to capture on d6.12...d5 saves the pawn in another way, but I like Bjerkes' response, which follows an older and neglected game. 13.xf6+ xf6 14.g4! Now Black's d-pawn is a target. a7!? [ An older game went 14...c6 15.cxd5 exd5 16.f5! g6 ( 16...xg5 17.xg5 e7 18.e5 f6 19.e6+ h8 20.e3 ) 17.xd5 A) 17...xd5+ 18.xd5 ad8 19.e4! d4 20.xd8 xd8 gives Black some, but probably not enough compensation. One idea is to give the pawn back by 21.h6 ( 21.g5 e8 22.f6+ xf6 23.xf6 xe2 24.d1 e6 25.c3 b5 ) 21...xb2 22.b1 d4 23.e3 c5 1222
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.xc5 ( 24.g5 c8 25.f6+ g7 26.d7 ) 24...bxc5 25.b6 and you have to like W hite, although who knows if he has enough to win.; B) 17...d4?! 18.xd8 ( 18.b7! xg5 19.xg5 xg5 20.xd4 ) 18...axd8 19.e4 g7 20.g5 de8? 21.f6+ xf6 22.xf6 c2? 23.ac1 xe2 24.f1 fe8 25.c3! b4 ( or 25...b5 26.d6 b4 27.d2 and the knight is trapped. ) 26.xb4 xb2 27.a3 a5 28.d2 b3 29.e3 xa3 30.xb6 a4 31.a1 b3 32.d8 xd8 33.xd8 b4 34.a5 c4 35.e2 1-0 Robatsch-Kiefer, Germany 1986. ] 15.e4! d7!? Maybe this doesn't work, but Black doesn't seem to have another acceptable move, for example, [ 15...d7 16.exd5 exd5 17.cxd5 xd5?? 18.e4 ] [ or 15...d4 16.e5! e7 ( 16...xe5? 17.e4 ) 17.xd4 ] 16.cxd5 e5 17.h5 h6 18.f3?! [ W hite wins material by 18.xf7! xf7 19.dxe6 d6 20.e5 ] 18...g6! 19.xh6 xf3 20.xf3 d7 21.f4!? [ 21.d2 exd5 22.exd5 ( 22.g2 ) 22...a8! -White is temporarily two pawns up but the d-pawn will fall and he may end up with only a small advantage. ] [ 21.g2!? exd5 22.d2 e8 23.f3! with the extra pawn and some advantage, but White's king will be a little loose. ] 21...exd5 22.e5 g7 23.e3 e8 24.d4 de7 25.e1 b8 Very clever of Black. He'll regain his pawn and survive some problems with weaknesses. 26.g2 xe5 27.xe5 xe5 28.h6 c8!? [ 28...8e6!? is counterintuitive but may well equalise: 29.f4 g5! 30.xe5 xe5= ] 29.e1 f5 30.h3! f6 Finally closing the diagonal. Else g4 followed by f4 wins. 31.g4 d3 [ 31...c2 32.xe5 fxe5 33.c1 e4+ 34.f3 and Rc7 follows. ] 32.xe5 xe5 [ 32...fxe5? 33.e3! b1 34.f3 ] 33.c1 e8 34.c6 e4+ 35.g3 1-0. Probably Black's flag fell. He can play [ [ 35.g3 ] e5+ 36.f4 ( 36.h4!? g5+
37.h5 e6 ) 36...xf4+ 37.xf4 , although e4+ 38.f3 b4 39.xf6 g7 40.d6 xb2 41.xd5 xa2 42.d7+ will favour White. ] 1-0
1232 Bosboom,Manuel Harika,Dronavalli Corus C Wijk aan Zee NED (8) [Jonathan Rowson]
A30 2418 2473 25.01.2009
1.c4 c5 2.a3!? Bosboom's openings are famously eccentric, but this particular idea is not so silly because a3 and b4 is often played later, and it is an open question whether it favours Black or W hite to do it earlier. The problem is that if White wants to make 2 a3 distinct, and not just a move-order trick, he has to be willing to sacrifice a pawn early. g6 [ 2...c6 3.b4!? By no means forced, but otherwise 2 a3 loses some of its charm. cxb4 4.axb4 xb4 5.c3 And carry on as if nothing has happened. You cannot prove that White has enough compensation, but my understanding of chess tells me that White has good practical chances in such a position because you control the centre and have chances of creating pressure on the a and b files. Moreover, Black will have to play wit h a lo t of skill t o co nt ain th e initiative while making the extra pawn count. I am not sure how best to look at it- perhaps a go o d win g ga mb it , p erh a p s a d e c e n t Benko, but in any case W hite has a p l a ya b l e p o s i t i o n , a n d B l a c k m ig h t b e somewhat knocked off balance. I would say h o w e ve r t h a t yo u s h o u l d c h o o s e y o u r opponent carefully, because I doubt that W hite's compensation is objectively adequate. ] [ 2...e6 3.b4 ( 3.e3!? trying to redirect to some sort of Semi-Tarrasch, is also plausible.) 3...cxb4 4.axb4 xb4 5.b2 f6 6.f3 is again playable, pretending it is some sort of Benko (although admittedly very different in lots of ways!), but giving a pawn so early is not to everyone's taste and in this case Black's development looks quite easy. ] 1223
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 2...a5 looks foolish here, although many with some complications) 20...d7 21.b4 players would later do it almost and White has a lot of pressure ] automatically. ] 17.c5 c7 Again the alternatives are worse. 3.b4 g7 4.c3 d6 [ 17...e6 looks interesting, but White has a [ 4...b6 5.b2 looks more promising than strong answer 18.xd6 f8 many lines of the symmetrical English. ] A) 19.dd1 is not good and Black has 5.b2 f6 6.g3 0-0 7.g2 c6 8.bxc5 chances to be better here xc5 20.e5 dxc5 9.f3 xe3 21.fxe3 b6 22.xf7!? ( 22.xd7 [ 9.d3!? e6 10.h3!? ] is already losing xe3+ 23.f2 xg5+ 9...e6 10.d3 In general, this structure 24.g2 b4 and Black recovers the piece favours White, due to the extra centre pawn with interest ) an d th e lon g te rm(e. g. in a roo k e nd in g) A1) 22...xe3+ is a tense draw 23.f2 possibility of a minority attack on the xh3 24.h6+ h8 25.xd7 f4 qu e e n s id e . Ho we ve r, so m e t h in g u s u a lly A1a) 26.f7+ g8 27.h6+ xh6 happens to disrupt any hopes W hite might ( 27...h8= ) 28.xf4 f8 29.xf8+ have of early twentieth century strategising in xf8 is also equal; this case it is not straightforward to connect A1b) 26.xh7+ xh7 27.a7+ h8 the rooks. c8 11.g5 d7 12.b1 h6 28.f7+ g8 29.h6+=; 13.ge4 h3 14.xf6+ xf6 15.0-0 xg2 A2) 22...xf7 23.xd7+ g8 24.d4 16.xg2 b6 17.d2 h7 18.d5 xb2 xd4 25.xd4 c5 and Black has 19.xb2 d8 20.h4 The draw offer seems nothing to worry about; quite generous because W hite is very B) 19.cd1! it's important to keep Black comfortable here. tied down xd6 20.xd6 e7 21.b4 ½-½ and White has good compensation, Black is going to suffer without an important bishop ] 1233 A30 18.b4 [ 18.d5 leads nowhere, since Black has a Bu,Xiangzhi 2699 n i c e r e s o u r c e xd5 19.xd5 xc5 Sethuraman,SP 2576 20.xc5 ( 20.cxc5 xc5 21.xc5 a8 Asian Continental 13th (9) 25.04.2014 is the same) 20...a8! and Black will just be [Fier, Alexandr] a pawn up ] The second hot game in this line, just one day 18...dxc5 [ 18...e5 doesn't equalize 19.xe5 xe5 after the novelty of the previous game. A) 20.d4 xd4 21.xd4 e5! 22.g4 Apparently everybody is really well prepared ( 22.xd6 xg5+ 23.f1 f4 in this position, so Black had no problems in is too dangerous) 22...f4 23.f1 d7 playing a sequence of forced moves to with chances for both sides; equalize. Was everything book? 1.f3 f6 B) 20.d5!? xd5 21.xd5 e6 22.d3 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 d5 23.f4 h8 24.f2 and White is 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 slightly better, the pawn on c5 is strong bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 0-0 12.h4 a6 and Black has no easy counterplay at the 13.b3 e8 14.h3 a8 15.g4 b5 16.g5 moment ] This was the novelty played just one day after Karjakin's game. White will try to push the c- 19.bxc5 [ 19.e4 is just enough to equalize, Black pawn to c5 instead of opening the queenside. has different ways to play h5 The only move. A) 19...c4 20.c5 ( 20.b6? [ 16...xf3 is not good at this moment, with here it doesn't work xb6 21.xd8 xd8 the exchange, W hite's knight on c3 has 22.c5 xf3 23.exf3 d4 24.g4 d5 beautiful squares to go to 17.exf3 h5 and W hite is in big trouble) 20...e6 18.c5 e5 19.g2 c6 20.f4 ( 20.d5 21.xa6 c6 22.c5 c7 i s l e s s c l e a r dxc5 21.xc5 a8 1224
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with a possible repetition; B) 19...xe4 20.xe4 c4 21.b6 xb6 22.xd8 xd8 23.e5 d6 with a complex position where all th e results are possible ] 19...e6 Black's last 4 moves where more or less forced, but now the position is equal. Whether it's worth remembering all this I'm not sure, but anyway it's impressive! 20.e4 [ 20.a4 is also ok for Black b8 21.axb5 axb5 22.b4 ( Houdini 4 Pro x64:2) 22.e4 b4 23.d6 d8 24.c4 c3 25.b1 a7 and the position is quite hard to play for both players ) 22...ec8 A) 23.xb5 b7 24.a5 ( 24.c4?! b4 25.a6 xc5 and Black can start to fight for the advantage ) 24...a7=; B) 23.b1 xc3 24.xc3 xc5 25.e5 xf3 26.exf3 d3!? tricky 27.d4 c5 28.e5= ] 20...e7 21.d6 d8 White's knight looks strong on d6, but Black has a forcing way to deal with the problems. 22.g4 xc5!? Going int o a lon g f o rce d va riation , an d I wo n d e r i f e v e n t h i s w a s p a r t o f B l a c k ' s preparation. Is this possible? 23.xc5 f4 24.e1 xc5 25.xc5 b7! A hard move to see at the beginning of the variation but a necessary one, avoiding the check on c8. 26.c8 [ 26.g3 xd6 27.dc1 d5 28.f3 e5 and Black has enough compensation for the exchange ] 26...xc8 27.xc8+ xc8 28.e3 d5 B l a c k i s j u s t l i vi n g o n a k n if e - e d g e , b u t apparently everything is working. 29.xd5 exd5 30.xc8 c7 31.xa6 [ 31.h3 c1 and the knight will fall 32.d7 xe1+ 33.g2 c3 34.b7 e5 35.xd5 is a dead draw ] 31...c6 And finally the bishop has no s q u a r e s , W h i t e s t i l l t r i e d t o f i gh t f o r a n a d v a n t a g e i n t h e g a m e , b u t h e wa s n o t succe ssf u l 32.xb5 xb5 33.f3 b1+ 34.g2 xa2 35.b4 a8 36.d6 h6 37.d7 h5 38.h3 h8 39.g1 g7 40.h4 d4! Black finally activates the queen, and the game is draw. 41.xd4 e4 42.c8+ h7 43.d7 g8 44.c8+ h7 45.d7 g8 ½-½
1234 Bu Xiangzhi Jakovenko,Dmitrij CHN-RUS Chess Summit (4) [John Watson]
A30 2664 2667 13.08.2006
White doesn't get anything out of the opening, but finds an original way to create chances. He conducts a decisive attack but lets his opponent slip away at the end. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 c5 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 c6 6... Be7 has become the main line here, but moving the knight to c6 has its fans. The position that is reached in this game after move 11 is the same as in the 'main line' of the Hedgehog with 7.Re1, except that there Black puts his queen's knight on d7. The difference here is the knight exchange on d4. This (a) favours Black because he gets more room for his pieces, but it (b) favours White because it clarifies his space advantage and takes the pressure off of his centre. 7.e1 c7 8.e4 d6 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 xd4 11.xd4 e7 12.b3 0-0 13.b2 [ Or 13.a3 a6 14.ac1 ac8 ] 13...fd8 14.ac1 ac8 15.h3 Long-winded manoeuvering begins. Black stands solidly but has no chance to free his game and has to await events. Often both players shift around a while and agree to a draw. f8 16.h2 b8 17.cd1 c6 18.e3 [ 18.f4 e5!? ( 18...a6 asks White what he's threatening) 19.f2 exf4 20.xf4 d7 21.d5 e5 22.h4! with the idea Bh3 favours White. Again, Black should probably sit on the position, although a rook on e8 can come in handy, so maybe he should move it to that square. ] 18...d7!? 19.f4 a6! Black finally has an idea: ...b5. 20.f5!? Very committal, especially wit h t h e kn ig h t re a d y t o s p ri n g o n t o e 5 . Another thought was [ 20.e2 b5 21.cxb5 axb5 22.d4 ] 20...e5 21.fxe6 fxe6 22.e2! b5 23.cxb5 axb5 [ 23...xb5!? 24.d4 d7 looks fine for Black. ] 24.f4 e8 25.f1 b7 Black doesn't feel worried about the danger on the kingside. A more dynamic option was [ 25...b4! 26.h5 b5 27.d2 e7!? 1225
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 27...a8 is safer ) 28.xg7!? g5! ( 28...xg7? 29.xd6+- ) 29.xg5! f3+ 30.xf3 xg5 31.xd6 ] 26.h5 f7 [ Unnecessary. 26...e7 27.xe5?! dxe5 gives Black a positional advantage. ] 27.d2 e5 28.df2 e7 29.g4!? [ 29.a3 ] 29...d7?! [ Everything has been under control up to this point, and simply 29...b4! 30.g5 b5 would free Black's pieces enough to equalize. ] [ Perhaps White didn't want to play a3 because of the line 29...d5? 30.exd5 xd5 31.xd5 xd5 32.a3! ] 30.g5 e6? [ Not much better is 30...b4 31.g3 b5 32.f6+ h8 33.xh7! xf1 34.h4 g8 35.xf1 ] [ Perhaps 30...h8 was best, stopping g6 and intending ...Ng6. ] 31.g3! With the double idea g6 and Nf6+. ee8 [ 31...b8 32.f6+ h8 33.xh7 ] 32.g6 h8 33.gxh7+ xh7 34.h4 g8 35.g5 h7 36.c1! e7 37.f6! Threatening Rh6+. There's little to be done about it. f7 38.h6+ gxh6 39.f6+ xf6 40.xf6 c2 41.e3?! White's sense of danger fails him over the next two moves. On simple solution was [ 41.a4 bxa4 42.bxa4 a2 43.f5+ g6 44.d7+ g7 45.c6 ] 41...xa2 42.f2? [ 42.f5+! g6 ( 42...g8 43.g4+ h7?! 44.d7 e7 45.xd6 ) 43.d7+ g7 44.f2 xf2 45.xf2 ] 42...xf2 43.xf2 xb3 White shouldn't have given up both queenside pawns. From now on it's very hard if not impossible to win. 44.f5+ g6 45.d7+ e7 46.xb5 e6 47.f3 g7 48.g4 xg4 49.hxg4 e7 50.c4 [ Or 50.d5!? with the idea f4 51.xf4 exf4 52.f5+ but this pretty much transposes. ] 50...f4! 51.xf4 exf4 52.e6 f8 53.f5+ g8 54.xf4 f7 55.d2 f6 The key position. Black has a sort of darksquare blockade, and if he gets a bishop to e5
t h e g a m e wi l l b e d r a w n . W h i t e n e e d s a queenside pawn! 56.g3 g7 57.d5+ h7 58.h4 h8 59.c6 h7 60.d7 g8 61.e7 [ 61.h5!? h7 ] 61...h7 62.g5 hxg5+ 63.xg5 g6+ 64.f5 h6 65.f7 h8 66.g5 h7 67.f5+ g8 68.a5 h7 69.f5+ g8 70.d7 h7 71.f4 g8 72.e3 e5 73.d3 f6 74.c4 f7 75.g4+ h7 76.d5 h6 77.h4+ g6 78.d8 f4 79.g8+ h5 80.h7+ g4 81.g6+ h3 82.c4 f3 83.h5+ g3 84.g6+ h3 85.g5 g3 86.h5+ g2 87.e2+ g1 88.d5 c3 89.e6 g3 90.f5 c3 91.g4 g3+ 92.h4 c3 93.a2 g3 94.d2 c3 95.d5 f1 96.a5 e2 97.g4 g3+ 98.f5 c3 99.b5+ f2 100.e6 ½-½
1235 Bu Xiangzhi Shchekachev,Andrei Aeroflot Open (1) [John Watson]
A30 2645 2570 08.02.2006
This game between two top-flight grandmasters strikes me as theoretically important, since Black's Double Fianchetto defence has proven impossible to crack until re c e n t l y. H e re B u X i a n g zh i m a n a g e s t o improve upon a dull repetition to blast through on the kingside. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 0-0 12.h4 a6 13.b3 c7 14.g4 h6 Thought to be the key to Black's defence. 15.xh6 xh6 16.xh6 xg4 17.h4 gf6 18.h6 g4 19.h4 gf6 20.d5! In fact, a recent game was agreed drawn in this position. But Black does nothing terribly wrong from here on out and W hite has real play. xd5! [ 20...xd5 21.cxd5 xc1 ( 21...xd5 22.xc7 xc7 23.g5 f6 24.h6 threatens an unstoppable Rd3-h3 or Rd4h4 ) 22.xc1 A) 22...b5!? is the best try, to prepare a counterattack with ... Qa5. One idea in that 1226
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 case is 23.b4!? xd5 ( 23...g7 24.d4 c5 15.c4 c8= ) 10...xc3 11.xc3 h8 25.g3 ) 24.g5 5f6 25.h6 0-0 12.f4 f6 13.e5 xe5?! e5 26.h3! b6 27.e6! fxe6 ( Now White gains the initiative more 28.xe6+ f7 29.xg6+ h8 30.xf7; p r u d e n t i s 13...d7 14.xf6 xf6 B) 22...xd5?! 23.g5 5f6 24.h6 with approximately even chances) 14.xe5 e5 25.h3 and again there is no xg2 15.xg2 d5+ 16.f3 ( Also 16.e4 defence to both f4 and Be6, not to mention looks good, although White's advantage is Rc3. ] less significant after b7 17.ad1 c8 21.cxd5 f6 22.e4 a5 18.f3 e7 19.d3 c6 20.xc6 xc6 [ Again, 22...b5! looks best and is probably 21.d7 xd7 22.xd7 , and White has a the spot at which Black had good chances pull in the endgame) 16...d8 17.ed1 o f s a l v a t i o n . N e v e r t h e l e s s , 23.h6 xf3+ 18.xf3 a6 19.c6 T.Erdelyi-A. ( 23.b4!? ) 23...xc1 24.xc1 a5 25.h3! Delanoy, Kecskemet 1991 ] is still dangerous: xe4? ( 25...xa2! ) 10.bxc3 e4 26.e6! fxe6 27.xg6+ h8 28.xe4! [ This is a curious choice, but similar ideas xd5 29.h4+ g7 ( 29...g8?? 30.g5 ) are seen in some lines of the Queen's Indian. 30.xe7+ f7 31.g5+ h7 32.h5+ However, the main line is 10...0-0 11.e4 g7 33.g5 etc. ] ( 11.b2 c6 12.e4 c7 13.c1 ad8 23.h6 g4 24.h4 f6 25.h6 g4 14.e2 c8 15.f1 a8 26.g5! f6 27.d4! c5 28.xc5 bxc5 is very comfortable for Black, A.Apro-G. 29.e6 Kovacs, Paks 1995) 11...c6 12.d5 ( or 1-0 12.f4 cxd4 13.cxd4 f6 14.e3 c8 15.c1 a5 16.d3 xc1 17.xc1 a8 , and the players prematurely agreed upon a 1236 A30 dra w, 1 /2 -1/ 2 G. S an d n er-S. K as p aro v, Pardubice 2000 ) 12...exd5 13.exd5 a5 Carlsen,Magnus 2693 A) White can also consider 14.e5 Aronian,Levon 2759 A1) or 14...d6 15.h5 ( 15.f4!? WCh Candidates s/f (3) 29.05.2007 is b e t t e r, e . g . c7 16.g4 ad8 [Carsten Hansen] 17.d3 ) 15...c7 16.f4 ( or 16.f4!? ) 16...ae8 17.d2 f6 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 18.d3?! ( now Black's gets the upper 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.e1 d5 8.cxd5 hand. Instead W hite should try 18.g4 xd5 9.d4!? xe1+ 19.xe1 c4 20.c1 b5 [ This is rather rare line, but probably 21.e3 xe3 22.xe3 c8 ) 18...g6 W hite's best shot at an advantage in this 19.h4 c4 I.Nester-P.Lomako, line against Aronian who seems to Minsk 2005; u n d e r s t a n d t h e H e d g e h o g ve r y we l l . I A2) 14...f6 15.f4 suspect that the move was played under A2a) also 15...e8 is better for White: the inspiration of a game played between 16.h4 ( 16.d3 xe5 17.xe5 d7 two of Carlsen's compatriots. The main line 18.f4 leads to a similar position as is 9.e4 b4 10.d4 cxd4 11.xd4 8c6 that after 16.h4) 16...xe5 17.xe5 12.xc6 xd1 13.xd1 xc6 which leads xe5 18.xe5 d7 19.d3 b5 to approximately equal chances and likely 20.f4 I.Nester-K.Stupak, Lviv 2006; positions which Aronian knows intimately ] A2b) 15...xe5 16.xe5 d7 9...xc3 17.h5 f5 18.ad1 c4 19.f4 [ Black has an important, but less often ( 19.f4!? ) 19...ad8 20.e2 d6 played alt ernative in 9...cxd4 10.xd4 21.c2 c4 22.e2 Z.Rahman-T. ( 10.a4+ doesn't offer White anything, e.g. Abergel, Paris 2002; d7 11.xd5 xd5 12.xd4 xg2 B) 14.f4 d6 15.e5 c7 16.h5 13.xg2 1/2-1/2 G.Borgo-G.Papp, Brno B1) 16...f6? 17.c6 xc6 18.dxc6 2006 a possible continuation is 0-0 14.f4 1227
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xc6 19.xc6 xc6 20.e6 ad8 21.d1+-; B2) 16...ae8? B2a) 17.e3!? e7 ( 17...g6?! 18.e2 f6 19.xg6!+- Pelletier ) 18.ae1 fe8 19.c4; B2b) 17.xf7! xe1+ 18.xe1 xf7?? ( 18...xf4 19.e4 h6 20.g5 c8 21.xh7 e8 22.g6+- ) 19.e8+ f8 20.xf8+ ( 20.h3! w i n s o n t h e s p o t g6 21.e6+ ) 20...xf8 21.f5+ e8 22.e6+ e7 23.xd6 xd6 24.xd6 , and even though White has a clear advantage in this endgame and should win, he managed to mess it up and eventually Black drew the game, P. Maletin-P.Lomako, Nizhnij Tagil 2006; B3) 16...ad8 B3a) 17.ad1!? looks good, e.g. de8 ( 17...f6? 18.c6+- ) 18.xf7; B3b) 17.e3 B3b1) 17...g6 B3b11) In his notes to the game, Pelletier only gives 18.h6 f6 19.d3 c4 20.e4 ( 20.ee1 (+= Pelletier) is less convincing: g5! 21.xd6 xd6 ) 20...e5 21.xe5 fxe5 22.g5 de8 23.e2 a6 24.e3; B3b12) 18.h4! f6 19.g4 xf4 20.gxf4; B3b2) 17...f6 18.d3 c4 ( or 18...f7 19.xf7+ xf7 20.xd6 xd6 21.f4 c4 22.e8+ f8 23.e6 Pelletier ) B3b21) 19.e2 a6! is given by Pelletier without an evaluation, indicating that he probably considered Black to be okay, but in fact after 20.h3 e5 21.xe5! ( 21.xe5 xd3 22.e6+ h8 23.xd6 xd6 24.e3 ) 21...fxe5 22.e6+ h8 23.xe5 White is better; B3b22) 19.e4 B3b221) 19...b5 20.a4 ( 20.ae1 Pelletier ) 20...a6 21.b1 white still has some edge.; B3b222) 19...g6
B3b2221) Pelletier isn't happy with this move, and offers two a l t e r n a t i v e s : 20.e2 xd5 ( This is better than, Pelletier's 20...e5 21.xe5 fxe5 22.c4 b5 23.xe5 bxc4 24.c6 Pelletier ) 21.e7 c6 22.h6 f7 23.xf7 xf7 24.e1 e5 25.xe5+ xe5 26.d1 c4 27.d2 e6 with a fascinating position where Black should be okay; B3b2222) 20.h4!? (Pelletier) b5 21.xd6 xd6 22.ee1 f5 23.f4; B3b2223) 20.h6?! e5 ( 20...xd5?? 21.e7+- xe7 22.xd5+ h8 23.xc4+Pelletier ) B3b22231) 21.xe5! fxe5 22.c4 b5 23.ae1 B3b222311) 23...g7 Pelletier 24.xg7+ ( 24.c1!? bxc4 25.xc4 f7 26.4e2 ) 24...xg7 25.xe5 bxc4 26.c6 d7 27.xc4 a6 28.cc1; B3b222312) 23...bxc4 24.xe5 g7 25.xg7+ xg7 26.xc4 fe8=; B3b22232) 21.xe5 fxe5 22.g5 de8 23.c4 ( 23.d1 f7 24.e2 e4 ) 23...b5 Y.Pelletier-V. Kortschnoi, Biel 2002 ] [ A third option is 10...cxd4 11.cxd4 0-0 12.e4 c6 ( 12...a6!? ) 13.b2 A) 13...c8?! has also been tested, but is h a rd ly re co m m e n d a b le : 14.d5 b4 15.d4 A1) or 15...exd5 16.a3 c6 17.xc6 xc6 18.exd5 b5 19.d6! ( 19.b3 a6 20.f3 ) 19...xd6 20.g4 f6 21.ad1 h5 22.xh5 c5 23.xc5 bxc5 24.xf6 gxf6 25.e7; A2) 15...e5 A2a) T h i s m o v e i s f u n , b u t 16.a3! s p e l l s t r o u b l e f o r B l a c k : a6 ( 16...exd4 17.xd4 f6 18.xb4 xb2 19.xb2+- ) 17.f5 d6 1228
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.h3 a8 19.f4 f6 20.xd6 xd6 21.e6+ h8 22.fxe5 fxe5 23.h5+-; A2b) 16.f5!? c2 17.g4?! ( 17.f1!? xa1 18.xe5 f6 19.xa1 ) 17...g6 ( 17...f6! 18.f4 xe1 19.xe1 c7 20.h1 h8! ) 18.xe5 f6 19.h6+ ( 19.xf6 xf6 20.d6 xe1 21.xe1 c2 22.f4 a8 23.h6 d8 24.h3 ) 19...h8 20.xf6+ xf6 21.e5 g7 22.f4 xa1 ( 22...c5! ) 23.xa1 cd8 24.g4 ( 24.c1!? xd5 25.xd5 xd5 26.c7 xe5 27.xf7+ xf7 28.xf7 e1+ 29.g2 e4+= ) 24...xd5 25.xd5 xd5 26.f6 dd8 ( 26...g5 27.e3 a5 28.d4 ) 27.h4 I.Hrzic-D.Dinu, Bucharest 2002; B) 13...f6 14.c1 c8 15.c2 ( 15.d2 a5 16.d3 d7=; 15.c3!? e8 16.d2 d7 17.ed1 ) B1) 15...xd4!? 16.xd4 xc2 17.xc2 xd4 18.d1 e5 19.xd4 exd4 20.a4 c8 ( 20...d3 21.xa7 d7 22.xb6 ) 21.xa7 g4 22.f3 e6 23.a4 c7 24.xd4 xa2 25.f1 e6 26.b1 c5 27.f2 c8 28.xb6 will be difficult to win for White, b u t t h i s i s h a r d l y t h e k in d o f l i n e a grandmaster would try against a lower rated opponent.; B2) 15...a5 16.f1 ( 16.a3 xc2 17.xc2 e7 18.xe7 xe7 19.c1 d7=; 16.c3!? c4 17.d3 a6 18.ec1 ) 16...d7 17.d3 h6 ( 17...xc2!? 18.xc2 c8 ) 18.xc8 xc8 19.e2 c4 O.Hole-L. Johannessen, Moss 2006 ] 11.e5 xg2 12.xg2 0-0 13.e4 c8 [ An older game saw 13...c7 14.f4 d6 15.f3 c6 , and the pl ayers agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2, O.Dementiev-L.Gofshtein, Yerevan 1981, but White appears to have been able to obtain the better chances with 16.xc6 xf4 ( or 16...xc6 17.d5 exd5 18.exd5 d7 19.xd6 xd6 20.c4 ) 17.d5 d2 18.e2 ] 14.g4 f6?! [ This move may well turn out to be a loss of an important tempo, and should be reserved
for when W hite plays Bh6 and threatens mate on g7. I would give pref erence t o 14...c6 15.h6 ( not 15.f3?! f5 16.exf5 exf5 17.f4 cxd4 18.cxd4 d7 19.e3 f6 20.b2 a5 ) 15...f6 16.xc6 ( 16.f3?! e5 ) 16...xc6 17.g1 e5 18.d5 a4 19.d2 ] 15.f3 h8 16.h4! [ 16.f4!? c6 17.ad1 ] 16...c6 [ Best, other options leave White with a solid ad va n t a ge , e . g. 16...d7 17.h5 cxd4 18.cxd4 ] [ 16...cxd4 17.cxd4 c6 18.d1 e7 19.b2 ] 17.g5 cxd4?! [ I don't like this move, no matter how dynamic it is supposed to be, because the weaknesses around Black's king are not compensated for by other elements in the position, and therefore W hite is handed a long-term advantage. Black can possibly do better with 17...e7!? 18.h5 xg5 19.xg5 f6 with only a small plus for White. ] 18.xf6 gxf6 19.cxd4 e5 20.xc8 axc8 21.d5 a5 22.h5!? [ 22.d2 c3 23.ec1 fc8 24.xc3 xc3 25.g4 ] 22...c4 23.h4!? [ This is a very noteworthy idea: with his kn i gh t a n d h - p a wn W h i t e wa n t s t o p i n Black's king on the back rank thus p r e ve n t i n g B l a c k f r o m g e n e r a t i n g a n y significant counterplay because he constantly has to watch for threats to the back rank and advances of White's d-pawn. Another possibility is 23.ac1 d6 24.d2 g7 25.g4 b5 26.f3 ] 23...d6 24.h6 c3 [ Or 24...c4 25.ac1 xc1 26.xc1 xe4 27.c7 d6 28.xa7 ] 25.ac1?! [ This logical move gives Black a possibility he shouldn't have. W hite has two better options in 25.f3!? fc8 26.eb1 ] [ and even stronger 25.ad1! which is very problematic for Black, e.g. g8 26.d2 b5 27.f5! xf5 28.exf5 d8 29.e4 f8 ( 29...c4 30.xc4 bxc4 31.c2 c8 32.d6+- ) 30.g4 c4 31.g7 d4 32.xh7 e7 33.c2+- ] 1229
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 25...fc8? [ Here Black has a unique opportunity to e q u a l i z e w i t h 25...xe4! 26.f5 d8 ( 26...xc1 27.xc1 c5 28.d6 g8 29.f3 d8 30.e4 f5 31.xc5 bxc5 32.xc5 ) 27.d6 c5 28.xc5 xc5= ] 26.xc3 xc3 27.f5! xf5 28.exf5 g8 29.e4! f8 30.g4 c7 31.g7 b5 32.xh7 g8 33.g7+ h8 34.d6 d7 35.f3 b4 36.e4 xd6 37.xf7 a6 [ Or 37...a5 38.a7 d4+ 39.e3 c4 40.a6 c3+ 41.e4 c2 42.xa5 h7 43.a6 xf2 ( 43...xh6 44.xf6+ h5 45.f3 ) 44.xf6 g2 45.f3 xa2 46.g4+a7 47.g5 b7 48.f8 b3 49.g4 b2 50.h5 followed by g6 mate ] 38.g4 g8? [ This loses quickly by force in time trouble, Aronian may have overlooked White's 40th move juggernaut. Instead Black should have tried 38...a4!? , e.g. 39.g5 b3+ A) Black's hopes would have come to pass had W hite tried 40.e3? fxg5 41.axb3 f4 42.f3 h4 43.xa7 xh6 44.e4 b6 45.xe5 xb3 46.f6 b6+ 47.xg5 g8 48.f6 b1 49.f4 f8 50.h7 a1 , and despite his two extra pawns, White cannot win: 51.g6 g1+ 52.f5 a1 53.f7 a5+ 54.f6 a6+ 55.g5 a5+ 56.f5 a6 57.f4 ( or 57.f6 xf6 ) 57...f6 , and the draw is imminent; B) 40.d5! a5+ ( 40...bxa2 41.g6+d4+ 42.e6 d8 43.xa7 ) 41.e6 a6+ 42.e7 fxg5 43.axb3 xh6 44.f6 h3 45.f8+ h7 46.f7 f3 47.g8 xf2 48.xg5+- ] 39.h7+ h8 40.g5! An elegant breakthrough - the game is over fxg5 41.f6 Now White will play Ke4-f5-g6 and Rf8 mate 1-0
1237 Carlsen,Magnus Gashimov,Vugar 74th Tata Steel GMA (1) [John Bartholomew]
A30 2835 2761 14.01.2012
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4
d6 9.g5 a6 10.xf6 In "The Complete Hedgehog Volume 1", Sergey Shipov credits the 9.Bg5 a6 10.Bxf6 variation to the legendary Swedish player, Ulf Andersson. Andersson notched many victories against the Hedgehog with his patient, prophylactic play and unparalleled technique. This line is especially suited to his style: White obtains good prospects for a middlegame grind by nipping Black's traditional Hedgehog counterplay in the bud. After a couple of exchanges (Black will be forced to surrender his light-square bishop) , White finds it much easier to target Black's weaknesses an d prepare a slow-motion assault on the q u e e n s i d e . xf6 11.f4 Targeting d6. Shipov calls this "the most unpleasant continuation for Black", and it is clearly the main line. [ 11.d3 also has its points. For exceptional coverage of this and other Hedgehog lines I highly recommend that you pick up Shipov's book. ] 11...0-0 12.fd1 e7 13.e4 xe4 14.xe4 a7 15.d4 c7 [ An alternative is 15...c8 . See Kramnik, V (2772)-Aronian, L (2759)/Yerevan 2007/ [Hansen, Carsten]. ] 16.d2!? Not quite a novelty, but very typical o f M a g n u s ' s i n t u i t i v e s t yl e . T h e r e i s n o pressing reason to protect the b-pawn, so he prefers to get on with the thematic doubling of the rooks on the d-file. I don't find this move particularly groundbreaking from a theoretical standpoint but it indicates that elite GMs (and Magnus specifically) are constantly looking to put new spins on well-known positions. [ Most everyone plays 16.b3 here, including Carlsen's illustrious former mentor. Kasparov, G (2817) -Adams, M (2731)/ Moscow 2004/[TonyK] continued c5 17.a4 c7 18.b1 d7 19.e3 c8 20.a2 f6 21.c2 with play quite similar to our main game. Carlsen was no doubt aware of this and other contests (I found 42 games in my database after 16.b3), and he very likely could have discussed this line with Kasparov himself. Andersson's plan of a2a4, Qe4-b1, Ra1-a2-c2, followed by Qb1-a2 and finally b3-b4 is the prototypical idea in this line (see Tony's comments) and one to 1230
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 which Carlsen reverts here. ] 16...c5 Gashimov's reply is stock Black makes c7 available to his queen and looks to get in ...b6-b5. To that last end, he had an interesting opportunity (see below). [ The only other game with 16.Rd2 went 16...c8 17.b3 e8 18.ad1 f8 19.e3 d7 20.a4 f6 21.b1 and again we reach a position comparable to the game. Norri, J (2421) -Rantanen, Y (2356)/Finland 2004. ] [ T h e t a c t i c a l j u s t i f i c a t i o n i s 16...xc4?! 17.xe6 when c8 18.d4! ( 18.d4 c6 is less precise.) 18...xd4 ( if 18...c1+ 19.xc1 xc1+ 20.f1 fxe6? , then the p r e t t y li t t l e m a n e u ve r 21.xe6+ f7 22.f4! f6 23.c4! is decisive.) 19.xd4 is clearly in W hite's favor, as Black has nothing to show for his positional weaknesses. ] [ As we know, Black would love to achieve ... b6-b 5 in the se p osit ions, an d 16...d7!? ensures that he will achieve this ideal break. The critical line is A) On 17.d3 fc8 18.c2 ( 18.c1 d5! ) 18...b5 19.ac1 bxc4 20.xc4 d5 the game is level.; B) 17.c2? allows xc4! , which turns out great for Black: 18.xc4 d5 19.c2 dxc4 20.xc4 c8 21.d3 d8; C) 17.b3 (White must attend to the c4 pawn, as the Nd4xe6 resource is no longer available) b5 ( 17...f6!? ) 18.cxb5 axb5 19.d3 c5 Black's b-pawn appears weak, but there's really no way White can increase the pressure. Thus, he ought to create a passed pawn with 20.a4 ( 20.b4 c4 ) 20...bxa4 21.bxa4 . How should we assess this position? I think the appearance of such a dangerous outside passed pawn (though not unheard of in the Hedgehog) would be enough to put many players off Black's position, but winning this for White is a different matter. F o r e x a m p l e , ( The computer suggests 21.b4 c7 22.b5 , but cc8 23.xd6 cd8 24.b7 xd3 25.xd3 xd3 26.exd3 xb4 27.xa4 is totally level.) 21...f6 (probably best) 22.a5 c7!? 23.a3 ( 23.a6 c3 ) 23...a6 and Black should be fine. True, he must
play accurately in this line, but the temptation to successfully break the bind with ...b6-b5 is very strong. ] 17.ad1 c7 18.b3 [ 18.c2!? ] 18...h8?! A prophylactic move, presumably directed against Nxe6 ideas. [ Gashimov has decided to wait, but his chances for counterplay quickly dwindle to z e r o . T h u s , 18...b5 must be taken very seriously, especially since its a clearer possibility than it was on move 16. Fo r example, 19.cxb5 axb5 A) 20.b4?! c4 ( or 20...d5 ) 21.xb5 xe4 22.xc7 xb4=; B) 20.d3 B1) 20...a5 21.b1! threatens 22.b4, e.g. a6 ( 21...b4 22.a4! ) 22.c6! xc6 23.xc6 b4 24.xb5 ( 24.c3? c8 ) 24...xc6 25.xa5 xa5 26.c1 d5 27.e4! with complications favoring W hite and his connected passed pawns.; B2) 20...b6 21.a4 bxa4 22.bxa4 fc8 and we have a situation similar to the one I analyzed above. ] 19.b1 Initiating Andersson's plan. d7 [ Now 19...b5? 20.cxb5 axb5 21.b4 is very bad for Black. ] 20.e3 c8 21.c2 c7 This pullback anticipates White's queenside advance. 22.a4 W hite has prevented all counterplay and enjoys his standard, workable edge. Black must continue waiting. d8 23.a2 e5 24.h3 [ T h e co m p u t e r p re f e r s 24.a5!? bxa5 25.xa5 , when Black's a6 weakness is a bigger factor than White's b3 pawn. ] 24...f6 25.cd2 c5 26.f4!? g6 27.d3 h6 [ T e m p t in g B la ck t o b re a k wit h 27...d5!? , though 28.cxd5 exd5 29.b4! c4 30.b5 xd4 (Black has to eliminate this knight, otherwise Nd4-c6 is coming) 31.xd4 xd4 32.xd4 axb5 33.axb5 is still very pleasant for White. ] 28.d2 Re a d y, se t , e5?! ...go! As usual a sleepy, maneuvering Hedgehog game suddenly blows up when one side tries to force matters. The game now develops at a fast pace. 1231
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Of course, Black could maintain the status a n d a wa i t d e v e l o p m e n t s , e . g . 28...g8 . In light of what happened this is probably the best idea. ] 29.c2! b5! This is what Black had in mind. 30.axb5 axb5 31.a3! And this is why White played 29.Nc2! [ Less clear is 31.xd6 xd6 32.xd6 exf4 33.exf4 bxc4 34.b4 c7 , when both sides have potentially dangerous passers. ] 31...bxc4 32.xc4 d5 33.xd5 xh3 34.g2! Forcing a pleasant endgame. Magnus has controlled matters at every stage in this game. xg2+ 35.xg2 exf4 36.exf4 c7 37.e3 cd7 38.g4 [ There was nothing wrong with the immediate 38.b4 . ] 38...b2 [ 38...c3!? was perhaps a better try. ] 39.f2 f6?! 40.e4! f8 Unfortunately forced. [ 40...xd3 41.xd3 xd3 42.xd3 attacks both minor pieces and wins trivially after f5 43.xf5 e7 44.e6 d4 45.f3 etc. ] 41.b4 Black is in a bad position to stop this pawn. xd3 42.xd3 c3 43.c1 d4 44.c5 e3 45.c3 d2+ 46.f3 d4 47.c4 g6 48.d3 g1 49.c8?! A small misstep. [ 49.c1! d4 50.c8 was better to force Black to occupy d4 with his bishop (you'll see why this is important!). ] 49...g7 50.c7+ g8 51.f5? [ 51.c1! ] 51...g5? [ 51...h5!! was Black's last chance, and it might have saved him! The main idea is 52.fxg6 ( The important lines to investigate are 52.b5 g5; and 52.d5+ h8 53.c4 gxf5 ) 52...e6= , when Black has the convenient checking route Ne6-d4-e2(g3). ] 52.g4! Now White's king is totally safe and the rest is easy. h2 53.b7 c2 54.c5 c3+ 55.e2 h5 56.gxh5 g4 57.e6 c8 58.b5 b8 59.xb8 xb8 60.d5 a7 61.f1 e3 62.g2 f7 63.xf8+ xf8 64.g3 e7 65.xg4 d6 66.f3 d2 67.b6 Though there is no theoretical crisis, 9.Bg5 a6 10. Bxf6 remains a very difficult line for Black to deal with. His best bet is to take a hard
look at early ...b6-b5 opportunities - otherwise he faces a long and frustrating defense. 1-0
1238 Chuchelov,Vladimir Gommers,Ralf TCh-2002-3 Belgium BEL (8) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2593 2342 09.02.2003
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 b6 4.g3 b7 5.g2 e6 6.0-0 e7 7.e1 a6 8.e4 d6 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 11.e3 0-0 12.c1 bd7 13.f4 fe8 I think this is the most logical, Black is ready for central action, and also ready to defend his e-pawn against the f5-move. We have also looked at games involving [ 13...fd8 and ] [ 13...fc8 but in each case White's plan is the same: a kingside pawn storm. ] 14.g4!? Simply threatening to win a piece in one move by g5, as the black knight's escape square on e8 is occupied by a rook. [ 14.f5 is met by d8 and if necessary ...Nf8 when e6 is solidly supported. ] [ 14.d5!? is fun, but might peter-out: exd5 15.cxd5 b8 16.c6 xc6 17.dxc6 c5 18.c7 ( 18.e5 dxe5 19.c7 c8!? (19...Qxc7 would transpose to the Ftacnik game) 20.fxe5 unclear in Chuchelov,VJaracz,P/Ohrid MKD 2001) 18...xc7 19.e5 dxe5 20.xa8 xa8 21.b4 so White pins the knight and wins an exchange for two p a w n s , b u t h i s p o s i t i o n i s o p e n , exf4 22.xf4 Ftacnik, L-Browne,W/Pan Pacific 1991, when b7 is messy. ] 14...h6!? A double-edged move, [ 14...c5 15.f2 g6 is more solid. ] 15.g5! hxg5 16.fxg5 h7 17.g6 hf8 18.gxf7+ xf7 19.f1+ The best move. [ 19.ce2 f6 20.f4 c5 21.h5 is fairly level, Roktim,B-Mortazavi,A/Hove 1997, whilst ] [ 19.h3 f6 20.d5!? exd5 21.cxd5 c5 22.b4 xe4 23.bxc5 dxc5 favoured Black in Pein,M-Suba,M/Barnsdale 1989. ] 19...f6! This is Vaganian's suggested improvement on [ 19...g8?! 20.d5!! exd5 21.cxd5 d8 1232
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.c6 g5!? ( 22...xc6 23.dxc6 c5 24.d5+ is very awkward) 23.xd8 xe3+ 24.h1 axd8 25.c7 c8 26.h3! a5? 27.f3 winning material in Vaganian, RIonescu,C/Sochi 1986 because of the threat to capture on c8 and d7 then play Qf7+xd7. ] 20.db5! Now that d6 is not defended by the b l a c k b i s h o p . axb5 21.xb5 c6!? This is played to pin the e-pawn, but [ 21...b8 is better, A) 22.e5 but this is a mistake : xg2 23.xd6+ e7! as following ( 23...g8? loses to 24.exf6 xf6 25.xe8 xf1 26.xf6+ gxf6 27.g4+ f7 28.xf1 with a strong attack.) 24.xg2 xe5 25.xe8 xe8 Black is winning.; B) 22.xd6+! instead, Vaganian's a n a l y s i s c o n t i n u e d g8 23.xf6!? ( 23.xb7?! e5 ) 23...xf6 24.e5 e4! 25.xb7 xb7 26.a3 and White will recuperate the knight on e4 when his powerful bishop pair and queenside pawns leave him on top. ] 22.xd6+ g8 23.c5!? Played to be able to extract the knight from b7, [ 23.xe8 xe8 24.b4 also looks pleasant for White, but the immediate ] [ 23.xb7?! e5 24.d6 allows ed8 25.c5 bxc5 26.xc5 e7 which regains the piece. ] 23...e5? To control e5, but Black's position disintegrates after this. [ 23...bxc5 is almost forced, 24.xb7 xb2 ( 24...xb7? 25.e5 ) 25.e5 c7 26.c2 a n d W h i t e m a y h a ve a p l u s , e . g . xe5 27.f2 d4 28.xd4 cxd4 29.e2 g5 30.d6 eb8 31.xd4 ] 24.cxb6 ed8 [ 24...d7 25.c7 is no improvement. ] 25.xc6 xc6 26.c5!? [ 26.a3!? ] 26...xa2 27.b3 xb2 28.c3 [ 28.xb2 f3+ 29.xf3 xb2 30.g4 is also very good, as the b-pawn is too strong. ] 28...e2 29.g3 ed7 [ 29...fd7? 30.xf6! xf6 31.xe5 ] 30.e3 e5 31.f4 d4+ 32.h1 W h it e 's m o ve s h a ve n o t b e e n t h e m o s t precise and he has lost his b-pawn, but he is still winning. xb6?! 33.g5?!
[ 33.d3! forks rook and bishop. ] 33...a8 34.f3 Moving to the attack. [ 34.d3 is n o w m e t b y aa2 35.xd4 xg2 , when 36.xf8+!? xf8 37.xb6 xh2+ 38.g1 is difficult to assess. ] 34...c2 35.f7+ h8 36.h5+ h7 [ 36...g8 37.h3 is no better for Black. ] 37.f7+ [ 37.h3! aims for e6. ] 37...g8 38.g6 f8 39.h6+ h8 40.f7+ g8 41.h6+ Presumably this was played to reach the time control. [ 41.h5 was stronger, but play is much less clear now. ] 41...h8 42.f7! [ 42.f7+ g8 would be the third repetition, so White looks for an alternative. ] 42...gxh6 43.f6+ Stripping the king of it defenders. xf6 44.xf6+ h7 [ 44...g8 45.g1! wins. ] 45.e7+ g8 46.g1 a5 47.h4! To stop the black rook coming to g5 to block the g-file. h7 48.h3+ g5 A bit desperate, but this is the only way to stop immediate mate. 49.xe6+ g7 50.hxg5 xg5 51.f5 [ 51.e7+ g6 52.xg5+ hxg5 53.f5+ was neater. ] 1-0
1239 Cyborowski,Lukasz Laznicka,Viktor It Legnica POL (6) [John Watson]
A30 2564 2478 07.12.2004
Here we have an ultra-theoretical Hedgehog with 7.Re1 and 8.e4, a line that is considered more dangerous than those with d4 and ... cxd4 followed by Qxd4. Black has to have a lot of nerve (or a great memory) to play this one! I'll just touch upon the theory here. I'm sure that the experts could do so much better. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 a6 7.e1 d6 8.e4 e7 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 11.e3 0-0 12.c1 bd7 13.f4 fe8 14.g4 c5 15.f2 g6 Probably the best move. Others seem to fall short, for example, [ 15...h6 16.b4 ad8 17.g5 hxg5 18.fxg5 1233
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h7 19.g6 f6 20.gxf7+ xf7 21.d5! (Khaetsky-Belichev, Kharkov 1998) ] [ or 15...e5 16.f5 d8 17.g5 fd7 18.xd6 ( or 18.d5 )] [ or 15...ad8 16.g5 fd7 17.b4 f8 18.d5 exd5 19.cxd5 ] [ or 15...d5 16.cxd5 xf4 17.b4! exd5 18.xd5 xd5 19.exd5 ] [ or 15...f8 16.b4 e5 17.bxc5 exd4 18.cxb6 xb6 19.xd4 ] [ or 15...ed8 16.b4 cd7 17.d5 exd5 18.cxd5 b8 19.c6 xc6 20.dxc6 . Naturally t here m ay be more t o these lines. ] 16.b4 ad8! [ 16...cd7 17.d5 exd5 18.cxd5 d8 19.c6 xc6 20.dxc6 c8 21.e5! A Greenfeld-Cyborowski,Ohrid 2001. Note that Cyborowski is White in our game! ] 17.f3!? This works out but perhaps shouldn't. I like [ 17.e2! cd7 18.f3 , for example, e5 19.b3! exf4 20.g5 h5 21.d5 with close to a winning game. ] 17...cd7!? [ 17...cxe4! has done well and I see nothing wrong with it. One line among many: 18.xe4 xe4 19.xe4 xe4 20.xe4 d5 21.e1!? ( 21.e3 dxc4 22.c6 d3 23.xb6 xf4; 21.xe6?! c8 22.e1 xe6 ) 21...dxc4 ( 21...xf4!? ) 22.c6 xf4 23.e3 xg4 ] 18.d5! exd5 19.cxd5 b8 20.c6 a8 21.e5?! [ Better looks 21.g5! h5 22.h3 f8 23.xd8 xd8 24.c2 with a pawn and nice advantage. ] 21...dxe5 22.fxe5 xd5 23.e6? [ 23.xd5 c5 24.c4 xc6 ] 23...fxe6 24.xe6 f8? [ 24...xc6! 25.exc6 7f6 26.b3 h8 27.g5 f4 28.gxf6 xf6 and Black is better. ] 25.xd8 xd8 26.e5! c5! 27.bxc5!? [ 27.xd5 xf2+ 28.xf2 xd5 29.d1 ] 27...xe5 28.c6 c8 29.d1 e6 30.g3 g5 31.h4 g7 32.c7 xc7 33.xg5 A real slugfest! 1-0
1240 Eljanov,Pavel Karjakin,Sergey FIDE World Cup 2013 (3.7) [Fier, Alexandr]
A30 2702 2772 19.08.2013
Eljanov - Karjakin was a tense match in the World Cup and they played 3 games in the same line. In all three games Karjakin tried a solid idea of exchanging the knight on c3 and holding the position. The plan is hard to break and I think the move order of the last game is better than the one played before. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.g3 c5 5.g2 g6 6.0-0 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.b3 This is not the most played move, but it was ce rt a in l y t h e su b je ct o f t h is m a t c h ! J u s t finishing developing the pieces, protecting c4 and giving space to the rooks, all quite natural. [ 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 is usually the main line and it's extensively analyzed in Chess Publishing ] 9...bd7 10.b2 0-0 11.fd1 now Black has several options [ 11.e3 was Granda's choice during his amazing comeback against Giri in the World Cup, with the purpose of keeping more pieces in the game, a6 12.h3 e8 13.fd1 c8 14.ab1 with a typical English position, Granda Zuniga, J (2664)-Giri, A (2737)/FIDE World Cup 2013 (3.3) ] 11...d5!? [ 11...e4 was played in the other two games in this match, but there is a difference, 12.e3 xc3 13.xc3 xc3 this was played in the fourth and fifth games of the match and after a tragic loss in the fifth game Karjakin changed to the text move ( 13...f6 here would be a tempo down compared to the game ) 14.xc3 c7 A) 15.a4 was the choice of Eljanov in the fourth game but he got nothing special in the game ac8 16.h3 cd8 17.d4 a6 18.g2 ( 18.a5 was a better try) 18...xg2 19.xg2 d5= Eljanov, P (2702)-Karjakin, S (2772)/FIDE World Cup 2013 (3.4); B) 15.e3!? instead of playing slowly White goes directly for the king. Actually this approach makes a lot of sense since the bishops are exchanged, and even more so in a rapid game f6 16.d4 h5 1234
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 16...e5 looks provocative but Karjakin tried the same plan when the position was already quite dangerous. White can go 'all in' with 17.h4 h5 18.h6 and it's hard to deal with the threats, as seen in the game. One idea is 19.Ng5, exchanging bishops, followed by the brutal Rd1-d3-f3; 16...g7 this move is the most prudent, recognizing that the attack is dangerous 17.ad1 ) 17.h6 B1) 17...a6 the computer does not care about the attack at first, but after 18.g5 xg2 19.xg2 b5 20.f4 it sees that life is not that easy fc8 and here both 21.xf6 ( and 21.g4 hxg4? 22.xg4+- ) 21...exf6 22.h7+ f8 23.e4 e7 24.g7 are good for White; B2) 17...c5 18.ad1 ad8 ( 18...fc8 19.g5 xg2 20.f4 e5 21.xg2 and again the rook will come to d3-f3) 19.g5 and here it's already over e5 ( 19...xg2 20.f4!+- ) 20.xb7 exd4 21.d5 1-0 Eljanov, P (2702)-Karjakin, S (2772)/FIDE World Cup 2013 (3.5) ] [ 11...a6 12.e3 c8 13.ac1 e8 14.a1 c5 is Karpov, A (2705)-Kasparov, G (2740)/ World Championship 33th-KK3 1986. ] [ 11...c8 12.ac1 c5 ( 12...e4 leads to the same kind of position as in the game 13.e3 xc3 14.xc3 f6 ) 13.e3 h5 is kind of exotic but with the same idea of Karpov - Kasparov. h3 is not bad for W hite, but the hidden idea is to th re a t e n 1 4 . . . Bh 6 t o win t h e e xch a n ge 14.c2 still this move is not bad and the black rook will probably need to come back after a few moves e8 15.h3 a8 16.g4 was slightly better for White in Parligras, M (2636)-Almasi, Z (2726)/FIDE W orld Cup 2011 (2.1) ] 12.d2 Black makes the same exchange of knights but without allowing White to bring the queen to e3. Now it's more reasonable to keep the bishops on and bring the other knight to f6 to make White spend one more tempo with his queen. [ 12.h4 i s f u n n y b u t n o t g o o d xc3 13.xc3 xc3 14.g5 h5 15.xb7 xa1 16.xa8 f6 and White will have problems with the pin ] [ 12.d3 also helps Black c5 ]
12...xc3 13.xc3 f6 14.e3 [ 14.b2 could be one attempt to 'refute' the 11...Nd5 idea, but the pressure along the diagonal is not strong enough, so probably the position is equal after exchanges on g2 and g7, c7= ] 14...c7 15.ac1 ac8 16.a4 fd8 17.h3 b8 18.d4 White plays the exact same idea from the fourth game, but with one bishop more for each side. a6 [ 18...e5!? now this idea is possible, Black wins some space and brings the knight to e4 19.f3 e4 20.g2 ( 20.b2 c5! f o r c i n g t h e e x c h a n g e 21.xc5 xc5 22.d2 a5 and Black is even better) 20...xc3 21.xc3 e4 22.d4 c5 23.d2 d5 and Black has no problems ] 19.a1 e4 bringing the knight to c5 where it holds the queenside. 20.g2 c5 21.xb7 xb7 Without the bishops it's always easier for Black to free himself with ...d5 22.f3 [ 22.b4 doesn't work xa4 23.b3 b5 24.cxb5 xd4 25.xd4 axb5 and Black is just a pawn up ] 22...bc8 23.c2 Now the position will just be symmetrical and after exchanging some pieces they were ready for one more blitz. xa1 24.xa1 d5= 25.cxd5 xd5 26.b4 dd8 27.ab1 a5 28.d3 xd3 29.xd3 xd3 30.xd3 c7 31.d1 c5+ 32.g2 e5 33.f2 g7 34.e3 xe3+ 35.xe3 f6 36.d5 c3+ 37.d3 c2 38.d5 c3+ ½-½
1241 Filippov,Valerij Nikolic,Predrag XVI ECC Neum BIH (3) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2593 2657 26.09.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 The Double-Fianchetto Hedgehog is somewhat less popular than during its 'heyday' when it featured in the KasparovKarpov matches. 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 0-0 Both sides have completed their de velo p me n t with t he m in imu m of d ire c t c o n t a c t b e t w e e n t h e r e s p e c t i ve f o r c e s . 1235
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.h4 Once Black castled, and defended his g7-bishop, there was a threat of ...Ne4, or ... Nd5, with a discovered attack on the queen. Therefore, the queen was obliged to move, and chooses the most active spot. a6 13.b3 e8 14.g4!? [ A brave new idea! Normally White continues with piece-play, i.e. 14.h3 c7 15.h6 xf3 16.exf3 c5 17.xg7 xg7 18.d4 with a space advantage, but the black position is very solid, Wojtkiewicz,APalkovi,J/Stara Zagora 1990. ] 14...b5! The thematic Hedgehog counterthrust! 15.cxb5 [ 15.g5 h5 leaves the c-pawn pinned. ] 15...xg4 The point, discovering an attack on c3. 16.d4 [ 16.xg4 xc3 17.bxa6 xa6 gives Black good play. ] 16...gf6 17.a4 c5 18.bxa6 [ 18.xc5!? xc5 19.b4 h5 20.c4 leaves the white kingside susceptible to attack. ] 18...xa6 [ 18...xf3!? 19.xf3 xb3 is interesting, although the a6-pawn of fers W hite real chances. ] 19.d2 e6 20.e3 h5 To menace ...Ng4. 21.h3 d5 Black tries to make his central pawns count before W hite can exploit his passed a- and b-pawns. 22.c4 d4!? [ The obvious 22...xc4?! 23.bxc4 xc4 is met by 24.xc4! dxc4 25.xd8 xd8 26.a5 when the passed a-pawn, and White's powerful bishops, leave him well on top. ] 23.b5 [ 23.xd4?! lo se s t h e e xch a n ge t o g5 24.xf6 xd1+ 25.xd1 gxh4 26.xg7 xg7 although the queenside pawns allow White some hope. ] 23...xb5 24.axb5 d5 25.d2 c5 An unusual manoeuvre, the rook is going to control both b-pawns. 26.b6?! [ Better to chase the d5-knight away from its central post by 26.e4 f6 when 27.b6 b5 is unclear. ] 26...b5 27.a5? [ White carelessly loses control of f4 and g5, 27.e4 xb6 28.a5 b8! 29.xb6 f4! was a better chance, although Black will obtain lots of compensation for the
exchange. ] 27...df4! With winning threats of ...Rg5, and ...Nxe2+. 28.b7 [ W hat else? 28.h1 f6 29.g3 g5 wins a piece. ] 28...xg2?! [ Good, but both players were probably short o f t i m e , a s 28...b8 maintains all the threats: 29.c6? f6 winning the queen, 30.g3 xe2+ ] 29.xd8?? [ W h i t e m i s s e s h i s c h a n c e , 29.xg2 is clearly better for Black after d5+ but, ] [ 29.e4! offered some chances: xa5? ( 29...d7! 30.xg2 g5 is still winning) 30.xa5 xa5 31.c8 and White is better. ] 29...xh4 30.b6 h7 31.a1 b8 32.a7 f8 White is a whole piece down. 33.da1?! d3 0-1
1242 Filippov,Valerij Shipov,Sergei TCh Sochi RUS (6) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2639 2593 25.04.2004
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.e1 d6 8.e4 a6 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 11.f4 0-0 12.e3 e8 13.c1 f8!? Black delays [ 13...bd7 which is normal and would transpose to a position we've seen before several times. This has the advantage of avoiding Nd5 lines. ] 14.f5 Putting immediate pressure on e6. [ 14.g4 i s a s h a r p a l t e r n a t i v e , fd7 this is another advantage of delaying the development of the queen's knight, d7 is free for the king's knight to occupy, 15.g5 c6 16.xc6 ( 16.de2 ac8 17.b3 b8 18.g3 with a tense position, Lobron,EGranda Zuniga,J/Wijk aan Zee NED 2004; 16.d5 b8 ) 16...xc6 17.f2 ac8 18.a4 a8 19.b3 c5 20.h4 d5!? breaking out to attack f4, Iskusnyh,S-Ulibin, M/Maikop 1998. ] 14...h6!? [ 14...exf5?! 15.d5! xd5 16.cxd5 b7 1236
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.exf5 bd7 18.c6 and the enormous wh i t e k n i gh t o n c 6 g i ve s W h it e a s u r e advantage, Vaganian, R-Bischoff,K/ German Cup, Walldorf GER 1998. ] [ 14...bd7?! is a known fault: 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.h3 c5 17.b4! cxe4 18.xe4 ( 18.xe6+ xe6! 19.xe6 xc4 is messy ) 18...xe4 19.xe6 f7 ( 19...d7 Kengis,E-Aagaard, J/Gistrup/ 1997, and now 20.f4 is strong ) 20.f1 f6 21.g5 c7 22.d4 c6 23.f3 xf3 24.xf3 with the better structure, Chuchelov,V-Pelletier,Y/ Germany 1996. ] 15.f1 This innovation indicates a change of direction, the rook moves from the defence of the e-pawn to attacking along the f-file. [ 15.g4 bd7 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.g5 hxg5 18.xg5 is a more direct approach, Poluljahov,A-Ulibin,M/St Petersburg 1998. ] 15...e7 Probably best, the e6-pawn needs defending, and Black doesn't want to play ... e5 and concede the d5-square, or play [ 15...bd7 when 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.h3 is rather awkward: xc4 ( 17...c5 18.b4 ) 18.xe6! ( 18.d5 xd5 19.xc4 xc4 ) 18...xe4 ( 18...xe6?! 19.b3 deflects the queen from the defence of the rook) 19.a4 xa2 20.c7 xg3! 21.hxg3 xe3 22.c3! winning material. ] 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.h3 f7 This is the point, k e e p i n g e 6 w e l l - c o v e r e d . 18.xf6!? White continues his attempt to conquer e6. xf6 19.g4 Both attacking e6 and menacing Rf1. c6 Strongest, Black tries to develop his queenside. Defending e6 by [ 19...c8? loses to 20.f1 e7 21.g6! a7 22.xh6 etc. ] 20.f1 e5!? Black had a difficult choice to make: [ 20...e7 21.xe6+ h8 22.f7 xe6 23.xe6 looks good for White, although Black still has reasonable chances, while ] [ 20...e5!? 21.f3 f6 22.g5!? g6 23.xe6+ xe6 24.xe6+ leads to a draw. ] 21.h5 [ 21.xf6! is tempting, xg4 22.xf8+ xf8 23.xg4 and the three pieces are preferable to the two rooks in this position. ] 21...g6 22.xg6 xg6 23.xe6+ h8 24.f7 White regains the exchange, but
[ 24.d5!? might be better. ] 24...xe4 25.xe8 xe8 26.xe4 xe4 27.f5 g8 After all the tactics a fairly equal endgame has arisen. 28.xb6 xc4 29.b3 c6 30.d4 e5 31.e3 The knight heads for d5. e7? A poor move, blundering a pawn. Black had many superior alternatives, like [ 31...d3 ] 32.d5 Hitting the bishop. d8 33.b4 Forking rook and pawn. c8 34.xa6 d3 Black's position isn't completely hopeless, and first he stops the knight from leaving a6. 35.e3?! White avoided [ 35.d1 because of c1 36.xc1 xc1 attacking a2 and threatening a fork on e2, b u t f o l l o w i n g 37.g2 xa2 38.b4 the b-pawn is very strong. ] 35...c2 Black goes active. [ 35...a8?! is met by 36.d1 xa6 37.xd3 xa2 38.xd6 ] 36.a3 a2 Inaccurate [ 36...b2! 37.b4 b3 wins back the pawn and equalises, as 38.a1 allows xb4 39.axb4 xe3 ] 37.b4 [ 37.a4! b2 38.f5! xb3 39.b5 is worth a try. ] 37...xb4 38.axb4 b2 39.f4 b6+ 40.h1 d5 41.d6 xb3 Black regains his pawn whilst remaining active. 42.h4 d4 43.f8+ h7 44.h5 b2 45.g2 d4 46.d8 d3 47.f4 a3 48.b5 White swaps the b-pawn for the d-pawn. xb5 ½-½
1243 Gelfand,Boris Ivanchuk,Vassily Tal Memorial (2) [Carsten Hansen]
A30 2720 2781 19.08.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.e1 d5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.xd5 [ This move is decidedly tame, but was used no less than three times in the Sochi and the Moscow tournaments we are looking at this month. A more aggressive option is 9.d4 as in Carlsen-Aronian, Elista 2007 or ] [ 9.e4 which was covered in Pelletier1237
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Kortchnoi, Biel 2001 both games can be found in the PGN archives. ] 9...xd5 10.d4 cxd4 11.xd4 It is a little bit optimistic to think that this line should constitute any problems for Black the white lead in development in hardly substantial enough to cause Black any worries. However, it is evident that only White can hope for an advantage in this line whereas Black has to take a little care to keep the balance. xd4 [ Black doesn't have to exchange on d4 immediately, which is another indication why this line shouldn't be a problem for Black. T h e a l t e r n a t i v e i s 11...0-0 12.g5 ( 12.xd5 is obviously just an attempt to get e v e n m o r e p i e c e s o f t h e b o a r d . xd5 13.d4 xg2 14.xg2 f6 15.e3 1/2-1/2, Echarri Torres, M-Hernando R o d r i g o , J / C a s t e l l d e f e l s E S P 2 0 0 4) 12...xg5 13.xd5 xd5 14.xg5 xg2 15.xg2 A) In one of the early games with this variation, Black tried 15...d8 , and had to face some discomfort: 16.ed1 a6 17.ac1 h6 18.f3 f8 ( 18...xd1 19.xd1 c8 20.d7 c7 21.xc7 xc7 should be okay for Black) 19.a3 xd1 20.xd1 e8 ( 20...c8 21.d4 c5 22.c1 gives White some initiative) 21.d4 b8 22.g4 f8 23.c4 d7 24.c7 e8 25.d4 d8 26.c3 ( 26.xa7 xa7 27.c6+ c7 28.xa7 picks up a pawn and should be c o n s i d e r e d) 26...a6 27.c6+ e8 28.d3 c5 29.d6 b7 30.d4 c8 31.e5 c7 32.c4 b5 33.d6+ e7 1/2-1/2 Taimanov, M-Jansa, V/ Hastings 1976; B) 15...d7 16.ed1 ( White didn't gain anything from 16.ac1 ac8 17.ed1 f6 18.e3 g6 19.f1 g7 20.e2 fd8 21.f3 1/2-1/2 Schmidt, WR o d r i g u e z C e s p e d e s , A / H a l l e 1 9 7 6) 16...fd8 17.ac1 h6 18.f3 c5 19.xd8+ xd8 20.b4 White has the initiative, but with careful play Black can neutralize White's pressure. e4 21.c7 ( 21.c6!? ) 21...a5!= 22.bxa5 bxa5 23.c4 d2 ( 23...f5!? ) 24.d4 ( 24.c5 a4 25.c2 leaves White with some initiative) 24...xd4 25.xd4 f8 26.f3
c4 27.f2 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, Gelfand, B-Ivanchuk, V/ Moscow (blitz)2008 ] 12.xd4 xg2 13.xg2 a6 [ T h i s i s m o r e a c c u r a t e t h a n 13...d7 14.e3 f6 15.ac1 which leaves White with a steady initiative, ] [ and 13...0-0 , which is what Gelfand played himself as Black in the game that may have inspired him to take up the line as W hite. 14.e3 c5 ( 14...a6 15.a3 f6 is about equal; so is 14...d7 15.ac1 c5 ) 15.ed1 a6 16.a3 fc8 17.ac1 f8 18.c4 ( 18.b4!? puts more pressure on Black and should be given preference.) 18...e5 19.f5 xe3 20.xe3 c5 21.f3 d8 22.b4= 1/2-1/2 Alekseev, EGelfand, B/Sochi 2007 ] 14.e3 f6 15.ac1 0-0 [ 15...b4!? 16.c4 a5 is an alternative worth analysing. ] 16.c4 xd4 17.xd4 fd8 18.e3 [ 18.a4!? to prevent Black's plan in the game makes a lot of sense, e.g. ac8 19.ec1 xc4 20.xc4 , and White has the better chances. ] 18...b5!? This is a slightly radical way of dealing with the oddly placed knight on a6, which now gets into play. 19.c3 b4 20.c5 d5 [ 20...a5!? ] 21.c2 h6 22.ec1 [ 22.e4!? ] 22...f5! Otherwise White will simply play e2-e4 f o llo we d b y f 2 -f 3 wi t h a sm a ll, b u t c le a r a d v a n t a g e . 23.f3 White has a small advantage and a steady initiative. W ith the text move, White prepares to kick the strong knight away from d5, and force the way into an endgame White cannot lose. a6 24.e4 fxe4 25.fxe4 f6 26.e7 d7 [ At this juncture, Black should give considerable consideration to playing more a c t i v e l y w i t h 26...d4!? 27.xf6 gxf6 28.f3 a7 , and while White has a slight ongoing initiative, Black should be able to defend without too much trouble. In the note to W hite 28th move, W hite has a strong alternative that looks quite problematic for Black. ] 27.xf6 gxf6 28.h3 1238
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 28.f3 g7 29.c7 also leaves White 23.e2 d5 is very nice for Black) 22...e4 with a slight initiative, but also here Black 23.xb5 xd5 24.f4 e5 25.e2 should be able to defend without too many a7+ 26.f1 xa2 is messy but fine for headaches, although it should be said that Black; only W hite has the initiative in this C) 14...d8!? 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.h3 f8 endgame. ] Stohl: '-14. ..Nf8' 17.f2 6d7 18.b4 f6 [ However, White can obtain a very solid 19.ce2 ( 19.d5! exd5 20.cxd5 c5 endgame advantage with 28.f2!? g7 21.bxc5 bxc5 22.a4 xd4 23.xd4 29.c6 e7 30.b6 , and Black is solidly f7 24.c3 c8 25.xc8 exc8 26.e5 tied to the defence of his weak pawns. ] Libeau, R-Stickler, A/BL/1993/) 19...ac8 28...f7 Black can also start chasing after 20.b3 h8 21.e3 e5 22.f4 f7 W hite's e-pawn with 28...Rd4, but the text Schlosse r, P-Ho f f m an n, M/L ipp st ad t / move is simple and efficient. 29.g4 g6 1991/ ] 30.c6 e5 31.f1 f8 32.f5 d2 33.xa6 14.f5 [ 33.h4 g7 34.xa6 e2 35.f3 xe4+ [ 14.f2 was a Wojtkiewicz specialty: bd7 36.f5 e2 37.a7+ f7 38.xf7+ xf7 ( 14...fd7!? 15.b3 c6 16.d2 xd4 39.b3 f2+ 40.e4 e6 41.xb5 f5+ and draw agreed was Wojtkiewicz, A-Suba, 42.e3 g2 43.f3 d2= ] M/Debrecen EU-chT 1992, but needless to 33...xh2 34.xe5 h5+ 35.f4 f2+ say, there is still plenty left in the position) 36.e3 , and a draw was agreed. 15.e2 g6 ( 15...e5 16.d5 d8 17.fxe5 ½-½ xe5 18.e3 e8 19.f5 c8 20.d2 a8 21.d4 Wojtkiewicz, A-Kersten, U/ Bad Zwesten 1998) 16.e5 xg2 17.xg2 1244 A30 dxe5 18.fxe5 h5 19.b3 ac8 20.f3 ed8 21.d4 c5 22.ed1 xd4 23.xd4 Gelfand,Boris 2720 b8 24.cd1 , and White has the better Ivanchuk,Vassily 2781 chances, Wojtkiewicz, A-Suba, M/Budapest 2nd FIDE GP Sochi RUS (10) 11.08.2008 zt-A/1993 ] [Carsten Hansen] 14...h6 [ T h e a l t e r n a t i v e s a r e : A ) 14...bd7 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 has been known as a mistake for some time 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.e1 d6 8.e4 a6 and has been discussed in earlier updates 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 11.e3 0-0 and for example the game Kengis-Thesing, 12.c1 e8 2 0 0 4 , wh i c h c a n b e f o u n d i n t h e P G N [ 12...bd7 13.f4 h5 has been discussed in archives. ] the game Banikas-Aroshidze, Kavala 2005, [ B) 14...g6 is analysed by Ftacnik, but his which can be found in the PGN archives. ] analysis is flawed: 13.f4 f8 A) Also 15.h3 has been mentioned, and [ 13...bd7 14.f5!? while not as convincing, it is still very good A) T h e w e l l - k n o w n m i s t a k e 14...f8?! for W hite: e5 ( 15...exf5 16.d5 xd5 was the subject of Kengis, E-Thesing, M/ 17.cxd5 b7 18.exf5 is clearly better for Koelln 2006, which can be found in the White ) 16.d5 xd5 17.cxd5 d7 PGN archives.; , and now White should simply play 18.f1 B) 14...e5 15.d5 d8 16.b3 c8 , threatening 19 fxg6!, and most moves by ( 16...h6 17.h4 c8 18.e2 xd5 B l a c k , s u c h a s f o r e x a m p l e c8 19.cxd5 xc1 20.xc1 b8 21.f2 a r e m e t b y 19.e6 with a winning Kern, G-Spielmann, A/Budapest 1994) advantage for White; 17.f3 b5 18.xe7+ xe7 19.cxb5 B) 15.fxe6 Ftacnik fxe6 16.h3 f7! xc1 20.xc1 axb5 21.d3 was Loginov, (given without an evaluation by Ftacnik) V-Ulibin, M/Russian ch/1998, and now 17.f3! h6 18.e5 dxe5 19.xe5 B l a c k s h o u l d h a v e p l a y e d d5!? , a n d B la c k' s p o s it io n i s a p o s it io n a l directly, e.g. 22.exd5 ( 22.xb5 dxe4 1239
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 disaster ] [ C) 14...exf5 15.d5 is clearly better for White as in the game Vaganian, R-Bischoff, K /Walldorf 1998, which was covered in the notes to Kengis-Thesing. ] [ D) 14...h8 is an untested suggestion in Shipov's book on the Hedgehog. The idea is to wait for White to commit himself further wi t h o u t we a ke n in g t h e p a wn s t r u c t u r e further. I'm not entirely sure about this. Anyway let's examine it a little closer: 15.g4 fd7 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.g5 e5 18.h3 c8 ( 18...f7 19.f1 is a disaster for Black. ) 19.b3 ( 19.f1 bc6 20.b3 transposes to our main line) 19...bc6 20.f1 xd4 21.xd4 d7 22.h5 e7 ( 22...c6 23.d5! ) 23.e2 g8 24.cd1 ( 24.f4 g6 25.h4 f8 26.d3 g7 27.xe5 dxe5 , and while White's position is pref erable, Black is no longer in any immediate danger.) 24...b5 25.f4 f8 26.xe5 dxe5 27.f7+! xf7 28.d5+ g6 29.xc7 , and White will be an exchange up with a better position on the board as well. ] 15.f1 [ The main alternatives are: 15.g4 bd7 16.fxe6 ( 16.g5 hxg5 17.xg5 h7 is unclear, but apparently okay for Black, Werle, J-Van Wely, L/ Leeuwarden 2005) 16...fxe6 17.g5 hxg5 18.xg5 h7 19.h4 e5 is quite comfortable for Black, Poluljahov, A-Ulibin, M/St Petersburg 1998 ] [ and 15.e2 bd7 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.h3 c5 18.b4 cxe4 19.xe4 xe4 20.xe6+ , and here the game ended in a draw, 1/2-1/2, in the game Marin, M -Cosma, I/Romania 2001, despite the fact that White is much better in the final position, e.g. h8 21.f1 followed by Rf7 with a deadly penetration of Black's kingside ] 15...bd7?! [ It is unclear to me why Ivanchuk played this inferior move. The better move is 15...e7 which was played in Filippov, V-Shipov, S / Dagomys/Sochi 2004, which can be found in the PGN archives. It also contains reference to and analysis of several sidelines. ] 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.h3 c5 18.b4 xc4 19.d5 xa2 [ After the text move, Black is essentially lost.
The only working alternative for Black is 19...xd5!? , bu t eve n so a f t e r 20.exd5 ( 20.xc4?! xc4 21.e1 ac8 is playable for Black) 20...xd5 21.xe6 White has a clear advantage. ] 20.f2 xf2+ 21.xf2 exd5 22.xd7 xd7 23.c7 c8 24.f5 e5 25.h5?! [ This isn't the most accurate continuation for W hite. Instead he should have given preference to 25.e7+! xe7 ( 25...xe7 26.xd5+ e6 27.xe6+ f8 28.xb6+- ) 26.xe7 d4 27.b3+ h7 28.e8 is a straightforward win for White ] 25...e6?! [ Black immediately returns the favor the a l t e r n a t i v e i s 25...e6! 26.d4 ec8 ( 26...xf5! 27.exf5 is relatively better for Black, but is nevertheless clearly better for White ) 27.xc8! ( 27.xh6+ gxh6 28.xe5 xc7 29.g6+ g7 30.xe6+ h7 31.xd5 c1+ 32.g2 e8 gives Black d e c e n t s u r v i v a l c h a n c e s) 27...xc8 28.xh6+ gxh6 29.xe5 c1+ 30.f2 dxe5 31.g6+ , and White is winning ] 26.d4! f6 27.xe5 dxe5 28.xh6+! gxh6 29.xe5 d6 30.h5 d7 31.e5 e8 32.f3 dd8 33.f5 g7 34.g4 f7 35.e6 f8 36.xf7 xf7 37.exf7+ xf7 38.d7+ 1-0
1245 Gelfand,Boris Leko,Peter Tal Memorial Blitz blitz (9) [Carsten Hansen]
A30 2720 2741 29.08.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.e1 e4 8.xe4 [ The alternatives are 8.c2 xc3 9.dxc3 ] [ and 8.d4 both of which we will return to in future updates. ] 8...xe4 9.d3 b7 10.e4 c6 11.d4 [ 11.e3?! d6 12.d4 e5! is considered better Black whose pieces are better placed for this type of central pawn structure. ] 11...xd4 [ The ECO main line is 11...cxd4 12.xd4 without the knight exchange on d4 which for example was played in Vallejo Pons1240
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Adams, Linares 2002, which can be found in the PGN archives ] 12.xd4 cxd4 13.xd4 0-0 This is the tabiya for this variation. In comparison with the normal Hedgehog lines, all the knights have been exchanged, which should mean that the Black position is less cramped, but it can also be considered a little less flexible. Thus far, Black has normally been able to neutralize White's initiative along the way, but not always without suffering a slight disadvantage for some time. 14.f4 [ 14.b3 c5!? ( 14...c7!? 15.b2 f6 16.e5 e7= intending ...f7-f6 is given as equal by Stohl in CBM.) 15.c3 f5 ( 15...e7 16.a3 a5 17.b2 f6 18.e2 is given as slightly better for W hite in the ECO according to the game Vaganian, RYermolinsky, A/Tilburg 1993, but Black is doing fine, e.g. c6 followed by . ..f6-f5) 16.exf5 ( or 16.b4 e7 17.b2 f7 18.exf5 xg2 19.fxe6 dxe6 20.xg2 f8! wi t h a f u l l y a d e q u a t e g a m e f o r B l a c k) 16...xg2 17.xg2 xf5 18.f4 f6= Schlosser-Yermolinsky, Groningen 1996 ] 14...c5 [ This move appears to lead to a cleaner equality than the more popular alternative 14...d6 , e.g. A) 15.d3 c7 A1) 16.ad1 fd8 17.b3 c6 18.e2 ( 18.b4 e5 19.d2 d7 20.c1 e6 21.f1 a6 with a decent position for Black, Rausis, I-Womacka, M/Gausdal 2002 ) 18...b7 19.h4 , and draw agreed was the premature outcome of Ivanov, I-Yermolinsky, A/USA 1996. White seems to have the slightly better chances, although it is hardly fatal at this point.; A2) 16.ac1 a5!? 17.ed1 ( H e r e F t a c n i k r e c o m m e n d s 17.d2 fd8 18.c3 with a slightly better game for White, which appears to be the case, as he has more space, and Black doesn't have the same prospects of obtaining counterplay as he would have in a n o r m a l H e d g e h o g .) 17...fd8 18.e3 c6 19.b3 ab8= Kortschnoj, V-Ftacnik, L/Ostrava 1994; B) 15.d2 c7 ( 15...c8 16.b3 d8
17.e3 c6 18.a4 b7 19.d4 was played in Ehlvest, J-Lindberg, B/ Stockholm 1998, and now rather than the lame and rather pointless 19...a6, Black played in the game, he should have opted for f5! 20.e3 e5 21.c3 f8 with a complicated position with chances to both sides; Or 15...e5 16.e3 c7 17.ac1 c6 18.b4 b7 19.b5 d7 20.f4 , Vasilevich, T-Alexandrova, O / Kragujevac 2000, and now fc8 21.a4 e6 22.d3 f6 leads to a somewhat better position for White, where White can keep pressing and Black can only wait.) 16.ac1 fd8 ( 16...a5 17.ed1 fd8 18.e3 c6 19.c3 ab8 20.f4 b7 21.b3 a6= Taksrud, V-Trana, A/corr NPSF 1998 ) 17.h4 ac8 18.b3 c6 19.e2 b7 20.h2 a6 21.d2 b5 22.cxb5 axb5 23.c3 d5 , and Black has solved all his opening problems and may even be better at this juncture, Zlotnikov, M-Wells, P/London 1982 24.c2 ] 15.d2 [ A new move. Previously White has tried 15.d3 on a couple of occasions, but each time Black has come out okay f rom the opening. e7 16.e5 ( 16.e5 f5 17.exf5 xg2 18.xg2 xf5 Beckhuis, G-Roeder, M/Muenster 1997) 16...xg2 17.xg2 f6 18.ad1 fxe5 19.xe5 d6 20.e2 b7+ , and Black is doing fine, although W hite kept pressing for quite a while in Gurevich, M-Roeder, M/Germany 1996 ] 15...e7 16.ed1 e5 As we have seen several times in the above variations, this move is occuring quite frequently in this line of the Hedgehog, whereas it is rather rare in the normal lines. The difference is of course that due to the absence of the knights, White will usually not be able to exploit the weaknesses on d6 and d5 as ef f ectively. 17.e3 c6 18.xc5 bxc5 As far as I can see, Black has fully equalised at this juncture and can now start pushing for more. 19.a5 f5! 20.exf5 xg2 21.xg2 xf5 22.d2 d6 23.a6 f6 [ 23...af8!? 24.f1 5f6 25.c6 g5 ] 24.c6 af8 Black has the slightly better chances, but due to the limited material, White is at the moment not in any immediate danger 1241
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 o f l o s i n g . 25.d5+ h8 26.e1 c7 27.e3 h6 28.b3 8f7 29.a8+ f8 30.b7?! [ 30.d5= ] 30...a5! 31.bd3 xa2 32.e4 [ 32.xd6 xd6 33.xd6 xc4 34.d2 followed by Qd5 is still okay for White ] 32...a6 33.b3 b6 Black has consolidated and is a solid pawn up for no compensation. 34.h4 c7 35.e3 f7 36.ee2 e7 37.e3 a5 38.a2 c7 39.d3 b6 40.e1?! This is a strange decision, why does White take the queen away from the a8-h1 diagonal? b7+ 41.g1 f3 42.xf3 xf3 43.b2 b8?! [ Okay, it is blitz, but then again, why help W h i t e i n t h i s f a s h i o n ? W i t h 43...a8! Black can maintain his advantage. After the text move, We're heading for a draw. ] 44.xa5 xb3 45.xb3 xb3 46.d8+ h7 47.xd6 xc4 48.xe5 And now the endgame is drawn. The Black king doesn't have sufficient cover to make the passed cpawn count. c2 49.h5 c4 50.e6?! [ Since it is blitz, we continue with a bunch of mistakes for which I will not fault the players, but nevertheless, they need to be pointed out. Here White should have played 50.d5! b1+ 51.g2 c3 52.f3! , and once the black queen leaves the b1-h7 diagonal, White will either win the c-pawn or have a perpetual check. ] 50...c3 [ 50...d3! ] 51.f4?? [ 51.d5!= ] 51...d1+ [ 51...d3!-+ ] 52.g2 xh5 [ 52...d3! ] 53.e4+ [ 53.c4 d1 54.xc3= ] 53...g6 54.f5 f6 55.c2 [ 55.g4 ] 55...h8 56.g4 d4 57.f3 g8 58.a2+ f8 59.a8+ e7 60.b7+ f6= 61.c6+ e7 62.c7+ f8 63.c8+ f7 64.e6+ f8 65.c8+ e7 66.c7+ f8 67.c8+ f7 68.e6+ ½-½
1246 A30 Gelfand,Boris 2733 Svidler,Peter 2728 Amber Rapid Monte Carlo MNC rapid (2) [Carsten Hansen] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 d5 4.d4 cxd4 5.g2 [ 5.xd4 e5 6.f3 d4 is a regular Catalan ] [ 5.cxd5 xd5 6.xd4 c6 7.xd5 xd5 has also been tested on several occasions. ] 5...dxc4 [ 5...a5+ 6.bd2 c6 ( Black should probably consider 6...dxc4!? after which I struggle to see how W hite can expect to claim an edge as even equality is difficult to come by 7.xd4 e5 8.c2 e7 9.0-0 0-0 10.xc4 c7 11.2e3 e6 12.d2 c6 with a pleasant game for Black, CalotescuWang Yu, Yerevan 2000) 7.0-0 e5 8.b3 d8 ( 8...c7 9.cxd5 b4 10.g5 bxd5 11.c1 d6 12.a5!? b6 13.d2 gives White adequate compensation for the pawn thanks to his lead in development) 9.cxd5 A) this allows a little combination, but the a lt e rn a t ive a lso le a ve s W h it e b e t t e r : 9...xd5 10.fxd4 e4 11.xc6 ( or 11.e3 g4 12.xc6 xe3 13.fxe3 xc6 14.d4 ) 11...xc6 12.g5 e7 13.c1 and White has the initiative and better coordinated and developed pieces; B) 9...xd5 10.xe5 db4 ( 10...xe5 11.xd4 c6 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5 s i m p l y l e a ve s W h i t e a p a wn wi t h n o compensation for Black) 11.xc6 xc6 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 c5 15.c6 d7 ( 15...a6!? ) 16.e5+ e6 17.d3 d6 18.e3 c4 19.c5+ xc5 20.xc5 d8 21.b4 b7 22.c3 f6 23.fd1 and White eventually converted his pawn advantage, although the task by no means is easy, TopalovShirov, Monte Carlo 1999 ] [ 5...c6 6.xd4 A) 6...e5 7.xc6 bxc6 8.c3 e6 9.a4 d7 10.g5 looks pleasant for White.; B) 6...xd4 7.xd4 c7 ( 7...e6 8.e3 d7 9.a3 a6 10.d1 h3 11.xh3 xh3 12.cxd5 is also plain bad 1242
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 for Black ) 8.c3! ( a quieter alternative is 8.f4!? xc4 9.xc4 dxc4 10.d2 with Catalan pressure against Black's queenside ) 8...xc4 9.xc4 dxc4 10.b5! d8 11.f4 a6 12.0-0-0+ d7 13.c7 a7 14.d5! and Black is in serious trouble; C) 6...b6 7.xc6 bxc6 8.0-0 e6 9.c3 b4?! ( unnecessarily sharp, instead 9...e7!? deserves consideration) 10.e3 a5 11.d4 0-0 12.xf6 ( 12.a3!? e7 13.b4 a6 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.e4 ) 12...gxf6 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.e4 xc3 ( 14...a6!? 15.g4+ h8 16.fd1 with better chances for White) 15.bxc3 dxe4 16.g4+ h8 ( 16...g5 17.xe4 b8 is also clearly favouring White, but looks somewhat safer) 17.xe4 b8? ( 17...f5!? 18.g5 b8 19.f6+ g8 20.f3 b7 21.xb7 xb7 22.fd1 ) 18.c4? ( 18.f4! b7 19.xf6+ g8 20.fe1 and Black is toast) 18...f5 19.f4 a6 and Black is back in the game again, Loeffler-Podlesnik, Bled 2000 ] [ 5...g6 6.xd4 g7 ( 6...e5 7.b5 d4 8.a4 i s b e t t e r f o r W h i t e) 7.cxd5 ( 7.c3!? ) 7...xd5 8.0-0 ( 8.b3 e6 9.0-0 d6 10.a3 ) 8...0-0 9.c3 ( 9.b5 e6=; 9.b3 e6= ) 9...xc3 10.bxc3 a5 11.b3 c6 ( 11...a6 12.a3 f6= ) 12.e3 xd4 13.cxd4 , and I prefer White's position, F. Bistric-D. Lekic, Neum 2002 ] [ 5...e6 6.0-0 dxc4 7.xd4 A) 7...a6 8.a4+ fd7?! ( Yevseev gives 8...d7 and; 8...bd7 as better choices for Black ) 9.xc4 ( 9.c3! e7 10.d1 0-0 11.xc4 Yevseev ) 9...b6 Yevseev-V.Karasev, St.Petersburg 2002 10.d3 e5 11.f3 xd3 12.exd3 f6 13.c3 c5 14.d4 xd4 15.xd4 exd4 16.e2 c6 17.xc6+ bxc6 18.xd4 Yevseev; B) 7...d5?! 8.a4+ d7 9.xc4 7b6 10.b3 d7 ( 10...c5 11.b5+ d7 12.b3 Kramnik ) 11.c3 c5 ( 11...xc3 12.xc3 Kramnik ) 12.xd5 xd5 ( 12...exd5 13.e3 0-0 14.e6 Kramnik ) 13.f5! 0-0 ( Here Kramnik gives 13...f6 14.xb7 c8 15.e3; and 13...exf5 14.xd5 without any
evaluation, but it is clear these are not re co m m e n d a t io n s f o r B l a ck e it h e r. . .) 14.xg7! f6 ( 14...xg7 15.xd5 exd5 16.c3+ Kramnik ) 15.h6 Black is already busted, but let's see the rest of the game to enjoy a very strong GM being torn to shreds... e7 16.f3 c6 17.f4 h8 18.xc6 bxc6 19.ac1 d6 20.h4 g8 21.xe7 xe7 22.xe6 xh6 23.xf8 xf8 24.xc6 d8 25.fc1 g7 26.1c2 f5 27.e3 a5 28.a6 d5 29.e4 d1+ 30.g2 d4 31.c7 b5 32.b7 d6 33.d7 1-0 Kramnik, V-Naiditsch, A/Turin ITA 2006/The Week in Chess 603 ] 6.xd4 [ 6.a4+ has also been tried, but the text move has been endorsed by Kramnik, yet an advantage isn't easy to prove ] 6...c6 [ 6...d7 7.e5 c6 8.xc6 xc6 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.xd8+ ( 10.xc4 d5 11.xd5 cxd5 12.c3 e6 is obviously comfortable for Black) 10...xd8 11.d2 c3 12.bxc3 e6 13.b1 c5= MatnadzeMirzoev, Sort 2006 ] [ 6...xd4 7.xd4 Kramnik ] 7.xd8+ xd8 8.a3 e6 [ 8...d7 A) 9.xc4 c8 10.ce5 ( 10.fe5 9 transpose to the game's Ne5) 10...e6 11.xd7 b4+ 12.d2 xd2+ 13.xd2 xd7 14.ac1 leaves White with a strong initiative despite the symmetrical pawn distribution and neither side having any obvious weaknesses; B) 9.e5 c8 10.axc4 e6 11.b3 d5 12.0-0 e6 13.e3 ( 13.b2!? b5 14.e3 xg2 15.xg2 is very pleasant for White ) 13...b5 14.b2 a3 15.bd3 a5 16.c1 d6 17.d2 xg2 18.xg2 b7 , and Black has solved his opening pro ble ms successf ully, Su la va -Ru c k , Charleville 2000 ] 9.b5 d5 10.fd4 a6 11.xd5!? [ 11.xe6 axb5 12.xd5 fxe6 13.e4 g6 isn't particularly clear but playable for Black ] [ 11.a3 c8 12.xe6 fxe6 13.f4 g6 14.e4 b4 is also okay for Black, e.g. 15.d2 d3+ 16.e2 g7 17.xc4 xf4+ 18.gxf4 xc4 19.b3 c2 1243
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with chances for both sides ] 25.f5 cd8 26.xd7 xd7 27.xd6 xd6 11...axb5 12.xb5 xd5 13.c7+ d7 28.xd6 g7 29.f4 and the 3 pawns will 14.xd5 c6 15.e3 b5 16.d2 e6 win rather easily. ] [ 16...e5!? 17.a4 xa4 18.xa4 bxa4 [ b) 19...h8 20.d5 19.xc4 d6 20.0-0 b7 21.c1 b5 A) 20...d7 21.xd7 xd7 ( 21...xd7 looks fully acceptable for Black ] 22.xb6 ) 22.xe7 xe7 23.xd6 xg2 17.a4!? 24.xg2 c7 25.xh6+ g8 26.xb6 [ 17.0-0 c5 18.fc1 b7 19.a4 d6 etc.; 20.axb5+ xb5 leaves Black with the B) 20...a7 21.e4! b5 ( 21...xe4? initiative ] 22.xh6+ g8 23.xg7# ) 22.xf6 xf6 17...xa4 18.xa4 bxa4 19.0-0 b5 23.f5 ] 20.c1 c6 21.xc4 d4 22.f1 b3 20.d5?! 23.c2 d4 [ Again, 20.d5! was crushing, for exactly [ Forcing the draw, but Black should consider the same reason or another one if W hite 23...c5!? with a pleasant position ] chooses: d7 21.xd7 ( or 21.f4 xe6 24.c1 b3 25.c2 d4 22.xe6+ ) 21...xd7 22.xb6 ] ½-½ 20...e5 21.f4 xd5 22.xd5 d7 [ 22...xd5 is a bit easier for White after 23.xd5 f7 24.f5 ] 1247 A30 23.xe7+? Georgiev continues to falter, this Georgiev,Kiril 2666 time moving into an opposite-coloured bishop Markowski,Tomasz 2560 situation. Better [ 23.xd7 xd7 24.xg7+! xg7 25.xe7 6th EICC Warsaw POL (3) 20.06.2005 etc ] [John Watson] 23...xe7 24.xe7 xe7 25.fxe5 dxe5 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 26.xe5 xd2 27.xd2 e6 28.f4 g5 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 29.e3 b5 White has only two extra pawns and they are soon blockaded. Perhaps there's c6 9.f4 0-0 Instead of the more common still a win somewhere but if so it's a difficult [ 9...b8 ] 10.d1 d6 11.b3 b8 A slightly inferior one. A debacle for Georgiev after essentially version of Black's setup in the last game. Still, winning the game in the early middlegame. Bla ck's p ositio n is solid f or th e m ome nt . 30.c5 d5 31.b4 a8 32.a3 a5 33.bxa5 xa5 34.d3 a4 35.d2 c4 36.b4 h5 12.b2 d8 13.d2 [ 13.g5 h6 14.ge4 xe4 15.xe4 37.f2 g4 38.h4 e5 39.c3+ e6 ( 15.xe4 f6 ) 15...f5 16.d2 g5 40.b4 e5 41.d2 e4 42.d1 c2 17.f3 with a small but irritating edge for 43.e1 e5 44.d3 e4 45.d1 c4 46.d2 d4 47.c3 c4 48.b4 d4 White. ] 49.a5 c4 50.e1 xc5 51.f2 c6 13...a6 14.e3 c7 [ 14...d7 ( t o p r o t e c t b 6 ) 15.ad1 52.b4 f6+ 53.e1 c6 54.b2 c1+ 55.f2 a1 56.c2 c4 57.c3 d4 intends Ne4. ] 15.ad1 ac8 16.h3 a8 17.g5! h6? 58.c2 e4 59.d2 a2 60.xa2 It is strange that a top player like Markowski ½-½ would underestimate the strength of White's next move: [ 17...b4 18.xa8 xa8 19.a3 c6 20.ce4 keeps White's advantage, but xe4 21.xe4 b5 isn't so awful. ] 18.xe6! fxe6 19.xe6+ f8 This should lose, but what else? [ (a) 19...h7 20.d5! d7 21.xf6+ xf6 22.e4+ h8 23.xd7 xd7 24.xf6 gxf6 1244
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1248 A30 a3+ Gonzalez Rodriguez,Jorge Armando2312 0-1 Tyomkin,Dimitri 2516 Qualifier Internet ICC (5.2) 19.03.2000 1249 A30 [Tony Kosten] Grischuk,Alexander 2715 Jakovenko,Dmitrij 2710 1.b3 d5 2.e3 f6 3.b2 g6 4.f3 g7 22.12.2007 5.e2 0-0 A sensible reaction from Black, 60th ch-Superfinal (4) who is content to bring play into a reversed [Carsten Hansen] Queen's Indian position. 6.0-0 c5 7.c4 This is countered just as in the position with 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 e6 4.g3 b6 colours reversed, but what else? d4! 8.exd4 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.b3 d6 8.b2 0-0 h5 9.g3!? 9.e3 bd7 10.d4 [ A new move that prevents the intrusion on [ The other main line is 10.e2 ] f4, and aims for a Benoni position, but the 10...e4 manoeuvre Bf1-e2-f1-g2 leaves W hite a [ Black has tried many other moves in this tempo down rather than up! 9.a3 cxd4 position, but the most frequently seen are 10.d3 e5 11.e1 f4 12.f3 c6 13.g3 10...a6 as played by Kasparov two times e6 is a better plan, although even here (beating Smyslov and Speelman), and ] Black has the edge, Wischhoefer,C-Gieritz, [ 10...cxd4 11.xd4 xg2 12.xg2 c7 D/Germany 1997. ] 13.f4 a6 14.f3 fc8 15.g4 b5 9...cxd4 10.d3 c6 11.e1 e5 12.bd2 f5 ( The alternatives are not that attractive 13.f1 e8 14.a3 Menacing b4. a5 15.g2 e i t h e r , e . g . 15...h6 which looks like an W hite has achieved his desired setup, but in vit a t i o n t o a t t a c k o n t h e k i n gs i d e b y Black has the better position. h8 16.h4 creating another weakness, though I don't e6 17.g5 g8 18.c2 c8 19.f3?! see anything decisive and; 15...c5 16.g5 f6 20.b4 h6 21.b5 A little tactic that avoids fd7 17.ad1 which just looks pleasant for White having to retreat his g5-knight to the White, but may be playable for Black) 16.g5 passive h3-square. hxg5 22.bxc6 bxc6 e8 17.cxb5 axb5 18.cxb5 b6 19.a4 23.hxg5 h7 24.g2 Hoping to generate with a large advantage for W hite, some play along the open h-file. e6! 25.a4 Tomashevsky, E-Azarov, S/Serpukhov RUS d7! The most accurate, the g-pawn is not 2007 ] running away. 26.h1 g8 27.c5 xg5 11.d5 The g-pawn goes, and with it, White's position. [ This is just one of many continuations in 28.ae1 e6 29.d1 b8 30.c1 d5+ this position. Some of the other tries include: 31.f3 e6 32.c2 b5 Targeting the weak A) 11.e2 c-pawn. 33.c4 xc5 34.e2 e4! A) 11...df6 12.fd1 xc3 13.xc3 Demolishing the white pawn structure. 35.a4 c7 14.ac1 ac8 ( 14...fe8 15.e1 [ Not 35.fxe4? fxe4 36.dxe4 as f4+ xg2 16.xg2 b7 17.d5 e5 18.e4 37.xf4 xe4+ wins the white queen. ] d7 19.f4 Kovacevic, B-Vadla, Z/Pula 35...xc4 36.dxc4 d3 37.a2 dxe2 2001 exf4 20.gxf4 f6 ) 15.d2 xg2 38.fxe4 d3 39.xe2 White could resign, 16.xg2 b7+ 17.f3 xf3+ 18.xf3 b u t i n qu ic k c h e s s yo u n e ve r kn o w! d4 fd8 19.e4 d5 20.cxd5 exd5 40.e3 c2+ 41.xc2 xc2 42.d3 fxe4 1/2-1/2 Miles, A-Kortschnoj, V/London 43.d6 e3 44.xg6 e2 45.h6 e7 1980; 46.xg7 xg7 B) 11...xc3 12.xc3 f6 13.dxc5 bxc5 [ 46...e1+!? makes it even easier for Black 14.d2 xg2 15.xg2 d5 16.cxd5 exd5 47.g1 xg7 48.xg7+ xg7 ] with chances to both sides, Zhou Jianchao47.e6 e1 48.hxe1 xe1+ 49.xe1 Belov, V/Moscow RUS 2007; xc4 50.f3 xa4 51.e8+ h7 52.e6 C) 11...c8 12.fd1 xc3 13.xc3 f6 14.dxc5 dxc5 15.e5 c7 16.e4 ad8 1245
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.g4 xg4 18.xg4 Klaman, KNeishtadt, Y/Leningrad 1956 ] [ B) 11.c2 xc3 ( 11...f5!? ) 12.xc3 A) 12...cxd4 13.xd4 c7 14.ac1 fd8 15.h4 h6 16.e4 ac8 17.h2 f6 18.e3 b8 ( 18...d5!? ) 19.e2 e7= Karlsson, L-Paavilainen, J/ Pohja 1985; B) 12...f6 B1) 13.d5 exd5 14.g5 h6 15.xf6 hxg5 16.b2 b8 17.cxd5 a6 ( 17...f6 18.ac1 e8 ) 18.fe1 f6 19.e4 e8 20.ad1 c8 ( 20...g4!? ) 21.h3 c7 22.e5 Zakharov, AUtemov, V/Moscow 1991; B2) 13.ad1 e4 14.b2 c7 15.h4 xg2 16.xg2 cxd4 17.xd4 fc8 18.d3 b7= Boersma, P-Van Baarle, C/Wijk aan Zee 1987; C) 12...c7 13.ad1 ( 13.e4 cxd4 14.xd4 a6 15.fd1 ac8 16.ac1 fd8 17.e2 c5 Szamos, A-Meszaros, G/Zalakaros 1997) 13...cxd4 14.xd4 a6 15.e4 ac8 16.a4 fe8 17.fe1 f8 18.b2 c5 19.e3 g6 Kaiszauri, KSeirawan, Y/Malmo 1979 ] [ C) 11.e2 A) 11...cxd4 12.fxd4 c7 13.c1 a6 14.f4 ef6 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.xe6 b8 17.xf8 xf8 18.f3 c7 19.e4 e8 20.d2 Vukic, M-Zelic, Z/Cetinje 1990; B) 11...a6 12.c2 a7 13.f4 ef6 14.fd1 e4 15.e2 e8 16.f1 b5?! ( 16...a8 17.e2 cxd4 18.exd4 d5= ) 17.dxc5 xc5 18.cxb5 a8 19.b6 b7 20.d2 xg2 21.xg2 Pigusov, EPoluljahov, A/Tomsk 2001; C) 11...df6 12.f4 b8 13.d5 exd5 14.cxd5 a6 15.e1 g4 16.c2 C1) 16...f6 17.xf6 gxf6 18.h4 e8 19.f3 g5 ( 19...g5 20.f5 xg3 21.hxg3 gxf4 22.gxf4 ) 20.ad1 g6 21.e4; C2) 16...gf6? 17.h4! g5 18.f5+1-0 Markowski, T-Erenska Barlo, H/ Warsaw POL 2006; D) 11...c7 12.f4 ( 12.c1 ad8 13.f4 b8 14.d5 e5 15.d3 f5 16.d2 xd2 17.xd2 f6 18.a4 a5 19.f4 e4 20.f2 c8 21.g4 Lodhi, MNjo bvu , I /T u rin IT A 2 0 0 6) 12...g5
( 12...ef6 13.d5 e5 14.e2 b5 15.d2 b6 16.c2 bxc4 17.bxc4 c8 18.h3 d7 19.a4 ab8 20.c3 Paneque, PGarcia, O/Cienfuegos 1996) 13.xg5 xg5 14.d5 e5 15.h5?! ( 15.d3!? ) 15...g6 16.g4 e7 17.e4 f6 18.f4 h8 19.h3 c8 , and White loses his strand ed knight on h 5 f or insuf f icien t compensation, Nikolaevsky, Y-Popov, N/ Alushta 1977 ] [ D) 11.xe4 xe4 A) 12.d2 xg2 13.xg2 c7 14.f3 ad8 15.fd1 f6 16.dxc5 ( 16.d5 exd5 17.cxd5 d7 18.ac1 f6= ) 16...dxc5 17.e4 xe4 18.xe4 f6 19.xf6 gxf6 20.g1 Buldrova, M-Chmelik, J/ CZE 2001; B) 12.e2 B1) 12...f6 13.fd1 e7 14.d2 ac8 15.ad1 cxd4 16.xd4 xd4 17.xd4 f6 18.b5?! ( 18.f3 a8 19.e4 is probably better, but really sh o u l d n ' t b e d i f f i c u l t f o r B l a c k fd8 20.b5 e8 21.e3 a6 22.c3 c7= ) 18...xg2 19.xg2 d5= Mustelin, J-Laine, H/Tampere 1989; B2) 12...c7 B2a) 13.fd1 b7 14.e1 xg2 15.xg2 B2a1) 15...a6 16.e4 ( 16.dxc5 xc5 17.f4 b5 18.ac1 ac8 19.g4 g6 ) 16...cxd4 17.xd4 b5= Pribyl, J-Predein, V/Mlada Boleslav 1993; B2a2) 15...f6 16.d5 ( 16.ac1 proved inadequate for an edge: cxd4 17.xd4 fd8 18.h4 ac8 19.c2 1/2-1/2 Kortschnoj, V-Bischoff, K/ Brno 1992 ) 16...exd5 17.cxd5 fe8 18.d3 b5 19.h4 c4 20.d4 f8 ( 20...ac8!? is likely better, but White still appears to have the better chances, even if my computer calls it complete ly equa l) 21.f5 e4 22.d2 d7 23.h6+ gxh6 24.xf6 Radjabov, T-Belov, V/ Internet 2000; B2b) 13.ad1 b7 14.e1 ad8 15.xe4 xe4 16.g2 f6 17.d5 e5 18.f3 g6 19.e4 h5 20.h4 Ja n s s o n , B - K o r m a n , U/ D e g e r f o r s 1246
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1978 ] [ E) 11.d3 xc3 12.xc3 cxd4 ( 12...f6 13.h4 xg2 14.xg2 c7 15.d5 exd5 16.cxd5 d7 17.e4 Istratescu, ASimantsev, M/Bucharest 2000) 13.xd4 f6 14.d2 xc3 15.xc3 c7 16.ac1 ac8 17.b2 a6 18.fd1 fd8 19.e2 f6 20.f1 c5 21.d4 xg2 22.xg2 h5 1/2-1/2 Istratescu, A-Nisipeanu, L/ROM 2001 ] [ 11.c1 df6 ( or 11...xc3 12.xc3 f6 13.e1 e4 14.e2 c7 15.d2 fd8 16.e1 xg2 17.xg2 ac8= Benkovic, PVidonyak, N/Interlaken 2003) 12.c2 xc3 13.xc3 e4 14.b2 c7 15.fd1 b7 16.e2 fd8 17.e1 xg2 18.xg2 cxd4 19.xd4 ac8 20.e1 d5 21.cxd5= 1/2-1/2 Rasmussen, K-Schandorff, L/Danish Team Ch - playoff 2003 ] 11...xc3 12.xc3 exd5 13.cxd5 f6 [ 13...b5 14.e4 b4 15.b2 a5 16.a3 f6 17.c2 a6 ( 17...xb2 18.xb2 f6 19.xf6 xf6 20.d2 a6 21.fc1 d7 22.f4 ) 18.fd1 e8 19.a2 b6 20.axb4= 1/2-1/2 Pigusov, E-Razuvaev, Y/ Irkutsk 1986 ] 14.xf6 [ One alternative is 14.c1 which lead to a White win in its only outing, but Black should be okay, e.g. xc3 15.xc3 f6 16.e1 A) Here Black should improve with 16...xd5!? 17.d3 e4 18.xd6 e7 19.e2 ad8 20.xd8 ( 20.ed2? c2!-+ ) 20...xd8 21.d2 xd2 22.xd2 xg2 23.xg2 d7=; B) 16...e8 17.h4 g6 18.e4 d7 19.f4 Kartsev, S-Friedel, M/ Recklinghausen 2002 ] 14...xf6 [ This is the first new move, though the players of the stem game would probably never have thought that two of the world's highest rated players would replicate their moves this far. The stem game continued as follows: 14...xf6 15.h4 c8 16.e4 e8 17.e1 d7 ( 17...g4!? ) 18.d2 ad8? ( 18...c8!? ) 19.f5 g6 20.f3?! ( 20.h3! wins: c7 21.h6 h5 22.g4 gxf5 23.xf5 f6 24.xh5!+- ) 20...e5 21.g5 ( 21.g2!? ) 21...xd5 22.g4 Tutschka, JHenzner, R/ Bruchkoebel 1993, and now f6!
23.h6+ g7 24.xe5 dxe5 25.xd7 xd7 26.exd5 xh6 27.ed1 g5 28.d3 e4 29.d2 d6 30.ad1 f5= ] 15.e4 fe8 [ 15...e5 16.xe5 xe5 17.e1 fe8 18.c1 a5 19.a4 a6 20.f4 b2 21.e5 ] 16.e1 a6 17.c1 ac8= 18.e3 h6 19.h4 e5 20.h3 cd8 21.xe5 xe5 22.f4 d4!? [ This move surprises me a lot, because after the exchange of the queens, the c-file is opened, and likely only to White's benefit. Yet Jakovenko must have reached a comfort level telling him that White will not be able to exploit the advantage that an open c-file delivers. Black could also consider 22...b2 ] [ and 22...f6 , both of which leave the position approximately even. ] 23.xd4 cxd4 24.ee1 d3 [ 24...d3?! 25.cd1 is much better for White, as the d-pawn will drop sooner rather than later. ] 25.ed1 xe4 26.xd4 I clearly prefer White in this position, but Jakovenko makes the defence look rather simple and effortless. e7 27.f2 g6 28.e6 f5 29.xf5 gxf5 30.d2 [ 30.dc4!? looks more critical for Black, e.g. h5 31.c8 xc8 32.xc8+ g7 33.c6 d7 34.e3 , and Black has an uncomfortable defence ahead of him. ] 30...h5 31.e2 f8 32.a4 xe2+ 33.xe2 e7 Now White will not be able to break through 34.c7+ [ 34.c6 d7 35.a5 (if not then Black plays ...Rc8, forcing the exchange of rooks with a dead draw) bxa5 36.a6 e8+ 37.d3 b8 38.xa7+ e8 , and matters are not that clear anymore... ] 34...d7 35.c8 d8 36.c7+ d7 37.c6 d8 38.c7+ ½-½
1247
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1250 Gurevich,Mikhail Leko,Peter Corus Wijk aan Zee NED (2) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2641 2713 13.01.2002
1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.e3 [ For reasons best known to themselves, both players are trying to avoid playing their queen's knights too early, i.e. 4.c3 c6 leading to a main line Symmetrical. ] 4...e6 5.d4!? A new move so early in a SuperGM tournament game is very rare! [ 5.e2 is more normal, c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.exd4 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.bc3 ge7 with equality, Berg,K-Vegh,E/Budapest 1983. ] 5...cxd4 6.exd4 e7 [ If Black was worried about White's next move, he could always play 6...d5 ] 7.d5 [ This is the logical continuation of White's idea, grabbing space before Black can play ... d5, for instance 7.c3 d5 and Black equalises. ] 7...exd5 8.cxd5 d6 9.e2 g4 10.bc3 0-0 11.0-0 e8 12.e1 a6 Black develops sensibly, he has two open files for his rooks and plenty of squares for his knights (c5, e5, f5). 13.f4 b6 14.d2 White may enjoy more space in a technical sense, but the d5pawn hinde rs his g2 -bishop, a nd the g7 bishop is very strong, its control of d4 stops White from playing Nd4, for instance. f5!? By cutting-off its retreat, Black agrees to the exchange of his light-squared bishop for the white knight. 15.h3 xe2 16.xe2 xe2 17.xe2 c5 18.e1 So, White has the bishop pair, and control of the e-file, but how can he displace those two black knights? e5!? An interesting decision, as whilst it is normal to exchange one of your opponent's bishops when he has the bishop pair, this is also Black's key defender of the kingside dark squares. However, Black sees that d6 will prove a good blockading square for a knight. 19.xe5 dxe5 20.d1 [ And not 20.xe5?? d3 ] 20...d7 The e-pawn needs defending now, so Black doesn't have enough time to bring his knight to d6. 21.d6! Positionally forced,
otherwise Black will play ... Nd6, and this kn igh t will b e th e p erf e ct b lo cka d e r. d8 22.e4 The white knight has found a good square of its own, both defending d6, and menacing f6. c8 23.d2 g7 The position is equal. ½-½
1251 Gustafsson,Jan Babula,Vlastimil Bundesliga 2003-4 (8) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2572 2594 14.02.2004
1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 0-0!? Black normally prefers to defer this move, which fixes the position of his king, and plays [ 8...d6 ] 9.h4 With the dark-squared bishop def ende d there was a threa t of .. .Ne4 t o contend with. d6 10.h6 bd7 11.fd1 c8 12.b3 a6 13.ac1 xh6!? A provocative innovation, dragging the white queen to h6. [ 13...c5 is safer, 14.xg7 xg7 15.d4 b5! A) 16.cxb5 axb5 17.a4 bxa4 18.xa4 ( 18.b4!? ) 18...xc1 19.xc1 a5 is fine for Black, with his solid structure, Vadasz,L-Pigusov,E/Copenhagen 1986.; B) 16.d2 xg2 17.xg2 a8+ 18.f3 again Black is fine, Salo,T-Kanko,I/Vantaa 1999. ] 14.xh6 b5?! This is probably going too far, [ 14...c5 is the standard idea in such positions, so that the defensive move...Rh5 is possible. ] 15.g5! White aims for a kingside attack, [ 15.cxb5 a5 16.e3 axb5 is nothing. ] 15...xg2 16.xg2 bxc4 17.d4! The rook heads for h4. [ 17.d5!? is also interesting, e6 18.xf6+ xf6 19.d4 and Black is in some trouble, e. g. c3?! 20.h4 e8 21.xh7 xh7 22.xh7+ f8 23.f4 with a strong attack. ] 17...cxb3?! [ 17...e8! is more sensible. ] 18.h4 This looks good, but there is better: 1248
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 18.xh7! e8 the king needs the f8square, ( 18...xh7? loses, 19.h4 df6 20.d5 e8 21.xf6+ exf6 22.xh7+ f8 23.xc8 xc8 24.e4!! (beautiful!!) xe4 25.h8+ picking-up the queen.) 19.xf6+ xf6 20.h4 h5 21.e4! le a vin g t h e ro o k h an gin g, b u t Ng5 is a p o w e r f u l m e n a c e , d7 22.g5 e5 ( t o c o v e r f 7 ) 23.xc8 xc8 24.axb3 a n d B l a c k i s l o st , N e 4 / h 7 a n d Rx h 5 i s coming. ] 18...e8 19.xh7 h5 This move is forced, but OK. 20.xh5?! White opts to force a perpetual check, but he could still play for the win: [ 20.axb3! a5 21.g4 b4! (to pin the gpawn) ( 21...f4+? 22.xf4 xc3 23.h6 d5+ 24.f3 e5 (to cover h8) 25.f6+! xf6 26.h7+ f8 27.xc3 xc3 28.h8+ xh8 29.xh8+ g7 30.xe8 should win) 22.g5 f8 23.ce4! xc1 24.gxh5 and the white attack appears decisive! ] 20...gxh5 21.g5+ xh7 22.xh5+ g7 23.g5+ h7 24.h5+ g7 25.g5+ ½-½
14.b3 [ 14.e4 is more aggressive, d8 15.e2 ef6 16.d2 fe8 17.h3 b8 18.b4 a8 19.b3 d5! with counterplay, Boensch,UFtacnik,L/Trnava 1988. ] 14...c8 Less accurate than [ 14...d8 in my view, which adds weight to the d6-pawn, and allows Black to consider moves such as ...Ne5. 15.e1 ( 15.h4?! e5 16.c2 xf3+ 17.xf3 xf3 18.exf3 h6 19.d3 f6 is fine for Black, Gritsak,OF t a c n i k , L / K o s z a l i n 1 9 9 9) 15...xg2 16.xg2 b7 17.e3 df6 18.f3!? aim in g f o r a n en d ing wit h m o re s pa c e , Romanishin,O-Brodsky,M/Kherson 1989. ] 15.e3!? A new move with a neat tactical point. [ 15.g5 xg2 16.xg2 df6 17.f3 b8 18.d3 h6 19.ge4 d8 20.xf6+ xf6 21.e4 offers White a space advantage, but Black is solid, Spulber,C-Miulescu,G/ Bucharest 1992. ] 15...b8!? White ignores the threat along the e-file, [ 15...ef6 is the simplest move, although ] [ 15...e5 s e e m s p o s s i b l e , a s 16.g5 ( 16.h3!? ) 16...f6 17.d5 ( 17.h4?! g5 can only be good for Black) 17...xd5 1252 A30 18.cxd5 d8 19.xc8 xc8 20.c1 may avoid losing a piece, but can hardly Gustafsson,Jan 2572 c l a i m m u c h a d v a n t a g e f o l l o w i n g xc1 Prusikin,Michael 2519 21.xc1 f5 ] II GM-Tage Pulvermuehle GER (10) 27.02.04 16.d5! d8!? OK, but [Tony Kosten] [ 16...xd5 17.cxd5 e5 is worth consideration, 18.h3 c7 19.xc7 xc7 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 20.g5 xg5 21.xg5 df6 and White 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 has nothing. ] d6 9.g5 17.h3 White keeps the e-pawn pinned, but [ 9.d1 a6 10.g5 transposes. ] t h i s t i m e a l o n g t h e d i a g o n a l . h8! 9...a6 10.fd1 [ 10.xf6 xf6 11.d3 is an alternative, Black sidesteps the threat of Bxe6, as now the planning Rad1, and then Nd4 to swap the queen's capture on e6 will not be with check. light-squared bishops, but it leads to near 18.g5 White plays another aggressive move. b5? A careless move, missing the White equality. ] 10...bd7 11.d2 White wishes to play Bf4, threat. [ 18...xg5 19.xg5 b5 is perfectly without losing a piece (to ...e5). 0-0 12.f4 r e a s o n a b l e , a l t h o u g h 20.b6 xb6 e8 The best move, defending d6. 13.ac1 21.xb6 bxc4 22.xc4 looks quite c7 promising for White. ] [ 13...c8 is less flexible, 14.b3 h6 15.e4 c7 and now White shows that he can 19.xf7+! [ 19.xf7+ xf7 20.xe6 hits f7 and e8, attack on the flanks: 16.h4! b8 17.g4! Georgiev,K-Sokolov,A/Leningrad 1987. ] 1249
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 got much to worry about, Kavalek, L (2565)De Firmian, N (2475)/USA-ch Berkeley 1984 (3). ] 7...b8 Again using the fact that the knight is 1253 A30 still on g8. Black threatens the pawn, but not Hovhanisian,Mher 2516 with the bishop, since Qd4 will be a problem Fier,Alexandr 2587 afterwards. Taking with the rook is the real Minsk Bronstein Memorial op-A (8) 18.02.14 threat. [ 7...a5+ was the choice of Wojtaszek [Fier, Alexandr] 8.d2 f6 9.0-0 0-0 10.a3 h5 t h i s i d e a i s t h e m a t ic in a l l l in e s o f t h e I don't usually analyze my own games here, Symmetrical English 11.e4 a5 12.xh5 but since this was such an interesting fight I xh5 and Black has good counterplay on decided to make an exception. With 1...g6 and the b-file, Berczes, C (2399)-Wojtaszek, R a delayed ... Nf6 Black can usually avoid the (2599) /Rilton Cup 38th 2008 (4). ] kind of position of Ivanchuk - Vachier. The knight is not stable enough on d4, and White 8.c2 [ 8.c3 is also playable, but White can have needs to make a decision. 1.f3 g6 2.g3 problems defending the c4-pawn a5 9.0-0 g7 3.d4 White probably wants to transpose a6 ( 9...xc3 10.bxc3 xc3 11.f4 to a Fianchetto King's Indian, which, by the and W hite has more than enough for the wa y, wa s t h e va ri a t i o n in a n o t h e r ga m e pawn ) 10.d3 f6 11.b3 0-0 12.d2 between the same players. c5 Avoiding the c7 and Black is fine, White's queen and King's Indian and looking forward to a Benoni bishop are not in their best places, Krstic, kind of position. 4.g2 U (2350)-Cvitan, O (2527)/Omis op 2005 [ 4.d5 d6 5.c4 f6 6.c3 e6 (2). ] would transpose to the Benoni ] [ 8.0-0 falling for the trick xb2 9.xb2 4...cxd4 5.xd4 c6 So, here is the xb2 10.d2 xa1 11.xa1 and White difference. White needs to choose where to has some compensation, but Black is still a go with the knight. 6.xc6 This is the most pawn up f6 ] common move. W hite just tries to finish his 8...a5+ Making the knight go to a less active development without any more ambition. [ 6.b3 is the main option and can square. 9.d2 [ 9.c3 b4 and the problem with the pawn transpose to a normal Symmetrical English on c4 is seen again ] where White dropped his knight back to b3 9...f6 with no reason f6 7.0-0 0-0 [ 9...c5 was also possible, but I saw no A) 8.c4 d6 9.c3 e6 and I think Black reason to do it now 10.0-0 b7 11.f3 already has a pleasant position 10.d5 and Black should continue with 11... Nf6 ( 10.c5 tries to change the character of the anyway ] position d5 11.g5 c8 12.xf6 xf6 13.xd5 xb2 14.b1 g7 15.e4 10.0-0 0-0 11.f3 White has an alternative and Black was fine in Nikolic, P (2620)- p l a n t o b r i n g i n g t h e b i s h o p t o t h e l o n g Rodshtein, M (2664)/ Bundesliga 1314 diagonal. [ 11.b3 was what I was expecting, but Black 2013 (3.4). ) 10...d7; can again transfer the queen to the kingside B) 8.c3 brings the position to a h5 12.b2 d5 Rogoff, K (2480) -Geller, E Fianchetto Dragon d6 9.h3 d7 10.e4 (2620)/Las Palmas 1976 (8). ] c8 with a level position in Rombaldoni, D Black can't lose any time if he wants (2493)-Chatalbashev, B (2613)/Bratto op 11...d5 some initiative. 12.f4 f5 13.c1 e4!? 30th 2010 (5). ] A hard decision to make. I didn't want to agree 6...bxc6 7.c4 [ 7.0-0 is also played, leaving the pawn on to an equal position and I thought that piece c2 for the moment, b8 8.d2 f6 9.b3 activity was worth an exchange, but it's not c7 10.d2 0-0 11.a5 but Black has not clear that this is the best choice. If W hite winning two pawns for nothing. ] 1-0
1250
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 manages to defend all his pawns Black is go ing to be in tro ub le. St ill, t h e p ositio n becomes really dynamic. [ 13...bc8 would be the normal reaction and after 14.e5 fd8 15.b3 the position is equal ] 14.xb8 xb8 15.g4 Creating a weakness to make the bishop go away. The position is tricky and some normal moves are just bad. [ 15.b1 for example, doesn't work because of c3! threatening not only b1, but also e2 16.bxc3 xb1 17.e3 xf1+ 18.xf1 f6 and Black has the advantage ] [ 15.cxd5 w a s p o s s i b l e xb2 16.f4 ( 16.xc6 falls into another nice trick xa1 17.xa1 xa2! 18.xa2 b1+ 19.f1 h3 and the bishop also defends c8!) 16...b6 17.ad1 c3 18.d2 cxd5 with compensation for the exchange ] 15...d7 My main idea was to free the e-pawn to p la y .. . e 5 a t a n y m o m en t . Fin ally t h is moment never arrived and the pawn finished the game on e7. [ 15...xb2 the fireworks don't work properly for Black 16.f4 e5 17.xe5 c7 18.xg6 taking an important pawn. If White was forced to play 18.Nd3 everything would be ok xf4 19.xf4 xa1 20.xa1 a n d B l a c k h a s p r o b l e m s s i n c e ( 20.gxf5 is less clear e5 21.d3 d6 22.cxd5 cxd5 but W hite is still slightly better) 20...xg4 is not possible because of 21.f3 winning the piece ] [ 15...e6 was the other possible move, defending the center and also f7 16.cxd5 ( 16.f4 compared to the game, now it's less effective xb2 17.ab1 xa2 18.a1 xc4 19.xa7 and the bishop is not h a n g i n g o n d 7 h6 and Black is better) 16...cxd5 17.b1 xa2 with a complex position, but Black has a pawn and the bishop pair. Added to the strange pawn on g4, the compensation is largely enough ] 16.f4 White is also activating at any cost. [ 16.cxd5 was again what I expected and Black has a strange plan against it cxd5 ( 16...xb2 now is bad 17.f4 and the e4knight is also hanging) 17.b1 b6!? attacking the b2-pawn one more time and defending the rook 18.f4 ( 18.h3 b5 19.d1 c4 and White's queenside is
g o i n g t o f a l l) 18...f8!? ( 18...f6 m a ke s se n se , b u t it 's b a d t o clo s e t h e b i s h o p l i k e t h i s 19.d2 e5 20.f3 and White creates counterplay against the d5-pawn xg4 21.d3 e6 22.xe4 dxe4 23.xe4 xa2 24.a1 f7 and White can be better) 19.e5 d6 20.d3 xf4 21.xf4 d2 22.xd5 xg4 23.xe7+ h8 24.c6 xb1 25.xb1 a6 and the endgame has good chances to end in a draw ] 16...xb2 17.ab1 b6 Black needs to control the open file. [ 17...xa2 with the bishop on e6 this move was possible, but not here 18.a1 xc4 19.xa7 and the bishop is attacked e8 20.xe7 with a big advantage for White ] 18.xb2 xb2 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.g5 Now the position is clear. Otherwise Black h a d b o t h . . . N c 3 a n d . . . e 5 c o m i n g . xg5 21.xg5 xe2 Keeping the game alive, but also a risky decision. [ 21...f6 would probably enter a drawish endgame 22.xd5 xg4 23.f3 e6 24.a8+ g7 25.xa7 xa2= ] 22.xd5 xg4 23.h3 a4 24.d1 And the game never stops! If I had time to play ...h5 for example, everything would be fine. White is threatening an assault on the last rank with Qa8 or Qd8 followed by rook to the eighth. I found an easy to overlook trick, and since my opponent didn't have much time he fell for it. e8 [ 24...c6 is possible, defending with some samba 25.d8+ f8 26.b1 b5 ( 26...xg2 27.b8 ) 27.f1 a6 28.c1 c6 29.g2 d7 and the rook cannot enter the last rank ] 25.d8 This move looks almost winning. The idea is to come with 26.Rc1 and then 27.Bc6 or 27.Rc8 or 27.Qxe7. Black has one good resource. [ 25.c1! was the precise move order and Black can have some problems after d7 it's hard to believe, but Black can defend t h e b i s h o p 26.c4 a6! 27.a8+ f8 28.d4 b5 29.a4 b1+ 30.h2 f5 31.xa7 e8 and White is better, but Black still has chances ] 25...e5! Normal moves don't work. [ 25...b2 26.b1 a3 27.b8 f8 28.c8 1251
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and 29.Bc6 will come ] [ 25...h6 26.d4! ( 26.b1 f4 27.xe7 ) 26...b5 27.a4 b1+ 28.d1 winning ] 26.c1 h2+! This is the trick! [ 26...g7 27.xe7 is just bad for Black ] 27.h1 [ 27.xh2 f4+ 28.g1 xc1+ and the rook falls with check ] 27...d6 And somehow with the king on h1, Black has time to defend everything. 28.d5 [ 28.g1 g7 and Black has time to consolidate 29.c8 f4 30.c4 h2+ 31.f1 d7 and White won't survive ] [ 28.c8 d1+ this line only works because the king is not on g1 anymore ] [ 28.c6 f4 29.xe8+ g7 and again Black is winning because of the king on h1. ] 28...g7 With all the white pieces hanging Black is already winning. 29.g2 d4 [ 29...f4 was also good enough 30.xe8 g5+ 31.f3 xd5+ 32.e2 e4+ ] 30.f3 f4 31.c8 h2+ 32.f1 b5+ 33.e1 g1+ 0-1
1254 Ionescu,Constantin Avrukh,Boris 34th Olympiad (12) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2492 2625 09.11.2000
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.g3!? g6 A good reply to W hite's slightly strange move order. 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 g7 Forcing the knight to leave the centre. 6.c2 d6 7.g2 [ And not 7.c3?! as Black would play xc3+ 8.bxc3 a5 9.d2 f6 with an edge. ] 7...h5!? [ A vigorous alternative to 7...f6 8.c3 e6 9.e3 with near equality, Csom,ILazarev,V/Budapest 1998. ] 8.h3?! [ This encounter s certain problems, but how best to react to the threat of ... h4 ? 8.h4 may b e th e sa f e st , e6 9.e3 d7 10.c3?! xc3+ 11.bxc3 c8 good for Black, Mittelmann,G-Ward,C/Copenhagen DEN 2000, and ]
[ 8.0-0!? is risky, h4 9.c3?! hxg3!? 10.hxg3 xc3!? 11.bxc3 a5 ( 11...h3 is a go od alte rna tive) 12.e3 h5 with an attack, Cosma,I-Moldovan,D/ Bucharest 1997. ] 8...e6 9.e3 d7 Stopping White from castling. 10.d2!? [ A new idea, 10.d5 c8 11.a4 f6 12.bc3 d4 13.d1 xc4 14.e3 Gross, S-Zagorskis,D/Berlin 1997, and now b4 looks good. ] 10...c8 11.b1 In order to free the b-pawn. f6 12.df1 White keeps control of d5, but the move is ugly. 0-0 13.b3 b5! Black strikes while the white king is stranded in the centre. 14.cxb5 b4 15.a4?! [ 15.a3 a2 16.c6 might be playable, and White is still in the game. ] 15...f5 16.b2 e4 The black pieces flood out. 17.xe4 [ This loses, but what else? 17.g4 c3 18.d2 e4 is also good for Black, e.g. 19.gxh5 xg2 20.xg2 ca2 21.xa2 c3 and the queen is lost. ] 17...xe4 18.f3?! [ 18.h2 c7 is also embarrassing. ] 18...xf3! [ 18...xf3 19.exf3 xc1 20.xc1 d3+ forks king and queen (and rook- for good measure!) ] 0-1
1255 Istratescu,Andrei Ftacnik,Lubomir WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (1.4) [John Watson]
A30 2622 2612 29.11.2005
Continuing along with our theme of grandmaster disasters, we present for your pleasure a 20-move miniature played by two 2600s. W ho says that the English can't be dynamic? 1.c4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 Hedgehog. 7.b3 0-0 8.b2 d6 [ 8...d5 is also playable in this position. 8. .. d6 concedes White some space, hoping for later complications. ] 9.e3 White takes the conservative approach, one that was used in the early days of the 1252
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Hedgehog craze by Ulf Andersson. Andersson himself was a major contributor to the theory of the Hedgehog and wanted nothing to do with the main lines when playing White. bd7 10.e2 c7 11.ac1 a6 12.fd1 c6 [ And guess what? This year, decades later we see Ulf playing the same way versus Kovacevic in Calvia 2005: 12...ac8 13.d4 cxd4 14.xd4 xg2 15.xg2 b7+ 16.f3 c7 17.g1 fe8 18.e4 xe4 19.xe4 f6 20.f3 ed8 21.d2 d7 22.dc2 b7!? 23.xb7 xb7 24.f1 bc7 25.e2 f8 26.h3 d5 27.cxd5 xc2+ 28.xc2 xc2+ 29.xc2 xd5 30.a4 f6 with equality, although Andersson in vintage style made something out of nothing and eventually won. 31.c1 e8 32.e4 e7 33.e3 c8 34.b4 a5 35.c2 e7 36.d4 f6 37.d3 d7 38.e3 d8 39.f4 c7 40.g4 g6 41.d4 e5 42.fxe5 xe5 43.c4 c7 44.g5 d8 45.gxf6 xf6 46.f3 d8 47.f4 f6 48.e5 d8 49.d4 h4 50.e6+ e8 51.f3 f2 52.g5 h5 53.e4 g1 54.g5 f8 55.d5 e8 56.f6+ f8 57.d7+ e8 58.e5 e7+ 59.xe7 xe7 60.xg6+ f6 61.f4 h4 62.d6 c5+ 63.d7 f5 64.g2 e4 65.xh4 d3 66.f5 c3 67.d6 1-0 ] 13.d4 So far so good. Black is aiming for ...b5 and also trying to increase his control of d5 and e4. b7 14.h4! I have no idea whether this is a good move, but it wins the game. ae8? A disaster. Various other moves involving exchanges on d4 and/or ...d5 were better, but I think that W hite has some advantage in any case. Better than what h a p p e n s n o w : 15.d5! exd5 16.cxd5 xd5?? [ He still doesn't see it. The only move was 16...b5 17.xb5 ( even 17.c2 b8 18.g5 is strong ) 17...axb5 18.xb5 with an extra pawn and superior position. ] 17.xd5 xd5 18.xd5! xd5 19.g5 f5 20.e4 Nowhere to go. 1-0
1256 Ivanchuk,Vassily Aronian,Levon XXIII SuperGM (2) [John Watson]
A30 2729 2752 19.02.2006
In a heavyweight encounter, Ivanchuk finds a way to keep the advantage in an apparently sterile position. He uses his extra space to improve his piece position and then proceeds with deadly accuracy to score the point. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 b7 4.g2 c5 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.e3 bd7 10.ac1 c8 11.b3 a6 12.fd1 0-0 13.d2!? Ivanchuk allows his dark-squared bishop to be traded off, but Aronian prefers to trade knights. In either case this simplification appears to favour the side with more space. e4 [ After this White gains a distinct advantage. Perhaps 13...g4 14.h3 xe3 15.xe3 c5 was best. ] 14.xe4 xe4 15.e1!? [ Or 15.h3 xf3 16.exf3 ] 15...f6 16.h3! b8 17.d3 a8 18.f3 e6 19.f2 e8 20.b4! a5 Forced. White has completely outmanoeuvred his opponent and now wins a pawn: 21.a6 c8 22.xd6 xd6 23.xd6 d5!? [ 23...b5 24.e4 bxc4 25.xc4 xc4 26.bxc4 and the threat of e5 with queenside pressure is just too strong. ] 24.d1 [ 24.e1! is virtually winning, since f8 ( 24...c3 25.xb6 ) 25.d7 f6 26.a7 and Bxb6 wins another pawn. ] 24...c3 25.1d2 b5 26.d7 e5 27.cxb5 xb5 28.f1!? [ Or 28.c5! .Another pawn will soon fall. ] 28...c6 29.7d3 a3 30.f4 f6 31.c5 e7 32.d1 b5 33.a4 e4 34.d7 b4 35.g2 xg2 36.xg2 c2 37.b7 a3 38.dd7 f8 39.f3 b1 40.e3! xa2 41.c5 The end. d2+ 42.g2 xc5 43.xc5 e5 44.e6 exf4 45.xf7 Mate follows. 1-0
1253
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A30 25...f7! 26.h3! c5 [ 26...h8 27.g4 c5 28.b4 ce6 2739 29.e4 is unclear ] 2670 28.06.2005 27.b4 h8 28.g4 d7! 29.h3? [ 29.xd7 looks much better: xd7 30.e4 c6 covers everything, so White had better forge ahead by 31.b5 axb5 32.cxb5 xc1 A battle between elite players strays early 33.xc1 b8 34.a4 Probably the two from the beaten path as Black fins a dynamic pawns and well-placed pieces are enough solution to his problems. 1.c4 e6 2.c3 c5 for the piece. ] 3.f3 f6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.g5 a6 10.fd1 29...xg4 30.hxg4 a4!? [ Black can also try something like 30...ce6 bd7 Thus far a standard Hedgehog. Now 31.e3 fxg3 32.fxg3 a5! 33.a3 axb4 White plays a line that for some time drove 34.axb4 c7 ] Hedgehog def enders nuts. 11.d2 0-0 31.h1 e6?! Activating pieces looks best: 12.f4 e8 Normal. [ 31...xh1 32.xh1 b2! 33.c1 e6 [ 12...e5 13.g5 h6 14.xf6 xf6 15.h4 with a clear advantage. ] xg2 16.xg2 and Ne3 is only very slightly 32.xh8 xh8 33.b1 d8 34.e4 b6? better for White. ] [ 34...e8 ] 13.ac1 [ In the past White has reorganized by 13.e4 35.xb6 xb6 36.xg5+ e7 White has , but hasn't achieved much. Here Ivanchuk gotten his third pawn for the piece and now gains activity as well: 37.c5! c7 opts for piece play: ] [ 37...dxc5 38.bxc5 xc5?? 39.b7+ f6 13...c8 14.b3 c5 40.e4+ ] [ Or 14...c7 ] 15.g5 xg2 16.xg2 h6 17.ge4 38.gxf4 exf4 39.cxd6+ xd6 40.b5 [ 40.a4!? f5! with the idea 41.gxf5 g8 ] Now it seems as though W hite may have achieved a little something. Nisipeanu finds a 40...a5?! [ 40...axb5 41.xb5 e6 is at most slightly c r e a t i v e s o l u t i o n t o h i s p r o b l e m s : b7 better for White. His a-pawn doesn't mean The fianchettoed knight. 18.d3 f5! 19.d2 much. ] g5! And now an expansion that one seldom if ever sees in the Hedgehog! 20.e3 f4!? 41.b6 e6 42.xe6 xe6 43.b5!? [ 43.f3 ] This may be going too far! Instead, [ 43.b7 ] [ 20...c7 21.f3 c5 looks equal. ] 43...a4 44.b7 a3! 45.g5 d7 46.b3 c6 21.d4 47.g6 g8 48.f3 b8 49.xa3 xb7 [ 21.g6+ g7 22.d4 e5 transposes ] 21...e5 22.xb6! xb6 23.d5 d8 50.b3+ a7 51.a3+ A fascinating battle. 24.g6+ g7 25.xh6!? This is a natural ½-½ way to continue W hite's attack, grabbing a second pawn and further exposing Black's A30 king. But Nisipeanu is a great defender, and it 1258 would have been better to keep him Ivanchuk,Vassily 2702 completely tied down by Nisipeanu,Liviu Dieter 2584 [ 25.e4! c5! 26.xc5 FIDE WCh KO Las Vegas USA (4.3) 11.08.99 A) 26...dxc5 27.b6! e8 28.xc8 [Tony Kosten] xc8 ( 28...xg6 29.xe7+ h7 30.xg6 ) 29.d5! with ongoing pressure 1.c4 e6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 f6 4.g3 b6 ( 29.xh6? f6 30.xg5 e6 ); 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 B) 26...xc5 27.xh6 , when this time d6 9.b3 Planning a possible attack on the d6( 27.xe7+ xe7 28.xd6 e4! ) pawn, by Ba3. 27...f7? fails to 28.xe7 xe7 29.xd6 [ 9.d1 is a major alternative. ] and doubling on the file. ] 9...bd7 The best move, played to block the 1257 Ivanchuk,Vassily Nisipeanu,Liviu Dieter 6th EICC Warsaw POL (10) [John Watson]
1254
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a3-f 8 d ia go na l with .. .Nc5 , if n eces sa ry. 10.b5 One of the more aggressive replies, taking immediate interest in the d6-pawn. c5 [ 10...d5 11.cxd5 xd5 has a better reputation for Black, but perhaps W hite had something planned. ] 11.d1 d5 This move is the most common, as [ 11...fe4 has a doubtful reputation following Korchnoi's 12.xg7! f6 13.h6 xa1 14.g5 although even here Black has c h a n c e s a f t e r f6! as in Kuznetsov,SMaiorov, A/corr 1994. ] 12.cxd5 exd5 Black prefers to play an IQP position, the alternative [ 12...xd5? allows 13.xg7 f6 14.d6+! winning. ] [ but 12...xd5 is possible, if favourable to White. ] 13.a3?! A doubtful novelty. Previously, three moves had been tried: [ 13.e3!? 0-0 14.b2 Yermolinsky,ABrowne,W/Los Angeles 1996. ] [ 13.h3 stopping Black from playing ...Ne6, and ] [ 13.b2 which may be the best, 0-0 14.f4 a6 15.bd4 d6 16.h4! and Black had problems against the threat of Nf5, Yermolinsky, A-Browne,W/Chicago 1997. ] 13...d7! Of course, Black removes his queen from the d8-square, and thereby renews the threat of playing ...Ne6. [ The immediate 13...e6?! would permit 14.xe7 xe7 15.e5 with a positional advantage to White. ] 14.c3 The knight was attacked, and had to retreat. e6 15.e5 Otherwise White would lose a whole piece! xd4 16.xd7 xd7 Simplest, [ 16...xa3 17.xf6+ gxf6 18.xd5 xe2+ 19.f1 xg3+ 20.hxg3 a6+ 21.g1 0-0-0 is a more ambitious try, Black gains the bishop pair, at the cost of his ruined kingside structure. ] 17.xe7 xe2+ The desperado knight grabs a pawn before leaving the board. 18.xe2 xe7 19.d4 White has a 'positional advantage', but is a whole pawn down. hd8 [ 19...g6 must be better. ] 20.ac1 ac8?! Black is clearly happy with a draw.
[ 20...g6 seems more combative, keeping the knight out of f5, 21.h3 f8 when 22.c7 can be met by c8 although White certainly enjoys some compensation for his pawn. ] 21.xc8 xc8 22.f5+ f8 [ 22...f8 23.d6 c7 24.xb7 xb7 25.xd5 is a stone-cold draw. ] ½-½
1259 Jakovenko,Dmitrij Gashimov,Vugar 9th Karpov Poikovsky RUS (5) [Carsten Hansen]
A30 2709 2717 12.07.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 a6 10.g5 bd7 11.d2 0-0 12.f4 e8 13.ac1 c8 [ In the PGN archives, you will also find Tkachiev-Lie, Crete 20 07, in which th e c o n t i n u a t i o n 13...c7 14.e3!? is discussed. ] 14.b3 c5 [ 14...c7 was the topic of Gustafsson, JPrusikin, M/Pulvermuehle GER 2004, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] 15.g5 xg2 16.xg2 c7!? [ A new move Black initially dispenses with t h is m o ve t h a t f o rce s W h it e t o m a k e a decision regarding the knight on g5, possibly in the expectation that White will move the knight unprovoked and Black therefore will g a i n a t e m p o . 16...h6 was the topic of Ivanchuk, V-Nisipeanu, L/W arsaw 2005, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] 17.f3 A logical decision given the fact that Black likely will place his queen on the a8-h1 diagonal to force further exchanges once W h i t e r e t r e a t s h i s g 5 - k n i g h t t o e 4 . d8 18.ge4 b7 Anyway, this will allow Black to take back on c5 with the d -pawn, should W hite choose to exchange the knights. 19.g5 White tries to provoke weaknesses in Black's position by trying to exploit the absent ...h7-h6. f6 20.f4 f5 [ B l a c k c a n a l s o c o n s i d e r 20...xe4!? 21.xe4 f5 22.c3 ( 22.f2 f6 ) 22...f6 , though af ter 23.e3 Black is 1255
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 more or less forced to play f7 ] 21.f2 h6 [ Not so much Hedgehog-like, but still a feasible alternative, Black can try 21...a5 22.e4 c7 23.exf5 xf5 24.fe4 c6 25.e2 e5 26.e3 df8 27.f1 ] 22.c2 f7 23.e4 [ Or 23.b4 d7 24.e4 f8 25.e2 g5 26.d2 g7 27.b5 fxe4 28.fxe4 axb5 29.cxb5 g6 30.g4 h7 , and White has per haps the slightly better chances, but Black's position is far more dynamic. ] 23...fxe4 24.cxe4 [ 24.fxe4!? c8 25.a4 c6 26.h4 ] 24...g5?! [ Black plays very sharply to maintain active counterplay. However, I think Black's best o p t i o n l i e s i n 24...e5 25.e3 c7 wit h a n u n u su a l p o sit io n , wh e re B l a c k doesn't appear to be worse. ] 25.e3 [ 25.xc5!? looks good for White, e.g. bxc5 26.g6+ g7 27.g4 f8 28.xh6 f6 29.h7 xh6 30.xh6 gxf4 31.xf4+ ] 25...g7 26.e1 [ 26.g4!? f5 27.f2!? and although B l a c k h a s a c t i ve c o u n t e r p l a y, W h i t e ' s position is fundamentally and positionally stronger. ] 26...df8 [ 26...f5!? ] 27.d2 [ Or 27.g4 h8 ( 27...xf3 28.xc5 bxc5 29.xh6+ h8 leads to the same position as after 27...Kh8) 28.xc5 bxc5 29.xh6 xf3 30.e2 h7 31.g4 with a messy position. ] 27...h5!? 28.g1 d7 29.d4 [ 29.e4!? is an interesting alternative, but is likely fine for Black, e.g. d5!? ( 29...xe4 30.fxe4 f5 31.g4 hxg4 32.fxg4 e5 33.f2 , and Black's pawn structure is quite fragile and the glue that holds it together is the unusually placed rook on e5.; 29...c7 30.d3 c5 31.xc5 bxc5 32.g4 hxg4 33.fxg4 , and White has the slightly better chances. ) 30.cxd5 ( 30.c2 f5 31.cxd5 xd5 32.cd1 xe3 33.xe3 f5= ) 30...exd5 31.g6 f5 32.d4 f6 33.g4 xd4 34.gxf5 e5 with an unclear position. ]
29...f5 [ Black can possibly do even better with 29...e5!? , and now 30.e3 ( 30.b2 g4 i s e v e n b e t t e r f o r B l a c k) 30...f5 is also quite pleasant for Black. ] 30.b2 e5 31.e4 And here a draw was agreed upon, although Black clearly has a comfortable game after for example 20... Qxe4 21 Nfxe4 Nc5. ½-½
1260 Jakovenko,Dmitrij Karjakin,Sergey 19th TCh-RUS 2012 (5) [John Bartholomew]
A30 2729 2766 13.04.2012
1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 a6 12.b3 0-0 13.h4 c7 14.g4 [ Karjakin recently faced the more popular 14.h3 and put on a flawless display: b8 15.h6 b5! 16.xg7 xg7 17.d5?! xd5 18.cxd5 xc1 19.xc1 c8 20.c6 b7 21.xc8?! xc8 Salgado Lopez, I (2621)Karjakin, S (2763)/Porto Carras GRE 2011/ [John Bartholomew]. ] 14...c8!? What the heck? Was this an OTB mouseslip? Surely not, so let's consider the next likely culprit: engine-backed preparation (I sound like a broken record on this)! The most human explanation of 14...Rc8!? I can muster is as follows: in exchange for 'losing' two tempos Black has encouraged White to further loosen his position (g3-g4), thereby c u t t i n g W h i t e ' s o wn q u e e n o f f f r o m t h e queenside. The counterthrust ...b6-b5! now gains in strength (possibly in conjunction with a discovered attack on c3 by ...Nf6-xg4). The rook facilitates this plan in slyly returns to c8, making way for counterplay with ...Qd8-a5. [ The theoretical endorsement belongs to 14...h6 . See Bu Xiangzhi (2645) Shchekachev, A (2570)/Moscow 2006/[John Watson]. ] 15.h3 Logically taking the c8-rook in his sights now Be3-h6/Nf3-g5 or simply g4-g5 will b e p o s sib le . W h it e h a s a l o t o f o p t io n s , though: 1256
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ The immediate 15.h6? xh6 16.xh6 xg4 just loses a pawn. ] [ 15.g5!? looks critical. h5!? ( safer is 15...e8 , maintaining a compact position, i. e. 16.d4 xg2 17.xg2 c5 ) 16.h3 b5! 17.d2 ( 17.c5!? allows a promising e x c h a n g e s a c : xc5! 18.xc5 xc5 19.xb5! a5! 20.xd6 exd6 21.b4 xa2 22.bxc5 xe2 ) 17...e5 ] [ Moves like 15.d4 (discouraging ...b6-b5) ] [ and 15.d4 (opposing the g7 bishop) also deserve serious consideration. ] 15...b5! Black must strike fast to justify his rook maneuver, and Karjakin has worked out the following complications to perfection. 16.cxb5 [ 16.g5 h5 ( 16...e8!? ) 17.d2 e5 transposes to the above note. ] 16...a5! 17.d2 xf3! [ 17...axb5 18.g5 xf3! 19.exf3 b4 would transpose. ] 18.exf3 [ 18.d5?? xc1 is not advisable. ] 18...axb5 19.g5 b4! 20.gxf6 [ White can keep the bishop pair with 20.a4! , b u t a f t e r e5! 21.g2 h5 Black has excellent counterplay, i.e. 22.f4 c4! ] 20...xf6 21.e4 bxc3 22.xd7 cd8 [ 22...c7!? ] 23.xc3 xc3 24.xe7 d5 25.b5 d4= A balanced middlegame has arisen. Conventional chess wisdom says that the evaluation of an opposite-color bishop middlegame often turns on the safety of the respective kings, so many would find it easier to play Karjakin's position. Still, Jakovenko has an extra pa wn and lo oks to be in n o danger at present. 26.a4 d5! Karjakin b e g in s t o p o k e a n d p r o d . 27.e4 f5 28.h1 b6 29.g1 f6 30.g3 d8 31.d3 f4 [ 31...e5!? ] 32.b7 d6 33.g2?! [ 33.c4= was better, as d3?! 34.xc3 d2 35.e2 is no bother. ] 33...b8 34.a6 xa6 35.xa6 xb3 Now the extra pawn is gone and White really is just worse. 36.g4 f6 37.b5 g7 38.e4 d3 39.d1?! Time pressure? [ W hite should hold after 39.xd3! d2
40.c4 bxf3 41.f1 . ] 39...d2 40.e3 d6 41.e2 e6! 42.xe6? W hite is tempted by the e-pawn, but paradoxically its capture only helps Black. [ 42.f4! was more stubborn. ] 42...fxe6 43.c4 b4 44.xe6 xa4 45.d5 d4 46.e4 b4 47.f1 d6 48.e2 f4 49.h3 h6 50.g1? This loses. [ 50.c2 h5 51.h4! was the last chance to resist. ] 50...c4! 51.d3 c1 52.d1 g5 53.b5 h4 White resigned. Black wins as follows: [ 53...h4 54.d7 ( 54.xd2 xd2 55.xd2 b1 56.d7 b7 57.e6 e7 58.c8 e8! and White loses the h-pawn or the bishop.) 54...c7 55.g4 ( 55.a4 ) 55...h5 56.e6 e7-+ . Karjakin has proven to be a rea l con noisse ur of th e Dou ble Fianchetto, and his highly inventive 14... Rc8!? is a testament to his level of understanding and preparation in this line. ] 0-1
1261 Kasparov,Garry Adams,Michael ROW Match Moscow RUS (4) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2817 2731 13.06.2004
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 c5 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.g5 This move is not as naive as it appears, White intends to capture on f6 and then attack the d6-pawn, as he will have the added possibility of Ne4 when there is no longer a black knight on f6. a6 Played to control b5, although [ 9...bd7 is also possible, 10.b5 d5 11.cxd5 xd5 12.c3 with a small edge. ] 10.xf6 xf6 11.f4 0-0 [ 11...xf3 12.xf3 a7 is an alternative, the rook can come to d7 to defend the dpawn. ] [ 11...xc3 isn't too highly thought-of: 12.bxc3 xf3 13.xf3 a7 14.fd1 d7 15.ab1 c7 16.d4 and the b-pawn is lost, Kramnik,V-Ljubojevic,L/Monte Carlo 1998. ] 12.fd1 e7 13.e4 Heightening the 1257
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pressure on d6. xe4 14.xe4 a7 15.d4 c7 This move is better than the [ 15...c8 that Kasparov once played himself: 16.b3 e8 17.a4!? c5 18.a2 f6 19.ad2 with a plus, Karpov, AKasparov,G/Moscow 1981. ] 16.b3 c5 Preparing ...b5, and making space for the queen on c7, when d8 will be available for the king's rook. 17.a4 [ 17.b7!? is interesting, c7 18.xc7 xc7 19.a4 c5 20.a2 fc8 21.e3 g6 22.ad2 with a similar position, but without queens, Miles,A-Gamundi,A/Ubeda 1997. ] 17...c7 18.b1 This surprising move is standard here, White moves his queen from an exposed square, protects the back rank against nasty surprises and will slowly triple his heavy pieces. [ 18.a2 c8 19.ad2 f8 ( 19...d5! looks possible 20.cxd5 xd5 ) 20.e3 d7 21.b7 gave White an edge in Brook,OWard,C/Oakham 1988. ] 18...d7 [ 18...c8 19.a2 f8 20.e3 e7 21.c2 g6 22.a2 g5 23.h4 f6 24.b4 wit h a plus, A nde rsson, U-Se ira wan ,Y/ London 1982. ] 19.e3 Only this move is new!! [ 19.a2 f6 20.c2 d8 21.b4 c8 22.d3 c7 23.c1 d5 and Black had at least equalised in Pigusov,E-Aseev,K/Vilnius 1984. ] 19...c8 20.a2 f6 21.c2 a5!? Wow! I would be very wary of playing such a move, weakening b5, but the big upside is that White can no longer play Qa2 and then b4 as in the Andersson game. 22.dd2 d8 23.b5 This is the problem, of course, the knight takes-up position on b5. g6 24.d1 e8 25.f3 d7 26.d3 c7 Black manages to threaten the b5-knight with exchange. 27.cd2!? [ 27.c3 is more to the point, otherwise the d r a wi n g f a c t o r o f t h e o p p o s i t e - c o l o u r bishops becomes more important. ] 27...xb5 28.axb5 f8 29.c6 e7 30.d4 The white position looks very impressive, but how will he break through? f6 31.g2 h5 32.h3 c8 33.2d3 c7 34.f3 f5 35.f4!? xf4 36.exf4 White menaces to play Qe3xb6, but it is easy
to defend against this. a7 37.e3 d8 38.c5!? This reveals White's plan, he exploits the d-file pin to create a passed b-pawn. bxc5 39.xc5 b8 40.e3 a4!? Black looks for counterplay, not wanting to wait for White to attack the a-pawn. 41.b6?! Kasparov swaps the b-pawn for an a-pawn, but [ 41.bxa4 xa4 42.f5!? is more dangerous, exf5 43.b6 when the b-pawn can get to b7, and the bishop to d5 so that W hite can combine an attack on f7 with the possibility of using the b7-pawn. ] 41...a6 42.bxa4 xb6 43.b5 d5 44.f5 exf5 [ 44...gxf5 45.g5+ g7 46.xh5 offers White some chances. ] 45.xd5 d6 By exchanging rooks Black can easily defend f7, and stop the a-pawn from advancing past the a5-square. ½-½
1262 Kengis,Edvins Lutz,Christopher 36th Olympiad (2) [John Watson]
A30 2543 2596 16.10.2004
The original Hedgehog, now referring to a variety of openings including the Sicilian De f e n c e , wa s a va r ia t io n o f t h e E n gl is h Opening. In this game we see that W hite's 'purest' attempt to hold down Black's play with e4 is still a system to be reckoned with. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 a6 10.b3 bd7 11.e4 c8 12.b2 0-0 13.e3 e8 14.d4 c7 15.ac1 ac8 16.h3 This setup harkens way back to the early days of the Hedgehog. Uhlmann, having lost 2 famous games, figured out a way to stop both ...b5 and ...d5. The only problem is that most of White's pieces have to be used for that purpose! f8 [ A game Schwartzman-Yermolinsky, Alexandria 1996 saw White make progress after 16...b8 17.f4 f8 18.h2 e5 (Black's other main break but not so welltimed) 19.f5 g6 20.fxe5 xe5 21.g5! ] 17.c2 [ An earlier Lutz game had gone 17.e1 g6 1258
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 17...b8 18.h2 g6 19.cd1 g7 was a similar plan in Bezman, V-Shipov,S, St Petersburg RUS 1997. Of course the idea w e a k e n s d 6 .) 18.cd1 b8 19.d2 1/2-1/2 Bischoff, K-Lutz,C, Altenkirchen 2001. White is probably a little better. ] 17...h6 18.e2 Now we've got Uhlmann's plan all the way through the odd doubling of ro ok s on t h e e-f ile . T he who le id ea is t o answer .. .d5 with e5. b8 19.d2 a8 20.de1 cd8 21.h2 e5 Provocative. Black can try to sit by [ 21...c7 ] [ or 21...b7 ] 22.f4 g6 23.f5!? Giving back e5 for the s a k e o f p r e s s u r e o n e 6 . T h i s wo r k s o u t because of the extra tempo from attacking e6. In most games Black would have kept the knight on d7 and answered f5 with either ...e5 a n d . . . b 5 o r . . . e xf 5 a n d . . . b 5 . A n ywa y, I suspect that Black could have defended better in what follows. e5 24.f1 fd7 25.fxe6 fxe6 26.e3 b7 27.e2 f6 28.d1!? c8 29.f2 d7 [ 29...b7!? , waiting, may be best. ] 30.d3 [ Or 30.f3 ] 30...xd3 31.xd3 e7 [ 31...b5 32.cxb5 axb5 33.e5! ] 32.e5! dxe5 33.c2 Now e5 is attacked and White's activity gives him the advantage. c8 [ 33...d6 34.fd1 c7 35.b4! ] 34.xe5 f8 35.d4 f7 36.f3!? The wrong idea. [ 36.f4! further increases White's pressure on e6 and will soon win the pawn or otherwise infiltrate. Black is suffering here. ] 36...c6 37.xd8+ xd8 38.b2 [ Or 38.d4! xg2 39.xg2 b7+ 40.g1 and Black is tied down with nothing to do. ] 38...c7 39.e5 xg2 40.xg2 xe5! 41.xe5 c5 42.xf6 Simplification has already helped Black's cause and this makes it easy for him. The bishop could retreat. xf6 43.a8+ f8 44.xf8+ xf8 45.xf6+ [ 45.g2! brings the king closer and doesn't straighten Black's pawn structure. Still, all this should be drawn. ] 45...gxf6 46.b4 e7 47.g2 d6 48.f3 c6 [ 48...e5 49.e3 h5 50.d3 f5 51.e3
a5 52.a3 a4! 53.d3 d6= ] 49.g4 a5 50.a3 axb4 51.axb4 d6 52.e4 c6 53.d4 d6 54.e4 c6 ½-½
1263 Kengis,Edvins Thesing,Matthias Bundesliga 2005-6 (10) [John Watson]
A30 2531 2413 18.02.2006
W hite plays a main-line position in the simplest fashion and gains an advantage, making you wonder what others have been missing and taking a closer look at move orders. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 c5 6.c3 a6 7.e1 d6 8.e4 e7 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 11.e3 0-0 12.c1 Arguably the main line of the Modern Hedgehog, and one that we've repeatedly seen on ChessPub. e8 [ When you see this game then the plan we saw from Banikas-Aroshidze, Kavala 2005 makes even more sense: 12...bd7 13.f4 h5!? (stopping White's expansion via g4 and threatening ...Ng4) 14.h3 ( We analysed 14.f5!? g4 ) 14...fe8 and already there is a large difference: White doesn't have Bh3. ] 13.f4 f8 14.f5 We've seen a lot of games where White played single-mindedly for g4-g5 here he has the dumb-but-dangerous idea of attacking e6. bd7?! It's strange to label this move an error but Black should keep his queen in contact with the e-pawn. [ Werely-van Wely. Leeuwarden 2005 went 14...h6 15.g4 Nbd7 16. g5 with a doubleedged game. W hite could have tried to make the Bh3 idea work: 15.h3 ( 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.h3 f7!= That's the main problem with ...Nbd7) 15...e5! ( 15...xe4? 16.xe4 xe4 17.fxe6; 15...c8? 16.b3 c6 17.xc6 xc6 18.g2 ) 16.de2! ( 16.f3 xe4 17.d5 xd5 18.xd5 c6 19.xc6 xc6 20.xb6 c5 21.f6 d3 is unclear, perhaps a little better for White ) 16...bd7 ( now 16...xe4? fails to 17.d5 xd5 18.xd5 c6 19.xc6 xc6 20.g2 ) 17.d5 xd5 18.cxd5 d8 19.g2! (to prevent ...Be7-g5) e7 20.h4 and White will work on the queenside and 1259
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 along the c-file, probably with some advantage. ] 15.fxe6! fxe6 16.h3 Now Black doesn't have ...Qf7 available and W hite gets a substantial advantage. c5 [ 16...xc4 17.xe6+! xe6 18.b3 ] [ 16...f7? 17.f1! intending Qh5+ ] 17.b4 cxe4 18.xe4 xe4 19.xe6!? [ 19.xe6+! h8 20.g5 would be much better for White. ] 19...d7 20.g5?! [ Even now 20.f4! b7 ( 20...f5 21.xf5 xf5 22.xb6 ) 21.d4 would have been strong. ] 20...f5 21.g2 [ 21.xf5 xf5 22.f3 xf3 23.xf3 d5! hits b4 and isn't clear. ] 21...d5! 22.c5 bxc5 23.bxc5 ac8 24.b3 h8? [ 24...xc5! gives Black a serious advantage after 25.xc5 xe1+ 26.xe1 xc5 After this the game goes back and forth. But White's opening really challenges Black to find the best way through this line. ] 25.f1! h6 26.f3 e4 27.d4 b5 28.c6!? d3 29.fd1 c4 30.c2 c5 31.h1 e4 32.xc5 xc5 33.d4 xc6 34.xe4 xe4 35.xc6 xc6 36.g2 e6 37.f3 e2 38.f8+ h7 39.d2 g4 40.f2 e3 41.g1 f3 42.f1 e4 43.xd5 g4 44.f4 xd5 45.xe3 h3 46.f3 xa2 47.e4+ g8 48.b1 e6 49.b8+ f7 50.b7+ g8 51.xe6+ xe6 52.f2 c4 53.e3 g5 54.d4 f7 55.a7 g6 56.e5 d3 57.f6 h8 58.d7 c2 59.d2 e4 60.d6 c2 61.xa6 b1 62.g4 g8 63.a3 c2 64.c3 e4 65.h4 1-0
my book and thought I didn't allow the Hedgehog! c7 11.e3 e7 12.f4 0-0 13.c1 fe8 14.f2 I wanted to avoid the two mainlines, [ 14.g4 and ] [ 14.d5 ] 14...f8!? White might be threatening e5, which restricts Black's choice a little. Here Black's novelty prepares the d7-square for the f6-knight, other ideas: [ 14...h6 (gives the knight the h7-square if necessary) 15.b3 ac8 16.h3 b8 17.g4 h7 18.g3 d8 with typical Hedgehog play in Kramnik,V-Annageldiev,O/Moscow 1994. ] [ 14...f8 15.e2 ( 15.e5? i s n o w a n s w e r e d b y xg2 16.exf6 and the bishop is not en prise on e7) 15...h5 16.h3 g6 17.e5 xg2 18.xg2 h7 19.f3 with possibilities of attack on the kingside, Gelfand, B-Ljubojevic,L/Belgrade 1997. ] [ 14...g6 gives the knight h5, but after 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 h5 W hite played 17.d5! exd5 18.cxd5 c5 ( 18...b8 19.c6 xc6 20.dxc6 c5 21.c7 xc7 22.xa8 xa8 23.b4 is good for White) 19.b4 xe5 20.bxc5 bxc5 21.c6 xe1+ 22.xe1 d6 23.b3 and Black was crushed, Strauss,D-Short,N/Brighton 1984. ] 15.f5!? This move is very committal, in retrospect I might prefer [ 15.e2 ] 15...6d7 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.h3 f6 18.d5!? This is the point of White's previous play, but it is quite messy. exd5 19.cxd5 c5 The simplest reply. I was more worried by [ 19...d8 20.c6 A) 20...xc6 21.dxc6 c5 22.b4 ce6 23.c7 e7 ( 23...xc7? 24.xb6 e7 25.xc7 xc7 26.xc7 xc7 27.d5+ 1264 A30 picks-up the a8-rook) 24.xb6 looks good for White as the c-pawn is so strong; Kosten,Anthony C 2516 B) 20...c8 21.xb6! ( 21.e7+ xe7 Vera Pons,Felipe 2161 22.xc8 xc8 is probably good for Black) Castelldefals (3) 20.08.2004 21...xb2 22.c2 f6 Black has a piece [Tony Kosten] more, but can hardly move anything! ] [ 19...b8!? has its points: 20.c6 xc6 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.g3 e6 4.f3 b6 21.dxc6 c5 22.b4 ( 22.c7 xc7 23.b4 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 a6 7.e1 d6 8.e4 bd7 g6 24.bxc5 dxc5 is good for Black, who 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 My opponent was has a good extra pawn) 22...ce6 23.d5 surprised by the opening, saying that he had 1260
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c7 24.a4 and again Black has a piece more (for a great c6-pawn), but again his pieces are very awkwardly placed. ] 20.b4 xd4!? Black was obviously worried about the knight coming to c6 or e6, but now he will suffer on the dark squares. 21.xd4 c8 22.g2 The bishop returns to a closed diagonal, but in f act W hite threatens e5, breaking it open. d8 [ 22...g6 23.bxc5 bxc5 24.e5 dxe5 25.xc5 threatens the devastating d6. ] 23.bxc5 bxc5 24.a1 d7 25.e5! The position must be opened for the bishops, and besides, W hite doesn't want to allow Black to plant his knight on e5. dxe5?! [ 25...xe5 26.xe5 dxe5 27.d6 b8 28.d5+ e6 29.xc5 is good for White the e-pawn is weak and the d-pawn strong, but is perhaps not so dramatic. ] 26.d6 b8 27.c6! The black pieces are p a s s ive ly p la c e d . b6 28.d5+ h8 29.xd7 xd7 30.xe5 Opposite-colour bishops are on the board, but as everyone knows this favours the attacker, and g7 is not easy to defend! bc8? This loses, but even after the better [ 30...h6 31.f1 ( 31.h5 e6 defends ) 31...h7 32.e7 xe7 33.dxe7 c4+ 34.d4 c6 35.e5 g8 36.f8 Black can hardly resist. ] [ 30...xe5? 31.xe5 g8 32.f1! threatens Qxg7+ and wins. d8 33.f7 ] 31.g5 g8 32.f1! White must take a little care, [ 32.f7? c4+ 33.g2 b7+ draws. ] 32...h3 This allows mate in four, but the position was hopeless anyway: [ 32...c4+ 33.d4 d8 34.f7 and g7 explodes. ] 33.xg8+! [ 33.xg8+ xg8 ( 33...xg8 34.xg7+ h8 35.g6+ ) 34.xg7+ xg7 35.f8+ g8 36.gxg8# ] 1-0
1265 A30 Kovalyov,A 2596 Van Wely,Loek 2691 TCh-ESP CECLUB Div Honor 2012 (1.2) [John Bartholomew] W e've seen two recent examples with the retreat 16...Ne8. Here Van Wely tries 16..Nh5, a move he faced in an online game eight years back. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 b6 4.g3 b7 5.g2 g6 6.0-0 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 0-0 12.h4 a6 13.b3 c7 14.h3 b8 15.g4 White has been pinning his theoretical hopes on this pawn advance in recent months. [ 15.h6 b5! promises excellent counterchances. Topalov, V (2752)-Karjakin, S (2779)/Astana KAZ 2012/[John Bartholomew] ] 15...e6 16.g5 h5?! Sidelining the knight when Bh3-g4 is possible is somewhat suspicious. Van W ely actually encountered this move (a novelty at the time) from the White side in a 2004 game against Grischuk. He prevailed, but it was definitely touch-andgo for awhile. Perhaps the Dutchman had been itching to give it a shot with Black. [ We've focused on the 16...e8 retreat: 17.d4 c5 ( 17...a8!? Zhou Jianchao (2625)-Sasikiran, K (2703)/Hangzhou CHN 2012/[John Bartholomew]) 18.g3 e5 19.f4 g7 20.g2 e5!? 21.f3 exf4 22.xf4 f6! Bartel, M (2654)-Almasi, Z (2713)/Istanbul TUR 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] 17.xd6!? [ The source game saw 17.g4 (logical W hite immediately attacks the marooned steed) b5! 18.xh5 gxh5 19.xh5?! ( this pawn is a sitting duck, so perhaps 19.e4!? is better, i.e. xe4 20.xe4 bxc4 21.bxc4 ) 19...bxc4 20.b4 xf3 21.exf3 xb4 Van Wely, L (2681)-Grischuk, (2704)/ chessassistantclub.com ] 17...xf3 [ 17...xc4 18.xc4 xd6 19.d1 c6 20.xc6 xc6 21.d4 a8 22.g2 is pleasant for White. Black will struggle to activate the h5 knight. ] 18.exf3 e5 1261
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Black's intended follow-up, though 18...b5!? als o d e s e rve s a t t e n t io n , in f u ll Do u b le Fianchetto spirit. ] 19.e4! Initiating a tactical skirmish that re s o lve s in W h it e 's f a vo r. T h e f o llo win g s e q u e n c e i s b e s t f o r b o t h s i d e s . xc4 20.xb6 [ 20.bxc4 xd6 21.f4 d7 22.d1 c7 ] 20...xe4 21.xb8 xf3+ 22.g2 h4+ 23.f1 xc3 24.xf8+ xf8 25.xc3 Let's take stock. Material is equal, but Black's knights do not make a strong impression. Additionally, White is primed to attack Black's solitary a-pawn (Rc3-c6) and may very soon succeed in creating a passed pawn. Black cannot achieve anything similar on the kingside (for now, at least). White has better chances in this ending. f4! Black needs to address the minor piece inequality ASAP. 26.xf4 xf4 27.c6 f3 28.xa6 xg5 29.g2 e5 30.a5 f6 31.b5 [ 31.a4!? ] 31...d4 32.e1 g4 33.f1 d4 34.e1 g4 35.d5 No draw! I lost a game to the young Kovalyov some five years ago, and I was greatly impressed by his chess instincts. He knows he has the better of it here. e7 36.b4?! [ Beginning with the most distant passer seems better: 36.a4! ] 36...d6 37.a4 e4?! [ Black passes up a good opportunity: 37...e4! 38.xe4 (38...Rg1+ and 38. ..Nc3 were major threats) xe4+ 39.d2 c6 40.c3 ( 40.c5+ b7=; 40.b8 c7= ) 40...f4 and White can only play on by accepting a good deal of risk, e.g. 41.c5+ d6!? ( 41...b7 should be fine too) 42.a5 xf2 43.a6?! ( 43.b3 f1 44.b2 f2+ 45.b3 f1= ) 43...a2 . ] 38.d2 g2 39.e3 xh2 40.a5 h3+ 41.d4 d3+ 42.c4 a3 43.b6+ e5 44.a6 h5 45.b5?! White has been playing very impressively, but this affords Black some chances. [ 45.c6! is decisive, making way for the bpawn. If we follow a continuation similar to the game, you'll see why: h4 46.b5 h3 47.b6 h2 48.b7 h1 49.b8+ f5 50.c8+ f4 51.xf6+ (big difference!) e5 52.e6+ f4 53.f8+!
(bigger difference!) g4 54.xa3+- . ] 45...h4 46.a5 xa5 47.bxa5 h3 The pawns will queen simultaneously. 48.a7 h2 49.a8 h1 50.b8+ f5 51.c8+?! [ 51.b6! ] 51...f4 52.b8+ g4 53.g3+ f5 54.e3 a1?! [ 54...d1! offers good drawing chances, as 55...Qa4+ is a threat. ] 55.b5! Now Black will be hard-pressed to stop the passer. b2+ 56.c6 a1 57.c5 f3 58.xe4+?! [ 58.b7 is much easier. ] 58...xe4 59.e3+ f5 60.xf3+ g5 61.e3+ h5 62.b6 g5? [ The engine says Black retains drawing c h a n c e s w i t h 62...f5! because the White king will have a harder time hiding on f8 or g8 (Van Wely's downfall in the game). ] 63.a6 a4+ 64.d6 f4+ 65.e7 g6 66.a7 e4+ 67.e6 b7+ 68.d7 b4+ 69.e8 e4+ 70.f8 h6 71.g8 g4 72.g7+ h5 73.h7+ Black resigned. A deserved victory for Kovalyov, who dealt with Van Wely's 16...Nh5?! in professional fashion. P e rh a p s B l a ck is O K in so m e va ria t io n s (maybe 18...b5!? is worth another look), but I would definitely prefer 16...Ne8. 1-0
1266 Kraai,J Browne,W 3rd Konig Memorial rapid (5) [John Bartholomew]
A30 2514 2449 23.09.2012
GM W alter Browne is an American chess legend who dominated US and international tournaments throughout the '70s and '80s. He recently released an autobiography entitled "The Stress of Chess", and I can tell you that it's a highly entertaining read. In the present game W alter goes in for the Double Fianchetto, and (despite the result) displays much of the fighting spirit that catapulted him to six US Championships from 1974-1983. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 0-0 12.h4 a6 13.b3 c7 14.g4 b5?! 1262
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 This active move had been tried a couple times previously, but I can't recommend it. [ Prior to 2012, Black mostly played 14...h6 , taking precautions against g4-g5. In a recent Grandmaster game White achieved n o t h i n g a f t e r 15.h3 ( critical, however, is 15.xh6 xh6 16.xh6 xg4 , as in Bu Xiangzhi (2645)-Shchekachev, A (2570)/ Moscow 2006/[John W atson]) 15...g5 16.g3 b5! 17.d2 xg2 18.xg2 a8 19.xa8 xa8 20.cxb5 axb5 1/2-1/2 Kovalyov, A (2598)-Vazquez Igarza, R (2566)/San Cristobal VEN 2012. ] [ However, things changed this past April wh en K a rjak in in tro du ce d t he st un nin g reversal 14...c8!? in Jakovenko, D (2729) Karjakin, S (2766)/Sochi RUS 2012/[John Bartholomew]. Karjakin's move appears to be completely playable, though we have yet to see it repeated (this is in part due to the popularity of 14.Bh3 over 14.g4). ] 15.g5 [ Black's idea is 15.cxb5 xg4 , regaining the pawn. An unbalanced position could result after 16.xg4 xc3 17.xc3 xc3 18.a4 axb5 19.xb5 a8 20.a4 , with chances for both sides. ] 15...h5 [ Or 15...e8 16.d5 c8 17.e4 xd5 18.cxd5 c5 , Lalith, B (2320)-Joshi, G ( 2 2 5 0 ) / D i n d i g u l 2 0 0 7 . H e r e 19.h4 ensures White a clear advantage with the bishop pair and the possibility of Nf3-d4-c6. ( 19.g4 is similar. )] 16.d5! c8 Browne aims to keep the tension. [ Instead, Hamdouchi, H (2535)-Solozhenkin, E ( 2 5 0 6 ) / F r a n c e 2 0 0 1 w e n t 16...xd5 17.cxd5 xc1 18.xc1 a5 . Here 19.c2 ensures White a comfortable edge. ] 17.d4! bxc4!? Not objectively correct, but Black stays true to his combative style. [ He has no interest in defending the position after 17...xd5 18.xd5 . ( I think 18.cxd5 xc1 19.xc1 a5 is less clear, )] 18.xe7+ xe7 19.xb7 c7 20.xa6 [ Safer is 20.f3 , going after the h5 knight. ] 20...c3 21.b5 c5! The game now becomes incredibly difficult to assess. Objectively White still has the better chances,
but in a rapid game anything can happen. 22.b4 [ Black's last was possible because of 22.xc5? xc5 , trapping the bishop on a6. ] 22...e5 23.xc3?! xe3! Nearly forced, but s t i l l n i c e . 24.d5!? White struggles for the initiative, too! [ Black has great counterattacking potential after 24.fxe3 xe3+ 25.f2 xg5+ 26.h1 df6 . ] 24...e4 25.xe4 xe4 26.f3 d4?! [ 26...h4 ] 27.xd4 xd4+ 28.e3 a8 29.b7 [ Natural, but 29.exd4! xa6 30.c8+ f8 ( 30...g7?? i s r e f u t e d b y 31.c7!+- ) 31.c3! leaves Black struggling to stop the queenside pawns. ] 29...b8? This loses. [ Instead, 29...xe3+ 30.xe3 xa2 is roughly balanced. ] 30.c7+White wins back the piece and keeps his dangerous passers. e5 31.exd4 xf3+ 32.f2 xg5 33.c8+ xc8 34.xc8 f8 35.a4 e8 36.a5 d8 37.b7 e6 38.a6 Black resigned. While fun, 14...b5?! doesn't look entirely sound. 14...h6 or Karjakin's 14...Rc8!? should be preferred. 1-0
1267 Kramnik,Vladimir Aronian,Levon Rapid Match Yerevan ARM rapid (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A30 2772 2759 05.05.07
1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.g5 a6 10.xf6 xf6 11.f4 0-0 12.fd1 e7 13.e4 xe4 14.xe4 a7 15.d4 c8 16.b3 [ 16.ac1 c7 17.c2 f6 18.b3 b5 19.cxb5 xd4 20.xc7 xf2+ 21.xf2 xc7 22.bxa6 A.Fuhrmann-T.Nagley, IECC E m a il 2 0 0 2 ( 22.b4!? d5 23.e4 axb5 24.exd5 a7+ 25.f1 xa2 26.xb5 exd5 27.xd5 )] 16...e8 [ One alternative is 16...c7 A) 17.e3 e8 18.ac1 c5 19.d2 1263
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 19.h3 g5 20.f4 f6 was fine for Black in A.Zhuravlev-A.Ivanov, Vladivostok 1990 ) 19...d8 20.e3 d7 21.b4 c7 22.c2 g6 23.dc1 dc8= R.Vaganian-S. Dolmatov, Moscow 1985; B) 17.a4 e8 18.a2 d7 19.a5 c5 20.b1 bxa5 21.xa5 f6 22.e3 D.Zifroni-R.Bar, Israel 2002 ] [ A more recent idea is 16...f6 which has been played two of the main proponents of the Hedgehog, Adams and Ftacnik and therefore deserves particular attention. So far praxis has been kind to Black, and I'm sure we will see this line much more in the future... 17.a4 ( 17.e3 d8 18.g4 g6 19.d2 h5 20.e2 g7 21.ad1 c5 22.h4 ad7 23.h3 e7 24.f3 ee8 25.e4 d5 26.xe6! dxe4 27.xd8 e7 28.xe8+ xe8 29.d8 xd8 30.xd8 and even though W hite has won a pawn, his advantage turned out to be too little to materialise into a win, V. Anand-M.Adams, Sofia2005 ) 17...c7!? is a new idea in this position ( 17...c5 18.a2 d8 19.e3 ad7 20.b1 a5 21.ad2 g6 22.h4 K . U r b a n - R . W o j t a s z e k , K r a k o w 2 0 0 6; 17...d8 18.e3 c5 19.a2 xd4 E.Pigusov-M. Ulibin, Dubai 2002 20.xd4 ad7 21.ad2 ) 18.a5 bxa5 19.xa5 c5! 20.xc5 ( 20.a4 d5 21.cxd5 xd5 22.b1 d6= ) 20...dxc5 21.c2 d8= A. Goloshchapov-L.Ftacnik, Hamburg 2007 ] 17.a4 [ 17.ac1 c7 18.b1 c5 19.e3 d8 20.a4 a5 21.c2 d7 22.cd2 f6 23.e4 e8 24.d3 g6 25.e2 , and White has the usual space advantage in Hedgehog, and access to the b5-square. This doesn't normally amount to much more, but in the game Cifuentes Parada-Van der Werf, Wijk aan Zee 1995, White squeezed out a win when Black start losing patience. ] 17...c5 18.a2 h5 [ This is a somewhat surprising decision give n th at B la ck h a s ve ry well with t h e alternatives: 18...f6 19.ad2 c7 20.b1 e7 21.b4 h5 22.c2 ( 22.f3 e5 23.b5 axb5 24.xb5 d7 25.d4 c7 26.xb6 xc4 27.c6 d8 28.b5 L . K r e s z - S . P r u f e r , I E C G E m a i l 2 0 0 0) 22...ec8= A.Karpov-G.Kasparov, Moscow
1981 ] [ 18...d7 19.b1 a5 20.ad2 f8 21.d3 ( 21.e3 ed8 22.e4 g6 23.f3 ) 21...ed8 22.b5 a6 23.e4 g6 24.f3 b4 25.f4 d5 26.cxd5 xd5= D.Magalashvili-S. Azarov, Istanbul TUR 2006 ] [ 18...f8 19.e3 c7 20.b1 ec8 21.a5 bxa5 22.a1 b6 23.xa5 c5= B.Gibbons-M.Freeman, corr 1985 ] 19.f3 e5 20.e3 c8 21.b1 ac7 22.c2 f6 23.g2 d7 24.a2 g6 25.cd2 c5 26.e2 d7 27.a5!? bxa5 28.xa5 c5 29.c1 h5 30.d4 [ 30.h4!? ] 30...c2 [ 30...h4!?= ] 31.b4? [ This a rather big blunder that tips the balance in Black's favour. Nor does 31.b6?! work for White: c3 32.b4 d7 33.xa6 xb4 ] [ Instead 31.4d2!? b1 ( 31...g6 32.h4 ) 32.a2 xa2 33.xa2 b8= ] 31...a4! It appears as if Kramnik overlooked this move because W hite's position is immediately clearly inferior. 32.xa4 xa4 33.e2 b2 Now Black wins the c-pawn. 34.a1 f6 And now Black is win s t h e e xch a n ge . . . 35.xd6 xc4 36.dxa6 xa1 37.xa1 b8 At the moment, W hite has a pawn for the exchange, but that will only be a temporary comfort. White will lose the b-pawn eventually, and once Black manages to exchange White's remaining rook, it will go downhill in rapid fashion for White. 38.b1 a3 39.b3 b5 40.f3 g6 41.h4 c4 42.f4 c3 43.b2 a3 44.e2 c2 45.b3 e5 46.d5 xe2 47.xa3 g7 48.b3 d2 49.c7 [ 49.e4 f5 50.a3 fxe4 wins easily for Black. ] 49...c2 50.d5 a8 51.c3 c8 52.e4 8c4 53.d6 4c3 Now the exchange of the rooks has been accomplished - the rest is simple technique 54.xc3 xc3 55.b5 d3 56.c4 f6 57.f1 b3 58.d6 f8 59.e2 e7 60.c8+ d7 61.a7 b2+ 62.f3 e6 63.e4 d6 64.c8+ e6 65.a7 f5 66.exf5+ xf5 67.e3 b3+ 1264
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 68.d2 e4 69.c2 f3 70.c6 xf2+ 71.c3 f1 72.b4 c1 73.e7 f3 74.xg6 e4 75.b6 e3 76.e5+ xg3 77.d3 e2 0-1
1268 Kramnik,Vladimir Carlsen,Magnus Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (12) [Carsten Hansen]
A30 2799 2733 26.01.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 c5 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 a6 10.g5 This line is out of fashion at the moment and shouldn't really cause Black too many headaches. Kramnik may have thought that Carlsen wouldn't know the intricacies of this line because his experience in the Hedgehog is very limited. In the PGN archives you can also find examples wit h the a lte rn ative s 10 Bg5, an d 1 0 b3 , whereas 10 Be3 usually transposes to the Bg5 lines. The line played in this game, has been some sort of specialty of Czech Grandmaster Milos Jirovsky xg2 11.xg2 c6 [ 11...a7?! 12.e3! bd7 13.ge4 0-0 14.xd6 a8+ 15.f3 d8 16.de4 Wojtkiewicz, A-Jurek, J, Bern op 1993 ] [ 11...0-0 12.ce4 d5 was played in BerkesStohl, Turin, 2006 - see the PGN archives ] 12.f4 0-0 [ Black has two important alternatives at this j u n c t u r e : A ) 12...c7 13.b3 ( 13.ce4 e5 14.b3 0-0 15.xf6+ xf6 16.e4 e7 17.a3 g6 18.c1 was played in 1/ 2-1/2 Agrest, E-Hellsten, J/ Swedish Ch (Gothenburg) 2006) 13...0-0 14.a3 fd8 15.ge4 e8 16.ac1 d5 ( 16...e5! 17.f3 b7 is entirely comfortable for Black) 17.xe7 xe7 18.cxd5 xf4 19.gxf4 exd5 20.g5 with a slight advantage for White in the endgame, Jirovsky, M-Bernasek, J/ Karlovy Vary CZE 2004 ] [ B) 12...a7!? , which was given as best by John W atson in an earlier update on this website 13.ce4 ( or 13.ge4 d7 14.e3 e5 15.xf6+ xf6 16.a4 a8+ 17.g1 c6 18.xb6 b7 19.c5 dxc5 20.c4 xc4 21.xc4 xb2
22.ab1 0-0 23.xc5 a4!= Kasparov, GRibli, Z/Skelleftea 1989. This position was prepared by Ribli for this game, but it is best remembered for the fact that when Kasparov offered a draw some moves later, he did so in a won position!) 13...d7 14.xf6+ xf6 15.xh7 xh7 16.e4 h5 17.xc6 c5 18.a4 a8+! ( 18...c8?! 19.xd6 xc4 20.xd7+ xd7 21.xd7 xd7 was played in Pantsulaia, L-Markus, R/Warsaw POL 2005, which can be found in the PGN archives. Black is a pawn down, but his active pieces give him reasonable compensation and should have allowed him to save the draw. However, Black played the endgame very p o o r l y a n d l o s t .) 19.g1 c6! lead to equality in Ribli-Wahls, Bundesliga 1988/89 ] 13.ce4 [ Black doesn't have any problems after 13.ge4 A) 13...e8 also deserves strong consideration 14.b3 a7 A1) 15.f3 h6?! ( 15...d7!? ) 16.e3 ( 16.d2!? ) 16...d7 17.a3 b8?! ( 17...d5! 18.xe7 xe7 19.cxd5 exd5 20.d3 d4 is very pleasant for Black) 18.ac1 b5 19.b1 b4 20.b2 Csom, I-Stocek, J/Budapest 1998; A2) 15.b2 d7 ( 15...f5!? 16.d2 g5 17.f3 e5 18.h5 f6 19.g1 g4 with a comfortable game for Black Ingbrandt, J-Hansen, S/Sweden 2000) 16.e3? ( 16.h4= ) 16...d5! 17.cxd5 exd5 18.d2 d4 19.b1 f5 20.c1 c7 , and White is already in serious trouble, Landenbergue, C-Gavrikov, V/ Suhr 1991; B) 13...xe4 B1) Black doesn't have any problems after 14.xe4 a7! ( 14...e5!? 15.b3 c7 16.a3 g6 transposes to Agrest, E-Hellsten, J above) 15.b3 d7 16.b2 d5?! ( 16...f5! 17.c3 g5 18.f3 e5 19.h5 a8+ is a much more aggressive way to play for Black and i n d e e d a l s o a b e t t e r c o n t i n u a t i o n) 17.cxd5 xd5 18.c3 xd1 19.xd1 c8 20.e4 leaves White with a nagging initiative, which eventually was 1265
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg5 loses a piece for White) 15...axb5 converted into a win in Csom, I16.f3 ( 16.b2 is a recommendation by Kindermann, S/ Biel 1986; Ft a c n ik , b u t d5 followed by ...Qb6 leaves B2) 14.xe4 c7 15.f4 e5 Black with the better chances) 16...f5 16.ac1 fd8 17.b3 h6 18.f3 17.c3 c7 18.b2 b4 19.a4 d5 B2a) Here 18...ab8 looks like an 20.d2 f6 21.ac1 c8 is given as equal improvement for Black, since 19.g4 b y Ft a c n ik in CB M b a s e d o n t h e ga m e g6 is quite comfortable, e.g. 20.e3 Olivier, P-Prie, E/Lugano 1989, but Black's g5!? 21.f4 d5 ( 21...f6 can also be position looks favourable at this point ] played ) 22.cxd5 xf4+ 23.h1 h3! 24.dxe6 xe3 25.xd8+ xd8 15.b2 [ 15.c3 f6 ( 15...e5!? ) 16.e4 xg5 26.exf7+ xf7 , and Black has the 17.xg5 c8 18.f3 f5 19.d3 e5 better chances; 20.d4 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/ B2b) 18...d7 19.b1 f6 20.e4 2-1/2, in Rogozenko, D-Schuster, J/corr c6 21.xf6+ xf6 22.e4 xe4 1991, though White still appears to have a 23.fxe4 with a slight plus for White in slightly better game ] S a n g u i n e t t i , R - R o g o f f , K / B i e l i zt 15...d7 1976 ] [ Black has also tried 15...b5!? 16.f3 [ 13.f3 c7 14.b3 fd8 15.b2 b7 ( 16.ab1!? c8=; 16.c5 d5; 16.cxb5 ( Black can also consider 15...h5 16.e3 axb5 ) 16...a8 ( 16...bxc4!? 17.bxc4 f6 if a draw is acceptable for him, or; is considered better for White by Ftacnik as 15...e5!? with a complicated struggle it leaves White with pressure against the d6ahead. ) 16.e4 xe4 17.xe4 b5 pawn and access to the b-file. However, 18.ac1 ( 18.cxb5 axb5 19.a3 dc8= ) Black can play f5! 18.eg5 e5 19.d2 18...bxc4 19.g4 ( 19.xc4 ac8= ) c7 with a pleasant position) 17.ac1 h6 19...f8 ( 19...e5!? ) 20.xc4 d5 / \ f 5 , e 5 , e 4 | ^ [ + ] 18.ed2 ( 18.c3 , a n d B la c k h a s so lve d a l l h is o p e n in g e5!? /\ Bg5 ) 18...d7 19.g1 b7 problems, Ivanov, I-Shipov, S/Guelph 2005 ] A) 20.a3!? f6 ( 20...f6?! 21.e4 b4 13...e8! 22.xf6+ xf6 23.b2 ) 21.e4 [ This looks a little odd and somewhat (+= Ftacnik) xe4 22.xe4 c8=; passive, but it is in fact Black's best move B) 20.e4 bxc4 21.xc4 ( 21.xc4? and it off ers him a perfectly acceptable d5 22.d3 b4 23.d2 xa2 ) game. The alternatives are less impressive: 21...c7 A) 13...d5 14.xf6+ xf6 15.cxd5 exd5 B1) 22.a4!? d5 ( 22...f6 23.xf6 16.f5 g6 17.xd5 xd5+ 18.xd5 xf6 24.e4 ) 23.e5 (with an Jirovsky, M-Kristensen, K/Copenhagen initiative for White according to Ftacnik) 1993 ] xe5 24.xe5 c8! 25.xc8 xc8 [ B) 13...xe4 14.xe4 xg5 15.xc6 26.f3 f6=; ( 15.xg5 c7 16.f4 ad8 17.d2 d7 B2) 22.d3 d5 23.b1 f6 24.e4 18.ad1 fd8 19.d3 e5 Amann, G-Kranz, Wojtkiewicz, A-Ftacnik, L/Budapest 1993, A / G o e t z i s 1 9 9 7 , a n d n o w 20.g5!? ) and now d8 25.exd5 xd5= ] 15...e7 16.e3 ( 16.b3!? c8 17.b7 ) 16...c8 17.a4 a8 18.b3 c7 16.ac1 [ Here White should strongly consider 19.ac1 ab8 ( 19...c6+ 20.f3 ab8 16.f3!? b5 ( 16...f6 17.d2 xe4 21.f4 fd8 leaves White with a slight 18.xe4 c7 19.g4 g6 20.h4 fd8 initiative) 20.f4 fc8 21.e4 c6 22.f3 21.g5 e5 22.f4 Stangl, M-De Boer, Jirovsky, M-Morchiashvili, B/Batumi 2002 ] G/Tel Aviv 1987) 17.g1 bxc4 18.bxc4 14.b3 a7 a5 19.ac1 c7 ( 19...c8 20.c5 dxc5 [ Black has a good alternative in 14...b5! 21.xd7 xd7 22.xc5 b5 23.d3 15.cxb5 ( 15.a3 bxc4 16.bxc4 a5! Flumbort, A-Womacka, M/ Budapest HUN the point, now White cannot win the d-pawn, 2006 ) 20.ed2 c8 21.a3 e5 22.e3 e.g. 17.xd6 xd6 , because 18.xd6?? 1266
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f6 Adorjan, A-Rohde, M/ New York 1985, 23.c5 dxc5 24.xe5 ] 16...c7! [ A novelty. Thus far Black had only played 16...a8 , which was also considered by Carlsen during the game. Carlsen didn't find Black's position particularly attractive in the m a in lin e s a n d t h e re f o re d e cid e d o n a d i f f e r e n t s c h e m e a l t o g e t h e r 17.f3 ( 17.g1 b5 18.f3 bxc4 19.xc4 d5 20.c5 d8 21.cc1 f6 22.a4 b8 23.e5 c8 Van der Sterren, PKindermann, S/Munich 1988 24.xf6 xf6 25.b4 ) A) 17...h6 18.g4!? ( 18.e3 b7 19.g4!? is also very pleasant for White) 18...f5 19.gxf5 xf5 20.e3 d8 21.g1 b7 22.d3 ( 22.a4!? d5 23.g3 f7 24.d3 f6 25.xf6 xf6 26.e5 dxc4 27.xc4 b5 28.axb5 axb5 29.c5 ) 22...f8 23.cd1 g5?! 24.e5 h7 25.g6 f7 26.g3 1-0 Olafsson, H-Hjartarson, J/Gausdal 1996; B) 17...b7 18.g1 h6 19.d2 ( 19.d2?! f5! 20.c3 e5 21.e3 e4 22.xe4 fxe4 23.xe4 d8 Tukm akov, V-Ribli, Z/ La s Pa lmas izt 1982 ) 19...d5 20.cxd5 xd5 21.c3 b4 22.xd5 xd5 23.d4 xa2 24.c8 f6 25.ed2 b5 26.c4 c5 27.d1 Ornstein, A-Ftacnik, L/ Trnava 1983 ] 17.f3 f5! The idea behind Black's previous move 18.c3 g5! 19.d2 [ The alternative given by Carlsen is 19.e3 g4 20.d2 g5 21.xb6 a8 22.f3 b8 23.f2 e5 which "gives Black active piece play and good compensation for a pawn" (Carlsen) ] 19...g4 20.e1 [ 20.d4 g5 21.e3 e5 (Carlsen) is very pleasant for Black ] 20...g5 21.e3 ff7 22.g1 e8 23.e2 f6 24.f4 e8 [ Carlsen mentions that he considered 24...e4 , but rejected it on account of 25.xe6? ( 25.e2!? is an improvement f o r W h i t e n o t m e n t i o n e d b y C a r l s e n) 25...e8 26.xg5 xd2 27.xf7 , but as he points out himself, after e4 28.h6+ f8 29.xf5 f7 Black is
winning ] 25.c3 g7 26.b4 e4 27.b3 ge7 28.a4?! [ Carlsen claims that Rybka's suggestion of 28.f3 gxf3 29.xf3 doesn't impress him mu ch a f t e r f6 , but White does appear to be doing rather well after 30.xf6 xf6 31.h4 ] [ Instead Carlsen thinks Short's suggestion of 28.h4 is interesting for White, after which Carlsen thinks that White cannot be worse i n d e e d a f t e r xf4 29.exf4 c8 the chances are about equal in computer terms, though the weak a1-h8 diagonal can become a problem for Black in the longterm. ] 28...e5 29.xa6? [ 29.b3 is relatively best, though Black obviously is better at this point ] 29...a7 30.b5 [ This move was generously accompanied by a n o f f e r f o r a d r a w. C a r l s e n n a t u r a l l y declined because he is clearly better at this stage. 30.xb6? eb7 31.d4 f6 leaves White's queen trapped in the centre. ] 30...xb5 31.cxb5 xa2 32.c8+ f7 33.fd3 f6 34.xe5+ dxe5 [ Carlsen considers 34...xe5 as better, e.g. 35.xe5 dxe5 36.d3 f6 37.f8+ g7 38.d8 c3 39.f1 d2 ] 35.c2 ea7 36.g2 g5 Black is essentially winning at this point as the white bpawns will fall without much being able to be done about it. Nevertheless Carlsen makes it look very easy. 37.d6 e4 38.xf6 xf6 39.f1 a1 40.e2 b1 41.d1 xb4 42.g2 xb5 43.f4 c5 44.b2 b5 45.f1 ac7 46.bb1 b7 47.b4 c4 48.b2 b4 49.db1 f3 50.g2 d7! 51.h3 e5 52.e2 d2 53.hxg4 fxg4 54.xd2 xd2 55.b2 f3 56.f1 b3 57.g2 c2 0-1
1267
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1269 Kramnik,Vladimir Leko,Peter Tal Memorial Blitz blitz (32) [Carsten Hansen]
A30 2788 2741 30.08.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 a6 10.g5 Normally this move is considered fairly harmless, and this game does little to change that observation, but Kramnik has played it before. xg2 11.xg2 0-0 [ 11...c6 12.f4 0-0 was the topic of discussion in Kramnik-Carlsen, W ijk aan Zee 2008, where the Norwegian teenager pulled off one of his more surprising victories in a splendid game, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] 12.b3 [ This move is fairly harmless. A more p o p u l a r c h o i c e i s 12.ce4 which is an invention of the Austrian Robatsch. a7 ( 12...d5 was tried in Berkes-Stohl, Turin 2 0 0 6 , wh i c h c a n b e f o u n d i n t h e P G N archives.; 12...e8 13.d3 g6 14.h4 d7 15.b3 c5 16.e3 xe4 17.xe4 promises White a strong initiative for some time to come, Jirovsky, M-Ftacnik, L/ CZEchT 1994 ) A) 13.xf6+ xf6 14.g4 ( 14.e3 d7 15.e4 e7 16.f3= , and draw agreed, Taimanov, M-Csom, I/Titograd 1984 With only two pairs o f minor pieces o n th e board W hite's chances of utilizing his space advantage and building up pressure against Black's potential weaknesses are very small. In fact, it's Black who often manages to free himself completely with a timely d6-d5 or b6-b5 break.) 14...e7 15.h4 d7 16.b3 f6 17.f3 d7 18.b2 a8 19.ac1 xf3+ 20.xf3 c8 , and while White has a little more space, Black is entirely okay in this position, Adorjan, A-Lau, R/Plovdiv EUchT 1983; B) 13.d3 xe4 14.xe4 d7 ( 14...c6 15.f4 d5 16.cxd5 b4 17.f3 xd5 is another decent alternative for Black, Fauland, A-Csom, I/Budapest Elekes/1990 )
B1) 15.c3 White takes b5 and d5 under control, but also loses time. c8 16.d2 ( Stohl gives 16.b3 c6 17.f4 f6 18.ac1 as equal and therefore the better continuation for W hite. In the game , Black takes o ver the con tro l) 16...c6! 17.e4 e5 18.b3 was Agdestein, E-Adams, M/Slough 1997, and now Black could have grabbed the initiative with f5; B2) 15.f4 c6 ( or 15...c8 16.ac1 fd8 17.f3 b7 18.d2 c6 19.h4 h6 20.g1 a5 21.b4 xc4! 22.xc4 d5= Csom, I-Ermenkov, E/EU-chT Plovdiv/ 1983/) 16.f3 e5 17.xe5 dxe5 18.c3 xd1 19.xd1 c7 20.b3 c8 with approximately equal chances, Csom, I-Antonsen, M/German League 1999 ] 12...a7 [ This is a very solid, but not strictly necessary move. Black has several decent alternat ives: A ) 12...c6 13.f4 c7 14.b2 e5 15.ge4 b5 ( 15...h5!? 16.d2 ad8 intending ... f7-f5 looks quite promising for Black) 16.cxb5 axb5 17.xb5 c2 with a good game for Black, Ivanov, I Kaplun, L/ Beltsy 1977 ] [ B) 12...bd7 13.b2 ( 13.a3 c5 ) 13...c7 ( or 13...b8 14.ge4 d8 15.f3?! e8 16.d2 b5 17.cxb5 d5 , and Black is already clearly better, Zaltsman, V-Ermenkov, E/ New York 1980) 14.ge4 fd8 15.xf6+ xf6! 16.xd6? ( 16.d2 c6+ 17.f3 e5 is fine for Black ) 16...b7+ 17.g1 ( 17.f3?! e5 18.a3 g4 Ruderfer, M-Psakhis, L/URS 1980 ) 17...e5 18.a3 c6 19.e4 e7 20.d6 c7 21.c5 bxc5= is very comfortable for Black, Kovacevic, VLjubojevic, L/ Yugoslavia 1978 ] [ C) 12...c7 13.b2 d8 14.ac1 ( 14.f4 bd7= ) 14...b7+ 15.g1 b5 16.d3 h6 17.f3 bxc4 18.xc4 bd7 wit h a co m f o rt a b le p o sit io n f o r B l la c k , Maslanka, R-Pisulinski, J/Slupsk 1989 ] 13.b2 d7!? [ Another really solid move, and somewhat surprisingly, this is also a novelty. Earlier Black has tried 13...bd7 14.d2 b8 ( 14...e8!?; 14...c5!? ) 15.ge4 d8?! 1268
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 15...b5! 16.cxb5 d5 and Black has a pleasant game.) 16.ad1 c7 17.e3 ( I don't see anything wrong with taking the pawn on d6, e.g. 17.xd6 c5 18.e3 , a n d W h i t e i s a p a w n u p f o r n o t h i n g) 17...c6 18.g5 Afifi, A-Guerra, J/Dubai 1986 ] 14.ge4 e8 15.f3 h6 [ 15...c6 16.d2 f5!? is an interesting option for Black ] 16.d2 [ Here W hite can consider 16.ac1 c6 17.e3 though this is hardly life-threatening for Black. ] 16...c6 17.g1 c7 [ A sharp alternative for Black is 17...d5!? , though this is a bit unlike the standard operating procedure for both the Hedgehog and Leko. 18.ad1 ( or 18.cxd5 exd5 19.ad1 d4 ) 18...f5 19.f2 c5 20.cxd5 f6 with wonderful complications ] 18.a4 [ 18.ad1!? ] 18...b5 19.b6 d8 20.c1 bxc4?! [ This is unnecessary. Black obtains a pleasant game after 20...b7! 21.e3 b8 22.cxb5 axb5 23.c3 xb6 ( 23...a7!? ) 24.xc6 xc6 25.xc6 a8 ] 21.xc4 b7?! [ 21...b8!? 22.b6 b4 is playable for Black ] [ Also 21...f5 22.f2 g5 23.f4 f6 can be considered, though White seems to have the slightly better chances in this line. ] 22.b6! a8?! [ 22...xb6 23.xb6 a7 is a better option for Black. With a series of accurate moves White gains a large advantage. ] 23.cxd6! White sacrifices the exchange, but in return he gets complete control over the game. xd6 24.xd6 g5 25.xc6 xd2 26.d4! f6 27.c4 h7 [ 27...h8 is relatively better, avoiding tempo gaining checks from White's queen in the lines given as alternatives to White next t w o m o v e s . H o w e v e r , a f t e r 28.a3 White is very much in control of the game. ] 28.xa6?! [ Tempting, but not best. White should have aimed for Black's king which lacks sufficient protection after 28.c2+! h8 29.c7 b8
30.f7+ xf7 31.xf7 , and White is winning ] 28...d5 29.xd5?! [ Admittedly, the endgame looks rather promising for White, but keeping the queens on should definitely have been considered as well, e.g. 29.c2+! h8 30.e4 g5 31.c4 with a very obvious advantage for White ] 29...exd5 30.f5 d7 31.f2 c8 32.d4 h5 33.a4 g6 34.h4+ f7 35.f4 [ 35.b6 c1 36.f4 is another interesting option for White. ] 35...b8 36.f3 c1 [ 36...b4 is probably more solid, but Black wanted to keep the white king away from the e3-square. ] 37.b6 [ Here White can consider 37.b6!? e8 38.c5 with the better chances ] 37...d4 38.xd4 [ And here a draw was agreed upon, despite the fact that Black is finally doing rather well. The alternative is 38.xd4 which after xb6 39.xb6 xd4 leads to an interesting endgame. ] ½-½
1270 Krasenkow,Michal Short,Nigel D FIDE WCh KO Tripoli LBA (2.2) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2609 2712 22.06.2004
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f5!? A very surprising move, which I had never actually seen before, but which actually has a long history - it was first played 80 years ago! 5.g3 [ 5.xf5?? a5+ is the point. ] [ 5.c3 i s t h e m a i n a l t e r n a t i v e , g6 Black has to really defend the pawn now, ( 5...f6? 6.xf5 g6 7.e3 left White a pawn up for nothing in the initial game, Kostic,B-Richter,K/Berlin 1928 ) A) 6.e4!? is logical, fxe4 7.xe4 a5+ 8.c3 g7 9.e3 f6 but Black is doing OK, Collas,D-Khamrakulov,I/ Campillos ESP 2004; B) 6.e3 f6 7.e2 g7 8.0-0 d6 9.b3 1269
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 9.c2 0-0 10.b1 a5 11.b3 d7 Banas,J-Miezis,N/Passau 1994) 9...0-0 10.b2 g5!? 11.d5 e4 wit h a s t ra t e g ica l ly co m p le x ga m e i n Giffard,N-Miezis,N/Paris 1996.; C) 6.g3 g7 7.e3 d6 ( 7...b6!? 8.xc6 dxc6 9.xd8+ xd8 10.d2 f6 11.g2 b7 12.e4 Kengis,E-Miezis,N/ Bonn 1995 ) 8.g2 d7 9.0-0 f6 10.b3 0-0 ( 10...h5!? 11.b2 h4 Schuurman,PMiezis,N/Winterthur SUI 2001 - typical of Miezis! ) 11.b2 g5!? Jackelen,T-Miezis,N/ Bonn 1995. ] 5...g6 6.g2 g7 Black treats the position a l i t t l e l i k e a L e n i n g r a d D u t c h . 7.c2! The advantage of having delayed Nc3 is that White can play this without having to worry about a possible capture on c3. [ 7.e3 allows xd4 8.exd4 b6 w i n n i n g a p a w n , a l t h o u g h a f t e r 9.c3! xd4 10.b3 White has sufficient c o m p e n s a t i o n , e5+!? 11.e3 h6 chasing a second pawn, Johansen,D-Miezis, N/Jakarta INA 2001. ] 7...b6!? [ 7...f6 is normal, when 8.c3 0-0 9.0-0 d6 10.b3!? if this is good there is no need to waste a move by ( 10.b1 d7 11.b3 a6 12.b2 as in Engqvist,T-Bellon Lopez,J/ H a s s e l b a c k e n S W E 2 0 0 1) 10...e4 11.xe4! xa1 12.xa1 fxe4 13.c2 f5 14.e3 d7 15.b2 with excellent compensation for the exchange in Marin,MPogorelov,R/Benasque 1997, the e4-pawn is weak, and the long diagonal from a1-h8 is a serious problem. ] 8.0-0 a6!? Short's opening appears highly original, but only this move is actually new, for [ 8...b7 occurred in the game Donaldson,JBarbre,S/Las Vegas 1997, which continued: 9.e3 f6 10.c3 0-0 11.ed5 d6 12.g5 with an edge. ] 9.e3 h6!? By keeping the a1-h8 diagonal open Black hinders W hite's queenside development, f or instance b3 and Bb2 is difficult to arrange. 10.c3!? White decides to allow Black the possible capture on c3, which doubles and isolates the white pawns. 0-0 [ 10...xc3 11.bxc3 f7 is unclear, probably Short refrained from this because
his knights are a long way from the key blockading square on c5. ] 11.a4 b7 12.ed5 e6 13.b4 a5 14.xb7 xb7 15.xh6!? xh6 16.ad1 White is happy with a small structural plus the d7-pawn is backward on an open file. c5 17.a3 c8 18.d3!? b7!? [ 18...xd3 19.xd3 xc4 is also reasonable, af ter 20.xd7 f7 White's advantage is minimal. ] 19.b4 d8 20.e4!? Perhaps White should have prepared this more thoroughly, there was no rush. f8! 21.a4 The queen has to d e f e n d c 4 . g7 Now this move threatens to capture first on c3, then on e4, so W hite's p l a y i s vi r t u a l l y f o r c e d . 22.exf5 gxf5 Towards the centre, of course, Black must keep control of d5. 23.e2 d6 24.b3 a6 Planning queenside counterplay with ...b5. 25.b4 c6 Black's handling of the game ha s be e n mo st origina l, a n d qu it e go o d . 26.c5!? bxc5 27.xc5 ac8 28.xc6 xc6 29.c1 b6!? Black prefers to keep some tension in the position, although there is nothing wrong with the simple [ 29...dc8 e.g. 30.xc6 xc6 31.c1 xc1+ 32.exc1 e4 ] 30.fd1 f8 'The king is a strong piece in the endgame - use it!' I remember writing this in one of my books! 31.c5 e7 The black king defends the d-pawn, and takes up a nice central post. 32.a4 bb8 33.c2 bc8 34.dc1 xc2 35.xc2 b8 36.f3 Preparing a route for the white king. b5 37.f2 a5 38.e3 d8 [ 38...a7 to c6 was an alternative. ] 39.d3 f6 40.c4 c7! The knight heads for d5. 41.c5 a8 42.ec3 a6! 43.b5 [ 43.xa5? loses the exchange to b4+ ] 43...b4+ 44.d2 a6 45.b8+ e7 46.b7 d6+ Activity! 47.e2 c6 48.d2 h5 Positionally correct, if the pawn can go to h4 and capture on g3 White will be left with a b a c k w a r d p a w n o n g 3 . 49.f4 d4?! Aiming for g1, but [ 49...h4 50.a3 d6+ 51.e2 xc3 52.xc3 d3 was good. ] 50.a3 a6!? [ 50...xc3+ 51.xc3 d6+ 52.e2 d3 was once again possible. ] 51.b4! This leaves the black pieces 1270
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 m i s p l a c e d . axb4 52.axb4 c7 53.xc7 xc7 54.e2 a7 55.d3 d5 56.c4 White's passed b-pawn is useful, but he has to beware the black bishop coming to g1 at some point, and is therefore forced to leave his knight on e2. d6 57.c5!? A radical solution, blocking the g1-a7 diagonal. e3+ 58.b5 g4 59.h4 Now Black has some chances because of the weakness of g3. xc5 60.bxc5+ d5 61.c3+ d4 62.a4 f6 [ 62...e5 amounts to the same, for instance 63.fxe5 xe5 64.b6 e3 65.c7 f2 66.d6 d3 67.xd7 xg3 68.c6 e5+ as White should be able to draw by 69.e6! xc6 70.xf5 xh4 71.c5 ] 63.b6! Counterattacking d7. e3 64.c7 f3 65.b6 e4 66.xd7 xc5 Forcing a draw. 67.xc5 xg3 68.xe6 xh4 69.d6 g3 70.g7! White has to be careful [ 70.e5? loses, h4 71.g5 g4 and White is in zugzwang! ] 70...xf4 71.xh5+ e4 ½-½
1271 L'Ami,E Vocaturo,D 74th Tata Steel GMB (3) [John Bartholomew]
A30 2596 2545 16.01.2012
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 [ A l s o c r i t i c a l i s 9.g5 a6 10.xf6 , which we examine this month in CarlsenGashimov. ( Note that White could also play 10.fd1 if he wants to transpose to our main game. )] 9...a6 10.g5 Unlike 9.Bg5, this move is not played in order to exchange on f6. [ Most common (by more than a 2-1 ratio over 10.Bg5) is 10.b3 . To be honest, I think this move is a little less testing than the text. There tends to be less immediate pressure on d6, and the second player is more likely to slip unopposed into a typical Hedgehog middlegame. After bd7 (accurate - Black wants to meet 11.Ba3 with 11...Nc5, when
W hite has not managed to prove much) White usually plays 11.e4 , i.e. ( 11.b2 is also popular.) 11...c8 12.b2 0-0 13.e3 e8 14.d4 c7 15.ac1 ac8 with mu t ua l ch an ces in a st e re o typ ic a l Hedghog game. Kengis, E (2543)-Lutz, C (2596)/Mallorca 2004/[John Watson]. ] [ A more testing plan is 10.g5 xg2 11.xg2 , wherein White intends to put pressure on d6 via a knight maneuver e4. That maneuver is similar to the one in the 9. Bg5 a6 10. Bxf6, but here Black is safer because White has agreed to exchange light square bishops. Four years ago Carlsen demonstrated the potential of Black's position with a superb regrouping plan: c6 ( T h i s i s m o s t t r u s t w o r t h y , b u t 11...0-0 is also playable. See Kramnik, V (2788)Leko, P (2741)/[Hansen, Carsten].) 12.f4 0-0 13.ce4 e8! (a well-known idea remember it!) 14.b3 a7 (heading for d7 this too is rote) 15.b2 d7 16.ac1 c7! 17.f3 and now Black's unloaded with f5! 18.c3 g5! gaining a tremendous initiative and winning in fine style. Kramnik, V (2799)-Carlsen, M (2733)/W ijk aan Zee 2008/[John Watson]. ] [ F i n a l l y , t h e l e s s u s u a l 10.e3!? could transpose to our game, as it did in Tkachiev, V (2661)-Lie, K (2563)/ Heraklio 2007/ [Han sen, Carsten] f ollowin g bd7 11.d2 0-0 12.f4 e8 . ] 10...bd7 11.d2 This is the idea behind 10. Bg5: W hite wants to play 12.Bf4 and pressurize d6. Shipov credits this conception to "Hog hunters" Mihai Suba and Oleg Romanishin. The next few moves are standard fare. 0-0 12.f4 e8 13.ac1 c8 Forcing White to defend the b-pawn. [ In the archives you can find the immediate 13...c7 , i.e. 14.e3!? (the downside of 13...Qc7 vs. 13. ..Rc8 - the former does not force 14.b3) ef6?! 15.d5! , Tkachiev, V (2 6 6 1 ) -L ie , K (2 5 6 3 ) / H e r a k li o 2 0 0 7 / [Hansen, Carsten]. ] [ A promising semi-waiting move is 13...h6!? , which Black more commonly plays on the next move. The selling point is that White's Qd2-e3 idea now runs into ... g7-g5, trapping the bishop. Thus having defused W hite's major attacking gesture Black simply intends 1271
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to continue ...Ra8-c8/...Qd8-c7/...Nd7-c5(f6) in standard fashion. The only game to see this went 14.b3 ( White has other replies like 14.e4; or 14.g4!? ) 14...df6 , Cremers, M (2097) -Racherbaeumer, M (2260)/Oberhausen 2008, but I see nothing wrong with the usual 14...Rc8 or 14...Qc7. There isn't any real difference between 13... h6 and 13...Rc8 14.b3 h6, so just know that either is possible. ] 14.b3 c7 Sound development. [ P a s t c o v e r a g e h a s d e a l t wi t h 14...c5 15.g5 xg2 16.xg2 . Check out Ivanchuk, V (2739)-Nisipeanu, L (2670)/ Warsaw 2005/[John Watson] and Jakovenko, D (2709)-Gashimov, V (2717)/ Poikovsky 2008. ] [ As I mentioned, 14...h6 is a totally viable semi-waiting move. ] 15.e3 In past updates this idea has been adorned with a "!?", but nowadays it is completely expected. White inconveniences his opponent with the threat of 16. Nd5. df6 This is new, but White should retain an edge. [ In the source game, Gustafsson, J (2572)Prusikin, M (2519)/Pulvermuehle 2004, Black reacted coolly with 15...b8 16.d5 ( 16.h3!? has also been featured in some recent games.) 16...d8 , but after 17.h3! he found himself in an awkward spot and soon blundered. See Tony's notes in the archives. ] [ I also found two recent games with 15...c5 , e.g. 16.d3 ( 16.xc5 xc5 is a bit better for W hite since Black must solve the d6 problem, i.e. 17.b4!? d7 18.a4 ) 16...h5 ( 16...c7 just looks like a loss of time . 17.g5 xg5 18.xg5 xg2 19.xg2 e5 20.d2 b5?! 21.cxb5 b7+ 22.f3 axb5 23.e4 xc1 24.xc1 f6 25.f4 d5?! 26.c5 e7 27.e3 Mista, A (2561) -Milanovic, S (2411)/Kraljevo SRB 2011. ) 17.h3 f5? ( This doesn't pass the eye test. Something normal like 17...c5 is superior, though I'd still rather be White.) 18.e3! e5?! 19.xe5! xg2 20.xd7 xh3 21.f3 f7 22.d5+- Kovalyov, A (2601)-Rojas Keim, L (2455)/Sabadell ESP 2010. ] [ T o n y give s 15...ef6 , though 16.d5 exd5 17.xe7 fe8 18.xd6 xd6
19.xd6 xe2 20.d4 xa2 21.f5! is very strong for White. ] [ On the other hand, I still find his suggestion of 15...e5!? to be pretty interesting. This was tested in Drasko, M (2507)-Nestorovic, N ( 2 3 6 1 ) / B a r 2 0 0 6 : 16.d5!? xd5 17.cxd5 d8 18.xc8 xc8 19.c1 ef6 ( T o n y g i v e s 19...xc1 20.xc1 f5 , which looks only a tad better for White.) 20.g5 b8 21.h3! d8 22.b4 f8 23.c6 c8?! 24.a4 b5 25.xa6 . This line needs further testing. ] [ Another move that deserves investigation is 15...f6!? ] 16.h3! Quite useful. h5 Black hopes that exchanges will ease his defensive task. [ Black doesn't have a lot to do because the usual 16...b8? drops a pawn to 17.xb6 .] [ 16...h6 could be met by 17.g4 ] 17.g5 xg5 [ 17...hf6!? 18.g4 ] 18.xg5 [ 18.xg5 was definitely worth considering t o k e e p b i s h o p s o n b o a r d , i . e . hf6 19.f4 ] 18...xg2 19.xg2 hf6 20.ge4 xe4 21.xe4 Black has managed to exchange a coup le sets of pie ces, b ut h e still ha s t o untangle. h6 [ The immediate 21...f5!? wasn't out of the question, e.g. A) 22.g5 b7+ ( 22...e5 23.b4 ) 23.f3 e5 24.b4! I think White's knight is worse off on f3 than c3, but he's still for choice thanks to the queenside initiative.; B) 22.c3!? ] 22.c3?! This doesn't really do much to address Black's next move. [ White can improve with 22.f3! , e.g. f5 23.c3 ( 23.f2!? ) 23...f6 24.h4 with good play. ] 22...f5 23.d2 f6 [ 23...e5!? seems fine. White's knight isn't on a ve ry go od rou t e no t ice h o w h is 2 2 n d move deprived him of the good c3 square. ] 24.f3 b7 25.b4 g5 [ 25...e5! ] 26.h2 a5? Black should be more cautious about opening the position. 27.bxa5 bxa5 1272
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28.c5! L'Ami is quick to turn a weakness into a strength! dxc5 29.xc5 xc5 30.xc5 B l a c k ' s m u l t i p l e p a wn we a k n e s s e s a n d un co ordin at ed p ieces m a ke t his a t ou gh position to hold. c7 31.c1 f7 32.e3 d6 33.c8 f8 34.e5 Opting for a nice endgame. [ 34.e5!? was more dangerous. ] 34...xe5 35.xe5 d6 36.c6 d8 37.g2 f7 38.xe6 [ H a r d t o r e s i s t , b u t m a y b e 38.c4 was superior. ] 38...d2 39.f3?! White is aiming directly for a rook endgame, but is it winning? [ If not, then 39.c6 xa2 40.e7+ f8 41.xf5 gives more chances. ] 39...xa2 40.xf7 xf7 41.xh6 b2?! [ We have a suprisingly non-trivial rook endgame. Black is lost if White can create connected passed pawns on the kingside, but this is actually not so easy to accomplish. O n e t h i n g B l a c k a b s o lu t e l y h a s t o d o , though, is keep his rook in front of the pawn. F o r i n s t a n c e , 41...a3+ 42.e3 (it's important to force W hite to play this) a2 . Now A) A direct attempt like 43.g4 fxg4+ 44.hxg4 a4 should transpose.; B) Very easy is 43.h4?! g4+ 44.g2 ( 44.f4 xf2+ 45.g5 f3= ) 44...a4=; C) 43.a6 is most flexible. but after a4 I don't see a constructive plan for White. At some point I think he'll have to play ( 43...a4 is similar I just like having this square available to the rook.) 44.g4 ( Sure, he can try 44.h4 , but gxh4 45.gxh4 xh4 46.xa5 is an even simpler 2 vs. 1 draw.) 44...fxg4+ 45.hxg4 , when a2! will be the response. Then e v e n t u a l l y 46.e4 ( If White plays 46.g3 , then a3! is always mandatory t o s t o p f 2 - f 4 .) 46...xf2 47.xa5 when (I believe) f6 is a theoretical draw. Should someone find a win for White feel free to correct me! ] 42.a6 b5? This definitely loses. [ It's tougher now, but 42...a2! provided the best hope. ] 43.e3 g7 44.h4 gxh4 45.gxh4 c5 46.f4 c4+ 47.xf5 xh4 48.a7+ f8
49.f4 h5+ 50.f6 h6+ 51.e5 1-0
1272 Lalic,Bogdan Marzolo,Cyril (open) Metz (6) [Lalic, Bogdan]
A30 2514 2476 24.04.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 b6 4.g3 b7 5.g2 g6 6.0-0 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.e3 bd7 10.ac1 c8 11.b3 a6 12.fd1 [ 12.h4?! h6! ] 12...0-0 13.h4 c7 14.h3 [ 14.g4 h6! ] 14...b8 [ 14...e8 ] [ 14...a8? 15.xd7 xd7 16.a4 ] [ 14...c5 15.g4 ] 15.g4 [ 15.h6 ] [ 15.g5!? ] 15...a8?! [ 15...e6!? 16.g5 e8 17.e4 b5! ] [ 15...c5?! 16.g5 fe4 17.xe4 xe4 ( 17...xe4? 18.xb6 ) 18.xc5 xf3 19.xd6 exd6 20.exf3 ] 16.g5 e4 17.xe4 xe4 18.d2 c6 19.xd7 xd7 20.xb6 d5 21.cxd5 xd5 22.c4 f5 23.d4!?N [ 23.e3 e5 24.f3 b5 25.c2 ( 25.d4 xe2 26.xe5 xe5 27.d5 d6 28.f2 b5 ) 25...f6 ] 23...f6 24.gxf6 exf6 25.e3 h5 26.g3 e8? [ 26...b5 27.a4 ] [ 26...f5 27.d6 ] 27.d6 a8 [ 27...d7 28.f5 xf5 29.xc6 ] 28.g4 [ 28.c5!? ] 28...e5 [ 28...h8? 29.e6!+- ] 29.c4+? [ 29.c5! h8 30.c4! xc5 31.xc5+- ] 29...d5 30.c8 xc8 31.xc8+ xc8 32.xc8 c6 33.d8+ [ 33.d6!? b5 34.f1 ] 33...f7 34.b6 1273
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 34.d6+?! e7 35.g8 f8 ] 34...e7 [ 34...e8! 35.d6 e6 ] 35.f1 g5 36.c8 e4? [ 36...b7 ] 37.c5 e6 38.f3 b1 39.c7+ [ 39.a4?! c2 40.b4 d1! ] 39...g6 40.d5! f5? [ 40...xa2 41.e7+ xe7 42.xe7 xb3 43.e4 ] 41.e7+ h6 42.g8+ g6 43.e7+ h6 44.e4! fxe4 [ 44...d3+ 45.g1! ( 45.f2 fxe4 46.f5+ g6 47.xg7 f6 ) 45...e5 46.xf5+ g6 47.c8+- ] [ 44...e5 45.exf5!? ( 45.xf5+ g6 46.b7 xa2 47.g2 h5 48.h4!+- ) 45...xc7 46.fxe6 xh2 47.d5 d3+ 48.g2 e5 49.e7 b5 ] 45.f5+ g6 46.xg7 f6 47.e8 xf3+ 48.e1 xa2 49.b4 d5 [ 49...c4? 50.c6+!+- ] 50.g7+ [ 50.d7!?+- ] 50...f5 [ 50...h6 51.d7 f7 52.d6+ g6 53.xa6+- ] 51.xh7 a3 52.d7 [ 52.d4+- ] 52...e5 53.e7+ f4 54.f6 c6 55.h5+ [ 55.f7! ] [ 55.e6 ] 55...g4 56.g3 a5 57.e6 b7 58.b5 c3 [ 58...b3 ] 59.e7 [ 59.xe4 xe4 60.xe4+ f5 61.d4 d3 62.e5+ f4 63.d5 e4 64.d7 xd4 65.xd4+ xd4 66.b6+- ] 59...a8 [ 59...xc5 60.xb7 f3 61.b6 a4 62.f7+ e3 63.c7 b5 64.e2!+- b1+ 65.c1 xb6 66.c3# ] 60.xe4+- c4 [ 60...xe4 61.xe4+ f5 62.d4 c4 63.e5+ f4 64.d5 e4 65.d7 xd4 66.xd4+ xd4 67.b6+- ] 61.f2+ f3 62.e3+ f4 63.d3+ f5 64.e5+ f6 [ 64...g6 65.e3+- ]
65.e7+ f7 66.xg5 1-0
1273 Lalith,B Stany,G Vizag GM Open 2012 (8.6) [John Bartholomew]
A30 2540 2404 31.10.2012
T h e k n i gh t sa c ri f i ce 1 1 . Nd 5 ! ? h a s b e e n thought to be the refutation of this Hedgehog move order, but everything must be verified in the silicon era... 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 b7 4.g2 c5 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 a6 [ Most authorities (notably Sergey Shipov in " T h e Co m p le t e He d ge h o g, V o lu m e 1 " ) consider 6...e7 7.e1 d6 8.e4 a6 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 to be Black's ideal move order. Black covers the e-file and avoids any tricks with e4-e5 before castling. The position after 11.e3 bd7 12.c1 0-0 13.f4 is a quintessential Hedgehog tabiya, and readers ought to consult the archives for details on this complex line. ] 7.e1 d6 8.e4 bd7 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 [ 10...e7? is a well-known mistake: 11.e5! . I've caught probably a dozen people in this trap in blitz/casual play (never a tournament, sadly!). dxe5 ( 11...xg2 12.exf6+- ) 12.xb7 ( On several occasions White has contented himself with a positional advantage after 12.xe6 fxe6 13.xb7 a7 14.g2 , but there's no reason to decline the exchange.) 12...exd4 13.xa8 dxc3 ( 13...xa8 14.xd4 c5 15.f4 Lalith, B (2472)-Kahn, M (2139)/Vlissingen NED 2009 ) 14.g2 cxb2 15.xb2 Da vie s , N ( 2 5 0 5 )- L e m m e r s , O ( 2 3 8 5 ) / Leeuwarden 1993. ] 11.d5!? Into the breach! The possibility of this knight sacrifice is the reason why 6...Be7 is preferred. Now the critical question: can Black survive? [ If White likes, the main line could still be reached via 11.e3 e7 12.c1 0-0 13.f4 .] 11...exd5 12.exd5+ d8 [ 12...e5 is thought to be worse. After 13.f4 0-0-0 14.fxe5 dxe5 White has two good 1274
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 options: 15.f5 , i.e. ( or 15.f3 c5+ 16.h1 he8 17.g5 b8?! 18.xe5! a7 19.xf6 gxf6 20.d3 Zakhartsov, V (2586)-Gabrielian, A (2557)/Voronezh RUS 2010 ) A) 15...h5!? 16.e2! g6 Knott, S (2357)Buckley, G (2390)/ Sunningdale 2008 17.h4; B) 15...c5+ 16.e3 ( 16.h1!? ) 16...g6 17.xc5 xc5+ 18.e3 h5 19.d2 h4 20.b4 d4 21.ad1 hxg3 22.hxg3 xd2 23.xd2 Yermolinsky, A (2590)-Shabalov, A (2600)/USA 1994; C) 15...xc4 16.e3 b8 17.c1 b5 Naumann, A (2543)-Durarbeyli, V (2368)/ D r e s d e n 2 0 0 7 . N o w 18.d6! xg2 19.xg2 is promising for White. ] [ Alternatively, 12...e7? 13.f5 e5 14.xg7+ is just bad for Black, e.g. d8 15.f5 c8 16.xe7 ( or the more violent 16.xe5 dxe5 17.d6 xd6 18.g5 xf5 19.f3!+- with decisive threats) 16...xe7 17.f4+- ] 13.c6+ [ The source game for 11. Nd5!?, Wells, P (2410)-Bischoff, K (2505)/Bad Woerishofen 1989, saw 13.f4 , but it was soon discarded in favor of the text. ] 13...xc6 [ 13...c8?! Delaunay, S (2346)-Picard, R ( 2 3 2 4 ) / F r a n c e 2 0 0 6 . H e r e 14.h3! is terminal, i.e. h6 ( 14...xc6 15.dxc6 xc6 16.g2 d5 17.cxd5 b5 18.d6 b8 19.f4+- ) 15.f3 when Black doesn't have a good answer to Qf3xf6! . ] 14.dxc6 c5 15.b4 e6 16.c5 The late GM Aleksander Wojtkiewicz played this move three times from 1992-1996, scoring 3-0. [ Instead, Houdini is thrilled about 16.a4!N menacing Bc1-e3 and a4-a5. The position remains somewhat complicated, but a few short variations illustrate the danger Black is facing: e7 ( 16...a5 17.b1 axb4 18.e3!; 16...c8 17.e3 a5 18.b1 b8 19.bxa5 bxa5 20.b5!; 16...b8 17.e3 ) 17.a5 bxa5 18.xa5 with Qd1-a4 on tap. ] 16...b8! A novelty that keeps Black afloat. Other moves have led to disaster: [ An oft-cited game with 11.Nd5!? went 16...bxc5?! 17.bxc5 c8 ( 17...xc5
18.e3 e6 19.b1 b8 20.b7 xb7 21.cxb7+. Black cannot parry White's threats of Qd1-b3 and Be3-a7.) 18.b1 b8 19.b7 xb7 20.cxb7+ b8 21.c6 d5 and now the lovely 22.xe6!! fxe6 23.a4 d7 . We're following Poluljahov, A (2380)Beshu ko v, S (2 31 0)/ An ap a 199 1. Here White could have finished the game in style with 24.xa6 b6 25.b5! and despite being a rook to the good, Black is helpless against Bc1-e3 or Bc1-d2-a5. ] [ 16...e7?! 17.cxb6 xb6 18.e3 c7 ( 18...xb4 19.b1 c4 20.c7+! d7 21.c1 xc1 22.a4+ 1-0 Wojtkiewicz, A (2570)-Kalesis, N (2410)/Komotini 1993) 19.a4! b8 20.b5 axb5 21.axb5 xb5 22.a8+ b8 23.a7 c8 24.f4+Roussel Roozmon, T (2430)-Lawson, E (2393)/Montreal 2006 ] 17.e3 [ Perhaps White should play 17.cxd6 A) not 17...xd6? 18.c7+! , winning: xc7 ( 18...xc7 19.f4 xd1 20.axd1+ c8 21.c1+- ) 19.c2+ d8 20.d1 d4 21.b2+-; B) 17...xd6 18.b2 with compensation but no clear-cut win. ] 17...bxc5 18.bxc5 e7 19.a4?! [ White would have better luck with 19.c1!? ] [ or 19.d3!? . ] 19...d5! 20.ab1 c8 21.b6? This backfires quickly. [ 21.b7 xc6 22.a5+ e8 23.b6 c7 24.xa6 ] 21...xc5! 22.b3?? A terrible blunder, but W h i t e ' s a l r e a d y i n a b a d w a y . xb6 White resigned. Though Black held on in this en co u n t er, I d o n't se e a n y a d van t a ge in adopting the move order 6...a6 7.Re1 d6 8.e4 Nbd7 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Qc7. W hite can continue as normal with 11.Be3, or, if he likes, initiate complications with 11.Nd5!?. Should you choose to sacrifice the knight, it would behove you to examine Houdini's suggestion of 16.a 4!, as Black appears to be in ba d shape. 0-1
1275
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1274 Larsen,Bent Andersson,Ulf Bugojno [Nigel Davies]
A30
1982
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.g3 e6 4.f3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d3 d5! 8.cxd5 xd5 9.a4+ Typical Larsen, posing Black a problem about how to block the check. d7 [ 9...d7! was a better way, for example after 10.g4 Black can play h5 because 11.xg7 f6 traps the queen. ] 10.e4 xc3 [ 10...b4 is well met by 11.d4 0-0 12.dxc5 xc5 13.d1 c6 14.f4 with the better game for White. ] 11.bxc3 0-0 12.e1 a6 13.f4 b5 14.c2 b6?! [ 14...c8 was a better idea, keeping the knight near the kingside. ] 15.h4! A typical Larsen h-pawn push, setting about creating weaknesses in Black's kingside pawn structure. c8 16.ac1 e8 17.e2 a4? Without kings on the board this would be very nice, posting the knight on a strong outpost from where it puts pressure on the weak pawn on c3. But here the problem is that it sends it even f urther f rom Black's king position where it could have been a useful defender. [ 17...d7 would have been a better move, retracting his 14th move in the light of new information (15.h4). ] 18.h5! a5? Joining in the attack on White's c3 pawn but still underestimating the danger on the other side. [ 18...h6 would have helped cover up the dark square weaknesses with Black being well in the game after 19.e5 g5 . ] 19.h6 g6 [ 19...xc3 20.xc3 xc3 21.e5 followed by 22.Bxg7 would give White a very strong attack. ] 20.c4 b4 21.a3! A rather brilliant concept, preparing to bring the queen into the attack along the a1-h8 diagonal. And of course the break up of Black's queenside pawns renders him vulnerable on that flank as well. bxa3 22.c2 c6 23.d2 b6 24.b1 a7 25.b3 b6 26.c3 f6
[ Or if 26...f8 then 27.e5 is strong. ] 27.h3 d8 28.xa3 d7 29.a1! b7 30.g4! A very original attacking idea. White is prising open the long dark squared diagonal with g4-g5. c6 31.g5 c8 32.d4 cxd4 33.xd4 b6 34.a5 c5 35.f3 f8 In time trouble Andersson's resistance caves in. 36.gxf6 xf6? 37.xb6 xb6 38.xe6 1-0
1275 Larsen,Bent Kavalek,Lubomir Lugano [Nigel Davies]
A30
1970
1.b3 c5 2.b2 c6 3.c4 e5 4.g3 d6 5.g2 ge7 6.e3 g6 7.e2 g7 8.bc3 Transposing into a Symmetrical English. But we are about to see some more of Larsen's inventiveness. 0-0 9.d3 e6 10.d5 d7 11.h4! f5?! Opting for counterplay at the expense of placing his king in great danger. [ T h e r e w a s a c a s e h e r e f o r 11...h5 but then Black could not play ...f7-f5 without leaving a 'hole' on g5. ] 12.d2 ae8 It might have been better to put the rook on b8, anticipating W hite castling q u e e n s i d e . 13.h5 b5 14.hxg6 hxg6 15.ec3 bxc4 16.dxc4 e4 Gaining the e5 square as compensation for White's control of d5, but opening up the a1-h8 diagonal. 17.0-0-0 e5 18.f4 d8 [ In his own notes to the game Bent Larsen gave the variation 18...g5 19.xe6 d3+ 20.xd3! exd3 21.xg7 xg7 22.d5+ g6 23.f3! , which gives White a winning attack. ] 19.b1?! This could have had quite serious consequences. [ 19.g4 would have been better so that after xc4 White could continue with the demolition of Black's kingside with 20.gxf5! .] 19...f7?! [ Black should have taken this opportunity to complicate matters with 19...xc4!? 20.bxc4 xc4 when 21.e2 xb2 22.xb2 a4! gets Black right back into the game. ] 20.g4! Setting about smashing open lines on 1276
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the kingside. xg4 21.f3! exf3 22.xf3 e5 [ 22...f6 would also be met by 23.h2 , for example fe8 24.h4 leaves Black facing the horrible threat of 25.Nb5. ] 23.h2 xc4!? Right idea but way too late. [ There again Black has little choice at this stage as 23...fe8 is refuted by 24.b5! . ] 24.bxc4 xf3 25.h7+ f7 26.cd5 g8 [ After 26...e5 there follows 27.xe5 dxe5 28.xe7 xe7 29.xg6+ g8 30.h7+ f7 31.dg1 etc. ] 27.xe7 b8 28.a1! xe7 29.xg6+ f8 30.e6+ xe6 31.xg7+! [ And not 31.xe6?? b e c a u s e o f xb2+ 32.b1 a3+ with a draw. ] 31...e7 32.f8+! bxf8 [ Or 32...gxf8 33.h7+ f7 34.xf7+ xf7 35.xd6+ e8 36.xb8+ e7 37.d6+ e8 38.d8# mate. ] 33.h7+ [ Black is mated after 33.h7+ f7 34.xf7+ xf7 35.xd6+ e8 36.d8# mate. ] 1-0
1276 Makarov,Marat Dvoirys,Semen I Chigorin mem (8) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2527 2590 09.11.1999
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 0-0!? [ U n u s u a l i n t h i s p o s i t i o n , 8...d6 is the normal move, although a transposition is likely. ] 9.d1 a6 [ A reasonable alternative is 9...c6 when 10.f4 b8 11.e4 d6 12.b3 e5 13.e3 ed7 14.e2 a6 15.d4 c7 led to a typical Hedgehog position in Yermolinsky,ASalov,V/Wijk aan Zee 1997. ] 10.f4 c8 11.ac1 White's position looks ve ry p r o m i s i n g , f o r o n e t h i n g B l a c k h a s difficulty playing ...d6. c5! [ Black's preparation. In the only previous game in this line 11...c5 worked out well after 12.e1 xg2 13.xg2 c6 14.b5 a6 15.c3 d6 16.d2 d7 Dizdarevic,E-
Anastasian,A/Moscow 1989, but 12.Bd6 should maintain a plus. ] 12.d3 [ Nothing is gained by 12.d2 d5 ] 12...d5 A well-calculated equalizer. 13.cxd5 b4 14.b1 bxd5 15.xd5 [ White gains nothing from the pin on the dfile, 15.e4?! xc3 ] 15...xd5 16.b4 e7 17.g5 Hoping to give Black an isolated queen's pawn, by Bxd5- but Black moves first! xc1 18.xc1 xa2! [ A very unusual bishop deflection, if instead 18...h6?! then White achieves his aim by 19.xd5 exd5 20.f3 ] 19.c2 b1 20.b3 a2 21.c2 [ White cannot avoid the repetition, for if 21.a4?! d5 22.e4 then, once again c6 and this time Black has won a pawn for nothing. ] ½-½
1277 Malakhatko,Vadim Vakin,Sergei Chigorin mem (5) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2537 2389 06.11.1999
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.e1 [ A popular line. By playing e4 first, and only then d4, White manages to recapture on d4 with a knight instead of his queen after 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 ] 7...0-0 [ 7...d5 and ] [ 7...e4 are popular attempts to avoid the type of Hedgehog positions that can arise. ] 8.e4 d6 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c8 [ To defend the bishop against the threat of e5, and to avoid potential attacks on the queen that could arise after 10...c7 ] 11.e3 bd7 [ 11...xc4? l o s e s m a t e r i a l t o 12.e5 , one of the themes of this line. ] 12.e2!? [ An interesting alternative to the usual 12.f4 ] 12...a6 [ Black could try to exploit White's omission of f4 by playing 12...e5 13.b3 eg4 14.d2 but White's next moves will be h3, 1277
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and f4, driving the knight back with gain of tempo. Note that c5?! allows the typical 15.e5! dxe5 16.xe6 fxe6 17.xb7 ] 13.f4 b8!? An odd idea, aiming to prepare ... b5 no doubt, but it deprives the black queen of the b8-square. 14.f2 Preparing e5. e8!? [ Black decides to fianchetto his e7-bishop, but 14...c7 might have been simpler. ] [ Not 14...e8? however, 15.e5 winning a piece. ] 15.ac1 f6 16.ed1 After the change of circ ums tan ces , W h ite re alises tha t e 5 is unlikely to be a threat, so brings his rook to the d-file to pester the d6-pawn, no longer guarded by the bishop. g6 The White pieces are all well placed, what should he play next? 17.d5?! [ Very speculative, to say the least! This is a common sacrifice in this line, but seems do ub tf ul h ere. A nyway, wh y no t simp ly Advance on the queenside, or play 17.d2 and double rooks on the d-file? ] 17...exd5 18.cxd5 xd4!? [ A difficult decision to make. Black decides to give his queen for lots of pieces rather than allo w 18...c7 19.c6 a8 20.e5 with a powerful initiative, for example: e8 21.a5!? bxa5 22.xc7 ] [ or, alternatively 18...d8 19.e5 e7 ( 19...dxe5? 20.c6 c8 21.xe5 wins material) 20.c6 xc6 21.dxc6 c5 22.b4 e6 23.xa6 with plenty of compensation for the piece, once again. ] 19.xc8 [ O b l i g a t o r y , a f t e r 19.xd4 d8 Black should have few problems. ] 19...xf2+ 20.xf2 xc8?! [ Over-careful play. I would prefer 20...xc8 keeping control of the only open file, 21.h3 f5 22.exf5 gxf5 with every chance to make the material advantage count. ] 21.d4 f6 [ Directed against e5, but 21...a5 was worth a thought, to follow with ...Nc5. ] 22.c1 f7 23.b4 e7 24.f2 b7 25.h3 c8 26.xc8 xc8 27.e6+ g7 28.g4! [ White goes for the win, rather than playing 28.xd7 xd7 29.xb6 winning a pawn, but allowing the black pieces more freedom. ] 28...b7 29.g5 The point of White's plan. He
not only deprives the black pieces of space, b u t a l s o g ive s h i m se l f t h e p o ss i b i l i t y o f effecting the e5-break, by exchanging the f6pawn. f8 30.g4 f7 31.h4 [ 31.xb6?! w o u l d a l l o w fxg5 32.fxg5 when e5 is no longer possible. ] 31...b5 32.f3 d7?! [ B l a c k ' s p l a y i s p l a n l e s s , f i r s t 32...c7 should be preferred. ] 33.a7 f8 34.b6! fxg5? [ A positional error better to keep the tension, and correct his previous mistake, by 34...c7 as if 35.gxf6? d7 finally gaining some squares for the black knights. ] 35.hxg5 c8 Black's position is already critical, and there was no longer any way to stop the white breakthrough. 36.e5! f5?? [ A blunder, losing material, Black had to try 36...c7 a l t h o u g h a f t e r 37.e6+ g8 his position has worsened, it should still be tenable. ] [ Note that 36...dxe5 37.fxe5 xe5 loses a piece to 38.b8 ] 37.e6+ g7 38.d8 1-0
1278 Maletin,Pavel Andreikin,Dmitry Siberian Bank Cup (4) [John Bartholomew]
A30 2567 2723 17.11.2012
I've spilled plenty of ink on the main-line Double Fianchetto. Now for something slightly dif f erent . 1.c4 f6 2.f3 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 c6!? A development that has attracted the interest of some super-GMs in recent months. Black eschews the usual plan of .. .d7-d6 and ...Nb8-d7 in favor of rapid development. I must admit that I f ind the traditional development much more 'fluid', but on the other hand there isn't anything noticeably wrong with the text. Black may even revert to the 'normal' development at a later time, i.e. ...Ra8-c8 and ...Nc6-b8-d7 (we'll see multiple examples of this in the notes). [ Normal is 8...d6 , which invariably leads to a tabiya of the Double Fianchetto: 9.d1 1278
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 0-0 12.h4 a6 13.b3 c7 etc. Consult the archives for extensive coverage. ] 9.f4 The correct post for the queen. [ 9.h4?! i s f l a w e d b e c a u s e o f h6! . White encounters a similar problem if he rushes Qd4-h 4 in the main-line Double Fianchetto. 10.d5 c8 11.d1 ( 11.d2?! e6 12.e3 g5 13.h3 e4 Vujacic, BHecht, H (2505) London 1973) 11...a5 12.d2 b5!? ( 12...e6 is more straightforward) 13.e3?! xg2 14.xg2 b6 15.g1 0-0 Kosten, A (2519)-Bogner, S (2383) Sautron 2007 ] [ Likewise, 9.d3 lacks punch. One example: c8 10.d1 b4 11.d2 0-0 ( 11...xc4 12.e5 ) 12.b3 e4 (calling W hite's bluf f ! ) 13.xe4 xa1 14.fg5 ( perhaps 14.xb4 xe4 15.h6 g7 16.xg7 xg7 17.e5 is a better try, i.e. c5!? 18.c3 f6 19.xd7 e8 20.xe4 xe5 21.d4 and White is only slightly worse) 14...xe4 15.xe4 c6 and White's compensation was insufficient in Shchekachev, A (2528)-Vachier Lagrave, M (2686) Aix les Bains 2012, though Shchekachev went on to score an upset victory. ] 9...0-0 [ M o r e o f t e n B l a c k p l a y s 9...c8 , which could very easily transpose, i.e. 10.d1 0-0 . ] [ 9...a5 is a specialty of German IM Matthias Roeder. It is connected with the ambitious plan of 10.b3 d5?! , which is probably pushing things . Following ( White achieved an ideal position after 10...0-0 11.b2 e4 12.ac1 c8 13.fd1 d6 14.a1 xc3 15.xc3 xc3 16.xc3 in Komarov, D (2530)-Roeder, M (2445) Vendrell 1996; neither does 10...b8 11.e3 impress ) 11.d1 c8 a simple s o l u t i o n i s 12.b2N ( the only move that h a s b e e n p l a y e d h e r e i s 12.a3 , w h i c h a l s o p r o m i s e s a n a d v a n t a g e; 12.e5!? is interesting, intending dxc4 13.d5! ) 12...dxc4 13.b4 c6 14.xc4 0-0 15.ac1 . ] [ 9...b8!? is a respectable alternative, as played by Ivanchuk. Black aims for an early queen trade. 10.d1 xf4 11.xf4 0-0
12.e5 fd8 13.xc6 ( maintaining the tension with 13.ac1 looks preferable, with a tiny edge that Black will probably n e u t r a l i z e) 13...xc6 14.c7 dc8 15.xc6 dxc6 16.e5 d8= Andreikin, D (2718)-Ivanchuk, V (2771) Eilat 2012 ] 10.d1 [ 10.h4!? deserves attention. A) 10...a5 11.g5 ( 11.b3 ) 11...c8 12.b3 c5 13.ac1 h6! 14.xf6 xf6 15.f4 g7 16.fd1 d6= Kengis, E (2475)-Makarichev, S (2495) Moscow 1986; B) 10...c8 11.h6 b8 12.b3 d6 13.ad1 c5 14.xg7 ( 14.g5!? ) 14...xg7 15.d4 bd7 16.e4 a6 17.fe1 Speelman, J (2555)-Greenfeld, A (2515) Beersheba 1987; C) H o u d i n i ' s s u g g e s t i o n o f 10...h5!? deals with Bc1-h6 in somewhat unusual fashion.; D) 10...e8 11.h6 h8 12.fd1 d6 Sharma, R (2356)-Ibrayev, N (2523) New Delhi 2006 13.ac1 ] 10...c8 11.b3 A decidedly normal continuation, but probably insufficient for an edge. [ Kramnik opted for 11.d2 at this juncture. h6!? looks like the appropriate response to me, e.g. ( 11...e8!? 12.ac1 d8 13.b3 e6 14.h4 c5 15.g4 h5 was creative play in Teterev, V (2527)-Azarov, S (2622) Minsk 2010; 11...h5 12.h4 a5 13.b3 f5 14.ac1 c6 15.d5 e6 16.xd8 fxd8 17.c3 f6 18.f4 Kramnik, V (2725) -Benjamin, J (2610) New York 1994) 12.ac1 d6 13.b3 d7 ( 13...b8!? ) 14.d5 xd5 15.cxd5 e5 16.xe5 dxe5 17.h4 Ribli, Z (2605)-Spassky, B (2590) Montpellier 1985 h5= . ] [ 11.h4 a5 12.b3 c5! ensures good counterplay for Black: 13.a3 h5 14.f4 d6 15.h3 h6 16.d4 c6 17.d3 Ljubojevic, L (2605)-Christiansen, L (2515) Moron 1981 g7 18.b2 a8 ] [ White can avoid problems on the a1-h8 diagonal with 11.b1!? d6 and now On A) 12.h4!? deserves attention: a5 13.b3 c5 14.d5! xd5 15.cxd5 xd5 ( 15...xd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.g5 f6 18.b4 h6 19.h3 g5 20.xg5 hxg5 1279
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.xg5 ) 16.g5 f6 17.b4 c4 Pekarek, A (2360)-Mokry, K (2490) Prague 1985 now 18.h3 c6 19.e6! wins the exchange; B) 12.b3 , b8! 13.b2 bd7 i s a u s e f u l r e o r g a n i z a t i o n , i . e . 14.e4 Instead, B1) 14...a6?! was played twice in 1987, but 15.e5! is a strong retort : ( 15.e3?! b5 16.cxb5 axb5 Pigusov, E (2520) Rashkovsky, N (2495) Sverdlovsk 1987) 15...dxe5 ( 15...h5?! 16.e3 xe5 17.xe5 xg2 18.xg2 xe5 19.d5 ) 16.xe5 xg2 17.xd7 xd7 18.xg2; B2) 14...e8!? looks flexible and good, as 15.e5 is met by xf3! (this wouldn't have worked with the rook on f8 in view of exf6xg7xf8). ] 11...d6 12.b2 [ White is running short on opportunities to m i x t h i n g s u p . H e n c e , t h e 12.h4!? of Uhlmann, W (2505) -Ambroz, J (2430) Halle 1984 comes to mind. ] 12...d7 Solid. [ 12...b8!? 13.d2 bd7 14.e1 (a clear sign that White doesn't have much) xg2 15.xg2 c7 16.d5 xd5 17.xg7 xg7 18.xd5= Nunez, A (2340)Otero, E (2365) Hermanos Saiz 1992 ] 13.ac1 fd8 14.h4 g4 Sure, why not? Black has an optimal setup, and he's well within his right to force a queen trade. I would attribute much of the rest to the difference in class between the two Grandmasters. 15.xg4 xg4 16.h3 ge5 17.xe5 xe5 18.a4 xb2 19.xb2= The position is level. In a game played with a classical time control we'd definitely expect a draw, but the Siberian Bank Cup was contested at a rate of G/15 + 10 second increment. a5 20.a4 f8 21.c3 xg2 22.xg2 b7 23.g4 e6 24.d3 e7 25.cd1 a6 26.e3 f8 27.ed3 c6 28.e4 e7 29.d4 c5 30.c3 b8 31.e4?! There was no reason to rush this exchange. e5 32.xc5 bxc5 [ Definitely not 32...exd4? 33.xa6 a8 34.b4 c5 35.a4 . ] 33.4d3 a5 34.g5 a4 35.f3 h6! O p e n in g a s e co n d f ro n t . 36.gxh6 h8 37.bxa4 xh6 38.g3 h8 39.b1 a8
40.b7+ e6 41.f3 f5 42.fb3? [ 42.a3! holds co mf ort ab ly, i.e . ca6 43.g7 f6 44.d7 . ] 42...xa4 43.g7 xc4?! [ 43...f6! 44.bb7 xc4 ] 44.xg6+ d5 45.e3?! [ White should search for counterplay: 45.h4! .] 45...f4+ Now things get a bit messy (time pressure, surely). 46.f3 fxe3 47.fxe3 e4+ 48.f4 c2 49.g5+ c4 50.xe4 xa2 51.b1 c8 52.c1+ b3 53.g7 d2 54.b7+ a2 55.cb1?! [ 55.h4! ] 55...c4 56.1b6 a8 57.c6 a3 58.h4 h2 59.d5 xh4 60.bc7? The final error. [ 60.e4! and White is very much in the game. ] 60...d3+ 61.e6 b3-+ 62.f5 d5 63.b6+ c2 64.e6 The score ends here, but Black is winning in view of his formidable c-pawn. 8...Nc6!? puts a twist on the usual play and certainly looks viable. White should answer with 9.Qf4, perhaps with an eye to a subsequent Qf4-h4 when Black castles. 0-1
1279 Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar Karjakin,Sergey Gashimov Memorial-A (10) [Fier, Alexandr]
A30 2760 2772 30.04.2014
An d he re we ha ve t h e th ird ga me in th is variation, where Karjakin repeats the same idea with Black and in reply Mamedyarov tried the creative 18.g5 ... but Black was prepared almost until the end. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 g7 8.c3 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 0-0 12.h4 a6 13.b3 e8 14.h3 a8 Since 14...Ba8 was basically a novelty, it's good to take a look at the alternatives: [ 14...c7 this is the most played move, but it doesn't score so well for Black A) 15.h6 is not critical c5 16.g5 b5 17.d5 A1) 17...e6 18.f4 f8 ( 18...b6 wa s b e t t e r, b u t p ro b a b ly B la c k wa s 1280
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 afraid of 19.xg7 xg7 20.fxe6+ fxe6 21.xe6+ but the position is not so clear ) 19.d3 c7 20.e5 and White had pressure in Budnikov, A (2535)Hoffmann, M (2455)/Porz Citroen-Cup 1993.; A2) 17...xd5 18.cxd5 xc1 19.xc1 xh6 20.xh6 f8 and Black was fine in Wojtkiewicz, A (2567)-Stohl, I (2600)/ POL-chT 55th 1999.; B) 15.g4 this is more to the point a8 ( 15...b5 16.g5 xf3 17.exf3 b4 Black needs to avoid the knight entering d5 18.e2 e5 19.g2 fd7 but now there is much less counterplay on the queenside, so W hite was better in Giardelli, S (2460)-Yudasin, L (2600)/ Chicago op 1997.) 16.d2!? this is less p l a y e d , b u t I t h i n k i t ' s g o o d e6 ( 16...ec8? 17.g5 h5 18.xd7 xd7 19.a4 and White was already winning in Pelletier, Y (2578)- Zhao, X (2579)/Cap d 'A gd e K a rp o v qu a l 2 n d ra p id 2 0 1 3 .) 17.g5 h5 18.de4 also with a good position for W hite in Svidler, P (2727)Hermansson, E (2423)/EU-Cup 24th Kallithea 2008. ] [ 14...b8 was also played and a possible continuation is 15.h6 xf3 16.exf3 b5 17.xg7 xg7 with a double-edged position ] [ 14...c6 is a bit odd, but the rook is not a t t a c k e d b y N d 5 15.g4 f8 16.e5 but it is attacked by the other knight c8 17.g5 6d7 18.g4 and White was better in Shche kachev, A (255 4)-Sasikiran, K (2700)/Calatrava op rapid 2nd 2007. ] 15.g4 [ 15.h6 is again not critical, and the rook c a n g o a t o n c e t o c 5 c5 ( 15...xh6 16.xh6 c5 17.g5 f8 18.a4 is interesting for White) 16.xg7 xg7 and Black hasn't any problems. ] 15...b5 16.cxb5 a5 17.d2 [ 17.g5 is another alternative, but Black is also f ine trying to stay with the passe d pawns on the queenside xc3 18.xc3 xc3 19.gxf6 xf6 ( 19...xf6 20.c4 xc4 21.bxc4 c5 is also possible) 20.c4 ( 20.bxa6 c2 21.e1 d5 and it looks like Black has enough
compensation) 20...xc4 21.bxc4 axb5 22.cxb5 e4 and the pawns can't advance so easily, so the position remains unclear ] 17...xf3 18.g5 d5! It's hard to understand what is going on with so many pieces in the air, but the computer says that Black's position is always under control. [ 18...b7 is m o re h u m a n 19.gxf6 xf6 20.a4 xa4 21.xa4 e6 22.b6 d5 23.e4 and White still has some kind of pressure ] 19.xd7 [ 19.xd5 xc1 20.xc1 e5! and everything is defended somehow 21.f1 xd5 22.xd5 axb5 and Black is ok ] 19...xc3 20.xc3 [ 20.xe8 also doesn't bring any advantage xc1 21.xc1 xe2 22.d2 xa2 23.e4 xd1 24.xf7+ xf7 25.xd5+ f8 26.a8+ f7 27.d5+ with perpetual ] 20...xc3 21.xc3 xc3 22.xe8 xe2 With the exchange down Black needs to keep playing actively in order to equalize. The computer is not so worried and already shows the famous 0.00. 23.f4 Giving the rook to attack the king. [ 23.b1 d2! controlling the rook's squares, 24.b6 d3 25.b7 xb1 26.b8 e1+ 27.g2 e4+ and Black is winning 28.f3 e2+ 29.f2 xf3+ 30.g3 e5+ with mate ] 23...xd1 24.xf7+ h8 25.c6 xb3 Now the game finishes with a forced draw. 26.axb3 c1+ 27.g2 xg5+ 28.h1 c1+ 29.g2 g5+ 30.f1 c1+ 31.e2 c2+ 32.f3 d1+ 33.g2 g4+ 34.h1 d1+ 35.g2 g4+ 36.h1 d1+ 37.g2 ½-½
1280 A30 Monroy,C 2443 Vazquez Igarza,R 2565 29th Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (3.19) [John Bartholomew] Black notches another victory in the main-line Double Fianchetto! 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.c3 g6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 g7 8.0-0 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 a6 12.b3 0-0 13.h4 c7 1281
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.h3 b8 15.g5 A relatively recent try. White pressurizes f6, having in mind Nc3-d5 and/or Bh3xd7, when e7 could easily become weak. [ White has thus far been unsuccessful in proving an advantage in the crucial line 15.g4 e6 16.g5 and now: A) 16...e8 A1) 17.d4 c5 ( 17...a8!? Zh o u J ia n c h a o ( 2 6 2 5 ) -S a si kir a n , K (2703) Beijing 2012/[John Bartholomew]) 18.g3 e5 19.f4 g7 20.g2 e5 21.f3 exf4 22.xf4 f6! Bartel, M (2654)-Almasi, Z (2713) Istanbul 2012; A2) 17.g2 b5! afforded Black su f f ic ie nt co un t e rp la y in Aro n ia n , L (2724)-Kramnik, V (2744) Saint Vincent 2005/[John Watson].; B) 16...h5?! (sidelining the knight when Bh3-g4 is possible is somewhat suspicious) 17.xd6!? xf3 18.exf3 e5 19.e4 xc4 20.xb6 xe4 21.xb8 xf3+ 22.g2 h4+ 23.f1 xc3 24.xf8+ xf8 25.xc3 Kovalyov, A (2596)-Van W ely, L (2691) Leon 2012/ [John Bartholomew]. ] [ Nor has 15.h6 paid dividends. Sergey Karjakin has twice upheld the position after b5! 16.xg7 xg7 for Black, i.e. 17.cxb5 ( 17.d5?! Salgado Lopez, I (2621)-Karjakin, S (2763) Porto Carras 2011/ [John Bartholomew]) 17...axb5 18.xd7 xd7 19.b4 c8! 20.xb5 c5! 21.a4 a6 22.xc5 dxc5 23.e1 xb5 24.axb5 xb5= Topalov, V (2752) -Karjakin, S (2779) Astana 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] 15...b5! Cleanest. [ It looks weaker for Black to insert 15...xf3 16.exf3 before b5 b e c a u s e o f 17.xd7 xd7 18.d5! , e.g. bxc4?! ( 18...xd5 19.cxd5 c7 20.c6 xc6 21.dxc6 c8 22.c1 e6 23.d2 c7 24.a4 Kramnik, V (2729)-Aronian, L (2756) Turin 2006 ) 19.xf6 xf6 20.xf6! exf6 21.xf6+ g7 22.xd7 b7 23.xf8 cxb3 24.xg6 hxg6 ( 24...b2! ) 25.axb3 xb3 26.xd6 and White went on to convert his advantage in Meier, G (2668)Danin, A (2556) Dresden 2012. ] [ Interesting is the classy semi-waiting move
15...e8!? , i.e. 16.d2 ( 16.d5 xd5 17.cxd5 xc1 18.xc1 b7 19.e4 c5 ) 16...c5 17.b4 cd7 18.f1 a8 19.e3 b5! 20.cd5 xd5 21.xd5 xd5 22.cxd5 b6 Eljanov, P (2697)-Sasikiran, K (2681) Ningbo 2011. ( 22...e5!? )] 16.xd7 [ 16.d5 is critical. However, following xd5 ( 16...xd5!? is also possible, e.g. 17.cxd5 fc8 18.d4 xd5 19.xc7 xc7 20.xe7 xe7 21.xe7 f8 22.g5 with perhaps a tiny edge for White) 17.cxd5 f6 18.e4 Black offered a timely trade with c8! and after 19.xc7 xc7 20.c1 b7 21.g2 b6 22.c2 d7 23.e3 a5 24.d2 b6 25.e3 a5 26.d2 the players agreed a draw in Ftacnik, L (2562)-Rotstein, A (2505) Austria 2009. White can probably improve upon this game, but Black doesn't seem to suf fer any ill effects from parting with the bishop pair. ] 16...xd7 17.d5 [ W h it e co uld a lso pla y 17.cxb5 axb5 18.b4 , in the same vein as Topalov Karjakin (note to White's 15th move). The only difference is that here the dark square bishops remain on board, but this doesn't a f f e c t t h e a s s e s s m e n t : ( 18.xb5?? allows the well-known trick xf3-+ ) 18...c8! 19.xb5 c5! (commit this idea to memory!) 20.xf6 xf6 21.a4 c6 and Black regains the pawn and achieves complete equality. ] 17...xd5 18.cxd5 e8! Black is solid as a rock. W hite already needs to think about steering the game towards a draw. 19.e4 c7 [ 19...e6!? ] 20.xc7 xc7 21.c1 d7 22.e3 [ It looks better to play 22.h6 . ] 22...c8 23.xc8+ xc8 24.g2 c7 25.d4 This meets with a surprising response. f6! Removing any threat to e7 and significantly cutting down the scope of White's pieces. Now the difference in queen activity becomes obvious. 26.e3?! [ More stubborn was 26.f4 c2 27.e1! , as xa2 ( 27...d1 ) 28.c1 provides counterplay. ] 26...c2 27.d4 d1 28.e6 d7 29.f4 b4 30.f3 b1 31.d4?? White's sense of danger lets him down. 1282
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 31.h4 was called for. ] 31...b5! Launching a decisive attack. Amazingly, Black doesn't even need the help of his g7 bishop! 32.g4 [ 32.h4 d3 is similar. ] 32...d3 Targeting another weakness. 33.e3 f1+ 34.g3 g1+ 35.f3 c2! Black's queen and bishop function beautifully on the light squares. There is no defense. 36.f4 d1+ [ W h i t e r e s i g n e d i n v i e w o f 36...d1+ 37.e3 e1+ 38.d3 e2# . Once again W hite fails to make theoretical headway against the Double Fianchetto! An issue the first player encounters is that Black's play is often stereotyped yet highly effective (i.e. the ...b5 break), so the onus is on White to demonstrate something. ] 0-1
12...e5!? 13.xe5 dxe5 14.e3 0-0 15.b4 The only way to disturb this pawn structure. e6!? [ 15...fd8 is more natural, but White fails to make any real progress in any case. ] 16.bxc5 bxc5 17.a4 fc8 18.b1 f8 19.a3 c6 20.b3?! a6 21.f1 cb8 22.g5 h6 23.f6 g7 24.e7 f8 25.f6 g7 26.e7 ½-½
1282 Nakamura,Hikaru Carlsen,Magnus Trophee CCAS GpB rapid (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A30 2704 2786 26.10.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.b3 bd7 1281 A30 [ In two other recent games, Black tried two Morozevich,Alexander 2758 other continuations: A) 9...a6 10.a3 0-0 Grischuk,Alexander 2704 11.fd1 White scores phenomenally well in 57th ch Moscow RUS (7) 22.11.2004 this line, which is a good indication for Black [John Watson] to stay clear of this set-up against 9 b3. e8 12.e4 xe4 13.xe4 a7 14.ac1 c7 A g a m e i l lu s t r a t i n g B l a ck ' s co m f o rt a b l e 15.d4 c8 16.e3 d7 17.f5 c5 equality if White avoids committing to d4 in 18.xe7+ xe7 19.d2 a5 20.cd1 the main line of the Double Fianchetto. 1.c4 , and thanks to his better coordinated pieces f6 2.f3 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 and bishop pair, W hite is clearly better, g6 6.c3 g7 7.e1 A harmless move, Ivanchuk, V-Carlsen, M/Cap d'Agde FRA typical of Morozevich's tendency to avoid 2008 ] main lines, in this case 7.d4. That has been [ B) 9...0-0 10.a3 a6!? 11.fd1 c5 favouring W hite recently, as Tony has 12.e3 a6 13.h3 c7 14.d4 xg2 illustrated in his examples. e4 This is the 15.xg2 fe8 with a pleasant game for main problem with 7.Re1 - otherwise e4 would Blacki, Markosian, D-Solodovnichenko, Y/ have some force. 8.c2 Naberezhnye Chelny RUS 2008 ] [ Cute but ineffective is 8.xe4 xe4 9.d4 10.b5!? cxd4 10.h6!? xh6 11.xd4 0-0 [ This is obviously not the only option for 12.xe4 c6 13.ad1 c8 14.h4 g7= White. More frequently White plays 10.b2 ] as in Stohl,I-Tukmakov,V/Bled 1997 and [ and also 10.d1 is seen quite frequently. ] several other games ] 10...d5 8...xc3 9.dxc3 d6 10.f4 Apparently new. [ 10...c5 is the main line, which is No more effective was discussed in Ivanchuk-Ivanchuk, Las Vegas [ 10.e4 d7 11.g5 0-0 12.ad1 h6 1999 - see the PGN archives. ] 13.f4 c7 14.e2 ad8= in Gabriel,C- 11.f4 Mandl,R/Germany 1990. ] [ It has been established that the alternative 10...d7 11.ad1 c7 12.e4 11.cxd5 doesn't offer W hite much: xd5 [ 12.d2 0-0 13.xb7 xb7 14.f3 ad8 ( Obviously 11...xd5? 12.xg7 f6 is equally futile. ] loses to 13.d6+ e7 14.xf7+ xd6 1283
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.a3+ ) A) 12.f4 0-0 13.ac1 ( 13.c7 c8 14.ac1 b7= ) 13...c5 14.a1 e7 15.c7 xf3 ( 15...ac8 16.xd5 xd5 17.g5 is slightly better for White according to Stohl in CBM) 16.xf3 ad8= Stohl, I-Duer, A/Austria 1991; B) 12.f4 0-0 13.b2 a6 ( 13...c6?! 14.bd4 d5 15.fd1 b8 16.ac1 xf4 17.gxf4 d6 18.f5 , and White has a long-term initiative in the endgame, Stohl, I-Valiente, C/Novi Sad 1990) 14.c3 b7 15.fd1 b8 16.ac1 d8 17.xb8 axb8 18.d4 xg2 19.xg2 bc8 20.f3 b5 21.e4 e5 , and here a draw was agreed in Runting, T-Frank, M/ICCF Email 1997 ] 11...0-0 12.c7 [ White has an important alternative in this position 12.e5!? c5 A) 13.fd1 can also be considered, for instance ce4 14.b2 a6 15.d4 e8 16.cxd5 , and despite the fact the players agreed upon a draw at this juncture, 1/2-1/ 2, in Rogozenko, D-Kashlyuk, V/corr 1991, White still has some initiative, for instance xd5 ( 16...exd5 17.f5 is even better for White ) 17.f3 c5 18.e4 b7 19.c4; B) 13.ac1 a6 14.c3 ce4?! ( Black appears to be okay after 14...dxc4 , e.g. 15.xd8 fxd8 16.xb7 xb7 17.xc4 b5 18.b6 a7 19.fd1 h5 , and Black has more or less stabilized the situation, even if White still has some initiative af ter 20.a4 ) 15.xe4 dxe4 16.e3 c5 17.xd8 fxd8 18.xc5 bxc5 19.fd1 f8 20.f3 exf3 21.xf3 xf3 22.exf3 ac8 23.f2 Huzman, ABrodsky, M/Kherson 1989 ] 12...c8 13.d6 d8 In Stepanov, KVerdier, P/corr ICCF 1995, the players settled on a draw in this position. Nakamura, however, isn't a great fan of quick, bloodless draws... 14.cxd5 xd5 15.xe7 xe7 16.c7 ac8 17.xd5 xd5 18.b2 f6 Black has of course completely equalized in this position and can safely play for more. 19.xf6 7xf6 20.fc1 c3 21.f1 c7 [ 21...c5!? ] 22.c2 fc8 23.d4 fd5 [ 23...b5 24.a3 a5 25.b4 axb4 26.axb4
doesn't do anything for Black either, except fix a pawn on the square colour of White's bishop. ] 24.xd5 xd5 25.xc7 xc7 26.b5 d7 27.c1 g5 28.c4 g7 29.e4 e7 30.h3 a6?! [ 30...f5 is probably best, maintaining approximately equal chances. After the text move, White gains the initiative. ] 31.c7 d1+ [ 31...d2!? 32.a4 a5 33.e1 d7 34.e2 ] 32.e2 a1 33.c2 a5 34.a4 h1?! [ 34...b1 35.c3 g8! ( 35...f6 36.a8 e5 37.xb6 xe4 38.c4 is very good for White ) 36.e8+ ( 36.a8 f6 37.f3 d7= ) 36...g6 37.f4 h1 ( 37...b2+ 38.e3 h2 39.f5+ exf5 40.c6+ f6 41.c7 xh3 42.g7+ h6 43.exf5 xg3+ 44.e4 xb3 45.xg8 b4+ 46.d5 xa4 47.xf6 , and White is winning ) 38.f5+ exf5 39.c6+ f6 40.c7 fxe4 41.g4 h2+ 42.f1 xh3 43.g7+ h6 44.xg8 f3+ 45.e2 f5 with an unclear endgame ] 35.a8 xh3 36.xb6 Now things are ge t t in g a b it d ice y f o r B la c k, t h e ro o k i s decidedly offside on the h-file, but Carlsen f i g h t s o n . h1 37.c5 f5 38.c7 f8 39.c8 g6?! [ 39...xc8 40.xc8+ e7 41.c5 is probably better, but leaves only W hite with winning chances, so Carlsen plays the riskier move. ] 40.exf5 exf5 41.c5 f4 42.xa5?! [ 42.f5+ g7 43.xg5 b1 44.b5 should win for White ] 42...b1 43.b5 g4! 44.gxf4 xf4+ 45.e3 g2+ [ 45...h3!? ] 46.d3 h5 47.c2 f1 48.f5+ g7 49.xh5 xf2+ 50.c3 f3+ 51.b4 g3 52.a5 f4 53.g5+ f6 [ Black can actually play for more with 53...h6! 54.g4 h5 55.g7 g2 , but 56.xg2! xg2 57.a6 f8 58.d6! , a n d t h e p a wn s will sa ve t h e d ra w f o r White. ] 54.g4 d3+ 55.a3?? [ The correct move is 55.b5 , leading to a d r a w a f t e r f5+ 56.b6 g5 57.xg3 1284
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg3 58.a6 b4 59.a7 d5+ 60.c6 c3+ 61.b7 xb3+ 62.c6= ] 55...c5?? [ Black misses out on the golden opportunity that was handed to him: 55...f5! 56.b4 ( 56.xg3?? xa5# ) 56...g5 57.xg3 xg3 , and the White pawns are not far enough to give Black any real trouble. ] 56.b4 d3+ 57.a3?? c5?? and the players agreed upon a draw after repeating their dual blunders. ½-½
1283 Nakamura,Hikaru Karjakin,Sergey Gashimov Memorial-A (5) [Fier, Alexandr]
A30 2772 2772 24.04.2014
This was the first game with Karjakin's new 14...Ba8 idea in a well known position. During one week three important games were played wi t h t h i s , a n d i n a l l t h r e e g a m e s B l a c k showed amazing preparation. Apparently the position is fine for Black, but it requires a lot of precision. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 [ 10.b3 is another way to develop the bishop 0-0 11.b2 d5!? was the move played by Ka rja k in in a n o t h e r ga m e a n alyze d f o r Chess Publishing 12.d2 xc3 13.xc3 f6 Eljanov, P (2702)-Karjakin, S (2772)/ FIDE World Cup 2013 (3.7). ] 10...c8 11.ac1 a6 12.b3 0-0 13.h4 This position is well known and there were a lot of games recently. White has good control in the center, so he usually launches an attack on the kingside. Black, on the other hand, needs to find proper counterplay on the other part of the board. e8 [ 13...c7 is a thematic move. The queen can go away from d8 and after Bh3 there is n o p i n a n y m o r e 14.h3 b8 15.g5 was tried last year and analyzed by Bartholomew in Monroy, C (2443)-Vazquez Igarza, R (2565)/29th Open Cappelle la Grande FRA 2013 (3.19) ] 14.h3 [ 14.g4 was seen once before on the site,
b5! more or less the same idea as in the game, the knight on c3 is not well defended, 15.cxb5 xg4 with some complications, as seen in Filippov, V (2593)-Nikolic, P (2657)/ XVI ECC Neum BIH 2000. ] 14...a8 The idea behind this move is not so easy to guess. In some positions White has no time to play bxa6, since now the bishop won't be attacked. Another point is to wait for W h it e t o co m mit wit h so m e mo ve on t h e kingside before starting counterplay on the ot he r f lan k. 15.g4 The natural continuation, W hite wants to attack the knight on f6 and create pressure on the diagonal. [ 15.e1 is quite exotic, but avoids Black t a k i n g o n f 3 c7 16.f3 b7 17.g4 is a possible continuation c5 18.g5 fd7 19.b4 e6 20.xe6 fxe6 21.g4 with a complex endgame, but my feeling is that Black should be fine. Of course none of these moves were forced ] 15...b5! Now that White can't bring the pawn ba ck t o g3, Black imm ed iat ely sta rts h is counterplay. 16.cxb5 Facing a new position Nakamura thinks to go for the most ambitious va r i a t i o n . a5 And the bishop now is better on a8 where it can't be attacked. The position soon enters into chaos and I think Karjakin wa s p re p a re d u p u n t il m o ve 2 4 a t le a s t . 17.d2 xf3 18.exf3 e5 19.g2 g5!? A move really hard to make over the board. Black just gives the pawn in front of the king to avoid White's 20.g5! [ 19...axb5 would be much more human and the position is unclear after 20.g5 fd7 21.xd7 xd7 22.d5 Black will take two rooks for the queen, but the pieces are not s o w e l l c o o r d i n a t e d xc1 ( 22...d8 23.b4 looks better for White) 23.xa5 xd1 24.c7 c8 25.e4 c5 26.xe7 d3 27.e6 h6 and the computer comes with the habitual 0.00! ] 20.xg5 axb5 Now Black is threatening ...b4 and White's pieces are slightly in each other's way. 21.e3 White just brings the pieces back into the game. [ 21.d5!? wa s a c r i t i c a l o p t i o n xc1 22.xc1 ( 22.xa5 xd1 23.xf6+ exf6 24.e3 c8 19 looks less good than in the analysis of move) 22...xa2 23.xf6+ exf6 24.e3 d5 with a hard position to access ] 1285
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21...b4 22.e2 [ 22.g5 fg4! ( 22...xc3 23.xc3 d5 24.xd5 xd5 25.xe5 xe5 26.c4 and White can fight for something with the extra pawn.; 22...bxc3? 23.gxf6 cxd2 24.xc8 and the bishop on h3 defends the rook ) 23.fxg4 bxc3 24.xc3 xa2 and it looks like Black is fine, the bishop on h3 is not really doing a great job for the moment ] 22...d5 23.e4 xc1 24.xc1 e6 After the storm the position is now more calm and it looks like Black's opening was s u c c e s s f u l . 25.f4 White needs to remain active, so he goes into a forcing line. [ 25.d2 is quite ugly, the rook stays in the way g6 looking to the f4 square is fine for Black ] 25...f6 26.b7 exg4 27.f3 White managed to bring Black's knights to a worse position, but at the cost of an important pawn. h5 28.xd6 xa2 29.g3 xf2+ Black is happy with a draw and finds a way to exchange a lot of pieces. There was still an option to keep playing for all three results. [ 29...c8 A) 30.d2 d5 ( 30...c2 31.d8+ h7 32.d3+ h6 33.f5+ ) 31.xh5 xd2 32.xg4 e3+ 33.f3 xg4 34.xd2 f6 35.xf6+ ( 35.xg7 c3+ ) 35...xf6; B) 30.d2 b1 31.b2 e1 32.e2 b1 33.xh5 ( 33.d2 ) 33...xh5 34.xg4 g6 35.xg6 ( 35.e5 xg4+ 36.xg4 xe5 37.xh5 xf4 ) 35...xf4+ ] [ 29...h4 also should lead to a draw 30.xg4 hxg3 31.hxg3 xg4 32.xg4 xb3 33.e3 and because of the threat of 34.Bd4, White is fine c2 34.d4 e4+ 35.h2 ( 35.f3 c2+ 36.f1 d1+ 37.g2 c2+= ) 35...e5 36.b2 h7+ 37.g2 e4+ with a possible perpetual ] 30.xf2 xf2 31.xf2 h4 32.f3 hxg3 33.hxg3 Maybe White has some slight pressure, but Black had no big problems to defend. a8 34.f5 f8 35.c6 d7 And Black is safe because of the check on e5. 36.c7 c5 37.e3 a5 38.fxe6 xe6 39.c8 g7 40.f1 f5+ 41.g2 c5 42.d3 e5 43.xc5 xc5 44.b8 c3
45.c4 d4 46.xb4 f5 47.b7 e3+ 48.f2 xc4 49.bxc4 xc4 ½-½
1284 Naumann,Alexander Stefansson,Hannes Bundesliga 2003-4 (3) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2518 2567 22.11.2003
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b6 4.g3 b7 5.g2 c5 6.0-0 a6 7.e1 This is still the most fashionable line here. d6 8.e4 e7 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 11.e3 bd7 12.f4 0-0 13.c1 fe8 A typical Hedgehog move, preparing for any opening of the e-file. In the eBook I considered that this might be the most accurate. 14.d5!? The most direct, but Black is supposed to be well-place to counter this. We looked at another sharp try, [ 14.g4!? in Chuchelov, V-Gommers,R. ] 14...exd5 15.cxd5 b8 [ 15...d8 16.c6 xc6 17.dxc6 c5 18.c7 xc7 19.e5 dxe5 transposes. ] [ 15...c5 16.b4 d7 17.bxc5 bxc5 18.c6 leads to a very pleasant Benoni position for White. ] 16.c6 xc6 17.dxc6 c5 18.e5 [ 18.c7 xc7 19.e5 transposes, but may ve more accurate as the next note is thereby impossible. ] 18...dxe5 19.c7 xc7 Best, but [ 19...c8!? is also feasible, 20.fxe5 fe4 ( 20...g4!? 21.e6 f5 looks playable) 21.b4 a7 Chuchelov,V-Jaracz,P/Ohrid MKD 2001, and now 22.c2! is good. ] 20.xa8 xa8 21.b4 exf4 [ 21...d8!? is an alternative: 22.e2 d5 ( 22...fd7!? ) 23.bxc5 bxc5 24.fxe5 xe3 25.xe3 c4 26.e4 and White has an extra pawn compared to the game. ] 22.xf4 b7! Ftacnik's suggestion he considered this an improvement over the original [ 22...a7 w h e n , a f t e r 23.bxc5 xc5+ 24.g2 b7+ 25.f3 xf3+ 26.xf3 d5 27.d2 f6 28.e2! White managed to grind o u t a win i n F t a cn ik , L - B r o wn e , W / P a n Pa cif ic 19 9 1, alt ho u gh his e d ge is tin y here.. ] 1286
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.bxc5 xc5+ 24.e3 Forced, the point of putting the black queen on the h1-a8 diagonal was to stop White playing his king to g2, and then queen to f3. f8!? Ftacnik preferred [ 24...b4 25.e2 b5 which seems more active. ] 25.f2 h5 26.h3 b5 It makes positional sense to put the black pawns on light squares. 27.c2 a5 28.c6 White heads for the endgame. xc6 29.xc6 a4 Black seems to be fine, he has two pawns for the exchange and his position is relatively compact. 30.ec1 With an exchange more it invariably pays to change the opponent's remaining rook. e4 31.e1!? White preserves his bishop, [ 31.c8 xc8 32.xc8 xf2 33.xf2 b4 must be a draw. ] 31...h7 32.c8 xc8 33.xc8 d6 34.g2 b4? Black misses a simple tactic, almost any other move should be adequate, e. g. [ 34...f5 35.a8 e5 planning ...Bc3. ] 35.xb4! xb4 36.c4 The point, now Black loses a pawn. c3 [ 36...c3? would be a good idea, exchanging the last queenside pawn, but u n f o r t u n a t e l y 37.xb4 xa2 38.c4! traps the knight (if this piece could escape the knight and 3 versus rook and 2 is a theoretical draw) a3 39.f3 and the king comes to capture the knight. ] 37.xe4 a3 38.a4 b2 This is forced, but the bishop is tied to the a-pawn which severely restricts its mobility. 39.f3 g6 40.a5 h6 41.e4 g6 42.a7 g7 43.d5 f6 44.a4 e7 45.a6 c1 46.c4 g5? Black is a young player, but this shows a certain inexperience, weakening the kingside pawns which were already on their best squares defence-wise. [ 46...b2 would force White to demonstrate a win. ] 47.d5 The king returns. f8 48.e4 g7 49.f5 g4 50.h4 [ 50.h4 b2 51.g5 wins both g and hpawns with a trivial win. ] 1-0
1285 Onischuk,Alexander Wang Zili 6th Tan Nam Cup (5) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2627 2603 13.07.2000
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.e1 0-0!? [ This might be deemed to be premature, 7...a6 8.e4 d6 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 is safer, as in the archives. ] 8.e4 d6 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 fd7!? [ An unusual a. With this particular move order, Black has to be careful about the threat of e5, e.g. 10...a6?! 11.e5 dxe5 12.xb7 exd4 13.xa8 dxc3 14.bxc3 which should certainly favour White, and ] [ 10...c8 to defend the bishop, without leaving the queen too exposed, was examined in the archives. ] [ N e v e r t h e l e s s , 10...c7!? may be the strongest, anyway, as 11.db5!? ( 11.e3 a6 transposes to the main line) 11...c6 12.g5 a6 13.d4 c7 14.c1 Speelman,J-Plaskett,J/BCF-ch Ayr/1978 doesn't gain anything. ] 11.e3 e5 [ 11...c6 12.xc6 xc6 13.c1 is similar, Shomoev,A-Iljushkin,E/Novgorod 1999. ] 12.e2! [ This new move is slightly more logical than 12.b3 bd7 13.f4 c6 14.xc6 xc6 15.c1 c8 16.e2 Diaz,A-Camina,A/La Coruna 1998, as there seems no need to play b3 until absolutely necessary. ] 12...bc6 13.xc6 xc6 14.ad1! A more aggressive post for this rook than the normal c1, made possible because of White's twelfth move, and which works well here for tactical reasons. a6 [ Played to prepare ...Qc7, of course, Black probably wanted to avoid 14...c7!? 15.f4 g6 16.b5 b8 17.d4 b7 18.f5 with powerful pressure, but ] [ 14...b8 might be more circumspect. ] 15.f4 d7?! [ This loses material to a finely judged combination, 15...g6 was forced, although 16.h4! e8 17.h5 f8 18.h6 is unpleasant for Black. ] 1287
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.e5! xg2 17.xg2 dxe5? [ A further mistake, the best chance is 17...c8 when 18.b7!? ( 18.exd6 f6 menaces the captures on c4, and c3, although White is clearly better) 18...xc4 19.exd6 f6 20.xa6 and now, c8! may offer some chances. Not, however, ] [ 17...c7? 18.exd6 xd6 19.d2 and Black loses a piece. ] 18.b7 c5 Forced. 19.xd8 xb7 20.d7 The point of White's play, winning one of the two stranded minor pieces. d6 21.xe7 xc4 22.fxe5 xe5 Black has gained two pawns, but this is wholly insufficient. 23.d1 c4 24.c1 b5 25.b3 e5 26.f4 g6 27.c7 h6 28.e4 ac8 29.dc1 cd8 30.d6 fe8 31.1c6 e5 32.xa6 e6 33.aa7 1-0
1286 Osborne,Marcus E Cox,John J Premiership International (4) [John Watson]
A30 2202 2385 31.08.2005
A k n o c k - e m , s o c k- e m f ig h t in wh i ch t h e Hedgehog with ...a6 looks suspicious and then W hite plays a little inaccurately. After that both sides mix it up. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 a6 Formerly the most popular move order in the Hedgehog, this is seldom played nowadays, 6...Be7 being preferred. 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.b3 bd7 10.g5! We have seen a number of Ng5 ideas. This particular one, without Rd1 in (or Ba3 or Bb2), looks hard to meet and may even argue against playing ... a 6 t o o e a r l y . xg2 11.xg2 c8?! We've also seen this idea of ...Rc8-c6 before, but the omission of Rd1 allows White time to achieve his goals. The best option is probably [ 11...e7 and now 12.d1 ( or 12.ge4 c5 13.b2 0-0 14.ad1 , a shade better for White ) 12...c7! is hard to gain any significant advantage against, but I'd rather be White after something like 13.ge4 0-0 14.b2 ( 14.xd6 fd8 ) 14...fd8 15.xf6+ xf6 16.e4 . In the e4 lines, simplification generally favours White. You
can forget that: "W hen you have a space advantage, avoid exchanges" nonsense! [Shameless Plug: For a complete discussion of this fallacy, see my "Chess Strategy in Action"!] ] 12.ge4 c6 [ The point of ...Rc8. It's a bit late to play 12...c5 13.g5 ( or 13.xf6+ ) 13...e7 14.xf6 gxf6 15.ad1 ] 13.a3! c5 [ 13...xe4 14.xe4 c5 15.ad1 xe4 16.xe4 c7 17.f4! e7 18.f5 is positionally disastrous. ] 14.xc5 bxc5 15.xf6+ gxf6 16.e4 c7 What else? 17.d5! [ Or 17.ad1 f5 ( 17...g7 18.g4 0-0 19.e4 ) 18.f3 g7 19.e4 fxe4 20.xe4 d7 21.d3 and Rfd1. ] 17...a7 18.e3 Not bad bu t a little slow. White could also take over the light squares and discourage castling by [ 18.f4! f5 ( 18...g7 19.h5 h6 20.c6+ e7 21.f3 f5 22.e4 a8 23.fe1 ) 19.d3 ( 19.f3 a8 20.ad1 xf3+ 21.xf3 ) 19...g7 20.ad1 d7 21.h5 ] 18...h5 [ 18...g7 19.ad1 0-0 20.f4! and Nh5. ] 19.b4?! [ Better is simply 19.ad1 h6 20.f4 f8 21.c3 ] 19...h6! 20.f4? [ 20.f4 may still yield some advantage due to the computer's sacrifice f8? ( 20...0-0 21.c3 ) 21.bxc5! exd5 22.cxd6 a8 23.c5 ] 20...a8+ 21.f3 cxb4!? Winning a pawn, although White gets immediate counterplay. There wasn't much risk in [ 21...e5! 22.bxc5 dxc5 23.c3! ( 23.ab1 0-0 24.xc5 c8 ) 23...exf4 24.xf6 h7 ] 22.b6! xf4 23.gxf4 e7!? [ 23...d7 ] 24.c5 d8 [ 24...d5!? ] 25.cxd6+ xd6 26.xb4 ad7 [ 26...b7! gets the queen back in play. ] 27.fd1 c6 28.ac1 b6 29.a3 f8 30.b1 c6 31.bc1 b6 32.b1 c6 33.dc1 W h it e is righ t ba ck in it . d5 34.b8+ 1288
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Or 34.c8+ g7 35.g1 ] 34...g7 35.cc8 [ 35.g1!? These are tough and unclear decisions. ] 35...f5 36.e3 d2+ 37.h3 d8 38.xd8 xd8 39.xd8 xd8 40.xa6? Oh no, right at time control! [ 40.c3+ g6 41.c2 ] 40...d1! 41.b7?? [ 41.g2 d2+ 42.g1 xe3+ 43.g2 d2+ 44.g1 xf4 was no fun. ] 41...f1+ 42.g3 [ 42.h4 g2 43.h3 h6! and ...Qf2. ] 42...h4+ 43.xh4 g2 44.h3 0-1
1287 Pantsulaia,Levan Gelfand,Boris WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (3.4) [John Watson]
A30 2578 2717 05.12.2005
Qxa6. ] 15.xh6 xd5 16.cxd5 xd5? [ 16...c7 17.d4 ] 17.xd5 xd5 18.g5 5f6 19.c4! It's that simple! e8 20.h4 f8 21.c6 The point, which Gelfand surely missed at move 14 or so. d5 22.xe8 xe8 23.f3 e5 24.c1 White does a good job of consolidating. d4 25.e3 d3 26.c3 8d7 27.c4 e6 28.e4 c5 29.xe5 xe5 30.xe5 fxe4 31.b4!? [ 31.d4! c3 32.d8+ g7 33.xd3 wins on the spot. ] 31...d2 32.d4 a4 [ 32...e6 33.d5 ] 33.c4 ac3 34.d8+ g7 35.xd2 f6 36.a3 a5 37.bxa5 bxa5 38.d3 A nice idea and good win. 1-0
1288 A30 Pantsulaia,Levan 2496 In the ongoing battle of English Openings Markus,Robert 2584 from this match, Black keeps choosing lines 6th EICC Warsaw POL (3) 20.06.2005 well-established as safe but has problems [John Watson] anywa y! W h it e's sacrif ice o n mo ve 14 is extremely effective. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 A standard English Hedgehog goes wrong for c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d4 Black. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 b6 4.g2 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 bd7 The bane of b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.d4 cxd4 W h i t e ' s e x i s t e n c e . B l a c k ' s p i e c e s a r e 8.xd4 d6 The starting position for hundreds perfectly placed. 10.h4 c8 As is now well- of high-level games. 9.d1 a6 10.g5!? known, the defensive idea ...Rc5-h5 quashes This move is quite unusual these days but it most attacks. 11.h6 0-0 12.b3 a6 13.ac1 contains a few threats and may confuse an opponent who hasn't seen it played for many c5 14.d5! [ A dynamic try which cuts off the rook at the years. xg2 11.xg2 c6 12.f4 a7! c o s t o f l e a v i n g t h e d - p a w n e n p r i s e . Second-rank defence is handy in this and o t h e r sim ila r p o si t io n s . 13.ce4 d7! Standard would be something like 14.xg7 ] [ 14.g5 xg2 15.xg2 a8+ 16.g1 Allowing the following trick: 14.xf6+ xf6 fc8 with the idea ..b5. ] 15.xh7! xh7 16.e4 h5 17.xc6 c5 14...xh6 I don't see a truly satisfactory move 18.a4 c8?! [ In this position Black has to play very for Black: [ 14...xd5 15.cxd5 xd5 ( 15...f6 precisely. To get counterplay for the pawn, 16.g5 ) 16.g5! forces xd1+ 17.xd1 he should play 18...a8+ 19.g1 ( 19.f3 xg2 18.xg7 xg7 19.xh7+ f6 c6 ) 19...c6!= Ribli-Wahls, Bundesliga 1988/9. ] 20.d4! and Black can hardly defend ( 20.xg2 xg5 is unclear )] 19.xd6 xc4 20.xd7+ xd7 21.xd7 [ 14...xd5 15.cxd5 xd5 looks okay, but xd7 22.f1 Black is active but a pawn is a White suddenly switches to the queenside: pawn. b5 23.h4 a5 24.b1 b4 25.b3 c2 16.xd5 xd5 17.xg7 xg7 18.c4! 26.a4!? d4 27.g5 e5 [ The natural 27...f6 fails to 28.d1 e5 with a c le ar p osit ion al a dvan ta ge a f t e r 1289
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 29.e3 ] 28.h5 f6 29.c1!? c3 30.xc3 bxc3 [ 30...xc3 31.e3 leaves Black nothing to show for the pawn. ] 31.c1! f5 Else White just centralises the king. 32.f3 e4 33.fxe4 fxe4 34.e1 e6 35.g4!? Simpler was [ 35.d1 e5 36.f4 xf4 37.gxf4 and White wins, e.g., d5 38.c2 d4 39.f5 e3 40.h6! gxh6 41.f6 ] 35...e3 [ 35...e5 ] 36.d1 e5 37.g5 f4? 38.h6 g6 39.h7 e5 [ 39...xg5 40.xe3+! ] 40.c2 xg5 41.xe3+ f5 42.b6 1-0
1289 Pavlovic,Milos Smirnov,Pavel 6th EICC Warsaw POL (1) [John Watson]
A30 2475 2624 18.06.2005
A fascinating if strange game. White plays a sort of reversed Benoni and Black throws his pieces at the opponent's king, not terribly co n vin c ingly b u t it 's e f f e ct ive . S u d d e n ly there's a resignation. I have no idea why. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 c6 5.0-0 e5 6.d3 So far a reversed Yugoslav King's Indian. e7 7.g5!? Now it's a 6...Bg4 main-line KID with White a tempo ahead. Is c4 useful? d4 8.e3 [ 8.a3 0-0 9.d2 h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.c2 ( 11.a4 d7 12.b5 e7 13.xb7 b8 14.a6 xb2 15.xc6 xc6 16.xc6 xd2 ) 11...d7 12.a3 a5 13.b1 a4 14.b4 axb3 15.xb3 e7 ] 8...0-0 9.exd4 cxd4 Finally, we have a standard Benoni in which Bg5 is quite useful. Maybe [ 9...exd4 was more appropriate. Then there might follow 10.e1 h6 11.f4 (intending Ne5. We've seen this position earlier in the Vukic games, with Re1 replacing Ne5 and the extra move ...h6 in) d6 12.e5 xe5 13.xe5 xe5 14.xe5 c7 15.e1 ( 15.e2 g4! 16.f3 d7 17.e7? e6! 18.xe6 fxe6 19.xe6+ h8 20.d2
ae8 ) 15...f5 16.b3 fe8 17.d2 ab8 18.f3= ] 10.e1 c7 [ With colors reversed White sometimes plays 10...d7 [Nd2] when White's extra tempo can come in handy: 11.xe7 xe7 12.a3 ( 12.a3 a5 13.bd2 c5 14.e4 xe4 15.xe4 f6= ) 12...f6 13.c2 ( 13.b5 d8 14.d2 c5 15.e4 xe4 16.xe4 e6 17.c5! unclear ) 13...d6 14.h4!? g6 15.d2 ] 11.bd2 [ 11.a3 a6! ( 11...f5 12.b5 b8 13.fxd4! exd4 14.xc6 bxc6 15.xd4 ) 12.c2 h6 13.xf6 xf6 14.d2 ( 14.b4 f5 15.e2 b5 16.d2 ) 14...e6 15.b4 b5 16.c1 bxc4 17.xc4 ] 11...h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.a3 a5 14.c5! [ 14.c2 g4 15.h3 e6 16.c5 a4 17.c4 a5 ] 14...e6 15.c1 d5 16.c4? [ 16.xd4! xd4 ( 16...xg2 17.b5 d8 18.xg2 xd3 19.c4 with a healthy advant age .) 17.xd5 fd8 18.e4 a4 19.c4 e7 20.f3 xf3+ 21.xf3 ] 16...ad8 17.h4 g6 18.h5 g7 19.d6!? [ 19.hxg6 fxg6 20.fd2 ( 20.e2 de8 21.fd2 xg2 22.xg2 g5! ) 20...e7 21.e4 xe4 22.xe4 ] 19...b6 20.hxg6 fxg6 21.e4 e7 22.cxb6 [ 22.fd2!? b5 23.g4 a4 ] 22...xb6 23.e2 [ 23.ed2! f6 24.c4 b5 25.e2 fe8 26.fd2 xg2 27.xg2 unclear. White has a beautiful out post on e4, but Black can get rid of his worst piece by g5 28.c2 xd2 ] 23...f5 24.fd2 h5!? [ 24...xb2 25.c4 b8! 26.a4 with compensation ] 25.c4 b5 26.a4 [ 26.ec2 a4 27.e2 ] 26...b8 27.ec2 h4! 28.gxh4 xh4 29.g3 g5 [ What's going on here? Perhaps White was convinced that a combination of ... Bxg3 and . ..e4 would be decisive but at least he should have forced Smirnov to prove it. W h i t e c a n t r y t o d e f e n d b y 29...g5 30.xd5 A) 30...xg3!? 31.fxg3 xd5 32.g2! ( 32.b6 d6 33.f3 e4 34.f4 exd3 ); 1290
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 30...xd5 31.f3! Then he has threats on d5 and c6, not to mention the idea of Nd7-e4, so Black must plunge onward: ( 31.b6 xg3-+ 32.fxg3 xg3+ 33.f2 g5 34.xd5 e4 35.f1 g3+ 36.e2 f5 37.xf5 gxf5 38.xc6 f3+ 39.e1 exd3 ) 31...e4! ( 31...xg3 32.xd5 f4+ 33.f1 c8 34.d6 h3+ 35.e2 e4 36.f7+ h8 37.f8+ h7 38.f7+= ) 32.xe4 xg3 33.fxg3 xg3+ ( harmless is 33...xg3+ 34.g2 dg5 35.cc2 e5 36.xe5 xg2+ 37.xg2 xe5 38.xg5 xg5+ 39.f2= ) 34.g2 B1) 34...h3 35.f1 B1a) 35...xg2+ 36.xg2 h5 B1a1) 37.f3 leads to an ending that should be drawn following g5 38.g3 d1+ 39.h2 h5+ 40.h3 b4 41.b7+ h6 42.d7 c2+ 43.g1 c1+ 44.g2 g5+ 45.g3 h4 46.h3 xh3+ 47.xh3 xh3 48.xh3 xd3 49.xa5 c5 ( 49...xb2 50.b3 xa4 51.xd4= ) 50.g4 xa4 51.b4 c3 52.b3 d3 53.f3 g5 54.e3 d5+ 55.xd3 xb4+ 56.e4; B1a2) 37.e4 g5+ ( 37...g5+ 38.f2 f5+ 39.e1 xf1+ 40.xf1 d1+ 41.f2= ) 38.h2 ( Too close f or comf ort is 38.g2 b4 39.xg5 xg5+ 40.f2 , although White seems to draw after xd3+ 41.e2 b4 42.f4 d3+ 43.d2 g2+ 44.d1 g1+ 45.d2= ) 38...h6+ 39.g1 g5+ 40.f2 f5+ 41.e2 h5+ 42.e1 xf1+ 43.xf1 and this should also be drawn.; B1b) 35...xg2+ 36.xg2 xg2+ 37.xg2 g5+ 38.h3 f5 39.e1 b4; B2) 34...xg2+ 35.xg2 xg2+ 36.xg2 b4 37.d1 c5 38.b3 ] 0-1
1290 Pelletier,Yannick Kortschnoj,Viktor GM Biel SUI (3) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2531 2617 25.07.2001
1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 b7 4.g2 e6 5.0-0 e7 6.c3 0-0 7.e1 d5 [ 7...c5 8.e4 leads to a Hedgehog, but Black prefers a more fluid game. ] 8.cxd5 xd5 9.e4 xc3 10.bxc3 c5 11.d4 cxd4 12.cxd4 a6!? [ Black tries to take his young opponent outof-book, 12...c6 is normal and leads to a Keres-Parma Variation where the white rook is on e1, e.g. 13.b2 f6 14.b1 e8 15.h4!? h6?! 16.d5! exd5 17.e5 e7 18.e6 with some initiative, Seirawan,YTimman,J/Las Palmas 1981. ] 13.e5 Immediately exploiting the previous move's down side: the lack of control over the centre. c8 14.a3 And this move is played to restrict the offside knight, which can no longer advance. d6 15.f4 e7 16.b3 c7 17.f1!? I like this move chess is a constant striving to find the best squares for your pieces, and here the bishop is much more active, on the open f1-a6 diagonal, than on g2. fc8!? [ Interesting, although 17...b8 is safer. ] 18.a4 b8 19.xa7!? Into the lion's den! White asks Black to show that he has enough compensation for the pawn. g5!? [ 19...f6!? 20.d3 e5 21.dxe5 fxe5 22.e3 d7 23.a4 c3 is another try, Black may recuperate the a3-pawn. ] 20.e3?! [ 20.d2 Looks better, to keep the e-pawn defended by the rook on e1. ] 20...xe4? [ This allows the queen to escape, whilst t a k i n g a b l a c k p a w n w i t h h e r . 20...f6! appe ars ugly, bu t is quite good , 21.d3 ( 21.g4?! h5 22.e5!? hxg4 23.exd6 xd6 is unpleasant for White, there is a big threat of ...Qd5.) 21...d7 and now Black wins the e4-pawn, without losing his b6pawn. ] 21.xb6 xe5 [ Black is already in trouble, because of his weakened kingside, 21...c6 being met by 22.xg5 xg5 23.xe4 for instance. ] 1291
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.dxe5 f3 23.d6 White forces the exchange of queens when his bishop pair, and extra pawn, should be decisive. h6 24.ac1 c6 25.xe7 xe7 26.g2?! xg2 27.xg2 ee8 28.c5 e7 29.ec1 a8 30.1c3 d5 31.b3 xe3+ 32.xe3 e7 Presumably Black lost on time, as the position is still playable. 1-0
16.e5 e4 17.xe4 dxe4 18.e3 ] 13...h5 14.d3 Greedy. However, there was no other consistent follow-up to 13.h4. b7! 15.f3 [ 15.xg6 fxg6 16.xg6 c8 and the cpawn will fall: 17.d3 c7 ] 15...a5 [ 15...g4!? 16.xg6 fxg6 17.xg6 f6 18.c2 e4 is unclear. ] 16.b1 axb4 17.axb4 d5 18.g5 c8 19.xg6?! A natural enough move, yet White 1291 A30 cedes the two bishops in an open position and Popov,Valerij 2592 soon goes under. [ 19.a4 was a good alternative. ] Efimenko,Zahar 2666 Aeroflot Open (9) 16.02.2006 19...fxg6 20.xg6 d4! 21.e2 [ 21.exd4 xc4 ] [John Watson] 21...xc4 22.xd4 xb4+ 23.f2 a2+ Another testimony to rapid development and 24.b2 d5 25.g3 c3 26.xa2 xa2 t h e b i s h o p p a i r . W h i t e b u i l d s u p a n i c e Black hits g2 and W hite has to retreat to position out of the opening and wins space. In protect his king. Then Black's two bishops a m om en t of a mb it io n he ced es h is b est rule the board. The rest is relatively easy: bishop for a pawn and attack, but the latter 27.df3 a4 28.d3 c8 29.d1 b5 n e v e r m a t e r i a l i s e s a n d B l a c k i s s o o n 30.h2 g4+ 31.g1 f6 32.h2 c4 swarming all over his position. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 33.xc4 bxc4 34.g3 a8 35.d2 b2 36.e4 Desperation. c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.c3 b4!? [ 36.b1 c3 37.c1 b8! will win a piece. ] [ 5...f6 would be normal. The combination 36...xe4+ 37.xe4 xe4 ...c3 will follow of .. .Nc6 and ...Bb4 is rare. ] 6.d3 This is rather slow. Still, White doesn't shortly. 0-1 suffer doubled pawns as he tries to develop. [ The critical alternative is 6.db5 . Then f6 7.f4 0-0 8.c7 e7 9.d6 xd6 A30 10.xd6 d8 is held to be almost equal yet 1292 Psakhis,Lev 2611 White has a pull. ] Hovmoller,Kristian 2170 6...f6 7.a3 c5 18.07.2000 [ Black can also try to use his lead in Politiken Cup (2) development to force some concessions, e.g. [Tony Kosten] , 7...e5 8.g3 xc3+ 9.xc3 d5 10.cxd5 xd5 11.g3 ( 11.xe6?! xc3 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 12.xd8 d5 ) 11...g6 and it's hard for 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 d6 7.e1 bd7 8.e4 c7 White to get his pieces to good squares, e.g. 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 a6 11.e3 e7 12.c1 , 12.e3 ( 12.e4 f6 ) 12...0-0 13.e2 0-0 13.f4 fd8 [ The rook prepares a possible ...d5 thrust, ( 13.d3 e5 ) 13...e5 14.f3 f6! but 13...fe8 is possibly better, further with the threat ...Ne4. ] s u p p o r t i n g e 6 , 14.d5!? one of several 8.e3 0-0 moves here, 14 g4, and 14 f5, being the [ 8...d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.e2 0-0 most important exd5 15.cxd5 b8 16.c6 gives Black good activity for the IQP. ] xc6 17.dxc6 c5 18.c7 xc7 19.e5 9.e2 e5!? dxe5 20.xa8 xa8 21.b4 regaining the [ 9...d5= ] material, although play tends to equality, 10.c2 b6 11.b4 e7 12.f4! g6 13.h4?! Ftacnik, L-Browne,W/San Francisco 1991. ] Weakening g4. [ 13...fc8 was examined in the archives. ] [ 13.e4! b7 14.0-0 d5 15.cxd5 exd5 1292
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.f5 [ The most logical, attacking the e6-pawn, although 14.d5!? is also possible, exd5 15.cxd5 c5?! ( 15...b8 ) 16.b4 f8 17.f5 d7 18.bxc5 bxc5 leads to a Benoni-style position, favourable to White, Zheliandinov,V-Polajzer,D/Lvov 1999. ] 14...e5?! [ A novelty, but this is exactly what White wants, as now play resembles one of the Nd5-sac games, except that W hite hasn't had to give a piece! Black must try to hold the e6-square: 14...f8 15.e2 ( 15.h3!? is possibly more to the point) 15...e8 16.g4 h6 17.h4 6h7 18.f2 attempting to wipe Black out on the kingside, Davies,NKaiumov,D/Calcutta 1997. ] 15.d5 xd5? [ This move loses control of the c6-square, better 15...xd5 16.cxd5 c5 although White must be better. ] 16.cxd5 b7 17.c6 e8 18.g4 The simplest method of consolidating the white advantage, he further increases his enormous spatial plus. b8 19.g5 fd7 20.f6! Now White moves over to direct attack. f8 [ Black cannot play 20...gxf6? because of 21.f1! fxg5? 22.h5 and f7 is indefensible. ] 21.f1 c8 22.fxg7 xg7 23.h5 c5 24.h3 e8 25.f5 Forcing mate. 1-0
1293 Ramirez,Alej Ivanov,AV USA ch-USA 2013 Saint Louis USA (2) [Danny Gormally]
A30 2551 2529 04.05.2013
1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 c6 6.c3 g6 The double fianchetto is very ambitious way of playing the opening, but also somewhat risky. With his next move, Ramirez puts the question to Black. 7.e3! [ More common is 7.e4 but Ramirez's choice poses a real problem for Black, who is not that well placed to meet any action in the center. ] 7...g7 8.d4 0-0? Ramirez, who ended up
losin g th e play-o f f f or t he US ch am ps t o Kamsky, is quick to exploit the problem with Black's set-up: [ 8...cxd4 9.exd4 A) 9...d5? A1) 10.cxd5 xd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.e5 d6 ( 12...xg2+!? 13.xg2 xd4+ 14.f3 xe5 15.e3 0-0-0 is highly speculative but may be just about playable.) 13.a4 xe5 14.dxe5 e6 doesn't look so clear; A2) 10.e5! however is simple and strong.; B) 9...0-0 10.e1 a5 11.b3 d5 12.a3 Gives White a pleasant opening edge, but in my opinion this is an improvement for Black over what happens in the game, as at least he has the half-open c-file to play with. ] 9.d5! a5 10.d3 This is the problem. Now the Bishop on b7 is effectively buried in the game, and without a prior capture on d4, ..Rc8 now achieves absolutely nothing. e6 11.e4 exd5 12.exd5 d6 13.f4 c8 A necessary evil, to try and get the bishop back in the game, but the Knight on a5 is looking increasingly isolated. 14.b3! f5 15.d2 e8 [ 15...e4 16.xe4 xa1 ( 16...xe4 17.ae1 e8 18.g5 xg2 19.xg2 a n d t h e t h r e a t o f N e 4 i s u n p l e a s a n t) 17.xd6 Just gives White winning compensation for the exchange. ] 16.ae1 d7 17.h4 b7 18.b5! Reminding Black that he has serious problems wit h th e d -p a wn . h5 giving up on the d6 weakling without a fight, but good alternatives were already thin on the ground. [ 18...e4 19.xe4 xe4 20.xe4 xe4 21.f3 a6 22.c3 f5 23.g4 and the bishop is trapped. ] 19.xf5 xf5 [ 19...gxf5 20.h6 is a dream for White, the black kingside pawns are terminally weak. ] 20.xd6! [ 20.xd6! xd6 21.xd6 d7 22.c7!! is also winning after xc7 23.d6 d7 24.xa8 xa8 25.e7 as the d-pawn is too strong. ] 20...xe1 [ 20...a6 21.c7! axb5 22.d6 1293
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and the knight on b7 cuts a rather pathetic figure. ] 21.xe1 xd6 22.xd6 d7 23.b5 Now W hite is just a pawn up with a good position, the finish was not long in coming: a6 24.d6 d8 25.e7 f5 26.c7 f6 27.d5! xd5 28.xd5 f8 29.d7! b1+ 30.e1 f5 31.e8 xd7 32.h6 b1+ 33.g2 e4+ 34.xe4 [ 34.xe4 xh6 35.f6+ ] 1-0
1294 Ribli,Zoltan Vertetics,Attila HUN-chT2 Charousek 0708 (11) [Nigel Davies]
A30 2577 2314 18.05.2008
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.e1 d6 8.e4 e5 T h i s l o o k s s e n s ib l e e n o u gh , a p p a r e n t l y s t o p p i n g W h i t e f r o m p l a yi n g d 2 - d 4 a n d p r o d u c i n g a b l o c ke d a n d r a t h e r l if e l e s s position. But unfortunately there's a problem... 9.d4! White does it anyway! There are some quite complex variations which justify this move if Black takes and if he doesn't take he seem s t o ge t s lightly th e worst of it . c6 Probably best, the knight is ready to hop into d4. [ The critical line is 9...cxd4 10.xd4 exd4 ( 10...0-0 11.f5 is just good for White) 11.e5 xg2 ( 11...dxe5 12.xb7 bd7 13.xa8 xa8 14.b5 0-0 15.f4 b4 16.xe5 xe5 17.xe5 led to White simply winning the d4 pawn in Drenchev, P-Badev, K/Sofia 2009) 12.exf6 gxf6 13.b5 b7 14.xd4 , f o r e x a m p l e 0-0 ( 14...c6 ma y b e b e s t b ut a f t e r 15.xd6+ d7 16.g4+ xd6 17.f4+ e5 18.ad1+ c7 19.xd8 hxd8 20.g7 d6 21.f1 White has the better of it) 15.h6 h8 16.xe7 xe7 17.xf8 xf8 18.xf6+ g7 19.d8+ g8 20.e7 c6 21.xd6 h6 22.xf7+ h7 23.g5+ h8 24.d1 hxg5 25.d8 d7 26.xg8+ xg8 27.d6 c8 28.h6+ g8 29.e6+ g7 30.b4 a6 31.a4 xa4 32.b5 1-0 was Mrva, MSmolen, J/Piestany 2004. ] [ Putting the knight on d7 is less good as
after 9...bd7 10.d5 Black gets a kind of King's Indian in which both his bishops are misplaced. ] 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.d5 d7 12.h3 f8 13.a4 White has quite strong pressure here, though that's not to say that his position in indefensible if he play it well. g6 14.d1 d6 15.b4 0-0 16.bxc5 xc5 17.b2 b8 18.d2 d8 19.ad1 d6 20.f5 f8 21.xg6 hxg6?! [ 21...xg6 w a s b e t t e r w h e n 22.xe5 ( 22.h4!? ) 22...xe5 23.xe5 e6 is far from clear. ] 22.xe5 xe5 23.xe5 dd8? After this White is a good pawn up. [ 23...e6 was still the best. ] 24.f4 h8 25.h4 h7 26.b3 c6 27.h5 gxh5 28.f3 g8 29.xh5 f6 30.f5 e8 31.g2 1-0
1295 Romanishin,Oleg M Yudasin,Leonid Capodanno Reggio Emilia ITA (6) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2567 2552 01.01.2000
1.f3 c5 2.g3 b6 3.g2 b7 4.0-0 f6 5.c4 e6 6.c3 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 c6 [ This natural move doesn't have a particularly good reputation, the b8-knight is often best-placed on d7, after 8...d6 ] 9.f4 0-0 10.d1 b8 11.b3 A key idea, White is happy to allow Black to capture on f4, he will recapture with the pawn, and use this to support the f3-knight on e5. d8 12.b2 a6 Perhaps not the most accurate, the alternatives are: [ 12...a5!? or, possibly ] [ 12...d6 although Black suffered a fearful beating in W ohl, A-Gipslis,A/Biel 1996, following 13.d2!? a6 14.ad1 b5! 15.g5 bxc4?! 16.ce4! d5 17.h4! dxe4 18.xf6 xf6 19.xh7+ f8 20.d7!! xd7 21.xd7 e8 22.xf7! e7 23.xf6! gxf6 24.f7+ and the black rook and queen weren't much help to the poor black king. ] 13.ac1 h6 1294
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Black's new idea, he tries to make another useful move before he has to exchange on f4. 13...xf4 14.gxf4 might be OK after 14... Rab8, but not on a5? 15.a4! ab8 16.e5! d6 17.c3 threatening the b6pawn, Cebalo,M-Hulak,K/ Jugoslavia 1989. ] 14.a4 Again this same scheme, probing the weakened queenside pawns. b5 15.b6 xf4 16.gxf4 a7 17.e5 [ After the obvious 17.xf6 gxf6 18.xd7 xd7 19.xd7 B l a c k c a n p l a y b4 planning ...Bxf3, heading for an oppositecolour bishop ending. ] 17...b4? [ This tempting move is, in fact, a serious error, 17...h5! though 'positionally bad', allows Black to keep real chances after 18.e3 xe5 19.fxe5 xg2 20.xg2 b7 as th e b6 -knight is trappe d, p lay migh t continue: 21.d4 a3 22.c2 d6! with equal chances. ] 18.a3 xg2 19.xg2 b7 20.bxd7! xd7 21.axb4 b8? [ T h i s l o s e s t o a n e a t t a c t i c , 21...xe5 had to be tried , a lth ough a f te r 22.xd8+ xd8 23.xe5 White is certainly to be preferred. ] 22.xd8+ xd8 23.cxb5 f6 24.c8+ h7 25.xb8! Avoiding a technical endgame, the p a s s e d p a w n s a r e u n s t o p p a b l e . xb8 26.bxa6 [ 26.bxa6 a8 27.b5 followed by Bd4, and then a7, and b6, etc. ] 1-0
Hedgehog. ] 7...e7 8.b2 0-0 9.e3 White thereby definitively rejects the transposition into a Hedgehog, and prefers a Reti position, where . ..a6 may not be too useful. d5 10.cxd5!? [ White desires an ending with a slight initiative. 10.d3 would keep the tension, e.g. bd7 11.e2 c7 12.ac1 c6 13.e4 d4 14.d5!? exd5 15.cxd5 b7 16.xd4 wit h goo d co mp e n sa tio n f or t h e p ie c e , Plaskett,J-Short,N/Banjaluka 1985. ] 10...xd5 11.xd5 [ It appears for all the world like White is pursuing an exchanging strategy, aiming for a quick draw. 11.d4 is similar, d7 12.e2 xc3 13.xc3 a7!? 14.fd1 a8 15.ac1 which seems fairly level, Jirovsky,MAtlas, V/Germany 1997. ] 11...xd5 12.e2!? [ A reasonable innovation, connecting the rooks, and preparing to advance the epawn. 12.d4 had been seen before, d7 13.c1 b8!? 14.e5!? ( more ambitious than 14.dxc5 xc5 1/2-1/2 Horvath,CZhidkov,V/Sverdlovsk 1989.) 14...xg2!? ( 14...xe5 15.xd5 exd5 16.dxe5 seems safe enough for Black) 15.xd7 b7 16.dxc5! bxc5 ( 16...xf1? i s a m i s t a k e , 17.c6 c7 18.e5 with a clear plus) 17.g4 g6 18.f6+!? ( 18.xf8 is slightly better for White, without risk ) 18...xf6 19.xf6 xf1 20.e4 e5! 21.xf1 and although the attack triumphed, it is difficult to believe that White really has enough for the exchange here, Biebinger,GWerner,M/BL9091 1991. ] 1296 A30 12...f6 [ Off ering further simplif ication, 12...d7 Rustemov,Alexander 2573 doesn't solve Black's problems either: 13.d4 Bunzmann,Dimitrij 2596 cxd4 14.e4 b7 15.xd4 with a useful Bundesliga 1999-2000 (4) 07.11.1999 space advantage. ] [Tony Kosten] 13.d4 cxd4 14.e4! Instigating interesting 1.f3 e6 2.g3 b6 3.g2 b7 4.0-0 f6 complications that retain a tiny edge for White. 5.c4 c5 6.c3 By a roundabout route we d3 [ Better than 14...b7 15.e5 d3 16.e3 have reached a typical English position. a6 e7 17.ad1 ] [ Inviting transposition into a Hedgehog, 6...c6 is another possibility, intending to 15.xd3 xb2 16.ad1 The clever point of answer 7.d4 with xd4 8.xd4 xg2 White's play, recuperating the piece. f6?! [ A little careless, 16...a7! would have equalizing. ] avoide d many of th e coming pro blems , 7.b3 17.exd5 exd5 18.h3 ( 18.xd5?? [ 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 leads to a main-line 1295
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 l o s e s o n t h e s p o t , t o d7 ) 18...c6 19.xd5 and, having developed his knight, Black should be fine. ] 17.exd5 exd5 18.xd5 a7 19.e5 It would seem that this position should be e q u a l - a l l t h e c e n t r a l p a wn s h a ve b e e n exchanged, and there are opposite-coloured b is h o p s , ye t W h i t e m a n a ge s t o k e e p a n nagging edge. c8 [ 19...xd5 20.xd5 c7 is not so simple, as Black cannot develop his knight without exchanging his bishop. ] 20.c4 d7 21.a8 An unusual square for the white queen in the middlegame. xd1 22.xd1 d8 Carefully forcing further e xc h a n ge s . 23.xd8+ xd8 24.b7 b5 25.e3 e5 26.d5 c7 27.a8 g6 28.g2 g7 29.f3 Edging the king closer to the centre is often useful when the endgame approaches. d6 Defending the apawn so as to free the knight from this duty. 30.b7 d7 31.c2 Black has played well, a n d i t s e e m s t h a t a d r a w i s l i k e l y . c3 32.e2 f6 33.c6 xc6 34.xc6 e6?! [ Sloppy play, as a question of principle Black should keep his king of f the light squares when his opponent has a lightsqu are d b ish op . 34...e7 is quite equal, 35.b7 c5 36.c8 d8 and the bishop must give way. ] 35.b7 a5?! [ Losing a pawn, 35...b8 was required. ] 36.c8?! [ White plans to play an ending with a superior k night aga inst the b ishop , bu t 36.a3 b4 37.c4 simply wins a pawn. ] 36...d6 37.d3 g7 38.xd7 xd7 39.d4 xd4 [ I suppose the king and pawn ending is drawn, but Black has to be careful, 39...b4 40.c2 f6 41.e3 d8 42.c4 f5 43.d4 is also a little awkward. ] 40.xd4 d6 The white king is slightly more advanced, can this really be sufficient to win? 41.a3 f6 42.g4! c6 43.h4 d6 44.g5 fxg5 45.hxg5 e6?! [ Simplest is 45...b4! when 46.axb4 ( 46.a4 e6 47.e4 d6 ) 46...axb4 47.c4 e5 48.xb4 f4 49.c5 xg5 50.b4 h5 is fine for Black, he will queen a move after White. ]
46.e4 d6?? [ I t w a s t h e l a s t c h a n c e f o r 46...b4! , the point being that when the white king goes for the b-pawn, and the black king for the g-pawn, if the white pawn is on b4 it will be a crucial one step closer the queening square. ] 47.b4! axb4 48.axb4 e6 49.f4 d6 50.d4 e6 51.c5 [ 51.c5 Black's h-pawn is too slow after f5 52.xb5 xf4 53.c6 xg5 54.b5 h5 55.b6 h4 56.b7 h3 57.b8 ] 1-0
1297 Salgado Lopez,Ivan Karjakin,Sergey 18th European Teams (7.6) [John Bartholomew]
A30 2621 2763 09.11.2011
1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 a6 12.b3 0-0 13.h4 This is considered the absolute main line of the Double Fianchetto. [ See the archives for earlier alternatives, i.e. 13.d2!? Ivanchuk, V (2729)-Aronian, L(2752)/ Morelia/Linares 2006/[John Watson]. ] 13...c7 Black's typical maneuver, preparing to swing the queen over to a8/b8 and double rooks on the c-file. 14.h3 b8 [ 14...a8? is an instructive mistake: 15.xd7! xd7 16.a4 xf3?! 17.xb6 b7 18.exf3 Anand, V (2764)-Gomez Esteban, J (2463)/ Santurtzi 2003/[TonyK]. ] 15.h6 Exchanging bishops and enabling Nf3g5 is certainly a key idea. [ However, White may want to have a second look at 15.g4 e6 Aronian, L (2724)-Kramnik, V (2744)/Saint Vincent 2005/[John Watson]. ] 15...b5! This thematic advance appears to be the cleanest equalizer. [ 15...d8 16.g5 f8 Topalov, V (2801)G risch u k, A (2 7 1 7 ) / Mo n t e Ca rlo 2 0 0 6 . 17.e4!? ] [ Three GM-level games have proceeded 15...xh6 16.xh6 xf3 17.exf3 b5 18.xd7 xd7 , when White has a small 1296
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 edge: 19.d4 ( 19.d5 xd5 20.cxd5 c8 21.e3 dc7= Paunovic, D (2532)Cruz, C (2534)/Elgoibar ESP 2008. ) A) 19...b4 20.d5 xd5 21.cxd5 e5 22.dxe6 fxe6 23.d2! a5?! ( 23...xf3 24.xb4 ) 24.c6 Werle, J (2514)Sasikiran, K (2670)/La Roche sur Yon 2006.; B) 19...bxc4!? is probably best here.; C) 19...e6 20.f4 h5 21.h4 d5 22.cxd5 exd5 23.e2 Topalov, V (2757)Van Wely, L (2679)/Monte Carlo 2005. ] 16.xg7 White has tried other moves without success. [ 16.d5?! xd5 17.cxd5 f6 18.xg7 xg7 19.e4 c8! 20.xc8 fxc8 21.xc7 xc7 22.d4 c3 Jirovsky, M (2457)Hracek, Z (2601)/ Luhacovice 2003. ] [ 16.cxb5 xh6! 17.xh6 axb5 18.g5?! c8! Suddenly, White's pieces lack c o o r d i n a t i o n . 19.d5? xd5 20.xc7 xc7 21.xd5 c1+ 22.f1 ( 22.g2 c6-+ ) 22...a8 23.xb5 xa2 24.xf7 c6 25.g5 xb5-+ Kosten, A (2527)Babula, V (2566)/Austria 2005. ] [ 16.g5?! bxc4 17.bxc4 e5! 18.d5 xd5 19.cxd5 xc1 20.xc1 b2 Van Hoolandt, P (2237) -Estremera Panos, S (2341)/Genova 2004. ] 16...xg7 17.d5?! White should settle for equality now. [ For instance, 17.xd7 xd7 18.cxb5 axb5 ( 18...c8!? 19.bxa6 xa6 ) 19.b4 xf3 ( 19...c8!? ) 20.exf3 a8= ] 17...xd5 [ or 17...xd5 ] 18.cxd5 xc1 19.xc1 c8 20.c6 [ 20.d1 is somewhat tougher. ] 20...b7 21.xc8?! [ 21.xd7 xd7 22.xa6 b7 23.c6 xc6 24.dxc6 xc6 ] 21...xc8 Taking stock, we see that White has clear weaknesses on a2, d5, and e2, wh i l e h is r e m a in i n g p i e c e s a r e h u d d l e d uselessly on the kingside. Meanwhile, Black has a compact structure and threatens to invade down the c-file. Black has a clear advantage. 22.g5 c2 23.xd7 xe2! A nice resource. 24.g4 h5! White must return the piece. Unfortunately for him, the numerous pawn weaknesses remain. 25.xh5
xh5 26.h4?! Grasping at straws. f6 27.f5+ g8 28.e3 White admits that his m i n i k n i g h t t o u r w a s f o r n a u g h t . xa2-+ Now it's simple. 29.h4 xb3 30.h5 b1+ 31.h2 b2 32.hxg6 [ or 32.g2 xf2+! 33.xf2 e4+-+ ] 32...xf2+ 33.h1 f3+ 34.g1 e4 A flawless display from Karjakin. 15...b5! appears fully viable and will probably force White to abandon the position after 15.Bh6. 0-1
1298 Sargissian,Gabriel Pantsulaia,Levan Aeroflot Open (1) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2618 2501 17.02.2004
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 a6 7.e1 d6 8.e4 bd7 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 11.e3 e7 12.c1 0-0 13.f4 ac8!? I have covered a number of moves involving the black king's rook in this position, but this is the first time I have looked at a move with the other rook. The idea is to keep the other rook on the k i n g s i d e t o h e l p t h e d e f e n c e . 14.g4 As is often the case in this line, White uses his extra space to mount a kingside pawn storm, while Black relies on his solid structure and hopes that W hite will overstretch. c5 Attacking e4. 15.f2 g6 This prepares the h5square for the knight in case of g5. 16.f5 [ 16.g5 fares less well, h5 17.b4 d7 18.g4 ( 18.e3 d8 19.h3 g7 Black fortifies e6, and inhibits the f5-thrust Skomorokhin,R-Voitsekhovsky,S/ Kstovo 1998 ) 18...fe8 ( 18...d8!? is again a good move ) 19.h3 f8 with chances to both side, Lex, C-Becker,M/Landau 1988. ] 16...exf5 Black cannot allow White to continue with g5 and f6, so must capture, but [ 16...gxf5!? i s a l s o p o s s i b l e : 17.gxf5 ( 17.exf5 xg2 18.xg2 b7+ 19.g1 fe4 is OK for Black) 17...e5 18.c2 h8 19.h1 g8 Black is first to exploit the open g-file, 20.f3 d7 ( 20...b5 21.d5?! xd5 1/2-1/2 Epishin,V-Marin,M/Koszalin 1999, but Black is better here!) 21.e2 a4 22.b4 xc3 23.xc3 b5 White's hold on 1297
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d5 doesn't amount to much, indeed his light-squared bishop has little future at the moment, Petrosian, A-Yegiazarian,A/ Yerevan 1996. ] 17.exf5 Actually a novelty, although it looks somewhat more logical than [ 17.d5?! when xd5 18.cxd5 xg4 19.g3 ( 19.b4? xf2 20.xf2 h4+ i s v e r y g o o d f o r B l a c k) 19...d7 ( 19...g5!? ) 20.exf5 e5 21.c3 f6 B la c k 's m in o r p ie c e s h a ve f o u n d go o d squares, Navrotescu,C-Zetocha,C/ROM-ch 1992. ] 17...xg2 18.xg2 b7+ 19.f3!? A re a l e x c h a n ge sa cr if ic e f o r p o si t i o n a l compensation. [ 19.g1 is a good alternative, though: fe4 20.d5 g5 21.e3 xe3+ 22.xe3 b5!? with some counterplay, although I would prefer to have the white pieces. ] 19...xf3+ 20.xf3 d3 Black must accept, as [ 20...d8?! 21.cd1 leaves White with the better structure and more active pieces. ] 21.xe7 xc1 22.h4 e8 23.b3 This is the position White was aiming for, he has a rook on the seventh, good squares for his knights, and a strong dark-squared bishop b u t i s i t e n o u g h f o r t h e e x c h a n g e ? b5 Black looks for counterplay on the c-file, but he could also have tried [ 23...d3 to return the knight to play on e5. ] 24.d5 Planning tactics based on rook moves and then Ne7+. bxc4 25.b7?! White could have reached a fairly equal position by playing [ 25.e1! hitting the knight and menacing a f o r k o n e 7 , cxb3! 26.xb3 ( 26.e7+? h8 27.xc8 b2 wins! ) 26...xb3 27.e7+ g7 28.xc8 ] 25...h8?! Black could have gained some advantage by [ 25...c5 26.bxc4 xc4 27.e3 c5 ] 26.e7 g8 Taking the pawn by [ 26...cxb3 27.axb3 and then g8 is far from clear after 28.f6 ] 27.b6 c5 28.xc4 d3 29.f6 White tries to entomb the g8-rook. h5 30.h3 Now Black's kingside pieces seem to be very awkwardly placed, but he conjures some sharp tactics with his remaining bits. d5!?
31.xc5 [ 31.e3 e5+ 32.f4 d3+ could lead to a draw. ] 31...xc5 Both the c4-knight and the rook are attacked. 32.e5 The best move, as [ 32.xf7 is met by dxc4 33.bxc4 e4! ] 32...hxg4+ 33.hxg4 xb7 Black is a rook up, but W hite can force a perpetual check with only one knight! 34.xf7+ h7 35.g5+ h6 36.f7+ h7 37.g5+ h6 38.f7!? White decides to play for a win. h8 39.ge6 The f-pawn will queen, but then material will be level. The last few moves of the game were incorrectly noted so I will stop here! ½-½
1299 Schebler,Gerhard Rotstein,Arkadij 12th Sueder Summer (5) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2485 2499 08.08.2001
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.b3 [ This move is not the most effective against the double-fianchetto line, the normal 6.c3 g7 7.d4 was examined in Filippov,VNikolic,P. ] 6...g7 7.b2 0-0 8.c3 a6 This is the best move here, as Black wants to keep the b7-bishop's diagonal unobscured. 9.d4 cxd4 [ Actually, the main line is considered to be 9...d5 10.e5 e6 with chances to both sides, but the text is very playable. ] 10.xd4 [ For once in these Hedgehog-style positions, 10.xd4 may be best, xg2 11.xg2 c5 and now Larsen suggests 12.f3! planning e4, Qd2, and then bringing the rooks to the central files. ] 10...c5!? [ T h e k n i g h t c o m e s i n t o p l a y , 10...e4 11.e3 leads nowhere special. ] 11.fd1?! [ White overlooks the threats along the a1-h8 diagonal, 11.d2 is more prudent, c8 12.ad1 a6 13.a1 d6 White has more space, but that is all, Yanofsky,DGheorghiu,F/Lone Pine 1975. ] 11...d5! 1298
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ T h i s m u s t h a v e b e e n a s h o c k ! 11...d6 the fact that W hite has already placed his had been played previously, 12.ac1 a6 bishop on the h1-a8 diagonal mean Black will 13.d5 b5 14.h4 with advantage to always have problems: White, Bruk,O-Mashian,Y/Tel Aviv 1994. ] [ 4...a6 5.0-0 b6!? is perhaps the best bet, 12.e5 ( or 5...e7 6.c3 d6 7.d4 say with a [ Forced, putting the queen on e3 is now clear White plus) 6.d4 cxd4 ( 6...b7 7.d5 impossible, and 12.d2? drops a piece to exd5 8.h4 g6 9.c3 etc. ) 7.xd4 the fork xc3 13.xc3 e4 ] Black can still try to achieve his desired 12...xc3 13.xc3? f o r m a t i o n , a7 8.c3 b7 9.e4 [ But only this move is losing, the bishop is Black has had to place his queen's rook on saf er on c3 than b2, so 13.xc3 xg2 a7, and will probably have to waste further 14.xg2 c7 15.e3 d6 and now 16.f3 time returning it to a useful post. ] is equal. ] [ 4...c6 (to cut the route from g2 to the 13...xg2 14.xg2 c7! rook on a8) 5.0-0 b6?! 6.d4 [ 14...d6 15.e3 is nothing as the d-pawn is A) 6...b7!? was a recent try, but the pinned. ] problem with not capturing on d4 is always 15.e3 Now ...d6 really was a threat. d6 that White will push his d-pawn and obtain 16.d3 This is why the bishop should have a favourable Benoni-style position: 7.d5 gone to c3. xd3 17.xg7 Obviously forced, ( 7.f4!? ) 7...a5 Black's idea, both d5 but now Black has a 'desperado knight': xf2! and its support are attacked ( 7...exd5?! 18.xf8 8.cxd5 e7 9.e4! xe4?! 10.e1 [ 18.xf2 xg7 wins a good pawn. ] leads to a quick kill) 8.e1!? ( 8.e4!? 18...xd1 19.xe7? xe4 9.e5 is a sharp alternative) [ White tries to justify his play, but only sinks 8...b5!? ( 8...xc4 9.dxe6 xg2 10.exf7+ f u r t h e r i n t o t h e m i r e ! 19.xd1 xf8 xf7 is playable for Black) 9.b3 b6?! is objectively forced, although it is probably ( 9...bxc4!? ) 10.a3 a6 11.e4 lost. ] an d W h it e h a s re in f o rce d h is c e n t re , 19...c6+ 20.g1 c5+ 21.e3 Any king Gutman,L-Chandler,P/ Kassel 1998.; move would allow the knight to escape with B) 6...cxd4 7.xd4 b7 8.c3 c5 check. xe3 22.xd6 xf8 9.db5 White is better, because of the 0-1 weak black dark squares, 0-0 10.g5 a5 11.b3 a6 12.d6 xg2 13.xg2 c7 14.xf6 xd6 15.e4 c5 16.d2! 1300 A30 h6 17.fd1 c6 18.f3 d5 19.cxd5 exd5 20.xc5 xc5 21.b4 and White soon Seirawan,Yasser 2595 won, Tal,M-Vitolinsh,A/Riga 1981. ] Ftacnik,Lubomir 2540 op New York 1987 5.e5 [ 5.d4 is also good. ] [Tony Kosten] 5...d5 Obviously forced. 6.cxd5 xd5 [ 6...exd5 7.a4+ bd7 8.d4!? ( 8.c6 If W hite plays g3 on his second move, can c7 9.c3 b7 10.xd5 xd5 11.xd5 Black find a way to play a Hedgehog? 1.c4 c5 is also feasible) 8...c7?! ( 8...cxd4 ) 9.f4 [ 1...b6 at least puts paid to White's thoughts b5?! 10.xb5 b8? 11.xd7 xf4?? of g3, but allows 2.d4 amongst others. ] 1-0 Wegerer,F-Roeder,M/Graz 1997. ] 2.g3 f6 3.g2 e6 Black is still playing moves that would be useful in a mainline 7.c3! b7 8.a4+ This forces the win of a Hedgehog. 4.f3 This is best, because if pawn. d7 9.xd5 xd5 [ Not 9...exd5? 10.h3 c8 11.c6 b8 Black plays ...d5 W hite must be ready to 12.xf7! ] capture on d5 and immediately follow with d4, 10.xd5 exd5 11.c6 The threats are Nxd7 [ 4.c3?! d5 ] 4...b6? Black insists ! He can try to fianchetto and Qxd5. e7 12.xd7 c8 13.f6+ f8 his queen's bishop by other means, too, but 14.d7+ e8 15.f6+ f8 16.xd5 xf6 1299
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.xd8+ xd8 Black has no compensation for the pawn, and will lose. 18.b1 g5 19.b3 g7 20.b2 Strong players like an easy life: W hite exchanges pieces to assure the win without allowing his opponent any glimmer of a chance. xb2 21.xb2 he8 22.e3 e6 23.e2 ed6 24.h4 g4 25.c1 h5 26.a3 a5 27.b4! This deflects the c-pawn, and opens a route for the e and d-pawns. cxb4 28.axb4 a8 29.bxa5 bxa5 30.c5 h6 31.g5+ f8 32.gb5 g7 33.d4 a4 The passed a-pawn is easily handled. 34.d3 a7 35.a2 h8 36.c4 g6 37.b4 ha8 38.a3 Blockade! c7 39.g5+ f6 40.xh5 b8 41.b2 c3+ 42.a2 bb3 43.xb3 axb3+ 44.a3 c2 45.e4! Indirectly protecting the f-pawn. xf2 46.f5+ xf5 47.exf5 xf5 48.h5 1-0
1301 Shushpanov,Rustam Korniushin,Nikolay 6th Leg Russian Cup (6) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2370 2470 05.07.2001
1.c4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.e1 0-0 [ 7...d6 first, gives more options. ] 8.e4 d6 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c8 Not the ideal square for the queen, but the bishop had to be defended. 11.b3 a6 12.b2 bd7 13.g4!? [ An exciting move in a well-known position. Previously White had preferred 13.e2 e8 14.ac1 Csom,I-Zsinka,L/HUN 1993, or ] [ 13.f4 i.e. d8 14.f5 e5 15.c2 b5 16.e3 bxc4 17.xc4 b6! 18.xb6 c5+ 19.h1 xb6 Black is fine, Ree,HBlees,A/NLD-ch 1990. ] 13...g6!? [ Black prepares the h5-square for the knight, but perhaps 13...h6 was safer. ] 14.h3 c5 15.f4 The white kingside pawns sweep forward. e5! Black's best bet. 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.d5! Without this White might even be worse. xd5 18.exd5 d6 19.c6 e4?? [ A strange decision, opening the a1-h8 diagonal. 19...xc6 20.dxc6 d8 21.d5
is better for White, but playable. ] 20.d4 f6 21.f1 xc6 [ This loses. Perhaps Black had counted-on 21...d3 22.xf6! c5 which seems to win the queen, but W hite wins easily by 23.e7+! xe7 24.xf8+ xf8 25.h8+ f7 26.f1+ ] 22.xf6 1-0
1302 Steingrimsson,Hedinn Varga,Zoltan 1st GM Scanno ITA (4) [John Watson]
A30 2435 2525 09.11.2005
A rock-'em-sock-'em game. In the opening, the key idea is ...h5, which appears in more and more English Opening games. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 Many players are turning to this order, in part to play 3.Nc3 e5!? 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.b5!? Not even listed in Hansen's Symmetrical English, this seems too slow to be any good, although similar lines are played in other variations of the English. d6 [ 5...d5?! 6.cxd5 exd5 7.xd5 may not give Black enough compensation because the b1 knight is a good defender. ] [ The alternative of most interest is 5...f6 6.f4 ( 6.d6+?! xd6 7.xd6 e4; 6.1c3 is a main line transposition to 2...Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 e6 6.N4b5.) 6...e5 7.g5 c5!? ] 6.g3 [ After 6.f4 , my random analysis goes e5 7.g5!? f6 ( 7...xg5!? 8.c7+ d7 9.xa8 b6 10.c3 b7 11.xb6+ axb6 12.d5 is awkward if not at all clear) 8.d2 f5 9.g5 e7!? 10.xe7 xe7 11.1c3 f6 12.e3 e6= ] 6...a6 7.5c3 e7!? Plotting Black's next. [ 7...f6 8.g2 e7 would be normal. ] 8.g2 h5!? Wonderful! There's a lot of this sort of thing going around. 9.f4 [ Black has gained more than White after 9.h4 f6 since his knight has the handy g4 square available. ] 9...h4 10.0-0?! This doesn't work out. [ 10.d2 h3!? ( 10...f6 ) 11.f3 and now 1300
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e5!? is one idea of many, although naturally Black need not commit himself. ] 10...hxg3 11.hxg3 f6 12.e1!? g4! Thus ...h5-h4 is justified. I like Black already. 13.c5!? d5 [ Or 13...e5 14.cxd6 ( 14.c1 e6 ) 14...exf4 15.dxe7 xe7 16.d5 fxg3! 17.xe7 gxf2+ 18.f1 e3+ 19.xf2 xd1+ 20.xd1 xe7 ] 14.e4!? xf2!? [ A clever and well-calculated move. But clearer was 14...d4! 15.xg4 e5 16.e2 exf4 17.d5 fxg3 18.xe7 gxf2+ 19.xf2 xe7 ] 15.xf2 xc5+ 16.f1 d4 17.a4 [ 17.d5 was better. ] 17...a7 (with the dual ideas ...e5 and ...b5) 18.e5 [ 18.g4 ] 18...d7 [ 18...g5! 19.c1 xe5 ] 19.a3 g5! Beginning a long combination. 20.d2 xe5 21.xe5 f6+ 22.f3 xe5 23.xb7 c8?! [ 23...f6+ 24.e1 0-0 25.xd7 d3 ] 24.xa7 xa4 25.e1 [ 25.xa6! was the best try. ] 25...xg3 26.xd4 h4! 27.g7 g4 W hite is run around the block and finally succumbs. [ Or 27...d3+ 28.e2 d1 ] 28.e2 c5 29.g8+ e7 30.a8 f5+ 31.g1 h4 32.b7+ d7 33.b4+ f6 34.c3+ g6 35.e5 xe5 36.xe5 xe5 0-1
just transpose to the main line. ] 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 [ This is considered quite harmless, but White has a specific idea in mind. In ECO, the recommended line against Black's move order is 8.xd4 a6 9.e3 bd7 10.d2 xg2 11.xg2 c7 12.de4 e7 13.fd1 0-0 14.xd6 fd8 15.b4 a5 16.bxa5 A) 16...e5 17.d2 c5 18.cb5 c6+ 19.g1 xd6 20.xd6 fe4 21.f5 f6 22.b4 xf5 23.axb6 is given as slightly better for W hite by Zeller, but it more looks like it's winning for White, e.g. a6 ( 23...b7 24.xd8+ xd8 25.a4+- ) 24.a3 db8 25.d3+-; B) 16...c5 17.cb5 c6+ 18.f3 xa5 19.f4 Zeller-Wahls, Bundesliga 1998 ] 8...xg2 9.xg2 a6 10.a4+!? (Objectively speaking this shouldn't create any significant problems for Black as his position is perfectly solid and has yet to made a mistake. Nonetheless, there are some elements to this idea that makes it necessary for Black to watch his back) fd7 [ This is probably not Black's best. Two other more obvious choices are: A) 10...d7 A) 11.d1 A1) 11...xa4 12.xa4 bd7 13.e3 h5 14.h3 e7 15.ac1 c8 ( 15...0-0? 16.c6+- ) 16.b3 0-0 17.g5 fe8 18.e3; A2) 11...e7 12.g5 ( 12.f3 0-0 13.xd7 fxd7= ) 12...xa4 13.xa4 fd7 14.xe7 xe7 15.b3= 1/2-1/2 K.Uhlendorf-A.Goehler, Bundesliga 1996; B) 11.g5!? e7 12.f3 xa4 13.xa4 1303 A30 bd7 14.e4 c8 15.b3 0-0 16.ad1 White has more space as is common in Stojanovic,Mihajlo 2588 the Hedgehog, but Black should be okay Arsovic,Zoran 2469 in the long run; 50th TCh-SRB Cup (2) 22.05.2007 C) 11.b3 b7+ 12.f3 ( 12.f3= ) [Carsten Hansen] 12...bd7 13.e3 e7 14.a4 c5 15.a2 0-0 16.b4 cd7 17.b5 e5 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 e6 4.g3 b6 18.f4 fd7 ( 18...g6!? ) 19.e4 fc8 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 d6 ( 19...axb5 20.xb5 c6 21.fd1 [ This move is considered a slightly incorrect c5 ) 20.fc1 c5 21.xc5 xc5 move order, yet is one that Arsovic in our 22.xe5 dxe5 ( 22...xe5!? ) 23.c6 e4= m a i n g a m e h a s e m p l o ye d b e f o re . T h e 24.fxe4 h5 25.b3 f6 26.ab1 h4 normal move is 6...e7 , which prevents the was Z. Spasojevic-S.Maksimovic, Caorle continuation chosen by White in the game. 1989, and now W hite can obtain an It should be said that W hite normally will 1301
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a d v a n t a g e wi t h ( 26...axb5 27.cxb5 ) 27.e5! g5 ( 27...xe5? 28.f3!+- ) 28.f1 ] [ B) 10...bd7 is probably best, e.g. 11.d1 ( 11.e4 c7 12.e3 b7 13.f3 c8= ) 11...c7 12.e3 b7+ 13.f3 c8= ] 11.d1 [ A more critical line is 11.f4!? A) 11...g6!? prevents White's forward march of the f-pawn A1) 12.db5?! c8; A2) 12.e3 e7 ( 12...g7 13.db5 0-0 14.ad1 xc3 15.xc3 c7 16.f3 ) 13.ad1 ( 13.f5!? gxf5 14.h6 c8; 13.f2 c7 14.e4 0-0 15.ac1 b7 16.fe1 c8 17.f3= ) 13...c7 14.g1 b7 15.g4 0-0 ( 15...h5 16.g5 ) 16.f5 gxf5 17.gxf5 ( 17.h6 fxg4 18.xf8 xf8 19.c2 e5 ) 17...h8! , and suddenly White's king is under fire.; A3) 12.e4 g7 13.e3 0-0 14.f5 e7 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.xf8+ xf8 17.f1 g7 18.g1 c5 19.d1 a7 20.d2; B) 11...e7 12.f5 B1) 12...0-0 13.fxe6 c5 14.exf7+ xf7 15.d1 xf1 16.xf1 f6 17.f3 bd7 18.f4 , and White is a pawn up and has the better position.; B2) 12...e5 13.e6 fxe6 14.fxe6 f6 ( 14...b5 15.exd7+ xd7 16.cxb5 axb5 17.xb5 ) 15.exd7+ xd7 16.c6 , and White has a significant advantage.; B3) 12...f6 13.xe6 ( 13.fxe6 xd4 14.xf7 xc3 15.bxc3 b5 16.cxb5 c5 17.f4+- ) 13...fxe6 14.fxe6 0-0 15.exd7 xd7 16.d5 c8 17.e3 xb2 18.xf8+ xf8 19.d1 ] 11...e7 12.db5 0-0 13.e3 c5 14.xc5 bxc5 15.xd6 b6 16.de4 f5 17.d2 xb2 [ Black decides to take his pawn back while he has the chance. Another try is 17...c6!? , e.g. 18.ab1 f6 19.b3 ad8 20.xd8 xd8 21.d1 ( Black is okay after 21.e4 xc3 22.bxc3 e5 23.a5 xa5 24.xa5 fxe4= ) 21...xd1 22.xd1 , and although Black has some compensation for the pawn, it isn't quite
sufficient ] 18.b3 xb3 19.xb3 a7 20.a4 d7 21.a5 c7 22.ab1 [ On the next several moves, White has the option of starting real combat rather than treading water and settling for a draw. The f i r s t c h a n c e i s h e r e : 22.c6!? xc6 23.xd7 f7 24.ad1 , and White has better game a possible continuation is g5 25.f4 g4 26.f2 f8 27.xf7 xf7 28.d7+ g8 29.b7 g7 30.e3 h6 31.e2 h7 32.e4 fxe4 33.e3 g8 34.xe4 , and White retains the better chances in the endgame. ] 22...fc8 23.b3 [ Or 23.c6 f8 24.f4 e8 25.xe7 xe7 26.f3 ] 23...f7 24.b6 [ 24.c6!? f6 25.f4 e8 26.a5 e7 ( 26...f7 27.d6 ) 27.c3 f7 28.e4 g6 29.h3 g8 30.exf5 gxf5 31.c6 f6 32.d6 gc8 33.e2 xc6 34.xd7+ g6 35.bb7 ] 24...d8 25.a4 e8 26.b7 dc8 27.a5 [ For 27.f4!? - see 29 f4 below ] 27...d8 28.b7 [ 28.f4 a8 29.f3 ] 28...dc8 29.a5 [ Now instead of taking the draw as in the game, W hite could give one last go with 29.f4!? a8 ( 29...g6 30.d6+ xd6 31.xd6 c6 32.d1 ) 30.f3 ( 30.d6+ xd6 31.xd6 e7 32.d1 f6 33.db1 e4= ) 30...f6 31.c3 f7 32.e4 d7 33.xd7 xd7 34.h4 h6 35.exf5 exf5 36.d5 ] 29...d8 (The end of a rather strange game White, the significantly higher-rated player, plays a line, which looks harmless and may well be so, provided Black plays standard solid moves. However, Black instead complicates the game, gets a worse position, on ly t o se e W h it e rep ea t th e mo ve s in a better position. Hmm....!) ½-½
1302
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1304 Szabo,Bence Aroshidze,Levan Figueres op 14th (7) [Fier, Alexandr]
A30 2392 2565 16.08.2013
Aroshidze tries to innovate in a position which I c ons ide r d an gerous f o r B la ck. Af ter a n 'automatic' answer from White, Black got an improved version of normal lines. Instead, after 14.f5, I'm not convinced that Black had anything prepared. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 a6 7.e1 d6 8.e4 e7 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 11.e3 0-0 12.c1 e8 sometimes Black tries to delay ...Nbd7 to avoid some Nd5 ideas and keep the queen in contact with the kingside. 13.f4 h5?! [ 13...f8 is the main line and it's good to take a look to understand the differences between this move and 13...h5 14.f5 critical h6 ( 14...bd7 is already bad 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.h3 c5 17.b4 ) 15.f1 e7 ( 15...bd7?! Black can't cut the connection between the queen and the kingside 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.h3! and Black had a lot of problems, as analyzed in Gelfand, B (2720)-Ivanchuk, V (2781)/2nd FIDE GP Sochi RUS 2008.) 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.h3 f7 18.d5!?N I think this idea is very dangerous ( 18.xf6 is the played move xf6 19.g4 is analyzed in Filippov, V (2639)-Shipov, S (2593)/TCh-RUS Sochi RUS 2004, when d7!? can be an option, go in g t o f 6 .) 18...exd5 19.cxd5 xe4 ( 19...h8 is more materialistic but after 20.e6 g6 21.f5 f7 22.e6 the position is much better for White since Rc7 and Bd4 are coming in devastating fashion. ) 20.e6 xe6 21.xe6 bd7 22.c7 and White is slightly better in the complications ] 14.h3 [ 14.f5! here this move is even stronger than against 13...Bf8 A) 14...c8 enters onto the bishop's diagonal, 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.h3 d8 17.d5 the White pieces start to penetrate, g4 18.xg4 hxg4 19.xg4 exd5 20.f5 f6 21.cxd5 d7 22.xb6+- and White is not even material
down; B) 14...f8 15.f1! and we reach the same position of Fillipov - Shipov but with the pawn on h5 instead of h6 B1) 15...bd7 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.h3 g4 18.xg4 hxg4 19.xg4 e5 20.h3 d7 21.f3 and Black has no compensation; B2) 15...e5 16.d5 d8 ( 16...xd5 17.cxd5 b7 18.c6 ) 17.xf6+ xf6 18.f3 threatening 19.Bg5 d8 19.g5 g6 20.xf7 xf7 21.fxg6+ xg6 22.f5 8 with mate in; B3) 15...g4 maybe this was the idea of Aroshidze, but it loses in a beautiful way: 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.h3! xe3 ( 17...d7 18.xg4 hxg4 19.xg4 transposes to 15...Nbd7) 18.xe6+ xe6 19.xf8+! xf8 20.xe6+ e7 21.xc7 xd1 22.xd1+-; C) 14...e5 looks like the best move 15.d5 d8 16.xf6+ xf6 17.e2 g5 ( 17...h4 18.c3 e7 19.d5 d7 20.g4 hxg3 21.hxg3 ) 18.c3 ( 18.xg5?! gives Black enough c o m p e n s a t i o n xg5 19.xd6 c6 with counterplay) 18...h4 19.xg5 xg5 20.xd6 hxg3 21.xb6 gxh2+ 22.h1 c6 23.cd1 and White has the advantage. ] 14...bd7 Now f5 ideas are no longer strong because the bishop can't get to h3. 15.g4 hxg4 16.hxg4 c5 Although it looks strange t h a t B la ck o p e n e d a f il e wh e re W h it e i s attacking, the central counterplay is as quick as the attack. 17.f2 [ 17.g5!? sacrificing a pawn and trying to quickly transf er the pieces would be an interesting choice fxe4 18.xe4 xe4 ( 18...xe4 19.xe4 xe4 20.c2! wi t h o u t t h e b i s h o p o n g 2 t h i s m o v e i s possible g6 21.xe6! fxe6 22.d3 c6 23.d4 with a dangerous position for Black) 19.h5 f8 ( 19...c5 20.b4! d3 21.g6 fxg6 22.xg6 the e6-pawn is hanging) 20.g6 fxg6 21.xg6 f6 22.f2 e5 with chances to both sides ] 17...d5 Just in time. 18.e5 [ 18.exd5 leaves White's position too open xf4 19.e3 xg4 ] 18...fe4 19.xe4 1303
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 19.e3 is a hard move for a human to play, [ This move is quite rare, but eventually it since the bishop was there just 2 moves ago, turn out to transpose to a more popular line but still things are not so clear afterwards, that usually arises after 10 Bg5. The main xc3 20.xc3 dxc4 21.xc4 ad8 continuations are: A) 10.g5 ] with a more comfortable position for Black, [ B) 10.g5 ] but still playable for White. ] [ C) 10.b3 as can be found in the 19...dxe4! The knight is looking at d3, not e4 Chesspublishing.com archives the games in 20.f1 ad8 All Black's pieces are already in question can be also be located via the PDF the game. Meanwhile W hite is a long way e-books. ] f r o m s t a r t i n g a n a t t a c k . 21.c3 g5! [ D) 10.e4 is also seen from time to time, but Opening the center and making space for the isn't considered particularly dangerous for king. 22.c1 g7 23.b4 d3 Black ] [ 23...h8! was even stronger 24.bxc5 e3 10...bd7 11.d2 0-0 12.f4 e8! 25.xe3 h1+ 26.f2 gxf4 27.xf4 xd4 [ According to Wahls in ChessBase 28.g2 xc5 with mate or huge material Magazine, this move equalises smoothly for losses for White. ] Black. Another try is 12...d5?! 13.cxd5 24.xd3 exd3 25.xd3 h8 26.f1 h1+ xd5 14.xd5 exd5 ( 14...xd5 15.e4 27.e2 h2 28.e3 dh8 c6 16.d4 b7 17.xe6+- ) 15.e5 [ 28...xc4 was another way to win 29.f5 ( 15.ac1!? c5 16.b4 e4 17.b2 xa2+ 30.d2 xd2+ 31.xd2 h7!-+ - Wahls ) 15...f6 16.ac1 c8 17.xc8 ( not 31...xb4? 32.xe6+ fxe6 xc8 18.c1 e6 19.c7 a8 33.xd8= )] Wojtkiewicz, A-Yermolinsky, A, New York op 29.f5 8h3 30.xh3 1991 ] [ 30.f6+ does not change anything g6 13.ac1 31.xh3 xh3 32.xh3 xc4+ 33.d1 [ 13.g5 xg2 14.xg2 c8 15.b3 c6 xb4-+ ] 16.ac1 h6 17.f3 a8 18.g1 30...xh3 31.xh3 xc4+ 32.d1 xb4 1/2, Yermolinsky, A-Adams, M/FIDE WCh/ 33.fxe6 fxe6 34.e2 c5 2000/ ] 0-1 13...c7 [ This move too gets an exclamation mark from W ahls, despite it being a perfectly 1305 A30 normal move in this position. Black has tried a couple of other things at this juncture: A) Tkachiev,Vladislav 2661 13...c8 14.b3 Lie,Kjetil A 2563 A) 14...c7 15.g5!? ( 15.e3 b8 ETCC Crete GRE (4) 31.10.2007 16.d3 h6 17.d4 xg2 18.xg2 ef6 [Carsten Hansen] 19.f3 b7 , and Black has solved his opening problems satisfactorily, Bany, J1.f3 c5 2.c4 e6 3.c3 f6 4.g3 b6 D o l m a t o v , S / P o l a n i c a Z d r o j 1 9 8 7) 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 15...xg2 16.xg2 a8+ 17.g1 df6 [ For this being the most common move in 18.d3 b7 19.ge4 d7 20.f3 h8 this position , it has been rath er u nder( 20...xe4 21.xe4 ) 21.d3 represented in these updates over the years, ( 21.xf6!? xf3 22.xd7 c6 23.xf8 but then again, there are enough top games xf8 is another option for White, but being played with the Hedgehog to provide Chuchelov clearly saw this and weighed you with 8-10 top games with this opening his move to be) 21...b5?! ( 21...xe4 alone in each update! The other main move 22.xe4 xe4 23.xe4 ) 22.xf6 gxf6 in this pos it ion is 7.e1 which we have 23.cxb5 axb5 24.e4 , and White is clearly already discussed with two games this year, better thanks to his better coordinated Carlsen-Aronian, Elista 2007 and Topalovpieces and better pawn structure, Carlsen, Morelia/Linares 2007. ] Chuchelov, V-W ukits, R/Rethymnon 7...cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 a6 10.e3!? 1304
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2003; B) 14...h6 15.e4 c7 16.h4 b8 17.g4!? ( 17.e2 has been suggested as an improvement for White, but I don't see the specific reason why this should be better than 17 g4, as Black now can play ef6 , and start thinking about reaching a n o r m a l s e t -u p , wi t h o u t W h i t e h a vi n g accomplished anything special) 17...c5 ( 17...e5?! 18.g5 hxg5 19.hxg5 g6 20.h2 c6 21.e3 , and despite White clearly having the better chances at this stage, the players agreed upon a draw, 1/ 2-1/2 Takacs, B-Ionescu, C/Predeal1988) 18.e5 Georgiev, Ki-Sokolov, A/Leningrad 1987; C) 14...c5 Black has two alternatives: 15.g5 xg2 16.xg2 h6 17.ge4 xe4 ( 17...b7!? was played in Ivanchuk, V-Nisipeanu, L/Warsaw 2005 was covered by John Watson in the July 2005 update) 18.xe4 c6 19.f3 c8 20.g4 ( 20.a4!? f5 21.f2 ) 20...b5 21.cxb5 axb5 22.a5 xc1 23.xc1 b7 24.e3 f5 25.gxf5 xf5 26.b6 xb6 27.xb6 b4 is about even, Beckhuis, G-Schulze, U/ Germany 2001 ] [ B) 13...df6?! (the purpose behind this move doesn't strike me as obvious, but it does misplace the knight, and leaves the knight on e8 without a good square) 14.b3 c7 15.h3 d8 16.e3 h5 17.g5 xg5 18.xg5 xg2 19.xg2 hf6 20.ge4 xe4 21.xe4 f6? ( What is this, Black completely exposes his king for the sake of exchanging a pair of knights. 21...b7 is better, although 22.h2 d5 23.cxd5 xd5 24.xd5 exd5 25.d2 leaves White with the kind of advantage Wojtkiewicz ruthlessly exploited in his heydays.) 22.xf6+ gxf6 23.d4+h8 24.h6 g8 25.xf6+ g7 26.g4 dg8 27.d1 d8 28.xd8 xd8 29.gd4 1-0 Wojtkiewicz, A-De Haan, E/Soest 1996 ] 14.e3!?N [ This is the first new move in the game. It seems a bit awkward, but at the same time it contains a clever little idea, which Black doesn't properly react to. Previously White has tried: A) 14.e4 A) 14...c8 15.b3 e5!? 16.e2
( 16.g5!? xg5 17.xg5 d8 18.d4 doesn't look like much for White, but the exchange of the dark-squared bishops makes the d6-pawn permanently soft, and therefore it's difficult for Black to find a good set-up that where both the d6- and b6-pawns are well-guarded and at the same time maintain a threat of playing the classic pawn-breaks ..b6-b5 and ...d6-d5.) 16...f6 17.d4 fe8 18.h3 b8 19.e3 f8 20.e1 ed7= Wojtkiewicz, A-Adianto, U/Las Vegas 2000; B) 14...d8 15.e2 ( 15.e1 ef6 16.b3 fe8 17.h3 b8 18.e2 h5 19.e3 hf6 20.f4 h5 21.e3 hf6 22.f4 , and after the repetition of the moves, the players agreed upon a draw, 1/ 2-1/2 Huebner, R-Hansen, S/Germany 2001 ) 15...ef6 16.d2 fe8 , thus far Boensch, U-Ftacnik, L/Trnava 1 9 8 8 , a n d h e r e Ft a cn ik re c o m m e n d s 17.b4 , indicating a slight plus for White. ] [ B) 14.b3 A) 14...c8 A1) 15.g5 xg2 16.xg2 df6 ( 16...b7+ 17.f3 c6 18.d3 ef6 19.ce4 h6 20.xf6+ xf6 21.e4 d8 22.xf6+ xf6 ) 17.f3 b8 18.d3 h6 19.ge4 d8 20.xf6+ xf6 21.e4 Spulber, C-Miulescu, G/ Bucharest 1992; A2) 15.e3 This is quite possibly what inspired inspired Tkachiev's play in our main game. A2a) 15...b8 16.d5 d8 17.h3 h8 ( 17...c5 18.c3 a5 (otherwise b3-b4 will follow) 19.g4!? wi t h a s t e a d y i n it i a t i ve f o r W h i t e) 18.g5! b5?? (clearly Black had forgotten his king didn't protect the f7p a w n a n y l o n g e r ) 19.xf7+ 1-0 Gustafsson, J-Prusikin, M/ Pulvermuehle GER 2004; A2b) 15...e5 16.d5 ( 16.h3!? d8 17.g5 xg5 18.xg5 ef6 19.f5 ) 16...xd5 17.cxd5 d8 18.xc8 xc8 19.c1!? ef6 20.g5 b8 21.h3 d8 22.b4 f8 23.c6 Drasko, M-Nestorovic, D/Bar SCG 2006; B) 14...d8 1305
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B1) 15.e1 xg2 16.xg2 b7 ( 16...e5 17.c2 f6 18.e4 c8 19.xe5 dxe5 20.xf6+ xf6 , and Black probably even has the better chances, Paunovic, D-Vera, R/Benidorm 2002 ) B1a) 17.a4 N c5 18.c2 a5!? This is an interesting decision, Black weakens his b5 square permanently and furthermore eliminates any opportunity for him to break with ...b6b5, however, at the same reasoning that the b3-pawn will be a permanent weakness too. B1a1) 19.b5 d5 20.cxd5 xd5 21.e3 xd1+ 22.xd1 f6 is given as equal by Stohl, but 23.c4 d5 24.d6 seems to offer White the slightly better chances; B1a2) Stohl instead recommends 19.e4 f6 20.f3 , claiming a slight edge for W hite on account of his space advantage, but that too seems disputable after d5 B1a21) 21.e5 h5 22.cxd5 exd5 23.e3 f6 ( 23...d4?! 24.xd4 xd4 25.xd4 d8 26.b5 xf3 27.f1 is unsatisfactory for Black) 24.f4 ( 24.g4? fxe5 25.gxh5 d4 i s o n l y d e s i r a b l e f o r B l a c k) 24...fxe5 25.fxe5 e6 26.b5 c5 , and Black is doing rather well; B1a22) 21.cxd5; B1a3) 19.e3 f5! with a complicated position, Ftacnik, L-Adianto, U/San Francisco 1991 S t o h l n o w in d i ca t e s 20.f4 g5 21.xc5 gxf4 22.a3 f7 with an unclear position as White's best option.; B1b) 17.d3 c5 18.f3!? xf3 19.exf3 f6 20.d2 b7 21.e3 d7 22.f4 Gustafsson, J-Ibrahimov, R/ICC INT 2004; B1c) 17.e3 df6 18.f3!? d7 19.xb7 xb7 20.a4 h6 21.f3 Romanishin, O-Brodsky, M/Kherson 1989; B2) 15.e4!? B2a) 15...e5!? 16.d4 f6 17.h3
fe8 18.e3 ed7 19.f4 b8 20.f2 a8 21.e1 c5 22.e2 e5?! ( T h e t h e m a t i c 22...d5! se em s to e qu alise clea nly: 23.cxd5 exd5 24.xd5 xd5 25.exd5 f8 26.c4 b5 27.c2 xd5 , and it is clear that Black has solved his opening problems ) 23.fxe5 dxe5 24.f5 f8 ( 24...d3 25.xe7+ xe7 26.xb6 xc1 27.xc1 dd7 28.d5 is better for W hite) 25.d5 xd5 26.cxd5 , and White has the clearly better chances, Petrov, G-Nestorovic, D/Herceg Novi SCG 2005; B2b) 15...c5 16.e2 f6 17.e5! dxe5 18.xe5 c8 19.c7 d7 20.xc8 xc8 21.e5 leaves White with a strong initiative in the queenless middlegame, Schmidt, WKruszynski, W/ Katowice 1992; B2c) 15...b8 16.e2 ef6 B2c1) 17.d2 has been suggested in ChessBase Magazine, but e5!? appears to equalise,; B2c2) 17.c2 fe8 ( 17...e5!? seems to offer Black good chances for equalising in this line as well) 18.cd2 e5 19.g5 h6 20.xf6 xf6 21.h4 g6 22.f3 Ne st e r, I -Y a re m ko , N/ L viv UK R 2006; B2c3) 17.e1 fe8 18.h3 f8 19.c2 ( 19.g4!? e5 20.g5 fd7 21.h4 leaves White with some initiative, but Black's position is of course solid) 19...h6 20.cd2 e5 21.d3 c8 22.c2 g6 23.e3 b5!? 24.cxb5 axb5 25.xb5 xe4 with a complicated struggle, Musat, A-Stefanov, P/Odorheiu Secuiesc 1993; B3) 15.h4 e5 16.c2 ( 16.g5 xg2 17.xg2 b7+ 18.f3 h6 19.h3 f6 20.a4 g6= Gritsak, O-Kukula, P/ Krakow POL 2006) 16...xf3+ 17.xf3 xf3 18.exf3 h6 19.d3 f6 20.cd1 b5 21.e4 xe4 22.fxe4 bxc4 23.bxc4 c6 with fairly even chances, Gritsak, O-Ftacnik, L/Koszalin 1999; B4) 15.g5 ef6 16.e3 fe8 17.d4 xg2 18.xg2 h6 19.xf6 1306
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xf6 20.e4 e7= Quinn, M-Brittner, S/ Turin ITA 2006; B5) 15.e3 df6 16.h3 a8 ( 16...c5 17.a4 xe3 18.xe3 b5 19.b6 ) 17.d2 b7 ( 17...d7!? ) 18.g2 d7 19.c2 ( 19.e3!? df6 20.h3 ) 19...b8 20.g5!? df6 21.xa8 xa8 22.ge4 h5 23.g5 f6!? ( 23...b7!? ) 24.e3 f5 25.g5 ( 25.g5!? ) 25...b7 26.xe7 xe7 Vojinovic, G-Popov, S/Vrnjacka Banja SCG 2005; B6) 15.c2 ef6 B6a) 16.e4 c5 17.e1 c8 18.cd1 a8 19.h4 b8 ( 19...h5!? ) 20.e2 fe8 21.b4 cd7= 1/2-1/2 Roos, D-Scholz Solis, G/FRA 1989; B6b) 16.a4 c5 17.e1 xg2 18.xg2 cd7 19.f3 e5 ( 19...h5!? 20.e3 f5 21.f2 c5 ) 20.b2 h6 21.e3 b7 22.h3 c8 23.b1 fd8 24.f4 c6 25.h4 e5 26.f2 g5 27.g2 g6 , with a complicated struggle, which W h i t e e ve n t u a l l y w o n , b u t a t t h e present time, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Black's position, Ftacnik, L-Lindberg, B/Hamburg 1999 ] 14...ef6?! [ Black immediately plays a bad move that lets W hite demonstrate the tactical reasoning behind his 14th move. The a l t e r n a t i v e i s 14...df6 15.a4!? e5 16.g5 ] 15.d5! Now White is already clearly better exd5 16.xe7 fe8 17.xd6 xd6 18.xd6 xe2 19.cxd5 xb2 Maybe Black had set his hopes up for this position to be okay for him, but his illusions were quickly squashed 20.e5! e8 21.a3 [ 21.c7!? xe5 22.xe5 xa2 23.d6 is even more convincing ] 21...xa2 22.xd7 xa3 23.xb6 d8 24.d6 b3 25.xb7 xb6 26.d7 d6 [ On 26...xb7 White wins easily with 27.c8 bxd7 28.xd8 xd1+ 29.xd1 f8 30.d7 g6 31.a7 , and with the a-pawn gone, Black will need a miracle to hold his endgame. ] 27.c6 f5 28.e1 f8 29.e8 b8
30.xb8 xb8 31.b7 1-0
1306 Tomashevsky,Evgeny Alekseev,Evgeny ch-RUS Moscow RUS (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A30 2646 2715 06.10.2008
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.g3 [ T h e i m m e d i a t e 5.b5 was covered in Steingrimsson-Varga, Scanno 2005, which can be found in the PGN archives, but a more recent game saw d6 6.f4 ( 6.g3 was Steingrimsson's choice, whereas; 6.e4 takes us to a Taimanov Sicilian - 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nc6 5 Nb5 d6 6 c4. ) 6...e5 A) An untried idea is the provocative 7.g5!? , and now xg5 is probably best ( or 7...f6 8.c1 g4 9.h3 e6 10.e4 g6 with an interesting game) 8.c7+ d7 9.xa8 b6 10.c3 b7 11.xb6+ axb6 12.e3 with a complicated position, where Black appears to be doing okay, e.g. f6 A1) 13.h4!? f5 14.d3 e4 15.e2 c5 ( 15...e5 16.d4 is fine for White ) 16.0-0 e7; A2) 13.b3 e7 14.c5!? ( 14.xb6 b8 is too dangerous for White) 14...d5! 15.xd5 xd5 16.xd5+ c7 17.cxb6+ xb6 18.b5+ a7 ( 18...c7 19.c1 d8 ) 19.a3 e4 , and Black is doing quite well; B) 7.g3 B1) Normally Black prefers to prevent W hite's next move with 7...e7 8.e3 h6 9.f3 I don't particularly like this attempt at preserving the dark-squared bishop, but Black is under any circumstances doing fine. 0-0 10.5c3 e6 ( 10...f5!? a lso lo o ks go o d) 11.d5 xd5 12.cxd5 b8 , and Black has solved his opening problems successfully, Schandorff, L-Mamedyarov, S/Istanbul 2003; B2) 7...f6 8.h4 a6 9.5c3 e7 10.e3 e6 11.e2 0-0 12.0-0 c8 , and Black has equalised, Bu Xiangzhi1307
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Alek se ev, E/ Nizh niy No vgorod RUS 2007 ] 5...b6 6.b5 [ White has a few alternatives of interest: A) 6.c2 A) 6...e5 7.e3 c7 8.g2 xc4 9.c2 a5+ 10.c3 xe3 11.xe3 d5 12.d2 a6 13.e4 d4 14.f1 b6 15.b5 d6 16.0-0-0 , and White has the b e t t e r c h a n c e s, K o m a ro v, D-R o m e r o Holmes, A/ Yucatan 1999; B) 6...f6 7.g2 d5!? 8.0-0 dxc4 9.e3 a6 10.d2 e5 ( 10...c5 11.dxc4 0-0 is fine for Black) 11.b3 cxb3?! ( 11...c3! 12.b1 d7 13.xc3 , and Black keeps the balance. However, after the text move, Black gets himself into trouble.) 12.b2 c6 13.axb3 b5 14.dc4 d7 15.d6+ xd6 16.xd6 b4 17.xb4 xb4 18.xb7 b8 19.xa7 c6 20.xc6 xc6 21.a3 , and W hite is winning, Gustafsson, JMacieja, B/playchess.com INT 2004; C) 6...c5 7.e3 C1) 7...e5!? 8.e2 f6 9.0-0 ( 9.c3 0-0 10.f4 c6 is also fine for Black ) 9...d5 10.b4 e7 11.c5 c7 12.b2 0-0 13.d2 d8 14.d4 g6 , a n d I p re f e r B la ck, Sa ra va n a n , V Aveskulov, V/Cappelle La Grande FRA 2008; C2) 7...d5! 8.cxd5 exd5 9.g2 ( 9.xd5?! ge7 gives Black too big a le a d in d e ve lo p m e n t a n d sh o u ld b e avoided ) 9...f6 10.h3 0-0 11.0-0 d8 12.c3 f5 13.a4 a5 14.xc5 xc5 15.d4 e4 with a comfortable game for Black, Schandorff, L-De Firmian, N/Denmark 1999 ] [ In an encounter between the same two players in our main game and in the same tou rn am en t, bu t playe d two yea rs a go , White instead gave preference to the more common 6.b3 e5 7.e4 f6 8.e2 b4+ 9.d2 xd2+ 10.1xd2 d6 11.f4 c6 12.0-0-0 0-0 13.b1 e5 with chances to both sides, Tomashevsky, EAlekseev, E/Moscow RUS 2006 ] [ 6.e3!? c5 7.b3 e7 was last seen in Wojtkiewicz-Bologan, Moscow 2002, which can be found in the PGN archives. ]
6...e5 7.f4 d6 [ 7...a6!? is an important alternative for Black 8.xe5 axb5 9.e4 c5 ( 9...bxc4 10.xc4 f6 11.xf6 gxf6 12.e2 is pleasant for White ) 10.d2 ( 10.xg7 xf2+ 11.d2 d4 12.xh8 xh8 13.c2 bxc4 14.c3 c5 leaves Black with compensation for the exchange according to Ionov, but this line is definitely the best line for W hite.) 10...f6 11.f4 b4 12.g2 e7 13.0-0 g6 14.e3 xe3 15.fxe3 e5 Khalifman, A-Ionov, S/St Petersburg 1998 ] 8.d2 [ The first new move of the game. Previously White has tried two other moves: A) 8.b3 a6 9.5c3 f6 10.g2 e7 11.0-0 ( 11.a4 c7 12.bc3 b8 13.c1 0-0 is fine for Black ) 11...0-0 12.d2 g6 13.e3 c7 14.a4 d7 15.b6 ad8 16.xd7 xd7 17.c1 a5 ( 17...c8!? ) 18.e4 Werle, J-Hall, J/Germany 2002 ] [ B) 8.1c3 c6 9.e4 f6 10.e2 a6 11.d4 c7 12.c1 e7 13.b3 0-0 14.g2 b6 ( 14...d7 15.0-0 fc8!? ) 15.0-0 ( 15.d2 b7 16.f4 ed7 17.g4 is quite interesting and not without danger for Black,) 15...b7 16.h3 ac8 17.e3 ed7 18.f4 c5 with a typical Hedgehog position where the chances are about even, Bauer, C-Landa, K/Ajaccio FRA 2007 ] 8...a6 9.c3 d7 [ The obvious question that has to be asked if of course, 'why can't the pawn on b2 be taken?' As far as I can see, there isn't any outright refutation, although White can claim a slightly more comfortable position after 9...xb2 10.a4 a3 11.b6 b8 12.g2 f6 13.0-0 ( 13.xc8 xc8 14.xb7 c7 15.g2 e7 16.b3 a5 17.0-0 0-0 is quite comfortable for Black) 13...e7 14.b3 xb3 15.axb3 , and despite being a pawn down and the queens being exchanged, White has good compensation and excellent pressure on Black's position. ] 10.g2 c6 11.xc6+ [ White doesn't achieve anything with 11.0-0 xg2 12.xg2 c6+ 13.f3 g6= ] [ But 11.b3!? is of interest, for instance xb3 ( or 11...c7 12.0-0 f6 13.fd1 e7 14.c5! xg2 15.xg2 xc5 16.xb7 1308
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c8 17.xc8+ xc8 18.de4 ) 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.axb3 g6 14.g5 e7 15.xe7 xe7 16.a5 f6 17.0-0 with some pressure in the endgame for White ] 11...xc6 12.0-0 g6 [ What happens after 12...xc4 ? I'm not entirely sure, because Black seems to be a b l e t o g e t a wa y wi t h i t d e s p i t e b e i n g substantially behind in development, for instance 13.xc4 xc4 14.c1 ( 14.e4 f6 15.e1 b4 16.d2 e7 17.ac1 d8 , and Black is getting ready to play ...d6d5 with the better chances.) 14...f6 15.f3 d8 16.e4 c5+ 17.g2 b4 18.e2 e7 , and although White has compensation for the pawn, there is nothing wrong with Black's position. ] 13.e3 f6 14.d4 e7 15.e4 0-0 16.e2 d7! 17.ac1 f6 With this move, Black has solved all of his opening problems. 18.f3 ge5 19.xe5 xe5 [ T h e s o l i d m o v e , b u t a l s o 19...dxe5!? deserves consideration 20.e3 ac8 21.b3 e7 , and I actually slightly prefer Black, though the chances objectively speaking are equal. ] 20.fd1 fd8 [ Black should also be able to get away with 20...xc4 , e.g. 21.xc4 xc4 22.xf6 gxf6 23.b3 a3 24.xd6 ac8 25.dd1 fd8 26.xd8+ xd8 27.a4 d2 , a n d W h it e h a s n o t h in g sp e cia l in t h e endgame. ] 21.b3 d7 22.xf6 [ If White wants to play for more, I think he n e e d s t o p l a y 22.f4 at this juncture, e.g. ac8 23.g2 xd4 24.xd4 although Black's position is solid and isn't knocked over. ] 22...xf6 23.d4 d7 24.cd1 ad8 [ Black remains solid. A more aggressive a p p r o a c h c a n b e t a k e n w i t h 24...b5!? , though if White plays carefully it is unlikely to lead to any kind of advantage, for instance 25.a3 c8 26.1d3 e5!? 27.cxb5 axb5 28.b4 After this move, it almost looks like Black has overplayed his hand, but 'fortunately' he has the classic counterplay r e s p o n s e h a n d y : d5! 29.exd5 xd5 30.xd5 xd5 31.xd5 xd5 32.f3 White had to give his king a way out. c5+
( or 32...c6 33.xb5 c1+ 34.g2 f6 35.h3 h6+ 36.g2 c1 , and White h a s t o t a ke t h e re p e t i t io n wit h 37.h3 ) 33.g2 f6 34.xb5 c2+ 35.h3 f5+ 36.g2 c2+ 37.g1 c1+ 38.g2 c2+ , and again we have a draw by repetition. ] 25.f3 h6 Both sides are more less ideally set-up, and therefore there isn't any obvious wa y t o a d d p r e ss u r e t o t h e o t h e r s i d e ' s position without creating additional weaknesses in your own. In the game, both players realised this and agreed to a draw by repeating the moves. 26.g2 f8 27.1d2 g8 28.d1 f8 29.1d2 g8 30.d1 f8 ½-½
1307 Topalov,Veselin Carlsen,Magnus XXIV SuperGM (12) [Carsten Hansen]
A30 2783 2690 07.03.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.e1 d5 [ 7...d6 is the theoretical main line, but 7...d5 has also been seen many times, yet it is considered to be better for W hite. Other tries include 7...Nc6 and 7... Ne4 ] 8.d4!? This is a very rare move in this position on my database, I f ound less than half a dozen examples with this move [ Also 8.e5 is seen only infrequently. In ECO, the editors offer no more than a brief mention of the move. 0-0 9.d4 A) 9...e4 10.cxd5 xc3 11.bxc3 xd5 ( 11...exd5!? ) 12.e4 b7 Panno-Morovic, Vina del Mar 1988, and here Panno gives 13.d5 f6 14.f4 d7 15.xd7 xc3 16.xf8 xa1 17.xh7 as slightly better for W hite, but Black may be able to improve on this.; B) 9...cxd4!? 10.xd4 c5 is given as unclea r in E CO, qu oting Panno, af te r 11.h4 e4! Black may even be better; C) 9...bd7 10.xd7 xd7 11.dxc5 bxc5 12.cxd5 exd5 13.e4 d4 14.e5 d5 15.e4 ab8 16.g5 c7 ( 16...xg5!? 17.xg5 f5 18.e4 ) 17.h5 xe4 18.xe4 f5? ( White's resources seem 1309
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to run out rather rapidly after 18...xg5! 19.xg5 xb2 20.h4 e6 21.h5 h6 ) 19.h4 xb2 20.e4 xf2+ 21.h1 h6 22.xe7 and White is winning, Mrva-Z. Medvegy, Austrian chT 2006 ] [ 8.cxd5 is the main line, which is considered s ligh t ly b e t t e r f o r W h it e , b u t h a s b e e n documented and tested in much more detail, I found more than 300 examples on my d a t a b a s e , in clu d in g ga m e s b y L a rse n , V a ga n ia n , K ra m n ik, T im m a n , G e lf a n d , Anand, Ivanchuk, Akopian, Karpov to mention but a few of the more prominent name s. I will re turn t o t his su bje ct in a future update. ] 8...dxc4 [ 8...0-0 9.cxd5 exd5 transposes to a Queen's Indian, which obviously is not our subject here. This transposition is also possible after 8 cxd5 exd5 9 d4 0-0. ] 9.dxc5 [ 9.a4+ bd7 10.g5 0-0 ( 10...cxd4!? 11.xd4 xg2 12.xg2 c7 also looks good for Black) 11.ad1 d5 12.xe7 xe7 13.xc4 Sadkowsky-Vanderstricht, Antwerp 2000, and now ac8 gives Black a pleasant game. ] 9...xc5 [ 9...xd1 10.xd1 xc5 11.b5 ( 11.e5!? xg2 12.xg2 0-0 13.xc4 gives White the initiative in the endgame) 11...a6 12.e5 xg2 13.xg2 0-0 14.xc4 b4 15.g5 e4 16.e3 is not problematic for Black, U.Zak-R.Bar, Tel Aviv 2001 ] 10.a4+ bd7 11.xc4 [ This is Topalov's novelty, aiming to improve over 11.e5 xg2 12.xg2 0-0?! ( 12...a6!? 13.xd7 xd7 14.xc4 c6+ 15.e4 b5 16.b3 0-0 looks very comfortable for Black) 13.d1 xe5 ( N e c e s s a r y ) 14.xd8 fxd8 15.g5 ( 15.f4!? eg4 16.xc4 leaves Black with inadequate compensation for the queen) 15...a6 16.d1 dc8 17.xf6 b5 18.c2 gxf6 19.c1 f8 20.f4 g7 21.g4 g6 22.g3 b4 1/2-1/2 Garcia, R-Ricardi, P/ Buenos Aires 1995 ] 11...0-0 12.d1 c8 13.h4 As in many Catalan and Fianchetto Queen's Indians, Black seems to be okay, but W hite's latent
pressure and slight initiative makes it necessary for Black to tread carefully in order to secure full equality. e7 [ 13...e7!? can also be considered. ] 14.h3!? This move almost looks ridiculous, but White has a clever point, which we will see on the next couple of moves e8 15.d4 xg2 16.xg2 This was the idea: now the queen controls the long diagonal and can penetrate on the queenside. Did you see that coming when Topalov played Qa4-h4? And now don't lie...! e5 17.b7 c5 18.g5 fg4!? [ 18...d7 19.xd7 fxd7 20.ac1 h6 21.f4 a6 is also about even, but Carlsen plays more ambitiously ] 19.h3 c6! 20.hxg4 [ Necessary, since 20.xc6? xf2 21.e7+ h8 22.xc8 xd1+ 23.f1 xc3 24.xa7 d5 is winning for Black ] 20...xd4 21.b5 This looks rather ambitious, but peters out to a draw by repetition. b8 22.c7 c8 23.b7 b8 24.c7 c8 25.b7 ½-½
1308 Topalov,Veselin Ivanchuk,Vassily XVI Ciudad de 99 (13) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2700 2714 09.03.1999
1.f3 A common method of reaching the English which, whilst it commits W hite to playing his knight to f3, does stop Black from playing lines with ...e5. c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 Black defers the move ... Nf6 in order to accelerate his queenside play. 5.g3 b4+ A rare line, but one destined to become more popular after this game, no doubt. [ 5...f6 would transpose into more normal lines, 6.g2 c5 7.b3 for example, Topalov,V-Moroder,M/ Frankfurt 1997. ] 6.c3 Black certainly doesn't seem to have any problems after the alternative [ 6.d2 e7 7.c3 f6 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 d5 equalising, Eingorn-Dorfman/Moscow II 1986. ] 6...a5 7.db5 d5 8.a3?! This move 1310
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 doe sn't t urn o ut too we ll, p erh aps W h it e should try [ 8.f4!? e.g. e5 9.d2 dxc4?! 10.a3 xc3 11.d6+ f8 12.xc3 with a powerful initiative for the pawn. ] 8...xc3+ 9.bxc3 By keeping the knight aimed at d6, and c7, White tries to improve on the game Lerner,K-Huzman, A/Kujbysev 1986, which continued: [ 9.xc3 d4 10.b4 xb4 11.axb4 xa1 12.b5 f6!? Black an also try to hang-on to his material by 12...Kf8. 13.c7+ e7 14.xa8 d7 15.g2 xa8 16.0-0 and now, W hite's compensation f or the pawn would have been insufficient after c8 ] 9...f6 10.g2 0-0 Black is close to completing his development, and whilst White has the bishop pair as compensation for his shattered queenside pawns, is it enough? 11.b3 dxc4 12.xc4 e5! Black stakes a claim in the centre, and frees a route for his c8-bishop. 13.d6 Otherwise 13...Be6 would w i n t h i s p i e c e . e6 14.d3 e4! Black attacks before White can bring his king to s af et y. 15.xe4 xe4 16.xe4 ad8 17.c2 So far this is all forced, [ 17.e3? is strongly countered by fe8 ] 17...d4 No let-up for White! 18.b2 xe2! The exclamation mark is for beauty, as [ 18...c4 was very strong, and without risk. ] 19.xe2 fe8 A quiet move in the middle of a sacrificial attack, how can W hite defend? 20.b4 This move doesn't save White, and [ 20.e3 also fails, to g4+ 21.f3 xe4 22.fxg4 c5 ] [ but 20.f3 might be playable, i.e. f5 21.b4 and the black queen no longer has access t o h 5 , a l t h o u g h a6+ 22.f2 fxe4 is still clearly better for Black, anyway. ] 20...h5+ 21.f3 f5 Black is winning. 22.g4 h3 23.gxf5 xf5 24.c4+ h8 25.e1 At least one of the white rooks gets to make a move! xe4+ [ 25...xe4+ wins the white queen, as 26.fxe4 allows g4+ 27.f2 xh2+ and mate next move. ] 0-1
1309 Topalov,Veselin Karjakin,Sergey World Rapid Final (5) [John Bartholomew]
A30 2752 2779 06.07.2012
The present game follows Salgado Lopez, I (2621)-Karjakin, S (2763)/Porto Carras GRE 2011 until move 17. Topalov employs Salgado Lopez as a second, so it would be a mild surprise if he didn't have anything up his sleeve for this rapid encounter. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 g7 8.c3 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 a6 12.b3 0-0 13.h4 c7 14.h3 [ We last witnessed Karjakin's expert handling of the Double Fianchetto in Jakovenko, D (2729)-Karjakin, S (2766)/ S o c h i R U S 2 0 1 2 / [ Jo h n B a r t h o l o m e w] . Jakovenko played ambitiously with 14.g4 , but Karjakin's baffling c8!? (a double tempo loss!) turned out to be a surprisingly effective retort. Black achieved good counterplay af ter 15.h3 b5! 16.cxb5 a5! . The comments to this game are well worth reviewing in light of Black's odd yet highly revealing idea. ] 14...b8 15.h6 [ 15.g4 Aronian, L (2724)-Kramnik, V (2744)/ Saint Vincent 2005/[John Watson]. ] 15...b5! The programmed pawn break. 16.xg7 xg7 17.cxb5 The new move, but o n e wh ic h o u r p r o t a g o n i st d e f u se s wi t h remarkable ease. [ T h e s o u r c e g a m e w e n t 17.d5?! and W hite quickly found himself worse: xd5 18.cxd5 xc1 19.xc1 c8 20.c6 b7 21.xc8?! xc8 Salgado Lopez, I (2621)-Karjakin, S (2763)/Porto Carras GRE 2011/[John Bartholomew] ] 17...axb5 [ 17...xf3!? is also possible. ] 18.xd7 xd7 19.b4 c8! I had mentioned this possibility in the notes to Salgado Lopez-Karjakin. Prescience!?:) [ My other recommendation was 19...xf3 20.exf3 a8 , but Karjakin demonstrates why his choice is more accurate. ] 20.xb5 c5! Well played, Sergey! The rook is immune, and the threat of ...Bb7xf 3 is 1311
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h a n g i n g o v e r W h i t e ' s h e a d . 21.a4! Topalov's sense of danger does not fail him. [ Black's pieces are firing beautifully after 21.a3?! a8 ] [ Ot h er pit f a lls in clu d e 21.bd4? e5! 22.c2 c8! 23.fe1 e4 24.d2 dc7 (max pressure down the c-file!), ] [ 21.c3? c8 with similar consequences, ] [ and especially 21.xc5?? dxc5 22.e1 xd1 23.xd1 xf3 24.exf3 xb5-+ ] 21...a6! Black gains the pawn back. 22.xc5 Initiating mass simplifications. dxc5 23.e1 xb5 24.axb5 xb5 25.xd7 xd7 26.b4 cxb4 27.xb4 d1+ 28.e1 xe1+ I called 15...b5! a "clean equalizer" in the notes to the Salgado Lopez game, and thanks to Karjakin's continued patronage I see no reason to amend this statement. Perhaps T o p a lo v wa s sim p ly ch e c kin g K a rja kin ' s preparation? At any rate, the Double Fianchetto is alive and well! ½-½
1310 Vaganian,Rafael A Huebner,Robert Thessaloniki ol (Men) (14) [Nigel Davies]
A30 2625 2610 04.12.1984
1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.g5 a6 10.xf6 xf6 11.d3 0-0? This natural move is a serious mistake. [ Eventually they discovered that the strange looking 11...a7 is probably Black's best here, for example 12.ad1 e7 13.d4 xg2 14.xg2 c8 15.f4 d7 16.b3 g6 17.e4 c7 18.ce2 b7 19.c3 0-0 was very comfortable for Black in Gschnitzer, O-Ftacnik, L/Germany 1993/GER-chT. ] 12.fd1 e7 13.g5! xg5 14.xb7 a7 15.e4 f5 Forced because of the dual threats a g a i n s t h 7 a n d d 6 . B u t t h i s j u s t wr e c k s Black's structure. 16.g2 d7 17.f4 [ Another good way to play it for White is via 17.e4 , for example f4 18.e5 dxe5 19.e2 f6 20.e4 g6 21.c5 d8 22.xd7 xd7 23.c6 f6 24.a4 d5 25.c3 xc3 26.bxc3 f6 27.e4 e7 28.g2 fxg3 29.hxg3 c5 30.d1 led to a quick
win for White in Lalic, B-Reinaldo Castineira, R/Andorra 2000. ] 17...f6 18.e4 xc3 [ 18...fxe4 19.xe4 d5 20.cxd5 exd5 21.xf6+ xf6 22.xd5+ won a pawn and later the game in Konopka, M-Zavadsky, P/ Slovakia 1995. ] 19.bxc3 [ And here White has a good alternative in 19.xc3 , for example fxe4 20.xe4 c7 21.d3 h6 22.d2 fd8 23.e1 h8 24.g2 put Black in desperate straights in Konopka, M-Rawski, S/Karvina 1992. ] 19...a5? This doesn't help though there are no improvements for Black that are worth their salt. 20.exf5 xf5? 21.h3 [ After 21.h3 f6 22.xe6+ xe6 23.d5 de7 24.f5 White wins the exchange with an overwhelming position. ] 1-0
1311 Wojtkiewicz,Aleksander Bologan,Viktor Aeroflot Open (8) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2535 2651 09.02.2002
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.g3 b6 6.e3!? Unusual, [ 6.b3 f6 7.c3 would bring us to [A33]. ] 6...c5!? A new move in this position, [ 6...f6 is 'normal', e.g. 7.g2 e7 8.c3 0-0 9.0-0 d6 10.b3 a6 11.b2 White has a nice edge, Gritsak,O-Macieja,B/Swidnica 1999. ] 7.b3 e7 Having forced the knight from the centre, the bishop returns home. 8.g2 f6 9.0-0 0-0 10.c3 Play has returned to a more standard position, that has been seen before. d6 11.d2?! The second novelty of th e ga m e! O n e ob vio u s d isa d van t a ge o f having the knight on b3 is that the natural development of White's dark-squared bishop o n b 3 is im p o ssib le , b u t W h it e se e k s t o achieve this anyway. [ Ho we ve r t h e m o ve wa st e s t i m e , 11.e4 is more normal, to bring the bishop out on th e c1 -h 6 d ia gon a l, a lt ho u gh a f t e r e5 B l a c k c a n p r e s s u r e c 4 , 12.e2 d7 1312
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c8 11.ac1 0-0 12.h4 a6 13.b3 c7 14.h3 b8 15.g4 e6 16.g5 e8 17.d4 [ Black has adequate play after 17.g2 b5! Aronian, L (2724)-Kramnik, V (2744)/Saint Vincent 2005/[John Watson] . ] 17...a8!? A constructive retreat. Black flirts with the ideas of ... b6-b5 and ...Qb8-b7 while waiting for White to reveal his intentions. [ Zoltan Almasi's preference was 17...c5 . After 18.g3 ( 18.b4 d7 19.xe6!? fxe6 20.xe6+ h8 Vallejo Pons, F (2705)Almasi, Z (2707)/Beijing CHN 2011 here 21.f4! still requires testing) 18...e5 19.f4 g7 20.g2 e5!? 21.f3 exf4 22.xf4 f6! Black obtained good counterplay in Bartel, M (2654)-Almasi, Z (2713)/Istanbul TUR 2012/[John Bartholomew] ] 18.e4!? Seemingly encouraging ...b6-b5, but White has a covert mission in mind for this knight. [ 18.g3 c8 19.xe6? xd4! 20.xd7 b7! 21.d5 xe3 22.xe3 xd7-+ Tratar, M (2466)-Babula, V (2593)/Austria 2006. ] [ 18.g2 is also possible. ] 18...b5?! We're so used to seeing this lever open the floodgates of counterplay for Black in the Double Fianchetto, but here it appears to be an error. [ I think the principled 18...c5! is the way to deal with White's last move. Then 19.f6+ ( 19.g2!? ) 19...xf6 20.gxf6 h8 looks critical. Can W hite breach Black's solid defenses? It doesn't appear so: 21.f3 ( 21.b4 e4 ) 21...xf3 22.exf3 d7 23.g5 c5 24.b4 xg5+!? 25.xg5 xf6 with excellent positional compensation. ] 19.cxb5 axb5 20.xc7 xc7 21.c1 1312 A30 [ Not 21.xb5? c2 . ] Zhou Jianchao 2625 21...b7 22.f3! Snuffing out Black's play on Sasikiran,Krishnan 2703 the a8-h1 diagonal. Moreover, Ne4-f2-g4! is TCh-CHN 2012 (11) 22.09.2012 now on the cards. d5 23.f2 d6 24.g4 e8 25.h6+ f8? A big mistake. [John Bartholomew] [ Black's dark squares are vulnerable 25...xh6 26.gxh6 f5 , but this was a In the notes to Bartel - Almasi last month I necessary evil. ] wrote that 17.Nd4 is likely White's best try for an advantage. Luckily, we haven't had to wait 26.d2 [ White must have been tempted to go for the long for another test! 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 kill with 26.xf7! . This is indeed crushing, 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 but the variations are not easy to work out: 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3
1 / 2 -1 / 2 G riva s, E -P a p a io a n n o u , I / P o ro s 1998. ] 11...d8! Pointing-out White's lack of control of d5. 12.de4 xe4 13.xe4 a6!? [ 13...d5 14.cxd5 xd5 also looks more than satisfactory for Black. ( or 14...exd5 )] 14.b3 d5! 15.cxd5 exd5 The IQP position is good for Black as White has almost no control ove r d4 , a nd c ann ot b locka de th e pa wn . 16.c3 e6 17.b2 d4 18.exd4 xd4 Now we see the point of Black's thirteenth move: firstly, on b6 Na4 would gain a tempo on the queen, and secondly Black covers e2, so that a later ...Ne2+ becomes a possibility. 19.h5 ac8 Black is very active the immediate menace is ... Rxc3, and then ... Ne2+. 20.d5? [ In a difficult position White cracks, 20.ae1 w a s t h e o n l y c h a n c e , c5 21.d1 and White is just hanging-on. ] 20...xd5! [ 20...xd5?! 21.xd5 is equal. ] 21.xd5 e2! A delightful move, deflecting the queen from d5's defence. [ 21...c5! also wins, but more prosaically: 22.xd4 xd5 23.d1 f6 winning a piece. ] 22.xe6 [ 22.xe2 xe2+ 23.h1 xd5+ 24.f3 c2 is crushing. ] 22...xh5 23.xc8 e2+ 24.h1?? W hite has had enough, and shortens the game. [ Af ter th e f orce d 24.g2 Black wins by d5+ 25.f3 d2 26.h3 xb2 ] 24...f3# 0-1
1313
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A) 26...xf7 27.xe6+ g8 ( 27...xe6 28.xe6+- ) 28.c7+-; B) 26...xf7 27.f4+ e7 ( 27...f5 28.xf5 exf5 29.c7+- ) 28.xe6 e5 29.h4 f7 30.c5! xc5 31.xc5+ d6 32.d4!+with an overwhelming attack for a small material investment. ] 26...b6 27.e3 e5? The decisive mistake in a very difficult position. [ Nor does 27...b4? bring relief : 28.xb4 xb4 29.xe6++- . ] 28.b4!+Now Black is effectively frozen. e7 [ S a s i k i r a n p r o b a b l y i n t e n d e d 28...d3 , but it's met by an attractive interference: 29.c6! , e.g. xc6 30.xd6+ e7 31.f1! e5 ( 31...b4 32.f4+- ) 32.f4+- ] 29.f4 d8 30.f1 e8 31.g8! Intruder alert! [ 31.xd6 xd6 32.xb5+ f8 33.c7! is more clinical, but c'mon - how often do you have a chance to play a move like 31. Ng8!? ] 31...ec4 Trying to confuse the issue, but it's a lost cause. 32.f6+! e7 33.bxc4 bxc4 34.a3 h6 35.h4 hxg5 36.hxg5 f8 37.h3 b8 38.b5 Black resigned. I must admit I prefer Almasi's direct 17...Nc5 to 17...Ba8!?, though the latter looks fine so long as Black follows things up correctly (18.Ne4!? Nc5!). Expect more games with 17.Nd4 in the future. 1-0
1313 Zhu Chen Bischoff,Klaus 1st Fraenkische GM (5) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2530 2544 17.01.2000
1.f3 e6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 b7 4.g2 f6 5.0-0 c5 6.c3 e7 7.e1 d6 8.e4 a6 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 11.e3 0-0 12.c1 bd7 13.f4 fc8!? [ Quite a rare choice for the rook, 13...fe8 may be the most accurate, so as to be able to react in the centre. 14.f5 f8 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.h3 c5 17.b4 cxe4 18.xe4 xe4 19.xe6 with advantage, Wirthensohn,H-Rajkovic,D/Altensteig 1990. ] 14.g4 This is the most effective plan in these
positions, White gains even more space, and threatens to drive the f6-knight to e8. f8 [ This is the solid way of vacating the d7square, but 14...c5 may be superior. ] 15.g5 6d7 16.d5!? [ Whilst this type of sacrifice is absolutely thematic in this variation, it is still a striking idea. 16.h4 had been successfully employed previously, and may be stronger, objectively: d8 17.b3 g6 18.f5! xh4 19.fxe6 e5 20.exf7+ xf7 21.e6 d7 22.h3 with a powerful knight on e6, and dangerous threats, Stajcic,N-Moiseev,V/ Kecskemet 1991, 1-0 (37). ] 16...exd5 17.f5 e8?! [ It is always difficult to defend such positions, but I think I would prefer 17...g6 here, 18.d4 f8 (an important point, ...f6 is no longer necessary) 19.cxd5 d8 and Black is holding on, although W hite has a great position for his piece. ] [ 17...d8 18.exd5 g6 19.d4 f8 20.g4 seems worse. ] 18.cxd5 b8?! [ The black position crumples after this, 18...d8 19.d4 f6 is much better, as now, if 20.g4 g6 is possible. ] 19.d4 f6 20.g4! Threatening both gxf6, and Nxg7. e5 [ There is little choice, if 20...g6 then 21.xg7 xg7 22.xd7 wins. With the black queen on d8 this knight would be defended! ] 21.fxe5 fxe5 22.e3 White has reestablished material equality, and his attack continues. d8 23.f1 c8? [ 23...g6 24.h4 -h5, and Black is pushed off the board. ] 24.h5 [ There is no reasonable defence to the threat of capturing the e8-rook, i.e. 24.h5 d7 ( 24...g6 25.h6+ h8 26.f3 planning Qxf8+) 25.h6+! gxh6 26.f7+ h8 27.gxh6 ] 1-0
1314
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1314 A31 17...c8 18.d4 h6 19.ad1 [ 19.e4!? xe4 20.fxe4 xe4 21.d3 Agrest,Evgenij 2579 launches a strong attack yet Black ca n Kohlweyer,Bernd 2429 partially neutralise it by xd4 22.xd4 e5 III Open Bajada de la Virgen ESP (2) 14.06.05 23.e4 xd5 ] [John Watson] 19...e5 20.f2 [ 20.d6! w i t h t h e i d e a xd6?? 21.f4 This game illustrates yet another standard ... which wins a piece. ] b6 position/Hedgehog that can arise from Black is only slightly worse now. more than one move order. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 20...d7 f6 3.c3 b6 Now 4.g3 B b7 5.Bg2 e6 6.0-0 21.e3 c5 22.g1?! b4! 23.c2?! [ 23.d4 c5 24.d2 b4= ] Be7 7.d4 cxd4 8.Qxd4 is a standard He dgeh og b ut W hite p la ys a n orde r th a t 23...xc3 24.bxc3 xd5 25.d4 d6 theory considers more promising. 4.d4 cxd4 26.e3 c6 27.f5 e6 28.d3 xd4 29.cxd4 d7 30.b1 d5 31.f4 c6 5.xd4 b7 6.f3 To enforce e4. [ 6.g5 is an interesting option which is less 32.g3 g6 33.xh6+!? h7 34.h4 g7 35.g5 e6! 36.e4 c7 37.d5!? theoretical. ] 6...d6 7.e4 e6 8.e2 a6 9.e3 e7 10.0-0 If this breakthrough works it almost always 0-0 An extraordinarily popular position. Now a means that White is better. But giving up the standard setup is a3 and b4, Agrest chooses d-pawn can be costly as well. xd5 38.bd1 e7?! another idea that must be well-timed. 11.h1 [ 38...c5! 39.d4 e7 ] [ 11.a4 c6! is harmless. ] 39.xf7! xf7 40.xd5 xg5 11...bd7?! [ 40...xd5 41.xg6+ f8 42.xd5 ] [ 11...c7 is more appropriate. This is a a4 42.a5 ec8 43.xa4 matter of timing, since 12.a4 Nc6 is again 41.xg5 e a s i e r f o r B l a c k t o p l a y . S t i l l , B l a c k White is a pawn up with the better position. generally prefers to put his knight on d7 and The rest is technique. c1 44.g1 8c3 12.a4 ( 12.c1 bd7 13.e1 ac8 45.xc1 xc1+ 46.f2 c4 47.h4 f6 14.f2 fe8 15.b4 is a standard line 48.g3 b5 49.a2 d1 50.f4 d6 whose verdict is still unclear.) 12...c6 51.g4 d7 52.c2 a7 53.c8 f7 54.b8 [ 54.b8 c4 55.b6+ e7+ 56.e5 etc ] 13.c1 e5 14.f4 ed7 15.f5! e5 ( 15...xe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.fxe6 ) 1-0 16.d5 d8 17.b3 xe4 18.f3 could follow. ] A31 12.a4! e8 13.a5! Players of both colours 1315 need to be familiar with W hite's idea. Aronian,Levon 2741 Suddenly Black's queenside is compromised. Sutovsky,Emil 2655 d5!? ETCC Crete GRE (9) 06.11.2007 [ 13...bxa5 14.b3 gives White a serious [Carsten Hansen] positional edge but may be best. ] [ also insufficient is 13...c8 14.axb6 xb6 1.c4 15.b3! ] [ In another recent game, Black tried a 14.cxd5 similar idea to the one in our main game, [ 14.exd5 exd5 15.f5 is also good. Black but after a different move order and losing a shouldn't give White's knight the f5 square tempo in the process: 1.d4 e6 2.c4 c5 in these lines unless he's ready to kick it 3.f3 f6 4.g3 cxd4 5.xd4 e5 6.b5 out. ] d5 7.cxd5 c5 8.5c3 b6 9.e3 g4 14...exd5 15.exd5 bxa5?! 10.a4+!? ( 10.e2 as in our main game is [ 15...b4!? ] undoubtedly good as well, White has gained 16.f5 f8 17.d2 an extra tempo free of charge. However, [ 17.d6 is also promising, when g6 18.h6+ the variation chosen by W hite here also g7 19.d2 consolidates White's position. ] leaves W hite with the clearly better 1315
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.e2 can also be considered) 16...a6 chances. ) 10...d7 11.b3 xb3 12.axb3 17.b1 a5 18.f4 f6 , and White is in f5 serious trouble, Tverdohlebov, V-Foigel, I/ A) 13.d2!? c2 14.c4 bd7 15.g2 Kharkov 1980 ] d3 ( 15...xb3? 16.a5+- ) 16.e4 ( 16.d2 e4 17.f3 b4 ) 16...g4 10...xe2 [ This is the best move as indicated in the 17.e3; notes Korchnoi-Gurevich, which instead B) 13.f3 c2 14.c4 e4 ( 14...bd7 continued with 10...h3 for further details 15.e4 ) 15.a3 xa3 16.bxa3 exf3 on this, check out the June 2007 update. 17.0-0 ( 17.b5 d7 18.b2 a6 However, if Black doesn't have any 19.xf6 gxf6 20.d4 e4 21.f2 b5 improvements prior to Aronian's novelty on 22.f1 d8 23.c1 ) 17...bd7 18.xf3 move 17, then Black may be in trouble in 0-0 19.b2 , and despite his extra pawn this line. ] and obviously much better position, W hite nonetheless still failed to win in 11.xe2 e4 12.a3 [ The alternatives are 12.0-0 ] San Segundo Carrillo, P-Larino Nieto, D/ [ 12.d2 ] Ayamonte 2007 ] [ 12.g4 ] 1...c5 2.f3 f6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 [ 12.b5 , and these are all discussed in the 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.5c3 0-0 8.g3 notes to the Korchnoi-Gurevich game that I b6 have referred to a couple of times ] [ We have previously discussed this line in our June update in connection with the 12...bd7 13.d2 fe8 14.b4 f8 15.0-0 [ 15.c4 leads to fairly even chances as game Korchnoi-D.Gurevich. Of the pointed out in the notes to Korchnoia l t e r n a t i v e s a t t h i s j u n c t u r e : 8...g4 Gurevich. ] wa s disc us se d in d et ail in t he n ot es t o [ However, 15.b2 is a new development Korchnoi-Gurevich, and ] since the June update the game continued [ 8...e4 can also be found in the PGN with archives under the games Horvath-Basagic, A) 15...a5!? 16.c4 d8 17.bxa5 Izmir 2004 and Ramirez-Yurtaev, Moscow ( White can also hand the pawn back to 2003 ] Black with 17.0-0!? axb4 18.axb4 xa1 9.e3 g4 10.e2 19.xa1 xb4 20.d1 , and White has [ 10.f3?! the better chances thanks to his better A) 10...xe3? 11.fxg4 f2+ ( 11...xg4 coordinated pieces) 17...e5 can lead to 12.xe3 xe3 13.d2 ) 12.e2 xg4 massive exchanges down to an 13.h3 xg3 14.hxg4 f2+ 15.d3 c6 uncomfortable endgame for Black, e.g. 1-0 Varga, Z-Rovid, K/HUN 1995 16.e2! 18.xe5 xe5 19.0-0 xd5 20.xd5 b4+ 17.c4 b6 18.e3 c2 xd5 21.c4 dxa5 22.xe4 xa3 19.xb6 axb6 20.d3! xa1 21.xh7+ 23.fd1 f8 24.xa3 xa3 25.xa3 h8 22.e3 fe8 23.d2 f4 24.xf4 xa3 26.xb7 a8 , which Black should exf4 25.e4+ g8 26.xa1+-; be able to hold, but it is certainly not the B) 10...d7 11.e2 ( 11.d3 a6 kind of fun he was hoping for when he 12.a3 e4 13.xe4 xe4 14.fxe4 d6 threw 4...e5 on the board; 15.c3 Kotenko, G-Spitz, P/corr ICCF B) 15...ac8 16.0-0 1997 c5 16.d4 fe8 , and Black B1) 16...d8 17.ac1 b6 18.f3 clearly has the upper hand) 11...e4 ( 18.b5 a6 19.xc8 xc8 20.c3 12.fxe4 g4 13.a3 xa3 ( 13...xe3 b6 21.d1 d7 22.c4 h3 14.xe3 xe3 15.c4 xc4 16.xc4 23.d2 g4 24.f1 ) 18...exf3 a6 17.0-0-0 g4 18.d2 f3 19.xf3 bxd5 20.xd5 xd5 19.g2 ) 14.bxa3 c8 ( 14...e5!? 21.xc8 xc8 22.xf6 xd2 23.d4 15.b1 f6 16.g2 a6 and Black has c7 24.f4 d7 25.xa7; excellent compensation for the pawns) B2) 16...a5?! 17.c4 c7 18.xa5 15.d2 e5 16.f2 ( 16.h5!? f6 1316
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e5 19.b5 ( 19.fd1 d7 20.g2 b6 21.b3 , and Black has some c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r t h e p a wn s , b u t i t shouldn't be quite enough for two pawns... c4 22.ac1 e5 ) 19...d7 20.xe5 xe5 21.d4 xd5 22.c4 h3 23.d2 ( 23.f4!? exf3 24.xf3 is probably a better way to go about it, leaving W hite with an edge, although Black has compensation for his pawn) 23...g4 24.f3 exf3 25.2xf3 e8 26.c2?! ( 26.e4!? ) 26...g6 , and at this juncture Black has full compensation for the sacrif iced pawn, Kharashuta, EMuzychuk, A/Sochi 2007 ] 15...c7 16.b2 b6 17.b5!N [ This is Aronian's novelty. Previously White had tried 17.ac1 d7 18.g2 bxd5 19.xd5 xd5 with equal chances, Lainburg, V-Rotshtein, E/Arco 2001 ] 17...d7 18.d6!? [ The alternative is 18.xf6 gxf6 19.d6 e5 ( 19...xd6? 20.ad1!+- ) 20.a4 a6 21.c3 f5 22.a5 d5 23.xd5 xd5 24.c4 b5 25.fe1 d8 ( 25...xd6? 26.b6+- ) 26.h5 h6 ( 26...xd6? 27.g5++- ) 27.ac1 ] 18...fd5 19.ac1 xd6 20.xd6 xd6 21.fd1 [ 21.g4!? g6 22.xg6 hxg6 23.fd1 , and White has a solid positional advantage ] 21...e6 [ 21...g6!? ] 22.b3 f4 [ Sutovsky most likely regretted this decision af ter the gam e, b ut d urin g th e ga me in probably looked like an attractive option, but it allows W hite a strong attack. The alternative is 22...f5 , b u t a f t e r 23.d4 ad8 24.c5 e7 25.b2 g4 26.a4 f6 27.b3 White is control of the game. ] 23.gxf4! xb3 24.h1! e6 25.g1 f6 26.h5 d5 [ 26...e7 27.g3 d7 28.d4 d8 29.cg1 is somewhat similar to the game, and quite unpleasant for Black, the best defence for Black again involves placing the king on h8 and the queen on g8. ] 27.g3 h8 28.cg1 e7 29.h3 g8 30.f5 f8 31.d4 Black is stuck with a very
passive position where there is no counterplay to be found and therefore as the proverbial sitting duck, waiting for White to either catch up to him or let him slip away. Aronian does the former. b6 32.g4 c7 33.h5 e7 34.xe4 f7 35.g1 g6 [ 35...f5 36.g2 c6 37.b2 e7 38.b5 c5 39.a4 c4 40.f3 c7 ( 40...xa4? 41.g5 g6 42.h3 and it is game over for Black ) 41.e5 d7 42.e4 , and Black is completely tied up and cannot provide any decent defence to W hite's gradually improving position, e.g. A) 42...fxe4 43.fxe4 c8 44.h3 de7 ( 44...fe7? 45.xg7 xg7 46.xd7 ) 45.g4 xe5 46.xh7+ xh7 47.h4 xh4 48.xh4+ g8 49.fxe5+-; B) 42...b7 43.h3 a5 44.hg5 a7 45.h6 c8 46.exf5 - a picturesque position ] 36.e5!? [ 36.f5! also wins, but perhaps only in a more sophisticated fashion judge for yourself: gxh5 37.xg8+ xg8 38.b5 d7 39.e6 d5 40.a4 f8 41.b2 c7 42.c6 e8 43.g2 d8 44.f3 , a n d W h it e is t ig h t ly s qu e e zi n g B la c k while constantly improving his own position. However, this is not how you normally play when both players are in time trouble ] 36...c6?? [ 36...c8 is of course better, but hardly inspiring confidence: 37.e6 g8 38.e8 b7 39.xb7 xb7 40.c1+- ] 37.e8 1-0
1316 Bischoff,Klaus Jones,Gawain C ch-EU Liverpool ENG (6) [John Watson]
A31 2533 2416 11.09.2006
1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 Initiating a gambit that is of considerable relevance. This is considered an English Opening, since it usually arises via 1.c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4. 5.b5 [ 5.c2 A) 5...b5!? 6.cxb5 b7 ( an old game of 1317
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Ho d gso n 's we n t 6...a6 7.bxa6 xa6 8.e4!? b7 ) 7.e3 ( 7.c3 d5 8.g5 d4 9.b1 a5+! ) 7...d5 8.e2 d6 9.0-0 0-0 with obvious compensation, TerzicBareev, 1999; B) 5...d5 6.cxd5 xd5 7.xd5 xd5 8.e4 b4 is dully equal, so you might want to check into 5...b5!? ] 5...d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.5c3 0-0 8.e3 e4 It would be extremely interesting to see how a leading grandmaster would treat this position. It's been around for many years, and as far as I can see Black stands satisfactorily. 9.e2 The main line, or at least the most of te n played. Of the other moves, [ 9.a3 is familiar to some because of the game Palatnik-Kasparov, Frunze 1982, which continued a5 ( 9...e8 10.b4 f8 11.d2 f5 12.c4 bd7 13.b2 b6 14.xb6 xb6 with the idea ...a5 and ... Rad8 ) 10.d2 e7 11.d6!? xd6 12.dxe4 xe4 13.xe4 d8 14.xd6 xd6 15.c2 c6 with good attacking chances. ] 9...e7 [ 9...a6 ] [ 9...e8 , and ] [ 9...f5 have all been played with reasonable success. I think that 6..a6 in particular deserves more attention. ] 10.a3 d8 11.d2 White delays castling so as to avoid attack and get one more move in the centre. [ Or 11.b4 d6 12.b2 a5 13.bxa5 e5= ] 11...xd5 12.xd5 [ 12.cxe4 b6 threatens ...Bxe3: 13.c3 xe3! 14.fxe3 xe3 15.f1 c6 with attack ] 12...xd5 13.c2 f5 14.b4 b6 15.b2 c6 16.0-0 c7!? The material is even and to me, just about everything looks good (at least equal) in this position, e.g., [ 16...g5 17.h1 was MihalchishinKasparov, Frunze 1981, and Kasparov gives c8 18.ac1 dd8! ] [ or 16...a5 17.b5 e5 ] 17.fd1 c8!? 18.b3? Now the queen gets diverted, which helps Black's attack. e6! 19.a4 b5! [ For the less adventurous there's 19...f5 , with advantage. ]
20.xb5 xh2+! Initiating an attack that le a d s t o so m e wo n d e rf u l co m p lic a t io n s . 21.xh2 h4+ 22.g1 h5 23.f4! [ S h r e d d e r l i k e s 23.f3 , when Black has h2+ ( 23...h1+ 24.f2 h4+ 25.e2!? g5! 26.f1 is un clear.) 24.f2 g5! (this explains why Bischof f plays 23.f4) 25.g1 h3 26.xc6 ( 26.f1 g3+ 27.e2 exf3+ 28.xf3 g4! ) 26...xg2+ 27.xg2 xg2+ 28.e1 d8! ] 23...h2+ 24.f2 h3! [ 24...h4+ 25.g1 h1+ 26.f2 h4+ draws. ] 25.f1? [ White's defence is extremely difficult but here's one that survives: 25.xe4! g4 26.xc6 f3+ 27.e2 xg2+ 28.d3 xb2 ( 28...d8+ 29.c4! e2+ 30.c5 xe3+ 31.d4 ) 29.d5! h3 ( 29...xe3+ 30.xe3 e2+ 31.d4 b2+ 32.e3 e2+= ) 30.e1 h5 31.b3 xd5+ 32.xd5 c2+ 33.d4 b2+ 34.d3 c2+= ] 25...f3+ 26.e1 [ 26.e2 xg2+ 27.e1 f2# ] 26...xg2 27.d2 g1?! This eventually wins but there are two moves which finish things off more easily, the best being [ 27...xf1+ 28.xf1 g3+ 29.f2 ( 29.d1 xe3 threatening ...Bb3+ wins) 29...xe3+ A) 30.e2 g3+ 31.d1 ( 31.f2 e3 32.c2 xb4; 31.d2 b3 ) 31...b3+; B) 30.e2 g3! 31.c1 c3+ 32.f1 h3+ 33.g2 g3 ] 28.ad1? [ The win is not at all easy af ter 28.a6! , b u t i t ' s t h e r e . H e r e ' s o n e l i n e : xe3+ 29.e2 h3 30.d1 g4! 31.e1 h5! 32.f5 d8! 33.xd8+ xd8 34.d4 xe2 35.xe3 xf1+ 36.d2 xa6 ] 28...h3 29.a6 xe3+ 30.e2 xf1+ 31.d2 d8+ A fine sustained attack. 0-1
1318
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1317 Bischoff,Klaus Kersten,Uwe ChessOrg Open (3) [Tony Kosten]
A31 2545 2360 1998
1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 White tries to avoid a Benoni, or a Benko Gambit, and reaches a position that arises from the English. cxd4 4.xd4 e5 A sharp, and enticing possibility. Black sacrifices a pawn for quick development. 5.b5 d5 This is necessary, otherwise White will have control of d5, and maybe d6. 6.cxd5 c5 The point of Black's play, he continues his development hoping to recapture the d5-pawn later. The immediate capture is impossible: [ 6...xd5?? 7.xd5 xd5 8.c7+ and Black has lost a piece. ] 7.e3 0-0 8.5c3 e4 Taking some space on the kingside, and 'isolating' the d5-pawn. 9.e2 e8 Over protection. 10.a3 a5 An important point, Black willingly weakens the b5-square to stop White from solving his de ve lo pm e n t pro b le ms, b y b 4 , a nd B b 2 . 11.d2 f5!? This seems logical enough, Black further guards e4, ready to recapture on d5, but there is a typical tactical riposte. [ 11...a6 might be better, 12.b3 c7 13.b2 cxd5 14.xd5 xd5 and having his pawn, Black had a great position, L e s ie ge , A -B e ll o n L o p e z, J/ Ca p a b la n c a Premier 1997. ] 12.b3 f8 13.g4! Ironically, White's king is often better-off in the middle anyway, which means that White can start operations against the e4-pawn with this sharp advance. g6 14.g5 fd7 15.h4 White certainly doesn't have to worry too much about his d-pawn, none of Black's pieces are attacking it anymore! e5 16.d4 d3+ Not such an annoying check as it might appear. 17.f1 c5 18.h5 The bishop has nowhere to go, so Black must enter into the following c o m p l i c a t i o n s . xd4 19.hxg6 xc3 20.xd3 exd3 21.gxf7+ xf7 The position is hardly recognisable from that a few moves ago. 22.xd3! A powerful piece sacrifice, [ 22.bxc3 is playable, but xd5 does allow Black some play. ] 22...e5 23.f5+ g8 24.xh7+ f8
25.f5+ White can take a draw whenever he wa nt s, b ut th ree pa wns an d a n a t ta c k is normally enough to win, and so he presses on. g8 26.h7+ f8 27.f5+ g8 28.g6 Menacing mate with Qf7+. xd5 Taking a pawn, and defending f7. 29.e4 c4+ 30.g1 f6 [ 30...a6!? ] 31.e3 xe4 [ 31...a6 had to be played, to guard the c5square against a Bc5+. but 32.c1 xe4 33.h5 f8 and now 34.c7!! and White gets to play Bc5+ after all! xc7 35.c5+ and Qh8 mate, next move. ] 32.c1 Perhaps Black was hoping for a perpetual check, but it doesn't exist. g4+ 33.h2 h4+ [ 33...e5+ 34.xe5 will not change the result. ] 34.g3 Black has no move that saves his queen, without allowing Rc8, and mate. e5+ 35.f4 1-0
1318 Carlsen,Magnus Gashimov,Vugar FIDE GP Baku AZE (6) [Carsten Hansen]
A31 2765 2679 27.04.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 d6 4.g2 c6 5.c3 g6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 d7 8.xc6 xc6 9.e4 g7 10.0-0 [ 10.e3 can be found covered in KramnikIvanchuk in the April update ] 10...0-0 11.g5 h6 [ 11...d7 can be found in the notes to Kramnik-Ivanchuk in last month's update ] 12.e3 a5 13.a3 fc8 14.b4 d8 Playing like this may not appeal to everybody, which is one of the reasons why the Classical Variation of the Maroczy Bond in Accelerated Dragon isn't more popular than it currently is. White gains a rather large space advantage, but Black's position is very so lid and his pieces are ideally placed considering the pawn structure. 15.c1 b6 16.e2 e6 17.fd1 e7 Black has reached his ideal setup in the centre and with his queen and minor pieces. Unless W hite d oes someth ing t o 1319
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 prevent it, Black will double his rooks on the cf ile t o p u t W h it e u n d e r p r e ss u re . 18.b5 This looks like a radical measure, but it is also an understandable one, Black is more or less forced to exchange the knight and after that White gains control over the c6-square and obtains the bishop pair. xb5 19.cxb5 xc1 20.xc1 d8 21.c6 White has a small, but clear advantage what happens next is very instructive: rather than rushing to create counterplay with ...d6-d5, which would just open the position up for W hite's bishops, Black honkers down to set-up a solid defensive position. h7 22.h3 e8! 23.d2 [ 23.d3!? and then continue with the plan he did in the game makes more sense, keeping Black's bishop passive. ] 23...d4!? 24.a4 e5 25.h4 [ Here White can consider 25.c1!? f6 26.d2 g8 27.a5 with a solid plus for White ] 25...f6 26.f3 e6 27.g2 [ White has an interesting alternative in 27.g4!? e8 ( 27...b3 28.g5 hxg5 29.hxg5 e8 30.d1 ) 28.c4 , and White is on top, though Black's position is still very solid, and White's bishops don't have any good long diagonals to work on ] 27...d7 28.c4 [ 28.a5 g7 29.g4!? ] 28...xc4 29.xc4 g7 30.c1 h5 Black cannot afford to sit passively and wait for White to decide to break through.. If Black doesn't restrain White's pawns on the kingside he will soon after g3-g4 and h4-h5 be left with no counterplay at all. 31.g5 h7 32.d2 [ 32.c1!? f6 33.f1 g4 34.e2 f6 35.xg4 hxg4 36.e3 xe3 37.xe3 e6 38.c8 leaves White with some winning ch a n c e s d u e t o t h e p o t e n t ia l t o cre a t e passed pawns on both the king- and queenside. ] 32...f6 33.c6 g4 34.e1 [ Th is is t h e b e st, if W h it e trie s 34.xg4 , things quickly become more complicated than necessary, e.g. hxg4 35.f1 f6 36.g5+ e6 37.e2 f5 38.exf5+ gxf5 39.e3 xe3 40.xe3 d5 41.c8 f7 with unclear consequences ] 34...f6 [ 34...f6 35.a5 e7 36.e2 ]
35.a5 [ 35.f1 g8 ( 35...d5 36.exd5 ) 36.e2 e7 37.c2 ] 35...d5 36.exd5 xd5 [ 36...e4 37.e2 xd5 38.c4 e7 39.axb6 axb6 40.g4 h7 ( 40...hxg4 41.xg4 f5 42.xd4 xd4 43.c3+- ) 41.gxh5 gxh5 42.xh5 f5 43.f1 f6= ] 37.d2 e7 38.g5!? [ This looks more clever than it actually is, since Black more or less can force a drawn endgame. Instead White should have opted for 38.c2! , and now Black's best is f5 39.f1 d6 40.c6 c7 41.c1 b2 , and White has no more than a tiny pull ] 38...xc6 39.bxc6 c7 40.d8 c8 41.c7 e4! Black efficiently liquidates down to a drawn endgame 42.xe4 e5 [ Similar to the game is 42...f6 43.b7 xd8 44.cxd8 xd8 45.a6 b5! ] 43.b7 xc7 44.xc7 xc7 45.a6 b5! 46.c6 d6 47.xb5 ½-½
1319 Doettling,Fabian Atalik,Suat 7th BayEM Bad Wiessee GER (6) [Tony Kosten]
A31 2519 2570 13.11.2003
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 a6!? An unusual line, covering b5 allows Black to consider both ...e5 and ...d5. 5.c3 d5 6.e3 A solid choice, but there are many alternatives: [ 6.f3 e6 7.cxd5 exd5 8.e3 c6 leads to an IQP Tarrasch position, Gheorghiu,F-Bukal,V/Mendrisio 1989. ] [ 6.b3!? is odd, but dxc4 7.xd8+ xd8 8.a5 b5 9.g3 e5 10.e3 b4 11.g2 xc3+ 12.bxc3 e4 13.0-0 gave White some compensation for the pawn, Romanishin,O-Oliwa,M/Katowice 1995. ] [ 6.cxd5 xd5 7.d2 e5 8.f3 xc3 9.xc3 xd1+ 10.xd1 f6 gives White a lead in development, but Black has space and a solid pawn structure, Vladimirov,EBarlov,D/Oviedo 1993. ] 6...e6 Black aims for a Tarrasch-style position, but he can also aim for a reasonable endgame 1320
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 by [ 6...dxc4 7.xc4 e5 8.f3 ( 8.a4+!? d7 9.b3 exd4 10.xf7+ e7 11.exd4 leads to a strong attack) 8...xd1+ 9.xd1 b4+ 10.d2 xd2+ 11.xd2 c6 12.c3 e7 13.de4 was agreed drawn in Rashkovsky, N-Tseshkovsky,V/Sochi 1976. ] 7.cxd5 [ 7.d2 c6 8.f3 d6 9.cxd5 exd5 is a good IQP position for Black, Ribera,JSuba,M/Badalona 1993. ] 7...xd5 Black keeps his structure intact, but [ 7...exd5 is perfectly reasonable. ] 8.xd5 [ 8.d2 f6 9.b3 bd7 10.e2 c5 11.c2 e5 12.b3 e6 is fine for Black, Ye Rongguang-Antonio,R/Shenzhen 1992. ] 8...xd5 9.d2 A new move, aiming for quick queenside development. [ 9.b3 xb3 10.xb3 c6 11.a3 e7 is n o t h in g f o r W h it e , P la n a s G a rcia , F Horowitz,I/Havana 1952. ] 9...d7 10.c3 e5 11.b3 xd1+ 12.xd1 f6 The position is similar to one of the above notes, and Black's solid centre hinders the c3bishop. 13.c4 b5!? Swapping the lightsquared bishop's is positionally desirable, but t h e c o s t i s t h e d o u b l e d p a wn s . 14.xb5+ axb5 15.a3 This allows Black to liquidate the doubled pawns, but [ 15.a1!? c6 16.e2 b4 17.d2 is a bit passive. ] 15...c6 16.d5 b4 17.axb4 xb4 18.b5 This gains a pawn, but [ 18.xb4 xb4 19.b5 might be more accurate, d3+ 20.e2 xb2 21.c1 and although Black has exchanged th e queenside pawns W hite has chances to invade the seventh rank. That said a draw is a very likely result. ] 18...xc3+ 19.bxc3 0-0! 20.xb7 fc8 White's c3-pawn is too weak to stay on the board too long. 21.0-0 d8 22.d7 xc3 23.d2 e6 24.e4 c4 25.d6 c7 26.xc7 xc7 ½-½
1320 Dorfman,Josif D Degraeve,Jean Marc ch Val d'Isere FRA (5) [Tony Kosten]
A31 2617 2586 23.08.2002
1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 Hardly a surprise from the French GM, who thrives on sharp tactical chess. 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.5c3 0-0 8.h3!? After his success in the game Dorfman, J-Glavina,P/ Monaco FRA 2002, with a well-timed g4, Dorfman decides to play for this move immediately. e4 9.g4 This is the point, White will try to round-up the e4-pawn with Bg2, and possibly g5. e3!? A (second) pawn sacrifice to ruin the white structure, and further weaken his kingside dark squares. [ 9...e8 10.g2 e3!? ( 10...h6 ) 11.xe3 xe3 12.fxe3 xe3 is similar, but after 13.d4 e8 14.d2 Black had very little to show f or his pawn, Raetsky,A-Urban,J/ Zillertal 1993. ] [ 9...e7 is the main alternative, although after 10.g2 e3 play transposes. ( 10...h6 is also possible, keeping the ...e3 thrust in reserve. )] 10.xe3 xe3 11.fxe3 e7!? [ 11...d6 is more usual, aiming for a check on g3: 12.d4 d8 13.e4 c6 14.e3 e5 15.d2 Black has great dark-squared control, but two pawns is two pawns! Kohlweyer,B-Liardet,F/Geneve 1994. ] 12.g2?! Returning to the line with 9...Qe7, but with this move-order [ 12.d4! is stronger, holding on to the e3pawn, d8 13.g2 c6 14.a4 and White is better, Black has enough comp for one pawn, but not two. ] 12...xe3 13.d3 [ 13.f3?! is too passive, e8 14.d2 a6 with good play, Tomaszewski,R-Kujawski,A/ Lublin 1988. ] 13...c1+ 14.f2?! A new move, but a mistake, [ 14.d1! i s c o r r e c t , a6 ( 14...h5!? 15.gxh5 xh5 16.e3 looks good for White) 15.0-0 c5+ 16.e3 and White is consolidating his extra pawn, Agirretxe,JFernandez,G/Euskadi 1999. ] 14...xb2 Black regains his other sacrificed 1321
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pawn, and restores material equilibrium . 15.d2 b6+ 16.e3 d8! The ending favours White, so Black keeps queens on the board to exploit the weakened white kingside. 17.f3 bd7 18.d4 b6!? Black can also try a dark-squared blockade: [ 18...e8 (aiming for d6) 19.g2 d6 but then 20.de4! follows, when White fights for control of d6. ] 19.d6 b8 20.e4 White advances his centre pawns, and grabs lots of space at the same time. c5 [ 20...e8!? is an exciting alternative, 21.g5 (winning a piece, and otherwise Black plays ...Ne5) e5! 22.gxf6 xf6 with lots of threats against the white king and loose queen. ] 21.e5 fd7 Black is happy to lure the pawns on, in the hope of undermining them later. 22.g3 b7?! Careless, sometimes it doesn't pay to develop your pieces! [ 22...e6! w a s r i g h t , 23.e3 f6! the point, exchanging the e5-pawn and opening the f-file, 24.exf6 xf6 25.e5 c5 and both sides have chances. ] 23.xb7 xb7 24.f3 e6 25.e3 f6 26.exf6 dc5! The best chance, the problem is that Black can no longer recapture with the knight, as the e6-knight would be hanging. This is why it was still useful to have the bishop on c8! [ 26...xf6?! 27.d5 f7 28.hf1 gives White the attack on the f-file. ] 27.ad1 [ 27.fxg7?! xd6+ 28.e5 xg7 is much too dangerous, as all the black pieces menace the white king. ] 27...xf6 28.e5 h8 29.d5 The white p i e c e s h o p i n t o t h e s q u a r e s p r e vi o u s l y vacated by the advancing white pawns. f8 30.e7 xe7?! This appears desperate, although W hite is on top now anyway. 31.c6! Maybe Black missed this intermezzo. a8 32.dxe7 The pawn that Black sacrificed on move five has made it all the way to the s e v e n t h r a n k ! e8 33.d6?! With both players short of time, the play worsens, [ 33.f3! ] 33...xe7?! [ 33...g5! is the only chance, 34.d8 xc6 but now if W hite finds 35.f1!! he wins,
ge4+ 36.g2! f6+ 37.f3 b5 38.g5 and White has blown a way through to f8. ] 34.xe7 xh1 35.xe6 xe6 36.xe6 g1+ 37.h4 The checks soon run out. f2+ 38.h5 g6+ 39.xg6+! [ 39.xg6+! hxg6+ 40.xg6 c2+ 41.f5 c6+ 42.f6+ exchanges queens. ] 1-0
1321 Dorfman,Josif D Glavina Rossi,Pablo TCh-Nat 1 Monaco FRA (1) [Tony Kosten]
A31 2602 2417 01.02.2002
In a team match it is pleasant to see your second board build-up such a big advantage so quickly! 1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.5c3 [ We have also examined the interesting 7.d6!? ] 7...0-0 8.e3 e4 9.e2 [ 9.a3 a5 should transpose. ] 9...e7 [ 9...e8 was played in the game Bischoff,KKersten,U which should be compared with this one. ] 10.a3 a5 Black automatically stops White's queenside expansion, but it may be better to aim straight for the d-pawn by [ 10...d8 11.b4 d6 12.b2 Lautier,JIllescas Cordoba,M/Linares 1995. ] 11.g4! I was surprised to see this move, as I thought that W hite does better to wait for Black's ...Bf5 when g4 will gain a tempo. However, when I discussed this game with Iosif after the game he told me that he t h o u g h t t h e m o ve wa s f a r s t r o n g e r n o w BEFORE ...Bf5, as then ...Bg6 helps defend the black kingside. [ 11.d2 d8 12.c2 f5 13.g4 g6 14.h4 h6 is a typical example, Modr,BTseitlin,M/Prague 1983. ] 11...h6!? I am loathe to weaken the kingside like this, [ 11...d8 may be superior, 12.g5 e8 13.d2 f5 14.g4! but White is better, Eshazarian-Podymov,A/Roslavl 1989. ] 12.d2!? This is the novelty, White prepares to win the e4-pawn by h4 and g5. 1322
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ In Gelfand,B-Gofman,A/Kramatorsk 1989 previously tested by a strong player. The W h i t e w a s m o r e d i r e c t : 12.h4 e5 same can pretty much be said for any of the (else g5) 13.d2 xd5 14.dxe4 xc3 alternatives: A) 7...d6 15.xc3 c6 16.d5 White was a solid A) 8.e2 g4 ( 8...bd7 9.0-0 c5 pawn up, and went on to convert his 10.d4 b6 11.b1 fe4 12.xe4 advantage. ] xe4 13.e3 d8 14.f3 Twomey, P12...bd7? Black was playing quickly, ...too Coveney, M/Cork IRL 2005; 8...a6 9.0-0 quickly, and soon finds himself with a bd7 10.e3 g4 11.d4 ge5 completely lost position. 12.xe5 dxe5 13.e3 f5 14.f3 [ 12...d8 is the best chance, 13.h4 xd5 Tarna i, K -Polt ner, J/ corr ICCF 198 2) 14.cxe4 White is still a pawn up, and will 9.e3 a6 10.0-0 c8 11.b3 c5 continue with g5, a iming f or a kingsid e 12.c1 a5 13.e1 e8 14.b5 fd7 attack - his king is quite safe in the centre. ] 15.h3 xf3 16.xf3 e5 17.e2 b6 13.h4 b6 , and here a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/ [ 13...e5 does nothing to dampen White's 2, in Tucker, A-Corkett, A/Birmingham ardour: 14.c4 e7 15.g5 ] 20 01 , alth ou gh W h it e cle arly h as t h e 14.d6! An elegant solution, although the better game; mundane B) 8.d3 g4 ( 8...a6 9.0-0 c5 [ 14.g5 fxd5 15.cxe4 is also strong. ] 10.c2 a5 11.b1 d7 12.h3 c8 14...xd6 15.g5 hxg5?! Opening the h-file is 13.e3 a6 14.d3 Groothoff, F-Thamm, very risky, O/5. Nord-West-Cup 2003 c5 15.c2 ) [ 15...fd5 16.cxe4 e5 17.gxh6 gxh6 9.h3 xf3 10.xf3 bd7 11.e2 c8 is h a rd ly in s p irin g, b u t a llo ws B la ck t o 12.0-0 a6 13.d2 e5 14.f4 e6 continue. ] 15.dxe6 fxe6 , Paasikangas Tella, J16.hxg5 h7 17.dxe4 e5 18.b3 Eskelinen, A/FIN 1996, and now Attacking on both sides at once - the knight is 16.ad1 ] hanging on b6, and there is also a threat of g6 [ B) 7...e6 8.e2 exd5 9.cxd5 d6 10.0-0 to contend with. e6 Black is obliged to go bd7 11.g5 h6 12.e3 c5 13.c1 into a bad ending with a pawn less. 19.xe6 Lugovoi, A-Jankovic, A/Solin CRO 2005 ] xe6 20.f4 xc3+ [ C) 7...a6 8.e3 ( 8.e2!? d6 9.0-0 ) [ Conceding this important bishop, but if 8...d6 9.d3 ( 9.e2 ) 9...c5 10.c2 20...c7 21.c5 is awkward. ] b6 11.b1 , Koski-Hietanen, P/corr 1986, 21.xc3 fd8 22.e4 f5 23.exf5 xf5 and now Black gets a decent game with b4 24.e3 d6? The b6-knight had to retreat, 12.e2 fe4 ] n o w B l a c k l o s e s a n e x c h a n g e a s w e l l . 8.e2 25.xb6! xb6 26.d5 e6 [ The first new move. Rather surprisingly, a J. [ 26...xb2 27.e7+ f8 28.xf5 Petronic has tested another move twice 8.d6 is even worse. ] A) 8...e4?! 9.d4 a6 10.e2 c6 27.c7 11.e3 b6 12.0-0 b7 13.b3 1-0 ( 13.xc6 xc6 14.d2 ) 13...b8 14.a4 a8 15.c5 Petronic, J-Rovid, K/ HUN 1995; 1322 A31 B) 8...c6 9.e2 b6 10.0-0 b7 11.e1 h6 12.f1 ( 12.h3 e4 13.d2 Gelashvili,Tamaz 2622 d4; 12.d3 b8; 12.a4 e4 13.d2 Safarli,Eltaj 2524 d4 14.a5 c8 15.b3 xe2+ 10th Open Dubai UAE (4) 09.04.2008 16.xe2 ) 12...e8 13.b5 e4 14.fd4 [Carsten Hansen] xd4 15.xd4 a6 16.e3 is slightly better for W hite, but Black's pieces are 1.f3 c5 2.e3 f6 3.d4 g6 4.c4 g7 decently placed, and he can by no means 5.c3 cxd4 6.exd4 0-0 7.d5 e5 be co unte d out , Pe tronic, J-Simic, R/ [ This is a very rare move, and one never 1323
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Belgrade1999 ] 8...d6 9.0-0 g4 10.e3 bd7 11.c1 [ 11.g5!? xe2 12.xe2 e7 13.fe1 a6 14.ac1 ] 11...a6 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 Black has now given up his light squared bishop, which on the surface seems to be a relatively lighthearted decision. However, in the King's Indian structures, the light-squared bishop is of ten the one Black needs to crank open W hite's position, even sacrificing it on h3. Now Black is missing the bishop and if he is to conduct a successful attack on the kingside, he may well have to use drastic measures. c8 14.e2 h6 15.b4 e8 16.a4 f5 17.f3 f4 18.f2 e4!? This is more or less a necessary measure, otherwise White will play Bd3 and make Black suf f er on the b1-h 7 diagonal 19.fxe4 e5 20.b6 [ 20.c5 f6 ( Or 20...f3 21.gxf3 g5+ 22.h2 h5 23.b3 h6 24.c2 h4 25.h1 , and White is slowly getting things under control, and soon he will be able to m a k e h is a d va n t a ge o n t h e q u e e n sid e count ) 21.f3 fd7 22.g4 f3 23.e6+ h7 24.g3 , and White has consolidated his position somewhat ] 20...f3!? Another clearing move. If Black hesitates White will gain time to consolidate an d ge t f u rt h e r a h e a d o n t h e qu e e n sid e 21.gxf3 c7 22.e3 cf7 23.c5 f4!? Again Black has to attack without consideration of material otherwise he will lose in short order on the queenside 24.xf4 xf4 25.e1 f6 26.c2 h5 27.f2 [ 27.h2 h4 28.g1 dxc5 29.bxc5 f6 30.f2 f4 31.f1 g5 32.g3 , and White has stopped Black's attack ] 27...h4! 28.d1? [ White's position is already very difficult, but this is hardly making things better, though the alternatives doesn't offer much consolation either, for example 28.h2 f4 29.f2 ( 29.f2 xh3+ 30.f1 f6 31.c6 xc6 32.dxc6 a1+ 33.g2 f4+ 34.g3 xh2 35.xh2 bxc6 ) 29...f6 30.c6 xh3 31.xh3 xh3+ 32.e1 xc6 33.dxc6 bxc6 , and Black has excellent winning chances, White's king and dark squares are frighteningly weak ] [ However, White should have opted for
28.f4! , giving away a pawn, but giving his own pieces room to breathe and thus allow Black less of the overall control of the game: xf4 29.g3 g5 30.xf4 gxf4 31.g2 f6 32.f3 dxc5 33.bxc5 d3 ( 33...xf3+ 34.xf3 d4+ 35.h2 e3 36.g2 d4 37.xe3 fxe3 38.d6 f7 39.d5 e6 40.e5 xe5 41.xe3 ) 34.c6 bxc6 35.dxc6 e1 36.e5 xe5 37.d5+ h8 38.c7! xc7 39.g6 f3+ 40.xf3 , and the game is over. These lines are obviously long, and I'm sure not entirely correct, but nevertheless they represent White's best chance. In the game White is no w a t t he lo sin g e nd o f t h e rid ic u lo u s complications. ] 28...xh3 29.f4 g3+!? [ I wouldn't be entirely surprised if Black got a little confused by the long variations to be calcu la te d, b ut it a pp ea rs t ha t 29...g3! is probably better, e.g. 30.g2 h4 31.fxe5 h1+ 32.xh1 xh1+ 33.f2 h2+ 34.e3 xe5 35.c6 f5+! 36.d3 h3+ 37.c4 e3+ , and Black wins ] 30.xg3 [ 30.f1 h4 31.xh5 h1+ 32.e2 xh5+ 33.e1 d3+ 34.xd3 xd3-+ ] 30...xg3 31.fxe5 g5 32.f3 xe4+ 33.f1 g3+ [ Or 33...f5 34.f2 xf2 35.xf2 g5 36.c8 xc8 37.e6 f8 , and Black wins ] 34.f2 f5 35.c4 xe5 36.c6 bxc6? [ Rather surprisingly, this obvious move complicates matters considerably. Instead Black could have forced the game in his f a v o u r w i t h 36...g3+ 37.e2 h2+ 38.d3 f4 39.e2 g3+ 40.f2 e4+ 41.e2 c3+ 42.xc3 xc3 43.a5 bxc6 44.dxc6 xb4 45.b3 c4+ 46.f2 f8 47.c1 c3 48.e3 e7 , and Black is winning ] 37.dxc6 g3+ 38.e2 d5! 39.e3? [ 39.xd5+ g7 40.f1 d4 41.g2 e3+ 42.xe3 xe3 43.c7 f4+ 44.e2 e5+ , and Black is winning, e.g. 45.d3 e3+ 46.c2 c3+ 47.b1 a1+ 48.c2 b2+ 49.d3 c3+ 50.e2 b6 , and the c-pawn bites the dust, and the white king is still without cover ] 39...xe3 40.xe3 f4+ [ 40...c7 41.e2 ( 41.xd5 b6+ 42.e4 1324
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g1 43.c3 b1+ 44.dd3 xb4+ 45.d5 f4 offers Black excellent winning chances ) 41...h2+ 42.d3 e5 43.c3 d4 44.b3 f8 , and Black has every chance of winning, though of course it will take a while. ] 41.e2 d4 42.d5+? [ 42.d3!? h2+ 43.d1 g1+ 44.e2 and while Black cannot lose, it isn't entirely clear whether he can win ] 42...g7 43.d3 f5+? [ 43...f6! 44.c4 e7 looks very good for Black. W hite can hardly hope to get his pieces coordinated ] 44.e4 g4? [ Wrong square now White gets to place the rook on the open f-file. Instead Black should h a ve o p t e d f o r 44...f4 45.e2 g3+ 46.c4 c3+ 47.d5 A) 47...xb4 48.xe5 b5+ 49.d6 xe2 50.c7 A1) 50...g4 51.xd4 f6 ( 51...c8 52.c6+- ) 52.c5+-; A2) 50...c4 51.c6 b4+ 52.d7+-; B) 47...c7 48.xd4 b6 49.ed2 xd4 50.xd4 g3 , and it is doubtful White can win ] 45.f1 h5 [ 45...g3+ 46.f3 e1 47.c7 d1+ 48.c4 d3 ( 48...xc7 49.d5 d8 50.c6 g1 51.xg6+ xg6 52.xg6 xg6 53.xd4 , and White is winning) 49.cf2 ( 49.xd3?? xc2+-+ ) 49...c1+ 50.d5 xc7 51.f7+ xf7+ 52.xf7+ xf7 53.xe5 d2 54.f3 , and once again White is winning ] 46.c7 xc7 47.xc7+ h6 48.c6 g3+ 49.f3 A very flawed, but at the same time very entertaining game. 1-0
1323 Gelfand,Boris Pantsulaia,Levan WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (3.6) [John Watson]
A31 2717 2578 05.12.2005
Gelfand faces one of the toughest systems in the Hedgehog and is up to the challenge. But the opening could have resulted differently:
1.f3 c5 2.c4 b6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 b7 5.c3 f6 6.f3 e6 7.e4 d6 8.e3 a6 9.e2 e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.d2 bd7 12.fd1 c7 13.ac1 ac8 14.f1 b8 15.a3 fe8 16.b4 This is the classic "long line" of the Hedgehog with and early ...b6. It can arise by various move orders. Black's next is the most popular option, although he hasn't d o n e b a d l y w i t h t h e o l d e r 1 6 . . . B f 8 . d8 17.b3 e5! Sacrificing a pawn for chances against the king. This is in the spirit of the variation. The normal [ 17...c7 could be met by 18.f4 e5 19.g3 when the kingside is reasonably well protected. ] 18.xd6!? [ 18.a4 may be better, but d5! 19.xb6 xb6 20.xb6 xc4 21.xc4 xc4 22.exd5 is messy. ] 18...c7 19.d2 [ W h e r e e l s e t o g o ? L o s i n g i s 19.d4? cd8 ] 19...h5? [ Bla ck m isse s his ch a n ce f o r 19...xc4! 20.xc4 xh2+ 21.h1 xc4= , when 22.xb6 f4 23.e2 c6 ( 23...xc1 24.xc4 leaves Black a choice whether to p l a y t h e g r e e d y xa3 (apparently safe enough) ) 24.e3 e5 is attractive for him. ] 20.c5! White establishes a passed pawn and space on the queenside. From now on Gelfand makes it look easy. b5 21.a5 a8 22.a4 g6 23.h3 cd8 24.e1 bxa4 25.xd8 xd8 26.xa4 h4 27.b6 h5 This all looks very dangerous but amounts to nothing with White's queenside dominance. 28.f2 [ or 28.xa6 ] 28...h2+ 29.h1 g3+ 30.xg3 xg3 31.c3 e5 32.c2 f4 33.xa8 There go the queenside light squares. xa8 34.c4!? [ 34.a4! ] 34...d4 35.e5 h5 36.h2 g3 37.d3 b8 38.f4 xb4 39.c6 c8 40.b1 e7 41.d6 f8 42.c7 g5 43.b8 gxf4 44.xf8+ xf8 45.c8+ g7 46.e8+ h6 47.f6 1-0
1325
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1324 Giri,Anish Kamsky,Gata 74th Tata Steel GMA (6) [John Bartholomew]
A31 2714 2732 20.01.2012
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.g3 c6 4.g2 d6 A c o m p a r a t i v e l y r a r e l i n e , a l b e i t wi t h a likelihood of transposing to common lines. Gashimov has favored this move order a few times. 5.c3 g6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 d7 Black keeps the question of a knight trade open (in defiance of the bishop on g2!). [ 7...xd4 8.xd4 g7 9.0-0 0-0 i s v e r y w e l l - k n o wn t o t h e o r y . S e e t h e archives. ] 8.0-0 g7 9.c2 It's decision time. This retreat is White's most popular and highest scoring move. [ Check the archives for 9.xc6 A) 9...bxc6 is also very interesting. 10.c5 d5 11.e4 is a critical line, as in two recent games of Le Quang Liem (one with White, the other with Black). Here Black has to make an important decision between e6?! Nielsen, P (2693)-Le Quang Liem (2714)/ B e i j i n g C H N 2 0 1 1 ( and 11...dxe4! Le Quang Liem (2714)-Wang Yue (2697)/ Beijing CHN 2011. In spite of the punctuation the Vietnamese talent prevailed in both contests. ); B) 9...xc6 10.e4 0-0 11.e3 a6 . Kasparov, G (2831) -Carlsen, M (2484)/ Reykjavik 2004/[TonyK]. White maintains s o m e e d g e i n t h e s e t yp i c a l M a r o c z y structures. ( 11...a5 Kramnik, V (2799)Ivanchuk, V (2751)/ Amber Rapid Nice FRA 2008/[Hansen, Carsten]. )] [ 9.b3 ] [ and 9.e3 are (in my opinion) less promising. ] [ Finally, 9.b3 has the same motive is 9. Nc2 but can be met by a5!? . ] 9...c8 We're entering less explored territory. [ B l a c k o v e r w h e l m i n g l y c h o o s e s 9...0-0 , but there are intriguing alternatives. ] [ For one, an opinion on the flexible yet provocative 9...c8!? has yet to be formed. W hite has tried eight different responses here with mixed results. Black has a clear plan of ...Bd7-h3 and ...h7-h5. ]
[ I n t h e s a m e v e i n , 9...h5!? deserves attention. Black commits to neither ... Ra8c8 or ...Qd8-c7 and may argue that the inclusion of rook-pawn pushes after A) 10.g5 h7!? 11.f4 ( 11.e3 h4 12.e4 f6 13.g5 xe4 14.xe4 hxg3 15.fxg3 a5 16.d2 xd2 17.xd2 b6 Lindemann, S (2394)Kalinitschew, S (2483)/Germany 2002.) 11...c8 ( 11...h4 ) 12.d5 h4 13.d2 f6 Akopian, V (2693)-Dvoirys, S (2595)/ Moscow 2005.; B) 10.h4 benefits him since Black's knight can conveniently access g4 while White's cannot easily get to g5. ] 10.d2 Developing and overprotecting c3. [ 10.b3 is a solid option. h5 11.b2 h4 ( 11...0-0 is normal-ish.) 12.d5! hxg3 13.hxg3 h5 14.xg7 xg7 15.d2 e5 16.ce3 c6 17.fd1 f8 18.ac1 g5 with an original position where W hite has the better chances. Petursson, M (2515)Conquest, S (2460)/ Clichy 1991. ] 10...h5!? A good novelty. Kamsky isn't in p a rt icu la rly st e lla r f o rm t h is t o u rn a m e n t (hopefully this changes!), but he clearly came to fight. [ 10...a5 was played in Bu Xiangzhi (2673)Dvoirys, S (2539)/Moscow RUS 2010. Here 11.d5! looks best , e.g. ( The game went 11.b5 b6 12.b3 d5!? ) 11...d8 ( 11...c5 12.c3! xc4?! 13.ce3 a6 14.xf6+ xf6 15.xf6 exf6 16.xd6 ) 12.c3 h5 13.xg7 xg7 14.d2 ] [ 10...0-0 , as in Tratar, M (2420)-Cebalo, M (2540)/Nova Gorica 1997, is par for the course. ] 11.h3 An understandable reaction. [ Per my comment to 9... h5!? 10.h4, 11.h4 sh o u ld n ' t b o t h e r B la ck a b i t . He c o u l d continue calmly with 0-0 ( or employ the plan in the game with 11...e6!? 12.e3 d7 . )] 11...e6!? Attractive - Black wins a tempo to bring his queen to d7. The initiative passes to K a m sky in t h e c o m in g se qu e n ce . 12.e3 d7 13.h2 d4 14.cd5?! [ 14.c1 was better. 0-0 is probably the best reply, with fully acceptable play. ( B l a c k m a y w a n t t o a v o i d 14...xc4 15.xc4 xc4 16.e3 c6 17.d2!? 1326
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with full compensation due to the awkward position of Black's rook. )] 14...xd5 15.cxd5 b5 A double attack on b2 and e2, but Black should be wary of pawn hunting. [ It's better to throw in 15...h4!? 16.g4 before b5 . One interesting line is 17.g5 ( Now 17.e1 xb2! is justified because 18.a4+ b5 19.a5 c2 provides Black with a handy check on e5 if necessary.) 17...d7 18.c3 xc3 19.bxc3 xe2 with plenty of compensation thanks to the powerf ul bishop and W hite's numerous pawn weaknesses. ] 16.e1 xb2?! [ 16...h4 was again preferable. ] 17.a4+ b5?? Kamsky voluntary cuts off his queen's retreat. [ 17...f8! would lead to a complex struggle after 18.ac1 ( 18.ad1!? ) 18...c5! ] [ 17...b5 18.xa7 ( Not 18.xd4?? g4+-+ ) 18...d7 is close to equal. ] 18.a5 With the bishop defended Black must face the cold reality that his queen is trapped (19.Rab1 or 19.Rdb1 are threatened). g4+ Blac k mu st s he d ma te rial. Th e f o llowin g moves are best for both sides. [ B e a t i n g a h a s t y r e t r e a t w i t h 18...b4 19.xb4 f5 20.ab1 e5 should lose s i m p l y , e . g . 21.b5+ f8 ( 21...d7 22.ec1+- ) 22.ec1+- ] [ Likewise 18...c2 19.ab1 d4 20.ec1 h6 21.f4 h4 22.xc2 hxg3+ 23.h1+is technically winning for White. ] 19.hxg4 hxg4+ 20.g1 xe2+ 21.f1 c3 22.xc3 xc3 [ 22...xc3 23.a6 0-0 24.ab1 d2 25.ed1+- traps the queen again. ] [ 22...xc3 23.ab1 also wins easily. ] 23.xb5+ f8 24.ad1 Not strictly necessary. [ White can take another a pawn with 24.xg4+- ] 24...f5 Kamsky makes the best of a bad s i t u a t i o n . 25.b1 b2 26.xb2 xb2 White is winning, but he'll have to put in some work in order to break down Black's center/ kingside pawn cluster. 27.d3 f7 28.b1 f6 29.e2 c5 30.a3 h2 31.h1 [ Giri was probably unsure of the consequences of 31.xa7 d4 32.bb7
c3 ( Not 32...xe3? 33.xe7+ f6 34.e6+ g5 35.xe3 xg2 36.g7+- ) 33.xe7+ f6 , i.e. 34.ad7 xe3 35.xe3 xe3+ 36.xe3 xg2 37.xd6+ e5 38.xg6 g1! with definite drawing chances. ] 31...xh1 32.xh1 There now follows a protracted technical phase. c1 33.g2 d4 34.d3 c5 35.d1 c3 36.d3 c1 37.d1 c3 38.d2 c1 39.f3 gxf3+ 40.xf3 f6 41.g4 g5 42.gxf5 gxf5 43.g2 f4 44.f1 a5 45.d3 a4 46.c2 d1+ 47.e2 b1 48.c4+ g5 49.d3 b2 50.c2 b4 51.d2 g4 52.h1 d4+ 53.e2 b4 54.f3 a3 55.b3 b6 56.c3 h4 57.g2 g4 58.f1 b4 59.f3 f6 60.e2 h4 61.g2 g4 62.f1 b4 63.c2 g4 64.d2 b4 65.e2 c5 66.f3 e4+ 67.d3 e3+ 68.d2 e4 69.f1 e6? A clear lapse in judgment. White has made very little progress thus far, but this exchange only makes it easier for him to target d6 and f5. Of note is the following bishop maneuver to the ideal d5 square: 70.dxe6 xe6 71.c4 e8 72.h4 e3+ 73.c2 c5 74.c4 e3 75.d5 e2+ 76.d3 f2 77.h6+ g7 78.e6 Black's king is completely cut off. f1 79.c4 d1 [ 79...b1 was more tenacious. ] 80.e1! The exchange of rooks seals it. xe1 81.xe1 g6 82.d3 a7 83.b3 g5 84.xa3 f4 85.b3 g4 86.e1 Kamsky didn't bother with a possible K vs. K+B+N scenario. Despite the result, this line poses a number of decidedly "un-Maroczy" questions that White has yet to solve. 1-0
1325 Harikrishna,Penteala Sutovsky,Emil Essent Hoogeveen NED (4) [John Watson]
A31 2673 2654 27.10.2005
The following game features a wild line that has always been considered bad for White. I wonder how much of this was prepared? Two 2650+ players slug it out in old-fashioned style. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.d4 cxd4 1327
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 4.xd4 e5 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.d6 !!? This neglect of development has long since been discredited, and in fact considered almost a blunder! Let's see what both sides have up their sleeves. 0-0 [ 7...e4 A) 8.c7+?? xc7! - White has lost this way at least 4 times! 9.a4+ c6; B) But 8.e3! looks both safe and good, for example, b4+ ( 8...xd6? 9.d5! b6 10.xe5+ f8 11.1c3 ) B1) or 9.d2 xd6 10.a3 xd2+ 11.xd2! ( 11.xd2 xb5 12.xd8+ xd8 13.xb5 e7 MeenakshiG o k h a l e , R a i p u r 2 0 0 2 14.d2! ) 11...c6 12.a5! xa5+ 13.b4; B2) 9.d2! xd2+ ( 9...xd2 10.c7+ f8 11.xd2; 9...xd6?? 10.a4!+hitting both e4 and d6(with a discovery): c5 11.xd6+ f8 12.c2 xd6 13.b4 , winning a piece.) 10.xd2 xd6 11.c2 xb5 12.xb5+ d7 13.c5! xb5 ( 13...e7 14.c8+; 13...f6 14.e4 ) 14.xe5+ e7 15.xb5+; C) 8.d5!? This is not be best although it probably gains some advantage. W hite shouldn't f all f or xf2+ 9.d1 f6 has been thought to give excellent compensation after 10. Qxe5+, but White probably intended C1) 10.xe5+ f8 11.g5 bd7 12.f4 b6 ( 12...b6 13.e3! ) 13.c7 b8 14.c3 h6 15.xf6 xf6 16.7d5 xf4 17.xf4 f6; C2) 10.c7+! f8 11.d3 and Black will have to work hard to show enough for the material. ] [ The too-easy 7...a6!? hasn't been tested much but so far has achieved even results and looked all right for Black. Definitely a spot for further study. ] 8.c7 e4 9.e3 xd6 As far as I know this is a completely new move! [ Presumably Harikrishna was ready for the complications following [beware of lengthy computer-assisted analysis here!] 9...b4+ 10.c3!? ( 10.d2? xd6 11.xa8 d8 12.e2 xd2 13.xd2 xd2+ 14.f1 c6 with ...Qb8 to follow.) 10...f6 (this is the most fun response Black s h o u l d n ' t p l a y ( 10...h4 11.c2!;
but a simple answer is 10...xc3 11.bxc3 xc3+ 12.d2 xa1 13.xa1 xd6 ) A) Black seems to have just enough resources to equalise after this. White can still play for advantage with the riskylooking 11.c2!? , for example, f5 A1) 12.d3 xc3 13.d2! xd3 ( 13...e4!? 14.c4 xd6 15.xa8 c6 16.xc3 ) 14.xd3 xd6 15.xd6 xd6 16.xa8 e4; A2) 12.d2!? xd6 ( 12...g3 13.3d5; 12...xf2 13.3d5 xc2 14.xf6+ gxf6 15.xf2 xd2 16.xa8 ) 13.xa8 g3 14.e4 xh1 15.exf5 c6 16.g3; B) 11.f3!? h4+ 12.g3 xg3 13.hxg3 xh1 ( 13...xg3+ 14.d2 d8 15.c2 xd6 16.3d5 c6+ 17.b1 , winning major material.) 14.e2 h3 15.xa8 e4! 16.f4 d7 17.d2 ( 17.c7? c5-+ ) 17...xa8 18.0-0-0 xf1 19.xf1 h3 20.xe4 xd2+ 21.xd2 e6= ] 10.xa8 b4+ 11.d2 [ 11.d2!? seems losing after h4 12.g3 f6 13.f3 xd2 14.xd2 d8 ] 11...h4 12.g3 f6 13.f3 xd2 14.xd2 d8 15.xb4 xd1+ 16.xd1 c6 17.c5 xf3 18.g1 g4 19.d2 Basically it's been forced up to this point (and pretty much to the end. There's not much point in playing [ 19.d3!? b6 ( 19...e4 20.d2 and there's no ...Nd4 trick as in the game.) 20.xb6 axb6 21.xb6 e4! 22.c5 - else ...Qb4+ f6 and White has no comfortable way to proceed. 23.g2 could be perhaps be called "dynamically equal". ] 19...d4! 20.xd4 [ 20.exd4?? e3+ ] 20...exd4 21.d3 c6! 22.g2 c1+ 23.f2 dxe3+ 24.xe3 xb2+ 25.e2 h5 26.e8+ h7 27.g1 c1+ 28.f1 h3 29.f2 xf1 30.xf1 c5+ 31.f2 c1+ 32.f1 c5+ An incredible game! ½-½
1328
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 b5 18.xd2 xc4+ 19.d3 seems to A31 consolidate. ] 2508 2372 15.xe3 xe3 16.e2 c5 17.b5 d7 06.10.2004 18.0-0-0 Not the ideal place for the white king, but the kingside was impossible as the c5bishop controls g1. b6 19.c3 e8 20.g4 21.b1 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.c4 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 Black was threatening ...f5. a5 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.g3 The bishop will W ith an exchange and pawn more W hite come to g2 to help defend the d5-pawn. 0-0 should win fairly easily. b5 22.d6 To free the 8.5c3 e4 9.g2 e8 10.a3! Best, if rare, d5-square for the knight. b4 23.d5 e6 24.b3 xd6 25.f6+ gxf6 26.xd6 White plans Nc2/c4 to control e3, [ 10.0-0 e3!? was seen in Ramirez,A- White has lost his pawn, but weakened the black kingside. c5 27.c1 f8 To menace Yurtaev,L/Moscow RUS 2003. ] 10...g4!? A new move, but rather risky, ...Bxg4. [ 27...xg4 28.g1 pins. ] Black tries to refute White's last move. [ 10...e3?! 11.xe3 xe3 12.fxe3 g4 28.e3 xe4 29.fxe4 e5 30.d4 f4 Hausner,I-Hall,J/Rilton-Cup/1988, and now 31.xb4 g7 32.d4 g6 33.c5 f1+ 34.b2 g2+ 35.a3 f1? I don't really 13.c4 is best, with advantage. ] understand why Black doesn't at least capture [ 10...a6 or ] on g4. 36.h5 [ 10...bd7 seem the most sensible. ] [ 36.f5! interferes with the defence of f6, 11.xe4! xe4! The knight defends f2 and xf5 37.xf6# ] must be eliminated. [ 11...xa3 12.bxa3 f5 is met by 13.h3 36...c1+ 37.a4 d7+ 38.xd7 c6+ xe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.hxg4 xg4 39.a3 1-0 16.d3 and White is winning. ] 12.xe4 f6? Tempting, but false. [ 12...xf2+! is the only logical follow-up, A31 13.f1 c5 and White is faced with a 1327 number of unpleasant threats, ...Bxa3 and ... Iordachescu,Viorel 2578 Qf6+, for instance, 14.f4 ( 14.h3 f6+ Nevednichy,Vladislav 2563 15.f3 f2 16.c2 a6 with a strong TCh-ROM Sovata ROM (5) 25.03.2001 attack. ) 14...f6 ( 14...g5!? ) 15.f3 f2 [Tony Kosten] 16.a4 d7 17.b3 xh1 and as 18.xh1 g5 wins for Black, White must try 1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 18 Qxb7, or 18 Kg2, which are unclear. ] 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 a6 [ 12...xf2 13.c2 leads nowhere, the rook [ T h i s a v o i d s t h e l i n e 6...c5 7.d6 on h1 is defended, and the c5-bishop is see the archives. ] attacked. ] 7.5c3 c5 8.e3 0-0 9.a3 e4 10.d2 13.f3! [ 10.b4 d6 11.b2 e8 12.d2 [ 13.f3 is also effective, as xa3 14.a4 Cifuentes Parada,R-Kuijf,H/Holland 1996, is threatens mate on e8 and allows White to similar. ] capture the bishop. ] 10...f5 11.e2 e8 12.b4 a7 13...a6 With the two bishops loose on the c[ The bishop retreats out of harm's way, file, 12...d6?! 13.c4 b5 14.xd6 xd6 [ 13...f2 is countered by 14.c2 and ] 15.b2 bd7? 16.g4! g6 17.g5 [ 13...xa3 again allows 14.a4 ] 1-0 Lesiege,A-Ortiz,W/Elista RUS 1998, the 14.e3?! A curious choice, f6-knight is lost. ] [ 14.a4 is strong. ] 13.g4!? 14...xe3 [ A typical idea, White leaves his king in the [ 14...b4+ 15.d2 xb2 looks more centre, where it may be safest and interesting, but 16.c4 xd2+ 17.e2! undermines the e4-pawn, much as in a
1326 Horvath,Jozsef Basagic,Zlatko 20th ECC Izmir TUR (4) [Tony Kosten]
1329
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 p r e v i o u s l y a n a l y s e d g a m e . 13.c4 is more solid, although Black was OK after b5 14.a5 b6 15.b3 a7 16.a2 d6 17.d2 c7 18.b2 ec8 Farago,SKaratorossian,D/Budapest 1997. ] 13...g6 14.h4 h6 15.g5!? hxg5 16.h5 [ 16.hxg5?! xd5 leads nowhere. ] 16...f5 17.b2 bd7 [ The point of White's sac is revealed after 17...xd5? 18.xd5 xd5 19.h6 and the king is in big trouble. ] 18.c4 b8 19.h6 e5 [ 19...gxh6!? 20.xh6 g7 might be playable, but is not for the faint-hearted! ] 20.d6!? W hite is intent on attack. xc4 21.xc4 xd6 22.b3 c7 23.d5 xd5 24.xd5 e5 Just as White manages to clear the obstacles between his b2-bishop and g7, another one appears! 25.c1 d7 26.c5 With lateral pressure on e5. ad8?! [ Missing the threat, 26...ac8 is safer. ] 27.xe5 xe5 28.c3?! [ T h e s i m p l e 28.xf7+ xf7 29.h7+! ( 29.xf7+ xf7 30.xe5 g4 t r a n s p o s e s) 29...xh7 30.xf7+ xf7 31.xe5 keeps a lid on any counterplay, although Black still has chances. ] 28...d6 29.xe5 xe5 30.xf7+ xf7 31.xe5 g4 The problem, Black threatens mate, and manages to bring his bishop to f3. 32.0-0 f3 33.hxg7 xg7 Black menaces ... Rh8-h1 mate. 34.h2 [ 34.xg5+ f6 35.g3 h8 36.xf3+ exf3 is drawn because of the respective kings. ] 34...f6 35.c5 h8+ 36.g3 h4 Black forces a draw by perpetual check on g4, and h4. 37.fc1 g4+ 38.h3 g2!? A risk-less winning attempt. 39.1c2 [ White must take a draw after 39.c7 g4+ 40.h4 g3! 41.xb7 ( 41.fxg3?? h2# ) 41...gxf2 42.b6+ e7 43.b7+ as well. ] 39...g1 40.c1 g2 41.1c2 g1 42.c1 ½-½
1328 Ivanchuk,Vassily Yam,Alex Edmonton 9th (3) [Kosten, Tony]
A31 2738 2299 23.06.2014
1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.c4 cxd4 4.xd4 e5!? This dangerous line became popular after a young Kasparov scored well with it over 30 years ago. It is interesting at lower levels, but is not a good choice against a strong GM as he will make the extra pawn count. 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.5c3 This move scores well. [ 7.e3 is the most played, but the text will have to be played sooner or later, so playing it now keeps more options. ] 7...0-0 8.h3!? Stopping a piece going to g4, and deterring ...Bf 5 as g4 will come with tempo at some point. [ 8.e3 is the mainline once again. ] [ We have analysed 8.g3 many times in the past, b6! to provoke e3, see Aronian, LSutovsky, E and Korchnoi, V-Gurevich, D in the PGN Archive. ] 8...b5 To displace the knight with ...b4 and capture d5. [ 8...f5 might be the best move anyway, A) 9.g4 would be answered by e4 but 10.h2!? ( 10.xe4 xe4 11.e3 b4+ ) 10...g6 Raetsky, A (2505)-Kaenel, H (2395) Lenk 1995, 0-1 (59), 11.g5 e8 12.h4 d6 13.h5 looks like fun.; B) 9.e3 e7 ( 9...bd7 10.d2 Be lt ra n de Hered ia A lo nso, J (21 29 )Barrenechea Bahamonde, G (2191) Gibraltar 2007, 0-1 (21), b4!? ) 10.d2 g6 11.a3 d8 12.c4 e4 13.b4 d6 14.b2 bd7 with fairly typical play, Black is still a pawn down but his strong point on e4 gives him kingside space and reasonable compensation, Lenic, L (2634)Borisek, J (2543) Ljubljana 2011, 1/2-1/2 (41). ] [ 8...e4 9.g4 e3!? is Dorfman, J-Degraeve, J in the Archive. ] 9.a3 [ 9.xb5 xd5 10.e3 b7 with more than enough play for the pawn. ] 9...e4 Black plays aggressively. [ 9...b4 10.axb4 xb4 scores well, but after 1330
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.d2 xc3 12.xc3 xd5 Dudas, J (2320) -Stranz, R (2323) Austria 2003, 0-1 (27), W hite should prefer 13.a5 d7 14.c3 with the bishop pair advantage, rather than capturing on e5. ] 10.e3 Actually new in this particular position, although perfectly normal, of course. [ 10.g4 e3!? a 2nd pawn sac to ruin the white structure, as in the Dorfman-Degraeve game, 11.xe3 xe3 12.fxe3 d6 13.d4 g3+ 14.d2 threatens Qf4 to e x c h a n ge q u e e n s , Ra e t s k y, A ( 2 4 5 2 ) Schwartz, Y (2281) Biel 2001, 1-0 (27). ] 10...a6 11.g4 b7 12.g2 e8 13.0-0 W h it e h a s c a s t le d a n d co n s o l id a t e d h i s position, now he threatens to roundup the e4pawn. e5 [ 13...bd7? 14.g5 ] 14.d2 e7 Black has to over-defend his e4 strong point. [ 14...xd5? 15.dxe4 ] 15.c2 [ 15.b4 d6 16.c2 bd7 17.dxe4 xe4 18.xe4 c8 19.b1 was the alternative, when the c1-bishop can go to b2. ] 15...xd5 16.dxe4 xc3 17.xc3 xg2 18.xg2 The dust has settled, White has a solid extra pawn but Black has free play for his pieces. b7+?! Provoking White to play a move he wants to play anyway. [ 18...c6 i s t h e m o s t n a t u r a l , 19.b4 ( of course, 19.e4 can be answered by d4 20.d3 d8 now. ) 19...b6 ( 19...b7 20.e4 d4 21.f3 ) 20.b2 b7 w i t h r e a s o n a b l e c o m p e n s a t i o n , 21.e4 is not so good: d4 22.d2 f5! ] 19.e4 d7 20.f3 Solid. Now White can develop his c1-bishop and has d5 f or his knight, Black's compensation is close to zero. c8 21.d1 b6 22.e2 h5 23.f4 e6 24.ac1 Getting the last piece into play, Ivanchuk's play is simple but effective. e7 25.e3 hxg4 26.hxg4 f6 27.d4 [ 27.xb6 was also good, xc3 28.e3 ] 27...g5 [ 27...xd4 28.xd4 h6 is met by 29.dd1 b8 30.h1 and there is no attack. ] 28.c2 c4?! 29.d5 ce8 Menacing ... Qxd5! 30.f2 g6? Black goes downhill very quickly now, but the game was already lost as
White has a pawn more plus better pieces. 31.b3 xa3 32.c7 b8 33.d4 f6 34.h1 c8 35.ch7! Mate in 2 is threatened, and Black can only stop this by giving up lots of material. 1-0
1329 Kasparov,Garry Carlsen,Magnus Blitz Reykjavik ISL blitz (10) [Tony Kosten]
A31 2831 2484 17.03.2004
1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 c6 5.f3 d6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 d7!? Black attempts to maintain the tension in the centre, [ 7...xd4 8.xd4 g7 9.0-0 0-0 is m u ch m o re co m m o n , t r a n sp o s in g t o [A39]. ] 8.0-0 g7 9.xc6!? The simplest way to avoid any tactical problems, [ 9.b3 0-0 10.b2 a5 11.e3 keeps the pieces on the board, Morozevich,A-Loginov, V/Togliatti RUS 2003, as does ] [ 9.c2 when a5 10.d5 xd5 11.cxd5 e5 12.d2 a6 13.c3 with more space, Akopian,V-Lerner,K/Moscow RUS 2002. ] 9...xc6 The most fluid, although [ 9...bxc6 10.e4 a5 11.d2 0-0 12.d5 d8 13.e3 seems OK for Black, h5!? ( 13...c8 14.e1 g4!? ) 14.c3 c8 15.e1 b8 16.e5! with advantage, Gelfand,B-Kramnik,V/Monaco MNC 2000. ] 10.e4 White gains space and avoids the e x c h a n g e o f l i g h t - s q u a r e d b i s h o p s . 0-0 11.e3 a6 Kamsky's recipe. [ 11...c8 12.c1 b6 13.e1 h5 14.d5 xd5 15.exd5 looks good for White with his bishop pair and e-file pressure, but Black managed to draw with his illustrious opponent, Kramnik,V-Kropp,V/Mainz GER 2001. ] 12.c1 [ 12.c5 was agreed drawn in Schandorff,LBaklan,V/Bled SLO 2002. ] 12...d7!? A new move, [ 12...a5 13.e2 d7 is similar, 14.d2 b6 15.b3 fc8 16.d5 d8 17.g5 xd5 18.exd5 f6 Kramnik,V-Kamsky,G/ 1331
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Amber-blindfold 1995, when 19.xf6 xf6 20.fe1 c7 21.a4 keeps a plus. ] 13.e2 b5!? The traditional queenside thrust. [ 13...f5 is interesting, and active, if weakening, 14.fd1 xc3 15.xc3 fxe4 16.h6 f7 17.xe4 xe4 18.xe4 looks good for White. ] 14.b4!? White prepares to capture on b5 by removing his b-pawn from the vista of the g7bishop. In a 'real' game Kasparov might have preferred [ 14.cxb5 axb5 15.xb5 ( 15.a3 b8 16.d5 xd5 17.exd5 e5 looks playable for Black ) 15...xb5 16.xb5 b8 ( or 16...xa2 17.b4 ) 17.a4 xb2 when W hite enjoys the bishop pair on an open board, and a useful passed pawn. ] 14...e5?! Provocative, [ 14...bxc4 i s s i m p l e r , 15.xc4 e5 16.b3 b5 establishing control over c4. ] 15.cxb5 axb5 16.xb5 xb5 17.xb5 b8?! This is doubtful, Black had to recapture the pawn by [ 17...xa2 ] 18.a4! Of course, [ 18.xb8?! fxb8 regains one of the queenside pawns. ] 18...xb5 19.axb5 fb8 20.b6 The two bpawns are strong, but it is difficult for White to support the front one from behind whilst the b4-pawn is in the way. g4? A blitz move, Black was still in the game after [ 20...a4! which wins a pawn back, 21.f4!? ( 21.b1? c4 and Black is back in the game; 21.c7 xb4 22.xe7 c4 also gives Black chances) 21...g4 22.b7 xb7 23.c8+ f8 24.d2 looks good, as the black pieces are misplaced ] 21.b7 [ 21.e5 a4 22.b7 is also immediately decisive. After ] [ 21.b7 xb7 22.e5 White wins an exchange. ] 1-0
1330 Kortschnoj,Viktor Gurevich,Dmitry National Open (5) [Carsten Hansen]
A31 2623 2518 10.06.2007
1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.5c3 [ Or 7.e3 e4 8.5c3 0-0 is considered the main line of this gambit, often named the Kasparov Gambit, though played and developed years before he took it up. ] 7...0-0 8.g3 [ The text move is some kind of specialty of Korchnoi's against this gambit, but Black should be fine. 8.e3 e4 is again the main line examples with this line can be found in the PGN archives, e.g. Sulypa-Brzeski, Warsaw 2006 and Bischoff-Jones, Liverpool 2006, in both cases Black is doing well. ] 8...b6! [ In my opinion, this is Black's best move Black forces White to concede weaknesses on the light squares, which Black can use for immediate counterplay. However, other m o ve s h a ve b e e n t r ie d o u t a s we ll: A ) 8...g4?! A) 9.e4 allows Black an easy game: b6 10.h3 f5 11.hxg4 fxe4 12.e3 f6 13.h2 , and now Black has three adequate continuations: A1) 13...d7!? 14.c3 ( Or 14.d2 g6 15.b4 c5 16.xc5 xc5 17.g5 f5 18.c3 ac8 19.e2 xg5 with a better game for Black, I.Hausner-J. Stocek, Czech Republic 1999) 14...g6 15.g5 c5 16.b4 was M.Tobyas-L. Knazovcik, Prague 1992, and now Black s h o u l d p l a y d3+ 17.xd3 exd3 18.h5 f5 with excellent compensation for the pawn; A2) 13...g6 14.g5 a6 ( 14...xg5 is fine for Black) 15.d2 ( 15.xa6 bxa6 16.c3 is a possible improvement for White ) 15...f5 16.h5 xh5 17.xh5 c5 18.b4 fc8 19.xc5 xc5 , Black has solved his opening problems successfully, and eventually went on to win, C.Martinez-I. Papaioannou, Mallorca 2004; A3) 13...a6 14.c3 g6 15.xa6 1332
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B3b2121) 21...xf2!? 22.xe5 bxa6 16.g5 f5 17.a4 ac8 18.d2 ( 22.xf2 xc5+ 23.bxc5 d8 19.0-0-0 g4 20.e1 xg5 f8+ 24.g1 xc5+ 25.d4 21.b1 fd8 I.Hausner-R.Mainka, exd4 ) 22...g5 23.d4 Bundesliga 1990; af8; B) 9.e3! f5 B3b2122) 21...f6 22.f3 B1) the alternatives are less convincing: ( 22.xd5? xf2+ 23.h1 10.g2 f4 11.h3 xf2 12.xf2 fxe3+ xc5 24.bxc5 ad8 25.xb7 13.e1 f2 14.g1 f8 15.d3 a6 b8-+ ) 22...ad8 23.c2 a5 16.a3 f5 , and White is in serious , and Black has the clearly trouble, J.Costa-J.Polgar, Biel 1987; better chances; B2) 10.h3 f6 11.d2 B3b22) 16...h3?! 17.g5 g2 V.Dambrauskas-H. Asauskas, Vilnius ( 17...d7 18.xh3 xh3 19.f1 1999, bd7 12.c4 a6 ( 12...e4!? ) f5 20.g2 fxd5 21.0-0 13.a4 b8 ( 13...e4 14.e2 b6 according to Stohl) 18.e6 d7 15.xb6 xb6 16.g4 leads to 19.g1 xd5 20.xf8 xf8 interesting complications) 14.e2 b6 21.c1 e6 22.f3 15.xe5 bxd5 16.xd5 xd5 B3b221) 22...h3 23.f1 d8 17.d3 d6 , and Black has (Stohl); compensation for the pawn; B3b222) 22...e4 23.xe4 B3) 10.e2 f6 xe4!? ( 23...xe4 24.fxe4 B3a) 11.0-0 a6 12.a4 bd7 13.b3 xe4 25.d4 g6 26.d1+- ) e4 14.c4?! ( 14.d2!? ) 14...b5! 24.fxe4 xe4 25.d4 e7 15.b3 b4 16.d6+ h8 17.d5 26.g2 (Stohl); xd6 M.Kantorik-J.Hudecek, Prague B3b223) 22...a6?! 23.f1 h3 1992; 24.f2 V. Korchnoi-G. B3b) 11.a3 bd7 12.b4 d6 Hernandez, Merida 1996 ] 13.d2 b6 [ B) 8...e4 9.g2 e8 10.a3 ( 10.0-0 e3 B3b1) Another and more recent try - see Ramirez-Yurtaev, Moscow 2003 in the is 14.b2 d7 15.e4?! C.LingnauP G N a rch ive s) 10...g4 - see HorvathR.Mainka, Senden 2001, and now Basagic, Izmir 2004 in the PGN archives ] ( 15.b3!? ) 15...a5! 16.0-0 ( 16.bxa5 xa5 ) 16...axb4 17.axb4 9.e3 g4 10.e2 h3?! [ The text move is in my opinion a bit too xa1 18.xa1 xb4; ambitious, and offers White more chances B3b2) 14.e4 h8 15.b2 fxe4 of an advantage, whereas Black is doing 16.cxe4!? fine after 10...xe2! 11.xe2 e4 B3b21) As indicated by Stohl, A) 12.0-0 b4 13.c4 ( 13.a3!? xc3 Black can do better with 16...fxd5 14.xc3 b3 15.b5 xb5 16.xb5 , although I don't agree with his a6 ) 13...e8 14.d4?! ( 14.d2 conclusion of this line still favouring xc3 15.bxc3 d6= (Stohl) ) 14...bd7! White: 15.xb6 xb6 16.d1 ad8 B3b211) Or 17.xd6 xd6 I.Ha usne r-I .Rogers, La zne Bohd ane c 18.c4 xc4 19.xc4 e6 1994; ( 19...f6 20.0-0 b6 21.d3 B) 12.d2 f5 22.xf5 xf5 23.c1 ad8 B1) 12...b4 13.0-0 e8 14.d1 24.e1 ) 20.0-0 c6 (+= Stohl) bd7 21.xd5 xd5 22.xe5 h1 B1a) In one of my own games in this 23.f3 ad8 24.c1 xf3 line, my opponent tried 15.a3 xc3 25.xc6 xc6=; 16.bxc3 xd5 17.xe4 c6 18.d3 B3b212) 17.c4 c7 18.0-0 7b6 19.b1 ad8 20.c4 c3? f5 19.xb6 xb6 20.c5 h3 ( 20...xc4-+ 21.c2 b4! 22.axb4?! 21.e1 1333
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 them appear to offer Black adequate xe3! ) 21.xd8 xe4 22.b2 xd1 c h a n c e s : A ) 11.g1!? d7 12.a3 a5 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, 13.d2 F.Kristensen-Ca.Hansen, Danish Corr A) Or 13...a6 14.c4 c7 15.d6 b8 Ch 1994, a possible continuation is 16.d2 was played in E.Ubilava-E. 23.xd1 xc4 24.c3 f6 25.d7 Rodriguez Guerrero, Subijana de Alava xe3 26.fxe3 xe3+ with a draw by 2001, and now d8 17.g4 b5 18.g5 perpetual; ( 18.xa5?! b4 19.axb4 xb4 ) B1b) 15.b1 c7 ( 15...d6!? ) 18...e8 19.xa5 b4 ( 19...xd6 16.d6 c5 17.b5 e5 18.d4 20.c2 ) 20.d5 xd6 21.c4 b5; ( 18.c7 xd2 19.xd2 f3+ B) 13...d8 14.g4 a6 15.c4 c7 20.h1 h5 21.h4 e5-+ ) 16.d6 b8 17.g5 e8 18.e4 e6 18...xd6 C. Lingnau-A.Kadatsky, 19.c2 B.Svensson-J.Gdanski, Pardubice 2001; Gothenburg 1989, and here xd6 20.d2 B2) 12...e8 13.a3 ( 13.b5 bd7 c7 is fine for Black ] 14.xb6 xb6 15.b3 b4 16.d2 [ B) 11.f1 xf1 12.xf1 bd7 13.g2 bxd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xb4 xb4 ad8 ( Or 13...e4 14.d2 fe8 15.b3 b4 19.e2 d3 20.ab1 ac8 21.d4 16.b2 xc3 17.xc3 xd5 18.d4 1/2-1/2 A.Karahmetovic-J.Njirjak, e6 C.Martinez-W.Rocha, Sao Paulo Djakovo 2005) 13...a5 14.c4 bd7 1998 ) 14.e2 e4 15.d2 fe8 16.a3 15.dxe4 xe4 1/2-1/2 A.Maly-O. c7 17.b1 e5 ( 17...f8!? ) 18.c4 f5 Berezin, Kharkov 2000 a possible 19.b4 f8 20.b5 xd5 21.d4 g6 continuation is 16.xe4 e5 17.e2 22.b2 f5 J.Kraschl-E.Weinzettl, Austrian ad8 18.xc5 xc5 19.e4 d4 Team Ch 1995 ] 20.0-0 d3 21.d1 xd5=; [ 11.d2 bd7 ( 11...d8!? ) 12.c4 c7 C) 12.a3 bd7 13.d2 fe8 14.b4 f8 13.e4? ( 13.a3 ) 13...b5! 14.xb5 xe4 15.c4 ( 15.0-0 c7 16.b2 b6 15.c2? xf2+ 16.d1 c5 17.xe4 f6 17.ac1 d7 18.g2 bxd5 19.xd5 , and W hite resigned, A.Alba-F.Manca, xd5= V.Lainburg-E.Rotshtein, Arco Mogliano Veneto 1994 ] 2001 ) 15...d8 16.b2 e5 17.xe5 [ C) 11.a3 xe5 18.0-0 d7 19.f4 exf3 20.xf3 A) 11...d8 12.b4 ( 12.g1!? improves ) xd5 21.e4 , so far, M.Lodhi-S.Sahu, 12...e7 13.e4 ( 13.g1 a5 ) 13...g2; Asia 1987 xc3 , and now 22.xc3 e7 B) 11...a5 12.d2 bd7 13.c4 d8 23.c4 ae8 24.af1 c7= 14.f3 b5 15.xb5 e4 16.e2 b6 appears best.; 17.xb6 xb6 18.c3 fd8 19.a4 D) 12.b5 xb5 13.xb5 xd5 xd5 20.xe4 so far L.Seres-A.Szieberth, 14.1c3 xc3 15.xc3 f5 16.e2 c6 Balatonbereny 1996, and here Black has 17.d2 e5 18.d5 ad8 , and a draw e7! with a better game for Black ] was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, P.H.Nielsen-B. [ D) 11.f3 e8 12.e4 xe4 13.xe4 g6 Gelfand, Monte Carlo 2006; 14.g4 d7 15.g1 f6 16.f3 ( 16.f3 E) 12.g4 d8 13.0-0 a6 ( Here Black ac8 17.c3 b4 ) 16...e4 J.Vegh-P. should consider 13...xd5 14.c4 a6 Chenaux, Geneve 1999 ] 15.xd5 e6 16.bc3 xg4+=; 13...c7 14.g5 xd5 15.xe4 d7 11...h5?! [ This is just a bad idea now White just gains 16.d2 ac8 17.bc3 e5 ) 14.d2 a big advantage without any form of xd5 15.dxe4 g6 16.f3 xc3 counterplay on Black's part. The alternative 17.bxc3 f8 18.g3 V.Korchnoi-B. is 11...fd7 12.d2 ( 12.g1 f5 13.gxf5 Zueger, Lenzerheide 2006 ] xf5 14.d2 h6 ) 12...f5 13.gxf5 xf5 11.g4!? 14.a3 f6 ( 14...g6 15.h5 h6 [ The text is a new move in this position, and 16.de4; 14...a5 15.h4 a6 16.b3 ) it may well be a good one. White has tried a 15.h4 , and White also appears to have the bundle of other moves at this juncture, all of 1334
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 after 11.c1 a5 12.0-0 0-0 13.e2 c5 14.fd1 A) Similar to lines in the Classical V a r i a t i o n o f t h e M a r o c zy B i n d in t h e Sicilian Accelerated Dragon, Black can play 14...b6 15.c2 a4 16.d5 xd5 17.cxd5 fc8 18.dc1 a5 19.f1 h5 , and now rather than chickening out with 20.d2 aa8 21.e3 a5 22.d2 a7 23.e3 a5 after which a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Maki Uuro, MBorisek, J/ Gothenburg 2005, W hite should tried A1) 24.e1!? aa8 ( 24...xb2?? 25.xb2 xb2 26.xa5+- ) 25.e5+-; A2) 24.d2 (this could also be played on White's move 20 and 22) A2a) 24...d8 25.b4 b8 26.xc5 ( 26.d4 xd4 27.xd4 e5 28.dxe6 xe6 29.b4 ) 26...dxc5 27.xc5 xc5 28.xc5 d6 29.b5+-; A2b) 24...aa8 25.d4 ( 25.h3!? c7 26.d4 xd4 27.xd4 f6 28.f4 g7 29.e5 ) 25...xd4 26.xd4 f6 27.c4; 1331 A31 B) 14...b8 15.d5 xd5?! ( 15...e8!? ) 16.cxd5 b6 17.c2 e8 Kramnik,Vladimir 2799 18.b3! a7 19.b5! h5 20.a3 e6 21.b4 Ivanchuk,Vassily 2751 axb4 22.axb4 , and Black's position Amber Rapid Nice FRA rapid (8) 23.03.2008 comp let ely collap ses, Nielsen, P. H, [Carsten Hansen] Hansen, Cu/Aarhus 1997 ] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 g6 11.0-0 a5 [ Black has tried a number of other moves at 5.d4 cxd4 6.xd4 d6 7.g2 d7 8.xc6 this juncture: A) 11...a6 12.c1 ( The lame [ 8.e4 usually just transposes to our main 12.c5 is akin to a draw offer, which indeed line after g7 9.xc6 xc6 10.e3 ] was the immediate outcome, 1/2-1/2, of 8...xc6 9.e4 g7 10.e3 Schandorff, L-Baklan, V/Bled 2002 ) [ W hite can also con side r 10.0-0 0-0 A) 12...d7 13.e2 b5 14.b4 e5?! 11.g5!? ( 11.e3 again leads to a ( 14...bxc4 15.xc4 e5 16.b3 ) transposition to the main line.) 11...d7 15.cxb5 axb5 16.xb5 xb5 17.xb5 ( 11...h6 12.e3 a5 was played today b8 18.a4+Kasparov, G-Carlsen, M/ (April 27th) in Carlsen-Gashimov, Baku 2008 Reykjavik rpd 2004; we will return to that game in next month's B) 12...c8 13.b4 b6 14.b5 axb5 update. ) 12.d2 a5 13.d5 e8 14.ab1 15.cxb5 b7 16.e5 xg2 17.exf6 xf6 ( 14.fd1!? ) 14...c5 15.b3 xd5 16.exd5 18.xg2 xc3 19.xc3 xc3 20.b3 f6 17.h4 d7 18.fe1 f5 19.bd1 a8+ 21.g1 a5 22.c1 c8 , and White has an uncomfortable grip on 23.xc8+ xc8 24.d5 e6 Black's position, Atalik, S-Borisek, J/Bled ( 24...d8!? ) 25.c6 , and now the game 2001 ] c o n t i n u a t i o n i s g i v e n a s xa2 10...0-0 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, [ O n o c c a s i o n , B l a c k h a s t r i e d 10...d7 Raicevic, M-Subasic, D/Vrnjacka Banja , but it has proven insufficient for equality
better chances, but it has the upside of keeping Black in the game... ] 12.g5 h7 13.g1 e7 14.g3 g4?! [ A s l i g h t l y b e t t e r c h o i c e i s 14...xg5 15.xh5 f5 16.d6 d8 17.h4 e6 18.e4 ] 15.xg4 hxg4 16.xg4 xg5 [ Black doesn't achieve anything with 16...a6 17.e4 b4 18.a3 either White is winning ] 17.e4 h6 18.xh6 xh6 19.d2 f6 20.f3 bd7 21.0-0-0+- (White is a pawn up for nothing, the rest is technique even for lesser players than Korchnoi) h5 22.h3 df6 23.b1 ac8 24.d6 g6 25.d5 xd5 26.xh5 xh5 27.xh5 b6 28.xe5 fd8 29.f3 c6 30.e7 cxd6 31.xd6 xd6 32.g5 g6 33.xf7 f6 34.e5 xf2 35.xb7 g5 36.xa7 xh2 37.a6 h6 38.a4 e6 39.g4 g7 40.e5 f7 41.c2 d5 42.xe6 xe6 43.d3 c7 44.b4 d5 45.c3 e6 46.b5 1-0
1335
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 SCG 2006, but W hite wins immediately with ( 25...g7! 26.xb6 xb6 27.xb6 e1+ 28.g2 e4+ , and a draw is u n a vo id a b l e) 26.h6 b1+ 27.g2 , and Black will have to give up his queen in order to prevent White from mating him on the next move; C) 12...a5 C1) 13.b3 fc8 14.e2 e6 15.fd1 e8 16.d2 a3 17.c2 b5 18.b1 c5 19.e3 b4? ( 19...e5 20.c5 dxc5 21.xc5 b8 22.dc1 b7 ) 20.c5! b7 21.d2 d4 22.f4 b4 , Arsovic, G-Dragovic, M/Senta SCG 2006, and now W hite's best is 23.d2 d4 24.a5 e5 25.cxd6 xc2 26.xc2+-; C2) 13.e2!? d7 14.d2 b6 15.b3 fc8 16.d5 d8 17.g5 xd5 18.exd5 f6 19.h4 ( 19.h6!? ) 19...b5 20.cxb5 xc1 21.xc1 axb5 22.h3 b4 23.xd7 xg5 24.hxg5 xd7 25.c4 b7 26.d2 , and White is at best fractionally better, 1/2-1/2, Kramnik, V-Kamsky, G/ Monte Carlo 1995 ] [ B) 11...a5 12.c1 ( 12.b3 d7 13.d2 a4 14.b4 e5 15.e2 f5 16.ac1 fxe4 17.xe4 c8 18.b5 d7 19.f4 Huzman, A-Krnan, T/ Montreal CAN 2006) 12...a4 13.e2 a5 14.fd1 fc8 15.c5 e8 16.cxd6 xd6 17.d5 xd5 18.xd5 xc1+ 19.xc1 c7 20.f4 Kasparov, GIvanchuk, V/ Manila 1992 ] [ C) 11...d7 12.c1!? ( 12.d4 xd4 13.xd4 b6 14.xb6 xb6 15.b3 a5 16.f4 d7 17.fe1 fd8 18.ad1 f8 19.h4 h6 20.d2 e8 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Kolvick, RCh i b u rd a n i d z e , M/ P h il a d e lp h i a 1 9 8 9 , though W hite has a small but clear a d v a n t a g e .) 12...a5 13.e2 c5 14.xc5!? ( 14.fd1!? transposes to Nielsen, P.H.-Hansen, Cu/ Aarhus 1997 above ) 14...dxc5 15.e5 xg2 16.xg2 c7 ( 16...b6 17.cd1 ad8 18.d5 c6 19.e4 h8 20.f4 ) 17.f4 c6+ 18.e4 xe4+ 19.xe4 b6 20.cd1 ad8 21.c3 Krivoshey, S-Teske, H/Aschach AUT 2002 ] [ D) 11...c8 12.d2 d7 13.b3 c6 14.ac1 a6 15.h3 b5 16.cxb5 axb5
17.d5 xd5 18.exd5 b7 19.xc8 xc8 20.c1 1/2-1/2 Pacheco, M-Alvarado, J/ Lima 2000 ] [ E) 11...c8 12.c1 b6 13.e1 h5 14.d5 xd5 15.exd5 e8 16.d2 h4 17.g5 hxg3 18.hxg3 Kramnik, V-Kropp, V/Mainz 2001 ] [ F) 11...b6 12.d4 c8 13.d5 e5 14.xf6+ xf6 15.e3 g7 16.d3 e7 17.fd1 Akbarinia, S-Anas Nazreen, B/ Kuala Lumpur 2002 ] 12.a3 [ Another try is 12.e2!? a6 13.ab1 ac8 14.b4 c7?! ( 14...e5 15.bc1 d7 16.fd1 ) 15.bc1 b6 16.d5 xd5 17.cxd5 b5 18.xc7 xe2 19.fc1+Sciacca, M-Leoncini, M/Celle Ligure 1995 ] 12...fc8 13.b4 [ Or 13.d4!? a6 14.b4 d8 15.d3 e6 16.fd1 c7 17.ac1 Makarov, MLeventic, I/Zadar CRO 2003 ] 13...d8 14.c1 d7 15.e2 [ White has an interesting alternative in 15.e5!? dxe5 16.xb7 xc4 17.e2 c7 18.xa8 xa8 19.f3 ] 15...g4 16.g5 h6 17.d2 a5 18.f4?! [ This ambitious move is squeezing the lemon a little more than W hite ought to. White has two solid and pleasant alternatives in 18.d5 axb4 19.xb4 ] [ 18.b5 e5 19.d5 ] 18...axb4 19.axb4 xc3 20.xc3 b6+ 21.h1 xb4 22.e1 [ Kramnik is trying to keep Black of the 2nd rank, but it is only a temporary relief. Another try is 22.f3 h5 23.h3 f6 24.e5 e8 25.cc1 b3 ( 25...b6 26.b1 d4 27.xb7 xh3 28.d1 a1 29.xa1 xa1+ 30.h2 f1 31.e3 xc4 32.xe7 dxe5 33.fxe5 d8 ) 26.h2 a2 ] 22...b1 23.h3?! [ This really doesn't accomplish anything other than perhaps forcing the knight to a better square. 23.f5 e5 24.c2 b3 25.fxg6 fxg6 26.c3 a2 27.e3 h7 ] 23...a2 24.f3 xg2 [ Black can also consider 24...f6!? , e.g. 25.e3 xg2 26.xg2 xe4+ is quite possibly stronger than the game continuation ] 1336
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 25.xg2 f6 26.b3 [ 26.e3 a2+ 27.f2 a4 28.h2 xc4 29.e5 c6 30.e2 e4 ] 26...a2+ 27.f2 a6 28.h2 [ 28.e2 xc4 29.be3 c6-+ ] 28...xc4 29.a3 c6 30.e5 e4 31.e2 dxe5 32.fxe5 g5 [ 32...e6!? 33.d3 c5 34.d2 xh3+ 35.g1 h5 ] [ Black's best is probably 32...xh3! e.g. 33.g4 ( 33.d2 g5 34.a8+ g7 35.xh3 g4+ 36.xg4+ g5+-+ ) 33...c2 34.ae3 g5 35.xc6 xe2+ 36.xe2 bxc6 37.g3 f1 ] 33.xc6 xc6 34.g4 c1 35.g3 e4+ 36.h2 g5 37.g3 e6 [ 37...e4+!? 38.h2 f5 39.exf6 exf6 ] 38.b4 [ 38.d2 d1 39.b4 g5= ] 38...g5 [ 38...c5!? should be perfectly adequate for Black ] 39.xe7 f4 40.d2 g1+ [ 40...h7!? ] 41.f2 h1 [ 41...g2+! 42.e3 g3+ 43.d4 xa3 44.xa3 xh3 45.e3 ( 45.h2 g1 46.xh6 f3+ 47.c3 xe5 is even better for Black ) 45...f4= ] 42.d8+ h7 43.f6 h2+ 44.e1 h1+ 45.d2 h2+ 46.c1 g6 47.aa8!? h1+ 48.d2 h2+ 49.c3 xh3+ 50.d4 g3?? [ Black doesn't have much to fear after 50...h5! 51.gxh5 xh5 . After the text White wins, but Kramnik must have been very short of time... ] 51.h8+! xh8 52.xh8+ g6 53.g8+ h7 54.g7+ h8 55.xg5+ h7 56.g7+ h8 57.xf7+? [ 57.g5! wins immediately ] 57...g8 58.g7+ f8 59.e6 f3 60.e5 [ 60.e7+ e8 61.g8+ f7 62.f8+ e6 63.h4 a3 64.e8+ xe8 65.xe8++- ] 60...e3+ 61.d6 d3+ 62.c7 e3 63.f7+ e8 64.e7+ f8 65.d6 d3+ 66.e5 e3+ 67.d6 d3+ 68.c7 f3 69.f7+ e8 70.d6 d3+ 71.e5 e3+ 72.d6 d3+ 73.c7 e3 ½-½
1332 Lautier,Joel Zhang Zhong 37th Olympiad (11) [John Watson]
A31 2682 2640 02.06.2006
A more or less normal Symmetrical English goes downhill fast for Black when he neglects his development. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 b6 5.b3 e6 6.c3 f6 7.g5 Just a move. White isn't trying to do much, he merely wants to get his bishop in front of the pawn chain. [ 7.g3 would transpose in to the main line of 'anti-Benoni', which is arguably the main line of the Symmetrical English. Black is doing reasonably well in that case. ] 7...e7 [ 7...b4!? 8.xf6 gxf6 is interesting. ] 8.e3 a6 9.e2 e5? Too slow. I don't know what Black is doing. If it were his move, ...Qc6 w o u l d b e e f f e c t i v e , b u t i t i s n ' t . 10.f4!? Good enough. However, I don't see anything wrong with [ 10.0-0 ] 10...d6?! [ 10...g6 11.g3 d6 ] 11.c5! c7 12.cxd6 xd6 This pin hurts B l a c k f o r t h e n e x t 13.0-0 d7 Black's development is slow and his pieces are uncoordinated, e.g., [ 13...0-0 14.xd6 xd6 15.fd1 b8 ( 15...c7 16.ac1 ) 16.c5 ] [ 13...xd1 14.fxd1 g6 15.d6 , but this may be Black's best continuation. ] 14.d2! c6 [ 14...0-0!? 15.c2 threatens Nc4. ] 15.c2 fd7 16.c4 c7 17.fd1 Now White threatens Rxd7, so Black has to create a serious weakness that Lautier is quick to exploit: f6 18.xe5 fxe5 [ 18...xe5 19.b3 f7 20.g4! ] 19.h5+! f8 [ 19...g6 20.xg6+ hxg6 21.xg6+ d8 22.g7 e8 23.xe5 . White already has three pawns for the piece and his attack is continuing. ] 20.g3 W hite has won the opening. f6 21.e2 xh5 22.xh5 f6 23.h4!? [ 23.ac1 f7 24.g4 ] 23...e7 1337
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 23...f7 24.g4 h5 25.c4 ] 24.ac1 It's getting hard for Black to find moves. a5 25.b4! Really, this wins the game. g6!? [ 25...xb4 26.xe5 is the best that Black can do, but now what? ] 26.g4 h5 [ 26...a3 27.e4! wi t h t h e id e a xe4 28.c7+ f8 29.xe6 ] 27.c4 b6 28.e4 b5 29.b3 [ 29.xb5 axb5 30.xf6 xf6 31.c5 may win, but the presence of oppositecoloured bishops is a potential problem. ] 29...hd8 30.c5!? [ 30.xf6! xf6 31.c3 xd1+ 32.xd1 c8 33.e4 has in mind Qf3+ or Rd3-f3. ] 30...d5 [ 30...xd1+! 31.xd1 d5 32.b1 b6! ] 31.b1 f7 32.e4! c6 33.b3 Finally e6 can't be defended. xd1+ 34.xd1 e8 35.d6 e2 36.xe6 g7 37.h2! d2 38.f3 d8 39.c3 d4 40.f3 d8 41.a4! xa4 [ 41...f7 42.xe5! ] [ 41...b6 42.xc6 bxc5 43.bxc5 ] 42.xb7 Either the queen or f6 falls. xe6 43.xd8 xd8 44.d3 f6 45.d5 f7 46.f3 c6 47.a2 d7 48.d5 c6 49.b3 d7 50.f2 b5 51.g3 c6 52.c5 g7 53.a2 d7 54.f4 exf4 55.gxf4 f6 56.d4+ f7 57.f5 1-0
with [ 11.d2 ] [ or 11.a3 ] 11...b8 There's no good way to stop a5, winning key squares on the queenside, since [ 11...a5 would weaken d6 too much. ] 12.a5 bxa5 13.b3 a8 14.a2 0-0 15.xa5 Apparently White has won the opening. Black has always had problems against this simple plan, and thus ...Nbd7 is supposed to be delayed so that .. ..Nc6 can be the answer to a4. c7 16.d2 d5 17.cxd5 exd5 18.exd5 d6 19.c4!? Overcalculat ion? Simply [ 19.h1 xh2 20.c6 was good. ] 19...xh2+ 20.h1 g3 21.xa6! White's got this more-or-less under control, bu t t h is kind o f d e f e n ce is a rd u o u s . d8 Threatening some move by the f6 knight. 22.g1! xd5? objectively unsound, but in a Rapids game this could be pretty tough to meet. [ 22...h5 holds onto material and covers relevant squares. ] 23.xd5 h4 24.d1 fe8 25.d4 h2+ 26.f1 xd5 [ 26...h1+ 27.g1 xd5 28.xd5 transposes ] 27.g1 h1 28.xd5 xe2 29.xe2 xg2+ 30.d3 b3+ 31.d4 f2+ 32.e3! [ 32.xf2? xf2+ 33.e4 xf3+ 34.d4 g4+ ] 32...xe3?! 1333 A31 [ 32...xe3+ 33.xe3 xb2+ 34.e4 b4+ 35.d4 e2+ 36.f4 xa6 37.xd7 Nielsen,Peter Heine 2644 h6+ . Then White's king can run over to Aronian,Levon 2752 the queenside, but this is all rather unclear Amber Rapid Monte Carlo MNC rapid (4) with White having only one pawn left. ] [John Watson] 33.c4? [ 33.xf2! xf2 34.xd7 and wins. ] An Anti-Benoni systems with 4...b6. This generally gives rise to a Hedgehog that has 33...h6?! [ 33...g6! 34.xd7 ( 34.xf2 xf2 been seen hundreds of times. But Black must threatens things like ...Qxb2 and ...Ne5+.) beware of the move-order issue that arises in 34...xg1! 35.d8+ g7 36.f6+ h6 this game, and many players of White fail to and White better take the perpetual. ] take advantage of it. 1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 b6 5.c3 b7 6.f3 e6 34.a8+ f8 35.xf8+!? [ 35.xf2 wi n s o n t h e s p o t a f t e r xf2 7.e4 d6 8.e3 a6 9.e2 bd7?! 36.xf8+ xf8 37.c5+ g8 38.d8+ [ 9...e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.a4!? c6! ] h7 39.f5+ g6 40.xf7# ] 10.0-0 e7 11.a4! A lot of times this move is skipped and White plays for a normal position 35...xf8 36.c5+ g8 37.d8+ h7 1338
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 38.f5+ g6 39.xg6+ xg6 40.xf2 xf3 41.d4 This time it's the outside passed b-pawn, which makes things easier. And there are no threats of perpetual check. h5 42.b4 h4 43.h8 g5 44.b5 g4 45.b6 h3 46.b7 decides. 1-0
1334 Ramirez Alvarez,Alejandro Yurtaev,Leonid Aeroflot Open (6) [Tony Kosten]
A31 2413 2547 16.02.2003
1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.5c3 0-0 8.g3!? This move is more ambitious than [ 8.e3 which we have considered so far, but I don't completely trust it. ] 8...e8 Black is not without reasonable alternatives here: [ 8...g4 9.e3 ( 9.e4!? b6 10.h3 f5 11.hxg4 fxe4 12.e3 f6 13.h2 is odd, but might favour White, Hausner,IMainka, R/BL 8990/1990) 9...f5 10.e2 f6 11.a3 bd7 12.b4 d6 13.d2 b6 14.e4! was better for White in Kortschnoj,VHernandez,G/Merida 1996. ] [ 8...b6 9.e3 g4 10.e2 xe2! 11.xe2 e4 12.0-0 b4 with compensation for the pawn, Hausner,I-Rogers,I/Bohdanec/1994. ] [ 8...e4!? might tra nsp ose , 9.g2 f5 ( 9...e8! i s t h e g a m e) 10.0-0 e8 11.a3!? a6 12.e3 b4 13.ab5 is go o d f o r W h it e , Ra h m a n , Z-E m m s, J/ Scarborough 1999. ] 9.g2 e4 10.0-0 White can also defer this move, [ 10.a3! plans Nc2/c4 to control e3, e3?! ( 10...a6 ) 11.xe3 xe3 12.fxe3 g4 13.c2 the critical point, b6 14.0-0!? xb2 ( 14...xe3 15.xe3 xe3+ 16.h1 leaves White a pawn up for not too much) 15.d3 b6 16.d6 Hausner,I-Hall,J/RiltonCup/1988, and as xe3? loses to 17.xe3 xe3 18.d5 Black is in trouble. ] 10...e3! 11.h1!? A new move, and quite interesting, before [ 11.f3 wa s p r e f e rr e d , h5!? ( 11...a6 is more circumspect, getting the pieces into
play ) 12.a3 a6 13.e4 A) 13...xa3 then 14.xf6+! ( 14.bxa3 xd5 ) 14...xf6 15.a4! forks the rook and bishop, and keeps White on top; B) 13...xe4 i f i n s t e a d 14.fxe4 d7 ( 14...h4!? ) 15.b3 f6 16.xe3 xe3+ 17.xe3 xd5 18.d4 f6 19.xd8 xd8 20.fd1 and White managed to make his extra (doubled) pawn count in Ubilava,E-Hodgson,J/ESP-chT 1993. ] [ but maybe 11.xe3 i s p o s s i b l e : xe3 12.fxe3 g4 13.f4 xe3 14.d3 with advantage. ] 11...exf2 12.g5 g4 13.d2 bd7 14.h3!? White was clearly worried about a queen sacrifice, but nevertheless, I feel he should play [ 14.de4! xe4!? ( 14...b6 15.xf2 ) 15.xd8 xc3 16.bxc3 xe2 17.b3 axd8 and Black is very active, although after 18.xb7 it still remains to be proved that he has quite enough comp, after all, a queen is a queen! ] 14...h5 15.g4 Now [ 15.de4?! is worse, as xe4! 16.xd8 xg3+ 17.h2 d6 18.h4 xf1+ 19.h1 e3 and White is struggling. ] 15...g6 16.h4 The point behind White's play, he wants to recuperate the f2-pawn. e5 17.xf6?! A weak move, White saw that [ 17.xf2?! xf2 18.xf2 b6 ( or 18...fxg4!? 19.hxg4 h4+ 20.g1 xg4 21.f3 h2+ 22.f1 e3+ 23.xe3 xe3 ) 19.f1 xb2 left Black in charge, as he has the better position, and isn't even a pawn down, but he should have played ] [ 17.b3! first, covering b6, c8 18.xf2 xf2 19.xf2 and now, if fxg4 20.hxg4 h4+ 21.g1 xg4 22.f3 h2+ 23.f1 Black doesn't seem to have enough for his piece, e.g. e3+ 24.xe3 xe3 25.xb7 ce8 26.f3 with advantage. ] 17...xf6 18.de4 xe4 19.xe4?? Very weak, for a number of reasons. [ 19.xe4 f4 20.e3! ( 20.xc5?? allo ws m at e b y xg4 21.hxg4 h6+ ) 20...xe3 21.e2 and White will win the f2pawn, when he is only slightly worse. ] 19...xg4 Not bad, although [ 19...h4 20.g2 xg4 is also strong. ] [ 19...xg4 20.d3 ( 20.hxg4?? 1339
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a l l o w s m a t e : h4+ 21.g2 xg4+ he did have alternatives, for example the 22.h2 d6+ ) 20...h4 21.f3 f6 amazing and wins, as the e4-bishop can scarcely [ 12.xg4!? xg4 13.a4 which regains move. ] the queen, as a6 14.xc5 b6 15.a4 0-1 forces a repetition. ] 12...xe3 The point of Black's play, [ 12...e6?? 13.a4 would lose big-time! ] 1335 A31 13.fxg4 [ 13.a4? doesn't work anymore, as f2+ Seel,Christian 2380 14.e2 xb5+ 15.xf2 d5 pins the f3Ganguly,Surya Shekhar 2541 pawn and leaves Black in control. ] Masters Catalan Bay ENG (4) 30.01.2004 13...a6 14.a4?! [Tony Kosten] [ 14.g5 might be an improvement, axb5 15.gxf6 xd6 16.xe3 xd1+ 17.xd1 1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 with rook and two pieces against the black 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.d6?! Tempting, but queen, and after d4 play is quite unclear. ] probably not very good against a wellprepared opponent. 0-0! Best, as I suggested 14...f2+ 15.e2 xb5+ 16.xf2 d5 in the notes to Vladimirov,E-Ghaem Maghami, Th is is a ll f orce d , bu t qu it e goo d . 17.g2 xg4+! 18.xg4 xd2+ 19.g1 which went [ 19.e2 d4+ forks king and knight. ] [ 7...b6!? 8.1c3 0-0 9.g3 a6 10.c7 19...xd6 So, the dust has cleared and we xc7 11.dxc7 xc7 12.g2 with a plus. ] 8.1c3 The problem is that White cannot risk see that White has a piece for two pawns, but the white king confines the h1-rook and the winning the rook: [ 8.c7?! e4 9.e3 b4+ 10.d2 black pieces are very active. Black is better. ( 10.c3 xc3 11.bxc3 xc3+ 12.d2 20.xc6? A mistake in a difficult position, [ 20.f1! is best, e3+ 21.f2 d4 22.f5 xa1 13.xa1 c6 14.xa8 xd6 is the b est chan ce , a s the a tta ck on f 7 15.c4 d7 regains the material with saves White from immediate disaster, xa4 advantage ) 10...xd6 11.xa8 d8 23.xf7+ h8 24.h3 to play Kh2, unpin the the pin on the d-file regains the material rook and menace a back-rank mate. ] with interest, 12.e2 xd2 13.xd2 xd2+ 14.f1 c6 15.c2 b8 winning the 20...e3+ Now Black wins by force. 21.g2 22.h3 h6+ 23.h4 xc6 trapped knight, and the game, Teske,H- d2+ Black threatens the knight on a4, but more Salmensuu,O/Koszalin 1999. ] [ 8.e3 might be best, to keep the c3-square importantly mate in a few moves by . ..Qg2+. 0-1 available for the b5-knight. ] 8...c6 9.g3!? I don't like this move, which is a bit too ambitious, A31 [ 9.e3 is much more sensible: f5 10.e2 1336 Suba,Mihai 2509 a6 11.c7 c8 12.0-0 e4 13.7d5 xd6 Rodriguez,Orelvis 2483 with a development advantage for Black, Dzindzichashvili,R-Alburt,L/New York 1980. ] ch-(team) Div 2 (4) 11.11.1999 9...b6!? Aggressive, but other moves are [Tony Kosten] possible, for instance [ 9...a6! 10.c7 b8 and Black will capture 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g3 d6!? on d6 next with a plus. ] [ A surprisingly rare move, Black intends to 10.e3 d8!? A novelty. fianchetto his king's bishop, but this move [ 10...g4 11.f3 f5 12.a4 b4+ 13.f2 order does allow some extra possibilities d8 14.a3 a5 15.e4 favoured White in compared to the normal 4...g6 ] Bang,A-Sandstrom,L/Copenhagen 1989. ] 5.d4!? 11.d2 Planning Na4, but Black strikes first! [ A natural reply, but 5.g2 might be more g4! 12.f3 White takes the offered piece, but accurate, permitting White to defend his f21340
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pawn by castling, if necessary, g6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 d7 8.e4!? Kasparov,GIvanchuk,V/Manilla 1992. ] 5...cxd4 6.xd4 b6 [ Putting the question to the d4-knight, 6...e5 is also reasonable, 7.xc6 bxc6 8.g2 b7 9.0-0 e7 10.a4 with a slight plus to White, Djuric,S-Barczay,L/ Tallinn 1981. ] 7.e3!? [ White refuses to retreat. 7.c2 is the move previously played here, g4 8.e3 g6 9.d5 d8 10.e2 ge5 11.f4 d7 12.0-0 g7 and Black's pieces had been forced back, Nguyen Thi Thanh An-Dumpor, A/ Budapest 1998. ] 7...g4 8.f3 d7 9.g2 g6 10.b3 [ The start of an ambitious plan that proves W h it e ' s d o wn f a ll , 10.0-0 g7 11.b3 was safer, although White will still have to solve the problem of his d4-knight, and the g1-a7 diagonal, before he can play e4. ] 10...g7 11.de2? [ Intending to play Bb2, Qd2, 0-0, and then something like Na4, forcing the black queen off the diagonal, so as to continue with e4, but it turns out to be too time-consuming. 11.0-0 was still possible, as there are no immediate tactics to be worried about, e.g. xd4 12.exd4 e4? 13.d5 xd4+ 14.e3 and White wins. ] 11...h5! Obliging White to weaken his kingside. 12.h3 d8 Setting-up the d5-thrust. 13.e4 0-0 14.d2 e6 15.b2 [ White quickly finds himself in a lost position after this, but 15.a3 was no better, b4 ] 15...d5! Opening the centre before White has time to remove his king. 16.cxd5 exd5 17.xd5?! [ 17.exd5 e6 18.d6 might have done a better job of keeping back the flood water. ] 17...xd5 18.xg7 [ 18.exd5 does not help, xb2 19.xb2 b4 wins. ] 18...e3! The point of Black's combination. 19.h6 [ White had to keep control of e3, if 19.xf8 instead, then xg2+ 20.f1 e3+ 21.e1 xf8 with a material advantage. ] 19...xg2+ 20.f1 xh3 Discovering an a t t a c k o n t h e w h i t e q u e e n . 21.c3 Threatening mate, but Black's discovered
check will be devastating. e3+ 22.e1 g2+ 23.f1 e3+ A little repetition to gain time on the clock, no doubt. 24.e1 c2+! Sacrificing this piece to gain just one move! 25.xc2 b4 26.c3 d3+ 27.d2 e5+ 28.e1 d3+ 29.d2 e5+ 30.e1 fe8! Finally settling on the winning line. 31.e3 [ 31.xh3 is no improvement, d3 32.c2 xf3+ 33.f1 f6 with a winning double attack. ] 31...f6 32.xh3 d3 33.c1 xf3+ W h i t e h a s n o c h o i c e b u t t o wa l k i n t o a discovered check. 34.f2 g5+ White has jettisoned some material, but Black's attack continues unabated. 35.f4 xh3+ 36.g2 xe4 37.f1 Resignation was a better choice, perhaps. xf4+ 38.xf4 xg3+ [ F i n i s h i n g t h e g a m e i n s t yl e , 38...b2+ 39.h1 xg3 was as effective, if rather mundane. ] 39.xg3 g5+ 40.h3 xf4 41.e1 f3+ [ 41...f3+ On 42.h2 there is: f4+ 43.h1 h3+ 44.g1 h2+ 45.f1 f3+ etc. ] 0-1
1337 Sulypa,Alexandre Brzeski,Maciej 6th Amplico AIG Life rapid (6) [John Watson]
A31 2478 2323 16.12.2006
1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.e3 0-0 8.5c3 e4 9.d2 This move used to be more popular. The recent examples tend towards delaying it for a while in favour of Be2, a3, b4, and Bb2. [ Since White is soon tied up, he might consider 9.c2 intending f5 10.d2 e7 11.b3 d6 ( 11...bd7 looks be tte r) 12.d4 g6 13.e2 compare the game. Nevertheless, Black is hardly suffering. ] 9...e7 10.e2 d8 11.a3 a5 Preventing b 4 i s l o g i c a l wh e n W h i t e l a c k s a n o t h e r positive plan. [ 11...f5 has been played. And capture of the d-pawn is unclear: ] [ 11...xd5!? 12.cxe4 xe3! ( 12...xe3? is unsound after 13.fxe3 xe3 14.b3! ) 13.fxe3 xe3 14.b3 xg2+ 15.f2 f4 1341
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with a dangerous attacking position. White may be better but it's hard to prove this, all the more so in practice. One line is 16.c4 h3+ 17.g2 f4+ 18.g3 h5+ 19.f2 c6! ] 12.c2 f5 13.0-0 bd7 14.b3!? [ 14.c4 ] 14...d6 15.d4?! [ 15.b5 e5 ( 15...xd5 16.xd6 xd6 17.d4 ) 16.3d4 is more to the point, although it's fair to call this dynamically balanced. ] 15...e5 16.g3 h3 17.d1 c5 [ or 17...ac8 . White is in quite a bit of trouble already. ] 18.b3 [ 18.f4!? exf3 19.xf3 supports e4 and d5 at the cost of exposing some weaknesses. ] 18...xb3 19.xb3 g4!? [ 19...f5! sets up an almost unstoppable attack, e.g., 20.d2 g4! 21.e1? xe2 22.xe2 h3 and wins. ] 20.c2 h5 21.h4 g5? To this point Black has played reasonably accurately (although 19... Qf5! was awfully strong) and he has at least equalit y because of the centre an d kingside light squares. But this attempt to blas t th rou gh f a ils to simp le e xch an ge s. 22.xg4 xg4 [ 22...xg4 23.xe4 gxh4 24.f3 and the knight can't move due to Nf6+. ] 23.hxg5 h8?! [ 23...xg5 24.xe4 f5 25.xf6+ xf6 26.g2 and Black's attack has dissipated as he remains two pawns down. In the game, Black sacrifices a piece with no compensation. ] 24.gxf6 g8 25.xe4 h5 26.h1 g4 27.d4 g6 28.e2 e5 29.h4 xf6 30.h6 d3 31.d2 xb2 32.e1 g7 33.c1 xc1 34.xc1 c3 35.g2 xa3 36.e2 d3 37.f4 e4+ 38.g1 b4 39.d1 a4 40.h5 g4 41.d4 g6 42.xg6 1-0
1338 Swiercz,D Meier,Geo French Top 12 2013 (9.1) [Daniel Gormally]
A31 2631 2655 07.06.2013
1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 c6 4.g3 g6 5.g2 d6 6.0-0 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d7 [ Grandmaster Keith Arkell swears by the variation 8...xd4 9.xd4 0-0 from the black side, this variation is very subtle and requires a great deal of strategic understanding by both sides. ] 9.c2 h5!? An interesting, if risky choice. Black elects to retain flexibility with his king in the center, meanwhile probing for weaknesses on the white kingside. 10.g5 [ Weaker is 10.h4?! c8 11.f4 g4! The knight has great irritation value here, as if White elects to try and kick it away with f3, then he just creates more weaknesses. 12.d2 a5 13.e4?! xd2 14.xd2 d8! Already Black is clearly better 15.c3 xc3 16.xc3 xc4 And Black went on to win in Gretarsson, H (2444)-Gustafsson, J (2647) Reykjavik 2011. Doubtless Meier had analysed this whole ..h5 idea with his countryman and good friend Gustafsson. ] 10...h7 [ 10...c8 11.e4?! I don't really understand this move, as White had enough control over the center in any case, and this just creates more targets for Black h7 12.d2 h4 13.f3 hxg3 14.hxg3 e5 15.b3 f6 16.e2 h5 17.f2? ( 17.e1 ) 17...b5 18.cxb5 c5+ 19.e3 Was Akesson, R (2448) -Maeurer, C (2266) Pardubice 2012, and now Black would be almost winning by force with the very strong d4! ] 11.f4 f8 [ 11...c8 12.d5!? Straightforward piece play in the center makes much more sense than the e4 plan h4 13.d2 f6 14.ce3 h3 15.f3 h5 16.xh5 xh5 17.g4 h8 18.ad1 e5 19.b4 xg4 20.xg4 xg4 21.c5 xc5 22.xc5 dxc5 23.c7+ xc7 24.xc7 f6 And Black has enough compensation for the exchange, although he later lost in Akopian, V (2693)-Dvoirys, S (2595) Moscow 2005 ] 1342
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.h4 e6 Re-routing the knight to e6 is an interesting idea, although you could argue it was f a irly well pla ced o n f 6 in any ca se . 13.d2 a6?! In my opinion Black's play in this phase of the game is too passive and complaint. Having first announces his desire to launch a kingside attack with ...h5, you would imagine that he would stoke up some early pressure, but he then changes horses midstream, and opts for more conventional play. Such a course of action rarely meets with success. [ Players of more a barbarian nature might well have considered 13...g5! here. 14.hxg5 h4 which would at least be consistent with h i s p r e v i o u s p l a y. B l a c k h a s p r a c t i c a l attacking chances, and in any case this is much more fun for him than what conspired in the game. ] 14.b1! White's play is straightforward and effective. He plans to expand on the queenside as much as possible, cramping Blac k b e f o re f orcin g a bre akt hro ugh . 0-0 15.e3 ed4 16.b4 b8 17.a4 e5 18.b5 e8 19.cd5 f5 [ White also retains the better chances after 19...g4 20.xg4 xg4 21.e1 axb5 22.c3 e5 23.axb5 a8 24.e3 ] 20.c1 e6 21.xf5 xf5 22.e3 d7 23.b3 a5 24.fd1 bc8 25.b6! This pawn proves to be a "bone in the throat" c5 26.a3 d7 [ 26...xa4? 27.d2+- ] [ Objectively Black should avoid what is c o m i n g w i t h 26...b8 27.g5 f8 although he remains on the defensive after 28.e3 ] 27.c7! Simple and strong. The b7 pawn falls, after which Black is in serious trouble. ed8 28.xc5 dxc5 29.xb7 b8 30.xa6! This is maybe what Black missed earlier. The bishop falls, but as a consequence Black is stuck in a deadly pin. xb7 31.xc5 xb6 32.xb7 [ 32.a5! c6 33.xb7 xb7 34.a6 Is perhaps even stronger. ] 32...xb7 33.xe7 c7 34.c5 f8 35.xd8! The final blow. xd8 36.c6 a3 [ 36...b6 37.xd7 b2 38.dd1 d6 39.c7 xc7 40.xc7 xe2 41.d8+ g7 42.dd7 Is an easy technical win. ]
37.c7 1-0
1339 Terzi,Simon Bareev,Evgeny TCh Bihac BIH (6) [Tony Kosten]
A31 2330 2698 26.08.1999
1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 5.c2 Not the most accurate move, White is obviously hoping for an equal ending. b5!? Hodgson's move, continuing in true gambit style. [ 5...d5 Equalizes immediately, 6.cxd5 xd5 7.xd5 xd5 8.e4 bett er tha n ( 8.g3?! c6 9.g2 e6 10.0-0 0-0-0! with an edge to Black, Andersson,U-Gelfand, B/Tilburg 1990.) 8...b4 9.xb4 xb4+ 10.d2 c6 11.b5 ] 6.cxb5 b7!? Black attempts to impede White's natural development. [ 6...a6 was played in the original game: 7.bxa6 xa6 8.e4 b7 9.e2?! xe4 wh ich is f a irly equ a l, S ch u lz-Ho dgs o n , Germany 1994. ] 7.e3 d5 8.e2 d6 In Hassen Fahdel,FMalmstig,E/Skelleftea 1999, Black played [ 8...bd7 instead, but after 9.0-0 d6 play was similar, the game continuing: 10.a4 e7 11.f4!? h5!? with some compensation for the pawn. ] 9.0-0 0-0 10.c3 bd7 11.b3 c8 12.b2 White has developed his pieces sensibly, but Black's strong centre will always allow him compensation. e7 13.c1 fd8 14.f4!? Once again the same idea. W hite cannot afford to wait passively while Black prepares a central breakthrough. f8 15.a4 d4! A typical thrust, releasing the pent-up force of the black set-up. 16.exd4 And not [ 16.fxe5? when xe5 17.g3 xc2! 18.xc2 xe3+ 19.f2 xg3! 20.hxg3 xg3+ 21.f1 d5 wins. ] 16...exf4 17.f3 White manages to parry the threats along this diagonal, anyway. e6 18.e1 xf3 19.xf3 d7 If Black can capture the b5-pawn, his control of d5, and better pieces will give him a plus. Meanwhile, White also has the threat of ...Ng5 to contend 1343
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with. 20.c5!? Trying to buy White off with a pawn, the alternative [ 20.b6?! allows Black to proceed with his attack: g5 21.f1 f3 and if 22.bxa7 when g4 is very strong. Otherwise, ] [ 20.e2 may be the best move, although after d5 Black should be able to recoup his pawn whenever he likes, maintaining an advantage. ( Or, alternatively, play for the attack with 20...g5 )] 20...xc5 21.dxc5 xc5+ 22.h1 g4 Black refuses to let-up, ...Nf2+ is threatened. 23.d4! A clever resource! After the 'normal' move [ 23.e2 Black can stay on top with e3 ] 23...h5!? Both protecting the g4-knight, and providing an escape square for the king. [ 23...xd4 24.xd4 xc1 25.xc1 xd4 26.xg4 allows White good drawing chances. ] 24.h3?! This allows Black to play the exchange on d4 under favourable circumstances. perhaps he should have tried [ 24.c6! i.e. f2+ 25.g1 e8! 26.f1 a s B la c k h a s n o t h in g b e t t e r t h a n d3+ allowing 27.xc5 xc5 28.xg7 xg7 29.c3+ and White has good play for the exchange. ] 24...xd4 25.xd4 xc1 26.xc1 xd4 27.hxg4 hxg4 28.xg4 e5?! Setting a trap, but [ 28...d2! i s s t r o n g , 29.f1 xa2 with real winning chances. ] 29.c8?? A terrible blunder. Defending the b5pawn with [ 29.a4 should hold the balance. e.g. e3 30.d1 ] 29...e1+ [ 29...e1+ 30.h2 g3+ 31.xg3 fxg3+ 32.xg3 xc8 wins the rook. ] 0-1
1340 Tomashevsky,Evgeny Morozevich,Alexander ch-RUS Superfinal (1) [John Watson]
A31 2564 2707 19.12.2005
Justin Horton first alerted me to Tomashevsky-Morozevich Moscow (Russian
Ch) 2005 which began 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.g3 b6 6.c2 [ [jw:] Most readers are probably unaware that the line 6.b3 e5 7.c5! c6 8.g1 is supposed to favour White! You have to love the open-mindedness of it all. One game went e6 9.f4 g6 10.g2 d5!? 11.cxd6 a6 12.e3 xd6 13.c3 d7? 14.xb7! xb7 15.xd6 with a killing advantage. Notice how nice it is to have the rook off of h1! ] 6...h5 Horton: "and Black won convincingly. The line (e.g. 3.d4 and 5.g3) is recommended in a number of places, notably Davies' Dyn am ic Re ti an d K h a lif ma n 's series o n Kramnik, but to me it's always looked as though White is short on development and I wo n d e r w h a t y o u t h i n k a b o u t i t ? " G o o d question! At first it looks as though 6...h5 doesn't have any great influence upon the opening, especially since W hite comes out with a reasonable game, only equal but with play for both sides. But if you compare it with 6...Ne4, you can see the point. Hansen says that "6.Nc2 can be answered comfortably in several ways" without mentioning any. [ Offhand, 6...e6 7.g2 d5!? 8.cxd5 exd5 strikes me as a possibility based upon what Justin says about White's development. ] [ But compare 6...e4 to the game : 7.e3 a5+ 8.d2 f5 Here 9.xe4 xe4 10.f3 has a safer appearance for White, better than arises the game. Perhaps he has an edge. In any case, here's the game: ] 7.h3 e4 8.e3 a5+! 9.d2 f5 10.f3 A key point. To try for advantage, White has to play [ 10.xe4 xe4 11.f3 ( 11.g1!? ) 11...e5 (hitting g3 this time) 12.f4 e4 13.g1 , intending Bd3, but that's a bit hard to believe. Maybe g6 14.d4 ( 14.d3 e6 15.g4 hxg4 16.hxg4 h2 ) 14...xd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.exd4 g7 is best, or at least very solid: 17.e3 d6 18.g2 d7 19.b3 c6 etc. ] 10...a5+ 11.d2 Acceding to a draw if Black wants it. [ 11.d2 xd2 12.xd2 xd2+ 13.xd2 d6 with the bishop pair ] 11...c5! 12.e2?! [ 12.b1 e5 13.b4 cd3+ 14.xd3 1344
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xd3+ 15.e2 xc1+ 16.xc1 is hard to assess. ] 12...g6?! [ 12...d6 with the idea 13.b1? f5 ] 13.b1 c7 14.d4?! [ 14.b4! ] 14...g7 15.b4 e6 16.xe6 dxe6 17.b2 xb2 18.xb2 b6= 19.b3 b7 20.c3 [ 20.0-0 ] 20...0-0 21.g1?! [ 21.0-0 e5 22.f4 ] 21...fd8 22.f4 a5 23.b5 b4 24.b3 d6 [ 24...c5 25.f2 f5 ] 25.a3? [ 25.f2 ] 25...d3+ 26.xd3 xd3 27.xd3 xd3 28.e2 xa3 29.c5 bxc5 30.c1 d8 31.xc5? [ 31.b3 c4 32.xc4 d5 33.d4 b8 ] 31...dd3! 32.c7 xe3+ 33.f2 d5 and should win. 34.d7 xg3? [ 34...h4! ] 35.xd5! exd5 36.b6 gd3 37.e2 e3+ 38.f1 a1+ 39.b1 a4?! [ 39...xh3 40.g2 ( 40.b7? xb1+ ) 40...a2 41.xa2 b3 42.d2 xb6 43.xa5 e6 ] 40.b7 a3 41.b8+ h7 42.f8 ½-½
1341 Vladimirov,Evgeny Ghaem Maghami,Ehsan 12th Goodricke Open (3) [Tony Kosten]
A31 2612 2504 08.02.2001
1.c4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.d6!? A relatively new idea, threatening to check on c7, and win a rook. However, the loss of time may prove important, can W hite really afford to play another pawn move? b6!? New, the other possibilities have all been tried: [ 7...e4?! (worth a try, but doubtful!) A) 8.d5! is st ron g, a5+ ( 8...xf2+? 9.d1 f6 10.c7+ wins ) 9.d2 xb5 10.e3 is very strong, White will take the epawn with check, and then the knight.; B) 8.c7+?? very naive, xc7 9.a4+ ( 9.dxc7 xf2# ) 9...c6 0-1 Johansen,S-
Sorensen,M/Aarhus 1994, and others. ] [ 7...a6?! this is wrong, as the b5-knight can no longer be attacked by ...a6, 8.1c3 0-0 9.e3 f5 10.a3 d7 11.e2 c6 12.b4 b6 13.0-0 ad8 14.b2 W hite has consolidated his one pawn advantage, Guseva, O-Khvostova,I/Rybinsk 1999. ] [ but 7...0-0! is best, 8.c7?! ( 8.1c3 c6 , Black has no problems) 8...e4 9.e3 b4+ 10.d2 xd6 11.xa8 d8 pin and win! 12.e2 xd2 13.xd2 xd2+ 14.f1 c6 Black is better, 15.c2 b8 winning the knight, and the game, Teske, H-Salmensuu,O/Koszalin 1999. ] 8.1c3 0-0 9.g3 a6 This way Black can kick the knight, and regain the pawn, unlike after 7...Na6, b ut h e will lo se th e bishop pair. 10.c7 xc7 11.dxc7 xc7 12.g2 d8 13.d2 c6 Black has good development, but he must achieve something concrete with it before the white bishops come into their own. 14.0-0 g4 15.h3?! e6 [ Missing a good chance, 15...d7! 16.hxg4 xd2 17.xd2 xd2 18.g5 e8 leaves Black with a very comfortable game, because of his active rook. ] 16.h2 h6 17.c1 ac8 18.d1 b5 19.e1 White has to contort his position. xd1 20.xd1 e7 [ 20...d8 21.c1 b6 keeps White passive. ] 21.a3 d8 22.c2 f5?! [ 22...f5 23.e3 d6 to c4 is an alternative. ] 23.e4 e6 24.d1 xd1 25.xd1 d7?! W h y c h a n g e t h e qu e e n s ? 26.f4 xd1 27.xd1 d7 28.e3 f6 29.c3 The endgame is pleasant for White who can utilise the long-term advantage of the bishop pair. f7 The e4-pawn will provide Black with co u nt e rpla y. 30.g1 b3 31.f2 c5 32.fxe5 fxe5 33.d5? [ A mistake, and 33.xe5?? is even worse: d3+ ] [ 33.e2 is better. ] 33...xe4+? [ Clearly, both players must have been short of time, 33...xd5 34.exd5 e7 35.e3 d6 wins the d-pawn for nothing. ] 34.xe4 xd5 35.xd5+ xd5 36.xe5 1345
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 With pawns on both sides of the board, the bishop is the stronger piece here. g6 37.f3 e6 38.g7 h5 39.e4 d6 40.f8+ e6 41.d4 f6 T o st o p K c5 . 42.h6 f5 43.d2 g5 44.e1 g4 45.h4 d7 46.b3 e6 47.d2 e5 48.f4 c6+ 49.c5 All Black's pawns are on light squares, but he cannot stop the king infiltrating on the c5square. If he had brought his king to the queenside, then the white king would have attacked on the kingside. a5 50.b4 c4 51.a4 b2 52.axb5 axb5 [ 52...d3+ 53.c4 xf4 54.bxa6 d5 55.c5 wins, the two pawns are unstoppable. ] 53.xb5 d5 54.b8 d3 55.c7 The main advantage of the bishop over the knight is that he can move and yet maintain control over the same squares, the knight cannot, and so is often Zugzwanged. d4 56.a5 d5 57.b5 c5 58.b8 d5 59.b6 c4 60.d6 1-0
1342 Wang Yue Megaranto,Susanto XV Asiad Men's Rapid rapid (2) [John Watson]
A31 2644 2492 02.12.2006
1.c4 f6 2.d4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 e5!? 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.5c3 0-0 A familiar gambit position. 8.e3 a6!? [ Usually 8...e4 follows at this point. See Sulypa-Brzeski in this update. Perhaps Black doesn't lose much by preparing ...b5 and securing a7 for his bishop. ] 9.a3 e7 But this looks a little inconsistent with ...a6, in that if Black wanted to play ... Rd8 he might have done so earlier, when W hite couldn't consolidate as easily. 10.b4 a7 In the main lines Black usually plays ... Bd6, but since in this position . ..e4 has yet to be played, [ 10...d6 can be answered by 11.e4 ] 11.e2 [ Now 11.e4!? is met by g4 12.a2 h4!? ( or 12...f5 )] 11...e4 12.b2 d8 13.d2 b5 V e r s u s N c 4 . 14.c2 f5 15.g4!?
Fancy, but simply [ 15.0-0 was probably better. ] 15...xg4? [ 15...xg4! 16.xg4!? xg4 17.g1 f5 18.cxe4 g6 looks good for White, but in fact he has no good entry points and the position is about equal. ] 16.xg4 [ Or 16.cxe4! xe4 17.xe4 ] 16...xg4 17.xe4 xe4 18.cxe4 White remains a pawn up. d7 [ 18...xd5 19.g1 f5 20.h3 fxe4 21.xg4 g6 22.xe4! threatens Re7, and f8 23.a4 or 23 Re6 gives White enough advantage to win. ] 19.g1 ge5 20.e2 g6 There's not much to do, so Black blocks off the rook on g1. Of c o u r s e t h i s w e a k e n s f 6 a n d h 6 . 21.ac1 ac8 22.d6 xc1 23.xc1 b8 24.b7 e8 25.h3!? [ 25.c5 or even ] [ 25.d6 is stronger. ] 25...b6 26.d6! ed7 27.b3 f5 28.d4 f7 29.xb6 xb6 30.3c5 f8 31.d1 c4 32.d7 1-0
1343 Adianto,Utut Espinosa,Rafael 34th Olympiad (3) [Tony Kosten]
A32 2583 30.10.2000
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c4 c5 4.c3 [ Allowing transposition into the English Opening, 4.d5 brings play into a Benoni. ] 4...cxd4 5.xd4 a6 6.g3 c7 Black wishes to force White to waste time defending his c4pawn, this line may well become more popular since featuring in the World Championship. 7.g2!? [ The most f un, White simply gambits the pawn hoping that his lead in development will compensate. Otherwise, 7.g5 A) taking the pawn is risky, as the queen and undeveloped c8-bishop are lined-up on the same file, but playable: 7...xc4 8.c1 b4 9.a3 a5 ( 9...b6? 10.d5! wins ) 10.xf6 gxf6 11.g2 unclear; 1346
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 7...e7 8.c1 leads to Hedgehog-style position, with equality, and the immediate defence of c4, ] [ 7.d3 is awkward, and after c6 8.xc6 dxc6 ( 8...xc6 9.e4 b6 i s a l s o r e a s o n a b l e) 9.g2 e5 '= ' K h a r it o n o v. 10.0-0 e6 11.a4!? and after this novelty a draw was agreed in Kasparov, G-Kramnik,V/London ENG 2000, ( 11.b3 is more usual, although d8 12.c2 e7 13.b2 0-0 is quite equal, Ribli,Z-Ljubojevic,L/Linares 1981. )] 7...xc4 8.f4 c6 9.b3!? [ Once again, the sharpest possibility, 9.xc6 bxc6 10.c1 b4 11.a3 b7 12.d6 led to a quick draw in Sosonko, GKavalek,L/Wijk aan Zee 1978. ] 9...d5 [ Tempting, but 9...b4 may be stronger, 10.e4 d6 with a solid set-up, Simonyi,ZIonescu,C/Odorheiu Secuiesc 1992. ] 10.0-0!? [ A novelty, but very logical, 10.a3 d4 11.d2 c5 12.a4 b5 13.c4!? e5 14.cb6 exf4 15.xa8 d6 favoured Black in Bates,R-Webster,A/Aberdeen 1994, and ] [ 10.c1 b4 11.0-0 e7 12.c7 d8 was about equal in Lesiege,A-Sagalchik,G/ Montreal 1995. ] 10...b4 11.e4!? White strikes quickly. d4 [ 11...xe4!? 12.xe4 ( 12.xe4 dxe4 13.a3 e7 14.xe4 e5 defends ) 12...dxe4 13.e1 f5 14.f3 is possible, if somewhat risky. ] 12.d5!! A piece sacrifice to open the central files against the king. exd5 13.exd5 e7 14.e1 g4?! 15.d3 [ 15.f3 f5 16.xd4 g6 17.d6 wi ll re ga i n t h e p i e c e , b u t W h it e wa n t s more. ] 15...d8 [ Perhaps Black should unpin with 15...d8 ] 16.h3 [ Black would be very happy with 16.d6?! e6 17.dxe7 xe7 ] 16...c8 17.ac1 Continuing to pile-on the pressure, how can Black continue? g5!? [ As an example of the problems facing Black: 17...fxd5!? 18.xd5 xd5? 19.xc8+ wins. ]
18.d2 d6 19.xd4 Although still a piece to the good, Black is completely lost! fxd5 [ Desperate, but if 19...g7 20.b4 ] 20.xh8 h6 21.xd5! xd5 22.xe7+ xe7 23.b4+ [ After 23.b4+ d7 24.xf8 it is now White who has an extra piece, in addition to his ongoing attack! ] 1-0
1344 Adianto,Utut Timman,Jan H Japfa Classic (4) [Tony Kosten]
A32 2584 2655 25.04.2000
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.f3 cxd4 5.xd4 Play has transposed into a Symmetrical English. b4+ 6.d2 b6 7.e3 c6 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 d8! [ A good new move, which adds force to the ...d5 move. Before, Black had often played this immediately: 9...d5 10.cxd5 xd4 ( 10...exd5 11.xb4 xb4 12.b3 d6 13.c3 xd4 14.exd4 e6 15.ac1 is f avourab le f o r W hit e, Mo ldoba ev, E Arnason,J/Moscow 1994) 11.xb4 xb4 12.xd4 xd4 13.exd4 exd5 14.c3 e6 15.ac1 allows White a pleasant advantage, because of the respective bishops, Hansen, C-Farago,I/Wijk 1988. ] 10.xb4 [ White takes play into a long, forcing, line, b u t o t h e r w i s e h e h a s n o t h i n g , 10.c3 can be met by e7 ( rather than 10...d5?! when 11.xc6 bxc6 12.xf6 is possible) 11.d2 d5 and Black will avoid the IQP. ] 10...xb4 Black allows the coming combination, he had no doubt analysed this at home. 11.xc6!? [ 11.xc6?! bxc6 12.xc6 allows Black a strong initiative after b8 13.g2 d5 ] 11...bxc6 12.xc6 xb2 The point, Black saves his own rook by menacing the a1-rook. 13.xd8 [ 13.d6 e4! forces White to exchange qu e e n s, wh e n h i s wo rse st r u ct u re is a problem. ] 13...xa1 14.d6 h6 15.a3 xa2 16.e7 White counterattacks the f7-pawn with 1347
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 his two active pieces. a6 17.xf7 f8 Wolf, V-Lau, R/Germany 1985) 11.e4 e7 18.e5 d2 19.b1 12.a3 b7 13.d6 xd6 14.xd6 b8 [ Perhaps 19.b5 was a better bet, although 15.c5 a7 16.d6 b8 17.c5 a7 xb5 20.cxb5 b8 seems OK. ] 18.d6 1/2-1/2 Dyachkov, S-Aseev, K/Elista 19...a5 20.d6?! 1996 ] [ Risky, as after this White loses his f-pawn, 9...d5 20.f4 is fine. ] [ Black has several alternatives at this 20...e4 21.d4 xf2! 22.d2 juncture: A) 9...e7 [ Rather than 22.xf2?? when e1+ wins. ] A) 10.e4 a5 11.e1 a4 12.e5 xe5 22...h3+ 23.g2 xf1 24.xf1 13.xe5 c7 14.f4 d6 15.c5 d8 [ 24.xf1?! is worse, e1 25.d2 g5 16.xc8 xc8 17.d2?! ( 17.c1!? axb3 threatening both ...Bb7+, and ...Qe2+. ] 18.b5 b8 19.c7+ f8 20.xa8 24...d5 xa8 21.xb3 ) 17...a3 18.b3 axb2 [ This doesn't come to much, but 24...b7 19.xb2 0-0 ( 19...d5! ) 20.c1 d7 peters-out after 25.d6 a1+ 26.e2 21.c4 Sanz Alonso, F-Silva, F/Barreiro h1 27.xd7 ] 2001; 25.g2! g5 26.h4 h7 27.c6 b6 B) 10.g5 0-0 11.c1 g4 12.d2 d5 28.cxd5 13.f4 f5 14.a4 b4 15.e3 d7 ½-½ 16.h3 e5 ( 16...g6!? ) 17.g4 exf4 18.xf4 e6 19.d3 de5 20.xd5 e7?! 21.e4 f5 22.e3 e6?? 1345 A32 , and Black resigned at the same time, 1-0, Ernst, S-Timman, T/ Amsterdam NED Agrest,Evgenij 2567 2006 ( 22...g6 23.xe7 xe7 Carlsson,Pontus 2514 24.d2 ); ch-SWE Vaxjo SWE (10) 08.07.2008 C) 10.f4 d5 ( 10...0-0!? 11.a3 a5 [Carsten Hansen] 12.c1 a4 13.d2 a6 14.e4 d6 15.e1 e5 16.f1 a7 17.e3 b6 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.d4 cxd4 left White with some compensation for the 5.xd4 a6 6.g3 c7 7.g2 pawn, Haroutjunian, D-Kudrin, S/ Yerevan [ In my book on the Symmetrical, I found 1996 ) Black to be doing fine after both of White's C1) 11.a3!? alternatives 7.d3 ] C1a) 11...0-0?! 12.c1 d8 13.c7?! [ and 7.g5 ] ( I'm not entirely sure why Aronian 7...xc4! d e c i d e d a g a i n s t 13.xd5 [ In my opinion, Black should definitely force which seems to offer White the better W hite to prove that he has adequate chances after exd5 14.xc4 dxc4 c o m p e n s a t i o n w i t h t h i s m o ve . A s o l i d 15.d2 ) 13...d7 14.b6 g4 alternative is 7...e7 , but Black shouldn't 15.c5 xc5 16.xc5 b5 17.e4 play like that. ] give s W h it e co m p e n sa t io n f o r t h e 8.0-0 pawn, Aronian, L-Prusikhin, M/Morso [ 8.f4 is the main line in my book, but DEN 2002; according to my analysis there, Black has C1b) 11...a5 12.c1 a6 13.e4 nothing to fear. ] , and here, way prematurely, the 8...c6 players agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2, [ 8...c7!? is also playable but less critical. ] in Tkachiev, V-Alekseev, E/Poikovsky 9.b3! RUS 2007; [ 9.xc6 bxc6 ( 9...dxc6 10.e4 e5 11.g5 C1c) 11...d4 12.d2 c5 e7 12.c1 g4 is already fine for Black) C1c1) 13.a4 b5 14.c4 e5 10.f4 b4 ( 10...d5 11.c1 b4 12.a3 15.xc6+ ( 15.ab6 exf4 16.xa8 a5 13.e4 e7 14.exd5 exd5 15.a4 xc4 is also terrible for White, b5 16.c2 , and White is already better, 1348
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 D / C h i c a g o 1 9 8 9 , a n d n o w 20.a5 Pedersen, S-Pilgaard, K/Aalborg d7 21.xc6 xc6 22.xc6 DEN 2006 ) 15...bxc6 16.xe5 g5 would leave White with an edge.; , and Black wins a piece for C2c) 12.e4 dxe4 13.c7 d5!? insufficient compensation, Sapunov, ( 13...0-0 14.e1 d5 15.xd5 exd5 E-Chuprikov, D/Tula 2002; 16.xd5 e6 17.xe4 xe4 C1c2) 13.ce4! f5 ( 13...xe4 18.xe4 ac8 19.b6 f6 14.xe4 b6 15.d6+ xd6 , Parmentier, X-Ionescu, D/ Montpellier 16.xd6 ) 14.d6+ xd6 15.xd6 FRA 2003, and here White can obtain e5 16.b3 ( 16.c1!? looks good the better chances with 20.c5! xb2 for W hite, e.g. e6 17.c4 d7 21.xe6 fxe6 22.b1 a3 23.f4 ) 18.e3! ) 16...d7 17.c4 a5 14.a3 ( or 14.xd5 exd5 15.xd5 18.xa5 xd6 19.c4 e7 0-0 16.xe4 xe4 17.xe4 f6!= ) 20.b6 e6 21.a4+ d7 14...xc3 15.xc3 b5 16.xe4 0-0 22.xd7 xd7 23.xd7+ xd7 17.c2 h5 18.f4 a5!? 19.f2 24.xb7?! ( 24.f4! is better for White ( 19.d1 e5 20.fxe5 e8 21.d4 d u e t o B l a c k ' s e x p o s e d k i n g) g4 is pleasant for Black) 19...a4 24...a7 , and if anything, Black has 20.c5 e5! 21.f3 ( 21.e1!? ) a slight pull, which he managed to 21...g4 22.xg4 xg4 23.fxe5 c o n ve r t t o a wi n i n M a k a ro v, M , and a lthough a draw was agree d Savchenko, B/ Serpukhov RUS upon at this point, 1/2-1/2, in Gelfand, 2007; B-Alekseev, E/Dortmund GER 2007, C2) 11.c1 b4 B l a c k a p p e a r s t o h a ve t h e b e t t e r C2a) 12.a3 b6 13.e4 c h a n c e s a f t e r f6! 24.f4 xf4 C2a1) 13...d4 14.a4 ( 14.d5? 25.xf4 fc8 ] exd5 15.exd5 g5-+ Ribli ) 14...a7 [ B) 9...b4!? 10.a3?! ( 10.e4!? 15.c7! ( 15.e5 d5 16.xd5 gives White excellent compensation for the exd5 ) 15...d7 16.e5 (Ribli) White pawn, whereas the text move throws away a obviously has more than adequate tempo ) 10...d6 11.c2 c7 12.e4 e7 compensation for the pawn(s).; 13.f4 d6 14.ac1 e5 15.fd1 d7 C2a2) 13...dxe4 14.xe4; 16.b1 b6 17.d4 0-0 , and Black is a C2a3) 13...xe4 14.xe4 dxe4 pawn up for nothing, Maki, J-Gurevich, D/ 15.xe4 0-0 ( 15...d7 16.e3 Las Vegas 1994 ] c7 17.c5 is mentioned by Ribli [ C) 9...b4!? 10.f4 xc3 11.c1 e4 W h i t e h a s t h e b e t t e r c h a n c e s .) 12.xe4 ( This is more or less admitting that 16.c2 h6 17.e3 ( White should White has nothing and will need to settle for of course stay away from 17.xc6? a d r a w . T h e a l t e r n a t i v e i s 12.d2!? bxc6 18.xc6 xb3 19.xa8 b7 , which after xd2 13.xd2 xa2 14.xc3 20.a7 f3-+ - Ribli ) 17...c7 0-0 15.d6 f6 leaves White with more or 18.d4 ( Here Ribli suggests 18.c5 less full compensation for the two pawns he and; 18.fd1 in both cases with has sacrificed, but is there more than that in compensation for the pawn, but quite it for him?) 12...xe4 13.xc3 d5 14.c5 possibly not much more than that.) f5 15.a4 e5 16.b6 b8 17.xc8 18...d7 19.xc6 ( or 19.xc6 , and here a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, bxc6 20.xc6 ac8 21.e4= ) in Gelfand, B-Pantsulaia, L/Khanty Mansyisk 19...bxc6 20.xc6 xc6 21.xc6 RUS 2005. ] xc6 22.xc6 fb8= Kornev, A10.f4 Balashov, Y/ Krasnodar 2002; [ Making room for the Rc1, and also C2b) 12.c7!? d8 13.xd8 xd8 preventing a kingside escape for the queen. 14.e4 dxe4 15.e1 0-0 16.xe4 After 10.g5 e7 11.c1 g4 (there isn't xe4 17.xe4 e7 18.ec4 c6 particularly many squares available to the 19.xc6 bxc6 was Levit, R-Gurevich, 1349
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 black queen, but this move both attacks the bishop and discourages e2-e4) 12.f4 0-0 13.a4 e5 14.b6 b8 15.d2 e6 16.c5 xc5 17.xc5 d4 18.c1 bd8 Blac k is su cce ssf u lly con solid at ing h is advantage, Silva, F-Galego, L/Lisbon 1993 ] 10...b4 11.a3 [ The first new move. A previous game saw 11.e1!? e7 12.e4 dxe4 13.c7! e3 14.xe3 0-0 15.h3 a7 16.c1 b5 17.a3 xc3 18.cxc3 a4 19.c1 , and White has adequate compensation for the pawn and then some, Kasparov, GKramnik, V/Moscow 2001 ] [ 11.e4 was analysed in Adianto, UEspinosa Flores, R, see the PGN Archive. ] 11...b6 12.e4! dxe4 [ 12...d4 13.a4 a7 14.c1!? ( 14.e5 d5 15.c1 e7 16.h5 also offers W hite a solid measure of compensation) 14...e5 15.xc6! g4 ( 15...bxc6 16.xe5 c5 17.xd4! cxd4 18.xd4 c7 19.e5 , and W hite is winning) 16.f3 bxc6 17.xe5 looks pretty good for White. ] 13.d2!? [ 13.xe4 xe4 14.xe4 is also playable, but the text move seeks to exploit White's lea d in d eve lo pme nt and t he sore d ark squares in Black's position. ] 13...d5 14.c4 d8 [ 14...d4!? also deserves attention ] 15.xe4 xf4 16.gxf4 e7 [ 16...c7 17.c1 e7 18.ed6+ f8 19.d3 is also quite unpleasant for Black. ] 17.ed6+ [ As obvious as it seems, it is hard to believe that this may be a mistake. Based on the analysis of the game continuation, Black seems to be more than okay after the text move. Therefore W hite may have to look in t o t h e a lt e r n a t i ve s, s u c h a s 17.xd8+ , but A) 17...xd8 18.g5! c7 ( 18...f8 19.fd1+ c7 20.xh7 h8 21.g5 leaves White with an on-going initiative.) 19.xf7 f8 20.ce5 xe5 21.xe5 b6 22.ac1 xf4 23.fd1 and White has sufficient compensation for the pawn; B) 17...xd8! 18.ed6+ e7 19.fd1 c7 20.xc6 bxc6 21.e5 xd6 22.xc6+ f6 23.xd6 b7 24.e5
hd8 is an improved version of the game from Black's perspective ] 17...xd6 18.xd6+ e7 19.c4 xd1 20.fxd1 b8! 21.xc6 [ 21.e5 f6 22.xc6+ bxc6 23.b4 b7 24.ac1 hd8 ] 21...bxc6 22.e5!? White aggressively pursues the idea that his dominant knight will provide more than adequate compensation for the pawns. However, as we will see in the a n a lysi s b e lo w, B la ck h a s s e ve r a l g o o d alternatives. [ If White tries 22.b4 , then Black obtains the better game with b7 23.ac1 c5! 24.bxc5 g6! , fixing the f4-pawn and preventing f4f5 shenanigans if Black places the bishop on d5. ] 22...xb2 23.ac1 f6! [ Black has a solid alternative in 23...e8 , e.g. 24.xc6 f8 ( 24...b7!? ) 25.c7 f6 ( 25...b7 26.xf7+ g8 27.f1 d5 28.c1 eb8 29.cc7 b1+ 30.e2 8b2+ 31.e3 b3+ 32.d2 1b2+ with a draw by perpetual check) 26.f7+ g8 27.e7 f8 28.f7+ is a draw by repetition ] 24.h4?! [ White is obviously concerned about Black undermining the knight on e5 with a ... g7-g5 a n d d e f in it e ly sh o u l d b e . Ho we v e r, h e should have given preference to 24.xc6!? , and now g5 needs careful examination because W hite chose to prevent it in the game: ( 24...b7!? also deserves consideration) 25.g4+ f5 26.e3+! xf4 27.c4 b8 28.c7 f8 ( 28...g4 29.e5+ h5 30.xf7 is very uncomfortable, but possibly okay for B la ck if h e ca n a vo id ge t t in g m a t e d . . .) 29.d6 a5 30.c4+ ( 30.c5 g4! 31.xa5 h5 ) 30...e5 31.c5+ f6 32.e4+ g7 33.xg5+ h8 34.d6 d7 35.xa5 c6 36.g5 d5 , and Black's b i s h o p h a s t a k e n o ve r t h e r o l e a s t h e dominating minor piece, leaving Black with the better chances. ] 24...b5?! [ Thus far Black has defended well by remaining active and forcing White to play accurately. The text move, however, is a step in the wrong direction, even Black is 1350
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 still doing rather well. Black should instead opt for 24...b6 25.d7 b7 26.d6 a7 27.a4 g8 28.a5 h6 29.dxc6 d7 30.c7 xc7 31.xc7 e8 32.a7 f5 , and Black is actively taking part in the game. ] [ B u t a n e v e n b e t t e r o p t i o n i s 24...h6! 25.xc6 g5! , undermining the knight on e5, 26.e1 ( 26.c4 c2 , and Black is in complete control of the game.; 26.g4+ g7! ) 26...gxf4 27.c4 g8+ 28.f1 g7 29.xf4 f5 ] 25.xc6 f8? [ This is such an obvious move, and probably one made in the early stages of time trouble, yet it is only now that Black truly ends up in difficulties. Black should instead defend the 7th rank with 25...b7! 26.dc1 ( 26.xa6 c7 27.b6 e8 28.a4 b7 29.a5 a8 followed by ...Rec8 and ...Ke7, and Black is by no means worse.) 26...d7 27.c7 xc7 28.xc7 e8 29.a7 ( 29.c8 h6!? , i n t e n d i n g 30.a8 g5! , and Black is playing for a win) 29...h6 30.xa6 g5 31.a5 gxh4 32.h2 g8 33.h3 g1 , and Black is definitely in the game, and may even be better. ] 26.dc1 b8 27.c7 a5?! [ 27...g6 28.a7 is also clearly better for White ] 28.1c5 g6 29.xa5 b1+ 30.h2 b7 31.f3 g7 32.a7 1-0
[ 6...c5 ] [ 6...a5+ and ] [ 6...b6 are all playable. ] 7.d2 e7 8.c3 0-0 9.0-0 d5 10.cxd5 xd5 This produces a double-edged game. [ 10...exd5 is also logical, since White will have a hard time getting to the isolated pawn. ] 11.xc6 bxc6 12.c2 b6 13.e4 xc3 14.xc3 This is an interesting position because White's minor pieces look excellent and Black's c-pawn could be a problem. But already the bishop pair is a balancing factor. a6 15.fd1 fd8 16.ac1 xd1+ 17.xd1 d8 18.xd8+ xd8 19.f1 b7! By keeping the bishop pair Black is able to create counterplay when his c-pawn is attacked. 20.d3 c7 21.b3 h6 22.a4 c5 23.c2 e5 24.f3 g5! Intending ...g4. 25.c3 f6!? [ 25...d4+ 26.xd4 ( 26.g2 g4! ) 26...cxd4 is obviously good, but Black may have pictured White's knight on d3 and the difficulty of making progress in that case. ] 26.xe5 xe5 27.g4 f5! 28.c4 fxe4 29.xe6+ f8 30.fxe4 xe4 31.f2 e7 32.e3 c6 33.c4 xh2 34.c3 [ 34.xc5?? g1+ ] 34...g1+ 35.e2 f6 [ 35...d7! 36.d5+ d6 ] 36.d5+ e5 37.e7 From here on out Black's use of the bishop pair is enjoyable and instructive. d7 38.f3 d4 39.g8 c6+ 40.g3 c3 41.xh6 e1+ 42.h3 d4 43.f7 d2 44.d8 e4 45.e6+ 1346 A32 c3 46.xc5 b1 47.a4 c2 48.g3 e3 Archangelsky,Mikhail 2270 49.a6 xb3 50.b5 d5 51.h3 f4 Brodsky,Michail 2566 Paralysing White's so that his own can take 10th Essent Open (1) 20.10.2006 over. 52.c5 d4 53.d7 a5 54.b6 e6 55.d7 c7 56.f6 b3 57.g2 d1! [John Watson] 58.d7 e5 59.h5 d6 One of the pawns The opening isn't tremendously significant, falls. but shows Black with the option of equalising 0-1 easily in this particular anti-Benoni System. He chooses a doubled-edged system instead. I couldn't resist showing Black's beautiful handling of the two bishops. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 c6 5.c4 cxd4 6.xd4 W e've seen this anti-Benoni Symmetrical English without Nc3 before. Black has several good replies. b4+ 1351
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e1+ 31.g2 d1 32.c7 g6 33.f3 h1+ 34.e3 a1 In the queen endgame W h it e will h a ve le ss co u nt e rp la y. 35.c2 xa4 36.xa4 c1+ 37.f3 c3+ 38.g2 a5 39.g4 [ 39.e4 might have been a better way of opening Black's king up. ] 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.g3 b4+ 6.d2 This blocks the check 39...e5 40.gxf5+ xf5 41.e8 g6 without allowing exchanges - Black won't want 42.f8 a4 43.e3 e4+ 44.g3 d3 45.h4 to give up his bishop without good reason. On a3 46.h2 f5 47.xa3 xf2+ 48.h3 the other hand the knight is quite passively f3+ 49.h2 h5 50.f8 f2+ 51.h1 placed there. c6 7.c2 e7 8.g2 0-0 g4 9.0-0 b8 A logical way of trying to exploit the 0-1 fact that White's queen's knight can't come to c3. The lack of control of the b5 square makes A32 ...b7-b5 an option, nibbling away at White's 1348 space taking c4 pawn. 10.e4 A new move Aronian,Levon 2759 with clear intent White wants to put the knight Carlsen,Magnus 2693 on d6 and he gets it away from the passive WCh Candidates s/f (11) 03.06.2007 d 2 s qu a r e . M a yb e it g ive s W h it e a li t t l e [Carsten Hansen] something. [ A previous game proceeded with the more 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c4 c5 4.g3 cxd4 sedate 10.b3 after which b5 11.b2 a5 5.xd4 b4+ 6.d2 c5 7.b3 e7 12.a3 b4 13.cxb5 xb5 14.d4 b8 8.g2 c6 9.c3 b6 10.f4 b7 11.0-0 15.c4 b7 was fine for Black in Jablonicky, 0-0 12.d6!? F (2246)-Lisko, F (2308)/ Slovakia 2006. ] [ This isn't a new move, but one that hasn't 10...b5 been played for more than half a century. [ 10...d6 was also worth considering, Interestingly enough amongst the keeping the knight out of d6. ] alternatives we find games of both Aronian 11.cxb5 xb5 12.d6 xd6 a n d C a r ls e n p l a yi n g t h e wh i t e p i e c e s . [ 12...b6 looks like a reasonable Aronian drew two games against Leko this alternative. ] year, while Carlsen back in 2004 lost to 13.xd6 b7 14.a3 b6 15.e3 xb2 Bologan and only a few months ago won 16.c5 e8 17.ab1 against Moscow, yet Carlsen must have [ 17.c4 looks good at first as after xe2 be e n suf f icie nt ly im pre sse d b y B lac k 's 18.d1 Black's rook is trapped. But he can chances in this line... A) 12.d2 turn it into a 'sacrifice' with a6 19.xe2 d5 A) 12...c8 13.fd1 ( 13.d6!? e8 20.fc1 a8 with compensation for the 14.c5 bxc5 15.xc5 d5?! 16.e4 xc5 exchange. ] 17.xc5 a8 18.exd5 e7 19.b4 xd5 17...xb1 18.xb1 a6 19.b5 xb5 20.fd1; 13.e4 d6 14.b5 e5= ) 20.xb5 c8 21.a4 h6 22.a3?! 13...a6 14.b5 d5 After Black's reply he seems to be getting on A1) 15.ac1 top. A1a) 15...e5!? 16.cxd5!? ( 16.e3 [ 22.e3 seems better when a6 23.xc6 dxc4 17.xd8 fxd8 18.xd8+ xd8 dxc6 24.b4 gives White just about enough 19.xc6 cxb3 20.axb3 g4 ) for the pawn. ] 16...exf4 17.xf4 xb5 18.dxc6 c7 22...a6 23.b2 xa4 24.xc6 dxc6 19.xc7 xc7 20.d4 a6 21.e3 25.b4 a5 It's now clear that White's d8 leaves White with a fair amount of compensation has ebbed away and he is left compensation for the piece, though I fighting for a draw. 26.xf6 gxf6 27.g4+ wouldn't recommend playing this line h7 28.xc6 d8 29.c2+ f5 30.a4 against someone as technically 1347 Aronian,Levon Carlsen,Magnus Grand Slam Final (1) [Nigel Davies]
A32 2737 2775 02.09.2008
1352
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 competent as Leko.; A1b) 15...dxc4 16.xc6 xb5 ( 16...xd2!? 17.xd2 xb5 18.xb5 cxb3 19.xc8 xc8 20.axb3 g5 21.e3 g4 22.d4 c1+ 23.g2 f6 24.xf6 xf6 25.d8+ g7 ) 17.xd8 ( 17.xb5!? cxb3 18.axb3 xd2 19.xd2 a5 20.g2 ) 17...fxd8 18.xd8+ ( 18.xb5 xd1+ 19.xd1 cxb3 20.axb3 d5 21.e5 c5 22.c4= ) 18...xd8 19.xb5 cxb3 20.axb3 d5 21.d2 h6 22.g2 b4 23.xb4 xb4= L.Aronian-P.Leko, Monte Carlo 2007; A2) 15.cxd5 xd5 A2a) 16.e4!? b4 17.g5 e8 18.e2 c7 19.a4 e5 ( 19...f6 20.e3 e5 21.ac1 ) 20.ac1 xb5 21.axb5 xb5 22.h5 a4 23.d4 c5 24.e3 f6 25.h3; A2b) 16.xd5 xb5 17.f3 ( 17.e4 xd2 18.xd2 f5 19.g2 a5 20.ad1 b4 ) 17...xd2 18.xd2 f6 19.c1 e5 ( 19...g5!? 20.d6 fd8 21.cd1 e5 ) 20.xe5 xe5 21.xc8 xc8 22.b7 b8 23.e4 g5 24.g4 c8 25.e3 g7 26.g2 c4 V.Burmakin-E.Miroshnichenko, Bad Wiessee 2005; B) 12...a5 13.xa5 xg2 14.xg2 bxa5 15.ac1 ( 15.e4!? c8 16.d3 b7 17.fd1 ac8 18.b3 b4 19.b5 fd8 20.g5 a6 21.d4 e7 ) 15...b6 16.b3 d5 17.cxd5 b4 18.e5 ( 18.dxe6 xe6 19.e3 ) 18...xc3 19.xc3 e4 20.d4 xc3 21.xb6 axb6 22.xc3 exd5 23.d1 fd8 24.cd3+- , White has a winning endgame, M.Carlsen-E.Moskow, Gausdal 2007; C) 12...d6 13.fd1 e8 14.ac1 c8 15.b5 e5 ( 15...a6 16.c3 e5 17.xe5 dxe5 18.d7 ) 16.g5 f6 17.e3 d8 18.c3 ( 18.xb7 xb7 19.c3 f7 20.d5 ) 18...xg2 19.xg2 e6 20.d5 b7 21.f3 f5 , and while W hite is better, Black has d e c e n t c o u n t e r p l a y, G . A g za m o v- O . Romanishin, Yerevan 1982 ] [ B) 12.c1 A) 12...a6 13.d2 ( 13.d6!? c8 14.a4 xd6 15.xd6 e8 16.f4 d6
17.fd1 a8 18.c5 bxc5 19.axc5 ) 13...a7 14.fd1 a8 15.c7 ( 15.a4!? d8 16.c5 bxc5 17.bxc5 d5 18.xb7 xb7 19.c5 e7 20.e4+- ) 15...b5 16.cxb5 axb5 17.xb5 xa2 18.d6 ( 18.c3 a6 19.e4 d6 ) 18...xd6 19.xd6 a5 20.xb7 xb7 is a tiny bit better for Black, A.Denk-E. Rotshtein, Vienna 1996; B) 12...d6 13.b5 e8 14.d2 a6 15.c3 B1) 15...c7?! 16.d5!; B2) 15...b8 B2a) 16.c5 e5 17.cxd6 xd6 18.d5 exf4 19.xc6 d8 20.c2 fxg3 21.hxg3 ( 21.fxg3!? ); B2b) 16.a4 d8 17.e4 c6 18.c3 f5 19.d4 b7 20.h3; B3) 15...f6 16.fd1 e8 17.e4; B4) 15...b5? 16.cxb5 axb5 17.d4 d5 18.xd5 xd4 19.xe7+ xe7 20.xd4 xg2 21.xg2 xa2 22.a1 O.Romanishin-G.Kuzmin, Alushta 2004; C) 12...c8 13.d6 ( 13.e4 d6 14.e2 c7 15.fd1 d7 16.e3 a8= V. Spinga-S.Lyly, corr 1993) 13...e8 14.xe7 xe7 15.d4 d6 16.b3 xd4 17.xd4 xg2 18.xg2= J.Horvath-E. Anka, Budapest 1995 ] [ C) 12.e4 A) 12...c8?! 13.b5 ( 13.e5 e8 14.b5 a6 15.a7 c7 16.xc6 xc6 17.xc6 xc6 18.e2 g5 19.d2 d6 20.fd1 ) 13...e8 14.e5 f5? ( 14...a6 transposes to the line after 13 e5 above) 15.xa7 xa7 16.xb7 xc4 17.d3 d5?! 18.exd6 xf4 19.gxf4 xd6 20.fd1 ( or 20.fe1+- ) 20...b8 21.g2 xf4 So far M.Boesveld-R.Van Doorn, N e t h e r l a n d s 1 9 9 5 , a n d n o w 22.h3+is simplest; B) 12...d6 13.e2 c7 ( Black can also consider 13...c8!? 14.fd1 e5 ) 14.b5 b8 15.ad1 d8 16.c5 bxc5 ( Or 16...e5 17.cxd6 xd6 18.xd6 xd6 19.e3 f8 20.xd6 xd6 21.d1 ) 17.xc5 e5 18.xb7 xb7 19.c1 a6 20.b3 ab8 21.d4 xe2 22.xe2 b4 23.c3 ( 23.d2!? dc8 24.fd1 ) 23...dc8 24.b2? ( 24.d2 ) 24...xa2 25.xa2 c2 L.Aronian-P. 1353
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Leko, Morelia/Linares 2007 ] [ D) 12.b5 a5 ( 12...d5!? 13.c1 c8 14.cxd5 xd5 ) 13.d3 xg2 14.xg2 a6 15.c3 b7 16.fd1 ( 16.f3!? d6 17.d2 c8 18.b3 de8 19.ad1 d6 ) 16...d6 17.f3 c7 , and Black is already developing some initiative, M.Carlsen-V. Bologan, Sanxenxo 2004 ] 12...a5?! [ This move is thematic in this particular line, but particularly in this position, I don't think it works. A possible improvement is 12...e8!? , e.g. 13.xe7 xe7 14.d2 c8 15.ac1 d6 with approximately even chances ] 13.xa5 xg2 14.xg2 bxa5 15.e4 [ The earlier game in this line ran 15.b3 e8 16.xe7 xe7 17.d4 d6 18.ad1 d8 ( 18...f5 19.f3 d8 ) 19.e4 f6 20.f3 P.Trifunovic-V.Sokolov, Zenica 1963 I don't see any obvious improvements for Black, so I general this line is in dire need of some solid new ideas that can help put this line back in business. ] 15...c8 16.b3 xd6 17.xd6 a4 18.e5 e8 19.d4 axb3 20.axb3 f6 21.xa7 c7 22.xc7 xc7 23.exf6 xf6 24.b5 c6+ [ Or 24...a5 25.a1 b4 26.d3 d5 27.e3 e4 28.f3 c5 29.d4 dxc4 30.xe6 xe6 31.xe6+ h8 32.xc4 d2+ 33.h1 e3 34.f1+- ] 25.f3 h6 [ Compared to the game continuation, 25...d5!? may represent a better chance, e. g. 26.e5 dxc4 27.d6 d5 28.xc4 d7 29.xd5 exd5 30.d2 and White should win in the long run, but there is a fair amount of work left to be done. ] 26.a1 h7 27.e4 d5 28.e2 dxc4 [ Or 28...g5 29.d4 b6 30.d1 dxc4 31.bxc4+- ] 29.d4 d5?! [ I don't know if Carlsen thought he could hold the endgame after an exchange of the queens, but in a rapid play game such as this, and already being on the verge on losing, I would think that a better practical approach would be to keep the queens on, although 29...d7 30.xc4 h8 31.xe6 e8 32.f4 d2+ 33.h1 g5 34.f1
hardly makes a compelling for avoiding the queen exchange, but at least Black can play for tricks for a while. ] 30.xc4 xc4 31.bxc4 c8 32.c1 e5 33.f5 f8 34.c5 g5 35.d6 [ 35.c6!? e6 36.d6 c7 37.b5 c8 38.f2+- ] 35...c6 36.h4 e6 37.e4 e7 38.h5! (White fixes Black's structural weakness and thereby securing an entry path for his king) c7 39.h3 d4 40.g4 e6 41.c2 d4 42.c3 c6 43.a3 e6 44.f5 xc5 45.c3 g6+ 46.hxg6 e6 47.xc6 d4+ 48.g4 xc6 49.h5 f8 50.xh6 e7 51.h7 1-0
1349 Blagojevic,Dragisa Akopian,Vladimir ECC Halkidiki GRE (3) [Tony Kosten]
A32 2537 2678 24.09.2002
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.f3 cxd4 5.xd4 b4+ 6.d2 I guess this might be considered to be a Catalan (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 g3 Bb4+ 4 Nd2 c5 5 Nf3 cxd4 6 Nxd4) but I think that this is much more likely to arise from the English move-order. [ 6.d2 is stronger, I think, and we have already looked at this a couple of times. ] 6...b6 This is the main problem, the d4knight is loose and Black can gain a slight initiative attacking it. 7.a3 [ 7.4f3 e4 8.e3 xd2+?! 9.xd2 xd2 10.xd2 c6 11.g1 a5 12.g2 c7 13.c3 was played as long ago as 1931 (!) in Santasiere,A-Lasker,E/New York but White is better here. ] 7...c5!? A novelty, Black intends to concede the bishop pair to make sure the white king cannot castle kingside. [ 7...e7 is solid, aiming for a Hedgehog, 8.2f3 a6 9.g2 d6 10.0-0 0-0 Djuric,S-Govedarica, R/Tivat 1995, but ] [ 7...xd2+!? has similar ideas to the text: 8.xd2 c6 9.e3 0-0 10.b4 xd4 11.xd4 c6 12.g1 d6 and the position is almost identical! Alburt,L-Adorjan,A/New York 1985. ] 1354
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.2b3 c6 9.xc5 xc5 10.e3 [ 10.b5!? 0-0 11.e3 xc4 12.d6 might be the way to go, with good comp for the pawn. ] 10...xd4 11.xd4 c6 The point, as in the Adorjan game Black forces the rook to move thus leaving the white king without a satisfactory resting place. 12.g1 d6 13.g2 c7 14.b3 e5! This is a strategically correct decision, Black constructs a barrier against the white dark-squared bishop, and opens a route for his own bishop. Note that this idea is less clear when White has a knight that can exploit the weaknesses created on d5 and f5. 15.d3 0-0 16.b2 d8 17.d2!? An imaginative way of castling, if White had won we might see two exclamation marks attached to it! e6 18.gc1 e7 Moving the queen off the c-file means that Black threatens .. .d5 anew. 19.e1 White can do nothing to stop the freeing ...d5 advance now, for instance [ 19.e4 b5! 20.cxb5 d5 and having the white king and queen on the same file as the black rook proves nasty. ] 19...d5 20.cxd5?! After this move, obvious it is true, Black exchanges the g2-bishop and attacks on the light squares, other moves were feasible, [ 20.c3 for example. ] 20...xd5 21.xd5 xd5 22.c4 [ 22.f5!? ] 22...h5!? Providing a 'luft' for the king whilst at the same time gaining the g4-square for the knight. [ 22...ad8 was also strong. ] 23.d1 Perhaps not best, [ 23.c7!? offers to exchange queens and wo u l d h a v e o b l i g e d B l a c k t o p l a y e8 i f h e w a n t s t o a t t a c k , 24.xb7 b8 25.xa7!? xb3 26.c3!? ( Black certainly has adequate compensation after 26.c2 b5! )] 23...c5 24.d3 g4 25.h3 h2! Certainly this bold move must have been unexpected, for how does the knight escape from its self-imposed cage once White covers f3? As we shall see, Black had everything finely calculated. 26.e4 [ 26.e4 e6 27.xb7 ac8 28.g2 c2 29.xh2 ( 29.c1 xb3 30.d2 d8
31.xh2 dxd2 32.xd2 xd2 33.xd2 b2+ regains the material with advantage) 29...xb3! 30.xe5? b5 wins. ] 26...e6 Aiming for h3, thence g2 or g4 to control f3 and make a knight check. 27.h4 g4 28.ac1 ac8 29.xc5 xc5 30.c1 This move seems inferior, as by capturing on c1 Black diverts the bishop from the control of d4, but W hite had almost no other moves. f3+ 31.e2 There is little to choose between the two king moves, [ 31.f1 h3+ 32.e2 xc1 33.xc1 d4+ as although material is equal here the king is kicked around the board. ] 31...xc1 32.xc1 xh4+ 33.f1 f3 34.e3 At the cost of a pawn White has freed his position somewhat, but the problems on the light squares are not going to go away. b6 35.d8+ h7 36.e7 f6 [ 36...f5! i s s t r o n g , 37.exf5 xf5 and ...Qb1+ followed by ...e4, defending the knight, and mate is on the cards. ] 37.xa7 xe4 38.xb6?? This blunder allows a forced mate, [ 38.f7 intends to take on h5+ and force a perpetual check, d3+ 39.g2 e1+ 40.h2 f5 41.c4 with some play, although something like e4! would be u n p l e a s a n t , 42.xb6? h4! with strong threats. ] 38...b1+ 39.e2 e4 Black menaces mate on both d3 and e1, and it is difficult to stop them both! 0-1
1350 Camarena Gimenez,Rufino Delchev,Aleksander XXI Open Cullera ESP (3) [Tony Kosten]
A32 2328 2629 21.07.2001
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.f3 cxd4 5.xd4 c7 6.c3 a6 7.g2 xc4 Black grabs the hot pawn, and hopes to fendoff the ensuing attack. 8.f4 c5!? [ A new idea, planning to bring the queen back to safety, at the cost of development. W e have already examined the main line 8...c6 9.b3 d5 in the brilliant game Adianto,U - Espinosa,R. ] 1355
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.c1 a5 The queen is one move from returning home. W hite is way ahead in development, but the black position is ultrasolid. 10.0-0 c6 11.xc6?! [ 11.b3 makes more sense, keeping pieces on the board, when d8 12.e4 d6 13.d2 ( or 13.e2 e7 14.fd1 ) 13...e7 14.fd1 seems to force the positional concession e5 with chances to both sides. ] 11...dxc6 Planning to solve his development problems by ... e5. 12.d6 d8! This forces the exchange of queens, and in the endgame W h it e 's p a wn le ss is a se riou s p ro b le m . 13.xf8 xd1 14.fxd1 xf8 15.a4 e7 16.e4 d7 [ Safe play, 16...e5?! 17.b6 b8 18.c5 regains a pawn. ] 17.f4 f6 18.d2 a5 19.f2 g5 Black's main problem, apart from the lack of space (which is not overly serious), is the number of pawns he has on the same colour squares as his bishop, so he gradually moves them on to dark squares. 20.e3 gxf4+ 21.gxf4 e5 22.f5 b5! 23.c3 [ 23.c5 xc5 24.xc5 b7 25.a3 fd8 and Black wins easily by swapping rooks on the d-file, playing ... Rd8-d4, and then ...Kd6 to shift the rook from c5. ] 23...b6 24.f1 d7 25.g2 g8 26.g3 h5 27.e2 h4 28.h3 h8 29.g1 h7 30.b1 e8 31.d2 f7 32.b3 a4 White has done as much as he can, but the extra queenside pawn is bound to tell sooner or later. 33.d3 axb3 34.axb3 c4! 35.f3 [ 35.bxc4? a3+ skewering the king against the rook. ] 35...a3 36.c3 d6 37.d3 xb3+ 38.c2 a3 39.xh4 d7 40.gg3 c5 The connected passed pawns are too strong. 0-1
1351 Carlsen,Magnus Polgar,Judit Blindfold World Cup rapid (8) [Carsten Hansen]
A32 2714 2708 19.10.2007
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.f3 c5 4.c3 cxd4 5.xd4 b6 6.g3 c5 7.e3 c6 8.g2!? [ Aside from this gambit continuation, White h a s t r i e d a n u m b e r o f t h i n gs : A ) 8.b3 is rather tame, and doesn't do anything to bother Black A) 8...b4 A1) 9.e2 e4 10.d2 xd2 11.xd2 0-0 A1a) 12.g2 a6 13.e2 b6; A1b) 12.e2!? d5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.0-0 ( 14.xd5 h3 ) 14...d8 15.d3 e6; A1c) 12.a3?! e7 13.c2 d6 14.g2 e5 15.d2 d7 16.0-0 ac8 17.b3 c7 is very confortable for Black, Romero Holmes, ANogueiras, J/Yucatan 1999; A2) 9.d2 e5 10.e2 0-0 11.f4 g6 12.e4 d5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.e5 g4 Granda Zuniga, J-Suba, M/ Zaragoza 1995; B) 8...e7 9.g2 ( 9.e2 0-0 10.0-0 d6 11.e4 c7 12.e3 b6 13.c1 e5= Ho e sch ele , H-S u et in, A/ G rie sk irc h e n 1998 ) 9...0-0 10.0-0 d6 11.e4 e5 12.e3 b4 13.c5 dxc5 14.a3 c4 15.c1 d8 16.d5 exd5 17.xc4 dxc4 18.d2 b5 , and Black has enough for the queen, Paunovic, T-Rogulj, B/Belgrade 1988 ] [ B) White's main alternative is likely 8.a4!? , e.g. b4+ 9.d2 a5 10.c3 xd4 11.exd4 b6 12.a3 ( 12.b5?! e7 13.f3 0-0 14.a4?! a6 15.a5 axb5 16.axb6 xa1+ 17.e2 bxc4 18.g2 a2 19.c3 d5 with a very good game for Black, Dumitrescu, D-Ionescu, D/ Bucharest 1997) 12...xc3 13.xc3 e4 14.c2 xc3 15.xc3 0-0 16.g2 d6 17.0-0 d7 18.c5 , with the better chances for W hite, Timoshenko, G-Brodsky, M/Kherson 1991 ] [ C) 8.f3 0-0 9.g2 d5 10.cxd5 xd5 11.a4 b4+ 12.d2 a6 13.f1 b5 , and Black is clearly in the driver's seat, 1356
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Meenakshi, S-Foisor, O/Triesen LIE 2007 ] 8...xd4 [ Black has tried a couple of other things a s i d e f r o m t a k i n g t h e p a w n : A ) 8...e7 9.0-0 d6 10.b3 a6 11.b2 d7 12.c1 c8 13.e4 Kiss, A-Titz, H/Szentgotthard 2001 ] [ B) 8...0-0!? 9.a4 ( 9.0-0! again invites B l a c k t o t a k e t h e p a wn , t h o u g h i n t h e inferior version as chosen by Polgar in our main game ) 9...b4+ 10.d2 a5 11.c3 c5 , Gluszko, T-Kuzmicz, K/Grodzisk Mazowiecki POL 2007, and now A) 12.a3 xc3 13.xc3 xc4 14.e2 ( 14.c1 e5 15.e2 d5 16.0-0 xe2 17.xe2 c6 18.b4 with some compensation for the pawn) 14...xe2+ 15.xe2 xd4+ 16.xd4 d5 17.hc1 , and W hite has compensation for the pawn, but not much more than that.; B) 12.xc6 dxc6 13.e2 e5 14.a3 xc3 15.xc3 a5= , Black has solved his opening problems successfully. ] 9.exd4 xd4 10.0-0 0-0?! [ This causes immediate problems for Black. The alternatives are: A) 10...e5 11.b5 ( 11.c2 is covered in the notes to Greenfeld-Ward, Jersey Open 2004 - see the PGN archives ) A) 11...c5 12.b4 ( 12.g5 is covered in the notes to the above mentioned Greenfeld-Ward; 12.e1 was GreenfeldWard ) 12...xb4 13.b1 c5 14.e1 d6 15.d2 a5 16.g5 0-0 17.xf6 gxf6 18.c3 c7 19.e2 , and White has compensation for the pawn, Ashley, MWojtkiewicz, A/Philadelphia 1989; B) 11...0-0 B1) 12.xd4 exd4 B1a) 13.b3 d5 14.b2 ( 14.a3 e8 15.c5 a5 16.b2 xc5 17.xd4 d6 18.xf6 xf6 19.xd5 e7= , and a draw was soon agreed upon, Haba, P-Sax, G/ German Bundesliga 1993 ) 14...dxc4 15.xd4 ( 15.xd4 quickly terminated down to a drawn rook endgame: cxb3 16.xb6 axb6 17.axb3 e6 18.xb7 xa1 19.xa1 xb3 20.b1 b8 21.xb3 xb7 22.xf6 gxf6 23.b5 1/2-1/2 Nogueiras, J-Psakhis, L/Szirak
1986 ) 15...a6 16.xf6 ( 16.f3 d8 17.xf6 xf6 18.xf6 gxf6 19.bxc4 e6 20.fb1 ab8 21.c5 dc8 22.b5 a6 23.xb7 xb7 24.xb7 xc5 25.xa6 a5 with a drawn endgame, although White continued to try for quite a while, Van D i j k , H - F r i t z, M / I C C F E m a i l 2 0 0 1) 16...xf6 17.bxc4 b8 18.c5 d8 19.a4 d7 20.xa7 c6 , thus far Petursson, M-Nogueiras, J/ S a in t Jo h n 1 9 8 8 , a n d n o w 21.ad1 xg2 22.xg2 leaves White with an extra pawn and decent winning chances; B1b) 13.d3 B1b1) 13...e8 14.g5 d5 15.cxd5 g4 16.ae1 h6 17.f4 ( 17.d2 h5= ) 17...xb2 18.e5 c3 19.b1; B1b2) 13...d5 14.cxd5 g4 15.h3 d7? ( 15...h5 16.f4 fd8 17.d6 e8 18.e4 xd6 19.xh7+ h8 20.e5 ) 16.d1 fe8 was played in Raetsky, A-Tunik, G/Podolsk 1992, and now 17.h2! prepares to pick up the d4-pawn, e.g. ac8 18.b3! b5 19.xd4 xd4 20.xd4 e1 21.b4! cxc1 ( 21...a6 22.b2+- ) 22.xc1 xc1 23.xb5+-; B2) 12.a4!? B2a) 12...e8!? (Ribli) 13.a5 c5 14.g5 xc4 15.d6 e6 16.xe8 xe8 17.a4! is problematic for Black, e.g. c5 ( 17...d6? 18.xd4! exd4 19.e1+- ) 18.d5 d6 19.b3 f8 20.e3! d6 21.xc5 dxc5 22.a6+-; B2b) 12...c5 B2b1) 13.a5 d8 14.e3! with excellent positional co m p e n s a t i o n f o r t h e s a c r if ic e d pawn ( 14.a6?! b8 is fine for Black ); B2b2) 13.e1!? A clever multipurpose move, threatening the e5pawn and the advance b2-b4 at the same time. a5?! Black prevents the b 2 -b 4 a d va n ce , b u t a t t h e s a m e leaves no option for kicking the b5knight away. ( 13...a6!? 14.a5 d8 15.c3 ) 14.xe5 d6 15.f4 1357
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 , White has both the initiative and the better pawn structure, Rahman, ZHossain, E/Dhaka 1999; B2c) 12...a5 13.xd4 exd4 14.b3 d5 15.c5 c6 16.xd4 f5 17.b2 fe8 18.fe1 Nielsen, P-Gelfand, B/ playchess.com INT 2004 ] [ B) 10...xc3 11.bxc3 0-0 12.a3 , and White's strong bishops along with the weak dark squares in Black's camp leaves White with more than adequate compensation ] [ C) 10...a6 11.a4 a7 12.f4 d5 ( 12...e5? 13.xe5 xe5 14.e1 /+- Greenfeld, A-Rocius, M/Saint Vincent ITA 2005 ) 13.d6 e5 14.c5 g4 15.d2 d8 16.ae1 e6 17.g5 ( 17.xe5!? xe5 18.xe5 ) 17...xd6 18.xg7 g8 19.xf6 d8 Umansky, M-Schmittdiel, E/ Austrian Tch 2002 20.d1 ] [ D) 10...e5 11.e2 b8 12.e3 d8 13.c5 0-0 14.fd1 e7 15.ac1 d8 16.b5!? ( White can improve with 16.g5! f8 (Nd5 was threatened) 17.xf6 gxf6 18.e4 h6 19.d6 xd6 20.cxd6 , and Black is completely tied up) 16...d5 17.d4 f8 18.e5 b6 19.d6 xd6 20.xd6 bxc5 21.xd5 exd5 22.xd5 Marin, M-Ionescu, C/Predeal ROM 2006 ] 11.g5 [ This is a new move. In an earlier game, W h i t e h a d p r o v e d t h a t 11.a4! is uncomfortable for Black: d6 12.f4! ( 12.e3 e5 13.e2 e7 14.fd1 d5 15.cxd5 d6 16.c3 exd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xd5 e6 19.b5 leaves White with a fair-sized initiative, Green, P-Martin, B/ Du n e d i n 1 9 8 8) 12...e5 13.e3 b4 14.xd4 exd4 A) 15.c1!? d5? ( 15...d6!? ) 16.a3 a5 17.cxd5; B) 15.b3 d5 16.a3 a5 17.cxd5 xd5 18.xd4 Bricard, E-Olafsson, H/ Reykjavik 1993 ] 11...e5?! [ 11...c5!? 12.xf6 xf6 13.e4 xc4 14.xf6+ gxf6 15.b3 b4 16.a3 b5 , and White has some compensation for the pawn thanks to Black's weakened kingside pawn structure, and problematic queenside development ]
12.c5 xc5 13.xf6 gxf6 14.d5 d6?? [ After this natural-looking move, it is play towards one goal, and Black doesn't have any defence against W hite's kingside assault. Instead Black could have defended with 14...f5! , e.g. 15.c1 d6 16.h5 xb2 17.c2 d4 18.xf5 h6 19.fc1 h8 20.e7 , and just when it looks like White is winning, Black has b2! 21.d1 d4 22.d5!? ( 22.dc1 b2!= is of course a draw by repetition) 22...e8 23.xc8 exc8 24.xc8+ xc8 25.xd7 xf2+! 26.xf2 c2+ 27.f3 c3+ 28.g4 ( 28.f2 c2+= ) 28...g6+ 29.h4 h6+ 30.g4 g6+= ] 15.h5 g7 16.e4 h6 17.ac1 xf2+ 18.g2 d4 19.h4 f5 20.f6+ g8 21.e7+ h7 22.xf5+ xf5 23.xf5+ [ After 23.xf5! it is immediate curtains e4+ 24.xf2 , and Black doesn't have anything better than xf5+ 25.xf5+ ] 23...g7 24.xf2 e4 25.c4!? [ Strictly speaking, the strongest move is 25.h5! xf2+ 26.xf2 , though the text move is more than adequate as well. ] 25...xc4 26.f6+ h7 27.f5 1-0
1352 Carlsen,Magnus Skripchenko,Almira Trophee CCAS GpB rapid (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A32 2786 2455 27.10.2008
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.f3 c5 4.c3 cxd4 5.xd4 a6 6.g3 c7 7.g2 xc4 8.0-0 c6 9.b3 d5 [ The move order in Agrest-Carlsson, Swedish Ch (Vaxjo) 2008 had Black play 9...e7 which opens up for a lot more options for White. ] [ Also 9...b4!? as discussed in the notes to the above-mentioned game is of interest. ] 10.f4 b4 [ Two other recent games in this line have seen Black try 10...e7 A) Carlsen has in his only other game in this line played 11.c1 b4 12.e4 xe4 13.xe4 dxe4 14.a3 b5 15.xe4 0-0 16.c2 h6 17.fd1 e5 18.e3 e6 1358
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.c5 xc5 20.xc5 White has full compensation for the pawn but no more than that. fd8 21.xb5 axb5 22.b6 xd1+ 23.xd1 a4 24.c2 a6 25.c5 a8 26.e4 f5 27.xc6 bxc6 28.d6 d5 29.d7 f3 30.f1 a4 31.b4 c5 32.b3 , and now instead of playing a6 , and a draw was correctly agreed upon, 1/ 2-1/2, Carlsen, M-Leko, P/Miskolc HUN 2008 ( Black could have tried 32...cxb4 33.bxa4 b3 34.d2 bxa4 , and only Black has chances of winning. ); B) 11.a3 a5 12.c1 a6 13.a4 0-0 14.b5 b6 Inviting to a repetition of moves 15.c7 a6 16.f4 b6 17.c7 a6 and now rather than taking the repetition with 18 Bf4, W hite continued 18.c5 , playing for more. xc5 19.xc5 d7 20.d6 b4! 21.xf8 xf8 In return for the sacrificed pawn, W hite has won the exchange. However, Black is now f ina lly get ting his pieces to work together. 22.d4 c6 23.e4?! e5 24.d2 b6 25.xd5 bxd5 26.exd5 d8 ( 26...xb5!? 27.axb5 xb5 28.a1 b6 looks like a very decent alternative for Black ) 27.c3 d7 28.e1 e8 29.d6 d4 30.xd4 ( 30.d1! is a better option, the chances being about even.) 30...exd4 31.xe8+ xe8 32.e4 b6 33.b3 f5 34.g5 xd6 35.d5+ f8 36.xh7+ e7 37.g5 b5 38.axb5 xb5 , and Black has the slightly better chances in the endgame thanks to his active king, but nevertheless, White managed to hold the endgame, Vitiugov, N-Alekseev, E/ Moscow RUS 2008 ] 11.e4 [ In the August 2008 update, we examined the game Agrest-Carlsson from the S we d i s h C h a m p i o n s h i p ( s e e t h e P G N archives). In that outing, W hite continued with 11.a3 b6 12.e4 dxe4 13.d2 with a complicated game. ] [ As mentioned in the notes to the Agrest g a m e , K a s p a r o v h a s t r i e d 11.e1 , which is of course still of interest. ] 11...dxe4 12.e1 [ 12.a3 b6 would have us transposing back to the Agrest-Carlsson game. ] 12...e7
[ If Black tries a more aggressive approach like 12...e5 , White also obtains adequate compensation for the pawn after 13.xe4 e6 14.xf6+ gxf6 15.e3 e7 16.c1 d8 17.h5 with a sharp position ] 13.c7 e3 14.xe3 g4 [ 14...0-0 15.f3 ] 15.f3 h3 16.d6?! [ White can obtain a pleasant game with 16.g2 , e.g. h6 17.a4!? ( 17.f4 h5 18.f3 h3 19.g2 h5 20.f3= ) 17...0-0 18.b6 This appears to be a much safer and considerably better option than the game continuation. ] 16...0-0 17.xc6?! [ Despite the fact that the follow-up to this move looks like an oversight on White's part, I cannot shake the feeling that Carlsen quite possible played like this on purpose, keeping in mind that after all, this is a rapid play game. The 'safer' alternative 17.g2 , doesn't seem all that promising, e.g. h6 18.xe7 ( or 18.xc6 xd6 19.xd6 g4 20.g2 xh2+ 21.f1 xe3+ 22.fxe3 e5 23.xe5 h3 , and Black has the upper hand. ) 18...xe7 19.a5 ed5 20.xd5 exd5 is obviously pleasant for Black ] 17...g4! 18.g2 xh2+ 19.f1 xe3+ 20.fxe3 d8 21.xe7 xd1+ 22.xd1 h6! [ Or 22...f6!? 23.f2 h5 24.d8+ f7 25.c5 f5+ 26.g1 e5 27.e4 , and White is by no means worse. ] 23.f2 h5 24.d8+ h7 25.e4+ f5 26.g2 e5 27.d5?? [ This obvious move is in fact a terrible blunder, allowing Black to create decisive threats. Instead White could have kept the balance with 27.d6 , e.g. h2 28.xe5 b6 29.d5 e6 30.d6 c8 31.c3 c6 32.d8 A) 32...xd5 33.xd5 h5 ( 33...g6 34.e5 ) 34.xf5 h4 35.h5+ h6 36.xh6+ gxh6 37.gxh4 xh4+ 38.e2=; B) 32...c8 33.d6 c6= ] 27...f7?? [ Returning the favour immediately.. Black can win wit h 27...h2!-+ with the decisive threat ...f5-f4 followed by ...Bh3!, e.g. 28.f1 f4 29.e4+ g6 30.gxf4 h3+ 31.e1 xd8 32.xd8 xb2 33.fxe5 xe5 1359
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 34.d4 g3+ 35.d1 h2 36.c7 xa2 37.e5 g4+ 38.c1 h5 , and Black's pawns decide. After the text move, W hite takes over the control of the game again. ] 28.f8 g6 29.c7? [ Throwing the advantage away again. The correct continuation is 29.b4 h5 30.d2 a5 31.a3 ] 29...b8? [ And again, Black kindly says: 'thank you, but no thanks'. Black is better after 29...f4!! , e.g. 30.gxf4 h3 31.xh3 xf8 32.xf8 c2+ 33.f3 c6+ 34.g3 xc7 ] 30.d5 Now Black is struggling to release herself from White's firm grip around her neck. g4!? 31.d6 d1 32.g8+?! [ 32.xe5 is stronger, but I imagine the players must have been in serious time tro ub le a t t h is sta ge o n a cco u n t o f t h e earlier complications in the game, and the f re qu e nc y o f errors in ju st t he la st f e w moves. One line runs: e6 33.xe6 xd5 34.xb8 xe6 35.c3+- , and White has excellent winning chances. ] 32...g6 33.xe5 [ Or 33.d5 c2+ 34.e1 b1+ 35.d2 xb2+ 36.d1 a8 37.c7 b8 38.d5 a8 with a repetition of moves probably being the correct result for both players. ] 33...f4!? [ 33...c2+ 34.g1 ( 34.f1 b1+ 35.f2 c2+= ) 34...e4 35.f4 b4 36.d8 e1+ 37.g2 e2+ , and White cannot escape Black's checks. ] 34.f7+ h7 35.g8+ g6 36.d5 fxg3+? [ In the massive complications, Black goes astray, Black should play 36...c2+ 37.e1 b1+ ( 37...f3 38.f4+ g5 39.d4 ) 38.d2 fxe3+ 39.xe3 e1+ 40.d4 d1+ 41.c5 b6+ 42.b4 e1+ 43.c3 xg3 44.a3 , and with the white king stowed safely aside on a3, it is now Black's turn to defend his king. The final result isn't immediately obvious, but White cannot be worse. ] 37.xg3 f5?? [ A terrible move that ends the game promptly. Instead Black should try 37...c2+ 38.g1 a8 ( 38...d1+ 39.f1 g4 40.f2 e6 41.xb8 xg8 42.g1 xg1+ 43.xg1 xd5 , and White is
obviously winning) 39.d4 xb2 40.d6 c1+ 41.f2 h5 42.xc8!! xc8 43.e6 e8 ( 43...xe6 44.xe6 ) 44.f4+ g5 45.e5 h5 46.xg7 and in order to prevent being mated by the minor pieces, Black has to give up the queen for White's bishop on e6. This possible end to the game is very aesthetically pleasing. ] 38.e7+ h5 39.xf5+ g5 40.xb8 c2+ 41.g3 Despite all the mistakes, this game is a very fascinating struggle. The risks taken by White against a much lower rated player are su rp risin g a n d p ra i se wo rt h y. I h o p e yo u enjoyed the game as much as I did. 1-0
1353 Dominguez Perez,Leinier Short,Nigel D 45th Capablanca Mem Elite (7) [Nigel Davies]
A32 2713 2685 17.06.2010
1.d4 e6 2.c4 f6 3.g3 c5 4.f3 cxd4 5.xd4 c7 6.c3 a6 7.g2 Offering a pawn sacrifice seems like the most ambitious line. [ W h i t e c a n a l s o d e f e n d c 4 w i t h 7.d3 but then c6 8.xc6 dxc6 looks like easy equality for Black, for example ( 8...xc6 is also possible, obtaining a Hedgehog structure ) 9.g2 e5 10.0-0 e6 11.e4 xe4 12.xe4 g6!? ( 12...c5 followed by 13...Rd8 seems simpler) 13.e3 f5 14.g2 g7 15.c5 e4 and Black had a good game in Sapis, W (2445)-Ivanchuk, V (2535)/ Lvov 1988. ] 7...xc4 8.0-0 c6 9.b3 d5 10.f4 e7 11.a3 [ 11.c1 seems less promising, for example b4 12.e4 xe4 13.xe4 dxe4 14.a3 b5 15.xe4 0-0 16.c2 h6 17.fd1 e5 18.e3 e6 saw Black reach a safe po sitio n in Carlse n, M (2 7 6 5) -L ek o , P (2741)/Miskolc 2008. ] 11...d4 [ Black has also played 11...a5 here but I do wonder about weakening the b5 square like this. After 12.c1 a6 13.a4 0-0 14.b5 b6 15.c7 a6 16.c5 xc5 17.xc5 e8 18.f4 d7 19.e4 b4 20.exd5 1360
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 exd5 21.xd5 xd5 White should probably play 22.xd5 when ( 22.xd5 f6 23.d4 h3 was fine for Black in Kraemer, M (2482) -Ro gozenc o, D (254 1)/ German y 2 009 .) 22...c6 23.g5 is still a bit awkward for Black. ] 12.d2 c5 13.ce4 xe4 [ B l a c k h a d p r e v i o u s l y p l a y e d 13...f5 but then 14.d6+ xd6 15.xd6 e5 16.c1! seems very strong, for example ( 16.b3 d7 17.c4 a5 saw Black de f e n d him s e lf in Ma karo v, M (2 5 1 8 ) Savchenko, B (2583)/Serpukhov 2007.) 16...e4 ( Both 16...d7; and 16...e6 are strongly met by 17.c4! ) 17.c2 d5 18.xe4 xe4 19.xe4+ xe4 20.xe4 ] 14.xe4 b6 15.d6+ xd6 16.xd6 d7 [ And not 16...xb2?? becau se o f 17.b1 c3 18.c1 b2 19.xc6 etc. ] 17.f4 e7 18.xc6 bxc6 19.e5 c5 20.b4 f6 21.bxc5 xc5 22.xd4 d5?! [ 22...d6 followed by 23.. .Kf7 would have been much safer, not allowing White to play e2-e4 with gain of a tempo on the queen. In this case Black would be OK I think. ] 23.c1 [ Already it seems that 23.e4! is strong, for example d7 ( 23...d6 is strongly met by 24.e5! fxe5 25.g4!; 23...xe4 24.c1 b7 25.c7+ f8 26.f3 d5 27.a4 and Qb4+ ) 24.c5+ f7 25.h5+ g6 26.h6 with strong pressure. ] 23...d8 24.c7+ d7? This slip could have had serious consequences. [ Black should have played 24...f8 when 25.c5+ g8 26.xd5 xd5 27.c1 would be equal and rather drawish. ] 25.c5+? [ Missing 25.e4! b5 ( 25...xe4?! 26.c5+ d8 27.xd7+ xd7 28.d6 wins ) 26.c5+ e8 27.h5+ g6 28.h6 xc7 29.f8+ d7 30.d6!! with a winning attack for White, for example ( Much stronger than 30.d6+ ) 30...xf1+ 31.xf1+- c1+ 32.g2 c6 33.e7 d7 34.f4 etc. ] 25...f7 26.xd5 exd5 27.xd7+ ½-½
1354 A32 Fluvia Poyatos,Jordi 2467 Iturrizaga Bonelli,Eduardo 2614 XXXIII Open Barbera del Valles ESP (6) 9.7.10 [Nigel Davies] 1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.f3 cxd4 5.xd4 b4+ 6.d2 [ This avoids the risks associated with d o u b l e d c - p a w n s w i t h 6.c3 wh i c h t ra n s p o s e s i n t o a N i m zo - I n d i a n Defence, E20. ] [ It also maintains the possibility of developing the knight on c3 which 6.d2 does not. On the other hand it does not represent a particularly effective development for the bishop as it probably like to go to either b2 (which now takes two moves to reach), e3 or f4. These latter two squares can still be reached in one move, but as they can also get there from c1 this does not represent a saving of time. ] 6...e7 7.g2 c6 8.c2 [ A l t e r n a t i v e l y W h i t e c a n t r y 8.b3 but this doesn't seem to offer much either, for example 0-0 9.0-0 b6 10.f4 b7 11.c3 d6 12.d2 a6 13.de4 xe4 14.xe4 e5 15.d4 g6 16.d2 d5 17.cxd5 xd5 18.c3 f6 19.b4 c8 was equal in Timoscenko, G (2510)Gavrikov, V (2365)/Frunze 1981/URS-ch. ] 8...0-0 9.0-0 d5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.g5 This seems to be a new move but it does not seem to offer more than the other lines White has tried: [ a) 11.e3 e4 12.c3 xc3 13.bxc3 a5 14.d4 xd4 ( 14...d8 might have been better) 15.xd4 e6 16.b3 b6 17.a4 c5 18.b5 xd4 19.cxd4 fc8 20.xa5 bxa5 and White had a small but clear advantage in Petursson, M (2560)Suba, M (2520)/Oviedo 1993. ] [ b) 11.c3 d4 12.e4 e8 13.xf6+ xf6 14.b4 g4 15.e1 xb4 16.xb4 b6 17.a3 ad8 was very comfortable for B la ck in E l De b s, F (2 3 2 5 )- V e sc o vi, G (2592)/Sao Paulo 2006. ] 11...h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.c3 This looks like a Tarrasch Defence but a pretty good one for Black. d4 14.d5 f5 15.cb4 I get the impression that White was slightly nervous in 1361
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 facing a higher rated opponent. [ 15.c1 was a more relaxed move after which c8 ( 15...e8 16.xf6+ xf6 17.xc6 xc2 18.xc2 bxc6 19.d3 would be slightly better for White) 16.xf6+ xf6 17.xc6? does not work because of xc6 18.xd4? ( Or 18.xd4? xc1 ) 18...xc2 etc. ] 15...e8 16.e1 c8 17.c1?! [ 17.xf6+ would have been better as now Black's dark square bishop starts to play a major role in the game. ] 17...g5! 18.c5? Surprisingly this loses material. [ 18.f4!? would have been better though W h i t e wa s p r o b a b l y l o a t h e t o w e a k e n himself like this. ] 18...d6 19.b5 [ 19.xc6 xc5 20.xd4 might have been the best chance. ] 19...xb4 20.xb4 [ Or 20.xb4 c1 etc. ] 20...c1 21.xc1 xc1 22.xc1 xe2 23.xd4 xb2 [ 23...e5 was also very strong. ] 24.a4 b1 25.xb1 xb1 26.b4 a2 27.b2 xd5 28.d2 e5 [ Black is also winning the a4 pawn after 28...e5 29.xd5 a1+ 30.f1 xa4 . ] 0-1
6...b6!? I'm not sure if this is an original move or not. [ 6...b4 is a good alternative, or ] [ 6...h6 7.h4 b4 ] 7.b3 [ 7.d2 is also logical, when c6 8.e3 could be slightly irritating. ] 7...b4! 8.xf6 gxf6 9.c1 c7 10.e3 [ 10.d4 e5 doesn't achieve much, but ] [ 10.c5!? threatening Qd4 is worth looking at: d6 11.d4 dxc5 12.xf6 g8 13.a3 ] 10...b6 11.d4 g8!? an interesting pawn sacrifice, especially since [ 11...e7 was quite reasonable. ] 12.xf6 b7 13.h4!? Okay, but a little greedy. But [ 13.a3 may transpose after A) 13...xc3+? 14.xc3 c6 ( 14...xg2?? 15.g1 xh2 16.xg2 xg2 17.f3 ) 15.c5; B) 13...e7 14.h6 c6 15.xh7 ] 13...c6 14.a3 e7 15.xh7 0-0-0 16.d5!? [ The right spirit, but it doesn't achieve much. I think that it was time to counterattack, e.g., b y 1 6 . N a 4 o r 16.c5!? b5 17.a4 b4 18.e4 ] 16...exd5 17.cxd5 e5! 18.dxc6 dxc6 19.e2? This is a key point. White needed to try something like [ 19.d4 ] 19...c5 White's in trouble. 20.d4 To get to f3, 1355 A32 but it's late for that. b8 21.f3 xb2 Gelfand,Boris 2717 22.b1 [ 22.c2 xc2 23.xc2 xg2 ] Dreev,Alexey 2694 WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (4.4) 08.12.2005 22...f6! [ 22...xb1 23.xb1 xg2 24.xb6 ] [John Watson] 23.f1 b5 Black is still a pawn down but his Another two leading players and another bishops are strong and White's king is stuck. calamity! Not quite a miniature, yet just as 24.a4 b4 25.h4 d2!? Brilliant but too showy. embarrassing! 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.c4 e6 Simply [ 25...g4 and ...Rdg8 was strong. ] 4.c3 cxd4 5.xd4 a6 Black avoids the 26.c4!? main lines [ 26.xd2 xg2+ 27.e1 xh1 28.f1 [ 5...c6 ] leaves W hite is poor shape (but he's [ and 5...b4 ] fighting), and another move is ] 6.g5!? considered harmless. The main move [ 26.h3! , intending Rg3 at the right is moment and stopping the immediate ...Qg6. [ 6.g3 , but after c7 , the sacrifices 7.g2 T h e n B l a c k h a s t o f i n d e6! xc4 and 7.Bg5 Qxc4 are probably with an ongoing attack. ] insufficient. See Carsten Hansen's 26...b2 27.a1?? World Class players miss Symmetrical English book. ] 1362
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 things too! 1999. ] [ 27.d1 looks best, when however White is 10.c3 0-0!? totally tied down. ] [ Ivanchuk's innovation, he sacrifices the d27...g6 Ouch. Black romps home after pawn for an initiative. 10...e6 11.e3!? [ 27...g6 28.xb2 ( 28.g1 b1+ ) ( 11.xd5!? is also playable, xd5 12.xd5 28...xg2+ 29.e1 xh1+ 30.d2 d8+ d8 13.xc6+ bxc6 forcing 14.e1 31.c2 xf3 32.e5+ d6 33.f6 e4+ ] wh e n B la ck h as so m e in it ia t ive f o r t h e 0-1 pawn ) 11...d4 12.ed5 xd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 0-0 15.b3 xb3 16.xb3 offered White a small edge, because of the 1356 A32 bish op pair, S kem bris,S -De Firmia n,N/ Vrnjacka Banja 1983. ] Gelfand,Boris 2681 Ivanchuk,Vassily 2719 11.xd5 xd5 12.xd5 e6 13.e4 f6 Rubinstein Mem (3) 19.08.2000 Black has an active position for the pawn- two good diagonals for his bishops, and files for [Tony Kosten] his rooks. 14.a4 ac8 [ 14...fe8!? ] 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 White tries to escape from the bind, f6 5.g3 Quite rare here, White delays the 15.e3! development of his queen's knight to avoid passivity could lead to disaster. xb2 [ Black accepts the challenge, although the more theoretical lines. b6 This reply is 15...a6 was a reasonable alternative. ] the most testing. 6.c2!? [ This move is the reason for the current 16.ab1 a2 17.xb7 a5 White has rid interest in this line, as 6.b3 is less strong himself of the b-pawn, but his a-pawn is weak, t h a n w i t h t h e k n i g h t o n c 3 , a s e5 and the c2-knight awkwardly placed. 18.b6 obliges White to sacrifice the c-pawn: 7.g2 e7 19.d4 c4!? [ 19...d5 20.g4 xg2 21.xg2 d5 xc4 8.0-0 with unclear compensation, seems to be strong, too, Black will ruin and ] White's kingside structure when he captures [ 6.b5 is easily countered, a6 7.5c3 e6 ] on e3. ] 6...e6 [ The most natural. 6...d6? 7.g2 g6 8.c3 20.xe6! [ This exchange sac is forced, but good. Not g7 9.0-0 0-0 10.b3 e6 11.e4 20.d3? as d8 forces 21.xe6 xd3 led to a consequent advantage for White in 22.exd3 and now b4! leaves Black in the Kramnik, V-Kamsky,G/ New York 1994, but ] driving seat. ] [ 6...e5 is a possibility. ] 20...fxe6 21.h3 h8! 7.g2 d5 [ Best, 21...e5?! seems good, but after [ Black breaks out, 7...e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.c3 22.e6+ h8 White has 23.d3! d6 is quite passive, Ivanov, M-Elsness,F/ when the c4-rook is in trouble. ] Gausdal 1996. ] 22.xe6 xe2 23.xc4 xc4 24.c2 8.0-0 e7 [ 8...dxc4!? is also an option, 9.ca3 a6 This move was foreseen by White, no doubt, 10.b3 and Black decided not to risk taking h e h a n g s - o n t o h i s e x t r a p a w n . c8! the 'hot pawn', e7 intending ... 0-0, and ... Ho we ve r, B la ck f o rce s liqu id a t io n in t o a Rd8, embarrassing the white queen, Alburt,L- drawn end game . 25.c1 xc2 26.xc2 xc2 27.xc2 d5 The point, Black will De Firmian,N/New York 1985. ] capture the a4-pawn, when the extra white 9.cxd5 exd5 [ 9...xd5!? 10.e3!? xe3 11.xe3 kingside pawn is insufficient to win. 28.a3 xb2 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.d4 b7 c3 29.d2 xa4 30.xa5 g8 31.c4 14.xg7 g8 15.c3 c5 16.c2 g6 W hite tries to make something of his extra 17.d2 c6 18.c4 b7 19.f3 pawn, but Black defends well. c5 32.b6 seems double-edged, but favoured White in d7 33.c7 f7 34.g2 e6 35.f3 d4 Topalov, V-Ponomariov,R/Las Vegas USA 36.e3 f6 37.d8 Hoping to capture the 1363
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 knight, as the knight versus bishop ending would be more difficult for Black. d5 38.c4 f6 39.a5 c3 40.d8 f6 41.b6 e7 ½-½
1357 Gelfand,Boris Korotylev,Alexey World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (9) [Carsten Hansen]
A32 2736 2600 21.11.2007
1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 c6 5.g3 e6 6.g2 b6 7.b3 b4+ 8.d2 e5 [ This move isn't mention in ECO, but seems reasonably playable. The alternatives are: A) 8...a5 A) The ECO only mentions 9.a3 d5 , and concludes here with the evaluation of unclear... 10.cxd5 ( 10.xb4 xb4+ 11.d2= ) 10...exd5 11.0-0 xd2 12.xd2 a4 13.c1 0-0 14.d3 f5 Jelen, I-Tseshkovsky, V/Ljubljana 1977; B) 9.0-0 B1) 9...xd2 10.xd2 a4 11.c1 0-0 12.d3 d4 ( 12...d6 13.c3 d7 14.ab1 a5 15.b3 axb3 16.axb3 fd8 17.fd1 c6 Franco Alonso, AGaprindashvili, V/Mondariz Balneario 1999, 18.e4!?; 12...d5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.c3 d4 15.e4 xe4 16.xe4 h3 17.fc1 fe8 18.f3 Kozlov, VObukhov, A/Alushta 2002) 13.a3 d5 14.e3 b6 15.cxd5 exd5 16.f4 d8 17.fc1 f5 Villamayor, B-Wohl, A/ Calcutta 2001; B2) 9...a4 B2a) 10.e3 a6 ( 10...c7 11.d4 xd4 12.xd4 a5 13.d2 xd2 14.xd2 0-0 15.b4 axb3 16.axb3 xa1 17.xa1 d8 18.c5 d6 19.cxd6 xd6 20.c4 b8 21.f4 Normantas, V-Sanakoev, G/corr 1993 ) 11.c5 B2a1) 11...xc4 12.xa4 ( 12.b3 b5 13.xa4 Roussel-Roozmon, TAudet-Bouchard, N/Montreal CAN 2003, 0-0 14.a3 e7= ) 12...b8 13.f4 e5 14.g5 e7 15.d2 e6 16.xf6 xf6 17.b6 0-0
18.e4 e6 19.d5 Birnboim, NVeinger, I/Rishon Le Ziyyon 1992; B2a2) 11...a5 12.d3 d5 13.xb4 xb4 14.c2 dxc4 15.a3 d5 16.d2 c3 17.xc3 xc3 18.xc3 xc3 19.bxc3 e7 20.c4 d8 21.ab1 a6 22.fc1 Palatnik, S-Kindermann, S/Trnava 1987; B2b) 10.c1 B2b1) 10...e5 11.e3 ( 11.xb4 xb4 12.d4 d6 13.a3 c5 14.xc5 dxc5 15.f4 eg4 16.c2 d7 17.d3 Brglez, F-Kiviaho, R/ corr 1981 ) 11...c5 12.xc5 xc5 13.d3 d4 14.xe5 xe5 B2b11) 15.c3 a3 16.b3 axb2 17.ab1 h5 ( 17...0-0 ) 18.xb2 h4 Steckner, J-Horvath, P/Baden 2000, 19.b4 hxg3 20.hxg3 a5 21.a4; B2b12) 15.c2 c5 16.a3 0-0 17.ad1 a5 18.d2 b6 19.c1 Abramovic, B-Mantovani, R/ Montecatini Terme 1997; B2b2) 10...e7 11.c3 e5 12.xa4 a6 13.b3 xc4 14.c3 a3 15.d3 0-0 16.e4 d6 17.c1 b5 18.b2 Raetsky, A-Kurniawan, B/Luzern 1994 ] [ B) 8...d5 9.cxd5 A) 9...xd5 10.0-0 ( 10.c3 xc3 11.bxc3 e7 12.0-0 0-0 13.c4 d8 14.c2 c7= Giorgadze, G-Strikovic, A/ La Coruna 1996 ) A1) 10...0-0 A1a) 11.e4 f6 12.e3 c7 13.a3 A1a1) 13...e7 14.c3 d8 ( 14...a6 15.c1 d7 16.a4 ac8 17.e2 b8 18.b6 Virovlansky, S - F e d o r o v, E / K a za n R U S 2 0 0 7) 15.e2 d7 16.ac1 ac8 17.f4 Raetsky, A-Meyer, H/Geneve 1999; A1a2) 13...a5 14.e2 d7 15.1d2 b6 16.c5 fd8 17.ac1 e5 18.b4 ac8 Koval, DSpanko, J/SVK 1997, 19.c4; A1b) 11.a3 xd2 12.1xd2 e5 13.e4 d7 14.d4 xd4 15.xd4 c6 16.b5 ce7 17.bd6 Dejkalo, S-Marcinkowski, K/W arsaw 1364
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1981; A2) 10...xd2 11.1xd2 0-0 12.c4 b4 13.c1 ( 13.c2 d7 14.e4 b6 15.xb6 1/2-1/2 Goetz, R-Stettler, M/ Germany 1993/ GER-chT2) 13...d8 14.a3 ( 14.d4 d7 15.a3 e7 16.xc6 xc6 17.b3 ab8 18.a5 e8 19.fd1 b6 20.c6 xc6 21.xc6 f6 22.dc1 Tukmakov, VOlivier, J/Lausanne SUI 2006) 14...e7 15.d2 d7 ( 15...b6 16.c2 xc4 17.xc4 d7 ) 16.e4 b6 17.xb6 axb6 18.e3 b5 19.c5 Ornstein, ASchneider, L/Malmo 1986; B) 9...exd5 10.0-0 xd2 ( 10...0-0 11.g5 e4 12.xd5 xg5 13.xg5 h6 14.h5 d4 15.xd4 xd4 16.c3 xc3 17.bxc3 xc3 18.ac1 a3 19.d5 e7 20.b1 Danailov, S-Ashley, M/Wijk aan Zee 2000; 10...e6 11.xb4 xb4 12.c3 d8 13.a3 e7 14.d4 0-0 15.a4 xd4 16.xd4 Pecorelli G a r c i a , H - T e s k e , H / H a v a n a 1 9 9 8) 11.xd2 0-0 12.c3 B1) 12...e6 13.a4 c7 14.ac5 ad8 15.ac1 B1a) 15...fe8!? 16.xe6!? ( For those who have studied my book, Improve Your Positional Chess, the following idea should be almost s e c o n d n a t u r e : 16.f4!? xf4 17.gxf4 c8 18.e3 with an edge for White ) 16...fxe6 17.d4 e5 18.xc6 bxc6 19.c5 Eriksson, A-Von Bahr, O/Skara 2002; B1b) 15...e7 16.d4 e5 17.b3 c8 18.fd1 fe8 19.d3 e4 20.e1 Karttunen, M-Kauppila, O/ Jyvaskyla 1999; B2) 12...d8 13.ac1 g4 14.fe1 a5 15.e3 e5 16.d4 b4 ( 16...a6 17.a3 c4 18.c2 ac8 19.b3 ) 17.a3 e7 18.h3 h5 19.f4 c4 20.f2 Stean, M-Sanz Alonso, F/Las Palmas 1978 ] [ C) 8...0-0 A) 9.0-0 e7!? ( 9...e5 10.c2 c5 11.c3 e7 12.e4 e8 13.c5 Carlsson, M-Eklund, J/corr SSKK 1989; 9...d8 10.g5 e7 11.c3 h6 12.e3 c7 13.c1 d6 14.d5 exd5 15.cxd5
xd5 16.xd5 Van Bommel, T-Guffrey, G/IECG Email 1998) 10.e4 d6 11.e3 c7 12.e2 b6 13.c3 b7 14.ac1 b8 15.f4 e8 16.g4 f8 17.g5 d7 18.f3 g6 Borges Mateos, J-Franco Ocampos, Z/Havana 2002; B) 9.c3 d8 10.0-0 d5 11.cxd5 exd5 12.a4 b5 13.xb4 xb4 14.ac5 b6 15.d3 e7 16.c1 b7 17.f4 e5 Donchenko, I-Trofimovskaya, I/Moscow 2000 ] 9.c2 d6 [ 9...xd2+ 10.1xd2 d5 11.0-0 0-0 12.cxd5 exd5 13.c5 xc5 14.xc5 b6 15.cb3 a6 16.fc1 Harasta, V-Petrik, K/ Presov 1978 ] [ 9...d5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.0-0 0-0 12.c3 d4 13.a4 d6 14.ac5 xc5 15.xc5 xc5 16.xc5 Kasparov, G-Comp Super Constellation/Hamburg 1985 ] 10.0-0 xd2 11.1xd2 0-0 [ 11...d7 12.c3 c7 13.b4 c6 14.a3 0-0 15.ac1 fd8 16.fd1 e8= Auchenberg, P-Horvath, T/Valby 1983 ] 12.ac1 c7 13.c5 d5 14.e4 dxe4 [ 14...d7!? 15.f4 eg4 16.d3 a6 17.d4 e5 ] 15.xe4 xe4 16.xe4 b8 17.fd1 d7 18.d6 g6 19.b4 fc8 20.cd1 e8 21.a5 [ 21.e4 e7 22.c3 looks very comfortable for White ] 21...b6 22.cxb6 xb6 23.xb6 axb6 24.d2 h6 25.c1 b8 26.xc8 xc8 27.c1 From here to the rest of the game, there is something wrong with the score, but the game soon ended in a draw. ½-½
1358 Gelfand,Boris Navara,David Match Prague CZE (2) [John Watson]
A32 2729 2719 10.08.2006
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.f3 cxd4 5.xd4 b4+ One of the most popular systems versus the g3 variation. 6.d2 c5 [ 6...b6 is also played. ] 7.b3 e7 8.g2 c6 9.c3 b6 1365
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 9...e5 10.c5 d5 11.cxd6 xd6 12.f4 may work out for Black but W hite has all the chances. ] [ Obviously, 9...d6 is playable. ] 10.d5!? A shot from out of nowhere! If Black can't capture the knight, he gives White the bishop pair. a6!? [ Not too awful, but giving up the darksquared bishop is unfortunate. Probably Black should screw up his courage and play 10...exd5 11.cxd5 b7 A) 12.0-0 0-0 ( 12...e5!? 13.d6 xg2 14.dxe7 xe7 15.xg2 0-0 . White has the isolated pawn to work against but Black's k nights a re active) 13.dxc6 dxc6=; B) 12.dxc6 dxc6 13.c2 0-0 14.0-0 c8= with ...c5 to come. ] 11.xe7 xe7 12.c1 [ M o r e p o i n t e d i s 12.d4! b7 ( 12...xd4?! 13.xa8 xc4 14.c1! ) 13.a4 ( 13.0-0 0-0 14.g5 h6 15.xf6 xf6 16.b5 d5!? ) 13...0-0 ( 13...c5 14.b3 f5 15.c5! ) 14.xc6 dxc6 15.xc6 xc6 16.xc6 White's bishop will be influential. ] 12...c8 13.c5 [ 13.f4!? b4+ ( 13...e5! 14.g5 b4+ 15.d2 a4 16.c3 xc4 17.d6 is u nc le a r) 14.d2 a4!? ( 14...xd2+ 15.xd2 , due to the two bishops) 15.d6! xc4 16.0-0 ] [ 13.0-0 e5 wins the c-pawn for unclear compensation. ] 13...0-0 14.0-0 d5! 15.cxd6? [ 15.cxb6 axb6 16.e1= ] 15...xd6 Now Black's active pieces more than make up for the bishop pair. In particular, White's pawn on e2 is hard to defend. So he sacrifices it to activate his bishops. 16.g5!? [ 16.f4 xd1 17.fxd1 xe2 18.d2 b5 19.dc2 d5! defends everything. ] 16...xd1 17.fxd1 xe2 18.d2 b5 19.dc2 [ 19.xf6 gxf6 20.dc2 e7 is no better. ] 19...d5 20.d2 de7 Black is a pawn up with no weaknesses. Navara shows excellent technique up to the point where they enter into a two-bishop-vs-knight-and-bishop ending, when he can't seem to make progress and then allows opposite-coloured bishops. This
may just be the result of the time control. Still, in the end he converts the point. 21.h3 fd8 22.e3 f8 23.h2 b4 24.xc8 xc8 25.xc8+ xc8 26.d4 c4 27.a3 d3 28.b3 d5 29.f1 c5 30.b4 e4 31.a4 c3 32.a5 d1 33.f4 e7 34.g1 c3 35.b8 b7 36.e5 a2 37.axb6 f6 38.b8 axb6 39.b5 c3 40.f4 d6 41.g4 e4 42.f2 d7 43.f5 exf5 44.gxf5 xf5 45.xf5 xf5 46.e3 d5+ 47.d2 c7 48.a7 xb5 49.xb6 d6 50.e3 e6 51.f2 h5 52.g3 g5 53.h2 h4 54.d4 e7 55.e2 f7 56.h5+ g7 57.f3 c4 58.e2 e5 59.c3 g6 60.d2 e5 61.c3 d5 62.b2 g6 63.g1 f5 64.f2 e4 65.f1 e6 66.c3 f5 67.g2 g6 68.g1 f5 69.h2 d3 70.f1 f4 71.d2 d3 72.xf4 xf1 73.c7 f5 74.d8 f4 75.e7 f3 76.c5 f6 77.d4+ e6 78.b6 e5 79.d8 xh3 80.xh3 g4+ 81.h2 g3+ 82.g1 f2+ 83.f1 e4 84.xh4 0-1
1359 Gelfand,Boris Pantsulaia,Levan WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (3.1) [John Watson]
A32 2717 2578 03.12.2005
Once again these opponents face off in a key Anti-Benoni line. Last time we saw Black try to get by with passive development. But here he grabs the c-pawn and White gets nothing. In general 8...Qxc4 has a terrific record and White needs something new to justify 5.g3 . 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c4 c5 4.g3 cxd4 5.xd4 c7 6.c3 a6 7.g2 xc4! This is the critical variation, with Black's centre protecting what seems like a dangerous position. 8.0-0 c6 White's attack is o p t ica lly im p re ss ive b u t B la ck h a s n o weaknesses. 9.b3 b4!? [ N e w ? I n a n e a r l i e r g a m e 9...b4 was played, leading to the better game for Black. But that was just one game. ] 10.f4!? [ 10.d2 d5!? ( 10...0-0 ) 11.c1 g4 lets Black get castled quickly. Still, 12.e4! xd1 13.fxd1 d4 14.e5! is unclear. ] 1366
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10...xc3 11.c1 e4! [ 11...d5 12.xc3 b4 13.e3 gives White definite counterplay. ] 12.xe4 xe4 13.xc3 d5 14.c5 f5 15.a4 e5 16.b6 b8 [ 16...exf4!? 17.xa8 0-0 would be interesting, with good attacking chances if the light-squared bishop gets into play. ] 17.xc8 -[ 17...xc8 18.xd5 d8 19.c5 e6 may favour Black, but the position is still risky for him. ] ½-½
( 12.g5 d5!? 13.xf6 xf6 14.xd5 d8 is level Wells,P-Emms,J/Bad W oerishofen 1996) 12...h6 13.b3 d8 14.a3 d6 15.b5 c5 16.b4 d4 17.fd1 g4 18.d2 d5! Black has good play, Manor,I-Psakhis,L/Berlin-West 1988. ] 11...c5 It makes sense to keep the darksquared bishop, although [ 11...0-0 12.xd4 exd4 13.b3 d5 14.a3 e8 is equal, Haba,P-Sax,G/Germany 1993. ] 12.e1!? A new idea, both hitting the e5pawn and preparing b4. [ 12.g5 is the old move, 0-0 13.d2 a5!? ( 13...h6?! 14.xf6 xf6 15.b4 e7 1360 A32 16.c7 b8 17.d5 and Black is in trouble, Rogers,I-Suba,M/Szirak 1986.; 13...a6!? Greenfeld,Alon 2539 is possible,) 14.ad1 a6 is a novel way to Ward,Christopher 2522 develop the queen's rook, but not bad, Vera, Open Jersey JCI (6) 27.02.2004 R-Foisor,O/Timisoara 1987. ] [Tony Kosten] 12...0-0 Otherwise, [ 12...d6 13.b4 d4 14.e3 allows White 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c4 c5 4.g3 cxd4 the initiative: xe3 15.d1! ] 5.xd4 b6!? Part of a plan to chase the knight away from d4, and weaken the white 13.b4 [ 13.xe5!? is worth consideration, xf2+ light squares (very slightly) by obliging White 14.h1 ( 14.xf2?! xf2+! 15.xf2 g4+ t o p l a y e 3 . 6.g2 c5 7.e3 Obviously wins material, although W hite will enjoy forced, some positional compensation) 14...e8 [ 7.e3? g4 ( or 7...xb2 )] 15.f4 c5 16.d2 with sufficient play for 7...c6 8.0-0!? A sharp pawn sac, but the the pawn. ] alternative doesn't offer much: 13...d4 14.xd4 [ 8.b3 b4+ 9.d2 e5 [ 14.e3 might be stronger, although it is A) 10.c2 allows d5 11.cxd5 a6!? easy to understand that W hite prefers to 12.f1 ( 12.xb4 d3+ 13.d2 xb4 get something tangible, and take the bishop 14.c3 bxd5 is pleasant for Black, pair. ] Sosonko,G-Suba,M/Tunis 1985) 12...f3+ 13.d1 b6 is unclear, Ungureanu,E- 14...xd4 15.g5 White is very carefree with his pawns! d6 16.d1 xc4 17.xd6 e6 Foisor,O/Romania 1984; B) 10.e2 d5 11.cxd5 exd5 12.0-0 g4 18.xe5 xb4 19.xf6 White decides to with active play, Flear,G-Ionescu,C/Luzern take a draw. [ 19.xf6 gxf6 20.xf6 xd6 21.g5+ 1985. ] forces a perpetual check. ] 8...xd4 [ 8...xd4?! is worse, 9.exd4 xd4 ½-½ 10.xd4 xd4 11.c3 e7 12.d1 c6 13.b3 White's dark-squared bishop will dominate, Nogueiras, J-Rodriguez,A/ Cienfuegos 1986. ] 9.exd4 xd4 10.c3 e5 The bishop's outpost must be defended, [ 10...0-0?! 11.a4 is awkward. ] 11.b5 [ 11.c2 is less ambitious, 0-0 12.b1 1367
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1361 A32 19.a4! b5 20.xb7 xa4 21.xe7 d3 Gurevich,Dmitry 2580 22.fe1!? [ HiArcs suggests 22.e4! with a winning Ishkhamov,Tigran 2364 advantage, since xa3 fails to 23.c2!! HB Global Chess Challenge (5.20) 20.05.2005 Another nearly impossible idea to find under [John Watson] time constraints. ] 1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 e6 4.g3 cxd4 22...e8 23.c5 xa3 24.ad1 f8 25.c6 5.xd4 c6 6.g2 A long-standing way to a6 26.b5 a5 27.e7 a2 28.e3?! Aiming for Rd8. Objectively this isn't pointed avoid too much theory. [ 6.c3 transposes back into the main line e n o u gh , a n d B la c k gr a b s t h e c h a n c e t o o f t h e N x d 4 S ym m e t r i c a l - s e e W e l l s - consolidate. a6! 29.bxa6 xa6? Probably some time trouble here. Jakovenko. ] [ 29...a1 30.xa1 xa1+ 31.g2 xa6 6...b4+ Perhaps not best. is fine. ] [ 6...b6 and ] 30.b7? [ 6...c5 7.b3 b4+ are valid options. ] [ The nice tactical sequence 30.d8! a1+ 7.d2 31.g2 xc6+ 32.f3 wins material after [ 7.c3! is more promising: b6 ( 7...0-0 h6 33.xf8+ h7 34.8xf7! (else ...Bd5 or 8.0-0 xc3 9.bxc3 d5 10.a3!? e8 .. .Bg4) xf7 35.xf7 Naturally this won't 11.b5; 7...d5 8.0-0 0-0 9.cxd5 exd5 win if the queen's are exchanged, but it was 10.g5 ) 8.b3 d5 ( 8...a6!? 9.c5 b6 ) worth a try. ] 9.cxd5 xd5 10.0-0 xc3 11.bxc3 0-0 with one of those strange positions in which 30...b6 31.d5 Black has enough pressure down the c-file ½-½ to claim approximate equality. I'd rather be White, however. ] 1362 A32 7...b6 8.e3 [ 8.xc6 bxc6 ( 8...dxc6!? ) 9.0-0 xd2 Hernando Rodrigo,Jose Maria 2351 10.xd2 0-0 11.c3 d5= ] Marin,Mihail 2537 8...d5 With easy equality. White even has to 2nd Open Fincas Mediterranea (7) 23.08.2005 be careful not to end up with weak pawns. [John Watson] [ 8...xd4?! 9.exd4 is promising for White. ] 9.cxd5?! The pawn grab in this game is the real test of [ 9.0-0! 0-0 10.cxd5 xd5 is about equal. ] what can otherwise be a comfortable line for 9...xd4 10.exd4 xd5 Suddenly Black has White. Black is pushed around but holds on, the advantage. 11.xb4 so it's up to W hite to prove that he can get [ 11.0-0 0-0 12.xb4 xb4 leaves the d- adequate compensation. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 pawn vulnerable. ] 3.c4 c5 4.c3 cxd4 5.xd4 a6 6.g3 c7 11...xb4 12.0-0 0-0 13.c3 d7!? Slow. 7.g2 xc4! This apparently risky pawn grab [ Simply 13...d8 is better, and ] has proven itself In general practice. Black's [ 13...c6! forces White into the solid centre seems to give him just enough discouraging choice of Bxc6 or dropping his protection against W hite's piece play. 8.f4 b-pawn. ] c6 9.b3 d5 10.a3 14.a3 c6 15.d5 e7!? [ 10.c1 runs into b4 or ( 10...b4 11.a3 [ 15...exd5 16.xd5 xb2 17.e7+! b6 )] (this is the difference of having ...Bd7 in) 10...d4! xe7 18.xd7 ] [ 10...a5 11.c1 a6 12.a4! wins b5 and [ 15...d4 16.a4 xa4 17.xa4 keeps the pressure on. ] also doesn't yield much. ] 11.d2 c5 12.ce4 xe4 13.xe4 16.dxe6 xe6 17.b4 fd8 18.f3 ac8?! a5+ 14.b4 d8 15.a4!? Black drops a pawn. [ 15.c1 e7 16.0-0 0-0 17.c5 [ 18...c6 19.fd1= ] provides some positional compensation, 1368
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 probably not quite enough to equalise. ] 15...d7 16.d6+ xd6 17.xd6 a7! 18.d1 c6 Now White has absolutely nothing for his pawn, so he goes for broke: 19.xd4!? xg2 20.d1?? [ 20.xg7 xh1 21.xh8+ d7 22.e5 f6 23.f4 b5 24.d1 d5 etc. ] 20...f6 W hite could resign. 21.e3 c8 22.g1 c6 23.c5 b5 24.d3 f7 25.b6 c7 26.e4 e8 27.g4 e7 28.g5 f5 29.g3 g8 30.d6 d7 31.e5 xd1+ 32.xd1 d7+ 33.c1 xe4 34.g6 hxg6 35.xg6 c8 36.c5 f7 37.g3 e8 38.f3 f6 0-1
[ 8.d3 is best. ] 8...e5! Black takes-up the challenge. [ 8...b4+?! 9.d2 xd2+ 10.xd2 offers an edge to White, as the c-pawn is 'untouchable', as xc4?? allows the skewer 11.c1 ] [ 8...d6? i s e v e n w o r s e , 9.b5 c6 10.xd6! xh1? 11.xe7 and Black can resign. ] 9.b5 c6! Of course, positionally Black has made a huge concession, as the e-pawn no longer controls d5 and f5, but two pieces are en prise, and W hite has no choice but to play... [ Black may also have considered 9...xc4!? A) 10.c1!? i s t e m p t i n g , b u t xb5 11.xc8+ doesn't seem to lead anywhere 1363 A32 special: d8 12.c5 ( 12.d6 exf4 13.c5 b4+ 14.d2 looks strong, but Kasimdzhanov,Rustam 2706 B l a c k h a s t h e a m a z i n g c o u n t e r d5! Ivanchuk,Vassily 2731 stopping Re5+) 12...b4+ 13.d2 e4 World Teams Yerevan ARM (3) 14.10.2001 unclear, if dangerous for Black.; [Tony Kosten] B) 10.d6+ xd6 11.c1 b4+ 12.d2 but now Black can offer his queen, c6! Ivanchuk fearlessly dives into an obscure 13.xb4 xb4+ 14.c3 which is far from mu t ua l ro o k los s, a n d e me rge s f ro m t h e clear. ] com plic at io ns wit h a winn in g po sition . A portent of things to come? 1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 10.xe5 xh1 [ 10...b4+ 11.c3 xc3+ 12.bxc3 xh1 3.g3 c5 4.f3 cxd4 5.xd4 c7 6.d2 transposes. ] Simply defending the c-pawn, whilst d e v e l o p i n g a p i e c e . W e h a v e a l r e a d y 11.c7+ d8 12.xa8 So, White has a pawn more, the black king is displaced, and considered the two alternatives the black queen is out of it, but Black's next [ 6.c3 intending to sac the c-pawn, and ] move changes the situation entirely. b4+ [ 6.b3 ] 6...c5!? Other moves are possible, but we 13.d2 [ 13.c3 xc3+ 14.bxc3 b6 15.f3 e8 have seen this sort of idea many times in a n d . . . B b 7 l e a ve s t h e a 8 -k n ig h t i n b i g related lines, Black takes time-out to drive the trouble. ] most aggressive white piece from the centre. 7.2b3 Probably best, White refuses to 13...e4 14.c3 Obviously forced. xc3 e8 The complications have not concede ground in the centre, and frees the 15.bxc3 c1-h6 diagonal so that he can develop his b e e n ki n d t o W h it e , wh o h a s n o le a d i n queen's bishop. However, the b3-knight is not development, and a caged knight. 16.xe4 particularly well-placed on b3, and the 'linked' This brings the black queen back into play, but The black white knights get in each others way. e7 ...Nxc3 was a big threat. xe4 Further, the c-pawn is again under attack. queen returns to the game, but the a8-knight 8.f4? A sharp novelty which may have been can never do the same, Ivanchuk's judgement p re p a re d b y W h it e , b u t it a p p e a rs t o b e has been exemplary. 17.b3 a6 18.0-0-0 b6 Forcing the white knight to sacrifice itself flawed. [ 8.c2 is more usual, but after c6 9.g2 f o r t w o p a w n s a n d a c o u p l e o f c h e c k s . b4+ 10.d2 xd4 11.xd4 xd2+ 19.xb6 axb6 20.xb6+ c7 21.e3 f3 12.xd2 xc4 Black has won a pawn, Although the black king is currently not too comfortable, the shattered white queenside Ivanov,S-Yudasin,L/Leningrad 1989. ] 1369
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pawns are no match for a piece in the long term. 22.b2 e6! Controlling b6 and providing a shield for the black king. 23.d3 a6 24.c5!? Played to activate the bishop. xc5 25.c4 f6 Black coordinates his pieces wonderfully. 26.b4 d6 27.d2 h1+ 28.d1 c6 The queen returns to help the queenside. 29.d5 a6 30.c4 a7 31.f4 c7 32.d4 b7 33.g4 h6 34.b2 h3 0-1
1364 Khalifman,Alexander Shomoev,Anton XIII TCh-RUS (3) [Tony Kosten]
A32 2640 2492 22.04.2006
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.g3 e6 6.g2 b6 7.c2 I have already looked at the alternatives [ 7.b5 and ] [ 7.b3 ] 7...d5 8.0-0 White offers the c-pawn. e7 [ 8...dxc4 is certainly playable 9.ba3 a6 10.b3 cxb3?! too greedy ( 10...c3!? 11.b1 e7 12.xc3 and now 0-0 is fine for Black ) 11.axb3 b6 12.e3! Black is being kicked around, Rocabert Andreu, GHernando Rodrigo, J/Montcada/1999. ] 9.c3 0-0 Now Black returns the favour. [ 9...dxc4 ] 10.cxd5 exd5 We have now transposed to the Gelfand, B-Ivanchuk, V game I analysed 6 years ago. 11.e3!? A new move. [ 11.xd5 xd5 12.xd5 ( 12.xd5 h3 13.e1 ad8 14.e4 e6 offers sufficient compensation) 12...e6 13.h5 ( 13.e4 wa s G e l f a n d , B - I va n c h u k , V - s e e t h e archive ) 13...f6 with some play, although maybe not enough, Stefanova, A-Karjakin, S/ Wijk aan Zee NED 2005. ] 11...d4 12.ed5 d8 13.xe7+! An ambitious move, White grabs the bishop pair whilst freeing Black's development. [ 13.xf6+ xf6 14.d5 was a continuation similar to a well-known Tarrasch line, but offers nothing. ] 13...xe7 14.xc6! The subtle point. dxc3 [ 14...bxc6 15.xd4 h3 16.d1
wins a pawn, with Black's light-squared play being not quite enough. ] 15.g2 d8 16.c2 cxb2 17.xb2!? A really strange choice, which I find difficult to explain. Perhaps he saw ...Rac8 coming in a couple of moves, so moved the queen off the open c-file. [ 17.xb2 is more natural, and certainly gives a White a sure edge, his dark-squared bishop is always going to be better than the black knight in such an open position. ] 17...d5! Black certainly doesn't want to allow Bg5. 18.d1 [ 18.e4 b6 just blocks the g2-bishop. Normally White will only advance his e (and f) pawn(s) when his pieces are ready to support them. ] 18...e6 19.d2 b6?! Why retreat from a strong central square? [ 19...ac8 is good. ] 20.b4 xd1+ 21.xd1 d8!? Black seeks to ease his problems with exchanges. 22.xd8+?! [ 22.xe7?? loses to the trick xd1+ 23.f1 h3 ] [ 22.d4! xd4 23.xd4 keeps a plus, White has two bishops and more space. ] 22...xd8 23.xb7?? A terrible blunder, pro bab ly bro ugh t o n b eca use W h ite wa s striving to 'prove' he was better. [ 23.c2 d4 is probably only equal anyway, as compared to the previous note it is the black queen in the centre of the board, but even so... ] 23...d1+ 24.g2 d7 Both attacking the b7-bishop and threatening ...Bh3+. 25.a6 Rather than give up this piece White prefers to be mated! h3+ 26.f3 [ 26.g1 d1+ ] 26...g4+?! [ 26...d5! 27.e4 (the only 'defence' to ... Q f 5 / g 4 m a t e ) f5+ 28.d4 f6+ skewers the king and queen. ] [ 26...g4+ 27.e3 d5+ 28.d2 xb4+ is enough to force resignation, of course. ] 0-1
1370
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1365 Lautier,Joel Leko,Peter FIDE GP Dubai UAE (2.2) [Tony Kosten]
A32 2687 2713 04.04.2002
I think that the following pawn-grabbing line is an interesting try for Black if he wants to win. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.g3 c7 6.c3 a6 7.g2 xc4 8.0-0!? W hite simply castles and allows the black queen to return to c7. I had previously concentrated on [ 8.f4 to control c7. ] 8...c7 Back to safety! 9.e4 d6 This typical move seems to be new in this position. Before Black had preferred to block the c-file with [ 9...c6 when 10.e3 e7 11.c1 0-0 12.a4!? ( 12.a3 d6 13.d5! exd5 14.exd5 xd5 15.xd5 also gave White fair positional compensation for the pawn, Ha n s e n , C-S t e m p in , P / Uzh go ro d 1 9 8 8) 12...a5 13.b6! b8 ( 13...xb6 14.xc6 obliges Black to sac his queen) 14.c4 d8 15.f4 a8 16.e5 e8 17.d3 White has excellent play on Black's weakened dark squares, Dyachkov,S-Stratil, L/Pardubice 1994. ] 10.e3 e7 11.c1 d8 The contours of the position are similar to those of the Morra Gambit, which is a Sicilian where White has sacrificed his c-pawn. 12.f4 White continues to expand. Note that by leaving his knight on b8 Black is ready to defend b6 with ...Nbd7, so the white plans in the note to Black's ninth move no longer have any effect. 0-0 13.g4 Typical Sicilian play, White will play g5, Qh5 and Rf3-h3 if he can. c6 14.g5 d7 15.h1 A typical 'safe' rapid-chess move, but W hite should be pressing-home his development and mobility advantage. [ I would be tempted to play 15.xc6!? bxc6 16.h5 planning both Rf3-h3, and f5, with dangerous attacking possibilities. ] [ or 15.b3 with the same ideas. ] 15...xd4! 16.xd4 e5 Standard defensive play, Black concedes the d5-square, but gains e5, and weakens the white pawn structure. 17.g1 White decides to sac a second pawn. exf4 18.d5 xg5 19.c3 f6! 20.b6
xd5! Black gives his queen to liquidate White's positional plusses and remains with a winning position. 21.xd8 xc3 22.bxc3 xd8 23.h5 e7?! 24.xf4 e6 Black has the safer king, material advantage, and the bette r pawn struct ure. T he mos t important aspect is that the white queen is unable to create much activity as all Black's pieces are well protected. 25.f2 ac8 [ 25...f6!? ] 26.h3! c5 [ And not 26...xh3? 27.xf7+ h8 28.xe7 ] 27.xe6! White's best chance is in the o p p o s i t e - c o l o u r b i s h o p e n d i n g . xh5 28.xf7+ f8 29.xh5+ f6 30.g4 e7 31.c4 e8 32.g2 Without rooks this would be a simple draw, but with rooks Black has ve ry go od ch an ce s. d8 33.f5 e5 34.h3 e7 Black wants to bring his king to c5. 35.f8+ c7 36.g4 b6 37.c8?! [ 37.d8 is possible, with the idea c5? 38.d7! xd7 39.xd7 xc4 40.c8 and draws. ] 37...d4! 38.d8 Too late! c5 39.d7 xe4 40.f3 e1 41.xb7 xc4 No w B l a c k i s t wo p a wn s u p , a n d t h a t i s enough to win even without rooks. 42.c7+ b5 43.d5 d1 44.c2 e5 45.e4 h6 46.f3 d4 47.e2+ b6 48.b2+ a5 49.c2 e4 50.h3 b6 51.f3 e3 52.h4 g5 53.hxg5 hxg5 54.f2 a3 55.e2 a5 56.f3 a4 57.c6+ b5 58.c2 h4 59.d5 d4 60.c6+ b4 61.e3 d1 62.f3 e1+ 63.e2 a1 Short of time Black probably didn't want to consider the consequences of the exchange of rooks, but it should win. 64.g2 f4+ 65.d3 a3 66.d5 d1+ 67.e4 a4 68.e2 e5 Black is gradually making progress. 69.e3+ b4 70.d3 xd3 71.xd3 g4 72.e4 g3 73.d3 a3 74.c2 b4 [ 74...g2?? 75.xg2 xa2 might only draw. ] 75.d3 c5 76.f3 d5 77.g2 f4 78.f3 d4 79.g2 e3 80.f3 b4 81.d5 f2 82.c2 a3 Nice and simple, the bishop is tied to d5 and White is in Zugzwang. 83.d3 b2 84.d2 a3 85.d3 e3! Forcing the king further away from the a-pawn. 86.e2 g2 87.xg2 xa2 ...Kb2 and ...a2 wins the 1371
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 might follow. ] 21.b5!? [ 21.g4 e6 22.b5 ] 21...d7? From now on the mistakes appear 1366 A32 on almost every move. On the other hand it's Lenic,Luka 2458 difficult to make complex decisions in such a Cvitan,Ognjen 2528 double-edged struggle. 22.xc6 [ There's no risk in 22.c5! attacking the d11th HIT Open A (2) 27.01.2006 pawn: e5 23.f4 ee8 24.xd5 ] [John Watson] 22...xc6?! 23.g4! ae8 [ 23...f6 would prevent what follows. ] A c o m p l e x o p e n i n g wi t h B l a c k ' s l e a d i n development compensating for the blockaded 24.h5? [ 24.c3 carefully defends e3 in advance of IQP. The game develops with various lost White's kingside attack. His bishop stands opportunities for both sides until W hite wonderfully on d4. ] demonstrates the attacking power of oppositecoloured bishops. 1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.f3 24...a6 [ Unde rest imat ing the obviou s 24...xe3! c5 4.c3 cxd4 5.xd4 b4 6.db5 25.xe3 xe3+ 26.g3 ( 26.g2 e2+ ) This has generally been considered a 26...e5+ ] harmless alternative to the main line with 25.d2 c8? Last chance for ...f6. 26.g5! [ 6.g3 ] 6...0-0 7.a3 xc3+ 8.xc3 d5 9.cxd5 From here on out White has a lot of fun. It's a exd5 An old position that has been neglected stark illustration of opposite-coloured bishops for many years. White has the bishop pair but combined with space: e6 27.h6 g6 28.c3 29.xf6 f5? h e ' s a w a y s f r o m c a s t l i n g a n d w i l l f a c e T h r e a t e n i n g Q d 4 f6 aggressively placed pieces after ...Nc6 and ... Either a typo or a total bluff in a lost position. Ultimately 'safe' move will win but it Re8. The first order of business is to stop ... 30.h4? gives away most of the advantage, and d4. 10.e3! [ 30.xe7 is re si gn a b le : e8 31.xc6! [ The original idea 10.g5 c6 ( 10...d4 (or almost any move) bxc6 32.f6 ] is premature due to 11.e4 ) 11.xf6 xf6 12.xd5 e6 gives a huge attack for the 30...e4 31.f4 [ 31.h2 ce8 32.c3 d4! is scary-looking, pawn, so W hite blockades at the cost of e.g., 33.exd4! ( 33.xd4 4e6 34.e2 development. ] xg5 ) 33...e2+ 34.xe2 xe2+ 35.xe2 10...c6 11.d4 f5 xf3+!? 36.e3! e4+ 37.f2 h5 ] [ Another idea is 11...g4 , e.g., 12.h3 h5 13.g4 g6 14.g2 e4 15.0-0 xg2 31...xf4 32.exf4 h3 33.d4 f7 34.e5 d7? A strange move. 16.xg2 xd4 17.xd4 e7 ] [ 34...e8! ] 12.e3 e4 13.xe4?! 35.xc8 xc8 36.xd5+ e6 37.d8 [ 13.c1 keeps an eye on c3. ] Needless to say White pursues his winning 13...xe4 [ Bla ck mis se s his ch an ce f o r 13...xd4! attack. c6 38.h8? This actually wins fairly 14.xd4 dxe4 15.xd8 fxd8 and White easily, but [ 38.d6! 1-0 was easier! ] can hardly prevent penetration to the seventh rank, for example, 16.c1 ( 16.e2 38...c5+ 39.g2 c2+ 40.g3 f5 41.xh7+ e8 42.g8+ e7 43.f6+ d6 ac8 ) 16...f8 17.e2 ac8 18.0-0 d2 ] 14.f3 f5 15.e2 h4+ 16.g3 h3 17.f2 44.f8+ d5 45.f7+ c6 46.c4+ fe8 It's hard to assess this position, but one 1-0 feels that Black should hurry, 18.c1 e6 19.f1 h6 20.h4!? Grabbing space yet risking attack. e7 [ 20...ae8 is consistent. Then something like 21.g4 xe3 22.xe3 xe3+ 23.g2 bishop. 0-1
1372
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1367 Nguyen,Ngoc Truongson Wang Hao TCh-CHN Shenzhen CHN (5) [Nigel Davies]
A32 2642 2715 08.06.2010
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.f3 cxd4 5.xd4 c7 6.d2 b6 [ L e s s p o p u l a r t h a n 6...c6 but the immediate development of Black's bishop on b7 has merit. ] 7.g2 b7 8.b5 c8 9.f3!? A new and very interesting move which offers the c4 pawn as bait. [ In earlier games White has usually set up a M a r o c z y B i n d t y p e p o s i t i o n w i t h 9.e4 but not done particularly well. For example a6 10.c3 e7 ( Or 10...d6 11.0-0 bd7 12.b3 c7 13.b2 g6 14.f4 g7 15.e2 0-0 16.ac1 ac8 with a solid Hedgehog for Black in Huzman, A (2591)-Hoffmann, M (2413)/Biel 2002.) 11.0-0 d6 12.b3 0-0 13.b2 bd7 14.e2 e8 15.ac1 c5 16.a3 ac8 17.b4 c7 18.f4 f8 19.h1 6d7 and once again Black had set up a t o u g h H e d ge h o g f o rm a t io n i n H a b a , P (2 5 2 4 )- H r a c e k , Z ( 2 5 9 9 ) / K a r l o vy V a r y 2004. ] [ Another possibility is 9.xb7 but after xb7 10.f3 e4 11.0-0 a6 12.c3 xc3 13.bxc3 c5 14.d3 0-0 15.e3 xe3 16.xe3 d5 17.cxd5 exd5 18.fd1 d7 19.h4 fe8 20.d2 c5 Black was doing fine in Nogueiras Santiago, J (2570)-Van der Wiel, J (2570)/Reggio Emilia 1986. ] 9...xc4 The critical line, but if 10.Nd2 proves to be a strong reply then maybe Black should look for alternatives here. [ One possibility is 9...e4 when 10.0-0 a6 11.bd4 e7 would see Black develop wit h o u t h a vin g a kn igh t la n d o n h is d 6 square. ] 10.a4 This looks logical, protecting the knight on b5. [ But the critical line seems to be 10.d2! when c8 11.c4! xc4 12.xb7 xb5 13.xa8 d5 leaves White the exchange for a pawn up but with the bishop on a8 temporarily out of play. ] 10...c8 [ Perhaps Black could do even better with
10...a6!? , f o r e xa m p l e 11.d6+ xd6 12.xd6 d5 13.xb6 c6 gives him an excellent game. But in view of the possibility of 10.Nd2 I doubt that this has any theoretical importance. ] 11.0-0 a6 12.d6+ xd6 13.xd6 c5 14.f4 xd6 15.xd6 e4 16.c7 d5 17.e5 c6 18.xe4?! After this I don't think White has anything. [ 18.xc6 dxc6 19.xe4 xe4 20.f3 d5 21.xb6 might have been better with White able to claim an edge in what is probably a drawish position. ] 18...xe4 19.c4 d5 20.xb6 a7 21.d6 b7 22.c5 f6 Preparing to bring his other rook into the game with ...Kf7. 23.f3 g6 24.fc1 f7 25.f2 e7 26.a5?! Strategically very risky as if Black gets control of the b5 square White's pawn majority will be crippled. e5 27.c5 e6 28.d1 d8 29.b4 e8 30.e4 d4 31.e1 b5 32.f2 g5 33.d2 h5 34.dc1 d3 35.a4 b5 36.b6 g4! Undermining the support for the e4 pawn. Black is better now. 37.f4 d3 38.a4?! This pawn sacrifice isn't working. [ White should defend e4 with 38.e1 . ] 38...xe4 39.5c4 [ 39.c7 was a better chance, but White is eschewing exchanges. ] 39...f5 40.c5 a7 41.xe4 xe4 42.c5 d5 43.c6 f5 44.fxe5 fxe5 45.e2 e4 46.e1 f7 47.g5 dd7 48.d2+ e3 49.xa6 f2+ 50.e2 f1 51.e1 f2+ 52.e2 xe2+ 53.xe2 d3+ 54.d2 c7 55.xe3 c2+ 56.d1 xe3 0-1
1368 Nielsen,Peter Heine Akopian,Vladimir Spanish Team Ch - Group 1 (2) [Carsten Hansen]
A32 2649 2698 21.06.2007
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.f3 c5 4.g3 cxd4 5.xd4 b4+ 6.d2 c5 7.b3 e7 8.g2 c6 9.c3 b6 10.f4 0-0 11.0-0 b7 12.d6 e8 [ 12...a5?! was tried in L.Aronian-M. Carlsen, Elista 2007, which can be found in the June update ] 1373
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.xe7 xe7 14.d2 d6 [ 14...c8 15.ac1 d6 was my recommendation in last month's update, but the text move also appears to do the trick. ] 15.d4 [ 15.f4 c8 16.e4 d8 17.e2 c7 18.d2 a6= ] 15...xd4 16.xd4 xg2 17.xg2 f6 18.fd1 fd8 19.d2 [ This allows Black to equalize without any f u r t h e r a d o . W h i t e c a n a l s o t r y 19.e4 to claim the usual space advantage, but e8 20.a4 b7 21.d2 ac8 22.ad1 d7 23.b3 a6 is solid and should be perfectly okay for Black ] 19...d5 (Black has completely equalised) 20.cxd5 xd5 21.ad1 ac8 22.xd5 xd5 23.e4 xd2 24.xd2 g6 25.h4 h5 26.a3 ½-½
1369 Nielsen,Peter Heine Lautier,Joel XLVIII TCh-ESP (4) [John Watson]
A32 2663 2682 21.11.2004
Nielsen finds a way to liven up a traditionally dull variation. 1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.f3 cxd4 5.xd4 c6 6.g2 [ 6.c3 transposes into one of the main lines of the Symmetrical English. The text has been considered harmless. ] 6...b6 7.b3 e5 8.c5!? A brave innovation that seems to have a lot of bite. W hite plays for the two bishops and pressure along the dark squares. [ Heretofore the dull 8.N1d2 or 8.Qc2 have been played, e.g., 8.c2 a6 9.c5 d5 10.cxd6 xd6 11.c3 ( 11.0-0 d7 12.c3 c8 13.d1 e7 14.f4 c4= G e l f a n d , B -I v a n c h u k , V / L vi v U K R 2 0 0 0) 11...d7 12.g5 c8 13.xf6 gxf6 14.0-0 c6= 1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Topalov,V/Monte Carlo 2003 ] 8...xc5 9.xc5 xc5 10.0-0 0-0 [ Possibly 10...d5 should be tried. ] 11.b3! c6! A reorganisation to limit the bishop's power. 12.a3 b4 13.c3! d5
Better than [ 13...xc3? 14.c1 e5 15.xb4 ] [ 13...a5 14.c1 intending Ne4 or simply e4. ] 14.c1 [ 14.d2 a5 15.ac1 would be similar after e7 16.e4 ] 14...e7 15.e4! White needs open line for his bishops. dxe4 16.xe4 a5 [ 16...xe4?! 17.xe4 f5 18.g2 e5? allows 19.xb4 xb4 20.d5+ h8 21.xe5 threatening Rc7. ] 17.e2 [ 17.xf6+ xf6 ( 17...gxf6 18.g4+ h8 19.h4 and Rc4 or Be4 with a clear a d va n t a g e .) 18.c7 would give plenty of compensation for the pawn but not necessarily more than that. ] 17...fd5! Lautier realises that the solidity of b4 and d5 is crucial. 18.c3 f6?! [ 18...xc3 19.xc3 d8 20.fc1 is unclear. ] 19.xd5 Not bad, but missing the chance for the paradoxical [ 19.xd5! exd5 20.xb4 axb4 21.xd5 and the b-pawn also falls: d6?! 22.fd1 ] 19...exd5 20.xb4 axb4 21.xd5 a5 22.fd1 h5!? 23.d2 g4 24.e3 h3 Black has developed his bishop but White's pieces are even more centralised. 25.f3!? [ 25.e4! is HiArcs strong suggestion White is clearly better. ] 25...g5 26.cc2 e5! 27.c1 g5 28.cc2 A draw offer. c5! White's bank rank is suddenly a problem. 29.c4 [ 29.xb7?? e8 ] 29...e5 30.f1?? Nielsen uncharacteristically cracks. [ 30.e2! with equality. ] 30...xc2 31.xc2 a1 32.e2 d8 33.c4 d1 8.c5 could invigorate this line and deserves more tests. 0-1
1374
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1370 Roktim,Bandyopadhyay Kunte,Abhijit ch-IND Visakhapatnam IND (7) [John Watson]
A32 1371 2345 Tkachiev,Vladislav 2550 Ruck,Robert 09.12.2004 TCh-2005-6 Austria AUT (9) [John Watson]
Th e o ry t rave ls ra p idly. I n t he No ve m b e r column I discussed the game P Nielsen Lautier, Spain 2004, in which White uncorked a n o v e l p a wn s a c r i f i c e i n a w e l l - k n o w n variation. In Roktim-Kunte, Visakhaptnam 2004 the idea was repeated and the players followed the stem game into the middlegame. The resulting positions were about as unclear as in the original game! 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 c5 4.c4 cxd4 5.xd4 b6 6.g2 c6 7.b3 e5 8.c5 xc5 9.xc5 xc5 10.0-0 0-0 Here's the pawn sacrifice. White hopes that his bishop pair and central pressure will compensate f or pawn. 11.b3 c6 12.a3 b4 13.c3 d5 14.c1 e7 15.e4 dxe4 16.xe4 xe4 A new move. Lautier played [ 16...a5 ] 17.xe4 a5 Still in the same mode. [ I g a ve t h e l i n e 17...f5 18.g2 e5? 19.xb4 xb4 20.d5+ h8 21.xe5 threatening Rc7. ] 18.d4 [ Heading fo r an ending seems premature. W hite could keep up the pressure by 18. Qe2 or 18.e1 , for example, e5 ( 18...d8 19.e2 f6 20.f4 wit h a b in d) 19.b1 ( 19.f4!? ) 19...d8 ( 19...f5? 20.xb4 axb4 21.d5+ f7 22.xf7+ xf7 23.xe5 d7 24.f4; 19...f6 20.e2 ) 20.e2 f6 21.f4 ] 18...d8 19.c5!? xc5 20.xc5 b6!? [ 20...f6 21.c7 e5 may favour Black somewhat. ] 21.c7! a6! 22.xa8 xf1 23.xf1 xa8 24.xb4 axb4 25.b7 g5 26.xb6 xa2 27.xb4 and the game ended in a draw. There's still much to be investigated here. ½-½
A32 2642 2540 24.03.2006
White keeps going into this line, not like the older systems, but he always seems to get into trouble. The ...Qb6/...Bc5 idea looks like a complete solution to 5.g3, assuming that 6. Nc3 is acceptable to you. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.g3 b6 6.g2 [ 6.c3 c6 7.b3 e5 is the old in line of the Nxd4 'Anti-Benoni' Variation. Black is still doing well there. ] 6...c5 7.e3 c6 8.f3 Possibly a new move. [ Tony gave a good rundown on the pawn sacrifice 8.0-0!? in a previous ChessPub game. With just a few extra notes, I think the best line goes xd4 9.exd4 xd4 10.c3 e5 11.b5 ( 11.c2 0-0 12.g5 d5!? 13.xf6 xf6 14.xd5 d8= Wells-Emms, Bad Woerishofen 1996 ) A) 11...c5 12.e1!? ( 12.g5 - see ChessPub ); B) 11...0-0 12.xd4 exd4 13.b3 d5 14.a3 e8 = Haba-Sax, Germany 1993. ( 14...e8 15.b2 dxc4 16.xd4 d6 17.bxc4 g4= )] [ The alternative 8.b3 b4+ ( 8...e7 is a good choice, keeping more pieces on the board ) 9.d2 e5 ( 9...a5!? ) A) 10.c2 d5 11.cxd5 a6!? ( 11...xd5=; 11...exd5= ) 12.f1 f3+ 13.d1 b6 unclear, Ungureanu-Foisor, Romania 1984; B) 10.e2 d5 11.cxd5 exd5 12.0-0 g4 13.f3 d7 14.xb4 xb4 15.c3 0-0 16.fd1 e6 17.d4= Flear-Ionescu, Lucerne 1985. ] 8...a6!? [ 8...d5 must be okay as well in view of Black's superior development and central control. ] 9.b3 [ 9.bd2 ] 9...d5! 10.0-0!? [ 10.bd2 0-0 11.0-0 dxc4 12.xc4 d8 ] 10...dxc4 11.b2 cxb3 12.axb3 b6 13.c3 e7 White doesn't seem to have 1375
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 enough for a pawn. 14.d2 0-0 15.c4 d8!? Not bad, but a little negative, since now White can get the d-file. [ 15...c7! prepares ...Rd8, and 16.b5 b8 doesn't help White much. ] 16.e2 d5 17.fd1 xc3 18.xc3 Now White has compensation. c7 19.b2 [ 19.g4 e5 20.h5!? ] 19...f6 20.b4 d8 This wins a tempo on the c4 knight while defending e6 but it doesn't attend to the queenside. 21.b3 d7?! 22.b6! xb6 23.xd7 f7 24.dd1 a6 25.a4!? [ 25.ac1! Black has to work to get his pieces out. ] 25...c8 26.d3 [ 26.ac1!= ] 26...f8 27.ad1 c6 28.b3 xb4 29.d7 xd7 30.xd7 a5 31.xb7 a4! This pawn helps Black work on weak queenside squares. It's two bishops versus the extra passed pawn. Black is active enough that I'll side with the pawn. 32.b2 c7 33.xc7 xc7 34.e4 d5?! Slow. [ 34...c4! looks best. Black was probably wo r ri e d a b o u t t h e b is h o p s o f o p p o s it e colours following 35.xb4 Bxb4, but he can also tak e on e4 : xe4! 36.xf8 xf8 37.b8+ f7 38.a7+ g6 and Black has enough shelter to begin stewarding his pawn home. ] 35.d4 c4 36.b1 f5 37.d3 c6 38.b8 [ 38.e4!? b4 ] 38...a3 39.b3 c1+ 40.g2 c6 41.g1 a8 42.c4 Now White is happier. At least Black's pawn has been stopped for a while and his pieces aren't as active before. f7 43.h3 e7 44.h2 f6 45.c5 e7 46.d4 a5 47.b7!? a2? Black leaves a pawn hanging, his first big mistake in trying to win this ending. He should have played [ 47...g6 or ] [ 47...g5 ] 48.b2! b4 49.xg7 c5 50.xa2!? White tries to eliminate material and expose the king, counting upon the fact that Black's hpawn is of the wrong colour. The alternative [ 50.b3! d3 51.a1 looks funny, but Bh8 is threatened, and xf2? 52.xe6+ xe6 53.xa2+ wins material. ]
50...xa2 51.xa2 xg7 52.xe6 f6 [ 52...h5 looks like a way to play for a win, but White can liquidate by 53.g4 ] 53.d7+ g6 54.e8+ h6 55.e6 e5 [ 55...e5 56.xe5 xe5 57.f4 c7 58.g2 g6 59.f3 and g4=. ] ½-½
1372 Tukmakov,Vladimir B Palac,Mladen ch-(team) Pula CRO (2) [Tony Kosten]
A32 2557 2610 10.09.1999
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.f3 cxd4 5.xd4 c7 A good move, much as in the Paulsen Sicilian. By playing an early g3 White has indicated his intention to fianchetto his king's bishop. However, this will leave the c4pawn without its natural defender, so Black a t t a c k s i t . 6.b3 A sensible move, first employed by Karpov. The main line is [ 6.d2 c6 7.b5 b6?! ( 7...b8 ) 8.g2 a6 9.c3 e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.a4 a5 12.c5 with advantage to White, Mikhalchishin,A-Lukin,A/USSR 1979. ] [ While 6.c3 is a sharper alternative. ] 6...b4+ So as to weaken White's hold on d4. 7.d2 c5 8.e3 White's only realistic try for an advantage, but it seems no better than [ 8.c3 , which offered White nothing after e4 9.g2 xc3 10.xc3 e5 11.e3 c6 Karpov,A-Mascarinas,R/Thessaloniki 1988. ] 8...b6 [ 8...0-0 9.g2 d5 10.cxd5 xd4 11.exd4 xd5 Was quite close to equalising in Flear, G-Motwani,P/ Hastings 1996. ] 9.g2 White acquiesces to equality. White's only chance of injecting some life into this position is by [ 9.b5!? b7 10.g1 but it is not for the faint-hearted, i.e. a6 11.g2 c6 12.d4 d5 13.c3 d7 14.d2 xd4 15.exd4 e7 16.g4 with sharp play, Korchnoi,VShaked,T/Cannes 1998. ] 9...b7 10.b5 c8 11.0-0 a6 12.5c3 xg2 13.xg2 b7+ ½-½
1376
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1373 Agrest,Evgenij Ivanchuk,Vassily Tch-2002-3 Sweden SWE (8) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2574 2699 01.03.2003
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 6.g3 b6 7.db5 e5 8.g2 a6 9.a3!? This move is all the rage since G e l f a n d e m p l o ye d i t a ga in s t N isi p e a n u , previously White had pinned the a-pawn with [ 9.a4 , see Pelletier,Y-Ponomariov,R, and Ribli,Z-Stevic,H. ] 9...xa3 This is best, we looked at [ 9...e7 in Gelfand,B-Nisipeanu,L/Bled SLO 2002. ] 10.bxa3 xc4 11.g5 d5 This natural move, defending c4, seems to have become the new mainline, we saw [ 11...h6 in Gelfand,B-Van Wely,L, in the notes to the Nisipeanu game, but ] [ 11...c5!? is interesting, Black moves his queen again, but there is a double threat: 12.xf6 gxf6 13.0-0!? ( 13.c1 ) 13...e3 ( t h e p o i n t ! ) 14.d3?! this doesn't look correct, ( 14.fxe3 xe3+ 15.h1 xc3 16.c1 xa3 17.d4 is far from clear, despite Black's extra 3 pawns) 14...xf1 ( 14...xg2 15.e4 e5 16.d6+ e7 17.fd1 leaves Black tied-up, the knight can b e c a p t u r e d l a t e r) 15.e4 c7?! I don't believe W hite has enough compensation after ( 15...e5! 16.d6+ e7 17.d1 xg3 18.hxg3 ) 16.xf6+! e7 17.d4 d2 18.h4 f8 19.h6+ e7 20.g5 and White forces a draw, Agrest,E-Kovacevic,A/Halkidiki GRE 2002. ] 12.0-0 White has two bishops and a lead in develop me nt f or h is pa wn , bu t th e black position is solid - can he finish bringing his queenside into play before W hite gets his attack rolling? d7 Ivanchuk's improvement on [ 12...0-0 when 13.c1 d8 14.xf6 gxf6 15.e4! a key move to undermine the centre, d4! ( 15...dxe4?! 16.g4+ f8 17.a4 ) 16.a4 b5 17.xc4 ( 17.g4+!? ) 17...xc4 18.b6 c5 19.xa8 d7 regaining the knigh t wit h a quick draw, Agrest,E-Wedberg, T/Skara SWE 2002. ] 13.e4!? An unusual plan, as White normally
captures on f6 before playing this move, [ 13.b1 a7 14.xf6 gxf6 is also possible. ] 13...xe4 This seems obvious, as now there is no threat of W hite capturing on f6 and ruining the black kingside pawn structure, nevertheless [ 13...d4!? has its points. ] 14.xe4 dxe4 15.b1 c5!? It is true that Black's dark squares are weak after [ 15...c6!? 16.e1 f5 17.h5+ g6 18.h6 but, he does have two extra pawns! ] 16.xb7 0-0! The practical point of Black's play, he is willing to return material for an easy game. 17.c1!? [ 17.xe4 xg5 18.xd7 ac8 19.e2 seems fairly level, as the white bishop is better than the knight, and the a6-pawn can be a problem. ] 17...b5 18.a4! To disco-ordinate the black pieces, [ 18.xe4 fc8 ] 18...xa4 19.xe4 ac8!? Black allows the fork on e7. If [ 19...ae8 then 20.f6!? forces a draw after gxf6 21.h6 f5 22.g5+ and ] [ 19...fc8 20.f4 leaves the black kingside looking undefended. ] 20.e7 e5 21.e1 [ 21.xf8? xe4 hits the rook on b7, and wins. ] 21...fe8!? Black prefers to swap his queen r a t h e r t h a n l o s e a n e x c h a n g e . 22.xh7+ xh7 23.xe5 xe5 Reaching an interesting position where Black has only knight and rook for the white queen, but the possibility of continuing with ...Bc6 and ...Nf3+ and attacking on the weak white light squares offers him counterchances. 24.c7 c6 25.xc8 [ 25.d6!? f3+ 26.g2 xc7 27.xc7 d4+ 28.f1 b5+ 29.e1 f3+ 30.d1 is typical of white's problems. ] 25...xc8 26.f4 This allows the white king to get to f2. f3+ 27.f2 xh2 28.d1 d5 It is important to have good squares like this for the minor pieces when playing against a queen. 29.f5 An attempt at undermining the bishop, and creating threats to the black king, which is not as well protected as it should be. 1377
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c4! Threatening ...Ng4+, Black plays for the wi n a s t h e b la c k p i e c e s e n j o y e xc e l l e n t coordination. [ 29...c3 forces an immediate draw: 30.g1 ( 30.fxe6 f3+ 31.g1 f1+ is also a draw, with the opposite-colour bishops ) 30...f3+ 31.f2 h2 etc. ] 30.h5+ [ 30.fxe6 g4+ 31.g1 fxe6 is a little uncomfortable for W hite, whose queen is tied to the back rank. ] 30...g8 31.f6?! This might be losing. g4+ [ 31...c2+! seem s e ven bet ter, 32.e3 f1+ 33.d3 d2+ 34.c3 xg3! t h e p o i n t , 35.g4 e4+ the pieces continue to hound the white king, 36.b4 b2+ 37.a5 xf6 38.xf6 g2 39.d4 xa2+ 40.b6 gxf6 41.xf6 which is similar to the game except that white has lost his a-pawn. ] 32.e1 xf6 33.xf6 gxf6 34.h6 g4 35.xf6 xg3 36.a4 g4 37.a5 Black is better , but it is difficult to win as the bishop must defend the a-pawn, and the king needs constant protection. c6 38.d2 b5 39.e3 f8 40.d8+ g7 41.f3 g6 42.d4+ f6 43.a7+ Now White forces a perpetual. f8 44.b8+ f7 45.c7+ f8 46.b8+ f7 ½-½
e8 12.f4 when Nogueiras,J-Caceres,J/ Montreal CAN 2002 continued e5!? 13.d2 f5 with sharp play. ] 9.e4 d7 10.g3 a6!? This is Black's idea, a quick attack on the c4-pawn. [ 10...b7 11.d3 transposes back to the Topalov game. ] 11.g5 With this bishop controlling e7 Black will be unable to castle kingside for a while. c7 12.c1 c8 The c-pawn is immune from capture, of course, [ 12...xc4?? 13.b5 ] 13.e2 h6 [ 13...b7!? is interesting, forcing White to sac the c-pawn: 14.0-0 ( 14.b3? c5 ) 14...xc4 15.xc4 xc4 16.b5 c6 17.fd1 but White enjoys a lot of pressure. ] 14.e3 b7 15.b3 f6 This is probably an admission that W hite's opening has been a failure, the problem is that, with the white bishop on e3, [ 15...c5? now lose s a pie ce t o 16.b4 xe4 17.xe4 xe4 18.b5 b7 19.f3 ] 16.f3 b8 17.0-0 White has completed his development while Black has achieved no compensation for his inability to castle. b7 18.fd1 a8 19.b5! White's pieces are raring to go. xe4 20.e2 c6 21.f3 h5?! An attempt to muddy the waters, [ 21...h7 22.xd6+ ( 22.c5!? ) 22...xd6 23.xd6 0-0 also favours White, with his bishops. ] 1374 A33 22.g4 [ 22.h4! seems very strong, g6 23.c5! Avrukh,Boris 2595 e7 ( 23...bxc5 loses to 24.a4 as does; Sutovsky,Emil 2657 23...dxc5?? but even more quickly: 24.c7+ ch Tel Aviv ISR (7) 01.12.2002 xc7 25.b5+ ) 24.a4 0-0 25.cxd6 [Tony Kosten] and Black can resign. ] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 22...f6 23.h4 g6 24.c5!! Again this c6 5.c3 e6 6.a3 xd4 7.xd4 b6 beautiful idea, which clears the fourth rank so that W hite can put his queen on the same 8.f4! Korchnoi's move again, stronger than [ 8.e4!? which led to my brilliancy game diagonal as the black rook and king. bxc5 25.a4 The immediate menace is Nc7+. d7 against Horvath,J at Reims 2002. ] 26.xa7 c7 27.b5 xa4 8...d6 This is a new move that might have Forced. little importance as play may well transpose Again Black has no choice, but now he finds himself an exchange down in the ending. back into a mainline later, [ 8...b7 is normal, 9.e4 d6 10.d3 d7 28.xc7+ d8 29.xe6+ Might as well have which I covered in Lautier,J-Topalov,V/ another pawn with the desperado knight. fxe6 c7 Black has a nice troop of Cannes FRA 2002, whilst Black can also try 30.bxa4 central pawns, but his is insufficient to develop his kingside immediately by ] [ 8...e7 9.e4 d6 10.g3 0-0 11.h6 compensation. 31.b5 b6?! 1378
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 31...f6 ] [ T h e i n s i p i d 13.xd5 Lead to complete 32.f4! The threat of Rxc5+ forces a equality in another game played recently: weakness. e5 33.g3 f5 34.a5 d7 xd5 14.c3 e6 15.xd5 xd5 16.0-0 35.f4! White is chipping away at the central 1/2-1/2 Papaioannou, I (2627)-Khismatullin, pawns. e4 36.xd7 xd7 37.f5 c6 D (2640)/Nakhchivan 2013 ] [ 37...xf5?? 38.xc5+ ] 13...xc3 14.xc6 bxc6 15.xc3 h4 38.b1 e3 39.b6+ c7 40.d5! c4 16.d4?! This allows Black to head for an 41.c5+ d8 42.a6! The a-pawn will easy draw by the clever use of tactics. become a queen in two moves. [ Admittedly White doesn't have a great deal 1-0 either af ter the better alternative 16.0-0 but what he does have is a better pawn structure on the queenside, which for many 1375 A33 players would be enough to make them feel very comfortable about their prospects. e6 Bacrot,E 2725 17.f3 ad8 18.c2 d5 19.g3 c4 Ragger,M 2666 20.e2 and the game continues... doubtless French Top 12 2013 (8.2) 06.06.2013 Magnus Carlsen would just be getting going [Daniel Gormally] here. ] 17.xd4 e8! 18.0-0 f6! 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 16...xd4 c6 5.c3 e6 6.a3 I must admit that I was E f f e ct ive ly kill in g t h e ga m e st o n e d e a d . surprised to see over 1000 games on my 19.xf6 xe2 20.c3 e6 21.fe1 xe1+ database from this position- I have never 22.xe1 a5 23.e5 a4 24.g5 g6 25.e5 seen this variation before! However White's f8 26.f3 e7 27.f2 d6 28.g4 f5! previous move is perfectly logical- he wants to 29.h3 c5 30.e2 fxg4 31.hxg4 h5 32.gxh5 gxh5 33.e4 b3 34.f4 e6 35.g3 e7 prevent the annoying ..Bb4 e7 36.f6+ d7 37.h4 f8 38.g5 [ 6...c5 Is an alternative. ] [ 38.xh5 d5 39.g5 e6 and White 7.e4 0-0 8.f3 a5 Black by tactical means can't make progress. ] wishes to carry out the central break ..d5, 38...d5 39.f5 g8+ 40.f4 e6 41.e5+ which he hopes will lead to rapid equality. [ 8...c7 Also seems perfectly respectable. xf6 42.xd5 g2 43.xh5 xb2 44.h6+ 9.e2 b6 10.0-0 b7 11.g5 ad8 e7 45.a6 c4 46.xa4 b3 47.a7+ d6 12.e1 h6 13.h4 d6 14.f1 e5 48.e4 c3 49.d3 c2+ 50.xc2 xf3 15.d4 b8 With a Maroczy bind type ½-½ position that is already quite comfortable for Black, who went on to win in Kovalyov, A33 A (2593)-Akopian, V (2703) St Petersburg 1376 Banusz,Tamas 2595 2012 2013 ] Georgescu,Tiberiu 2419 9.d2 03.09.2013 [ 9.d3 also allows Black to carry out his ROM-chT Mamaia (4.5) [Fier, Alexandr] strategic plan: d5! A) 10.0-0 dxc4 ( 10...d4!? 11.e2 e5 12.d2 c7 13.b4 a5! is another line 6.a3 has been a good weapon the last few that gives Black excellent counterplay) years and there is still room for improvements 11.xc4 e5 12.xe5 xe5 for both sides. 13.Qe1 is a good new move (however, first played in correspondence as is also close to equal; B) 10.cxd5 exd5 11.exd5 b4! 12.c4 usual) and Bla ck soo n got into tro uble. I d8 regaining the pawn, seems more than would take a look at 13...Na5 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 6.a3 ok for Black. ] 9...h5 10.e2 d5! 11.cxd5 exd5 12.exd5 A clever move, avoiding ...Bb4 and just trying xd5 13.d4! A new, and effective attempt t o f i n i s h h i s d e v e l o p m e n t a n d e n t e r a Maroczy style position. c5 Black pushes the to prove an advantage. 1379
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 knight back from d4 before going to e7. [ 6...e7 7.e4 0-0 8.f3 a5 is one of ma n y ide a s a nd wa s se e n in B acrot , E (2725)-Ragger, M (2666)/French Top 12 2013. ] 7.b3 e7 8.e4 0-0 9.e2 b6 10.0-0 [ 10.f4 is also possible d6 11.0-0 b7 12.c1 11 transposes to Carlsen - Polgar in the notes to move ] 10...a6 This is one of two squares for the bishop, and the most forcing one. [ 10...b7 11.f4 d6 12.c1 Carlsen, M (2848)-Polgar, J (2705)/London Classic 4th 2012, won by Carlsen in a impressive way, but not because of the opening. ] 11.f4 d6 12.e3 c8 13.e1 I approve of this move which reminds me of certain Scheveningen lines. The queen can soon go to g3 and help with e5 or f5 and makes room f o r t h e r o o k , w h i c h i s g o i n g t o d 1 . b8 Going for the thematic ...d5 break, but it looks like White is well prepared for it. [ 13...a5!? would be another Scheveningen move, exchanging one piece and opening the b-file to attack W hite's pawn structure 14.xa5 bxa5 15.b3 A) 15...a4 is possible 16.e5 ( 16.xa4 xe4 17.xa7 d5 with counterplay) 16...dxe5 17.fxe5 d7 18.xa4 xe5 19.g3 ( 19.xa7 is too greedy xc4! 20.bxc4 d7 and Black is already better) 19...f6 20.c3 with a double-edged position; B) 15...b8 p r o v o c a t i v e ! 16.b4 c8 17.b5 b7 18.xa7 xe4 19.xe4 xe4 Batrakov, A (2438)-Voll, A (2558)/ RUS-ch6 email 2010, and if White doesn't promote his b-pawn, Black should be fine ] 14.d2 d5 Going for it, this is the natural consequence of 13...Nb8 [ 14...bd7 could be playable, but doesn't lo o k lik e t h e m o st a d visa b le id e a 15.b4 and Black is slightly suffocated ] 15.cxd5 exd5 16.d1! Just in time, otherwise Black is completely fine. [ 16.e5 d4 17.exf6 xf6 18.de4 dxe3 19.xa6 xa6 20.d1 xc3 and White will never be better ] 16...dxe4 [ 16...xa3 is a kind of piece sacrifice, but since the black pawns are not together it's
hard to see enough compensation, 17.e5! xb2 ( 17...e8 18.de4! b4 19.xa6 xa6 20.xd5 is better for White since xd5? is n o t p o ssib l e 21.xd5 xe1 22.e7+! h8 23.xc8 winning ) 18.a4 xe2 19.xe2 and Black can't hold both pieces a3 ( 19...d4 sacrifices the queen instead, but it's also not enough 20.xb2 dxe3 21.e4 xe4 22.xd8 fxd8 23.xe3 c5 24.c4 and the attack on the kingside will arrive before the pawns on queenside ) 20.exf6 xf6 21.d3 ] [ 16...d4 isn't possible anymore because of 17.xa6 xa6 18.f3 d3 19.b4 and the d3-pawn is going to fall sooner or later. ] 17.dxe4 White's pieces are too active for Black to consolidate. Everything works by one tempo, which in chess is usually enough. e8 18.xf6+ xf6 19.d5! xb2 [ 19...c6 20.f3! and Black is under pressure A) 20...e6 21.f5 e5 22.f4 xb2 23.f2 ce8 ( 23...fe8? 24.xb2 xe1+ 25.xe1 xb2 26.e7++- ) 24.b4 xb4 25.xf6+ ( 25.axb4? is embarrassing d4= ) 25...gxf6 26.axb4 and all White's pieces are better placed; B) 20...fe8 21.e7+ xe7 22.xc6 xc6 23.f2 xf1 24.xf1 and White has an advantage but still in a playable position for Black ] [ 19...d8 is sad to make but not that bad either 20.xa6 xa6 21.g3 can be one way to keep attacking ] 20.xa6 xa6 21.f2 Suddenly the bishop has no good squares. f6 [ 21...xa3 22.a2 w i n s a p i e c e b4 23.xa3 c2 24.g3+- ] 22.xf6+ gxf6 23.f5 Opening the diagonal for the bishop. d8 This just loses material, but the position is already lost. [ 23...e5 24.e2 h8 ( 24...c5 leads to a beautiful end 25.g4+ h8 26.d4 e7 27.e2 d8 28.h4 c6 29.e3 g8 30.e6! xe6 31.fxe6 g6 32.xf6+ xf6 33.xf6+ xf6 34.e7+- ) 25.f3! defending the bishop, attacking the knight c3 26.g3+- ] 24.xd8 xd8 25.h6 d4 [ 25...e8 26.e2 d4+ 27.h1 3 1380
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is mate in ] 26.h1 h4 27.xf8 [ 27.e3 is also winning c5 28.f3 e4 29.xf8 xf8 30.f4+- ] 27...xf8 28.d2 c5 29.f3 Usually rook for a knight and pawn is not so clear. Here the king is a decisive factor. e4 30.e3 g5 31.f4 h5 32.h4 h6 33.e1 1-0
1377 Carlsen,Magnus Volokitin,Andrei GM Biel SUI (5) [John Watson]
A33 2675 2662 28.07.2006
Arguably the most significant game in the English Opening over the last month was this game in Biel, a tournament which confirmed Magnus Carlsen's good form and rapid ascent in his last two tournaments. But here he fell short. The opening is one of the very oldest and possibly the very main line of the Symmetrical English. Black tries something new and suddenly White's broad centre is of little use. I'll try to fill in some of the theory as we go along, but the whole variation should be studied to get a feel for both sides' plans. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 6.g3 b6 7.b3 e5 8.e4 b4 9.e2 d6 10.f4 c6 11.e3 xc3+ 12.bxc3 c7 13.g2 0-0 These moves have been seen hundreds of times before. Black has been considered to stand satisfactorily, with in fact full equality in most of the known lines. 14.0-0 [ I will give only two example of what was the m a i n m o v e f o r m a n y y e a r s , 14.c5 , because W hite lost interest after Black found the sequence dxc5 15.xc5 d8 16.e5 a5! , which is considered equal. A sample game went A) 17.exf6 xb3 18.axb3 xc5 19.e5 b6! 20.g5 ( 20.fxg7 f6! 21.xf6 e3+ 22.f1 d3+ 23.f2 d2+ 24.f3 e5! ) 20...e3+ 1/2-1/2 Drozdovskij, Y (2462)-Papenin, N (2261)/Evpatoria 2001; B) 17.b5!? xb3 18.axb3 d7 19.c4 d5?! ( 19...b5! 20.d4 c6 ) 20.xd5
( 20.d4! ) 20...exd5 21.b4 b6 22.d4 f5 23.b5 c8 24.d2 e4 25.hg1 h3 26.e2 a5 27.c1 b5 28.b2 dc8 29.g4? b4 30.g3 bxc3+ 31.xc3 h6! 32.f2? d4 33.d2 c2+ 34.a3 b6 0-1 Kachar, V (2303)-Notkin, M (2478)/Moscow 2002 ] 14...b6 15.d4 This is a known move but hasn't been supposed to lead to anything c o n s e q u e n t i a l . xd4! Apparently an innovation. After this Black always seems to have the better chances. The usual move is [ 15...b7 with what is generally thought to be equal play but leaves room for improvements, e. g., 16.b5 A) 16...b8 17.xd6!? xd6 18.e5 e7 19.exf6 xf6 20.c5 ac8!? ( 20...fc8! 21.cxb6 axb6 22.xb6 xc3 is the same idea but leaves the rook on a8 directly a t t a ckin g W h it e 's we a k p a wn o n a 2 .) 21.ab1 ( 21.cxb6 axb6 22.xb6 xc3 23.ac1 may favour White somewhat due to his bishop pair.) 21...xc3 22.cxb6 axb6 23.f2 a8 24.fc1 d3 ( or 24...a3 25.b3 a4 ) 25.xb6 e7 26.c5 xg2 27.xg2 c7 28.xe7 xe7 29.b2 d7 30.bc2 fd8 31.c8 g6 1/2-1/2 Bui Vinh (2444)-Breder, D (2438)/ Budapest 2002; B) 16...e7 B1) 17.ad1 fd8 18.c1 e8 19.a3 ( 19.e5!? a5!? ) 19...a5 20.d4 e5 21.fxe5 xe5 22.fd1?! e6 ( 22...d5!! with the idea 23.cxd5 a6 ) 23.xd6 a6?! 24.c7 xc7 25.xc7 dc8 26.h5 ( 26.c5! practically wins on the spot due to bxc5 27.d6 ) 26...xc7 27.d8+ e8 28.xe8+ xe8 29.e5 and White had work to do but ultimately won in E v d o k i m o v, A ( 2 3 5 6 ) - Z a r e z e n k o , I (2230)/ Cherepovets 2001; B2) 17.xd6 xd6 18.e5 is the last note (16...Qc7); B3) 17.fd1 e8 18.c1 (threatening e5) e5 19.a3 d8 20.d5 exf4 21.gxf4 a5 22.d4 c6 23.d5 a5 24.d4 c6 1/2-1/2 Villamayor, B (2495)-Baklan, V (2599)/Istanbul 2000 ] 16.cxd4 [ 16.xd4?! e5 , for example, 17.e3 g4!? 1381
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 17...e6 ) 18.d3 e6 ] 16...a6 This is the consistent and most aggressive move, trying for advantage. [ 16...b7 is apparently okay for equality because e4 is not easy to defend, e.g., 17.d2 ( 17.e5 xg2 18.xg2 e4 ) 17...ac8= ( 17...d5!? 18.e5 e4 19.cxd5 exd5 20.ac1 d7 21.f5 is unclear, perhaps a bit better for White. )] 17.ac1 [ White should probably bail out already by 17.e5! d5 ( 17...xc4!? 18.fc1 xe2 19.xc7= ) 18.exd6 xc4 ( 18...xd6 19.f2 ac8 20.fc1 c6 21.f1 holds, with only a mild advantage for Black) 19.xc4 xc4 20.fc1 ac8 21.xd5 exd5 22.f5! and the game looks drawish even if Black gets a bit of temporary activity. ] 17...ac8 Now the question becomes whether White has anything real for the c-pawn. [ 17...d5 18.e5 e4 19.f5! should favour White, although this still isn't clear. ] 18.e5 A huge concession, but it's hard to see any attacking chances after [ 18.c2 xc4 19.fc1 b5 ] 18...d5 19.xd5! The best try. Otherwise what's to be done? [ 19.exd6 xd6 20.f2 c7 still wins the cpawn. ] 19...exd5 20.f5 [ 20.g4 dxc4 21.f5 dxe5 22.f6 g6 transposes into the game. ] 20...dxc4!? [ 20...f6 21.e6 dxc4 is more solid, although White can fight on by 22.d5 . 20.Qg4 avoids this order. ] 21.f6 g6 22.g4? Too optimistic it would be interesting to know what Carlsen calculated. [ 22.e6 fxe6 23.h6 f7 24.xe6 gives good chances of getting to a bishopsof-opposite colour position with drawing chances, although Black has the better of it d u e t o h is qu e e n si d e p a wn s, e . g. , d7 ( 24...b5!? 25.f4 d8 26.d5 a6! 27.xd6 xf6 28.xf6 xf6 29.e5 ) 25.d5 e8 26.ce1! b5 27.h4 d8 ] 22...c6! The long-diagonal battery will prove decisive. 23.f4 dxe5 24.dxe5 b7 25.h3 fe8! 26.f2 [ 26.d4 h5! ( 26...h1+? 27.f2 xc1
28.h6= )] 26...xe5 27.cxc4 xc4 28.xc4 xc4 So White survives the immediate attack but is faced with a material deficit and a horribly exposed king. 29.d7 [ 29.h6 f5+ 30.e1 xf6 ] 29...c2+ 30.g1 c6 31.d4 d5 32.g4 h5 Mate or win of the queen follows. 0-1
1378 Delchev,Aleksander Hulak,Krunoslav TCh Pula CRO (4) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2629 2566 13.09.2001
1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 6.g3 b6 7.b3 e5 8.e4 b4 9.e2 d6 10.d2 a5!? [ An interesting alternative to the normal 10...0-0 11.0-0-0 and ( 11.f4 that we have already considered. )] 11.g2!? [ This 'normal' move seems to be new, but 11.f4 c6 12.a4! xd2+ 13.xd2 b4 14.xb4 xb4 15.d1! appears more worrying for Black, Huzman, A-Tsesarsky,I/ Ramat Aviv 1999. ] 11...a4 12.b5 [ The tricky point of White's previous move, 12.c1? d4 and White drops a pawn. ] 12...xd2+ 13.xd2 d7!? 14.f4!? eg4! [ Probably the best move, 14...g6 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 xb5 17.cxb5 d5 18.c4 and the check on d6 will cause a certain amount of inconvenience! ] 15.e5 critical, White tries to blow Black off the board. dxe5 16.fxe5 xb5 Obviously forced. 17.exf6 [ 17.cxb5 e3! 18.exf6 transposes. ] 17...e3! [ Again this resource. White may have expected 17...c6?! but then 18.fxg7 g8 19.xc6+ xc6 20.0-0-0 xg7 21.e4 leaves the black king badly placed. ] 18.cxb5 c2+ 19.d1 xa1!? [ B l a c k p l a y s f o r t h e w i n , 19...e3+ should force a perpetual, as 20.c1? c5+ 21.c4 xc4 is much too dangerous. ] 20.fxg7 g8 21.e4! White plays to 1382
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.xe7 xe7 12.0-0-0 ) 11.e3 a6 Now the novelty 12.c7!? ( 12.d4 e8 13.c5 d6 14.xc6 c7 is theory, co n sid e re d e qu a l) 12...b8 13.g1!? is the computer's bizarre idea. It actually makes sense to drive back Black's pieces b e f o r e h e g e t s r i d o f t h e q u e e n : e7 ( 13...b6 14.g4! ) 14.0-0-0 ( or 14.xe7 xe7 15.g4! ) 14...xd6 15.xd6 e8 16.xe8 xe8 17.e2 . This all makes one wonder about 7...Bb4. ] 8...xd6 9.xd6 A position t has arisen in the games of Korchnoi, Kasparov, Kramnik and others! b6 [ Theory also gives 9...e8 10.e3 b6 11.b1 b4 12.xe8 xe8 13.e2 d8 14.0-0 b6= .Perhaps the n 15.a3 e7 16.c2 b7 17.bd1 d6 18.f4!? is worth a try. ] 10.d2 e8 [ This is one of two theoretical moves considered equal. 10...d4 is easier, in my opinion: 11.0-0-0 xd6 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 b6 14.e4 e5! 15.d2 b7 16.f3 fd8 17.e2 f8 18.hd1 e7= Agrest-Eigorn, Graz 1977. ] 11.de4?! Asking for it. The standard move is [ 11.b1 : xd6 12.xd6 b4 seems to favour White slightly, e.g., 13.xb4 xb4 14.a3 c6 15.d1 d8 16.e4 f8 17.e2 d6 18.0-0 , but this isn't much, e.g., Black might try e5 19.b5 e7 20.f4 ( 20.d2 e6 21.fd1 a6! 22.xd6 d4 23.c5 b3 ) 20...exf4 21.c7 b8 22.d5+ e8 23.xf4 e6 24.d2 e5 1379 A33 etc. ] Filippov,Valerij 2621 11...d5! 12.cxd5 b4! 13.d6 [ 13.dxe6?! xe6 14.a3 d8 ] Yemelin,Vasily 2530 [ 13.b3 exd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5 58th ch-RUS Semi-Final (9) 11.09.2005 b4+! 16.d2 f6 17.c4 a5 [John Watson] with plenty of compensation. ] 14.a4 d4! 15.xd4 c2+ A l i t t l e t r a v e l t h r o u g h t h e o r y t h a t i s 13...f5 supposedly worked out . The computer's idea 16.d2 xd4 17.ec3 xd6 18.d1 [ 18.e3 c6 is almost equal, but Black has after 8.Bc7 deserves attention! It makes one a central majority. ] wonder about the very soundness of a wellestablished line. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 18...c6 19.c1 d8 20.e4!? b6 21.exf5 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.b5 f6 6.1c3 b4 exf5 22.d5 b7 23.ac3 f7 [ 23...e5 looks irritating for White. ] 7.f4 0-0 Theory considers this fairly safe 24.g3 ac8 and drawish if Black plays well. 8.d6 [ 24...e5! 25.g2 g4 ] [ Players should look more closely at 8.c7 e7 9.d6 xd6 10.xd6 d8 ( 10...e8 25.g2 b4
exchange queens and then corral the a1-knight. xb5 22.xb7 [ 22.b1?! a3! 23.xa1 ( 23.b3 e5 ) 23...axb2 24.b1 is far too risky. ] 22...xb7 23.xb7 b8 24.c4! This way W hite manages to defend his bpawn . Can h e capt ure the a1 -knight an d consolidate his position, or will Black obtain too much play first? e7 25.a5 d6 26.d2 xg7 27.c3!? [ White plays for the win, and tries to get the utmost from the position, 27.xa1 f5 28.b4 gxb7 29.xb7+ xb7 30.a3 is fairly level. ] 27...g5 28.c4+ c5 29.a6 b3 30.axb3 xb3+ 31.c2 f5 32.d2 f2 33.d3 f5 Rook and pawn is a fair swap for two minor pieces in the endgame, and on top of that the rooks are actively placed, but White's position is solid enough. 34.e1 b6? [ A m i s t a k e , w h i c h . . . w i n s ! 34...d4 ke ep s t he st at u s qu o , 35.xe6 xd2+ 36.xd2 xd3+ 37.c2 and the outcome should be a draw. ] 35.c3! Unpinning the knight and keeping the k i n g o u t o f d 4 a n d b 4 . c6 36.c4 With a mate-in-one menace! b5 37.d4? [ Time-trouble, no doubt, 37.e5+ a6 38.b4 leaves White well on top. ] 37...b4 38.h4? f3! Now Black is winning! 39.g1? c5! Catching the king in a mating net! 40.e2 d5# 0-1
1383
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Again, 25...e5 aims for c4 or g4. ] xb5 17.fd1 lines-up some nasty 26.b1 xd5 27.xd5+ xd5 28.xd5 threats, 0-0! ( 17...d5? 18.f4 a8 g6?! 19.xf6 f8 20.e4 is crushing) 18.xh6 [ 28...e4 keeps some initiative. The rest is g5 is unclear; relatively uneventful. ] B) 14...d6 safest, 15.c2 b5 16.a4 29.hd1 e7 30.a4 c4 31.h4 xd5 e5 17.axb5 axb5 18.a4 bxa4 19.xa4 32.xd5+ f7 33.f4 e5 34.d5 e8 White certainly has enough compensation 35.a5 g4 36.axb6 axb6 37.h3 e2 for the pawn, as the black king is no too 38.d7+ g8 39.d8+ g7 40.d7+ g8 happy, but Bla ck mana ged to draw in 41.d8+ g7 42.d7+ Gelfand,B-Van Wely,L/ Bled SLO 2002. ] ½-½ 10.0-0 d6 11.b3 c7 [ 11...xb3 12.axb3 b8 13.b4 may slightly favour W hite, who has more 1380 A33 space. ] Gelfand,Boris 2704 12.f4 0-0 13.fd1 Black has set-up his Nisipeanu,Liviu Dieter 2613 Hedgehog formation, with which he is quite a Olympiad Bled SLO (9) 04.11.2002 virtuoso, but the fact that White hasn't played e4, and thus keeps his g2-bishop's diagonal [Tony Kosten] open, always helps him, I think. g6 14.e3 1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 White aims for a d7 15.a4 b8 16.a7 a8 17.e3 d8 Catalan. c5 4.f3 White prefers to play an Both sides fight for control of b6. 18.ac1 a5 19.b3 e7 Black manages to coEnglish to a Benoni structure after ordinate his pieces despite having little space. [ 4.d5 ] A strong move, denying the f5-square 4...cxd4 5.xd4 c6 This seems perfectly 20.g4! to Black's knight, and therefore threatening d6. natural, although Black often prefers c6!? In retrospect this might be an error, but [ 5...c7 to attack c4, or ] it must certainly have seemed na tural t o [ 5...b4+ ] Black when he played. He did have other 6.g2 [ 6.c3 would take us into the [A33] moves, [ 20...h5!? for instance. ] mainlines. ] English Opening players don't like 6...b6 Anyway! 7.b5 e5!? Very rare 21.xc6! givin g t h is p ie ce f o r a lo wly kn igh t ! bxc6 here, Black often prefers [ 7...d5 i.e. 8.0-0 dxc4!? 9.1c3 d7 22.xd6! This is the deep point, sacrificing the 10.e3 a5 11.d6+ xd6 12.xd6 exchange, but gaining a pawn and crucial 0-0-0!? unclear, Schlosser,P-Hracek,Z/ dark squares. c7! [ 22...e7 is the alternative, 23.xd7! xd7 Lippstadt GER 2000. ] ( 23...xa3? 24.cd1 xd7 25.b6 b4 8.1c3!? Gelfand's novelty, offering a pawn. 26.c5 a5 27.xa3 fd8 28.e7 [ 8.e3 c5 9.xc5 xc5 10.1a3 e7! wins material) 24.b6 g5 25.xg5 xg5 11.0-0 a6 12.c3 is more pleasant for 26.d1 with a powerful dark-squared bind. ] White, Vaulin,A-Andreev,E/St Petersburg 23.c5 xc5 24.xc5 e7 25.cd1 xd6 RUS 2002. ] 8...a6 9.a3!? Original, White allows Black to 26.xd6 a7!? [ 26...xd6 27.xd6 is the key position, if double his pawns, and win a pawn, at the cost Black does nothing the a4-knight will land on o f h i s d a r k - s q u a r e d b i s h o p . e7!? c5 a n d co m p l e t e ly d o m in a t e t h e b l a c k But he decides against it! bishop, Black will be unable to connect his [ 9...xa3! 10.bxa3 xc4 is the critical test, rooks, and White will control the d-file, so e5 and was tried a few rounds later by Van 28.f3 e6! 29.c5 fd8 (activity is Wely: 11.g5 h6!? ( 11...g4!? ) 12.xf6 i m p o r t a n t ) 30.xc6 d2 31.f2 xa2 gxf6 13.0-0 b8 ( 13...d5 14.c1 32.b1 c2 and by dominating the menacing a sac on d5 ) 14.c1 b1-knight Black retains reasonable chance. ] A) 14...xa3!? 15.d2! b5 16.xb5 1384
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 27.c5!? White prefers to bring a knight to c4, thence d6, but [ 27.xc7 xc7 28.c5 e5 29.f3 was certainly possible, and probably better. ] 27...e5 28.c4!? [ 28.f3 ] 28...f6?! [ 28...xg4! is a b e t t e r t ry: 29.f3 h3 30.xe5 e7! 31.xe7 xe7 32.d3 d8 33.f2 and I prefer Black, who has all his pieces in play. ] 29.f3 This keeps the bishop 'behind bars'. f7 30.ab6 c7 31.a5 White has complete dark-squared domination, and is about to reap t h e f r u i t o f h i s e a r l i e r p l a y . h5!? Time to complicate. 32.gxh5 h3 33.xc6 h7 Black is in real trouble now, [ 33...xh5 is met by A) 34.xc7?! g5+ 35.f2 h4+ 36.e3 f4+ 37.f2 ( 37.d3?? e4+ wins the queen ) 37...h4+ draws; B) 34.h1! cf7 35.d8 a7 36.c6 with advantage. ] 34.h1 fc8? Desperation, or time-trouble? Probably the latter, as [ 34...e4! is not so clear, 35.fxe4?! xh5 36.d4 ( 36.xc7?? xe2 forces mate) 36...g4 37.g1 xe4+ 38.f3 ff7 and who is better? ] 35.d3+ [ 35.xc8!? is also possible, as the 'trap' d7 is met by 36.8e7 xd6 37.cxd6 e8 38.b4 when the queen is dominated by the white pieces. ] 35...e4 36.xe4+ f5 37.h4 The bishop is trapped! e8 38.d4 e7 39.xh3 xc5 40.c4 d8 41.e3 f4 42.g1 Threatening Ne6. 1-0
1381 Gelfand,Boris Pantsulaia,Levan WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (3.3) [John Watson]
A33 2717 2578 05.12.2005
In the World Cup in Khanty Mansyisk featured a lot of English o penings. In t he 6 -gam e match between Gelfand and Pantsulaia the English scored 4-1 with no losses. This first
game recalls what we said before about the ... a6 variation of the Anti-Benoni. If, after ...Qc7, Black isn't willing to accept a gambit pawn on c4, then he will often stand worse. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c4 c5 4.g3 cxd4 5.xd4 c7 6.c3 a6 7.g2 c6 Here it is. As Hansen says, Black usually doesn't accept. But as he demonstrates and as practice shows, White usu ally d oesn't ge t e no ugh f or t he p awn following [ 7...xc4! ] 8.0-0 d6 9.g5 e7 10.c1 Now Black has to be wary about Nd5 themes, but for the moment he should just develop. Instead he brings another White piece out. xd4? [ 10...d7 would cover a4 at a later time. ] 11.xd4 0-0 [ 11...d7 12.fd1 c6? 13.d5 ] 12.fd1 The ideal position. d8 White was threatening Bxf6. 13.a4! [ Or 13.e3 with the same idea. ] 13...b8 [ 13...d7 14.b6 ab8 15.xd7! ( 15.xf6 xf6 16.xd6 ) 15...xd7 16.b6 ] 14.b6! xb6 15.xb6 d7 [ 15...h6 16.f4 e5 17.xc8 dxc8 18.e3 ] 16.c5!? Probably not best. [ 16.f4! is difficult to answer because of the d u a l t h r e a t s B x d 6 a n d c 5 , e . g . , e8 ( 16...e5 17.xd7 xd7 18.d2 ) 17.c5 e5 18.cxd6 xd6 19.c4 exf4 20.xd6 fxg3 21.hxg3 with advantage. ] 16...b5! [ 16...dxc5?? 17.xf6 ] [ 16...e8 17.cxd6 xd6 18.xd6 xd6 19.e3 and Black is running out of useful moves, since g4 20.d4 e5 21.xe5 xe5 22.c7 ] 17.f4 e5 18.cxd6 xd6 19.xd6 [ 19.g5 e7= ] 19...exf4 20.xd8+ xd8 21.gxf4 xe2 22.xb7 Now Gelfand doesn't have much in view of his shattered kingside. On the other h a n d t h e r e a r e p r o sp e c t s o f ge t t in g t wo passed pawns on the queenside. f8 23.c8 e7 24.xd8 xd8 25.d5 f3!? [ 25...h5! 26.f5 a5 ] 26.xf6 xb7 27.xh7 White can safely grab the h-pawn and live, but the ending is 1385
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 still not easy. e7 28.g5 f6 29.h3 d5 30.a3 e6 31.f1 f5 32.e2 g4 33.g1 xf4 34.d3 e5? [ 34...g5! ] 35.b4 g5 36.e3 e4 37.e2 f5 38.f4+! f6 39.c1 White wins now because the queenside pawn will decide. Black could have used that h-pawn. g6 40.b3 c6 41.c5 b5 42.e6 g4 43.c7 f1 44.a4 h5 45.f2 d3 46.g3 g6 47.b5 axb5 48.axb5 e4 49.b6 f6 50.a6 1-0
1382 Gelfand,Boris Topalov,Veselin Sparkassen Gp 1 (5) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2710 2745 10.07.2002
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c4 c5 4.c3 Many players prefer to play this, and enter calm Symmetric English lines, rather than advance in the centre, leading to a sharp Benoni. cxd4 5.xd4 c6 6.g3 b6 7.db5 a6!? A somewhat surprising novelty, not only does Black ignore the threat to bring the knight to d6, he positively encourages it! [ 7...d5 8.g2 d4 9.a4 a5+ 10.d2 b4 11.c5 0-0 12.d3 xd2+ 13.xd2 xd2+ 14.xd2 led to a small White plus in Kasparov,G-Vaganian,R/Skelleftea 1989, but ] [ 7...e5 is the key move, see both Ribli,ZStevic,H/Solin-Split CRO 2001, and Pelletier, Y-Ponomariov,R. ] 8.d6+ xd6 9.xd6 b4 This move is the point of Black's idea, immediately contesting White's control of d6. 10.xb4 xb4 11.b1 White had to cope with the threatened knight f o r k o n c 2 . d5 Black strives to keep his temporary initiative going, before White can catch-up with his development. 12.g2!? [ 12.cxd5 exd5! menaces the unpleasant ... Bf5, e.g. 13.g5 f5 14.d1 e4 ( 14...d4!? 15.xf6 gxf6 16.a4 ) 15.xe4 xe4 16.f3 f5 but I think that White should nevertheless prefer this to the text. ] 12...dxc4 13.b3!? Making the temporary pawn sac into a 'real' one, White will rely on his open lines and bishop pair.
[ 13.0-0 is less drastic, but possibly playable. ] 13...cxb3 14.xb3 c2+ 15.f1 d4 16.b4 c6 17.b1 0-0 18.e3 e5 19.a4 White has some compensation for his pawn, but his king is quite awkwardly placed, so Black has reason to continue. ½-½
1383 Graf,Alexander Atakisi,Umut Acropolis Open (7) [Carsten Hansen]
A33 2621 2388 15.08.2008
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 6.g5 This is a fairly harmless choice on White's part, but as John Watson wrote in an earlier update, Black has to prove it... b4 [ Black has several decent alternatives at this juncture, e.g. 6...e7 was the topic of Kramnik-Leko, Miskolc 2007, which can be found in the PGN archives ] [ and 6...h6 7.h4 b6 was covered in Pelletier-Bruzon, Biel 2006, which also can be found in the PGN archives ] 7.c1 a5 [ Black has a great number of alternatives available at this juncture: A) 7...b6 8.xf6 gxf6 A) 9.e3 is also perfectly acceptable for White: xc3+ 10.bxc3 d6 ( 10...c5 11.g4 is probably the better option for Black ) 11.e2 d7 12.b5 Massari, GMattedi, M/Pellestrina 1979; B) 9.b3 f5 ( or 9...a5 10.xa5 xa5 11.d2 c6 12.e3 b6 13.a3 xc3 14.xc3 e7 15.f3 b7 16.e2 ac8 17.b4 Kortschnoj, V-Furman, S/ Moscow (URS-ch) 1961) 10.e3 c7 11.d2 b6 12.a3 xc3 13.xc3 b7 14.d4 a6 15.f3 g8 16.d3 h5 17.f2 f4 18.xc6 xc6 19.0-0 b8 , White's position leave the better overall impression, but Black is not without counterplay, and actually went on to win a surprising victory over his 200-point higher-rated opponent, Agrest, E-Marholev, D/Cutro ITA 2007 ] [ B) 7...h6 is the most frequently played 1386
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 move at this juncture and also the choice of Shirov when he encountered this position: 8.h4 ( 8.xf6 is harmless: xf6 9.db5 0-0 10.a3 e7 11.e3 d8 12.e2 a6 13.d4 d5 14.xc6 bxc6 , and Black a l re a d y h a s a ve ry c o m f o rt a b le g a m e , Lautier, J-W ojtkiewicz, A/Polanica Zdroj 1991 ) A) 8...d5 9.e3 xd4 10.exd4 e7 11.cxd5 xd5 12.b5+ d7 13.xd5 exd5 14.xd7+ xd7 15.e2 0-0 16.xe7 , and a draw was predictably agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Gulko, B-Gorelov, S/ Moscow 1981, though if anything, only Black can be better in this position.; B) 8...0-0 9.e3 xc3+ ( or 9...e5 10.a3 e7 11.e2 a6 12.0-0 b6 13.g3 c7 14.f3 d6 15.xe5 dxe5 16.b4 b7 17.b3 with the slightly better chances for White, Bakic, R-Markovic, I/Belgrade 1999 ) 10.bxc3 ( 10.xc3!? looks normal and should offer W hite the better chances ) 10...e5 11.e2 g6 12.xf6 xf6 13.0-0 d6 14.a4 d8 15.fd1 d7 16.a3 e8 17.b3 e7 18.d2 with an unbalanced position and chances for both sides, though the players decided t o c a l l it a d a y a t t h is p o i n t , 1 / 2 - 1 / 2 , Psakhis, L-Har Zvi, R/ Ramat Aviv 2000; C) 8...xc3+?! is premature and leaves White with the better chances, e.g. 9.xc3 g5 10.g3 e4 11.xc6 dxc6 12.xd8+ xd8 13.e5 f6? ( or 13...xc3 14.xh8 xa2 15.f6+ c7 16.h4 g4 17.h5 d7 18.g7 ) 14.e3 fxe5 15.xe4 , and Black is strategically lost, Pelletier, Y-Karr, J/France 2000; D) 8...b6 9.xf6 gxf6 10.e3 g8 11.d2 f5 12.g3 Porat, Y-Evans, L/ Amsterdam 1964; E) 8...g5 Black's sharpest option, but not the only one: 9.g3 e4 10.db5 xg3 11.hxg3 a6 12.d6+ e7 13.xc8+ xc8 14.e3 d5 ( This looks very sharp, b u t le a d s t o e xc h a n g e s a n d a n e ve n position. Instead Black should consider 14...b6!? , which is far more difficult for White to meet one line runs 15.d2 a5 16.d1 xc4 17.xd7+ f6 18.xc4 xc4 19.0-0 xc3 20.bxc3 c7 ) 15.cxd5 xd5 16.xd5 exd5 17.a3
xc3+ 18.xc3 d4 19.exd4= , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, Gelfand, B-Shirov, A/Monte Carlo 1999 ] [ C) 7...0-0 8.a3 e7 9.e3 b6 10.e2 b7 11.0-0 a6 12.f3 c8 13.a4 c7 14.f4 e5 15.xc6 xc6 16.xc6 exf4 17.d5 xd5 18.xd5 d6 19.g3 fxe3 and 1/2-1/2 was Zueger, B-Pelletier, Y/ Switzerland 1997, though White could have considered continuing with 20.h1! e5 21.c2 ] [ D) 7...d5 8.xc6 ( 8.e3!? ) 8...bxc6 9.cxd5 cxd5?? ( A dreadful blunder that loses the game on the spot. Of course the better move is 9...exd5 , after which White can claim an edge with 10.a4 b6 11.xf6 gxf6 12.a3 c5 13.e3 ) 10.a4+ 1-0 Sigurjonsson, B-Humphrys, F/corr 1990 ] 8.xf6 gxf6 9.a3 e7 [ 9...xc3+ has also been tried, but in the one game I found with this continuation, Black just seemed to play for a draw and e n d e d u p w i t h w o r s e p o s i t i o n : 10.xc3 xd4 11.xd4 e5 12.d2 b6 13.f4 f5 ( 13...c7!? ) 14.g4 c5 15.g2 b8 16.b4 Stangl, M-Pezerovic, E/Munich 1992 ] 10.e3 e5 11.e2 b6 12.xc6 dxc6 13.f3 b7 Black has the pair of bishops, but in the current position they are not of great use nor value. White has more space, an easy to follow game plan and the overall better chances. 14.0-0 d6 15.g3 c8 16.b4 Grabbing space on the queenside and further restricting Black's bishop on b7 e7 17.c5! bxc5 18.e4 cxb4 19.xd6 xd6 20.a4 a8 [ This is an awfully passive move and exactly the kind of move Black should not play if he wants to stay in the game. 20...b3 21.fd1 ( after 21.xa7 matters are less clear, for instance c7 22.fd1 b2 23.b1 e5 24.b6 a8 25.xb2 c5 26.xa8 xa8 27.a4 f8 , and while White probably has the upper hand, Black is not without counterplay) 21...b2 22.b1 c5 23.xb2 c7 24.b4 with the better chances for White ] 21.axb4 b8 22.a3! c5 [ I don't entirely understand Black's urgency to play this move. Instead Black can play 1387
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22...hd8 , e.g. 23.b5+ c5 24.xa8 xa8 25.xc5 xc5 26.xc5+ e8 27.a1 b7 , and Black has decent chances of survival ] 23.xa8 xa8 [ 23...cxb4?? loses quickly: 24.a4 xa8 25.xb4+ d7 26.fd1+ e8 27.xc8+ xc8 28.b1 g8 29.b8 e7 ( 29...d7 30.xa7+ d8 31.xf7+- ) 30.b7+ , and the queen goes ] 24.fd1 c7 [ 24...a6 doesn't look like it accomplishes much, but compared to the game continuation it represents an improvement in Black's position, giving him slightly more space for a seventh rank defence and also taking the a6-square away from the white the queen, which may take residence up there if so allowed. 25.bxc5 c6 26.d6 ] 25.xc5 xc5 26.bxc5 c8?? [ After this blunder, Black loses immediately. Instead Black should have tried 26...d8 , e.g. 27.c6+ e8 28.c1 c8 29.c3 e7 30.b4+ e8 31.c7 with a very unpleasant position for Black, but it has the distinct advantage over the game continuation that Black is still playing ] 27.c6+ e8 28.d7 , and Black cannot prevent mate on e7, so... 1-0
[ Automatic, but 15.f4 h5 might be safer. ] 15...a6!? I thought for a long time over this move, as I wanted to play [ 15...h5! but after 16.b5 f4 I was worried about 17.f3 but I didn't see the fabulous ( 17.xf4 xf4 hits the rook on c1, 18.d1 e5 is good for Black, he controls all the dark squares, and White can never castle.) 17...e3!! when a capture by the bishop or pawn allows Nxd3+, and by the queen Nxg2+. ] [ 15...g5 is another reasonable alternative, stopping f4, 16.b5 xe4 17.xe4 xe4 18.0-0 ( 18.c7+?! xc7 19.xe4 is met by e5 pinning the queen) 18...f5 and this position looked messy to me, as although Black has an extra pawn his bishop is misplaced, 19.d3 b2 20.f4 b8 21.c2 etc. ] 16.0-0?! [ Better 16.f4! h5 17.e5 xc3 18.xc3 xe2+ 19.xe2 h5 which leads to an equal opposite-colour bishop ending. ] 16...g5! Those dark squares! 17.h1 [ I e xpe cte d 17.f3 g8! (threat ...Qg3) 18.e2 b2 19.c3 xc3 20.xc3 g4 with an attack on the g-file. ] 17...g4! 18.hxg4 [ 18.f4 h5 is also unpleasant for White, but may have offered better chances. ] 18...g3!! A nasty surprise for White! 19.e3 1384 A33 [ W hite is mated after 19.fxg3?? hxg3+ and how else can he stop ...Nxg4 ? ] Horvat,Jerko 2548 Kosten,Anthony C 2536 19...xg4! [ 19...xe3 20.xe3 xe3 ( 20...xg4 Reims (8) 02.05.2002 21.fxg3 xe3 22.f3 g4 is s i m i la r) [Tony Kosten] 21.fxe3 xg4 is very pleasant for Black, as the knight will sit proudly on e5, but the 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 text-move is more incisive. ] 5.c3 f6 6.a3 xd4 7.xd4 b6 8.e4!? 20.fxg3 hxg3+ 21.g1 xe3! Again best, [ 8.f4 is examined in Lautier - Topalov. ] [ 21...xe3+ 22.xe3 xe3 23.f3 g4 8...c5 9.d1 c7 10.d3 b7 11.e2 24.xg3 e5 is only slightly better for W hite wants to play e5, kicking the knight Black. ] away, and then Ne4. h5! So that e5 could be answered by ...Ng4. 12.h3 h4 Black has take 22.f2! The only move! [ 22.f3 xc4+ or ] n a firm hold on the dark squares, and now ... [ 22.f3 g4+ 23.f2 gxf2+ 24.f1 h2+ Nh5-f4 is a possibility. 13.b4? This is the both win vast amounts of material. ] source of all White's coming problems. [ 13.b5 b8 14.e5 h5 15.b4 e7 22...f5 [ 22...gxf2+ i s a l s o s t r o n g , 23.xf2 16.0-0 a6 17.c3 might maintain an ( 23.xf2 e5 ) 23...d5+ 24.f3 xc3 edge. ] winning material, although I didn't want to 13...e5! 14.d2 d4 15.c1?! 1388
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 allow the white queen to stay on the board, A n t we r p 1 9 9 3) 11...h6 12.xf6 xf6 whilst ] 13.db5 e7 14.ac1 a6 15.d6 b8 [ 22...g4? is a mistake: 23.xg4 gxf2+ 16.c5 b5 17.ce4 Zvjaginsev, V-Goldin, A/ 24.f1 h1+ 25.e2 xc1 26.g8+ e7 St Petersburg 1994 ] 27.g5+ picking-up the c1-rook. ] [ 10...c7 11.f4 h5 12.db5 b8 23.exf5 Forced, 13.e3 f5 14.c5 f4 15.d4 Zetterberg, S[ 23.d1 gxf2+ 24.xf2 g3 forces mate Backe, P/Borlange 1995 ] on h1. ] 11.f4 c7 23...gxf2+ 24.xf2 [ Black may also consider 11...g6 12.g5 [ 24.f1?? h1# ] d6 13.e3 c7 14.ac1 e5 15.a4 h6 24...xf2+ 25.xf2 Black has an exchange 16.b6 b8 17.xf6 xf6 18.a3 ( 18.f4 more in the endgame, and duly won. c6 19.c5 dxc5 20.xc5 xd4 21.xc7 xb3 22.axb3 d8 23.xc8 xb6 24.c3 bd8 with an equal endgame) 18...d7 1385 A33 19.a4 d8 20.b4 c5 21.b6 ] Ivanchuk,Vassily 2787 12.a4 d6 [ 12...h5 13.xe5 xe5 14.c5 xc5 Ponomariov,Ruslan 2705 15.f3 c7 16.xc5 xc5 17.ac1 f5 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (26) 22.11.2007 18.d6 f6 19.d2 ] [Carsten Hansen] 13.b6 b8 14.ac1 [ White has a very strong alternative in 14.c5! 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 , e.g. d5 ( 14...xc5 15.ac1 a5 5.g3 b4+ 6.c3 f6 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 16.d2+- ) 15.ac1 fd7 16.e4 g5 e5 9.b3 e7 17.exd5 xc5 18.xe5 xe5 19.a3 f6 [ 9...c5 has proven insufficient for Black: 20.xc5 e5 21.d6 xd6 ( 21...xd6 10.d1 ( 10.e3 d6 11.fd1 e7 12.a4 22.xc8 fxc8 23.xc8+ ) 22.f3 h6 eg4 13.xc5 dxc5 14.b5 a6 15.d6 23.e3 xc5 24.xc5+- ] xe3 16.xe3 c7 17.d2 Orlov, GHauchard, A/Novi Sad 1989; 10.c2 a6 14...fd7 [ 14...g6 15.g5 c5 16.e3 h5 11.a4 a7 12.e3 xe3 13.xe3 b8 17.f3 ] 14.b6 d6 15.fd1 c7 16.d2 S c h m i d t , J - F a r a g o , S / B u d a p e s t 1 9 9 7) 15.xd7 xd7 [ 15...xd7 16.e3 c5 17.b4 e5 10...d6 11.a4 e7 12.c3 d8 13.b3 18.bxc5 exf4 19.xf4 xc5 20.d5 ] b6 14.xb6 axb6 15.e3 Hausner, I16.c5 dxc5 17.f3 xf3+ 18.xf3 Kristiansen, J/Budapest 1980 ] [ While it doesn't look particularly logical at 10.d1 first glance, White may actually be able to [ White can also try 10.f4 g6 11.d2 improve with 18.exf3!? , e.g. e5 19.xe5 ( 11.g5 b8 12.xf6 gxf6 13.c2 a6 xe5 20.xd7 f6 ( 20...g5!? is probably 14.b3 f5 15.e3 d6 16.ac1 f6 17.fd1 best in order to prevent White from playing g7 18.e2 Amorim, G-Giuricza, G/corr f3-f4 ) 21.f4 xb2 22.xb2 xb2 23.xc5 1992 ) 11...a6 12.ac1 d6 13.fd1 fd8 24.xd8+ xd8 25.xb7 , and White Zemerov, V-Horvath, I/ Keszthely 1994 ] wins a second pawn, leaving him with very [ or 10.h3 c7 11.f4 d6 12.db5 b8 decent winning chances, because in 13.fd1 a6 14.a3 c7 15.a4 fd7 addition to the material advantage, White 16.e3 b8 17.a7 a8 18.e3 b8 can set up pressure against Black's kingside 19.a7 1/2-1/2 Pokorny, P-Voloshin, L/ with his light-squared bishop and rook, Havlickuv Brod 2005 ] wh i c h B l a c k l i k e l y wi l l h a ve t o d e f e n d 10...a6 passively against, thus allowing W hite to [ This, too me, looks more logical than the advance his passed a-pawn. ] o t h e r m o v e s B l a c k h a s t r i e d : 10...a5 11.g5 ( 11.f4 g6 12.d2 c7 18...e5 19.xe5 xe5 20.xd7 b5 21.a3 [ 21.c3!? e6 22.cd1 ] 13.ac1 1/2-1/2 Piket, J-Christiansen, L/ 1389
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21...fd8?! [ Black can maintain the balance with 21...bd8!? 22.cd1 c4 23.a5! f6! 24.c7 xd7 25.xd7 d8 26.b8 g6 27.d5 g7 ] 22.cd1 xd7 23.xd7 f8? [ This loses material on account of a petite combination. Black could hold his position reasonably together with 23...b6 24.a5 d6 25.c7 d1+ 26.g2 xc7 27.xc7 f8 28.c6 , and White has a clear advantage and an enduring initiative, but this is by far to be preferred over the game continuation ] 24.xa6 xb2 25.xf7 xf7 26.a7+ e7 27.xb8 xa2 28.xb5 ON the surface, this may not look so dramatically bad for Black, but the opposite coloured bishops and the fact that Black's king is more vulnerable than White's win an almost certainty, and I added 'almost' only because it's a blitz game. Yet Ivanchuk's play in the remainder of the game is very convincing with perhaps a few little inaccuracies here and there. Please take your time to enjoy Ivanchuk elegant exploitation of the advantage. e6 29.d3 h6 30.f5+ e8? [ Black wants to avoid losing the pawn after 30...f6 31.d5+ f8 32.c8+ d8 33.xc5+ , but ended making a big mistake. ] 31.e4? [ Returning the favour White missed a much faster win with 31.c8+ f7 ( 31...d8 32.c6+ wins a piece immediately) 32.d5+ g6 33.e6+ h5 34.f3+ g5 35.h4+ ] 31...f6 32.xh7 d4 33.e3 e5 34.g8+ d7 35.c4 f6 36.h4 e7 37.g2 d6 38.f3 e5 39.h5 f6 40.b5 c7 41.c4 d6 42.e4 e5 43.g6 d8 44.f7 d6 45.e4 c8 46.g4 e5 47.f5+ b8 48.d7 h4 49.c6 a7 50.e4 e7 51.d5 g5 52.f4 f6 53.f3 c3 54.g5 d2 55.e4 c4 56.xc4 a3+ 57.g4 e3 58.c7+ a6 59.c4# 1-0
1386 Jakovenko,Dmitrij Moiseenko,Alexander 8th ch-Euro Dresden GER (8) [Carsten Hansen]
A33 2708 2630 11.04.2007
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 6.a3 Speelman's move, which Speelman himself highlights as his biggest contribution to opening theory in Kasparov's n e w b o o k " Re vo l u t i o n in t h e 7 0 s " . xd4 This is just one of many possible continuations for Black in this position. Other tries include: 6...a6, 6...Qc7, 6...d5, 6...Bc5 and 6...Be7. The text move as introduced by Sax in his Candidates match against Kortchnoi in 1991. It is a relatively rare line, in fact our main game is the first I have seen with this line for quite a while. 7.xd4 b6 8.f4!? [ 8.f4 c5 A) 9.d2 b7 10.e3 0-0 11.d6 xd6 12.xd6 c8 13.d1 e8! ( 13...a6 14.b3 b7 15.a4 a6 16.f3 c6 17.d2 e7 18.d3 d5 and a draw was agreed upon in Kortchnoi-Sax, Wijk aan Zee m(1) 1991 ) 14.f3 c6 15.d4 a6 K a r p o v- T i m m a n , J a k a r t a W c h m ( 2 0 ) 1993.; B) 9.d3 a6 10.b4 e7 11.e4 c8 12.b5 b7 13.e5 h5 14.e3 c7 15.d1 xa3 16.d5 exd5 17.xa3 xe5 18.e2 f4 19.xf4 xf4 20.0-0 a n d W h it e h a s co m p e n sa t i o n f o r t h e pawns, Speelman-Wall, Dublin 1993 ] [ 8.e4 c5 9.d1 b7 10.d3 0-0 11.e5 e8 I.Sokolov-Lautier, Groningen 1996, and now Sokolov gives 12.b4 e7 13.0-0 d6 14.c2 g6 15.h6 g7 16.ad1 ] 8...e7 [ This move is solid. Alternatively, 8...b7 h a s b e e n p l a y e d : 9.e4 d6 10.d3! ( 10.e3 e7 11.d3 0-0 12.0-0 d7 13.g3 e5 14.e2 c8 15.b3 f6= Kortchnoi, V-Sax, G/W ijk aan Zee m (3) 1991; 10.g3!? should also be considered it is very similar to what W hite plays in the main game ) 10...e7 11.g3! ( 11.e3 0-0 transposes to Kortchnoi-Sax, m(3) above ) 11...0-0 12.h6 e8 13.d2 c8 14.0-0 f6 15.ac1 g6 16.b3 a6 1390
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Kortchnoi, V-Sax, G/Wijk aan Zee m(5) 1991, and now 17.fd1 g7 18.g5 (Kortchnoi) ] [ Kortchnoi also analyses 8...c5!? 9.e4 d6 10.e3 e5 11.g3 0-0 12.xc5 bxc5 13.d3 b8 14.0-0-0 ] [ 8...a6!? and 9.e4 c8 10.e5 g8 11.b3! e7 12.b2 g6 13.g3 h4 14.xh4 xh4 15.0-0-0 ] 9.e4 d6 10.g3 0-0 11.h6 e8 12.d2!? [ 12.d3 b7 13.d2 c8 transposes to Kortchnoi-Sax m(5) above, but 12...Bh4 spoils the fun ] 12...f6 [ 12...f5 13.exf5 xf5 14.d3 h4 15.h3 e5+ ( 15...xf2+ 16.d1 d4 17.c2 d7 18.xf5 exf5 19.d3; 15...xf2 16.g3 ) 16.e3 d5 17.0-0-0 ] 13.d1 c7 14.h6!? e8 15.d3 a6 16.c1 c8 17.d2 f6 18.0-0 d7 19.b3 [ My c o mp u t e r lo ve s 19.b5 but Black should be fine after b8 20.f4 e5 21.fd1 b7 22.b3 a6 with a typical hedgehog position ] 19...fe8 20.h1 b7 21.f4 a6 [ 21...c5 22.c2 a6 23.f5 gives White a strong initiative ] 22.h3 f8 23.b4 g6 24.e2 g7 25.c3 xc3 26.xc3 d8 27.e2 c7 28.f5!? exf5 [ 28...e5!? 29.f6 h8 30.e3 also leaves W hite with a solid plus, but the game continuation is very dangerous for Black because it opens up the position for W hite's pieces and leaves the king vulnerable. ] 29.exf5 e5? [ 29...e5 30.h6 e7 31.f6 f8 32.h4 ] 30.g4!+- d8 31.d5 [ 31.fxg6! hxg6 32.xf7! xf7 33.h7+ f6 34.f1+ f5 35.xf5 wins on the spot, although the text move essentially leads to the same. ] 31...xd5 32.cxd5 b7 33.fxg6 hxg6 34.xf7 xf7 35.h7+ e8 36.xg6+ e7 37.g7+ e8 38.f1 xd5 39.xd7+ 1-0
1387 Karpov,Anatoly Topalov,Veselin Linares [Tony Kosten]
A33 2740 2640 1994
1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 Black prepares to develop his king's bishop, and can play ...d5 at any given moment. 5.g3 The f1-bishop is best-placed on the h1-a8 diagonal. [ 5.c3 would permit transposition into Nimzo positions after b4 , and, in fact this line is often similar. ] 5...c6 6.g2 c5 Black 'wastes' a move to drive the white knight from the centre, [ 6...b6 one of several alternatives here, has the same idea. ] 7.b3 e7 8.c3 Now is a good time to play this, as Black is hardly likely to want to play 8... Bb4, and move his dark-squared bishop a third time in the opening. 0-0 9.0-0 d6 Reaching a hedgehog-structure. Note that if Black doesn't play this, then White may play c5, e.g. [ 9...a6 10.c5! threatening Na4-b6. ] 10.f4 Directly threatening the d6-pawn, as Black can never play ...e5, because of the c a t a s t r o p h i c w e a k e n i n g o f d 5 . h5 Black hopes to drive the annoying bishop back, but otherwise what can he play? [ 10...a5 for instance, can be forcefully met by 11.xa5 xa5 12.xd6! winning a pawn, as d8 fails to the queen sac 13.xe7 xd1 14.axd1 h6 15.d8+ and the black queenside is dead. ] 11.e3! A surprising, and powerful, innovation, rather than the obvious [ 11.e3 White actually encourages Black to capture his bishop. ] 11...xf4 12.exf4 Why is this position good for White? He has a good hold over the centre, due to his f4, and c4 pawns, good squares for his minor pieces, and two open files for his rooks. d7 Black's perennial problem in this line is the development of his queen's bishop. 13.d2 b8 14.fe1! A simple developing move, that just happens to menace f5, in passing. g6 15.h4 Piling-on the pressure, Whit is quick to pounce on the weakening of the black kingside. a6 16.h5 b5 17.hxg6 1391
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 hxg6 18.c5! dxc5 Otherwise [ 18...e8 w o u l d a l l o w 19.xe6!? fxe6 20.xe6 with a powerful attack. ] 19.xd7 c8 So as to answer 20 Bxc6 with 2 0 . . . R a 7 2 1 Q d 3 R x c 6 . 20.xe6! Karpov turns his attention to the black king, wh o s e p a wn c o ve r h e we a k e n e d o n h i s s e v e n t e e n t h m o v e . a7 21.xg6+ No let-up for Black. fxg6 22.e6+ g7 23.xc6 The point, material is equal, but the white pieces are clustered around the poor black king. d8 24.cxb5 f6 25.e4 d4 26.bxa6 b6 27.d1 xa6 28.xd4!? Flashy, but the mundane [ 28.xc5 b6 29.xd4 xd4 30.e5+ was also very strong. ] 28...xd4 29.f6+ g8 30.xg6+ T h e q u e e n a n d t wo m i n o r p i e c e s m a k e m i n c e m e a t o f t h e b l a c k p o s i t i o n . f8 31.e8+ g7 32.e5+ g8 33.f6+ It is always pleasant playing attacks that only involve checks, like this, as you only have to consider Black's king moves, nothing else! f7 34.e8+ The bishop wants to get involved, too. f8 35.xc5+ d6 36.xa7 Taking back one exchange. xf6 Amazingly, Black nearly has a forced draw here: [ 36...d1+ 37.g2 g1+ and now, if 38.xg1?? Black will play d1+ 39.g2 h1+! like a shot, as 40.xh1 is stalemate! However, the simple 38 Kh3 would shatter any illusions. ] 37.h5 d2 38.b3 b2 39.g2 Black has no counterplay, as f2 is well-defended, and it is only a matter of time before White queens one of his queenside pawns. 1-0
1388 Kasparov,Garry Oral,Tomas Eurotel Trophy Simul (2) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2838 2546 20.10.2001
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.g3 e6 6.g2 c5 [ I p r e f e r t h e m a i n l i n e , 6...b6 myself, although this has the same idea. ] 7.b3 e7 8.c3 d6 9.f4 0-0 10.0-0 h5 So far we have seen this all before,
11.e3!? Kasparov plays the old move, [ 11.e3 was very successful for Karpov, against Top alov, a s we have seen, bu t perhaps Kasparov knows something we don't? ] 11...e5?! [ Playing another knight move is stretching Black's luck to the limit, I think it is better to accept a disadvantage by 11...d7 ] 12.c5! Not bothering to defend the c4-square, but simply making sure that there is nothing there to capture! d5 [ 12...c4 13.cxd6 xd6 14.d4 xe3 15.xe3 leaves Black with development problems, whereas White is threatening to bring his rooks to the central files. ] 13.d4 c6 14.e4! White shows great understanding and opens the position to exploit his development and space advantages, at the cost of the bishop pair. xd4 [ P ro b a b ly b e st , 14...f6 offers a pawn: 15.xf6 xf6 16.exd5 exd5 17.xd5 a n d B la c k' s co m p e n sa t io n is n o t qu it e enough, Smyslov,V-Matulovic,M/Palma de Mallorca 1967. ] 15.xd4 dxe4 16.xe4 f6 17.e5! A powerful innovation, but one which had b e e n su gg e s t e d t we n t y ye a rs a go b y . . . Kasparov!! W hite prepares to control the central files with his rook whilst Black has serious difficulties developing his queenside, and has no sensible square for his queen. [ 17.f4?! d5 18.xd5 exd5 19.ad1 e6 allowed Black to restrict the white advantage in Mikhalchishin,A-Kasparov,G/ Baku 1980. Kasparov clearly retains the lessons he learnt as a youngster! ] 17...d7!? [ As ...Nd5 is no longer feasible- it loses a pawn for nothing- Black suffers from being unable to develop, and decides to sac his bpawn for some activity. Perhaps 17...d7 is an alternative, but it is only a short-term solution. ] 18.xb7 b8 The tricky point, Black hopes to gain compensation from his bishop pair in the ending, but the c-pawn is too strong. 19.xb8 axb8 20.a6 Necessary, to stop Black from playing ...Rfc8 and capturing the c-pawn. c8 21.b5 b7 22.c6 a8 Black is defending 1392
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 well, if he can find time to bring his rook to the c-file, and capture the c6-pawn, he will be fine. 23.fd1 b4! [ It is still not time for 23...fc8 as 24.d4 c5?! ( 24...e5 25.f5 c5 is Black's best bet, although 26.ac1 keeps an edge, as the c-pawn is still untouchable because of the resulting c-file pin.) 25.a6 c7 26.cb5 wins the exchange. ] 24.d4!! This move involves a deep, and typ ic a lly K a sp a ro via n , p ie ce sacrif ice t o e n s u re t h e a d va n ce o f t h e c-p a wn . xc3 25.bxc3 e5 26.f5! Threatening Nd6, and c7, so Black's reply is forced. xb5 27.e7+ h8 28.c7 The point, the powerful c-pawn, and weakness of the black back rank, are worth more than a piece. b7 It seems that Black has everything in order, but Kasparov's judgement is exemplary, even in a simul. 29.ab1! [ 29.d8 e8 30.xe8+ ( 30.b8! keeps a plus) 30...xe8 31.c8 xc8 32.xc8 is not much ] 29...xb1 [ 29...b6? 30.xb6 axb6 loses, as 31.d8 and now e8 is no longer sufficient as 32.f5 -d6 wins immediately. ] 30.xb1 a6 Clearly forced. 31.b8 e8 32.c4! A unique position, the laggard second doub led c-pa wn adva nces, with decisive effect. g6? A blunder, undermining the poor knight, but even after [ 32...h6 33.c5 h7 to unpin the rook, 34.xe8 xe8 35.c8 xc8 36.xc8 the knight ending is winning for W hite: a6 37.d6 and a pawn is lost. ] 33.d5 c8 34.xf6 g7 35.xc8 xc8 36.e8+ After 37 Nd6 White wins the bishop. 1-0
1389 Kasparov,Garry Van Wely,Loek ROW Match Moscow RUS (1) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2817 2651 10.06.2004
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 6.a3 So, this little move gets the Kasparov 'seal of approval', I am inclined to agree that it is the most annoying for Black at
the moment. xd4 7.xd4 b6 8.f4 e7 We have already considered [ 8...d6 and ] [ 8...b7 ] 9.e4 d6 10.g3 This is the point of White's queen manoeuvre, he puts pressure on g7. W hich is why Black had often delayed the development of his dark-squared bishop in previous games, see Lautier-Topalov f or instance. 0-0 11.h6 Not to mate (Black will notice the threat!) but to gain a tempo. e8 12.f4 Now when Black later plays ...Nf6 White will have gained a move. [ 12.d2 is co m m o n , f6 13.h6 e8 14.d2 1/2-1/2 Nogueiras,J-Hansen,C/ Istanbul TUR 2000! f6 1/2-1/2 Delchev,AYe m e li n , V / Za d a r C RO 2 0 0 2 - h a rd l y a forced draw!! ] 12...b7 [ 12...e5!? looks bad, positionally, but is playable: 13.d2 f5 (like a Kalashnikov?!) 14.d3!? ( 14.d3? allows h4 15.e3 xf2+! 16.xf2 fxe4 ) 14...e6 15.exf5 xf5 16.e3 f6 17.e2 c8 18.0-0 No gu e ira s, J -Ca ce re s, J/ Mo n t re a l CA N 2002. ] 13.d1 h4 Distracting White from d6. 14.h3 f6 15.e3 g5 the exchange of dark-squared bishops is desirable. 16.e2 xe3 17.xe3 e7 18.0-0 f6 19.d2 fd8 20.fd1 White has a typical space advantage, and pressure on the d-file, but Black is solid. c6 21.f4 h5?! This is a common move in Hedgehog positions, to hinder g4, but I think I would prefer [ 21...e5 now that there is no dark-squared bishop. ] 22.f3 Kasparov must have been tempted by [ 22.e5!? dxe5 23.fxe5 g4 24.xg4 xd2 ( 24...hxg4 25.d6 ) 25.xd2 hxg4 26.d4 which seems to win a pawn, but prefers to keep the tension. ] 22...c7 23.h3 e5 24.f5 h4?! Black must have been worried about the possibility of g4g5, but this just loses a pawn. [ 24...ac8 is better, planning play along the c-file. ] 25.f2 b7 26.b5! xc4 27.xd6 c7 28.xh4 Winning a pawn with a great position. c6 W i t h a t h r e a t . 29.g4!? That White ignores! 1393
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 29.b3! was safer, but Kasparov has seen a sharp attack. ] 29...a4 The rook on d1 cannot move without l o s i n g t h e d 6 - k n i g h t . 30.g5! xd1 The alternative is [ 30...e8?! when W hite continues 31.g6 xd6 32.xd6 xd1 ( 32...xd6 m i gh t b e a b e t t e r t r y, 33.xd6 xd6 34.h7+ f8 35.h8+ e7 36.xa8 ) 33.h7+ f8 34.f6! gxf6 (other moves allow mate) 35.h8+ e7 36.xf6+ f8 37.g7+ g8 38.h6 f6 39.h8+ f7 40.xf6+! and wins. ] 31.gxf6 Qg5 is the threat, with mate on g7. xd6? [ 31...gxf6! is correct, 32.xf6 ( 32.g2+? f8 33.h6+ e7 34.xf7! xf3 35.xd8 xg2 36.e6 c4 and Black will win! ) 32...xf3 33.g5+ f8 34.h6+ leads to a draw, but no more ] 32.g2 g6?! [ 32...c5+ 33.h2 d2 slows White down, but 34.xd2 xf3 35.g3 g6 36.xf3 will win easily enough. ] 33.fxg6 Black is a rook up, but will lose enormous amounts of material to parry the mating threats. 1-0
1390 Khismatullin,Denis Iljushin,Alexei ch-Privolzhsky Region (6) [John Watson]
A33 2548 2530 21.03.2005
6.Nb5 is one of the most straightf orward attempts to defeat the English main line of the "Anti-Benoni" systems. For years the endgame after 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 6.db5 d5 7.f4 e5 8.cxd5 exf4 9.dxc6 bxc6 10.xd8+ xd8 has had a drawish reputation. Wojtkiewicz has used it repeatedly although, as Tony points out, he seems to do so in order to draw 11.d1+ The main line. [ Theory isn't particularly enthusiastic for the move 11.0-0-0+ : d7 12.d6 xd6 13.xd6 g4 14.f3!? ( 14.d1 e7 15.d4 g5 16.g3 fxg3 17.hxg3 h5 18.g2 drawn, W ojtkiewicz-Gulko, Kona 1998.)
14...e3 15.d4 c5 ( 15...g5! 16.g3 c5 17.d3 e7 18.d5+ xd5 19.xd5 h6 20.gxf4 gxf4 21.xc5 ac8 22.xc8 xc8+ and Black has enough for a pawn.) 16.xf4 f5 17.h4 b8 18.b3 b6 19.g4 b4 20.xb4 cxb4 21.d1 xd1 22.xd1 fxg4 23.fxg4 xg4 24.h3 1/2-1/2 Wojtkiewicz,A-Zvjaginsev,V/ Tripoli LBA 2004 (24) ] 11...d7 12.d6 xd6 13.xd6 b8 14.b3 [ 14.d2 e8 15.g3 f3 16.d1 fxe2+ 17.xe2 c7 18.c1 e4 19.xe4 xe4 and the game was soon drawn in Ubilava-de Firmian, New York 1990. ] 14...b4 15.g3 e7 16.d2 c5 [ 16...d8 appears sounder. ] 17.gxf4 xf4 18.g1 g6 19.g5 c8? [ 19...f5 20.h4! ] 20.e3? [ 20.xd7+! xd7 21.h3+ d8 22.xc8 xc8 23.xc5+ yields a large advantage. ] 20...f5 21.xf5 xf5 22.f3 e6 23.b5 a5 24.a3 [ A better try was 24.d6 d8 25.c4 ] 24...d5!? [ Or 24...d7 ] 25.c4 a8 26.e4 b4 27.b6 d8 28.xd8 ½-½
1391 Khismatullin,Denis Zvjaginsev,Vadim 17th TCh-RUS Premier (4) [Nigel Davies]
A33 2657 2643 04.04.2010
1.d4 e6 2.f3 c5 3.c4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.g3 c6 6.g2 b4+ 7.c3 0-0 8.0-0 e7 I'm always somewhat sceptical of Zviagintsev's original opening play but this move has been played by other strong players including Nigel Short. Black envisages a very different set up to the standard kind of Hedgehog formation, putting his queen on e7, rook on d8 and playing for ... d7-d5 or maybe ...d7-d6 and ...e6-e5. It actually doesn't look half bad. [ T h e m o s t p o p u l a r m o v e h e r e i s 8...a6 but it ha s no t f a re d p articu la rly we ll. A classic example went 9.c2 xc3 10.bxc3 1394
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d5 11.e3 a5 12.b2 d8 13.b3 c7 14.fd1 a5 15.b4 c6 16.c5 d7 17.a3 dxc4 18.xc4 b6 19.xd8+ xd8 20.a5 c7 21.xc6 bxc6 22.a5 with a clear advantage for White in Portisch, L-Matulovic, M/Halle 1967. ] 9.a4 d8 10.a3 d6 11.b4 e5 12.b2 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 d6 15.fd1 [ An earlier game went 15.c3 e5 16.h4 e6 17.e4 d7 18.c5?! xe4 19.xe7 xe7 20.xe4 dxc5 21.bxc5 f5 22.g2 c8 with rather more than equality for Black in Atalik, S (2632)-Short, N (2677)/Turin 2006. ] 15...d7 16.b5 d5 17.cxd5 exd5 This isolated d-pawn position doesn't look too bad for Black because the advance of White's b-pawn has lef t his c4 and c5 squares v u l n e r a b l e . 18.c3 e6 19.d3 d7 20.ad1 a6 21.f3 h6 22.h4 axb5 23.xb5 c8 24.b2 f5 25.3d2 [ After 25.c3 Black can play xc3 26.xc3 e4 with approximate equality. ] 25...c5 26.g2 a8?! Leaving the c-file looks wrong. [ 26...e4 looks more logical when 27.d4 f6 28.4d2 might well lead to a draw by repetition! ] 27.c1 b6 28.d4 xb2 29.xb2 g6 30.h3 dd8 31.b3 a4 32.e3 da8?! After this Black comes very close to losing. [ 32...c4 seems better as after 33.xc4 dxc4 34.xb7 d3 Black has counterplay thanks to his passed pawn. ] 33.c8+ h7 34.xa8 xa8 35.g4 h5 36.g5 e8 37.g2 d6 [ Black can no longer avoid the loss of a p a w n , f o r e x a m p l e 37...e4 is met by 38.xb7 xa3 39.xf7 . ] 38.xd5 a5 39.xb7 xb7 40.xb7 xa3 41.h2 g8 42.g3 a1 43.f3 g1+ 44.h2 d1 45.d7 d3 46.d8+ h7 47.e8 d1 48.g2 d3 49.f8 c4 50.c6 d5 51.g3 c5 52.d4 g6 53.e4 g7 54.a8 e6 55.f4 c8 56.e3 f8 57.f4 e7? Allowing the exchange of rooks which has to favour White. [ 57...g7 was better. ] 58.a5! xa5 59.c6+ d6 60.xa5 a6 61.b3 c4 62.d4 a6 63.e3 c5 64.f4 c8 65.f3 d7 66.e5 e6 67.f5?!
Attempting to cash in, but Black holds the draw by the skin of his teeth. [ I think there was a good case for continued torture via 67.d3+ d6 68.d4 . ] 67...gxf5 68.exf5 xf5 69.xf7 d5 70.f4 c2 71.e5 e6 72.c6 g6 73.d4+ d5 74.e2 e6 75.g3 d6 76.f1 d5 77.d2 d6 78.e4+ d5 79.f6+ e6 80.e3 f5 81.d4 f4 82.d7 g4 83.e5+ xh4 84.xg6+ ½-½
1392 Kramnik,Vladimir Leko,Peter Rapid Match Miskolc HUN rapid (1) [Carsten Hansen]
A33 2772 2738 25.04.07
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 6.g5?! This is a rathe r rare choice, one which Kortchnoi has used on several occasions, yet also one that doesn't promise W hite a great deal, other than headaches that is. .. e7 [ Also 6...b6 has been tried, e.g. 7.b3 b4 8.xf6 gxf6 9.e3 e5= V.KortschnoiJ.Timman, Rotterdam 1990 ] 7.e3 a5! [ This move has seen surprisingly little air time in comparison to the main line move which is 7...0-0 A) 8.c1 d6 9.e2 a6 10.0-0 A1) 10...c7? 11.xf6 xf6 12.d5 Lautier; A2) 10...xd4? 11.xd4 c7 ( 11...b6 12.fd1 with the idea Bf6 and Ne4) 12.fd1 d8 13.a4 b8 14.b6 Lautier; A3) 10...d7 11.b3! with the threat of 12.Bxf6 ( 11.d2 xd4 12.xd4 c6 13.b4 b8 14.fd1 d8 15.a4 c7 16.a5 A.Saidy-N.De Firmian, New York 1990 ) A3a) 11...c7? 12.d2 fd8 13.xf6 xf6 14.d5 exd5 15.cxd5 Lautier; A3b) 11...e8? 12.f4 Lautier; A3c) 11...b8 A3c1) 12.c5 dxc5 13.xf6 xf6 ( 13...gxf6?! 14.a4 ) 14.xc5 ( 14.xd7?? d8-+ ) 14...e8 1395
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Lautier; A3c2) 12.d2 d8 13.fd1 e8 Lautier; A3d) 11...b6?! 12.xf6 gxf6 13.d2 a7 14.f4! ( 14.e4 c8 15.fd1 d7 ) A3d1) 14...f5 15.cd1 e8 ( 15...c8 16.f3 ) 16.e4 fxe4 17.f5! g5 18.e1 exf5 19.xf5 d7 20.fd5 Lautier; A3d2) 14...h8 15.e4 e8 16.cd1 d7 17.c3! ( 17.f5?! d5 with counterplay) 17...g8 18.f5+e5 ( 18...e5 19.d4+- ) 19.f3 a7 20.d3! (with the plan Ne4-c3d 5 f o l lo we d b y Nb 3 -d 2 - e 4 +- ) b5 21.c3 b8 22.d5 c8 23.cxb5 axb5 ( 23...xb5 24.xb5 axb5 25.c1+- ) 24.d2 b6 25.xe7! xe7 26.e4 c4 ( 26...d5 27.xf6 e4 28.d4 exf3 29.d7++- ) 27.xf6 xb2 28.xd6 xd6 29.xd6 f8 30.e2! c4 31.xc4 bxc4 32.c1 b5 33.b6 an d B lack re sign e d , J. L a ut ie r-J. Pinter, French Team Ch 1991; A4) 10...e5! 11.d2 c7 ( 11...b6? 12.f4 g6 13.c6 c7 14.xe7+ xe7 15.xf6 gxf6 16.cd1 Ribli ) 12.b3 h6 ( 12...b6= Ribli ) 13.f4 b6 14.g3 b7 15.f4 ed7 16.b4 ac8 17.a3 b8 18.f5 e5 19.b3 a8= V. Kortschnoi-L.Psakhis, Manila 1992; B) 8.e2 B1) 8...a5!? 9.h4 d8 10.b3 b6 11.0-0 d6 12.g3 e5 13.h4 e6 14.xf6 xf6 15.c1 a5 16.d2 e7 with a pleasant game for Black, A.Graf-S. Dvoirys, Barnaul 1984; B2) 8...b6 9.0-0 b7 10.xf6 xf6 11.db5 e7! ( 11...d5!? 12.cxd5 exd5 13.xd5 xb2 14.b1 e5= ) 12.b3 d6 13.fd1 c8 14.ac1 a6 15.d4 c7 16.c2 a7 17.a4 ac8 18.d2 fd8 19.b3 a8= 1/2-1/2 J.Lautier-N.De Firmian, Biel 1990; B3) 8...d5 9.cxd5 xd4 ( 9...xd5 10.xc6 bxc6 11.xe7 xe7 12.c2 b7 13.0-0 c5 14.fc1 ac8 15.a4 c6 16.a5 M.Stangl-S.Kindermann,
G a r m i s c h 1 9 9 4) 10.xd4 xd5 11.xe7 xe7 12.0-0-0 ( The alternatives also deserve attention, e. g. 12.d1!? xd4 13.xd4 e5 14.c4 c6 15.f3 e6 16.c5; and 12.b4!? a5 13.a3 g6 14.d1 ) 12...a5 ( or 12...xd4 13.xd4 e5 14.c4 c6 15.f3 e6 16.c5 ) 13.f3 c6 14.xc6 bxc6 15.a4 c5 16.d4 V.Kortschnoi-A.Suetin, USSR Ch (Yerevan) 1962 ] [ 7...a6 8.c1 h6 9.h4 0-0 10.e2 d6 11.0-0 d7 12.f3 b8 13.h3 d8 14.g3 e5 15.d4 ( 15.d4!? c6 16.d2 ) 15...a7 16.d2 ac8 17.b3 e8 18.f3 c6= K. Spraggett-L.Galego, Benidorm 1993 ] 8.h4 [ 8.db5 0-0 9.a3 d5 10.b4 d8 11.cxd5 xd5 12.xe7 cxe7 13.b3 , and here the players agreed upon a draw in H.BohmH.Ree, Leeuwarden 1980, and although I favour Black's chances after a6 14.d4 xc3 15.xc3 d7 16.d3 c8 17.b2 a4 18.0-0 d5 , the position is objectively speaking about equal. ] [ 8.xf6? xf6 9.e2 xd4 10.exd4 b6 0-1 Buechle, R-Grinfeld, A/Prague 1992/TD (15) ] 8...e4 9.xe7 xc3 10.d2 xe7 [ A f u n-lo o king a lt e rn at ive is 10...xe7!? 11.bxc3 d8 ( 11...xd4 12.cxd4 xd2+ 13.xd2 b6 14.d3 b7 15.f3=; 11...b6 12.d1 ) 12.d1 d6 13.e2 e5 14.b5 a6 15.xd6 a3 16.xc8+ axc8 17.c2= ] 11.b5 0-0 12.xc3 xc3+ 13.xc3 b6 14.0-0-0 [ I'm not sure I agree with the premise behind this move because Black will place a rook on c8 and threaten a pawn break with either ... d5 or ...b5, forcing White to take some extra precautions with his king being somewhat exposed on c1. Nonetheless, the alternatives also promise Black a problemfree road to equality, e.g. 14.d1 d8 15.b5 b7 16.d6 c6 17.f3 c8 18.e4 xd6 ( 18...f8 ) 19.xd6 f8= ] [ or 14.d3 a6 15.d1 ac8 16.b3 d5! 17.cxd5 xc3 18.xa6 xd5= ] 14...d8 15.e2?! 1396
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ This sloppy move hands Black the initiative. Trnava 1981, ( 16.d1 b4 17.e4 Instead W hite should give preference to is worth a try, White does have an extra 15.b5 b7 16.d6 c6 17.f3 c8 rook! ); 18.e2 f5= ] B2) 15...b4 16.xb4 xb4 17.g3 f8 15...b7 16.e4 f5! 17.exf5 18.gxf4 xf4 19.g1 g8 20.g6 [ The alternative 17.f3 leads to a positional hxg6 21.xg6 h4 with a very tiny edge for Black after fxe4 18.fxe4 g6 advantage to White, Stean,M-Liberzon,V/ 19.d2 e5 20.e3 ac8 ] Vienna 1980. ] 17...xf5 18.hg1 ac8 19.d2 f8 14...xd6 15.xd6 xb2 16.d2 xd2 20.g3 e7 21.e1 d6 [ 16...b4 17.g3 c4 18.d1 Andersson,U[ 21...g5 22.b3= ] T im m a n , J/ B u go jn o 1 9 8 2 , a n d n o w fxg3 [ 21...d6 22.b1 g6= ] is level. ] 22.b3 17.xd2 e7!? [ 22.d4 a6!? ( 22...g5!? 23.g4 f7 [ A sensible new move, Black wants to bring is possibly a better way to keep the game his other rook to the b-file as quickly as fluid, but White is probably okay.) 23.c2 p o s s i b l e . T h e t a c t i c a l 17...g4 b5 24.cxb5 xb5 25.g4 g8 26.xb5 was the previous choice: 18.f3! e3 19.g3 axb5 27.b4 gf8 28.f4 c6= ] g5 20.h4 h6?! ( 20...xf1+ 21.xf1 fxg3 22...b5! 23.ed1 e4! 24.xe4 xe4 22.hxg5 h5 23.gxh6 xh6 24.g1 g6 25.b2 and here a draw was surprisingly 25.e4 is fine for White.) 21.hxg5 xf1+ agreed upon. Surprisingly because Black is 22.xf1 and White is on top, Bohm,H-Rogoff, better, e.g. bxc4 26.xc4 d5 27.e2 g5 K/Amsterdam 1980. ] with a small but clear advantage for Black. 18.g3 f5! 19.g2 ½-½ [ 19.gxf4 b8 20.c1 d5 is similar to the game. ] 19...d8+ 20.c1 d5 21.xd5+ cxd5 1393 A33 22.gxf4?! [ Careless, although this was only a rapid Krasenkow,Michal 2702 game. 22.d1 is safer, c8+ 23.d2 c2+ Macieja,Bartlomiej 2536 24.e1 fxg3 25.hxg3 and White shouldn't FIDE WCh KO New Delhi IND (2.6) 02.12.2000 loses this, and a draw would have qualified [Tony Kosten] him for the next round! ] 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 22...c8+ 23.d2 c2+ 24.e3 d4+! 5.c3 f6 6.db5 The sharpest line. d5 25.xd4 xe2 Black has a pawn less, but he 7.f4 e5 8.cxd5 exf4 9.dxc6 bxc6 is very active, and the white pawn structure is loose. 26.d5!? 10.xd8+ xd8 11.d1+ [ 26.c1 xf2 27.c7+ d6 28.xg7 [ 11.d4 was analysed in the archives. ] xf4+ 29.c3 should lead to a draw. ] 11...d7 12.d6 b8!? A surprising, and 27.b3 e4+ 28.c3 xf4 rare move, but quite reasonable. 13.xf7+ 26...d6 29.d1+ c5 30.d5+ c6 31.d2 a5 e8 14.d6+ [ Why doesn't White take the rook? 14.xh8 Material is equal, but Black has a nagging xb2 leaves White facing the awkward edge. 32.d5+ c5 33.f3 g5 34.a3 h6 The pawns go to dark squares, of course! threat of ... Bb4, so A) 15.b1?! b4 16.xb2 xc3+ 35.d1 g6 36.d2 h5 37.d3 g6 17.d1 ( 17.d2 e4 ) 17...xb2 38.d2 f6 39.a8 h5 40.d5+ b6 White seems to be holding 18.c2 e5 and White will lose his h8- 41.d3 k n i g h t , s o B l a c k i s b e t t e r , V a r g a , Z - comfortably. e8 42.d4 [ Allowing the exchange of rooks, 42.e4 Nisipeanu,L/Budapest 1996.; might be surer. ] B) 15.d4! B1) 15...a5!? and now, instead of 42...d6+ 43.e3 xd3+ 44.xd3 c5 16.g4!? unclear, Cvetkovic,S-Vadasz,L/ 45.e4 d7 46.c3 h3 47.d3 d7 1397
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 48.c2 c6 49.d1 b5 50.c2 d5 51.d3 d7 [ 51...xd3 52.xd3 e5 53.e3 draws. ] 52.e4+ e5 53.b7? [ 53.c4! is th e righ t mo ve , af te r f4 54.d5 Black cannot attack the f3-pawn with his bishop without losing his a-pawn. Now White gets forced back. ] 53...b5 54.a8 h5 55.b7 h4 56.a8 f1 [ 56...f4 wins easily. ] 57.d2 d4 58.e1 b5 59.d2 c4 White is being squeezed. 60.e3 b3 61.f4 gxf4+ 62.xf4 xa3 63.g4 a4 64.xh4 b2 65.d5 a3 [ T h e a - p a w n c a n ' t b e s t o p p e d , 65...a3 66.g5 a4 67.h4 b3 etc. ] 0-1
concedes control of e5, White will be able to put pressure on e6 by Bh3, directly, thus taking advantage of his light-squared bishop's u n m o v e d s t a t e . f6 14.h3 e5 C4 seems to be a problem, but White has his sights set elsewhere. 15.fxe6 xe6 16.xe6 fxe6 17.0-0 xc4 18.g5 e7 19.d4!? The point, ng e6 before Black can complete his development, but leading to immense complications. c5 [ There are a lot of white pieces floating around. 19...xb2 is also possible, 20.b3 c5 21.ce2! ( 21.e3 c4 22.a4 a3 is worse ) 21...xg5 22.xe6 d2 is dangerous for Black. ] 20.f2 xb2!? [ Tempting, but risky, 20...xg5 21.xe6 a5 22.xg7+ d7 is similar to the game, but Black's position holds together better 1394 A33 here. ] Krasenkow,Michal 2661 21.xb2 xg5 22.xe6! e3+ It looks like Urban,Klaudiusz 2467 the black queen will take all the white pieces, 57th ch Plock POL (10) 07.05.2000 o n e - b y-o n e ! 23.f2 xc3 24.c1 e3 25.xg7+! [Tony Kosten] [ Playing for the attack, 25.c7+? d7 26.xa8 xa8 leads nowhere. ] 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 25...d7 26.f5 xe4 27.xd6 Suddenly f6 5.c3 e6 6.f4 [ Q u i t e a r a r e m o v e , 6.db5 all the white pieces are involved in the attack, and the black king is exposed. xd6?! is more common. ] [ After this Black should lose, better 6...a6 27...d5! when 28.f5 b4 29.a4+ b5 [ T o c o n t r o l b 5 , o f c o u r s e , 6...d5 30.d1+ might only be a draw. ] is more popular, when transposition into the 6 Ndb5 line occurs after 7.db5 e5 8.cxd5 28.xf6 e7 [ 28...e3+ 29.g2 e4+ 30.h3 exf4 9.dxc6 ] amounts to the same, e7 31.g4+ ] 7.g3!? [ Amazingly, such a natural move seems to 29.g4+ d8 30.d4 White regains the be a novelty, 7.xc6 bxc6 8.d6 xd6 piece, and retains his attack. f8 [ 30...d7 doesn't help, 31.d1 ] 9.xd6 b6 offers White nothing, 31.xd6+ e8 32.f1?? Rashkovsky,N-Suetin,A/Sochi 1979, and ] [ A time trouble mistake, perhaps, 32.d5! [ 7.e3 b4 8.e2 e4 9.c2 a5 10.c1 threatens to pin the queen by Re5, and wins xc3 11.bxc3 a3 also seems to be as d8 33.xd8+ xd8 34.e4+ satisfactory for Black, Lahav,E-Sindik, E/Tel is immediately decisive. ] Aviv 1991. ] 32...xf1+ 33.xf1 f7+?? 7...b6 [ Returning the compliment, there is no [ To drive the knight back, 7...d5 8.g2 immediate win visible after 33...c8! ] is the other logical alternative. ] 8.b3 g4!? Black plays very aggressively. 34.g1 c8 35.e5+ f8 36.f6 9.e3 ge5 Targeting c4, to stop Bg2. 10.e4! 1-0 d6 11.e3 c7 Play has gone into a typical Hedgehog-style position. 12.f4 d7 13.f5!? The most annoying for Black, as although this 1398
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1395 Kuljasevic,Davorin Brkic,Ante CRO-chT Cup 22nd (4.12) [Fier, Alexandr]
A33 2578 2575 24.05.2013
Kuljasevic follows in Kramnik's footsteps and reaches a fantastic attacking position. This variation was played in 3 recent games from strong players - once again Kramnik found s o m e t h i n g n e w wh e r e n o b o d y e l s e wa s looking. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 6.g3 b6 7.db5 e5 8.g2 a6 9.a4!? More fruit from Kramnik's preparation. The main idea is to use t h e we a k n e s s e s o n t h e d a rk squ a re s a s quickly as possible, although rearranging the knight is a funny way to do it. The big drawback is that c4 is not really defended, so W hite needs to be quick in order to create some counterplay. a5+ 10.bc3 [ 10.d2 actually this was the move played in the first game from this position, but it went into a modified version of 9.Na3 d8 11.a3 xa3 12.bxa3 ( 12.c5!? is a nice move to play! And somehow it looks better than the game but still hardly enough xc5 13.xc5 0-0 14.0-0 d5 and the computer evaluates this as equal, but I don't see much compensation for the pawn ) 12...xc4 13.b4 d5 is not enough since White can't keep the bishop on the a3f 8 d i a go n a l f o r e ve r , K le e s ch a e t zky, R (2220)-Holloway, T (2160)/ BL2-Nord 0809 2008. ] 10...xc4 [ 10...b8 is not better, but was tried recently 11.f4 A) 11...h5 this should be better, but W hite still get an edge by playing in a t h e m a t i c a n d e n e r g e t i c w a y 12.xe5 xe5 A1) 13.b6 is n o t sca ry a t a ll a5 14.xc8 xc8 15.d3 ( 15.xb7 b8 ) 15...f6=; A2) 13.c5! xc5 14.xc5 xc5 15.c1 and the position looks simple enou gh f or Bla ck to reorganize, bu t somehow the black pieces don't go out so easily, 0-0 ( 15...e7 16.d4 f6 17.a7 d6 sad but true 18.0-0 b5
19.xb5! axb5 20.c7 d8 21.fc1 e8 22.xb8 xc7 23.b7! e7 24.xc8 d5 25.xb5 is wi n n i n g) 16.0-0 e5 ( 16...e7 17.d4 d6 18.fd1 d8 19.e4 f6 20.a7 d7 21.xd6; 16...b4 17.a3! xb2 18.d6 a8 19.a4 f6 20.b6 is a nice way to win the game!) 17.e4 followed by 18.f4 leaves White on top.; B) 11...d6 12.c5 B1) 12...c4 is too unstable 13.0-0 e5 14.b4! xb4 ( 14...d8 15.g5 ) 15.g5 and the d5 square is decisive; B2) 12...fd7 13.cxd6 b5 14.c5 c4 ( 14...xc5 doesn't help 15.xe5 b4 16.e4 xe4 17.d7+ xd7 18.xb8 b3+ 19.f1 d2+ 20.g1 ) 15.c6 and White won quickly in Pelletier - Dubessay, French Top-12 2013. ] 11.b3 b6 Trying to exchange a piece to lower the pressure. [ 11...a3 might be be possible, but it is hard to understand what the knight is doing here. W hite can just follow normal development and he will be better. 12.0-0 d5 13.b2 ] [ 11...e5 is a normal square, but with the knight in the center White can win a tempo attacking it 12.0-0 d5 13.e4 dxe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4 e7 16.b2 0-0 17.d4 f6 18.b6! xb6 19.xb6 b8 20.a3 d8 21.ad1 ] 12.xb6 xb6 13.0-0 d5 I'm not sure if there is time for this, as Black is soon in trouble [ 13...e7 this was Gelfand's choice against Kramnik and it's natural to try to develop the pieces quickly, 14.a4 d8 15.e3 A) 15...0-0 is not so good 16.b6 e8 17.c7! a5 trying to give some space to the rook ( 17...d5 18.b6 d7 19.xa8 xa8 20.c1 ) 18.e4 White is clearly better, since the black pieces are squeezed.; B) 15...d5 16.b6 d6 17.c1 d7 ( 17...d8 18.c5 e5 and here I would like to play something simple like 19.d2 keeping the pressure on.) 18.c7 a3 19.b6 0-0 20.xa8 xa8 and I think White is better, even if Black managed to 1399
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 draw the game Kramnik, V (2801)-Gelfand, B (2739)/Alekhine Memorial 2013. ] 14.e4 xe4 15.xe4 dxe4 16.b2!? It is more important to keep the f8-bishop attached to the g7-pawn than to take the pawn at once. d7 [ 16...e3 tries to keep the second extra pawn, but later Black will suffer 17.fxe3 xe3+ 18.h1 and I don't see any decent move for Black. ] 17.xe4 b5 Activating the pieces is a good practical choice, but unfortunately White is playing in turbo mode! 18.f3! [ 18.e1 gives Black time to put the king s o m e w h e r e s a f e c5 19.c2 0-0! 20.xh7+ h8 ] 18...f5 [ 18...xf1 19.xb7 A) 19...b8 20.c6+ e7 ( 20...d8 21.d1+! ) 21.d1 is mate in 9.; B) 19...e2 20.c6+ xc6 21.xc6+ d8 22.xa8 and White is nothing down and still has some pressure f6 23.e1 g4 24.b7 ] [ 18...c5! probably the only chance 19.xg7 g8 20.f6 xf1 21.xf1 d4 22.xb7 b8 23.xd4 ( 23.c6+ f8 24.xb6 xb6 25.xa6 is interesting too) 23...xb7 24.h5 with good compensation, Black's king will never be safe. ] 19.xf5! 0-0-0 20.e5?! This looks like a killer, but Black survives with precise defence. [ 20.fc1+ b8 21.e4+is simpler, White's king is much safer and the attack will continue without problems ] 20...exf5 21.ac1+ c6 22.xf5+ d7 23.fd1 All White's pieces are looking at the black king and it's hard to believe he is still alive. d8? [ 23...c5 24.xd7 xd7 25.c2 c6 26.xc5 xc5 27.xc5 and the game will last 100 more moves. ] 24.f6+! e7 [ 24...gxf6 gives the rook but saves the king 25.xf6+ c8 26.xd7 xd7 27.xh8 b4 28.xh7+ ] 25.xe7+? [ 25.e6! was winning and beautiful, using all the pins at his disposal White does not give Black time to avoid both Rxd7 and Bxe7 b4 26.xd7+ xd7 27.d1+- ]
25...xe7 26.e5+ f7 27.f5+ e7 28.e5+ f7 29.f4+! e8 30.e5+ An interesting game and after the Kuljasevic, Pelletier and Kramnik games, it looks like the ball is very much in Black's court. [ 30.e1+! was still winning but not easy to calculate e7 31.xe7+ xe7 32.e1+ d7 33.g4+ d6 34.xg7 e8 35.d1+ d5 36.xd5+ xd5 37.d7++- ] ½-½
1396 Lautier,Joel Topalov,Veselin NAO Masters Cannes FRA (8) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2687 2739 02.03.2002
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.f3 c5 4.c3 cxd4 5.xd4 c6 6.a3 Time to have another look a t t h i s ' a n t i - . . . B b 4 ' m o v e . xd4 We have already considered the moves [ 6...a6 , ] [ 6...e7 and ] [ 6...c7 ] 7.xd4 b6 8.f4! Korchnoi's move, played in his 1991 match against Sax, the queen aims for the kingside. b7 9.e4 d6 10.d3 d7!? A new move in this position, but quite typical in such Sicilian hybrids - the knight heads for e5, attacking c4, and relieving any pressure on d6. [ 10...e7 was tried in the original game, 11.g3 (the point of White's queen manoeuvre) 0-0 12.h6 e8 13.d2 c8 14.0-0 f6 15.ac1 White has a space advantage, Kortschnoj,V-Sax,G/W ijk aan Zee 1991. ] [ 10...c8!? aims to attack the c4-pawn, 11.0-0 a6 12.b3 g6?! 13.b2 g7 14.ad1 0-0 15.e2 the pressure on d6 is a serious problem, Speelman,J-Kinsman,A/ Hove 1997. ] 11.g3! a6 12.0-0 g6!? Very ambitious, Black wants to put his dark-squared bishop on its best diagonal, but what about the d6pawn? 13.f4 c7 Planning ...Ne5, freeing the bishop from the defence of d6. 14.c2!? The bishop aims for a4, and reminds Black that he his far from bringing his king to safety. h5!? To kick the queen with ...h4, but it is 1400
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 double-edged. [ 14...e5? is weak: 15.xe5 dxe5 16.a4+ ] 15.a4 c6 16.xc6 xc6 17.h4!? [ I wonder if this is necessary, as it weakens the kingside, 17.fd1 is simpler, h4 18.f3 e7 19.h3 might offer White a little something. ] 17...e7 18.ad1 e5 This is the problem with W hite's seventeenth. 19.xe5 dxe5 20.xe5 0-0 Black is temporarily a pawn down, but he has managed to castle, and both c4 and h4 are en prise. 21.f4? [ White decides to jettison the c-pawn, but 21.d4 is s u pe rio r, xh4 22.f4 e7 23.e5 planning Ne4, with an edge. ] 21...xc4 22.d7?! Dropping a pawn, but obviously W hite didn't want to go passive. xa3 23.bxa3 xc3 24.d6 b5 25.d1 White has a powerful control over the d-file, but he is a pawn down, and his a-pawn is weak. f6 26.g3 fc8 27.g2 c2 28.b6 White is forced to defend the f-pawn, his d-file pressure proves useless. ac8 29.1d3 8c3 Black had to stop Rf3. 30.e3 xd3 31.xd3 e5 32.f3 c4 Black has complete control of the position. 33.e3 g7 34.e2 d4 35.e5 c3! 36.b2 [ White is unable to defend both pawns after 36.xc3 xc3 ] 36...d5+ 37.h2 xe3 38.fxe3 c5 With a solid extra pawn, and dominance of the position, Black wins comfortably. 39.e4 e3 40.b4 f2+ 41.h3? Walking into a mating net, but the position was quite hopeless anyway. g1 0-1
W hite into playing the mainline (with Nb3) rather than the lines with Ndb5, which have been more popular recently. 5.b3 f6 6.c3 e6 7.g3 e5 8.e4 b4 9.e2 d6 10.d2 0-0 11.0-0-0 a5 12.f4 c6 We are back in the mainline, and this is the mo st co m mo n m o ve he re . W e h a ve als o analysed the super-sharp retort [ 12...a4 in the game Marin,M-Khamrakulov, I. ] 13.e3 a6 14.a4!? The knight has to move, but this sensible-looking move, which both stops ...a4, and aims at the hole on b6, is a novelty. Previously, White had preferred [ 14.b5 when Black continues a4! 15.d2 ( 15.c7 f o r c e s t h e q u e e n s a c : axb3 16.xa6 bxa2 when Black has good chances, 17.c2 xa6 18.g2 e5 19.f5 c5 20.b3?! d7 21.b2 d4 22.xd4? losing, but White was worse anyway, a1+! 23.xa1 xd4+ 24.c2 xa1 0-1 Gle izero v,E -Dvoirys, S / Che liab in s k 1989 ) 15...a3 16.b3 a5 17.g2 e5 18.f5 d7 19.g4 fc8 20.g5 e8 21.b1 e7 22.c1 d5! and Black is better, Tukmakov,VBerelovich,A/Donetsk 1998. ] 14...e5 This is common in these positions, Black grabs a share of the centre (d4 can be a useful outpost for a knight) and stops White from playing e5 himself. 15.f5 d7 16.c2 e7 Black has a firm grip on d5, so it is unlikely that White will be able to establish a piece there, and will play on the c-file. 17.b6 a4! Full marks for bravery! Black sacs the exchange to attack immediately, but he could also consider [ 17...c6 18.d3 ad8 ] 18.xa8 xa8!? An interesting choice, as [ 18...axb3 is also strong, 19.xb3 xa8 1397 A33 20.xb4 xe4 Black has great compensation for the exchange, and will Marin,Mihail 2556 certainly regain a pawn (both a2 and f5 are Almasi,Zoltan 2672 en prise). ] Olympiad Bled SLO (8) 02.11.2002 19.d2 a3 20.b3 c8 With the white king [Tony Kosten] and queen lined-up on the semi-open c-file A game of unrelenting attack by the Hungarian this move heralds the start of a concerted b5 GM in the Four Knights mainline. 1.c4 c5 a t t a c k o n t h e c 4 - p a w n . 21.g5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 b6 The alternative [ 21...d5!? is also possible, 22.exd5 xf5 An interesting move-order, by playing his 23.d3 xd3 24.xd3 exd5 25.xf6 queenside pieces out before ...e6 and ...Nf6 xf6 with adequate play for the exchange. ] Black avoids any weakness on d6, and forces 1401
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.xf6 gxf6 23.b1 b7 The queen moves to menace both along the h1-a8 diagonal, and the b-file. 24.d3 [ 24.g4 might be a better choice, to defend the f5-pawn (which was threatened as the e4-pawn is pinned against the loose rook on h1). ] 24...c6 Black prefers to keep the tension, rather than win a pawn by [ 24...xd2 25.xd2 xf5 which exchanges his dark-squared bishop. ] 25.f3 a5 Further increasing the pressure o n c 4 , wh ic h is cl o s e t o b re a ki n g -p o i n t . 26.a1? This move loses immediately, but it is difficult to defend such a position with such a quick time control. [ 26.d2 w a s t h e o n l y c h a n c e , xd2 ( 26...c6 only repeats) 27.xd2 xb3 or ( 27...bxc4 28.xa5 cxd3 29.xa3 xe4 ) 28.b4! ( 28.axb3 bxc4 29.xc4 xc4 30.a2 xe4 is worse ) 28...d4 29.c1! with chances of defending. ] 26...bxc4 27.bxc4 [ 27.xc4 a m o u n t s t o t h e sa m e : xc4 28.bxc4 a4! 29.d3 d5! 30.exd5 e4 winning material, as 31.xe4?? c3# ] 27...a4! A killer! 28.c1 [ 28.xa4?? is impossible, c3# ] 28...d5! The most accurate. [ 28...d5 W hite resigns as 29.exd5 e4! 30.xe4? xc4 is bone-crushing. ] 0-1
1398 Marin,Mihail Khamrakulov,Ibragim S Open Andorra AND (6) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2601 2451 05.07.2001
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 b6 5.b3 f6 6.c3 e6 7.g3 e5 Black transposes into the main variation. 8.e4 b4 9.e2 d6 10.d2 0-0 11.0-0-0 [ More accurate than 11.f4 which we have analysed before. ] 11...a5 [ Black attacks! If 11...c6 12.g4!? but ] [ 11...d7 is the best alternative: 12.f4 g6 13.g2 c6 14.b1 a5!? ( 14...ac8 15.e1 xc3!? 16.xc3 a4 17.h4 xb3
18.axb3 xb3 19.h5 White has a strong attack, Smirin,I-Maryasin,B/Givatayim 1998) 15.e3 c7 16.b5 xb5 17.cxb5 a4 18.d4 a3 unclear, Kortschnoi,V-Anand,V/ Paris 1991. ] 12.f4 a4!? [ A sharp tactical riposte. 12...c6 13.e3 a6 14.b5 a4!? allows White to maintain a plus. ] 13.fxe5 axb3 14.a3 [ Trying to keep the king's protection intact, 14.exf6? bxa2 forces 15.xa2 xa2 when White is in trouble. ] 14...dxe5! [ T h i s p i e c e s a c i s c r i t i c a l , 14...xc3?! 15.xc3 dxe5 16.xe5 leaves White with th e a d van t a ge of a st ron g b isho p pa ir, Ivanchuk, V-Khalifman,A/Elista 1998. ] 15.axb4 a1+ [ Black improves his play of just a week earlier: 15...d8? 16.b1 a1 17.c3 d7 ( 17...xd1+ 18.xd1 xe4 19.c5 xc3 20.bxc3 is also very strong for White. ) 18.xe5 a6 19.g2 a2 20.d2 The king escapes to safety on the kingside. c6+ 21.e3 a7+ 22.c5 d7 23.g4 g6 24.h4 1-0 Palac,MKhamrakulov,I/Lorca ESP 2001. ] 16.b1 a6! With a vicious threat of 17... Rxb1+ and 18...Qa2+, forcing mate. [ 16...a7! 17.d3 b5!? ( 17...a2 t r a n sp o s e s) 18.c5 b7 19.g2 a8 is also very dangerous for White ] 17.d3 a2 18.g2 e8! Planning ...Re7d7. 19.c3 e7 20.d2!? [ W hite plays for the win, 20.d8+ e8 21.d3 draws ] 20...d7 21.a3 xd1+ 22.xd1 f8 23.f3 xd3+ 24.xd3 Although the black queen is trapped, it is not so easy to attack it. d7 25.c5 b5 26.e3 e7 27.e2 a6 28.h4 f6 29.d6 c8 30.d1 a6 31.h5 White risks nothing like this, he always has the draw in hand, but has no way to win. b8 32.d3 c6 33.b1 a1 34.c2 a2 35.b1 a1 36.c2 ½-½
1402
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1399 Matiukhin,A Syromiatnikov,S Correspondence 1988 [Paul Motwani]
A33
1988
W 33: " A new mean ing o f "po st-mo rtem" : death by mail!" Symmetrical English, Code A33. Chess games played by correspondence are often of a particularly high quality because the players have more time to think than in over-the-board struggles. However, in our main featured battle below, which is a correspondence game from 1988, Black is beaten when the move-count has only just reached the teens! Clearly the loser made some serious errors, but now other players can grea tly redu ce the chance of simila r disasters befalling themselves, thanks to four fabulous new books from GAMBIT. GM Jonathan Rowson's "The Seven Deadly Chess Sins" shows how a much deeper understanding of oneself can help enormously to eliminate certain common causes of error. Also, GM Dr John Nunn's "Understanding Chess Move By Move" lucidly explains a very we l l- c h o s e n s e t o f ga m e s t o b e a u t i f u l l y illustrate a wide range of important themes which will be of inestimable value to the reader. Then, to gauge one's hopefully much higher new level after assimilating the treasure-trove of ideas in the f irst two books, there's IM Steffen Pedersen's "Test Your Chess Skills". Finally, FM Carsten Hansen's "The Symmetrical English" is particularly relevant given the opening of the following game. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 [ One of my favourite traps occurs in the line 2...c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 g6 5.b3?! g7 when 6.b2? loses instantly to xd4! 7.xd4 a5+ 8.c3 xc3+! 9.xc3 xc3+ 10.d2 xd2+ 11.xd2 and Black is a piece up. ] 3.c3 c6 [ W33.1: The game P.van der Sterren-M. Bosboom, Wijk aan Zee 1991, deviated with 3...b6 4.g3 b7 5.g2 g6 6.0-0 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 0-0 9.d1?! e4! 10.e5? W h it e do es n ot wan t to a llow h is p awn structure to be damaged by a capture on c3, but instead he suffers a much worse fate...
xc3 11.xc3 ( If 11.xb7 then xe2+ is a fatal check and fork) 11...xg2 12.xg2 c7 0-1, and GM Paul van der Sterren resigned because of 13.f4 ( or 13.f3 xe5 14.xa8 c6 which leaves White's queen trapped. ) 13...d6 ] 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 This position happens very frequently in practice, and so FM Carsten Hansen rightly devotes a meaty 18page chapter to discussing the most important lines stemming from it in his aforementioned new GAMBIT book, "The Symme trica l English" . 6.g3 White might consider Ndb5 now or on the next move, and Hansen does so on pages 220 and 226 of his book. b6 [ Black's most popular way of challenging W h i t e ' s c e n t r a l i s e d k n i g h t , b u t 6...c5 is reasonable too. ] 7.b3 b4 8.g2 xc3+? [ Better alternatives include 8...e5 ] [ or 8...a6 ] [ or 8...d5!? because although it's true that Black's actual move leads to a split in the opponent's queenside pawns, a much more important result is the f act that W hite's c1-bishop will very soon be able to exert terrible pressure along the a3 to f8 diagonal. ] 9.bxc3 0-0 10.a3 d8 11.d6! The bishop lands like a heavy boulder on d6, thereby preventing Black from playing the freeing move . ..d7-d5. a5?? 12.c5 b5 [ 12...a6 13.c7 xb3 14.axb3 is also "the end" for Black. ] 13.c7 Black resigned in view of 13...Nxb3 14 axb3 Re8 15 Ra5!, which traps the unhappy lady at b5. 1-0
1400 Morozevich,A Grischuk,A 20th TCh-RUS 2013 (3) [Danny Gormally]
A33 2758 2764 09.04.2013
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 6.g3 b6 7.b3 e5! 8.e4 b4 It is curious that I am not at all familiar with the theory of this variation, yet on my 1403
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xd6 17.e4 e5 ) 15...d5 16.d3 d a t a b a s e o ve r 5 0 0 g a m e s we re a lr e a d y f6! 17.xg6+ hxg6 18.d3 f7 played from this position! You start to fear for Black is already clearly better, as White th e f u t ure of ch ess. . . 9.e2 This whole has no attacking prospects anymore, and variation is very sharp, and typical of cutting his p o sit io n is ju st rid d le d with h o le s edge theory where the assessment of each 19.d2 ( 19.xc5 fxe5 20.e4 a6 line tends to swing wildly from one week to 21.g5+ g8 22.xg6 xc3+ 23.f2 the next. d4+ 24.g2 e3+ 25.f2 g4+-+ ) [ In a game played just after this one, Moro 19...c4! 20.d4 ( The endgame is not tried to improve with the interesting pawn much fun either 20.xc4 xc4 21.xc4 sacrifice 9.c5 however Topalov was having a6 22.xa5 xc3 with a much more none of it and simply declined with c6! compact and much easier to play position ( I must admit that at first glance I was for Black ) 20...b6 21.xb6 xb6 intrigued as to what exactly Moro had in 22.b1 d5 23.e4 g5 24.d2 h3 mind if Black were simply to grab the 25.f2 h5 26.b5 a4 27.h3 a6 offered bounty - the compensation for the 28.c5 b7 29.b1 c6 30.xc4 e7 pawn is not so obvious. But after 9...xc5 31.g4 hh8 32.e3 a5 33.exf6 d5+ 10.xc5 xc5 White gains very good 34.d2 gxf6 35.f4 gxf4 36.xf4 b5 chances with the simple developing move 37.xb5 xb5 38.d4 c6 11.e2! taking away the g4 square from the Black's compact chain of pawns on d7, e6 knights and threatening ideas like Be3, f4 and f6 create a pleasing impression, while etc d5?! 12.e3 a5 13.d4! ) 10.f3 by contrast all of White's pawns look weak A) Still, also not bad was 10...0-0 and vulnerable 39.g3 e5 40.c4 b8 A1) 11.g2? xc5 just looks bad..; 41.d3 b3 42.g5 e4!-+ Topalov rarely A2) 11.f2!? xc5+ ( 11...d5! 12.cxd6 p a s s e s u p s u c h c h a n c e s . 43.f4 d8 gives Black good play) 12.xc5 ( 43.xe4 xc3 and the knight will land a xc5+ 13.e3 e7 14.e2; mighty blow on e4) 43...xf4 44.xf4 A3) 11.f4 g6 12.d4 xa3 45.c5 fxg5 46.xg5 a2+ with an unclear game; 47.e3 a3 48.f4 a1 49.f5+ e6 B) 10...b6! Topalov is extremely well 50.e5+ f6 51.a5 d5 52.d4 a2 prepared and I wouldn't be surprised if he 53.d2 b5 54.xd5 d1 55.xe4 a1 already had this position on board at home 0-1 Mo ro zevich, A (2 75 8)-T o pa lo v, V 11.f4 g6 12.d6 bxc5 13.a3? (2771)/Zug SUI 2013 ] So far Moro's idea has proven to be very interesting, but now in an extremely sharp 9...d6 10.d2 [ 10.f4 Was Radjabov's choice in the recent opening position where every move is candidates tournament. However he was heightened in significance, he goes astray. thoroughly out prepared by Gelfand c6 ( I believe that any future exploration of 11.e3 xc3+ 12.bxc3 c7 13.g2 e5 this position will revolve around the move 14.c5 b6! A very strong idea, the strategic 13.f2! which introduces the threat of significance of which can be easily missed Nb5. xc3 14.bxc3 c4 15.c5 d5 by computers in preparation. Gelfand, who 16.d4 xd6 17.xc4 regaining the is very anti-computers and believes in the piece and retaining the initiative. Note this old-fashioned notion of relying on your own line is not possible as played in the game brain, shows great insight with this move, with the king on e1, as simply ..Ne5! would which immediately kills stone-dead any be very strong.) 13...xc3+ 14.bxc3 a5! aggressive ideas W hite m ay have had . ( 14...xe4? b a c k f i r e s a f t e r 15.fxe4 15.cxd6 xd6 16.0-0 0-0 17.f5 d8 xe4+ 16.f2 xh1 17.g2 xd1 18.fd1 a3! And already Black was to be 18.xd1 w i n n i n g m a t e r i a l) 15.e5 pre f erred du e t o t he much b ett er pawn Black was threatening ..c4, so this is more structure, and went on to win a fine game or less forced ( 15.xc5 is premature and in Radjabov, T (2793)-Gelfand, B (2740) runs into the nice shot d5! 16.exd5 1404
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 London 2013 ] 10...0-0! Grischuk's improvement on an earlier Moro game. [ In that game, Peter Leko chose to play the immediate 10...a5 but this is possibly less flexible, as W hite is not obliged to castle q u e e n s i d e . 11.f4 c6 12.e3 c7 13.g2 a4 14.d2 xc3 ( 14...a3 15.b5! ) 15.bxc3 b6 16.b1 d7 17.f2 b8 18.0-0 0-0 19.g4! a6 20.h4 fe8 21.f3 White has a dangerous initiative on the kingside and went on to win in Morozevich, A (2748)-Leko, P (2732) Tashkent 2012 ] 11.0-0-0 a5! Only now does Black seek counterplay on the queenside. 12.f4 a4 13.a1 c6 14.c2 a3 15.b3 d5! Blowing the position open when it's difficult for White to keep a lid on Black's counterplay. 16.g2! [ 16.cxd5? exd5 17.exd5 g4-+ ] [ 16.e5 xc3 17.xc3 e4 18.a1? f2! ] 16...dxc4 17.xc4 xc3 [ 17...d7 was tempting, to get a rook to the c-file as quickly as possible. 18.e3 ( 18.e5 xc3 19.xc3 d5! ) 18...a5 19.xb4 xb4 20.c5 xa2+ 21.xa2 fc8 22.b4 c7 however this line backfires somewhat after 23.c3! b6 24.e5 hitting too many pieces. ] [ the im mediat e 17...g4!? was certainly possible. ] 18.xc3 g4 19.f3 e5 20.f5 f6 21.g5 c5 22.b1 b6 23.xf6 gxf6 24.d5 e7 25.hd1 a5! 26.e3 d4 27.xd4 exd4 28.1xd4 xf5 29.d6 g6?! Time trouble was no doubt approaching, and mistakes begin to creep in. [ Black should have kept the pressure up with 29...c8! when the b6 pawn is taboo d u e t o t h e r e p ly . . . Q c 7 . 30.f4 e6 And Black is very well placed- in some lines ...Bxb3 becomes a threat, due to the faradvanced black a-pawn. ] 30.g4 c8 Nevertheless Black's position is much easier to play- his pieces are extremely active and his king is much safer. The a-pawn hangs over the white king like the sword of Damocles. 31.h4? h5! 32.gxh5 xh5 33.h3 e8 34.g3 e5 35.g4 h2 36.g2 xg2 37.xg2 xh4 38.c1 c8+
39.d1 g7 40.d2 c3? [ 40...h5+ 41.e1 f4! won on the spot. ] 41.xb6? [ 41.6d5! would have offered some resistance. ] 41...h5+ 42.e1 f4-+ 43.d5 e3+ 44.d2 g3 45.xh5 f2+ 46.e1 gxg2 47.d5 xa2 48.f1 af2+ 49.e1 b2 50.f1 a2 51.a6 h2 52.g1 hd2 0-1
1401 Nakamura,Hikaru Kramnik,Vladimir Tal Memorial, Moscow (5) [Richard Palliser]
A33 2775 2801 13.06.2012
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 [ If Black wants to avoid the line we'll consider here, he might do well to begin with 4...b6!? , as I covered in BUCO. ] 5.c3 e6 6.db5 In view of the sequence which follows this line has quite a drawish re pu ta t io n. Did Nakam u ra p e rh ap s t hin k Kramnik wouldn't like the resulting unbalanced position or was he for once just happy with a draw? d5 7.f4 e5 8.cxd5 exf4 9.dxc6 bxc6 10.xd8+ xd8 11.d1+ [ Subscribers will find a number of games from this position in the Archive. Another re c e n t g a m e s a w t h e m a i n a l t e rn a t i v e 11.0-0-0+ and after d7 12.d6 xd6 ( for the more dynamic 12...c7!? 13.xf7 g8 please see Pelletier-Macieja, Stepanakert 2004, as previously covered by Tony ) 13.xd6 c7 ( a new move for us Black normally goes either 13...e7; or 13...g4 - see Wojtkiewicz-Zvjaginsev, T r i p o l i 2 0 0 4 , a g a i n wi t h T o n y' s n o t e s) 14.d4 g5 15.g3 fxg3 16.hxg3 h5! Black had managed to find enough counterplay and Roeder-Istratescu, Belgian League 2012, was later drawn. ] 11...d7 12.d6 c7!? [ Again we see Black offering a pawn for activity. Actually even 12...b8!? 13.xf7+ e8 seems to be playable (see KrasenkowMacieja, New Delhi 2000, in the Archive), ] 1405
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ but Black doesn't have to sacrifice, with 12...xd6 13.xd6 b8 14.d2 e8 15.g3 solid enough for him. Now f3 is indicated, ( whereas 15...c7?! 16.g2 f5 17.gxf4! h5 18.d4 xb2 19.0-0 f6 20.c1 gave White the initiative in Nabaty-Molner, Gibraltar 2012, and if d8?? was really played here, it should have cost Black the game immediately after 21.b5+ . )] 13.xf7 g8 14.e5 b8 15.xd7 xd7 A n d s o W h it e h a s e xt r ic a t e d h i s kn ig h t , deprived Black of the bishop-pair and is a pawn up...but doesn't have any advantage, in view of his undeveloped and clamped kingside. 16.g3!? [ N a k a m u r a r e j e c t s t h e o b v i o u s 16.d2 w h e n o n e t h e o r e t i c a l l i n e r u n s b4 ( 16...e5 is also possible) 17.g3 e5 18.h3 xc3! 19.bxc3 b1+ 20.d1 d3+! 21.exd3 e8+ 22.d2 b2+ 23.c1 ee2 and perpetual check follows. ] 16...xb2 17.h3 f6 18.0-0 And so White has untangled his kingside at the cost of the extra pawn. Perhaps Nakamura hoped Kramnik's king might prove weak, but White is not yet on the c-file and Black's own pieces are hardly inactive. b4 19.c1 d8! [ Doubling makes a lot of sense (...Rc2 becomes a handy defensive measure for starters), whereas only W hit e could b e better after 19...xc3 20.xc3 d5 21.a3 .] 20.g2 dd2 21.gxf4 [ A new move. A young Postny once went 21.a3!? xc3 22.xc3 dc2 23.xc2 xc2 , but somehow I doubt Kramnik would have objected to the resulting endgame. ] 21...bc2 22.e4! Nakamura is being outplayed (or maybe was outprepared), so wisely simplifies and relies on the drawish tendencies of the opposite bishops. xe2 23.xf6 gxf6 24.xc2 xc2 25.e4 The key follow-up. Black may be going a half pawn up with two queenside passers, but White's h-pawn is not to be underestimated. xa2 26.c1 c5 27.xh7 d2 28.h4 a5 29.h5 The race is on! With his bishop stranded slightly offside, Kramnik is forced to r e c a l l h i s r o o k t o d e f e n s i ve d u t i e s . d8 30.g2 a4 31.h6 Not the only move by any means, but Nakamura is happy to simplify
further. h8 32.c2 xh6 33.xa4 h8 34.b3 d8 35.d1 Once the rooks leave the board, the game is clearly pretty dead. d2 36.a2 xf4 37.xd8 xd8 38.f3 e5 39.e4 d7 40.f4 xf4 ½-½
1402 A33 Nisipeanu,Liviu Dieter 2679 Halay,Taufik 2320 2nd Open Fincas Mediterranea (7) 23.08.2005 [John Watson] This is a game that demonstrates how powerful White's main line setup with Nb3 and B g 2 c a n b e i f B l a c k p l a ys i n a c c u r a t e l y . Nisipeanu slaughters his lower-rated player without breaking a sweat. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.c3 f6 6.g3 b4 7.g2 b6!? The equivalent of 6... Qb6 7.Nb3 Bb4, which is considered a little worse for Black. 8.b3 0-0 Normally Black tries [ 8...d5 ] [ or 8...a6!? here, coming up just short of equality. ] 9.0-0 White is actually threatening c5 with a dominant position. W e tend to forget how positionally precarious Black's situation is because we always see him making the right preventative moves. xc3 [ 9...d6 10.e3 d8 11.c2 and Rfd1. ] 10.c5! Sacrificing a pawn for the sake of the dark squares. b4 [ Maybe Black should settle for the disadvantage following 10...c7 11.bxc3 b5!? ] 11.bxc3 xc3 12.f4 a5 [ or 12...e5 13.g5 e8 14.xc6!? ( 14.c1 b4 15.d3 ) 14...dxc6 15.e7 h3 16.e1 ] 13.c1 b4 14.d6 d8 15.d2! White has the idea Nc4-b6, not to mention e4e5 and Ne4. e8 16.c4 a6 17.a3 b5 18.xc6! A clean solution. Also good was [ 18.d2 ] 18...xc6 [ 18...dxc6 19.c2! and Black's queen is trapped unless he plays a8 ( 19...xd6 20.xd6 xd6 21.cxd6 ) 20.b6 a6 1406
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.f4! f6 22.fd1! etc. ] 19.e7 b5 20.d6 xd6 21.cxd6 b6 22.c2 What a position. Naturally, White could also win by [ 22.xd8 xd8 23.c7 intending c6 24.d2! xc7 25.xa5 ] 22...a8 23.xd8 xd8 24.c7 e8 25.c5 f5 26.xb5 a6 27.xa5 xe2 28.xa8 xa8 29.xd7 xf1 30.xe6+ h8 31.xf1 a6+ 32.g1 h6 33.e8+ 1-0
1403 Nyback,Tomi Lehikoinen,Pertti Ilari 33rd Rilton Cup (3) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2497 2235 29.12.2003
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.b5 f6 6.1c3 d5 7.cxd5 I was wondering about this possibility only the other day, it is clear that W hite can grab a pawn, and that Black will get some compensation, but just how much? [ 7.f4 is normal, e5 8.cxd5 exf4 9.dxc6 bxc6 with an important mainline. ] 7...xd5 Forced, as [ 7...exd5? 8.f4 wins material. ] 8.xd5 exd5 9.xd5 'In for a penny...'! [ 9.e3 a6 10.c3 e6 is nothing for White, who has wasted time with his manoeuvre Nc3-b5-c3. ] 9...b4+ 10.d2 0-0!? Interesting, Black normally keeps queens on the board by [ 10...e7 when 11.c3 e6 ( 11...0-0 is also good, as 12.g5 c7 13.e3 e6 14.d2 a5 15.h4 g5! 16.g3 fd8 17.c2 xc3+ 18.bxc3 b4! won quickly in Suba, M-Portisch,L/Thessaloniki 1984) 12.e4 ( 12.g5!? ) 12...f5 13.b1 0-0 14.e3 ad8 is very dangerous for White, who is behind in development, Ljubojevic, L-Topalov,V/Monte Carlo 1999. ] 11.xd8 xd8 12.0-0-0!? [ 12.c3 may be stronger, d4?! ( 12...e6 continues developing) 13.0-0-0 e6 14.e3 c6 (Black has wasted two moves with his knight) 15.e2 ac8 16.a3 a5 wi t h s u f f i c i e n t p l a y o n t h e q u e e n s i d e , Bussoli,S-Schnabel,A/Cattolica 1993. ]
12...e6 13.a3?! White misses the strength of Black's next. b3! Very strong. 14.axb4 xb4 [ 14...a5 is also powerful, levering the a-file open. ] 15.c3 ac8 16.e1 White removes his rook from attack, if [ 16.g3 then Black wins material by a2+ 17.b1 xd1 18.xd1 xd2 ] 16...c2?! [ 16...c5! wins on the spot, the threat is ... R a 5 - a 1 , f o r c i n g m a t e , a n d s o 17.b1 is forced, xd2 and Black has extra material and an attack. ] 17.d1? White fails to take advantage of Black's inaccuracy, and gives him a second chance, [ 17.g5! xe1 18.xd8 xd8 19.g3 leaves White with a good position. ] 17...b4 18.e1 c5! This wins immediately. 0-1
1404 Pelletier,Yannick Bruzon Batista,Lazaro GM Biel SUI (8) [John Watson]
A33 2583 2667 01.08.2006
A nice illustration of how W hite can keep things interesting by playing a nondescript move in a standard opening. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 6.g5 This is generally considered harmless, but Black has to prove it. h6 7.h4 b6 [ 7...b4 8.db5 0-0 9.a3 xc3+ 10.xc3 d5 11.e3 d4!? 12.exd4 xd4 13.d3 is unclear, perhaps slightly better for White. ] 8.xf6 gxf6 9.b3 Generally Black's two bishops compensate for his shattered pawn structure in this kind of position, which arises quite frequently. f5!? 10.e3 g8! Preventing W hite from developing his bishop and committing to an eventual ... 0-0-0. 11.d2 a6!? [ 11...b4! is more natural, intending 12.a3 e7= ] 12.0-0-0 c7 [ 12...b4 13.b1 ] 13.b1 b6 [ Black should consider the more active 1407
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13...e5 14.a4 ( 14.e2 b4 15.c1 b6= ) 14...c6 ] 14.e4! Suddenly White opens up the position for his knights and gains a marked initiative. f4? Too loose [ 14...fxe4 15.xe4 e5! 16.g3 c7 looks better. ] 15.g3! b7!? This loses a pawn in return for some development. [ 15...fxg3 16.hxg3 leaves Black positionally bankrupt. ] 16.gxf4 g4 17.e3 xf4 18.xb6 b8 19.f3! g5 20.f2 c8 Probably not best, but Bruzon has it in mind to make the position as irrational as possible. 21.g2 g7 22.e2 f6 23.d2?! [ 23.ed4 stops the attack more efficiently. ] 23...a5! 24.f4? [ 24.ed4 xc4 25.c2 ] 24...xc4 25.d4 a5!? [ 25...gb5! keeps the attack going. Black is materially equal and has the initiative. The point is seen after 26.hd1 ( 26.e5 xe5 ) 26...d5! 27.exd5 exd5 ] 26.f3 gb5? [ T h e f a i r l y f o r c e d s e q u e n c e 26...xb3 27.fxg5 hxg5 28.axb3 g4 29.g3 xf3 30.xb8 xh1+ 31.a2 xd4! 32.xc8+ e7 33.xd4 xe4 is dynamically balanced. ] 27.e5 e7 [ 27...g6+ 28.e4 f5 29.c2 clearly favours White. ] 28.ec1 xb3 29.xb3 f6 This exposes the king, but Black has to get his bishop out. 30.c1 f8 [ 30...fxe5 31.dc4 d8 32.h5+ ] 31.dc4 b7? Suicide. But the position was lost anyway. Time trouble is obvious in the next few moves. 32.xb7 8xb7 33.c8+ f7 34.f3 g6 35.g1+ h7 36.d3+? [ 36.h5 mates in 3. ] 36...f5 37.g2 d6 [ 37...d5! 38.g3 f7 39.c5! , but Black can play on. ] 38.exd6 d7 39.cc2? [ A huge mistake. White is still winning after 39.c1! d5 40.g3 ] 39...d5 40.g3 xd6?? 40th move. [ 40...d1+! 41.c1 xd6 and it's not at all clear that White's better! ]
41.g6+ h8 42.c8+ 1-0
1405 Pelletier,Yannick Macieja,Bartlomiej Petrosian Mem (5) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2587 2653 13.03.2004
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 6.db5 d5 7.f4 e5 8.cxd5 exf4 9.dxc6 bxc6 10.xd8+ xd8 11.0-0-0+!? A less usual alternative to [ 11.d1+ as here the king goes to bolster the queenside. ] 11...d7 12.d6 c7 The most ambitious move, keeping the bishop pair. [ 12...xd6 is also possible, 13.xd6 g4 ( 13...d5!? is interesting, 14.xd5 cxd5 Ragozin,E-Portisch,L/Oviedo 1993, when 15.xd5 is met by e7 intending queenside play with ...Be6, ...Rfc8, etc.) 14.d1 c7 15.d4 g5 with active play for the weakened pawn structure, Wojtkiewicz,A-Gulko,B/Kona 1998. ] 13.xf7 g8 14.e5 f5!? [ 14...e6 is the alternative, 15.d3 ( 15.g3 d5 16.xd5+ xd5 with good play, Lesiege,A-Gershon,A/Paget Parish BER 2001 ) 15...g5 16.g3 d5 17.a4 b4 18.xb4 xb4 19.a3 e7 20.g2 Wojtkiewicz, A-Vettel,M/San Marino 1998, when b3 21.d4 ge8! 22.gxf4 f6 23.b4 xa4 24.xa4 xe2 with good chances. ] 15.d3 Pelletier's innovation, although it is a fairly standard idea, to put pressure on f4. Alternatives: [ 15.e3 is nothing special, fxe3 16.fxe3 c5 17.d3 ge8 18.xf5 1/2-1/2 Horvath, JSchneider,A/HUN-ch 1989. ] [ 15.xc6!? is a weird tactic, that might work: xc6 16.g4 this hits the bishop, and t h r e a t e n s t h e s k e w e r B g 2 + , fxg3! ( 16...xg4 17.g2+ c7 18.xa8 xf2 19.d5! xh1 20.xf5 f2 21.xf4 leaves White a pawn up) 17.g2+ c7 18.xa8 gxf2 19.d5 White is an exchange up, but the f2-pawn is strong, h8 20.e4 h3 21.e5 d7 with reasonable chances. 1408
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Still it would be interesting to see someone try this in a game. ] 15...g4!? Aiming at f2. A round later Black preferred [ 15...g5 when 16.g3 e4 17.xe4 xe4 18.g1 xd3 19.exd3 g7 20.d4 fxg3 21.fxg3 1/2-1/2 Pelletier,Y-Lautier,J/Evry FRA 2004, as after ad8 Black wins the dpawn and a drawn opposite-colour bishop ending is reached. ] 16.h3 [ 16.d2!? ] 16...xd3 17.hxg4 g6 18.g3!? fxg3 19.f4 The point, keeping his pawns together. If he can later win the g3-pawn he will be clearly on top. d6 20.f5 f7 21.xh7 e5 22.g2 ab8 Black's bishops give him real compensation f or the pawn, in particular W hite's dark squares are quite weak. 23.c2?! White drops a pawn. [ 23.g5 is better, threatening f6 or g6, f4+?! 24.b1 xg5 25.e4 f4 26.c5 bd8 27.xd8 xd8 28.xg7 with advantage. ] 23...xa2! 24.a1 [ 24.xa2? xb2+ 25.d3 d8+ wins. ] 24...b3+ 25.c1 h8!? Black wants to gain control of the h-file to support his g3-pawn. [ 25...b6 is less go-getting. ] 26.xh8 xh8 27.d2?! A mistake, White can draw by [ 27.xa7+! b6 28.a3 f7 29.a4+ b5 30.c3+ b6 31.a4+ etc. ] 27...h2 28.g1 a5 29.d3 a4 30.f3 h8 31.a1 d8+ 32.e3 e8 33.d3 d8+ 34.e3 xc3! Black correctly decides to play f o r t h e w i n . 35.bxc3 d1! 36.a3 Passive, but forced, [ 36.xd1? loses without a chance, xd1 37.e4 a3 38.b1 g2 the two outside p a w n s a r e d e c i s i v e , 39.f2 xe2 an d B lac k c a n win t he bisho p wh en h e wants by ... Bc4 and ...a2. ] 36...f1 Preparing the advance of the black king, and stopping Kf4. 37.g2 f2 38.f3 f1 Black repeats to reach the time control. 39.g2 c1! 40.e4?! [ 40.f4 is better, although c2! ( 40...xc3 41.e4 gets the white pawn phalanx going) 41.xg3 xe2 42.g5 c2 is winning, the white rook is too passive. ] 40...xc3+ 41.d3 c1 42.f3 c5
Black now has a third passed pawn. 43.xg3 c4 44.e4 c3 45.f4 d6 Coming to b4. 0-1
1406 Pelletier,Yannick Ponomariov,Ruslan 3rd Rector Cup (1) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2531 2673 18.04.2001
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 6.g3 b6 7.db5!? [ A n a l t e r n a t i v e t o t h e s t a n d a r d 7.b3 as in the archives. ] 7...e5 8.g2 a6 [ 8...xc4!? is risky, and rarely played, 9.a4 c5 ( 9...a6?! 10.xc4 axb5 11.xb5 favours White, Webb,S-Eley,B/ Clacton on Sea 1974) 10.f4 e5 11.g5 with strong pressure. ] 9.a4 Pinning the a-pawn. b8 This move, introduced by Timman, puts the question to the advanced knight. 10.e3 c5 [ Rather than 10...axb5?! 11.xb6 bxa4 when 12.c7 recovers material. ] 11.xc5 xc5 12.a3 xa3 13.xa3 White has managed to avoid losing his c-pawn, and retains a spatial plus. e7 [ 13...d6 14.f4 c6 15.0-0-0 e7 is similar, Speelman,J-Timman,J London cs 1989. ] 14.f4 c6 15.e4!? [ A new move, and why not? White assures his extra central control in the endgame. Other moves have been tried here, e.g. 15.h3 b5!? 16.cxb5 a7 17.e4 axb5 18.b4 d6 19.f2 the b5-pawn is a problem, Vaganian,R-Nickoloff,B/Toronto 1990. ] 15...d6 16.c2 White recycles his offside knight while Black is in no position to counter. d7 Defending c6, and threatening a possible ...b5. 17.0-0-0 hc8 18.d3 a5! B l a c k c o u n t e r a t t a c k s t h e c 4 - p a wn , a n d refuses to be forced into passive defence of t h e d 6 - p a wn . 19.b3 b5 20.cxb5 axb5 21.hd1 b4? [ Perhaps Black is too eager to exploit his pressure on the queenside, and the open cf i l e . T h e s i m p l e 21...c6 is a good alternative, removing the bishop from the 1409
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 exposed d-file, and keeping options open. ] 22.e5! Almost forced, but strong. g4 [ 22...xc3 23.exf6+ xf6 24.xc3 bxc3 25.xd6 is good for White as the c3-pawn is too weak. ] 23.xd6 [ 23.exd6+!? is also possible, as although W h i t e d r o p s a n e x c h a n g e a f t e r d8 24.e4 f5 25.g5 f2 all the black pawns a r e t o o w e a k , 26.d4 xd1 27.xd1 with an appreciable advantage. ] 23...c7 24.e2 b7?! [ The fork 24...e3? is impossible: 25.xd7+ xd7 26.xd7+ xd7 27.xe3 winning, but ] [ 24...bc8 25.ed4 e3 is a better chance. ] 25.b1! The point that Black may have overlooked! As the d6-rook is untouchable, W hite moves his king out of the pin. c5 26.6d4 White is a solid pawn up, and the b4pawn is weak, so Black has little hope of drawing. f6 27.1d2 fxe5 28.fxe5 xe5 29.xb4 e8 30.f4 g5 31.fd5+! A further tactic to break Black's resistance. exd5 32.xd5+ d8 33.xc7+ xc7 34.c2 The pin wins. g6 35.e4 xe4 36.xe4 ed7 37.d4 b7 What else? b4 was the main threat, so Black plans to unpin with .. .Kb8, but there is a second menace: 38.xd7+! xd7 39.xc5 The rook ending is trivial. h6 40.b2 b4 41.a4 e4 42.c2 h5 43.a3 e5 44.b4 d6 45.a5 1-0
[ Threatening Nc7+, this move is much more popular than the pawn grab 7.cxd5 xd5 8.xd5 exd5 9.xd5 when b4+ 10.d2 e7 allows Black a strong initiative. ] 7...e5 This forced move leads to a series of captures which result in Black gaining the bishop pair, at the cost of a weakening of his pawn structure, and displacement of his king. 8.cxd5 exf4 9.dxc6 bxc6 10.xd8+ xd8 11.d4 [ The main alternative is 11.d1+ d7 12.d6 when Black's best move may be c7!? with 13.xf7 g8 14.e5 b8! 15.xd7 xd7 16.d2 b4!? when the natural 17.g3 can be met by the flashy variation e5 18.h3 xc3! 19.bxc3 b1+ 20.d1 d3+!! 21.exd3 e8+ 22.d2 b2+ 23.c1 ee2 forcing a draw by perpetual check. ] 11...b7! [ Successfully played by de Firmian, and better than the previous tries, 11...c7 or ] [ 11...d7 ] 12.d1 [ The other possibility, 12.g3 has been shown to be innocuous: c5 13.f3 d6 14.g2 b8! 15.0-0-0 e7 Black has a good position, and even went on to win in Salov,V-de Firmian, N/Amsterdam 1996. ] 12...c7 13.g3 d8! [ Another key Nick de Firmian innovation, if now 13...c5 then 14.db5+ is possible. ] 14.g2 [ T h e o b v i o u s 14.gxf4? would lose i m m e d i a t e l y t o xd4! 15.xd4 c5 winning a piece. ] 1407 A33 14...xd4 [ This thematic combination seems to Reinderman,Dimitri 2525 equalise immediately, although 14...c5!? Oral,Tomas 2541 is also feasible: 15.c2 g4 16.xd8 Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (4) 02.12.1999 xf2+ 17.f1 xd8 18.f3 e5!? [Tony Kosten] 19.xf2 xf3 and the knight is untouchable. ] 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.c3 f6 6.db5 The most direct move at 15.xd4 c5 16.d5 [ 16.d5+ xd5 17.xd5 fxg3 18.hxg3 W hite's disposal, both Nd6+, and Bf4, are xd5 19.xd5 leads to a drawn oppositethreatened, exploiting Black's temporary darkcoloured bishop position. ] squared weakness. d5 [ The critical reply, and better than the 16...xd5 17.xd5 fxg3 18.hxg3 xd5 c6 This position was actually alternatives, like 6...d6 when 7.f4 e5 19.xd5+ agre ed d ra wn in th e ga m e A d ian t o ,U-d e 8.g5 favours White. ] F i r m i a n , N / A m s t e r d a m 1 9 9 6 ! 20.e4 7.f4 1410
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 W hite hopes to exploit his better pawn structure, but it well-known that rook and bishop co-operate better than rook and knight in such endings. f5 21.c3 fxe4 22.xe4 g6 23.e2 g7 24.b3 d4 25.f3 h5 26.c1 Intending Nxc5, and b4, but Black has time to liquidate. h4 [ B l a c k c o u l d a l s o p l a y o n w i t h 26...a5 but is unlikely to achieve much. ] 27.gxh4 xh4 28.b4 h2+ 29.d3 xa2 ½-½
good, Black tries to keep his centrally-placed knight safe from attack. 17.d1 Logical, making sure that Black can't play ...d5 at all. [ In Agrest,E-Emms,J/ Harplinge 1998, White preferred to kick the e5-knight at all costs by 17.h3 h5 18.f4 else Black could continue ...g4 and his knight on e5 is safe f rom p awn at ta ck. gxf4 19.gxf4 g6 and Black is fine, White has weakened his kingside, the g6-knight threatens f4 and can hop into h4. ] [ 17.0-0-0 h5 18.h4 gxh4!? ( 18...g4 is also fine) 19.xh4 g6 20.hh1 h8 1408 A33 with play on the kingside, Duncan,C-Emms,J/ Gausdal 1996. ] Ribli,Zoltan 2564 Stevic,Hrvoje 2511 17...h5 18.f3!? White has analysed games in Solin-Split CRO (5) 12.12.2001 this variation, and so is well-aware of Black's future plans. This novelty allows W hite to [Tony Kosten] answer ...g4 with f4, driving the knight from 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 the centre whilst maintaining a sane pawn 5.c3 f6 6.g3 b6 7.db5!? e5 structure. [ 18.h3 g4 19.hxg4 hxg4 gives Black no 8.g2 a6 9.a4 b8 Again we consider this problems, Holst,A-Emms,J/Copenhagen natural unpinning move of Jan Timman. 1994. ] [ 9...eg4!? is a less-logical alternative, which allows a sharp piece sac: 10.0-0 b8 18...h4 19.f2 h8 20.e3 After suitable 11.b4!? axb5 12.xb5 d5 it seems odd to preparation White will be ready to play g4, h3, a l l o w a d o u b l e c h e c k , b u t i f ( 12...e7? and then f4 with an edge, so Black decides to 13.c5 d8 14.a7 the rook is lost) react immediately. hxg3+ 21.hxg3 xh1 22.xh1 13.d6+ e7 14.c5 which is unclear. ] [ 22.xh1?! relieves the central pressure, 10.e3 c5 11.xc5 xc5 12.a3 and allows d5 ] [ 12.b4?! is worse here, as Black can sac an exchange by axb5 13.xb5 e7 14.a7 22...d6 23.g2 h8 24.g1 g8 25.f2 xb4+ 15.f1 0-0 16.xb8 xc4 White realises that he has no sensible way to with excellent compensation because of aim for an advantage, and so repeats moves. h8 the misplaced white major pieces. ] 12...b6!? Black wants White to open the b-file ½-½ for him, and improve the black structure, at the cost of allowing a swap of white knight for A33 his c8-bishop. This line is a speciality of our 1409 Romero Holmes,Alfonso 2544 own John Emms. Karjakin,Sergey 2562 [ 12...xa3 Forces the white knight offside, 27.11.2003 and should also be OK, judging from our Hotel Stars Benidorm ESP (1) analysis of Pelletier,Y - Ponomariov,R/3rd [Tony Kosten] Rector Cup Kharkov RUS (1), 18.04.2001, although the new FIDE W orld Champion 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 6.g3 b6 7.db5 e5 was soundly beaten. ] 8.f4!? An idea from Korchnoi, we had 13.d6+ e7 14.xc5 bxc5 15.xc8+ previously looked at [ 15.0-0-0 can be met by eg4 ] 15...hxc8 Black is fully developed, with an [ 8.g2 a6 9.a4 ] A normal-looking move, but perhaps extra central pawn, and play on the b-file. 8...d6 16.b3 g5!? Positionally this move must be not sufficiently forcing. 1411
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 8...fg4 is probably the best, hitting f2, 9.e3 a6! ( 9...c6 10.h3 f3+?! 11.e2 favoured Korchnoi in the original game against Greenfeld) 10.c7+ xc7 11.xg4 was messy in Anand,V-Leko,P/Wijk aan Zee 1996. ] 9.g2 e7?! The youngster finds a new move, but it loses instructively. [ 9...a6?! was even less successful: 10.a4! fd7? 11.c5! xc5? 12.xd6+ e7 13.d5+! 1-0 Hansen,L-De Firmian,N/ Denmark 1998, as Black is mated: exd5 14.e8+ xd6 15.xe5# ] 10.c5! Having seen the previous note this should be easy to find! xc5 11.e3 c4 12.b3!? The simple [ 12.xd6+ xd6 13.xd6 is crushing where will the black king go? ] 12...b4 13.c7+ d8 14.xa8 xc3+ 15.d2 b2 16.0-0 White is an exchange ahead for a pawn, but the knight is trapped on a8. c6 17.b1 a3 18.b4! The b-pawn comes to the rescue! d5 19.b5 [ 19.c2 d6 20.c1 fails to trap the black queen after d4 ] 19...e5 20.e4!? White decides to open the central files to exploit the badly-placed black king. xe4 21.f4 c3? Black has to take great care in this position, [ 21...d7 is insufficient, too: 22.xe4 dxe4 23.c2 c5 24.fd1 and only a computer could hope to defend this! ] [ H o w e v e r , t h e a m a z i n g 21...d3! might be OK: 22.b3 exf2! with messy complications. ] 22.c2 f6 Black loses a piece anyway, [ 22...xb1?? 23.c7+ e8 24.xc8+ is devastating. ] 23.b3 c5 24.xc3 [ 24.xc3?! f3+ 25.xf3 xc3 is less sure. ] 24...c4 25.g5! A neat trick, exchanging the strong bishop. e7 [ 25...xg5 26.xg7 f8 27.xg5+ is hopeless, of course. ] 26.xf6+ gxf6 White has an extra rook, but if Black could round-up the a8-knight he would have a playable position. However, that is a big 'if'. 27.b6! a6 [ 27...axb6 28.xb6 wins as the c4-knight is pinned. ]
28.c7 d7 29.e1 Pinning the e6-pawn and threatening to bring the knight out via d5. c6 30.b4 c8 31.h3 a5 If only Black could capture on b6, then on c7, but time has run out. 32.xe6! Another neat tactic submerges the young prodigy. xb4 [ 32...fxe6? is worse, 33.xe6+ f8 34.xf6+ followed by mate. ] 33.f4+ f8 34.xb4+ axb4 35.xc8 1-0
1410 Rotstein,Arkadij Sax,Gyula Open Bolzano ITA (4) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2441 2609 17.07.2000
1.c4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.g3 b6 6.c3 c6 This introduces the old main line, which leads to very sharp play, and was popular in the late seventies and eighties. 7.b3 e5 8.e4 b4 9.e2 White must defend the e-pawn. d6 [ 9...0-0 10.f4 c6 11.e5 leads to a White plus. ] 10.d2 [ Played to avoid doubled c-pawns, 10.f4 is more common, when c6 11.e3 xc3+ 12.bxc3 c7 13.g2 0-0 brings play to a sharp position. ] 10...0-0 11.f4 [ This seems natural enough, although there i s a c a s e t o b e m a d e o u t f o r 11.0-0-0 first, as W hite will have difficulty castling kingside, as his c4-pawn needs the support of the f1-bishop. a5 12.f4 c6 13.e3 a6!? 14.b5 a4! 15.c7!? axb3 16.xa6 bxa2 17.c2 xa6 offering Black plenty of compensation for the queen in Gleizerov,E-Dvoirys,S/ Cheliabinsk 1989. ] 11...c6 12.0-0-0 [ 12.g2 is met by the same idea: e5! 13.f5 d4 14.d3 xb3 15.axb3 d7 16.0-0-0 c6 with a good position, Mellado Trivino,JEstremera Panos,S/Zamora 1996. ] 12...e5! 13.f5?! [ In the game Lautier,J-Lutz,C/Baden-Baden 1992, W hite preferred 13.d5 although Black was fine following xd5 14.cxd5 xd2+ 15.xd2 b4 16.b1 d7 17.a3 1412
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a6 18.a5 c5 19.c4 c7 20.fxe5 position. The alternative is 8.d6 xd6 dxe5 21.e3 f6 ] 9.xd6 b6 10.d2 as in Filippov-Yemelin, 13...d4 This is the aggressive point behind Kazan 2005 - see the PGN archives ] Black's twelfth move. 14.xd4 exd4 15.d5 8...e7 9.d6 xd6 10.xd6 d8 [ 15.b5? xd2+ 16.xd2 e8 [ This queen retreat was first played by leaves W hite with serious problems Polugaevsky the idea is to follow up with ... defending his e and f-pawns. ] Ne8 and kick the white queen away. Also 15...xd5 16.cxd5 e8 17.f3 d7! the immediate 10...e8 has been played, [ An improvement over the sharp 17...xf5!? though this seems to offer White the slightly 18.exf5 ( 18.xf5?? loses instantly to a3 ) b e t t e r c h a n c e s , e . g . 11.xe7 xe7 18...ac8+ 19.b1 xd2 20.xd2 e1+ 12.0-0-0 d5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.e3 a6 21.d1 c5 22.c4 xh1 23.xh1 xc4 15.d4 , and although a draw was agreed 24.e4 when White soon regained the d4upon in this position in Mikhalchishin-Miezis, pawn, and drew the ending, Horvath,GW hite has the slightly better chances on Polajzer, D/AUT 1993. ] account of Black's isolated d-pawn. ] 18.xb4 a4! A surprising rejoinder! 19.b3 11.e4 [ The b4-bishop cannot be saved, 19.d2?? [ This is one of White's more critical options, ac8+ 20.b1 c2+ 21.a1 xe4 however, White has tried many other things wins material. ] at this juncture: A) 11.e3 19...xb4 20.b2 ac8 Black's queenside A) 11...e8 12.d2 e7 13.d1 f5 attack develops in leaps and bounds. 21.d3 14.e2 e5 15.0-0 f7 16.e4! a6 c3 22.xd4 xb3+! 23.axb3 xb3+ 17.d4 fxe4 18.xe4 b6 19.f4! g6 24.a1 c8 Black must prevent White from playing f4[ Not bad, but 24...a3+! 25.b1 xd1 f5. 20.f3 a7 21.fe1 c7 22.b3 26.xd1 xe4 is a killer. ] and W hite's position leaves a much 25.d3? better impression with better coordinated [ Even after the better 25.d3 c3 26.b1 p i e c e s a n d s u p e r i o r p a wn s t r u c t u r e , a3+ 27.a2 b4 Black wins Akesson, R-Wang Zili/ Copenhagen 1995; comfortably. ] B) 11...a5 Black intends to evict the 25...a3+ 26.b1 xd1 27.xd1 b3+ queen on d6 with either ...Ne4 or ...a6 first 0-1 and then ...Ne4. 12.d2 d5 At the cost of slightly inferior pawn structure, Black gets his pieces into play. 13.cxd5 exd5 ( or 1411 A33 13...xd5 14.xd5 xd2+ 15.xd2 exd5 16.d3 , and White has a slight Savchenko,Boris 2569 advantage thanks to his superior pawn Chudinovskih,Alexander 2392 structure and the presence of the lightIX EICC Plovdiv BUL (4) 24.04.2008 squared bishops (White's bishop is better [Carsten Hansen] t h a n it s b la ck co u n t e rp a rt ) G u lk o , B Kaidanov, G/Denver 1998) 14.e2 a6 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 15.d4 xd4 16.xd4 e6 17.0-0 5.xd4 e6 6.db5 b4 , a n d W h it e is o n ce a ga in b e t t e r a n d [ The text move offers more actual play than compared to the previous example, White the liquidating main line 6...d5!? 7.f4 e5 here controls the important d4-square, 8.cxd5 exf4 9.dxc6 bxc6 10.xd8+ xd8 Ivanchuk, V-Lautier, J/ Monte Carlo 1996; 11.d1+ d7 12.d6 xd6 13.xd6 b8= C) 11...b6 12.0-0-0 ( 12.d2?! d5 as in Khismatullin-Iljushin, Ishevsk 2005 13.cxd5 exd5 is already comfortable for (see PGN archives), where Black thanks to Black, Johnson, B-Collett, P/Skara SWE his lead in development has compensation 2004 ) 12...a6 for his inferior pawn structure. ] C1) 13.c5 looks like an interesting 7.f4 0-0 8.c7 option, but Black appears to be doing [ This is likely the more critical move in this 1413
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 fine a5 14.d4 e8 15.b3 d8! ( 15...xc3+? 16.bxc3 xd6 17.xd6 is punishingly passive for Black and of course much better for White) 16.f4 b6 17.d3 b8 18.xh7+ ( 18.d4 b7 19.xh7+ xh7 20.xe6 fxe6 21.xf8 bxc5 must be better for Black; 18.b1 f6 19.g4 bxc5 20.g5 b4 is similarly fine for Black) 18...xh7 19.e4+ g8 20.xc6 e7 21.f3 bxc5 22.a5 b6; C2) 13.c7!? is very provocative, because the knight isn't likely to get saf ely out of Black's position again. However, the excursion may be worth it, e.g. a7 14.g1 a5 15.g4 b5 16.g5 h5 17.7xb5 axb5 18.cxb5 d8 19.e2 , and White's compensation for the pieces is more than adequate.; C3) 13.d4 e8 C3a) 14.c5 a5 ( 14...xd6 15.cxb6 xd4 16.xd4 f5 17.c4 is better for W hite) 15.b3 d8 , and we have transposed to 13 c5 as given above; C3b) 14.a3!?; C3c) 14.g3 f6 15.d6 e8 16.g3 f6 17.h4 d5 18.cxd5 exd5 19.d3 xd4 20.exd4 e6 , and the chances are more or less equal. 21.f3 fc8 22.g4 b4 23.c2? ( 23.g5 xc3+ 24.bxc3 xc3+ 25.b1 e4 26.fxe4 b4+ 27.a1 xd4+= ) 23...xc3! 24.bxc3 xc3 25.f2 xg4 26.hf1 h3 27.g1 a1+ 28.d2 xa2 29.g3 g4 30.h3 a5+?! ( 30...c8 31.c1 b2 32.hxg4 c3+ 33.e2 e8+ 34.f1 d2 35.e1 xe1+ 36.xe1 xc2 ) 31.e2 e8+ 32.f1 c3 33.d3 b3 34.e2 e4?? ( 34...xh3+ 35.xh3 e6 is relatively best, but White does have t h e b e t t e r c h a n c e s) 35.xg4 1 -0 K h is m a t u l li n , D- P a s h i kia n , A / Moscow RUS 2005; D) 11...a6 12.d4 ( 12.c7!? ) D1) 12...a5 13.b3 g5 14.g3 f5 15.0-0-0 ( 15.d1!? ) 15...b5 16.d3 h5 17.e2 with chances for both players, Matthias, H-Farago, I/
Lippstadt 1994; D2) 12...b6!? 13.b1 e8; D3) 12...xd4 13.xd4 d6 14.d1 Wojtkiewicz, A-Sokolov, E/Bad Zwesten 1999; D4) 12...e8 13.c5 ( 13.xc6 bxc6 14.d4 d5 15.e2 f6 16.cxd5 cxd5= Kievelitz, B-Bukhman, E/Polanica Z d r o j 1 9 9 6) 13...d6 14.xc6 c7 15.e7+ xe7 16.d4 d7 17.e2 c6 18.0-0 f6 is solid for Black, though W hite has a little more space a n d t h e re f o r e a b i t o f a n e d ge , b u t nothing serious, McCambridge, V-De Firmian, N/USA 1989 ] [ B) 11.0-0-0 a6 ( 11...e8!? 12.g3 a6 13.d6 xd6 14.xd6 b5 15.e3 e7 16.e4 b4 17.a4 b7 18.c5 c6 with a comfortable game for Black, Bewersdorff, O-De Firmian, N/ Germany 2001 ) 12.d4 A) 12...xd4 A1) 13.xd4 b5 14.e4 bxc4 15.e5?! ( 15.xc4 e8 16.g3 d6= ) 15...e8 16.a3 b6 17.d2 c7 18.f4 f6 , and Black is already clearly on top, Kauppala, P-Kroll, O/corr 1997; A2) 13.xd4 b5!? 14.e4 bxc4 ( 14...b4 15.a4 e5 16.xe5 e8 ) 15.e5 e8 16.xc4 b8 17.f4 b6 18.b1 , an d W hite ha s th e init ia tive , I ze t a Txabarri, F-Suba, M/ Palma de Mallorca 1989; B) 12...e8 13.xc6 bxc6 14.d4 d6 is fine for Black as in Korchnoi, VPolugaevsky, L/Buenos Aires 1980 ] [ C) 11.g3 a6 ( 11...e8 12.d2 a6 13.d4 e5 14.b3 d5 15.cxd5 exd5 16.g2 f6 17.0-0 Benjamin, JBaczynskyj, B/Albany 1989) 12.a3 b6!? 13.b1 b4 14.xb4 xb4 15.g2 d5 A) 16.d1!? is possibly an improvement over the text move, which leads to an equal game. Now Black has to proceed a g g r e s s i ve l y , e . g . b5!? ( 16...dxc4?! 17.xc4 is like a good Catalan for White) 17.cxb5 axb5 18.0-0 a6 19.c1 ( 19.fe1 ) 19...ab8 20.fd1; B) 16.cxd5 exd5 17.d1 e6 18.0-0 fd8= Korchnoi, V-Polugaevsky, L/Buenos Aires 1980 ] 1414
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ D) 11.d1 b6 ( 11...b6 12.d2 a6 13.a3 e8 14.g3 d6 15.e3 d7 16.e2 b4 17.ab1 c8 18.0-0 c6 19.b3 e7 20.e4 c6 , Ragozin, EChudinovskih, A/Schwaebisch Gmuend 1 9 9 3 , a n d n o w 21.fd1!? is probably White's best with a tiny edge.; 11...e8 12.d2 a6 13.a3 d6 14.e3 c7 15.e2 d7 16.0-0 d8 17.h1 c8 18.e4 f6 19.c2 b6 20.e3 , and thanks to his space advantage, White has a small overall plus, Agrest, E-Lazarev, V/Porto San Giorgio 2000 ) 12.e3 ( 12.a3 is completely harmless a5 13.d6 b7 14.cb5 xd6 15.xd6 e8 16.e3= 1/2-1/2 Azmaiparashvili, Z-Illescas Cordoba, M/Ponferrada 1992, e.g. xd6 17.xd6 f6= ) 12...a6 13.a3 b7 14.e2 a7 15.0-0 a8 16.d2 e7 17.fd1 b8 18.f4 xd6 19.xd6 f8 20.g4 e7 21.g5 e8 22.6d2 , and White has more space and the initiative, though Black's position is solid and flexible, and in Ljubojevic, L-Andersson, U/ Bugojno 1982, the players soon settled on a draw. ] [ E) 11.d2?! d5 12.cxd5 exd5 13.e3 g4 ( 13...a6 14.d4 b6 15.0-0-0 e6 16.e2 ac8 17.b1 fd8 18.f3 e8 with a comfortable game for Black, Garriga Sole, J-Colls Gelaberto, E/Lloret del Mar 1997 ) 14.h3 h5 15.d4 A) 15...e8 16.b5 c8 17.0-0 e4?! ( 17...d6!? ) 18.xe4 xe4 ( 18...dxe4 19.ac1 ) 19.xc6 bxc6 20.b4 c5?! 21.bxc5 xc5 22.fc1 xc1+ 23.xc1 Dragomarezkij, E-Sadvakasov, D/Moscow 1996; B) 15...b6 16.xc6 bxc6 17.a4 c7 18.d3 d4 19.0-0 dxe3 20.xe3 fe8 21.c5 ad8 , and thanks to his better coordinated pieces, Black has the initiative and the better chances in Engqvist, TArkell, K/Isle of Man 1995 ] 11...e5 [ This is apparently a new move in this position the idea is to lay claim to the d4square for the knight currently on c6. Previously Black has tried a number o f ot h e r m ove s : A ) 11...a6 12.c7 e8 ( 12...b8 13.e2 e8 14.xe8 xe8 15.0-0 b6 16.ab1 Van der Berkmortel,
T-Stolyar, S/ICCF Email 1997) 13.xe8 xe8 14.e2 b6 15.b1 d4 16.d1 Kortschnoj, V-Gruenfeld, Y/Luzern/ 1982 ] [ B) 11...b6 12.e2 a6 13.a3 e8 14.d2 ( 14.g3!? ) 14...b7 15.d1 d6 16.0-0 c7 17.f4 d8 18.h1 f6 19.f3 e7= Johansson, P-De Firmian, N/London 1982 ] [ C) 11...e8 12.d2 a6 13.d6 ( 13.d4 c7 14.e2 b6 15.0-0 b7 16.fd1 d6 17.ac1 e5 18.b3 f6 19.f3 fd8= F i s c h d i c k , G - M u r e s a n , M / J a j c e 1 9 8 4) 13...c7 14.d1 e5 15.e2 f6 16.0-0 b6 17.f4 c5+ 18.d4 xd4+ 19.xd4 c6 , and here a draw was agreed upon, 1/ 2-1/2, in Vul, A-De Firmian, N/Copenhagen 2005, though White is decidedly better in this position, e.g. 20.dd1 xd6 21.xd6 b8 22.fd1 ] [ D) 11...a5!? 12.d2 a6 13.d6 e8 14.e2 xd6 15.xd6 b5 16.cxb5 axb5 17.0-0 b4 18.b5 b8 19.a4 bxa3 20.xa3 b4 , and here a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Kishnev, S-Dvoirys, S/ Barnaul 1984, though W hite has the some wha t b ett er cha nce s a f te r 21.xb4 xb4 22.a4 c6 23.fa1 ] 12.0-0-0 e8 13.d2 a5 [ 13...a6 14.d6 b5 ( 14...xd6 15.xd6 b5 16.cxb5 axb5 17.xb5 ) 15.xc8 xc8 16.xd7 d4 17.xc8 xc8 18.cxb5 axb5 19.b1 ] 14.b1 a6 15.d6 d4 16.f5!? [ T h e s i m p l e 16.xe8!? xe8 17.e2 xd2 18.xd2 e6 19.c3 d4 20.c5 also has some appeal, but White prefer to keep the queens on, letting Black suffer in his passive position. ] 16...xf5 17.exf5 d6 [ 17...b5 is met by 18.d5 , and now d8 ( or 18...xd2 19.xd2 bxc4 20.xc4 b7 21.b6 d8 22.d5 ) 19.c5 d6 20.e3 ] 18.g4 b5 19.f4?! [ This is very aggressive, but not necessarily best. Two other options are 19.d5 xd2 20.xd2 bxc4 ( 20...b7 21.cxb5 axb5 22.e2 ) 21.e7+ h8 22.g2 b8 23.c1 ] [ and 19.g2 a7 20.d5 xd2 21.xd2 bxc4 22.c1 ] 1415
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19...b7 [ Here Black should give preference to 19...bxc4 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.xc4 , and it is still a fight. ] 20.g2 xg2 21.xg2 b8?! [ 21...c7 22.fxe5 dxe5 23.c5 b4 24.e4 ] [ 21...c8 22.d5 xc4 23.g5 exf4 24.h3 h8 25.f6 ] 22.d5 a4? [ After this error White is winning. However, matters are far from rosy after the superior 22...h8 , e.g. 23.c5! exf4 24.f6 ( 24.c6!? ) 24...dxc5 25.fxg7+ xg7 26.h3 , and Black's king has issues. ] 23.c5! Now matters get decidedly ugly for Black. dxc5 24.fxe5 h8 [ Or 24...b4 25.e6 fxe6 26.b3 b5 27.fxe6 c4 28.hf1 , and it is game over for Black ] 25.d3 g6 26.f6 d8?? Black's position is complete toilet and his pieces are not at all playing together. However, this move ends the g a m e r a t h e r q u i c k l y . . . 27.b6! xd3 28.xa4 bxa4 29.b7 Ahem, Black will have a rather difficult time getting his pieces on f8 and e8 in play. The game is of course over. g8 30.c1 a3 31.bxa3 d8 32.a1 Beautifully demonstrating to Black that it is his turn to move, and therefore further play is pointless. 1-0
here, but the text is only very slightly worse for Black, if that. And he may have improvements (see move 9, for example). ] 8.d6+ e7 9.de4 xe4 [ HiArcs 'mentions' the strange idea 9...d4!? , which I can't find a thing wrong with! 10.e3 xe4 11.xe4 , when I think that Black should try d5 ( 11...xb2 12.b1 a5+ 13.d2 f5 14.g2 e5 15.c1! has ideas like Ba3, Rb5, and f4; but 11...e5 may be just fine) 12.cxd5 exd5 13.c3 xc3+ 14.bxc3 a5 ( 14...d8 15.h5 h6 16.a3+ e8 with the idea of ...Qa5. The bishops don't look that great.) 15.b2 e6 16.b3 ab8 17.g2 f6! 18.d1 hd8 and ...Kf 7. Actually, 11.. .Be5 might be easier. I'm not sure what White should do in this variation. ] 10.xe4 b4+ 11.d2 d5 [ I guess that this is all equal anyway, provided that Black takes care. Another route is 11...f5 12.c3 c5 13.e3 e5 14.e2 - lest ...Qc6 - xb2!? 15.a4 a3 16.c1 b4+= ] 12.cxd5 exd5 13.c3 e6 14.g2 hd8 15.0-0 f8 16.c1 e7 17.a4 b5 18.c3 a6 19.a4 xa4 20.xa4 ac8 It's unlikely that White can make anything out of t his. For on e th in g, h is e-pa wn n ee d s tending to. 21.fd1 g4 [ 21...d4!? ] 22.f1 d4 23.f3 e6 24.f4 f5 [ 24...g4 and Black may stand better. ] 1412 A33 25.xc8 xc8 26.c3 d4! 27.d5 c2 Schlosser,Philipp 2560 28.xe7 xe7 29.g4?! [ 29.xb7 xb2 30.e4 ] Ftacnik,Lubomir 2606 TCh-2005-6 Austria AUT (8) 23.03.2006 29...e3+ 30.xe3 dxe3 Now Black has a clear advantage because of the queenside [John Watson] pawns and pressure on e2. 31.f3 f5!? [ 31...xb2! 32.d3 xa2 33.xe3 d6 ] In this game we see again that White is in a dilemma as to his most promising move order 32.d3! [ 32.gxf5? xf5 ] following 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 e6. The normal 4. d4 cxd 4 5 . Nxd4 Nc6 6 .g3 isn't 32...fxg4 33.xb7 xb2 34.e4 xa2 [ 34...h6 35.xe3 xa2! ] achieving anything in the old main line with 6... Qb6 (as in this game), when 7.Ndb5 looks 35.xe3 this may be in drawing range b3 [ 35...h6 ] more and more like a temporary fix. 1.f3 [ 35...f6 ] f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.d4 36.d3+ f6 37.e5 b1 38.xb1 xb1+ [ 4.g3 seems like the way to go these days. ] 4...cxd4 5.xd4 c6 6.g3 b6 7.db5 39.f2 b3 40.a5 h3 41.xa7 g6 [ 41...xh2+ 42.g3 xe2 43.xg4 h6 c5 is worth trying. ] [ 7...e5 is by far the most popular move 1416
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 42.e4 f3+ 43.g2 xf4 44.xh7 xe4 Now the pawns are relatively useless and it's a draw. 45.a7 g5 46.a2 h4 47.b2 a4 48.c2 a3 ½-½
1413 Short,Nigel D Aroshidze,Levan 2nd President's Cup (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A33 2691 2500 05.05.2007
1.c4 c5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 e6 4.f3 c6 5.0-0 a6 6.c3 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 c7 9.b3 0-0 10.b2 d6 11.c1 xd4 12.xd4 d7 13.fd1 [ White tried to switch the move order with 13.h3 which made an experienced grandmaster make a mistake right away with fe8?! 14.fd1 ed8 and Black had a lost a clea r t em po , b ut W hit e so on lo st t h e momentum by floundering without a good clear pla n 15.f4 ( 15.g4!? is the normal plan in this position and this is the way W hite should go at this juncture as well W hite is better) 15...ac8 16.e4 a5 17.d2 f8 18.d4 and White had found a way to lose three tempi in the space of four moves needless to say Black is okay now, T.Salo-A.Lugovoi, Jyvaskyla 1998 ] 13...fd8 14.h3 e8 [ 14...c6? 15.d5! xd5 16.cxd5 d7 17.dxe6 fxe6 18.b6+- 1-0 Barcza, GKremer, P/Amsterdam 1954 ] [ 14...ac8 A) 15.a7 A1) 15...d5? 16.cxd5 c5 17.d6 xa7 18.dxc7 xc7 19.e4+- 1-0 Bakalar, PVltavsky, V/CZE 1998; A2) 15...c6 16.d5 exd5 17.cxd5 xd5 18.xd5 d7 19.xc6 bxc6 20.xa6 xh3?! ( Here 20...c5!? does the trick for Black and offers fairly even chances as W hite cannot guard both the h-pawn and against the threat of ...Ra8 ) 21.xc6 a8 22.b7 e6 23.a6 xe2 24.xa8 xd1+ 25.g2 xa8 26.xa8+ f8 27.a4!? ( A n o t h e r o p t i o n i s 27.e4 d2 28.d4 c2 29.b4 with a clear
advantage for White) 27...xb3 28.d4 c4 29.e3 A2a) 29...h5 30.a5 h4 31.a6 hxg3 32.xg3 ( 32.a7 gxf2= ) 32...e6 33.f3 g6+ 34.g4 b1 35.a7 g1+ 36.f4 h1 37.c8 h4+ 38.f3 h5+ 39.g2+-; A2b) 29...d5 30.a5 e4+ 31.h2 h5 32.c5 f3 33.xf8+ h7 34.e7 1-0 Greenfeld, A-Gourlay, I/Coventry ENG 2005; A3) 15...b5 16.xa6 bxc4 17.a4!? ( 17.a3 e8 18.bxc4 xc4 19.a7 d7 20.b6 d8 21.b2= 1/2-1/2 Tatai, S-Cosulich, R/Madonna di Campiglio 1973 ) 17...d5 18.bxc4 A3a) 18...a8!? 19.b6 b8 20.xb8 axb8 21.xf6 gxf6 22.c3 dxc4 23.d4 bc8 24.cd1 e8 25.b7 xd4 26.xd4 c7 27.a6 b4 28.e4 g7 ( 28...c3 29.xf6+ f8 30.d3 e7 31.xe8 ) 29.xc4 xc4 30.xc4 c6 31.f3 xe4 32.fxe4 and Black should the draw; A3b) 18...xa4?! 19.xa4 dxc4 20.xd8+ xd8 21.e3 e7 22.f1 1-0 Mo t wan i, P -G ou rla y, I/ S t irlin g 2002; B) 15.f4 b8 16.e4 e5 17.xf6+ xf6 18.d2 e6 19.a3 e7 20.h2 b5 21.cxb5 xb5 22.b4 xc1 23.xc1 b8 1/2-1/2 Miltner, A-Schuh, H/Eberbach 1980 (51) 24.a3!?; C) 15.a4 b8 ( 15...b6 16.d3 b8 17.f4 c6 18.xc6 xc6 19.cd1 f8 20.g4 d7 21.e4 c5 22.f3 xe4 23.xe4 c7 24.fd3 b5 , and Black has equalised, T.Lirindzakis-N.Kalesis, Liosia 1991) 16.a3 c6 17.e4 d7 18.b4 ( Here White starts to go seriously wrong as if he doesn't understand the po sit ion at a ll. I n st e a d 18.xd6 e5 19.d2 xd6 20.xd6 xd6 21.xd6 c5 22.xd8+ xd8 leads to approximately equal chances) 18...e5! 19.f4 xc4! 20.xc4 xa4 21.d3 ( 21.xc8 xc8 22.xa4 ) 21...xd1 22.xd1 xc1 23.xc1 c7 and Black is clearly better 24.d2 d5!? ( 24...c8!? ) 25.exd5 xb4 26.xb4 b6+ 27.e3 xb4 28.h2 b5 29.c2 exd5 30.xd5 1417
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e8 31.g4 d8 32.a2 d4 33.xf7+ f8 34.b3 d2+ 35.h1 e1+ and facing mate, White resigned, G.IlivitzkiB.Spassky, Gothenburg IZT 1955. A smooth performance by the 19 year old Boris Spassky.; D) 15.e3 b8 16.a4 ( 16.g4!? ) 16...b6 17.g4 h6 18.d3 c6 19.xc6 xc6 20.cd1 b7 21.f3 c7 22.h4 and White has the initiative, P.Zarnicki-N. Kalesis, Biel 1993; E) 15.e4 b8 ( 15...a5!? ) 16.a3 c6 17.b6 d7 18.e3 b5 19.cxb5 axb5 20.b4 , and White has a small but enduring and clear advantage, M.Sher-M. Dougherty, Philadelphia USA 2004; F) 15.g4!? b8 16.g5 e8 17.e3 f8 18.b6 ( I like 18.a4!? quite a bit, e.g. xa4 19.bxa4 , and Black has a really hard time releasing his pieces from White's pressure provided by the space advantage, bishop pair and generally more actively placed pieces: c7 20.d4 dc8 21.b1 e7 22.h4 and Black is facing a long uphill battle) 18...c6 19.e4 d7 20.a4 c5 21.h4 A.Panchenko-Z.Varga, Gyor 1990 ] [ 14...ab8 15.a4 c5 16.d3 h5 17.e4 b5 18.axb5 axb5 19.xb5 xb5 20.cxb5 xb5 21.xb5 xb5 , and Black has neutralised White's opening advantage, M. Mchedlishvili-L. Totsky, Tula 1999 ] [ 14...f8 15.f4 ac8 16.g4 ( 16.e3 e8 17.a4 b8 18.d3 c6 19.e4 b6 20.e3 f6= T.Vakhidov-S.Roy Chowdhury, Pune IND 2004) 16...b8 17.g5 e8 18.e4 e5 19.g3 e6 20.c5 dxc5 21.xe5 a7 M.Vassallo-K.Spraggett, D o s H e r m a n a s 2 0 0 0 22.e3!? xd1+ 23.xd1 e7 24.h4 ] 15.g4 [ 15.e3!? ac8 16.g4 f8? ( 16...b8!? Balashov ) 17.g5 d7 18.h4 ( 18.e4!? c5 19.f6!? d7 20.g3 xe4 21.xe4 b5 , so far the analysis has been by Balashov, who now continues with 22.d4 which he evaluates as just clearly better for W hite, but the advantage may well be even bigger than that.) 18...b8 19.h5 with a dangerous initiative and clear advantage for White, G. Garcia Gonzales-
U.Andersson, Cienfuegos 1975 ] [ 15.a4 ab8 16.a3 b6 17.d3 f8 18.f4 bc8 19.d2 b8 20.d1 b5 21.xd6 xd6 22.xd6 xd6 23.xd6 I.Csom-J.Augustin, Pula 1975 bxc4 24.b4 Csom ] [ 15.e4 ac8 16.a4 f8 17.a3 b8 18.a5 c6 19.d2 h6 20.cd1 e7 21.e3 R.Cifuentes Parada-K.Spraggett, Seville 2002 ] 15...f8 [ 15...h6 16.h4 f8 17.g5 hxg5 18.hxg5 h7 19.g4 ( Here White can also consider 19.g6 f6 20.gxf7+ xf7 21.e4 xe4 22.xe4 with a strong kingside initiative for White) 19...c6 20.g6 f6 21.h3 fxg6 22.xe6+ f7 23.xf7+ xf7 24.d5 ac8 25.a4 , and despite Black's position being a positional toilet, he nonetheless managed to somehow salvage the draw, R.Pogorelov-K.Spraggett, Madrid 2002 ] 16.g5 d7 17.e4 c5 18.xc5 dxc5 19.e5! xe5 20.xe5 The queens have come off the board and the pawn distribution is symmetrical, but W hite has a clear advantage thanks to his strong bishops, more space and Black's queenside problems e7 21.f4 [ 21.h4!? ] 21...xd1+ [ 21...f6 22.gxf6 xd1+ 23.xd1 gxf6 24.c7 c8 25.a5 b8 ( 25...c6 26.xc6 xc6 27.d7 ) 26.b6 ] 22.xd1 a7 23.b8 a8 24.c7 f8 25.f2 c6?!+[ Also 25...c8 26.e5 c6 27.xc6 xc6 28.d7 f6 29.gxf6 gxf6 30.b8 b5 31.b7 is severely problematic for Black, but after the text move Black can just sit and wait for White to finish him off ] 26.xc6 bxc6 27.a5 a7 28.f3 e8 29.c3 f8 30.h4 d7 31.h1 d8 32.h5 c7 33.g6! A simple, yet incredibly strong move that destroys what remains of Black's position and hopes hxg6 34.hxg6 fxg6 35.g1 d8 36.xg6 e7 37.f5!? exf5 38.xc6 f7 39.xa6 e7 40.b6 [ 40.f4 g6 41.e4 d3 42.e5+- ] 40...g5 41.a4 d6 42.a5 g4+ 43.g2 1-0 1418
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1414 Skalik,Przemyslaw Gritsak,Orest 55th chTeam Suwalki POL (7) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2409 2550 24.09.1999
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.a3!? Bricard's idea, directed against ...Bb4, which can prove so dangerous, but can it r e a l l y b e wo r t h a t e m p o ? f6 6.c3 White is ready to play e4, with strong central con tro l. How sh ou ld Bla ck rea ct ? xd4!? An interesting decision. Normally it is not good policy to capture like this, and bring the white queen to a powerful central square, but Black has a definite tactical idea in mind. [ The only previous time this had been played was in Bricard,E-Murrey,J/Paris 1995, which continued: 6...d5 7.g5 e7 8.e3 0-0 9.cxd5 exd5 10.e2 e6 11.0-0 wit h a s ligh t e d ge t o W h it e in t h is I Q P position. ] 7.xd4 b6! This seems innocuous enough. 8.f4 Menacing Nb5. Unfortunately for White, the obvious [ 8.e4 c a n b e m e t b y c5 which forces 9.d1 (e lse B lack p la ys . . . Ng4 ) c7 with good dark-squared control. ] 8...c5 9.d3 Now White can play this more active move, as ...Ng4 is no longer a problem. a6 10.e4 White correctly enters the complications. Not [ 10.b4?! e7 11.e4 c8 when the attack on the c4-pawn is a problem. ] 10...d5! A dangerous pawn sacrifice, exploiting the pin on the c4-pawn, but [ 10...g4!? 11.g3 f6 12.d2 d4 is also interesting. ] 11.exd5 xd5! 12.xd5 exd5 13.0-0-0! Not the ideal place for the white king, but [ 13.xd5 0-0 14.xd8 axd8 15.e2 fe8 is very awkward for White. ] 13...f6! [ 13...xc4 14.g3 f6 15.xc4 dxc4 16.he1+ f8 is similar to the game, but worse. ] 14.e1+ f8!? Playing for the maximum, but [ 14...e7 15.d2 0-0 16.cxd5 ac8+ 17.b1 xf1 18.hxf1 g6+ is also viable. ] 15.g3 White is obliged to sacrifice material.
dxc4 Trying to keep the white kingside bottledup. 16.e2 h6 Taking time-out to provide a bolt-hole for the king, but [ 16...d4 is promising: 17.f3 (what else, the b-pawn is undefendable) xb2+ 18.b1 c8 with two pawns more, albeit temporarily without the help of his king's rook. (And not ( 18...a1 as 19.d6+ g8 20.e5 xe5 21.xa8! seems to be OK for White, e.g. f5+ 22.e4 xg3 23.xf5 d6 24.e8+ f8 25.a4 with advantage.) )] 17.f3 d8 18.d1 White's compensation seems very meagre at the moment. d3!? In order to obtain a powerful passed pawn, but [ 18...d4! might be simpler, for if 19.e5 xe5 20.xd8+ xd8 21.xe5 then g5+ exchanges queens. ] 19.xd3 cxd3 20.e1 xa3? This combination looks fine, but loses the advantage. Mainly because Black is playing without his king's rook, of course. [ 20...d4 is stronger, and keeps Black on top, 21.e4 d7 and provided Black can free his rook, he should triumph. ] 21.e5 Forced, but good. If [ 21.bxa3 c3+ wins. ] 21...d2+ The point of Black's combination, wh ic h s e e m s t o sa ve t h e p i e c e . 22.xd2 b4+? This obvious move is the real culprit. I n st e a d , B la ck h a d t o a cce p t a n in f e rio r endgame after [ 22...g5+ 23.xg5 b4+ 24.c2 hxg5 25.a1 ] 23.c2 g5 This loses, but so does [ 23...f5+ 24.e4 c8+ when 25.b1 leaves Black without defence against the t h r e a t t o g7 , e . g . f6 26.d6+ xd6 27.xd6+ f7 28.d5+ f8 29.g6 and ] [ 23...g6+ is no improvement: 24.xg6 fxg6 25.a1 b5 26.xa7 when Black is hardly likely to be able to free his rook. ] 24.d6+! This move wins by force, but there is a good alternative in [ 24.c3 which wins a piece after xg3 ( (as 24...xc3? is impossible, 25.b8+ forcing mate) ) 25.xb4+ g8 26.hxg3 ] 24...xd6 25.xd6+ g8 26.e8+ h7 27.xh8+ xh8 28.f8+ h7 29.e4+ g6 30.xf7+ h8 31.xg6 And after t his long, forcing sequence, Black has no defence to
1419
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.e3 d8 19.f4 with active play for the pawn, De la Villa Garcia,J-Rojo Huerta,G/ Cala Galdana 1999. ] 14.xe5!? White takes the bull by the horns. [ 14.f3 defends the e-pawn, but then xc3+ 1415 A33 15.bxc3 xc3+ 16.f2 c5+ 17.e3 e7 Smirin,Ilia 2671 and White is unlikely to have enough comp Holzke,Frank 2492 for two pawns. ] Monarch Assurance (3) 27.09.2004 14...xe4+ 15.e2 xh1 16.0-0-0 [Tony Kosten] W hite has a lead in development, and the 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 black queen is temporarily offside, but Black c6 5.c3 e6 6.g3 b6 7.db5 e5 has a whole exchange and pawn more. xc3 8.f4 fg4! Probably best, as I mentioned in Maybe best. [ 16...0-0?! is obvious but weak: 17.xg7! my analysis of the Romero Holmes, A-Karjakin, ( 17.f3 d6 18.xg7 xg7 19.h3 S game, which went wins the queen, but Black gets enough [ 8...d6 instead. ] material for her) 17...xg7 18.g4+ h8 9.e3 a6! 19.xb4 d6 20.h4 f3 21.d3 f5 [ 9...c6 10.h3 f3+?! 11.e2 favoured 22.e7 and a draw by perpetual check is Korchnoi in his game against Greenfeld. ] likely. ] 10.c7+!? A neat tactic, the alternative is [ 16...c6!? gets the queen out, 17.xg7 [ 10.h3 when axb5 11.hxg4 xc4 12.b3 g8 18.d4 b5 preparing ...Bb7 and maybe d5 13.xc4 dxc4 14.xb5+ xb5 ...0-0-0. ] 15.xb5 b4+ 16.e2 is fairly equal, 17.xc3 xh2 18.xg7 g8 19.c3 d5!? Motwani,P-Wells,P/Port Erin IOM 2003. ] 10...xc7 11.xg4 This is the tactical point. Black offers a pawn to help his development, but just moving the queen by xc4 A critical line, but there are others: [ 19...h6+ 20.b1 g6+ 21.a1 g4 [ 11...d6 is solid, 12.e2 ( 12.xe5 dxe5 might be possible. ] 13.g2 f5 14.e2 e7 is similar, P o g o r e l o v , R - E s t r e m e r a P a n o s , S / L a 20.xd5 d7?! To get castled, but [ 20...xg3!? would justify the previous Bordeta 1999) 12...d7 13.xe5 dxe5 move, 21.h5 ( 21.fxg3? xe2 22.xe2 14.g2 e7 15.0-0 0-0 16.ac1 ac8 exd5 ) 21...xc3+ 22.bxc3 f4+ 17.fd1 fd8 18.c5!? looks OK fo r Black which looks good for Black. ] here, although White went on to win, Anand, 21.h5 g1 22.e1 0-0-0 23.xh7 V-Leko,P/Wijk 1996. ] [ 11...a5 wastes a tempo on the above, but White has recouped some material, but now avoids having the pawns doubled, 12.xe5 Black can exchange queens. b5?! [ 23...e8!? keeps the f-pawn, but leaves xe5 13.g2 a3!? 14.e2 0-0 15.0-0 the black queen in the trap. However, there e7 16.fd1 with a positional plus because is no obvious way for White to exploit this. ] of the 'Catalan bishop', Adrian,C-Karr,J/ 24.xb5 xe1+ 25.xe1 axb5 26.xf7 France 2000. ] [ 11...c6!? is the greedy option, when However, with a pawn and strong bishop for 12.xe5 xh1 13.e4 cuts the queen off t h e e x c h a n g e W h i t e i s d o i n g O K . gf8 27.xf8 xf8 28.d2 d7 29.e3 c8 on h1, and seems pretty unclear. ] 30.c3 c4 31.a3 Everything is defended. 12.d1 f7 33.g4 g6 34.f3 [ 12.xc4 xg4 leaves Black a solid pawn e7 32.f4 White is happy to draw, but ahead. ] [ 34.d4 is possible, to cross the fourth rank, 12...c6 Other moves will allow White some but then c1 35.c3 h1 36.e4 h4 i n i t i a t i v e f o r t h e p a w n . 13.e4 b4! 37.f3 h3+ and the position will be A pertinent novelty, Black goes rook hunting. repeated anyway. ] [ 13...g6 14.d2 ( 14.e3!? ) 14...b5 15.g2 b7 16.0-0 e7 17.c1 b6 the threat of mate on h7. c5+ 32.b1 1-0
1420
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 34...f7 35.e3 g6 ½-½
1416 Timman,Jan H Polgar,Judit VAM Invitational (1) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2650 2671 17.10.1999
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 6.a3 White 'wastes' a move to avoid the ...Bb4 pin, and thereby retains his hold over the centre. c7 [ One of the rarer replies here, although it shouldn't be bad. 6...e7 , ] [ 6...c5 and ] [ 6...d5 are all more popular. ] 7.db5 Just in case Black had ideas of playing ...Nxd4, and ...Bc5. b8 8.g3 a6 9.d4 xd4!? [ Ordinarily, Black tries to avoid dragging the white queen to a better square like this, but it is part of an interesting tactical idea. 9...c7 is more usual, and leads to a slight plus for W hite after 10.g2 e7 11.0-0 e5 12.f4 d6 13.c1 Salov,V-Yudasin,L/ Madrid 1992. ] [ 9...d6?! is passive, 10.g2 d7 11.0-0 e7 12.b3 0-0 13.b2 c8 14.e3 a7 15.e4 Anic,D-Koch,J/ Narbonne 1997, with an edge. ] 10.xd4 b5! This is the sharp point behind B l a c k 's p l a y . S h e p r e p a r e s t o b r in g h e r p ro b le m c 8 -b i s h o p st ra igh t t o t h e h 1 -a 8 diagonal. 11.e4! [ White plays aggressively. 11.g2 b7 12.0-0 leads to nothing for White. In fact, after the further xg2 13.xg2 b7+ 14.f3 bxc4 15.xc4 e7 16.b4 d5 Black even gain ed the upp er han d, beca use of his strong centre, in Tunik,G-Dvoirys,S/Moscow 1996. ] 11...e5! 12.e3 c7!? [ Black counters with the sharpest possibility. 12...b4 13.axb4 xb4 14.g2 b7 seems satisfactory, and less risky. ] 13.cxb5 c5 14.f3 d4 15.g5! [ Embarrassing the f6-knight, and menacing to capture this, followed by playing Nd5. 15.bxa6 xc3+ 16.bxc3 c6 is awkward. ]
15...xc3+ 16.bxc3 xe4! The point. 17.xe4 Clearly forced, but White has calculated well. b7 [ Skewering the queen against the h1-rook. 17...xc3+!? 18.e2 xa1 19.xa8 should be good for White, although his king is a problem. ] 18.b4 Threatening mate on e7, and defending c3 at the same time. f6 The double attack on g5, and h1 will regain Black's piece, but can W hite profit from the time lost capturing one of these? 19.b6 This passed pawn may turn out to be useful. c6 [ Now, Black will have to take the h1-rook with her queen, which leaves her awkwardly placed, but after the alternative 19...d8 White can use his b6-pawn to good effect, 20.e3! xh1 21.b7 b8 22.xa6 c7 23.b1 with a clear advantage. ] 20.0-0-0! White has to complete his development, and leaves his pieces to their fate. xh1 [ T h e o t h e r c a p t u r e , 20...fxg5 is no improvement: 21.h3 d5 22.he1 and White has completed his mobilisation, whereas the black king is trapped in the centre. ] 21.h3 e4 22.d6! White is not interested in the endgame, of course, he has his eyes on the opponent's king. f7! [ Taking the bishop would be suicide, 22...fxg5?? 23.xd7+ f7 24.e6+ g6 25.d5+ winning the queen. ] 23.xd7+ g6 The king tries to escape. 24.e6! hf8 [ Once more, the piece is immune, 24...xg5? 25.xg7+ g6 26.h4+ h5 27.f7 ] 25.e3 The critical position, Black has an exchange for a pawn, but her king is in the line of fire. ad8?? [ An obvious move, attacking the queen, but it loses to an ingenious, and surprising, tactic. Black should have preferred either 25...c6! trying to force the white queen off the h3-c8 diagonal, although after the further 26.d3 White will reasonable chances in this endgame because of the two passed pawns, or ] [ 25...ac8 although the line 26.b2 xc3! 27.f5+ xf5 28.xf5+ xf5 29.xc3 1421
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 should be preferable for White. ] 26.g4!! The unstoppable threat of Bf5+ wins b a c k t h e e x c h a n g e w i t h i n t e r e s t . xd7 27.f5+ xf5 28.gxf5+ xf5 29.xd7 The dust has cleared, and although material is temporarily equal and opposite-colou r bishops are on the board, White's two passed pawns, and rook on the seventh, are sufficient to win. e4 30.xg7 e6 31.b2 d8 32.b3 f5 33.b4 The king aims to support his queenside pawn's advance. f4 34.c5 d7 35.g8 Naturally White must keep his rook on the board, else the endgame would be drawn. b7 36.e8+ f5 37.c4 e4 38.a5 h5 39.b8 White menaces to kill the game immediately with Rxb7, as the b7-bishop does a better job of stopping the pawns than the rook. e3 40.fxe3 f3 41.e4+?! [ 41.xb7! xb7 42.e4+ (to stop the fpawn) xe4 43.xa6 would have been more thematic, and very simple. ] 41...xe4 [ Black takes the opportunity to remove the bishop from attack. 41...xe4? would allow 42.xb7 xb7 43.xa6 once again, i.e. b8 44.a7 g8 45.b7 ] 42.xa6 g4 43.a4 f7 44.a5 h3 [ Unfortunately for Black, winning the piece by 44...f2 45.xf2 xf2 doesn't help much, as after 46.e8 and 47 b7, White reaches a winning rook and pawn ending. ] 45.b7 xh2 46.b6 f6+ 47.a7 f7 48.a6 d3 49.c8 h3 50.b6 f6+ 51.c6 The b-pawn can no longer be stopped. 1-0
1417 Tkachiev,Vladislav Gelfand,Boris FIDE World Cup Gp D (2) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2657 2681 02.09.2000
1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 6.a3 e7 A sensible reply, Black continues his development. 7.g3 [ A typical move in these positions, but quite rare here, 7.e4 is sharper. ] 7...b6 [ Again, perfectly normal, driving the knight f r o m d 4 . T h e c e n t r a l c o u n t e r 7...d5
is met by 8.g2 when White will gain a slight edge by capturing on d5 and inflicting an IQP on Black. ] 8.f3!? [ A l r e a d y a n e w m o v e , 8.db5 seems sharper, e5 9.g2 xc4!? ( 9...a6 10.a4 b8 11.e3 seems to favour White ) 10.a4 a6 ( 10...c5!? ) 11.xc4 axb5 12.xb5 xb5 13.xb5 with a plus to W hite, Kortchnoi,V-Schlosser,P/Brno 1992. ] 8...g4!? The most aggressive reply, the knight will come to e5, to menace the c4-pawn, but meanwhile the threat to f2 obliges White to weaken his light squares. 9.e3 0-0 10.g2 ge5 11.xe5 xe5 12.b3 [ T h e b e s t w a y t o d e f e n d c 4 , 12.e2 allows the infiltration b3 ] 12...f6 Black maintains the threats to the white position. 13.a2 [ 13.b2? xc4 ] 13...d5 A thematic continuation, opening the centre bef ore the white king has castled. 14.cxd5 a6 15.f1!? [ White must guard against the threat of ... Nd3+, bu t perhap s 15.e4 was a better option, although after d8 Black has a ce rt ain pre ssure, a n d th e wh ite k in g is forced to stay in the centre a while. ] 15...f3+! The knight finds another square to check from, and simultaneously discovers the a t t a c k o n c3 f ro m t h e f 6 - b i sh o p . 16.xf3 xc3+ 17.d2 [ This seems premature, but after 17.d2 xd2+ 18.xd2 xa3 19.c4 play is level. ] ½-½
1418 Topalov,Veselin Kramnik,Vladimir FIDE WCh KO Las Vegas USA (4.4) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2690 2760 11.08.99
1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.g3 b4+ A device to break-up the coordination of the white pieces. 6.d2 e7 Black could have played this move immediately, but prefers the white queen's bishop on d2. This leaves the d4-knight is 1422
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 undefended, for one thing. 7.g2 c6 8.f4!? Topalov's preparation. Previously, [ 8.c3 was preferred, e.g. 0-0 9.0-0 d5 10.d2 b6 11.e3 with freer play for the white pieces, Yusupov,A-Gavrikov,V/USSR (ch) 1987. ] 8...0-0 9.c3 a6 In the only previous game I could find in this line, Black played [ 9...d5 10.0-0?! ( 10.cxd5 xd5 11.xd5 exd5 maintains a sound plus for White, wit h o u t ris k .) 10...b6 11.e3 xb2 with complications, Hutters,T-Romanishin,O/ Tastrup 1992. ] 10.0-0 xd4 11.xd4 d6 12.d3 c7 13.fd1 d8 14.ac1 A typical position in this line, but one which is very difficult for Black. Not only has W hite a useful space advantage, but Black has problems completing the mobilization of his queenside pieces. h5 15.d2 b8 16.e4 f6 17.xf6+ xf6 18.f4 The bishop returns to pressurise the d6-pawn. e5 This positional concession is forced, if Black doesn't want to concede his d-pawn. 19.e3 e6 20.b3 h6 21.a4 White clamps-down on the queenside. The ...b5 thrust can be a useful source of counterplay for Black. b6 22.c2 e7 23.d5 d7 24.xe6! Swapping the defender of Black's weak light squares. xe6 Naturally, Black would prefer to avoid this move, which concedes permanent control of d5,butafter [ 24...fxe6?! instead, White continues 25.g6 with a clear advantage. ] 25.f3 b5!? A desperate attempt to break the positional bind, but it grants W hite a useful passed a-pawn. 26.cxb5 axb5 27.a5 d5 The idea of Black's play, he sets his centre in motion, but is it at too great a cost? 28.b6 e4 29.xb5 Objectively speaking, White is winning. His passed queenside pawns are almost sure to triumph, however, this is a r a p i d g a m e ! d6 30.fxe4 d8! Tricky! 31.exd5!? Risky, but in a win-at-all-costs situation White has nothing to lose. [ 31.d3 xb6+ 32.axb6 is safer, but might prove difficult to win. ] 31...xb6+ 32.axb6 e3+ Black has succeeded in drumming-up some play. 33.f1 [ 33.g2?? e4+ wins a rook. ] 33...f6+
[ 33...e4 may be slightly better, e.g. 34.d3 h1+ 35.f2 dxb6 36.d7 f6+ with some play. ] 34.e1 fxb6 [ 34...f2+ 35.d2 fxb6 36.c5 is also good for White. ] 35.c5! bringing the dark squares under control. e4 36.f2 xb3 37.d6 Th is p a wn will be d if f icu lt t o st o p . 8b5? This should have hastened the end. 38.c4!! f3+ Black's last throw. [ 38...xc5 39.xe4 b8 40.d7 wins a rook. ] 39.g1?? A terrible blunder, converting a simple win into a loss. [ 39.e1 leaves all three of Black's major pieces en prise. e8 40.d7 and White wins a rook. ] 39...xe2 40.d4 b2 0-1
1419 Vallejo Pons,Francisco Karjakin,Sergey XII It I Dos Hermanas ESP (2) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2629 2547 29.03.2003
White's play in this game is very impressive, he finds lots of positional moves that create holes in the black Hedgehog set-up. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 6.a3 This move seems to get more and more popular, probably because other moves s e e m t o o f f e r B l a c k e a s i e r p l a y . xd4 7.xd4 b6 8.f4! b7 Normal, we looked at [ 8...d6 in Avrukh,B-Sutovsky,E/ Tel Aviv ISR 2002. ] 9.e4 d6 10.d3 a6 11.0-0 d7 12.g3 Making Black's kingside development somewhat problematic. c7!? This new move intends to improve on the [ 12...g6!? of Lautier,J-Topalov,V, Black defends d6 first, and then hopes to play ...g6 and ...Bg7. ] 13.e3 g6 I suppose that Black has to play this move sooner or later, there are no o b v i o u s u s e f u l w a i t i n g m o v e s . 14.d4 This is the problem, of course, for if Black had time to play his bishop to g7 he would be OK. e5 This move is positionally undesirable, of 1423
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 course, Black weakens the d5-square. [ 14...g8!? is not appealing to a human, as it precludes castling kingside, but may be playable. ] 15.e3 g7 16.d5 d8 [ 16...xd5?! 17.cxd5 is excellent for White who can play Rc1-c6 and infiltrate the cfile. ] 17.h4!? White had more positional methods of proceeding, too, but he decides to play on the kingside in unusual f ashion, h e wants t o inhibit Black's counterplay based on ...f5. 0-0 18.h5 c5 19.h6 h8 Now Black will find it very difficult to play ...f5 as the g-pawn is pinned. 20.b4! This is common in positions where one side has a space advantage, White can play on both wings at once. d7 [ 20...xd3?! 21.xb6 d7 22.xd3 wins a pawn. ] 21.g5!? White plays lots of little moves designed to provoke weaknesses in the black set-up. f6 22.e3 f7 23.e2 This is the point, the passive white bishop can now aim for e6 via g4. f8 To answer Bg4 with ...f5. 24.ad1 f5 25.exf5 gxf5 Black managed to play ... f5, but in far from ideal conditions, as now Bh5 is a big problem as the rook has no squares, and the black king is exposed on the f-file. 26.f4 xd5 Almost forced, [ 26...e4 27.h5 xd5 28.xd5 f6 29.d4 wins easily. ] 27.xd5 f6 28.d3 e4?! [ 28...e4 looks like a better chance, keeping the f-file closed. ] 29.h3 c8 30.h5 f6 31.xb6 The loose black position falls apart. xc4?! 32.fxe5 dxe5 33.xf5 c1+ 34.d1 xh6 35.e3! g7 36.f3 c3 37.h6 Wining the queen. 1-0
1420 Vallejo Pons,Francisco Polgar,Judit It Pamplona ESP (5) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2519 2671 31.12.1999
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 6.a3 Following Timman everyone wants to try their chance against Judith with
this old move of Speelman's! a6 Another rare reply, although perfectly good, of course. 7.g5 [ The normal reply here is 7.e4 aiming for a Hedgehog-type position. Perhaps Black had i n t e n d e d s o m e s h a r p l i n e , l i k e b6!? 8.f3?! ( 8.b3 ) 8...c5 9.c2 g4 10.a4?? ( 10.d1 is forced, but hardly likely to offer White anything) 10...xf2+ 11.e2 d4+ 12.d2? xf3+ 13.gxf3 e3+ 0-1 Murphy,P-Suptut,J/Belconnen 1993, it's mate next move! ] 7...e7 [ A sensible innovation, in Robatsch,K-Hanel, R/AUT-chT 1991, Black played 7...d6 8.e3 e7 9.e2 ] 8.c1 [ The point of Black's new move is revealed after the obvious 8.e4? xe4! 9.xe7 xc3 with advantage. ] 8...a5 9.h4 g5?! An incredibly sharp move, very much in the younger Polgar's style, but probably doubtful. 10.b3! f5 11.g3 h5 12.e3 W h i t e t h r e a t e n s B d 3 . g4 Black continues her aggressive kingside play, and creates a strong 'luf t' f or the queen. 13.d3 g5 14.a4 White calmly plays on the queenside, Nb6 is the menace, infiltrating o n B l a c k ' s w e a k e n e d d a r k s q u a r e s . e5 15.b6 b8 16.h4! gxh3 Black must c o n t i n u e t h i s wa y , f o r i f s h e a l l o w s t h e kingside to become closed she will have no counterplay, and W hite already enjoys a considerable advantage elsewhere. 17.xh3 h4 18.d2 White is planning to play Nf3, and win the h-pawn, but Black has many tricks. g4! Teeing-up tactics on the e3 and g3 squares. [ The swap of h-pawn for g-pawn would s e e m d e s i r a b l e , b u t a f t e r 18...g7? 19.xh4 xh4 20.xh4 xg2 White gains a complete positional bind by 21.xf6! xf6 22.e4 e7 23.c5 ] 19.xc8!? [ This turns-out well, but 19.d5 might be the best move, keeping an eye on the e3square. ] 19...xc8 20.f3 g7 21.f5! [ The point of White's surprising nineteenth m o v e , a n d s u p e r i o r t o 21.xh4?! wh i c h f a l l s i n wi t h B l a c k ' s p l a n s : xh4 1424
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.xh4 xe3 23.fxe3 xh4 as the recapture of the rook allows a queen fork on g3. ] 21...d8 22.xh4 xe3! 23.fxe3 xh4 24.f3 [ If 24.xh4 then xh4 25.xh4 g3+ . ] 24...xg3+ 25.xg3 h6 26.h3 g7 27.g3 h6 28.h3 g7 It appears t Black is happy to draw, which gives White the idea that he might be better! 29.xh8+! xh8 30.e2 White retains an edge because of his superior minor piece, and the ragged black structure. e7 31.b4 h6?! Somewhere around here Black had to find a better defence, as now things start to go very wrong. 32.d1 h4 33.e4 g8 34.f5 d6? [ This loses, but the alternative 34...g4+ 35.xg4 xg4 was not too tempting, either, 36.xd7+! and White grabs a pawn. ] 35.c5! g5 [ I t i s t o o l a t e f o r t h e r e t u r n 35...d8 b e c a u s e o f 36.f1 and the rook is overloaded. ] 36.cxd6+ f8 37.h1! This exchange wins on the spot. xh1 38.xg5 The immediate threat is Bxc6 and d7, queening the pawn. c1 39.f6 c4+ 40.f2 g8 [ If 40...xe4 41.h8# ] 41.g5+ f8 42.h6+ e8 43.f5 a2+ 44.g3 Black must sacrifice her queen to avoid immediate mate by Qh8. 1-0
1421 Van Wely,Loek Hracek,Zbynek Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (4) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2629 2629 02.12.1999
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 6.g3 c5 7.b3 e7 8.g2 b6 [ A lively alternative to the traditional 8...d6 ] 9.0-0 0-0 10.f4 [ The most logical move, pointing at the w e a k e n e d b l a c k d a r k s q u a r e s . 10.d5 despite its aggressive appearance, leads to little after exd5 11.cxd5 b7 12.d6 e8 13.dxe7 xe7 14.e1 e4 Gheorghiu,FTaimanov,M/W ijk 1981, as Black is very
active. ] [ 10.d4 Otherwise, White can aim for a H e d g e h o g p o s i t i o n w i t h b7 11.e4 but White has wasted two moves with his d4knight, which must make Black's life easier ] 10...a6! [ Hit t in g t he c4 -p a wn. A lth o u gh 10...b7 is possible, it is somewhat less ambitious. ] 11.b5 [ O t h e r w i s e , W h i t e c a n t r y 11.d2 but it seems too passive. ] 11...d5! Black keeps up the pressure on the white position, even at the cost of an exchange sacrifice. 12.c7 xc4 13.d2!? [ A surprising new idea. White disdains the immediate capture of the a8-rook, which occurred in the original game Kortschnoj,VFtacnik,L/Ceska Trebova 1997: 13.xa8 xa8 14.c1 e5 ( 14...h6 seems less precise, 15.d4! xd4 16.xc4 c6 17.c1 with an edge, although Black went on to win in Vorisek,J-Orsag,M/CZE 1998) 15.g5 d8 16.e1 h6 17.xf6 xf6 and Black has a pawn, strong centre, and well-placed minor pieces for his investment. ] 13...c8 C l e a r l y f o r c e d . 14.xc4 g5! Without this resource Black would, indeed, have problems. 15.xg5 [ The alternative, 15.e5?! is worse: g4! ( and not 15...xe5 16.xe6 fxe6 17.xe5 when the black structure is loose) 16.b5 gxe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.xa7 c5 19.a4 and Black has a fine position. ] 15...xc7 16.d2 e5! Another precise move. Black's weakened kingside is more than offset by his strong centre, and activity. 17.xf6 [ Sensibly aiming for equality, the line 17.h6?! fd8 18.b3 is far too risky, and after h5 19.e3 g4 Black gains an ascendance. ] 17...xf6 18.b1 fd8 The opposite-colour bishops make this position level. ½-½
1425
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 chances. ] A33 2598 19.c5! d4 20.d3 f3 [ T h e o n l y c h a n c e , 20...f6 21.xf4 2556 leaves Black two pawns behind, and the 19.08.2000 tactical line ] [ 20...e3 21.fxe3 xe3+ 22.h1 xh3 23.xf4 xg2+ 24.xg2 xe2+ 25.f2 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 c6 xb2 fails to 26.xa4 . ] 5.0-0 cxd4 6.xd4 c5 7.b3 e7 8.c4 A f t e r t h i s m o v e p l a y t r a n s p o s e s i n t o a 21.xf3 f6 22.b4 xb4 23.xb4 xh3 After all the fireworks White has a Symmetrical English main line. 0-0 9.c3 d6 24.d1 winning ending, with a solid extra pawn. h5?! 10.f4 a6!? [ 24...d7 had to be played. ] [ A normal move in such positions, Black controls b5 so that he can continue ...Qc7, 25.c6 e6 26.xa4 b8 27.a3 g5 28.c6 29.d4 g4 30.d3 and, possibly, ...Rd8, but b6 is weakened. g7 10...h6 11.c1 e5 12.d2 e6 13.d5 White consolidates easily. c8 31.f3 c2 c8 isn't such a bad plan, as when Black 32.a4 c4 33.a5 xd3 34.xd3 e5 captures (with his bishop) on d5 White will 35.b3 g4 36.b7 h4 37.gxh4 have to recapture with his pawn, but White 1-0 always maintains a plus, Gavrikov,V-Zaitshik, G/Tbilisi 1983, ] 1423 A33 [ 10...h5 is examined in the archives. ] 11.c1! g4 Wells,Peter K 2525 [ A new idea, although the position has Jakovenko,Dmitrij 2608 already been seen in the game Petrosian,T- 6th EICC Warsaw POL (3) 20.06.2005 Bobotsov,M/ Bamberg 1968, although with a [John Watson] tempo less for W hite. Previously, 11...h6 h a d b e e n p l a y e d , w h e n 12.e4 e5 This high-level game f eatures one of the is again possible, 13.e3 a5 14.xa5 oldest main lines of the Symmetrical English. xa5 15.a4! xa4 16.xa4 but this White wins the theoretical battle but his game e n d i n g i s v e r y f a v o u r a b l e t o W h i t e , falls apart for tactical reasons. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 Azma ip a ra sh vili, Z-Ve h i Ba ch , V/ To le d o c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 1991. ] 6.g3 12.a4 Thematic, the b6-square is to be [ Little if anything was gained recently in the occupied. b8 13.h3 b5!? 6.a3 l i n e a f t e r c5 7.e3 ( 7.b3 [ Black provokes wild tactics, if 13...ge5 is the critical move) 7...0-0 8.b4 e7 9.e2 then 14.c5 is awkward, as dxc5 loses the d5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.b2 a5 exchange to 15.xc6 ] Ni Hua-Sundararajan, Dubai 2005 ] 14.cxb5 axb5 15.xc6 bxa4 It seems that 6...b6 7.db5 For many years Black has generated real counterplay. [ 7.b3 was played almost exclusively (and 16.xd6! But White has seen further! xd6 analysed to death) but the text has now 17.xd6 e5?! acquired a large body of practice as well. ] [ Unfortunately for Black, he cannot keep his 7...e5 extra exchange, as 17...b5 18.hxg4 axb3 [ 7...c5 8.g2! xf2+ 9.f1 g4 19.a4! and the rook is forced to move to an ( 9...c5 10.a4 ) 10.d6 leads to a small exposed square. Nevertheless, following the edge for White. ] further xd6! 20.xd6 a5 21.a1 d7 [ 7...a6 has also been played, but I like 22.xf8 xf8 23.a3 xa4 24.xb3 xg4 W h i t e a f t e r 8.e3 , e,g., a5 9.d6+ he has real drawing chances. ] xd6 10.xd6 e4 11.d3 xc3 18.xb8 exf4?! 12.d2! ] [ This is worse than 18...axb3 when 19.xb3 8.f4 exf4 20.hxg4 e6 maintains some [ There have been seemingly hundreds of 1422 Vladimirov,Evgeny Kunte,Abhijit Penta Media GM (6) [Tony Kosten]
1426
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 games with 8.g2 a6 9.a4 b8 10.e3 c5 11.xc5 xc5 12.a3 xa3 13.xa3 , nearly all of them drawn obviously W hite's bishop counts for something, yet Black has two centre pawns versus one and d6 is easy to defend. ] 8...d6?! A move that has failed badly in the past. [ 8...fg4 has been the main move for years, with 9.e3 a6 10.h3 ( 10.c7+ xc7 11.xg4 d6 --or 11...Qxc4-- 12.xe5 dxe5 13.e4 d7 14.d3 0-0-0= Hoover-J W a t s o n , O a k B r o o k 2 0 0 3) 10...axb5 11.hxg4 xc4 12.b3= being the main line with what I think are roughly equal chances. Bo th sid es might wa n t t o loo k in to th is va ria t io n as a p o te n tia l wa y t o ga in a n advantage. Even the end position has a number of interesting possibilities. ] 9.g2 fg4 A strange and different order, at least this is a bit better than earlier disasters. Did Black just mix up his lines? A well-known miniature was [ (a) 9...a6? 10.a4 fd7?? 11.c5! xc5 ( 11...xc5 12.e3 ) 12.xd6+ e7 13.d5+ 1-0 L Hansen-De Firmian, D e n m a r k 1 9 9 8 . M a t e f o l l o w s exd5 ( 13...xd6 14.xe5+ xe5 15.f4# ) 14.e8+ xd6 15.xe5# ] [ (b) 9...e7 10.c5! ] 10.0-0!? [ More aggressive is 10.e4! xc4 11.b3 with a strong initiative. ] 10...a6 11.a4! [ 11.d4 g6 isn't as convincing. ] 11...d8 12.a3 g6 13.d2! b8 [ 13...e7 14.b3 is only somewhat better White is still on top. ] 14.c5?! A little too fancy. Easier was simply [ 14.h3 f6 15.e3 with some advantage. ] 14...dxc5 15.c4 4e5! [ 15...b5? 16.a5! xd1?? ( 16...e7 17.xc5! ) 17.fxd1 and oddly enough White is winning with threats like Bc7 and Bc6+. ] 16.xe5 [ 16.cb6 ] 16...xe5 17.f4 c7 18.c1 b6 [ 18...d7!? 19.xc5 xc5 20.b4 b6 21.bxc5 bxc5 is also unclear. ] 19.b4 d7 20.bxc5 bxc5 21.c2! c4?!
[ Better 21...b5 22.fd1 f6! 23.c3 ] 22.fd1 b4 23.b2! f6 24.a3!? [ Very strong was 24.xe5 fxe5 25.a3 b5 26.xc4 , b a se d u p o n t h e t a c t i c c5 (threatening ...Bb5) 27.h3! This was not easy to see. ] 24...b5 25.xe5?! [ Maintaining some advantage was 25.xc4 xc4! ( 25...c5 26.b3! ) 26.xc4 xc4 27.xc4 c5 28.cd4 b5 29.d8+ f7 30.d6 ] 25...xe5 26.xc4 c5 27.d2?? [ Whit should have played 27.e4 e7 ] 27...a4-+ Suddenly the game is over. Black threatens to win a whole rook. 28.e3 xd1 29.xe6+ e7 30.xd1 xc4 31.d5 c1 32.xc1 xc1+ 33.g2 c7 34.f7+ d8 35.xg7 f8 36.xh7 f5 37.h4 e5 38.f3 f6 39.e4 h8 0-1
1424 Wojtaszek,Radoslaw Areshchenko,Alexander POL-UKR m 6th (2.3) [Fier, Alexandr]
A33 2724 2701 08.05.2014
Both players go for a slightly different kind of Maroczy. W hite played well and got some good opportunities in the middlegame, but he m iss e d s o m e t a ct ics o n t h e wa y. I t h in k Black's rook belongs on e8 instead of d8. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 6.a3 c5 7.b3 e7 8.e4 c7 A logical move which is rarely played in this position. Basically it will transpose to lines where the bishop goes directly to e7 and the queen goes to b6-c7. [ 8...0-0 is the main move and after 9.e2 b6 10.0-0 a6 11.f4 d6 12.e3 c8 13.e1 is quite interesting and was analysed by me in Banusz, T (2595)Georgescu, T (2419)/ROM-chT Mamaia 2013 (4.5). ] 9.e2 0-0 10.e3 b6 11.0-0 Both players use this faze to just finish their development. a6 This move is also thematic, putting some pressure on the c4-pawn 12.f4 d6 13.c1 ac8 14.d2 b8 15.b4 b7 16.d3 [ 16.g4 is thematic, and Black usually has 1427
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 resources to defend fe8 17.g5 d7 18.e1 a5 with chances for both players ] [ 16.b3 against this positional approach Black has a good way to reorganize the pieces a8 17.f3 b8!? 18.d3 bd7 and we have a normal Maroczy position ] 16...fd8?! I don't like this move. Black can't play ...d5 so easily and on e8 the rook usually helps the defence more. [ 16...fe8 would be my choice, and Black has an extra option of playing the thematic 17...e5 17.f3 e5 18.d5 and now Black's r o o k o n e 8 i s m u c h b e t t e r p l a c e d exf4 19.xf4 e5 20.h3 d8 with a complex position ] 17.f3 d7 [ 17...e5 now this plan doesn't make much sense 18.d5 and now the rook would be b e t t e r p l a c e d o n e 8 exf4 19.xe7+ and Black can't take with the rook xe7 20.xf4 g6 21.g5 and Black already faces serious problems ] 18.h3 f8 19.b5 White's idea is to force the knight to go far from e5 before playing 20. f5. However, there was an interesting alternative: [ 19.g4 does not work so well here because Black has time to open the center f6 20.g5 xc3 21.xc3 d5 and after this move Black has solved all his problems 22.exd5 exd5 23.f5 e5 with good counterplay ] [ 19.d5!? exd5 20.exd5 f6 21.e4 A) 21...d4 22.ce1! an amazing move, really hard for a human to find. Now White can stay with a piece down. The basic idea is to always take on e3 with a rook ( 22.dxc6 xe3+ 23.xe3 xc6 24.f5 d5 25.g5 gives White some advantage, but it's not clear ) A1) 22...e8 insists on giving up the piece, but it's a better version for White compared to 22.dxc6 23.dxc6 xe3+ 24.xe3 xc6 25.f6+!? a l r e a d y o p e n i n g t h e p o s i t i o n gxf6 26.g3+ g6 ( 26...h8 27.h6 g6 28.h3 wins ) 27.f5 e4 28.fxg6 fxg6 29.xe4 xe4 30.xf6 and Black's king is in more danger than White's.; A2) 22...xe3+ 23.xe3! d4 24.f5! and White just goes for the attack and somehow Black's position is already
hopeless! c7 ( 24...f6 25.xf6+ gxf6 26.g3+ h8 27.h6 is mate ) 25.f6 c8 26.h5 and the pressure is impossible to resist; B) 21...b2 22.c2 xa3 should not work, the bishop is out of play and White is ready for a decisive attack 23.g5 h6 24.dxc6 xc6 25.xf7! and again White has no direct threat, but Black's position is undefendable xf7 26.f5! g8 27.f6 c7 28.fxg7 xg7 29.d4 and Black's position will soon collapse ] 19...a5 20.f5 f6 [ 20...e5 is just awful 21.d5 xd5 22.exd5 a n d W h i t e wi ll u s e t h e e 4 -s q u a re wi t h pleasure ] 21.fxe6 fxe6 22.xf6! A really strong idea if W h i t e p l a ys t h e r i g h t c o n t i n u a t i o n . gxf6 23.h6? But now White misses the point. [ 23.f1 c7 24.e2! this idea is important ( 24.xf6 g7 and White loses material) 24...f7 ( 24...g7 25.g3 ) 25.f4 c5 26.h4 with some pressure ] [ 23.d5! was an amazing move. White is a full rook down, but Black has all his pieces p o o r l y p l a c e d o n t h e q u e e n s i d e exd5 24.exd5 the position is really hard to evaluate during the game. White's attack is not that fast, but with normal moves he will increase the pressure until there is no way to defend A) 24...e8 also makes sense, trying to put the rook on e5 25.g4+ h8 26.d4 e5 27.h4 and there is no good way to defend f6 c7 ( 27...g7 28.e4 just makes things worse for Black) 28.f1 e7 29.xf6 g8 30.f4 with the idea of 31.Nf3 and a nice advantage; B) 24...d7 25.e4 f7 26.d4 d7 27.f1 and finally the f6 pawn is going to fall c7 ( 27...cf8 28.xf6+ xf6 29.xf6 with the idea of 30.Rg6+ wins) 28.g4+ g7 ( 28...h8 29.e6 f8 30.xf6++- ) 29.e6+ h8 30.xd6 and Black is unable to resist the attack ] [ 23.d4 looks a bit slow, but it's also playable e5 24.e3 and White will bring the c3-knight into the game ] 23...c7 24.f1 e7 25.e5? Now Black is winning, maybe W hite overlooked the idea 28...Rxd3. 1428
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 25.e2 was still ok d7 26.f4 h8 17.hxg3 h5 gives Black good counterplay, ( 26...e8 27.h5 f7 28.xf6 xf6 Wojtkiewicz, A-Gulko,B/Kona 1998. ] 29.g5 g7 ) 27.xe6 g8 28.e3 e5 [ 14.g3 c7 ( 14...fxg3!? 15.h3 xf2 29.d4 ] 16.xd7+ e8 is messy ) 15.d4 fxg3 25...dxe5 26.de4 xe4 27.xe4 f5 ( 15...xf2 16.g1 fxg3?! 17.xg3 28.g5 a n d t h e k n i g h t i s t r a p p e d) 16.h3 [ 28.g5 xc4 and White's attack is going (menace: Rxd7+) h5 17.hxg3 f5 18.xg4 nowhere ] hxg4 19.dd1 e6 is level, Mijailovic,Z28...xd3 And now it's over, White just loses a Vratonjic,S/Kragujevac YUG 2000. ] piece. 29.xd3 fxe4 30.g3 g7 31.h4 14...e3 15.d4 c5! Computer-aided xc4 32.h6 g6 33.g5 d7 34.h4 e3 pre p a ra tio n , I be t ! P re vio u sly Bla c k h a d 0-1 defended the f-pawn: [ 15...g5 16.e4 ( 16.g3!? fxg3?! 17.hxg3 f5? loses on the spot to 18.xd7+! xd7 1425 A33 19.h3 Simutowe,A-Borisek,J/Bled SLO 2002 ) 16...h6 ( 16...e7!? 17.xg5 hd8 Wojtkiewicz,Aleksander 2559 angles for a mate on d1, W ojtkiewicz, AZvjaginsev,Vadim 2654 Gritsak,O/Zakopane chT 2000) 17.c5 FIDE WCh KO Tripoli LBA (2.3) 22.06.2004 d5 18.g3 f5 with chances to both sides, [Tony Kosten] Wojtkiewicz,A-Mulyar,M/San Francisco USA 2001. ] 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 6.db5 Something of a 16.xf4 f5 The point, the rook is misplaced, speciality of Wojtkewicz, although as far as I and ...g5 is on the cards, trapping the poor can see he uses it mainly to draw. d5 7.f4 creature. 17.h4 b8 At the cost of a pawn e5 8.cxd5 exf4 9.dxc6 bxc6 10.xd8+ Black has a useful bind on the white position. xd8 11.0-0-0+ d7 12.d6 xd6 18.b3 b6 19.g4 b4! 20.xb4 cxb4 21.d1 xd1 22.xd1 fxg4 23.fxg4 xg4 We looked at the more ambitious [ 12...c7 in Pelletier-Macieja, a short while 24.h3 After the exchange of bishops a drawn rook and pawn endgame is reached. ago. ] 13.xd6 g4! To my mind this move is the ½-½ most logical, asking the question of the f2pawn which is no longer defended by the 1426 A34 white king, although [ 13...e7 i s c o m m o n : 14.d4 Agrest,Evgenij 2602 simply attacking f4, d5!? ( 14...g5 15.g3 Svensson,Bengt 2377 fxg3 16.hxg3 h5 17.g2 favours White, ch Gothenburg SWE (10) 20.07.2004 B o r g o , G - V a l e n t i , G / M i l a n I T A 2 0 0 1) [Tony Kosten] 15.d1!? ( 15.xd5+ must be best, cxd5 16.xf4 hc8+ 17.d2 ab8 18.b3 c5 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 with counterplay is the point - the white xd5 5.e4 b4 6.c4 d3+ 7.e2 f4+ k i n g s i d e i s c o m p l e t e l y u n d e v e l o p e d) 8.f1 e6 9.b4 g6 We have seen this pawn 15...e6 16.g3 c5 with a good position, sacrifice before (in Vallejo Pons, F-Leko,P), Bilek, I-Jansa,V/Harrachov 1966. ] and in view of the problems Black faces when [ 13...d5!? is also possible immediately: he plays the mainline 14.xd5 cxd5 15.e3!? ( 15.xd5 e7 [ 9...cxb4 10.e2 it doesn't seem like a bad 16.e4 is critical) 15...e7 16.a6?! fxe3 idea. ] 17.fxe3 f5 18.d2 hb8 19.b3 b6 10.xe6! xe6 11.bxc5 g7 12.d4 c6 with the initiative, Ragozin, E-Portisch,L/ 13.e3 a5 Oviedo 1993. ] [ 13...c4+ 14.g1 a5 was the exact 14.f3 This weakens e3, otherwise: move-order of the Vallejo game, but this [ 14.d1 c7 15.d4 g5 16.g3 fxg3 transposes. ] 1429
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.c1 [ 14.e2 c4 15.c1 xa2 16.d5 d8 1/2-1/2 Pajkovic,V-Horvath,J/Niksic 1996, although 17.d2 xe2+ 18.xe2 d4 19.c4 looks favourable to White because of his impressive pawn structure. ] [ 14.d2?! 0-0-0 15.c1 f5 16.exf5?! gxf5 was good for Black in Ftacnik,L-Pinter,J/ Prague 1985. ] 14...0-0-0!? An important novelty. [ 14...c4+ 15.g1 0-0-0 16.b1! led to a comfortable white win in Vallejo Pons,F-Leko,P/Linares ESP 2003, see my analysis in the archives. ( 16.b1 )] 15.h3 This stops ...Bg4 when the d4-pawn would be in trouble, but [ 15.d5! i s c r i t i c a l : xc3 ( 15...g4?! 16.b3 xf3 17.gxf3 e5 18.c6 is crushing) 16.c2 f6 17.dxe6 fxe6 18.c4 and White has an edge, his king can always find refuge on g2 (after playing g3), or even e2, and meanwhile the black pawn formation is not too good. ] 15...f5! Black has to hit the white centre before White can unpin the d-pawn. 16.exf5 gxf5 17.g1 Very human play, White is worried about his king and unconnected rooks, so the king heads for h2. [ 17.e2! is superior, with indirect threats to the e6-bishop: b4 ( 17...g8 18.d3 hits f5 with gain of tempo) 18.g1 hf8 19.h6!? c4 20.e3 and White might still have a small plus. ] 17...hf8 18.e2 g8 The difference between this line and the previous note is that the black king's rook is on f8 instead of being blocked-in on h8! 19.h2 c7+ [ 19...e5!? is an alternative, 20.dxe5 xe5 opening the position for the black bishops, but White can try 21.b5!? xf3+ 22.gxf3 with threats of c6 and Nd6+. ] 20.g1 A tacit draw offer. Objectively White should play [ 20.g3 but it was understandable that he wa s wo r r ie d a b o u t t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n f4! 21.xf4 xf4 22.gxf4 xf4+ 23.g2 xd4 when his king position looks a bit 'windy'. ] 20...a5?! In view of the rating difference Black is happy to repeat moves, but he can certainly continue here with [ 20...f4! 21.d2 ( 21.b5 a5 22.d2
xa2 23.h2 a6 ) 21...xd4 22.xd4 xd4 as he can answer 23.b5 with the neat tactic f3! 24.gxf3 g3+ 25.f1 xf3 and only Black can hope to win this. ] 21.h2 c7+ 22.g1 a5 ½-½
1427 Akesson,Ralf Votava,Jan Rilton Cup Stockholm SWE (5) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2535 2497 02.01.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.d4 cxd4 [ A reasonable choice, 5...xc3 6.bxc3 g6 transposes to a Gruenfeld, of course. ] 6.xd4 xc3 7.xc3 c6 8.e4 g4 9.e3!? [ An interesting departure from the usual 9.b5 with c8 10.e3 xf3 11.gxf3 a6 12.d1 c7 13.xc6+ xc6 14.d4 and White has more freedom, Portisch,LHuebner,R/Montreal 1979, 1-0 (39). ] 9...xf3 10.gxf3 a6 To stop White from entering the previous line. 11.d1 c7 12.g1!? e6 13.a3 There was a nasty threat of ...Bb4 to deal with. d8?! [ Just how can Black complete his development? He decides that, as castling kingside is impossible because of the attack on the g-pawn, his king will head for the queenside. Perhaps he should have 'taken t h e b u l l b y t h e h o r n s ' w i t h 13...xh2!? 14.g3 h5 and there is no immediate win in sight for W hite, if 15.g5 then h2 intending to return to c7, and then push his h-pawn. ] 14.xd8+ xd8 [ Best, if 14...xd8? 15.xa6 ] 15.f4 c8 16.d3 f6? [ This attempt to develop the f8-bishop weakens e6, an alternative was 16...g8 intending ...g6, keeping the pawn structure in ta ct, a lth o ugh W hite is clea rly b e tt e r anyway. ] 17.c4 d8 18.b3 c6 19.e2! The rook must be brought into the attack. xe4 20.c1 d7 [ If 20...c6 21.b6 with the decisive threat 1430
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 of Bxa6. ] 21.f3 [ White still maintains a powerful initiative after this, but the pretty 21.b5+! axb5 22.xb5+ wins immediately, c6 23.xc6 bxc6 24.b8 followed by the march of the apawn to a8. ] 21...f5 22.b6 e8 23.d3 d5 [ 23...h3!? ] 24.c8 d6?! [ 24...e7 25.c4 d7 26.xe6 d6 is also pretty grim for Black, but still has to be won. ] 25.xb7 e7 26.xa6 xa6 27.xa6 This ending is hopeless for Black. h5 28.a4 [ 28.b5+ f7 29.c7 f8 30.d7 leaves Black completely tied-up. ] 28...h4 29.b5+ f7 30.b6 h5!? 31.xd8?! [ Falling for a trick, 31.xd8 xd8 32.xd8 would force resignation. ] 31...h8 32.a5 [ 32.xe7 xc8 33.a3 c2+ 34.e3 xh2 would allow some counterplay. ] 32...xd8 33.c6 b8 34.c4 xb2+ 35.d3 Now material is equal, but White is still winning. b4 36.a6 xh2 37.a7 d2+ 38.e3 d8 39.xe6+ e7 40.c8 The a-pawn can't be stopped. d2+ 41.e2 1-0
1428 Akopian,Vladimir Ruck,Robert 3rd Amplico AIG Life [Tony Kosten]
A34 2684 2551 20.12.2003
16.xf4 e5 Otherwise White plays Bd6. 17.c2 [ 17.c1! is possibly even better, winning a pawn, as e6 is met by 18.xc5! xc5 19.xa8 xa8 20.d4 winning material. ] 17...e6 18.xe5 This weakens the black s t r u c t u r e . fxe5 19.c4! h8 20.d5! W hite infiltrates on the light squares - the threat to the e5-pawn can hardly be parried. d4 T h e re is n o t h in g b e t t e r . 21.xc5 xe2+?! Black had been relying on this move to maintain material equality, but objectively [ 21...xc5 22.xc5 c6 23.xc6 xc6 would be best, although Black is a pawn down for nothing. ] 22.h1 fe8 [ 22...xc5? 23.xc5 xf1+? 24.xf1 attacks both rook and bishop, and as d8 25.xd7 xd7?? is impossible because of 26.f8# Black loses material. ] 23.d6 [ 23.ae1! d4 24.d6 is possibly even stronger - Rxe5 is the main threat, e.g. ab8 25.xe5! xe5? 26.f7+ forking king and queen and winning. ] 23...ab8? This is hopeless, although, to be fair, the best move [ 23...ac8 is scarcely any improvement: 24.d5 (the d6-knight was pinned) c6 25.xc8 xc8 26.f7 an White has an extra exchange. ] 24.f7 e6 25.af1 By defending the f7-rook W hite renews the menace to the e8-rook. ed8 26.7f2 The rook returns to attack the knight, and simultaneously vacates the f7square for a knight fork. 1-0
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 A34 5.g2 c6 6.c3 c7 7.d3 e5 8.d2 1429 Akopian,Vladimir 2654 d7 9.0-0 e7 10.c4 f6 11.f4 This, the Ruck,Robert 2557 sharpest line in Rubinstein's System, has 09.06.2001 already been examined in some detail in a 2nd IECC Ohrid MKD (8) previous game between these two players. b5 [Tony Kosten] 12.e3 exf4 13.f5! b4 14.xe7 xe7 15.e4 0-0? A poor novelty, we had 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 c6 4.g2 d5 previously considered the move 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c3 c7 7.d3 e5 d7 [ 15...e6 which covers c5 and f4, 16.gxf4 Th e m a in lin e Rub inst ein . 8.d2 f5! and this seems fine for Black, see the The threat of Bxc6+ had to be faced. 9.0-0 game Akopian-Ruck. W hat had Akopian e7 10.c4 f6 [ The pawn-sac line 10...0-0 is under a bit of prepared? ] 1431
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a cloud, see the archives. ] 11.f4 b5 12.e3 exf4 [ The sharpest reply, 12...c8 was also examined in the archives. ] 13.f5!? [ White exploits the tactical contours of the position. 13.gxf4 b8 14.a4 is an alternative possibility. ] 13...b4 [ Lautier's move. 13...fxg3 is risky, 14.xg7+ f7 15.f5 gxh2+ 16.h1 with attacking chances. ] 14.xe7 xe7 15.e4 [ The recapture 15.xf4!? is also playable, bxc3 16.xc7 c8 17.f4 cxb2 18.b1 0-0 19.xb2 White may even have an edge, Akopian,V-Leko,P/Ubeda 1997. ] 15...e6 [ Or 15...fxg3!? 16.f4 e5 17.c1 with a stron g initiative , e6 18.xe5 ( 18.xg3!? ) 18...fxe5 19.e3 gxh2+ 20.h1 which is quite unclear, Nikolaidis,ILautier,J/Erevan olm 1996. ] 16.gxf4 White keeps his dark-squared bishop, of course it can come to f4 after W hite continues with f5, driving the e6-knight back. f5! [ Attempting to improve on 16...0-0 17.f5 (this pawn will hinder the d7-bishop) ed4 18.g3 ac8 White's bishops give him a small plus in this strategically complicated position, Minasian, A-Grosar,A/Pula 1997. ] 17.g3 0-0 18.a3 ab8 19.axb4 xb4 Although Black's pawn structure is ragged, the c5-pawn controls the important d4-square, and his pieces have free-play. 20.a6 d6 21.e3 b6 22.a3 b4! White's e3 topped black knights from landing on d4, but now the d 3 - p a w n i s a t a r g e t . 23.xa7?! xd3 24.c2 b5 25.d1 c4? [ Black misses the simple tactic 25...exf4! as 26.exf4?? is impossible: d4+ 27.h1 f2+ ] 26.b3 b8? [ 26...c5 27.bxc4 dxf4?! drops the e x c h a n ge t o ( 27...xc4 ) 28.f2! xg2 29.a3 ] [ but the simple 26...cxb3 27.xb3 c5 k e p t t h e b e t t e r c h a n c e s f o r B la c k - h i s pawn structure is more solid. ] 27.a8 cxb3
[ 27...c7 loses the f-pawn after 28.xf8+ xf8 29.bxc4 xc4 30.xc4 ] 28.xb3 xa8?! [ Again, if 28...c7 29.xf8+ eliminates the defence of f5. ] 29.xa8 dc5?! Black must have been very short of time, as this queen sac is hopeless. 30.a3 a6 31.b4 a4 32.d5! xd1 33.xc5 f3 Black's last fling. 34.c4 1-0
1430 Akopian,Vladimir Svidler,Peter FIDE GP Astrakhan RUS (3) [Nigel Davies]
A34 2694 2735 12.05.2010
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 g7 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 c5 8.b3 b6 9.d3 [ 9.a3 is also possible here, transposing into the game Kramnik-Mamedov in which 8. Qa4 was played rather than 8.Qb3. This also doesn't look like an advantage f or W hite though Black needs to defend accurately. ] 9...c6 10.b5 d7 11.e3 a6 [ Another possibility is 11...d4 when 12.xd4 cxd4 13.e4 b6 looks fine for Black. ] 12.a4 [ 12.c4 b5 13.h4 is also quite annoying for Black. ] 12...b8 13.ac1 d4 14.xd4 [ And not 14.xd4? as after cxd4 15.xd4 b5 16.b4 a5 Black wins a piece. ] 14...cxd4 15.e4 b6 16.a3 d5 17.b3 This kind of position shouldn't be worse for Black because of his long term trumps of two bishops and space. But he has to be careful because of White's active pieces. a5 [ 17...b6 followed by 18.. .Bb7 is well worth considering. ] 18.c5 b4 19.a3 e6 20.a4 d7 [ 20...b6 would probably lead to the same result af ter 21.cc1 d7 22.b3 e6 23.a4 etc. ] 21.b3 [ 21.xa5 b6 wins material. ] 1432
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21...e6 22.a4 d7 23.b3 ½-½
1431 Anton Guijarro,David Bok,Benjamin Skopje Karpos op (6) [Fier, Alexandr]
A34 2559 2575 02.04.2014
Once again we take a look at 5.e4 in the Symmetrical English. This time White avoided the main theoretical lines with 9.b4, instead playing the slow 9.d3. Black left the opening without problems, but missed some good opportunities in time trouble. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 6.c4 The main line, White allows 6...Nd3+, s a yi n g t h a t t h e d e ve l o p m e n t a d va n t a g e compensates his king being in the center. [ 6.b5+ was seen here last month in Grigoriants, S (2574)-Volokitin, A (2674)/ 15th ch-EUR Indiv 2014 2014 (8.22). ] 6...d3+ 7.e2 f4+ 8.f1 e6 This position is known since a long time ago and it was always a bit dangerous for Black. I think if he can survive the next 10, 15 moves without any serious problems he should be better because of his control over the d4square. Of course, it's not an easy task and White has many ways to try to exploit Black's lack of development. 9.d3 A slow approach, opening the bishop and holding the center together. [ 9.b4 is the critical move, and after cxb4 10.e2 c5!? was an interesting idea ( 10...c7 is more common) 11.c2 e6 12.d4 analyzed in Schebler, G (2535)Mueller, K (2500)/Bundesliga 2006-7. ] [ 9.e5 is an immediate assault, which can lead to an quick endgame g6 10.a4+ d7 11.xd7 xd7 12.xe6 fxe6 13.xd7+ xd7 and White tries to play against the doubled pawns, but Black should be ok in this complex position, as seen in Vigorito, D-Mikhalevski, V/American Open 2003. ] [ 9.d4 is the most direct approach, and this idea does not look great, but it has some poison cxd4 10.xe6 xe6 11.xd4 c4+ 12.g1 was analyzed in Vul, A (2423)-Van Opheusden, B (2190)/Essent Open
Hoogeveen NED 2005. ] 9...g6 A natural move. [ 9...c6 was the choice of Svidler against Jakovenko last year 10.h4 h5 ( 10...ed4 11.f4 e6 is also possible) 11.g5 g6 12.xe6 xe6 13.xe6 fxe6 with chances for both sides, Jakovenko, D (2719)-Svidler, P (2740)/EU-Cup 29th Rhodes 2013 (4.1). ] 10.h4 h6 Black doesn't want to allow 11.Ng5. 11.a4 g7 12.e3 [ 12.xe6 makes little sense, the pawn is not w o r t h t h e l i g h t - s q u a r e d b i s h o p xe6 13.xc5 g4 and Black has huge compensation ] 12...c7!? A clever way to defend the pawn, the bishop on c4 has few squares, so Black prepares ...b6-b5. 13.c3 [ 13.xc5!? this was possible and would lead to an uncontrollable chaos b6 14.a4+ f8 15.h5! bxc5 accepting the challenge ( 15...g5!? would be my choice, forgetting about the piece 16.b3 d7 17.a3 b5 18.d5 xd5 19.exd5 a5 20.bd4 a6 with compensation, in an unclear position) 16.hxg6 fxg6 17.h4 e8 18.xe8+ xe8 19.xg6 h7 20.xc5 and White has 3 pawns and active play for the piece, but if Black is able to get out his pieces he can be better ( 20.g8 xb2! this is the idea 21.b1 g7 and Black is fine )] [ 13.xc5? b5 is just bad for White ] 13...e6 14.h3 c6 Now Black is supposed to be ok, there are no threats and the control over d4 is quite important. 15.g1 ed4 16.g3 e6 17.b5 Trying to create some play against Black's center. After 16... e6 the bishop was not doing much anyway and the knight on d4 is a strong piece. xb5 18.xb5 a6 19.c3 b6 20.d2 So far White is avoiding Black's castle, but the position is without much perspective. If one day the position opens the bishops are going to be more powerful than White's knights e5 A committal move, as we are going to see later, the d5-square can be a problem. [ 20...a7!? was a nice idea, just bringing the rook into the game 21.a3 d7 22.d1 a5 and Black is slightly better ] 21.a3 a5 22.d1 d4 An concrete move, but now W hite starts to have counterplay. 23.b4 xf3+ 24.xf3!? White gives the 1433
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 exchange to have the d5-square. The rook was a bit loose on g3 and the light-squared bishop is the most important of Black pieces. [ 24.gxf3 was also playable cxb4 25.d5 b8 26.h5 g5 ( 26...e6 27.hxg6 f5 is an interesting alternative) 27.axb4 0-0 28.bxa5 bxa5 and White has equalized, the other pieces compensates the bad rook on g3 ] 24...g4 25.bxc5 xf3 26.xf3 bxc5 Finally Black has a material advantage, but in the last few moves he managed to exchange both strong knights, the active bishop and he closed the long diagonal, so W hite can be happy with the beginning of the middlegame. 27.h5?! There is no need to give the d3-pawn. [ 27.d5 0-0 28.xc5 e8 29.h5 would be the same idea with a pawn on d3 ] 27...xd3 28.d5 0-0 29.d1 [ 29.c1 c4 30.c3 b1+ 31.c1 b7 is good for Black since if 32.xc4 fc8 activates the rook ] [ 29.g4 is a b e t t e r t r y h7 ( 29...g5 30.xc5 fd8 is probably the best, but White has the white squares now) 30.d1 and Black needs to take care. For example: xa3 31.f6+!? xf6 32.hxg6+ h8! ( 32...g7 33.gxf7+ xf7 34.d7+ e7 35.b7 and the attack is really strong c4 36.f5+ e8 37.g6+ f7 38.c6+ f8 39.xh6+ g7 40.g3 and White is better) 33.xh6 fxg6 34.xg6 ( 34.xf8 xf8 35.xg6 g7 36.h2 ) 34...a4 35.d6! the only move to keep the attack going e8 36.f5 e7 37.xf8 xf8 38.e6 with enough compensation for a draw ] 29...a6 Black tries to defend the f6-square, but now White can recover all the material. [ 29...xa3! was better, returning the exchange 30.f6+ ( 30.c1 c4 ) 30...h8 31.d7 c4 32.xf8 xf8 33.d7 g5! 34.xf7 d6 and Black's pawns are too dangerous ] 30.xc5 fe8 Another inaccuracy due to time trouble. [ 30...fd8 31.e7+ h7 32.xd8 xd8 33.xf7 gxh5 34.f5 f6 35.a7 and Black is still ok according the computer ] 31.hxg6 fxg6 [ 31...b7 32.gxf7+ xf7 33.g4 h7 is also good for White ]
32.c7 c6 33.b3+ h7 34.xe8 xe8 35.f7 Now White is no material down and the attack continues. c8 36.d7 xd7 A desperate try, but Black won't be able to create a fortress because of the a-pawn. [ 36...g8 wouldn't be enough either 37.d5 xd5 38.exd5 g5 39.d6 g6 40.a7 f6 41.g4 with a clear advantage to White ] 37.xd7 xc5 38.a7 c4 39.xa5 xe4 40.a4 c4 41.b5 c1+ 42.h2 e4 [ 42...f8 won't help 43.b7+ h8 44.a5 c5 45.b8+ h7 46.c7+ g8 47.a6+- ] 43.a5 c7 44.a4 a7 45.a6 h5 46.g3 h6 47.g2 f6 48.c6 d8 49.f1 a5 50.e2 h7 51.e3 g7 52.xe4 f7 53.c5 e1 54.a7 xf2 55.e5+ 1-0
1432 Aronian,Levon Caruana,Fabiano 74th Tata Steel GMA (9) [John Bartholomew]
A34 2805 2736 24.01.2012
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.e3 f6 5.d4 We last discussed this important line in December 2011. [ F o r e x t e n s i v e c o v e r a g e o f 5.e2 see Svidler, P (2755)-Nepomniachtchi, I (2730)/Moscow RUS 2011/[John Bartholomew]. ] 5...cxd4 [ 5...e4!? is more ambitious. Salvador, R (2500)-Jobava, B (2678) / Milano ITA 2011/ [John Bartholomew]. ] 6.exd4 e4 7.e5 b4 8.e2 a5 9.0-0!? This pawn sacrifice probably caught Aronian's eye when GM Rainer Buhmann used it with success midway through 2011. [ Usual is 9.xc6 , but it's notoriously difficult for White to generate winning chances here. A couple recent games have confirmed this assessment: dxc6 10.0-0 0-0 11.d2 e8 12.a3 xc3 13.xc3 g5 14.c1 g6 ( or Sulskis's 14...e3 15.fxe3 g4! , i. e. 16.f3 xe3+ 17.xe3 xe3 18.xg4 xg4 19.h3 f6 20.ae1 ae8 21.f2 xe1 22.xe1 xe1 23.xe1= Grischuk, A (2752)-Dominguez Perez, L (2712)/ Beijing 1434
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 CHN 2011. ) 15.f4 ( 15.e3 g4 Cobb, C (2405)-Cvitan, O (2491)/ Saint Vincent 2005/[John W atson].) 15...g4 16.fe1 xe2 17.xe2 h5 18.h4 f5 Heberla, B (2539)-Oral, T (2526)/Czech Republic CZE 2012. ] 9...xe5 The most direct way to accept. [ There's also 9...xc3 A) 10.bxc3 xc3 11.xc6 c o u l d t r a n s p o s e a f t e r ( 11.e3!? ) 11...dxc6 ( but definitely not 11...xa1? 12.d2! dxc6 13.a3 xf1+ 14.xf1+- ); B) 10.xc6 dxc6 11.bxc3 xc3 , which is more commonly reached via 9. Nxc6 dxc6 10.0-0 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Qxc3. W hite has superb compensation after 12.b1 , i.e. ( 12.g5!? Costello, C (1983)Bonafont, P (2135)/Ascot ENG 2011 ) B1) 12...a5 13.d2 c7 14.b4 b6 15.a4 ( 15.e1 ) 15...d7?! 16.fe1 f5 Miton, K (2616)-Jakubowski, K (2502)/ W a r s a w P O L 2 0 1 1 . N o w 17.f3 gives White a tremendous initiative.; B2) 12...0-0 13.b3 a5 14.g3!? f5 Bertholee, R (2360) -Polgar, J (2540)/ Amsterdam 1990 and now (for instance) 15.g5 ] 10.dxe5 xe5 11.d2 c5 [ 11...0-0? allows 12.xe4 ] [ 11...a5!?N creates more weaknesses in the Black position, but I think it's worth a look, i. e. 12.a3 c5 13.a4 ( or 13.b5 as in t he gam e) 13...d6 14.c3 e7 15.xc5 dxc5 ] 12.b5 0-0 13.b4 e7 [ The source game went 13...d4?! 14.xd4 xd4 15.f4! xd1 16.fxd1 b6 17.a4! (White has more than sufficient c o m p e n s a t io n ) b7 18.a5 ( 18.g4!? ) 18...d5 19.a6 c6 20.b5 d7 21.g5 e6 22.xf6 gxf6 23.cxd5 d7 24.f3 exf3 25.gxf3 fe8 26.f2 ac8 27.ac1 f8 28.d3 f5 29.g3 e7 30.d6+ f6 31.f4 Buhmann, R (2579) -Gschnitzer, O (2444)/Bonn GER 2011. ] 14.f4 e6 [ 14...exf3?! 15.xf3 just opens lines in White's favor, ] [ 14...b8!? 15.f5 ( 15.c3 a5 ) 15...d6 ( 15...d6 16.xd6 xd6 17.c3 is similar to Buhmann-Gschnitzer.) 16.f4
d7 17.xd6 a5 18.b5 d8 19.c5 xf5 20.e1 xd6 21.xd6 c8 22.g3 ] 15.e3 Aronian later insinuated that he caught Caruana in the opening, so its very likely he was still in his preparation here. [ Note the point of White's last move: 15.c7?? b6+ ] 15...xb4?! Offering material to douse an opponent's initiative can be a good practical decision, but it's tricky to pull off here. Two other moves need investigation: [ 15...e8 16.f5 ( 16.c5 d5 17.cxd6 xd6 18.a3 ) 16...f6 17.d4 h6 with an intriguing position where White has obvious compensation but nothing clear, i.e. 18.c3!? ( 18.b1 d5 ) 18...f6 19.c1 xc1 20.axc1 ] [ 15...c6 16.xa7 a6 17.b5 ( I'd rather be White after 17.xc8 fxc8 18.a3 with the bishop pair and better structure the computer thinks its close to equal. ) 17...xb4! A) 18.c7 is met by a3 when 19.xa8?! xe3+ 20.h1 a5 sees Black turning the tables. ( or 20...d5 ); B) 18.b1 a5 19.c5 c6 with highly unclear play. ] 16.c7 c6 17.xa8 b6?! [ Safer was 17...c5 , i.e. 18.xc5 xc5+ 19.h1 d6 20.b3 d7 21.xb7 c6 22.b2 xa8 when White retains an edge but Black is very much in the game. ] 18.b1 c5? Things were already pretty bad, but Black has almost no chance after this move. [ The lesser evil was 18...a5 19.xb6 axb6 20.b3 a6 when Black can still hope to complicate matters. ] 19.xc5 bxc5 [ or 19...xc5+ 20.h1 c6 21.xb6 axb6 22.b3 ] 20.b8 b7 [ 20...d6 intends 21...Nd7, but after 21.d2 d7 22.b2 b7 23.c7 xc7 24.d1 the d-pawn is lost. ] 21.xf8+ xf8 22.b3! g6 23.b1 xa8 24.b8+ g7 25.xa7 e3 White is winning, but Caruana now does an admirable job of co nf u sin g m at t ers. 26.f3 d5 27.e1 Aronian was quite unhappy with his play in the coming conversion phase, which was 1435
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 marred by mutual time pressure. 7.exd4 cxd4 8.xd4 0-0 9.c2 Holding up [ 27.b8 was the easiest win here. ] ...d7-d5. 27...d6!? 28.xa8 d4 29.a3?! [ After 9.e2 Black can free himself with d5 [ 29.g3+- ] , f o r e x a m p l e 10.cxd5 ( 10.0-0 xd4 29...xf4 30.f1 e5 31.d3 e8 32.g3 11.xd4 dxc4 12.xd8 xd8 13.xc4 a6 h5 33.g2 a4 34.a3 a5 was equal in Rasmussen, K-Mekhitarian, K/ [ 34...g4!? ] Beijing 2008) 10...xd5 11.xc6 bxc6 35.f3 a6 36.e2 a5 37.b1 d2?! 12.d2 f6 13.0-0 f5 14.c1 e8 38.e1? gave Black plenty of activity to compensate [ Several commentators pointed out that the for his split queenside pawns in Cosma, Ic o u n t e r a t t a c k 38.b7! xe2 39.e7 Ksieski, Z/Crailsheim 1998. ] wins easily. ] [ White has also tried 9.db5 though this 38...a2 39.g4?! hxg4?? Spoiling his looks like it's asking a lot of the position. biggest chance! After d6 10.f4 g4 11.f3 e6 12.d5 [ 39...xg4! would have seriously muddied xd5 13.cxd5 a5 14.e2 a6 15.c3 the waters: 40.xg4 hxg4 and after 41.g3 c8 16.e3 d7 17.0-0 f6 saw Black ( or 41.h4 f5 ) 41...f5! White can't develop excellent queenside counterplay effectively include the rook in the attack. He in Ginsburg, M-Avrukh, B/ICC INT 2001. ] may have to settle for a perpetual. ] 9...d6 This natural move appears to be new. 40.g3!+Now Aronian doesn't miss this [ B l a c k h a d p r e v i o u s l y p l a y e d 9...b6 idea. xe2 41.e5 d3 42.xf6 h6 here, for example 10.f4 ( 10.e2 b7 43.xf7 e1+ 44.g2 e2+ 45.g3 e1+ 11.0-0 c8 12.f4 e8 13.e3 c5 46.xg4 g1+ 47.h3 Black has run out of 14.e1 e5 15.ed5 xd5 16.xd5 checks, so he resigned. xd5 17.xd5 f6 gave Black counterplay 1-0 in Peralta, F-Rytshagov, M/Saint Vincent 2001 ) 10...a6 11.b4 b7 12.e2 d6 13.0-0 e5 14.e3 c8 15.c1 e8 1433 A34 16.d2 f8 17.fd1 was a bit better for White in Benjamin, J-Kramnik, V/ Groningen Aronian,Levon 2808 1993. ] Grischuk,Alexander 2747 WCh Candidates (1.7) 09.05.2011 10.e2 e6 11.e3 c8 12.0-0 a6 13.b3 a5 14.a4 b6 15.b1 c6 16.e1 [Nigel Davies] White is slightly better here because of the 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.e3 f6 weak square on d5 and the space this confers on him. But it's not easy to make anything of it 5.a3 [ Practice has shown that after the immediate in th e f a ce of Bla ck's active pieces . fd8 5.d4 Black gets a good game via cxd4 17.f3 e5 18.d5 [ White also maintains a nominal edge with 6.exd4 e4 7.g5 b4 , for example 8.d5 18.cd5 , f o r e xa m p l e xf3+ 19.xf3 xc3+ 9.bxc3 a5 10.d4 0-0 11.f3 e8 xd5 20.xd5 xd5 21.xd5 f6 22.e3 12.f2 b6 13.xe4 xe4+ 14.fxe4 h4+ . But there's a big difference between having 15.g3 xe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.d3 e8 a theoretical superiority and this producing 18.c5 b7 19.d1 xd5 20.xh7+ xh7 realistic winning chances. ] 21.xd5 e7 22.f4 b7 23.cxb6 axb6 24.a4 c5 25.a5 1/2-1/2 was Vaganian, R- 18...f8 19.b2 e8 20.a1 b8 21.e4 xd5 22.xd5 d8 23.b2! Transforming Avrukh, B/Ohrid 2001. ] his st ru ct u ra l su p e rio rit y in t o a kin gs id e 5...e7 6.d4 exd4 [ The point behind White's 5th move is that initiative. [ 23.c3 would have been an attempt to play after 6...cxd4 7.exd4 e4 8.g5 i n p u r e l y p o s i t i o n a l s t y l e b u t a f t e r b5 Black can no longer play b4 . On the other 24.cxb5 axb5 25.a5 f5 White's grip is hand 5.a3 does not do much for W hite's being shaken. ] development. ] 1436
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23...xd5 24.xd5 b5 25.be2 bxc4 26.bxc4 g6 27.g3 e7 28.d3 [ I t wa s a ls o wo rt h co n s id e r in g 28.xd6 af ter which xd6 29.xd6 ed8 30.c5 g6 31.c3! xd6 32.cxd6 f6 33.a5 keeps the extra pawn as xd6? 34.c7 wins the exchange. ] 28...d7 29.xd6 ed8 30.c5 c8 31.e5? After this Grischuk manages to slip away. [ There was a better way to play this in 31.c3! a f t e r wh ic h xd6 32.c6! c7 33.e7!! is very strong. ] 31...xd6 32.cxd6 xa4 33.f4 h6 White is still nominally better, but with the d6 pawn not going anywhere W hite's winning chances have disappeared. 34.h4 b5 35.d1 b7 36.c2 bd7 37.c7? [ It's not clear what White missed here but he has to play 37.d2 . ] 37...xd6 38.xd7 xd7 39.xd6 xd6 40.xd6 xd6 41.e8+ h7 42.e7 g6 43.a7 This endgame is a theoretical draw, but obviously Black can try a bit of torture. h5 44.g2 f6 45.f3 d2+ 46.h3 a2 47.g4 hxg4+ 48.xg4 g6 49.f4 a5 50.a8 e6 51.a7 f6 52.a8 a1 53.a7 a5 54.a6+ g7 55.h5 f5+ 56.h4 h1+ 57.g3 g1+ 58.h2 g4 59.hxg6 xf4 60.xa5 xg6 61.g2 f7 ½-½
1434 Aronian,Levon Smirnov,Pavel FIDE WCh KO Tripoli LBA (3.1) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2645 2601 23.06.2004
1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 e5 8.d3 e7 9.d2 d7 10.c4 f6 11.f4 b5 12.e3 c8 The safest, as I point-out in the eBook. 13.a4 b4 14.b5 exf4 15.xc6!? White is willing to try Lputian's sharp move conceding the important light-squared bishop. [ 15.f5!? is a go o d a l t e rn a t i ve , xf5 16.xc6+ d7 17.xd7+ xd7 18.xc7+ xc7 19.xf4 Szilagyi,P-Pinter,J/HUN 1992. ] [ 15.c4 is preferred by my computer! When
fxg3!? ( for 15...xb5 16.axb5 d4 17.xa7!? see my annotations of LautierLeko ) 16.bd6+ f8 17.hxg3 b8 18.e3 e6 19.e4 e8 20.g4 is wild, Alvarez,JDominguez,L/Holguin City CUB 2002 ] 15...fxe3! I suggested this obvious novelty in my annotations, instead [ 15...xc6 16.xa7 b7 is LputianPerunovic, see the archives. ] 16.e4!? Interesting, White prefers to keep this bishop and points it at h7, but offers to sac a pawn. [ 16.xd7+ xd7 17.xc7+ xc7 18.xe3 hopes to pressure the c-pawn, but then h5 is a bit annoying, intending ...h4. ] 16...xb5 17.axb5 xb5!? [ 17...c7 i s p o s s i b l e , 18.xe3 xb5 wh en Black is a p a wn u p , alt ho ugh h is ragged structure offers W hite reasonable comp. ] 18.xa7 0-0 19.xe3 h8 20.a1!? d6 21.f5 A curious-looking move, but from here the rook eyes c5 and d5, whilst menacing a possible attack on h7 by Rh5. d7 22.f1! The queen switches back! [ 22.h5?! is easily countered by f5 ] 22...e8 [ 22...xf5?? allows a forced mate: 23.xf5 g6 24.xh7+! xh7 25.xg6+ h8 26.h7# ] 23.d5 White uses his heavy pieces very well to infiltrate the black position. f5 Forced, [ 23...e6?! 24.f4 xf4 25.xf4 and Black is in serious trouble, e8 26.f5 xf5 27.xf5 and the c-pawn is lost. ] 24.h3 fxe4 25.xd7 xd7 26.xd7 The white rooks are now placed deep in the heart of the black position. exd3! However, the white rooks are now unable to defend the back rank! 27.exd3 [ 27.5xd6? dxe2 28.d2 ce8 29.g2 e1 30.xe1 xe1 and Black is a pawn up. ] 27...ce8 28.g5! There is nothing to be gained by capturing on c5: [ 28.xc5 e1+ 29.g2 xc5 30.xc5 e2+ 31.h3 xb2 32.b5 h6 33.d4 b3 34.db4 d8 35.xb3 d2 and the d-pawn is lost. ] 28...e5 29.e7 xe7! Absolutely correct, other moves lead to big problems: 1437
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 29...d4+ 30.xd4 xe7 31.xe7 cxd4 32.d7 ] 30.xe7 xb2 Black has only one pawn for the exchange, but it is a powerful passed pawn, and all the other pawns can be defended by the bishop. 31.f7 A little backrank trick. [ 31.xc5?? d4+ ] 31...e8 32.fd7 White's best bet is to exchange a pair of rooks, doubling on the seventh achieves nothing because the g7pawn is defended by the black bishop. d4+ 33.g2 b3 34.d8 g8 35.5d7 b2 36.xg8+ xg8 37.b7 c3 Threatening to win with ...Bb4! 38.b3 f7 39.f3 f6 40.e2 f5 41.h3 g5 42.d1 The king comes to take-over guard duties from the rook. g4 43.hxg4+ xg4 44.c2 d4 45.b6 h5 46.g6+ f5 47.g8 e5 White cannot make any progress. ½-½
see Reinderman-Bok in the PGN Archive. ( 13...b6 was my mainline in 'Dynamic English'. ); E) 8...h5!? is dangerous, see BricardBauer in the Archive. ] 8...e7 9.b2 0-0 10.c1 Simple, logical development. [ 10.e1 d7 (but maybe Black can avoid this move?) 11.d3 f6 12.f4 is possible here, too, transposing to the 8 Ne1 mainline. ( 12.c1 is the game.) 12...exf4 13.xf4 when c8 is the most common, but White will certainly not play Rc1 here (transposing to the game) but 14.e3 planning Qe2 and Rad1 followed by d4, or b6 15.cd5 e.g. d6 16.d4!? e7? 17.dxc5 xc5 18.b4! winning material, 1-0 (33 ) Vaganian, R (2530) -Lengyel, L (2410) Moscow 1975. ] 10...f6 Bo lst e rin g t he e5 -pa wn . 11.e1 Now White reverts to this plan of Nd3 and f4 that served me so well over the years. d7 S t o p p in g B xc6 , b u t m a yb e B la ck s h o u l d prefer something else. 1435 A34 [ 11...f5 was Botvinnik's preference, stopping Nd3. 12.e4 e6 13.d3 a5 Aronian,Levon 2815 14.f4 exf4 15.xf4 xf4 16.xf4 e6 Svidler,Peter 2753 17.c3 about level in Ionescu, C (2420) Norway Chess blitz 2nd (1) 02.06.2014 Farago, I (2495) Luzern 1985. ] [Kosten, Tony] [ 11...g4 also stops the knight coming to d3, as 12.d3 xd3 13.exd3 xd1 14.fxd1 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g3 d5 ad8 ] 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 e5 8.b3 The 4th most pop ular move, b ut I like it . 12.d3 It looks like White may be threatening White can develop his queenside to see what t h e c -p a wn . c8 13.f4 But this is the real B l a c k is u p t o , a n d t h e n p la y ' t h e p l a n ' : point , a tt ackin g B la ck's solid ce nt re an d opening the f-file. exf4 14.xf4 Reaching a Ne1-d3 and f4. standard position with the the inclusion of the [ 8.d3 is the mainline, by far. ] [ 8.e1 was my recommendation in moves Rc1 and ... Rc8, but as Alex pointed 'Dyn amic E nglish ', but I started ha vin g out: this "is not necessarily good for either of doubts about leaving the kingside less well th e pla yers" . e8 A novelty, clearing the dline and heading for f7. Previously Black had defended, for instance chosen either A) Moves like 8...g4 and; [ 14...h8 to avoid unpleasant checks on B) 8...f5 allowing White to capture on c6, the a2-g8 diagonal, 15.e3 e6 ( 15...b6 both score well for Black.; transposes to 14...b6.) 16.fd5 ( 16.cd5 C) and 8...d6 is also possible, see d6 Foisor, O (2425)-Lazarev, V (2445) Tomashevsky-Khismatullin.; Cuxhaven 1992 1/2-1/2 (18), 17.d3 b6 D) Instead, 8...d7 is most common, but I 18.c4!? to h4 looks dangerous.) 16...d6 like W hite after 9.d3 f6 10.b3 e7 ( 16...e5? 17.d4 cxd4 18.exd4 xd4 11.b2 0-0 12.f4 ( 12.c1 c8 19.xe7 g4 20.xc8! xd1 21.cxd1 would transpose directly to the game.) df3+ 22.xf3 xf3+ 23.xf3 xc8 12...exf4 13.xf4 with similar play to the 24.fd3 favours White, Nyback, T (2330)-Xu, game, but without Rc1 and ...Rc8, d6 1438
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 H (2235) Budapest 2001, but 1/2-1/2 (43).) 17.e4 e5 18.a3 b6 19.b4! ( 19.d4 cxd4 20.xf8 xf8 gives compensation for t h e e x c h a n g e .) 19...f5 Damljanovic, B (2549) -Perunovic, M (2477) Herceg Novi 2001, 0-1 (78), 20.f2 d6 21.bxc5 xc5 22.xc5 with an edge. ] [ 14...b6 15.e3 d6 ( 15...h8 16.cd5 xd5 Juettner, A (2200)-Jaenig, R (2081) B a d W i e s s e e 2 0 0 1 , 0 - 1 ( 3 5 ) , 17.xd5!? with a nasty threat of Qh5 or maybe even Ng6+. ) 16.e4 ( I would probably play 16.e2; 16.cd5 also has its points.) 16...e5 ( 16...xf4!? ) 17.d4 cxd4 18.exd4 xf4 19.gxf4! ( 19.xf4 d5 ) A) 19...d5? Madebrink, L (2290)Zetterberg, S (2170) Borlange 1995, 1-0 (24), 20.d6! e3 21.d3 ( or 21.e2 ) 21...xg2 22.xc8 xc8 23.xc6 h4 24.fc1; B) 19...b4 20.d6 b8 ( 20...g4! 21.xg4 xd6 22.d5 cd8 ) 21.a3 a5 22.xb4 axb4 23.c2 e6 24.f5 g5 25.c4+ winning the b-pawn, Bersutzki, GGrodetsky, T Tallinn 1969, 1-0 (49). ] 15.e3 f7?! 16.e2 Thematic, but [ 16.e4! b6 17.xc5 xc5 ( 17...b4 18.b7 ) 18.xc6 wins a pawn for nothing. ] 16...e8?! Giving White a 2nd chance, and also weakening f6. Still, this was only a blitz game. [ 16...d7 ] 17.e4! b4 [ 17...b6 18.h5! ( even stronger than 18.xc5 ) 18...d5 (to cover f6) 19.xg7! xg7 20.g5 is winning, d7 21.xf7 xf7 22.h5+ g7 23.xd5 ] 18.a3 ba6? [ 18...bd5! 19.xc5 xf4 20.gxf4 d5 gains some play for the pawn. ] 19.h5! White is already winning, it's surprising how quickly things can fall apart from Black with just one or two slight inaccuracies. d5 [ 19...xh5 20.xh5 f8 21.h3 with a decisive attack, for instance, b8? 22.f5 ] 20.g4 Bringing an extra unit into the fray. [ 20.xg7!! xg7 21.g5 is crushing, ac7 22.xf7 xf7 23.h5+ g7 24.f5 -g5+. ]
[ 20.g4! is also st ro n g: g6 21.g5! fxg5? 22.e6+ and mate. ] 20...c6 21.g5 xh5 22.xh5 g6 23.f3 f5 24.g3 Hitting d5. ac7 25.xf5! gxf5 26.xf5 f8 27.e5 Mate on both g7 and h8 is threatened, and there is really nothing Black can do to stop this. f6 28.xc6 1-0
1436 Bareev,Evgeny Xu Jun International Kings Challenge (3) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2721 2626 22.09.2003
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 c7 6.a4+ One of my recent opponents told me that he only plays the Rubinstein when W hite has already played Nf3, because he is worried about this check. d7 7.b3!? A novel idea, White plans to attack the c5-pawn as quickly as possible, we examined [ 7.f3 in Tkachiev,V-Mikhalevski,V. ] 7...e6 This is, strictly speaking, a new move, a s t h e f i r s t g a m e wi t h 7 b 3 , S o r o k i n , M Sergienko,S/St Petersburg RUS 2002, continued instead: [ 7...e5 8.a3 e7 9.c1 0-0 10.f3 c6 11.0-0 b8! and a draw was soon agreed. ] 8.a3!? b5!? White had perhaps thought that this was impossible because of the open h1-a8 diagonal. 9.xb5?! The critical line, although [ 9.f4 is possible, c6 ( 9...b4? 10.xa8 an d t he c7 -kn igh t is p inn e d a ga ins t it s brother ) 10.e4 and Black will have to play ...b4 sooner or later, when White can use the c4-square. Still, the position is far from clear. ] 9...xb5 10.xb5+ xb5 11.xc5 Gaining a second pawn to go with his rook, [ 11.xa8? xa3 is far worse. ] 11...xc5 12.c1 a6 13.xa8 Now the dust has cleared we see that White has exchanged two pieces for a rook and two pawns, which is about fair in such an endgame. However, this position seems to be clearly better for Black, although it would have been difficult for White to correctly evaluate 1439
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 this at his 9th move. e7 14.c6 d4 15.g2 d7 16.f3 Probably White would have preferred to play [ 16.e3 but his rook gets kicked around the board quite mercilessly: a3 17.c4 f5 18.d4 d6 19.c2 b4 20.c7 b5 with advantage. ] 16...a3! The bishop serves a useful role here, f o r b y c o n tro llin g c1 it st o p s W h it e f ro m doubling (or even connecting) his rooks. [ 16...c6 is a good alternative, as 17.xd4 ( 17.h4 b5 ) 17...xg2 18.g1 d5 leaves Black with two strong bishops. ] 17.c4 xf3+ 18.xf3 b5 19.c3 d6 Instructive endgame play: Black is making good use of his king. 20.e4?! This move is played to drive the black king back, but it leaves weak squares behind it which can become ideal posts for the black pieces. b4 21.e5+ d7 [ 21...xe5?? 22.c5+ ] 22.e2 b8! After this move White is nearly lost, once his a2-pawn goes his other pawns will be weak targets. 23.d1 The king comes to help the b-pawn. xa2 24.xb5+ xb5 25.f3 e7 26.e1 b2?! A slight inaccuracy, which is always possible in a rapid game, [ 26...d5! keeps the lid on the white position: 27.e4 b4 and White cannot even defend d2 without losing an exchange. ] 27.e4! The rook has escaped! b4 28.ef4 f5 29.exf6+ A small victory to White who manages to exchange his weak e5-pawn, instead of just losing it! xf6 30.c4 d7 Black is still better, as the white rooks have little real activity. 31.h4 a5 32.g4 h6 33.h3 d5 34.f4 e7 35.f5!? The more pawns White can exchange the better his drawing chances, and the more room his rooks will have to manoeuvre, but this does little for his structure. exf5 36.gxf5 f6 37.d3 e7 38.f3 [ 38.h5!? ] 38...h5 Black fixes the h4-pawn on the same colour square as his bishop. 39.e2 f7 40.d4 White wants to exchange the black rook by Rc5. e7 41.c5 b4 [ 41...xc5 42.dxc5 d4 also should win. ] 42.d5 e4+ 43.d2 d4+ 44.d3 xf5
45.xa5 xh4 46.d6 White has lost another pawn, but has managed to gain a passed pawn and some activity, but it is unlikely to prove enough. h2+!? [ 46...e6 47.d7 d4 48.xd4 xd4 49.xh5 xb3+ 50.e3 xd7 would win fairly easily. ] 47.d1 h1+ 48.e2 d4+ 49.f2 c6 50.ad5?! No doubt both players were playing at blitz speed by now, and the quality of the game suffers. [ 50.b5 ] 50...e5 [ 50...b4 51.d1 h2+ 52.g3 xd5 53.xh2 e6 wins easily, as 54.d7 d8 and ...Nb6 wins the d-pawn. ] 51.xe5?! White wins two pieces for a rook and pawn but goes into a lost rook endgame! xe5 52.d7 f6 53.d8 xd8 54.xd8 b1 55.b8 g5 Black's two connected passed pawns should win easily enough. 56.g3 d1 57.b7+ f6 58.b6+ e5 59.h6 h4+ 60.f2 d3 61.b6 g4 62.b8 g3+ 63.g2 d2+ 64.f3 f2+ 65.e3 f7 66.b5+ d6 67.g5 b7 68.f3 xb3+ 69.g4 b4+ 70.h3 White has actually managed to blockade the pawns. e4 This leaves White in zugzwang, he dare not allow the black king to cross the fourth rank, so ... 71.f5 e1 72.g5 [ 72.xh4? g2 queens. ] 72...h1+ 73.g2 h2+ 74.g1 [ 74.f3 is a better try, although it is a t h e o r e t i c a l wi n ( T h o m a s v A l e k h i n e , I believe) the black king heading for e1. ] 74...e6 75.g4 f5 76.b4 g5 Now the h-pawn is defended Black can move his rook. 0-1
1437 Bauer,Christian Timofeev,Artyom TCh-Honor Gp2 (4) [John Watson]
A34 2599 2657 16.09.2006
Here is another case of the small advantage leading slowly to a greater one. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 c5 5.g2 c7 This is known as the Rubinstein System. 1440
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 It has survived attempts to refute it for scores of years. 6.a4+ This may be a bit underrated, d7 [ Perhaps Black should bite the bullet with 6...d7 7.b3!? ( 7.c4 c6 8.xc5 e5 ) A) 7...c6! 8.xb7 d4 9.b1 ( 9.e4 ) 9...e6 gives enough compensation, so 9.Qe4 is critical; B) 7...c6!? 8.xc6+ xc6 9.xb7 d4 10.b1 ( 10.e4?! f5 11.b1 e6 12.e3 c6 ) 10...e5 gives some compensation, but probably not enough. ] [ Inferior is 6...d7?! 7.f3 e6 8.d4! ] 7.xd7+ xd7 8.f3 Black hasn't fully equalised, since White's pieces control more space. e5 [ Worth considering is 8...g6 9.d4 ( 9.0-0 g7 10.d3 b6 . A bishop on g7 is a real as s e t h e re .) 9...cxd4 ( 9...g7 10.e3 cxd4 11.xd4 -Ribli ) 10.xd4 g7 11.e3 b6 ] 9.d3 [ 9.e3 has also been played. ] 9...b8 10.a4!? e6 11.b5! a6 12.a7 Now W hite has the two bishops in an otherwise equal ending. He has good prospects of winning. d6 13.d2 e7 14.e3 f5?! Awfully committal. He should just wait and see what White can come up with. 15.c4 f6 16.xc8+ hxc8 17.a5!? c7 18.e2 d8 19.d2 c6 20.hb1!? [ 20.c3! threatens Bxc6, and e6 21.f4 exf4 22.gxf4 greatly limits Black's choices, for example, g6 23.xf6! xf6 24.xc6 bxc6 25.h4 with a depressing defence in store. But Bc3 remains available for the next few moves, every time with a significant advantage. ] 20...e6 21.b4 [ 21.c3 ] 21...cxb4 22.xb4 a7?! [ 22...d8 ] 23.b3 [ Or 23.c3 b5 24.b2 ] 23...e4 24.dxe4 xe4 25.d2 e5 26.a2?! [ 26.xe4! fxe4 ( 26...xa1 27.c5+ f7 28.xb7 releases the power of the bishops) 27.h3+ f6 28.xc8 xa1 29.h3 and Black's e-pawn is weak. W hite has a s u b s t a n t ia l a d va n t a ge . No w B la ck ca n
regroup. ] 26...xd2 27.xd2 b5 28.d5+ f6 29.f3 b6! Now Black's pieces all have good range and his knight is unassailable. Although W hit e co uld def inite ly p lay on, a draw is probably the fair result. A good example of the accuracy needed to defend in the opening, and then of the accuracy needed to convert the point. ½-½
1438 A34 Bibmann,Stefan 2406 Jendrian,Michael 2399 corr 9. German Team ch - Group LI-1/B02 [John Bartholomew] A ChessPublishing.com user writes: "Hi, could yo u t a ke a l o o k a t t h i s Co rr e s p o n d e n c e game? I found it uncomfortable to play this line with Black. The novelty 12.d5 seems to be very strong. How can Black avoid this variation? Best wishes - Michael". Thanks for t h e q u e s t i o n ! I ' ve p e r s o n a l l y f o u n d t h e Grunfeld-type positions arising after 5...Nxc3 6.bxc3 g6 to be quite reliable for Black, so let's see what's in store after W hite's somewhat rare seventh move. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.d4 xc3 6.bxc3 g6 7.f4!? Korchnoi and Portisch have played this in years past, but these days it's only occasionally seen in tournament play. [ 7.g5!? was seen in Kramnik, V (2772)Van W ely, L (27 00)/Mont e Carlo 20 01 / [TonyK]. ] [ The very solid 7.e3 is most popular, ] [ while 7.e4 transposes to main-line Grunfeld. ] 7...g7 8.e3 a5 [ I suspect that 8...0-0 is the simplest path to a g o o d g a m e . A f t e r 9.e2 ( 9.d3 might be a better try) 9...cxd4 ( an old game went 9...a5 10.0-0 d7!? 11.b3 , Shaboian, V-Fejtlikher, L/Yerevan 1980. Here it looks best to play b6! with the idea of 12...Be6.) 10.cxd4 a5+ 11.d2 c6!? 12.b1 xd2+ 13.xd2 ( 13.xd2 d8 14.d3 e5 15.xe5 xe5 16.xe5 xe5 17.dxe5 f5 18.b3 d5 19.e2 xd3+ 20.xd3 xe5= ) 13...e5 14.dxe5 xe5 1441
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.0-0 Black really had nothing to complain about in Schandorff, L (2547)-Von Bahr, O (2249)/Sweden 2002. Continuing with b6= appears logical, when I don't see any hint of a W hite advantage. So, if Black wants to a c h ie ve a s o li d p o s it io n a n d a vo i d t h e course of the game, then 8... 0-0 looks the no-nonsense way to do so. ] 9.d2 f5!? This was played by Timofeev in 2009. [ 9...0-0 looks fine too, e.g. 10.b1 b6 11.d3 c6 12.0-0 cxd4 13.cxd4 ( play is balanced in the event of 13.exd4 a6 14.xa6 xa6 15.fe1= . ) 13...b7 14.e4 ac8 15.xa5 xa5 16.xb7 xb7 17.fc1 fd8 18.f1 with a nominal edge that Black easily neutralized. Stangl, M (2479)-Gustafsson, J (2506)/Germany 2000. ] 10.e5 [ 10.d3!? ] 10...0-0 11.xg7 xg7 12.d5!? The novelty in question. White's plan is to follow with c3c4 and operate with a slight space advantage in the center. This isn't anything serious, and it actually looks like the course of the game was fine for Black. [ T h e s o u rc e ga m e we n t 12.e2 d8 13.c1 c6 14.0-0 cxd4 15.exd4 e5! 16.b2 exd4?! 17.xd4 xd4 18.cxd4 , when b6! 19.xb6 axb6 turned out to b e a l it t le b e t t e r f o r B la c k i n L a n d a , K (2655)-Timofeev, A (2668)/Ulan Ude RUS 2009. ] 12...d7 [ 12...d8 13.c4 c6!? is also quite acceptable for Black. After 14.xa5 xa5 15.d2 b6 Black has a normal-looking Grunfeld structure where the knight can be repositioned with ... Na5-b7-d6. ] 13.c4 b4!? 14.a3 [ 14.xb4?! cxb4 gives Black the handy c5 square. ] 14...xd2+ 15.xd2 g5 16.f3 h6 17.e2 g6 18.f2 ad8 19.a4 e6 20.e4 exd5 21.exd5 [ But not 21.cxd5?! f5! when White's center will be decimated. ] 21...fe8 Black has no problems. 22.a5 e7 23.hc1 e5 24.c3 de8 25.f1 f5 26.b3 f7 27.b5 c7 28.b1 d6
29.b2 f4 Draw agreed. While solid, I don't believe 7.Bf4 is a truly challenging try. My personal preference would be for 8...0-0 (not fearing an early queen trade), but the more active game continuation is fine too. ½-½
1439 Bricard,Emmanuel Bauer,Christian ch Val d'Isere FRA (3) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2454 2550 21.08.2002
Whilst preparing for one of my opponents at a recent tournament I saw that she playe d Rubinstein's Variation, and that in a previous game she reached an awful position, so I was ready to repeat this when I thought I would have a look to see whether Black has found any good ideas recently, and then I came across this game! 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 e5 8.e1 h5!? Black doesn't b o t h e r t o d e f e n d a ga i n st t h e m e n a c e t o double his pawns, but instead asks White: "Do you dare concede your kingside defender?". 9.f3 A novelty, White changes tack, hoping that the h5-pawn will prove a weakness. [ 9.h3?! is a bit limp, f5 10.f4 h4 11.gxh4 exf4 and White's kingside had disintegrated, Hanley,C-Lupulescu,C/ Oropesa del Mar ESP 2001. ] [ 9.f4!? might be the best chance, obtaining some space on the kingside, h4 10.d3 hxg3 11.hxg3 c4!? played in the original game in this line, by Miso Cebalo against Nikolic, at Vrsac 1983, ( 11...exf4 12.xf4 e6 13.a4 d7 was far from clear in Mastrovasilis, A-Lupulescu,C/Kavala GRE 2002; b u t t h e F r i t z - l i k e 11...d7!? may be strongest, with the idea of playing ... Qg4, ) 12.dxc4 c5+ 13.e3 xd1 14.xd1 exf4 15.d3 f3! 16.xf3 e7 17.1f2 e6 18.e4 White has an extra pawn. ] [ Note that the normal 9.d3 attacking the epawn, is too slow: h4! 10.xc6+?! bxc6 11.xe5?! hxg3 12.hxg3 ( 12.fxg3 d4+ ) 12...g5 13.f3 h5 14.h4 g5 winning. ] 9...e7 10.h4!? This stops the onward rush 1442
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 of the black h-pawn, but weakens the white g3pawn, and makes it difficult to play f4 later. g4 11.d3 d7 12.a4 0-0 A good decision, the king is perfectly safe here. 13.d2 e6 14.c4 ed4 Black manoeuvres his pieces into good positions. 15.e3 fe8 16.e1 f8 17.a5 b4?! [ 17...ad8 seems simpler. ] 18.xd4 [ 18.a6! is interesting: xd3!? ( 18...xa6?! 19.xa6 bxa6 20.xa8 xa8 21.xe5 is the point of White's move,; 18...dc2 19.axb7 ab8 20.xa7 is a promising exchange sac for White) 19.axb7 ab8 20.xd3 xe2+ 21.xe2 xe2 22.xe2 looks rather good for White, whose b-pawn is massive. ] 18...cxd4 19.e4 ab8 20.f3 b5 21.axb6 axb6 22.d2 xf3 23.exf3 f6 24.ec1 ec8 25.d1 White has posted his knights on strong squares, but neither of them are secure as ...b5 and ...f5 are both possible. b5 26.cd2 d5 [ 26...xd3?? 27.b3+ ] 27.b3 f5 28.g5 e7 29.xc8+ xc8 30.c1 xc1 31.xc1 xg5 32.hxg5 f4 White's position has turned very passive, and his pawn structure is no jewel. 33.e1 c6 34.g2 f7 35.e2 fxg3 36.fxg3 g6 All the black pieces play their part in the game. 37.d2 e7 38.f2 f5 Black plans ...Ne3 when the g5-pawn is lost. 39.f4!? Very inventive, but it doesn't change anything. e3 [ 39...exf4? 40.xf4+ xg5 41.xd5 is level. ] 40.f8 e6 41.a8 The white queen has managed to become active. d1+ 42.g2 xb2 43.e4+ f5 44.c6+ h7 45.xb5 d1 46.f4?! Not the best, but Black was losing anyway. e3+ 47.h2 g4 [ 47...g4 48.b2 h4 mates quickly. ] 0-1
1440 Bu Xiangzhi Miezis,Normunds 21st Open Reykjavik ISL (6) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2606 2525 12.03.2004
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.d4 cxd4 [ 5...xc3 6.bxc3 g6 transposes to the Gruenfeld Defence. ] 6.xd4 xc3 7.xc3 c6 8.e4 a6!? Black stops White from playing Bb5, but this hasn't scored too well previously. W e examined [ 8...g4 in Akesson-Votava, when 9.b5 is the most common. ] 9.c4 g4!? The most active reply, but new, others: [ 9...a5 10.d2 xc3 11.xc3 e6 12.0-0 with an edge because of the better development, Kortchnoi, V-Karpov,A/Riga 1970. ] [ 9...e6 is solid, if passive, 10.0-0 d7 11.d1 b5?! 12.g5! c7 13.d5! with a strong initiative, Mikhalchishin, AHorvath,T/Pecs 1978. ] 10.0-0 White could also play [ 10.b3!? forking f7 and b7, however, after e6 11.xb7 a5 ( 11...b4+?! 12.d2 xd2+ 13.xd2 d4 14.0-0 favours W hite) 12.b5+ (forced) axb5 13.xb5+ e7 ( 13...d7?! 14.xd7+ xd7 15.e5+ ) 14.g5+ f6 15.xg4 Black can counter with b3 which wins an exchange: 16.b1 d3 17.axb3 xb1 18.0-0 with unclear play. ] 10...e6 [ 10...xf3?! is too time-consuming, 11.xf3 e5 12.b3 xc4 13.xc4 e6 14.f4 planning Rfd1. ] 11.e5 Putting paid to the possible capture o n f 3 , a n d l e a vi n g t h e g 4 - b is h o p r a t h e r awkwardly placed. xe5 12.xe5 c8 13.b3 e2?! This attempt to bring the bishop over to the queenside leaves Black in trouble. Of course Black couldn't develop his f8-bishop without losing the g-pawn, but [ 13...d6 is right, 14.g5 e2 15.e1 h6 16.e3 b5 and there is everything to play for. ] 14.e1 b5? This is even worse, and loses 1443
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to a neat combination However, [ 14...c4 15.xc4 xc4 16.g5 c8 17.ac1 is far from pleasant for Black, although f6! 18.xc4 xc4 19.b8+ f7 20.xb7+ e7 21.e3 xa2 and the game is not yet decided. ] 15.xe6! The Chinese GMs are renowned for their tactical acumen. fxe6 16.h5+ g6 Fo rc ed , as o th e r m o ves lose th e qu e e n . 17.e5 This is the neat point, winning the h8rook. f7 [ 17...g8 18.xe6+ ] 18.xh8 h4 Black menaces ...Bd6, hitting h 2 a n d t h e q u e e n o n h 8 . 19.e3! White combines defence and attack. e7 [ 19...d6 is met by 20.f3+ e7 21.g5+! xg5 22.xc8 winning more material. ] 20.d2 Obviously Whit e is winning easily, and there are several roads to victory, for instance [ 20.h3 xe4 21.xh7+ d6 22.h6 xh6 23.xc8 c6 24.f3 which also wins easily. ] 20...d7 21.a4 c4 22.h3 xe4 [ 22...xf2+ 23.xf2 c5+ 24.e1 xh8 wins a pawn, but loses a piece following 25.c1 b5 26.b3 ] 23.xh7+ c6 24.h4 [ 24.h4 d3 25.xc4+! xc4 26.c1 wins the queen to add insult to injury. ] 1-0
1441 Cabrilo,Goran Klasan,Vladimir 7th Veselin Boskovic Mem Op (2) [John Watson]
A34 2480 2220 03.10.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.d4 [ W e've seen a lot of 5.e4 b4 6.c4 d3+ 7.e2 f4+ 8.f1 in this column. ] 5...cxd4 [ 5...xc3 6.bxc3 g6 7.e4 is the Exchange Variation of the Gruenfeld Defence. ] 6.xd4 xc3 7.xc3 c6 8.e4 The most aggressive move and only real chance for advantage. W hite already discourages Black from developing his f8 bishop because of his attack on g7, and if he
can get his remaining pieces out his central superiority will give him the edge. Ne vert he less, B la ck h a s h ad th e ore tic a l equality in the main lines. e6 9.d2!? Black was threatening 9. ..Bb4, and Hansen indicates that this somewhat rare move may give White some advantage. I think that it's best. The more common moves by W hite have not cracked the barrier since som e Adams games in the late 1990s, for example, [ a) 9.a3 , e.g., d7 10.e2 c8 11.0-0 a5 12.e3 c5 13.f4 b3 14.g3!? Morzevich-Adams, Linares 1997, a game that was fairly quickly drawn ] [ b) 9.b5 d7 10.0-0 , when AnandAdams, Groningen 1997 saw b6 11.a4 c5 12.d3 d6 13.e2!? c7 14.e5 c5 15.d1 a6 16.d3 h6 17.f4 b4 18.e4 c6= ] 9...d7 10.e2 b6 [ 10...f6 11.e5 g6 12.0-0 b4 13.e3 ] 11.0-0 c8 Black's first problem is that he can't move the f8 bishop without allowing Qxg7. 12.fd1 f6 13.e3 c7 14.ac1 White is simply better here, with far superior development. e7 15.b3 Threatening the pawn on a7. b8? 16.xd7! xd7 17.c4 It's already over. e8 18.xe6 d8 19.h3?! [ 19.g8 e5 20.xh7! is more direct. ] 19...f8 20.d5 b4 21.d4 xd5 22.e6+ e8 [ 22...f7! 23.xd8+ xd8 24.d1! f8 25.xd5 with a clear extra pawn. ] 23.exd5 c8 24.e1 g5 25.d4 f7 26.xg5+ 1-0
1442 Cobb,Charles Cvitan,Ognjen 21st ECC Saint Vincent ITA (7) [John Watson]
A34 2405 2491 24.09.2005
We've seen the following line several times before. and perhaps the new 14. Bd2!? might yield some advantage. After move 14 there's nothing radically new here, but we'll look over the latest theory because the resulting assessment is so important. W hite would 1444
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 dearly like to get an advantage after 4.e3 lest Black's repertoire prove to simple to implement, namely, ...c5/...Nc6/ and ... e5 versus the Nf3 English. It's important to note that if White plays 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3, Black must play 2...Nc6 if he wants to get ...e5 in. Then 3. Nf3 e5 4.e3 gives us the critical position. If W hite can make this system work it might a n s we r r e a d e r T o r b e n K l i n k ' s q u e s t i o n regarding the ...c5, ...e5 setup: "Is this Black system really still so frustrating to counter and, if so, are there any more elegant ways around it, f or example, by allowing certain move orders which might not be so satisfying for Black?" 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.e3 f6 [ 4...f5 is another story. White generally comes out with somewhat the better game after 5.d4 cxd4 ( 5...e4 6.d5 ) 6.exd4 e4 7.e5 ] 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 e4 7.e5 [ The tactical alternative is 7.g5 b4 8.d5 e5 9.d4 e7 .Then critical is 10.e3 eg4 11.0-0-0 xe3 12.xe3 g4 13.f4 xf2 14.cxe4! ShirjaevShinkevich, Ufa 2004, which I annotated for this column. ] 7...b4 [ 7...d6 8.f4!? 0-0 9.e2 ( 9.e3 b6 10.g4!? actually looks quite good!) 9...b6! 10.e3 e7 led to equal chances in the game Mikhalchishin-Avrukh, Batumi 1999, annotated by Tony, but I think that White is still very slightly better at this point. ] 8.e2 a5 9.xc6 dxc6 [ 9...xc3+ 10.bxc3 dxc6 11.0-0 ( 11.c2 ) 11...xc3 12.b1 0-0 13.b3 a5 14.g3 f5 15.h4!? with the attack for a pawn, was Bertholee-J Polgar, Amsterdam 1990. ] 10.d2 [ 10.0-0 xc3 11.bxc3 xc3 is BertholeePolgar again. ] 10...0-0 11.0-0 e8 12.a3 xc3 13.xc3 g5 14.c1 [ Most frequently played. An intriguing move that we looked at in this column was 14.d2!? , to get the bishop to squares such as f4 and g3. Kharlov-Jakovenko, Sochi 2005 went g6 15.f4 h3 16.g3 g4! 17.xg4 xg4 18.e1 ad8 19.b3 b6 20.ad1 and I think that White was still
somewhat better. ] 14...g6 [ 14...h4 has also been played, having in mind 15.e3 g4 16.f4 h5 ] 15.e3 [ Tony Ko ste n a lre ady discu sse d 15.f4 at great length, following M Marin-Movsesian, Neum 2000 and many other games. ] 15...g4 16.ad1 [ 16.fe1 b5!? 17.b3 ab8 gave Black good chances in Pachman, L-Ksieski, Z/ Germany 1995. ] [ Tony mentioned what may be the most accurate move 16.ae1! of Thomsen-Rizzo, ICCF Email 2001. That went b5!? 17.b3 xe2 18.xe2 g4 19.g3 ] 16...xe2 17.xe2 h5! As far as I know this is a new idea. Black has well-placed pieces after ...Rad8, but they aren't going anywhere. Now ...f5 will both protect the centre and keep W hite worried about the possibility of ...f4. 18.e3 [ 18.d5?? f4 ] 18...f5 19.f4 Now there's no attack but the epawn is permanently passed. If White can get d5 in, he himself will have the e5 square for his bishop. f6 20.d5!? [ 20.fe1 ad8 21.h3 d7 is uninspiring for White, so he takes a chance. ] 20...cxd5 21.cxd5 f7?! [ 21...ad8! 22.xa7 ( 22.d6 b6 23.e5 d7= ) 22...xd5 23.xb7 xf4 24.b3+ e6 is unclear. White has the nice queenside pawns, Black the e-pawn and White's slightly vulnerable king. ] 22.d6 d5 23.d4 xc3 24.bxc3 e6 25.c4 b6 26.c5 bxc5 27.xc5 d8 28.d5 [ 28.d7!? is worth a try - White might be able to hold onto his pawn while pursuing the apawn. ] 28...g6 29.fd1 [ 29.d7! e7 30.c7 ] 29...d7!= 30.h3 e3 31.e5 xd6 32.xd6 xd6 33.xe3 b6 34.xb6 ½-½
1445
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black has no reason to be unhappy with his position, W hite's slight space advantage in the ce ntre is b ala nce d b y B lack's on th e queenside. 19.a4 h6 20.axb5 axb5 21.a7 fe8 It seems incredible that this game lasts only a few more moves, as at this point it 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 seems almost completely lifeless. [ 21...d7 would have been even simpler, I xd5 5.a4+!? A rarer alternative to w o u l d t h i n k : 22.fa1 ( 22.xd7 xd7 [ 5.e4 and ] 23.d1 c6 ) 22...fd8 ] [ 5.d4 ] 22.h3 c4 23.g4?! f8 This is OK, but I'm 5...c6 [ 5...d7 is equally possible, 6.e4 ( 6.b3 surprised that a fine tactician like Van Wely b4 7.a3 e6 is about level) 6...xc3 didn't find [ 23...e4! centralising the queen, 24.f3 7.dxc3 c6 ( 7...c6 ) 8.f4 d7 9.e4 e2! 25.xh6 c5+ 26.h2 is slightly better for White. ] A) 26...g6!? menacing to capture the rook 6.e5 c7 The safest, there are two moves on f1, is riskier, 27.c7! ( 27.aa1 xe5+ worth avoiding: 28.f4 f5 with advantage to Black, whose [ 6...d6? 7.c4 d7 8.xd5 xd5 pieces have better posts.) 27...xe5+ 9.b6 wh e n B l a c k h a s t o p l a y axb6 28.f4 e2 ( 28...d5!? ) 29.xc5! xf1 ( 9...d4? is worse, 10.xd4 xd4 30.h5! with the powerful threat of Be5 11.xa8 c2+ 12.d1 xa1 13.c7+ and Rh8 mate, which obliges Black to take and the white knight escapes, while the a perpetual check by d1! 31.e5 g1+ black one stays trapped) 10.xa8 d7 32.g3 e1+; when Black has very little to show for his B) 26...xe5+ the simplest, 27.f4 f6 material. ] 28.g5 g6 29.c7 d5 Black enjoys a [ 6...d7?! is b e t t e r, b u t 7.xf7! xc3 pleasant edge. ] ( 7...xf7 8.xd5 d4 9.d1 ) 8.xc6! c5?? losing to a neat tactic, but ( 8.c4? a5 9.f4 d5 10.f3 g4! 24.e3 11.xd8 xf3 wi n s a p i e c e) 8...xc6 a l m o s t a n y o t h e r m o v e w o u l d h a v e 9.xd8 xd8 10.bxc3 with a solid extra maintained equality, [ 24...a8 for example. ] pawn. ] 25.f3! 7.xc6 [ 25.f3 xf3 26.xc5+ is check, and wins [ 7.xd5 xe5 8.b6 is not so strong, b8 a piece. ] 9.xc8 xc8 10.e3 ( 10.g3 d5 11.g1 is also equal) 10...d5?! ( Korchnoi prefers 1-0 10...g6 ) 11.g4 e6 12.b3 with a minimal edge to White, because of his bishop pair, 1444 A34 Uhlmann, W-Kortschnoj,V/ Skopje 1972. ] 7...xc3 8.dxc3 d7 Thus Black avoids Filippov,Valerij 2639 doubled pawns on c6. 9.e4 a6!? An attempt Van Wely,Loek 2651 to inject a bit of life into this position. FIDE WCh KO Tripoli LBA (2.1) 21.06.2004 [ 9...xc6 10.xc6 xc6 is often agreed [Tony Kosten] drawn at this point! 11.f3 e6 12.a4 d6 13.e3 and sometimes here! 1/2-1/2 1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 Robatsch,K-Grosar,A/Ptuj 1995. ] xd5 5.e4 b4 6.c4 10.c4 xc6 So Black has avoided [ 6.b5+ has been more popular recently. ] exchanging the queens, perhaps a stylistic 6...d3+ 7.e2 f4+ 8.f1 e6 9.b4 i d e a a g a i n s t E i n g o r n , w h o p r e f e r s d u l l cxb4 10.e2 c7 The best move, I looked positions. 11.e3 e6 12.e2 e7 13.f3 at b5 14.e2 d8 15.f4 b7 16.e5 c6 [ 10...c5 in Miles-Hort. ] 17.xc6+ xc6 18.0-0 0-0 At this point 11.d4 e6 12.h4 A multi-purpose move, firstly 1443 Eingorn,Vereslav S Van Wely,Loek ECC Halkidiki GRE (7) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2604 2645 28.09.2002
1446
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 it can advance to weaken the black kingside, second it can be used as a base for a minor piece, but most importantly it allows the white king's rook to get into play, castling no longer being a possibility. [ 12.b2 d7 13.h4 f6 14.d3 d7 15.h5 h6 16.f4 was unclear in Psakhis,LVaganian,R/Lvov 1984. ] 12...d7 [ 12...d6 13.h5 h6 14.h4 d7 15.b2 e7 16.h3 was unclear in Huebner,RTukmakov,V/ Wijk aan Zee 1984, Black has an extra pawn, but W hite has the centre and aggressively placed bits. ] 13.h5!? Actually a new move, although quite in keeping with the position. The great Gary preferred [ 13.g5 with: e7 14.c1 b6 15.d3 f6 16.f4 a6 17.h5 and White had the makings of a strong attack in Kasparov,GGruenberg,R/Hamburg 1985. ] 13...h6 14.f4 As in the Kasparov game, but [ 14.b2 is obviously also good. ] 14...b6 15.d3 d7 16.e5 a4 17.d2 e7 18.h3 b5 Both sides find good s q u a r e s f o r t h e i r p i e c e s . 19.g3! Sharper than [ 19.e3 ] 19...xd4!? Black prefers to play the complications, rather than go passive with [ 19...f8 ] 20.xg7 f8 21.c1 f6 22.g3 xe2 23.xe2 Black has retained his extra pawn, but White might have the edge as his king is somewhat more comfortable, and his pieces more a ctive . xe5? A strange decision, the knight on e5 was annoying, but now Black loses his grip on the dark squares. [ 23...c8 was clearly superior. ] 24.xe5 c8 25.xc8 xc8?! Another mistake, Black wants to control d6 and avoid [ 25...xc8 26.d6 h8 27.xb4 when White has recuperated the pawn and enjoys a clear plus, but his choice is even worse. ] 26.g7 Of course, this wins material. a5 The rook cannot escape: [ 26...g8? 27.f6 xf6 28.xg8+ wins the knight as well. ] 27.xf8 xf8 28.d2 On top of the
exchange White has a powerful attack, Black's days are numbered. e7 29.xh6+ e8 30.g5 b6 31.h6 g6 32.h7 d4 Else White captures on g6 and queens his hpawn. 33.g1 White takes care to give his king an escape square on h2, so Black resigns with a clear conscience. 1-0
1445 Ftacnik,Lubomir Lesiege,Alexandre It Montreal CAN (3) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2602 2561 27.07.2002
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g3 d5 5.d4 dxc4!? A risky capture, but White must know how to handle it, we had previously considered the endgame following [ 5...cxd4 6.xd4 dxc4 7.xc6 xd1+ several times. ] 6.d5 b4!? Critical, [ 6...a5 7.e4 b5?! 8.xb5 xe4 9.e5 d7 10.xd7 xd7 11.a4 b8 12.c7+ d8 13.e6+ fxe6 14.xa5+ was very good for W hite in Tal, M-Timman,J/ Hilversum m/5/1988. ] 7.e4 g4 Threatening to capture on f3, and then check on c2, winning the rook. 8.xc4! Anyway! xf3 9.xf3 c2+ 10.f1 a6!? A novelty, to deprive the white bishop of the b5 square. [ 10...xa1 is obviously the move that puts W h i t e ' s i d e a t o t h e t e s t : 11.e5 a6 ( 11...d7? loses, 12.e6 fxe6 13.dxe6 threat ens m ate on f 7, and if t he knigh t moves Bb5+ would be instantly decisive) 12.exf6 c2 ( 12...gxf6 allows White to trap and capture the knight by 13.d1 , say ) 13.d6! e6 14.xb7 b8 15.c6+ d8 16.xe6! with a crushing position, Wojtkiewicz, A-Yudasin,L/New York 1991, as fxe6? 17.g5 leads to mate. ] [ 10...d7 may be Black's best: 11.d6!? e6 12.b5 f6!? Petrov,J-Sermek,D/Nova Go rica 1 9 9 8, wh en I migh t sim p ly p la y 13.xf6 gxf6 14.b1 with a plus. ] [ 10...d4 11.f4 d7 is also playable, although W hite would ha ve the slightly better position if he remembered to move his 1447
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 king to g2, however, in the game Bordas,GDeak,F/Budapest 1998, there followed: 12.a4? g5!! 13.e3? ( 13.xg5?? h3+ 14.e1 f3+ wins the queen) 13...h3+ 14.g1 g4 and White can resign. ] 11.e5! d4 [ 11...xa1 12.exf6 transposes into Wojtkiewicz-Yudasin, above. ] 12.d1 b5?! [ 12...d7 13.e6 b6 is an interesting option. ] 13.exf6 bxc4 14.e3 gxf6 15.xd4 cxd4 16.xd4 The dust has settled and we see that White has the upper hand: he has more space and a development advantage. c8 17.g2 g7 18.he1 0-0 19.g4 c7 20.ad1 d7 21.f3 f5?! An impatient move, [ 21...b7 22.e2 fb8 keeps White's plus manageable. ] 22.xe7! xe7 23.d6 d7 24.dxc7 xc7 25.d5 The problem for Black stems from his poor pawn structure, and also the strong white knight which has managed to use the square vacated by the d5-pawn. e5 26.e3 Now the knight heads for the weak f5-pawn, and the black king. xb2 27.xf5 f6?! 28.d6 e5 29.xa6 e8 30.c6 e4 31.xe4 xe4 32.f3 1-0
1446 Ftacnik,Lubomir Wohl,Aleksandar H Parkroyal Int (9) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2579 2438 15.06.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 c5 4.g3 c6 5.g2 b6!? [ Black unusually tries to control d4. 5...d5 6.cxd5 xd5 leads to the Keres-Parma variation, which is quite reasonable, though not very popular at the moment. ] 6.0-0 e7 7.b3 [ Sensibly bringing the c1-bishop to b2, to bear on the d4-square. 7.d3 0-0 8.f4 d5 9.b3 d7 10.e4 dxe4 11.dxe4 fd8 12.e5 e8 13.e2 d7 14.h4 was another way to play, that also offered W hite an edge, Smejkal, J-Makarichev, S/Amsterdam 1975. ]
7...0-0 [ 7...a6?! 8.b2 b8 9.e3 d6 10.d4 0-0 11.c1 is more time-consuming, and leaves White with a space advantage, Vaganian, RArnason,J/Tallinn 1983. ] 8.b2 d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.d4! White heads for a typical Tarrasch-style position, as the dpawn is easily recuperated. cxd4 [ Black is structurally worse after 10...c4?! 11.e5 cxb3 12.a4 b5 13.xb3 xb3 14.axb3 f5 15.xc6 bxc6 16.fc1 Karason, A-Kristensen,B/Torshavn 1997. ] 11.a4 a6 12.xd4 g4 13.h3! xd4 [ 13...e6 ] 14.xd4 xe2 15.fe1 fe8 16.c3 f8? [ Black tucks the bishop away, but it is the d e c i s i ve m i s t a k e , 16...d6! is best, as 17.xe2?! can now be answered by ( 17.d2! d3 18.xd5 is preferable for White ) 17...xe2 18.f1?! e5 and Black is better. ] [ The other alternative, 16...h5? 17.xd5 d8 18.xe8+ xe8 19.e1 f6 leaves Black in all sorts of trouble. ] 17.xe2! xe2 18.f1 A winning pin. xb2 [ N o b e t t e r , n o r w o r s e , t h a n 18...ae8 19.xe2 xe2 20.d1 xb2 21.xa6 bxa6 ] 19.xa6 bxa6 20.xd5 A further blow to B l a c k ' s c h a n c e s . c2 21.xf6+ gxf6 22.d3 ac8 23.xa6 8c3 24.xf6 Black could easily resign here. c5 25.h1 c1+ 26.xc1 xc1+ 27.g2 c2 28.g5+ f8 29.f5 [ The king and pawn ending that results after 29.f5 xf2+ 30.xf2 xf2 31.xf2 , is quite hopeless, of course. ] 1-0
1447 Gelfand,Boris Kramnik,Vladimir Sanghi Nagar (m/8) [Nigel Davies]
A34 2680 2725 1994
1.c4 c5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d5 [ If Black wants to play a semi-Tarrasch then the correct move order is 3...e6 A) 4.g2 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.f3 ( 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 c6 ) 6...d4 is quite good 1448
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 for Black; B) 4.f3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 c6 7.xd5 exd5 8.d4 e7 , reaching the desired variation. ] 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 e6? This looks like it should transpose into a semi-Tarrasch Defence but amazingly it loses a pawn. [ 5...c7 is better with a Rubinstein variation. ] 6.xd5 exd5 7.b3 Amazingly this just wins a pawn, and quite a few strong players have fallen for it. c6 [ Black can also choose to lose b7 with 7...e6 af ter which 8.xb7 d7 9.h3 b6 10.a6 d6 11.d3 0-0 12.f4 c8 13.a5 b7 14.0-0 e7 15.h4 left him in a more or less lost position in Garcia Martinez, S-Farago, I/Polanica Zdroj/ 1978. ] 8.xd5 [ And not 8.xd5? because of d4 9.xf7+ e7 10.c4 b5 11.d5 c2+ 12.d1 xa1 etc. ] 8...xd5 [ After 8...d4 (or 8...Nb4) White takes care of the threatened fork on c2 via 9.xd8+ xd8 10.d1 and stays a pawn up for nothing. ] [ Another possibility is 8...d6 but this also fails to give Black any compensation. After 9.f3 0-0 10.0-0 e6 11.e4 e8 12.a4 d7 13.d1 e7 14.d3 White was consolidating nicely in Jussupow, A-Zaichik, G/ Vilnius 1978. ] 9.xd5 b4 10.e4 f5 11.b1 g6 12.f3 c6 13.d3 g7 14.a3 And that's just about the end of Black's 'compensation'. White is a pawn up for nothing. b6 15.a2 b7 16.0-0 d7 [ Or 16...d4 17.xd4 xd4 18.b1 d7 19.b4 when White is starting to win. ] 17.b1 he8 18.e1 ac8 19.d2 d4 20.xd4 cxd4 21.b3 a5 22.f1 c6 23.a4 It's not easy for White to win this position but it's even harder for Black to draw. G e lf a n d gra d u a lly im p ro ve s h is p o sit io n b e f o re t ry in g t o u s e t h e e xt ra p a wn . f8 24.ec1 e5 25.c2 c5 26.xc5 xc5 27.a1 e8 28.c4 d6 29.b3 e7 30.h4 d7 31.f4 b4 32.c1 c5 33.g8 g7 34.c4 e7 35.h6 e5 36.f3!
Finally revealing his plan which is to open a file for his rook on the kingside with h4-h5. This is actually a very committal move as White is effectively crippling his extra e-pawn. e8 37.f2 e7 38.g1 d7 39.g5+ f8 40.h6+ e7 41.g5+ f8 42.h5 g7 [ One of the points behind Gelfand's last move is that after 42...gxh5 43.h1 g7 44.xh5 g6 W h i t e c a n p l a y 45.f4! intending xh5?? 46.f7# mate! ] 43.h6+ f8 44.f6 e6 45.xe6 xe6 46.g7+ f7 47.g4 c6 48.f4 e6 49.f3 c7 50.gxf5+ gxf5 51.e5 d7 52.g7 The rook is finally IN! e7 53.g3 d7 54.h4 e7+ 55.h5 d8 56.xd7 xd7 57.xd4 e6 58.e4 c7 59.g5 d8+ 60.h5 c7 61.e3 d8 62.f2 c7 63.e5 1-0
1448 Georgiev,Vladimir Yemelin,Vasily IHEM Hamburg GER (9) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2538 2540 18.06.2000
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.e3 W h it e is willin g t o p la y a se m i- T a rra s c h position. e5 [ In my opinion the most forthright move, 4...e6 5.d4 d5 is more common, with a Tarrasch. ] 5.d4 e4 6.d5!? [ Unusual, 6.e5 cxd4 7.exd4 is more common, see the archives. ] 6...exf3 7.dxc6 bxc6!? [ Black plays in similar style to the Mikenas Attack, with colours reversed, but 7...fxg2 is perfectly satisfactory, too: 8.cxd7+ xd7 9.xg2 c7 10.b3 c6 11.d5 xd5 12.cxd5 d6 with equality, Suba,MWedberg,T/Dortmund 1983. ] 8.xf3 d6!? [ An innovation, and yet perfectly logical if we compare this with the Mikenas Attack, 8...d5 9.cxd5 g4?! ( 9...cxd5 ) 10.g3 d6?! 11.f4 cxd5 12.b5+ and the black king had to move, f8 13.0-0 with the better chances to W hite, Hanauer,MSeidman,H/Ventnor City 1940. ] 1449
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.g4!? [ Th a t g-p a wn , a ga in ! T h e sim p le 9.d3 is a sensible alternative, but W hite wants more. ] 9...0-0 10.d3 b8 11.h4 e5 12.g5 xc3+ 13.bxc3 e8 [ 13...a5!? might be better. ] 14.f5 Winning material, but White has burned his boats as far as his king is concerned, and Black will always have some p o s s i b i l i t i e s a g a i n s t t h e w h i t e k i n g . g6 15.xc5 d6!? More wood on the fire! 16.xa7 g4 17.d4 f3 18.h3 c5 19.f4 h5 20.a4?! [ I don't think that this is the time to use the passed a-pawn, 20.e4 would stop Black's next move. ] 20...d5 21.cxd5 xd5 22.e4!? [ Tempting, but 22.c2 is safer, keeping the queen out of b3. ] 22...b3 23.d2 c4! 24.b1!? [ Grabbing the black king, but the position will prove very difficult to defend, despite the fact that two black pieces are out of play. Better 24.e2 b2 25.d1 xe2 26.xe2 g7 when Black has some play, but White should be able to defend. ] 24...xb1+ 25.xb1 xb1+ 26.c1 g7 The black pieces rush to the scene of the battle. 27.d2 [ To control the d-file, shutting the bishop out by 27.f3 e6 28.e3 allows the rook to come to d3, after d8 ] 27...e6 28.c2 fb8 The critical position, has White time to organise a defence before Black brings his 29.g3?! [ Not too relevant, but 29.e3 a1 30.f3 bb1 31.d2 c5 also gives Black good chances. ] 29...f4 30.d2 [ White loses quickly after this, but 30.e3 d3+ 31.xd3 cxd3 32.d2 a1 also leaves him passively placed. ] 30...e2 31.a3 xg3 [ No t b a d , b u t 31...d8+ 32.e3 e1 wins on the spot! ] 32.fxg3 d8+ 33.e3 f1 34.a5 [ If 34.e5 d3+ ] 34...f3+ 0-1
1449 Grigoriants,Sergey Tregubov,Pavel V IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (6) [Carsten Hansen]
A34 2573 2629 26.04.2008
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.e3 f6 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 e4 7.e5 b4 8.d2? [ This is a terrible idea. A couple of other ideas that are seen less frequent are: A) 8.xc6 dxc6 9.e2 0-0 10.e3 a5 11.d2 g4 12.xg4 xg4 13.h3 xe3 14.fxe3 f5 ( 14...h5 15.0-0 f5 16.a3 e7 with chances to both sides) 15.a3 d6 ( 15...xc3!? 16.xc3 a5 17.c5 a4 18.f1 e6 , and in my opinion, Black has the upper hand) 16.0-0-0 c5 17.b1 ac8 18.g4 g6 19.hf1 with the initiative for White, Hernandez, R-Rodriguez Guerrero, E/ Havana CUB 2004 ] [ B) 8.e3 a5 9.b3 0-0 10.e2 e8 11.xc6 bxc6 ( 11...dxc6 12.0-0 g4 13.xg4 xg4 14.h3 xe3 15.fxe3 xc3 16.bxc3 e7 17.c5 ae8 18.f4 with a pull for W hite, Epishin, V-Hall, J/ Germany 1999) 12.0-0 a6 13.a4 d5 14.ac1 ab8 15.d1 d6 16.b3 c7 17.g3 d7 with a complicated game and chances to both sides, Kengis, E-Hall, J/ Germany 2000 ] [ C) The third alternative, 8.e2 is the main line. ] 8...xd4 9.xe4? e7! Game over! Now W h i t e l o s e s m a t e r i a l 10.xb4 xb4+ 11.d2 xe4 and White has lost a piece on account of 12 Qxb4 Nc2+. 0-1
1450 Grigoriants,Sergey Volokitin,Andrei 15th ch-EUR Indiv 2014 (8.22) [Fier, Alexandr]
A34 2574 2674 11.03.2014
Grigoriants goes for a line which is out of f ashion , but f ull of poison. Volokitin wa s apparently not prepared for this variation and soon got punished. 12...f5 cannot be recommended. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 1450
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 5.g3 is the most played move nowadays and it was analyzed by me in Reinderman, D (2593)-Bok, B (2560)/Tata Steel Challengers 2014 (6). ] 5...b4 6.b5+ [ 6.c4 is the main move and after d3+ 7.e2 f4+ 8.f1 e6 9.b4 the position has a dynamic balance, which was seen in many games during the last 40 years ] 6...8c6 7.d4 This move has the idea of avoiding the check on d3 and of course, take the center. cxd4 8.a3 dxc3 Going into a complicated endgame, but so far everything is book. [ 8...d7 is more solid and Black has decent c h a n c e s t o e q u a l i z e 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd7+ xd7 11.axb4 e6 and White needs to do something quick 12.e3 d8 13.0-0 ( 13.xa7 xb4 brings little for White ) 13...xb4 14.d5!? this tries to shake the position a bit, but probably will just lead to a boring en dgam e ( 14.xd4 was played by Tkachiev and also has it's interest xd4 15.a4+ e7 16.b5 xe4 17.fe1 xe1+ 18.xe1 xe1 19.a3+ f6 20.d6 and Black needs to take care, but the position was ok in Tkachiev, V (2654)-Palac, M (2561)/CROchT Rabac 2003 (6).) 14...c6 15.xb4 xd1 16.fxd1 xb4 17.xa7 a6 18.dc1 and White might have a micro advantage ] 9.xd8+ xd8 10.axb4 Here Black tried several different moves. cxb2 Keeping the extra pawn for the moment, but opening the position for White pieces. [ 10...xb4 is more dangerous than ambitious 11.e2 a solid answer ( 11.bxc3 unleashes a direct attack against the king c2+ 12.e2 xa1 13.d1+ c7 14.f4+ e5! it's necessary to open the bishop's diagonal 15.xe5+ b6 16.b1 c2 17.a4+ b4 and White has compensation in this complicated endgame Hergott, D (2430)-London, D (2400)/New York Marshall/Enhance 1994 (2).) 11...cxb2 ( 11...g4 is probably better, but White can keep a small advantage after 12.bxc3 c6 13.e3 ) 12.xb2 now White has all his pieces ready to attack, and it more than compensates the two pawns f6 13.hd1+
c7 14.ac1+ c6 15.e5! precise, giving the knight to activate the bishop. Now the king has no safe square to go to fxe5 16.xe5+ b6 17.xc6 bxc6 18.b1+ a5 19.c3+ a6 20.b4 with mate ] [ 10...c2!? keeps things closed on the queenside and is playable 11.xc6 bxc6 12.e5 e8 13.d2 and I think the bishop pair can compensate the weak structure Gurevich, D (2475)-Tseshkovsky, V (2505)/ US op Somerset 1986 (10). ] [ 10...e5 is just easy for White without any m a t e r i a l l e s s 11.bxc3 f6 12.e3 with a good advantage ] 11.xb2 f6 Again Black is full of options. This move is made to close the long diagonal and play 12...e5 if possible. [ 11...e6 makes sense and it's a solid option, but Black will need to lose a tempo with ...f6 at some point. Since it was the choice of Kasparov, it can't be underestimated 12.0-0 d7 ( 12...f6 13.e5 f5 14.fd1+ c7 15.xc6 bxc6 16.c3 with a typical compensation in this line) 13.xc6 xc6 14.e5 e8 15.xc6 bxc6 and White has some pressure, but Kasparov neutralized it and he was even better in the final position, L a u t ie r, J ( 2 6 6 0 )- K a s p a ro v, G ( 2 8 2 0 ) / Tilburg Fontys 1997 (11). ] [ 11...e5 does not lose any time to free the pieces 12.xc6 ( 12.0-0-0+ is also possible and the position is level after c7 13.xc6 bxc6 14.xe5+ b7 15.c3 as seen in Miles, A (2565)-Schmidt, W (2505)/Buenos A ire s o l ( Me n ) 1 9 7 8 (7 ) .) 12...xb4+ 13.e2 bxc6 14.xe5 and Black has more problems to defend the pawns. Probably he needs to give the c6-pawn, but then the position should be easier to play for White, Szabo, L (2515)-Horvath, T/Hungary 1979. ] 12.e5! W hite needs to stop 12...e5 f5? The idea is logical, trying to keep the long diagonal closed, but Black has no time to make two moves with the same pawn. From here White's position is better. [ 12...d7 was played in some games 13.a4 e8 14.b5 ( 14.e2 was Kosten, A-Do ure rassou, J in t he P GN Arch ive .) 14...xe5 15.xe5 fxe5 16.xe5 e6 17.0-0 and White has enough activity for the pawn, but no more. Maybe Black can give 1451
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 th e pa wn ba ck st ra ight away with 1 7. . . Bc5!? ] 13.g5! This move is really annoying and Black has no time to develop anything now. c7 14.e6 h6 15.f7 g8 16.c4 Threatening 17.b5, winning. a6 17.0-0 No w we c a n s t o p a n d t a ke a l o o k a t t h e position. The rook on g8 is not doing anything, neither bishop has a square to go to at the moment and Black's king is not safe. It's hard to believe that Black aimed for this position when he played 12...f5, so I think the entire variation should not be repeated. g6 [ 17...g5 does not change much 18.d5 g7 19.xg7 xg7 20.fc1 with a clear advantage for White ] 18.fc1 [ 18.d5 g7 19.xg7 xg7 20.ac1 ] 18...g7 [ 18...b8 would be another idea, going to a slightly safer place with the king, but it's ref ut ed b y 19.d5 xb4 20.e5+ a7 21.f3! and Black just can't move xe6 ( 21...g7 22.c7 xe5 23.xe5 b6 24.xe7 and the passed pawn will be decisive ) 22.d4+ b8 23.cb1 xf7 24.xb4 and there is no way to avoid big material losses ] 19.xg7 xg7 20.d5 b6 [ 20...b8 this may be the best option for Black 21.xc6 bxc6 22.xc6 xe6 23.xe6 xf7 24.xg6 f6 25.xf6 exf6 26.h4 c7 but White has good chances to convert his advantage ] 21.xc6 bxc6 22.e5 b7 Sad but necessary. One of the big problems of having the kin g on b6 is th at a5 is neve r possible due to Nc4+. 23.d1 gg8 24.d7 ad8 [ 24...ge8 would defend the pawn, but not c h a n g e t h e e va l u a t i o n 25.c1 ad8 26.c4+ a7 27.cd1 and 28.Na5 will come next ] 25.ad1 de8 26.c1 d8 27.cd1 de8 28.c1 d8 29.c4+ a7 30.cd1 b8 31.xe7 Now it's over. c5 32.bxc5 gc8 33.d6 xc5 34.e1 [ 34.b1 was also interesting ] 34...b5 35.xb7+ 5xb7 36.xb7 xb7 37.b1+ 1-0
1451 A34 Grischuk,Alexander 2715 Shirov,Alexei 2739 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (21) 22.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 [ It almost seems that 5.a4+ here or on the previous move are the only moves to be played in the Anti-Grunfeld, but the text move is of course seen very often too. ] 5...g7 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 c5 8.a4 b6 [ Black has tried a bunch of other moves here: A) 8...c7 9.d3 c6 10.e4 e6 11.e3 cd4 12.xd4 cxd4 13.d2 d7 14.b3 c6= Podgaets, M-Vaganian, R/ Riga (USSR Ch) 1970, ] [ B) 8...b4 A) 9.d3 d7 10.d1 c6 ( 10...8c6 11.d2 d4 12.xd4 cxd4 13.a4 c6 14.c5 Lundgren, P-Cakl, M/ICCF Email 2000 ) 11.e3 b6 12.d2 d7 13.h6 c8 14.fd1 f6 15.ac1 a8 16.g5 c6 17.e3 e6 18.xg7 xg7 19.d4 Siebrecht, S-Ionescu, C/Cardiff 1997; B) 9.d4?! cxd4 10.xb4 c6 11.b3 dxc3 12.bxc3 b8 13.e3 e6 14.b2 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Karavade, E-Gokhale, A/Calicut IND 2003, but Black is already slightly better; C) 9.a3 d7 10.b3 e6 11.a4 ( 11.d1 4c6 12.g5 c8 13.b1 h6 14.ge4 a6 15.d3 d7 16.e3 b6 17.f4 Mera Cedeno, A-Byambaa, Z/ Istanbul 2000) 11...d7 12.b3 e6 13.a4 d7 1/2-1/2 Pytel, K-Smejkal, J/ Polanica Zdroj 1972 ] [ C) 8...c6 9.c4!? ( 9.b5 b6! 10.xb6 xb6 11.d3 c4 12.dxc4 xc4 13.d2 e6 14.xc4 xc4 15.e3 fd8 16.fc1 ac8 17.ab1 xc3 18.bxc3 b6= Ljubojevic, L-Ivanchuk, V/Monaco blind/ 1993/; 9.h4 e6 10.c4 b6 11.d3 a5 12.a4 d7 13.c2 h6= Siebrecht, SGormally, D/ Cardiff 1997 ) A) 9...e6 10.xc5 c8 11.a3 ( 11.g5!? b6 12.xe6 fxe6 13.b5 d4 14.d3 b5 15.a3 ) 11...h6 12.b1 d7 13.d3 b5 14.e4 d4 15.d2? ( 15.xd4! xd4 16.xh6 fd8 1452
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Emonot, P-Martin, J/IECG Email 1998; 17.g5+- ) 15...a5 ( 15...xe2+ 16.h1 C) Stohl gives 11...d5!? as Black's best, g4 17.fe1 xf3 18.xf3 d4 ) though still claiming an edge for White; 16.bc1 Apkhaidze, N-Blazkova, P/ D) 11...h6?! 12.e3 a6 13.ac1! Guarapuava 1995 xe2+ 17.h1 xc1 ( 13.fc1 d5 14.xd5 exd5= ) 18.xc1 b4 19.xa5 a8 20.c5 xa5 D1) 13...d5 14.xd5 exd5 15.xc5 21.xd7 xd7-+; xc5 ( 15...xb2 16.b1 f6 B) 9...xc3 17.d4 ) 16.xc5 xb2 17.b1 g7 B1) 10.bxc3 b6 11.h4 b7 12.b1 18.d2 - Stohl; e6 13.c4 xh4 14.xh4 ab8 D2) 13...c4 14.d4!? intending Ne5 with ( 14...g5!? 15.f3 g4 16.e1 fd8 ) better game for White - Stohl; 15.f3 b4 16.b2 fd8 17.xg7 D3) 13...d7?! 14.d2 ab8 xg7= Kortschnoj, V-Rechlis, G/ D3a) 15.de4?! c4! 16.xb6 Beersheba 1988; ( 16.dxc4 xc4 17.xa7 a8 18.b3 B2) 10.dxc3 b6 11.g5 b7?! xa7 19.bxc4 b4= ) 16...axb6 12.e6 fxe6 13.xc6 xc6 14.xe6+ 17.dxc4 c6 Stohl; h8 15.xc6 Saigin Vladimir-Ilivitzki D3b) 15.b3 dc8 16.a5 c6 Georgi A /Vilnius 1958 ] ( 16...c7 17.f4 e5 18.e3 f5 [ D) 8...e6 9.d3 xc3 10.bxc3 xc3 19.b3 intending a4 and Nb5 with a 11.b1 f6 12.e3 d7 13.f4 c6 clear plus for W hite according to 14.xc5 e8 15.fc1 Feher, G-Spiriev, P/ Stohl ) 17.xc6 ( Stohl offers Zalakaros 1991 ] 17.xc6!? bxc6 18.b3 d5 [ E) 8...xc3 9.dxc3 d7 10.e3 c7 19.e4 ) 17...bxc6 11.ad1 a6 12.h4 f6 13.c4 b6 D3b1) Here White should try 18.f4! 14.f4 a7 15.e5 b7 16.c6 xc6 e5 19.e3 f5 ( 19...c4 20.xb6 17.xc6 Gyorkos, L-Ruck, R/Budapest xb6 21.a4 b4 22.xc4+- ) 1992 ] 20.b3 - Stohl; [ F) 8...e6 9.g5 xc3 10.dxc3 d7 D3b2) 18.b3? d5 19.d2 ab4 11.h4 h6 12.e4+- Milicevic, D-Baunok, 20.a4 ( 20.e4 xa2 21.c2 Z/Vancouver 1999 ] ab4 22.xc5 f5! 23.d6 f8! [ G) 8...d7 9.c4 c6 10.xc5 a6 24.xc8 xc5 ) 20...xa2 21.c2! 11.c4 c8 12.xd5 xd5 13.a4 b6 Kra m n ik, V -S h o rt , N/ A ms t e rd a m 14.e1 ( 14.d3!? b4 15.xb4 xb4 1993 ] 16.e1 e6 17.xd5 xd5 18.b1 ) [ 9...c4 10.d4 cxd3 11.d1 e5 12.g5 f6 14...c5 15.a3 e4 16.d3 ( 16.d3 13.xd3 e7 14.h6 g5 15.h5 f5 xc1 17.xc1 xb2 18.xe7 xc1 16.xg7 xg7 17.e4 Karatorossian, D19.xe4 xa2 ) 16...fd8 17.b4 e6 Almasi, I/Budapest 2004 ] 18.d3 f6 19.e3 b5 20.xd5 xd5 21.xd5 exd5 Manzardo, B-Brignone, R/ 10.xd8 [ 10.d3!? xh4 ( 10...c6 11.g5! f6 Limone Piemonte 2001 ] 12.h6 e7 13.xg7 xg7 14.e4 e6 9.h4 15.e3 ac8 16.e4 b4 17.d2 [ 9.c2 c6 10.d3 b4 6d5= Holfelder, H-Weisser, W/Wiesbaden 1/2-1/2 Karatorossian, D-Rat, D/Budapest 1990 ) 11.xh4 c6 12.e3 ( 12.a4 a5 1999 ] 13.xc6 bxc6 14.e3 ) 12...d4 13.ac1 9...e5 f5 14.xd4 cxd4 15.b5 d8 16.c5 d7 [ 9...e6 10.xd8 ( 10.d3! xh4 11.xh4 17.c7 ab8= Fabrizi, M-Cross, R/corr c6 12.g5! ) 10...xd8 11.d3 1999 ] A) 11...c6!? 12.e4 a4 ( 12...c4 10...xd8 11.d3 c4 13.g5 ) 13.g5 f5!; [ Black has tried a couple of other moves B) 11...d5 12.g5 f6 13.d2 c6! here: A) 11...c6 12.e3 ( 12.e4 c4 ( 13...b6? 14.d4 ) 14.a3 b6 15.b4 xc3 13.g5 f5 14.xd8 fxe4 15.xb6 exf3 16.xc3 b8 17.bxc5 bxc5 18.fb1 1453
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.xf3 axb6 17.d5+ f8 18.xc4 d4 Tatarko, J-Zagorskis, D/Karvina 1992 ) 12...d4 13.fc1 d7 14.d2 ab8 15.de4 c4 16.g5 dc8 17.dxc4 xc4 18.e3 Cebalo, M-Brnas, A/Pula 1998 ] [ B) 11...a6!? is the move the ECO prefers, and now: 12.e3 f5 13.d2 b8 14.f4 ( 14.b3!? f8 15.f4 exf4 16.xf4 d6 17.xd6 xd6 18.ac1 , and White has a small, but clear initiative, leaving Black with a lengthy uncomfortable defence.) 14...d7 15.fxe5 xe5 16.b3 a4 17.xa4 xa4 18.xc5 xc5 19.xc5 b6 20.a3 d4+ 21.h1 b5 22.b4 xb2 23.ab1= Marin, M-Akesson, R/Batumi 1999 ] 12.dxc4 [ 12.e1 c6 13.dxc4 xc4 14.d3 d4 15.c5 b8 16.b3 d6 17.b2 b6 18.d3 a6 Sedlacek, P-Szymczak, Z/ SVK 1994 ] 12...xc4 13.g5 [ This is a new move, but from what follows probably not better than what was played in the stem game: 13.g5 f6 14.fd1 d7 15.xd7 A) 15...xd7 16.c1 ( 16.d2 xb2 17.e3 b6 18.b1 2a4 19.xa4 xa4 20.d5+ h8 21.e4 ) 16...d6 17.e1 b6 18.e3 dc4 19.xb6 xb6 20.d3; B) 15...xd7 16.d2 b6? ( 16...xd2 17.xd2 c6 18.e3 ) 17.xb7 fxg5 18.d5 c6 19.xc6 d8 20.e4 f5 21.dc3+- Tal, M-Kirov, N/Sukhumi 1972 ] 13...h6 14.d5 d6 15.ge4 xe4 16.xe4 c6 17.e3 d4 18.ac1 e6 Black has at least equalised 19.b3 ac8 20.xd4 exd4 21.b5 a6 22.xc8 xc8 23.c7 e5 24.d5 g4 25.f3 h3 26.d1 e6 27.f4 xf4 28.gxf4 b6 [ 28...d7!? ] 29.c1 [ W h i t e c a n w i n a p a w n w i t h 29.e3 , though any real winning chances it will not amount to after f5 30.b1 c8 31.exd4 f7 32.f2 d5 33.d3 c3 ] 29...d6 30.f2 a5 31.c7 a4 32.bxa4 xa2 33.d3 b3 34.b5 e6 35.h4 f8 36.g3 h5 37.f2 f5 38.b7 d3!? Black decides to give up a pawn for activity
that should provide him with desired draw. 39.exd3 xd3 40.xd3 xd3 41.xb6 White's pawns are too weak for White to have any real winning chances, though, obviously, White should give it a try as only he has any chances of winning and this is after all a blitz game. Shirov nevertheless holds the draw without complications. d4 42.a5 xf4 43.a6 g7 44.a7 a4 45.b7 g5 46.hxg5 g6 47.g3 xg5 48.xf7 g6 49.b7 g5 50.f4+ f5 51.h3 a3+ 52.h4 xf4 53.xh5 e5 54.g6 d6 55.f7 c6 56.e7 b6 ½-½
1452 Grischuk,Alexander Svidler,Peter Norway Chess 2nd (6) [Kosten, Tony]
A34 2792 2753 09.06.2014
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 6.b5+ 8c6 7.d3!? Almost a novelty! [ 7.d4 "Forced, but good" I wrote in 1999, but apparently it isn't forced at all! ] [ 7.a3!? is also possible, and I prepared this for one of my games recently, based on Piket, J-Leko, P in the PGN Archive. ] [ 7.0-0 isn't as bad as I thought (I once gave it a question mark), as a6 8.xc6+ xc6 9.d3 leads to similar play to the game. ] 7...a6 Otherwise White will play a3 next go. 8.xc6+ xc6 9.e3 White controls d4 and targets the c5-pawn. The downside is that he has conceded his light square bishop, will this p r o v e a p r o b l e m i n t h e l o n g t e r m ? e5! This must be critical, clamping down on d4 and leaving the d3-pawn backward. [ 9...e6?! was played in the stem game, but Black was soon in trouble: 10.0-0 e7 11.a4! White utilises her lead in d e ve l o p m e n t b e f o re B la c k h a s t im e t o complete development. b6 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 both the e3-bishop and the a4knight are eyeing the b6-square, Black is already in some trouble. e5 ( 13...xd4 14.xd4 w i n s a p a w n .) 14.h5 f6 15.fd1 White's lead in development is already decisive! g6 ( 15...d7 is a little 1454
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 b e t t e r , b u t 16.xe6! g6 17.h3 is strong, if fxe6?! 18.xb6 a7 19.f4 f7 20.e5 e7 21.d3 and Rad1, winning.) 16.e2 c7?! 17.ac1 b7 18.xb6! xb6 19.f5 a5 20.d6+ f8 21.f4 g7 22.fxe5 xe5?! 23.h6+! no letup! g8 ( 23...xh6 24.xf7+ g7 25.xe5 ) 24.xc8 g5 25.d2 1-0 Kovalevskaya, E (2450)-Stefanova, A (2549) Dagomys 2009, Q d 8 i s t h e t h re a t , f o rc i n g m a t e in f i ve moves. ] 10.c1 [ 10.0-0 is an alternative, d6 11.d5 but e7 12.xe7 xe7 is level. ] 10...b6 Black takes care to protect the c5pawn, [ 10...e7?! 11.d5 b6 12.b4! would be awkward. ] 11.b4!? Fighting for the initiative. xb4 This leads to a f airly f orced sequence of moves. [ 11...cxb4? 12.d5 ( 12.a4 ) 12...c5 13.xc5 bxc5 14.xc5 b7 15.0-0 0-0 16.a4 c8 17.fc1 leaves Black under pressure. ] 12.xe5 d6 13.a3 xe5 14.axb4 cxb4 15.d5 0-0 16.xb6 g5 A nice resource that holds the balance. 17.0-0 h3 18.f3 g4 19.e3 No choice. xe3 20.fxe3 e2 [ 20...a5!? is not a good winning try, as 21.d4 b8 22.a1 wins the a-pawn, although e2 23.f2 d3 24.xa5 xa5 25.xa5 b3 26.b2 c2 keeps White's advantage to a minimum. ] 21.f5 f6 22.xb4 White allows an equal opposite colour bishop endgame, and a likely draw. [ 22.d4!? d6 23.c5 xc5 24.dxc5 a5 25.c6 b3 26.f2 is messy, but Black's two passed pawns look at least as dangerous as the c6-pawn. ] 22...a5 23.c6 xd3 24.xe5 fxe5 25.xe5 a4 26.a1 fb8 27.d4 Covering the a-pawn's promotion square. f7 28.f5+ g8 29.e5 f7 30.f5+ g8 31.e5 ½-½
1453 Gurevich,Dmitry Sutovsky,Emil TCh ISR (9) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2544 2656 19.04.2002
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 6.b5+ 8c6 7.d4 cxd4 8.a3 dxc3 9.xd8+ xd8 10.axb4 cxb2 11.xb2 d7 12.xc6! Piket's move, weakening the black pawn structure, and offering W hite some targets for his active pieces. xc6 13.e5 e8 14.xc6 bxc6 15.e2 e6!? Sutovsky's innovation, Shirov preferred to block the long diagonal: [ 15...f6 16.a6 e5 see the game Piket,JShirov,A/Wijk aan Zee 1999. ] 16.a4 d6 [ 16...c5!? is an alternative, 17.b5! b8 18.xa7 xb5 19.a8+ e7 20.a3 but the black pieces are awkwardly placed. ] 17.ha1 [ Rather than 17.xg7?! g8 and the gpawn drops. ] 17...b8!? 18.g3 So that the g7-pawn is really threatened. f6 19.a6 e7 [ Black cannot defend the c-pawn anyway: 19...d7 20.d1+ c7 21.c1 ] 20.xc6 d6 21.d1 Not the best, [ 21.aa6! i s s t r o n g , xb4 ( 21...hd8 22.a3! with nasty threats) 22.c7+ f8 23.b7! c5 24.c6 b6 25.xe6 the two white rooks are crawling all over the black position. ] 21...hd8 22.b5 b4 23.c7+ f8 24.xa7?! [ Winning a pawn, but allowing defensive possibilities, 24.d4! keeps the pressure on, W h i t e p l a n s B x a 7 a n d b 6 - b 7 - b 8 , ab8 25.xa7 xd1 26.xb8 when the b-pawn is ready to advance. ] 24...xa7 25.xd8+ e7 26.d4 The white pieces are not particularly wellsituated here. c5 27.c4 d6 28.c2 b7 29.e5+ The only way to keep any chances. fxe5 30.d2+ d4 31.xd4 exd4 32.xd4+ c5 Black is heading for a drawn rook ending. 33.e3 xb5 34.e4 c6 35.e5 b2 36.xe6 e2+ 37.f7 xf2+ 38.xg7 xh2 39.h4 xh4 40.gxh4 h5 ½-½ 1455
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1454 Halkias,Stelios Sutovsky,Emil 15th Vidmar mem (2) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2560 2639 19.08.2003
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 6.c4 d3+ 7.e2 xc1+!? A surprising move that doesn't have a very good reputation - Black swaps his active knight for a bishop that is still a little way from being able to move. I have looked at the mainline [ 7...f4+ in several games. ] 8.xc1 c6 The most logical, keeping a grip on d4, [ 8...e6 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 ( 10.b5+ c6 11.xd4 xd4 12.xd4 d7 13.hd1 was also favourable to W hite in AroninMikenas/USSR 1947) 10...xd4 11.xd4 a6 12.a4 ( Botvinnik preferred 12.e5! ) 12...d7 13.hd1 e7? 14.xe6 1-0 Botvinnik,M-Kasparian,G/ Leningrad 1938, as after fxe6 15.xe6 there is no real defence to Rxc8+ and Bxd7(+). ] 9.b5 Benko's move pins the knight to help force-through d4. [ 9.b3 e6 10.b5 is similar, ( 10.hd1 a6 11.a4 d4+ 12.xd4 cxd4 favours Black, who has the centre and bishop pair, Takacs, S-Spielmann,R/Vienna 1928) 10...d7 11.hd1 d6 12.d4 White's lead in development and central pressure is good compensation for the black bishops, Pajkovic,V-Djuric,S/ Cetinje 1990. ] 9...d7 10.d4 cxd4 11.xc6! A move that has caught-on this year. [ 11.xd4 e6 12.xc6 bxc6 13.a4 c5 14.d3 b8 is OK for Black despite the weakness on c6, Benko,P-Garcia Gonzales, G/Hastings 1974. ] 11...xc6! The first innovation of the game, Black pref ers to keep his pawn structure intact, [ 11...bxc6 allows White to profit from his better development: 12.xd4 b6 13.hd1 ( 13.xb6!? axb6 14.e5 is also awkward) 13...xd4 ( 13...xb2+ 14.d2 b7 15.e5 leaves Black in serious trouble) 14.xd4 g6 15.cd1 g4 16.c4 and Black decided to give the c-
pawn in Kryvoruchko,Y-Oleksienko,M/Lviv UKR 2003, and lost, but anyway he was worse. ] 12.xd4 d7!? Can Black really afford to m a k e a l l t h e s e b i s h o p m o v e s ? 13.d5? Direct, but [ 13.b3 is more forcing, ready to develop the king's rook, and after e6 ( 13...c8!? ) 14.cb5 c8 15.g3 the threat to make a disruptive check on c7 is difficult to stop. Still, the black bishops offer a certain longterm compensation. ] 13...c8 14.xc8 xc8 15.d3 e6 16.c3 b4 Black has negotiated his early problems, and is ready to castle, when his bishop pair should prove more than a match for the white knights. 17.c1 0-0 18.f3 a6 19.c2 d8 Completing development with a clear a d va n t a g e . 20.a3? White ignores the threat to his queen along the d-file and f1-a6 diagonal. b8? Black must still have been in an 'equalising with Black' mindset, as the curious retreat [ 20...e8! wins: 21.e3 b5+ 22.e1 d3 23.f4 xc3+ 24.bxc3 xc3 and White's position falls apart. ] 21.e3 xc3?! Why not keep both bishops with [ 21...d6 , say? ] 22.xc3 h6 23.b6 c6 24.e3!? g5?! A g gr e s si ve , b u t B l a c k we a k e n s h i s o wn kingside when he could still make progress by simply improving his pieces: [ 24...d6 25.d4 c7 26.b4 d1 etc. ] 25.g3 f5? Isn't this opening Black's own king p o s i t i o n a s m u c h a s W h i t e ' s ? 26.e5! Nicely exploiting the attack on the d8-rook. f4+!? Black's best chance may be the exchange sacrifice [ 26...xe5!? 27.xd8+ f7 28.f3 g4 with some play for the material, although 29.d4 keeps White on top. ] 27.gxf4 gxf4+ 28.f3 d6 29.xc6 bxc6 30.xa6 White is worried about the check on d1, and so prepares to intervene with his queen on e2, but the courageous [ 30.xc6! is good, d1+ 31.xf4 f8+ 32.e5 and the black checks quickly run-out, when White has some big threats of his own, like Rg3+, and Qxe6+. ] 30...e5! 31.f1 h8 Black calm ly improves 1456
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h i s p o s it i o n , a n d r e l i e s o n t h e a wk wa r d position of the white king to compensate his lost pawn. 32.c1?! g6! 33.h3 h5+!? Chasing the king to the kingside, but [ 33...g8 looks very nasty, White has to play 34.e2 (else ...Qh5+) when xe4+ 35.d2 d8+ regains the pawn whilst marinating an initiative. ] 34.g2 g8+ 35.h1 f3 [ 35...f3+ 36.h2 xe4 37.f3 and White can defend. ] 36.c3! The only defence against ...Rg2, Black may have missed or underestimated this. d8 Menacing ...Rd1, to deflect the queen from the defence of h3. [ 36...g2? meets 37.xf3! ] 37.h2 g8 38.h1 g6!? [ 38...d8 would force a draw by repetition, but Black tries for more. ] 39.a4 [ 39.d3! ] 39...d6 40.h2 g6 41.h1 h7 Once again refusing the draw! 42.a5 c5 43.b3 d6 44.h2 g6 45.h1 d6 46.h2 f7?! This allows White to rearrange his pieces. [ 46...g6 forces a repetition, as before. ] 47.c1 g6 48.e3 f6 49.c1 g6 50.c3 f6 51.c1 [ 51.d3!? might make Black regret his fighting play. ] 51...g6 52.g1?! xg1 53.xg1 g6+ 54.f1 a6+ 55.g1 [ 55.e1 xa5+ is no better. ] 55...g6+ 56.f1 ½-½
5...c6 With his knight on h6 Black can no longer stop White from opening the h-file, with h5. 6.d3 d6 7.h5 g4 8.d2!? [ O f co u r se , 8.hxg6 is possible, but White wants to open the h-file when it causes the most problems to Black. ] 8...gxh5!? [ This is might seem positionally undesirable, but there are some interesting tactical points, an d , a n ywa y, 8...xh5?? loses a piece to 9.xh6 xh6 10.g4 . ] 9.a3 White calmly plays on the queenside. f5 10.b4 h4! [ Black decides to 'return' the weak h-pawn to White, 10...cxb4?! is risky: 11.axb4 xb4 12.a4+ c6 13.b1 c8 14.xb7 ] 11.gxh4 f6 The point of Black's play, it seems that W hite cannot hold-on to the hpawn. 12.b1 So he doesn't even try! It seems odd that White attacks on the kingside with h4-5, and then completely ignores this sector. cxb4 Black wishes to keep the b-file closed. 13.d5! xh4 14.f3 xf3 15.xf3 e6! 16.xb4 fd4? [ 16...b6! i s m o r e t e s t i n g , a s 17.e3? is met by xe3 ] 17.e4 f6 18.e3 Simply defending the f2pawn, and leaving the black pieces awkwardly placed. g8 [ 18...d8 19.a4 is also clearly better for White. ] 19.xc6 bxc6 20.xd4! Winning material, the threat to f2 proves of little value. xd4 21.xc6+ e7 22.xa8 xf2+ 23.d2 [ For tactical reasons, 23.f1 is also good, as g3 24.e3 xe3 25.f3 is decisive, but one can hardly blame White for avoiding this. ] 1455 A34 23...e3+ 24.c2 The king proves to be quite Hodgson,Julian M 2640 safe here. d5 [ 'The boot is on the other foot' after Galego,Luis 2419 24...xa8 25.b7+ f6 26.f1+ ] zt 1.1 Mondariz ESP (6) 08.09.2000 25.b7+ d6 26.b1 xa8 27.b4+ e5 [Tony Kosten] 28.xf7 h6 29.e7 The noose is tightened. 1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 h6!? g4 30.d4+ xd4 31.h5+! [ 31.h5+ xh5 32.c7+ e4 33.f4# ] This unusual move, planning to clamp-down on d4 with ...Nf5, is like a red rag to a bull. 1-0 5.h4! [ A powerful innovation, 5.f3 f5 6.a3 c6 allows Black the set-up he desires, Rossetto,H-Wade,R/Havana 1964. ] 1457
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1456 Horn,Peter Trauth,Michael 2nd Open Riva del Garda ITA (6) [John Watson]
A34 2172 2233 29.12.2004
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 6.c4 d3+ 7.e2 f4+ 8.f1 e6 9.e5 The last Informant game with this variation was in 1985! As in VigoritoMikhalevski, the independent notes will be a combination of his and mine. d6 This move leads to unbelievable complications that I have no possibility of resolving here. The craziest move is 10.f4 [ But I wouldn't underestimate the potential complications of 10.a4+ c6 A) 11.b5!? ed4 ( 11...d7!? 12.xd7 xd7 13.xc6 bxc6 looks perfectly okay for Black if not advantageous) 12.c4 b8 13.xc6+ bxc6 ( 13...xc6 ) 14.d3 d7 15.d1 e5 16.b3 Sisniega-Pinter, Taxco (izt) 1985; B) 11.xc6 d7 12.d4!? ( or 12.d5!? ) 12...cxd4 13.xe6 and I'll leave it to you to decide what's happening! ] [ Also possible is 10.b5+ d7 ( 10...c6 11.xc6 bxc6 12.c4 g6 is probably about equal ) 11.c4 b8 ( 11...d3+! Smagin, when 12.g1 c7! 13.e5! d6 14.c4 d3 repeats ) 12.e2!? ( 12.d3 ) 12...c7 Smagin-W Schmidt, Dresden 1985. After 13.xd7+ xd7 14.d4 cxd4 15.f4 , Black can threaten to shut the bishop out by f6 , but that encourages sacrificial ideas like 16.c1 ( 16.xd4 e5? 17.xe5 ) 16...e5? ( 16...b6 17.xd4 b7 18.e2 ) 17.xe5 fxe5 18.xe5 c6 19.xd4 ] 10...d7 Other moves: [ (a) 10...c6 is fantastically complicated. Just for starters: 11.a4 d7 ( 11...ed8? 12.d4! cxd4 13.b5 b8 14.xd4 f6 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.f7+ 1-0 Suba-Sax, H a s t i n g s 1 9 8 3) 12.b5 ('!' Vigorito) ( 12.xd7 xd7 13.d3 ed4 14.e3 e6 15.b5 a6 16.xd4 xd4 17.xd7+ xd7 18.xd4 cxd4 is about equal. White has a small edge that means little.) 12...b8 13.xd7 xf4+! This is given as losing by Sub a and o the rs, b ut t hat just isn't so : ( 13...xd7 14.d4! exd4 15.xd4 cxd4
16.xf7 is a known line) 14.g1 xe4! ( 14...xd7 15.d4 wins because of xe4 16.d5 e1+ 17.f1 ) 15.xf8! ( 15.d4?? exd4 Vigorito-Langer, Western States Open (Reno) 2004. W e mere mortals --as opposed to Kasparov-- will do such things from time to time. Black threatens 16...Qe1+ 1 7 . B f 1 N e 2 m a t e a n d 16.d2 xd7 17.e1 c2 is hopeless; 15.b6 e1+ 16.f1 d8 ) A) 15...xf8!? isn't mentioned by Dave, p e r h a p s b e c a u s e a t f i r s t 16.c7+ se em s to win . Bu t d8 ( 16...xc7?? 17.xf7+ ) 17.xa8? ( better 17.d5 e1+ 18.f1 cd4 19.c4 when f5! threatens ...f4-f3) 17...f4 wins, so better looks 17. Nd5 unfortunately 17....Qe1+ 18. Bf1 Ncd4 is very dangerous in that case. White also has 16.Nc3, but 16...Qd4+ 17. Kf1 Qf6+ draws unless W hite risks 18. Ke1 0-0-0, which he may not want to do. So 15...Rxf8 is a serious option. In fact, W hite probably needs to play 16.h4 intending Rh3 if he is to retain winning chances. That's another wild one for you to investigate!; B) 15...xf8 16.c3 e1+ ( 16...d4+ is worth looking at, but I'm not touching it at this point.) 17.f1 Back to Dave. He says "Black has two pawn for the piece, good squares for his knights, and a solid position. Nevertheless, I prefer white's extra piece. " I think that he's right ] [ (b) 10...a6 looks very slow but may be fine: 11.d3 ( 11.b3!? ) 11...c6 12.xc6 bxc6? ( 12...xc6 ) 13.e5 c7 14.e4 b6 15.b3 b8 16.xb6 xb6 17.b3 with a winning advantage, Topchy-Blodsky, Ukranian Ch 1993 ] [ (c) 10...g6 11.a4+ c6 ( 11...d7 12.b3! both hits b7 and intends Nb5) 12.d4! (activity at all costs) cxd4 13.b5 d8 ( 13...b8 14.xd4 exd4 15.xf7+ d8 16.e3 ) 14.f5 gxf5 15.exf5 g7 16.xc6 bxc6 17.fxe6 ] 11.a4 a6 12.d4 cxd4 13.b5 c5 [ Needing more tests is 13...b8!? 14.xe6 fxe6 15.xd4 b5!? 16.xd7!? ( 16.c2 xe5 17.fxe5 g6! ) 16...xd7 17.b3 b7!? 18.xe6 c8 Shabalov-Shirov, Riga 1986. Perhaps White can try 19.g5 c4 1458
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.e3 ] 14.b4 b6 15.b2?! [ The right path was 15.f5 d8 ( 15...xe5 16.c7+ d8 17.xa8 ) 16.f4 b8! ( 16...axb5 17.xa8 bxc4 18.xc8 xe5 19.xe5 ) A) Ultimately 17.a7!! looks like the right move, threatening Nxc8: xa7 18.b5 ( t h r e a t e n i n g B x d 7 + a n d m a t e ) c6! ( 18...b6 19.xd7 xd7 20.xb8 xb5+ 21.xb5+ axb5 22.xa7+- ) 19.xc6 bxc6 20.xc6 b7 21.xb8 xe4 22.g3 xf5+ 23.g1; B) 17.xf7+!? xf7 18.xf7 B1) 18...xf7 19.b3+ e8 ( 19...f6 20.c7 threatening Ne8 e6 21.fxe6 and White wins ); B2) 18...axb5 19.b3 e5! 20.g3 ( 20.fxe6 f6 21.xh8 xe6 unclear ) 20...c6! ( 20...g8? 21.xe5 ) 21.xh8 c4+ ( 21...xe4 22.e6+ e7 23.f7+ d8 24.e1 d3+ 25.g1+- ) 22.f2 xb4 23.ab1 ] 15...f6 16.d3 b8 17.xe6 axb5 18.b3 e5! 19.xc8 [ 19.c5!? c4 20.xc4 bxc4 21.xc4 e5 looks good for Black but not overwhelmingly so. ] 19...c4 20.d7+ xd7 21.f2 e5 22.hc1 d6 [ 22...exf4!? is also worth considering. Probably White holds after 23.a4! ( 23.d1 e8; 23.xf4?? d3+; 23.c5+ xc5 24.bxc5 xc5 25.d3 bd8! 26.xd4 c6 27.xc5 xd3 28.b4 e8 and the e-pawn will fall when Black should win easily.) 23...c8 ( 23...d6!? 24.axb5 xb2 25.f7+ d8 26.xb2 d3+ 27.f1 d4 28.xg7 e8 29.c4 is unclear) 24.axb5 xb5 25.xf4 etc. ] 23.a4! hc8! [ The draw seems to be a mistake on Black's part. He's a pawn ahead with a good position, e.g., 23...hc8 24.axb5 xb5 25.g1 e7 26.fxe5 fxe5 27.f1 f8 etc. An important theoretical game. ] ½-½
1457 Istratescu,A Khalifman,A 14th Euro Indiv 2013 (9.19) [Daniel Gormally]
A34 2651 2614 14.05.2013
1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.d4!? cxd4 [ White's previous decision to explode the situation in the center, is justified by the variation 5...dxc4 6.d5 b4 7.e4! g4 8.xc4! xf3 9.xf3 c2+ 10.f1 xa1 11.e5 with a very dangerous initiative indeed. ] 6.xd4 e5 [ 6...dxc4 7.xc6 xd1+ 8.xd1 bxc6 9.g2 Would just give White an nice edge with zero risk. ] 7.xc6 bxc6 8.g2 b8! Certainly the sh a r p e s t r e p ly, wh i c h i n vi t e s e n o r m o u s c o m p l i c a t i o n s . 9.g5 White is up to the challenge, and continues to challenge the impressive black center as much as possible. [ White can grab the pawn but by doing so loses the initiative 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.xd5 xd5 11.xd5 b4+ 12.f1 e7 13.a3 c5 14.g5 f6 15.c1 d4 16.e3 And Black went on to win in the correspondence game Bishop, N (2202)Dutra Neto, A (2450) LSS email 2009 ] 9...xb2! Khalifman, true to his chess credo, plays the most principled move. Of course this entails a certain degree of risk, as the time spent in capturing this pawn enables W hite to further increase his lead in development . 10.0-0 a5 11.d3 b4 12.d1 e4 13.d4 xe2 14.e5+ f8 15.xf6 gxf6 16.xf6 g8 17.h6+ e7 18.xh7 d8 So far Black has navigated this most complex of situations extremely well, as you might expect from a former world champion. However over the next few moves he sta rts to lose his wa y a little. W hite's practical chances are certainly to be preferred here, as the black king is clearly a target, and indeed the defending player also has to show great accuracy to ensure he maintains his impressive pawn center. It should be pointed out that the European Championships is one of these official FIDE events that are played under a ferociously quick time control, 1459
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 effectively they are glorified rapid tournaments, so therefore demonstrating complete accuracy during the course of a game, becomes an almost impossible task. You just don't have the time to work everything out. (That's assuming you even have the chance to play the game, and haven't been disqualified for turning up 2 mins late to the board, due to the absolutely horrific zero-tolerance rule.) [ 18...f8 19.e3 c3 20.h5 Was another possible line, again with very sharp play. ] 19.h5 xa2 20.e5+ f8? Understand ably Black wishes to remove his King from the center as quickly as possible, to avoid the chances of any nasty checks. [ However the computer has no such fears and recommends 20...e6! 21.xa2 xa2 22.e3 a5 23.cxd5 cxd5 24.f5+ d7 25.b1 Although the situation would remain completely unclear. ] 21.xa2 xa2 22.e3 Now White is beginning to get on top. a5 23.cxd5 cxd5 24.c1! d4 25.h8+ e7 26.h4+ e8 27.c4 c5 28.xe4 e6 29.d3 a5 30.c2 c3?! In this extremely difficult position to defend, Khalifman goes wrong. This just invites W hite's next move, after which he gains a terrible attack. [ 30...a4 would have still offered some defensive chances. ] 31.e2! With huge threats of Qf6, etc d7 32.e5+ c8 33.f4?! [ 33.f6! With the threat of Bf5, was better ] 33...d6 34.f3 d5 35.f6 d6 36.e7 b6 37.xf7 h3? The final mistake. [ 37...b4 Still gave some hopes of resistance, even if White is much better after 38.e8+ c7 39.e5 ] 38.e8+ 1-0
1458 Ivanchuk,Vassily Anand,Viswanathan Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (3) [John Watson]
A34 2729 2792 16.01.2006
W hite has never been able to squeeze anything out of the opening in this game, but
Ivanchuk gains a real advantage. Then he grabs a pawn, a decision that was roundly criticised afterwards as being the losing move. In fact his judgment was fine, but the execution was wrong. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.e3 e5 5.e2 5.d4 is the critical line, investigated at some length next. d5 6.d4!? [ 6.cxd5 xd5 is a sort of Reversed Paulsen in which White's bishop belongs on b5. ] 6...exd4 [ 6...cxd4 7.exd4 e4 8.e5 b4 9.0-0 0-0 10.g5 should favour White. ] 7.exd4 e6! The proven move. Otherwise Black reaches a slight central disadvantage, e. g., [ 7...cxd4 8.xd4 c5 ( 8...dxc4 9.xc6 xd1+ 10.xd1! bxc6 11.f3 ) 9.xc6 bxc6 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.0-0 0-0 12.g5 ] 8.e3 [ 8.g5 and ] [ 8.cxd5 xd5 9.0-0 are options, both fairly harmless. ] 8...dxc4 9.a4 cxd4 [ The other move that has been played here is 9...a5 : A) 10.xa5 xa5 11.b5? cxd4 ( 11...d5! ) 12.d2!? c6 13.c7+ d7 14.xa8 d6 15.0-0 xa8 and Black had two pawns and a dominant position f o r th e exch an ge in No vo sa k-Po lo ch , Czechia 1996.; B) 10.dxc5 xa4 11.xa4 d5 12.d2 ( 12.0-0 xe3 13.fxe3= ) 12...db4 13.0-0 0-0-0 14.fd1 e7= Titov-Saltaev, Moscow 1983. ] 10.xd4 d7 11.xc4 c8 [ 11...xd4 12.xd4 ( 12.xd4!? c6 13.0-0 ) 12...e7 13.d1 0-0 14.0-0 e6 15.b5 c7 16.fe1!? a6 17.b6 xb6 18.xb6 d7 19.e3 Klinova-Kantor, Israel 1994. ] 12.0-0! d6? Why should Black expose this piece? Better but not yet equal was [ 12...xd4 13.xd4 c5 14.e5+ e7 15.xe7+ xe7 16.g5 ] [ Worse would be 12...e7 13.xc6 xc6 14.fd1 a5 15.b5! ] 13.xc6 [ Probably even better was 13.db5! b8 1460
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 13...e7 14.ad1 ) 14.c5! ] 13...xc6 14.h4 0-0 At least Black gets castled. Nevertheless his queenside is vulnerable. 15.xa7!? [ This move should have been fine in spite of the near-universal condemnation of annotators at the time who called it the losing move. However, an easier and bigger advantage was to be had by 15.f3! ] 15...b6 16.ad1 c5 17.b4!? Again, not a m i s t a k e , b u t a g a i n t h e r e wa s a n e a s i e r method: [ 17.b5! puts Black under pressure and he has to tread carefully: A) 17...a8 18.b4 e7 ( 18...d6 19.xc6 xc6 20.d4 c7 21.e4 ) 19.xd7; B) 17...c7! 18.b4!? ( 18.a4! ) 18...xa7 ( 18...e7 19.xb6 ) 19.bxc5 bxc5 20.c4 a5 21.d3 White has a positional edge but it's not much. ] 17...e7 18.d4! d6 19.c4 e6?! The advantage shifts. Anand should have played [ 19...c8 ] 20.a6 d5?! 21.xd5 xd5 22.fe1?? The real mistake. [ 22.xd5! xd5 23.xb6 wins a second pawn f or the exchange and retains two bishops, e.g., c8 24.b5! d2 25.f3 White should expect to win such a position. ] 22...g6 23.g3 xb4 24.c4 [ 24.f1 a8! is immediately decisive. ] 24...xe1 25.xd5 e7 26.a4 f6 27.f4 e3+ 28.h1 xg3 0-1
position, Black still has to deal with the fact that he has not yet found a convincing answer to this line. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.d4 This is a particularly important move, since [ 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 g6 has been considered equal for years. 6...Nc7 is also a problem for White. ] 5...cxd4 6.xd4 dxc4 7.xc6 xd1+ 8.xd1 bxc6 9.g2 d5 10.e3 a6!? [ 10...e6 11.xc4 a6 has become the main line W hite still has a nagging edge after 12.a5 , when most players wouldn't want to undertake the long defence facing Black. ] 11.xd5 cxd5 12.xd5 c8 13.d2 e6 14.e4 This may be an innovation. In the game it doesn't seem to have much significance. An earlier move was [ 14.f3 , after which the game can continue A) 14...d6 15.c3 f6 16.0-0-0 - generally you want to castle kingside or play Ke2 in this line - c5 17.d4 ( 17.e3 e7 18.b1 is a better try) 17...e7 18.xc5+ 1/2-1/2 Komarov, D-Sakaev, Ulcinj 1997; B) 14...c5 15.c3 0-0 ( 15...f6 ) 16.0-0 b5 17.fd1 fd8 18.xd8+ xd8 19.e3 f6 (it's hard to find a plan White's idea is to put pressure on the c4-pawn, whereas Black has to deal with his bishop on b5) 20.e2 b8 21.a4 a6 22.d1 b4 23.f3 b7 24.xb7 xb7 25.d8+ f7 26.c8 xc3 27.bxc3 e7 28.xc4 and White somehow converted her pawn in Xu Jun-Alterman, Yerevan 1996. Hardly forced, but that c-pawn is always a sore spot for Black. ] 1459 A34 14...c5 15.c3 0-0 16.e3 fd8 17.d1 Ivanchuk,Vassily 2748 b5 18.e2 There is no hurry. In fact, White Illescas Cordoba,Miguel 2607 seems to have all the time he wants in this Casino Masters (2) 25.10.2005 variation. a4 19.xd8+ xd8 20.c1 f5 21.f3 f7 22.e1 b5 23.e2 a6 [John Watson] 24.d2 The c-pawn again! White scoops it up, Another high-level game, this time testing an and Black is left wondering what happened. important system to some extent popularized d6 25.xc4 e5 26.b3 a8 27.a4 xc4 b8 29.b4 Simple stuff for by Kramnik's use of it. The move order is 28.xc4 crucial. Illescas returns to an older defensive Ivanchuk. g5 30.xb8 xb8 31.e2 e8 setup only to be ground down by Ivanchuk. 32.e4 g4 33.exf5 exf5 34.f4 a7 35.e3 W hether this is the result of some clever b8 36.d3 d7 37.c4 e6 38.b4 h5 moves or (more likely) an inherently superior 39.b5 axb5+ 40.xb5 d5 41.a5 e4 1461
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Black is prepared to play an oppositecolour bishop ending a pawn down. The p r o b l e m w i t h t h e i m m e d i a t e 21...b6 i s t h a t a f t e r 22.b7 d8 23.c1 White keeps a plus because of his bishops 1460 A34 and the isolated c-pawn. ] Kasimdzhanov,Rustam 2603 Berelowitsch,Alexander 2468 22.c1!? [ P a ss i ve , b u t 22.xg5 xg5 23.bxc4 VAM Open Hoogeveen NED (7) 21.10.1999 is met by b8 menacing to come to the [Tony Kosten] second rank, as 24.f4 f6 25.e3 b2 26.f2 xf2 27.xf2 should be drawn. ] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.d4 cxd4 6.xd4 dxc4 7.xc6 xd1+ 22...b6 23.b7 c7 24.a6 c4 25.bxc4 Black has successfully liquidated his 8.xd1 Not just played to avoid the xc4 displacement of the white king, but also to weak c-pawn, and retains a solidposition. bring the knight to c4, via e3. bxc6 9.g2 26.d1 f6 27.f4 ½-½ d5 10.e3 e6 11.xc4 a6 12.a5 [ Kramnik's idea, which was introduced recently. 12.b3 b4+ is the old line. ] 1461 A34 12...c8 [ A sensible innovation, defending the Kasparov,Garry 2849 attacked c6-pawn. Other possible moves Kramnik,Vladimir 2770 are: 12...d7!? and ] Braingames WCC (5) 15.10.2000 [ Ftacnik's suggestion of 12...b4+ e.g. [Tony Kosten] 13.d2 xa5 14.xa5 b8 15.b3 with an edge because of the bishop pair. ] 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 [ T i m m a n h a d p l a y e d 12...c5!? 5.g2 c6 6.c3 g6 against Kramnik, in the afore-mentioned [ 6...c7 would lead to Rubinstein's variation, game, but without success. ] but as White has played his knight to f3, and 13.d2 e7 14.c1 c5 15.b3 White plays thus reduced the pressure on d5, Black can all the obvious moves, he needs to control c4 try this logical move. ] to st op th e c5 -p awn 's o nward m arch . 0-0 7.0-0 g7 8.a4 16.0-0 White also completes his development. [ Possibly the most aggressive possibility, c7 Defending the e7-bishop, and threatening otherwise 8.d3 is a pawn sacrifice which to capture the e2-pawn, which cannot be leads to good play for White, should Black taken immediately, accept it, but Black can simply reply 0-0 [ 16...xe2?? 17.fe1 b5 18.xd5 cd8 with equality. ] and now 19.c6 ( or 19.c4 wins a piece. )] 8...b6 17.c4 [ Probably the best, although 8...0-0!? 9.c4 [ This leads nowhere, but neither does xc3 10.dxc3 b6 11.g5 c7 was OK for 17.fe1 promise much on fc8 when, by ... Black in Hertneck,G-Miles,A/Dortmund/1986, Nb6, and ...c4, Black will rid himself of his but not ( 11...b7? when 12.e6! one weakness. ] won a pawn in Uhlmann,W-Suetin,A/Halle/ 17...b6! Black must contest the well-placed 1981. )] c 4 - k n i g h t . 18.a5 xc4 19.xc4 9.b5 White's best chance, as after [ English Opening specialist Krasenkow [ 19.bxc4 d7 his c-pawn needs defence, preferred 9.h4!? to exploit Black's and Black controls the d-file. ] se n sit ive kin gsid e in h is ga m e a ga in s t 19...xc4!? This may lead to equality, but I Bryn e ll, Ma lm o 1 9 9 5 : 0-0 ( it might be feel that preferable to avoid castling, and 9...h6!? [ 19...fc8 is simpler, i.e. 20.c2 c4 ] has its points, as a subsequent ...g5 might 20.xc7 c8 21.f4 g5!? be awkward) 10.d3 f6 11.h6 e5 12.e4 42.a6 h4 43.gxh4 1-0
1462
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e7 13.ac1 d7 14.a3 although White does not have much here. ] 9...d7! [ This logical move seems to be new, 9...c4 was played in Myreng,S-Catalan,T/Gausdal 1982, but then 10.e5 xe5 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.xe5 is interesting. ] 10.d3 0-0 11.e3 d4 12.xd4 cxd4 13.e4 b6 Black has to try to nullify the white pressure on the queenside, and develop his c8-bishop. 14.a4 a6 [ T h e b e s t m o v e , 14...xb5 15.axb5 opens th e a-f ile f or W hite, a nd af te r a6 16.fc1 b8 White can infiltrate on the c-file, as well. ] 15.xb6 xb6 16.a5 d5 17.c5 It s eems tha t W h ite has real pla y on th e queenside, and the b-pawn may become a problem for Black. d8 18.d2 b8 19.c4 e6 An important move, the g7-bishop needs to f i n d a m o r e a c t i v e d i a g o n a l . 20.fc1 This would seem to grant W hite an edge, except that he cannot keep his rook here for tactical reasons. h6! 21.cb1 [ What else? 21.c2? loses an exchange to b4 ] 21...f8 22.b3 g7 Black is happy to repeat moves. 23.xd5!? White decides to try his chances with knight on c4 against the dark -square d b ish op, but he has misse d something. xd5 24.bd2 e5 [ And Kramnik offered a draw, which was immediately accepted, after 24...e5 25.b6 b5 26.xc8 ( perhaps Kasparov had intended something like 26.b4 f8 27.a4 f5 28.dc4 when Na3 threatens to trap the rook, but after e4 the rook acquires the escape square on e5, and Black is better) 26...xc8 27.c4 f8 the weakness of b4 and a5 will tie White down too much. ] ½-½
1462 Kharlov,Andrei Jakovenko,Dmitrij TCh Sochi RUS (4) [John Watson]
A34 2628 2608 22.04.2005
The latest example of a variation that seems to be ever-fruitful of new ideas. Apart from the
innovation in the main game, I've inserted an option on move 6 that comes from two postal games. Remarkably I couldn't find it in any resource, even Hansen's wonderful Symmetrical English book. But even there I haven't really found a clear way to equality for Black. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 e5 4.e3 f6 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 e4 [ The surprise variation is 6...exd4 7.xd4 b4 8.e2+!? ( White seems to have just enough time to counter Black's activity after 8.db5! 0-0 9.a3 e8+ 10.e2 xc3+ 11.xc3 h6?! 12.0-0 b6 13.f4 b7 14.f3 , although he let Black off the hook after a5 15.b5? xf3 16.xf3 xc4 17.c7 d2 18.xa8 xa8 19.xa8 xf1 20.c7 e4 21.g3 g5 22.f3 e2 23.xf1 xh2 24.e3 h5 25.g1 xb2 26.f2 b3 27.g2 g4 28.fxg4 f6 29.a2 xg4 30.d4 1/2-1/2 Vicanek- S Larsen, ICCF corr 2002. W hite seemed a little better throughout ) 8...e7 A) It looks as though White should have an easy advantage but Black's position is dynamic: 9.g5 a5 10.d2 0-0 11.a3 e8 12.0-0-0 c6 13.d3 xa3! 14.xc6 ( 14.bxa3 xa3+ 15.b1 b4 ) 14...bxc6 15.bxa3 xa3+ 16.c2 d5 with good counterplay; B) 9.d2 0-0 10.a3 xc3 11.xc3 ed5! 12.c2 xc3 13.xc3 d5 14.e2 e4 ( 14...dxc4! ) 15.c2 ( 15.e3! ) 15...f6 16.f3 f5 17.d3 dxc4 18.xc4 d6 19.b3 xd3 20.xd3 fe8+ 21.f1 xb2 22.e1 xe1+ 23.xe1 e8 24.f3 f5 25.g3 e3+ 26.g1 g4 27.c2 c1+ 28.f1 xc2 29.fxg4 e2 Lepercq-Doerdelmann, IECG email 2002 ] 7.e5 For 7.Ng5 see Shirjaev-Shinkevich. b4 8.e2 a5 9.xc6 dxc6 10.d2 [ Tony points out that 10.0-0 0-0 is safer than taking twice on c3 and subjecting Black to attack ] 10...0-0 11.0-0 e8 12.a3 xc3 13.xc3 g5 14.d2!? I think that this is new. The move makes total sense, bring the appropriate defensive piece to the kingside via f4 and g3, after which it's unlikely that Black will be able to scare up much attack. [ Tony analysed M Marin-Movsesian, Neum 1463
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 BIH 2000 some time ago. I have included some new data but nothing that seems too important: 14.c1 g6 A) 15.e3 g4 16.ae1! ( 16.fe1 b5!? 17.b3 ab8 led to a Black win in L Pachman-Ksieski, Germany 1995) 16...b5 17.b3 xe2 18.xe2 g4 19.g3 f5?! 20.h3 f6 21.xg6 hxg6 22.c1 bxc4 23.bxc4 ab8 24.a4!? 1/2-1/2 ThomsenR i z z o , I C C F E m a i l 2 0 0 1 ( 24.b4 intending Bc5 seems to keep a moderate edge. A passed d-pawn might prove useful some day. ); B) 15.f4 B1) 15...h3 16.g3 g4 17.fe1 xe2 18.xg6 hxg6 19.xe2 h5 20.ae1 f5 21.f3 f6 22.d5? ( 22.f2 ) 22...cxd5 23.xf6 gxf6 24.cxd5 ad8 25.fxe4 fxe4 26.xe4 xe4 27.xe4 xd5= Tyrtania-Von Herman, Berlin 1997; B2) 15...h5 16.fe1 ( 16.ad1 g4 17.fe1 ad8 18.g3 f5 19.h3 xe2 20.xe2 b5 21.b3 d7= 22.d5 bxc4 23.bxc4 cxd5 24.xf6 1/2-1/2 Franco Ocampos-Cheparinov, Mondariz Balneario 2003.) 16...g4 17.f1 h4 18.h3 xh3 19.xh4 g4 20.e3 h5 21.ae1 and I think that White had a minor advantage. f5 22.d5 wi t h a m e s sy a n d u n c le a r ga m e , M Marin-Movsesian, Neum BIH 2000. ] 14...g6 15.f4 h3 16.g3 g4! 17.xg4 xg4 18.e1 ad8 19.b3 b6 20.ad1 f5 21.a4?! [ 21.h3 f6 22.c7 d7 23.e5 intending c5? 24.a4! ] [ 21.c5+?! f7! 22.xf7+ xf7 23.cxb6 axb6 24.h3 f6 25.c7 d7 26.xb6 b8! ] 21...e3! 22.f3 [ 22.fxe3 xe3 23.d2 e4 ] 22...e2 23.c1 [ A fascinating line is 23.d2 h6 24.dxe2 xe2 25.xe2 f4 26.fxg4 fxg3 27.hxg3 c1+ ( 27...xd4 28.e8+ f7 29.e1 ) 28.h2 h6+ ( 28...d6? 29.e8+ f7 30.e5 h6+ 31.h5 ) 29.g1 c1+= ] 23...f4 24.h4 xh2 25.xh2 h5 26.g1 xh4 27.xc6 e7 28.e4 f6 29.d3 xd4 30.c2 de4 31.c3 4e5 32.b4
h4 33.d2 g5 34.d7 d8 35.xa7 f6 36.c5 e6 37.xe2 xe2 38.xb6 g5 In spite of this result I think that Black has not yet found the perfect answer to 4.e3. 0-1
1463 Kharlov,Andrei Korotylev,Alexey Aeroflot Open (2) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2638 2564 05.02.2002
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 c6 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 e5 8.e1 [ 8.d3 is the main move here, although I prefer the text, myself. ] 8...d7 Black defends against the positional threat of Bxc6+, shattering the black queenside pawns, but he can also dare White to concede his important light-squared bishop, by [ 8...g4!? say. ] 9.d3 d6?! [ The new threat was Bxc6, and Nxe5, but I prefer 9...f6 although White gets active play after both 10.b3 ( and 10.f4 )] 10.e4 e7 Black is forced to allow the exchange of his d6-bishop for a knight. He hopes that his space advantage will compensate. 11.b3 White brings his queen's bishop to its natural post on b2, this is more logical than [ 11.f4?! exf4 12.gxf4 f5 Heyken,E-Stein, B/ Germany 1991. ] 11...0-0 12.b2 ae8 A new move. [ 12...fe8 13.c1 a6 14.f4 exf4 15.xd6 xd6 16.xf4 Secker,M-Sideif Sade,F/Berlin 1992. ] 13.c1 b6?! [ Perhaps Black should avoid undermining c6, and play 13...a6 as in the previous note. ] 14.b4! An interesting tactic. White normally plays [ 14.f4 in such positions. ] 14...xb4 Forced. [ 14...cxb4? 15.xd6 xd6 16.xc6 xc6 17.c2 causes embarrassment along he cline. ] 15.xb4 cxb4 16.d4! The point of White's 1464
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 tactic. b5 The black pieces are in a tangle, and he must concede the e-pawn, [ 16...exd4?? 17.xd4 hits g7 and d6, and after e5 18.xe5 xe5 19.xe5 xe5 the knight is hanging: 20.xc7 ] 17.c2 e6 18.xd6 xd6 19.dxe5 b8 The smoke has cleared and material is equal, ho we ver, W hit e ha s t h e b isho p p air a n d mobile central pawns. We can conclude that h i s o p e n i n g h a s b e e n a s u c c e s s . 20.f4 F for forward! (Paul Motwani!) c8 21.d2 xc1 22.xc1 c8 Black tries to exchange the pieces, and soften the coming attack. 23.f5 xc1+ 24.xc1 c5 25.d2 c4? [ 25...a5 was better, although White's raking bishops should carry the day. ] 26.e6! f8 [ 26...fxe6 27.d4 hits g7 and c4. ] 27.d4 If the black bishop moves, e7 wins. 1-0
1464 Kosten,Anthony C Dourerassou,J TCh-FRA Top 12 2012 (5.6) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2493 2462 04.06.2012
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 I've always wanted to play this move, and would have analysed it in the 'DWFlank' book if I'd had more chapters to do! b4 6.b5+!? 8c6 7.d4 cxd4 8.a3 dxc3 Heading for the endgame. Some of my 2600+ teammates seemed to think that this was fairly easy for Black to draw. [ In my preparation for this game I also looked at 8...d7!? when I found some ways to continue the attack in the mainline after 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd7+ xd7 11.axb4 e6 12.e3 d8 13.0-0 xb4 14.xd4! xd4 15.a4+ e7 16.b5 xe4 17.fe1! xe1+ 18.xe1 xe1 19.a3+ f6 20.d6 e.g. h6! ( 20...h5 21.h4 d2 22.f3+ e7 23.c4 f6 24.a3+ f7 Tkachiev, V-Palac, M/Rabac CRO 2003, in the Archive, 25.d6+! g8 26.xb7 d5 27.xa7 with the sort of position where White can push for the win with little risk, and meanwhile Black must tak e grea t c are .) 21.h4 a5 22.g3
G l e i z e r o v - P e t r i e n k o / U S S R 1 9 8 5 , b4 23.e4+ f5 24.f3 and Black has some problems to solve. I don't think that White is actually winning in any of these lines, but it is so easy for Black to slipup (or forget the theory!) ] 9.xd8+ xd8 10.axb4 cxb2 11.xb2 f6 Aiming to close the long diagonal with .. .e5, and virtually forcing White's reply. [ I spent some time looking at the coverage of 11...d7 12.xc6! xc6 13.e5 e8 14.xc6 bxc6 15.e2 in the PGN Archive, and felt that White's nagging edge would be enough for decent winning chances. ] [ 11...e6 is the most popular move, 12.0-0 f6 13.e5 f5 14.fd1+!? with the usual initiative for the pawn, Wiemer, R (2295) Vogelmann, P/Germany 1991/GER-chT2. ] 12.e5! [ 12.xc6 bxc6 13.e5 is worse, e6! 14.0-0 d5 Ragger, M (2615)-Danin, A (2538)/Moscow 2011. ] 12...d7 [ 12...g4?! 13.xc6 bxc6 14.d4 le d t o a c r u sh i n g vi ct o r y f o r K a s p a r o v against Korchnoi, as pointed out by Giri in our post mortem: fxe5 15.xc6+ c7 ( 15...e8 16.0-0 e6?! 17.fc1 d6 18.b5 was overwhelming in Uhlmann, W (2505)S z y m c z a k , Z ( 2 4 6 0 ) / W a r s a w 1 9 8 3 .) 16.xe5 h5 17.0-0 e8 18.fc1+ b7 19.c4 e5 20.xe5 h5 21.a5+ b6 22.c7+ a6 23.c6+ 1-0 Kasparov, G (2775)-Kortschnoj, V (2655)/Skelleftea 1989, as b7 24.d8+ wins material. ] 13.a4!? This was the move I'd prepared beforehand, it's not new but almost. On a4 the bishop is protected, and now b5 becomes a threat. Alternatives: [ 13.c4 c8 ( 13...xb4!? ) 14.d1 c7 15.e6 e8 16.b5 a5 17.e2 b8 18.0-0 g6 19.c1 was the game Timman, J (2625)-Bohm, H (2410)/ Leeuwarden 1979, when W hite is a little better but Black is solid. ] [ 13.xc6 xc6 14.e6 g6 15.0-0 h6 16.d4 c7 was fine for Black in Jussupow, A (2575) -Tseshkovsky, V (2530)/Moscow 1981. ] [ 13.0-0 is the most common, but xe5! 14.fd1 ( 14.xe5 xb5 Toth, C-Soares, C/ 1465
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Cabo Frio 1984.) 14...e8 15.xd7+ xd7 16.d4 b6 Ovetchkin, R (2557)Nepomniachtchi, I (2613)/ Krasnoyarsk 2007, 17.e6!? f7 18.d8+ might repeat. ] 13...e8 Agreed drawn in Kizova, SPrudnikova, S (2412)/Budva 2003! [ 13...xe5 is critical, 14.xe5 xa4 A) 15.f7+!? is risky, e8 16.xh8 b5 ( 16...c6?! 17.0-0 g6 18.fc1 g7 19.b5! xb5 20.c7 xh8 21.e1 Black has recovered his material but now finds himself in big trouble.) 17.f4 e6 18.c3 d6 ( 18...c8 19.d2 according to Uhlmann, but d6 20.g3 a6 and . ..Ke7 looks OK.) 19.f5!? but Black will win the knight eventually and then his bishops and pawns will match the white rook.; B) 15.xa4 fxe5 16.xe5 ( I was intending to try 16.e2 instead, h5 17.d1+ e8 18.d5 with some i n i t i a t i v e .) 16...h5 17.f4 ( 17.f4 makes more sense.) 17...e5 ( 17...e6 18.0-0 a6 19.b5 a5 Pasman-Moulin/ Hallsberg 1981) 18.d2 d6 19.0-0 e7 Black has managed to develop his kingside successfully, Fabiano, G-Mora, F (2210)/Rome 1991. ] 14.e2!? After a long think. [ 14.b5 xe5 15.xe5 fxe5 16.xe5 e6 17.0-0 was another possibility. ] 14...fxe5 15.xe5 xe5 16.xe5 a6 [ I'd expected 16...xa4 17.xa4 h5 ] 17.xd7+ xd7 18.ac1 Aiming for c7. e6 19.f4 g8 Black wants to play ...g5 and then develop his bishop, so White ahs to find a way to make his initiative count as he is still a pawn down, of course. 20.h4 h6 21.a1 d8 [ 21...g5 22.fxg5 hxg5 23.h5 creates a useful passed pawn. ] 22.c7 b5 23.g4 g6 24.h3! The possibility of Re3+ stops ...Bg7. f7 25.e3 d6 26.e5?! [ 26.a7! was my original intention, keeping an eye on the a6-pawn while Black is tied down, but then I thought I saw something stronger. ] 26...e6 27.f5 gxf5 28.gxf5 b6 29.d4 d6 The only move.
[ 29...b8? 30.f6! wins, as e8 31.f3! ] 30.c5 It seems that Black will lose his epawn, but he has a resource. g2+ [ 30...d8 31.f6 ] 31.f3 dd2 The e7-pawn is untouchable because of the check on f2. 32.e4 h2 33.f6 d3+ 34.e3 xf6 35.f4+ [ 35.c6+ f7 36.f4+ g8 37.e4 d8 38.g6+ h7 39.xa6 is also level. ] 35...e6 [ 35...g7!? 36.e4 d8 37.c6 regains one pawn while retaining some attacking chances. ] 36.e4 d8 37.c6+ d7 38.xa6 g7 39.a7+ e6 40.c5 f8 [ With only two minutes to make the time control I half expected my opponent to play the 'obvious' 40...f6?? losing immediately to 41.xf6+! xf6 ( 41...exf6 42.e7# ) 42.xe7+ ] 41.a6+ d7 42.b6 h5 43.f3 a8 44.xb5 a3+ 45.e4 h6 46.f1 xh4+ 47.f5 e3 48.b7+ [ 48.f3 c1 is also equal. ] 48...c6 49.b6+ [ 49.xe7 ] 49...c7 50.e6 xc5 51.bxc5 d7 52.c6+ [ 52.c6+ c7 ( 52...e8 53.fe1 a7 54.g6 ) 53.xe7+ xc6 54.e6+ c5 55.c1+ c4 56.c6+ xc6 57.xc4+ d7 58.h4 picks off the last pawn. ] ½-½
1465 Kosten,Anthony C Schroll,Gerhard Aut chT Velden (7.1) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2507 2404 2004
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 c6 5.0-0 d5 6.cxd5 xd5 The Keres-Parma Variation, a solid choice if not too popular. [ 6...exd5 7.d4 leads to a Tarrasch Defence. ] 7.c3 e7 8.xd5 I have always preferred this, although [ 8.d4 0-0 9.e4 xc3 10.bxc3 is the main variation. ] 8...xd5!? This move brings the queen out 1466
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 early and doesn't have a particularly good reputation. [ 8...exd5 9.d4 is more nor mal, when a Tarrasch-style position arises where a pair of pieces has been exchanged, and I think this favours White. ] 9.d4!? An interesting pawn sac. I also mentioned the standard [ 9.d3 0-0 10.e3 in my book, e.g. h5 11.c1 d7 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 with an edge, Petrosian,T-Borisenko,G/ Moscow 1964, but the text is more fun. ] 9...xd4 Obviously critical. [ 9...h5!? 10.dxc5 xc5 11.f4 0-0 12.c1 b6 13.h3 b5 14.c2 d4 15.xd4 xd4 16.d6 d8 17.c7 e8 18.fd1! was superb for White in Kosten,AVajda,S/Montpellier FRA 2003, the b-pawn is poisoned: xb2?? 19.a4 forks e8 and d4. ] [ 9...cxd4? is a blunder, though: 10.xd4! and as xd4?? is impossible due to 11.xc6+ so Black is in trouble. ] 10.xd4 xd4 11.c2 The point, White will gain time on the black queen, and the c8bishop has difficulty developing. The pressure on b7 is the key idea in this line (and also similar Catalan-type structures), and lasts t h r o u g h o u t t h e g a m e . 0-0 12.d1 To my great surprise this move is an innovation! [ 12.e3 f6 ( I was thinking 12...e5!? might be best, to have the option of returning to the queenside) 13.e4!? ( t o r e g a i n t h e p a w n i m m e d i a t e l y ) h6 14.xc5 e5 ( 14...xc5 15.xc5 xb2? 16.h7+ xh7 17.xf8 reveals the point behind White's 13th move) 15.fc1 xc5 16.xc5 g4 17.e3 with a 'nagging edge', Benko,P-Porath,Y/Amsterdam 1964/IZT. ] 12...f6 As above, Black prefers to bring the queen to a safe square on the kingside, but from here it does nothing to help the undeveloped queenside. [ 12...b4!? is also possible, 13.a3 b5 14.e3 c4!? perhaps, although 15.a4 e5 16.d4 regains the c-pawn with advantage. ] 13.e3 In this position Black has no obvious way of developing his queen's bishop, nor of saving the c-pawn. However, White will only want to capture this if he retains a positional
edge afterwards. a5!? A reasonable try, and played with great confidence by my opponent, t h e r o o k m a y d e v e l o p v i a a 6 . 14.d2! The b-pawn needs defending otherwise White cannot take on c5. [ 14.e4 g6 15.h6 e8 16.a4 looks very strong, but then Black has the surprising but strong b5! 17.xb5 a6 solving all his problems. ] 14...a4!? Again played confidently, Black hopes to exploit the a1-f6 diagonal by threatening .. .a3, and at the same time ...Ra5 will defend c5, but I had seen rather further. [ 14...b8 would have been my choice, but t h e n a f t e r 15.xc5 xc5 16.xc5 b6 17.b5 b7 18.xb7 xb7 White retains some advantage by 19.ad1 and then Rd6, perhaps. ] 15.xc5 xc5 16.xc5 a3 The point of Black's play. 17.c3! [ 17.b1 axb2 18.bxb2 is also good, as the b7-pawn is a constant problem. ] 17...axb2 Black has a difficult choice, capturing the queen is certainly no better: [ 17...xc3 18.bxc3 e5 19.d5 e8 20.e4 and my plan was to play c4, Rb1, then bring t h e kin g t o e 3 wit h a sign if i ca n t s p a c e advantage, added to which White has play against b7, and also a3 (by 'doubling' rooks on the third rank). ] 18.xf6 gxf6 19.xb2 The weakness on f6 is not the end-of-the-world for Black, but who knows? One day it might be possible for White to exploit it. d8 20.a4 [ 20.xb7?! b8 21.ab1 xb7 22.xb7 xb7 23.xb7 d2 regains the pawn with a likely draw. ] 20...a7 21.f4 A good positional move, a route is opened for the king, and ...e5 is i n h i b i t e d . d6 22.a5 White's plan is continuing nicely, b7 is indefensible in the long run. f8 The king's assistance is required! [ 22...da6? loses immediately to 23.d1 a8 24.d8+ g7 25.c2 and the bishop is lost. ] 23.c1? I thought this led to a win, but White should continue improving his position by [ 23.f2 e7 24.e3 when the bishop is still stuck on c8. ] 23...d7 24.c5 Defending a5 whilst 1467
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 continuing to ask the question of the b7-pawn. c6 25.xc6 bxc6 Of course, I half hoped for [ 25...xc6? 26.xb7! winning a pawn and the game, but my opponent spotted it! ] 26.f2 d5! 27.xc6 The only chance of maintaining winning possibilities, [ 27.xd5 cxd5 ( 27...exd5?! 28.b6 xa5 29.xc6 of f ers W hite some chances) 28.a2 e7 29.f3 f5! stops the king infiltrating on the kingside, and draws. ] 27...dxa5 28.c8+ g7 29.bb8 f5 30.g8+ This is the idea behind White's plan, he hopes to capture the h-pawn when he would have every chance of winning with 4 rooks on the board. f6 I had expected this, although I suspected that [ 30...h6!? was stronger - but who would dare putting his king in a potential mating net? 31.h3 a1 32.g4 7a4! 33.e3 4a2+ 34.g3 looks unpleasant, but there is no obvious way of mating, and meantime the black rooks are very active. ] 31.h8 d7 Going for counterplay, [ 31...g7!? 32.bg8+ h6 might again be best, but now 33.h3 and g4 really does look nasty! ] 32.xh7 a2 33.b1?! [ 33.b3 dd2 34.e3 was more active. ] 33...dd2 34.e1 d8 to stop the h7-rook escaping, but there are other routes! 35.h4 b8 36.g4?! Probably [ 36.h3 is better, but I was getting short of time, and wanted to avoid any possible disasters. ] 36...fxg4 37.xg4 f5 The black king gets in on the act. 38.eg1?! Time trouble! [ 38.h3 is best, e4 39.h4 with some winning chances. ] [ 38.f3?! is e ve n wo rs e : b3+ 39.e3 xh2 ] 38...bb2 39.g5+ e4 [ 39...xf4?? 40.1g4# is the stupid point of my last move, but the text just wins a pawn. ] 40.e5+ xf4 41.e3 e5 After the rush I had time to think, and, much to my surprise, realised that I still had some chances by pushing my h-pawn up the board, as the king was cut-off by the g1-rook. 42.h4 f5?! [ 42...e4 is slightly more accurate. ]
43.h5 e4 Suddenly Black realised that he had allowed the h-pawn to go a square further than he had intended, as [ 43...b6 44.h3 h6?? is met by 45.h4# which is why his innocuous 43rd move may be a slight mistake. ] 44.h6 b7 45.h3 aa7 The black rooks have been forced to take up passive defensive posts to stop the rampant h-pawn, and so White can activate his own rooks as he no longer has to worry about the e2-pawn. 46.g6 [ 46.h5!? ] 46...h7 47.h4+ e5 48.h5 Given sufficient time I wanted to play Kg3, e3, and Rb6 when Rb5+ would force the black king back and then I could put my own king on f4. af7 Black wants to simplify by bringing a rook to f6. [ 48...ac7 keeps possibilities of activity, but then 49.a6 ( m e n a c i n g R a 5 + ) c5 ( 49...f4!? ) 50.e3 d5 51.g3 c5 52.g5! hc7 53.gg6 e7 54.h4 to g5 and wins. ] 49.g3 f6? All rook and pawn endings are drawn, right? [ 49...c7 50.a6 c3+ 51.f2 f4 ( 51...c5 is like the last note) 52.a5 g4 might be a better chance, although 53.axf5 e3+ 54.g2 xh6 55.hg5+ h4 56.g3 is mighty unpleasant. ] 50.xf6 xf6 51.f4 g6 I guess my that he was winning the h-pawn and that with only one pawn left White could hardly win, but in fact it is a simple win! 52.h1?? I was so sure that the position was winning that I played this blunder immediately! [ 52.h3! w i n s e a s i l y : h8 ( 52...xh6 53.xh6+ xh6 54.xf5 e3 55.e4 g6 56.xe3 f5 57.d4 wins; 52...e3 53.xe3 and the h-pawn cannot be captured by either the rook or king as White is ready to skewer the king from both the h-file and t h e 6 t h ra n k!) 53.e3 xh6 ( 53...h7 54.h1 f6 55.a1 e7 56.a6+ f7 57.xf5 g8 58.e6 and a second pawn goes ) 54.xh6+ xh6 55.xf5 g7 56.xe4 with the opposition - I had wanted to keep the possibility of pushing my e-pawn one square or two, but it is irrelevant here. ] 52...e3! The only move. 53.g1+ What else? 1468
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 The problem is that now [ 53.h3 (say) xh6 54.xh6+ xh6 55.xf5 g7 56.e4 f6 57.xe3 e5 gains the opposition and draws. ] 53...f6 [ 53...xh6 54.xf5 b7 should also draw, although the black king is awkwardly placed. ( 54...e7?? 55.f6 )] 54.g5 xh6 55.xf5+ g6 56.f8 h3 Normally I would just offer a draw here, but I was so annoyed that I had thrown away a winning position that I kept playing on! 57.e4 g5 58.e5 Threatening to drive the king back a file g6 59.f4 g7 60.e8 f6 [ 60...f7 61.xe3 xe3?? 62.xe3 e6 63.e4 ] 61.g4 [ 61.e4 amounts to the same ] 61...h1 62.xe3 The remainder of this game has been described by team-mate Stefan Kindermann as 'Phildor's grief'! I will analyse it in more detail for a future article, but suffice it to say that Black's play was stunningly incompetent! a1 63.f4 a4+ 64.e4 a2 65.e5 a4+ 66.e4 [ 66.e4? a1 67.b5 f1+ draws too easily. ] 66...a2 67.f3 a3+ 68.e3 f5 69.h4 a1 70.h5+ g6 71.b5 f6 72.f4 f1+ 73.e4 a1 74.b6+ e7 75.h6 a4+ 76.e5 a5+ 77.f4 a4+ 78.e4 a1? [ 78...a5! draws immediately, of course, 79.e5 a1 80.f5 f1+ ] 79.f5 f1+?! Almost anything is better: [ 79...f7 for instance, 80.h7+ e8 81.e5 a6! 82.e6 a1 83.f6 f1+ drawing 'a la Philidor'. ] 80.e5 a1 81.h7+ f8? Black knows he must go to the 'short side', but this complicates matters. [ 81...e8 82.f5 a6 83.e5 b6 With Philidor again. ] 82.d7! Played to interfere with his sixth-rank defence, but it shouldn't change anything. e8?! [ 82...a6 83.d6 is the idea, but a7! 84.f5 f7+ draws 85.f6 e7! ] 83.e6 a6+ 84.d6 a4 85.e5 I'm making real progress now, but it is still a trivial draw! a1?
[ 85...h4 to check from the side, or ] [ 85...a7 to check from the front are far better. ] 86.b6 Threatening mate! f8 [ 86...a8? 87.f6 wins, f8 88.e6 e8 89.b1 f8 90.h1 g8 91.g1+ h7 92.e7 ] 87.b8+ Now the black king has to vacate the area, but it is still a draw! g7 88.d8! To interpose the rook and stop the checks from the 'long side'. a6+ [ 88...e1 seemed simpler to me during the game, to stop the king from advancing. 89.d6 f7 ] 89.e7 a5 90.e6 a7+ 91.d7 a1 [ 91...a8! is a better idea, to stop the king f rom advancing. 92.d1 a7+ 93.d7 a8 ] 92.c7!? After some thought. [ 92.d6! might be trickier: a8! now this is the only move, ( 92...a7+? 93.e8 a8+ 94.d8 a1 95.e7 wins ) 93.d8 a7+ 94.e8 f6! and draws. ] [ 92.e8+? was probably what my opponent expected: f6 93.e7 e6! 94.f8 f1+ and draws. ] 92...a2 93.d7! [ 93.e8+ f6 94.e7 a8+ 95.d7 f7 draws again ] 93...d2+?? only now is Black lost! [ 93...a8! is now the only move, 94.e7 f7 again. ] 94.e8+ g8 [ 94...f6 95.e7 and Rc6+ (which is why I put my rook on the c-file instead of the dfile!) is decisive. ] 95.e7 g7 96.c4 The bridge! a2 97.g4+ As Stefan Kindermann also said: "Philidor is rotating in his tomb!"!! 1-0
1466 Kosten,Anthony C Webb,Richard M 4NCL Nottingham ENG (8) [John Watson]
A34 2527 2313 10.04.2005
1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 c6 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 e5 8.d3 e7 9.d2 d7 10.c4 f6 11.f4 b5 1469
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.e3 exf4 13.f5 0-0?! Not a move that I'm familiar with. Black has played several moves here: [ 13...b4 14.xe7 xe7 15.e4 ( 15.xf4!? bxc3 16.xc7 c8 17.f4 cxb2 18.b1 Akopuan-Leko, Ubeda 1997) 15...fxg3!? ( 15...e6 16.gxf4 f5! 17.g3 0-0 Akopian-Ruck, Ohrid 2001, previously analysed by Tony) 16.f4! e5 17.c1 unclear, Nikolaidis Lautier, Erevan 1996 ] [ 13...fxg3 14.xg7+ f7 15.f5 gxh2+ 16.h1 xf5 17.xf5 d7 is a mess either side could be better ] [ 13...f3!? 14.xf3 0-0 15.xe7+ xe7 16.f4 e6 17.xb5?! xf4 18.gxf4 ab8 is a game from the books, but much better is 17.Nd5! followed by 18.Bd6. All in all, the 13.Nf5 idea is productive of original and complex play, something sorely needed in main line Rubinstein theory. ] 14.xf4 [ 14.xe7+ xe7 15.xf4 e6 16.d5 f7 17.d6 is the last note but with the bishop on g2 instead of f3. ] 14...xf5?? After this blunder the game loses it s t h e o re t ic a l in t e r e st b u t is f u n t o p la y through. In fact, White has a large advantage anyway. The best move is probably [ 14...c8 , when 15.xc7 xc7 16.xb5 e5 17.xe7+ xe7 18.c3 when White wins a pawn and keeps it, as he does after ] [ 14...e6 15.b3 ( or maybe 15.xb5 xf4 16.xf4 b8 17.b3+ h8 18.xc6 xc6 19.e6 ) 15...c4 16.xe7+ xe7 17.dxc4 bxc4 18.xc4 ] 15.xc6 h3 16.xc7 xc7 17.d5! e5 18.xe7+ xe7 19.xa8 xa8 20.f2 h8 21.d2 e8 22.c1 d6 23.f4 d5 24.b3 h6 25.f3 d4 26.h5 d7 27.xc5 e5 28.c7 d4 29.c3 b6 30.e4 b4 31.d2 d4 32.c4 1-0
1467 Kovalyov,Anton Cordova,Emilio IV Magistral (1) [John Watson]
A34 2381 2482 20.11.2006
1.c4 c5 2.f3 e6 3.c3 b6 A unique move order that gets W hite out of the books on move 3! Objectively it's probably not very good, but here Black comes out okay. 4.d4 [ One way to exploit Black's chosen sequence is 4.e3 : A) 4...f6 5.d4 b7 6.d5 exd5 7.cxd5 d6 8.e4 e7 9.b5+ is a known line that favours W hite, in part because Black's pieces are badly-placed to block the check, e.g., fd7 ( 9...bd7 10.e5 dxe5 11.d6 ) 10.0-0 ( 10.a4 ) 10...a6 11.d3 b5 12.f4 etc.; B) 4...b7 5.d4 cxd4 ( 5...f6 6.d5 ) 6.exd4 b4 ( 6...xf3? doesn't quite cut it following 7.xf3 c6 8.d5 d4 9.d3 f5 10.e2 ) 7.d3 f6 8.0-0 xc3 9.bxc3 0-0 10.g5 and the bishop pair is very effective. ] 4...cxd4 5.xd4 b7 6.e4 Certainly natural. Also possible is [ 6.db5 d6 (Nd6+ can't be allowed) 7.f4 e5 8.e3!? ( sounder is 8.g3 a6 9.a3 f6 10.f3 e7 11.e4 ) 8...f6 ( 8...a6 9.d5!? axb5 10.xb6 c8 11.c7+ e7! is unclear) 9.g5 a6 10.xf6 gxf6 11.a3 , a position in which the combination of ...Be6 and ... f5 is better than ...b6 and ...Bb7. ] 6...e7!? [ 6...d6 is more natural, preventing what follows: ] 7.db5!? White may get a small advantage in this way, but it allows Black to get a setup that is consistent with his development. [ 7.g4! gives White some advantage no matter how Black defends the g-pawn. The problem is that none of these options is decisively better for White, so he has a hard time choosing between them. ] 7...d6 8.f4 [ Or, again, 8.g4 with the idea f6? 9.f4 e5 10.0-0-0 ] 8...e5 9.e3 a6 10.a3 f6 Suddenly Black's whole scheme doesn't look so bad! 1470
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.f3 0-0 12.c2 White has some edge, having blocked out the b7 bishop, but it's not much. h5 13.d2 [ 13.g3 would prepare Be2 and 0-0. ] 13...d7 14.b4!? f4 15.bd5 [ White would give up the dark squares and initiative by 15.xf4?! exf4 16.xf4? h4+ ( or 16...f5 ) 17.d1 ( 17.g3? g5 with the idea 18.xd6? e7 ) 17...g5 ] 15...xd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.cxd5 [ 17.xd5 keeps the outpost, but Black gets e n o u g h p l a y f o l l o w i n g g5 18.xg5 ( 18.f2 b5!; 18.d2 xe3 19.xe3 c5 and .. .Ne6-d4) 18...xg5 19.xd6!? c5! 20.d2 e7 and ...Ne6-d4 follows. ] 17...b5 [ 17...g6!? , intending ... f5. White still has the better game because of his two good bishops targeting the queenside, but he is behind in development. ] [ Furthermore, 17...h6 immediately probably improves upon the game. ] 18.c1 h6 19.c6 b8 20.c2 d7 [ 20...g5 is consistent. ] 21.g3 f5!? A risky weakening. 22.exf5?! [ 22.h3! , f or e xample , f4!? ( 22...fxe4 23.fxe4 c5 24.f5! gives White a clear positional advantage) 23.gxf4 exf4 24.xf4 g5 25.e6+ h8 26.g3 xf3 27.e2 f8 28.h4 c5 29.f5 etc. ] 22...xf5 23.g2 g5 24.0-0 b6? [ 24...xe3+ 25.xe3 h8 26.h3 f6 with ...Nf8 in reserve is not so bad. ] 25.h3 [ White really should have seen 25.f4! exf4 ( 25...f6 26.h3 ) 26.gxf4 h4 27.h3 f8 28.e6+ h8 29.b3 with a very large advantage. ] 25...xe3+ 26.xe3 f6 27.e6+ h8 28.b3 d7! Now either ...Nc5 or ...Nf8 will challenge the bishop on e6. W hite's advantage is slimmer now. 29.h3 b4! 30.xd7?! xd7 31.e4 a5 32.g2 af8 33.ff2 f7 34.h4 h5 35.c4 f7 An instructive game. [ 35...g5 is aggressive and not too risky, in view of 36.c7 g6! ] ½-½
1468 Kozul,Zdenko Negi,Parimarjan Graz Casino op-A (9) [Fier, Alexandr]
A34 2588 2633 21.02.2014
The Rubinstein Symmetrical English with ...d5 and ...Nxd5-c7, ...e5 is one of my favourite variations. The games are usually unbalanced and the structure much more asymmetrical than any other symmetrical opening! It's hard for both players to find the right plan and here we can see some thematic ideas in a decisive last round game from the Graz Open. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 c6 6.c3 c7 7.d3 The normal path. [ 7.0-0 was seen last month, e5 8.e1 d7 9.d3 in Reinderman, D (2593)-Bok, B (2560)/Tata Steel Challengers 2014 (6). ] 7...e5 8.d2 d7 9.0-0 e7 10.c4 f6 11.f4 b5 12.e3 exf4 13.gxf4 So far we are in th e ma in lin e. Now W h it e h as t wo important options at his disposal. [ 13.f5 is the critical line when White sometimes just sacrifices all the kingside pawns. It was tried by Navara in Gibraltar this year: b4 14.xe7 xe7 15.e4 fxg3 ( 15...0-0 is not good and after 16.xf4 e5 A ko p ia n , V ( 2 6 8 4 )- Ru c k, R ( 2 5 5 1 )/ 3 r d Amplico AIG Life 2003 17.c1 White is just better. ) 16.f4 everything for quick development and the initiative e5 17.c1 gxh2+ 18.h1 c8 and White has sufficient compensation, Navara, D (2702)Gopal, G (2550)/Gibraltar Masters 12th 2014 (9). ] [ 13.xf4 tries to bring the knight to f5 without sacrificing any pawns. The drawback is that the bishop would be more active on f4 0-0 14.f5 b8 15.a4 b4 16.d5 with chances for both sides in Mladenov, P (2391)-Istratescu, A (2645)/Vaujany op-A 2nd 2011 (3). ] 13...0-0 It's still not clear where the white knights should go and which pawn can be a d va n c e d . B o t h p l a ye r s h a ve we a k a n d strong squares. This could be one of the positions where both players are worse! 14.f5 This is committal and not so popular, but White now has a clear strategy. With the pawn on f5 White can easily bring the pieces to the 1471
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 k i n g s i d e a n d B l a c k n e e d s s o m e t im e t o relocate the bishop to the a2-g8 diagonal. Also the knight can sometimes go to d5 and f4, look ing to e 6. O n th e ot her hand , all th e central dark squares are weakened. [ 14.cd5 it's not clear which knight should go to d5. With this jump White can't play e4, but the knight won't be attacked with ...b4 b8 15.xc7 xc7 16.d5 d8 17.e3 ( 17.e4 is also possible) 17...d4 18.d2 g4 with an unclear position ] [ 14.a4 tries to exchange the knight on the other side and it's interesting b4 ( 14...a6 15.ed5 was never played, but the inclusion o f a 4 a 6 c a n b e f a vo u r a b l e f o r W h i t e) 15.b5!? h8 16.c4 ( 16.f5 is again committal, mainly because of Black's answer e8! and 17...a6 is threatened 17.d4 cxd4 18.xd4 xd4 19.xd4 c8 and Black looks fine, W hite's structure is strange) 16...a6 ( 16...e8 17.d4 cxd4 18.xd4 is better with the pawn on f4, but the position is still level) 17.bd6 e8 with another position hard to access ] [ 14.ed5 is the most played move b8 15.e3 xd5 16.xd5 and we reach the same position as with 14.Ncd5 d4 17.c1 is another played move, instead of 17.Qd2, but less precise e6 and without knights Black is free to use the central files, Schwartzman, G (2500) -Hansen, L (2545)/ Hoogovens-B Wijk aan Zee 1994 (1). ] 14...h8 15.ed5 [ 15.a4 a6 16.f2 a mysterious move b8 17.d2 d4 18.axb5 axb5 19.e4 c6 and B la ck was f in e in W elin , T (2 38 2)Dragicevic, D (2298)/SWE-chT 0506 2005 (9). ] 15...xd5 16.xd5 d6 Black has free play on the dark squares and good places for his pieces. On the other hand White has a solid center and a weak spot to hit: the pawn on c5. 17.e4 [ 17.f4 is a completely different approach xf4 18.xf4 c8 19.xc6!? xc6 20.e4 trying to play with a better knight against the bishop. Still, the dark squares compensate, and both players have chances ] 17...e8 18.e3 f7 [ 18...c8 was prudent, preparing to defend
t h e c 5 - p a w n 19.c1 e5 20.f2 this plan looks strong, but Black's answer arrives in time f7 21.fc2 xd5 22.exd5 c4! and Black is fine ] 19.c1!? White doesn't care about breaking the structure. The bishop will have a nice outpost on e4, defending all the structure and the rest of the pieces are free to go to both flanks. [ 19.f4 i s n o t g o i n g a n y w h e r e e8 and Black is slightly better ] 19...xd5 [ 19...c8 was still possible, even at the cost of a pawn 20.xc5 xc5+ 21.xc5 d4 22.xc8 xc8 23.d2 ( 23.f4 leaves the a2-pawn c5 24.h1 xa2 and I prefer Black) 23...xd5 24.exd5 xf5 25.f2 d6 26.xa7 e8 and Black's knight is enough to compensate the pawn, but no more than that ] 20.exd5 d4? A natural and almost losing move. The post on d4 is just secured by the pawn on c5, which can easily be attacked. [ 20...e7 was necessary, and after 21.e1 e5 22.d4 cxd4 23.xd4 with a balanced middlegame ] 21.e4? Returning the favor. [ 21.b4! White had this idea one move later, but now was the best moment to do it e7 22.e1 and the c5-pawn will f all xf5 23.f2 c7 24.bxc5 xh2+ 25.h1 f4 ( 25...g3+ d o e s n o t h i n g 26.xh2+- ) 26.f3 and the passed pawns are going to decide the game ] 21...e7? Again missing White's idea. [ 21...a5 was better, avoiding 22.b4 22.h1 Black has a more or less static position, so I think that an attack on the kingside is called for e8 23.g1 a7 24.h5 a4 25.g4 e5!? w i t h a t r i c k y i d e a ( 25...ee7 is already dangerous for Black 26.h4 h6 27.g1 and sacrifices are going to be fatal) 26.h4 ( 26.f4 is possible, but Black has time to defend ee7 27.h4 h6 28.e3 e8 29.xe8+ xe8 30.xd4 cxd4 31.c6 d7 and everything is under control ) 26...g5! and the pawn cannot be taken ] 22.b4! Finally! ad8 Now Black is paralyzed. White can improve the queen and win the c5pawn by force. 1472
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 22...a5! was still be best move. White can 8.xb5 xe4 9.e5 M.Tal-J.Timman, win a piece, but the consequences are far Hilversum m(5) 1988 ] f rom clea r 23.bxc5 xc5 24.d6!? xd6 6.xd4 dxc4 25.xa8 xa8 26.xc5 ( 26.g4 a7 [ 6...e6 7.g2 ( 7.cxd5 xd5 8.xc6 bxc6 27.e4 is probably better, with a small 9.g2 b4 10.0-0 0-0 11.c2 b6 advantage for W hite) 26...xc5 27.g4 with chances to both sides, M.Makarov-V. d8 28.f4 c2 Black is going to take the K u p o r o s o v, R u s s i a n c h ( G o r k y ) 1 9 8 9) important a2-pawn and with this create 7...b6 8.xc6 bxc6 9.0-0 e7 10.cxd5 dangerous counterplay with the pawns on exd5 11.e4 dxe4 12.xe4 d5 13.g5 th e qu ee n s id e 29.xd4 xd4 30.xd4 0-0 14.xe7 xe7 15.c2 f5 16.ac1 b1+ 31.f2 xa2+ 32.g3 h6 fd8 17.fe1 ac8 so far A.Rotstein-C. and Black is still alive and kicking, since H e n r i k s s o n , H e l s i n k i 1 9 9 2 18.e2!? 33.xh6 is p ro b a b ly n o t e n o u gh gxh6 ( 18.c5!? Ribli ) 18...g6 19.c5 ] 34.xf6+ g8 35.g6+ h8 36.xh6+ 7.xc6 xd1+ 8.xd1 bxc6 9.g2 g8 37.g6+ and the queen on a2 defends [ 9.e3 e6 10.g2 d5 11.0-0 b8 the king well. ] 12.b3 c3 ( 12...xg2!? 13.xg2 cxb3 23.d2 g6 Desperate, but there is not much 14.axb3 b7 15.c4 leaves White with to do anymore. Qf2 is coming at any moment. enough initiative to compensate for the [ 23...a5 now it's too late 24.bxc5 xc5 pawn, but not much more than that) 13.d1 25.f2 and White wins ] xg2 14.xg2 g6 15.xc3 g7 16.f4 24.bxc5 e5 although W hite succeeded in not winning [ 24...xc5 25.f2+- ] this position, he is clearly better at this stage, 25.f2 J. Oms Pallise-J. Lacasa Diaz, Spanish [ 25.d6 was convincing e8 26.fxg6 f5 League 1994 ] ( 26...hxg6 27.f2 wins ) 27.d5 xg6+ 9...d5 28.h1 with a decisive advantage ] [ T h i s i s m o r e a c c u r a t e t h a n 9...d7?! 25...xf5 26.xf5 gxf5 27.d6 10.e3 c3 11.bxc3 e6 12.c4 d5 And the passed pawns are enough to decide 13.d2 e7 ( 13...f6 14.0-0 c5 15.a5 the game. e8 0-0-0 16.c4 b6 17.b3 a3 18.c1 [ 27...f7 28.h1 d5+ 29.f3 xa2 e7 19.e3 c7 20.a4 M. Makarov-G. 30.f2 f7 31.xf5+- ] Tunik, URS-sf Russian Ch (Gorky) 1989) 28.f3 g8+ 29.h1 g4 30.xf5 h4 14.e5 f6 15.xd7 xd7 31.c2 c6+ 32.f3 xd6 33.cxd6 xc2 A) 16.d1!? c7 17.c4 b6 ( 17...c3 34.a8+ 18.c1 ) 18.a5 e7 19.0-0 hd8 1-0 20.b1 ( 20.c5?! xd1 21.xd1 xc5 22.c1 d6 23.d1+ c7 24.c1= ) 20...c5 21.fc1 ab8 22.e3; 1469 A34 B) 16.c1! b6 17.c4 hd8 ( 17...b2 18.c2 f6 19.0-0 ) 18.0-0 ( 18.a5!? ) Kramnik,Vladimir 2772 18...ac8 19.c5 d5 20.a5 e8 21.e4 Leko,Peter 2738 c7 22.fd1+ e7 23.e5! xe5 Rapid Match Miskolc HUN rapid (5) 28.04.07 24.xc6+-; [Carsten Hansen] C) 16.0-0-0?! (This logical move isn't as strong as it appears to be at first glance 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 the king doesn't belong on the kingside in 5.d4 cxd4 this position. White should rather attempt [ According to Ribli, this is the best to exploit the vulnerable position of Black's continuation for Black, whereas 5...dxc4?! king and generating pressure with the favours White after 6.d5 a5 ( or 6...b4 rooks, bishops and the a- and c-pawns) 7.e4 g4 8.xc4 xf3 9.xf3 c2+ c7 17.c2 b6 18.f4+ e5 19.e3 10.f1 xa1 11.e5 A.Wojtkiewicz-L. e7 20.h3 hd8 , and the last traces of Yudasin, New York op 1991) 7.e4 b5 1473
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White's advantage have evaporated, A. Miles-F.Izeta Txabarri, Debrecen (EU-chT) 1992 ] 10.e3 e6 [ The text move has been called dubious by Ribli in ChessBase Magazine. Instead Ribli considers 10...a6 to be the better move, e. g. 11.xd5 cxd5 12.xd5 c8 13.d2 e6 14.f3 ( 14.e4 c5!? 15.c3 f6 16.e3 e7 17.0-0-0 b5 18.h4 h5 19.d2 a4 20.f3 c6 21.xc6 xc6 22.hd1 d6 with equal chances, J.Hjartarson-J.Arnason, Ga us d al (Nordic zt) 19 9 2) 14...c5!? ( less accurate is 14...e7 15.c3 f6 16.xf6 gxf6 17.0-0-0 e7 18.d4 L. Ftacnik-A.W ojtkiewicz, Bacolod 1991) 15.c3 f6 16.e3 e7 17.0-0-0 b5 and although W hite has a minimal pull, Black didn't have any problems of significance and rather easily held the draw in R.Vaganian-G. Kamsky, Manila 1992 ] 11.xc4 a6 12.b3 b4+ 13.d2 xd2+ [ Black has also tried the rather crude approach with 13...xc4 14.bxc4 xd2+ 15.xd2 e7 16.ab1 0-0-0+ 17.c3 c7 18.b3 b8 19.a3 b7 20.d1 a8 , so far A.Greenfeld-B. Alterman, Haifa 1993, and now 21.f4 ab8 22.b3 leaves White with a solid plus. ] [ In an earlier game this year, Leko tried 13...e7 14.c1 ( 14.xb4+ xb4 15.0-0 ac8 16.fc1 ) 14...ac8 15.xb4+ xb4 16.a3 d5 17.0-0 which leaves White with a s m a ll p lu s , a lt h o u gh B la ck re la t ive l y easily managed to neutralise it in V.IvanchukP.Leko, Monte Carlo 2007, but Leko cannot have been 100% satisfied with the outcome of the opening, since he in our main game goes in a different direction. ] 14.xd2 [ A n i m p o r t a n t a l t e r n a t i v e i s 14.xd2 which has been tested on several occasions, but it appears that Black is able to neutralise White's initiative rather easily if properly prepared: 0-0-0 15.c2 c7 16.hc1 ( 16.e5 hf8 17.f3 f6 18.d3 b6 19.a3 e5 20.b2 b5 21.c4+ c7 22.e4 1/2-1/2 Vaganian, R-Alterman, B/ Groningen 1993) 16...xc4 17.bxc4 b6 ( 17...b4+ 18.c3 a5 19.a3 a6 20.e4! f5 21.c2 g6 22.d1 e5 23.h4
c5 24.xd8 xd8 25.h5 and White eventually managed to convert his slight advantage in V.Salov-J.Timman, Moscow 1992 ) 18.c3 a5 ( 18...e5!? 19.d1?! xd1 20.xd1 b8 , and Black has the better chances) 19.d1 a4+ 20.c2 xd1 21.xd1 b8 , and Black has completely taken over the command of the game, A.Ledger-J.Emms, Norwich 1994 ] 14...b4 15.d1!? [ Gelfand's move, which looks almost absurd, giving up on the right to castle while placing the king on the only open file on the board, one which Black will occupy with a rook on his next move. But the paradoxical idea is based on his other pieces being needed elsewhere and wanting to avoid them being exposed to attack. The alternative is 15.e4!? c8 16.f4 e7 17.a3 d5 18.f3 ( 18.c1 hd8 19.b4 is a possible i m p r o v e m e n t) 18...hd8 19.e4 c5 20.c1 c4 21.b4 b5 22.f2= B.Lalic-J. Emms, Isle of Man 1994 ] 15...0-0-0 [ This looks completely logical, as it places a rook on the d-file, while bringing the king over the defend the weak pawns on the queenside. However, the black king will also be subject to attack from W hite's pieces. The problem is that the alternatives don't look particular interesting either, e.g. 15...0-0 16.a3 d5 17.c1 fc8 18.e4 , and White has the better pawn structure and better coordinated pieces, leaving him with a solid advantage ] 16.a3 d5 17.c1 b7 18.e1 [ 18.f3 is Ribli, Z-Ponomariov, R, in the PGN Archive. ] 18...e5 19.e3 [ Also 19.e4!? b6 20.h4 h5 21.c5 is worthy of attention ] 19...b6 20.f1!? [ White's bishop is blunted by the wellplaced knight on d5, so W hite takes the opportunity to off er an exchange of the bishops, which will be to W hite's to advantage. At the moment W hite's king is stuck on e1, preventing the rook on h1 from taking part in an attack on Black's royal defender of the queenside. The alternative 20.c4+ xc4 21.xc4 d6 22.e2 hd8 1474
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.hc1 e7 24.g4 leaves White with an advantage, but Black's position is solid and W hite will have problems breaching Black's defensive set-up. ] 20...b5 21.c4! White wants to exchange the light-squared bishops, but only on the right terms, and before those are on the table, W hite will ne ed to coo rd in ate h is p ie ce s optimally including activating the rook on h1. f6 22.e2 d7 23.c2 a5 24.hc1 e7 25.xb5!? [ With his pieces on all the right squares, White makes the first strike against Black's q u e e n s i d e . T h e a l t e r n a t i v e 25.a4 looks like an attractive option, but offers less after xc4+ 26.xc4 hd8 27.1c2 , and Black will have to suffer a bit before being able to put a half point on his score card, but from Black's perspective of the position on the board, this is a perfectly acceptable result. ] 25...cxb5 26.a4! White breaks the queenside open with simple, yet very effective means. hd8 [ Or 26...b4 27.e4 hd8 28.c4+ a6 29.e3 , and Black's position sucks ] 27.axb5 xb5 28.e4 a7 29.g4 h6 30.h4 b6 31.g5 [ 31.h5!? can also be considered, but Kramnik's plan appears more consistent ] 31...hxg5 [ Or 31...f5 32.c5 hxg5 33.hxg5 e4 34.e6 d6 35.xg7 g6 36.e8 xg5 37.c7 , and Black has severe problems with his king safety and piece coordination as well as keeping both pawns and pieces sufficiently guarded. ] 32.hxg5 fxg5 33.g1 c8 34.d2 c6 35.xg5 White's advantage has taken concrete form: Black will likely not be able to defend his three isolated pawns, while also keeping his pieces guarded. W ith his next move, Black tries to reduce the material to ease the defensive task, but allows White to enter a more easily won endgame. a4? [ 35...e7 36.g6 h8 37.d6 c7 38.c2 h6 39.xg7 xg7 40.e8+ b6 41.xg7 leaves White a pawn up, but may well be a better chance for saving a draw ] 36.bxa4 xa4 37.d6?! [ White keeps manoeuvring around, but the
b e t t e r c h o i c e i s l i k e l y 37.b2+ b4 38.xb4+ xb4 39.xe5 , and White sh o u ld win f a r m o r e e a si ly t h a n in t h e endgame that arises in the game ] 37...c7 38.e8 ca7 39.xg7 a2 40.xa2 xa2+ 41.f3 c5 42.f5 b4 43.g3 d5 44.e4 a8 45.f6+ e6 46.g4 d3 47.g6+ f5 48.f6+ g5 49.d6 f8+? [ With the game being a rapid game and all, Leko makes a logical move that unfortunately also is a big mistake. The correct way for Black to proceed is 49...c5! 50.d5 f8+ 51.e2 xg4 52.xc5 , and despite his pawn advantage, W hite should not be able to win or in fact even get close to winning ] 50.g3 e4 51.d5+ f5 52.f4+! G a m e o ve r ! g6 53.d4 c5 54.e5+ g7 55.c4 d3 56.xd3 exd3 57.d4 and Black had been through enough 1-0
1470 Kramnik,Vladimir Mamedov,Rauf Presidents Cup rapid (1) [Nigel Davies]
A34 2790 2639 29.04.2010
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 g6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.a4 [ Altogether more enterprising than 8.xd5 , though this might also be something of a relief for Black. ] 8...b6 9.a3 This appears to be a novelty by Kramnik. [ P r e v i o u s l y W h i t e h a s f a v o u r e d 9.h4 , for example e5 ( 9...e6 10.xd8 xd8 11.d3 d5 12.g5 f6 13.d2 c6 14.a3 f8 was not very impressive in Grischuk, A (2748)-Svidler, P (2726)/Dagomys 2009) 10.xd8 xd8 11.d3 c6 ( 11...c4 12.dxc4 xc4 13.g5 f6 14.fd1 d7 15.xd7 xd7 16.d2 gave White the initiative in Tal, M (2625)-Kirov, N (2450)/ Sukhumi 1972) 12.g5 f6 13.e3 d4 14.fc1 g4 15.xd4 cxd4 16.e4 ac8 17.f1 a4 was very comfortable for Black in Kramnik, V (2772)-Mamedyarov, S (2719)/ Moscow 2009. ] 1475
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...a6 10.d3 b4 11.e1 a5 12.e3 d4 [ 12...c4 looks like a more critical test of K r a m n i k ' s 9 . Q a 3 , f o r e x a m p l e 13.xb6 xb6 14.dxc4 e6 15.d5 xd5 16.cxd5 b5 17.f3 ac8 gives Black excellent counterplay for his pawn. ] 13.h6 e8 14.c1 h8 15.e4 Suddenly White has some pressure because of the difficulty Black has in defending his cpawn. d4 16.c3 g4 [ Here too 16...c4 was probably the right idea for Black, though now W hite has the initiative after 17.dxc4 xc4 18.b3 . ] 17.f3 xf3 18.xf3 6d5 [ E v e n h e r e B l a c k s h o u l d t r y 18...c4 though he would be under serious pressure. A sample variation is 19.e3 d8 20.xb6 xb6 21.xc4 c6 22.g2 xb2 23.c5 xc5 24.xc5 d4 25.e3 e2+ 26.h1 c3 27.a4 with strong pressure. ] 19.xc5 xb2 [ On 19...f5 White can even sacrifice a piece with 20.b5!? , for example fxe4 21.dxe4 c7 22.xb7 e6 23.b3 with a very unpleasant pin on the knight on e6. ] 20.xb2 xb2 21.b1 d4 22.c4 a7 23.a3 c6 24.d2 e6 25.xb7 Simply winning a pawn. And given Kramnik's proficiency in the endgame I would not want to bet heavily on Black's survival. e5 26.c2 xf3+ 27.xf3 eb8 28.xb8+ xb8 29.e5 f6 30.c6 b1+ 31.g2 b6 32.e4 c7 33.e7+ f7 34.c8 e8 35.xb6 xb6 36.c5 g5 37.xa5 b3 38.a7+ g6 39.f8 xd3 40.e7 d8 41.a4 a8 42.a5 g4 43.a6 1-0
1471 A34 Kramnik,Vladimir 2751 Timman,Jan H 2649 Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee NED (10) 28.01.1999 [Tony Kosten] 1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.d4 Instead of capturing on d5, White prefers to maintain the tension in the centre. [ 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 c7 Transposes to Rubinstein's Variation, which has a good reputation for Black. ]
5...cxd4 [ 5...dxc4 i s w o r s e , b e c a u s e o f 6.d5 driving the c6-knight away, and gaining space in the centre, but 5...e6 is perfectly respectable, with a Tarrasch. ] 6.xd4 dxc4 Temporarily grabbing a pawn, but not with the intention of holding on to it, as the extra pawn will be doubled, but to gain free piece-play. 7.xc6 xd1+ 8.xd1 bxc6 9.g2 d5 10.e3 e6 11.xc4 Reaching the critical position, W hite has recuperated his pawn, and enjoys the better structure. a6 12.a5! A strong new move, attempting to pin Black down to the defence of the c6-pawn, previously [ 12.b3 b4+ 13.d2 had been played, when Black had equalising chances. ] 12...c5!? 13.d2 0-0 14.c1 Further accentuating Black's problems along the c-file. Will Black's activity be sufficient to counter-balance White's structural advantage? d4 15.b4! A strong move, rather than greedily capturing the c-pawn, W hite strengthens his position, and fixes the c-pawn on c6. Kramnik knows that the pawn will not run away! b5 16.xc6 b2 17.c5 xc6 18.xc6 ac8 White has now taken both black c-pawns, and gained the bishop pair, to boot. However, the game is far from over, as Black intends infiltrating along the c-file, and t h e h 1 -r o o k h a s n o t ye t jo i n e d t h e f ra y . 19.xc8 xc8 20.xd5 A GM touch, swapping one advantage (the powerful lightsquared bishop) for another (the IQP). exd5 21.f4!! Brilliant, White wants to develop his rook, and yet keep his king actively placed in the centre, his plan is Rf1-f3-a3. a3 22.f1 c4 [ 22...c2 also doesn't help 23.f3 xa2 24.d3 picks-off the d5-pawn. ] 23.f3 xb4 24.xb4 xb4 25.a3 This is the position W hite was aiming for, Black has regained his pawn, but he is much worse. h5! Well played! Everyone knows that you must play actively in rook endgames, but many players would still have been tempted to play [ 25...b7?! 26.a5 d7 when Black is very passive, and White wins easily by playing 27.d2 and then to d4. ] 26.xa7 b2 27.a4 a2? The decisive slip, 1476
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black had to stop White's next move by [ 27...g6! and, despite the pawn he has every chance to make a draw. ] 28.f5! Now Black won't get a second chance, Black is n ow unable to activat e his king, which spells disaster. a1+ 29.f2 d4 30.a5 f6 31.f3! h7 32.a6 h6 So much effort to bring the king into the game, for nothing. 33.h4 g6 34.fxg6 xg6 35.a8 a2 36.f4! f7? Not that it changes too much, but this is the wrong square, [ 36...g7 would have avoided the coming Zugzwang. ] 37.a7 g7 38.f5 a5+ 39.e4 a4 40.d5 a1 41.xd4 1-0
30.d7+ e7 31.dxc8+ xc8 32.d5 1-0
1473 Krasenkow,Michal Protaziuk,Grzegorz 55th chTeam Suwalki POL (1) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2647 2415 18.09.1999
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 xc3 Black is clearly happy to play a Gruenfeld, and so avoids the complications of [ 5...b4 . ] 6.dxc3 I find it ironic that White, who has just indicated his intention to play one of the sharpest variations in the English, should 1472 A34 Black play 5...Nb4, should now decline the Kramnik,Vladimir 2772 Gruenfeld that would arise after [ 6.bxc3 g6 7.d4 and play a dull endgame, Van Wely,Loek 2700 instead. However, this endgame is far from Amber Blindfold (2) 18.03.2001 easy for Black, as the fact that his c-pawn is [Tony Kosten] on c5 weakens his queenside control of the light squares d5, c4, and b5. ] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 6...xd1+ 7.xd1 Curiously, the white king is xd5 5.d4 xc3 6.bxc3 g6 7.g5!? [ Black would obviously be expecting 7.e4 well-placed on d1, as it is just a step away transposing to a Gruenfeld, but White has from the strong central square c2. c6 8.c2 A subtle move. Normally White plays either other ideas! ] [ 8.e3 or ] 7...g7 8.d2!? [ 8.f4 and then brings the king to c2 later in [ A new idea from the World Champion. 8.e3 the game. By playing this immediately, 0-0 9.d2 cxd4 10.cxd4 b6 11.d1 b7 W h it e ca n wa it t o se e B lack' s re ac t io n 12.e2 is more Gruenfeld-like, Kortschnoj,Vbefore deciding on his dark-squared Reshevsky,S/Lone Pine 1979. ] bishop's best square. ] 8...a5 9.c1 h6 10.h4 f5 Black controls e4 so that White cannot effect a 8...e6 Should Black try [ 8...g6 instead, then White will revert to favourable transposition. 11.e3 c6 12.e2 normal variations with 9.e3 as the c50-0 13.0-0 fd8 14.b2 This really very pawn is no longer defended by the f8-bishop, much resembles a Gruenfeld, W hite has a e.g. b6 10.b5 d7 11.a4 g7 12.hd1 so lid ce nt re , b ut n o re a l ad va nt age . b6 (with the strong positional threat of a5) 15.a3 a5? 0-0-0?! 13.g5 hf8 14.xh7 with a solid [ Black blunders his e and c pawns, and pawn more, Rogers,I-Noble,M/Auckland brings the game's interest to an end (this 1992. ] w a s o n l y a b l i n d f o l d g a m e ) 15...d5 [ In the game Van Wely,L-Sokolov,I/ or some such move, was clearly better. ] Rotterdam NED 1999, Black tried 8...d7 16.xa5 xa5 17.xe7 dc8 18.xc5 instead, but on the further 9.a4 e6 10.f4 e6 19.b4 c4 20.e4 a5 21.e7 g5 e7 11.e2 h6 12.h4 c8 13.hd1 a6 22.d5 d7 23.fe1 b5 24.d4 e5 25.f5 14.h5 a5!? 15.e5 c6 16.xc6 xc6? xf5 26.exf5 f6 27.ed1 The d-pawn will was rocked by the powerful shot 17.b5! advance. f7?! 28.d6 e8 29.xf6 xf6 axb5 18.axb5 c8 19.xa5 winning a good 1477
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pawn. ] 9.f4! Krasenkov's new move, and better than [ 9.e3 i.e. d7 10.d2 a5 11.e2 f6 12.he1 e7 which is almost level, Vladimirov,E-Sion Castro,M/Leon 1991. ] 9...f6 10.d2 A standard plan, the knight is heading for the strong square on c4, after p r e p a r a t i o n b y a 4 . e5?! Whilst it is understandable that Black wishes to close the diagonal for the f4-bishop, in so doing he weakens his light squares, and restricts his f8bishop. 11.e3 e6 12.c4 Of course, once W hite exchanges the black light-squared bishop he can aim for a good knight v bad bishop position. f7?! For better or for worse, Black should fight for some light squares by [ 12...xc4 13.xc4 b5 ] 13.a4 Now it is too late for Black, he can only look forward to suffering. e7 14.xe6+ xe6 15.c4 b6 16.hd1 hd8 White has achieved all he wanted from the opening. Now he must decide on a plan, and the clearest is to swap a pair of rooks, and then engineer a breakthrough on the kingside. 17.xd8 xd8 18.g4 g6 19.g1 h8 20.d3 f7 21.h4 The one potential problem for White is the lack of entry squares for his king as long as the black knight can cover c4. (By answering [ 21.a3 with a5 , say) ] 21...e6 22.h5 d8+ 23.c2 g8 24.hxg6 hxg6 25.h1 So, White has obtained a file for his rook. Black's position is probably lost. d8 26.a3 c6 27.h7 c8 Now, [ 27...a5 can be met with 28.b5 forcing c6 , again. ] 28.c4 f8 29.d2 f5 Hoping to exchange some pawns. 30.h6 fxg4 31.xg6+ f6 32.xf6+ xf6 33.d3 g6 34.e3 The attack on the g4-pawn allows White time to bring his king to c4. g5 Exchanging the bishop. [ If 34...h5 35.c4 h4 36.e1 and Black cannot stop both Kd5 and Kb5. ] 35.xg4 xd2 36.xd2 g5 37.f3 f4 38.e2 a6 Black has a slight initiative for his pawn, but it is quite insufficient. 39.f6 b5 40.d5+ g5 41.c7 bxa4 42.e6+ [ 42.e6+ h4 43.xc5 wins a second pawn. ] 1-0
1474 Lautier,Joel Leko,Peter Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (1) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2638 2701 29.11.1999
1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 c6 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 e5 8.d3 e7 9.d2 d7 10.c4 f6 [ Safer than the pawn sac line, 10...0-0!? ] 11.f4 b5 [ Necessary, to drive the strong c4-knight a w a y , o t h e r w i s e 11...exf4?! 12.xf4 and White is menacing to leap into d6. ] 12.e3 c8 [ The safest line. If 12...exf4 then White can play the exciting line 13.f5!? ( as well as 13.gxf4 gaining an extra central pawn.) 13...fxg3 14.xg7+ f7 15.f5 with an initiative. ] 13.a4 Regaining the c4-square. b4 14.b5!? [ An interesting alternative to the main move, 14.cd5 when 0-0 15.c4! e8?! of Benko,P-Sherzer,A/Philadelphia 1988, and now ( 15...exf4 is superior) 16.xe7+ xe7 17.f5 with a plus. ] [ Otherwise, there is 14.e4 but this offers little. ] 14...exf4 15.c4!? [ A move that has been suggested, but never tried. 15.xc7+ is more common, xc7 ( or 15...xc7 16.d5 d8 17.gxf4 e6 18.e4 Larsen-Sax, Naestved 1988.) 16.gxf4 e6 17.c4 d7 18.h1 Hjartarson,JSokolov,A/Rotterdam 1989. ] [ 15.gxf4!? is also interesting. ] 15...xb5 [ 15...fxg3 is possible, when, after 16.bd6+ f8 17.xc8 gxh2+ 18.h1 xc8 19.f4 d4 20.e3 the outcome is far from clear. However, as Lautier is happy to allow this, he clearly has his own ideas here. ] 16.axb5 d4 17.xa7!? White goes all-out. He creates a passed b-pawn, and leaves his kingside to its own devices. g4 [ An awkward decision for Black. 17...fxg3 18.hxg3 is likely to transpose to the game, but the obvious ] [ 17...xb5!? is probably best avoided: 18.xd7! xd7 ( 18...xd7? loses after 19.a4 b8 20.xf4 ) 19.b6 d4+ 1478
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.h1 b8 21.c6+ with a powerful attack against the uncastled black king. ] 18.f2 0-0 19.b6 [ White keeps his trump card, after 19.xf4 Black can finally capture the b-pawn, xb5 ] 19...fxg3 20.hxg3 g5!? [ A surprising move, but possibly best. Black wants to control the f4-square, to avoid a variation such as 20...b5 21.a5 e6 22.b7 b8 23.f4! xc4 24.a8 d6 25.dxc4 with an advantage because of the powerful b7-pawn. ] 21.f1 b5 22.a6 b8 23.b7 d4 24.e3 c7 25.xd4 cxd4 26.d5+ g7 [ There is st ill lots of play left in this position, of course, but, it is true that, after 26...g7 27.g2 White won't be able to play Qe4 without allowing a perpetual check. ] ½-½
saunter around with his king. Or Black gets an extra tempo for protecting the pawn, but then White calmly plays Rhc1. White keeps a large positional advantage which often results in the win of material, although Black can hunker down and I wouldn't claim a win. 15.Bf3 seems the only way to get anything at all! Needless to say, it would have taken me forever to find this. As I was telling Tony, there are times when you feel that it's almost too bad chess engines exist! Anyway, here's some analysis: d6 ( 15...e7+ 16.c3! d5+ 17.b3 c7 18.ac1 b8+ 19.a3; 15...f4+ 16.e1 d5 17.xc6 d6 18.c1 d7 19.e5+ e7 20.xd5 xd5 21.c7+ d6 22.xa7 xe5 23.xa6 c8 24.f4+ f6 25.f2 c2 26.b4 dd2 27.e1 ) 16.hc1 c7 17.b3 f5 ( 17...e5 18.c5 b6 19.e1 f5 20.xa6 xa6 21.e4 fxe4 22.xe4 b6 23.c4 ) 18.c5 c8 19.e4 f6+ 1475 A34 20.e3 ] Lautier,Joel 2672 15...f4+ 16.e1 xg2+ 17.f1 d6 [ 17...e3+ 18.fxe3 doesn't help Black's Vachier Lagrave,Maxime 2527 cause because W hite's king needs to be ch-FRA Chartres FRA (9) 24.08.2005 diverted from protecting e2. ] [John Watson] 18.xc6 [ No better is 18.xg2 xe2 19.xc6+ Here's a game Webmaster Tony brought my ( 19.xc6 b7 20.a5+ b8= ) 19...xc6 attention to. In a theoretically important game 20.xc6 b7 21.c1 c8 22.a5+ b8 Black plays a risky move and White tries to 23.c6+= ] punish it by direct attack, allowing a variety of discovered checks. It's a rather amazing idea 18...b7 19.a5+ b8 20.d1 xd1+ c8 22.b4 b5 23.d2 and Black stays a (doomed) piece ahead for 21.xd1 10 moves. Can he get away with it? Only the It's amusing to see how long White allows the computer can help us this time! 1.f3 f6 knight to sit there on g2. But now Black puts 24.xe1 c1+ 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.d4 cxd4 an end to the fun. e1! 6.xd4 dxc4 7.xc6 xd1+ 8.xd1 bxc6 25.d1 c2 26.d2 c1+ 27.d1 c2 9.g2 d5 10.e3 e6 11.xc4 a6 Quite a game. On a purely theoretical level, it 12.a5 b4+ 13.d2 xd2+ 14.xd2 l o o k s a s t h o u g h W h i t e c a n k e e p t h e 0-0-0!? 15.hc1 A remarkable idea, advantage with 15.Bf3. temporarily jettisoning his bishop on g2 in ½-½ order to keep the c-pawn trained in his sights. I fed this position to a machine and A34 remarkably, the play was perfect from here on 1476 ou t . So is B la c k n o w e qu a l in th is ho t lyLavretzkij,Roman 2368 contested line? The machine coldly points out Amonatov,Farrukh 2584 inAUTOmarket Open (9) 18.07.2005 that Lautier "missed" [ 15.f3! (The machine also likes 15.Be4, [John Watson] but less and less after I played against it). 15.Bf3 was found instantly it allows every W hat happens when one of these Benko d i s c o v e r e d c h e c k , b u t W h i t e c a n j u s t Gambit look-alikes fails to discomfit the king. 1479
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.g3 e6 4.g2 d5 5.f3?! d4 6.b1 c6 7.d3 e5 Black has gained a tempo and is playing the White side of a King's Indian/ Benoni. 8.0-0 e7 9.b4?! I think that the general lesson here and in similar positions is that if White can't capture on a3 and prevent Black from castling (e.g., by Qa4xa3, then the Benko-like b4 has much less chance of succeeding. Compare the Benko Gambit itself. Thus the right move was [ 9.e3 ] 9...cxb4 10.a3 0-0 11.axb4 xb4 12.a3 xa3 13.xa3 g4 Black's king is safe and he has no weaknesses. Thus White has no compensation for his pawn. 14.h3 f5 15.h4 [ 15.b3 b8 is easy to play. ] 15...e6 16.a4 d7! 17.c2 [ No better is 17.fb1 c5 18.d1 d7 ] 17...c5 18.a3 d6 19.f3 [ 19.fb1 f5 ] 19...b6!? 20.d2 ab8 21.b4 xb4 22.xb4 a5 23.a3 d7 24.h2 f5 Black doesn't have to attack in this way but it's not bad to do so. 25.fb1 e4! 26.b3 [ 26.dxe4 fxe4 27.xe4 xe4 28.xe4 xf2+ ] 26...xb3 27.xb3 f4! 28.ab1 exd3 29.exd3 fxg3+ 30.fxg3 xh3! 31.xb6 [ 31.xh3 f2+ 32.g1 xh3 33.xf2 h2+ 34.f3 e8! ] 31...xg2 32.xg2 be8 33.1b2 f5 The e nd, a lt hou gh B lack f id dles arou nd . 34.d6 xd3? [ 34...f1+ 35.h2 e2+ 36.xe2 xe2+ 37.h3 f1+ 38.h4 g5+! leads to mate. ] 35.d5+ h8 36.e6 d8 37.d6 f1+ 38.h2 xd6 39.xd6 f2+ 40.xf2 xf2+ 41.h3 f1+ 42.h2 xc4 43.d8+ g8 44.xd4 e8 45.c5 a4 46.h3 h6 47.a3 e4 48.h2 h7 49.h3 f5+ 50.g4 c2 51.e7 d3+ 52.h4 a3 53.a7 a2 54.g5 e4+ 55.h3 h1+ 0-1
1477 Lputian,Smbat G Krasenkow,Michal Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (2) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2625 2647 30.11.1999
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g3 A perfectly valid move, avoiding the popular theoretical main lines of 4.d4, but allowing Black to free his game with ...d5. d5 5.cxd5 [ White returns to this obvious reply, now that Black seems to have several equalizing lines against 5.d4 ] 5...xd5 6.g2 g6 [ A sound alternative to Rubinstein's variation, 6...c7 ] 7.a4!? [ A tricky move, which poses more problems than either 7.0-0 or ] [ 7.d3 ] [ the point being that after the immediate 7.g5 e6 8.ge4 , Black can simply reply b6 , defending his c5-pawn in the most logical manner, so by immediately pinning the c6-knight, W hite's seventh move is aimed at avoiding this line. ] 7...g7 8.g5 Pressurizing Black along the h1-a8 diagonal. e6 Cle a rl y b e st . 9.ge4 The entire point behind W hite's play, qu e st ion in g B la ck's ab ilit y t o d e f e n d h is importantc5-pawn b6 10.b5 c4 11.b3 A. Petrosian's move, pref erring to gain a central majority than go pawn-hunting. [ 11.a4!? had been played before, to win the c-pawn, but it is very dangerous: 0-0 12.xb6 axb6 13.xc4 e5 14.d3! ( 14.c2?! d4 15.b1 f5 16.c3 e4 17.d3 b5! gave Black a powerful initiative in T a t a i , S - K a r p o v , A / L a s P a l m a s 1 9 7 7 .) 14...e6 15.g5 xc4!? ( 15...b8 16.c1 d4 is also fun for Black, Petrosian, A-Peshina,G/USSR 1979.) 16.xd8 fxd8 17.dxc4 d4 with good play for the pawn, Hjartarson,J-Malisauskas,V/Moscow 1994. ] 11...0-0 [ There is nothing to be gained by 11...a6 12.c5 f8?! because of the tactic 13.f6+! xf6 14.xb6 d4 15.bxc4! c2+ 16.d1 xa1 17.d5 and wins. ] 12.bxc4 d4 13.b1 xc4 14.0-0 The critical position for this variation, Black's 1480
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pieces are aggressively placed, but White has the strategical advantage of a better pawn structure. [ 14.d3?! s e e m s w o r s e , d6 15.xd6 xd6 16.0-0 1/2-1/2 Petrosian,A-Jelen,I/ Bled SLO 1999. Black can continue with e5! ] 14...f5 Black tries to keep hold of the initiative, but this move may turn out to be weakening. 15.c5 b6 16.b3 b5!? [ The first original move of the game, Petrosian,A-Lau,R/Lippstadt 1993, had c o n t i n u e d : 16...c6! to impede the white development, 17.d3 4e5 18.b5 d8 19.b1 c7 20.a4 a6 21.b2 a7! intending ...b5, with interesting play. ] 17.xb5 xb5 [ 17...xa1? w o u l d l o s e t o 18.xa1 defending the b5-knight, of course. ] 18.d3 b6 19.b2 xb2 20.xb2 A quick stocktaking shows that W hite has solved his development problems, and retains the better structure. On top of that, his 'English' bishop dominates its counterpart. d7 21.a3! A strong move, taking control of some queenside dark squares. a4 [ White's previous move also stops Black f r o m p l a y i n g 21...c6? as 22.d4 is strong. ] 22.ab1 a6 23.d4 ab8 24.fc1 White's play is simple, he develops his rooks to the open files, and brings pressure to bear on the black queenside. b5?! 25.c6 [ Not bad, but 25.c6 was also strong, f7?! 26.xd7 xd7 27.xb5! winning, e.g. xb5? 28.xb5 xb5 29.c8+ f7 30.f8# ] 25...xc6 26.xc6 b6 27.d6! xc6 28.xc6 The black position falls apart. c3 29.xe6+ f7 30.b2 b6 31.d5?! [ A typical human reaction, simplifying into a won position, but 31.e3! was very powerful, as Black is virtually in zugzwang, e.g. b4 ( or 31...a6 32.d7 ) 32.c4 a5 33.e8 winning the exchange in both cases. ] 31...xd5 32.xd5 a6 33.c2 Elementary, controlling the open c-file. g7 34.c6 b7 35.d4+ h6 36.b6 e7 37.e3+ xe3 38.fxe3 c7 [ 38...a7 would be very passive. ] 39.xa6 c1+ 40.f2 h1 41.h4 h5
Desperately trying for some counterplay. 42.a4 b4 43.b6 b1 44.a5 g4 45.a6 h3 46.d4 b3 47.d5 1-0
1478 Lputian,Smbat G Perunovic,Milos TCh Neum BIH (4) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2634 2478 04.06.2002
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c3 c7 7.0-0 e5 8.d3 e7 9.d2 Threatening to capture on c6. d7 10.c4 f6 The best move, the pawn sac line is under a cloud at the moment, see both Van der Sterren, P-Van Wely,L and Piket,JKasparov,G. 11.f4 b5 12.e3 c8 13.a4 b4 14.b5 exf4 15.xc6!? A wild novelty. Others: [ 15.xf4 goe s f o r p ie ce activity, e6 16.f5! 0-0 ( 16...xf4 17.fd6+ favours White) 17.e4 with chances to both sides, Granda Zuniga,J-Illescas Cordoba,M/ Madrid 1998. ] [ 15.xc7+ xc7 ( 15...xc7 16.d5 d8 is also reasonable, Larsen,B-Sax,G/ Naestved 1988) 16.gxf4 e6 17.c4 d7 18.h1 0-0 Black has a good position, Hjartarson, J-Sokolov,A/Rotterdam WCup 1989. ] [ 15.gxf4 a6?! 16.xc7+ xc7 17.c4 gains a tempo on the above, Bellon Lopez,JIzeta Txabarri,F/ESP-ch 1989, although it is still not very much. ] [ W e h a v e a l r e a d y l o o k e d a t 15.c4!? in Lautier,J-Leko,P. ] 15...xc6!? [ Black prepares an exchange sac, 15...fxe3 16.xd7+ xd7 17.xc7+ xc7 18.xe3 is also playable. ] 16.xa7 b7!? [ 16...fxe3 17.xc6 d7 18.a5 is again possible, Black might even consider h5!? as the white kingside is poorly defended. ] 17.xc8 fxe3 18.b6 h5! The critical position, White has a material advantage but Black has serious attacking possibilities based on his powerful light-squared bishop which 1481
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 dominates the h1-a8 diagonal. 19.xe3 [ The sharp 19.a5!? h4 20.a4+ f7 21.xe3 is also possible, but one can hardly blame Lputian for his choice. ] 19...h4 20.f2 The white king sees that there is no future on g1 with the h-file opening, and so decides to 'leg it'. hxg3+ 21.hxg3 d5 22.xd5 xd5 23.e1 e5 24.d2 xg3+ 25.f2 d6 26.e3 The white king has reached relative safety on e1, and White is still an exchange to the good. f7 27.c1 h5 28.g3 [ 28.g1! menaces Qg3. ] 28...d7 29.b3?! This move gives the black bishop an extra target. d5 30.d4 cxd4 31.xd4 h3 32.e3?! Missing Black's next. e6! Exchanging queens would normally be to W hite's advantage, but here the weakness of b3 (and if this pawn falls, a4 after it) means that Black has no problems. 33.xe6+ xe6 34.b1 c5 35.d2 d4?! [ 35...h3 is simple, and effective. ] 36.d3 c3 37.e1 [ 37.e4! would chase the bishop from d5 and relieve the pressure on b3. ] 37...h3+ 38.e3 e5! 39.xb4! A reasonable winning try - W hite offers to return the exchange to eliminate the b4-pawn and free his queenside pawns. h4 40.e1 e4+ 41.e2 h2+ [ 41...xb1? 42.xh4 ] 42.f2 g5! Rather than capture the rook Black prepares to push his g-pawn to g3, and win the white bishop. 43.bc1 g4 44.c4 f5 45.a5 Anyway, there was no defence. g3 46.a6 gxf2 47.a7 h8 Just in time, the threat was Rxe4 and a8(Q). 48.xf2 g3 49.f1 h2+ 50.d1 a2 51.a4 Without this move White could even be lost. xa4 52.bxa4 d6 53.g1 c5 54.g6+ d7? [ A careless move, 54...e5 55.a6 a8 56.d2 f4 draws. ] 55.g7+? [ 55.g8! wins a bishop: xe3 ( 55...xa7? 56.g7+ ) 56.a8 xa8 57.xa8 ] 55...d6 56.d2 b4+ 57.e2 c5 58.a5 d5 59.h7 e4 60.f7 e6 61.g7 d6 62.h7 d5 63.h6+ c7 64.a6 a8 65.d3 b7 66.f6 xa7 67.xf5 a6
The two bishops are capable of holding their own against the rook and two pawns here. 68.e4 c6 69.f6 b5 70.e5 b8 71.e6 xa5 72.e7 d7 73.c4 g3 74.h6 f4 75.g6 White can win one of the bishops for his e-pawn, of course, but rook against the remaining bishop is a draw. b5+ 76.b3 a4+ 77.c3 d7 78.c4 b5+ 79.d5 d2?? 80.g8?? [ These moves must have been played in t i m e t r o u b l e , 80.c6! allows the pawn to queen! ] 80...b4 81.a8+ b6 82.b8+ c7 [ 82...c7 83.xb5 xe7 ] ½-½
1479 Lputian,Smbat G Timman,Jan H Corus Wijk aan Zee NED (2) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2605 2655 16.01.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 c6 6.g2 g6 7.a4 g7 8.g5 e6 9.ge4 b6 10.b5 0-0! [ A n e x c i t i n g a l t e r n a t i v e t o 10...c4 , Black simply sacrifices the c5-pawn. ] 11.xc5 [ Difficult to choose between this and 11.xc5 e.g. d4 12.b5 f5 13.ed6 a4 14.c7 with unclear play. ] 11...d4 12.d3 e7 13.b3 [ Better than 13.b4 when a5 14.e3 f3+! 15.xf3 axb4 is good for Black. ] 13...e5 14.0-0 e6 Black has obtained a useful lead in development in return for his pawn. 15.b1 fc8 16.d3 xc3! 17.bxc3 xe2+ 18.h1 xc3 19.c2 c8 Black has fair compensation for the exchange, and, most importantly, he has wrecked the solid white pawn structure. 20.d2 e4 21.d4 [ White has to beware the threats along the a1-h8 diagonal, 21.dxe4? xe4 22.xe4 xb3 leaves Black a good pawn up. ] 21...b5 22.g5! e8!? [ Black prefers to keep the queens on the board, 22...xg5 23.xg5 xb3 24.axb3 f5 is only equal. ] 23.e3 f5 24.h4 d5 25.g4! To break the strong black pawn chain. d6 26.g3 bc4 1482
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 27.f4 e7 28.ac1 White has finally developed his forces, but the black pieces occupy powerful central squares. f8 29.fe1 g5 30.xd6 xd6 31.gxf5 xf5 32.c2 [ 32.h3! f8 33.c5 may be even stronger. ] 32...f4 33.ec1 h6 34.c3 [ 34.c7!? ] 34...c4 35.d2 b5 36.xc4 xc4 37.a4 a6 38.axb5 White has played excellently to avoid a disadvantage. axb5 39.e3 d6 40.d2 f6 41.a1 d8 42.a7 c7 Lining up a big threat on h2. 43.h3 f7 44.d1 g7 45.d5?! d3?! [ 45...xd5 appears perfectly reasonable. ] 46.g3? [ 46.c1! c4 47.xe4 xd5 48.c3+ gives Black plenty of chances to go wrong. ] 46...b6 47.e3 b4! Suddenly the b-pawn's march to the first rank becomes a serious possibility. 48.xb6? [ In the resulting position it is almost impossib le to stop the b-pawn, instea d 48.xc7 xc7 49.xe4 xe4+ 50.xe4 was a possible line to draw. ] 48...xb6 49.xf7+?! [ 49.a4 ] 49...xf7 50.f1 [ 50.d6 was a better bet, but after b3 51.f1 c2 52.c4+ e8 53.xb3 Black wins by t h e s u r p r i s i n g xb3! 54.b1 e3! (to play ...Bd5+) 55.xb3 e2 56.b1 xf2 ] 50...c2 51.d2 b3 52.c4 e3! 53.d6+ f6 54.fxe3 e4+ 55.g2 [ 55.g1 xe3+ is even worse. ] 55...b2 56.a2 xe3 57.h4 g4 58.d7 e7 59.h2 f4+ 60.g1 xg2 61.xg2 h5 After capturing the d7-pawn, the two passed pawns win easily, despite the opposite-colour bishops. 0-1
1480 Lushenkov,Mikhail M Tregubov,Pavel V ch-Rapid Olginka RUS rapid (10) [Nigel Davies]
A34 2441 2598 26.04.2011
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.e3 f6 5.e2 h6 This appears to be a 'novelty'. In
recent years such one square rook pawn moves have become all the rage. Of course it remains to be seen if Tregubov will play this wa y i n a n n o n - r a p i d g a m e . 6.0-0 e4 I guess this is the 'correct' order of moves, but it all looks very strange to me. [ After 6...d6 W hite can play 7.d4 e4 8.h4 intending 9.Nf5. ] 7.e1 d6 And this also seems to be 'right', pointing the bishop in the general direction of W hite's king whilst being ready to lop off a knight that lands on f4 (I suppose). In this way he can stop a White knight from establishing itself on the d5 square. 8.d3 exd3 9.xd3 0-0 10.b3 b6 11.b2 b7 12.f3 b8 13.h3 e8 14.d2 a6 15.fd1 e7 The position of Black's pieces mitigates the potential defect (d5) in his pawn structure very nicely. At this stage of the proceedings he is doing just fine. 16.xb7 xb7 17.a4 g6 18.e1 e5?! But here I think he's on the wrong track as the exchange of his dark square bishop leaves White with pressure on the a1-h8 diagonal. [ 18...e6 looks better. ] 19.f3 xc3 20.xc3 e6 21.d5 d6 22.ad1 d8 23.a1?! Here and on the next move White plays inexplicably passively and hands back the initiative. [ He should have played 23.a5! after which b5 24.cxb5 xb5 25.xc5! wins a pawn because of the pin on the d-file. ] 23...e7 24.b2?! Strange, very strange.. b8 25.5d3 b5 26.axb5 axb5 27.a2 bxc4 28.bxc4 e4 29.d2 g5 30.a6 h4 Having the knights around the king like t h i s i s a g o o d wa y t o c r e a t e c o n f u s i o n , especially when there's not much thinking time. 31.f1 e4 32.g3 f3+ 33.g2 e5 34.xe5 dxe5 35.a5 f6 36.f3 b2+ 37.d2 d6 38.g1 h7 [ 38...e4! was already very good, but Tregubov probably wanted to avoid forcing matters in the hope of teasing out another mistake. ] 39.c3 g6 40.g4 b4 41.e4 g5 42.d5 b7 43.f1? [ Missing 43.f4! xf4 44.f1 g5 45.xf7 when White appears to be doing well. ] 43...a5!? I guess White was in serious time trouble here Tregubov is sacrificing a piece 1483
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 for an attack which is especially effective against an opponent in time trouble. 44.xc5 b3 45.xa5 xf3 46.d2 [ White is also losing after the alternatives, for example 46.e1 xh3 47.h2 f4 etc. ] [ or 46.g2 h4 47.xf3 f6+ 48.e2 f2+ 49.d3 f3+ followed by mate. ] 46...h4 47.g2 ef6 48.xe5 f2 49.h1 e2 50.g2 xg2+ 51.xg2 f2+ 0-1
1481 Malakhov,Vladimir Nisipeanu,Liviu Dieter 4th IECC Istanbul TUR (10) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2672 2606 10.06.2003
Sometimes, when playing through a game, you wonder just where did one of the players go wrong. In this game, Black played lots of sensible moves, but just didn't seem to be able to avoid defeat! 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.e4 c6 5.e2 b6 6.0-0 Or White can play the immediate [ 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 although xd4 ( if 7...b7 8.f4 is the critical test of Black's set-up, menacing Nb5-d6/c7, see Onischuk, A-Leitao,R/Poikovsky RUS 2001) 8.xd4 c5 is likely to transpose, although it may be less accurate as Black might delay . ..Bb7. ] 6...b7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 xd4 9.xd4 c5 10.d3 c7 [ 10...b8 is similar, 11.e3 0-0 12.xc5!? bxc5 13.f4 d6 14.ad1 d8 15.f3 with an edge to White, Smirin,I-Hansen,C/ Cap d`Agde 1996. ] 11.f3 W hite threatens e5. e5 12.g3!? This is direct, White threatens Bf4. [ 12.d1 d8 ( but what about 12...g5!? as 13.xg5?! xg5 14.e5 is well met by the combination xf2+! 15.xf2 xf3 16.xf3 g4+ 17.g1 e3+ and Black is better) 13.g3 is similar, g5 14.b3 h5 15.b2 and Black had some problems along the a1-h8 diagonal e7 ( 15...g4!? 16.xg4 hxg4 17.a4 xf2+ 18.f1 xe4 19.xe5 xd3+ 20.xd3 xh2 is good for White ) 16.d2 with a plus, Lebedev,VRychagov,A/Kolontaevo 1997. ]
12...g5 T o c o n t r o l f 4 . 13.b3 d4 This is played to dissuade White from placing his bishop on b2 as in the previous note. 14.d2 [ 14.b2 is playable, though: xe4 15.xe4 xb2 16.d6+ e7 17.ad1 and White has enough compensation for the pawn. ] 14...h5!? This position is incredibly similar to my game against Horvath, that I annotated la s t ye a r - o n l y t h e wh i t e p i e ce s a r e o n notably different squares. [ In retrospect, maybe this last move is too ambitious, and Black should prefer 14...a6 ] 15.ad1 White is lining-up against the bishop on d4, and the d7-pawn, so Black must act quickly. h4! The best chance, sacrificing a piece for several pawns, Black can't stop Nb5 by [ 15...a6? as White wins by 16.xg5! xc3 17.xf6 xf6 18.xd7+ f8 19.xb7 and ] [ 15...c6 16.e2 b2 17.b1 is also rather awkward, as Rxb2 followed by Bd4 is menaced. ] 16.b5! White walks bravely into the complications, as [ 16.g4 may be playable, but is positional yuk! ] 16...hxg3 17.xd4 Obviously forced, as [ 17.hxg3?? xg3+ 18.g2 h2# ] 17...gxh2+ 18.h1 xd4 Missing a chance to sac the queen (as in my game against Horvath) by [ 18...xe4!? 19.g2! ( 19.xe4 xd4 20.xd4 xe4 seems OK for Black; 19.xe5?? xf3# ) 19...xd4 20.xd4 h5 with chances, although White's piece seems superior to the three pawns. ] 19.xd4 g4 20.g2 [ 20.e5!? gxf3 21.exf6 a6 is messy. ] 20...xe4 21.f4 a6 22.e2 b5 Black is trying to clear a path for his central pawns. 23.g3 xg3+ 24.xg3 xg2+ 25.xg2 bxc4 26.bxc4 c8 27.d4! After this move it is clear that W hite is on top, he will recuperate the h-pawn and meanwhile the black pawns have difficulty moving on to dark squares. h1+ 28.xh1 xh1 29.xh1 f5 30.d6 f7 31.c5 f6 32.b4 e5 33.b6 f4 34.xa6 f5 35.a7 e6 36.g2 The black pawns are not going very far. h8 1484
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 37.b7 a8 38.b8 The simplest. xa2 39.e8+ f6 40.xe5+ f7 41.d8 g3 42.xf4! [ 42.xf4 gxf2 43.xd7+ e6 44.d2 rounds-up the last pawn. ] 1-0
White's kingside light squares are weak. ] 18...xh3 19.xh4 g4 20.e3! [ A new move! 20.h2 was agreed drawn in Stanec,N-Bawart,M/AUT 1999. ] 20...h5 Black plays resolutely on the kingside to exploit his e4-pawn, and prepares to advance its fellow. 21.ae1 f5 22.d5 Opening the c3-bishop's diagonal. c5 23.g3?! [ 23.b4!? is worth consideration, as if f4 1482 A34 then White can sac the exchange: 24.xe4! Marin,Mihail 2557 xe4 25.xe4 xe4 26.xg4 with some Movsesian,Sergei 2666 advantage, owing to his powerful bishops XVI ECC Neum BIH (2) 25.09.2000 and passed pawn. ] [Tony Kosten] 23...f7! With a threat! 24.g2?? [ 24.d2! h8 25.b3 would allow the 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.e3 e5! This seems to queen to escape to g5. ] be a good reply, allowing Black free play. 4.c3 f6 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 e4 7.e5 24...h8 Suddenly the white queen is trapped, and Black wins! 25.xe4 f6?! b4 [ 25...fxe4 26.xe4 f6 is simple, and very [ 7...d6 is considered in the archives. ] strong. ] 8.e2 a5! [ B e t t e r t h a n 8...e7?! 9.f4 26.xf5 xf5 [ 26...xf5? would actually lose to 27.e7+ with advantage. ] g8 28.xg7+! xg7 29.xf6+ xf6 9.xc6 dxc6 10.d2 30.e7+ ] [ A n a t u r a l r e p l y , b u t 10.0-0 is worth consideration as xc3!? 11.bxc3 xc3 27.e7+ g8 28.xf6?! [ Now that the black bishop is no longer on 12.b1 0-0 13.b3 a5 14.g3 g4, the white queen should escape: 28.f4 offers White a useful initiative, Bertholee,Rwhen h5 29.h4 xh4 30.gxh4 xh4 Polgar,J/Amsterdam 1990. ] might offer some chances. ] 10...0-0 11.0-0 e8! 12.a3 White hereby obtains the bishop pair, but the temporary loss 28...gxf6 [ 28...xh4 appears even simpler, as of control over g5 allows the black queen to 29.xg7+ ( 29.xh4 is hopeless) 29...xg7 take an active post on the kingside. xc3 30.xg7 xc4 is easily winning for Black. ] 13.xc3 g5 Menacing to win the exchange 29.f4 h5 30.g2?! by ... Bh3. 14.c1 [ 30.h4 xh4 31.gxh4 xh4 32.b3 [ T h i s i s t h e s t a n d a r d r e p l y . 14.d2!? is the only chance. ] would seem more straightforward, but allows 31.g1 g4 32.e4 f8! the tactic e3! 15.fxe3 e4 16.c1 xc3 30...h3+ 17.xc3 xe3+?! ( 17...xe3 18.d2 h3 33.e3 f3 [ 33...f3 34.xf3 xf3 35.xf3 xe7 19.f3 is equal ) 18.xe3 xe3 19.f3 d7 leaves Black a rook up. ] when W hite managed to exploit his extra queenside pawn, although it should have 0-1 been a draw, Kosten,A-Karr/France 2000. ] 14...g6 15.f4 A34 [ 15.e3 g4 16.fe1 b5!? 17.b3 ab8 1483 gave Black good chances in Pachman, LMaslov Symm,Mi 2324 Ksieski,Z/Germany 1995. ] Nechepurenko,Roman V 2402 15...h5 16.fe1 g4 Naturally, the exchange ch-RUS u18 Nojabrsk RUS (3) 08.04.2005 of o ne o f W h it e's bisho ps is po sition ally [John Watson] desirable for Black. 17.f1 h4 18.h3!? [ It is possible to avoid this move, but after, 1.c4 b6 2.e4 b7 3.c3 c5 say, 18.c7 h3 19.g3 ab8 [ 3...e6 is the more-or-less normal move, 1485
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 when 4.d4 b4 is a main-line English Defence and 4.g3 f5 is generally considered okay for Black. ] 4.g3 [ 4.f3 followed by d4 leads to a normal Symmetrical English. ] 4...g6 5.g2 g7 6.ge2 We're back to the Botvinnik setup, f eatured in last month's column. c6 7.0-0 d6 8.f4 This is the first irregular move. White intends to push forward on the kingside. f6 [ 8...e6 9.d3 ge7 is a standard and reliable setup. ] 9.d3 e6!? Generally ...Nf6 and ...e6 don't go so well together but here Black is well enough developed that it's perfectly playable. 10.h3 Preparing Be3. White could also try to exploit ...e6 by [ 10.d4!? cxd4 11.xd4 xd4 12.xd4 0-0 13.d3 ] 10...d7!? [ 10...0-0 11.e3 c8 12.b3 would prepare d4, but Black strikes first by d5 ] 11.b5!? [ Better 11.e3 0-0 ( 11...d4? 12.xd4 cxd4 13.b5 ) 12.d4 leaves White a little better. ] 11...b8 12.d4 a6 13.dxc5 axb5 14.cxb5 bxc5 15.bxc6 xc6 16.c3 0-0 The tactics have cleared and Black has a nice position with pressure down the queenside files and active bishops. 17.d3 d4+ [ 17...f5 18.exf5 d4+ 19.h2 xg2 20.xg2 gxf5 is another good plan. ] 18.e3 e5 19.f2 b6 [ Or 19...c4 20.d2 b6 ] 20.d1 a6 21.d2!? b6 22.b3 a5 23.c1 f6 24.h4 ad8 25.f5 gxf5 24.h4 has prevented . ..g5. Black still owns more of the centre however. 26.xf5 d5 27.xd4 cxd4 28.b1 xd2 29.xd2 d7 30.ff1 f5!? Black is aiming for passed central pawns. Also possible was [ 30...dxe4 31.xe4 d5 ] 31.exf5!? [ 31.exd5 e4 32.xe4 ( 32.c5 ) 32...fxe4 33.xe4 ] 31...e4 32.a4? [ 32.xe4! dxe4 33.xe4 leaves White with 3 pawns for the piece and two passers on the queenside. ]
32...xf5 33.c6 c8 34.e1 g4! 35.b4 d3 36.b3 e2 [ The pawns can't be stopped for long, e.g., 36...e2 37.h3 e3 38.cc1 d4! ( 38...d2 39.xe2 dxc1+ 40.xc1 d4 41.d3 ) 39.a1 f3 40.eb1 d2 41.b5 d1+ 42.xd1 xd1 43.xd1 d3 44.a5 e2 45.e1 d6 46.b6 f5 47.xf5 xf5 48.a6 b5 ] 0-1
1484 Meier,Georg Timofeev,Artyom XLIV Capablanca Memorial Elite (2) [Jonathan Rowson]
A34 2641 2677 09.06.09
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 c6 6.g2 c7 7.a3!? A noteworthy move order. e5?! [ 7...e6 is the most solid move, waiting a while before playing e5, but then W hite might later emerge a tempo up on lines where Black plays e5 in one go. ] [ 7...g6 A) 8.b4 is playable, but not particularly scary for Black, cxb4 ( 8...g7!? ) 9.axb4 g7 is fine for Black according to Lautier.; B) 8.h4!? A cunning move with hidden depths h6 9.d3 g7 ( 9...b6!? ) 10.e3 ( 10.d2!? looks like the trickiest move to me, planning some combination of Rc1, N e 4 a n d b 4 .) 10...b6 ( 10...e6; 10...d4 ) 11.h5! g5 12.xg5! ] 8.b4! This has been known for some time to be better for White, so it is surprising that a player of Timofeev's class should walk into it. f6 [ 8...cxb4 9.axb4 xb4 10.xe5 xe5 11.a4+ ] 9.b1 cxb4 10.axb4 a6 [ 10...xb4 11.xe5 ] [ 10...xb4 11.xb4 xb4 12.a4+ ] 11.0-0 e7 12.b5 axb5 13.xb5 xb5 14.xb5 0-0 15.d3 a5 16.b3+ h8 17.e3 e6 18.b1 a2 [ 18...xb5 19.xb5 d7 20.b1 is also much better for White. b8 21.d2 d4 22.xd7 xd7 23.xd4 exd4 24.b3 b5 25.xd4 b4 26.c6! ] 1486
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.e1 a5 20.d4!? Thematic, but White had two versions of the same tactical shot that were much more decisive [ 20.h3! g8 21.b6 a8 22.xa2 xa2 23.xa5 ] [ 20.b6! a8 21.xa2 xa2 22.xa5 ] 20...exd4 21.xd4 g8 22.h5 c4 23.e4 h6?? [ 23...a5! seems to keep the balance, so missing those tricks could have cost White dearly. 24.h3 xe3 25.xh7 g4! ] 24.xh6 gxh6 25.c1 f7 26.xh6+ h7 27.xh7 f8 28.g6 g7 29.e6 1-0
1485 Mikhalchishin,Adrian Avrukh,Boris Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (1) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2552 2588 29.11.1999
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 Expressing a desire to play a Botvinnik system as Black. 4.e3 [ Trying to cut across Black's plans, 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 is more usual. ] 4...f6 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 e4 7.e5!? [ Unusual, 7.g5 b4 8.d5 e5 is more common. ] 7...d6!? [ Putting immediate pressure on e5, this is p r e f e r r e d t o t h e o l d m o v e , 7...b4 be c a u s e a f t e r 8.e2 e7?! White has 9.f4! d6 10.b5!N b8 ( 10...b4+ 11.f1! ) 11.c5! xe5? 12.dxe5 xe5 13.xe5 xe5 14.d6+ with a powerful initia tive, Sherbakov,R-Ma ksime nko,A / Yugoslavia 1996. ] 8.f4!? [ Franco's speciality, bolstering the e5outpost. 8.g4 xg4 9.xg4 0-0 10.g5 f5 is nothing for White, Vainerman,I-Zaid,L/ USSR 1985. ] 8...0-0 [ 8...c7 is likely to transpose, 9.e2 d6 10.xc6 bxc6 11.0-0 0-0 etc., Franco,ZIzeta Txabarri, F/San Sebastian 1993. ] 9.e2 b6! [ A perfectly logical, and apparently effective, new move. Previously kicking the knight
away by 9...c7 10.e3 d6 was favoured: 11.xc6 bxc6 12.0-0 d5?! 13.c5 a5 14.a3 and White advanced his b-pawn to create a passed c-pawn, Franco, ZMatamoros Franco,C/ Seville 1994. ] 10.e3 e7 Black brings the knight to the square f5. 11.0-0 b4 12.c1 f5 13.f2 b7 14.a3 xc3 Black is happy to exchange this bishop, knowing that the f2-bishop is quite restricted. 15.xc3 e8? [ I don't know about this move, taking away the f6-knight's one-and-only retreat, when a good move such as 15...d5!? is possible. ] [ or even 15...d6 16.g4 d5 ] 16.e1?! [ A cop-out, 16.g4! seems strong, as g5 will win the f6-knight, so e3!? ( 16...xd4?! 17.xd4 d6 18.xf7 is good for White) 17.e1 e4 18.gxf5 xc3 19.xc3 d6 with some compensation for the two pieces, but I prefer White. ] 16...c8 17.d5 [ Now, of course, 17.g4? is well met by e3 as the bishop can no longer retreat to e1. ] 17...e3! 18.xe3 d6 [ The shot 18...xd5! was certainly worth trying: 19.cxd5 xc3 20.d3! W h i t e ' s s a v i n g r e s o u r c e , ( if, instead, 20.bxc3?! then xe3 21.d2 xd5 22.f3 c7 and Black enjoys a solid pawn advantage ) 20...xd3 ( 20...xe3?! 21.xe3 c5 22.xh7+! wi t h a t t a c k) 21.xd3 xe3 22.xe3 level. ] 19.g4 xg4 20.xg4 h5 Black has calculated well. 21.f2 xe3 22.cxe3 xe3 23.xe3 xc4 24.xh5 White has won a pawn, but Black has seen that he will regain it by force. c1+ [ Forcing White onto the defensive, if 24...xf4?? 25.h3 ] 25.d1 g6 26.e2 f6 The point, both . .. Qxf4, and ...Qd4 are menaced. 27.d2 c4 28.g3 d4! 29.xd4 xd4 30.c3 xd5 31.xd5 xd5 The ending is drawn. 32.f2 d2+ 33.e2 d3 34.e3 d2+ ½-½
1487
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A34 promise sufficient compensation for the pawn. b6 The ninth move by this piece in the opening, whilst the other black pieces look on! 1983 14.d3 d7 15.c1 a6 16.d2 c8 Black has managed to develop his queenside without loss. 17.h4! Played both to attack on This game features a truly staggering and the kingside, and to develop the h1-rook. decisive journey from the h1-rook, whose xc1+ 18.xc1 c7 19.h5 h6 20.h4! prospects seemed quite bleak after the first Watch this piece! First, the possibility of this ten moves. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 d5 rook going to g4 inhibits Black from moving 21.f4! 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 The sharpest line. h is d a rk -squ a re d b ish o p . a4 Eyeing the f7-pawn. d6 Else Ne5 was a 6.c4 d3+ 7.e2 f4+ 8.f1 e6 9.b4 [ Probably the mainline, although in the sixth problem, but now... 22.g4 c4 23.e1! g a m e o f t h e m a t c h , M i l e s w a s a l s o a3? 24.e5! [ T h e p a w n g r a b b y 24.xa3?! bxa3 successful with the alternative 9.e5 g6 25.xa6 bxa6 26.xg7 is worse, as after 10.a4+ d7?! ( 10...d7 11.xe6 fxe6 b5 Black's two bishops are strong. Instead 12.xd7 xd7 is almost equal, the doubled White notices the disguised opposition of e-pawns are balanced by the weakness of white rook and black bishop on the fourth d4. ) 11.d4! cxd4?! 12.b5 ( actually, the rank. ] immediate 12.xf7 is even stronger, xf7 25.xa3 bxa3 26.d5! c5 13.xe6+ xe6 14.xd4 and Black must 24...e7 r e t u r n a p i e c e t o s a v e t h e r o o k , h6 27.c3! The pin on the knight renews the twin 15.c4+ f6 16.xh6 winning. ) 12...g7?! threats of Rxa4, and d6. b6 28.b4! a5 ( 12...a6 ) 13.xf7! A k i n g h u n t ! xf7 Obviously forced. 29.d6 xd3?! [ Black's only chance was 29...d7 when 14.xe6+ xe6 15.b3+ f6 16.f3+ 30.dxe7?! allows xd3 ] e6 17.b3+ f6 18.h4!? playing for the win, h6? ( better to free g7 for the king by 30.xb7! Winning. d8 [ T h e p o i n t i s t h a t a f t e r 30...xc3 18...f8 19.xd4 e5 20.g5+ g7 W hite has the in-between move 31.xe7+ 21.d1 White has a strong attack, but there d8 32.xc3 regaining the piece with a is no immediate win,) 19.g5+! drawing the decisive advantage. ] king further into the open, hxg5 20.hxg5+ The d8-bishop cannot both defend xg5 21.g3+ f6 22.f4+ e6 31.e7+! 23.xh8 xh8 24.c7+ winning the black the queen, and the e7-square. f8 32.xa5 33.xa7 The rook skewers the two queen for three pieces, but the open king is xa5 a critical factor, xc7 25.xc7 b6 26.a4! bishops and brings play to a winning ending. d7 27.a5 c8 28.g3 c4 29.xg6+ g5 34.hxg6 c6 35.xa5 f6 30.f5+ d6 31.d5+ c7 1-0 32.xc4+ b8 33.d5 1-0 Miles,A-Hort,V/ London 1983. ] 1487 A34 9...cxb4 10.e2 [ 10.d5 is examined in Piket,J-Van Wely, Mohr,Georg 2465 L. ] Haba,Petr 2524 10...c5 Aut chT B Mitte 2003-4 (2) 09.11.2003 [ 10...d7 11.xe6 fxe6 12.d4 e5 13.b3! [Tony Kosten] exd4 14.g5 favours White- DzindzichasviliPeters/USA (ch) 1984. ] 1.e4 c5 2.f3 e6 Looks like a Sicilian? 3.c4 [ 10...c7 is probably best. ] N o t a n y m o r e ! c6 4.c3 f6 11.c2 e6 12.d4 The problem with Black's This transposes to a ...c5 Mikenas, where tenth move is that this gains a tempo. cd7 White prefers 4 Nf3 to the critical 4 e5. 5.e2 13.b2 The white king is awkwardly placed, d5 This seems logical, we have previously but his strong centre, and well-placed pieces considered 1486 Miles,Anthony J Hort,Vlastimil (m/4) London [Tony Kosten]
1488
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 5...b6 to control d4, and ] [ 5...b6 ] 6.exd5 exd5 7.d4 The position looks symmetric - White has played the extra Be2, b u t i t i s B l a c k t o m o ve . e6 8.a4!? A little unusual, [ 8.cxd5 avoids having to waste a second move with the white light-squared bishop, xd5 9.0-0 e7 10.xd5 xd5 11.e3 cxd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 0-0 15.f3 fd8 and this was s o o n a g r e e d d r a wn , T a l , M - D o r f m a n , I / Marseille 1989. ] 8...dxc4 9.dxc5 xc5 10.g5!? This is the curious point of White's play. d7 [ 10...d5!? is also worth consideration, e.g. 11.xd5 xd5 12.xc4 h6 13.xd5 xd5 14.e4 b4+ when Black's active pieces more than compensate the white bishops. ] 11.xf7?! A surprising novelty! [ 11.xc4 e7 12.0-0 0-0 was agreed drawn in Shtyrenkov,V-Kaiumov,D/Karvina 1992. ] 11...e7!! Black reacts well. [ 11...xf7 12.xc4+ e6 13.xc5 d4 14.d1 is wild, but probably good for White. ] 12.xh8 b4 The point, attacking the queen, and threatening to go to f2 via d3. 13.d1 d3+ 14.f1 xf2 Both f-pawns have disappeared in the opening, the Symmetrical E n g l i s h i s n o t a l w a y s b o r i n g ! 15.d5 Other moves are no better: [ 15.e1 xh1 16.xc4 xe1+ 17.xe1 b5 18.b3 0-0-0 19.f7 e8+ with a whopping initiative. ] 15...xd1 16.xe7 f2 Black is a rook down, but better! 17.g8!? An amazing move in an amazing position! [ 17.eg6 was the only alternative, xh1 18.e5 e7 19.hf7 b5 ( 19...f8 20.xc4 ) 20.xd7 xd7 21.f3 f8 22.g5 f2 with a clear advantage. ] [ 17.g1? xe7 wins the second knight. ] 17...xg8 After this Black will have to waste time to capture the second knight - but how will it ever escape? 18.g1 d3 Black has seen a nice winning line, but [ 18...e7 was also good, 19.xc4 e4 20.h1 f8+ 21.f7 e6 winning a piece. ]
19.xd3 cxd3 20.e3 A neat trick, but there is a flaw. xe3 21.e1 0-0-0 22.xe3 d2 [ 22...h6 would pick-up the h8-knight, but this is clearer. ] 23.e2 g4+ 24.f3 h6 Black captures the f3-rook and then the knight on h8. 0-1
1488 Morozevich,A Caruana,F Makedonia Palace GP (7.6) [Daniel Gormally]
A34 2760 2774 29.05.2013
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e3 e6 6.c2 As ever, Morozevich goes his own way, trying out a line that has been rare ly seen. He wants to def e r an y central action until later, at the moment he aims for a slow manoeuvering game. [ 6.d4 Is by far the most common path for W hite here. cxd4 ( 6...c6 7.d3 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.a3 b6 10.c2 xc3 11.bxc3 g6 12.d1 cxd4 13.cxd4 b7 14.b2 c8 15.e2 Was probably only slightly better for W hite in Le Quang, L (2687)Ivanchuk, V (2776) Havana 2011) 7.exd4 b4 8.c2 c6 9.a3 e7 10.d3 h6 11.0-0 0-0 12.d1 d7 13.e2 e8 14.c2 f8 15.h4!? With interesting play in the game Aro nian , L (274 1)-Niels en, P (2626) Heraklio 2007 ] 6...e7 7.a3 0-0 8.b3 b6 [ W h it e d o e s n o t f e a r 8...xc3 9.dxc3 ( Clearly 9.xc3? f6 10.d4 cxd4 11.exd4 c6 would be very bad) 9...c6 10.d3 h6 11.0-0 as he would then have a very nice position, with the possibility of playing c4 or b4, putting the bishop on b2 etc. ] 9.b2 a6!? A rather dry move that I would not expect Kasparov to play, but Caruana hopes to take the sting out of the position he also fears the possibility of White later gaining a kingside attack, if he were able to hold on to the light-squared bishop. The onus is now on White to prove an opening advantage, if this is at all possible. Morozevich's answer to this is not wholly convincing. 10.xa6 [ 10.c4 xc4 11.bxc4 xc3 12.xc3 f6 ] 1489
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10...xa6 11.h4 [ 11.0-0 ac7 12.fd1 f6 13.ac1 is solid, if not particularly special for White. ] 11...ac7 12.e2 f6 13.g5 g6 14.f3 Morozevich has provoked ..g6, hoping that this will prove to be a weakness. However, it is not exactly clear if this is the case, and if is not, you argue that White has just lost time. xb2 15.xb2 f6 16.b4 e5 17.bxc5 bxc5 18.c2 e6 19.0-0 It seems slightly odd to me, to play all this h4 stuff and then just give up entirely on the idea of an attack on the kingside.. especially as it's Moro's style to play swashbuckling chess?! [ 19.h5 g7 20.h4 and Black has to be careful. f5 ( 20...e7 may be more circumspect, although White can continue his initiative with 21.b1 ) 21.g4! f6 22.gxf5 e4 23.b1 gxf5 24.g3 looks very dangerous for the defender. ] 19...c8 20.ab1 d7 21.d3 [ 21.h5!? gxh5 22.h4 was certainly worthy of consideration. ] 21...fd8 22.fd1 c6 23.d2 d7 24.dc1 b6 25.h5 g7 26.b3 cd8 27.g3 d5 28.c3 c6 29.b3 d5 30.f3 c7 31.c3 d7 32.h4 [ The natural 32.e4 may well have been superior. e7 ( 32...gxh5 33.g3 a l s o g i v e s W h i t e g o o d p l a y) 33.a4 and White is making progress. ] 32...a4 33.a2 g5 34.e4 b5 35.e2 a4 36.c4 b6 37.hxg6 hxg6 Caruana has defended extremely well in a cramped position, and now Morozevich feels obliged to sacrifice material, in order to make a n y f u rt h e r p ro gre ss . 38.xg6!? xc4 39.dxc4 e8 40.h4?! [ Objectively White should now bail out into a draw with 40.h5 f3+ ( 40...xg6 41.f5+ f7 42.h6+ g7 43.f5+= ) 41.xf3 xg6 42.f5+ h8 43.d1 xd1+ 44.xd1 When it is difficult to believe, given the slightly exposed nature of the black king and the strong knight on f5, that Black would have any realistic winning chances. However this is not Moro's style, he is a fighter and chooses to keep the game going for as long as possible. ] 40...h8 41.d1 xd1+ 42.xd1 d7 43.g4 h7 44.hf5 e6 45.e3 f4
46.d5 b8 47.f1?? After a long and hard fight, White blunders the game away! One of the leaders of the "computer generation", Caruana, is hardly likely to let this chance go begging... [ 47.xf4! exf4 48.h5 b1+ 49.h2 b8 was a draw. ] 47...h3+! Ouch! The queen is caught, and although White battles on valiantly, the result is never in doubt... 48.gxh3 g7 49.fe3 xg4+ 50.hxg4 b1+ 51.g2 xe4+ 52.g3 a5 53.a4 d4 54.h4 f5! 55.xf5 xc4 56.de7 e6 57.h5 c4 58.g6+ g8 59.h6+ g7 60.f5+ f7 61.h6+ e8 62.f5 f6 0-1
1489 Movsesian,Sergei Volokitin,Andrei ETCC (Open) Warsaw POL (4.14) [Fier, Alexandr]
A34 2700 2682 11.11.2013
White accelerates the Nd2-c4 manoeuvre and the players quickly enter an exotic queenless middlegame. W hite has good chances and little by little Movsesian outplays Volokitin. Afterwards he enters a must-win situation and missed some good opportunities. 8...Be6 is not the main move, but it's interesting to see some subtleties regarding delaying 0-0 in some positions. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 c6 6.g2 c7 7.d3 e5 8.d2 e6 Trying to make a setup with ...Qd7 which is not usual in the normal variations. Personally I don't believe in this idea and I think the way Movsesian played gives White a slight advantage. [ 8...d7 this is a natural move and the most played one. Here I don't think W hite wins much by delaying castling, 9.c4 b5! now e5 is not hanging 10.e3 ( 10.xc6? is possible in the main lines, but not here, since the h1-rook will be hanging xc6 ) 10...c8 11.0-0 d4 and ok, the position is still normal and there is a lot of life, but Black has been doing well in the games played so far, Ribli, Z (2525)-Olafsson, F (2550)/Las Palmas 1974. ] [ 8...e7 was faced by Movsesian in another 1490
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 game, and again he used the fact that his king was still on e1 to bring it directly into the fight 9.c4 f6 10.f4 exf4 11.xf4 d4 ( 11...e6 is also possible) 12.xc7 xc7 13.e3 c6 14.b3 and White had the initiative in Movsesian, S (2688)-Babula, V (2585)/CZE-chT 1213 2012 (11.1). ] 9.c4 d7 10.a4 Now White goes into a forcing variation. f6 11.f4 d4 12.xd7+ xd7 An improvement over one old game: [ 12...xd7 was seen almost 30 years ago, 13.f2 exf4 ( 13...c6 14.fxe5 xg2 15.xg2 b5 16.e3 fxe5 17.f1 is also good for White with a strong place for t h e k n i g h t o n e 4 .) 14.xf4 0-0-0 and W hite had a chance to get the advantage in Lobron, E (2505)-Ivanovic, B ( 2 5 1 5 ) / Z a g r e b 1 9 8 5 w i t h 15.e4! looking for Nd6-f7. ] 13.d1!? Controlling the c2-square and I think White already has some advantage in this position. [ 13.0-0 would be another normal move, but W hite needs to check the exchange sacrifice now. b8 ( 13...b5!? is interesting, but maybe not enough for equality, 14.xa8 xa8 15.e3 exf4 16.gxf4 b4 17.e4 xe2+ 18.g2 b6 19.f5 f7 with some compensation, but W hite is still slightly better. ) 14.fxe5 b5 15.a5 fxe5 16.e3 c2 17.c6! gives White an edge. ] 13...b8 14.fxe5 b5 15.a5 fxe5 16.e3 g4+ 17.d2 All of the last few moves were more or less forced, but now Black has an important choice. f3 [ 17...d6 is also possible, since taking on d4 is still not possible 18.e4 f3+ 19.c2 hf8 20.a4 a6 ( 20...g5 is the computer move, but it's hard for any human to allow 21.axb5 21.axb5 xb5 22.c4 xe4 23.xe4 f3 24.xf3 xf3 25.d2 with advantage to White.) 21.axb5 axb5 22.h3 and White is better due to his knight on e4. ] 18.xf3 xf3+ 19.e2 g5 The black knight has no good place to go, White has no weak nes ses an d a st ron g squa re f or th e knight on e4. Because all this, White is better. 20.a4 [ 20.h4 is also possible, but White is not in hurry ge6 21.a4 a6 22.b3 ]
20...a6 21.d2 d6 [ 21...b4 was active and stopped the knight going to e4, but now the c5-pawn is much weaker: 22.d1 e4 23.f2 exd3+ 24.xd3 ce6 25.ac1 and Black is suffering. ] 22.h4 ge6 23.e4 d5 24.hf1 hf8 25.xf8 xf8 26.axb5 axb5 27.b3 dc7 28.c3 All the pieces are working in an harmonious way. d6 29.f1 And now the o n ly wa y t o a vo id 3 0 . Rf 7 + is t o give t h e central pawn. f8 [ 29...d5 30.f7+ e7 31.xd6 xd6 32.xe5+ ( 32.d2!? ) 32...xe5 33.xe7 with a pawn up. ] 30.xf8 xf8 31.xe5 Now White has a material advantage and he kept improving his position until move 47. d5 32.bd2 [ 32.g4 was interesting, avoiding Black's next move ] 32...h5 33.f3 g6 34.c3 h6 35.e5+ c7 36.a5+ b7 37.d6+ a6 38.d2 g7 It was a good plan to move Black's king far from the center. 39.df7 d8 40.b3 [ 40.e4 xf7 41.xf7 e7 42.c3 was also good for White. ] 40...xf7 41.xf7 e7 42.f3 c6 43.g5 e5 44.e6 d6 45.d4 Finally creating a passed pawn. cxd4 [ 45...c4 46.bxc4 bxc4 47.e4+- and with two united passed pawns this is much easier to win. ] 46.exd4 a5 47.b4?! Going in the wrong direction. [ 47.f4! was direct and the d-pawn suddenly becomes really dangerous: a3 ( 47...xf4 48.c5+! this is another point b6 49.xf4 c6 50.e4+- ) 48.d5 b7 ( 48...xb3 is not good since now Black can't stop the d-pawn 49.d6 a5 50.d7 winning. ) 49.d4 and with all the pieces centralized the position is just winning. ] 47...c6 48.c5+? Now Black is already ok. [ 48.f4 was still possible, but not so clear xf4 ( 48...xb4 49.d5 a5 50.d6 b7 51.d7 a5 52.g5 wins. ) 49.xf4 xb4 50.e4 with a clear advantage, although Black's b-pawn can bring some drawing chances. ] 48...b6 49.d5 [ 49.c3 e7 followed by ...Nd5 and ... 1491
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.xe6 xe6 14.b3 xb3 15.axb3 It really shouldn't be easy for W hite to lose this position though strange things can happen when you try too hard to win. c7 16.fd1 b6 17.c4 f6 18.f1 f7 19.xd8 xd8 20.b4?! A risky decision because White's b-pawns can easily become weak. [ 20.a6 followed by 21.Ke2 was a better idea, though the position is probably drawn. ] 20...cxb4 21.cxb4 b8 22.b5 d4 23.d1 c8 24.a3 e6 25.d7+ f8 26.e2 c7 27.xc7 xc7 28.d3 e7 It's looking more and more like a draw at this stage though White still wants to win. 29.c4 d6 30.c2 c7 31.a3 e6 32.b1 e7 33.c3 e8 34.f3 g6 35.g4 d6+ 36.d3 f5 37.gxf5+ gxf5 38.exf5+ xf5 39.h6 e6 40.d2 f5 41.h6 e6 42.d2 f8 Avoiding the repetition. It should still be a draw but the pressure is now on W hite. The problem is the weak b5 pawn. 43.g5 f5 44.c1 e7 45.h3 d6 1490 A34 46.h6 f5 47.e3 h4 48.d2 h5 49.b3 Nanu,Ciprian 2505 e6 50.e3? This allows Black to attack the Tregubov,Pavel V 2625 knight with his next move after which the 11th EICC Men (5) 10.03.2010 bishops come off. [ 50.e2 was the right move when I don't [Nigel Davies] see how Black can win. ] 51.d2 xd2 52.xd2 f5 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.e3 f6 50...e1 5.e2 d5 6.cxd5 xd5 7.0-0 xc3 53.e3 h4 54.b4?! [ After 54.e2 f4 55.f2 Black has e4!? This looks like a very strange decision at first wh e n t h e p a wn e n d ga m e a f t e r 56.xe4 but it becomes easier to understand the more would be lost for White. Maybe he could still you look at the position. save himself with 56. Nd5+ but it certainly [ 7...e7 8.b5 ( 8.d4 also looks very wouldn't be easy. ] reasonable, for example cxd4 9.exd4 xc3 a3 56.e2 c2 10.bxc3 exd4 11.cxd4 e6 12.b1 d7 54...c4+ 55.d3 13.a4 was equal in Blum, G-Luft, A/ 57.d5 d4+ 58.e3 xb5 59.e7+ f6 Regensburg 1998) 8...xc3 9.dxc3 xd1 60.c6 e6 61.f4 exf4+ 62.xf4 d6 10.xd1 f6 11.e4 gave White a nice edge 63.b8? c7 The knight is trapped. 0-1 in Iskusnyh, S- Filippov, V/Moscow 2002. ] 8.dxc3 d6 9.e4 Now White should be slightly better because of the 'hole' on d5, though such weaknesses are nowhere near as easy to exploit as the text books sometimes make out. 0-0 10.e3 Already a move I don't li k e b e c a u s e t h e k n i g h t m i g h t wa n t t h i s square. [ 10.d2 looks more to the point. ] 10...e7 11.d2 e6 12.c4 fd8 Kc6. ] 49...xb4 50.e4 f8 51.e3+ a6 52.d6 b7 53.c5 [ 53.c5+ was another winning attempt, but Black should be ok after c6 54.d7 e7 55.g5 xg5 56.hxg5 c7 57.e4 c6 ] 53...d3 54.d4 c6 And White just collapsed in a few moves. 55.e3 b4 56.c5 a6 57.d7 h6+ The only move and a good one . 58.d4 g7+ 59.d3 xd7 [ 59...xc5+ was probably simpler, playing the bishop vs knight endgame 60.xc5 f6 61.e4 e7-+ ] 60.e3 b4+ 61.e2 e6 62.f3 With an extra outside passed pawn, Black is already winning. c6 63.d2 d5 64.f2 b4 65.d3 b3 66.f4+ c4 67.c1 c3 68.a3 d4+ 69.e4 b5 70.d5+ d2 71.b4+ c3+ 72.xc3+ xc3 73.e3 e5 74.c4+ c3 0-1
1492
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 due to the strength of the c-pawn: 32...xb4 A34 33.xb4 c2+ 34.d4 a8 35.d6+ c7 2660 36.xe6 isn't clear yet. ] 2657 19.01.2006 33.xc6 xc6 34.xa7+ c7 35.a6 c6 [ 35...xh3 36.d6+ e7 37.c6 with the threat Bb4. White may even stand better. ] We've been through this variation more than once! 12...Bg4! is a lot more testing than 12... 36.a7+ c7 37.a6 c6! [ Not 37...xh3 38.d6+ e7 39.c6 f3? Bc4+. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 40.b4 f7 41.b5+- A wild game. White 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 6.c4 d3+ might try 13.Be3 Nc6 14.Ne2 or 14.Ne2. ] 7.e2 f4+ 8.f1 e6 9.b4 g6 10.bxc5 g7 11.xe6 xe6 12.d4 g4 The pin is ½-½ well-known but less common than [ 12...c6 13.e3 a5 , when 14.e2!? A34 is one idea, and ( 14.c1 c4+ 15.g1 1492 another )] Nepomniachtchi,Ian 2602 13.b1!? Baramidze,David 2543 [ Normal is 13.e3 c6 14.d5 ( 14.a4 8th ch-Euro Dresden GER (9) 12.04.2007 xf3! 15.gxf3 xd4 16.d1 e5; 14.e5 [Carsten Hansen] d7 15.a4 d8 16.d1 0-0=; 14.e2!? f5 15.h3 fxe4 16.hxg4 exf3 17.gxf3 1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 was Seirawan-Miles, London1982) 14...xf3 xd5 5.e4 xc3 15.gxf3 xc3 16.c1 a5 17.dxc6 bxc6 [ 5...b4!? is the main move in this position with equality. ] and leads to play that looks nothing like 13...c6 14.xb7? wh a t w e a r e a b o u t t o s e e i n t h e m a i n [ B e t t e r w a s 14.e2! xf3 15.gxf3 game. ] and White seems to have the advantage, e. 6.dxc3 g., d7 ( 15...xd4? 16.b2 e5 17.xd4 [ 6.bxc3 leads to a Gruenfeld Indian after g6 exd4 18.a4+ ) 16.d5 h3+ 17.g1 e5 ( or a Semi-Tarrasch after 6...e6 7.d4 ) 7.d4 18.g3 , e.g., h5 19.f4 h4 20.b2! ] ( White has two interesting alternatives in 14...xf3 15.xf3 7.b5+!? and; 7.a3!? ) 7...g7 ] [ 15.gxf3? c8! 16.b1 h3+ 17.e2 6...xd1+ 7.xd1 This line hardly looks like xd4+ ] anything Black should fear, but the fact of the 15...xd4! Now White has real troubles, m a t t e r i s t h a t W h i t e r a r e l y l o s e s a n d because ...0-0-0 will come with tempo. 16.b2 f r e q u e n t ly wi n s , a n d o n l y i f B la c k p la y s c4+ accurately he will equalize. This should be [ R i s k i e r w a s 16...xc5 17.a4 c2! enough warning for Black players to avoid this 18.xg7 0-0-0! ] line. One of the problems for Black is that his 17.e2 xe2+ 18.xe2 0-0-0 19.d5 p a wn s t r u c t u r e h a s we a k e n e d t h e l i g h t Forced. squares by placing the c-pawn on c5, while [ 19.b3 d4+ ] W hite's structure doesn't have similar 19...xb7 20.xg7 hg8 21.b1+ c8 problems. g6? Black should try to avoid this 22.c3 d7 This stalls White's attack, move in this particular line, becau se th e although consolidating proves difficult. 23.b3 bishop is poorly placed on the h8-a1 diagonal, f5 24.f3 fxe4 25.fxe4 b7 26.a3 d7 whereas it can me quite useful on the f8-a3 [ 26...d8! ] diagonal where it will guard the c5-pawn. 27.a6 c8 28.d3 b1?! A real mistake. [ 7...c6 is the normal move. If White now [ 28...b8! 29.a5 f8 ] continues with 8 Be3, Black will continue 29.c4! Suddenly White is extremely active. with 8...e6 with fairly even chances. In the g1 30.e5 e6 31.b4 xg2 32.h3 g3? archives, you can find the game Krasenkov[ But the obvious moves are surprising risky Protaziuk, Polish Ch 1999, where W hite
1491 Navara,David Naiditsch,Arkadij Corus B Wijk aan Zee NED (5) [John Watson]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 tests 8.c2 and after e6 9.f4 f6 10.d2 e5 11.e3 e6 12.c4 White has the initiative and gradually won an instructive, yet for this line typical, game. ] 8.e3! The exclam is perhaps a bit over the top, but it provokes another weakness in Black's structure. b6 A further weakening of the light squares. This is exactly the reason why Black shouldn't have wasted time on ... g6 earlier. 9.c4 [ A classic game in this line is AnderssonTempone, Buenos Aires 1979: 9.a4 c6 10.b5 b7 11.c2 g7 12.hd1 a6 13.c4 with a clear advantage for White who won without too much effort. In the tournament book (I think only published in Denmark and in Danish, sorry guys) Larsen made the humorous comment: "Why do the young players insist on playing endgames with Andersson in this tournament? Maybe, to learn something!" Studying games played in this line can certainly teach something about small positional imbalances and their impact. Sometimes the difference between an equal position and a clear advantage is almost imperceptible. ] 9...e6 10.e2 b7 11.b5+!? c6 12.a4 a6 Black cannot afford to exchange on b5 as White will be able to enhance the pressure against Black's a-pawn by doubling the rooks on the a-file and transferring the knight to c4, while Black has absolutely no counterplay. In addition, W hite threatens Ne5, forcing the exchange on b5. Therefore Black's choices are rather limited. Black's choice invites the exchange on c6, but also weakens the entire pawn structure on the queenside. 13.xc6+ xc6 14.d2 e7 [ I f B l a c k t r i e s 14...0-0-0 then White develops an attack on Black's king with 15.c4 b7 16.b4 cxb4 17.xb6 c8 18.hd1! ( also 18.cxb4 xb4 19.d4 g8 20.hc1 is very good for White) 18...bxc3 19.d7+ ] [ A more solid set-up is provided by 14...d6 15.c4 c7 but even so after 16.a5! b5 17.b6 d8 18.g5!? e7 19.f6 g8 20.c4! with a clearly better game for White ] 15.c4 b8 16.hd1 0-0 In retrospect, this move looks like it invites White's rook to go to d7, yet leaving the king on e8 invites other
courses of action from White, e.g. [ 16...b7 17.d6+ xd6 18.xd6 e7!? ( 18...c7?! 19.a5! tears Black's position apart ) 19.xc6!? ( if 19.ad1 c8 Black should be able to defend) 19...d7 20.xb6 xb6 21.b4 bb8 22.xc5 with a solid advantage for White ] 17.d7 b5? I'm not sure what Black missed when playing this move, because what follows is completely obvious to even rank amateurs. [ Also pretty bad are 17...fd8 18.c7 a5 19.xa5 d6 20.c6 bxa5 21.d1!+- ] [ and 17...fe8 18.f4 bd8 19.xb6 f5 20.ad1+- ] [ But 17...f6 18.ad1 fc8 19.f4 e5 20.e3 is Black's best chance, although with White completely dominating the board thanks to his control of the only open file, Black's position is rather ugly. The only positive thing that can be said about the t e x t m o ve , 1 7 . . . b 5 , i s t h a t i t e n d s t h e suffering rather quickly. ] 18.axb5 axb5 19.a5! Simple chess now Black's position falls apart very rapidly. xa5? [ While 19...bd8 A) 20.b7 xa5 ( 20...b8 21.xc6 20 transposes back to Nxc6 ) 21.xa5+-; B) 20.xc6 xd7 21.xe7+ xe7 22.xc5 c7 23.xf8 xf8 doesn't look particularly inspiring and should lose for Black, Black should nonetheless have tried this, as rook endings often have the capacity for drawing resources for the weaker party. ] 20.xa5 d8 21.aa7 b4 [ When all your possible moves suck, your position is rotten to the core, such as here when 21...b6 is met by 22.ab7 fc8 23.xf7 xb7 24.xb7+- ] [ and 21...c8 by 22.h6+- ] 22.h6!? There is something poetic about this move, as it pokes a finger into Black's side, reminding him of his mistake on move 7 and tells the rest of us not to weaken of pawn structure like that, if we don't plan to keep a bishop in the hole it leaves behind. [ Also 22.xc5! bxc3 23.xf8 cxb2 24.ab7 xb7 25.xb7 xf8 26.xb2+- ] [ and 22.f4 work for White, but the text move is possibly the most effective because in the game Black resigns after just one 1494
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xc5 18.g4 which wins back the piece with advantage. ] 15.xe4 fc8 16.e3 c7 17.e2 a6 18.g4 e6 19.a3 a7 20.f4 b5 21.b2 d6 22.f3 d8 23.a2 c4 24.bxc4 xc4 25.a1 d6 26.b1 f6 27.g5 g7 28.b6 dd7 [ Fritz 12 likes 28...f6 but then 29.gxf6 xf6 30.d4 leaves Black with a lot of pawn 1493 A34 weaknesses. ] Nepomniachtchi,Ian 2711 Kamsky,Gata 2741 29.b3 e7 30.d4 c4 31.d3 d6 32.e4 FIDE World Cup 2011 (3.2) 04.09.2011 ed7 33.e5 c8 34.c4 There's not much to be done about W hite's massive flotilla of [Nigel Davies] pawns. e7 35.c3 b5 36.cxb5 axb5 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 37.a8+ c8 38.xc8+ xc8 39.xb5 f8 xd5 5.g3 g6 6.g2 g7 7.h4!? 40.b8 c7 41.b7 [ Black is completely helpless, for example I could only find one earlier game with this 41.b7 e7 42.b4 d7 43.c5 g7 move b ut with a 10 0% score f or W h ite it 44.c4 followed by 45.Kb5 etc. ] deserves further tests. [ W h i t e ' s m o s t p o p u l a r c h o i c e i s 7.0-0 1-0 , for example 0-0 8.xd5 xd5 9.d3 a6 10.a3 h5 11.b1 h3 12.b3 b6 A34 13.c4 c7 14.xh3 xh3 15.b4 e6 1494 16.e3 ac8 17.a6 d4 18.xd4 cxd4 Nepomniachtchi,Ian 2702 19.xa7 e6 20.fe1 a8 21.b7 xa3 Kramnik,Vladimir 2796 22.g5 e5 23.f3 1/2-1/2 was 66th ch-RUS 2013 (9.3) 14.10.2013 Polugaevsky, L (2640)-Karpov, A (2540)/ [Fier, Alexandr] Leningrad 1971/URS-ch. ] 7...c6 8.h5 xc3 This was the decisive game from the Russian [ T h e o t h e r g a m e wi t h 7 . h 4 we n t 8...0-0 Superfinal and after the opening it was clear 9.hxg6 hxg6 10.g5 e6 11.ge4 b6 that both players were trying to win. I don't 12.d3 b7 13.g5 f6 14.h6 xh6 believe in White's idea but nowadays we are 15.xh6 g7 16.d2 h8 17.xh8 xh8 seeing h2-h4 being played in basically any 18.0-0-0 followed by 19.Rh1 led to a winning position! 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 f6 attack for White in Zemerov, V-Zanetti, A/ 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 g6 7.h4 Moscow 2006. ] Not a surprising move anymore g7 9.bxc3 f5 I'm not convinced this is right. [ 7...h6 was played by Svidler, but it means [ 9...e6 was worth considering when that h4 won't be punished. 8.0-0 g7 10.g5?! d5 11.e4? c4 is very nice for 9.xd5 xd5 10.d3 was a normal English Black. ] with h4 and ...h6 included. I'm not sure if it's 10.b3 b6 What else? better for either player. Still, this game was [ After 10...d7 White has the highly chaotic and brought qualification for the unpleasant 11.g5! . ] next round in the World Cup for Svidler 0-0 11.g5 xb3 12.axb3 This endgame is very 11.e3 h5 Radjabov, T (2733)-Svidler, P good for W hite because of pressure on the (2746)/FIDE World Cup 2013 (3.2). ] h1-a8 diagonal and the strength of his single 8.h5 f5 A novelty and probably prepared by pawn island. 0-0 13.hxg6 hxg6 14.e4 Kramnik for this important last game in the xe4 Giving White the bishop pair. tournament. [ B l a c k m i g h t h a v e t r i e d 14...ac8 [ 8...0-0 was played several times and after though it still looks pretty good for W hite 9.hxg6 hxg6 10.a4 e6 11.e4 after 15.xc5 b4 16.a4 c2+ 17.d1 was Wang Hao's choice but later he lost with more move. However, strictly speaking 22. Bxc5 is the strongest move. ] 22...bxc3 23.bxc3 [ 23.bxc3 b6 24.ab7 fc8 25.xf7 xb7 26.xb7 ] 1-0
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a dubious sacrifice ( 11.f1!? White has some attacking chances and the position soon beca me a mess in a re cent gam e Khenkin, I (2655)-Olszewski, M (2532)/ Bundesliga 1213 2012 (15.1).) 11...b6 ( 11...b6 is also an option) 12.eg5 cb4 wi t h a n u n c l e a r p o s i t i o n i n W a n g H a o (2752)-Naiditsch, A (2710)/Dortmund SuperGM 41st 2013. ] [ 8...xc3 was played by Kamsky against the same Nepomniachtchi. I think the knight on d5 is often useful against White's queen, so I would prefer to keep it on the board myself. 9.bxc3 f5 10.b3 b6 11.g5 xb3 12.axb3 and White's position was already more comfortable, see the PGN Archive. ] [ 8...e6 was tried by Vachier in July, but Ding went with a really original plan: 9.h6 f6 10.e4 e7 11.b4!? and even if this sacrifice is not completely sound, it worked well in Ding, L (2714) -Vachier Lagrave, M (2719)/Biel Breisacher Memorial 2012. ] 9.b3 [ 9.hxg6 I think that opening the h-file is not so interesting with Black's king in the center, hxg6 ( 9...xg6 doesn't make much sense 10.h4 ) 10.xh8+ xh8 11.g5 b6 and Black's king will be well placed on the queenside, he enjoys a good space advantage. ] 9...db4 10.f1 With his king in the center, no space and still no development W hite's position looks worse. However, in a strange way there is some potential hidden in White pieces. e6 [ 10...a5?! is a good way to illustrate W h it e 's d y n a m ic p o ss ib i lit ie s : 11.a4+! first here, d7 12.d1 then coming back with the bishop on a less active square. The knights are not so well placed on the queenside and somehow White is activating his pieces quite well, c4 for example, allows White to use a nice idea ( 12...c6 13.d3 and again the knights are doing nothing.) 13.h4 f6 14.d4! and en passant just loses the knight! xh4 15.xh4 now White has the center and good places for all his pieces, which more than compensates the exchange, 0-0 16.d5 with Bh6, Ne4, Qd4 ideas. Black's knights are really bad on the
other side. ] 11.a4 a5 A logical move. Without queens there is not much attack anymore and White's queenside is still fragile. The position is rich a n d t h e re a re p le n t y o f o p t io n s f o r b o t h players on almost every move. [ 11...d7 is not so scary, the knight can't go to anywhere really threatening 12.d3 d4 13.d1 c6 looks logical, but White can change some pieces now, 14.xd4!? cxd4 ( 14...xd4 15.b3 with the idea of a3 is better for White) 15.e4 and finally White's pieces are arranged in a harmonious way. ] 12.xa5 xa5 13.g5 d7 [ 13...f5 i s a l s o p o s s i b l e 14.d3 c4 forcing matters 15.d5!? ( 15.dxc4 d8!? 16.d5 xd5 17.cxd5 h6 18.f3 g5 is ok for Black) 15...xd5 16.xd5 e6 17.h6 e5 18.xc4 xc4 19.dxc4 c8 20.h4 with a pawn up, but pieces still placed in a strange way. ] 14.h6 d4 15.b1 [ 15.d3 would be normal, finishing bringing the pieces into the game, c8 16.d2 b6 17.c1 0-0 18.h4 with a complex middlegame ] 15...f6 Winning more space. 16.ge4 f5 [ 16...c4 is one alternative, but allows White t o m a k e a q u i c k r u p t u r e 17.b3 cxb3 18.axb3 c8 19.h4 this move is seen in basically all the lines and it's the only active squ a re f o r t h e ro o k ac6 with another unclear middlegame. ] 17.xc5 An original idea, but probably not the best. [ 17.g5 is probably better, holding the position f6 18.d3 c8 but I would slightly prefer Black. ] 17...xc5 18.a3 d3! Breaking the structure is more important than recovering the pawn, with these doubled pawns Black has a clear plan. 19.exd3 [ 19.b4 xc1 20.bxa5 ( 20.bxc5 cb3-+; 20.xc1 b3-+ ) 20...xa3 21.a6 b8 22.axb7 e5 and White does not have enough for the piece ] 19...b3 20.h4 Activating one of the few pieces free to move. [ 20.xb7 is another important possibility b8 21.d5 e6 ( 21...xc1 doesn't really work 22.xc1 xb2 23.a4! xa4 1496
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.xc5 d7 25.a5 and White has the advantage ) 22.c4 ( 22.f3 f7 and W hite still can't go out) 22...f7 but the Bishop is missing f rom the long diagonal. ] [ 20.d5 c6! 21.xc6+ bxc6 and the knight will never escape from b3. ] 20...c6 Trying to exchange the most active white piece. 21.c4 [ 21.xc6+ bxc6 22.c4 d7 23.e2 e5 24.d4 xd4 25.d3 c5 and Black has the easier game, even if the position is not clear ] 21...xg2+ 22.xg2 f7 23.e2 An ambitious move, looking for 24.Rc3. [ 23.d4 was a solid alternative, now the position is even: xd4 24.b4 this is the point of giving the pawn, the Bishop is not def ending b4 anymore, xc1 25.xc1 xc3 26.xc3 b6 27.c7 but White's activity is not enough for anything serious, hc8 28.bc4 xc7 29.xc7 a5 30.c6 d8 with an equal position. ] 23...hd8 24.c3 d4 25.xc5 [ 25.xd4 xd4 26.c7 b5 and soon Black wi l l d o u b l e r o o k s o n t h e d - f i l e wi t h a n advantage. ] 25...xe2 26.e5 d4 27.b4 c6 [ 27...ac8 is a pseudo-active move, since the rook will not really do anything on the s e c o n d r a n k , 28.b2 ( 28.c5 is also possible xc5 29.bxc5 d7 30.b2 b3 31.d4 with a slight edge for Black) 28...c2 29.c3 and everything is under control. ] 28.e3 d5 29.b2 ad8 30.c3 a6 [ 30...xd3 is not so interesting, the pawn will fall at any time but now the knight has no good square to go 31.b5 b8 32.xd3 xd3 33.b4 with the idea of 34.Ra4. ] 31.a4 a7 Avoiding b5 for the moment. 32.be1 8d7 33.e5 c6 34.xd5 xd5 35.b1 g5 Expanding on the kingside. Now White always needs to be careful about h6 (an important pawn in the future) as well. [ 35...a7 again would be possible, but it's not clear if the knight is doing anything useful from here. ] 36.e1 [ 36.b5 axb5 37.axb5 ( 37.xb5 is really committal. The Bishop can only
control the black squares, so, in this p o s i t i o n t h e k n i g h t i s s t r o n g e r : xb5 38.axb5 a7 39.b6 c8 40.d4 g6 and White is going to suffer) 37...d4 38.b6 g4 and White rook will be a bit tied to the b6pawn. ] 36...e6 37.e3 White is solid but has no active plan, so he is just waiting. e7 38.e5 c6 39.c3 e5 40.e1 [ 40.g4!? trying to break the structure is i n t e r e s t i n g g6 ( 40...f4 41.e1 and White can use the e4 square at some point e6 42.b1 xd3 43.b5 and White is fine ) 41.gxf5+ xf5 42.f3+ now there is a f ile f o r t h e ro o k g6 and it's hard for Black to find anything tangible. ] 40...g4 41.b1 g6 42.b5 Finally opening the position. [ 42.f3 gxf3+ 43.xf3 xd3+ is slightly better for Black. ] 42...axb5 43.axb5 d8! [ 43...d4 looks tempting but White has time to activate the rook, 44.xd4 xd4 45.c1! more important than defending the pawns xd3 46.c7 xd2 47.xb7 b2 48.b6 xh6 49.e7 xb6 50.xe5= Black can't make any progress. ] 44.f3 gxf3+ 45.xf3 xd3+ 46.e2 e4 The position has changed a lot and now White has some weak pawns. Still, the position looks defendable, but the task is harder now. 47.e5 e6 48.f4 If the Bishop was stable on f4, it would be the ideal square. f3 [ 48...xf4+ 49.gxf4 b6!? ( 49...xh6 50.h1+ g6 51.g1+ f6 52.h1 d7 53.h5 and it's hard to make progress) 50.c1 xh6 51.c6+ h5 52.xb6 g4 53.h6 and the position is ok for White b3 54.xh7 xb5 55.d3= ] 49.b6 [ 49.c1 b3 50.e3 xb5 51.c8 is also interesting, entering the same kind of endgame as in the game. ] 49...d4+ [ 49...xf4+ is still an option and now the variations are more complex than before: 50.gxf4 xf4 51.c1 ( 51.d3 exd3+ 52.xd3 xh6 is probably winning) 51...f3 52.c7 b3 53.xb7 xh6 A) 54.d4 is exotic but probably not working g5 55.d5 f4 56.d6 b2+ 1497
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 57.d1 e3 and the attack arrives just in time 58.xh7 ( 58.d7 e2+ 59.e1 e3 with mate ) 58...d2+ 59.e1 xd6 60.b7 b6 61.e2 b2+ 62.d3 d2+ 63.c4 d8 winning; B) 54.b8 g5 55.h8 xb6 56.xh7 h6! 57.g7+ ( 57.xh6 xh6 58.d3 exd3+ 59.xd3 g5 wins ) 57...f4 58.g2 h3 and there is no time for d3, so White is clearly worse. ] 50.e1 c2+ 51.e2 d4+ 52.e1 b3 White's position is hopeless with all the weak pawns but without rooks. 53.c1! xb6 54.c8 e6 55.e3 d6 Black is better, but White can always create some counterplay bec au se o f the h 6-pa wn . 56.g8+ f6 57.b8 d7 58.f2 e5 59.a8 f6 60.b8 f7 61.a8 g6 62.g8+ h5 63.e8 White is basically waiting and trying to disrupt Black's plans. f8 64.g2 g4 65.b8 g6 66.g8 d7 67.f2 [ 67.g7 is committal and with unclear consequences, xg7 68.hxg7 e7 69.c5 g8 70.f2 f4 71.gxf4 xf4 and I think it should be a draw, but it's a hard decision to make during a game. ] 67...h3?! This is the start of a forcing plan that is too risky. 68.g5 [ 68.g7 xg7 69.hxg7 e7 70.f4 g4 71.e3 wins a tempo compared to the above variation, here White should be ok ] 68...e5 Since Black always need to defend h7, his pieces don't have full power. 69.g7 N o w t h e r o o k e xc h a n g e i s n o t p o s s i b l e anymore b5? And Black finally crosses the line. But the position was already not so easy [ 69...g4+ is the computer suggestion, giving the h7-pawn: 70.e2 d3 71.xh7 xg3 72.g7 g2+ 73.d1 xh6! 74.xh6 xg7 75.xg7 f4 76.d4 g2 77.d3 e3 78.xe3 fxe3 79.e2 g3 80.xe3 g4 with a draw. ] 70.e2 The king will defend against promotion and the h7-pawn will fall anyway, Black is already lost. b4 71.f4 f7 [ 71...d5 72.xh7 b3 73.b7 g6 74.e3 d8 ( 74...xg3 75.g7+- ) 75.xb3 and White is probably winning. ] 72.xh7 b3 73.d1 And with the rook pinned it's just over. e3 74.xe3 c7 75.d4 g2 76.c3 f2 77.c1 a7
[ 77...a7 78.d4+ wins ] 1-0
1495 Onischuk,Alexander Leitao,Rafael Karpov It Poikovsky RUS (8) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2658 2587 08.05.2001
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4!? The Mikenas Attack. c5 4.f3 c6 5.e2!? [ The main line, 5.e5 involves a pawn sac, but here White plays more calmly. ] 5...b6 [ 5...d5 6.exd5 exd5 7.d4 offers a slight edge. ] 6.d4 [ Aiming for Hedgehog-style play, 6.b3 b7 7.b2 b8!? 8.d3 is less logical, Krasenkow,M-Adams,M/Madrid 1998. ] 6...cxd4 7.xd4 b7 8.f4 This appears to be the critical test of Black's set-up, menacing Nb5-d6/c7. b4!? [ 8...xd4 9.xd4 c5 10.d3 is a safer line, Rublevsky,S-Zvjaginsev,V/St. Petersburg 1999. ] 9.db5! G a m b i t i n g t h e e - p a wn . xe4 10.c2! [ A new move! 10.d3 c5 11.d6+ f8 12.d2 f6 13.d1 was unclear in Pavasovic, D-Zvjaginsev,V/Portoroz 1999. ] [ 10.c7+? should be avoided, though f8 11.xa8 xc3 with advantage. ] 10...xc3 [ Now the queen would not be attacked by ... Nc5, but 10...f5!? might be possible. ] 11.bxc3 0-0? [ 11...f6 12.d2 a6 13.g5 e5 14.f4 is better for W hite, but playable, nonetheless. ] 12.cxb4 f6 13.c1 Of course, both bishop and rook are defended. xb4 14.0-0 g6 15.f3 e5 16.xe5 fe8 17.c3 Black has almost no compensation for the piece. 1-0
1498
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 open c-file. ] A34 2630 28.b4! This leads to a favourable liquidation of 2850 the queenside pawns. axb4 29.axb4 d7 02.2000 30.bxc5 bxc5 The isolated c-pawn is all that rests of Black's once proud queenside structure. 31.bb2 h6 32.a2 h7 33.a5 Black is happy to swap the c5-pawn for 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 d8 xd5 5.g3 c6 6.g2 c7 Kasparov t h e d 3 - p a w n , k n o w i n g t h a t t h e l a c k o f chooses to play Rubinstein's Variation in this queenside pawns will make a draw more important match, a measure of how highly likely. 34.xc5 xd3 35.xd3? [ A strange decision, White will have better regarded this line is. 7.d3 e5 8.0-0 e7 winning chances with the minor pieces on 9.d2 d7 10.c4 0-0 The pawn sac line. the board, 35.a7 e6 36.b2 would have 11.xc6 xc6 12.xe5 e8 13.b3 kept Black on the ropes, for instance, but in Unusual, but promising nonetheless. f6 t h i s q u i c k t i m e - l i m i t g a m e , W h i t e wa s [ At one time 13...b6 was considered good, worried about tricks involving ...Bf1+. ] but 14.c4! seems to give White an edge, planning to bring the queen to the important 35...xd3 36.xd3 xd3 37.a2 b3 h1-a8 diagonal, ( 14.e3 is the old move) 38.c2 Tantamount to a draw offer. xc2+ 14...c8! 15.e3 e6 16.d5 c7 17.f4 39.xc2 h5! 'As every schoolboy knows' this d8 18.g2 with a plus, Sarno,S-Malloni,M/ is the correct move here, in this, theoretically drawn, rook and pawn ending. 40.f4 g6 Porto S. Giorgio 1993. ] 41.e5 This particular structure offers White his 14.g4 d4!? [ Ka s p a ro v's no ve lty. No rm a lly, 14...c6 best winning chances, he will try to advance is played, 15.xf6+ xf6 and now 16.e3 his king to g5, then play e6. However, with ( 16.c4 e6 17.e3 fe8 18.ac1 d4 good defence this should still be a draw, but is equal, Ribli,Z-Chandler,M/Lugano 1985) as Black was running short of time, White has 16...e6 17.e4 f5 18.f3 is a little better real practical chances. d3?! [ This seems over-active, to me, why allow for White. ] t h e w h i t e r o o k t o t h e s e ve n t h ? B e t t e r 15.e3 41...d7 42.h3 g7 43.h4 h6 ] [ Safer than the pawn grab 15.xb7!? f5 16.e3 h5 with compensation for the 42.h3 e3 [ 42...d7 ] pawns. ] 15...xc3 16.xc3 b6 17.f3 A typical move 43.h4 g7 44.g5 e1 45.c7 e2 in this variation, White will set-up a barrier of 46.e7 Now Black is lost, White threatens e6, pawns on the light squares to impede the as the king and pawn endgame is winning. black bishop, and at the same time he can a2 [ 46...e1 47.e6 transposes to a Steanplay Nf2, to protect the d3-pawn. b5 18.f2 Hartston game from 1972, when White won d7 19.e4 It is more t to allow the c1-bishop in the following, instructive, manner: xe6 to play, rather than worry about the weakness 48.xe6 fxe6 49.h3 f7 50.h6 f6 of the d4-square, which will prove difficult to 51.g4 h4 52.g5+ f5 53.g7 xf4 exploit, anyway. e6 20.e3 a5 21.ad1 54.xg6 e5 55.h5 e4 56.g6 e3 57.g7 ad8 The black pieces have assumed good e2 58.g8 e1 59.g5+ f3 60.g4+ posts. 22.d2 c6 23.c1 b7 24.a3 d4 e3 61.e6+ exchanging queens and 25.g2 c8?! 26.b1! winning the king and pawn. ] [ A strong reply that allows White to obtain an advantage. Not 26.xd4? when cxd4 47.f5! [ Necessary, to avoid a check from the side: wins the exchange. ] 47.e6? allows a5+ 48.h4 f6 49.xf7+ 26...fd8 27.xd4! xd4?! xe6 with a draw. ] [ Not unnaturally, Black wishes to keep piece control of d4, but 27...cxd4 was worthy of 47...gxf5 48.e6 h4 49.xf7+ g8 50.f6 [ 50.f6 hxg3 51.g7+ h8 52.e7 a8 attention, 28.b3 c6 with control of the 1496 Piket,Jeroen Kasparov,Garry KasparovChess GP g/60, (4.2) [Tony Kosten]
1499
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 53.hxg3 and the e-pawn will promote. ] 1-0
1497 Piket,Jeroen Leko,Peter SuperGM Dortmund GER (4) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2649 2743 10.07.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 6.b5+ 8c6 7.a3!? Given as dubious in ECO, but White wouldn't play this unless he thought otherwise. d3+ 8.e2 f4+ 9.f1 e6 White was threatening to play d4. 10.d3 [ Sensible, White renounces the possibility of playing for d4, and prefers to complete his development. 10.b4 seems more gogetting, but following g6! 11.bxc5 g7 12.e5 ed4! 13.xd4 xd4 14.b2 0-0 15.a4 h4 16.xc6 bxc6 Black had plenty of compensation for the pawn, Poutiainen,P-Tal,M/ Tallinn 1977. ] 10...g6 11.h4!? [ A typical Piket idea, see the archives. 11.e3 had previously been tried, g7 12.a4 a5 13.c4 cd4 14.xd4 ( 14.xc5!? xf3 15.xf3 also seems promising ) 14...xd4?! 15.b4! d8 16.xc5 xc5 17.bxc5 0-0 18.c1 and White has a pawn more, although his king is awkwardly placed for the moment, Sunye Neto,J-Milos,G/Bogota 1991. ] 11...g7 12.h5 0-0 Black doesn't fear the op en in g of th e h-f ile , b ut will rely on h is central counterplay. 13.hxg6 hxg6 14.c4 ed4 15.xd4 cxd4 16.d5 e6 17.f4 e5 18.a2 b6 The idea behind Black's play is the attack on White's d3-square. 19.h3 a5 20.d2 e8 21.c1 a6 22.b1 [ T h i s a p p e a r s p a s s i v e , b u t 22.e2 is no better, d7 and ...Rc8 follows. ] 22...d7 23.e2 ac8 24.xc8 xc8 25.b3 White's hoped-for attack on the h-file has come to nothing, and his rook remains offside, therefore Black is better. c6 26.g1 d7 27.d1 c5 28.f4 Now that the black knight is no longer covering g4, White can think about bringing his queen to the kingside, again. b5
[ 28...a4 is met by 29.g4 e.g. xb2? 30.xg6! and the white attack crashes through. ] 29.a2 d7! The best, Black realises that his kingside is in need of defence. 30.g4 f8 [ It is understandable that Black didn't want to risk 30...c2!? 31.xe6! ( 31.xg6 xd2 32.e7+ f8 33.xc8 c1+ 34.h2 e5+ 35.g3 xc8 36.g5 probably doesn't offer W hite enough) 31...xd2 32.xf7+ f8 33.xg6 when the black king is wide-open. ] 31.g3 d6 32.h5! There is no turning back for W hite now, he must attack! c2?! 33.f4 e5?! This wins a piece, but opens the g-file, and the a2-g8 diagonal, a very high price to pay! 34.g5 gxh5 [ 34...xb2 35.d5 e6 36.xg7 xg7 37.xe6 xe6 38.h4 is also extremely dangerous. ] 35.f5 c7 36.f6 e6 Forced. 37.xe5 e7 38.xc7? [ Missing the simple 38.xe6 when fxe6 39.f4 wins! ] 38...xc7 39.xh5 e8 40.f4 f6 41.g5?! xf4 42.g6 There is no defence to mate, except for a perpetual check. c1+ 43.h2 f4+ 44.g1 c1+ 45.h2 f4+ ½-½
1498 A34 Piket,Jeroen 2609 Shirov,Alexei 2726 Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee NED (12) 30.01.1999 [Tony Kosten] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 6.b5+ Although less direct than 6 Bc4, this line does allow W hite to castle. 8c6 7.d4 Forced, but good, [ t h e i m m e d i a t e 7.0-0? is met by a6 preparing the infiltration of the b4-knight to d3. ] 7...cxd4 8.a3 The point behind White's play, should the knight retreat then 9 Nxd4 will be strong, so: dxc3 [ 8...d7 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd7+ xd7 11.axb4 is good for White. ] 9.xd8+ xd8 10.axb4 cxb2 11.xb2 The key position, Black has grabbed a pawn, 1500
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 but his king is misplaced, and can easily become subjected to a strong attack. d7 Black's safest choice, [ not 11...xb4? 12.e2 and with the white rooks coming to the c and d-files, the black king will not survive long. ] [ 11...f6?! is stronger, although after 12.e5 Black has severe development problems. ] 12.xc6! A novelty, previously [ 12.0-0 had been played, when f6 13.c4 xb4 14.e5 c8 and Black managed to defend himself, Tal, M-Timman,J/Montpellier 1985. ] 12...xc6 13.e5 The point, White damages the black pawn structure with tempo, the immediate threat is Nxf7+, of course. e8 Forced, if [ 13...e8? 14.0-0 f6 then after 15.fd1+ c7 16.ac1+ the black king is obliged to go on a walk to his doom. ] 14.xc6 bxc6 15.e2 The best square for the king is in the centre. f6 16.a6 e5 Black hastens to develop his kingside. 17.c3 d7 18.ha1 White will n his pawn with a small advantage, because of his rook on the s e v e n t h r a n k . e7 19.xa7+ xa7 20.xa7+ e6 21.a6 d7 22.d3 The king is an important piece in this phase of the game. b8 23.c4 c7 24.d2 T h e wh i t e p o s i t i o n i s p l e a s a n t , b u t i t i s difficult to make progress. b7 25.a2 a8 26.xa8 xa8 27.e3 b7 28.g4 W hite has the better bishop, but he lacks entry squares, and needs to keep b4 defended. g5 29.c5 xc5 30.xc5 c7 31.b5 cxb5 32.xb5 Play has reached a king and pawn ending, but Black can draw easily enough. b7 33.c5 c7 34.d5 d7 35.f3 h6 36.h3 White gains the opposition, but he will need another tempo move to win the position. e7 37.c6 e6 ½-½
1499 Piket,Jeroen Van Wely,Loek zt 1.1 Escaldes AND (4) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2605 2635 09.11.1998
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 If White doesn't play d4, Black will play ...d5! 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 Nimzovich's move has its ups and downs, but will always be popular with players who strive for a sharp struggle. b4 [ 5...xc3 6.bxc3 will lead to a Gruenfeld, but ( 6.dxc3 is also possible, with a position that appeals to endgame specialists. xd1+ 7.xd1 )] 6.c4 White allows Black to waste time hopping into d3. d3+ The line [ 6...e6 7.xe6 d3+ 8.f1 fxe6 which featured in the famous Polugaevsky,LTal,M game, from the Riga Interzonal 1979, and resulted in a spectacular victory for B l a c k , a f t e r 9.g5 b6 10.e2 has been under a bit of a cloud since the early Eighties because of the line ( 10.f3 c4 11.b3 with big threats. )] 7.e2 Chasing the knight away, but losing c a s t l i n g r i g h t s . f4+ 8.f1 e6 Another knight move, but Black has to stop White from playing d4. 9.b4 Gaining control of d4 by force, but [ 9.e5 is also dangerous for Black. ] 9...cxb4 10.d5 c6 [ 10...g6 11.b2 has been more usual. ] 11.d4 Instead of the old idea of 11 Bb2, White expands in the centre, and sets-up potential tactics involving a later Pd5. g6 12.e3 g7 13.d2 This way White avoids exchanges, and builds-up behind his centre. 0-0 14.d1 a5 Having further strengthened d4, White was finally threatening to recapture the b4-pawn. 15.h4 As he can't castle anyway, White hopes to bring his rook into play along the h-file. h5 16.h6 A critical on, the white kingside constellation is starting to look very menacing. h7! Good defence, [ if 16...d7 then 17.xg7 xg7 ( 17...xg7? 18.h6 and wins. ) 18.e3 and Black is in trouble, d5 and then Nf5+ is on the cards, ripping open the black kingside. ] 17.xg7 xg7 18.g5+ g8 19.f4 1501
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Premature, perhaps, as the position is just getting exciting, e.g. [ 19.f4 e6 20.h3 ] ½-½
1500 Ponomariov,Ruslan Sutovsky,Emil 39th Olympiad Men (11.1) [Nigel Davies]
A34 2749 2665 03.10.2010
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 g7 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 c5 8.xd5 xd5 9.d4!? At first sight this move looks ridiculous, but W hite gets his pawn back without much trouble. W hether or not this leads to an advantage is an another question. cxd4 10.e3 b5 [ Black has a good alternative in 10...d8 , for example 11.xd4 h5 12.c2 xd4 13.xd4 c6 14.c3 h3 15.xc6 bxc6 16.fd1 f5 petered out to a draw in Gelfand, B (2733)-Shirov, A (2745)/Bazna 2009. ] 11.xd4 xb2 12.a4 Ponomariov is usually very well prepared so I suspect this may be White's best chance. But it's not his only move: [ a) 12.d5!? prepares to play Rb1 without losing the a2 pawn. W hite has some pressure after c6 ( 12...e6 13.b1 a3 14.g2 a6 15.d2 d8 16.c2 gives White a strong initiative for his pawn) 13.b1 a3 14.xc6 bxc6 15.xc6 f5 ( 15...h3 16.xa8 xf1 17.d5 h3 18.b3 left White with a slight initiative in Haslinger, S (2410)-Leon Hoyos, M (2303)/ Do s Herm an as 20 0 4) 16.xa8 xb1 17.xb1 xa8 18.c1 f8?! ( 18...f6 was better) 19.b7 d8 20.xa7 xa7 21.xa7 d2 22.a4 a2 23.c4 left Black in serious trouble in Badea, B (2520)-Komljenovic, D (2475)/Tucepi 1996. ] [ b) 12.a4 d8 13.b1 a2 14.b3 xb3 15.xb3 c6 16.c5 was Macieja, B (2596) -Schmidt, W (2415)/Ustron 2007 and now f5 17.xb7 d4 18.xe7 xe2+ 19.h1 f8 would have been fine for Black. ] 12...d7 13.c4 c6 14.ab1 a3
15.xb7 a5 16.b4 xb4 17.xb4 ac8 18.d1 fd8 Black's precise play has equalised. 19.b5 xb5 20.xd8+ xd8 21.xb5 c4 22.f4 e5 23.g5 d1+ 24.f1 h6 25.c5 hxg5 26.xc4 d7 27.e3 f8 The players could probably have saved themselves the rest. 28.c8 g7 29.a4 b4 30.b5 e7 31.e4 a5 32.g2 c7 33.xc7 ½-½
1501 Rapport,R Dominguez Perez,L 76th Tata Steel Masters (5) [Fier, Alexandr]
A34 2691 2754 17.01.2014
Rapport used the Tata tournament to try some unusual openings, and sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. In this game he used the exotic 3.g4, and even if the position went wrong afterwards, probably it was not because of this move. 8. gxh6 would make m o re s e n se . 1.c4 c5 2.c3 g6 3.g4 The idea behind this move is quite simple. Since the center is still closed, White tries to expand on the kingside quickly. It also has the same idea as 3.g3, which is to develop the bishop to g2. g7 4.g2 c6 5.d3 d6 Black continues as if nothing happened and probably this is a good setup to use, the position remains flexible and Black can play according to White's next moves. 6.g5 e6 7.h4 h5 Black finally answers on the kingside. [ 7...ge7 playing in the normal way was a l s o p o s s i b l e , a n d a f t e r 8.h5 0-0 is not so clear how White is going to make any attack ] 8.xc6+?! A committal idea that I don't agree with. White tries to weaken Black's structure, but now the kingside is closed and the pawn on c6 is easy to defend. Still, Black plays the sa m e id e a so m e m o ve s l a t e r, b u t u n d e r better conditions. [ 8.gxh6 this would be a logical move, trying to keep things moving on the kingside xh6 A) 9.h5 g5 ( 9...gxh5 is also possible, cl e a r i n g t h e p o s i t i o n 10.xh5 e7 and since W hite is not sufficiently developed the king is safe in the center 1502
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.g5+ f6 12.f4 f7 with a doubleedged position) 10.f3 g4 11.g5 f5 12.ge4 and White has found a nice place for the knight, but it's not clear who is better on the kingside; B) 9.g5 using the pawn on h4 for other purposes, B1) 9...b6 10.e4 activating and using the fact that the pawn on d6 is unprotected f5 11.f6+ f8 12.b1 a5+ ( 12...e5 13.h5 looks interesting for W hite) 13.f1 xa2 14.h5 gxh5 15.f3 with compensation; B2) 9...a5 pinning the knight and threatening to take on c3 10.h5 xc3+ 11.bxc3 xc3+ 12.d2 g7 13.hxg6 xg6 14.xc6+ now this makes more sense, since it wins an important tempo bxc6 15.f3 and White has some pressure for the sacrificed pawn. ] 8...bxc6 9.f4 e5 Black loses no time opening the position. This move is not forced, but it's quite aggressive. [ 9...e7 was also interesting, waiting some moves before the break on e5 10.f3 0-0 11.e4 e5 now this has more potential 12.fxe5 g4! 13.0-0 ( 13.exd6 xd6 14.f1 f5 and Black is already winning) 13...xe5 with some advantage to Black. ] 10.fxe5 xe5 11.f3 xc3+ [ 11...g7 in this case White can use the pawn on c6 to win a tempo 12.a4 e7 13.e4 and it's not possible to avoid the knight reaching f 6 0-0 14.f6+ xf6 15.gxf6 f5 16.e4 d4 17.xd4 cxd4 with chances for both players ] 12.bxc3 e7 13.f4 0-0 Since the position is calmer now it's time to evaluate. Black has a safer king, the e-file and a good square for the bishop on g4. White, on the other hand, has no clear plan and no good place for the king. So even if the computer doesn't see a big advantage for Black, the position is clearly better. 14.d2 d5 Black plays the position with full energy and in 5 moves he will already b e w i n n i n g . 15.a4 g4 16.h2 e8 17.b1 [ 17.0-0-0 trying to run with the king to a slightly better square was an option f5 18.e1 s a d , b u t n e c e s s a r y ( 18.xc6
is t o o o p t im i s t i c a5 19.b2 dxc4 20.dxc4 ac8 21.b5 d8 22.a1 e3 23.xe3 xe3 with a huge advantage for Black ) 18...e3 ( 18...b6 19.e4 d4 20.a3 is l e s s c l e a r) 19.xe3 xe3 20.xc6 c8 21.xd5 a5 22.b2 b6+ gives Black a strong initiative. ] 17...d7 18.f2 e6 Preparing. 19.b3? Probably overlooking Black's next move. [ 19.a6 was the computer suggestion, with the idea of cxd5 to exchange the queens ad8 ( 19...xe2 20.xe2 g4 21.e5 the difference with the game is that the rook on b1 is not hanging f5 22.xc6 xh4+ is still possible, but now White has chances to defend.) 20.c7 c8 ( 20...d7 21.b8 xb8 22.xb8 ) 21.h2 and White is holding so far f5 22.cxd5 cxd5 23.xe6 xe6 24.c4 with just a slightly worse position for White ] 19...xe2! With this strong move Black is winning. White pieces are far from the center and unable to help against the attack. 20.d2 [ 20.xe2 g4 this is the point, and with the ro o k u n p ro t e ct e d a n d t h e b isho p on f 4 hanging, W hite can't defend the position 21.h2 ( 21.e5 g1+ 22.d2 xb1-+ ) 21...f5 22.bb2 g2! a nice move to make 23.f4 g1+ 24.d2 xe2+ 25.xe2 e8+ 26.d2 f2+ 27.c1 e1# ] 20...g4 21.xc5 White takes a good pawn, but the situation in the center is impossible to control. xh4 22.e3 f5 23.xf5 gxf5 [ 23...h3 to take with the queen on f5, brings unnecessary complications 24.e4! xf5 ( 24...gxf5 25.f6+ g7 26.d4 xd3+ 27.c1 e6 28.cxd5 c5 it's still winning, but Black needs to have cold blood to make these moves) 25.cxd5 f1 ( 25...cxd5 26.f6+ f8 27.b4++- ) 26.xc6 and the position is far from clear ] 24.g6 xe3 Now it's just a mate attack. 25.xe3 e8+ 26.d2 f2 27.gxf7+ xf7 28.xa7+ g8 29.b8 xd3+ 30.xd3 e2+ With mate in 1. 0-1
1503
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g4 13.g1 The bishop rightly A34 12.e5 retreats leaving the knight on g4 awkwardly placed. dxe5 14.fxe5 c6 15.ae1 1992 Rasim lends support to the e-pawn in view of the threat .. .Bxf 3 f ollowe d by ...Nxe5 . h5 16.d4 0-0-0?! Black is concern ed about the prospect of d5 and the safety of his king so 1.e4 c5 2.c4 d6 3.c3 f6 [ 3...c6 4.f3 f6 5.d3 g6 6.e2 g7 decides to castle queenside. [ 16...cxd4! is an improvement which tries to 7.0-0 0-0 8.e3 g4 9.h3 xe3 10.fxe3 make use of the knight on g4 after 17.xd4 h6 11.d2 d4 12.d5 e6 13.c3 ( 17.xd4 h4 18.d1 xe5 is better for a5 14.g4 xe3+? Completely the wrong Black ) 17...d8 18.d1 0-0 19.h3 h6 idea! The prospect of two pieces for a rook 20.g1 ] is good for W hite and if you add on the bonus of an instant attack then Black has 17.dxc5 h6 18.b4 f5 Attacks usually officially blundered big time! 15.xe3 c2 need to be so this plodding manoeuvre of the 16.h6 xa1 17.g5 There is no need to knight is hardly likely to frighten White. 19.b5 t a k e o n a 1 w h e n m a t e b e c k o n s . d8 axb5 [ 19...d7 20.e4 intending Nd6+ is strong 18.xh7+ f8 19.xf7# 1-0 S.Seebeck-M. for White. ] Denker,Osnabrueck 1994. ] 20.xb5 xb5 4.d3 e6 [ 20...b8 21.d6+ xd6 22.cxd6 [ 4...a6?! It is a little premature to locks the black queen out of the action contemplate breaking out with ...b5 when it leaving White with an extra pawn and the is not clear where White will put his pieces. much better position. ] 5.f3 e6 6.g3 White gets on with the job of developing the queenside. e7 7.g2 c6 21.cxb5 g5 22.c6 g4 23.b6! A nice move! If 8.0-0 0-0 9.e1 b8 10.a4 d7 11.f4 the queen takes on c6 then Rc1 pins the c8 12.f3 e5 13.fxe5 dxe5 14.g5 e8 queen while 23...Qb8 allows the embarrassing 24.xf3 h4 25.f2 15.d5 xd5 16.exd5 xg5 17.xg5 f o r k 2 4 c 7 . gxf3 d8 18.h5! The queen joins in the attack S a f e t y f i r s t b u t e v e n t a k i n g t h e q u e e n when the threats to f7 and h7 are too much immediately wins after [ 25.bxc7 g3+ 26.hxg3 ( 26.xg3! hxg3 for Black. h6 19.xf7 xf7 20.xf7+ h8 27.cxd8+ xd8 28.xf7 winning ) 21.g6 e7 22.e4 g8 23.f2 e8 26...hxg3+ 27.h2 xh2+ 28.g1 c5+ 24.d6 xa4 25.xe7 1-0 S.Fernando-E. 29.e3 d3 30.fe1 and Black has run out Velasco,Villalba 1993. ] of tactics and must admit defeat. ] 5.f4 I like this approach by White who advances the f-pawn before developing the 25...g3+ 26.g1 xc6 27.c1 k i n g ' s k n i g h t . I t h a s t h e m e r i t o f l a t e r 1-0 prompting various options revolving around e5 and d5. A34 [ 5.g3 is also possible with a position similar 1503 to the Closed Sicilian: e7 6.g2 0-0 Reinderman,D 2593 7.ge2 a6 8.0-0 bd7 9.b3 b8 10.a4 Bok,B 2560 b6 11.f4 ( perhaps 11.f4!? should be Tata Steel Challengers (6) 17.01.2014 considered.) 11...e8 12.b1 g6 13.h4 [Fier, Alexandr] f6 14.b2 c7 15.d2 b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.d1 e5 18.e3 c6 19.xf6 The idea of bringing the knight to d5 via d2-c4xf6 20.g4 g7 21.e2 b7 22.fd1 e 3 i n t h e S y m m e t r i c a l E n g l i s h i s q u i t e f5 23.e3 d4 24.f4 with equal chances, common, but bringing the knight via e1-d3-f4R.Verganio-M.Maga,Manila 1991. ] d5 is considered exotic. In this game Black 5...c6 6.f3 e7 7.e2 a6 8.0-0 c7 quickly went wrong and W hite got a really 9.h1 d4 10.e3 xe2 11.xe2 d7 good position. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 1502 Rasim,N Arsov,M Bulgarian Team Ch (4) [Gary Lane]
1504
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 c6 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 e5 8.e1 The knight is going to d3, where it can attack both of Black central pawns and support f4. [ 8.d3 e7 9.d2 is by far the most played line and it was analyzed several times for Chess Publishing, see Tomashevsky, E (2 6 8 4 ) -N a j e r , E (2 6 6 9 ) / 1 6 t h T C h - RU S Premier 2009 for example. ] [ 8.a3 is also possible and analyzed in T o m a s h e v s k y, E ( 2 5 9 5 )- Ja ko ve n k o , D (2671)/ch-RUS Superfinal 2006. ] 8...d7 One of many possibilities. [ 8...h5 is direct, trying to exploit the fact that the knight is now far from the defence of the king 9.f4 h4 10.d3 hxg3 11.hxg3 exf4 12.xf4 e6 and both kings are not really safe, so the position is unclear ] [ 8...g4 avoids 9.Nd3 for the moment, but W hite has other plans 9.xc6+ ( 9.d3 xd3 is good for Black) 9...bxc6 10.a4 d7 11.d3 f6 12.f4 trying to activate with lo s in g a n y t e m p i d4+ 13.f2 xa4 14.xa4 c4 15.dc5 e6 with another complex position where both players have chances. ] [ 8...f5 is another way to avoid 9.Nd3, but the bishop is less active here 9.f4!? exf4 10.d3 d6 11.xf4 xf4 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.xf4 g6 and White can think about a small advantage. ] 9.d3 f6 [ 9...d6 is also played, trying to reach the same kind of position as in the game, but with some tempi up. Of course, White also has other ways to answer this idea 10.e4 e7 11.b3 ( 11.b4 is an ambitious gambit à la Benko, cxb4 12.a3 0-0 13.axb4 xb4 14.xb4 xb4 15.d3 and White has co m pe n s at io n) 11...0-0 12.b2 ae8 13.c1 b6 14.b4!? again this move xb4 15.xb4 cxb4 16.d4 with nice play in Kharlov-Korotylev, see the PGN Archive. ] 10.b3 e7 11.b2 [ 11.f4 can easily transpose to the game exf4 12.xf4 0-0 13.b2 and we are back ] 11...0-0 12.f4 [ 12.c1 the inclusion of these moves is not necessarily good for either of the players c8 13.f4 exf4 14.xf4 h8 with a similar
kind of position compared to the game, and it was played in Damljanovic, B (2549)Perunovic, M (2477)/YUG Cup Herceg Novi 2001. ] 12...exf4 13.xf4 d6 Black prefers to keep his options open and avoids committing his rook to any square. [ 13...c8 14.e3 b6 15.cd5 d6 16.d4 and White's pieces are better placed, sohe can claim a small advantage, as seen in Vaga nia n, R (2 530 )-L engyel, L (24 10)/ Moscow 1975. ] 14.e3 e7 15.c1 ad8 And finally Black manages to put the rook on a semi-open file, instead of c8. It looks better, but amazingly, W hite has some ideas connected with the pieces on the c-file. 16.e4!? Already using th e d e t ail of t he ro o k b e ing o n d 8 . xf4? Maybe Black was planning to play 16... b6 a ga in st 1 6 . Ne 4 a n d wh e n h e sa w t h a t i t doesn't work, he went in the wrong direction. Now White wins material by force. [ 16...e5 17.xe5 fxe5 18.d3 xf1+ 19.xf1 b6 ] [ 16...b6 would be natural, but now it doesn't work. White has a good trick 17.xd6 xd6 18.d4! cxd4 19.c2 and the knights can't be defended ] 17.exf4! A counter intuitive move, since White usually tries to answer with 17.gxf4 or even 17.Rxf4 in these positions. The point of this move is that Black's queen is now without any good squares. c8 [ 17...b6 is again not possible, because of 18.e1 e6 19.f5 ed4 20.xc5 winning. ] 18.xc5 b4 So Black has lost a pawn and White has the bishop pair in an open position. Still things are not that clear. Black can try to make a block with the knights using White's isolated pawn. The computer thinks White's advantage is almost winning, but in practice t h e r e a r e i s s u e s t o s o l v e . 19.xb7 Taking one more pawn, but now Black can activate his remaining pieces. [ 19.a3 bd5 20.b4 would be a slower way to play, and probably a better one. W hite keeps the position and just tries to improve his pieces. ] 19...xb7 20.xb7 d3 [ 20...b5 was also quite interesting 21.g2 1505
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d3 22.c2 xb2 23.xb2 d4 and the strong knight is enough to compensate at least one of the pawns ] 21.a3 xa3 22.xc7 a5 23.c2 h8 Now White has some time to breathe and find a plan. Since the king is exposed, W hite would like to exchange queens, even sometimes at the cost of one pawn. Black, on the other hand, needs to be quick in finding threats. 24.c3?! The right idea, but Black isn't forced to exchange anything. [ 24.e4 would be more forcing and White is better after b4 25.c5! xc5+ 26.xc5 xa2 ( 26...xd2 27.a3 and the knight has no good square to go ) 27.d1 ] 24...b6+ [ 24...xa2? 25.a1 b2 26.a6 wins ] 25.h1 fe8 Now things are not so clear, Black's pieces are much more coordinated than White's ones. 26.f3 e1 27.c6 [ 27.g4 is also strange, going out from the b i g d i a g o n a l h5 28.h3 ( 28.xh5? b5-+ ) 28...d3 and White still needs to take care ] 27...xf3 Correctly entering the rook endgame. 28.xb6 axb6 29.xf3 xd2 30.e3 ed8 31.ce7 h5 32.e2 h7 33.g2 xe2+ 34.xe2 White now has a pawn more and things are more clear, but Black is also active and quite often just one p a wn u p i s n o t e n o u g h t o wi n i n a r o o k endgame. g6 35.f3 f5 36.h3 d3+ 37.e3 d2 38.g4+ hxg4+ 39.hxg4+ g6 40.e6 xa2 41.xb6 b2 42.b4 f7 43.f5 g8 44.b7 b1 45.b5 b4 46.b6 h7 47.b8 g6 48.fxg6+ g7 [ 48...xg6 was also ok 49.b7 g7= ] 49.e3 [ 49.b7 b1 and White's king has no place to hide ] 49...xg4 50.d3 b4 51.c3 b1 52.d4 xg6 53.c5 f5 54.f8 g5 55.c6 f4 56.b7 g4 57.b8 xb8 58.xb8 f3 59.d5 f2 60.f8 g3 61.e4 g2 62.g8+ h2 63.f8 g2 64.xf2+ xf2 ½-½
1504 Reinderman,Dimitri Werle,Jan VAM Open Hoogeveen NED (4) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2525 2216 18.10.1999
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 b6 Probably not the most accurate way to reach a Hedgehog. 4.e4 [ More aggressive than 4.g3 when b7 5.g2 is a main-line Hedgehog. ] 4...d6 [ Ne ce ssa ry, a s if 4...b7 then 5.e5 is awkward. ] 5.d4 cxd4 6.xd4 b7 7.e2 bd7 [ 7...e6 i s m o r e c o m m o n , w h e n 8.g4 is also possible. ] 8.g4!? [ An extremely vigorous reply, typical of R e i n d e r m a n ' s s t yl e . 8.g3 is standard, K a s p a r o v, G - S a l o v, V / B a r c e l o n a 1 9 8 9 , c o n t i n u i n g : c8?! ( 8...e6 ) 9.g2 a6 10.0-0 c7?! ( 10...e6 ) 11.b3 e6 and now 12.d5! was very strong. ] 8...h6 9.g2 g6 10.0-0 g7 11.d1 T h e d 4 - k n i g h t n e e d e d d e f e n d i n g . c8?! This piece may prove better-off on b8. 12.f4 0-0?! [ Although ugly, 12...h7 was safer. ] 13.e5! This pawn will wreck Black's kingside. dxe5 [ If 13...e8 then 14.d5 ] 14.fxe5 h7 15.e6 df6 16.d5!? [ N o t b a d , b u t 16.exf7+ xf7 17.e6 was certainly worthy of consideration, as after xg2 18.d8+ , White wins the black queen. ] 16...xd5 17.cxd5 f6 18.c6? [ A miscalculation, White could keep the a d v a n t a g e a f t e r b o t h 18.g5!? hxg5 19.exf7+ xf7 20.e6 ] [ or th e simp le 18.exf7+ xf7 19.e6 as, in both cases, his knight is a powerhouse. ] 18...xd5! 19.exf7+ h7! 20.xd5 xc6 21.e6 [ After 21.xc6 xc6 22.xe7? Black wins by f3 as the white kingside is completely open. ] 21...f3! The point that had obviously escaped White. 22.xf3?! 1506
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ White is in serious trouble after this, he had to try 22.e3 although c6 23.f1 Black might find ad8! with an edge. ] 22...xe6 23.f1 ad8 24.a4 In order to develop the a1-rook. d4+?! [ 24...f6! would win the f7-pawn immediately. ] 25.g2 d5?! [ Black is beginning to lose the thread of this game, there was still time for 25...f6 ] 26.a3 e5 27.xd5 xd5 28.h3 Now Black must be careful not to be worse! d7 29.f6! Piling on the pressure. g7! [ Best! 29...dxf7? wo uld allo w 30.xh6+ g8 31.fxg6+ ] 30.c6 fxf7 31.xh6+ h7 32.g5+ g7 33.h6 f2+ 34.g3 e4! Preparing a saving c h e c k o n f 3 . 35.hxg6+ f7 36.ge6 There was no way to avoid the perpetual check. f3+ 37.g2 f2+ 38.h3 f3+ ½-½
White tries to improve his piece coordination, when his sounder structure might be important. f6 21.cd1 c5 22.e4 xe4 23.xe4 b5 Preparing ...a5-4. 24.xd8 White decides to sue for peace. xd8 25.d1 xd1 26.xd1 h6 27.d2 a5 28.d3 ½-½
1506 Roiz,Michael Khenkin,Igor TCh-ISR 2008-9 (9) [Nigel Davies]
A34 2677 2647 15.05.2009
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 e5 4.e3 f6 [ If I desperately wanted to win as Black I'd consider 4...f5!? , for example 5.d4 e4 6.g1 f6 7.h3 d6 8.e2 g6 9.a3 g7 10.f4 0-0 11.h4 h6 12.g3 xf4 13.gxf4 cxd4 14.exd4 d5 led to complex play in Naes, F-Kortschnoj, V/Reykjavik 2000. ] 5.e2 d5 6.d4 e4!? An attempt to 1505 A34 complicate the struggle. [ 6...exd4 7.exd4 e6 has a solid Ribli,Zoltan 2586 reputation, for example 8.e3 dxc4 9.a4 Ponomariov,Ruslan 2616 cxd4 10.xd4 d7 11.xc4 c8 12.0-0 15th ECC Gp 6 (3) 13.10.1999 d6 13.xc6 xc6 14.h4 0-0 [Tony Kosten] was OK for Black in Ivanchuk, V-Anand, V/ Wijk aan Zee 2006. ] 1.c4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.d4 cxd4 6.xd4 dxc4 7.xc6 xd1+ 7.e5 dxc4 [ 7...d6 has been played here but it looks 8.xd1 bxc6 9.g2 d5 10.e3 e6 as if White has quite a strong reply in 8.a4! 11.xc4 a6 12.b3 . Accordingly Khenkin tries to improve. ] [ R i b l i r e t u r n s t o t h e o l d l i n e , 12.a5 8.a4 is the latest choice here. ] 12...b4+ 13.d2 xd2+ 14.xd2 [ Another possibility is 8.xc6 bxc6 9.xc4 w h e n p e r h a p s K h e n k i n i n t e n d e d cxd4 [ The other possibility is 14.xd2 although ( 9...e7 was played in Ruck, R-Landa, K/ 0-0-0 15.c2 is nothing special for White. ] 14...b4 15.d1!? Mainz 2007, and now 10.a4 would have been quite annoying) 10.exd4 b8!? [ Gelfand's try, 15.e4 is the alternative. ] followed by 11...Rb4. ] 15...0-0-0! There's been very little experience [ A n e w m o v e , p r e v i o u s l y 15...e7 8...e7 had been preferred, 16.a3 d5 17.c1 with the position after 8.Qa4 and this last ( 17.e4!? ) 17...ac8 18.e4 c5! move looks like a novelty. [ 8...cxd4 9.exd4 a5 10.xa5 xa5 The only move if White could put his Knight 11.d2 d7 12.xd7 xd7 13.0-0 b4 on c5, Black would be in trouble. 19.xc5 14.ad1 b6 15.xe4 xd2 16.xd2 ac8 hd8 with reasonable equalising chances, led to a draw in Maletin, P-Landa, K/ Gelfand,B-Leko,P/Vienna 1996. ] Cappelle la Grande 2007, though my 16.a3 d5 17.c1 b7 On the queenside impression is that Black needed to play the black king is ideally placed to defend the very accurately to hold the balance. ] c-pawn. 18.f3 e5 19.e1 b6 20.c2 1507
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Another possibility is 8...d7 though White does seem to be better after 9.xc4 e6 10.a4 . ] 9.xc6 bxc6 10.dxc5 0-0 11.xc4 e6 12.a4 c7 13.xe4 xe4 14.xe4 d5 15.g4 f5 16.g3 xg3 17.hxg3 xg2 18.h2 d5 19.d2 xc5 20.c1 It's now quite clear that White is better due to his more compact pa wn structure, not t o mention the f act that this position is just horrible for Black to play. Khenkin's opening play has not been a success. e7 21.c4 f6 22.b3 a5 23.e2 a4 24.b4 fd8 25.h5 g6 26.hh1 d7 27.xd5+ cxd5 28.c6 White's advantage is growing by the move. b2 29.c3 a3 30.d3 b7 31.xg6+! Nicely winning a pawn . hxg6 32.h8+ f7 33.xa8 c7 34.d2 d7 35.c8 d4 36.e4 fxe4+ 37.xe4 d3 38.c4 f6 39.b5 d8 40.d4 xd4+ 41.xd4 b6+ 42.xd3 xf2 43.g4 e6 44.c1 e5 45.c4 b6 46.xa3 f4 47.c5 a5 48.b6 xg4 49.d5 f5 50.b7 1-0
1507 Romanishin,Oleg M Oleksienko,Michailo Levikov Mem Lvov UKR (4) [John Watson]
A34 2542 2530 10.12.2006
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 c6 6.c3 c7 7.0-0 e5 The Rubinstein System, still a reliable d e f e n c e f o r B l a c k o n a n y l e v e l . 8.a3 This move, resembling an Accelerated Fianchetto versus the Maroczy Bind, has come back into favour. It doesn't threaten Black's system by any means - the idea is to get a double-edged game. b8 The same idea that we saw in Tomashevsky-Jakovenko last month. In that case, ...f6 was already in. Our new columnist Carsten Hansen thinks that in this precise position ...Rb8 doesn't make as much sense against 8 a3 as against other attempts by W hite. Indeed, W hite probably wouldn't play this so early in the reversed Sicilian Maroczy Bind position versus the Accelerated Fianchetto. Nevertheless, Black's
idea of a timely ...b5 has its virtues versus Qa4, and ...b6 with ...Bb7 is also in the air. The solid and thematic [ 8...f6 is a good alternative. ] 9.b1 e7 Carsten's recommendation. Instead, he quotes the game Oratovsky-Liss, Rishon Le Zion 1997: [ 9...a5?! 10.d3 d7 11.d2 f6 12.a4! e7 13.c4 e6 14.f4! exf4 15.gxf4 , which was significantly better for White. ] 10.b4!? [ A standard treatment would be 10.d3 0-0 11.d2 ( 11.d2!? ) 11...d7 12.c4 ] 10...f5 [ 10...cxb4 11.axb4 b5 looks safely equal. ] 11.b5!? Sacrificing the exchange and introducing a particularly dynamic element into the play. Can Black simply capture the rook? [ 11.d3 might lead to cxb4 12.axb4 b5 13.h4! d7 14.f5 with some interesting complications. ] 11...d4 [ 11...xb1 12.bxc6 f5 13.cxb7 ( 13.xe5 b5!? ) 13...f6 leaves White with definite compensation. He can grab a second pawn for the exchange by 14.a4+ ( 14.h4 d7 15.d3 and f4 is another route.) 14...d7 15.xa7 0-0 16.b6!? ] 12.d3 f6 13.h4 g4!? [ 13...e6= , f o r e x a m p l e , 14.e3 g5! ( 14...f5 15.h5+ g6 16.xg6 g7 17.h4 f5 18.a4! hxg6 19.b6+ f7 20.bxc7 xc7 21.xa7 ) 15.exd4 cxd4 16.e4 gxh4 17.h5+ f7 18.xh4 d5! ] 14.h3 h5? [ 14...e6 ] 15.g4 Romanishin is not a player who h e s i t a t e s ! f7 16.e3 de6 17.f5! W h i t e s t a n d s m u c h b e t t e r n o w . h5!? This is not just a counterattack it also takes away h6 from White's knight after ...g6. But the whole idea is too slow. [ 17...g6 18.h6! ] 18.a4! Pawn grabbing, but also weakening Black's position. b6 [ 18...hxg4?? 19.b6+ ] 19.xa7 hxg4 20.hxg4 g5 Black feels that he has no good choice but to attack. He comes up way short. But there doesn't seem 1508
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to be a good alternative. [ 20...g6 ] 21.d1 [ Or 21.f4! exf4 ( 21...h3+ 22.xh3 xh3 23.fxe5 fxe5 24.xg7+ ) 22.exf4 h3+ 23.xh3 xh3 24.e1 ] 21...g6 [ 21...h3+ 22.xh3 xh3 23.xg7+ f8 24.f5 ] 22.xe7 xe7 23.d4! A typical break in the Rubinstein, analogous to ...d5 in the Sicilian. W h i t e ' s a t t a c k i s o v e r w h e l m i n g . cxd4 24.exd4 h3+ 25.f1! c4+ 26.e1 e4 27.b4 d3 28.d5 d6 29.xe4+ xe4 30.xe4 h2 31.d6+ 1-0
1508 Rublevsky,Sergei Polgar,Judit vs. ROW Moscow RUS (2) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2658 2681 08.09.2002
1.e4 c5 2.f3 e6 3.c4 c6 4.c3 f6 5.e2 b6 6.0-0 e7 7.a3 0-0 8.b4!? Despite his catastrophic loss against Zhang Pengxiang, Rublevsky obviously believes in his move as he is prepared to repeat it. d6!? Judith decides to refuse the offered pawn, we considered [ 8...cxb4 9.axb4 xb4 10.e5 in Rublevsky, S-Zhang Pengxiang. ] 9.b1 c7 The queen moves off the exposed file, Black aims for a Hedgehog-style structure. 10.d4 In the English Opening White often has to play this move sooner or later if he wants any advantage, but the art is in choosing the right moment. cxd4 11.xd4 d8 12.e3 White has a nicely developed position, and is ready to play f4, Rc1 with a complete grip, so Black decides to burst out. d5!? A reasonable move in a rapid game, but probably not such a good idea in a longer game, as W hite has more time to find defensive moves. 13.exd5!? The practical approach, White gains the two bishops in an open position. [ 13.cxd5! is probably stronger, as exd5 14.db5 b8 15.xd5 e5 must favour W hite, although by freeing her game like this Black will be able to generate lively
piece play. ] 13...exd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.cxd5 xd5 16.f3 g4! 17.b5! [ 17.xg4 xd4 18.xd4 ad8 regains the piece, when the opposite-colour bishops should assure the draw. ] 17...xb5 18.xg4 d8 19.c2 d6 20.g3 A typical position, without central pawns: the white light-squared bishop should always d o m i n a t e t h e b l a c k k n i g h t . h5!? Bla ck co n t in u e s t o t ry t o co m p lic a t e t h e position. 21.e2 d5?! [ 21...e5 22.xh5 a5! is more in tune with the position, 23.b5 d4 24.g4 e6 wit h so me play a ga inst th e awk wa rd lyplaced white pieces. ] 22.xh5 d4 23.g4 e5 24.bc1 e7 25.e4 [ 25.fe1! is natural, and leaves Black a pawn down for nothing. ] 25...f5 26.g2 f4? 27.xd4?! White misses the nice tactic [ 27.c8! to deflect the supporter of the d5rook, 5d7 28.xd8+ xd8 29.gxf4 and another pawn bites the dust. ] 27...xd4 28.fe1 e5 29.xe5 xe5 30.f3 fxg3 31.hxg3 b6 Although Black is a pawn down, and his king is exposed, her pieces are more active, and the pressure on f2 is very annoying for W hite. 32.xb7 d3 This double attack on a3 and g3 regains a pawn. 33.f3 xa3?? How could Black miss the simple [ 33...d2! 34.f1 xf2! 35.xf2 e1+ 36.h2 xf2 drawing, or was she playing for a win? ] 34.h1? Ditto! White misses a chance to explode from his defensive cover: [ 34.c8+! f7 35.h5+! xh5 36.b7+ e6 37.c6+ f5 38.d7+ and the end is not too far off for the poor black king. ] 34...d3 Ba ck t o d e f e n d . 35.e4 h5+ 36.g1 d2 37.f1 With the white pieces again passive, and opposite-colour bishops on the board, a peaceful result again seems oddson. d4?! Why move this piece from its best square? 38.b1 e2 Black couldn't take the pawn anyway: [ 38...xb4? 39.a8+ f7 40.a2+ wins. ] 39.h3 g4?! [ 39...d6! ] 1509
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 40.a2+ f8 41.h8+ Suddenly the lack of [ Understandably, 13...h6 14.d3 f5 p a w n c o v e r i s t h e d e c i s i v e f a c t o r . e7 15.g4 h6 16.gxf5 hxg5 17.f6 was not to 42.e1+ e4 43.xe4+ xe4 44.xg7+ Black's taste, but now he is committed to d6 45.f6+ d7 46.f7+ d6 47.c4 sacrificing his knight. ] Now even the exchange of queens won't help 14.h3 The g4-knight has nowhere to go! Black. e1+ 48.g2 xb4?? 49.f8+ dxe5! 1-0 [ A good pragmatic decision, 14...h5 15.f3 h6 16.xh6 gxh6 17.f4 leaves the black kingside looking like the proverbial Swiss cheese! ] 1509 A34 Rublevsky,Sergei 2639 15.xg4 xd4 Black has three pawns for his Zhang Pengxiang 2487 piece, and a good square on d4, in other f5 CHN-RUS Summit Men (4) 10.09.2001 words, sufficient compensation. 16.f4!? 17.h5 d8 18.fxe5 White plays actively to [Tony Kosten] undermine the knight but Black has some Touche! 1.e4 An atypical start for Flank Openings! c5 tactica l ide as o f h is o wn . b5! 19.g6? 2.f3 e6 3.c4 c6 4.c3 f6 5.e2 [ White's position rapidly goes downhill after [ 5.e5?! g8 6.d4 would transpose to the this attempt to generate an attack, 19.cxb5 main Mikenas variation, but 5...Ng4! is a could be tried, c2 20.f3 b7 21.b3 problem. ] d5 22.b2 xa1 23.xb4 c4! 5...b6!? The critical response, Black stops is not entirely clear, but just favours Black. ] W hite from playing d4, with a Sicilian/ H e d g e h o g p o s i t i o n . 6.0-0 e7 7.a3 19...xc4! [ 19...bxa4 20.h5 b7 21.g5 Deprived of the possibility of his natural thrust allows White some chances, but it is difficult in the centre, White looks to the queenside, to believe that he is not worse here, with and the possibility of embarrassing the black best play. ] queen on the b-file. 0-0 8.b4!? [ A s h a r p n e w p a w n s a c . 8.b1 20.h1 [ 20.h5? e2+ 21.f2 ( 21.h1? g3+ is the previous try, a5!? ( 8...d6 9.b4 cxb4 22.hxg3 xf1+ ) 21...xc1 brings White's 10.axb4 xb4 11.a3 a5 12.d4 attack to a full stop. ] is unclear, but White's strong centre offers compensation.) 9.d3 d6 10.h3 d7 20...c6 21.f3 The queen must defend the 11.e3 and White is ready to play d4, f1-rook. xe5 Everything falls apart. 22.b2 xf3 23.xc4 h4 24.b6 b7 25.xa8 Chuchelov,V-Barsov,A/Le Touquet 1997. ] xg2+ 26.g1 xh3 White is temporarily 8...cxb4 9.axb4 xb4! [ Black takes the bull by the horns, 9...xb4 five pawns down f or a rook, but so many 10.e5 e8 11.d4 leaves White with a lot of white pieces are en prise, that he is, in effect, five pawns down with the worse position! extra space. ] 10.e5 g4 With the other black knight still on 27.a3 xa3 c6 this gains time by threatening the e5-pawn. 0-1 11.a4 This is necessary, else White couldn't play d4 without leaving the knight hanging. A34 c7 12.d4 d6 Best, Black attacks the white 1510 centre immediately. 13.g5!? Salvador,Roland 2500 [ White tries to profit from the wayward knight Jobava,Baadur 2678 by starting a kingside attack, but 13.h3 h6 XXXII Crespi Memorial (4) 06.12.2011 14.exd6 xd6 15.xh6 gxh6 16.c5! [John Bartholomew] fully justified his play, e.g. f4 17.d5! exd5 18.b6 and Black must concede an 1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 e5 4.e3 f6 exchange, as b8? 19.xd5 wins. ] 5.d4 13...h6!? [ F o r e x t e n s i v e c o v e r a g e o f 5.e2 1510
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 , see Svidler-Nepomniachtchi in this update. ] 5...e4!? Jobava is known for his outstanding opening preparation, and he plays this with an eye towards the full point. [ It's more usual to play this advance after 5...cxd4 6.exd4 , but it can be hard to generate winning chances in the line e4 7.e5 b4 8.e2 . ] 6.e5 The usual reaction. [ The counterpunch 6.d5!? was examined in Geo rgiev, V (25 38)-Ye melin, V (25 40)/ Hamburg 2000/[TonyK]. ] [ 6.g5 cxd4 7.exd4 b4 transposes to 5... c x d 4 6 . N g 5 . S e e S h i r j a e v, A ( 2 2 9 4 ) Shinkevich, V (2470)/Ufa 2004/[John W atson], and Vaznonis, V (2291) Jakubowski, K (2497)/Warsaw 2006/[John Watson]. ] 6...d6!? A recent innovation of Vladimir Georgiev. In the archives you can find the game Mikh alch ishin, A (25 52)-Avru kh, B (2588)/Batumi 1999/[TonyK], in which Black essayed this bishop move after the initial 5... cxd4 6.exd4. [ Once more, 6...cxd4 7.exd4 transposes to 5...cxd4. ] [ 6...g6!? is Grischuk's idea, introduced against Kramnik in the Candidates in May. The players were in the rapid tiebreak, and I suspect Grischuk had doubts about the quality of this move in the standard timecontrol games. Vlad responded with A) In the Russian Championship three months later, Nepomniachtchi (a clear 3... e5 fan!) stepped to the plate and repeated Grischuk's line versus the former W orld Champ. 7.e2 g7 8.0-0 0-0 9.b3 cxd4 ( 9...e7!? ) 10.exd4 e8 11.f4 d6 12.xc6 bxc6 13.c1 d5 14.d2 a6 15.fd1 c8 16.h3 dxc4 17.bxc4 Kram nik , V (27 81)-Nep omn iach tch i, I (2711) /Moscow RUS 2011. Only these two games have been played in the 6... g6!? line, so it's quite early to give an assessment.; B) 7.b1!? , which was undoubtedly a practical decision to counter Grischuk's preparation. Kramnik, V (2785) -Grischuk, A (2747)/Kazan RUS 2011. ] 7.g4 Trying to exchange the defender of e4.
[ Georgiev's game saw a quick transfer to the endgame after 7.xc6 dxc6 ( 7...bxc6!? is more combative and definitely playable.) 8.dxc5 xc5 9.xd8+ xd8 10.h3 a5 11.b3 c7 12.d2 d8 13.0-0-0 h5= Manea, A (2413)-Georgiev, V (2559)/Sunny Beach BUL 2011. ] [ 7.f4!? was played in the aforementioned Mikhalchishin game and it's a legitimate try here. T he ou tcome o f the o pe nin g wa s satisfactory for Avrukh in that game, so note that cxd4 8.exd4 could transpose. ] 7...cxd4 [ The computer finds the intriguing 7...xg4!? 8.xg4 0-0 , when White really doesn't h a v e t i m e t o c a p t u r e o n e 4 . 9.dxc5 ( 9.xe4?? f5-+; 9.xe4?! cxd4 ) 9...f5 10.d1 e5 ( Definitely not 10...xc5?? 11.d5++- )] 8.xf6+ This leads to forcing play and a highly interesting middlegame. [ Maybe White should prefer 8.exd4 , i.e. 0-0 ( 8...xg4 9.xg4 0-0 is no longer so desirable due to 10.h6 f6 11.e3 ) 9.xf6+ xf6 10.e3 g6 . Now 11.g3 with the easy plan of 12.Bg2 and 13.0-0 looks a bit more pleasant for White. ] 8...xf6 9.xe4 b4+ 10.d2 g6 11.xb4 xb4 12.a3! xe4 13.axb4 dxe3 14.e2 0-0 15.xe3 c2 [ 15...g6!? ] 16.d3 xb2 17.0-0 xb4 The preceding moves were very logical for both sides. White has now sacrificed two pawns, for which he has adequate compensation in the form of initiative and development. It's tough to assess - a sort of dynamic equality permeates the position - but the onus is on White to prove it. 18.fb1 [ Bailing out with 18.xa7?! xa7 19.xa7 e8 isn't a good option. Black is behind in development and wouldn't hesitate to return one pawn to catch up. ] 18...d6 19.a5 [ A menacing rook lift, but maybe 19.e4!? was superior, preventing ...b6-b7 and asking Black how he intends to develop. ] 19...g6 20.d5 e6! 21.g3?! [ 21.d4! ] 21...e8 22.h4 b6 One can sense the urgency: White hurries to generate an attack, 1511
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 while Black rushes to complete development. and White still has well-placed pieces and a Unfortunately for Salvador, Jobava is winning mobile centre, but after f6 it's about equal. ] the race. 23.h5 b7 24.d6 e5 13.g5! Fo r c i n g a q u e e n t ra d e . 25.xe5 xe5 [ As Tony reported on this site, Miles-Hort, 26.hxg6 hxg6 27.xd7 White regained a London 1983 went 13.b2 b6 14.d3 pawn, but must now defend an unpleasant d7 15.c1 a6 16.d2 c8 17.h4 pawn-down ending. c6 28.c7 c5 29.a1 xc1+ ( Black seems to be doing fine here a5 30.b1 b8 31.e2?! a4 32.f3 e4! 17...a4! may be as good or better: 18.xc8 Basically forced, but still a spectacular shot. xc8 19.a1 f6 20.h5 e7 ) 18.xc1 c7 33.xb6?! ( 18...f6 ) 19.h5 h6 20.h4! a4 [ 33.xc5 xb1 34.b5 d3 35.b4 ( 20...c4! 21.c2 d6 ) 21.f4! d6 gave more chances of holding out. c2 ] 22.g4 c4 23.e1 a3?! 24.e5 ( or 33...xb6 34.xc5 xf3 35.gxf3 a6-+ 24.xg7 ) 24...e7 Simple chess: Black gets behind the passed A) or 25.d5 with the idea exd5 26.xa3 pawn. 36.d5 a3 37.d1 a2 38.a1 f8 d7 ( 26...bxa3 27.xa4 ) 27.xb4 xb4 39.f1 e7 40.e2 d6 Black will win the 28.xb4 with a winning game; c-pawn easily, then go collect the f pawns. B) 25.xa3 bxa3 26.d5 c5 27.c3 White resigned. b6 28.b4 a5 29.d6 and White went 0-1 on to win. ] 13...e7 [ 13...f6 is met by 14.xe6! fxg5 15.xg5! ] 1511 A34 [ 13...c7 14.c1 c6 15.d5 ] Schebler,Gerhard 2535 14.xe7 xe7 [ 14...xe7 15.d2! ] Mueller,Kristin 2500 Bundesliga 2006-7 (4) 19.11.2006 15.xe6 0-0 [ 15...fxe6?? 16.xc8+ d8 17.xb7 ] [John Watson] 16.b3 c6 17.e5!? b6 18.e4 a5 A quick look at a new Nimzowitsch 5 e4 game, 19.d5 xb3 20.axb3 It's hard to argue with a n d a r e m i n d e r t o t h o s e wh o a re n o t s o White's position. c5? 21.d1? [ 21.g5! g6 22.h4 h5 23.e4 acquainted with its theory: 1.c4 f6 2.f3 is almost winning due to c2! 24.f6+ c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 g7 25.d4! ] 6.c4 d3+ 7.e2 f4+ 8.f1 e6 W e've see n this m any t ime s b ef o re . 9.b4 21...d7 22.g5 g6 23.h4 h5 24.e4 cxb4 10.e2 And this. c5!? But not this! c2 25.c1 [ 25.f6+ g7 26.d4? b5! ] Black plays logically the point is that the once proud knight on e6 has become one of his 25...d3 26.f6+ g7 27.d4!? b5 worst pieces, so he lures White's queen to the 28.xd3 xd3 29.e1 a5 30.d2!? [ 30.c7 ] c-file and then gets out of the way. Naturally 30...xe2 31.xe2 a4 32.bxa4 a5 this takes time. 11.c2 e6 xa4 and White's centre pawns [ 11...c6 12.d4 d7 13.xf7+! xf7 33.hd1 may be as good as Black's on the queenside, 14.b3+ launches a serious attack. ] 12.d4 cd7?! Now the knight has gotten off but 34.d4 [ 34.d3 c3+ 35.e3 is much more the poor square e6 but it has taken a few accurate. Even Rxc3 may follow. ] tempi and ended up cramping Black's 34...c3+ 35.d3?! a3! 36.d2 a2+ position.. [ Better was 12...ca6! 13.b2 ( 13.g5 37.d3 e2 and Black went on to win with e7 14.h4!? ) 13...d7 (with the idea ...b5) his extra material. But White obviously had ( 13...e7 14.h4 c7 15.h5 h6 16.c1 the better of it out of the opening. Still, this keeps the initiative.) 14.f4 ( 14.d5 c5; is quite an interesting defensive try if Black 14.h4 c6 15.h5 a5 ) 14...c7?! puts his knight on a6. 38.c7 xd4 39.xd4 15.h5! b5 16.b3 xc2 17.xc2 xf2 40.e4 e2 41.e6 b3 42.xb7 b2 1512
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 43.d6 b1 44.xb1 fxe6 45.b7+ g8 24.xf6+ f7 25.d7 46.e7 f4 47.xe6 f7 48.e7+ f8 with a substantial advantage for White; 49.d3 e1 50.d4 f5 51.e6 d1+ B2) 14...g6! 15.f4 c5 16.e3 f6 52.e3 g5 53.h3 fd5 54.g3 f7 55.e7+ 17.g3 g6= Morozevich-Moska g6 56.g4 h4 57.e6+ f7 58.e7+ f8 orozevich-Moska orozevich-Moskalenko, 59.e6 1d3+ 60.e2 a3 61.f6+ e8 Alushta 1993 ] 62.e6+ d7 63.e7+ c6 64.c7+ b6 [ 12.e3 c5 13.f4 b3 14.g3 xc1 65.e7 xh3 66.d7 c7 67.f6 d4 15.axc1 0-0 16.e5 f6 17.xd7 xd7 68.e8 hd3 69.c8+ b7 70.g8 h3 18.b3 h8 19.c4 e5= Topalov, V71.e4 h2 72.h8 a3 73.c5+ c6 Adams, M/Linares 1997 ] 74.e6 xd7 75.xg5 a2+ 76.f3 d1 12...a4 0-1 [ 12...e7 13.b4! ( or 13.e3 ) 13...c6 ( 13...c4 14.d4 b6 15.h6 f6 16.e5 c6 17.exf6 xd4 18.xd4 gxh6 1512 A34 19.xc6 bxc6 20.ac1 ) 14.b2 0-0 15.ac1 f6 16.fd1 ] Schlosser,Philipp 2562 [ 12...c6 13.e3 The white queen is Rotstein,Arkadij 2545 idea lly place d o n e 3, in t he cen tre an d TCh-AUT 2006-7 (11) 11.03.2007 threatening to win a piece with b2-b4. Ribli [Carsten Hansen] m a k e s t h e f o l l o wi n g o b s e r va t i o n , t h a t despite the symmetrical pawn distribution 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 d5 4.cxd5 a n d s t r u ct u re , B l a c k i s p r e t t y f a r f r o m xd5 5.d4 cxd4 6.xd4 xc3 7.xc3 equality. a4 making room for the knight on c6 8.e4 e6 9.a3!? a 4 t o r e t r e a t ( 13...b6? 14.b4 xe3 [ The main alternative is 9.b5 but it has 15.xe3 b3 16.ab1+- ) 14.b4 b3 become apparent that this is probably not ( Ribli also gives the following alternatives the place White should look for an edge in 14...c4 15.xc4 xc4 16.xa7; this variation. d7 10.0-0 b6 11.a4 c5 14...c6 15.b2 ) 15.d1 c5 12.d3 d6 13.e2 c7 14.e5 c5 ( 15...xd1 16.xd1 xa1 17.d3+- ) 15.d1 a6 16.d3 h6 17.f4 b4 18.e4 16.b2 b5 17.bxc5 ( 17.e1 d3 c6 was equal in Anand-Adams, Groningen 18.e2+- ) 17...xc5 Z. Izoria-Maze, 1997 ] Warsaw 2005, and here Ribli gives: 18.f4! 9...d7 10.e2 c8 11.0-0 a5 12.d3 xf1 19.xf1 0-0 20.e5+- ] [ The alternatives don't offer much hope of obtaining an advantage for White: 12.e5 13.xd8+ '!?' Ribli. [ 13.e3 c5 14.f4 b3 15.g4 xc1 b3 13.b1 ( 15...xa1 16.xg7 f8 17.b4 d6 A) 13...c7?! 14.xc7 xc7 15.f4 c8 18.xa1 (Ribli) ) 16.axc1 0-0 17.e5 b3 16.e5 ( 16.fd1 h6 17.d4 xd4 18.c3 b6 19.h4 ce8 20.g5 18.xd4 ) 16...a4 17.fe1 A.Winter-S. W h i t e a l r e a d y h a s a wi n n i n g a t t a c k h6 Wolf, 3.Bundesliga 1993 c5=; 21.e4 e7 22.f6+ h8 23.e4 B) 13...f6 14.g3 ( 23.h3! is even stronger, the threat is 24 B1) Ribli offers the following line: Qg5 followed by 25 Rxh6+ c2 24.g5 14...xc1 15.bxc1 xc1 16.xc1 h7 25.xh6 gxh6 26.xh6 xf6 27.d3 xb2 17.b8+ e7 18.d1! ( 18.e1 and game over) 23...g6 24.xe8 xe8 g6 19.e5 b6 Ribli ) 18...xe2 25.f3 a4 26.xf7 xb2 27.h3 g5 19.d6+ f6 = according to Ribli 28.xg6 xe5 29.f4 1-0 Weinzettl-Penz, 20.e5+ e7 21.d4! b5 22.e5 Austrian chT 2002 ] Black cannot safely prevent the loss of the pie ce h e h as just wo n, a nd wit h 13...xd8 14.e3 b3 [ 14...a6 15.ac1 ] Black's king unable to castle and being [ 14...b6 15.ac1 d6 16.e5 e7 17.c7 far behind in development, Black is in Ruck-Grosar, Bled 2002 ] s e r i o u s t r o u b l e e8 23.xd7 f6 1513
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 14...c6 15.b3 ( 15.fc1!? a6 16.b6 a8 17.c3 e7 18.ac1 0-0 19.e5 ) 15...xb3 16.fb1 a4 17.xb7 d6 18.xa7 d7 19.xd7 xd7 Roussel Roozmon-Maly, Montreal CA N 2003 20.e3 ] 15.ad1 This is a bit strange since it has been established that White obtains a better game after [ 15.d1!? A) 15...b5?! 16.xb3! xb3 17.fc1 Black has major trouble getting his bishop on b3 out of harm's way. His main problem is that thanks to his premature ...b7-b5, it cannot retreat that way. ( White had less success with 17.d4 c4 18.fd1 c5 19.c6 c8 20.xc5 xc6 21.xa7 b3 and although White is a pawn up, the conversion will be rather difficult, due to the opposite coloured bishops and the blocked nature of the queenside pawns, and in fact in the game Matamoros FrancoN.Delgado, Havana 1999, W hite didn't succeed. ) 17...e5 18.xe5 a6 19.c6+Anand-Kortschnoj, Tilburg 1998; B) 15...a6 16.xb3 xb3 B1) 17.fc1 d6 18.b6 a8 B1a) 19.a4 e5 20.c7 e7 21.xd6+ ( 21.xe5 ac8 22.xd6+ xd6 23.f4 f6 ) 21...xd6 22.c3 e6 23.d1+ e7 24.xe5 ac8 J. Donaldson-Bartholomew, Connecticut 2004 25.cd3; B1b) 19.c7 e7 20.a4 f6 21.e5 ( 21.d2!? xb2 22.xb3 xa1 23.xa1 c8 24.d6 ) 21...d8 22.xf6 gxf6 23.a5 e7 24.f1 c8 25.e2 1/2-1/2 Donaldson, J-Langer, M/Oklahoma USA 2003; B2) 17.ac1 d6 18.b6 a8 19.d4 a4 20.c4 d7 21.d1 0-0 22.e5 b5 23.xb5 axb5 24.e4 e7 25.d7 Kramnik-Van Wely, Monte Carlo 1998 ] 15...c5 16.xd8+ xd8 17.xc5 xc5 18.e5 [ 18.g5 e7 19.c1 d7 20.f4 f6 21.f3 c6= ] 18...d7 19.c1 c6 20.d4?! [ Now White just loses a pawn without compensation. However, Black has already
more or less entirely equalised. Nonetheless, it is weird that a strong grandmaster like Schlosser didn't fully appreciate the consequences after the text move. After 20.b4!? e7 ( 20...d5 21.a4 ) 21.b5 d5 the chances are completely even ] 20...xe5 21.c5 d5 22.f4 c6 23.xc6+ xc6 24.f2 e7 25.g3 h6 26.h4 d6 27.b4 b6 28.c3 d5 29.a6 g5! being a pawn down makes it a very questionable decision to exchange your last rook willingly 30.c8?! xc8 31.xc8 gxh4 32.gxh4 b5! A very remarkable idea. Now Black fixes White's queenside pawns on dark squares where they cannot be guarded by the bishop and furthermore, the white bishop is at some risk of being trapped behind the black pawns. 33.e3 c6 34.d4 f6 35.e3 d5 36.d3 e5 37.fxe5 xe5 38.e3 f5 39.a6 f4+ 40.d3 d7 41.b7 e6 42.c6 c4+ 43.c3 f1 44.f3 c4 45.c6 d5 46.xb5 f3 47.f1 f4 48.d4 b3 49.c3 d1 50.d3 g3 51.e3 a4 52.d3 f2 53.f1 h5 0-1
1513 Shirjaev,Alexandr Shinkevich,Vitaly Ufa [John Watson]
A34
2004
1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 e5 4.e3 A move which has had considerable popularity over the last 15 years. Tony has covered several games here. Black still has to prove th at h e h as a co m plet ely reliab le wa y t o equality, e.g., f6 [ One interesting idea after 4...f5 5.d4 e4 is 6.d2!? ( Tony has dealt with 6.d5 exf3 7.dxc6 fxg2 8.cxd7+ xd7 9.xg2 xd1+ 10.xd1 f6 11.b3 d6 12.b2 f7! , about equal, although I'd rather be White.) 6...f6 7.b3 cxd4 8.xd4 xd4 9.exd4 b4 10.b3 with some advantage ] 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 e4 7.g5 The alternative is 7.Ne5, as in the Kharlov-Jakovenko game. b4 8.d5 e5 [ 8...xc3+ 9.bxc3 a5!? has been tried but is difficult after 10.a3 d6 11.a4+ 1514
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d7 12.b4 ] 9.d4 e7 This is the main line, which has been holding up well for Black. No longer. 10.e3 eg4 11.0-0-0 xe3 12.xe3 This line, analysis by Burgess cited by Hansen, was considered better for Black after g4! 13.f4 xf2 14.d6 Qf6, favouring Black. But in our game W hite played the dynamic 14.cxe4! xe4 There are no good choices: [ 14...xh1 15.d6 f8 16.c5! f6 17.c4 and Black's position is resignable ] [ or 14...xd1 15.d6 f8 ( 15...c5 16.xd1; 15...xd6 16.xd6+ f8 17.gxf7 e3+ 18.xe3 xe3 19.xh8 ) 16.c5! h6 17.c4! hxg5 18.xg5 etc. ] 15.xe4 f5 (Otherwise d6 and a3/c5 is overwhelming) 16.xf5 d6 17.h5+ [ or 17.f3! , e.g., d7 18.d3 0-0-0 19.g3 ] 17...g6 18.f3 f8 [ M u c h b e t t e r wa s 18...f5! , an option allowed by 17.Qh5+ ] 19.b3 a5 20.d3 g4 21.a3! xd1 22.xd1 d8 It's all over now. [ 22...c5 23.xc5 dxc5 24.e1 ] 23.axb4 axb4 24.c2 b5 25.xb4 bxc4 26.b6+ c7 27.xc7+ xc7 28.xc4 ae8 29.d3 f4 30.e1 e5 31.b4 b6 32.d4 ff5 33.a1 f4 34.d3 c7 35.a7+ 1-0
1514 Smyslov,Vassily Miles,Anthony J Tilburg [Tony Kosten]
A34
1977
Miles outplays Smyslov in purely positional style, sending a white knight to the side of the board where it stays a complete bystander for the rest of the game. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 g6 6.g2 g7 7.0-0 c6 8.g5?! [ 8.a4 achieved little in Kasparov,GKramnik,V/London ENG 2000. ] [ 8.xd5 is the main line, see Hansen,CSutovsky,E/Esbjerg DEN 2001 in [A38]. ] 8...e6 9.ge4 b6 10.d3 [ 10.a4!? i s t r i c k i e r , d7! 11.xd5
( 11.d6+? e7 12.b7 b8 traps the erra nt kn igh t) 11...exd5 12.c3 e7 13.f4 c6 Timman,J-Polugaevsky,L/Breda 1979. ] 10...0-0 [ Tony also did well with 10...b7 11.g5 f6 12.d2 d7 against A.Sokolov, Bugojno 1986. ] 11.g5 f6 12.d2 the weakening of e6 has no particular consequence, Black's space advantage is the most important factor here. de7! I like this move, Black prepares to drive the white pieces further back, and avoids any exchanges, which aid the side with the least space, in general. 13.a3 f5 14.g5 h6 15.h3?! Hoping to recycle this piece on f4, but it is too ambitious. b7 16.b4 The typical pawn break in such positions. cxb4 17.axb4 d7 18.a4 fd8 Black plays simple but effective moves. 19.f4 g5! The knight is give n n o re st ! 20.h5 h8 Leaving the knight high-and-dry, the immediate threat is ... Qe8. 21.h3 d4! With the white knight stuck on the rim, the easiest means of exploiting this is by exchanging into an endgame, and u s i n g t h e a d va n t a g e o n t h e q u e e n s i d e . 22.d1 xg2 23.xg2 ac8 [ White has dropped his queen back to d1 so a s t o a n s w e r 23...e8 with 24.e4 although this is still clearly good for Black because of the white central weaknesses. ] 24.c1 d5 Black continues his policy of exchanging pieces, the less pieces there are on the board, the more White will suffer the u s e l e s s n e s s o f h i s h 5 k n i g h t . 25.xd5 xd5+ 26.f3 xc1 Again, it is interesting to contrast Black's play with his twelfth move. 27.xc1 c8 28.e3 a2 29.h4 c2 30.f2 f4! 31.xd4 [ If 31.gxf4 f5 hits e3 and h4. ] 31...xd4 32.gxf4 White hopes to use his knight to mount a kingside attack, and so has offered the exchange. b2 [ Black will finish his opponent off with a mating attack, and prepares ...Rc1, but 32...gxf4 was also sufficient, as 33.xf4 e3 w i n s a p i e c e , 34.h3? c1 or the queen. ] 33.fxg5 xf2 34.xf2 c1 35.f6+ f7 36.a4 d4+ 37.g3 [ White can avoid immediate mate by 37.e3 1515
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 n o t t h e g a m e : xh4+ 39.g3 g1+ 40.f4 xg5+ ] 37...g1+ Mate follows. 0-1
38.g2 h1+ 22...xb2 23.d1 g6 24.g3 g7 25.g2 h4+ 41.e5 d6 26.d3 e5 27.d2 d7 28.h3 h5 29.f3 d6 30.c7 e7 31.xd6 xd6 32.d5 Queen and knight are supposed to be alright, but here Black's bishop is very strong. W hite meanwhile needs to protect his king and look after that a-pawn. e5 33.g4 [ I'd have been more inclined to prevent 1515 A34 Black from having the possibility of ... h5-h4 Sulskis,Sarunas 2564 by playing 33.h4 myself. Now White needs Nabaty,Tamir 2581 to watch out for incursions on h2. ] 1st Lido Adriano Open (4) 05.04.2011 33...h4 34.d3 c5 35.a4 d4 36.f3 a5 [Nigel Davies] 37.f4 e8 38.b3? A time trouble error? [ 38.e2 followed by 39.Nc3 seems just 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 e5 4.e3 f6 about OK still. ] 5.e2 d5 6.d4 cxd4 [ 6...exd4 7.exd4 e6 is thought to be the 38...e4+ 39.f3 c2 Winning the a4 pawn solid way to play this, though there seems and the game. 40.g5 xa4 41.d5 a1 little in the way of winning chances for Black 42.f3 a3+ 43.g2 b4 44.f3 a4 if White is sensible. Here too Black gets a 45.d8 e5 46.d5 d4 47.a5 a3 solid enough position but with White being 0-1 the one who is pressing for something. ] 7.exd4 exd4 8.xd4 c5 A34 [ Another possibility is 8...b4 , for example 1516 9.0-0 xc3 10.xc6 bxc6 11.bxc3 0-0 Svidler,Peter 2755 12.g5 e6 13.a4 h6 14.cxd5 cxd5 Nepomniachtchi,Ian 2730 15.e3 e4 was about equal in Pavlov, S- 6th Tal Memorial (7) 23.11.2011 Kovchan, A/Kyiv UKR 2011. ] [John Bartholomew] 9.xc6 bxc6 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.b5+ d7 12.xd7+ xd7 13.0-0 0-0 14.g5 f5 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 One of the 15.xf6 xf6 16.c1 principles lines in the Three Knights. 4.e3 [ This is more precise than 16.xd5 d4 If you plan to construct a repertoire for White when Black will get enough for a draw. ] or Black in the Symmetrical English, I 16...b6 17.xd5 ad8 18.b3 So White recommend that you prioritize the study of win s a p a wn b u t t h e r e a re co n s id e ra b l e e a r l y e 2 - e 3 l i n e s . P r e p a r i n g t h e d 2 - d 4 technical difficulties. A particular problem is a d va n c e i s n ' t t h e m o s t c o m m o n wa y o f the vulnerability of f2 thanks to Black's strong treating these positions, but it is a direct and d a r k s q u a r e d b i s h o p . d4 19.d5 critical test of many Black setups. Just last This looks obvious enough but I think it lets m o n t h we s a w A r o n i a n wi n a n ic e g a m e his advantage slip. applying this strategy (in the 3...g6 4.e3 line). [ 19.ce1 followed by 20.Re2 was probably [ Nepomniachtchi had already struck pay dirt better. ] with 3...e5 in round one of the Tal Memorial, 19...e6 20.fd1 dealing Kramnik a rare loss with White after [ White would love to get rid of the bishop 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 (see the November with 20.xb6 but after xb3 21.axb3 axb6 update). ] it's difficult to imagine him winning the rook 4...f6 5.e2 Developing and inviting Black endgame. ] to play 5...d5. 20...d8 21.xd4 xd4 22.c4?! [ White has struggled to prove much in the It looks strange to just return the pawn as now main line beginning 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 e4 Black will be level on material and have what 7.e5 b4 . See (for instance) the notes to chances are going. Cobb , C (2 405)-Cvita n, O (2 491 )/S ain t [ 22.c3 was a better idea. ] Vincent 2005/ [John Watson]. Grischuk and 1516
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Dominguez debated this position in December, and the result was a balanced affair: 8.e2 a5 9.xc6 dxc6 10.d2 0-0 11.0-0 e8 12.a3 xc3 13.xc3 g5 14.c1 e3 15.fxe3 g4! (a recent find of Sulskis) 16.f3 xe3+ 17.xe3 xe3 18.xg4 xg4 19.h3 f6 20.ae1 ae8 21.f2 xe1 22.xe1 xe1 23.xe1= Grischuk, A (2752)-Dominguez Perez, L (2712)/ Beijing CHN 2011. The game was soon drawn. An alternative for Black is the highly interesting 5...e4!?, which we examine this month in Salvador-Jobava. ] 5...d5 Challenge accepted! [ 5...h6 seems rather meritless to me, though we saw it work in Lushenkov, M (2441)-Tregubov, P (2598)/Olginka RUS 2011/[Nigel Davies]. Black definitely has to h a v e s o m e t h i n g p r e p a r e d a g a i n s t 6.d4 (in the game White played 6.0-0). ] 6.d4 Now the tension in the center produces a great number of possibilities. [ 6.cxd5 xd5 is a different kettle of fish. See Nanu, C (2505)-Tregubov, P (2625)/ Rijeka CRO 2010/[Nigel Davies]. ] 6...exd4 [ We're most interested in determining whether Black can equalize with straightforward exchanges, but there's a lot of f ertile ground in t he variatio n 6...e4!? 7.e5 , as Nigel examined in Roiz, M (2677)Khenkin, I (2647)/ Israel ISR 2009/[Nigel Davies]. ] [ 6...cxd4 7.exd4 exd4 ( 7...e4 8.e5 is s im i l a r t o 6 . . . e 4 ! ? a n d c o u ld i n f a c t transpose. dxc4 9.a4 e7 is ) 8.xd4 transposes to the game. ] 7.exd4 cxd4 Nepomniachtchi follows a policy of utmost clarity by way of mass exchanges. [ The accepted antidote to the 5.Be2 line is 7...e6 . However, at the European Team Ch am pion s hips last m on th , G erma ny's Georg Meier was able to squeeze the full point from Fabiano Caruana after 8.cxd5 ( You might remember the exciting KramnikGrischuk clash in the Candidates this past May. Kramnik played 8.e3 , to which I refer you to John W atsons's notes to Ivanchuk, V (2729)-Anand, V (2792)/W ijk a a n Z e e 2 0 0 6 .) 8...xd5 9.0-0 e7 10.dxc5 xc3 11.bxc3 xd1 12.xd1
xc5 13.g5 0-0 14.f4 , a line in which Black has tallied a dismal +0, =3, -6 score. No doubt Black should draw with perfect play, but he is facing a stereotypical "White is a GM and will play for 100+ moves to try and beat you" scenario. After fe8 15.f1 ad8 16.xe6 xe6 17.xd8+ xd8 18.d1 c6 19.d5 Meier milked the b i s h o p p a i r a n d f u l l y c a p i t a l i ze d o n a subsequent mistake from Caruana. Meier, G (2659) -Caruana, F (2727)/Porto Carras GRE 2011. ] [ The forgotten 7...e7 shouldn't be bad at all. I think it's psychologically tough for the second player to accept protracted symmetric play and almost zero possibilities for a result greater than half a point. Indeed, of 51 games Black has only won 3 from here, bu t W h it e h a s o n ly wo n 9 ! You get t h e picture. Here's one GM-level game where W hite managed something: 8.e3 cxd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4 dxc4 11.0-0 0-0 12.xc4 b6 13.e1 b7 14.a4 c7 15.h3 fd8 16.ad1 Rublevsky, S (2660)Chuchelov, V (2533)/Eupen 1999. ] 8.xd4 dxc4 Continuing to chop wood. [ It's also questionable whether White has anything against 8...c5 , e.g. 9.xc6 bxc6 10.cxd5 cxd5 . See the archives: Sulskis, S (2564)-Nabaty, T (2581)/Ravenna ITA 2011/ [Nigel Davies]. ] 9.xc6 xd1+ 10.xd1 White is at a brief crossroads here, though the text is by far the most popular recapture. [ John Watson gives 10.xd1 bxc6 11.f3 as slightly better for W hite, but practical results are lacking and Black doesn't appear particularly troubled. b7 ( 11...d7 also looks fine, e.g. 12.0-0 Farago, I (2520)Jelen, I (2340)/Ljubljana 1992. Here 0-0-0 is completely acceptable.) 12.0-0 0-0-0 13.g5 ( 13.e3 b8 14.a4 d5 15.c5 xc5 16.xc5 b4 Fro g, I (2 4 3 0 )- G o rin , I (2 3 5 5 )/ Mo s c o w 1998. ) 13...e7 14.ac1 Green, E (2320)Stuart, P/New Zeeland 198298. he8= ] [ Likewise, 10.xd1 is in no way terrifying, e. g. bxc6 11.xc4 g4+ 12.f3 ( 12.c2 f5+ 13.d3 xd3+ 14.xd3 0-0-0+ 15.c2 c5 16.f3 d5= Mazur, S (2144)K a n m a z a l p , O ( 2 2 6 4 ) / K e m e r 2 0 0 7 .) 1517
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12...0-0-0+ 13.e2 e8+ 14.f1 e6 15.a6+ c7 16.f4+ b6 17.e2 d5 18.d2 xc3 19.xc3 f6= Bistric, F (2434)Sadathajafi, M (2189)/Teheran 2006. ] 10...bxc6 11.xc4 b4+ 12.d2 xd2+ 13.xd2 Black can all but force this endgame after 6.d4. Thus, the critical question: does White have an appreciable edge? Theoretically and practically, the answer is no. Black should draw, and I believe the draw is easier to come by than in the 7...Be6 line. W h it e h a s a n o m in a lly b e t t e r qu e e n sid e structure, but can't really point to much else. As usual, though, W hite runs little risk of losing and can thus push Black to show his technical skill. e4+ [ T h e r e ' s n o t h i n g w r o n g w i t h 13...0-0 either. I'd feel more comfortable keeping my king closer to the weakened queenside structure, but this is personal preference. Black should just be wary of piece e x c h a n g e s . 14.e3 e8 ( 14...g4?! this is exactly what I'm talking about - Black shouldn't hurry to simplify. The black knight is an annoyin g piece f or W hite, and it s exchange only Black's defective queenside structure more noticeable. 15.xg4 xg4 16.he1 fe8 17.c3 f8 18.f3 h5 19.ad1 Horvath, J (2551)-Kavcic, Z (2290)/Feffernitz 2008.) 15.he1 e6 This exchange is OK though. Black's bishop has few prospects and is comparatively wo rs e th a n W h it e's. 16.c2 ( 16.xe6 xe6 17.c4 ae8 18.xe6 xe6 19.h3 f8 20.d1 1/2-1/2 Feletar, D (2391)S e rm e k , D (2 5 2 4 )/ S ib e n ik CRO 2 0 1 0 .) 16...e4 17.f3 d6= Gavrikov, V (2430) Sveshnikov, E (2525)/Yerevan 1982. ] 14.c2 [ 14.e1 d6 15.e2 e6= Alavkin, A (2397)-Novozhenin, V (2092)/Murom 200001. ] 14...0-0 [ Black can make a small improvement here with 14...f5!? , intending to castle long: 15.d3 ( or 15.e1 0-0-0 16.e3 g6 17.f3 d6+ 18.c3 he8= ) 15...0-0-0 16.e1 ( 16.e3 g6 17.f3 c5 18.xg6 hxg6= ) 16...g3!? 17.xf5+ xf5= . It's really tough for White to shake things up with both kings on the same wing. ]
15.e1 d6 16.d3 b5 17.b3 d8 18.c3 e6 19.ad1 d4+ 20.b2 White retains a slight edge. c5 21.e4 ac8 22.g5 g6 23.xe6 xe6 24.c4 xd1 25.xd1 d4 26.c3 a5 [ Black could take the open file with 26...e8 , since 27.b4 d8! is a good response. 28.bxc5?? b5+ ] 27.a3 f8 28.e1 f5 29.e4 d6 30.h4 h5 31.d3 e7 32.a4 Svidler is poking and prodding. a8 33.d2 f5 34.h4 f6?! 35.b4! cxb4 36.axb4 b7 Now it becomes tough for either side to improve his position. White is still pushing, though. 37.g3 g5 38.f4 gxf4 39.gxf4 g6 40.a3 f6 41.a1 e6 42.a4 f6 43.a3 e7 44.e3 f6 45.b5 Sooner or later White had to try this. e8+ 46.d4 d8+ 47.c4 e6 48.e2 c8+ 49.d4 d8+ 50.e3 b8 51.xh5 Maybe W hit e ca n delay th is capture an d co n t in ue m a n eu ve rin g, b u t I d o n 't s e e a decent way forward. h8 52.f3 d6 53.e2 xh4 54.xa5 d5! Black's activity secures the half point. 55.a6 c4+ 56.f3 [ The ending after 56.xc4+ xc4 57.c6+ xb5 58.f6 c5 59.xf5+ d6 is drawn. ] 56...h3+ 57.g2 b3 58.xc4+ ½-½
1517 Tkachiev,Vladislav Mikhalevski,Victor 2nd IECC Ohrid MKD (3) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2672 2523 03.06.2001
1.c4 c5 2.g3 I like this move, which leads to 'pure' English positions. f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 c7 6.a4+!? [ 6.f3 c6 would lead to typical Rubinstein Variation play, but by delaying th e d e ve lo p m e n t o f t h e g1 -kn igh t , a n d maintaining the h1-a8 diagonal open, White has several extra possibilities. ] 6...d7 [ Best, 6...d7 7.b3 is awkward. ] 7.f3 [ More accurate than 7.xd7+ xd7 8.f3 e5 with approximate equality, Zifroni,DNisipeanu,L/Siofok 1996. ] 1518
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...xa4 [ I am not sure that it is a good idea to bring th e wh it e k n igh t t o a 4 , a s th e c5-p a wn p ro ve s a p ro b le m . 7...c6 8.0-0 e5 leads to normal positions, except that the black queen is slightly misplaced, 9.a3!? f6 10.e3 e6 11.h4 e7 12.f4 led to sharp and interesting play in Minasian,A-Ravi,T/ Dubai UAE 2001. ] 8.xa4 d7 [ An attempt to improve on 8...e6?! 9.b3! c6 10.a3 b4 11.d1! this odd move is very strong, Nxc5 is the immediate threat, a5 12.b6 b8 13.xc8 xc8 14.e5 b8 15.c4 b6 16.b2 d8?? 17.e5 1-0 Ivanchuk,V-Van Wely,L/ Frankfurt GER 2000. ] 9.d4 A simple solution to the position, White exploits the pressure on b7. cxd4 10.xd4 e5 11.b3 b4+ 12.d2 xd2+ 13.xd2! The best way to maintain the initiative. b6? [ This concedes control of c5, and allows the white knights to advance, better 13...0-0 although 14.hc1 e6 15.ac5 keeps a plus. ] 14.hc1! e6 15.ac5 b8 16.a5 xc5 17.xc5 f6 18.ac1 White has complete c o n t r o l o f t h e q u e e n s id e . 0-0 19.c7 T h e b 7 - p a wn ' s d a ys a r e n u m b e r e d . e6 20.b3 fd8+ 21.e1 d5 22.xd5+ xd5 23.xb7 xb7 24.xb7 d7 25.c8+ f7 26.c5 With a good extra pawn, and the b e t t e r p o s it i o n , t h i s i s a t r i via l wi n . b6 27.c6 e7 28.e4 d7 29.b7 Exchanging knights would allow some drawing possibilities in the ensuing rook endgame. f8 30.d6+ g6 31.c8 e8 [ 31...d7 32.a6 wins the a-pawn anyway. ] 32.xa7 a8 33.a6 e6 34.a5 g5 35.c6 Returning a pawn, but exchanging rooks, when the connected passed pawns decide. xa5 36.xa5 xe4 37.c4 f5 38.f3 c3 39.a4 e6 40.d2 a2 41.b2 d5 42.d3 d4 43.a5 c3 44.c5! b1+ 45.c1 c3 46.e6+ e3 47.c7 e2+ 48.b2 d4 49.a6 c6 50.b4 1-0
1518 Tkachiev,Vladislav Palac,Mladen TCh-CRO Rabat CRO (6) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2654 2561 12.09.2003
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 6.b5+ 8c6 7.d4 cxd4 8.a3 d7!? A little-played attempt to avoid the line [ 8...dxc3 9.xd8+ xd8 10.axb4 cxb2 11.xb2 which we have looked at a couple of times, when White has a useful initiative for the pawn. ] 9.xd4 [ 9.axb4 dxc3 10.bxc3 gives Black no particular problems, i.e. g6 11.0-0 g7 12.b3 c7 13.e3 0-0 14.ac1 e5! A zm a ip a ra sh vil i, Z -K a m sky, G / B ru s s e l s 1992. ] 9...xd4 10.xd7+ xd7 11.axb4 e6 [ 11...e5?! allows 12.d5 with a clear advantage, as Be3 will eliminate the black knight while the white one will reign supreme. ] 12.e3 d8 13.0-0 White plays for the attack, [ 13.xd4!? xd4 14.a4+ d7 15.e2 a6 16.xd7+ xd7 17.b5 axb5 18.xb5 ga ve W h it e so m e ch a n ce s in K a lla i, G Horvath,J/Balatonbereny 1996. ] [ 13.xa7 xb4 14.xd4 xd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.xb7 xe4+ is equal. ] 13...xb4 Black attempts to bring his king to safety as quickly as possible, as [ 13...a6?! allows 14.xd4! ( 14.b5 axb5 15.h5 g6! 16.e5 f6 17.xf6 g7 18.g5 b4 19.a4 0-0 is fine for Black, S c h m i t t , A - G i e r t z , N / M a r b a c h 1 9 9 4) 14...xd4 15.a4+ d7 ( 15...e7 shuts the bishop in ) 16.b5 with advantage. ] 14.xd4! xd4 15.a4+ e7 Forced, as [ 15...d7? 16.b5! wins. ] 16.b5!? The start of a sharp tactical line that nets the black queen. xe4 17.fe1! xe1+ Else Black will have problems defending the b4-bishop. [ 17...xe1?? loses, of course, to 18.xe4 ] 18.xe1 xe1 The first key position, Black has a material advantage (2 rooks and 2 pawns for the queen) but his king is exposed, 1519
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a n d i t i s W h i t e ' s g o ! 19.a3+ f6 The king is drawn into the open, [ 19...e8 i s w o r s e , a s 20.d6+ w i n s a n e x c h a n g e , e7 ( 20...d7? 21.f1 d2 22.xf7 ) 21.xb7+ f6 22.xd8 xd8 23.f1 d2 24.xa7 with good winning chances. ] 20.f3+ A simple repetition to gain time on the clock. [ 20.d6! first, is the normal move, but transposes to the 22nd. ] 20...e7 21.a3+ This position was agreed drawn in Mellado Trivino,J-De la Villa Garcia,J/ Zamora 1996. f6 22.d6! The second key position, the knight approaches the black king can it survive? h5! A strong innovation, and no doubt a case of computer-aided home preparation (my Fritz finds this move in a few seconds!) [ Other moves: 22...a5? (actually played with 2 moves less each) 23.e4+ e5 24.g5 f6 25.h4! b4 26.f3+ e7 27.xf7+ d6 28.xb7 e5?! 29.xg7+ d5 30.f7 1-0 Uhlmann,W-Lukacs,P/Berlin-Ost 1982. ] [ 22...h6! is also a good move, stopping the white knight from going to g5, and preparing a square for the king, 23.h4!? ( 23.f3+!? e7 24.c4 keeps some initiative) 23...a5 24.g3 e7 ( 24...b4! ) 25.xb7 d5! with unclear play in Gleizerov-Petrienko/ USSR 1985. ] [ 22...d7? 23.e4+ e5 24.e3 wins. ] 23.h4 White prepares the g5-square for the knight. d2 24.f3+ e7 Forced. 25.c4 [ 25.xf7? hf8 ] 25...f6 The king needs the f7-square. 26.a3+ f7 27.xa7?! [ 27.d6+ g8 28.xb7 d5 29.xa7 h7 is better, but fine for Black. ] 27...d7 [ 27...b4! 28.xb7+ e7 is good for Black. ] 28.xd2 xd2 29.xb7+ g8 30.e4 f7 [ 30...f7 31.b7+ repeats. ] ½-½
1519 Tomashevsky,Evgeny Jakovenko,Dmitrij ch-Superfinal (4) [John Watson]
A34 2595 2671 06.12.2006
We haven't seen many Rubinstein Variations for Black recently, but it's still a sound line. Here W hite doesn't solve the problem of breaking down Black's queenside. 1.f3 [ 1.e4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 g6 5.c4 g7 6.e3 f6 7.c3 0-0 8.e2 ( or 8.c2 ) 8...d6 9.c2 is the reversed system, as recommended in 'Experts Against the Sicilian'. White probably gets a small edge there, which is a good indication that Black may be okay in the game continuation. ] 1...f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 e5 8.a3!? [ 8.d3 would be the Accelerated Fianchetto Sicilian Reversed, as seen in PiketKasparov, Lautier-Leko, Akopian-Ruck, and others in the ChessPublishing archives. ] [ I recommended 8.e1 almost 30 years ago and I still believe that it's as good as anything else, intending a combination of Bxc6+, b3 and Nd3 with pressure on Black's pawns. Nevertheless, see TomashevskyKhismatullin in this month's column for a pretty good solution. ] 8...f6 9.b1 Too slow, especially if White can't get b4 in! b8! 10.d3 [ 10.a4 , to enforce b4, was probably White idea, but now it runs into b5! ] 10...e6 11.e3 d7 12.d2 b6!? [ 12...e7 leaves Black with a simple space ad va n ta ge a nd sh o ws W h it e 's op e nin g strategy to be lacking. The text is risky before castling. ] 13.a4 [ 13.f4 is an interesting and probably better choice. The text forces Black to make a move he'd like to play anyway nevertheless, W hite is counting upon a newly-created weakness on c5. ] 13...b5 14.c2 c8 15.ce4 d5!? [ 15...a6 is safe and sound, asking White what his plan is. ] 16.fc1 [ 16.xc5 xc5 17.xc5 d4 forces 1520
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.xd4 xc5 19.xc5 f7 and the material is about equal, but Black is more active than White. ] 16...xe3 17.fxe3 d8 [ Another idea is 17...a5 18.b4 b7 ] 18.b4! White has to move quickly now that Black has the bishop pair. cxb4 19.xc8 xc8 20.xc8 xc8 21.axb4 f5?! [ 21...e6 22.c1 d7 leads to complicat ions f ollowin g 23.c5 xc5 24.bxc5 a5 25.c6 c8 ] 22.c3! [ 22.c1 b7 23.c5 xg2 24.xg2 c6= ] 22...a6 23.d5 d6 24.c1 b7 25.b3 [ 25.c7+! pretty much forces d7 26.xb7 xb7 27.xa6 a8 28.c5+ xc5 29.bxc5 and Black will penetrate along the afile, but a pawn is a pawn. ] 25...xd5 26.xd5 xb4 27.a1 a5 28.xa5 c5 29.d4! b6 [ 29...exd4 30.b3 e7 31.xd4 and W h ite scof f s u p a pa wn wit h som e advantage. ] 30.b3?! [ 30.c6! exd4 31.a6! forces c7 32.xd4 and White can be happy with the turnaround of events. ] 30...d7 31.a6 c7 32.c5 h5!? 33.d7 h6 34.xb6 xb6 With the disappearance of the opposite-coloured bishops both sides have more winning chances, but especially Black with his passed pawn. 35.a7+?! [ 35.xb6 xb6 36.dxe5 c5 37.e4 is unclear. ] 35...d6 36.b3 e6! Suddenly White has real difficulties. 37.f7 [ 37.xe6 xe6 38.xg7 (threatening ... Rg6+) d5 must favour Black. ] 37...exd4 38.xf5 dxe3 39.xh5 c5 40.g8 b8 41.f7 [ 41.d5+ c6 42.f7 b4! ] 41...e6 42.g2 b4 43.g6 f8 44.b5 [ Defending the e-pawn is no better: 44.d3 f2+ 45.g1 d4! ] 44...f2+ 45.h3 xe2 46.xb4 f2 47.h4 e2 48.e4 d5 49.e3 d4 0-1
1520 Tomashevsky,Evgeny Khismatullin,Denis ch-Superfinal (6) [John Watson]
A34 2595 2583 09.12.2006
Another Rubinstein Variation. Over the years, White has never really cracked this, and here Black's position is satisfactory for most of the game. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 e5 8.e1 d6 A logical move that isn't mentioned in the books. It simply protects the e-pawn against Bxc6+ and Nd3. [ 8...d7 is very common, as in KharlovKarotlylev in the ChessPublishing archives. ] 9.xc6+ This is the most ambitious move. [ There are many ideas here such as 9.b3 0-0 10.b2 ( 10.a3!? is flexible; 10.d3 f5 11.e4 e7 looks all right for Black, since 12.xd6? xd6 13.e1 ad8 ties White down ) 10...f5!? 11.c1 ] 9...bxc6 10.a4 0-0! [ I like White after 10...d7 11.e4 e7 12.d3 h3 13.xe5!? d5 14.xc6+ xc6 15.xc6 xf1 16.xf1 ] 11.b3!? [ 11.xc6 h3 12.g2 is dangerous, but not clear. ] 11...h3 12.g2 e6 13.a3!? d4 14.ad1 e7 15.f3 f5 16.e3 b5?! [ 16...e6 17.xc6 fd8 is again unclear. ] 17.xb5 cxb5 18.xb5 f4 19.f2?! [ 19.exf4 exf4 20.g4 looks solid. White is a pawn up with ideas of Rfe1 and Qc4+. ] 19...h8?! [ 19...ab8 20.e2 fxg3 21.hxg3 d7! intending ...Bc6 gives compensation for the pawn. ] 20.gxf4 [ 20.exf4 exf4 21.g4 ] 20...exf4 21.e4 f6 [ 21...ad8! , t o s t o p d 4 : 22.d4? cxd4 23.xd6 xd6 ] 22.d4! b8 23.a5 xg2 24.xg2 cxd4 25.xd6 xd6 26.g5!? [ 26.g4 is perhaps good probably White was afraid of the d-pawn. ] 26...f7!? [ 26...xg5 27.xg5 threatens Rf5 and Rxd5, so Black decides to keeps the queens 1521
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 on. g6 28.d5! ] 27.e5 [ Again, 27.g4 is critical. This time, g6 28.d5 xg4+ 29.fxg4 e7 is a little messy. ] 27...bd8 28.d3 e6 29.c5 d7 30.g5 f8 31.c5 d8 ½-½
1521 Tomashevsky,Evgeny Najer,Evgeniy 16th TCh-RUS Premier (6) [Jonathan Rowson]
A34 2684 2669 09.04.2009
1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 e5 8.d3 e7 9.d2 0-0 10.c4 d7 [ 10...f6 is in reasonably good shape, whether White takes on c6 or plays f4. ] 11.xc6 xc6 12.xe5 e8 13.b3 b6 [ 13...b5! 14.e3 h8 15.ac1 f6 16.f3 c6 17.e4 c4! This is more like it- Black opens up the position to reveal the power of his unopposed bishop. 18.c2 f5 19.ed2 d5 20.dxc4 xe3 21.fxe3 c5 With excellent compensation in Almasi, Z (2640)-David, A (2595)/Bastia FRA 2005 ] [ 13...f6 14.g4 d4 15.e3 xc3 16.xc3 b6 17.f3 b5 18.f2 d7 19.e4 e6 20.e3 a5 21.ad1 ad8 22.d2 was just a little bit better for White, but after c6 23.c1 b7 24.a3 d4 25.g2 c8 26.b1 fd8 27.xd4 xd4 28.b4! Black faced a grim defence and eventually lo s t a d r a wn r o o k e n d ga m e in P i ke t , J (2633)-Kasparov, G (2851)/Internet 2000 ] 14.e3 [ 14.c4!? intending to centralise the queen with Qe4 is recommended by Ribli. ] 14...h8 15.ad1 f6 16.f3 f7 17.c2 d5 18.d4! xe3 19.fxe3 c7 20.d5 d6 [ 20...a6! seems to give Black much better prospects of counterplay in the long-term. 21.h4 d6! ( 21...g6 22.e4! ) 22.f5 e5 and White will have to play very well to keep control of the position. 23.a4! b5 24.g4 g6 25.h6! does seem to keep some initiative however. ] 21.b5 d7 22.xd6 xd6 23.e4 g6
24.c4 ae8 25.e5 fxe5 26.g5 f5 [ 26...xf1+ 27.xf1 g8 is a stiffer test of W hite's idea. After 28.e4 h6 29.f3 White has a large structural advantage, but will have to be creative to make progress. ] 27.e4 h6 28.xf5 xf5 29.exf5 hxg5 30.g4! g8 31.h5 [ 31.xg5 is simpler. ] 31...f8 32.xg5 c4 33.g2 b5 34.g6 b4 35.e6+ f7 36.e8+ f8 37.xf8+ xf8 38.g4 The rook ending should be winning because White's king has a clear path to e4. e7 39.d6+ d7 40.f3 f6 41.d5 a6 42.e4 h6 43.xe5 xd6 44.d5+ c6 45.d2 h4 46.f4 b4 47.g3 h8 48.d4 c5 49.d7 c8 50.xg7 c3 51.bxc3 bxc3 52.e7 c2 53.e1 d4 54.c1 e5 55.f3 c4 56.h3 c3+ 57.e2 f4 58.d2 xh3 59.f1+ xg4 60.f6 h2+ 61.c1 h8 62.f7 f8 63.xc2 g5 64.b3 g6 65.a4 1-0
1522 Topalov,Veselin Caruana,Fabiano Sinquefield Cup 2nd (1) [Kosten, Tony]
A34 2772 2801 27.08.2014
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 [ The similar 7.a3 g6 8.0-0 g7 9.d3 0-0 10.e3 e6 11.c1 d7 12.d2 c8 13.c4 ed4 led to another crushing victory for Caruana in Malakhov, V (2707) Caruana, F (2796) Tromso 2013, 0-1 (27). ] 7...e5 8.a3!? According to the ChessPub Guide this move 'doesn't threaten Black's system by any means - the idea is to get a double-edged game.' b8 This move is the choice of strong players, Black stops b4 and moves the rook from the h1-a8 diagonal. 9.d3 [ 9.b1 is more common, and scores better, White pursues his plan to play b4. There are a couple of examples in the PGN Archive. ] [ The tactical point of Black's previous move is shown by 9.b4?! cxb4 10.axb4 xb4 11.xe5? xe5 12.a4+ c6 13.xc6+ bxc6 and the bishop on b4 is defended by the rook. ] 1522
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...e7 10.e3 [ 10.d2 is more common, d7 11.c4 and this seems more logical as White wants to p la y f 4 a n d re ca pt u re o n f 4 wit h h is bishop, so why play Be3 first and then Bxf4? T h e r e a s o n i s t h a t a f t e r f6 12.f4 Black doesn't capture on f4, but prefers b5! 13.e3 and only then exf4 see Xiu DeshunZhou Jianchao in the PGN Archive. ] 10...0-0 11.c1 d7! Probably best, solidly defending the knight on c6 ready to play ...b5. [ 11...b6 is more popular, and scores better, but allows 12.b4! still, after cxb4 13.axb4 xb4 ( 13...xb4 14.xe5 b7 is not so bad for Black, Pantsulaia, L (2461)-Timofeev, A (2575) Rethymnon 2003, but 1-0 (33).) 14.a2 c5 15.xc5 bxc5 16.xc5 d6 ( 16...d4? 17.xe5 ce6 18.xd4 xd4 19.a1 Huebner, R (2595)Tuerk, H Hamburg 1978, 1-0 (36).) 17.c1 ( 17.c2 b2? 18.xb2 xc5 19.c1 d6 Goganov, A (2577)-Krush, I (2492) B a k u 2 0 1 3 , 1 / 2 - 1 / 2 ( 2 8 ) , 20.c3 with a clear advantage.) 17...b7 18.c4 play is roughly equal, Pantsulaia, L (2611)Perez Campos, A (2232) Benasque 2007, 1-0 (30). ] 12.d2 [ 12.e4!? b6 13.b4 cxb4 14.axb4 xb4?! ( 14...b5! is better, 15.c4 c8 16.a4 bd4 Nisipeanu, L (2686)-Nagy, G (2434) Pardubice 2014, 1-0 (75), 17.b5 xe2+ 18.h1 cd4 19.xc8 xc8 20.xa7 xb5 21.a1 and Qxe5. ) 15.d4! exd4 16.xd4 is a wkwa rd f o r B la ck , a5?! 17.g5 f6 18.f4 c8 19.d6! xd6 20.xd6 a4? leading to a forced loss, but B la c k wa s a lo t wo rse a n ywa y, 21.xa4 xd6 22.f5 e6 23.g4 g6 24.d5! the queen is lost after either capture, 1-0 Panjwani, R (2450)-Bykhovsky, A (2502) Saint Louis 2013. ] 12...d4 13.c4 White provokes ...f6 before playing f4. [ 13.f4 f5 14.f2 exf4 15.gxf4 h4 is f in e f or B la ck, Va silko va , S (2 3 31 ) Romanko, M (2226) Dimitrov 2007, 1-0 (44). ] 13...f6 14.f4 exf4 Actually new in this exact position, but perfectly normal, of course. [ 14...b5 is the obvious alternative: 15.d2
( 15.a5 ) 15...h8 16.ce4 ( 16.fxe5 ) 16...d5 17.f2 f5 18.xc5 de3 19.e1 xc5 20.xc5 xf1 21.xf1 exf4 22.gxf4 with compensation for the exchange, Petr, J (2247)-Pokazanjev, N (2443) Pardubice 2007, 1-0 (38). ] 15.xf4 de6 16.d2 b6 17.g4!? A m ove tha t su rprised everyb ody, W h it e intends to bring his bishop back to the h2-b8 diagonal via e1. [ 17.e3 intending Nf5 or Ned5 would be more normal. ] 17...e8 18.e1 b5 19.e3 d6 20.cd5?! There doesn't seem to be much point exchanging Black's passive knight on c7. [ 20.e4 f4 21.f2 left everything to play for. ] 20...xd5 21.xd5 f7 22.f5 e5 Threatening b2. 23.d2 Caruana thought this was the losing move, but its not easy to find anything better. [ 23.c3 g6 24.h6+ g7 25.xf7 xd5 26.xe5 fxe5 27.b4 f4 for instance. ] 23...d4! 24.xf7+ xf7 ...Nb3 is threatened. 25.d1 [ 25.xd4? xd4+ forks the king, g4 and b2. ] [ 25.b1 at least holds onto the b-pawn. ] 25...xf5 26.gxf5 d4+ 27.f2 g4+ 28.h1 c4! 29.c2 e8! White is lost, h2, f5 and e2 are all in the line of fire. 30.dxc4 h5 31.h4 [ 31.g1 loses to xh2! 32.xh2 xe2 ] 31...g4 32.d3 bxc4 33.e3 [ 33.f3 xf3+ 34.exf3 xb2 ] 33...fe7 34.b3 b2 Not a good advert for White in the Rubinstein System, but maybe Topalov was tired? He certainly played better after this. 0-1
1523 Vachier Lagrave,Maxime Lagarde,Max 87th ch-FRA 2012 (3) [John Bartholomew]
A34 2686 2505 15.08.2012
W it h 5.. .e 5! ? B la ck lo oks to tran sf e r th e weight of this Symmetric struggle to the flanks, but Vachier Lagrave's 8.b4! sharply changes 1523
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the character of the game. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 c5 4.f3 c6 5.e2 e5!? An occasionally trendy move. Black loses a tempo but argues that it isn't too significant with a newly-closed center. [ T h e l e a d i n g c o n t i n u a t i o n 5...d5 invites something of a tabiya after 6.exd5 exd5 7.d4 e6 8.cxd5 xd5 9.0-0 e7 10.dxc5 xc5 11.g5 xc3 12.bxc3 xd1 13.xd1 0-0 14.f4 . This has been a fairly popular position in GM vs. GM play since 2009, and for good reason: W hite som etimes wins, b ut Bla ck's def ensive resources are considerable. In the past few m o n t h s B l a c k h a s h e l d f i r m : fe8 ( 14...ac8!? Le Quang Liem (2693)Muzychuk, A (2606)/Amsterdam NED 2012. ) 15.f1 ( 15.xe6 xe6 16.f1 ae8 17.f3 b6 18.e1 xe1+ 19.xe1 xe1+ 20.xe1= Fressinet, L (2714)Vachier Lagrave, M (2686)/Pau FRA 2012.) 15...ad8 16.xe6 xd1+ 17.xd1 xe6 Andreikin, D (2715)-Jakovenko, D (2722)/ Moscow RUS 2012. Here W hite has tried three different moves (18.Bf3, 18.Rd5, and 18.Rd1) Andreikin chose 18.f3 and Black eventually drew without much suffering. ] 6.d3 h6 Preventing 7.Bg5, though White doesn't usually opt for that bishop development anyways. [ 6...d6 is more common. ] 7.0-0 g6 8.b4! I really like this move. White will have good compensation for the pawn, and Vachier Lagrave is putting his opponent to the test. xb4?! [ Black should probably accept with 8...cxb4 , i.e. 9.d5 g7 ( 9...c5 10.xe5!? ) 10.a3!? ( Houdini prefers 10.e3 0-0 11.h3 preparing 12.Qd1-d2 )] 9.xe5 d6 10.a3!? Vachier Lagrave is forcing the pace. [ White could content himself for a positional edge after 10.a4+ d7 11.xd7 xd7 , i.e. 12.a3 c6 13.b1 b6 14.d1 g7 15.b5!? 0-0 16.f4 ] 10...dxe5 11.axb4 cxb4 12.d5 xd5 13.cxd5 b6 14.d4!? More fuel on the fire! exd4 [ 14...xd4? is p o o r in vie w o f 15.b5+ , for instance d7? ( 15...d8 16.f3! ) 16.xd7+ xd7 17.g4+! followed by 18.
Be3 with a huge attack. ] 15.f4 c5 [ 15...g7!? 16.c1 0-0 17.c7 f6 18.e5 f4 19.g3 e4 20.f3 f5 21.e1 ] 16.e5 f5 17.c4 A highly non-standard position. White is down two pawns, but it's not easy to see how Black should consolidate with his vulnerable king. g5 18.g3 h5?! [ It was time to bite the bullet with 18...0-0! . ] 19.e6! Forward patrol! fxe6 20.dxe6 e7 21.f3!? af8 22.d5! c6?! 23.e5 h4? A blunder in a difficult position. [ 23...f6! wa s n e ce s sa ry, e . g . 24.fc1 ( 24.d5? d6! would ensure a queen trade ) 24...d6 25.xd4 d8 , though White still retains the initiative. ] 24.d5 b5 [ Now 24...d6 is simply met by 25.g7++- ] 25.c7+ [ I t ' s m a t e i n s e v e n a f t e r 25.g7+ . The text is also more than sufficient. ] 25...f6 26.e5+ g6 27.xh8 [ Black resigned. 27.xh8 xh8 28.f7+ is hopeless. 5... e5!? is certainly playable, and both sides have lots of room for creativity. In a strictly theoretical sense, I'm ve ry cu rio u s t o se e if W h it e ca n p ro ve anything in the discussions surrounding the main line, 5...d5. ] 1-0
1524 Vachier-Lagrave,Maxime Svidler,Peter ETCC (Open) Warsaw POL (9.6) [Fier, Alexandr]
A34 2742 2752 17.11.2013
Once again we take a look at the fashionable 7 h4. This time Vachier plays an interesting idea trying to improve on the Nepomniachtchi Kramnik game. Svidler reacts well and managed to equalize without any big problems. Still, Black needs to be careful, since a more direct approach like 13...c4 can bring huge complications. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 g6 7.h4 g7 8.h5 f5 9.b3 db4 10.f1 e6 11.a4 a5 12.xa5 xa5 Until here we are on the same path as the game we saw in Ch e ss P u b lish ing la st m on t h . 1 3 . d 3 is a 1524
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 natural move and is certainly not worse than 13.Ng5. But I still believe that Black should be fine here with one or more precise moves. 13.d3 [ 13.g5 was the subject of Nepomniachtchi, I (2702)-Kramnik, V (2796)/66th ch- RUS 2013 (9.3). ] 13...c8 A simple and good approach. [ 13...c4 is more forcing, but somehow Black can't defend the c7-square in a proper way. I couldn't come to a clear verdict on this p o s it io n , f o r s u r e t h e r e is a l o t o f li f e . 14.b5! A) 14...d7 is not ideal, White now has time to bring the bishop to the long diagonal 15.d2 ac6 16.c3 and Black has problems with the knights xc3 17.bxc3 c2 ( 17...a6 18.d4 wi t h b ig a d va n t a g e) 18.d1 cxd3 19.xd3+ c8 20.hxg6 and Black's pieces are all misplaced. W hite has a clear advantage.; B) 14...0-0-0 15.g5 ( 15.xa7+ is a ls o p o s s ib le b8 16.b5 cxd3 17.f4+ c8 18.c1+ ) 15...cxd3 16.xe6 fxe6 17.d2 and even if Black can keep the extra pawn there is enough activity for W hite to give him an advantage; C) 14...cxd3 would be good if White takes the rook, but it's not the case 15.c7+ d7 16.xe6! ( 16.xa8 allows counterplay dxe2+ 17.xe2 c4+ 18.d1 d3 19.e3 xa8 with compensation) 16...fxe6 ( 16...xe6 gets problems with the knight 17.g5+ d7 18.xf7 ) 17.f4 d5 18.d1 dxe2+ ( 18...xf4 19.gxf4 is also good for White. ) 19.xe2 c6 20.h3 with good compensation.; D) 14...c8!? is an ingenious sacrifice in order to open the a-file 15.xa7 a8 16.b5 d7 D1) 17.d2 b3 this is the difference! 18.d1 ( 18.c3 is a complete mess xa1 19.xg7 hg8 20.e5+ d8 21.hxg6 hxg6 22.xc4 xa2 with a really unclear position. ); D2) 17.dxc4 xc4 18.d2! and White can take the pieces off just in time xa2 ( 18...xb5 19.xb4 c6 20.c3 xc3
21.bxc3 gives Black some compensation, but not enough for the pawn since White is always threatening hxg6.) 19.a3 b3 20.h4! activating the pieces without defending the pawn on b2 xb2 21.b1 xa3 22.xa5 xa5 23.xb3 d6 ( 23...b8 24.e5+ xe5 25.xa3 c1 26.c4 xe2 27.f3 wins the knight, but there are not so many pawns lef t f or W hite so it sho uld be draw.) 24.xb7+ e6 25.hxg6 fxg6 with better chances f or W hite in the endgame. ] 14.f4 b6 Black just consolidates the position and is in no hurry with any pawn break 15.h3 Exchanging the bishops means Black has no problems, because one of W hite's typical ideas is to chase this Bishop on e6, since it doesn't have a good square. [ 15.g5 is thematic and possible here f5 16.a3 h6!? ( 16...c2 17.c1 d4 18.h6 f6 19.ge4 gets the bishop pair) 17.xf7 xf7 18.axb4 cxb4 19.hxg6+ xg6 20.b5 c2 and Black is fine. ] 15...xh3+ 16.xh3 Bringing the knights back to life. c2 17.c1 d4 Black has no reason to be worse, but after a long endgame V a c h i e r h a d c h a n c e s t o f i g h t f o r a wi n . Probably there will be more games in this variation since it's a chance to play chess in rich positions. 18.e5 [ 18.xd4 cxd4 19.h6 f6 20.e4 xc1+ 21.xc1 e5 is also equal. ] 18...xe5 19.xe5 g5 Avoiding any hxg6 idea. Now that the dark-squared bishops are exchanged there is no problem in putting the pawns on dark squares. 20.g4 [ 20.e3 dc6 21.xc6 xc6 22.e2 is almost the same. ] 20...f6 21.c4 ac6 [ 21...xc4 22.dxc4 c6 23.b3 d8 24.d1 and after the rook exchanges the position will be drawn. ] 22.e3 e6 23.e2 f7 24.hh1 hd8 25.hd1 c7 26.e4 d5 27.a4 db4 28.a5 b8 29.axb6 axb6 30.a1 d5 31.c3 d7 32.b5 bd8 33.a3 h6 34.b3 e6 35.d4 cxd4 36.xd4 xd4+ 37.xd4 xd4 38.exd4 d5 39.f3 e7 40.e3 f4 41.e4 d6 42.a3 h3?! After this move Black needs to be slightly 1525
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 careful. 43.d5! Now the knight can have the f5-square. xf2+ 44.f3 h3 45.a7+ [ 45.dxe6!? with the rooks on there are more chances xe6 46.f5 d2 47.b3 f4 48.xb6+ e5 49.b5+ e6 50.xh6 with chances in the endgame. ] 45...d7 46.xd7+ xd7 47.dxe6+ xe6 48.f5 f4 49.e4 Now Black can trap White's knight. d5! 50.xh6 e7 51.b3 b5 52.f3 [ 52.b4 c6= ] 52...f5 53.xf5 xf5 54.gxf5+ xf5 55.g3 b4 56.f3 ½-½
1525 Vallejo Pons,Francisco Leko,Peter XX SuperGM Linares ESP (12) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2629 2736 07.03.2003
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 6.c4 d3+ 7.e2 f4+ 8.f1 e6 9.b4 This flanking blow is the mainline. g6 Black sacrifices a pawn himself. [ W e lo o k e d a t t h e a cce p t a n ce , 9...cxb4 in Piket,J-Van W ely, L/Escaldes AND 1998. ] 10.bxc5 g7 11.xe6! White concedes his important light-squared bishop so that he can construct a big centre. xe6 12.d4 c6 13.e3 A key position, has Black enough compensation for the pawn and centre, will W hite's light squared weaknesses and awkwardly-placed king cost him dear? c4+!? A new move, previous lines: [ 13...g4 14.e2 f5 15.h3 fxe4 16.hxg4 exf3 17.gxf3 d7 18.b1 0-0-0 19.b3 favoured W hite in Seirawan, Y-Miles,A/ London 1982, whilst ] [ 13...a5 14.d2?! ( 14.c1 c4+ 15.g1 0-0-0 16.h3 f5 is given as 'unclear' by Stohl ) 14...0-0-0 ( 14...c4+ 15.g1 0-0-0 16.c1 is a very old Kasparov-Shirov game from 1987) 15.c1 f5 16.exf5?! gxf5 17.e2 b4 with advantage to Black, as the d-pawn is lost, Ftacnik,L-Pinter,J/Prague 1985 ] 14.g1 a5 15.c1 0-0-0 Thus transposing to the analysis of Stohl. 16.b1! Probably a
prepared move, the knight uncovers an attack on the black light-squared bishop, and prepares to break the pin on the d-pawn. a6 After this the black pieces find themselves short of squares, [ 16...xa2! was the alternative: 17.bd2 d3 18.d5 b4 the black pieces are forced to go around the centre, 19.e1 b5 ( 19...a6!? 20.c6 bxc6 21.c5 xd5! 22.exd5 xd5 might be playable) 20.b1 a5 and the black pieces are safe. ] 17.d5 White advances his centre, threatening to ca p t ure th e kn ight on c6 o n ce h e h a s unpinned the d-pawn. f5 Black attempts to undermine the d-pawn from the side, [ 17...e6 is similar, 18.xc4! xc4 19.bd2 xa2 20.dxc6 bxc6 ] 18.xc4!? This is probably simpler than [ 18.bd2 e2 19.b3 a5 20.b4 fxe4 21.xe4 d3 22.xe7 f6 23.f7 when White has two pawns, but the black pieces are active. ] 18...xc4 19.bd2 Breaking the pin by tactical means. xa2 20.dxc6 bxc6 21.g3 Once the white king gets to g2 he will be safer than his counterpart, and the two white pieces should dominate the black rook. d3 22.g2 fxe4?! This move, played for tactical reasons, concedes the e4-square to a white knight. [ 22...hd8! 23.b1 xb1 24.xb1 is better for White, but the black rooks may prove effective in the endgame. ] 23.g5 f8 [ 23...h6 24.g4+ e6 25.c4!! xc4 26.xe4 when the bishop is under attack, and Nd6+ is threatened, winning the black queen. ] 24.gxe4 Now White is really on top, his pieces are well-placed and his pawn structure is healthier. e5 25.e1 h5 26.h4 fd8 27.b1 White elects to play the endgame, which is very pleasant for him. xb1 28.xb1 c7 29.c4 8d5 30.a1 b7 31.a4 [ 31.g5! is even better, aiming for e6 immediately: f5 32.e6 d7 33.g5 and the white pieces are crawling all over the black position. ] 31...d7 [ 31...f5! 32.g5 f6 keeps an eye on e6. ] 32.g5 3d5 33.e6 White has a powerful 1526
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 hold on key light squares. f5 Else White 19.f4 Tukmakov's two knights and extra plays Nf8xg6. 34.d4 p a wn t ri u m p h e d a ga in st t h e t wo b la c k [ 34.d4! is crushing, a6 35.f4 and Black bishops, in his game against Berelovich,A/ h a s h a r d l y a n y m o v e s , a7 36.f3 Koszalin 1998. ] with a complete bind. ] 14.f3 c6 34...f6 35.b4+ a6? This is a very [ The point behind Black's thirteenth move, exposed square for a king, bu t ke e p in g t h e kin gsid e ligh t s qu a re s [ 35...c8 keeps the game going. ] covered by 14...f7 might be safer, 15.a4 36.b1 d5 37.c2 Threatening a nasty d5 16.ac1 b6 17.xd5 xd5 18.b3 check on b4. d7 38.b4+ b5 39.d2 b7 19.g4 although White is better, a4 40.e4 e6 41.c3+ a5 42.c2 anyway, Zaichik,G-Alburt,L/Philadelphia Menacing Ra1 mate. a6 43.d4 1993. ] [ 43.d4 f6 44.e4 f8 45.xc6 15.b3+ h8 16.d4! is crushing. ] [ If it's legal, then why not? Previously, 1-0 16.fd1 had been successfully played: d5 17.d4! Notice that allowing Black to capture on e3 like this often helps White to ease his 1526 A34 position. xe3 18.fxe3 c7 19.ac1 d6 20.b5 with considerable advantage, Sher, Van der Sterren,Paul 2535 M-Baikov,V/ Moscow 1990. ] Van Wely,Loek 2629 Bundesliga 1999-2000 (3) 06.11.1999 16...xf3?! [ Aiming to devalue White's extra pawn, but [Tony Kosten] t h is b ish o p is t o o im p o rt a n t a p i e c e t o exchange so lightly. 16...d5 is probably 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 best, when White can always play 17.fd1 5.g2 c7 This is the best retreat for the if he wants, transposing into the Sher game, knight. Black plans to play ...e5 with a or try something else. ] reversed Maroczy structure. 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e5 8.d3 e7 9.d2 Threatening to ruin the 17.exf3 cxd4 18.ad1 This pin assures the black pawn structure, by capturing on c6, return of the d-pawn, when White will enjoy followed by bringing the d2-knight to the m o r e s p a c e , a n d t h e b e t t e r p i e c e s . c5 s t r o n g h o l e t h e r e b y c r e a t e d o n c 4 . d7 19.c4 a6?! [ Black overlooks the tactic at the end of the 10.c4 0-0!? game. Better to play 19...e7 20.xd4 [ The pawn sacrifice line, long considered xd4 21.xd4 ad8 although Black will be more than adequate for Black. However, hard-pressed to defend this. ] Tukmakov has been enjoying success with White recently, so it may be better to play 20.xd4 xd4 21.xd4 b6 22.a4! a5 23.d5 The black queen is in trouble. b4?! the solid 10...f6 ] [ 23...c7 24.xc7 xc7 25.d7 11.xc6 xc6 12.xe5 e8 The powerful is scarcely better. ] light-squared bishop must be retained. 13.e3 24.xb4 xb4 25.b5 xa2? 26.a1 Thus reaching the main turning point. f6?! [ A rare move, kicking the knight from e5 so The knight is lost. as to return the e8-bishop to c6, but, on the 1-0 strength of this game, not the best. 13...e6 is the main line, taking control of d4, whilst ] [ 13...d6?! also seems doubtful, 14.f4! e6? 15.xf7! d4 16.e3 f6 17.e5 winning quickly, Tukmakov,V-Kallai,G/Biel 1998. ] [ 13...d5 is another well-regarded move, although after 14.b3! xe3 15.fxe3 b5!? 16.d5 xd5 17.xd5 d6 18.f3 c6 1527
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A34 21.e7 e4 22.xb7 [ or the safe 22.e1! ] 2291 23.xa7 xc3 24.c7?! 2497 22...e8 17.12.2006 Greed has its limits. [ 24.c1 is simple enough. ] 24...b1?! [ 24...f6! threatens ...Ne2+ or . ..Nxd5, and Black's most ambitious setup with ...c5 and ... W hite's rook lacks a good square: 25.c1 e5 is the one in which he plays both within the xa2 26.d1 g4! 27.f3 xf4 28.fxg4 first few moves. The play becomes forcing, as e3+ 29.h1 c3 with the initiative ...Ne4seen in this example. 1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 f2+ is a theme. ] 3.f3 e5 4.e3 f6 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 e4 25.xd6?? From now on we have a case of 7.g5 [ 7.e5 was featured in Cobb-Cvitan, Saint the influence of the Rapid Play time control. [ 25.xd6 does the trick: e1 26.b4 d1 Vincent 2005. I concluded that White gets a 27.e5 ] small advantage. ] 7...b4 8.d5 e5 9.d4 d6!? 25...xd6 26.xd6 e1 Now it's getting very d i f f i c u l t . 27.b4 d1 28.f3!? The king A pawn sacrifice for activity. [ Th e t ra dit io n a l m o ve ha s b e e n 9...e7 moves into action to support the pawns. In , when we saw that 10.e3 eg4 11.0-0-0 view of ...Bd3, W hite could his pawns right xe3 12.xe3 g4 13.f4 xf2 away: [ 28.c5 d3 29.h4 xf1+ 30.h2 14.cxe4! of Shirjaev-Shinkevich, Ufa 2004 , although Black may be able to hold after favoured White. It seems that there should d2! 31.xf1 xf1+ 32.g1 c4 33.d6 be many alternatives for Black, but in fact b5 , e.g., 34.a4 xa4 35.xf1 f6 ] W h it e s e e m s t o h a ve so m e a d va n t a g e 28...d3 29.f2 xf1?? Black must have regardless. ] been short of time. 10.gxe4 xc3+!? [ 29...xf1+ 30.e3 xc4 31.d6 b5 ] [ Black seems to be flailing about. Surely 10...xe4 11.xe4 0-0 makes more sense, 30.d6?? [ 30.c5! will win. The difference between this with ideas of ...Qf6 and ...Bf5, or ...f5-f4. ] and 28 c5 is that White's king takes part. ] 11.bxc3?! [ The natural 11.xc3 appears safe enough. 30...xc4 31.d7? Last chance to keep Black White is still a pawn up, and e7 ( 11...0-0 working: [ 31.a4 ] 12.e2 e8 13.0-0 ) 12.e2 ( or 12.e3 eg4 13.e2 xe3 14.xe3 ) 12...g4!? 31...xd7 32.xb1 xa2 Okay, the game may be best, but leaves White clearly better: was a disaster, but W hite had a pawn for 13.0-0 xe2 14.xe2 c8 15.g5! 0-0 nothing out of the opening. 16.b3 with the idea xc4? 17.xf6 gxf6 ½-½ 18.g4+ h8 19.bxc4 ] 11...0-0 1528 A34 [ 11...xe4 12.xe4 0-0 ] 12.e2 Vigorito,David [ 12.g5! ] Mikhalevski,Victor 12...xe4 13.xe4 f6 14.0-0 f5 15.d4 American Open (4) 28.11.2003 g6 Finally Black has some (undeserved) [John Watson] play. 16.f4 d7!? Heading for c5. [ 16...b6 intending ...Rac8 may be better. ] The following classic English Opening lines 17.fe1 fe8 was advocated by Nimzowitsch: 1.c4 f6 [ 17...c5 18.h4! h5 19.xh5! xh5 2.f3 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 20.xd6 d7 21.xf8 xf8 22.c5 . The great thinker didn't mind the holes in his gives White too many pawns! ] position nor lack of castling privilege which 18.f1 c5 19.e3 xe3 20.xe3 h6 arise after b4 6.c4 d3+ 1527 Vaznonis,Vytautas Jakubowski,Krzysztof 6th Amplico AIG Life rapid (11) [John Watson]
1528
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 6...e6 is another old move it has gone out of style, a key variation being 7.xe6 d3+ 8.f1 fxe6 9.g5 and now: A) 9...b6 10.f3 c4 11.b3! e5 ( 11...h6 12.bxc4 xc1 13.f7 g8 14.e5+- ) 12.g3!? bd7 13.bxc4; B) 9...c6 10.xe6 d7 11.xc5 xc5 12.h5+ g6 13.xc5; C) 9...d7 10.f3! e5 11.h3 d3+ ( 11...bc6 12.xe6 c8 13.f4 ) 12.xd3 xd3 13.e2 ( 13.xe6; 13.g3 ) 13...f4+ 14.f3 e5 15.d4! c6 16.dxe5 g6 17.e6 ] 7.e2 f4+ 8.f1 e6 This position has never been resolved and all kinds of new things are still being discovered, e.g., by the Spanish star Paco Vallejo. IM Dave Vigorito has become an expert on the Nimzowitsch System and an advocate for the White side. The first player has tried many moves here such as 9.d3, 9.b4!?, and 9.h4!?, but Vigorito prefers to return to the old line. His own notes and recent games provide the basis for what follows. 9.e5 A key position in which Black has several basic tries. In this game he plays the move that originally drove 9.Ne5 out of business, i.e., 9...g6. But it may turn out that o t h e r o l d e r m o v e s n e e d m o r e t e s t s . g6 There a huge split at this point: [ (a) 9...d7? runs into the pretty 10.xf7! xf7 11.xe6+ xe6 12.b3+ d6 ( 12...f6 13.d5+ f7 14.c7+ g6 15.e6+- ) 13.d4 e6 14.dxc5+ e7 ( jw: 14...xc5?? 15.d1+! wins Black's queen in two moves, and; 14...c7 15.xe6! wins ) 15.g5+ f6 16.e5 ] [ (b) 9...d6 verges on madness. I'll examine that line in Horn-Trauth. ] [ (c) 9...c6 is usually answered modestly by 10.xc6 bxc6 11.a4!? ( I prefer 11.d3 d4 12.h5! e6 13.e5 intending Ne4. White's knight might be misplaced on a4 in some lines.) 11...d6 12.d3 d4! ( 12...g6 13.e3 d4 14.c1 with the idea Nxc5) 13.e3 ( or 13.h5!? e6 14.e5 c7 15.f4 ) 13...e5! 14.c1 g6 15.d2 e7 16.a5!? h5 17.xd4 exd4 ( 17...cxd4!? 18.b6 h6 ) 18.xc5 xc5 19.b3 0-0 20.xc5 Piket-Ljubojevic, Monaco 2002. ] [ (d) 9...d4 used to be considered a solution, now White looks somewhat better
in several ways: A) even better is 10.a4+! d7 11.xd7 xd7 12.xe6 fxe6 13.xd7+ xd7 14.e5! and Black's bishop is in danger of being shut out of the play: c6 ( 14...g6 15.e4 b6 . Now White is actually a full tempo ahead of our main line, because Black played ...Qd4 and then ...Qxd7. T h u s h e h a s 16.d4! cxd4 17.h4! - Hovde- and the bishop is completely trapped in view of c6 18.f4 h6 19.g3 ) 15.e4 b6 ( 15...xe5 16.xc5+ c6 17.d4 ) 16.f4 Hovde-Rosenquist, corr 1988 and now Hovde gives the idea for Black of g6 17.g3 h6 18.h4 hf8 19.e2 xf4 20.gxf4 xf4 , just to get the bishop out, but 21.d3 still clearly favours the piece over the pawns; B) 10.f4!? B1) 10...c6 11.b5! ( 11.e2 d6 12.xc6 xc6 13.d3 is Suba's line. He likes White, but this advantage would be miniscule at best) 11...d8 12.xf7! xf7 13.f5 and White's bad king position is more than made up for by Black's, but this should be looked at.; B2) 10...xf4 11.a4+ d7 ( 11...d7 12.xf7 d3 13.e2 ) 12.xf7+ d8 13.xd4 cxd4 14.g3! and White is much better ] 10.a4+ d7 [ 10...d7? i s t o o s l o w : 11.d4! cxd4 ( 11...g7 12.xf7! ) A) irrelevant but brilliant was 12.b5 g7 13.xf7 xf7 14.xe6+ xe6 15.b3+ f6 16.f3+ e6 17.b3+ f6 18.h4!? (amazing) h6? 19.g5+! hxg5 20.hxg5+ xg5 21.g3+ f6 22.f4+ e6 23.xh8 xh8 ( 23...xh8 24.c7# ) 24.c7+ xc7 25.xc7 and White was clearly better due to Black's king position, Miles-Hort, London 1983.; B) 12.xf7! xf7 13.xe6+ xe6 14.xd4! , winning - Black has no defense. ] 11.xd7 [ 11.xe6 fxe6 transposes after 12.xd7 xd7 ] 11...xd7 12.xe6 fxe6 13.xd7+ xd7 14.e5 '!?' Vigorito [ 14.d3 c6 ( 14...g7 15.e3 b6 16.e2 1529
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c6= ) 15.e3 b6 16.e2 ( 16.h4 g7 17.h5 af8 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.e2 d4 20.af1 e5 Larsen-Timman, Bugojno 1984 and now ) 16...g7= ] 14...g7 15.e4 xe5 [ A wild game that may be key to this va r ia t io n we n t 15...b6 16.f4 (note the similarity to the note to 9...Qd4 10.Qa4+ above. That was a clearly better line for White, whereas this is complex) f8 17.d4! c6 ( 17...cxd4 18.e2 and the bishop m a y n e v e r g e t o u t) 18.g3 xd4 (threatening ...Bxe5) 19.g2 c6 20.d2 ( 20.h4!? ) 20...d5 21.c3+ c6 22.e4 d5 23.c3+ c6 24.h4 h6 25.ad1 g5 26.fxg5 ( 26.hxg5 hxg5 27.h7 g8 ) 26...hxg5 27.xg5 xe5 28.e4 g8 ( 28...d5 29.he1; 28...f5!? ) 29.hf1 f5 30.b3 a5 31.a4 f6 32.fe1 d4 ( 32...xg5 33.xg5 g6 34.d3 d4 ) 33.h3 d6 34.xd6 xd6 35.f4+ d5 36.e5+ d6 37.e2+ d5 38.e5+ d6 39.h5 af8 40.g5+ c6 41.xg8 xg8 42.e1 d5 43.g4 e5 44.c1 e4 45.g5 f8 46.h6 f3+ 47.g4 f2 48.e3 g2+ 49.h3 xe3 50.h7 0-1 Vallejo PonsFernandez Romero, Dos Hermanas 2002 ] 16.xc5+ d6 17.xb7+ d5 18.a5 d7 [ Vigorito: 18...c8 19.d3 with the idea Nc4. This seems to favour White. ] 19.d3 b6 20.e2 hc8 21.d1 [ HiArcs likes throwing in 21.f4! because that protects the king from checks on f3 ] 21...c2+ 22.d2 xd2+ 23.xd2 [ 23.xd2!? ] 23...xb2 24.b1 d4 25.b5+ d6 26.b4+ [ Vigorito: 26.b3 , and indeed f6 27.c5 seems to cement a large positional advantage. ] 26...d7 27.xe7? A big mistake after nearperfect play. With hindsight one might expect that grabbing such a worthless pawn couldn't be right. [ Again 27.b3 was strong. ] 27...xf2! [ 27...c8! 28.h4 c2+ 29.f3 xa2 30.b3 is also reliably equal. ] 28.xf2 xe7 29.c6+ [ White can play on a bit, but it's hard to
believe that, for example, 29.c6+ d6 ( 29...f6 30.a5!; 29...d7 30.e5+ d6 is also good enough) 30.xa7 xa7 31.xb6+ d5 32.b2 d4 33.e2 a3 can be won. Quite a game! ] ½-½
1529 Vul,Arkadi Eremeevich Van Opheusden,Bas Essent Open Hoogeveen NED (2) [John Watson]
A34 2423 2190 22.10.2005
I found this game at the last minute, hunting around the latest TW IC. Maybe everyone knows about it, but in this old and exhaustively analysed variation I've never seen Vul's 9th move! It looks both fascinating and consequential. Is 5.e4 causing even more trouble for Black? 1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 6.c4 d3+ 7.e2 f4+ 8.f1 e6 9.d4!? What's this?? cxd4 [ A quick analysis: 9...xd4 A) 10.b5!? bc6 11.fxd4 cxd4 12.b3 e6 ( 12...e6? 13.f4 ) 13.xe6 fxe6 unclear; B) 10.f4! bc6 ( 10...e6 11.d5 xf3? 12.b5+ ) 11.d5 e6 12.xd4 xd4 13.c7+ ( 13.b4!? ) 13...xc7 14.xc7 xc4+ 15.e1 e2 16.c1 f6 17.f4 e6 18.f2 ] 10.xe6 xe6 [ 10...fxe6 11.xd4 ( or 11.xd4 )] 11.xd4 c4+ [ Certainly the reason that no one took 9.d4 seriously. Should 11...d7 be considered? It's hard to believe that the check is wrong. ] 12.g1 with the idea Qa4+. c6 [ A few more thoughts: 12...d7 13.a4 a6 14.e3 e6 15.d1 e7 16.f3! ] [ 12...a5 13.d2 ( 13.b3 c7 14.d5 ) 13...b6 14.a4+ c6 15.xc4 xd4 16.b3 d7 17.e3 ] 13.xc6 [ 13.e3 sees better, because A) 13...e5 14.xc6 xd1+ 15.xd1 bxc6 16.b3 a6 ( 16...e6 17.a4 ) 17.a4 ( 17.h4 b4 18.a4 b5 19.c5 ) 17...b5 18.c5 a5 19.h3 a4 1530
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.h2; B) 13...xd4 ] 13...xd1+ 14.xd1 bxc6 15.e3 e6 16.f3 [ 16.b3 d3 17.f3 a3 ] 16...e7 17.b3 b5 18.c1 a3 19.c2 0-0 [ 19...0-0-0! 20.f2 d3! 21.xc6+ b7 22.c3 b4 23.c1 a3= ] 20.b2 a5 21.c4 a4! 22.f2 fd8?! [ 22...b4 ] 23.xa3! axb3 24.xb5 bxc2 25.d4 xa2 26.c1 c5 27.xc2 f6 28.f4 f7 29.f3 c4? 30.b4 White was much better before, but now he's winning. b2 31.xc4 g6 32.h3 d1 33.c2 h5 34.h4 [ 34.g4! ] 34...f1+ 35.e2 h1 36.f2 c1 37.d2 f1 38.e3 [ 38.e3! is still easier. ] 38...c1 39.d2 [ 39.d3! ] 39...f1 40.e3 h1 41.e2? No reason to risk anything. [ 41.c3 a2 42.c6! xh4 43.b3 a8 44.d4! ] 41...xh4 42.f3? Time pressure I'm sure. [ 42.f5+! f7 ( 42...exf5 43.exf5+ xf5 44.xh4 xc2+ 45.f3 ) 43.fxe6+ xe6 44.f3 ] 42...h1 43.d4 h4 44.f5+ exf5 45.xf5? The last mistake. f1+ 46.g4 xg2+ 47.h3 e2 48.xh4 xf5 A sad end, but a fantastic new idea to consider. ½-½
basically because everybody was trying to beat Grischuk from this position 5.d4 e4 6.e5 g6 7.b1 A very deep move, introduced by Kramnik during the Candidates. White avoids any tactics on the diagonal and it's important to have the bishop on b2 defended sometimes. [ 7.g4!? is another new idea and can bring interesting positions A) 7...cxd4 8.exd4 g7 looks interesting, but I'm not sure if Black has enough for the pawn after 9.g5 h5 10.xe4 0-0 ( 10...xe5 takes the pawn back, but loses some time to do it, and afterwards the stru cture is dam age d 11.dxe5 a5+ 12.d2! avoiding ...Nf4 in some variations xe5 13.g2 0-0 14.0-0 and White has the better prospects ) 11.g2 A1) 11...xe5 12.dxe5 xe5 13.0-0 d5!? again sacrificing a pawn 14.cxd5 ( 14.xd5 c7 ) 14...e8 and White has a slight advantage in this complex position; A2) 11...d6 12.xc6 bxc6 13.e3 and White is better; B) 7...h6 this is the most prudent move an d it wa s trie d in so m e ga m e s 8.g2 g7 B1) 9.0-0 e7 forcing White to make decisions 10.f4 exf3 B1a) 11.xf3!? sacrificing a pawn in o r d e r t o w i n a t e m p o xg4 t h i s s h o u l d b e c r i t i c a l ( 11...0-0 i s p l a y a b l e 12.d5 d8 13.d2 with complications) 12.d5 d8 13.d2 d6 14.h3 f6 15.xf6+ 1530 A34 xf6 16.e4 e7 and I have the feeling that Black is fine, but still White Wang,Hao 2735 has some initiative for the pawn; Grischuk,Alexander 2783 B1b) 11.xf3?! now Black has good SportAccord Rapid Men 2013 rapid (7.3) prospects 0-0 12.xc6 dxc6 13.h3 [Fier, Alexandr] h5 and White needs to take care to avoid losing control immediately. Black W ang Hao tries a new idea against one of is already better, Fridman, D (2602)Grischuk's specialities, but got nothing after a Almasi, Z (2707)/ Corsica Masters Ko series of strong moves, which makes me 17th rapid 2013 (3.2).; wonder if he was still in Grischuk's preparation. B2) 9.h4 again trying to take the e4Apparently Black's position is holding well. pawn For White, maybe 7.g4 can be an interesting B2a) 9...d5 could be another idea to surprise. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 e5 ke e p t h e c1 -b ish o p clo se d f or t h e 4.e3 f6 This was one of the most played moment lines in the Candidates Matches in 2011, 1531
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B2a1) 10.cxd5 xd5 11.xe4 xe5 ( 11...xc3 12.xc6 xd1 13.xd8 xd8 14.xd1 xg4+ and Black is o k) 12.xd5 cxd4 13.exd4 xg4 is double edged; B2a2) 10.g5 hxg5 11.hxg5 xh1+ 12.xh1 h5 13.cxd5 xe5 14.dxe5 xg5 and finally we see the point of playing 9...d5 directly, in this messy position Black should be fine; B2b) 9...cxd4 10.exd4 d5 11.g5 hxg5 12.hxg5 xh1+ 13.xh1 h5 was Movsesian, S (2699) -Ponomariov, R (2743)/FIDE World Blitz 2013. and here 14.xd5 can bring some advantage for W hite xe5 15.dxe5 xe5 16.xe4 with a pawn up ] [ 7.e2 this move was also played sometimes g7 8.0-0 0-0 9.b3 e7 with the idea of 10...d6 was fine for Black in Ding, L (2702)-Vachier Lagrave, M (2705)/ Saint Louis SPICE Cup 6th 2012 (9). ] 7...g7 Probably the best move, just developing the pieces. [ 7...h5 was Grischuk's first try when he faced 7.Rb1, but it's a highly committal move and Kramnik could take advantage of it, 8.e2 e7 9.b3 cxd4 10.exd4 d6 11.xc6 bxc6 12.g5 and Black still had s o m e p r o b l e m s t o so l ve in K ra m n i k, V (2785)-Grischuk, A (2747)/Wch Candidates Rapid tiebreak rapid 2011 (2.7). ] 8.xc6 dxc6 9.dxc5 xd1+ 10.xd1 A novelty and a logical one, trying to bring the king to c2. The move played before was not so impressive. [ 10.xd1 makes little sense, since White will take more time to develop his pieces d7 A) 11.b4 keeps the pawn for some moves, but Black has a good initiative a5 12.a3 axb4 13.axb4 0-0 14.e2 e5 15.b2 e6 16.d4 ( 16.xe5 trying to keep the p a w n , b u t a f t e r xe5 White is just dominated ) 16...xc4 and Black is better; B) 11.d2 xc5 ( 11...a5 12.c3 xc3+ 13.xc3 was drawn in Buhmann, R (2578)Hamdouchi, H (2602)/ FRA-chT Top 12 2 0 1 3 ( 6 . 3 ) .) 12.c3 ( 12.b4 d7 13.c3 e5 ) 12...0-0 13.d4 b6 and Black has nothing to worry about ]
10...0-0 11.e2 e8 12.c2 e5! This is an important move and after 13.b4 White is not able to defend the pawns on the k i n g s i d e i n a p r o p e r wa y. 13.b4 g5 White has some ways to try to keep the extra pawn, but in all the lines White will be passive and Black has all his pieces in the game. Whether this is enough for the pawn or not is not clear, but in the game it worked well for Black. 14.g3 [ 14.g1!? is a really passive way to play, but it looks like W hite can keep the extra pawn for the moment h3 15.f1 ( 15.b5 trying counterplay is also possible xg2 16.xg2 xg2 17.bxc6 bxc6 18.b7 e8 and the position is unclear) 15...e6 16.d2 b6 ( 16...a5 17.a3 and Black still has to prove the compensation) 17.cxb6 axb6 18.a4 and Black has a lot of active pieces, but nothing concrete for the moment ] 14...h3 15.f1 [ 15.d2 f5 16.f1 g4 17.h3 f3 18.g1 d7 and the knight is going to e5, keeping the White pieces cramped ] 15...e6 16.b2 Now Black can recover the pawn by force [ 16.h3 f5 17.h2 h5 with the idea of 18...Ng4 forces White to come back with the rook ] 16...f5 17.d1 g4 18.e2 h5 [ 18...xf2 was also possible 19.f1 xd1 20.bxd1 with the same kind of position as in the game. ] 19.h4 [ 19.xg4?! hxg4 20.xg7 xg7 21.c3 b6 and White has too many weak pawns and squares. ] 19...xf2 Clearing the situation. [ 19...a5 was another option, but it's not clear if the opening of the a-file is better for White or Black 20.a3 axb4 21.axb4 xf2 22.f1 xd1 23.bxd1 xf1 24.xf1 A) 24...a2 25.b1 xb2 26.xb2 a3 ( 26...xb2+ 27.xb2 f8 28.c3 e7 29.d4 f5 30.e5 is similar to the game ) 27.b3 a8 and maybe Black can try something on the kingside, even if the most probable result will be a draw anyway; B) 24...g4 is the computer suggestion a n d q u i t e a m b i t i o u s 25.b1 f5 1532
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Trying to expand on the kingside. The plus 14.f4 xf4 15.xf4 ) 10.e1 g6 11.d3 is that the rook cannot enter on the d-file e6 12.a4 d7 13.b5 xb5 14.xb5 anymore, but the bishop on g4 can also be b8 15.c4 Svidler, P (2739)misplaced. ] Nepom niach tchi, I (2 711)/ RUS-c h 64t h 20.f1 xd1 21.bxd1 xf1 22.xf1 xb2 Moscow 2011 (6) . ] 23.xb2 f8 Now that everything is under [ 8...e6 9.b4 ( 9.a4 f6 10.d3 e7 control it's time to evaluate the position. Black 11.e3 ) 9...cxb4 10.axb4 a6 11.a4 d7 recovered his pawn and has a slightly better 12.g5 ( 12.a3 f6 13.e4 b5 14.c5 structure, since White can't make a passed xc5 15.bxc5 0-0 ) 12...g4 13.d3 h6 ] pawn. White's rook and king are more active, 9.d3 but the bishop has no good prospects. After [ 9.b4 is not sufficient for the moment cxb4 all the position is equal. 24.c3 e7 25.b5 10.axb4 xb4 11.xe5 xe5 12.a4+ c8 26.a4 d8! After this the position is a c6 13.xc6+ bxc6 and the bishop is dead draw. defended ] [ 26...cxb5 is unnecessary 27.axb5 xc5 [ 9.b1 was played a lot of times and is the 28.a1 and Black can't defend the a-pawn most logical move, following the plan of a6 29.bxa6 bxa6 30.xa6 c7 and White expansion on the queenside f6 ( 9...e7 got a passed pawn for free ] 10.b4 f5 11.b5 was analyzed by Watson 27.xd8 xd8 28.d4 f5 29.e5 e7 in Romanishin, O (2542)-Oleksienko, M 30.a5 a6 31.e2 d7 32.bxa6 bxa6 (2530)/Levikov Mem Lviv UKR 2006 (4).) 33.d1 e6 34.a4 d7 35.b3 e6 10.d3 ( 10.b4?! still does not really work, 36.a4 d7 even if the computer thinks that White has ½-½ c o m p e n s a t i o n cxb4 11.axb4 xb4 12.xb4 xb4 13.d4 a5 14.dxe5 xd1 15.xd1 f5 and Black is better) 10...e6 1531 A34 11.e3 d7 12.d2 e7 ( 12...b6 13.a4 b5 14.c2 c8 was a battle Xiu Deshun 2571 between two talented Russians in Zhou Jianchao 2565 T o m a sh e vsk y, E ( 2 5 9 5 )- Ja ko ve n k o , D ch-CHN 2014 Xinghua CHN (6) 17.03.2014 (2671)/ch-RUS Superfinal 2006 (4).) 13.b4 [Fier, Alexandr] cxb4 14.axb4 b5 and the position is double edged, but I believe Black was doing fine in W hite tries a triple pawn sacrifice to keep Ding, L (2714)-Nepomniachtchi, I (2717)/ Black's king in the center. The idea is Biel Breisacher Memorial 2013 (9). ] interesting, but after a big inaccuracy on move 9...e7 10.d2 18 the extra material made all the difference. [ 10.b1 would probably transpose to the 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 lines with 9.Rb1 ] xd5 5.g3 c6 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 e5 W e analyzed 8.d3 and 8.Ne1 lately, so it's 10...d7 11.c4 f6 [ 11...b5 was played recently, and to give the time t o ta ke a loo k a t th e ot he r po ssib le pawn is thematic, but far from necessary a l t e r n a t i v e . 8.a3 White makes one useful 12.xc6 xc6 13.xe5 a8 14.e4 move and accelerates things on the and W hit e went to win in m ore tha n 9 0 queenside. In this game he tried to enter the moves in Svane, R (2425)-Bok, B (2527)/ same position as in the main line, but with Haarlem BDO-A 9th 2013 (2). ] one tempo on the queenside for each players. Compared to the normal line, the pawn On balance I believe Black's move is more 12.f4 useful than 8.a3. b8 In almost all the lines on a3 is doing less than the rook on b8. It it's important to remove the rook from the long doesn't mean that Black is already better, but dia go nal. W ith th is mo ve Black also ca n the position is supposed to be less scary like this. b5 13.e3 exf4 answer some Rb1 b4 ideas with ...b5. [ 13...0-0 would also be possible, but it's [ 8...f6 9.e3 d3 ( 9...e7 10.d4 cxd4 thematic for Black to take on f4 first 14.fxe5 11.exd4 exd4 12.e2 e6 13.b4 d3 1533
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xe5 15.f5 xf5 16.xf5 d4+ 17.h1 and the knight can make some good work from e5 instead of d4. Both positions are playable and here I have no preference ] 14.ed5 White goes all-in. There was nothing wrong with 14.Rxf4, but this ambitious move also has some poison. White quickly actives all the minor pieces and if Black takes the pawns, his king will be stuck in the center for a long time. [ 14.xf4 was ok and we can reach a typical position after d4 15.ed5 0-0 16.xc7 xc7 17.d5 d8 18.e3 e6 19.f1 both players have weaknesses. White has more active pieces for the moment, but they can easily be repelled, so the position is level ] 14...fxg3 15.f4 gxh2+ 16.h1 I think this is good, the king is better on h1. [ 16.xh2 is another option. It looks like it's late to try to recover the pawns, and it's better to keep h2 as a shield for the king, but Black is not really attacking f or the moment. xd5 17.xd5 b4 18.e4 with a similar position as in the game ] 16...xd5 17.xd5 b4 [ 17...b6 18.e3 b4 19.axb4 shows a good difference compared with the game, the bfile is closed and the a-file is open now. This was the game between Berescu, A (2495)-Tsakiris, H (2154)/Plovdiv Tringov Memorial 35th 2013 (5). and here I suggest cxb4 20.e4 f5 21.f3 with an unclear position ] 18.e4? After this move White's idea is insuf ficient. It was necessary to take the exchange first and then the position is unclear. [ 18.xb8 for sure this was the move and now Black should take care xb8 19.axb4 cxb4 20.e4 and it's not clear how Black's k i n g i s g o i n g t o f i n d s o m e wh e r e s a f e . Several moves are playable, but I couldn't find any advantage for the second player. A) 20...e5 is unclear after 21.b3 b6 22.a2 and the queen is doing it's job well on a2; B) 20...d4 21.c1! the queen belongs on the a2-g8 diagonal, so there is another way b5 ( 21...xe2? 22.e3 g1 23.xa7 and White wins) 22.c4 xc4 23.dxc4 and the endgame is dangerous
for Black, since both a7 and h2-pawns are probably going to fall; C) 20...e5 21.b3 d4 22.c4 and again the a-file will be decisive. I don't see how Black can defend here; D) 20...b5!? this is the most active way for Black to play 21.b3 f5 22.d2 d6 23.f3 and Black can use a nice plan of bringing the king to d8 and the rook to e8, but even so the position is far from clear ] 18...b6 [ 18...bxa3 was less good, White can still take the exchange here 19.xb8 axb2 20.d6+ ( 20.d6 bxa1 21.xa1 and Black should be better with 4 pawns up ) 20...f8 21.b1 xb8 22.f7 g8 23.g5 g6 and the position is not so better for Black, even if he has 5 pawns for the exchange, White's pieces are active enough to bring some compensation. ] 19.e3 [ 19.axb4 xb4 this is the difference, and Black wins an important tempo 20.c4 a8 21.xh2 d5 and Black is winning ] 19...c8 20.a2 f5 21.g3 b7 [ 21...bxa3 opening the file at once also can't be bad 22.bxa3 g6 23.e4 d4 24.exf5 b7+ 25.xh2 b2+ winning ] 22.xh2 b3!? A dynamic move, giving one pawn to activate the rook on b6. Also, after W hite takes it, the queen is tied to the defence of the bishop on b3. [ 22...d7 would be a solid choice, just defending the pawns 23.h5 d8 24.c1 g6 25.g3 bxa3 26.bxa3 h5 and White is helpless ] 23.xb3 [ 23.xf5 looks tempting but Black is also winning here 0-0! ( 23...bxa2?? 24.xg7+ d7 25.g4# is mate ) 24.xb3+ h8 and White's position is defenceless 25.xe7 ( 25.g3 g5 with an amazing 10 points advantage for Black) 25...xe7 and it's kind of funny, but Black has 8 points advantage! 26.e4 g6 and Black will have an attack and an extra piece. ] 23...d7 24.f2 h5! The right plan, Black's pawns are dangerous and White's king is too exposed. 25.e4 g5 26.xf5 A last desperate try. [ 26.c1 is a sad move to make and allows 1534
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B l a c k t o u n l e a s h a h u g e a t t a c k xb3! fail to understand the point of this move! I 27.xb3 d4 28.d1 d6 and with both guess the idea is to protect the a-pawn, so bishops pointing in the king's direction it's th a t Rb1 be com e s a direct t h re a t . b4! im p o s s ib le f o r W h it e t o s u r vi ve 29.g2 13.b1 a5 14.b3 c7 15.c5 c6 xg3 30.xg3 h4+ 31.g2 fxe4 16.a4 d8 17.fd1 d6 White has and Black will mate soon ] adequate compensation for the pawn, but no 26...gxf4 27.e6 c7 Now with a full piece more, Ragger, M (2614)-Sutovsky, E (2692)/ up, the game is over. 28.c1 e5 29.g7+ Aix-les-Bains 2011. ] f8 30.g2 f3 31.g3 g4+ 12...d7 13.c4 c8 0-1 [ 13...c6 Is an attempt to equalise the game. 14.ab1 a3 15.xb7 ( If there is an improvement for W hite, I expect it lies 1532 A34 with 15.xc6 xc6 16.xc6 bxc6 17.b7 when W hite will inevitably get one pawn Yevseev,Denis 2536 back, at the very least) 15...a5 16.b4 Goganov,Aleksey 2556 xb4 17.xb4 ac8 18.d1 fd8 19.b5 St Petersburg-ch 86th (9) 19.03.2013 xb5 20.xd8+ xd8 21.xb5 c4 [Danny Gormally] now it's dead equal, Ponomariov, R (2749)Sutovsky, E (2665)/Khanty-Mansiysk 2010. ] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 c3? A tactical enterprise which 5.0-0 c5 6.c3 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.xd5 14.d3 xd5 9.d4!? A dangerous idea that White backfires badly on Black. [ although perhaps a little too late, it was has been doing quite well with. Black is forced essential to complete development with to solve difficult problems early in the game14...c6! 15.fb1 xd4 16.xb2 xb2 something not everyone is comfortable with. 17.d1 c7 with chances to hold the game cxd4 10.e3 b5 for Black (if you are not playing a technical [ 10...d8 Is a solid approach. Black doesn't player on the same level as Kramnik.) ] look to grab the pawns that are on offer- just to get on with sensible development and say 15.ab1! xd3 16.xb2 xd4 [ 16...xd4 17.xb7 xe3 18.exd3 d4 to White- "what have you got?" Gelfand was 19.xd7! ] not able to find a convincing refutation of Shirov's idea 11.xd4 h5! 12.c2 xd4 17.xb7+- a4 18.d2 c3 19.c2 e5 13.xd4 c6 14.c3 h3 15.xc6 bxc6 20.xa8 f5 21.d2 g7 22.c1 a6 W hite's only real advantage is his better 23.d5 b4 24.b3 a6 25.c4 c6 pawn structure. However, with the opposite 26.a4 colour bishops this is unlikely to be enough 1-0 to win the game, Gelfand, B (2733)-Shirov, A (2745)/Bazna 2009. ] 1533 A35 11.xd4 xb2 12.a4 Aronian,Levon 2802 [ 12.a4 Is a more leisurely way to play, Stevic,Hrvoje 2612 W hite will always have pressure on the 06.11.2011 queenside so there is no need to hurry. d8 18th European Teams (4.8) 13.b1 a2 14.b3 xb3 15.xb3 c6 [John Bartholomew] 16.c5 White has excellent pressure for the c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 g6 pawn, it's not easy to neutralise his initiative. 1.c4 d4 17.xb7 xb7 18.xb7 ab8 Past coverage on ChessPublishing.com has 19.a6 h5 20.fc1 b6 21.d3 f6 c a s t d o u b t u p o n t h i s m o ve o r d e r - t h i s , 22.a5 xb1 23.xb1 d7 24.a6 despite the fact that 3...g6 is easily the most 1-0 Macieja, B (2596)-Schmidt, W (2415)/ popular move in practice! [ I examine 3...e5 this month in Kramnik, V Ustron 200709 ] (2800)-Nepomniachtchi, I (2730)/Moscow [ 12.d5 has been played on a number of RUS 2011, ] occasions, but I must admit that I completely 1535
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ while 3...d4 is also tough to crack. Check the archives for Nigel Davies's guide to this and o th er alte rna tive s ("S ym met rica l 3 Knights - Various 3rd, 3...Nd4"). ] 4.e3! I'm in agreement with Tony and Nigel that preparing the d4-d5 advance is the best way to exploit Black's move order. W hite intends to chase the c6 knight. [ The immediate 4.d4 is well-met by cxd4 5.xd4 g7 6.c2 xc3+ 7.bxc3 d6 i.e. Van Wely, L (2646)-Kramnik, V (2758)/ Monte Carlo 2000. ] [ White also plays 4.g3 quite frequently, with a Pure Symmetrical after g7 5.g2 etc. ] 4...f6 [ There can be overlap with the King's Indian/ Benoni here. For example, 4...g7 5.d4 d6 6.e2 is more typical "E61" type play. ( or 6.d5 )] 5.d4 cxd4 [ Tony in the archives: 5...g7 6.d5 a5 7.e4 d6 "is a KI or Benoni position, similar to the Panno versus the Fianchetto, except that the white bishop is still on f1 (instead of g2), defending c4. This renders the a5knight quite useless, White is better." ] 6.exd4 d5 7.cxd5 [ S t e v i c f a c e d t h e a l t e r n a t i v e 7.g5 a decade ago. I believe this to be slightly inaccurate because it allows Black to play A) In the archives we see typical hangingpawn play after 7...e4 8.cxd5 xc3 9.bxc3 xd5 10.e2 Smirin, I (2702) S t e v i c , H (2 4 8 5 )/ P u l a 2 0 0 1 / [ T o n yK ] . ( 10.b3!? ); B) 7...e6! with a transposition to a reliable line of the Panov. ] 7...xd5 8.b3 xc3 [ Through various move orders, the position after 8...e6 has been subject to debate at GM level. My impression is that White can h o l d a n a g g i n g i n i t i a t i ve i n t h e s e I Q P positions. Some recent examples: A) 9.b5 g7 A1) After 10.e5 d7 11.xd7 xd7 12.0-0 0-0 13.xd5 xd5 ( 13...exd5= ) 14.xd5 exd5 15.xc6 bxc6 16.e3 fc8 17.ac1 f8 ( 17...a5! ) 18.fe1 ab8 19.b3 b6 20.c5 a series of small inaccuracies allowed White to score the full point in
Pap, G (2492)-Predojevic, B (2643)/ Paks HUN 2011.; A2) 10.0-0 0-0 11.d1 h6 12.xc6 ( 12.d2; or even 12.e3!? look more challenging.) 12...bxc6 Capablanca was the first to demonstrate that the c6/d4 structure isn't necessarily disadvantageous for Black (everything else being equal). 13.e4 b6 14.c5 e5! Kramnik, V (2785)-Gashimov, V (2746)/Monaco MNC 2011.; B) The toothless 9.xd5 exd5 10.b5 g7 11.a3 e7+ 12.xe7+ xe7 13.xc6 bxc6 14.f4 f6! saw Black getting gradually outplayed in Vallejo Pons, F (2716)-Anand, V (2817)/Sao Paulo/ Bilbao BRA/ESP 2011.; C) 9.g5 f6 10.d2 g7 ( 10...f7!? Christiansen, L-Spacek, P/Teeside 1973.) 11.d3 0-0 12.0-0 ce7 13.fe1 Gashimov, V (2719)-Topalov, V (2803)/ Nanjing CHN 2010. ] 9.c4 Aronian plays with his customary energy. [ 9.bxc3 has also presented Black with some problems. ] 9...e6 Black wants to get in ...Bf8-g7 and ... 0-0, but there is a downside. [ Black should seriously consider the sequence 9...d5 10.xd5 e6 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.0-0 , reaching a position that has been seen dozens of times. I will save a full analysis of this line for another day, but let me say that despite the pair of bishops Black must defend accurately due to his lagging development and various weaknesses (c6/c5 and the dark squares, specifically). Still, this may have been a su p e rio r co n t in u a t io n co m p a re d t o t h e game. ] 10.bxc3 g7 [ B l a c k h a s n o t f a r e d we l l w i t h 10...d7 11.d3 ] [ and 10...a5 11.b5+ d7 12.a4 either. ] [ Note that 10...e7 11.h6 f8 12.xf8 xf8 could transpose to the game. ] 11.a3! Preventing Black from castling. f8 Black will have to lose time walking his king to safety. 12.xf8 xf8 13.0-0 [ 13.h4!? Kovalyov, A (2615) -Ramakrishna, 1536
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 J (2246)/Mumbai IND 2010. ] 13...g7 14.b5!? The first new move. Black was threatening 14...Na5. [ Quite similar to the game is 14.b2 , e.g. A) 14...c7 15.fd1 a5 16.f1 b6 17.c4 d8 18.d5+ g8 ( 18...f6 was necessary.) 19.e5 exd5 20.cxd5 b7? 21.ac1 d6 22.g4+Burtasova, A (2146)-Muhren, M/Chalkidiki 2001.; B) 14...e8 15.fe1 a5 16.d3 b6 17.ad1 b7 18.e5 f6 19.g4 Moreno Gracia, D (2101) -Abdullayev, E (2148)/Aviles 2006.; C) 14...b6 15.d3 b7 16.e4 A standard maneuver, but it gives Black time to consolidate. ( 16.fe1 ) 16...c8 17.c4 f6 18.fe1 hd8 19.c5 a8 20.cxb6 b8 21.c3 xb6 22.e5 xe5 23.dxe5 e7 24.xa8 xa8 25.ad1 ab8 26.g3 1/2-1/2 Prasad, D (2435)-Shankar, R (2394)/ Nagpur 1999. ] [ 14.c2 b6 15.e2 c7 16.ac1 b7 17.fe1 ac8 18.a6 White gives up any t r a c e o f a n e d g e w i t h t h i s m o v e . xa6 19.xa6 hd8= Hoefker, M (2270) -Lazarev, V (2500)/Recklinghausen 1997. ] [ 14.d3!? It's not completely clear which square is best for the queen, so this move definitely makes sense. White immediately frees up c4-c5. b6 15.ad1 White has many different ways to arrange his rooks. b7 16.b2 a5 17.e5 c8 18.fe1 ( 18.d2!? ) 18...c7 Baeumer, L-Iven, S/ Germany 1992/TD. Now 19.c4 f6 20.d5! wo u ld i n i t i a t e in t r igu in g co m p li ca t i o n s because fxe5 21.xe5 g8 ( 21...xc4 22.xc4 xc4 23.xe6+ c3 24.e7+ f6 25.xc3+ xc3 26.xb7 a3 27.d2 ) 22.xe6 gives White a strong attack. ] 14...c7 [ 14...a5 15.b2 can be compared to 14. Qb2. Black doesn't gain much from his extra mo ve - in f a ct , it m igh t be a h in dra n ce because the normal b6 runs into 16.d5! a move Black would meet with ...Nc6-a5 if his queen didn't occupy that square. Note that exd5 17.xd5 xd5?? 18.c4+ is simply disastrous for Black. ] 15.e2
[ 15.d3!? ] 15...d8 16.fd1 Again, White has great flexibility with his rook placement. Aronian decides on the logical c1/d1 squares, supporting the c3-c4/d4-d5 pawn pushes. b6 17.c4 e7 [ 17...f6 ] 18.b2 [ Aronian isn't interested in a positional treatment with 18.a4!? . The Black king is a more tempting target! ] 18...g8?! Naturally, Black wants to sidestep problems on the a1-h8 diagonal. [ However, preventing Nf3-e5 with 18...f6 was a better way of accomplishing this. White has a small edge after 19.e1 d6 ( 19...b7 20.d5! intending exd5 21.d4 ) 20.d3 d7 , i.e. 21.e3 intending to double rooks on the e-file and menace d4d 5 , b u t B la ck h a s a d e qu a t e d e f e n s i v e resources. ] 19.e5 h5 Preventing the unpleasant 20. Ng4. [ 19...b7 20.d5! is a recurring theme. After exd5 21.g4 d4 (fairly forced) 22.xd4 xd4 23.xd4 f5 24.b2 g7 25.d1 The threats begin to pile up. One beautiful line is d8? 26.f6+ h8 ( 26...f8 27.a3++- ) 27.d7!! xd7 28.e8+- ] 20.ac1 b7 [ 20...f6 would be inconsistent with 18...Kg8, but maybe it was best. ] 21.d5! The maestro at work! Watching guys like Carlsen and Aronian play, one is consistently impressed with their sense of timing and the initiative. 21.d5! isn't a terribly difficult move for a strong player to find, but Aronian's subsequent buildup and efficiency i n e x e c u t i o n i s h i g h l y i n s t r u c t i v e . exd5 22.cxd5 d6 [ On 22...b8 White has a simple solution available: A) 23.d6 is enticing, but Black seems to survive with "only" moves: xd6 24.c4 ( I don't see a clear knockout after 24.d7 xd1+ 25.xd1 f4 ) 24...d5 25.b3 d8 26.f3 ( 26.xg6 fxg6 27.xd5 xd5 28.xd5+ xd5 29.d1 f8 30.xd5 e7 and Black should be fine.) 26...f6 27.xd5 xd5 28.xd5 xd5 29.xd5 e8 30.f3 d6 31.b3 e7 1537
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White faces a conversion task that ought to be fruitless against decent defense.; B) 23.c6! xc6 24.dxc6 c7 25.f3 ] 23.c4 f4 24.d6 f5 25.d7! No respite for Black. g5 [ The computer votes for the forcing line 25...xg2 26.xg2 h4+ 27.h1 xd7 28.xd7 f3 29.xf3 xf3+ 30.g1 g4+ 31.f1 h3+ , but the conversion following 32.e1! ( 32.e2? e8+ 33.e3 xe3+ 34.d2 xd7+ 35.xe3 e6+ is actually a perpetual, as Houdini kindly informs us!) 32...xd7 33.e3 sho uld n't be o verly dif f icult. W hite ha s weak pawns, but Black has a lot of tactical threats to parry versus the Q+N combo because he can't realistically survive a queen trade. ] 26.g3 h4 27.g4! g7 Black hasn't much else. 28.e5?! Trading queens is the only decision of Aronian's I can really question. [ 28.e5! is m o r e r u t h l e ss , i . e . e6 29.c4 f4 30.xe6 fxe6 31.c4 f6 32.g5!+- and Black is unable to defend. ] 28...e6 29.xg5 xg5 30.e5 Even the small inaccuracy on move 28 hasn't relieved Black of his problems. The d7 pawn prevents him from coordinating properly, and Aronian is in complete control. g7 31.c3 e6? Probably the decisive mistake. 32.e3! c5 [ 32...f8 33.xf7! xf7 ( 33...xf7 34.xe6 d8 35.b5+- ) 34.c4+- ] 33.g5 f6 Hastening defeat, but Black can barely move. 34.d6 [ This is given as the concluding move, but it's safe to say Aronian threw in 34.gxf6+ xf6 before 35.d6+ , which would indeed encourage resignation! ] 1-0
1534 Bruzon Batista,Lazaro Bologan,Viktor 13th Karpov GM (5) [John Bartholomew]
A35 2713 2712 02.10.2012
More ideas are cropping up in the line 8...Nxc3 9.Bc4 Nd5 10.Bxd5 e6 11.Bxc6+ bxc6 12.0-0. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 g6 4.e3 f6
5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.b3 xc3 9.c4 d5 10.xd5 e6 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.0-0 f6!? Short's idea...a move sooner than last time!? [ Of course, I'm referring to Nigel's innovative 12...d5 13.c3 f6!? in Pantsulaia, L (2575)-Short, N (2698)/Istanbul TUR 2012/ [John Bartholomew]. Black scored a nice victory in that encounter, so Bologan gives ... f7-f6 a whirl one move earlier. ] 13.e3 Black will likely continue with the standard-issue ...Qd8-d5 (and he does), but for the moment White has a wide choice. With the text White eyes h6 and plans to fianchetto his dark-square bishop. Other possibilities: [ 13.e1 (very flexible) d5 14.c2 f7 15.f4 e7 with normal-looking play ] [ 13.f4 g5!? ( 13...d5 would transpose to 12...Qd5 13.Bf4, a line that's been played many times ) 14.g3 d5 ] [ 13.c2!? (not the usual place for the queen, but definitely possible) ] 13...d5 14.b3 e7 15.h6 f7 The queen's presence on h6 doesn't bother Black too much. 16.b2 b7 [ 16...a5!? ] 17.fe1 ad8 18.e2 f8 19.f4 d6 20.h6 h5 Playing for the win! White hasn't achieved anything from the opening, so 12... f6!? can be considered a success in its debut. [ 20...a6 also comes to mind. ] 21.e3 White prefers to keep the queens on board. [ 21.xh5 gxh5 is level. Black's pawns may be wrecked, but he's got plenty of open files in addition to the almighty bishop pair. ] 21...he8 22.h3 c5?! Hard to resist, but this move could use a little preparation. [ Better is 22...f5 and Black is slightly for choice. ] 23.dxc5 xc5? [ 23...xc5! was necessary. ] 24.c3?! [ Here 24.f4! is very powerful. Black would be practically forced to sacrifice a rook with f5 ( 24...e7? 25.e5 f5 26.ae1+- ) 25.c7+ e7 26.xd8 xf3 27.gxf3 xf3 28.d2 g3+ 29.f1 xh3+ 30.e2 White should escape the checks (although things are not yet 100% clear). ] 24...e7 Now Black is fine. 25.ae1 d6 1538
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.d2 ed8 27.e3 a6 28.e4 f5 29.h6 g5 30.h5+ g6 31.f3 d7 32.c3 f5 33.a4 b6 34.a5?! c6 35.e3 xa5 [ 35...f4! ] 36.h4 h6 37.a1? White is drifting in this super complex position. [ After 37.hxg5 hxg5 38.g4! (menacing Qe3h3) the game is still very much up for grabs ] 37...f5 38.xa7 cc7 39.a4?! d1+ 40.h2 [ Similar is 40.e1 cd7! . ] 40...cd7! The threat of a rook coming to d3 is too much for White to handle. Indeed, the computer indicates "-3.5" at this point! 41.f3 7d3 42.a7 xe4! Simplest. 43.axe4 d7! 44.a4 d6+ 45.g3 c5 White resigned. Material is still dead equal, but his position has completely collapsed. A strange, dynamic middlegame where any result was possible. For our purposes, the unorthodox 12...f6!? certainly looks as playable as it did in Pantsulaia-Short, though I doubt it's any better than the normal 12...Qd5. 0-1
White has a small lead in development and chances to target Black's slightly worse pawn structure. Black will have to take special care of the dark squares, particularly c5 and e5. On the other hand, Black possesses a longterm asset in the bishop pair, and, in some cases, the possibility of a kingside pawn storm. The light-square bishop stands poorly in this line, so Black will be looking for ways to make this piece relevant ... c6-c5! would be ideal if h e c o u l d e v e r m a n a g e i t . d5 Useful centralization. [ 12...g7 is often played, too. It seems to me that this is slightly less accurate, as it gives White a couple additional options, i.e. 13.g5 ( or 13.f4 ) 13...d5 14.a3!? . ] 13.c3 [ White has tried many moves here, with 13.f4 being the most notable alternative. One recent game saw a good example of Black's chances on the kingside: A) another illustrative encounter went 13...e7 14.fc1 f6 15.h4!? d7 16.e3 c8 17.c3 0-0 18.h6 fe8 19.ac1 xa2 20.h5 d5 21.hxg6 hxg6 22.c5! (an attractive exchange sac) xc5 ( Black should have declined with 1535 A35 22...a2! ) 23.xc5 d6 24.d3 f7 25.e5+! fxe5 26.f3+ g8 27.f6 Fressinet,Laurent 2714 e7 28.xg6+ h8 29.f6+ h7 Parligras,M 2618 30.f8 xf8 31.xf8 e8 32.c3 exd4 40th Olympiad Open (10.12) 07.09.2012 33.h3+ g6 34.h6+ 1-0 Wells, P [John Bartholomew] (2480)-Emms, J (2545)/Southend 2000.; B) 13...f6!? 14.fc1 g5 15.g3 h5 The Three Knights with 9...Nd5 has 16.h4 gxh4 17.xd5 cxd5 18.xh4 e7 established itself as the strongest 19.c7 d8 20.c3 g8 21.ac1 d7 counterargument to 4.e3, and the continuation Ruck, R (2579)-Bologan, V (2665)/ 12...Qd5 is particularly popular at present. Warsaw POL 2011. ] Let's get the lay of the land in this topical line. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.e3 g6 13...g7 [ The novel 13...f6!? is examined this month 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.c4 in Pantsulaia, L (2575)-Short, N (2698)/ xc3 9.b3 d5 I believe this is the best Istanbul TUR 2012. Our present game was way to return the knight. played a few days after this encounter, but [ Levon Aronian won a sparkling game at the Parligras prefers the normal continuation. ] European Team Championship against the alternative 9...e6 10.bxc3 g7 11.a3! 14.f4 0-0 15.e3 This is connected with f8 12.xf8 xf8 13.0-0 g7 14.b5!? the plan of Bf4-h6. [ 15.fc1 i s l o g i c a l . b7 ( 15...d8!? ) . See Aronian, L (2802)-Stevic, H (2612)/ 16.e3 fd8 17.g5 f6 18.h6 xh6 Porto Carras GRE 2011/[John Bartholomew] 19.xh6 d7 20.h4 f7 21.c5 d7 .] 22.e1 e8 23.f4 Cvitan, O (2539)10.xd5 e6 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.0-0 Edouard, R (2404)/Biel 2006. ] The contours of the battle are discernible. 1539
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15...b5 [ Nils Grandelius played 15...d8 earlier this year, and I think it's a little better than the text. 16.h4 b7 17.fe1 ac8 ( 17...xd4 18.xd4 xd4 19.g3 ) 18.b4 c5!? ( 18...a5!? ) 19.dxc5!? xa1 20.xa1 d3 ( 20...c4! ) 21.d6 xe3 22.fxe3 Sargissian, G (2674)-Grandelius, N (2545)/ Plovdiv BUL 2012. ] 16.h6!? Fressinet pitches a pawn to spur his initiative. [ The simple also 16.b3 comes to mind. For example, a5 17.a4 b6 18.d6 d8 19.c5 c7 20.e5 a6 21.fc1 ] 16...xb2 17.fb1 c2 18.c1 b2 19.h4 [ Na t u ral, b u t 19.xg7 xg7 20.e5 seems more problematic for Black. ] 19...f6! Shoring up the dark-square weaknesses around the Black king. 20.h5 gxh5 [ 20...xh6 21.xh6 g5!? ] 21.xg7 xg7 22.ab1 xa2 23.a1 d5 24.c5 d7 25.xh5 h8 26.aa5?! W hite enjoys a clear initiative for the twopawn deficit, but this move lacks decisiveness. [ More forceful measures were necessary, i. e. 26.h4!? g7 ( 26...g8 27.h6 ) 27.e4 g8 28.a3! ] 26...b8! Now Black succeeds in activating his pieces. 27.h4 g7 28.f4 b1+ 29.h2 b5!? Returning a pawn back, but unshackling the light-square bishop. 30.axb5 cxb5 31.xb5 b7 32.c5 d5 33.g3 g8 34.c7? A significant error. [ White needed to immediately reroute the poorly placed knight, e.g. 34.g2 g5 35.xg5 fxg5 36.e3 and White should hold. ] 34...g5 35.g2 a5! 36.xg5 fxg5 37.e3 a8! Rook behind the passed pawn! I doubt White can save the game at this point. 38.g4 f8! 39.g1 a4 40.c3 b3 41.e5 a8!-+ Returning to the a-file with decisive effect. 42.f7+ g8 43.c7 a3 44.h6+ h8 45.f7+ g7 46.e5+ g8 W hite resigned. W hite held an undeniable initiative into the middlegame, but one wonders whether a less risky approach like 15. Rfc1 or 16.b3 was more prudent. I must say I was rather impressed with Black's resilience and defensive resources, which bodes well for
9...Nd5 as a whole. 0-1
1536 Giri,A Smith,Ax Reykjavik Open 2013 (3.1) [John Bartholomew]
A35 2722 2485 20.02.2013
Anish Giri picks a rare continuation on move 13 yet fails to achieve more than an equal ending. From there he shows why he's a 2700+, though! 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 g6 4.e3 f6 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.b3 xc3 9.c4 d5 10.xd5 e6 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.0-0 d5 13.e3!? A rare move at this important juncture. We've already examined a couple different approaches for White: [ M o s t p o p u l a r i s 13.c3 , i.e. f6!? ( 13...g7 Fressinet, L (2714)-Parligras, M (2618) Istanbul 2012/[John Bartholomew]) 14.f4 g5! 15.g3 e7 16.fe1 f7 17.ac1 b7 18.e3 he8 19.b3?! c5 Pantsulaia, L (2575)-Short, N (2698) Istanbul 2012/[John Bartholomew] ] [ W hite can simplify with 13.xd5 cxd5 , but after 14.f4 f6 15.fc1 h5 16.h4 h7! 17.e1 b7 18.d3 d7 19.c2 a5 20.ac1 a4 21.c7 aa7 22.xb7 xb7 23.c7 xc7 24.xc7 Black began to grind away with the bishop pair in Kraai, J (2514)-Kacheishvili, G (2607) ICC INT 2012/ [John Bartholomew]. ] 13...xb3 Not strictly necessary, but certainly understandable. [ There are a couple games out there with 13...f6 , i.e. 14.fc1 d6 A) 15.c4 d7 ( 15...b7; or 15...0-0!? look preferable to me) 16.d2 xc4 17.xc4 c7 18.d2 b8 19.a3 b5 ( 19...b3! ) 20.b4 h5 21.g3 f7 22.c5 a6 23.c3 Wirthensohn, H (2411)-Arkell, K (2477) Saas Almagell 2005; B) 15.d2 f7 16.c2 d8!? 17.xc6 b7 18.xd5 xd5 19.c4 e7 20.f3 g5! 21.d2 dc8 22.e4 xc1+ 23.xc1 c8 Kreisl, R (2404)-Erdos, V (2645) Vienna 2012 ] 1540
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 13...e7 is of course possible as well. ] 14.axb3 b7 15.fc1 d6 16.e5 This looks logical at first blush. However, it turns out that Black can effectively offload the c-pawn and counterattack down the b-file. [ More ambitious alternatives include 16.g5!? (intending Ng5-e5 and possibly Ne4-c5) ] [ and 16.h6!? . ] 16...e7! 17.xc6+ xc6 18.xc6 a5! 19.d2 Guaranteeing further simplifications. W hite hardly had anything better, though. hb8 20.xa5 xa5 21.xa5 xb3 22.c2 [ 22.c3 is met by the convenient shot a3! , equalizing completely. ] 22...d3 23.d2 b3! 24.f1 b4 25.xb4+ xb4 26.e2 d6 27.c2 Axel Smith has played excellently to achieve a level ending against his super-GM opponent. Unfortunately he soon begins to make a few technical mistakes that eventually snowball into a loss. d5 [ Not yet a mistake, but Black could have already restored the material balance with 27...xd4 because White cannot win the pawn ending after 28.d2 c5 29.xd4 xd4 . ] 28.c7 e4 29.xf7 xb2+ 30.e1 d3! 31.f3+ xd4 32.f7 e4 33.g3 b1+?! [ 33...h5! would secure the draw without a problem, e.g. 34.f6 g5 35.xe6+ f3 36.e5 b1+ 37.d2 b2+ 38.e1 b1+= . ] 34.e2 b2+ 35.f1 e5?! [ More tenacious is 35...g5 36.xh7 g4 , ensuring that White will have to trade his 'f' or 'h' pawn. ] 36.xh7 f6 37.h4 b5 38.g2 a5? Amazingly, this is the decisive mistake! [ Black needed to play 38...e5 , immediately freeing up the e6 square. Then 39.g4 b4 40.g5+ e6 should ultimately be drawn. ] 39.g4! Hard to believe, but Black's g-pawn is now indefensible. e5 [ Now 39...a4 fails to 40.g5+ f5 41.f3 wh e n t h e p la n o f K g2 -g3 a n d Rf 7 -f 6 is impossible to parry. ] 40.f3 e4 41.g5+ e6 42.fxe4 e5 43.g7 xe4 44.xg6+This ending is a win (the tablebase says mate in 53!), and Giri successfully navigates the slight technical
problems. f5 45.f6+ g4 46.h6 f5 47.f2 a2+ 48.e3 a3+ 49.d4 a5 50.c4 e5 51.b4 d5 52.c3 c5+ 53.d3 a5 54.d4 b5 55.g6 f6 56.h5 g7 57.h7+ g8 58.e4 a5 59.f4 b5 60.g4 b4+ 61.g5 b5+ 62.h6 b8 63.d7 a8 64.d5 b8 65.g5 a8 66.h6 b8 67.h7+ g7 68.d7+ h8 69.h6 b7 70.g7# . One must feel for Smith, but Giri's technique in the rook ending was really very impressive. From a theoretical point of view I don't think 13.Be3 is a challenge to Black. 1-0
1537 Izoria,Zviad Palac,Mladen 6th EICC Qualification (4) [John Watson]
A35 2602 2574 02.07.2005
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 d4 This used to be a sure equalizer, but no more . 4.e3 xf3+ 5.xf3 g6 6.b3 g7 7.b2 d6 All normal so far. White goes along with the modern solution: 8.g4 Here we go again! The interesting thing about many of these contemporary g4 thrusts is that they have no piece target but have as their goal space capture and prophylaxis. b8 9.g2 a6 10.g5! [ 10.0-0-0 might have run into a dangerous attack after ...b5, so W hite keeps his options open. And ] [ 10.h4?! b5 11.e2? bxc4 12.xc4 b4 wins the g-pawn. ] 10...b5 11.e2 h6 [ Now 11...bxc4 12.xc4 b4 13.e2 is pointless. ] 12.h4! hxg5 13.hxg5 xh1+ 14.xh1 e6 15.f4 The logical follow-up to White's cramping strategy. a5 [ 15...b4 16.a4 xb2 17.xb2 e7 18.0-0-0 leaves Black with more weaknesses and some question as to king position, although this is hardly fatal. ] 16.0-0-0 bxc4 17.xc4 b4 18.d3! d5 This works out badly, but isn't necessarily losing, and [ 18...e7 19.f3 and Rh1 was no fun. ] 1541
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.xd5! exd5 20.xd5 f5! Black's position is on the edge. [ 20...xb2+ 21.xb2 was worse, for example, g4 22.h1 ] 21.e4?? An amazing blunder and counter blunder by two highly-rated players. Conceivably the score is wrong, but the result is the same. [ Best was 21.xa6! xa6 22.c7+ f8 ( 22...d7 23.xa6 xb2+ 24.xb2 b5 25.d4! ) 23.xg7+ xg7 24.xa6 b5 25.d4 cxd4 26.xd4 e7 27.e4 , but the two queenside passers are probably too much to deal with in the long run. ] 21...c4?? Losing more material. [ 21...xb2+ 22.xb2 xe4 wins, since 23.xa6 xa6 24.c7+ d7 25.xa6 d6 or 25...Rxf4 is easily winning. ] 22.e3 xb2+ 23.xb2 e6 24.xb4 xb4 25.f5 d7 and Black resigned. This seem a little premature. Nevertheless, [ 25...d7 26.fxg6 fxg6 27.c3 ( 27.d4 ) 27...xc3+ 28.xc3 cxb3 29.axb3 followed by d4 is very depressing. ] 1-0
1538 Kovacevic,Blazimir Sax,Gyula 15th Open Ljubjana SLO (8) [Tony Kosten]
A35 2478 2535 15.07.2004
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 e5 4.c3 f5 5.d4 cxd4 This opens the c1-h6 diagonal and gives White some extra options, I prefer [ 5...e4 6.d5 as in Vaganian-Kalinitschew (see the archives). ] 6.exd4 e4 7.g5 One of many possibilities here: [ 7.e5 f6 8.e2 b4 9.0-0 0-0 10.c5 d5 11.f4 with a plus in Kharitonov,AIljushin,A/Novgorod RUS 1999. ] [ 7.d5 exf3 8.dxc6 dxc6 ( 8...fxg2!? 9.cxd7+ xd7 10.xg2 c6 ) 9.xf3 f6 10.d3 the f5-pawn is a bit exposed but this lo o k s f a i rl y e q u a l, Ca l o t e s cu , C -S t i ri , A / Oropesa del Mar ESP 2001. ] [ 7.g1!? f6 8.ge2 g6 9.f4 with a nice grip on d5, Salo, T-Rantanen,Y/
FIN-chT 1994. ] [ 7.d2 f6 8.d5 e5 9.b3 d6 1/2-1/2 Tratar, M-Podlesnik,B/Krsko 1997. ] 7...b4 An innovation, and it looks best. [ 7...f6 8.d5! e5 9.d4 Butnorius,AH u l t i n , J / O s l o 1 9 9 2 , b u t i n s t e a d ( 9.d6! looks good )] 8.e2 f6 9.0-0 0-0 10.d5 This works well, but instead White could try [ 10.c5!? which may just win an exchange, i. e. d5 11.cxd6 h8 12.c4 xd6 13.f7+ xf7 14.xf7 but after xd4 Black has fair compensation. ] 10...h6?! This inaccuracy leads to tactical problems, [ 10...xd5! is best, 11.cxd5 a5! ( 11...e7? loses to 12.d6! xd6 13.c4+ h8 14.xh7! ) 12.f4 ( 12.a3 e7 13.h3 b6 and the knight comes to d6 via b7. ) 12...b6 and Black seems to be OK. ] 11.xb4! xb4 12.b3 hxg5 [ 12...c6 13.c5+ d5 14.cxd6+ h8 15.f7+ xf7 16.xf7 wins a good exchange. ] 13.xb4 f4 14.d6 e8?! [ 14...e8 is stronger, planning to evict the queen with ...Re6, so 15.c5 h7 16.c4 b6 White is better, but Black's kingside pawns are useful. ] 15.h4?! White tries to break-up the black structure, but this weakens his own kingside, as well. [ 15.c5 lo o ks ri g h t , o n c e a ga i n , e6 16.e5! and now the g5-pawn is en prise, so Black has real problems. ] 15...f3! Black seizes his chance to ruin the white king's pawn cover. 16.gxf3 gxh4 17.h2 h5?! [ 17...g6! menaces the win of White's queen, and then after 18.c5 exf3 19.xf3 ( 19.c4+?! h7 is good for Black now, as 20.xf8?? a llo ws m a t e in o n e : g2# ) 19...g4+ 20.xg4 xg4 with chances to both sides, if Black can get his bishop to b7 he may well win. ] 18.c5 Freeing the c4-square. exf3 19.c4+ h7?? An inexplicable blunder, Black had no choice but to play [ 19...f7 when 20.e3 g4+ 21.h1 should be good for W hite, but Black has some practical chances due to his kingside 1542
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 possibilities, e.g. h7 22.xf7 ( 22.d3+!? g6 23.g1 g7 24.ae1 may be superior) 22...xf7 23.ae1 b6 24.b4 b7 25.g1 f5 and Black is better, ...Nxf2+ and ...Qh3 mate is the immediate menace. ] 20.xf8 d5 21.g1! [ 21.g1 g4+ 22.xg4 xg4 23.d3+ g6 24.f7+ h8 25.xg6 kills the game ] [ 21.d3+? w o u l d b e a m i s t a k e , f5 22.xa8 xd3 23.e3 g4+ 24.h1 xf1 25.xf1 xe3 26.fxe3 f5 and amazingly, Black is better, despite being a whole rook down! For example 27.h2 c2+ 28.h3 g2+ 29.xh4 xf1 ] 1-0
against Pantsulaia. [ Another Short game (from 1981!) saw 14...e7 , which also looks reasonable: 15.fc1 f6 16.c7 g5 17.ac1 d7 18.g3 d8 19.b7 b6 20.b8?! ( 20.d6! ) 20...e7 21.xa7 xa7 22.xb6 xa2 Christiansen, L (2575)-Short, N (2440)/Hastings 1981. ] 15.fc1 h5 Meaningful expansion, and the prelude to an inventive rook lift. 16.h4 h7! The rook will enter the fray via b7. 17.e1!? The knight has nothing to do on the kingside, so Kraai dispatches it to d3. From there it can monitor b2 and jump to c5 at a moment's notice. b7 18.d3 d7 19.c2 a5! 20.ac1?! [ Better was 20.b3! , intending a4 21.b4= . ] 1539 A35 20...a4 The cramping effect of this pawn will Kraai,J 2514 now be a constant source of misery for White. Kacheishvili,Giorgi 2607 21.c7 Exchanging rooks only ensures White US Chess League 2012 (4) 24.09.2012 a long defense in a 2B vs. N+B ending, but he really doesn't have much to do. There are no [John Bartholomew] available pawn breaks, and his pieces already This game f inished second in the United occupy their ideal squares. [ The opposite-color bishop game after States Chess League's "Game of the Week" 21.c5 xc5 22.dxc5 c6 is even worse. voting (W eek 4). Kacheishvili's endgame Black's central pawns will advance determination was quite impressive to behold, unopposed while White's 3-to-1 queenside and his efforts were rightly lauded by the majority is completely stymied. ] judges. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 g6 4.e3 f6 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 21...aa7! 22.xb7 xb7 23.c7 xc7 Black has to be very satisfied with 8.b3 xc3 9.c4 d5 10.xd5 e6 24.xc7 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.0-0 d5 13.xd5 the outcome of the opening, as he now he An early queen exchange won't cause Black gets to press an ending with almost zero risk any sleepless nights, but he should have an of losing. It's still early, but I'd estimate the idea of what to do. It's worth mentioning that chances of a Black win or draw to be roughly t h e t e xt h a s b e e n p l a ye d b y so m e g o o d 50/50. I'll keep my notes to a minimum while players, including the aggressive-minded we watch Kacheishvili turn the screws. b5 25.f4 f7 26.a3 h6 27.f3 g5 28.hxg5 American Grandmaster Larry Christiansen. [ Last month we investigated White's main xg5 29.f2 h4 30.g3 hxg3+ 31.xg3 attempts at an advantage in the line 13.c3 c4 32.d6 h6 33.f2 g5 34.g3 b3 g7 Fressinet, L (2714)-Parligras, M (2618)/ 35.f2 c2 36.e2 h6 37.f4 e8 Istanbul TUR 2012/[John Bartholomew]. 38.e3 d7 39.b8?! [ 39.b4 ] ( We also had a look at 13...f6!? , a novel approach that brought Black success in 39...c6 40.c3 b3 [ The immediate 40...f8! was stronger. ] Pantsulaia, L (2575)-Short, N (2698)/ 41.f3 f8 42.f5 exf5 43.f4 d7 44.b5 Istanbul TUR 2012/[John Bartholomew]. )] 13...cxd5 14.f4 f6 White now has an e7 45.c3 d8 46.b8 a5 47.f4 e6 appreciable queenside majority, so in turn 48.f3 b6 49.e3 f7 50.e2 a5 Black aims to mobilize his center/kingside 51.f4 c4 52.d6 e1 53.c7 h4 preponderance. Short used this strategy to 54.d2 f2 55.c3 e1+ 56.c2 e7 goo d ef f e ct in t he a f o re men tion ed gam e 57.g6+ e6 58.f4+ d7 59.b8 g3 1543
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 60.c3 b3 61.d3 c6 62.e3 b5 63.c7 h2 64.d3 c4+ 65.c2 a2?! 66.xd5! Kraai has been defending patiently for 40+ moves, and now he spots a chance to reach the coveted draw. xc7 67.xc7+ c4 68.d5 [ 68.e6! would have achieved the goal a lot quicker, i.e. b3+ 69.d2 d5 70.c5 xd4 71.xb3+ axb3 72.e2 f4 73.f3 d3 74.a4 c2 75.a5 xb2 76.a6 c1 77.a7 b2 78.a8 b1 79.xf4= ] 68...b3+ 69.d2 c5 70.e3 d6 71.e8+?! xd5?! [ 71...e5! ] 72.xf6+ c4 73.h5 c2 74.d2 e4 75.f4 f3 76.d3 d5 77.f4 f7 78.g2?! d4 79.f4 c4 80.h5 e4 81.f6+ e5 82.d7+ d4 83.f8?? White falters under the persistent pressure. [ A d r a w w a s s t i l l p o s s i b l e w i t h 83.f6 . In fairness, it wasn't easy to find a clear path for the knight (especially in time pressure). ] 83...f4-+ The passed pawn will cost White his knight. 84.g6 [ Or 84.e1 e3-+ . ] 84...f3 85.h4 f2 86.f3+ c5 87.h2 f1 88.xf1 xf1 89.c2 Unfortunately for W hite, he still has "a" and "b" pawns remaining! Kacheishvili now demonstrates why this is significant. c4 90.b1 b3 91.a1 c2 92.a2 c4+ 93.a1 g8 Zugzwang! 94.b4 axb3 White resigned. A great example of Black's long-term prospects with the bishop pair and kingside pawn roller. 13.Qxd5 has not found many followers for good reason. 0-1
1540 Krasenkow,Michal Lautier,Joel ol (men) Elista RUS (12) [Tony Kosten]
A35 2655 2625 11.10.1998
One advantage for White is that he can now capture with the bishop, as opposed to the line 4 e3 Nxf3+ when he must take with his queen. d6 8.h4 Attempting to inject some life into the position. h5 9.b3 h6 Sensible, bringing the knight to f4 to dissuade White from expanding in the centre by d4, but a Larsen, or Andersson would prefer [ 9...xc3!? perhaps, with play against the doubled pawns. ] 10.b2 g4 Otherwise this piece couldn't be developed without first defending the b7pawn. 11.xg4 xg4 12.e2 White is planning to castle long, and then advance the kingside pawns. This is clearly best, for if he should castle short he will be unable to drive the g4-knight away from its advanced post without seriously compromising his own king's defences. d7 13.0-0-0 f5 14.f3 e5 15.e4 0-0? Even the very best players sometimes 'castle into the attack'. Perhaps Black was lulled into a false sense of security by the fairly innocuous look of the opening. 16.hf1 a6 17.d4 As is often the case in the English, the def erral of the central pawn advances only serves to increase their force. The active black knight is driven from the ce n t r e , a n d f r o m t h e co n t r o l o f g 4 . cxd4 18.exd4 c6 19.g4 The White attack develops 'a tempo'. a5 20.d5 e5 21.b1 Defending the a2-pawn, and killing Black's last hope for counterplay. hxg4 22.fxg4 b5 23.c5! With the dual purpose of keeping the queenside closed, and undermining the e5knight. dxc5 24.h5 Menacing 25 h6 Bh8 26 h7+, winning the e5-knight, but [ 24.g5 was also strong, Black's position is so bad. ] 24...c7 25.h2 Pinning the black knight, and threatening unpleasantness along the hfile. fc8 26.hxg6 xg6 27.d6 exd6 28.g5 Black can only fend-off mate by discarding excessive amounts of material. 1-0
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 d4 4.g3 g6!? Black prefers to keep his steed on d4 rather than devalue the White pawn structure, by [ 4...xf3+ 5.exf3 ] 5.g2 g7 6.e3 xf3+ 7.xf3 1544
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is also good, as after e8 31.xg8+ d7 A35 32.d3 bxa2 33.xf7 forces mate. ] 2661 2538 30...f1+ 31.g3 g1+ 32.h3 f1+ 04.05.2000 33.g2 a8 34.b7! [ 34.xf1? would allow Black to replace his queen by bxa2 ] 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 d4 4.e3 1-0 xf3+ 5.xf3 g6 6.b3 g7 7.b2 d6 8.g4!? A35 [ Krasenkow's games are amongst the most 1542 interesting in the English at the moment, and Mastrovasilis,Athanasios 2513 here he plays one of his favourite ideas, the Banikas,Hristos 2646 swift advance of the g-pawn with a closed GRE CupT final 32nd (4.2) 05.07.2014 centre, as demonstrated in last month's [Tony Kosten] games. 8.g3 is normal, but doesn't offer W hite a great deal, b8 9.d1 h6 1.c4 c5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 g6 10.g2 0-0 11.0-0 which soon led to 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.b3 equality, Ftacnik,L-Miles,A/Manilla 1990. ] e6 "A reliable move that has exploded in 8...b8 9.g2 d7 10.e2 popularity in 2012." - Bartholomew. [ Opening the centre by 10.d4?! does not [ We've examined the main 8...xc3 9.c4 l o o k r i g h t , cxd4 11.exd4 a5 d5! in a number of games, see Fressinet, ( 11...xd4!? ) 12.f4 h6 13.g3 g5 L-Parligras, M for example. ] 14.e4 xg4 15.d5 with unclear play, 9.b5 Pinning the knight decreases the Pomes Marcet,J-Bellon Lopez,J/Barcelona pressure on d4, and introduces the positional 1990. ] possibility of capturing this knight and leaving 10...a6 11.g5! b5 Black gets his queenside Black with a poor light square bishop. counterplay in motion. 12.d3 a5 13.c1 h6 [ 9.g5 f6 10.d2 g7 11.d3 0-0 12.0-0 [ 13...e6 14.0-0! threatens Ne4. ] leads to a more normal IQP position, when 14.h4 The g5-pawn is a real problem for Black, the e6 weakness must give W hite a plus, who cannot develop his knight on f6, and who Gashimov, V (2719)-Topalov, V (2803) / doesn't wish t o play .. .e6, as this would Nanjing CHN 2010. ] weaken his dark squares. h7!? 15.a1 9...g7 10.e5 This move scores well, hxg5 16.hxg5 xh1+ 17.xh1 b4 18.e4 although it hasn't been played much. a3 19.d2 xa1 20.xa1 c8 21.d4 [ 10.0-0 0-0 11.d1 ( 11.xd5 xd5 An original position, W hite has some 12.xd5 exd5 13.xc6 bxc6 14.f4 g4 advantage because of the g8-knight, and 15.e5 xe5 16.xe5 f6 17.g3 fe8 expands in the centre to accentuate this. c6 is obviously drawish, Medvegy, Z (2547)22.dxc5 xe4 23.xe4 xc5 24.f4 a5 Gonda, L (2524) /Hungary 2014.; 11.xc6 25.d4 Menacing Qg7, with an immediate bxc6 12.a4 a6 13.e1 b6 14.c5 win. f8 26.f2 a4 27.f3! The king is c4 15.c3 d5 16.e5 White's knights safest behind its pawns. a5?! are we ll p la ced , bu t so is B la ck 's 'ba d ' [ Black's queenside attack is well on its way, bishop, Aronian, L (2816)-Caruana, F (2773)/ but W hite simply brings his forces to the Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2012.) 11...a5 ( 11...h6 kingside. In view of what follows, guarding 12.xc6 bxc6 13.e4 b6 14.c5 e5 t h e b a c k r a n k b y 27...c8 15.c4 exd4 16.xd4 e8 17.h3 b8 is more circumspect. ] Kramnik, V (2785)-Gashimov, V (2746)/ 28.h1 axb3 29.h7 c1 Monte Carlo 2011.) 12.a3 xc3 13.xc3 [ 29...f6 also loses to 30.d5 ] a6 14.e2 d7 15.g5 Nikcevic, N (2429) 30.b6 Brynell, S (2481)/Sweden 2014, when b6 [ The double threat to the rook and to the seems perfectly satisfactory. ] back rank wins, but the natural 30.g7+ [ For 10.g5 b6 11.a3 f6 see Vorobiov, 1541 Krasenkow,Michal Macieja,Bartlomiej 57th ch Plock POL (7) [Tony Kosten]
1545
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 E-Grigoriants, S in the Archive. ] [ 10.xd5 exd5 11.e5 transposes below. ] 10...d7 [ 10...de7 is also reasonable: 11.xc6+ xc6 ( 11...bxc6!? 12.e3 0-0 13.0-0 c5 14.fd1 Szmetan, J (2405)-Perez Cascella, J (2255)/Mar del Plata 1994.) 12.xc6 bxc6 13.0-0 b6!? risky, ( 13...0-0 ) 14.a3! xd4 15.e4 c5 16.d1 e5 17.h6 b7 18.xd4! exd4 19.xc5 0-0-0! best, 20.c1 c6 21.f4 d5 Black's position is precarious but he keeps finding only moves, 22.b4?! ( 22.e4 ) 22...e8 23.b5?? xc5 24.bxc6 c3! 0-1 Ivanov, O (2390)Rogoznikov, A/Voronezh 1991. ] 11.xd5 [ 11.xd7 xd7 12.0-0 0-0 13.xd5 xd5 ( 13...exd5= ) 14.xd5 exd5 15.xc6 bxc6 16.e3 Pap, G (2492) -Predojevic, B (2643)/Hungary 2011, equal after, say fb8 17.ab1 b4 18.b3 a5 ] 11...exd5 [ 11...xe5!? 12.dxe5 exd5 13.0-0 xb5 14.xb5+ d7 15.b4 e7 16.d2 xb4 17.xb4 d7 might also be OK for Black, Gaponenko, I (2448)-Symoens, D/ La Fere 2004. ] 12.0-0! [ 12.xc6 xc6 13.0-0 0-0 1/2-1/2 Bogdanovski, V (2435)-Palac, M (2593)/Skopje 2012. ] 12...0-0!? A bold new move, offering a pawn for the initiative. [ 12...xe5 13.dxe5 transposes back into the Gaponenko game just above. ] 13.xd5 xe5 14.dxe5 e6 15.xd8 [ 15.c5 c8 16.xa7 xe5 also gives adequate play for the pawn, e.g. 17.xb7 b8 18.a6 b6 19.a5 xh2+ 20.xh2 b8+ ] [ 15.xb7 xe5 16.f3 f6 17.xf6 xf6 with play against b2. ] 15...fxd8 16.f4 f6 17.e1 [ 17.exf6 xf6 18.e1 d5 19.a4 ac8 with good compensation as W hite can't develop his queenside without losing the bpawn. ] 17...fxe5 18.fxe5 ac8 Play is level. 19.f4 d4 20.g3 b4 21.a4 a6 22.d3 xb2 23.ab1 xb1 24.xb1 d5 25.e2 e8
26.f3 xf3 27.gxf3 xe5 [ 27...xe5 28.xe5 xe5 is equal. ] ½-½
1543 Miles,Anthony J Oral,Tomas Mem Elite Varadero CUB (4) [Tony Kosten]
29.xb7
A35 2579 2540 10.05.2000
1.f3 c5 2.g3 c6 3.c4 e5 The solid Botvinnik System. 4.c3 g6 5.a3 g7 [ 5...a5 is also good, confining White's queenside play, 6.d3 g7 7.g5 f6 8.d2 ge7 9.g2 0-0 10.0-0 d6 11.e1 e6 12.d5 b8 13.c2 b5 regaining control of b5, 14.xe7+ xe7 15.cxb5?! a4! fixing b3, with advantage, Vaganian,RFilippov,V/Elista RUS 1998. ] 6.b4!? [ Is this really possible? Certainly it is with the white bishop on g2, instead of the knight on f3, but this position gives Black extra resources. 6.b1 ge7 7.g2 a5 8.d3 0-0 9.g5 f6 10.d2 d6 11.0-0 e6 12.e1 is almost identical to the previous note, and Black is fine, Petrosian,T-Radulov, I/ Amsterdam 1973. ] 6...e4 [ D r i v i n g t h e k n i g h t t o t h e r i m . 6...cxb4 either now, or on the next move, is probably worse, 7.axb4 e4 8.h4 xb4 9.a3 e3!? 10.fxe3 xc3 11.dxc3 c6 is unclear. ] 7.h4 d6 [ 7...xb4!? is also possible, 8.b2 c6 9.c2 and W hite wins the e-pawn, f5?! allowing 10.xe4 ] 8.b2 f5 Black consolidates his e-pawn, will it serve as a strength, or a target for White, as he has planned? 9.d3 f6 Again Black is not lure d b y t he b-p awn , b ut instea d t rie s t o complete his development. 10.dxe4 [ White has problems finding a satisfactory move here, as the natural 10.g2? g5 is more than a little awkward, winning the knight. ] 10...xe4 11.c1 [ 11.xe4 xb2 12.b1 xa3 13.xd6+ 1546
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e7 14.bxc5 a5+ 15.d2 b4 wins material. ] 11...0-0 12.g2 d4 13.a2? [ This move is unnatural, and overly ambitious, W hite had to play the obvious 13.xe4 fxe4 ( 13...b3 14.d1 xb2 15.d5+ g7 16.b1 regains the piece w i t h a n e d g e) 14.xe4 e7 15.f3 w i t h r e a s o n a b l e c h a n c e s , e . g . b3!? 16.e3 xa1 17.d5+ e6 18.xe6+ f7 ( 18...h8?? 19.xg6+ hxg6 20.h6# ) 19.xf7+ xf7 and Black has compensation for the pawn. ] 13...e6 The white c-pawn is a weakness. 14.xe4 fxe4 15.xd4 [ This allows Black to weaken the white k i n g s i d e b y f o r c e , b u t 15.xe4 cxb4 16.axb4 b6 is also unpleasant for White. ] 15...xd4 16.e3 f6 17.xe4 xh4 18.gxh4 xh4 19.xb7 ab8 White is in serious trouble, his king is stuck in the centre and his pawns are vulnerable. 20.g2 xc4 21.c2 cxb4 22.d2 [ 22.xc4? is impossible, xf2+ ] 22...bxa3 23.d5+ xd5 24.xd5+ g7 25.0-0 f5 26.e6? Either both players were in time trouble, or the score is incorrectly noted, as this allows mate. h5? [ 26...g4+ forces mate, Black must have been in severe time trouble to miss this, if he really did. ] 27.f4 hb5?? Another mistake. 28.d7+? [ 28.c7+ h8 29.d7 h6 30.c8+ xc8 31.xc8+ g7 32.d7+ forks king and rook. ] 28...h6?? [ 28...f8 is the only possibility, with equality after 29.c8+ xc8 30.xc8+ e7 31.c7+ f8 ] 29.cf2?? [ 29.c7 wins! ] 29...b1 Now the game returns to its proper course. 30.g2 xf1 31.xf1 a2 32.xa7 b1+ 33.g2 a1 [ 33...g4# ] 0-1
1544 Pantsulaia,Levan Short,Nigel D Kolkata op 19th (8) [Fier, Alexandr]
A35 2606 2674 25.03.2014
This line sometimes brings Black some headaches because of the offside knight on a5, but Short finds an original way to get rid of it. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 g6 4.e3 g7 5.d4 d6 6.e2 [ 6.h3 is an important option, White avoids ideas with ...Bg4 f6 7.d5 a5 8.e4 0-0 9.d3 e5 10.a3 b6 11.g4 playing on both wings was the subject of Hess, R (2572)Bologan, V (2693)/Moscow Aeroflot op-A 10th 2011. ] 6...f6 [ 6...g4 can be played now, immediately hitting d4 7.0-0 the pawn of d4 is protected since b7 is also hanging cxd4 ( 7...f6 8.d5 a5 9.d2 0-0 10.b3; 7...xf3 8.xf3 cxd4 9.exd4 xd4 10.xb7 b8 11.e4 and W hite has an advantage due to the b ish o p p a ir a n d t h e q u e e n sid e p a wn s) 8.exd4 h6 since Black took on d4 this makes sense. From f5 the knight has good control over d4 9.d5 xf3 10.xf3 e5 A) 11.e4 is an interesting move, controlling f5 since c4-pawn is not hanging 0-0 ( 11...xc4?? 12.a4++- ) 12.b3 and Black has no good way to exploit the diagonal because the h6 knight will be undefended; B) 11.e2 0-0 12.d2 c8 13.b3 with a level position in Arsovic, Z (2468)Ardeleanu, A (240 5)/Senta op-A 13t h 2009. ] 7.0-0 0-0 8.d5 a5 9.a3 [ 9.e4 some people like this move to have the chance to recapture with the e-pawn in case of ...e6 and ...exd5 e5 but now this is more appealing, if White takes on e6 the d4square is not controlled anymore, otherwise Black can start some counterplay on the kingside more easily 10.a3 b6 11.b4 b7 was seen in some games like Savchenko, S (2 5 7 4 )- M o i s e e n k o , A ( 2 5 7 3 ) / UK R - c h T Alushta 2000. ] 9...e6 [ 9...b6 Black prefers to play without this 1547
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 move 10.b4 b7 11.d2 ( 11.b2 a5?! Black usually tries to play on the queenside, so this move is not good 12.b3 c7 and W hite is better because of his space advantage. If Black changes on b4 twice, the b6-pawn will be an easy target )] 10.d2 a6 Black goes for an interesting piece sacrifice. The idea is good, but I think there is a better way to go for it. [ 10...exd5 11.cxd5 b6 is a Benoni way to play the position 12.b4 b7 the knight can be strange on b7, but it helps on the queenside. It's harder for W hite to play something with a4-a5 without giving the c5 square 13.b1 a6 with a normal, level position ] [ 10...d7!? I like this idea, Black tries to sacrifice the knight in an improved version of the game 11.b4 ( 11.b1 prepares one more move and now threatens 12.b4 exd5 12.cxd5 c8 and Black has time to improve his pieces to defend against the idea of b4 13.b3 a6 is ok ) 11...xc4 A) 12.dxe6 is possible, but then White is not winning any material xd2 ( 12...cxb4 is too much 13.xc4 xe6 14.b5 e4 15.d4 and W hite stays a piece up) 13.exf7+ xf7 14.xd2 e6 15.b2 b6 and Black is fine; B) 12.xc4 xd5 13.xd5 xa1 this is the main difference, in this position the knight on d5 has no good square to go 14.xd6 ( 14.f4 d5 15.d2 c4 is better for Black, with two strong pawns controlling the center) 14...exd5 15.xb7 b6 16.xc5 e6 and White has some compensation, but for sure it's not enough for any advantage ] 11.b4 xc4 [ 11...xd5 is another way to sacrifice the piece, but less effective 12.cxd5 xc3 13.b1 b5 14.bxa5 exd5 15.b2 and White manages to change the strong bishop xb2 ( 15...xa5 16.f3 an d B la ck h as p ro b le m s d e f en d ing d 5) 16.xb2 e6 and here I think the compensation is not enough. At some point the d5-pawn will be in trouble ] 12.xc4 xd5 13.xd5 exd5 [ 13...xa1 now this move doesn't work because of the weak point on b6 14.db6
b8 15.xd6 xd6 16.xd6 cxb4 17.axb4 and Black's position is hopeless, the bishop on c8 has no squares ] 14.b2 e6 After some forced moves White now has time to breathe. If W hite can reorganize his pieces he will be better, but so m e h o w t h e re i s n o go o d wa y t o d o i t . Pantsulaia chooses to give the piece back to have a small advantage which proved insufficient for a win. 15.f3 The most solid. [ 15.a4!? is a strange move, but frees the a3square for the rook c4 16.a3 a5 17.b5 c8 18.f3 b6 and White can't take the d5pawn without losing the piece back 19.xd5 c3 20.xe6 cxb2 21.xb2 fxe6 22.xg7 xg7 23.d3 d5 24.e4 with a better structure ] [ 15.b1 tries to keep the piece up, but after c4 16.g4 c8 17.xe6 fxe6 18.c2 b5 Black's pawns are strong. The position is balanced ] 15...c4 16.xd5 c3 17.a2 [ 17.xe6 would change the structure cxb2 18.xb2 xb2 19.a2 fxe6 20.xb2 d5 21.c2 and we reach a worse version of the 15.a4!? variation. I think Black has equal chances here. ] 17...cxb2 18.xb2 xb2 19.xb2 Now we enter the technical part of the game. White has a small advantage because of the isolated pawn, but compared to the classical position with the pawn on d5 there are a few differences: First the pawn is easier to defend from the third rank, and also by the king in case of some queen exchange. For White, he has more space and a nice post on d5 is usually stronger than d4. In the game it looks like Black defended without many problems. I have the feeling that White might have more chances if he exchanges the bishops. d7 20.d2 fd8 21.f3 [ 21.f3 xd5 22.xd5 would be a slightly better plan, but Black remains solid with the e6-square at his disposal now ] 21...ac8 22.a1 g4 23.d5 e7 24.h3 e6 25.fd1 c7 26.f3 b3 27.c1 a4 28.xc7 xc7 29.f6 c6 30.d1 [ 30.xc6 again this would change the character of the position. Now Black can bring one more pawn to the center bxc6 31.h4 h5 32.g3 and it's hard for White to 1548
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 improve his position ] 30...d5 31.b3 d6 This gives an interesting opportunity to White. [ 31...d6 32.d4 would continue on the same path ] 32.d4 [ 32.f3!? probably the best chance for W h i t e i n t h e g a m e d7 ( 32...g7 g i vi n g t h e p a w n i m m e d i a t e l y i s b e t t e r 33.xd5 xd5 34.xd5 xd5 35.xd5 c1+ 36.h2 b5 37.e5+ White wins the pawn, but the fight will continue for a long time g8 38.a4 bxa4 39.e8+ g7 40.xa4 and I'm not quite sure just how real W hite's chances are to convert the advantage ) 33.e4! and f7 is the problem dxe4 ( 33...d4 34.f4 and White made progress g7 35.e5 g5 36.g3 h6 37.f4 with a much better position) 34.xf7+ and the rook falls xf7 35.xf7+ xf7 36.xd6+- ] 32...d7 33.c2 d8 34.d2 f8 35.g4 e7 36.f4 h4 37.h2 h5 38.g3 xg3+ 39.xg3 hxg4 40.hxg4 g5 41.f3 g7 42.f2 f6 43.d4 e7 ½-½
[ or 15...g4!? , but Short exercises restraint. ] 16.fe1 f7 The king is pretty safe here. 17.ac1 b7 18.e3 he8 19.b3?! [ White should harass the h7-pawn without d e l a y , i . e . 19.c2! g8 ( 19...f5?? 20.b3! i s a w f u l f o r B l a c k , i . e . c8 21.e5+! fxe5 22.f3+- ) 20.h4!? g4 21.e1 planning Ne1-d3. ] 19...c5! Executing the ideal pawn break right on time. 20.c2 [ 20.dxc5 xb3 21.xb3 d5 is similar to the game. ] 20...f5 21.dxc5 xc2 22.xc2 ec8 23.ec3 e4 24.c1 xf3! An unexpected decision th at pays imm ediate d ividen ds . 25.xf3 [ White probably saw that 25.gxf3 is met by e5! , when White has an eternally buried bishop. The engine isn't so fearful of this, but I could see why a human wouldn't want anything to do with this line. ] 25...xc5 26.xc5 xc5 An objectively equal ending has arisen. Equal, but not yet drawn! From here Short succeeds in outplaying his opponent. 27.c3 [ White's g3 bishop is a bit clumsy, so repositioning it with 27.e5 e7 28.f1 g6 29.c3= looks like a good idea. ] 1545 A35 27...d4 28.c7+ g6 29.b3 f5 30.d6 Pantsulaia,Levan 2575 d8 31.e7 d5 32.f1 b6 33.c2 g4 f4 35.e2?! White's game Short,Nigel D 2698 34.b4 40th Olympiad Open (7.9) 04.09.2012 deteriorates after this inaccuracy. [ 35.f3! holds the balance. ] [John Bartholomew] 35...h5 36.h4?! gxh3 37.gxh3 xh3 38.f3 Nigel Short blazes a trail with 13...f6!?. 1.f3 f5 39.a4 e5 40.c6 e4! 41.fxe4+ xe4 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 g6 4.e3 f6 5.d4 42.c4+?? A very unfortunate check. [ 42.c5! preserved saving chances. ] cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.c4 xc3 9.b3 d5 10.xd5 e6 11.xc6+ bxc6 42...d5 [ White resigned upon noticing that 42...d5 12.0-0 d5 13.c3 f6!? A novelty. Black 43.xf4 is met by e3+ , picking up the often needs this move, so why not now? One bishop. Short's 13...f6!? has definite appeal, aspect to note is that Black is now far more so expect more games to roll in with this line. likely to place the dark-square bishop on d6/ Prospective W hite players should devote e7 with the long diagonal closed. extra attention to frustrating Black's ...c6[ The normal continuation 13...g7 14.f4 c5 advance. ] 0-0 is examined in Fressinet, L (2714) 0-1 Parligras, M (2618)/Istanbul TUR 2012. ] 14.f4 g5! It transpires that Short's last move is also useful in grabbing a little kingside space. 15.g3 e7 [ It's possible to take the kingside concept further with 15...h5 ] 1549
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1546 Pigusov,Evgeny Arnason,Jon L 15th ECC Gp 2 (2) [Tony Kosten]
A35 1547 2609 Rapport,Richard 2529 Dezelin,Milan 25.09.1999 SRB Central-ch op-A 7th (1) [Tony Kosten]
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 d4 4.g3 xf3+ 5.exf3 f6 6.d4 e6 7.g2 d5 Black reacts in the centre, where he does have an extra pawn. 8.cxd5 xd5 9.xd5 xd5 10.e3 cxd4 11.xd4 b5!? Stopping White from castling short. [ This is more aggressive than 11...xd4 12.xd4 b4+ 13.e2 b6 14.f4 ( 14.xg7 a6+ 15.e3 c5+ 16.d4 xd4+ 17.xd4 0-0-0+ allows Black a powerful i n i t i a t i v e .) 14...a6+ 15.e3 d8 which is level, Vaganian,R-Gulko,B/ Novgorod 1995. ] 12.0-0-0 d7 13.f4 e7! Black finds a radical way to develop his kingside. 14.xg7 c8+ 15.b1 f5+ 16.a1 f6 The point of Black's combination. 17.g4! A strong resource, and one that was planned by White when he took the g7-pawn. [ 17.h6? would walk into a powerful attack after xb2+! 18.xb2 c2+ 19.a1 c3+ 20.b1 c4 ] 17...xg7 Forced. 18.gxf5 c2 19.e4 c4 Not falling for the trap: [ 19...xb2? 20.d4 xd4 21.xd4 e2 22.hd1 when the threat of Rxd7, and then Rd8+, wins material. ] 20.d3 b4 21.d2 b6 22.a3 a4 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.b1 Black was menacing ...Rxa3+. W hite has won a pawn, but his singleton, doubled, f-pawns might not prove too useful. e7?! A logical move, but one that loses a second pawn. 25.c1 c8 26.xc8 xc8 27.xh7 a5 28.g6 f6 29.e4 e7 30.f3 f5 31.g4 b5 32.h4 b7 33.c1 e4 Now White enjoys a two-pawn advantage, but the active black pieces will make the realisation of this problematic. 34.e2 f5 35.h5 f8 36.d3? xd3 37.xd3 h8 38.f5 exf5 39.g5+ f6 40.xf6+ xf6 41.d7 xh5 [ 41...xh5 if 42.xa7 h2 43.a6 xf2 44.xb6+ e5 the f-pawn is at least as strong as the a and b-pawns. ] ½-½
A35 2701 2298 04.07.2014
1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 [ 2...g6 3.g4!? is seen in Rapport, RDominguez Perez, L, annotated by Alex. ] 3.d3 A subtle waiting move?! g6 4.g4!? Only now, after ...g6. "Since the center is still closed, White tries to expand on the kingside quickly. It also has the same idea as 3.g3, which is to develop the bishop to g2." Alex. [ 4.h4 is perhaps less unusual, f6 5.e4 d6 6.ge2 g7 which looks like a Botvinnik (and could transpose if White plays g3), but: 7.f3 e6 8.e3 0-0 9.d2 now White plays a Yugoslav Attack-style, Maximov, A (2 1 7 8 )-S h a gd u ro v, D (1 6 9 9 )/ Ula n Ud e 2010. ] 4...d6 5.h3 [ 5.g5 g7 6.g2 e6 7.h4 h5 would actually transpose to the Rapport game mentioned above. ] 5...g7 6.g2 Mike Basman (of course!) was the first to play this position, but he reached it from 1 h3! h5!? Not surprisingly ... a novelty! [ 6...e6 solid, but A) 7.d2 ge7 8.b3 0-0 9.b2 d5 10.a4 xb2 11.xb2 a5 12.xa5 xa5 13.e3 ac6 14.e2 Vojinovic, J (2307) -Richard, E (99)/Mulhouse 2014.; B) 7.f3 c7 ( 7...ge7 8.f4 Sieranoja, A-Hintikka, E (2170)/Jamsa 1996. ) 8.d2 f6 9.a3 a6 10.b4 d4 11.b1 b8 12.bxc5 dxc5 13.c1 0-0?! 14.f4 xf3+ 15.xf3 e5 16.g5 e6 17.xf6 xf6 18.d5 ( 18.h4! ) 18...h4 19.0-0 g7 20.xe6 fxe6 21.e4 with the clea rly superior minor piece , Belezky, A (2402)-Suarez Pozo, J/Seville 2005.; C) 7.xc6+ this is most in the spirit of this line, bxc6 Dolezal, C (2410)-Demaria, J (2242)/Buenos Aires 2003, when 8.d2 followed by b3 and Bb2 looks right, much as in the main game. ] [ 6...d7 stops White capturing on c6, and was played in the stem game, 7.f4!? a6 8.f3 b8 9.a4 e6 10.d2 f5 11.e4?! 1550
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ge7 12.g5 b4 13.e3 c6 (with a threat!) 14.h4? which was missed! xc3+! 15.bxc3 xd3+! 16.xd3 fxe4 17.e2 exf3 18.xf3 xf3 19.xf3 and White was totally busted, Basman, M (2350)-Plaskett, J (2470)/London 1993. ] [ 6...e5 is logical, 7.xc6+!? this is slightly worse with the pawn on e5, but still, ( 7.e3 ge7 8.ge2 e6 Rieber, R (1872)Fiedler, W (1997)/Bayern 2011, 9.d5!? ) 7...bxc6 8.f3 ( 8.d2 as in the main game. ) 8...e7 9.g5 f6 10.d2 0-0 11.a4 c7 12.e4 a5 with an interesting position, Dolezal, C (2392)-Albarran, G (2283)/Buenos Aires 2001, 13.g1!? ] 7.g5 h4!? [ 7...e6 8.h4 would actually leave White a tempo down on the Dominguez-Perez game! ] 8.d2 e5 9.xc6+ Again this same idea, muc h b elove d o f Larsen , and since t he n players like Bauer, Bricard. bxc6 10.b3 e6 11.b2 White is better here: he will play Ne4 when the knight will be difficult to dislodge as the g-pawn impedes ...f5, and ...d5 will lose t h e c - p a w n . h5! The logical follow-up to B l a c k ' s s e v e n t h . 12.e4 a5?! Missing White's threat. [ 12...f8!? 13.f3 e7 and ... Bf5xe4 wo u ld b e in te re st in g, ta rget in g t h e g5 pawn. ] 13.f4! Black's proud centre is being put under maximum pressure. f5 14.gxf6 h6?! [ 14...xf6 15.f3 h6 was better, but 16.e3 xe4 17.dxe4 still favours White. ] 15.g5? [ 15.e3 just looks crushing, i.e. xf6 16.g2 xe4 17.xg6+ f7 18.xe4 ] 15...xf6 16.1f3 d7? [ 16...e7 is correct, so White can't capture on e5. ] 17.fxe5! Of course, now things go rapidly downhill for Black. dxe5 18.g1 xh3 19.e3 e5 is dropping. d7 20.xe5 e7 21.e4! Taking the opportunity to unpin the g5-knight. xg5 22.xg6+ f7 23.xg5 xg6 24.xg6 White has only won a pawn, but a count of the respective pawn islands tells the complete story. e7 25.g7 a4 26.f6 c8 27.g5 Menacing mate in one. g4 28.bxa4 h3 29.b1 h2? 30.g8+
[ 30.g8+ d7 31.b7+ d7 33.dxd7# ] 1-0
1548 Smirin,Ilia Stevic,Hrvoje TCh Pula CRO (5) [Tony Kosten]
d6
32.d8+
A35 2702 2485 14.09.2001
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 g6 This particular move-order has long been considered doubtful, because of the reply: 4.e3! [ Intending d4-d5, gaining time on the knight. 4.d4 is worse, as we have seen. ] 4...f6 5.d4 cxd4 [ 5...g7 6.d5 a5 7.e4 d6 is a KI/Benoni position, similar to the Panno versus the Fianchetto, except that the white bishop is still on f1 (instead of g2), defending c4. This renders the a5-knight quite useless, White is better. ] 6.exd4 d5 7.g5 [ The alternative, 7.cxd5 xd5 8.b3 xc3 9.c4! d5 10.xd5 e6 leads to a slight advantage for White after 11.xc6+ ] 7...e4 8.cxd5 xc3 9.bxc3 xd5 10.e2 g7 11.0-0 0-0 12.e1 White prepares to combine an adva nce of h is cent ral pawn couple, with pressure on the e-line. e8 [ This move may be too passive, 12...f5 13.b3 e4! (Black should avoid the exchange on b3, which only increases the value of the white pawns) is almost equal, Smejkal,J-Hernandez,R/Siegen 1970. ] 13.b3 [ This quite thematic move, is actually a novelty. 13.f4 was played previously, but after f5 , Tindall,B-Jap Tjoen San,L/Wijk aan Zee 1997, White should probably play 14.b3 anyway. ] 13...e6 14.c4 f5 15.e3 White is ready to further advance his hanging pawns, and Black must find some counterplay soon. b5?! [ A d a r i n g p a w n s a c . A l t h o u g h 15...b6 16.ad1 leaves White on top, the game still has a long way to go. ( 16.d5? a5 )] 16.xb5 xb5 17.cxb5 b4 18.ec1 xa2?! 1551
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ A bad decision, 18...ac8 19.xc8 xc8 20.a3 d5 gives some compensation for the pawn, if not enough. ] 19.c7 Black has regained his pawn, but the strong rook on the seventh, and weak a-pawn, leaves Black with almost insoluble problems. ec8 20.xe7 d5 21.f1?! [ 21.e5! is more natural, and would have saved W hite a lot of trouble later-on, f8 ( 21...c3 22.d3 ) 22.d7 e6 23.b7 and Nc6 is coming. ] 21...f8 22.e5 c3 23.d2 xf3 24.gxf3 g7 It seems that Black has almost got back into the game, White's rook is attacked, and his pawns weak, but his next move shatters any illusions. 25.b6! xe5 [ 25...axb6 26.xa8 xa8 27.xc3 xe5 28.dxe5 is not completely clear, a3 29.d4 b3 30.g2 b5 31.f4 the position is difficult for Black, e.g. b4? 32.e6 fxe6 33.c4 b1 34.xe6+ f8 35.c5+ g7 36.a2 wins the b-pawn. ] 26.dxe5 The threat of b7 is oddly difficult to stop. c6!? [ 26...axb6 27.xa8 xa8 28.xc3 transposes into a previously examined line, and ] [ 26...ab8?! 27.bxa7 a8 28.f4 ( after 28.c1 d5 29.xc8+ xc8 30.c4 b6 31.d3 a8 32.e3 c8 Black will have to return the exchange, but might have some drawing chances.) 28...d5 29.g2 c5 30.a6 spells the end for Black. ] 27.f4!? [ W h it e wish e s t o a vo id t he lin e 27.bxa7 d5 28.a5 e7 29.e3 c7 30.f4 c8 when his winning chances are reduced, but the line played is even worse. ] 27...d5 28.bxa7 [ 28.b7 b8 29.a5 e7 30.xa7 b6 31.a6 xa6! 32.xa6 xb7 should draw. ] 28...c7? [ 28...c2! 29.e1 xf4 is almost equal, the knight stops the white bishop from going to g2. ] 29.a5 d7? [ Black overlooks another pawn push, 29...e7 30.e3 c8 and ...Raxa7 as above. ] 30.h3 axa7 Obviously expecting 31 Bxd7 Rxd7, but... 31.e6! xa5?!
[ I don't think Black can draw the position after 31...fxe6 32.xe6+ f8 33.xd5 xd5 34.xd5 but it was a better try. ] 32.exd7 a8 33.a5 Ouch! xf4 34.g2 xg2 35.xg2 f5 36.d8+ xd8 37.xd8 Finally, Black finds himself in a position which is quite without hope, even the rooks pawn is the right one. f4 38.f3 f7 1-0
1549 Vaganian,Rafael A Kalinitschew,Sergey Bundesliga 2003-4 (3) [Tony Kosten]
A35 2623 2519 22.11.2003
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.e3 f5!? Very aggressive, [ 4...f6 is most common, when we have considered 5 d4 in some detail. In my game against Valeri Beim, in the Austrian League at Graz last month, my opponent preferred 5.a3 (after some repetitions, I should mention, as my first choice was 3... Nd4) d5 6.cxd5 xd5 7.b5?! ( 7.c2 is best ) 7...xc3 8.bxc3 d6 with a pleasant position for Black. ] 5.d4 e4 6.d5 No concessions! [ 6.g1 is possible, f6 ( 6...cxd4?! 7.exd4 f6 Illescas Cordoba,M-Polgar,J/Pamplona ESP 2000 can be met by 8.d5! e5 9.d6 planning Nb5-c7) 7.h3 d6 8.e2 g6 9.a3 g7 10.f4 0-0 with a complex position, Naes,F-Korchnoi,V/Reykjavik ISL 2000. ] 6...exf3 [ 6...b8!? 7.d2 f6 Gritsak,OKrasenkow,M/ Lubniewice POL 1998, looks good for White after 8.f3 ] 7.dxc6 fxg2 Continuing the series of captures, [ 7...bxc6?! 8.xf3 g6 9.e4 e7 10.e3 leaves W hite with some advantage, Engelmann,N-Miezis,N/Bonn 1998. ] 8.cxd7+ xd7 9.xg2 [ 9.xd7+ is rare, but not so illogical, xd7 10.xg2 0-0-0 11.0-0 f6 12.d1 e7 13.b3 c6 14.b2 looks fairly level, Marosi, G-Tornai,I/ HUN 1995. ] 9...xd1+ 10.xd1 f6 [ 10...e6!? 11.xb7 d8+ 12.d5 1552
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 12.e1!? xc4 13.b3 d3 14.b2 ) 12...f6 13.e2 xd5 14.cxd5 xd5 15.xd5 xd5 16.b3 f7 17.a3 e7 is level, Drexel,M-Lochte,T/Bayern 1999. ] 11.b3 d6 12.f4!? A new move, stopping Black from playing ...f4 or ...Be5, at the cost of weakening the e-pawn. However, [ 12.b2 l o o k s b e t t e r : 0-0 ( 12...f7! as in the game) 13.d5 ( 13.f4 is a similar idea to the game, f7 14.e2 f8 15.d5 e4 16.hg1 h8 17.ad1 which looks favourable to W hite, Lobron,E-Breder,D/ Gelsenkirchen GER 2000) 13...e4 14.e2 b5? suicidal, 15.f3 g5 16.f4 e4 17.hg1 g6 18.ad1 f7 19.c3 winning material, Mellado Trivino,J-Moyano Morales,F/Barbera del Valles 1995. ] 12...f7! This is better than automatically castling. 13.d5 e4 14.g1 e6 15.xe4 fxe4 16.b2 hg8 With the king on f7 it is easier to defend the g-pawn. 17.c3 f5 18.c2 ad8 19.ad1 g6 The black e-pawn is a bit weak, but Black's two bishops keep him in the game. 20.d5 e7 21.c3 e6 22.xe7 xe7 This last exchange brings opposite-colour bishops, and a likely draw. 23.e1 xd1 24.h4+ f7 [ 24...g5?! l o s e s a p a w n t o 25.xg5 despite Black having an extra rook! ] 25.xd1 c8 26.d8 c6 27.c3 h6 28.d2 f5 29.a3 e6 30.a4 f5 31.a5 e6 32.b4 cxb4+ 33.xb4 d6 34.xd6+ xd6 With the removal of the rooks from the board a draw becomes a certainty. 35.c3 d7 36.f6 c6 37.d4 b6 38.d8 b5 39.h4 h5 40.cxb5+ xb5 41.d5 a6 42.c7 ½-½
1550 Van Wely,Loek Akopian,Vladimir It Enghien les Bains FRA (5) [Tony Kosten]
A35 2670 2654 16.04.2001
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 d4 4.e3 xf3+ 5.xf3 g6 6.b3 g7 7.b2 d6 8.g4 f6! [ A logical improvement, 8...b8 is seen in the archives, and after a later g5 by White
the g8-knight was stuck. ] 9.g5 d7 After Black's simple eighth move the knight has a reasonable future. 10.h4 [ 10.e4 h6 ( or 10...e5 11.f4 ) 11.h4 e5 12.f4 c6 is also fine for Black. ] 10...e5 11.g2 g4 12.e2 xe2 13.xe2 c6 14.ab1?! [ An odd idea, surely 14.h5 is right? ] 14...h5! Of course, k exploits White's inaccuracy, and by stopping the opening of the h-file, can castle. 15.d5 0-0 16.f4 xb2 17.xb2 e6!? Black has no complex about allowing the knight in to f6, as the white pieces are unable to support it in time. 18.f6+ g7 19.a3 b8 20.b4 cxb4 21.axb4 e7 22.a1 a6 23.b5 White has developed a useful initiative on the queenside, but his loose king position still gives cause for concern. axb5 24.xb5 g8 25.e4 [ If instead 25.xg8 xg8 26.a7 then c8 provides counterplay. ] 25...c7 26.d3 d5!? Black opens a route to the white king. 27.cxd5 d7 28.aa5!? [ 28.c3 fc8 29.dxe6 fxe6 30.b3 keeps everything intact. ] 28...bc8?! [ Why not 28...b6 29.dxe6 fxe6 with good chances, e.g. 30.e1 bxa5 31.b2+ h7 32.xb8 xb8 33.xb8 xd3 ] 29.f3 b6 30.dxe6 xd3 Black has bought some activity, but at a high cost. 31.d5 [ 31.b2+ h7 32.f2 is another strong possibility. ] 31...b1 32.ab5 e1 33.xb6?! [ White must surely have been in Zeitnot, as 33.d7! intends Qb2+, and should win. ] 33...e7 34.b2+ h7 35.f6+ h8 This looks optically strong for White, but he has left his king short of defenders. 36.xh5+!? [ 36.e4+ f6 37.d3 f5 is also rather awkward. ] 36...c3! Black's first real threat of the game, and it is a good one! 37.d2?? [ T h i s l o s e s o n t h e s p o t , a n d 37.d7? a l s o l o s e s , a s xe3+ 38.g2 gxh5 39.xe7 f3+ 40.g1 f6! breaks the pin on the c3-rook, and wins. ] [ However, 37.b8! xe3+ 38.g2 xb8 39.xb8+ h7 40.f6+ g7 41.e8+ provides a perpetual check, and draws. ] 1553
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 37...xe3+! 10...f6 11.g2 b6 12.g5 [ 37...h1+ 38.g2 xe3+ is also rather [ 12.xb6 axb6 13.xb7 a5 is OK for convincing. ] Black, who has two open files to pressurize 38.xe3 xe3+ 39.xe3 xd5+ 40.d4 the white weakling pawns. ] xb6 41.f6 fxe6 42.e5 d5 White has 12...0-0 13.0-0 lost all his forces. [ 13.xf6 exf6 14.xf6 xc4 15.0-0 0-1 gives W hite nothing after ae8 16.fb1 c5 17.e3 b6 ] 13...xd4 14.cxd4 xc4 15.xb7?! [ 15.fc1!? d5 ( 15...xe2 16.e1 a6 1551 A35 17.xe7 ) 16.e4! is worth a try. ] Van Wely,Loek 2646 Kramnik,Vladimir 2758 15...ab8 16.f3 g7 Play is equal, White Amber Blindfold (6) 22.03.2000 has the bishop pair, but Black has the open bfile. 17.fb1 h6 18.d2!? [Tony Kosten] [ 18.xf6+ xf6 19.a3 might be simpler. ] 18...g5 19.h3 fc8 20.a4 e6 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 g6 4.d4 [ 20...xb1+ 21.xb1 xe2 22.xe2 c2 [ 4.e3 intending to play d4-5, is generally 23.xg5 hxg5 24.f3 c4 25.a5 xd4 considered to be more promising for White. ] 26.b7 is not too clear. ] 4...cxd4 5.xd4 g7 6.c2 xc3+ The point of Black's move order, seriously 21.g4!? [ 21.g2 ] damaging W hite's pawn structure, albeit at the cost of exchanging Black's important dark- 21...d5 [ Black obtains the positionally desirable squared bishop. 7.bxc3 d6 8.g3 exchange of bishops, although 21...xb1+ [ This line scores very well for Black, 22.xb1 c4 23.b4 c2 also seems whether White plays this, or 8.e4 e.g. f6 slightly better for Black. ] 9.f3 a5 10.d2 ( 10.e2!? xc3+ 11.d2 e5 12.b1 a6 13.0-0 22.xb8 xb8 23.xd5 xd5 24.e4 f4 a l l o ws W h i t e s o m e p l a y f o r t h e p a wn , 25.xf4 gxf4 26.g2 b4 Black has the Valdes, L-Jimenez,J/Costa Rica 1997.) sl ig h t l y b e t t e r ch a n c e s i n t h i s e n d ga m e e5 10...e6 11.e3 c8 12.d5 d7 because of his greater activity. 27.f3 13.e2 ce5 14.b3 c5 and Black's 28.dxe5?! [ 28.d5 would avoid many of the problems knights dominate, Bareev,E-Huzman,A/ that occur later-on, as, because of the weak Haifa ISR 2000. ] d6-pawn, W hite would always have the 8...e6!? possibility of activating his rook by playing [ The interesting thing about this game is Rc1-c6. ] that Black resolutely refuses to play the habitual 8...a5 to attack the c3-pawn, but 28...dxe5 29.a5 b3+ 30.g2 a6 31.a4 which allows White a strong pawn sac, e.g. b5 32.a3 f6 33.f3 g6 34.g2 h5 9.g2 xc3+ 10.d2 e5 11.e3 f6 35.gxh5+ [ A key point, White cannot play passively 12.d5 xd5 13.cxd5 d4 14.0-0 0-0 with 35.a2 as g5 36.f3 hxg4 37.hxg4 15.e3 f5 16.c1 with advantage to White, b3 forces zugzwang: 38.f2 h4 39.g2 who threatens to infiltrate with Rc7, and c3 40.f2 h3 etc. ] then take control of the a1-h8 diagonal with Bc3, Stefansson,H-Tolnai,T/ Debrecen 1992/ 35...xh5 36.f3 g5 37.g2 f5 38.exf5 e4 39.h4+ xf5 40.h5 Hoping for some EU-chT. ] counterplay, but things are looking pretty grim 9.d4! xd4 [ T h e c - p a w n i s p o i s o n e d , 9...xc4?? for White. g4 41.f3+!? [ 41.h6 f3+ 42.g1 f4 is also hopeless, 10.xc6 bxc6 11.d4 forking two pieces. ] Black will win the h-pawn whilst maintaining 10.xd4 his advantages, 43.h7 g5+ 44.f1 h5 ] [ If 10.cxd4?! Black really can capture the 41...exf3+ 42.xf3 xa5 43.h6 h5 44.a3 pawn: xc4 ] 1554
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xh6 45.a5 b6 46.a2 d6 47.f2 h6 Threatening to win the rook. 48.a5 f6 49.a2 f5 50.f3 e5 51.d2 e6 52.d4 a5 53.e4+ d6 54.a4 f5 55.g4 e6 56.e4+ f6 57.c4 g6 58.f3 g5 59.c5?? A blindfold bluff? xc5 0-1
but Black wants more. ] 26.xc5 dxc5 27.xc5 White has achieved a favourable exchange, but the weakness of his pawns is still a problem. W hen Black captures the a4-pawn, his b-pawn will become passed and dangerous. f8 28.a5? This gets the knight into trouble, better to ditch the a-pawn immediately by [ 28.b5 xa4 29.c3 when at least the white knight is in play. ] 1552 A35 28...e6 29.dxe6 xe6! Obviously, capturing Van der Sterren,Paul 2550 the black queen by 30 Rxe6? would lose a Timman,Jan H 2635 piece after 30...Bxc5, as both white pieces d7 ch-NED Rotterdam (9) 1998 w o u l d b e e n p r i s e . 30.c3 Black controls the knight's escape squares. [Tony Kosten] 31.e3 g7 There is no good defence 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 d4 4.g3 against ...Bd4xa7. 32.c5 [ Perhaps 32.f5 d4 33.d2 xa7 34.fxg6 xf3+ 5.exf3 If Black could establish piece hxg6 35.d1 was the best chance, although control over d4, weakened by W hite's last the ending after xf2+ 36.xf2 xd2+ move, this would be a serious concession for is very difficult. ] White to make, however, White's next move 33.b5 d8 34.g2 xa7 will be d4, and after he will play f4 with good 32...d4 The two pawns represent poor control of the central squares. f6 6.d4 cxd4 35.xb7 7.xd4 The first part of the plan is easily compensation for a piece. c5 36.a6 a7 d6 38.c8+ g7 39.e8 achieved. g6 8.g2 g7 9.0-0 0-0 10.f4 37.c6 In one move White takes a firm grip of both e5, Desperation, as there is no real threat. d5+ and d5. d6 11.d2 a6 Of course, although 40.g1 d1+ 41.g2 d5+ 42.g1 d7 [ 42...d7 forces 43.e1 when d4 44.f1 he has less space, Black also has reasons to e7 finishes the game quickly. ] be pleased, for one, his structure is more flexible than W hite's. In particular, W hite's 0-1 kingside pawns will have difficulty advancing without creating weaknesses. 12.ac1 b8 A35 13.a4?! A normal method for containing 1553 Vorobiov,E 2594 Black's queenside play, and gaining space, Grigoriants,S 2578 but the weakening of the queenside dark squares will prove White's downfall. 34th Rashid Nezhmetdinov Cup (8.3) 03.10.12 [ 13.d3 is better. ] [John Bartholomew] 13...e6 14.d3 d7 15.b4 a5! T h e im m e d i a t e co n s e q u e n c e o f W h i t e ' s The following line with 8...e6 has been seen thirteenth move, Black frees c5 for his knight. multiple times this year. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 16.b5 axb4 17.xb4 c5 18.a3 a6 3.c3 g6 4.e3 f6 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 d5 The knight is forced to flee, but this is only a 7.cxd5 xd5 8.b3 e6 A reliable move that temporary measure. The holes in the white has exploded in popularity in 2012. [ The tabiya after 8...xc3 9.c4 d5 pawn formation will never be repaired. 19.d2 d7 20.fe1 fc8 Another downside of 10.xd5 e6 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.0-0 d5 W hite's a4-move, the c4-pawn is isolated. has also been subjected to extensive play and analysis in recent months. See, for 21.d5 xd5 22.cxd5 xc1 23.xc1 c5 The knight returns! 24.e3 c8 25.a7 instance, Kraai, J (2514)-Kacheishvili, G A device to force the exchange of the black (2607)/ICC INT 2012 this month, as well as September's update. I want to note that knight. a8 Necessary, [ 25...c7 26.b5 c8 could lead to a draw, if Black intends to take on c3, then it 1555
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 doesn't matter whether White plays 8.Qb3 or 8.Bc4 otherwise, there IS independent value in both moves. For instance, 8...Nb6 scores well against 8. Bc4, thus, many players prefer 8.Qb3 (as in this game). ( We also take a look at the fresh 12...f6!? in Bruzon Batista, L (2713)-Bologan, V (2712)/ Poikovsky RUS 2012. )] 9.b5 The most popular. [ Another option is 9.g5 e7 ( 9...f6!? is more combative, i.e. 10.d2 f7 11.d3 b6 12.c4 cb4 13.e4 d7 14.0-0 Zhao Zong Yuan (2556)-Zhou Jianchao (2625)/Hangzhou CHN 2012.) 10.h6 , though after ( 10.xe7 dxe7 11.d1 Ortiz Fernandez, V (2178)-Millara Gonzalez, A ( 1 7 4 6 ) / O v i e d o 2 0 0 7 . H e r e 0-0= is a very reasonable IQP position for Black.) 10...f8 the four games to reach this position have all ended in quick handshakes after ( more direct than 10...a6 , Wang Yue (2690)-Zhou Jianchao (2609)/Zaozhuang CHN 2012 ) 11.g5 e7 12.h6 f8 etc.! Black obviously has a solid position after 13.xf8 xf8 , but I'd be curious to see if anybody could eke out an edge here, i. e. 14.b5 g7 15.0-0 and there's definitely plenty to play for. ] [ There's also minor options in 9.c4 ] [ and 9.xd5 , continuations we may revisit in the future. ] 9...g7 10.g5 Again, critical. This sortie makes more sense when Black has already played ...Bf8-g7. [ Theory is somewhat haphazard here, so there are plenty of alternatives. A brief ro u n d u p : A ) 10.0-0 0-0 11.xc6 bxc6 12.a4 a6 13.e1 was the high-level game Aronian, L (2816)-Caruana, F (2773)/ Bilbao ESP 2012. Here the computer likes b8 , with roughly equal chances. ] [ B) 10.e5 d7 ( 10...de7 11.xc6+ xc6 12.xc6 bxc6 13.0-0 b6 14.a3! xd4 15.e4 c5 16.d1 e5 Ivanov, O (2390)-Rogoznikov, A/ Voronezh 1991.) 11.xd7 xd7 12.0-0 0-0 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 exd5 15.xc6 bxc6 16.e3= with an equal ending in Pap, G (2492)Pred oje vic, B (2 64 3)/ P aks HUN 2 01 1 , though White eventually ground out a win. ] [ C) 10.xd5 exd5 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.a3
e7+ 13.xe7+ xe7 14.f4 f6 15.c1 d7 16.d2 1/2-1/2 Cvek, R (2549)Bernasek, J (2487)/Brno CZE 2012 ] [ D) 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.a3 b6 12.0-0 b4 13.b3 a6 14.d1 0-0= Hansen, C (2505)-Tayeb, S (2210)/Thessaloniki 1988 ] 10...b6 [ Not 10...f6?! 11.h6 ] 11.a3 White has developed quickly while managing to keep Black's king in the center. Black's next move is crucial. f6! Currently, this looks like a total equalizer. [ 11...xc3?? 12.e7# would be a nasty surprise! ] [ 11...f8?! covers e7, but after 12.xd5! xa3 ( nor does 12...exd5 13.e3+ e6 14.xc6+ bxc6 15.f6! b4+ 16.f1 look like much fun for Black) 13.xb6 b4+ 14.d2 ( or 14.e2 axb6 15.e5 d7 16.xd7 xd7 17.hd1 ) 14...xd2+ 15.xd2 axb6 16.c4 Black is seriously struggling. ] 12.xd5 [ White must keep pace, as he could easily f ind himself worse af ter something lik e 12.e3 xc3 13.xc6+ xc6 14.bxc3 f8! 15.b3 b6 . ] 12...exd5 13.xc6+ bxc6 14.0-0! Again, the initiative is the most important thing. [ 14.f4?! a6 ] 14...f7 [ T a k i n g l o s e s i n s t a n t l y : 14...fxg5?? 15.fe1+ f7 16.xg5++- ] 15.fe1 Still the most forcing. White does have a few choices, though: [ 15.f4 e8 16.d6 a6 17.xa6 xa6 18.fc1 b7 19.c3 e2! 20.b3 a6 21.c5 g5 was balanced and later drawn in Nepomniachtchi, I (2718)-Leko, P (2720)/ Sochi RUS 2012. Coincidentally, this B+N vs. 2B ending is common in the 8...Nxc3 line as well. ] [ 15.e5+!? has yet to be played, but Black shou ld def init ely kno w what to do. Th e critical position is fxe5 16.e7+ g8 17.e8+ f8 18.f6 and now ( 18.h6 b4! ) 18...b7! is a nice rejoinder, i.e. 19.xh8 ( or 19.xe5 d7! 20.xh8 e8 , transp osin g) 19...d7 20.xe5 e8 21.f6 e7! with the cool idea of ... Rf7 and 1556
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 then ...Rf5! (provided White retreats to e5) t o r e g a i n t h e p i e c e . A n a l yz i n g s u c h a complicated variation requires constant attention to the engine, so players venturing this line for either color should most definitely cross-check these lines. ] 15...f8! This allows Black to force a draw. [ Instead, 15...b7 is a winning attempt, but in Ragger, M (2655)-Volokitin, A (2695)/ Jenbach AUT 2012 Black got the worst of it after 16.f4 f5 17.d2! (a strong knight maneuver) he8 18.b3 xe1+ 19.xe1 e8 20.xe8 xe8 21.d6 d7 22.b4 g5 23.h3 a6 24.a5 and went on to lose. ] 16.e3 fxg5 [ 16...d6!? would be the last winning a t t e m p t , t h o u g h a f t e r 17.f4 b4 (n e a r ly f o rc e d ) 18.e5+ the computer's e v a l u a t i o n s i s s t i l l ' 0 . 0 0 ' ! ( same with 18.g5 )] [ Definitely not 16...b4?? 17.xf6+- . ] 17.e8+ [ White runs the risk of losing in case of 17.xg5+? g8 . ] 17...g7 [ 17...g8?? 18.e7+- ] 18.e7+ xe7 19.xe7+ g8 20.e1 [ 20.e8+ was immediately agreed drawn in G e r zh o y, L (2 4 6 9 )-A m a n o v, M ( 2 4 9 8 ) / SPICE Cup Open 2012. I witnessed this game first-hand, and I can attest to the speed with which Black was playing comparatively, White had used gobs of time to reach the draw! ] [ Another path to the half point: 20.xg5 b7 21.e8+ g7 22.e5+ g8 23.e8+ g7 24.e5+ 1/2-1/2 Potkin, V (2642)-Nepomniachtchi, I (2716) /Havana CUB 2012. ] 20...f5 21.xg5 f8 22.e6 xe6 23.xe6+ f7 24.e8+ f8 25.e6+ f7 26.e8+ f8 Theoretically, there appears to be nothing wrong with 8...e6, as Black has repeatedly held up excellently in the sharp variation 9.Bb5 Bg7 10.Bg5. I don't know wh e th e r 8 . .. e 6 will ove rt a ke 8 .. .Nxc3 in popularity, but the second player can take comfort in knowing that both lines are doing very well at present. ½-½
1554 Wang Hao Anand,V Supreme Masters 2013 (9.4) [Daniel Gormally]
A35 2743 2783 18.05.2013
1.c4 c5 2.c3 g6 3.f3 g7 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 c6 6.e3 A solid choice, Wang Hao is not looking to play anything particularly ambitious in this game. f6 7.e2 [ 7.c2 0-0 8.e2 d6 9.0-0 e6 10.e4 c8 11.b1 a6 12.b3?! b5! And Black had very good play and went on to win in Kortschnoj, V (2625) -Christiansen, L (2560) Cologne 1990 ] 7...d5 However Anand is playing for a win, and immediately get's some action going in the center. [ 7...0-0 Is by far the most common choice. ] 8.cxd5 xd5 9.xc6 bxc6 10.a4 Black has an obvious weakness on the queenside, but this is balanced by the pressure down the b-file and the piece activity he enjoys. 0-0 11.0-0 f5 12.g4 A doubleedged choice, as while this drives the bishop back to an awkward spot, at the same time White is incurring kingside weaknesses that may become relevant later on. [ 12.d2 Was a very understandable choice, trying to get pressure on the c6 weakling as quickly as possible. However Black was able to demonstrate equality in this case: b8 13.c1 d6 14.d1 f6 15.f3 e5 16.c4 ( 16.xc6 b4 17.xb4 xb4 gives Black obvious compensation for the pawn ) 16...b6 17.xb6 xb6 18.c3 b5 19.xb5 cxb5 20.ac1 c8 21.xg7 xg7 22.f1 b4 23.e1 And the game was agreed drawn in Landa, K (2587) Atalik, S (2570) Bad Wiessee 2003 ] 12...e6 13.e4 b4 14.c5 xa2 Like I said, Anand is out for blood, but with the benefit of hindsight this is just too optimistic. Black is not so much trying to gain a pawn, as gain some useful squares for his pieces, but White's smart response firmly puts him on the back foot. [ 14...d6 15.e3 ] 15.a4! d4 16.a5 fd8?? But this is a serious tactical error, which enables White to win on the spot. Just a couple of words about 1557
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Anand, who is clearly a player of the very highest class and in fact someone we have been lucky enough to enjoy in the chess world over the last 20 years or so. It has become clear to everyone that Anand's play has fallen markedly from the heights he has shown in the past. I think it's true that as a player gets into his forties then bad results, and bad games in general often become much more common. Clearly Vishy is making many more mistakes than he would have done in the past and motivation plays a part in that as well. Personally speaking I think the W orld championship crown has become rather a burden to Anand- I think it would actually do him a favour if he was to lose his crown to Carlsen- he can then take the shackles off. At the moment it seems to me that he plays with fear and trepidation- not having the responsibility of the world title would perhaps enable him to demonstrate the free-flowing play of his youth. Of course all this is conjecture and if Anand were to see these words I no doubt he would completely disagree- however I just wonder. [ 16...e5! 17.d1 xh2+! 18.g2 c7 19.xd4 xa5 20.xb4 xb4 21.a6 and the game goes on! ] 17.g2?! [ Wang Hao may well have seen the line 17.d1! xd1+ 18.xd1 xd1+ 19.g2 c2 But perhaps missed the killer blow 20.a4! e1+ 21.g3 And although the position remains complex, W hite is e s se n t ia ll y ju st win n i n g . Ne ve rt h e le s s Black's situation is now so bad that even an arguably inferior choice is still winning easily. ] 17...c4 18.d1 xe2 19.xd4 xd4 20.e3 c4 21.e1 xg4 22.b3 White wins more material, and the game is more or less over. xc5 23.xc5 d3 24.e3 xc5 25.xc5 e5 26.d3 c8 27.xa7 f8 28.b7 c5 29.d5 f6 30.d2 e8 31.a2 e7 32.b6 f7 33.f3 h5 34.a8 g7 35.xf8 xf8 36.xc5 g5 37.b4 a8 38.b5 The b-pawn will cost Black his rook. 1-0
1555 Bacrot,Etienne Vaisser,Anatoli ch-High Pool (10) [Tony Kosten]
A36 2653 2556 13.08.2001
1.c4 c5 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c6 5.e3 I have always felt that, in many ways, this is White's best move, but there is one major problem: can W hite avoid a draw if Black adopts a copy-cat strategy? e6 6.ge2 ge7 7.0-0 [ Andersson has tried the immediate 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d5 9.cxd5 xd5 10.xd5 xd4 the point being that ( but 10...exd5 is fine for Black) 11.c3 c6 12.xd8+ xd8 13.d2 gives White the tiniest of pluses in the endgame. ] 7...0-0 8.d4 [ One way to avoid the symmetry is 8.f4!? , stopping ...d5, but it also removes White's support for d4, and to be frank the knight is not especially well-placed here. ] 8...cxd4 9.xd4 xd4 [ 9...d5! is more accurate: 10.cxd5 xd5 11.xd5 ( Ivanchuk has tried 11.e1!? xd4 12.exd4 s e e b e l o w .) 11...xd4 12.exd4 exd5 13.b3 e6 and play is c o m p l e t e l y e q u a l , 14.xb7 xd4 as just below. ] 10.exd4 d5 11.cxd5 xd5 12.b3! [ This is White's best try for an advantage out of the opening. 12.xd5 exd5 13.b3 e6 ( or 13...b6 equal ) 14.xb7 xd4 15.f4 b6 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 fd8 18.f3 xb2 19.ab1 f6 with complete equality, Gufeld,E-Gipslis,A/Tallin 1969. ] [ 12.e1!? b6 13.xd5 exd5 14.xd5 xd4 15.e3 xe3 16.xe3 xb2 17.b1 f6 18.f3 e7 19.e3 f6 20.b4 W hite tries to achieve something, simply capturing the b-pawn leads to a draw. d8! 21.f3 A) 21...e5!? 22.xf7+ g7 23.c1 ( 23.xd8 e1+ 24.g2 h3+ 25.xh3 xd8 is good for Black ) 23...f8 is level.; B) 21...f5!? 22.xb7 ab8?! ( 22...h8! ) 23.xb8 xb8 Ivanchuk,VKramnik,V/Monte Carlo 1995, and now White could gain a plus by 24.g4! xg4 ( 24...g5 25.xf7+ xf7 26.d5+ g7 1558
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 27.e5+ and the rook is lost) 25.xf6 xd1 26.xf7 ] 12...xd4! [ The best. 12...e7 13.d1 gives White a useful IQP position, ( 13.d5?! exd5 14.g5 h6 15.xe7 xe7 16.xd5 e5 is nothing, Forintos,G-Sapi,L/HUN/ 1969. )] 13.xd5 [ 13.h6 g7 ( 13...e8?! 14.ad1 is very risky for Black) 14.xg7 xg7 15.xd5 will transpose. ] 13...exd5 14.h6 g7 [ 14...e8?! 15.ad1 f6? loses a piece to 16.a4 forking d4 and e8. ] 15.xg7 xg7 16.xd5 f6!? [ When I had this position against Florian Gheorghiu, in a rapid game once, he preferred 16...a5! intending ...Ra6-b6, to develop the rook and protect the b-pawn. Indeed he had already played this position bef ore, against Ulf Andersson, Moscow 1981: 17.ac1 ( 17.xb7 xb7 18.xb7 b8 19.f3 xb2 20.c3+ f6 21.xa5 xf2! is almost a forced draw.) 17...a4 18.c3+ f6 19.xf6+ xf6 20.c7 a5! 21.d1 b5 22.b3 axb3 23.xb3 e6 24.xe6 xe6 although the great Ulf still managed to squeeze something out of the position after 25.d3! b2 26.a3 ] 17.fe1 [ An innovation, but not a particularly effective one. As the black queen has gone to f6, to stop Qc3+, it seems logical to aim f or the c7-square, now undef ended, b y 17.fc1! e8 18.c7 e6 19.xe6 xe6 20.xb7 ae8 21.f1 b6 22.xa7 xb2 23.a4 despite the pawn less, I feel that Black should have reasonable chances here, by playing .. .Ra2, and ...Re4 if possible, but in the game Semenova,L-Nepeina Leconte, M/ Moscow 1990, White finally won. ] 17...a5! This looks like the right plan here, as well. 18.c3 a6! 19.e5 d6 20.ae1 White strives to maintain some small edge, but it is hard work against precise defence. fd8!? [ 20...b6 is simpler. ] 21.xa5 h3 22.g2 [ After this the game peters-out, 22.xb7!? b6 23.d5 xb2 24.f4 could be tried, although the weakness of White's second
rank is worrying. ] 22...d2 23.5e2 xe2 24.xe2 d1+ 25.e1 b6 26.b4 xe1+ 27.xe1 xg2 28.xg2 xb2 29.a4 d4 30.b1 ½-½
1556 Bauer,Christian Sebenik,Matej AUT-chT 1213 (9.2) [Danny Gormally]
A36 2639 2543 22.03.2013
1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.d3 d6 6.d2!? A slightly odd looking move, but with a clear plan in mind. White wants to fianchetto the bishop on b2 so as to contest the long diagonal. Often some of the problems with these flank openings is that if White drifts he can end up without a clear goal. f6 [ 6...e5 7.b3 ( The extremely direct 7.xc6+!? bxc6 8.b3 is also playable, slightly ruining Black's queenside structure, followed by normal play with Bb2, f4, O-O-O etc. The advantage of the two bishops is not really an issue f or the moment, but White would have to play very accurately to claim any edge- they are a fearsome asset in the long run.) 7...ge7 8.b2 e6?! The problem is that this provokes White's n e x t m o v e , 9.d5! xd5 Before Black could have captured with the knight, but of course this is no longer possible. 10.cxd5 b4 11.e4 a5 12.c3 b6 13.h3 0-0 14.0-0 f5 15.h1 f4 16.g5! White is already much better, Bricard, E (2450)-Wirig, A (2422)/Mulhouse 2004. ] [ 6...e6! Is perhaps the most logical reply, as Black announces the intention to play ..Nge7, followed by ..d5, solving all his problems. I think this is an effective counter to Qd2 and essentially forces White to give up the two bishops. 7.xc6+ White is having none of this and returns to the strategical idea we discussed earlier bxc6 8.f4 e7 9.b3 e5 10.b2 0-0 A) 11.fxe5?! dxe5! ( 11...xe5? 12.f3 ) 12.e4 f5 13.xc5 h6 is too risky a pawn-grab; B) 11.0-0-0 exf4 12.gxf4 f5! 13.b1 ( 13.f3 d4 looks quite good for Black, 1559
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 he has easy play with ..Re8 and ..Bg4) 13...e7 14.e4 d4 15.h4 g4 16.f1 f5! 17.h5 There's an element of desperation about White's play already Spragget did not repeat his experiment with Qd2, gxh5 18.h2 a5 19.e3 fxe4 20.dxe4 ae8 Spraggett, K (2540)Villavicencio Martinez, A (2320)/El Corte Ingles 1990. ] 7.b3 0-0 8.b2 d7 9.e3 b8 10.ge2 a6 11.0-0 b5 12.ad1 e6 13.c1 b6 [ Black is drifting without a plan. As he lacks space, it would be logical to exchange some p i e c e s wi t h 13...b4 14.e4 ( 14.b1?! a5! ) 14...e7 15.a1 e5 Thus minimizing the damage. ] 14.a1! A very standard idea in such situations. White now exerts huge potential pressure along the a1-h8 diagonal, forcing Black to retreat, thus ceding the strategical battle. e8 15.d2 e7 16.cxb5 axb5 17.d4?! A mark of a class player in my eyes is the ability to change the character of the position. Bauer would fall into this category, but here he is perhaps overeager, and give's Black a chance to take back the initiative. cxd4 [ Black also had a chance to keep the position closed- 17...c4! 18.bxc4 bxc4 19.d5! A) 19...exd5 20.xd5 xd5 ( 20...xb2 21.xb6 xa1 22.xd7+- ) 21.xg7 xg7 ( 21...xe3 22.d4+- ) 22.xd5 With a nice edge for White- the black cpawn is weak and there are still potential problems along the a1-h8 diagonal, if a white knight were to ever land on d5.; B) 19...e5! However prevents all these shenanigans when I believe Black to be perfectly well placed- the black c-pawn is a potential long-term weakness, but for the moment chances would be balanced. ] 18.xd4 d5 [ 18...e5!? 19.c2 b4 20.a4 b5 ] 19.c1 d6 20.c2! ef5?! Played with the intention of protecting the bishop on g7, but this is a shaky defense. [ 20...h6! Would have been a better way to defuse the idea of the sacrifice on d5. ] 21.b4 [ 21.g4! b4 22.xd5 exd5 23.gxf5 xb2
24.xb2 xf5 25.xd5 Was a good alternative but perhaps not without it's own element of risk- the White kingside would be somewhat weakened. ] 21...fc8? Underestimating the danger he is in. [ 21...d4 22.exd4 h6 23.f4 bc8 24.e4 xe4 25.xe4 g7 gives Black good compensation for the pawn- in any case this was absolutely forced. ] 22.cxd5! Now the Black position crumbles like a pack of cards. xc1+ 23.xc1 exd5 24.xd5 d8 25.e4?! [ 25.g4! c8 26.a1 xb2 27.xb2 e8 28.gxf5 xf5 29.a4 was more clear-cut, with a huge advantage. ] 25...c8 26.a1 xb2 27.xb2 g7 28.h4! [ Perhaps Bauer had missed in advance that t h e o b vio u s " c ro wn in g g lo ry" 28.f6+?? only leads to a shocking turnaround after xf6! 29.xf6 c1+ 30.f1 h3-+ ] 28...de8 29.a3 a8 30.e7? [ 30.b4! Followed by e5 basically looks winning, instead of this White hands Black an extra tempo. ] 30...e6! 31.b4 Nevertheless White is still better, as his initiative is so obvious and strong. g7 32.c3+ g8 33.h2 c8 34.e3 c6 35.e5 a6? Finally Black cracks under the relentless pressure. 36.b4! 8c7 37.xa6 xa6 38.a7 b8 39.d6 c7 40.xc7 xc7 41.b4 f8 42.b6 ba6 43.a3 e7 44.b7 b8 45.e4 ba6 46.f3 h5 47.g2 e6 48.f2 c8 49.c6 d7 50.xd7 xd7 51.g4 1-0
1557 Bu Xiangzhi Ye Jiangchuan Torch Real Estate Cup (3) [John Watson]
A36 2630 2648 22.04.2005
1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.e4 d6 4.g3 c5 5.g2 c6 6.ge2 g7 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 We have arrived at one of the most common positions in the Symmetrical English. It's difficult for either side to successfully expand on either flank, but White has more chances in 1560
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 t h e c e n t r e . b8 9.h3 a6 10.a4 e8 White's compensation is sufficient, Gurevich, The manoeuvre . ..Ne8-c7-e6 is designed to M-Yudasin,L/Haifa 1995. ] control d4 by unmasking the g7 bishop and 11...xd5 12.a3 d7! then bringing up the knight for reinforcement. [ Suggested by John Watson in his review of 11.e3 d7 Here Black indicates that he will my 'Dynamic English' book, and probably allow d4 and then fight back on the queenside. strongest, Black brings his queen's bishop In fact he does something else. 12.d4 c8?! immediately to c6 to shore-up the A double threat on h3 and c4. Unfortunately, queenside. 12...f8 13.xf8 xf8 14.b3 White can grab pawns as well. le d t o a n e m p h a t ic wi n f o r K ra se n k o v , [ 12...cxd4 13.xd4 c7 14.de2 e6 against Brynell/Copenhagen 1996. ] would resemble our other game Ye [ A couple of years ago I discussed the Jiangchuan-Wang Zili. ] possibility of pushing the queenside pawns 13.dxc5 xh3 14.xh3 xh3 15.f4 c8 by 12...a5 when a game of mine against my 16.fd5 e6 17.b6 c7 18.cxd6 xd6 computer went: 13.d3 d7 14.xd5 exd5 19.c5 White is fast achieving a real advantage 15.xc3 c6 16.0-0 g5? 17.fb1 d8 in space and on the dark squares. e8 18.xb7! xb7 19.b5 and Black is lost, i. [ 19...c8 would challenge the b6 knight. ] e. c8 20.c1 ] 20.e2 d4 21.c4 f3+ 22.g2 e5 13.b3 23.e2 f6 24.f4 eg4 25.g1 h5 [ Not 13.e4?! e7 14.xc3 c6 ] 26.ad1 fd8 27.b4 All these moves are 13...c6!? logical yet soon White's pawns will overrun [ A sensible new move, recommended by Black's position. f8 28.f3 xd1 29.xd1 W atson. Previously: 13...b6 14.xd5?! d8 30.e5 d7 31.c4 b8 32.d6!? ( 14.c2!?; 14.a2!? ) 14...exd5 15.xb6 [ 32.xd8 xd8 33.xb7 ] axb6 Kaspret,G-Fabisch,C/AUT 1993, when 32...c6 33.b5 axb5 34.axb5 a5 16.xc3 f8 17.b2 is not too clear, Black 35.ce4 a8 36.a1 xd6 37.exd6 d8 has the bishop pair, but his structure is 38.d4 c4 39.xa8 xa8 40.e2 a4 very static. ] 41.c3 White made it look easy. [ 13...a5!? 14.0-0 b5 15.c2 a4 1-0 16.b1 b5 is a third alternative that deserves a try. ] 14.0-0 b6 15.a2!? f8 Naturally, Black 1558 A36 tries to solve his biggest problem- having his xf8 Delchev,Aleksander 2629 king stuck in the centre. 16.xf8 White must obtain some real Tukmakov,Vladimir B 2604 17.ab1 TCh Pula CRO (8) 17.09.2001 compensation before Black tucks his king away on g7, and connects his rooks. b4 [Tony Kosten] [ Otherwise, 17...d8 18.e4!? f6 19.d5! exd5 20.fd1 and White has a powerful 1.c4 c5 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c6 initiative. ] 5.a3 e6 6.b4!? This line leads to a Benkostyle position where White obtains queenside 18.a3 a5 19.xc6 This shatters the black pressure at the cost of a pawn, plus strong p a w n s , a n d g i v e s W h i t e t h e p o s i t i o n a l play on Black's weakened dark squares. xb4 compensation that he needs. bxc6 20.xc3! [ Critical. 6...cxb4?! 7.axb4 xb4 8.a3 Capturing with the knight seems more natural, ( 8.b3!? c6 9.f3 ge7 10.0-0 but by playing this way White keeps the black is also possible) 8...xc3!? 9.dxc3 c6 king from reaching safety. e7 [ Obviously Black didn't want to bring his king White has plenty of comp, Renet,O-Yudasin, t o t h e c e n t r e a g a i n , b u t 20...g7!? L/ Ostende 1988. ] allows the annoying 21.d5+ ] 7.axb4 cxb4 8.d4 bxc3 9.e3 e7 10.e2 21.f4 b5 22.fd1 hd8 23.d3 ab8 d5 11.cxd5 Black still has an extra pawn, but his [ This is currently preferred to 11.xc3 dxc4 24.c5 12.0-0 0-0 13.a3 and it is not clear that pawns are weak while White enjoys a perfect 1561
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 structure. e2!? 25.b3 d5 19 9 6 , wh ich I give (wit h f e w n o t e s ): b6 [ This loses the extra pawn immediately, but ( 15...d7 16.xd5 exd5 17.xb7 eve n a f t e r 25...a4 26.c5 b5 27.a1 is Tony's suggested best course of play; d5 White will win the a-pawn after but not 15...b6?? 16.xd5 with the idea 28.a3 ] exd5 17.xb6 ) 16.e4 f6 17.e5 d5 26.c5+ f6 27.xa5 g7 The king 18.xc3 b7 19.b5 (with the d6 square reaches safety, at last, but Black's feeble c6promising c-file control, White has enough pawn gives serious cause for concern. 28.c5 for a pawn, as the game demonstrates:) e5!? Freeing the position. 29.e1 f3?? b8!? ( 19...a5 ) 20.fc1 a6 21.d6 d8 [ After managing to fend-off White's pressure 22.a3 a7? 23.a2 a8 24.xd5! xd5 for so long, Black cracks. 29...xb1 30.xb1 25.ac2 b5 26.c8 b6 27.xd8 xd8 e8 keeps White's positional plus to a strict 28.c8 e7 29.c1! a8 30.c7 f8 minimum. ] 31.f4 h8 32.xf7 d8 33.h6 g8 30.e6+! Completely 'out-of-the-blue'! fxe6 34.c7 1-0. In view of f8 35.xh7+ xh7 31.xb8 xb8 32.a7+ Winning the 36.xf8+ g8 37.f7+ h7 38.h6# ] exchange, and the game. h6 33.xb8 e4 13.0-0 34.e5 [ ( a ) M i g u e l : 13.b3 as in Delchev1-0 Tukmakov 2001 seems to be better. This, however, allows Black to play ...Qb6 now or later'. (jw:) Indeed, b6 seems to cut into 1559 A36 White's winning chances, at the very least. Play might continue 14.c2 or ( 14.xd5 Domingo,Miguel 2190 exd5 15.xb6 axb6 16.xc3 c6 Alekseev,Evgeny 2644 a n d B l a c k h a n g s o n t o h i s p a wn , e . g . , German Corporate Championship 2006 (3) 17.d2 d7 18.hb1 a6 19.c1 ha8 ) [M. Domingo] 14...a5 ( or 14...c8; perhaps best is 14...a6 and White might as well try 15 e4, 1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 c6 since 15.0-0 a4 16.b1 c2 17.b2 5.a3 e6 6.b4 xb4 7.axb4 cxb4 8.d4 b5 is undesirable) 15.0-0 a4 16.b1 bxc3 9.e3 e7 10.e2 d5 11.cxd5 c8 17.xb7 c7 18.b8+ d7 ] [ Not strictly necessary. In fact, given the [ ( b ) T h e i m m e d i a t e 13.e4 should be problem that arises in the game, it may be considered. Again, however, e7 14.b3 that 11.xc3!? is best: dxc4 ( 11...c7 b6 15.xc3 c8 16.d2 b3! 12.b5; 11...0-0 12.a3 dxc4 13.0-0 with the idea ... Rc2 causes some and Black is tied up. White will recapture the problems. ] c4 pawn with fair compensation) 12.0-0 0-0 13.a3 a6!? 14.e2 c7 15.fc1 13...b5!N Played after 12 minutes. [ This is a novelty over Thiede-Heinemann wa s d y n a m i ca ll y e q u a l in M G u r e vic h 2002: 13...c6 14.e4 e7 15.b3 0-0 Yudasin, Haifa 1995, which continued a7 ( 15...d7! with the idea 16.fd1? a4 ) 16.b2 e8 17.c5?! ( 17.e4! d5 16.fd1! d7 17.xc3 b6 18.d5 exd5 18.d6 d8 19.xc4 ) 17...a8 19.exd5 b7 20.a2 and White won a and Hansen suggests 18.e4 , but 17 Ne4 nice game with the plan Rad2, Ne4 and was clearer, in view of d5 19.d6 d8 Bb2. ( jw: 20.b2! looks more to the point 20.xc4 xc5 ] and hard to meet )] 11...xd5 12.a3 d7 The innovation, with 14.e1 the idea ...Bb5. [ Miguel: 14.c2 c8 [ The main line has been 12...f8 13.xf8 A) 15.fb1 a6; xf8 14.b3! - see the next game, where B) 15.fd1 d7; Domingo got a substantial advantage after C) 15.e4 e7; 14...b6. Instead, Tony Kosten gives g7 D) May be 15.fe1 is better see the game, 15.0-0 in his book 'The Dynamic English', move 15. [jw:] This is hard to believe. following Krasenkov-Brunell, Copenhagen 1562
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black can still play d7 ( or 15...a6 White will probably win one pawn back but h a ve le s s t h a n co m p e n sa t i o n f o r t h e other. ); E) 15.fc1 This seems natural as the c3pawn may become very annoying if White p l a y s e 4 / d 5 wit h o u t e xc h a n ge o f t h e bishop Bg7 (as in the game). d7 16.d1 a4 17.e1 c2 18.e4 b6 with the threat Nc4. It seems as if White would not have enough compensation. [jw: White is two pawns down, and if 19.c5 , simply xc5 20.dxc5 xa1 21.xa1 c8 22.c3 c6 keeps the material. ] 14...c8 15.b3? Miguel: This allows Black to bring his bishop to the optimal square c4 without loosing a tempo. [ Better is 15.c2 A) 15...d7 16.e4 e7 17.d5 A1) 17...0-0 18.f4 A1a) jw 18...g5!? 19.h5 e5 20.c1 ( 20.f4 gxf4 21.gxf4 d4+ 22.h1 exd5 ) 20...h6 21.h4; A1b) 18...c4 19.h3 White has one extra tempo with respect to the game (see move 20) Black cannot play Qb7 now.; A2) 17...xe2 18.xe2 b5!? 19.h3 c4 20.ee1 0-0 ( 20...d4 ) 21.ad1 b4 22.b3 c2 23.c1 fc8 24.dxe6 fxe6 25.xc2 c3 26.xc3 bxc3 27.d1 c6 28.xe7 c2 29.c1 xe4 30.a3 Fritz: = d8 31.b2 a5 32.f1 b4 33.xe6+ f8 34.a3 d1 35.xd1 cxd1+ 36.xd1 xe6 37.f3+ g8 38.xb4 axb4 39.a8+ f7 40.f3+ Perpetual check.; A3) 17...a4 18.a2 b5 19.h3; B) 15...c4!? [also strong] 16.xc3 xc3 17.xc3 d5 18.b4! xg2 19.xg2 d7 20.ec1 xc1 21.xc1 f8 22.c3 xa3 23.xa3 b6 24.g1 f6 25.a1 f8 ( 25...a5 26.b1 c6 27.c1 d7 28.b3 b5 29.c5 ) 26.xa7 xa7 27.xa7 f7=; C) 15...xe2?! 16.xe2 ( 16.xe2?! d7 17.e4 c7 18.d5 b5 ) 16...d7 17.ec1 ( 17.e4?! c7 18.d5 b5 ) 17...b6 ( jw: or 17...a6 ) C1) jw: 18.e4!? e7 19.d5 0-0 20.h3 h6! 21.dxe6 ( 21.a2? xc1 22.xc1
f5 23.dxe6 a4 ) 21...fxe6 22.a2 f7 23.d1 d2 24.c1 fd8 [jw: the burden of proof is on White]; C2) 18.d3 f8 19.xd5 exd5 ( 19...xd5 20.xf8 xf8 21.xa7 b3 22.e4! ) 20.xc3 xa3? ( 20...xc3 21.xc3 f5 followed by .. Kf7. ) 21.xc8+ xc8 22.xa3 [ j w : y e s , b e c a u s e a5? 23.d6 threatens two pawns as well as Qe5+] ] 15...d7 16.e4 [ 16.xd5?! xd5 17.xd5 exd5 18.f4 c4! 19.ec1 c6-+ ] 16...c4 An ideal position for the bishop: it can support the march of the b-pawn and defend the critical squares d5-e6-f7. 17.c2 e7 18.d5?! Tempting, but bad. [ [Miguel:] Stronger is 18.xe7 xe7 19.e5 Limits the bishop Bg7 and prepares Nxc3. ( 19.xc3? d7! 20.b4 xe2 21.xe2 xd4 22.b5+ c6 23.a6 d7 24.xc6 xc6 25.a5 d4-+ ) 19...xe2 20.xe2 ( 20.xe2 b5 ) 20...a6 21.e3 Avoid Nh6. 0-0 22.ec1 c2 23.a2 b4! 24.axc2 xc2 25.xc2 d8 26.c7 xd4 27.xd4 xd4 28.c8+ f8 29.xb7 a5-+ The pawn cannot be stopped. For example: 30.a6 a4 31.c4 d1+ 32.g2 a3 33.a4 d2 34.c4 c5 ] 18...0-0 19.h3 b5 20.f4 b7-+ The threat is now b4. White has no compensation, so he will have to grab the exchange. But Black has three passed pawns. 21.b4 [ 21.xe6 fxe6 ( 21...b4? 22.xg7! ) 22.xe6+ h8 23.xc8 xc8 White really h a s n o t h i n g h e r e : j w 24.b4 xd5! 25.exd5 xd5-+ . The move ...Bh1 follows. ] [ 21.dxe6 b4 22.exf7+ xf7 23.xc8 xc8 24.ab1 c6-+ ] 21...exd5! Again, the exchange means very little when Black's pawns are so powerful. 22.exd5 [ 22.xc8 xc8 23.exd5 xd5 24.xd5 xd5 25.e7 c6 26.axa7 h1!-+ ] 22...xd5 23.xd5 xd5 24.e7 c7 25.ae1 xe7 26.xe7 c6 27.f1 [ 27.xa7 e4 28.c1 c2 with the idea 29.xf8 b2! ] 27...e8 28.e2 xe7 29.xe7 h5 30.d3 c2 CONCLUSION: I tend to like Black in these 1563
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 lines. He has no important weaknesses, good pawns on the queenside, and play on the light squares. Maybe 11 Nc3!? should be looked into. [ 30...c2 31.xc2 h1 32.f3 ( 32.f1 xc2 ) 32...xf3 ] 0-1
1560 Domingo,Miguel Bachmann,Andreas Corporate Championship 2004/05 (6) [M. Domingo]
A36 2190 2225 7.2.05
A nice game for White, who wins the opening and whose technique proves superior. Notes by Migu e l Do min go (wit h a litt le e d itin g) unless indicated otherwise. 1.c4 g6 2.g3 c5 3.g2 g7 4.c3 c6 5.a3 e6 6.b4 xb4 7.axb4 cxb4 8.d4 bxc3 9.e3 e7 10.e2 d5 11.cxd5 xd5 12.a3 f8 13.xf8 xf8 14.b3 b6N [ jw: 14...g7 15.0-0 b6 is KrasenkowBrynell of the preceding game, and ( 15...d7!? is analysed there. )] 15.e4 [ Miguel: 15.0-0 b7 Now White cannot achieve e4-e5 as in Krasenkow-Brynell 1996. A) 16.e4?! A1) 16...e7 17.xc3 ( 17.xc3! ) 17...g7 ( 17...xd4? 18.fd1 c5 19.d7 [jw: This still isn't convincing after c6! 20.dxa7 xa7 21.xa7 b5! , so 17...Qxd4 is likely strong and 17 Qxc3! should be played, with decent prospects.) 18.fd1 followed by d5 and play on the dark squares.; A2) 16...f6! 17.f3 g7 18.xc3 with a structure similar to Nyback-Bilek 2002.; B) 16.xc3 g7 17.e4 ( 17.a3!? d7 18.e4 hd8 with the idea a5 and Nb4. Black does not seem to have any problems.; 17.b2 e7 ) B1) 17...e7?! 18.fd1 ( 18.d5? exd5 19.exd5 f5 20.fd1 d6 and Black consolidates his position.) 18...d7 19.d5 exd5 20.exd5 with a structure sim ilar t o T h ie d e-He ine m a n n 2 0 0 2 .
f5?! 21.e4; B2) 17...xc3 18.xc3 d6! 19.d5+ f6 The black position seems to be solid: 20.fe1 hc8 21.b2 e5 ( jw: 21...exd5 22.e5! is unclear) 22.f4 e8 23.f1 a6 24.f2 b5 25.af1 e7 ] [ 15.xc3 b7 16.b5? ( 16.0-0 ) 16...a6 17.a3+?? ( 17.c3 ) 17...g7 18.d6 xe3!-+ [a clever tactic based upon 19.xb7 xg2+ 20.f1 d5 ] 15...c7?! [ 15...f6 ] 16.e5 [ 16.xc3 g8 17.0-0 a6 18.fc1 xe2 19.xc7 xc7 ( 19...xd4 20.e5 f8 21.a2! d3 22.xa7 b5 White is better, but it is not clear whether more than a draw can be reached.) 20.xc7 a6 21.d5 exd5 22.exd5 g7 23.d6 ad8 24.d7 b5 25.d1 f5 ( jw: 25...a5 ) 26.c6 xc6 27.xc6= ] [ Maybe 16.0-0 is more precise than the game continuation (which allows Black to return to Krasenkow-Brynell 1996) [jw: see t h e p re ce d in g ga m e ] a6?! ( 16...b7 17.fd1 ) 17.xa6! xa6 18.a3+ g7 19.xa6 with advantage for white similar to the game. ] 16...a6?! [ 16...d5 17.xc3 b7 18.b5 b8 19.0-0 g7 20.fc1 transposes to Krasenkow-Brynell 1996. ] 17.xa6! xa6 18.a3+ [ 18.xa8 xa8 19.0-0 g7 20.xc3 c7 ] 18...g7 19.xa6 b8?! The beginning of a wrong plan. [ 19...c8 20.0-0 ( 20.xa7 b5 ) 20...c7 21.c1 c4 22.b7! ( 22.xc4? xc4 23.xc3 xc3 24.xc3 c8 25.b5 c1+ 26.f1 a6 ) 22...c2 ( 22...c7 23.xc3 xa6 24.xa6 ) 23.f1! The king is important to control the black pawns on the queenside. c7 24.xc4 xc4 25.e1 b5 26.d2 ] 20.xa7 [ 20.d3 b5 21.xc3 b4 22.b3 b6 23.0-0 hc8 24.a1 a5 25.d5 [jw: White looks considerably better to me. Also possible is the conservative ( 25.e4 )] 20...c8 21.0-0 1564
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 21.a1?! d8! ( 21...c2? 22.d2! d7 23.c1 hc8 24.b2 b5 25.xc2 ) A) 22.xc3?! a6! ( 22...xc3+? 23.xc3 xd4 24.e2 b5 25.b1 ) 23.f4 a2 24.f2 dc8 25.b4 c2 26.f3; B) 22.xc3 B1) 22...xd4?! 23.b5! d3 ( 23...b4 24.d6 ) 24.e4 b3 25.d6 c5 26.0-0 a3 27.c1; B2) 22...c4! 23.e2 b5 ( 23...b4+ 24.f1 with the idea Bf3 and Kg2.) 24.b2 d3 25.0-0 b4 ] 21...b5 22.d5! d8? A serious mistake: Black forgets to def end the dark squares around his king. [ 22...b4 23.d4 b7 ( jw:? 23...b7 ) 24.xb7 xb7 25.dxe6 b6 26.exf7 [jw: with the idea] b3 27.e6 ] 23.e7! [ 23.d6? c2 ] 23...g8 [ 23...exd5 24.f4 th rea t en s B h 3 . e8 25.f6+ h6 ( 25...g8 26.xd5 c7 27.e6+- ) 26.h5!! threatens 27. Qg7+ Kxh5 28. Qxh7+ Kg5 29. f4+ Kf5 30.Qh3. g8 ( 26...a8 27.g7+ xh5 28.xh7+ g5 29.f4+ ) 27.g7!! threatens 28.e6 fxe6 29. g 4 a n d m a t e f o l l o w s . g4 28.f4+Threatens now h3 with capture of the queen. ] 24.f4?! [ Much easier was 24.dxe6 xe6 ( 24...fxe6 25.h3 e8 26.b4 ) 25.xe6 fxe6 26.xc3 b4 27.e4 b3 28.b1 b2 29.d6 f8 30.f1 d7 31.e1 c7 32.d2 ] 24...e8 25.h4?! I play only on an attack a ga in s t t h e k in g . A d u b i o u s d e ci sio n , i n particular because I did not see most of the following variation at this moment of the game. [ Better was 25.b4 exd5 ( 25...c2 26.c1 ) 26.xd5 xe5 27.f4 e2 28.f3 e6 29.f5 gxf5 30.e7+ xe7 31.xe7 ] 25...d8 [ 25...c2!? 26.h5 A) 26...c1?? loses: 27.f6+ f8 28.xh7 xf1+ ( 28...exd5 29.xd5 xf1+ 30.xf1 e6 31.xe6 fxe6 32.d7+ e8 33.xb8+- ) 29.xf1 A1) 29...e7 30.d6+ d8 31.xf7
c6 32.xe8 b7 ( 32...d7 33.f6+ xe8 34.h8+ ) 33.c7-+; A2) 29...exd5 30.xd5 f5 31.exf6 b7 ( 31...b7 32.f7 xf7 33.h8# ) 32.c7 Fritz: Mate in 10!; B) 26...gxh5 27.g5+ f8 28.d6 d7! with the idea f5. White does not seem to have more than perpetual. [jw: but White has a wonderful position on the kingside, s o h e c a n t r y w i t h o u t r i s k : : ] 29.f6! ( 29.e4!? (threatening Bxh7 but also trying to pick up the c-pawn) f5 30.exf6 ec8 31.h6+ g8 32.c1! b4 33.xc2 b3 34.f7+ xf7 35.xh7+ xh7 36.xc8+ xc8 37.xe6+ g7 38.xc8 b1+ 39.g2 e4+= ) 29...g8 30.e4 ec8 31.g5+ h8 32.xh5 f5 33.exf6 threatens f7, so f8 ( 33...c1 34.f7 ) 34.c1 b4 35.xc2 b3 36.c7 ] 26.h6 threatens Nh5. e7 27.h4? [ 27.d6 f8 28.g5 h6 ( 28...b4 29.h5 ed8 30.f6+ g7 31.e3 ) 29.g4 g7 30.d3 ] 27...exd5 White must now struggle not to lose. 28.xd5 [ 28.e1!? f8 29.g5 f6 30.g4 fxe5 31.xd5! b4 32.g5 ] 28...xe5 29.b3 bc8 [ [jw:] 29...b4 ] 30.a1? [ 30.c1 b4 31.h5 g7 32.g5 e5?! ( 32...e5= ) 33.g4 ce8 34.hxg6 hxg6 35.xg6! e1+ 36.xe1 xe1+ 37.g2 c2 38.c8+ h7 39.f8+ xf8 40.xf8 c1 41.xf7+ h6 42.f8+ The black king cannot stay on the kingside because he would be checkmated. White can therefore win t he b -pa wn wit h ch e ck a n d f o rce a queen exchange, e.g. g6 43.f7+ f6 44.g8+ e5 45.e7+ d4 46.xb4+ e5 47.e7+ d4 48.d6+ c3 49.c5+ d2 50.xc1+ and White wins. ] 30...c7? [ 30...g7! 31.g5 ( 31.xg7+ xg7-+ ) 31...c2-+ ] 31.c1 b4 32.h5 g5? [ 32...g7 33.g5 gxh5 34.xh5 h8 35.b5 f8 36.d3 ] 33.d5?? [ 33.c2 g7 34.d6 e5 ( 34...cc8!? 1565
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 t e m p o r a r i l y p i c k u p a s e co n d p a wn a n d establish a strong centre while White recovers one of them. 25.a6 d4! 26.e2 xh3+!? [ 26...xe4 should be fully equal. ] 27.g2 g5 28.fd1 [ 28.f3! f5 29.ad1 with Qd2 next, e.g., c5 1561 A36 30.d2 h6 31.exf5 gxf5 32.xd6 xd6 Esen,Baris 2464 33.xd6 ] Vovk,Andrey 2474 Levikov Mem Lvov UKR (6) 12.12.2006 28...xe4+ 29.xe4 xe4 30.f3 g5 31.ac1 The game is level. d8 32.c6 d5 [John Watson] 33.c5 e4 34.cxd5? [ 34.fxe4 xe4 35.cxd5 is equal. ] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.ge2 c5 7.h3 c6 8.d3 a6 34...xd5 35.xd5 xf3 Suddenly it looks 9.a4 b8 I think that this is a promising way to difficult for White if Black advances his pawn c o u n t e r t h e B o t v i n n i k f o r m a t i o n . 10.e3 as quickly as possible. 36.f2 b3? [ Black is very close to winning after 36...h5 e8!? Now we're back to the knight transfer, 37.b5 ( 37.d7 ) 37...d4 38.b7 which should afford White some advantage. ( 38.xb4?? e3+! and White will lose his [ I've mentioned the plan 10...b4 11.0-0 rook. ) 38...f6 39.c7 f5 40.b7 e3+ d7 in such positions, which can counter 41.f3 White's central play at least for a while, for A) 41...e5!? 42.xf7 ( 42.xb4?? example, 12.d4? cxd4 13.xd4 c8! d4+ wins on the spot) 42...d4 43.d7+ with a double attack on c4 and h3. In the c4 44.e2 b3; meantime Black can play for ...b5 or in some B) 41...b3 42.b6+ e5 43.b5+ d6 cases ...e6 and ...d5. ] 44.b7 g5 45.xf7 g4+ 46.e2 e5 ] 11.d4 cxd4 12.xd4 c7 13.0-0 37.e3 f5 38.b5 Once the b-pawn falls [ 13.de2 can be met by b5 ] W hite is fine. f6 39.xb3 g5 40.b6+ 13...xd4 e5 [ 13...e6 14.de2! ] 14.xd4 b5 Black achieves his break, albeit ½-½ at some cost. 15.xg7 xg7 16.cxb5 axb5 17.a5 b4 18.d5 a6 A36 [ 18...xd5 19.exd5 adds to Black's 1562 problems because e7 becomes a target. ] Felgaer,Ruben 2581 19.e1 e5! Berrocal,Jorge 2317 [ 19...e6 20.d2 hits the b-pawn, and if VIII Open Sants ESP (3) 27.08.2006 b3 , then 21.b4 b7 22.ec1 ] [John Watson] 20.b6 [ now 20.d2 xd5 21.exd5?! f5 Once again the Botvinnik setup produces a gives Black definite counterplay. ] nagging e dge . Bu t the n ot es sh ow s om e [ 20.xc7 xc7 21.d2 will control the c- better ways for Black to handle this type of file, especially since h4 and Bh3 is in the position. 1.c4 f6 2.g3 c5 3.g2 g6 cards. ] 4.c3 c6 5.e4 d6 6.ge2 g7 7.0-0 0-0 20...e6 21.f1 xf1 22.xf1 g5 8.d3 a6 9.h3 b8 A solid system against the 23.a4!? This move provokes Black into an c4 / e4 se t u p. Bla ck t hre at e n s . .. b 5 . 10.a4 exchange sacrifice. Better looks d7!? There are several plausible options [ 23.d3 xh3+ 24.g2 g5 25.ad1 ] here: 23...xb6!? [ This is an exceptional case where [ 23...xe4 24.xb4 ( 24.c6 d2 10...d4!? 11.xd4 cxd4 12.e2 e5 25.fd1 b3 26.xd6 e7 ) 24...f5 isn't bad, because Black has real queenside is unclear. ] play, e.g., 13.f4 ( or 13.a5 b5 14.axb6 24.axb6 xb6 Now Black will at least xb6 15.f4 d7 ) 13...d7 14.g4 b5 35.d5 ) 35.h6= ] 33...e6 The white queen is trapped. 0-1
1566
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.axb5 axb5 16.cxb5 ( 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.c5 b4!? 18.g5 h6 19.xf6 xf6 20.a6 g5 ) 16...xb5 17.f5 d7 18.g5 f6 with unclear complications. ] [ The alternative 10...b4 11.d4 cxd4 12.xd4 d7 13.b3 leaves White slightly better due to his central control. ] [ 10...d7 is in some ways the most consistent move because it develops and prepares ... b5. Then 11.e3 e5!? 12.f4 d4 is reasonable, answering 13.g4 with exf4 14.xf4 b5 ] 11.b1 d4?! [ 11...b4 makes more sense than before in view of 12.d4 ( 12.e3 e5 ) 12...cxd4 13.xd4 c5 with excellent squares for the knights and approximate equality. Even the idea of ...f5, and if exf5, ...Bxd4 and ...Bxf5 might come into play. ] 12.b4! cxb4 13.xb4 a5?! [ 13...xe2+ 14.xe2 e5!? prepares moves such as ...Qa5 and ...Nc5-e6-d4, and looks easier for Black to play than what follows in the game. ] 14.d5! c6 [ 14...e6 15.e7+ h8 16.d2 will give White the bishop pair. ] 15.b1 e6 16.d2 d8 17.b4 c7 [ 17...xb4 18.xb4 c7 19.d4 starts White's centre rolling. ] 18.c1!? [ Better is 18.f4! with the idea c5 19.xc6 bxc6 20.a5 a7 21.xb8 xb8 22.d4 . T h i s wo u ld e s se n t ia lly re f u t e B l a ck' s opening plan. ] 18...c5 [ 18...xb4 19.xb4 c5 20.e5! ] 19.xc6 xc6? [ The obvious 19...bxc6 20.xb8 ( 20.a3 xb1 21.xb1 e5 ) 20...xb8 looks fine, e. g., 21.a3 e5 ] 20.e5! c7 [ 20...xa4 may have been Black's idea, but 21.d4 is strong: d3!? ( 21...d7 22.b4; 21...b3 22.c2 dxe5 23.xb3 ) 22.c3 xe5 23.dxe5 xe5 24.b4 ] 21.d4! xa4 22.exd6 xd6 [ 22...d8? 23.c5 threatens moves like Qa3 and c6. ] 23.b4 c7 24.xf8 xf8 Now Black has some definite compensation for the Exchange,
bu t W h it e 's pie ce s a re a ctive e n o u gh t o maintain some advantage. 25.c5!? [ 25.e3! with the idea xc4?? 26.fc1 a2 27.a1 b2 28.xa4 ] 25...d7 26.c6! bxc6 27.xb8 xb8 28.xc6 xc6 29.xc6 b5! The only chance. In what follows Black almost holds his own but slips at the end. 30.c2! [ 30.c1 xe2 31.xa4 is still not easy, because White's d-pawn will fall if he takes the a-pawn. ] [ 30.xb5 axb5 31.d1 b6 32.c1 d5 33.b3 and Ra1 reorganizes but again White needs a concrete plan. ] 30...b6 [ 30...a5 31.b1 b4 32.c1 ] 31.b1 c4!? a bluff? 32.d2 [ 32.xc4 xc4 33.c1 should eventually win. ] 32...d5 33.f4 b4 34.b2? [ Better 34.d3 xd3 35.xd3 a5 36.xb4 axb4 37.f1 ] 34...a5 35.xd5 xd5 A great blockader, alth ou gh na tu ra lly W hite st ill ha s a ll t h e chances. 36.c1 h5 37.h4 d6? [ 37...g7 ] 38.c8+ g7 39.d8 a4?? Must be time pressure. Black still had [ 39...f6 40.b6 e7 , although White must be winning. ] 40.b6 a3 41.xd6 a2 42.f8+ h7 1-0
1563 Fridman,Daniel Psakhis,Lev ACP Blitz Prelim4 blitz (15) [Tony Kosten]
A36 2594 2545 15.04.2004
1.c4 c5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e3 xc3!? A move that was touted (his word) by John W atson in one of his early books, the idea is to play a sort of Nimzo position, but the drawback is that Black has wasted 3 moves to exchange the knight on c3, and weakened his kingside. 6.bxc3 f5 This is important, positionally-speaking White should be aiming to play d3 and e4, so Black tries to hinder this plan. [ F o r t h i s r e a s o n 6...b6 is not as good: 1567
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7.e2 ( I would play 7.e4 im me d ia te ly) 7...b7 8.d3 d6 9.0-0 d7 10.e4 f5 ( W a t s o n p r e f e rr e d 10...0-0-0 ) 11.f4 0-0-0?! 1/2-1/2? Speelman, J-Commons,K/ Lone Pine 1978, as 12.exf5! gxf5 13.d5 e5 14.d4 is crushing. ] 7.h4! Sharp, but logical. When Tony Miles surprised me with 5.. .Bxc3!? at the British Championships, Hove 1997, I first played [ 7.e2 b6 an d on ly th e n 8.h4!? f6 9.h5!? A) 9...xh5 is risky, but playable 10.xh5 gxh5 11.f4 ( 11.d4!? aims to force a draw after cxd4 12.xh5+ f8 13.xf5+ etc. ) 11...0-0 12.d5+ h8 13.xh5 e8; B) 9...f7 10.d3 b7 11.g1!? aiming for g5, c7 12.f3 ag8 13.e4 fxe4 14.g5+ e8 15.xe4 with unclear play. ] [ 7.f4?! is positionally wrong, with the bishop pair White should be putting his pawns on light squares, not dark! f6 8.f3 b6 9.0-0 b7 10.d3 a5 11.e2 c7 and White will have difficulty playing e4 or d4, Mednis, E-Larsen,B/New York 1990. ] 7...f6 8.h5! A new move, and very logical [ 8.d3?! first may transpose, but is less accurate: d6 9.h5!? xh5!? ( 9...g8 would transpose to the main game) 10.xh5 gxh5 11.xh5+ d7 this is the reason 8 h5 is better, after playing ...d6 here Black can escape to the queenside 12.xf5+ c7 13.h5 g8 14.e2 g7 15.d4 g4 Black is better, Fraschini,M-Adla,D/Buenos Aires 1993. ] 8...g8 [ 8...f7 is possible, as in my game against Miles above, but now the white knight can head for g5 directly, thus saving two tempi: 9.f3 and if xh5 10.e4 fxe4 11.g5+ g7 12.xe4 d6 13.d4 e8? 14.xh5 gxh5 15.xh5 winning. ] [ Note that 8...xh5? 9.xh5 gxh5 10.xh5+ f8 11.xf5+ allows White a p o we r f u l a t t a c k f o r ve r y l i t t l e m a t e r i a l investment. ] 9.hxg6 hxg6 10.d3 Now that White has gained the h-file and further weakened the black kingside, he can revert to 'the positional plan'. d6
[ 10...b6 11.f3 b7 might be better, avoiding weakening e6. ] 11.f3 g 5 b e c k o n s . d7 12.g5 b6 Black follows the Larsen schema. 13.e4 b7 [ 13...fxe4?! 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4 targets g6. ] 14.exf5 This works-out very nicely, but [ 14.e2 is more accurate, aiming at e6. ] 14...gxf5 Black misses a neat tactical chance: [ 14...e5! when 15.e4 xe4 16.xe4 gxf5 17.h5+ d8 18.xf5 c6 with the point that 19.e4? xd3+ wins. ] 15.d5!? Surprising, and difficult to counter in a blitz game. d8 This defends e6, but there was a case for the move [ 15...xd5 16.cxd5 e5 17.c4 ( 17.h5+ l e a d s n o w h e r e , d8 18.e6+ c8 and to defend both d5 and d3 White should play 19.f4 e6! 20.dxe6 g7 winning an exchange ) 17...0-0-0 18.f4 de8 a n d , u n f o r t u n a t e l y f o r W h i t e , 19.e6 is met by f3+! 20.xf3 xe6+ 21.dxe6 xf3 with good play. ] 16.h7!? Another shock, White piles on the pressure, but [ 16.h6 was certainly better, when xd5 17.cxd5 looks promising for White. ] 16...xd5 [ 16...xh7?? 17.h5+ f8 18.xh7+ leads to mate. ] 17.cxd5 b7? Black gives his king an escape square, but the knight was doing a good job defending the e6-square. [ 17...b7! is critical, allowing the king out via d7, 18.c4 xh7 19.h5+ d7 20.xh7 f8 21.b2 ( 21.g7?! e8 22.g6 is met by e6! opening the e-file, 23.h7 exd5+ 24.d1 e5! winning ) 21...c8 (intending ...e5) 22.g7 e8 23.e6 xe6 24.xf5 with unclear play Black has an extra exchange but his rooks have little scope. ] 18.e6 c4?? A big mistake, Black should admit the error of his last move and play [ 18...d8 when 19.e2! xh7 20.h5+ f7 21.xh7 h8 22.xf5 and the powerful knight on e6 cuts the black position in two. ] 19.d4? A blitz move, of course, probably played instantly. [ 19.g5! wins on the spot, the knight cannot 1568
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 be defended, and after xg5 ( 19...xh7?? 20.h5+ mates ) 20.h8+ f7 21.xg5+ g6 22.xa8 Black is a lot of material down. ] 19...c8? [ 19...d8! was still best! ] 20.g5! xg5 Forced. 21.xg5 xh7? [ 21...b5 offered some chances - both ... Qxd5 and ...Qb2 are on the cards. ] 22.h5+ d8 23.e6+ Winning the black queen and the game. xe6+ 24.dxe6 f6 25.xf5 c7 Of course there are always more chances in a blitz game - Black might win on time - but normally he would resign this. 26.0-0-0 a5 27.h1 c6 28.g4 d5 29.f3 e8 30.xd5 d6 31.h7 f8 32.d2 f4 33.e3 f6 34.f4 f8 35.f5 g8 36.f4 f8 37.g5 The g-pawn's advance is inexorable. 1-0
1564 A36 Gonzalez Zamora,Juan Carlos 2517 De la Paz Perdomo,Frank 2442 XIX Carlos Torre Mem (4) 16.12.2006 [John Watson] The Botvinnik System is very popular on every level. In this game W hite space and central control should have been decisive factors, although things got out of control. There are some opening issues that I haven't touched upon previously. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.e4 The anti-Gruenfeld order otherwise 3 g3 might be answered by 3...d5. But this has some funny consequences, so I'd prefer the immediate 3 g3 anyway. d6 4.g3 g7 [ (a) 4...c5 doesn't impress except as a transposition, in view of the independent try 5.g2 c6 6.ge2 e5!? 7.d3 g4 8.h3 f3 9.0-0 and I prefer White. ] [ (b ) A t h o u gh t : 4...c6!? might be antiBotvinnik-ish: A) 5.ge2 e5! ( 5...g4 6.g2 d4 7.h3 f3 8.xf3 xf3+ 9.f1 c5 10.g2 d4 ) 6.f4 ( 6.g2? d3+ 7.f1 g4! 8.f3 gf2 9.c2 g7; It's obligatory to mention 6.d3?? f3# ) 6...g4 ( 6...c5 ); B) Best is probably 5.d4 , but this may not
appeal to Botvinnik System lovers after e5 ( or 5...g7 6.g2 e5 7.ge2 exd4 8.xd4 xe4!? ) 6.d5 d4!? ( or 6...e7 ) 7.e3 g7 8.xd4 exd4 9.xd4 0-0 with plenty of compensation.; C) 5.g2 d4 6.ge2 xe2 7.xe2 g7 8.0-0 c5 ( 8...e5 ) 9.d3 0-0 ( or 9...g4!? 10.h3 e5 11.e3 c6 )] 5.g2 0-0 6.ge2 c5 7.0-0 c6 8.d3 Back to normal. Now Black enters into the traditional manoeuvre: e8 [ 8...b8 9.e3 a6 ] 9.e3 c7 10.d4 cxd4 11.xd4 e5 This primitive move offers Black a way to contest the centre, but he ends up with a pretty normal-looking position. 12.b3 g4 13.c1 e6 [ 13...d7 14.h3 e6 ( 14...e5 15.e3 and Black has gained nothing.) 15.de2! ( 15.xe6 fxe6!? covers d5 and introduces the trap 16.b2? xf2! 17.xf2 b6 and wins ) 15...e5 16.e3 c5 17.c2 a5 18.ad1 ] 14.de2! c5 15.h3 e5 16.e3 c6 [ Perhaps 16...a5 is best, with ...a4 in mind. Black should undertake something. ] 17.d2 e6 18.ad1 A little slow. One option is simply [ 18.f4 a5 19.f5 d7 20.h6! ] [ Or 18.ab1 ] 18...a5 19.b1!? a6?! 20.fc1 d8?! Black's la st two mo ves were u nins pire d . 21.d5 c8 22.b4! e5 23.d4 e6 24.e3 f5 Losing even more squares, but Black has to do something to counter White's p a w n r u s h . 25.exf5 gxf5 26.f4 f7 27.xg7 xg7 28.d4 [ Or 28.c5 dxc5 29.c3+ f6 30.xf6+ xf6 31.b5 c7 32.xc5 ] 28...c7 29.c5 d5 30.b5 e8 31.e1 h5 32.xd5?! OK, but perhaps too fancy. Simply [ 32.c3 g8 33.ec2 reduces Black to complete passivity. ] 32...exd5 33.exf5+ h8 34.e7!? [ It may be better to continue the attack by 34.e6 f6 ( 34...xe6 35.xe6 d4 36.d1! ) 35.xd5 , which keeps the pressure on. ] 34...f6 35.c3 h6 36.e5? [ 36.g6+ h7 37.xf8+ xf8 38.c6 has the idea e4 39.cxb7 xb7 40.c7+ 1569
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f7 41.xf7+ xf7 42.bc1 . That is still not completely clear but must favour White. ] 36...f7 A t t a c k i n g e 7 . 37.be1 xh3 Sudde nly W hite has to ta ke th e mat eria l imbalance seriously. 38.f5!? h7 39.e6 d4?? Time control again! [ 39...e4! threatens e7, and 40.1xe4? ( 40.xd8 xc3 41.xf7 xf7 looks fine for Black, perhaps in his favour) 40...xe7 41.f6 xf6 42.g5+ xg5! 43.xg5 dxe4 gives Black material and attack. ] [ 39...xe7?? 40.g5+ ] 40.d2 d7 41.g5+ h8 42.xh3 The re st is easy. hg4 43.g6+ g7 44.g5 d3 45.xf7 d4+ 46.h1 xf7 47.g5 h7 48.h8+ f8 49.e7+ g8 50.f7+ 1-0
1565 Graf,Alexander Othman,A Moussa Open Dubai UAE (5) [Tony Kosten]
A36 2623 2367 19.04.2002
1.c4 f6 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 0-0 5.e4 c5 6.ge2 c6 7.d3 d6 8.0-0 a6 9.h3 b8 10.a4 b6!? An interesting choice, allowing White to force d4, if he wishes. [ 10...d7 11.b1 e8 12.e3 would have transposed into my game against Tkachiev, V/ France 1999, which is worth a look. ] [ 10...e8 is more normal, heading for d4 via c7 and e6, 11.e3 d4 stopping White from playing d4. ] 11.e3 e6!? An innovation, previously Black had preferred [ 11...b7 Paladini,J-Romano,T/Caorle 1982, or ] [ 11...d7!? 12.d2 ( 12.d4? actually loses a pawn here: c8 13.h2 cxd4 14.xd4 xd4 15.xd4 xc4 but White can always play; 12.h2 first, and then d4.) 12...a5 Galic, Z-Kiroski,T/Pula 1991. ] 12.d2 [ 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 is also perfectly reasonable - White has a pleasant Maroczy position. ] 12...a5?! 13.ab1 Black was threatening to fork White's queen and rook. c6 If this is
Black's best then why put this piece on a5 on the previous move? 14.f4 White decides that Black's ...e6 encourages a kingside attack with f5. b7 15.f5!? [ O b j e c t i v e l y 15.d4 should be best, but White has another plan involving g4-g5, and maybe f6. ] 15...d5!? A good practical try, and following the old adage about countering a wing attack with a push in the centre. 16.exd5 exd5 17.xd5!? Obviously played for tactical reasons, as White knows that conceding his important light-squared bishop is risky. [ 17.xd5 is more natural, but after xd5 18.xd5 b4 ( 18...e5?! 19.c3 allows W hite to maintain a piece on d5) 19.xb7 xb7 20.d4 e8 Black has good p i e c e p l a y f o r t h e p a wn a n d t h e wh i t e position is a bit loose. ] 17...xd5 18.xd5 e7! This must have come as a shock for White, as at first glance it seems to lose a piece. 19.f6 This is not forced, but it is the logical follow-up to White's 17th. [ 19.f4!? xd5 20.xb8 xb8 21.cxd5 d6 also offers Black respectable compensation, this time for the exchange. ] 19...xd5 20.fxg7 e8 Forced, and good. 21.h6 [ 21.cxd5? xd5 22.f2 (what happened to my light-squared bishop?!) f3+ 23.e1 xe3 is crushing for Black. ] 21...f5!? A curious move, [ 21...g5?! is tricky, but after 22.xg5 xe2 23.xe2 xg5 24.cxd5 xg3+ 25.g2 defends. ] [ However, 21...d7 looks good, the knight i s s t i l l s a f e , 22.h2 b4 with good chances. ] 22.g4! Threatening to take on d5, as now Ng3 is possible defending h1 and g2 (with the queen). h4!? [ 22...e7 is a safer choice, but Black insists on sacrificing his knight! ] 23.cxd5 xh3?! A slip. [ 23...xd5 24.f4 xh3 25.g3 bd8 gives lots of play for the piece - Black will always have practical chances against the exposed white king. ] 24.c3! This keeps the b7-bishop from taking on d5 and therefore keeps the long diagonal 1570
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 closed, which is much more important than the kingside pawns. xg4+ 25.g2 d4+ Black doesn't want to play the ending. 26.h2 b5?! Played to displace the knight, but it is too slow. 27.f2! White tries to force-off queens, always a useful resource for a defender. g4 28.f4 xf4+ 29.xf4 b4 30.e4! Without this the position wouldn't be too clear. fxe4? 31.bf1 Rf8+ is unstoppable. 1-0
1566 Gurevich,Mikhail Anand,Viswanathan 10th Corsica Masters KO (2.2) [John Watson]
A36 2648 2779 05.11.2006
How does Anand treat the 'Pure' Symmetrical versus a top-class player? Carefully! 1.c4 c5 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c6 5.a3 At on e p o in t , p eo p le like S e ira wa n we re making us feel that this was some kind of refutation of the Symmetrical! Now it's just an ot he r mo ve . b6 A solid response. 6.b4 b7 7.bxc5 [ 7.b2?! c8 ] [ 7.b5 a5 8.xb7 xb7 9.b2 is a good idea. ] 7...bxc5 8.b1 c8! 9.e4!? Generally t h e s e e a r l y e xp e d i t i o n s d o n ' t b r i n g a n y advantage in the Symmetrical English. Development by [ 9.f3 i s f i n e , a n d e5 10.d5! threatens Rxb7. ] 9...d8! 10.f3 [ Or 10.c2! with the idea f5? 11.b2! ] 10...c6 [ 10...b8 ] 11.h3 e6 [ Or 11...f5 12.c3 xc3! 13.dxc3 f6 ] 12.0-0 f6 13.eg5!? [ 13.d3 is preferable, with the idea xe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.dxe4 0-0 16.f4 These are hard positions to play, and I could easily be wrong in some of these notes. ] 13...xf3 [ 13...d4 14.xc6 xc6 15.e3! h6!? 16.exd4 hxg5 17.xg5 ( 17.d5? a6 ) 17...cxd4 18.d3 with the idea Qf3 - perhaps
a touch better for White? ] 14.xf3 0-0? 15.d3 b8 16.f4 [ 16.xb8 xb8 17.f4 ] 16...d6 17.a4 d7 18.a6? What's the point? The first real mistake of the game. h6 Threatens ...g5-g4. 19.e3 [ 19.d2? g5 wins a piece. ] 19...g5 20.d2 g4 21.g2 f5 [ T h e c o m p u t e r ' s m o v e 21...b2! is surprisingly deadly, with ...f5 to come, and ...Rb6 if needed. ] 22.xb8 xb8 23.b1 xb1 [ 23...b2! ] 24.xb1 d8 25.d2 c6+!? Black doesn't have much to work with after this, but his pieces are more active. 26.xc6 xc6 27.f3 f6 28.c3 d7 29.f2 b6 30.fd1 d4 31.e3 Uh-oh. [ 31.g4! ] 31...e6 32.b5 xb5 [ Or 32...d5 . Suddenly Black has a sure if limited lead. ] 33.cxb5 d5 34.a5 a4 35.f1 f7 36.d1 e5 [ 36...c4 37.dxc4 dxc4 38.e3 c3 39.c2 ] 37.e1 e7 38.d2 f4!? 39.g4! d6 40.c2 d4! 41.d2 e5!? [ 41...c4 42.dxc4 dxc4 with the idea 43.e3? fxe3 44.xe3 xe3 45.xe3 c5 ] 42.e3 fxe3 43.xe3 xe3 44.xe3 d4 45.d2 d5 This looks winning but allows White to escape. Better [ 45...b6 46.b3 d5 47.c2= ( 47.c4 e3+ 48.b3 f1 )] 46.b3! b6 47.a4 c4+ 48.dxc4+ xc4 49.b4 d6 [ 49...e3? 50.a5 ] 50.a3!? [ 50.xd6 xd6 51.b4 d5 52.a5 d6 53.c4 d7 54.d3 d6 55.c4= ( 55.e4?? c5 )] 50...c4 [ 50...b7 51.c2 c5 52.a5 ] 51.b4 d6 52.h3? This seems to lose! Black gains a key tempo. White had to play. [ 52.xd6 xd6 53.b4 c7 54.a5 b7= ] 52...b7! 53.f8 [ 53.c2 c4 54.f8 c5 55.xh6? e4! 56.fxe4 d3+ 57.d1 xe4 ] 1571
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 53.a3 c5+ 54.xc5 xc5 and wins. ] 53...c5+ 54.c2 e6!? [ 54...c4 is a fairly easy win. ] 55.xh6? [ 55.a3 c4 ( 55...c5 56.a5! ) 56.d6 ] 55...c4 56.d2 b4 57.d3 xa4 58.c4 a5 0-1
1567 Gurevich,Mikhail Kasimdzhanov,Rustam Turkish Bank Chess League 2012 (8) [John Bartholomew]
A36 2596 2690 18.7.12
Rustam Kasimdzhanov displays profound handling of a rare Nimzo-ish line of the Pure Symmetrical. 1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 c6 5.e3 [ N o t q u i t e a s p o p u l a r a s 5.f3 , but certainly a very major line of the Pure Symmetrical. ] 5...xc3!? "A move that was touted by John Watson in one of his early books. The idea is to p la y a s o rt o f Nimzo p o sit io n , b u t t h e drawback is that Black has wasted 3 moves to exchange the knight on c3, and weakened his kingside." - Tony Kosten (in his notes to Fridman-Psakhis). Despite the positive statistics (Black scores 60% in limited testing) and alluring alteration of play offered by 5... Bxc3!?, it has never really caught on a serious weapon. Thus, it's extremely enlightening to see how a world-class player like Kasimdzhanov handles this line. See the guide "Pure Symmetrical W ithout Nf3" for coverage of superseding lines (i.e. 5...e6, 5... e5, etc.) 6.bxc3 [ Capturing away from the center with 6.dxc3 has been tried in several games, but the text is undoubtedly more natural. One entertaining game went b6 (Black has many other options) 7.h4!? f6 8.e4 b7 9.e5 h5 10.g4 g7 11.h6 e6 12.e2? c7?! ( Black missed a shot: 12...cd4! 13.cxd4 xg2 14.h2 xd4 ) 13.0-0-0 0-0-0 14.f4 g5!? with bizarre play. Flores, D (2579)-Felgaer, R (2561)/La Plata ARG 2009. ] 6...b6 Playing for a queenside fianchetto gives
White a free hand in the center, but Black is counting on the inherent solidity of his setup. [ In the afore mentioned Fridman-Psakhis game Black played 6...f5 , hindering White's ability to play for e3-e4. The idea of ... Bg7xc3 and a subsequent ...f7-f5 is reminiscent of the "Dzindzi Indian" (1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.d5 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 f5). White employed an idea that is effective in t h a t l i n e a s we l l : 7.h4! f6 8.h5! obtaining nice play. Fridman, D (2594)Psakhis, L (2545)/ playchess.com INT 2004/ [TonyK]. ] 7.d3 [ White could also play 7.e4 without delay. ] [ Another alternative is 7.h4!? , i.e. f6 8.e4 b7 9.e2 d6 10.d3 d7 11.g5 g4 12.d4 a5! 13.h5 f6 14.c1 g5 Groszpeter, A (2485)-Schlosser, P (2465)/ Lippstadt 199199. ] 7...b7 8.e4 d6 9.f3 [ 9.h4!? is again a legitimate attempt. A few examples: h6 ( 9...f6!? 10.h6 d7 11.h3 c7 12.f4 c8 13.g4 e6 14.f3 0-0-0 15.e2 b8 Stark, L (2430)Tereick, B (2404)/Germany 200709.; 9...h5 10.g5 d7 11.d2 0-0-0 12.e2 e8 13.0-0 b8 14.ad1 e5 15.e3 f6 with chances for both sides, Schwarz, M (2409)-Wintzer, J (2349)/Germany 2008.) 10.h5 g5 11.f4 gxf4 12.gxf4 f5!? (a cool move!) 13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 c7 15.f4 0-0-0 16.e2 f6 17.f3 g4 18.0-0-0 e6 19.he1 a5 Contin, D (2396) -Postny, E (2572)/Lodi 2006. ] 9...d7 The ideal square for Black's queen in conjunction with the queenside fianchetto. Tony refers to this as the "Larsen schema" in homage to the great Dane who successfully employed this setup. 10.0-0 0-0-0 11.d4 e5! Any Nimzo player worth his salt would play this instantly! One admires the overriding positional theme: trade off a bishop, then erect a pawn blockade on the same color as the departed cleric. 12.d5!? White could have deferred this decision, but evidently he felt that his central play wasn't going anywhere. The game now shifts to the flanks. [ In light of what transpires, a waiting strategy looks preferable, i.e. 12.e2!? . ] 12...a5 13.d2 a6 14.e1 b8 1572
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Kasimdzhanov secures his king before undertaking anything active. Smart strategy in a closed position! [ Not 14...xc4?? 15.f1+- ] [ 14...xc4?! 15.xc4 xc4 16.f1 a5 17.c4 is also ill-advised. ] 15.f1 a8 [ 15...f5!? is a more energetic approach. ] 16.a4 [ O f c o u r s e t h e i m m e d i a t e 16.b3!? comes to mind. W hite probably wanted to rule out a4 , i.e. 17.xa5 xd1 ( 17...xa5 leaves the queen very out of play. ) 18.xd1 bxa5 with a position similar to the game (minus queens). Play could continue 19.f4 exf4 20.gxf4 ( or 20.xf4 f6 ) 20...e7 and Black can hope to execute the same maneuver as in the game (...Ne7c8-b6). White will likely be obliged to open the game with e4-e5 in search of counterplay. ] 16...e7 17.b3 f6! Kasimdzhanov is unperturbed! Your engine will no doubt leap at the chance to inflict double isolated pawns upon the Black position, but matters are far f r o m c l e a r . 18.xa5 bxa5 A deceptive position. White cannot really utilize the b-file or attack the a5-pawn, so he switches to kingside play... 19.f4 c8! ...and Black is the one who shows up on the queenside! The knight will be very irritating on b6, and White will have to deal with pressure on a4 and c4 f o r t h e re s t o f t h e ga m e . 20.d3 b6 21.fxe5 fxe5 22.h6 h3!? 23.g5 b8 24.a2 h6 25.c1 hf8! Black is not in a hurry t o co llect t he c4-pa wn. He in st ea d prefers to retain full control of the position [ 25...xc4?! 26.xc4 xc4 27.d3 b6 28.b5 ] 26.f1 xc4 27.xc4 xc4 28.xf8 xf8 29.e2 b6 Black has won a pawn, and the unpleasant threat on f1 keeps Gurevich very tied down. 30.b2 c4 31.e3?! [ 31.b5! was a better try. ] 31...xa4 32.c2 [ 32.xc4 f1+! 33.xf1 xf1+ 34.xf1 xb2 ] 32...h5! An excellent resource. White was all set for Qe2xc4, but this counter brings him back to reality. 33.e1 [ 33.xc4? d1+-+ ]
33...g5 34.f2 xf2 35.xf2 b7 [ 35...e8! was a better consolidating move. The game now becomes a little sloppy, so I assume time was a big factor. ] 36.xa7 d1+ 37.g2 g4 [ 37...g4! ] 38.f7+ a6 39.d7? [ 39.c7! presented more problems, as f3+ 40.g1 xc3 41.f2 can no longer be met by ...Na4-b6. ] 39...e2+ [ 39...f3+! 40.g1 xc3-+ ] 40.f2 xe4+ 41.g1 b6 42.xd6 b1+ 43.g2 a4 44.xb6? [ 44.b8! was correct, i.e. a3 45.xb6 xb6 46.a8+ (this is the point) a7 ( 46...b5 47.xa3 ) 47.c6+ A) 47...a5 48.d6= ( or 48.d6= ); B) 47...b6 48.a8+= ] 44...xb6 45.d7 a5 46.xg4 a3 47.xc4? The final mistake in an extremely tricky position. [ Ne c e s sa ry i s 47.c8! intending a2?! ( 47...a4! ) 48.a8+ a6 49.b8! when the constant threat of mate on b4 allows W hite to escape with a perpetual: b5 50.a7+ a6 51.c5+ b5 52.a7+= ] 47...b2+ 48.h3 a2-+ 49.d6 a1 50.d7 d1! 51.c5+ [ 51.c7+ a4 52.d8 f1+ is similar. ] 51...a4 52.a7+ b3 53.b8+ a2 54.a8+ b1 55.d8 f1+ 56.g4 be2+ 57.h4 xh2+ 58.g4 hh3# The pace of play can slow significantly after the uncommon 5...Bxc3!?. Both sides ought to be well versed in the motifs demonstrated in this game. 0-1
1568 Gurevich,Mikhail Kasimdzhanov,Rustam EUR-ASIA Rapid Match rapid (2) [Tony Kosten]
A36 2633 2704 17.09.2001
1.c4 c5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e3 e6 6.ge2 ge7 7.f4!? As I mentioned last month (September 2001), this is White's only serious attempt at keeping 1573
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 some tension in the position. a6 [ Black aims straight for queenside counterplay, 7...0-0 8.0-0 a6 9.b3 b5 10.b2 b8 is similar, and quite viable too, Miles,A-Akesson,R/Las Vegas 1999. ] 8.b1 b5! [ There is no need to prepare this by 8...b8 altho ugh af te r 9.b3 b5 10.b2 bxc4 11.bxc4 the position was almost identical in Bursteinas,R-Eriksson,J/Paide EST 1999. ] 9.b3 [ 9.cxb5?! axb5 10.xb5 0-0 ( 10...xa2?! 11.d6+ ) 11.c3 a6 12.d3 d5 presents Black with a strong initiative. ] 9...0-0 10.b2 bxc4 11.bxc4 b8 12.a1 xb1 13.xb1 White has skilfully defended against Black's queenside initiative, and the position is equal. e5 14.d3 d6 15.0-0 d7 16.b7 c8 17.b3 d7 18.b1 c6 19.e4?! [ A better way to avoid the exchange of the bishops was by 19.e4 . ] 19...d7 20.b6 White tries to make something out of his b-file domination. a8 21.h3 h8! Black prepares ...g5, when the f4knight would be obliged to give-up its defence of d3. 22.d1?! [ After this move White loses control of the bfile, better 22.b2 as g5?! 23.h5 xd3?! 24.d2 forks d3 and g5. ] 22...c8! 23.b3 b8 24.c2 d7 25.fe2 This highlights my distrust of 7 Nf4: the knight does nothing particularly useful here (except stop Black from playing ...d5) and will only have to come back at some stage. 5c6 26.d2 g7 27.c1 d8 28.d1 a5 29.b1 xb1 30.xb1 b4 31.c2? [ 31.c1 d4 32.xd4 cxd4 33.e2 maintained equal chances. ] 31...d4! 32.xd4 cxd4 33.b1?! [ The ensuing endgame is hopeless, a l t h o u g h i f i n s t e a d 33.b1 e1+ and the queen infiltrates the very heart of the white position. ] 33...c6 34.xb4 xb4 35.e2 xa2 [ 35...e5 36.c1 h6 37.f4 exf4 appears to be good too. ] 36.xd4 xd4 37.xd4 b4 38.b3 [ The problem for White is that if he defends h i s d - p a wn b y 38.f1 then the a-pawn is
difficult to stop: a5 39.b5 ( 39.b3 a4 40.a1 a3 41.d4 a2 42.c5 e5! 43.dxe5 dxc5 creates a second passed pawn.) 39...a4 40.d4 xb5 41.cxb5 a3 42.c4 a2 43.xa2 xa2 44.b6 b4 45.b7 c6 and the knight returns just in time. ] 38...xd3 39.f1 e5 40.c5 a4 41.a5 b5+ 42.g1 dxc5 A second pawn drops and White can resign. 43.f4 d3 44.f1 c4 45.e5 f8 46.g2 b2 47.f2 c3 48.e2 e7 49.e3 d8 50.xb5 axb5 51.d4 a4 Stopping the white king from approaching. 52.d3 c5+! 'Trapping' the white knight. 53.xc3 c7 54.d4 b6 55.g4 xa5 0-1
1569 Hansen,Carsten Meredith,Derek US Amateur Team East (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A36
21.02.2007
1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.a3 e6 6.b1 Also the gambit 6 b4!? can be considered, but I had another idea in mind. a5 7.xc6!? A new move in this position, but the idea is known with the colors reversed after 1 c4 c5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 g3 g6 4 Bg2 Bg7 5 e3 Bxc3!?, which has been played in several Grandmaster games, hereunder Mednis Larsen, New York 1990, where my compatriot quickly obt ained a clea r a dvant age. Th e circumstances after the text move are somewhat different, but at the board I found the idea worth a try. dxc6 I'm not sure this is Black's best a better choice is most likely 7. . bxc6 followed by ...d6 and ...e5. 8.d3 e7 9.h4!? This simple-looking move has several ideas behind it. The obvious one is to push the pawn to h5 to open the h-file, another is to provoke Black to play ...h5 himself, leaving Black severely weakened on the dark squares on account of his many pawns fixed on light squares. e5 10.h5 0-0 This looks a bit daring, but White doesn't have any immediate threats against the king. 11.hxg6 hxg6 [ 11...fxg6 12.g5 is pleasant for White. ] 12.e4!? [ 12.h6 xh6 13.xh6 f5 14.h2 1574
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is also better for White, but I wanted to keep his knight on e7 contained, in fact it stayed there throughout the rest of the game! ] 12...d6 13.e3 b6 14.d2 d8 15.d1 a6?! Black wanted to connect this rooks and prepare the ...b6-b5 break, but the bishop doesn't belong on this square. Although Black after the game was worried about cutting the queen off from the defense of the kingside, Black should have give preference to 15...Be6 or 15... f6. 16.h6 f6 [ 16...f6 is probably better. ] 17.e3 a7 18.b3 [ 18.xg7 xg7 19.b4!? also looks good. ] 18...ad7 19.e2!? This is not strictly necessary, but I wanted to provoke Black to play ...b6-b5, which looks like a natural way to create counterplay, but in fact speeds up the fall of Black's position. xh6 20.xh6 b5? A s h o p e d a n d e xp e c t e d , it g o e s q u i ck l y downhill from here. A better move is 20...Qg7, leaving W hite with a more tolerable advantage. 21.f3! From this point onwards up to and including move 31 was calculated i n a d v a n c e . a4 Black still thinks he is doing okay and proceeds according to plan. 22.h7+ f8 23.h8+ xh8 24.xh8+ g7 25.xd8 xd8 26.bxa4 bxc4 [ R e l a t i v e l y b e t t e r i s 26...b4 27.a2 with just a clear advantage for White. ] 27.xe5 cxd3+ 28.xd3 b8 Black had pinned his hopes on this move, expecting to penetrate on the queenside. 29.d2! b3 30.c2 Oops, now 30. ..Rxa3 is met with 31. Kb2 and the rook is trapped. b8 31.xc5 c8 32.d8 f5?! In desperate time trouble, Black tries a last trick, not realizing he is b e in g s e t u p . 33.e5 f4 34.g4! f5+?! With seconds left on the clock, Black sees the light at the end of the tunnel. However, 34... Ra 8 3 5 . f 3 wa s t h e m ise ra b le , b u t b e t t e r a l t e r n a t i v e . 35.gxf5 xd8 36.e6+ , and the game is over. 1-0
1570 Hautot,Stephane Benkovic,Petar European Junior Ch (6) [Gary Lane]
A36 2085 2310 1998
1.e4 c5 2.c4 One of the advantages of playing 2 c4 is that Black will no longer be able to play sharp lines against it. This is because the positions tend to be similar to an English or a Closed Sicilian where the pawn on c4 helps to limit Black's usual plan of queenside pawn expansion. c6 3.c3 d6 4.g3 [ 4.d3 f6 ( 4...g6 5.f4 g7 6.f3 f6 7.g3 0-0 8.g2 g4 9.0-0 d4 10.e3 d7 11.d2 xf3 12.xf3 led to equal chances in F.Riegel-C.Koepke, Friedrichroda 1997.) 5.g3 g4 6.ce2 W e l l , t h i s i s p o s s i b l e b u t I p r e f e r ( 6.f3 when the bishop will retreat and later f3-f4 will b e p la ye d wit h o u t lo sin g a n y t im e) 6...d4 7.g2 g6 8.h3 xe2 9.xe2 d7 10.0-0 The position reminds me of a Closed Sicilian. b8 11.e3 b5 12.d2 g7 13.ab1 a5 14.f4 0-0 15.g4 e8 16.f5! With the centre closed White can get away with advancing his kingside pawns. Black is already under pressure giving W hite the better position. e5 17.g3 b4 18.g5 ( 18.g5 f6 19.h4 is good for White) 18...f6 19.h6 g5 20.xg7 xg7 21.f2 f7 22.h1 g7 23.h4 h6 24.h2 b7 25.bh1 when White has the better prospects of making a breakthrough and eventually won after over 100 moves in V. Belan-I. Zaitseva, Serpukhov 1999. ] 4...e6 [ 4...f6 5.g2 e5 6.ge2 e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 d4 9.h3 d7 10.f4 b5 11.xd4 cxd4 12.xb5 xb5 13.cxb5 b6 14.a4 a6 15.bxa6 xa6 16.b3 b8 17.a3! This st ro ng m oves u nd ermine s Blac k's ambitions of active piece play by threatening 18 fxe5 when the d6 pawn will be pinned. exf4 18.e5 d7 19.exd6 xd6 20.xd6 xd6 21.xf4 e6 22.b1 c5 23.h2 d7 24.c2 e6 25.f2 c8 26.e2 Things have become a little clearer. White has a material plus together with passed a and b pawns. All he needs to do is make 1575
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 sure that Black's pieces are not allow to conjure up any tactical threats before making progress. a7 27.h4 and White was better in O.Lesnov-R. Melentiev, Kazan 1997. ] 5.g2 f6 6.ge2 e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.d4 Hautot wishes to open up the position to use his space advantage. Instead, 8 d3 intending f4 is similar to a Closed Sicilian. cxd4 9.xd4 e5 Black takes aim at the c4 pawn but to avoid losing time when White inevitably plays f4, he should have something else planned f o r a f t erwa rd s . 10.b3 a6 11.h3 c7 Black is hoping to play ...b5 based on the pin on the c-file. 12.f4 ed7 13.a4 White has emerged from the opening with the much more comfortable position. The space advantage will allow him to easily manoeuvre his pieces and start a kingside pawn storm. Black has a fairly solid position but his lack of q u e e n s i d e d e ve l o p m e n t i s a wo r r y . e8 14.g4 b6 15.a3 b7 16.c1 g6?! This weakens the dark-squares around the king and is a natural response to the threat of f4-f5. In a passive position it is a miserable task to adopt a policy of wait and see. However, in this situation is appropriate so Black should considered [ 16...c8 17.f5 e5 18.d5 d8 19.e2 is to white's advantage. ] 17.f5 g7 18.d2 fe8 19.g5! White is well placed to attack so takes the opportunity to t hre aten th e de cisive f 5-f 6 in o rde r t o provoke further concessions from Black. gxf5 20.exf5 xg2 21.xg2 exf5 [ 21...e5 22.f6 exd4 23.d5 b8 24.xe7+ f8 25.e4 threatening Qxh7 winning. ] 22.d5 c8 23.c6 xg5 [ 23...xc6 loses the queen after 24.xe7+ xe7 25.xc6 ] 24.xg5 xc6 25.b2 At last the bishop is brought back into the action which finishes Black's resistance. e5 26.f6+ h8 27.h6 1-0
1571 Hulak,Krunoslav Filipovic,Branko Open Pula CRO (3) [Tony Kosten]
A36 2553 2442 13.05.2002
Black leaves his a-pawn en prise for almost the entire game, but White could never take it, and then the a-pawn suddenly surged up the board to decide the game! 1.g3 c5 2.g2 c6 3.c4 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e3 e6 6.a3 ge7 7.b4!? Strictly speaking a novelty, although this is highly reminiscent of the line 5 a3 e6 6 b4!? when, after 6...Nge7, I have suggested 7 e3!?, which would transpose into th is ga m e . 0-0 8.ge2!? White persists in offering the b-pawn. xb4 [ A standard tactic, although in this exact position 8...cxb4!? is interesting: 9.axb4 d5 10.cxd5 xb4! 11.d4 bxd5 White has so m e c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r t h e p a wn , b u t possibly not enough. ] 9.axb4 cxb4 10.d4 bxc3 11.xc3 Normally in these lines Black hasn't castled and so White hasn't been able to recapture th e c3 -p awn so e asily - see Delch ev, A Tukmakov,V, for example. d5 12.cxd5 [ 12.0-0!? dxc4 13.a3 would transpose to the game Gurevich,M-Yudasin,L/Haifa 1995, but the text is more natural. ] 12...xd5 13.xd5 exd5 14.b3 e6 Black is obliged to return a pawn. 15.xb7 c8 16.b3?! [ A bit too ambitious, 16.xc8 fxc8 17.d2 White's better structure offers him a small plus. ] 16...b8! 17.a3 c4! Black exploits the fact that the white king is still in the centre, and tries to keep it there. 18.f1 [ 18.xa7? fc8 19.d2 b2 is not playable for White, the black initiative is too strong. ] 18...c6 19.e2?! [ Probably White should admit that he has not gained anything from the opening and play 19.g2 c4 20.f1 with a repetition. ] 19...h3! Continuing the theme. 20.f3 fe8 21.a4 [ White is already in some trouble, as 21.f2? loses to the pretty xd4! 22.exd4 xe2+! 23.xe2 c2+ 24.d2 e8+ ] 1576
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21...e6 22.f2 h6 23.f4 Black has a solid [ White is trying to create/provoke further initiative and White must already have been weaknesses in Black's camp before finishing regretting his earlier decisions. bc8 24.d2 up his own development. In the only other f5 25.hc1 e4 Now White's light squares game I found with W hite's startling 10th are a concern. 26.f1 move was Zueger, B-Gheorghiu, F/Vienna [ 26.g4!? would have kept the black queen 1986, which proceeded with 11.c2?! f6 away, if only temporarily. ] 12.d3 0-0 13.f3 h3 Based on White's 26...g4 27.xc8 xc8 28.c1 xc1 play in the stem game, I'm not sure I 29.xc1 f8! To win Black will need all his understand what he had in mind as the pieces. 30.e1 logical follow-up to the 10th move. At this [ The a-pawn is still undefended, but still point, he just looks clearly worse and he c a n n o t b e c a p t u re d : 30.xa7?? f3+ h a s n ' t b e e n p a rt i c u l a r ly a g g r e s s i v e i n 31.g1 h1+ 32.f2 xh2+ 33.e1 pursuing the positionally ambitious idea he b4+ ] launched. 14.g5 g2 15.g1 d5 16.f3 30...f3 31.b5?! d7 17.e3 a8 18.f2 a3 , and it is [ 31.e8! must be tried, stopping the darkpretty obvious that White's opening hasn't squared bishop from participating. ] been particularly successful ] 31...h1 32.e2 a5! White is tied-up and 11...e5 can do little to hinder the a-pawn's advance. [ This is probably not a bad move, but I find 33.d2 a4 34.c3 a3 35.g4?! f3 36.f2 that it allows White the kind of play that he xg4 37.g2 f3 38.xh1 xh1 39.b5 is angling for. Black should probably just e4 40.a4 f6 The extra pawn wins easily. have played a simple move like 11...f6!? 41.h4 f7 42.d1 g5! Creating another , e.g. 12.e4 0-0 13.c5!? ( Both passed rook's pawn on the other side of the 13.xf6+ exf6; and 13.xf6 exf6 board. 43.fxg5 fxg5 44.hxg5 g6 45.c1 are decidedly better for Black.) 13...d5 xg5 46.a5 d6 47.d8+ g4 14.f3 d8 15.e4 c4 16.c1 xc1+ 0-1 17.xc1 a8 with an interesting game ahead. ] 12.e4 Karlsson immediately hones in on the 1572 A36 weak dark squares in Black's position. d5 Karlsson,Lars 2485 13.f3 Ugly, but part of the plan. e7 [ Here 13...f6 intending ...Nd7 looks like a Ernst,Thomas 2450 reasonable idea. ] Swedish Team Ch (5) 2007 [ I b e l i e v e , 13...f5 was suggested in the [Carsten Hansen] notes to the game, but this weakens Black's position further and this shouldn't 1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 be this f ar u p on Black's agenda in th e 5.a3 opening. ] [ In the July update we examined 5.b1 b6 ] 5...a6 6.b1 b8 7.b4 cxb4 8.axb4 b5 14.c5 0-0 15.e4 A dual purpose move, White kicks the queen away from the a2-g8 9.cxb5 axb5 10.xc6!? [ In my database I found a bit more than 200 diagonal, but more importantly takes squares games with the position after Black's 9th away from Black's minor pieces, particularly move, but only one featured the main move the knight on e7, maybe a good reason why in this game. The main alternatives are the knight shouldn't have been placed on e7 in 10.f3 (which is part of the repertoire the first place. d6 [ Initially, my computer likes the awkward recommendation in "The Dynamic English" 15...a2 , but it doesn't look particularly by Kosten) ] convincing or even good after 16.c2 f5 [ 10.e3 ] 17.a1 f7 18.a7 with a pleasant game [ 10.h3 ] for White ] [ and 10.e4 ] 16.d3 f5?! 10...dxc6 11.b2!? 1577
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Black plays into White's hands, and I really don't understand Ernst's moves, aside from the fact that he may have been thrown off balance by White's unorthodox opening play. Both 16...e6 ] [ and 16...d8 look like reasonable ideas. ] 17.b3+ h8 18.h4!? [ White plays with a delightful disregard of ru l e s a n d a i m s t o re s t r a i n r a t h e r t h a n develop his remaining pieces, starting with 18.e2 , however, this may be explained by the fact that g5 19.h4 gxh4 20.xh4 a8 while better for White is quite complicated. The text move instead aims to prevent any Black activity. ] 18...fxe4?! [ This doesn't make too much sense why open files that only W hite can reasonably expect to make use of? Instead the wait-andsee move 18...a8!? suggests itself, improving one of the worst placed Black pieces, and also giving the rook the option of participating in the defence of the kingside from a7. ] 19.dxe4 g8 Now you're really left wondering why the d-file needed to be opened... 20.d1 f6 21.h2! h6 22.hd2 ...and now the dfile is all white f7 23.f4 [ My computer gives preference to 23.d7! xd7 24.xd7 , and White completely dominates the position, and an attempt to break free with g5 is coolly met by 25.hxg5 xg5 26.f4 f7 27.f3 g6 28.f2 , and White is winning. ] 23...g4 24.f3 e7? [ Black walks into the execution as if he has nothing better to do. W hy not activate a piece that isn't doing anything anyway? For instance, 24...a8 at least makes an attempt at continuing the game: 25.xe5 xd1 26.xd1 ae8 27.cd7 e7 28.xf8 xe5 29.e6 c4 30.xg7+ g8 31.c5 xg7 32.e5 , and White is a pawn up with what should be a winning position, but at least Black is playing. ] [ T h e s a m e c a n b e sa id a b o u t 24...be8 25.d7 e7 ( 25...xd7 is also problematic for Black 26.xd7 e6 27.xe6 xe6 28.a7 h6 29.dd7 ) 26.xf8 xf8 27.c3 g8 28.fxe5 xf3 29.xf3 xe5 30.b3 , and White is
winning ] 25.d7! Penetration. xd7? [ After the text move, White has several ways to win the game, but you cannot really fault Ern st f o r n o t b e in g in sp ire d b y 25...e8 26.xe5 xd1 27.xf7+ xf7 28.xf7 xf7 29.xf7 xb2 30.xd1 , which ] 26.xd7 e8 27.g5!? [ This is the simple solution, but according to my silicone friend, White has a somewhat more accurate move available in 27.fxe5! , e.g. d8 28.e6 xd7 29.exd7 b8 30.e6 xg3+ 31.d1 , and White will soon have an overwhelming material advantage. ] 27...xg5 28.hxg5 g8 29.xg7! This move completely dissolves any hope Black may have had left. The pin along the long a1-h8 diagonal guarantees that White will get his investment back with interest. xg7 30.xe5 a8 31.e6 aa7 32.xg7 xg7 33.a2 f8 34.e2! and Black resigned the best he can get is a lost pawn ending. 1-0
1573 Khairallah,Faisal Bu Xiangzhi 7th Open Dubai UAE (2) [John Watson]
A36 2298 2630 05.04.2005
Bu Xiangzhi plays the Botvinnik system as White (c4, d3, e4 with Nc3 and Bg2). Here he tries the same thing as Black and demonstrates how to time each move to exert maximum pressure. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c5 3.g3 c6 4.g2 g6 5.a3 a5 6.d5!? White uses his outpost before the knight can be exchanged. He has a particular idea in mind. g7 [ You never know when someone will carelessly play 6...ge7?? 7.f6# ] 7.h4!? h6 [ 7...ge7 8.d3 xd5 9.cxd5 e7 10.h5 d6 11.hxg6 fxg6 12.g5 is double-edged. ] 8.h5 [ 8.d3 ge7 9.e3 d6 10.h5 g5 11.c2 xd5 12.xd5 0-0 13.0-0-0 and both sides will attack with about equal effectiveness. ] 8...g5 9.b3!? 1578
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ A more subtle setup would begin with 9.d3 ge7 10.d2 ( 10.f4!? ) 10...d6 11.c3 ] 9...d6 10.b2 ge7 11.e3!? [ 11.d3 ] 11...xd5 12.xd5 e7 13.g2 b8! Now ...b5 is a strong idea. White would have avoided these weaknesses by Bd2-c3. 14.f4 gxf4 15.gxf4 g8 16.e2 b5! 17.c3 [ 17.cxb5 xb5 favours Black, who has ideas like ...Be6, ...Qb6, and/or ...Bg4. ] 17...e6 18.cxb5 f6 19.g1 d7! 20.a4 h4+ 21.f1 h3 Suddenly most of Black's pieces are devoted to the attack on the king. 22.fxe5 xg2+ 23.xg2 h3 24.f4 h1+ 25.e2 xg2+ 26.xg2 xg2+ 27.d3 d5+ 28.c2 dxe5 Black has a piece for a pawn, The rest is not difficult. 29.h1 f6 30.e4 e6 31.xa5 c6 32.c3 b4+ 33.b2 d3+ 34.c2 c4 35.b4 e7 36.b1 c8 37.a5 d7 38.g1 xb5 39.g8+ f8 40.h2 a4+ 41.b1 d1+ 42.a2 xb4+ 43.xb4 a4+ 0-1
1574 Kosten,Anthony C Bijaoui,Manuel Montpellier [John Watson]
A36
07.2006
Someone has been saying that Tony is playing 1 e4, but players are always spreading vicious rumours. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.ge2 c5 7.0-0 c6 8.d3 We're in a main line of t h e S y m m e t r i c a l E n g l i s h ve r s i o n o f t h e Botvinnik attack. a6 I think that this is a pretty good system. [ Incidentally, has anyone tried to emulate W hite's plan in the reversed position in which he plays 8...g4 A) 9.f3 e6!? - v e r s u s d 4 - ( or here 9...d7 ); B) 9.h3 xe2 ? That is generally considered equal with colours reversed, because (in our position) Black's knights control the dark squares and ...b5 will eventually happen. I'm not sure that things have changed much with a tempo less. ] 9.h3 b8 10.a4 e8
[ In my opinion, 10...d7 is the best move here Michael Rhode played it against me ye ars a go , b ut no t m an y p la yers d o s o today. ] 11.e3! d4 12.b1! Now b4 is coming. Th is is th e sta n da rd p la n t ha t B lac k h a s played for years, and here the tempo counts for something. c7 13.b4 ce6 14.bxc5 [ 14.f4!? ] 14...xe2+ [ 14...dxc5 secures d4, but then f4-f5 becomes an issue, for example, 15.f4 d7 ( 15...f5 16.e5 ) 16.f5 ( or 16.e5 ) 16...xe2+ ( 16...c7 17.g4 ) 17.xe2 d4 18.xd4 xd4 19.xd4 cxd4 20.g4!? with the idea a5 21.c1! xa4?! 22.a1 b5 23.e5! and moves like f6, Qh6/f4, or even Ra2-f2 are getting serious. ] 15.xe2 dxc5 16.f4 d4 17.e5 [ or 17.g4 , but after e5, Black has to be careful that White doesn't simply capture on d4 and make that pawn a permanent target. ] 17...f6 Already a little nervous? 18.xd4 cxd4 19.exf6! xf6 Now Black's pawn structure is crippled, but he won't like [ 19...exf6? 20.d5+ h8 21.xd4 xh3 22.f2! , and Ba7 threatens, but so does g4. ] 20.d2 f5 21.b3 h5 22.fe1 The professional move. [ 22.a5 is an option, but why risk that the fluky ...e5 might free Black's game? ] 22...h8 23.a5 d7 24.h2 fe8 25.a3! making the way for the rook. e5 [ Sitting around would lead to death: 25...g7 26.b6 h7 27.eb1 etc. ] 26.b6 d8 27.c6! Winning. A perfect technical game by the Master of the W eb. Strange, however, that Black keeps walking into the same bad position (literally, the same position) in the opening. xc6 28.xc6 bxc6 29.b4 c7 30.d6 xd6 31.xd6 exf4 32.xd4+ g8 33.xe8+ xe8 34.gxf4 h4 35.d6 e2+ 36.g1 xh3 37.xg6+ 1-0
1579
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1575 Kosten,Anthony C Chabanon,Jean Luc TCh-FRA Top 16 (9) [Tony Kosten]
A36 2501 2411 05.05.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.ge2 c5 7.0-0 c6 8.d3 On our previous game together we had the same position, except with colours reversed! I couldn't resist the joke! d7 9.h3 b8 10.e3 [ 10.b1 might be more accurate, so that a6 11.a4 and White is ready to answer any move by the c6-knight with b4. e8 12.e3 is m y game aga inst T kachiev - see th e archives. ] 10...a6 11.d4? I don't know why I played this move! I thought of quickly offering a draw in the hope that my opponent would accept without looking at the position! But then it occurred to me that a draw offer would look a bit suspicious so early. [ 11.a4 is right, and I have played it before in similar position s, but I wa s pe rsua din g myself that Black could profit from the fact that he hasn't played . ..Ne8, by playing a5 12.b3 b5 say, but 13.axb5 axb5 14.cxb5 xb5 15.b4! cxb4 16.xb5 xb5 17.a4 is quite awkward for Black. ] 11...cxd4 12.xd4 xd4?! After playing my eleventh move I suddenly realised that it was a mistake, and, while my opponent was away from the board, feverishly tried to find a good line for me after [ 12...c8! and the only move I could see was 13.a4! ( 13.h2?! xd4 14.xd4 xc4 15.xf6 xf6 16.d5 xb2 leaves Black material ahead, Aarland, SDiesen, B/Norway 1990, and; 13.h4 xd4 14.xd4 e6 15.b3 xe4!? 16.xe4 xc3 likewise, Calin, M-Daillet, E/France 1989.; 13.d5 managed to save a draw in Mueller, A-Hohlfeld, M/Wuerttemberg 1993, but after the xd5 14.cxd5 xd4 15.xd4 xh3 16.xg7 xg7 17.c1 d7 18.d4+ f6 19.xh3 xh3 20.c7 f7 of the game, 21.b6 fd8 22.xb7 xb7 23.xb7 h5! Black has a dangerous attack. ) 13...b5! ( 13...xh3 14.b6 c7 15.xh3 xb6 16.e6; 13...xd4
14.b6! ) 14.cxb5 axb5 15.xc6 xc6 16.b6 but now e6! ( 16...b7 17.d5 e6 18.xf6+ xf6 Reuben, S-Neese, H/ Dresd en 20 0 3, an d n o w 19.h6 fd8 20.e2 keeps the game level) 17.e1!? ( 17.f3 d5 18.b3 dxe4 19.xe6 fxe6 is a bit miserable) 17...xe4 18.c1 b7 19.f3 xg3 20.f4 xa2 21.xg3 winning a piece for a lot of pawns. At least this is better than the other tries! ] 13.xd4 Now White is OK. c8 [ 13...c8 is met by A) 14.xf6 xf6 15.d5 xh3 ( 15...xc4 16.xf6+ exf6 17.xd6 is a little better for W hite Konjkova, LYurieva, R/Dagomys 2004) 16.xf6+ exf6 17.xh3 xh3 18.xd6 be8 with e qu alit y, La rsen , F-A bild lu nd , J / Denmark 1993; B) 14.e5! (obvious, yet never played!) dxe5 15.xe5 a8 16.xf6!? xf6 17.d5 xh3 18.b6 c5 19.xa8 xg2 20.xg2 xa8 21.e2 Black's position is solid, but an exchange is an exchange! ] [ 13...e5 14.a7!? ( 14.e3 ) 14...c8 15.xd6 xc4 looked equal in Kron, VTregubov, P/Voronezh 1991. ] 14.d3 [ 14.b3?! allows b5 as 15.cxb5? e5 wins a bit. ] 14...e6 15.b3 d7 16.xg7 xg7 17.f4 I was very happy with my position now, a nice space advantage, and no obvious counterplay for Black. f6 Else f5 wins the bishop. 18.h2 c5 19.e3 Planning Rad1 and e5, attacking on the colour complex where Black appears strongest. c7 20.d5! This is not forced, but the resulting position is clearly better for White without any risk. xd5 21.exd5 b5? This was played 'Ã! tempo', Black tries to justify his preceding play by opening the queenside. However, I thought the only move was [ 21...a5 to keep the knight on c5. ] 22.cxb5! axb5 23.b4 a4 24.ac1 d7 25.c6! it seems like Black has opened the queenside, ... for White! a8 26.fc1 a7 27.1c2! This stops ...Nb2 and keeps the knight stuck on the rim. b8 28.h4 ab7 29.h3 f5 30.d4+! Maybe this move is not 1580
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 10.h3 i s s t a n d a r d , e8 11.e3 can be answered by d4 ( or 11...e5!? as seen in Romero Holmes, A-Hebden, M/ Du b lin 2 0 1 2 .; 11...c7 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 see Esen, B-Vovk, A in the Archives. ) 12.b1 c7 and Black has a vo i d e d m a ki n g a m o ve wit h h is l i gh t s q u a r e d b i s h o p , 13.b4 see Kosten, ABijaoui, M in the PGN Archive. ] 10...d7 11.h3 Now that Black has moved her bishop White must prepare to play Be3 and d4. e8 Black has also been careful not to lose a tempo, waiting for White to play h3 bef ore sta rt ing t he st an da rd kn ight to ur. 12.e3 c7 [ Now 12...d4 can be answered by 13.b4 c7 14.bxc5 ( 14.a5 ) 14...dxc5 15.f4 intending e5, Kovacevic, B (2473)Vedmediuc, S (2396)/Timisoara 2008. ] 13.d4 cxd4 [ Normal, although the Petrosian-like 13...b6 is certainly possible, 14.b3 ( 14.f4 a5 15.b3 Webster, A (2417)-Bates, R (2357)/ W i t l e y 2 0 0 0 .) 14...e5 see Kosten, ATkachiev, V, in the PGN Archive. ] 14.xd4 b5! This is the advantage of having t h e b i s h o p o n d 7 , B l a c k e xc h a n g e s t h e queenside pawns and equalises. [ 14...e6 15.de2 a5! 16.b3 b5 is another good line, Hruska, T (2200)Arnason, J (2410)/Prague 1980. ] [ 14...xd4 15.xd4 xd4 ( 15...b5 16.xg7 xg7 17.b4 bxa4 18.xa4 Tisdall, J (2425) -Hellers, F (2565)/ Skei 1993. ) 16.xd4 b5 17.cxb5 transposes. ] 1576 A36 15.cxb5 [ 15.xc6 xc6 16.axb5 axb5 17.c5 Kosten,Anthony C is n o t h in g , dxc5 18.xc5 Valkesalmi, K Foisor,C (2366)-Hentunen, A (2327)/Finland 2009, Rhone 06.07.2010 e8 ] [Tony Kosten] 15...xd4 16.xd4 xd4 17.xd4 axb5 1.c4 g6 2.c3 g7 3.g3 c5 4.g2 c6 18.axb5 This is almost invariable played here, 5.e4 Although I knew that objectively this and a draw is soon agreed. [ 18.a5?! b4 19.d1 e6 20.d5 b5 Botvinnik setup didn't give W hite any 21.d2 xa5 is certainly no improvement, advantage, I had been playing it a lot against Lowsky, S (1858)-Jimenez, J (2191)/ KID players, and scoring very heavily as they Cenfotec 2003. ] never really seemed to know what they were [ H o w e v e r , I d i d c o n s i d e r 18.b3!? doing! a6 6.ge2 b8 7.a4 d6 8.0-0! f6 which might offer better chances to obtain 9.d3 0-0! 10.b1 Battling for a tempo, I some advantage. ] wanted to wait for Black to move her bishop 18...xb5 This position was actually agreed before I played h3. the best objectively, but it gives Black a very difficult choice to make. [ 30.f1 was tempting, targeting the weak bpawn and stopping the knight returning via b6, as the trick b6? loses to 31.d4+ h6! ( 31...g8?! 32.xb5 xd5 33.xd5+ is check! ) 32.xb5 xd5 33.b6! and wins a piece. ] 30...f7 31.h5! There is no point trying to win on the queenside when you can mate your opponent! d8 What else? Pawn to h6 is a devastating threat, and [ 31...g8 32.h6! menaces the exceedingly nasty move 33 Rc8!, and so, af ter bb8 33.c7 d8 34.e3 and Qe6+. ] [ 31...gxh5 is also hopeless, 32.d3 g6 33.e2 f8 34.e6+ f6? 35.xf5+ ] 32.g4 When you have a space advantage it is well known that you can switch your forces to either side more easily than the defender. Here the white pieces flood to the kingside and the black pieces can only watch from afar. h8 33.e3 fxg4 [ 33...f6? 34.g5 a1 35.e6+ g7 36.h6+ f8 37.c8+ mates. ] 34.e6+ g7 35.c8 Trapping the queen in an unusual manner. gxh3 36.xh8 xh8 Material is level, but the white attack persists, in fact, I had already analysed till the end of the game some moves before. 37.hxg6 hxg6 38.f5! gxf5 39.c1! Now mate is unavoidable. h6 40.g1+ 1-0
1581
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 drawn in Gurevich, M (2585)-El Taher, F (2445)/ Tanta 1997! [ 18...xb5 is not quite as accurate, 19.fd1 e6 20.e3 c4 ( 20...b6 Cummings, D (2341) -Bjarnason, S (2092)/Reykjavik 2012, 21.xb6 xb6 22.d5 b7 23.e5! ) 21.e5 b3 22.d2 b6 23.exd6 xe3 24.fxe3 exd6 25.xd6 winning a pawn, although Black has plenty of compensation, Grefe, J (2425)-Ghizdavu, D (2410)/ Mentor 1977. ] 19.xb5 xb5 Black has one pawn island, White two, and while he has a passed b-pawn this will not go very far. [ 19...xb5 is similar, 20.b4 b6 21.xb6 xb6 22.fc1 fb8 23.c7 1 / 2 - 1 / 2 W e d b e rg, T ( 2 4 5 5 ) -H e lle rs, F (2565)/ Sweden 1993. ] 20.fd1 Nominally a new move, but [ 20.fc1 is just as good, and maybe very slightly better, b6 ( 20...d7 21.a1 fc8 22.xc8+ xc8 equal, Heine, R (2 0 2 4 ) - L e m l i , T ( 2 0 9 9 ) / M u e n s t e r l a n d 2003. ) 21.xb6 xb6 22.c7 1/2-1/2 Flores, D (2514)-Gruenfeld, Y (2478)/ Tarragona 2006. ] 20...b6 21.b4 xd4 22.xd4 fc8 23.f1! c2 24.xb5 xb5 25.d5! Fighting not to be worse! b6 26.b5 f8 27.g2 And I here offered a draw, seeing that it was next to impossible to advance my bpawn any further. e8 I was surprised that my opponent played on here, perhaps she was hoping to improve her abysmal score against me, but I wasn't too worried as the last time we had played she had lost a totally drawn rook and pawn ending very quickly. 28.d4 c5 29.db4 d7 30.1b3 c8 31.f4 h5 32.f3 There is not that much that White can do here, but wait to see how Black manages to move the rook from b6 without letting the b-pawn advance. f6 33.g4 h4!? 34.e3 g5 35.f5 d7 36.d4 e5+ 37.fxe6+ xe6 38.b1 e5 39.4b2 d7 40.b4 c7 41.c4+ d7 Deciding to repeat. [ I had expected 41...b7 when I was ready to switch to the f-file: 42.f1 ( 42.bc1 bxb5 43.c7+ i s a l s o p o s s i b l e .) 42...exb5 43.xf6 b3 44.f7+ a6 45.f5 xh3 46.xg5 which should be drawn, but I would be happy to have the
nicely centralised king here. ] 42.cb4 c5 43.1b3 e7 44.b1 e6 45.1b2 e5 46.2b3 c5 47.b1 d7 48.1b2 e5 49.2b3 c5 ½-½
1577 Kosten,Anthony C Kengis,Edvins Golden Cleopatra (8) [Tony Kosten]
A36 2545 2581 09.06.2003
This is the shortest game I have ever annotated for ChessPublishing.com, but led me to a profound reflection on the merits of t h i s l i n e ! 1.g3 My opponent is a specialist in the English Defence (1...b6) so this is a good way of bringing him to my territory! g6 2.c4 c5 3.g2 g7 4.c3 c6 5.e3 I normally avoid this, as it is very drawish, but decided to try it armed with a couple of new ideas in the mainline. e6 6.ge2 ge7 7.d4 [ 7.0-0 0-0 8.d4 transposes. ] 7...cxd4 8.xd4 d5 9.cxd5 exd5! After the game my opponent told me that Kasimdzhanov had once revealed to him that Black should recapture this way, as "Black frees his queen's bishop, and meanwhile the bishop on c1 has no squares". Impeccable logic! He also told me that he felt that White always retains a small but nagging advantage after [ 9...xd4 10.exd4 xd5 , which transposes to Bacrot,E-Vaisser,A/ Marsailles FRA 2001, and was the line I had expected, when I now intended 11.0-0 0-0 12.b3 xd4 13.xd5 exd5 14.h6 g7 15.xg7 xg7 16.xd5 f6 all as in the Bacrot game, and now ( 16...a5 17.ac1 a4 18.c3+ f6 19.xf6+ xf6 20.c7 offers White a tiny edge, as in Andersson,U-Gheorghiu,F/Moscow 1981) 17.fc1 e8 which has been seen before, followed by my new idea, the surprising 18.e1! when Black has no better than e7 19.xe7 xe7 20.c3+ g8 21.e1 with advantage. ] 10.0-0 0-0 [ 10...xd4 11.exd4 0-0 12.g5 f6 13.e3 is pleasant for White. ] 1582
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.b3!? I was still hoping to transpose into my preparation, but perhaps I should have preferred [ 11.b3!? e6 ( 11...b6!? is interesting, 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5 b4 14.g2 e6 wh e n t h e t h re a t o f . . . Nxa 2 re ga in s t h e pawn ) 12.c5 b6 13.xe6 fxe6 14.d2 d7 when White has the bishop pair, but the black position looks quite attractive to me , G e orgad ze ,G -No rwo o d ,D/ Ca lcu t t a 1994. ] [ 11.de2 has the idea of playing against an I Q P , b u t B l a c k i s v e r y a c t i v e : g4!? ( 11...f5!? 12.xd5 xd5 13.e4 xe4 14.xe4 db4 15.c3 e8 16.g2 d3 is also fine, Gufeld,E-Ubilava,E/Tbilisi 1980) 12.h3 xe2 13.xe2 b6! planning Rd8, d4. ] 11...xd4 And this was accompanied by a draw offer, and as I was already feeling a little guilty about p laying this (d rawish) line, I accepted. [ After 11...xd4 12.exd4 Black intended c6 ( or 12...f5 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 xd4 15.g5 h3!? 16.ad1 xg2 17.xg2 e6 18.e7 fc8 which looks fairly level, but White went on to win, Benko, P-Geller,E/ Wijk aan Zee 1969; 12...xd4?! 13.h6 transposes to the note to move nine. ) 13.xd5 A) or 13...xd4 14.g5 b6!? ( 14...xd5 15.xd5 transposes to the Benko game ); B) 13...xd4!? 14.xd8 ( 14.g5 b6 ) 14...xd8 15.g5 f6 16.f4 f5 with complete equality, Doda,Z-Donner,J/ Havana 1965. ] ½-½
d4. 5.e4 White decides to play a Botvinnik System, this is a solid system, W hite shouldn't lose, but it can be difficult to win. It is an ideal weapon to have in your repertoire for situations where a) You need to make a draw to win the tournament, and b) You wish to make a d raw a gainst a mu ch st ronge r opponent. This game, an important cup match where the first board (this one) counts for mo re , co m e s in t o ca te go ry b ). I wa s t h e ' n e u t r a l i s e r ' ! c5 The best answer , in my opinion, Black controls d4, but keeps the a1-h8 diagonal open. 6.ge2 c6 7.0-0 a6 8.d3 b8 Black is looking for action on the queenside. 9.a4 It might sound crazy, but this move, which seems to concede control of b4, actually helpsforcethemoveb4! d6 10.b1 d7! Once again the most precise, the immediate [ 10...e8 allows W h it e t o p la y 11.e3 without preparation. ] 11.h3 Otherwise Be3 would be answered by ... Ng4. e8 Now is the time to set-off on the journey through c7, and e6, to the crucial square d4. 12.e3 White threatens d4, with a Maroczy-style position. c7 Best, [ occupying d4 by 12...d4 might look right, b u t it a llo ws 13.b4! and as mentioned on move nine, it is White who gets to play this move, xe2+ 14.xe2 cxb4 15.xb4 although even this is not mu ch af te r b5 Lauvsnes,A-Bjerke,R/NOR ch 1989. ] 13.d4 White has to play this now, before Black brings a further piece to bear on d4 by ...Ne6. b6!? Black tries to preserve the tension in the position, as the responsibility on him to win was great. [ 13...cxd4 Is the normal move, but after 14.xd4 xd4 15.xd4 b5! Black liquidates the queenside, 16.xg7 1578 A36 xg7 Tisdall,J-Hellers,F/Skei Masters 1993, with a certain draw. ] Kosten,Anthony C 2502 14.b3 e5 Black's idea, he wants to establish a Tkachiev,Vladislav France 06.1999 piece on d4. 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.d5 e6 17.f4 I decided to start undermining d4 [Tony Kosten] straight-away, the d5-knight is untouchable, of 1.c4 g6 2.g3 A tricky move order, where course. exf4 18.gxf4 ed4 19.xd4 xd4 W hite avoids the Hedgehog Defence. g7 20.b4 Attacking the other support of d4. e8!? 3.g2 f6 4.c3 0-0 A common problem I had assumed that [ 20...a5 was the only move against the for 'English' players who don't wish to play threat of a5, undermining the black darkmain line King's Indians- how to avoid playing 1583
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 squared pawn chain, when I intended 21.e5 because f5? is impossible owing to 22.bxa5 xe3 23.xe3 and capturing the a-pawn loses a piece. ] 21.e5 At the last minute I decided to play this anyway, although I liked the look of [ 21.a5 bxa5 22.bxc5 because the c-pawns appear more useful than the black a-pawns, but xb1 23.xb1 e2+ 24.h2 g5!? appeared very messy. ] 21...h4 Pestering the loose white kingside. 22.f2 h6 23.xd4 [ 23.c7 is decentralising, and after ed8 ( or 23...xf4 ) 24.xa6 bc8 25.bxc5 bxc5 26.xc5 f5 Black has excellent play for the pawns. ] 23...cxd4 24.xd4 xh3 25.b3 The rook is needed to protect the white king. The position may be equal, but I felt that the powerful d5-knight was likely to prove more useful than the black bishop. xg2 26.xg2 h4 Rh3 was the menace, winning the black queen. 27.h3 g4+ Avoiding the little trap: [ 27...xe5?? 28.d1 and Black drops a piece. ] 28.g3 e6 29.b5! Otherwise Black would u n d e r m i n e t h e d 5 - k n i g h t b y . . . b 5 . axb5 30.axb5 b7 31.f2 Consolidation. h5!? A time-trouble decision, Black wants to hit the rook with ...h4, and then play ...Qg4+, but there is a flaw. [ I was hoping for 31...a8 32.e4 c8?! when 33.f5! a4 34.fxg6 fxg6 leads to a strong attack, i.e. 35.xg6!! hxg6 36.xg6 xc4 37.f6+ f8 38.e6! and Black must find some good moves to avoid defeat. ] 32.f5! xe5 Best, neither [ 32...gxf5 with 33.f6+ f8 34.xg7! winning, or ] [ 32...xe5? 33.e4 c8 34.fxg6 with the same result, are feasible. ] 33.xe5 xe5? Zeitnot, [ 33...xe5 was forced, 34.fxg6 h4 35.gxf7+ xf7 36.xf7 xf7 37.f3+ e6 38.xb6 and although Black has some work to do, he must have good drawing chances. ] 34.e3? Also short of time, I commit an inaccuracy, I couldn't see any diff erence between this move and [ 34.e2! but there is an important one: now h8 loses 35.fxg6 f6 36.xf6 f8 37.g7+
winning material. ] 34...g7? [ 34...h8! permitted Black to continue, 35.fe2 f6 36.xf6 and now f8 the point! 37.d5 d4 38.e4 c5 39.fxg6 g7 with drawing possibilities. ] [ Not 34...f6 because of 35.xf6+ ] 35.f6+ h6 36.fe2 The bishop is lost. c8 37.xe5 xc4 38.e7 The rest is too easy for W hite. b8 39.xf7 c5 40.c7 b7 41.ee7 c2+ 42.f3 And the moral of this game is that: 'playing for a draw often wins'! [ 42.f3 b8 43.h7+ g5 44.f7 ] 1-0
1579 Larsen,Bent Tal,Mihail Bugojno [Nigel Davies]
A36
1980
1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.e3 c6 5.e2 d6 6.bc3 d7 7.b3 a6 8.b2 b5 9.d3 b8 10.d2 a5 [ The natural move was 10...f6 though Tal might not have liked 11.d5 . ] 11.0-0 f6 12.ad1 e6?! This seriously weakens the dark squares and allows Larsen a powerful reply. [ 12...0-0 when White has an interesting line in 13.xc6!? xc6 14.d5 d8 15.xf6+ xf6 16.xf6 exf6 17.e4 f5 18.exf5 f6 19.f4 , which seems to be a bit better for him. ] 13.d4 0-0 [ 13...bxc4 14.dxc5 xc5 ( 14...d5 15.e4 ) 15.a4 ] 14.dxc5 [ 14.d5 is also worth considering here, for example exd5 15.xd5 xd2 ( 15...xd5 16.xg7 xg7 17.b2+ f6 18.xd5 is also very good) 16.xd2 e8 17.xg7 xg7 18.c1 gives White the better endgame. ] 14...dxc5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.a4 This leads to the break up the duo of pawns on b5 and c5 and opens the b2-h8 diagonal. bxa4 17.xa4 b4! 18.e5 [ And not 18.xf6? xf6 19.xd7 b e c a u s e o f fd8 20.xc5 ( 20.b6 1584
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is necessary, but better for Black after he takes it with his queen) 20...xc5 21.a4 xd1 22.xd1 c2 23.e1 d2 24.f1 d3 25.b1 c2 winning material. ] 18...bd8 [ In his brilliant youth Tal might well have played 18...xa4! a f t e r w h i c h 19.xb8 xb3 20.a1 e4 21.xa5 xd2 22.d6 e8 23.xc5 d3 24.c1 xc5 25.xc5 xf1 26.xb3 b8 27.xf1 xb3 se e s B la c k t h re a d his wa y t hro u gh t h e complications to equality. ] 19.b2 xa4 20.xd8 xd8 21.bxa4 e8 [ After 21...d3 22.c3 xc3 23.xc3 d5 24.xg7 xg7 25.a1 White is better because of the passed a-pawn. But this might have been better than the game. ] 22.xg7 xg7 23.c3 d3 24.c2 b4 A sub optimal move in time trouble. 25.e4?! [ White in turn should probably have played the sensible 25.b3 . ] 25...d3 26.c4 e5 27.b3 c4 28.c2 f5?! [ 28...f5 would have been much sounder, the text weakens Black's kingside. ] 29.b1 d3 30.c1! e8 31.b2 d6 32.e2 b3 33.d4 d3?! [ 33...df7 was better. ] 34.a1 d2 35.d4! d3? [ And here Black should play 35...f7 . ] 36.c6 c7 [ 36...xc1 37.xc1! makes it impossible for Black to defend his rook. ] 37.b1 xf2 38.b8+ f7 39.d8+ e8 40.c6+ 1-0
[ Perhaps White should go all out to frustrate ... Nc7-e6 by playing 8.f4 d6 ( 8...c7 9.f5 ) 9.d3 c7 ( 9...f5 ) 10.f5 b8!? ( 10...e5 11.g5! h6 12.e3 g4 13.d2 d7 14.h3 e5 15.c2 ) 11.g5 a6 12.d2 ] 8...c7 9.e3 [ Before the knight gets to e6, White could try 9.f4 f5 ( One line after 9...e6 is 10.f5 ed4 11.xd4 xd4 12.g5! intending Nd5, and if h6 , 13.xe7!? xe7 14.f6 e5 15.fxg7 xg7 16.d2 d6 17.d5 ) 10.e3 d6 11.exf5 xf5 12.d4 ] 9...e6 10.f4 d6 Black holds off on ...Ned4 until he can see what his opponent is doing. 11.d2 ed4 12.ab1 b8 13.b3 a6 14.h3 b5 15.h2 b4 16.d1 xe2 17.xe2 d4 18.xd4!? xd4 19.e3 Apart from this outpost Black can always play ...f5 if needed. a5 20.c2 c3 21.e3 b6 The move d4 is W hite's only counterplay. 22.f5 [ 22.bd1! a4 23.d4 a5 and Black is making more progress. W hite can try to neutralize bishops now that he has d4 in: 24.dxc5! ( 24.f5 axb3 25.axb3 a2 and ...Qxb3. W hite has nothing to do and Black is already mopping up the queenside.) 24...dxc5 25.e5 axb3 26.axb3 f5 . This is a reasonable plan for White even if he now has to play passively by. 27.f2= ] 22...a4 23.h4 axb3 24.axb3 g7 25.f3 b7 26.e3 d4 27.h3 a8 28.f2 d8 29.f4 e5 30.g4 d4 Black's bishops and a8 rook are better than W hite's pieces but he's looking for a way through. You have to play on both sides of the board in this kind 1580 A36 o f p o s i t i o n . 31.f4 c6 32.bf1 d7 Laylo,Darwin 2444 33.g2 e5 34.f3 a3 35.b1 e6! De Firmian,Nick E 2626 36.h1? [ 36.g4 c3 37.fxe6 fxe6 38.e3 d4 HB Global Chess Challenge (7.28) 21.05.2005 39.h6+ h8 and any attack that White [John Watson] had as vanished. The rest is pretty obvious. ] Last time we talked about c4, d3, e4 structures in The Symmetrical English. This 36...gxf5 37.exf5 c8 38.f1 ...Bc6 couldn't t i m e w e s e e t h e s t a n d a r d d e f e n s i v e be stopped c6 39.f6+ h8 40.h5 d4 maneuver against it. Can White prevent this? 41.d5! a8 42.e7 a1 43.xa1 xa1+ 1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 44.h2 xg2 45.xg2 g1+ 46.h1 f2+ 5.e4 f6 6.ge2 0-0 7.0-0 e8!? 47.h2 xf6 0-1 Heading for d4! 8.d3 1585
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1581 Makarov,V Zherebukh,Yaroslav TCh-UKR Alushta UKR (2) [John Watson]
A36 2262 2159 08.04.2005
1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.d3 e6 6.e4 ge7 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 d6 9.a3 Since the kingside is so solid for Black, White tries the queenside. b6 10.b1 b7 11.b4 d7 All these moves are standard and have been played many times. But now White embarks upon a useless kingside expansion. 12.h1 d4 13.f4 ad8 14.xd4 cxd4 15.e2 f5 16.b3 h8 17.e1 [ White is drifting. It may time to try to force the pace and stabilise matters via 17.b2 fxe4 18.dxe4 e5 19.d3= This position arises in the game anyway. ] 17...fxe4!? [ 17...c8 18.b2 e5 intending ...b5 would keep some pressure on White. ] 18.dxe4 e5 19.g1!? with the idea Bh3, but White has to watch his e-pawn. b5!? 20.cxb5 xb5?! The right idea, but Black misses the chances for the immediate [ 20...d5! 21.fxe5 dxe4 ] 21.a4 d7 22.f3 d5!? 23.xe5 Else the centre collapses. xe5 24.fxe5 dxe4 25.e6! c8 26.g5?! Now Black's pawns crash through. Better was [ 26.h6! and if e3 , 27.xf8 xg2+ 28.xg2 a8+ 29.g1 xf8 30.f1 ] [ 26.b2!? pinning the dangerous d-pawn is n o t s o c l e a r a f t e r f2! ( 26...e3?? 27.xe3 ) 27.xe4 a8 28.d3? ( 28.g1 xb2! ) 28...xe4+ 29.xe4 ( 29.xe4 d2! ) 29...f1+ 30.g2 xe4+ 31.xe4 xb1 32.xd4+ g8 etc. ] 26...e3! 27.e2! [ 27.xe7 xg2+ 28.xg2 b7+ 29.g1 f2! 30.f6+ xf6 31.f1 xf1+ 32.xf1 e2 33.e1 d3 and the pawns roll home. ] 27...f2? Black should pursue his advantage by [ 27...xg2+ 28.xg2 ( 28.xg2 f5! 29.xe7 b7+ 30.g1 xe7 and White can hardly move. )] 28.xf2 exf2 29.b2? [ 29.f1 ] 29...f8?! Black should simply keep the bind
by At this point W hite resigned, quite prematurely. He should play [ 29...xe6 intending 30.xf2 xg2+ 31.xg2 f5! ] 30.f4 , e.g., xg2+ 31.xg2 c6+ 32.xf2 g5 33.xd4+ g8 34.e1 , although the piece for two pawns leaves Black better after something like gxf4 35.gxf4 c2+ 36.g1 xa4 37.c5 e8! 0-1
1582 Markowski,Tomasz Iotov,Valentin IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (5) [Carsten Hansen]
A36 2598 2531 25.04.2008
1.g3 c5 2.g2 c6 3.c4 g6 4.c3 g7 5.b1 Without a2-a3 thrown in first, this move looks odd, but of course it invites Black to enter the usual lines after 5...Rb8 6 a3 a6 - a line which we will return to in next month's update thanks to fascinating new idea I came across this summer... b6 6.e3 [ White has tried a number of other things at this juncture: A) 6.a3 b7 7.b4 ( 7.d3 c8 8.e4 f6 9.ge2 0-0 10.b4 d6 11.0-0 d4 12.h3 d7= Juhasz, L-Vratonjic, S/ Senta SCG 2006) 7...cxb4 8.axb4 c8!? 9.d5?! ( 9.e4 seems to prevent some of th e h e a d a ch e s W h ite e n co u n t e r in t h e game continuation after the text move, but Black can sharpen the game further with f5!? 10.ge2 fxe4 11.xe4 f6 with an unclear position) 9...e6 ( 9...d4!? ) 10.e3 d4 ( 10...e5!? ) 11.f3?! ( 11.f3 xf3+ 12.exf3 e7 13.b2 xb2 14.xb2 0-0= ) 11...e7 12.h3 0-0 13.b2 b5 Raicevic, V-Forintos, G/Novi Sad 1974 ] [ B) 6.d3 b7 7.e4 A) 7...e6 has lead to a couple of quick draws in games by the Swiss IM Zueger, though he always seems to be slightly better 8.ge2 ge7 9.0-0 0-0 10.e3 d6 ( 10...d4 11.d2 ec6 1/2-1/2, Zueger, B-Stohl, I/Prague 1996, and now 12.g5 c7 13.h6 ) 11.d4 e5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.xd8 axd8 14.d5 1/2-1/2 Zueger, B-Gheorghiu, F/SUI 1997; 1586
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 7...d6!?; C) 7...d4?! 8.ge2 xe2 9.xe2 e6 10.b5 d6 11.0-0 e5 12.f4 e7 13.f5 Barczay, L-Forintos, G/Kecskement 1975 ] [ C) 6.h3!? b7 7.f4 ( 7.0-0 d6 8.d3 d7= ) 7...d6 8.0-0 d7 9.d3 h6 10.d2 f5 11.a3 h5 12.h4 e6 13.e4 e5 14.b4 c6 Cummings, D-Davies, N/ Copenhagen 1982 ] [ D) 6.e4 e6 7.ge2 ge7 8.0-0 0-0 9.a3 d6 10.b4 b7 , and the chances are about e ve n , J a c qu e s, R-S p ir id o n o v, N/ T o rc y 1991 ] [ E) 6.f3!? b7 7.0-0 , and now Black starts getting a little too creative... h5?! ( Black should probably give preference to moves like 7...f6; or 7...d6 ) 8.e3 h6?! 9.d4 a5 10.b3 xf3?! 11.xf3 c6 12.b2 , and Black's position is decidedly uncomfortable, Tomashevsky, E-Zvjaginsev, V/ Moscow RUS 2005 ] 6...h6 [ This is new, but it doesn't really accomplish anything if White can still play d2-d4 or d2d3-d4, and as you will see below that is in d e e d t h e c ase . P re vio u sly B la c k h a s played 6...b7 7.ge2 c8 8.0-0 ( 8.d3 h5 9.0-0 h4 10.b3 d6 11.b2 e5 12.e4 hxg3 13.hxg3 f6 14.d4 cxd4 15.xd4 d7 16.d5 is comfortably better for White, Azma ip aras hvili, Z-W olf f , P/ Gron in ge n 1993 ) 8...e5 9.d3 xg2 10.xg2 b7+ 11.e4 d6 12.a3 ( 12.f4 c6 13.f5 appears to be an attractive option for White, but Black may send the king in the opposite direction with 0-0-0 after which the play is rather unclear, e.g. 14.a3 e5 15.b4 ) 12...f6 13.b4 ( 13.g5 e6 ) 13...0-0 14.g5 h6 ( 14...e6!? looks like an obvious improvement) 15.xf6 xf6 16.d5 g7 17.f4 g4 18.ec3 f6 19.xf6+ xf6 20.d5 d4 21.f5 , and White controls the game, Oll, L-Kudrin, S/Marchena 1990 ] 7.ge2 f5 8.0-0 b7 9.d3 0-0 10.b3 d6 11.b2 [ This is a little sedentary for me, though of course perfectly playable. Instead I would undoubtedly have opted for the "sharper" 11.d4!? , e.g. cxd4 ( 11...e6 12.d5 ) 12.xd4 d7 13.xf5 xf5 14.b2 ] 11...d7 12.d2 White's set-up looks
decidedly non-threatening, but it is far easier t o p la y W h it e , a n d t h e kn ig h t o n f 5 is n ' t particularly well-placed. As we will see in the game continuation, White has a light initiative that in some cases can be converted into a small, but concrete advantage. ae8 [ 12...e6!? 13.e4!? e5! is almost equal. ] 13.d5 e5 14.a3 fe7 15.b4 xd5 16.cxd5 d8 17.e4 f5 18.bxc5 dxc5 19.a4 [ 19.f4!? f7 20.bd1 ] 19...f7 20.a5 [ 20.f4!? ] 20...d6 [ White the game continuation is a text book blockading move, Black should have c o n s i d e r e d 20...b5!? with a sharp game, where I think Black should be okay. ] 21.axb6 axb6 22.c2 c4?! [ This is an unfortunate decision, but thankfully W hite responds with an, albeit logical, error. Instead Black should have o p t e d f o r t h e d o u b l e - e d g e d 22...a6!? 23.a1 b5 ( 23...b5? 24.c3 xd3 25.c1 b7 26.d1 c4 27.f1 b3 28.a3 b4 29.c2 c4 30.a4 c5 31.a3 ) 24.fe1 fxe4 25.dxe4 g5 with a sharp, complicated position, where I prefer White, but the chances may be more or less balanced. ] 23.a3?! [ After carefully building up an advantageous position, White rapidly, almost systematically, throws all of it away within a few moves, starting with the text move. White can keep the advantage with 23.dxc4 c8 24.a3 xc4 25.b3 , and now b5 26.c3 leaves W hite with excellent winning chances. ] 23...cxd3 24.xd3 fxe4 25.d1? [ This queen move looks entirely logical, intending Nc3xe4 with a small, but clear advantage. Unfortunately for White, Black has right to move as well, and with his next moves Black highlights the problems with W hite's idea. Instead W hite should have tried 25.xe4 , giving up the light-squared bishop for the gain of the exchange after xe4 26.xf8 xf2 27.xf2 xf8 , and now W hite's best is 28.xb6 c5 29.xg6+! A) 29...h8 30.gf6 xd5!? ( 30...xd5 1587
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 31.c3 d4 32.xd5 xd5 33.f5 c5 34.g2 xf2 35.f7 , and a draw is around th e corner.) 31.xd5 xd5 32.c3 a8 33.f1 xf2 34.xf2=; B) 29...hxg6 30.xg6+= with a perpetual check. ] 25...e3! 26.xb6? [ Now things really fall apart for White. The lesser evil is 26.fxe3 , e.g. xf1+ 27.xf1 c4 28.c1 xd5 29.xd5+ xd5 30.c3 e6 31.xc4 xc4 32.xb6 c8 , and Black has the initiative and the advantage in the endgame thanks to the bishop pair and more active pieces, but White may be able to defend. ] 26...exf2+ 27.h1?! [ Things are bad, but this just makes it worse. Somewhat better, though certainly not a bed of ro s es is 27.xf2 xf2 28.xf2 c4 29.b3 e4 , and Black is having a ball. ] 27...c4 28.xf8 xf8 29.b4? [ 29.b3 is White's best chance, e.g. xb6 30.xb6 f6 31.d6 e4 32.f4 xd6 33.xf2 e7 , though this too mostly sucks. ] 29...e3 30.b3 xf1 31.xb7 d2!? [ 31...g4! is even more convincing: 32.d6+ h8 33.d3 xh2! , and now 34.xh2 leads to an elegant end h5+ 35.h3 xh3+ 36.xh3 f1+ 37.g4 h5+ 38.h4 f6# ] 32.xd7 xb3 33.f1 d2 34.g2 c4 and with ...Ne3 coming, the game is over. 0-1
[ Julian Hodgson has been successful with 6.h4!? of course! ] 6...a5 7.e3 f5 8.ge2 d6 9.b3 Simple play f rom W hite, he develops his c1-bishop, and refrains from 0-0 to soon, just in case Black counters with ... h5. 0-0 10.b2 d7 11.0-0 b8 12.b5! Playing ...a5 is the normal method of hindering White's thematic b4 advance, but it does weaken the b5-square. Notice that Miles waits for Black to play his rook from the a-file before playing this move, as otherwise Black could reply ...Na7, e x c h a n g i n g t h e s t r o n g b 5 - k n i g h t . xb2 13.xb2 e5 14.ec3 [ 14.d4?! cxd4 15.exd4 xb5 would dissipate some of W hite's advantage. ] 14...xb5 15.xb5 a4?! [ This leaves a weakness on a4, better 15...c6 although White has a clear edge on 16.d4 cxd4 17.exd4 ] 16.d4 c6 17.b4 Something has gone wrong wi t h B l a c k ' s c o n t a i n m e n t s t r a t e g y i f o n consecutive moves W hite manages to play both d4,andb4! cxd4 18.exd4 b6 19.d2 fd8 20.e1 d5 21.c5! [ W hite takes even more space, 21.xd5? e6 22.xc6 bxc6 and Black is back in the game. ] 21...a6 [ 21...xb5?? i s i m p o s s i b l e , 22.f1 and the queen is trapped. ] 22.f1 a8 23.c7 a7 24.b5 W hite gains time on the clock, and shows Black just how helpless he is. a8 25.g4 g7 26.c7 a7 27.b5 1583 A36 [ 27.f3 e6 28.b5 a8 29.d6 is also quite good. ] Miles,Anthony J 2635 Arencibia Rodriguez,Walter 2515 27...a8 28.d3! With the black pieces stuck mem-A Cienfuegos (12) 1996 out-of-play it is clearly time to remind him of his king! e6 29.xe6! Killing the only [Tony Kosten] defender. fxe6 30.c7 a7 31.xe6 e8 With simple, logical, moves Tony reduces a 32.h3 d8 33.e1 [ 33.f3 xe6 34.xd5 is also crushing. ] strong GM to utter passivity, and then 34.e5 xe6 Obviously forced. polishes him off! 1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 33...b5 g7 4.c3 c6 5.a3 One of the reasons I 35.xe6+ g7 36.d3 [ After 36.d3 the immediate threat is Rxh7+, always like this move so much was seeing all mating, and on h8 ( 36...g8 37.e5+ M i l e s ' p o w e r f u l v i c t o r i e s w i t h i t ! h6!? f8 38.xh7 forces mate.) 37.e5+ g8 Planning to bring this to f5, clamping-down on 38.f3 Black must play d7 (to stop Qe6+) d4, but this eventually fails as White gets to play d4 anyway. 6.b1 1588
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 but then 39.xb8+ follows. ] 1-0
1584 Mohr,Georg Tratar,Marko Ljubljana op (8) [Tony Kosten]
A36 2495 2405 1995
I remember making a mental note of this sharp system during an Italian tournament, many years ago, but never got around to examining it in any depth. 1.g3 g6 2.g2 g7 3.c4 c5 4.c3 c6 5.e3 e6 6.ge2 ge7 7.f4!? Again this move, stopping Black from playing ...d5, but making it more difficult for White to play d4. [ The immediate 7.h4?! simply allows d5 8.h5?! , Ervin,R-Roy,D/Ventura 1971, when dxc4 ( or 8...e5 favours Black. )] 7...0-0 [ An automatic response, although 7...a6 is safer, 8.b1 b5! gaining Queenside play before castling, as analysed in the game Gurevich,M-Kasimdzhanov,R/Batumi GEO 2001. ] 8.h4!? [ The point - W hite plays for mate! 8.0-0 would return to more normal lines, as in Hentunen, A-Nevanlinna,R/Helsinki 1988. ] 8...h6 The most careful reply, Black makes sure that White cannot open the h-file, as h5 is answered by ...g5. [ Can Black ignore this? In Godes,D-Zifroni,D/ Israel 1996, he tried 8...a6!? 9.h5 b5 10.hxg6 hxg6 11.cxb5 ( 11.xb5?! axb5 12.cxb5 d5 13.bxc6 is also possible, but v e r y r i s k y a f t e r a6; 11.g4!? l o o k s d a n g e r o u s , a l t h o u g h a f t e r bxc4 12.h4 e8 13.e4 f8! Black defends.) 11...axb5 12.e4 ( 12.xb5!? is critical, the knight aims for d6.) 12...d6 13.h5!? (u n e xp e c t e d ! ) gxh5 ( 13...f5!? 14.g5 gxh5 15.xh5 f6 16.h7+ f8 17.h5 d5 looks good for Black) 14.xh5 f6 15.h7+ f7 16.h6 d5 17.g6+ ( 17.xf6+!? xf6! 18.xf6 xf6 probably favours Black) 17...g8 18.h7+ f7 19.g6+ g8 draw. ] 9.a3 Now White must look to developing his
queenside, [ 9.b1!? first, is the alternative, as this both prepares a3 and b4, and also removes the rook from the a1-h8 diagonal, so that b3 becomes feasible. d6 10.b3 b8 11.b2 b6 12.0-0 ( 12.d3 and g4 would be my choice, as in the main game,) 12...b7 13.e2 d7 14.fd1 White is slightly better, De la Villa Garcia,J-Outerelo,M/ Albacete 1989. ] [ 9.b3?! seems natural, but allows d5! 10.cxd5 xd5 11.fxd5 exd5 12.xd5 ( a s t h e c 3 - k n i g h t i s p i n n e d ) b4 when W hite's h4-move doesn't look very useful! ] 9...d6 10.b1 a5!? This is committal. 11.b3 b8 12.b2 b6 13.d3 b7 14.g4! Having developed his queenside White could castle, but instead goes for Black's throat! The immediate threat is g5, followed by Ne4 when white pieces start dropping into f6! e5 Black closes the a1-h8 diagonal, but the problem is that in this line there are a number of white knights ready to occupy d5. 15.fe2!? [ 15.fd5 xd5 16.xd5 looks very pleasant for White, but he has other ideas. ] 15...c8 16.g3 Now g5 and Ne4 is possible, as is h5, under certain circumstances, as W hite's knight controls f5. e6 17.d5! This is al ways a good time to play the knight to d5, wh en Black cann ot cap tu re wit h a knight. d7 18.g5 f6! Black fights for the f6square. [ 18...h5? loses: 19.f6+ xf6 20.gxf6 c8 ( 20...f5? 21.xh5! ) 21.d2! eyeing h6, ( 21.xh5!? is still possible, g4 22.d2 xh5 23.xc6 xc6 24.e4 h7? 25.c1 mates. ) 21...h7 22.c1! h8 23.d4! winning. ] 19.gxf6 [ 19.gxh6!? xh6 20.h5 g5 is not very pleasant for Black, either. ] 19...xf6 20.xf6+ xf6 21.e4 White has gained the bishop pair, and the e4square, but Black has managed to avoid the worst. [ Perhaps White could try 21.f4!? aiming to soften the long diagonal, ff8 22.h5 exf4 23.exf4 g4 24.d2 gxh5 25.xh5 when the black king is more exposed than 1589
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.d3 e5 9.ge2 ge7 Play has returned to more normal lines, although the bishop on f5 is not on its optimal square. 10.b5 0-0 11.ec3 d7 12.e4 White has found an interesting solution to the problem of the 'linked knights'. c8 13.h3 h6 14.g4! This shows-up the exposed position of the f5bishop. e6 15.g5 Played to assure the e4square for the knight. h5?! 16.b3 d8 17.b2 6a7 18.bc3 b8 Aiming for queenside counterplay with ...b5. 19.f4!? [ White starts an energetic dark-squared attack, although the calmer 19.0-0 b5 20.f4 exf4 21.xf4 also seems promising. ] 19...exf4 20.f6+! xf6 21.gxf6 xf6 [ Black must eliminate the pawn on f6, for, as Psakhis once said to me, about a similar pawn, "it is worth at least a rook". 21...fxe3? 22.0-0 c6 23.e1 d4 24.xe3 and the threat of Qh6-g7 is decisive, f5 ( 24...h7 25.c1 wins ) 25.d5 e6 26.h6 winning. ] 22.0-0 d8 23.f3 h4 Black had to stop the queen capturing on f4. 24.d5 xd5 25.xd5 The position is a graphic example of the difference between knights and bishops. e7 26.exf4 b6 27.f3 c6 28.f5 d4 At le ast o ne of the bisho p's d iagon als is blocked. 29.xd4 cxd4 30.be1 f6 31.fxg6 xg6 [ The endgame doesn't save Black, 31...xf3 1585 A36 32.xf3 fxg6 33.e6 and White regains his sacrificed pawns with interest. ] Onischuk,Alexander 2627 Hracek,Zbynek 2612 32.f4 d7 33.h2 The bishop is unpinned, Bundesliga 2000-1 (5) 08.12.2000 the g-file opened, and the end is near. c5 [ 33...e5 34.e4 g7 35.g1 g6 [Tony Kosten] 36.xd6 is also hopeless. ] 1.c4 c5 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c6 34.e7 [ 34.e4! xe4 35.g1 is clearer. ] 5.a3 d6 [ One of the best replies, preparing to play a 34...e6 [ 34...be8 does nothing to help: 35.e4! Botvinnik set-up, as the immediate 5...e5 xe4 36.xe8 xe8 37.g1 allows 6.b4! ] and the resulting queen versus rook and 6.b1 a5 7.e3 knight position is trivial for White. ] [ I r e c o m m e n d 7.f3 in my book The 35.xd6 Black's position has fallen apart. Dynamic English, but this is just as good. ] 1-0 7...f5!? [ Remarkably, this sensible move seems to be an innovation! 7...e5 is normal, 8.ge2 ge7 9.0-0 0-0 10.d3 b8 with a complex st rat e gic a l p osit io n , Re e, H-P o rtisch , L / Amsterdam 1971. ]
White's. ] 21...f7 22.d2 bf8 White can no longer castle, of course, so the pressure on the f-file is a little annoying. 23.d4?! White eyes the h6pawn, but opening the centre with an u n c a s t le d k i n g i s a ri s ky b u s i n e s s . exd4 24.exd4 d5 25.cxd5 xd5!? [ 25...xd5! s e e m s s t r o n g , 26.dxc5 ( 26.xh6 f4 l o o k s n a s t y) 26...f4 27.xd7 xg2+ 28.f1 xd7 29.xg2 g4 and the black position is the more pleasant to play. ] 26.dxc5 g4!? 27.xh6 [ 27.c3 h7 28.h3 might be safer. ] 27...h7 28.g5 e6 29.f3? [ This should lose, 29.e3 f5 30.d3 is forced. ] 29...bxc5? [ Missing 29...xe4 30.fxe4 xb3 when ...Qc2 is next, hitting b1, b2, and f2. ] 30.0-0 Now White is back on track, he has a pawn more and two bishops. xe4 31.fxe4 xf1+ 32.xf1 xb3? 33.f6 f7 34.e5 d4 [ 34...xf6 35.exf6 hits one of the linked knights, and wins a piece. ] 35.d5! xd5 36.d8+ g7 37.xf7+ xf7 38.xd5+ 1-0
1590
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1586 Ponomariov,Ruslan Vachier Lagrave,Maxime Sportaccord WMG Rapid rapid (5) [John Bartholomew]
A36 2723 2710 10.12.2011
1.c4 f6 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 0-0 5.e4 c5 6.ge2 c6 7.0-0 d6 8.d3 e8 Initiating the familiar ...Ne8-c7-e6-d4 maneuver to clamp down on the central dark squares. [ The other common moves 8...b8 ] [ and 8...a6 prepare immediate queenside expansion. They have a tendency to transpose to one another (and even into the t e xt ) - s e e Ni g e l Da vie s 's gu i d e " P u r e Symmetrical - Without Nf3" in the archives. ] 9.e3 d4 [ In complete contrast, 9...c7 allows d3-d4. It's nearly as popular as the text, though. 10.d4 cxd4 11.xd4 d7 Ye Jiangchuan (2648)-Wang Zili (2501)/Jinan 2005/ [John Watson]. ( 11...e5 Gonzalez Zamora, J (2517)-De la Paz Perdomo, F (2442) /Merida 2006/[John Watson]. )] 10.b1 [ I had some recent experience in the United States Chess League with Marin's suggestion, 10.d2 . My opponent replied with the f lexible a6!? , which is a kind of hybrid with the early .. .a6 systems. After ( T h e n a t u r a l 10...c7 is Marin's sole offering in "GM Repertoire 4: The English Opening - Vol. 2".) 11.ab1 ( 11.h6 is premature, Kungel, S-Weiss, R (2275)/ Ge rm an y 19 94 . xe2+ 12.xe2 xh6 13.xh6 b8 with ...b7-b5 coming.) 11...g4 12.f3 d7 13.b4 xe2+ ( The solid 13...b6 is possible,) 14.xe2 cxb4 15.xb4 b5 16.cxb5 axb5 17.c3 c7 ( I saw 17...xc3 18.xc3 xa2 19.h6 b6+ 20.h1 during the game, but overlooked the nice c5! , when 21.b3 a4 22.xa4 bxa4 23.b7 f6 24.xf8 xf8 gives Black excellent compensation be c au s e o f th e da n ge ro us a -p a wn a n d White's bad bishop.) 18.c1 a6 19.bb1 b8?! ( 19...a5! ) 20.f1 e6 21.d4 a5 22.xb5 xd2 23.xd2 xb5 24.xb5 xd4+ 25.g2 c5 26.a4 I obtained a better endgame but was unable to win.
Bartholomew, J (2440) -Bartell, T (2342)/ICC INT 2011. Bartell's concept was interesting, and I think it merits further practical trials. Move 16 is probably the place to improve for White. ] 10...g4!? Inducing f2-f3 (or h2-h3), as we saw Bartell do in the game above. [ More popular are 10...a5 , trying to hold up b2-b4, and ] [ 10...c7 continuing the knight's journey. Official theory is rather chaotic in both cases. In general, this e ntire syste m is on e in which plans and ideas take priority over concrete lines. Thus, taking a look at Nigel's guide and playing through several of the associated games in the archives is highly recommended. ] 11.f3 [ 11.h3 keeps the long diagonal open, but gives Black a couple extra options. A) 11...xe2 12.xe2 xe2+ 13.xe2 c7 was a pure dark-square strategy in Grant, J (2261) -Weiss, C (2460)/ Heraklio 2007. After 14.b4 b6 White should have played 15.bxc5 dxc5 ( or 15...bxc5 16.e5 ) 16.e5 c8 17.f4 , when Black's bishop is somewhat shut out of the proceedings.; B) 11...f3!? 12.xf3 xf3+ 13.g2 d4 14.b4 b6! 15.a4 ( 15.f4 might be preferable, intending c7 16.f5 ) 15...c7 16.xd4 cxd4 17.d5 e6 18.xc7 xc7= Cvek, R (2488) -Jacko, V (2163)/ Michalovce CZE 2011.; C) 11...d7 12.b4 b6 Solid. 13.f4 c6 14.f5!? d7 15.g4 e6 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.xf8+ xf8 18.d2 c7 19.a3 g8 20.f1 f8 21.xf8+ xf8= Tortarolo, M (2026)-Drei, A (2156)/Caorle 1984. ] 11...d7 12.b4 b6 Black's optimal pawn a r r a n g e m e n t . H e e n j o ys ze r o st r u c t u r a l defects, so W hite must go about creating them! 13.d2 c7 [ A couple earlier games continued 13...c8 14.f4 c7 . Now 15.f2 was rather mysterious in Li Shilong (2510)-Vallejo Pons, F (2674)/Khanty Mansiysk 2005, as was the reply ( I like the look of 15.b5 better, i.e. e6 16.a4 f5?! 17.exf5 gxf5 18.xd4! cxd4 19.a2 e5 20.b4 Mensch, E (2366)Maze, S (2573)/ Biel SUI 2010.; 15.f2!? 1591
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is another good idea, intending to double on the f-file.) 15...h8 ! Based on some of the remaining moves, I'm thinking the score might be inaccurate. The game continued 16.d5 xe2+ 17.xe2 e6 and now 18.e5! was best. ( The database gives 18.d2 d4 19.h1?! g8?! , which seems weird. )] 14.h3 Pono is taking his time. [ It's debatable whether Vachier Lagrave would have responded to 14.f4 with g4 , b u t P o no m a rio v d e cid e s t o pre ven t it anyways. ] 14...c8 15.f4 f5?! Not always a bad idea, b u t i n t h e g i v e n i n st a n c e W h i t e i s we l l prepared for this thrust. 16.bxc5! Excellent timing. dxc5?! [ 16...bxc5 is more advisable. White still has a nice pull after 17.exf5 xf5 18.h2 ] 17.e5 Now Black loses his grip on d4 and has a difficult time getting his dark square bishop to participate. xe2+ 18.xe2 e6 [ 18...e6!? ] 19.a4 A dream position for White. One can already envision the a4-a5 and d3-d4 pawn breaks... properly prepared, of course! b8 20.a5 a6 Black has little else in the way of counterplay. 21.axb6 axb6 22.d4 [ I'd prefer 22.fd1 first, getting the last piece involved. ] 22...cxd4 23.xd4 c5 24.fd1 c7 25.b5 xb5 26.cxb5 fd8 27.c4 f8 28.c6 White completely dominates the light squares. Black may already be lost here. f7 29.g2 h6 30.e3 bc8 31.h4 e7 32.a1 g5?! As so often happens in difficult positions, the defending side gets tired of waiting and gambles on complications. [ 32...xd1 33.xd1 c7 was technically a more stubborn defense. It's hard to blame Black given his position and the time control. ] 33.hxg5 hxg5 34.fxg5 g6 35.xc5! Removing the only decent defender Black had. xd1 36.xd1 xc5 37.d7+- f8 38.xe6+ h8 39.h4+ h7 40.d7 [ Even faster was 40.f4 ] 40...xh4 41.gxh4 e8 42.xf5 xe5 43.d3 e3 44.d8+ g7 45.h5 1-0
1587 Rogers,Ian Sadler,Matthew Bundesliga 1999-2000 (13) [Tony Kosten]
A36 2562 2630 26.03.2000
1.e4 c5 2.c4 An unusual route to playing the English Opening! c6 3.c3 g6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 Play has transposed into Botvinnik's System. a6 A sharp line where Black intends to sacrifice his b-pawn to expose W hite's weakened light squares (d3, for instance). 6.a4 [ The best reply, after 6.ge2 b5 7.cxb5 ( White can always decline the pawn, but after 7.d3 b8 8.0-0 e6 Black has no reason to be unhappy, Parr,F-Speelman,J/ Portsmouth 1976) 7...axb5 8.xb5 a6 9.ec3 a5 10.f1 f6 11.a4 0-0 B la ck h a s p l e n t y o f p la y f o r t h e p a wn , Leosson,T-Kristensen,B/Gausdal 1994. ] 6...e6 7.ge2 ge7 8.0-0 b6!? [ A new move in this particular position, previously 8...0-0 had been played, 9.d3 d6 10.b1 c7 Korstin,M-Shishkov,A/Keres mem open, Tallinn EST 1998, and no w White could have shown that his concession of b4 was only temporary, by 11.e3 d4 12.b4 ] 9.d3 b7 10.b1 c7 11.e3 d4 The standard reply in such positions, firstly, Black doesn't want W hite to play d4, and secondly, White will not want to capture on d4 with his e2-knight now, as it loses a piece. 12.f4!? [ An unusual treatment of this structure, normally 12.b4 would be played, with cxb4 ( 12...d6 can be met by 13.a5!? ) 13.xb4 ec6 14.b1 and White has a slight plus, because he has both succeeded in weakening Black's hold on d4, and has exposed the b6-pawn. ] 12...xe2+ 13.xe2 d6 14.b4 0-0 15.b3 [ 15.bxc5 bxc5 16.xd6 xd6 17.xb7 is quite possible, but White's extra pawn is useless. ] 15...fb8 16.a5!? A provocative attack on the black pawn chain. bxa5 17.bxc5 e5!? [ Black acquiesces to an inferior endgame, 17...xc5 leads to interesting complications after 18.d4 c7 19.c5!! xe4 20.xb8+ 1592
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xb8 21.cxd6 ] 18.a3! xc5 [ Not 18...exf4 19.cxd6 d7 20.dxe7 with advantage. ] 19.xc5 dxc5 20.e3 c6 21.xc5 The protected passed pawn on c4 looks to give White the advantage. b4 22.c3 f8 [ Black makes a favourable minor piece exchange. 22...xd3? loses the exchange to 23.d6 d8 24.c7 ] 23.xf8 xf8 24.fd1 c6 25.d5? [ Missing a simple tactical point, 25.d4 exd4 26.xd4 c2 27.xb8+ xb8 28.d6 appears somewhat stronger, although Black is only slightly worse here. ] 25...a4 26.d2?! [ 26.f1 c2 27.a1 xd3 is barely an improvement. ] 26...xd5! 27.xb8+ xb8 28.exd5 b1+ 29.f1 b3 The point, the white bishop is in an awkward pin, and the a-pawn is difficult to stop. 30.e2 a4 31.xe5 a3 32.d6 White's only chance, he can't stop the a-pawn, so must try to use his own passed runner. a4 [ Another, simple, way of winning the game was offered by 32...a2 when 33.d7 a1 34.d8+ g7 White has no more checks, 35.e8 xf1+ and wins. ] 33.a5 a2 34.xa4 a1 35.xa1 xa1 36.c5 a5 Now this pawn cannot be stopped. 37.c6 e8 [ 37...e8 38.g2 can be piquantly met by xf1 39.xf1 a4 when the white king is outside the square. ] 0-1
1588 Rogule,Laura Jakubowski,Krzysztof 6th Amplico AIG Life rapid (9) [John Watson]
A36 2337 2497 17.12.2006
1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.e4 f6 6.ge2 d6 7.0-0 d7 Unusual. Black has a special purpose by playing this retreat now. [ Note the main line 7...0-0 8.d3 e8 9.e3 c7 10.d4 ] 8.d3 f8! A remarkable idea! Black finds a way to transpose to a well-known position but
saves a tempo by not castling. 9.b1 [ The 'normal' procedure would be 9.e3 , b u t a f t e r e6 , White can't enforce d4. Black's path ...Nf6-d7-f8-e6 is similar to ... Nf6-e8-c7-e6, except that the latter plan requires ...0-0 to allow for ...Ne8. ] 9...e6 10.a3 [ A line that reminds one of a Closed Sicilian is 10.f4 ed4 11.h3 0-0 12.g4 e6 with no problems. The move ... f5 may come later. ] 10...a5 [ I wonder if this is one of those cases in which Black should allow b4, for example, by 10...b8 11.b4 b6 ] [ 10...0-0 11.b4 b6 . Then White's idea of Nb5 would not impress. ] 11.b5! [ After 11.e3 ed4 , White can challenge Black's outpost by 12.b5 xb5!? ( or 12...xe2+ 13.xe2 a4!? ) 13.cxb5 d4 14.xd4 cxd4 15.d2 0-0 , when it's hard for White to come up with a convincing path to advantage. ] 11...0-0 [ B l a c k c a n e q u a l i z e a f t e r 11...ed4 12.exd4 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 ] 12.d2 d7 13.c1 e5?! Beginning to drift. The knight obviously belongs on c6. 14.c2 b6 15.a4 c6 16.c3 b4 17.d2 ae8 18.bd1 xb5 19.axb5 d4 20.xd4 xd4 21.h1 [ 21.h6! ] 21...e6 22.g4 d5!? 23.f4!? An alternative is to win the d-pawn by [ 23.exd5 exd5 24.xb4 axb4 25.xd5 . White's extra pawn (on b2 or b5) doesn't mean much. ] [ 23.h6 was still a good try. ] 23...dxc4 24.dxc4 d8 25.f5 e5? [ Black achieves a practical equality after 25...xc3 26.xc3 xd1 27.xd1 d8 ] 26.f6? [ 26.h6! threatens f6, so f6 will likely follow. The White has the key move 27.d2! (threatening Bg5) g7 28.h4! ] 26...xc3! 27.h6 xf6 28.xf6 xd1+ 29.f1 d2! With a rook, knight, and pawn for the queen, Black's better-placed pieces should win without much trouble. 30.h3 f4
1593
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 31.f3 fd8 32.g2 8d2+ 33.h3 xh2# 0-1
1589 Romero Holmes,Alfonso Hebden,Mark Dublin Easter e2e4 op (8) [Tony Kosten]
A36 2501 2514 09.04.2012
1.c4 g6 2.e4 g7 3.e2 d6 4.bc3 f6 5.g3 0-0 6.g2 c5 7.d3 c6 8.0-0 a6 In my opinion this is definitely the right way to play this position as Black, he first aims to play ...b5. 9.h3 [ 9.b1 b8 10.a4 ] 9...b8 10.a4 White has to stop ...b5 to hope for any advantage, but this has disadvantages as it is difficult to play b4 now. e8 11.e3 e5!? Mark Hebden's speciality, stopping d4 once and for all. The position is closed, but Black has two pawn breaks (...f5 and ...b5) to White's one (f4). [ 11...c7 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 see Esen, B-Vovk, A in the Archives. ] [ 11...d4 12.b1 c7 and Black has a v o i d e d m a k i n g a m o ve wit h h is l i gh t s q u a r e d b i s h o p , 13.b4 see Kosten, ABijaoui, M in the PGN Archive. ] 12.d2 Is a 'normal' move in the Botvinnik, but seems a bit planless here to me. [ 12.f4 was my choice in this position, and I feel it must be critical, if W hite can't play this then he must simply react to Black's moves. exf4 forced, I would have thought, ( 12...c7?! allows 13.f5 of course, d4 14.g4 b5 15.axb5 axb5 16.cxb5 cxb5 17.d5 xe2+ 18.xe2 f6 19.b4 cxb4 20.xb4 d7 21.d5 h8 22.fc1 f7 1/2-1/2 Claesen, P (2380)-Dgebuadze, A (2562)/Eupen 2008, but W hite was being kind here, he can play on both sides of the board. ) 13.gxf4 f5 14.d4 ( 14.d2 d4 15.ae1 c7 16.b4 Peacock, M (2101)He b d e n , M ( 2 5 2 0 ) / L i ve rp o o l 2 0 0 8 , b6 ) 14...cxd4 15.xd4 b6!? this was played by Mark against me at Kilkenny in 2009, he told me after that it was suggested to him by John Emms. ( 15...f6 Claesen, P (2410)Emm s, J (2 58 5)/Esca ld es 19 98 , 16.exf5 xd4 17.xd4 xf5 18.d5 with perhaps
a small plus.) 16.a5!? ( 16.d5 xd4 is obviously the point, 17.xb6 xe3+ 18.h2 xb6 I would definitely prefer to be B l a c k h e r e .) 16...xb2 ( 16...xa5? 17.xf5 ) 17.a4 b4 18.e5 dxe5? and now ( 18...xd4 19.xd4 e6 20.d5 f7! 21.fb1 dxe5 and Black survives.) 19.b1 xb1 20.xb1 exd4 21.f2 is close to winning, Black has enough for the queen, but the threat to c6 is difficult to counter. ] [ 12.d5 occupies the empty d5-square ... but then what? c7 A) 13.d2 b5 ( 13...e6 14.a5 ed4 looks wrong, 15.xd4 xd4 16.xd4 cxd4 17.b4 with a small plus to White, Grant, J (2259)-Hebden, M (2521)/Cork 2005.; 13...xd5 14.exd5 b4 15.a5 f5 followed by ...b6 looks more promising.) 14.axb5 axb5 15.b3 e6 is fairly dull, Grant, J (2261)-Hebden, M (2542)/ Heraklio 2007.; B) 13.b6 e6 14.xc8 xc8 15.c3 b8 16.d5 f5!? 17.exf5 gxf5 18.b1 e8 19.f4 exf4 Markowski, T (2505)Hebden, M (2585)/Cappelle la Grande 1998, when 20.xf4 seems logical. ] 12...c7 13.a5 d4 14.xd4 [ Houdini prefers 14.d1 and I'm inclined to agree, but this means that W hite's 12th move is not good. ] 14...cxd4 15.d5?! [ 15.a4 ] 15...xd5 16.exd5 b5 I think Black is already better, he has the bishop pair, and where is the e2-knight going? 17.axb6 xb6 18.fb1 b4 19.d1 h6 Bad bishop? 20.c3! Full marks for solving that problem! d8 [ 20...dxc3? 21.bxc3 skewers the queen. ] 21.a4 d7 22.f1 a5 23.a3 dc8 24.h4 White is desperately trying to keep everything together, but this is not the type of position y o u w a n t t o p l a y a g a i n s t M a r k ! d2 Going for a nice edge in the endgame, but [ 24...f5 is a bit more ambitious. ] 25.xd2 xd2 26.d1 h6 27.da1 b4 28.e2 xa4?! Grabbing a pawn, but exchanging the bishop for a knight on the rim with no moves is a strange decision. [ 28...f5 29.d1 e4 keeps all the 1594
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 advantages. ] 29.xa4 xb2 30.1a2 xa2 31.xa2 a8 32.d1 f5 33.c2? Allowing the black bishop to relocate. [ 33.f1 and it is not obvious how Black will make progress here, the opposite-colour bishops are a major handicap. ] 33...d2! 34.a4 c3 35.f3 g7 36.f2 f6 37.a3 b4 38.a1 c8 39.e2 h5 40.f1 b8 41.b1 g5! Opening a second front. 42.hxg5+ xg5 43.f2 h8 44.g1 c5 45.b1 h4 46.g2 hxg3 47.xg3 b4 Intending ...Bd2-f4+ and then ...Rh2. 48.f4+?! [ 48.d1 looks forced, when Black still has some work to do. ] 48...exf4+ 49.g2 f3+ [ Or 49...g4! 50.d1+ f3+! 51.xf3+ f4 and . ..Ke3 with a decisive advantage. ] 50.g3! d2 [ 50...f4+ is also good, but requires some calculation: 51.f2 h2+ 52.xf3 h3+ 53.e4 e3+ 54.xd4 c5+ 55.c3 f3 ] 51.b7?! [ 51.f1 f4+ 52.xf3 h3+ 53.e2 when e3+ c a n b e a n s w e r e d b y 54.d2 as there is no good discovered check. ] 51...f4+ 52.xf3 h3+ 53.g2 xd3 Now Black has 3 passed pawns, so the win is n o t f a r o f f . 54.g7+ f6 55.g8 f7 56.a8 a3 57.xa5 Putting the bishop into a nasty pin, but there was nothing better. f6 58.a6 d3 59.f3 d2+! 60.e2 [ 60.xf4 xa4 ] 60...a1 0-1
1590 Short,Nigel D Jones,Gawain C ch-Commonwealth Open (8) [Nigel Davies]
A36 2682 2596 30.06.2011
1.c4 I suspect Short played this way partly out of respect for Jones' great ability in sharp positions, and partly because of a certain discomfort he has shown in Flank Openings. f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.ge2 c5 7.0-0 c6 8.d3 b8 9.h3 e8 10.e3 d4 11.b1 d7
I'm not convinced this developing move best addresses the needs of the position and the pawn play on the queenside. Other moves are more common here: [ a) 11...c7 12.b4 b6 13.c1 ( 13.b5 a6?! 14.bxa6 xa6 15.a4 d7 16.xd4 cxd4 17.d5 xd5 18.exd5 gave White a solid edge due to the weakness of b6 in Voloshin, L (2522)-Markos, J (2459)/Czechia 2004 ) 13...e6 14.h6 xe2+ 15.xe2 xh6 16.xh6 f5 17.d4 cxb4 18.xb4 fxe4 19.xe4 d5 was about equal in W illiams, S (2421)-Turner, M (2478)/ Scarborough 1999. ] [ b) 11...a5 12.d2 ( 12.xd4 cxd4 13.b5 e5 14.b4 axb4 ) 12...c7 13.f4?! b5 14.d5?! xe2+ 15.xe2 e6 16.f5 d4 17.g4 e6 was looking quite nice for Black in Sunye Neto, J (2555)-Leitao, R (2565)/Sao Paulo 2000. ] [ c) 11...xe2+ 12.xe2 ( Or 12.xe2 b6 13.d4 cxd4 14.xd4 b7 15.e1 f6 16.g5 h6 17.c1 c7 18.b3 was just nominally better for White in Jakubowski, K (2 4 9 7 )- T a l la , V (2 4 1 3 )/ L e gn i ca 2 0 0 6) 12...c7 13.d2 e6 14.b4 d4 15.h2 d7 16.f4 b6 17.bxc5 dxc5 18.e5 led to complex play in Kashljak, A-Anjuhin, A (2401)/St Petersburg 2002. ] 12.b4 [ Of course the former challenger for the World Championship knows what to do in such positions. The attempt to attack on the kingside with 12.g4 c7 13.f4 is too crude, for example b5 14.f5 c6 15.d2 e5 16.b3 a5 17.a4 bxa4 18.bxa4 b4 19.c2 a6 20.bd1 c6 21.c1 d4 saw W hite's pieces get driven back after which he was just left with weaknesses in Filguth, R (2335)-Andersson, U (2560)/Sao Paulo 1979. ] 12...b6 13.a4 a5 14.xd4 cxd4 15.b5 e5 16.bxa5 bxa5 17.d2 c6 18.f4? Old habits from being a lifelong 1.e4 player? [ Up to this point it seemed as if White was better, but maybe he should wait with this fpawn advance and instead opt for 18.c1 intending 19.Nb3. ] 18...f6 19.f5 d7 20.a1 c5 21.a3 f6 Black's dark square bishop is getting a c t i v e n o w . 22.fxg6 fxg6 23.h4 b7 1595
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.c1 g5 25.b3 xb3 26.xb3 gxh4 27.gxh4 bf7 Missing his chance. [ There seems to be no good reason why Blac k c an 't pla y 27...xh4 , for example 28.xf8+ xf8 29.b1 g3 30.e2 g7 l e a v e s B l a c k a p a wn u p wi t h a s t r o n g attack. ] 28.h6 xh4?! Now this is wrong and White equalizes. [ 28...g7 was better when he's still in the driving seat. ] 29.xf7 xf7 30.xd6 f6 31.xh4 xd6 32.c5 f8 33.b8 xb8 34.xf6 c7 35.h2 xa4 36.h3 e8 37.c6 f7 38.e6 xe6 39.xe6+ f8 40.f6+ e8 41.e6+ d8 42.f6+ e8 43.e6+ ½-½
1591 Thiede,Lars Filippov,Valerij ECC Rethymnon GRE (2) [Tony Kosten]
A36 2440 2630 29.09.2003
1.g3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.a3 e6 6.b4!? I liked this pawn sac enough to recommend it in my Dynamic English book, let us see how a top GM reacts with the black pieces. xb4 7.axb4 cxb4 8.d4 bxc3 9.e3 e7 10.e2 0-0!? A sensible move, bringing t h e k in g t o s a f e t y. I h a d o n ly p re vio u sl y analysed [ 10...d5 where Black tries to grab a second pawn, see Delchev, A-Tukmakov,V. ] 11.xc3 d6 The best move, Black is going to 'tough it out'. [ 11...d5!? returns the pawn to finish d e v e l o p m e n t : 12.cxd5 xd5 13.xd5 exd5 14.b3 e6 the only way to defend d5, but the b7-pawn is en prise, 15.xb7 c8 a i m i n g f o r a n e n d i n g , ( 15...a5!? is an alternative, getting the a-pawn going, 16.0-0 e8 17.a3 b8 18.a7 a8 19.b7 b8 20.a6 White is right to refuses the repetition as he has a far superior pawn structure, Ptacnikova,L Kasparov,S/Olomouc CZE 2003) 16.b3?! ( 16.xc8 fxc8 17.d2 looks nice to me, the a-pawn is more of a weakness than a strength ) 16...b8 17.a3 c4!
stopp ing W hite f rom cast ling, Hulak,K Filipovic,B/Pula CRO 2002. ] 12.a3 White enjoys Benko-style queenside play on the two open files, plus a central space advantage - more than enough compensation for a pawn. [ 12.0-0 a6 13.a3 i s s i m i l a r , c7 14.d2!? ( 14.b3 transposes to the game ) 14...b8 ( 14...xc4? 15.xd6 e8? 16.a4 wins ) 15.fc1 Wirig,A-Plachetka,J/Pardubice CZE 2002. ] 12...c7 13.b3 Logical, although [ 13.b5!? is interesting, xc4 14.xd6 c3+ 15.e2 d5 16.c1 aiming for a very promising endgame - the d6-knight is fantastic. ] 13...a6 14.0-0 b8 Played to defend the bpawn and free the c8-bishop, [ 14...d8 is the alternative, adding support to the sensitive d-pawn , 15.fc1 b8 16.ab1 b6 ( 16...f5 17.b6! White is not afraid of the ending, xb6 18.xb6 h5 19.cb1 winning the b-pawn with advantage, Du n n in gt o n , A -S lu t zkin , U/ S e villa 1 9 8 9) 17.e4 ( 17.a4!? wi n s t h e b -p a wn) 17...c6 18.d5! White's initiative grows all th e t im e, Ivarsso n, S -B ecker,J/ SW E-c h 1979. ] 15.ab1 e5?! A new move, but I think it is weak, [ 15...d7 is stronger, 16.b6!? ( 16.e4 c8 17.c5 d5 18.c6 wins an exchange for two pawns ) 16...xc4 Masculo, J-Gurevich, D/ Ne w Yo rk 1 9 9 1 , wh e n 17.e4 c6 18.xd6 looks good. ] [ 15...d8?! is worse, 16.b6! xb6 17.xb6 f5 18.g4 winning the d-pawn. ] 16.dxe5 Not bad, but [ 16.e4! is clearly the right move, d8 17.b6 xb6 18.xb6 with a clear advantage, as Bxd6 is difficult to counter, i. e. f5 19.g4 h4 20.xd6 ] 16...xe5 [ 16...dxe5? 17.d5 xd5 18.xf8 ] 17.f4 g7 18.fd1 d8 19.e4 The point of White's play, putting great pressure on d6. f5!? Black offers an exchange for good play on the light squares. [ 19...f5 is also playable: 20.xd6 xd6 21.xd6 xb1 22.xb1 with a small plus. ] 20.b2 The most sensible reply, as 1596
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 20.g4!? h4 21.xd6 is met by xd6 22.xd6 xg4 23.d3 xg2 24.xg2 c6+ with fair chances. ] 20...e7 Covering the f6-square. 21.xg7 [ 21.b6!? keeps a positional bind, and after e6 22.xg7 xg7 White regains his pawn by 23.xd6 ] 21...xg7 22.c3 e8 A bit passive, but the e4-knight must be kept from f6. 23.b6 f5 24.d4 White plays good positional moves, placing his pieces on strong dark squares. xe4 25.xe4 c7?! [ 25...g7 26.xd6 e8 is fairly equal. ] 26.xb7 xb7 27.xb7 White recovers his pawn but retains positional advantages: the better minor piece and more active major pieces. a5 28.c6 e6 29.e4 [ 29.b6! keeps Black under pressure. ] 29...c7 30.d5 c5 The knight lands on a strong square, which balances the powerful bishop on d5. 31.d4 a4 Black relies on the passed a-pawn to generate counterplay. 32.e4 [ 32.f5! is dangerous, opening the f-file to make full use of the bishop, d7 33.h4 e5 34.f6 h5 35.g5 h7 36.e4 with an attack. ] 32...e8 33.f1 b3 34.c3 e7 35.h1 a7 36.b4 [ 36.f5! is even stronger here, as the black knight is far from the kingside. ] 36...e3?! [ 36...c5! is best. ] 37.xa4? Time trouble, I suspect. [ 37.f5! is now crushing, gxf5 38.b8+ g7 39.exf5 and Black can resign. ] 37...d2 38.a1?! [ 38.a8+ g7 39.a1+ is better. ] 38...xe4 The black pieces have found aggres s ive p ost s a ro u nd t he whit e kin g. 39.a8+ g7 40.a3 d4 41.f1?! [ 41.c1 is a better chance, f2+ 42.g2 d1 and now White can play 43.a1! when e2+ 44.h3 b2 45.g1 hangs on. ] 41...f2+ 42.g2 d1! Cutting communication along the first rank and stopping Qa1. 43.h3 e2 The white king is looking very exposed. 44.xd1 Forced. xd1 45.a7 White's only chance is the counterattack on f7. f1+! 46.g4 h5+ 47.g5 e5+! All other moves allow White to mate Black! 48.h4
[ 48.fxe5? f5+ 49.h4 g4# ] 48...g5+ 49.fxg5 f5 50.d4 xg5+ 51.h3 f6 52.d2 f1+ 53.h4 f5 54.d1?? A blunder, [ 54.d4 keeps the game going, although White is lost, of course. ] 54...f2! 55.h3 e2 0-1
1592 Ye Jiangchuan Wang Zili Torch Real Estate Cup (4) [John Watson]
A36 2648 2501 23.04.2005
1.c4 c5 2.c3 f6 3.e4 d6 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.ge2 c6 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 e8 The main line: Black starts out for e6 via c7. 9.e3 c7!? Conceding the move d4. More common is [ 9...d4 ] 10.d4 cxd4 11.xd4 d7 12.b3 e6 13.de2! A key move. Now it will be difficult for Black to activate any pieces. W hite can and does tie his opponent down and slowly improve his position. b8 14.b1 a6 15.a4 b4 16.d2 a5 17.f4 f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.d5 xd5 20.xd5 h8 21.a7 a8 22.f2 c5 23.d4 e6 24.g2 c6 25.xg7+ xg7 26.c3 xg2 27.xg2 Black has done well, although his e6 and d6 pawns are still weak. The opening phase is well past, and now White takes some chances t o t r y t o m a k e p r o g re s s . a6 28.b4!? This is of course anti-positional, creating pawn weaknesses. It nevertheless opens lines f o r W hit e's ro oks. axb4 29.xb4 f6 30.fb1 f7 31.b6 xa4? 32.xa4 xa4 33.c2 a6 34.xb7 xb7 35.xb7+ g6 36.e2 a5 37.b6 e7 38.d2 a4 39.d4 g7 40.xd6 a2+ 41.g1 xd4+ 42.xd4 c2 White handles the ending very skilfully. 43.h3 h5 44.f1 h4 45.gxh4 h5 46.e1 xh4 47.d1 c3 48.d2 xh3 49.c5 g4 50.c6 h8 51.c7 c8 52.c4 f3 53.d3 g3 54.e2 g4 55.f2 h5 56.e3 g4 57.c1 e5 58.g1+ h5 59.fxe5 xc7 60.f4 h6 61.xf5 c2 62.e6 f2+ 63.e5 e2+ 64.d6 1-0 1597
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1593 Almasi,Zoltan Felgaer,Ruben 39th Olympiad Men (2.11) [Nigel Davies]
A37 2707 2597 22.09.2010
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.g3 [ This move order is worth noting White can also try 4.e3 . ] 4...g6 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 d6 7.a3 a5 8.e1 e6 9.d3 ge7 10.c2 d5 11.cxd5 xd5 12.e3 de7 13.c4 Both sides are playing qu it e l o gi c a l ly h e r e , B l a ck g o in g f r o m a Botvinnik formation to setting up a Maroczy Bind whilst W hite is looking f or the weak squares this space gaining play leaves behind. Despite it being a quiet 'flank opening' we follow precedent for quite a way. 0-0 14.g5 f6 15.e3 b6 16.a4 c7 17.f4 W h i t e ' s k e y p a wn l e ve r . B l a c k d a r e n o t capture on f4 so he contracts an isolated epawn. ab8 18.fxe5 xe5 19.xe5 fxe5 20.g5 h8 [ Or 20...f5 21.d5 d6 22.e4 d4 23.e3 1/2-1/2 as in Kovalyov, A (2557)Moiseenko, A (2682)/Montreal 2009, though White is a bit better in the final position. ] 21.xf8+ xf8 22.f1 b8 23.e4 f5 24.d5 d6 25.xe6 xe6 26.c4 W hite has a small but clear advantage because of his better bishop. xc4 27.dxc4 e4 28.g4 d4 29.a4 e8 30.f7 e6 31.e7 [ 31.e3 seems better and isn't easy for Black, f or example f8 32.e7 xc3 33.xe6 xb2 34.xb6 d4 35.xd4+ cxd4 36.d6 wins a pawn. After the move played in the game White is equal at best. ] 31...xe7 32.xe7 g8 33.xe4 xb2 34.e3 f7 35.h4 f8 36.d8 d7 37.d6+ e6 38.c8 e5 39.xb6 d7 40.a7 xc4 [ 40...xg4!? 41.xc5 e5 was worth considering with Black going for the win. ] 41.xc5 c1 42.f2 b2 43.a3 d1+ 44.e2 xa3 45.xd1 c5 46.b5 xe3 47.e2 ½-½
1594 Andersson,Ulf Van der Wiel,John TH Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee (5) [Nigel Davies]
A37 2635 2530 01.1983
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.c3 d6 6.0-0 h6 7.d4 cxd4 8.xh6 xh6 9.xd4 d7 This looks like the most solid option for Black, though W hite has a quite dangerous reply. [ 9...xd4 is the main alternative. ] 10.c5! dxc5 [ After 10...g7 W hite can play 11.xc6 xc6 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.a4 , but this may only be enough for a draw. For example after xc3 14.xc6+ f8 15.bxc3 c8 16.a6 xc5 17.xa7 c7 ( 17...xc3?? 18.d4 wins a whole rook) 18.xc7 xc7 19.fb1 ( 19.fc1 g7 20.a4 a8 21.a3 c4 22.a5 a6 23.f3 d5 also held for Black in Loginov, V (2505)-Csom, I (2475)/ Bu da pe st 19 9 3) 19...g7 20.a4 a8 21.a3 c5 22.b4 f6 held for Black despite his pawn minus in Marin, M (2511)I l l e s c a s C o r d o b a , M (2 6 2 6 ) / S a n x e n x o 2004. ] 11.xc6 xc6 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.c2 d2?! Deliberately exchanging queens looks like a mistake here because Black is suffering in the endgame. [ The natural move is 13...0-0 , for example 14.a4 c7 ( 14...c4 15.fd1 a5 16.xc4 b5 17.c2 fd8 18.b3 d6 19.e3 was also a bit better for White in Konopka, M (2480)-Vokac, M (2495)/Lazne Bohdanec 1999) 15.xc5 fd8 16.d3 ac8 17.c4 d5 18.h4 h5 19.e4 d7 20.ad1 was just a bit better for White in Sowray, P (2339)-Sherwin, J (2255)/ Sunningdale 2006. ] 14.xd2 xd2 15.e4 0-0-0 16.ad1 h6 17.xc5 Black now has a deeply unpleasant endgame, all the more so when an endgame artist of Ulf Andersson's calibre is playing White. d5 18.d3 c7 19.f4 Gaining space on the kingside whilst blocking the bishop's attack on c1. Now White can put his rooks on the c-file so as to gang up on the weak Black c-pawn. g7 20.c1 a5 21.a3 b5 22.c2 hb8 23.b4 a5 24.fc1 8b6 1598
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.b4 ac8 17.e4 f6 18.e3 b6 lef t Black very solidly placed in Granda Zuniga, J-Spangenberg, H/ Buenos Aires 1993. ] 14.e4 xd5 15.xd5 e7 16.c3 [ Trying to keep some chances after 16.xe7+ xe7 17.b4 f5 there would be nothing in it. ] 16...c6 17.e3 f5 18.f3?! I think this is more risky with the knights still on. [ 18.exf5 gxf5 ( 18...xf5 19.f3 gives White the e4 square, so again I claim a small edge for White) 19.f4 is a bit better for W hite because of the potential vulnerability of Black's e5 and f5 pawns. ] 18...f4 19.g1 h5 Now I don't like it for White because Black will always be able to open lines in the kingside. 20.d5 f7 21.g4 hxg4 22.fxg4 cf8 23.f3 f6 24.f2 [ 24.b4 looks like a better try for counterplay. ] 24...h7 25.xf6+ Stopping the bishop from coming to h4, but it would have been with a heavy heart that Aronian took this bishop off. xf6 26.h1 g5 27.h3 b6 28.h2 d8 1595 A37 29.b3 e6 30.f1 b5 Black now dominates Aronian,Levon 2808 the entire board and it remains to be seen Grischuk,Alexander 2747 h o w e xa ct ly h e 'll p u t t h e b a ll in t h e n e t . WCh Candidates (1.5) 09.05.2011 31.g2 a5 32.hh1 f8 33.hc1 b8 34.h1 b4 35.h2 a4 36.h1 a8 37.g1 [Nigel Davies] axb3 38.xb3 a4 39.bb2 a3 40.bg2 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.g3 g6 a4 41.h4?! c3 42.f1?! a3 43.hxg5?! 44.f2 xh2+! 45.xh2 xg5 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 ge7 7.e1 d6 8.c2 c1 e6 9.e3 0-0 10.d3 d7 11.ed5 h3 With the d3 pawn dropping off this is the end of the road for White. 46.h1 xd3 47.h4 12.b1 xg2 [ A n o t h e r p o s s i b i l i t y i s 12...ab8 h3+ , f o r e xa m p l e 13.g5 xg2 14.xe7+ 0-1 xe7 15.xg2 f6 16.d2 f5 17.b4 b6 wasn't really anything for White in Karlsson, 1596 A37 L-Movsesian, S/Malmo 1999. ] 13.xg2 ac8 A new move, though not one Bacrot,E 2705 Jansa,Vl 2451 that seems revolutionary. 03.02.2013 [ Prior to this game everyone had exchanged Bundesliga 2012-13 (8) k n i g h t s h e r e . F o r e x a m p l e 13...xd5 [Tony Kosten] 14.cxd5 e7 ( 14...d4 15.e3 b5 16.a4 xc3 17.bxc3 e4 18.c4 exd3 1.c4 g6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 g7 4.g3 c6 was Karlsson, L-Ernst, T/Uppsala 1985, and 5.g2 e5 6.a3 a5 Not immediately now 19.a5 c3 20.d2 was probably best necessary as White is not yet threatening to w i t h W h i t e f o r c h o i c e b e c a u s e o f t h e play b4 - Black should wait for Rb1 before pressure he may generate on the b-file) playing ...a5 if he can. 7.0-0 d6 8.e1 e6 15.g5 ( 15.e4 looks more natural) 15...f5 9.d3 ge7 10.c2 d5 11.cxd5 xd5
25.g2 e6?! This takes a valuable flight square away from Black's king. [ H e s h o u l d h a v e p l a y e d 25...d5 after which 26.bxa5 xa5 27.b4 d7 28.xc6 xa3 29.d1+ e6 (the point) 30.e4 is very unpleasant for Black. But he's still fighting. ] 26.bxa5 xa5 27.b4 c5 [ With the Black e-pawn on e6 Black can't play 27...d7 because of 28.xc6 xa3 29.d1+ c7 ( 29...e8 30.d8# ) 30.e5+ followed by 31.Nc4, forking Black's rooks. ] 28.xc5+ xc5 29.xc5+ b7 30.c4 f8 31.f3 b5 [ 31...d6 might have been a bit better but it's very unpleasant for Black after, say, 32.e4 . ] 32.c6 d5 33.a4 d1 34.e5 f6 35.d3 h5? [ 35...f5 would have been a bit tougher. ] 36.e4 Black's e-pawn is also falling. 1-0
1599
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.e3 de7 13.c4 0-0 14.g5 f6 15.e3 b6 16.a4 Attacking the pinned knight and further controlling Black's weak light squares. c8 [ 16...c7 17.f4 ab8 18.fxe5 xe5 19.xe5 fxe5 is examined in Almasi, Z (2707)-Felgaer, R (2597)/Khanty Mansiysk RUS 2010 (47) ] 17.b5 The problem, now it's difficult to defend the b6-pawn. xc4 Forced. [ 17...d4 18.xb6 xb6 19.xb6 b8 20.xd4 cxd4 21.ca4 h6 22.b4 lef t W hite a solid pawn up in Ivanov, M (2395)-Bauer, A (2152)/Emmendingen 2012, and he went on to win. ] 18.dxc4 The most popular, the pawn covers b5 and d5. [ 18.xc4+ h8 19.b5 f5 20.g5 d4 21.xe7 xe7 ( 21...xb5 22.xd8 xc3 23.xb6 xe2+ is equal. ) 22.xb6 b8 23.a6 xb2 was fairly equal in Kramnik, V (2788)-Navara, D (2672)/Prague 2008. ] 18...d4 19.xd4 [ 19.a6 h6 20.b4 axb4 21.axb4 cxb4 had already occurred for Black in Cvek, R (2563)-Jansa, V (2454)/Kouty nad Desnou 2012, but 22.xd4 exd4 23.a4 would have favoured White. ] 19...exd4?! I don't like this move. [ 19...cxd4 i s m o r e a m b i t i o u s , 20.a4 ( 20.d5 xd5 21.xd5+ h8 22.b4 keeps some small advantage as White has the more useful bishop and a queenside majority, but the opposite-colour bishops are a problem.) 20...b8 21.c5 bxc5 22.xc5 f5 was fine for Black in Marin, M (2583)Edouard, R (2597)/Benasque 2009, ...e4 is coming. ] 20.a4 b8 21.b4 axb4 Obvious and new, but Black is still in difficulty after this move. [ 21...e8? 22.bxa5 xb5 23.cxb5 bxa5 Gomez Jurado, L (2339)-Llaneza Vega, P (2207)/Barcelona 2010, was pretty much winning for W hite after, say, 24.b6 c4 25.b7 fd8 26.ab1 and Nc5-a6. ] [ 21...c7?! 22.bxc5 bxc5 23.xc5 xc5 24.xc5 fc8 25.b7 xc4 26.xa5 ] 22.axb4 cxb4 23.ab1 Black is temporarily a pawn up, but White will take on b4 then b6. e8 24.xb4 f5 25.b2 d3!? An interesting strategic decision sacrificing the
d-pawn to gain the d4-square and open the a1-h8 diagonal, but Black was in trouble otherwise. [ 25...f8 26.fb1 and White can capture the b6-pawn when he likes. ] 26.d5+ h8 27.exd3 [ 27.xd3! xd3 28.exd3 was a good alternative. ] 27...c7 [ 27...e7!? i s t r i c k y : 28.xb6 e3!? 29.fxe3 xe3+ 30.h1 xb6 31.xb6 xb6 but then 32.c5 and the g7-bishop is too passive to block the white pawns. ] 28.c6?! I don't understand why White is suddenly in a rush to exchange queens. [ 28.fb1 ed8 29.e4 looks good, as b5 30.cxb5 d4 is met by 31.c6 ] 28...xc6 29.xc6 ed8 30.e4 d4 [ 30...h6!? threatens ...f 5, 31.d5 f5 32.xb6 xb6 33.xb6 d4 34.a8 d7 and White will have problems converting. ] 31.xb6 [ 31.fb1! ] 31...f5?! [ 31...xb6 32.xb6 f5 33.d5 transposes while avoiding the next note. ] 32.d5?! [ 32.xb8 xb8 33.g2 might be more accurate. ] 32...xb6 33.xb6 b3 [ 33...e2+! 34.g2 c3 could have been played when the threat of ...Bd4 is annoying. ] 34.d1 [ White avoids 34.a4 d4 35.b1 c5 36.xc5 xc5 and it is not easy to see how W hite will advance his two extra central pawns. ] 34...d4 35.a8 Keeping the knights on the board. e8? [ 35...d7! simply stops the knight escaping. ] 36.f3? This must surely have been a Sunday morning game, there are just too many imprecisions! [ 36.c7! and the knight escapes to e6 or b5. ] 36...e7! 37.g2 a7 Black is still two pawns down, but his pieces are excellently placed and ... he may not even be worse! 38.b1 a2? Tricky, but faulty. The worst 1600
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with a draw! f5 Trying to stop d4 and keep m o re t e n sio n in t h e p o sit io n . T h is m o v e scores very well for Black indeed. [ 7...0-0 8.d4 cxd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.exd4 d5 transposes to the drawish 5 e3 mainline in A36. ] 8.e4 Not that common, but it makes good sense. [ 8.d4!? has never been played, but might be worth a punt, cxd4 9.exd4 fxd4 10.xd4 xd4 11.e3 f5 12.c5 d6 13.a3 0-0 14.e4 with compensation. ] 8...d6 [ 8...b6 also defends c5, 9.d4 d5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.c3 cxd4 Paunovic, D (2465)Kovacevic, A (2462)/Jahorina 2000, 12.xd5!? dxe3 13.a4!? ] 9.d4! T h e p o i n t . cxd4 10.xd4 cxd4 11.exd4 0-0 [ 11...d5 l o o k s s a f e s t : 12.cxd5 exd5 1/2-1/2 Hernandez Onna, R (2465)-Browne, W (2550)/Buenos Aires 1978, 13.c3 0-0 14.xd5 xd4 15.e3 White has a small lead in development. ] [ 11...xd4 is met by 12.g5 b6 13.f6+ f8 14.a4 c6 15.ad1 h6 16.xc6 bxc6 ( 16...xc6? 17.xd6; 16...hxg5 17.xb7 xf6 18.xa8 ) 17.c5! xc5 18.e3 f5 19.xc6 xf6 20.xa8 ] 12.g5! [ 12.f4 h6 13.d5 e5 14.d2 c7 15.c1 b6 16.b4 Novikov, S (2503)-Sivokho, S (2494)/St Petersburg 2003, with a position typical of certain Sicilians - White might be a little better as he has the c5 break. ] 12...b6!? New, and critical. [ 12...c7 is the sensible alternative, 13.g4 ( 13.c1! develops another piece and keeps a l l t h e t h r e a t s , xd4 14.f6+ xf6 15.xf6 e5 16.d2 ) 13...h6 ( 13...xd4 14.f6+ xf6 15.xf6 e5 might be possible. ) 14.f6+ h8 15.d3 g8 1597 A37 16.xh7 xh7 17.h3+ h6 18.xh6 xh6 19.g5 h8 ( 19...xc4!? ) 20.gxh6 Bejtovic,J 2387 e7 21.fe1 d7 22.e3 with advantage, Grandelius,N 2593 Appel, R (2481)-Kveinys, A (2533)/Essen TCh-SWE Elite 2012-13 (3) 07.10.2012 2001. ] [Tony Kosten] [ 12...f6?! is ugly, 13.d2 b6 ( 13...xd4 14.c3 f5 15.d3 with more than 1.f3 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c4 c6 enough for the pawn.) 14.c3 d5 15.cxd5 5.c3 e6 6.0-0 ge7 7.e3 exd5 16.c5 d8 17.e1 the weakness of A very reasonable move ... if White is happy
defect of this combination is that it allows White to remove the drawish opposite-colour bishops from the board. [ 38...c5! 39.b8+ g7 keeps the darksquared bind, and the threat to attack f2, 40.d8 xd3! 41.e2 e1+ 42.f1 f6 wit h o n l y o n e p a wn le s s a n d e xce l le n t drawing chances. ] 39.xb3 xf2+ 40.h3 xf3 41.c7 Now W hite has two passed pawns plus a knight that can contest the dark squares and will win. e3 42.b8+ g7 43.d8 b2 [ 43...xd3?? 44.xd4 xd4 45.e6+ ] 44.g2?! A strange choice - perhaps the players were down to 30 seconds a move?! [ 44.d7+ f8 45.c5 looks strong. ] [ 44.d4 likewise. ] 44...e2+ 45.g1 g5 [ 45...h6 46.d4 c1 47.c5 e3+ 48.f1 xh2 49.c6 f2+ 50.e1 c2 51.d5 f2+ 52.d1 c4 looks messy. ] 46.c5 Finally White sets his pawns in motion. c2 47.d4 g6 48.e6 h5?! Tempting, but the threat to go to g4 is easily parried. [ 48...c1! intends ...Be3+, and maybe ... f4. ] 49.h3 f4?! 50.d6 Menacing Ng7 mate! g6 51.xf4+?! f5 52.d3 a3? [ 52...a1 Keeps some chances, 53.f2 ( 53.c6 e4 54.c5+ f3 is awkward.) 53...d2 54.f1 xd4 55.e1 xf2 56.xd4 g2 ] 53.f2! White quickly stops the black king from entering via e4. c1 54.g2! h5 [ 54...e3?? is met by 55.g4+ f4 56.f6# ] 55.g4+ hxg4 56.hxg4+ f4 57.e6 And the threat of mate on e4 forces large material gains. 1-0
1601
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d5 and e6 ensure W hite has a big plus, Odendahl, S (2275)-Gruchacz, R (2400)/ Lone Pine 1978. ] 13.c5! White is not willing to let go of the initiative. dxc5 14.dxc5 xb2 15.b1 xa2 Grabbing a 2nd pawn and hoping to defend. [ 15...e5 16.e1 c7 17.g4 is no better. ] 16.g4 h6? [ 16...d4 17.f6+ xf6 18.xf6 e2+ 19.h1 f4 is a better try, but White has full compensation. ] 17.e7! e8 18.f6+ xf6 19.xf6 Black's dark-squared weaknesses are awful, and on top of that his queen is misplaced and his queenside under pressure. e5 [ 19...c4 20.h3 xc5 would win another pawn, but 21.d2 f8 22.g5 wins the knight. ] 20.h3 e6 21.g5 g7 22.d5! d7 23.f3 Qf6+ is menaced and it becomes clear that Black is already completely lost. e6 24.xb7 [ 24.fd1! ] 24...xb7 [ 24...b8 25.c6 ] 25.xb7 c6 26.xh6+ xh6 27.xf7 I can't understand why Black didn't resign here (or even before), maybe his opponent was short of time. f6 28.xh7+ g5 29.b3? [ 29.g7! is an immediate killer - Qh5+ is threatened. ] [ 29.b4 likewise, h4 mate is the threat. ] 29...af8 30.g3? [ 30.e3 keeps a clear win. ] 30...f3?? Returning the compliment! [ 30...6f7! almost traps White's queen! 31.h4+ f6 32.h6 e7 and the game goes on. ] 31.h4+ f4 [ 31...f6 32.g5+ e6 33.xg6+ ] 32.h6+ e4 33.e1+ d5 34.d1+ e4 [ 34...xc5 35.c1+ ] 35.xf3 xf3 36.d6 e8 37.d2 Forcing mate. f7 38.b4+ c4 39.xc4# 1-0
1598 Beliavsky,Alexander G Ponomariov,Ruslan ECC Panormo GRE (4) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2659 2684 26.09.2001
1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.f3 e5 The Botvinnik System is also a good set-up to employ with Black. 6.a3 a5! This concedes control of b5, as well as d5, but experience indicates that Black cannot afford to allow White to play b4. 7.d3 ge7 8.g5!? A sneaky move, White wants to weaken Black's hold over the light squares by exchanging his dark-squared bishop for the knight. f6! A positionally forced reply. 9.d2 d6 10.0-0 0-0 11.e1 A standard plan, the k n i g h t h e a d s f o r e 3 , t o c o n t r o l d 5 . e6 12.c2!? [ This allows Black to play ...d5 , 12.d5 i s m o r e c o m m o n , b8! 13.c2 b5 (the most accurate, Black regains control over b5, and undermines d5) 14.b3 xd5!? 15.cxd5 d4 16.b1 f5 17.e1?! a4 18.bxa4 bxa4 gaining b3 for the knight with a black advantage, Shalimov,V-Gasanov,E/ Alushta UKR 2000. ] 12...d5 13.cxd5 [ Perhaps White can play in 'Petrosian style' by 13.b3!? ] 13...xd5 14.e3 de7! Black knows exactly wha t he is doing: in the Maroczy position that has arisen the player with the most space should avoid exchanges- they only help his opponent. 15.c4!? [ Using the knight on this outpost, logical as it appears, is actually a novelty here, as b e f o re W h it e h a d p la ye d 15.e4 b6 16.b4!? axb4 17.axb4 xa1 18.xa1 cxb4 19.a4 , Landenbergue,C-Mainka,R/Prague 1990, when d4 20.e1 b3 must be good for Black. ] 15...b8 16.b5 Otherwise ...b5 will drive the c4-knight back home. f5 17.c3 b6 18.e3? It appears that W hite is doing well with his two knights 'sitting pretty' on c4 and b5, and he simply wishes to counter Black's positional threat of playing ...Nd4, but he overlooks a powerful positional exchange. xc4! 19.dxc4 xd1 20.fxd1 e4 This is the point, the pawn chain cuts the influence of the g2-bishop, 1602
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and by exchanging his own two bishops and simultaneously creating good squares for his knights on e5 and d3, Black assumes the driving seat. 21.xg7 xg7 22.d6 fd8 23.ad1 xd6 24.xd6 e5 25.f1 7c6 W hite has control of the d-file, but this is temporary, the weakness of c4, d3 and f3 is p e r m a n e n t . 26.c3 b7 27.e2 d7 28.xd7+ xd7 29.h4 ce5 30.f1 f6 31.e1 e6 32.d5 d6 The king comes to defend b6, and free the d7-knight, and meanwhile there is a passing threat of ...b5, u n d e r m i n i n g t h e w h i t e k n i g h t . 33.a4 Putting another pawn on a light square, but White hopes to set-up a solid wall. c6 34.b3 b4 35.c3 Naturally White doesn't want to play with his lone bishop against a rampant black knight. e5 36.d2 White is solid, but passive, but Black has a lot more space and the better minor pieces. The question is: how to convert this into something more tangible, and Black answers this by advancing his kingside pawns. f8 37.b5 [ White is loathe to create weaknesses on g3 and e3 by 37.f4+!? exf3 38.xf3 and instead, tries to sit-it-out. ] 37...h6 38.c3 g5 39.hxg5 hxg5 40.d1 d7 41.c3 f6 42.b5 White is simply saying to Black, you have no entry squares for your king, how are you going to beat me? f4 43.gxf4+ gxf4 44.exf4+ xf4 45.a7 W h it e re m i n d s B l a c k t h a t h e a l so h a s a weakness, on b6. d7 46.c3?! [ 46.c8 c6 47.d1 is not especially promising, but may permit White to hold-out longer. ] 46...e5 47.c8 ed3! Swapping the b6pawn for the f-pawn, and creating a strong passed e-pawn. 48.xb6 xf2 49.d5+ e5 50.e3 h3 51.d1 g5 52.h5 e6 53.d1 d4 54.g2 f3 55.e3 h4 56.g4+ f5 57.e3+ f4 58.d5+ e5 Black is in no rush, and wants to examine several possible plans before committing himself- and perhaps gain time on the clock. 59.b6 f5 60.d7+ d6 61.f6 g3 62.g4 e6 63.d2 f5 64.e2 c6 65.f1 e5 The die is cast, Black forces the exchange of a pair of knights and wins against the sad white bishop. 66.e3 f3+ 67.e2 3d4+ 68.f2 xe3 69.xe3 e5
[ 69...e5 70.h3 f5+ 71.d2 f4 72.d1 d4 Black can simultaneously pickoff the queenside pawns, and advance his king, and e-pawn. ] 0-1
1599 Bocharov,D Neverov,V Dvorkovich Mem 2013 (9.4) [John Bartholomew]
A37 2614 2499 23.01.2013
Dmitry Bocharov curbs Black's play in the 6... Nh6 line with a pawn sacrifice. 1.c4 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 c5 4.c3 c6 5.f3 d6 6.0-0 h6 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4!? Extremely rare, but worth a look. [ Far more common is 8.xh6 xh6 9.xd4 , as Luke McShane used to defeat Magnus Carlsen at the London Classic a couple years back. Black has a few different replies here: Carlsen's choice was the combative A) Perhaps the safest continuation is 9...xd4 10.xd4 0-0 . Now 11.fd1 g7 12.e3 xc3!? (Black eliminates the knight in view of Nc3-d5 and/or c4-c5) 13.xc3 c7 was seen in Loginov, V (2540)-Stanec, N (2460) Aschach 1994/ [ N i g e l D a vi e s ] . H e r e N i g e l m e n t i o n s 14.d5!? ( a n o t h e r i d e a i s 14.d4!? , flirting with Rd4-h4 ideas) 14...b8 15.h4 h5 16.e3 b6 17.h6 e6 18.f3 b7 19.xb7 xb7 20.ac1 with a minimal advantage for White in Bartels, H (2335)Frias Pablaza, V (2480) London 1994; B) M o s t c o m m o n i s 9...d7 10.c5!? (an attractive pawn sacrif ice W hite is attempting to debilitate Black's structure) and now B1) Black may want to consider 10...g7!? 11.xc6 xc6 12.xc6+ bxc6 which has yielded him four draws in four games thus far, e.g. 13.a4 0-0!? ( better than 13...xc3 14.xc6+ f8 15.bxc3 c8 16.a4 xc5 17.xa7 c7 18.xc7 xc7 19.fb1 Marin, M (2511)-Illescas Cordoba, M (2626) Sanxenxo 2004; 13...c8!?N ) 14.ac1 dxc5 15.c2 c7 16.c4 xc3 17.xc3 fd8 18.xc5 d6 1603
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with only a symbolic advantage for White Tikkanen, H (2566) -Enchev, I (2419) Albena 2012; B2) 10...dxc5 11.xc6 xc6 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.c2 d2?! (Black should keep the queens on the board) 14.xd2 xd2 15.e4 0-0-0 16.ad1 h6 17.xc5 d5 18.d3 c7 19.f4! led to a classic technical demonstration in Andersson, U (2635)-Van der Wiel, J (2530) Wijk aan Zee 1983/ [Nigel Davies].; C) 9...e5 , b u t a f t e r 10.b3 0-0 11.fd1 d7 12.a3 a5 13.b4!? a6 14.b5 a8 15.e3 a4 16.ab1 g7 17.e4 b6 18.c6!? White owned the initiative in McShane, L (2645)-Carlsen, M (2802) London 2010/[Nigel Davies]. ] 8...xd4 9.xh6 xe2+!? Black responds ambitiously. [ With 9...xh6 10.xd4 0-0 he could transpose to 9...Nxd4 (above). ] 10.xe2 xh6 11.fe1 g7 12.ad1! Of course - what could be more natural? [ I could find only one other game where Black was brave enough to snatch the pawn on move nine. That contest continued with t h e i m m e d i a t e 12.c5 , b u t a f t e r 0-0! 13.ad1 e5 14.b5 a6 15.b3 a5! 16.d5 xc5 17.c1 a5 18.xe7+ g7 19.xc8 axc8 20.xb7?! b8 21.d5 b5! 22.d3 xb2 Black was in the driver's seat in Dittmar, P (2327)Antoniewski, R (2607) Triesen 2010. ] 12...xc3! A l s o c o r r e c t . 13.bxc3 c7 14.d4 Bocharov opts for controlled aggression, trusting in his long-term compensation. [ 14.e3!? also looks good, eying both win gs and ke eping th e d 1 rook f lexible (maybe it will swing to b1?). ] 14...e6 15.e3 c8 16.e4!? [ It's possible to bail out with 16.d5 , i.e. xd5 17.cxd5 0-0 18.e4 xc3 19.xc3 xc3 20.xe7= , but with the White pieces and a 100+ po int rating a dvantage this probably didn't appeal to White! ] 16...a5?! Gifting White an unnecessary opportunity. [ Black should call White's semi-bluff with 16...b6! 17.h6 ( 17.xb6 axb6 18.b1?? would be awful in view of f5-+ )
17...xc4 , e.g. 18.4e3 c7 19.g7 f8 20.xh7 xa2!? and White will have to prove compensation for the two pawns. ] [ Another decent option is 16...c5 17.h6 c7 18.g7 f8 . ] [ 16...0-0?? 17.h6 followed by Re4-h4 should be averted, of course. ] 17.h3! c7 18.d4 f8 19.xe6 fxe6 20.xe6 c5 21.d2 [ White must have assessed the double rook end gam e a f te r 21.xd6 xd4 22.xd4 to be drawish, which it very much is. ] 21...d8 Black is still fine, but his king's future is a bit uncertain and White has regained the sacrificed pawn. 22.1e4 d7 23.e2 f7 24.h4 e8 25.d4 f8?! [ Stronger was 25...f5! , preventing White's next. ] 26.d5 b6? Black is quickly losing the thread. [ 26...c6 ] 27.c5! b1+ 28.g2 f5?? Oh no! Black deprives his queen of her only flight square. In Neverov's defense, it was already bad. 29.d1 Black resigned, as his queen is ensnared. 8.Nxd4!? has some independent value, though I doubt White can expect much if Black defends precisely after nabbing the pawn with 8...Nxd4 9.Bxh6 Nxe2+!?. 1-0
1600 Braun,Arik Petrosian,Tigran L IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (7) [Carsten Hansen]
A37 2529 2616 27.04.2008
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 g6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 h6 This move doesn't have the best reputation, but isn't entirely terrible and has been played by several strong players over the years. 6.0-0 [ White plays the tamest available continuation. The critical lines are 6.d4!? ] [ and 6.h4!? ] 6...0-0 7.d3 a6!? [ Black continues to play sharp and provocative moves. The alternatives are: 7...d6 ] [ 7...f5 ] 1604
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ and 7...b8 ] 8.b1 f5 9.a3 b5!? [ My initial reaction to this gambit is scepticism, but at closer inspection it appears to have some merit. The alternative is 9...b8 A) 10.e4 d6 11.d2 b5 12.b3 ( 12.c3!?= ) 12...c7 13.e3 e5 14.c2 b4= Soederborg, B-Drimer, D/Leningrad 1960; B) 10.d2 b5 11.cxb5 axb5 12.b4 b6 B1) W hite can improve with 13.bxc5!? xc5 14.e4 fd4 ( 14...xc3 15.c1 ) 15.xd4 xd4 16.b3; B2) 13.g5 cxb4 14.axb4 e6 15.ge4?! ( 15.e4 fd4 16.f4 e5 17.e3 b7 ) 15...d5 with a pleasant game for Black, Pastorini, M-Gladischev, O/Ceske Budejovice 1997 ] 10.cxb5 axb5 11.xb5 b6 12.a4 a6 13.g4!? [ The first new move of the game. In an earlier game in this variation, W hite tried 13.e4!? fd4 ( 13...d6!? 14.xd6 exd6 15.f4 b4 offers Black a fair amount of compensation for the pawn) 14.bxd4 xd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.b3 fb8 17.c2 a7 , Kristensen, B-Schmittdiel, E/Gausdal 1994, and now White should probably opt for 18.e3!? intending Rfc1, when I doubt Black has enough for the pawn ] 13...h6 14.h3 [ Initially my computer likes 14.xh6 xh6 15.c3 g7 , but 16.d5 d8 offers Black excellent compensation for the pawn ] 14...f5 [ Of course Black can get the pawn back immediately with 14...xb5 15.axb5 xb5 , but Black is in no rush. ] 15.h2 [ My silicon friend endorses 15.b3+ e6 16.g5 f7 17.e3 which indeed appears to be more critical than the game continuation, but Black should be more or less okay after something like fb8 18.fc1 xb5 19.xc5 a5 20.axb5 xb5 21.c2 b4 22.xb4 xb4 23.d4 ab8 24.e3 b6 ] 15...e6 16.e3 f4 17.d2 xb5 18.axb5 xb5 19.g5 f5 20.xf4 h4 [ Black wants to remove the guardian of
W hite's kingside, but Black can also consider 20...a2!? and ] [ 20...d5 in both cases with excellent compensation for the pawn. ] 21.d2 d5 22.g4 a2 23.c3 d4 24.d2 xg2 25.xg2 c4 [ 25...xb2 26.c1 xb1 27.xb1= is fine for White ] 26.dxc4 xc4 27.f3 e7 [ After 27...e5!? 28.xe5 xe5 , W h i t e ' s b e s t i s p r o b a b l y 29.c1!? though Black has a long-term initiative on account of the weak squares and loose pawn structure around White's king. ] 28.f2 f5 [ At this point Black should give consideration to 28...d5!? 29.e1 b5 30.e4 b6 with a comp lica ted gam e, b ut prob ably better chances for Black ] 29.c1 a6 [ This loses a tempo over the game continuation. Therefore Black should play 29...b5 , e.g. 30.c7 fa8 31.f4 2a7 32.c2 a2 33.e4 ] 30.c7 b5 31.f4 aa8 32.c1 f7 33.c4 b6 34.h2 e8 35.a4 d8 36.c5 e3 37.g3 xg4+ 38.hxg4 e5 39.c6 [ 39.g2!? b7 40.b4 e7 41.f1 ] 39...e7 [ 39...ef8 40.xe5 xg5 41.xg7 e3 42.g2 xg7 43.d5 with an interesting position without minor pieces W hite has the clearly better chances thanks to his safer king and extra pawn. ] 40.g2 ef8 41.b4 xg5 42.e6 d8 43.b5 [ Or 43.xe5!? e8 44.c7 xe6 45.xd8 ] 43...e8 44.c4 e7 45.f1 e6 46.xe6 xe6 47.fc1 b7 48.c8+ f7 49.1c7+ e7 50.c5 h5 51.gxh5 gxh5 52.8c6 e4 53.fxe4 [ White should let Black exchange the pawn and instead play 53.b6! , which offers White excellent winning chances ] 53...xe4 54.c7+ xc7 55.xc7+ g6 56.b6 [ White can also try to make life difficult for Black with 56.c2 e3 57.b6 b3 58.c7 , but d3 59.c6+ f7 60.exd3 d4 1605
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 61.f3 xb6 62.xb6 xd3+ results in the same endgame as in the game continuation, though in a slightly more passive position for Black in this line ] 56...e5! Black sacrifices his bishop to reach a theoretically drawn endgame 57.e7 xe2+ 58.f1 b2 59.xe5 xb6 60.xd4 W hile this endgame theoretically is an u n c o m p lic a t e d d ra w f o r B la ck, it ca n b e difficult to defend over the board. In the latest two issues of the American Chess Life magazine, Benko has vividly illustrated how strong grandmasters over and over again fail to draw this endgame. ½-½
W hite, he is a tempo down in a symmetric position! 13.b3 b4 14.e4 d8 15.f3 c2 16.b1 e5 17.g5 e8 White has cleverly played his way out of the worst of the trouble. 18.fc1 d4 19.d3?! A risky decision, the simple [ 19.xd4 exd4 20.f4 should be fine. ] 19...d7 20.e3 b5 21.d2 ad8 22.xd4 exd4 23.c5 The point of White's play, he wishes to establish the knight on the blockading square d3. a5 24.d3 c8 25.d1?! a4 26.dc1 b5 27.d1 White seems to be happy to repeat now, but Black decides to try for more. c4 28.b3 A f t e r t h is m o ve t h e c 3 -s qu a re b e c o m e s available for the black rooks. b5 29.f4? R e l e a s i n g t h e b l o c k a d e . d3! 30.d5 1601 A37 The d-pawn is untouchable, of course: [ 30.xd3? ed8 31.f1 c3 ] Bunzmann,Dimitrij 2596 Sutovsky,Emil 2587 30...d4!? 31.bc1 Perhaps greed was the Rubinstein Mem (6) 22.08.1999 right choice here, [ 31.xa5!? c2 32.d2 c6 is good for [Tony Kosten] Black, but perhaps tenable. ] 32.xc1 c6 Threatening to 1.c4 g6 2.c3 g7 3.g3 c5 4.g2 c6 31...xc1 5.f3 e6 6.d4 xd4 7.xd4 cxd4 8.b5 capture on d5, and then play ...Re2. 33.c4 b6 9.e3!? This obvious move had been b2 Black removes the d3-pawn's blockader. 34.xb2 considered weak. The normal move is [ 34.xd3 b5 ] [ 9.a4 see the archives. ] 9...e7! A sensible reply in the face of a 34...xb2 35.e3 f5! After this it becomes clear that White is lost. 36.d1 certain case of White preparation. [ 36.exf5?? xe3 37.fxe3 d2 ] [ 9...d5 is commonly considered to be the r e f u t a t i o n o f W h i t e ' s n i n t h m o v e , b u t 36...g7 37.f3 fxe4 38.fxe4 b5 39.c7 po ss ib ly wit ho ut f o un da tion , e. g. 10.0-0 Curiously, this move loses the rook, but [ 39.c1 wa s h a r d ly a n y b e t t e r , d4+ e7 ( 10...dxc4!? might be better, 11.xd4 40.h1 c6 winning the e-pawn, and d7 12.b3 although White has a strong clearing the e-file for the black rook. ] initiative.) 11.b3! 0-0 12.a3 e8 13.exd4 f5 14.c5 and White holds the advantage, 39...d4+ 40.h1 c6 Amongst the many threats are ...Bb6, and ...Be5. Krivokapic,R-Sibarevic,M/Yug ch 1991. ] 10.xd4 Obviously the point behind White's 0-1 ninth move, [ 10.0-0?! can be met by the awkward f5 ] 1602 A37 10...0-0 Chatalbashev,Boris 2526 [ 10...b4+ is very greedy, White will simply Costantini,Roberto 2314 play 11.d2 offering Black a choice of pawns. ] Reggio Emilia ITA (6) 05.01.2002 11.0-0 d5 Once more, eminently sound play [Nigel Davies] by Black. 12.cxd5 What else? [ 12.b3?! would be forcibly countered by 1.g3 c5 2.g2 c6 3.c4 g6 4.c3 g7 5.f3 e5 6.a3!? ge7 After this White has d8! ] 12...xd5 A simple glance at the position a promising gambit line. [ 6...a5 is Black's most popular choice here, shows that something has gone wrong for 1606
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 but that can mean that options such as playing for ...b7-b5 become for more difficult. ] 7.b4 cxb4 [ Black can also decline the pawn offer with 7...d6 but achieving b2-b4 so early must surely be a nice gain f or W hite. Indeed practical examples favour him, for example 8.b1 b8 ( 8...0-0 9.d3 b8 10.d2 b6 11.h4 d4 12.h5 b7 13.e3 xf3+ 14.xf3 f5 15.hxg6 hxg6 16.xb7 xb7 17.e4 was quite nice for White in Loginov, V (2550)-Doery, J (2340)/ Hungary 1995) 9.d3 e6 ( 9...b6 10.h4 h6 11.d2 e6 12.b5 d4 13.h2 d5 14.cxd5 xd5 15.h5 g5 16.e3 f5 17.0-0 fe7 18.xd5 xd5 19.e4 favoured White in Loginov, V (2525)Titz, H (2300)/Velden 1995) 10.g5 g4 11.h3 e6 12.g4 c8 13.bxc5 dxc5 14.ge4 f5 15.gxf5 gxf5 16.xc5 e4 17.d2 and Black had little compensation for his pawn in Loginov, V (2527)-Lavrik, D (2262)/St Petersburg 2005. ] [ A f a r m o r e ch a l le n g in g id e a i s 7...d5!? , f o r e xa m p le 8.bxc5 0-0 9.0-0 dxc4 10.b1 a5 11.d3 cxd3 12.exd3 g4 13.h3 d7 14.g5 h6 15.e3 c6 16.e2 f5 was fairly balanced at this st age in G eo rgie v, K (26 45 )-Jo ba va , B (2664)/Barcelona 2008. ] 8.axb4 xb4 9.a3 bc6 [ 9...ec6 10.0-0 0-0 11.b1 a5 12.d3 d6 13.d2 f5 14.d5 xd5 15.xd5+ h8 16.e3 a6 17.g2 gave White promising Benko Gambit style play for his pawn in Soppe, G (2408)-De Leo, A/Olavarria 2006. ] 10.b5 [ A n o t h e r p r o m i s i n g l i n e i s 10.g5 , for example 0-0 11.ge4 b6 12.d5 b8 13.d6 b7 14.ef6+ xf6 15.xf6+ g7 16.d5 was wonderful for White (and indeed led to a major upset) in Troyke, C (2360)-Chekhov, V (2535)/Dresden 1996. ] 10...0-0 11.d6 b6 [ 11...a6 12.c7 would win the Black queen. ] 12.b1 a5 13.0-0 [ Missing an even stronger line in 13.a1! b6 14.c7 b8 15.d5 xd5 16.cxd5 e4 17.b1 , when White is winning
material. ] 13...a6 14.a1 axb5 [ Or 14...b6 15.c7 a7 16.c5 b4 17.a4 b2 18.e1 threatens 19.Nd3 and is horrid for Black. ] 15.xa5 xa5 16.c7 [ Again missing a stronger line in 16.cxb5 xb5 17.g5 , for example h6 18.e4 b6 19.c3 a5 20.xc6 xc6 21.xf8 adds to W hite's growing collection of material. ] 16...bxc4 [ 16...b6!? was a better attempt to free Black's game. ] 17.xa5 xa5 18.a4 ec6 19.g5 b3 20.xc4 xd2 21.a2 xf1 22.xf7! Detonating Black's king position. W hite is winning now. xf7 23.d5 d8 24.a8 e6 25.xc8+ f8 26.xf1 b5 27.b8 b4 28.xe5 f5 29.e4 g7 30.f4 c7 31.d4+ h6 32.g8 g7 33.xb4 f8 34.d4 e8 35.e4 f6 36.xd7 g7 37.e5 b6 38.d8 b1+ 39.g2 c5 40.g5# 1-0
1603 Cuenca Jimenez,Jose Francisco Farago,Sandor FSIMC Augusta [John Watson]
A37 2350 2280 2005
1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.f3 e6 6.0-0 ge7 7.d4 cxd4 8.b5 Thus far as seen in the game GharamianH o u s i e a u x . f5 Housieaux played 8... 0-0, giving back the pawn. 9.g4 a6 10.a4 [ Hansen's analysis goes 10.gxf5 axb5 11.cxb5 e5 Then the only game I can find went 12.xd4 ( 12.xe5 xe5 'is fine for Black' Hansen.) 12...gxf5 13.a4 g6 14.a3 f4 ( 14...d5!= ) 15.e3 fxe3 16.xe3 with some advantage K Petrosian-Buturin, Belgorod 1989. No one mentions 10.Qa4, which looks like a clear improvement. ] 10...b8 [ 10...a5!? 11.gxf5 axb5 12.cxb5! ] [ 10...h6? 11.d6+ ( 11.g5 f6 12.xh6 xh6 13.d6+ f8 14.c5 ) 11...f8 ( 11...e7 12.a3 ) 12.g5 f6 13.xh6 1607
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xh6 14.c5 ] 11.gxf5 axb5 12.cxb5 a5 [ 12...e5 13.f4! ( 13.xd4! is easiest) 13...d6 14.a7 d7 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.xe5 xe5! 17.xe5 ( 17.g5 xg5 18.xb8+ e7 19.xb7 f4 20.fc1 d5 ) 17...dxe5 18.c5 f6 19.f4 exf4 20.d6 ] 13.xa5 Best, and clearest, although White can also try [ 13.c4!? e5 14.c5 xf3+ 15.xf3 with the idea d8 16.h6! xh6 17.e5 ] 13...xa5 14.fxe6 dxe6 15.f4 a8 16.ac1 [ 16.b4? c4 But now b4 is threatened, winning a piece. ] 16...d3?! [ 16...b6? 17.c7 0-0 18.e5+- ] [ 16...d7 17.b4 xb5 18.bxa5 0-0 19.c5! xe2 20.b1 a6 21.e5 ] 17.b4 dxe2 18.fe1 d7 19.bxa5 xb5 20.e5 The rest is easy. f6 21.d4 a6 22.g3 h6 23.c2 d8 24.xe2 d2 25.d1 xa5 26.xd8+ xd8 27.d4 e7 28.c7 b4 29.b6 d6 30.b3 e5 31.f1 xf1 32.xf1 a8 33.a5 e4 34.h3 a6 35.b2 e5 36.b3 e6 37.e2 g5 38.e3 f5 39.a4 d6 40.d4 h5 41.c4 g4 42.b5 a8 43.xb7 e5 44.c5+ d5 45.hxg4 fxg4 46.b1 c3 47.d1+ e5 48.c7+ f5 49.d5+ g6 50.xe4 g7 51.g5+ h6 52.f4 f8 53.f5+ g6 54.xf8 xf8 55.a5 f5 56.a6 1-0
8.d3 ge7 [ Black can attempt to get back to normal lines by 8...h6 , when 9.e1 a5 ( 9...ge7 10.b4!? ) 10.c2 ge7 11.e3 0-0 12.ed5 may favour White somewhat because he didn't have to take an extra tempo to play Rb1. But that would have to be proven. ] 9.b1 [ A test of Black's move order would be 9.g5 c8 ( 9...d7 10.ge4 with the double ideas of Nxd6+ (in collaboration with Nb5) and b4.; 9...f5!? ) 10.f4 h6 ( 10...f6 ) 11.f3 e6 ( 11...0-0 12.fxe5 dxe5 13.e3 b6 14.c1 with the idea h7 15.b4! cxb4 16.axb4 b7 17.b5 ) 12.fxe5 dxe5 13.e3 b6 14.b4 and White has the better prospects. ] 9...a5 10.d2 [ Again 10.g5 should be considered. ] [ I a l s o w o n d e r a b o u t t h e 10.d2 idea that I've given for Black in the last game (with colours reversed). Then 0-0 11.de4 h6 12.b5 c8 13.f4 f5 14.ec3 is more promising than what White normally gets in these positions. Some new ideas are needed against the Botvinnik. ] 10...0-0 [ 10...h6 ] 11.b5!? [ The last chance for 11.g5 ] 11...h6! 12.e1 d7 13.b4?! White plays to get to Black's potential weakness on b7, but he can't justify the loss of his d2 bishop and the centre at the same time. axb4 14.axb4 xb4 15.xb4 cxb4 16.c2 d5! 17.cxd5? 1604 A37 This leads to a tactical disaster for W hite Delchev,Aleksander 2628 because his knight gets trapped on b5. He Jakovenko,Dmitrij 2671 might have tried [ 17.e3!? dxc4 18.dxc4 , for example, 22nd ECU Club Cup (3) 10.10.2006 c6 19.xd7 xd7 20.fd1 , although [John Watson] Black still has a distinct advantage. ] H e r e w e h a v e a n o t h e r s u c c e s s i n t h e 17...xd5 18.xb4 xg2 19.xg2 d5 Botvinnik centre for Black, but with some 20.b1?! [ But 20.b2 a5 ( or 20...e4 21.b3 unusual opening move orders and W hite's fd8 ) 21.ca3 fa8 22.b3 a4! overambitious queenside play. 1.c4 c5 2.g3 is also bad. ] c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.f3 d6 6.0-0 21.b4 It's hard to find another e5 7.a3 e6!? Normally Black doesn't play 20...a2 this until he can secure the bishop's position move. xb4 22.xb4 c8 23.g1 [ 23.b3 (to get the knight back to c3) cc2 versus Ng5. The standard line is is extremely strong, with the idea 24.c3? [ 7...a5 8.d3 ge7 ] 1608
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c6+ ] [ Not much better is 23.d4 d5+ 24.g1 cc2 ] 23...a5 24.b3 [ 24.b1 c5 wins the knight. ] 24...f8 Black wins the exchange and the game is over. 25.b1 xb4 26.xb4 a6 27.a3 b5! 28.g2? [ Or 28.xb5? b6 ] [ or 28.b3 c5 29.c2 e6 ] 28...d5+ 29.f3 a2 The knight falls after all! 0-1
1605 Foisor,Cristina Adela B Calzetta Ruiz,Monica IEWCC Istanbul TUR (11) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2395 2253 14.06.2003
'Krugman' wrote on the Forum: "I just got the new book from John Watson and he talks a lot about this line, and he seems to like it, while Tony K doesn't seem to hold it in high esteem!" and then: "in the e-book Tony only mentions 8. Nb5 while Watson gives 8.Ne4! with good compensation for White!" So, time to have another look at it then! 1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 e6 5.f3 c6 6.d4!? It is true that this line is very enticing for W hite, if he can make it work! He gains exciting attacking chances in a rather dull line, bu t is it c o rre ct ? xd4 7.xd4 cxd4 8.e4!? The point of this move is to play Nd6+, as after the main move [ 8.b5 which we have considered in other games, such as Markowski-Macieja, but w h e r e a s h e r e b6 is a good move, defending d4 and controlling d6, after 8 Ne4 this would be impossible because of 9 c5. ] 8...e7!? This is not the strongest, Black allows his king to be displaced, and W hite regains his pawn. The critical line should be [ 8...d5 9.cxd5 ( 9.a4+ will transpose after 9 . . . K f 8 , b u t d7!? 10.xd7+!? is also possible, Lehtinen,H-Nemeth,Z/ Budapest HUN 2000) 9...exd5 10.a4+ this is the point, as if the knight had to move Black would be better, f8! ( 10...d7 11.d6+ f8 12.xd7 xd7 13.xb7
regains the pawn with the better structure) 11.c5 ( 11.a3+?! e7 12.d6 allows d3! 13.0-0 e5 14.b5 xa3 15.xa3 Chernin,A-Macieja,B/Budapest HUN 2000, and now dxe2 must favour Black) 11...e7 12.0-0 h6 Black has an extra pawn, but it is o n l y d o u b l e d , a n d h i s d e ve l o p m e n t i s awkward, 13.d2 ( 13.d1 g8 14.b3 d7 15.b4 a5! 16.e1 a4 stops White regaining the pawn, Pihlajasalo,ANevanlinna,R/FIN 1998; 13.e3!? is tempting, but then b6 14.d3 f5 and Black is doing well, Rosskothen,A-Kistella,R/Goch 1996) 13...g8 14.ac1 h7 Black has brought his kin g t o sa f et y, an d can t h in k a bo u t completing his development, Markowski, TMacieja,B/Warsaw POL 2002. ] [ 8...d6 is also playable : 9.a4+ e7 10.d2 aiming for b4, of course, ( 10.g5+!? f6 11.d2 should be similar, Fancsy, IHocevar,N/Balaton 1996, whilst; 10.c5!? d5 11.d6 f8! 12.0-0 e7 13.e4 dxe3 14.xe3 h6 15.ad1 offered just enough compensation for the pawn in McNab,CCh a n d ler, M/ B la ckp o ol 1 9 9 0) 10...a5 11.a3 f5! 12.g5+ f6 13.xf6+ xf6 14.xf6 xf6 15.0-0 b6 is not too clear, Schwartzman,G-Fedder,S/ Copenhagen 1990. ] [ Other moves that allow the knight into d6 are worse, e.g. 8...c7 9.c5 e7 ( 9...d5!? 10.cxd6 b6 ) 10.f4 a5+ 11.d2 c7 12.d6+ f8 13.c1 White has an important bind, Chernin,A-Parameswaran,T/ Bangalore 1981. ] 9.d6+ f8 10.xb7 The simplest move, although [ 10.b3! has its points, c6 11.0-0 b6 L a r s e n , S - H o r va t h , G / G yo r 1 9 9 0 , wh e n 12.f4 looks interesting, as if e5 13.d2 e7 14.a3 White threatens Bd5xf7. ] 10...c7! This new move makes more sense than [ 10...xb7 11.xb7 b8 although 12.g2 g8 13.0-0 h6 14.b3 d5 is almost level, Gurevich,D-Dlugy, M/New York 1989. ] 11.d6 b8 12.xc8 xc8 13.0-0!? White offers the c-pawn rather than defend it by [ 13.b3 when d5 14.cxd5 d3 is messy. ] 13...xc4 14.f4 c2 Exchanging queens 1609
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 makes sense. 15.c1 xd1 16.fxd1 f5 17.b7 xc1 18.xc1 e5 Black has two extra central pawns, and White's bishops and control of the c-file don't quite seem to offer sufficient compensation. 19.d2 f7 20.c7 e6 21.b4 b8 Black activates the rook, and finds that her king is also actively placed. 22.a3 f6?! Black misses the threat to the apawn, [ 22...a5! leaves her well in charge. ] 23.a6! b6 The best, it was impossible to defend a7 by [ 23...c6?? as 24.c4+ d5 25.xc6+ wins a piece. ] 24.xa7 Now White has two passed pawns, although they are a long way back for the moment. c6?! [ 24...c6! 25.c4+ d5 26.a6 xa6 27.xa6 e4 leaves everything to play for. ] 25.g2 d5?? A bad blunder, [ 25...c2 26.d3 c8 is still unclear. ] 26.b5! c2 [ 26...b6 27.e8 is also winning, as Bc5 will come next. ] 27.e8 The king will be mated in mid-board! d3 28.exd3?! [ 28.a6+ c6 29.xc6 seems somewhat s i m p l e r , a s m a t e i s o n c e a g a in o n t h e cards. ] 28...e4 29.a6+ e5 30.d4+ xd4 31.xf6 e3 32.xe7 xf2+ 33.h3 xb2 34.e6 xa2 35.g5 The three pawns are no match for two bishops. 1-0
17.c1 xb4 18.xd4 d3+ 19.exd3 xd4 20.c6+ [ As a comment upon Steenbecker's original a n a lysis, T o n y K o s t e n h a s o f f e re d t h e following line: 20.e2+ e7 21.e3 f6 22.c6+ d7 ( I (JW) think that 22...f8 is Black's best option, intending ...Kg7 and/ or ...b4, for example, 23.0-0 b4 24.fe1 g7 and in this position there's still plenty of play for both sides) 23.xd7+ xd7 24.0-0 and White seems to have the better position. I agree with Tony (although this isn't much), so 22...Kf8 should be looked at. ] 20...d7 21.e2+ e5 22.xd7+ [ 22.d4!? was discussed in Thiede-Cox in the January column, a game analysed by Steenbekkers. ] 22...xd7 23.d4 xd4 [ 23...f6 24.0-0!! xh6 25.fe1 ] [ 23...xh6 24.dxe5 h5! A) JW: 25.0-0 comes into consideration, but Black seems to maintain a balance, e. g., xe5 26.b2 ( 26.d2 e8! 27.c6 e6 28.c3 f6! 29.c8+ xc8 30.xc8+ d8= ) 26...e8 27.f4 b6+ 28.f2 e6 29.f5 gxf5 30.h8+ e7 31.h4+ f8 32.h8+ etc.; B) 25.d1 a5+ 26.f1 b4 27.f4 W hat do you think of this endgame??] ( JW: after 27.xd6+ e7 28.f4 b3! is equal, I think - with White's rook on h1 out of the attack White hasnothing. )] 24.g4+ e8 25.xd4 xh6 26.g7 h5 27.0-0 f5 28.fe1+ Steenbekkers also mentions [ 28.fd1 . Then play might go something 1606 A37 like A) or 28...e7 29.b2! ( 29.e1+ d7 Franz Steenbekkers Suggestion transposes to 28.Rfe1+; 29.a1 h8! ) Analysis 29...e5 30.c6 b6! 31.c2 ( 31.dxd6 Free Chess Server xd6 32.xd6 e1+ 33.g2 xd6 [John Watson] 34.xb5= ) 31...b4 32.f4 e6 33.dc1 b7; Franz Steenbekkers continues with his B) 28...d7! 29.b2 b4 ( 29...f6 question/analysis from the January Update. 30.a3 e8 31.xd6 ) 30.g4 f4= ] He is still trying to make Tony's Dynamic [ His other ideas are 28.c2 ] English line of the Symmetrical English work [ 28.h3 ] to White's advantage. 1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 [ and 28.a1 Play is similar in all these lines, 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.a3 a6 6.b1 b8 which I can't assess. Someone else may 7.b4 cxb4 8.axb4 b5 9.cxb5 axb5 10.f3 want to give this a try. ] e5 11.d4 exd4 12.d5 f6 13.g5 h6 14.xf6+ xf6 15.f4 d6 16.xh6 f5 28...d7 Steenbekkers: I don t see a win or a 1610
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 good plan for advantage for white do you see?? JW: The immediate concrete problems are ..Qh8 and ... Qf6, forcing the exchange of queens. This means that White doesn't have time to double rooks on a file, so he should try to harass Black with his queen first. Then there aren't any entry points, so his main chance is g4 at some point, to force Black's rook onto an exposed square. I don't know whether that can be done by force but it will put pressure on Black, for example, here are some lines that work for White: 29.b2! b4?! Not the only move at all. This forces the pace a bit and tries to demonstrate that White has no way of infiltrating except to try g4. Probably Black shouldn't allow a timely Qa4+, however. [ S o m e n i c e g e o m e t r y f o l l o w s 29...b6 30.g4! f4 31.e2! d8 (to cover e7) 32.a1 b7? ( 32...c4 33.a7+ c7 34.e3 bc8 35.b3! ) 33.h3 g5 ( 33...a4? 34.f3 ) 34.a7! xa7 35.xb5+ and White will win. ] [ O n e g o o d - l o o k i n g d e f e n c e i s 29...c8 30.a1 f6 31.a7+ c7 32.a2 d4! ] 30.g4! [ 30.c2 b6 31.a4+ b5 ] 30...a5 [ 30...f6 31.a1 a8 ( 31...e6 32.a7+ e8 33.xe6+ fxe6 34.c7 ) 32.d4 ] 31.c2 c8 32.e2 e8 [ 32...d8?? 33.f3 ] 33.f3 c5! 34.a1 f8 35.a7+ c7 36.xc7+ xc7 37.d5 etc.
1607 Fressinet,Laurent Yu,Yangyi Tromsoe ol (Men) 41st (10.3) [Kosten, Tony]
A37 2708 2668 12.08.2014
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 g6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 e6 6.d4!? A surprising choice for such an important game: France and China were vying for the gold medals in this match with o n l y o n e m o r e r o u n d t o p l a y . cxd4 The most popular. [ 6...xd4 7.xd4 cxd4 is the alternative, see the PGN Archive. ] 7.b5 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 This sensible move
"avoids the complications, accepting the isolated pawn. So far it's not clear White has any advantage but still there are some elite players trying to prove it" -Alex Fier in his October 2013 update. [ 8...a5+ is the mainline, see the Archive for some examples. ] 9.0-0 ge7 10.bxd4 [ 10.f4 0-0 11.c7 b8 12.b5 forces a repetition. ] 10...0-0 11.e3 e8 12.c1 As Alex said, this position "looks a bit more comfortable for White". It is important that the pressure on c6 restricts Black's options. [ 12.d2 i s s i m p l y c o u n t e r e d b y f5 13.xf5 xf5 when Black is fine, in fact he has scored rather heavily here, Stryjecki, M (2448) -Ulibin, M (2562)/Koszalin 1999. ] 12...f5 Best. [ 12...g4 13.h3 xf3 14.xf3 ( 14.xf3! ) 14...e5 15.b3 xf3+ 16.xf3 McNab, C (2406)-Guseinov, G (2513)/Bled 2002, 1-0 (44), d7 17.g2 c6 is equal. ] 13.xc6 The only decent try, creating hanging pawns. [ 13.xf5 xf5 looks nice and active for Black, A) 14.c5?! d4 15.xd4? xd4 16.xc6 ( 16.d5 xe3 ) 16...xe3 17.d6 e7 18.fxe3 xe3+ is a disaster for White, Nogueiras Santiago, J (2455)-Barbero, G (2305)/Thessaloniki 1984, but 1/2-1/2 (33).; B) 14.d2 d4 15.h6?! ( 15.f4 ) 15...f6 ( 15...h8 16.g5 Adianto, U (2615)-Gheorghiu, F (2455) /Biel 1998, 1-0 (45).; but what about 15...xe2! 16.xe2 xh6 when it is far from obvious how W hite counters the advance of the dpawn. ) 16.fe1 e4 is nothing, Schandorff, L (2535)-Nielsen, P (2515)/ Denmark 1998, 1/2-1/2 (23). ] 13...bxc6 14.d4 xd4 [ 14...a6 15.e1 xd4 16.xd4 xd4 17.xd4 xe2 18.xc6 c4 19.a1 a5! 20.h4 e1+ 21.xe1 xe1+ 22.h2 xa2 i s a l s o p l a ya b l e , M a l a k h o v , V ( 2 7 1 3 ) Bologan, V (2695)/Eilat 2012, 1/2-1/2 (42). ] 15.xd4 b6 So far this is all very natural, Black's bishops and activity compensate his inferior pawn structure. 16.e3?! A novelty, 1611
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 presumably Fress wanted to keep a slight but sure advantage without risk, but this move fails miserably. [ 16.xc6 is best, xb2 17.c2 f5 so far, so forced, A) 18.d2 is safe, xc6 ( 18...ac8 19.xa7 c5 20.b3 ) 19.xb2 e4 20.d2 with a small plus.; B) 18.xd5!? xc2 19.xc2 f6 20.c4 f8 21.e4 White has sufficient lightsquared compensation for the exchange, but no more. ( or 21.f4 b2 22.e4 ) 21...ac8 22.a4 g7 23.g2 c7 24.a5 xc6? ( 24...b2 can't possibly be worse for Black.) 25.xc6 xa5 26.b1 d4 27.b3 h8?! ( 27...c5 ) 28.b7 c5 29.xc5 xc5 30.xf7 xf2?? amazing! 31.xf2 g7 32.xa7 1-0 Malakhov, V (2709)-Maletin, P (2567)/Novosibirsk 2012 .] 16...xd4 [ 16...d7 17.a4 xd4 18.exd4 xb2 is also possible. ] 17.xd4 xd4 18.exd4 e2 [ 18...d7 19.fe1 xe1+ 20.xe1 f8 is also quite good for Black, despite the 'bad bishop', as he will play ...Rb8-b4. ] 19.b4!? [ 19.xc6 xb2 20.c5 e6 21.a4 d8 22.d1 is surely equal. ] 19...e6 [ 19...xa2?! 20.b5 ] 20.xc6 [ 20.a3 a2 21.xc6 xa3 22.c5 is slightly better than the game. ] 20...xa2 Funnily enough White's pawns are more exposed than Black's ... as his bishop defends the pawn on d5! Meanwhile d4 and b4 will need a rook to defend them, so White m u s t t a k e c a r e . 21.d6? Neither player distinguishes themselves in this rook endgame, but Laurent plays particularly badly, was it due to lack of time or the pressure of the situation? [ Better 21.c5 so that b8 22.b5 defends the b-pawn, b2 23.xd5 xd5 24.xd5 8xb5 25.xb5 xb5 26.a1 is a straightforward draw, of course. ] 21...b8 22.xd5 xd5 23.xd5 xb4 Now the situation is totally different as there are 4 rooks on the board but Black is more
active. 24.d8+ g7 25.d5 d2 26.d6 A i m i n g f o r c o u n t e rp la y, o b vi o u s ly if t h e f1-rook moves Black will double on the 2nd rank. h5 [ 26...bb2 was more accurate. ] 27.h4?! [ maybe now was the time to ditch the fpawn: 27.a1! bb2 28.a8! xf2 29.d7 g2+ 30.f1 and Black must take the perpetual, gf2+ 31.g1 ] 27...bb2 28.g2?! [ 28.d7 b7 29.a1 bxd7 30.xd7 xd7 is defendable. ] 28...a2 29.d7 [ 29.f3 a6 30.e3 axd6 31.xd6 xd6 32.a1 again. ] 29...ab2?! [ 29...f6 -e7 wins the d-pawn for nothing. ] 30.a1? Why do this when the f-pawn can be taken with check?? [ 30.g1! ] 30...xf2+ 31.g1 g2+ 32.h1? The final, decisive, mistake. [ 32.f1 bf2+ 33.e1 d2 34.xa7 is still not so clear. ] 32...h2+ 33.g1 bg2+ 34.f1 d2 The threat of mate gains a tempo. 35.g1 hg2+ 36.f1 xg3 37.e1 xd7 And China went on to win the Gold medal ... France finishing well down the list after a last round defeat to Russia. 0-1
1608 Gharamian,Tigran Housieaux,David 4th Open La Fere [John Watson]
A37 2410 2325 2005
1.f3 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 c5 4.0-0 [ 4.c4 c6 5.c3 e6 6.d4!? is a rich a nd e xc i t e m e n t - f i l l e d va r i a t i o n t h a t i s s t i l l unresolved after years of practice. The order in our game, with 0-0 and ...Nge7 included, has never been considered that dangerous for Black. On the other hand, a refutation doesn't exist and it bears further investigation. ] 4...c6 5.c4 e6 6.c3 ge7 7.d4!? As mentioned above, this sacrifice is more 1612
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 frequently played on the 6th move. One can argue that in a tactical situation the extra move ...Nge7 is worth more than 0-0. cxd4 [ A key line is 7...xd4 A) 8.e4!? is also unclear, e.g., 0-0 ( 8...d6 9.xd4 cxd4 10.g5 ) 9.xc5 ( 9.g5!? f6 10.e3 ef5 ) 9...xf3+ 10.xf3 d5 11.cxd5 xd5 Ruck-Adorjan B u d a p e s t 1 9 9 5 12.e4 b4 13.f4! with some kind of dynamic balance.; B) 8.xd4 This isn't in the books that I'm aware of, but it has been played a number of times and was analysed by Tony in the game Kretchetov-Lakdawala, Costa Mesa 2003: cxd4 ( 8...xd4? 9.b5 ) 9.b5 B1) Other moves are also interesting, for example, 9...b6!? 10.a4! intending d5 11.c5! d8 ( 11...xc5? 12.f4 e5 13.c1; 11...c6 12.b4 d7 13.xd4 ); B2) 9...f5 10.g4 ( 10.e4!? dxe3 11.xe3 0-0 12.xa7 xb2 13.b1 f6 Fiorito,F-Zarnicki,P/Boca 1997 and a s l o w m o v e l i k e 14.d2 would have o f f e re d s o m e co m p e n sa t io n f o r t h e pawn ) 10...a6 ( 10...h4!? 11.d6+ f8 12.b3!? xg2 13.xg2 h4 14.h3 was the Lakdawala game, with advantage for W hite) 11.a4 b8! 12.gxf5 axb5 N McDonald-Predojevic, Budapest 2003 13.xb5! intending gxf5 14.f4 a8 15.d6 ] 8.b5 0-0 Giving the pawn back for the sake of development. But this is rather accommodating and White comes out with a very small plus. [ 8...f5 is Cuenca Jimenez-Farago. ] 9.bxd4 d5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.e3 Firming up d4. W hite should have a small advantage here. e8 12.e1 [ 12.b3!? prevents the development of the c8 bishop and prepares Rf d1, so Black should act quickly: a5 13.b4 ec6 14.xc6 xc6 ( 14...bxc6 15.d4 ) 15.d2 d4 16.h6= ] 12...g4 13.b3 [ 13.c1 is more direct. ] 13...d7 14.c1 ac8 15.d2 f5 16.xf5 xf5 17.h6 f6 18.g5 [ 18.ed1 d4 19.b4 can also be tried, to drive Black's knight away from control of
d4. ] 18...g7 19.f4!? e4 20.h4?! xg2 21.xg2 d4 Black now exerts some pressure along his open files and diagonal. 22.e3 b5 Threatening ...Bc3. 23.d3 c3 24.c2 d4 25.f4 h6 26.h4 [ 26.e3 ed8 27.exd4 xd4 also leaves Black more active. ] 26...g4! 27.c1? Black also retains the advantage, but not such a decisive one, after [ 27.f3 h3 ] [ 27.e3 is bad due to dxe3 28.xe3 ed8 ] 27...xe2! 28.exe2 xe2+ 29.xe2 xc1+ 30.h2 d7 31.e4 c6 32.f4 c2 33.b8+ h7 34.xc2 xc2 35.xb7 xf2 36.d5 h5 37.h3 f1 38.h2 d3 39.f4 f2+ 40.g2 xg2+ 41.xg2 d4 0-1
1609 Ghasi,Ameet Palliser,Richard 4NCL: e2-e4 - White Rose (10.3) [Richard Palliser]
A37 2416 2461 06.05.2012
1.f3 c5 2.g3 As expected, although I wasn't too sure how Ameet would follow up, as he hadn't faced 1...c5 since making his comeback around about a year ago. [ A rare move which I neglected to cover in BUCO is 2.e3 and after c6 3.b5 ( 3.d4 d5 would lead to a Colle or Tarrasch) 3...d6!? 4.c4 ( 4.d4!? cxd4 5.exd4 a6 6.a4 b5 7.b3 f6 would quickly lead to o r i g i n a l p l a y) 4...e5 5.b3 ( 5.d4! must be the way to challenge Black's ambitious decision to aim for a Botvinnik setup after e4 6.d5 a6 7.a4 b5!? the position is messy, but likely in White's favour ) 5...ge7 6.b2 g6 7.0-0 g7 8.c3 0-0 White's bishop was a little misplaced (Bxc6, ...bxc6! gives Black control of the key d5-square), and Black enjoyed a comfortable position in S.Jones-R.Palliser, Huddersfield (rapid) 2012, played just a week before our main game. ] 2...c6 3.g2 e5 4.c4 [ This can, of course, be delayed until after 4.0-0 g6 5.d3 g7 , but taking play into a line of the English is the invariable choice 1613
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 of strong players when countering Black's Botvinnik formation. ] 4...g6 5.c3 g7 6.0-0 ge7 7.d3 0-0 Both sides develop along standard lines and now White thematically turns his attention to the queenside. 8.b1 d6 9.a3 a5 10.d2 [ Back in his 'first life', Ghasi had initially preferred 10.e1 and after e6 11.c2 ( 11.g5 f6 12.e3!? was the recommendation of a certain rather p o p u l a r wo r k o n t h e E n g l i s h O p e n i n g) 11...d5! 12.b3 ( rare, but 12.cxd5 xd5 13.e3 de7! has long been known to give Black a decent version of the Maroczy Bind) 12...f5!? ( 12...b6 followed by ...Qd7 and if Bg5, ...f6 would be a calmer, logical approach ) 13.g5 d6 (trying to keep White's knight from the pivotal d5-square, b u t t h i s i s r a t h e r a m b i t i o u s ) 14.e3 ( strong and so too might be the unstereotyped 14.e4!? ) 14...d4 15.b5 d7 16.d5! White had seized the initiative in Ghasi-Ianocichin, Heraklion 2002. ] 10...b8! [ An important prophylactic move Black wa n t s t o m e e t N d 5 wi t h . . . b 5 . Q u i t e a c o m m o n re a c t io n a t a l l le ve ls i s 10...h6 11.e1 e6 , but this is slow and White has definite chances to seize the initiative here, such as with 12.c2 ( or 12.d5 b8!? - Black hits on the right idea, just two moves too late - 13.c2 b5 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 with a pull f or W hite in Ghasi-Ganguly, British Championship, Edinburgh 2003, as it isn't so easy for Black to ease the tension here ) 12...d5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.e3 de7 15.a4! . ] 11.e1 White has nothing better than to send his knight on its favourite journey to the d5square, but in comparison with Ghasi-Ganguly, above, Black is clearly better off, having not spent a tempo on ...h6. e6 12.d5 [ White has no advantage here and really needs to look for an advantage earlier in my view. The alternative at this juncture is 12.c2 , but having not lost time on ... h6, Black is again well placed to meet this with d5 13.cxd5 xd5 . White might liquidate and open the queenside, but 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5 xd5 16.b4 ( improving over 16.e3?! e6 17.c1?! d4 18.e1
b3 19.c2 a4! 20.bd1 b5 21.c1 f5 , which saw B lack's initia tive sweep all before it in Teske-De Firmian, Hamburg 1993, as noted in BUCO - it's safe to say that White must pay more attention to the pawn breaks!) 16...axb4 17.axb4 cxb4 18.xb4 xb4 19.xb4 fc8 soon led to a draw in Paunovic-Cuenca Jimenez, Ro qu e t a s d e Ma r 2 0 1 2 if W h it e t ra d e s queens on b3, Black can invade on c2, but otherwise the second player should have enough counterplay, with ... Bf8-c5 one idea, aiming for ...e4 another. ] 12...b5 13.b3 [ Sensibly keeping it tight at the back, as in his game with Ianocichin. Instead 13.b4?! axb4 14.axb4 bxc4 15.dxc4 xb4 16.xb4 cxb4 17.xb4 c7 leaves c4 loose, ] [ and 13.xe7+ xe7 14.cxb5 xb5 15.b4 axb4 16.axb4 c4! also gives Black any advantage which is going. ] 13...h6 [ This little advance was inaccurate earlier, but now it makes sense to prepare ...f5, since 13...f5?! 14.g5! is not what Black wants to do White increases his hold on the d5-square while setting up potential good knight versus bad bishop scenarios. ] [ I was on my own by this point, but later discovered that the text was actually my recommendation in BUCO! In any event it makes sense to expand on the kingside, since Black can't really do anything on the other wing: for instance, 13...b4 14.axb4 axb4 15.xe7+ xe7 16.a1 and White is the side most likely to benefit from the open a-file. ] 14.c2 f5 15.f4! [ It makes sense to hold up Black's advances on the kingside, just as we often see Black doing when the position is reversed i. e. a Closed Sicilian is on the board. White has also tried 15.b4?! , but axb4 16.axb4 bxc4 17.dxc4 e4! cut out the bishop on g2, with advantage to Black in Gershon-Eljanov, Kharkov 2002. ] 15...exf4!? [ A double-edged decision. Black reduces the immediate pressure on his centre and hopes that W hite's king position will one 1614
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 day prove vulnerable, but in the meantime gra n t s W h it e a ce n t ra l m a jo rit y. I n t h e Closed Sicilian one sometimes sees the idea of Bf 2, f acilitating an exchange of knights, but here I wasn't convinced by 15...f7 16.fxe5! when dxe5 17.e4 leaves Black's queenside looking a little overextended. ] [ Consulting the database, one finds that on the few prior occasions this position was reached, Black often preferred another move I was considering, namely the semiu s e f u l , s e m i - w a i t i n g m o v e 15...h7!? . F o l l o w i n g 16.e1?! ( I wasn't too sure durin g th e gam e ab ou t th e p osit io na lly complex position arising from 16.e4 fxe4 17.xe4; and White might also follow suit with 16.h1!? ) 16...a4! the point of Black's play becomes clear White's pawn chain has been undermined. Espig-Borosova, Pardubice 2010, continued 17.bxa4 bxc4 18.dxc4 e4 (again we see this motif) 19.ce3 xd5! 20.xd5 ( or 20.cxd5 d4 with some initiative for the pawn) 20...xd5 21.cxd5 e7 22.b5 xd5 by when Black had regained her pawn and the experienced German Grandmaster was a little fortunate to later hold. ] 16.gxf4 f7 [ Creating the possibility after all of a timely exchange of knights. Flicking on a couple of engines, I can't help but be unimpressed with their suggestion of 16...e8 . Yes, rook to the open file, but Black is hardly attacking e2 here. Following 17.e4 b4 18.a4 d4 19.h1 xd5 20.cxd5 f7 Black is apparently 'better', but I would definitely take White here, despite the hole on d4 and the backward pawn on b3. The problem is finding a good plan for Black, solid though h e is , wh e re a s W h it e ca n t ry t o slo wl y advance on the kingside, perhaps beginning with 21.e1 . ] 17.h1 [ Ghasi decides to place his king on a safer square, while freeing up the possibility of attacking with a rook down the g-file one day. After 17.e4 fxe4 18.dxe4 I was hoping that t h e t h e m a t i c , u n d e r m i n i n g t h r u s t a4 w o u l d p r o v e s t r o n g , ( and had in reserve 18...bxc4 19.bxc4 xd5 20.cxd5 d4
when Black's light-squared bishop is misplaced, but W hite might prove to be overextended - compare the game. )] 17...bxc4! [ Another big decision, but the correct one I believe. Black needs to obtain some counterplay and the computer's suggestion of 17...xd5 18.cxd5 e7?! would not be the way to go. It may produce an assessment of '-0.21' (a hard term to fathom in any case in my view) , but just look at Black's minor pieces! White is undoubtedly somewhat for choice after 19.e4 . ] 18.bxc4! [ The logical and most challenging recapture. Instead 18.dxc4 xd5 19.cxd5 d4 20.xd4 ( 20.e3 e8 21.e1 b5! is also pretty pleasant for Black) 20...xd4 21.e3 f6 , while still quite solid for White, would have been quite comfortable for me. Black's king is quite safe and he can aim to combine pressure on the b-file with a timely advance of the a-pawn. ] 18...a4! The battle has sharpened and turned into a battle for outposts on the b-file. I move quickly to secure control of the b3 point. 19.c3 [ As an example of how the position can suddenly flare into life, just consider the line 19.c3 d7!? ( 19...xb1 20.xb1 a5 would be the simple approach) 20.xa4 xb1 21.xb1 b8 22.a2 a5 23.c3 d5! 24.cxd5 b3 with complications that might turn out to leave both members of W hite's royalty embarrassed. Ghasi first p re f e rs t o e xch a n ge o f f B la ck' s ra k in g bishop. ] 19...xd5 There was no going back by now having said 'A' and 'B', and started on the path of activity and counterplay, Black must say 'C'. 20.xg7 xg7 21.cxd5 a5 And so Black's knight is set to land on b3, but will it radiate inf luence there or prove misplaced as the centre opens up? I wasn't entirely sure during the game, but hoped that the possibilities of ...Nd2 and ...Nd4 would at least carry some nuisance value. 22.xb8 xb8 23.a1+ h7!? [ A provocation. Black's king can easily prove misplaced here should he go ...g6-g5 or the position open with e4 fxe4 Bxe4, but 1615
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 improves and leads to a rather unclear with my opponent beginning to run low on situation after 31.h3 g3 32.e1 ) 29.dxe4 time I wanted to avoid the potential early halt leaves White set to exploit the open kingside to proceedings which was available with lines. ] 23...g8 24.f6 ( of course, White too can [ I was also worried about White's active continue the struggle here, such as with i d e a s a f t e r 26...fxe4! 27.dxe4 e8! 24.g1 b3 25.c3 d8 26.e4 ) 24...e8 , but improving the bishop while hitting f4 25.e6+ f7 26.f6 . ] thus was likely correct. Then, for instance, if 24.b1 28.f1 ( 28.f5 gxf5 29.exf5 d7! 30.e3 [ This may only seem to help Black's queen g5 is at least OK for Black) 28...g5! 29.f5 and knight, but White no doubt wanted to f6 30.xf6 xf6 31.e3 b5 avoid 24.e4?! b3 when 25.e1 g8! and while all three results remain, Black is a neat retreat to leave White's structure must be slightly for choice thanks to his more of a weakness than a strength. ] current blockade. ] [ Of course, 24.f6? xd5 25.e7+ f7 27.f1! had to be avoided ] [ This strong prophylactic move came as a [ and 24.c3 b3! 25.xa5 xc2 26.c7 surprise, but since it didn't stop my intention xe2 27.xd6 was a line I was frantically I wasn't too unhappy... I had been expecting calculating. Indeed, I was a little scared 27.e3 h4 28.c4 when the calm d8 a b o u t t h e d - p a wn h e r e , b u t a f t e r g8! should hold Black's position together: for B l a c k ' s k in g si d e i s s e c u re a n d 28.xc5 example, 29.f1 d4 30.xd6!? xd6 xd3 should be good for him, since the d31.xc5 e2! 32.xd6 g3+ 33.g1 pawn is actually rather weak: if 29.d6?! d8 e2+ and it's perpetual check. ] .] [ However, White is undoubtedly a little 27...c4! [ This is nowhere near as strong as I hoped it worse in the game and while he may be might be during the game, but was in any already, perhaps he would have done better case esse ntial. Black must seize som e here with 24.g1!? b3 25.c3 d8 counterplay he would just be squashed after 26.e4 when the rook is at least more actively 27...e7? 28.e3 d4 29.c4 , and if placed than in the game. ] b7 30.a5! xa5 31.xa5 when White's 24...b3 25.c3 d8! central pawn mass should prove somewhat [ The position has various Benoni the more relevant. ] characteristics, so putting the queen in touch with the h4-square while preparing to 28.dxc4 [ Already down to his last five minutes, Ghasi halt e4-e5 due to ...dxe5 fxe5 Bxd5 felt right. plays the obvious capture, and perhaps he I wasn't convinced by 25...c7 26.e4 b8 hadn't seen the undermining thrust coming? , although I had missed the idea of 27.e5? Critical must be 28.exf5!? when best play ( 27.f6! does, however, look quite scary) might continue 27...d4! . ] A) during the game I was mainly looking at 26.e4 The battle really is hotting up. Will White 28...gxf5?! , although I didn't have time to have time to go Ne3-c4 and blow Black away wo rk o ut th e lin e 29.dxc4 ( somewhat in the centre, or can the second player grab stronger is the useful intermediate move enough counterplay and show that his 29.g1! ) 29...h4 before Ghasi moved restricted bishop isn't any worse than its Black has definite practical chances here, opposite number? e8?! a s s h o w n b y t h e t r a p 30.d4 f6! [ Played in preparation of my next, but this 31.d1? h5; re s t ri c t ive m o ve f e e ls wro n g, a n d wit h B) 28...cxd3 29.xd3 gxf5! ( Black can hindsight we can definitely say that it was. get away with this, although I suspect had M y i n i t i a l i n t e n t i o n h a d b e e n 26...h4 this position arisen I might have punted , but I suddenly became worried by 29...c5 30.fxg6+ xg6 31.c3 f5 27.e3!? xf4 28.c4 when fxe4? with some practical chances, such as after ( 28...d4 29.f1 g4 30.xd6 f4! 1616
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 32.e3 d3 , but objectively surely not e n o u g h c o m p e n s a t i o n) 30.h3 ( 30.xf5+? g6 wins the knight) 30...f6 31.xf5+ ( or 31.xf5+ xf5 32.xf5+ g7 and d5 falls) 31...h8 and White is not particularly well coordinated, allowing Black good counterplay with, say, 32.g4 c5 33.d1 e4 . ] 28...fxe4 29.e3 h4!? Probing. 30.b4?! [ The start of a bad plan, but White had li k e l y u n d e re st i m a t e d t h e f o r t h c o m i n g exc h a n ge o f qu e e n s. W it h lit t le t im e it wasn't easy to evaluate the consequences of 30.f5! b8 and then whether to trade or push, but this would have been more challenging to face. ] 30...c5 31.b6 d8! 32.xd8?! [ After 32.b2!? d3 33.d4 h4 34.a7 e7 35.xa4 b7 the initiative is undoubtedly with Black, although the mac hine f e els tha t W h ite can clin g on , beginning with 36.a8 . ] 32...xd8 33.b1 The position Ghasi must ha ve in it ia lly a sse sse d f a vo u ra b ly. Ye s, Black's knight is well placed, but his passed pawn is superbly blockaded and his rook and bishop inferior to their counterparts. Thankfully before whisking my queen back to d8, I had realised that Black had one main advantage, a favourite one of Bronstein at that - the move. g5! Breaking out. Suddenly White has to be careful that Black's king doesn't march across and take up a great post on e5. 34.fxg5 hxg5 35.b6 h5?! [ Time trouble begins to take its toll. C o n s i s t e n t w o u l d h a v e b e e n 35...g6 when the king is on its way and after 36.h3 f6 37.g4+ e7 38.e3 g6 39.f5 h5 White has some defending to do, and must avoid 40.g4? xg4 41.xg4 f8 with some initiative for Black. ] 36.h3! White seizes the chance to activate his long dormant bishop. g6! [ I s a w t h a t 36...g6 would keep things under control, but then spotted a way to activate my king and having spent most of my final couple of minutes on it, went for it! ] 37.f5 g4 The point of Black's play. He will lo s e d 6 , b u t h i s k in g wi ll a d va n c e wh i l e White's bishop is driven backwards. 38.xd6 g5 39.f1 g3! Jettisoning another pawn to
prevent White from placing his bishop on an effective square, e2. Almost from nowhere Black has seized a powerful initiative. 40.hxg3 e3 41.g4? [ Played after long thought. This rather smacks of panic, although it's possible that Ghasi couldn't fully believe in the strength of the following king march. I was somewhat more concerned with 41.g1! f8 42.b2! when White's defences are tight and I was surprised Ghasi didn't play this. Perhaps he d id n 't lik e f3 followed by ...Kg4, but after 43.h2 ( 43.e2 g4 44.xf3+ xf3 45.b5 is another idea, aiming to sacrifice the knight for the e-pawn, such as with b3 46.c3 d2 47.b7 xc4 48.b4 c8 49.xa4 when I doubt Black can win) 43...g4 44.b5 xg3 45.d4 White maintains a firm blockade of the e2square and I haven't been able to find a great continuation for Black, although he is most certainly not worse and still has some practical chances after g4 46.g2+ f4 47.e2+ xe2 48.xe2 e4 . ] 41...f8! Hitting the bishop and enabling Black to capture on g4 without losing the rook to a fork. 42.f5 xg4 43.xe3+ f3 The point of Black's play - his king wants to join in the mating attack! 44.c2 There were two alternatives: [ a) 44.g2 f2 costs White a piece and after 45.b2+ xf1 46.e3+ e1 Black should be able to win. ] [ b) 44.d1 g3 , and if 45.e3 f3 46.h6 g4! also costs White a piece. ] 44...f2 45.h3! Again, Ghasi finds the best defence... g4? [ ...and I falter, despite having plenty of time left. The text was actually played after some thought, but I should have looked deeper. Indeed, 45...h8! would have done the trick: 46.f6+ f3+ 47.h2 e4 and the threat of ...Nd2-f1 is decisive, which is I fear the point I missed. ] 46.h6! [ An d no t, o f co urse , 46.xg4?? h8+ followed by mate. ] 46...g3 47.g2 The only move, but a good one. Of course, the bishop was taboo due to mate on f1. e8 [ I wanted to control the e3-square, as well as 1617
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e2 and e1, and so avoided 47...b8 48.e3 . Here I don't think that Black is winning (and neither is he after the text!), although White would still have to defend with care after b3 49.f1+ f4 50.c6 d7 , with 51.c5 xa3 52.c7! being an active and good start. ] 48.g6 [ The obvious defence. White will return the exchange to buy his king some breathing space. A move which completely escaped my attention during the game was 48.f1!? , but this is pretty logical, keeping the rook out of e2. Following e4 ( if 48...f2 49.h3 ) 49.h2 g5 50.d6 f3 51.g2+ f4 52.xg4+! xg4 53.g2! White's king is safe and his extra pawns give him enough to draw. ] 48...d3! [ The best try. Ghasi had prepared to meet 48...e2 with the fiendish 49.f3! . After h2+ 50.g1 xc2 51.xg4 c1+ W hite has only one move, but it's a good one: 52.d1+ f4 53.f6+ e5 54.f1 xc4 and Black hasn't any winning chances. ] 49.d6 f4 50.xg4+! [ The only move. It doesn't take long to re a l is e t h a t 50.g7? f2 is completely hopeless for W hite: 51.h7 xg2 52.d7 d8 with an easy win. ] 50...xg4 51.c5?? [ After such a complicated endgame, Ghasi was again down to under two minutes (until move 60), and collapses. The right move was 51.c6! when after h8+ ( even here 51...e2? is well met by 52.f3+!; and if 51...d8 52.d7 White's d-pawn is secure and his king safe enough: for instance, g3 53.g1 e6 54.xa4 c5 55.c6 and Black hasn't really anything better than xd7 and a draw offer) 52.g1 g3 53.d7 ( 53.d4 f8 54.d7! should also do the trick ) 53...e6 ( or 53...f8!? when White h a s o n ly o n e m o ve , b u t i t ' s s u f f i c ie n t : 54.f1! ) 54.f1 c5 55.b4 it's hard to believe that Black has any winning chances whatsoever. ] 51...g3! Possibly White had underestimated this. The king returns to the fray and Black wins, even though White can force home one
of his pawns. 52.d7 d8 53.h3!? [ It's too late for 53.c6 on account of e2 followed by mate on the h-file, ] [ and 53.c6 e2 also decides. ] 53...xh3 54.c6 f8 [ 54...h8 55.c7 f2+ 56.g1 h1# would also have done the trick. ] 55.e3 f2! Black either mates on h2 or f1. 0-1
1610 Gonzalez Zamora,Juan Carlos Mekhitarian,Krikor Sevag American Continental [John Watson]
A37 2545 2215 2005
Black defeats his much higher-rated opponent. This takes a bit of luck, but the opening was classically played and reasonably good for him. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 d6 7.d3 ge7 Black's setup here has always been popular. Either White plays slowly and allows ...d5 or he has to face the dual ideas of ...b5 and ...f5. But we shall see in the next few games that he has his own resources. 8.a3 0-0 9.b1 a5 10.e1 A standard ea, shifting White's knight to c2 where it can hump to e3 or support b4. But other plans are also important, i.e., [ (a) 10.g5!? A) 10...h6 11.xe7! xe7 12.e1 ( or 12.b4; or 12.d2 ) 12...c6 13.c2 with b4 or Ne3-d5 next; B) 10...f6 11.e3!? , slowing down the ... d5 plan ( or 11.d2 e6 12.e1 The Be3 plan (Ulf Andersson's) is insufficiently tested but extremely interesting. )] [ (b) A recent game went 10.d2 b8 11.a4 b6 12.b5 d5 13.fd1 b7 14.b4 d4? ( 14...axb4 15.axb4 a8 16.b3 xb4 17.xb4 cxb4 18.xb4 and White may have the barest of advantages based upon his active piece play) 15.bxc5 bxc5 16.g5! (Threatening Ne4) c8 17.xc6 xc6 18.xa5 with a pawn more, Markowski-Kadziolka, Warsaw 2005. ] 10...e6 11.d5!? Else ...d5 follows. But that might not be so bad - see the next games. b8! Black threatens ...b5 to loosen White's 1618
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 grip on the centre. White proceeds according to plan: 12.c2 [ 12.d2 b5 13.c2 may transpose. ] 12...b5 13.b3 [ 13.ce3 f5 intends ..f4. ] 13...bxc4 [ Or 13...b4 14.axb4 ( 14.a4 d7= . I n f a c t , B l a c k m a y h a ve a ve ry s m a l l advantage!) 14...axb4 15.e3 with mutual chances. Later a-file control will be critical. ] 14.dxc4 f5!? [ 14...d4 is another try. Play might go 15.ce3 ec6 16.d2 f5 17.f4 ] 15.g5! h6 16.xe7 xe7 17.d2 e4 18.ce3 c6!? Either brilliant or an accident, probably the latter. Black seems to lose a pawn, but achieves surprising counterplay. Instead, one equaliser was [ 18...xd5 19.xd5 h7 ] 19.f4 f7 20.xg6!? xg6 21.d5+ h8 22.xc6 So White has won a pawn, owns the d - f i l e a n d d 5 . W h a t c o u l d b e e a s i e r ? f4 23.gxf4 [ 23.d5 f3 24.exf3 exf3 25.h3 xb1 ] 23...xf4 Suddenly Black has a ready-made a t t a c k b y . . . B e 5 , . . . Q h 4 e t c . 24.bd1?! Shaken, White allows this without resistance. Perhaps better was [ 24.d5 f8 ( 24...h4!? ) 25.e3 , threatening e4 and offering a repetition. ] 24...e5 25.d5?? But the alternatives are depressing, for example, [ 25.d2 e8! 26.d5 h4 27.h3 d7 ] [ 25.h3 h5 26.d2 g5 27.b4 bf8 , threatening ...Rxf2. ] 25...e8 26.a6 a8 The queen is trapped. 27.xd6 [ 27.b7 f7 ] 27...xd6 28.b7 b8 29.d5 f7 30.d2 e7 31.d1 e5 32.h3 e6 33.xa5 g8 34.b6 f6 35.b4 xh3 36.xc5 xc5 Okay, Black's attack was serendipitous, but his opening was sound and at least equal. 0-1
1611 Harika,Dronavalli Lahno,Kateryna Tashkent FIDE GP (Women) (7) [Fier, Alexandr]
A37 2475 2532 25.09.2013
6.d4 is an interesting sacrifice and is back in fashion lately. It has been extensively analyzed on Chess Publishing before, but still, it's always good to re-check what is going on in the variation. W hen I was analyzing this game 9.Qa4+ caught my attention and I think it could be a good surprise! 1.c4 g6 2.c3 c5 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c6 5.f3 e6 6.d4!? The most forcing move, since it's not so easy to defend the d6-square without opening the position. [ 6.d3 is the main line, and after ge7 7.h4 is not a surprise for anyone anymore, see Radjabov, T-Ivanchuk, V and Ipatov, ACmilyte, V in the PGN Archive. ] 6...xd4 [ 6...cxd4 is also possible and often played: 7.b5 d5 8.cxd5 A) 8...exd5 avoids the complications, accepting the isolated pawn. So far it's not clear W hite has any advantage but still there are some elite players trying to prove it, 9.0-0 ge7 was seen in the World Cup, ( 9...f6 10.bxd4 0-0 11.b3 e4 12.b2 enters a Tarrasch kind of position, as seen in Jianu, V (2550)- Volokitin, A (2688)/ROM-chT Mamaia 2013 (2.1).) 10.f4 ( 10.bxd4 0-0 11.e3 e8 12.c1 looks a bit more comfortable for White ) 10...0-0 11.c7 b8 12.b5 a8 13.d2 g4 and Black didn't have many problems in Kramnik, V (2784)Areshchenko, A (2709)/FIDE World Cup 2013 (3.1).; B) 8...a5+ this is more entertaining, but White has a lot of options B1) 9.d2!? opens the diagonal, xb5 10.dxc6 e7 11.a4 b6 ( 11...b4 12.b3!? this is the problem with the queen going to b4 xc6 13.a3 a5 14.0-0 and Black needs to be careful) 12.c4 b4+ 13.d2 xc4 14.cxb7 xb7 15.xb7 b8 and here both 16.c1 ( or 16.b3 are possible c5 17.c1 b6 18.e4 with an unclear 1619
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 position ) 16...a2 17.a6 xb2 18.b5+ xb5 19.axb5 xb5 20.b1!? ( 20.0-0 was Hracek, Z (2612)- Sutovsky, E (2685)/EU-Cup 28th Eilat 2012 (5.6).) 20...c6 21.0-0 0-0 22.b4; B2) 9.f1?! it will be hard to rearrange the pieces later, xb5 10.dxc6 xc6 I d o n ' t k n o w wh y t h i s m o v e wa s n ' t played before 11.xd4 ( 11.f4 e7 12.e5 a6 13.xd4 f6 14.c4 0-0 and W hite pieces are not well placed) 11...d7 12.e3 e7 is ok for Black.; B3) 9.d2 is the most played move, also the most solid xb5 10.dxc6 xc6 11.0-0 e7 12.xd4 b6 13.b3 0-0 a n d B l a c k wa s c l o s e t o e q u a l i t y i n Maletin, P (2527)- Gashimov, V (2658)/ Cappelle op 23rd 2007. ] 7.xd4 cxd4 8.e4 Going to the center with the knight leaves the a4-e8 diagonal open. On the other hand, it will take much more time to regain the d4-pawn. [ 8.b5 was played a lot of times but Black is holding well lately b6 9.e3 ( 9.a4 wa s an alyzed by T on y in Ma rkowski, T (2525)-Macieja, B (2490)/ch-POL (playoff), Warsaw POL 1998.) 9...e7 10.0-0 d5 11.xd4 0-0 and Black is fine, Hera, I (2558)-Solodovnichenko, Y (2555)/Bergamo op 12th 2013. ( 11...dxc4 is also tempting. )] 8...d5 Other moves suffer problems with the d6-square: [ 8...e7 9.d6+ f8 10.xb7 ( 10.b3!? c6 11.f4 can be tested too) 10...c7 11.d6 b8 12.xc8 xc8 13.0-0 with compensation, Foisor, C-Calzetta, M in the Archive. ] [ 8...d6 9.a4+ is annoying e7 ( 9...f8 10.a3 w i n s t h e p a w n) 10.c5 with an attack. ] [ 8...c7 9.c5 with Bf4 and Nd6 ideas, the queen is under fire, Markowski, T-Genov, P, again in the Archive. ] 9.cxd5 This is by far the main move and it's a correct one, but I have the feeling that Black has enough time to coordinate his pieces while White is busy recovering the pawn. In this game W hite couldn't generate any serious problems. [ 9.a4+!? this move looks like a strange version of the main line, but it's not without
poison! Without the exchange on d5 the efile is still closed and in some variations this makes a lot of difference: A) 9...d7 doesn't make much sense, 10.d6+ f8 ( 10...e7 11.b5 ) 11.a3 and Black's queen is not well placed.; B) 9...f8 10.a3+!? B1) 10...e7 11.cxd5 exd5 12.d6 and the knight on d6 is more active than on c5 h6 ( 12...b6 13.g5 Black is already under pressure) 13.0-0 f6 14.e4!? and White's activity is enough for a plus.; B2) 10...e7 11.d6 and here, without the e6-pawn, Black has the good resource 11...d3!. Now it's not possible B2a) 11...e5 12.f4!? exchanging the bishop so Black can't defend d4 anymore ( 12.c5 g7 13.0-0 followed by 14. f4 is also possible) 12...xf4 13.gxf4 g7 ( 13...dxc4 14.d1! and White is probably going to t a k e b o t h p a w n s w i t h p r e s s u r e .) 14.cxd5 exd5 15.xd5 with another unclear position.; B2b) 11...dxc4 12.g5 f6 ( 12...xg5 13.xc8+ e7 14.f4 f6 15.b6! d8 16.xc4 with compensation in a complicated position. ) 13.f4!? a hard move to make over the board! h6 ( 13...xg5 14.fxg5 and 15.0-0 is coming. Black is already lost here.) 14.xf6 xf6 15.d1 d3 16.exd3 c3!? 17.0-0 and Black still has problems finishing his development. ] 9...exd5 10.a4+ f8 11.c5 [ 11.a3+ e7 12.d6 is less attractive now, g4 13.f3 ( 13.0-0 e5 ) 13...d7 and Black is fine ] 11...f6 Played by Krasenkow, to quickly bring the king to g7. [ 11...e7 12.0-0 h6 to go with the king to h7 is the alternative. ] 12.b3 [ 12.f4 is possible, bringing the rook to c1 g7 13.c1 e7 but I feel that the position is close to equality ] 12...e7 13.h6+ g7 14.xg7+ [ 14.d2 was Ivanchuk's idea but it doesn't 1620
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 change the evaluation, f6 ( 14...b6 15.b4 g8= Ivanchuk, V-Krasenkow, M in the Archive. )] [ 14.f4?? would be nice if it was possible a5+-+ ] 14...xg7 15.0-0 Now Black is close to finishing development. White will take the d4pawn and the question is whether he has enough for any advantage. b6 16.ac1 d8 17.fd1 f6 18.f3 c6 19.xf6+ xf6 20.b3 Now the position is just equal. [ 20.b4!? was a try for a small advantage, a6 ( 20...xb4 21.xd4 c6 22.xd5 with some pressure on the queenside) 21.a3 and the queenside is more advanced. Still, it's not clear that White has anything. ] 20...e6 21.xd4 xd4 22.xd4 dc8 23.dd1 e7 24.f1 c6 White still tried for few moves, but nothing serious happened. 25.e1 ac8 26.d2 a5 27.a3 d6 28.xc6+ bxc6 29.c3 f5 30.b4 a8 31.b2 b8 32.c3 a8 33.b2 b8 34.c3 ½-½
1612 Heberla,B Juptner,J TCh-CZE Extraliga 2012-13 (2.6) [John Bartholomew]
A37 2536 2364 04.11.2012
Most players knows that Nf3-e1-c2-e3-d5 is a key m ane uver f o r W h ite in t he B otvin nik System. Shockingly, Black often sits back and allows this to happen! 1.c4 g6 2.c3 g7 3.g3 c5 4.g2 c6 5.f3 d6 6.0-0 e5 7.a3 a5 8.e1 A little test: can White sneak his knight in to d5 by dispensing with d2-d3? ge7?! As it transpires, he can! The text has been played by Gelfand, Polgar, Sokolov, and a number of other exceptional players, but it appears to be inaccurate. [ 8...e6! is correct, forcing White to take a time-out for d2-d3. After 9.d3 ge7 10.c2 Black gets in d5 , when 11.cxd5 xd5 12.e3 de7 is a stereotypical Botvinnik System where W hite has no guaranteed foothold in the center. ] 9.c2 e6 [ Let's see how our ChessPublishing.com
administrator handled W hite's position: 9...0-0 10.d3 b8 11.g5!? (interesting Tony doesn't seem to mind parting with his dark-square bishop) h6 12.xe7 xe7 13.b1 d7 14.b4 cxb4 15.axb4 b5 16.d2 bxc4 17.dxc4 c7? ( 17...axb4 18.xb4 ) 18.bxa5 xa5 19.xb8 xb8 20.xd6 f8 21.e4 a4 22.a1 1-0 Kosten, A (2535)-Sulypa, A (2400)/ France 1997 ] 10.e3 0-0 11.ed5 White's knight has reached its ideal square totally unopposed. This isn't a disaster for Black, but sooner or later he'll need to address the monster on d5. b8 12.d3 d7 Aiming purely for 13... Nxd5. Black has tried no fewer than 10 different moves in this position, so here's a sampling of the best alternatives: [ A recent game proceeded 12...h6 13.b1 d7 and now 14.e4 is similar to the game a t h a n d A f t e r ( mass exchanges result from 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 xd5 16.xd5 xb4 17.xb4 cxb4 18.xb4 though White retains risk-f ree pressure) 14...xd5 15.cxd5 d4 16.xd6?! ( preferable is 16.e3 f5 17.b4 ) 16...g4 17.f3 xf3 W hite erred wit h 18.exf3?! . ( 18.xf3 xd6 19.g2= ) 18...xd6 19.f4 fe8 20.h1 h5! 21.e1 a4 22.f2 d7 23.e3 exf4 24.xf4 b6 25.xd4 xd4 Tikkanen, H (2549)-Sachdev, T (2411)/Wijk aan Zee NED 2012 ] [ 12...d4 13.e3 ( I would prefer 13.g5 f6 14.xe7+ xe7 15.d2 ) 13...df5 14.b1 xd5 15.cxd5 d7 16.b4 b5 17.bxc5 dxc5 18.a4 b4 19.e4 c7 20.b2 d6 Flores, D (2611)-Bachmann, A (2551)/Asuncion PAR 2011 ] [ 12...f5 (again, preparing to capture on d5) 13.g5 f6 14.xe7+ xe7 15.d2 d7 16.b1 ( White should seriously consider a d v a n c i n g t h e b - p a w n a t o n c e : 16.b4 axb4?! 17.axb4 cxb4 18.b5 xb5 19.cxb5 ) 16...c6 17.e4!? ( 17.b4 xg2 18.xg2 axb4 19.axb4 b6 20.a4 ) 17...d7 Narman, G (2076)-Esen, B (2534)/ K e m e r T U R 2 0 1 2 . H e r e 18.b4 axb4 19.axb4 b6 20.b5 b7 21.e2 is a bit more promising for White. ] 13.e4 [ In Evdokimov, A (2544)-Sachdev, T (2417)/ 1621
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Philadelphia USA 2012 W hite played 13.g5 (this looks stronger to me than the t e x t ) a n d a f t e r f6 14.d2 xd5 each recapture has merit. Evdokimov chose 15.cxd5!? d4 16.e3 f5 ( 16...b5!? ) 17.b4 axb4 ( 17...b6 looks safer) 18.axb4 b6 19.b3 h6 20.a7 and the opening concluded in his favor. ] 13...e6 Returning to e6 is a little timid. [ Black should play 13...xd5 14.cxd5 d4 15.e3 f5 with a reasonable game. Compared to Evdokimov - Sachdev (above) White hasn't played Bc1-d2 and Black has refrained from the weakening move ...f7-f6, and these differences benefit Black. ( 15...b5!? 16.a4 f5 17.d2 c7 18.c4 e7 19.d4 )] 14.g5 xd5 [ 14...h6!? ] 15.cxd5 a7? This is clearly an undesirable square for the knight. [ 15...d4 16.b4 ] 16.b4! f5 17.d2 b5 18.bxa5 [ Possibly even stronger is 18.bxc5! dxc5 19.b3 , as d4 20.a2 xe2+?! 21.h1 is perilous for Black with threats of d5-d6(+) and Nd2-c4 (hitting e2) in store. ] 18...e4 19.dxe4! h6 20.xe7 xe7 21.c1 [ 21.b1!? c3 22.c2 xb1 23.xb1 ] 21...c3 22.e1 fxe4?! [ The computer thinks 22...bd8 is best, though I'd characterize that as a totally inhuman move! In addition to overprotecting d6, the idea is 23.c4 ( 23.exf5 xe2+ 24.h1 de8 ) 23...xe4 with a worse but tenable position. ] 23.c4 f6 24.e3 be8 [ 24...xd5 25.xe4 e7 26.d2 ] 25.xc3! Heralding the demolition of Black's position. [ 25.f3! is strong too. ] 25...xc3 26.xc3 xc3 27.xd6 a8 28.xe4 xa5 [ 28...g7 i s a l s o g r i m : 29.xc5 xa5 30.xb7 xa3 31.d1+- ] 29.xc5+- White has two connected passers, active pieces, and isn't even down material. The complete disorder in the Black ranks seals the deal. b5 30.b1 fb8 31.d7 d8 32.e5 c3 33.c6 f8 34.b3 e1 35.f4 g5 36.d6 g7 37.f1 a5 38.xb5
d8 39.d4 xa3 40.e6+ f7 41.xf8 Black resigned. Though innocent, I think 8... Nge7?! is a pretty poor choice of move orders for Black, after which he will have to deal with the knight landing on d5. It pays to be accurate, so choose 8...Be6! instead. 1-0
1613 Ipatov,Alexander Cmilyte,Viktorija Turkish Bank Chess League 2012 (3) [John Bartholomew]
A37 2581 2525 13.7.12
Recently crowned W orld Junior Champion Alexander Ipatov produces a wonderful game in the 7.h4!? line of the Pure Symmetrical. 1.c4 g6 2.g3 c5 3.g2 g7 4.c3 c6 5.f3 e6 6.d3 ge7 7.h4!? [ Normal is 7.0-0 , but the immediate d5 scores very well for Black. ] [ M a r i n ' s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o f 7.g5 in "GM Repertoire 5 - The English Opening vol. 3" bears many similarities to the text. ] 7...h6 8.d2 b6 9.a3 White goes about preparing b2-b4. [ A memorable game from the 2011 FIDE World Cup featured the piece sac 9.h5!? g5 10.xg5! hxg5 11.xg5 . Radjabov, T (2744)-Ivanchuk, V (2768)/ Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2011/[John Bartholomew]. Radjabov's concept probably wasn't fully sound, but it yield ed him a striking 2 8-move vic tory! Interested readers should definitely check the notes to this game, as I delve into a full discussion of the nuances surrounding 7. h4!?. ] 9...b7 10.0-0? 0-0? 11.b1 d5 [ Black has the usual choice between the text and the super-solid 11...d6 . I faced the latter in a game last fall: 12.b4 d7 13.e3 fd8 14.e2 ac8 15.fd1 e5= Bartholomew, J (2440)-Shahade, G (2449)/ Arlington USA 2011. It's quite hard for White to establish a clear advantage against 11... d6 , b ut in re tro sp e ct I pro ba bly s h ou ld have probed for something with 12.Qc1/13. Qc1. To me, Shahade's move (and ...d7-d6 in general) affords Black a greater margin for error than ...d7-d5, as he can develop 1622
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 calmly behind a wall of pawns before initiating a central clash. ] 12.c1! This tempo-gaining move is often crucial in lines where White has induced ...h7h6. White builds additional threats against the Black king, and a timely Rf1-d1 could be a difference-maker. h7 [ I think 12...h5! is preferable. The reason is revealed after 13.b4 cxb4 14.axb4 dxc4 15.dxc4 d4 16.xd4 xg2 17.xe6 . Compared to the note to Black's 15th, here Black isn't forced to immediately recapture on e6. Instead, d7! solves all of Black's pro b le m s , i. e . 18.xg2 ( not 18.xf8? h3! ) 18...xe6 19.c5 ac8! when Black has excellent counterplay because 20.cxb6?? axb6-+ is suicidal (Black's threats include ...Ne7-d5, ...Bg7xc3, and ... Qe6-c6+). ] 13.b4 cxb4 14.axb4 dxc4 15.dxc4 f5?! Black needs to take great care upon opening the center. Her position is slightly less coordinated than White's, and it's remarkable how fast Ipatov punishes this small mistake. [ 15...d4! is correct. After 16.xd4 xg2 17.xe6 fxe6 18.xg2 c8 19.b5 a6 20.a3 f5 Black has quite reasonable play for the pawn. ] 16.c5! The threat is now b4-b5 and c5-c6. bxc5?! Opening the b-file only creates more problems. 17.bxc5 a6 18.a3 c8 [ After 18...xc3 19.xa6 xd2 20.xc6 c8 21.b5 Black is very much in trouble. ] 19.fc1 White has built an impressive attacking position. d8?! 20.e4! d5 [ Black's last chance was 20...xe2 , i.e. 21.d6 a6 22.xa6 xa6 23.xf7 dc8 , but it's questionable whether this could even save her. ] 21.c3!!+Amazingly, Black is now totally busted!! A "middlegame zugzwang" sort of position has arisen where any Black move results in a decisive loss of material. I can't recall ever seeing a position quite like this, and one can only marvel at the unique set of c i r c u m s t a n c e s o n b o a r d . cd4 Black understandably tries something active. [ A few variations to convince you of Black's h e l p l e s s n e s s : 21...e5 22.fg5+ g8 23.xf7 xf7 24.d6+ xd6 25.cxd6+- ]
[ 21...xc3 22.xc3 (threatening 23.Nf6+) d8 23.f6+ h8 24.e1! guarding e2. Black is utterly helpless, i.e. b8 25.xb8 xb8 26.g4 g7 27.e3+- ] [ 21...xe2 22.xg7 xf3 ( 22...xg7 23.b2++- ) 23.xf3 xg7 24.d6+- ] [ 21...b8 22.xb8 xb8 23.xg7 xg7 24.b2+ f8 25.h8+ e7 26.f6+ f8 27.d6!+- ] 22.xd4 xd4 23.xd4 xd4 [ or 23...xd4 24.d6+- ] 24.e3 g7 25.d6 c6 26.xd5 exd5 27.b4! Ipatov is precise till the end. f8 28.a4 A beautiful game where Ipatov exploited his chances to the maximum. Black should seriously consider the solid option with 11...d6 if there's any doubt about opening the center. 1-0
1614 Isonzo,Davide Manik,Mikulas Mitropa Cup Leipzig GER (7) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2360 2410 09.05.2002
1.c4 g6 2.c3 g7 3.f3 c5 4.g3 c6 5.g2 e5 6.0-0 [ T h i s g a m e in d ic a t e s t h a t a qu i c k 6.a3 is more accurate, as W hite should force B l a c k t o p l a y a5! now, rather than allow Black to make-do without this. See Beliavsky, A-Ponomariov,R/Panormo GRE 2001 and the [A37] eBook. ] 6...ge7 7.d3 d6 8.g5 f6 9.d2 [ I think White should try 9.e3 here, as the pressure on c5 inhibits ...d5. ] 9...e6 10.a3 0-0! [ White is not threatening b4, as it would lose a pawn, so Black avoids 10...a5 when 11.e1 0-0 transposes to the game Beliavsky,A-Ponomariov,R/Panormo GRE 2 0 0 1 , wh i ch I h a ve e xa m i n e d i n s o m e depth. ] 11.b1 a5! Now Black plays this, when White h a s wa s t e d a n e xt ra m o ve ( a 3 a n d R b 1 instead of just a3). 12.e1 d5! White's loss of time proves costly, as Black can play this advance before White can stop it with Nd5. 13.cxd5 1623
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ W h i t e c a n a l w a y s t r y t o p l a y 13.b3 in Petrosian style, but Black has at least equalised. ] 13...xd5 14.b3!? [ This must be critical, otherwise Black has achieved a good Maroczy-style position for n o t h i n g , e . g . 14.c2 f5 15.e3 , Mozetic,D-Markovic,I/Herceg Novi YUG 2 0 0 1 , a n d n o w I w o u l d p l a y de7 keeping all the pieces on the board. ] 14...a4! [ 14...d4? allows White to grab three p ie c e s f o r t h e qu e e n : 15.xd5! xb3 16.xe6+ h8 17.xb3 with advantage. ] 15.xb7!? [ Into the lion's den! Capturing the other pawn by 15.xa4!? allows d4 16.d1 xe2+ 17.xe2 xa4 but White can obtain adequate play by 18.f4 , McNab,C-Ravi,L/ London ENG 2001. ] [ With 15.c4!? White goes for the c5-pawn: f4 16.xc5 d4!? ( Wow! The simple 16...xg2 17.xg2 d4 gives Black excellent play for the pawn) 17.gxf4 b3 18.e3 h6 19.f3 xf4 20.e4 xd2 21.bd1 xc3 22.bxc3 d6 23.d4 xa3 24.dxe5 e7 unclear, Schlinkert,K-Wenzel, R/ Germany 1988. ] 15...a5 16.b5 b3 17.c6?! Not a great innovation! [ 17.e3 allows Black to grab the exchange by xe3 18.fxe3 b8 19.xa4 d2 although White has two pawns, Matamoros Franco,C-Bellon Lopez,J/Havana CUB2001. ] [ The other alternative, 17.f3 can be met by d6! 18.e4 c7 with the threat of ... Rfb8. ] 17...d4 18.xc5? White was forced to part with his queen, but this is not the best way to do it, both [ 18.xe6+ xe6 19.xd5 d7 20.xa8 xa8 and ] [ 18.b7 b8 19.xd5 xb7 20.xb7 give W hite rough material equality: rook, piece and pawn for the queen, but Black is better in both cases. ] 18...a5 Winning the queen for a mere rook. 0-1
1615 Istratescu,Andrei Brunner,Nicolas SUI-chT Switzerland (4.4) [Kosten, Tony]
A37 2672 2449 15.06.2014
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 e5 4.g3 g6 5.a3 g7 6.b1 a5 7.g2 d6 8.0-0 ge7 9.e1 e6 10.d3 0-0 This is just about the key position in the Symmetrical Botvinnik, if both players play the most accurate moves. 11.g5 [ 11.c2 is by far the most common, but allows d5 12.cxd5 xd5 which we covered quite a bit, see McShane, L-Jones, G in the PGN Archive, for instance. ] [ 11.d5 is also pretty popular, but I like Black after this, see Gonzalez Zamora, JMekhitarian, K. ] 11...f6 12.e3 This manoeuvre is Ulf Andersson's idea, and "was the recommendation of a certain rather popular work on the English Opening" - Palliser. Yes, I liked this way of playing as it hinders ... d5 and keeps the d5 hole for the white pieces. b8 This thematic move is really popular here, moving the rook off the h1-a8 diagonal and preparing to answer Nd5 with ...b5, however it is not the best by any means. [ 12...d7 is my favourite, keeping the rook on the a-file, and answering 13.c2 with a4! 14.b3 axb3 15.xb3 and now Black has a choice : fb8 was the original game Andersson, U (2635) -Seirawan, Y (2600)/ Linares 1983. ( 15...a7 is John Watson's preference.; 15...ab8 see Johannesson, IKosten, A in the PGN Archive. )] [ 12...b6 is also good, threatening ...d5, but allowing the interesting 13.b4!? i.e. axb4 14.axb4 xb4!? 15.xa8 xa8 with compensation for the exchange, G e o r g i e v, V ( 2 5 6 3 ) - E l j a n o v, P ( 2 5 9 6 ) Geneve 2004, 1/2-1/2 (27). ] 13.c2 So this is the problem, White threatens b4 and Black can react with neither ...a4 or ...d5, so must go on the defensive. d7 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 cxb4?! In my opinion this is a positional error, Black opens the b-file for White which leaves his b7pawn backward and exposed. [ 15...b6 h a s t o b e b e st , wh e n 16.d5 1624
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 16.c1!? is interesting, planning e3 and b5, or b5 and Ne3-d5, while answering d5 with 17.a3 ) 16...d4 ( 16...h3?? 17.b5 xg2 18.bxc6 h3 19.xe7+ f7 20.d5 is a rout, Caputi, N (2005)-Delfino, L (2119) Valenzano 2006, 1-0 (38).) 17.xe7+ xe7 Byron, A (2192)-Palliser, R (2445) England 2010, 1/2-1/2 (42), 18.xd4!? exd4 19.e3 dxe3 20.xe3 is strong, aiming for a good knight v worse bishop after Bd5. ] 16.xb4 xb4 17.xb4 d5 This freeing mo ve is t h e p oin t o f B la ck's p la y. 18.c5 Aiming for more than [ 18.cxd5 xd5 19.xd5 xd5 20.xd5+ xd5 21.b3 xb3 22.xb3 f5 23.fb1 f7 when Black will have to suffer, but might be able to hold. ] [ 18.a4! is also tempting, heading for c5 with the knight instead, f7 19.b6 d6 20.b5 dxc4 21.c5 is the tactical point. ] 18...fd8 [ 18...dxc4 19.dxc4 fd8 20.xd7 xd7 21.fb1 wins material. ] [ 18...d4 19.a4! is equally unpleasant. ] 19.xe7 White is happy with a clear strategic plus. [ 19.b1! (or 19 Qb3) dxc4 20.dxc4 c6 21.d1 was more ambitious. ] 19...xe7 20.b3 There is no time to capture on d 5 a s b 4 is h a n gin g. dxc4 21.dxc4 W hit e's plan is t o e xch ange light square bishops with Bd5, put his knight on d5 and triple on the b-file. h8 22.d5 h3!? Keeping the bishop pair on the board. It is difficult to imagine Black being able to make a draw following [ 22...f5 23.b1 e4 24.xe6 xe6 25.d5 c6 even though he is not losing material immediately. ] 23.b1 f5 24.xb7 [ 24.b5!? e4 25.xb7 keeps more tension. ] 24...xb7 25.xb7 a3?! [ 25...xb7 26.xb7 e4 27.a4 f8 would at least force White to work a bit to win. ] 26.b5 c5?! [ 26...f8 ] 27.c7 Now Ne6 is a powerful threat. f4 28.e6! W i n n i n g m o r e m a t e r i a l . fxg3
29.hxg3 f8 30.e3 1-0
1616 Ivanchuk,Vassily Krasenkow,Michal TCh-Honor Gp1 (4) [Nigel Davies]
A37 2734 2635 09.09.2006
1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 c6 5.f3 e6 6.d4!? A sharp attempt to exploit the dark squares Black weakened with his 5... e6. It has been covered in earlier Chesspublishing.com updates xd4 7.xd4 cxd4 8.e4 [ Deviating from the more popular 8.b5 and Ivanchuk's patronage deserves our attention. ] 8...d5 [ Other possibilities here are 8...c7!? ] [ 8...e7 ] [ and 8...d6 which were well covered by Tony Kosten in an earlier update. ] 9.cxd5 exd5 10.a4+ f8 [ 10...d7 11.d6+ f8 12.xd7 xd7 13.xb7 regains the pawn with advantage. ] 11.c5 [ 11.a3+?! e7 12.d6 is met by d3! 13.0-0 e5 14.b5 xa3 15.xa3 as in Chernin, A-Macieja, B/Budapest HUN 2000 when dxe2 favours Black. ] 11...f6 Preparing to regroup his king to g7. [ 11...e7 12.0-0 h6 13.d2 g8 14.ac1 gave White compensation for the pawn in Markowski, T (2538)-Macieja, B (2584)/ Warsaw 2002. ] 12.b3 Targeting the d5 pawn like this is new in this particular position. [ 12.0-0 g7 13.f4 g5 14.d2 e7 was much more comfortable for Black than this in Franciskovic, B (2260) -Pogorelov, R (2451)/Budva 2009. ] 12...e7 13.h6+ [ 13.xb7? c7 leaves the knight on b7 trapped. ] 13...g7 14.d2 [ Here too 14.xb7 c7 traps the knight on b7 and after 15.c1 xb7 16.xb7 xb7 17.xg7+ xg7 18.c7 there would follow a6 19.xe7 he8 20.xe8 xe8 21.f3 1625
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xe2 22.xe2 d3 etc. ] 14...b6 15.b4 [ 15.c1 looks like an interesting alternative and might be seen in some future game in this line. ] 15...g8 16.d3 f5! 17.xe7 e8 18.a3 [ White may well have been tempted by the line 18.xb6!? axb6 19.f4 xe7 20.xd5 e6 21.d2 with what may well be a small edge. ] 18...xd3 19.xd3 xe7 20.0-0 xb2 21.xd5 xe2 [ And not 21...xe2?? because of 22.ab1 c2 23.xf7+ xf7 24.xb7+ g8 25.f3 with a winning attack. After the text Black is 'better' but there's no way he's going to win the opposite colour bishop ending against Ivanchuk. ] 22.xe2 xe2 23.ae1 xe1 24.xe1 f6 25.e8+ g7 26.xh8 xh8 27.xb7 d3 28.f1 c3 29.a6 d2 30.e2 g7 31.c4 g5 32.g4 f6 33.b3 f8 34.f4 e7 35.fxg5 fxg5 36.c2 h6 37.h3 d6 38.d3 a5 39.d4 c6 40.a4+ d6 41.b3 c6 ½-½
Shushpanov, V (2385)/St Petersburg 1996. ] 10.a3 b7 11.c1 [ It's always worth noting the praxis of Bent Larsen in this line as he had a great understanding of the positions. 11.b1 d5 12.cxd5 xd5 13.c1 h7 14.b4 d4 15.xd4 cxd4 16.xd5 c8 17.b2 xd5 18.xd5 xd5 19.fc1 h5 20.c2 d7 21.bc1 b5 22.f3 fe8 23.g2 g8 was Larsen, B (2550)-Chandler, M (2585)/ London 1990, though on this occasion the maestro only managed a draw. ] 11...h7 12.b4 cxb4 13.axb4 d5 14.b1 dxc4 15.dxc4 c8 [ 15...a5 might be a better move, though White is better after 16.b5 b4 17.g5+ hxg5 18.xb7 b8 19.g2 . This, no doubt, is why Black chose to defend his bishop on b7, but now he has other problems. ] 16.e4 c7 17.c5 d8 [ Although it would surrender the bishop pair 17...bxc5 18.xc5 a6 would have been a more solid option. ] 18.f4 e5 19.xe5! g5 Shock sets in and Black tries to bluster his way out. [ After 19...xe5 there follows 20.f6+ g7 21.xh6+ xf6 22.g5+ e6 23.xf8 xg2 24.xg2 with a material advantage for White and precariously placed Black king. 1617 A37 But this would have been a better chance. ] Jobava,Baadur 2669 20.g6! gxf4 21.xf8+ xf8 22.c6! c8? [ 22...xc6 23.b5 was the best chance, but Pogorelov,Ruslan 2451 hardly great for Black. ] 10th EICC Budva MNE (1) 06.03.2009 23.f6+ g6 24.e8 e5 25.d1 f5? [Nigel Davies] [ 25...e6 was a better chance, but Black is still lost. ] 1.c4 c5 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c6 26.c7 e6 27.xa8 xb1 28.xb1+ f5 5.f3 e6 6.0-0 [ A much quieter approach than the explosive 29.a1 xa1 30.xa1 a5 31.bxa5 bxa5 32.xa5 6.d4 . White wants to play a chess game. ] 6...ge7 7.d3 0-0 8.g5 Recommended by 1-0 Marin. h6 9.d2 b6 [ After 9...d5 White should probably play A37 10.a3 b6 11.b1 b7 12.b4 , for example 1618 dxc4 13.dxc4 cxb4 14.axb4 c8 15.c1 Johannesson,I 2337 ( 15.c5 bxc5 16.bxc5 a5 17.b5 xf3 Kosten,Anthony C 2498 is only equal, Gulko, B-Dlugy, M/USA (ch) 4NCL 2011-12 (8.26) 01.04.2012 1991, 1/2-1/2 (22).) 15...f5 16.c5 bxc5 [Tony Kosten] 17.bxc5 a8 18.d1 e7 19.b5 fd8 20.a3 a6 21.xa6 xc5 22.dc1 f8 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 Curiously the 23.e4 was nominally better for White but day before I was preparing to play this line as alrea dy drawish in Makarov, M (2 56 0)- White, but my opponent preferred something 1626
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 else, and it seemed a shame to waste my opening prep, so I thought I might as well play the black side! 4.g3 g6 5.a3 g7 6.b1 a5 7.g2 ge7 8.0-0 d6 9.d3 0-0 10.e1 e6 11.g5 f6 12.e3 Well, I was certainly s u r p r i s e d t o s e e t h i s l i n e , a s i t wa s m y recommendation for White in 'The Dynamic English'! I wrote: "This is an interesting idea of Andersson's, by putting pressure on the c5 pawn, White forces Black to play ...b6 before he can play ...d5, and this offers White extra options." d7 13.c2 a4 14.b3 axb3 15.xb3 Here the line finished in the book: "White has pressure on b7 and will later play B d 2 a n d N e 3 - d 5 , A n d e r s s o n - S e i r a wa n , Linares 1986." At the time I wrote the book this line had only been tried once, but since then it has become quite popular, although W hite hasn't scored very well at all! ab8 Black has a big choice of ways to protect b7, I prefer to keep my king's rook on the f-file. Others: [ 15...fb8 keeps the queen's rook on the afile, although I'm not convinced that the a3pawn is that weak: 16.b1 A) 16...a7 is similar, 17.b2 ( 17.f4!? f5 18.f2? Marin, I (2261)-Baciu, A (2165)/ Eforie Nord 2009, when exf4 would be awkward, as 19.gxf4 a5 wins material Black actually saw this idea several moves later! ) 17...d4! 18.xd4 exd4 19.e4 c8 to play ...b6, Maletin, P (2429)Khismatullin, D (2534)/Samara 2004.; B) 16...h5!? 17.e4 Donaldson, JBraylovsky, G/ICC INT 2005.; C) 16...a6 C1) 17.d5 xd5 18.cxd5 a7?! to play ...b5, but the knight is never going to be a good piece here. ( 18...d4 ) 19.c1 a5 20.d2 a4 21.e3 b5 22.d1 a6 23.c3 ab6 24.c1 Van der Elburg, F (2269)-Ulibin, M (2521)/Hoogeveen 2008.; C2) 17.b6 c7 18.b2 b6 19.d2 d8 20.a4 f5 21.e3 b4 22.xb4! cxb4 23.xb4 with plenty of compensation for the exchange in the original game Andersson, U (2635) Seirawan, Y (2600)/Linares 1983. ] [ 15...a7 keeps the a-rook on the a-file and p r o t e c t s b 7 , 16.b5 ( 16.b1 b8
transposes to 16...Ra7 above.) 16...d4 17.b6 b8 18.a4 d8 19.b1 d5 20.a3 b6 21.cxd5 xd5 22.xd5 xd5 23.xd5+ xd5 24.xd4 cxd4 25.c4 b5 1/2-1/2 Donaldson, J (2396) -Lazarev, V (2478)/Stratton Mountain 2000, although 26.e4! dxe3 27.xe3 d7 28.b3+ h8 29.axb5 ab7 30.b6 xb6 31.xb6 xb6 32.xb6 can only favour White. ] 16.b1 Normal, White plans tripling on the bfile, but [ 16.d2 is also perfectly natural, d4 17.b6 d5 18.cxd5 ( 18.fb1 pins the d5pawn, as dxc4 19.e4 i s a w k w a r d .) 18...xd5 19.xd5 xd5 20.xd5+ xd5 21.fb1 f5 22.xd4 exd4! ( 22...cxd4?! 23.b4 ) 23.f4 ( 23.a4! and Na3-c4 must b e c o r r e c t .) 23...be8 fairly equal, Larochelle, M-Roussel Roozmon, T (2434)/ Montreal 2004. ] 16...d4 A typical move - I remember JeanLuc Chabanon playing it against me in a similar position once, but new here, although it was mentioned by John W atson in an old update. [ 16...h6 prepares ...f5, but might not be necessary, 17.b6 ( 17.b2 f5 18.b1 e4! is the point of Black's play, opening the lo ng diago na l, 19.d2 Pham Le Thao, N (2314)-Chan W e Xuan, T (2344)/Ho Chi M i n h C i t y 2 0 0 9 , d5! with a clear advantage.) 17...f5 18.d5 1/2-1/2 Maletin, P (2516)-Safin, S (2445)/ Nizhnij Tagil 2005, which is in the PGN Archive, f4 19.d2 g4 with kingside play. ] [ 16...f5!? if this is possible immediately it might be best, 17.g5 ( 17.b2 e4 ) A) 17...e4! l o o k s s t r o n g , 18.xe7 ( 18.dxe4?! xc4 ) 18...xe7 19.d5 xd5 20.cxd5 a5 21.b5 exd3 22.exd3 c7 and Black has the better bishop.; B) 17...c8 Black is worried about Bxe7, but 18.d5 ( 18.d2 is more circumspect.) 18...f4 19.gxf4 h6 forcing 20.f5 when Black has a choice of interesting recaptures on f5, Dannevig, O (2356)-Ekeberg, C (2066)/Bergen 2000. ] 17.xd4 exd4 18.d5!? [ I had expected 18.e4 h8! the king l e a v e s t h e a 7 - g 8 d i a g o n a l . ( 18...h6?! 1627
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 also prepares ...f5, but 19.b6! is strong, the point being that c8 20.xd6! xd6 21.xc5 e7 22.xe6 is crushing.; 18...h6?! weakens f6, 19.b6! again, and now c6 20.xf6+! xf6 21.xc6 is the problem.) 19.b2 h6!? threatening ...f5. ] 18...xd5 [ I thought long and hard about 18...xd5 19.cxd5 b5 , which was definitely the line I wanted to play as the backward b-pawn is now anything but a liability. The reason I didn't was simply that I couldn't see any perspective f or my knight whatsoever where will it go? ] 19.cxd5 f7 20.b6 To st o p . . . b 5 . f5 Opening the g7-bishop's diagonal and r e m i n d i n g W h i t e o f t h e k i n g s i d e . 21.e3! This move had to be played, otherwise where is the c2 knight going? fc8! Daring White to open the c-file. [ 21...dxe3 22.xe3 and the knight will land on c4. ] 22.exd4 c4!? [ My first idea was 22...cxd4 intending ...Rc3, the problem is that after 23.b4! c3 24.xd4 xd4 25.xd4 xa3 play is equal, the b-pawn will never be able to advance. ] 23.dxc4 xc4 24.b3 c7 25.b4 f4! Definitely the right move, Black combines play on the c-file with play on the kingside. 26.gxf4 f5 27.e3 xf4 28.d1 g5! The second point of ...f4, the light-squared bishop must be a c t i va t e d ! 29.c4 A good move, by now my opponent was beginning to get very short of time - there is no increment in the 4NCL, so t i m e s c r a m b l e s a r e s t i l l p o s s i b l e ! e7 30.dc1 be8 [ 30...f8!? ] 31.d1! Intending to calm Black's kingside aspirations by swapping queens on f3. g6 After some thought, Black clearly has more than enough compensation for a pawn, but h o w t o w i n ? 32.f3 xd4 I couldn't see anything better, so I decided to go into an equal ending - it is always better to be on the safe side in team matches. [ 32...f8 33.xf4 gxf4 34.c2 f6 might offer more, but 35.e1 fe8 36.f3 keeps everything together. ] 33.xf4 Forced. gxf4 34.xd4 fxe3 35.fxe3
xe3 Black has a nominal advantage as he h a s d o u b le d ro o ks o n t h e e -f ile a n d t h e slightly superior bishop, but this must be drawn, of course. 36.b4 8e7 37.b6 d7 38.a4 g7 We shouldn't forget to use the king in the endgame! 39.a5 a3 40.a6?! Actually, Black wasn't even really threatening the a-pawn, e.g. [ 40.f1 xa5 41.h3 f7 42.xd6 ] 40...bxa6 Keeping more pieces on the board. [ 40...xa6 41.xa6 bxa6 42.c6 a7 43.xd6 a5 didn't look very promising to me, 44.f1 a4 45.c4 a3 46.a2 but h5 47.c6 e7 48.c2 f6 would leave White with some problems to solve. ] 41.f1 f6!? 42.xa6 xa6 43.xa6 e4 44.f2 e5 Rounding up the d5-pawn. Naturally I didn't really expect to win this, but didn't see any immediate reason to offer a draw, either. 45.e2 xd5 46.g1 e4?! Sloppy. [ 46...a7! kept some advantage. ] 47.e3 d5 48.d3! With the exchange of b i s h o p s t h e d r a w g e t s e v e r c l o s e r . d4+ 49.d2 a7! Finally the right move, and with a little trick, too! 50.xe4 [ 50.e1?? loses to a2+ 51.d1 a1+ ] 50...xe4 51.g4+ d5 52.h4 c4 53.h6?! Needlessly complicating. [ I was expecting 53.h3 cutting the king with the classic Philidor draw (albeit with an extra pawn each). ] 53...a2+ 54.c1? White had to find [ 54.e1! c3 55.xh7 a1+ 56.f2 d3 57.c7+ d2 58.h4 and the h-pawn saves White. ] 54...c3! The threat of mate stops White taking the h-pawn. 55.b1 [ 55.c6+ d3 56.h6 is no better, but would at least force me to find some good moves: a1+ ( or 56...g2 57.xh7 g1+ 58.b2 d2 59.h4 g6!! 60.h5 b6+ 61.a3 d3 62.h6 e6! 63.h8 e2 64.h7 e7 and wins. ) 57.b2 a7 58.c1 f7! 59.h4 f1+ 60.b2 e2 61.xh7 d3 62.e7+ d1 63.h5 h1 64.e5 d2 65.b1 e1 and White can resign. ] 55...a7 56.c6+ d2 57.c2+ e3 58.g2 d3 59.g3+ d2 60.g2+ c3 61.g3 f7 0-1 1628
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.cxd5 f5 19.a3 [ 19.e4 looks tempting, just stopping Black on the kingside. The a2-a3 lever can wait. ] 19...bxa3 20.xa3 c8 21.c2 f4 22.c4 h3 23.e4 h6 24.c3? Older GM syndrome. [ 24.c1 f3 25.exf3 b4 26.e2 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 is fine for White. ] 5.c3 e5 6.d3 d6 7.d2 ge7 8.f1 A great and somewhat humorous way of using 24...f3 25.exf3 f4! Ouch, White must have the fact he hasn't castled. There's a similar missed that. 26.gxf4 xf4 27.xf4 exf4 case in the Italian Game when White plays 1. 28.xa6 xf3 29.a7 g4+ 30.h1 h3 e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 a6 6. 31.e1 xd3 32.f6 xd5+ 33.g1 b7 0-1 Bb3 d6 7.Nf1 etc. a6 [ It seems that Karlsson has been playing 8. Nf1 for at least a quarter of a century. For A37 example 8...0-0 9.e3 b8 10.d2 a6 1620 11.c1 b5 12.b3 b4 13.cd5 f5 14.f4 Khismatullin,Denis 2572 h8 15.0-0 xd5 16.cxd5 d4 17.c4 Firman,Nazar 2471 exf4 18.gxf4 gave him slightly the better 6th EICC Warsaw POL (6) 23.06.2005 game in Karlsson, L (2480)-Eriksson, A [John Watson] (2265)/Malmo 1986. ] 9.g5 Teasing Black into playing .. .f7-f6 but 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c5 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 committing himself to an arguably less then 5.a3 a5 6.f3 c6 7.d3 ge7 8.d2 0-0 optimal developing move with the bishop. 9.f1 Compare the de Firmian game. White [ So W hite might want to consider 9.e3 d e c i d e s n o t t o s p e n d t i m e c a s t l i n g , b u t when b8 10.h4!? h6 11.a4 b4 bypasses the Ne1-c2-e3 plan by substituting 12.ed5 bxd5 13.xd5 e6 14.d2 0-0 Nd2-f1-e3 ! But Black manages to scrounge 15.a5 f5 16.b1 f4 17.xe7+ xe7 18.b4 around in an inferior position and create a fxg3 19.fxg3 e4 20.xe4 e5 21.xh6 brilliancy. b8 10.b1 f6 22.d2 c3+ 23.c2 xb4 24.d2 [ Or 10.e3 ] d7 25.a1 b6 26.f1 e5 1/2-1/2 was 10...d6 11.d2 f5 12.e3 f4 13.ed5 d4 the exciting continuation of Vaganian, R 14.gxf4 ef5!? A crazy move. Black doesn't (2590)-Dominguez Perez, L (2719)/Almaty want to end up worse after 2008. ] [ 14...exf4 15.xf4 ] 9...f6 10.d2 e6 This looks natural enough [ or 14...xd5 15.xd5+ h8 16.e3 e6 but when White puts a knight on d5 it can be 17.fxe5 h4 18.e2 ] difficult to get rid of (if Black takes with his 15.e4 S i m p l e , r i g h t ? h4! 16.e3 knight on e7 then cxd5 forks his knight on c6 Expecting a knight retreat. exf4!? 17.xf4? and bishop on e6). [ White should gather his courage and [ Accordingly there's quite a good case for accept the offer: 17.exd4! xd4 18.g1! 10...b8 intending ...b7-b5, and after 11.a4 d7 ( 18...f3 19.e3! xh2 20.d2 h6 b4 12.e3 e6 13.a5 0-0 14.0-0 f5 21.e1 ) 19.b5 xb5 20.cxb5 f3 15.a4 f4 16.c2 xc2 17.xc2 c6 ( 20...be8 21.g4! ) 21.e3 xh2 18.d5 d4 Black got much more 22.d2 ] promising counterplay in Storland, K (2282)- 17...xe3! 18.xe3 g4 19.c1 be8 Hall, J (2501) /Panormo 2001. I would have 20.ce2?! tried hard not to play 11.a4. ] [ 20.h3! f3 21.xf3!! xe3+ 22.xe3 11.e3 b8 12.0-0 0-0 13.ed5 b5 14.b3 c2+ 23.e2 xe3 24.fxe3 and White Looks like Karlssson f eels the same way has both material and an overwhelming about a2-a4 for White as I do. b4 15.xe7+ position. ] xe7 16.d5 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 20...g5 1619 Karlsson,Lars Garcia XXXVI Open Sitges ESP (4) [Nigel Davies]
A37 2449 2508 25.07.2010
1629
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Sadly, Firman misses he shot 20...xe4! A) 8...f5 9.d5! ( 9.e2 0-0 10.b1 21.dxe4 xe2 22.xe2 xe4 23.g1 a5 11.b3 e4 12.b2 c6 13.d2 h6! and there's no good defence. ] is fairly equal, Majorovas,V-Dorfman,J/ 21.g2 h3 C a n n e s 1 9 9 2) 9...a5 10.d3 0-0 [ 21...xe2 22.xh4 xc1 23.xc1 gxh4 11.d2 c8 12.b3 with a space 24.d2 , about equal. ] advantage, Sunye Neto,J-Silva,S/Sao 22.g1 h5 23.h4! f5 24.xf5 xf5 Paulo 1993.; 25.d1 f7! Born of desperation. 26.h3 B) 8...cxd4 was the move that worried me, d4 27.hxg5 f3+ 28.f1 h5 29.gf4 9.exd4 f5 10.f4! ( 10.d5?! a5 g4 30.b4 and W hite has problems defending c4) [ 30.d5 d4 31.hf4 is killing. ] 10...0-0 ( 10...fxd4? 11.xd4 xd4 30...axb4 31.axb4 d4 32.e2 cxb4 seems to win a pawn, but then comes 33.d5 c3 34.xc3?? After all that work, 12.b5 xb2 13.c7! c8 14.e2 W hite allows a drawing combination, and when the double threat of Nd6+ and Qxb2 Black seizes it. wins a piece) 11.d5 cd4 ( 11...a5!? [ 34.f6+! wins immediately: xf6 35.gxf6 12.d3 c8 13.b3 xc3 14.xc3 xd5 threatening Rg1 as well as several other 15.ad1 should favour White, who has the winning moves. ] important dark-squared bishop) 12.xd4 [ 34.d1 and ] xd4 13.c1 d6 14.e1 e8 15.b3 a6 [ 34.d1 are two other clear wins. ] 16.e4 chasing the knight from d4 with an 34...bxc3 35.c1?? Oh no! Nightmare time. edge, Pogorelov,R-Gonzalez Intelangelo, [ White had to play 35.d1 xe3! 36.xe3 G/Las Palmas ESP 1999. ] h4 37.c1 g2+ 38.e2 g4+ 39.f1 7...h6 Black must keep the pin along the g2+ etc. with perpetual check. ] a1-h8 diagonal. 8.b2 0-0 35...d2+ 36.e1 g2 37.g1 f3+ [ 8...f5 could transpose, 9.d3 0-0 10.d2 38.d1 xh3 39.f1 xg1 40.xg1 ( 10.b1 e6 11.e4 is similar, Pytel, K[ 40.xg1 xe3 41.fxe3 f1+ is one win. A Miralles,G/Chanac 1989) 10...e6 11.e4!? wild one for the books. ] h e a d s f o r B o t v i n n i k - s t y l e p l a y , fe7 0-1 ( 11...fd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.e2 is equal ) 12.fe1 d6 13.ad1 b8 14.a3 1 / 2 - 1 / 2 T a i m a n o v, M - K e n g i s , E / P r a g u e 1621 A37 1993. ] f5 Black has to stop White from Kosten,Anthony C 2507 9.e3 Bauer,Christian 2599 p la yin g d 4 . 10.b1! This move defends the TCh-Nat1 GpB (6) 03.04.2004 b ish o p a n d p re p a re s Ne 2 a n d d 4 . I a ls o considered [Tony Kosten] [ 10.a4 but after xb2 11.xb2 the knight is not particularly well placed, e6 1.g3 g6 2.g2 g7 3.c4 c5 4.c3 c6 12.d3 f6 13.e2 d5 and , if anything, I 5.f3 b6!? This was a surprise for me, wo u ld p ref e r t o ha ve t h e b la ck p ie c e s , whereas I had actually intended to surprise Orlowski,J-Ermenkov ,E/Bad Kissingen my opponent after 1990. ] [ 5...e6 with 6.d4!? ] Black prepares counterplay in the 6.0-0 b7 7.b3 White aims to counter the 10...e6 pressure on the long diagonal. I wanted to centre, but he has alternatives: [ 10...c8 11.e2 c7 12.xg7 xg7 play looks pleasant for White, Wirthensohn,H[ 7.e3! to continue d4 before Black gains Miles,A/Biel 1983, as White can play 13.c3 complete control over d4, and this is clearly d6 14.d4 with the better central presence. ] critical, h6 ( 7...f6 8.d4 a5 9.e2 [ 10...b8 11.d1 e6 12.e2 e5!? 13.c3 0-0 10.d1 cxd4 11.xd4 xg2 12.xg2 ( 13.d4?! exd4 14.exd4 e8 15.d3 d5 ) is nothing special for W hite, Portisch,L13...a6 and Black's Botvinnik formation is Keene,R/Moscow 1977 ) 8.d4 1630
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 quite reasonable, Szmetan,J-Larsen,B/ Buenos Aires 1983. ] 11.e2 d5 An innovation, as previously Black had played the blunder [ 11...e5? which loses a pawn on the spot: 12.xe5 e8 (as the c6-knight is pinned) 13.f3 d5 14.xg7 xg7 15.cxd5 xd5 16.b2+ g8 17.d4 with a solid extra pawn, Vadasz,L-Davies,N/Budapest 1993, a l t h o u gh N ig e l e ve n t u a l l y m a n a ge d t o draw! ] 12.xg7 xg7!? My opponent regretted this move afterwards, preferring [ 12...xg7 13.b2+ f6 14.xf6+ xf6 a l t h o u g h a f t e r 15.cxd5 exd5 16.fd1 White will play d4, with an edge. ] 13.cxd5 exd5 14.d4 e6 15.d1 f6 16.b2!? It seemed odd to pin my own dpawn, but I wanted to control e5. [ 16.d3 is the alternative, fd8 17.ac1 with a pull. ] 16...fd8 17.d2 ac8 18.ad1 The d5-pawn is coming under fire W hite's advantage is that he can capture on c5 and e x p o s e d 5 w h e n e v e r h e w a n t s . a6! A precise reply, cutting across White's plans. 19.dxc5 Perhaps [ 19.e5 is stronger, but xe2 ( 19...xe5? 20.dxe5 f5 21.xd5 w i n s a p a w n) 20.xe2 cxd4 21.exd4 a6 seems reasonable for Black, as ( 21...exd4? is a blunder 22.xd4 xe5? fails to 23.f4 ) 22.xc6 xc6 23.e5 can be met by dc8! ] 19...xb2 20.xb2 bxc5 A critical position, W hite has created hanging pawns, but the black pieces are active and he can always produce a dangerous passed pawn by ...d4. 21.f1!? Played to free the rook from the defence of the e2-knight. [ 21.bd2 d4 22.exd4 xe2 23.xe2 cxd4 ( 23...cxd4!? ) 24.ed2 xf3+ 25.xf3 xd2 26.xd2 d4 27.g2 seemed fairly level. ] 21...b7 [ 21...d4 is more aggressive, 22.bd2 dxe3 23.fxe3 xd2 24.xd2 c4 25.bxc4 xc4 26.ed4 with a drawn position after a few more exchanges. ] 22.g2 a6 23.f1 b7 both sides are happy with a draw in the context of the match
situation. ½-½
1622 Kosten,Anthony C Chabanon,Jean Luc TCh-Nat1 GpB (1) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2507 2449 30.01.2004
1.c4 c5 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c6 5.f3 e5 6.0-0 The exact move order is perhaps not so important here, [ 6.a3 a5 7.0-0 ge7 8.e1 would transpose. ] 6...ge7 This seems logical, developing a piece, but on reflection [ 6...d6 may be stronger, as it cuts-down on W hite's options, e.g. 7.e1 e6 8.d3 ge7 and Black is ready for ...d5 before the white knight gets to e3. ] 7.e1!? The knight heads straight for e3, to control d5. Another option I considered was [ 7.a3 a5 and now 8.d4!? which is like Miles' move against Kudrin, played a move later. It may be worse here, though! ] 7...0-0 Black can no longer force White to occupy d5 with a piece: [ 7...d6 8.c2 e6 is met by 9.e3 defending c4 and controlling d5. ] 8.c2 d6 9.d3 b8 10.a3 The knight on c2 is also useful for supporting the b4 thrust. [ 10.e3 b6 11.ed5 b7 12.b1 xd5 13.xd5 e7 and Black managed to combat W hite's control of d5, Bisguier,AR e s h e vs k y, S / C h i c a g o 1 9 7 4 . A f t e r t h e su b se qu e n t d o u b le e xch a n ge o f m in o r p ie ce s W h it e wa s le f t wit h t h e s l igh t l y better bishop, but it doesn't amount to too much. ] 10...a5 Standard, and best, Black shouldn't allow b4 when White can add his queenside pressure to his control of d5. [ 10...e6 11.b4 b6 ( 11...e4?! 12.xe4 xa1 13.xa1 is horrible for Black, as the white dark-squared bishop will dominate the long diagonal) 12.b5!? ( 12.g5 f6 13.d2 is also sensible) 12...d4 13.e3 d7 14.ed5 ( 14.a2 would avoid any tactics along the a1-h8 diagonal, and prepare Nd5) 14...xd5 15.cxd5!? h3 16.xh3 xh3 1631
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.e3 with the better minor pieces, Bellon Lopez,J-Granados Gomez,M/Cala Galdana ESP 1999. ] 11.g5 I like this move, as it forces Black to play a weakening pawn move (...f6) and if he doesn't it allows W hite to exchange his g5bishop f or t he kn ight a nd aim f or a goo d knight (on d5) versus bad bishop (on g7) position. [ 11.b1 e6 12.d5?! ( 12.e3 ) 12...b5 and Black is at least equal, Kural,S-Sodtholt, D/ Graz 1981. ] 11...f6 [ 11...h6? is a known positional error: 12.xe7 xe7 13.b1 d7 14.b4!? cxb4 15.axb4 b5 16.d2 bxc4 17.dxc4 c7?! 18.bxa5 xa5?! 19.xb8 xb8 20.xd6 f8 21.e4! a4 22.a1 1-0 Kosten,ASulipa, A/France 1997, which is a good memory for me! ] 12.d2 e6 The normal square for the bishop in this system, [ 12...d4!? 13.xd4 exd4 14.d5 ( 14.b5!? ) 14...e8 15.b4 axb4 16.axb4 xd5 17.xd5+ e6 18.f3 b6 19.bxc5!? bxc5 ( 19...dxc5? 20.f4 ) 20.a6 f8 21.a1 c8 22.a7 b6 23.a2!? b3 24.a5 b7?? 25.a3 won the black queen in Georgiev,V-Handke,F/Bad Woerishofen GER 2003. ] 13.e3 d4 14.ed5 xd5 15.xd5 [ 15.xd5 was tempting, xd5 16.xd5 b5 17.e3 e6 but Black will be able to fight for control of d5 by .. .Nc7, so I preferred to keep more tension. ] 15...a4!? A neat tactic which occurs a lot in this line, but I had prepared a strong reply. [ If 15...b5 then 16.e3 is a little awkward: f5 ( 16...c6 17.cxb5 xb5 18.a4 a7 19.c3 looks nice for White) 17.c2 and now Black is unable to contest control of d5 by e7? because of 18.xa5! ] 16.b4! This may have been a little unexpected for my opponent - what about the en passant rule? axb3 [ 16...b3 17.b1 and as Black doesn't really want to capture the bishop, his knight may turn-out to be awkwardly placed. ] 17.e3 The point, the knight is driven back, and then the pawn will be captured. c6 [ 17...c2? is a m is t a ke : 18.b1 xa3
19.xb3 a8 20.c1 wins a piece. ] 18.xb3 Now White has the open b-file to play with. Note that in such positions the b7p a wn i s m u ch m o r e vu ln e r a b le t h a n t h e isolated a3-pawn. e7 19.b6 f5 20.ab1 g5 Black looks for counterplay on the kingside. 21.f4 gxf4 22.exf4 This weakens control of d4, but maintains a better king position. c6 23.d1!? I wanted to play on both sides of the board. [ 23.e3 d4 24.xd4 cxd4 25.a4 is also feasible, at some point W hite will play Bd5 to obtain his long-term positional objective: good knight on d5 against g7bishop. ] 23...d4 24.h5 h8 [ 24...f7 25.d5 ] 25.d5 xd5 26.xd5 b5?! Positionally desirable, but doubtful. He should have tried [ 26...e4!? perhaps. ] 27.fxe5 dxe5?! [ 27...xe5 28.g5 e8 29.xe8 fxe8 avoids material loss, as after 30.c7?! g8 Black gains time on the bishop. However, any other 30th move leaves White on top as f4 and f5 are weak. ] 28.g5 e8 What else? [ 28...d7?! 29.e7 fe8 30.f6 wins, i.e. xf6 31.xf6+ g8 32.g5+ f7 ( 32...f8 33.xe5 xe5 34.f6+ ) 33.g7+ e6 34.h6 and the end is near. ] 29.xe8 fxe8 30.c7 ec8 31.xb5 White has won a pawn. e4 32.dxe4 fxe4 33.g2 a8? Short of time Black misses White's threat. 34.d6 c6 35.xe4 h6 [ 35...xa3?? 36.b8+ ] 36.f6 xf6 37.xf6 ca6 38.b7 8a7 39.b8+ g7 40.g8+!? I spent most of my little remaining time looking at the alternative [ 40.h5+ thinking that there must be a clear win following h7 41.ff8 ( 41.c8 xa3 42.xc5 might be simplest) 41...xa3 42.h8+ g6 43.f4+ and certainly this does look very good for W hite, as he will pick-up the h-pawn, still, when I didn't see a mate I went for the text. ] 40...f7 41.h8 g7 42.h7+ g6 43.xa7 xa7 44.e4 xa3 45.xc5 Reaching an ending that seems simple enough: White has two extra pawns, but there 1632
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 were a lot of technical difficulties to overcome. f5 46.f4 h5 Black wants to weave a mating net with ...Ne3-g4 and ...Ra2. 47.d7 e3+ 48.h3 g4 49.h4! This is pretty much forced, although I didn't really want to lo s e m y h - p a wn . xh2 50.e5+ g7 51.f7+ g8 52.f5 c3 53.g5+ I wanted to play [ 53.h3 c2 ( 53...g4 54.g5+ f8 55.xg4 hxg4+ 56.xg4 win s e asily.) 54.c5 as it seems that none of the black pieces can move very much, but after g7 I couldn't see any way to improve the white position, for instance 55.xh5 ( 55.c6? g4! ) 55...f1 and the knight escapes. ] 53...f8 54.xh5 e7 55.g6 f1 56.g4 e3 57.c6+ d7 58.c5 Everything seemed to be going smoothly here, although my time was disappearing fast! c3 59.e5+ Completely natural, but the weird [ 59.b8+! i s s t r o n g e r c8 60.a6 and c6-c7 is threatened. Still, the knight on the rim looks so stupid to our eyes that it is easy not to consider this! ] 59...e7 60.c6?! [ 60.c6+ ] 60...c5 61.g5 g3+ 62.h4? [ 62.h6 e4 63.h5 is far better. ] 62...e4 63.f5 [ 63.g6+ d6 64.xc5 xc5 65.g5 xc6 66.f5 d7 67.f4 is almost certainly drawn. ] 63...e6? The mistake is returned! [ 63...c1?! is also doubtful: 64.g5 e6 65.d3! h1+ 66.g4 and wins, as g1+ 67.f4 f1+? 68.xe4 xf5 69.f4+ ] [ but 63...d6! draws: 64.f7+ ( 64.g5 e6 65.g4 d6 win s t h e kn igh t) 64...xc6 ] 64.f3! c4 [ 64...xf5 65.d4+ d5 66.gxf5 and now xd4 allows White to make a queen by 67.c7 d6 68.f6 e5 69.f7 xf7 70.c8 ] 65.g5+ xg5 66.xg5 Black is unable to capture the c6-pawn because of the skewer. d6 67.f6+ e7 68.f5 c1 [ 68...xg4 69.xg4 xf6 70.c7 ] 69.g5 1-0
1623 Kosten,Anthony C Gordon,Stephen J GBR-ch 100th (8) [Kosten, Tony]
A37 2458 2521 06.08.2013
1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 c6 5.f3 d6 [ Actually, at this point I was expecting a Botvinnik System, 5...e5 which I'd already encountered twice in the Championships: A) I also tried 6.d3 ge7 7.d2 d6 8.f1 0-0 ( 8...a6 9.g5 is KarlssonGonzalez Garcia in the PGN Archive.) 9.e3 which gets control of d5, but after a6 10.ed5 xd5 11.xd5 b8 12.0-0 I d id n 't th in k W hit e h ad very m u ch in Kosten, A (2458)-Varnam, L (2107)/ Torquay 2013.; B) 6.0-0 d6 7.a3 ge7 8.b4! 0-0 ( 8...e4 9.e1 f5 10.b2 0-0 11.d3 is t he critical main line , bu t th is c ould t r a n s p o s e .) 9.b1 f5 10.e1 ( not 10.d3?? e4 ) 10...e4 11.b2 B1) 11...e6! is best, 12.d3 e5 ( 12...exd3 13.exd3! ) 13.a1 b8 14.dxe4 xc4 15.exf5 gxf5 16.c1 cxb4 17.axb4 f4 18.d3 fxg3 19.hxg3 b5 20.e4 1-0 Kosten, A (2507) -Bellin, R (2385)/West Bromwich 2004.; B2) 11...cxb4!? a n e w m o ve , 12.axb4 xb4?! ( 12...d5!? ) 13.xe4! d5 ( 13...fxe4 14.xg7 xg7 15.xb4 ) 14.xg7 xg7 15.g5!? ( 15.c5 ) 15...a5 16.a4 a6! 17.c2! ec6 18.cxd5 xg5 19.dxc6 xc6 20.d4 White has the better structure and now I decided to push my passed d-pawn, d8 21.d5 e7 22.e3 ( 22.fc1!+- ) 22...f6 23.fc1 d7 24.f4! b5 25.c7 t h e p o in t . b6 26.d6 c8? ( 26...xc7 wa s f o rce d , 27.dxc7 f8 28.d1 c6 29.xc6 xc6 30.d7 f6 31.xb5 but Black has some drawing chances after c8 ) 27.c6! 1-0 Kosten, A (2458)-Mercs, P (2109)/ Torquay 2013 ] 6.0-0 f5!? A complete surprise, I have never seen this more before! [ 6...e5 was still possible, of course. ] 7.b3 After a long thought. In fact I didn't really 1633
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 see any decent way for White to play, as both e3 and d4 are impossible so it is not easy for White to play in the centre, and meanwhile Black is going to play ...Qd7 and ...Bh3. [ 7.d3 is the most popular, but appears slow, d7 8.b1 ( 8.d5 f6 9.d2 0-0 is obviously fine for Black, Schlosser, P (2579)-Wagner, D (2456)/Germany 2013.; 8.d2 h3 9.b1 xg2 10.xg2 f6 likewise, Medvegy, Z (2561)-Nielsen, P (2662)/Germany 2013.; 8.e3 would get d4 in n e x t g o , b u t W h i t e h a s l o s t a t e m p o .) 8...h3 9.xh3 xh3 10.d5 d7 11.a4 c8 12.a3 e6 13.e3 ge7 14.b4 0-0 15.b2 xb2 16.xb2 b6 17.d4! cxd4 18.xd4 was pretty logical play from White, but after fd8 it is difficult to speak of any advantage, Zhou Jianchao (2668)-Malakhov, V (2732)/Ningbo 2010. ] 7...d7 Technically a novelty, although it is perfectly natural. [ 7...xc3!? 8.dxc3 d7 9.e1 h3 10.h1 h6 11.b1 ( 11.b4! ) 11...f5 12.b2 f6 13.b4 d8 14.a4 a6?! 15.bxc5 dxc5 16.d2 e6 17.xd8+ xd8 and White was well on top in Jobava, B (2644)-Malakhov, V (2690)/Benidorm 2007, he could even consider 18.xh6! as xh6? 19.g5 wins. ] 8.b2 h3 [ 8...f6 and ...0-0 was perfectly acceptable, although White can play 9.d4 ] 9.e3! Now that the black bishop can't go to d3. h5!? 10.d4 xg2 11.xg2 h4 12.dxc5 hxg3 13.fxg3 Forced, although it somewhat weakens my structure, and this would haunt me throughout the game. h3+ 14.g1 dxc5 15.e2 f6 [ I was more worried about 15...0-0-0 as 16.g5?! is answered by h5 17.xh5 xh5 18.xf7? d2 and wins. ] 16.d5 0-0 17.g5! h8 [ 17...h6 might be safer, 18.xf6+ xf6 19.xf6 exf6 20.e4 f5 21.xc5 fe8 with fair compensation for the pawn. ] 18.xf6!! This set Stevie into a long think, and he started looking quite depressed! xf6 [ 18...exf6? 19.e4 h3 ( 19...e5 20.xe5 fxe5 21.e7+ h7 22.g5+ h6 23.g4 f6 24.xf7+ xf7 25.xg6# ) 20.dxf6+ h8 21.f1
with a crushing attack. ] 19.xf6+ After a little thought I decided to keep the long-term advantage of the bishop. [ However, 19.xf6! might be best, exf6 20.e4 A) I wondered whether Black could simply play 20...fe8 here, 21.exf6+ g7 22.xe8+ ( Ho ud ini sa ys th a t 22.f1 is stronger, though, e5 23.f4 g5 24.f1 and it thinks W hite is winning.) 22...xe8 and White's extra e3-pawn is weak.; B) 20...f5 21.ef6+ g7 22.b2 appears very strong, although Black looks like he is hanging on after h6 23.f1 fe8 24.f4 e4 25.xe4 fxe4 still, 26.g4+ h7 27.df6+ g7 28.xe4+ g8 29.gf6+ keeps the pressure on. ] 19...exf6 20.e4 e5 21.f1 f5 22.xc5 fe8 23.xb7 h6 24.d6 e6 25.c5 So far this all looked very natural and I had assumed that my powerful knight, raking bishop on the long diagonal, and passed pawns would give me a fairly simple win. I was also way ahead on the clock at this stage. g4 26.e4 An important point. f8 [ For some odd reason I had only analysed 26...e3+ as I assumed Black would need t o e x c h a n g e q u e e n s , 27.xe3 xe3 28.exf5 xd6 29.cxd6 xf1 30.f6 e3 31.d7 which should be a fairly straightforward win. ] 27.f4 h5 28.b4 Around here I started wa st in g a l o t o f t im e l o o ki n g f o r a c le a r winning method. [ 28.a3 (to push the c-pawn) d8 ] 28...f6 29.b5? A horrible blunder, but it doesn't throw away the game just yet. [ As my opponent suggested after the game 29.h4! is strong, freeing the queen from the defence of h2, g7 30.d4 and White can win at his leisure. ] [ M y o t h e r t h o u g h t w a s 29.d4 simply keeping control of the position. ] 29...fxe4!! I'd completely missed this! By undefending d5 I allowed Black to free the pin on his knight. 30.xg4? Now I started getting very short of time, and my brain went 'blank'! [ 30.a3! had to be played, to defend c5, f5 31.c6 a n d B l a c k h a s t o f i n d h8! w h e n t h e c o m p u t e r g i v e s 32.xf5! 1634
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 32.c7?? d4+ ) 32...xf5 ( 32...gxf5? 33.xg4+! ) 33.c7 c3 34.xg4 xf4 35.xe6+ g7 36.gxf4 e1+ 37.g2 e2+ with a perpetual check. ] [ 30.d4 was also possible, d5 31.xe4 xd4+! 32.xd4 xe2 33.xg4 when White is not worse. ] 30...xc5+ 31.f2? [ 31.g2 f5 32.h4 xd6 33.h6 f7 34.f1 planning Rc1 and White still has plenty of play for the exchange. ] 31...f5 Black's saving resource. 32.h4 Threatening mate in one. xd6 [ Strangely I had only analysed 32...xd6? when 33.h6 f7 34.d2 looked like fun. ] 33.h6 f7 34.g7+ e8 35.g2 Now W hite is completely lost. e3! 36.e2 d5+ 37.h3 f4! 38.e5+ xe5 39.xe5 f3 40.xe3 e6 0-1
13.a3 d5 [ 13...f5!? ] 14.ac1 c3 15.fe1!? A novelty, Tony Miles had preferred [ 15.e3 against me at Palma 1989 (see the archives), but I was wondering about the c o n t i n u a t i o n a6!? 16.xd4 xa3 ( 16...xd4? 17.xc3! ) 17.xc3 0-0 although White should be better after, say, 18.c7 ] 15...d7?! The advantage of White's previous move is that it is less forcing, and so Black has to find a good plan from a multitude of alternatives: [ 15...e5 16.e3 e6 17.g5 is good for White. ] [ 15...a6!? is still possible, when 16.xd4 xa3 17.xc3 0-0 18.d3 offers White an edge, the immediate threat is Nb5-d6. ] 16.e3 c6?! [ 16...dxe3? can now be met by 17.xe3 forcing b5 18.c5 d8 19.d3 1624 A37 and Black is in big trouble. ] [ 16...e4 might be the best bet, 17.c2 Kosten,Anthony C 2519 dxe3! 18.xe3 ( 18.xe4? exf2+ ) Ivanov,Jordan 2395 18...a6!? 19.xe4 xa3 20.c7 c8 Sautron (3) 24.10.2004 21.c2 0-0 22.e5 menacing Nxf7 with a [Tony Kosten] powerful initiative. ] 1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 17.exd4 d5 [ 17...xf3?! 18.xf3 b5 is interesting, as 5.f3 e6 6.d4!? I felt in the mood to play this Black has the neat tactic 19.c5 xd4 pawn sac, as after all I have analysed many but now White wins by 20.g2 d8 21.b4 games played with it! cxd4 7.b5 d5 d7 22.cd1 ] 8.cxd5 a5+ 9.d2 I decided to try the White has regained his pawn, has a move Tony Miles had played against me, the 18.e5 lead in development and the black king is alternative [ 9.d2 was seen in Markowski,T-Macieja, marooned in the centre. f8 Nc4-d6+ might be threatened, and after B. ] [ 18...xe5 19.dxe5 0-0-0 White wins by 9...xb5 10.dxc6 xc6 My opponent 20.d6 ( 20.c5 a6 21.f1 suggested is also strong.) 20...c7 21.f4 d7 [ 10...e7! after the game, and it might be 22.e2 and the doubling of the rooks on the simpler: 11.xd4 b6 12.cxb7 ( 12.e3!? c-file. ] bxc6 13.b3? a6 favours Black, Fishbein,AJansa,V/Herning 1991) 12...xb7 13.xb7 19.xd5! This leads to a forced win. xd5 [ 19...xa3 20.xc6 bxc6 21.xc6+ e7 xb7 14.f3 0-0 15.0-0 fd8 22.xa8 xa8 23.g5+ f6 24.h4 with sufficient initiative to compensate the wins, as h8 25.xg6+ hxg6 26.xh8 ] pawn, Foisor,O-Ungureanu,E/Tusnad 20.f4 f5 There was no other possibility to 1997. ] defend f7. 21.xf8 xf8 22.h6 There is no 11.0-0 b6 12.b3 e7 [ 12...f6!? 13.xd4 ( 13.a3?! e4 wa y t o co u n te r Q xh 7 f o llo we d by Rc7 o r 14.d3 d6 and Black can castle) 13...0-0 Qxg6+.. 1-0 14.b2 is fairly level. ] 1635
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1625 Kramnik,Vladimir Carlsen,Magnus 4th London Chess Classic (3.1) [John Bartholomew]
A37 2795 2848 03.12.2012
I had the pleasure of sitting in on the postmortem between these two legendary players (it's available online as well). Kramnik dominated the discussion, and I was blown away by the depth and clarity of his evaluations as he reeled off variation after variation. Carlsen was comparatively relaxed, as you might expect. He would occasionally chime in to correct Kramnik or add something to the assessment (needless to say, he was always dead-on accurate). Both players made a great impression on the London audience. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 ge7 Interestingly, Carlsen opts for a move order that I deemed inferior in last month's update. [ The position is in fact slightly different compared to Heberla-Juptner in that update, but 6...d6 still has merit. The main idea is that 7.e1 e6! A) if White really wants to establish a knight on d5, then 8.d5!? ge7 9.c2 0-0 10.b1 is the way to go, but I like Black's play here, e.g. a5 ( or 10...b8 11.d3 b5 12.g5 f6 13.d2 f5 14.b3 h6 15.e3 d7= Socko, B (2629) Khenkin, I (2669) Leiden 2012) 11.ce3 b8 12.b3 f5 13.f4 h6 14.b2 g5 15.d3 g6 16.d2 exf4 17.xg7 xg7 18.gxf4 h4 Margvelashvili, G (2531) Kacheishvili, G (2589) ICC INT 2011.; B) 8.d3 ge7 9.c2 allows Black to b r e a k wi t h d5 , when 10.cxd5 xd5 11.e3 de7 has proven to be quite reliable for the second player. ] 7.a3 a5 8.e1 d6 9.c2 0-0 [ Last month we examined 9...e6 10.e3 0-0 11.ed5 b8 12.d3 , with a rich position where White has somewhat better chances. See Heberla, B (2536) -Juptner, J (2364) Czechia 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] 10.d3 b8?! Carlsen: "[This] is just stupid, of course". [ Indeed, 10...e6 should be preferred, threatening the immediate ...d6-d5 and
coaxing White to play 11.e3 . Then b8 12.ed5 transposes to the above game. Carlsen insinuated that he forgot why 10... Be6 was important in luring White's knight to e3. ] 11.b1 [ 11.g5!? h6 12.xe7 xe7 13.b1 d7 14.b4 cxb4 15.axb4 b5 16.d2 bxc4 17.dxc4 c7? ( 17...axb4 18.xb4 ) 18.bxa5 xa5 19.xb8 xb8 20.xd6 f8 21.e4 a4 22.a1 1-0 Kosten, A (2535)Sulypa, A (2400) France 1997 ] 11...e6 12.b4! Kramnik was pleased with his game here. The knight proves to be more useful on c2 than e3. axb4 13.axb4 cxb4 14.xb4 xb4 15.xb4 d5 16.cxd5 Best. The simplifications bring White closer to establishing a long-term siege on the b7pawn. [ Kramnik also mentioned the possibility of 16.a3!? , whereupon Carlsen promptly demonstrated a neat variation he had in mind: e8 17.a4 dxc4 18.dxc4 xd1 19.xd1 e4 20.xe4 and now the kicker ( 20.b5! ) 20...b5!= i n v i e w o f 21.cxb5? b3 . Easy stuff, right!?:) ] 16...xd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.b5! xg2 [ T h e p l a y e r s a g r e e d t h a t 18...c6! was better. After 19.xc6 bxc6 20.c5 Carlsen commented that it was "better to have a weak pawn on c6 than one which will be certainly lost [on b7] ". ] 19.xg2 d7 20.b3 fc8 21.b2 [ B o t h p l a y e r s d i s m i s s e d 21.e3!? b e c a u s e o f c3 , though they may have missed the response 22.d5! , when Black is still most certainly suffering. ] 21...d6 22.b1 White has an ideal position. Moreover, positions like these are Kramnik's bread and butter. c5 23.b6! c6 [ Also unpleasant is 23...d5+ 24.xd5 xd5 , e.g. 25.a3 d7 ( 25...f8 26.xf8 xf8 27.xb7 xb7 28.xb7 is a dreaded 5-vs-4 endgame even Kasparov has lost a 4vs-3! ) 26.1b5 . ] 24.xb7 xb7 25.xb7 Kramnik has a clear extra pawn. Big Vlad would surely win this against almost any other Grandmaster, but Carlsen's resourcef ulness eventually yields a rare escape! b6 26.c8+ f8 27.d7 h5! A fantastic defensive move. 1636
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Carlsen improves his position a bit, confident t h a t t h e t a c t i c s f a vo r h i m . K r a m n i k wa s astounded at the resiliency of Black's position after this move, in spite of the tempo this appears to hand him. [ I t w a s n e c e s s a r y t o a v o i d 27...b8? 28.c1+- . ] 28.e4 [ 28.c1 suggests itself, but Kramnik (and presumably Carlsen as well) considered the position after xb2 ( Magnus may have also opted for 28...a8+ 29.e4 h7 , highlighting the wisdom of his 27th move) 29.c8 xe2 to be drawish. ] 28...d6 29.e8+ f8 [ Not 29...h7? 30.xe5+- . "That would be a dream, of course" - Kramnik. ] 30.d7 [ On 30.a4 , b4 is a good response. ( T h e s u b t l e c o m p u t e r m o v e 30...d8! is even better! )] 30...d6 31.xd6 Kramnik was of the opinion that the position is now objectively drawn. xd6 32.d1 f5! There's still plenty o f wa y s f o r W h it e t o p r e s s , b u t C a r ls e n proves he's up to the defensive task. 33.f3 fxe4 34.fxe4 b6 35.c3 b3 36.a1 f7 37.f3 e6 38.h3 h6 39.e2 g5 40.g1 h6 41.h4 d6 42.d1 [ Kramnik regretted the fact that he didn't play 42.g4 , e.g. f4 43.gxh5 gxh5 44.g6+ d7 45.a6 , with some small chances. ] 42...e6 43.f1 b4! Excellent. Carlsen doesn't allow even a hint of play with d3-d4. 44.d1 b3 45.g1 f6! [ Avoiding 45...d6 , after which Kramnik said he would have tried 46.g4 after all. ] 46.h1 [ Now 46.g4 hxg4 47.xg4 a3! is unequivocally drawn. ] 46...e6 47.d1 f6 48.d4 e3+ 49.f2 xe4 50.dxe5+ f5 51.d7 g4 52.d6 e3+ 53.e2 f4+ 54.d3 e3+ 55.c4 xe5 56.xg6+ f3 57.xe5 xe5 58.g5 e4+ 59.d5 g4 60.e5 xg3 61.xh5 xh4 62.xh4 xh4 Drawn. Carlsen's move order with 6...Nge7 can be queried, though 10. ..Rb8?! was undoubtedly the real source of his opening troubles. Black needs to be alert in the first 6-7 moves in the Botvinnik System
thus, 6...d6 may be preferable here. ½-½
1626 A37 Kramnik,Vladimir 2766 Leko,Peter 2749 Amber Rapid Monte Carlo MNC rapid (7) [Carsten Hansen] 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 d6 7.a3 a5 [ This is necessary, as for example shown after 7...ge7 8.b4! e6 9.g5! xc4 10.d3 e6 11.bxc5 dxc5 12.xe6 , and Black's position was a positional toilet in P e t u rss o n -A rn a so n , Re yk ja vik m (3 ) 1989. ] 8.e1 e6 9.d3 ge7 10.c2 d5 [ Black forces this central advance through before W hite's knight arrives on e3 and prevents the idea, such as would be the case after 10...0-0!? 11.e3 Both ideas for Black: letting W hite prevent ...d6-d5 and Black playing ...d6-d5 before W hite can prevent it are seen, although the latter is a positionally somewhat flawed plan due to numerous structural weaknesses in Black's position, such as the light squares around the a5-, c5- and e5-pawns. Counting in Black's favour is that he has more space, well-coordinated pieces and active play. As long as Black is able to control the pressure White is placing on Black's weak squares and pawns, he will be okay, although this can be a lot easier said than done. ] 11.cxd5 xd5 12.d2!? [ This is an interesting choice of continuation by Kramnik. Let's take a look at the alternatives for W hite at this juncture. By the way, if you ever doubted the validity of the name "The Swedish Variation" for this line, please note the names of the players in t h e f o ll o wi n g s e gm e n t : He ll e r s , E r n s t , Cramling, Schuessler, Schneider, Wedberg, Degerman and Hall are all Swedes, and Bellon is married to Cramling! I think, I made my point... A) 12.e4 b6 13.g5 c8 14.e3 de7 A) White hasn't been able to prove 1637
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 anything after 15.c4 0-0 16.d2 h6 17.e4 e6 18.a4 f5!? ( or 18...b8 19.c1 d4 20.e3 dc6 21.e2 f5 22.ed6 d7 23.fd1 d5 with approximately even chances, Ribli, ZHellers, F/Tilburg 1993) 19.c3 a7 ( 19...e4!? should be considered, e. g. 20.f4 g5 21.d6 xc4 22.dxc4 xc3 23.bxc3 f6 24.xe7 xe7 and Black has the better chances) 20.b3 b7 21.b5 d7 22.c3 d5 23.ad1 h7 24.c2 db4 25.b1 e4! , and Black completely dominates W hite, and eventually won the game, Uhlmann, W Cramling, P/ Valby 1991; B) 15.a4 d7 16.d5 ( 16.c4 0-0 17.b3 b8 18.d6? d4 , and Black win s at lea st a pa wn , Gaya Yo dra, JBellon Lopez, J/Linares 1991) 16...d4 17.c4 0-0 Azmaiparashvili, Z-Schussler, H / R e y k j a v i k 1 9 9 0 18.xe7+ xe7 19.xa8 xa8 20.e1 b5 21.a2 c2 and Black gets the exchange back with the clearly better chances to boot ] [ 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.e3 e6 15.d2 0-0 16.a4 fd8 17.f3 d4 18.c4 b6 19.c3 d7 is about even, Denker, A-Ernst, T/New York 1990 ] [ B) 12.e3 ('!' by Ribli) de7 A) 13.e4 b6 14.a4 ( or 14.g5 (this is possibly W hite's only chance for equality after 13.Ne4!) d7 15.c4 0-0 16.f4 h6 17.f3 exf4 18.xf4 e6 is equal according to Ribli in CBM, Yermolinsky, A-W edberg, T, New York open 1991 ) A1) 14...c8!? 15.b4?! ( 15.c4!? is met by 0-0 16.ed6 d4! 17.xc8 xe2+ 18.h1 xc8 and Black has the better chances; 15.g5?! d7 16.h4 d4 17.e1 ef5 18.xf5 xf5 ) 15...axb4 16.axb4 cxb4 17.c4 0-0 18.e3 d4 ( 18...a8!? 19.xa8 xa8 20.xa8 xa8 21.xb6 a2 must be better for Black) 19.xd4 exd4 20.ed6 b8 21.xb4 d5 22.xd5!? xd5 23.b5 Loginov, V-Degerman, L/ Budapest 1993, and now xc4 24.xc4 e8! would have promised Black at least even chances; A2) 14...0-0 15.xc5 bxc5 16.xc6
xc6 17.xc6 c8 18.a4 f5 19.c4 f4 20.xa5 g5 21.f3 e4! with a dangerous initiative, which is evidenced by the continuation 22.a6 h3 23.xf4 xf4 24.dxe4 d4+ 25.h1 cf8! 26.fd1 xe4! 27.fxe4 h5 28.e3 xe3 29.c4+ g7 30.c3+ d4 31.xd4 cxd4 32.xd4+ f6 33.a7+ h6 34.e3+ g5 35.g1 f7 , and White gave up, 0-1 Wojtkiewicz, A-Bellon Lopez, J/ Ter Apel 1991. A wonderful game by Black.; B) 13.d2?! 0-0 14.e4 b6 15.c3 a4 16.h1 d4 17.e1 ( 17.g5?! b3 18.d2 f6! is quite awful for W hite) 17...d5 18.d1 h6 19.xd5 xd5 20.e3 c6 21.f4?! f5 and White is already in serious trouble, Bratvold, TErnst, T/Gausdal 1990; C) 13.c4 (Also '!' by Ribli) C1) 13...b8?! gets Black in trouble 14.g5 f6 (this is necessary as White will otherwise exchange the bishop on e7 and drop the c4-knight back to e3 with over the d5-square) 15.e3 b6 (both 14...f6 and 15...b6 have weakened the light squares in Black's position further, which now is ripe for attack from W hite's pieces) 16.a4! d7 17.b4 axb4 18.axb4 xc4 ( or 18...xb4 19.xb6! xb6 20.xc5 b8 21.xb4 xa4 22.xa4 d7 23.d6+- Cu. Hansen) 19.dxc4 xb4 20.xd7+ xd7 21.a7+ e8 22.d1! A simple, yet incredibly strong move: White marches undisturbed into Black's position. A powerful display of positional superiority. f8 23.e4 f7 24.d6 g7 C1a) 25.h6!! is even stronger, e.g. C1a1) 25...xh6 26.xf6+ g8 ( 26...e8 27.d6+ d8 28.h3! and Black will lose half of his army trying to prevent mate ) 27.xe7+-; C1a2) 25...hg8 26.xg7 xg7 27.xf6+-; C1b) 25.dd7 bc6 26.g5+!? ( 26.d6+! e6 27.f5! (I know, I didn't see this myself, but it is rather beautiful) xf5 28.h3+ e4 29.g4! a n d B l a c k c a n n o t p r e v e n t m a t e) 1638
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26...e8 27.xc6 xc6 28.xg7 xa7 29.e4 c6 30.d6+ f8 ( 30...d8 31.f7++- ) 31.h6 1-0 Kaidano v, G-Ernst , T/Gausda l 1991; C2) 13...0-0 14.g5 C2a) 14...b6? 15.a4! c7? ( 15...f6 16.xc6 c8 17.xf6 xf6 18.e4 ) 16.b5!+- d8?! 17.c3?? c7? 18.b5! d8?? 19.c3?? 1/2-1/2 Hall, J-Ernst, T/Sweden 1993. This was obviously a pre-arranged draw for which the players should be scolded. If you want to make it look like something that came about during play, at least make it look realistic. White wins material on move 17 and 19 with Bxc6, because the e7-knight is pinned. Pathetic!; C2b) 14...f6 15.e3 b6 16.a4 c7 17.b5 d8 18.c3 c7 19.fc1 ab8 20.ab1 Kaidanov, G-Ilinsky, V Gausdal 1991 ] [ C) 12.b1 0-0 A) 13.d2 b8 14.e4 b6 15.b4 ( 15.g5 c8 16.b3 b7 ) 15...axb4 16.axb4 cxb4 17.xb4 cxb4 18.xb4 xb4 19.xb4 f5 20.c3 e4 21.b5 e7 22.b1 a8?! ( 22...exd3 23.exd3 f4! ) 23.dxe4?? ( 23.d4! a1 24.b2 a2 25.b1 d5 26.dxe4 fxe4= ) 23...a1 0-1 Hanssen, G-Ernst, T/Gausdal 1994; B) 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.b4 cxb4 16.axb4 a4 17.b5 d4 18.xd4 xd4 19.a3 fc8 20.b4 a7 21.c4 f8 Hakulinen, E-Schneider, L/Eksjo 1990 ] 12...0-0 13.b1 f5 [ 13...h6 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5 xd5 and draw agreed (1/2-1/2) was the uninspired effort in Meduna, E-Hausner, I/ Trnava 1985 ] [ 13...b8 reaches by transposition HanssenErnst above ] 14.e3 b6 [ This is a rather odd square for the knight. Black wants to play ...a4, but W hite can counter this plan with the obvious b2-b3. I would probably give preference to 14...de7!? followed by 15...Rb8 and 16...
b6, and I wouldn't mind playing Black. ] 15.b3 b8 16.c4 d7?! [ 16...xc4 17.bxc4 e4 can also be c o n s i d e r e d , e . g . 18.dxe4 xc4 with chances to both sides ] 17.b5 a8 18.e3 [ 18.c2!? ] 18...b6 [ Leko apparently really likes this square for the knight, but it really isn't the ideal square for the pony. Yet 18...f6!? 19.c2 e7 20.b6 ab8 21.fc1 fd8 22.a4 also leaves White with the upper hand. ] 19.cd6 b8 20.c2 d7 21.b4!? [ 21.f4!? exf4 22.gxf4 followed by Bc3 looks quite attractive for White ] 21...axb4 22.axb4 a2 23.c1 cxb4 24.xb4 xb4 25.xb4 a6 26.c7! This move and the f ollowing sequence of moves up to and including move 32 must have been considered by Kramnik when he played 21 b4!? xd6 27.xb7 d8 28.xe6 xe6 29.d5 fe8 30.xe6+ xe6 31.c4 f8 32.a1 d6 33.ba7?! [ Here 33.aa7! looks both attractive and like the right move, e.g. f6 34.f7! d8 35.c8! b6 36.g7+! h8 37.gb7 c6 38.b8 c1+ 39.g2 c6+ 40.e4! e8 41.f7 c5 42.b7 and it is curtains for Black. Kramnik instead tries to exchange a pair of rooks, knowing that the rook and pawn will likely have the upper hand against the undynamic duo of knight and bishop. ] 33...c6 34.b3 White wants to keep the queens on the board, but it soon transpires that this isn't possible. b6 35.d5 c6 36.b3 b6 37.c4 c6 38.1a6! No draw! xc4 39.dxc4 f6? [ 39...xa6 40.xa6 d7 intending ...Nc5 makes for a better defensive chance, although White also wins after 41.d6 c5 42.d5 and White can systematically push the pawn forward if the knight now leaves c5, and if Black guards it with his bishop, White picks up a second pawn. a6?! 43.c5 b4 44.d8+ f7 45.d7+ f8 46.b7 c6 47.b6 d8 48.c6 e6 49.b7 e8 50.c7 d7 51.c8+ xc8 52.e7 , and White wins a piece and with that, the game. ] 40.c5 xa6 41.xa6 d8 42.a8 c7 1639
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 43.c8 a5 44.c6 Now Black loses a piece, and the game is over f7 45.c7 xc7 46.xc7+ f6 47.f4 exf4 48.exf4 h6 49.c6+ e6 50.h4 f7 51.f2 g7 52.c7+ f6 53.f3 e6 54.h7 f8 55.a7 [ 55.xh6?? g7 56.xg6+ xg6 57.h5 e7 58.g4= ] 55...e6 56.e3 g5 57.h5 [ Or 57.fxg5+ hxg5 58.h5 f4+ 59.gxf4 xf4 60.h6 g6 61.e4 g4 62.h7 h8 63.f4 g3 64.xg3 g6 65.g4 f6 66.h5 followed by Kh6 and Kg7 ] 57...gxf4+ 58.gxf4 g7 59.a6+ e6 60.a8 g7 61.a7+ g8 62.e7 g7 63.d4 [ White can also win with the simple 63.xg7+!? xg7 64.d4 A) 64...f6 65.d5 f7 ( 65...e7 66.e5 f7 67.xf5 g7 68.e6+- ) 66.e5 e7 67.xf5 f7 68.e5 e7 69.f5 f7 70.f6 f8 and now the textb ook t riangulation de cide s 71.f4! e8 72.e4! f8 73.e5! f7 74.f5 f8 75.g6; B) 64...f7 65.d5 f6 66.d6 f7 67.e5 e7 68.xf5 f7 69.e5 e7 70.f5 f7 71.f6 f8 72.f4! with the same triangulation ] 63...xh5 64.e5 g3 65.f6 f8 66.h7 and Black resigned as he will lose both of his pawns 1-0
something of a ChessPublishing.com specialty! See the archives. ] [ 6...ge7 7.b4 still looks promising for White. Chatalbashev, B (2526)-Costantini, R (2314)/Reggio Emilia 2002/[Nigel Davies]. ] 7.0-0 ge7 8.b4 e4 This is an important test of W hite's early a2-a3 and b2-b4. If Black succeeds in defusing this entire idea, then there is no need to commit to 6... a5. [ 8...cxb4?! led Black to an early demise in Roma nishin , O (2 578 ) -Maksim enk o, A (2495)/Ordzhonikidze 2000/[TonyK]. See the archives. ] [ 8...0-0 9.b1 ] 9.e1 f5 10.b2 0-0 [ 10...e6 11.d3 0-0! transposes to the game. ( Castling is stronger than 11...exd3 , e.g. 12.xd3 xc4 13.a4 0-0 14.xg7 xg7 15.bxc5 d5 16.ab2 Romanishin, O (2580)-Short, N (2500)/ Lvov 1984. )] 11.d3 e6! [ Less promising is 11...e5 Shchekachev, A (2551)-Degraeve, J (2575)/Bethune 2002/ [TonyK]. ] 12.dxe4 Releasing the central tension makes B la ck 's t a s k m u ch e a s ie r, s o we s h o u l d investigate the main alternative: [ 12.b1 White doesn't resolve the tension in the center, but anticipates the opening of the b-file. A) 12...exd3 A1) Better than 13.xd3 xc4 14.bxc5 dxc5 15.xc5 , which results in equality provide d B lack displays som e c are : xd1 16.fxd1 1627 A37 A1a) 16...ad8 17.dc1 d2 18.d1 xb2 19.xc4? ( 19.xb2= ) 19...b5! Kramnik,Vladimir 2800 Le Roux, J (2551)-Butkiewicz, L (2394)/ Nepomniachtchi,Ian 2730 Cappelle la Grande FRA 2011.; 6th Tal Memorial (1) 16.11.2011 A1b) 16...fd8 17.xb7 xd1+ [John Bartholomew] 18.xd1 b8 19.xg7 xg7 20.c3 a6 21.c5 xb1+ 22.xb1 xe2= 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.g3 g6 Dizdar, G (2495)-Cramling, P (2530)/ 5.g2 g7 6.a3 d6 Debrecen 1992/EU-chT.; [ 6...a5 is recommended by Nigel Davies in A2) 13.exd3! d4? ( 13...f4 his ChessPub guide "Pure Symmetrical 5 is a better try.) 14.f3 ( 14.e2 ) Nf 3 other Black 5th moves". It puts the 14...f4 15.xd4 xd4 16.e4 c6 brakes on the b2-b4 advance, so W hite 17.bxc5 dxc5 18.xd4 xd4 19.xb7 typically resorts to positional measures like Loginov, V (2540)-Iskusnyh, S (2505)/ o c c u p y i n g t h e d 5 s q u a re wi t h 0 - 0 a n d Togliatti 2003.; Ne1-c2-e3 etc. There is one exception: the B) 12...b8 13.dxe4 xc4 Prusikin, M sharp pawn sacrifice 7.d4!? , which I think is 1640
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 (2527)-Bosiocic, M (2564)/Graz AUT 2011. 14.exf5; C) 12...e5!? Now is a more appropriate time for this move compared to S h c h e k a c h e v - D e g r a e v e . 13.a1 Kosten, A (2507)-Bellin, R (2385) /West B r o m wi c h 2 0 0 4 . H e r e b6! deserves attention, having in mind the exchange sacrifice 14.dxe4 xc4 15.exf5 xf5! 16.xa8 ( D e c l i n i n g w i t h 16.d3!? is better. ) 16...xa8 ] 12...fxe4 13.xe4 xc4 14.c2?! A new move that doesn't change the assessment of the position. [ 14.d3 d5 15.g2 xd3 16.exd3 ( 16.xd3!? was mentioned by GM Alejandro Ramirez as a possible improvement. He gives the line c4 17.d1 d4 18.e4 . Now b5! seems balanced, with Black's unassailable center fully com pen sat ing f or W hite's bishop pa ir.) 16...cxb4 17.axb4 xb4 18.b3 a5 19.a3 c8 20.xb4 axb4 21.xd5 xd5 22.xd5+ h8 23.ab1 c3 24.xb7 b8 25.a6 1/2-1/2 Zubarev, A (2546)Borovikov, V (2580)/Poltava UKR 2008. ] [ 14.g2 cxb4 15.axb4 xb4 16.d2?! ec6 Romanishin, O (2530)-Agzamov, G (2570)/Sochi 1984. ( 16...d5 )] [ 14.bxc5N dxc5 15.d3 d4!N was also mentioned by GM Ramirez. ] 14...d5! 15.g2 d4?! Straightforward play from Nepomniachtchi, but it's a bit generous to allow Kramnik's knight to e4. [ Black can maintain his center with 15...b6 , conveniently restricting White's play, ] [ or try to create some minor problems with 15...b3!? ] 16.e4 xe2 Initiating tactical play that leads to simplifications. [ 16...b6 is once again possible because of 17.bxc5 bxc5 18.xc5?! b6 with a slight initiative for Black. ] 17.xe2 d3 18.g4 xb2 19.ad1 c8! 20.xc8 axc8 21.xd3 cxb4 22.axb4 [ 22.xb4 xb4 23.axb4 fd8 is similar. ] 22...cd8 The game is close to equal. 23.xd8 Nepomniachtchi later called this and Kramnik's next couple of moves "unprofitable". [ Truthfully, White can't do a whole lot because the common-sense alternative is
23.fd1 leading to further exchanges: xd3 24.xd3 d8 etc. ] 23...xd8 24.b1 g7 25.h4 b5= 26.f1 a6 27.c5 Allowing the rook to d2 deserves a "?" from a practical point of view. Kramnik isn't yet worse, but he must now display some serious accuracy to justify this knight raid. d2 28.e3 d4 29.e4? [ 29.xa6 was necessary, but we must remember that Kramnik is human too! Now e5 30.xb5 xe3 ( or 30...f5 31.xf5 gxf5 when White would have to find 32.f1! ) 31.fxe3 f5 is critical, when 32.f1 is the only move to keep the balance, e.g. xe3 33.f2 d1+ 34.f1 when Black cannot win. ] 29...b2 30.xb2 xb2 31.c2 d5 W hite loses the b-pawn. 32.c5 dxb4 33.xb4 xb4 34.d3 Heading for a deceptive opposite-color bishop ending! [ Many spectators were debating the merits of 34.xa6 xa6 35.xb5 . Holding this ending will be an incredibly difficult task, even for a player of Kramnik's defensive abilities. For one thing, Black can poke and prod forever. I'd say the chances of Nepomniachtchi's success would be about 70%. ] 34...xd3 35.xd3 We're accustomed to seeing opposite-color bishop endgames end peacefully, but W hite's problem here is the relative activity of the kings. Black's is rushing to support the advance of the a + b duo, and he proves a bit faster. Much analysis has already been done on this ending, and I'm confident there will be more to come. Thus, I'll limit my comments to the critical variations. The consensus is that W hite is within the bounds of a draw, but needs to be accurate. f7 36.f4 e6 37.f2 d5 38.e2 c5 39.d2? Nepomniachtchi pinpointed this move as leading to White's downfall. [ G M R a m i r e z i n d i c a t e s t h a t 39.f5! would have drawn. His main line runs gxf5 40.xf5 a5 41.xh7 a4 42.d3 e5 43.f5 xg3 44.d7= , when White's bishop only has to switch back to the a2g8 diagonal at the appropriate moment to secure the draw. Ramirez provides a decent amount of analysis of this interesting ending, so I refer the readers to his elaborations on 1641
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the ChessBase site. ] 39...a5 40.f5? Now this definitely loses. [ According to Ramirez, 40.g4 a4 41.c2 is the last chance to hold. ] 40...a4!-+ Nicely ignoring White's "threat". 41.c2 [ The point is that 41.fxg6 just loses to b4! , when the a-pawn rolls through, i.e. 42.gxh7 b3 ( or 42...c3+; just not yet 42...a3?? 43.c2 ) 43.c2 b4! followed by ... a3-a2a1=Q. ] 41...a3 42.b1 [ 42.b3 gxf5-+ ] 42...gxf5 43.c2 b4 44.a2 e5 45.e6 a2 [ or 45...h5-+ ] 46.xa2 xg3 47.h5 h6 48.d3 a3 49.d5 b4 50.c2 e5 51.b3 f4 52.d5 f6 53.b1 b3 Black will play ...b3-b2 then bring his king to the aid of the f-pawn, winning. White resigned. 0-1
1628 Kretchetov,Alexandre Lakdawala,Cyrus ch-SCCF Costa Mesa USA (9) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2335 2435 27.07.2003
Can White play the d4 Symmetric pawn sac a move later? Yes, but it seems to favour Black. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 g6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 e6 6.0-0 Last month we considered [ 6.d4!? xd4 7.xd4 cxd4 8.e4!? ] 6...ge7 7.d4!? The pawn sacrifice delayed! Normally White prefers [ 7.d3 here, although the position is level. ] 7...xd4 8.xd4 cxd4 9.b5 So, the position is similar to the position after 6 d4!? except that Black can now castle, and as White has already castled he doesn't have to worry about checks. f5 This seems the most obvious, covering both d4 and d6. [ O t h e r w i s e : 9...d5 10.cxd5 xd5 11.xd5!? exd5 ( 11...xd5?? 12.c7+ ) 12.xd4 ( 12.f4?! 0-0 13.c7 h3 ) 12...0-0 13.e3 Jussupow,A-Cordes,H/Graz 1 9 7 8 , w h e n h3 must offer Black good play. ] [ 9...0-0 is also playable , 10.xd4 d5
11.cxd5 xd5 (completely symmetric!) 12.e4 b6 13.b5 ( 13.e3?! c4 ) 13...xd1 14.xd1 d7 15.d6 c6 with good chances, i.e. 16.f4?! fd8 17.e5 xg2 18.xg2 c4! the knight is pinned, 19.d4? xe5! winning quickly, Bergmann, T-Angantysson,H/Reykjavik 1984. ] 10.g4 The critical reply, attempting to chase the knight from its post, although [ 10.e4!? is also possible, dxe3 11.xe3 0-0 ( 11...xe3?! 12.d6+ e7 13.fxe3 with an attack) 12.xa7 xb2 13.b1 f6 14.c5 a5 15.b6 xa2 16.e4 White has some compensation, Fiorito,FZarnicki,P/Boca 1997. ] 10...h4!? Obvious, but new, and probably not best, [ 10...a6! i s c r i t i c a l , 11.a4 ( 11.gxf5?! axb5 12.fxe6 fxe6 13.cxb5 0-0 leaves White with the weaker kingside, Lim, J-Nickoloff,B/Thessaloniki 1988) 11...b8! ( 11...h4!? 12.d6+ f8 13.xc8 xc8 14.b4+ g8 15.xb7 b8 pinning the bishop, with reasonable chances because of the weakness on g4, Steiner-Tukmakov,V/ Orel 1966, the first game in this line) 12.gxf5 axb5 13.cxb5 ( 13.xb5!? ) 13...d5! 14.fxe6 fxe6 15.e3 0-0 16.exd4 McDonald,N-Predojevic,B/Budapest HUN 2003, which is quite unclear, although the lack of a white g-pawn is again a problem. ] 11.d6+ f8 12.b3!? xg2 13.xg2 h4 14.h3 The problem for Black is how to evict the powerful knight on d6, and then develop h i s q u e e n s i d e . h5? This leaves the black queen without a retreat, better to play [ 14...f5 ] 15.g5 Forced but good. d3 Else White would simply win the queen by playing f4, and then Bd2-e1. 16.e3! White keeps the black queen trapped. e5 [ 16...dxe2 17.xe2 xa1 18.xa1 and how can Black stop Rd1-d4 ? ] 17.xd3 f4 [ 17...xa1 18.xa1 is no help, b6 19.f4 and again Qe4 followed by Bf2 is winning. ] 18.xf4 xf4 19.g3! xg3+ 20.fxg3 Black has managed to extract his queen, but at too great a positional cost as the knight paralyses the black position. h7 21.e4 b6 22.e5 The black position is hopeless, he can 1642
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 do nothing against the doubling of rooks on the f-file. 1-0
1629 Larsen,Bent Chandler,Murray G Hastings 9091 (3) [Nigel Davies]
A37 2545 2560 1990
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 ge7 7.d3 0-0 8.f4 d6 [ B la c k h a s a m a jo r a lt e rn a t ive i n 8...d5 which Larsen has faced several times, for example 9.cxd5 xd5 10.xd5 exd5 11.d2 g4 ( 11...e8 12.ac1 b6 13.h6 f6 14.xg7 xg7 15.fe1 a5 was Larsen, B (2560)-Boissonet, C (2400)/ Buenos Aires 1991, and now White should p r o b a b l y p l a y 16.d4 with an interesting game in prospect) 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 e8 14.g2 d7 15.ab1 e6 16.fe1 b6 17.h4!? h5 18.h3 f5 gave White the better chances because of Black's weaknesses in Larsen, B (2585)-Browne, W (2540)/Buenos Aires 1980. ] 9.d2 a6 Probably not the best. [ There's a good case for 9...f5 in order to prevent White's next. ] 10.h6 b8 [ A n d h e r e B l a c k s h o u l d p l a y 10...xh6 11.xh6 f6 followed by 12...e5, putting his pawns on the opposite colour to his remaining bishop. After the text W hite is able to switch plans and play in the centre. ] 11.xg7 xg7 12.d4! b6 [ 12...cxd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4+ would leave the d6 pawn very weak. Chandler evidently decided that it was better to let the pawn push on to d5, but that also has its problems. ] 13.fd1 c7 14.ac1 b7 15.d5 exd5 16.xd5 [ 16.cxd5 also looks pretty good. ] 16...xd5 17.cxd5 e7 18.c3+ f6 19.g5 c8 20.b4 f5 21.e4 h6 22.e6+ Setting up a passed pawn on e6. Black probably allowed this in the belief that he would be able to blockade this pawn and also stop him breaking through on the dark
squares. But ultimately this does not prove to be the case. xe6 23.dxe6 fd8 24.f4 g8 25.g4 c8 26.f5 g5 27.g3 c7 28.d2 e7 29.h4 gxh4 [ After 29...h6 there follows 30.hxg5 hxg5 31.cd1 c8 32.e5! , for example fxe5 33.f6+ xf6 34.f1+ xe6 35.b3+ d7 36.f7+ with a winning attack. ] 30.xh4 c6 31.g5 fxg5 32.xg5+ h8 33.f6 There's not much to be done about White's duo of passed pawns. g8 34.f4 g6 35.f7 g7 36.f1 f8 37.xd6 d4 38.e7+ xe7 39.xd4 1-0
1630 Lie,Kjetil A Fedorov,Alexei Politiken Cup (6) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2459 2620 28.07.2004
1.c4 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 c5 4.c3 c6 5.a3 a5 6.f3 e5 7.d4!? Tony Miles ' interesting move. W hen I asked Kasparov about its merits many years ago he simply told me that there was no point playing this as W hite is better if he plays more simply because of the weakness on d5! cxd4 8.b5 d6 9.e3 ge7 Probably the simplest move, B l a c k a l l o ws W h i t e t o r e g a i n t h e p a wn , preferring to finish his development. Other moves: [ 9...h6 with similar ideas, 10.exd4 0-0 11.d5 e7 12.h3 f6 13.d2 f7 14.e4 f5 15.0-0 with a small plus, Miles,AHeyken,E/Germany 1990. ] [ 9...e6 is the most awkward reply, hitting t h e l o o s e c - p a w n , 10.b3 dxe3?! ( 10...a4!? ) 11.xe3 e4?! 12.xd6+ f8 13.xe4 and White will have more than enough comp for the exchange, Chilingirova, P-Horn,E/Dresden GER 2004. ] [ 9...g4 was seen in the seminal MilesKudrin game, see the archives. ] 10.exd4 0-0 11.0-0 When I had this position I preferred [ 11.d5 to force the knight to an inferior square, a7 12.xa7 ( 12.c3 is logical, leaving the black knight on a silly square ) 12...xa7 13.0-0 a8 14.d2 f5 1643
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.e4 xe4 16.xe4 f5 17.g2 c7 18.b3 Kosten,A-Viatte,R/FRA 1993, when e4 looks fine for Black. ] 11...a4!? An innovation, fixing the hole on b3, and depriving the c-pawn of possible pawn defence. [ 11...g4 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 f5 aims to get a knight on d4, 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.e3 fd4 16.xd4 exd4 and despite the opposite-colour bishops, W hite has a plus, Salaun,Y-Lecuyer,C/Bescanon 1999. ] 12.e1 Again White prefers not to close the centre with d5. f5 However, Black would like to force W hite to make a decision! 13.g5 b6 [ 13...f6 would just take the pressure off d4. ] 14.d5 cd4!? An interesting choice, other knight moves were also possible, for instance [ 14...ce7 as if 15.g4 f6 ] 15.fxd4 xd4 16.xd4 exd4 Black accepts an isolated pawn, but hopes to obtain play against W hite's slightly ragged qu e e n s i d e . 17.c1 f5 Black prepares to push the d4-pawn. [ 17...xb2 i s p l a y a b l e , 18.e7 e8 ( 18...xa3!? ) 19.xd6 f5 is unclear. ] 18.g4!? W hite has to play sharply. d7 19.e7 ad8 20.f3 h6 21.f4 xb2 22.ce1 White has had to shed a pawn, but his pieces are very active. c3 Heading for the endgame, [ 22...b6 is met by 23.g3 and d6 is weak. ] 23.xc3 dxc3 24.xd6 xg4 25.c5 A wild position has arisen where both sides have their trumps. c2?! [ 25...b6! is stronger, 26.c7 bxc5! 27.xd8 xd8 when Black's c-pawns and bishops are better than the exchange. ] 26.c1 d1 27.xb7 Both regaining a pawn and stopping ...Bb2. xd6!? [ 27...fe8 28.e7 xe7 29.xe7 b2 was another possibility, but then 30.xc2 xc2 31.e2 regains the piece and White remains with two powerful passed pawns. ] 28.cxd6 e5 Black threatens . ..Bf4, forcing the continuation. 29.e4 f4 30.xc2 xc1 31.xd1 xa3 32.d7 Material is almost equal and opposite-colour bishops roam the board making a draw likely, but nonetheless White has real chances due to his d7-pawn.
d8 33.xa4 f8 34.b3 c5 35.c3 b6 36.c6 a5 37.d6 g7 38.c4 f5 39.c5 b4 40.c8 a5 41.c2 b4 42.e2 xd6 43.e8 c7 44.f1 g5 45.e2 g4 46.d3 h5 47.c4 h4 Black is planning to exchange some kingside pawns, and create a passed pawn of his own. 48.d5 f7 49.c5 [ 49.c6? breaks the control of e8, and after xe8 50.dxe8+ xe8 51.xc7+ e7 52.d7 f6 53.d6 g3! 54.fxg3 hxg3 55.hxg3 g5 56.e5 g4 the last pawn goes and Black draws. ] 49...h3 50.b3+ f6 51.c6 White has made serious progress, his king is advanced and Black is still very passive. a5 52.e6+ g5 53.e5 c3 54.e8 a5 55.d6 f6 56.e6+ g5 57.e5 b6 58.c6? [ 58.e6! seems obvious and strong, f8 59.e7 and White wins, the f-pawn is lost. ] 58...xf2! 59.e8 b6 Of course, White must have missed this. 60.d6 [ 60.xb6 xd7 61.e2 g3 62.hxg3 d3 and now it is Black who has serious winning chances! ] 60...f6 61.e6+ g5 62.e8 f6 63.e6+ g5 64.e8 Both sides are happy to repeat. f6 65.e6+ ½-½
1631 Loginov,Valery A Stanec,Nikolaus Donau op 03rd [Nigel Davies]
A37 2540 2460 1994
1.f3 c5 2.g3 c6 3.c4 g6 4.g2 g7 5.c3 d6 6.0-0 h6 7.d4 cxd4 8.xh6 xh6 9.xd4 xd4 This may well be Black's simplest and most economical choice, but it still leaves White with some pressure. [ 9...d7 is Andersson, U (2635)-Van der Wiel, J (2530)/Wijk aan Zee 1983. ] 10.xd4 0-0 11.fd1 g7 12.e3 This looks like the most effective post for the queen keeping the d-file open for the rook on d1, supporting c4-c5 and putting pressure on e7. This is quite unpleasant for Black who feels obliged to part with his dark square bishop in order to develop his queen o t h e r w i s e h e ' d b e h i t b y N c 3 - d 5 . xc3 1644
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.xc3 c7 [ 13...b6 has also been played, for example 14.d5!? ( 14.a4!? a5 15.d5 may be a better way of doing this) 14...b8 15.d4 e6 16.b3 a5 17.d2 bc8 18.h4 f5 19.d5 xd5 20.xd5+ g7 21.d2 f7 held on for Black in Srinivasa Rao, M (2244)-Satyapragyan, S (2403)/ Hyderabad 2006. ] 14.ac1 [ Another move is 14.d5 , for example b8 15.h4 h5 16.e3 b6 17.h6 e6 18.f3 b7 19.xb7 xb7 20.ac1 was just a shade better for White in Bartels, H (2335)Frias Pablaza, V (2480)/London 1994. ] 14...e6 15.c5 Trying for more than just a slight space advantage. [ 15.d4 would have been another way to play it. ] 15...xc5 16.xc5 dxc5 17.b3 ad8 18.xb7 xd1+ 19.xd1 c4 20.d5 xd5 21.xd5 cxb3 22.axb3 b8 Equal, dead equal. ½-½
weakness of the b-pawn can be the more serious one. 14.b4 axb3 15.xb3 ab8 [ 15...a7! 16.b1 d4 ] 16.b1 What else? h6 [ 16...d4! shows how easy Black's position is to play. ] 17.b6 f5 18.d5 [ 18.d5 xd5 ( 18...g5?! 19.xe7+ xe7 20.xb7 f4 21.d2 d5 with some but not enough compensation) 19.cxd5 d4 20.xd4 exd4= ] ½-½
1633 Markowski,Tomasz Genov,Petar EuTCh Plovdiv BUL (1) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2610 2494 11.10.2003
It is funny how natural moves can sometimes be inaccurate, letting slip appreciable advantages. 1.g3 c5 2.g2 g6 3.c4 g7 4.c3 c6 5.f3 e6 6.d4!? It is nice to see a really strong player try this gambit. xd4 7.xd4 cxd4 8.e4!? White deviates from 1632 A37 the main move, [ 8.b5 ] Maletin,Pavel 2516 Unusual, we examined the two Safin,Shukhrat 2445 8...c7!? Stone Flower (4) 09.12.2005 principal lines, [ 8...e7 and ] [John Watson] [ 8...d5 plus other lesser lines, in Foisor,CMore pure theory. This line used to be thought Calzetta,M. ] to be promising for White (by me, for example). 9.c5 The problem, White will install his knight Now it looks completely harmless. 1.f3 g6 on d6. e7 10.f4 a5+ 2.g3 c5 3.g2 g7 4.c4 c6 5.c3 e5 [ 10...e5? loses to 11.d6+ ( 11.xd4? 6.a3 d6 7.b1 a5 8.d3 ge7 9.0-0 0-0 looks strong but is met by f5! winning! ) 10.e1 e6 11.g5 f6 12.e3 11...d8 ( 11...f8 12.b3 and Black The now-standard maneuvre: White prevents cannot defend f7 ) 12.xf7+ ] ...d5 and hopes for a queenside attack. A 11.d2 c7 12.d6+ f8 13.c1 f5! couple of moves and it proves harmless. d7 The best move, and an innovation. in the 13.c2 To support b4. I don't think that o r i g i n a l g a m e i n t h i s l i n e , C h e r n i n , A anything is that great here but I suppose Parameswaran,T/ Bangalore 1981, Black White might try preferred [ 13.a4!? ] [ 13...h5 but after 14.a4 d5!? ( 14...f5 13...a4! A simple equaliser. 13...Bh3 had been 15.a5 b8 16.b3! ) 15.xd5 exd5 played before leading to what I think is a 16.a3 g8 17.0-0 f5 18.f4 small White advantage. Now White's a-pawn with a considerable advantage - Black can will be as bad as Black's b-pawn, which is hardly move. ] only obvious once you see it, since in the 14.b3 e5!? Black plays logically and Benoni and King's Indian, for example, the attempts to remove the powerful white knight. 1645
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.c4 f6 Perhaps Black should concede the bishop by [ 15...g7!? although after 16.xe5 xe5 17.e4! White is better. ] 16.0-0 The sort of 'obvious' move that is sometimes bad, White misses [ 16.a5! b8 17.d6 xd6 18.cxd6 Black cannot capture the pawn because of Bb4, skewering the queen against the king, and meanwhile Bc7 is the threat, so ... a6 19.c7 a7 20.b6 b8 21.d3 with advantage, as the d4-pawn is dropping. ] 16...g7 The king gets to safety, and now Black must try to develop his queenside. 17.a3 Careless, White should play more dynamically: [ 17.e4! dxe3 18.fxe3 with the nasty threat of g4 and a strong attack along the f-file. ] 17...e7 18.b4 [ 18.b4!? would stop Black's next move. ] 18...d5! 19.b6!? [ 19.f4 c6 20.b6 might be more accurate. ] 19...axb6 Obviously forced, [ 19...b8? loses on the spot: 20.f4 e5 21.xd5 ] 20.xa8 bxc5 21.bxc5 d7 [ 21...xc5!? ] 22.a7 Black has a pawn and a strong centre for the exchange. b5 23.fe1 [ 23.c6!? is interesting, xc6 24.g4 h4 25.xd4+ which looks unclear. ] 23...c4 24.b4 h5 25.f3 e5 26.a3 c8 B la ck ' s c o m p a ct ce n t re a n d we ll- p la ce d pieces seems more important than the slight material disadvantage. 27.g2 d7 28.c2 Maybe it is time to break in the centre by [ 28.e4!? dxe3 29.fxe3 g5 30.h3 which is difficult to assess. ] 28...b5! Time to round-up the c5-pawn. 29.c6 xc6 30.xe7 xe7 31.b8 The white queen is awkwardly placed and must try to return to a more meaningful post. e6 32.cc1 The white rooks are deprived of open files and activity. c6 33.c8 e7 34.b1 a6 35.f4? Desperation. [ 35.f1 is awkward, but better. ] 35...d3! This is strong, although [ 35...xe2 is simple enough. ] 36.e3 Unfortunately, if
[ 36.exd3?! then xd3 menaces the rook on b 1 , a n d a ls o . . . B f 5 , t ra p p in g t h e wh it e queen. ] 36...d2 37.ed1 xa3 The white position falls apart. 38.xd2 xe3+ 39.f2 d4 40.bb2 exf4 41.gxf4 c1+ 42.f1 e1 Mate will follow quickly. 0-1
1634 Markowski,Tomasz Macieja,Bartlomiej ch Warsaw POL (12) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2605 2633 06.05.2004
1.g3 c5 2.g2 g6 3.c4 g7 4.c3 c6 5.f3 e6 6.d4 I am very happy to have a loo k a t this excit ing line , a s I h ave b ee n t e m p t e d t o p l a y i t m y s e l f s e ve r a l t i m e s recently (but my opponent's played other fifth moves each time). cxd4 [ 6...xd4 is the major alternative. ] 7.b5 d5 8.cxd5 a5+ 9.d2!? [ 9.d2 was unclear in Miles,A-Kosten,A/ Palma de Mallorca 1989. ] 9...xb5 Best, although [ 9...exd5 i s p o s s i b l e : 10.d6+ e7 11.xc8+ xc8 12.0-0 f6 13.b4!? more in the spirit of the opening than ( 13.b3 b6 14.e3 he8 15.exd4 f8 an d B la ck is O K , Re n e t , O-O la f ss o n , H/ France-Iceland m 1993) 13...xb4 14.b3 a6 15.xd4 e4 ( 15...hd8 ) 16.xe4! dxe4 17.g5+ f8 18.c1! xc1? 19.e6+!! ouch! fxe6 ( 19...xe6 20.d8+ e8 21.e7+ g8 22.xe8+ ) 20.d8+ f7 21.e7+ g8 22.xc1 c6 23.e8+ f8 24.h6 a3 25.xe6# 1-0 McNab,CColeman,D/Eastbourne 1990, very pretty! ] 10.dxc6 e7 Black takes care with his development, [ 10...bxc6 11.a4 a6 12.e4 is a little annoying for Black, e7 13.d6+ f8 14.0-0 d5 15.e4! with a useful attack, Voiska,M-Bertino,P/Salsomaggiore Terme ITA 1999. ] 11.a4 b6 This is normally preferred to [ 11...b4?! when 12.b3 xc6 13.a3 keeps the black king in the centre, a5 14.0-0 f8 15.c4 with more than enough 1646
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 play for the pawn, McNab,C-Wojtkiewicz,A/ London 1990. ] 12.c4! [ 12.cxb7 xb7 13.c4 transposes. ] 12...b4+ 13.d2 xc4 14.cxb7 xb7 15.xb7 b8 White has regained his pawn, and has the bishop pair, but Black has a better central presence, and has progressed with his development. 16.b3 [ 16.c1 forces a draw: a2 17.a1 c4 ( 17...xb2 18.b1 ch a n ge s n o t h in g) 18.c1 a2 1/2-1/2 Lopushnoy,D-Zakharov, V/Novosibirsk 1998. ] 16...c5!? Less common than [ 16...c7 17.g2 ( 17.f3 0-0 18.0-0 is similar, Fancsy, I-Horvath,T/Hungary 1996 ) 17...0-0 18.0-0 fd8 19.c1 b6 ( 19...d6 allows 20.a5 dc8 21.d3 followed by b4-5 getting the queenside pawns going, Markowski,T-Sriram,J/Calcutta IND 2001 ) 20.b4 d5 21.xd5 xd5 22.b5 both sides have reason to be happy with their respective positions, Graf, JTitscher,L/Odessa 1990. ] 17.b4! Surely this obvious move is the problem with Black's last move, and yet this is a novelty! [ 17.g2?! allows d5 when b4 is hindered, and 18.c1 is easily countered by c3 19.0-0 b6 20.e1 0-0 Black is clearly on t o p , M a r k o w s k i , T - B o l o g a n , V / K o s za l i n 1999. ] [ 17.c1!? i s b e t t e r , b6 18.e4 0-0 ( 18...xb3 19.xb3 xb3 20.c7 regains the pawn) 19.b4 fd8 20.0-0 d5 21.xd5 xd5 22.b5 reaching the same position as in the Graf game, above, Sulava, N-Hauchard,A/Gonfreville 1999. ] 17...f5 This is the reason behind Black's sixteenth move, he can place the queen more aggressively, and aim to balance W hite's queenside plus with a kingside advance. 18.f3 d5 [ 18...0-0 seems simpler. ] 19.b3 c3 [ 19...d3!? 20.c1 dxe2 is interesting. ] 20.c6+ f8 The king has to move, but White also has to waste time defending the e2pawn. 21.c4 h5 22.b5 f6?! 23.c1?! White misses a good chance: [ 23.xc3! dxc3 24.e4 e5 25.d1
and there is a nasty threat of f4 and e5 to deal with, when the c3-pawn drops. ] 23...g7 24.0-0 bc8 [ 24...h4 would be the practical choice, aiming for kingside play. ] 25.e3 Of course, the knight is undermined. d5 26.fe1! [ 26.exd4 h4 is fine for Black, the white lightsquared bishop is cut-off from the king's defence, and so W hite must play 27.e2 when hxg3 28.fxg3 xd4+ 29.h1 xh2+ 30.xh2 h8+ 31.g2 h3+ forces a draw. ] 26...dxe3 [ 26...h4!? is again tempting, 27.e4 f3 wit h n a st y t h r e a t s, b u t W h i t e c a n p la y 28.e2 ( 28.exd5?? g e t s m a t e d : hxg3 29.fxg3 xh2! 30.xh2 h8+ 31.g1 h1# ) 28...xe2 29.xe2 ] 27.fxe3 e5 28.e4 b6 29.b3 cd8 30.e3 h4 A key move that gains real counterplay for Black. 31.c5 [ 31.c5 b8 32.e5 e7 33.cc1 hxg3 34.hxg3 h5 is messy, but both players have reason to continue. ] ½-½
1635 Markowski,Tomasz Macieja,Bartlomiej ch-(playoff), POL (2) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2525 2490 1998
1.f3 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c4 White has preferred developing his kingside first, and only transposes into the English now. c6 Taking hold of d4 to stop White from e x p a n d i n g i n t h e c e n t r e . 5.c3 e6 A popular move, Black wants to develop his king's knight to e7, rather than play [ 5...f6 when 6.d4 is possible, and good. ] 6.d4!? White tries to force this move through, anyway. This pawn sacrifice aims to enliven a dull position, and claimed a number of victims (including myself) when it was first played, before good antidotes were found for Black. xd4 7.xd4 cxd4 8.b5 The point, White targets the weak d6-square, and hopes to t h e r e b y r e c o v e r t h e d 4 - p a w n . b6 Defending both squares, d6 and d4. 9.a4 1647
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Otherwise Black will chase the knight away, by ...a6. a6 Black has to take great care, as the obvious developing move [ 9...e7? is hit by the thematic 10.f4 e5 11.c5! xc5 12.c1 and Black is lost. ] 10.e3 d3 Otherwise White will simply capture on d4: [ 10...e7?! 11.xd4 0-0 12.0-0 with an edge to White, Santacruz,F-Fauland, A/Novi Sad 1990. ] 11.0-0 Chernin's suggested improvement over his game a gain st W o lf f , New York 1989 , which continued: [ 11.a3?! f8 12.b4 d5! 13.0-0 f6! 14.c3 dxc4 and Black had a clear advantage. ] 11...e7 12.d1 axb5! Of course, to ease the pressure on his position Black simply sacrifices the exchange. In return he obtains an impressive pawn chain. 13.xa8 bxc4 14.b1 0-0 15.d2 d5 One glance at the position should be enough to see that White's opening has been refuted. 16.dc1 c7! T o f r e e t h e b 7 - p a w n . 17.a3 d7? Black is over-careful, the simple [ 17...c6 18.b3 b5 kept all Black's advantage intact. ] 18.b3 b5 19.c5 f5 20.a4 White is trying hard to break-up the black pawn chain. a6 21.b6? White permits a surprising idea, that leads to a further deterioration of his position, he should have gone for [ 21.axb5 when c8 22.b6 xb5 is only slightly better for Black. ] 21...bxa4!! 22.xa6 axb3 Black has now sacrificed a whole rook, but look at those pawns! 23.a5 b8 24.c3 b5 Black decides that the endgame is the best place to exploit his passed pawns, and he is right- the less pieces on the board, the more difficult it will be for White to stop the pawns advancing. 25.xb5 xb5 26.xg7 xg7 27.f1 d6 28.f3 b4? Black is being too cautious again, and has forgotten the old adage: 'passed pawns must be pushed', [ 28...d2 29.d1 c3 wins at a canter, the three pawns will win both rooks. ] 29.b2 White is not giving-up, and, in fact, was probably encouraged by Black's previous play. b5? A simple tactical blunder, [ 29...e5 followed b y ...e4, and the further
a d va n c e o f t h e p a wn s , i s s t il l wi n n i n g comfortably. ] 30.xd3! cxd3 31.d1 Picking-off the d3pawn , an d re ducing the num ber of b lac k passed pawns to one, and then White will take that one too. a3 32.xd3 c4 33.dxb3 xb3 34.xb3 d2 35.b4 xf3+ 36.f2 After all the excitement, a drawn position is reached. e5 37.e2 g5 38.e4 dxe4 39.xe4 I suppose Black was playing for the win here, but neither player has any serious chances whatsoever. g6 40.e3 h5 41.a4 f5 42.a6 f6 43.a4 g4 44.a6 h4 45.gxh4 xh4 46.f4 g2+ 47.g3 e3 Black has managed to effect a favourable change in the pawn structure, but W hite hastens to swap-off his weakling hpawn, and the position is a theoretical draw. 48.h3 gxh3 49.xh3 f4 50.h2 f5 51.g1 e5 52.f2 g4+ 53.g2 e3+ 54.f2 g4+ 55.g2 e4 56.a5+ f6 57.a6+ g5 58.a3 White is ready to sacrifice his rook for the two pawns, should Black play 58... f3+, for example. An even simpler drawing method is to place the rook behind the pawns, on f8, or e8. h6 59.f2 f5 60.a4 e3+ 61.f3 h4+ 62.e2 g4 63.a8! Finally, White finds the right plan. g6 64.e8 65 Rxe3 cannot be stopped. f5 ½-½
1636 McNab,Colin Anderson Rowson,Jonathan Glasgow (4) [Jonathan Rowson]
A37 2470 2622 10.11.2008
1.f3 c5 2.c4 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c6 5.c3 d6 6.0-0 [ 6.d3 It is a different story when White plays d3, because Black has more time to get organised. d7!? An old Larsen idea. Black intends ...b6, Bb7 and probably Nh6-f5, trying to keep as much tension in the position as possible. 7.a4!? Ambitioustrying to stop b6 but ultimately running into ...a6 and ...b5. b8 8.b1 a6 9.d2 f6 10.a3 0-0 11.b4 b5 12.cxb5 axb5 A) 13.xb5 d4 14.c3 xa4 15.xa4 1648
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c2+ 16.d1 xa3 17.b3 cxb4 ( 17...e6!?; 17...g4 ) 18.xb4 d7 19.b6 c6; B) 13.b3 d4 14.xd4 cxd4 15.d5 e8!? ( 15...xd5 16.xd5 h3! ); C) 13.d1 d4 14.0-0 ( 14.e3 xf3+ 15.xf3 b7 16.e4 ) 14...b7 15.e3 xf3+ 16.xf3 xf3! ( 16...fc8 17.e4 ) 17.xf3 fc8 0-1 C McNab (2420)-J Rowson (2585)/Marymass 2002/[JR] (35) ] 6...d7?! I recommend this move (and the associated idea of taking on c3) in Chess for Zebras, but now that I have actually played it I am much less confident that it is a safe way to unbalance the game. 7.e3 xc3!? 8.bxc3 [ 8.dxc3!? f6 ( 8...f5 9.e4 fxe4 10.g5 f6 11.xe4 xe4 12.xe4 also probably favours W hite.) 9.e1 b6 10.e4 b7 11.d2 intending Nd2-f1-e3 is also probably better for white. ] 8...f5 9.e4!? fxe4 [ 9...f6 10.exf5 xf5 11.d4 might be viable for Black, but I no longer trust it. ] 10.g5 f6 11.xe4 xe4 12.xe4 b6 13.e2! b7 14.d5 d8 15.e1! e5 16.d4 xd5 17.cxd5 f7 18.f4 0-0 It is a sign of my over-confident state that I felt I was fine here. In fact I have to work hard to keep my disadvantage to a manageable level. 19.dxe5 dxe5 20.fxe5 xe5 Here I made an optimistic draw offer. I have played enough Grunfelds to know that White's d-pawn ('Delroy') is a serious asset here. 21.f4! f7 [ 21...g4 is more tenacious- the knight will ultimately be happiest if it can safely blockade the d-pawn on d7. ] 22.e6 ad8? Careless, but it's already pretty bad. 23.h6! xe6 [ 23...fe8 24.xd7 xe1+ 25.xe1 xd7 26.e8# ] 24.dxe6 xh6 25.e7 d7 26.exf8+ xf8 27.ad1 b7! 28.d5 f5 29.g2 f7 30.g4 e7 31.d6 c8 32.f1+ e7 33.df6 d6 34.g5 Perhaps I can resist harder here, but it was a weekend congress and the clock was ticking rather fast. d7 35.d1 b5 36.d5 c4 37.f3 a5 38.f4 b4 39.cxb4 axb4 40.e5 e8 41.f7+ xf7 42.xd7+ g8 43.b7 b3 44.a4 c7
45.a5 1-0
1637 McShane,Luke J Carlsen,Magnus London Chess Classic 2nd (1) [Nigel Davies]
A37 2645 2802 08.12.2010
1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 c6 5.f3 d6 Waiting for White to castle before developing his knight to h6. [ The point is that after the immediate 5...h6 White can play the dangerous 6.h4 , for example d6 7.d3 f5 8.h5 fd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.f4 a6 11.d2 b8 12.hxg6 hxg6 13.xh8+ xh8 14.0-0-0 with W hite having all the chances in Dizdarevic, E (2540)-Gyorkos, L (2435)/ Solin 1993. ] 6.0-0 h6 Now he does it. Carlsen is clearly trying to unbalance the position as befits his rating advantage, but this is a risky business. 7.d4 cxd4 8.xh6 xh6 9.xd4 e5?! Continuing in very ambitious style, but White can counter this 'threat' to his c4 pawn whilst improving his position. [ It turns out that this is a 'new move', the known alternatives being 9...d7 ] [ and 9...xd4 . ] 10.b3 0-0 11.fd1 d7 12.a3 a5 13.b4!? [ An old timer like myself would probably be happy with 13.e3 followed by 14.Rac1, with a nice edge for White (the way forward is to systematically advance the a- and bpawns). Of course a young thrusting GM like Luke McShane may feel more acrobatically inclined. ] 13...a6 14.b5 a8 15.e3 a4 Preventing W hite from putting his knight on a4 which would take away the queenside dark squares (a5, b6, c5) from Black's pieces. 16.ab1 [ And not 16.xa4? because of c5 . ] 16...g7 17.e4 b6 18.c6!? e8 19.b4 f5?! Another move that seems rather too active for Black's state of health. [ 19...a5 would have been better when it's not easy to breach Black's position. ] 20.c3 Maybe not the best. 1649
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ There seems to be a strong case for 20.d5! d8 21.g5 , for example c5 ( 21...f6 22.b6 xd5 23.cxd5 makes it very difficult for Black to meet the threat of White just putting his d1 rook on c7) 22.b6 b8 ( 22...d7 23.c7 wins the exchange) 23.c7 f8 24.b5 creates intolerable pressure, for example f6 25.xh7 xh7 26.xc5 looks winning for White. ] 20...c5? Mistakenly offering the a4 pawn as it turns out that White can take it. [ 20...a5 was better when there's still not much in it. ] 21.xa4! a7 22.a6 Cold blooded and strong. Now White is threatening c4-c5 which forces Black's hand. bxa6 23.b6 xb6 24.xb6 b8 25.c5 e6 26.db1 dxc5 [ 26...c7 is answered by 27.c6 when the cpawn is a monster. ] 27.b7 xb7 28.xb7 a8 29.xc5 c8 [ 29...f7 i s a n s w e r e d b y 30.xe7! , discovering an attack on Black's queen from the bishop on g2. ] 30.xa6 f7 31.c6 d8 32.d7 xd7 [ Or if 32...e6 then 33.b6 xd7 34.xd7 xd7 35.b8 , winning Black's queen. ] 33.xd7 c1+ 34.f1 xf1+ [ After 34...c2 White has 35.b1 when the queens will come off anyway. ] 35.xf1 c4+ 36.g1 xa2 37.a4 e5 38.f3 h6 39.b3+ There are some fortress p o s i t io n s wi t h j u st 3 p a wn s e a c h o n t h e kingside but four will mean it's hopeless for Black. 1-0
heading for e3. [ Tony recently faced a recommendation of h i s o wn f r o m " T h e D y n a m i c E n g l i s h " : 11.g5 f6 12.e3 , pressurizing c5 and a t t e m p t in g t o in d u ce B la ck t o p l a y t h e weakening move ...b7-b6 before ...d6-d5. After d7 13.c2 a4 14.b3 axb3 15.xb3 the players reached a very rich position in Johannesson, I (2331)-Kosten, A (2492) England 2012/[TonyK]. Spend some time with Tony's notes to this one - I promise you'll learn something! ] [ White can also insist upon preventing ... d6d 5 b y w a y o f 11.d5!? . However, I wouldn't recommend this in view of b8! 12.c2 b5 with good counterplay, e.g. 13.b3 bxc4 14.dxc4 f5!? 15.g5 h6 16.xe7 xe7 17.d2 e4 , Gonzalez Zamora, J (2546)-Mekhitarian, K (2218) Buenos Aires 2005/[John Watson]. ] 11...d5 12.cxd5 xd5 13.e3 de7! The stock reply, keeping the knights in touch with one another. [ Weaker is 13...xe3?! 14.xe3 d4 a s in Me e n a ksh i, S (2 2 7 3 )-P h ilip p e , C (2411) La Fere 2005. Here W atson recommends grabbing the pawn: 15.xb7! b8 16.g2 with advantage to White. ( 16.a6!? is interesting )] 14.c4 b8 Black is ready for ...b7-b5. Should he achieve this break, he'll have no problems. 15.g5 Typical. White wants Black to weakens his kingside a bit before retreating to e3. f6 [ Nobody has tried 15...h6!? , though I'm not entirely sure why. Principled is A) White could of course back up with 1638 A37 16.e3 , but b5!? 17.d2 d4 18.a4 bxa4! ought to yield Black fine play.; McShane,Luke J 2713 B) 16.xc6 hxg5 17.b5 ( 17.g2 Jones,Gawain C 2644 b5! ) 17...f5 doesn't really impress 4th London Chess Classic (6.4) 07.12.2012 either.; [John Bartholomew] C) 16.xe7 xe7 when White can establish a good grip on the light squares Neither Luke McShane nor Gawain Jones with 17.b5 , but surely Black has a were at their best in the 2012 London Chess reasonable game, i.e. f5 ] Classic, but they both played fighting chess. Here they tangle in a theoretical line of the 16.e3 b6 The most usual and positionally Botvinnik System. 1.c4 c5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 sound decision. Black does have a couple of g6 4.f3 g7 5.c3 e5 6.0-0 ge7 7.a3 other moves: [ 16...d4!? 0-0 8.d3 d6 9.b1 a5 10.e1 e6 11.c2 A) 17.f4?! b5! (White always has to be The most consistent continuation, simply 1650
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 mindf ul of this advance ) 18.d2 f5 ( 18...h6!? ) 19.c1 a4 20.f3 exf4 21.xf4 Anastasian, A (2587)-Zhou Jianchao (2551) Moscow 2007. Here b4! is powerful for Black, for instance 22.xa4 ( 22.xb8 bxc3 23.f4 b3 24.e1 cxb2 25.b1 xf3+ 26.xf3 d5-+ ) 22...b3 23.d2 xf3+ 24.xf3 xa4 25.xb8 xb8 .; B) 17.a4 ec6 18.b5 f5 19.c1 b6 ( 19...f4!? 20.xd4 xd4 21.xd4 exd4 ) 20.f4 xc4 21.xc4 xb5 22.xc6 d4 23.g2 e8 with balanced play. Malakhov, V (2725)-Bosiocic, M (2557) Sibenik 2010. ] [ 16...b5!? (if this works, then why not?) 17.d2 d4 18.a4! (this is usually the best reaction to ...b7-b5 plans) b4 ( 18...bxa4 19.xa4 b5 20.c4 is perhaps a tad more comfortable for White, though Black is i n n o d a n g e r) 19.ce4 with a complex game in Docx, S (2360)-Hautot, S (2395) Lommel 2012. Here the computer unearths an enterprising temporary pawn sacrifice: d5! 20.xc5 xe3 21.fxe3 h6! 22.xe6 xe3+ 23.h1 xe6 24.c4 h6 with rough equality. ] 17.f4 Likely White's only try for an advantage. [ 17.a4 c7 ( or 17...d4!? ) 18.fc1 h8 19.d1 d8 1/2-1/2 Ruck, R (2489)Huzman, A (2574) Istanbul 2000 ] [ 17.e1 (slow) h8 ( 17...d4 ) 18.b5 d7 19.d2 fd8= Gurevich, M (2612)Steingrimsson, H (2562) Reykjavik 2011 ] 17...f5!? This is a novelty. Gawain is striving for activity. [ 17...d5 18.f5!? is an idea worth remembering , though after ( 18.d2 f5 19.h1?! xc3 20.xc3 xc4 21.dxc4 e4 22.a4 c7 23.bd1 xc3 24.bxc3 bd8 Kolev, A (2510)-Gdanski, J (2480) Budapest 1993) 18...gxf5 19.xd5 xd5 20.xd5+ xd5 21.xf5 e7 ( or 21...e6 22.f1 e4! ) 22.f2 e6 23.b3 d5 24.d2 a4! Black was certainly holding his own in Kovalyov, A (2619)-Wang, R (2307) Calgary 2012. ] [ 17...h6!? (looking to exchange the dormant dark-square bishop in the event of f4xe5) 18.h1 exf4 19.gxf4 d7 20.e1 d4 21.g1 a4! Hickl, J (2600) -
Maksimenko, A (2545) Vienna 1996 ] 18.fxe5 xe5 19.f4 xc4! Sacrificing the exchange under good circumstances. 20.dxc4 xc4 21.xb8 xb8 22.a4 e6? A nearly imperceptible yet very significant mistake. [ 22...f7! is better. That way after 23.bd1 d4+! (a key check, making the dark-square bishop relevant) 24.h1 ( 24.xd4 cxd4 25.xd4 d8= ) 24...e5 25.e4 Black can capture fxe4 without fear of a r o o k t r a d e . F o l l o w i n g 26.xe4 f5 B l a c k h a s p l e n t y o f a c t i v i t y . ( Even 26...d5!? 27.xf8+ xf8 looks good... those are tremendous bishops! )] 23.bd1 e5 [ B la ck co u l d t r y 23...d4+ , though the analogo us lin e 24.xd4 cxd4 25.xd4 d8?! ( 25...c7 ) 26.e3! pinpoints the reason why f7 was a superior square. ] 24.h1 c4 25.e4! McShane seizes his chance. c5 26.de1 d4 27.d1! d8? A fatal error. [ Black simply had to do something with the light-square bishop, e.g. 27...f7 . ] 28.exf5 xf5 29.e2 c8 30.g4! Black's pieces are caught wrong footed. d3 [ Or 30...d7 31.e4 b5 32.d1 with decisive threats, e.g. g7 33.c3 c5 34.xd7!+- ] 31.e6+ h8 32.f7 d6 33.d7 xd7 34.xd7 f6 35.d1 [ 35.e6! was a quicker kill, though M c S h a n e w o u l d h a v e h a d t o f i n d g5 ( 35...f2 36.xd6 and Black has no checks ) 36.a2!+- , i.e. xg4 (there isn't much else) 37.e8+ xe8 38.xg4+- . ] 35...d4! Centralizing is a good bid for counterplay. Unfortunately, Black is still lost. 36.g5! f5 37.e8+ xe8 38.xe8+ g7 39.gxf6+ xf6 40.e3 Black's compensation for the piece is clearly insufficient. d7 41.g1 b5? Hastening the end. 42.a7! d6 43.f2 d2 44.h3 g5+ 45.g4 h5 46.xd7+ h6 47.d4 h7 48.h4 xh4 49.a7+ h6 50.e3+ h7 51.d7 b4 52.axb4 axb4 53.b5 c3 54.bxc3 bxc3 55.d3 d8 56.c5 h4 57.xc3 g3+ 58.f1 h4 59.c8 Black resigned. Despite the result, Black is alive and well in the crucial line 11.Nc2 d5 12. 1651
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 exd5 Nxd5 13.Ne3 Nde7!. The second player 0-1 ] is not lacking opportunities for counterplay for 13...xe3?! Now all of White's pieces gain example, the less popular alternatives on a ct ivit y. T h e t ra d it io n a l so lu t io n in s u c h move 16/17, or even the hitherto untried 15... positions is h6!?. [ 13...de7! , protecting all of the key 1-0 squares and retaining control of the centre. T h e n p l a y c a n p r o c e e d 14.d2 b6!? ( 14...b8 15.b5!? d7 16.c4 b6 intending ...Rfd8) 15.a4 ( 15.b4!? cxb4 1639 A37 16.axb4 axb4 17.e4 a2 18.b2 b3?! Meenakshi,Subbaraman 2270 19.c3 e4 20.xe4 b5 21.xb3 xb3 Philippe,Christophe 2410 22.xb3 with compensation, Budnikov-U 4th Open La Fere 2005 ibin, St Petersburg 1993) 15...a7 16.b4 [John Watson] cxb4 17.axb4 b5 18.c5 a2 19.bxa5 xb1 20.xb1 xa5 21.xb5 This is the same opening as Gonzalez with compensation for the exchange, SturuaZamora-Mekhitarian, but White allows ... d5. Rogers, London 1990. These are lines and 1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 e5 4.d3 g6 assessments by Curt Hansen in his great 5.g3 g7 6.g2 ge7 7.0-0 0-0 book on the Symmetrical English. ] [ Black can try to gain a tempo by 7...d6 8.a3 a5 9.e1 e6 10.c2 d5 11.cxd5 xd5 14.xe3 d4! Using dynamic means to gain 12.e3 de7! , as Tony discussed at some some counterplay. [ 14...e7 (to protect c5) loses a pawn and length while analysing the game Smirinis positionally awful after 15.xc6 bxc6 Karjakin, Moscow 2002: 13.e4 b6 14.h4!? 16.e4 ] ( 14.g5 d7 15.d2 0-0 16.c4 h6 17.e4 e6 18.a4 "led to a quick draw in 15.b4?! [ W hite should accept the gift by 15.xb7! Ribli,Z-Hellers, F/Tilburg 1993, although I b8 16.g2 and his extra pawn is worth prefer Black") 14...h6 ( 14...a4!? ) 15.a4 more than Black's temporary activity. ] 0-0 16.c4 c7 17.d2 ad8 with double15...cxb4 16.axb4 c7! 17.xd4? exd4 edged and roughly balanced chances. ] 8.b1 d6 9.a3 a5 10.e1 e6 11.c2 18.e4 a4?! This is a natural attempt to use Instead of 11.Nd5, which allowed ...Rb8 and ... t h e p a s s e d a - p a w n , b u t i t d o e s n ' t w o r k tactically. The b-pawn would also be passed b5 in the above-mentioned game. d5 [ White is looking to get b4 in, e. g., 11...d7 and Black would have open lines and some 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 f5 A Gunnarsson- advantage after [ 18...axb4 19.xb4 a7 ] W e b e r , G o t h e n b u r g 2 0 0 5 14.d5! 19.c5 a3 with an edge ] [ Or 19...a7 20.xa4 ] 12.cxd5 xd5 13.e3!? Is Black's centre strong or weak? This is the critical test, rather 20.xe6!? [ Again, White should grab the b-pawn: than the recent game Tsarouhas-Solak, Greek 20.xb7! a7 21.xe6 fxe6 22.f3 ] Ch 2005, in which White floundered about and 20...fxe6 21.b3 e5? soon stood much worse: [ 21...f6 22.a1 c3 ] [ 13.e4 b6 14.g5 c8 15.e3 de7! 16.d2 h6 17.f3 e6 18.b3 f5 ( or 22.xb7 At last. Now White's own b-pawn is a 18...d7 ) 19.c2 g5! 20.h3 c8 21.c3 m a j o r p l a y e r , a n d h i s b e t t e r b i s h o p d4 22.b2 g4 ( 22...e4! 23.dxe4 fxe4 accentuates his pawn advantage. a7 23.e4 24.h2 d7! with a terrific attack) 23.hxg4 c8 24.b5 c3 25.b6! a5 [ 25...xb3 26.bxa7 wins immediately. ] fxg4 24.h2 ( 24.h4 looks tougher) 24...h5 25.f3 ( 25.c4 d5 26.xd4 cxd4 26.a2 a6 27.b7 b8 28.b5 f8 29.h4 and . ..Nc3) 25...h6 26.c4 ef5 27.fxg4 f7 30.h5 c5 31.d2 b6 32.xb6 xb6 xg3 28.xf8+ xf8 29.xd4 exd4 33.h6 gxh5 34.xh7+ f6 35.g6+ e7 30.f3 g7 31.f2 hxg4 32.g1 e3+ 1652
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 36.g5+ d7 37.b5+ 1-0
1640 Miles,Anthony J Kosten,Anthony C Palma de Mallorca [Tony Kosten]
A37 2580 2500 1989
1.g3 c5 2.g2 c6 Black is happy to transpose into a Symmetrical English. 3.c4 g6 4.c3 g7 5.f3 e6 I remember being happy to play this line, which has always had a good reputation. 6.d4 Ouch! This was a shock, it was new at the time, and I certainly hadn't seen it before! cxd4 [ There is nothing wrong with this move, although 6...xd4 is generally preferred these days. ] 7.b5 d5! 8.cxd5 a5+ [ Black wishes to avoid the IQP after 8...exd5 9.bxd4 although here he has sufficient activity to compensate. ] 9.d2 [ Some players prefer 9.d2 but after xb5 10.dxc6 e7 Black is at least equal. ] 9...xb5 10.dxc6 xc6 11.0-0 b6 So far Black has played well. 12.b3! e7 [ 12...d3? leads nowhere after 13.b2 ] [ but 12...f6! is stronger, as after 13.a3 e4 the knight gains a tempo on the queen and comes to c3 a move earlier. ] 13.a3 Trapping the king in the centre. d5?! Hoping to play ...a5 and ...Nb4, or ...Nc3, but it is too ambitious. [ 13...f5 might be best, deterring White from Rac1 (because of ...Bh6) and preparing ...Bd7-c6. ] 14.ac1 c3 [ 14...a5? is too slow, because of 15.c5 ] 15.e3! Undermining the knight and opening the central files. dxe3 [ At first sight 15...a6 looks tempting, but (unfortunately for me) 16.xd4! is strong, xd4 17.xc3! xc3? 18.xc3 and the dual threats of Qxh8+, and Qc5 are decisive. ] 16.fxe3 a6 17.b2! [ Now 17.xc3?! xa3 leads nowhere, as Black still has his g7-bishop. ]
17...e4 [ There is no choice, 17...e2+?! 18.h1 xc1 loses to 19.xg7 g8 20.f6 d3 21.e5 and the knight is lost. ] 18.c2 f6 [ This isn't satisfactory, but Black is already in severe difficulties, 18...xb2 19.xb2 0-0 20.e5! Threatens both the knight on e4, and the manoeuvre Ng4-h6, i.e. d6 21.g4 d8 22.h6+ f8 23.h8+ e7 24.f6+ ] 19.g5 e5 To give the f6-knight lateral support. 20.c5! White refuses to let Black's k i n g e s c a p e . e6 The only serious try, but despite my resourcefulness, Black is helpless against White's attack. 21.xf6! [ 21.xe6 fxe6 22.a3 f8 23.xe5 is also quite effective. ] 21...xf6 22.f1 The point, White needed to free this square for the bishop. c8 [ O b j e c t i v e l y t h e o n l y c h a n c e , 22...b6 is hopeless, 23.b5+ d7 24.xd7+ xd7 25.d5+ e8 26.xf7+ d8 27.e6+ mates in short order. ] 23.b5+ c6 A curious picture! 24.e4 e7 [ 24...g7 25.xe5 ] 25.xe5 f6 Black has to keep attacking the queen to stop his own one being captured. 26.xc6!? [ 26.xf6+ would also have forced resignation. ] 26...fxe5 [ 26...bxc6 27.xe6 xb5 28.d6+ forces mate on the next move. ] 27.xa6+ f7 28.xa7 d5 29.c4 After all the excitement White has an extra piece and pawn in the endgame. 1-0
1641 Miles,Anthony J Kudrin,Sergey Los Angeles [Tony Kosten]
A37 2555 2530 1991
1.g3 g6 2.g2 g7 3.c4 c5 4.c3 c6 5.f3 e5 By taking further control of d4, Black surely stops White from playing d4, ...or does he? 6.a3 a5! 7.d4!? [ T o n y ' s i n t e r e s t i n g i n n o v a t i o n , 7.d3 1653
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is examined in Beliavsky, A-Ponomariov,R. ] 7...cxd4 8.b5 The point, attacking d6. d6 9.e3 As Black cannot capture on e3, because of the ensuing catastrophe on d6, and he cannot chase the knight from b5, he must allow White to recapture on d4. g4 [ One of my opponents tried 9...ge7 but 10.exd4 is pleasant for White. ] [ 9...e6! is probably the reason for this variation's demise: 10.exd4 xc4 11.a4 xb5 12.xb5 d7 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.e3 d8 and White's compensation is barely sufficient, Urban,K-Umanskaya,I/MK Cafe Cup, Koszalin POL 1998. ] 10.h3 xf3 By exchanging the f3-knight Black protects his d4-pawn, but on the down side he loses control of a lot of light squares! 11.xf3! ge7 12.exd4 exd4 13.f4 e5 [ Black is loathe to return his pawn, but 13...0-0 might be the practical choice. ] 14.h6 f5 15.d2! The unexpected retort, W h i t e a l l o ws t h e e x c h a n g e o f h i s d a r k squared bishop, but ensures that the black king stays in the centre. a4!? Planning ...Na5, with pressure on c4 and b3. 16.0-0 a5 17.ae1!! Wonderful! xc4 [ 17...b3? is clearly worse, 18.b4 xh6 19.xd6+ f8 20.xe5 with a clear advantage. ] 18.b4 xh6 19.xb7! [ Another shock, Black probably expected 19.xc4 when 0-0 is fine. ] 19...0-0?! [ It was better not to give an exchange, as after 19...b8! 20.c6+ f8 21.xc4 b6! the b5-knight is awkwardly placed. ] 20.xa8 d5 Back is relying on this, cutting the bishops' retreat, and defending c4. 21.c6 Intending an eventual Qc5, winning first d5, then d4. c8? [ This tempting attacking line fails against a c c u r a t e d e f e n c e , t h e n a t u r a l 21...f5 was f ar better, as af ter 22.c5? d2 wi n s t h e e x c h a n g e b a c k , e . g . 23.xe5? f3+ ] 22.xd5 xh3 23.g2 h5 ...Ng4 is the menace, but... 24.e4! Ay, there's the rub, if the knight goes to g4 White will simply take it. e3 This is all a bit hopeful. 25.fxe3 xg3 26.f3 h2+ 27.f2 b8 28.xd4! Attack is the best form of defence! g5
[ 28...xb5? loses the queen to 29.d8+ ] [ and 28...xb5?? is even worse: 29.d8+ g7 30.f8# ] 29.c4 f5 30.c5 g3+ 31.g1 [ Forced, but sufficient, there was still the possibility of going astray: 31.e2?? xb5! 32.xb5 d4+ ] 31...e1 32.e5 [ 32.e4! wins another piece. ] 32...d8 33.d4 g3 34.xg3 T h e s i m p l e s t . xg3 35.xg3 xg3 36.xa4 h5 37.a8 1-0
1642 Milov,Vadim Sermek,Drazen zt 1.2 Pula CRO (1) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2653 2517 11.04.2000
1.c4 c5 2.f3 g6 3.c3 g7 4.g3 c6 5.g2 e6 6.h4!? An unusual idea that has been played on-and-off for some decades, but has attracted more attention this last year or so. h6 [ The soundest reply, White is hoping for 6...h5 no doubt when he can exploit the g5square more easily than Black can the g4square, but even so, after 7.a3 d5 8.b1 ge7 9.0-0 0-0 10.d3 b6 11.d2 b7 12.b4 cxb4 13.axb4 d7 14.cxd5 xd5 15.xd5 xd5 16.g5 d7 White had no real advantage, Pribyl, J-Eising,J/Siegburg, Bad Godesberg 1969. ] [ 6...d5 is also perfectly reasonable, 7.h5 ge7 8.cxd5 exd5 9.d3 h6 10.hxg6 fxg6 11.d2 g5 and although the black position is a bit loose, he is active, Ribli,Z-Sosonko, G/Amsterdam 1980. ] 7.a3!? [ A new move. Various ideas had been tried before, one of the more successful being 7.b3 when ge7 8.b2 b6 9.b1 e5?! 10.d5 b8 11.h5 d6 12.hxg6 fxg6 13.h4! g5 14.g6 f5 15.e4 left Black's light squares chronically weak, Fe d o ro wicz, J- S h a m ko vich , L / H a s t in g s 1977. ] 7...d5 8.b4 A typical flank blow to expose Black's dark squares. dxc4 1654
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ If 8...cxb4 9.axb4 dxc4 10.b5 d4 11.xd4 xd4 12.e3 g7 13.a4 will regain the c-pawn with advantage. ] 9.0-0 ge7 10.bxc5 a5 11.b2 0-0 [ The greedy 11...xc5?? loses on the spot to 12.e4 ] 12.c2 e5 13.e4 e6 14.fc1 f5!? [ Taking play into a promising endgame, but 14...d4 15.xd4 exd4 is also a sensible continuation. ] 15.d6 xc5 16.xc4 xc4 17.xc4 xc4 18.xc4 e4 The important point, swapping one of White's bishops, and gaining space. 19.xg7 xg7 20.e1 c8?! [ Bringing the knight to a good square, but 20...b5! was more to the point, 21.c3 d4 22.f1 d5 with all the play. ] 21.d3 d6 22.c5 ad8 Play is level. 23.e3 d7? [ 23...exd3 24.d5 e4 is simpler. ] 24.d1 fd8 25.h5! exd3 [ Unfortunately, 25...gxh5 26.dxe4 fxe4 27.cd5 leaves White in charge of the dfile. ] 26.xc6 bxc6 27.xd3 gxh5 28.f3 The position has been transformed, and the black structure has worsened considerably. f7 29.xd7 xd7 30.d4 d5 31.xc6 a5 32.g2?! [ 32.e6+! f6 33.f4+ e7 34.c7+ f6 35.xh5+ g5 36.f4 leaves White a solid pawn to the good. ] 32...g5 33.c7+ f6 34.c6+ g7 35.a4 e4 [ 35...xa4? is impossible, 36.xf5+ f7 37.xh6+ ] 36.c7+ f6 37.c6+ Judging from these pointless repetitions, White appears to be in time trouble. g7 38.c4 f6 39.b3 d5 40.d4 a5 41.b3 d5 42.b4 d1 Black stays active, and the possible attack on f2 is annoying for White. 43.b5 g6 44.a5 [ B l a c k ' s l a s t m o v e p r e v e n t e d 44.d4? which now faces d2 45.xf5?? xd4 ] 44...h4!? 45.gxh4 d3 46.c5 [ 46.d4!? d2 47.h5+! xh5 48.xf5 xf2 49.f3 offers excellent winning chances, despite the temporary material equality, as both black pawns are weak. ] 46...d5 47.a6+ d6 Black's moves are forced. 48.xd6+ xd6 49.g3 c4
50.f4 f6 51.f3 e5 52.a5 g6+ 53.g3 e7 54.a6 d5 55.e4 fxe4 56.fxe4 b4 57.f4 c6 58.d3 e6 59.e3 Despite the sound extra pawn this p o s i t i o n p r o v e s d i f f i c u l t t o e xp l o i t . d6 60.f3 b8 61.g4 White pins his hope on a two v one pawn race. xa6 62.h5 c7 63.xh6 a5 64.g6 a4 65.f6? [ Probably a mistake, allowing the a-pawn to advance, 65.b2! e5 ( 65...a3 66.c4+ e6 67.xa3 ) 66.xa4 xe4 67.h5 e6 68.h6 should be winning, e.g. f4 69.c5 ( 69.h7? f8+ ) 69...g5 70.e4! ] 65...a3 66.c1 e8+ 67.f5 [ 67.f7 e5 68.xe8 xe4 is completely equal, W hite cannot stop the black king from capturing the h-pawn. ] 67...e7 68.e5 f7 69.a2 g7+ 70.e4 W ith his knight stuck on a2 W hite can no longer make any progress. e6 ½-½
1643 Molina,Jo Almeida Quintana,O Hotel Carilo GM (6.5) [John Bartholomew]
A37 2163 2520 27.10.2012
Theory in the Botvinnik System stretches quite deep these days, and the exchange sacrifice with 19.bxa5! is a principled attempt at cracking the Patriarch's setup. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 g6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 d6 6.0-0 e5 7.d3 ge7 8.a3 0-0 9.b1 a5 10.d2 h6 [ Richard Palliser attaches an exclamation point to 10...b8 in Ghasi, A (2400)-Palliser, R (2447)/Hinkley ENG 2012/[Richard Palliser]. The idea is to meet Nc3-d5 with ... b7-b5 and possibly forego ...h7-h6 (a n e b u l o u s m o ve i f W h i t e p l a ys 1 1 . N e 1 anyways). After 11.e1 e6 12.d5 b5 13.b3 h6 (Palliser explains that this makes more sense now that Bd2-g5 is a bother) 14.c2 f5 15.f4! exf4!? 16.gxf4 f7 a double-edged position came about. Both 10...Rb8 and 10...h6 look sound to me. ] 11.e1 e6 12.c2 d5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.e3 de7 This retreat is usually the correct reaction to White's challenge on d5. 1655
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black keeps the knights in contact and thereby guarantees the integrity of his structure with . ..b7-b6. 15.a4! Probably the only move to cause Black problems. [ 15.c4 is defused by b8! , i.e. 16.b5 (otherwise Black is ready to push ... b7-b5) b6 A) 17.f4 d4 18.c3 Haag, E (2338)Taskovits, I (2351)/ Hungary 2000. Here exf4! 19.xf4 b5! is a promising exchange sacrifice, e.g. 20.xb8 xb8 21.d2 ( 21.xa5?! b6 22.b7 df5 a n d W h i t e h a s p r o b l e m s wi t h t h e e 3 squ are, as . ..B g7 -d4 + is also in p la y) 21...ef5 .; B) 17.c1!? is worth consideration.; C) 17.b4 axb4 18.axb4 d5! ( 18...cxb4 19.xb4 xb4 20.xb4 d7 21.b1 c6 Stanec, N (2504)-Schwarz, M (2389)/ Austria 2002 22.xc6 xc6 23.c1 ) 19.bxc5 bxc5 20.e3 db4 21.c3 d4 De Santis, A (2326)-Rotstein, A (2512)/Forni di Sopra ITA 2012. ] 15...b6 16.b4 cxb4 17.axb4 b5 [ B a a d u r J o b a v a h a s f a c e d 17...b8?! on two locations. Both games continued 18.bxa5 bxa5 19.c5 xb1 20.xb1 and here they diverged: A) 20...d6 21.xe6 xe6 22.c4 b8 23.d1 ( or 23.a2 ) 23...f5 24.xa5 Jobava, B (2704)-Kunin, V (2537)/St. Veit AUT 2012; B) 20...c8 21.c4 c7 22.e3 f5 23.c1! b8 24.c2 ( 24.a1!? ) 24...d8 25.a4 and Black was under significant pressure in Jobava, B (2715)Sharapov, E (2498)/ Alushta UKR 2010. The text is definitely more reliable. ] 18.c5 a2 [ I'm surprised that 18...a4!?N has yet to be tried. It seems quite natural to create a protected passed pawn, and I suspect some well-prepared players have already analyzed and vetted this move (it IS the engine's top re com m e nd a t io n , a f t er all). A f te r, sa y, 19.xe6 fxe6 20.c2 c8 Black's play looks fully adequate. ] 19.bxa5! Willingly parting with the exchange in pursuit of an advantage. This concept was tested as early as 2003. Other moves lead to nothing:
[ 19.b2?! axb4 20.e4? d6 21.b7 d4 22.c1 Moliboga, V (2322)-Kruglyakov, P (2238)/Kiev 2006 f5! 23.g2 e4-+ ] [ 19.b7 c7 20.xa5 xb1 21.xb1 d4!? 22.xa8 xe2+ 23.g2 xa8 Tonoli, W (2285)-Pirisi, G (2380)/Sas van Gent 1990 ] 19...xb1 20.xb1 d4! I think Black can equalize with this precise move. [ A recent Bundesliga game saw 20...a7?! 21.xb5 (compared this to the note to White's 21st move here Black hasn't kept the b-pawn) d4 22.b6 c8 23.xd8 xe2+ 24.h1 xd8 25.c4 d4 26.b1 f8?! 27.b7 e8 28.e3 f6 29.f4 and White prevailed in a complicated battle in Bindrich, F (2532)-Tregubov, P (2601)/ Muelheim GER 2012. Bindrich was forfeited in his subsequent game against GM Sebastian Siebrecht on suspicion of cheating (he refused to surrender his smart phone to an arbiter during play), so his win a ga in st T r e g u b o v wa s a ls o c a l le d i n t o question. Unfortunate for the parties involved, but on the bright side this game helped advance theory in this crucial line of the Symmetric English, so Tregubov can take some solace in that! ] [ The older move is 20...b8?! , which looks unnecessarily passive. After 21.c1 xa5 22.a6! ( The source game for 19.bxa5 co n clu d e d pe a ce f u lly: 22.xa5 xa5 23.d7 bc8 24.xf8 xc1+ 25.xc1 xf8 26.d5 xd5 27.xd5 b6 1/2-1/2 Bui Vinh (2469) -Flumbort, A (2471)/Budapest 2003) 22...c8 23.xb5 xc1+ 24.xc1 c8! (Black would be in big trouble without this move) 25.a3 ac6 26.xc6 xc6 27.d5! h7 28.xf8 d4 29.c4 xf8 30.c3 White has a solid extra pawn in Jobava, B (2651)-Bu Xiangzhi (2664)/Taiyuan 2006. ] 21.e1 [ Winning back the exchange leads to nothing: 21.xa8 xe2+ 22.g2 xa8+ 23.f3 d4= ] 21...ec6?! This, however, is an imprecision. [ Superior is 21...a7 , avoiding the self-pin. After A) 22.c2 xc2 23.xc2 b8 with . . .Rf8-c8 to come; 1656
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 22.f1 was played in Shoker, S (2365)Robles Garcia, C (2256)/Condom 2008. Here both d6 ( and 22...b8 are playable. ); C) 22.b3 d6 ( 22...ec6?! 23.xd4 xd4 24.d5 b8 Zilka, S (2419)-Ivanov, M (2450)/ Brno 2007 25.b6 ) 23.xd4 exd4 24.c2 b8 I don't see any problems for Black. ] 22.b3 [ Centralizing with 22.d5! is stronger, e.g. xa5 23.e3 f5 24.xb5 and Black will have to tread carefully in view of W hite's hyper-active minor pieces. ] [ 22.xc6 xc6 23.xb5 d4 24.a4 is also possible. ] 22...b8?! 23.xd4 xd4 24.b4 [ 24.d5! ] 24...e8 25.c2?! White is exchanging too many pieces. e6 26.xd4 exd4 27.b3 f8 28.f3?! xb4 29.xb4 d6 30.b3 c7 31.d5?! a6 [ 31...xa5-+ ] 32.a1 g7 33.e3? Things were bad, but there was no reason to accelerate defeat like this. xa5-+ 34.xa5 xa5 35.exd4 a1+ 36.g2 xd4 37.xf7 f8 38.d5 xf2+ 39.h3 h5 White resigned. Black can equalize after 19. bxa5! with accurate play (20...Nd4! 21.Re1 Ra7), but you may want to save yourself the trouble and have a look at 18...a4!?. 0-1
1644 Nalbandian,Tigran Khismatullin,Denis 6th EICC Warsaw [John Watson]
A37 2505 2570 2005
Here's a great example of two high-rated players duking it out in our line featured line. 1.f3 c5 2.g3 c6 3.c4 e5 4.c3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 d6 7.e1 e6 8.d3 ge7 9.c2 d5 10.cxd5 xd5 11.e3 de7 Compare the other games that we have seen. There the ...d5 break occurred with the moves a3 and . ..a5 in, with Black having castled. Nalbandian tries to take advantage of this by a radical manoeuvre. 12.e4 b6
13.b4!? xb4! [ 13...cxb4 14.a3! is a kind of Benko Gambit i d e a , e . g . , 0-0 ( 14...bxa3 15.xa3 ) 15.axb4 xb4 16.a3 ] 14.g5 d7 15.xa8 xa8 Black has the bishop pair, light squares and a pawn for the exchange. That's more than enough. 16.a4 [ 16.d2 bc6 achieves nothing, so White aims for a5. ] 16...h6 17.e4 h3 18.a5 c6 19.axb6 axb6 20.a4 xf1 21.xf1 f5 Slightly risky. Simply [ 21...xa4 22.xa4 0-0 was safe and strong. W hite has little if anything for his pawn. ] 22.d6+ d7 23.ec4 [ 23.dc4? b5 24.a7+ e6 and the threat of mate on h1 wins a piece. ] 23...e4?! Black gets greedy when he should be consolidating, e.g., by [ 23...b8! 24.xc6+ ( 24.a7+ e6 25.g1 d8 ) 24...exc6 25.b5 e4 and again Black has an extra pawn with superior activity. ] [ Also not bad was making life simple by 23...xa4 24.xa4 b8 ] 24.dxe4 b5 25.xb5 fxe4? [ He h a d t o t r y 25...xa1! and suffer the attack: 26.a7+ ( 26.a5 b6 27.d4+ d8; 26.xa1? xb5 27.xh8 xc4 ) 26...e6 ( 26...d8?? 27.xa1 ) 27.c7+ f7 28.xa1 g8! 29.b2! h7 and Black seems to be surviving. ] 26.a5! f6 [ 26...b6 27.d6+!! e6 ( 27...xd6 28.c4+; 27...bc6 28.ac4 b8 29.xe4! ) 28.xe4 ] 27.b3 c6 28.e3 xa1 29.xc5+ d8 30.xa1 f8 31.a5+ e8 32.xb4 f5 33.g2 1-0
1645 Radjabov,Teimour Ivanchuk,Vassily FIDE World Cup 2011 (5.2) [John Bartholomew]
A37 2744 2768 10.09.2011
1.f3 c5 2.g3 g6 3.c4 g7 4.g2 c6 5.c3 e6 6.d3 1657
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ White isn't obliged to just mechanically castle at this juncture. In fact, we'll see that Radjabov's idea works well because his rook remains on the h-file. The sharp 6.d4!? has also been investigated. Check Nigel Davies's guide in the archives for the latest coverage. ] 6...ge7 A popular position in modern practice. 7.h4!? [ 7.g5 is Marin's recommendation in "GM Repertoire 5 - The English Opening vol. 3". Both 7.Bg5 and 7.h4 encourage Black to soften up his kingside with ...h7-h6, so the ideas often overlap. ] [ Standard is 7.0-0 (either here or on move six), but Black has outstanding results with d5 ( 7...0-0 is equally reliable. )] 7...h6 8.d2 [ If White is dead-set on sacrificing his bishop on g5, we ought to ask whether 8.h5!? g5 9.xg5 hxg5 10.xg5 is more direct. This was actually tested in a high-level encounter f r o m t h e l a t e 7 0 ' s : f6 ( 10...a5!? is an attempt to profit from the absence of ... b7-b6. ) 11.e3 d6 12.h6 f8 13.g4?! ( 13.h7 g7 14.f3!? ) 13...e5 14.f3 d7 15.e4 7g6 16.d2 c6 17.f2 d5 Ro m a n i s h in , O (2 6 1 0 )- Rib li , Z ( 2 5 8 5 ) / Amsterdam 1978. ] 8...b6 [ Following 8...0-0 there's a good chance that Radjabov would have executed the same idea with A) E a r l i e r t h i s m o n t h I t r i e d 9.a3 , but the inclusion of h2-h4 and ... h7-h6 isn't particularly constructive should White refrain from further play on that wing. b6 ( 9...d5! equalizes immediately and probably just trivializes 9.a3. ) A1) O n t h e i m m e d i a t e 10.c1!? Black could try a5!? , threatening a fork on b3. After ( 10...h5 is fine too, as o n 1 1 . Q c 1 h 5 b e l o w .) 11.xh6!? ( Safer is 11.c2 b7 12.b4 ac6 13.bxc5 bxc5 14.0-0 with a very slight edge. ) 11...b3 12.d1 xa1 13.xg7 xg7 14.xa1 White has compensation, but no more.; A2) 10.b1 b7 A2a) 11.c1!? is more interesting. Ma rin e xa min es a ne arly id e nt ica l
position on pg. 93 of "GM 5" the only difference is that here W hite has an extra move with h2-h4, having avoided the time-wasting Bg5-d2. You'd be forgiven for automatically assuming think this benefits White, but Black can stop W hite's kingside ambitions cold with h5! , a move that makes way more sense wh en W h ite's pa wn is already on h4 (otherwise h2-h3 and g3g4 might be on the cards). After 12.0-0 W hite will switch back to queenside play with b2-b4, though Black has fine play, e.g. f5 ( 12...d5!? ) 13.b4 d6=; A2b) 11.0-0 Too routine to cause any real issues. d6 12.b4 d7 13.e3 fd8 14.e2 ac8 15.fd1 e5= Black had absolutely zero problems. Bartholomew, J (2440) -Shahade, G (2449) /Arlington USA 2011.; B) A couple of games have seen 9.c1 h7 e.g. ( I think 9...h5! is better for the reason I gave in 9.a3 b6 10.Rb1 Bb7 11. Qc1 h5 above. ) B1) 10.b1 b6 ( 10...d5! ) 11.a3 b8 12.b4 d6 13.0-0?! ( 13.h5 ) 13...b7= Khismatullin, D-Erzhanov, A (2181) / Serpukhov 1999.; B2) 10.e4 d6 11.h5 g5 12.c3 ( 12.xg5!? hxg5 13.h6 d4 14.xg5 g6 15.xd4 xd4 16.d2! ) 12...f6 13.g4 ( Better is 13.c2 , x-raying the Black king and preparing queenside castling. ) 13...e5 14.h2?! e6 15.e3 d7 Averkin, O-Forintos, G/Hungary 1969.; C) 9.h5!?N g5 10.xg5 hxg5 11.xg5 The obvious justification is that Black has committed his king to the danger zone. xc3+ This exchange makes more sense h e r e t h a n i n t h e g a m e . ( 11...d4!? en co u ra ges W h ite to b lock t h e c 1-h 6 diagonal before a capture on c3. 12.e3 xc3+ 13.bxc3 f6 ) 12.bxc3 f6 13.f4 I'm going to refrain from a ton of lengthy analysis here, as there are many possible paths and the basis for W hite's compensation is similar to the game. In practice any result is possible. ] [ 8...d5 scores very well, yet hasn't been played in over a decade! It's a reliable option 1658
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 if Black wants to avoid the g5-sacrif ice business, and it might be objectively best. 9.cxd5 exd5 10.c1 g4 11.0-0 ( 11.d1?! d4! Hausner, I (2400)-Szekely, P (2450)/Trnava 1985.) 11...c8 ( 11...h5! with...0-0 to come is far simpler. Black has good play.) 12.e1 f8 ( Again 12...h5 i s e a s i e r .) 13.f4 Lobron, E (2405)Sosonko, G (2595)/Bad Kissingen 1981. ] 9.h5!? It's difficult to determine what punctuation to attach to White's 9th and 10th moves. The sacrifice is certainly intriguing, and the execution shows great courage! [ On two previous occasions White chose 9.a3 . Both games continued b7 10.0-0 0-0 11.b1 , when we have transposed to my game with Shahade above. Again, White isn't going to achieve much with this straightforward approach. ] 9...g5 10.xg5! hxg5 11.xg5 White has a d a n g e r o u s h - p a wn , a p a ir o f p o we rf u l bishops, and a knight that may jump to d6 or f6. He also enjoys a compact structure and a safer king. Black must solve certain problems (the advance of W hite's h-pawn, most urgently), but his overall position is sound p e r h a p s e v e n b e t t e r wi t h c o m p u t e r - l i k e d e f u s i n g o f W h i t e ' s i n i t i a t i v e . xc3+? Ivanchuk surrenders the dark squares without a fight. This shouldn't lose, but it quickly puts him in a precarious position and also strikes me as a poor practical decision. At least three alternatives deserve attention: [ 11...e5 seems most promising. This move preempts 12.h6 and prepares 12...f6 wi t h o u t l o c k i n g i n t h e b i s h o p . 12.e4!? Inhibiting 12...f6. ( 12.d2 f6 13.f4 xc3!? 14.bxc3 e5 15.e3 b7 is an im proved version of the game f o r Black. ) A) 12...c7 13.f6+ xf6 14.xf6 gives White what he wants.; B) 12...xb2 seems greedy, but after 13.b1 d5! Black appears fine, e.g. ( 13...e5 14.f4 ) 14.cxd5 exd5 15.xb2 dxe4 16.f6 h6 17.g5 h8 ( Black can continue at his own risk with 17...d4!? 18.d2 ) 18.f6=; C) Simply 12...b7!? is possible.; D) 12...d5!? Taking the bull by the horns! Others: 13.f6+ xf6 14.xf6 h6
15.g5 ( 15.g7 h7 16.h6 looks shaky to me. ) 15...h7 16.h6 d6 when Black will coordinate with ...Bc8-b7 and ...0-0-0. ] [ 11...b7 12.h6 e5 13.e3!? ( 13.f4 d4 14.e3 xe3 15.f6 d4! 16.xh8 xh8 f a vo rs B la ck .) 13...c7 14.f4 xc3+ 15.bxc3 h7 Your computer will favor Black, but this is not at all easy to manage for the second player. The strong central cluster and dark square control gives White compensation similar to the game. ] [ 11...c7 the queen is a little exposed here with White's knight remaining on the board. 12.d2 b7 13.b5!? ( 13.h6 xc3 14.bxc3 ) 13...b8 14.h6 d4 and now ( 14...e5 15.f4 ) 15.e4!? controls h7 and menaces Nb5xd4 followed by Bg5-f6. The position remains unclear, i.e. f5 16.f3 ] 12.bxc3 b7 [ Maybe 12...c7 13.d2 h7 is a better attempt, but there's no doubting W hite's c o m p e n s a t i o n a t t h i s p o i n t . ( 13...b7 14.f6 transposes to the game. )] 13.d2 c7? Hurrying to complete development when White is already poised to strike. [ Drastic measures were required: 13...f5! 14.f6 h7 when Black at least controls a few more squares and has some hope of dislodging the f6 bishop. 15.g4! ] 14.f6 0-0-0 [ 14...h7 fails: 15.e4! g8 ( 15...a5 16.xh7 xh1 17.xe7 xe7 18.g5+ e8 19.f3+Black's bishop will soon be rounded up.) 16.g5! xf6 17.xf6 d8 ( 17...e5 18.xh7 xh1 19.f4+- ) 18.xd8+ xd8 19.xh7 xh1 20.f3 ] 15.0-0-0 [ I t w o u l d p a i n m e t o p l a y 15.xh8 , though it's not bad either! ] 15...hg8 [ 15...he8 16.h6 ( 16.f4!? ) 16...e5 17.xb7+ xb7 18.f4 ] 16.xc6! dxc6? Black is mince-meat after this recapture. [ Groveling with 16...xc6 17.xe7 de8 18.g5 xh1 19.xh1 was necessary. ] 17.h6 g6 18.h7 Time to cash in. xf6 19.h8 xh8 20.xh8+ d7 21.d4! Giving Black no respite. It's remarkable how natural White's play has been since move 12. 1659
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d6 [ More tenacious (but likely futile) is 21...xf2 22.dxc5+ d5 23.e3 f5 ] 22.g5+- f5 23.h4 cxd4 [ 23...c7 24.dxc5 xc5 25.e8 f6 26.h7+- ] 24.xd4 d5 [ 24...d5 25.d8# is a picturesque Epaulette mate. ] 25.cxd5 a3+ 26.b1 cxd5 27.h7 xc3 28.xf7 A powerful display. Radjabov's sacrifice may not be 100% correct, but it presented even a world-class player with too many problems to solve. 1-0
1646 Romanishin,Oleg M Maksimenko,Andrei zt 1.9 Ordzhonikidze UKR (1) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2578 2495 09.06.2000
1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 c6 5.a3 d6 6.f3 e5 7.0-0 ge7 8.b4 A more sensible moment to play this than seen previously. cxb4?! [ A risky pawn grab, that opens lines for W h i t e o n t h e q u e e n s i d e . N o w , 8...e4!? can be met by 9.e1 when the e4-pawn is exposed. f5 ( 9...e6!? 10.b1 cxb4 11.xe4 xc4 12.axb4 d5 13.c3 a6 14.b2 is interesting, Podzielny,K-De Firmian,N/Essen 1999.) 10.b2 e6 11.d3 exd3 12.xd3!? xc4 13.a4 with good play for White, Romanishin,O-Short,N/Lvov 1984. ] [ 8...0-0 is perhaps, safer, although White's qu e e n s id e p r e s s u r e i s a l re a d y f u r t h e r advanced than normal. ] 9.axb4 xb4 10.a3 ec6!? [ A novelty, Black attempts to maintain his knight on b4 to block the a3-f8 diagonal. Previously 10...a6 11.e4 c5 12.fg5! c7 13.xd6+! xd6 14.e4 was very pro mis ing f o r W hit e, ind eed , B lack f elt compelled to sacrifice his queen: xe4!? 15.xd6 xd6 16.a4+ f8 17.b4 with advantage, Martinovic,S-De Firmian,N/ Bor 1984. ] 11.a4 Forcing the knight to retreat. a6
[ 11...a5?! 12.xb4 axb4 13.xa8 bxc3 14.dxc3 is good for White. ] 12.e4 f8 13.d4 A natural reaction, now that the black king is trapped in the centre. f5 14.c3 d7 15.b5 e4 16.d2 f5 Black defends well, but the white initiative is very durable. 17.e3 f6 [ T h i s s e e m s n a t u r a l , a n d 17...b8 is no better. ] 18.f3! [ Opening the f-file, and stronger than the tempting 18.xe4?! when fxe4 19.xe4 f3! 20.exd6+ xd6 21.xd6+ f8! and White has no useful discovered check, as 22.xb7+ g8 23.xa6?? loses on the spot to h3 ] 18...exf3 19.xf3 e7 20.d5 Just in time to stop Black from castling. g5? [ Black forgets the pin along the f-file, 20...g5 is necessary, although 21.ae1 leaves White on top. ] 21.e4 g6 22.exd6+ 1-0
1647 Shchekachev,Andrei Degraeve,Jean Marc Open A Bethune FRA (6) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2551 2575 29.12.2002
A lovely example of how difficult it can be to control W hite's queenside pressure, which rapidly spread to the rest of the board! 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.0-0! d6 7.a3 ge7 I always prefer [ 7...a5! ] 8.b4! e4 The critical move, we analysed [ 8...cxb4?! in Romanishin,O-Maksimenko, A. ] 9.e1 Normal, but there is also [ 9.g5!? h6 10.gxe4!? sacs a piece, ( 10.h3 d5 ) 10...f5 11.bxc5 fxe4 12.cxd6 xd6 13.xe4 with unclear play - White has swapped his piece for a massive three central pawns, Pavlovic,M-Rogers,I/Valle d'Aosta ITA 2002. ] 9...f5 10.b2 0-0 Or Black can defer this in favour of [ 10...e6 11.d3 exd3 12.xd3 xc4 13.a4 0-0 14.xg7 xg7 15.bxc5 1660
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White has a plus, Romanishin,O-Short,N/ Lvov 1984. ] 11.d3 e5!? A new move, which certainly appears logical, Black hopes to dissuade the capture on e4 as he can reply ...Nxc4, hitting the b2-bishop. [ 11...e6 12.b1 ( 12.dxe4 fxe4 13.xe4 xc4 14.g2 cxb4 15.axb4 xb4 favoured Black in Romanishin,O-Agzamov,G/ S o c h i 1 9 8 4) 12...exd3 13.xd3 xc4 14.bxc5 dxc5 15.xc5 is almost level, Dizdar,G-Cramling,P/ Debrecen 1992. ] 12.c1 e6 13.a1 Both protecting the bishop, and making sure that a later . ..Nxc4 will not gain a tempo. exd3 14.xd3 xc4 15.f4! More in tune with the spirit of the opening than, say [ 15.xe5 dxe5 16.bxc5 as instead of regaining his pawn White places his pieces on powerful squares. ] 15...f7 Black must take care with his light squares, [ 15...b8? loses to 16.cd5 xd5 17.xd5+ xd5 18.xd5+ f7 19.e6 ] 16.b5 Putting Black under further pressure. c4?! 17.xg7 xg7 18.xc4! A powerful exchange sacrif ice, W hite turns f rom his original aim of attacking on the queenside to the centre and kingside. xc4 19.xd6 g5 It is difficult to know what else to suggest, [ 19...f7 20.bxc5 ( 20.a1+ g8 21.xb7 d4 22.bxc5 xa1 23.xa1 might have allowed Black to hold-out for lo n g e r a l t h o u g h t h i s e n d g a m e i s m o s t unpleasant for him.) 20...b8 21.a4 with a powerful initiative. ] 20.bxc5! gxf4 21.d4+ f6 22.xc4 c7?! White is loathe to capture on g3 and allow White to open the f-file, but this is an admission of defeat. [ 22...fxg3 23.fxg3 b8 ( 23...xd6!? 24.cxd6 xd6 25.c3+ f6 26.xf6+ xf6 27.b1 and White wins a good pawn) 24.g4 with a strong attack - the knight on d6 is a monster. ] 23.xf4 xc5 24.g5+! [ 24.g5+ g6 25.e4! is the nasty point forking f6 and c5 as the f-pawn is pinned. ] 1-0
1648 Short,Nigel D Jones,Gawain C 98th ch Sheffield ENG (7.1) [Nigel Davies]
A37 2687 2606 01.08.2011
1.c4 c5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.f3 e5 This is a solid move for Black though it needs to be handled accurately. 6.d3 ge7 7.g5 Trying to remove one of the pieces that protects the d5 weakness so as to ultimately occupy it. Black can stop this of course but in doing so he moves his f-pawn a little earlier than he might like. f6 8.d2 d6 9.0-0 e6 10.a3 d7 [ 10...0-0 11.b1 a5 is standard, then 12.e1 d5 is Isonzo, D (2360)-Manik, M (2410)/Leipzig 2002, in the PGN Archive. ] 11.b1 0-0 12.b4 cxb4 This is a mistake when Black is not geared up for playing ... b7b5 afterwards, he should just keep the tension. And there are a couple of decent ways of doing this: [ a) 12...ab8 13.a4 b6 14.b2 h6 15.a1 f5 16.b5 d4 17.xd4 exd4 18.d5 xd5 19.cxd5 f7 was already lo o k i n g q u i t e n i c e f o r B l a c k ( p o t e n t i a l pressure on the e-file) in Gregory, D (2127)-Lazarev, V (2461)/ Saint Affrique 2002. ] [ b) 12...b6 13.e1 cxb4 14.axb4 d5 15.b5 d8 16.c2 c8 17.cxd5 xd5 18.xd5 xd5 19.xd5+ xd5 20.e3 e6 21.a4 f7 22.fc1 fc7 23.xc7 xc7 24.c1 xc1+ 25.xc1 f7 was just a bit better for White in Jakobsen, O (23 8 5)-S ch m id t , W (2 4 65 )/ Na e st ve d 1988. ] 13.axb4 d5 14.b5 d8 15.a4 f7?! Keeping the light square bishop on the board turns out to be more trouble than it's worth. [ Black should have played 15...dxc4 when 16.c5 c7 17.xe6 xe6 18.c1 is better for White but not fatally so. ] 16.b4 e8 17.d2 b6 18.xe7 xe7 19.c3 e4!? The best chance to complicate, but Short stays in control. 20.xd5 xd5 21.cxd5 exd3 22.d6! dxe2 23.b3+ f7 Losing, but what else? [ After 23...f7 there might follow 24.xa8 exf1+ 25.xf1 h8 26.d5 f8 27.c4 1661
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 followed by 28.Bc6. ] 24.dxe7 exf1+ 25.xf1 e8 26.c6 xe7 27.xe8 xe8 28.a1 The next target is the pawn on a7, but Black has to be softened up a bit f irs t . d7 29.d1 e8 30.c1 d7 31.e3 f5 32.d5 e5 33.c7! xc7 Hoping to set up some kind of blockade with the two minor pieces against White's queen. [ Of course 33...xc7 34.f6+ wins the queen for just a rook. ] 34.xc7 xc7 35.a2 d6 36.xa7 c5 37.d7 g7 38.e6 d4 39.g2 c5 40.f3 h5 41.h3 d4 42.c4 c5 43.c3+ h7 44.f6 d6 45.f1 Zugzwang! And when Black's knight gets forced to a passive square White's king gets to march straight in. e8 46.f7+ g7 47.e2 d4 48.d3 f2 49.g4 fxg4 50.fxg4 c5 51.e4 g1 52.e5 e3 53.d7 h6 54.f6 g5+ 55.f7 hxg4 56.hxg4 1-0
bishop can go to h 3 (and maybe e6) t o control the h3-c8 diagonal - remember, Black has carelessly conceded his light square defender. ] 8...a5 [ A s w e l e a r n e d l a s t m o n t h 8...0-0 is more accurate when b4 is not a threat, 9.b1 and now ( 9.b4?? e4 ) 9...a5! gains a tempo (White has played Rb1). ] 9.e1 e6 10.c2 [ 10.d5! keeps control of d5. ] 10...d5 11.cxd5 xd5 12.e3 de7! Thematic, Black avoids exchanges when he has extra space. 13.e4 b6 14.h4!? [ An unusual novelty. 14.g5 can be played straight-away: d7 15.d2 ( 15.c4 0-0 16.f4 h6 17.f3 Yermolinsky, A-Wedberg,T New York op 1991) 15...0-0 16.c4 h6 17.e4 e6 18.a4 led to a quick draw in Ribli,Z-Hellers,F/Tilburg 1993, although I prefer Black. ] [ After 14.a4 0-0 the tactical operation 15.xc5!? bxc5 16.xc6 xc6 17.xc6 1649 A37 is risky, White's light-squared bishop is an important piece, c8 18.a4 f5 19.c4 f4 Smirin,Ilia 2685 20.xa5 g5 21.f3 e4! with a powerful Karjakin,Sergey 2489 attack, W ojtkiewicz,A-Bellon Lopez,J/Ter FIDE GP Moscow RUS (1.1) 01.06.2002 Apel 1991. ] [Tony Kosten] 14...h6 [ Black decides to 'play safe' and stops White 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 from playing h5, and hxg6, to gain control of 5.0-0 We have already seen that this move g5, but 14...a4!? must have been tempting, may be inaccurate, White should first attend fixing the weakness on b3. ] to his queenside play, see Isonzo,D-Manik,M/ This must be played if White wants to Leipzig GER 2002. e5 6.c3 d6 7.d3 ge7 15.a4 plant his knight on c4. 0-0 16.c4 c7 8.a3 [ Subscriber Noel Aldebol sent in the 17.d2 ad8 Black has more space, which is following game: 8.e1 0-0 9.c2 f5?! typical of such Maroczy positions, but White premature, 10.e3 ( 10.g5! looks right, has good squares on c4 and b5. 18.c1?! [ 18.c3 might be safer, avoiding Black's h6 11.xe7 xe7 12.e3 b8 13.b1 combination. ] c6 14.a3 f4?! 15.ed5 g4 16.h3 e6 19.c3 xc4! 20.dxc4 e4 17.b4 White has complete control of d5, the 18...f5 light squares, and his queenside action is At the cost of his light-squared bishop Black u n d e r wa y , F re i sl e r, P - T ra p l , J/ P r a g u e frees his other bishop, gains a powerful pawn 1986. ) 10...e6 11.ed5 xd5?! chain and good dark squares for his knights. 12.cxd5?! ( 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5+ 21.b5 e5 22.c3 [ 22.c2 xb2 23.xb2 xb2 24.xh6 is surely simpler - why not use d5 f or a xc1 25.xf8 xf8 26.xc1 d2 piece? ) 12...b8 13.f4 d7 also favours Black. ] Blades-Behrouz/Internet Chess Club 2002, 23.c2 b4 24.c1 xb2 a n d n o w I l i k e 14.e4 trying to open the 22...e6 position for the bishop pair. In particular, if Winning a pawn whilst retaining all the plusses Black captures on e4 the light-square d of the position. 25.b1 g7 26.c1 h5 1662
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 27.f4 d7 28.f3 exf3 29.xf3 fd8 30.b3 h7 31.g2 f6 32.g5 f7 33.e4 White is attempting to gain light-squared play for his f3-bishop. d3 34.c2 f4?! [ 34...f6 unpins the knight and keeps Black on top. ] 35.xd3?! [ Hardly necessary, 35.e2 b4 36.b1 d2 37.f2 leaves Black's f-pawn pinned. ] 35...xd3 36.xf4 Winning a pawn for the exchange, but W hite was already a pawn down! 3d7 37.f2 c6 38.e5!? Freeing the f3-bishop. d4? [ Simply 38...xe5! is strong, 39.xe5 xe5 A) 40.g4?? is met by xf2+! 41.xf2 ( 41.xf2 d2+ ) 41...hxg4 and ...Rd2 is unstoppable; B) 40.xh5 e6 41.f3 d3 Black has extra material and dominates the position. ] 39.xd4 xd4 40.g5? [ These moves are typical of rapid chess, 40.xh5 gives White real play. ] 40...f8 41.e3 xc4 42.d3 b4 43.xh5 e6 44.f3 b3 45.d2 xe5 46.f4 d4 47.e2 If the queens are exchanged White can resign. b2 48.d2 d8 [ G o o d e n o u g h , b u t 48...xf3! 49.xf3 d5+ was the clearest. ] 49.e4!? W o r t h a t r y ! ! xd2 50.xg6+ xg6 51.e6+ h7?? [ Throwing away the win! Everything else w o n , a n d e v e n 51...f6 is good, as the white rook is pinned. ] 52.f5+ h8 53.h5+ h6 [ 53...g8 54.f7+ ] 54.xh6+ g8 55.e6+ g7 56.f7+ h8 57.h5+ g8 58.f7+ h8 Black can't avoid the checks - a lucky escape for Smirin! ½-½
wa s b r o u g h t t o o u r a t t e n t i o n b y F r a n c k Steenbekkers, who points out that the game challenges White's best opportunity in one of the oldest "Pure Symmetrical" variations. 1.g3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 The game position can also arrive via 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7. 5.a3 a6 6.b1 b8 7.b4 cxb4 8.axb4 b5 9.cxb5 axb5 10.f3 e5 11.d4 Tony made a strong case for this underrated move in his 'Dynamic English' book. Steenbekkers notes that this game challenges the previous verdict and looks for other moves. exd4 12.d5 f6 13.g5 h6 14.xf6+ [ Steinbeckkers, skeptical of the ensuing play, a s k s " W h a t d o y o u t h i n k o f 14.xf6 ? " T h e n a s a m p l e l i n e m i g h t b e xf6 15.c1 ( 15.0-0 0-0 16.xf6+ xf6 17.d2 g7 is equal, e.g., 18.fd1 e8 19.f1 b7 20.xd4 xd4 21.xd4 xg2+ 22.xg2 xd4 23.xd4 xe2 24.xd7= ) 15...g7 ( 15...f8 16.0-0 g7 also looks equal) 16.c5! f8! 17.c2 g7 18.e4+ f8 19.0-0 d6 and it's hard to believe that White has anything ] 14...xf6 15.f4 d6 16.xh6 f5!? 17.c1 xb4 " ! Novelty" according to Steenbecker. "I think it is good enough for an even game!" Tony's book quoted a game with the continuation [ 17...e4 ] 18.xd4 d3+ 19.exd3 xd4 20.c6+ [ Or 20.e2+ e7 21.e3 f6 22.c6+ f8! intending ...Kg7. ( 22...d7 23.xd7+ xd7 24.0-0 looks more pleasant for White )] 20...d7 21.e2+ e5 [ 21...e7?! 22.xd7+ d8 ( 22...xd7?? 23.c7+ ) 23.xe7+ xe7 24.xb5 xh6 25.a4 with an extra pawn, although even here White has only a small advantage. ] 22.d4? xc6 23.dxe5 dxe5?! [ 23...xh6! 24.xc6 a5+ 25.f1 a1+ 1650 A37 26.g2 xe5 and Black's extra passed p a wn wo u ld gi ve h im t h e o n ly wi n n i n g Thede,Hendrik 2440 chances. ] Co,A 2308 EUCup 19th Rethymnon 2003 24.0-0!? xh6 25.xe5+ f8 26.fd1 e8 [ 26...d7 27.c7! ( 27.xd7 xd7 [John Watson] 28.xb8+ g7 is not convincing )] A rather important if somewhat technical 27.d6+ g8 28.xc6 h5 29.c7 e5 Symmetrical English appears in this game. It 30.g2 b4 31.f6 f5 32.h4 g5!? 1663
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Draw. Actually, Black might as well have played on with his passed b-pawn, e.g., [ 32...g5 33.d4 b3 ] [ or 32...b3 Steenbeckers says: "Maybe 10... e5!? gives black an easily drawish game." . It's hard to disagree. ] ½-½
outpost on d5 and retain his good bishop, but th a t 's n o t ve ry im p ressive in t h e f a c e o f Black's space advantage. The game should be equal. e7 20.xe7+ xe7 21.b3+ f7 22.bc1 d6 23.e3 b6 24.c4 [ 24.f4 doesn't achieve much after f5 ] 24...f8!? [ 24...d8 is preferable. The opening and early middlegame are over, and what ensues is outside of the topic of this 1651 A37 discussion. It turns out that the good and Timman,Jan H 2607 bad bishop do matter in securing W hite's Hermansson,Emil 2432 advantage. ] 13th Sigeman & Co (5) 20.04.2005 25.f4 aa7 26.f5 g5 27.c3 a4 28.b3 d7 [John Watson] 29.e6 g7 30.xb6 b7 31.e6 axb3 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 e5 4.g3 32.xd7 fxd7 33.b1 b2 34.f2 b5 This leads to a standard Symmetrical English 35.e2 a7 36.d2 ba5 37.xb2 xa3 fianchetto position. The alternative 4.e3 is 38.xc5 xc5 39.xc5 a2 40.c7+ h6 looked at in Shirjaev-Shinkevich, Ufa 2004. g6 41.xa2 xa2+ 42.e3 g4 43.f7 xh2 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 d6 7.d3 ge7 8.a3 a5 44.xf6+ g5 45.f7 h5 46.g7+ f6 9.g5 This may be the only move that truly 47.g6+ f7 48.d4 exd4+ 49.xd4 h3 tests Black's ultra-solid Botvinnik setup. The 50.e5 xg3 51.e6+ e7 52.g7+ d6 53.e7 d7 54.f6 earliest approach was [ 9.e1 , but e6 ( 9...0-0 10.c2 e6 1-0 11.e3 , but then) 10.d5 ( 10.c2 d5 11.cxd5 xd5 12.e3 de7 ) 10...b8! 1652 A37 prepared ...b5 with equality. ] 9...f6 Van Wely,Loek 2681 [ 9...h6 10.xe7! wins the light squares and Gelfand,Boris 2737 gains time to attack down the b-file, e.g., Amber Rapid Nice FRA rapid (4) 18.03.2008 xe7 11.d2 0-0 12.b1 c6 13.d5 [Carsten Hansen] etc. ] 10.d2 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 [ H e r e t h e m o v e 10.e3!? has enjoyed 5.c3 e6 6.a3!? some success. The idea is to prevent ...d5 [ This move is a favourite of Grandmaster (Bxc5) and tempt Black into blocking off his Lo gin o v. O th e r m o ve s in clu d e : A ) 6.0-0 own attack by f5?! ( 10...0-0 11.e1 f5 ge7 7.d4 ] is normal ) 11.d2 ] [ B) 6.d4 ] 10...0-0 11.e1 e6 12.c2 [ C) 6.h4 all of which can be cross [ 12.b1!? d5!? ( 12...b8 ) 13.cxd5 xd5 referenced with the PDF eBooks and the 14.b3! is old Informant analysis, although PGN archives ] a4! 15.xb7 ( 15.xa4? d4 16.d1 6...ge7 7.b4 xe2+ ) 15...a5 16.b5 b3 traps the [ Loginov often prefers 7.b1 but after trapper. ] Black's next move, the result is the same 12...d5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.e3 de7 position ] A well-known position, considered equal. 7...b6!? 15.b1 c7!? [ This move was introduced by Leko. The [ 15...b8 and ] alternative is 7...cxb4 8.axb4 xb4 9.a3 [ 15...b6 are normal. ] ec6 which leaves White with more than 16.ed5!? xd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xd5 adequate compensation for the pawn. Too f7 19.e4 White idea is to gain a temporary dangerous for Black is ] 1664
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 7...xb4?! 8.axb4 cxb4 9.b5 xa1 10.d6+ f8 , and now 11.a4 f6 12.xb4 leaves White with ample compensation, Pavlovic-Fominyh, Novy Smokovec 1990 ] 8.b1 0-0 9.0-0 [ While Van Wely isn't exactly the player that strike you as one with extensive experience on the White side of the English Opening, he does play it with regularity, and somewhat surprisingly, he actually has played against Black's line of choice before. On the previous occasion, he went instead for (A) 9.bxc5 bxc5 A) 10.0-0 a6! 11.e4 ( 11.a4 a5!; 11.b5 d5! ) 11...xc4 12.xc5 a2!; B) 10.e4 d6 11.b2 f5! 12.c3 ( 12.xg7? fxe4 13.xf8 exf3 14.xf3 xf8 15.a4 d7 Leko ) 12...b8 13.c2 ( 13.0-0 a5 ) B1) 13...d4!? 14.xd4 cxd4 15.b5 b6 16.0-0 e5 17.c1! e6 ( 17...a6 18.c3 c7 19.d5; 17...c5 18.a4! ) 18.e3 c5 19.d3 Leko; B2) 13...a6 B2a) 14.e3? e5! 15.0-0 ( 15.d3 e4! 16.dxe4 a5! ) 15...e4 16.e1 e5 Leko; B2b) 14.0-0 B2b1) 14...b7 15.e3! Leko ( 15.a4!?= ) 15...e5 16.g5 xg2 17.xg2 d7; B2b2) 14...d4! 15.xd4 cxd4 16.a2! c7 17.a1! d7 18.b4 b6! ( 18...a5 19.a2! fc8 20.e3; 18...a7 19.e3 a5 20.d3 Leko ) 19.e3 dxe3 20.dxe3 xa1 21.xa1 a5 ( 21...c6? 22.d5! ) 22.d3 c6! 23.c5 xg2 ( 23...b5?! 24.fc1 xd3 25.xd3 dxc5 26.c3 Leko ) 24.xg2 B2b21) 24...c6 25.c4!? ( 25.cxd6= ) 25...dxc5 26.f4 Leko; B2b22) 24...dxc5 25.xc5 xc5 ( 25...c6 26.e5= ) 26.xc5 c8 27.fc1 bc6 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, Van Wely, LLeko, P/Wijk aan Zee 1996 ( 27...bc6 28.b3 a4 29.xc6 xc6 30.d4 b6 31.c1 e5
32.f3 b3 33.xe5 xa3 34.c7= Leko )] [ B) 9.a4 cxb4 10.axb4 d5 11.b5 a5 12.cxd5 xd5 ( 12...exd5!? ) 13.e4 c7 14.d4 b7 15.c3 a6 16.bxa6 , and a draw was prematurely agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, Huzman, A-Zagorskis, D/Pula 1997, though White has a pretty decent position xa6 ( 16...xa6 17.xb6 b8 18.xb8 xb8 ) 17.0-0 c8 18.d2 c4 19.f4 f6= ] [ C) 9.h4 d5 10.h5 cxb4 11.axb4 a5 12.bxa5 xa5 13.hxg6 hxg6 14.cxd5 exd5 15.a4 ( 15.b5!? d7 16.d3 ) 15...f5 16.g4 h6 17.g5 g4 18.f4 Loginov, V-Smirnov, A/St Petersburg RUS 2005 ] 9...d5 [ Black also has a fully playable alternative in 9...d6 , and now White has tried A) 10.c2 b7 11.d3 d7 12.bxc5 dxc5=; B) or 10.e3 b7 11.b3 ( 11.d4!? ) 11...c8 12.d3 d5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.b2 ( 14.e2!? ) 14...a6 15.fd1 xd3 16.bc1 c4 17.c2 cxb4 18.e4 f6 19.h3 c7 El Ghazali, Y-Horvath, C/ Cairo 1997; C) 10.a4 d7 11.d3 b8 12.b5 d4 13.d2 a6 14.c3 axb5 15.cxb5 c8 16.b2 b7 17.xb7 xb7 18.e3 df5 Kraehenbuehl, G-Arnason, J/Zug 1983 ] 10.bxc5 bxc5 11.a4 [ 11.a4 d6 ( 11...f5 12.d3!? ) 12.d3 a6 13.cxd5 xd5 14.b2 A) 14...d4!? 15.g5!? ( 15.d2!? b5 16.e1 ) 15...b5 16.e1 ( 16.e3 xa4! 17.xa4 c3! 18.xc3 e2+ 19.h1 xc3 20.h4 h5 21.e4 xe4 22.xe4 ab8= ) 16...ab8 17.e4 xa4 18.xa4; B) 14...xb2 15.xb2 ab8 ( 15...ac8!? ) 16.c2 b3 17.c1 Konietzka, L-Breuer, M/Recklinghausen 2000 ] 11...d7 12.a6 c8 13.a4 d7 14.a6 a5 15.xa5 xa5 16.cxd5 exd5 17.e1 c6 [ 17...ad8!? ] 18.d3 d4 19.e4 c4 20.b4 ab8 [ 20...b7!? ] 1665
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.d3 f5 [ 21...c3 22.f4 bc8 ] 22.g5 xe4 23.dxe4 fe8 24.fc1 [ 24.fd1!? ] 24...c3 25.e3 h6?! [ 25...dxe3!? 26.xe3 ( 26.fxe3!?= ) 26...fxe4 27.xe4 c4 28.xa7 xa3 29.b3 b5 30.a1 c2 31.c1 d8 32.xc2 xc2 33.xc2 a8 34.c5 c6 35.b1 ab8= ] 26.f4 [ 26.xe7!? xe7 27.exf5 dxe3 28.d5! ee8 29.xb8 xb8 30.f6 ] 26...bc8 27.exd4 xd4 28.xh6 c4 29.c2 b6 30.d1 fxe4 31.xe4 f5 32.xf5 gxf5 33.f1 f7 [ 33...e6 34.f4 ] 34.h4 e5?! [ 34...e6 35.c1 ce8 ] 35.b5 g4 36.xf5+ e6 37.fd5 [ 37.g5!? xf2 38.g6+ f5 39.dd6 e4 40.g4+ e5 41.d3 ] 37...xf2 38.d6+ f7 39.d7+ e7 40.g5 xd7 41.xd7+ e6 42.e7+ d5 43.e2 g4 44.f4 [ 44.b4+!? d4 45.h5 c5 46.f7 with excellent winning chances ] 44...c4 45.f3 f6 46.g4?! [ 46.c1! b3 47.e2 , and White has the somewhat better chances ] 46...d5 47.e4+?? [ 47.f7! b3 48.e1 xf4 49.xf4 xa3 50.g5 , and White is actually doing pretty good. After the text move, he is in serious trouble, if not completely lost. ] 47...b3 48.b4 [ 48.e1 f8-+ ] 48...xf4! 49.xf4 a5 50.d3 c2 51.f6 d4 52.d6 c3? [ 52...c3! wins on the spot ] 53.c1 c5 54.d5 f8+ 55.g3 f2+ [ Also 55...xa3 is perfectly good: 56.e2+ b2 57.xa5 e8 58.b5+ a1!-+ ] 56.h3 e3 57.e2+ b2?! [ Here 57...c4! 58.d7 f3+ 59.g2 f2+ 60.g3 xe2 is the easier win ] 58.b5+ a2 59.g5 f2 60.g6 h6?? [ 60...xe2! 61.g7 c1 62.g8+ a1 63.h8+ b2-+ ] 61.e5?? [ Warning: The following line has been
worked out, more or less in its entirety, by computers. The ideas are several times well above my otherwise finely tuned head... Enjoy! 61.c1+!! xa3 ( 61...xc1 62.g7+- ) 62.xa5+ b4 ( 62...b2 63.d3+ b3 64.c1+!! b2 65.d3+ ) 63.a2 A) 63...c3 64.a7 f8 65.c7+ d2 ( 65...b2 66.d3+ b3 67.g4 f1 68.h5 d2 69.c5+ b2 70.g7 g1 71.d3+ b3 72.c5+ b2 73.d3+= ) 66.b3+ d1 67.d7+ e1 68.e7+ d1 69.d7+=; B) 63...xc1 64.g7 h2+!! 65.xh2 f4+ 66.g2 c1 67.g8 c6+ 68.f2 c5+ 69.f3 e3+ 70.g2 e4+= ] 61...xa3 62.c1 f1 63.xa5+ b4 64.a1 b5 65.g2 d1 66.f3 c6?? [ 66...g7!-+ ] 67.h5?? [ 67.e4 g7 68.a2 xc1 69.d3= ] 67...d6?? [ 67...g7! 68.h6 xa1 69.g7 d8-+ ] 68.a6+ [ 68.e4!? xc1 69.g7 d4+ 70.xd4 b2+ 71.d3 xa1 72.xc2= ] 68...e5 69.a5+ f6 70.a6+ g5 71.a5+ h4 72.c5 xc1 73.e2 g4 74.c4+ xh5 75.d3 xg6 76.xc2 And we have one of the notorious KR vs KRB endgames on the board. To Van Wely's credit, he never slips up once, so I will leave the rest without annotations. g1 77.c5 g7 78.e4 e1+ 79.d3 f6 80.a5 e6 81.a6+ f5 82.a5+ e5 83.a4 d1+ 84.e3 c1 85.d2 c3 86.b4 h3 87.a4 e6 88.e2 d5 89.d2 d4 90.c2 e4 91.c4 h2+ 92.b3 d3 93.b4 c3 94.b5 h1 95.d5+ d4 96.b5 h2 97.b4 c3 98.b5 d4 99.a4 c4 100.b4+ d3 101.b5 h8 102.b3 d8 103.b7 d4 104.b5 c8 105.b4 c1 106.b5 c5 107.a4 c4 108.b4+ d5 109.b2 a1+ 110.b5 a8 111.b3 d4 112.h3 b8+ 113.c6 b6+ 114.c7 g6 115.h5 d6+ 116.d7 e5 117.h7 d5 118.f7 a6 119.e7 f6 120.f7 e5 121.e8 e6 122.e7+ f5 123.b7 d6 124.d7 e6+ 125.f7 a6 126.d5+ e5 127.d7 e6 128.e7 h6 129.d7 d6 130.g7 g5 1666
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 131.f7 f6+ 132.g8 e6 133.f7 f5 134.b7 e5 135.e7 h6 136.d7 d6 ½-½
1653 A37 Wang Yue 2697 Nepomniachtchi,Ian 2718 8th RUS-CHN Summit Men Rapid (9) 08.07.12 [John Bartholomew] Ian Nepomniachtchi scratches and claws his way to another victory in his preferred line of the Pure Symmetrical. 1.c4 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 c5 4.c3 c6 5.f3 e5 6.0-0 ge7 7.a3 d6 Passing on the chance to prevent b2-b4. Nepomniachtchi is rather fond of this counter-punching approach, having successfully used it to defeat Kramnik at last year's Tal Memorial. [ 7...a5 is discussed in the ChessPub guide "Pure Symmetrical - 5 Nf3 other Black 5th moves". ] 8.b4 e4 [ T a k i n g t h e p a w n w i t h 8...cxb4?! is not advisable. See Romanishin, O (2578)Maksimenko, A (2495)/Ordzhonikidze 2000/ [TonyK] for the gory details. ] 9.g5!? Adventurous, and critical to boot. Wang Yue is willing to sacrifice this knight if provoked. [ Kramnik preferred the more common and sedate retreat, 9.e1 . However, after f5 10.b2 0-0 11.d3 e6! Black's play was e n t i re ly a d e qu a t e . K r a m n i k, V ( 2 8 0 0 ) Nepomniachtchi, I (2730)/Moscow RUS 2011/[John Bartholomew]. ] 9...h6 Challenge accepted! [ The alternative is 9...f5 , i.e. 10.b2 0-0 ( 10...h6 11.h3 g5!? ) 11.d3 h6 12.h3 exd3 ( 12...g5!? ) 13.exd3 ( 13.f4!? dxe2 14.xe2; 13.xd3!? ) 13...g5 14.b5 d4 15.f4 g4 16.f2 b8 17.a2 b6 18.e2 b7?! 19.xd4 cxd4 20.a1 xg2 21.xg2 d5 1/2-1/2 Leski, M (2440)-De Firmian, N (2595)/Las Vegas 1996. White agreed to a draw prematurely, as 22.d1! would have won the d-pawn. ] 10.gxe4 The knight will perish on this square, but White obtains three pawns and interesting play in return.
[ 10.h3 certainly looks craven. White was successful in the recent game Berescu, A (2494)-Solak, D (2602)/Skopje MKD 2012, though it didn't have much to do with the opening: g5 11.b1 xc3!? ( 11...f5!? ) 12.dxc3 f5 13.b2?! and here Black missed ( 13.bxc5 dxc5 14.xd8+ xd8 15.b2 looks better) 13...c8! when the once brazen knight is now thoroughly embarrassed! ] 10...f5 11.bxc5 fxe4 12.cxd6 xd6 13.xe4 e6 [ 13...c7 has been played a couple times, but maybe Black should avoid this in view of 14.d4!?N , trying to get in Bc1-f4. ( 14.b1 Lehtinen, H (2339)-Mertanen, J (2193)/ Tampere 2001. )] 14.b1 0-0 15.d3 b6 16.b2 This position had been reached twice before. xb2 [ 16...b8 A) The pawn sac 17.d4!? is possible, and perhaps best. For example, xc4 18.d6 e6 19.xc8 xc8 ( 19...bxc8? 20.d5+- ) 20.d5 xb2 21.xb2 d8 22.e4! e5 23.c2 d7 24.f4 g4 25.d4; B) 17.xg7 xg7 18.b5 b7 19.a1+ g8 20.h4 with double-edged play. Georgescu, T (2416)-Szabo, G (2553)/ Bucharest ROU 2012. ] [ 16...d7 A logical developing move that also connects the rooks. 17.xg7 xg7 18.b5?! (the same rook lift as above, but it doesn't accomplish much) e5 19.b2 c6 20.a1 h7 21.c1 f7 22.a4 g4 23.f3 e3 24.c5 7d5 Jatoba de Oliveira Reis, P (2438) -Barbosa, E (2412)/Campinas BRA 2011. ] 17.xb2 b8 18.c5 d8 19.d2 g7?! [ Safer is 19...f5 . ] 20.fb1 Unexpectedly, White has generated significant pressure. d5?! 21.c3! ce7 22.e4 xc3 23.xc3+ f6 24.e5 e6 25.c6 The threat of c6-c7 puts Black in a desperate situation. d5! Nearly forced, but still a good fighting response. 26.c7?! [ White should keep the pawn on c6 for the time being. Thus, better is 26.xd5 xd5 27.c4 , though Black can still resist after f7! intending ... Bc8-e6. ] 26...a8 27.d4 d7 28.c1 c8 29.b4? 1667
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 29.xd5 xd5 30.d3 c6 ] 29...b5 30.d2 xb2 31.xb2 d5 Black has succeeded in stopping the c-pawn without incurring any material loss. Still, White's central mass remains dangerous, so t h e p o i n t r e m a i n s u n d e c i d e d . 32.xd5!? xd5 33.c3 h3 34.c6 xc6 35.xc6 d7 36.c1 e6 37.c6 f7! 38.f4 d7 39.c1 e6 40.f2? Allowing Black to construct a full blockade. [ W hite must active his rook with 40.d5+! . Then xd5 41.d1+ e6 42.d6+ e7 43.xg6 xc7 44.xh6 results in an unbalanced ending where Black's chances are only slightly higher. ] 40...d5 41.e3 h5! Every single White pawn is relegated to a dark square! Black will begin the collection with ...Bd7-c6. 42.c2 c6 43.h3 d7! 44.g4 hxg4 45.hxg4 xg4 46.c1 d7 47.c2 f5 48.c1 h8 49.a4 a5 50.f2 xd4 51.c6 c8 52.g3 d5 While I doubt 9.Ng5!? h6 10. Ngxe4 is 100 percent sound, Black definitely has to be on guard (16...Bd7 looks like the way to go). Nepomniachtchi played a few routine moves and quickly found himself in trouble. 0-1
1654 Wohl,Aleksandar H Motylev,Alexander VII Anibal Open (3) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2440 2532 09.01.2000
1.c4 g6 2.c3 g7 3.g3 c5 4.g2 c6 5.f3 e6 6.0-0 [ This system has a very good reputation for Black, certainly now that 6.d4 has been shorn of most of its terrors. ] 6...ge7 7.d3 0-0 8.g5 h6 9.d2 d5 10.cxd5 [ Personally, I am not sure that this is a good decision, as White thereby exposes his e2pawn on the open e-file. 10.a3 b6 11.b1 b7 12.b4 is better, although dxc4 13.dxc4 cxb4 14.axb4 c8 15.c5 bxc5 16.bxc5 a5 17.b5 xf3 is only equal, Gulko,BDlugy,M/USA (ch) 1991, 1/2-1/2 (22). ] 10...exd5 11.a3 b6 12.b1 b7!
[ A n o b v i o u s n e w m o v e , e v e n i f 12...d4 13.a4 a6 14.b4 cxb4 15.axb4 b5 16.b2 d5 -d3, also gave Black the advantage, Kupka,S-Smejkal,J/Bratislava 1967, 0-1 (33). ] 13.b4 cxb4 14.axb4 d4 15.a4 d5 16.b5 White has been allowed to advance his b-pawn, and fix the black queenside, but it se e m s irre l e va n t . ce7 17.b3 d7 18.fc1 White plays all the natural moves, and yet is worse- this is not a good advert for the system! f5 Black plans to bring a rook to the e-file, and stops White from playing e3/e4. 19.g4 [ This weakens the kingside, but what else? If 19.e1 fe8 followed by doubling rooks on the e-file. ] 19...fe7 [ 19...d6! is more accurate, stopping Rc4. ] 20.h3?! [ White should have chosen 20.c4! xg4 21.h3 d7 22.xd4 eradicating the annoying d4-pawn, with reasonable chances. ] 20...h5!! A far-sighted move, exposing the wh i t e k i n g . 21.gxh5 gxh5 22.e4 dxe3 23.fxe3 g6 24.b2 [ Perfectly normal, the knight moves to a better square (c4), and yet storm clouds we re ga t he ring o ve r th e wh it e k ing, s o 24.f1 is more circumspect. ] 24...ae8 25.c4 df4! This surprising move wins quickly. 26.exf4 Forced. xf3 27.xf3 xh3 28.f2 [ 28.g2 d4+ 29.f1 g3 is devastating. ] 28...h2+ 0-1
1655 Zhou,Weiqi Wei,Yi Danzhou 5th (9) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2601 2634 04.07.2014
1.c4 g6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 g7 4.g3 c6 5.g2 e6 If White wants to win this line is a real problem. 6.e3 [ 6.0-0 ge7 7.d3 is the most popular, but is ju st to o e a sy to p lay f o r B lac k . ( 7.e3 1668
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 would transpose after 0-0 8.d4 )] 6...ge7 7.d4 [ 7.0-0 f5!? ( 7...0-0 8.d4 cxd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.exd4 d5 as below. ) 8.e4 d6 9.d4! see Bejtovic, J-Grandelius, N, in the Archive. ] 7...0-0!? Extremely rare. [ 7...cxd4 8.xd4 xd4 9.exd4 d5 10.cxd5 xd5 is the very drawish mainline, although this normally arrives from a Nge2 line, rather than Nf3 as here, see Bacrot, E-Vaisser, A in the PGN Archive. ] 8.0-0 White is happy to transpose. [ 8.d5 a5 9.d2 b8 10.a4 d6 11.0-0 exd5 12.cxd5 gave Black a perfectly reasonable Benoni position in Landgren, P (2182) -Tikkanen, H (2232)/Hallsberg 2000. ] [ 8.dxc5 a5 ] 8...b6!? Black continues to search for a more interesting game. [ 8...cxd4 9.xd4 xd4 ( or 9...d5 ) 10.exd4 reaches the mainline once again. ] [ 8...d6 is also possible, and scores well, 9.e1!? ( 9.b3 f5 ) 9...e8 10.b3 b8 ( 10...e5!? ) 11.b2 cxd4 12.exd4 d5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.e5 with a small plus to W hite in Grischuk, A (2783)-Dominguez Perez, L (2754)/Beijing 2013. ] 9.b3 New. [ 9.dxc5 bxc5 10.e4 a6! 11.a4 a5 12.xa5 xa5 De Andrade, W (2250) Bruzon Batista, L (2488)/Sao Bernardo 1999, 13.d1 equal. ] [ 9.d5 a5 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.e5? d5 12.f4 xe5 13.fxe5 xc4 14.xf8+ Marinangeli, M (2143)-Arjona, J/ Olavarria 2002, xf8! 15.xd5 xd5 16.xd5 d8! 17.f3 xd1+ 18.xd1 b7 and ...Nxe5. ] [ 9.e1 a6 10.a4 b7 is nothing, Quirico, P (2118) -Bergero, S (1707)/Torino 2013. ] 9...d5 The position is almost entirely symmetrical with W hite to move. The only difference is the placement of the respective kingside knights, but if anything this favours Black as the f3-knight masks the g2-bishop. This suggests that White would be better off with his knight on e2 instead, food for thought! 10.cxd5 exd5 11.a3 g4 The d4-pawn is pinned. 12.h3 cxd4! 13.exd4
[ 13.xe7 xe7 14.exd4 xf3 15.xf3 f5 is 'equalish' but only Black can be better. ] 13...xf3 14.xf3 xd4 15.d3 It seems strange that W hite can play good logical moves from the beginning of the game, and already be struggling to regain his pawn and hold a draw! Where did he go wrong? c8 Threatening ...Rxc3. 16.ac1 [ 16.xe7?! xe7 ( 16...xc3 17.xc3 xe7 18.ae1 e2+ 19.xe2 xe2 wi t h a p a w n m o r e , a l t h o u g h a d r a w i s likely. ) 17.ae1 a3 18.xd5 c2 with advantage. ] 16...e8 17.h1 h6 18.fe1 h7 19.h2 d7 20.xe7! White chooses the perfect time to liquidate. xe7 21.xe7 xe7 22.xd5 d7 23.xc8 xc8 Now the position is a total draw, although the game continues a bit. 24.f4 c5 25.e3 c2 26.d5 f5 27.e2 xe2 28.xe2 d4 29.xd4 xd4 30.xf7 xf2 I suppose there must have been a no-draw rule of some sort, as playing on here is totally absurd, of course. 31.g2 e1 32.f3 g7 33.e8 f6 34.g4 g5 35.e4 e7 36.b5 f6 37.c4 e7 38.a6 d6 39.f5 c5 40.a4 b4 41.c4 a6 42.g6 b5 43.axb5 axb5 44.g8 c5 45.xh6 h4 46.g6 d6 47.f5 c5 48.f7 d6 49.b4 c6 50.e8+ b6 51.d7 a6 52.e8 b6 53.d7 a6 54.e8 b6 ½-½
1656 Akopian,Vladimir Shulman,Yuri 2nd IECC Ohrid MKD (4) [Tony Kosten]
A38 2654 2551 04.06.2001
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c5 5.c3 c6 6.d4 a5!? [ A speciality of Shulman, 6...0-0 7.d5 a5 8.d2 leads to an inferior KI position, Akesson,R-Hammar,B/SWE-ch 1980, ] [ but 6...cxd4 7.xd4 is the main move, leading to a Yugoslav KI position. ] 7.d5! [ Best. 7.0-0 cxd4 8.xd4 c5 is the point, p e s t e ri n g t h e c 4 - p a wn , 9.xc6 dxc6 1669
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with near equality, Ippolito,D-Shulman,Y/ Philadelphia USA 2000. ] 7...e4!? This is Black's idea, obviously any move of the c6-knight would allow W hite a f a vou rab le K in g's In d ia n p o sit io n . 8.dxc6 xc3 9.d2 Pinning the knight, and winning, right? b4 Wrong, the piece is still untouchable, and so the black queen defends herself. 10.0-0 e4 [ 10...a4!? is worth a thought. ] 11.d3 d6 12.f4! White plays for the in it iat ive . dxc6 13.xd6 exd6 14.xd6 xb2!? [ S h u l m a n ' s i m p r o ve m e n t o ve r 14...e6 15.ad1 b6 16.g5 d8 17.f4 with a slight white plus, in the previous game between these two players in Las Vegas USA 2001. ] 15.ad1 f6 Back in time to defend. 16.xc5 e7 17.d6 Obviously White does not want to play an endgame where Black has the two bishops. 0-0 18.xc6 After this play peters-out. xe2 19.c7 b6 20.a3 f5 21.e1 d3 22.xd3 xd3 23.e5 xe5 24.xe5 ac8 25.xa7 xc4 ½-½
1657 Alekseev,Evgeny Kurnosov,Igor 17th TCh-RUS Premier (2) [Nigel Davies]
A38 2700 2674 02.04.2010
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 g7 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 c5 8.xd5 The quietest of White's alternatives with a justifiably drawish reputation. xd5 9.d3 c6 10.e3 d7 11.d4 d6 12.xc6 xc6 13.xc6 xc6 14.c1 e6 15.xc5 xa2 16.b5 I have to say that this is a pretty dull choice of variation in which W hite k eeps a draw in han d and aims t o attack Black's big toe in a drawish endgame. b6 17.b3 [ 17.a1 was played in Karpov, A (2725)Ribli, Z (2610)/Amsterdam 1980, and now rather than exchange queens Black should h a v e p l a y e d e6 . The choice of 17.Qb3 gets Black to put his queen on a less active s quare if he wishes to a void th e
exchange, though I find myself yawning in any case. ] 17...a6 18.b4 fb8 [ 18...a5 19.a4 e5 20.fa1 xb2 21.xb2 xb2 22.1a2 b5 23.b4 c3 24.xb5 was slightly better for White in Valdes, L (2362)-Minero Pineda, S (2440)/ San Jose Julio 2005, but can he really get more than a draw out of this? ] 19.c1 c8 20.bc4 b7 21.a3 xc4 22.dxc4 h5 [ 22...d8 might have been a better move. A s t h e g a m e g o e s B la c k d r i f t s i n t o a n inferior position because of the emergence of a White passed c-pawn. ] 23.b4 d8 24.f3 [ T h e i m m e d i a t e 24.c5 was also worth considering. ] 24...d6 25.f2 c6 26.a4 f8 [ 26...h7 was probably better. After White's reply Black is suddenly in trouble. ] 27.c5 bxc5 28.xc5 e6 29.e8 xe3 30.c8? The wrong choice that might have been influenced by the relentless ticking of the clock. [ 30.xe3 xb4 31.b5 looks winning for White. ] 30...xe2+! White's king is unable to find safety now. 31.xe2 a6+ 32.d2 a2+ 33.c3 a1+ 34.b3 d1+ 35.c4 e2+ 36.c5 f2+ 37.b5 b6+ 38.a4 a6+ 39.b3 d3+ 40.a4 a6+ 41.b3 d3+ 42.a4 ½-½
1658 A38 Bacrot,Etienne 2695 Savchenko,Boris 2583 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (15) 21.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen] 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.0-0 d6 6.c3 f6 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d7 9.c2 0-0 10.b3 a5 11.b2 It's quite amazing that this line, while played several times, is largely ignored in published theory. Neither the ECO, nor Cummings' book on the Symmetrical English, nor my book on the same topic, nor earlier updates here on Chesspublishing.com, cover this line. I get 1670
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 closest in my book, but not through this move order, but after 5...Nf6 6 Nc3 0-0 7 d4 cxd4 8 Nxd4 d6 9 b3 rather astounding I have to say, though it is a testament to how notoriously transpositional the Symmetrical English is. a6 [ This move is slightly unusual in conjunction with a ...Qa5 from Black, but has previously been played by Judit Polgar. Of course, Black has tried other moves in this position: A) 11...h5 A) 12.e4 g4 13.f3 h3 A1) 14.xh3 xh3 15.e2 a6 16.ad1 d7 17.a4 xb2 18.xb2 with about even chances, Hartoch, RSavon, V/Skopje 1972; A2) 14.e2 xg2 15.xg2 a5 ( 15...d7 16.ad1 a5 17.e3; 15...a6!? 16.ad1 ) 16.e3 ac8 17.fd1 fe8 18.cd5 xd5 19.xd5 xb2 20.xb2 Nikolaidis, K-Petraki, M/ Kavala 1996; A3) 14.f2 xg2 15.xg2 a5 16.d2 fc8 17.c1 a6 18.e3 d7 19.a3 d8 20.cd5 f8 21.b4 xb2 22.xb2 ce5 23.d4 e6 24.f4 exd5 25.fxe5 xe5 26.xd5 b5 27.c5 ab8 28.f6+ h8 29.d7 h6 30.cxd6 xc1 31.xe5+ g8 1-0 Richter, MLindemann, S/Germany 2002/CBM 88 ext; A4) 14.d5 xg2 15.xg2 xd5 16.xg7 f4+ 17.gxf4 xg7 18.d5 e5!? ( 18...f5?! 19.d4 xd4 20.xd4+ h6 21.e5 1-0 Orlov, VJakhin, R/Moscow 1964) 19.f5 ( 19.b4 ac8 20.ad1 fd8 ) 19...gxf5 20.h1 h8 ( 20...fxe4! 21.fxe4 e2 22.g1+ h8 23.g2 f3 ) 21.xd6 f6 0-1 Wenner, T-Holfelder, H/ Wiesbaden 1993/GER (31); B) 12.f3 h3 13.e4 xg2 14.xg2 e8 15.b1 c7 16.d5 xb2 17.xb2 ac8 18.ce3 1-0 Eliskases, E-Roess, L/ Bad Elster 1939/HCL (39) ] [ B) 11...e4 12.a4 ( 12.xe4 xc3 13.xc3 xc3 14.g2 ab8 15.e3 e6 16.c1 a5 17.c2 Casagrande, H-Titz, H/Werfen 1998; 12.b4 xc3 13.xc3 c7 14.xg7 xg7 15.c1 e6 0-1 Mohamed, H-Htun Lynn Kyaw/Istanbul 2000 16.d2 ) 12...xb2 13.xb2 f6 14.d3 f5
15.e1 xe1 16.fxe1 e4 17.f3 xd3 18.exd3 e6 19.f4 1-0 Olafsson, H-Larsen, B/Espoo 1989 ] [ C) 11...fc8 12.e3 ( 12.d5 xd5 13.xg7 c3 14.xc3 xc3 15.e3 e6 16.d5 1/2-1/2 Hansen, C-Petursson, M/ Reykjavik 2000; 12.c1 a6 13.a4 ab8 14.a1 b4 15.d4 c6 16.c2 e6 17.e4 d7 18.e3 c5 19.ed5 xd5 20.xd5 xa1 21.xa1 1-0 Ianov, VKozakov, M/Bijeljina 2001 ) 12...ab8 A) 13.b1 g4 14.xg4 xg4 15.d3 h5 16.f3 e6 17.f4 a6 18.a4?! ( 18.d5 xd5 19.cxd5 b4 20.e4 xa2 21.f3 f5 22.xe7 c2 23.xg7 c5+ 24.h1 xg7 25.e4= ) 18...d4 19.d5 xd5 20.xd5 xe2 21.xe2 xe2+ 0-1 Gretarsson, HPetursson, M/Gardabaer 1996 (40); B) 13.d2 a6 14.fd1 ( 14.fc1 b5 15.cxb5 axb5= Garcia-Valerga, Pena City 1996 ) 14...b5 15.cd5 ( 15.cxb5 axb5 16.cd5 xd5 17.xd5 xd2 18.xd2 xb2 19.xb2 f8= Smyslov-Bertok, Zagreb 1970) 15...xd5 16.cxd5 xd2 17.xd2 xb2 18.xb2 (1/2-1/2 Schandorff-J.Polgar, Vejstrup 1989) d4 19.d2 f5 20.h3 c7 1/2-1/2 Boshku, H-Mastrokoukos, G/Nea Makri 1990 ] [ D) 11...g4?! is very aggressive, but not very good in the fashion it thus far has been played by Black: 12.d2 h5 ( 12...e6 is untried but a solid and worthy alternative to the main line 12...Qh5, e.g. 13.h3 ge5 14.g4 ac8 15.e3 d7 16.ad1 ) 13.h3 A) 13...h6 A1) 14.g4! is best and transposes to the lines after 13...Nf6: xg4 ( 14...h4 15.e1 ) 15.hxg4 xg4 16.fd1 h2+ 17.f1+-; A2) 14.h4?! g4 ( 14...f5?! 15.d5! ) 15.ab1 ( 15.g5 xg5 16.hxg5 has also been played, and does have some merit as it immediately kills Black's counterplay (though at the cost of killing most of the excitement in the position at the same time), leaving White with a space advantage, Novkovic, MH e i m , E / B a d e n 1 9 9 6) 15...h6?! ( 15...h6 16.d5 xb2 17.xb2 e5 18.bb1 ) 16.d5?! ( 16.e3!? g5 17.f3 1671
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f6 18.hxg5 xg5 19.d5 g7 20.xf6+ xf6 21.xf6 xf6 22.d4 ) 16...g5! ( 16...xd5 17.xd5 ) 17.h3 ( 17.e4 e6 18.b5 f5 ) A2a) 17...e3 18.xe3 xh3 19.e4 White has to sacrifice material in order to centralize all of his remaining pieces. ( 19.hxg5 xg5 20.xg5+ xg5 21.g2 f6= ) 19...xf1 20.f5 fd8 ( 20...xe2? 21.xe7+! xe7 22.f6++- Hazai ) 21.xf1 (Hazai) ( 21.xe7+ xe7 22.f6+ f8 23.xh7+ g8 24.f6+= is only a draw by perpetual check - Hazai ); A2b) 17...f6 18.h1 g4?! Black wants to keep the white Q in a passive position. ( 18...xh3 19.xh3 g4 20.g2 g6 ) 19.g2 s o f a r D i zd a r e vi c , E - E r d o g d u , M / Plovdiv 2003, and now Hazai gives g6 20.e4 xe4 21.xe4 f5 22.xf5 xf5 23.d4 xd4 24.xd4 b6 with approximately even chances.; B) 13...f6 B1) 14.d5 xh3 15.xf6?! ( 15.f4 h6 16.xh3 e5 17.g2 exf4 18.xf4 ) 15...xf6 16.xf6+ exf6 17.e3 xg2 18.xg2 e5 19.ad1 Koneru, H-Saravanan, V/Guntur, AP 2000; B2) 14.g4 h4 15.e1 e5 16.f4 exg4 17.hxg4 xg4 18.f3 h5 19.d5 e5 20.fxe5 h6 21.exd6+Schmittdiel, E-Moldner, J/Luxembourg 1990 ] [ E) 11...ac8 12.b1 a6 13.e4 b5 14.e3 e5 15.cd5 xd5 16.xd5 d8 17.f4 c6 18.xg7 xg7 19.cxb5 axb5 20.d2 1-0 Bauer, C-Degraeve, J/Nantes 1993 (31) ] 12.a4 [ Two alternatives are: A) 12.d5 xd5 13.xg7 A) Or 13...c3 14.xc3 xc3 15.e3 b2 ( 15...e6 16.d5 xd5 17.cxd5 ) 16.d5 g4 17.c1 was BrenninkmeijerJ.Polgar, W ijk aan Zee 1990, and here Hazai gives xc1 18.axc1; B) 13...xg7 14.cxd5 e5 15.h3 g5!?
16.d4 ac8 17.e1 c7 18.e3 g4!? 19.hxg4 xg4 Abramovic-Mozetic, Niksic 1997 ] [ B) 12.h3 ab8 13.d5 xd5 14.xg7 c3 15.xc3 xc3 16.e3 e6 17.c1 ( 17.d5!? b2 18.e3 ) 17...a5 18.c2 fc8= Cvitan-Martic, Porec 1998 ] 12...ac8 13.b1 e6 [ One alternative is 13...h5!? 14.e3! g4 15.xg4 xg4 16.e1 ] 14.e3 [ 14.d5!? g4 15.xg7 xg7 16.e3 ge5 17.b4 d8 18.a3 , and White has a significant spatial plus ( 18.c5 dxc5 19.bxc5 a5 20.xb7 fd8 )] 14...d7 [ 14...h5 15.cd5 xd5 16.xd5 xd5 ( 16...g4 17.h3 xb2 18.xb2 e5 19.d2 f6 20.f4! e6 21.d3 , and W hite has a very comfortable plus) 17.xd5 xb2 18.xb2 a5 19.d2 ] 15.cd5 xb2 16.xb2 xd5 17.xd5 e6 18.b4 d8 19.e3 c7 20.d2!? [ 20.d2!? a5 21.bxa5 xa5?! ( 21...c5 22.d1 fd8 23.b5 ) 22.b5 b6 23.d1 e5 24.xd6 xd6 25.xd6 axc4 26.xc4 xc4 27.d1 ] 20...xb4 21.xd6 e5 22.d4 fd8? [ 22...bc6! 23.xc6 xc6 24.f4 a5 25.c5 xc5 26.g4 f5 27.h6+ h8 28.xe6 c7 ] 23.c5 bc6 24.d2?! [ 24.b2!? xd6 25.cxd6 xd6 26.xb7 c7 27.b6 ( 27.xa6!? a7 28.b6 d4 29.b1 xa4 30.f4+- ) 27...c8 28.xa6+- ] 24...d7?! [ 24...a5!? ] 25.xc6?!= [ 25.c3! a5 ( 25...cb8 26.fd1 xc5 27.b2 c3 28.xc3 xc3 29.xb7 a5 30.a6+- ) 26.xa5 xa5 27.fd1 c7 28.g4 f8 29.e5 e7 30.c6 bxc6 31.xc6+ xc6 32.xc6 ] 25...xc5 26.xd8+ [ 26.d4!? bxc6 27.c3 e7 28.xd8+ ( 28.c4 d7 29.xc6 xc6 30.xc6 c5= ) 28...xd8 29.g4 e5 30.c1 xa4 31.xc6 h5 32.f6+ g7 33.xh5+ gxh5 34.xa4 f6 35.a1 d6 36.e4 ] 26...xd8 27.c3?! 1672
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.c5 , e.g., g4 9.b3 ] 8.xd4 0-0 [ 8...d6 transposes to the main line after 9. 0-0, but offers W hite some unique move orders, for example, 9.d2 ( 9.0-0 0-0 10.d2 e6! is a good response to the Qd2 idea, because of 11.xb7 b8 12.g2 xc4 ) 9...0-0 ( but here 9...e6 10.xb7 b8 allows 11.c6+ ) 10.b3 ] 9.c5 Here's the starting point of the variation, use d su ccessf u lly b y S e rgio G ia rd e lli o f Argentina and a few others. By not castling, White has gotten c5 in before Black's ...d6. If Black has to accept an isolated d-pawn after ... d6, cxd6, and ...exd6, the would of course be a victory for White. And of course there are ot h e r id e a s. Ne e dle ss t o sa y, B lac k h a s advantages as well. Here's a mini-theoretical survey: d6 [ 9...e8!? is a seemingly illogical move that tries to delay ...d6 until it can be supported. Giardelli-Taverna, Rosario 2000 continued A) 10.d3?! a5 11.e3 d6 12.cxd6 xd6 shouldn't cause Black the slightest problem, e.g., 13.d2 f5 14.e4 e6 15.d5 d8 16.b1 c8 ( 16...f5! ) 17.0-0 e8 18.fe1 c4= Jahnke-Bakalarz, Muenster 1992; B) 10.e3!? is much more interesting: d6 11.c6!? (An interesting shot that nets a pawn. Other moves are ( 11.0-0 dxc5 1659 A38 12.xc5 d6 13.d1 intending Bf4 and at least creating a few problems.; and Giardelli,Sergio Carlos 11.cxd6? xd6 12.0-0 e6 --or 12...Bf5!Lipiniks,Leonardo - 13.d1 a5 14.d5 f5 15.f4 Asu 2003 xd5 16.xd5 ad8 Jahnke-Fiori, [John Watson] Germany 1995) 11...bxc6 12.xc6 b8 13.xa7 e6 14.0-0 Black has some John Donaldson brought to my attention a queenside pressure but it doesn't look particular position from the old Main Line of sufficient to compensate for a pawn.; the Symmetrical Variation. It can only be C) 10.b4 b8 ( 10...c7 11.0-0 a6 arrived at slightly unusual move orders in 12.a3 b8 13.d1 was very nice for which White delays 0-0, for example, 1.c4 White in Knezevic-Keller, Cava de Tirreni [ Or 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 g7 4.g3 c5 1973 ) 11.0-0 ( 11.e3! ) 11...d6 12.d1 5.f3 cxd4 6.xd4 c6 7.g2 ] a5 13.h4 c7? 14.h6!? ( 14.cxd6! 1...c5 2.f3 exd6 15.g5 f6 16.e3 ) 14...f6? [ 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.f3 15.a4! e8 16.xa5 with a winning f6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 is another mover game. ] order, and there are several others. ] 2...f6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.c3 c6 10.cxd6 e8! [ 10...exd6 11.0-0 is awkard for Black, as 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xd4 is ] [ 7...0-0 can be met by the unique sequence [ Here W hite should have played 27.b2! rather than on the next move as in the game o n e c o n t i n u a t i o n i s bxc6 ( 27...xc6 28.g4 e4 29.h6+ f8 30.h8+ e7 31.g8+ xg8 32.xg8 c3 33.e1 xa4 34.c8 c6 35.xc6 bxc6 36.g2 d5 leaves Black with two pawns for the exchange, but W hite has the winning chances. ) 28.g4 e5 29.xe5 xe5 30.xe5 e8 31.f4 f6 32.g4 f7 33.c1 xa4 34.xc6 e6 35.c7+ e7 36.c6= ] 27...e4 28.b2?!-+ [ White is hoping that the weak dark squares around Black's king will provide him with compensation for the missing pawn. This, h o we v e r , t u r n s o u t t o b e a f i g m e n t o f White's imagination. Instead 28.c2 xc6 29.xc6 bxc6 30.c1 c8 31.f3 f6 32.c4 leaves White with a better chance of holding the draw. ] 28...xc6 29.g4 c3 30.e5 c5 31.g4 d4 32.h6+ g7 33.xb7 xe2+ 34.g2 xh6 With Black a piece up, the rest of the game will be left without any further comments 35.xf7 e4+ 36.f3 f5 37.e7 d2 38.f2 e5 39.g4 f4+ 40.g3 xf2 41.h4+ h5 0-1
1673
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 10...xd6 11.xd6 exd6 12.0-0 d8 13.e3 d5 14.fd1 ] 11.b4 There are several other ideas for White: [ (a) 11.c5 has been played a couple of times. For one thing Black can't win a tempo with ...a5 as he does in some lines after 11. Qb4. xd6! ( 11...xd6 12.e3! ) 12.f4 A) This hasn't been played. I like it better than 12...b6 13.a3 ( 13.e3 b7 14.xb7 xb7 15.d1 e8 16.h6 d8 17.xd8 xd8 18.xg7 xg7 19.0-0 is a bit better for White, who has Rd1 and Nd5 as ideas) 13...c4 14.b4 e6 15.xa8! ( 15.d1 e8 16.d5 xd5 17.xd5 1/2-1/2 Kustar-Moraru, S z e g e d 1 9 9 8) 15...xa8 16.f3 and while Black undoubtedly has some compensation I doubt that it's quite enough.; B) 12...e6! 13.d1 ( 13.xd6 exd6 gives Black way too much activity, e.g., 14.b4 a5 15.a3 b6 16.0-0 b4 ) 13...c8 14.xd6 ( 14.xc8 axc8 15.xd6 exd6 16.xd6 xc3+ 17.bxc3 xc3 18.d2 a3 is equal or better for Black ) 14...exd6 15.xd6 xc3+ 16.bxc3 xc3+ 17.d2 xd2+ 18.xd2 ac8= ] [ (b) 11.h4 xd6 12.0-0 ( 12.d5 f5 13.b4 e6 14.c3 d4 Choma-Poecksteiner, Dos Hermanas 2003) 12...d7 ( 12...e6! ) 13.e4 e5 14.xd8 axd8 15.b3 b5= Kubicek-Poulsson, Dresden 1969 ] [ (c) 11.f4 xd6 12.0-0 e6 13.d1 c8 14.d5 c4 15.e3 b6 16.a3 c2 17.d3 c8 18.b1 xd5 19.xd5 c7 20.g5 f5 21.b4 e5 22.f4 f6 23.bc1 d4 24.c7 e6 25.xe6 xe6 26.a6 e5 27.xe5 xe5 28.xc8 0-1 Sulava,N-Cucancic,S/Pula 199900 ] [ (d) 11.d3 xd6 12.0-0 f5! 13.e4 e6 14.d5 c8 15.b1 c4 16.d1 b6! 17.xb6 xb6 18.e3 a5 with good piece activity, Carvalho-C Martinez, Sao Paulo 2002 ] 11...xd6 [ 11...a5?? loses to 12.dxe7 ] [ But 11...xd6 is a serious option: A) 12.0-0 a5! 13.f4 d7 ( 13...e6 14.d1 1/2-1/2 Savon-Fish, Alushta 1993)
14.d1 c8 15.e3 c4! 16.g5 f5 and W hite's queen was trapped in Scarella-Torella, Vicente Lopez 1993; B) 12.d5 e6 ( or 12...e6! ) 13.c3 a5! 14.b3 f5 15.0-0 d4 16.d1 b8 about equal, was P W ells-Parkanyi, Zalakaros 1998. ] 12.xd6 xc3+? Now White gets the bishop pair for free. Much better must be [ 12...xd6 , e.g., A) 13.d5 e6 14.e7+ h8 15.f4 ( Now 15.xc8 axc8 and ...Rc2 is too b i g a p r i c e t o p a y f o r t h e b i s h o p s) 15...xb2 16.d1 f5! 17.xc8 axc8 18.xb7 c2=; B) 13.f4 c4 14.0-0-0 xc3 ( 14...e5 ) 15.bxc3 e5 and Black has plenty of counterplay although White can certainly pursue this too. One sample is 16.h6 e8 17.d5 e6!? ( 17...b6 ) 18.xb7 ab8 19.a6? a3! ] 13.d2 xd2+ 14.xd2 d6 15.0-0 d7 16.fd1 c6!? Black gives his opponent a huge positional edge but otherwise he was under great pressure. Now Giardelli begins to grind his opponent down. 17.xc6 bxc6 18.ac1 ab8 19.b3 b6 20.c2 c8 21.e3 b7 22.f4 e8 23.dc1 b6 24.e3 a6 25.d1 [ 25.c5! . White has a dominating position but he lets some of his advantage slip over the next ten moves. ] 25...f6 26.a4 f7 27.c5 c7 28.a1 b7 29.b4 c7 30.c4 e6 31.e3 c7 32.d2 e5 33.a5 d5? [ 33...b5! would have made things more difficult. ] 34.ac1 e7 35.f1 e6 36.e4! d7 37.e2 [ 37.f4! ] 37...c8 38.4c2 d6 39.f3 b5 40.d3 b7 41.c4 d6+ 42.d3 b7 43.f4 c5 44.fxe5 fxe5 45.f1? [ 45.bxc5 ] 45...cxb4? [ 45...d6+! 46.e3 e6! 47.bxc5 xc5 ] 46.f7+ e6 47.cc7 Winning. c5+ 48.c4 axa5 49.xb4 d6 50.fd7+ e6 51.xa5 xa5 52.d5 a4+ 53.xc5 xe4 54.d6+ f5 55.xh7 a5 56.f7+ g5 57.d5 e2 58.ff6 a4 59.xg6+ 1674
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h5 60.h4 1-0
1660 Halkias,S Biriukov,O Chigorin Memorial (4.38) [John Bartholomew]
A38 2581 2327 30.10.2012
W hite has had difficulties proving a theoretical advantage in the Symmetric line 4. g3 d5 5.cxd5. Here Stelios Halkias shows how White may want to play against the kingside fianchetto (6...g6). 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 [ W hite can also play 5.d4 , which was Alexander Khalifman's recommendation in his groundbreaking "Opening f or W hite According to Kramnik" series. White players prefer 5.cxd5 by a 3-to-1 majority, though 5. d4 scores significantly better. ] 5...xd5 6.g2 g6 Black commits to a kingside fianchetto. [ T h e m o s t f l e x i b l e m o v e , 6...c7 , allows Black to set up a reversed Maroczy with 7.0-0 e5 ( 7...g6 could transpose back t o o u r p r e s e n t g a m e) 8.d3 e7 . Black generally does well in t his line , though some variations become quite sharp. S e e " S y m m e t r i c - 2 N c 3 - Ru b i n s t e i n ' s Variation" in the archives. ] 7.d3 [ A calm alternative is 7.0-0 g7 8.xd5 xd5 9.d3 0-0 10.e3 . Greater than 50% o f ga m e s in t h is li n e e n d in d ra ws se e Alekseev, E (2700)-Kurnosov, I (2674)/ Dagomys RUS 2010/[Nigel Davies]. ] [ 7.a4!? may be worth investigation. Check Lputian, S (2605)-Timman, J (2655)/ Wijk aan Zee 2000/[TonyK]. ] 7...g7 8.d2 0-0 9.0-0 [ 9.c1!? (White can also play this on the n e x t m o v e ) b6 ( 9...xc3 10.bxc3 e5 11.0-0 c4 12.dxc4 e7 13.g5 f6 14.e3 e6 15.d2 Durarbayli, V (2543)-Parligras, M (2614)/ Plovdiv BUL 2012) 10.h4 h5 11.h6 b7 12.xg7 xg7 13.0-0 c8 14.g5 e6 15.e1 e8 16.ge4= Topalov, V (2801)-Nielsen, P (2644)/Monte Carlo 2006. ]
9...c7 10.c1 b6 11.h4!? Black is practically unassailable on the queenside, so it makes sense to probe for weaknesses on the kingside. The text is also the prelude to a nifty attacking idea. [ The hackneyed 11.a3?! , trying for b2-b4, cannot be recommended. White is fishing in t ro u b le d wa t e rs o n t h e qu e e n sid e : b7 12.a4 d7 ( or 12...d4 13.xd4 xg2 14.xg2 cxd4 ) 13.b4 cxb4 14.axb4 b5! 15.c4 (very optimistic, but White doesn't have many other good ideas) ac8 16.h4 cd4! 17.e4? xf3+ 18.xf3 c2 19.h6 xh6 20.xh6 d4 21.e3 e2 22.g5 xa4-+ Zalkind, K (2370) -Kantsler, B (2495)/Israel 1997. ] [ 11.a4!? is more interesting, but also fine f o r B lack. b7 ( 11...d7 12.h4 e5 Shchekachev, A (2537) -Soppe, G (2474)/ ICC Internet 2001) 12.h4 e5 13.g5 f6 14.h6 f7 15.xg7 xg7 16.a3 e6= Karb owiak, A (224 9)-Jaroch, K (20 50)/ Sepolno Kraj 2006 ] 11...b7 12.h5 d4 [ Not bad, but Black could also stay flexible with 12...d7 . ] 13.xd4 xg2 14.xg2 xd4 15.hxg6 hxg6 [ 15...fxg6!? ] 16.h1 e6 17.g1! A cool concept! White directs his heavy pieces to the open h-file, correctly judging that Black has no major counterplay elsewhere. f5! Nice response. 18.h4 d7 19.h2 f7 20.h6 h8 21.xg7 xg7 22.h1 xh4 23.xh4 White has a slight initiative, but Black does well to neutralize it. g8! 24.e4 f8 25.d5 f7 26.e1 [ 26.b4!? is interesting, with the idea of cxb4 27.c1 . ] 26...g7 27.f4 e6 28.e3 xd3 29.g4 g5?? "One bad move nullifies forty good ones" - I.A. Horowtiz. [ 29...d7 ] [ or 29...d4 both maintain equality (other moves do too). ] 30.c7+ [ B l a c k r e s i g n e d , a s 30.c7+ g6 (other king moves are met by 31.Nf6+/) 31.e5+ f6 32.xg7+ xg7 33.xd3+is curtains. I'm fond of Halkias's play in this 1675
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 game, particularly the concept of h4-h5xg6 19.e4 xd4 20.xd4 xd4 21.xd4 followed by Rh1-h4 and Qd1-g1-h2. That d8 22.e3 i s h o p e l e s s) 19.e3 said, Black was only ever marginally worse, the move he had missed! d8 20.e4 and only lost because of a blunder. White xd1+ 21.xd1 d8+ 22.e1!? a5+ players should heed my advice about 23.f1 xa2 24.f3 and White avoiding play on the queenside (it's very e ve n t u a l l y m a d e h i s e xt r a e xc h a n g e tempting to play a2-a2/b2-b4, but it's not count. ] correct!). ] 7.0-0 0-0 8.xd5 xd5 9.d3 c6 10.e3 1-0 d7 [ This leads to a long, semi-forcing variation. 10...xb2!? is possible, if risky 11.b1 f6 1661 A38 12.a4 d7 13.xc5 d4 14.d1 xf3+ 15.xf3 White has pressure on the Hansen,Curt 2626 queenside, Tal,M-Pribyl,J/Tallinn 1973. ] Sutovsky,Emil 2651 16th North Sea Cup (1) 06.07.2001 11.d4 d6 12.xc6 xc6 13.xc6 xc6 14.c1 e6 15.xc5 xa2 16.b5 [Tony Kosten] Karpov's idea, which resuscitated this line. b6 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 17.a1 e6! [ This is all well-known, 17...xa1?! 18.xa1 xd5 5.g3 g7 6.g2 c5 fb8 19.a6 left Black with problems in the [ After 6...0-0 instead, I tried the wild 7.h4!? classic game Karpov,A-Ribli,Z/Amsterdam against K.Shirazi, Montpellier Masters, just 1980, f8?! 20.b4 e5 21.ba4 b5 a w e e k a g o ( J u l y 2 0 0 1 ) , w h e n h6!? 22.a2 b7 23.b3 b8 24.c5 e8 stopping the opening of the h-file, turns-out 25.d4 d7 26.e4 e6 27.b4 Black is being to be new, ( 7...e5 8.h5 xc3 9.bxc3 e4 bull-dozed. ] 10.d4 is promising for White, Podzielny,KGutman,L/Kleve GER 1999, and; 7...c5 8.h5 18.a4 fc8 19.b4 [ 19.a1 h5 20.e4!? xe4 21.dxe4 c2 c6 9.hxg6 hxg6 10.a4 planning the 22.xb6 xe2 23.f1 xb2 24.xb2 xb2 crude Qh4-h7 mate, likewise, Sunye Neto, J25.xa7 xa7 26.xa7 draw, Ivanov, IFtacnik,L/Hastings 1980) 8.b3 e6 9.d4 Benjamin,J/St Martin 1992. ] c5!? 10.dxc5 a6 ( 10...xc3 11.bxc3 a5 12.0-0 and the c5-pawn is immune 19...d5!? [ A n e w m o v e , 19...h5!? 20.a1 f6 f rom capture: xc5? 13.a3 ) 11.xd5 21.a2 d7 was quickly drawn in Bagirov, exd5 12.a3 e8 13.e3 e4!? 14.d1! V-Mikhalchishin,A/Tbilisi 1980. ] b4 15.b3 c6!? Black fights for the 20.a1 h5 The point of Black's play, White initiative, ( I had expected 15...f5 16.0-0 c2! w h e n t h e t a c t i c 17.xd5 e7 is f orced to return to def end his e-pawn. d5 Effectively a draw offer. 18.xf5!? is tempting, xe3 19.xf7 xf7 21.d1 b5!? A typical tactical Sutovsky 20.xf7+ xf7 21.g5+ e8 22.xe4 22.aa4!? xf1 23.d6+ e7 24.xf1 and White solution. 23.xa7 xa7 24.xa7 h6 h a s a l o t o f p a wn s f o r t h e e xc h a n g e .) The point, Black menaces the white queen. 16.xd5 e7 17.d4!! ( 17.0-0 xe3! 25.e3! [ The simplest, if 25.e3 e5 threatens to 18.fxe3 xe3+ 19.h2 e6 gives good round-up the bishop on a7 which has no play for the exchange ) flight squares. ] A) now 17...xe3?! is insufficient: 18.fxe3 26.fxe3 c5 27.f1 c6 xe3 19.xc6 xg3+ 20.f1 bxc6 25...xe3 21.xc6 b8 22.d8+ h7 23.d6! Black has compensation for the pawn: his and Black is forced to allow the exchange more active pieces, and safer king. 28.f3 of qu een s, a s ( 23.e8 h5 24.xc8? c1+ 29.g2 c2! 30.f4! [ White sees the danger, 30.xb5?! e1 xc8 25.xc8?? d4 mates! ) 23...e5? 31.f2 d1 leaves him on the edge of a 24.f8 is horrible.; precipice. ] B) 17...xd4 18.xd4 g4 ( 18...e6 1676
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 30...e1 31.f2 d1 This appears to be 13...bxc6 14.xc6 h3 15.xa8 xa8 winning, but W hite has seen a nice trick. 16.e1 c3 with a good game for Black ] 32.a8+ g7 33.xf7+! xf7 34.d5+ 12...d7 The black pieces are too far away to aid their [ 12...b4?! the idea is to play 13...Bd7 but king- White forces a perpetual. f6 35.d4+ the complications don't favour Black 13.d2 f7 36.d5+ f6 37.d4+ e5 38.d6+ d7 14.xd5 xa4 15.xb7 ab8 f7 39.d7+ f6 40.d6+ f7 41.d7+ 16.xc5 xb7 17.xb4 xb4 18.xb4 f6 with an extra pawn. ] ½-½ [ 12...d6 is playable, but now all the ideas with Nd4 lose strength, 13.d2!? ( 13.fc1 b6 14.d4 xd4 15.xd4 cxd4 16.f4 e5 1662 A38 17.xa8 f5! 18.c6 e7 19.h6 xa8 20.bxb6 d7 is fine for Black) 13...d4 Jakovenko,Dmitrij 2724 14.xd4 xd4 15.xd4 cxd4 16.xb7 Cheparinov,Ivan 2678 b8 17.xc8 fxc8 18.c4 with a position Poikovsky Karpov 14th (6) 03.09.2013 that all 1.c4 players would enjoy playing. ] [Fier, Alexandr] 13.b5 [ 13.xc5 The Poikovsky Tournament is always a source A) 13...d4 i s p r e m a t u r e 14.d1 of good games and this one was a surprise as ( 14.xd7 xe2+ 15.h1 xd7 I discovered that it had all been played before 16.xe7! xe7 17.xb7 ) 14...xf3+ until move 20! Black is holding well so 13...b6 ( 14...c6 ) 15.xf3 was much more can probably be repeated in strong comfortable for W hite in Tal, M (2625)tournaments. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 Pribyl, J (2450)/Tallinn 1973; c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 g6 7.0-0 B) 13...b6! 14.xb6 d4 15.d1 g7 8.xd5 xd5 9.d3 0-0 10.e3 xb2 and we get the same position as 13...Nd4 [ 10...d7 is supposed to be the solid but with this bishop hanging on b6 axb6 variation, but is not Cheparinov's style, who 16.xd4 xa2 17.b3 ( 17.c6 d6= ) played an amazing game against Sutovsky 17...d2 18.b4 a2 19.b3 some rounds later. 11.d4 d6 12.xc6 was drawn in Nakamura, H (2708)-Leko, P xc6 13.xc6 xc6 14.c1 e6 15.xc5 (2739)/Corus Wijk aan Zee 2010. ] xa2 16.b5 b6 and now 17.a1 was analyzed in Hansen, C (2626)-Sutovsky, 13...b6!? [ 13...e6 was played 4 days later but I E (2651)/16th North Sea Cup 2001 ( and prefer 13...b6 14.xc5 xa2 15.d2 d8 17.b3 was seen in Alekseev, E (2700)A) 16.e4 g7 ( 16...xe2!? 17.xf6+ Kurnosov, I (2674)/17th TCh-RUS Premier exf6 18.d4 ) 17.fe1 with the same kind 2010. )] o f p o si t i o n , a l so p l a ye d t h i s y e a r , i n 11.b1 In exchange for the pawn White has Malakhov, V (2709)-Popov, I (2627)/RUSall his pieces aiming at the black queenside chT 20th 2013; and an important b-file. It looks like a good B) 16.fe1 and White has some pressure deal, but Black has also some targets. f6 as seen in Rogozenco, D (2515)-Parligras, [ 11...g7 is the alternative 12.a4 d7 M (2560)/ROM-chT Mamaia 2013. ] 13.xc5 b6 14.e3 ( 14.xb6 d4 These Nd2 ideas are always more 15.xd7 xe2+ 16.h1 xd7 is fine for 14.d2 Black ) 14...d4 15.d1 b7 16.xd4 powerful with the bishop on f6. Still, as seen xg2 17.xg2 xd4 18.xd4 xd4 in this game, Ne4xf6 is not always a problem was drawish in Kramnik, V (2801)-Grischuk, f o r B l a c k . b7 Now we enter a more or less A (2761)/Moscow Tal Memorial 7th Blitz forced sequence. 15.e4 [ 15.xc5 this could be an option for White, 2012. ] but over the board it looks strange to take 12.a4 with bishop if you can play 15.Ne4. fd8 [ 12.d4 does not win an exchange, since 16.fc1 ac8 17.e4 d4 looks like Black xa2 13.xc6 ( 13.a1 b2 14.b1= ) 1677
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is losing something in the exchanges, but in fact there is nothing to worry about, 18.xd7 xe2+ 19.f1 xd7 20.xf6+ exf6 21.xb7 xb7 22.xe2 xc5 23.xc5 e7+! and maybe White has some really small pressure. Of course, this is not all forced, but it is a logical sequence. ] 15...ab8! Otherwise 16.Nxc5 16.f4 c8 Unpinning the knight 17.xb8 d4 18.xf6+ exf6 19.b2 xg2 20.xg2 c6+ And here we finally have a novelty! But it doesn't change the evaluation of the position. [ 20...b7+!? the main idea is to keep the rook active on the e-file without waiting 21.f3 e8 22.be1 xb8 23.e3 f5 and with t h e we a k p a wn s i t 's h a r d t o m a ke a n y progress, e3-e4 will always leave a hole on d4, and c5 controls any d3-d4 idea, Dos Santos, M (2422)-Cunha, E (2111)/CADAPch22 sf04 email 2008 ] 21.f3 xb8 The position has cleared and for the exchange Black has a strong knight on d4, and if e3 then the knight will put pressure on the pawn from f5. White's rooks have no good files and any pawn move is committal. Black is ok! 22.e3 f5 23.f2 Trying to kick the knight with 24.g4. h5 24.g1 e8 25.fe1 It's true that Black doesn't have much to do either, but puttin g pre ssure on the whit e center is already enough to hold the balance e6 26.b2 e8 27.be2 d7 28.d2 e7 29.de2 d7 30.d2 e7 31.de2 ½-½
problem is that afterwards there is still some pressure against the a and b-pawns. [ 10...d7 is the main line and enters an endgame after 11.d4 d6 12.xc6 xc6 13.xc6 xc6 14.c1 e6 15.xc5 xa2 which was analyzed for ChessPublishing in Hansen, C (2626)-Sutovsky, E (2651)/16th North Sea Cup 2001. ] [ 10...xb2 was also seen on Chess Publishing recently, 11.b1 f6 12.a4 d7 and Black held with some good home preparation in Jakovenko, D (2724)Cheparinov, I (2678)/Poikovsky Karpov 14th 2013. ] 11.c1 d4 12.xd4 cxd4 13.d2 At first sight its not so easy to understand that White can be better here, but there are small nuances that makes Black's life not so easy af ter all. The f irst p oint is the dif f erenc e between the bishop on g2 and the bishop on g7. Secondly, the slight advantage in development. Black might have some problems to develop the bishop on c8. One advantage for Black is that if the b7-pawn falls, there are good chances that the pawn on b2 is also going to fall. So Black wastes no time. e6 [ 13...g4 would also be possible, but there are probably not many differences between this line and the game 14.h3 e6 15.a4 d5 16.b4 e6 17.xd5 xd5 18.xe7 fe8 19.c7 and White holds the extra pawn. ] 14.a4 Also looking at the a7-pawn. b6 [ 14...d5 15.b4 e6 16.xd5 xd5 1663 A38 17.xe7 fe8 18.c7 is similar to the note to Black's 13th move. W hite also has the McShane,Luke J 2697 advantage here ] Maze,Sebastien 2550 Bundesliga 1314 (15.1) 06.04.2014 15.b3 [ 15.b4 is also possible, and here also [Fier, Alexandr] W h i t e h a s s o m e s m a l l p r e s s u r e xa2 16.a1 e6 17.xb6 axb6 18.xb7 xa1 Black tries 10...Qd6 which is not so usual. It 19.xa1 and Black will need to defend the looks like this line enters a position close to b6-pawn ] equality, but W hite always has some Black brings the bishop to help on annoying pressure. 1.c4 f6 2.g3 g6 3.g2 15...e5 g7 4.c3 0-0 5.d3 c5 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 the queenside. W hite needs to be quick, d5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.xd5 xd5 10.e3 otherwise Black will hold the position. 16.a5 [ 16.e4!? this is a completely different idea. d6 Black's idea is quite simple, just taking W hite has the chance to expand on the the queen away from the long diagonal and kingside also! d6 ( 16...dxe3 17.xe3 neutralizing the pressure on the c5-pawn with a n d B l a c k c a n ' t h o l d t h e p a w n d6 1 1 . . . Nd 4 . I n t h e o ry i t 's a ll go o d , b u t t h e 1678
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.xb7 ad8 19.e4 with advantage) 17.f4 f6 18.e5!? an energetic idea fxe5 19.fxe5 xf1+ 20.xf1 xe5 21.e1 and Black has too many pieces to defend f6 22.a5 d6 23.b5 f5 24.xb7 b8 25.xa7 b5 and White has a pawn more, but Black finally activated his pieces, so the position remains unclear ] 16...a6 17.c7 White goes for the most solid continuation, to enter on the 7th rank [ 17.b4!? looking at the pawn on e7 xa4 18.bxa4 A) 18...xa2 19.xe7 fe8 20.c5 ab8 ( 20...eb8 21.a5 a6 22.a1 e6 23.fb1 c8 24.f4 and Black's position is just sad ) 21.xa7 a8 22.a1! and White keeps the pawn up; B) 18...ab8 19.xe7 fe8 20.c5 ( 20.a3 xa2 21.a5 b5 22.axb6 xb6 ) 20...b6 ( 20...xa2 21.xa7 a8 22.c5 xa4 23.xb7 with a solid advantage ) 21.b4 xa2 22.c6 B1) 22...ec8 doesn't work 23.f4 c7 ( 23...f6 24.d6 ) 24.d7; B2) 22...ed8! to bring the bishop to e7 23.e7 dc8 24.f4 c7 25.a3 bc8 26.fxe5 xc6 27.xc6 xc6 28.f4 c2 29.xd4 h5 30.f2 and White has good chances in the endgame ] 17...xa4 18.bxa4 xc7 19.xc7 fc8 Since one pawn is going to fall, Black needs to activate at any cost. [ 19...ac8 was probably better 20.xe7 a5! 21.xb7 c2 22.b5 ( 22.f3 xa2 23.a7 xa4 24.b1 a2 25.g4 can be another try) 22...xe2 23.xa5 xa2 and Black has good chances to hold ] 20.xe7 ab8 21.xb7 c5 22.f3 [ 22.a6! this would pose more problems b2 ( 22...a5 23.b5 a6 24.a7 and the rook is trapped) 23.e1 xa2 24.xa7 xa4 25.a8+ g7 26.b7 b4 27.f3 and White will have a lot of work ahead, but has a healthy pawn up ] 22...a5 23.c1 xa4 24.g2 xa2 25.g4 W h it e ' s p la n is t o p u t b o t h ro o ks o n t h e seventh rank and to expand on the kingside. Black needs to create some counterplay with the a-pawn during this time. a5 26.a7 a4 27.c6 d8 28.g3 b3 29.g5 a1 30.b6 c1 going to the wrong side
[ 30...g1+ 31.f4 f1 32.c6! probably Black was afraid of this move A) 32...xf2 33.c1 h6 ( 33...xh2 34.g3 ) 34.g3 xf3+ 35.xf3 hxg5 and White has good chances 36.c5; B) 32...h6! and the rook finds a place to go 33.gxh6 xf2 34.h4 ( 34.c1 xh2 35.g3 xh6 this is the idea) 34...f1 35.h5 gxh5 36.g5 and White is still fighting, but Black can hold ] 31.h4 c5 [ 31...g7 32.f6 will probably transpose ] 32.f6 g7 33.c6 h6?! Weakening g6 is not a good idea. [ 33...e5 34.xa4 xa4 35.xa4 ( 35.fxf7+ g8 36.g7+ f8 37.xh7 b3 ) 35...xe2 ( 35...h6 36.a7 f8 37.g4 xe2 38.h5 gxh5+ 39.xh5 hxg5 40.xg5 e1 41.g6+ h8 42.d6 ) 36.a7 f8 37.f4 and Black can play ...h6, bring the rook to f5 and liberate the other rook to try to draw. ] 34.f4 [ 34.e4! w i n s a p a w n g8 ( 34...hxg5 35.xg6+ f8 36.xg5 ) 35.gxh6 ] 34...hxg5 35.hxg5 c1 36.xa4 d5 [ 36...a1 37.d7 xd7 38.xd7 ] 37.d7 e8 The last try. [ 37...xd7 38.xd7 ] 38.xd5 e3+ 39.f2 h1 40.xd4 1-0
1664 A38 Nagle,Sean 2376 Perelshteyn,Eugene 2579 HB Global Chess Challenge (4.24) 20.05.2005 [John Watson] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xd4 8.xd4 The old Main Line of the Symmetrical English. Now White tries out a move played in a few games (see my references a few columns ago). 0-0 9.c5 d6 10.cxd6 e8! 11.b4 xd6 12.0-0 a5 13.b3 e6 14.d5 a4 Black decides to find out where White's queen is going. 15.b4!? [ 15.d3= ] 15...xd5 16.xd5! a5! White can't avoid the exchange and Black's pieces come out 1679
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 quickly: 17.xa5 xa5 18.d1 c8 19.f4? 16.fd1 d4 looks fine, because 17.e3 Searching for activity, but the stodgy g4 18.f3 e6 gives Black the initiative. ] [ 19.b1 c2 20.f1 would have held on. ] 14.g5! c2 15.xe7 xe7 16.xe7 e8 19...a3! 20.ab1 axb2 21.b3 b5! 17.ac1 d4 18.a3 xe2+ 19.xe2 22.d2 g5! 23.e3 c1+ 24.d1 xb1 xe2 20.f3 0-1 [ jw: 20.fd1! f6 ( 20...xb2?? 21.d8+ g7 22.f8+ ) 21.c7 and you have to like White's chances. ] 1665 A38 20...d2 21.fd1 xd1+ 22.xd1 f6 Naundorf,Maik 2066 Drawn(??) [ Apparently W hite got cold feet. 22...f6 Pruess,Wilfried 2130 23.b3! and Black st ill has problems getting MM SVR VL I Ruhrgebiet (4) 06.11.2005 his bishop out without the simple loss of his [John Watson] b-pawn. Perhaps a5 24.e1 e6 25.xb7 d8 could be tried, but White is still a pawn O u r f r i e n d M a i k N a u n d o r f s e n d s u s ye t up after the simple 26.f3 ] a n o t h e r g a m e wi t h a l i n e f o r W h it e t h a t doesn't seem to be going away. Here we ½-½ re vis it o u r o ld Fe b ru a ry 2 00 5 co lu mn b y examining an early deviation in the old mainA38 line Symmetrical English. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 1666 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.c3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 Shchekachev,Andrei 2592 7.xd4 0-0 8.c5 This is the move we looked Gharamian,Tigran 2239 a t i n s o m e d e t a i l . B l a c k h a d b e t t e r b e 2nd Open La Fere FRA (4) 30.06.2003 prepared! xd4 9.xd4 To repeat a clip of [Tony Kosten] what I said there: Here's the starting point of the variation, used successfully by Sergio 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 c5 4.d4 cxd4 Giardelli of Argentina and a few others. By 5.xd4 c6 6.g3 g7 7.g2 0-0 8.c2 not castling, W hite has gotten c5 in before [ 8.0-0 is the mainline, but this move makes Black's ...d6. If Black has to accept an positional sense as with more space White isolated d-pawn after ...d6, cxd6, and ...exd6, should theoretically want to keep more the would of course be a victory for White. d6 pieces on the board. ] 10.cxd6 e8! 11.h4 In that column I 8...d6 9.b3 a5 A typical plan, as the queen discussed, along with 11.Qh4, the moves 11. o f t e n h e a d s f o r h 5 t o p l a y . . . B h 3 , a n d Qc5, 11.Qf4, 11.Qd3, and 11.Qb4. All were possibly ...Ng4, but here Black has another f o u n d t o b e s a t i s f a c t o r y f o r B l a c k w i t h idea in mind. accurate play. xd6 12.0-0 [ 9...f5 (to provoke e4 and shut the g2[ 12.d5 f5 13.b4 e6 14.c3 d4 bishop's diagonal) 10.e4 g4 11.d2 a6 Choma-Poecksteiner, Dos Hermanas 2003 ] 12.e3 a5 13.b2 e6 14.0-0 12...f5!? Maybe not best, although playable leads to a position where White has a nice (see the next note). spatial edge, Portisch,L-Stein,L/Mar del [ A g o o d m o v e i s 12...e6! . It's hard to Plata 1966. ] believe that W hite has much if anything 10.d2 g4!? Is this tactical innovation here. ] preparation? Certainly my Fritz likes it a lot, at [ Also adequate proved 12...d7 13.e4 ( But first. 13.d1! is critical) 13...e5 14.xd8 axd8 [ 10...h5 i s a n o t h e r i d e a , 11.h3 15.b3 b5= in Kubicek-Poulsson, Dresden (to stop ...Bh3) e5 12.c1 b8 13.e3 1969 ] b6!? Black allows White to embarrass his 13.b4 d4? queen, 14.f4 b7!? Nenashev, A[ 13...a5!? might help in lines with b3 (...a4!) Khalifman,A/Tashkent 1987 and now White and Black can also play for ...b5: 14.a3 should grab the piece by ( if 14...ed7 b8! 15.f4 ( 15.d1 d7 ) 15...e5 15.d4 looks promising for White) 15.g4! 1680
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 exg4 16.hxg4 xg4 17.xb7 g3+ 18.d2 xb7 as now he has the most incredible tactic: 19.xh7!! the point being, that xh7 20.h1 (attacking the b7-rook) d7 21.g1 wins the queen! ] [ 10...a6?! occurred in a previous Shchekachev game, 11.d5 d8 12.c3 xd5 13.xg7 a5+!? 14.d2 xd2+ 15.xd2 xg7 16.cxd5 and White is well in control, as he will gain use of the c-file in t h is e n d in g, S h c h e k a c h e v, A -L ju b i c, J / Salzburg AUT 2001. ] 11.d5! Well played! White offers a purely positional exchange sacrifice, he could have avoided this by [ 11.a4 f5 12.f3 f6 13.0-0 but his pieces look a little awkward. ] 11...c5 H i t t i n g f 2 a n d a 1 . 12.ce3!? Whenever I see Shchekachev's games I am always a little suspicious, as he is incredibly talented, but often very drunk!! At least, the one time we played together he spent most of his time in the toilet, but played well and then spoiled everything with a one-move blunder! [ 12.0-0! i s s i m p l e a n d s t r o n g : xa1 13.xa1 and Black is in trouble, i.e. f6 14.c3! threatening b4, when the black queen is unable to escape! ge5 15.e3 a5 16.xa5 xa5 17.c7 regaining the e x c h a n g e w i t h a d v a n t a g e , a s b8? 18.xa7 ] 12...xa1 13.xa1 f6 14.c3 f7?! Black decides to cover the e7-pawn with his king, but [ 14...a5 is a simpler way of stopping b4. ] 15.0-0 d4 16.c1 White has to keep queens on the board, as he hopes to gain time on the black queen which is stuck far from d8. xe3 17.xe3 g4!? [ 17...e5 is a better square. ] 18.c7! b8 19.d5+ e6 Obviously forced, [ 19...g7?? 20.h6+ drops a rook. ] 20.f3 Having created a weakness, the bishop returns with gain of tempo, which is why g4 was not the best square for the black queen. f5?! 21.b5 It is clear that the d6pawn will soon be lost. d8? This should lose on the spot, [ 21...h3 was necessary, to cover h6, alth ou gh a f t e r 22.xd6+ g7 23.d2 White has a superb position. ]
22.c5? Played to obstruct the c5-square, but [ 22.g4! e5 23.xc6 bxc6 24.f4 wins the hapless black queen! ] 22...h3! And not [ 22...dxc5? when 23.g4! e5 24.f4 wins. ] 23.xd6+ g8 24.e4 The white pieces run rings around the black rooks. f8 25.g2 h5 26.f3 h3 27.d1 e5 28.h6 f7 29.g2 h5 30.d6 The threat to capture on f 6 wi n s t h e g a m e , a s i t i s i m p o s s i b le t o defend. e6 A desperate resource. [ 30...f5 31.c4 pins the rook and wins f6 anyway. ] 31.xe6 d4 This forks e2 and e6, but White has seen further. 32.f3! [ 32.f3 xe2+ 33.xe2 xe2 34.xf6+ le ave s W h ite a h ea d o n m at erial with a crushing attack. ] 1-0
1667 Zhou Jianchao Yu,Yangyi Danzhou 4th (5) [Fier, Alexandr]
A38 2607 2675 24.05.2013
Yu Ya n gyi sim p ly cop ie d h is o p p o n e n t 's moves, and this idea can't be underestimated! Instead, black players with a taste for adventure can try the dxc4 lines, while White also has an interesting alternative to 9.Ne5. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g3 d5 5.d4 g6!? An interesting and almost never played alternative. Black tries to keep the tension in the center and holds the symmetry. [ 5...cxd4 is the main move, and after 6.xd4 dxc4 7.xc6 xd1+ 8.xd1 bxc6 9.g2 d5 10.e3 e6 11.xc4 a6 it is not clear if Black can fully equalize. ] [ 5...dxc4 is a bit dubious 6.d5 b4 7.e4 g4 8.xc4! xf3 9.xf3 c2+ 10.f1 was Ftacnik, L (2602)-Lesiege, A (2561)/ Montreal 3rd 2002, when xa1 11.e5 is quite good for White. ] 6.g2 [ 6.dxc5 d4 7.b5 e5 8.g5 xc5!? is basically Ftacnik's position with reversed colours! ( 8...e7 9.xf6 xf6 10.d6+ 1681
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 looks promising but Black creates some f8 11.g2 ) 9.xf6 xf6 10.c7+ f8 good counterplay with the pawns a6 12.c6 11.xa8 e4 with a strong attack ] axb5 13.cxb7 xb7 14.xb7 bxc4 6...g7 15.c6+ f8 16.xa8 xa8 17.0-0 d5 [ 6...dxc4 7.d5 a5 ( 7...b4?! 8.e5 with chances for both sides ) g7 9.xc4 ) 8.0-0 g7 9.h3 b6 10.e4 A) 11...xd4 12.exd4 xd4 13.c6 b7 11.f4 0-0 12.c2 enters a typical and this pawn makes all the difference position with compensation for the pawn. xc4 ( 13...b8 14.e3 xc4 15.c1 Here some people like to try to push these b4+ 16.d2 b5 17.c7 a8 18.0-0 white pawns and some people think Black is 0-0 19.b3 xb3 20.axb3 is just lost for just a pawn up, it depends a lot on personal Black. The pieces are tied because of the taste. In this correspondence game White c7-pawn. ) 14.b3 ( 14.cxb7 xb7 won, but the game finished in a position that 15.xb7 b4+ ) 14...xb3 15.axb3 b8 is n ot c lea r at all, so m aybe B lac k ju st 16.xa7 bxc6 17.xc6+ f8 18.h6+ s t o p p e d p la y in g i n Ha n se n , M ( 2 5 1 0 ) g8 19.d2 with complete domination; Veinger, I (2605)/ Bozidar Kazic mem corr B) 11...0-0 12.0-0 xd4 13.exd4 xd4 1998. ] 14.e3 xc4 15.c1 a6 16.c3 xa2 7.dxc5 A solid option, but Black can keep the 17.h6 g7 18.xd3 xb2 19.b1 position level by simply copying White! a2 20.cc1 and with the c6 ideas [ 7.0-0! 0-0! and here White needs to finally together with the pressure on the d o s o m e t h i n g ( 7...dxc4 8.d5 a5 queenside White is clearly better. ] transposes to 6...dxc4 ) [ 7...a5 playing in Grunfeld style looks A) 8.cxd5 xd5 9.xd5 xd5 10.e3 good but White has a strong resource transposes to a Grunfeld Fianchetto! Here A) 8.0-0 dxc4 9.a4 xa4 10.xa4 Black has different plans, but a funny one f5=; was f5!? ( 10...cxd4 is normal 11.xd4 B) 8.cxd5 xd5 9.xd5 xc3+ 10.bxc3 c4 12.xc6 bxc6 ) 11.h4 e4 12.f3 ( 10.d2 xd2+ 11.xd2 xc5 12.c1 f5 13.f2 c8 Mochalov, E (2428) b6 ) 10...xc3+ 11.d2 xa1 12.0-0 Nepomniachtchi, I (2632)/EU-Cup 25th 0-0 13.b2 xa2 14.a1 c4 15.h6 Ohrid 2009; f6 16.g5 f7 17.xf7 xf7 and after B) 8.dxc5 d4 ( 8...dxc4 9.a4 a5 all Black has nothing to complain about; 10.xc4 e6 11.h4 xc5 12.g5 f5 C) 8.d4! other moves bring no problems looks dangerous for Black but it's still ok, for Black: 13.e4 c8 14.e3 c4 15.d5 h6 C1) 8...e4 is strongly refuted by 16.xf6+ exf6 17.f3 e8 ) 9.b5 9.xc6 bxc6 10.0-0 xc3 11.bxc3 e6 h5 10.e3 dxe3 11.xe3 ( 11.fxe3 d7 12.cxd5 exd5 13.xd5! otherwise 12.fd4 f6 13.c3 and the position is everything would be ok cxd5 ( 13...xc5 interesting for both players, maybe White 14.f3 0-0 15.e3 c4 16.d3 can keep the extra pawn, but if not the a n d W h i t e h a s a c l e a r p a w n u p) structure is not good at all.) 11...xb2 14.xd5 b8 15.d6 b7 16.c6+ 12.b1 f6 13.bd4 c7 14.xc6 bxc6 e7 17.f4 with a crushing attack; 15.d4! d8 16.f3 xd4 17.xd4 C2) 8...xd4 9.xd4 h5 10.d2 h3!? ( 17...xd4 18.xc6 xc6 dxc4 11.c6! again this annoying move 19.xc6 ) 18.c3 xg2 19.xg2 g7 b8 12.0-0 0-0 13.d5 xd2 with some pressure for White. ] 14.xe7+ h8 15.xd2 bxc6 16.c3 7...dxc4 xb2! 17.xb2 xb2 18.xc8 xc8 [ 7...d4 is 'ideal', but not possible, 8.b5 19.ad1 c3 and the evaluation of this h5 ( 8...e5? 9.d6+ ) 9.e3 with 0-0 for position is crucial to the entire 7...Qa5 both sides included the position is not so line. I think that with precise play White problematic for Black, but now W hite can must have a good advantage. ] take on d8 with check in case of 9...dxe3 d3 10.fd4 xd4 11.xd4 is better ( 11.exd4 8.xd8+ 1682
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 8.a4 a5 ( 8...0-0 will probably transpose to early 0-0 lines) 9.xa5 xa5 10.f4 d7 is not so scary ] 8...xd8 9.e5 Going for the pawn. [ 9.0-0 has potential d7 ( 9...f5 10.d4 d7 11.db5 0-0 12.d1 c6 13.g5 fd8 14.d2 keeps some pressure) 10.e5 c8 11.d1 an ambitious try ( 11.e3 g4 12.xg4 xg4 planning to play with ...Bxc3 and ...Bxe2 looks satisfactory for Black) 11...xc5 12.xd7 xd7 13.e3 a5 14.d2 ( 14.d5 xd5 15.xd5 b6 16.xb6 axb6 17.xc4 xc3 18.bxc3 d7= ) 14...b6 15.ad1 e6 16.xb7 0-0 ] 9...d7 [ 9...e4 is kind of funny, but why not? If the position stays almost symmetrical until the dust has settled Black should be fine, 10.xe4 ( 10.xe4 xe5 11.c3 e6= ) 10...xe5 11.e3 e6 12.0-0-0 using the only difference between the white a n d b l a c k p i e c e s ! c8 13.d2 c6 14.hd1 0-0 ( 14...f5 15.g2 f7 16.d5 hd8 17.f4 ) 15.d5 fe8 16.f4 getting the bishop pair. ] 10.xc4 xc3+ [ 10...xc5 11.e3 ( 11.b5 de6 ) 11...ce6 12.a5 d4 13.0-0-0 4c6 ] 11.bxc3 xc5 12.e3 e6 [ 12...a4 is maybe still playable, but worse t h a n t h e t e x t 13.a5 0-0 ( 13...xc3 14.d4 ) 14.c4 d7 15.b1 b8 16.b4 b6 17.c5 xc5 18.xc5 e6 19.xe7 bxa5 20.xb8 xb8 21.f6 can be unpleasant for Black. ] 13.xc5 [ 13.a5 c8= ] 13...xc4 14.a4 a6 15.b1 c6? Just blundering a pawn, and even if it's hard for White to win after this, there is no reason to play this way. [ 15...0-0 was natural and I don't see any real problems with Black's position 16.d2 ( 16.xe7? e8; 16.0-0 e8 17.b2 c8 18.xa7 xc3= ) 16...c6 17.hd1 fc8 18.e1 c7 ] 16.xc6+ bxc6 17.xa7! c8 18.b8 xb8 19.xb8 d7 White would have really good winning chances if the bishop reaches c5. Unfortunately there is no time for this.
20.a7 b7 21.a5 [ 21.c5 is n o t go o d b e ca u s e o f a8 and the pawn has no protection ] 21...a8 22.b6 c5 23.f3 c6 Now the bishop protects d8, but Black's king is well placed. Since there is no way to attack c5, W hite needs to go for the kingside. 24.f2 a6 25.g4?! I don't like this move, as now Black can play ...h5 and if g5 the position is too closed [ 25.e4 was natural, followed by Ke3 and expansion on the kingside. ] 25...h8 26.d1 h5 27.g5 b8 28.e4 c4 29.h4 e5 30.e3 a8 31.d8 a7 32.a1 Now the position is a dead draw. d7 33.f6 d3+ 34.f2 xc3 35.xe5 c2+ 36.e3 a2 37.xa2 xa2 38.c3 b3 39.f4 The king has no time to get to e5, since it's attached to the f3-pawn, and after f4 Black just needs to defend against the f5 break. d1 40.e3 b5 41.f4 c2 42.d2 c6 43.e1 b1 44.c3 c2 45.f6 b5 46.c3 c6 47.e1 b1 48.d2 c2 49.e1 b1 ½-½
1668 Berkes,Ferenc Gharamian,Tigran BL 0809 SC Remagen - SC (1.3) [Carsten Hansen]
A39 2645 2560 04.10.2008
1.c4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 0-0 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 xd4 9.xd4 d6 10.d3 b8 [ This move is fairly rare compared with a con tinu ation like 10...a6 . Other options include 10...Bf5, 10...Nd7, 10... Be6 and 10... Qa5. ] 11.f4 [ White has a number of decent moves available at this juncture, but the text move is d e ci d e d ly u n c o m m o n . T h e o n ly li n e m e n t i o n e d i n t h e E C O i s : 11.e3 (this also happens to be the most popular move) a5 ( 11...f5!? 12.d2 b6 13.d4 c8 14.b3 ) 12.d4 f5 13.e4 e6 14.fe1 fe8 15.h3 ( 15.d5!? ) 15...a6 16.e5 dxe5 17.xe5 bd8 18.e2 wi t h a s l i g h t p l u s f o r W h i t e , P s a k h i s 1683
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Alterman, Israel 1991. ] 11...a5 [ Black has a couple of alternatives at this point: A) 11...b6 is the more popular option, e.g. 12.ac1 A) 12...d7 13.fd1 b7 14.b3 xg2 15.xg2 b7+ 16.f3 a6 17.g5 fc8 18.d5 xd5 19.cxd5 h6 20.e3 Contin, D-Diaz Gonzales, J/Andorra 1995; B) 12...e6 13.b3 c8 ( 13...d7 14.d5 ) 14.d5 e8 15.g5 xd5 16.cxd5 g4 17.d2 ec8 18.c6 Calotescu, A-Akcan, U/Izmir 2002; C) 12...b7 13.e4 C1) 13...d7 14.fd1 fd8 15.e2 Demangho n, J-Mou lin, S/Montluco n 1997; C2) 13...c8 14.b3 c6 15.fd1 c7?! ( 15...d7 16.d5 ) 16.d5 xd5 17.cxd5 d7 18.c6 Rotstein, A-Verdes Nadal, R/Balaguer ESP 2007; C3) 13...d7 C3a) or 14.e2!? c5 ( 14...e5 15.fd1 d7 16.d5 fc8 17.b3 ) 15.fd1 c8 16.b4 e6 17.e3 c6 ( 17...d7 18.d5 fc8 19.g4 ) 18.d5 b7 19.f4 Krivoshey, SLecoq, J/Creon 2005; C3b) 14.fd1 c8 15.b3 c5 16.e2 c7?! ( 16...e6 17.e3 d7 18.d5 c7 19.g5 fe8 ) 17.d5 xd5 18.exd5 Yermolinsky, A-Skodzek, A/ Bad Zwesten 1997 ] [ B) 11...a6 A) 12.c5!? is given as bad by corr-GM He em s ot h, bu t it is a ct ua lly pe rf e ct ly playable. Heemsoth's intended refutation is e5 , but ( 12...h5 13.e3 dxc5 14.xc5 xd3 15.exd3 is the better option for Black) 13.g5! dxc5 14.xd8 xd8 15.e4 is clearly better for White.; B) 12.fd1 d7 13.e3! b6?! ( 13...e8 14.ac1; 13...e5 14.d5 e6 15.ac1 ) 14.d5 e8?! ( 14...e5 15.xe5 xe5 16.f4 f6 17.xf6+ exf6 18.a3 e7 19.f3 ) 15.b4! with a substantial plus for W hite, Quist, V-Papudzinski, H/corr 1991 ] 12.ac1 e6 13.b3 a6 14.c2!? [ A new move in this position. Previously
W hite has tried: A) 14.h3 fc8 15.d2 a3 with equality and here the players agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2, Hoffmann, MTeske, H/Germany 1996 ] [ B) 14.fd1 d7 ( 14...fc8!? ) 15.d2 b5?! ( 15...fc8!? ) 16.cxb5 ( 16.d5! d8 17.b4! is much better for White) 16...fc8 17.d5 xd2 18.xc8+ xc8 19.xe7+ f8 20.xd2 xe7 21.bxa6 , and White's queenside pawns are worth more than the piece, Topalov, V-Arnaiz Yanez, M/Tenerife (simul) 1997 ] 14...fc8 15.fc1 b5 16.d5!? This leads to a number of exchanges, resulting in a s l i g h t l y b e t t e r p o s i t i o n f o r W h i t e . xd5 17.xd5 bxc4 18.xe6 fxe6 [ 18...cxd3?? 19.xc8+ xc8 20.xc8+ f8 21.h6 ] 19.xc4 xc4 20.xc4 f7 21.h4!? [ White can obtain a slightly better endgame with 21.c7! xc7 ( or 21...b5 22.g2 f6 23.c4 ) 22.xc7 e5 23.e3 ] 21...b4? [ O n e s q u a r e t o o f a r . W i t h 21...b5! , Black can keep the balance, e.g. 22.c8 xa2 23.xd6 f8 24.d8 f5 25.c8 b1+ 26.g2 e4+ 27.g1 b1+ with a draw by repetition. ] 22.c8! xa2?! [ With this move, Black allows White to start the decisive penetration of Black defensive set-up on the 7th rank. However, the alternative 22...xf4 also leaves White with a c o n s i d e r a b l e a d va n t a g e , e . g . 23.gxf4 xa2 24.c2 a5 25.g2 with a clear advantage for White, though the conversion will take considerable effort. ] 23.xd6! xb3? [ After this move, Black is lost. A somewhat better option is 23...d4 , although White also h as a su bst an tial ad va nt a ge a f t e r 24.xe7 xe2 25.c5 d1+ 26.h2 h6 27.c4 g5 28.b7+ g8 29.e3 , and White should win. ] 24.d7 f8 [ This doesn't look good, but 24...f6 25.c8 is even worse. ] 25.c8 b1+ 26.h2 f5 27.c5?! [ This move is good enough to maintain a winning advantage, but White can force an immediate win with 27.f3! , e.g. e3 28.g4 1684
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xe2+ 29.g3 f6 30.g5 g7 ( or 30...f5 31.xf8+ xf8 32.xe7+ g8 33.d8+ g7 34.f6+ an d it 's ove r) 31.e8+ g8 32.xe7 , and Black can resign. ] 27...b5 28.e3 [ 28.e4!? f6 29.g2 g7 30.c6 also wins for White. ] 28...b3?! [ 28...h5 is slightly more complicated, but White nevertheless still has a direct way to won endgame: 29.c6 b2 30.a8 g7 31.g8 xe2 32.e8+ f6 33.g5+ e5 34.b8+ e4 35.a8+ d5 36.xd5+ xd5 37.xg7 xf2+ 38.g1 , and White wins without too many headaches. ] 29.d4?! [ 29.d8! - see note after White's 31st move. ] 29...b4 30.e3 b3?! [ After 30...e4 31.d8 g8 32.g1 xe3 33.fxe3 b1+ 34.f2 f5+ 35.e1 b1+ 36.d1 b7 37.c1 White is also winning, though it will take quite a few more moves to see it to its conclusion. ] [ However, 30...a5 looks more complicated, but after 31.a8 g7 32.d2 f7 33.d8 , and White is winning. ] 31.f4?! [ White can force Black to enter the game continuation with 31.d8! g8 32.d4 winning immediately. ] 31...g8? [ 31...b2 32.d4 e5 33.d5+ e6 34.a8+- ] [ 31...h6 32.d4+- ] [ 31...b1 32.d8 g8 33.e4 f6 34.d3 b2 35.e5 g7 36.g2 , and Black is left to wait for the execution. ] [ 31...b4 32.d8 g8 33.d2 ] 32.d4 Guarding the f2-pawn and threatening Bh6. f7 Preventing Bh6, but allowing something even more devastating... 33.h8 1-0
1669 Bistric,Faruk Kovalev,Andrei EuTCh Plovdiv BUL (2) [Tony Kosten]
A39 2503 2572 12.10.2003
1.f3 f6 2.g3 c5 3.g2 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 g6 6.c4 g7 7.0-0 0-0 8.c3 xd4 9.xd4 d6 10.d3 a5 An interesting alternative, planning to swing t h e q u e e n o v e r t o t h e k i n g s i d e . 11.h3 The best answer, ready to chase the black queen away from h5. e6 12.d2 h5 Black provokes a kingside weakness. 13.g4 e5 14.b3 Solid, although other moves are possible: [ 14.ac1 d7 15.b3 c5 16.c2 f5 with good counterplay in Schmidt,W-Dvoirys, S/Dortmund 1991. ] [ 14.xb7!? is untried, but has its plus points, ab8 15.d5 and Black cannot capture on b2 as f4 will win his queen, which is short of squares, so xd5 16.cxd5 d7 but White's kingside weakness offers good prospects to the black light-squared bishop. ] 14...d7 15.f4! A new and logical move, [ 15.e4 h5 16.f4!? led to weird complications after c5!? 17.fxe5 xd3 18.exd6 d4+ 19.h1 hxg4 20.dxe7 fe8 21.hxg4 xg4 a little better for Black, Gottschlich,C-Mattick,L/Seefeld 1996. ] 15...c5+ 16.h1 With the threat of f5 hanging in the air. c8!? Black vacates the c 5 - s q u a r e f o r t h e k n i g h t . 17.ac1 White moves the rook off the a1-h8 diagonal, which is very logical but why not play [ 17.f5! as after the nearly forced moves c5 18.f3 d7 19.d5 d8 20.g5 f6 21.e3 White has a serious advantage. ] 17...c5 18.e3 e8 19.b4 d7 20.f5!? White goes for some interesting complications, but they might not be correct, so [ 20.d5 is best, with a small plus. ] 20...xc4 21.d5 Here is the point, e7 is attacked and there is a nasty pin along the cfile. e5!? A good positional move, but no better than the tempting [ 21...e6 when White can play 22.fxe6 fxe6 23.g5! h8 ( 23...exd5 24.xd5+ favours White) 24.e3 d5 25.xc4 dxc4 1685
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 when his bishops offer adequate compensation for the pawn. ] 22.xe7+?! White misevaluates the resulting position, he had a number of decent alternative s, for instance [ 22.fxg6 hxg6 23.c3 e6 24.f6+ xf6 25.xf6 which looks a bit dangerous, although d8 26.cf1 e7 defends. ] 22...xe7 23.f6 e8 Best, although [ 23...xf6!? i s p o s s i b l e , 24.xf6 d7 and White's compensation seems slight. ] 24.fxg7 xg4! [ 24...d7 is also feasible, the knight on e5 balances the white dark-squared bishop. ] 25.d4 e5 26.xd6 [ 26.f4 b5 27.xd6 e6 28.d4 c6 is OK for Black, as the g7-pawn is useless. ] 26...d8 Aiming for an endgame, as the superior pawn structure outweighs the white bishop pair. 27.f6 xe2 28.xb7 [ 28.h6!? is a better try. ] 28...b8 29.g2 xd6 30.xd6 c4 31.d7 xd2 32.xd2 xg7 After the tactics Black has a solid extra pawn. 33.a3?! Too passive for my taste, [ 33.c7 xb4 34.xa7 c4 35.a4 offers reasonable practical chances as the apawn could prove dangerous. ] 33...bd8 34.xd8 xd8 35.c7 a6 Now there is no threat to f7 and it is difficult to create a passed pawn. 36.e7 d1+ 37.h2 d2 38.g3 b5 39.e3 h5 Black has all the advantages necessary to win. 40.b7 g5 41.c3 d7 As next move Black will exchange rooks with ...Rd3+. 0-1
a specialty of several Yugoslavian Grandmasters (Kurajica, Paunovic, Strikovic, and now Bogosavljevic). [ 8.c3 is played nearly automatically. See the guide entitled "Pure Symmetrical - 5 Nf3 Nf6 6 0-0 0-0 7 d4". Usually the only time White can achieve c4-c5 in the event of a poor more such as a6?! , i.e. 9.c5! c7 10.b3 b5 11.f4 d8 12.d2 b7 13.fd1 a7 14.e4 a8 15.ac1 Ruck, R (2535)-Krasniqi, N (2167)/Zuerich 2005. ] 8...g4!? [ Black more often tries to equalize with the s t r a i g h t f o r wa r d 8...xd4 9.xd4 d6 . Now there are two options: A) T h e r e f i n e d 10.b4!? is probably a better try for an edge, though Black is OK here, too: a5 11.a3 dxc5 12.xc5 b6 13.a3 a7 14.c3 e6 ( 14...a6 Kurajica, B (2520)-Cebalo, M (2540)/Pula 1991. 15.d1; I think 14...b7! is the way to go, e.g. 15.d1 a8 ) 15.d1 d7 16.g5 h6 17.xd7 xd7 18.xf6 ( 18.f4! ) 18...xf6 19.d1 c8 20.d5 e6 21.b3 xd5 1/2-1/2 Kurajica, B (2554) -Mohr, G (2480)/ Sibenik 2007.; B) 10.cxd6 e8 11.b4 and now ( 11.d3 is harmless: xd6 12.c3 e6 13.f4 b6 14.xd6?! ad8 15.b5 exd6 16.ab1 d5 0-1 Mozny, M (2385)Brunner, L (2460)/Clichy 1991.) 11...xd6! i s e a s i e s t , f o r i n s t a n c e ( 11...xd6 12.a5! is a little better for White) 12.c3 a5 13.b3 (other queen moves have b e e n p l a ye d , b u t 1 3 . . . B e 6 i s a g o o d universal response to all of them) e6 1670 A39 14.d5 a4 15.b4 xd5 16.xd5 a5 17.xa5 xa5 18.d1 c8 19.f4?! Bogosavljevic,B 2497 ( 19.b1= ) 19...a3 20.ab1 axb2-+ Antic,De 2476 0-1 Nagle, S (2397)-Perelshteyn, E TCh-SRB Prem 2012 (3.1) 19.09.2012 (2507)/Minneapolis 2005. ] [John Bartholomew] 9.b3 Consistent in discouraging ...d7-d6. [ 9.e3!? is an alternative, i.e. d5 10.cxd6 This miniature caught my eye for two reasons: exd6 11.c3 , with a very small advantage 1) White scores very well with the move 8.c5!?, against the IQP. ( 11.xc6 bxc6 12.xc6 and 2) it's a welcome change from the mass b8 )] of theory beginning with 8.Nc3. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.0-0 c6 9...b6 [ 9...a5!? 10.a4 b6 was seen in 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 0-0 8.c5!? A cramping Radusinovic, L (2290)-Blesic, V (2412)/ move - White plays to inhibit ...d7-d6. This is 1686
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Belgrade SRB 2011. Here 11.xc6! dxc6 12.xd8 xd8 13.cxb6 looks promising, as Black has some difficulties collecting the pawn, i.e. a6 14.d2! and a5 becomes a target as well. ] [ P o s s i b l e i s 9...d6 10.cxd6 exd6 , though most wouldn't be willing to accept an isolated pawn so freely. ] 10.c3 [ Weaker is 10.cxb6 Rohrbach, F (2025)Kraft, H (2045)/Germany 1996. After axb6 11.c3 a6 Black has zero problems and is actually slightly for choice. ] 10...bxc5 [ 10...a6!? ] 11.xc5 b8! 12.e3?! Natural, but this hands Black the initiative. f6 [ 12...h5!? ] 13.b3 c7 [ Black can snipe a clean pawn with 13...d5! 14.xd5 ( 14.xd5 xc3 15.b1 a5 16.a4 a6 ) 14...xc3 15.b1 b4 16.c4 xa2 . ] 14.b2 d6 15.d3 a6= The game is equal. 16.c1 d7 [ 16...fc8= ] 17.e2 b7?? A massive blunder. [ 17...b4 18.xb4 xb4= ] 18.xf6! Unexpected, yet totally decisive! xf6 19.c5 Black resigned, as he's losing a piece. An abrupt ending, but hopefully this sheds some light on the unheralded 8.c5!?. The game continuation looks fine, and Black should also be able to equalize with 8...Nxd4 9.Qxd4 d6. 1-0
problem in this line is that he can easily end up in a passive position without any kind of counterplay. 9.e3 d6 10.b3 [ This is main line, but White has a number o f a l t e r n a t i v e s a v a i l a b l e , e . g . 10.ce2 which is my own invention, but not particularly critical, while ] [ 10.de2 ] [ and 10.h3 look better for White as can be seen in the archives (for references see the PDF eBook) ] [ Finally, White has also tried 10.xc6 ] [ and 10.xc6 , but as can be seen in the PGN archives, these lines are not critical for Black ] 10...xd4!? [ This is Black's most popular move and also t h e b e s t i n t h i s p o s i t i o n . 10...ge5?! was played in Timman-Palo, Malmo 2005, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] [ 10...h6?! ] [ 10...a6?! ] 11.exd4 h6 12.b2 [ 12.d2!? is possibly best, and is an old suggestion of Watson's from his first book on the Symmetrical English ("English 1...PQB4') one game went f5 13.d5 a6 14.a4 d7 15.e1 b8 16.f1 Hansen, CuHellers, F Amsterdam 1990. But it is still only played infrequently. ] [ 12.xh6!? is ECO's recommendation. ] 12...f5 13.d5 d7 [ 13...a6 A) 14.a4!? b8 15.b1 d7 16.e1 ( 16.e4!? xb2 17.xb2 b5 18.axb5 axb5 19.c5 dxc5 20.xc5 Landa, KTimofeev, A/Tomsk RUS 2006) 16...b5 17.axb5 axb5 18.xb5 xb2 19.xb2 1671 A39 xb5 20.cxb5 xb5 21.h3 g7 22.b4 Isajevsky, A-Timofeev, A/ Togliatti RUS Bologan,Viktor 2663 2003; Grigoriants,Sergey 2583 B) 14.a4 b5 15.xg7 xg7 16.b2 Aeroflot Open (6) 19.02.2008 b8 17.e1 e8 , Frare, F-Neubauer, M/ [Carsten Hansen] Santos BRA 2003, and now 18.d2 b6 19.ac1; 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 C) 14.d2 5.c3 c5 6.f3 cxd4 7.xd4 c6 8.0-0 C1) 14...b8?! 15.e4 b5 16.xg7 g4 This move is a bit artificial and has been xg7 17.ac1 bxc4 18.bxc4 f5 denounced by both Tony and John in earlier 19.c5 dxc5 20.xc5 Gallardo Garcia, updates, but it remains a popular option for A-Garcia Carbo, M/Cala Mendia 2001; Black. I share the opinion of my predecessors, C2) 14...b5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.fe1 d7 but matters are not 100% cut and dry. Black's 1687
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.cxb5 axb5 21.xc8 xc8 22.c1 b7 17.e2 a5 18.xa5 ( 18.b4!? a7 23.d4+ Lazic, M-Cheparinov, I/Pancevo 19.xg7 xg7 20.g4! h4 21.d4 YUG 2003 ] wi t h t h e b e t t e r c h a n c e s f o r W h i t e) 18...xa5 19.xg7 xg7 20.f4 fa8 14...a5!? [ Black has also tried 14...a6 on several Arkell, K-Hartoch, R/Charlton 1983; occasions, but it is a bit slower than the C3) 14...a5!? 15.fd1 b5!? 16.e4 game continuation, and W hite should be xd2 17.xd2 bxc4 18.bxc4 b8 b e t t e r , e . g . 15.e4 ( 15.e2 xb2 19.xg7 xg7 20.c5 dxc5 21.xc5 16.xb2 b5 17.cxb5 axb5 18.d4 b6 d8= Kaliksteyn, A-Finegold, B/ 19.xf5 xf5 20.fc1 Gallus, GPhiladelphia 2001 ] Szalanczy, E/Budapest 1992) 15...xb2 [ 13...b5 14.cxb5 a5 15.a4 xb2 16.xb2 b6 16.xb2 xb5 17.e1 e8 18.d2 b7 A) Or 17.ac1 d4 18.e2 fc8 19.ac1 Goldin, A-Shabalov, A/ 19.fd1 e5 20.f4 g7 21.f2 ab8 Philadelphia 1998 ] 22.d2 b6 23.e1 c7 Marchik, N-Fish, 14.d2 G/ Alushta 2000, and now 24.a4!? ( 24.g4 [ 14.b1 d4 15.h3?! c8 16.e4 b5 h6 25.g5 f5 26.a4 is also worthy of Silman, J-Cleghorn, P/San Francisco 1977 ] consideration ) 24...h6 25.f3; [ 14.d3 a6 15.d1 ( 15.a4 h5 16.d1 B) 17.fd1 fc8 18.ac1 a5 19.d3 xb2 17.xb2 c8 18.fc1 b5 19.b4 d8 20.d2 f8 21.a4 h6 22.f4 g7 b6 20.cxb5 axb5 21.a5 Labensky, I23.g5 with a depressing position for Krivoshey, S/Rovno 2000) 15...b5 16.xg7 Black, Damljanovic, B-Rajkovic, D/Niksic bxc4 17.xc4 xg7 18.e1 e8 19.e3 1996 ] b6 , Khasin, A-Vratonjic, S/Belgrade 1988, [ Another option is 14...b8 15.e4 xb2 and now 20.g4 ] 16.xb2 b5 17.c5 dxc5 18.xc5 b4 [ 14.b1 a5 ( 14...c8 15.e2 h5 19.fc1 b5 20.d2 ( 20.a3!? is quite 16.e4 xb2 17.xb2 b5 18.fc1 b6 strong, for instance a5 21.axb4 axb4 19.d2 fe8 20.g5 d4= 22.a6 xa6 23.xa6 d7 24.e5 1/2-1/2 Ahman, L-Westerlund, B/corr SSKK , and White dominates) 20...a5 21.a3 d6 1999/MegaCorr3 (27)) 15.d3 ac8 16.a4 22.axb4 axb4 23.xb4 f1 24.e4 xg2 a6 17.fc1 ( 17.e4!? b5 18.xg7 xg7 25.xg2 fd8 26.a7 h5 27.h3 ( 27.b4!? 19.c5! f5 20.g5 dxc5 21.fe1 ) 17...b5! xd5 28.xd5 xd5 29.a6 b6 ) 18.cxb5 axb5 19.xb5 xb2 20.xc8 27...b5 28.b4 xd5 29.xd5 xd5 xc8 21.xb2 c1+ 22.f1 d4 23.g2 , and Black is over the worst problems, and xb5 24.e3 ( 24.axb5 a1 25.d2 in fact went on to win the game, Drasko, Mxf1-+ ) 24...xf1 25.xf1 h3+ 26.g1 Petronic, J/ Niksic 1997 ] d4 27.f4 xd5 28.f2 g2+ Ulibin, M15.fd1 Bradbury, N/Hastings 1990 ] [ White should keep his queen guarded to [ 14.e1 b5 ( 14...e8 15.e2 c8 avoid any number of problems with pins of 16.c1 a6 17.e4 b6 18.xg7 xg7 all kinds. The alternatives are: A) 15.fe1?! 19.d2 a5 20.a4 Munoz Moreno, Flooks logical, but Black has several good Torrecillas Martinez, A/Lleida 1991; 14...c8 continuations: 15.c1 b6 16.c2 a5 17.a1 b4 A) 15...fe8?! isn't sufficiently aggressive: 18.e4 e5 Schlemermeyer, W-Zude, E/ 16.e4 b5 17.cxb5 xb5 18.b4 b6 Germany 1992/GER-chT2) 15.cxb5 c8 19.xb5 xb2 20.xb2 xb5 21.d2 16.c1 a5 17.d3 c5 18.a3 xb5 Becker, M-Koch, H/Trier 1997; 19.d2 h6 20.f4 b6 21.h1 g7 B) 15...ac8!? 16.e4?! ( 16.ad1!? ) 22.b4 c7 23.xb5 xc1 24.xc1 xb2 16...b5! 17.ae1 bxc4 18.bxc4 e5 25.xb2 xb5 26.d2 Ivanov, I-Olafsson, 19.dxe6 xe6 20.f1 , Bergstrom, CH/New York 1991 ] Sjodahl, P/Sundsvall 1989, and now d5 [ 14.e2 c8 15.fc1 d4 16.d1 a6 21.e5 c5 22.cxd5 17.ab1 b5 18.xb5 xb5 19.xg7 xg7 1688
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B1) 22...b8 23.a1 xe5 ( 23...d7 24.f4 bc8 25.e4 ) 24.xe5 d7; B2) 22...d7! 23.d3 d6 24.e7 f5! , and White is in trouble; C) 15...b5!? C1) 16.cxb5 ac8 17.ac1 h6! 18.f4 g7! 19.a4 ( 19.d3 c7 followed by ... Rf c8 is highly unpleasant f or W hite) 19...b4 20.e4 ( 20.h1 fe8 ) 20...fe8 is a very good version of a Benko Gambit for Black; C2) 16.f1!? is probably best, but Black is fine after bxc4 17.xc4 d4 18.g2 fe8 ( 18...e5!? ) 19.e4 e5 20.dxe6 xe6 with chances to both sides; C3) 16.e4?! bxc4 17.xc4 fc8 18.b4 b6 19.xc8+ xc8 20.a3 d4 21.xd4 xd4 , and Black is completely in control over the game, Jensen, KQuattrocchi, G/ ICCF Email ] [ B) 15.ad1 is White's main alternative to the game move, and now fc8?! ( 15...b5!? 16.xb5 xa2 17.xg7 xd2 18.xd2 xg7 19.c3 fb8 20.b1 a5 21.e4 h5 22.c2 ) 16.fe1 a6 17.g4 A) 17...h4?! 18.xe7 d8 19.de1 xg2 20.xg2 xg4 ( 20...f8 21.g5! e6 22.dxe6 xe7 23.xe7 xe7 24.d5+- ) 21.a4 xb2 22.xb2 c7 23.f6 is also pretty ugly for Black; B) 17...h6 is relatively best 18.h3 e8 19.e2; C) 17...h6? C1) Also 18.d3! is strong, e.g. h4 19.h3 g5 ( 19...xg2? 20.xh6!+- ) 20.xe7 d8 21.xd7! xd7 22.e4+-; C2) 18.e2 h4 19.xe7 xg2 20.xg2 g7 ( 20...xg4 21.e4!+- ) 21.xd7 xc3 22.xc3 xc3 23.xd6 , and Black is down two pawns for no compensation, Klicnar, M-Bawart, M/ Budapest 1999 ] 15...ac8 [ In an earlier game Black tried 15...fc8 16.e4 ( 16.e4!? like in our main game makes more sense) 16...ab8 17.xf5 xf5 18.b5 xd2 19.xd2 a6 20.d4 xd4 21.xd4 b5 , and solved his opening problems, Vukic, M-Miljanic, B/Belgrade
1998 ] 16.e4!? xd2 17.xd2 xb2 [ 17...b5!? 18.xg7 ( 18.f1 xb2 19.xb2 t r a n s p o s e s t o t h e g a m e c o n t i n u a t i o n) 18...xg7 19.f1 bxc4 A) or 20.bxc4 h5!? ( 20...c7 21.b1 h6 22.f3 f5 23.d3 leaves White with a tiny plus due to Black's oddly place knight on h6) 21.b2 c7 22.g2 h4 23.g4 h6 24.g5 h3+ 25.g1 f5 wi t h a c o m p l i c a t e d e n d g a m e , w h i c h appears to be fine for Black; B) 20.xc4 b8 21.e1 fc8 22.f3 , and W hite has more space and a position that is somewhat easier to play. ] 18.xb2 b5 19.f1 bxc4 20.bxc4 c7 21.f3 e3 22.e2 fc8 [ This move looks active, but really doesn't do anything to improve Black's position. Instead 22...f5!? 23.d2 f4!? should be strongly considered, for instance 24.ab1 c8! 25.f2 g5 26.d3 h6 , and Black is at worst at a fractional disadvantage ] 23.d2 g7 24.f2 f5 25.g4 h6 26.ab1 f5! Otherwise Black's knight and the rest of his position is left in an awful, passive bind. 27.g5 [ 27.h3 is also possible, but after g5!? W hite is at risk of having his own pawns fixed on light squares. ] 27...f7 28.f4 h6!? 29.h4!? [ 29.gxh6+ xh6 30.h4 is another option to leave the g6-pawn more vulnerable, but the text is the normal move, leaving Black with a fixed weakness and White with an intact pawn structure. ] 29...hxg5 30.hxg5 e5! With this timely break, Black brings his pieces back to life. If Black delayed the pawn break much longer, White would have the opportunity to further strengthen his position by activating his king to d4 and claim a much larger advantage. 31.dxe6 xe6 32.b5 d7 33.a5!? [ 33.b7!? d8 34.xc7 xc7 35.f3 c6 36.b8 e6 37.e3 xf3 38.xf3 f7= ] 33...d8 34.f3 e6 35.g3 c5 36.a3 e8 37.f2 a4? [ 37...e6! 38.g3 ( 38.b7 xb7 39.xb7 xf4 40.xa7 d3+ 41.f3 e7 , and Black is fine ) 38...c5= ] 38.e3?! 1689
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ I don't fully agree with the decision to swap a pair of rooks of the board. I feel that on account of White's more active pieces, he should have kept the pieces on the board. In fact 38.d3!? looks very interesting, e.g. e6 39.d5 e8 40.g2! , and now it looks like White isn't making any progress after e6 , but then White's real plan emerges: ( 40...c8! 41.h1 ce7 42.f3 e6 43.a3 d7 44.b3 is a better option for Black, but nevertheless still better for White ) 41.h1 b6 42.dh3 (this move wasn't possible with the bishop on f3, which is why the manoeuvre Bf3-d5-g2 had to be played) e8 43.h7+ f8 44.1h6 ( 44.a4!? ) 44...d5 45.a4! dxc4 46.a5! (White wants Black to remove his knight on b6 t o a llo w t h e b ish op to go to d5 wit h devastating effect) c3 47.b3 c2 48.c1 c4 49.d5 , and it is goodnight to Black. The continuation in the game is a typical time trouble move. ] 38...xe3 39.xe3 White has a slight advantage in this endgame or as Flear calls it in his excellent "Practical Endgame Play Beyond the Basics", a 'NQE' (not quite endgame) on account of his more active pieces and the fact that Black's kingside pawns are fixed on light squares, the colour of his light-squared bishop. Nevertheless, Black's position is quite solid and very difficult to break down as we shall see. However, Bologan is rarely deterred by such matters and continues searching for an advantage, and is rewarded for his effort, only to miss the opportunity handed to him... b6 40.d4 e6 41.e2 f8 42.h1 g7 43.a3 f8 44.h3 g7 45.c3 f8 46.h3 g7 47.e3 f7 48.b3 e6 49.b4 d7 50.d1 e6 51.a4 c5 52.b3 f8 53.f3 [ Also 53.b1!? is worthy of consideration, e. g. e7 54.c3 , though Black should hold the balance after d7 55.d1 e6 56.e2 d7 ] 53...e7?? [ This perfectly normal-looking move is in fact a clear mistake that allows White an option to capitalize on an over-burdened pawn, the one on d6 to win at least a very crucial pawn. Instead 53...f7! would have been right: 54.e1 e8 55.d3 a5 56.c5 dxc5+
57.xc5 c6 , and White has a slight initiative, but no more than that. ] 54.e1?? [ White returns the favor my missing the very strong 54.e5! dxe5+ ( at first glance 54...f7 looks like it will hold up, but after 55.a5! a8 56.b8! c7 57.b7 White wins easily, e.g. e8 58.d3 c6 59.a4 , and it is closing time for Black) 55.xc5 d7+ 56.c6 exf4 57.b7 f3 58.d1 f2 59.e2 , and the last-ditched hopes for Black have evaporated. ] 54...d7 From here onwards, the balanced equality doesn't tip to either side 55.d3 a5 56.c5 dxc5+ 57.xc5 c6 58.d3 xa4 [ 58...xa4?? 59.e5+- ] 59.xa4 xa4 60.xa4 xa4 61.e5 e6 62.xg6 b6 63.e5 d5 64.d3 e7 65.c5+ d6 66.b7+ e6 67.c5+ ½-½
1672 Bu Xiangzhi Zhang,Ziyang zt 3.5 Shandong CHN (2) [Carsten Hansen]
A39 2656 2323 29.04.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 g6 6.g3 g7 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 xd4 9.xd4 d6 10.d3 a6 11.d2 b8 12.ac1 d7!? [ 12...b5!? is in my opinion the most active and best option for Black A) The alternative is 13.c5 A1) or 13...b4?! 14.a4 a5 15.b3 f5 16.e4 d7? ( 16...e6 17.c6 ) 17.c6+S.Minero Pineda-A.Murillo, Costa Rica 1994; A2) 13...f5 14.e4 dxc5 ( also 14...e6 15.d5 dxc5 16.xc5 d7 17.c2 e5 , N.Krogius-S. Martinovic, Sarajevo 1968, and now 18.b3 d7 19.f4 leaves White with the better chances ) 15.xd8 bxd8 16.e3 ( 16.g5 e6 17.e5 g4 18.xe7 xe5 19.xd8 xd8 20.fd1 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in A. Dokutchaev-V.Filippov, Moscow 1994 Black has adequate compensation for the exchange.) 16...e6 17.xc5 1690
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.c7 is one random line; fe8 18.fd1 d7 19.b4 e5 A2b) 17.b4 xg2 18.xg2 d7 ( 19...c8!?= seems more solid and 19.c2 fc8 20.fc1 xc2 21.xc2 better to me) 20.d5 g4 ( 20...xd5 h5= D, Anic-N.Spiridonov, Montpellier 21.exd5 f6 22.h3 ) 21.xe7+ h8 1991; 22.xd8 xd8 23.a5 d3 24.c3 B) 15.g5 h6 16.e3 b4 17.d5 e6 ( Now 24.c6! e8 25.d5 18.f4 d5 19.fd1 e5 ( 19...d4!? looks good f or W hite his pie ces are appears to improve, e.g. 20.d2 e5 ac t ive a n d we ll-p la ce d) 24...xb2 21.b1 a6= ) 20.d2 a6 21.c5 e8 25.xd8 xc3= G.Beikert-A.Kosten, 22.xb4 b7 23.c5+- C.Grushka-F. Naujac sur Mer 2004; Pierrot, Buenos Aires 1991 ] B) 13.cxb5 was covered in Damjanovic[ 13...b6 14.fd1 b7 15.e4 f5 16.e2 Ma c ie j a a s c a n b e f o u n d i n t h e P G N c5 17.exf5 xf5 , so far D.Majer-T. archives ] Weiland, Giessen 1994, and here 18.xb7 13.b3 c5 xb7 19.b4 d7 20.f4 is just better for [ Black has a couple of other alternatives that White ] also deserve attention at this juncture: A) 13...e5 14.c2 ( or 14.e4 b5 15.cxb5 14.c2 [ This appears to be White's best line, axb5 16.h4 f6 17.b4 e6 18.d5 alth ou gh W hite h as t ried several o th e r xd5 19.xd5 d7 20.c2 M.Labollita-P. things: A) 14.b1 b5 ( Or 14...d7 15.b4 B a r r i o n u e v o , T r e s d e F e b r e r o 2 0 0 3) a4 16.xa4 xa4 17.c3 c6 18.xg7 14...c6 ( also 14...d7 leads to a better xg7 19.fd1 c7 B.Golubovic-O.Jovanic, game for White, e.g. 15.h3 c6 16.e4 f5 K a s t a v 2 0 0 1 20.e4 ) 15.cxb5 axb5 17.f4 d7 , J.Sekanina-L.Jokl, Moravia 16.d5 b7 17.g5 xd5 18.xd5 d7= 1994, and now 18.ce1 ) 15.fd1 d7 W.Uhlmann-J.Smejkal, Arandelovac 1976 ] 16.e3 a5 17.d2 e6 18.d5 xd2 [ B) 14.e3 19.xd2 fd8 20.f4 L.Meinberger-F.Ullrich, A) 14...e6 15.fd1 e8 16.h4 h5 German Bundesliga 1982 ] 17.e4 xe4 18.xe4 c7? ( 18...c8 [ B) 13...b5 14.cxb5 axb5 19.c3 ) 19.xg6+- R.Skrobek-P.Delekta, A) 15.d5 The idea behind this move is Slupsk 1992; to put the knight on b4 and from there B) 14...d7 15.d5 ( 15.fd1 b5 take control over the c6-square, but Black 16.cxb5 axb5 17.d5 e6 18.b4 b6 appears to have adequate resources: e5 19.c3 xc3 20.xc3 V.Moret-C. ( 15...b7 is an important alternative Claverie, Epinal 2002) 15...e6 16.b6 16.b4 c5 17.e3 xg2 18.xg2 d4 17.fe1 xb6 18.xb6 g4 d7= M.Tempone-P.Zarnicki, Buenos 19.f1 c6 20.b4 A.Panchenko-A. Aires 2003 ) 16.e3 Dominguez Matito, Badalona 1997; A1) or 16...e6 17.b4 b7 18.xb7 C) 14...f5 15.fd1 e8 16.e4 xe4 ( 18.c6 doesn't amount to anything for 17.xe4 xe4 18.xe4 b6 19.c3 White: xc6 19.xc6 xc6 20.xc6 xc3 20.xc3 b4 21.d4 bc8 c8 21.fc1 xc6 22.xc6 a8 22.f3 R.Tiggelman-C.Hibbard, ICCF 23.xd6 xa2= I.Snape-A.Corkett, Email 2001; West Bromwich 2004) 18...xb7 19.c2 D) 14...b5 c7 20.fc1 c5 21.h3 d7 22.d3 D1) 15.cxb5 axb5 16.d5 xc2 23.xc2 b8= A.Poluljahov-I. D1a) 16...e6 is suggested by Ribli, Smikovski, Tomsk 2001; but with no f urther analysis given , A2) 16...b7 however, W hite seems to be able to A2a) 17.a7!? aims to penetrate on obtain a rather clear advantage in the weak dark squares on the Black's more than one way: 17.b4 ( both queenside e6 18.a5 ( 18.b4!? ) 17.b4!? d7 18.c3 fc8 19.xg7 18...a8 19.xd8 xa7 20.b6 a6 xg7 20.fd1; and 17.c2 d7 21.e7+ h8 22.xb7 xb6 1691
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.fc1 xd5 19.xd5 e6 20.g2 fc8 21.b4 leave White with a small but clear advantage ); D1b) 16...e6?! (this move is called dubious by Ribli because it weakens Black's pawn stru cture, but Ribli's suggested improvement - see next note - is far from ideal. Therefore the text appears to represent best play f r o m B l a c k ) 17.b4 b7 18.c6 ( 18.xb7 has proven fruitless: xb7 19.fd1 a8 20.f3 d7 21.f4 xf3 22.exf3 b7= , and Black shouldn't have any problems responding to the remainder of White's p r e s s u r e , M . K r a s e n k o w- K . A r k e l l , Hastings 1993) 18...xc6 19.xc6 b6 20.g2 a6 21.c2 b4 22.fc1 b5 23.f4 e5 24.h4 a5 25.h6 , and White has the initiative, Z. Velickovic-E.Bukic, Portoroz 1994, for example b8 26.e7 b6 ( 26...xa2? 27.xa2 xa2 28.c7 e8 29.xc5 loses for Black) 27.d1 c8 28.e3 a7 29.h4 , and White continues to apply pressure on Black's position; D2) 15.b4 e6 16.a7 d7 17.cxb5 axb5 18.e3 h8 19.fd1 f5 20.a5 e8 21.a7 c8 22.d5 xc1 23.xc1 . A. Dunnington-L.Cooper, Walsall 1997, f4 24.b6; D3) 15.d5 e6 D3a) 16.fd1 xd5 17.cxd5 ( 17.xd5 b4= ) 17...b4! 18.h3 a5 19.c4 b5 20.dc1 b8 is c alle d e qu al by E CO a s p er t h e game Ki. Georgiev-J.Gdanski, Budapest 1993, but I nonetheless still think White's chances are preferable; D3b) 16.c3 xc3 , and the players agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2, J.BanyW .S ch mid t, Po zn an 19 84 th is ca n hardly be called a test of White's 16th move, which appears to leave White with the slightly better chances 17.xc3 xd5 18.cxd5 b4 19.d4 d7 20.e4 f6 21.c4 a5 22.f4 g4 23.e3 , and White's pressure has become evident; D3c) 16.b4!? is a suggestion of
Ribli's that has yet to be tested, but it will likely end up transposing to the main line; D3d) 16.cxb5!? axb5 17.b4 d7 18.c3! (White exchanges the darksqu a re d b ish op s, wh ich will le a ve Black's king-side permanently weakened) xc3 19.xc3 bc8 20.fc1 D3d1) 20...h3? is much worse, e. g. 21.d5+- ( or 21.xh3 xh3 22.d5+- ); D3d2) 20...c7 21.d4 fc8 ( 21...h3 22.d5 ) 22.h4! with significant pressure for White in B.Kantsler-A.Blees, Tel Aviv 1999 Black's problem is that a natura l move like ...h7-h5 know weakens the kingside even further, this is an issue that is even more evident after the departure of the dark-squared bishops ] 14...b5 [ Or 14...f5 15.e4 e6?! ( 15...d7 ) 16.d5 f5 17.b4 d7? 18.f4+, and the wheels are falling off Black's game in rapid fashion, M.Erdeljan-P.Klaic, corr 1971 ] 15.b4 [ White has two other attractive possibilities: A) 15.cxb5 axb5 16.d5 e6 17.fd1 xd5 18.xd5 b4 19.c4 a5 20.a4 e6 21.c6 fc8 22.b5 V.Loginov-H.Beck, Oberwart 1994 ] [ B) 15.d5 e6 16.f4 A) or 16...b7 17.xb7 xb7 18.fd1 b4 ( 18...bxc4 19.xc4 b8 20.e3 ) 19.d3 a5 20.xc5 xc5 21.e3 c6 22.d2; B) 16...b4 17.d3 xd3 18.xd3 b7 19.fd1 xg2 20.xg2 a5 21.a4 P. Bielak-J.Szczepaniak, corr 1992 ] 15...e6 [ 15...d7 16.cxb5 axb5 17.d5 e6 18.xc8 xc8 19.xc8 xc8 20.e7+ h8 21.xc8 xc8 22.c1 xc1+ 23.xc1 C.Adelman-A.Gillen, Ireland 1992 ] 16.cxb5 axb5 17.e3 [ Also 17.d3 offers White excellent chances of an advantage: d4 1692
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A) or 18.e3 f5?! ( 18...e5 19.d5 e8 20.fe1 ) 19.d2 e5 20.g5 b6 ( 20...d7 21.d5 is quite unpleasant for Black, e.g. e6 22.e3 f6 23.xf6 xf6 24.exd4 e4 25.xf6+ xf6 26.c7+- ) 21.d5 a6 22.e3 e6 23.e7+L.Espig-G. Wall, Berlin 1994; B) 18.e3 f5 19.e4 e6 20.d5 a8 ( 20...xd5 21.exd5 a8 22.e3 f5 23.c2 xe3 24.xe3 a4 25.a3 ) 21.a3 a7?? 22.e3 xd5 23.exd5 , and Black resigned, 1-0, G.Tantsis-N. Solidakis, Kavala 1999 ] [ 17.e3 b7 18.d5 e8 19.c3 c8 20.b3 xc3 21.xc3 xc3 22.xc3 L.Kwatschewsky-H.Beck, Austria 1995 ] 17...b7 18.d5 d4 19.xd4 xd4 20.d2 f5 21.e4 xd5 22.exd5 b6 23.fe1 (Black's position still looks more or less playable, but he has serious long-term problems on the kingside where W hite can launch an attack with the combined forces of his queen, bishop, a rook and the kingside pawns, while Black will have a hard time transferring any of his pieces to the defence. Therefore, at this juncture, W hite is clearly better) fc8 24.h3 d4 25.e3 c4 26.a3 c7 27.xc4 xc4 (While exchange s will normally ease the defender's burden, in this case White's attacking potential remains t h e s a m e a n d B l a c k st i ll d o n 't h a ve a n y pieces that can assist the king in the u p c o m in g b a t t le f o r t h e k in gs id e ) 28.d1 e2+ 29.g2 c3 30.d4 c7 31.g4 a8 32.f3 xa3?? [ This throws the game in the toilet. A better choice is 32...e8 33.h6 e5 34.dxe6 fxe6 ( or 34...xe6 35.c1 d5 36.d3 c6 37.g5 ) 35.d3 e5 36.d2 e4 37.xc3 exf3+ 38.xf3 and White has a substantial advantage thanks to Black's open kingside and weak pawns. ] 33.h4 (All of a sudden, Black doesn't have any defense against White's threat of Qh6) h5 34.xh5! b1 [ Or 34...gxh5 35.g5+ f8 36.xh5 e8 37.h8+ d7 38.f5+ e6 39.xf7# ] 35.h6 c3 36.xg6 1-0
1673 Damljanovic,Branko Macieja,Bartlomiej EuTCh Plovdiv BUL (5) [Tony Kosten]
A39 2589 2635 15.10.2003
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 g6 4.g2 c6 5.0-0 g7 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xd4 8.xd4 0-0 9.c3 d6 10.d3 a6 11.d2 This move seems to be taking over from [ 11.e3 as the mainline. ] 11...b8 Planning ...b5. 12.ac1 Normal, but I prefer [ 12.c5! look at my analysis of Vaganian,RHeinemann,T. ] 12...b5! This is the problem. 13.cxb5 [ 13.b3 might be simpler, f5 14.e4 d7 15.h3 bxc4 16.xc4 Shneider,A-Kasparov, G/Lyon 1994, and now Kasparov should have playe d b6 - this was a famous loss against a player rated at 2500! ] 13...axb5 14.xb5 f5 15.e4 [ 15.c4 e6 16.a4 ( 16.d3 f5 repeats ) 16...d7 17.c6 xc6 18.xc6 d7 19.fc1 h3 is awkward for White, his pieces are far away from the kingside. ] 15...xe4! This is the tactical justification. 16.xe4 xe4 17.xe4 xb5 A weird position has arisen - which is more important, the two passed queenside pawns or the strong central pawns? 18.b4 d5 19.d3 b7! Gufeld's suggestion, and improving on [ 19...d7 20.a4 bb8 ( 20...b7 21.b5 is similar, Minero Pineda,S-Barrios,C/Costa Rica 1997 ) 21.b5 e5 22.c6 and the white pawns got there first in Georgiev, K-Gufeld, E/Calcutta 1992. ] 20.a4 Now this move doesn't gain a tempo on the black rook. e5 21.c5!? White tries to get behind the black pawns, but [ 21.b5 is still possible: e4 22.c2 e8 23.c6!? with chances to both sides. ] 21...e4 22.a6 [ 22.xd5? drops a piece to d7 ] 22...b6 23.a5 d4 The black pawn s are further advanced than the white pawns, but where will they go next? 24.d5 This doesn't seem to lead anywhere, perhaps [ 24.e1 f5 25.b5 is better. ] 24...f6 25.d7 e6 26.d5 h5!? 1693
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 The advance of the h-pawn combined with a possible ...e3 will help weaken the white kingside. 27.f4 h4 28.b5 h3 29.g5 Probably the safest, without queens there is little chance of W hite getting mated on g2. xg5 30.xg5 e3!? 31.fxe3 dxe3 32.e1 fe8 33.d3 e2 34.f2 White seems to have taken the sting out of the black pawn's advance, now he has to get his own pawns going. e4 35.e3! White cannot hang on to his a-pawn: [ 35.a3?! d4+ 36.f3 c5 37.a2 f6! 38.c1? g5 planning mate in one with ... g4. ] 35...xa4 36.xe2 b4 37.b6 White seems better, his b6-pawn is passed while the f7pawn is not too important yet. e5 38.c2 f6 39.c6?! [ 39.g4! is good, planning Kg3xh3, as if xg4? White makes a queen: 40.c8+ g7 41.b7 g2+ 42.e1 g1+ 43.e2 g2+ 44.d1 b5 45.b8 xb8 46.xb8 xh2 47.d4 and White should win. ] 39...g7 40.f3 f5+ 41.e2 e5 42.d1!? risky, White could accept the repetition by [ 42.f3 f5+ ] 42...a5 [ 42...b1+ 43.c1 b2 looks equal. ] 43.c2 g5 44.c5 The bishop is needed to d e f e n d b 6 . bb5 45.f2 a1+ 46.e2 h1!? Black has to balance the control of the b6-pawn with his attempt at counterplay. 47.f3 f6 The pawn is poisoned: [ 47...xh2?? 48.d4+ ] 48.e3 [ 48.c5! is stronger, White can then win the h3-pawn by Kg4. ] 48...b4! Stopping the king from getting to g4. 49.c7? [ 49.c5 is again best, White loses his sense of danger. ] 49...g5 W i t h a n a s t y t h r e a t . 50.dd7?? A bad blunder, [ 50.g4 is obligatory, xh2 51.dd7 h1 52.xf7+ g6 53.f8 h2 54.g8+ h6 55.g2 holds the game. ] 50...g4+ Now the white king is caught in a mating net. 51.e2 b2+? Letting the king escape, no doubt both players were in time trouble as otherwise Black would have found
[ 51...b3! 52.xf7+ g6 53.b7 xh2+ 54.f1 b1+ 55.c1 e5 and White can resign. ] 52.d3 d1+ [ 52...g6! ] 53.e4 xd7 54.xd7 xh2 55.d1?! An odd choice, [ 55.f5 b2 56.xg4 h2 57.d1 should lead to a draw. ] 55...g6! 56.f4? What about the old 'rook behind pawn' adage? [ 56.b1 b2 (forced) 57.xb2 xb2 58.g1 f6 59.f4 h5 60.h2 e5+ 61.f5 looks like a draw as Black cannot make any progress, e.g. c3 62.f4 ] 56...b2 Black knows it! 57.c7 e7!? [ 57...c3! 58.d5 a5 59.c6 b3 is strong, Black will be able to take on b6 with his bishop and then on g3 with his rook when his 3 pawns will be far advanced. ] 58.d5 g5! 59.c6 It looks like White is back in the game again, but he has a nasty surprise awaiting him! c2+ 60.d7 b2 61.c8 h2 62.b7 e3 The only move, the threat to play ...Bg1 gains Black time to stop t h e b -p a wn . 63.h1 a7 64.b8 xb8 65.xb8 f5 White has won a piece, but it turns out that he is quite lost, he can't stop ... Ke4-f3-g2! 66.a7 e4 67.f1 g2 68.d7 xg3 69.h1 d3+ 70.e7 g3 71.b8 f3 [ 71...g2 is a ls o s im p l e , 72.e1+ e3 73.xe3+ xe3 74.xh2 f5 ] 0-1
1674 Gelfand,Boris Krasenkow,Michal EuTCh Leon ESP (4) [Tony Kosten]
A39 2701 2592 09.11.2001
Sometimes you see a game where Black played reasonable moves- and lost easily anyway! This game gives the strong impression that Black's tenth move should be avoided in the future. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.g3 g6 6.g2 g7 7.0-0 0-0 8.c3 g4 [ An interesting alternative to the 'normal' 8...xd4 ] 9.e3 d6 1694
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 9...xd4 10.exd4 h6 , planning to pressure the d-pawn, by ...Nf5, had a bout of popularity a few years go, but 11.xh6! xh6 12.c5 d6 13.b4 guarantees White a plus, with his powerful queenside pawns. ] 10.b3 [ The best move, preparing to develop the queen's bishop. 10.xc6 bxc6 11.xc6 b8 12.f3 e5 13.e2 gave Black good chances in a game Saadi-Fischer, Mar del Plata 1960. ] 10...h6!? Very unusual. [ 10...xd4 11.exd4 h6 is more effective now, than a move earlier, and gives Black reasonable play, and ] [ 10...a6 11.b2 xd4 12.exd4 b8 was a favourite line of Topalov some years ago. ] 11.de2! With his extra space White prefers to keep all the pieces on the board. [ 11.b2 xd4 12.exd4 b8 is perfectly satisfactory for Black, who can obtain good play by playing ...a6, and ...b5. ] 11...g4 Threatening to win a piece, of course. 12.b2 d7 Strictly speaking, a novelty, but this is more logical than [ 12...c8 13.d2 h3 14.d5 xg2 15.xg2 of Baginskaite,K-Higatsberger,M/ Katowice 1993, as the black queen is more active on d7 than c8. ] 13.d2 h3 14.d5! xg2 15.xg2 Black has exchanged one bishop, and will soon remove the other from the board, but W hite's space advantage will allow him a s m a l l e d g e . f5 This looks weakening, but it serves two purposes: firstly, to be able to play . ..e6 and evict the d5-knight Black needs to control the f6-square, and secondly, it stops White from playing e4 at some point. 16.xg7 xg7 17.ad1!? An interesting choice of rook, does Gelfand really think he needs to keep his f2-pawn defended? e6 18.b2+ f7 19.dc3 The knight has served well on d5, and only leaves after having provoked a weakening of the black pawn structure. [ 19.f6+? g8 20.h4 exd5 21.cxd5 leads nowhere. ] 19...ad8 White gains a clear advantage after this, but what else? [ Stopping the knight from going to b5 by 19...a6 allows 20.d2 ad8 21.c5 when
d5? 22.e4 hits the knight on h6. ] [ and freeing the f7-square for the knight by 19...g8 20.b5 f7 21.xd6! xd6 22.c5 c4 23.bxc4 e7 24.d6 is also pretty gruesome. ] 20.b5 e7 21.a3 d5 22.cxd5 exd5 23.xe7+ xe7 Black has managed to limit his disadvantage to an IQP in an ending, but his pieces are quite passively placed at the moment. 24.f4 g5 [ Another weakening move, but forced as 24...a6?! 25.c3 wins the d-pawn. ] 25.d3 c6 [ Probably Black's position is beyond help, 25...a6 26.d4 b6 (to stop Nc5) 27.c1 and White infiltrates by the c-file, as c8? 28.e5+ is disastrous- there are knight forks everywhere. ] 26.h4! Now White strikes on the kingside! gxh4 [ 26...g4 27.f4 a6 28.c7 and the dpawn is lost again. ] 27.h1 g4 28.xh4 Positionally Black is finished, his four pawn islands just provide too many targets for the active white pieces. f6 29.b4 d4? [ At least 29...xb4 30.xb4 a5 31.f4 g6 avoids immediate loss of material. ] 30.xc6 bxc6 31.hxd4! Winning two pawns, and avoiding [ 31.xd4?? c5 ] 1-0
1675 Grachev,Boris Khalifman,Alexander 65th ch-RUS HL (6) [John Bartholomew]
A39 2680 2651 21.06.2012
The pawn offering with 8...d6 has traditionally been regarded with suspicion. What does the 1999 FIDE W orld Champion and noted theoretician have to say on the matter? 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 c6 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 0-0 8.0-0 d6!? The pawn sacrifice in question. [ The main line of the Pure Symmetrical is 8...xd4 9.xd4 d6 . Refer to the archives. ] 9.xc6 bxc6 10.xc6 b8 11.g2 1695
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 By far the most popular continuation. "White immediately 'adjusts his position' by retreating his bishop to a safe square" - Mihail Marin in "Grandmaster Repertoire 5 - The English Opening vol. 3". [ Marin notes that the alternative continuation 11.a4 h3 12.d1 is under a cloud in view of a5! , as played in Vasilev, M (2469)Solak, D (2630)/ Plovdiv 2008. Black introduced the idea of ...Rb8-b4 and gained excellent play after 13.b5 b6 14.h1 g4 ] 11...a5 12.c2 This move has won the approval of every theoretical manual I've seen, but the present game strongly suggests that it is not best. [ T h e p r i n c i p a l a l t e r n a t i v e i s 12.b5 . The ending after b7 ( more combative is 12...d7!? , as in the recent game Amanov, M (2518)-Ramirez, A (2593)/Wheeling USA 2012. ) 13.xb7 xb7 14.d2 a6 15.c3 c8 ( 15...c6!? ) 16.b3 d5 17.xf6 xf6 18.xd5 xa1 19.xa1 has been seen s e ve r a l t i m e s , t h o u gh n o t s in c e 2 0 0 3 . "Slightly better chances f or W hite" is a safe verdict, but see "Main Symmetric with 8...d6 - Reader's Mailbag" by John Watson. ] [ I think 12.d2!? deserves further investigation. It's certainly a crude way to defend b2 and c3, but the upside is that White's queen cannot be harassed on this square. He intends to complete development with b2-b3 and Bc1-b2, impervious to a ...Nf 6-e4 shot because Nc3xe4 will hit Black's queen on a5. Results have thus far been mixed. ] 12...f5! Khalifman deviates from a recent recommendation of...himself! [ In the 2011 rerelease of "Opening for W hite According to Kramnik vol. 4", Khalifman writes that 12...b7 "...creates maximal problems for W hite..." but ultimately claims an edge for the first player. ] 13.e4 The following exchange sacrifice had been considered advantageous to White for quite some time. e6 14.b3 xe4! 15.xe4 xa1 16.g5 This is the critical position. f5!N An excellent reply that went unnoticed in Khalifman's and Marin's works. It turns out that Black can solve his problems purely by
tactical means. [ 16...f6 is Marin's main line, when 17.e3 e5 18.f4 b2 19.b1!!+- was dire for Black in both Wojtkiewicz, A (2530)-Wahls, M (2555)/ Geneve 1995 and Lukov, V (2425)-Ivanov, Y/Varna 1995. ] 17.xe7 White's bishop was loose on g5. [ 17.xa1? xe4 18.xe4 xg5 is the point. ] 17...fe8 18.xd6 bd8 19.xa1 [ On 19.c5!? a likely continuation is e5 20.xe5 xe5 21.c6 xe4! 22.xe4 d2 wh e n W h it e m ust b e ca re f ul in vie w o f Black's activity. ] 19...xd6 20.c3 Begrudgingly played, but this is the only meaningful way to escape the pin. xc3 21.xc3 de6! White's chances would be greatly improved with his rook on board, so Black hurries to exchange it off. 22.d5 e1+ 23.xe1 xe1+ 24.g2 c1 25.b5 b1 Khalifman is content to liquidate White's queenside majority. [ 25...a6!? 26.d6 e6 is an attempt at more. ] 26.xa7 xa2 27.c6! Hastening to make a draw. xb3 28.e5 g7 29.xf7 xc4 30.xc4 xc4 31.g5 With all the pawns on the same wing, Black's chances of victory are slim to none. h6 32.f3 f6 33.h4 f5 34.d2 c3 35.f1 e4 36.h2 c6 37.f3 c3 38.h2 c8 39.f3 d8 40.g1 f8 41.h3 f7 42.f1 f6 43.e2 a6 44.f1 d3 45.g2 f6 46.g1 e4 47.h3 f5 I would be extremely surprised if White finds an antidote to Khalifman's 16...Bf5!. This tactical aboutf a ce p u t s t h e wh o le lin e wit h 1 2 . Q c 2 in question, so White ought to investigate other alternatives. ½-½
1676 Hammer,Jon Ludvig Goganov,Aleksey Rilton Cup 43rd (6) [Fier, Alexandr]
A39 2612 2581 02.01.2014
Black tries a line which is back in fashion lately but with dif ferent intentions. W hite sacrifices two pawns to get a nice grip and 1696
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 then enters a winning position by taking a bishop that never managed to leave its initial square. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 c5 3.g2 g6 4.c4 g7 5.d4 cxd4 6.xd4 0-0 7.c3 c6 This is the old and main move. [ 7...c7 this has also been played a lot lately. The idea is that with 8.b3 the knight on c3 is unprotected 8.b3 d5 9.db5 a5 10.d2 dxc4 11.bxc4 was played this year b y R o d s h t e i n i n W o j t a s ze k , R ( 2 7 1 1 ) Rodshtein, M (2682)/Basel op 2014. ] 8.0-0 a5 [ 8...xd4 9.xd4 d6 10.d3 is the main l i n e a n d wa s a n a l yze d m a n y t i m e s o n Chess Publishing, for instance in Berkes, F (2645)-Gharamian, T (2560)/BL 0809 SC Remagen - SC Eppingen 2008. ] [ 8...g4 is another option and was analyzed in a game between two W orld Champions 9.e3 d6 10.h3 ge5 11.b3 Karpov, A (2668)-Carlsen, M (2698)/GpB Cap d'Agde FRA rapid 2006. ] 9.b3 This and the next move are the critical line in the position. [ 9.e3 b4 was Stojanovic, M (2504)Kojovic, D (2352)/17th Belgrade Trophy 2004. ] 9...h5 10.c5 I like this move, challenging Black's setup. [ 10.d5 a pseudo-active move, the knight is not threatening anything on d5 and in some games it is quickly rearranged d6 11.f4 e5 12.d3 ( 12.e1 also makes sense a5 13.a4 e6 14.d2 f5 15.d5 and despite his eventual loss, Black doesn't has many problems in this position, Adams, M (2740)-W ang, H (2752)/Dortmund SuperGM 2013.) 12...h5 13.d2 d7 14.f4 f5 it's not clear if the knight going and coming back is really useful Wang, Y (2723)-Le Quang, L (2703)/Beijing Sportaccord blitz 2013. ] 10...a5!? Not a new idea, but in this exact position it was never played. Black tries to push the pawn or force White to do something about it. [ 10...d5 11.cxd6 d8 12.e4 g4 ( 12...xd1 13.xd1 xd6 ) 13.f3 e6 14.e2 Baburin, A (2520)-Van Kampen, R (2606)/Riga Tech op 3rd 2013. ( 14.e1! is smart with a subtle idea xd6 15.g4
and suddenly the queen has no squares. )] [ 10...d8 is another plan and despite the l o s s , t h e p r o b l e m wa s n o t e xa c t l y t h e opening 11.e4 d6 12.xh5 xh5 13.d1 Grischuk, A (2779)-Zvjaginsev, V (2659)/ FIDE World Blitz 2013 blitz 2013. ] 11.e3!? Now the next moves are basically forced. [ 11.a4 is not a move White would like to make. After this Black can try to continue with d6 12.cxd6 d8 going into a slightly improved version of Baburin - Van Kampen ] [ 11.a4 d6 12.b6 a6 13.xc8 xc8 14.cxd6 exd6 and Black is active enough to compensate the weak pawn ] 11...a4 12.xh5 xh5 13.d4 Otherwise moves like ...Ra5 and ...a3 are coming. xd4 14.exd4 xd4 15.d5 Now Black has a decision to make. To compensate the pawn, White has a strong knight and light squared b i s h o p . A ll t h e p i e c e s h a ve p o t e n t i a l t o improve and Black has problems developing the bishop on c8. This compensates one pawn for sure, but two? The answer is probably yes, W h ite ha s e n ou gh com p en sat ion f o r t h e p a wn s , b u t n o m o re t h a n t h a t . S t i ll , t h e position is complex and it's easy for both sides to go wrong. e6 [ 15...xc5 to accept the sacrifice was another option 16.h6 g7 17.ac1 a5 trying to defend in a concrete way ( 17...d6 18.xe7+ h8 19.d5 e6 20.fd1 and W hite has compensation, Black can also have problems on the dark squares here; 17...d6 18.b6 b8 19.c2 followed by 20.Rfc1 wins a piece) 18.d2 hides a nice idea ( 18.b4 after this move it looks like Black is holding, even if W hite wins an exchange. A possible continuation could be axb3 19.axb3 d6 20.b4 b5 21.c2 b6 22.fc1 b7 23.c3 and Black needs to find a nice resource to stay in the game h5! 24.xg7 xg2 25.xf8 f3 and the bishop on f8 has no squares 26.b5 xf8 27.xd6 exd6 28.d2 with a probable draw) 18...b5 19.b4! axb3 ( 19...d6 20.a3 and the weird p o sit io n o f B l a ck' s p ie c e s g ive s W h it e enough compensation) 20.a4 b2 21.axb5 bxc1 22.xc1 e6 ( 22...b6 23.e3 f5 24.xc5 bxc5 25.xc5 and the passed 1697
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pawn is dangerous) 23.g5 f6 24.e3 keeping the initiative. ] 16.e3 [ 16.b6 is less to the point, but also playable a5 17.d2 xc5 18.b4 b5 19.xf8 xb6 20.a3 d5 and Black should be fine ] 16...xe3 [ 16...xb2 17.ab1 exd5 ( 17...g7 18.e7+ h8 19.fd1 and it's hard to escape from White's grip) 18.xb2 f6 19.d4 a6 20.d1 with the structure d a m a g e d a n d t h e d a r k s q u a r e s we a k , White's chances are preferable ] 17.xe3 a5 18.fc1!? [ 18.ac1 this is less precise, since Black can play ...b6 and open some space for the bishop b5 19.c2 b6 20.c6 dxc6 21.xc6 a5 and Black should be fine ] 18...b5 19.f1 Here is the difference, the rook can't stay on the b-file xb2 20.c4 b4 [ 20...b5 was also possible, and after 21.d6 a5 22.ab1 f6 23.g2 the position is unclear ] 21.d6 g7 So far both players are playing in an active way and the position never stops. With any piece exchange W hite's pressure decreases but it looks like Black misses one move to be fine. 22.ab1 xb1 23.xb1 f5 24.b5 g7 The idea is good, trying to bring the king to help, but it's next move will be a big mistake. [ 24...xd6 this is the right idea, I think Black shouldn't leave White's knight against the bis hop on c 8 25.cxd6 g7 26.f4 f6 27.f2 ( 27.a5 e8 28.xa4 e5 and Black can finally open the position) 27...e8 28.g4! and Black still can't get out from the cage, but at least his position is solid ] 25.d3 f6? [ 25...xd6 this was the last chance to exchange the knights 26.cxd6 f6 27.f4 e8 28.a5 ( 28.g4 g7 29.f2 f6 and soon ...e5 will come) 28...e5 29.xa4 exf4 30.xf4+ g7 and White still has compensation, but Black should be ok ] 26.xf5 exf5 27.a5 Now the bishop on c8 will fall. e5 28.xa4 d5 [ 28...b6 tries to bring the pawn to the c-file,
but leaves the a-pawn passed 29.a8 bxc5 30.xc8 xc8 31.xc8 d5 32.f1 and White should be winning. ] 29.a8 xc5 30.xc8+ xc8 31.xc8 b5 32.f1 c6 33.e2 c7 34.e7 d6 35.g8 e5 36.e3 h5 37.f4+ e6 38.d4 1-0
1677 Ivanchuk,Vassily Vachier Lagrave,Maxime Gibraltar Masters 12th (10) [Fier, Alexandr]
A39 2739 2745 06.02.2014
This game was played in the last round at Gibraltar, on board one. Ivanchuk was probably ok with a draw, and I don't know if he played this line because of the possible perpetual, but Black was fine. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.0-0 0-0 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 c6 8.c3 a5 This move is becoming more popular in the last months and I already took a look at this position in the January update. 9.b3 [ 9.c2 is a slower approach and was also tried this month d6 10.d2 h5 11.e4 xd1 12.axd1 with a level endgame. It looks like an Accelerated Dragon. Erdos, V (2661)-Maze, S (2550)/Bundesliga 1314 2013 (8.1). ] 9...h5 10.h3 This move probably leads to a draw by force if both players know their stuff. In this game Vachier tries something slightly different and Ivanchuk keeps the option of playing for all three results. [ 10.c5 was played this month by Aronian in a b l i t z g a m e b6?! I don't believe in this move ( 10...a5 is interesting 11.e3 a4 was analyzed last month on Chess Publishing in Hammer, J (2612)-Goganov, A (2581)/Rilton Cup 43rd 2013 (6).; 10...d5 i s a l s o p o s s i b l e) 11.e4 bxc5? m i s s i n g W h i t e ' s r e p l y . ( 11...xd1 was better, but Black is under pressure after 12.xd1 b8 13.f4 b7 14.e5 ) 12.f3! h3 13.e5 and the knight can't go away because of 14.Bg4 winning the queen xe5 14.g2 f5 15.xa8 a6 16.g2 xf1 17.xf1 and Black didn't have enough for 1698
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 rank for the rook and stopping ideas of ... the piece in Aronian, L (2812)-Anand, V Nxf2. Now Black should be really careful to (2773)/Zurich Chess Challenge Blitz 2014 not miss his chance g6! Black needs to (1). ] control the h3 square, so the knight on f4 is 10...d6 The next few moves are quite forced. a s t r o n g p i e c e ( 17...f6 18.c3 Black will sacrif ice a piece a nd la unch a a n d W h i t e d e f e n d s; 17...f4 18.c3 dangerous attack against White's king. 11.g4 is also good for White ) xg4 12.hxg4 xg4 13.f4 e5 A) 18.d5+ e6! deviates the queen Exchanging one of the main defenders of 19.xe6+ ( 19.f3 f4 20.c2 f6 White's position. 14.d2 g5! Forcing White 21.e3 af8 with good compensation) to exchange, and bring the other knight to the 19...h8 20.d5 f4 21.f3 ae8 party. 15.xe5 cxe5 16.fc1 f5 22.c2 e4 23.c1 ( 23.e3 xg2 And finally we have a novelty. I'm not sure if 24.xg2 h2+ 25.f1 e5 26.g2 Black played this move because he was trying h5 27.d4 h4 and the attack is too to win or because he didn't know of the other strong ) 23...fe8 and it's hard to believe games played in this position. Anyway, after that White can survive; this move White has some interesting options. B) 18.c3 is probably more reasonable [ 16...xc4 was played before and the main and after f4 19.g3 h8 20.f3 f6 idea is to bring the knight to e3, where it and for sure Black has compensation, but cuts the communication between the it's not so clear how to increase the queenside and the kingside pressure; A) 17.d3 is solid, threatening to bring C) 18.xb7 is the computer suggestion, th e que e n t o h 3 ce3 18.fxe3 h4 but almost impossible to play for a human and it's not possible to avoid the perpetual C1) 18...e6! another hard to make move, 19.d5 ( 19.e4 f5 is winning for Black but it avoids a lot of problems with the 20.xg5 h2+ 21.f1 g3 22.h3 f4 checks on d5. It's really not easy to find with a mate attack) 19...f2+ 20.h1 a good defence for White now and the h4+ 21.g1 Zhou, J (2572)-Matlakov, M computer starts to like Black's position (2665)/Universiad Men 27th 2013 (7).; 19.f3 does not work either ( 19.xa8 B) 17.d4 was played by correspondence can't really work xa8 20.e3 h3 ce3 18.fxe3 h4 19.e4 ( 19.e4 21.d4 h4 22.f4 h8 followed by f2+ 20.h1 h4+ 21.g1 ) 23... Rg8 and mate. The White rooks are B1) 19...f5 20.xg5 h2+ 21.f1 e5 really not useful here; 19.e3 ab8 ( 21...g3 22.d5+ that's one 20.f3 h2+ 21.f1 h4 22.c6 dif f eren c e be twe en 1 7. Qd 3 a nd 1 7 . b6 with a decisive advantage) 19...f4 Qd4 ) 22.d5+ h8 23.e1 g3+ 20.d4 f6 with problems for White; 24.d2 xe3+ 25.c2 xg5 26.b1 C2) 18...f4 is direct and it's hard to e3 27.d2 and White has the king know what is going on. A possible more or less safe, even if the position variation could be 19.e3 h3+ 20.f1 remains completely unclear; f4 ( 20...ab8 is another alternative) B2) 19...d5!? with the same idea as ...f5, 21.d5+ g7 22.c3 fxe3 23.xe3 but without opening the king 20.bc5 xe3+ 24.xe3 ae8 25.d4 e5 dxe4 21.xe4 ( 21.xe4 ad8 22.c3 with an unclear position, the attack is not h2+ 23.f1 d5 wins ) 21...f2+ so scary anymore, but Black doesn't 22.h1 g3 23.g1 f5 24.e6+ h8 much of a material deficit now either. ] and with just one piece less the attack is [ 17.f1 h4 18.d1 ( 18.d4 c6 too dangerous and Black went to win in 19.d5+ e6 20.xe6+ h8 21.d1 f4 Popov, V (2210) -Vecek, M (2292)/WS/ with ideas of ...Ne3 and Black is better) M/362 ICCF 2012. ] 18...f4 19.c3 is another way to defend, 17.d4 with a complex position ] [ 17.d1!? an important alternative, defending the c4-pawn, opening the third 17...h2+ 18.f1 xf2 The most forcing. 1699
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.xf2 [ 19.f3 was the last chance for White to keep playing xf3 A) 20.exf3 e4 21.e3 ( 21.fxe4? fxe4+ 22.e1 g1+ 23.e2 xg2+ wins ) 21...g4 22.c2 g3+ 23.e1 f4 with an unclear position; B) 20.xf3 g4 21.d5+ ( 21.xg5+ h8 22.xg4 h6! 23.xe7 ae8 24.xf8+ xf8 25.f3 g3 with chances for both sides) 21...g7 22.xg4 fxg4+ 23.e1 f4 with good compensation ] 19...g4+ 20.f1 f4 21.d3 The only move, to liberate the d2-square for the king. h4 22.d1 [ 22.e4 was another way to draw e3+ 23.g1 g4 24.f2 h4+ ( 24...xg2+ 25.e1 and Black's king is more exposed than White's. ) 25.g1 g4= ] 22...e3+ 23.xe3 fxe3+ 24.g1 f2+ And there is no way to avoid the repetition. 25.h1 h4+ [ 25...f4 will still be drawn 26.f3 h4+ 27.xh4 xh4+ 28.g1 f2+ ] [ 25...f6 fails to 26.f5 xf5 27.f1 h4+ 28.g1 and the attack is over ] 26.g1 f2+ 27.h1 h4+ ½-½
1678 Jobava,Baadur Tomashevsky,Evgeny Aeroflot Open (8) [Carsten Hansen]
A39 2650 2624 21.02.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 0-0 8.0-0 xd4 9.xd4 d6 10.d3 a6 11.e3 g4 12.d4 e5 13.d1 e6 14.xb7 [ For some reason a fair share of players, including several very strong Grandmasters, have chosen to chicken away from taking the offered pawn, instead preferring 14.b3 and therefore letting Black get away with this accelerated development of his pieces. Now: b8 A) 15.c1 makes perfect sense since Black sooner or later will play ...b7-b5 and then the white rook will be on the open cfile.
A1) 15...b5?! is almost too accommodating: 16.cxb5 axb5 17.d5 ( 17.f4 g4 18.xg7 xg7 19.d4+ g8 20.d5 xd5 21.xd5 b4! 22.f3 e5!? is more or less okay for Black ) 17...h5 ( 17...b4!? ) 18.f4 g4 . so far Keitlinghaus-Roessig, Porz 1989, and now 19.xg7 xg7 20.d4+ h7 21.b4 and White is clearly in control; A2) 15...h6 16.f4 c6 17.f2 a5 18.e4 g7 19.d2 bc8 20.e3 h8 ( 20...fe8!? looks a bit passive, but is perfectly acceptable for Black) 21.f2 ( 21.f5!? d7 22.c5 looks like it should be better for W hite) 21...b5 22.cxb5 axb5 , and here a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2 Soppe-Bitelmajer, Buenos Aire s 2 0 0 3 t h is d o e sn 't m a k e m u c h sense to me, as White is considerably higher rated and has the better position, e.g. 23.f5! A2a) or 23...b4 24.a4 d7 ( 24...gxf5 25.exf5 d7 26.h6 is even worse) 25.b6 c3 26.d5 and White is more or less winning; A2b) 23...d7 24.d5 xd2 25.xd2 ce8 26.b6 b8 27.c7 and things look rather disastrous for Black; A3) 15...a5 16.f4 c6 17.xg7 xg7 ( 17...c5+ 18.h1 xg7 19.d2 f6 20.d5 ) 18.e4 ( this looks normal, but it weakens the dark squares a great deal. Therefore the more modest 18.e3 bc8 19.e2 f6 20.fd1 may be better, leaving White with a pleasant edge) 18...fc8 19.h1 f6 20.e2 b5 21.d5 bxc4 22.xc4 b4 23.xc8 xc8 24.xb4 xb4 25.e5!? ( White is playing for a win 25.xa6 c2 26.a7 f8 gives Black adequate compensation for the pawn; and 25.f5 d7 26.xa6 c2 27.a7 xg2 28.xg2 xe4+ 29.f2 c6 and Black has at least equality on account of White's open king) 25...dxe5 ( 25...b5!? 26.exf6+ xf6 27.e3 f7 28.e1 d7 ) 26.fxe5 f5 ( 26...b6 27.exf6+ exf6= ) 27.xa6 f7 28.e2 h5 29.h4 c5 30.h2 c3 31.e1 d4!? 1700
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( Rather interestingly, White is almost in zugzwang at this point, and will lose the extra pawn at any moment after 31...a5!? , threatening ...Rxa2, 32.d1 xe5 and Black is by no means worse) 32.f3 c3 33.g2 ( also 33.d1 c5 34.g2 e3 35.f2 xe5 looks rather good for Black) 33...d3 34.f1 g7!? I have a feeling that White was in time trouble at this point, which makes the text move particularly cunning, because White has to make sense of it, and while perhaps not being able to, he still has to find a decent move while being tied hand and foot 35.f2 d4 36.e2?! ( 36.c2 xe5 37.xc3 xc3 38.e2 f7 ) 36...f4! 37.e4??-+ fxg3+ 38.xg3 d3 39.f4 g4 40.g2 d2+ 0-1 Petrosian, A-Zheliandinov, V/ Ptuj 199500; B) 15.f4 g4 ( 15...c6 16.xg7 b6+ 17.h1 xg7 18.d5 c5 19.d2 ) 16.xg7 xg7 17.d4+ f6 18.e4 b5 19.cxb5 axb5 20.d5 xd5 ( 20...d7 21.b4 ) 21.exd5 h5 M.Becker-Pieri, Forli 1991 22.e4!?; C) 15.d5 b5 16.cxb5 C1) 16...xd5?! 17.xd5 axb5 18.d2 e6 19.g2 d7 ( 19...e7!? ) 20.fd1 fd8?! ( 20...d5 21.b2 f6 22.e4! c6 23.exd5 xd4 24.dxe6 xe6 25.xd4 is much better f or W hit e) 21.b2! threatening f2-f4 f5 22.ac1 g5 23.c2 ( 23.d2 g4 24.g5 h8 and now the s i m p l i f i c a t i o n a f t e r 25.c6 xc6 26.xg7+ xg7 27.xg7+ xg7 28.xc6 a8 29.dxd6 xd6 30.xd6 xa2 31.xe6 leaves White a pawn up, though winning it is another matter, as getting W hite's king to become an effective player can be quite difficult wi t h o u t c o m p r o m i si n g t h e k in g s i d e pawns. ) 23...f7 24.c1 g4 25.c7 d7 26.c8+ xc8 27.xc8+ f8 28.a6 White is close to having a technically won position at this point b8 29.c1 c7 30.xc7 xc7 31.xb5 f3+? 32.exf3 xd4 33.fxg4 c1+ 34.f1 e1 35.e2! my computer completely disagrees with Dautov and me in this being the best practical
decision in the endgame, while acknowledging there are opposite coloured bishops, is easily won for White who can create passed pawns on both wings (there are already two on the aand b-files), which usually is more than adequate to win unless the counterpart has counterplay, and here he doesn't. xe2 36.xe2 fxg4 37.xg4 f7 38.f1 d5 39.f4! f6 40.f3 f5 41.e2 g1 42.a4! e5 ( 42...xh2 43.f2 ) 43.fxe5 xe5 44.a5 d6 45.h4 h6 46.b4 c6 47.g4 b5 48.g5 hxg5 49.hxg5 xb4 50.g6 , and Black can't contain both passed pawns, 1-0 R. Dautov-M.Becker, Rostock 1987; C2) 16...axb5 17.b4!? a5 18.d2? ( 18.a3!? ) 18...fc8?! ( 18...c4! 19.bxc4 xd4 20.ad1 f6 21.cxb5 xb5 22.d5 xd5 23.xd5 fc8 ) 19.ad1 d7 20.d5 xd2 21.xd2 f8 22.b4!? ( 22.fd1!? ) 22...c6 23.xg7+ xg7 24.xc6 xc6 25.c1 d7 26.dc2 e6 ( 26...xc2 27.xc2 c8 28.xc8 xc8 29.a4 bxa4 30.bxa4 is unpleasant for Black) 27.f1 f6 28.e1 Azmaiparashvili-Yurtae zmaiparashvili-Yurtae zmaiparashviliYurtaev, Pavlodar 1982 ] 14...b8 15.xa6 xb2 [ After 15...a5 16.b5 fc8 Black has absolutely no compensation for the pawn, yet resigning at this point was a bit premature, though that is what happened, 1-0 Kirov, N-Schmidt, W , Polanica Zdroj 1974 ] 16.d5 b8 17.a4 Here the ECO ends its coverage with the verdict: W hite is clearly better h3!? [ 17...h6 18.b1 d7 19.b5 d8 20.f4 d7 21.e4 , and it is quite obvious that Black has absolutely no compensation for the pawn, M.Vukic-Gufeld, Odessa 1975. This is the game ECO bases its verdict on. ] 18.e1 g5!? preventing White from playing Nd5-f4, kicking the bishop away, but it is also a bit weakening 19.b5?! [ I don't see why White didn't go for 19.f4!? gxf4 20.gxf4 d7 and now 21.a3! , e.g. g6 22.b5 e6 23.xg7 xg7 24.e3 f5 25.d3! xd3 26.xd3 , and Black's 1701
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 compensation for the pawn is definitely no longer obvious ] 19...e6! 20.b4 e7 [ 20...c7 21.a3! ( 21.a6? b7 22.f3 a8 ) 21...bc8 ( 21...b7 22.e4! g4 23.c1 h6 24.xe5 xe5 25.c6+- ) 22.e4 xc4 23.c3 xd4 24.xc4 c5 25.h5 g4 26.g5+ h8 27.f6+ g8 28.c6 ] 21.xe5 xe5 22.c6 b7 23.a3 fc8 24.g4! xc6 25.xc6 xc6 26.xh3 xc4 27.d3 [ also 27.e4!? b4 28.h5 f4 provides Black decent compensation for the exchange as W hite's pieces are quite uncoordinated. ] 27...xg4+ 28.h1 f8!? [ 28...h5? 29.g1+- ] [ 28...h6 29.xh6 xa4 30.h5 g4 31.f3 ] 29.xh7 f4 White is an exchange up, but Black's active pieces provide decent compensation 30.g2 c8 [ 30...d5!? ] 31.b1 [ 31.f3! xf3+ 32.xf3 c4 33.a5 f4+ 34.g2 a4 35.b1 gives Black serious problems to think about, e.g. g8 36.h5 f6 37.b8+ g7 38.a8 ] 31...g8 32.a5 f5 33.h3 c3 34.b8+ g7 35.b7+ g6 36.b5 c8 37.b4?? [ 37.e7!? f6 38.b7 g4+! 39.g3 e4+ 40.xe4 fxe4 41.d7 xg3 42.hxg3 c6 is fine for Black ] 37...c4?? [ Black can win with 37...d4! 38.f3 g4+ 39.g3 e4+ and White loses at least a rook 40.f3 ( 40.f1 c1+ ) 40...g4 ] 38.b5 c8 39.b3 e4+ 40.f3 c4 41.b1 [ 41.a6!? c6 42.e4!? xa6 ( 42...xe4 43.a7 ) 43.b6 c8 44.exf5+ exf5 ] 41...h4 [ 41...g4+ 42.g3 xe2 ] 42.h3 g4+ 43.g3 xg3 44.f3 d4 45.hxg3 e5 46.a2 a4 ½-½
1679 Karpov,Anatoly Carlsen,Magnus GpB Cap d'Agde FRA rapid (1) [John Watson]
A39 2668 2698 27.10.2006
An ageing and youthful heavyweight toe off in one of the oldest of Symmetrical lines. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.0-0 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 0-0 8.c3 g4 I've never liked this move much, but it has had a certain popularity over the years. 9.e3 d6 10.h3 This move hasn't been seen a great deal. Has Black ever found a way to equality following [ 10.de2 ? I haven't seen it. Even Kasparov used that move (in Blitz) versus Kramnik, so you'd think it would get more attention. Instead, ] [ 10.b3 has been the most popular move over the years, and it was played in two ChessPublishing contests, neither with the theoretically crucial lines. ] 10...ge5 11.b3 xd4!? This may be new. Previously [ 11...a6 had been played, waiting for White to commit his queen's bishop. That seems better, and less cooperative. ] 12.exd4 c6 13.e3 d7 If this is all that Black has, the whole line must be somewhat better for White. A more interesting try would be [ 13...a5 14.c1 ( 14.d5 e6 ) 14...h5 , intending ...Bf5. ] 14.d2 a5 15.fd1!? [ 15.ac1 looks both more natural and better, as Black must deal with d5. Compare the game continuation, for example, here you might see ac8 16.d5 b4 17.b1 b6 18.a3 a6 19.xa5 bxa5 20.xa7 c5 21.xc5 dxc5 22.fe1 and White's rook is much better placed. ] 15...ac8 16.ac1 fe8!? 17.d5 b4!? The only active idea. [ 17...b8 18.h6 or 18 Bd4 and Black is cut off from kingside defence. Moves such as h4-h5 and Ne4 can become very dangerous. ] 18.b1! b6 Both protecting against the loss of a piece by a3 and threatening .. .Nxa2. 19.a3 a6 20.b4! 1702
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 20.xa5 bxa5 21.xa7 is to White's advantage but not by much (this is where Rfe1 is sorely missed!). Black gets a lot of c o m p e n s a t i o n a f t e r c7! ( 21...c5 22.xc5 dxc5 23.c3 b8 24.e4 d4 ) 22.e3 b8 23.d2 a4!? ( 23...b2 ) 24.b4 b2 , when 25.a1! xa1 26.xa1 is worth trying. ] 20...a4 21.d4 xd4 22.xd4 b5?! 23.xa7! c5 24.xa4 xa4 25.cxb5 b2!? [ 25...xb5 26.e1 (again that move) f8 27.f4 ( 27.f1 xf1 28.xf1 b6 ) 27...b6 ( 27...b2 28.f1 ) 28.f2 keeps White well on top. ] 26.e1 d3 27.xc8 xc8 28.d1? A terrible or for someone of Karpov's strength (going for the repetition, that is). He must have been out or very short of time. The move [ 28.xe7 should win fairly easily after c1+ 29.h2 ( 29.f1 is objectively even better, but would have needed extra calculation after xb5 30.d2 d1 31.b7 xd2 32.xb5 xf2 33.a4! ) 29...xb5 30.b7 e8 31.d2 xf2 32.f3 ( or 32.b6 . The passed pawns decide. )] 28...b2 29.e1 d3 30.d1 [ 30.xe7 still wins, of course, transposing to the last note. ] ½-½
[ 10.xc6!? bxc6 11.xc6 is for computers only, b8 12.f3 e5 13.e2 a6 14.b3? xc4! Black is already clearly better, Saadi,J-Fischer,R/Mar del Plata 1960. ] [ 10.xc6!? is even more dicey, conceding White's important defender of the kingside dark squares: bxc6 11.xc6 d7 12.d4! which was mentioned by John W atson in his Symmetric book, ( 12.d5 is 'trappy', e8 13.f3 b7! 14.cxe7+?! f8! and Black will gain two pieces for a rook, with advantage, Hobuss,W -Rechmann,P/ Do r t m u n d 1 9 9 1) 12...e5 ( 12...f6?! 13.e4 b7 14.f3 allows White to set-up a barrier on the light squares, Almasi, I-Madl, I/Budapest 1997) 13.b3 b7 14.f3 f5 with reasonable chances for the pawn. ] 10...a6 Black prepares his queenside play, which almost invariably involves ...Rb8, and ... b5. We examined the line [ 10...h6 11.de2! in Gelfand,BKrasenkow,M. ] 11.b2 xd4 This is the last chance for this important simplification. 12.exd4 h6!? A co m m o n th e m e in t his lin e , t h e k n igh t comes to pressure d4 from the strong square on f5 (there is no longer a white e-pawn to harass it there!) However, the immediate [ 12...b8 is more common, 13.e1 h6 ( Topolov suggested 13...b5!? ) 14.d5!? ( 14.a4 f5 15.d5 e6 16.e3 xe3 17.xe3 b5 was fine for Black in de Boer,G1680 A39 Hartoch,R/ W ijk aan Zee/1985.) 14...e6 15.e3 b5 16.e2 bxc4 17.xc4 Khalifman,Alexander 2690 was slightly better for White in Timman,JMinero Pineda,Sergio 2396 Khalifman,A/Amsterdam 1995. ] Olympiad Bled SLO (1) 26.10.2002 13.d2 The prophylactic [Tony Kosten] [ 13.a4 is also common, b8 14.a5 f5 15.d5 b5! 16.b6 ( 16.axb6 e6 17.e3 A very smooth game from Khalif man who is equal, Huebner,R-Topalov,V/Polanica employs a very effective plan - bring a knight Z d r o j / 1 9 9 5) 16...bxc4 17.bxc4 xb6! to c6 and win! 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 g7 18.axb6 xb6 19.b1 xd4 Black has two 4.g3 0-0 5.g2 c5 6.0-0 cxd4 7.xd4 pawns and a sound position for the c6 8.c3 g4 Again this move, which was exchange, 20.e1 ( 20.d3 f5 21.e4 tried by the great Bobby, and has the merit of is level, but not now c6? 22.xd4! xd4 avoid ing b ringing th e white qu een t o th e 23.xc6 xb1 24.xd4 winning, Khalifman, centre by A-Topalov,V/Elenite 1994) 20...a7 21.c3 [ 8...xd4 9.xd4 which is the old h5 with good chances, Smirin, I-Ristic,N/ mainline. ] Krynica 1997. ] 9.e3 d6 10.b3 This is the best move, to 14.e4!? A novelty from the excomplete the queenside development. Pawn 13...f5 FIDE champion, with a very neat plan in mind, grabbing by 1703
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 14.d5 b8 15.fe1 e6 16.e3 xe3 17.xe3 b5 gave White nothing in Dietzel,JRistic,N/Germany 1996. ] 14...d7 15.d5 xb2 16.xb2 b5 Black has to play this sooner or later, otherwise W hite's space advantage, and pressure along the open e-file will count. 17.c5! dxc5 18.xc5 d6 At first glance Black seems to be OK, his knight has reached the excellent blockading square on d6, and the white d-pawn is isolated, but White has seen somewhat further. 19.d3! This plan is worth remembering for all English Opening players, with the bishop on g2 supporting the d5-pawn W hite can bring his knight to the powerful outpost on c6. c8 20.e5 b4 21.a3 bxa3 22.xa3 b5 23.e1 c7 24.c6 The knight arrives, and although Black is loathe to exchange it, and create a powerful advanced c-pawn, how else to cope with the threats to e7? xc6 [ 24...e6 doesn't succeed in exchanging the d-pawn: 25.aa1 fe8 ( 25...exd5?? 26.e7+ w i n s t h e q u e e n !) 26.f6 and Black is obliged to capture on c6 a n y w a y , a s exd5? loses the exchange to 27.e7+ ] 25.dxc6 a8 26.e5 a7 27.a4 W hite turns the screw. b8 28.b4 b5 29.e3 e6?! Black wanted to take the pressure off e7, but this weakens the d6knight, which was blocking the d-file, probably he should prefer a waiting move like [ 29...b6 ] 30.d1 b8?? Either this is another example of a blunder caused by the over-quick time control, or it is mistaken, but Black was in a bad way anyway. 31.a2? [ 31.xd6 xd6 32.xa7 wins immediately, as d1+ 33.f1 xa4 34.xb8+ ] 31...e7? [ 31...c4 32.c5 b6 33.ad2 should also win, but hangs on much longer. ] 32.e5 Pin and win! [ 32.e5 d8 33.ad2 wins the knight. ] [ 32.xd6 also wins. ] 1-0
1681 Ricardi,Pablo Lopez Silva,Hugo Andres II Copa ENTEL (6) [John Watson]
A39 2547 2386 17.03.2005
T h i s ga m e f e a t u re s a ve ry o l d a n d s t i ll respected system for Black, but White plays a lesser-known move that I think casts Black's choice of opening into doubt. This is a good weapon for White to know about. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 g6 6.g3 g7 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 xd4 9.xd4 d6 10.d3 a6 11.d1 I think that this lesserplayed move presents a major challenge to Black's system. The immediate idea is c5. a5 [ 11...d7 12.c2 ( 12.b3!? c5 13.e3 ) 12...b8 13.e3 ] [ 11...f5 12.f3! b8 13.c5 with a large advantage was one of my early games with the 11.Rd1 idea. ] 12.h3!? The obvious move, to discourage ... Qh5. I recommended this years ago, but there may be better: [ (a) 12.d2 h5 is what Black wants, intending ... Be6 and ...Rfc8. ] [ (b) Perhaps best is the standard idea 12.e3! f5 ( 12...h5 13.d4 , e.g., f5 14.d2 ac8 15.xf6 xf6 16.d5 ) 13.d2 with the threat of Nd5 and/or Bd4, e. g., b4 14.ac1 fc8 15.b3 ab8 16.h3! w i t h a s u b s t a n t i a l a d v a n t a g e ( Instead, 16.a7 a8 17.d4 ab8 18.xf6 xf6 19.d5 xd2 20.xf6+ g7! 21.h5+ h6 - - o r 2 1 . . . g xh 5 - - 22.xd2 xh5 is a well-known idea. With no weaknesses B l a c k s h o u l d b e o k a y .) 16...h5?! (but otherwise 17. g4) 17.a7! a8 18.d4 ab8 19.xf6! xf6 20.d5 xd2 21.xf6+ exf6 ( 21...g7 22.xh5+ ) 22.xd2 a n d B l a c k i s r e d u c e d t o b5 23.xd6 bxc4 24.bxc4 b2 25.xa6 xe2 26.c5 with no real chance to hold the ending. This illustrates how Black's ...Qa5 doesn't quite fit in with his position and thus emphasises the effectiveness of 11.Rd1. ] 12...b8 13.d2 [ Now 13.e3 is poorly timed due to e6! 14.ac1 b5! with an unclear position. ] 13...e6 1704
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 13...d7 is also possible in view of 14.d5 d8 then 15.c3 xd5 16.xg7 xg7 17.xd5 keeps an edge due to the alsostandard ideas of h4-h5 and Qc3+. ] 14.b3 [ W hite gains some advantage by 14.b5 d8 15.d4 d7 16.b3 , when b5?! 17.cxb5 axb5 18.ac1 leaves White very active on the queenside. ] 14...fc8 15.ac1 d8 16.a4 d7 17.e3 [ Or 17.d5 c5 18.e3 ] 17...c5 18.b1 d7 19.a2!? intending b4. a5 20.d5 e6 21.f4 I think that [ 21.g5! is more effective, e.g., f6 22.d2 b6 23.c2 with ideas like h4-h5 and Bc3. White's space ensures him the advantage in these positions. ] 21...d7?! [ 21...d7 ] 22.h2 [ Or simply 22.xe6! xe6 23.c2 ] 22...h6? 23.c3? [ 23.d2! hits the pawn on a5, and b6? 24.xe6 wins a piece. ] 23...g7 24.d4 h6!? 25.xc5!? Unnecessary. xc5 26.xe6 xe6 [ 26...fxe6 27.h4 prepares Bh3, but White doesn't have much then. ] 27.d5 e5!? [ Interesting. Instead, 27...d7 28.cd3 bc8 is solid, On e5 or f6 the queen is exposed. ] 28.cd3 b6 29.d4 f6 30.g2 bc8 31.h4!? 8c7 32.b1 e5 33.f3 g7 34.4d2 f5 35.e4 [ 35.xf5 xf5 is fine. Both sides are joc ke ying a rou nd , bu t W h ite 's h 4-h5 is progress of a sort. ] 35...g4 36.h1 h6 37.f3 f5 38.d3 f6 39.h5 g7 40.hxg6 hxg6 41.d5 e5? 42.d1 [ 42.xf7! with the idea xe2 43.xd6!+- ] 42...e6 43.f3 d5 44.d4 g5 [ 44...dxc4? is met by the cute tactic 45.xh6! xh6 46.h1+ g7 47.d8 ] 45.cxd5 c1 46.d3 7c3 47.e4 xe4 48.xe4 xh1 49.xh1 exd5 50.e5 f6 51.xd5 xb3 Black has equalised but loses h i s wa y a n d e ve n t u a l ly d r o p s t h e p o in t . 52.g2 b4 53.d7 e6 54.b7 d8 55.c6 f6 56.f4 g5 57.d7 e7 58.f5+
f7 59.f3 f8 60.e4 c5 61.g4 d4 62.d5 e8 63.b7 d8 64.h5 d6 65.g6 e5 66.xb6 xa4 67.xf6 xf6 68.xf6 d4 69.g7 d2 70.f6 f2 71.e5 f5 72.e6 f2 73.b3 f3 74.f7 xg3 75.e6 e3 76.f8 g4 77.e7+ c7 78.e8 xe8+ 79.xe8 c6 80.h5 1-0
1682 A39 Rivas Pastor,Manuel 2496 Sanchez Guirado,Francisco Javier 2407 Spanish Team Ch Gp1 (1) 20.06.2007 [Carsten Hansen] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 c6 6.g3 g7 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 xd4 9.xd4 d6 10.g5 e6 [ 10...h6 11.d2 e6 12.d3 d7 ( 12...d7 ) 13.fd1 ( 13.e4 h3 ) 13...a6 ( 13...h3 14.h1 g4 15.b3 ) 14.b3 ab8 15.a4 g4 16.ac1 e5 17.e3 b6 18.e1 fc8 19.f4 g4 20.f3 R. Redolfi-S.Henri, corr 1991 ] 11.h4 a5 [ 11...b6 12.b3 fe8 13.ac1 ab8 14.h3 a5 15.fd1 a6 16.d2 a3 17.c2 ec8 18.a4 b5 19.c1 b4 20.d2 a3 21.c1 1/2-1/2, A.Whiteley-D. Wright, Southend 1968 ] [ 11...c8 12.b3 c5 A) 13.ac1 h6 14.xf6 ( 14.d2 b5 15.d5 xd5 16.cxd5 g5 ) 14...xf6 15.e4 A1) 15...b6 16.d3 g7 17.b5 a6 18.d4 d7 19.c2 ( 19.fd1!? ) 19...b5 20.e3 b8 21.cxb5 xb5 C.Bouton-D.Collas, France 1997; A2) 15...xc3 16.xc3 b5 17.fc1 bxc4 18.bxc4 c7 G.Sigurjonsson-J. Jonsson, Reykjavik 1981; B) 13.e4 xe4 14.xe4 xa1 15.xe7 A.Kosten-V. Mencinger, Velden 1994; C) 13.d5 xd5 14.cxd5 c2 15.a4 a6 16.f3 c5 17.ac1 a5 18.b4 xa2 19.xb7 a5 20.c7 b2 21.fc1 b8 , Wang Rui-Li Chao2, Suzhou 2006 22.xe7 xb3 23.a6 b6 24.xb6 xb6 25.c6 ] 1705
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 11...c7 12.b3 A) 12...fe8 A1) 13.ac1 a6 14.h3 ab8 15.e4 ( 15.d5!? ) 15...a5 16.c2 , U.Cerasi-E.Cardinali, Italy 1997 b5 17.d5 bxc4 18.d2 d8 19.bxc4 d7; A2) 13.b5 b6 , S.Wastney-R.Smith, Auckland 1997 14.e3 a5 15.xb7 ab8 16.c6+-; B) 12...ac8 13.ac1 a6 14.fd1 fe8 15.d5 xd5 16.cxd5 a5 17.a4 xa4 18.bxa4 b5 19.c6 B.Larsen-A. Pomar Salamanca, Las Palmas 1977 ] [ 11...b8 12.ac1 a6 13.fd1 a5 14.d2 h5 15.xh5 xh5 16.b3 f6 17.d5 xd5 18.cxd5 fc8 19.a5 J.Nogueiras-F.Castella, Havana 1992 ] [ 11...h6 12.xh6 xh6 13.xh6 xc4 14.ad1 b6 15.b3 e6 16.e4 I.Almasi-A.Szeberenyi, Budapest 2004 ] 12.ac1 [ 12.b5 ac8 13.b3 c5 14.a3 h6 15.xh6 h5 16.xg7 xh4 17.xf8 xf8 18.gxh4 d7= V.Savon-V. Osnos, Moscow 1966 ] 12...fc8 [ Though this looks so normal, you would think it is main line, Black has two important alternatives, the latter of which - the rarest line of the three - may well be the best. A) 12...ac8 13.b3 A) 13...b8 i s n ' t a s g o o d : 14.h6 ( 14.f4 fc8 15.d2 a6 16.e3 b5 17.a7 a8 18.xa8 xa8 19.e3 bxc4 20.e4 xd2 21.xd2 cxb3 22.xb3 D. Donchev-L.Popov, Bulgaria 1975 ) 14...xh6 ( 14...fc8 15.xg7 xg7 16.d4 a6 17.c2 c5= L.Shamkovich-I.Ivanov, New York 1983) 15.xh6 fc8 16.fd1 a6 17.e3 c5 18.xc5 xc5 19.a4 b6 20.f3 c7 21.d5 xd5 22.cxd5 bc8 ( 22...c5! 23.b4 xc1 24.xc1 a5= ) 23.c6 xc6 24.dxc6 W. Dietze-G.Moehring, Freiberg 1970; B) 13...c5 B1) 14.b5?? is an incredibly elementary blunder that loses material on the spot: a6 15.a3 h6 16.xf6 xf6 17.b4 xh4 18.bxa5 axb5 ( 18...g5
19.f4 f6 20.c3 xa5-+ ) 19.cxb5 xb5 20.gxh4 xa5-+ S.Webb-W. Hartston, Oxford 1967; B2) 14.d5 xd5 15.cxd5 xc1 16.xc1 xa2 17.c4 a6 18.h3 h6 19.e3 b5 20.d3 d8 21.d4 d7 22.xg7 xg7 23.c3+ f6= P.Ricardi-R.Garbarino, Buenos Aires 1988; B3) 14.d2 B3a) 14...c7 15.d5 d7 16.g5 xd5 ( 16...xd5 17.cxd5 xd5 18.xc5 dxc5 19.d1 d4 20.xe7 xg2 21.xf8 c6 22.xd4 cxd4 23.h6 f6 24.c5 d8 25.f4 d3 26.c4+ g7= ) 17.cxd5 xc1 18.xc1 c8 , J.Pacovsky-V.Mitura, K a r v i n a 1 9 8 5 , a n d h e r e 19.d4 xc1+ 20.xc1; B3b) 14...a3 15.c2 f5 16.e4 e6 17.f4 ( 17.f3 a6 18.d1 ) 17...fc8 18.h3 b5 ( 18...g5 19.e3 g4 20.hxg4 xg4 21.e2 a6 22.d5 ) 19.cxb5 xe4 20.xe4? ( 20.b1! xc2 21.xa3 xd2 22.xe4 xa2 23.c4+- ) 20...xc3 21.xc3 xc3 22.xc3 xc3 23.a8+ c8 24.b7 xa2 25.d5 ( 25.xe7 xb3 26.e1 f8 27.xd6 xb5 ) 25...xd5?? ( 25...xh3! 26.e1 d2 27.xf7+ xf7 28.xe7+ f6 29.f7+ e5 30.e7+ d4 31.h4+ d3 32.xh3 c1+= ) 26.xc8++M. Konopka-J.Marschner, Berlin 1991; B3c) 14...h5 15.f4 B3c1) 15...g4 16.d5 xa2 17.xe7+ h8 18.xd6 xh2 ( 18...xb3 19.h3 e5 20.c3 ) 19.fd1 g4?+- 20.d5 xd5 21.cxd5 xb3 22.f3 a4 23.b4 a2 24.xg4 1-0 E.Paciencia-R. Bancod, Greenhills 1996; B3c2) 15...f5 16.h4= , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/ 2 L.Verat-G.Grimberg, Clichy 2003 ( 16.d4!? ) 16...h5 17.f4; B3c3) 15...h6 16.d4 xd2 17.xd2 B3c31) 17...h3 18.xh3 xh3 1706
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.f3 h5 B3c311) or 20.e4 b5 21.cxb5 xb5 22.d4 b4 23.f2 bb8 24.a4 fc8 25.c2 d7 26.fc1 b6 27.xb6 xc2 28.xc2 xb6 ( 28...axb6!? ) 29.xb6 axb6 30.a4 L.Brunner-O.Magyar, Budapest 1993; B3c312) 20.c2 a6 21.e4 c8 22.d5 c5+ 23.f2 e5 24.b4 a7 25.xf6+ exf6 26.xd6 R.Krant-J.Waitzkin, New York 1992; B3c32) 17...b5 18.cxb5 xb5 19.fd1 c5 20.b2 b8 21.f3 b4 22.e3 bc8= V. FaibisovichM.Podgaets, Rostov 1967 ] [ B) 12...a6!? is quite possibly the best option for Black, though it has yet to be properly examined A) 13.b3!? ab8 14.e4 ( 14.fd1 b5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.b4 a7= ) 14...b5 15.d5!? xd5 16.cxd5 fc8 ( 16...xa2 17.e5! dxe5 18.d6 exd6 19.xf6 xb3 20.c6 e6 21.xg7 xg7 22.d1 ) A1) 17.c6 xa2 18.fc1 e8 19.e5 d7 20.e6 e5 21.b4 ( 21.exf7+ xf7 ) 21...f6 22.e3 xc6 23.dxc6 , a n d W h i t e s h o u l d h a ve a d e q u a t e compensation for the exchange; A2) 17.h3 xc1 18.xc1 f8 19.h4; B) 13.fd1?! ac8 (this is already problematic for White) 14.d5 ( 14.d4 c7 leaves White's pieces awkwardly placed 15.d5 fc8 16.d2 xd5 17.xd5 c5 ) 14...xd5 15.cxd5 b5 16.a3 c4 17.d4 fc8 F.HenneberkeE.Scholl, Leeuwarden 1973 ] 13.b3 ab8 14.fd1 a6 15.d2 a3 16.e3 [ 16.h3!? may well be White's best chance f or an ad van tage xh3 17.xh3 c5 18.c2 h5 19.g2 c5 A) I like the aggressive 20.g4!? e.g. e5 ( 20...h4 21.h3 g5 22.e3 a5 23.d5 ) 21.e4 ( 21.g5 h5 22.e4 f5 23.gxf6 xf6 24.e3 c6 25.d5 xd5 26.exd5 c7 27.d4 ) 21...c6
22.f4 e6 23.f5; B) 20.dc1 h6 ( 20...e6 21.g4 h4 22.h3 ) 21.xh6 xh6 22.d5 , and White is clearly better thanks to the ridiculous rook on h6, D.Summermatter-J. Faure, Geneve 1988 ] 16...g4 17.xe7 [ 17.g5 f6 18.c2 b5 19.cxb5 axb5 20.dc1 c5= ] [ 17.d2 f6= ] 17...xe3 18.fxe3 b5 [ 18...e5 is wonderfully complicated and probably also okay for Black one line runs 19.d5 e8 20.c7 b2 21.e4 a3 ( 21...xc3 22.c2 a3 23.xc3 xa2 24.xd6 xe2 25.d2 xd2 26.xd2 b5= ) 22.c2 b5 23.d5 bxc4 24.xc4 ec8 25.d3 , and the chances are about even despite White's extra pawn ] 19.xd6 xd6 20.xd6 bxc4 21.b4 f8 [ 21...xb4 22.xa6 b2= ] 22.xa6 xb4 23.f2 c5 24.b1 cc8 25.c1 d8 26.e4 g7 27.c2 [ 27.a4 Or xc3 ( 27...d2 28.b5 g4 29.d4 c3 30.f3 ) 28.xc3 b2= ] 27...bc8 28.b6 b8 29.a6 bc8 [ T h e a c t i v e 29...f6!? can also be c o n s i d e r e d 30.d5+ e5 31.xb4 xb4= ] 30.b6 b8 31.xb8 xb8 32.b2 [ 32.d5!? may even be better fo White ] 32...f6 33.a3 d6 34.xb8 xb8 35.d5 d6 36.e4+ e5 37.xd6 [ 37.xe6 xe4 38.xc4 xa3 39.xf7 c5= ] 37...c3 38.e1 [ 38.e4 xd6 39.c2 c5 40.e1= ] 38...xd5 39.b5 c4 40.d4 d7 (I'm not familiar with the time control in the Spanish Team Ch, but I will imagine - judged on the execution of the remainder of the game by both players - that we have now reached the sudden death phase of the game. The endgame is if anything loaded with mistakes, from dubious moves to outright blunders) 41.d1 a4+ 42.c1 d5 43.c2? [ 43.f3 appears to defend, e.g. h6 44.e1 c4 45.d3 b3 46.e5 e8 47.a4 xa4 48.c2 b4 49.d3+ c4 50.e5+= ] 43...h5? 1707
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Here 43...e4 constituted a better winning chance 44.b1 h5 45.c1 f5 A) 46.h3 e4 47.b1 ( 47.g4 h4-+ ) 47...d7 48.h4 a4 and Black's king marches in anyway; B) 46.d4+ g4 47.f3 h3 48.e4 f6 49.b1 g5 50.e5 fxe5 51.xg5+ xh2-+ ] 44.b4+ c4 45.c2 [ 45.d3 b3 46.e5 e8 47.d3= ] 45...b3 46.e4 c4 [ 46...e8 47.e3 b5 48.c2= ] 47.e1 [ 47.e3+ is a safer try b3 48.d5 c6 49.h4 a4= , and Black will not win ] 47...d4 [ 47...b3!? 48.c2 e8 49.e5 d7 is objectively speaking a better try, although White in the game finds a way to blow the game in one fell swoop ] 48.f3+?? [ 48.d3! ho ld s t h e ga m e b5 49.e5= , and White should be okay ] 48...xe4 49.g5+ [ 49.e1 e3 50.d3 xe2 51.c5 e8 52.c2 f3 53.xc3 g2-+ ] 49...e3 50.xf7 xe2 51.g5 [ Or 51.h8 g5 52.f7 g4 53.e5 f2 54.d3+ g2 55.f4+ xh2 56.xh5 g2 , and it is becoming clear that White l o s e s , e . g . 57.b1 f3 58.c1 b3 59.b1 f7 60.f6 g6+ 61.c1 xg3 62.a4 f3 63.xg4 xg4 64.a5 f4 65.a6 e3 66.a7 e4 ] 51...f1 52.e4 g2 53.xc3 c6 54.e2 xh2 55.d2 g5 56.e3 g2 57.d4 d7?= [ Black could have won with the brilliant 57...xg3!! 58.xc6 h4 59.b4 h3 60.d3 h2 61.f2 g4 , and White cannot stop both pawns any longer, e.g. 62.a4 g2 63.a5 g3 64.a6 gxf2 65.a7 f1 66.a8+ g1 67.g8+ g2 68.h7 h1 ] 58.f3 g4 [ Black is playing for a win. The alternative is 58...xg3 59.xg5 c6 60.e6 h4 61.f4 with a draw ] 59.e5 e8 60.f4 h3 61.d3 d7 62.f2+ g2 63.e4 e8 64.f6 f7 65.a4 h4?? [ This loses the game instantly. Black could
have saved the game with 65...h3 66.e4 e8 67.a5 b5 68.f2+ g2 69.xg4 hxg4 70.xg4 e2+ ] 66.gxh4 h3 67.h5 g3 68.h6 g6 69.h7 xh7 70.xh7 1-0
1683 Stojanovic,Mihajlo Kojovic,Dragan 17th Belgrade Trophy (2) [John Watson]
A39 2504 2352 23.11.2004
1.d4 f6 2.f3 g6 3.c4 c5 4.c3 cxd4 5.xd4 g7 6.g3 c6 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 a5!? Black is trying to avoid lines like [ 8...xd4 9.xd4 d6 10.d3 8...Qa5 may well be underrated ] 9.e3 [ Ancient theory recommended 9.b3 h5 10.e4! , but perhaps Black can just develop, since he has no weaknesses: d6 11.xh5 xh5 12.d5 g4 13.f3 e6 with a solid game. ] 9...b4! 10.b3 [ 10.e2!? may be a better move in view of e5? ( better is 10...b6 11.d1 d6 ) 11.f4! xc4?? ( 11...c6 12.b1 ) 12.a3 c5 13.b4 c7 14.cb5 and Qxc4. ] 10...xb3 11.axb3 e8? Pitching a pawn, when the game loses its theoretical interest. The position begs for [ 11...b4 , when it's not easy to show that W h i t e h a s a n a d v a n t a g e , e . g . , 12.d1 ( 12.cb5 a6 13.c7 b8 14.a4 d3 ) 12...d6 13.cb5 g4 14.f3 d7 15.xa7 xa7 16.xa7 a8 17.ab5 ( 17.db5 c6! 18.xc6 bxc6 19.c3 b8 ) 17...e5! 18.c7 a1 19.e2 e4! (intending ...Nd3) 20.fxe4? g4 21.f2 xc1! 22.xc1 d3+ 23.g1 xe2 ] 12.d5 e6 13.xc6 bxc6 14.e7+ h8 15.xc8 xc8 16.xa7 d5 17.e4! Black lacks compensation, and White shows excellent technique: dxc4 18.bxc4 d4 19.d7 e5 20.h6 g7 21.b4 g8 22.h3 a8 23.c7 fb8 24.b1 c5 25.b5 e8 26.c6 a2 27.e3! xe3 28.fxe3 g7 29.b6 [ 29.xc5 d6 30.c7 xe4 ] 1708
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 29...f6 30.c8 b7 31.c7 b8 32.xc5 xe4 33.c8 xc8 34.xc8 d2 35.b7 f3+ 36.f1 d2 37.g4! [ 37.b8?? xh2+ 38.g1 f3+ 39.f1 ( 39.h1 h2# ) 39...h2+ 40.e1 f3+ etc. ] 37...xh2+ 38.e1 d8 39.e2 b8 40.c5 1-0
1684 Svidler,Peter Kramnik,Vladimir FIDE Candidates 2014 (3.3) [Fier, Alexandr]
A39 2758 2787 15.03.2014
One of the few games where it's possible to see Kramnik caught without any good preparation. Svidler leaves the opening with the better position and Kramnik had to find some truly amazing resources to hold the game. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 c6 4.g3 g6 5.d4 cxd4 6.xd4 g7 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 xd4 [ 8...a5 is more popular nowadays and was seen last month on Chess Publishing 9.b3 h5 10.c5 was analyzed in Hammer, J (2612)-Goganov, A (2581)/Rilton Cup 43rd 2013 (6). ( 10.h3 was Ivanchuk, V (2739)Vachier Lagrave, M (2745)/Gibraltar Masters 12th 2014 (10). )] 9.xd4 d6 10.d3 Now there are plenty of moves f or Black. e6 One of the possible ideas. I show some of the other possible moves: [ 10...f5 11.e4 e6 12.b3 ] [ 10...a5 11.h3 e6 12.d2 a6 ] [ 10...d7 11.b3 c5 12.d2 b8 ] [ 10...b8 11.e3 a6 12.a7 is thematic a8 13.d4 b8 ] [ 10...a6 11.d2 b8 is the main line and was well analyzed in Bu Xiangzhi (2656)Zhang Ziyang (2323)/zt 3.5 Shandong CHN 2007 (2). ] 11.d2 [ 11.xb7!? this obviously should be critical. In the main variation Black recovers the pawn, but I think White has good chances to get an advantage b8 12.g2 a5 13.b3 xb3 ( 13...g4 Black can play for an attack, but this move is hard to believe
14.d2 h5 15.h4 and White has no problems defending the king) 14.axb3 xa1 15.b5 ( 15.d2 a6 16.b5 c8 is a better version for Black compared to the game ) 15...a2 ( 15...f5 16.d4 xd4 17.xd4 and White has the advantage due to Black's a-pawn) 16.d4 d7 17.d2 a6 18.b4 g4 19.b5 and I prefer White's position ] 11...c8 I'm not that convinced about Black's idea. In the game it looks like W hite has a solid space advantage, but Black has no clear plan. [ 11...d7 was played against Kramnik in a blitz game and I think this is a better square for the queen. Black still has the plans with ...Bh3 and the rook can go to c8 without any t e m p o l o s s 12.fd1 g4 13.b3 e5 14.e4 was Kramnik, V (2772)-Anand, V (2788)/Wch Blitz 5th blitz 2009 (3). and here I wo u l d s u g g e s t c6 15.ac1 ac8 with a solid position ] 12.b3 h3 13.ac1 xg2 14.xg2 c6+ 15.f3 [ 15.e4 was also possible, but we can see in the game that Svidler was not in hurry to play this move ] 15...e6 Avoiding any idea with Nd5, but leaving the weak pawn on d6. In a few moves this pawn is going to be the main theme of the game. [ 15...d7 tries to keep the pawn on e7 and transf er the knight to a better position, opening the diagonal for the bishop 16.d5 fe8 17.g5 c5 18.d2 d7 and sooner or later Black will need to play ... e6 in order to find a plan ] 16.fd1 ad8 17.f4 with the queen on c6 Black is not able to play 17...d5, so W hite slowly improves all his pieces. [ 17.g5 would be another idea, to provoke ...h6, but it's not so clear it's necessary h6 ( 17...d7 l o s e s a p a w n 18.d4! e8 19.xa7 and White is winning) 18.f4 d7 and it would be more or less similar to the game ] 17...d7 18.e3 Preparing to triple on the dfile. [ 18.e4 would be another setup, but Svidler prefers to stay with the queen between the ro o ks o n th e d -f ile b6 19.c2 fd8 1709
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.cd2 e8 with the usual advantage for White ] 18...b6 19.d3 c8 20.d2 e8 [ 20...g4 could be an alternative to release the pressure at the cost of the d6-pawn, but it's not even clear that White needs to take it 21.xd6 ( 21.b5 cd8 22.g5 f6 23.e4 is also reasonable) 21...cd8 22.f4 xd3 23.exd3 e5 24.xe5 xe5 25.e2 and Black managed to activate his pieces, but still it's not enough to fully compensate the pawn ] 21.e4 Finally White is ready to advance the epawn. a6 22.e5!? Now the game becomes sharp. h6!? A brave decision, Black tries to bother W hite's bishop and to create counterplay in the center. The problem is that now he always needs to take care of some quick attack on his king, since all the pieces are focused on d6. [ 22...cd8 would be a similar idea, compared to the game 23.d1 b5 24.c5 again this move is strong d5 ( 24...xc5 25.e4 a7 26.xd6 xd6 27.xd6 xd6 28.exd6 d7 is better for White) 25.b4 and Black is cramped ] 23.h4 I like this move, keeping the pressure on the position. [ 23.xh6 was not clear and Black can even give the fianchettoed bishop for the c3knight xe5 24.g5 f6 25.f4 xc3 26.cxc3 e5 27.e3 c7 and Black's position is free, even if White can still keep an edge ] 23...cd8 24.d1 b5 Forcing matters. [ 24...h7 Black could try to hold the tension for one more move 25.a4 ( 25.e4 d5 26.a4 is unclear) 25...f6!? 26.exf6 xf6 27.e2! and White forces Black to move one of the pawns d5 ( 27...e5 28.e3 ) 28.e3 e4! this is an important resource, but even with this shot, Black will suffer 29.xe4 dxe4 30.xd7 exf3+ 31.xf3 xd7 32.e2 h5 and White's position is better, but Black has chances to hold ] 25.c5! White finds the best move and the position is really dangerous for Black. [ 25.cxb5 axb5 26.xh6 xe5 is similar to the game, but in a worse version for White ] [ 25.exd6 bxc4 26.bxc4 e5! Black will recover the d6-pawn, and c4 is also hanging
27.xh6 xd6 28.d5 xc4 29.g5 8d7 and Black is fine ] 25...xc5 [ 25...d5 26.b4 a5 27.a3 axb4 28.axb4 is much better for White ] 26.e4 b6 Now White needs to decide between 3 tempting ideas, and this is s o m e t i m e s n o t s o e a s y . 27.xd6?! The simplest of the options, but also the least ambitious. Now Black has only got to care about the passed pawn. [ 27.e3 wins an exchange by force b8 28.c5 and Black has no way to defend the rook. Still, Black has a pawn for the exchange and a good center xe5 29.xd7 xd7 30.xh6 f6 31.e1 Followed by 32. Bf4 gives White an edge ] [ 27.xh6! this was the best move, but it was not so easy to see the idea when compared to the other two variations. White doesn't care about winning material much and goes d i r e c t l y f o r t h e k i n g xe5 28.h5! the last move is linked with this idea, which is easy to overlook or misevaluate. Black's pieces are badly placed and there is no time t o d e f e n d t h e k i n g s i d e p r o p e r l y f6 ( 28...c8 29.hxg6 fxg6 30.g5 f7 falls into a beautiful idea 31.xe5! dxe5 32.xd7+ g8 33.e7 and White's pieces a r e t o o a c t i ve , B l a c k i s h e l p l e s s . F o r example: c6 34.dd7 a5 35.xe8+ xe8 36.f6+ h8 37.g7# ) 29.xf6+ xf6 30.g5 xg5 31.xg5 and White will win the g6-pawn and open Black's king ] 27...f8 28.h5 [ 28.xh6 is chaotic, but Black is holding tactically xd6 29.xf8 e4 30.fxe4 xd3 31.h6 xg3+! 32.xg3 xf8 33.h5 c5 34.f4 g7 and White's king is also exposed ] 28...xd6 29.exd6 g5 30.e5 c8?! Both players are short of time and practical decisions are required. W ith one rook exchanged the position is apparently better for White. One of Black's rooks should block the d-pawn and the other one take care of the last rank. [ 30...g7 was interesting, without the bishops the pawn on d6 is more vulnerable 31.xg7 xg7 32.b4 c8 with an unclear position ] 1710
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 31.c1! xc1 32.xc1 b7 33.g4 Now Black's pieces are too passive. b4 [ 33...g7 was still possible, but less good t h a n 3 0 . . . B g7 34.xg7 xg7 35.c3+ g8 36.b4 and White has good chances ] 34.c4 g7 35.g3 b5 36.e1?! Now White gives Black the chance to activate the queen. [ 36.xb5 White can change the queens to get the b4-pawn axb5 37.f4! White need to h i t t h e h 6 - p a w n ( 37.e1 c3 give s n ot hin g) 37...gxf4 38.xf4 f8 39.d2 e8 ( 39...c3 now drops the h6pawn ) 40.xb4 a7 41.a3 d7 with a healthy pawn up for White ] 36...e5 37.g3 e2+ 38.f2 f8 39.xa6 e5 A quite risky decision! Black goes for counterplay instead of trying to take the d6pawn. [ 39...e5 was enough for equality 40.c8 xd6 41.b8 d5 42.xe5 xe5 43.d8 f5= ] 40.c4 xa2 41.c6 The last mistake of the game, just after the time control. W hite's position looks winning after the move from the game, but Black has an amazing resource at his disposal. [ 41.xb4 a6 42.d5 xd6 43.xe5 was still better for White ] 41...e4! 42.fxe4 e2 43.f3 xd6 44.e8 f6 45.e5 This was White's plan, Black cannot take the pawn. f5! First this. [ 45...xe5 46.xe5 fxe5 47.xf8+ xf8 48.c5 e7 49.xb4! and Black is hopelessly lost ] 46.gxf5 f6! And Black is back to the game, he threatens 47...Rxf5. 47.g3 e4 48.c5 e1+ 49.f2 e4 50.c5 e1+ 51.f2 ½-½
1685 Timman,Jan H Palo,Davor 13th Sigeman & Co (1) [John Watson]
A39 2607 2525 15.04.2005
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 0-0 8.0-0 g4 Tony has examined a few games with this move in the archive. I've never quite
believed in it, and Timman's handling is one of several that seem effective. 9.e3 d6 10.b3 [ 10.xc6!? bxc6 11.xc6 and ] [ 10.xc6 bxc6 11.xc6 are speculative and not worth it in practice. They are both give n a b r ie f re vie w b y T o n y - s e e t h e archives. ] 10...ge5 [ The material on ChessPublishing about 8... Ng4 d oe sn 't sho w mu ch p osit ive ab ou t Blacks position. Regarding the move 10...a6 , we see 11.b2 xd4 12.exd4 b8 13.e1 h6 14.d5!? e6 15.e3 b5 16.e2 bxc4 17.xc4 as slightly better for White in Timman,J-Khalifman,A/Amsterdam 1995. Later we see Khalifman taking the White side and getting a clear advantage against Minero Pineda. Bled 2002. With 10... Nge5, Palo tries another approach but he still lacks space and targets: ] 11.b2 xd4 12.exd4 c6 13.d5 e5 14.h3 a6 What to do? This concedes every advantage to White, but [ 14...f5 15.g4 d3!? 16.gxf5 xb2 17.c2 a5 18.ac1 a3 19.fxg6 hxg6 20.b1 xc4 21.b5 loses a piece for too little compensation. ] 15.e2 b8 16.fe1 [ 16.f4 d7 17.ae1 is also good, but it's wiser to build up the pressure. ] 16...b5 17.c5!? A strange move. [ Cashing in by 17.f4 d7 18.cxb5 axb5 19.xe7 can't be bad. ] 17...dxc5 18.xb5 f3+ 19.xf3 xb2 20.xb2 axb5 21.h4! This is a standard mode of attack. The other approach is [ 21.ac1 xh3 22.xc5 ] 21...d6 22.e3 [ Or 22.e5 ] 22...b7 [ Maybe Black should just stop the h-pawn advance with 22...h5 ] 23.h5! fd8 [ Last chance for 23...gxh5 ] 24.h6 f6! [ 24...f6? 25.ae1 e8 26.e2 xd5 27.xd5+ xd5 28.xe7 xe7 29.xe7 f7 30.xc5 will win. ] 25.xf6 exf6 26.d1 f8 27.d6 xf3 28.xf3 f5 29.c3 bc8 30.d5 b4 31.cxc5 xc5 32.xc5 xd6 33.g2 1711
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 13...e6 is the alternative, 14.cxd6 e8 15.d5!? ( 15.f4 xd6 16.fd1 is interesting) 15...xd6 16.f4 xd5 17.xd5 xb2 18.ad1 c8 which was soon draw, Tal,M-Neverov,V/Moscow 1990. ] 14.xd8 bxd8 [ Black never manages to get enough compensation for the exchange after the alternative capture, i.e. 14...fxd8?! 15.f4 e6 16.xb8 xb8 17.ac1 d7 18.fd1 Barcza,G-Gufeld,E/Tallinn 1989, 1-0 (41). ] 15.g5! [ Vaganian's that wins the exchange. He was less successful with the old 15.e3 A) 15...e6 is possibly better, 16.xc5 d2! ( 16...d7 17.fd1 drawn, Braga,CTsuboi,E/BRA-ch m 1991) 17.xe7 e8 18.a3 g4 19.ad1 ( 19.h3? xf2! 20.xf2 d4 21.d1 d8 is good for Black ) 19...xc3 20.bxc3 xa2 1686 A39 with good play, Danailov,S-Outerelo,M/ Ponferrada 1991; Vaganian,Rafael A 2618 B) 15...c8!? 16.xc5 fe8 17.fd1 e5 Heinemann,Thies 2479 18.b6 xd1+ 19.xd1 f8 and White's Bundesliga 1999-2000 (14) 08.04.2000 advantage is slight, Vaganian, R[Tony Kosten] Heinemann,T/Germany 1998/GER-chT. ] 1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 c6 4.g3 g6 15...c8!? [ To defend the b7-pawn, 15...e6 16.e5 5.d4 cxd4 6.xd4 g7 7.g2 This position d5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xe7 xe5 can equally arise from the Yugoslav Variation 19.ad1 also favours White. ] of the King's Indian, and while it offers White a theoretical advantage, Black often obtains 16.e5 g4 17.xe7 xe5?! [ An important moment, the black knight plenty of tactical possibilities based on the ... becomes misplaced af ter this, so Black b5-break. 0-0 8.0-0 xd4 9.xd4 d6 should try 17...xe5 when he has a pawn, 10.d3 a6 11.d2 and some compensation for the exchange. ] [ 11.e3 is the main line, but the text is also 18.h3 h6 19.xd8 xd8 20.ad1 f8 good. ] [ Black is forced to concede the d-file, as if 11...b8 12.c5 20...d4 then 21.e2 is good, but after this, [ This move is set to become more popular, I White's win, knowing Vaganian's technique, feel, as the alternative 12.ac1 allows b5! is a simple question of time. ] 13.cxb5 axb5 14.xb5 f5 15.e4 xe4! 16.xe4 xe4 17.xe4 xb5 21.a4 b5 22.d5! [ Stronger than 22.xc5 xb2 ] with an unclear position. ] 22...d4 23.xc5 xb2 24.fd1 f5 12...f5 As is well-known in such positions, [ C o n s i d e r e d s t r o n g e s t 12...dxc5!? 25.d8 is normally rejected because of 13.xd8 where one side is an exchange ahead, it is xd8 14.f4 a8 15.a4 but this doesn't important to liquidate the remaining rook. e7 look like the end of the world to me, e.g. 26.xf8+ xf8 27.d2 c3 28.d8+ g7 g4!? 16.xb7 a7 17.xc5 xe2 29.e8 f6 30.g4 h5 31.f3 a5 32.e4 hxg4 33.hxg4 d7 34.a8 18.fe1 which seems equal. ] [ This is even simpler than 34.xf6 xf6 13.e4 dxc5 Somehow one feels that things should have been even easier for White. Perhaps [ 33.b5 a6 34.xb4 would gain a tempo and allow xa2 35.b8+ e7 36.h8! f6 37.xh7 a8 38.b4 b8 39.g7 , as in the game. ] 33...a6 34.b5 xa2 35.xb4 a6? [ 35...e7! is clearly a better move as shown by the line 36.b8 b2! Anyway, the game n o w e n d s q u i c k l y. I t ' s n o t c l e a r t o m e whether Black still had chances, but he shouldn't have missed this one. ] 36.b8+ e7 37.h8 f6 38.xh7 a8 39.b4 g5 40.b5 f8 [ 40...g6 41.g7+ xh6 42.xf7 g6 43.c7 ] 41.g7 g4 42.b6 h8 43.b7 b8 44.f1 e8 45.f3 gxf3 46.g4 1-0
1712
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 35.g5+ e6 36.g4+ d6 37.d8 f5 38.xf5 gxf5 ] 34...b2 [ T h e a - p a w n i s l o s t , a s a f t e r 34...a4? 35.a7 e6 36.g5 Black loses a piece. ] 35.xa5 d4 36.d6 b6 37.a8 c5 38.e8+ h6 39.f6 e6 40.g5+! g7 [ 40...xg5 41.e4+ f4 42.xc5 xf3 43.xe6 fxe6 44.b8 wins easily, for after White captures the b-pawn his a-pawn will be unstoppable. ] 41.e2 b4 42.d1 c8 43.g4 xg4 44.xg4 b6 45.b8 a4 46.f6 f8 The only move to stop mate. 47.e4 b2 48.g2 d3 49.c8 f4+ 50.f3 e6 51.g4 e7 52.b8 d4 53.b7 f8 54.f6 e6 55.b8+ [ 55.b8+ d8 56.d5 e8 57.xe7 xe7 58.xb4 is hopeless, of course. ] 1-0
17.cxb5 xb5 ( 17...axb5 18.b4!? ) 18.ac1 These sorts of lines are depressing for Black. We now know that it doesn't help Black much to achieve ...b5 . ] 14...xb2 15.xb2 a6 16.d4 d7 17.a4? Weakening. Better was simply [ 17.b4 a4 18.b3 ] [ or 17.d2 b5 18.cxb5 axb5 19.b4 ] 17...b6! 18.ab1 fc8 [ Or 18...a5= ] 19.fd1 e6!? [ A good solution was 19...e5! 20.c2 f5 ] 20.e3 d8 21.d2 [ The other idea is 21.xe6 xe6 22.d4 b5 23.cxb5 axb5 24.f1! bxa4 25.bxa4 , although this really isn't much. ] 21...b6 22.h4!? A standard idea in these positions. c5 23.e4 [ 23.h5!? ] 23...f8 24.g5?! Allowing the typical He d ge h o g b re a ko u t : e5! 25.c2 b5! 26.axb5 axb5 27.b4?! 1687 A39 [ Approximate equality was still to be had by 27.cxb5 xb5 ( 27...xb5 ) 28.b4 a4 Werle,Jan 2514 29.d2 ] Van der Wiel,John TH 2505 Corus C Wijk aan Zee NED (8) 22.01.2006 27...bxc4 28.bxc4 [ 28.d5 cxb3 29.e7+ g7 30.xc8 [John Watson] xc8 with an obvious advantage. ] A test of the old main line of the Symmetrical 28...e6 [ Or 28...a4 ] Variation. White should have come out on top in the opening, and in fact Black's problems in 29.d5 xd5! 30.cxd5 h6 31.e3 [ 31.f6 d7 ] this line have never been adequately solved. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 g6 31...g7 32.h5 xb1 33.xb1 b8 34.f1 [ Th is se e ms p re m a tu re ly d ra wn : 34.f1 5.g2 g7 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 0-0 8.0-0 b3! gains the initiative as White's bishop is xd4 9.xd4 d6 10.d3 d7 White has bad, for one thing. ] genera lly done well after this move. 11...a6 or even 11...Qa5 are more common. Still, they ½-½ both fall short of complete equality versus accurate play. 11.b3 c5 12.d2 e6 1688 A40 An unusual move although logical enough. Abdulla,A 2405 [ 12...d7 13.b2 c6 14.e4 is given by Murshed,Niaz 2435 Taimanov, and ] 19.03.2003 [ 12...a5 13.b2 e6 14.d5 xb2 6th United Insurance (12) 15.xb2 b8 16.fd1 ( 16.h4!? ) 16...b5 [Glenn Flear] 17.cxb5 xb5 18.ac1 favoured White in 1.c4 e6 2.d4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c2!? Vukic-Zivkovic, Yugoslav Ch 1974. ] 13.b2 b8 Black has the same idea but A move favoured by experienced English GM without ...a5. 14.b5!? Trying to exploit the Jonathan Levitt. White defends the e4-pawn lack of ...a6, but this doesn't seem necessary. but retains flexibility in the placement of his m i n o r p i e c e s . f6!? This could be a new White gets the advantage following [ 14.fd1 a6 15.d5 xb2 16.xb2 b5 move! Black has generally preferred moves 1713
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 such as [ 4...h4 or ] [ 4...g6 but the text intends a rapid response in the centre. ] 5.f3 [ 5.e5 is met by e4 6.d3 f5 with complex play. ] 5...c6 6.e3 [ White is in danger of becoming overextended after 6.e5 g8 7.e3 d6 ] 6...e5! With this fine move Black guarantees some say over th e central dark squares. 7.e2 exd4 8.xd4 c5!? An interesting idea but I prefer [ 8...b4+ 9.c3 xd4 10.xd4 e7 11.0-0-0 c5 retaining all the advantages of a solid pawn structure, with equal chances in my opinion. ] 9.xc6 xc6 10.xc5 bxc5 11.c3 0-0 12.0-0-0 White has a solid centre but he will have to expand to make something of it. Black has no pawn breaks and lacks counterplay, so I b e l i e v e t h a t W h i t e h a s a n e d g e . e7 13.d3 d6 14.he1 [ A n o t h e r p l a n s t a r t s w i t h 14.g4!? and should be followed by a general kingside pawn advance. ] 14...d7 15.f4 g6 16.g3 ab8 17.e5!? [ An interesting pawn offer to shatter his o p p o n e n t ' s s t r u c t u r e . I n s t e a d 17.h4 preparing to soften up the kingside also makes sense. ] 17...dxe5 18.e4 xe4 19.xe4 e6 20.d5 fd8 [ 20...xd5 21.xd5 b6 22.xc5 exf4 23.gxf4 leaves White with a persistent initiative despite the simplified position. ] 21.xe6 fxe6 22.fxe5 f7 23.b5 b7 24.d2 Black has the inferior structure and is somewhat tangled, however he is able to hold on. a6 25.c3 e7 26.ed1 bb8 27.e4 xe5?! This loses/ sacrifices a pawn. I prefer [ 27...a5! which is less risky in my opinion, for instance 28.b3 xe5 29.xd8 xd8 30.xd8 xd8 31.xc5 e7 with near equality. ] 28.xd8 xd8 29.xd8 xd8 30.xc5 e7! [ 30...xc4 leads to serious problems after 31.xe6+ c8 32.f8 e.g. e3 33.xh7 f1 34.f8 g5 35.h4! ]
31.xa6 d6 32.c5+ [ Unfortunately, White's knight is locked out of play after 32.b3 c5 but he can then still try and make something out of his queenside majority with 33.c2 f3 34.h3 g1 35.a3 xh3 36.b4 ] 32...c6 33.c2 f3 34.h3 [ After 34.h3 Black becomes sufficiently active to hold after b7! ( 34...g5?! 35.b4 xh3 36.a4 f2 37.b5+ ) 35.b4 g5 36.h4 e4 37.c6+ b6 38.g4 c5 ] ½-½
1689 Abdulla,Alr Rahman,Ziaur 1st ONGC Cup (10) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2477 2557 05.03.2006
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.h5+!? Hoping to provoke looseness in the Black pawn structure but enabling Black to place his bishop on g7. I'm convinced that [ 5.c3 b4 6.h5+ is more logical. ] 5...g6 6.e2 c6 [ The old game Forintos, G-Ornstein, A Kirovakan 1978 continued 6...f6 7.g5 h6 8.xf6 xf6 9.f3 c6 10.e5 f7 11.c3 a6 and Black was fine. Rahman's alternative plan also involves Black obtaining the bishop pair. ] 7.f3 b4 8.c3 xd3+ 9.xd3 f6!? [ I think Black has a reasonable game after 9...fxe4 10.xe4 f6= but the text retains a pawn on f5 and greater influence on the e4-square. ] 10.exf5 gxf5 11.g5 g7 12.0-0-0!? White's turn to make an interesting choice. Instead [ 12.0-0 also seems playable. ] 12...0-0 13.d5 c8 14.he1 So White has brought his rooks to the centre quite rapidly with some pressure, but as his king is slightly vulnerable on the queenside Rahman decides to mix it. b5!? 15.dxe6 dxe6 16.xf6 [ Inferior is 16.xb5?! e4 17.e3 a6 18.a3 ( 18.bd4? f4 ) 18...e5 with good practical compensation for Black. ] 16...xf6 17.cxb5 [ I think White should try 17.xb5! as e4 1714
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is met by 18.xe4! After 17 Nxb5 White should have sufficient control of the centre and thus gives Black problems to get his bishops going. ] 17...c6 18.b6 Not wanting to open his own king at the cost of a pawn, White plays for the initiative. axb6 19.e5 b5?! Dubious. More sensible is [ 19...f8! (it looks odd on f6 doesn't it?) when the rook can soon come to d8. ] 20.d7 b4 21.a4! [ But not 21.xf6+?! xf6 22.e2 when xa2 is too strong. ] 21...xa4 22.b6 f8 23.xa4 c5 24.d8 [ Not bad, but 24.c4 might also be good. ] 24...e4 25.f4!? In order to avoid the consequences of ...Bh6+, but it I suspect that it 's wro n g a s B la ck n o w ge ts in t e re st in g counterplay. Instead [ 25.d6! h6+ 26.d1 leaves White favourite in a highly complex tussle. ] 25...e5! 26.xe4?! Tempting but erroneous. Instead the wild-looking [ 26.g4! aiming to dissolve the Black centre should enable W hite to retain the advantage. ] 26...fxe4 27.xc5 e3 28.fxe5 [ Otherwise 28.d5+ h8 29.fxe5 is refuted by f1 ] 28...e2! 29.d5+ f7 30.e1 h8 31.d3 [ If 31.xe2 then c7 ] 31...c8+ 32.b1 f1 33.e4 a6 34.c2? [ 34.xe2? loses a piece to xe1+ 35.xe1 xd3+ ] [ but White still has hope after 34.e6! b3!? ( 34...xd3+? 35.xd3 xe1+ 36.c2 c1+ 37.b3 e1 38.d8+; 34...f6! 35.e7 xe7 36.e5+ g8 37.c2 a4+ 38.d2 d1+ 39.e3 f8 40.d5+ i s u n c l e a r) 35.axb3 xd3+! 36.xd3 xe1+ 37.a2 a1+ 38.xa1 e1+ 39.a2 a5+ ( 39...xe6 40.d8+ g8 41.xg8+ also looks drawish.) 40.b1 f6= ] 34...a4+ White resigned as 35.d2 d1+ 36.e3 h6+ 37.d4 f4 loses the queen. 0-1
1690 Adorjan,Andras Spassky,Boris V Interzonal Tournament 1 [Paul Motwani]
A40
1982
B28: "Splattered by Spassky!" 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 5.d3 f5! 6.h5+ [ 6.c2 happened in game B23. ] 6...g6 7.e2 f6 8.f3 c6! [ 8...fxe4 9.fxe4 xc3+ 10.bxc3 xe4 works great in the case of 11.xe4? h4+ b u t in st e a d 1 1 Nf 3 ! wo u l d l e a ve B la c k precariously placed in terms of development and dark-square weaknesses. ] 9.e5? [ White should prefer 9.e3 although it's true that Black still has an excellent position after fxe4 10.fxe4 e5 11.d5 d4 ] 9...xd4!! 10.f2 h5 Oops! White now sees too late that 11 Qxd4 Bc5 traps his queen. He struggled on until move 23 before finally throwing in the towel. 0-1
1691 Akesson,Ralf Plaskett,Jim Bergsjo [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2305 2405 1981
An important new idea - when one diagonal closes another opens, and the ...g6 systems breathed new life into the English Def. Jimbo is the youngest of the English heroes. 1.c4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.d5 e6 4.a3 g6 5.f3 g7 6.e4 e7 7.e2 0-0 8.c3 f5 9.exf5 xf5 10.0-0 e7 11.g5 f7 12.c2 a6 13.b4 c5 14.dxc6 xc6 15.ad1 ac8 16.e4 c7 17.d6 xd6 18.xd6 xf3 19.xf3 b5 20.d3 d4 21.a4 f5 22.xd4 xd4 23.e7 f7 24.xd7 xc4 25.d1 g7 26.h3 e5 27.d6 xf2+ 28.xf2 c2+ 29.g1 e3+ 30.h1 xf3 0-1
1715
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1692 Aleksandrov,Aleksej Beliavsky,Alexander G 36th Olympiad (5) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2659 2660 19.10.2004
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.f3 In the English Def ence the move f 2-f 3 is generally played in order to defend the e-pawn o n e 4 . He re A l e xa n d ro v d o e s n 't c o m m i t himself to an early e2-e4, but keeps this possibility in reserve. In the meantime Black's typical pressure on the a8-h1 diagonal (and particularly the e4-square) is hindered. d5 This queen's gambit-style idea is unusual after an early queenside fianchetto. However it makes sense here as the pawn on f3 denies White the natural plan of Ng1-f3-e5. [ Another way to handle the position is to react in Dutch-style with 4...f5 e.g. 5.e3 g6 6.d3 g7 7.ge2 h4+ 8.g3 h6 9.0-0 0-0 10.ge2 e7 11.c2 h8 12.a3 d5!? with a tense struggle in prospect, Ibanez,E-Hamdouchi,H Sitges 1994 ] 5.cxd5 exd5 6.h3 d6? A poor move. Black should keep an eye on the e4-square with [ 6...f6! 7.g5 e7= (it's akin to a QGD Tartakower system where White's knight on h3 and pawn on f3 look a little odd) whereupon he has comfortable equality. ] 7.e4! Taking the opportunity to occupy the centre. Beliavsky's previous move proves to b e t o o p ro vo c a t ive dxe4 8.fxe4 c6 Hitting the centre but not that successfully as White keeps control. 9.e3 [ Also good for White is the direct 9.e5 b4 10.a3 ] 9...h6!? Artificial- looking, but normal development is difficult to achieve in the face of W hite 's cent ral cou ple t on d4 and e4 . 10.h5 d7 11.e2 [ Capturing on h6 is tempting but Black can get some play on the dark-squares in return f o r h i s d a m a ge d st r u ct u r e e . g . 11.xh6 gxh6 12.0-0-0 0-0-0 but White is still better after 13.xh6 f8!? 14.h5 xd4 15.g5! ] 11...0-0 12.0-0 [ Here again 12.xh6 gxh6 ( 12...xd4? seems lacking in view of 13.0-0-0 xe2+
14.xe2 gxh6 15.e5 ae8 16.h5 xe5 17.xe5 ) 13.0-0-0 could be tried. Perhaps the lesser evil for Black would then be f6 14.xh6 g7 with some dark-squared in f l u e n c e f o r t h e p a wn , b u t n o t n e a r l y enough. ] 12...f6 13.d5 [ Alexandrov must again have considered 13.xh6 gxh6 14.ad1 xd4 ( or perhaps 14...g7 ) 15.xd4 xh2+ ( 15...c5?? loses on the spot to 16.xc5 ) 16.xh2 xd4 17.xh6 which is messy but given a choice you'd have to take White. ] 13...f5 14.ad1 White can play [ 14.e5! as the resource xe5 goes down to ( 14...xd4 is a ls o re f u t e d b y 15.c4! ) 15.c4! h8 16.xh6 a5 17.dxe5 xc4 and now 18.f6!! winning at least the exchange. ] 14...g4! F i g h t i n g b a c k ! 15.xg4? Letting the advantage slip. instead [ 15.f4! remains complicated but White is ye t a g a i n o n t o p e . g . xd4 ( 15...g6 16.h4 ) 16.c4 h8 17.xd6 xd6 18.g5 It so often happens that when faced with several ways to get an advantage, that we search for something really big, manage to get confused, go wrong and get nothing at all! ] 15...fxg4 16.g5 h6 17.e5 xf1+ An important intermezzo. White is left with an unpleasant choice. 18.xf1 Best but chances of an advantage are gone. [ 18.xf1? f8+ 19.g1 e7 20.xe7+ xe7 and the knight on g5 is embarrassed. ] 18...xe5! This works now that White's rook has been moved away from d1. 19.f7 xd5 20.xg4 [ 20.dxe5?? goes down to xe5 due to the threat of mate. ] 20...xd4 21.xh6+ h7 22.f5 xe3+ 23.xe3 e5 24.f5 [ Another way to draw was 24.h4+ g8 25.c4+ h7 26.h4+ ] 24...f8 White was probably shaking his head wondering where his advantage (and piece!) had gone. At least he still has a draw. 25.h3+ g8 26.b3+ ½-½
1716
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1693 Ambarcumjan,Armen Pixton,Aaron ch Seattle USA (6) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 13...f7 14.dxe6 [ Here again 14.b4 is ineffective e.g. ce4 2388 15.xe4 xe4 16.xe4 fxe4 17.dxe6 2432 dxe6 and the bishops compensate for the 10.01.2002 doubled pawns. ] 14...dxe6 15.d3 [ 15.xb7 xb7 16.d3 d6= 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 f5 4.c3 b7 5.d5 ( 16...xc3?! 17.xc3 d8 e7 6.e3 a5 A natural reaction, but see is less appropriate due to the hole on e5.) Sagalchik-Pixton for a more promising setup. 17.a4 is well met by e5! as 18.xa7?! [ 6...f6 7.ge2 0-0 8.f4 e5 9.d3 d6 is rendered dubious by a5 as Black wins 10.e2 a5 11.0-0 bd7 12.f4 e4 13.f2 back th e p awn with int ere st as W hite's c5 14.b3 d7 15.b2 a6 16.g4 g6 queen is off-side. ] 17.g5 e8 18.cxe4 fxe4 19.d4 f6 20.gxf6 xf6 21.h3 h5 22.xe4 xe4 15...d6 16.xc5 xg2 17.xg2 bxc5!? 23.xe4 f7 24.d4 h7 25.d3 c8 V o l u n t a r i l y d o u b l i n g h i s o w n p a w n s t o 26.h2 c5 27.c2 f5 28.e4 xe4 stabilize the queenside. [ T h e o b v i o u s r e c a p t u r e i s 17...xc5 29.xe4 xb3 30.d1 1-0 Bischoff,Kbut I presume that following that 18.b4 d6 Fiekers,C Fuerth 1999. ] 19.b5 didn't appeal to Mamedyarov. ] 7.ge2 a6? It's easy not to be on red alert at this stage of the game, but sometimes... 18.f3 h5 19.e3 e5 Black's initiative just 8.f4 c5 9.h5+ f8 10.g6+ hxg6 about compensates the coming pressure on his pawns. 20.b5 f4 11.xh8 f6 [ 20...e6 is met by 21.b4! with pressure on [ 11...b3 12.b1 f6 is probably a bit c5 , d 6 a n d c7 e . g . cxb4 22.c5 e7 better but the b3 square is not compensation 23.axb4 and White's queenside threats offer for an exchange. ] him the better chances. ] 12.d2 b3 13.d1 xd2 14.xd2 xc3 15.bxc3 e7 16.dxe6 dxe6 17.e2 xa3 21.xd6 cxd6 22.gxf4 exf4 23.g1? 18.0-0 xc3 19.d4 c6 20.f3 xf3 Not a great square! [ White can and should go for the f-pawn with 21.gxf3 c5 22.d6 f6 23.xb6 a4 23.xf4! g4 24.d5! and following h4 24.fb1 a3 25.b8+ xb8 26.xb8+ e7 ( but not 24...xf4? 25.xh5 e3+ 27.xg8 wh ich f ails t o 26.g3 xc2 27.xf4 ) 1-0 25.f5! xf5 26.xf5 xe2+ 27.g1 f6 h e m a y b e a b l e t o c l a i m a n e d g e wi t h 28.b4 ] 1694 A40 Atalik,Suat 2541 23...e6 24.d2 Now White is tied down and Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar 2660 i t ' s B l a c k w h o h a s a l l t h e c h a n c e s . d7 'Saccing' a pawn to stop Black's 36th Olympiad (5) 19.10.2004 25.d5 ambitions against his king. xd5 26.xd5 [Glenn Flear] b6 27.d2 xc4 28.c2 e3+ 29.xe3 A clear pawn in an ending. White has 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 xe3 f6 6.g3 a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 some hope as there are only rooks on the 9.0-0 e5 10.c2 0-0 11.d2 e7! board, but still Black would hope and expect to Black has previously tried several moves here win. 30.b4! f5 [ Another idea is 30...xa3 31.bxc5 dxc5 such as the 11...Nfe4 of Georgiev,Ki.-Sharif, 32.xc5 e8 ] M French League 2003 but the text just aiming to c om plet e de ve lo pm en t ma ke s a lo t o f 31.bxc5 xc5 32.a2 e6 33.f2 h6 34.h1 For the moment White is tied down, sense. 12.ad1 ae8 13.f4 [ 13.b4 g e t s n o w h e r e a s a f t e r ce4 but Black's loose-looking pawns aren't that 14.xe4 xe4 15.dxe6 Black can equalize d a n g e r o u s . a5 35.a4 f7 36.h4 a6 37.b2! White doesn't want to die slowly and by recapturing either way. ] 1717
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 getting active play is the only hope. The apawn is lost but Black can't hold onto all his booty. xa4 38.b7+ f6 39.d7 d4 [ Black will also have significant technical difficulties after 39...e6 40.xg7 a5 41.a7 as all his remaining pawns are isolated. ] 40.a7 g6 [ Black could have tried 40...a4 41.d7 h5 trying to bring the rook back into the fray as the adventure on the h-file hasn't helped Black. However White should hold even here with 42.xd6+ e7 43.b6 e5 44.g1 g6 45.b7+ f6 46.xh7 a2 47.e1 a5 48.h8 g7 49.c8 a4 50.c4 ] 41.xa6 h5 42.a7 h6 43.h7 d2 44.h8 g7 45.e8 g5 46.g2 f7 47.e4 Mamedyarov has turned up the pressure on White's position, but he can't run the rook on the e-file out of room. In consequence White holds easily. d5 48.e5 d4 49.hxg5 xg5+ 50.xg5 hxg5 51.h7+ e6 52.f1 The only move but sufficient. d3 53.exd3 xd3 54.e2 e3+ 55.f2 a3 56.g7 f6 57.g8 a5 58.g2 e5 59.f2 ½-½
defends potential hotspots b7, e6 and c7. Although White maintains his pawn wedge on d5, apart from that it's hard to see how he inte nds to pressurize the black po sit ion . 12.e3 The start of the wrong plan. I prefer [ 12.f4 with ideas of h2-h3 followed by Bc1-e3, or Ra1-b1. ] 12...g4 13.g5 xg5 14.xg5 a4! With the dark-squared bishops having been exchanged, the knight on c5 can stay for the duration. Fixing the b3-hole (and the queenside pawns in general) shows that .. .a5 is n o t a l igh t we ig h t id e a . 15.e4 d8! The knight on g5 is invited to retreat and the queen prepares for a more active role. 16.h3 f6 17.e2 b3 18.ab1 c5 White now has to exchange off his advanced d-pawn or allow a knight to install itself on d4. So he chooses the lesser evil... 19.dxc6 xc6 20.exf5 xf5 21.e4 [ 21.xc6 dxc6 22.d6 hits two pawns but is easily refuted by e5! when the threat of ... Nd4 leaves White is serious trouble. ] 21...a5! This dynamic deployment of the rook with visions of coming to e5 or even ultimately h5 shows who is running the show. 22.e1 d4 23.d3 f3+ 24.xf3 [ Bad, but exchanging queens is not much better: 24.xf3 xf3 25.xf3 xf3 as Black has all the trumps e.g. 26.e2 h5 1695 A40 27.hg5 and now xh2! 28.xf3 xf3+ 29.g2 d2 wins at least a pawn and Avrukh,Boris 2652 probably the game. ] Grabliauskas,Virginijus 2448 a neat move that wins the 21st ECC Saint Vincent ITA (1) 18.09.2005 24...e5! exchange. 25.f6+ xf6 26.xe5 [Glenn Flear] Hopeless but what else? xe5 27.xc6 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 dxc6 28.d1 f5 29.e3 e5 30.g2 b5 f6 6.g3 e7 Less common than ... Bd6 but 31.c5 d8 32.xd8+ xd8 33.f3 d4 Grabliauskas has a new move order in mind. 34.e2 xc5 35.d3 e4! Opening lines to 7.g2 a5 8.h3 a6 Although the idea of ... increase the power of the rook. 36.fxe4 f8 a5 and ...Na6 (keeping any White queenside 37.f4 e5 38.c2 f6 39.h4 d6 ambitions in check) is known from analogous 40.h3 d4 41.e2 d1 positions, this is the first record I have of this 0-1 actual position. 9.0-0 c5 Defending the bishop on b7 is important as White was ready for a d5-d6 trick e.g. [ 9...0-0?? 10.d6 xg2 11.dxe7 xe7 12.xg2 and White emerges with an extra piece. ] 10.c2 0-0 11.d1 c8 The queen sid est ep s t o a saf e squa re f rom wh ich it 1718
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1696 Avrukh,Boris Krakops,Maris Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (7) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 1697 2588 Avrukh,Boris 2530 Mikheev,S 06.12.1999 37th Olympiad (1) [Glenn Flear]
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 A tricky move order - by delaying the development of the knight on g1 white avoids lines with an early ...Ne4and keeps open the option of another route for the horse. e7 [ 6...c5 is the good old English move. 7.g2 0-0 8.h3 a5 9.0-0 a6 10.e4 ( 10.b3 e8 11.b2 e5 12.e4 g6 13.c2 g4 14.exf5 xf5 15.e4 af8 16.g2 xf2+ 17.xf2 e3+ 18.h1 xc2 19.xf8+ xf8 20.xg6 xa1 21.xh7+ xh7 22.xa1 c5 23.d1 xb3 24.xe5 d2 25.xc7 xc4 26.c3 xa3 27.g5+ g6 28.ge4 b5 29.xb5 xd5 30.bc3 c6 31.g1 b4 0-1 Stean,M-Miles,A/ London 1980/MCD (31) ) 10...g4 11.f4 f6 12.exf5 exf5 13.d3 ae8 14.f4 d6 15.b5 e7 16.xc5 xc5 17.b4 axb4 18.axb4 a6 19.b1 g5 20.c1 e5 21.f4 gxf4 22.gxf4 g4 23.d4 g7 24.e6 xe6 25.dxe6 e3 26.xe3 xg2+ 27.h1 g3+ 28.d5 xd5+ 29.cxd5 xe3 0-1 Pagden,M-Plaskett,J/London 1982/ MCD (29) ] 7.g2 0-0 8.h3 e8 9.0-0 d6 10.f4 a6 11.b4 f6 12.xd6 cxd6 13.c1 c7 14.e4 xc3 15.xc3 b5 16.c2 h6 17.exf5 bxc4 18.xc4 xd5 19.fxe6 dxe6 20.f4 xf4 21.xb7 b8 22.a6 d5 23.e4 h8 24.c4 [ 24.xe6?? c7 ] 24...xb4 25.axb4 d5 26.xe6 dxc4 27.xc4 d2 28.b5 b2 29.e7 xb5 30.xa7 bf5 31.a2 b6 32.e2 f3 33.e4 3f6 34.b1 c5 35.e3 c6 36.f4? xf4! 37.gxf4 g6+ 38.g3 xb1+ 39.e1 b4 40.f1 e4 41.f3 f5 42.h3 d8 43.f2 d6 ½-½
A40 2633 2384 21.05.2006
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 e7 I consider this method of development to be insufficiently challenging even though White failed to get an advantage in this game. This bishop is more active on d6 so the main line has these days crystallized as [ 6...a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6! ] 7.g2 0-0 8.h3 a5 9.0-0 c8 Black's development is rather slow and now W hite correctly reacts quickly in the centre. [ Some folk have been known to fall for 9...a6?? 10.d6! and White wins a piece. ] 10.e4!? The natural way, but it may be that just building up slowly with [ 10.c2 a6 11.d1 could be more likely to maintain an edge due to a space advantage. ] 10...fxe4 11.g5 [ A lso p o s sib l e i s 11.xe4 for instance Foisor, C-Ionica, I Romanian ch. 2005 then c o n t i n u e d w i t h exd5 12.cxd5 xd5 ( 12...a6! ) 13.d6 xd6?! ( 13...cxd6! 14.xd5+ h8 15.g5 xg5 16.xg5 xd5 17.xd5 c6 keeps White down to a small edge.) 14.xd5+ h8 15.g5 xd5 16.xd5 c6 and now instead of the optimistic 17 Qe4 White should just take the exchange with 17.f7+ ] 11...a6 Black's best way of defending. 12.e3 c5 13.xc5 xc5 14.cxe4 xe4 15.xe4 exd5 16.cxd5 e8!? [ The simplest way to equalize is 16...a4! 17.e1 d6 ] 17.c1 f7?! A poor move in my opinion. [ After 17...d6 White has 18.b4 axb4 19.axb4 xb4 20.xc7 and Black is left with broken pawns. ] [ Interesting is 17...e5! when 18.xc5 bxc5 19.xc5 a6 is messy. ] 18.d2 This obvious move defends f2 and threatens b2-b4 exposing the c7-pawn. Black now opts for activity at the cost of a pawn. ae8 19.xc5 bxc5 20.xc5 a6 21.d6! [ Mikheev was probably expecting 21.e1 xe1+ 22.xe1 e8 with more than 1719
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 adequate counterplay e.g. 23.c3? e2 24.f3 g6 25.c1 e8 and Black wins! ] 21...cxd6 [ After 21...c6 22.e1 xe1+ 23.xe1 e8 Avrukh had prepared 24.e5 snuffing out Black's counterchances. ] 22.d5! Leaving both rooks en prise, but targeting the opponent's queen. e6 23.xa5 xf1 24.xf1 h8 25.a6 There's no hurry to retake the exchange. h5 26.xe6 dxe6 27.g1 c5? So White has emerged with an extra pawn. Black's active queen means that White has to be careful but it's a technical win for a player of Avrukh's class. [ More accurate is 27...f5 threatening to check on b1 followed by e4 but White keeps control with 28.c6 ] 28.b4 Not bad but even stronger is [ 28.xd6! as after xf2 then 29.b4! wins. ] 28...e5 29.xd6 a1+ 30.g2 xa3 31.xe6 h5 32.h4 f3+ 33.g1 a8 34.e1 f7 35.b5 a2 36.e8+ h7 37.e4+ 1-0
1698 Babula,Vlastimil Likavsky,Tomas 10th Open Valls d'Aosta ITA (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2551 2415 11.02.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 g6 4.c3 g7 5.f3 e7 6.f4 d6 7.e3 d7 8.e2 White's modest set-up is not without its dose of concealed poison. This is not so surprising, since black of ten gets nagging problems when playing a swift ... e5 in King's Indians where white plays like this. e5 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.g3 f5 After making sure that Qd5 does not cause problems this must have seemed like a convenient way to grab the bishop pair. 11.a4! 0-0 [ 11...xg3 12.hxg3 b7 13.d1 and black has difficulty completing development. ] 12.c6 b8 13.d1 b7 14.d3 xg3 15.hxg3 b8 16.a4 e8 17.c2 W hite still has a pleasant initiative as it is very dif ficult f or black to develop without c r e a t i n g n e w we a k n e s s e s . a5 18.c5!
A strong move that ensures a continuing positional initiative - not only that, it activates the Bd3 and keeps the Nb8 from entering the game in a meaningful way. bxc5 19.a4 d7 20.g5 h6 21.e4 b8 22.0-0 e7 23.b3 Threatening to capture on c5 as black no longer has the counter-offer .... e 4 h i t t i n g b 2 a n d a c t i va t i n g t h e B g 7 . c4 Black makes sure he has a pawn as payment for his suffering. 24.xc4 xa3 25.ec5 xc5 26.xc5 Can white have more than enough for a pawn here? The main threat is Nd7, when the answer will be yes, with most of black's pawns weak and most of his pieces passive. f5?! A pure waste of time in my opinion. [ 26...e4!? feels right to me - with the Bg7 active black's queen will re-enter the game, but the pressure on f7 is still very unpleasant. 27.d7 xd7 28.xd7 be8 29.xc7 e7 improves his defensive chances though. ] 27.e4 c8 28.d7 xd7 29.xd7 b4?! [ 29...c6 looks more stubborn 30.fd1 f6 ] 30.xc7 f6 [ 30...b7 looks like it was the reason for black's last move, so it is a bit puzzling that it wasn't played. ] 31.d1 d8 32.cd7 e7 33.e2 b6 34.e3 g5 35.f4 f6 36.1d5 bb8?! [ 36...exf4 37.gxf4 a4 38.bxa4 e6 looks far more logical, activating and s i m p l i f y i n g . 39.d3 xa4 40.e5 still favours white's greater activity, but his own king is hardly fully clothed here either. ] 37.5d6 g7 [ 37...b7 38.xf7 ] 38.f2 Despite the frailty of black's kingside, t h e r e d o e s n o t a p p e a r t o b e a kn o c k o u t punch: [ 38.a7 e7! ] [ 38.fxe5 xe5 39.e6 bd8! ( 39...c3 40.xc3 xc3 41.ee7 ) 40.xd8 fxe6= ] 38...e7? [ 38...b7! keeps defending. ] 39.fxe5! xd6 40.f6+! h7 41.xf7+b6+ 42.h2 e7 43.xg6+ g8 44.h7+ xh7 45.xe7+ 1-0
1720
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1699 Babula,Vlastimil Speelman,Jonathan S Bundesliga 2000-1 (15) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2563 2594 29.04.2001
he may just hate having to make a decision against black's ultra-flexible set-up. And when it is Miles playing black, then there is also the possibility that a creative non-theoretician like him might just make the whole odd opening l o o k g o o d . 11.e3 g5 Now it is kind of a 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 d e l a ye d B a s m a n r e v e r s e d G r o b k i n d o f f6 6.g3 g6 7.g2 g7 8.h3 0-0 9.0-0 creature, and black prepares to stake out the c8 A new move - the more natural ...a5 and f4 square. 12.c1 c5 13.d5 g6 14.c2 . . . N a 6 h a v e b e e n p l a y e d b e f o r e w i t h e7 15.d2 0-0 16.cd1 de5 17.xe5 xe5 solving the problem of the d6-pawn. reasonable success. 10.d2 a6 Black now has a reasonably solid position, [ 10...c6!? ] and some potentially aggressive possibilities 11.b4 c5 12.b3 d6 13.ab1 h8?! on the kingside. 18.d3 f6!? 19.a4 ab8 [ 13...exd5 14.cxd5 c4 ] 14.b5 e8 15.f4 ac7 16.dxe6 xg2 20.xb6 c8 21.a4 d7 22.c3 b3 23.b1 fb8 24.d1 exd5 25.cxd5 17.xg2 xe6 18.f3 d4 [ 25.exd5?? xd3 26.xd3 f5 ] [ 18...8c7 19.xc7! ( 19.xd6? d7 ) 25...f4 26.xf4 gxf4 27.c2 xh3!! 19...xf4+ 20.xf4 xc7 21.d5 ] Holy Morphy! 28.gxh3 h8!! 29.f3 19.xd4 cxd4 20.e3?! [ 29.e3 g8+!! 30.g4 xg4 31.hxg4 f3 [ 20.e6 seems to guarantee a white plus if 32.d1 xg4+ 33.f1 g1+! 34.xg1 black doesnâ []t have some clever way to g6+ ] get compensation for the exchange - but I 30.h1 h4 A classic cannot see anything convincing for black in 29...g8+ the lines xe6 21.xa8 xe2 ( 21...f6 performance from Miles in every respect audacious opening, wily pawn sacrifice and 22.f3; 21...xc4 22.bc1 ) 22.be1 ] 20...f6 21.bc1 g5!? Now Speelman breathtaking, old-fashioned sacrificial finish, uncoils with typical creativity. 22.d5 g4 with an elegant quite move as icing on the 23.f4 b7 24.xd4 d7 25.d3 e5 cake. 26.e2 ac8 27.e4 fe8 28.c3 f3 0-1 29.b2 xe4 30.xg7+ xg7 31.xg7+ xg7 32.e3 f6 33.fd1 e6 34.h3 A40 e5 35.hxg4 xg4 36.xg4 fxg4 37.h1 1701 cxc4 38.h6+ d5 39.h5+ e5 40.d1+ Baburin,Alexander d4 41.xd4+ xd4 42.xh7 d5 43.xa7 Miles,Anthony J d3 44.a4 d4 45.a5 bxa5 46.bxa5 e2 4NCL, 2000 England 2000 47.a6 d3 48.b7 d2 49.a7 a5 50.e7+ [Paul Motwani] d3 ½-½ B 1 6 : " E m p h a t ic E n gli sh De f e n ce wi n b y England's first GM!" A.Baburin-A. Miles, 4NCL, England 2000. English Defence, Code A40. 1700 A40 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 This move characterises Baburin,Alexander 2590 the English Defence, which has gained greatly Miles,Anthony J 2584 in popularity through being played by top 4NCL Birmingham ENG (2) 24.09.2000 grandmasters such as Nigel Short, Julian [Jon Tisdall] Hodgson, Jonathan Speelman, Tony Miles, James Plaskett, Daniel King, Aaron 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e4 Summerscale, and others. 3.a3 e7 6.f3 b7 7.d3 d6 8.0-0 d7 [ A c o m m o n c h o i c e , s i n c e 3.c3 would allow the pin b4 ] 9.e1 h6 10.h3 a6 Black has set up the array. This can be terribly annoying for white, 3...g6!? Basically, Black is letting his opponent who feels compelled to either punish black, or put pawns in the centre of the board because 1721
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 he intends to strike at them soon, with the help of a powerful pair of bishops which are about to be fianchettoed at g7 and b7 4.c3 g7 5.e4 e7 6.f3 [ B16.1: Deviating from the super-GM encounter J. Piket-N.Short on 7 December 1999 at the European Team Championships in Batumi, Georgia, where the dif ferent continuation 6.f4 d5 7.cxd5 exd5 8.e5 c5 9.f3 bc6 (followed shortly by ...0-0 and ... Nf5) also gave Black an excellent game. ] 6...b7 7.d3 d6 8.0-0 d7 9.e1 h6 With ideas of ...g5-g4 to hit White's f3-knight w h i c h i s p r o t e c t i n g t h e d 4 - p a w n . 10.h3 B16.2: A very similar position occurred on 4 August 2000 in another super-GM clash: Xu Jun-N. Short at the FIDE W orld Cup tournament in Shenyang, China, where White had played the moves Bc1-e3 and Qd1-d2 instead of 0-0 and Rf1-e1. That game continued 10 0-0 (so, note that white's h-pawn is still on h2 here) 10...g5! 11 d5 Ng6 12 Bd4 0-0 13 Bxg7 Kxg7 14 Ne2 c5 15 dxc6ep Bxc6 16 Bc2 Nde5 17 Nxe5 dxe5 18 Qxd8 Rfxd8 19 Rfd1 Kf6, and Black utilised his firm control of the dark squares to achieve victory at move 52. a6 Black plans to soon play ... c7-c5 without letting his d6-pawn be troubled by any Nb5 from W hite. 11.e3 g5 12.c1 c5 13.d5 g6 14.d2 e7 15.c2 0-0 16.cd1 de5 17.xe5 xe5 Black is again master of the dark squares, just as in the aforementioned Xu Jun versus Nigel Short game. 18.d3 White is already struggling to find a truly constructive plan, but he has come up with the idea of next playing Na4 without allo win g . . . b 6 -b 5 . f6 19.a4 ab8! 20.xb6 c8! 21.a4 [ 21.a5?? loses to d8 ] [ whereas 21.xc8 is met by xb2 ] 21...d7 22.c3 b3 Black is in no desperate hurry to win back a pawn, because h e c l e a rl y h a s m o re t h a n e n o u gh a ct ive compensation for the one unit that he sacrificed deliberately so as to open up the bfile for his rooks. 23.b1 fb8 Steadily increasing the pressure instead of playing to immediately get back small amounts of material. 24.d1 exd5 25.cxd5 f4! 26.xf4 [ 26.xa6 loses quickly to xg2! 27.xg2
xh3+! 28.xh3 ( or 28.g1 f3 29.f1 g4+ 30.h1 xf1 intending 31.xf1 ( o t h e r m o v e s a r e h o p e l e s s t o o ) h3+ 32.g1 h2# ) 28...f3# ] 26...gxf4 27.c2? White's position was clearly extremely difficult, but this move lets Black deliver an instantly-crushing blow. xh3!! 28.gxh3 h8 29.f3 [ Another possible finish was 29.f1 g8 (menacing 30...f3 31 Re3 Bxh3+ 32 Ke1 Rg1) 30.e2 f3+ 31.d3 b5+ 32.e3 f4# ] 29...g8+ 30.h1 h4 White resigned, thereby "escaping" from horrific lines such as 31 Rg1 Qxh3+ 32 Qh2 Qxf3+ 33 Rg2 Bh3. 0-1
1702 Bacrot,Etienne Short,Nigel D Bosna SuperGM (9) [Neil McDonald]
A40 2594 2683 26.05.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 So against the French prodigy Short prefers this solid move to the more adventurous 4...f5 or 4...Bb4+. Black acquires the two bishops almost by force but on the other hand White keeps his centre intact. 5.e2 b4 6.bc3 xd3+ 7.xd3 g6 [ Instead Short tried 7...d6 8.0-0 e7 9.d5 d7 10.f4 g6 11.d4 against Gelfand at Novgorod 1997. White soon over pressed and lost, but at the moment I like his central bind here. ] [ Another possibility was 7...b4 when 8.0-0 e7 9.a3 xc3 10.xc3 0-0 11.g5 Surely h e sho uld p la y ( 11.d5! ) 11...f6 12.h4 d5! equalised easily in ChuchelovTeske, Cappelle 1998. ] 8.h4! This is an excellent response to Black's fianchetto. [ An interesting alternative after the natural 8.0-0 g7 was 9.h3!? aiming to play Bh6 a t so m e p o i n t a f t e r t h e b la c k kn i gh t i s developed from g8. Of course more solid would be the standard ( 9.e3 )] 8...h6! If [ 8...h5 9.g5 is awkward- e7? 10.f6 ] 9.h5 g5 10.f4! gxf4 11.xf4 d6 12.0-0-0 1722
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White has emerged from the opening with a slight but very pleasant advantage. His action on the kingside has meant that Black's natural bid for freedom with an ...f5 break is no longer attractive: it would just lead to the disinte gration of Black's p awn structure . Meanwhile White has an obvious plan to build up pressure on the f file. d7 13.d5 0-0-0 14.e3! Having shut one of Black's bishops out of the game with his last move, Bacrot now prepares to challenge the active one. At the same time he clears the f file for his rooks to attack f7. g7 15.df1 e5 16.d4 h7 17.xe5 dxe5 18.g3 exd5 19.cxd5 f6 Black's position looks miserable but Short def ends very accurately and succeeds in holding the draw against a not very ambitious opponent. 20.e3 g7 21.g3 b8 22.f2 g5 23.f5 f7 24.e2 c6! This counterattack proves sufficient to distract W h it e f ro m h is kin gsid e b u ild u p . 25.dxc6 xc6 26.d1 d7 27.g4 f8 28.c4 xd1+ 29.xd1 c8 30.e3 d7 31.xc8+ xc8 32.g2 e7 33.e2 g7 34.f3 e6 35.f2 a6 36.g3 f7 37.a3 c7 38.c2 d6 39.d2+ c7 40.c2 b7 41.d2 c7 42.e2 f8 43.f3 c6 44.d5+ b7 45.e3 c7 ½-½
of minor pieces. However now that Black no longer has the bishop pair, his lack of space constitutes a distinct disadvantage. 9.xc3 e7 10.b3 [ Another way to gain further space is with 10.d5 as the bishop on b7 risks becoming reduced to the role of spectator. For example after d6 11.f4 d7 12.f5 exf5 13.exf5 0-0-0 14.g5 de8 15.ae1 h6 16.d2 Gual Pascual,A-Teran Alvarez,I Spanish tch. 1999, W hite had all the trumps. ] 10...0-0 11.a3 d6 12.f4 c5 ...competing for s p a c e b u t . . . 13.f5! The f-pawn advance c r e a t e s p r o b l e m s f o r t h e d e f e n d e r . c6 14.f6! A bold blow that rocks Black's position to it's roots. One of the advantages of the line with 7...Ne7-g6 and ...Be7 is that there Black has minor pieces to defend his king, here he hasn't. gxf6 [ 14...xd4 allows a winning attack with 15.g3 g6 16.g5 h8 17.f4 g8 18.h4 f8 19.c1 etc. ] 15.f4 Black's king feels the draught. xd4 16.h4 f5 17.g3+ h8 18.h3 g5 There is no immediate mate but Black's queen will soon struggle to be the sole defender against the combined efforts of White's forces. 19.xh7+ g8 20.f1 [ Black's king runs to safety after the naive 20.h8+?! g7 21.h7+? f6 ] 1703 A40 20...g6 21.h6 g7 22.c1 xe4? Bareev,Evgeny 2709 Loses immediately but there isn't a miracle Chernyshov,Konstantin 2531 defence to be found e.g. [ 22...f6? 23.h5 and Rg6. ] TCh Sochi RUS (1) 19.04.2005 [ 22...fe8 23.f4 Not the only way, but [Glenn Flear] go o d e n o u gh . xe4 24.f2 A sign that Black is helpless! b7 ( 24...c2 25.xe4 ) 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 25.fh4 f8 26.h7 g6 27.4h6 g4 A positional alternative to 4...f5. 5.e2 b4 28.xg4 fxg4 29.g5 and it's all over. ] 6.bc3 xd3+ 7.xd3 b4 [ I recommend the principle alternative 23.xe4 fxe4 24.g5! Threatening to come 7...e7 e.g. 8.0-0 d6 ( 8...d5!? is slightly to f6. f6 [ 24...xg5 allows mate in two. ] more risky but after 9.cxd5 exd5 10.e5 d7 11.f4 0-0-0 12.e1 g6 13.a4 a5 25.xf6 xf6 26.fxf6 14.d2 b8 Kalinitschew-Bischoff,K 1-0 German Blitz ch 2004 Black held firm.) 9.d5 d7 10.f4 g6 11.e3 g7 12.d4 e5 Willsch,M-Kengis,E Bundesliga 2004 with equal chances. ] 8.0-0 xc3 One way of avoiding congestion due to limited space is to exchange off a pair 1723
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A40 6.f1 f6 7.a3 Pushing back the bishop 2010 before getting on with development. [ White has several other alternative tries. In 2164 each case, the big issue is that despite 26.12.2000 being a pawn up the awkward situation of his king gives W hite some practical problems. 7.f3 0-0 8.c3 (played like 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 this, Black has the option of capturing on c3) 5.d3 f5 6.h5+ g6 7.e2 f6 8.g5 h6 exf5 9.xf5 xc3 10.bxc3 e4 9.xf6 xf6 10.f3 c6 11.e5 Not a great (with enough for the pawn) 11.xe4 xe4 line. 12.g5 f5 13.g4 g6 14.h4 f6 15.h2 [ 11.0-0 0-0-0 12.e5 g7 13.d5 e7 h6 16.h5 hxg5 17.hxg6 xg6= Palliser, R14.b5 a6 15.a3 axb5 16.axb4 exd5 Edouard, R British league 2014. ] 17.cxd5 xd5 18.xb5 e7 19.a7 xb4 [ 7.c5 is forcing: bxc5 8.a3 c4 9.xc4 e7 20.fa1 c5 21.1a4 b8 22.e1 c6 ( It's porbably better to drop back to a5 e.g. 23.xc6 xc6 24.a3 he8 25.b4 d5 9...a5 10.fxe6 dxe6 11.a4+ c6 26.a1 b7 27.b5 d6 28.xb7+ xb7 12.f3 0-0 13.c3 h8!= with dynamic 29.a7+ c8 30.e6 xe6 31.d4 xd4 play, T errie ux, K -B u nzma n n, D Fren c h 0-1 Gamota,A-Karasev,V Moscow 1996. ] league 2005) 10.fxe6 0-0!? 11.c3 dxe6 [ 11.a3 xc3+ 12.bxc3 0-0 13.0-0 ae8 12.h3 ( 12.xe6+!? h8 13.f3 14.fe1 e7 15.ab1 e5 16.exf5 exd4 when Black has two pawns to try and claw 17.c2 dxc3 18.fxg6 fe8 19.ec1 e5 back ) 12...d5 13.xd5 exd5 14.f4 f7 20.xe5 xe5 21.xc3 xg2 22.e2 15.h4 c6 Chatterjee, D-Reefat, S Dhaka xg6 23.g3 g5 0-1 Saidy, A-Root,D 2012, with some compensation. ] USA 1990. ] [ 7.d2 xd2 8.xd2 0-0 9.gf3 c6 11...g7 12.a3 10.g1! h5?! ( Black should attack the [ 12.c1 0-0 13.a3 xc3+ 14.xc3 g5 centre with 10...b4! 11.b1 c5 ) 11.fxe6 15.d5 e7 16.0-0 g6 17.e1 c5 dxe6 12.e4 f6 13.a4 Kislik, E18.dxc6 xc6 19.c2 g4 0-1 Martin Luis, Sochacki, C Pardubice 2013, and White was C-Boudre,J Tenerife 1999. ] better. ] 12...xc3+ 13.bxc3 e7 14.0-0 g5 15.d2 7...d6 The more active square. g6 16.f3 h5 17.fd1 g8 [ 7...e7 (this may seem passive, but at [ 17...g4!? ] least the bishop is less exposed than on d6) 18.e3 f4 19.f1 h6 20.g3 g6 8.c3 0-0 9.d5!? ( complex, but calmly [ 20...h4 21.g4 ] k e e p i n g m a t t e r s s i m p l e w i t h 9.f3 21.d3 0-0-0 22.a4 f4 23.e4 must be slightly bet ter f or W hit e if on e [ 23.a5!? ] compares with analogous positions arising 23...g4 24.f2 fxg3+ 25.hxg3 h4-+ 26.fxg4 from ...Bd6) 9...h8 10.h3 exd5 11.cxd5 hxg3+ 27.e1 f4 28.c2 g6 a6 ( the logical continuation would be 0-1 11...xd5! 12.xd5 xd5 13.f4 f7 ) 12.b4 d6 (Ha! Ha! So it's the best square a f t e r a l l ) 13.e2 e8 14.g5! g8 1705 A40 15.e3 e5?! 16.xa6 xa6 17.xa6 Batchuluun,T 2521 xc3 18.c4 Sammalvuo, T-Nelis, J Eilat Kunin,V 2575 2012, and White was winning. ] 18th Voronezh Master Open 2014 (8.10) 8.c3 0-0 9.ge2!? [Glenn Flear] [ See the archives for 9.f3 e8 10.g5 exf5 11.c5! e7 12.xf5 Likavsky, T1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 Bunzmann, D German league 2008, where 5.exf5 b4+ White retained the better chances. ] [ N o t m a n y r e a l l y b e l i e v e i n 5...xg2?! 9...g4 10.h3 anymore, see the archives for the details. ] 1704 Baron,I Igla,B ch-ISR Women (9) [Neil McDonald]
1724
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Previously 10.f3 has been seen: exf5!? ( 10...xh2+ is p layable) 11.fxg4 fxg4+ 12.g1 f6 13.e3 xg2! 14.g3 xh1 15.xh1 c6?! ( 15...h4 16.g1 xg3 17.xg3 xg3 18.hxg3 c6= ) 16.xg4 ( 16.f5! blocks off Black's play) 16...f3+ 17.xf3 xf3 18.e1 xg3 19.hxg3 xg3 Bednar, M-Vavra, P Prague 2010, when White (with two minor pieces) should be the one press ing, b ut Black (with ro ok an d pawns) went on to win. ] 10...h4 11.g3 h5 12.d5!? White has to do something about the long diagonal pressure. [ The major clear-out with 12.f4! xf4 13.xf4 xh1 14.xg4 xg4 15.hxg4 leaves W hite with only one pawn for the exchange, but Black's pieces could well prove to be difficult to coordinate. So it's not clear, noting that the computer prefers White slightly. ] 12...e5 Now however, Black has a handy square on e5 for his knight. 13.f4 exf5 Recuperating the investment. [ The invasive 13...f3 fails to 14.e4 ] 14.d4 Simplification eases the pressure. xd1+ 15.xd1 xd3 16.xd3 xf4 17.gxf4 a6 A reassessment is in order: W hite's space advantage (and Black's hemmed-in bishop) suggest that W hite is slightly ahead, but probably not by much as Black is solid and not that cramped. 18.g1 c5 19.dg3 f7 20.b4 Before Black has time for ...a5. e4 21.xe4 fxe4 22.e2 h8 23.e3 c6 It's necessary for Black to get the bishop into play... 24.dxc6 dxc6 25.c5! ...and for White to keep it quiet! a5!? 26.f5 [ Capturing on b6 is strong, as first of all it distracts Black's attention... 26.cxb6! axb4 27.axb4 a3+ 28.d2 ( 28.xe4 c5+ ) 28...a6 29.f5 xb6 30.e6 ...thus giving W hite time to obtain attacking chances against Black's king. ] 26...axb4 27.axb4 bxc5 28.bxc5 e7?! [ Instead 28...c8! 29.xc6 ( 29.xe4 a4 gives Black excellent counterplay) 29...xf5 should be about equal. ] 29.b1 d7 30.xe4 [ 30.e6! ] 30...e8+ 31.e6 g6 32.e3 a6 33.f4
c4 34.be1 gxf5 35.e5 d2 36.f3 d5 37.xf5!? Deciding to use the white monarch to go on the attack! [ More solid is 37.1e3 in order to maintain the f-pawn, when W hite maintains some pressure (f5 is weak and Black's king is still a problem). ] 37...xf3 38.f6 d5 39.f7 This is about as close as one king can get to mating another without help! Despite appearances, there is no real way for W hite to deliver a knock out blow, so the struggle carries on. a8 40.f5 g2 41.e7 gg8 42.xd5! The passed c-pawn will be a nuisance for Black who is still playing without his king. cxd5 43.c6 a3 44.c7 c8 [ Here 44...xh3? fails to the attractive move 45.d8! (threatening mate and promotion at the same time). ] 45.h1 c3 46.d7 g8 47.d1 g6 [ Now 47...xh3 is playable, as 48.c8 xc8 49.xc8 should lead to a draw. ] 48.e1 g8 49.d1 g6 [ 49...xh3!? ] 50.e1 g8 51.h4 d4! 52.xd4 g7+ 53.d6 gxc7 White now has a combination to win a rook, but it isn't enough to be able to win! 54.e8+ g7 55.e6+ f7 56.f8+ g6 57.xc7 c4 The loss of the h-pawn means that Black has a book draw, but it still has to be played out. In the real world, there are always chances that the opponent won't defend accurately. 58.d5 xh4 59.f4+ g5 60.e5 g4 61.e4 g3 62.e3 g4 63.f7 g8 64.h5+ h4 65.f6 a8 66.f4 h5 67.g7 a1 68.e4 f1+ 69.e3 e1+ 70.f3 f1+ 71.e2 a1 72.d2 h3 73.f3 h4 74.g1+ h2 75.f2 h3 76.f3+ h1 77.h7 a2+ 78.g3 h2 Tricky-looking, but it's still drawn. 79.b7 g2+ 80.f4 b2! 81.d7 g2 82.g7+ h1 83.g5 f2+ 84.e3 g2 85.f4 xg5 86.xg5 g2 87.f4+ f2 88.h7 g2 89.xh2+ xh2 90.e4 ½-½
1725
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A40 10...d7 11.f3 gf6 12.f4 Alternatively: [ a) 12.d2 b6?! ( 12...b6!?; 12...a4!? ) 2232 13.e4 a6 14.e2 0-0-0 ( 14...a4!? ) 2468 15.0-0 h6 16.a4 g5 (A.Santos-S.Rocha, 31.07.2008 Lisbon 1994) and now W hite could have c a u s e d t r o u b l e w i t h 17.d4! e5 18.c2 ] 1.d4 g6 2.c4 g7 3.c3 c5 4.d5 xc3+ [ b) 12.h6!? 5.bxc3 f5 6.g4!? This is yet another violent A) Black should definitely consider attempt against the Dzindzi-Indian, although it opening up the queenside with 12...b5!? is less popular than either 6 e4 or 6 h4. fxg4 13.cxb5 and now b8 ( or even 13...a6 ); 7.h3 g3! A typical response, borrowed from B) 12...b6?! 13.e4! This is an excellent similar positions in the Dutch Defence. Black gambit. xe4 14.g2 f6 ( 14...xc3? returns the pawn immediately, to prevent 15.d2; 14...xc3+? 15.xc3 xc3 White from favourably opening lines. 16.g7! ) 15.0-0 with very good [ 7...gxh3?! 8.xh3 followed by Ng5 or Nf4 compensation for the pawn, M.Vlasenko-A. gives White excellent compensation for the Shimanov, Alushta 2008. Black still has to pawn. ] be wary of possible e2-e4 gambit ideas by [ If Black wants to keep hold of the pawn, a White. ] better way to do so is 7...d6 8.hxg4 xg4 , a l t h o u g h W h i t e c l e a r l y g e t s s o m e 12...a4 [ If 12...b6 13.e4 Black can safely take: compensation here too, e.g. 9.h3 f6 xe4! because after 14.g2 Black can play 10.f3 xh3 11.xh3 a5 12.b3 bd7 xc3+! - compare with 12 Bh6, above. ] 13.g5 , B.Ruecker-P. Constantinou, 13.e3 Birmingham 2006. ] [ 13.e4!? ] 8.fxg3 Strangely enough, we now get a the same pawn structure as in the 6 e4 fxe4 7 f3 13...b6 [ 13...b5!? ] li n e s , b u t t h e g a m e l o o k s li k e a s li g h t l y d7 15.0-0 0-0-0 16.g2? favourable version for Black, if nothing else 14.e2 because White's advanced g- and h-pawns A critical moment. [ White should prevent Black's next move are slightly weakened. with 16.h6! when it's not clear how Black [ 8.f4!? has been played a few times, but gains counterplay. ] feels very artificial, e.g. f6 9.d3 a5 17.h2? A further mistake, after 10.d2 h5 11.a4 f8 12.e3 d6 16...h5! wh i c h B la c k i s b e t t e r b e c a u s e h e g a i n s M. Dlugy-I.Ivanov, New York 1992. ] 8...a5 9.d3 d6 10.g4!? This feels like a kingside action, basically free of charge. With more logical attempt to justify W hite's play White also saddled with weaknesses on the than 10 e4, which leads to positions similar to queenside, it becomes impossible to hold everything together. 6 e4 lines (but not so good for White). [ Trying to keep the kingside closed with [ 10.e4 f6 17.g5 allows the undesirable f5! 18.d1 A) 11.g2 bd7 12.f4 b6 e4 ] ( 12...h5!? ) 13.f3 a4 14.e5 f5? [ so White's best bet is to try to fight back on ( 14...h5! ) 15.e2 dxe5 16.xe5 the kingside and enter the complications of was S.W ehmeier-T. W essendorf, 17.h4! hxg4 18.xg6 gxh3+ 19.h1 ] Germany 2008, but Black missed 17...hxg4 18.hxg4 h7 19.g5?! f8 improvements; B) 11.d2 bd7 12.f3 e5! 20.h1 fh8 21.af1? xa2 22.f2? (a strategy we've seen before) 13.xe5 xh2+! 23.xh2 xh2+ 24.xh2 xg4+ xf2 26.xf2 g4 27.xe7 dxe5 14.g2 c7 15.0-0 d6 16.ab1 25.g3 b6 17.b2 h6 18.e3 d7 19.c2 g5= xe2+ 28.xe2 xe2 29.xe2 d7 P . S a n S e g u n d o C a r r i l l o - R . White's 6 g4 is dangerous, but probably not Dzindzichashvili, New York 1990. ] 1706 Bazart,David Okhotnik,Vladimir Creon op 13th (6) [John Emms]
1726
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 as critical as 6 e4 or 6 h4. 0-1
1707 Beliavsky,Alexander G Short,Nigel D FIDE-Wch k.o. (4.1) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2710 2660 17.12.1997
Theoretically important brawl between big boys. I seem to remember Nigel actually being better at some point vs Beliavsky, near the time control, but cannot remember where. It is interesting to note that despite W hite winning material and the game, the line has not been particularly popular since. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.e2 0-0 8.c5 bxc5 9.a3 a5 10.dxc5 d5 11.f3 xf5 12.b4 xb4 13.axb4 xb4 14.b2 a5 15.h4 d5 16.b3 a6 17.c3 xc5 18.c2 f5 19.h3 e7 20.g1 af8 21.f1 d6 22.g5 h6 23.g4 hxg5 24.gxf5 xf5 25.g4 f4 26.f3 gxh4 27.h2 g5 28.xh4 d3 29.h8+ f7 30.g3 c5+ 31.h2 xc3 32.h4 f6 33.h7 c2+ 34.h3 xf3+ 35.xf3 f4+ 36.g3 xb2 37.g8+ g6 38.h7+ f7 39.g8+ g6 40.e8+ f5 41.xb7 g5 42.h6 c3+ 43.f3 e2+ 44.g2 f4+ 45.h1 d5 46.f7 1-0
1708 Beliavsky,Alexander G Timoscenko,Gennadij 5th HIT Open (7) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2640 2519 07.02.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 5.f3 b4 6.0-0 e7 7.g5 New or ver y rare, but hardly earth-shattering. The contours of the struggle ahead remain the same, a nagging space advantage for white balanced against the equally nagging danger that black will eventually exploit his bishop pair. [ 7.c3 xd3 8.xd3 g6 9.a3 1/2-1/2 Sosonko,G-Miles,A/Tunis 1985/IZT (9) ( 9.e1 e7 10.d5 0-0 11.e3 e5 12.ac1 c8 13.d2 a5 14.a3 d6 15.b4
f5 16.f3 h4 17.h1 f6 18.c5 bxc5 19.bxc5 g6 20.g1 a6 21.c2 f4 22.f2 h6 23.a4 e8 24.b5 f5 25.h3 xb5 26.axb5 e3 1/2-1/2 Mednis, E-King,D Stavanger 1989.; 9.g5 e7 10.xe7 xe7 11.d5 0-0 12.ad1 c6 13.d6 f6 14.c5 e5 15.e3 a6 16.fe1 fb8 17.b4 c4 18.d2 e6 19.b5 c8 20.bxc6 xc6 21.d5 d8 22.c7 b8 23.xe6 fxe6 24.b3 bxc5 25.xc5 bc8 26.b3 b6 27.xb6 axb6 28.g3 h8 29.d2 f7 30.f3 c2 31.a4 8c6 32.a1 2c5 33.ab1 g5 34.h3 xd6 35.b4 g7 36.eb1 cc6 37.b5 f6 38.g2 c4 39.xb6 xb6 40.xb6 xa4 41.d2 d4 42.b2 d6 43.f3 h5 44.c2 d3+ 45.e2 a3 46.c4 xc4 47.xc4 h4 48.gxh4 gxh4 49.f3 a2+ 50.e3 h2 51.c7 e7 52.c5 d6 53.c8 xh3 54.h8 h1 55.h5 h3 56.f2 c5 57.xe5+ d4 58.h5 d5 59.exd5 exd5 60.f4 h2 61.f5 e5 62.f6+ xf6 63.g2 g1+ 64.xh2 d1 65.g2 1/2-1/2 Dreev,A-Speelman,J/Geneva 1996 )] 7...h6 8.h4 xd3 9.xd3 d6 10.d5 g5 11.g3 g7 12.c3 d7 A very difficult position to assess. Things can very quickly turn into a structure very similar to the King's Indian, but totting up the various plusses and minuses is a baffling equation. Black has expanded a little quicker than usual on the kingside, and his f-pawn is ready to roll. The bishop on b7 is very strangely placed, but how intelligent is the one on g3? Is the black kingside pawn structure aggressive or exposed? 13.fe1 0-0 14.h4!? This creates quite a bit of kingside blockage, and increases white's chances of accomplishing something on the other flank first. g4 15.h2 e5 16.b4 a5 17.a3 White is ready to increase the pressure with c4-c5 and seems re a d y t o t a k e p o ss e ss io n o f e 4 a f t e r a n eventual ...f5. Black embarks on a typically King's Indian sequence, and hand-to-hand fighting ensues. f5 18.exf5 axb4 19.axb4 xa1 20.xa1 e4! liberating most of his forces, but the cost is scattered pawns and the a-file. Nevertheless, black is so active, and white's kingside so strange, I find it hard not to believe that it is not white who needs to be careful here. 21.c2 xf5 22.a7 e3?! 1727
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 I assume that black is going for broke - this move leads to enormous complications, but it is hard to understand why the natural course was not tempting: [ 22...xg3 A) 23.xb7 xc3 24.fxg3 ( 24.xc3?? e2+ ) 24...d4+ 25.h1 a8-+; B) 23.fxg3 c8 ( 23...d4+ 24.h1 c8 25.b5 ) 24.xe4 ( 24.b5 f5 looks very dangerous for white, who must face . ..Be5 in a second. White's position looks extremely random and the queenside pawns far less relevant than black's coordinated forces and passed epawn. ) 24...b5!? is just one idea - black's bishop pair must be extremely good value for a fairly worthless pawn. ] 23.e2 Bolstering the kingside, but was it necessary? [ 23.xb7!? exf2+ 24.xf2 g3 25.b5 gxf2+ 26.xf2 and black doesn't seem to have a decent punch as white threatens to rebuild his kingside with Nf3 and has the other flank under control. xb5 27.cxb5 d4 28.xc7 and white has a clear ad va n t a ge in t h e e n d in g. T h e t ra p g3 hoping for perpetual check after Qxd4 fails to th e p ro sa ic Nf 3 o r t he mo re e lega n t 29.g7+ ] 23...c8 24.fxe3 e7 25.d3 xh4 [ 25...xe3 26.f2 f5 27.g3!? ] 26.c5 bxc5 27.bxc5 f5 28.f4 h5 29.f1! [ 29.e4 e8! 30.exf5 xe2 31.xe2 xe2 32.a8 e8 33.cxd6 d4+ 34.f1 cxd6 35.xd6 f7 and only black can be better with white's sorry kingside constellation. ] 29...h4 30.c4 Now white has achieved a big head start in the weakness hitting contest, and black's position is very unpleasant. f7 31.b4 e5 32.a8 f8 33.xe5 xe5 34.xg4+ h7 35.f4 g7 36.h3 e5 37.cxd6 cxd6 38.a7+ 1-0
1709 Benitah,Yohan Kinsman,Andrew PH 2nd White Int (5) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2397 2399 28.01.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 5.d3 f5 6.f3 h4+ 7.g3 h5 8.ge2?! allowing the long light-squared diagonal to open a bit more is not advisable, though black has quite an interesting and dynamic position at any rate. [ 8.e5 e7 9.a3 xc3+ 10.bxc3 0-0 11.h4 d6 12.f4 dxe5 13.xe5 ec6 14.xc7 a6 15.f4 e5 16.e3 exd4 17.cxd4 ae8 18.f2 xe3 19.xe3 h6+ 20.f2 xd4 21.e2 e6 22.h3 ac5 23.c1 f4 24.xf4 xf4 25.gxf4 b3 26.c3 xa1 27.xa1 xf4 28.c3 e8 29.h5 h6 30.h3 h8 31.d3 c8 32.g3 f5 33.d1 e3+ 34.f1 h7 35.g6 xe2+ 36.xe2 xe2 0-1 Borg,G-Pavlovic, M/ Panormo 1998 ] 8...fxe4 9.fxe4 f6 10.0-0 A scary place to be. c6 11.e5? [ 11.b5 looks advisable, to make a threat and have an extra piece to interpose on d4 in an emergency. ] 11...xe5!-+ An early bone cruncher . The game is already over. 12.f4 [ 12.dxe5 c5+ 13.f2 f3 ] 12...f3+ 13.xf3 xf3 14.xf3 xf3 15.b5 0-0-0 16.xa7+ b8 17.b5 e5 18.dxe5 c5+ 19.f1 g4 20.e2 xe5 21.xf3 xf3 22.b4 xb4 23.d5 c5 24.bxc7 b7 25.a4 hf8 26.g2 d4 27.a5 bxa5 28.e3 c2 29.b1+ c6 30.f4 a4 31.b5 a8 32.xa8 xa8 33.c3 a3 34.a2 a4 35.d2 xc4 36.b8 d4 37.c3 b5 0-1
1710 Berkvens,Joost Minnican,Alan William XVIII Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (3) [Neil McDonald]
A40 2461 2175
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.e2 0-0 8.c5 1728
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 bxc5 9.a3 a5 10.dxc5 e4 11.b4 f6 12.a2 d5 13.b2 c6 14.d2!?N A natural novelty - the Ne4 is a real troublemaker for white, and the languishing Nb1 a recurring problem. d4? Seems to be a waste of time. [ 14...ab8!? 15.xe4 xe4 16.f3 ( 16.d2 xf5 17.f3 )] [ 14...xf5 15.xe4 xe4 16.f3 xb4 17.axb4 xb4 18.e3 a5 ] [ 14...c3 15.c2 xb4 16.axb4 a5!? ] 15.xe4 xe4 16.f3 xf5 17.h4 e5 18.h3 f7 19.d4 c6 20.c3 White has made considerable progress and t h e B a 5 r e m a i n s b a g g e d a n d d o c i l e . e5 21.e3 af8 22.g5 f6 23.g4 g6 24.h5 Since ...Qe8 allows Qd3. Not the real test white's novelty deserved. 1-0
12.e1 a6 Black wins a pawn. Nevertheless W hite can create some problems for his disorganized opponent following 13.g5 f5 14.b3 ] 10...e8! [ 10...a5 is more natural but the text is the most dynamic ] 11.0-0 xe2 12.axb4 a6! [ T o o sl o w i s 12...cxb4 as after 13.e1 xe1+ 14.xe1 xe1+ 15.f1 White should be on top. Although Black has just about enough material compensation for his queen his bishop is locked out of the game by White's supported d-pawn. ] 13.b5?! [ Black has no particular worries following 13.bxc5 xc5 14.e1 d3 but White's position is then healthier than the game. ] 13...b4 14.d1 xd1 15.xd1 a6 It looks at first sight as if Speelman is just a i m in g t o e q u a l ize , b u t in f a c t h e h a s a 1711 A40 devilish trap up his sleeve... 16.bxa6 xa6 Berry,N 2289 17.xa6 xa6 18.b3 fxd5! A dramatic Speelman,Jonathan S 2539 b l o w t h a t W h i t e p r o b a b l y s a w t o o l a t e . 4NCL 2005-06 (7) 04.03.2006 19.cxd5 e2 20.e1 d3 Black regains his invested material with a clear advantage as [Glenn Flear] both the b3 and d5 pawns are weak. 21.f1 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c2 b4+ xe1 22.xe1 d1 23.e3 xb3 24.b2? [ 24.f1 looks forlorn but at least there 5.d2 c5! This strong move has been would be a slight chance, whereas now... ] recommended by me before, but Speelman 24...xd5 Adding insult to injury! 25.d3 e6 adds his own twist. 6.d5 e7!? [ 6...f5 was successful in the game 26.e5 d5 27.c7 d4 Mikhalevski, V-Young, A Santa Monica 2004. 0-1 Speelman finds another way to embarrass the advanced White centre. ] 1712 A40 7.e2 exd5 8.exd5 Berry,N 2293 [ If 8.cxd5 then f5! is strong: 9.exf5 xd5 Ward,Christopher 2513 10.gf3 xf3 11.gxf3 c6 and White's 4NCL Telford ENG (5) 08.03.2003 position is a shambles. ] [Chris Ward] 8...f6 9.gf3 [ W h i t e s h o u l d t r y 9.a3! as if a5 then I quite like 10.f1! when the threat of 1.f3 c5 2.c4 g6 3.e4 Still arguably outside N-b3 will obtain a concession from Black. I the realms of this site, a more applicable suspect that Speelman would then have move order would have been 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 g6 3 c4. g7 4.d4 b6 Rather than capture gone for complications with b5 ] immediately on d4 transposing into a 9...0-0 10.a3 [ T h e m o s t n a t u r a l w o u l d b e 10.0-0 standard Accelerated Dragon, Black deploys as the bishop cannot be taken immediately, the queen in an interesting manner. Both 4... but after xd5 ( I prefer 10...xd5! 11.cxd5 Qa5+ and 4...d6 have been seen before too. xe2 12.e1 a6 when I doubt that White Although this was my first ever venture with has enough compensation) 11.cxd5 xe2 the text, I had often wondered about it. The 1729
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 queen pressurises d4 and also yes up White's b2-pawn, note preventing 5 d5. 5.dxc5 [ This is the standard response although 5.c3 cxd4 6.d5 is a different way to try and mix things up. ] 5...xc5 6.d3 White has seve ral ways to deploy his minor pieces and that's one of the things that makes the ensuing middlegame so interesting and yet less theoretical. White may be wary of the water muddying 6 Nc3 Bxc3+ whilst 6 Be2 is arguably more natural than the text. d6 7.0-0 In view of Black's next move, there is an argument for 7 h3. However upon 7... Be6 White would still have to take time out to defend his c-pawn. g4 8.bd2 f6 Not surprisingly both 8...Nc6 and 8...Nd7 have previously been employed here too. It's s i m p l y a m a t t e r o f t a s t e . 9.h3 d7 In my opinion the bishop had fulfilled its role regards the f3-d1 pin. In threatening to lure ou t t h e whit e que e n, a b ish op f o r kn igh t concession would have guaranteed my knight control of the e5 and d4 squares. Hence White was prompted into 8 Nbd2 but in truth the white knights are on the wrong track as they really desire the d5-square. 10.e1 [ During the game I had assessed 10.b3 c8 11.e5 dxe5 12.xe5 0-0 as being okay for Black and later I discovered that 13.e2 c6 14.xd7 xd7 15.g5 a5 16.ad1 a4 17.c1 c5 18.b1 ended in a draw in Sadvakasov,DWojtkiewicz,A Liepaja 2001. ] 10...0-0 11.b3 c7 12.e3 c6 I was pleased with the concept of relocating this bishop to pressurise White's e-pawn and things certainly work out well. 13.d4 e5!? Typically an anti-positional move, here I felt that it was perfectly justified as White's minor p i e c e s a r e p o o r l y c o - o r d i n a t e d . 14.c3 Specifically the white knights are far from d5 and the c4-pawn is as much of a target as the backward d6-pawn. Furthermore as W hite was forced to retreat his bishop to c3 in order to leave the rook protecting the e-pawn, Black can also activate the now bad bishop on the h 6 - c 1 d i a g o n a l . bd7 Black plans now include hitting the white e-pawn further via ... Nc5, ...b6 and ...Qb7 or razzing the a-pawn down the board or angling for the standard ... f5 or ...b5 breaks. 15.bd2 c5 16.c2 a5
Preventing b4 and clamping W hite's queenside. 17.h2 b5 18.b3 White chose not to take for fear of an invasion on d3 and a possible .. .d5 counter-punch. b4 19.b2 h6 [ I did won de r a bo u t 19...h5 to prevent White's next move but I wanted to keep that square vacant for my knight. ] 20.g4 xg4 21.hxg4 b7 22.f3 White has gripped the f5-square and has e4 well pro te ct ed. T he do wn sid e is ob viou s though. His pieces are still very defensively placed and his kingside is full of holes. b6 23.h1 e6 24.f1 fd8 25.e2 a4 Naturally I was very happy with my position as Black and it's not easy to pick a particular moment where W hite went wrong. 26.ed1 c5 27.e1 g5 28.c1 axb3 29.xb3 xc1 30.dxc1 g7! Black seems to have everything and with the white king stranded, the h-file beckons. 31.e3 h8 32.f2 h5 33.g1 f4 [ Okay I now found myself in a bit of time trouble but frankly that is no excuse for not being able to f inish this game of f . Very c o n v i n c i n g w o u l d h a v e b e e n 33...hxg4 34.xg4 d4 with all sorts of problems for White but soon my over-confidence was my downfall. ] 34.d1 h7?! [ Again 34...hxg4 35.xg4 e2+ 36.f1 d4 would have proved problematic. This time though ...Rh1+ comes into play. ] 35.g5! Yes I wanted my cake to eat! Never in his right mind would White allow me to double rooks on the h-file before trading on g4. h4 36.g4 h5 37.xc5 dxc5 38.xe5 Suddenly it had all gone wrong! W ell I suppose that it could have been worse but I hadn't really intended trading queens and dropping my e5-pawn certainly wasn't part of the master plan! e8 39.d3 e2+ 40.f2 c3 41.h1 d8 42.e3 [ 42.xc5 xg5 43.a6 d2+ obviously offers Black good play but after the text I felt that I was probably going to have to work hard just to get a draw. Indeed but for a glimmer of hope (for the win) a little later, that's exactly the way things turned out! ] 42...xg5 43.f4 a8 44.f2 a3 45.d5 a4 46.xc3 bxc3 47.xa4 xa4 48.xh4 1730
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e5 49.hh1 e8 50.hc1 a3 51.c2 d8 52.ac1 d2+ 53.e3 f6 54.xd2 cxd2+ 55.xd2 xa2+ 56.c2 a3 57.c3 a2+ 58.c2 a3 59.c3 a2+ 60.c2 ½-½
1713 Bischof,Detlef Sielecki,Christof 72nd ch Seebad Heringsdorf GER (1) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2192 2424
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b4 4.e4 b7 5.d3 f5 6.h5+ g6 7.e2 f6 8.f3 c6! This move has a much better reputation than grabbing the e-pawn, which is very dangerous indeed. A quick overview: [ 8...fxe4 9.fxe4 A) 9...xe4 10.xe4 xc3+ 11.d1 d5 12.xg6+ ( 12.xd5!? ) 12...hxg6 13.xe6+ e7 14.xe7+? ( 14.xg6+ ) 14...xe7 15.bxc3 dxc4 16.f3 xf3+ 17.gxf3 h3 18.e2 d7= (1/2-1/2, 55) Gillani,T-Williams,S Norwich 1994.; B) 9...xc3+ 10.bxc3 xe4 11.f3 d6 ( 11...f6 12.0-0 e7 13.g5 f8 14.e5 g7 15.d5! c8 16.dxe6 dxe6 17.ad1 fd7 18.xg6 xf1+ 19.xf1 g8 20.h5 f6 21.xf6 hxg6 22.xg6+ d7 1-0 Marinelli,T-Krajina,D Vinkovci 1989.) 12.0-0 0-0 13.h6 xf3 14.xf3 xf3 15.xf3 c6 16.f1 e7 17.g3 f5 18.xf5 exf5 19.xf5 a5 20.e5 f7 21.e1 c6 22.e4 d6 23.h4 d7 24.e3 f7 25.f4 e8 26.f8+ xf8 27.xf8 xf8 28.e6+ h8 29.d7 d8 30.xc7 f7 31.xa7 g7 32.xb6 a8 33.c5 dxc5 34.dxc5 xa2 35.c6 e5 36.d4 1-0 Cardoso, R-Chandler,M W ellington 1978. This game is still one of the best e xa m p le s o f b la ck' s t ro u b le s d e sp it e sensible defensive efforts. ] 9.d5N New apparently, though that is a little hard to believe. The move is not dangerous, but looks natural. [ 9.e3 fxe4 10.fxe4 e5 11.d5 d4 12.d1 ( 12.xd4 exd4 13.a3 a5 14.b4 dxc3 15.bxa5 e7 16.e5 h5 17.e4 0-0 18.f3 c5 19.d4 f4 20.f1
xa5 21.c1 xa3 22.xc3 c5 23.g3 xd5 24.cxd5 xf3 25.xc5 bxc5 26.xc5 e3+ 27.d2 xe5 28.c4 d6 29.xc7 xd5 30.c1 a5 31.b7 a4 32.xd5+ xd5+ 33.e3 e8+ 34.f4 f5+ 35.g4 f7 0-1 Paschall,W-Czebe,A Budapest 1998.) 12...xe4 13.xe4 h4+ 14.f1 xc3 15.bxc3 xe4 16.xd4 exd4 17.xd4 0-0+ 18.f3 ae8 19.f2 e2+ 20.g3 e4 21.he1 xd4 22.xe2 xc4 23.e7 xd5 24.xd7 xf3 25.gxf3 xc3 26.f1 f7 27.d8+ g7 28.f2 a5 0-1 Burger,K-Ehlvest,J St Martin 1993. ] [ 9.e5 xd4 10.f2 h5 11.xd4 c5 12.xc5 bxc5 13.e3 h4+ 14.g3 xg3 15.f2 f4 16.e4 0-0-0 17.0-0-0 e2+ 18.gxe2 xf2 19.hf1 e3+ 20.d2 d5 21.d1 xd2+ 22.xd2 dxe4+ 23.c2 g5 0-1 Adorjan,A-Spassky,B/Toluca 1982/ IZT (23) ] 9...fxe4 [ 9...e5!? ] [ 9...xc3+!? ] 10.fxe4 e5 11.f3 xf3+ [ 11...xc3+!? 12.bxc3 xd3+ 13.xd3 exd5 14.cxd5 e7 with good chances. ] 12.xf3 exd5 13.exd5?! [ 13.cxd5 ] 13...e7+ 14.d1?! 0-0 15.h6 xc3! [ 15...f7 16.f1 ] 16.xf8 [ 16.bxc3 xd5! ] 16...xf8 17.bxc3 xd5 18.g3 xc3+ 19.c2 e4 20.he1 g7 [ 20...b4! ] 21.xe4 xe4+ 22.b3 d5 23.ad1 dxc4+ 24.xc4 f7+ 25.c3 f6+ [ 25...xa2! 26.xe4 a3+ 27.d2 ( 27.c2 f2+ 28.xf2 a2+ should win handily. ) 27...d8+ 28.e1 a5+ 29.e2 a2+ 30.e1 xd1+ 31.xd1 b1+-+ ] 26.b3 e6+ 27.a3 e7+ 28.b3 f5 29.a4 f7+ 30.b2 [ 30.a3 f8+! 31.b3 d5+ 32.c2 b4 ] 30...f6+ [ 30...f2+! is even better. ] 31.b3 d5+ 32.xd5 xd5 One assumes that white resigned here. ½-½
1731
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1714 Bjelobrk,Igor Garbett,Paul Anthony 107th ch Auckland NZL (2) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2112 2360 29.12.1999
1.c4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.f3 Another "footnote" game, where we can file another unimpressive white idea. e5 4.dxe5 h4+ 5.g3 xc4 6.e4 b4+ 7.d2 d4 8.xb4 xb4+ 9.d2 e7 10.c3 xe5 11.0-0-0 f6 12.f4 c5 13.g2 xe4 14.e2 f5 15.b1 d5 16.xe4 dxe4 17.c1 d5 18.xc7 a6 19.e1 0-0 20.h3 c6 21.g4 ac8 22.xc8 xc8 23.f2 d3+ 24.xd3 xd3+ 25.a1 d4 26.d1 xd1+ 27.xd1 e3 28.b1 e2 29.e1 fxg4 30.d5+ f8 31.e4 h5 32.g6 h4 0-1
1715 Bosiocic,Marin Zaja,Ivan 20th Croatian Cup (4.22) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2558 2485 20.05.2011
1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 5.e2 b4 6.bc3 xd3+ 7.xd3 d6 A non-committal mo ve and a reasonable alternative to the main ideas. [ As I've mentioned (in the archives) 7...g6 tends to provoke 8.h2-h4 (however see Ivanisevic-Berg, in the notes to game 1, where Black defended successfully starting with 8...h5). ] [ The problem with 7...b4 is that Black will probably end up giving up this bishop for a knight, and then not have any real c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r a n i n e vi t a b l e s p a c e disadvantage. ] [ Otherwise 7...e7 is rather slow, and 8.h4 (anticipating ...Ng6) still comes into consideration. ] 8.0-0 [ Also combative is the immediate 8.d5!? f o r e x a m p l e d7 ( possibly 8...e5!? as in such positions f2-f4, e5xf4 may just give Black a ready-made outpost on e5) 9.f4 e7 10.d4 g6?! ( sluggish, whereas it was instead time to hit back with 10...c5! )
11.dxe6 fxe6 12.h3! e5 13.e6 exf4 14.d5! Strunski, A-Polak, T Banicky Kahanec 2009, with some unpleasant problems for Black. ] 8...f6 [ Otherwise one could settle on the e7square for his knight (especially now that W hite has castled short and will be less likely to opt for any h2-h4 advance): 8...e7 (safer) 9.d5 d7 10.f4 g6! (there is time for this) 11.e3 g7 12.d4 e5 13.e3 f5 as in Willsch, M-Kengis, E German league 2004, when Black was fine. ] 9.d5 d7 10.f4! e7 The problem is that Black is not well-placed to meet the e4-e5 advance. 11.e5! Critical, White acts before Black is truly ready. Now matters become rather sharp. dxe5 12.fxe5 g4 13.g3 h5 [ After 13...exd5 14.cxd5 the threat of e5-e6 virtually forces ...h5 anyway. ] 14.h3 c5+ 15.h1 exd5 White isn't threatening to capture the knight (yet), because the open h-file would spell disaster, but it's something Zaja will have to kee p taking into consideration. 16.cxd5 a6 [ Capturing the d-pawn is tempting but certainly doesn't ease the defence: 16...xd5 17.g5 (castle either way is impossible, as going to the kingside costs the knight) c6 18.ad1 e6 is murky. Then the principled continuation is 19.b4! f2+ ( 19...xb4 20.d4! c4 21.xc6 xc6 22.d5 and Black can't cope with all the threats) 20.xf2 xf2 21.xf2 xh3+ 22.g1 g4 23.d4! b7 24.e6! when White again seems to be on top. ] 17.g5! Keeping the king in the centre. xe2 [ The best practical chance involves sacrificing a pawn rather than snatching one e.g. 17...f6! 18.exf6 ( 18.e6 e7 19.f4 0-0-0 with fair chances in this complex m i d d l e g a m e) 18...gxf6 19.xf6 xf6 20.g6+ f7 21.xf6 xf6 22.xf6 0-0-0 and, with two bishops against two knights, Black can certainly put up a fight. ] 18.xe2 xd5 19.c3 c6 20.ae1 The storm clouds are gathering: White is fully mobilized whilst Black's king is still stuck in the centre. d4 [ 20...h6? fails to 21.e6 fxe6 22.xh6 ] 21.f4 f2+ 22.h2!? 1732
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Also good is 22.xf2 xf2 23.xf2 as 0-0 ( f i n a l l y ! ) 24.h4 (with attack!) won't give Black an easy ride. ] 22...d7 [ 22...c5 drops a piece to 23.h4 ] 23.e6! d6 [ After 23...fxe6 24.b5 just about all Black's pieces are en prise. ] 24.xd6 [ Eve n mo re in cisive is 24.exf7+ d7 25.xf2 xf2 26.d1 ] 24...cxd6 25.b5 f6 [ Zaja resigned without waiting for White's reply. Bosiocic is able to win a whole piece with 25...f6 26.xd4 d3 27.e3 ] 1-0
move. [ For example 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 e8?? A bad oversight ( better is 8...xc3 although 9.bxc3 fxe4 10.xe4 xe4 11.xe4 a6 still favours White slightly) 9.b5 a6 10.a3 and the bishop is embarrassed Sharayazdanov, A-Zhuravliov, V St. Petersburg 1993. ] 7...0-0 8.ge2 fxe4 9.fxe4?! [ White should have opted for 9.xe4 xe4 10.xe4 when he keeps a small pull. ] 9...e5! Now White's centre comes under pressure. 10.a3 xc3+ 11.xc3!? [ Allowing doubled pawns (like in the NimzoI n d i a n d e f e n c e ) h a s t h e a d va n t a g e o f reinforcing the d4-square. White's bishops ma y co m p e n sa t e h im f o r a n y p o t e n t ia l weaknesses, but a final judgement may 1716 A40 come down to the assessment of the following variation i.e. 11.bxc3 g6 12.e3 Brant,J 2403 h4+ 13.g3 d6 and now 14.c5!? Shabalov,Alexander 2578 with messy play in prospect. ] 111th US Open (9) 08.08.2010 11...g6 12.d5 c6 Hitting at the centre and [Glenn Flear] o p e n i n g s o m e l in e s a s W h i t e 's k i n g wil l 1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 always have problems to feel totally secure 5.c2 e7 A practical choice (I suppose) if wherever it goes. [ Black could also go for 12...f6 13.e3 you don't know the theory, but avoiding the h4 when White's best is 14.0-0-0 xg2 complications following 5...Qh4 is otherwise a 15.d2 with some practical chances (lead in surprising decision, as it has a good development, safe king, bishop pair, open greputation. file) despite the loss of a pawn. ] [ 5...h4! (the most challenging) 6.d3 Not best by any xc3+ 7.bxc3 f5 8.g3 h5 9.f3 c6 13.h4! I m a g i n a t i ve . h6? New and dynamic. ( Black however has also means. [ Not 13...xh4? as after 14.xe5 xg2+ done well with 9...fxe4 e.g. 10.xe4 xe4 15.d2 White's attack is stronger. ] 11.xe4 c6 Kolvick, R-Yermolinsky, A [ Possible however are 13...d6! (solid) Asheville 1995, and now 12.d5 f6 13.e3 14.g5 e7 15.0-0-0 d7 followed by ... a5 14.dxe6 0-0-0 with compensation, as Nf6. ] suggested by Yermolinsky) 10.f4 fxe4 [ and 13...f6!? the latter of which looks 11.fxe4 e5 12.e2 f7 13.dxe5 ge7 slightly risky due to 14.g5 f2+ 15.d2 14.f3 g6 15.d2 0-0 16.d5 a5 d6 16.h5! ] 17.xf7+ xf7 Pechenkin, V-Kraai, J 14.h5 f4 15.xf4 Edmonton 2010, and Black was on top. ] [ Not 15.xe5?? xd3+ ] 6.d3 [ 6.ge2 f5 7.f3 c5 8.d5 fxe4 9.fxe4 g6 15...exf4 16.d2 [ White may just be better following the 10.d2 0-0 11.0-0-0 a6 12.a3 a5 surprising 16.0-0! g5 17.e2 when the Chabanon, JL-Wohl, A Lido Estensi 2003, bishops and better development are more seemed fine for Black in the game important than suffering from a draughty continuation. Both sides have some kingside. ] problems to solve when it comes to 16...cxd5 17.exd5 e7+ 18.d1 achieving harmonious development. ] 6...f5 7.f3 Maybe White can do without this Naturally heading for c2 1733
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ H o we v e r e v e n 18.f1 is plausible with Black's development lagging so badly. ] 18...a6 19.c2 ac8 20.ae1 d6 21.b1?! Too slow. [ White needs to get some pressure going and this can be achieved with 21.h4! f6 ( 21...xd5? 22.g4 f7 23.d4 w i n s f o r W h i t e a s c6 is killed off by 24.c3 ) 22.g4 and White is on top e.g. b5 ( 22...c5 23.xf4! ) 23.e6! and wins. ] 21...b5 22.d4?! [ White should still be aiming for 22.h4! ] 22...bxc4 23.c3 f6 24.xc4 c5 25.b4!? [ T h e l a s t c h a n c e t o p l a y 25.h4 in promising circumstances. ] 25...a5!? Mixing things nicely. 26.xa5 f3! 27.h4 [ After 27.gxf3 Shabalov no doubt intended f4! when White's best would be 28.e4 xe4 29.fxe4 c5 30.xc5 xc5 31.d2 xe4 with insufficient compensation for the exchange. ] 27...f2 28.f1 a6 29.xf2? [ W h i t e s h o u l d c o m e b a c k w i t h 29.b4! when best play could be xc4 30.xc4 f5 31.g4 xd5 32.xd5+ xd5 33.xc5 dxc5 34.xf2 xh5 35.d4 with a riskless edge for White. ] 29...xf2 30.xf2 d3! A killer that came from nowhere! 31.c2 [ 31.xd3 loses to xd3+ 32.a1 c1+ 33.a2 xd5+ 34.b3 c2+ ] 31...e5 32.b3 xc4 33.bxc4 [ 33.b4 is we ll m e t b y xb4! 34.axb4 d3 ] 33...xa3 34.c3 b8+ 35.b2 d3! 0-1
1717 Browne,Walter S Miles,Anthony J Tilburg (7) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2550 2565 1978
A landmark game - the first where the positional rook sacrifice was introduced, and a key idea in trying to bash the defence flat. 1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 xg2 6.h5+ g6 7.fxg6 g7 8.gxh7+ f8
9.e2 xh1 10.g5 f6 11.h4 c6 12.f4 f7 13.g6+ e7 14.h5 f8 15.d2 e5 16.0-0-0 xd4 17.xh1 e6 18.f4 d6 19.e4 xg5 20.xg5 h6 21.h4 g7 22.fxe5 dxe5 23.f1 d7 24.exf6+ xf6 25.xf6+ c8 26.e4 c6 27.h3+ b7 28.xc6+ 1-0
1718 Bunzmann,Dimitrij Kengis,Edvins Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (6) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2500 2586 28.02.2001
1.c4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.e4 b4 5.f3 h4+ 6.g3 e7 After this play gradually turns into an odd NimzoIndian structure, where black has wasted a bit of time and white has posted his bishop on the strange square g2. [ 6...h5 is much more in keeping with usual English procedure of probing for weaknesses and trying to undermine the wh it e ce n t e r , a s we s e e h e r e f r o m y e t another English GM. 7.g2 xc3+ 8.bxc3 f5 9.e5 c6 10.h3 a5 11.f4 f7 12.c5 e7 13.0-0 g5 14.d3 f4 15.f2 f5 16.gxf4 gxf4 17.xf4 g8 18.h1 0-0-0 19.cxb6 axb6 20.e2 h4 21.af1 g7 22.g3 f5 23.f4 dg8 24.e1 xd4 25.cxd4 xf4 26.d2 h4 27.f4 xg2+ 28.xg2 xg2 29.xg2 h3 30.e2 c6 31.e4 g6 32.e3 g3 33.e1 f3 34.d5 exd5 0-1 Vaidya,A-King, D Dhaka 1993. ] 7.g2 xc3+ 8.bxc3 d6 9.h3 f6 10.0-0 e5 11.g5 bd7 12.a4 0-0 13.ae1 h6 14.c1 c5 15.d5 a6 16.b3 b5 17.a4 b4 18.cxb4 cxb4 19.xb4 c5 20.a3 a5 21.e3 fd7 22.b1 a6 23.fc1 fb8 24.f1 d8 25.f2 xb1 26.xb1 b8 27.xb8 xb8 28.d3 b1 29.xc5 xc5 30.xc5 b6 31.f4 f6 32.fxe5 fxe5 33.g2 xc5 34.xc5 ½-½
1734
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1719 Bunzmann,Dimitrij Okhotnik,Vladimir FRA-chT2O 0203 (2.1) [John Emms]
A40 2484 2451 16.11.2002
1.d4 g6 2.c4 g7 3.c3 c5 4.d5 f5 [ Or, with the usual move order, 4...xc3+ 5.bxc3 f5 6.h4!? This is another highly aggressive way to meet the Dzindzi-Indian. The h2-h4 lunge is seen in a few Leningrad Dutch lines, and here it's more enticing as Black no longer has his dark-squared bishop. ] 5.h4 xc3+ 6.bxc3 f6 [ If 6...a5 White usually ignores the c3pawn and presses on: 7.h5! , e.g. d6 ( 7...xc3+ 8.d2 doesn't look much fun for Black ) 8.d2 ( 8.hxg6?! hxg6! 9.xh8 xc3+ is Black's idea) 8...gxh5 9.e3 f6 10.e2 bd7 11.g3 e5 12.xh5 e4 13.e2 R.Knaak-A. Zapata, Cienfuegos 1984. ] 7.h5 g8! [ If 7...xh5 W h i t e ' s i d e a i s 8.e4! threatening to take on h5 ( also interesting is of course 8.xh5!? gxh5 9.e4 ) 8...f6 ( 8...d6 9.exf5 a5 10.fxg6 xc3+ 11.d2 e5+ 12.e2 L.Remlinger-M. Ashley, New York 1995; 8...a5 9.exf5 xc3+ 10.d2 e5+ 11.e2 0-0 12.fxg6 - Speelman) 9.exf5 gxf5 10.g5 with good compensation, e.g. a5 11.xf6 exf6 12.d2!? d6 13.d3 d7 14.h5+ d8 15.xf5 A.Sorin-W.Lombardy, Buenos Aires 1994. ] 8.hxg6 hxg6 9.g4!? White is refusing to quieten down! [ 9.a4 and other moves are considered in Shishkin-Klimov, St Petersburg 2008. ] 9...a5! Black declines the pawn and instead focuses on developing quickly. The evidence of this game suggests that this is a good idea. Previously Bunzmann had twice won quickly when Black took on g4: [ a) 9...fxg4 10.d6! It seems like White is only moving pawns, but this is enough to trouble Black! a5 11.d3 c6 12.f4 b6? 13.g2 b7 14.dxe7 d5 15.xd5 xd5 16.cxd5 c4 17.e3 xd5 18.h7! g5 19.c7 g6 20.d1 e6 21.d2!
1-0 D.Bunzmann-J.Gdanski, Saint Vincent 2000. ] [ b) 9...xg4 10.g5 b6 11.d6! (again we see this disruptive advance) xd6 12.xd6 exd6 13.g2 e5 14.h7 f7 15.f6 a6 16.d5 f8 17.g7 g8 18.h3 c7 19.xf7+ xf7 20.g5+ e8 21.f6 f8 22.e7+ d8 23.f7+ 1-0 D.Bunzmann-R.Antoniewski, Leinfeld 2002. No doubt there are some improvements for Black in these lines, but Okhotnik's choice does seem a whole lot safer. ] 10.g5 e4 11.d2 d6 This looks fine for Black. 12.g2 xd2 13.xd2 d7 14.h7!? Sacrificing the c-pawn. [ 14.f4 b6 15.d3 d7 ( 15...a4! ) 16.f3 a4 17.b1 xc3 18.d2 xa2 19.xa2 xa2 20.xb7 b4 21.h7 d8 22.e5 dxe5 23.fxe5 e8 24.d6 c6 25.bxe7 xg2 26.xe8+ xe8 27.e6 f8 28.h8+ g7 29.xa8 c2+ 30.f2 xa8 31.d7 1-0 D.Pluemer-V. Okhotnik, Aschach 2001, was certainly entertaining. But improvements for Black are easy for find, a n d cle a rly O kh o t n ik wo u ld h a ve b e e n happy to face 14 f4 again. ] [ 14.f3 b6 15.h4 d7 looks fine for Black too. ] 14...e5 15.f4 xc4 16.d3 b5 17.f3 d7 18.h4 0-0-0! It's messy but Black is probably better in this final position. [ If 18...0-0-0 19.xe7 then de8! 20.xg6!? ( 20.xe8+ xe8 and ...Re3) 20...xg6 21.xe8+ xe8 22.h3 c7 23.xf5 g7 ] ½-½
1720 Burmakin,Vladimir Miezis,Normunds 7th HIT Open (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2564 2498 02.02.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.a3 f5 5.f3 f6 6.d5 d6 [ 6...e7 7.dxe6 dxe6 8.a4+ ( 8.xd8+ xd8 9.g5!? is primitive but it might be worth a punt - if black is to preserve his bishop pair he must put his pieces on 1735
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 slightly clumsy squares.) 8...d7 9.xd7+ bxd7 10.f4 d6 11.xd6 cxd6 12.d1 e7 13.e3 a6 14.e2 hc8 15.0-0 xf3 16.xf3 a7 17.e2 e5 18.d4 c6 19.d2 a5 20.fd1 xc4 21.xc4 xc4 22.xd6 d7 23.xd7+ xd7 24.d4 xd4 25.exd4 d6 26.f1 e5 27.dxe5+ xe5 28.e2 c4 29.d1 d5 30.d3 b5 31.c3 a5 32.d3 g5 33.c3+ c5 34.d1 h5 35.c3 d5 36.d3 e5+ 37.c3 f4 38.b3 g4 39.c2 b4 40.axb4 axb4 41.d2 d4 42.h3 f3 0-1 Moynihan, K-Speelman,J/Bunratty 1997 (42). An in st ru c t i ve e xa m p l e o f h o w va lu a b le a small advantage can eventually become. ] 7.g3 0-0 [ 7...a5 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 a6 10.b5 exd5 11.xd6 cxd6 12.h4 e4 13.cxd5 e7 14.e3 b5 1-0 Rohde,M-Kengis,E/ Tilburg 1992 (40). ] [ 7...e7 8.g2 c6 9.0-0 a6 10.dxe6 dxe6 11.d4 d7 12.a4 c5 13.xc6 xc6 14.xc6 xc6 15.xc6 b3 16.b1 d7 17.b4 ac8 18.d1 e7 19.d3 xc4 20.e3 hc8= 1-0 Efimov, I-Mordiglia, R/Asti 1996 (77). ] 8.g2 c6N 9.dxe6 dxe6 10.0-0 e7 11.e4!? fxe4 12.g5 c5! 13.cxe4 xe4 14.xe4 e5 15.g5 c7 [ 15...f7 16.d6 xd6 17.xb7 xb7 18.xd6 e8 19.b4! ( 19.fe1 c6! )] 16.g4 f5! [ 16...xb2!? 17.a2 d4 18.xe6+ h8 19.e2 and the white knight should reach d6 and exert uncomfortable pressure on the black position. ] 17.ab1 c6 [ 17...d7!? ] 18.b4 cxb4 19.axb4 af8 [ 19...a5!? ] 20.c5 d4 21.d6! xf2+ [ 21...xf2 22.xe6+ ( 22.xf2 xf2+ 23.h1 Black's position is precarious, with e6, b7 and c6 weak. ) 22...h8 ] 22.xf2 xf2 23.xe6+ h8 24.xb7 d4!? [ 24...xg2+ 25.xg2 xb7 26.b5!! d4+ 27.c6 xe6 28.cxb7 ] 25.e7 xg2+ 26.xg2 c6+ 27.h3 e8 [ 27...c8+ 28.g4 h5 ( 28...f3+ 29.h4 ) 29.e4 hxg4+ 30.g2 ]
28.f7 e6 29.f6 g8 [ 29...f4+!? 30.g4! h5+ 31.h4! g2+ 32.g5!+- ] 30.d6 f4+ 31.g4 d3 32.h4 a8 33.c6 h6 [ 33...xc6 34.xg7+ xg7 35.f8+ g8 36.f7# ] 34.g6 1-0
1721 Burnett,Ronald Kraai,Jesse ch-USA San Diego USA (6) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2444 2425 30.11.2004
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5!? Sharp. 5.exf5 xg2 Very sharp! 6.h5+ g6 7.fxg6 g7 8.gxh7+ f8 This controversial line has stimulated theoretical interest over the years but any conclusions are still open to doubt. However I think we can safely state that it's a brave option! The main alternatives 4...Nc6 and 4...Bb4+ are fairly solid and don't require as much preparation. 9.hxg8+ [ Consensus has it that 9.g5 is the most critical move ] 9...xg8 10.g4 xh1 11.g5 f8 12.h4 c6 13.h5 Defending the d-pawn is slow. White prefers to create strong threats with the h-pawn. xd4 14.h6 f3+! Now we're on virgin territory! Jedynak, R-Rausis,I Cappellela-Grande 2003 continued [ 14...f5 15.hxg7 xg7 16.f3 h2 17.f4 g2 with complications that eventually led to a draw. Black's activity just about compensated for the locked-in bishop, but Kraai obviously prefers to solve the bishop's problems first. ] 15.xf3 xf3 16.xf3 xf3 17.hxg7 h1+ 18.f1 g2 19.d2 xg7 The smoke clears and we find that Black has a rook and pawn for two pieces. W hite has yet to get organized but even when he does the rooks have open lines to play with and the pawns are solid so therefore Black is probably OK. At this point the jury would need more time to sift the evidence about the strength of Kraai's 14...Nf3+ but if looks sufficiently solid to merit the label 'improvement'. 20.f4 d6 21.e2 1736
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ah8 22.g3 Denying access to h4. 8h5 Keeping the tension due to the pin along the first rank and finding an active role for this rook. [ Instead 22...a5 has it's points. ] 23.c1 g5 24.c3 xf1+ Finally! 25.xf1 g4?! I consider the position after 25...a5 to be equal. White can't use his minor pieces to chip away at the Black structure and has no real threats. However in comparison the text a l l o w s W h i t e s o m e c h a n c e s . 26.b4!? The best try if one is trying to generate an edge. f7 27.d2 h5 28.a3 [ If 28.b5 (in order to prepare R-a3) then a5! copes with any queenside threats bearing in mind that 29.bxa6?! is nullified by a5 ] 28...a5 29.bxa5 xa5 30.xa5 bxa5 31.d3 e7 32.b3 [ I prefer 32.a4! fixing the a-pawn to a dark square. Then af ter d7 33.b3 g5 34.f4 f5 35.e3 White has winning chances. ] 32...a4 33.d4 c5 34.e2 d5! Not waiting until White reorganizes. 35.f4 d7 36.c3 dxc4 37.b2 [ 37.a3 e7 38.g2 d4 39.e3 d3+ 40.xc4 xa3 41.xc5 looks drawn. ] 37...e5 38.e2 e6 39.a3? Unnecessarily risky. White has obviously underestimated the danger. [ As an improvement, Fritz suggests the rather p recariou s-lookin g 39.c3 e4 40.xa4 e3 41.c3 when White isn't worse. ] 39...d5 40.xa4 g8! 41.a3 b8! The white king is suddenly stuck on the edge. 42.f4 [ 42.f3 f8 43.f4 e4 44.fxe5 f3 loses material and ] [ 42.h4 e4 43.f6 b7 leaves White close to being fatally zugzwanged. ] 42...e4 43.f5 [ Equally hopeless is 43.fxe5 f3 44.e6 a8+ 45.b2 xe2 46.e7 d3 ] 43...d3 44.f6 xe2 45.xe5 a8+ 46.b2 d3 0-1
1722 Bykhovsky,Avigdor Botvinnik,Ilia It Tel Aviv ISR (8) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2467 2405 28.03.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.a3 f5 5.h3 f6 6.f3 White declares his hand - he is going to play to force through e4 on his terms. g6!? A thematic reaction. White has invested time in preventing Bb4, and has also adopted a plan that takes less care of d4, so Black develops to take aim at this point. 7.g3 g7 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 c6 10.e4 fxe4 11.fxe4 e5 As quite often happens in the more obscure double fianchetto lines of this defence, positions with some kindred ele me nts t o t he K ing's In dian arise. It is always to good to have some idea of redeeming features for Black as a bishop on b7 tends to be an utter waste of time in such positions. Here there are a number of unusual factors, the primary one being the d4 square, which may compensate for the soon to be misplaced E nglish bish op . 12.d5 d4 13.e2 c5 14.xd4 cxd4 15.a4 h6 16.b3 d6 17.f2 c8! 18.a5 b5! 19.a3 Shame - things were just getting interesting. W hite is a bit restless about the pressure about to mount on c4, and Black's bishop will cause trouble on a6. The d3 square beckons to white's knight, but this piece must also keep an eye on its counterpart entering e3, via g4. [ 19.cxb5 a c c o m p l i s h e s n o t h i n g : d7 20.e2 e8 ( 20...b8 21.b6 axb6 22.a6 e8!? )] ½-½
1723 Cardon,Helmut Fridman,Daniel TCh-NED 2005-6 (8) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2397 2559 25.03.2006
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.d5 f6 Once Black plays this move (rather than the usual ...f5) play may well have similarities with a Queen's Indian. 4.g3 b7 5.g2 b5! Development can come later, Black first tries to undermine 1737
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the white centre. This idea doesn't crop-up in a QID but is analogous to a position from the English Defence where White has the extra moves a3 and Nc3 (but not Bg2) and Black the pawn on ...f5. For instance after 1 d4 e6 2 c4 b6 3 a3 Bb7 4 Nc3 f5 5 d5 Nf6 6 g3 b5!? 6.b3?! White sportingly chases the b-pawn seeking a direct refutation. [ Objectively better is 6.cxb5 when Black can happily recapture with either piece on d5 or even tempt 6...a6!?. ] 6...a6 7.c3?! [ After 7.xb5 simply b8 will give Black plenty of tactical chances for his pawn and there's every chance of quickly restoring material parity. However this would have been a more satisfactory try for White as the text has a hidden refutation. ] 7...c5 8.xb5 a5? [ After 8...c6 White's queen is in trouble. After 9.dxc6 a6 although White can muddy the waters by capturing on b7, he still loses his queen! ] 9.f4 d6 White now seeks to liberate his damsel in distress. 10.xd6 cxd6 11.b4! axb4 12.xb4 e7!? [ Black can also complete development with 12...0-0 13.h3 e7 14.0-0 fb8 with full compensation due to pressure both on the queenside and against the centre. ] 13.f3 exd5 With the sneaky threat of ... Nd3+. 14.0-0 dxc4 15.xc4 White's queen can finally feel safe but at the cost of allowing Black to regain his pawn. 0-0 16.fd1 fc8 17.d4 d5 Black's doubled pawns are not actually as weak as they are ugly. He can easily defend them and even use the squares around them for his pieces. Nevertheless he still has the worse structure. 18.ac1 [ Also possible is 18.ab1 eyeing up Black's bishop. ] 18...e6 19.d2 a3?! [ I prefer 19...c5 defending the d-pawn and keeping the rooks flexible. ] 20.b5!? This tricky move doesn't lead anywhere. So instead White should try [ 20.h4! e.g. g6! Stopping any back rank problems as well as avoiding the knight hopping to f5. ( 20...e4?! 21.xe4 dxe4 22.xc8+ xc8 23.xd7 a8 24.e7 gives White a promising position) 21.xd5
xd5 22.xc8+ xc8 23.xd5 xd5 24.xd5 c2! 25.f1! ( 25.e3?! xa2 26.xa2 xa2 27.xd7 g5 and Black is suf f iciently active to hold.) 25...xa2 26.xd7 b2 27.d3 and Black will have a difficult defensive task ahead. ] 20...xa2 21.xc8+ xc8 22.xa2?! After this White doesn't get anything for the loss of the a-pawn. Instead he could go for [ 22.d6 xd2 23.xd2 as a6 24.a1 wouldn't be that clear. ] 22...xa2 23.d6 a6 Now of course with the rook on a2 (instead of a8) Black has the initiative plus an extra pawn (well doubled and isolated it may be but it's still 'extra'). 24.e5!? [ After 24.e3 e4 hitting f2 25.xe4 dxe4 26.e5 d5 Black significantly improves his structure and could then claim to have a clear extra pawn. ] 24...xe2 25.b1 a6 26.f5 He can't capture on f7: [ 26.dxf7? d6 ] [ 26.exf7? h5 ] 26...g6 27.b8+ f8 28.e7+ g7 29.xd5 Losing but there was already nothing r e a l l y p l a y a b l e . xd5 30.xd5 d6 Picturesque. All eight plausible squares are useless - the knight is lost! 0-1
1724 Chabot,Roland Schleifer,M COQ Open Quebec CAN (5) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2225 2369 24.07.2001
1.d4 c6 2.d5 e5 3.e4 e6 4.dxe6 [ 4.f4 g6 5.dxe6 dxe6 6.xd8+ xd8 7.f3 ( 7.e3 f6 8.c3 b4 9.d3 xc3+ 10.bxc3 d7 11.h3 g4 12.d2 c6 13.g5 e7 14.0-0 e5 15.f5 f8 16.c4 h6 17.ae1 f6 18.c1 fxg5 19.xg5+ d6 20.f6 gxf6 21.xf6+ c5 22.d3 g4 23.xf8 hxf8 24.e7+ b6 25.b1+ a5 26.b4+ a4 27.b3 1-0 Barlov,D-Seyb,D Nuremberg 1990. ) A) 7...f6 8.c3 b4 9.d3 d7 10.h4 h5 11.e5 f8 12.xg6 fxg6 13.0-0 c5+ ( 13...e7 14.g4 f6 ) 14.h2 1738
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d6?? 15.e5 e7 16.g4+xh4 17.gxh5 gxh5 18.e3 g6 19.ad1 a6 20.c5 f7 21.h3 e7 22.e4 b6 23.xe7+ xe7 24.c4 c6 25.g5 ff8 26.xh7 fd8 27.g5 d7 28.d3 g8 29.f2 c6 30.c4 d7 31.fd2 c8 32.c3 f8 33.g3 b5 34.b3 b8 35.c2 g8 36.e4 b4 37.f6 g7 38.d8 bxc3 39.e8+ f7 40.dd8 d7 41.xd7# 1-0 Levitt, J-Watson,I Torquay 1982.; B) 7...c5!?; C) 7...b4+!? 8.c3 ( 8.c3!? Not fearing structural damage and aiming to transpose into known theory may be better.) 8...c5 9.b4 b6 10.h4 h5 11.a3 f6 12.g5 e7 13.c4 g4 14.xb6 axb6 15.a4 f6 16.f3 d7 17.b5 a7 18.a3+ f7 19.d1 e8 20.d4 xf4 21.e5 d5 22.exf6 gxf6 23.d3 xc3 24.g6+ d8 25.xh5 xb5 26.xg4 xd4 27.xd4 xa4 28.b2 e5 29.xd7 xd7 30.f3 a2 31.c1 xg2 32.h5 e6 33.f1 c2 34.e3 c5 35.h6 b5 36.e1 c4 37.d3 b6 38.e2 c2+ 39.f3 f5 40.f2 f4 41.c1 c3+ 42.e2 f5 43.d2 g3 44.h5+ g5 45.h2 h7 46.d3 b4 47.c1 e4 48.h4 b3 49.b2 c4 50.e1 b5 0-1 Crouch,C-Barle,J London ENG 2001. ] 4...fxe6 5.f4 g6!? Incredibly, I cannot find any gam es wit h this natura l move in my, apparently flawed, database. It is surely the most natural move, keeping up some pressure on f4, and black manages to develop easily and aggressively in this game. 6.f3 c5 7.c3 8e7 [ 7...h6!? ] 8.d3 0-0 9.g3 [ 9.a4!? ] 9...d5 10.e5 a6 11.e2 a7 12.h4!? f5 13.h3 c5 14.h5 ge7 15.xf5? [ 15.g4 c4!? 16.xc4 dxc4 17.gxf5 xf5 looks nice for black with two strong bishops and potential domination of the light squares. ] 15...exf5 16.h6 g6 17.g5 b5 18.d2 d4 19.d1 d5 20.b3 b7 21.h2 c4 22.bxc4 bxc4 23.c3 d3 24.f1 fe8 25.e3 c6 26.b1 ab8 27.b4 a8
28.c1 xb4 29.cxb4 d8 0-1
1725 Cheparinov,Ivan Romero Holmes,Alfonso Corus Reserve Group (6) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2089 2483 26.01.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 b5!? 7.xb5 exd5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.f3 a6 [ 9...c5!? was very tricky but not completely c o n vi n c i n g : 10.g5! c6 11.xf6 gxf6 12.e3 ( 12.b4!? ) 12...b6 13.b4 xe3 14.fxe3 xe3+ 15.e2 xe2+ 16.xe2 cxb5 17.0-0 a5 18.d4 axb4 19.axb4 xa1 20.xa1 0-0 21.xb5 1/2-1/2 Hofman,R-Grabuzova,T/Groningen 1994. ] 10.c3 b7 11.g2 c5 12.b4 e6 13.0-0 a5 14.b5 c5 15.b3 e7 16.e3 0-0 This should just be an interesting and fairly balanced struggle and indicates that black's 6th move may be a fully viable alternative in this variation. 17.h4 xg2 18.xg2 f7 [ 18...e4!? 19.xf5?? f7! ] 19.c2 g4 20.d5 d6 21.b2 g5? [ 21...ab8!? to freshen things up with ...c6 soon was a more natural alternative. Black's move gashes himself so badly that he must be pleased to reach an unpleasant queenless middlegame. ] 22.f3 d4 23.xd4 xd5 24.a2 xa2 25.xa2 h6 26.a4 f6 27.e5 ae8 28.d3 e4 29.c2 f7 30.c5 Now black can only regret the sins of his youth - his spattered pawns allow white to improve his position by the simplest means. xc5 31.xc5 d6 32.d4 e7 33.c6+- a8 34.fc1 e6 35.xc7 xc7 36.xc7 g4 37.b6 b8 1-0
1739
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1726 Chernuschevich,Alexei Sharif,Mershad National I Montpellier FRA (1) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2486 2473 31.01.2003
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.f3 It's generally considered more precise to wait with the knight that may be better placed going from h3-f4. So 6 g3 is a better try. e7 7.g3 e4 8.xe4?! [ 8.d2 f6 ( 8...c5 9.e3 a5 10.g2 a6 11.e5 d6 12.d3 worked out better for White in Adorjan-Miles, Biel 1983 ( t o o m a n y b i s h o p m o v e s ! ) .) 9.c1 looks more logical. ] 8...fxe4 9.d4 exd5 10.cxd5 0-0 11.b3 c5! Black already has the most active pieces (except for his queen's knight). 12.e3 f6 13.0-0-0 e5 [ I can't see anything wrong with 13...f7 either. ] 14.c6!? Hoping for complications but Sharif i s n ' t i m p r e s s e d . xe3+ 15.fxe3 d6 16.xb8 [ After 16.g2 a6 White cannot capture on e4 e.g. 17.xe4?? c5 18.b4 xe4 19.xe4 dxc6 20.dxc6 xc6+ 21.xc6 xc6 when White can resign. ] 16...axb8 17.g2 be8 18.c4 f2 [ Probably the best way to increase his a d v a n t a g e i s 18...b5! 19.xb5 a6 followed by ...Bxe2. The text is not bad but allows his opponent to get organized. ] 19.xe4 c5 20.xc5 bxc5 21.f3 xe3 22.d2 d6 Material i s equal and White has escaped to an ending. However Black's active rooks still put him under pressure. 23.d1 a6 24.g4 [ 24.e1?? fxf3 ] 24...c4 25.e1 f6 26.f1 f7 27.e6+ e7 28.xf6 xf6 29.f2 b3 30.c2 b5 31.h4 h6 Black will improve his pieces, particularly his king, whilst White has to wait developments. 32.g4 e5 33.f3 d7 34.g4 [ Passive defence doesn't help e. g. 34.e1 f5 35.d2 c4 36.f2 a5 37.e3 c3 38.bxc3 xc3 39.a2 e4 and Black wins a pawn and with it probably the game. ] 34...g5 35.h5 a5 36.e1 d4 37.f2 c4
38.e1 a4 39.d2+ e3 White has been squeezed so much the pips are about to burst out! 40.c2 It's Zugzwang, so there was no satisfactory alternative. xa3 41.c1 [ 41.xc4 a1+ 42.c1 xc1# ] 41...a2 42.c3+ d4 43.e3+ c5 44.e2 b3 45.xc4 A combination offering only a temporary respite from the inevitable. xc4 46.b3 xd5 47.xc4 c5 48.d1 b2 49.c3 e4 50.c1 e2 51.c4+ f3 52.a4 xe3 53.c2 e4 0-1
1727 Chernyshov,Konstantin Kraai,Jesse FSGM May Budapest HUN (4) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2524 2454 06.05.2003
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 [ Exchanging off a pair of bishops reduces t h e b i t e o f W h i t e ' s c e n t r e s o 4...b4+ is an important alternative. 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 h6 Now White has three principle options. 7.e2 A nuance. ( 7.h5!? f6 8.gf3 c6 9.e5 f4 10.g3 g4 11.xg4 xg4 12.0-0 f6 13.h3 h6 14.exf6 gxf6 15.a3 Petursson,M-Wauthier, P St.Bernadino 1991 left W hite with his usual space edge but nothing concrete.; 7.gf3 0-0 8.0-0 f6 9.b4 c6 10.b3 e7 11.d5 e5 12.c5 Space isn't everything...read on. d6 13.fc1 g5 14.cxd6 cxd6 15.b5 c8 16.c6 b8 17.b5 The bishop outpost doesn't really inconvenience Black. g6 18.a3 e7 19.c4 g4 20.e1 bd8 21.h3 c8 with a draw Kishnev,S-Bischoff,K Bundesliga 2001.) 7...0-0 8.0-0 c6 9.a3 f5! 10.c2 h8 11.ad1 f4!? 12.f3 f7 13.h1 e5 14.d5 e7 15.c5 d6 16.cxd6 xd6 17.c1 c6 Lautier,J-Sharif,M Clermont-Ferrand 2003 doesn't give White more than a small initiative. ] 5.f3 b4 One of Black's most solid lines. Black banks on his bishop pair being more of a factor long-term than W hite's space and temporary lead in development. 6.0-0 xd3 7.xd3 d6 8.c3 g6 9.a4!? [ 9.g5 d7 10.ad1 g7 11.fe1 h6 1740
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.c1 e7 13.b3 0-0-0!? ( 13...0-0 also looks OK) 14.d5 he8 15.d4 g5 16.b4 xd4 17.xd4 f5 led to adequate counterplay for Black in Paschell,W-Ivanov, Alex Pan American ch. 1998 ] 9...g7 [ 9...a5 comes into consideration, to hinder further pawn expansion. ] 10.a5 e7 11.d5 h6 12.d4 e5 13.a6 c8 [ Play after 13...exd4 14.axb7 b8 15.b5 xb7 16.xa7 will favour White, who will have plenty of time to pick up the loose dpawn, and after ] [ 13...xd5 14.exd5 exd4 15.b5 0-0 16.xd4 White has a comfortable space advantage. ] 14.c6!? An interesting choice leading to an unusual pawn structure. xc6 15.dxc6 0-0 16.b4 e6 17.e3 f5 18.f3 e8 19.d5 f7 20.b5 f4 21.f2 g5 The position is now blocked-up on all fronts. 22.fd1 f6 23.h3 f8 24.f1 Time to quit the sector where Black has aggressive intentions! g7 25.e2 af8 26.d2 d8 27.c3 h5 28.b3 g6 29.e1 e8 30.b4 g7 31.d2 h8 32.c3 g8 33.e2 f7 34.b3 h7 35.d3 g6 36.c2 h6 37.b2 h7 38.a4 h6 39.d2 h7 With the time control at hand White finally decides that it's time to go for gold. 40.c5!? dxc5 41.xc5 bxc5 42.xc5 White will win the a-pawn and thus obtains a powerful passed pawn for his piece. Clearly Black cannot wait any longercounterplay is essential. g4! 43.hxg4 hxg4 44.xa7 gxf3 45.gxf3 g7 46.c5 [ Stopping the rook coming to g2 with 46.f2? is a terrible blunder as after xd5 neither recapture is satisf actory 47.exd5 ( 47.xd5? g2 ) 47...e4+ ] 46...g2 47.xg2 xg2+ 48.c2 f1 [ T h e e n d in g a f t e r 48...xc2+ 49.xc2 xd5 50.exd5 e7 51.a7 a8 52.b6! cxb6 53.c7 is untenable. ] 49.a7 xb5+ 50.a2 h4 51.a8 xa8 52.xa8 g7 White has an extra exchange b u t B la c k ' s k in g is le ss e xp o se d . 53.b3 e2+ 54.a3 e7+ 55.a4 e6 56.a5 [ 56.a5! is the best chance to try and win. The king finds a relatively safe square and it's hard to see how Black can continue his
harassment. ] 56...e1 57.c3 d1+ 58.b5 e2+ 59.c4 b2+ 60.a4 a3+ 61.b5 b2+ 62.a4 a3+ ½-½
1728 Chetverik,Maxim Czebe,Attila FSIMB Budapest HUN (6) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2316 2480 08.08.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c2 b4+ 5.d2 This may sound incredible, but I cannot find this move before. Even if this is not 100% accurate, it is remarkable that such a natural move can be so rare. e7 [ 5...a6!? ] [ 5...xd2+ 6.xd2 h6!? could be a more flexible version of the game - it is not clear that the foray to b4 with the queen is so profitable. ] 6.xb4 [ 6.c3 d5!? ] 6...xb4+ 7.d2 [ 7.c3 looks more natural. ] 7...h6 8.d3 0-0 [ 8...f5 ] 9.gf3 f5 10.0-0-0 [ 10.0-0 is safe and solid. ] 10...c6 11.d5 [ 11.a3!? e7 ( 11...a5 12.he1 ) 12.d5 exd5 13.exd5 e5 should be roughly equal. ] 11...e7 12.he1 [ 12.a3!? is tempting to toss in when Black's que en mu st go t o a5 - presu ma bly t his would make it harder for the queen to return to centralized action. ] 12...g6 13.exf5 exf5 14.g3 c6 [ 14...b5!? looks more promising, preparing to ventilate the queenside and activate the Bb7 as well. ] 15.dxc6 xc6 16.d4 a5 17.xc6 dxc6 18.b1 Now the pressure on f5 gives White the initiative. Much of the rest of the game does not make sense, implying input error from the source material. The opening po ssibilit ie s f o r bo t h sid es ha ve alrea d y passed - the first verdict must be that this 1741
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 system seems like a sensible option for White, the Keres Defence. 3.d2 a5! and why it has been so untested is a major [ 3...e7 4.e4! promises White some kind mystery. ae8 19.h3 xe1 20.xe1 f7 of edge, for example c6 5.f3 f6 21.f4 d6 22.c5 bxc5 23.e6 d8 24.b3 6.d3 xd2+ ( or 6...d5 7.e5 e4 8.0-0 c7 25.xc5 f8 26.e5 f7 27.e2 xd2 9.bxd2 xd2 10.xd2 , Jelen-B. 0-1 Kovacevic, Zagreb 1997) 7.bxd2 d6 8.0-0 d7 9.a3 f6 10.d5 e7 11.b4 g6 12.e1 (Kotov-Bronstein, Riga 1958) ] 1729 A40 4.c3 There's an argument for saying that this is actually White's most accurate moveChristiansen,Larry Mark 2596 Bricard,Emmanuel 2461 order. Alternatively: [ a) 4.e4 - see Vareille-Winants, France 19th Open Reykjavik ISL (4) 08.04.2000 2003 (ECO code A40). ] [Jon Tisdall] [ b) With 4.f3 White shows he or she is happy to transpose into the Bogo-Indian 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.f3 b7 4.c3 b4 proper after 4...Nf6, albeit one where Black 5.g5 xc3+ 6.bxc3 f6 7.h4 d6 is committed to an early ...a7-a5. However, I can understand that when a second big guy with the 1.. .e6, 2...Bb4 move order Black comes and plays this offbeat variation that has independent possibilities based on the there is an urge not to repeat oneself. But g8-knight developing to h6 rather than f6 black seems to fall between two stools here, see Morris-Legky, Lucerne 1994. ] alternating solid with extravagant and getting 4...f6 I guess one way of looking at this into trouble. position is to say that we have transposed into [ 7...e7 ] 8.d2 d7 9.e4 e7 10.f3 h6 11.d3 a kind o f Nimzo-In dian whe re W hite h a s 0-0 12.0-0 g5 This seems like a very odd played the unusual Bd2 and Black has played time to decide to fling the kingside forward. the silly ...a5! [ Black can delay the development of the f613.f2 f5 14.exf5 exf5 15.c5 d5 kn ight in f a vo ur o f 4...d6 , playing for a [ 15...dxc5 16.b3+ and Rae1 is very scary quick ... e6-e5. Now White should continue for black. ] 5.e4! f o r e x a m p l e , ( HÃ1/4bner assesses 16.a4 c6 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 f5!? 7.e4!? fxe4 8.g4 [ 16...bxc5 17.dxc5 e5 18.fe1 f6 9.xg7 g8 10.h6 d5 as unclear) ( 18.ae1 )] 5...f6 6.d3 e5 7.a3 xc3 8.bxc3! e7 17.ae1 f6 18.c4 bxc5 19.cxd5 b6 9.f3 bd7 10.e2 (Stohl-Eingorn, Austria 20.b3 c4 21.xc4 cxd5 22.xb6 axb6 1999). It's now a SÃNmisch pawn structure 23.e5 fe8 with White's bishop looking a bit strange on [ 23...d6!? planning ...Ra3 looks more d2. However, the most misplaced unit is troublesome. ] Black's pawn on a5 - this would now much 24.b1 f7 25.xb6 prefer to be back on a7, giving b6 support in [ 25.xb6 xb6 26.xe8+ xe8 27.xb6 case of c4-c5 and also vacating the a5is just too gruesome. ] square for a possible ... Nc6-a5. It's 1-0 revealing that against Cmilyte, Eingorn was not prepared to repeat this position. ] 1730 A40 5.e4! d5!? [ 5...xc3?! 6.xc3 xe4 7.g4 xc3 Cmilyte,Viktorija 2480 8.xg7 f8 9.bxc3 looks good for White, Eingorn,Vereslav S 2587 while 5...d6 transposes to the previous Open A Hamburg GER (4) 04.10.2005 note. ] [John Emms] 6.e5 e4 [ 6...xc3 7.bxc3 e4 8.e3! is better for 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b4+ This game is particularly W hite as the knight on e4 is vulnerable. interesting as Eingorn is a real specialist of 1742
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Note here that xc3? 9.c2 e4 10.f3 h4+ 11.g3 xg3 12.f2! wins for White. ] 7.xe4 dxe4 8.a3 xd2+ 9.xd2 0-0 10.0-0-0 It's not that easy to assess this position. The pawn on e4 is vulnerable, but for the moment it prevents W hite from developing his kingside the way she would wish to. Should be better for White, though. f6 11.f4 b5!? If Black develops "normally" then the weakness of e4 is a major problem. It could be protected by playing ...f6-f5, but the problem with this move is that it takes all the pressure off White's centre and gives White the possibility of a future pawn lever with g2g4, opening up a file against Black's king. 12.e2 Preparing to meet 12...bxc4 with 13 Nc3. [ However, it's not clear to me that Black really has enough compensation for the p a wn a f t e r 12.cxb5 b7 13.e2 d7 14.c3 b6 ] 12...b4! 13.a4 White is quite rightly reluctant to ope n u p t he que enside to o m uch . b7 14.e3 d7 15.g3? After this move Black surprisingly comes out on top. [ Given what happens in the game, there's an argument for playing 15.c5!? , keeping Black's knight out of the game. ] 15...fxe5 16.fxe5 c5! 17.xe4 cxd4 18.xd4 xe4! 19.xe4 c7 20.d3 c5 21.h4 h6 What's happened? White is a pawn ahead, but everything else is in Black's favour. The knight has become a monstrous piece on c5, while W hite's king is certainly shakier than Black's. 22.b1 ad8 23.g4 d7 [ Fritz spots the funny perpetual checking sequence with 23...xe5!? 24.xe5 b3+ 25.c2 a1+ 26.c1 b3+ , but unsurprisingly Black is now after more than a draw. ] 24.b3? [ 24.-- Black was threatening f2! 25.xf2 b3+ 26.c2 d3# ] [ However, 24.c2 b3 25.b1 was White's best chance of survival. ] 24...xb3+! 25.b2 d2+ 26.xd2 xd2 27.c2 f2 28.c1 h5 29.h4 c8 30.xh5 xc4 31.h7+ f7 32.xc4 xc4+ 33.b3 d2+ 34.b2 g6! 35.h3 g7 36.c1 c4 It's all gone horribly wrong
for W hite: the bishop is trapped on h7 and Black's b-pawn is a runner. 0-1
1731 Cmilyte,Viktorija Kengis,Edvins Keres Mem Open (9) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2464 2572 31.07.2001
1.d4 [ 1.e4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.d3 e6 4.f3 g6 5.c4 g7 6.c3 d6 7.0-0 d7 8.e3 e7 9.d2 h6 10.h3 g5 11.e2 c5 12.d5 g6 This seems to be the most "in" way to play the Hippo these days against a c4/d4/e4 pawn centre - play ... c5 to avoid being squashed on the queenside, and hurry a N to g6 without committing the king to ca st li n g t o o e a r ly. W h it e gi ve s u p a n y pretense of standing better quite early in this game, but that is likely down to the large rating differential. 13.e1 ( 13.g3!? ) 13...e5 14.f3 f6 15.e1 e5 16.f3 f6 17.e1 de5 18.f4 gxf4 19.xf4 xf4 20.xf4 g5 21.e2 xf4 ( 21...e7!?; 21...g6!? ) 22.xf4 g5 23.d3 xf4 24.xf4 xd3 25.xd3 e7 26.af1 af8 27.e2 f6 28.g4 c8 29.dxe6 hg8 30.1f3 xe6 31.a3 a8 32.xe6 xe6 33.h4 g6 34.h5 ag8 35.g4 8g7 36.f2 h7 37.f3 b7 38.a4 h7 39.g3 e7 40.ff5 f7 41.f4 e5 42.hf5 h5 43.h4 hxg4 44.hxg4 xf5 45.xf5 e6 46.h5 g7 47.g3 a6 48.f4 b5 49.axb5 axb5 50.b3 bxc4 51.bxc4 a7 52.h6 g7 53.h8 1/2-1/2 Hermansson,E-Bezold,M Panormo GRE 2001. ] 1...e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e4 e7 6.f3 0-0!? This is an alternative Hippo approach which packs a lot of logic - Black prepares to strike back in the centre quickly with ...f5. By keeping the B on c8 he may win a great deal of time as the B must often be rerouted here if the centre closes with d4-d5. 7.g5 h6 8.e3 f5 9.exf5 [ 9.d3 Tried to put off the concession of t a ki n g o n f 5 , b u t K e n gi s b r o u g h t m o r e pressure to bear on the centre: b7 10.d5 1743
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 This helps black bring up the reserves - he should wait with something like ( 10.c2!? ) 10...a6 11.exf5 xf5 12.xf5 xf5 13.d4 e5 14.f3 f5 15.d4 f8 16.g4 exd5 17.cxd5 ( 17.xg6 e8 ) 17...e8 18.0-0 f7 19.ad1 ae8 20.db5 d6 21.c4 c5 22.xa7 a6 23.cb5 d7 24.xc5 bxc5 25.b3 h7 26.a4 b7 27.d3 e5 28.c3 f7 29.ab5 fe8 30.h3 h5 31.h1 8e7 32.d2 h6 33.d3 f4 34.c4 f6 35.d3 f7 36.c4 f5 37.g1 f4 38.d3 g7 39.c2 e5 40.fe1 g7 41.e2 h4 42.d3 f5 43.de3 xc2 44.xc2 b4 45.a2 f4 46.ac3 ef7 47.f1 d4 48.ee2 xc3 49.xc3 b4 50.e4 xe4 51.xe4 xd5 52.d2 f6 53.c4 f8 54.c3 b8 55.d2 e6 56.g3 b4 57.e2 d7 58.e3 g5 59.c4 xc4 60.bxc4 xa4 61.gxh4 gxh4 62.f3 e6 63.g4 d5 64.e3+ f6 65.f3+ g6 66.f5 xc4+ 67.f4 d4 68.g5+ f6 69.f5+ e6 70.e5+ d6 71.e1 c4 72.g5 c3 73.f5 c2 0 - 1 N a rv a , J - K e n g is , E P u h a j a r ve E S T 2001. ] 9...xf5 Black must already have a very pleasant position. 10.e2 b7 11.d2 c6 12.0-0-0 a5 13.c2 xf3 14.gxf3 h4!? [ 14...d5!? ] 15.hg1 g5 16.g4 xh2 17.f4 c6? [ 17...h3!? must be better. ] 18.e4 gxf4 19.h1 d6 20.xh2? [ 20.f3! fxe3 21.xg7+! h8 22.g8+! xg8 23.g4++- ] 20...xe4 21.xe4 fxe3 22.fxe3 h8 23.g3 f7 24.h5 g8 25.xg7 gxg7 26.xh6+ g8 27.xg7+ ½-½
1732 Cooper,John Grantley Mah,Karl 4NCL Birmingham ENG (1) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2341 2411 23.09.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.a3 g6 5.e4 g7 6.f3 e7 7.h4 h6 8.f4 d6 9.c2 d7 10.0-0-0 c6 11.d5 ce5 12.d4 e7 13.g3 0-0 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.h3 c5
16.xe5 dxe5 17.b3 xb3+ 18.xb3 xf2 19.c5 xc5 20.b1 h8 21.xe6 e3 22.d5 xd5 23.xd5 af8 24.d3 f1+ 25.xf1 xf1+ 26.a2 c1 27.e6 f8 28.xg6 f1 29.d1 c4+ 30.a1 a5 31.d7 f1+ 32.b1 g8 33.xc7 f6 34.g4 h7 35.e2 [ 35.d7! ] 35...d8 36.c1 d4 37.c3 f2 38.b5 d2 39.a2 f2 40.g4 0-1
1733 Cramling,Pia Koneru,Humpy 6th Women GP (3) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2516 2607 24.02.2011
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 9.f4!? An unusual move order as White usually plays this after castling. [ If however White castles 9.0-0 Black can try placing the bishop on e5: e5!? ( 9...0-0 10.f4 gets back to the main game) 10.c2 0-0 11.d1 ( or 11.d2 e7 12.ad1 ae8 13.f4 f7 14.dxe6 dxe6 15.d3 d6 16.xc5 xg2 17.xg2 bxc5!? Atalik, S-Mamedyarov, S Calvia Olympiad 2004, was fine for Black) 11...e7 12.b1 a5?! ( s i m p l e s t i s 12...xc3 13.xc3 ce4= ) 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 ce4 Miron, L-Ciobanu, Au Romanian championships 2011. In the game 15.xe4 fxe4 16.g5 led to Black shedding his epawn, although then his active bishops gave him some compensation. ] 9...0-0 10.0-0 e5!? This seems to be new in this position. [ Black has however been reasonably successful when keeping the central tension: 10...e7 11.c2 a5 12.b5 e5 13.e3 c6 14.dxc6 xc6 15.d3 b8 16.ad1 c8 17.xc5 bxc5 18.g5 d5= Foisor, C-Jossien, A Bethune 2006. ] [ Or similarly 10...e5 11.c2 a5 12.e3 g5 13.d3 xd3 14.xd3 g4= Snape, I-Flear, G British league 2004. ] 11.d3 xd3 12.exd3!? [ Black has a dynamic position following 1744
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.xd3 e4 13.c2 c6 ] 12...c6 13.d4 Both sides strive for the initiative in the centre. c7 14.dxe5 xe5 15.d2 [ 15.d3 followed by Bd2 looks more to the point. ] 15...f4! Just as in the Dutch defence, the idea of ...f5 is to, eventually, go further! 16.e2 fxg3 [ The queen doesn't look totally at ease on e2, but after 16...ae8 it can go to the more comfortable d3-square: 17.d3 ] 17.hxg3 cxd5 18.b5 Hoping to create disharmony in the black ranks. b8 19.cxd5 a6 [ 19...xb2?? 20.f4 ] 20.c3 d6 [ There is a case for 20...d6 linking the rooks immediately. ] 21.e3?! There is a certain risk in moving the bishop as White is inviting Black to damage her structure. b5 22.ad1 xc3! [ A well reasoned winning try, as 22...c7 23.d4 keeps things symmetrical and, in the long-term, more drawish. ] 23.bxc3 c7 24.d4? [ Better would have been 24.d3 ac8 25.f4 with chances for both sides, as fd8 26.h3 xd5 27.fe1 isn't so clear, despite the fact that Black is likely to pick off another pawn or two. ] 24...ae8 25.d3 f7 [ Black can get away with 25...xd5! as 26.xd5+ ( White sheds a pawn after both 26.xf6 xg2 27.xg2 xf6; and 26.b6 xb6 27.xd5+ h8 ) 26...xd5 27.xg7 is strongly met by f4! ] 26.xf6 xf6 27.c4 bxc4 28.xc4 e5 With a slight initiative but this shouldn't be too worrying for White. 29.d3 f7 30.d4 f5 31.d2 c8 32.b6 f6 33.c2 The wrong rook, as the one on f 1 remains distinctly passive. [ I prefer 33.c1 h5 34.c4 g4 35.b4 when White keeps things shipshape. ] 33...h5 34.c4 g4! Threatening ...Be2. 35.f4!? [ White loses a pawn after 35.e1?! f3 36.xf3 xf3 37.e3 xd5 ] 35...xf4 36.gxf4 White's king is exposed, but Cramling is nevertheless able to keep
things together. g6 37.e3 h5 38.c1 h4 39.h2 e8 40.d4 f5 41.g1 h6 The struggle continues, with time trouble no doubt influencing some of the following play. 42.d2 h5 43.e1 f8 Exchanging rooks would give no real winning chances. 44.e7 f6 45.e3 g4 46.f3? [ A better defence would have been 46.a7! g6 47.a8+ h7 48.f3= ] 46...xf3 47.xf3 h7 Winning the f-pawn. 48.g4 xf4 49.h3 f5 [ Holding onto the g-pawn could well have given Bla ck he r b e st win nin g cha n ce s : 49...g5! 50.e6+ h8 51.d7 e4 52.xd6 xf2 53.g4 g2+ 54.h5 g7 55.g4 h3! ] 50.xf5 xf5 51.xh4 xd5 In rook endgames an extra pawn is often difficult to exploit when the opponent's rook is so active. 52.d7 h7 53.f4 g6 54.g4 f6 55.f3 d3+ 56.e4 xa3 57.xd6+ e7 58.b6 f7 59.f5 a1 60.b7+ g8 61.a7 The rook is ideally placed behind the passed pawn. a5 62.f4 a4 63.g5 [ Otherwise 63.g3 a3 64.g2 a2 65.h2 is a book draw. ] 63...a3 64.g6 White creates some counter threats... just in time! g1+ 65.h5 a1 66.g6 g1+ 67.h5 g3 68.h4 b3 69.g5 f8 70.f6 gxf6+ 71.xf6 e8 72.e5 d8 73.d4 c8 74.c4 b8 ½-½
1734 Crouch,Colin S Kinsman,Andrew PH 4NCL Birmingham ENG (6) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2407 2401 20.01.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 5.f3 b4 6.c3 xd3+ 7.xd3 d6 This doesn't necessarily commit black to trying a kind of Hippo double fianchetto, but it is interesting that most players start with this the few times they go on to play ...g6. One thought is that it gives black the option of playing ...Qd7 in reply to a Bg5 probe - there are arguments to be made that ...f6 is not an ideal reaction, and tucking the queen away on c8 is less appealing. 8.0-0 e7 1745
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 8...g6 9.g5 A) 9...f6 10.e3 d7 11.d2 g7 12.d5 e7 ( 12...e5!? ) 13.dxe6 xe6 14.d5 d7 15.d4 0-0 16.f4 xd5 17.exd5 f5 18.f3 c5 19.dxc6 xc6 20.xg7 xg7 21.d4 e4 22.d2 f7 23.ac1 d5 24.c5 bxc5 25.xc5 fc8 26.fc1 xc5 27.xc5 e8 28.b4 b7 29.c3 a6 30.c7 xa2 31.e2 1-0 Iljushin,A-Nalesny,I Novgorod 1999.; B) 9...d7 10.ad1 g7 11.fe1 h6 12.c1 e7 13.b3 0-0-0 14.d5 he8 15.d4 g5 16.b4 xd4 17.xd4 f5 18.exf5 xf5 19.d3 f7 20.dxe6 xe6 21.xe6 xe6 22.e2 xe2 23.xe2 e8 24.c3 g4 25.f1 h5 26.f4 h4 27.d5 e4 28.g5 f5 29.c5 bxc5 30.bxc5 e5 31.f4 xc5 32.xh5 g7 33.xg7 xg5 34.e6 h5 35.d4 a6+ 0-1 Paschall,W-Ivanov,A San Felipe 1998. ] 9.e1 [ 9.d2 g6 10.b4 g7 11.a4 a5 12.b5 0-0 13.fe1 h6 14.ad1 f5 15.c1 g5 This seems unnecessary to me - black had reasonable play without this. 16.c5 fxe4 17.xe4 d5 18.h4 g4 19.h2 f5 20.g3 xd4 21.cxd6 cxd6 22.xg4 e5 23.c3 e6 24.xh6 c8 25.e2 c4 26.b1 c5 27.xf8 xh4 28.gxh4 xh4 29.g6+ xf8 30.f6+ xf6 31.xf6 b4 32.d7+ e7 33.xb6 g8+ 34.f1 g4 35.xc4 xc4 36.c1 1-0 Flear,G-Bricard, E Chartres 1990. ] 9...g6 10.g5 g7 11.f4 0-0 12.c2 d7 Black has every reason to be satisfied - he has the bishop pair and an interesting, dynamic position. W hite centre lovers will probably also be ready to fight. 13.ad1 f5 [ 13...f6!? 14.h4 d5 is another option. I would have been nervous about allowing white Bxe7 under certain circumstances. ] 14.e5 d5 15.cxd5 [ 15.xe7!? is the kind of circumstance that would have worried me. dxc4 ( 15...xe7 16.cxd5 exd5 17.b4 looks more attractive for white than the game to me, but black is solid. ) 16.xc4 xe7 17.d5 ] 15...xd5 16.f2 f7 17.e3 f8 18.exd5 xd5 Black's grip on the d5 square and d-file guarantee him a fair share of the
action, but his position is rather passive - the bishop on d5 looks gorgeous, but it doesn't have much to do - the position is balanced, and big risks will have to be taken to tip the scales. 19.fd2 c8 20.f6 c6 21.g3 g7 22.xg7 xg7 23.h4 h5 24.h2 a8 25.f2 d8 26.d3 dd7 27.g3 d8 28.g5 h6 29.e2 b7 30.g3 g7 31.b3 d5 32.c4 c5 33.b4 gd7 34.bxc5 bxc5 35.dxc5? [ 35.c3 xd4 36.xd4 cxd4 37.xe6 must have been tempting, and might have been assumed good - but after g7 38.b5 d5 white is worse. The speculation in the game is tricky but apparently unsound. ] 35...xd1 36.xe6 g7 37.g3 h7 38.xf5 [ 38.xh5 c8 ] 38...f8!-+ [ 38...c8?? 39.xh5+ ] 39.xg7 xf4+ 40.g3 xh4+ 41.h3 [ 41.h3 f2 ] 41...xh3+ 42.xh3 xg7 43.a3 a6 44.b3 d5 45.b6 c1 0-1
1735 Crouch,Colin S Plaskett,Jim 4NCL Birmingham ENG (11) [Neil McDonald]
A40 2424 2515 01.05.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 b7 4.d5 [ If 4.f3 Black could try xf3!? 5.exf3 b4+ which turned out very well for him in Yermolinsky-Speelman. Alternatively he could play 4...f5 or 4...Nf6, but who would want to play a Daring Defence just to end up in the Queen's Indian? ] 4...b5! A logical move which aims to undermine d5 before White can bring up his major pieces to support his extended centre. 5.e4 This is probably too committal. [ Instead 5.b3 a6!? 6.g2 ( A nice point is 6.xb5 c6!! 7.xb7? c5 8.b4 d3+ winning W hite's queen!) 6...b4 7.cxb5 xd5 8.xd5 xd5 9.e4 is Tregubov-Shtyrenko, Volgograd 1994, and now df6 looks best with unclear play. ] 1746
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 5...f6 6.e5 White's pawns are rushing forwards, but where are the pieces to defend them? e4 7.g2 f5! Black makes a claim for a large stake in the centre. 8.exf6 [ 8.dxe6 c5 9.h3 xf2!! 10.xf2 xg2 gives Black a dangerous initiative. ] 8...b4+ 9.d2 xf6 10.gf3 exd5 11.cxb5 e7+! 12.e2 xe2+ 13.xe2 a6! White's opening strategy has suffered a fiasco. Taking on a6 obviously leaves his king exposed to a big attack, but after his next mo ve b ein g a p a wn do wn isn 't m uch f u n either. 14.b6 cxb6 15.a3 d6 16.b3 The best chance was [ 16.e1 when at least his king gets to safety after 17 kf1. ] 16...a5 17.e3 a6+ 18.d1 c6 19.h3 0-0 20.bd4 e4 21.f1 xd4 Here White resigned as 22.xd4 xf2+ is curtains. 0-1
1736 A40 De Haan,Eric 2283 Sielecki,Christof 2416 Belgian Interteams 1999-2000 (10) 20.02.2000 [Jon Tisdall] 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 f5 4.c3 f6 5.f3 b7 6.g3 e7 [ 6...e4!? 7.d2 e7 8.d5 f6 9.c1 c6 10.dxe6 dxe6 11.xe4 fxe4 12.g1 xb2 13.b1 e3 14.xe3 c3+ 15.d2 xd2+ 16.xd2 xd2+ 17.xd2 c5 18.f3 c6 19.h3 d8+ 20.e3 e7 21.hc1 d6 22.c3 hd8 23.g5 h6 24.f3 f6 25.g4 d4 0-1 Hess, R-Kengis,E/Germany 1993/GER-chT2 (25) ] 7.g2 0-0 8.d5 e4 9.d2 f6 10.c1 c6 [ 10...a5 11.0-0 a6 12.e1 ac5 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 xc3 15.xc3 xc3 16.xc3 e4 17.c1 f6 18.d4 e7 19.e5 ac8 1/2-1/2 Hegeler,F-Rabiega,R/ Germany 1999/GER-chT2 (19) ] 11.dxe6 dxe6 12.0-0 c5 13.c2 xd2 14.xd2 xg2 15.xg2 c6 16.e3 e7 17.f4 ad8 This game is reminiscent of Sasikiran - Rahman from this month, but with one noticeable difference - black's bishop is better posted and unopposed., and this gives him a small but lasting advantage. 18.f3 h6
19.h3 b7 20.cd1 g5 21.h2 g7 22.xd8 xd8 23.d1 g4 24.xd8+ xd8 25.hxg4 xg4 26.g2 h5 27.f2 f7 28.a4 h4 29.gxh4 xh4+ 30.xh4 xh4+ 31.e2 h2+ 32.d3 e5 33.d5? [ 33.e2 ] 33...xb2 34.e7+ h7 35.xf5 e4+ 36.xe4 b1+ 37.f3 xf5 38.xa7 f6 39.a4 g6 40.b7 e5+ 41.g3 c6 42.xc6+ xc6 43.g4 a5 44.f5+ f6 45.f4 xc4 46.e4 e5 47.e3 Now black starts working very hard to drop half a point. d7 [ 47...g5-+ ] 48.d3 e5 49.c4 xe4 50.f6 e5+ [ 50...e5 ] 51.b5 d4 52.xb6 d7+ 53.b7 c4 54.a5 c3 55.a6 c2 56.a7 c1 57.a8 h1+ 58.a7 a1+ 59.b7 c5+ 60.b8 b2+ 61.c8 b5 62.a1+ d5 63.h1+ d6 64.h2+ e6 65.h3+ xf6 66.h6+ e7 67.g7+ d6 68.c7+ e6 69.b6+! ½-½
1737 Dorfman,Josif D Miezis,Normunds 5th OIBM Bad Wiessee GER (7) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2599 2501 02.11.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 g6 5.e4 g7 6.f3 e7 7.d3 d6 8.e3 d7 9.d2 h6 [ 9...0-0 10.0-0-0 a6 11.h4 h5 12.h6 f6 13.xg7 xg7 14.g5 c6 15.e2 e7 16.f3 b5 17.c3 bxc4 18.xc4 d5 19.b3 a5 20.e5 d7 21.f4 d8 22.b1 c5 23.c1 a4 24.a2 cxd4 25.xd4 c6 26.e3 dxe5 27.he1 f6 28.xc6 xc6 29.fxe6+ fxe6 30.xe6+ h7 31.g5+ h8 32.e6 f7 0-1 Karner,H-Kengis,E Tallinn EST 2001. ] 10.d5 [ 10.0-0 g5 11.d5 g6 12.d4 0-0 13.xg7 xg7 14.e2 c5 15.dxc6 xc6 16.c2 de5 17.xe5 dxe5 18.xd8 fxd8 19.fd1 f6 20.f3 h5 21.f2 f4 22.g3 xe2 23.xe2 g4 24.e3 gxf3 25.xf3 d4 26.b3 a5 27.xd4 exd4 1747
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28.e2 e5 29.f1+ g6 30.d3 f6 31.d2 d7 32.c1 h4 33.c5 bxc5 34.xc5 hxg3 35.hxg3 a7 36.c4 g5 37.e2 g4+ 38.f2 h7 39.xa5 h2+ 40.e1 f3 41.d3 g4 42.a6 h6 43.f2 h2+ 44.e1 f5 45.g6+ h5 46.exf5 e4 47.g8 a2 48.xe4 xe4 49.g4+ h4 50.d8 d3 51.d4 e2+ 52.d1 g5 0-1 Xu Jun-Short,N Shenyang CHN 2000. ] 10...c6!? It would be nice if this worked. [ 10...g5 11.h4!? g4 12.d4 c5? ( 12...e5 ) 13.dxc6 xc6 14.db5 de5 15.e2 f8 16.d1 a5 17.f4! a6 ( 17...axc4 18.xc4 xc4 19.d4 e5 20.xc4+- ) 18.e3 f6 19.d4 e7 20.b3 b8 21.h5 g7 22.g3 0-0 23.xg4 f5 24.e2 fxe4 25.xh6 ac6 26.xg7 xg7 27.xg7+ xg7 28.xe6+ 1-0 Ep is hin , V -Rivas P ast o r,M L ogro n o 1991. ] 11.dxe6! [ 11.dxc6 to pressure d6 quickly as in the game above looks more critical, but black seems ready to react. A) 11...xc6 12.b5 c5 13.c2 e7 ( 13...xb2?? 14.a2 ) 14.d1; B) 11...xc6 12.d4 ( 12.c2!? ) 12...b7 13.db5 c8 14.c2 e5= ] 11...fxe6 12.c2 Black's pawns prove terribly difficult to defend without exposing himself to further danger. a6!? [ 12...c7 13.d1 ( 13.d4!? ) 13...a6 14.xd6 xd6 15.xd6 xc4 16.d2 a6 17.xe6 d8 18.d6 e5 19.d4 f8 ( 19...xd6 20.xh8 e5 ) 20.xe5 xe5 21.xd8+ xd8 ] 13.xd6 e5 14.xd8+ xd8 15.xe5 xe5 16.0-0 A mysterious (to me) and minimalistic decision - surely it must be more promising to give black a bit of activity but keep the extra pawn with something like [ 16.c5!? ] 16...xc4 17.fd1 f7 18.h4 g7 19.f4 xc3 [ 19...f6 is fine for black. ] 20.bxc3 c5 21.f2 c6 22.g4 a5 23.h5 b3 [ 23...gxh5 24.gxh5 ] 24.xb3 xb3 25.ab1 a5 26.hxg6 xg6 27.f5+ exf5 28.gxf5+ f6 29.xd8
xd8 30.h1 c4 31.xh6+ g7 32.f4 e8 33.g6+ h7 34.h6+ g7 35.g6+ h7 36.f3 xa3 37.h6+ g7 38.g6+ h7 39.h6+ g7 40.g6+ h7 41.e5+c4 42.e6 a5 43.e4 a4 44.d5 f8 45.xc4 xf5 46.g4 1-0
1738 Efimov,Igor Caposciutti,Maurizio Masters Monaco MNC (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2537 2344 23.02.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 5.e2 b4 [ 5...g6 6.h4 ( 6.bc3 g7 7.e3 ge7 8.c1 d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.e5 d7 11.0-0 0-0 12.f4 a6 13.e2! (1/2-1/2, 41) Yrjola,J-Kengis,E Erevan 1996.) 6...g7 7.e3 h5 8.bc3 ge7 9.d2 d5 10.0-0-0 b4 11.cxd5 xd3+ 12.xd3 exd5 13.f3 d7 14.g5 f6 15.f4 dxe4 16.fxe4 f5 17.exf5 xf5 18.c4 0-0-0 19.b5 h6 20.xh6 xh6 21.h3 b8 22.f4 g5 23.a4 a6 24.hxg5 axb5 25.b4 c6+ 26.c3 xd4 27.g6 e2+ 0-1 Kaunas,K-Kengis,E/Riga 1995/CBM 47 (27) ] [ 5...e5!? 6.d5 b4 7.0-0 e7 8.bc3 xd3 9.xd3 g6 10.g3 e7 11.f5 0-0 12.g3 d6 13.h4 f6 14.g2 c8 15.h1 e8 16.d2 a6 17.a4 d7 18.ag1 b8 19.h5 f8 20.h6 g6 21.g7 xg7 22.hxg7 xg7 23.h6+ g8 24.f4 f6 25.f5 e7 26.d1 xa4 27.e3 e8 28.g4 d7 29.f1 g5 30.xg5 g7 31.h6 xg4 32.f3 g5 33.xg5 fxg5 34.h6 f6 35.fh1 c5 36.a3 a5 37.b4 e7 38.bxa5 bxa5 39.xa5 b2+ 40.g1 b7 41.6h2 b1+ 42.g2 b2+ 43.h3 g4+ 44.h4 h6 0-1 Lobron, E-Speelman,J/ Germany 1997/GER-chT (44) ] 6.bc3 [ 6.0-0 xd3 7.xd3 d6 8.bc3 f6 9.d5! e7 10.d4 d7 11.b3 ( 11.f4 exd5 12.cxd5 h5?! 13.a4 h4 14.h3 0-0 15.b3 Anastasian,A-Kengis,E/Katowice/ 1993/ ) 11...c6 12.dxc6 xc6 13.a3! Epishin,V-Ehlvest,J/Novosibirsk/1993/ ] 1748
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 6...xd3+ 7.xd3 b4 8.g3!? An interesting attempt to liven up the position. It must be said though that white's spatial advantage suggests that stodgy play is more likely to bring concrete results than randomizing the game. [ 8.0-0 e7 9.a3 xc3 10.xc3 0-0 11.g5 ( 11.d5 d6 12.g5 d7 13.ad1 ae8 14.b5 a6 15.d4 1/2-1/2 Franco,ZTeske,H/Havana 1998/CBM 65 (15)) 11...f6 12.h4 d5 13.f3 d7 14.fd1 a6 15.b3 ad8 16.f2 dxc4 17.bxc4 c6 18.b5 e5 19.c3 xc4 20.xc4 xb5 21.c3 f7 22.dc1 e8 23.h3 h6 24.b4 c6 1/2-1/2 Chuchelov,V-Teske,H/Cappelle la Grande 1998 ] 8...xe4 9.xg7 f6 10.g3 g6 [ 10...b7!? ] 11.xc7 xg2 This leaves black's pieces the wrong way around. Although that makes it riskier, it is far from clearly inferior. Black ends up with a slightly unsafe king but the position is extremely random. [ 11...xc3+ 12.bxc3 xg2 13.g1 f3 and black's king is much safer than it looks. 14.g3 ( 14.a3 d3 ) 14...h1+ 15.d2 ( 15.g1= ) 15...g6! ] 12.g1 e4 13.e3 e7 14.0-0-0 b7 15.e5 g6 [ 15...g8!? ] 16.b5 e7 17.d5 f3 18.g3 xe2 19.xe2 c8 20.b1 a6 21.b3 b5 22.c5!? A bold decision. Black has handled the complications well and has a sensible position. Now comes some serious randomization. [ 22.c1 c7= ] 22...xc5 23.h4 This is very confusing - black has trouble coordinating his forces and must beware of loosening g6/e6 (a risk involved with playing ...h5), watch out for Nc3-e4 if the black squared bishops come off, many things. A n d w i t h t h e c l o c k t i c k i n g . . . xe3?! I would prefer to keep this piece if possible, as now f6 and d6 are sensitive. 24.xe3 e7 25.c3 c4 [ 25...f5 26.e5 f6 27.xf6 f8 28.e5 xg3 29.dxe6 is obviously hazardous for black. ] [ 25...f8 26.dxe6 ( 26.e4!? ) 26...fxe6 27.g7 f5 28.xe6+ dxe6 29.xb7 ]
26.e5 f8 27.e4 xe4 [ 27...f5 28.xf5!+- ] 28.xe4 xd5 29.xh7 White's material advantage is decisive. b4 30.a1 e7 31.h5 a5 32.g7 a4 33.h6 b3 34.xf8+ xf8 35.h7 b4 36.h8+ e7 37.h4+ 1-0
1739 Eljanov,Pavel Delchev,Aleksander TCh-FRA Top 16 Gp B (7) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2655 2661 02.04.2006
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 a6 7.g2 c5 8.f3 [ Against Black's early knight manoeuvre White usually reacts with 8.h3 d6 9.0-0 as in the next game. ] 8...ce4! White is now faced with an awkward decision as it's hard to avoid damage to his pawns following ...Nxc3. 9.0-0 [ After 9.dxe6 xc3 10.exd7+ xd7 11.xd7+ xd7 12.bxc3 e5 13.xe5 xg2 14.g1 b7 15.f4 e7 16.d3 0-0-0 Goldin, A-Paschall, W Foxwoods open 2003 Black had adequate play for his (halfa) pawn. ] 9...xc3 10.bxc3 c5 11.d4 Black's three remaining minor pieces are well-placed to pressurize White's ragged-looking centre, but he has to find a way to cope with the threat to his e6 -pawn . 0-0! Quick development is the answer. [ 11...exd5? plays into White's hands after 12.xf5 hitting both g7 and d5. ] [ whereas 11...e7?? is just a crass blunder refuted by 12.d6 followed by Bxb7. ] 12.dxe6 xg2 13.xg2 e7 14.exd7 xd7 White's extra pawn is far from secure as Black has the better structure and active pieces. 15.d3 e4 Threatening to capture on c3. 16.b3 a4!? Seeking play against White's broken queenside. 17.xc5 xc5 18.d5+ h8 19.e3 c6 20.d6 [ Otherwise 20.f3 can be easily met by either xc4 ( or 20...b3 21.ad1 xc4 ) 21.xc6 ac8 22.f3 e4 ] 20...e4 21.b4 c2 22.c5 b5 With both the e2 and c3-pawns en prise Black will regain 1749
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 his material and White must fight to hold the balance. 23.d4 a5 24.b1 xe2 25.e1 h5 26.d1 f7 27.f3 g5 28.d2 e6 29.e2 xd4 Delchev settles for equality. [ In a more ambitious mood he may have gone for 29...ad8!? 30.ae1 xd4 31.cxd4 f4 when Black may keep a pull. ] 30.cxd4 fe8 ½-½
1740 A40 Eljanov,Pavel 2693 Ponomariov,Ruslan 2726 11th Rector Cup Match of Champions (1) [Glenn Flear] 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 Black hits the d-pawn and intends ... Nb4 to obtain the bishop pair. 5.e2 White generally develops his king's knight at this point, either to here or f3. [ However if White really wants to keep both b i s h o p s h e c o u l d c o n s i d e r 5.e2!? a move that has been suggested before but perhaps never played. ] 5...b4 So Black is able to eliminate one of W hit e's bish ops. In com pen sation W hit e s e e k s t o c o n s o l i d a t e h i s c e n t r e . 6.bc3 xd3+ 7.xd3 Several strong players have been willing to play this line with Black, a sign that they are happy with the bishop pair and a certain solidity, whilst facing down W hite's centre. I remember for example in my youth losing as White against Miles and not really knowing where I went wrong! So I also have a healthy respect for Black's potential. e7 8.h4 A thematic move if Black intends playing either ...Ng6 or ...g6 to free his bishop, so Ponomariov changes tack. [ White can also play more solidly at this point: 8.0-0 d5!? ( 8...g6 would seem to be less dangerous for Black now that White has gone short, but after 9.h3 g7 10.h6 0-0 11.xg7 xg7 12.ad1 d6 13.f4 g8 14.e3 e7 15.fe1 ad8 16.e5 fe8 White kept up the pressure in Kohlweyer, B-Gulko, B Geneva 1997 with 17.d5 ) 9.cxd5 exd5 10.e5 d7 11.f4 0-0-0 12.e1 g6 13.a4 a5 and although it was only a Blitz game Black seemed to
demonstrate a plausible route to full equality in Kalinitschew, S-Bischoff, K Internet Blitz 2004. ] 8...d5! A central counter seems appropriate. 9.cxd5 exd5 10.e5 d7 11.h5 By denying Black's knight access to the g6-square Black has to make alternative arrangements in order t o d e v e l o p h i s b i s h o p . c6 12.a3 Now Ponomariov decides that he has to justify the slightly awkward placing of his knight by hitting back directly at the centre. f6! 13.exf6 gxf6 14.f4 0-0-0 15.c1 d6 With the centre open and another pair of minor pieces ready to come off Black's king is hardly in danger on the queenside. Chances are balanced. 16.xd6 xd6 17.h4 b8 18.f1 dg8 19.g1 g5 20.g3 hg8! 21.ce2 [ 21.xh7?? would allow the killing xg3 22.fxg3 xg3 ] 21...f5! Well-judged as the hole on e5 isn't an issue. Black can't really expect to be able to breakthrough on the kingside as things stand, but he is at least limiting White to 'cautiousmode'. 22.c3 c8!? Recycling the bishop as from here it at least defends the f5-pawn. 23.f4 a5 Now the knight comes to a fine square on c4. 24.c2 c4 25.cf3 e7 It's remarkable to see how impotent White's pieces have become. 26.c1? Making things worse. e1+ 27.h2 d2! 28.d3 [ After 28.e3 Black finishes off with f1+ 29.xf1 xh5+ 30.g1 h1+! ] 28...xf3+ 29.xf3 f1! 30.f4 White's knights are able to keep things welld e f e n d e d f o r t h e m o m e n t , b u t t h e e xt r a exchange will become significant once Black reorganizes. [ 30.xf1? xg2+ 31.h1 g1+ 32.h2 8g2+ 33.h3 f4+ mates! ] 30...c4 31.d2 g4 32.c3 a4 33.ge2 a6 34.g1 b5 [ If Black continues with 34...h4+ 35.gh3 gg4 36.g1 b5 37.c1 it's not clear what he has achieved. ] 35.g3 [ After 35.c1 Black has a forcing line to a decisive advantage: f1 36.xf1 xf1 37.g3 xf4! (Capablanca's principle: When an exchange to the better give it back for a clear pawn-up advantage.) 38.gxf4 g2+ 1750
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 39.h1 xf2 and a second pawn is ready for the box. ] 35...e8 36.f3 e4 37.e5 Finally getting t o e 5 , b u t B l a c k h a s i t c o ve r e d . . . gxf4! ... It had to happen eventually! 38.gxf4 e2 39.c1 xf2+ 40.g3 e2 41.g1 xb2 42.e3 f1 An excellent demonstration by Ponomariov. 0-1
1741 English Defence Ideas N,Archana [Glenn Flear]
6.d3 xd2+ 7.xd2 f5 8.f3 g4 9.e5 xg2 10.0-0-0 fxe4 11.e2 'seems to lead to a White advantage'. This is far from sure and frankly hasn't been tested very often, but I can understand one's reticence to enter into such a risky variation! Webster,A-Adams,M Prestwich 1990 continued f6 12.e3 h3 13.dg1 c6 14.g3 f5 15.g5? [ 15.xc6 xc6 16.g5 h3 17.g3 gives White a draw if he wants it. Another reason not to play this way with Black! ] A40 15...xd4 and Black is better but the game ended in a draw. These ideas are available to all if you hunt around the site, or get hold of my e-book on the English Defence.
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 Chris from Germany has written a long e-mail with a number of questions about the English Defence. For instance he wants to know what I recommend for White! I have played the a2-a3 with d4-d5 system and it seems many top GMs do the same. In this way W hite maintains a slight space advantage and obtains comfortable development. For those who prefer to play more ambitiously and are willing to play e2-e4 and then hold out against all the pressure, then fine. But I feel that this is what Black wants: A clear target to get counterplay rolling. However a positional way of doing this is 3 e2e4 followed by 4 Bd3, (which I've also tried) but then 4...Nc6 is annoying. 3.e4 [ 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 is perhaps the main line. Space and central control give White the easier game but Black should be able to get very close to equalizing. ] 3...b7 4.d2 [ 4.c3 b4 5.f3!? can be met the sharp 5...f5 as well as more positional ideas such as 5...Ne7 and ...5.. . Qh4+ 6 g3 Qe7. ] [ 4.c2 f6 5.f3 c6 6.e3 e5! is interesting. ] [ 4.d3 c6 5.f3 b4 obtains the bishop pair although White then maintains a slight central preponderance. ] 4...b4 5.c2 h4!? [ 5...c5! could be good. It might even equalize immediately, which isn't such a surprise as I consider Nd2 and Qc2 to be somewhat artificial. ]
1742 Englund Gambit N,Archana [Glenn Flear]
A40
1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 c6 3.f3 e7 This still seems to be the best move. Playing a pu re gam bit with eith er 3.. .d6 or 3. ..f 6 seems to be insufficient: [ 3...f6 4.exf6 xf6 5.g5 c5 6.e3 h6 7.h4 d5 ( 7...g5 8.g3 d6 9.c3 e7 10.d2 g4 11.b5 xf3 12.gxf3 0-0-0 13.xc6 bxc6 14.0-0-0 RaskolnikovStumme askolnikov-Stumme askolnikovStummer,K Corr 1993) 8.c3 e6 9.b5 a6 10.a4 0-0 11.0-0 Sonnhoff,W-Siegel, R W i e s b a d e n 2 0 0 1 e8? A blunder. ( 11...g5 would be a better chance) 12.xf6 gxf6 13.xd5 and Black has a hopeless position. ] [ 3...d6 4.g5 d7 5.exd6 xd6 6.e4 ( 6.c3 b4 7.xd7+ xd7 8.e3 xc3+ 9.bxc3 ge7 10.0-0-0 f6 11.f4 0-0-0 12.c4 g5 13.g3 f5 14.e4 xg3 15.hxg3 g4 16.xd8+ xd8 17.d2 Kolev,A-Stickler,R Lenk 1991) 6...g4 7.bd2 d7 8.h3 e6 9.c4 g6 10.e2 f6 11.e3 0-0-0 12.0-0-0 e8 13.d4 Mascaro March,P-Astorga Talavera, F Mallorca 2000 and Black has nothing for the pawn. ] 4.f4 The most well-known move but perhaps not the best. [ 4.d5! forces Black to gambit the pawn. 1751
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White loses a tempo with his queen but with Black's queen on e7 (blocking the bishop on f 8 ) t h i s d o e s n ' t se e m t o b e s e ri o u s : f6 5.exf6 xf6 6.b3 d5 7.g5!? ( or 7.e3 g6 8.e2 g7 9.0-0 c5 10.c3 d7 11.xb7 b8 12.xc7 Olsen,N-Chaplin,E Lyngby 1991 and Black didn't get enough.) 7...d7 8.c3 ( 8.e3 is also good, but p re s u m a b l y W h i t e d id n 't wa n t t o a llo w complications with d4!? ) 8...0-0-0 9.bd2 f5 10.d4 xd4 11.cxd4 d6 12.a3 b6 13.a2 A bit slow but adequate to keep the advantage. d7 14.xf6 gxf6 15.e3 d6 16.b4 e8 17.e2 f4 18.0-0 Veingold, A-Kiltti,J Helsinki 1997 and Black's active-looking gestures haven't produced anything concrete. ] 4...b4+ 5.d2 xb2 6.c3! [ I suppose somebody could still fall for the ancient trap: 6.c3?? b4 7.d2 xc3 8.xc3 c1# ] 6...b4! [ 6...b4 7.d4 c6 ( 7...c5? 8.b1 a3 9.db5 a5 10.a3 b6 11.e3 1-0 Flear,G- Tonnaure,C Ales 2003) 8.e4! c5 9.b1 a3 10.b3 1/2-1/2 Suarez,AMenendez Rubeira,A Asturias tch. 1997 but after a6 11.xa6 bxa6 12.c1 b4 13.d3 White is clearly better. ] 7.b1 a3 8.b3 a5 9.a3 xc3 [ 9...xa3? i s b a d a f t e r 10.xa3 xa3 11.b5 c5 12.xc7+ etc. ] 10.xc3 c5 11.e3 [ Here 11.e4!? is slightly more loosening but after a6 12.d2 ge7 13.e6 f6? ( but Black has a fair game after 13...fxe6! 14.xg7 g8 ) 14.exd7+ xd7 15.xb7 Lahjo,K-Susi,E Finland 1972 W hite was clearly on top. ] 11...a6 [ 11...ge7 12.a1?! ( 12.d3! is more precise e.g. g6 13.a1 e7 14.h4!? Kampmann,L-Vogel,R Dreifluesse open 1999 and W hite retained the initiative.) 12...d5!? ( 12...a6!? ) 13.b2 ( 13.e6 f6! ) 13...xc2 14.d2 a6 15.d3 c5 with an unclear struggle ahead e.g. Peredy,F-Lohage,A Balatonbereny 1996 ] 12.d3 ge7 13.0-0 g6 Best played after W hite has already castled. 14.a1 0-0 15.d1 e7 16.e4 e8 17.h3 b8
18.xg6 hxg6 19.b2 d8 20.d4 e6 21.g4 b6 Andre, K-Reinhard,H corr. 1986 and Black seems to be OK to me. [ Black also has 21...b5 Schwammberger,RGrob,H corr. 1966 ]
1743 Englund Gambit thoughts [Glenn Flear]
A40
1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 c6 [ 2...d6 3.f3 ( 3.exd6 xd6 4.f3 f6 gives Black easy development for the pawn, so he would at least obtain some practical chances ) 3...c6 4.g5! gaining a tempo for development, looks as if it dampens Black's hopes e.g. d7 5.exd6 xd6 6.c3 g4 7.e4 f6 8.h3 h5 9.e3 g4 10.e2 0-0-0 11.d5 e5? 12.xe5! xe2 13.e6+ 1-0 Kopylov-Faika, Hamburg 2012. ] 3.f3 f6 [ 3...e7 is the main line. See the updated archives game for how I suggest that White should play. ] 4.exf6! [ Giving back the pawn with 4.e4 fxe5 5.c4 is tempting, but Black survives with f6! ( 5...f6?! 6.g5 ) 6.0-0 h6 7.c3 ge7 8.d3 d6 9.b5 d8 (the king is silly, but everything else holds together) 10.a3 a6 11.c3 g5 and life goes on. ] 4...xf6 5.g3 A really solid choice. [ 5.g5 followed by e3 also looks sensible. ] 5...d5 6.g2 c5 7.0-0 0-0 8.g5 This position strongly reminds me of a Blackmar-Diemer Gambit reversed. Indeed this line (with a kingside fianchetto) is one where even with reversed colours the pawn s a c r i f i c e i s a b i t d o d g y . e6 9.c3 In the case of reversed colours, with an extra tempo (in the Blackmar-Diemer), the queen would already be on e8, thus allowing 9...Qh5 with some practical chances. Here Black hasn't anything positive he can do. a6 [ 9...d4 10.e4 e7 11.xf6+ xf6 12.d2 and there isn't much to show for the pawn. ] 10.e1 [ 10.xf6!? xf6 11.g5! ] 1752
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10...e7 11.d3 d6 12.xf6 xf6?! 13.e4 d4 14.e5!+- Kludacz-Savary, Rennes 2008.
1744 Epishin,Vladimir Barle,Janez 7th HIT Open (5) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2599 2375 04.02.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 5.e2 b4 6.0-0 e7 7.f4 A very odd form of development. g6 [ 7...xd3 8.xd3 d6 could lead to the Hippo structures that are reasonably popular these days. ] 8.g3 e7 [ 8...h5!? is an interesting alternative, to get better access to the g-file and g2. I would be a bit nervous about the text continuation since black loses control over the f5 square. Probably black did not think white could risk exposing the g2 square so quickly. ] 9.f4 xd3 10.xd3 0-0 11.f5 exf5 12.exf5 h4 13.bc3! g6 [ 13...xg2 14.d5 h4 15.e4 is terrifyingly dangerous for black, with the Nh4 in real danger. ] 14.xh4 xh4 15.f4 h8!? The beginning of a neat regrouping that seems to give black dynamic play. 16.h3 [ 16.g3 g5 17.ae1 looks more likely to achieve something - white keeps a strong central presence. ] 16...g8 17.d5 e7 18.ad1 gxf5 [ 18...g5!? to play ...g4 and double on the efile is an interesting alternative. ] 19.xf5 af8!? [ 19...g5 looks more natural, and very playable for black. Achieving ...f5 is not without its drawbacks. ] 20.d3 f5 21.h1 White must have the better prospects now, unless he caves in on t h e lo n g ligh t -s qu a re d d ia go n a l. He ca n gradually take control of the e-file and p r e s s u r e f 5 . g4 Now I start to lose my comprehension of the game. 22.ce2 [ 22.g3 looks like it wins material f6 ( 22...g5 23.h3 ) 23.xf5 ] 22...g5 23.b3 h4
[ 23...h6 would give black a clean retreat f or the Rg4 a nd allow him to pro tect f 5 longer. ] 24.h3 e4 25.g3 e3 26.c2 Now f5 is terminally weak. f6 27.xf5 d6 28.ff1 c8 29.f4 e5 30.fh5 g8 31.f2 xg3 32.xg3 g4 33.de1 xe1 34.xe1 g7 35.e3 b2 36.h3 d7 37.h2 e8 38.f4 g8 39.f1 e5 40.f7+ h8 41.xd7 1-0
1745 Erdos,Viktor Mateuta,Gabriel TCh-ROU Superliga (1) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2551 2498 13.10.2007
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 b4+ If W hite plays 'the game' and accepts the exchange of a pair of bishops, then this leads to an easing of Black's space problem. 5.d2 [ More challenging is 5.f1!? e.g. f8 6.c3 g6 7.h4 g7 8.f3 c6 9.g5 Ulibin, M-Pluemer, D Biel 2004 when White had an initiative, which is a more important f ea ture of th e p osition th an the loss o f castling rights. ] 5...xd2+ 6.xd2 c6 [ In 2005, English GM Jonathan Speelman experimented a couple of times with 6...h6 and achieved a couple of draws against high-ranking opposition e.g. 7.gf3 d6 8.0-0 d7 9.b4 0-0 10.a4 e5 11.a5 bxa5 12.bxa5 a6 13.c2 c5 with full equality, Dreev, A-Speelman, J Gibraltar 2005. As a general rule, Speelman likes to stay flexible in the opening and react accordingly. ] 7.e2 f6 8.f3 g5!? The sort of moves t h a t r a i s e s a f e w f r o wn s ! B l a c k a i m s t o challenge his central space disadvantage indirectly with a wing thrust. I am not sure if this is objectively correct, but I like this move. Black at least gains influence on the kingside and dark squares and the move doesn't seem to be that weakening. 9.d5!? [ After 9.e5 g7 the fianchettoed queen surveys the kingside. W hite retains extra space but the question of how to use it remains. ] 1753
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...e5 10.fd4 Keeping some tension even at the cost of allowing Black to confirm his grip on the dark-squares. e7?! [ More prudent would be 10...a6! 11.0-0 e7 when White doesn't have a convincing plan. If White then dallies Black continues with ...N7g6 before deciding what to do with his king. ] 11.b5!? Well if Black leaves a pawn to it's fate... 0-0 12.xc7 ac8 13.d6 7g6 A strange position. White has won a pawn but in the game Black is able to generate interesting play with his pieces. 14.c3 [ S i m p le s t i s 14.0-0 as Black has nothing better than xd3 ( 14...h4 isn't leading a n ywh e r e a f t e r 15.f3 ) 15.xd3 xb2 16.ab1 e5 17.f3 f5 with an interesting struggle ahead. ] 14...h4 15.g1? An ugly and frankly not very good move. [ N o w a l t h o u g h 15.0-0 is met by f4! with dangerous threats. White shouldn't then p a n i c , b e s t p l a y b e i n g p r o b a b l y 16.g3 hf3+ 17.g2 d2 with chances for both sides. ] 15...f4! 16.c2 [ 16.e2 can also be met by the aggressive f5 ] 16...f5 [ Also good for Black is 16...hf3+! 17.gxf3 xf3+ 18.f1 xh2 19.e2 f5! with a decisive attack. ] 17.e2 Insufficient, but it is already too late to l o o k f o r p l a y a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e s . xd3+ 18.xd3 xf2+! Flashy, but not that surprising. 19.xf2 fxe4+ 20.e1 exd3 21.c3 f5 Black has an extra pawn and by f a r th e mo re a ct ive p ie ce s. T he gam e is effectively over. 22.d1 xd6 23.xd3 xc4 24.xd7 e5 25.e7 g6 26.d7 c6 Efficient. 0-1
1746 Ezat,Mohamed Mahmoud Rausis,Igors Golden Cleopatra (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2309 2466 09.04.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b4 4.e4 b7 5.d3 f5 6.d5?! A line with a bad reputation. We will take a quick look to make sure nothing has changed this assessment. fxe4 7.xe4 h4 8.e2 f6 9.f3 0-0 [ 9...a6 has the best track record in this generally discredited variation (for white), t h o u g h t h e t e xt m o ve a l s o h a s a go o d r e p u t a t i o n . 10.dxe6 xc4 ( 10...d5!? 11.a3?! xc3+ 12.bxc3 xc4 13.c2 e4 14.e3 c6 15.e2 e5 0-1 Kostin, S-Grabuzova,T/Moscow 1996. (22) ) 11.exd7+ ( 11.g5 xe2 12.xh4 xf3 13.xf3 xc3+ 14.bxc3 dxe6 15.0-0-0 bd7 16.he1 c5 17.d4 0-0-0 18.xe6 d3+ 19.b1 xe1 0-1 Mikanovic,G-Burnett,R/Montreal 1999. (30) ) 11...xd7 A) 12.d2+ is very risky: c8 13.xa8 e8+ 14.d1 d8!? ( 14...g4!? ) 15.b7+ xb7 16.xd8 g4+; B) 12.g5!? leads to an improved version of the game above and ] 10.g3!? d4 11.d2 exd5 12.0-0-0 A critical moment. e8 This natural move is probably an inaccuracy. [ 12...c5!? Deserves attention, trying to get t o t h e t h r e a t e n i n g a 5 s q u a r e . 13.b1 ( 13.e3 a5 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5 xa2 is the idea, a huge difference over the game. ) 13...a6!? and white's position is already under terrible pressure. ] 13.e3 e5 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5! f6 16.d3 c6 17.h5 g6 18.d5+ e6 19.h4 d6 20.d1 Now black takes over the initiative as white loses time with his queen and has not solved the problem of returning his wandering rook into play. [ 20.d2 ] 20...e5 21.e2 b8 22.d5 b4 23.xb7 [ 23.xe6+ dxe6 24.f3 d8! even better than capturing on b2 - and black has overwhelming compensation for the exchange - white can neither develop his kingside nor protect his king. ] 1754
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23...xb7 24.f3 [ 24.b3 d6! ] 24...xb2+-+ A pawn up with the better position, the game loses most of its interest. 25.b1 e5 26.d1 f5+ 27.c1 c6 28.a3 a2+ 29.xa2 xf3 30.c5 f7 31.cxb6 axb6 32.a4 e8 33.c2 b5 34.g4 e7 35.d3 e6 36.e2 c5 37.h4 b4 38.axb4 xb4 39.xb4 cxb4 40.f3 c4+ 41.d2 c3+ 42.e2 b3 43.d5+ xd5 44.xd5 b8 45.d1 b2 46.b1 f7 47.d3 f6 48.c2 e6 49.g4 d5 50.h5 gxh5 51.gxh5 e4 52.h6 d5 53.d2 f3 54.d3 e5 55.e3 a8 56.c2 a1 57.c5 d4 0-1
1747 Farago,Ivan Kharlov,Andrei 90th LSK Metalka Trgovina (9) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2500 2638 28.01.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 g6 7.g2 g7 8.h3 0-0 9.0-0 a6 [ 9...a5!? ] 10.b4 [ 10.c2 c5 11.e3 fe4 12.xe4 xe4 13.dxe6 dxe6 14.g5 xg5 15.xb7 f4 16.ad1 1/2-1/2 Drasko,MFilipovic,B/Niksic 1997. ] 10...h5!? An interesting new move, but it does not seem to shake the impression that the ...g6 plan does not quite equalize against the Nh3 system. [ 10...xd5 11.xd5 exd5 12.xd5+ xd5 13.xd5+ h8 14.g5 e8 15.ad1 f7 16.f4 c6 17.d3 h6 18.d6 e4 19.f4 xd3 20.xd3 e8 21.b5 b8 22.e3 1/2-1/2 Farago,I-Varga,Z/Pecs 1998. (35) ] 11.b3 h8 12.g5 c8 13.e4!? Very energetic. fxe4 14.xe4 b5 [ 14...xa1 15.xa1 d6!? adopting a grab and suffer policy might have been better, though it is clear that it will take massive efforts to revive black's minor pieces in this kind of position, especially while managing his perforated kingside. ] 15.cxb5 xd5 16.d1 b8 Black puts a
priority on trying to get his queenside activated, but there is still a lot of work to do. 17.g4! xe4 [ 17...xa1 18.xa1+ g7 19.h6 gives white more than enough compensation for the exchange - black's pieces are paralyzed and white's Nh3 will enter the game with powerful effect. ] 18.xe4 d5 19.gxh5 [ 19.g2!? f6 ( 19...xa1? 20.xa1+ g7 21.h6 d7 22.g5 e8 23.e1 wi t h a c r u s h i n g i n i t i a t i v e .) 20.c1 is at least a small advantage f or white, probably more. ] 19...dxe4 20.hxg6 f3 Now white's exposed kingside gives black reasonable counterchances. 21.g2 d7 22.e3 h6 23.g1 f6 24.c1 xg6+ 25.h1 e5 26.c5?! [ 26.h5 e8 27.h4 ] [ 26.h3!? ] 26...d3 27.h5 b7 28.e2 f8 29.g3 xf2+ 30.xf2 xf2 31.xf2 e3+ 32.g1 exf2+ 33.xf2 f6+ 34.g1 f3 35.xf3 xf3 36.g2 xa3 37.c5 c3 38.e4 xc5 39.xc5 f8 40.xe6 d6 41.h3 h7 42.f3 g6 43.e4 h5 44.f3 h4 45.g2 h5 46.d4 g5 47.c6 f4 48.xa7 xb4 49.c6 c5 50.b8 ½-½
1748 Farago,Ivan Miles,Anthony J 7677 Hastings (6) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2425 2505 1976
THE game that put the opening on the MAP. I remember watching this, and being bowled over, awestruck by the power and audacity of t h e i d e a s b e h i n d T o n y' s p l a y . A d e e p l y impressive and original game. 1.d4 b6 2.c4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.e4 b4 5.c2 h4 6.d3 f5 7.g3 h5 8.e2 f7 9.f3 fxe4 10.fxe4 f6 11.d5 0-0 12.f3 g6 13.d3 h5 14.0-0 a6 15.a3 xc3 16.bxc3 c5 17.e3 xd3 18.xd3 exd5 19.exd5 xd5 20.cxd5 xf3 21.xf3 xf3 22.d1 a6 23.d2 c4 24.f4 d6 25.h4 f8 26.h2 e2 27.g1 e8 28.g2 c4 29.f2 e4 1755
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 30.d4 xd5 33.g4 c4 0-1
31.xe4
1749 Feller,Sebastien Istratescu,Andrei Kaupthing Open (5) [Glenn Flear]
xe4
32.h5
h6
A40 2540 2628 13.05.2008
Sebastien Feller is a young French player who has been going from strength-to-strength recently. The setback in this game may have been caused partially by the psychological difficulty of playing against his former coach. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.e5?! White plays for even more space! However he soon realises that he has bitten off more than h e c a n c h e w ! d6 5.f3 d7 6.a4 Conveniently using the pin to keep hold of the centre and stop any ...Bb4+ ideas. [ However 6.e2 looks more solid. ] 6...dxe5 [ Black could also consider 6...xf3 7.gxf3 c5 damaging White's structure and eroding the centre. ] 7.dxe5? [ Or 7.xe5 d6 ( 7...gf6 8.c6 ) 8.c3 ( 8.c6 h4 ) 8...xe5 9.dxe5 h4 10.e3 e7 with chances for both sides. ] 7...e7 8.e2 c6! Unpinning releases Black's pieces from any constraints. 9.c2 g6 The e-pawn is now rather difficult to defend. 10.0-0 [ T h e m a i n p r o b l e m w i t h 10.c3 is that Black can even play xf3 11.xf3 gxe5 as 12.xa8? loses to b4! 13.xb4 d3+ ] 10...dxe5 11.d1 d6 White doesn't seem to be able to punish Black's pawn grabbing. Not so surprising as White doesn't even have a lead in development. 12.d4 b7 13.b5 0-0 14.f4? Putting salt in his own wound! c5+ 15.h1 h4 16.f1 [ 16.f1 White resigned without waiting for h3! ] [ 16.fxe5 would have been met by f2 e.g. 17.d3 xg2# ] 0-1
1750 Fridman,Daniel Christiansen,Larry Mark 1999 Budapeste [Paul Motwani]
A40
1999
B23: "Hu ngry he ad-h unte rs in Hunga ry! " English Defence, Code A40. Looking back recently over my 37 official competitive chess games since July last year, I found that I've scored 19 wins, 17 draws, and one loss (as Black) in that period. Taking the analysis a stage further revealed that the tally of 27.5/37 was reached with the following colour-split: 17/ 20 playing White, which converts to a much higher percentage than my 10.5/17 with Black. So, one of my aims in 2001 is to work on improving my results as Black. Things already seemed brighter this week as I admired the g l o s s y b l a c k c o ve r o f " F r a n k f u r t C h e s s Classic 2000, Premiere der Top Ten!", a beautif ul new 360-page German book by Harald Fietz, IM Hartmut Metz, and super-GM Artur Yusupov. Even without understanding German, one can still derive lots of benefit and enjoyment from the fascinating analysis accompanying the feast of top-level games in the book. Numerous colour photos of chess celebrities starring within the pages of this very high-quality production make it all the more attractive, and I'm confident that it's destined to become a true classic. Right now, though, let's have an extra double dose of inspiration as we witness two hungry headhunters in Hungary notching up the kind of ultra-speedy victories with Black that I'm hoping to soon get too! 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 The English Def ence provides enormous scope for creative play, as there is relatively little theory published about it. Not so long ago, Dr Colin McNab and Jonathan Rowson, my two fellow-Scottish grandmasters, had an interesting tussle which began with the moveorder 1 c4 b6, but note that the similar-looking 1 e4 b6 is actually called Owen's Defence. 3.c3 [ B23.1: A y ear earlier in the same location where the current game was played, the encounter D.Brunk-F. Berebora, Budapest 1998, went 3.e4 b7 A) If 4.d3 then Black's options include 1756
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the wild f5!? ( and 4...c6 with ideas of ... Nxd4 or ... Nb4 ); B) 4.c2 h4! This is a highly noteworthy method by which Black can often exert uncomfortable pressure on an over-gro wn wh it e pa wn -ce nt re in th is p a r t i c u l a r o p e n i n g ) 5.d3 c6! The dual threats of ...Nxd4 and ...Nb4 already put W hite in a critical situation 6.d5 ( If 6.f3 then Black plays g4 ) 6...b4 7.e2 f6 8.e5? Now White's pawn-centre is definitely over-extended g4 and White was in triple trouble at d3, e5 and f2. ] 3...b7 4.e4?! [ 4.a3 is advisable, to prevent the very unpleasant pinning move which Black now plays... ] 4...b4 5.d3 f5! 6.c2 [ "f for forward!" is a favourite attacking motto of mine, and here it is supported by the tactical point that 6.exf5? xg2 would cost White his h1-rook. ] 6...f6 7.f3 c6 After a mere seven moves, Black has a large lead in piece-development! 8.ge2 fxe4 9.fxe4 e5! 10.d5 d4 An energetic leap forward, made possible by Black's strong previous move. 11.d1 0-0 With terrible threats such as 12...Ng4. 12.0-0 c5! A perfectly-timed change of direction by the black bishop. 13.h1? [ White had to try 13.xd4 so that his queen covers the g4-square... ] 13...g4! ...which Black now gets to! 14.xd4 xf1+ 15.xf1 [ 15.xf1 f2+ would be "the end" for White, but the actual game will soon be over too. ] 15...xd4 16.d1 h4 [ Even deadlier than 16...xh2 intending 17.xh2 h4# ] 17.h3 g3! White resigned in view of 18 hxg4 Qh4. 0-1
1751 Gagunashvili,Merab Bunzmann,Dimitrij WJun Yerevan ARM (6) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2321 2484 24.09.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c3 b4 5.c2 h4 6.d3 f5 7.g3 h5 8.f3 c6 9.e3 [ 9.d5 seems to induce black into massive sacrifices - the results have been good, but I wonder if black's idea would stand up to a computer's scrutiny. d4 10.f2 fxe4 ( 10...c5!? is a sane alternative.) 11.xd4 exd3 12.xg7 0-0-0 13.xh8 exd5 14.e3 e8 ( 14...e7 15.f6 f5 16.g5 e8 17.d2 d4 18.xd4 xd4 19.xd3 d5 20.xd4 dxc4+ 21.xc4 xc3 22.g4+ b8 23.xc3 e3+ 24.b4 c5+ 25.b3 d3+ 26.a4 c6# 0-1 Bromberger, S-Conquest,S/ Groningen 1997.) 15.0-0-0 h6 16.xe8+ xe8 17.xh6 dxc4 18.d2 d5 19.h3 d4 20.e4 c3 21.f4 xe4 22.fxe4 a4 23.xd3 xa2 24.c2 a4+ 25.c1 cxd2+ 26.b1 a5 27.hf1 b3 28.c1 dxc1+ 29.xc1 d3 30.f2 c4+ 31.b1 d2 32.fxd2 xd2 33.xd2 xe4+ 34.c1 c4+ 35.d1 a5 0-1 Kryzius,KPiesina,G/Radviliskis 1995. ] 9...fxe4 far simpler than [ 9...e5!? 10.d5 d4 11.xd4 exd4 12.a3 fxe4 13.fxe4 xc3+ 14.bxc3 dxc3 15.xc3 f6 16.e2 h6 17.f3 d6 ( 17...0-0 offers a simpler life.) 18.e5 dxe5 19.xe5+ d7 20.e2 ac8 presumably a typo for Rae8 21.f5+ d6 22.0-0 e3+ 23.g2 hf8 24.a2 xd5 25.c5+ bxc5 26.b1 xf3 27.xb7 xf1 28.a6+ c6 29.xf1 f8+ 30.e1 b8 31.d2 b1+ 32.d1 b2 33.c4 e5 34.c1 g5 35.g4 f6 36.a1 c3 0-1 Kharlov,AGretarsson,H/Leeuwarden 1995. ] 10.xe4 f6 11.0-0-0 xc3 12.xc3 [ 12.bxc3 xe4 13.xe4 ( 13.fxe4 a5 ) 13...a5 14.c2 a3+ 15.b1 a5-+ ] 12...xe4 13.fxe4 b4! 14.xb4 xe4 15.h3 [ 15.g4 xg4 16.f3 xf3 ] 15...xh1 16.f4 [ 16.g5!? created some surprisingly 1757
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 dangerous threats. c5 17.dxc5 and white has an amazingly potent attack considering he seems to just hoping for a mate on e7. A) 17...c6 18.cxb6 f7 ( 18...f7? 19.b7 b8 20.d6 xb7 21.xc6! ) 19.f1+ g8 20.b7 b8 21.d6 e8 22.e7; B) 17...xh3! Fa lse tra ils: 18.c6 f7 19.cxd7 f3 20.d8 axd8 21.xd8 xd8 22.e7+ ( 22.xd8 f1+ 23.d2 d1+ 24.e3 e2+ 25.d4 e4+ 26.c3 e1+ 27.b3 d1+ ) 22...g6 23.xd8 f1+ 24.d2 e2+ 25.c3 ( 25.c1 e4 ) 25...e5+-+ ] 16...xh2 17.xe6 dxe6 18.g5 d7 19.e7+ c6 20.d5+ exd5 21.cxd5+ xd5 22.xd5 g1+ 23.c2 [ 23.d1 c5+ ] 23...f2+ 24.c3 ae8 25.d7+ b7 26.f4 f3+ 27.c2 e2+ 28.c1 h1+ 29.d1 c6+ 0-1
1752 Gelfand,Boris Short,Nigel D Novgorod (7) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2700 2690 19.06.1997
The most sensible method of meeting the OKI'll-have-the-entire-centre-thanks, variation. The trade-off of bishop pair for grip is the central issue - White seems to keep small plus but bla ck has plenty to pla y f or a nd loo k forward to. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 5.e2 b4 6.bc3 xd3+ 7.xd3 d6 8.0-0 e7 9.d5 d7 10.f4 g6 11.d4 0-0-0 12.b4 g7 13.b5 xd4+ 14.xd4 f5 15.e1 he8 16.b2 fxe4 17.xe4 g8 18.c3 f7 19.e3 exd5 20.xd5 xe3 21.xe3 xd5 22.cxd5 xd5 23.a4 b8 24.a5 xb5 25.axb6 axb6 26.d4 c6 27.c1 b7 28.f5 gxf5 29.g5 e8 30.h5 e4 31.f2 f6 32.f7 e7 33.a2 g4 34.a1 e4 35.a7+ c8 36.c1 b7 37.a4 e7 38.b3 0-1
1753 Georgiev,Ki Khairallah,F 40th Olympiad Open (4.15) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2682 2308 31.08.2012
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 [ The logical continuation with this move order is to play ...f5 here, obtaining a stake on the e4-square. However, some people prefer to play with the more cautious 4...f6 Here is an example: 5.d5 ( 5.f3 d5 transposes to the Queen's Indian Defence (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3 d5) ) 5...d6 6.f3 0-0 7.e4 This type of position is also known from the QID, except that here the bishop is on the more active d6 (rather than e7). ( 7.g3 a6 8.d2 exd5 9.cxd5 e5 10.g2 e8 11.f3 c6 Savina, A-Edouard, R Antwerp 2011, and Black already had the initiative) 7...exd5 ( otherwise 7...e8 8.e2 e5!? 9.0-0 a5 10.c2 h6 11.g3 c5 12.b1 a6 13.h4 c6 14.f5 Bachmann, Ax-Lenic, L Istanbul ol 2012, wasn't bad by any means, but White kept a space advantage) 8.exd5 a6 9.e2 c6 10.g5 This annoying pin ensures that W hite holds onto his central preponderance. e8 11.0-0 h6 12.h4 cxd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.cxd5 c5 15.b4 ce4 16.a6!? Navara, D-Dizdarevic, E Istanbul ol 2012, when the computer considers the position to be equal. In the ga m e h o we ve r W h it e wa s a b l e t o t a k e advantage of his extra space to keep some pressure. ] 5.d5 f6 6.g3 a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 9.0-0 0-0 [ 9...e5 10.c2 0-0 transposes ] 10.c2 e5 A tabiya of the main line of the a2-a3 system. 11.d1 e7 12.e3 [ 12.d2 is plausible but there haven't been any recent games. ] [ 12.f4 ae8 13.e3 ce4 14.xe4 fxe4 15.dxe6 dxe6 16.c5 g5 17.h3 h6 Enchev, I-Cheparinov, I Panagyurishte 2012, and Black's ugly structure was compensated by his general activity and W hite's sidelined knight. ] 12...ab8 This avoids any tricks along the long diagonal, by defending the bishop. 1758
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Alternatively Black can hit at the d5-wedge: 12...c6 13.dxe6 dxe6 14.ac1 xc3 ( o r p e r h a p s 14...ad8! 15.b4 cd7 16.f4 g4 with a tense position) 15.xc3 ce4 16.xe4! xe4 17.e5 c5 18.f3 f6 19.d6 Delchev, A-Paci, C French league 2012, with slight but durable pressure. ] [ A solid way of handling the black pieces is with 12...xc3 13.xc3 ce4 14.b3 c5 15.dxc6 xc6 16.b4 d6 17.g5 ad8 Sedlak, N-Zaja, I Zupanja 2007, when any White edge (two bishops) is nominal. ] 13.d4= Keeping matters simple. White has more space, and Black's chances for counterplay are thus reduced. Nevertheless this trade could also be interpreted as easing Black's defences, as it's of ten difficult to decide what to do with the bishop on e5. Here i t ' s e a s y ! xd4 14.xd4 a5 15.b4?! Trying to make something out of not very much, but this is premature. a6! [ Kiril Georgiev may well have intended to 'greet' 15...axb4 16.axb4 a6 with 17.d6!? e.g. A) however 17...d8 18.xb7? ( necessary is 18.dxc7! xc7 19.xb7 xb7 20.b1 when White is restricted to a small edge, due to his better structure) 18...xb4 19.b2 c5 turns the tables; B) 17...cxd6? 18.xb7 xb7 19.xa6 and wins. ] 16.bxa5 bxa5 17.dd1 c5 Back again, but now W hite will struggle to shift this piece. 18.f4 a6 19.b5!? Sacrificing a pawn to expose some weaknesses. xb5 [ Maybe Black could be more ambitious i.e. by continuing with 19...e5! 20.d3 e4 21.f4 e5 with excellent pieces. ] 20.cxb5 xb5 21.c4 fb8 22.dxe6 xe6 23.xe6 xe6 [ Why not 23...dxe6!? you may wonder? White however, can regain the pawn thus: 24.ac1 c5 25.c6 b3 26.a4 b2 27.f1 when White keeps a pull (as a5 is a w e a k n e s s ) e . g . c8 28.xc5 xc5 29.xc5 e4 30.b5! ] 24.xc7 d5?! [ I quite like 24...xe2! breaking up White's kingside phalanx. I don't see any particular problems for Black e.g. 25.e1 ( 25.f1
is well met by e5! ) 25...d2 26.ad1 b2 27.a4 5b6 which is far from clear, despite W hite having the superior minor piece. ] 25.ac1 h6 A sign that the inexperienced Lebanese player has run out of things to do. [ 25...xe2 26.f1 ] 26.f3 e4 27.g2 Georgiev solidifies his ki n g s i d e g i vi n g B l a ck n o t a c t i c a l s h o t s . Meantime the weaknesses on a5, d5 and f5 aren't going to run away. 5b6 [ 27...h8 is the natural waiting move, moving to a dark square! ] 28.c5! h7 [ 28...xc5?? fails to 29.xd5 ] 29.cxd5 Black is helpless to watch White increase the threats. g5 30.d7 g8 31.e5 f8 32.1d5 Note the relative e f f e c t i ve n e s s o f t h e r o o k s . W h i t e ' s a r e dominant. xf3 33.exf3 a4 34.c7 [ After 34.f4 White will be able to grab a second pawn, as both a4 and f 5 are en prise. ] 34...e8? [ 34...8b7? 35.d8! ] [ 34...6b7 is the lesser evil, but simply 35.xb7 xb7 36.a5 xa3 37.xf5+ g6 38.e4 followed by picking off the a-pawn should win. ] 35.xg7+ 1-0
1754 Georgiev,Ki Rombaldoni,Ax 13th Bergamo Open 2014 (5.3) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2631 2505 20.07.2014
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 9.0-0 0-0 [ The other main way of handling Black's game involves 9...e5 (on this or the next m o v e ) wh e n 10.c2 0-0 11.d1 e7 12.f4 xc3 13.xc3 ce4 ( 13...exd5 14.cxd5 xe2 15.b4 is double-edged) 14.e5 d6 15.xe6+ xe6 16.dxe6 fe8 G e o r g ie v, K i. - G e o rd i e vs ky, D K h a n t y Mansiysk rapid 2013, was close to equality. W hite's bishop pair may however offer a 1759
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 nominal edge. ] 10.c2 a5 11.d1 e7 12.e3 [ Recent experience suggests that 12.b1 doesn't offer W hite any advantage: ae8 ( in a later game, Black varied with 12...exd5 13.cxd5 ce4 14.f4 xf4 15.xe4 fxe4 16.xf4 e5 17.bc1 ac8= Ris , R-G on d a , L Ge rm an lea gu e 2 0 1 4) 13.e3 ce4 14.xe4 fxe4 15.dxe6 xe6 16.c5 bxc5 17.xc5 xc5 18.xc5 e5= Postny, E-Gonda, L German league 2013. ] 12...exd5 [ B l a c k h a s a l s o p l a y e d 12...ab8 and then captured on d5 next move. However the rook doesn't need to defend the bishop and so the text move seems to be more precise. ] 13.cxd5 g4 14.g5 f7 15.f4 h5!? [ Those with a more prudent disposition would perhaps opt for 15...xf4 16.xf4 a4 when Black doesn't have any problems. ] 16.d4 [ With 16.xd6 cxd6 17.d4 White compromises Black's pawns, but after ac8 the open c-file suits Black fine. ] 16...f6 17.ad1 af8 Rombaldoni seems single-minded in his determination to engineer a k i n g s i d e a t t a c k . 18.b4! Otherwise the experienced Bulgarian has no counterplay. axb4 19.axb4 e4 20.xe4 Winning a pawn, but the open f-file will give Black (at least some) compensation. fxe4 21.xe4 [ O t h e rwis e W h it e h a s 21.xd6! cxd6 22.xe4 xf2 23.c4 but Black has resources: b5! 24.d4 xg2+! 25.xg2 f6 26.f4 f7 (with practical chances, but nevertheless after...) 27.h4! ( 27.e3 g5! is unclear) 27...h6 28.h5 White has an edge, as Black can't get his bishop into the game. ] 21...xf4 22.gxf4 c5! The idea is to d e s t a b i li z e W h it e a s m u c h a s p o s s i b l e . 23.bxc5 bxc5 24.a4 g5? Black was relying on this sharp move, but it seems to have a serious downside. [ Inst ead af te r 24...b6 Black avoids any immediate problems with his bishop, but the kingside attack is not as strong. He has some chances to keep life complicated, but probably can't claim enough
compensation. ] 25.b1? [ Georgiev missed a strong idea here: 25.b1! (gaining a tempo against the bishop whilst ferrying the queen to a safe square) a6 ( if 25...c8 26.fxg5 xf2 White has the strong continuation 27.xg4 xg4 28.xf2+- ) 26.d6 xe2 27.a2+ (no peace for the bishop) e6 28.e1 with deadly pressure. ] 25...xf4! 26.xf4 [ Les hair-raising is 26.c2!? xa4 27.xa4 c8= ] 26...xf4 [ 26...xh2+ 27.f1 xf4 28.e8+ f8 29.e7 xf2+ transposes to the game. ] 27.e7 [ Otherwise 27.h3 xe4 28.xe4 leaves Black with both minor pieces en prise. B e s t p l a y t h e n l e a d s t o a d r a w : xf2! 29.e7! xh3+ 30.xh3 xh3 31.xb7 g3+ 32.f1 f4+ and perpetual check. ] 27...xh2+ 28.f1 xf2+ 29.e1 g1+ 30.d2 xb1 31.xg4 [ B e t t e r t h a n 31.xg5+ g6 32.xg4 xg5+ 33.xg5+ and White finds himself a pawn down in a simplified position. ] 31...h6 With both kings wide open it's not surprising that perpetual check soon ends the game. 32.f3 f1 33.e8+ g7 34.xd7+ g8 35.e8+ g7 36.e7+ g8 ½-½
1755 Georgiev,Kiril Miezis,Normunds 26th Speed Chess Open (9) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2676 2532 28.01.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.a3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 b5 A line well worth exploring. 7.g2 [ 7.b3 a6 8.e3 g4 9.xb5 c5 10.xc5 xc5 11.h3 b8 12.c3 A) 12...0-0 13.g2 c6 14.b4 e7 15.d4 cxd5 16.cxd5 f6 17.0-0 xd5? ( 17...xd5 is an obvious improvement black overlooks a neat tactic.) 18.xf5! xg2 ( 18...exf5 19.xd5+ xd5 20.c4 ) 19.xe7+ xe7 20.xg2 1760
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 (1-0, 61) Kovacevic,B-Lovric,B Zagreb 1999.; B) 12...c6 13.b4 e7 14.d4 cxd5 15.g2 dxc4 16.xb7 xb7 17.xc4 e5 18.b3 b6 19.e3 a5 20.b5 c6 21.bxc6 xb3 22.cxd7+ xd7 23.xb3 xb3 24.a4 b4+ 25.f1 c8 26.g2 e5 27.hd1+ e6 28.g5+ f6 29.f3 c2 30.e1 xe1 31.xe1 bb2 32.f1 e6 33.ad1 a2 34.a1 xf2+ 35.xf2 xa1 0-1 Zaja,I-Lovric,B Montecatini Terme 1999. ] 7...bxc4 8.h3 exd5 [ 8...a6 9.0-0 c5 10.f4 d6 11.dxe6 xg2 12.xg2 xe6 13.a4+ d7 14.xc4 d5 15.d3 xf4+ 16.xf4 c6 17.b4 d6 18.e3 0-0 19.ac1 e4 ( 19...xf4!?; 19...g5!? ) 20.b5 xf4 21.bxc6 xc6 22.xe4 fxe4 23.xc6 exd3 24.exf4 fc8 25.d6 d8 26.xd8+ xd8 27.d1 f7 28.xd3 e6 29.d4 d6 30.a4 d7 31.f3 e7 32.f5 e5 33.g4 c7 34.e3 c3+ 35.d2 c7 36.d3 b7 37.f4+ d6 38.d4 c6 39.h4 b1 40.a6+ b5 41.xa7 d1+ 42.e3 e1+ 43.d2 g1 44.xg7 c4 45.f6 d4 46.e2 a1 47.g5 1-0 Gorbatow,AMessner,H Bad Wiessee 1997. ] 9.xd5 xd5 10.xd5 c6 11.xc4 d5 12.a2 d6 13.f4 0-0 14.xd6 xd6 15.0-0 d7 16.f4 ae8 17.b4 g5 18.d3 f4 A very interesting position that deserves a more serious test than a blitz game. 19.c1 f6 20.gxf4 gxf4 21.h1 h8 22.g1 e4 [ 22...e7!? ] 23.c2 d4 Very tempting, but it creates vistas for both of white's minor pieces. But the logic is that if white really wants to provoke this he can can play the annoying Qa1+ sometime. 24.f3 c3 25.f1 f6 26.c4 c8 27.g2 f5 28.d2 g6 [ 28...e4 29.b2 ( 29.c2 c3 ) 29...g6 looks just double-edged. ] 29.c5 e3?? 30.d7 e7 31.xf8 xf8 32.xd4 f6 33.d7 e8 34.g5 f8 35.f7 e4 36.fxe4 xe4+ 37.g2 xg2+ 38.xg2 f3+ 39.exf3 1-0
1756 Georgiev,Kiril Sharif,Mershad National I Besancon FRA (5) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2647 2473 05.04.2003
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 The main line these days. W hite invests a tempo to avoid the annoying...Bb4 pin. b7 4.c3 [ 4.d5 f5 5.g3 f6 6.g2 a6 7.h3 d6 8.0-0 0-0 9.b4 c6 10.dxe6 dxe6 11.c2 e7 12.d2 e5 13.b1 c5 14.xb7 xb7 15.f3 d6 16.b5 c7 17.b2 a6 18.a4 axb5 19.axb5 e4 20.xe4 xe4 21.fd1 fd8 22.e5 xe5 23.xe5 e8 24.f4 f7 25.d3 e7 26.b2 a2 27.f3 g5 28.f2 f7 29.dc1 g6 30.c2 da8 31.bc1 ed6 32.h4 8a4 33.e3 b7 34.c3 2a3 35.f2 bd6 36.e5 c8 37.xf7 xf7 1/2-1/2 Jakobsen,O-Kraai,J/Budapest HUN 2003 ] 4...f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 d6 7.g2 e5 8.d2 0-0 [ In a recent rapidplay game Flear,G-Vargas, G Bilbao 2003 W hite kept an edge after 8...e4 9.xe4 fxe4 10.xe4 exd5 11.cxd5 xb2 12.a2 f6 13.c2 e7 14.h3 a6 15.0-0 ] 9.h3 a6 10.0-0 c5 11.c2 [ Instead 11.c1 a5 12.f4 a4 13.dxe6 xg2 14.xg2 dxe6 15.e3 e8 Cramling, P-Speelman,J, Katrineholm 1999 led to a balanced game. ] [ The impatient 11.b4?! is even worse, as after xc3 12.xc3 ce4 13.b2 exd5 14.f3 d6 15.cxd5 e7 16.f4 c4 Y.Zimmerman-C.Paci, Budapest 2001 Black was favourite. ] 11...fe4! An improvement on [ 11...xc3 12.xc3 fe4 13.fd1 exd5 14.cxd5 xc3 15.xc3 a5 16.d6! xg2 17.dxc7 xc7 18.xg2 which gave White a sm a ll ed ge d u e t o h is pre f era ble p a wn st ru ctu re , Ce b a lo ,M-S a rga c, D Bizo va c 2003 ] 12.xe4 xe4 13.ad1 exd5 14.cxd5 xd2 [ 14...xd5?? blunders the house after 15.g5 xg5 16.xd5+ ] 15.xd2 d6 16.h1 A calm positional 1761
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 approach from the experienced Bulgarian. He knows that he has the better structure and just prepares expansion in his own time. This tends to provoke the opponent to try and mix it! In comparison, Black has the bishop pair and a solid enough game, but must avoid becoming too passive. a5 17.f4 g6 18.f2 a6 19.e1 g5! Well provoked! Clearly Black shouldn't wait for White to simply take control with e2-e4. 20.e4 fxe4?! [ Crit ic a l i s 20...gxf4! when Black is doing well e.g. 21.e5 fxg3 22.hxg3 e8 ] 21.fxg5 xg5 22.xe4 e5 23.dd1 ae8 24.d2 With e1 adequately defended the knight is ready to leap to c5 with a deadly d i s c o v e r e d a t t a c k . g7? Leading to a damaged structure and ultimately the loss of a pawn. Instead [ 24...c8 is not pretty but holds on for now. ] 25.b4! axb4 26.xd6 cxd6 27.xe8 xe8 28.xb4 e2 29.e1 b5 30.xd6 c3 31.b4 e3 32.f4 xf4 [ 32...xa3? fails to 33.xe2 xe2 34.g4+ ] 33.gxf4 f7 34.g1 White just has enough time to get to his d-pawn. Black is then left with no chance as his b-pawn is stuck on a light-square. c4 35.xe8 xe8 36.f2 e7 37.e3 d6 [ Or 37...d6 38.d4 e2 39.e4 h6 40.f5 e7 41.d3 etc. ] 38.d4 e2 39.e4 h6 40.d3 xd3 41.xd3 f6 42.c3 1-0
1994.; 8...c6 9.dxe6 dxe6 10.e5 c5 11.f4 e7 12.gf3 0-0 13.d3 bc6 14.e4 ad8 15.0-0-0 a6 16.a3 a5 17.b3 b5 18.cxb5 xb5 19.b2 b8 20.c1 a4 21.c3 xb3 22.xb3 c4 23.fd2 cxb3 24.xb3 fd8 25.hc1 d4 26.e1 d5 27.xd5 xd5 28.ee3 db5 29.a2 h5 30.h3 g6 31.hd3 h4 32.g4 g5 33.fxg5 g7 34.d2 xe5 35.d4 e2 36.h3 c6 37.a4 d5+ 0-1 Sjodahl,P-Kengis,E Vienna 1996.) 9.exf5 exd5 10.gf3 e7 11.g4 h5 12.g1 dxc4 13.xc4 hxg4 14.xg4 bc6 15.d3 0-0-0 16.b4 df8 17.b5 d8 18.h4 f7 19.f4 d6 20.0-0-0 dxf5 21.xf5 xf5 22.g6 e3 23.dg1 xg4 24.xg4 d8 25.c4 d5 26.ce5 e6 27.g3 hg8 28.a3 d6 29.c6+ d7 30.xf8+ xf8 31.xa7 xf4 32.b8+ c8 33.c6 f1+ 34.b2 f2+ 35.b1 f5+ 36.c1 g6 37.a4 xh2 38.a8+ d7 39.d8+ e6 40.e8+ f6 41.f8+ g7 42.e8 c2+ 43.d1 c4 44.e7+ f6 45.xc7 c2+ 46.d2 xa4 47.d7 e6 48.e7+ f5 49.d3 c5 50.d4+ g5 51.b7 xb5+ 52.d2 d5 53.e3 g4 54.xb6 c4 55.c6 f1 56.c1 e5+ 57.f2 e4 58.d1 c4 59.d2 d5 60.c2 f4 61.e1 d4 62.g2+ g4 63.e1 f4+ 64.g2 f1+ 65.g1 g3 66.g2 xg2 67.xg2+ f3 68.f1 e4+ 69.e2 f5 70.g1 g5 71.a1 g4 72.a5+ e4 73.a3 f3 74.a4 f4 75.xd4+ g3 76.a4 h3 77.e4 f8 78.e1 g3 79.e7 g2 0-1 Rahman,Z-Speelman,J Calcutta 1998. ] 6...c6 1757 A40 [ 6...f5!? ] Gladyszev,Oleg 2345 7.h3 Reserving the f3 square for his bishop, Gara,Ticia 2322 but this kind of song and dance is not about 17th Spring Festival (5) 20.03.2001 to produce an advantage for white. The game and its notes corroborate that this line holds [Jon Tisdall] no dangers for black. exd5 8.exd5 f6 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d5 b4+ 9.0-0 cxd5 10.f3 xd2 11.xd2 0-0 12.c3 a6 13.cxd5 d6 14.fe1 d7 5.d2 e7 6.e2 [ 6.xb4 is very common, but not impressive 15.e2 c7 16.f4 fe8 17.h3 a6 at all f or white : xb4+ 7.d2 xd2+ 18.h5 xh5 19.xh5 xe1+ 20.xe1 8.xd2 f5 ( 8...e7 9.g3 a6 10.dxe6 e8 21.c1 f5 22.f3 e5 23.a4 b7 dxe6 11.0-0-0 d8 12.f3 c6 13.h3 24.a5 bxa5 25.a1 a6 26.xa5 e1+ e7 14.e2 d4 15.he1 b4 16.a3 27.xe1 xe1+ 28.h2 f8 29.a4 e5 bc2 17.h1 e3 0-1 Hiebel,J-Lau,R Binz 30.b4 xd5 31.b8+ e7 32.c8 xf3 1762
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 33.xc7+ d8 34.xf7 c6 35.xg7 d5 36.g4 d7 37.d4 d6 38.b4 e1 39.f4 e3 40.d1 e4 41.xe4 dxe4 42.e3 e8 43.g3 c6 44.f5 b5 45.f4 xb4 46.xe4 a5 47.g4 a4 48.d4 b3 49.c4 f7 50.d2+ b2 51.c4+ b3 52.d2+ b2 53.f6 c2 54.c4 b3 55.d2+ c2 56.c4 ½-½
bishop pair, although W hite is then able to consolidate his central grip. 5.e2 b4 6.bc3 xd3+ 7.xd3 g6 Black has various ways of continuing his development, but he mainly plays some combination of ... Ne7, ...g6 and ...d6 is various move orders. [ There are however other ways of handling the Black pieces. For example, delaying touching the g-pawn and castling long looks r e a s o n a b l e : 7...e7 8.g5 ( 8.h4!? was played earlier this year in Eljanov1758 A40 Ponomariov, see the archives) 8...h6 9.h4 d6 10.0-0-0 d7 11.d5 0-0-0 12.g3 g5 Gleizerov,Evgeny 2520 13.h4 g7 14.hxg5 hxg5 15.e3 hg8 Radziewicz->Rajlich,Iweta 2395 16.h7 de8 17.d2 f5 and Black had Rilton Cup Stockholm SWE (3) 29.12.1999 equalized in Banikas, H-Henrichs, T Aghios [Jon Tisdall] Kirykos 2008. ] [ Less merit worthy is the plan of exchanging 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 off the dark squared bishop i.e. giving up 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.f3!? A rare and the trump card of the bishop pair to ease perhaps very underrated variation. 0-0 8.a3 development. 7...b4 8.0-0 xc3 9.xc3 d6 9.c3 c6 10.g5 e7 11.fxe6 dxe6 e7 10.b3 0-0 11.a3 d6 12.f4 c5 13.f5 12.e2 d7 13.e1 e5 c6 14.f6! and White had a strong attack in [ 13...h6 14.xf6 xf6 15.e4 f4 16.c5 Bareev, E-Chernyshov, K Sochi 2005. ] bxc5 17.dxc5 xf3 18.cxd6 xd3 19.xd3 A natural reaction against an early ...g6. c6 20.g1 d5 21.h3 cxd6 22.h2 f8 8.h4 23.f3 a5 24.d1 d8 25.he1 e8 h5 9.g5 e7 10.e3 [ White could also contemplate playing in 26.d2 a4 27.c3 f6 28.d4 e5 gambit-style: 10.d5 xg5 11.hxg5 xg5 29.xa4 c6 30.h4 h8 31.e4 xe4 12.b5 0-0-0 13.xa7+ b8 14.b5 32.fxe4 h5 33.d2 f6 34.ed1 c6 xg2 15.g1 h2 16.0-0-0! (the initiative 35.b4 d7 36.b5 c3 37.a4 b4 38.f2 is the highest priority) xf2 17.gf1 h2 d5 39.exd5 e4 40.h4 c4 41.d3 18.ed4 exd5 19.cxd5 f5? ( 19...e7 1-0 Goldin,A-Gofshtein,L/Rishon Le Zion 20.xf7 c8 21.f3 f2 would have been 1998 ] unclear according to Stohl) 20.a3 c8 14.xf6 gxf6 15.e4 xe4 16.xe4 g6 21.d6 with a winning attack, Stohl, I-Czebe, 17.h4 g7 18.h3 h8 19.dxe5 xe5 A Slovakian tch. 2004. As Gonda probably 20.h5 f5 21.c2 f4 22.g3 f7 23.xe5 knew of this game in his preparation, he xh5 24.g1 ae8 25.d2 xg2 26.f7+ probably decided that Czebe had an xf7 27.d4+ improvement up his sleeve and decided to 1-0 play in a more circumspect manner. ] 10...d6 11.0-0-0 d7 12.b1 a6 [ T h e m o s t p r u d e n t w o u l d b e 12...0-0-0 1759 A40 but it seems that Czebe wanted to sharpen Gonda,Laszlo 2522 t h e s t r u g g l e e v e n wi t h h i s k i n g i n t h e Czebe,Attila 2472 centre. ] XXVII Open A (3) 15.06.2009 13.a1 b5?! [Glenn Flear] [ S u re ly t h e r ig h t a p p ro a c h i s 13...0-0-0! when the onus is on White to find a chink 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 in Black's armour. ] Black opts for a solid positional approach rather than the wild complications that follow 14.c5 b4?! I believe that pushing the b-pawn 4...f5. This move is aimed at obtaining the in this way is premature. Black should have 1763
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 completed development first of all. 15.b1 Now we understand 13 Ka1, White freed up a retreat square for the knight. Black's early action on the queenside may rebound on him as there are now various potential holes in his position. b5 16.cxd6 cxd6 17.d5 e5 18.xe7 xe7 19.f4! Black's undeveloped state means that he now struggles to cope with the opening of a new front. f6 20.df1 The threats are starting to appear along the ffile. 0-0-0?! Finally getting out of the way, however... [ 20...0-0 was possible but the kingside is hardly rock-solid either. ] 21.fxe5 fxe5 22.a7! ...the king doesn't find sanctuary on the queenside after all! d7 23.c1+ d8 24.e3 Back to the other wing. Black's pieces are really quite poorly placed and can't resist the two-winged onslaught. Note how well W hite's queen directs operations from e3 where she keeps an eye o n t h e d a r k s q u a r e s o n b o t h f ro n t s . c7 25.d2 c8 T r y i n g a g a i n ! 26.c4! Black must have missed this pretty idea. d8 [ 26...xc4 27.xc4+ xc4 28.c1 as (next move) in the game. Black doesn't have enough for his queen. ] 27.a7! A familiar theme. Black would have been fine if he had made it to b8, but now with the threat of N-b6+ something has to give way. xc4 28.xc4+ xc4 29.c1 xc1+ 30.xc1 c7 31.f2! There are too many soft spots for Black to cover, so it's just a question of time before W hite breaks down any attempted fortress. a5 32.b3 a8 33.f7 d8 34.f6 a6 35.xa5!? [ 35.c5! dxc5 36.d6 is even stronger. ] [ and 35.f8+ d7 36.b8 c8 37.b5+ c7 38.xa5 is more straightforward. ] 35...xa5 36.xd6+ e8 37.b6 Black is forked. 1-0
1760 Govciyan,Pavel Caposciutti,Maurizio Masters Monaco MNC (5) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2207 2344 24.02.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 [ 4.d5 f5 5.g3 f6 6.g2 a6 ( 6...g6 7.c3 g7 8.h3 0-0 9.0-0 a5 10.b1 a6 11.b4 axb4 12.axb4 c5 13.bxc5 xc5 14.e3 a5 15.f4 a6 16.dxe6 xc4 17.exd7 fxd7 18.d5+ xd5 19.cxd5 e5 20.xb6 xb6 21.xd8 xd8 22.xc5 a4 23.b4 b5 24.d3 c3 25.e7 db8 26.xb5 xb5 27.c1 f7 28.g5 e6 29.f1 b3 30.h4 a3 31.c2 d5 32.d2 c4 33.xc3 xc3 34.g2 d4 35.f4 e5 36.b2 a7 37.b6 e7 38.c6 e4 39.f3 d6 40.c5+ 1-0 Piket,J-Short,N/Wijk aan Zee NED 2000; 6...e4 7.f3 c5 8.0-0 f6 9.d3 0-0 10.bd2 exd5 11.cxd5 e8 12.b1 xf2 13.xf2 e3 14.c2 xe2 15.xc5 bxc5 16.xe2 xd5 17.b3 c6 18.b2 d6 19.be1 d4 20.xd4 cxd4 21.xd5+ xd5 22.e5 c6 23.xd4 f8 24.c4 d6 25.e7 f7 26.e8+ f8 1/2-1/2 Jakobsen,O-W ard,C/Copenhagen 1998 (26) ) 7.h3 d6 8.0-0 0-0 9.b4 e5 10.a2 exd5 11.cxd5 e4 12.d3 c6 13.xe4 fxe4 14.xe4 f6 15.d6 e8 16.xe8 axe8 17.d1 c5 18.b5 b8 19.g5 xg5 20.xg5 f5 21.h3 e4 22.c3 c4 23.d3 g5 24.f3 g4 25.f4 gxf3 26.exf3 d4 27.ad2 xf3 28.xd4 cxd4 29.xd4 a6 30.a4 c5 31.d3 g4 32.e3 f8 33.fd5 axb5 34.axb5 e6 35.xb6 f7 36.f2 h5 37.ba4 c4 38.f3+ g7 39.f4 c8 40.e3 g6 41.d2 g7 42.d3 g6 43.b6 e8 44.d4 f7 45.e4 e6 46.d5 g7 47.e7 1-0 Anand,V-Sadler,M/Monte Carlo 1998 ] 4...f5 5.d5 a6 6.f3 f6 7.g3 g6!? This seems much safer now that white has committed his knight to f3. If instead white plays Nh3 Black's non-g6 systems are reliable then. 8.g2 g7 9.0-0 0-0 10.f4?! This bishop has nothing to do here. Van der S t e rre n 's p la n a g a i n st Ru st e m o v i n t h i s month's selection is more challenging. c5 1764
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 10...e4!? is also promising. ] 11.d4? h5 12.dxe6 xg2 13.xg2 dxe6 14.db5? White's position is already unpleasant with the Bf4 exposed and black's pieces all more actively placed, but this bit of pseudo-activity is literally a dead-end for the Nb5.0 xf4+ 15.gxf4 a6! 16.xd8 fxd8 17.xc7 ac8-+ 18.7d5 exd5 19.xd5 f7 20.ad1 b5 21.cxb5 axb5 22.b4 e6 23.e3 d4 A humorous final touch, showing that white's last N is not too nimbler either. 0-1
1761 Granero Roca,Antonio Gonzalez Velez,Fermin ch-(team) Div 1 (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2388 2344 10.11.1999
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c3 b4 5.f3 e5!? A remarkable novelty tat may open a new branch in this variation. 6.a3 [ 6.dxe5 h4+ 7.g3 e7 is presumably the idea. ] 6...xc3+ 7.bxc3 e7 8.d3 c6 9.e2 h4+ 10.g3 h3 11.e3 f5 12.d5 a5 13.exf5 e7 14.c2 a6 15.g1 h5 16.g4 h4+ 17.f2 f6 18.e2 xc4 19.g3 xd5 20.h5 f7 21.h4 0-0-0 22.0-0 de8 23.ae1 ec6 24.d2 b3 25.g5 c5 26.b1 hg8 27.g3 d6 28.f2 c4 29.e4 d5 30.xd5 xd5 31.xg7 f7 32.f6 b8 33.f5 ef8 34.h5 h6 35.h4 d7 36.f4 exf4 37.xf4 de5 38.xe5 xe5 39.g7 c4 40.e4 xc3 41.a4 g3+ 42.f1 d3+ 43.ee2 h3+ 44.g2 h1+ 45.g1 xh4 46.f2 h3+ 47.gg2 c4 48.g1 e3 0-1
1762 Gretarsson,Helgi Ass Miezis,Normunds Open Reykjavik ISL (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2520 2498 10.03.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 b5 7.xb5 exd5 8.f4 Van Wely's novelty. a6 9.g2 e4
[ 9...c6 led to great complications in the stem game: 1-0 Van W ely,L-Lputian,S/Moscow RUS 2001. (30), annotated in this section of the site. In the notes there is one juncture where black has an interesting try to improve. Miezis does not seem to have a new idea, except to just play on a pawn down. ] 10.cxd5 c5 11.h3 f6 12.0-0 b6 13.b4 Black has no compensation for the pawn. 0-0 14.b3 h8 15.ad1 f7 16.a4 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xd5 c6 19.xd7 cxb5 20.a5 d8 21.g4 f6 22.gxf5 ae8 23.xa7 xb4 24.e3 d3 25.d1 dc5 26.c7 b4 27.b1 c3 28.g5 xf5 29.xe4 xe4 30.xe4 xa5 31.c6 d8 32.g2 h6 33.e4 d4 34.g3 c5 35.d5 xc7 36.xc7 d2 37.f4 d3 38.d6 1-0
1763 Gupta,Abhijeet Bauer,Christian Kaupthing Open (7) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2521 2619 15.05.2008
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b4+ I don't normally cover this pseudo-opening (sometimes called the Keres), but just look what happens... 3.c3!? [ Both 3.d2 ] [ and 3.d2 have similarities with the BogoIndian and are thus out of my domain. ] 3...b6!? [ Here 3...f6 would lead us immediately into a Nimzo-Indian. Christian Bauer instead wants to steer the game into his beloved English Defence. ] 4.e4 b7 5.d3 f5 Black hits back at the White centre, now we are into a fully-fledged English Defence. 6.d5?! A controversial move. White takes more of the central arena whilst easing the pressure along the a8-h1 diagonal. fxe4 7.xe4 f6 Not bad, but not best. [ The strongest move is certainly 7...h4! as advocated by Odessky (English Defence, Chess University 2008) and also by Christian Bauer himself (Play 1...b6, Everyman 2005). He told me that he overlooked something in his calculations at the board, so decided to settle for the solid alternative. Best play could then be 8.e2 1765
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f6 9.f3 0-0 10.dxe6 c6! with dynamic play (and some advantage) for Black Kaplan, J-Miles, A Sao Paolo 1977. Later games haven't changed this assessment, for example 11.g3 d4 12.d2 a6 13.exd7 xc4 14.e3 xd7 15.0-0-0 ae8 16.f4 e5 17.h4 e6 Marchand, F-Gulko, B Geneva 1997 and Black was more or less winning. ] 8.f3 xc3+ 9.bxc3 0-0 10.e2 e5 11.g3 d6 Black shouldn't have any particular problems in this position. He is solid and White lacks any dangerous pawn breaks. 12.0-0 bd7 13.e2 [ White didn't achieve any advantage after 13.e3 e8 14.e1 a6 15.e2 c5 16.xc5 bxc5 17.d3 d7 18.c2 g6 19.a4 e7 20.a5 ab8 in Hauchard, ARechlis, G French tch. 1998. ] 13...e8 14.f4!? An attempt to open the game for the bishop pair. The best chance to upset Black's composure. a6 15.c2 h8 16.d2 c8?! [ Christian Bauer told me that in the postm o r t e m W h i t e wa s t h e o n e f i g h t i n g t o equalize after 16...c5! A) 17.ae1 could be met by c6 ( or even 17...e4 ); B) 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.f5 b7! ] 17.ae1 Black has run out of useful waiting moves and now has to make a decision as to h is m id d le ga m e p la n . c5?! Aiming for activity at the cost of allowing an isolated epawn. [ I s u s p e c t t h a t t h e i m m e d i a t e 17...c6! is better e.g. 18.f5 g6! with the tactics seeming to just work for Black, for example 19.fxe5 dxe5 20.d1 xd5! ] 18.fxe5 dxe5 19.f5 c6 20.g5! This leads to White capturing on f6, taking the sting out of Black's play and saddling him with a weak structure. cxd5 21.xf6 gxf6 [ 21...xf6 may be a slightly lesser evil. ] 22.cxd5 g6 23.ef1 [ More straightforward is 23.xa6! xa6 24.f2 as xc3 can be met by 25.exe5! c5 26.e3 when White's position is the sounder of the two. ] 23...b7!? 24.d2 cd8 25.c4 c8 26.h5 g7 27.5f2 e6 Black is doing his best to keep as active as possible but White's knight
just arrives in time to cause problems in Black's camp. 28.f5 g5 [ White would have good practical compensation for the exchange after 28...d7 29.h6 ( 29.g4!? ) 29...f4 30.xf4 exf4 31.xf4 ( or 31.g6 )] 29.xg5 xg5 30.g3 It's pretty clear that Black's kingside couplet (e5, f6) is weaker than W hite's central pair (c4, d5). In f act Black soon loses a pawn. g7 31.h4 [ 31.e2! also seems to lead to the f-pawn dropping off. ] 31...f7 32.xf7 xf7 33.h5+ g6 34.xf6 c7 The last chance for some counterplay, but White has everything under control. 35.h5+ g7 36.e4 [ Or possibly 36.e1 ] 36...xc4 37.f7+ g8 38.g5 The biggest threat is h5-h6 followed by mate involving Rg7+ and Nf7. g4 [ Or if 38...f4 39.1xf4 exf4 40.h6 d7 41.xd7 xd7 42.f2 g4 White has the most active king after 43.g3 and is thus probably winning. ] 39.e6 [ Ot he rwise te mp ting is 39.xh7 g7 40.f8+ xf8 41.xf8 ] 39...xe6 40.dxe6 e8 41.h6 b5 42.1f5 [ Following 42.1f5 Black has no way to put up any resistance: f4 ( 42...e4 43.e7; 42...g6 43.e7 ) 43.g5+ h8 44.g3 xf7 45.exf7 f8 46.xe5 ] 1-0
1764 Gurevich,Dmitry Kraai,Jesse ch Seattle USA (9) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2544 2442 13.01.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 9.0-0 e5 10.c2 0-0 11.d1 e7 12.b1?! Another new move, and apparently neither player was overly impressed with the objective merits of Kaidanov's 12. Bd2 from the first round. xc3 13.xc3!? [ 13.bxc3 leaves white with a very badly mangled queenside - he prefers to punt a pawn at once to keep the rest of his 1766
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 position intact, rather than face a future of clinging to a whole cluster of weaknesses. ] 13...exd5 14.cxd5 xe2 15.e3 fe4 16.d4 [ 16.xe4 regains the pawn but one should be suspicious of surrendering such a valuable piece so cheaply: fxe4 17.xc5 bxc5 18.xc5 d6! 19.xc7 c8! a n d t h e e xp e ct e d d isa s t e r o n t h e ligh t squares arrives. ] 16...d6 creating a square on c4 for the queen and one on e4 for the less stable knight on c5. 17.b3 h5 [ 17...ae8 looks very natural but 18.f4 looks natural and annoying. However, after a2 white has trouble keeping his queenside under control, as odd as it may seem. 19.b4 b5 forces the exchange of queens under very comfortable circumstances. Though it has to be admitted that the game continuation is a lot more understandable during real battle conditions. ] 18.b4 ce4 [ 18...b5 19.b2 e4 20.f4 f7 21.bc1 can be very similar to the game. One difference is that black can consider g5 here, though it looks very risky - an assessment of extremely messy is probably closer to the truth though: 22.e2 xd5 23.a4 ( 23.xe4 xe4 24.xg5 ) 23...bd6 24.xc7 ( 24.e5 b3 25.d4 g6 a n d wh i t e h a s n ' t m a d e t h e l o n g d a r k squared diagonal work. ) A) 24...e8 25.cc1; B) 24...fc8? 25.xd5! xc7 ( 25...xd5 26.xd7+- ) 26.xd6; C) 24...h6 25.e5 e8 26.xe4 xe4 ( 26...fxe4 27.xd5 xc7 28.d4 h7 29.xe4+ g8 30.xd7!+- ) C1) 27.dxd7 xc7 28.xf7 ( 28.xc7? ad8! ) 28...xf7 29.d6; C2) 27.cxd7 f6 All in all ...g5 does not look worth the trouble. ] 19.a4 f7 20.bc1 ac8 21.f4 fd8!? A rather mysterious move - the e-file seems more useful unless black is gong to chip open the centre somehow. But patience is a virtue here as it is hard for white to find a way to justify his pawn deficit, and the move chosen creates the chance that advancing the c-pawn
to c5 or c6 will gain in strength. 22.a5?! [ 22.h4!? cementing the Nf4 looks more useful than advancing on the other flank, which just softens white's own position. ] 22...a6 23.a1 c4 24.f3 [ 24.d4 c5 ] 24...f6 25.d4 xd5 26.xd5 xd5 27.xg7 xf3 28.xf3 xg7 29.a2+ h8 The slight exposure of black's king was not worth the second pawn, but it does raise the randomness potential of the position, which is about all white can hope for. 30.axb6 axb6 31.d5 e8 32.d2 f6 33.d4 e6 34.d5 e2! 35.d3 [ 35.f4 e4! 36.xe4 xe4 37.xe4 d4+-+ ] 35...ce8 36.f4 b2 37.xc7 [ 37.d4+ xd4+ 38.xd4 e1+ 39.xe1 xe1+ 40.f2 c1-+ ] 37...d2 38.f1 xd5 39.xd7 c3 40.h4 [ 40.h4 e1 and the capture on h7 is irrelevant. ] 0-1
1765 Gurevich,Mikhail Bischoff,Klaus Bundesliga 1999-2000 (5) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2643 2509 11.12.1999
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 The "Modern English", as seen in the Piket-Short bout. g6 4.c3 g7 5.f3 e7 6.g5 h6 7.h4 d6 8.e3 d7 9.c2 b7 10.0-0-0 0-0 [ 10...g5 11.g3 f5 is an alternative approach. There are definite advantages with not committing the king just yet. ] 11.e2 a6 12.d5 xc3 13.xc3 exd5 14.cxd5 g5 15.g3 xd5 16.c2 5f6 17.h4 g4 18.d4 xg2 19.hg1 e4 20.d3 e7 Black banks on his central control enabling him to fend off the looming kingside attack. 21.f4 Putting the h- and gp a wn s u n d e r p r e s s u re a n d c r e a t in g t h e possibility of f3 as well. c5 This more or less guarantees that the queens will come off, but he has to return his booty to achieve this. 22.xe4 xe4 23.xh6 xc2+ 24.xc2 fe8 25.f3 e6 1767
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 25...h7 26.g5 d5 27.f5 e5 28.e4 f6 29.c1 e7 ( 29...gxf3!? 30.xd5 f2 31.f1 xe4 32.xe5 fxe5 33.d3 an d bla ck d o esn't h ave e no ugh f or t h e piece. ) 30.xe7 xe7 31.xg4 and white is slightly better. Black prefers to get an outpost on e4, but the f-file proves to be an important attacking factor for white. ] 26.f5 h7 27.fxg4 g8 28.g5 e4 29.df1 f6 30.e7 ge8 31.d5 fxg5 32.hxg5 g6 33.f6 xf6 34.xf6+ h7 35.h1 g8 36.g6 e7 37.hf1 ae8 38.f7 d5 39.d2 h8 40.1f5 c6 41.d1 g8 42.5f6 h8 43.c1 g8 44.d2 h8 45.b3 g8 46.d1 h8 47.f5 g8 48.d2 h8 49.c3 g8 50.a4 h8 51.b4 g8 52.a3 h8 53.b2 g8 54.a2 h8 55.a3 g8 56.b4 h8 57.a5 b5 58.c3 g8 59.b4 h8 60.xe7 xe7 61.f7 1-0
1766 Gurevich,Mikhail Clemens,A 10th Essent Open (1) [John Watson]
A40 2648 2323 20.10.2006
1.c4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.c3 e6 Officially, this is a queen-pawn game (and the province of Daring Defences), which I forgot while analysing it. But since the English Defence arose as a defence against 1 c4, and is still almost always used that way, it is of special interest to players of 1 c4.1 d4 b6, for example, allows 2 e4, as does 1 d4 e6, when 2 e4 is a French Defence. So I'll take the liberty of presenting a game from 1 c4 expert Gurevich and be more careful next time. 4.a3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 g6!? [ The old way to handle this position was 6...d6 (with the idea of ...Be5) 7.f3 a5 8.g2 ( 8.b5 c5 9.f4 a6 ) 8...a6 , thinking about ...Nc5-e4.6...g6 has the logic that once W hite has cut off the diagonal of Black's bishop on b7 he has also opened up the long diagonal for Black's other bishop. ] 7.g2 g7 8.b1! A good, flexible move that not only prepares b4 but gets off the critical
a1-h8 diagonal. [ 8.f3 isn't bad but fails to cover e4 ] [ 8.h3 0-0 9.0-0 c8 is BabulaSpeelman, Bundesliga 2001 from ChessPub. O t h e r m o v e s a r e 9 . . . a 5 , ( 9...e5!? (this cuts the knight on h3 off from the action, with the drawback that it releases Black's pressure on d5) and; 9...a6?! 10.b4! is Piket-Plaskett, annotated on this site )] 8...0-0 9.h3 c8 [ Or 9...e5 10.0-0 a5 11.b4 with the advantage. ] 10.0-0 c6 11.f4 [ 11.d6 c5 gives Black excellent squares for his pieces. ] 11...a6 12.c1 e8 13.d6 c5 14.xc5!? This lets Black get some play. A straightforward way to keep the advantage is [ 14.b4! ce4 15.xe4 xe4 16.xe4 fxe4 17.dxe6 xe6 ( better 17...dxe6 18.c5 f6! , although White is definitely ahead after 19.f4! ) 18.c5 d8 19.f4 e8 20.b3+ h8 21.f7! ] 14...bxc5 15.dxe6 xe6 [ A key decision. Black also has 15...dxe6 16.d6 ( 16.f4!? e5 17.d3 ) 16...f8 17.d2 e5 18.e4 fxe4 19.g5 h6 ( 19...f5? 20.h3 e3 21.xe3 g4 22.xg4 xg4 23.ge4 with two beautiful knights against two awful bishops) 20.h4 d8 21.cd1 ( 21.e2 e7 22.xe4 h5 23.a4! ad8 24.cd1 d4! ) 21...xd2 22.xd2 ed8 23.xd8+ xd8 24.cxe4 xe4 25.xe4 f8 26.h3 d4 27.e1 h6 28.e6+ g7 White has much the better pieces, but he needs a plan to break through Black's position. ] 16.f4 e8 17.d6 [ 17.a4 f8 18.h4!? ] 17...b8?! [ Giving up a pawn. Black misses the simple b u t n i c e t a c t i c 17...f8! with the idea 18.xf6 e7 19.e5 f8 20.f6 e7= ] 18.xc5 d6 19.a5 e5 20.a4 There's really no reason that White with his pawn and well-placed pieces shouldn't win this position, and he does. c7 21.b4 a6 22.fd1 f8 23.b3 f7 24.a4 e4 25.e3 ee8 26.b5 axb5 27.axb5 cxb5 28.xb5 ab8 29.d3 ed8 30.c3 c5 31.e2 xg2 32.xg2 g7 33.b5 e5 34.d5 1768
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e4 35.c2 a8 36.a2 b7 37.b1 38.xa2 a8 39.c2 a6 40.b4 41.d3 d8 42.f3 c5 43.d5+ 44.f4 f6 45.xd6 a7 46.h3 47.c6 f2+ 48.g2 a2 49.f7+ 50.xf5+ 1-0
1767 Gyimesi,Zoltan McShane,Luke J Rilton Cup Stockholm SWE (4) [Jon Tisdall]
xa2 a4 g7 e4 h6
A40 2539 2480 30.12.2000
1.d4 b6 [ 1...e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 g6 4.c3 g7 A) 5.e4 b7 6.f3 e7 7.e2 d6 8.0-0 d7 9.e3 a6 10.d2 h6 11.h3 g5 12.ac1 c5 13.fd1 b8?! 14.b4 cxb4? Beginning a series of line opening decisions that first create weaknesses and then invite white in to massage them. ( 14...c7 was the natural alternative.) 15.axb4 f5 16.exf5 exf5? 17.d5 g6 18.d4 xd4 19.xd4 0-0 20.a2 f4 21.f1 c8 22.e1 e8 23.b1 xe1 24.xe1 f8 25.a4 b5 26.cxb5 axb5 27.xb5 f7 28.c3 xc3 29.xc3 xd5 30.f1 xg2 31.d1 c6 32.a2+ f8 33.e6 h4 34.xd6+ xd6 35.xd6 e7 36.xh6 f3+ 37.h1 d2+ 38.g2 xg2+ 39.xg2 e4 40.d4 1-0 Seres,L-Preziuso,T Basle SUI 2001. A game that indicates that this kind of wait and see opening may not have been Black's cup of tea. One should also remember that an unusual opening is not a license to play bizarrely for the sake of it, something I occasionally forgot in my youthful adoption of the Modern Defence. Once one gets used to provocation, it is easy to believe that almost anything is possible.; B) 5.f3 b7 6.g5 This doesn't seem likely to be life-threatening - black will get to play ...h6 with tempo, which is one of his stock moves, and the B will be waiting for retirement on h4. e7 7.e3 h6 8.h4 d6 9.c2 d7 10.d1 a6 11.d5 g5 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.g3 f5 14.d4 xd4!
15.exd4 e7 16.f3 e3 17.g6+ f7 18.xf7+ xf7 19.d2 xf1 1/2-1/2 Babula,V-Kengis,E Bad Go d esb erg G E R 2 0 01 . A very lo gic a l performance from ...b6 specialist Kengis. He made the opening look almost classically sensible. ] 2.c4 [ 2.e4 b7 3.d3 e6 4.f3 d6 5.c4 e7 6.c3 g6 7.e3 g7 8.c1 d7 9.0-0 0-0 10.d5 h6 11.b4 c5 It is worth noting that this is the recipe to expansionist policy on the queenside by white - if ...c5 is not possible, and played in time, bad things are very likely to occur. Barricading the queenside in this way slows white down greatly. 12.b5 c8 13.a3 g5 14.h3 a6 15.c3 e7 16.b1 exd5 17.exd5 1/2-1/2 Gleizerov,E-McShane,L/Stockholm S W E 2 0 0 1 . I t s e e m s t h a t e ve n h i g h l y rated technically inclined Russian GMs have respect for the opening (and or young Luke of course). ] 2...b7 3.c3 e6 4.a3 Black is probably quite pleased to see this - it is not a terribly useful move against the ensuing Hi p p o p o t a m u s t yp e s t r u c t u r e , b u t wh i t e invests in not allowing black to steer the game into normality by playing some Nimzo-like position with ... Bb4. e7 5.e4 g6 6.g3 g7 7.g2 0-0 8.ge2 d6 9.0-0 c5! Again this action. Neither of the light-squared bishops will be terribly well placed on the long diagonal, but black will achieve an active dark-squared bishop for his slight deficit in space. 10.d5 exd5 11.exd5 d7 12.b3 a6 13.a4 Annoying to have to move this pawn again... f5 14.d2 e8 15.b2 f6 16.h3 c8! A very good move that would probably have been played even if white had not provoked it by threatening f5. Not only is this a clearly better post than b7, it clears the rank for the manoeuvre Ra7-e7 of Benoni fame. 17.g2? A horribly clumsy move - I would be tempted as white to take on f5 and play f3 - the white squared bishop is rapidly becoming a liability a n d su c h a p la n wo u l d l e a ve wh i t e wi t h decent minor pieces, chances to play g4 and restrict the Bf 5, and also prevent black's bishop from poking its head out at h6 at an inconvenient moment. a7 18.ae1 ae7 1769
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.c1 h4+! good for a draw, and maybe more. 20.gxh4 xh3+ 21.xh3 d7+ 22.g2 g4+ 23.h1 e4 24.xe4 [ 24.c2 f3+ ] 24...f3+ 25.g1 xe4 26.xe4 xe4 27.h3 xh3 28.f3 [ 28.f4 xb2 29.xb2 e3-+ ] 28...h6! [ 28...xh4 29.xg7 h1+ 30.f2 h2+ 31.e1 xf1+ 32.xf1 xd2 33.h6 is worse, when white's pieces are better placed than in the game. ] 29.g2 e3+ 30.f2 xf2+ 31.xf2 [ 31.xf2 xh4 32.g2 f5 ] 31...xh4+ 32.g3 xg3+ 33.xg3 e1 34.f2 h1 It is clear that white's bishop is far more limited in this version of the endgame. 35.e2 b1 36.f6 f8 37.c3 xb3 38.e4 b4 39.xd6 xa4 40.c8 b4 41.e2 White is still fighting thanks to his passed pawn and aggressive pieces. a5 42.e7 e8 43.c6 xc4 44.e3 a4 45.d6 a3 46.d7+ xd7 47.e5+ e6 48.xc4 xf6 49.xa3 e6-+ The knight cannot cope with so many far-flung pawns. 50.b5 h5 51.c3 d6 52.e4+ d5 53.g5 f5 54.h3 c4 55.f4 h4 56.xg6 h3 57.f2 b5 58.e7 f4 0-1
1768 Handke,Florian Bauer,Christian XVIII Open Metz FRA (6) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2413 2517 20.04.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.e3 f5 5.ge2 f6 6.d5 a6 7.g3 c6 8.g2 cxd5 9.cxd5 b4 10.f4 e5 11.d3?! An unfortunate novelty. Energetic measures are called for: [ 11.a3!? exf4 12.axb4 fxg3 13.fxg3 xb4 14.0-0 0-0 15.xf5 ( 15.b3 xc3 16.d6+ h8 17.xb7 b8 18.xa7 e5 19.xf5 g4 20.d3 xd6 21.g2 e5 22.xf8+ xf8 23.f1 e7 24.a8 xa8 25.xa8 g4 26.c4 h5 27.c8+ h7 28.c2+ g6 29.e4 e6 30.b3 c5 31.g2 d5 32.f3 xe3+ 33.xe3 xe3 34.xh5 g1+ 35.h3 f1+ 36.g4 f6 37.h3
f1+ 38.g4 f7 39.h3 f1+ 40.g4 f7 41.h3 1/2-1/2 Maric,A-Matveeva,S M o s c o w 1 9 9 4 .) 15...c5 16.a4 d6 17.xc5 bxc5 18.e4 c8 19.f4 a6 20.d2 a7 21.c3 e8 22.f3 f7 23.f1 ef8 24.e2 h6 25.d2 d7 26.e5 dxe5 27.xe5 h8 28.d6 e8 29.xc5 b5 30.e1 xe1+ 31.xe1 c7 32.c3 d7 1-0 Giorgadze, G-Romero Holmes,A/Elgoibar 1997/CBM 63 (32) ] 11...e4 12.f4 d6 13.0-0 a6 14.fe2 0-0 15.b3 d3 This piece is familiarly known as an octopus. The rest of the game makes the reasoning behind this quite clear as the knight takes a firm stranglehold on eight key squares. 16.d2 c8 17.a4 e7 18.b5 xb5 19.axb5 c7 20.f4 xf4 21.exf4 fc8 22.a3 f7 23.e3 xd5 24.d4 c3 25.h1 xb3 26.e7 xb5 27.e3 d5 28.h4 d4 29.e2 c2 30.d1 b2 31.b1 xf2 0-1
1769 Handler,L Kozul,Zdenko 18th Graz Open (2) [John Emms]
A40 2301 2541 28.08.2011
1.d4 d6 [ Our move order would be 1...g6 2.c4 g7 3.c3 c5 4.d5 xc3+ 5.bxc3 f5 6.f3 a5! (a key move, seen time and time again in the Dzindzi-Indian) 7.c2 d6 , but the game's move order shows that Black can play ...Bxc3+ in more than one position. ] 2.f3 g6 3.c4 g7 4.c3 c5 5.d5 xc3+ 6.bxc3 f5 7.c2 a5 White's quiet approach with Nf3 doesn't seem critical in any way, but here Kozul provides a good demonstration of what Black can do in the Dzindzi-Indian if he remains unchallenged. 8.e3 [ 8.g3 f6 9.g2 bd7 10.0-0 b6 11.d2 d7 12.e4 0-0-0! is another e xa m p l e o f B l a c k ' s s t r a t e g y i n a c t i o n . 13.b2 fxe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4 he8 16.fe1 a4! This is similar to the Nim zo -I nd ia n , wit h B la ck t a rget in g t h e weakness on c4. 17.ec1 e6! 18.h4 1770
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 exd5 19.xh7 e2 20.h6 xc4 21.xc4 xc4 and Black won, S.Grainger-O.De la Riva Aguado, Buenos Aires 1992. ] 8...f6 9.d3 bd7 10.0-0 b6 11.d2 [ 11.a4! If White wants to play this quiet line, I feel that this a-pawn advance is usually vital. Crucially, Black's next move is prevented and Black doesn't get it all his own way on the queenside. d7 12.d2 0-0-0 13.fb1 with an unclear position. xa4? 14.b5! xb5 15.cxb5 xd5 16.xa4 is good for White, R.Wojtaszek-T. Schunk, playchess.com 2005. ] 11...a4! An excellent positional move. With the structure the way it is, W hite certainly doesn't want to exchange queens... 12.b3 ...unless of course Black agrees to straighten out White's pawns. There's no way Kozul will do that, though, and the tension of the queen's opposing each other works in Black's f avour here . e5! Another good move. White must either capture, making the c4-pawn weaker, or accept that the position is likely to become very closed - bad news for White's bishops. 13.dxe6 xe6 14.e1 [ In an earlier game, White attempted to open the position more quickly with 14.e4 , but Black is ready for this: fxe4 15.xe4 xe4 16.xe4 0-0-0! 17.g5 d7 ( 17...xc4!? 18.xa4 xa4 19.xd8 xf1 20.f6 f8 21.e7 e8 ) 18.d5 xd5 19.cxd5 e8 20.f4 e2 21.f2 e4 22.xe2 xe2 23.a4 e4 24.a5 xd5 25.a6 b6 26.d1 e3 27.d2 g4 28.h3?? e1# 0-1 V.Iotov-D.Barlov, Pontevedra 2002. ] 14...0-0-0! You've probably guessed by now that Black castles queenside in this line! 15.c2 a6! Still refusing to straighten out White's pawns. 16.e4 Now the position open up, but Black simply exploits his superior development. he8! 17.d3 fxe4 18.xe4 xe4 [ 18...f5 is also very good. ] 19.xe4 xc4! Winning a pawn. 20.xc4 xc4 21.xe8 xe8 22.g5 e2 23.g3 c7 24.h4 xb3 25.axb3 a6 26.f1 e8 27.g4 c6 28.g2 c4 29.bxc4 xc4 30.f4 e2+ 31.f1 c2 32.f5 gxf5 33.gxf5 xc3 34.f6 e5 35.e2 d5 36.f1 c7 Black wins many games in a similar fashion to
this, when W hite plays without suf f icient energy, which helps explain why players are attracted to the Dzindzi-Indian. 0-1
1770 Hedman,Erik Kraai,Jesse Czech Open Pardubice CZE (7) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2354 2445 26.07.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.f3 f6 6.d5 e7 7.g3 e4 This line is very closely related to the systems where Black fianchettos his B on g7, but here Black acts very quickly to dissolve the White centre. The variation is very sound and has the stamp of approval of specialists Kengis and Speelman. 8.d2 [ 8.xe4 fxe4 9.e5 0-0 10.g2 c5 11.0-0 exd5 12.cxd5 e8 13.c4 a5 14.b3 b5 15.e3 e7 16.d6 f6 17.dxc7 bxc4 18.cxb8 xb8 19.c1 c3 20.d4 c8 21.b4 e6 22.xf6 gxf6 23.b5 c5 24.a4 c4 25.c2 f5 26.e3 d5 27.fd1 c5 28.e2 b3 29.d4 a4 30.h5 d5 31.b4 c2 32.g5+ h8 33.b6 c4 34.xc4 dxc4 35.b7 d6 36.f4 xf4 37.gxf4 g7 38.f3 b8 39.fxe4 xb7 0-1 Wells,P-Kengis,E Dresden 1996. ] [ 8.g2!? xc3 9.bxc3 a6 10.d4 0-0 11.0-0 c5 12.c2 d6 13.a4 f6 14.a5 exd5 15.cxd5 a6 16.d1 c4 17.b2 ae8 18.axb6 axb6 19.f4 xf4 20.gxf4 e4 21.a7 d6 22.e3 c5 23.b4 xd5 24.b5 c6 25.xc7 c8 26.xc5 bxc5 27.d5 f7 28.c4 f8 29.b6 d8 30.c7 e8 31.c8 f6 32.f3 c3 33.d3 a2 34.a7 b4 35.d2 e7 36.f2 d6 37.xc6+ xc6 38.xc6 dxc6 39.xd8 xd8 40.h3 g6 41.e4 d3+ 42.g3 b2 43.f1 e7 44.e2 f6 45.f2 a4 46.d1 b6 47.b3 1/2-1/2 Chiburdanidze,M-Cramling,P Groningen 1997. ] 8...f6 [ 8...0-0 9.g2 f6 10.c1 c6 11.dxe6 dxe6 12.0-0 c5 13.c2 xd2 14.xd2 xg2 15.xg2 c6 16.f3 e7 17.fd1 1771
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g5 18.e3 g4 19.e1 e5 20.e2 f7 21.f4 g5 22.h3 gxh3+ 23.xh3 b7+ 24.f3 xh3 25.xh3 h8 26.f2 g8 27.d3 e5 28.h1 g7 29.g2 ag8 30.h3 d8 31.e1 f4 0-1 Gormally,DSpeelman,J Torquay 1998. ] 9.c1 c6 10.dxe6 dxe6 11.g2 c5 12.0-0 c6!? [ 12...xd2 is very comfortable for Black: 13.xd2 xd2 14.xd2 xg2 15.xg2 c6 16.f3 0-0-0 17.h4 a5 18.b4 b3 19.c2 d4 20.xd4 cxd4 21.a2 d3 22.d2 dxe2 23.xe2 d3 24.xe6 xa3 25.e2 f4 26.gxf4 d8 27.b5 d4 28.b4 xf4 29.d1 g4+ 30.f1 d4 31.xd4 xd4 32.c2 d3 33.e8+ d7 34.a8 xf2 35.xa7+ d6 36.b4 d2 37.d5 d4 38.c7 c2 39.h5 e5 40.b4 f2+ 41.e1 h2 42.d1 xh5 43.xg7 c5 44.d3+ d4 45.xc5 xc5 46.xh7 xc4 47.c2 xb5+ 48.b2 g5 1/2-1/2 Gutman,G-Bokros,A Pardubice CZE 2001. ] 13.xe4?! This leads to a big central initiative f or Black, but it does of f er the prize of a superior pawn structure if the storm is weathered. fxe4 14.e1 d4! [ 14...xb2!? ] 15.c2 e5 16.c1 0-0 17.h3 d7 18.g2 f7 19.c3 ae8 Black has fallen back, but he can now regroup with Nc6-d4 W h it e c on t in u e s t o su f f er f ro m a la ck o f central space. 20.b4 c6 21.bxc5 bxc5 22.b2 [ 22.xf6!? was worth considering, though either recapture has its attractions. White tries to just rid himself of the Bf6. ] 22...d4 23.e3 c6 24.g4 h5 25.xf6+ gxf6 26.xd4 cxd4 27.g2 f5 28.d2 e5 29.a5 f4 Black's attack looks the most relevant aspect of the position, but things will now loosen in both camps. 30.gxf4! h8 [ 30...xf4!? ] 31.c5! [ 31.fxe5 g8 32.h1 xg2! mates: 33.xg2 g8+ 34.h1 g6 ] 31...f6 32.fb1! e3 33.b8?? [ 33.f3! would have completed a series of active, accurate moves and left Black's attack under question. The looming invasion
on b8 will defang the worst of what Black would like to do here. ] 33...exf2+ 34.xf2 xf4+ 35.g1 [ 35.f3 xf3+ 36.exf3 xf3+ 37.e1 h1+ 38.f2 xh2+ 39.e1 g3+ 40.d1 ( 40.d2 e3+ mates. ) 40...f3+ 41.c2 e4+ 42.d1 g1+-+ ] 35...xg2 36.xe8+ xe8 37.xg2 g6+ [ 37...g6+ 38.h3 g4# ] 0-1
1771 Heurtebize,Olivier Plaskett,Jim Jersey Open St . Helier JCI (5) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2200 2515 24.02.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.f3 b4+ A surprisingly tame choice from one of the most swashbuckling people I know. The whole game suggests that Plaskett must have had something other than his usual uncompromising brand of chess on his mind this day. [ 4...f5 5.exf5 h6 6.fxe6 f5 7.d3 ( 7.e2 d6 8.h4 0-0 9.bc3 f6 10.c5 e7 11.exd7 f7 12.b3 xb3 13.axb3 xd7 14.b4 xh4+ 15.d1 fd8 16.c2 f6 17.b5 f8 18.xc7 ac8 19.b5 a6 20.a7 a8 21.c6 xa7 22.cxb7 xb7 23.xa6 e6 24.b1 h6 25.g4 fxd4 26.xd4 xd4 27.a8+ f7 28.c8 b5 29.h5 g5 30.h2 xc1 31.xc1 xb4 32.d3 d4 33.e4 e7 34.c2 f6 35.b3 d3 36.xe6 xe6 37.f2 b4 38.c2 ee3 39.f4 b3+ 40.b1 d6 41.ff1 g3 42.c3 xc3 43.bxc3 d2 44.c4 g2 45.g5+ hxg5 46.fxg5+ xg5 47.c1 f6 48.c3 b2 49.e3 g5 50.c5 h2 51.c6 g4 52.c3 h8 53.xb2 e6 54.c2 g8 55.c7 c8 1/2-1/2 Ree,H-Miles,A/Wijk aan Zee 1979 is one of the classic early games of the English Defence.) 7...h4+ 8.f1 xd4 9.e4 xe4 10.xd4 c5 11.exd7+ f7 12.d2 d3+ 0-1 Pergericht, DBoudre,J/Val Maubuee 1988. Gambits can be rewarding. ] [ 4...e5!? 5.d5 c5 6.c3 a5 7.ge2 a6 8.g3 e7 9.h3 0-0 10.a4 b4+ 1772
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.ec3 c8 12.a3 e7 13.0-0 c5 14.e3 a6 15.b3 xa4 16.xa4 b5 17.cxb5 xb5 18.f2 xa4 19.bxa4 d6 20.f4 b6 21.fxe5 xe5 22.c1 d6 23.b3 b8 24.b5 f6 25.fc2 g5 26.f4 xf4 27.gxf4 f6 28.f2 d4 29.xa5 xa4 30.d2 xe4 31.xc7 c5 32.g2 b1+ 33.f1 xf1+ 34.xf1 b1+ 35.f2 e4+ 36.xe4 b6+ 37.e3 xc7 38.h3 g6 39.f5 e7 40.f3 h4+ 41.g2 b8 42.c2 g5+ 43.h3 e8 44.e4 h5 45.fxg6 fxg6 46.a4 g4+ 0-1 Pytel,K-Piasetski,L/Buenos Aires 1978/MCD (46) ] 5.d2 xd2+ [ 5...h4+ 6.g3 xd2+ 7.xd2 h6 8.c3 ( 8.f2 ) 8...xd2+ 9.xd2 d6 10.d3 e7 11.f4! a6 12.f3 f6 Sosonko,GBohm,H Wijk aan Zee 1977 (1/2-1/2, 54) ] 6.xd2 h6 7.d3 [ 7.c3 0-0 8.0-0-0 f5 is a more exciting continuation, which is not surprising considering the players involved. 9.h3 c6 10.d5 e5 11.f4 eg4 12.e2 fxe4 13.xe4 exd5 14.cxd5 f6 15.c3 a6 16.f3 f5 17.f2 e7 18.d6 xd6 19.xd6 xf3 20.xf6 xf6 21.xf3 c6 22.g3 d5 23.d3 h6 24.f2 e6 25.d4 ad8 26.d3 c5 27.e5 f7 28.e2 d4 29.e5 e6 30.e4 d3 31.xd3 c4+ 32.d2 fe8 33.e1 xa2 34.c3 c4 35.c1 a5+ 36.c2 d5 37.a2 b5 38.ac3 f7 39.c1 b4 40.d1 a5 41.df2 a4 42.g4 c3 43.bxc3 bxc3 44.ef6+ gxf6 45.xh6+ f8 46.xf7 xe2 47.xe2 xf7 48.c2 c8 49.e4 a8 50.xc3 a3 51.e1 g6 52.a1 f5 53.b3 g4 54.xa3 b8+ 55.c3 h3 56.a2 f5 57.d4 e8 58.d5 e1 59.a6 xh2 60.g6 g2 61.g5 f3 1/2-1/2 Korchnoi,V-Speelman,J New York 1995 (61) ] 7...0-0 8.e2 f5 9.bc3 c6 10.0-0 h4 11.e1 g5 12.d1 fxe4 13.xe4 ae8 14.g3 xg3 15.xg3 a5 16.b3 ½-½
1772 Hollas,Roar Moen,Geir N TCh-Qualifier (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
A40
2002
London System: The London really shows its teeth in the following encounter and W hite brings in the full point with the minimum of fuss. 1.d4 b6 2.f3 b7 3.f4 e6 4.bd2 c5 5.e3 f6 6.h3 c6 7.c3 cxd4 8.exd4 e7 9.d3 c8 10.0-0 d5 11.e1 0-0 12.b1 A bizarre choice of square for the queen. She certainly eyes the h7 square, but otherwise looks misplaced here. However, there is some poison contained within this move and Black has to defend carefully. [ 12.e5!? is the thematic move. ] 12...e8 13.e5 f8?! Automatic, but this leads to a critical weakening of the kingside dark squares. [ 13...h6 should be considered here. ] 14.g5 g6 The only way to defend h7. [ 14...h6 15.h7+ picks up the Black queen. ] 15.df3 g7 16.g4 White has a very unpleasant bind on the kingside. c7 17.h4 h6 [ 17...h5 looks more natural, but falls foul of: 18.xf6+ xf6 19.xg6 xg5 20.h7+ with a winning position. ] 18.xh6+ xh6 19.xh6 White has won a key pawn and his initiative continues undiminished. h5 Losing on the spot, but as so of ten happens, it's hard to offer Black sensible advice here. [ 19...e7 20.e5 is obviously very good for White, but as yet, there is no knockout blow. ] 20.xg6! The rest is simply carnage. fxg6 21.xg6+ g7 22.g5 d6 23.h7+ 1-0
1773
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 13...d6 14.f4 and doubtless black didn't A40 feel weakening e6 helped matters. ] 2115 2398 14.f4! xe4 15.xe4 xe4 16.xe4 c6 14.05.2001 17.d5 exd5 18.cxd5 e7 19.ae1! [ 19.d6 d5 ] [ 19.xe7 e8 ] 20.c4 White's strong bishop and 1.d4 This game is not strictly of theoretical 19...d6 interest as black's option on move 6 has a kingside pawn majority give him the better very good track record. On the other hand, chances. f5 [ 20...af8!? ] white plays a sensible new move here to cast a bit of doubt on this sideline. e6 2.c4 b6 21.d3 g6 [ 21...h4!? looks like a more efficient way 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 5.d3 f5 6.c2 h4 of restraining white. ] [ 6...f6 7.d5 ( 7.f3 c6 8.ge2 fxe4 9.fxe4 e5 10.d5 d4 11.d1 0-0 12.0-0 22.b2 [ 22.g4!? ] c5 13.h1 g4 14.xd4 xf1+ 15.xf1 This leaves the black king without xd4 16.d1 h4 17.h3 g3 22...e7? 0-1 Rachmadi,H-Tian Kuan Kuan Canberra defence. [ 22...g3!? ] 1999. ) 7...fxe4 8.xe4 exd5 9.f3 c6 xe7 24.f5 g5 25.e4+10.cxd5 d4 11.d3 e7+ 12.e3 xf3+ 23.xe7 13.xf3 xc3+ 14.bxc3 xd5 15.0-0 xf3 White threatens Qe6 followed by f6 against 16.gxf3 0-0 17.fe1 f7 18.d4 d5 just about everything. d2 26.e6+ h8 19.e5 d6 20.ad1 f4 21.xf4 xf4 27.f6 f5 28.fxg7+ xg7 29.xg7+ xg7 22.d5+ f7 23.e3 ae8 24.g2 g6 30.f7+ 25.d4 xd5 26.xd5 xe3 27.fxe3 f5 1-0 28.d4 c5 29.c4 a5 30.d2 f7 31.f2 a3 32.c2 f6 33.e2 g5 A40 34.f2 h4 35.f4 g4 36.e2 h6 1774 37.f2 g5 38.fxg5 hxg5 39.e2 f5 Ippolito,Dean 2351 40.f2 g4 41.d2 g5 0-1 Van Parreren, Shabalov,Alexander 2566 H-Speelman,J Roskilde 1998. ] VII Anibal Open (6) 12.01.2000 7.f3 g4 8.0-0 xc3 9.h3 h5 10.bxc3 [Jon Tisdall] f6 11.d2 [ 11.d5? fxe4 12.xe4 0-0 13.a3 d6 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 14.ad1 bd7 15.d4 exd5 16.f3 f7 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.e2 0-0 8.c5 17.b5 e5 18.xd5 xd5 19.cxd5 a6 bxc5 20.xd6 cxd6 21.xd6 d7 22.xb7 [ 8...c6 9.a3 xd4 10.axb4 xe2 xb7 23.fe1 ae8 24.e4 f7 25.c4 11.xe2 g4 12.d4 h4 13.h3 xf5 g6 26.e2 xc2 27.xc2 c8 28.d4 14.g3 e7 15.hxg4 d5 16.h5 xd4 f7 29.f4 d7 30.e2 c5 31.g3 f8 17.xd4 f6 18.e3 g6 19.c3 xg4 32.e5 fc7 33.f2 d7 34.ee4 e8 20.h4 g6 21.d1 a5 22.c6 dxc6 35.d6 c6 36.f3 xe4 37.xe4 f7 23.bxa5 d8 24.d2 c5 25.c6 e8 38.g4 e6 39.f5+ f6 40.h4 h6 41.g5+ 26.d8 a6+ 27.g2 d3 28.c6 e5 hxg5 42.hxg5+ xg5 43.d5 c8 44.e6 29.f3 e4 30.fxe4 xe4+ 31.xe4 xc6 c5+ 45.e7 xf5 46.a4 a5 47.d1 g5 32.f3 h6 33.d3 g5 34.g4 h8 48.f1+ e4 49.g1 d3 50.xg5 xc4 35.d2 h5 36.c3+ h7 37.d7+ h6 51.g4+ b3 52.d4 h8 53.f7 c3 38.g7+ h7 39.c3+ h6 40.g7+ h7 54.g4 b3 55.d4 xa4 56.d7 c3 41.c3+ h6 42.g7+ h7 43.c3+ 57.d8 xd8 58.xd8 a4 59.e6 a3 1/2-1/2 Ippolito, D-Hodgson,J/Mermaid 60.h8 a2 0-1 Dengis,E-Grodent,G Huy Beach 1998 ] 1992. ] 9.a3 a5 10.dxc5 e4!? I hope no one will 11...fxe4 12.xe4 0-0 13.a3 f7 be too offended if I reserve comment on this.
1773 Iotov,Valentin Bojkov,Dejan 65th ch Tsarevo BUL (4) [Jon Tisdall]
1774
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 I have been waiting to see what the big idea might be in this variation as people stopped playing it as white despite some nice results. Shabalov is an amazing player, and his ideas can be baffling - you can never be quite sure if they are sound, and you can't even be sure they would work for you if they were. I don't see why white necessarily has to rush to try and win material. But it is also hard to criticize white too much, since grabbing things looks tempting as black's compensation seems too vague to be true. The problem is that vague t h re a t s c a n a ls o b e ve ry h a rd t o d e f e n d against. [ 10...d5 11.f3 f6 ( 11...xf5 12.b4 xb4 13.axb4 xb4 14.b2 a5 15.h4 d5 16.b3 a6 17.c3 xc5 18.c2 f5 19.h3 e7 20.g1 af8 21.f1 d6 22.g5 h6 23.g4 hxg5 24.gxf5 xf5 25.g4 f4 26.f3 gxh4 27.h2 g5 28.xh4 d3 29.h8+ f7 30.g3 c5+ 31.h2 xc3 32.h4 f6 33.h7 c2+ 34.h3 xf3+ 35.xf3 f4+ 36.g3 xb2 37.g8+ g6 38.h7+ f7 39.g8+ g6 40.e8+ f5 41.xb7 g5 42.h6 c3+ 43.f3 e2+ 44.g2 f4+ 45.h1 d5 46.f7 1-0 Beliavsky,A-Short,N/ Groningen 1997/ CBM 63 (46)) 12.c2 h6 13.h4 c6 14.fxe6 dxe6 15.bd2 xd2 16.xd2 d7 17.g1 a5 18.f1 a4 19.h3 a6 20.xa6 xa6 21.c1 a5 22.g3 xc5 23.d2 a7 24.c2 a5 25.g6 f5 26.xf5 xf5 27.d4 e7 28.g3 d5 29.xh6 g6 30.e3 e5 31.xc6 1-0 Galianina,J-Matveeva,S/ Moscow 1999 ] 11.b4 [ 11.f3!? ] 11...f6 12.a2 d5 13.b2 c6 14.bxa5 ab8 A piece and a pawn sacrificed, and now the scene shifts to the queenside. it seems amazing that there is no way f or white to return some material for an easy life, but it takes a very long time for him to catch up in development, and black is constantly making big threats. 15.xb8 xb8 16.d3 [ 16.d2 xf5 17.xe4 xe4 and white has some difficulty defending b1 and completing development, though whether black really has enough is far from clear. White's move in the game has its logic - it
eyes b1 and prepares to develop the kingside. ] 16...a1 17.e2 [ 17.fxe6!? might seem a little to greedy, but it destabilizes black a bit. Maybe white feared getting some heat down the d-file after A) 17...xb1 18.xb1 c4+ ( 18...xb1 19.exd7 ) 19.e1; B) 17...dxe6 18.d2 d8 ( 18...c3 19.e1 )] 17...b3! 18.e1 xc5 19.d2 xd3 20.xd3 e5 21.c3 xb1 22.xe5 c4-+ and just like that white is lost. He cannot protect his harassed paralyzed pieces, and he is just as far from getting his pieces working as ever. Black magic. 23.c3 a2 24.d2 xd2 25.xd2 b1+ 26.e1 b2 27.fxe6 xe2+ 28.g1 b1 0-1
1775 Izeta Txabarri,Felix Lima,Darcy 1st Mario Covas (9) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2448 2544 06.02.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d5 e7 Not a terribly inspiring new idea conventional replies are more natural - the posting of the N on g6 is not very effective and white plays the game very sensibly and very well. 5.c3 g6 6.d3 a6 7.ge2! A strong deployment - Black is not at all well deployed to cope with gradual expansion with f4. It may be that black's setup may be reasonable against an early Nf3. e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.a3 c5 10.c2 a5 11.f4 d6 12.e3 f6 13.b4 d7 14.d2 e7 15.ad1 fd8 16.b5 df8 17.ed4 Black's position is just passive. White has taken care not to allow ...c5 and now gradually expands further. xd4 18.xd4 e5 19.f5 d7 20.c3 f6 21.g3 e8 22.c1 c8 23.e3 exf4 24.gxf4 h4 25.e1 h5 26.g3 axb4 27.axb4 fg6 28.de1 f5 [ 28...f8!? ] 29.b2 a2 30.d4 fxe4 31.xe4 f5 32.xf5 xf5 33.xf5 xf5 34.e7 d7 35.xd7 xd7 36.f5 e5 37.xe5 dxe5 1775
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 38.xe5 d6 39.e8+ f8 40.e6+ h8 41.f6 gxf6 42.xf6+ g7+ 43.xg7+ xg7 44.e1 f7 45.e6 a4 46.c6 xb4 47.f2 b2+ 48.e3 xh2 49.xc7+ e8 50.b7 h6 51.d4 d8 52.c3 c8 53.f7 h1 54.b4 b1+ 55.a4 h5 56.h7 b2 57.xh5 b1 58.h7 b2 59.h1 c7 60.a3 d2 61.b4 b2+ 62.c3 g2 63.h7+ c8 64.e7 g4 65.b4 d8 66.b7 1-0
[ 14...f3+! 15.xf3 xf3 16.xf3 xf3 17.hxg7 h1+ also comes into consideration. Here Black keeps his bishop in play so I prefer this to the game continuation. ] 15.hxg7 xg7 16.f3! Even if White is not in a position to pick up the bishop on h1, at least he has the satisfaction of keeping it imprisoned. h2 17.f4 g2 [ 17...xg4 18.fxg4 g2 19.e2 xg4 20.xc7 c8 should also be playable for Black ] 18.xg7+ xg7 19.f1 f8 20.d2 d6 1776 A40 21.e1 e5 22.xf5 xf5 23.e3 Material is Jedynak,Radoslaw 2432 more or less equal. Black's rooks are active Rausis,Igors 2537 but his bishop cannot escape from the corner. Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (2) 23.02.2003 g2+ 24.f2 h5 25.e4 f7 26.g5+!? hxg5 27.xg5 xg5 28.e4 h1 29.h4 [Glenn Flear] Black decides to finally surrender the bishop 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 but obtains enough compensation in the form 5.exf5!? One of the sharpest variations in the o f t h r e e g o o d p a w n s f o r a k n i g h t . g2+ English Defence. xg2 6.h5+ g6 7.fxg6 30.f1 xb2 31.xh1 g6 32.e2 xa2 g7 8.gxh7+ f8 9.hxg8+?! Natural but 33.f2 c2 34.h4 a5 35.e3 a4 36.d3 probably not best. I write "probably" as all Arriving just in time to stop the a-pawn. b2 conclusions are rather tentative in such a 37.c3 a3 38.h8 f2 39.e3 c2 40.d3 f2 41.e3 c2 weird line! ½-½ [ Sacrificing the rook with 9.e2 or ] [ 9.g5 f6 10.h4 xh1 11.e2 (which will probably transpose), are critical. A40 Funnily enough there hasn't been much 1777 Jelen,Igor 2374 interest in the last couple of years or so. ] Beliavsky,Alexander G 2649 9...xg8 10.g4 xh1 11.g5 f8 [ K e e n e r e c o m m e n d e d 11...e8! 90th LSK Metalka Trgovina (9) 28.01.2002 in the 1970's. This also seems good e.g. [Jon Tisdall] 12.h4 c6 13.c3 xd4 14.0-0-0 f7 15.f4 ( if 15.e4!? then xe4 16.xe4 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 Allcock-Hardy, Loughborough 1973 and now 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.e2 0-0 8.c5 9.a3 a5 10.dxc5 d5 c6 ) 15...c6 I.Polovodin- A.Janturin, bxc5 Chigorin Memorial 2000. The queen on e8 Very interesting that Beliavsky chooses this keeps an eye on the h5-square and thus older move - ...Ne4 is newer a nd h as a n impressive track record so f ar - see also stops White's h-pawn push. ] Johannessen - Halkias Linares 2002 in this 12.h4! The best practical shot. Instead f6!? An interesting [ 12.c3 c6 13.0-0-0 f7 14.h4 f8 i n s t a l m e n t . 11.f3 15.ge2 f3 was clearly insufficient for choice, and presumably Beliavsky has done W hite in M.Tournier-C.Esplana, Pan Am reams and reams of homework - not just because he usually does, but because he Junior 2001 ] 12...c6 13.h5 The h-pawn is used as a was involved in the seminal game, worth quoting in full: battering ram. xd4 [ 11...xf5 12.b4 xb4 13.axb4 xb4 [ Instead after 13...b4 14.g6 c5 15.a3 14.b2 a5 15.h4 d5 16.b3 a6 c6 White renews the threats with 16.d3 ] 17.c3 xc5 18.c2 f5 19.h3 e7 14.h6 f5 1776
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.g1 af8 21.f1 d6 22.g5 h6 23.g4 hxg5 24.gxf5 xf5 25.g4 f4 26.f3 gxh4 27.h2 g5 28.xh4 d3 29.h8+ f7 30.g3 c5+ 31.h2 xc3 32.h4 f6 33.h7 c2+ 34.h3 xf3+ 35.xf3 f4+ 36.g3 xb2 37.g8+ g6 38.h7+ f7 39.g8+ g6 40.e8+ f5 41.xb7 g5 42.h6 c3+ 43.f3 e2+ 44.g2 f4+ 45.h1 d5 46.f7 1-0 Beliavsky,A-Short,N/Groningen 1997 (46). ] 12.fxe6 [ 12.c2!? c6 13.g5 xf5 14.xf5 xf5 15.b4 cxb4 16.axb4 xb4 17.b5 c6 18.d3 ff8 and black will get a third pawn - adequate compensation but nothing more: 1/2-1/2 Kachiani Gersinska,K-Kengis, E/Berlin 1999 (42). ] 12...a6!? 13.c2 ae8!? 14.exd7 xe2 Wow - nothing but development and threats. But with buckets of extra material and the d7 pawn as at least a distraction, this looks a bit hard to believe. 15.xe2 [ 15.xe2!? is probably the critical test. xc5 16.g5 g6 ( 16...c6!? ) 17.g1 xd7 Black has threats and activity, and is banking on the unopposed light-squared bishop creating nasty pressure - but is it enough for the material? 18.bd2 ( 18.h4!? is better ) 18...xd2 19.xd2 f4 20.xf4 xf4 is very dangerous, so again it is not easy for white to develop in natural fashion. ] 15...e6+ 16.e3?? [ 16.f1!? is far from clear. White threatens Qxh7+ among other things, and black must be ready to meet b4, winning even more material, with a sufficient onslaught. xd7 17.b4 OK - this is asking for it, but for the sake of argument and enlightenment, it has to be examined. xf3 18.gxf3 h3+ A) 19.e1 axb4 20.axb4 xb4 21.c4+ d5 22.xd5+ ( 22.g4 c2+ 23.d1 xg4 24.fxg4 xa1 ) 22...xd5+ 23.xa5 xf3; B) 19.e2 axb4 20.axb4 a6+ 21.e1 xf3 ] 16...f4+ 17.d1 [ 17.f1 xf3-+ ] 17...e4! 18.a4 xc5 19.b5 d3! A devastating win by black, but one which raises a lot of questions. A fascinating line,
with the soundness of the sacrifice murky enough to attract players to both sides of the position. [ 19...d3! 20.xa5 b3+ 21.e1 xg2+ 22.d2 c2# ] 0-1
1778 Jianu,Vlad Cristian Roisman,Dmitry Artek ol U16 (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2293 14.09.2000
1.d4 c6 2.c4 e5 3.d5 ce7 4.c3 g6 5.f3 b4 6.b3 xc3+ [ 6...e7 7.a3 c5!? led to murky play after ( 7...xc3+!? ) 8.a4 b6 9.e4 f6 10.c2 a5 11.g3 d6 12.g2 d7 13.xc5 bxc5 14.d2 a4 15.0-0-0 0-0 ( 15...h6!? ) 16.h4 h5 17.h2 h6 18.c3 ab8 19.df1 b3 20.f3 f6 21.d1 c6 22.e2 b6 23.h5 h8 24.c2 h7 25.f4 e8 26.e1 a6 27.f1 f6 28.e3 d8 29.f3 c8 30.d1 g4 31.xg4 xg4 32.e3 cxd5 33.cxd5 xh5 34.d3 aa8 35.h4 xg3 36.xh5 xf4+ 37.d2 g4 38.hh1 g6 39.dg1 d7 40.f3 c4 41.c3 ec8 42.d1 cb8 43.g3 b7 44.h5 ab8 45.b4 1-0 Mah,K-Quinn,M GBR 1999. A game which just goes to show how much play there is in these relatively unexplored openings. ] 7.xc3 d6 8.e4 8e7 9.h4 h6!? [ 9...f5!? ] 10.e3 f8 [ 10...f5 11.h5 f8 12.d3 h7!? ( 12...fxe4 13.xe4 d7 14.h4 )] 11.d2 h7 12.c5! 0-0 13.c4 f5 14.cxd6 cxd6 15.a3! White has played to ref ute black's opening is on the verge of succeeding - d6, a7 and b6 are all terribly weak. f6 16.xa7 [ 16.b6!? axb6 17.xa8 looks less likely to allow counterplay, but the game continuation is equally lethal. ] 16...f8 17.b6 xa7 18.xa7 fxe4 19.e2 xf2 Loses more l, but this is a game of uninhibited youth - better to have a chance at a few threats... 20.xc8 xe2+ 21.xe2 xc8 22.ad1?! 1777
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 22.hc1 ] 22...c4+ White no longer has an easy escape route to the kingside and the longer his king must float in the centre, the greater his chances of being swindled. [ 22...xd5!? ] 23.e1 b4+ 24.d2 f6 25.a3 b6 26.b3 c5 27.c3 b6 28.f1 e3 29.d3 e4 Taking on d5 would only allow the knight to be annoyingly pinned. Aggression is the main ingredient of a good swindle. 30.c1?? [ 30.a3 preventing a queen check was still promising. ] 30...b4+ 31.e2 [ 31.d1 f2+ 32.xf2 exf2 33.e2 b5!-+ ] 31...g3+ 32.xe3 e4+ 33.d2 [ 33.d2 xg2+ and white must give up his queen to prolong the agony. ] 0-1
1779 Johannessen,Leif Erlend Halkias,Stelios Anibal Open Linares ESP (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2427 2546 03.03.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.e2 0-0 8.c5 bxc5 9.a3 a5 10.dxc5 e4 11.b4 f6 [ 11...xf5!? is an interesting option that worked the only time it was tried. In the s p i r i t o f t h i s s a c r i f i c e i t s h o ws a t o t a l disregard for material and assumes that compensation will endure in view of the fact that white 's king a nd kingsid e roo k are looking at development in a geological time scale. 12.f3 c6 13.bxa5 e5 14.e3?! ( 14.bd2!? ) 14...g4 15.bd2 xe3+ 16.fxe3 d5 17.c1 xd2+ 18.xd2 g5 19.f3 xe3 20.e1 a6+ 21.c4 xc5-+ 0-1 Georgiev,V-Damaso,R/ Algarve 1999 (50). ] 12.a2 d5 13.b2 c6 14.f3 ab8 15.c2 This asks a very direct and natural question - how does black plan to get the most for his now doomed bishop? [ 15.fxe6 dxe6 16.h4 xc5! 17.c2 e4 18.bxa5 d4 19.d3 b3 20.c2
( 20.e3 xc1 21.xb8 xb8 22.xc1 b2 23.xc7 xb1+ 24.e1 f8! ) 20...bc5 21.xc5 xc5 22.c2 e4 23.xc5 xb1 0-1 Khenkin, I-Shabalov,A/ Koszalin 1999. An impressive and energetic execution by black. ] 15...xb4 16.axb4 xb4 White's position is already critical. 17.a4? This succumbs to the kind of b-file related violence that we have seen from Shabalov. [ 17.d1!? had to be tried. Nevertheless, after seeing these positions go wrong, it seems to me that black has already so much energy on the queenside and f-file that this must be a treacherous version of the variation for white. Not to mention that his kingside is still an era or two away from coordination. ] 17...a2! 18.xa2 [ 18.c2 xc1 19.xb8 xb8 20.xc1 b2 21.xb2 xb2 22.a3 a2 23.b1 a1 24.d3 c4! 25.xc4 xb1+ 26.e1 d2+ ] 18...xb1 19.c2 b3 20.xe4 xc2 21.xc2 a1 22.e1 xc1 23.d2 xf5-+ 24.f3 d5 25.b4 b1 26.h4 g5 27.f2 e5 28.f4 e4 29.fxg5 e5 [ White was praying for 29...b2?? 30.f6= ] 30.c6 d5 0-1
1780 Kachiani Gersinska,Ketino Radziewicz->Rajlich,Iweta 34th Olympiad Women (7) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2448 2379 04.11.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.f3 b7 4.g3 b4+ A very in te rest in g m o ve wh ich ta k es f u ll advantage of the delayed development of the Ng8 to create novel threats. 5.d2 [ 5.bd2? xf3 6.exf3 f6! A) 7.d5 exd5 ( 7...xd2+!? ) 8.cxd5 e7; B) 7.b3 c6 8.g2 xd4 9.d3 c5 10.f4 d8 11.0-0 xd2 12.xd2 e7 13.c3 ec6 14.fd1 0-0 15.d2 a5 16.ad1 d5 17.cxd5 exd5 18.e1 d6 19.dd1 fe8 20.a3 e6 21.b4 axb4 22.axb4 de8 23.e3 g6 24.b5 c4 1778
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 25.b1 xe3 26.xd4 xd4 27.fxe3 e2+ 28.f2 c3 0-1 Muslija,I-Sulava,N Pula 2000. ] 5...xd2+ 6.xd2 xf3 7.exf3 f6 [ 7...f6 8.c3 d5 is a solid alternative, preparing to build up slow pressure on the dfile. 9.b3 0-0 10.d1 c6 11.f4 e7 12.g2 d7 13.0-0 ad8 and white was moved to change the position radically with 14.c5!? bxc5 15.dxc5 b8 16.b1 and although black's position looks very solid, it is very hard to do anything without loosening it - white in the meantime, finds it rather easy to improve things around the home. c6 17.b4 e8 18.fe1 c7 19.f1 fd8 20.a4 a6 21.d3 b7 22.b2 db8 23.eb1 and white is clearly better, though breaking through is another matter. Time tro uble d ra mat ics (app are ntly) le d t o a rather random finish. a7 24.c2 h5 25.e2 g6 26.e5 ab7 27.h3 f8 28.e2 a7 29.g4 hxg4 30.hxg4 g7 31.g5 f6 32.g2 e5 33.gxf6+ xf6 34.fxe5 f4 35.h1 e6 36.f1 a8 37.e3 d4 38.h3 dxc3 39.e2 g8 40.xg6 f8 41.c2 d5 42.g1 xg1+ 43.xg1 f3 44.xf3 xf3 45.e4 d5 46.g2 g5 47.d4 f4+ 48.f1 fh3 49.e1 xf2 50.d1 f4 51.b3 c2+ 0-1 Chetverik,M-Horvath,P Harkany HUN 2000. ] 8.c3!? A lively, drastic decision which I doubt will become popular in the materialistic "a pawn is a pawn" circles, but it does get a hefty lead in development and create ideas of Nb5. The natural [ 8.g2 c6 9.d5 ( 9.f4 0-0-0 ) 9...e5+!? was also very interesting. ] 8...xf3 [ 8...c6!? ] 9.g1 c6 10.e2 f5 [ 10...f6!? ] 11.d5 b4 12.c1 f6? This natural move leads to grave danger. [ 12...a5!? ] 13.g4 Now black must tread carefully as all her developed pieces are very unstable. e5 [ 13...g6 may be better, but that is an indication of lack of sensible squares for pieces at black's disposal. ] 14.f4 d3+?!
[ 14...d6 15.g5 c5! 16.f1 g8 17.a3 a6 18.b4 gives white a massive initiative, with black's pieces scurrying to hide in little holes in the board. But the piece sacrifice is hopeless. ] 15.xd3 xf4 16.d1 h5 17.gxh5 xh2 18.c2 xh5 19.dxe6 [ 19.h1 xh1 20.xh1 xh1 21.dxe6 was another way - in any event black has lost too much material. ] 19...h3 [ 19...dxe6 20.h1 g2 21.cg1 f2 22.xh5 xh5 23.f3 ] 20.exf7+ e7 21.d2 xf7 22.cf1 d6 23.xd6 cxd6 24.g2 c8 25.e4 f8 26.xf6 gxf6 27.xf6+ e7 28.fg6 h7 29.g7+ xg7 30.xg7+ e6 31.d3 h8 32.g4+ e5 33.e7+ f4 34.e4+ g3 35.xd7 h1 36.c6 d1+ 37.c2 1-0
1781 Kaidanov,Gregory S Kraai,Jesse ch Seattle USA (1) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2596 2442 05.01.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 9.0-0 e5 10.c2 0-0 11.d1 e7 12.d2!? This seems to be a new move, remarkably enough, or perhaps my database is not what it used to be. In either case, I find it extremely hard to believe this is a threat of any sort to black. [ 12.e3 ce4 13.xe4 xe4 14.ac1 c5 ( 14...exd5 15.cxd5 d6 16.xe4 fxe4 17.g5 f5 18.xe4 (1-0, 36) Gelfand,BHamdouchi,H Cap d'Agde 1994.) 15.dxe6 dxe6 16.f4 f6 17.d3 e5 18.e3 g5 19.cd1 ad8 20.xd8 xd8 21.xd8+ xd8 22.d3 h6 23.g4 xd3 24.exd3 d6 25.xb7 xb7 26.f3 e4 27.gxf5 exd3 28.f2 xb2 29.xd3 xa3 30.h4 d6 31.hxg5 xc4 32.f4 hxg5 33.xg5 d6 34.f6 c4 35.e5 c3 36.f2 f7 37.c4 c5+ 38.e3 c2 0-1 Sher,MLempert,I Erevan 1996. ] 12...c6 [ 12...a5!? is one natural alternative. Another 1779
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 very pertinent question is why not ] [ 12...ce4!? If 13.e1 exd5 looks a very natural and strong reply. 14.xd5 xd5 15.cxd5 f6 and black has at least equal chances. ] 13.dxe6 dxe6 14.ab1 Now white's position is a bit more comfy, as black's minor pieces are rather unstable and he must watch out for pawn expansion on the b-, c- and e-files. Nothing serious though, he is still solid and res ilient . ad8 15.b4 a6 16.f4 d4 I don't understand the point of this probe. [ 16...d6!? 17.e4 ( 17.b5 b8 ) 17...e5 18.c5! ] 17.e3 e5 18.d3 b8 19.c5 e5 20.e4 c8 [ 20...f4!? 21.gxf4 exf4 22.cxb6 axb6 23.xf4 g4 looks like very good entertainment value for a pawn. ( 23...e5 24.ce2; 23...xd2 24.xd2 e5 25.ce2 this looks a bit tempting, but h2 falling will not be the end of the world, and Qa2 and using the e6 square will have more impact. )] 21.cxb6 axb6 22.g5 h8 [ 22...h6 23.xf6 xf6 24.b5 ( 24.exf5 xf5 25.e4 g6 26.e1 d4 ) 24...cxb5 25.d5 ] 23.exf5 xf5 24.e4 [ 24.xc6 d6 25.xf6 looks possible, but one tends to be sceptical of tactical adventures that involve possibly misplacing all o n e 's p iece s f o r a p awn . T h e ga m e continuation is solid and good. ] 24...c8 25.bc1 a7 Motivated by understandable concerns about his queenside, this is nevertheless so drastic a migration that more trouble is certain to follow elsewhere. [ 25...e6 26.xf6 gxf6 27.a4! ] [ 25...f7!? 26.xf6 gxf6 27.e2 is similarly unpleasant due to black's exposed queenside, but is a lesser evil. ] 26.xf6 gxf6 27.e2 c5 [ 27...e6!? to try and plug gaps with Bd5 and to entertain a later dream of mobilizing the kingside, looks better. ] 28.b5 xe4 29.xe4 c7 30.xe5! Black's king is naked, and misses his wife a lot. xb5 [ 30...fxe5 31.d7 ] 31.d7 c7 32.f7+!
[ 32.f7+ xf7 33.d8+ ] 1-0
1782 Kallio,Heikki Blatny,Pavel GMB Bermuda BER (2) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2474 2475 26.01.2003
1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.d4 e6 4.e4 b4 5.d3 f5 6.h5+ f8?! This is a new one on me, but why play such a crazy novelty when the natural alternative offers a good game? I presume that Blatny wants to avoid weakening his dark squares, but his king is now misplaced. [ Only 6...g6 is mentioned in the e-book when 7.e2 f6 8.f3 c6! is dynamic for Black. ] 7.f3 c5 8.d5 [ 8.dxc5 f6 9.g5 fxe4 10.xe4 h6 is murky ] 8...g6 Playing ...g6 anyway now that White has committed his centre. 9.h3 exd5 10.cxd5! The fluid centre doesn't bode well for the exposed Black king especially as he isn't able to obtain comf ortable development. Clearly Black's opening experiment hasn't worked. [ Instead 10.exd5 doesn't impress after the Nimzo-style xc3+ 11.bxc3 f6 12.e2 d6 13.0-0 d7= ] 10...c4 11.c2 [ 11.xc4? is just bad after c7 ] 11...a6 12.ge2 c5 Keeping White's king in the centre and threatening ...Nb4 13.a3 fxe4 14.fxe4 e7 15.f4 g7? [ 15...d6 is possibly a lesser evil but even so the position smells as if it's gone off. ] 16.d6! e8 [ 16...xd6 17.xd6 xd6 18.d1+- and ] [ 16...e6 17.xe6 dxe6 18.e5+ f6 19.f1 also look hopeless ] 17.f1 h6 18.e5+! The most incisive. xe5 19.xd7+ e7 20.xb7 xd6 21.d1 xh2 22.d7! Strong but [ 22.xa6 is obviously not bad either. ] 22...h4+ 23.g3 g5 24.d5 ad8 25.xe7+ [ 25.df4! is even stronger with the point 1780
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 that e5 26.d5 xd5 27.exd5 wins immediately as xd7 28.e6+ g8 29.f8+ h7 30.f7+ g8 31.g7# mates in style. ] 25...xe7 26.xa6 he8 27.xc4 d6 28.f3 e5 29.f2 c8 30.d3 h5 31.a4 f8 32.ef4 Again the e6-weakness is exposed. h6 33.e2 g4? [ 33...xb2 would at least make a fight of it. ] 34.e3 g5 35.e6 e7 36.xf8 xf8 37.d2 xf3 38.f5+ 1-0
1783 Karpov,Anatoly Morozevich,Alexander NAO Masters Cannes FRA (8) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2693 2742 02.03.2002
1.c4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.a3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 9.e3!?N The former world champion comes up with a new move that poses subtle questions, but it does not look dangerous enough to be truly threatening. e5 10.xc5 bxc5 11.0-0 exd5 [ 11...b8!? ] 12.cxd5 b8 13.d3 g6 14.e4 xc3 15.bxc3 fxe4 16.xe4 0-0 17.g2 e7 Though black's queenside structure might a p p e a r t o b e we a k a t f ir st sigh t , wh it e ' s queenside pawns can quickly become targets. 18.ab1 d6 19.c4 a6 20.fe1 [ 20.xb8!? xb8 21.e1 e8 ] 20...xb1 21.xb1 e5= ½-½
1784 Kempinski,Robert Kengis,Edvins Bundesliga 2000-1 (11) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2543 2586 11.03.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b4 4.b3 This rather rare variation tends to turn back into positions that are very similar to the Nimzo-Indian. c5 5.d5!? [ 5.a3 xc3+ 6.xc3 cxd4 7.xd4 f6 8.g5 c6 9.h4 h6 10.f3 h7 11.xf6
xf6 12.xf6 gxf6 13.e3 g7 14.c1 d6 15.d2 b7 16.f3 e7 17.f2 e5 18.e2 f5 19.hg1 c8 20.h3 c7 21.g4 fxg4 22.hxg4 g6 23.f4 d7 24.b4 f6 25.f3 a6 26.a4 g8 27.b5 c8 28.a5 bxa5 29.a1 d5 30.g5 hxg5 31.fxg5 h7 32.g6 f6 33.cxd5 c2 34.e2 exd5 35.xa5 d7 36.xa7 xg6 37.xg6 fxg6 38.d1 c3 39.e4 d6 40.exd5 xb5 41.e4+ xe4 42.xe4 g5 43.g7 e3 44.f5 g3 45.e6 e5 46.e1 g2 47.h3 c2 48.d1 h2 49.e6 e2+ 50.d2 d4 51.xg5 d3+ 52.e1 e2+ 53.d1 c3 54.g1 e3 55.g4 e4 56.d6 d3+ 57.e1 xd6 58.g3+ 1/2-1 /2 Lo rsche id,G-Varga ,Z Bu dapes t 1998. ] [ 5.f3 c6 6.a3 a5 7.e3 f6 8.d3 0-0 9.0-0 d5 10.d1 xc3 11.xc3 cxd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 a6 14.cxd5 xd3 15.xd3 xd5 16.e4 f6 17.f3 c7 18.g5 e5 19.xf6 xf6 20.xf6 gxf6 21.ac1 fd8 22.g3 xd1+ 23.xd1 c8 24.d7 c2 25.b4 a5 26.bxa5 bxa5 27.a7 c4 28.xa5 xe4 29.c5 a4 30.c3 h5 31.f1 f5 32.e2 f4 33.d2 fxg3 34.hxg3 h4 35.gxh4 xh4 36.c2 f4 37.f3 e5 38.b3 e4 39.fxe4 xe4 40.c8+ g7 41.a4 f5 42.a5 e7 43.c4 g6 44.a6 a7 45.a4 f4 46.xf4 xa6 47.a4 xa4 48.xa4 1/2-1/2 Sokolov, ISpeelman,J Leeuwarden 1997. ] 5...f6 6.g3 b5!? A fairly common them in the Nimzo when white plays an early d5 in some of the slightly offbeat lines. It is a little surprising to see black sacrifice this pawn with loss of tempo, but neither Qb3 nor g3 fit into normal development methods in this position type. 7.dxe6 fxe6 8.cxb5 b7 9.f3 a6 10.bxa6 d5 11.d1 e4 12.d2 xc3 This will leave white's a-pawns so weak that the gambit pawns are almost certain to fall quickly, but white will get some time in return. 13.xc3 [ 13.bxc3 f6 ] 13...xc3 14.bxc3 f6 15.d3 xa6 The threat of Nb4 convinces white to give up monitoring his extra a-pawn. 16.d1 c4 17.e3 c7 18.g2 0-0 19.0-0 [ 19.d2 a3 20.c2 fa8 ] 19...xa2 20.e5 d8 21.fe1 d6 22.f3 1781
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d7 23.h4! White's long-term pressure against d6 and e6 compensates for his own pawn targets. In the meantime he acquires a bit of u se f u l sp ace to cre at e play o n th e kingside in case black gets too ambitious trying to target the pawn on c3. h6 24.a1 a4 25.xa2 xa2 26.h5 b8 27.h2 a5 28.c1 b6 29.d4 c5 30.g4 b2 31.a1 xg2 32.xg2 e5 33.f5 xe3 34.xe3 xe2 35.xc4 [ 35.f3!? ] 35...d5 36.e3 d4 37.cxd4 exd4 38.f5 e6 39.a7 e4 40.f3 e1 41.d7 f8 42.xd4 xd4+ 43.xd4 f7 44.f4+ g8 45.e4 a1 46.f4 a2 47.f3 f7 48.f5 a3 49.f4 a6 50.e5 b6 ½-½
1785 Khenkin,Igor Bunzmann,Dimitrij 4th OIBM Bad Wiessee GER (6) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2633 2484 02.11.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.f3 This move seems to have replaced the more ambitious 7. Be2, which seems to win more material but allow a considerable amount of p a n d e m o n i u m ( s e e B e l i a vs k y- S h o r t a n d related games). The more modest approach is doing quite well recently, and black is having trouble proving compensation for a pawn. [ 7.c5 bxc5 8.a3 c4 9.xc4 a5 10.fxe6 dxe6 11.f3 ( 11.e2 0-0 12.f4 h8 13.c3 d6 14.e2 xc3 15.bxc3 e4 16.h5 e5 17.dxe5 c6 18.f7 xf7 19.xf7 d7 20.e3 f8 21.e6 xc3 22.c1 d2+ 23.e2 b2 24.d3 b5 25.xd2 a6 26.c3 c5 27.hc1 b6 28.d6 e8 29.xc5 b3 30.5c3 c4+ 31.e2 a2+ 32.1c2 1-0 Markus,RCzebe,A Budapest HUN 2000.; 11.a4+ c6 12.f3 0-0 13.c3 h8 14.e3 b6 15.d1 e8 16.a6 xa6+ 17.xa6 g4 18.e2 e5 19.dxe5 xe3+ 20.fxe3 xe5 21.d5 d8 22.xb6 xd1+ 23.xd1 axb6 24.e2 c6 25.f2 g4+ 26.g3 f6 27.h4 h5+ 28.f2 f6 29.d1 g4+ 30.g3 h6 31.d3 f6
32.d2 f5+ 33.h3 h6 34.e4 d6 35.g4 e8 36.f4 e6+ 37.h2 xe3 38.xe3 xe3 39.c2 c5 40.g3 g8 41.f2 b3 42.d2 1/2-1/2 Meins,GBuhmann, /Seebad Heringsdorf GER 2000. ) 11...0-0 12.c3 h8 13.g5 d6 14.e2 bd7 15.xe6 xd4 16.e3 h4 17.d1 ae8 18.d4 h5 19.f7+ g8 20.h6+ h8 21.f7+ g8 22.h6+ 1/2-1/2 Nenashev,A-Bunzmann,D Seebad Heringsdorf GER 2000. ] [ 7.e2 0-0 8.f3 c6 9.c5 a6+ 10.e2 bxc5 11.a3 xe2+ 12.xe2 a5 13.dxc5 e4 14.f3 exf5 15.b4 f6 16.a2 ab8 17.g3 e5 18.b2 e6 19.a1 xf3 20.xf3 c6 21.g2 c7 22.e1 h6 23.h4 a5 24.c1 f6 25.a2 axb4 26.axb4 xb4 27.d2 xc5 28.a3 b5 29.c2 d6 30.c4 b3 31.e3 xe3 32.xe3 e4 33.xd6 xd6 34.d2 e8 35.f4 e5 36.h2 h6 37.xd6 xd6 38.c4 d5 39.xe5 c5 40.f3 c4 41.d4 c3 42.c2 d3 43.b4 b5 44.h5 h8 45.g1 c2 46.a2 d5 47.c1 d1+ 48.g2 xh5 49.b8+ h7 50.b5 d6 51.d3 d1 52.xf5+ h8 53.d3 1/2-1/2 Bock,J-Gara,A Budapest 2000. ] 7...0-0 8.a3 d6 9.c3 e8 Bunzmann is a true devotee, so it is interesting to note that he puts a top priority in getting this piece over to the kingside and avoiding Bg5 pins. [ 9...c6 10.g5 e7 11.fxe6 dxe6 12.e2 d7 13.e1 h6 14.xf6 xf6 15.e4 f4 16.c5 bxc5 17.dxc5 xf3 18.cxd6 xd3 19.xd3 c6 20.g1 d5 21.h3 cxd6 22.h2 (1-0, 41) Goldin,AGofshtein,L Rishon Le Ziyyon 1998. ] [ 9...exf5 10.xf5 c6 11.g5 e8 12.xf6 xf6 13.e4 a6 14.a4 b7 15.e1 h5 16.b5 h6 17.g5 af8 18.d5+ h8 19.e4 f4 20.xh6 gxh6 21.xd6 cxd6 22.b4 a6 23.e3 b5 24.cxb5 axb5 25.g3 4f5 26.e4 xd4 27.xb7 xf3 28.g2 d5 29.d1 e5 30.f4 c6 31.c3 d8 32.c5 1-0 Sherbakov,R-Volzhin,A Koszalin 1999. ] 10.e2 exf5 11.xe8 A spectacularly conservative move [ 11.xf5 certainly deserved attention. h5 ( 11...xe2+ 12.xe2 xf3+ 13.gxf3 c6 1782
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.e3 does not look like enough compensation.) 12.g5 h4!? might be the idea. ] 11...xe8 12.e2 xf3+! Black needs to create some counterplay in the centre and he ne e d s t o d o it a t sp e e d . 13.xf3 c6 14.e2 a5 [ 14...f6!? looks correct, aiming to harass the king, which is his main trump. Ruling out the expansion with b4 makes sense though, as long as he gets back on track. ] 15.g3 e7 [ 15...f6!? 16.xf5? e8 ] 16.g2 d6 17.d1 h8?! 18.e3 ab8 19.ab1 e4 20.xe4 fxe4 21.c3 be8 22.xe4 xa3 23.d5 a7? [ 23...b8 ] 24.bxa3 xe4 25.c5 c8 26.d6 bxc5 27.dxc7 d6 28.b8 g8 29.xc5 c4 30.xd6 xc5 31.xc8 xc8 32.d8+ f7 33.xc8 e6 34.e8+ d7 35.c8+ xc8 36.xc8 xc8 37.f3 d7 38.e4 c6 39.d4 b5 40.c3 A bad day at the office for Bunzmann - on the whole this game fits the category of raising more questions than it answers. 1-0
1786 Khenkin,Igor Miezis,Normunds Bundesliga 2008-9 (2) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2647 2552 05.10.2008
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 b4+ As Bauer points out 'the drawback of this move is that it doesn't challenge the white centre.' 5.d2 e7 6.f3 f5!? A critical idea to get the bishop on b7 working but Black hasn't scored well in practise. [ Black's position was solid (rather than 'dynamic') in Grabliauskas, V-Speelman, J Roskilde 1998, following 6...f6 7.e2 xd2+ 8.bxd2 d6 9.0-0 e5 ] 7.exf5 White has also done well with [ 7.e2 maintaining the centre and ] [ 7.e5 gaining space. ] 7...exf5+ 8.f1 xd2 [ Another way of defending the f-pawn with 8...e4 failed to impress in a recent
encounter: 9.g5 f6 10.a3 d6 11.c3 0-0 12.e2 c5 13.xe4 fxe4 14.xf6 xf6 15.xe4 and Black was basically a pawn down, Javakhishvili, L-Grabuzova, T Dagomys 2008. ] 9.bxd2 h6 10.e2 Simple chess. Khenkin hopes to rely on an edge due to his centre and solidity. xe2+ 11.xe2 c6 12.he1 0-0-0 13.f1 d5! Miezes typically tries an active solution. [ A reasonable way of handling Black's position is 13...b4 14.b1 he8 15.xe8 xe8 16.a3 c6 17.d3 d6 but White retains a pull due to his extra space, for example with 18.b4 ] 14.c5 b4 15.b1 bxc5 16.dxc5 d4? Black increases the scope for his pieces. This is the right idea but it would have been better to have first played [ 16...he8! and met 17.e5 with ( 17.xe8 xe8 18.a3 a6+ 19.g1 d3 is fine for Black) 17...d4 with chances for both sides. ] 17.a3 d5 Consistent. [ Instead 17...c6 18.d3 leaves Black's minor pieces with little potential. ] 18.xd4 Critical. f4 Complex. 19.2f3! Consolidating (or trying to!). g5 Combative (but insufficient!). [ Here 19...xg2 is tempting but Mieses probably didn't think much of Black's chances after 20.c6 xe1 21.cxb7+ xb7 22.xe1 he8+ 23.e2 where the two pieces will be stronger than a rook and pawn. ] 20.xf5 a6+ 21.g1 e2+ 22.h1 g4 Black threatens mate in one and Khenkin tries no t t o f o rget wh ilst givin g a f e w ch e c k s ! 23.e7+ b7 [ Or 23...d7 24.f5+ xe7 25.xg4 and Black's threats come to an end. ] 24.e4+ c6 25.f1 A meek looking move but apart from this passive rook White is happy with life: he is a couple of pawns to the good and Black's pawn on c6 is about to drop. d4 26.xd4 xd4 27.xc6+ c7 28.fe1 Back again, but now check on f2 isn't mate. xf2+ 29.g1 d3 30.e4 dd8 [ White has everything under control after 30...xe4 31.xe4 xc5 32.c1 d6 33.f5+ e5 34.xc5+ xe4 35.g3+ ] 1783
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 31.b4 hf8 32.b5 xc5 Desperate but any hopes of mixing it are rapidly disappearing. 33.bxa6 xe4 34.xe4 de8 35.d5+ d6 36.c3 e5 37.xh7 Why not? c8 38.e4+ e6 39.g4! A good technical move a s W h it e n o w h a s a n o u t p o st o n f 5 . c6 40.f5+ e7 41.xg5 xa6 42.f2 ea5 43.e1+ f6 44.e4+ g7 45.a4!? Not totally necessary, but the idea is that Black loses co-ordination after snatching the pawn. xa4 46.c5 a2+ 47.g3 c6 48.d7 h6 49.h3 g7 50.e7+ h8 51.e5 With Ng6+ followed by Be6+ in prospect, it's time to call it a day. 1-0
1787 Khudyakov,Alexander Krivoshey,Sergei Osen II Alushta UKR (13) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2365 2507 05.10.2003
1.c4 e6 2.c3 b6 3.d4 b7 4.e4 b4 5.f3 f5 The most popular at this point but [ 5...h4+ softening up the long diagonal, w i t h t h e i n t e n t i o n o f m e e t i n g 6.g3 w i t h e i t h e r h5 or 6...Qe7 also makes sense. ] 6.exf5 exf5 7.h3 c6 8.g5 f6 9.a3?! I don't like this loss of time. Better is [ 9.e2+ f7 10.0-0-0 xc3 11.bxc3 e7 12.b2 as in Piket,J-Timman,J Wijk aan Zee 1999 with a tense struggle in prospect. ] 9...xc3+ 10.bxc3 h6 11.d2 e7+ 12.f2 0-0-0 13.d3 g6 14.e1 f7 Black has harmonious development and the better pawn structure to fully compensate the bishop pair. 15.a4 a5 16.c5? [ Underestimating the danger. Instead 16.g1 was necessary when the critical variation a6 17.e5 d5 18.ae1 d7 19.f4 is not clear as White threatens tricks based on Nxg6 and Bxf5. ] 16...e4+! Exploiting White's king position. 17.xe4 [ 17.fxe4 fxe4+ is also bad news. ] 17...fxe4 18.f4 g5! 19.ab1? Again not the best but White was still reeling from Black's 16th. Instead the blockading [ 19.e3 keeps him in the game. ]
19...e3+! 20.xe3 [ 20.xe3 a2+ is carnage. ] 20...g4 [ 20...g4 21.g1 xf4+ 22.e2 would be too much to bear. ] 0-1
1788 Kishnev,Sergey Bischoff,Klaus Bundesliga 2000-1 (12) [Jon Tisdall]
xh2
A40 2489 2552 31.03.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 b4+ 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 h6 7.gf3 [ 7.h5 f6 8.e5 f4 9.e2 g4 10.xg4 xg4 11.f3 h6 12.g4 c6 13.0-0-0 0-0-0 14.hg1 d6 15.g5 g8 16.exd6 xd6 17.g4 e5 18.dxe5 xd3 19.f4 e7 20.xf7 f5 21.f4 d7 22.xd7 xd7 23.e4+ e7 24.d3 a6 25.b3 c5 26.d2 f8 27.e2 b7 28.4c3 h4 29.f4 g2 30.h3 f7 31.b5 g6 32.d6 c6 33.f5+ exf5 34.e6 f4 35.e7 h8 36.c3 e3 37.d5 xd5 38.cxd5 e8 39.xe8 1-0 Flear,GWauthier,P Brocco 1991 ] 7...0-0 8.0-0 f6 Bischoff's pet line. [ 8...f5!? ] 9.b4!? [ 9.e1 f7 10.f1 c6 11.c1 e7 12.g3 g6 13.d2 c5 14.f1 c7 15.ed1 d6 16.d5 e5 17.e1 c8 18.d3 h6 19.e1 d7 20.e2 a5 21.f4 exf4 22.xf4 xf4 23.xf4 ae8 24.d3 e5 25.f1 d8 26.c2 e7 27.cf2 e8 28.d2 g6 29.a4 f7 30.f4 e8 31.b3 g5 32.e1 f5 33.h4 fxe4 34.c2 e3 35.c3 f7 36.xg6 hxg6 37.d3 g5 38.hxg5 xg5 39.e2 h6 40.ef1 g5 0-1 Ellers,H-Bischoff,K Schwerin 1999. A nice example of Bischoff's patient, reactive handling of the position - quietly stifling white's bishop and waiting to choose his plan according to white's decisions. ] 9...c6 10.b3 e7 11.d5 e5 12.c5 d6 13.fc1 g5 14.cxd6 cxd6 15.b5 c8 16.c6 b8 17.b5 A drastic decision - the bishop is not going to do much for the rest of 1784
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the game. [ 17.a4!? ] 17...g6 18.a3 e7 19.c4 g4 20.e1 bd8 21.h3 c8 One gets the impression that neither player liked their position. White probably disliked his bishop and the chances for black to build up an attack on the kingside. Black presumably was not thrilled with facing t h e o p e n i n g o f t h e a -f i le . A n in t e re st in g position for further testing.. . ½-½
1789 Knaak,Rainer Kalinitschew,Sergey Bundesliga 1999-2000 (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2505 2524 07.11.1999
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.a3 f5 5.d5 e7 Some interesting alternatives: [ 5...f6 6.h3 d6 7.g3 e5 8.d2 a6 9.g2 c5 10.0-0 0-0 11.c1 a5 12.f4 a4 13.dxe6 xg2 14.xg2 dxe6 15.e3 e8 16.xc5 bxc5 17.d3 xc3 18.xc3 e5 19.c1 f4 20.f3 fxg3 21.hxg3 e4 22.f4 c6 23.d5 ae8 24.g5 h8 25.e3 h6 26.h1 xd5 27.cxd5 exf3+ 28.exf3 b6 29.xe8 xb2+ 30.h3 xe8 31.g4 d4+ 32.f4 e4 33.h5 e2+ 34.h4 g5+ 0-1 Cramling,PSpeelman, J/Katrineholm 1999/CBM 71 (34) ] [ 5...a6 6.g3 c5 7.g2 f6 8.h3 a5 9.0-0 d6 10.b5 0-0 11.xd6 cxd6 12.a4 exd5 13.cxd5 e8 14.f4 ce4 15.e3 g5 16.d3 xd5 17.d4 e6 18.e1 e8 19.b3 c6 20.e3 h5 21.ad1 ae8 22.c1 f8 23.xb6 df6 24.f3 f2 25.xf2 xh2 26.e4 h5 27.e2 xe4 28.fxe4 xe4 29.h1 xe2+ 30.xe2 xg3+ 31.d2 xg2+ 32.c1 xh1 33.c7 f3 34.xd6+ g7 35.e5+ h6 36.d6+ h5 37.xf3+ xf3 38.xd7 h6 39.a7 f4 40.xa5 g3 41.b4 g4 42.f6 f5 43.c5 h5 44.c8 d5 45.d8 c4 46.c8 e6 47.e8 f3 48.d2 f2 49.e2 g3 0-1 Stohl,IChernyshov,K/Pardubice 1997 ] 6.g3 f6 7.g2 [ 7.d2 seems to me to be a more reliable
method. Knaak is quite happy in NimzoI n d ia n t yp e p o sit io n s wh e re h e h a s a n initiative to compensate for pawn structure b u t t h i s i s n o t t o e v e r y o n e ' s t a s t e . c6 ( 7...e7 8.g2 0-0 9.h3 g6 10.0-0 c6 11.c2 a6 12.e4 c7 13.ad1 c8 14.f4 cxd5 15.exd5 xf4 16.xf4 e5 17.e3 e8 18.xf5 d6 19.g4 xc4 20.e4 h8 21.c1 xe3 22.fxe3 d8 23.xf6 gxf6 24.e4 d6 25.xh7 xd5 26.h5 1-0 Gurevich,D-Gorbatow,A/ Cappelle 1995 (26)) 8.dxe6 dxe6 9.g2 d7 10.h3 e5 11.b3 d7 12.0-0 0-0-0 13.g5 h6 14.xd7+ xd7 15.xf6 xf6 16.fd1 e8 17.xd7 exd7 18.f4 g5 19.d3 d8 20.e4 fxe4 21.xe4 xe4 22.xe4 c7 23.e1 d6 24.f3 f8 25.e3 f6 26.f1 a5 27.e1 a6 28.b2 b5 29.cxb5 xb5 30.a4 a6 31.e2 xe2 32.xe2 e5 33.f3 f8 34.d3 d7 35.d2 f6 36.b2 d5 37.c4+ e7 38.d3 b4 39.e3 d8+ 40.e2 d5 41.e5 h5 42.f4 gxf4 43.gxf4 h4 44.xa5 f6 45.xd5 cxd5 46.b7 e5 47.c5 exf4 48.a5 c6 49.a6 e5 50.b4 a7 51.d3 d4 52.c4 f3 53.b5 c8 54.d3+ e4 55.f2+ e3 56.d1+ e2 57.xd4 f2 58.xf2 xf2 1/2-1/2 Gabriel, C-Bunzmann,D/Germany 1998/GER-chT (58) ] 7...xc3+ 8.bxc3 f6 9.h3 a6 10.a4 c5 11.a3 0-0 12.xc5 bxc5 13.0-0 b8 14.d3 a6 15.fe1 h8 [ I believe black should be fine after 15...exd5!? 16.xd5+ h8 Black can get cpawns if white dares take the f-pawn, and his position is quite dynamic. In the game black's pawn structure has less appeal. ] 16.dxe6 dxe6 17.f4 e7 18.e4! Th e p re ssu re o n t he e -f ile give s wh it e a lasting edge. fxe4 19.xe4 f7 20.f3 b6 21.e3 d7 22.g4 xc4 23.ad1 g5 24.h3 h6 Tactical blow alert. 25.xd7 xd7 26.xc5 fb8 27.xc4 b1 28.f1 h7 29.g2 c2 30.xe6 xa4 31.d5 c2 32.xb1 xb1 33.a6 g7 34.e6 b6 35.f7+ 1-0
1785
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 gain time against White's queen.) 12.a3 A40 d6 13.bxc3 xh1 would remain unclear. ] 2374 2567 11...0-0 12.f1? [ Following 12.bxc3 xc3+ 13.f1 xa1 06.07.2007 Black's pieces will be the most effective, W hite having difficulty in developing his kingside. So he has excellent compensation 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c3 for his queen. ] T h e r e i s n o t h i n g wr o n g w i t h t h i s m o ve . Now Black has too many threats. However White has to be careful over the next 12...e4! few moves as Black creates pressure against 13.f3 d6 14.b5 c6 15.b3 xf3! Bla ck soo n e merges with mo re mat erial. White's centre. 16.gxf3 d2+ 17.e2 xb3 18.axb3 a6 [ I personally prefer 4.d3 ] 19.xa6 xd8 20.xa7 f8 The bishop pair 4...b4 5.d3 f5 6.e2 [ There is also a case for 6.h5+ g6 7.e2 will dominate as W hite's rooks are largely impotent. softening up Black's kingside. ] 0-1 6...f6 7.g5 [ The main alternative is 7.f3 to bolster the e4-pawn. Then Black can obtain good play A40 with c6 8.e3 fxe4 9.fxe4 e5! 1791 as in Nyback, T-Bokros, A Hengelo 2002. ] Koch,W 2335 7...fxe4 8.xe4 Jackelen,Thomas 2373 [ Instead 8.xf6 exd3 9.h5+ g6 10.h4 Bundesliga 2000-1 (2) 15.10.2000 e7 is already very good for Black and in [Jon Tisdall] Razmyslov, A-Kengis, E Bad Zwesten 1997 th e d 3-p awn e ve n tu a lly cost W h it e t h e 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.f3 b7 4.g3 b4+ exchange. ] 5.d2 xf3 6.exf3 xd2+ 7.xd2 d5 8...xe4!? Ambitious! 8.c3 e7 9.cxd5 [ The position after 8...xe4 9.xf6 xf6 [ 9.f4 0-0 10.xe4 has been investigated on several A) 10.g2 c6 11.cxd5 ( 11.b3 d6 occasions, one of them being Starostits, I12.0-0 d7 13.ad1 fd8 14.fe1 f6 Bunzmann, D Yerevan 1999 when Black 15.h3 ab8 16.d3 g6 17.e3 b7 continued calmly with xc3+ 11.bxc3 0-0 18.c5 d7 19.b4 bxc5 20.bxc5 db8 12.f3 c6 13.0-0 f5 which is roughly 21.d3 c7 22.e3 f5 23.xf5 gxf5 equal, but in the game Bunzmann 24.f3 b2 25.e2 xe2 26.xe2 a5 maintained the better pawn structure 27.d2 a3 28.c1 b4 29.c2 c4 throughout and went on to win the ending. ] 30.f2 d7 31.d1 xc2 32.xc2 h5 9.xd8 xc3 10.h5+ 33.h4 g7 34.c3 a5 35.e2 a4 [ Anyone tempted by Black's play should 36.b1 f6 37.c2 b4 38.c3 b1 seriously consider 10.bxc3! xc3+ 11.f1 39.a3 e8 40.b4 c2 41.b7 f8 e.g. xa1 12.xc7 0-0 13.d6 f7 42.xc6 b3 43.a8 xa3 44.c6 d6 14.d1 b2 15.e2 when with rook and 45.xa4 c7 46.c1 e7 47.d3 f6 bishop for the queen he almost has enough 48.g2 f7 49.h3 g6 50.g2 f7 material to justify his sacrifice. However 51.f2 g6 52.e3 f7 53.d2 g6 the bishop on b2 lacks a safe haven and the 54.e2 f7 55.f1 g6 56.g1 f7 d6-bishop limits Black's options such as 57.h1 g6 58.h2 f7 59.h3 g6 doubling on the f-file, so White would have 60.c5 h6 61.b7 e7 62.a5 e5 good chances to consolidate his 'material 63.fxe5 fxe5 64.d2+ f4 65.dxe5 xe5 advantage'. ] 66.xf4+ xf4 67.gxf4 d4 68.c5 g6 10...g6 11.e5? 69.g2 f6 70.f2 f5 71.g3 d5 [ Much better is 11.h4! when xg2!? 72.d3 e6 73.f5+ d6 74.f6 xf6 ( now after 11...0-0 12.a3 Black cannot 75.f4 xc6 76.e5 d5 77.xd4 1790 Kobylkin,Evgeni Pilavov,Georgy Summer GM Lugansk UKR (9) [Glenn Flear]
1786
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e7 78.e4 d6 79.f4 c5 80.e5 c6+ 81.f6 d4 82.e6+ e3 83.f4 e4 84.f5 e5 85.g5+ f4 86.e6+ e4 87.f8 f3 88.g6 d4 89.e7 f3 90.g7 xh4 91.f6 f3 92.h6 e5 93.xh5 f4 1/2-1/2 Hedman Senarega, J-Nogueiras,J/CUB-ch 1993/TD (93) ) 11...cxd5 12.0-0 bc6 13.h3 d6 14.fe1 fc8 15.ac1 a5 16.b5 d7 17.a3 g6 18.f1 f5 19.a6 xc1 20.xc1 a4 21.b5 xd4 22.xd4 xd4 23.c7 a6 24.d3 b5 25.b1 c4 26.b3 d6 27.d2 c8 28.xc8+ xc8 29.f1 f8 30.e1 e7 31.d1 a7 32.a3 ac6 33.c1 d6 34.b2 a5 35.c3 c5 36.b2 e5 37.fxe5 xe5 38.f1 g4 39.f3 xh2 40.g2 e2 0-1 Luyks,M-Damaso, R/POR-chT 1994 (40); B) 10.cxd5 exd5 11.h3 c6 12.0-0 c8 13.b4 d6 14.a4 a6 15.b5 cxb5 16.axb5 c7 17.d3 f5 18.fe1 e4 19.f1 d7 20.xe4 dxe4 21.c3 h8 22.c6 fd8 23.ed1 xc6 24.bxc6 d6 25.d5 g6 26.a6 ad8 27.b7 a5 28.db1 xd5 29.xb6 d1+ 30.xd1 xd1+ 31.g2 a4 32.b4 a3 33.a4 a1 34.c8 a2 1/2-1/2 Gamundi,ARomero Holmes,A/ Spain 1995 ] 9...exd5 10.g2 0-0 11.f4 [ 11.0-0 d7 ( 11...c6 12.b4 d7 13.a4 f6 14.fd1 d7 15.ac1 a6 16.a5 b5 17.e2 e8 18.f4 d6 19.h3 a7 20.c3 c4 21.d3 c8 22.xc8 fxc8 23.c5 e8 24.e1 d6 25.xe8+ xe8 26.e1 c8 27.e5 h6 28.e3 f8 29.f4 e8 30.f5 a8 31.d7+ g8 32.e7 d6 33.f4 1-0 Misanovic,VMatveeva,S/Kishinev 1995 (33)) 12.f4 f6 13.ac1 d7 14.c2 ac8 15.b1 c5 16.d2 cxd4 17.d3 a4 18.a3 c6 19.b3 e4 20.fd1 g6 21.f3 c3 22.bxc3 xb3 23.f5 e5 24.e2 xf3+ 25.xf3 xc3 26.f4 f3 27.xd4 xf5 28.f4 h5 29.d3 a2 30.e3 g5 31.d3 b2 32.xf5 xc1+ 33.f2 b2+ 34.f1 g7 35.fxg5 b2 36.xd5 c8 37.e2 xa3 38.g6 c1+ 39.g2 c6 40.e8+ xe8 41.gxf7+ xf7 0-1 Boesveld,MShabalov,A/ Amsterdam 1996 (41) ] 11...d6 12.0-0 c6 13.d3 d7 14.fe1
fd8 15.ad1 f6 16.h3 g6 17.g4 d6 18.f3 b5 19.g5 b6 20.e2 e8 21.g3 c5 22.dxc5 xc5 23.c1 d6 24.ed1 ad8 25.b3 c6 26.d2 b4 27.d3 d6 28.e2 a3 29.b1 c4 30.bxc4 xh3 31.cxb5 e7 32.d3 h5 33.d4 f5 34.xf5 gxf5 35.dd1 e4 36.g3 d4 37.d3 de6 38.g2 h6 39.h4 h7 40.cd1 e2 41.xd4 e3 42.h2 g4+ 43.f1 h3 44.g2 e2+ 45.g1 xh4 46.f3 e3+ 47.f1 hxg5 48.d7 g4 49.xf7+ g6 50.fd7 h3 51.7d3 xf4 52.1d2 e5 53.d1 xb5 54.g1 c5+ 55.f1 b5 56.g1 e1+ 57.xe1 xd3 58.f1 e3+ 59.f2 xf3 60.xe3 xe3 0-1
1792 Kramnik,Vladimir Carlsen,Magnus Botvinnik Memorial rapid (5) [Nigel Davies]
A40 2791 2823 03.09.2011
1.f3 b5 An exotic and rather risky looking way to play against someone as strong as Kramnik. 2.e4 b7 3.xb5 This simple approach is quite challenging for Black. Those of us who were brought up on hypermodern ideas have often been keen on exchanging a flank pawn for one in the centre, but the half open e-file and White's lead in development overturn the numerical central pawn count. xe4 4.0-0 f6 5.d4 e6 6.c4 e7 7.c3 b7 8.d5! It's important to play this before Black prevents it. [ For example after 8.e1 c6 9.a4 0-0 Black's position would be very comfortable. ] 8...0-0 9.f4 This eminently sensible move has been played very little though I don't particularly like Black's game af ter other moves either: [ a) 9.a4 a6 10.a3 ( 10.e1 b4 11.g5 c5 12.c2 xc3 13.bxc3 d6 wasn 't very clear in Eingorn , V (24 75)Semeniuk, A/Soviet Union 1984) 10...c5 11.c2 a5 12.e3 see Wojtkiewicz, A (2560)-Bronstein, D (2400)/Reykjavik 1994. ] [ b) 9.a3 (Wojtkiewicz evidently considers this important) c6 10.dxc6 xc6 11.f4 a6 12.a4 a5 13.b4 f5 14.g3 1787
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 was pleasant for W hite in W ojtkiewicz, A (2535) -Hecimovic, I (2230)/Pula 1998. ] 9...a6 [ 9...h5 10.e3 f6 11.e1 e8 12.a4 was none too promising for Black either at this stage in Jovanovic, V (2153)-Stojanovic, A (2119)/Dimitrovgrad 2003. But he did go on to win that game.. ] 10.e1 c8 11.d4 b4 12.g5 e8 13.e3!? A good old fashioned rook lift, taking aim at Black's kingside. [ But Fritz pointed out a less grandiose way to win the game via 13.a4 c6 ( Or 13...xc3 14.xd7 c5 15.xc8 xa4 16.xb7 ) 14.dxc6 dxc6 15.xa6 xa6 16.xc6 xc3 17.e7+ etc., a veritable triumph of butchery. ] 13...c6 14.xa6 xa6 15.h5 f6 [ 15...g6 16.h4 also gives White a massive attack. ] 16.h3 fxg5 17.xh7+ f7 18.h5+ g8 19.h7+ Kramnik employs a tactic more commonly seen in endgames, repeating the position to gain time on the clock and clarify it in his mind. f7 20.e4 No draw. xc4 21.h5+ e7 22.xg5+ f7 23.h5+ Another repetition. At one time we liked to try and win in under 25 moves to qualify games for the 'miniature' category. e7 24.g5+ f7 25.dxe6+ dxe6 26.f3 g8 27.h4 xf3 28.h7+ 1-0
Staking out space or reaching a solid Hedgehog type of position. 12.dxc6 xc6 13.b3 [ 13.xc6 xc6 14.a5 0-0 15.axb6 axb6 doesn't make much of an impression on black. ] 13...0-0 14.a3 b7 15.db5 fd8 16.ad1 c6! Now white's queen is awkwardly placed and black prepares to set up a favourable Hedgehog by driving white back and leaving him without compensation for the bishop pair. 17.g3 [ 17.f3 d7!= ] 17...xe4 18.xe4 xe4 19.xd6 xd6 20.xd6 g6 21.c7 xd1 22.xd1 c8 23.a5 b5 24.xg6 [ 24.cxb5?? c2-+ ] 24...hxg6 25.d8+ ½-½
1794 Kristjansson,Stefan Bunzmann,Dimitrij WJun Athens GRE (7) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2380 2509 23.08.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 b5 7.b3?! This doesn't threaten to take on b5 and so only exposes white to trouble. a6 8.g2 [ 8.e3 is more consistent but black has plenty of resources: g4 9.xb5 c5 10.xc5 xc5 11.h3 b8 12.c3 c6 1793 A40 13.b4 e7 14.d4 cxd5 15.g2 dxc4 Kramnik,Vladimir 2809 16.xb7 xb7 17.xc4 e5 18.b3 b6 Ivanchuk,Vassily 2717 19.e3 a5 20.b5 c6 21.bxc6 xb3 Amber Rapidplay rapid (9) 26.03.2002 22.cxd7+ xd7 23.xb3 xb3 24.a4 [Jon Tisdall] b4+ 25.f1 c8 26.g2 e5 27.hd1+ e6 28.g5+ f6 29.f3 c2 30.e1 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 xe1 31.xe1 bb2 32.f1 e6 33.ad1 5.e2 b4 6.0-0 xd3 7.xd3 d6 a2 34.a1 xf2+ 35.xf2 xa1 8.bc3 f6!? Oddly enough this may be a 0 -1 Z a ja , I -L o vric, B Mo n t e ca t in i T e rm e novelty, which just goes to show that there is 1999. ] always room in Daring Defences for [ 8.xb5? c5! ] traditional development. 8...c5 9.a2 exd5 [ 8...e7 9.d5 d7 10.f4 g6 11.d4 [ 9...bxc4 10.xc4 b8!? looks very 0-0-0 12.b4 g7 13.b5 xd4+ 14.xd4 co m f o rt a b le f o r b la ck , t ryin g t o c a u s e f5 0-1 Gelfand,B-Short,N/Novgorod 1997 trouble quickly on the queenside. ] (38). ] 10.xd5 ce4 11.f4 xd5 12.cxd5 f6 9.d5 e7 10.d4 d7 11.a4 c5! 13.h3 c5 14.c1 d6 15.f3 g5 16.fxe4 1788
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 gxf4 17.xf4 fxe4 18.f1 0-0 19.xe4 e3 20.xc7 fc8 21.xh7+ h8 22.g6+ xg6 23.f8+ xf8 24.xg6 ac8 25.xc8 xc8 26.f1 f8+ 27.e1 [ 27.g2 f2+ 28.h3? c8+ ] 27...c8 28.f1 f8+ 29.e1 A remarkable way to draw a game. ½-½
1795 Kujovic,Michal Kos,Toni Mitropa Team Cup (2) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2244 2400 26.11.2000
1.d4 c6 2.d5 e5 3.e4 e6 The most popular move, and I can understand why defenders are not too afraid of the queenless middlegame that ensues - though it does seem to favour white a bit. More in keeping with the spirit of the opening is [ 3...g6!? which is much rarer - it has a reasonably good track record, but there is little evidence in. That is probably encouraging to most of the people who tinker with offbeat defences though? 4.e3 ( 4.c3 e5 5.f3 c5 6.e3 e7 7.xc5 xc5 8.g3 h5 9.h4 h6 10.d2 b4 11.0-0-0 d6 12.e1 d7 13.f3 0-0-0 14.d3 d4 15.e1 f5 16.f4 xd1+ 17.xd1 exf4 18.gxf4 fxe4 19.xe4 f5 20.h3 gxh4 21.xf5 xf5 22.e1 de8 23.g1 b6 24.f2 e2 25.h2 e3 26.e4 xh2 27.xh2 xd5 28.c4 e3 29.b3 h4 30.g1 f5 31.h2 d4 32.f2 c5 33.xd6+ c7 34.e4 h3 35.g3 h2 36.h1 e8 37.d1 c6 0-1 Marchand,E-Guthi,I USA 1990.; 4.g3 e5 5.g2 c5 6.e2 d6 7.0-0 f5 8.exf5 xf5 9.h1 f6 10.f4 d7 11.bc3 g4 12.e1 0-0 13.e4 b6 14.2c3 exf4 15.gxf4 ae8 16.g3 e7 17.d2 fe8 18.h3 h6 19.ae1 c6 20.h2 d4 21.g5 xe1 22.xe1 xe1 23.xe1 xc2 24.e6 f6 25.f2 f5 26.xa7 xe6 27.dxe6 xe6 28.g3 d7 29.f3 f8 30.a4 d5 31.a5 e7 32.e2 c5 33.b6 f5 34.f2 e6 35.g4 g6 36.g3 xf4 37.a6 bxa6 38.b8+ d8 39.xf4 d6 40.f3 xg3+ 41.xg3
xg3 42.xg3 b8+ 43.f4 xb2 44.e6+ g7 45.f7+ h6 46.f8+ g7 47.f4+ g5 48.e3 d4 49.xd4 cxd4 50.xd5 a5 51.f3 h5 52.e4 h4 53.e6 h5 1/2-1/2 Mont Reynaud,J-Lawson, K Reno 1994.; 4.h4 h5 5.e2 f6 6.c3 e5 7.dxe6 dxe6 8.xd8+ xd8 9.g5 c6 10.0-0-0+ c7 11.e5 d5 12.e4 xe5 13.c4 f6 14.cxd5 exd5 15.xf6 gxf6 16.xf6 h6+ 17.g5 g4 18.f3 f5 19.h3 ae8 20.d2 g7 21.f4 xh3 22.xh3 hf8 23.g5 c4 24.xc4 dxc4 25.h1 c3 26.bxc3 xc3 27.d3 b4 28.hd1 e2 29.a3 a5 30.d8+ xd8 31.xd8 xg2 32.1d7+ b6 33.b8 e1 34.bxb7+ c5 35.h7 d4 36.xh5 c5 37.d7+ c4 38.d1 c3 39.g5 a2 40.f4 d4 41.g3 a1+ 42.e2 a2+ 43.f3 xa3+ 44.g2 xg3+ 45.xg3 a5 46.a7 b5 47.f3 c4 48.e4 xa7 0-1 Quinn,J-Dunn,A London 1994.) 4...f6 5.d2 e6 6.c4 b4 7.f3 0-0 8.a3 xd2+ 9.xd2 d6 10.d3 e8 11.0-0-0 e5 12.b1 b5 13.cxb5 exd5 14.exd5 xd3 15.xd3 e5 16.b3 f5+ 17.a1 e8 18.d4 xd5 19.xf6 xb5 20.c3 gxf6 21.e1 e5 22.h3 xh3 23.gxh3 e7 24.f4 e6 25.hg1+ h8 1/2-1/2 Rufer,M-Greten,W Germany 1990. ] 4.dxe6 [ 4.f4 g6 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.d3 c5 7.f3 d6 8.g3 d7 9.c3 h6 10.e2 g4?! This loses a bit of time, especially since the main danger does not involve white striving to castle kingside, but rather him storming f o r w a r d o n t h i s f l a n k . ( 10...f7!? planning ...Qe7 and 0-0-0 was interesting.) 11.f1 e7 12.g5 f6 13.e5 d5 14.xd5 exd5 15.e6 c6 16.xh7 f8 17.xf8 xf8 18.g6+ e7 19.f5 f6 20.h4 xh4 21.gxh4 xh4+ 22.d1 d4+ 23.d2 h8 24.c3 1-0 Vioreanu,B-Vujic,M/ Bucharest ROM 2000. ] 4...dxe6 5.xd8+ xd8 6.f4 g6 [ 6...c6 7.f3 f6 8.d3 c5 9.c3 a5 10.e2 e5 11.fxe5 g4 12.g5+ e8 13.f4 f2 14.f1 xd3 15.xd3 e6 16.bd2 h6 17.e3 xe3 18.xe3 a4 19.b4 axb3 20.axb3 e7 21.b4 b6 22.b5 a5 23.d4 hd8 24.a4 ac8 25.fa1 1789
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c5 26.f5+ xf5 27.exf5 c4 28.e4 d5 29.f4 g5+ 30.fxg6 fxg6 31.xa5 bxa5 32.xa5 g5+ 33.f5 f8+ 34.f6 xf6+ 35.e4 1-0 Miles,A-Mestrovic,Z Lone Pine 1978. Interesting that Miles chose such a quite line as white, but this was a long time ago - and he has always had a penchant for grinding away without queens. ] 7.f3 f6 [ 7...b4+ 8.c3 c5 9.d3 f6 10.e2 a5 11.g3 e7 12.bd2 a4 13.e5 d5 14.e4 b6 15.d2 a5 16.b4 axb3 17.axb3 d7 18.b4 1-0 Karpov, ABerlandier,L Cannes 1998 simul. Black's knight is trapped. Asking white to play c2-c3 was probably not very clever as queenside expansion with b4 seems to be one of his goals. Still, it is always interesting to see a player of Karpov's caliber in our scruff y little section. ] 8.d3 d7!? Trying to arrange Bb4 in reply to the reflex Nc3. [ 8...c5 9.e2 ( 9.c3 d7 10.e5 d5 11.xd5 exd5 12.d2 e7 13.0-0-0 c6 14.c4 h6 15.b4 b6 16.c5 c7 17.d4 g6 18.h3 f5 19.xf5 xf5 20.xf5 gxf5 21.g4 fxg4 22.hxg4 e7 23.h4 a5 24.a3 axb4 25.axb4 a1+ 26.c2 xd1 27.xd1 f8 28.c3 g8 29.e2 d8 30.xh6 xg4 31.h8+ g8 32.h1 e7 33.f3 c7 34.e1 e6 35.h6+ d7 36.h7 e6 37.f5+ xe5 38.xf7 d8 39.g3+ d4 40.xb7 c4 41.e5 g5 42.b6 d2 43.xc6 xb4 44.f6 b5 1/2-1/2 Trettin,U-Porth,D Germany 1994.) 9...d7 10.g3 Unnecessary. e8 11.e3 ( 11.g5!? always deserves a look as the weakness of f7 and h7 might mean a pawn grabbing raid.) 11...xe3 12.xe3 e7 13.c3 f8 14.ad1 ad8 15.d2 c6 16.h3 a6 17.hd1 e5 18.f5 e7 19.c4 xd2 20.xd2 b5 21.d3 b4 22.e2 xf5+ 23.exf5 e4 24.ed4 exd3+ 25.xd3 e4+ 26.c4 d5+ 27.xb4 b8+ 28.a5 c5 29.c4 e4 30.b3 xf3 31.xc5 e4 32.d7+ e7 33.xb8 xd2 34.b3 e4 35.b6 xg3 36.xa6 xf5 37.c5 d6 38.d3 f5 39.c5 c8+ 40.c7 a7 41.a4 g5 42.b4 e2 43.f2 h5 44.b5 xb5+ 45.axb5 xb5 46.b6 e8 47.c6 g4 48.hxg4 hxg4 49.c5 g3
50.c7 d7 51.h3 g2 52.d4 xc7 53.e5 c6 54.g1 e4 55.f4 d6 56.e2 e6 57.g1 d5 58.e2 c4 59.e3 b3 60.f2 c2 61.d4+ d3 62.xf5 1/2-1/2 Cole,R-Wall,T Newport 1997. ] 9.a3 c5 10.c3 c6 [ 10...e8 11.g5!? ] 11.e2 a6 [ 11...a5!? ] 12.g3 e7 13.b4 a7? [ 13...b6 not interfering with his Ra8. ] 14.a4! hd8 [ 14...he8 15.b5 planning Ba3+ ] 15.b5 axb5 16.axb5 d7 Now black gets shoved off the board. 17.f5 f8 [ 17...exf5 18.exf5 with the idea of Ba3+ and Rhe1. ] 18.e5 d5? [ 18...g8 isn't pretty, but sometimes a man has to do ... 19.a4!? is one way to demonstrate white's better musculature. ] 19.xd5+ exd5 20.e6 e8 [ 20...fxe6 21.g5+ ] 21.a3+ 1-0
1796 Kveinys,Aloyzas Miezis,Normunds zt 1.7 Mezezers LAT (12) [Neil McDonald]
A40 2496 2481 17.06.2000
1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.d4 e6 4.a3 f5 5.d5 f6 [ Black failed to equalise after 5...a6 6.g3 f6 7.g2 d6 8.h3 0-0 9.0-0 c5 10.b1 a5 11.b4 axb4 12.axb4 e5 13.bxc5 xc3 14.cxb6 cxb6 15.e3 in Logothetis-Skourtis, Athens 2000. ] 6.g3 b5 The familiar counterattack against c4. Other moves haven't turned out very well, e.g. [ 6...g6 7.g2 g7 8.h3 0-0 9.b1 a5 10.0-0 a6 11.c2 exd5 12.cxd5 c5 13.e3 was good for White in FiglerDelaune, World Open Philadelphia 2000. ] [ Or 6...c6 7.g2 cxd5 8.cxd5 a6 9.h3 e5 10.0-0 d6? 11.e4 fxe4 12.g5 c7 13.gxe4 e7 14.f4 and White soon had a decisive attack in Anapolsky-Rogovski, 1790
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Ukraine 2000. ] 7.g2 Naturally White has to support his d5 point. He can regain the pawn on c4 later. bxc4 8.h3! exd5? [ This makes things very easy for White, who is guaranteed long term pressure. Much more dynamic was 8...c5 or perhaps ] [ 8...e5 ] 9.xd5 c6 10.e3 g6 [ Risky is 10...d5 11.xf5 ] 11.xc4 d5 12.g5! bd7 13.b3 a6 14.d2 b6 15.c1 c8 16.0-0 g7 17.e3 xb3 18.xb3 e4 19.c2 Black appears almost to have equalised, but in fact the pressure on c6 is highly awkward. In the game continuation Black is unable to prevent the loss of the pawn af t er which defeat becomes inevitable. c4 20.a5 b5 21.d1 0-0 22.d4 fe8 23.xg7 xg7 24.b3 ef6 25.e3 e5 26.a4 d3 27.b2 e4 28.g5 h6 29.xe4 fxe4 30.c2 c5 31.b7 c6 32.xc5 b6 33.c7+ f8 34.c5 e7 35.c8+ e8 36.xe8+ xe8 37.f1 e7 38.b5 d6 39.a6 d3 40.h3 d7 41.f4 7c5 42.xc5 xc5 43.xd3 xb3 44.e2 xe3 45.f2 c3 46.b1 d4 47.b8 a3 48.c8+ d6 49.e8 d3 50.d1 a1 51.e1 d5 52.d2 b1 53.d8+ c5 54.g4 h5 55.e6 b2+ 56.c3 c2+ 57.b3 g2 58.d5+ c6 59.c3 c2+ 60.d4 e2 61.d7+ c7 62.b5 e1 63.e5 e3 64.g4 hxg4 65.hxg4 e1 66.g5 b6 67.a5+ c7 68.d7+ c8 69.d4 b7 70.e8 1-0
1797 Lambert,Andreas Toscano,John CM-2000-0-00125 [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2240 2171 2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 xg2 6.h5+ g6 7.fxg6 g7 8.gxh7+ f8 9.e2 f6 10.h4 xh1 11.g5 e7 [ 11...f3 12.f4 c6 13.d2 g4 14.g6+ f7 15.e5+ xe5 16.dxe5 f5 17.xf5 exf5 18.exf6 xf6 19.h5+ g7
20.h6+ f7 21.h5+ g7 22.h6+ 1/2-1/2 Yermolinsky,C-Miles,A/ Philadelphia 1999 ] 12.f4 f7 [ 12...e8?! 13.d2 d6 14.0-0-0 b7 15.e1 c8 16.h5 bd7 17.xe6 xe6 18.xg7+ e7 19.xe6 xe6 20.d5+ f7 21.h6 1-0 Elsness,F-Antoniou,A Istanbul OL 2000. ] 13.g6!? [ 13.d2 c6 14.g6 xh7 15.xh7 xh7 16.xh7 xd4 17.g6+ e8 18.h8 f3+ 19.f1 xg5 20.h4 f3 0-1 Vegh,E-Zlatilov,I Sankt Augustin 1990. ] [ 13.c3 b7 14.0-0-0 c6 15.g1 e7 16.h6 xh6 17.xh6+ e8 18.g7 f8 19.g6 g4 20.h5 f6 21.h6 g4 22.h5 f6 23.h6 g4 24.h5 f6 25.h6 1/2-1/2 Shirov, A-SutterCane/ Internet USCF 2000 ] 13...xh7 [ 13...e7 invites repetition. ] 14.g3!? By comparison with Vegh-Zlatilov one deduces that taking the rook should not be dangerous for black, but it is surprising that ignoring an extra rook can be such an i m p r o v e m e n t . g8 15.c3 A critical theoretical moment: [ 15.a3+!? is a very bizarre idea suggested by Fritz, and once one considers it, one can't help noticing how interesting it is. c5! ( 15...d6 16.e3! e5 17.dxe5 dxe5 18.a3+! c5 19.d3!+- ) 16.dxc5 c6 17.cxb6+ e7 18.f3!? and the passed bpawn and Bh1 give white very dangerous compensation still. ] 15...h8 [ 15...b7!? may be an improvement - it makes sense of black's position, but the game also goes his way. ] 16.f3 c6 17.0-0-0 e7 [ 17...xd4? is very slightly attempting as a forcing way to clarify things, but it seems to just expose black too much: 18.xd4 e5 19.cd5!! exd4 20.e1! xd5 ( 20...e8 21.xe8+! xe8 22.e7# ) 21.xd5+- ] 18.xh1 h6! Now black takes over the in it ia t i ve . 19.xh6+ xh6 20.g1 h8 21.b5 e8 [ 21...c8 22.xa7 a8 23.b5 xa2 24.b1 ] 1791
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.xe8 xe8 23.d3 g6 24.f4+ f6 25.xc7 This looks very risky, but white peels off enough of Black's pawn cover to make it worth a shot. c8 26.xd7 xh2 27.e1 xc4+ 28.b1 f5 29.d8+ g7 30.b3 c2 31.d5 exd5 32.e8 h6 33.xd5 [ 33.xd5 xa2 34.g5+ h7 35.h8+ xh8 36.xf6+ g8 37.d8+= Toscano gives the rather hair-raising variation f7 38.d6+ e6 39.f4+ xf4 40.c8+ d5 41.e4 xf3 42.c3+ d6 43.d8+ e6 44.e8+ f5 45.f8+ g4 46.g7+ h5 47.xa2 but there are quieter ways to conclude a sensible peace. A very interesting game with a couple of key moments for the theory of this variation. ] [ 33.d4 c3 ] ½-½
1798 Lamprecht,Frank Speelman,Jonathan S Bundesliga 2001-2 (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2406 2596 24.11.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 5.f3 [ 5.e2 b4 6.0-0 e7 7.bc3 xd3 8.xd3 d6 ( 8...g6!? 9.g5 g7 10.f4 f6 11.h4 0-0 12.d5 a6 13.ad1 e8 14.d4 exd5 15.exd5 f7 16.b3 c5 17.db5 xb5 18.xb5 f5 19.f2 d6 20.g4 a6 21.c3 h6 22.h3 d7 23.de1 ae8 24.xe8 xe8 25.e1 f5 26.g5 f7 27.xe8+ xe8 28.e2 f8 29.xe8+ xe8 30.e1 1/2-1/2 Arlandi, EEfimov,I Asti 1995.) 9.d5 d7 10.d4 g6 11.dxe6 fxe6 12.d1 ( 12.h3!? ) 12...g7 13.h3 xd4 14.xd4 0-0-0 15.g5 df8 16.d2 c6 17.h6 f7 18.b3 b8 19.e1 e8 20.e3 g8 21.g5 e5 22.h3 f8 23.h6 e7 24.g5 f8 25.h6 c8 26.f4 c6 27.g5 ff8 28.h6 e8 29.f4 e5 30.g5 d4 31.d5 g7 32.g3 e6 33.e3 f7 34.h4 h6 35.xh6 h8 36.g3 g5 37.xg5 xg5 38.xg5 xd5 39.cxd5 fh7 0-1 Arlandi,E-Krakops,M EuroTeam Leon ESP 2001. ]
5...b4 6.d5 A bit early to play this, so early t h a t i t s e e m s t o b e a n e w m o v e . xd3+ 7.xd3 b4+ [ 7...e7!? ] 8.d2 [ 8.bd2 exd5 ] [ 8.c3!? ] 8...xd2+ 9.bxd2 e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.fe1 g6 Black has a very comfortable position. 12.c3 e7 13.f1 c6! Sim ple an d sen sib le , b lack m et hod ica lly increases the scope of the bishop. [ 13...f5!? was more entertaining, but also grants white activity on the e-file. ] 14.dxc6 dxc6 15.g3 fd8 16.ad1 c5 17.c1 h6 18.e2 xd1+ 19.xd1 d8 20.d2 xd2 21.xd2 h5 22.xh5 xe4 23.e3 xf3!? [ 23...b7 to keep the improved bishop looks more promising in the long run to me, but Black prefers to trade to gain an extremely active queen. 24.e5 d6 ] 24.xf3 g5 25.d1 e5 26.b3 b2 27.a4 d4 [ 27...h7!? ] 28.b1? [ 28.xd4 looks like early the lesser evil the knight ending looks playable with white centralizing his king quickly. ] 28...e5 29.g3 d3 30.c2 g6 31.f1 g7 32.h3 b4 33.e2 c3 34.d2 c6 35.e3 xe3 36.fxe3 f5 37.f2 [ 37.e4!? ] 37...f6 38.e2 e5 39.b1 e4 40.g3 e5 Now black has a very nasty advantage as white is tied to watching his weak b-pawn w h i c h k e e p s h i m v e r y p a s s i v e . 41.h4 I believe white should have defended passively - this allows black to open a second front more easily. f6 42.d2 g5 43.c3 g6 44.b5 gxh4 45.gxh4 h5 46.d6 e7 47.a5 xh4 48.b5 c6 49.axb6 axb6 50.c7 g3 51.e2 a5 52.d5 xb3 53.xb6 c1+ 54.d2 f2 55.xc1 f4 56.d7 fxe3 57.f6 e2 58.g4+ g3 59.d2 xg4 60.xe2 f4 0-1
1792
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.fe1 fe7 27.h1 Since black is finally in a p o s i t i o n t o t r a d e q u e e n s o n c 5 . c5 28.d1 d7 29.g5 f7 30.e3 c7 31.d4 [ 31.d4!? ] 31...h6 [ 31...f4!? cedes e4 but has the attraction of 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 creating counterchances on the kingside. ] 5.e2 b4 6.bc3 xd3+ 7.xd3 d6 8.0-0 f6 9.f4!? A more spirited response 32.a5 bxa5 33.c5 fe7 34.c6 c8 35.d2 than Kramnik's restrained 9.d5. A very tough g5 36.a4 f4 37.xe5 xe5 38.xe5 dxe5 f5 40.e4 xe4 41.xe4 position results which should get the testing it 39.c5 A very unpleasant position for black - white's deserves. e7 [ 9...d5!? 10.cxd5 exd5 11.e5 e4 pawns are more dangerous and his king is safer. d6 42.d3 g7 43.c4 c8 12.f5 ] 44.e4 c7 45.a4 h5 46.xa5 g4 10.e5 d7 47.xa6 g3 48.a1 f6 49.b4 c8 50.b5+[ 10...g4!? ] c5 51.e1 e8 52.b1 b8 53.d3 e7 11.f5 exf5 54.h7+ f6 55.h6+ f5 56.e6+ e4 [ 11...dxe5!? 12.fxe6 fxe6 13.h3 A) 13...f8?! 14.dxe5 d7 15.e3 57.e1+ e3 58.g6+ d4 59.xe3 fxe3 b la c k wil l f in d i t d if f icu lt t o co m p l e t e 60.c7 f8 61.xg3 e2 62.h2 xd5 A very interesting struggle. The de velo p me n t, a nd t he at t ract ive ligh t 63.d3+ squared bishop does not compensate for result is more a reflection of the speed and fighting than a real blow to the variation. this.; B) 13...exd4 14.xd4 ( 14.xe6 f6 ) 1-0 14...c5 15.e3 ( 15.xe6+ e7 16.xe7+ xe7 17.e3 af8= ) A40 15...xd4 16.xd4 e7 17.ae1 0-0-0 1800 18.xe6 black's queen has no decent Legky,Nikolay A 2498 square.; Phillip,Robert 2204 C) 13...d6!? 14.xe6+ ( 14.h5+!? QC Open Montreal CAN (8) 19.07.2002 is much more dangerous: g6 15.g4 [Jon Tisdall] e7 16.g5 h5 17.h4 g7 18.h3 ) 14...e7 15.xe7+ xe7; 1.d4 c6 2.d5 e5 3.e4 e6 4.dxe6 fxe6 D) 13...f6 14.xe6+ ( 14.dxe5!? xe5 5.c3 g6? There is no obvious reason to 15.f4 ) 14...e7 15.xe7+ xe7 retreat, and this square is not necessarily 16.d5 ] optimal either. 12.xf5 0-0 13.exd6 cxd6 14.f4 [ 5...b6!? 6.f3 xf3+ ( 6...f7!? 7.c4 White has a nagging initiative thanks to a bit b7 8.e2 a6 9.b3 f6 10.e5 g4 more space and central control. Black is solid 11.f4 c5 12.0-0-0 e7 Crouch,Cand has definite prospects with a bishop pair Karpatchev,A Cappelle la Grande 1993.) and his kingside majority - a complex, double7.xf3 b7 8.g3 f6 9.d3 c5 10.e5 edged position. a6 g8 11.xg7 h4 12.g3 h3 13.f1 [ 14...f6!? 15.d5 g6!? It would be nice to 0-0-0 14.xh8 f8 15.e3 f6 16.g7 reach the kind of structure in the game, h5 17.h6 b4 18.0-0-0 1-0 Spacek,Pbut without .. . f5 included. ] Gross,G/ Trier 1997 (18) ] 15.a4 c7 16.b3 ae8 17.d3 f5 18.d2! 6.f3 c5 7.h4! f6 8.g5 f7 9.d2 d6 Clearing f4 for a knight. The weaknesses on 10.h5 f8 d 5 a n d e 6 in c r e a se t h e va lu e o f wh it e ' s [ 10...6e7 ] knights. g6 19.f4 g5 20.ae1 xf4 11.a4 b6?? A sad necessity. 21.xf4 f6 22.d5 g4 [ 11...d7 ] 23.d4 c8 24.h3 e5 25.e2 f7 1799 Lautier,Joel Ivanchuk,Vassily FIDE GP Dubai UAE (5.2) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2687 2717 08.04.2002
1793
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 right plan. Also, it doesn't look right to use the Rf on d8 as the Rb8 has no future where it is. ] 21.a4 d6 [ 21...e5 ] 1801 A40 Lesiege,Alexandre 2572 22.a5 d4 23.b3 e4 [ 23...e5 ] Herder,David A 2251 ch Richmond CAN (5) 24.03.2002 24.axb6 axb6 25.a7+ f8 26.e3 c3 27.xc3 xc3 28.c6 Now the bishop is out [Jon Tisdall] and white's rooks are infiltrating. d1 29.a3 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 xf1+ 30.xf1 b1?? [ 30...e4 had to be played. ] f6 6.g3 d6 7.g2 a6 8.f3 31.d3 e7 32.e2 d8 33.xd8 xd8 [ 8.h3 has a better track record. ] White can now put his B on f1 and 8...c5 9.0-0 ce4!? A very direct 34.d3 round up the knight. e5 35.d5 e4+ 36.c2 continuation. e7 37.xb1 g5 38.g4 [ 9...a5!? or ] [ 9...0-0 are common reactions. What 1-0 follows is worth noting, as the potential tactical weakness of the Bb7 is exploited A40 here in startling fashion. It is also worth 1802 remembering that the active early invasion Levitt,Jonathan 2438 of e4 looks promising - by capturing on d5 McShane,Luke J 2490 when possible black could have saddled Redbus KO Southend ENG (2.2) 14.04.2001 white with a burden on d5 and sidestepped [Jon Tisdall] the tactical tricks. ] 10.d2 0-0 1.d4 b6 2.c4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.a3 e7 [ 10...exd5!? 11.cxd5 0-0 looks very 5.e4 g6 6.e3 g7 7.d2 d5 This leads to comfortable for black - the d5 pawn is a a rather different type of position than we long-range target. ] have seen in the wait-and-see Hippo so far. 11.g5 xd2 T h e m o t i va t i o n i s t o p r e ve n t t h e s i m p l e [ 11...exd5 12.cxd5 xd2 ( 12...e7 )] exchange of dark-squared bishops 12.xd2 Black has gai ned the bishop pair but presumably white is still too flexible for ...h6 forfeited his central influence, a transaction to be a decent cure. Black stakes out some that favours white. h6 13.f7!! An idea that space in the centre and it is worth noting that is understandably easy to miss. The good delaying the development ...d6/Nd7 in favour thing is that it does not accomplish anywhere of ...e6/Ne7 keeps the advance of the d-pawn near as much as the psychological points possible in one move. Doubtless there are gained for being able to play it, but black does scenarios where black would wish to keep the suddenly face difficulties. xf7!? chance of playing e7-e5 in one move. 8.cxd5 [ 13...e7 14.xd6 xd6 ( 14...cxd6 exd5 9.e5 f5 10.f4 c5 11.f3 c6 15.b3 ) 15.b5 c5 16.ac1 exd5 12.b5 c4 Black slows the pace of the game 17.b4 c6 18.d4 with a very dangerous and stakes out the queenside. The position is initiative. ] sharp, unusual, and hard to judge - just what 14.dxe6+ dxe6 15.xb7 b8 16.g2 e5 we wa n t in DD. Mc S h a n e i s r e lu c t a n t t o 17.c2 xc3 Understandable, with the commit his king just yet, and Levitt puts a high spectre of Nb5-a7-c6 looming, but the B vs N price on evicting the Nf5. 13.g4 duel that results is dangerous. [ 13.f2!? h5 was the slower route, hoping [ 17...d4!? was more complicated. ] to eventually push black back after 18.xc3 c5 19.b4 c7 20.b5 fd8 connecting rooks, and then playing g3,h3, [ 20...e5 to reduce the scope of the bishop, g4. ] now or in the near future, looks like the 13...xe3 14.xe3 d7 15.g1 0-0-0 12.xb6 axb6 13.e5!+- dxe5 14.d8# 1-0
1794
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 7.h5+ g6 8.e2 h6 9.gf3 f6 10.0-0-0 c6 11.e5 e7 12.a3 a5 13.h3 c5 14.he1 0-0 15.b1 ac8 16.g3 g7 17.a2 c7 18.c1 fc8 19.dxc5 bxc5 20.e3 c6 21.c2 b7 22.c3 d8 23.b1 cb8 24.g1 b6 25.e2 a8 26.c1 c6 27.a1 c7 28.d1 f4 29.g4 f7 30.d3 g5 31.h4 h6 32.hxg5 hxg5 33.e4 d4 34.exc5 f3 35.h1 f8 36.a4 c6 37.c5 a6 38.xf3 xf3 39.c4 d5 40.xa6 b3 41.c3 xe5 42.xd5 exd5 43.xe5 1-0 Forintos,G-Chetverik,M/Zalakaros 1996 ] 7...h6 8.0-0 0-0 9.e2 c6 10.ad1 f6 [ 10...fxe4 11.xe4 f5= ] 11.b1 ae8 [ 11...xd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.b3 f6 14.xd7 f7 15.fd1 e5 looks comfortably equal for black. By putting off a resolution in the centre Black eventually only gets trouble, but for our purposes, the opening is definitely worth a try for the daring defender. ] 12.fe1 e7 13.f1 g5 14.d2 f4 15.e5 g7 16.c3 g4 17.3d2 d6 18.exd6 cxd6 19.e4 f5 20.d5 e5 21.xd6 xd6 22.xe5 xc4 23.d6 d7 24.xe6 xc3 25.bxc3 fd8 26.d4 xd6 27.exd6 1803 A40 xd6 28.xf4 c8 29.d4 g7 30.e3 Li Wenliang 2444 h5 31.f5 a6 32.a4 xf5 33.xf5+ f6 Burnett,Ronald 2437 34.e3 e2 35.xa7 d2 36.h4 gxh3 FSGM February (13) 17.02.2000 37.gxh3 f3 38.h4 b2 39.h2 b1 40.g3 c6 41.c7 a8 42.h7 e5 [Jon Tisdall] 43.xh5+ e4 44.h8 c6 45.h6 a8 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 b4+ 46.h8 c6 47.c8 g1+ 48.h2 g6 Not very popular, but perfectly playable. 5.d2 49.h5 h6 50.g3 b7 51.b8 a6 52.g4 c6 53.f3+ d5 54.h6 d3 xd2+ 6.xd2 f5 [ 6...h6 7.h5 f6 8.gf3 c6 9.e5 55.d8+ f4 10.g3 g4 11.xg4 xg4 12.0-0 f6 1-0 13.h3 h6 14.exf6 gxf6 15.a3 f7 16.b4 0-0-0 17.fe1 g5 18.xg5 fxg5 19.d5 A40 exd5 20.cxd5 b8 21.d6 de8 22.xh7 1804 e6 23.xe6 dxe6 24.e4 d5 25.dxc7 Liascovich,Lucas 2407 xc7 26.xd5 exd5 27.f3 xh3 Tristan,Leonardo 2317 28.xg5 h6 29.f4 c6 30.d1 d6 Mar del Plata op 38th (4) 02.04.2007 31.f3 d7 32.f2 e7 33.g4 a6 [John Emms] 34.h4 f7 35.f5 d8 36.c1 h8 37.c7+ f6 38.d4 d8 39.f3 g6 1.d4 g6 2.c4 g7 3.c3 c5 4.d5 xc3+ 40.b7 d7 41.f5 1-0 Petursson,M- 5.bxc3 f5 6.e4 fxe4 7.f3 f6 Black can Wauthier,P/Brocco 1991. ] also try ...e5, either here or the next move: 7.gf3 [ a) 7...e5 8.c2 ( the idea is 8.dxe6 c6! 16.0-0-0 h5 17.h3 hxg4 18.hxg4 a6 19.a4 h3 Black now appears to be getting a grip on both flanks, but white's central pawn wedge and black's still slumbering bishops make the position hard to assess. 20.c2 b8 21.f5 gxf5 22.xf5 [ 22.gxf5?? h6 graphically illustrates a more subtle aspect of the position, that is, that white must make stifling black's bishops an inherent part of his strategical planning. ] 22...c7 23.g5 hh8 24.h1 e7 25.c2 c8 26.h4 e6 27.f4? White hopes to start exchanges on f5 and leave black with the stunted Bg7. [ 27.b1!? ] 27...f6! 28.f3 fxe5 29.xe5 hf8! Black needs to keep both rooks on to keep chances against the white king in the ending. 30.g3 xe5 31.xe5 xe5 32.dxe5 d4 33.h6 g4 34.g1 dxc3 35.bxc3 f5 36.xb6+ c7 37.f6 Otherwise painful p e n e t r a t i o n o c c u r s o n t h e f - f i l e . xc2 38.xc2 d5 An odd finish - black is clearly better - since it is a KO event, maybe a draw was enough for black to go through. ½-½
1795
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 developing quickly; 8.d6!? c6 9.h3 a5 10.c2 b6 11.fxe4 b7 12.d3 0-0-0 13.0-0 looked nice for White in M. MolinaroliA.Istratescu, Senden 2003) 8...d6 9.fxe4 f6 10.f3 h6 11.d3 g5 12.0-0 e7 13.f2 bd7 14.h4 g4 15.e1 g7 16.g3 f8 17.e3 g8 18.xf8+ xf8 B.Posedaru-G.Grigore, Bucharest 2011. ] [ b) 7...d6 8.fxe4 e5 9.f3 d7 10.d3 df6 11.0-0 f8 12.h4 g7 13.f3 e7 14.b1 G. Battaglini-A.Istratescu, Caleta 2010. This (and also the previous example) is a bit like the Hübner Variation of the Nimzo-Indian, except Black's kingside structured is compromised by the early ... g6. ] 8.fxe4 d6 9.f3 bd7 Black employs a similar strategy to the one we saw in Onischuk-Sokolov, but this time he keeps his queen at home. This certainly has some logic, given that in a few ...Qa5 lines Black's queen was having to rush back to c7 or d8 to defend some central squares. [ 9...a5 10.c2 bd7 11.d3 wo u ld t ra n s po se t o On isch u k-S o kolo v, Viernheim 1995. ] 10.d3 g4 [ T h e i m m e d i a t e 10...e5!? is possible again. 11.xe5 ( 11.0-0 g4! is an example of Black being favoured by the omission of the move pair Qc2 and ... Qa5 ) 11...dxe5 12.0-0 ( 12.h6!? ) 12...h6 13.a4 a5!? 14.a2 d6 15.h3 d7 16.e3 f7 17.e1 g7 18.h2 b6 19.g3 af8 ( 19...g5!? intending ...Be8-g6) 20.ff2 c7 21.b1 b8 22.f1 e8 23.g2 d7 ( 23...g5!? ) 24.fb2 1/2-1/2 A.Braun-K. Bischoff, Altenkirchen 2001. Black successfully consolidated in this game. ] 11.f4! [ 11.h3 ge5 12.e2 xf3+ 13.gxf3! ( 13.xf3 e5 is fine for Black - White has wasted too much time) 13...f6! 14.d3 a5 15.e3 A) Lukacs gives 15...h5! 16.e5 ( 16.f4? xf4! ) 16...dxe5 17.xe5 0-0 18.h6 f7 and "unclear"; B) 15...0-0 16.d2 e5 17.dxe6 xe6 was agreed drawn in P. Lukacs-G.Seul, Budapest 1995. Lukacs prefers White in
t h i s f i n a l p o s i t i o n a f t e r 18.h4 but the computer claims Black is fine here with a6 intending 19.h5 xh5 ] 11...0-0 12.d2 de5 13.xe5 xe5 14.0-0 This certainly feels better for Black than Onischuk-Sokolov, but it's still not that easy to consolidate, as the game shows. b6 [ The problem with 14...d7? is that after 15.xe5! dxe5 16.g5 Black cannot protect both e5 and e7. ] 15.h6 [ The immediate 15.e2 would reach the position we get at move 18, and might be the most accurate, but W hite tries something different first. ] 15...f6! 16.g5 f7 [ 16...xf1+!? 17.xf1 a6 18.f4 e8 ] 17.f4 f8 Now we are back where we were after 14...b6. 18.e2! Introducing ideas of d5d 6 a n d B e 2 - g 4 l a t e r o n . a6? This is definitely a mistake. Black needs to be very careful here, but if he is, he might be just about able to equalise. [ T h e d e s i r a b l e 18...d7? still runs into 19.xe5 dxe5 20.g5! winning a pawn. ] [ 18...b7 19.xe5 dxe5 20.xf8+ xf8 21.g4! is awkward for Black. ] [ 18...g4 19.xe5 xe2 20.xf8+ xf8 21.xe2 dxe5 22.g4 ( or 22.f1 )] [ 18...f7!? might be Black's best bet, preparing ....e5. ] 19.xe5! Now this is strong. dxe5 20.xf8+ xf8 21.f1 g7 [ If 21...d8 there's 22.h6! intending h4h 5 , a n d i f d6? then 23.g4! is immediately decisive. ] 22.d6! e6 The only good way to defend against Qd5+. 23.d7? [ 23.g5! e8 ( 23...h6 24.f6 ) 24.f6! spells trouble for Black. ] 23...d8?? Missing White's idea. [ After 23...e7! White would have regretted pushing the d-pawn so quickly ] 24.d6! [ W hite wins af ter 24.d6 xd7 ( or 24...xd7 25.b8+ ) 25.f8+! Bischoff's 10...Ne5 looks solid, and at the moment I feel that Black is better off without ...Qa5 in this particular line. ] 1-0
1796
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1805 Likavsky,Tomas Bunzmann,Dimitrij TCh-AUT 1st Bundesliga 2007-8 (4) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2494 2518 10.01.08
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 b4+ Bunzmann has played this line for many years and obviously isn't put off by i t ' s s l i g h t l y d u b i o u s r e p u t a t i o n . 6.f1 White has to move his king in the opening is this only a minor inconvenience or a basis for some Black compensation? f6 7.f3 0-0 8.a3 d6 9.c3 e8 [ Black also suffered after 9...exf5 10.xf5 e8 11.e3 h5 12.g5 Jaworski, MKalinitschew, S Barlinek 2006 ] [ and for that matter 9...c6 10.fxe6 dxe6 11.e2 d7 12.e4 a5 13.xf6+ xf6 14.g5 f7 15.b4 b3 16.b1 Berczes, D-Seres, L Budapest 2006 ] 10.g5 exf5 [ Varying from 10...h5 11.d5 (blocking the long diagonal) exf5 12.b5 e4 13.xd6 cxd6 14.e3 a6 15.c1 ae8 16.b4 when White had a positional advantage (as black's queenside pieces are out of play) in Schlosser, P-Totsky, L Pardubice 2007 ] 11.c5! A strong novelty. [ After 11.xf5 h5 12.h4 h6 Black is very active e.g. 13.g1 xf3 14.xf3 xf3 15.gxf3 hxg5 16.hxg5 e8 and White was able to just about obtain enough compensation for his piece in Khenkin, IBunzmann, D Polanica Zdroj 1999. ] 11...e7 [ Following 11...bxc5? 12.dxc5 xc5 White picks off a piece with 13.b3+ f7 14.xb7 ] 12.xf5 White is relatively better placed than in the Khenkin game as Black's bishop is not as dynamic on e7. h8 Now Black threatens to capture on c5, so White decides to release the tension. [ Perhaps Black should continue with the thematic 12...h5!? anyway. ] 13.cxb6 axb6 14.h4 Enabling the rook to develop to h3. a5!? Black has also angled to develop a rook along the file!? [ Simplifying with 14...d5 15.xd5 xd5 16.d3 h5 17.h3 leaves Black bereft of
compensation. ] 15.c2 d6 16.g1 h5 The queen finally makes it to h5 but under inferior circumstances to the above-mentioned game a g a i n s t K h e n k i n . 17.h3 c6 Black develops his final piece, but the impression is that he doesn't have sufficient pressure to justify the pawn deficit. The game continuation confirms this. 18.xf6 gxf6 [ 18...xf6 is even worse after 19.e4 ] 19.e4 f4 20.eg5! g4 [ After 20...fxg5 21.hxg5 e8 ( 21...f7 is strongly met by 22.g3 d6 23.g6 ) 22.xh7+ g8 23.d3 the attack is really too strong. ] 21.d3 f5 22.e1 White's harmonious forces a re t a kin g o ve r co n t ro l. B la ck n o w s o o n collapses but his position is very difficult in any case. d5 23.b3 d6 24.d5 a5 25.a2 h6 26.b4 g8 27.bxa5 hxg5 28.hxg5 1-0
1806 Likavsky,Tomas Czebe,Attila TCh SVK (10) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2409 2520 17.03.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 There was quite a lot of recent activity in the less reputable lines for white from this position, and their reputations did not improve: 4.d2 [ 4.f3 d5!? A new approach, striking back directly in the centre instead of banking on the undermining thrust ...f5. 5.c3 dxe4 6.fxe4 e5 7.d5 c5 8.b4?! xb4! 9.a4+ c6! 10.d2 xc3 11.xc3 h4+ 12.d2 xe4 13.f3 ( 13.dxc6 xc6 14.c2 f4+ 15.e1 0-0-0 ) 13...f6? ( 13...0-0-0!-+ ) 14.e2?? ( 14.e1 ) 14...xd5-+ 0-1 Henry, R-Blatny,P Framingham USA 2001. ] [ 4.d3 f5 5.c3 b4 6.e2 f6 A) 7.f3 is more common but also rather unpleasant for white. c6 8.e3 fxe4!? is a new and natural idea that worked out well for black. ( 8...f4 9.f2 e5 10.dxe5 xe5 11.d2 0-0 12.ge2 e8 13.a3 c5 14.xc5 bxc5 15.d5 h4+ 1797
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.d1 xd5 17.exd5 d6 18.b3 ae8 19.c2 xd3 20.g3 fxg3 21.xd3 g2 0-1 Barbafiera,L-Brancaleoni,M Bratto 1999. ) 9.fxe4 e5 10.d5 d4 11.d1 0-0 White has troubles completing his development. 12.a3 c5 13.g5 a5 14.f3 e8 15.b5 xb5 16.cxb5 xd5! and black should have been well o n t h e wa y t o vi c t o r y. 17.c2 b7 18.0-0-0 h8 19.h3 g6 20.he1 d6 21.b1 h5 22.d2 f4 23.xf4 exf4 24.h4 f6 25.f5 e5 26.e2 ae8 27.g4 c8 28.f3 d5 29.c2 d4 30.d3 d8 31.g4 fxg3 32.xg3 f2 33.f1 xf1 34.xf1 e6 35.f5 f8 36.h4 g6 37.g3 h6 38.h5 e3 39.f3 g8 40.hxg6 hxg6 41.e2 g7 42.g2 g5 43.xe3 xe3 44.f5+ xf5 45.exf5 h6 46.h2+ g5 47.fxg6 d3 48.g2+ h6 49.h2+ xg6 50.g2+ h7 51.h2+ g7 52.g2+ f8 53.f1+ e7 54.xd3 xd3 55.xd3 d6 56.a2 c5 57.e2 g2 58.d3 f2 59.b3 a4+ 60.c3 g2 61.b3 axb3 62.xb3 g3 63.c3 1/2-1/2 Viktorov,G-Bojkov,D Pamporovo BUL 2001.; B) 7.g5?! A dubious alternative - white has no noticeable improvement in this game, but the background is worth noting. fxe4 B1) 8.xe4 xe4 ( 8...xe4 9.xd8 xc3 10.h5+ g6 11.e5 0-0 12.f1 e4 13.f3 d6 14.b5 xd8 15.e1 f8 16.h4 c6 17.xe4 xb5 18.cxb5 f4 19.e3 a6 20.h5 axb5 21.g3 f5 22.g4 f4 23.hxg6 hxg6 0-1 Kansky,P-Janturin,A Decin 1998.) 9.xf6 xf6 10.xe4 xc3+ 11.bxc3 0-0 12.f3 c6 13.0-0 f5 14.fe1 xe4 15.xe4 f5 16.d1 a5 17.d5 exd5 18.xd5 xd5 19.cxd5 f8 20.f1 e8 21.e5 e7 22.f4+ e8 23.d3 b7 24.h4 d6 25.f3 e3 26.d4 f5 27.f2 xd4 28.xe3 f5+ 29.e4 xh4 30.g3 g6 31.c4 e7 32.f4 h8 33.c5 bxc5 34.xc5 f7 35.a4 g6 36.g4 h6 37.f5 d6+ 38.f4 gxf5 39.gxf5 e8 40.e4 f6+ 41.d4 h5 42.d3 d6 43.f4 a6 44.a5 h4 45.c4 e5 46.g6+
xf5 47.xh4+ e4 48.d6 cxd6 49.g2 g4 50.e1 e5+ 51.c3 d5 0-1 Starostits,I-Bunzmann,D Yerevan 1999.; B2) 8.xf6 exd3 9.h5+ g6 10.g5 e7 11.xe7 xe7 12.xe7+ xe7 13.f3 Better than the previous game, but still short of equality. ( 13.d5 a6 14.a3 af8 15.f3 f4 16.d2 f5 17.0-0 exd5 18.ae1+ d8 19.cxd5 h5 20.c4 c5 21.e3 f4 22.d1 a5 23.fe1 hf8 24.f3 a4 25.a2 a6 26.b4 b5 27.f1 d4 28.g3 d2 29.e3 h4 30.e2 xe2 31.xe2 b3 32.h3 c4 33.exd2 xd2 34.xd2 e8 35.a2 e5 36.c3 e7 37.f2 d6 38.f1 f6 39.f2 f5 40.f1 f6 41.f2 e7 42.d1 g5 43.e3 c5 44.d4 b5 45.f4 gxf4 46.d1 exd5 0-1 Razmyslov,AKengis,E Bad Zwesten 1997.) 13...c6 14.d5 e5 15.b3 exd5 16.cxd5 c6 17.d2 cxd5 18.e1 f6 19.f4 g4 20.f3 f2 21.hf1 e4+ 22.xe4+ ( 22.xd3 a6+ ) 22...dxe4 23.d4 ac8 24.g4 c5 25.h4 hc8 26.g5+ g7 27.f5 f8 28.f6+ f7 29.e3 fc8 30.g1 h6 31.b4 d5 32.gxh6 d2 33.d1 c3+ 34.xd2 h3 35.c2 xh4 36.h1 dh5 37.xh4 xh4 38.b5 c6 39.xa7 a4+ 40.c1 xd1 41.xd1 xf6 42.c8 b5 43.d6 e3 44.e2 xb4 45.xe3 g5 46.e4+ g6 47.h7 xe4+ 48.xe4 xh7 0-1 Joppien,A-Kalinitschew,S Kiel GER 2001. ] [ 4.c3 b4 5.f3 This is still a critical position, and one that does not get a lot of testing these days. f5 6.exf5 h6!? This gambit was popular in the early days of t h e E n g l is h D e f e n ce , b u t st i ll re m a i n s relatively unexplored. Simply recapturing on f5 has become more often seen in recent games. 7.fxe6 0-0 8.h3 ( 8.e3!? f5 9.d2!? dxe6 10.d3 c6 11.ge2 xe3 12.xe3 h4+ 13.f2 h6 14.a3 e7 15.e4 ad8 16.d1 d7 17.0-0 fd8 18.c2 a5 19.a4 xc4 20.xd7 xd7 21.b1 e5 22.b4 e3 23.dxe5 xf1 24.xf1 a5 25.2g3 axb4 26.axb4 xb4 27.a2+ d5 28.a7 c6 1798
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 29.b8+ f8 30.e6 e5 31.f5 xe6 32.d4 e8 33.xb7 e7 34.d5+ h8 35.c6 f7 36.g5 f4 37.ge6 e3+ 38.h1 f7 39.h3 h6 40.g1 d6 41.e8+ f8 42.g6 g8 43.f5 e5 44.f4 e4 45.g5 1-0 Kristensen,KAndersen,I Copenhagen 1993.) 8...f5 ( 8...h4+!? 9.f2 g4 10.c2 c6 11.d2 ae8 12.d5 c5 13.ce4 xf2 14.xc5 xh1+ 15.g3 xg3 16.hxg3 xg3+ 17.f2 xf2+ 18.xf2 bxc5 19.exd7 d8 20.dxc6 xc6 21.e2 xd7 22.e3 f5 23.f4 d8 24.g4 f6 25.b3 a5 26.g1 a4 27.d1 axb3 28.xb3 h6 29.c2 a8 30.a1 g5 31.a4 b8 32.a2 f7 33.d3 b3 34.e2 gxf4 35.xc5 f3 36.f1 b7 37.d4 g6 38.e5 c5 39.d2 c6 40.a5 a3 41.c7 a1 42.e5 xa5 43.d6 a1 44.xc5 g2+ 45.xg2 fxg2 46.e2 g1 47.xg1 xg1 48.d6 g6 0-1 Arbakov,VMihalko,J Budapest 1991.) 9.g5 e8 10.d2 xe6+ 11.e2 h6 12.f4 g6 13.d3 e8+ 14.e2 c6 15.a3 d6 16.xd6 cxd6 17.b5 g6 18.d3 a6 19.xf5 xf5 20.xd6 e6+ 21.e4 xc4 22.d1 ae8 23.d5 xe4+ 24.fxe4 xe4+ 25.e2 h4+ 26.g3 xh3 27.dxc6 xc6 28.f1 a8 29.f4 b5 30.e4 c8 31.d2 c1+ 32.d1 c8 33.d2 d6 34.f5 e8+ 35.d1 a4+ 36.b3 xb3+ 37.c1 xf5 38.xf5 d5 39.b2 c4 40.f3 b5 41.c3 a5 42.h4 h7 43.d4 e7 44.df4 b7 45.d4 b4 46.axb4 axb4 47.f7 b6 48.3f4 g6 49.b7 xg3 1/2-1/2 Palliser,R-Bunzmann,D Athens GRE 2001. ] 4...b4 5.d3?! A very rare or new continuation and a risky one, for reasons analogous with the white N on c3 - white's centre comes under quick and fierce pressure. f5 6.h5+ g6 7.e2 f6 8.f3 c6 9.d5 d4 10.e3 fxe4 11.fxe4 0-0!? [ 11...c5 ] 12.xd4 g4 13.gf3 xf3 14.gxf3 h4+ 15.d1 [ 15.e2 c5 16.xc5 bxc5 17.fxg4 xg4+ 18.e1 exd5 19.cxd5 xd5 20.exd5? e8+ 21.f2 ( 21.f1 h3+ ) 21...d4+ ] 15...f2+ 16.c2 xh1 17.g1 f2
18.g3 xg3 19.hxg3 exd5 20.cxd5 xd3 The bishop pair and development edge give black a clear superiority. 21.xd3 c6 22.dxc6 dxc6 23.c4 b5 24.e3 d8+ 25.e2 a5 26.g4 e7 27.e3 b4 28.c1 a6+ 29.e1 b5 30.b6 a8 31.c5 h5 32.e3 f6 33.c2 d8 34.f2 d3 35.f4 d4 36.xd4 xd4 37.e5 f7 38.g2 a4 39.g1 d1+ 40.h2 a1 41.b3 axb3 42.axb3 b1 43.d2 xb3 44.d6 d3 45.f6+ g7 46.f5 gxf5 47.f4 d7 48.g6+ f8 49.e6 g7 50.f6+ e7 51.xf5 b3 52.e5 b2 53.e1 h4 ½-½
1807 Lipinsky,Fabian McShane,Luke J Bundesliga 2000-1 (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2362 2480 10.12.2000
1.d4 b6 2.c4 b7 [ 2...e6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 g6 5.e4 g7 6.f3 e7 7.d3 d6 8.0-0 d7 9.e1 h6 10.e3 g5 Clearly Baburin was as impressed as I was by his loss to Miles in this opening. Perhaps this falls into the experimental category - I would occasionally ta ke up o p en in gs I d idn 't t ru st bu t h a d disappointing results against, just to see how it was sitting on the other side. Often, this kind of educational odyssey only demonstrated that there are some positions one should try to completely steer clear of. And whether Baburin now feels armed as white, or just totally annoyed, we will have to wait and see. 11.c1 a6 In the game Baburin-Miles (look it up in the last instalment - a modern classic) W hite had played h3, black ...a6 and Miles reacted to Rc1 with ...c5 - this turns out to be a vast difference as black needs not only some kind of foothold in the centre, he needs to stop white just setting up with d5/Nd4, which puts a cramp in. 12.d5 g6 13.d4 e7 14.b4 ge5 15.f1 c8 16.f3 h5 17.a4 h4 18.h3 f8 19.c5 bxc5 20.bxc5 c6 21.dxe6 fxe6 22.b3 1-0 Ehlvest,J-Baburin, A Istanbul OL 2000. ] 3.f3 g6 4.g3 Not a critical line - there is 1799
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 nothing wrong with non-confrontational tactics as white, and often they can provide a quiet, minimal advantage - but they also cannot provide a serious threat to offbeat systems, and allow black to achieve his aim of original, playable positions without theoretical baggage. g7 5.g2 e6 6.c3 e7 7.d5 a6 8.d4 e5 [ 8...exd5!? planning quick pressure with ... Nb4 was definitely worth considering. ] 9.f3 0-0 10.0-0 f5 Black can be satisfied with a complex and dynamic position. He can try to play a King's Indian on the kingside, and a Q u e e n ' s I n d ia n / E n gl is h o n t h e o t h e r . 11.b5 e4 12.g5 h6 [ 12...c6? 13.d6 cxd5 14.xb7 c7 15.cxd5 xb7 16.d6 planning f2-f3. ] 13.h3 g5 14.f3 c5 [ 14...exf3!? 15.exf3 g6 ] 15.fxe4 xe4 16.f2 a6 17.xe4 axb5 18.c3 bxc4 [ 18...xc3!? may be better - the Bg7 will soon be torn away from the kingside at any rate, and this seems a superior version. 19.bxc3 bxc4 20.d6 c6 and black is much better coordinated than in the game. ] 19.d6 c6 20.b5 e5 21.d5+ g7 22.dxc7 [ 22.xc7 a5 ] 22...xc7 23.xc7? [ 23.xf5 must give white an advantage black's pawns are very weak and even xf5 24.xf5 e7 25.xg5! works out well for him. ] 23...xc7 24.xc4 e5! 25.d2 a6! 26.d5 xd5 27.xd5 xe2 28.fe1 fe8 29.f2 d3 30.ad1 xe1 31.xe1 b5 32.c3+ g6 33.g2 a7 34.a3 White's bishops give him full compensation for the pawn. f7 35.d5 c4 36.xf5+ e7 37.f6 e6 38.xh6 g4 39.h4 gxh3 40.xh3 a4 41.xe6 dxe6 42.h4 a8 43.g4 d6 44.h1 e5 45.g3 g8 46.h6+ d5 47.h4 e4 48.g3 e3 49.f3 e2 50.xe2 xg4 51.f3 g1 52.h5+ c4 53.h4+ d5 54.a4 c5 55.h5+ d6 56.h6+ c5 57.e3 g4 58.h5+ d6 59.b3 c7 60.d3 b4+ 61.xb4 xb4 62.c3 g4 63.d5 c6 64.d4 g3+ 65.c4 g5 66.b4 g1 67.b5+ c7 68.h4 c1+ 69.d5 d1+
70.d4 h1 71.c4+ b7 72.e4 d1+ 73.e6 c7 74.e5 d4 75.f5 xa4 76.f7+ b8 77.d5 h4 78.f8+ ½-½
1808 Ma Yu Bokros,Albert Young Masters (5) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2375 2405 23.12.1999
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 5.d3 f5 6.e2 f6 7.e5? A novelty that should not see the light of day too often again. White believes that the bishop will not emerge from h1, but this proves to be optimistic. A ga m e f o r t h e t h e o re t ica l f o o t n o t e s . xg2 8.exf6 xf6 9.f3 xh1 10.f2 c6 11.ge2 e5 12.f1 xc3 13.xc3 e4 14.d5 xd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.xc7+ f7 17.xa8 exd3 18.c7 c8 19.f4 xf3 20.f2 h5 21.h4 xc7 22.xc7 d2 23.e5 c6 0-1
1809 Maia,Jose Eduardo Limp,Eduardo Thelio II ch-Semi-Final (6) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2232 2480 26.11.2000
1.d4 b6 2.f3 b7 3.c4 e6 4.c3 b4 5.c2 f5 6.g5 f6 7.e3 h6 8.xf6 xf6 9.d3 [ 9.a3 e7 10.d5 0-0 11.e2 c6 12.0-0 a6 13.ad1 cxd5 14.cxd5 fc8 15.d4 c5 16.b1 e5 17.f3 ab8 18.b4 a6 19.fe1 c4 20.dxe6 dxe6 21.c6 xc6 22.xc6 xc3 23.bxc5 xa3 24.c1 xc5 25.d7 f7 26.a1 b5 27.a6 b6 28.a1 a5 29.b1 a4 30.xc4 bxc4 31.xb6 xb6 32.xa4 a3 33.c2 b2 34.e2 f6 35.f3 c5 36.d1 b1 37.e1 xe3+ 38.xe3 xd1+ 39.f2 d2+ 40.f1 c2 41.f4 g5 42.fxg5+ hxg5 43.e1 g4 44.a1 c3 45.a5 d2 46.c5 c2 0-1 Guzik,J-Matveeva,S/Warsaw 1999 ] 9...c5! Black has a pleasant variety of options as to how he prefers to disrupt white's pawn 1800
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 structure now. 10.0-0-0 xc3 11.bxc3 [ 11.xc3 xf3 12.gxf3 c6 is also unpleasant for white - pressure on the c-file will occur even faster. ] 11...xf3 12.gxf3 c6 13.f4 0-0 [ 13...cxd4 was perhaps more accurate - it would be nice to know the c-file will open. ] 14.hg1 [ 14.d5 was probably better, keeping things closed as long as possible on the queenside. ] 14...cxd4 15.cxd4 ac8 16.a4 c7 A ve ry u s e f u l m o ve , wh i ch a lso ke e p s a watchful eye on his only real weakness on g7. 17.b1 d6! Well assessed - black could try just loading up on the c-file, but this central expansion exposes white more, and does not grant white the counterplay one might expect. 18.g3 e5 19.fxe5 dxe5 20.d5 a5 21.dg1?! perhaps based on a long miscalculation. [ 21.c1 ] 21...e4 22.e2 c3 23.d6 [ 23.c1 d2 as white will be hard pressed to preserve a full set of his pawns. ] 23...xc4! 24.xc4+ xc4 25.xg7+ h8 26.h7+ [ 26.h7+ There is no mate on g7 after xh7 27.d7+ ] 0-1
1810 Mail Bag English Defence,E N,Archana [Glenn Flear]
A40
After the moves 1.d4 b6 2.c4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.e4 b4 Bob Cochran asked about the move 5.g4 I've found two ideas for Black. He can either defend the g-pawn with his queen or play the more combative 5...Nf6 e.g. f6 [ 5...f6 6.a3 ( 6.e5 g6 7.xg6 hxg6 8.d2 e7 should also be reasonable for the second player.) 6...xc3+ 7.bxc3 g6 8.xg6 hxg6 Kaczorowska, B-Borysiak,B W arsaw 1997 when Black's superior structure compensates for the bishop pair. ] 6.xg7 g8 7.h6 g6 8.h3 xe4 9.ge2 c6
[ or 9...f6 10.e3 c5!? ] 10.e3 f6 was fine for Black in Ellison,DBlackburn,G Port Erin 2002
1811 Malakhatko,Vadim Flear,Glenn C open Marseille (3) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2540 2489 27.06.2004
1.d4 b6 2.c4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.a3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 d6 7.f3 A move that Malakhatko has used before. One way for Black to avoid this slightly annoying line is to delay the bishop's development until W hite has committed his king's knight e.g. 6...Na6!? (rather than 6...Bd6) and if 7 Nh3 then 7...Bd6, or after 7 Nf3 to play 7...Nc5, with ideas of ... Be7 and ...Nfe4. a6 [ 7...c6! is the most precise at this point e.g. 8.dxc6 dxc6 9.g2 0-0 10.0-0 e7 11.e4 fxe4 12.g5 c5 13.cxe4 xe4 14.xe4 and a draw was agreed in Comas Fabrego,LArizmendi Martin,J Mallorca 2001 presumably because Black is equal after e5 Black's queen's knight can then be de ve lo p e d t o t h e m ore u se f u l c6 o r d 7 squares. ] 8.g2 c6 9.dxe6 dxe6 10.0-0 c5? Based on an oversight. Black should play [ 10...0-0 when 11.e4! leads to a small edge f o r W h i t e w i t h fxe4 12.g5 e7 13.cxe4 ] 11.a4+ e7 [ 11...d7? gets into serious trouble after 12.b5! ] 12.d1 e8 13.c2 Naturally White keeps the queens on. Now it's difficult for Black to defend against all the threats. c7 [ or 13...d8 14.b5 b8 15.f4 and the dark squares creak very loudly! ] 14.xd6! xf3 15.f4 [ After 15.xf3 xd6 16.f4+ e5 I couldn't see anything clear for White at the time but Fritz suggests 17.d2+ e6 18.xe5! ] 15...xg2 16.xg2 g5 Bad but unfortunately so is the natural [ 16...d8 e.g. 17.ad1 xd6 18.xd6+ f7 19.xc7 c6+ b e c a u s e o f 20.e4! 1801
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and White wins a pawn. ] 17.xg5 [ If 17.e5 I was relying on g4 but here a ga in Fri t z f in d s a s t ro n g co m b in a t io n starting with 18.d5+! xd5 ( 18...exd5 19.xf5 ) 19.cxd5 and wins. ] 17...xd6 18.xf6 f8 19.d3+ c6 20.f3+ d7 21.d1+ c8 22.b5! [ T h e o n l y w a y t o p l a y o n a f t e r 22.b5 is with xb5 23.cxb5 xf6 24.c6 f7 25.d6 e7 but Black is virtually in zugzwang and W hite can win however he likes. Bringing up his king for instance with 26.h3 b8 27.h4 a8 28.g5 etc. should do the trick. I'd had enough by this stage, so I didn't seek further humiliation by playing on! ] 1-0
1812 Malakhatko,Vadim Kulesza,Mateusz Open Mielo POL (2) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2562 2301 11.06.2005
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 g6 Hitherto White had just continued development with Bg2, then N out followed by castling short. Malakhatko comes u p w i t h a s t a r t l i n g n e w i d e a . . . 7.e4?! Great surprise value but I don't believe it's fully sound. fxe4 8.h4 This reminds one of some anti-Leningrad Dutch attacks, that are known to be dangerous, but here Black has already fianchettoed his queen's bishop. If this piece can have a significant influence then W hite's at tack will be t oo slow. e7 9.g5 a6?! This misses the point. [ I'm not sure that I'd fancy defending Black's position after 9...f7 10.h5 xh5 11.xh5 gxh5 12.e2 g8 but the immediate ] [ 9...h6! 10.xf6 xf6 avoids any problems due to h4-h5 which can always be met by ... g5. After the further 11.c2 g7 12.g2 0-0 13.xe4 ( or 13.h3 exd5 14.cxd5 e3! ) 13...exd5 White's king is at least as vulnerable as Black's. ] 10.h5 h6 Now this comes at the cost of concessions on the flank. 11.hxg6 g7 12.e3 exd5 13.cxd5 c5 14.h3 d3+?!
[ Black should prefer the principle alternative 14...0-0-0 but after 15.c1 b8 16.f4 it's hard to see where his counterplay is coming from. ] 15.xd3 exd3 16.xd3 g4 17.0-0-0 xe3 18.de1 0-0-0 Now Black finally castles after spending several tempi to just lose a pawn! White is on top but two bishops can sometimes hold off two knights and an extra pawn in open positions. 19.xe3 c5 20.f4 f6 [ 20...he8 is a slightly lesser evil as the plan of putting the bishop on g5 just leads to it's exchange under unfavourable circumstances. However after something like 21.b1 xe3 22.xe3 d4 23.e2 the presence of the g6-pawn will ensure a White victory. ] 21.b1 g5 22.e4 a5 23.xg5 hxg5 24.xh8 xh8 25.g7 g8 26.f5 c5 27.f7 The g-pawn s Black's fate. Note how the fianchettoed queen's bishop had virtually no effect on play! 1-0
1813 Marin,Mihail Botvinnik,Ilia It Tel Aviv ISR (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2555 2405 23.03.2000
1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.a3 b7 4.d5 f5 5.c3 f6 6.g3 c6!? 7.g2 [ 7.dxe6 dxe6 8.xd8+ xd8 9.f4 bd7 10.f3 h6 11.g2 g5 12.e5 xe5 13.xe5 c7 14.g6 h7 15.xf8 xf8 16.f4 g4 17.d1 gxf4 18.gxf4 d8 19.h3 f6 20.f2 g7 21.f3 d4 22.c5 xf4 23.c1 d4 24.d3 d7 25.cxb6+ axb6 26.b4 d6 27.b2 e5 28.d1 xf3+ 29.exf3 xd1+ 30.xd1 g2 31.f2 c5 32.bxc5 bxc5 33.d3 b6 34.f1 c2 35.f4 a6 36.f3 c3 37.e5 xf3 38.xf3 b5 39.e5 a4 40.g6 xa3 41.h4 b7 42.f8 c4 43.xe6 c3 44.c5 c2 45.d3 e4 46.c1 h5 47.e2 b3 48.c1+ c3 0-1 Sergeev,VRogovski,V/Presov 1997 (48) ] 7...cxd5 8.cxd5 d6 9.e4 e5 10.ge2 fxe4 11.xe4 xd5 12.xf6+ xf6 1802
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.xd5 exd5 14.xd5 c6 15.0-0 0-0-0 One would have thought that black's king position gave cause for concern, but white does not manage to prove this. 16.b1 he8 17.b4 e6 18.d1 xd5 19.xd5 f6 20.e3 e5 21.bd1 xd5 22.xd5 e8 23.f4 e4 24.f1 c4 25.e2 ½-½
1814 Markos,Jan Halkias,Stelios 34th Olympiad (10) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2327 2502 07.11.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 f5 4.c3 f6 5.f3 b7 6.d5 a6 7.g3 g6 8.g2 g7 9.0-0 0-0 10.f4 c5 [ 10...e4 11.xe4 fxe4 12.g5 exd5 13.cxd5 c5 ( 13...xb2!? deserves testing, and may well be playable.) 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4 d6 16.b1 d7 17.g2 a6 18.e1 ae8 19.e4 h6 20.h4 1-0 Dziuba, M-Hindermann,F Chalkidiki 2000. ] 11.c1 fe4 12.e5 h6 13.e3 d6 14.d4 e5 15.xc5 xc5 [ 15...xc3!? 16.xc3 bxc5 gives black good chances of using his dark squared bishop to pressure b2/a1. ] 16.b4 d7 17.a4 a6 18.e1 g5 19.c5 g4 20.h4!? The N has few prospects here except to be sacrificed on f5, but this is a very interesting idea. e4 Black is about to get a grip with Ne5, so... [ 20...g5 21.xf5 xf5 22.xg4 ] 21.xf5 xf5 22.xg4+ g5 23.xe4 [ 23.xg5+ xg5 24.cxd6 cxd6 25.xe4 e5 ] [ 23.h3 xg4 24.xg4 f7 25.e6 e5 is very complicated, but black's initiative is probably worth most here. One romantic variation is 26.xf7+ xf7 and now white n e e d s t o b e a b l e t o p l a y 27.cxb6 but black's attacking chances seem to be m o s t r e l e v a n t : f3+ 28.h1 xe1 29.xc7+ g6 30.bxa7 xe3 31.fxe3 f8 32.h4 f1+ 33.h2 f2+ 34.g1 d2! mating. ] 23...f7 24.cxd6 [ 24.f4 looks best, mobilizing the pawn mass
with great complications. I feel the unopposed dark-squared bishop must give black the better chances though. ] 24...cxd6 25.c7 e7 26.h4? This makes white's pawn mass more passive as further advances are likely to simply expose his own king. g7 27.c2 e5 28.c1 f8 29.xe7 xe7 30.c7 f6 31.f4 g6! N o wh i t e i s b a d l y o u t n u m b e r e d a n d h i s position caves in. 32.e7 xg3 33.e6+ h8 34.h3 g7 Putting fun above material is often efficient, but not necessarily most correct. There was nothing wrong with [ 34...f3+ 35.h1 xh4 winning greedily. ] 35.fxe5 xe5 36.c3? [ 36.h1 b5 ( 36...g8!? ) 37.e6! allows white to fight on. ] 36...b5 37.e6 g7 38.c6 g8 0-1
1815 Markus,Robert Short,Nigel D TCh Neum BIH (4) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2532 2712 01.06.2004
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b4 4.e3 An sensible choice if one is experienced in the 4 e3 Nimzo for W hite. xc3+!? If Black is going to give up his bishop, then now is the logical moment as the pawns are doubled. After [ 4...f6 play transposes to the NimzoIndian, but more in the spirit of the English Defence would be ] [ 4...b7 5.ge2 f5 6.a3 e7 ( 6...d6 7.d5 f6 8.g3 is similar to the variation where White plays an early a2-a3 and Black goes directly to d6 with his bishop. White's extra tempo has been employed by playing e2-e3 which allows the solid development Ng1-e2 reinforcing the other knight and thus the centre. W ith the centre well-covered Black has less chances for counterplay than in the normal main lines, so I prefer White slightly here.) 7.d5 f6 8.d4 c8 9.e2 0-0 10.0-0 a6 11.b4 c5 12.bxc5 xc5 13.b2 with a pull to White, Vladimirov,EMiezes,N Dubai 2004 ] 1803
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 5.bxc3 b7 6.e2 [ 6.f3 f5 7.a3 f6!? ( 7...f6! with ...d6, ...Nbd7 and ... Ne4 is more solid.) 8.c5 e7 9.e2 bc6 10.c1 Meulders later criticized this move, but it's understandable that he didn't want to castle until Black committed himself to the kingside. 0-0 11.0-0 f7 ( 11...h6 intending ... Rf6-g6 is an idea suggested by Meulders) 12.c4 g6 13.d2 ce7 14.b2 f4 with complications, Meulders,RTimman,J Brussels 1987 ] 6...d6 7.g3 h4!? [ Black went on to win after 7...e7 8.e4 0-0 9.d3 f5 10.exf5 xf5 11.0-0 d7 12.g4 f6 13.d2 c5 14.ae1 g6 15.e4 xe4 16.xe4 ac8 in Pritchett ,CArkell,K Blackpool 1988 but at this point White's bishops probably offer him an edge. Short's move is more dynamic but has it's downside as we shall see... ] 8.c5! Aiming to improve the pawns and play on the queenside as Black's queen is visiting other climes. dxc5 9.dxc5 c6 [ Black can try for early castling with 9...e7 but then has to take 10.d4 into account ] 10.b5 a6 The pin is annoying but 10...Ne7 still looks OK. 11.e2 b5 12.a4 Continuing to soften up the Black pawns before he can get organized. b4 13.0-0 f6 [ 13...bxc3?! isn't so constructive after 14.b3 ] 14.cxb4 xb4 15.a3 c6!? A fine square in p ri n c i p le f o r t h e b is h o p a s it ca n 't b e attacked by the white knight, but it quickly gets undermined in a neat way. [ T h e a l t e r n a t i v e 15...bd5?! 16.c6! ( 16.c2 c6 looks very solid for Black, but the pawn sacrifice to open up the a3-f 8 diagonal would probably have put Short off 1 5 . . . N b d 5 .) 16...xc6 17.c1 is very dangerous. What's Black's king going to do? ] 16.e4! Cutting the communication of Black's queen with the other wing. [ Instead after the cheeky 16.xb4 xb4 17.xa6 Black regains his pawn after the straightforward 0-0 ( but not 17...xa6? 18.b1 etc. )] 16...a5 17.xb4 axb4 18.b5 xb5 19.axb5 xa1 20.xa1 0-0 Finally getting
t h e k i n g t o s a f e t y. U n f o r t u n a t e l y i n t h e meantime White's initiative on the queenside has made inroads into his defences. The bpawn is very weak for instance and the queen is still sidelined. 21.d4 b3 [ If 21...e5 playing for tricks, White keeps the a d v a n t a g e w i t h 22.d2 b3 23.f3 followed by Rb1 picking off the b-pawn. ] 22.b1 h5 As if to say 'OK the queenside is a shambles but let's mix things up elsewhere'. 23.f3 g5 24.f1 h4 25.xb3 The pawn falls but Short isn't ready to give up without a fight. h3 26.g3 c1 27.b6 cxb6 [ 27...c2 is refuted by 28.b2 ] 28.cxb6 b8 29.b7 c7 30.b6 d7 31.f2 White would like to put further pressure on the blockading rook by bringing up his knight, but wants to avoid any mating tricks first of all. h7 32.e2 a4 33.d2 e8 34.d3 Now everything seems to be in control. g5 35.e5?! I don't like this move as the win now becomes more difficult. [ If 35.d8! xd8 36.xd8 Black has some annoying checks but White should be able to wriggle out a6+ 37.e3 a3+ 38.d4 a7+ 39.c3 and Black is lost. ] 35...a1 36.d8 xe5+ 37.f2 f6 38.xb8 xb8 39.c6 a7+ 40.e2 d5 41.c2+ h6 42.b3 b8 43.c4 e7 44.b5 f5 45.f2 e7 46.a5?! [ The prophylactic 46.e1!! wins. If f5 then ( or 46...d5 47.d6! ) 47.e5! xb7 48.h8+ g6 49.e5# ] 46...a7+ 47.f1 b8 48.d7? [ 48.c4! f5 49.e5 still wins. ] 48...e5! 49.xe7 b5+! Incredibly White can no longer win. 50.f2 b2+ 51.e1 c1+ 52.e2 c2+ 53.e1 ½-½
1816 Mchedlishvili,Mikheil Kalinitschew,Sergey Open Dutch Champ (9) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2518 2517 05.08.2004
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 f5 4.c3 b7 5.f3 e7 6.g3 White avoids the d4-d5 advance but Black is now able to obtain a comfortable game. f6 1804
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 6...xf3!? is always a controversial choice in such positions. The lack of a lightsquared bishop gives Black more serious problems in the long-term than any structural damage to White e.g. 7.exf3 f6 8.d5 0-0 9.g2 e5 10.f4 e4 11.0-0 d6 12.b5 c5 13.dxc6 xc6 14.c3 a5 15.b3 c8 16.b2 h8 17.e1 a6 18.c1 e8 19.h3 g6 20.f3 Bugajski,R-Nagrocka,E Warsaw 1994 and White was on top. The way I see it, it's risky to play ...Bxf3 once ...f5 has already been played, unless Black is able to secure a central outpost for his knight. ] 7.g2 e4 8.d2 f6 9.0-0 0-0 10.c1 c6! Other moves have been tried here but this seems to be the logical choice. 11.e3 [ Black obtained a fine game after 11.e1 e7 12.b4 a6 13.xe4 xe4 14.c3 b5 15.d2 xg2 16.xg2 e8 17.e3 g6 18.f4 bxc4 19.xc4 d5 Chernuschevich, A-Bauer,C French cup 2003 ] 11...e7 12.b4 [ After 12.b3 Black aimed for a Benoni setup with xd2 13.xd2 xg2 14.xg2 c5!? ( 14...c6!= ) 15.d5 exd5 16.cxd5 d6 17.e4!? in Oms Pallise,J-Romero Holmes,A Palencia 1999 but W hite got the better of the complications that followed. The safer option is 14...c6 intending ...d5. ] 12...c5 [ 12...a6!? a la Bauer, preparing ... b5 to install a piece on the d5-square, comes into consideration, but the text is also good. ] 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.b5 d5! 15.cxd5 exd5 16.b3 h8 The central hanging pawns and strongly placed knight on e4 give Black a pleasant game. The bishop on d2 is awkwardly placed which doesn't help White's aim to pressurize the centre. 17.fd1 c8 18.e1 e8 19.a4 h5 20.e2 g5! Controlling the f4-square. 21.a5 b8 22.a3 fc8 23.b1 f7 24.d2 g6 Black retains his grip and has ideas of ...Ne5 o r e v e n . . . f 4 . 25.f4 gxf4 26.gxf4 W hite covers the e5-square but has been obliged to expose his kingside. h4 27.xh4 xh4 28.xe4 fxe4 29.b6 a6 The pawn structure is rather unbalanced with W hite even having two protected passed pawns. However being dominant in the centre ensures
that Black has the most trumps up his sleeve. 30.b2+ f6 31.d2 g8 32.g3 h5! The knight will soon be invited to move away. 33.h1 h4 34.e2 d4! Keeping White guessing as to where the next blow will come from: The centre or the kingside. 35.g1 [ 35.exd4? lo s e s i m m e d i a t e l y t o xg2 36.xg2 e3+ ] 35...bd8 36.bd1 h5 White can only wait whilst Black's pieces and pawns become even more menacing. 37.h3 d3 38.c3 g3 39.h2 dg8 40.xe4 A desperate try for freedom, but Black had it all worked out. [ White can't just sit there and expect to survive e.g. 40.c1 d4! 41.ce1 ( or 41.exd4 e3 42.b2 xg2+ ) 41...f5 42.d1 c8 43.f2 xe3! 44.xe3 xf4+ etc. ] 40...xe4 41.xe4 f3 Winning material. 42.xg3 [ 42.xg3 hxg3+ is even worse. ] 42...hxg3+ 43.g1 xe4 44.xd3 f3! There would be some technical difficulties in the ending but now the extra piece, attacking ch a n c e s a n d p a s s e d p a wn s wi l l q u i c k l y decide. 45.f1 c4 46.d2 [ 46.a3 e2 ] 46...c3 47.d3 c6 White can't do anything much whilst Black uses his passed pawns to create further threats. 0-1
1817 Meister,Peter Chernyshov,Konstantin 13th OIBM Bad Wiessee GER (9) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2396 2536 07.11.2009
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.f3 b7 4.a3 f5 5.c3 f6 6.g3 e4 The most direct, but Black has other plans. [ 6...e7 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 e4 is a more restrained version than the game. This looks more as if it has arisen f rom a Queen's Indian Defence than an English. The move a2-a3 perhaps looking slightly slow!? 9.d2 f6 10.c1 c6 11.e3 e7 12.b4 c5 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.b5 d5 Mchedlishvili, MKalinitschew, S Dieren 2004, led to a doubleedged struggle. ] 1805
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 6...g6 7.g2 g7 8.0-0 0-0 seems solid enough, but needs following up correctly e.g. 9.d5 a5?! Black should prefer quick piece d e v e l o p m e n t . ( 9...a6! 10.f4 c5 11.c1 fe4 12.e5 h6! Markos, JKalkias, S Istanbul Olympiad 2000, was dynamic for Black) 10.b1 e7 ( 10...a6 11.f4 with a pull) 11.f4 a6 12.d6! d8 13.dxc7 xc7 14.d6 e8 Bareev, EBacrot, E Blitz 2007, and White was better due to his grip on various central squares. ] 7.d2 c6 8.d5 a5!? [ 8...exd5 9.xd5 e7 10.c3 g6 11.g2 g7 12.c2 0-0 13.d1 was (up to here) fine for Black in a game from last year. d5?! Asking for trouble! This seems to just create weaknesses in Black's camp and can't be r e c o m m e n d e d . ( m o r e s o l i d i s 13...d6 14.0-0 d7= ) 14.g5 c5?! ( maybe 14...d6!? but I now prefer White) 15.e3 Neverov, V-Szabo, G Bucharest 2008, and Black had problems. ] 9.xe4 [ 9.e3 f6 should be fine for Black who has already taken up an aggressive posture. ] 9...fxe4 10.xa5 bxa5 Broken pawns are a small price to pay for lots of potential activity on the dark-squares. 11.d4 f6 12.dxe6 c5?! Daring stuff indeed and in the spirit of the English defence, but probably not sound. [ However there is nothing wrong with 12...dxe6 13.a4+ f7 14.d7+ e7 when Black's broken structure is compensated by his bishops and of course by his lead in development. ] 13.exd7+ d8 14.e3 f8 Black's king may look slightly ridiculous, b ut he has som e dangerous threats. White for example has a problem to defend f2. 15.f4!? [ 15.d2? xd4 16.exd4 e3 costs White his rook. ] [ 15.b3! is best. White gives away his fpawn but then it turns out that his attacking chances are better than Black's: A) 15...xf2+ 16.d1 b8! ( 16...xd4 17.xb7 xe3 18.xa8+ xd7 is bad because W hite has the most dangerous attack after 19.h3+ ) 17.e6+ xd7 ( 17...e7 18.xf8 xe3 19.e2 clearly favours White) 18.xc5+ e7 19.c3! f7 20.h3 g8 21.c1
and Black has no compensation for his piece; B) 15...b8 After all that effort, this simple mo ve se em s t o o f f er mo re ho pe th a n capturing on f2. 16.0-0-0 xd4 17.exd4 ( 17.xd4 f3 18.g1 xf2 19.h1 f3 with a curious repetition) 17...xd7 ( 17...xf2 18.h3 ) 18.b5+ and White should be better although the position remains quite complicated. ] 15...exf3 16.f2 The white king uses the fpawn as a shield. b8 17.b4? An oversight. [ 17.d2! intending to follow with Rd1 is more solid. Then the critical continuation xd4 18.exd4 c6 19.b4!? (otherwise Black has no problems) axb4 20.axb4 xb4 21.xa7 b1! wouldn't be clear. ] 17...e4! 18.a2 [ 18.bxc5?? b2+ would be catastrophic for White. ] 18...axb4 19.axb4 xb4 20.d2 b6 21.h3 f6! Stopping N-e6+ being a problem. White maintains the pawn on d7 but otherwise Black has no particular reason to complain about his lot. 22.c3 xd4?! [ Missing the strong 22...h6! 23.g4 b1! when W hite's king comes under a pincerattack. ] 23.xd4 xd4 24.exd4 xc4 Black simplifies to a superior ending. He just needs to eliminate the d7-pawn and everything will be hunky dory. 25.e1 f5 26.f1 xd4 27.xa7 xd7 28.c1 d2+ 29.xf3 The only chance. c2+?! [ Also possible and more reliable is 29...c2! 30.xc2 xc2+ 31.e2 g5 with a promising endgame a clear passed pawn to the good. ] 30.e3 xh2 31.a2? With a two pawn deficit White's best chance would have been to act iva t e t h e ro o ks wit h th e te m p ora ry sacrifice of his bishop. [ 31.d3! e6+ 32.f3 xd3 33.cxc7+ a n d B la ck h a s n o t h in g b e t t e r t h a n d6 34.d7+ e5 35.xd3 when a draw looks probable as two v one (on the same flank) in a single rook ending is generally unwinnable. ] 31...e6+ 32.d4 e4+ 33.c3 e3+ 34.d4 xg3 The threat of mate in two starting with ...Rh4+ is very strong. 1806
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ After 34...xg3 if 35.b5+ c6 36.xc6+ then xc6 37.axc2+ xc2 38.xc2+ d6 39.e4 h5 40.f4 h4 is a book win. ] 0-1
1818 Mikhalevski,Victor Bunzmann,Dimitrij Weihnachtsopen (5) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2516 2596 29.12.1999
1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 e7 6.g3 f6 7.d2 c6 8.e4 A unnecessarily messy move, as we have seen, there are far more testing alternatives against black's plan. cxd5 9.exd5 a6 10.h3 c5 11.f4 e7 12.g2 exd5+ 13.f1 dxc4 14.fd5 d8 15.e2+ f8 16.f4 xc3 17.d6+ f7 18.xc5 c8 19.d6 f6 20.e1 b5 21.d2 h5 22.h4 c6 23.f4 g6 24.c7 f8 25.xf5+ xf5 26.e4+ e6 27.f4+ e7 28.h7+ e5 29.xe5+ f7 30.g6+ f6 31.f5+ e7 32.e5+ f6 33.f5+ ½-½
1819 Mikhalevski,Victor Kraai,Jesse Gufeld Memorial (8) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2548 2443 26.11.2003
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c2 h4 5.d2 b4 6.d3 xd2+! At first sight this gives the impression of being premature. However Kraai wants to avoid the possibility of White recapturing with the knight on d2 e.g. [ 6...f5 7.gf3 g4 8.0-0 xd2 9.xd2 f6 10.f3 h4 11.c3!? and White m a in t a in e d h is ce n t ra l grip in V igu s, JMorgan,B British ch. Millfield 2000 ] [T h e a l t e r n a t i v e 6...g4!? has the advantage of dashing White's hopes of castling 7.f1 f5 8.h3 g6 9.gf3 e7 10.exf5 exf5 11.d5 c6 12.e5 f6 13.df3 h6 14.e3 cxd5 15.d4 bc6 with double-edged complications, Sher, MBurnett,R New York 1999 ] 7.xd2 f5 8.d5
[ The point of Black's move order is that if 8.f3 g4 leaves both g2 and e4 en prise. This then forces 9.e5 xg2 10.0-0-0 fxe4 with complications. ] [ 8.g3 e7 9.f3 avoids any immediate problems but the long-white diagonal is in danger of giving way at some point. ] 8...fxe4 [ 8...f6 forces White to advance in the centre, but after 9.e5 g4 10.f4 exd5 11.f3 he seems to be able to cope and I then prefer W hite who is ahead in development. ] 9.xe4 exd5 [ Now 9...f6! comes into consideration as White loses time. The text is however safer as 10.f3 exd5 11.0-0-0 leads to murky complications, although Black should then still be doing OK. ] 10.xd5 xd5 11.cxd5 f6 12.f3 e4+ 13.xe4+ xe4 14.e3 a6 15.0-0-0 0-0-0 The queenless middlegame seems respectable for Black and chances are balanced. W hite now tries to prove that his bishop is the superior minor piece but doesn't get very far. 16.g5 de8 17.h4?! [ 17.xe4 xe4 18.a3 is not that ambitious but would maintain equality. ] 17...hf8 18.he1 [ After 18.xh7 Black has xf2! for instance 19.xf2 xf2 20.he1 xe1 21.xe1 d3+ ] 18...d6! The knight is well placed here c o v e r i n g s o m e k e y s q u a r e s 19.d4?! Losing the thread. He should settle for [ 19.xh7 h8 20.g5 xh4 21.g3 with approximate equality ] 19...c5 20.dd1 ce4 21.xh7 h8 22.g5 xh4 23.f3?! White continues to play for a win, but with both Black's knights well centralized this isn't objectively correct. hh8 24.d4 f6 25.e2 Black now exploits the cramped nature of the W hite pieces f5 26.f4 g5! 27.xg5 e4 28.e3 xe3 29.fxe3 f2 30.f4!? [ 30.d2 xe3 31.f1 saves the exchange but with split pawns Black would be somewhat better. ] 30...xd1 31.xd1 c6 32.dxc6 dxc6 33.e2 d8 34.c1 b7 35.c2 h1 36.a3 dd1 37.f3 It's not obvious how 1807
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Blac k will m ake progress as his majo rit y s e e m s t o b e a l o n g wa y f r o m b e c o m i n g threatening. But he has time to get himself organized. hg1 38.e4 d7 39.f3 gd1 40.e2 a5 41.e4 1d4 42.e3 c5 43.d5 d6 44.f4 d7 45.d5 f7 46.b4!? It's often a difficult decision in an inferior ending. Do I just sit there or should I lash out? If White doesn't touch his pawns then Black will come round the back with his f7-rook, either threatening to win the e4-pawn or at least force White to play passively to defend it. Then Black will be able to get the queenside going under favourable circumstances, so W hite decides to take positive action. c6 47.b2 b5 48.g4? [ I 'm c o n vi n c e d t h a t 48.c2 is a better chance e.g. c4 ( 48...axb4 49.axb4 c4 50.xc4 bxc4 51.bxc5 xc5 52.g4 ) 49.xc4 bxc4 50.bxa5 a7 51.a4 xa5 52.c3 with chances to hold. ] 48...c4 49.g5 d6! Now Black's pieces are ready to cause havoc in the white camp. 50.g6 [ If 50.bxa5 then the cool e5 ] 50...g7 51.g2 axb4 52.axb4 cxb4 53.d3 e6 54.h2 a7 55.h8 a3+ 56.d2 g3 57.e8+ d6 0-1
1820 Mikhalevski,Victor Vallejo Pons,Francisco Palace Hotel GM (2) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2632 2675 19.03.2008
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 c5!? An interesting way of complicating the struggle. 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 g6 The pawn structure is reminiscent of the Modern Benoni as White has a central pawn majority whereas Black has 3 v 2 on the queenside. [ Black could also try and exploit this particular move order by playing 5...a6!? when White may be less inclined to play an ea rly e 2 -e 4 (a s h e wo u ld th e n lose h is castling rights). Here are a couple of examples: 6.c3 d6 ( 6...g6 7.g3 d6 8.g2 g7 9.f3 f6 10.0-0 0-0 11.e1 bd7 12.f4 e8 13.c1 e5!?
Poldauf, D-Tischbierek, R DDR-ch 1990) 7.g3 g6 8.a4+ d7 9.c2 g7 10.h3 e7 11.a4+ f8 12.f4 xc3+ 13.bxc3 g7 14.g2 f6 15.d1 when a rather premature draw was agreed, Farago, I-Barle, J Ljubjana 1997. ] 6.c3 d6 7.f3 f6 8.g5 g7 9.d2! Here the position is exactly as in a Modern Benoni, except for the additional moves a2-a3 by White and ...b7-b6 by Black. Of these ...b6 is marginally more use. h6 10.h4 0-0 [ Probably more to the point is the continuation associated with the 'normal' Benoni i.e. 10...g5 11.g3 h5 12.c4 xg3 13.hxg3 0-0 14.e3 ( not 14.e4? b5 15.cxd6? f5 ) 14...e7 with a tense struggle ahead. ] 11.e4 a6 This idea (a t least using the virtually extra move ...b6) doesn't seem to upset White's harmony. [ 11...a6 followed by ...Nc7 is another idea. ] 12.xa6 xa6 13.0-0 d7 14.a4 g4 15.c4 e5 Black again aims to exchange a pair of minor pieces. 16.xe5 xe5 17.d2 g7 18.f4! The central majority starts to roll forward whereas nothing much is happening elsewhere. f5! Fighting back. [ After 18...fe8 simply 19.f5 could prove to be annoying. ] 19.e5 dxe5 20.fxe5 g5? White's centre proves to be too strong after this. [ So Vallejo should have settled for 20...xe5 21.xh6 g7 with a reasonable position. ] 21.e6 e7 22.fe1! Mikhalevski would really like to play d5-d6 with a pawn 'stampede', which would certainly be worth a piece. ad8 23.b5! [ The centre starts to crumble following the inferior 23.f2?! c7 24.ad1 xc3 ] 23...gxh4 24.d6 fe8 It looks shaky but Black has an extra piece for his troubles. The central pawns in themselves won't break him down, so Mikhalevski aims to open up a new front... 25.a5 b4 [ After 25...b7 White has the time to bring his queen into the fray with decisive effect e. g. 26.e2 h7 27.e7 d7 28.h5 ] 26.axb6 a6 27.xb4! Flashy but not the only way forward. [ The alternative 27.f4 g5 28.xg5 hxg5 1808
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ If 9.b2 then e7 10.d6 f6 11.e5 g6 favours Black who has an extra pawn and threats against g2. ] 9...f6 10.d2 a6 11.xa5? This could be a move order mistake. Instead unclear is [ 11.c5! immediately e.g. xc5 12.xa5 bxa5 13.xc5 xe4 14.d4 0-0 with pawns and development for a piece. ] 11...bxa5 12.c5 b3! 13.c3 [ 13.xb3 xc5 14.b5 fxe4 leaves White's position in a total shambles. ] 13...0-0 14.c6 A bit desperate but 1821 A40 [ 14.f3 exd5 15.e5 e7 16.e2 h5 also looks great for Black. One could say Mikhalevski,Victor 2550 th a t B la ck h a s gre a t co m p e n sa t io n f o r Yung,Allan 2390 White's double-pawn sacrifice! ] Invitational (7) 17.05.2004 14...dxc6 15.e5 e4 [Glenn Flear] [ 15...xd5 is also natural and good. ] 16.xb3 ac5 17.a2 cxd5 Black has a 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c2 b4+ [ 4...h4!? 5.d2 b4 6.d3 g4 lead in development and well-placed pieces. ( See the December 2003 update to see He also has a couple of pawns more so it's how I was impressed by 6...xd2+! ) 7.f1 not surprising that he wins quickly. 18.f3 a4 g6!? Is this new? The point becomes clear 19.b4 b3 20.xf8 This just hastens the a f t e r B l a c k ' s n e xt m o v e . 8.df3 f6 end but mentally White had probably given up A f lexible idea to give some luf t f or the already. xf8 21.d3 a5+ 22.f1 xa1 queen. White now goes for surrounding the 23.xa1 c8 24.d4 d2 25.xe6+ e7 bishop on b4 but winning a piece doesn't 0-1 necessarily yield an advantage... 9.c5 a5 A) I prefer 10.a3! as bxc5 ( or 10...c6 A40 11.d5! ) 11.dxc5 c6 looks suspicious for 1822 Morris,Charles F Black; Legky,Nikolay A B) 10.a4!? xe4 11.xe4 xe4 12.b4 1994 c6 13.bxa5 bxc5 14.e2 e5 15.a3 Lucerne cxd4 16.e1 d3 17.g1 d8 18.h4 [John Emms] b8 19.h3 b5 20.xb5 xb5 21.f8 h6 with chances for both sides in 1.d4 e6 Before anyone gets too carried away Mikhalevski,V-Kraai,J/Santa Monica 2004 with this 1...e6 system, it should be pointed out that Black needs to be ready to play the (round 1) ] 5.d2 Again Nd2 and Qc2 seem to go French Defence after 2 d4. On the other hand, together. c5!= Hitting at the centre quickly is at lea st the Trom powsky is avoided ! 2.c4 Black's duty in this line. However no one b4+ 3.d2 a5! This is the choice of GMs seems to have done it in quite this fashion such as Epishin, Gulko and Eingorn and looks before. 6.d5!? The centre: Extended or over- like Black's best bet here, chiefly because Black doesn't have to be afraid of 4 e4 (see extended? Less risky are V a r e il l e - W i n a n t s , Fr a n c e 2 0 0 3 ) . Fe l l o w [ 6.dxc5 xc5 and ] [ 6.gf3 cxd4 7.xd4 but then White's ChessPublishing.com host Chris Ward began centre is much less imposing and in each playing this line full time after Mickey Adams recommended it to him and only eventually case Black has many options. ] 6...f5! I prefer Black already as the centre is changed to the main lines for the sake of creaking! 7.a3 a5 8.b4?! Mikhalevski really some variety. [ 3...e7 4.e4! promises White some kind likes to harass this bishop! cxb4 9.b3 29.c7 also looks promising. ] 27...cxb4 28.dxe7 xe7 29.xa6 xb2 30.a7 f6 31.f1 White's pair of passed pawns now prove to be too much for Black to handle. b3 32.xe7 xe7 33.a7 c5 34.e7! e8 35.c8 xc8 [ No b e t t e r i s 35...xb6 36.d6 xe7 37.xe7 b2 38.e1 etc. ] 36.e8+ xe8 37.xe8+ f7 38.b7 1-0
1809
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 of edge, for example c6 5.f3 f6 6.d3 xd2+ ( or 6...d5 7.e5 e4 8.0-0 xd2 9.bxd2 xd2 10.xd2 , Jelen-B. Kovacevic, Zagreb 1997) 7.bxd2 d6 8.0-0 d7 9.a3 f6 10.d5 e7 11.b4 g6 12.e1 (Kotov-Bronstein, Riga 1958) ] 4.f3 With this move White shows he is happy to transpose int o the Bogo-India n proper after 4...Nf6, albeit one where Black is committed to an early ...a7-a5. However, with the 1.. .e6, 2...Bb4 move order Black has independent possibilities based on the g8knight developing to h6 rather than f6. d6 [ After 4...d5 5.c3 f6 White can play the outwardly surprising 6.g5! , reaching a kind of Queen's Gambit Declined in which Black's extra move (... a7-a5) is less of a help than a hindrance to Black. For example, h6 7.xf6 xf6 8.e3 0-0 9.c2 c5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.a3 xc3+ 12.bxc3 c4 13.b2 when Black would probably prefer to have his a-pawn back on a7, Lobron-Short, Dortmund 1995. ] 5.g3 c6 6.g2 e5! [ 6...f6 7.0-0 e5 transposes to a rare line of the Bogo favoured by the Russian IM Nikolai Vlassov, but by delaying the development of the g8-knight Black can arrange ...e6-e5 a move earlier and an thus can force White to make a decision over the d4-pawn. ] 7.d5 xd2+ Alternatively: [ a) 7...ce7 8.xb4! axb4 9.bd2 f6 10.0-0 0-0 11.e1! (intending to hit the b4pawn with Nd3) c6 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.d3 b8 14.c5! with a nice position for White Black's structure is a bit weak - in PortischKorchnoi, Skelleftea 1989. ] [ b) 7...b8 8.c3 f6 9.c2 0-0 10.0-0 bd7 11.b3 c6 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.e1 b7 14.d3 c7 15.fd1 h6 16.a4 xd2 17.xd2 fd8 with a roughly level position, L.B. Hansen-Gulko, Esbjerg 2000. ] 8.xd2 The usual move, as White's queen's knight is much more active on c3 than on d2. [ However, 8.fxd2!? , clearing the way for the g2-bishop and also for f2-f4, has also been played a few times. For example, b8 9.c3 h6 10.a3 0-0 11.b4 f5 12.c1?! ( S h i r o v s u g g e s t s t h e i m m e d i a t e 12.c5 as an improvement) 12...d7!? and now
13.c5?! axb4 14.axb4 dxc5 15.bxc5 xc5 16.b5 a6 (Shirov) sees White struggling to justify his pawn deficit. ] 8...b8 This is the most logical retreat, as the knight is on a good route, heading for the c5square and thus making good use of the early move ...a7-a5. [ Out of 34 games after 8 Qxd2 on my database, I can find only one with 8...ce7 . Th a t said , th is cert ain ly wa sn 't a b a d advert for the move: 9.e4 ( 9.c5!? ) 9...f5! 10.c3 f6 11.0-0 0-0 12.e1 f4! 13.gxf4 exf4 14.d3 ( 14.xf4 fxd5 ) 14...g6 15.e2 g4 16.f3 e3 17.f2 xc4 18.c1 ce5 0-1 Lacrosse-Barsov, Leuven 2002. ] 9.c3 [ Given the attack on e5, White can also play the immediate 9.c5!? , although in DouvenGelf and, Amsterdam 1989 Black was comfortable enough after f6 10.cxd6 cxd6 11.0-0 a6! 12.a3 c5 . Indeed following 13.fc1?! b6! 14.c4 0-0 15.h4 fe4 16.c2 f5 Black was even slightly better. ] [ Another idea for White is to delay Nc3 so that Black cannot play ...Na6 without leaving the a5-pawn en prise: 9.0-0 h6 10.e1!? ( 10.c3 a6 reaches the main game) 10...0-0 11.d3 d7 12.c3 f5 13.a4 b6! 14.b3 f6 and Black was doing okay in Rychagov-Gavrilov, Moscow 1996. ] 9...a6! This knight is coming to c5, making sense of Black's previous play on the q u e e n s i d e wi t h . . . a 7 - a 5 . 10.0-0 h6 This move, which has already cropped up a few times in the previous notes, is what gives this line an independent flavour. Instead of putting the knight on f6 as in the Bogo-Indian, Black keeps the path open to move his f-pawn up the board. 11.e4 [ One of Chris Ward's games in this line continued 11.e1 c5 12.d3 b6! (so that Black can recapture on c5 with the bpawn, keeping a rock-solid structure) 13.f4 exf4 14.gxf4 f5! 15.f2 0-0 16.b3 d7 17.ab1 h4 (Black has comfortably equalized) 18.a3? a4! 19.b4 b3 20.d3 xf4 and Black went on to win in VokacWard, Barcelona 1993. ] 11...0-0 12.h4?! This doesn't work very well, 1810
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 especially with Black's knight on h6 covering the f5-square. As an improvement, Legky suggests the typical plan of Ne1-d3, perhaps preparing f2-f4. c5 13.ae1 g5!? 14.f3 f6 Black's position is very solid - he has easy equality here. 15.e2 h8 16.e1 g8 17.h1 Legky preferred the immediate 17 Nd3. e8! 18.d3 xd3 19.xd3 h5 20.f3 f5 21.exf5 xf5 22.d2 g6 23.e4 b6 24.f4?? A blunder al lowing a powerful queen sacrifice that finishes the game. After any normal move White is just a tiny bit worse. gxf4 25.gxf4 xg2+! 26.xg2 xe4 27.ff2 xg2! 28.xg2 g8 0-1
1823 Moskalenko,Viktor Rahal,Michael It A Paretana ESP (5) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2471 2397 02.01.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 5.e5!? A rather unusual move that probably deserves more testing. Though it makes the "English" bishop very powerful, it does stake out some useful space on the kingside and its few outings have looked more promising for white than one might first expect. xc3+ [ 5...h4 6.f3 xf3 7.xf3 c6 8.f4 c8 9.g3 e7 10.0-0-0 xc3 11.xc3 b4 12.c2 a5 13.d5 exd5 14.cxd5 b4 15.c4 e7 16.d2 c5 17.a3 a4 18.g2 b5 19.e4 b3 20.axb4 cxb4+ 21.b1 c4 22.e3 xe4 23.xe4 0-0 24.d4 c8 25.c1 xc1+ 26.xc1 g6 27.e3 a4 28.g4 g7 29.e6 fxe6 30.dxe6 dxe6 31.c2 a5 32.d7 b3 33.xb3 e1+ 34.d1 f6 35.g5+ f5 36.c1 d5 37.d2 f1 38.xa7 e5 39.xh7 c4+ 40.c2 f1+ 41.d1 xf2 42.h4 c5+ 43.b1 d4 44.c1 c4+ 45.c2 f1+ 46.d1 b4 47.b7 a6 48.b8 a7 0-1 Murrey,J-Garcia Gonzales, G/Moscow 1982/IZT (48) ] 6.bxc3 d6 7.g4 f8 8.f3 d5 9.a3+ e7 10.g5 h6 11.h5 e8 12.d3 d7 13.xe6+! [ 13.xe6+ fxe6 14.g6 d8 15.f3+ ] 1-0
1824 Moskalenko,Viktor Stefanova,Antoaneta 3rd Open Malaga ESP (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2518 2495 28.02.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 5.e5 Moskalenko used this in a recent event and won a quickie. The move is probably better than it looks (can it really be sensible to satisfy the Bb7 by evacuating the long diagonal?) but ... that might not mean very much. e7 [ 5...xc3+ 6.bxc3 d6 7.g4 f8 8.f3 d5 9.a3+ e7 10.g5 h6 11.h5 e8 12.d3 d7 13.xe6+! 1-0 Moskalenko, VRahal,M/Paretana ESP 2000/[jt] (13) ( 13.xe6+ fxe6 14.g6 d8 15.f3+ )] [ 5...h4 6.f3 xf3 7.xf3 c6 8.f4 c8 9.g3 e7 10.0-0-0 xc3 11.xc3 b4 12.c2 a5 13.d5 exd5 14.cxd5 b4 15.c4 e7 16.d2 c5 17.a3 a4 18.g2 b5 19.e4 b3 20.axb4 cxb4+ 21.b1 c4 22.e3 xe4 23.xe4 0-0 24.d4 c8 25.c1 xc1+ 26.xc1 g6 27.e3 a4 28.g4 g7 29.e6 fxe6 30.dxe6 dxe6 31.c2 a5 32.d7 b3 33.xb3 e1+ 34.d1 f6 35.g5+ f5 36.c1 d5 37.d2 f1 38.xa7 e5 39.xh7 c4+ 40.c2 f1+ 41.d1 xf2 42.h4 c5+ 43.b1 d4 44.c1 c4+ 45.c2 f1+ 46.d1 b4 47.b7 a6 48.b8 a7 0-1 Murrey,J-Garcia Gonzales, G/Moscow 1982/IZT (48) ] 6.f3 d6 7.exd6 An admission of defeat, but black was simply developing and creating central pressure. xd6 8.e2 g6 9.0-0 xc3 [ 9...f4?? 10.xf4 xf4 11.a4+ c6 12.d5+- ] 10.bxc3 f4 11.xf4 xf4 12.e5 0-0 13.g3 f6 14.f4 e7 15.f3 xf3 16.xf3 d7 17.c6 a3! 18.f2 White is not too keen on the idea of ...Qa4 coming, probably after ...Rae8 first. ½-½
1811
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1825 Narciso Dublan,Marc Rombaldoni,Ax Oslo GM Open 2012 (3.2) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2523 2458 30.09.2012
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 xg2?! Not as fashionable these days as it was a generation or two ago. However the standard theory seems to contain many unfathomable variations, which were often developed in the pre-computer era. I've had a close look at these lines and summarized the key variations in the notes to this game. See if you agree with my conclusions! 6.h5+ g6 7.fxg6 g7 8.gxh7+ f8 9.g5 [ The alternative 9.e2 l e a d s a f t e r f6 10.h4 xh1 11.g5 c6 12.d2 by transposition to lines covered below. ] 9...f6 10.h4 c6 [ Capturing on h1 immediately is also possible and may transpose if Black follows up with ...Nc6: 10...xh1 11.e2 A) Or 11...c5 (gives Black a central presence, but is too slow) 12.f4 c6 13.d2 xd4 14.0-0-0 c6 15.h5 Akobian, V-Kiewra, K Wheeling 2010, and Black cannot cope with the pressure.; B) Analyzed in England in the seventies and taken up f or a while by Miles was 11...f3 but it's now known to be dubious: 12.f4 c6 13.d2 g4 B1) 14.g6+ f7 15.e5+ ( better than 15.xh8+ xh8 16.xf6 xf6 17.xg4 xd4 ) 15...xe5 16.dxe5 f5 17.xf5 exf5 18.exf6 xf6 19.h5+ g7 20.h6+ f7 Baginskaite, C-Miles, A Philadelphia 1999, and although White took a draw, she could have won with 21.f3! e8+ 22.f1 g7 23.h4 e4 24.h5+ f8 25.e1 xh7 26.xh7 xf3 27.e3 g4 28.h4 xc4+ 29.g1 (Odessky), and the checks run out; B2) 14.xf6 xf6 15.xg4 xd4 16.f3 xb2 17.d1 with a continuing attack, Lower, S-Marshall, D corr. 1999.; C) 11...e7 12.f4 f7 13.g6+ ( if 13.g6? then xh7! and Black fights back 14.xh7 xh7 15.xh7 xd4 ) 13...e8 14.e5 f8 15.c3 d6
16.0-0-0! ( 16.g6+ e7 17.f7 i s l e s s c l e a r a s a n a l y z e d b y B a u e r) 16...dxe5 ( 16...b7 17.g6+ e7 and now I suggest simply 18.e4! xe4 19.xe4 dxe5 20.dxe5 bd7 21.exf6+ xf6 22.g1 with a winning attack) 17.dxe5 bd7 18.g6+ e7 19.f4 Gerbich-Kazantsev, e-mail 2009, and White is winning. ] 11.e2 xh1 12.d2 b5! [ The weakening 12...d5? is condemned by commentators, but no less a player than Andreikin tried it in a high-level Blitz game: 13.f4 xd4 14.0-0-0? ( simply 14.g6+! f7 15.e5+ e7 16.xd4 should be winning ) 14...f3?? ( 14...e4! ) 15.xf3 xf3 16.xe6+ e7 17.xd8 xd1 18.c6+ d6 19.xf6 1-0 Eljanov, PAndreikin, D Moscow Blitz 2010. ] [ The old 12...e5 is refuted as follows: 12...e5?! 13.0-0-0 e4 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4 xh7 16.f4 f7 17.2c3 in Magerramov, E-Psakhis, L Riga 1980. Nobody has been able to revive Black's fortunes here. ] 13.0-0-0? I think this is simply wrong. [ 13.f4!? This is better than the move played in th e ga me . xd4? ( 13...bxc4 14.xc4 xd4 15.g6+ e8 16.xd4 xh7 17.ge5 h3 is given by Odessky, who thinks that Black is alive, but then 18.g6+ f8 19.0-0-0 b7 20.c5+ g8 21.f7+ h7 22.xe6 doesn't look tenable ) 14.g6+ f7 15.e5+ e8 16.xd4 d6 17.g6+ e7 18.f7 and Black is in trouble e.g. d7 19.xh8 xh8 20.f3 e5 21.h4 g2 22.e4 e6 23.f2 Boor, C-Kraai, J Lindsborg 2004, with an easy win. ] [ Maybe the strongest move was introduced by yours truly thirty years ago (it feels like yesterday): 13.cxb5! b4 14.g6 b7 15.f4 e7 16.h5 f8 17.d5! bxd5 18.e4 Flear, G-Plaskett, H Torquay 1982, and White has strong pressure. Some books have analyzed it to a win, but I only drew the actual game. ] 13...bxc4 14.b1 b4 Originally suggested by Basman. [ 14...d5!? 15.f4 b8 ( possibly 15...b4!? is the key move, see below in the 1812
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 note to Black's fifteenth) 16.g1 Flear, GPlaskett, H England 1982 c3! 17.g6+ e8 ( 17...f7 18.xh8+ xh8 19.bxc3 a5 20.c4 xc4 21.xc4 xc4 22.xf6 xf6 23.h5+ f8 24.c5+ and White wins, Odessky) 18.xh8 xh8 19.bxc3 e7 20.xf6 xf6 21.xf6 xf6 22.c4 Odessky stops here, but after f7! 23.cxd5 exd5 Black is fine. The advanced h-pawn is not going to be a problem. ] 15.f4 [ If 15.xh1 then d3+ 16.xd3 cxd3 17.f4 xh7= (Odessky) . ] 15...d3+? [ Here 15...d5! has been previously rejected because of 16.h5 but Black has a r e s o u r c e . . . xa2+!! deviating the bishop. The f ollowing moves are f orced 17.xa2 xh7 18.xf6 xf6 19.xf6+ xf6 20.xf6 f7 when a typical continuation such as 21.fe4 c3 22.xc3 xa2 23.xa2 xf2 could well be even better for Black! So this resource may make Black's position playable after 13.0-0-0. ] 16.xd3 cxd3 17.g6+ f7 18.e5+ e8 19.xh1 White is now only down the exchange, but the pressure continues. xh7?! Releasing the tension. [ W ha t a bou t 19...d6 as an improvement? 20.g1 ( 20.xd3 d7! (unpinning 'safely' due to the threat of ...Qc6+ forking the rook in the corner) 21.e1 xh7 which looks far f r o m c l e a r) 20...dxe5 21.dxe5 xh7 22.xh7 xh7 23.xd8 xe5 24.h4 b8 25.c4 f4+ ( 25...xh2 26.g7 ) 26.d1 is messy, with White still being favourite. ] 20.xh7 xh7 21.xd8 xd8 22.g1 Material is now equal, but White still has the initiative. The d3-pawn is not likely to survive for long either. f8 23.df3 d6 24.xd3 d7 25.d2 f7 26.e2 Black has finally organized his forces, but will have to play the e n d g a m e w i t h a p a w n d e f i c i t . f5?! A loss of time. [ More resistant is 26...h6! but with 27.b4 White starts to probe on the queenside. ] 27.c1 f7 28.c6 e7 29.f4 f7 30.a6 In order to save the a-pawn, Black is n o w f o r c e d t o w e a k e n h i s s t r u c t u r e . c5 31.dxc5 dxc5 32.b3 e5 Desperately seeking some freedom. 33.d5 d7 34.c3 f6?
A blunder, but otherwise, if the white knight can install itself on e4, then White would be well on the road to converting his advantage. 35.xe5+ e7 36.xd7 xd7 37.xa7+ d6 38.xg7 d5 39.xd5 e5 40.g5+ d4 41.e3 c3 42.xc5+ d4 43.c4+ 1-0
1826 Navara,David Rozmbersky,David CZE-chTJ 0102 (1) [John Emms]
A40 2499 2182 2001
1.c4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 c5 4.d5 xc3+ 5.bxc3 f5 6.e4!? This e-pawn advance is one of W hite's more aggressive tries. He treats the position like a Dutch, and plays a Staunton-type gambit. fxe4 7.f3 exf3?! This capture is probably just too greedy. With W hite's extra space and Black having weakened his kingside, this looks like a very favourable version of the Staunton Gambit. White has a near-perfect score in this line. 8.xf3 d6 [ 8...f6 9.d3 0-0 10.h6 looks horrible for Black. ] 9.d3 g4 Two more examples: [ a) 9...f6 10.0-0 g4 11.c2 ( 11.h6 ) 11...xf3 ( 11...bd7 12.xg6+! ) 12.xf3 d7 ( 12...0-0 13.xg6 ) 13.f4 f8 14.e2 c7 15.e1 bd7 16.xe7 xe7 17.xe7 ae8 18.e6 with advantage White, M.Vokac-G.Pirisi, Dortmund 1989. ] [ b) 9...a5 10.c2 f6 11.0-0 bd7 12.f4 d8 13.g5 c7 14.ae1 e5 15.xe5 dxe5 16.xe5 d7 17.xe7 ae8 18.xf6 1-0 J.Alcala Valiente-D.Bosch Porta, Terrassa 1996. If Black is having to rely on fleeing to c7 with his king, things are not looking rosy! ] 10.0-0 d7 11.f4 xf3 [ 11...gf6 12.c2 again leaves Black with problems over g6, e.g. 0-0 13.h6 ] 12.xf3!? [ 12.xf3 gf6 13.c2 is simple, and nice for White. ] 12...gf6 13.g3 a5 Black's king wants to flee to the queenside, but Navara's next move thwarts this plan. 14.xd6!? exd6 15.ae1+ 1813
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d8? The wrong choice. fxe4 14.dxe6 xe6 15.g5 xc4 16.xd6 [ Black should take his chances with xe2 17.xf6 xf6 18.xd7 c6 19.d4 15...f7! 16.xd6 d8 If 17.g4 e8 af8 20.a4 h6 21.ae1 d3 22.d1 b3 18.e6 Black has the surprising resource 23.d2 8f7 24.xe4 xe4 25.xe4 f3 a5! intending ...Ra6. ] 26.d8+ f8 27.c4+ h7 28.c2+ f5 16.xf6! xf6 17.xd6+ d7 18.e7 c7 29.xf5+ xf5 30.xf8 xf8 31.c1 f5 19.e6 c8 20.d6 d8 21.e4 b8 22.g4 32.c7 a5 33.b7 f6 34.g2 d6 35.b3 [ 22.d5! intending Qe4 followed by Be6 is h5 36.f4 h6 37.b8 g6 38.h3 g5 immediately decisive. ] 39.h8+ g7 40.xh5 gxf4 41.g5+ h6 22...h6 23.h4 a6 24.a4 42.gxf4 d3+ 43.g3 d4 44.e3 b5 [ 24.h5! gxh5 25.f5 ] 45.e6+ g7 46.axb5 b4 47.e3 xf4 24...g8? 48.e7+ f6 49.a7 g5 50.xa5 f3+ [ 24...g8? 25.xd7 xd7 26.xg8+ d8 51.g2 xb3 52.f2 f4 53.h4 b2+ 27.e6+ d7 28.xg6 wins. ] 54.e1 e3 55.d1 d4 56.h5 c5 [ 24...f8 25.g5 hxg5 26.hxg5+57.e1 h2 58.f1 b4 59.a7 xh5 and Black is running out of moves. Overall, 60.b6 h8 61.b7 b8 1/2-1/2 Rivera,Athis is definitely a pawn grab to avoid as Teske,H Havana 1998. ] Black. ] 7...c6!? 8.g5 0-0 9.g2 h6 1-0 [ 9...e7 10.0-0 as in the game, black has problems developing and dealing with white p la yin g e 4 - n o t t e rrib le p ro b l e m s , b u t 1827 A40 e n o u g h t o k e e p w h i t e o n t o p . ( 10.e4? exd5 )] Nemet,Ivan 2427 Miezis,Normunds 2501 10.xf6 xf6 11.dxc6 dxc6 12.0-0 a6 1st Chess Week (8) 12.10.2001 13.e4 f8 [ 13...f8 14.e5 c7 15.e2 ] [Jon Tisdall] 14.xd8 xd8 15.ad1 e8 16.d4 fxe4 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 17.xe4 f7 18.fe1 e5 19.c2 c5 20.d6 xd6 21.xd6 ef8 22.b4 f6 6.f3 [ 22.e2 b3 ] [ 6.g3 e7 7.g2 0-0 8.h3 a5 9.0-0 a6?? 10.d6 1-0 Cebalo,M-Pantaleoni,C 22...xf2 23.e3 b3 24.g4 c2 [ 24...d2 25.xd2 xd2 26.xe5 ] Bratto ITA 2001. An accident worth remembering. It is also worth noting that it 25.xe5 e8 26.d7 [ 26.b5!? ] is more flexible for white to fianchetto the 26...c8 27.d3 bishop first, then commit the Ng1. ] [ 27.xa7 d4 28.a8 e2+ 29.h1 6...d6 7.g3 ( 29.f1!? f8+ 30.f3 ) 29...xe5 [ 7.d4!? e7 8.g3 a6 ( 8...c6!? 9.g2 30.xc8+ h7 black's rooks are so active g6?! 10.g5 0-0 11.0-0 e5? 12.dxc6 that white must take great care, despite his dxc6 13.db5! d8 14.d5 cxd5 15.xf6 other advantages. ] xf6 16.xd5+ g7 17.xb7 c5 18.c2 c6 19.xa8 xa8 20.b4 f8 27...c1 28.xc1 xc1 29.e3 d7 30.f1 21.ad1 h8 22.c5 bxc5 23.bxc5 a6 b3 31.f2 c8 32.xc6 f8+ 33.e1 24.c7 c8 25.d5 e6 26.b6 d4 b7 34.e7+ f7 35.f5 f6 36.d6 27.xd4 xc5 28.c4 xb6 29.xc5 d4 37.d3 [ 37.xb7 c2+ 38.d2 xe3 xc5 30.a4 h5 31.e3 f4 32.c1 a3 39.xe3+- ] 33.c8+ g7 34.c7+ xc7 35.xc7+ 38.b5 d8 39.e4+ xe4 h6 36.exf4 exf4 37.a7 fxg3 38.hxg3 37...c6 h4 39.gxh4 h5 40.xa6 e7 41.a5 40.xe4 c8 41.d3 c5 42.f2 c8 xh4 42.e6 1-0 Rothen,H-Forintos,G 43.g4 g6 44.g3 g5 45.h4 c7 46.hxg5+ E k s jo 1 9 8 1 .) 9.g2 c5 10.0-0 0-0 hxg5 47.f2 e6 48.h3 f4 49.h6+ 11.db5 ce4 12.xd6 cxd6 13.xe4 e5 50.f1 d7 51.h8 d2+ 52.f3 a2 1814
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 53.e8+ d6 54.e3 e6 55.d3+ e5 56.e3+ f6 57.e4 f4 58.d4 a1 59.f3 e6 60.d3 d6 61.f1 e1 62.d3 d1 63.c3 c5 64.f1 e1 65.d3 c1+ 66.d2 a1 67.f1 d4 68.c5 bxc5 69.b6 axb6 70.b5 a2+ 71.c1 c4 72.a4 g2 73.d7 d3+ 0-1
1828 Neverov,Valeriy Georgiev,Kiril 2nd IECC Ohrid MKD (5) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2562 2676 05.06.2001
This game is really a survey of the latest developments in the surprisingly popular 'Modern Hippo', with several other interesting games embedded in the notes. 1.d4 [ 1.e4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.d3 ( 3.c3 e6 4.d3 g6 5.f3 g7 6.g5 e7 7.d2 h6 8.f4 d6 9.0-0-0 d7 10.h4 White rules out the standard position type where Black flicks in g5. a6 11.he1 c6 12.d5 ce5 13.xe5 dxe5 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.e3 e7 Black has a solid position. 16.b1 f6 17.f3 h5 18.g4 f4 19.xf4 exf4 20.e5 0-0-0 21.e2 xh4 22.xa6 xd1+ 23.xd1 d8 24.xb7+ xb7 25.e4+ c8 26.xd8+ xd8 27.xf4 h4 28.a4 e1+ 29.a2 xe5 30.f7 f6 31.e8+ b7 32.a5 xf3 33.a6+ xa6 34.c8+ b7 35.xe6 xc3 36.bxc3 h5 37.gxh5 gxh5 38.e2+ 1/2-1/2 Wang Rui-Yu Shaoteng HeiBei CHN 2001. ) A) 3...g6 4.h4 g7 5.f3 h6 6.c3 d6 7.e2 d7 8.a4 White invests some time making some off-centre pawn thrusts as well. a6 9.bd2 e6 10.c4 gf6 ( 10...e7!? ) 11.0-0 e7 12.e1 0-0 13.e5 g4 14.h5 dxe5 15.hxg6 f5 ( 15...fxg6 leads to sharp play - Black's 13th-15th moves are all unnecessarily pro vo c a tive , h e h a d se vera l se n sib le options at each turn.) 16.cxe5 dxe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.dxe5 h4 19.c4 h8 20.f4 ( 20.xe6!? ) 20...g3 21.xe6 xg2 22.f2 xg6 23.xg2 xe6 24.e3 g8 25.h1 ad8
26.ad1 xd1 27.xd1 xe5 28.d5 xd5+ 29.xd5 g7 30.xf5 e8 31.d4 xd4 32.cxd4 g7 1/2-1/2 Dos Santos,R-Garcia Palermo,C Rosario ARG 2001.; B) 3...e6 4.f3 B1) 4...e7 5.g5 h6 6.h4 d6 7.0-0 d7 8.d5 e5 ( 8...exd5!? ) 9.c4 g5 10.g3 g6?! Premature - guarding f5 is not a bad thing for the time being. ( 10...h5!? ) 11.e1 h5 12.f3 h6 13.c3 f6 14.c2 g4 15.fxg4 xg4 16.f3 f4 17.h3 g5 18.e2 e3+ 19.xe3 xe3 20.xf7+ d8 21.f6+ xf6 22.xf6 g8 23.f2 xg2 24.xg2 h4 25.e1 f4+ 26.h2 xd3 27.xh4 xb2 28.c5 bxc5 29.b1 c4 30.xb7 c8 31.b3 d2 32.e3 b8 33.e1 b2 34.xd2 xd2 35.a3 c4 36.f2 d7 37.ef3 b8 38.f7+ c8 39.f8+ b7 40.xb8+ xb8 41.g3 a2 42.h4 xa3+ 43.f3 a1 44.h5 a5 45.g4 a4 46.h6 a3 47.xa3 1-0 Iordachescu, V-Chernyshov,K Ohrid MKD 2001.; B2) 4...d6 5.c4 d7 6.c3 g6 7.h4 h6 8.e3 g7 9.e2 gf6 10.0-0-0 A very interesting set-up for White. Black plays too od dly f or this to rank as a decent theoretical test of the position. g4 11.d2 h5 12.g5 b8 13.c2 b5 14.xb5 0-0 15.e1 c6 16.xd6 xd6 17.f3 h6 18.d2 h7 19.e5 c7 20.g4 c5 21.gxh5 cxd4 22.hxg6+ fxg6 23.h5 f5 24.hxg6+ xg6 25.h6 xe5 26.g5+ f7 27.xf5 exf5 28.xf5+ f6 29.xd4 c6 30.f4 b7 31.g5 e8 32.e6+ d8 33.xf6+ c8 34.h7 xf6 35.e8+ c7 36.dxd7+ xd7 37.xd7+ 1-0 Gallagher, J-Shchekachev, A Lausanne SUI 2001.; B3) 4...g6 5.g5 c8 6.c4 g7 7.c3 c6 This makes it a bit easier for White to open the game later. ( 7...h6!? ) 8.d5 e5 9.xe5 xe5 10.d2 g7 11.0-0-0 Castling long seems to be in for White against the Hippo. This particular flavour is a bit grim for Black. The early knight exchange has made it harder for Black to keep the position closed and he 1815
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is not well placed to castle or complete development. In any event, the combination of Bg5, c4 and 0-0-0 seems to be a very sensible one. h6 12.h4 e5 13.d6 g5 14.g3 cxd6 15.b5 f8 16.c2 f6 17.xd6+ xd6 18.xd6 h7 19.b1 c5 20.d2 0-0-0 21.h4 d6 22.f3 g7 23.b3 g4 24.f2 c7 25.h5 c6 26.h4 b7 27.he1 f7 28.c5 xh5 29.f2 gxf3 30.cxb6 fxg2 31.a5 a6 32.c4 a8 33.xd6 e7 34.d5 xd5 35.xc6 d8 36.c5 h1 37.g1 h4 38.c1 xe1 39.xe1 xc6 40.exd5+ xd5 41.c3+ b7 42.f3 gd7 43.xg2 f5 44.a3 e4 45.e3 5d6 46.a4 a5 47.g8 d5 48.f4 xb6 49.c8 d1+ 50.a2 7d3 51.c7+ a6 52.c6+ a7 53.c7 1-0 Rublevsky,SChernyshov,K Ohrid MKD 2001. ] 1...e6 [ 1...b6 2.c4 b7 3.c3 f6 4.f3 g6 5.e4 g7 A new move - other Black players have felt the need to play ...d6. 6.e5 g8 In the heydays of the Modern such things were considered staple fare - early advances let Black start the task of chipping away at White's centre and bouncing back to occupy the holes created. 7.f4 d6 8.f3 d7 9.g5?! A wa s t e o f t i m e . dxe5 10.dxe5 h6 11.e3 e6 12.d2 e7 13.0-0-0 d8 14.ge4 ( 14.b5 0-0! ) 14...0-0 15.d3 g4 White's queen is t e r r i b l y m i s p l a c e d . 16.b1 h6! Black makes this hypermodern stuff look gooood. 17.he1 xe3 18.xe3 xe5 19.g3 xd3 20.xd3 xd3 21.xd3 d8 22.e2 g7 23.g4 d4 24.g5 h5 0 -1 Ra m o n , D -S h ira zi, K Fo u rm i e s FR A 2001. ] 2.c4 b6 3.f3 b7 4.a3 g6 5.c3 g7 6.e4 d6 7.d3 e7 8.0-0 d7 9.e1 h6 10.e3 g5 I never thought I would see the day a classical, theoretical animal like Kiril Georgiev would be playing the main line of the Hippo. 11.c1 g6!? A new move. [ 11...a6 12.d5 g6 13.d4 e7 14.b4 ge5 15.f1 c8 16.f3 h5 17.a4 h4 18.h3 f8 19.c5 bxc5 20.bxc5 c6 21.dxe6 fxe6 22.b3 1-0 Ehlvest,J-Baburin,A Istanbul OL 2000. ]
12.b4 [ 12.d5!? ] 12...0-0 No extremist waiting around, Black has set up and now completes development. 13.d2 c5 Black's preferred method of seizing a share of the centre. 14.dxc5 dxc5 15.b3 e7 16.bxc5 xc5 17.xc5 bxc5 This is at least equal for Black - actually his position is slightly preferable due to his grip on relevant dark squares - his pieces are more actively placed as well. 18.a4 ac8 19.b1 a6 20.b3 fd8 21.ed1 d4 22.e2 f6 23.xd4 cxd4 24.b2 e5 25.a4 f4 26.f1 b7 27.f3 a5 28.g3 g6 29.d3 c7 30.b5 a8 31.g2 b8 32.a4 c6 33.c2 e5 34.xe5 xe5 Georgiev has used his fearsome technique to slowly increase his grip on the game. He has now whittled away the minor piece population, leaving the pair with the greatest contrast in powers behind. 35.xb8 xb8 36.f1 d6 37.c5 e5 38.d3 f5 39.e1 fxe4 40.fxe4 [ 40.xe4 d3 ] 40...f8 41.f1 xf1+ 42.xf1 White must defend patiently, but his problems are not major, just annoying passivity. f7 43.e1 e7 44.d2 h5 45.c1 d8 46.b1 c7 47.a2 a4 48.b1 d8 49.a2 e7 50.b1 h4 51.gxh4 gxh4 52.f2 xc5 53.xh4+ d7 54.h7+ d6 55.g7 c3 56.c2 e1+ 57.b2 c3+ 58.b1 c4 59.g3+ d7 60.g7+ c8 61.g8+ b7 62.d8 [ 62.g7+ ] 62...c5! 63.h4 e5 64.f6 xa3 65.xe5 d3 66.b2+?? [ 66.d1 ] 66...xb2+ 67.xb2 a3+ 0-1
1829 Neverov,Valeriy Short,Nigel D 2nd IECC Ohrid MKD (8) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2562 2676 09.06.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 b4+ 5.d2 c6!? A rather rare option that looks to be very playable. 6.e2 1816
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 6.d5 xd2+ 7.xd2 e5 8.c3 h6 9.f4 xd3+ 10.xd3 f5 11.e5 g5 ( 11...d6!?; 11...h4+!?; 11...e7!? ) 12.ge2 e7 ( 12...f7 ) 13.0-0-0 ( 13.b5 ) 13...0-0-0 14.b5 exd5 15.cxd5 c5+ 16.b1 a6 17.d6+ cxd6 18.xa6+ b8 19.c3 c8 20.a3 c5 21.a6 c8 22.a4 a6 23.a3 f7 24.e6 dxe6 25.dxe6 xe6 26.xa6 d5 27.he1 c6 28.e7 d6 29.a7+ c8 30.xd5 1-0 Boden,S- Owen,J London 1858, wh ic h illu s t r a t e s t h a t t h i s d e f e n c e h a s been English since the dawn of time. ] [ 6.f3 xd2+ 7.bxd2 f6 8.e5 f4 9.g3 h6 10.0-0 f5 ( 10...f6!? ) 11.d5 ce7 12.e1 exd5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.c1 c6 15.xf5 ge7 16.e4 f7 17.h4 0-0 18.g5 g6 19.g2 h8 20.e6 d5 21.xd5 xd5 22.xc6 h5 23.b3 f6 24.de4 f5 25.c2 h6 26.e7 xe7 27.e6 1/2-1/2 Nogueiras, J-Velez,N Cienfuegos 1983. - A very messy game, though in the final position Black is better after . ..Bf7. ] 6...f6!? Black gains an important concession with this - W hite must either open the long li gh t -s qu a re d d ia go n a l o r s u r r e n d e r t h e bishop pair to keep his centre strong. 7.xb4 [ 7.d5 xd2+ 8.xd2 e5 is not worrying for Black. ] 7...xb4 8.bc3 xd3+ [ 8...0-0-0 9.b1 ] 9.xd3 a6?! This allows Black to keep his king in the centre a bit longer, but it was certainly worth considering castling queenside at once. It is hard to see how it helps Black's cause to play ...a6 so early if he is going to castle long. 10.0-0 e7 11.f4 Otherwise Black can entertain moving his queen and playing ...f5 himself. g6 12.f5! exf5 13.f4 g5 14.exf5 0-0-0 [ 14...xf5?? 15.xf5 xf5 16.fd5+- ] 15.e4 h6 16.g3 My computers don't agree, but I feel this position must favour White, though Black is not without play. It is just that Black's pieces seem to have restricted prospects and his king position is not totally secure. d5 17.ac1 [ 17.c5!? ] 17...g5 18.f6! gxf4 [ 18...xf6?? 19.xd5 d6 20.e4+- ]
19.fxe7 d7 20.f5 dxc4 21.d2? [ 21.xc4 g6 22.e2 and Black will lose his f4 pawn without compensation. ] 21...g6 22.xf4 b5 It's not pretty, but Black needs to keep the material balance and things in front of his face. The difference between this position and the previous note is clear White has missed a, if not the, boat. 23.b3 [ 23.a4!? ] 23...cxb3 24.axb3 e8 25.c5 d5 26.c2 b7 27.b4 c6 Now the light-squared bishop is an adequate defensive shield. 28.h3 e6 29.c3 d5 30.c2 e6 31.c3 ½-½
1830 Nielsen,Peter Heine Bischoff,Klaus Bundesliga 2001-2 (1) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2593 2541 06.10.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 g6 4.e4 g7 5.f3 e7 6.d3 d6 7.c3 d7 8.0-0 h6 9.e3 b7 10.c1 This type of plan, with white playing to expand with d5 and b4, has been seen before, but usually with the insertion of moves like Re1 and/or h3 (see Baburin-Miles, Ehlvest-Baburin and Neverov-Georgiev in earlier Daring Defences). Naturally, white's plan contains new dangers in accelerated form. g5 [ 10...c5!? ] 11.d5 g6 [ 11...c5!? ] [ 11...c6!? ] 12.d4 e7 13.cb5 c5 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.b1 xd4 [ 15...a6 16.h5 axb5 17.xg6+ f7 18.xf7+ xf7 19.cxb5 ] 16.e5!? or perhaps !! - white wants to guarantee maximum prospects of line-opening. But it seems to me to be simply an interesting sacrifice rather than a definite body blow. 0-0-0?! [ 16...xe5!? 17.xg6+ d8 18.b4 g7!? ( 18...d7 19.c5 looks very dangerous for Black, though perhaps playable since c6 can still be answered by ...Ba6.) 19.c2 looks more promising for white than the straightforward Now mind-boggling 1817
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 complications arise after either ( 19.bxc5 xg6 20.cxd6 e4 21.dxc7+ c8 22.f3 xf3 23.gxf3 a6 ) 19...b3 ( or 19...d7 20.c5 bxc5 21.bxc5 dxc5 22.fd1 d5 looks frightening but could be defensible for black. ) 20.e4!? ( 20.b1!?; 20.cd1!? )] 17.exd6 cxd6 18.xd4 h4 19.f3 hg8 Black's attacking idea is clear. 20.b4 e5 21.f2 xg2!? 22.bxc5 [ 22.xg2!? g4 23.g1 is more defensive, but not necessarily inferior. ] 22...dxc5 23.xa7+ b8 24.a4 e6 25.b5 [ 25.xg2!? ] 25...f4! 26.e4 this seems to snuff out b l a c k ' s a t t a c k . g7? but a mechanical assistant will pose the question: why not [ 26...g4+!! An incredible resource. 27.g3 ( 27.fxg4 e2+ 28.g2 xe4+ 29.h3 f4+ 30.g3 d3+ 31.e3 mates xe3+ ) 27...h3+ 28.h1 ( 28.g2 d2+ ) 28...xe4 and it is white who must take care. ] 27.a7+ c8 28.xb7+ xb7 29.a8+ b8 30.e4 Without his light-squared bishop black can only hope for tricks. d2 31.ce1 b7 32.g3 h3 33.f2 xf2 34.c6+ d8 35.d1+ d7 36.xd7+ xd7 37.xd7+ xd7 38.xf2 d3+ 39.e2 b2 40.xe5 xc4 41.g7 1-0
1831 Nikolic,Predrag Bunzmann,Dimitrij Bundesliga 2000-1 (10) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2652 2500 10.03.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 f5 4.g3 b7 5.d5 b5!? This is more usual with Nc3 + Nf6 inserted. 6.cxb5 f6 7.g2 xd5 8.b3 c8 Preparing ...a6 and recapturing on a6 with the knight, which looks like a nice way of achieving quick activity on the queenside, and exploiting white's early queen sortie. Unfortunately white doesn't suffer very much from this, perhaps because it takes black a bit of time to set it up. [ 8...c6!? ] 9.h3 a6 10.0-0 axb5 11.xb5 d6
[ 11...a6 12.b3 doesn't accomplish anything as the e-pawn is not to be taken. ] [ 11...a6 perhaps more flexible. ] 12.b3 a6 13.d2 0-0 14.c4 e7 15.g5 c5 16.c2 f6= Both sides have chances, and the position is unbalanced and dynamic - there is no reason for black not to repeat this variation. 17.b4 e4 18.xe4 cxe4 19.f4 d5 20.e5 a6 21.fc1 c5!? A bold decision. [ 21...d6!? 22.b2 fb8!? ( 22...fc8!? 23.f3 ec3 )] [ 21...fc8!? ] 22.b2 cxb4 23.axb4 b5 24.xg7 xa1 25.xa1 c8 26.h6 dc3 Black has exposed his king but received a powerful initiative in return. 27.d2 f6 28.xe4 fxe4 29.g2 e3 30.a5 b7+ 31.f3 a8 32.h5 xe2 33.c4 d4 34.xd4 e2 35.g4+ h8 36.d2 f8 37.e4 1-0
1832 Nikolic,Predrag Kengis,Edvins Bundesliga 1999-2000 (11) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2659 2574 20.02.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 g6 4.c3 g7 5.f3 [ 5.e4 e7 6.h4!? An understand able reaction, though Black gets sufficient co u n t e rp la y via t h e cla ssica l r e c ip e o f striking back in the centre. W hite's plan might have more punch if delayed - so that he were slightly more developed and after black had played .. .Bb7. It seems to me the bishop is better placed to react to this flank aggression from c8. d5 7.cxd5 exd5 8.e5 c5 9.b5+ d7 10.g5 xb5 11.xb5 0-0 12.f3 bc6= 13.h5 a6 14.c3 cxd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.xd4 f5 17.d2 e8 18.0-0 d4 19.d5 xe5 20.xb6 a7 21.fe1 e3 22.xe3 dxe3 23.xe3 d4 24.a5 xb2 25.d1 d4 26.a4 a2 27.c3 c4 1/2-1/2 Krasenkow, M-Kengis, E Gausdal 1991 ] 5...e7 6.g3 Not the most ambitious. A survey of alternatives suggests that black's most solid course is to be ready to react to 1818
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 central expansion with a well-timed ...d5. The ambitious continuation is to counterpunch with plans involving ...f5 which are much more double-edged. [ 6.e4 0-0 ( 6...b7 7.h4!? If white wants to play like this then this seems to me to be the most logical time to do it. h6 8.d3 d6 9.e3 d7 10.e2 a6 11.c1 c5 12.d5 e5 13.h5 f6 14.hxg6 fxg6 15.d2 c8 16.f3 h5 17.d1 h6 18.c2 xe3 19.xe3 eg8 20.g5 h6 21.g4 e7 22.e3 h7 23.gxh5 xh5 24.e2 a7 25.f4 g4 26.fxe5 xe5 27.cg1 gf6 28.h4 xe2 29.xe2 g7 30.xh7 xh7 31.xg6 f5 32.h3 d4+ 33.b1 f8 34.g8 f7 35.g2 e8 36.c8+ e7 37.h5 1-0 Milov,V-Miles,A/New York 1997 ) 7.e2 ( 7.d5 d6 8.d3 exd5 9.exd5 c6 10.0-0 cxd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.cxd5 g4 13.h3 xf3 14.xf3 d7 15.d1 a6 16.a4 c5 17.a3 h4 18.c2 fe8 19.g4 ac8 20.g2 a5 21.d3 xd3 22.xd3 h5 23.g3 xg3+ 24.xg3 hxg4 25.hxg4 e4 26.b3 e5 27.f4 d4 28.d3 c2+ 29.f3 f5 30.gxf5 gxf5 31.a3 c5 32.xc5 bxc5 33.g1+ f7 34.g5 f6 35.h5 ee2 36.h6+ e7 37.h7+ e8 38.h6 f2+ 39.g3 g2+ 40.f3 cf2+ 41.e3 h2 42.xh2 xh2 43.f3 f7 44.g3 e2 45.f3 e4 46.d2 b4 47.d3 e7 48.g3 d7 49.f3 e7 50.e3+ d7 51.f3 d4 52.h4 xd5 53.g5 c6 54.g3 1/2-1/2 Jasnikowski,Z-Kengis,E/ Cappelle 1994 (54)) 7...b7 ( 7...d5 8.exd5 exd5 9.g5 c6 10.0-0 e6 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.e1 bc6 13.a6 h6 14.f4 c8 15.a4 xa6 16.xa6 f5 17.e5 fxd4 18.xd4 xe5 19.ad1 h4 20.h3 ae8 21.xd5 g4 22.f1 1/2-1/2 Avshalumov, A-Kengis,E/ Luxembourg 1990 (22)) 8.d5 ( 8.0-0 f5 9.e5 h6 10.e1 g5 11.d5 g6 12.f1 g4 13.d4 xe5 14.dxe6 f6 15.xh6 e8 16.db5 dxe6 17.d2 c6 18.g5 e7 19.xe5 f7 20.ee1 a6 21.ad1 axb5 22.cxb5 ce5 23.xf6+ xf6 24.e3 f7 25.c4 h8 26.g3 d6 27.a2 f3 28.h4 xh4 29.d5+ f7 30.d4 h6 31.d3 exd5 32.xe7+ xe7 33.e3+ d7 34.gxh4 xh4 35.xf3 gxf3 36.f6
g4+ 37.f1 e6 38.d8 xb5 0-1 Hellsten,J-Miles,A/Malmo 1996. A truly remarkable game.) 8...a6 9.d2 f5 10.exf5 xf5 11.0-0 c5 12.dxc6 xc6 13.b4 c7 14.c1 c8 15.g5 e8 16.d2 h6 17.e3 e5 18.fd1 e6 19.b5 xb5 20.cxb5 xc1 21.xc1 e4 22.e1 xe3 23.xe3 f4 24.g4 d5 25.g3 h5 26.gxf4 hxg4 27.xd5 h7 28.g2 e6 29.d2 f7 30.e3 xf4 31.d7 f7 32.xf7 xf7 33.xg4 b3 34.d7 xa3 35.f6+ h6 36.xe4 e5 37.d2+ g7 38.g5 f6 39.g2 b2 40.d8+ f5 41.f3 f6 42.d5+ f4 43.c4+ f5 44.h3 c3 45.f7+ 1-0 Novikov,I-Kengis,E/Koszalin 1998 ] [ 6.e3 b7 7.e2 0-0 8.0-0 d5 9.cxd5 xd5 10.d2 d7 11.c1 c5 12.dxc5 xc5 13.b4 d7 14.xd5 xd5 15.c3 xc3 1/2-1/2 Li Wenliang-Miles,A/Beijing 1996/CBM 55 (15) ] 6...b7 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 d5 9.cxd5 xd5 10.g5 xc3 11.bxc3 c8 Black has a solid position with a slight Gruenfeld feel to it in his ability to create counterplay with ...c5 against white's pawn structure. He also has a grip on e4 reminiscent of the Queen's Indian kind of positions akin to the English Defence. 12.e1 e4 13.d2 d7 14.f4 [ 14.h6 may be more accurate. Provoking the move ...f5 does not appear to have drawbacks for black. ] 14...f5 15.h6 xh6 16.xh6 f6 17.h3 c5 18.g5 cxd4 19.cxd4 d7 20.ad1 [ 20.xe4 xe4 21.e3 fd8 22.ed1 ac8 gives black enough to do on the queenside. ] 20...d5 21.d2 [ 21.f3 is the most likely way to sharpen the game. One potential drawback is the unfortunate configuration of White's minor pieces, and black has at least the solid a lt e rn a t ive b3 22.d2 g7 ( 22...e5 looks far too risky after either 23.e4 or 23. d5 ) 23.xg7+ xg7 24.b2 h6 25.xb3 hxg5 ] 21...e4 [ 21...ac8 looks better - the c-file and the c3 square beckon. ] 22.xe4 fxe4 23.f3 exf3 24.e4 f7 25.f2 c4 26.c1 b5 1819
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 26...e2 27.c6 ae8 28.g4 and black ha s too many weak pawns - to undertake something active he will have to leave something vulnerable. ] 27.g4 f6 28.e3 ad8 29.e5 e7 30.xf3 xf3 31.xf3 d7 32.d1 ½-½
1833 Novikov,Igor A Paschall,William M Rotary Open Lindsborg Kansas USA (7) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2592 2463
Th e E n glish Def e nce is st a rt ing to ge t a following amongst a number of strong players. On the basis of recent games Black seems to be getting a satisfactory game, but... Black should try and play for a fair share of the centre and not be tempted by visions of a kingside attack, especially against the White's kingside fianchetto. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 [ 3.e4 b7 4.f3 ( 4.c3 b4 5.f3 e7 6.d3 0-0 7.ge2 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.e5 c5 10.a3 cxd4 11.axb4 dxc3 12.bxc3 g6 13.xg6 hxg6 14.0-0 d7 15.f4 c8 16.d4 c6 17.e3 e7 18.a3 a5 19.d2 axb4 20.xa8 xa8 21.cxb4 c8 22.b5 c4 23.c1 c7 24.h3 f5 25.xf5 xc1+ 1/2-1/2 Bogdanov,O-Lau,R/ Aschach AUT 2002) 4...g6!? ( Black has several alternatives: 4...h4+!? 5.g3 h5 intending ...f5 is suggested by Miles; 4...f5!?; Blatny recently tried 4...d5; and perhaps the most solid of all is 4...b4+ to exchange a pair of bishops.) 5.c3 g7 6.e3 f5 7.d3 f6 8.h3 0-0 9.0-0 c6 10.e5 e8 11.f4 e7 12.d5 h6 13.dxe6 dxe6 14.e2 c5 15.f3 xd1 16.axd1 xf3 17.xf3 c6 with a slight space edge to White, Onischuk-Kraai, Lindsborg Kansas USA 2002 ] 3...b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 d6 [ The precise move-order is unimportant here. The main idea for White is to develop the knight to h3 from where it can come to d4 e. g. 5...f6 6.g3 a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 9.0-0 e5 10.c2 0-0 11.d1 ( 11.f4 e7 12.d2 is recommended by ECO on the basis of a game I. Sokolov-
Rah man , I sta nbu l o l 2 000 wh ere Blac k played 12...c6 but safe enough seemed the following game... f7 13.ad1 ce4 14.xe4 xe4 15.c1 ae8 16.dxe6 dxe6 0.5-0.5 Franco-Romero Holmes, Mondariz 2002 ) 11...e7 12.e3 A) 12...ab8 13.ac1 ce4 14.xe4 xe4 15.f4 c5 16.dxc6 xc6 was OK for Black in Kasparov-Morozevich, Frankfurt 2000; B) 12...ce4 13.xe4 xe4 14.f4 ae8 15.ac1 g5 ( 15...c5! ) 16.d3 f6 17.a4 a6 18.b3 b8 19.c2 bc8 20.xe4 fxe4 21.b4 a5 22.a2 exd5 23.cxd5 In Prakesh-Reefat, Kelamabakkam 2000 Black played 23...c5 but this proved weakening, but after d6 24.c3 xc3 Black should be OK.; C) 12...c6 13.f4 ( After 13.dxe6 dxe6 14.ac1 a6 15.b4 c5 16.xb7 xb7 17.b5 b8 18.g5 e7 19.f3 bd7 20.g5 c7 21.e4 as in M.GurevichBauer, Clichy 2001 Black created interesting complications starting with f4!? ) 13...cxd5 14.cxd5 ce4 15.xe4 xe4 16.dxe6 dxe6 17.b3 xf4 18.xf4 d5 19.e3 f6 20.f3 c5 21.e5 f7 22.ac1 White has slight pressure but it proves insufficient against fine defence. fc8 23.c3 d7 24.dc1 xc3 25.xc3 xe5 26.xe5 e8 27.h3 h6 28.e4 fxe4 29.fxe4 a2 30.b3 f6 31.xf6 gxf6 32.f2 f7 33.e3 f5!? ( 33...e7 is perhaps safer) 34.exf5 exf5+ 35.f4 e4+! 36.f3 ( 36.xf5? b1 is t o o d a n g e r o u s) 36...f6 37.g4 e5 38.gxf5 h5 39.c7 f4+ 40.e3 ( 40.g3 h4+ 41.g2 xb3 ) 40...h4 41.e7+?! 1/2-1/2 Sh ulm an, Y-K raa i,J/Linds borg K a n s a s U S A 2 0 0 2 ) ( 41.e7+ f6 42.e6+ f7 43.g2 xb3 is even better for Black )] 6.f3 f6 7.g3 0-0 8.g2 a6 9.0-0 c5 10.d4 [ 10.b5 a5 11.xd6 cxd6 12.d4 e7 13.dxe6?! ( 13.b3 exd5!? 14.xf5 e5 15.d4 dxc4 16.f4 h5 is u n c le a r) 13...xg2 14.xg2 dxe6 15.b3 b7+ 16.g1 d5 17.b2 dxc4 18.bxc4 ad8 Black had good play in Kahn-Bagirov, Bad 1820
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Wildbad 1997 ] 16.bxc5 exd3 17.xd3 bxc5 18.cxd5 10...e8 xd5 19.xd5+ xd5 20.b2 c6 [ Simplest is 10...e7 keeping the queen in 21.0-0-0 ad8 22.c2 f4 23.xd8 xd8 the centre. ] 24.g1 de6 25.e5 xg2 26.e1 xf2+ 11.cb5 h5?! This plan seems ineffective. 27.b3 e3 28.g3 e2 29.c3 c4+ 12.xd6 cxd6 13.b5 H i t t i n g d 6 e8 30.a4 d5 31.a5 a6 0-1 Chabanon, J14.c3 c8 15.f3 Now the knight on c5 is Teske,H/Karlsruhe 1991/GER (31) ] denied it's most active square. e5 16.b4 a6 6...h5!? 17.b3 White is positionally winning as the [ 6...e7 7.d3 c5 8.ge2 c6 9.0-0 0-0 Black forces are cut in two. The black minor 10.b3 d6 11.c2 b8 12.h3 e7 pieces are seriously restricted. ac7 18.a4 13.h1 g6 14.b1 cxd4 15.exd4 d8 f4 A desperate attempt for some activity, this 16.e3 c8 17.d2 b8 18.c5 e8 m o v e m a k e s m a t t e r s wo r s e a s W h i t e i s 19.b4 h4 20.f2 h6 21.f4 xf4 handed the e4-square on a plate. 19.e4 a6 1/2-1/2 Piket,J-Adams,M/Linares 1997/CBM 20.b5 a5 21.e3 fxg3 22.hxg3 g6 23.a3 57 (21) ] h6 24.a2 g6 25.af2 a8 26.f4 7.h3 g6 8.e2 g7 9.d3 c6 10.d2 Resignation is not that premature as Black is f4 11.0-0-0 playing without his queenside pieces. [ 11.0-0!? looks sounder. This and white's 1-0 next move beg for trouble. ] 11...0-0 12.exf4 xd4 13.g4 h4!? A youthfully innovative way of handling the 1834 A40 position - a solid approach was: [ 13...b3+!? 14.c2 ( 14.b1 xd2+ Ogaard,Leif 2435 15.xd2 xc3 16.bxc3 f6 Miles,Anthony J 2565 with an absolute structural ruin for white.) Reykjavik 1978 14...c5 15.e3 f6 and black's superior [Jon Tisdall] piece coordination must be worth a clear advantage. ] A good example of black's piece activity and how easy it is f or even a strong sensible 14.gxh5 xh3 15.hxg6 h6 16.e4 d5 player to go to pieces when faced with active 17.cxd5 xd5 18.c3 c5 This also is very offbeat stuff. Worth remembering to highlight difficult for white to play - his structure and the Qh4 possibilities. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.d5 activity are less than ideal and black hides cxd4 h4 4.e3 f6 5.a3 b7 6.f3 h5 7.dxe6 behind the white g-pawn. 19.xd4 fxe6 8.e2 g6 9.h4 h6 10.f3 c6 20.b1 xf4 21.c1 f5 22.a1 f8 11.g3 g5 12.e4 e5 13.g2 g7 14.f4 23.c7 e5 [ 23...xe4!? 24.fxe4 xe4 25.xg7+ gxh4 15.fxe5 g4 16.f4 0-0-0 17.c3 ( 25.d1 xh1 26.xh1 d3-+ ) 25...xg7 c5 18.d2 xe5 19.b4 h3 26.xd4+ e5-+ ] 0-1 24.hc1 xe4 25.fxe4 xe4 26.f1 e1 27.g2 xc1+ [ 27...e3-+ ] 1835 A40 Olsson,Linus 2116 28.xc1 e3 29.c4 d3 30.b1 d2 Hanley,Craig 2294 31.a2 e1 32.g4 f2 33.e4 d1 EuYCh B16 Halkidiki GRE (6) 07.10.2000 0-1 [Jon Tisdall] 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.e3 f6 6.f3 [ 6.f3 e7 7.d3 0-0 8.c2 c5 9.e4 cxd4 10.xd4 c5 11.f3 fxe4 12.xe4 xe4 13.xe4 d5 14.d3 e5 15.b4 e4 1821
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1836 Onischuk,Alexander Short,Nigel D 13th Karpov GM (3) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2672 2698 30.09.2012
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.f3 g6!? Experimental and probably inferior, but the sort of move that co uld conf use a lesse r player. [ The wild 4...f5 is often prescribed, and should be compared to the analogous position with the additional moves N-c3 by W hite and ...Bb4 by Black: 5.exf5 h6 6.fxe6 ( 6.xh6?! gives Black great compensation: h4+ 7.g3 xh6 8.d2 c6 9.e2 b4 10.bc3 xd2+ 11.xd2 a5 12.f4 xf3 Semkov, SBricard, E Sofia 1990) 6...f5 7.e2 d6 8.h4 ( th e ou trageo u s 8.exd7+ xd7 9.bc3 h4+ 10.d2 f4+ 11.c2 xc1 12.xc1 0-0-0 should give Black enough play ) 8...0-0 9.bc3 Ree, H-Miles, A Wijk aan Zee 1979, and now simply dxe6= ] [ A calmer way of getting in ...f5 is 4...b4+ 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 h6 7.c3 f5 e.g. 8.0-0-0 0-0 9.d3 c6 10.ge2 fxe4 ( 10...b4!? 11.b1 fxe4 12.xe4 xe4 13.xe4 d5!? 14.cxd5 xd5 should be a shade better for W hite) 11.xe4 a5 Dlugy, M-Kengis, E Liepaja rapid 2001, which is more or less equal, although White has a nominal space advantage. ] 5.c3 d6 [ Black attacks the centre directly with 5...g7 6.e3 f5 7.d3 f6 but 8.h3! holds the white edif ice together. If on e compares this with a typical analogous position (where White has the same set-up, but the black dark-squared bishop is on b4, rather than g7), Black now lacks effective pressure on the e4-square. 0-0 9.0-0 c6 10.e5 e8 11.f4 e7 12.d5 Onischuk, AKraai, J Lindsborg 2002, and Black was being squeezed short of space. ] 6.d3 [ I wonder if 6.e3 h6!? 7.xh6 h4+ 8.g3 xh6 crossed the players' minds. Trading a pair of minor pieces eases any p r o b l e m s a s s o c i a t e d wi t h h a vi n g l e s s space. ]
6...h4+ Short is well known for going his own way in the opening. So note that tricky offbeat systems are not the exclusive domain of club players. However, when they do go wrong, not everyone has Nigel's defensive technique! 7.g3 f6 8.e3 h6 9.f4! Onischuk avoids the trade, preferring to increase his central bind. e7 10.f3 f5 One understands why g2-g3 was provoked - pressure along the long light-squared diagonal. In many ways this is what the English Defence is all about! 11.0-0! f6 12.exf5 exf5 13.e1 White has more space, and is even ahead in development, but there is no crisis yet for the Englishman. 0-0 14.d5 d7 15.d4 [ Maybe 15.d4! is more unpleasant to face. The fact that a knight is about to invade the e6-square is not good news for Black. Then after a6 16.e6 f7 17.c2 c5 O n i s c h u k c o u l d h a v e p l a y e d 18.xc5 if he wants to promote the power of knights over bishops in this relatively closed middlegame. ] 15...c5 16.xf6 xf6 17.e3 The game remains closed and the e-file is going to be White's. a6 18.e2 c7 19.e1 [ If 19.e7 then d8 followed by ...Bf8, so the rook's stay on e7 will be short-lived. ] 19...f7 20.c2! Aiming to improve his leasteffective piece. af8 21.a4 d8 22.h4 a6 23.e8!? A surprising lunge into the black camp. g7 [ Short decides to avoid simplification, as 23...xe8 24.xe8 xe8 25.xe8+ xe8 26.xe8+ f8 27.e6! d8 28.e7 a8 29.a7 enables the White rook to cause havoc along the seventh. Black is not ready to create counterplay either. ] 24.c6 a8 25.xb7 xb7 26.g5 xg5 27.hxg5 Exchanges can often reduce the problems for a defender, but if his remaining pieces are still passive, then difficulties won't necessary be over yet. Short's next move looks as if he is seeking some sort of activity, but in fact it turns out to be a ruse to stop W hite doing anything positive on the q u e e n s i d e . b5! 28.b3 b8 29.a4 b4! Definitively blocking the wing, shows that Nige l S h o rt d oe sn 't b e lie ve t h a t W h it e 's domination of the e-f ile is that much of a problem. 1822
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ The downside of the 'pseudo-active' 29...bxc4 30.bxc4 b4 is that after 31.b1 it's W hite who can best benefit from the open b-file. ] 30.d1 gf7 31.f2 c8 32.g2 a5 33.d3 d7 34.h3 c8 35.g2 d7 36.h3 c8 37.f2 d7 38.h2 d8 39.h3 c8 40.d3 d8 41.g4 Onischuk waits for the time control before t r y i n g t h i s , h i s o n l y p a w n b r e a k . fxg4+ 42.xg4 h6!? Deciding not to allow White a free hand. The threat is .. .Rxf4+ followed by .. .Qxg5+. A practical decision, but I can't see a breakthrough for White if Black just 'sits on his hands' and waits. 43.gxh6 f6 44.g3 h7 45.g4 [ Passively defending the pawn with 45.h1 allows g5! with complications that may leave White's king short of cover. ] 45...xh6 Risky-looking. 46.h4+?! [ Rybka suggests an amazing manoeuvre: 46.f2! f5 47.e4 ( 47.h3 is also promising) 47...xg4+ 48.xg4 xf4+ 49.g3 and White will regain his pawn with interest e.g. 4f7 ( 49...e8 leads to a family fork after 50.h1+ g7 51.g5 ) 50.xd6 d7 51.e4 and Black is in trouble. ] 46...g7 47.xf6+ xf6 48.e4 [ White still retains winning chances with 48.f2! 6f7 49.e4 d7 50.g5 ] 48...6f7 49.1e3 d8 50.f2 Late is better than never! However here Black is better organized and is able to meet the threats. f8 51.h3 dd7 52.g5 fe7 Just in time! 53.e6+ xe6 54.xe6 xe6 55.xe6 e7! Activating is often the best way to defend in strategically inferior rook endgames. [ Avoiding 55...f7? 56.h4 e7 57.xe7+ xe7 58.g5 f7 59.f5 gxf5 60.xf5 when White has the opposition and wins. ] 56.f6+ [ Nor does 56.xg6 e3+ 57.g4 xb3 58.xd6 c3 59.f5 xc4 look better than a draw. ] 56...g7 57.xd6 e3+ 58.f2 xb3 59.c6 c3 60.xc5 b3 61.xa5 xc4 62.b5 xf4+ 63.e3 xa4 64.xb3 ½-½
1837 Onischuk,Alexander Sokolov,Andrei Viernheim (3) [John Emms]
A40 2575 2585 1995
1.d4 g6 2.c4 g7 3.c3 c5 4.d5 f5 If Black chooses this move-order, delaying ... Bxc3+, he has to be ready to meet 5 Qc2 which prevents the idea. [ 4...xc3+ 5.bxc3 f5 6.e4 is the normal move-order. ] 5.e4 xc3+ 6.bxc3 fxe4 7.f3 f6! This looks much wiser than grabbing on f3. [ For 7...exf3?! see Navara-Rozmbersky, Czechia 2001. ] [ 7...a5 8.c2 f6 9.fxe4 transposes to the main game. ] 8.fxe4 a5 [ 8...xe4?! 9.d3 f6 10.f3 is similar to Navara-Rozmbersky ] [ but 8...d6 is a key alternative. See Liascovich-Tristan, Mar del Plata 2007. ] 9.c2 d6! [ Again Black can take on e4 with 9...xe4 , this time using tactics on c3. But once more 10.d3! f6 ( 10...xc3+?? 11.xc3 xc3 12.b2+- ) 11.f3 is a very promising gambit for White. ] 10.d3 bd7 11.f3 e5 Black wants to occupy the e5-square. He just has to decide whether to do so immediately, as Sokolov does, or play ...Ng4 first. [ 11...g4 12.0-0 de5 13.xe5 ( 13.f4 d7 14.h3 0-0! 15.xe5 xe5= and Black is slightly better coordinated than usual, A. Maksimenko-S.Lorenz, Germany 1998) 13...xe5 14.f4 d7! ( Black should avoid 14...xd3? 15.xd3 d7 16.e5! , G.Marcotulli-A.Hanegby, email 2001; while if 14...0-0 Black's position doesn't hold together after 15.xe5! dxe5 16.xf8+ xf8 17.f1+ g7 18.f2! ) 15.xe5 dxe5 16.ab1 b6 ( 16...0-0-0 17.f7 de8 18.b2 b6 19.bf1 Nisipeanu, Stoica) 17.d2 h6 18.b3 g5 19.e2 T.Ghitescu-O.Foisor, Romania 2003. I prefer W hite's activity to Black's structural edge here. ] 12.0-0 [ 12.xe5 dxe5 13.0-0 h6 14.b1 1823
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 14.d6!? ) 14...c7 15.f2 ( 15.a4 ) 15...d7 16.b2 b6 17.c2 f7 18.a4 ab8 19.a5 g7 20.e3 d6 21.h3 g5! 22.h2 e8! 23.d3 g6 24.c2 hf8 25.axb6 axb6 26.b5 a8 27.fb1 a6 28.1b2 e8 29.d2 xb5 30.xb5 a1 31.f2 h5 32.e3 a2 33.e2 xf2 34.xf2 f4 35.f1 0-1 L. Delorme-A. Skripchenko, France 2009. Black slowly consolidated in this game, improved her position and then assumed control. I suspect there are improvements which would make B la c k ' s lif e m o re d if f icu lt , b u t e ve n s o Onischuk's choice of 12 0-0 looks more flexible. ] 12...xf3+ This accelerates White's development. [ 12...fg4 would transpose to 11...Ng4. Given what happens in the game, this might be Black's best bet. ] [ Ideally Black would like to hold with 12...d7 , but here 13.xe5 dxe5 14.d6 might be annoying. ] 13.xf3 g4 14.f4! Now I can't see a way for Black to fully solve his problems. d7 [ 14...e5 15.xe5 dxe5 16.af1 looks like a more favourable version (for White) of Ghitescu-Foisor, above. ] [ 14...0-0 can be answered the same way as i n t h e g a m e : 15.e5! dxe5 ( 15...xe5 16.xe5 xf3 17.xg6 ) 16.g5! xf3 17.gxf3 f6 18.xg6! ] 15.e5! This is very strong. xe5 [ Or 15...dxe5 16.g5! ] 16.xe5 dxe5 17.e1 c7 18.fe3 d6 19.xe5 f8 20.xe7+! xe7 21.c1 f7 22.d6 xe1+ 23.xe1+ f8 24.e5 g8 25.xc5 e8 26.h3 c6 27.d4 e1+ 28.h2 d1 29.e3 f8 30.c5 e8 31.c4+ g7 32.f2 e4 33.b3 de1 34.f7+ h6 35.d5 1-0
1838 Ostriker Juegel,Marcel ICCF masterclass [Jon Tisdall]
A40
2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c3 b4 5.f3 f5 6.exf5 exf5 7.h3 c6 8.g5 f6 9.e2+ f7 10.0-0-0 xc3 11.bxc3 h6 12.h4 g5N [ 12...e7 13.b2 g5 14.f2 a5 15.e1 f8 16.e5 f4 17.f5 g8 18.d3 a6 19.xf4 gxf4 20.h4 g5 21.xg5 hxg5 22.h4 h6 23.e1 gxh4 24.e2 f8 25.e7+ g8 26.xf6 xf6 27.xd7 g7 28.e8+ f8 29.e7 f7 30.e6 f6 31.e8+ 1-0 Piket, J-Timman,J/Wijk aan Zee 1999/CBM 69/[Stohl] (31) ] 13.f2 f8!? A very interesting attempt to simply win a tempo over the stem game . 14.c2 a5 [ 14...a3+!? looks more to the point - I assume that Piket wanted to prevent this incursion, and black must work quite hard to g e t a c c e s s t o a 3 a g a i n - t h o u g h wh a t happens is also worth exploring. ] 15.b2 [ 15.xf5!? a3+ 16.b1 a6 ] 15...a6 16.xf5 xc4 [ 16...xc4+!? ] 17.f4 [ 17.d5!? xf1 18.d4 c4+ 19.b1 e7 20.hxf1 both kings look terribly exposed with f4 coming, and perpetual check seems a likely result. ] 17...e6 18.c2 g4 19.d5!? xd5 20.g5+ hxg5 21.fxg5 e6 [ 21...e4!? 22.d3!? d5! 23.gxf6 c4+ 24.a1 xd3 ( 24...a3 25.xe4 dxe4 26.d7+ ) 25.xd3 d8 26.g3 ] 22.gxf6 b5!? 23.a1 a3 24.b1 a4 25.xa4 bxa4 26.b5 c4 27.xc4 xc4 28.c5 e6 29.xc7 h5 Black has dangerous compensation thanks to chances a ga i n st t h e wh it e k in g a n d t h e p o we r o f arriving on the second rank with a rook. 30.c4 a3 31.c5 e5 32.h4? A very serious error, passing black's g-pawn. e2 33.xa3 xg2 34.b2 e2 35.g1 g3 36.c5 g2 37.e5 d2 38.h5 g8 39.c1 c2 40.b2 xc4 41.h7+ e6 42.e7+ f5 43.a3 f2 1824
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 44.e5+ f4 45.ee1 d6 46.c1 f7 47.c7 d5 48.f7 b8 49.d1 g3 A game that begs for more theoretical testing, though the line in general does not seem attractive for white. 0-1
1839 Ovsejevitsch,Sergei Bunzmann,Dimitrij 1st Integrata GM (8) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2526 2484 13.01.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 f5 4.c3 f6 5.g3 b7 6.d5 b5 7.f3 bxc4 8.dxe6 dxe6 9.a4+ d7 10.xc4 c6?! A dubious novelty. [ 10...c6 11.g2 d6 12.b4 e7 13.0-0 ed5 14.b2 0-0 15.d4 f7 16.ac1 f4 17.c6 a6 18.e4 xe4 19.xe4 ae8 20.d3 h5 21.d4 f6 1/2-1/2 Mohr,SBischoff,K/Germany 1996/GER-chT (21) ] 11.a2! Not the most natural move, but very logical - in fact white's odd queen outpost is vastly superior to black's. c5 12.g2 0-0 13.0-0 h8 14.f4 bd7 15.ac1 e5 16.d2 d6 17.b4 b6 18.b5 e7 19.g5 xg2 20.xg2 e4 [ 20...c5 21.e6 xe6 22.xe6 fc8 23.d6 c6 24.g5 h6 25.b5! ] 21.xe4 fxe4 22.xc7 ac8 23.e6 d8 24.d5 d4 25.e3 xc1 26.xc1 f6 27.xd4 e8 28.f7 xd5 29.c5 f6 30.e3 a6 31.c7 g8 32.g5 1-0
1840 Parligras,Mircea Savchenko,Boris TCh-TUR 2011 (8) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2626 2630 04.07.2011
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 5.f3 b4 6.0-0 e7 7.c3 xd3 8.xd3 h6!? This could be a novelty. Now that he has castled, White may feel reticent to reply with h2-h4, although this still comes into consideration. [ Playing in the centre didn't solve Black's
problems in the following: 8...d6 9.e3 g6 10.d2 e5 11.fd1 e7 12.f3!? exd4 13.xd4 0-0 14.d5 h4 15.f5 e5 16.c3 Thaler, T-Wohl, A Biel 2005, with an edge to White. ] [ The most common move over the years has been 8...g6 f or example : 9.g5 e7 10.xe7 xe7 11.d5 0-0 12.ad1 c6!? 13.d6 f6 14.c5 e5 Dreev, A-Speelman, J Geneva rapid 1996, and Black was fine. White's advanced pawns don't give Black any space problems here. ] 9.d5 [ After 9.h4 g6 ( 9...g6!? is possible, but may give White something to bite at) 10.h5 h4 11.e1 the precarious nature of the knight doesn't seem to be a problem: f5! 12.e5 g8! 13.g3 g6= as Black saves his piece by tactical means. ] 9...g5! Boris Savchenko doesn't play in the same manner as many a Grandmaster of the same strength. W hite has created a pawn we d g e o n t h e li gh t - squ a re s t o ca lm o n e fianchettoed bishop, so Black aims to concentrate his counterplay on the other c o l o u r c o m p l e x . 10.e3 g7 11.d4 Played before Black has time to organize ... N g 6 ( f o l l o w e d p e r h a p s b y . . . g 4 ) . f6 Opting to avoid the trade to keep his darksquares covered. Now, from White's point of view, he is better organized, but this is only a t e m p o r a ry st a t e o f a f f a irs , s o t h e r e i s a natural urge to 'do something' before Black completes development. 12.e5 f5 13.d6 c8!? [ The move that Black wants to play is 13...g6 but then 14.dxc7 xc7 15.b5 is annoying. ] 14.b5 c5 The structure becomes even weirder. The exchange is on offer, but this isn't the type of position where rooks are necessarily better than minor pieces. 15.c7+ f7 16.c3 b8 17.d2 e7! The knight heads for g6 after all! 18.g4!? [ Parligras decides to force Black to make a decision. He was probably influenced by the fact that after 18.f3 g6 19.ae1 f4 20.e3 h5 Black has no worries. ] 18...f4 Keeping the king safe, but there is no access to f4 now. 19.f3 g6 20.ae1 h5! 21.d5!? The knight is doing very little on c7, 1825
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 especially with the h-file likely to be opened up against his king. [ Instead 21.h3 hxg4 22.hxg4 h4 23.f2 h8 lets Black have all the fun. ] 21...h6! [ It's murky to capture: 21...exd5 22.cxd5 ( 22.f5+? g8 23.xg6 h6 24.f5 d4 ) 22...h6 23.e6+ with more than enough compensation, as Black's pieces are not so well placed if White is powering-through in the centre. ] 22.f2 b5! Finding an opportune moment to open the b-file for the other rook. 23.b3 hxg4 24.fxg4 bxc4 25.bxc4 exd5! Finally the moment has come to grab the piece. 26.cxd5 g8 27.f3 [ After 27.e6 a6 White's queen is unable to do everything at once. ] 27...c4! Open lines for Black's pieces is what is required. 28.xc4?! [ 28.e4 h4 29.d4 keeps some practical chances alive. Black has an extra piece, cert, but has to live with his forces split in two. ] 28...c8 29.b3 b6 Trading queens rather dampens W hite's chances of creating any serious counterplay. 30.xb6 [ Also pretty grim is 30.a3 h3 ] 30...axb6 31.e6 Desperately hoping to get a pawn through (in the time scramble?). xc3 32.c1 e5 33.xc3 xc3 34.xe5 c1+ 35.f1 xf1+ 36.xf1 xd5 37.e7 e6 38.xd7 f7 It's a whole rook for nothing. 0-1
1841 Partos,Charles Czebe,Attila Hilton Open Basel SUI (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2386 2472 02.01.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c3 b4 5.f3 f5 6.exf5 h6 7.fxe6 f5 8.ge2 [ 8.exd7+ xd7 9.f4 h4+ 10.g3 e7+ 11.e2 g5 12.d3 f8 13.d2 0-0-0 14.0-0-0 e5 15.b1 xd4 16.d5 xd5 0-1 Hager,F-Lempert,I/Werfen 1992 (16) ] [ 8.f4 dxe6 ( 8...h4+ 9.g3 e7 10.d2 xe6+ 11.e2 d5 12.0-0-0 0-0 13.a3 d6 14.xd6 cxd6 15.xd5 xd5
16.cxd5 xd5 17.h3 c6 18.c3 a5 19.b1 ac8 20.d3 c4 21.c1 b5 22.f4 xd4 23.xd4 xd4 24.xc4+ bxc4 25.hd1 xf3 26.xd6 fd8 27.xc4 xh2 28.xd8+ xd8 29.c7 f1 30.xa7 d1+ 31.c2 e3+ 32.b3 g5 33.e6 h6 34.a4 d3+ 35.a2 c4 36.g7+ h8 37.c7 a5 38.c5 b3 39.c3 xc3 40.bxc3 a5 41.a3 g8 42.b4 c6+ 43.c5 b8 44.d6 f7 45.c4 f6 46.g4 h5 47.gxh5 g4 48.f4 1-0 Szeberenyi,A-Czebe,A/ Budapest 1997) 9.a4+ c6 10.0-0-0 fxd4 11.h3 ( 11.b5 0-0 12.xc7 e7 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 c5 15.d7 g5+ 16.c2 ac8 17.h3 g6+ 18.d2 e8 19.xg7+ xg7 20.e5+ g8 21.xe8 cxe8 22.d3 d8 23.c3 xf3 24.xh7+ xh7 25.g5+ h6 26.xf3 g8 27.g3 df8 28.f4+ h5 29.e5 d6 30.e1 f5 31.d3 xf4 32.xf4+ g4 33.xe6 h8 34.e2 b5 35.b3 bxc4 36.xc4 c8+ 37.b4 f3 38.d2 a5+ 39.a4 e3 40.e2+ f3 41.d2 e3 42.e2+ f3 43.b2 e3 44.a3 d4 45.d2+ c3 46.d7 c2 47.d5 f3 48.b4 axb4 49.axb4 a8+ 50.b5 b8+ 51.c6 f2 52.b5 xh2 53.b6 h6+ 54.c7 bxb6 55.xb6 g6 56.d5 xg3 1/2-1/2 Sadler,M-Kengis,E/Koge 1997 (56) ) 11...0-0 12.b1 e5 13.e3 a6 14.d2 c8 15.d3 xc3 16.bxc3 xf3 17.f2 e7 18.c2 h6 19.h7+ h8 20.e4 xe4 21.xe4 g5 22.xg5 hxg5 23.hf1 xf2 24.xf2 e8 25.b2 c6 26.f3 g4 27.xg4 e4 28.g3 e5 29.f4 f6 30.h5+ g8 31.d5+ f8 32.xc7 c8 33.d6+ e8 34.xe4+ d7 35.d3 f2+ 36.a3 1-0 Conquest, S-Plaskett,J/Hastings 1987 (36) ] [ 8.g4 Though I seriously doubt people will be flocking to play this, it is not as stupid as it looks, and the guy who played it isn't either. h4+ 9.e2 g3+ 10.hxg3 xh1 11.f2 d6 12.g2 h2 13.ce2 dxe6 14.h3 d7 15.a4 h5 16.gxh5 xh5 17.hf4 f5 18.e3 h6 19.d5 exd5 20.cxd5 0-0-0 21.e6 c5 22.xc5 xc5 23.xh6 xa4 24.h3 gxh6 25.xf5+ b8 26.b3 c5 27.f4 xd5 28.d1 c6 29.e4 c7 30.xd5 cxd5 31.b4 1826
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1-0 Van W ely,L-Groffen,H/NLD-chT 1996 (31) ] 8...dxe6 [ All out gambiteering has scored well: 8...0-0 A) 9.b3?! c5! 10.exd7 xd7 11.d5 e5 12.f4?! ( 12.a3 d3+ 13.d2 f2 14.g1 a5 15.c2 ) 12...h4+ 13.d1 d4 14.a4 xf4! 15.g3 h5 16.xf4 xf3+ 17.d2 xh1 18.d1 xh2+ 19.c1 g6 0-1 Ree,HMorozevich,A/Tilburg 1994/CBM 44/ [ChessBase] (19); B) 9.d3 dxe6 ( 9...h4+ 10.d1 dxe6 11.c2 c6 12.d5 ) 10.a3 c5 11.e4 xd4 12.xc5 bxc5 13.g3 bc6 14.e2 e5 15.c3 xf3 16.gxf3 exf3+ 17.f2 g1+ 18.e1 gxe2 19.xe2 f3 20.d2 h4+ 0-1 Rasmussen,K-Nielsen,P/ DEN 1997 (20) ] 9.a4+ [ 9.f4 0-0 10.d2 h4+ 11.g3 d6 12.xd6 cxd6 13.ce2 c6 14.0-0-0 cxd4 15.xd4 xg3 16.hxg3 xh1 17.xe6 f6 18.f4 h6 19.e1 g5 20.d3 af8 21.c2 h6 22.f2 c8 23.e4 f5 24.b3 xe4 25.xe4 c5 26.e2 d5 27.xd5 b5 28.e7+ h8 29.cxb5 d6 30.a4 c1 31.c4 b1 32.d4 xd4 33.xd4 e1 34.d6 e8 35.c6 h6 36.d4 d1+ 37.b4 d2+ 38.b3 a5 39.f4 0-1 Panno,O-Miles, A/Buenos Aires 1979/MCL (39) ] 9...c6 10.a3 [ 10.d2 0-0 11.0-0-0 fxd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.c2 h4 14.e4 h5 15.xe6+ h8 16.d5 f5 17.d3 d8 18.d5 f7 19.e2 a6 20.xb4 fxd5 21.xd5 xd5 22.xd5 h6 23.c3 c8 24.d2 f5 25.hd1 b5 26.cxb5 xa2 27.d3 a1+ 28.c2 a4+ 29.b1 xb5 30.xf5 xf5+ 31.a1 g8 32.d7 g5 33.xc7 b5 34.d6 f1+ 35.a2 c4+ 36.b1 f1+ 37.a2 c4+ 38.a1 1/2-1/2 Stone, R-Hergott,D/CAN-ch 1995. ] 10...xc3+ 11.bxc3 0-0 Not a terribly pleasant position for white, who suffers from an appalling lack of development. 12.c2 a5 13.f4?! This adds more weight to the potential power of the thematic ...e5. [ 13.g3 c5!? ( 13...h4 14.f2 d6!? )]
13...h4+ 14.f2 e7 15.d3 e5 16.e2 [ 16.dxe5 b3! 17.b1 xe5+ 18.e2 xc1 19.xc1 e3 20.e4 g4! ] 16...e4 17.fxe4 [ 17.xe4 xe4 18.fxe4 xe4 ( 18...d6!? )] 17...xd4! 18.e3 [ 18.xd4 b3 ] 18...db3 [ 18...xe2 19.xe2 ae8 was perhaps simplest. ] 19.a2 c5 20.g3 xd3+ 21.xd3 ad8 e4 and c4 are weak, but most importantly, the white king is never, ever going to be safe. 22.c2 [ 22.e2 a6 ] 22...xc4 23.b3 d5 24.e2 a5 25.b1 c4 26.e3 b3 27.f3 c5-+ The barbarians are inside the gates. 28.xf8+ xf8 29.g5 d3+ 30.d1 f2+ 31.c1 xa3+ 0-1
1842 Peregudov,Nickolai Chernyshov,Konstantin Moscow Open E (4) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2415 2597 01.02.2011
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.f3 b7 4.a3 f5 5.c3 f6 6.d5!? Black has plenty of options with this move order as W hite has already committed his knight to the f3-square. d6 [ Black's other main plan involves 6...e7 when this position will be activated on the f6square. Here's an example from last year: 7.g3 e4 8.d2 f6 9.c1 c6 (hitting the ce n t re be f o re W h it e is we ll o rga n ize d ) 10.dxe6 dxe6 11.g2 c5 12.0-0 0-0 13.c2 xd2 14.xd2 xg2 15.xg2 c6 16.e3 e5 17.f3 xf3 18.xf3 e7 19.g2 ad8 was equal in Almeida Quintana, O-Nogueiras, J Havana 2010. ] 7.g3 0-0 8.g2 a5 [ Although 8...a6!? is playable, this tends to mean that Black has to play a quick . .. Nc5 and then ...a5 (anyway!) in order to stabilize his position on the queen's wing. Nevertheless after 9.0-0 c5 10.d4 a5 11.b3 e8 12.c2 h5 13.e3 Black was 1827
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 fine in Khismatullin, D-Sale, S Abu Dhabi 2007, but soon went astray ... exd5 14.cxd5 f4?! ( 14...ce4! may even be better than equal ) 15.exf4 xd5 16.cb5 f6 17.xd6 xd6 18.b2 and White went on to win but even here Black is probably OK. ] 9.0-0 a6 10.e4?! Premature as Black's pieces are ready to meet such a crude attempt. [ I'm not sure how Black should meet his bishop being attacked from b5, for example 10.b5 e5 11.xd6 cxd6 12.a4 e4 13.h4 f6 14.xe4 fxe4 15.e3 c5 16.c2 g5 17.g2 g6 18.a3 ac8 19.c3 a6 20.b3 with a durable advantage as Black's bishop is locked out of play, Ovsejevitsch, S-De Francesco, K Bad Wiessee 2010. ] [ The following may give a clue: 10.d4 c5 11.cb5 e8!? Why not? 12.f3!? a4 13.e3 exd5 14.cxd5 a5 15.xd6 xd6 16.d2 a8 17.g5 e8 18.f4 e7 Burmakin, V-Chernyshov, K Russian league 1999, with a balanced position. White has his bishops but Black's pieces are well dugin. ] 10...fxe4 11.g5 exd5 12.cxd5 c5 13.gxe4 cxe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4 e8 16.e1 f7 17.e3 ae8 Black has harmonious development and White has to be careful about his king. 18.f3 [ Black is better after 18.g2 e.g. xe3! 19.fxe3 ( 19.xe3?? xf2+ ) 19...xg3! 20.f1 ( 20.hxg3? f2+ 21.h2 f6 ) 20...f2+ 21.h1 a6 ] 18...e5 19.d3? [ The best chance was 19.f4 c5+ 20.g2 h5 21.d6 when at least Black's pawns will be b ro k e n if h e wa n t s t o win o n e : xe4 22.xe4 cxd6 23.d3 with a playable, albeit inferior, position for White. ] 19...xd5 [ The opportunity would be gone following 19...g6? 20.ad1 when White consolidates. ] 20.xh7+ h8 21.f4 [ 21.e4 is well met by xe4 22.fxe4 f3 ] 21...xe1+ 22.xe1 xf4 23.g6 [ A l s o b a d i s 23.gxf4 f o r e x a m p l e c4 24.c2 xf4 25.e4 xf3 26.xc4 d5 ] 23...f6 24.gxf4 xf3! Not the only good
move, but perhaps the most depressing for White. 25.f5 [ Or 25.xf3 xg6+ etc. ] 25...g5+ 26.f2 g4 0-1
1843 Piket,Jeroen Plaskett,Jim zt 1.1 Mondariz ESP (1) [Neil McDonald]
A40 2649 2525 03.09.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 This seems to be White's preferred move order at the moment. He rules out any ideas of an early Bb4 [+]. b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5! White carries out his most natural and strongest plan. f6 6.g3 g6 7.g2 g7 8.h3! This is the best way to develop the knight. It heads for f4 to put more pressure on the black centre and doesn't get in the way of the defence of d5 as occurs after the stereotyped [ 8.f3 ] 8...0-0 9.0-0! Piket saves a tempo by showing that he can live without [ 9.b1 though this also proved good for White after a5 10.0-0 a6 11.c2 exd5 12.cxd5 c5 13.e3 etc. in Figler-Delaune, W orld Open Philadelphia 2000. Perhaps Plaskett had come armed with a new idea in this line. This and other variations are given in the analysis to DD427, Kveinys-Miezis. ] 9...a6?! [ More sound was 9...a5 ] 10.b4! This refutes Black's opening strategy. e4?! This leads to a hopeless position but if Black does nothing active he will just be left with a knight stranded on a6 and a bishop shut in on b7. 11.xe4 fxe4 [ If 11...xa1 12.g5 is horrible. ] 12.b1 exd5 13.cxd5 e7 14.g5 Now Black loses a pawn for no compensation at all. h8 15.xe4 ae8 16.b2 f5 17.d6! Players over 2600 always play winning positions extremely precisely. f8 18.f6! xg2 19.xe8 xb2 20.xg2 1-0
1828
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1/2-1/2 Hansen,C-Short,N/ Cap d`Agde A40 1996 ] 2633 2683 4...f6 [ 4...a6!? ] 27.01.2000 [ 4...g6!? ] 5.g3 b7 6.g2 g6 [ 6...a6 7.h3 d6 8.0-0 0-0 9.b4 e5 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 f5 4.d5 White delays 10.a2 exd5 11.cxd5 e4 looks like a fully the development of the Nb1. As we can see playable plan for black, though his follow-up from the references, black has a wide variety is questionable. 12.d3 c6 13.xe4 fxe4 of interesting plans in this kind of position. 14.xe4 f6 15.d6 e8 16.xe8 axe8 [ 4.c3 f6 17.d1 c5 18.b5 b8 19.g5 xg5 A) 5.d5 c5 ( 5...a6!? 6.b3 g6 7.b2 20.xg5 f5 21.h3 e4 22.c3 c4 g7 8.g3 0-0 9.g2 e4! 10.c1 23.d3 g5 24.f3 g4 25.f4 gxf3 26.exf3 xc3 11.xc3 xc3+ 12.xc3 f6 d4 27.ad2 xf3 28.xd4 cxd4 29.xd4 13.d2 b7 14.f3 a5 15.0-0 a6 a6 30.a4 c5 31.d3 g4 32.e3 f8 16.d4 ae8 17.dxe6 xe6 18.xf6 33.fd5 axb5 34.axb5 e6 35.xb6 f7 fxf6 19.d4 xg2 20.xg2 d6 21.e3 36.f2 h5 37.ba4 c4 38.f3+ g7 f8! 22.h4 e7 23.b1 f8 24.c2 c6! 39.f4 c8 40.e3 g6 41.d2 g7 25.f3 c5 1/2-1/2 Salov,V-Short,N/ 42.d3 g6 43.b6 e8 44.d4 f7 Madrid 1997(32)) 6.g3 0-0 7.g2 b7 45.e4 e6 46.d5 g7 47.e7 8.e3 a5 9.ge2 e8 10.c2 a6 1-0 Anand,V-Sadler,M/Monte Carlo 1998 ] 11.0-0 b8 12.b3 a8 13.b2 h5 14.f4 h6 15.d3 d6 16.b5 e7 7.c3 g7 8.h3 0-0 9.0-0 a5 10.b1 17.ad1 c6 18.dxc6 xc6 19.e5 xg2 a6 11.b4 axb4 12.axb4 c5 [ 12...g4!? to put the N on e5 is interesting 20.xg2 bd8 21.d4 c5 22.xc5 the text move frightens me a bit due to the xc5 23.b4 axb4 24.axb4 ce4 25.f3 chance of being saddled with long term g5 26.d6 h3+ 27.g1 a8 28.a1 weaknesses on the b-file. ] h6 29.g2 h3+ 30.g1 h6 31.d3 h5 32.d4 h6 33.b5 xa1 34.xa1 13.bxc5 xc5 14.e3 a5 15.f4 a6 e8 35.xe8 xe8 36.d1 a8 16.dxe6 xc4 17.exd7 fxd7 18.d5+! 37.xd7 h3+ 38.h1 a2 39.xe6+ xd5 19.cxd5 Threatening to annex the bh7 40.g4 f2+ 41.xf2 h3 42.xf5+ p a w n , s o m e t h i n g t h a t c a n n o t r e a l l y b e g8 1/2-1/2 Makarichev,S-Miles,A/ stopped. e5 20.xb6 xb6 21.xd8 xd8 22.xc5 a4 23.b4 b5 24.d3 Moscow 1990/TD (42); B) 5.g3 c6!? Odd Stonewall Dutch, c3 25.e7 db8 26.xb5 xb5 27.c1 28.g5 e6 I have a feeling black anyone? 6.g2 d5 7.f3 e7 8.g5 f7 0-0 9.0-0 b7 10.c1 h6 11.xf6 xf6 should just fall back, perhaps with [ 28...b7 and prepare to suffer. The king 12.e3 d7 13.cxd5 exd5 14.b4 a6 march makes it trickier for black to stay in 15.e2 g5 16.d3 g7 17.a4 e7 touch with his pawns. ] 18.b3 a5 19.b5 c5 20.d2 f7 21.a2 ab8 22.dxc5 xc5 23.c2 29.f1 b3 30.h4 a3 31.c2 d5 bd8 24.f3 f4 25.gxf4 gxf4 26.xf4 32.d2 c4 33.xc3 xc3 34.g2 d4 e5 36.b2 a7 37.b6 d4 27.xd4 xg2 28.xg2 xd4 35.f4 29.exd4 xd4 30.xf7+ xf7 31.e3 A s t h e t i m e s c r a m b l e c o m e s t o a n e n d xa4 32.d5 d7 33.c6 h7 B l a c k ' s p r o b l e m s r e g a i n i n g d e f e n s i v e 34.xb6 g4+ 35.h1 e5 36.d6 f3 coordination increase. e7 38.c6! e4?! 37.d7 g7 38.b1 a4 39.h3 e4 39.f3 d6?! [ 39...d2 40.e3 is paralysis for black. ] 40.xf7+ xf7 41.a1 b4 42.xa4 xb5 43.f4+ g6 44.c4 e5 40.c5+ Black must lose more material. 45.xe5+ xe5 46.g2 e1 47.f8 1-0 g7 48.a8 g6 49.a5 f6
1844 Piket,Jeroen Short,Nigel D Corus Wijk aan Zee NED (10) [Jon Tisdall]
1829
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 31...d6 32.h2 gxf5 33.gxf5+ h8 34.c4 d7 rather an unlikely move. Quite possibly Re7 was played. 35.e4 [ 35.c3+ mates. ] 35...e5 36.g5 f8 37.e4 c5 38.e6 c2 39.h6? [ 39.xc2 dxc2 40.xf8 c1 41.xd7 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 g6!? Provocation, h5 and black holds on. ] and Short picks his opponent well, Piket being [ 39.xe2 dxe2 40.xc2 e1 a straightforward, aggressive type that might and the threat of ...Rd2+ prevents white overreact a bit. 4.c3 g7 5.e4 e7 6.f4 mischief. ] d5 7.cxd5 exd5 8.e5 c5 With quite nice activity against the White center. The bishop 39...f3+ 40.g1 d1+ 41.f2 xf5 is better placed on c8 than b7, a sign that This multi purpose move completely kills Black has played the opening with maximum Whiteâ []s attack while revving up his own. flexibility. The move ...b6 instead has been 0-1 used to support ...c5, and White's a3 is now fairly irrelevant. 9.f3 bc6 10.e3 0-0 A40 11.e2 f5 12.f2 cxd4 13.xd4 cxd4 1846 14.xd4 e6 15.0-0 f6! Very instructive Polugaevsky,Lev 2620 one would be tempted to try and arrange to Kortschnoj,Viktor 2645 gain the bishop pair before doing this, but in csf Evian (6) 1977 fact there are two other important factors here - [Jon Tisdall] the bishop on d4 is actually hindering white from mounting pressure against the only T h e h i g h p o i n t o f r e s p e c t a b i l i t y f o r t h e target, the d5-pawn, and the knight on f5 is a opening? Another dazzling display of Qh4ism, colossus, and works terrifically well with the with the clear English angle from seconds isolated, but passed, d-pawn. 16.exf6 Keene, one of the grounding fathers of the [ 16.f3 fxe5 17.fxe5 g5 eyes e3, e5 defence, and Stean. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 and prepares to put a rook on the d-line. ] b7 4.c2 h4 5.d2 b4 6.d3 f5 16...xf6 17.xf6 xf6 18.d2 7.gf3 xd2+ 8.f1 h5 9.xd2 f6 [ 18.xd5 f7! threatens destruction on the 10.exf5 xf3 11.gxf3 c6 12.c3 0-0 d-file, and the knight must guard the e3- 13.e1 h3+ 14.e2 ae8 15.d1 e5 square. 19.g4 xd5 20.gxf5 xf5 16.dxe5 xe5 17.e2 xf3 18.d3 xe2 and white's king position gives cause for 19.xe2 g2 20.he1 xe1 21.xe1 xh2 concern. ] 22.e7 g1+ 23.e2 g4+ 24.e1 h5 18...ad8 19.g4 e3 20.xe3 25.g3 xg3 26.fxg3 f7 27.xf6 gxf6 [ 20.xe6+ xe6 21.fe1 d4 22.d1 28.e8+ h7 29.f2 h6 30.b4 g5 fe8 ] 31.a8 xf5 32.xa7 d6 33.a4 e6 34.a5 20...xg4 21.d2 d4 22.e4 c6 23.f2 bxa5 35.xa5 f5 36.c5 h7 37.cxd6 cxd6 f5 24.ac1 d5 25.fe1 fe8 26.h3 d3 38.b5 h4 39.gxh4 xh4 40.a8 b4 41.b8 27.g4 A bold move that allows white to d5 42.f3 b3+ 43.f4 c5 44.c8+ surround the d-pawn. The rest of the game xb5 45.xf5 e3 46.f4 e1 47.d8 does not make a lot of sense, and since the c5 48.c8+ d4 49.f3 d5 50.f2 e5 s c o r e s o f m a n y o f t h e g a m e s f r o m t h e 51.a8 c3 52.a3+ b4 53.a1 d4 E u r o p e a n T e a m c h a m p i o n s h i p w e r e 54.c1 d3 55.c8 d2 56.b8+ c3 misrecorded, I think it is best to assume that 57.c8+ d3 58.d8+ c2 59.c8+ d1 m u c h o f w h a t f o l l o w s i s f i c t i o n , t h o u g h 60.c7 f5+ 61.g2 e2 62.e7+ d3 outrageous time pressure might be to blame. 63.d7+ e3 64.e7+ d4 65.d7+ d5 But I doubt it. e4 28.e3 h1 29.g3 f3 0-1 30.c3 e2 31.f5 [ 31.xd3 looks playable. ] 1845 Piket,Jeroen Short,Nigel D Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (9) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2635 2675 07.12.1999
1830
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1847 Porper,E Short,N 8th Edmonton Int (1.1) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2424 2682 23.06.2013
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c2 c6!? Short opts to diverge from the main theoretical lines. [ T h e m a i n m o v e 4...h4! is critical, for example 5.d2 ( 5.d3 f5 6.d2 f6 7.gf3 g4 8.exf5 xf3 9.gxf3 g2 10.f1 c6 Mikhalevski, V-Roussel Roozmon, T Montreal 2005, and Black was d o in g we l l) 5...f5 6.exf5 c6! 7.gf3 xd4 8.xd4 xd4 9.fxe6 0-0-0 10.c3 g4 11.exd7+ xd7 12.f3 f6 Postny, E-Greenfeld, A Beersheva rapid 2013, with more than enough compensation for the pawn. ] [ The text move varies from 4...b4+ 5.d2 c6 6.f3 f6 7.xb4 xb4 8.d2 c5 9.c3 e7 which was played by the same pair exactly one year ago: Porper, E-Short, N Edmonton 2012, but then 10.d1 d8 11.e2 would have kept White on top. ] 5.d5 Gaining space, but at the cost of weakening his dark-squared control. [ White could also try 5.f3 here: b4+ 6.c3 e7 ( maybe 6...f6!? 7.a3 xc3+ 8.bxc3 e5 with a sort of Sämisch Variation of the Nimzo-Indian) 7.d2 f5 8.exf5 f6?! ( 8...exf5+ 9.e2 f6 is simpler with a reasonable-looking game) 9.0-0-0! 0-0-0 10.d3 Le Quang Long-Bu Vinh, Ho Chi Minh City 2010, when Black lacked compensation for the pawn. ] 5...e5 [ Another way to pursue a dark-squared strategy is with 5...d4 6.d3 c5 7.e3 f6 8.c3 e5 ] 6.e2 c5 7.f3 f6 8.0-0 xf3+ 9.xf3 e7 After the trade of one pair of knights White's extra space has less importance, as Black's pieces all find good squares. 10.e3?! An anti-positional decision. White's damaged structure will haunt him throughout the rest of the game. [ Instead White should settle for routine development with 10.c3 0-0 11.d2 g6 12.ad1= ]
10...xe3 11.fxe3 g5 Side-stepping any tricks down the f-file. Now the main issue is the presence of a ready-made outpost on e5 for Black's knight. 12.f2 g6 13.d2 0-0 14.ac1 c5! Fixing White's pawns on lightsquares, the same colour as the bishops. 15.c3 d6 16.e2 ae8 17.f3 e7 18.g3 exd5 19.exd5 c8 Improving his least effective piece. The bishop redeploys to a more useful square on d7 where it eyes up two important diagonals. 20.d1 a6 21.a4 d7 22.c2 f5 Apart from a possible trick with timely ...f4, this fixes the e3-pawn as a semi-permanent weakness. 23.g5 xg5 24.xg5 e5 25.h3 h6 26.f3 g5 27.d2 [ Otherwise 27.xe5 is rather passive e.g. xe5 28.b3 g7 ( 28...fe8 allows some counter chances with 29.e4 fxe4 30.f6 ) 29.g3 fe8 30.f2 b5! with continuing pressure. ] 27...g7 28.b1 a5 As if to say "No, I don't want White to get any counterplay with b2-b4". 29.f1 h5 30.b3 h6 31.h2 g6 Short angles for a breakthrough. 32.f2 h4 33.f1 g4 Not the only way, but certainly a nuisance for White. 34.g3 As the perception is that the big squeeze (starting with ...g3+) would be asking for trouble. gxh3!? [ Simpler is 34...g5 just keeping the bind in place. ] 35.d1?! [ A better chance is 35.gxh4 e.g. f4 36.xg6 fxe3 37.xf8 xf8 38.xe3 and whichever piece Black decides to capture there would still be chances to put up a fight. ] 35...hxg3+ 36.xg3 f4 Short liquidates to leave himself with a 'big' pawn to the good. 37.exf4 xf4 38.xf4 xf4 39.f3? Hopeless. [ I t h a d t o b e 39.f3! g4 ( 39...g5 40.c2 e1 41.e4+ g4 42.f2 and life goes on) 40.xf4 xd1 41.e4 xb3 42.xd6 g5! with good winning chances for Black, but White is still on the board. ] 39...e1 40.e4 e2 41.d3 f5 [ White resigned in view of the line 41...f5 42.e3 d4! 43.xe1 xf3+ etc. ] 0-1
1831
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1848 Prakash,GB Miezis,Normunds 5th United Insurance (1) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2453 2532 19.02.2001
Nb5 then one needn't fear a capture on d6 black wastes quite a bit of time not getting this right, but on the other hand, provoking f4 does give black a nice outpost on e4. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.h3 a6 [ 6...d6 7.g3 e5 8.d2 a6 9.g2 c5 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 10.0-0 0-0 11.c1 a5 12.f4 a4 13.dxe6 f6 6.g3 b5 7.g2 b4!? A new idea from xg2 14.xg2 dxe6 15.e3 e8 16.xc5 this line's specialist. This does put pressure bxc5 17.d3 xc3 18.xc3 e5 19.c1 f4 on white's centre, though capturing on c4 20.f3 fxg3 21.hxg3 e4 22.f4 c6 looks more natural and led to interesting 23.d5 ae8 24.g5 h8 25.e3 h6 complications in an earlier game: 26.h1 xd5 27.cxd5 exf3+ 28.exf3 b6 [ 7...bxc4 8.h3 a6 9.0-0 c5 10.f4 29.xe8 xb2+ 30.h3 xe8 31.g4 d6 11.dxe6 xg2 12.xg2 xe6 13.a4+ d4+ 32.f4 e4 33.h5 e2+ 34.h4 d7 14.xc4 d5 15.d3 xf4+ 16.xf4 g5+ 0-1 Cramling,P-Speelman,J/ c6 17.b4 d6 18.e3 0-0 19.ac1 e4 Katrineholm 1999/CBM 71 (34) ] 20.b5 xf4 21.bxc6 xc6 22.xe4 fxe4 23.xc6 exd3 24.exf4 fc8 25.d6 d8 7.g3 c5 8.g2 d6 [ 8...a5 9.0-0 d6 10.b5 0-0 11.xd6 26.xd8+ xd8 27.d1 f7 28.xd3 e6 cxd6 12.a4 exd5 13.cxd5 e8 14.f4 29.d4 d6 30.a4 d7 31.f3 e7 ce4 15.e3 g5 16.d3 xd5 17.d4 32.f5 e5 33.g4 c7 34.e3 c3+ e6 18.e1 e8 19.b3 c6 20.e3 h5 35.d2 c7 36.d3 b7 37.f4+ d6 21.ad1 ae8 22.c1 f8 23.xb6 df6 38.d4 c6 39.h4 b1 40.a6+ b5 24.f3 f2 25.xf2 xh2 26.e4 h5 41.xa7 d1+ 42.e3 e1+ 43.d2 g1 27.e2 xe4 28.fxe4 xe4 29.h1 xe2+ 44.xg7 c4 45.f6 d4 46.e2 a1 30.xe2 xg3+ 31.d2 xg2+ 32.c1 47.g5 1-0 Gorbatow,A-Messner,H Bad xh1 33.c7 f3 34.xd6+ g7 Wiessee 1997. ] 35.e5+ h6 36.d6+ h5 37.xf3+ 8.axb4 xb4 9.h3 0-0 10.0-0 a5 11.a2 xf3 38.xd7 h6 39.a7 f4 40.xa5 g3 c5 12.f4 a6 13.c3 e8 14.dxe6 41.b4 g4 42.f6 f5 43.c5 h5 44.c8 Now white can count on a tiny, though not d5 45.d8 c4 46.c8 e6 47.e8 f3 particularly th re ate ning ad van ta ge . xg2 48.d2 f2 49.e2 g3 0-1 Stohl,I15.xg2 dxe6 16.xd8 xd8 17.b5 e8 Chernyshov,K/Pardubice 1997. ] 18.b3 9.b5 e5 10.0-0 0-0 11.f4 d6 12.b4 [ 18.d3!? ] 18...b4 19.b2 c6 20.fd1 xd1 21.xd1 ce4 13.dxe6 dxe6 14.g5 d7?! [ 14...c8! must be the correct move - by cxb5 22.d8 f7 23.xb8 bxc4 24.bxc4 protecting b7 black mobilizes the Ne4 - he c6 25.d3 d6 26.a8 xc4 27.xa5 also protects e6 and prepares to use the cc2 28.a7+ c7 29.a6 c2 30.h3 g5 f ile in case of a ca pture on d6. Bla ck's 31.a7+ c7 32.xc7+ xc7 position looks fully playable then. ] ½-½ 15.b2 ad8 16.c2 g4? [ 16...a8!? ] 1849 A40 17.xe4 e3 18.c3 xg2?! The knight is Prakash,GB 2435 not getting out alive in any event, so he might Reefat,Bin Sattar 2379 as well have taken a bigger piece. 19.g5 h6 Goodricke Open (8) 13.02.2000 20.xd6 cxd6 21.f3 1-0 [Jon Tisdall] Black gets this a bit muddled - experience shows that when you put the bishop on e5 it should be stopping Nb5 - If white plays a fast 1832
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1850 Rachmadi,Herman Tian,Kuan Kuan Doeberl Cup op (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 h8 56.f6 d1 57.g5 e1+ 58.f7 h1 59.g7 xg7 60.xg7 g1+ 61.f7 h1 62.g6 d7 63.c6+ e6 64.c7 g1+ 04.04.1999 65.h6 h1+ 66.g7 g1+ 67.f8 1-0
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 5.d3 f5 6.c2 f6 [ 6...h4 ] 7.f3 c6!?N Black has had discouraging results from this position but this may change that and revive this line. 8.ge2 fxe4 9.fxe4 e5 10.d5 d4 11.d1 [ 11.xd4 exd4 12.a3!? ] 11...0-0 12.0-0 c5 13.h1 g4 14.xd4 xf1+ 15.xf1 xd4 16.d1 h4 17.h3 g3 0-1
1852 Raetsky,Alexander Hindermann,Felix ch Scuol SUI (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2452 2203 14.07.2001
The main game is not of blistering theoretical interest but it does illustrate some useful and common themes while showing an underdog really work a higher rated opponent over. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.a3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.f3 This move order rules out options like: [ 6.g3 b5!? Miezis' favourite procedure in 1851 A40 these variations. ( 6...a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 9.0-0 e5 10.c2 0-0 11.f4 Radjabov,Teimour 2476 e8 12.d2 ce4 13.ad1 xd2 Czebe,Attila 2520 14.xd2 xc3 15.xc3 e5 16.d3 d6 FSGM December (4) 06.12.2000 17.f4 e4 18.b4 c8 19.b3 b5 20.d4 [Jon Tisdall] a5 21.c2 bxc4 22.bxc4 d7 23.e3 c5 24.h3 g6 25.h1 h5 26.b1 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e4 a6 27.b2 h7 28.fb1 g6 29.g1 e7 6.f3 d6 7.d3 d7 8.e3 b7 g7 30.d2 a4 31.b3 c5 9.d2 h6 10.0-0 f5 According to our 1/2-1/2 Milos,G-Lima,D Sao Paulo BRA growing number of games with this position, 2001. ) 7.xb5 exd5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.f3 the "normal" response would be ...g5. The c5 10.g2 a5 11.0-0 0-0 12.g5 c6 choice in the game is not without interest, 13.c3 e4 14.c1 e7 15.xe4 fxe4 though there is a very creepy feeling always 16.d2 d5 17.c2 a7 18.c3 a4 19.e3 about the e6 and g6 pawns. 11.ae1 f6 h6 20.f4 1/2-1/2 Gavrikov,V-Miezis,N 12.exf5 xf3 Tallinn EST 2001. Another successful recent [ 12...xf5!? ] outing for the Miezis variation. ] 13.gxf3 xf5 14.h1 0-0 6...g6 Results favour Black establishing a [ 14...f7!? ] 15.xf5 exf5 16.xh6 d7 17.g1 f7 p r e s e n c e o n t h e l o n g d i a g o n a l b e f o r e 18.g5 ae8 19.xe8 xe8 20.xg6 committing the N to a6. [ 6...a6 7.b4 exd5 ( 7...g6 8.b2 g7 xg6 21.xg6 e1+ 22.g2 h5 23.d2 9.c2 e7 10.d1 0-0 11.g3 ae8 e8 24.g5 f6 25.xf5 c6 26.f4 f7 12.g2 exd5 13.cxd5 e4 14.0-0 d6 27.xd6 g6 28.f4 h6 29.h4 g5 15.d4 f4 16.b3 f7 17.f3 e5 30.h3 c1 31.g3+ f7 32.b4 xa3 18.cb5 f6 19.xd6 cxd6 20.g4 f7 33.e4 a5 34.bxa5 xe4 35.fxe4 xd6 21.a1 c7 22.c1 c8 23.fd1 g7 36.f3+ e6 37.axb6 g8+ 38.f1 c5 24.a4 ff8 25.c2 fe8 26.dc1 a6 39.e5 e7 40.b3 cxd4 41.b7 b8 42.b5 27.xc8 xc8 28.xc8 xc8 29.c3 b7 g5 43.h4 f4 44.e2 xe5 45.h5 c7 30.c4 f7 31.c3 e7 32.b5 xc3 46.d3 d6 47.h6 h8 48.xd4 c6 33.xc3 d8 34.b5 e5 35.g2 h5 49.h7 b8 50.h5 xb7 51.d5 c7 36.h3 hxg4 37.hxg4 g5 38.xa7 c7 52.e6 a7 53.f4 d4 54.f5 d8 55.c5 1833
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 39.b5 xd5 40.a5 bxa5 41.bxa5 e7 42.d4 d8 43.a6 a8 44.a7 b7 45.b5 a8 46.d4 b7 47.g1 a8 48.b3 1-0 Inkiov,V-Bauer, C Besancon 1998. ) 8.cxd5 c5 9.dxc6 dxc6 10.b3 d6 11.e3 e7 12.d4 e5 13.xf5 d7 14.d4 0-0-0 15.e2 c5 16.f3 xc3+ 17.xc3 e4 18.c2 g5 19.b2 he8 20.0-0 f5 21.d4 g6 22.f3 b8 23.bxc5 exc5 24.xg6 hxg6 25.f2 c7 26.ad1 d5 27.e4 a4 28.a1 dc3 29.b5 xd1+ 30.xd1 c5 31.xe8 xe8 32.h3 a6 33.c6+ c7 34.b4 b5 35.f6 f8 36.e3 e6 37.e5+ b7 38.d6 e8 39.d5 a4 40.f6 a5 41.d3 c8 42.d6 c6 43.xc6 xc6 44.e5 e8 45.c4 a6 46.d6 d7 47.f7 b5 48.xg5 c5 49.d8 a4 50.d4 c6 51.e7 b3+ 52.c3 c1 53.f7 e8 54.e5+ b5 55.g5 b3 56.c4 c6 57.d8 c1 58.xb6 e2+ 59.b4 f4 60.g3 d3+ 61.c3 c1 62.d2 b3+ 63.e3 1-0 Vaisser,A-Halkias,S Ohrid MKD 2001. ] 7.g3 g7 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 a6 10.e3 e7 11.d4 c5 12.c1 a5 [ 12...fd8 13.b4 ce4 14.xe4 xe4 15.xg7 xg7 16.d4 c5 17.xg7+ xg7 18.dxe6 dxe6 19.g5 xg5 20.xb7 ab8 21.g2 bc8 22.c2 c7 23.fc1 f6 24.f4 f7 25.f2 d4 26.e3 d3 27.c3 d2+ 28.f1 cd7 29.e4 d1+ 30.xd1 xd1+ 31.f2 d2+ 32.g1 fxe4 33.xe4 d6 34.d3 e5 35.fxe5+ xe5 36.f1 e4 37.bxc5 bxc5 38.b3 a2 39.g4 f4 40.h3 e4 41.g2 d2 42.c3 e5 43.e3+ d4 44.e7 xc4 45.d7+ e5 46.xa7 e3 47.e7+ d4 48.d7+ c3 49.e4 c4 50.xh7 g5 51.g7 d4 52.h7 g2+ 53.h1 g3 54.h2 f1+ 55.h1 xa3 56.g2 e3+ 57.f2 d5 58.xg5 xh3 59.h5 a3 60.g5 a2+ 61.f3 a3+ 1/2-1/2 Kaabi,M-Hamdouchi,H Tunis 1997. ] 13.dxe6 dxe6 14.c2 fd8 15.cd1 fe4 16.e5 a4!? 17.xd8+ xd8 18.xa4 [ 18.xg7 xg7 19.d1 xd1+ 20.xd1 is grovelly but perhaps better. ] 18...xe5 [ 18...xg3!? is a neat tactical trick that exploits the various dangling pieces.
19.hxg3 e4 20.c1 xa4 ( 20...xf3= ) 21.xg7 xg7 ] 19.xe5 d2 20.c1 b3 21.b1? [ 21.e1 d6 22.f3 c2 23.d1 xd1 24.xd1 c6 and Black will regain his pawn but White's active rook and access to e5 give him very rea l cou nte rp lay. Th e game continuation is just horrible for White. ] 21...d6 22.f3 xe2 23.c3 xc3 24.bxc3 xa3 25.d3 xf3 26.xf3 d2 27.e3 d6 28.b1 d3 29.e2 d2 30.d5 xd5 31.cxd5 xb1 32.dxe6 xc3 33.c4 d1+ 34.g2 d5+ 0-1
1853 Rahman,Taibur Rahman,Ziaur 6th United Insurance (12) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2300 2542 19.03.2003
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 An annoying move as White is faced with two threats: the d-pawn and ...Nb4 gaining the bishop. 5.e2 [ 5.d5 meets both threats but is not worrisome Ahundov,R-Bagirov,V Yerevan 1996 continued e5 6.e2 f5 7.exf5 exf5 8.h3 b4+ 9.d2 f6 10.a3 d6 with active play for Black. ] 5...e5!? An interesting try forcing White to commit his centre. This move can be compared with a similar idea in game 2, which was coincidentally played in the same round of the same tournament! [ The standard 5...b4 has been the choice of players such as Ivanchuk, Short and Gulko. ] 6.d5 b4 7.bc3 xd3+ 8.xd3 e7 9.0-0 g6 10.g3 c5 Not only does Black have the bishops but he can now go to a more active square, as Black earned access to c5 as a result of his innovative fifth move. 11.e3 A natural exchange is proposed as otherwise it's hard to live with Black's wellposted bishop. xe3 12.fxe3!? Sharper than th e ro u tin e re ca p t ure wit h t he que e n . d6 13.b4 0-0 14.fc1?! A case of "why this rook?". The other rook looks more natural but White presumably didn't want problems on the 1834
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a-file or a6-f1 diagonal after ... a5. g5 15.a3 h4 16.c5 dxc5! 17.bxc5 ad8 Black's pieces are now fully activated, especially with ...f5 in the air. White's rooks now look even more inappropriately placed. 18.c6!? xc6 19.d1 a8 20.xc7 f5! 21.exf5 xd5 22.b3 h8 23.f2 [ 23.e4 also favours Black after d4 24.f2 xe4 25.fxe4 xe4 ] 23...xf5 24.e4 d4 25.b4 dd8 26.e7 [ 26.xa7?? l o s e s t o b o t h c2 ( and 26...c6 )] 26...xe7 27.xe7 c6 28.c7 c8 29.xc8 xc8 30.c1 Sixteen moves too late! g6 31.g4 b7 Black consolidates the e x t r a p a wn . 32.f2 d8 33.e3 g7 34.e2 h5 35.f2 d7 36.c3 a5 37.d5 [ 37.a4!? is more robust. ] 37...b5! 38.c5 c4+ 39.e2 xa3 40.d3 xd5 41.exd5 f6 42.b4 a5 43.c6 a4 44.d3 f5 45.c3 e4 46.d6 xd6 47.xe5+ f4 48.g3+ g4 49.d4 b1+ 50.d3 d2 0-1
1854 Rausis,Igors Reefat,Bin Sattar 5th United Insurance (9) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2525 2458 28.02.2001
1.c4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.a3 e6 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 9.0-0 e5 10.d2 This move is hardly about to crease this particular variation. [ 10.c2 is the most popular move - black is f i n e a f t e r 0-0 11.e3 ce4 12.xe4 xe4 13.fd1 f6 14.ab1 exd5 15.cxd5 ae8 (1-0, 60) Cramling,P-Gulko,B Pamplona 1996. ] [ 10.b5!? is the most interesting option. 0-0 11.f4 d6 12.xe5 dxe5 13.b4 ce4 14.dxe6 e7 15.c2 a6 16.c3 xe6 17.xe4 fxe4 18.g5 g4 19.h3 a5 20.ad1 h5 21.f3 axb4 22.axb4 a3 23.fxe4 e3 24.c1 b3 25.d2 c8 26.f2 e6 27.c5 bxc5 28.bxc5 fb8 29.f3 e8 30.d3 c4 31.g5 xd3 1/2-1/2 Shneider,A-Lempert,I St Petersburg
1993. ] 10...fe4 11.xe4 xe4 12.b1 0-0 [ 12...exd5!? ] 13.b4 e8 14.f3 d6 15.f4 f6 16.xd6 cxd6 17.e4 c7 18.d3 c5+ 19.f2 ac8 [ 19...a6!? ] 20.b3 [ 20.exf5 exd5 21.xd5+ xd5 22.cxd5 d4 ] 20...fxe4 [ 20...exd5!? ] 21.xe4 exd5 22.cxd5 [ 22.xh7+!? f8 ( 22...h8 23.f5 /\\Qh3 ) 23.cxd5 e3 24.b4 xd5 25.xd5 xd5 26.bd1 ] 22...h6 23.bd1? A serious oversight, as white does not manage any real kingside activity for the pawn. [ 23.b4 ] 23...xa3 24.g4 c5+ 25.f2 c3 26.xf6+ xf6 27.e2 c3 28.h7+ f8 29.xe8+ xe8 30.e1+ d8 31.e4 f7 32.f5 c5 33.g6 xd5 34.xd5 xd5 35.b4 b5 36.e8+ c7 37.e7 xb4 38.xg7 a5 39.e8 c6 40.f5 a4 0-1
1855 Rogozenco,D Blatny,Pavel 34th Olympiad (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2531 2535 31.10.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 f5 4.c3 f6 5.g3 b7 6.d5 a5 7.g2 a6 8.h3 Most popular, though the straightforward development to f3 has its merits. [ 8.f3 A) 8...c5 9.0-0 d6 10.b5 0-0 11.xd6 cxd6 12.d4 fe4 13.b5 a6 14.e3 xb5 15.cxb5 e5 ( 15...a4 ~~/+/= ) 16.b4 c3 17.c2 5a4 18.fe1 f6 19.d2 ( 19.xb6!? ) 19...e4 20.ac1 fc8 21.b3 d4 22.c2 axb4 23.axb4 xd5 24.xd5+ xd5 25.ec1 xc2 26.xc2 a7 ( 26...f7!? ) 27.g4 c7 ( 27...g6 28.gxf5 gxf5 29.h3 f4 30.g2 ) 28.xc7 xc7 29.gxf5 d5 30.f3 xb5 31.fxe4 dxe4 32.xe4 f7 1835
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 33.d3 ac3 34.e3 f6 35.xb6 e5 36.e3 d5 37.g2 d4 38.f3 dxe3 39.xe3 d4+ 40.xd4+ xd4 41.f6 gxf6 42.xh7 e5 43.g4 f5+ 44.xf5 d5 45.g5 xb4 46.h4 d6 47.h5 e7 48.h6 f8 49.e6 c6 50.f6 d8 51.g6 1-0 Serper,G-Hodgson,J Oslo 1994.; B) 8...d6 9.0-0 e7 10.b5 0-0 11.xd6 xd6 12.f4 c5 13.c1 e4 14.d4 e7 15.b5 d6 16.e3 ae8 17.c2 f7 18.dxe6 xe6 19.d4 e7 20.cd1 h5 21.c1 ac5 22.f3 g5 23.xf5 ef7 24.e4 a4 25.e3 c6 26.h1 xf3 27.xf3 xe4 28.g4 g3+ 29.g2 xf5 30.gxh5 xe3+ 31.g1 xf3 32.xa4 xd1 33.xd1 f5 34.h4 xd1 35.xd1 h6 36.b4 f4 37.e1 h8 38.e7 4f7 39.e2 f5 40.e4 8f7 41.e8+ h7 42.g2 (0-1, 57) Gurevich,M-Teske,H Germany 1992. A remarkable game, though the decision to lose the f5 pawn could hardly be correct. ] 8...c8!? A new idea - I must confess, I don't understand it at all. OK, protecting the Bb7 allows for the development of B on e7 (by ruling out tactics with d6 later) but ... I still don't see the point. [ 8...d6 9.0-0 0-0 10.e4 e5!? ( 10...fxe4 11.xe4 c5 12.xd6 cxd6 13.e3 a4 14.xc5 bxc5 15.b3 axb3 16.xb3 b8 17.c2 exd5 18.cxd5 a5 19.g5 c4 20.fc1 bc8 21.e4 xe4 22.xe4 c5 23.e3 fe8 24.xc5 xc5 25.ab1 a8 26.c3 ec8 27.b4 f7 28.f4 xd5 29.xd5+ xd5 30.bxc4 xc4 31.xc4 d2 32.c3 d5 33.f3 a2 34.e3 d4 35.d3 1/2-1/2 Farago,I-Teske, H Graz 1996.) 11.exf5 xc3 12.bxc3 exf5 13.c2 e4 14.xe4 fxe4 15.xe4 c5 16.g4 e7 17.e3 e4 18.xe4 xe4 19.fe1 ae8 20.g5 d6 21.c5 c4 22.c6 dxc6 23.f4 cxd5 24.e6 f7 25.xc7 xe1+ 26.xe1 d7 27.b5 a6 28.c7 g5 29.e8 f7 30.xg5 xa3 31.f6 d6 32.g4 c4 33.e7+ g6 34.f4 c6 35.h6 f6 36.c1 c8 37.e8 e6 38.g4 f7 39.b8 e6 40.g2 e1 41.f4 e4 42.c1 e1 43.f4 d4 44.xf7 xf7 45.c8 b5
46.cxd4 a4 47.d5 a3 48.d6 d1 49.c7+ e8 50.e7+ d8 51.xh7 xd6 52.a7 c4 53.h4 d7 54.a8+ e7 55.h5 b4 56.h6 e6 57.g5 f5 58.f8+ e4 59.g6 a2 60.g7 a1 1-0 Tal,M-Miles,A Niksic 1983. ] 9.0-0 e7 10.e4 fxe4 11.xe4 0-0 12.c3 d8 Another option created by ...Qc8 which I must say escaped me completely, and confuses me about as much. Black grovels to a half point after spending much time in the d e a d zo n e . 13.e1 exd5 14.xd5 c5 15.hf4 a4 16.e3 e6 17.c2 xf4 18.xf4 d6 19.ad1 a5 20.d2 a7 21.c3 xd5 22.cxd5 f5 23.xf5 xf5 24.h3 f8 25.e6+ h8 26.e4 c5 27.dxc6 xc6 28.d5 d7 29.b4 f6 30.xd6 c8 31.b4 b5 32.e1 d8 33.c5 a6 34.b7 e6 35.xe6 xe6 36.xb5 b3 37.a5 xb2 38.a8 xa8 39.xa8 g8 40.f1 f7 41.e2 e6 42.c6 g6 43.d3 f6 44.e4 g7 45.f4 b2 46.h4 d5 47.g4 xe4+ 48.xe4 h5 49.e3 hxg4 50.e4 f6 51.b4 d8 52.c3 e7 53.b2 d8 ½-½
1856 Rogozenco,D Bunzmann,Dimitrij Bundesliga 1999-2000 (7) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2562 2502 08.01.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 e7 More solid alternatives to this move were offered in the last instalment of Daring Defences in the notes to Knaak-Kalinitchev. 6.g3 f6 7.d2 c6 8.g2 cxd5 9.cxd5 [ 9.b5!? as in Wang Lei-Breier elsewhere in this instalment, may be the critical move. ] 9...e7 10.h3 e5 [ 10...xd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.xd5 exd5 13.c3 was the lesser evil, with a very slight advantage for white. ] 11.0-0 d6 [ 11...e4!? ] 12.e4 Now black has a very ugly Indian position, with weaknesses on c6 and e6 and not particularly intelligently placed pieces. 0-0 13.f4 a6 14.exf5 xf5 15.fxe5 xe5 1836
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.g5 d4? 17.h5! h6 18.e4 and n ow simp ly t rad in g qu een s give s Now white crashes through. f6 19.g6! Black the better game: xf3 19.xf3 The most convincing. hxg5 20.h7+ f7 xc4 20.g5 c5 21.f4 d5 ] 21.g6+ e7 22.xf6! d7 7.e2 [ 22...xf6 23.xg5+! xg5 24.e4+ g4 [ Four days later, Chernyshov tried his 25.h5# ] novelty again: 7.gf3 c6 8.e5 f4 23.f5+ Now play varied from Hawkins-Williams (see [ 23.f5+ xf5 24.xf5+ c7 25.b5+ ] the previous note) with 9.b3 f6! 10.exf6 1-0 xf6 11.0-0 0-0 12.d2 h5! 13.fe1 a5 ( 13...a5! may be even better for Black e.g. 14.xa5 xf3 15.xf4 xf4 16.f1 xg2 1857 A40 17.xg2 xg2 18.xg2 bxa5 and the double-rook ending favours the Romanko,M 2402 second player) 14.e3 h6 15.e4 f4 Chernyshov,Konstantin 2552 16.d5 exd5 17.xd5+ h8 18.e4 ad8 Czech GM Open A (3.25) 24.07.2011 19.bd4 xd4 20.xd4 c5 21.d2 xe4 [Glenn Flear] 22.xe4 d5 ( 22...f6 23.e3 d5 with an edge to Black) 23.cxd5 xd5?? 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 b4+ A b l u n d e r . 24.xf4! 1-0 Stefansson, H5.d2 xd2+ Trading a pair of pieces Chernyshov, K Pardubice 2011. ] arguably reduces problems associated with a lack of space. 6.xd2 f6 New at this point. 7...c6 8.f3 So a knight goes to f3 anyway! A dramatic solution. Black threatens the Chernyshov's idea however can be considered g5 as something of a transpositional tool rather disruptive ...g4 as well as giving his queen m o r e r o o m . 9.e5 This advance, despite the than a surprise novelty. [ Black has tried several other moves here, gain of time, is not worrying for Black. [ Otherwise White has tried 9.d5 e.g. e5 for example 6...h6 7.gf3 d6 8.0-0 0-0 10.fd4 e7 11.b5 0-0 12.0-0 7g6 9.b4 a5 10.a3 c6 11.d5 e7 12.c2 13.xc7 ac8 14.b5 a6 15.b3 xb5 g6 13.fe1 Erdos, V-Chernyshov, K 16.cxb5 g4 Gordon, S-Szabo, G Novi Sad Harkany 2009, when a draw was agreed. 2009, and Black had enough play for his W hite h as a sp ace pull, b ut Black isn't pawn. ] particularly inconvenienced by this. ] [ The queen has already been placed on f6 in 9...g7 10.a4 In order to dissuade Black this line, but usually somewhat later: 6...c6 from castling long. In this line it isn't evident, 7.gf3 f6 (this transposes to the next note, for the players of both colours, to decide what and has been played by Simon Williams on to do with their monarchs. g4 11.d2 f6! Underminin g the cent re is of t he highes t at least a couple of occasions) A) 8.d5!? b4 9.e2 ...and now priority. 12.exf6 xf6 13.c5? A strange c a p t u r i n g t h e p a w n i s r i s k y . . . xb2 move that does more harm than good. [ Pushing the c-pawn would make more 10.b1 a3 ( 10...c2+ 11.f1 xa2 s e n s e a f t e r 13.0-0 0-0-0 and only now 12.c1 ) 11.b3 a5? ( 11...a4 14.c5! but with b8 the position would 12.b1 would give White good remain in the balance. ] compensation) 12.a3 and Black was in t r o u b l e i n C a r r o n , J - W i l l i a m s , S 13...bxc5 14.0-0 cxd4 15.xd4 xd4 0-0 Of course! The king is happy L e n z e r h e i d e 2 0 1 0 , b e c a u s e o f a6 16.xd4 enough on the kingside. Black's pawns will 13.a1 f6 14.b5 a4 15.d1; B) 8.e5 f4 9.g3 h6 10.0-0 g5!? perhaps require some defending, but White 11.e4 g4 12.h4 ( 12.d5 b4 13.d4 d o e s n ' t r e a l l y h a v e v e r y m u c h f o r h i s is a plausible alternative) 12...f5! 13.exf6 investment. 17.ac1 d5 18.xg7+ xg7 xf6 14.xf6+ xf6 15.e4 0-0-0 19.e4 c6! Denying White any real targets. 16.xc6 dxc6 17.xg4 xd4 18.f3 The bishop can be redeployed later. 20.fe1 [ 20.c4 is comfortably met by a6 ] Hawkins, J-W illiams, S Hastings 2009, 1837
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20...f6 21.d3 ab8 22.b3 c8! Not very pretty, but effectively defending! 23.c5 f7 Anticipating R-a5, when Black can then safely move the d-pawn. 24.ec1 b6 25.a5 d6! The central phalanx starts to advance. White seems powerless to prevent this for any significant length of time. 26.c2 e5 27.e2 f8 28.c2 e6 Black's forces are gradually activated, whereas W hite is flailing about trying to find something relevant to do. 29.d2 fb7 30.b3 e7 31.a4 d5 32.f1 d6 What superb harmony in the b l a c k c a m p . 33.g3 e4 The expansion continues. 34.a6 c7 35.e2 c5 36.d2 e5 37.a5 d4 38.d1 d5 39.e2 d3! The most convincing way forward. 40.c3 c4 41.xd5 xd5 42.bxc4 xc4 43.f3 Desperate. b1 44.fxe4 xe4 45.f2 e3 46.b3 g3+! [ T i m e t o r e s i g n a s 46...g3+ 47.xg3 ( 47.hxg3 g4# ) 47...f1+ costs White dear. ] 0-1
1858 Rustemov,Alexander Buhmann,Rainer Bundesliga 2000-1 (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2534 2416 09.12.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.f3 b7 4.a3 f5 5.g3 f6 6.g2 e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.d5N and not a terribly inspiring one - it is hard to see how this can be an improved or even interesting version of the similar sacrifice in the Queen's Indian (without the moves a3 and f5). Here, white has no chance of kicking the eventual black Nd5 since e4 is impossible, and ends up having to give up his Bg2 to inflict structural damage. exd5 9.e1 c6 10.cxd5 xd5 11.xd5+ cxd5 12.e3 e8 13.g2 h8 14.c3 c5 15.b5 xe3 16.xe3 e5 17.d4 xd4 18.xd4 c6 19.fd1 e7 20.d2 g6 21.ad1 a6 22.d3 ac8 23.b3 f6 24.f3 g7 25.f2 c5 26.bd3 f8 27.g2 e8 28.h3 c8 29.g4 fxg4 30.hxg4 d6 31.b3 c4 32.f4 cc8 33.d3 c6 34.c1 b7 35.bc3 f8 36.h1 g7 37.cc1 d6 38.xc8 xc8 39.g5 a5 40.e5 a6 41.xd7 f5
42.xb6 e8 43.e3 xd4 44.exd4 e2+ 45.g3 xb2 46.xd5 b5 47.c7 xg5+ 48.f2 c8 49.e1 h5 50.e8 h3 51.d5 g2+ 52.e3 a2 53.e7+ f6 54.d6 xa3+ 55.d4 xf3 56.d5+ g5 57.d7 xd7 58.xd7 h4 59.e4 f8 60.e3 f4+ 61.d3 h3 62.e2 h2 63.d1 h4 64.h1 a4 65.f1 a3 66.xh2 h5 67.f2 a2 68.g2 b4 69.f3+ g4 70.h4+ f5 71.xb4 a1 72.g3 c3 73.f4+ e6 ½-½
1859 Sachdev,T Chernyshov,Konstantin FSGM May Budapest HUN (10.3) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2416 2564 14.05.2011
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 5.e2 [ White generally develops the king's knight in this position. However the only way to maintain the bishop pair is the odd-looking 5.e2!? (however the loss of this tempo shouldn't concern Black) e5! 6.f3 exd4 7.xd4 xd4 ( 7...c5= ) 8.xd4 f6 9.c3 c5 10.e5+ e7 11.xc7 xe4= with a comfortable game for Black. ] 5...b4+ A rare sideline, that doesn't feel to be the logical follow-up to Black's previous move. The knight on c6 isn't really ideally placed, so the natural plan seems to be to exchange it for White's bishop. [ So 5...b4 is then normal, see game 2. Black's plan is to take the bishop pair and then stay flexible on the question of his king's destination e.g. 6.bc3 xd3+ 7.xd3 g6 8.h4 h5 9.g5 e7 10.xe7 xe7 11.0-0-0 d6 12.d5 e5 13.b1 f6 14.f3 d7 Ivanisevic, I-Berg, E Tromsö 2 0 1 0 , wi t h c o m f o r t a b l e p l a y f o r B l a c k despite W hite's space advantage. Black eventually castled long. ] 6.d2 f6!? 7.c2 New. White defends the d-pawn with tactics. [ The main alternative is 7.xb4 e.g. xb4 8.bc3 xd3+ 9.xd3 a6 10.0-0 e7 11.f4 g6 12.f5 (seeking an attack) exf5 13.f4 g5 14.exf5 0-0-0 (castling to the safer side), Neverov, V-Short, N Ohrid 2001, 1838
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and Black rode the storm. It's quite typical that W hite retains a central grip in these lines, but Black doesn't present any easy targets. ] 7...a6 Continuing to press against the centre with his active pieces. 8.a4!? ge7 [ Capturing on c4 seems to be too d a n g e r o u s : 8...xc4 9.xc6 xd2+ 10.xd2! ( or after 10.xd2!? xe2 11.xd7+ xd7 12.xe2 xd4 13.0-0-0 e7 White has compensation for the pawn following 14.f3 ) 10...dxc6 11.c3 b5 12.b3 and Black will regret his greed e.g. xe2 13.xc6+ e7 14.c5+! d7 15.xe2 a6 16.c1 with a clear advantage for White. ] 9.b5 Four moves to make it to this square! b7 Three moves to make it make here. So Sachdev has lost time, but nevertheless is able to keep her centre together. 10.0-0 xd2 11.xd2 0-0 12.bc3 Black now needs to counter White's pawn front quickly. a6 13.a4 a5 14.d3 d5! Ensuring that Black will at least gain access to some squares. 15.cxd5 exd5 16.e5 g6 17.d1 Opting to retain queens and seeking to gain control of the b1-h7 diagonal. [ Trading queens was possible, as a p la u s ib le c o n t i n u a t i o n su ch a s 17.xg6 hxg6 18.c2 g5 19.b3 feels slightly better for White (space, better bishop), especially as c5 can be met by 20.a4! ] 17...c5 18.c2 h6 19.f4 f5! A key decision. This 'ugly but useful' move keeps W hite's kingside initiative in check. 20.d3 ac8 21.g3 [ After 21.b3 ac6 22.a3 Black has d8! heading for the ideal blockading-square on e6. ] 21...c4 22.b3 b2? A big surprise. The knight is condemned, but Chernyshov hopes to ge ne ra te e no ugh act ivit y on t he c-f ile before his valient steed is lost. [ Better is 22...a3!= when White will not be able to keep everything under control, for example 23.d1 c6 24.c1 cxd4 25.xd4 b5! ] 23.d2 cxd4 24.xd4 c6 25.f3 [ Also quite testing is 25.ge2!? e.g. c5 26.xc5 xc5 27.ab1 as there is nothing better than d4 in reply, and then 28.xd4
xc3 29.xb2 doesn't give Black enough for the pawn. ] 25...c5 26.ge2 c7 [ White should also be better after 26...c6 27.xc5 bxc5 28.b1 ] 27.b1 c6 28.f2?! [ Humans would be naturally reticent to open up Black's pieces with 28.xd5+ h8 29.xb2 but Rybka considers White to be effectively winning after the further moves b4 30.d4 xc2 31.xc2 xf3 32.gxf3 as two knights and a pawn are superior to a rook. ] 28...d4! 29.xb2 xe5! Suddenly, Black is fighting back. 30.h3 [ Murky is 30.fxe5 xf3 31.xd4 xe2 32.xe2 fd8 but White shouldn't be worse following 33.c4+ ] 30...g4? [ C o r r e c t i s 30...dxc3 31.xc3 c6 escaping without any serious damage. ] 31.h4 [ The d-pawn is en prise: 31.xd4 h8! 32.d2 cd8 33.d4 d6 34.ce2 and Black has some practical chances for the piece, but objectively not enough. ] 31...f6 32.xf5?? Getting carried away with attacking intentions. [ Simply 32.xd4! c5 33.ce2 d5 34.g3 defends everything and leaves White with an extra piece. ] 32...dxc3 33.xh7+ f7 Black's king is actu ally qu ite saf e h ere . 34.xc3 e7 White's king is now the one most vulnerable! 35.h3 A sign of failure, but White already lacked a decent defence [ e.g. 35.xc8 xc8 36.f1 d7 37.b1 d5 ] 35...xc3 36.xc3 c5+? [ Correct is 36...xh7 37.xh7 ( 37.xe7+ xe7 38.e2+ d6 39.d2+ c7 leaves White with a miserable endgame, but is the best practical chance) 37...e3+ 38.f2 xc3 and now it's Black with an extra piece! ] 37.h2 xc3? [ B e s t i s t h e f o r c e d d ra w wi t h 37...xh7 38.xh7 xc3 39.c2 f6 40.c7+ e8 41.h5+ f7 42.xb7 xf4+ with perpetual check. ] 38.c2 d4 39.f5?? 1839
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ White can win with 39.c7+! e6 40.xb7 19.c2?! Not the most incisive as h8 fails to ( 40...xh7 41.f5+ e5 [ 19.d4 looks more testing as it is 42.e7+ ) 41.f5+ d5 42.xd4+ xd4 surprisingly difficult to protect e6 since b6 is 43.g6 with a winning endgame. ] also soft. f6 looks awkward, but seems to 39...d6 40.e2 e8 The fortieth move is b e f o r c e d : ( 19...d7? 20.a4 c8 completed, and so the players can reflect on 21.xf5; 19...c8?! 20.a4 ) 20.f4 their error-strewn time scramble. White's two should be better for white as black's pieces pawns don't compensate for the piece minus. have lost their coordination. ] 0-1 19...c5 [ 19...e5 was an alternative, but rather c o m m i t t a l - t h e e 6 - p a wn d o e s a g o o d 1860 A40 defensive job, shielding the a2-g8 diagonal and watching d5. ] Sagalchik,Olga 2130 Pixton,Aaron 2432 20.bxc5 xc5 21.b5 c6 22.ed4 d7 ch Seattle USA (8) 12.01.2002 23.xd6? [ 23.f4!? looks the only way to keep up the [Jon Tisdall] pressure, though this must be calculated properly if it is to be more than just a few 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 f5 4.c3 b7 5.d5 temporary jabs followed by losing the e4 e7 6.e3 A very rare line that has had good square. a6 ( 23...de4?! 24.xe4 fxe4 suc ces s f or white in it s f ew out ings, se e 25.c6 xc6 26.xd8 xd8 and black has Ambarcumjan - Pixton from the same event. some compensation.) 24.c6! by cutting off The rationale behind white's setup is that it is control of b5 white creates the threat of better to have the knight on e2 than h3. f6 capturing on d7 and d6 and then putting the 7.ge2 e7 8.g3 0-0 back knight into d4, and this is not so easy [ 8...b5!? looks like an entertaining to meet. ( 24.c6 xc6 25.xc6 c8 alternative. ] 26.g2 d8 27.xd6 xd6 28.b2 9.g2 c8!? I must confess to having a soft xd1+ 29.xd1 a2= ) 24...ce4 25.xd6 spot for this manoeuvre. Black now manages xd6 ( 25...xd6 26.xe4 fxe4 27.xe4 to develop very comfortably and this plan c8 with some compensation thanks to longseems very well suited to meet this e3 line. range domination of the light-squares.) The pressure against c4 fixes white's 26.d3 ( 26.e2!? is also very dangerous queenside pawns and allows black to develop the rook on a6 is loose and the pressure on comfortably on this flank - it also seems a the d-file and b6 is very unpleasant in both very logical way to exploit the absence of cases. )] white's light squared bishop. 10.b1 d6 23...a4 24.d2? 11.b3 a6 [ 24.b3 xd6 ( 24...xb3 25.xf5! d4 ) [ 11...a5!? looks like a sensible alternative, 25.a3 xb3 ( 25...e7 26.c3 to try and reach the game continuation. ] and white's position is unpleasant, but he 12.0-0 c5 13.f3 avoids immediate material loss. The text is [ 13.b4!? ce4 ( 13...a6 14.d3 c5 an admission of blunder and now white can would be possible, but is not as promising only hope to wriggle out with help.) 26.xb3 as in the game.) 14.xe4 xe4 15.f3 d6 xb3 27.xd6= ] 16.dxe6 dxe6 17.c2 looks slightly better 25.6b5 a4 26.f4 e4 for white, who has several ways to creep 24...xd1 27.xe4 fxe4 28.c3 forward. ] [ 28.xe6 xd2 29.xd2 fc8 ] 13...a5 14.b4 a6 15.d3 axb4 16.axb4 c5 Black could also try to just mount pressure 28...f6 29.xa4 [ 29.xe6 xc3! 30.xc3 d1+ 31.g2 on white's queenside with f6 32.d4 d7-+ ] [ 16...e7!? ] 29...xd4 30.c2 c5 31.xc5 bxc5 17.dxc6 dxc6 18.d1 e7?! 32.xe4 d1+ 33.f2 a2+-+ 34.b2 [ 18...f7 should give black no problems. ] 1840
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d2+ 35.f3 xb2 36.xe6+ h8 37.xb2 xb2 38.e7 c8 39.d7 b8 40.d6 b6 41.e5 c6+ 42.e4 e8 43.d5 xd5 44.cxd5 c4 45.e5 c3 46.e3 c8 0-1
1861 Sakaev,Konstantin Bauer,Christian 24th ECC Kallithea GRE (5) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2640 2592 21.10.2008
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 An ambitious try by Bauer. 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.e2 Beliavsky's move where White threatens both Bh5+ and c4-c5. [ If White tries the immediate 7.c5 then after bxc5 8.a3 Black has the resource c4! when his bishop isn't squeezed for space. A typical continuation would then be 9.xc4 a5 10.fxe6 dxe6 11.e2 0-0 12.f4 d6 13.c3 h8 14.e2 e8 15.e5 c6 Pirisi, G-Bunzmann, D French tch. 2005 and Black was fine. ] 7...0-0 [ Black can avoid getting his bishop trapped with 7...exf5!? 8.c5 bxc5 9.a3 a5 10.dxc5 c6 but this gums up his queenside development. In a recent encounter Black managed to provoke complications in which he survived: 11.f3 d5!? 12.cxd6 b6 13.g5 e4 14.xe4 fxe4 15.b3 f6 16.e3 xe3 17.xe3 0-0 18.c3 d7 19.xe4 xb2 Ionov, S-Merzliakov, E St. Petersb urg 20 08, bu t he was f ishing in troubled waters. ] 8.c5 bxc5 9.a3 Now Black's bishop is well and truly locked in by W hite's pawns. a5 10.dxc5 e4 Bauer considers this to be the most accurate in his book (Play 1...b6, Everyman 2005). [ However there are a couple of other moves t h a t s h o u l d b e m e n t i o n e d : 10...c6 saves the bishop but then the queenside development is going to really be a problem. No-one has tried this anti-positional move. ] [ In the initial game Beliavsky, A-Short, N Groningen 1997 Black tried 10...Nd5 which has the point that 11 b4? is not playable.
Here is a brief outline: 10...d5 11.f3 ( S h e r b a k o v a n d S t o h l g i v e 11.b4? as being refuted by f6 12.a2 xf5 13.d3 a6! 14.xa6 xb1 15.b2 e3+! Splat! ) 11...f6 ( the original game continued 11...xf5 12.b4 xb4 13.axb4 xb4 14.b2 a5 15.h4 d5 16.b3 a6 17.c3 xc5 with a mess that was eventually won by White, Beliavsky, A-Short, N Groningen 1997) 12.fxe6 a6 13.c2 ( W h i t e h a s o t h e r o p t i o n s h e r e : 13.c6 as proposed by Odessky and; 13.a4 xc5 14.xa5 b3 15.b5 xa1 16.xb7 given by Sherbakov, who feels that White is objectively better) 13...ae8 14.exd7 xe2! Jelen, I-Beliavsky, A Ljubljana 2002 and Black won after some wild complications. Is 10...Nd5 sound? Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but it generates a fascinating struggle that offers Black decent practical chances. ] 11.f3 [ I wonder what Bauer had up his sleeve to improve on 11.b4 f6 12.a2 d5 13.b2 c6 14.d2 ab8 ( possibly 14...xf5 15.xe4 xe4 16.f3 xb4 17.axb4 xb4 ) 15.xe4 xe4 16.f3 xb4 17.axb4 xb4 18.d3 Van der Stricht, GBunzmann, D Bethune 2003, when White was somewhat better. ] 11...xf5 [ After 11...f6 O d e s s k y g i ve s 12.a4 when Black doesn't have a satisf actory continuation e. g. xc5 13.xa5 b3 14.b5 xa1 15.xb7 etc. ] [ If Black instead punts 11...xc5 then 12.g5 e8 13.b4 e4 14.bxa5 xg5 15.xg5 xf5 16.h4 looks good for White. ] 12.b4 f6 13.a2 d5 14.c2 [ After 14.b2 c6 15.bxa5 xc5 Bla ck la cks m ate rial com pe nsa tion bu t W h it e h a s p ro b le m s t o co -o rdin a t e h is forces. Your computer will prefer White but in practise these positions are f ar f rom clear. ] 14...c6 [ 14...b3 is probably not in Black's interest as after 15.d3 xc2 16.xc2 although he only cedes two pieces for a rook (rather than a piece), White's bishop pair are likely to become very strong. ] 1841
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.b2 g6 16.bd2 xb4 Picking up a 21.f3 f7 22.e4 h8! couple of pawns for the piece and staying [ 22...fxe3 23.xe3 g5 also gives lively. 17.axb4 xb4 18.c1 af8 19.xe4 excellent attacking chances, but here white xe4 has the e4 square and some piece activity. [ T h e c r i t i c a l c o n t i n u a t i o n i s 19...xe4 Black's path in the game means it is far 20.xd7!? d5 21.xc7 d3! more difficult for the Bb7 to ever see daylight, with interesting play for the piece. but the flip side is that W hite is terribly Unfortunately, the players copped out here passive. ] so we c a n 't be su re if B lack re a lly h a s 23.e2 g8 24.h1 fg7 25.g1 g5! e n o u g h , b u t S a k a e v o b v i o u s l y wa s n ' t [ 25...h3!? 26.b1 h4 to bring the confident enough in a team match to take knight into the attack via h5 is very tempting, any risks with White! ] but without being able to bring the Bb7 into ½-½ the f ray, it is no t ob vio us h ow to b rea k white down after he eventually defends with Nf1. Sulskis finds a way to activate both 1862 A40 rooks, and by maintaining cavalry pressure on e4, he keeps more tactical possibilities Sakalauskas,Vaidas 2403 open. ] Sulskis,Sarunas 2499 ch Vilnius LTU (7) 31.03.2000 26.c3 8g6 27.d1? It is very risky to give up influence over d3 and e4... d3!? [Jon Tisdall] [ 27...cxe4!! is pointed out by the friendly Fritz, though he(?) modestly refrains from 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 a d d i n g e x c l a m a t i o n m a r k s . 28.fxe4 f6 6.f3 d6 7.g3 a5 8.g2 a6 9.0-0 ( 28.xe4 h6; 28.xe4 h6 ) 28...xh2+!! 0-0 10.b3 29.xh2 h5+ ( 29...g4+ 30.h1 h5+ [ 10.b5 exd5 11.xd6 cxd6 12.h4 31.h3 xh3+ 32.g2 e3+ 33.f2 e4 13.cxd5 e7 Black's central presence xd1+ 34.xd1 xc3 and Black's extra and target on d5 look to assure him good pawns should be enough arrange the play, but white also has trumps. 14.e3 b5 successful liberation of his bishop. )] Black's bishop is more or less required to b e c o m e a b i t w o r s e . 15.d4 ac5 28.b1 g3?! Black is tempted by the cheap 16.ad1 a4 17.f3 b3 18.d3 ec5 thrill of threatening to sacrifice his queen on 19.xc5 xc5 20.b1 f4 21.h3 g5 h2, and misses a harder blow: [ 28...h6! 22.f5 g6 23.xg6 hxg6 24.xg6+ xg6 A) 29.h3 xg1+ 30.xg1 ( 30.xg1 25.xg6 fxg3 26.xf8 gxh2+ 27.xh2 xh3 31.xb6 g6 32.xb7 h5-+ ) xf8 28.g3 e7 29.h1 g8+ 30.f2 30...xh3 31.xd3 g6+ 32.h1 b4 31.axb4 a6 32.e4 xb4 33.d4 a6 h5-+; 34.xa4 c8 35.h7+ f6 36.a1 c2+ B) 29.f1 xe4!! 30.xd3 xh2+ 37.e3 xb2 38.ah1 g2 39.xd7 c5 31.xh2 g3# ] 40.h6+ 1-0 Rohde,M-Kengis,E/Tilburg 29.d1 g4? One assumes that time 1992/CBM 32 (40) ] 10...c5 11.b2 e5 12.b5 e8 13.b4 pressure has lifted its famously ugly head here ce4 14.xd6 cxd6 15.b5 A very clear - instead of calmly getting the attack back on strategic argument arises - if Black cannot track black sacrifices his able-bodied forces break down c4 or liberate his bishop tactically, and is left with little to show for it. [ 29...h6 30.f1 c5 threatens to take on he is effectively down a piece. On the other e4 and probably to sacrifice on f3 as well. ] hand, this structure leaves white with very little to do, and black can gradually mount a 30.fxg4 xg4 31.f3 xg2 32.xd3 h3 kingside attack. I find it very hard to believe 33.f1 6g3 34.d1 h6 35.ef2 h5 that such an rigid, primitive formation can be 36.e2 xf3 37.xg2 e3 38.f2 xc3 promising for white. c8 16.c1 g5 17.d2 39.fg1 xa3 40.g8+ h7 41.8g7+ h8 c5 18.c2 h5 19.fe1 f4 20.gxf4 gxf4 42.g2 xg2+ 43.7xg2 Execution day for 1842
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the Bb7 has arrived. 1-0
1863 Sammalvuo,T Short,Nigel D 18th European Teams (8.15) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2492 2698 10.11.2011
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 A solid option where Black's plan is to gain the bishop pair. 5.e2 b4 6.bc3 xd3+ 7.xd3 d6 Perhaps Black's most flexible possibility at this point. He will only decide what to do with his kingside minor pieces after White shows his hand. 8.d5 d7 9.d4?! This loses time. [ I mentioned in a previous update that after 9.f4 e7 10.d4 Strunski, A-Polak, T Prievidza 2009, Black should react with c5! e.g. 11.f3 exd5 12.cxd5 g6 13.0-0 g7 when this double-edged Benoni structure should be fine for Black. ] 9...e5 10.de2 So Sammalvuo has invested two tempi in order to provoke ...e5, which is, to be frank, hardly a major concession. With the centre now closed play naturally switches t o t h e f l a n k s . e7 11.g3 h5! Dynamic play. 12.a4 [ Although 12.h4 looks natural enough, W h it e wou ld t h en h a ve to live wit h t h e potential weakness of the h4-pawn. Here are some sample ideas: g6 13.g5 g7 14.a4 ( 14.0-0 f6 15.e3 g4 16.b5 d7!? ) 14...a5 15.b5 ( 15.0-0 f6 16.e3 g4 17.b5 d7 ) 15...f6 16.e3 h6!? 17.xh6 xh6 18.0-0 h8 19.f4 0-0-0= noting that the g4-square can also be a nagging problem for White. ] 12...h4 13.f1 g6 14.a5 Here the Finnish player has made progress, but elsewhere S h o r t h a s m a t t e r s u n d e r c o n t r o l . bxa5 15.xa5 e7 16.f3 c6! Challenging White's space grip and opening up play, at least partially, for the bishop pair. 17.e3?! As White is only vaguely threatening the a7pawn, this move isn't really the most useful one available. Instead, he should have settled for [ 17.e3 when, with 0-0 to follow, he would
have retained equality. ] 17...d8 18.a3 [ White would also hand the initiative to Black after 18.xa7 xa7 19.xa7 a6 ( or here even the more ambitious 19...cxd5 20.cxd5 f4 )] 18...cxd5 19.cxd5 a5! Aiming to place the light-squared bishop on a6. As there is not much White can do about this, he is likely to play the rest of the game with his king in the centre. 20.d2 a6 21.g4 A desperate strike into thin air. b8 22.a2 b4 23.b3 0-0 As if to emphasize that Black's king is nice a n d c o m f o r t a b l e , t h a n k yo u ve r y m u c h , whereas W hite's... 24.a4 b5 25.c3 b7 26.e2 h3! White is helpless after this fine move which prevents castling. Indeed, Short's handling of his rook's pawns has been instructive throughout the game. [ After a slower continuation such as 26...e7? (or similarly 26...Bc7) White could still escape with 27.0-0 ] 27.xh3 [ 27.0-0? loses a piece to h4 ] 27...a4! Opening lines and ensuring access to the a5-square. 28.xa4 xa4 29.bxa4 a5 Threatening ...Qb1+. 30.f1 xd2 31.xd2 b1+ White drops more than a piece. 0-1
1864 Savchenko,Stanislav Bunzmann,Dimitrij 1st Integrata GM (2) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2579 2484 09.01.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.f3 0-0 8.a3 d6 9.c3 e8 10.fxe6 Not many people take this pawn, but a little greed is always worth considering. [ 10.g5 exf5 11.xf5 h5 12.h4 h6 13.g1 xf3 14.xf3 xf3 15.gxf3 hxg5 16.hxg5 e8 17.h7+ f7 18.d5 g6 19.h6 g7 20.xg6 c6 21.d1 d8 22.g2 e7 23.xe7 xe7 24.e4 h8 25.dh1 xh6 26.xh6 d6 27.h7+ f8 28.h8+ g7 29.h7+ f8 30.h8+ 1/2-1/2 Khenkin, I-Bunzmann,D Polanica Zdroj 1999. ] 1843
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10...dxe6 11.g5 c6 12.e3 h6 13.ge4 xe4 14.xe4 f4 15.d2 xe3 16.xe3 d8 17.d1 a6 18.b3 e5 19.dxe5 [ 19.xc6 xc6 20.xe5 ( 20.dxe5 xd1+ 21.xd1 b5; 20.d5 is safest, and I can't help feeling a handy technician would be e n d i n g b l a c k ' s a c t i v i t y r a t h e r s o o n .) 20...xc4+ 21.bxc4 xc4+ 22.e2 de8 23.h5 doesn't seem to work for black, though he pin is very hard to break, and is a risky procedure for white. ] 19...xd1+ 20.xd1 xe5 21.g3 h8 22.h3 [ 22.g2 g4 and Nf6 gives black counterplay. ] 22...xc4+! 23.g2 [ 23.bxc4 xc4 24.e2 xe4!-+ ] ½-½
1865 Semrl,Marjan Sale,Srdjan Ljubljana op 7th (1) [Eric Prié]
A40 2150 2440 1996
1.d4 e6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 [ 3...f6 4.f3 A classical position of the Nimzo -Lond on.. . b6 5.c3 ( 5.a3! however in this order of moves.) 5...c6 6.b1!? ] 4.c3 f6 5.b1!? I dare formulate a guideline from the previous 7 games: - when Black retains the possibility of advancing his pawn to d5 in one go, White should definitely get rid of the concern of his hanging b-pawn by op t in g f o r Rb 1. - A lte rna t ive ly, W h it e should employ the idea Bb5+, a2-a4 whenever it is possible against an early ...d7-d6. An exception is the Murey game because of the early exc han ge on d4, allowing W h ite t o concentrate on development in gambit style because of the disappearance of the Nh5xf4 concern. cxd4 [ 5...c6 6.f3 h5?! ( 6...d5? 7.b5 ) 7.dxc5 ( 7.d5!? For having a rook on b1 is more useful than a pawn on c3 against this black idea. xf4 8.exf4 d4 9.g3 g6 10.g2 g7 11.0-0 ) 7...xc5 ( 7...xc5 8.d6 xd6 9.xd6 1/2-1/2 Weitzer, S (2274)-Hoepfl, T (2356) Germany 2008)
8.c7 b4 9.e5 c6 10.b4!? xb4 11.b5 ] 6.exd4 b4 7.f3 0-0 8.d3 a5 9.0-0! xc3?! 10.bxc3 This position looks eminently dangerous for Black... d5 [ 10...xc3 11.e5 c6 12.xf6 gxf6 13.b3 a5 14.xh7+! xh7 15.e5! xe5 16.h5+ g7 17.g3+ g6 18.xa5+- ] 11.b3 [ 11.e5! xc3 12.b3 a5 13.g5 e4 14.xe4 dxe4 15.f6!! ] 11...c6 12.e5 xe5 13.xe5 d7? [ 13...d8 14.c4 ] 14.xh7+! xh7 15.h5+ g8 16.xg7! Just as in the books! f5 [ 16...xg7 17.g5+ h7 18.c4 ] 17.g6 f7 18.h6+ 1-0
1866 Shipov,Sergei Chernyshov,Konstantin 54th ch Elista RUS (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2640 2536 03.05.2001
Sometimes chess games can be good things in small packages. This short draw has an original move order combined with an original idea - and the result is a cool, comfortable position against a very strong player. A game well worth jotting down in the notebook. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.d5 f5 5.c3 e7 6.g3 f6 7.d2 e7 So far a rare but not co m p le t e ly f o re i gn i d e a . 8.g2 c8!? But this is very original, and very clever black finds a novel way to get his pieces to optimal squares quickly. 9.h3 d6 10.b3 a6 11.c1 c5 12.b4 ce4 13.0-0 exd5 14.cxd5 xd2 15.xd2 0-0 Black has a fine position. ½-½
1844
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1867 Shirov,Alexei Suttercane Simul Internet USCF [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2746 23.10.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 xg2 6.h5+ g6 7.fxg6 g7 8.gxh7+ f8 9.e2 xh1 10.g5 f6 11.h4 e7!? For maniacs disposed to play either side of this line, this move seems to be state of the art. Black's results in the whole variation are rather encouraging theoretically, wi t h d ra ws b y re p e t it io n a n d b l a c k wi n s featuring most often. 12.f4 f7 13.c3N [ 13.d2 c6 14.g6 xh7 15.xh7 xh7 16.xh7 xd4 17.g6+ e8 18.h8 f3+ 19.f1 xg5 20.h4 f3 0-1 Vegh,E-Zlatilov,I/Sankt Augustin 1990. ] 13...b7 [ 13...c6!? deserves serious consideration it is not immediately clear why Shirov's move should be more to the point than in the previous reference. ] 14.0-0-0 c6 15.g1 e7 16.h6 xh6 17.xh6+ e8 18.g7 f8 19.g6 g4 20.h5 f6 21.h6 g4 22.h5 f6 23.h6 g4 24.h5 f6 25.h6 ½-½
1868 Shishkin,Vadim Klimov,Sergey St Petersburg [John Emms]
A40 2493 2483 31.01.2008
1.d4 g6 2.c4 g7 3.c3 c5 4.d5 xc3+ 5.bxc3 f5 6.h4 f6 7.h5 g8 8.hxg6 hxg6 9.a4!? This certainly isn't the first move that comes to mind, but it has been played by one or two very strong players. White's main idea, it seems, is to prevent ... Qa5(!), although the queen also usef ully prevents ...d6. It's quite unusual to see the most powerful piece used in this "restrictive" role. Against most other moves by White, it seems that ...Qa5 is a decent response. [ 9.g4 a5! - see Bunzmann-Okhotnik, France 2002. ] [ 9.f3 a5 10.c2 d6 11.g5 bd7
12.e3 ( 12.d2 e5 13.b1 b6 14.e3 d7 15.e2 0-0-0 N. Josephsen-T. J a k s l a n d , D e n m a r k 1 9 9 5) 12...b5!? ( 12...e4 ) 13.xf6 xf6 14.g5 bxc4 15.xc4 a6 ( 15...b8!? ) 16.xa6 xa6 17.c4 A.Shneider-T. Abergel, Paris 2000. ] [ 9.d6!? a5 10.h3! (a creative way to defend c3!) c6 11.dxe7 xe7 12.e4!? fxe4 13.g5 b6 14.b1 c6 15.d2 with reasonable compensation for the pawn, A.Dekker-T. Balogh, Bratislava 2001. ] 9...b6 [ 9...c7 is an alternative: 10.g3 e4 11.f4 b6 12.c1 g5 13.e3 f6 14.g2 f4?! (M.Zivanic-J.Stopa, Richardson 2008) and now Zivanic gives ( 14...a6!? - Zivanic ) 15.gxf4! gxf4 16.xe4 fxe3 17.fxe3 intending Kd2, Nf3 and Rcf1 ] [ 9...e4?! can be met simply by 10.f3! as g3 ( 10...xc3 11.b3 traps the knight) 11.h7 looks promising for White. ] 10.f3 a6 [ The evidence from this game suggests that Black needs an improvement somewhere, and 10...e4 definitely looks like a place to look. For example, 11.g5 f6 12.xe4 fxe4 13.c2 d6 14.b1 d8!? ( 14...d7 15.xe4 xc3+ 16.d2 ) 15.e3 ( 15.g4!? ) 15...c7 16.g3 d7= K . S a k a e v- D . R e i n d e r m a n , C a p p e l l e l a Grande 1995. ] 11.xa6! Normally White is reluctant to swap queens in this line, for obvious reasons. Here, though, the situation is quite different. Black's army isn't fully coordinated, and the knight on a6 is on a poor circuit. [ 11.b3 d6 12.g5 ( 12.g5 bd7 13.d2 b6 14.a4 d7 15.a5 0-0-0! 16.a2 a8 17.g3 h8 18.h4 c7= M. Baekgaard-S.Siebrecht, Ohrid 2009) 12...bd7! (calmly allowing the knight in) 13.e6 a5 14.f3 e5 15.b1 f7 16.d2 b8 (threatening ...Bxe6 and . ..Nd8, so White feels obliged to retreat his knight) 17.g5 d7 18.e4 xg5 19.xg5 fxe4 20.xf6 exf6 21.fxe4 f7= M.Franic-M. Vokac, Prague 1990. ] 11...xa6 12.d6! Again this move causes considerable disruption. Black will struggle to both develop his queenside in time and hold things together on his shaky kingside. 1845
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 12.g5 d6 13.d2 f7 14.e4 fxe4 15.xf6 xf6 16.xe4+ worked out well for W hite in S.Volkov-A.Eliseev, St Petersburg 2010, but Shishkin's choice looks stronger. ] 12...exd6 13.f4 e4 14.g5! xg5 15.xg5 c7 16.h7 e6 17.f6 [ 17.e7+ is le ss a ccura te d ue t o f8 18.f6 g7! ] 17...g5 18.0-0-0 g6 19.e7 b6 [ 19...f8 is better, when Black faces a grim and probably unsuccessful defensive task after 20.xf8 xf8 21.e3 ] 20.g4!+- b7 [ 20...fxg4 21.g2 ] 21.gxf5 g7 22.xg7 xg7 23.xg5 e4 24.xd6 xf5 25.g2 c8 26.f6 e6 27.d5 b5 28.h6 White's 9 Qa4 is more challenging than it initially looks. It seems that Black should try 10...Ne4 or, a move earlier, 9...Qc7. 1-0
1869 Siebrecht,Sebastian Bunzmann,Dimitrij 8th OIBM Bad Wiessee GER (4) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2366 2544 02.11.2004
1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.e2! A paradoxical move at first sight, but White wants to play c4-c5 and meet ... bxc5 with a2a3 to harass and perhaps trap the errant darksquared bishop. The second idea is to play t h e a n n o yin g B -h 5 +, wh ich is wh y B la ck doesn't make the effort to retreat the bishop back to safe ground. Note that with the bishop on d3 Black would have the freeing resource ... c5-c4. [ T h e m o r e n a t u r a l - l o o k i n g 7.f3 is also known. ] 7...0-0 [ Black was basically a pawn down after 7...d6 8.h5+ f8 9.fxe6 dxe6 10.f3 Meessen-Bunzmann,D Leuven 1998 ] 8.c5 bxc5 9.a3 a5 10.dxc5 The threat is 11 b4 killing off the bishop, so Black has to react fast. Playing the tame 10...c6 makes the o t h e r b is h o p lo o k u gly. S o B l a ck's m o s t
critical are 10... Nd5 and 10...Ne4 seeking a tactical solution. e4 [ 10...c6?! 11.b4 c7 12.fxe6 yields White a pawn plus a positional advantage. ] [ One idea behind the principle alternative 10...d5 is that 11 b4 is then bad. 11.f3 ( 11.b4? f6 12.a2 xf5 13.d3 a6 14.xa6 xb1 15.b2 e3+ ) 11...f6 12.fxe6 a6 13.c2 ( Here White can refute the black set-up with 13.c4! dxe6 14.c6 c8 15.xd5 ) 13...ae8 14.exd7 xe2 15.xe2 e6+ with sharp complications, Jelen,I-Beliavsky,A Ljubjana 2002 ] 11.b4 f6 12.a2 d5 13.b2 c6 14.f3 [ W hite has been doing well with 14.d2 e.g. ab8 ( 14...d4?! 15.xe4 xe4 16.f3 xf5 17.h4 led to Black getting nothing for the piece in Berkvens,J-Minnican, A Cappelle-la-Grande 2002) 15.xe4 xe4 16.f3 xb4 17.axb4 xb4 18.d3 favoured W hite in Van de Stricht,GBunzmann,D Bethune 2003 ] 14...ab8 15.h4! Apart from freeing the king's rook and avoiding potential back rank problems it also constitutes a sensible waiting move. [ Instead 15.c2 invites an interesting piece sacrifice (can one really call it a 'sacrifice' wh e n t h e b ish o p is lo st a n ywa y? ) xb4 16.axb4 xb4 17.a4 a2 with unclear complications, Johannesses,L-Halkias,S Linares 2002 ] 15...e5 16.bd2 Challenging the e4-knight. [ Now that the other knight is no longer in a position to sacrifice on b4 White could also try 16.c2 ] 16...c3 17.c2 xe2 18.xe2 exf5 19.f1 Scurrying away to safety. There's no hurry to capture on a5, White must first avoid any tricks. a6+ 20.g1 d3 [ If 20...xf3+ 21.xf3 xf3 22.gxf3 g6+ 23.h2 (using the extra space generated by 15 h4!) h5 24.c4+ h8 25.f4 Black runs out of ideas. ] 21.b5! A tactical shot that leads to very favourable simplification. e1 [ Hopeless is 21...xb5 22.xd3 ] 22.bxa6 xc2 23.xc2 fe8 24.d4 Covering the e2-square. It's looking more and 1846
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 more like a whole piece for nothing. xd2 25.xd2 e4 26.xf5 e6 27.e3 b1 28.d1 b3 29.e1 d5 30.cxd6 cxd6 31.f3 It's not entirely necessary to give back some material, but it's probably simplest. [ 31.d2 xe1+ 32.xe1 d5 33.b4 is also good. ] 31...xc1 32.xc1 xe3 33.f2 d3 34.he1 a4 35.e7 1-0
1870 Skoberne,Jure Chytilek,Roman Mitropa Cup Men (5) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2407 2392 11.09.2006
1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.d4 e6 4.e4 b4 5.d3 f5 6.e2 c6!? A rare move. Instead Black normally prefers to develop the other knight first e.g. [ 6...f6 7.f3 and only now c6 e.g. 8.e3 fxe4 9.fxe4 e5 10.d5 d4 11.xd4 exd4 12.a3 dxc3?! ( riskily varying from 12...a5 13.b4 dxc3 14.bxa5 0-0 15.f3 e7 16.0-0 c5+ 17.h1 d6 Nyback, T-Bokros, A Hengelo 2002 when a draw was agreed.) 13.axb4 cxb2 14.xb2 e7 15.f3 d6 16.0-0 0-0 17.e5! dxe5 18.xe5 b5 with counterchances but W hite has the stronger initiative as in Sebenik, M-Bokros, A Bundesliga 2006 ] 7.f3 fxe4 8.xe4 [ White has better chances of keeping an edge with 8.xe4 f6 9.g5 ] 8...f6 [ Fritz suggests the simplif ying 8...xc3+ 9.bxc3 b4! 10.e3 xd3+ 11.xd3 f6 with equality. This seems simpler than the game where W hite's queen is annoyingly active. ] 9.h4 0-0 10.0-0 e7 11.h3 xc3 Time to simplify before White starts to attack with Bg5. 12.bxc3 e4 13.xe4 xe4 14.a3 f6 [ After 14...xc3 15.g5 Black gets into difficulties due to threats against h7, e6 and his wayward knight. ] 15.ae1 d6 16.e5 g6 17.c1 Trying to probe on the other diagonal with the
t h r e a t o f B g 5 . f7 18.d3 c8! W ith everything more or less stable on the kingside it's time to seek counterplay with ... Qa6 hitting W hite's soft queenside. 19.f4! a6 20.g4! All in! xc4 21.f5 exf5 22.gxf5 f8 23.f4 So White has active play, some open lines and attacking chances for his pawn, but is it enough? d6 24.h5 f7 25.h6! e8 [ After 25...gxh6 26.g2+ White picks off the rook on a8 ] 26.xg7 xg7+ [ Here taking off a pair of rooks with 26...xe1 27.xe1 xf5! seems adequate f o r B l a c k . T h e n a f t e r ( 27...xg7+?! allows W hite a strong attack with 28.xg7 xg7 29.g3+ h8 30.e5+ g8 31.e3 ) 28.xf8 xf8 29.h4 g8+ 30.g3 g5 31.f4+ f5 32.h4 a draw by repetition seems to constitute best play. ] 27.xg7 xg7 28.g3+ f7? [ Superior was 28...h8! when there doesn't seem to be anything more than a draw: 29.xe8 xe8 30.e5+ g7 31.f6 ge6 32.f7+ g7 33.e7 ge6 34.f6+ g7 35.e7 etc. ] 29.f6 e6 [ After 29...g6 then 30.h3 is strong. ] 30.xe6 xe6 31.e5+ f7 32.h5+ e6 33.f7 [ T h e f l a s h y 33.xe8+?? xe8 34.f7 fails to xf1+ 35.xf1 xf7 ] [ 33.g4+ can, surprisingly enough, be met by d5 ] 33...xf1+! 34.xf1 f8 35.e2 e7 36.h4+ e6 37.xh7 xf7 38.g6+ e7 With the p assed h-pawn being supported by White's queen one gets the impression that it's only a matter of time before White collects the whole point, but Chytilek has other ideas... 39.h4 f6 40.g7+ f7 41.h5 b5! The barrier on the h6-square is supplemented by the creation of a fortress on the other flank. 42.d5 a6 43.g3 c6 44.e3+ f8 45.b6 d6 46.b8+ [ 46.xa6 doesn't look easy either after xd5 ] 46...e7 47.dxc6 xc6 48.d3 d6+ 49.c2 h6 50.h2 e6 51.b3 h6 52.b4 c6 53.a5 e6 There doesn't 1847
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 s e e m t o b e a n y wa y t o c r e a t e a s e co n d pass ed p awn or a king invasion . 54.h4+ e8 55.h1 e7 56.g1 h6 57.e3+ e6 58.c5+ e8 59.c8+ e7 60.xa6!? A brave but forlorn winning attempt. xa6+ 61.xa6 d6 62.a5 f6 63.b4 g5 64.c5 e4+ 65.d4 d2 66.c5 e4+ 67.xb5 xc3+ 68.c4 xa2 69.d5 xh5 70.d6 g6 71.xd7 ½-½
1871 Snape,Ian Summerscale,Aaron ch Millfield ENG (1) [Neil McDonald]
A40 2170 2459 31.07.2000
1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.a3 b7 4.d5 e7 [ Instead 4...f5 5.c3 f6 would transpose to lines considered in DD427, KveinysMiezis, which have turned out poorly for Black. The game move intends to put the bishop rather than the knight on f6. This is a very interesting and active arrangement of the pieces. ] 5.c3 f5 6.g3 f6 7.d2 a5! Black wants to create a safe outpost for his knight on c5. 8.g2 a6 9.h3 c5 10.0-0 [ Instead 10.b4 axb4 11.axb4 xa1 12.xa1 b3 would be good for Black. ] 10...a4 11.e4 e7 12.dxe6 dxe6 13.e5 This leads to a murky tactical battle that seems to last right until the end of the game. On a positional level, the exchange of White's e pawn for the black a pawn must be counted a success for Black, who will have an extra pawn in the centre. xe5 14.xb7 xb7 15.xa4 0-0 16.c3 xd1 17.fxd1 d6 18.b3 c6 19.g5 fe8 20.f3 e5 21.d5 ca5 22.xa5 xa5 23.c3 White tries to escape the pressure with a pawn sacrifice. xa3 24.xa3 xa3 25.d7 [ If 25.xe5 b2 wins a piece. ] 25...c5 26.xc7 xb3 27.d5 c5 28.h4 f8 29.e7+ h8 30.hxf5 White has regained his pawn, but he is still in deep trouble as the black bishop is the dominant minor piece and exerts terrible pressure on f2. Summerscale now attacks in vigo ro u s s t yle t o wra p u p t h e p o in t . d2
31.e3 e4 32.7d5 xf2 33.g2 e4 34.g4 h5 35.xe5 f2+ 36.h3 h7 37.d7 g5+ 38.h4 e6 39.xh5 xc7 40.xc7 xh2+ 41.g4 c2 42.f5 xc4 43.g4 d4 44.xc5 bxc5 45.g5 c4 46.g6+ h6 47.e6 d1 0-1
1872 So,W Jobava,Ba ACP Golden Classic 2014 (6.3) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2744 2713 18.07.2014
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 b4+ 5.f1 e7 Now that White can no longer castle, Black can afford to bring his bishop to a sensible square. The loss of time can be justified if White is obliged to spend time of his own sorting his king and rooks out. [ A really 'Daring Defences' try is 5...e5!? gambitting a pawn. If White refuses the offer he will have to give away the c5-square, so the acid test is taking the offrand: 6.dxe5 c6 7.f4 ( 7.f3 ge7 8.a3 c5 9.b4 d4 10.xd4 xd4 11.e3 dc6 12.f4 d6 13.exd6 xd6 14.c3 0-0-0 15.d5 f5 Mann, G-Bokros, A Hungarian league 1999, certainly yields interesting play for Black ) 7...d6 8.a3 c5 9.exd6 xd6 10.c3 0-0-0 ( 10...d4!? ) 11.d5 ce7?! ( Correct is 11...f5! 12.e5 e6 and then ...Nge7 with decent compensation) 12.f3 f5? (too late!) 13.b4 a n d B la c k d ro p p e d a p i e c e i n H o l t , C Berczes, D Dallas 2013. ] 6.c3 d6 7.f3 [ In Turov, M-Totsky, L Pardubice rapid 2008, White was successful with a 'Sämisch' setup 7.ge2 f6 8.f3 0-0 9.e3 see the archives. ] 7...f6 8.g3 Castling by hand, and in cid e nt a lly no t wo rryin g ab o ut an y lo n g diagonal tricks. [ White has a wide choice as to how to continue: 8.h3 bd7 9.e3 e5 10.d5 c5 11.c2 a5 12.b3 0-0 13.g1 e8 14.a3 a6 15.b1 g6 (White has a promising K i n g ' s I n d i a n m i d d l e g a m e ) 16.d2?! ( 16.b4! with a space advantage and a 1848
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 q u e e n s i d e i n i t i a t i v e) 16...f5 ( trading bishops with 16...g5! would keep White's advantage to a minimum) 17.exf5 gxf5 18.f4 Zhu Chen-Grabuzova, T Moscow Blitz 2010, with an edge for W hite. Comp are d t o a sta nda rd King's Ind ian , Black's pieces are not that well placed. ] [ White's extra space is noticeable in the following 8.b3 c6 9.a3 d7 10.b2 0-0 11.c2 g6 12.d1 f5?! a panicky attempt at obtaining some breathing space, Tala, FDiaz Re ye s , M W arsa w 1 99 1 , an d n o w White is better following ( instead 12...f6 leaves Black with a solid game) 13.exf5 exf5 14.h4! ] 8...0-0 9.g2 bd7 10.e2 The centre is well defended and not easy to undermine. Black has to make a decision as to how to strike back. c5 [ 10...e5 11.d5 c5 12.c2 a5 could lead to play similar to the Zhu Chen-Grabuzova game segment above. White's extra space gives him the more interesting options. ] 11.d5 e8 Jobava decides to keep the tension. [ Possible is 11...exd5 12.exd5 ( 12.cxd5 a6 13.a4 c7 with a sort of slightly passive Benoni (the bishop would be more actively placed on g7 rather than e7)) 12...e8 wi t h a s o l i d a l b e it s o m e wh a t cr a m p e d position. ] 12.d1 f8 13.dxe6!? A committal decision, but So doesn't want to allow Black to have all the options as to how to resolve the central pawn structure. fxe6 [ Although your computer may prefer 13...xe6 the danger then is that Black is just stuck with a 'static' structure with no counterplay. ] 14.c2 a6 15.f4 c7 16.d2 By piling up on d6, So intends provoking his opponent to commit himself. e5 [ Unfortunately 16...ad8 17.ad1 b8 doesn't work: 18.e5! dxe5 19.xd8 xd8 20.xe5 and Black is set to lose his e6pawn. ] 17.ad1 c6?! A positional error. [ More dynam ic is 17...c6!? (hoping to keep the structure flexible) when capturing on d6 comes at a price: 18.xd6 xd6 19.xd6 d4! (cutting the communication)
20.6xd4 cxd4 21.xd4 with full compensation for the exchange, but Black is OK. ] 18.xe5! dxe5 19.a4 Trading light-squared bishops leaves Black with a poor structure and a bishop blocked by it's own pawns. xa4 20.xa4 A moment of decision: Should Black try and complicate the game or simply stay s o l i d ( a n d s u f f e r ! ) t o t r y a n d h o l d ? b5? Understandable, but objectively not best. Although White has control of the d-file there is no entry square available, so Black should 'temporize' in order to see if White can find anything concrete. [ A sample line: 20...e7 21.c3 ad8 22.xd8 xd8 23.c2 e7 24.a4 a8 25.g5 c8 and for the moment, everything is covered. ] 21.cxb5 axb5 22.xb5 c4 [ A lt e rn a t i ve l y 22...eb8 23.c4 b4 only fails because 24.xe6+ is check. ] [ 22...xe4 23.e2 and Black's weak pawns are exposed. ] 23.c2! ec8 24.b3 Defending the loose knight and attacking the c-pawn. It's clear that Jobava's attempted activity has f ailed to deliver. b8 25.xb8 axb8 26.bxc4 xe4 27.xe5 b4 28.b2 A two pawn advantage is too much. c5 29.f4 e7 30.bd3 a4 31.xc5 xc5 32.b1 c8 33.c5! Black loses a piece if he captures. g5 [ 33...xc5 34.bc1 a5 35.d3+- ] [ 33...xc5 34.b8++- ] 34.c6 d6 [ Alternatively 34...gxf4 35.c7 d6 36.b8 xb8 37.cxb8+ xb8 38.c8+ g7 39.xb8 xa2+ 40.h3 fxg3 41.hxg3 and t here may o nly b e o ne wh it e p awn remaining, but it's enough to guarantee victory at this level. ] 35.d7 gxf4 36.b6 f3+ 37.f2 1-0
1849
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A40 comfortable way to return his pawn. xb5 2637 20.xb5+ f7 21.xc5 g6 [ 21...c6!? ] 2461 06.04.2000 22.a6 hd8 23.bd1 [ 23.f4!? is more random, but feels justified surely livening things up on this flank has the best chance of reviving the Bg3 and 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.f3 b7 4.c3 b4 creating threats against the black king. ] 5.g5 xc3+ 24.c6 d6 25.c5 d7 [ 5...f6 6.d2 ( 6.h4 e7 7.e3 g6 23...f7 8.g3 0-0 9.h4 e7 10.d3 f5 11.f1 Now black is very solid again, and even takes a4 27.b4 a5 xc3 12.bxc3 h6 13.h5 d6 14.b1 d7 the initiative. 26.c1 15.b3 h8 16.d1 e8 17.e2 f6 28.d5 xd5 29.exd5 c6 [ 29...xa2!? 30.c4 c6 was possible, 18.d2 c6 19.a3 d7 20.f3 a5 aiming to trade the a-pawn for white's c21.b1 b8 22.b2 h7 23.f4 c8 pawns to be, and emerge with an edge, but 24.h2 f7 25.h1 b7 26.h2 e8 the game continuation is simple and 27.b1 a8 28.b3 g8 29.g3 gf6 strong. ] 30.d1 g4 31.h1 df6 32.g1 e4 33.h4 h8 34.h3 f4 35.e1 fxe3 30.dxc6 xc6 31.e3 c4 32.f4 d3 36.f3 gf2 37.fxe4 xh3+ 38.gxh3 xe4 33.f2 e4 34.f5+ g7 35.f4 ad8 [ 35...e8!? ] 39.d5 exd5 40.cxd5 c8 41.a4 e5 42.g4 f8 43.c2 f4 44.g3 xg4 36.fe1 a4 [ 36...8d5!? ] 45.hxg4 f3 0-1 Kranz,A-Topalov,V/ Dornbirn 1990 (45)) 6...f5 7.e3 f6 8.d3 37.b1! xc3 38.b7 c2 39.b6 d4+ xd4 41.h2 Black has great 0-0 9.0-0 xc3 10.xc3 e4 11.c1 d6 40.xd4 12.d2 g5 13.xe4 fxe4 14.e2 d7 difficulty securing his king. f8 42.a7 e8 15.g4 ae8 16.d5 c5 17.b4 d3 43.b1 d7 44.xa4 e5 45.xe4 f7 18.xe6+ xe6 19.dxe6 xc1 46.xe5 fxe5 47.xe5 dd2 48.g1 d3 1/2-1/2 Kanikevich, A-Kengis,E/Sydney 49.ge1 xa2 50.e7+ f6 51.7e6+ xf5 52.1e5+ f4 53.e4+ f5 54.6e5+ 1991/CBM 23 (19) ] [ 5...f6 Would be a slightly offbeat f6 55.xh5 g3+ 56.h3 dd2 57.h6+ theoretical line that Sokolov is very fond of. g7 58.b6 xg2 59.e7+ f8 60.c7 Black of course prefers the more uncharted h2+ 61.xg3 he2 62.h5 e7 63.f6+ p a t h - wh y p l a y a d a r i n g d e f e n c e a n d g7 64.g6+ f7 65.c3 a1 66.f3+ e8 67.g8+ d7 68.b8 g7+ 69.h2 transpose back to mundane stuff? ] gg1 70.b5 h1+ 71.g3 ag1+ 72.f4 6.bxc3 f6 7.h4 g5 A feisty continuation. h4+ 73.e3 gh1 74.f7+ e6 75.f3 [ 7...e7 ] [ 7...h6 both look more solid and fully xh5 76.xh5 ½-½ playable. ] 8.g3 h5 9.h4 g4 10.d2 d6 [ 10...f5!? is another approach, thumbing A40 one's nose at the Bg3's prospects to set-up 1874 the English bishop in style. ] Sokolov,Ivan 2611 11.e4 d7 12.d3 e7 13.c5! A typical Rahman,Ziaur 2421 pawn offer, but it feels quite precise here - not 34th Olympiad (5) 01.11.2000 only does it increase the scope of most of [Jon Tisdall] white's force, it pre-empts black from playing .. .c5 and congesting the position. bxc5 14.b1 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 c6 15.0-0 b6 16.e2 e5 17.dxc5 dxc5 f6 6.g3 18.b3 h6 19.b5! This clears the way for [ 6.f4 e7 7.f3 0-0 8.g3 e4 9.c1 an invasion of this flank by the white queen, f6 10.e5 c6 11.dxe6 dxe6 12.xd8 and black is well advised to look for a xd8 13.xf6 gxf6 14.g2 xc3 15.xc3 1873 Sokolov,Ivan Bricard,Emmanuel 19th Open Reykjavik ISL (2) [Jon Tisdall]
1850
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c5 16.e3 c6 17.e2 f8 18.h4 e7 19.h3 d6 20.d1 xd1 21.xd1 d8+ 22.e2 d7 23.c1 d6 24.g4 fxg4 25.hxg4 a6 26.xc6 xc6 27.a4 c8 28.b3 b7 29.f3 g8 30.f2 d8 31.e2 g8 32.f2 d8 1/2-1/2 Halkias, S-Lima,D Istanbul 2000. ] 6...a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 9.0-0 [ 9.b5 e5 10.f4 ( 10.f4 d6 11.xe5 dxe5 12.b4 ce4 13.f4 0-0 14.fxe5 g4 15.xe4 fxe4 16.f4 exd5 17.cxd5 xf4 18.gxf4 h4+ 19.d2 xd5 20.c3 h3+ 21.b2 e3 22.d4 c5 23.bxc5 bxc5 24.c3 b8 25.a4 a6 26.a3 g2 27.xe3 xh1 28.a1 xh2 29.d1 c4 30.c3 axb5 0-1 Rychagov,A-Lempert,I Moscow 1996 .) 10...d6 11.f2 exd5 12.xd6+ cxd6 13.cxd5 a5?! ( If black is to exploit the weakness of d5, he should do it fast. In this context the move a5 not only wastes time, but it weakens b6. 13...e7!? ) 14.b3 0-0 15.b2 e7 16.0-0 e3 ( 16...ce4 17.xe4 fxe4 18.xf6 ) 17.b1! ow black is ejected and never fully solves the problem of his interred Bb7. g4 18.d4 xf2 19.xf2 e7 20.xc5 bxc5 21.b4 axb4 22.axb4 c4 23.d4 fc8 24.c1 a6 25.e4 fxe4 26.e2 b5 27.xe4 f6 28.xf6 gxf6 29.f1 a4 30.b1 f8 31.f2 a2+ 32.e2 ca8 33.c1 a1 34.xa1 xa1 35.c2 b1 36.xc4 xb4 37.xb5 xb5 38.d2 b3 39.g2 f5 40.h3 f7 41.h4 g6 42.d4 b2 43.h3 b3 44.a4 d3 45.a7 xd5 46.xd7 d1 47.a7 d4 48.a5 f6 49.a7 g6 50.b7 c4 51.d7 d4 52.d8 d1 53.g8+ f7 54.g5 f6 55.g4 fxg4 56.hxg4 d5 57.f5+ g6 58.e5 d4 59.f5+ f6 60.e6+ f7 61.g5 d3 62.h6 g7 63.d6 d2 64.d7+ g8 65.f6 h6 66.g6 1-0 Gyimesi,Z-Gawehns,K Bad Wiessee GER 2000. ] [ 9.f4 xf4 10.xf4 e5 11.d3 xd3+ 12.xd3 g6 13.0-0 d6 14.b4 0-0 15.c2 f4 16.c5 c8 17.ac1 f5 18.d2 g5 19.cxd6 cxd6 20.b5 e8 21.a4 a6 22.a3 d7 23.c6 xc6 24.dxc6 f6 25.c4 b8 26.a5 bxa5 27.bxa5 b5 28.b6 d8 29.c1 g7 30.h3 f6 31.d7 h6 32.f5 c7 33.d3 e8
1/2-1/2 Savchenko,S-Gerstenberger,H Bad Wiessee GER 2000. ] 9...0-0 10.c2 e5 11.f4 e7 12.d2 A new move. I don't see that it is an improvement, however. [ 12.e3 ce4 13.xe4 xe4 14.ad1 A) 14...c5 15.c1 ( 15.b3 xf4 16.xf4 exd5 17.cxd5 ae8 18.fe1 f6 19.c1 a6 20.b2 g6 21.f3 g5 22.b4 d6 23.f4 e4 24.a4 c4 25.bxc5 b5 26.xa7 xc5 27.f3 f7 28.b6 fe7 29.e5 dxe5 30.xc5 e4 31.g2 d7 32.a4 d6 33.xd6 xd6 34.axb5 xb5 35.h3 g6 36.g4 d7 37.gxf5 xf5 38.xf5 gxf5 39.f2 ed8 40.g1+ f7 41.g5 xd5 42.dg1 8d7 43.g8 5d6 44.1g7+ f6 45.g5 d8 1/2-1/2 Chiburdanidze,MMatveeva,S Niksic 1997.) 15...g5 16.d3 d4 17.e3 g7 18.f3 d6 19.e4 d4+ 20.h1 g4 21.exf5 gxf3 22.xf3 xf5 23.f4 af8 24.g2 exd5 25.cxd5 g7 26.b4 8f6 27.bxc5 bxc5 28.fe1 h6 29.e2 xh2+ 30.xh2 f2 31.h3 h5 32.d3 xd5 33.b3 c4 34.c3 xe1 35.xg7+ xg7 36.xe1 d3 37.b2+ f8 38.xd7 d5 39.f4 d2+ 40.e2 xe2+ 41.xe2 f7 42.g1 e7 43.a4 e4 44.d4 1-0 Naumkin,ILempert,I Moscow 1994.; B) 14...a5 15.c1 ae8 16.h1 f7 17.dxe6 dxe6 18.d3 d6 19.b4 axb4 20.axb4 c5 21.bxc5 bxc5 22.b2 c7 23.f3 f6 24.c3 e5 25.f2 f4 26.e4 fxg3 27.hxg3 h5 28.h2 e7 29.c1 c8 30.h3 a6 31.g4 c8 32.e3 xh3 33.xh3 e6+ 34.h2 g6 35.e1 a8 36.f5 xf5 37.exf5 f6 38.e4 a2+ 39.d2 g5 40.xa2 xg3+ 41.h1 h3+ 42.g1 g3 43.d5+ 1-0 Franic,M-Doric,N Porec 1994.; C) 14...g5 15.d3 g7 16.c1 c5 17.f3 d6 18.e4 d4+ 19.h1 g4 20.exf5 exd5 21.fxg4 xc4 22.f4 f7 23.b3 d6 24.xd4 cxd4 25.c7 e7 26.xd5 e2 27.xd6 ae8 28.g1 c2 29.e7+ xe7 30.xb7 c5 31.d5+ h8 32.f4 e2 1-0 Petrosian, A-Khachian,M Yerevan 1994. ] 12...c6 1851
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 12...a5!? seems like a fully reliable reply - a solid, natural and useful move. I don't see why black should not be equal here. ] 13.dxe6 dxe6 14.ad1 ad8 15.b4 xc3?! [ 15...a6 ] 16.xc3 ce4 17.a1 c5 18.b2 cxb4 19.axb4 c8 20.e5 fe8 21.xe4! Not a natural move, but a strong one - white destroys a defender and concentrates his efforts on the pressure exerted by his other bishop. Key is the access to the d6 square. xe4 22.f3 b7 23.d6 xc4 24.xe6 f7 25.d1! [ 25.xf5 xe6 26.xe6 xe6 27.xe6 xb4 ] 25...xb4 26.xe8+ xe8 27.d8 c6 28.f2 Now white threatens to creep forward slowly - this subtle attack is very hard to meet. b5? [ 28...h6 29.e6 h7 30.c3!+- ] [ 28...b1!? 29.d4 h6 A) 30.d6 A1) 30...b5 31.e6 h7 ( 31...h5 32.h4 ) 32.d5!; A2) 30...a4! 31.e6 h7 32.f8+=; B) 30.e6 h7 31.xe8 xe8 32.xg7 b5!? ( 32...b5 33.e6+-; 32...d1 33.xf5 f8 34.d6 ) 33.xe8 xe8 34.xe8 a5 This looks roughly equal to me - it is likely the queenside pawns will cost white a piece. There are dif f icult decisions for both players at each turn of these variations, but black should probably hold with care. ] 29.d6 c5 30.e6 c1 31.xg7 [ 31.xg7! xa1 32.xe8 xe8 33.e5+- ] 1-0
1875 Soppe,Guillermo Hofman,Andre ch-Najdorf mem (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2448 2524 22.11.1999
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.f3 b7 4.a3 f5 5.c3 f6 6.d5 d6 I would recommend [ 6...e7 as it seems to have the stamp of approval of the initiates. A) 7.g3 e4 8.d2 ( 8.xe4 fxe4
9.e5 0-0 10.g2 c5 11.0-0 exd5 12.cxd5 e8 13.c4 a5 14.b3 b5 15.e3 e7 16.d6 f6 17.dxc7 bxc4 18.cxb8 xb8 19.c1 c3 20.d4 c8 21.b4 e6 22.xf6 gxf6 23.b5 c5 24.a4 c4 25.c2 f5 26.e3 d5 27.fd1 c5 28.e2 b3 29.d4 a4 30.h5 d5 31.b4 c2 32.g5+ h8 33.b6 c4 34.xc4 dxc4 35.b7 d6 36.f4 xf4 37.gxf4 g7 38.f3 b8 39.fxe4 xb7 0-1 Wells,P-Kengis,E/ Dresden 1996) 8...0-0 ( 8...f6 9.c2 xc3 10.xc3 exd5 11.cxd5 xd5 12.xf5 xc3+ 13.bxc3 f6 14.xf6 gxf6 15.g2 a6 16.h4 xg2 17.xg2 c5 18.f4 c6 19.c4 f7 20.f3 he8 21.f2 e5 22.a4 d8 23.a3 e6 24.d3 a5 25.c1 e8 26.c2 h5 27.h4 a5 28.e4 e7 29.d2 d8 30.d1 c7 31.d2 e7 32.d1 a6 33.d2 c5 34.xc5 xc5 35.d4 g7 36.a2 a5 37.dd2 e7 38.g2 e6 39.f2 e8 40.d4 g8 41.f4 1/2-1/2 Ionescu,C-Speelman,J/ Erevan 1996 (41)) 9.g2 f6 10.c1 c6 11.dxe6 dxe6 12.0-0 c5 13.c2 xd2 14.xd2 xg2 15.xg2 c6 16.f3 e7 17.fd1 g5 18.e3 g4 19.e1 e5 20.e2 f7 21.f4 g5 22.h3 gxh3+ 23.xh3 b7+ 24.f3 xh3 25.xh3 h8 26.f2 g8 27.d3 e5 28.h1 g7 29.g2 ag8 30.h3 d8 31.e1 f4 0-1 Gormally,D-Speelman,J/Torquay 1998; B) 7.b4?! is a hyperactive response that le a d s t o t h e su m m a ry e xe cu t io n o f a normally strong and sensible player. a5! 8.b5 e4 9.a4 f6 10.b1 e7 11.c2 d6 12.e3 d7 13.dxe6 dc5 14.xc5 xc5 15.d2 xe6 16.b3 e4! 17.a2 0-0-0 18.d2 he8 19.c1 d3+ 20.xd3 xd3 0-1, K rasen kow-B ischo f f , B rn o 1 99 4 . 21.g1 a4 22.a1 h4 23.c2 ( 23.g3 f3 ) 23...xe3+ 24.xe3 xe3+ 25.d1 ( 25.f1 xf2 26.h1 e4-+ ) 25...d4+ 26.d2 xd2+ 27.xd2 g5+-+; C) 7.dxe6 dxe6 8.a4+ d7 9.xd7+ bxd7 10.f4 d6 11.xd6 cxd6 12.d1 e7 13.e3 a6 14.e2 hc8 15.0-0 xf3 16.xf3 a7 17.e2 e5 1852
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.d4 c6 19.d2 a5 20.fd1 xc4 hxg5 38.hxg5 a1 39.f4 xa2 40.g6+ 21.xc4 xc4 22.xd6 d7 23.xd7+ e7 41.d2 c4 42.e3 f6 43.g2 a5 xd7 24.d4 xd4 25.exd4 d6 44.c2 c5 45.f2 d5 0-1 O'Connell,G26.f1 e5 27.dxe5+ xe5 28.e2 c4 Luther,T Elista 1998. ] 29.d1 d5 30.d3 b5 31.c3 a5 10.ab1 32.d3 g5 33.c3+ c5 34.d1 h5 [ 10.d2 e5 11.d5 0-0 12.ab1 a5 35.c3 d5 36.d3 e5+ 37.c3 f4 13.b5 d6 14.a3 a4 15.c2 c8 38.b3 g4 39.c2 b4 40.axb4 axb4 16.bc1 f5 17.f3 f7 18.b1 g5 41.d2 d4 42.h3 f3 0-1 Moynihan,K19.xg5 xg5 20.1c3 f4 21.h1 h5 Speelman,J/Bunratty 1997 (42) ] 22.cd1 h4 23.f2 h3 24.g3 g2 25.e2 7.g3 0-0 8.g2 e7 9.0-0 c6 10.g5 e3 26.e1 xe2 27.exe2 f4 28.d1 cxd5 11.cxd5 h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.e4 fxe4 g5 29.g4 a6 30.xg2 hxg2+ 31.xg2 14.xe4 xd5 15.xf6+ xf6 16.d2 g7 32.dc3 g6 33.f2 d7 34.g1 xg2 17.xg2 e5 18.c1 c6 19.c4 f7 35.h3 e8 36.h2 h7 37.h4 gxh4 d4 20.b4 f8 21.e2 f5 22.f3 f6 38.xh4 xh4 39.xc7+ d8 40.xa8 23.cd1 e7 24.d3 f5 25.f4 d6 xc4 41.xb6 b3 42.b5 d1 43.g2 26.fd1 e5 27.f3 g6 28.h1 e4 29.ff1 xf3+ 44.xf3 h3+ 45.g2 b3 h5 30.fe1 e8 31.d2 c3 32.c4+ d5 46.xd6 xb2+ 47.f3 b3+ 48.e2 33.xc3 h4 34.f1 hxg3 35.xg3 h4 xb6 49.c4 b3 50.g5 g3 51.xe5 36.xd5 f3 37.e2 g4 38.d1 xf4 xa3 52.d3 f3+ 53.d2 xd3+ 54.xd3 39.c4+ h8 40.d5 e3 41.h5+ f2 55.e2 f1+ 56.xf1 a3 0-1 Takac,Z1-0 Barle,J Ljubljana 1998. ] 10...0-0 11.d5 f6 12.a3? xc3 13.xc3 f5 14.exf5 xf5 15.d4 h5 16.dxe6 h4 1876 A40 17.h3 xg2 18.f5 xf5 19.xg2 dxe6 Starcic,Tadej 2248 20.bd1 e4+ 21.f3 h4+ 22.h2 xf3+ Zorko,Jure 2108 23.g3 af8 24.d7 5f6 25.g5 xg5 ch Grize SLO (2) 02.10.2001 26.xf6 xf6 27.d8+ f8 28.d2 e5+ 29.g4 h5+ [Jon Tisdall] 0-1 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 5.f3 b4 6.0-0 xd3 7.xd3 e7 1877 A40 8.c3 g6 9.e3 e7 Sundararajan,Kidambi 2433 [ 9...b4 is a more direct way of preparing Rahman,Ziaur 2465 the plan in the game. White loses time in the stem game and we get similar structures in ch Udaipur IND (5) 14.01.2000 the end. The advantages of ...Be7 are that [Jon Tisdall] waiting for white to commit to d, and the B may be better waiting on e7 if white avoids 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c3 b4 the capture on c3. But the thing to note is 5.f3 e7 6.d3 bc6 7.ge2 Flavour of that the plan of taking on c3 and breaking the month. xc3+ 8.bxc3 d6 9.0-0 d7 with ...f5 is logical and effective. 10.ac1 10.e3 [ 10.a3 a6 11.c5 xd3 12.xd3 dxc5 ( 10.e2!? ) 10...0-0 11.fd1 xc3 12.xc3 13.ad1 a5 14.c2 c6 15.d5 exd5 f5 13.d5 fxe4 14.xe4 c5 15.g4 f6 16.g5 exd5 17.cxd5 f5 18.h5 h6 16.exd5 d7 17.c4 0-0 18.b2 f5 19.g4 f4 20.xf4 xf4 21.h3 f7 19.f4 ae8 20.fe1 xe1+ 21.xe1 e8 22.e4 d6 23.c3 f6 24.xe8+ xe8 22.xf7+ xf7 23.g2 e8 24.e3 fe7 25.f3 f7 26.f4 e5 27.a3 a6 25.e6 axc4 26.xc7 e2 0-1 Gropp,A28.g3 e1 29.d2 g1+ 30.g2 e5 Ruzele,D/Berlin 1997 ] 31.f3 xd5 32.xd5 xd5 33.xa6 b5 10...0-0-0 34.d6 e6 35.f2 h1 36.h4 b4 37.g5 [ 10...a6!? looks annoying for white. ] 1853
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.c1!? This leads support to the queenside attack. This position looks quite promising for white now, though far from clear. f5 12.b3 df8 13.a4 f4 14.f2 g5 15.a5 hg8 16.axb6 axb6 17.e2 g4 18.fxg4 e5 19.c5?! [ 19.d5 d8 20.c5 ] 19...xg4 20.f3 exd4 21.cxd4 dxc5 22.a6 fg8 [ 22...xa6!? 23.xa6 fg8 24.a8+ b8 25.dxc5 xg2+ 26.h1 c6 ] 23.xb7+ xb7 24.xc5+! bxc5 25.a3 xg2+ 26.h1 a5! 27.xa5 c6 28.a7+ c8 29.a8+ xa8 30.xa8+ d7 31.xg8 xg8 32.dxc5 e6 W hite must beware the more active king. 33.h4? g6 34.g5?! e5 35.h4 h5 36.d1 xe4 37.c6 f3 38.d7 e8 39.xc7 e1+ 40.h2 e5 Making the time control doesn't help. 0-1
1878 Surjadnji,Aleksei Sulava,Nenad Golden Cleopatra Open (2) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2431 2526 03.05.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 b7 5.e4 h4 6.d3 f5 7.g3 h5 8.f3 c6 9.ge2 fxe4 10.fxe4 f6 11.a3 This looks like a loss of time, but removing the pressure to d4 is the idea - still, it does not change the general impression that white is not terribly comfortable in this variation. [ 11.0-0 d6 12.g2 b4 13.d1 xd3 14.xd3 0-0 15.f4 e5 16.dxe5 g4 17.h3 xe5 18.xe5 xe5 19.f4 g5 20.fe2 h5 21.xf8+ xf8 22.f1 xf1 23.xf1 h4 24.gxh4 f6+ 25.g2 xh4 26.xd7 xe4+ 27.xe4 xe4+ 28.f2 xb2 29.xc7 f5+ 30.g2 g6+ 31.f2 f6+ 32.g2 g5+ 33.f2 h4+ 34.g2 e4+ 35.f2 f5+ 36.g2 1/2-1/2 Wiedenkeller,M-Berg,M Sollentuna 1995. ] 11...xc3+ 12.xc3 [ 12.bxc3 e5 13.d5 a5 14.c5? b3! 15.b1 ( 15.xb3 f3 ) 15...xc5 0-1 Komarek,D-Chetverik,M Policka 1996. ]
12...0-0 13.f4 e8 14.0-0 e5 15.d5 d4 White's position is already very unpleasant - black just plans to play Qh5 and funnel his pieces over to white's perforated kingside. 16.g2 c5 17.h3 h5 18.e3 d6 19.f5?? [ 19.xd4 exd4 20.d2 A) 20...g4 21.e2 ae8 ( 21...e3+ 22.xe3 xh3+ 23.xh3 dxe3 24.g2 ); B) 20...c8!? ] 19...xf5 20.exf5 xd5! Not that white had h o p e s o f co m p e n sa t io n a n ywa y. 21.cxd5 xd5+ 22.g1 xh3 23.d2 b7 24.b4 h8 25.f1 e4 26.e2 xf5 27.xd6 xf1+ 28.xf1 f5 29.bxc5 bxc5 30.xc5 xc5 31.xc5 a6 32.h3 d8 33.g4 d2 34.b4 b2 35.c5 d5 36.h5 a2 37.e8 e3 38.f1 c4+ 39.g1 a1+ 0-1
1879 Svorobovic,J Lasinskas,Povilas ch Vilnius LTU (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2183 27.03.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 5.d3 f5 6.d5 A footnote variation - this rather desperate reaction ensures that more of white's centre will be dissolved. But white h a s a l re a d y c h o se n a ra t h e r su s p ic io u s looking way to handle the opening, letting black strike so cheaply with ...f5. [ 6.f3 h4+ 7.g3 h5 8.e5 e7 9.a3 xc3+ 10.bxc3 0-0 11.h4 d6 12.f4 dxe5 13.xe5 ec6 14.xc7 a6 15.f4 e5 16.e3 exd4 17.cxd4 ae8 18.f2 xe3 19.xe3 h6+ 20.f2 xd4 21.e2 e6 22.h3 ac5 23.c1 f4 24.xf4 xf4 25.gxf4 b3 26.c3 xa1 27.xa1 xf4 28.c3 e8 29.h5 h6 30.h3 h8 31.d3 c8 32.g3 f5 33.d1 e3+ 34.f1 h7 35.g6 xe2+ 36.xe2 xe2 0-1 Borg,G-Pavlovic, M/Panormo 1998 ] [ 6.c2 f6 7.d5 fxe4 8.xe4 exd5 9.f3 c6 10.cxd5 d4 11.d3 e7+ 12.e3 xf3+ 13.xf3 xc3+ 14.bxc3 xd5 15.0-0 xf3 16.gxf3 0-0 17.fe1 f7 18.d4 d5 19.e5 d6 20.ad1 f4 1854
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.xf4 xf4 22.d5+ f7 23.e3 ae8 24.g2 g6 25.d4 xd5 26.xd5 xe3 27.fxe3 f5 28.d4 c5 29.c4 a5 30.d2 f7 31.f2 a3 32.c2 f6 33.e2 g5 34.f2 h4 35.f4 g4 36.e2 h6 37.f2 g5 38.fxg5 hxg5 39.e2 f5 40.f2 g4 41.d2 g5 0-1 Van Parreren,H-Speelman,J/Roskilde 1998 (41) ] 6...f6 [ 6...fxe4 7.xe4 h4 8.e2 f6 9.f3 0-0 10.dxe6 c6 11.e3 e4 12.0-0-0 xc3 13.bxc3 a3+ 14.b1 dxe6 and white's king position does not look like it will inspire many followers. 15.c2 c5 16.xc5 bxc5 17.e2 ab8 18.a1 xc4 19.e4 xf2 20.xh7+ h8 21.d2 h4 22.g6 bf8 23.b1 a8 24.g3 xd2 25.xd2 e5 26.c2 d5 27.f2 d7 28.e2 g8 29.d3 f6 30.e3 c4 31.b3 g4 32.d2 f4 33.xf4 xf4 34.xd5 exd5 35.b8+ h7 36.b7 xh2 37.xc7 g4 38.f5 d4 39.cxd4 cxd4 40.c4 xg2 41.xd4 f3 42.d7 a5 43.d3 e5 44.h3+ g8 45.g3 xg3 46.xg3 c4 47.b1 f7 48.c2 e6 49.c3 d6 50.b3 d5 51.a4 c4 52.h5 g5 53.b5 d4 54.f6 d3 55.h7 1/2-1/2 Kaplan,J-Miles,A/ Sao Paulo 1977 (55) ] 7.d2 [ 7.e5 had to be tried e4 8.xe4 fxe4 9.g4 e7 is sharp, but white's creaking center does not inspire confidence. ] 7...0-0 8.ge2 fxe4 9.xe4 exd5 10.xb4? goes down without a fight. For better or worse, scary greed was called for: [ 10.xf6+ xf6 11.xb4 xf2+ 12.d2 c5 13.a3 dxc4 14.xc4+ d5 when black will have three pawns activity and attacking chances for the bishop. ] 10...dxe4 11.xf8 exd3 12.xd3 xf8 13.0-0 c6 White has nothing to show for the material deficit. 14.fe1 e5 15.g3 d6 16.b3 e4 17.e3 xf2+ 18.xf2 xf2 19.xf2 d3+ 20.g3 xe1 21.xe1 e8 22.f2 a5 23.d1 xg2 24.d4 b7 25.d2 g5 26.g3 g7 27.g4 g6 28.g3 h5 29.f2 g4 30.b5 e7 31.d4 g5 32.d3 f7+ 33.g1 h4 34.e3 h3 35.e8 g2 36.e1 g3 37.hxg3 g4
38.e2 e7 41.xe1 h2 0-1
39.f2
1880 Taranenko,Oleg Karasev,Vladimir I White Nights (4) [Jon Tisdall]
f3
40.f4
xe1
A40 2257 2420 12.06.2001
1.d4 b6 2.e4 b7 3.d3 e6 4.c4 b4+ 5.c3 f5 6.h5+ g6 7.e2 f6 8.f3 fxe4 This has long had a dubious reputation. [ 8...c6 9.e5? xd4! 10.f2 h5 11.xd4 c5-+ is an old trap. ] 9.fxe4 xc3+ 10.bxc3 xe4 11.f3 xc3!? Forward! For some reason this has never been tried before, with retreats leading to excellent White compensation for a pawn. [ 11...f6 12.0-0 e7 13.g5 f8 14.e5 g7 15.d5! c8 ( 15...a6 16.xd7 xd7 17.xf6+- ) 16.dxe6 dxe6 17.ad1 fd7 18.xg6 xf1+ 19.xf1 g8 20.h5 f6 21.xf6 hxg6 22.xg6+ d7 1-0 Marinelli,T-Krajina,D Vinkovci 1989. ] [ 11...d6 12.0-0 0-0 13.g5 ( 13.h6 xf3 14.xf3 xf3 15.xf3 c6 16.f1 e7 17.g3 f5 18.xf5 exf5 19.xf5 a5 20.e5 f7 21.e1 c6 22.e4 d6 23.h4 d7 24.e3 f7 25.f4 e8 26.f8+ xf8 27.xf8 xf8 28.e6+ h8 29.d7 d8 30.xc7 f7 31.xa7 g7 32.xb6 a8 33.c5 dxc5 34.dxc5 xa2 35.c6 e5 36.d4 1-0 Cardoso,RChandler,M Wellington 1978.) 13...xf1+ 14.xf1 f6+ 15.g1 f5 16.f2 g7 17.g4 d6 18.f4 c6 19.e3 f8 20.f1 e7 21.f3 a5 22.e5 e8 23.f2 a6 24.g5 d6 25.c5 bxc5 26.dxc5 xe5 27.xf8+ xf8 28.xe5 xd3 29.h8+ 1-0 Becker,F-Pajewski,O Germany 1995. ] 12.e5 0-0 13.d5 f6 14.xc7? [ 14.xf6 xf6 15.b2 xf3 16.gxf3 a4 gives Black enough for the exchange, but it must be a better try â (+) White will have a big advantage in development while his pawns are dropping off. ] 14...a6! Access to the c5 square turns the 1855
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ga m e i n B la c k 's f a vo u r . 15.e5 c5 16.xf6 xd3+ 17.d2 e4+ 18.xd3 xf6 19.a3 fc8 The dust settles and Black is a pawn ahead with better position the theoretically important moments have passed. 20.d6 xf3 21.gxf3 c6 22.ac1 f8 23.hd1 h5 24.e3 f5 25.d4 a5 26.c3 g7 27.d3 f5 28.e4 xd6 29.d4 f7 30.f4 d6 31.c2 d5 32.f5 e5 33.xd5 xd5 34.cxd5 xc3+ 35.xc3 gxf5 36.e7 f4 37.d3 f3 38.e3 e4 39.h4 d6 40.f4 f7 41.f2 e7 42.h4 h5 43.g1 d7 44.f2 c7 45.g1 a6 46.f2 b5 47.c5 a5 48.a3 d7 49.e3 b7 50.d4 f2 51.xf2 d6 52.e3 xd5 53.f6 b4 54.axb4 axb4 55.f4 c5 56.e3 b3 57.d2 a4 58.g5 c4 59.h6 c3 60.c1 d5 61.b2 e3 62.c1 d3 0-1
1881 Tregubov,Pavel V Miezis,Normunds Schachbundesliga 2010-11 (9) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2598 2519 06.02.2011
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 b5!? This ambitious try is typical of No r m u n d s Mi e ze s's d a ri n g- st yle . 7.xb5 exd5 8.f4 a6 9.g2 c6 10.d4!? A new move. [ V a r y i n g f r o m 10.d6+ which has been played s everal t imes, f o r example xd6 11.xd6 c7 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.f3 e4 14.xc7 xc7 15.0-0 0-0 16.c1 d6 17.e3 ab8 18.d4 c6 and, despite appearances, Black's position turned out to be rock-solid in Moradiabadi, E-Miezes, N Calvia Olympiad 2004. ] 10...dxc4 This defends the f-pawn by tactical means. 11.gf3 [ Not 11.xf5?? a5+ 12.d2 xf5 ] 11...c5 12.0-0 Tregubov calmly continues his development and leaves his opponent with a weird set of pawns. Black's pawn 'advantage' is hardly noticeable and proves to b e t e m p o ra ry . d5! Seeking to give White some problems. [ I n a n y c a s e a f t e r 12...g6 13.e5
White regains the pawn. ] 13.e5 [ After 13.g5?! Black reacts with e7 14.xe7 xe7 and holds his position, and extra pawn, together. ] [ Otherwise, Black should be OK following 13.xf5 f6 14.c2 xf4 15.gxf4 d5 16.e3 g6 etc. ] 13...xf4 14.gxf4 f6 15.xc4 e7 16.e5 d8 [ For the moment, Black dare not castle, as 'going long' looks too risky whereas 'going s h o r t ' f a i l s t a c t i c a l l y : i . e . 16...0-0? is refuted by 17.b4 e6 18.xe6 dxe6 19.d7 ] 17.b4 e4 18.c2 g5! Another fighting move from Miezes. 19.xf5 xf5 20.xe4 xf4 21.ad1 xe4 22.xe4 d5 23.f3 0-0 Considering that Black introduced a sharp line to derail White on move 6, it's something of a surprise that he himself was only able to castle on move 23! However his position seems to be fine as W hite's slight lead in development should be containable, esp ecia lly a s Bla ck h as th e bisho p pa ir. 24.c1 f6 25.h3 g7?! [ A more trustworthy way of continuing involves 25...d6! 26.d3 ( 26.xc6? xc6 27.xc6 h2+ 28.xh2 xc6 and Black shouldn't be worse) 26...g7 27.g2 g6 as if 28.c5 c8 29.d3 d7 30.g4 e8! there are no problems for Black. ] 26.g2 e6 27.d3 Tregubov is in his element here (slight pull and general control) whereas Miezes is not (he is by nature a tactical player who is happier when having active play)! One problem for Black is that he has difficulty in adequately defending the c7square. a6?! Too ambitious perhaps? [ It's not too late for 27...f6 28.g4 d6 ] 28.g4 f6 29.e5 dd6 30.c2 b5 31.a4! An excellent move that demonstrates th at t h e bish o p ma n oe uvre to b 5 h ad it s downside. xa4 [ B l a c k i s a l s o i n t r o u b l e a f t e r 31...a6 32.fc1 b7? 33.b5! cxb5 34.c7 ] 32.a2 b5? [ Instead Black can limit any damage with 32...h5! e. g. 33.xh5 ( 33.xa4 hxg4 34.xg4 fe6 35.e3 d7 ) 33...b5 1856
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 34.xa7 de6 35.d3 ( or 35.d7 f4 36.c5 e5 37.d3 xd3 38.exd3 xb4 w h i c h s h o u l d b e p l a y a b l e f o r B l a c k) 35...h6 36.g4 e4 and the extra pawn will be tough to exploit. ] 33.xa7 fe6 Grim, but all moves lose at least the exchange. 34.xe6 xe6 35.f3 xe2 36.c1 Threatening N-d4. xf3+ 37.xf3 The weakness of the c6-pawn is now the main reason f or Black's undoing. f7 38.c7 h5 39.1xc6 xc6 40.xc6 xb4 41.h6 h4 42.b6 e7 43.a6 White intends to march his king on the lightsquares into the heart of Black's position. b4 [ 43...f6 44.d6 d4 45.e4 g6 46.f3 a n d B la c k is a l re a d y i n Z u g zwa n g , f o r example f7 47.f5 and something has to give. ] 44.g4 d4 45.xg5 e7+ 46.g4 d3 47.a1 c5 48.d1 e6 [ 48...xf2? 49.f1 ] 49.f4 1-0
1882 A40 Turov,Maxim 2584 Totsky,Leonid 2492 19th Czech Open Synthesia Rapid rapid (3) [Glenn Flear] 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 b4+ [ Instead 4...c6 is for those seeking solidity whereas ] [ 4...f5 is for folk who like to flirt with crazy complications. ] 5.f1!? White give s up his castling rights but leaves the bishop on b4 biting on air. This is more challenging for Black than the routine 5 Bd2. e7 [ Here even retreating the bishop further with 5...f8!? has been played a few times. The fianchetto however has its downside: 6.c3 g6 7.h4 g7 8.f3 c6 9.g5 c8 10.e5 ce7 11.h5 and White had the better chances in Ulibin, M-Pluemer, D Biel 2004. ] 6.c3 d6 7.ge2 [ 7.g4 is the macho move, but does it really do a great deal after f6 ? ] 7...f6 8.f3 0-0 9.e3 White's 'Saemisch'
set-up gives him a firm grip on the centre, so Black seems perfectly justified in trying to shake things up before W hite has time to reorganize his major pieces (and of course place his king into safety). d5!? [ Another approach is 9...bd7 10.f2 c5 11.d5 ( 11.e1 cxd4 yields a 'hedgehog' for Black: White has more space but it's tough to find any tangible weaknesses in the black camp. ) 11...e5 12.f4 d7 White has a space bind and Black d oesn't have th e usual counterplay typical of the English Defence (for example down the long lightsquared diagonal), but at least he's solid. ] 10.cxd5 exd5 11.e5 e8 12.c2 g6 Black's pieces are a little sluggish in getting going, so Turov switches to attacking mode... 13.h4! c5 [ It's far too risky to snatch the pawn: 13...xh4?! 14.g3 g5 ( 14...e7 15.h6 g7 16.d2 ) 15.f4 e7 16.f5 with a strong attack. ] 14.h5! Offering a piece for attacking time. c4 15.xg6 fxg6 16.hxg6 h5 Black must slow down W hite's attack as much as possible. 17.xh5 [ My computer prefers 17.h6 e.g. g7 18.xg7 xg7 which further denudes the black king, f or e xa mp le 19.xh5 h8 20.f4 xh5 21.xh5+ (simp les t ) h6 22.f2 and Rh1 is coming. ] 17...g7 18.h7 f5 Gaining a tempo that com plica tes W h it e's ta sk. 19.f2 e8 20.f4 g5 [ 20...xd4 21.xd4 xf4 22.e2 is another unpalatable option for Black. ] 21.xb7 xf4 22.xd5 Black's extra piece is hardly relevant, his position is falling to pieces. c6 23.e4 [ 23.g7! wins on the spot, for example xg7 24.e7+ ] 23...g5 24.g7 Still winning, but not quite as c l e a n l y a s o n t h e p r e v i o u s m o v e . xg7 25.xb8! axb8 26.e7+ xe7 27.xc6 Black's king is very open and White's sea of pawns and rampant queen eliminate any chances of resistance. b5 28.d5 fc8 29.g6 c5 30.e6 1-0
1857
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1883 Urban,Klaudiusz Macieja,Bartlomiej 58th ch Warsaw POL (11) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 1884 2429 Uribe,Mauricio 2578 Buhmann,Rainer 29.03.2001 Heroes Day Cup Masters (4) [Glenn Flear]
1.c4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.a3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.h3 b5 A rather dubious novelty - I think. 7.dxe6 bxc4 8.g5 Sometimes primitive can be effective. d5!? [ 8...e7 9.a4 and c4 will fall without compensation. Black's choice looks like a better practical punt, with chances to get a pawn and confusion for the exchange. ] 9.f7 e7 10.xh8 xe6 11.e3?! Passive. [ 11.f4 ] 11...c6 12.b5 0-0-0 13.e2 c5 14.0-0 xh8 15.d4 xd4 16.exd4 e4 17.g5 [ 17.e3!? f4 18.f3 f5 19.c1 g5 ] 17...xd4 [ 17...xd4!? 18.e1 xe2+ ( 18...e8 19.f1 xe1 20.xe1 xe1 21.xe1 e4 22.f4 ) 19.xe2 d4 ] 18.xf6 gxf6 19.f3 d8 20.e1 xd1 21.axd1 e5 22.e2 g8 [ 22...f4!? prepares to lose some material in order to keep the N on e5 and create ta c t ica l c ha n ce s: 23.d4 f3 24.xf3 ( 24.gxf3 c5 25.h4 d4 ) 24...c5 25.h4 ( 25.d2 xf3+ 26.gxf3 g8+ 27.f1 c3 ) 25...xf3+ 26.gxf3 d4 ] 23.f4! Now white gives up a pawn to get active. g6 24.f3 xf4 25.e7 h6 26.d4 g6 27.h7 c5 28.xd5 cxd4 29.xg8 c3 30.e6+ b8 31.bxc3 dxc3 32.xf5 h4 33.c2 xg2 34.xb7+ xb7 35.xg2 c6 36.f3 d5 37.f4 d4 38.h4 h5 39.f5 e3 40.xf6 f4 41.d1 a5 42.g6 e3 43.xh5 d2 44.a4 1-0
A40 2416 2582 29.04.2009
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 5.d3 In my experience Black gets adequate counterplay against this move. [ An interesting and perhaps better a lt e rn a t ive i s 5.e5!? e7 6.f3 h6 ( instead of this rather slow move I recommend the immediate 6...d6 7.exd6 xd6 8.e2 g6 9.0-0 xc3 10.bxc3 f4 11.xf4 xf4 12.e5 0-0 which led to equality and a quick draw in Moskalenko, V-Stefanova, A Malaga 2000) 7.d3 xc3+ 8.bxc3 d6 9.0-0 d7 10.f4 d5 11.cxd5 xd5 12.d2 c5 13.e2 Bjelobrk, I-Roy Chowdhury, S Sydney 2009 and White was sitting pretty with his bishop pair. ] 5...f5 6.h5+ g6 7.e2 f6 8.g5 [ Black has good chances following 8.f3 c6 9.e3 fxe4 10.fxe4 e5! ] 8...fxe4 9.xe4 xe4 [ Po ssib le is 9...xe4!? 10.xd8 xc3 11.bxc3 xc3+ 12.f1 xa1 Gruenfeld, YPrie, E Paris 1990 with a position which is difficult to judge. However it's not really necessary to seek obscure complications as the text seems to lead to clear equality, so the text move is more popular. ] 10.xf6 xf6 11.xe4 0-0 [ 11...c6 12.f3 xc3+ 13.bxc3 0-0 14.0-0 transposes. ] 12.f3 White has no real alternative at this point with f2 hanging. c6 13.0-0 xc3 14.bxc3 ae8 The alternative plan is do ub ling ro oks on t h e f -f ile . I n an y ca s e W hite's space advantage compensates for his slightly compromised pawns. [ Black has plenty of opportunities to play for more than half-a-point e.g. 14...f4 15.e2 ( if 15.fe1 then xe4 16.xe4 f5 17.d1 af8 18.d5 d8!? isn't clear) 15...ae8 ( 15...f5!? ) 16.fe1 e5 17.d5 a5 18.d2 b7 19.e4 d6 20.d2 e4 with an edge to Black, Gonzalez Velez, F-Zvjagintsev, V Terrassa 1996 ] 15.ad1 f5 16.fe1 a5?! This may not be such a good idea as the knight can never 1858
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 come to c4 under favourable circumstances. If Black doesn't commit himself so early it's difficult to see how White can be better. 17.c5 xe4 18.xe4 c6!? [ 18...c4 looks natural but then White has an edge with 19.e5 xe5 20.dxe5 e7 21.a4 ] [ After 18...bxc5 19.dxc5 b7 20.c6 Black will have the worse pawn structure. ] 19.e5 d8 20.b1 The idea is to obtain a concession from Black. d5!? A surprise! Black changes radically his structure and is thus left with some shaky pawns but on the p o s i t i ve s id e h e f re e s h is r o o k f r o m t h e def ence of the d7-pawn. 21.cxd6 xd6 22.g3 c8 23.be1 c5 Counterplay! 24.f3 cxd4 25.xd4 [ 25.cxd4!? c6 ( 25...c2!? ) 26.xe6 xd4! doesn't quite equalize e.g. 27.xd4 xd4 28.e7 a4 29.b7 xa2 30.ee7 and W hite will have the draw in hand in the complications. ] 25...d7 [ 25...xc3?? 26.b5 ] 26.xe6 xc3 27.f4 c8 Well noticed! White's initiative has run out of steam and the game looks fairly balanced. 28.g5 f8 29.fe4 h6 30.e6 e8 31.f4 xe4 32.xe4 f7 33.h4 b7 34.h5!? [ 34.e2 is the most solid. ] 34...gxh5 35.xh5 c5 36.g4?! [ Safer is 36.e2 but even here Black is at least equal e.g. e6 37.g2 b5 ] 36...e6 37.e4 d2 38.a4? [ Necessary was 38.f4! c5 39.e2 ] 38...a5 39.g2 d4? [ 39...g6 40.f4+ xf4+ leaves Black clearly on top. ] 40.a3 a4 41.f3+ e7 42.f6 Now with his knight back in the game White should be OK. g5 43.g8+ d6 44.f6+ c5 45.xh6 b5 46.f5+ d5 47.f4 e6 48.xd5+ xd5 49.f5 b4 50.e3+ d4 51.f5?! Giving away some squares to Black's knight. [ 51.f3 b3 52.axb3 axb3 53.d1 looks playable. ] 51...g5 52.f2 d3 53.f6?? A blunder. [ 53.g4! should still hold e.g. b3 54.axb3 a3 55.d5! d4 56.b4 c3 57.a2+ xb3 58.c1+ and Black can't win. ]
53...e4+ 54.e1 56.axb3 axb3 0-1
xf6
1885 Vallejo Pons,Francisco Bunzmann,Dimitrij 1st ch-Europe (11) [Neil McDonald]
55.f5
b3
A40 2528 2502 14.07.2000
1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.a3 f5 4.g3 b7 5.d5 b5! 6.b3 [ Philidor would have been delighted: White b e g i n s w i t h s i x p a w n m o v e s ! 6.b3 was an interesting alternative. ] 6...f6 7.g2 bxc4 8.bxc4 a6 9.h3 d6 10.0-0 0-0 11.c3 c5 12.b1 b8 13.e3 a6 14.xb8 xb8 15.xc5 xc5 16.a4 b6 17.b1 d6 18.f4 White appears to have the edge, but whereas the black bishop on a6 is pretty miserable, his brother in arms on c5 will prove capable of generating some fearsome counterplay. d4 19.dxe6 dxe6 [ Not 19...xc3 20.c5 ] 20.d3 c5 Again [ 20...xc3 21.c5 regains the piece with advantage. ] 21.b5 xb5 22.xb5 f4! This is just the sort of thing Daring Defenders love: so far W hite has been having all the fun on the queenside but now he is suddenly rocked back by an attack aimed directly at his king. 23.xf4 g4 24.f3 [ Believe it or not 24.e3? xe3! 25.fxe3 d2 leads to mate in five moves! ] 24...xf2 25.g2 h8 26.xa7 e3 This clears the way for the black queen to enter the att ack. It is qu ite possible tha t objectively speaking White is doing very well, but in a practical game against a time limit it is no surprise that the threats to his king soon lead him into big trouble. 27.b6 d2 28.xe6 g8 29.b1 d1 30.b3 c3 31.b2 e1 32.h3 This begins a hair raising journey. White is lucky he isn't playing a computer here! f1+ 33.g4 h5+ 34.f5 h3+ 35.e5 e8 36.d5 d4+ 37.d6 e4+ 38.d7 f6+ 39.d6 e4+ 40.d7 f6+ 41.d6 f5 42.xd4 cxd4 43.b7 1859
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e4+ 44.xe4 e5+ 45.d7 e7+ 46.c8 d6 9.b5 e7 10.f4 a6 11.c3 0-0 e8+ 47.d7 e7+ 48.c8 xb7 49.xb7 12.h3 d6 13.0-0 e5 14.d2 c7 15.b4 d3! 50.exd3! White has to give up the rook, h8 16.b3 h6 17.ad1 e8 18.c1 but remarkably he is still able to save himself. f7 19.h1 ae8 20.d2 d8 21.fd1 xb2 51.c5 This passed pawn, supported by g4 22.b1 f6 23.c3 g4 24.c2 king and bishop, proves to be as powerful as f6 25.cd2 1/2-1/2 Babula,V-Bunzmann,D the black queen. xa3 52.c6 f8+ 53.d7 Germany 1999. ] f5+ 54.c7 e5+ 55.c8 g8 56.a6 6.b3 a5 57.b7 b4+ 58.a7 d6 59.b7 [ 6.b3 a6!? ( 6...c8 ) 7.xb5? ( 7.e3 b4+ He cannot let the passed pawn advance. b8! 8.xa7 bxc4 9.b5 c6! 10.dxc6 A sad end for Black would be xc6 11.xa6 b5! 12.b6 xb6 13.a7 [ 59...d5?? 60.c4 ] c6 14.f3 xb2-+ ) 7...c5! ] 60.a7 c5+ 61.b7 b4+ 6...bxc4 7.bxc4 a6 ½-½ [ 7...exd5!? leads to sharp and interesting play - worth investigating for next time... ] 8.g2 d6 9.h3 f6 10.0-0 0-0 11.c3 1886 A40 c5 12.b1 b8 13.e3 a6 14.f4 e5 Vallejo Pons,Francisco 2554 15.d3 xd3 16.xd3 e4 17.d4 g4 18.f4 xf4 19.gxf4 f6 20.xf6 xf6 Krakops,Maris 34th Olympiad (11) 08.11.2000 21.e3 d6 22.b4 a5 23.a4 a6 24.c1 d7 25.xa5 [Jon Tisdall] ½-½ 1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.a3 b7 4.d5 f5 5.g3 b5!? An interesting new idea, and typical of A40 the English Defence. We have seen the more 1887 typical treatments before, and there is nothing Vallin,Guillaume 2359 wrong with them either. Buhmann,Rainer 2498 [ 5...f6 6.g2 a6 ( 6...e4 7.f3 c5 EuChJun Boys (2) 17.07.2001 8.0-0 f6 9.d3 0-0 10.bd2 exd5 [Jon Tisdall] 11.cxd5 e8 12.b1 xf2 13.xf2 e3 14.c2 xe2 15.xc5 bxc5 16.xe2 These two games are rather classical as far xd5 17.b3 c6 18.b2 d6 19.be1 as English Defences go, - that is, they are so d4 20.xd4 cxd4 21.xd5+ xd5 close to Queen's/Nimzo-Indians that they are 22.e5 c6 23.xd4 f8 24.c4 d6 almost "beyond the scope" of this section 25.e7 f7 26.e8+ f8 1/2-1/2 Jakobsen, but they are neat new game that illustrate e6 O-Ward,C Copenhagen 1998.) 7.h3 d6 useful types of positions to know. 1.d4 8.0-0 0-0 9.b4 e5 10.a2 exd5 11.cxd5 2.c4 b6 3.f3 [ 3.a3 g6 4.f3 g7 5.g3 e7 6.g2 0-0 e4 12.d3 c6 13.xe4 fxe4 14.xe4 7.c3 a6 8.a4 d5 9.cxd5 xd5 f6 15.d6 e8 16.xe8 axe8 17.d1 c5 18.b5 b8 19.g5 xg5 20.xg5 f5 Taking with the pawn is less logical compa red t o a Q ueen's Ind ian t he Ne 7 21.h3 e4 22.c3 c4 23.d3 g5 24.f3 blocks quick pressure on the e-file and is far g4 25.f4 gxf3 26.exf3 d4 27.ad2 xf3 28.xd4 cxd4 29.xd4 a6 30.a4 from using the e4 square. 10.g5 c8 c5 31.d3 g4 32.e3 f8 33.fd5 11.d2 xc3 12.bxc3 b7 13.e4 c5 axb5 34.axb5 e6 35.xb6 f7 36.f2 14.0-0 d7 15.xd7 xd7 16.e5 xg2 17.xg2 cxd4 18.cxd4 f6 19.exf6 xf6 h5 37.ba4 c4 38.f3+ g7 39.f4 c8 40.e3 g6 41.d2 g7 42.d3 20.f3 d5 21.fe1 f7 22.d2 f6= g6 43.b6 e8 44.d4 f7 45.e4 23.h4 ac8 24.ac1 a5 25.h1 h5 26.he1 fe8 27.h3 g8 28.g5 g7 e6 46.d5 g7 47.e7 1-0 Anand,VSadler,M Monte Carlo 1998. ] 29.d2 f6 30.g5 g7 31.d2!? xd4 32.e4 xc1 33.xc1 e5 34.c6 b8 [ 5...c6 6.g2 cxd5 7.cxd5 f6 8.c3 1860
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 35.d6 c3 36.f6+?! ( 36.d7+= ) [ 7.g2 bxc4 8.h3 a6 9.0-0 c5 36...g7 37.d6 f8 38.e6 xf2 10.dxe6 xg2 11.exd7+ xd7 12.xd7+ 39.e7+ g8 40.h6? ( 40.e8+ f8 xd7 13.xg2 b3 14.b1 d6 15.g5 41.e6 ) 40...e4 41.e8+ h7 42.g5 he8 16.d1 h6 17.f3 e4 18.xe4 e3 43.xe3 xe3 44.xe3 d5 45.e5 xe4 19.e3 g5 20.d2 xd2 21.xd2 g4 f6 46.e4 xe4 47.xe4 b2 48.a4 22.h3 gxh3+ 23.xh3 g8 24.c3 e6 b4 49.e6 g7 50.d6 xa4 51.xb6 25.d4 xd4 26.xd4 c5 27.c3 e5 g4 52.a6 a4 53.e6 f7 54.e5 f6 28.xe5 xe5 29.c1 d5 30.c2 b8 55.e8 b4 56.g2 f5 57.f3 b3+ 31.g4 c3 32.bxc3 fxg4+ 33.xg4 c4 58.g2 a3 59.a8 e4 60.a6 d3 34.f4 d3 35.h2 e4 36.xh6 g8+ 61.xg6 c2 0-1 Kaspret,G-Tratar,M 37.h5 xe3 38.c6 xf4 39.xc5 e3 Ljubljana SLO 2001. ] 40.c7 d3 1/2-1/2 Ftacnik,L-Kengis,E 3...b7 4.c3 b4 5.b3 a5 6.a3 xc3+ Leon ESP 2001. ] 7.xc3 f5 8.g3 f6 9.g2 0-0 10.0-0 a4 7...exd5 8.f4!?N This incredibly natural 11.b4 axb3 12.xb3 c6 13.b2 a5 move seems to be a novelty. 14.c2 e4 15.c3 b5! Thematic conquest [ 8.cxd5 has been the overwhelming of useful light squares. 16.cxb5 d5 17.e1 preference, and black has not had problems c4 18.c1 a4! 19.e5 xg2 20.xg2 holding his own: xd5 ( 8...xd5 9.f3 a8! 21.g1 xe5 22.dxe5 b8 23.c5 c5 10.g5 c6 11.xf6 gxf6 12.e3 b6 a5 Black's patience has been rewarded as 13.b4 xe3 14.fxe3 xe3+ 15.e2 he regains his investment while having kept xe2+ 16.xe2 cxb5 17.0-0 a5 18.d4 the superior minor piece. 24.ab1 xb5 axb4 19.axb4 xa1 20.xa1 0-0 21.xb5 25.c2 h6 1/2-1/2 Hofman, R-Grabuzova,T Groningen [ 25...c5!? 26.b3 b5!? ] 1994. ) 9.f3 c5 10.c3 xc3 11.bxc3 26.fc1 c5 27.e3 a6 28.d1 c4 29.d4 e7 12.g2 f6 13.0-0 e4 14.e3 c7 b3 30.g4 fxg4 31.bd1 a8 15.e1 xg2 16.xg2 c6 17.f4 0-0 [ 31...b5 looks more natural, but Black is 18.d5+ xd5 19.xd5 a6 20.ab1 d6 doubtless concerned about Rxg4 and Qg6, 21.fd1 ab8 22.xb8 xb8 23.xf6+ and wants his Q ready for defence on f8. ] xf6 24.f4 f7 25.xd6 d7 26.a4 e6 32.xc4 xc4 33.xb3 c6 34.d4 xd4 27.f1 e4 28.a5 c4 29.c7 e7 35.xd4 e7 Despite the reduced material 30.d3 f6 31.f3 e8 32.d8+ e6 White's king position is precarious. 36.b8+ 33.e3+ d7 34.g5 f6 35.e5 xc3 h7 37.d6?? 36.xf6 gxf6 37.xf5 e6 38.h5 a6 [ 37.b1+ f5 ] 39.h4 c2 40.xh7 a2 41.c7 xa5 37...c1+ 38.g2 f5 39.xd7 h4+ 42.h5 d6 43.c8 b5 44.a8 a5 45.f2 40.g3 g1+! c4 46.h6 h5 47.a6+ e7 48.h7 f7 [ 40...g1+! 41.xh4 ( 41.f4 g6+ 49.xa5 1-0 Zimmerman, Y-Gara,T 42.e4 b1# ) 41...g2! ] Budapest 1999. ] 0-1 8...a6 9.g2 c6 10.d6+ xd6 11.xd6 b6 12.cxd5 e4 [ 12...g4 13.h3 cxd5 14.f4 1888 A40 Bla ck' s ch ron ic p ro ble m in t h is t ype o f position is that even if he manages to trade Van Wely,Loek 2714 the weakling on d5 for, say, the pawn on b2 Lputian,Smbat G 2618 (which will be hard to arrange safely), his FIDE WCh KO Moscow RUS (2.2) 30.11.2001 remaining pawn structure is so bad that [Jon Tisdall] wh i l e wi l l h a ve a n e t e r n a l a d va n t a g e . ( 14.xd5?? a5+ )] 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 b5 Lputian needs to win with black 13.xe4 fxe4 14.h3 c5!? Given the to avoid elimination in the FIDE KO world considerations above, black strives to regain d5 without compromising his pawn structure, championships. 7.xb5 1861
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.cxd6 cxd6 21.c2 d7 22.e2 c5 23.c3 b3 24.b1 a4 25.c4 c7 26.b4 c5 27.f1 f4 28.xc5 fxe3 29.c4 xb1 30.xb1 c8 31.fxe3 xc5 32.xc5 xc5 33.b4 h6 34.e4 e3+ 35.h1 c1 36.g2 c2+ 37.h1 c1 1/2-1/2 Mednis,E-Plaskett,J/Luxembourg 1990 (37) ) 11.e1 xg2 12.xg2 bd7 13.c2 e5 14.dxe5 xe5 15.d5 f7 16.ad1 ae8 17.gf4 h8 18.xf6 xf6 19.c5 dxc5 20.bxc5 c4 21.xc4 xc4 22.xf6+ xf6 23.d7 c6 24.fd1 e5 25.d8 xd8 26.xd8+ g7 27.cxb6 axb6 28.a4 c4 29.c8 c6 30.b8 xa4 31.xb6 a7 32.e6+ f6 33.d4 c7 34.f4 d7 35.xc6+ xc6 36.xc6 h6 37.f2 c5 38.f3 b3 39.e3 c5 40.b4 e6 41.d5+ f7 42.h3 g5 43.f3 d4+ 44.f2 e6 45.c3 f6 46.e3 b3 47.f3 g6 48.e2 c5 49.d5 e4 50.f3 d2+ 51.g2 e4 52.e7+ f6 53.c6 gxf4 54.gxf4 g6 55.d4 d6 56.e2 h5 57.g3+ g6 58.f3 c4 59.e2 f6 60.d3 b2+ 61.e2 c4 62.f1 d6 63.d2 e6 1889 A40 64.d3 e8 65.c4 f6 66.b3 h5 67.d4+ f6 68.e2 e6 69.c5 g7 Van der Sterren,Paul 2526 70.d4+ f6 71.d6 e8+ 72.c6 g7 Rustemov,Alexander 2553 73.d7 f7 74.d6 f6 75.e2 e6 Bundesliga 1999-2000 (11) 20.02.2000 76.c3 d8 77.d5+ g6 78.c7 e6+ [Jon Tisdall] 79.d7 c5+ 80.d6 d3 81.e6 c5+ 82.e7 a6 83.d6 h5 84.e7 1.c4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.a3 f5 5.f3 1-0 Afifi,A-Russek,G/Dubai 1986/TD (84) ] f6 6.g3 g6 7.g2 [ 7.d5 g7 8.dxe6 dxe6 9.xd8+ xd8 8...0-0 9.0-0 a6 10.b1!? c5 11.d2!? 10.g2 c8 11.0-0 e4 12.xe4 xe4 W h it e com b in e s t h e id e a o f a n e ve n t u a l 13.g5 xg2 14.xg2 d7 15.d1+ e7 expansion with b4 and restricting the orbit of 16.f3 c6 17.g5+ e8 18.ab1 h6 the black Nc5. exd5 [ 11...a5 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 a6 14.b3 19.e3 g5 20.b4 d8 21.b5 a5 22.dc1 must be playable for black - in the game he g4 23.e1 d4 24.xd4 xd4 25.c5 h7 seems very intent on not having to retreat to 26.d3 e4 27.c2 d7 28.b4 ed4 a6 with the N, but with the exchange of a29.cxb6 cxb6 30.e5 d2 31.c3 7d6 pawns, black has more counterplay on the 32.e4 e2 33.c8+ e7 34.g6+ f7 qu e e n sid e a n d it is n o t su ch a t e rrib l e 35.exf5 dd2 36.f8+ g7 37.fxe6 xe6 square for the horse. In the game black 38.f4 e1 39.a8 dd1 40.h5+ g6 could get a more comfortable version of this 41.xg4+ xh5 42.ag8 1-0 Adianto,Ukind of position. ] Hamdouchi,H/Moscow 1994 ] 12.cxd5 e8 7...g7 8.d5 [ 12...e7 13.c2 ac8 14.b4 ce4 [ 8.0-0 0-0 9.b4 e7 10.b2 d6 ( 10...a5 15.dxe4 fxe4 16.g5 e5 17.xf6 xf6 11.b3 d6 12.ac1 bd7 13.fd1 e4 18.xe4 xd5 19.xf6+ xf6 20.e4 ] 14.e3 df6 15.xe4 xe4 16.d5 xf3 17.xf3 e5 18.c5 bxc5 19.bxc5 ab8 13.c2 d6?! A kind of admission of defeat but this will involve a great deal of time and risk. [ 14...cxd5 15.e5 0-0 16.f4 ] 15.e5 0-0 16.f4 f5 17.c3 c7 [ 17...g5!? is hideous, but produces the kind of total randomization needed - white is kept off balance, and black brings swift pressure to bear on f2 and d5, at the cost of exposing his king. The game continuation is more mature, but probably less promising. 18.h5 af8 ] 18.a4 e3 [ 18...xd5 19.xd7 xc3 20.xf5 xb2 21.0-0 ] 19.fxe3 xd5 20.xd7 xc3 21.xf5 xh1 22.bxc3 Black has absolutely no compensation for the sacrificed material white's extra pawns give him needed king cover and allow him to attack without inhibition. e8 23.d1 c6 24.d6+- c4 25.e6 e4 26.g4 b1+ 27.d1 b7 28.c5 a8 29.d7 g6 30.xc4+ 1-0
1862
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 this self-inflicts some structural damage, and c6 and c7 will now be a constant source of concern. [ 13...a5 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 a6 looks like an improved version of a position examined earlier - black's rook is already clear for action on the e-file and white must lose a tempo with his queen if he decides b3 is the square for her. This s e e m s t h e l ik e ly p la ce t o c o n t in u e t h e theoretical debate next time. ( 15...ce4 16.dxe4 fxe4 17.g5 )] 14.b4 cd7 15.b3 a6 16.d1 e7 17.d4 f8 18.g5! This move guarantees white a lingering central grip on the position. H e r e m o v e s o n e o f t h e f e w p i e c e s wi t h potential in the black camp, and prevents ... Ne4 which would undermine White's contact wit h t h e d 5 p a wn . ac8 19.bc1 f7 20.xf6 xf6 21.e3 f7 22.c6 The knight does not do a great deal here, but it cramps black a bit further. W hat is most unpleasant about black's position is that the threats he faces are rather vague, and it is hard to see how to improve his position. He doesn't want to sit there while white builds up behind the Nc6 he doesn't want to take the Nc6, when the absence of the Bb7 makes the queensid e more vulnerab le. But the Bb 7 doesn't really have much to do except take the Nc6... Just not much fun, this position for black. xc6 23.dxc6 h8 24.d5 e6 25.f4 a8 Preparing for eventual probes on the queenside, and actually preparing ...a5, which will either create a square for the N on c5, or open the a-file, which black controls. 26.b3 a7 27.f1 b8 28.e1 a5 This allows white to regroup. Perhaps black should have just waited to see how white intended to improve his position . 29.c3! A p o we rf u l re t rea t . No w wh it e th re a t e n s Nb 5 x c 7 ! e xp lo i t in g t h e p i n o n t h e a 2 -g 8 diagonal and also the annoying Bc4. xc3 30.xc3+ g7 31.b3 f8 32.e4 The beginning of the end - Black's pieces are too passive and uncoordinated to cope with the position opening. axb4 33.axb4 ba8 [ 33...d4+ doesn't accomplish anything as the e4 pawn cannot be held. 34.h1 fxe4 35.c4 f2 36.c3+ g8 37.cxe4+- ] 34.d5 a4 35.c4? There was no reason
to rush [ 35.b1 would have left black struggling to find something to do. ] 35...b5? Probably both players are short of time. Black presumably avoided [ 35...xb4! 36.exf5 gxf5 for fear of ( 36...a5 37.f6 ) 37.e7?? which meets with the desperate but winning xc4! ] 36.xb5 xb4 37.c4 ba4 38.exf5 xc4? [ 38...gxf5 was better since Re7 is still not a real threat. ] 39.xc4 a1 40.cc1 xc1 41.xc1 gxf5 42.xf5 d4+ 43.h1 g6 44.e6 e5 45.f6+ g8 46.fxe5 e4+ 47.g1 e3+ 48.g2 [ 48.g2 xc1 49.d8+ leads to an easily winning queen ending. ] 1-0
1890 Vareille,Francois Winants,Luc France [John Emms]
A40
2003
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b4+ 3.d2 a5 4.e4 It's very natural for W hite to claim all that available space in the centre with this move, but I don't think it's too frightening for Black, whose main option is the typical ...d7-d6 and ...e6-e5 plan. [ Another idea for White is to clarify the situation over the bishop on b4 with 4.a3 xd2+ 5.xd2 N o w f o l l o w i n g f6 we return to Bogo positions in which both sides have made moves their a-pawns. This probably favour Black slightly, e.g. 6.c3 d6 7.f3 bd7 8.g3 0-0 9.g2 e5 10.d1 exd4! 11.xd4 a4! , fixing White's b-pawn - Black will continue with ...Nc5, Singer-Eingorn, Oberwart 2000. ] 4...d6 [ 4...d5 is a sound alternative for Black: 5.a3 ( 5.cxd5 exd5 6.e5 e7 7.c3 0-0 8.d3 f5 9.g5 xd3 10.xd3 d7 11.f3 f6 12.exf6 xf6 13.0-0 d7 looked okay for B l a c k i n N i k o l i c - L a r s e n , N i k s i c 1 9 8 3) 5...xd2+ 6.xd2 c6 ( or 6...dxe4 7.xe4 f6 8.c3 0-0 9.f3 b6 10.e2 b7 11.0-0 bd7 12.e1 e4 13.xe4 1863
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xe4 14.d3 with perhaps a very slight edge for W hite, Summerscale-W ard, Swansea 1995.) 7.gf3 ge7 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 dxe4 10.xe4 f5 11.d5 exd5 12.cxd5 ce7= Bagirov-Eingorn, Minsk 1983 ] 5.f3 The most obvious move, but perhaps not the best. [ I believe White has more chances of k e e p i n g a s m a l l p l u s a f t e r 5.c3! , f o r e x a m p l e f6 ( or 5...e5 6.a3! - the point of White's previous move - xc3 7.xc3 exd4 8.xd4 f6 9.f3 c6 10.f2 with an edge) 6.d3 e5 7.a3 xc3 8.bxc3!? quite paradoxical - White accept the doubled pawns! The position after 8 bxc3 occurred in I. Sokolov-Dizdarevic, Sarajevo 1998. It's now a SÃNmisch pawn structure with White's bishop looking a bit strange on d2. However, the most misplaced unit is Black's pawn on a5 - this would now much prefer to be back on a7, giving b6 support in case of c4-c5 and also vacating the a5-square for a possible ... Nc6-a5. Stohl gives the continuation ( 8.xc3 exd4 9.xd4 c6 10.c3 0-0 doesn't look bad for Black, who will follow up with ...Qe7/... Re8 and ...Ne5) 8...b6 9.e2 b7 10.f3 with an edge for White, although of course Black's position is certainly playable. ] 5...f6 6.d3 [ 6.xb4 axb4 doesn't give Black anything to worry about, for example: 7.bd2 0-0 8.c2 e7 9.e2 e5! 10.dxe5? now White has problems with his d4-square ( 10.0-0 is stronger, although even here after exd4 11.xd4 e8 12.fe1 a6 13.f1 c5 - Atalik - Black can be pretty happy with his position) 10...dxe5 11.0-0 c5! 12.fe1 c6 13.b3 b6! with an ideal position for Black, Sherwin-Atalik, Chalkidiki 2002. ] [ 6.c2 can also be met by e5! , as after 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.xe5 Black can win his pawn back with a comfortable position with d4! ] 6...e5! Using tactics due to the undefended d3bishop in order to play this desirable advance without any further preparation. In my opinion Black has already equalized. 7.h3 Understand ably W hit e wis hes to preve nt .. .Bg4, bu t expending a tempo on this is hardly
threatening. Nevertheless, alternatives also don't amount to much: [ a) 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.xe5 d4! 9.xb4 ( or 9.a4+ b5! 10.xb5+ bd7! ) 9...axb4 10.f3 xb2 11.bd2 c6 12.0-0 d7 with an edge for Black (Atalik). ] [ b) 7.c3 g4 8.a3 xc3 9.xc3 ( maybe White could play a la Sokolov with 9.bxc3!? ) 9...exd4 10.xd4 c6 11.c3 (Kishnev-Mainka, Germany 1997) and now e5 looks equal ] [ c) 7.0-0 g4 8.d5 bd7 9.h3 h5 10.c2 0-0 11.a3 xf3! 12.xf3 xd2 13.xd2 a4! (Pieniazek-Eingorn, Cuxhaven 1993) and Black will follow up with .. .Nc5. ] 7...0-0 8.0-0 xd2 9.xd2 c6 10.c2 [ Or 10.d5 b4 11.c3 xd3 12.xd3 h5 followed by ...Nf4, ...f7-f5 etc. ] 10...h5! 11.c3 f4 12.d5 e6! 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.e3?! This is too accommodating and Black now takes control. [ 14.a4 looks like a better bet. ] 14...cd4! 15.xd4 xd4 16.fc1 c6 17.c3 e6 18.d3 h4 Black has control of the d4-square and a definite edge here. 19.e2 ad8 20.d1 h6 21.g3?! g6 22.e1? xh3! 23.xa5 g4 24.e1 g5 25.c3 h5! 26.f1 h4 27.e2 xe2 28.xe2 d7 29.c5 e6 30.ad1 fd8 31.b4 f4 32.f3 d2 33.xd2 xd2 34.c4 d8? [ 34...d4! ] 35.c3 h3 36.g3? [ 36.xe5! ] 36...h2+ 37.xh2 xf2+ 38.g1 h3+ 39.h1 g5 40.f1 xf1+ 41.xf1 f2+ 42.g2 xe4 43.d3 f5 44.e3 f6 45.d3 e4 46.c4 g4 47.d4 f3+ 48.g1 xg3+ 49.f1 e3+ 50.e2 f3+ 51.d2 xc4+ 52.xc4 e3+ 0-1
1891 Varga,P1 Bunzmann,Dimitrij ch-FRA National 1 (11) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2432 2540 08.05.2005
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5!? 5.exf5 b4+!? Over the years, Bunzmann 1864
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 has stuck with this move through thick and thin but I'm not convinced about it's soundness. 6.f1 f6 7.c5!? A sharp idea that threatens to trap Black's bishop. bxc5 8.a3 c4 In order to stop his bishop being overwhelmed by a pawn phalanx. [ 8...a5? 9.dxc5 followed by b2-b4 favours White. ] 9.xc4 a5 10.fxe6 dxe6 11.e2 [ Otherwise 11.a4+ c6 12.f3 0-0 13.c3 h8 14.b5 ( 14.e3 b6 ) 14...xc3 15.bxc3 d6 16.c2 e5 17.a4 e4 18.xc6 xc6 19.e5 a6+ 20.g1 e6 21.a3 also proved to give White the better game in Terrieux,K-Bunzmann,D Lille 2005. ] [ Nobody has dared grab the e-pawn with 11.xe6 although there is no obvious refutation. W hite has two extra pawns for the moment, but is tangled up, and after say a6+ 12.e2 d6 13.d5 c6 14.g1 cxd5 it's only one pawn in an unclear position. ] 11...0-0 12.f4 d6 13.c3 [ I can't see anything wrong with 13.xe6! e.g. c6 ( 13...a6? is dubious after 14.e2 ) 14.c5+ h8 15.f3 and the two pawn deficit isn't compensated for in my opinion. ] 13...h8!? [ More solid is 13...xc3 14.bxc3 d5 bu t t h e t e xt is m o re in t h e sp irit o f t h e opening. ] 14.e2 e8 15.e5 c6 16.xd6 cxd6 17.e3 [ It's curious how White never got round to taking the e-pawn in this game. Now it's too late... 17.xe6? xc3 18.bxc3 a5 19.c7 ( 19.a2? a6+ 20.g1 c4 wins the knight as W hite's back rank is vu ln e ra b le .) 19...xc4 20.xa8 xa8 and Black is much better. ] 17...xd4!? [ Otherwise after 17...e5 18.dxe5 xe5 19.e2 Black has active piece play as compensation for the pawn. ] 18.xd4 e5 19.b4 exd4 20.b5 d5 21.d3 b6 22.d6 e7 23.xb7 xb7 It may be equal material but computers will prefer W hite in this position due to Black's doubled d-pawns. However Black's pieces now become active: The rooks on the open 'e'
and 'c' files and his knight hops about to cause random mischief. Black may be able to use some key squares such as c3, c4 and e4 and W hite's pieces are in general lacking mobility in the central arena. So things are in fact far from clear. 24.g3 c7 25.g2 e8 26.hd1?! The start of a misguided plan as chasing the front d-pawn turns out be wrong. Instead [ 26.he1 xe1 27.xe1 c3 28.h4 xa3 29.e7 is double-edged. ] [ K e e p i n g t h e k n i g h t o n f 4 w i t h 26.h4 also comes into consideration. ] 26...g5 27.e2 g4 28.h3 e5 29.b5?! [ 29.a2 would hold things together for now but Varga clearly still hadn't realized that he was in such danger. ] 29...f8 30.xd4? A fatal error. Instead [ 30.f4! gxf4 31.gxf4 would be playable but Black should be somewhat better after c4 ] 30...c2! A shattering blow that must have come as a terrible shock to White. 31.h1 [ If 31.xc2 then xf2+ 32.h1 f3 mates as in the game. ] 31...fxf2 32.xc2 f3 0-1
1892 Vladimirov,Evgeny Rahman,Ziaur Goodricke Open (2) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2586 2465 07.02.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c3 b4 5.f3 e7 [ 5...h4+ is the most English alternative in this variation of the English Defence. 6.g3 h5 A) 7.h3 e5 ( 7...f5 8.f4 f7 9.d5 fxe4 10.fxe4 e5 11.g2 f6 12.d3 xc3+ 13.bxc3 d6 14.c5 bxc5 15.0-0 0-0 16.g4 e8 17.b1 c8 18.h3 bd7 19.g5 g6 20.e3 b6 21.h4 e8 22.f5 xf5 23.xf5 a4 24.xa4 xa4 25.g5 h5 26.b7 xc3 27.xc7 g3 28.xf8+ xf8 29.g2 h5 30.d7 d1 31.c1 f2+ 32.g1 f4 0-1 Borges Mateos,J-Arencibia,W/ Havana 1998/CBM 65 (32)) 8.d5 e7 9.f2 0-0 10.e2 g6 11.d3 xc3+ 1865
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.bxc3 d6 13.g4 d7 14.e3 c5 15.f2 f6 16.h4 e8 17.b1 a5 18.h2 a6 19.d2 g6 20.h5 f4 21.xf4 exf4 22.xf4 a4 23.d2 xc4 24.xc4 xc4 25.b2 a4 26.d4 a3 27.c2 b5 28.c4 a4 29.d3 e8 30.he2 a4 31.f2 g5 32.hxg6 hxg6 33.g2 g5 34.e1 xd3 35.xd3 e5 36.h1 g7 37.b3 aa8 38.c3 h8 39.xh8 1/2-1/2 Sashikiran,K-Speelman,J/ Torquay 1998; B) 7.g2 xc3+ 8.bxc3 f5 9.e5 c6 10.h3 a5 11.f4 f7 12.c5 e7 13.0-0 g5 14.d3 f4 15.f2 f5 16.gxf4 gxf4 17.xf4 g8 18.h1 0-0-0 19.cxb6 axb6 20.e2 h4 21.af1 g7 22.g3 f5 23.f4 dg8 24.e1 xd4 25.cxd4 xf4 26.d2 h4 27.f4 xg2+ 28.xg2 xg2 29.xg2 h3 30.e2 c6 31.e4 g6 32.e3 g3 33.e1 f3 34.d5 exd5 0-1 Vaidya,A-King,D/ Dhaka 1993 (34); C) 7.d2 f5 8.exf5 xf5 9.b5 xd2+ 10.xd2 a6 11.0-0-0 e7 12.d3 f6 13.h3 xf3 14.g5 h5 15.hf1 h6 16.f7 0-0 17.g4 h4 18.c2 f5 19.gxf5 b4 20.d2 xd3+ 21.xd3 xf7 22.fxe6 xf1 23.xf1 dxe6 24.g6 e4 25.f7+ h7 26.xc7 xh2 27.f2 g1+ 28.d2 g6 29.f4 c8 30.e2 b1 31.xe6 xb2+ 32.e1 b1+ 33.f2 f5 34.g3 xf4+ 35.xf4 d3 36.g2 g5+ 37.e5 xc4 38.d5 g6 39.f2 h5 40.d6 e8 41.f6 b5 42.f7 c4 43.f6 xe6 44.xe6 d8 45.e7 g4 46.d7 g3 47.e6 g4 48.e8 xd7 49.xd7 h5 50.g8+ f3 51.f8+ e3 52.e8+ f3 53.f8+ g4 54.g8+ h3 55.e6 g2 56.f5 h2 57.h8 g1 58.xh5+ g3 59.g5+ f2 60.xg1 xg1 61.e5 f2 62.d5 1/2-1/2 Ree,H-Miles,A/ Amsterdam 1978/MCL (62) ] 6.d3 bc6 7.ge2 xc3+ Putting a Nim zo type sp in on th e p osition. B lack's record in this line has been quite encouraging, though there has not been too much experience here yet. [ 7...0-0 8.0-0 f5 9.e3 fxe4 10.fxe4 xf1+ 11.xf1 g6 12.e5 xc3 13.xc3 b4 14.xg6 hxg6 15.b1 h4 16.xg6
f8 17.d1 f5 18.g3 xg3 19.hxg3 a6 20.b3 f8 21.g4 f7 22.e4 e8 23.d2 f8 24.g5 b7 25.a3 c6 26.b4 e7 27.b5 a6 28.a4 g6 29.f2 xf2 30.xf2 axb5 31.axb5 e7 32.d2 c6 33.b4+ e8 34.e4 d8 35.d6 a8 36.g3 cxb5 37.xb5 e4 38.e3 g2 39.d6 f1 40.c7+ e7 41.d6 h8 42.c8+ e8 43.xb6 f7 44.d5 g2 45.d4 f3 46.a4 xg4 47.c3 f3 48.e4 e2 49.a5 e7 50.b4+ e8 51.c3 g4 52.b5 h3 53.c7+ d8 54.a5 e7 55.b4+ d8 56.a5 e7 57.e4 f5+ 58.d4 h3 1/2-1/2 Shamkovich,L-Stean,M/New York 1977 (58) ] 8.bxc3 d6 9.0-0 d7 10.f4 a5 11.f5 exf5 12.g3 Simply recapturing did not offer a sufficient solution to white's weak c-pawns: [ 12.exf5 0-0-0 13.d5 a6 14.c5 xd3 15.c6 e8 16.xd3 xd5 17.xd5 xe2 18.xf7 hf8 19.d5 de8 20.f4 e4 21.xe4 xe4 22.g4 xc6 23.g2 c4 24.f3 h5 25.h3 hxg4 26.hxg4 g6 0-1 Hodgson,J-Bischoff,K/Linares 1996 ] 12...fxe4 13.xe4 d5 14.g5 dxc4 15.xh7 I find it extremely hard to believe that offering pawns to do strange things like this c a n b e a p e r c e n t a g e i n v e s t m e n t . d5 Black is e n route to having a solid extra pawn. For the record, computers are very enthusiastic about the insane [ 15...c5 which no human would play. ] 16.c2 f6 17.e4 0-0-0 18.f4 c6 19.g3 b7 A logical precaution - Black does not want to worry about possible accidents with Bf5 and also prefers not to have his king stuck on c8 if white has time to insert Rb1. 20.b1 a8 21.d2 d5 22.f2 df8 [ 22...de8!? ] [ 22...b7!? ] 23.be1 b7 24.h3 d6 25.f4 xf4 26.xf4 g5?! An impatient move that creates targets in his own camp. It does not spoil anything, just makes things a bit trickier. [ 26...e8 ] 27.d2 d5 28.e2 c6 29.e7 e8 30.xe8+ xe8 31.e2 b7 [ 31...g7!? ] 32.f5 e6 33.xe6 xe6 34.f2 f8 35.g6 d6 36.e2 d7 37.e7 c8 1866
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 38.h3 d8 39.g7 b5 40.e1 e8 41.c2 f7 42.g8 e7 43.f1 d7 44.f5+ c6 45.g3 creating the option of a passed h-pawn. d6 [ 45...d7 46.xd7+ xd7 47.h4 ] 46.c2 d7 47.g4 [ 47.h4 h3+ 48.f2 g4 looks risky for white: 49.f1 e2+ 50.f2 d3 51.d1 f5!? with attacking chances. ] 47...e3 48.h8 b7!? 49.d2 f3+ 50.e2 c6 51.e1 a5 52.a4 f5 [ 52...b5!? ] 53.gxf5 xf5 54.xf5 xf5 55.h7 f3 56.h5 xa4 Black should try to preserve rooks to avoid a technical disappointment most precise is probably [ 56...d3 57.xg5 xh3 58.g3 xa4 ( 58...h7 59.e5!? ) 59.g7 a6! ] 57.xf3 d1+ 58.e4 xh5 59.d2 g4 60.hxg4 xg4 61.d5 c5 62.dxc6+ xc6 63.g5 d6 64.d4 e2 65.e3 d3 66.d2 d7 67.c1 b5 68.b2 b4 69.cxb4 [ 69.cxb4 axb4 70.d2= ] ½-½
1893 Wang Lei Breier,Andreas Young Masters (1) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2440 2227 19.12.1999
e2 57.xd4 f2 58.xf2 xf2 1/2-1/2 Gabriel,C-Bunzmann,D/Germany 1998/GER-chT (58) ] 8...cxd5 9.b5!? This very blunt move poses Black remarkably awkward problems - the bishop on d2 is ideally placed to join the quick of f e nsive . d6 10.b4 e7 11.cxd5 e5 12.c2 [ 12.a4!? is probably even stronger. ] 12...a6 13.xf5 f6 14.xd6+! xd6 15.e6+ e7 16.xe7+?? [ 16.xd6 xb4 17.xe7+ xe7 18.axb4 xd5 and black has some compensation due to his lead in development and white's somewhat vulnerable queenside pawns. ] 16...xe7 17.xd6+ xd6 18.0-0-0 c5 19.f3 a6 20.b1 ac8 21.e4 d3+ 22.a2 c2 23.d2 b3 24.f2 d4 25.h3 b3+ 26.b1 c2 27.c1 hc8 28.cxc2 xc2+ 29.a2 h6 30.g1 d7 31.h3 f8 32.f1 b3+ 33.b1 c5 34.c1 c4 0-1
1894 Watson,John L Wolski,Thomas Falkoner International Team (2) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2357 2305 13.03.1999
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.c5 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 [ 7.fxe6 0-0 8.e3 dxe6 9.a3 ( 9.h3 bd7 e7 6.g3 f6 7.d2 c6 8.g2!? 10.f3 e5 11.xe5 xe5 12.dxe5 e4 [ 8.dxe6 dxe6 9.g2 d7 10.h3 e5 13.g1 xf2 14.xh7+ xh7 15.h5+ 11.b3 d7 12.0-0 0-0-0 13.g5 h6 g8 16.xf2 xf2 17.xf2 d4+ 14.xd7+ xd7 15.xf6 xf6 16.fd1 '0 -1 ,K leinp lat z, S-Le m pe rt , I/ Hye re s o p e8 17.xd7 exd7 18.f4 g5 19.d3 1992' ) 9...d6 10.c3 bd7 11.f3 e8 d8 20.e4 fxe4 21.xe4 xe4 22.xe4 12.g5 h6 13.ge4 e7 14.e2 d8 c7 23.e1 d6 24.f3 f8 25.e3 f6 15.e1 h8 16.g3 c5 17.d5 exd5 26.f1 a5 27.e1 a6 28.b2 b5 18.cxd5 xd5 19.xd5 xd5 20.xh6 29.cxb5 xb5 30.a4 a6 31.e2 xe2 gxh6 21.xe7 xe7 22.xe7 f6 23.e2 32.xe2 e5 33.f3 f8 34.d3 d7 a5 24.f3 b3 25.e1 d5 26.e6 f6 35.d2 f6 36.b2 d5 37.c4+ e7 27.xf6 xf6 28.e4 xe4 29.fxe4 d4 38.d3 b4 39.e3 d8+ 40.e2 d5 30.f1 xe4 31.d2 g7 32.f3 f7 41.e5 h5 42.f4 gxf4 43.gxf4 h4 44.xa5 1/2-1/2 Bereolos,P-Shabalov,A Philadelphia f6 45.xd5 cxd5 46.b7 e5 47.c5 USA 1999. (32) ] exf4 48.a5 c6 49.a6 e5 50.b4 a7 [ 7.e2 d6 8.h5+ f8 9.fxe6 dxe6 51.d3 d4 52.c4 f3 53.b5 c8 10.f3 c6 11.c3 e8 12.ge2 d8 54.d3+ e4 55.f2+ e3 56.d1+ 13.a4 f7 14.b5 f8 15.xd6+ cxd6 1867
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.g5 g8 17.e1 g6 18.h4 e4 19.h3 a5 20.d5 xg5 21.hxg5 exd5 22.cxd5 xg5 23.e4 h6 24.b4 de8 25.d3 c8 26.h5 xf3 27.xf3 d2 28.c3 xa2 29.g1 c4 30.xc4 xc4 31.h4 b5 32.f3 f5 33.f2 b2 34.c1 c8 35.d4 c2+ 36.g3 f7 37.e2 xc1 38.xb2 f6 39.f2 e5 40.dd2 c4 41.b3 a6 42.g4 c8 43.g3 d7 44.e3+ f6 45.de2 xb4 46.e7 c8 47.c7 c4 48.ee7 a5 49.xg7 e5 50.xc4 bxc4 51.c7 a6 52.a7 b5 53.xa5 c3 54.f4+ d4 55.h4 c2 56.a1 e8 57.g5 hxg5+ 58.xg5 f7 59.f6 xd5 60.e7 c3 1/2-1/2 Meessen,R-Bunzmann,D/Leuven 1998 (60) ] 7...bxc5 8.a3 c4 9.xc4 e7 10.fxe6 0-0 11.exd7+ h8 12.e3 bxd7 13.f3 b6 14.e2 bd5 15.d2 e4 16.c3 xd2+ 17.xd2 f4 18.d1 d7 19.h3 f5 20.d5 f6 21.d4 xd4 22.xd4 xd5 23.g4 f7 24.xd5 xd5 25.d2 ad8 26.g1 h5 27.d1 g6 28.f3 g3 29.f2 h4 30.xg3 hxg3 31.h4 e6 0-1
[ I've always preferred 6.xd2 (covering the dark squares and preparing N-c3) as this seems a more harmonious development to me. ] 6...h6 7.gf3 c6 8.a3 0-0 9.c2 f6 Cagey, trying to make it difficult for White to f in d a t a rge t . T h is t h e m e re m in d s m e o f Rahman's critical last-round game against McShane from the 2002 British Championship in Torquay where the Indian had a whole row of pawns along the third rank! Instead [ 9...f5 10.0-0-0!? fxe4 11.xe4 f5 12.d5 proved to be better for White in Prestel,OWilm,G Untergrombach 1999 ] 10.0-0 e7 11.b4 g6 12.g3 f5! Much st ron ger now th at W hite h as f elt it n e ce s sa r y t o s t o p . . . Nf 4 wi t h a s li g h t l y weakening move (12 g3). 13.exf5 xf5 14.e4 Covering the long diagonal but exchanges ease Black's defence. Chances are balanced. xe4 15.xe4 f6 16.e5 ad8 17.f4 It's gives a nice feeling playing such moves, maintaining a strong point and enhancing the space advantage, until the opponent hits back and then we're not quite so sure. .. d5! 18.cxd5 xd5 Black is biting back at the centre. The d5-square being a superb outpost for the rook. 19.df3 xe5!? 1895 A40 Liqu idat ing the e5-o utpo st a t th e co st o f Wells,Peter K 2481 a l l o wi n g W h i t e ' s d - p a wn t o i m p ro v e i t ' s Rahman,Ziaur 2521 placement. [ With the benefit of hindsight I suggest ch Edinburgh SCO (9) 23.07.2003 19...fd8= as being less committal ] [Glenn Flear] 20.dxe5 d8 but Black relies on his control of the d-file to keep his position comfortable. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 [ 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 5.d3 f5 21.g4! The only way to punish Black is to push is a line that isn't easy for White to handle, the knight away. Peter Wells rarely flinches in as the following reference shows 6.e2 f6 the face of a challenge. d4 22.g5 g6 With hindsight probably not the best 7.g5 0-0 8.f3? fxe4 9.xf6 exd3 23.h1 10.xd8 dxe2 11.xc7 xf3 12.gxf3 c6 square. [ I would bravely judge the position after 13.xe2 xd4+ 14.d3 xf3 Derjabin,I23.g2 to be unclear. ] Ivanova,S Mariupol UKR 2003 and Black 23...e7 24.ad1 c5 has a clear extra pawn. ] [ If 24...fd8 imm ed ia te ly t he n 25.d3 [ 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 b5!? (aiming to come to h3) is annoying. ] is known to be messy but White handled it well in the following example: 7.xb5 exd5 25.h4 [ After 25.d3 Black could consider the 8.cxd5 xd5 9.f3 c5 10.g2 a5 positional queen sacrifice xg5! 26.fxg5 11.g5 e4 12.xf6 1/2-1/2 Touzane, Oxf1+ 27.g2 c1 when (as his remaining Miezis,N Montpellier 2003 a bit timid of pieces are so well placed) he seems to be White as he has a pleasant edge. ] OK. ] 3...b7 4.d3 b4+ 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 1868
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.f5 g8 21.f7 1-0. Conclusion: 13... fxe4 is refuted!; B) 13...xe4! 14.ac1 c5! ( Following Gelfand, B-Hamdouchi, H Cap D'Agde 1994 14...exd5 15.cxd5 d6 16.xe4 s e e m s t o f a v o u r W h i t e .) 15.dxe6 ( Bauer describes 15.dxc6 xc6 16.f3 f6 as at least playable for Black.) 15...dxe6 16.f4 f6 17.d3 e5 18.e3 g5 with a fine game for Black, Sher, MLempert, I Yerevan 1996 ] 11...e8 [ T h e r e ' s n o t h i n g w r o n g w i t h 11...e7 12.ad1 ae8 as in Atalik, S-Mamedyarov, S Calvia ol 2004 but Christian Bauer often pre f e rs t o p ut h is qu e e n o n e 8 in s u c h positions as it's less tactically exposed. ] 12.ad1 a5 Gaining further influence on the wing. White's slow development doesn't really stop Black obtaining a comfortable game. 13.f4 ce4 14.xe4 xe4 15.c1 [ In such positions, exchanges with 15.xe4 fxe4 16.xe4 xb2 generally favour Black. ] 15...a4 Fixing the queenside is a slight nuisance for White who has no option now but t o e l im i n a t e t h e a n n o yi n g k n i g h t o n e 4 . 16.xe4 fxe4 17.xe4 xf4 [ Fritz seems to quite like playing for a Dutch1896 A40 style attack with 17...d6!? 18.d3 f6 but this would be risky in a team game. ] Wojtaszek,Radoslaw 2605 Bauer,Christian 2627 18.xf4 exd5 19.c2 [ O b j e c t i v e l y b e s t i s p r o b a b l y 19.xe8 TCh-Top 16 Gp A (6) 01.04.2006 axe8 20.fe1 when White may be able to [Glenn Flear] snatch a pawn e.g. dxc4 21.xd7 f7 22.xf7 xf7 23.xc7 although the 1.d4 b6 2.c4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.a3 f5 5.d5 presence of opposite bishops would make f6 6.g3 a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 this extremely drawish. ] 9.0-0 e5 10.c2 0-0 11.d2 [ Christian Bauer in his recent Everyman 19...c5 20.cxd5 h5 21.e4 Holding onto the book 'play 1...b6' considers 11.d1 e7 extra pawn but allowing a straightforward draw... xf4 22.gxf4 g4+ 23.h1 f3+ 12.e3 'to be critical'. Then ce4 13.xe4 A) Although Bauer considers 13...fxe4?! 24.g1 g4+ to be a valid alternative, the recent game ½-½ Adrian, C-Pucher, O Nancy 2006 seems to put the move under a cloud. That game continued 14.g5 exd5 15.cxd5 xd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.xe4 f6 ( 17...xe3? 18.d5+ 1-0 was the abrupt end to Hof f man, M-Kraai, J Budapest 2003. ) 18.xh7+! h8 19.g6 d5 ( 19...ad8 is n o b ette r a f te r 20.c4 ) 25...fd8 26.g2 A better option but meantime Black has become better organized. c4 27.h5 c6 [ 27...gxh5 is met by the menacing 28.h1 ] 28.hxg6! h6! [ 28...xd1? 29.xd1 xd1 30.gxh7+ g7 31.xc6 is hopeless for Black ] 29.h7?! [ 29.f7! xd1 30.xd1 xd1 31.xc6 looks dubious for Black. ] 29...xd1 30.f6+ f8 31.xd1 xd1 32.xc6 d8! This move invites White to bail out with the draw. A resource not available after 29 Nf7. 33.g7+ [ 33.g3!? is a risky try to "play-on" for a win. Note that d3+? ( Best is 33...c3! when 34.b7 d3+ 35.h4 d7! 36.c6 c7 37.xe6 g7 38.g3 c2 39.h5+ h8 40.g7+ xg7 41.xh6+ h7 42.c6 c7 43.h6+ h7 leading to a draw after all!) 34.h4 xg6 can be met by 35.a8+ e7 36.xa7+ f8 37.b8+ e7 38.c7+ f8 39.c8+ e7 40.xc4 and White stays on top. ] 33...xg7 34.b7+ f8 35.h7+ g8 36.f6+ f8 37.h7+ g8 38.f6+ ½-½
1869
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18...f5 19.xg7 xg7 20.d4+ f6 21.xf6 xf6 22.c3 g8 23.f4! Taking his time and just depriving Black of the e5 square. f7 24.b4 d7 25.a4 f6 26.c6 b8 27.b5 xc6 28.dxc6 Ultimately there's not really much to be done 1.f3 b5 This was one of Bronstein's last about White's queenside pawns but care is tournaments with his love of experimentation still required. d5 29.ad1 d6 30.a4 a8 continuing to the end. Noting Wojtkiewicz's 31.e5 a3 32.xd5 xa4 [ 32...xd5 33.xd5 is every bit as hopeless generally well worked out opening repertoire for Black. ] he probably wanted to try something a bit different. But here too Wojtkiewicz turned out 33.xf6+ xf6 34.d8+ f8 35.e8 c5+ to know exactly what he was doing. 2.e4 b7 36.h1 b4 37.xf8+ xf8 38.xc7 xb5 b8 40.d7 c5 41.c7 f8 3.xb5 xe4 4.d4 f6 5.0-0 e6 6.c4 b7 39.h3 7.c3 e7 8.d5! An important space gaining 42.d5+ xd5 43.xd5 f7 44.d8 1-0 manoeuvre. 0-0 9.a4 [ In a subsequent game Wojtkiewicz preferred 9.a3 perhaps wishing to escape A40 the possibility of preparation, or maybe 1898 because he simply didn't remember the Xu Jun 2668 earlier encounter. The game continued c6 Short,Nigel D 2677 10.dxc6 xc6 11.f4 a6 12.a4 a5 FIDE World Cup Gp B (4) 04.08.2000 13.b4 f5 14.g3 ac8 15.c5 fd8 [Neil McDonald] 16.c1 f8 17.e1 e7 18.e5 ed5 19.xd5 xd5 20.c4 xc4 21.xc4 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 g6!? This move is a n d B l a c k wa s in d e s p e ra t e t ro u b le i n strategically well motivated. After all, White Wojtkiewicz, A (2535) -Hecimovic, I (2230)/ has denied the black bishop an active post on Pula 1998. ] b4 and evidently plans d4-d5. So what could 9...a6 10.a3 Here too White plays this calm be more natural than to clear the g7 square, prophylactic move. as the diagonal a1-h8 is bound to be opened [ Actually I think there's a good case for it as sooner or later by the opponent? 4.c3 g7 after 10.e1 b4 11.g5 c5 12.c2 5.e4 e7 6.f3 xc3 13.bxc3 d6 14.h4 h6 15.d4 exd5 [ In m y o pin io n m ore f le xib le wa s 6.e3 16.f5 cd7 the position was much more f o r e x a m p l e b7 7.d2 h6 8.d3 messy in Eingorn, V (2475)-Semeniuk, A/ keeping the option of Ne2 or maybe f2-f4. ] Soviet Union 1984. ] 6...b7 7.e3 d6 8.d2 h6! The dark 10...c5 11.c2 a5 Securing the knight squares would become grim for Black if he let against W hite's threatened b2-b4. 12.e3 White play Bh6 and exchange bishops. 9.d3 exd5 d7 10.0-0 All this could pass as a game [ Perhaps it would have better to wait with between Paul Morphy and the Rev. Owen in 12...e8 , though in any case I find Black's the mid 19th century. Though I suspect a position deeply unappealing. ] positional genius like Morphy would have 13.cxd5 g6 14.e1 h5 15.e5 g7 found a way to get in the advance f2-f4 before 16.d4 a4 With his position getting worse by re a ch in g t h is p o in t in t h e ga m e - s e e f o r t h e m o v e B r o n s t e in o f f e r s a p a wn in a n example the suggestion at move six. Xu Jun attempt to mix it up. But Wojtkiewicz plays a has an impressive centre but it isn't easy to series of accurate moves which leaves his f i n d a c o n v i n c i n g w a y t o c o n t i n u e . g5! illustrious opponent a pawn down for nothing. This is a good all purpose move. It clears g6 17.xa4 d6 18.g4 for the knight, increases his grip on f4 and in [ 18.xc5 dxc5 19.c3 would also have some lines plans the disruptive g5-g4. 11.d5 been strong. ] g6 12.d4 0-0 13.xg7 xg7 1897 Wojtkiewicz,Aleksander Bronstein,David I Reykjavik op (8) [Nigel Davies]
A40 2560 2400 1994
1870
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Since White has weakened his e5 square with d4-d5 and f4 is also in Black's hands, the exchange of dark squared bishops is not unwelcome for Black. The only fault in his game is now the 'dead' bishop on b7, but Short finds a clever way to bring it back to life. 14.e2 c5! 15.dxc6 This frees the black bishop, but W hite had no wish to concede another dark square- d4- to his opponent. xc6 16.c2?! [ Safer was 16.ed4 ] 16...de5 17.xe5 This is an unhappy exchange for White, but he was compelled by the hanging c4 pawn. dxe5 18.xd8 fxd8 19.fd1 f6 The endgame is much better for Black: he has the superior bishop and more compact pawn structure, notably control over d4. Short now demonstrates his world class technique by grinding down his opponent. 20.f3 h5! 21.f2 f4 22.g3 xe2 23.xe2 g4 24.e3 gxf3 25.xf3 d4! 26.b3 a5 27.xd4?! exd4 28.e2 e5 29.f1+ g6 30.d3 f6 31.d2 d7 32.c1 h4 33.c5 bxc5 34.xc5 hxg3 35.hxg3 a7 36.c4 g5 37.e2 g4+ 38.f2 h7! 39.xa5 h2+ 40.e1 f3 41.d3 g4 42.a6 h6 43.f2 h2+ 44.e1 f5! 45.g6+ h5 46.exf5 e4 47.g8 a2 48.xe4 xe4 49.g4+ h4 50.d8 d3 51.d4 e2+ 52.d1 g5 The king comes to e3 with decisive mating threats. 0-1
1899 Yermolinsky,Alex Blatny,Pavel Frisco Masters (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2601 2512 01.04.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.f3 [ 7.g5 0-0 8.a3 d6 9.c3 exf5 10.d5 h6 11.d2 a6 12.b4 c6 13.dxc6 dxc6 14.b1 xb4 15.axb4 xb4 16.xb4 xd3+ 17.ce2 e4 18.e1 c5 19.b1 xc4 20.a2 xa2 21.xa2 a5 22.f3 a4 23.f4 d6 24.f2 b5 25.ge2 b4 26.a1 fc8 27.d1 b5 28.d7 c6 29.e7 e8 30.xe8+ xe8 31.d3 a3
32.xc5 a2 33.xb4 a1 34.xa1 xa1 35.g4 a2 36.e3 d6 37.h4 c4+ 38.d4 xe2 39.xc4 f2 0-1 Brondum,EPlaskett,J Copenhagen 1981. ] 7...0-0 8.a3 d6 9.c3 exf5 [ 9...e8!? 10.g5 exf5 11.xf5 h5 12.h4 h6 13.g1 xf3 14.xf3 xf3 15.gxf3 hxg5 16.hxg5 e8 17.h7+ f7 18.d5 g6 19.h6 g7 20.xg6 c6 21.d1 d8 22.g2 e7 23.xe7 xe7 24.e4 h8 25.dh1 xh6 26.xh6 d6 27.h7+ f8 28.h8+ g7 29.h7+ f8 30.h8+ 1/2-1/2 Khenkin,I-Bunzmann,D Polanica Zdroj 1999. ] 10.xf5 A typically obscure gambit type of English Defence. Clearly white has long term inconvenience to face due to his king position but it is not so clear how black intends to use that time to build up threats. Blatny's next move is a surprising idea. It guarantees him active pieces and easier access along the ff ile, while in cre a sin g wh it e 's cha n c es o f co o r d in a t i n g h i s f o rc e s m o r e qu i c k l y b y playing Kg2 soon. xf3!? [ 10...c6 11.g5!? e8 12.xf6 xf6 13.e4 is perhaps the kind of position Blatny was trying to avoid - where the "English" B on b7 faces long-term unemployment. a6 14.a4 b7 15.e1 h5 16.b5 h6 17.g5 af8 18.d5+ h8 19.e4 f4 20.xh6 gxh6 21.xd6 cxd6 22.b4 a6 23.e3 b5 24.cxb5 axb5 25.g3 4f5 26.e4 xd4 27.xb7 xf3 28.g2 d5 29.d1 e5 30.f4 c6 31.c3 d8 32.c5 1-0 Sherbakov,R-Volzhin,A Koszalin 1999. ] 11.xf3 c6 12.e3 g6 13.c2 g7 14.g3 h5 15.g2 g4 16.e4 f6 17.d5 f7 18.f4 ae8 19.d3 [ 19.xg6+ xg6 20.xg6 ( 20.xg6? xf4 ) 20...xe3 21.xf8 e2 ] 19...e7 [ 19...xf4 20.xf4 d5!? is an alternative method of creating counterplay, but black assesses more defensive forces around g6 is more important than a bit of pressure against d4. ] 20.ae1 f5 21.d2 xf4 22.xf4 d5 23.b3 h4 24.f3!? An interesting tactical decision. W hite decides to rule out the adventures arising from something like 1871
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 24.xe8 A) 24...xe8 25.f1 ( 25.h3? xf2! ) 25...dxc4 26.bxc4 and black's initiative is running out of gas.; B) 24...h3+!? 25.f3 dxc4 26.bxc4 ( 26.xf8?? d5+ 27.e4 xd4+ 28.xg4 h5# ) 26...xe8 ( 26...xe8 ) 27.xg4 d7 28.e5+ g8 29.f4 h4+! ] 24...xd4 25.xg4 xc2 26.c1 [ 26.e2!? looks strong, to keep the e5 square under control - black has real problems to solve with his wandering knight. ] 26...e7 27.h6+ xh6 28.xc2 e4+ 29.xe4 dxe4 30.e1 f3 31.xe4 xg3+ 32.hxg3 xe4 33.d2 hxg3 34.xg3 a5 35.a4 e6 36.f4 c5 37.f3 g7 38.d5 f6 39.g4 e7 40.f4 f6 41.g4 e7 ½-½
1900 Yermolinsky,Alex Speelman,Jonathan S Premier Hastings (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2560 2620 1995
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 b7 4.f3 b4+ 5.d2 xf3!? Black decides that weakening White's pawn structure is more important than the bishop pair. 6.exf3 xd2+ 7.xd2 f6 8.f4 c6! 9.f3 e7 The point of this knight manoeuvre is to get a f irm grip on the d5 square and so restrain White's centre. 10.g2 0-0 11.0-0 c6! Black treats White's bishop with great caution. 12.c1 b8 13.e5 c8 14.e2 d6 15.f3 c7 16.h3 Wherever this bishop looks he is facing a wall of black pawns. fe8 17.c3 cd8 18.fc1 g6 19.c2 c5! Having established a solid position in the centre Black now becomes ambitious and strives to seize the initiative in the centre. His first task is the elimination of t h e d 4 p a wn . 20.d1 c6 21.e3 d5 22.dxc5 bxc5 23.cxd5 xd5 24.ee1 cb4 Black enjoys an initiative as the white bishop isn't involved in the centre struggle. 25.c4 b6 26.b3 a5 27.e5 a4 28.f3 c2 29.xd8 xd8 30.c1 d4 Finally Black has conquered the d4 square for
his knight. 31.e4 d5 32.g2 White is very uncomfortable as he hasn't any centre pawns with which to expel the black cavalry. b6 33.c4 a6 34.h3 b6 35.f1 xc4 36.xc4 a7 37.g2 b6 38.xa4 xb2 39.h4?? [ A losing blunder, though White is also seriously worse after say 39.e3 c2 planning ...c4. ] 39...e2+ 0-1
1901 A40 Yermolinsky,Camile->Baginskaite Miles,Anthony J 2609 World op Philadelphia (2) 28.06.1999 [Jon Tisdall] I received word via the new ChessPub PGN service that a reader had claimed a main variation was busted. Unfortunately the new system had not retained the analysis, but I was able to get in touch with "SutterCane", who I have chatted with before. I was aware that his claims were certain to be backed up with hard analysis, and he has generously reposted this to me. I have forwarded it to Big Tony (Miles) himself, and hope to hear from him as well. In the meantime, I have been p o r i n g o ve r t h e va r i a t i o n s wi t h m y l i t t l e computer modules ticking away in the background, and offer up SutterCane's conclusions and some supporting variations. I could only find one subvariation that looked worth exploring as a possible counter argument to SC's analysis, and this seems to f all a s well. Th ough the line d id no t loo k t e r ri f yin g a t f i r s t , c lo s e r e xa m i n a t i o n o f White's attacking ideas make it hard to argue wit h t h e c la i m t h a t t h is va r ia t io n s h o u l d probably be scrapped for Black. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 xg2 6.h5+ g6 7.fxg6 g7 8.gxh7+ f8 9.g5 f6 10.h4 xh1 11.e2 f3 An old idea of Otto Hardy's which claimed to be sufficient for equality and which this game seemed to bear out. 12.f4 c6 13.d2 g4 14.g6+ f7 [ 14...e8 15.xh8 xh8 16.g6+ e7 ( 16...f8 17.e4 xd4 18.h6+ e7 1872
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.xf6+ xf6 20.xf6 ) 17.xg4 ] 15.e5+ xe5 16.dxe5 f5 17.xf5 exf5 18.exf6 xf6 [ 18...e8+ 19.f1 xf6 20.h5+ g7 21.h6+ f7 22.f3 e6 23.d1 d6 24.d4 ] 19.h5+ g7 [ 19...f8 20.h6+ e7 21.0-0-0 ] 20.h6+ f7 21.h5+ [ 21.f3!! SutterCane - rather remarkable. It does of course bring an annoying piece into the attack, but it seems unlikely to provide enough firepower with White's king sitting in the centre and so his rook not contributing. But a closer look shows that this has no bearing at all on the attack. e8+ 22.f1 g7 ( 22...e6 23.e1 xc4+ 24.e2 ) 23.h4 A) 23...e6!? jt/fritzie - this seems to be the most likely place to look for improvements, but solving Black's basic developmental problems remains a Herculean chore. 24.d1!? Actually this is b e t t e r t h a n " ! ? " - W h it e e i t h e r wa n t s pressure on d7 or a weakness created on d6, whereupon he will revert to the more natural invasionary route via the e-file. d6 ( 24...g6 25.e1 d6 26.f4 d3+ 27.g2 xh7 28.g3+ ) 25.e1! now this is very strong - thanks to the nudging forward of the d-pawn, White gets in on the e6 square. A1) 25...e5 26.h6 f6 27.h5+ g6 28.g5+ f6 29.h4 f4 30.f3+ e6 ( 30...f5 31.d4+! ) 31.xf4+-; A2) 25...g6 26.d8 f6 27.xf6 xf6 28.g5+ f8 29.e6 g7 30.f4+-; B) 23...e4 24.h5+ f8 25.e1 xh7 ( 25...xc4+ 26.e2 and Black must surrender material to prolong the game, for example f7 27.e7+ xe7 28.xe7 xe7 29.h4 and W hite should win.) 26.xh7 xf3 27.e3 h1+ 28.e2 b1 29.h6 xb2+ 30.f1 xh6 31.xf5+ g8 32.d5+ h7 33.e4+ g7 34.g3+ f7 35.f3+ g7 36.xa8 and here SutterCane ends his main line. "SutterCane", who seems to be one of the leading specialists on this line, tells me that 11...Qe7! is Black's only and
best move, but that this solves all of the opening problems. I hope to have more on this and reactions from Tony Miles on this as well, in our next episode. ] 21...g7 22.h6+ ½-½
1902 Zaja,Ivan Filipovic,Branko Open Pula CRO (9) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2459 2442 19.05.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 b5 7.xb5 exd5 8.cxd5 xd5 [ 8...xd5 9.f3 c5 10.c3 xc3 11.bxc3 e7 12.g2 f6 13.0-0 e4 14.e3 c7 15.e1 xg2 16.xg2 c6 17.f4 1-0 Zimmerman,Y-Gara,T Budapest 1999. (49) ] 9.f3 c5 [ 9...a6!? is more reliable and led to interesting play: 10.c3 b7 11.g2 c5 12.b4 e6 13.0-0 a5 14.b5 c5 15.b3 e7 16.e3 0-0 1-0 Cheparinov,I-Romero Holmes,A/Wijk aan Zee NED 2000. (37) ] 10.g5 c6 11.xf6 gxf6 12.b4 I don't know if I was the first, but this was recommended in my notes to the Romero Holmes game, and looked like a small but distinct edge at the time. 0-0 [ 12...xf3 13.exf3 cxb5 14.bxc5 a5+ ( 14...c6!? ) 15.d2 xd2+ 16.xd2 c6 17.xb5 d4 18.ab1 ] 13.c3 xf3 14.exf3 e7+ 15.e2 b6 16.f4 Ruling out ...f4 ideas that might improve black's kingside structure. a5 17.b3+ h8 18.0-0 A terribly unpleasant experience for black. Development needs to be completed and the f5 pawn is doomed. White does not need to exert himself to gain a clear advantage. axb4 19.axb4 xa1 20.xa1 d5 21.d3 d7 22.xf5 b8 23.a4 d6 24.d1 f8 25.h4 d8 [ 25...g6 26.e2 e7 27.b1 c7 28.c2 g6 29.d4 ] 26.b5?! [ 26.e4! gains c5 and looks even more c o n v i n c i n g s i n c e xb4 ( 26...xb4 27.xd6 xa4 28.f7+ ) 27.xc6 dxe4 1873
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28.xd8 wins. ] 26...c5 27.d4 xd4 28.xd4 cxb5 29.xd5 g7 30.h5 Looks nice to restrict the Nf8, but this pawn can become a target. [ 30.b4! ] 30...a5 31.b4 d8 32.xd8?! [ 32.c6! xd4 33.xd4 h6 34.g4 ] 32...xd8 33.d3 h6 34.g4?! e6 35.d5 b4 36.xb4 [ 36.c4 a5 and Nc5 will create counterplay. ] 36...xf4 37.f5 g5 38.xh7 xg4 39.h6 g5 ½-½
1903 Zhu Chen Short,Nigel D Queens v Kings (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2505 2682 25.07.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 a6!? 4.e4 d5 5.cxd5 [ 5.d2 dxc4 ( 5...c6?! 6.gf3 f6 7.c2 dxc4 8.xc4 xc4 9.xc4 e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.d1 c7 12.g5 Lytchak,AB u n zm a n n , D A p o l d a 1 9 9 7 .) 6.xc4? ( 6.xc4 f6 ) 6...b5! ( 6...xd4 7.gf3 d7 8.e5 c8 9.a4+= ) 7.e2 xd4 8.gf3 d8 9.a4 b4 10.xa6 xa6 11.e2 c5 12.e5 a6 Hastings,JEhlvest,J Philadelphia 1993. ] 5...xf1 6.xf1 exd5 7.e2! e7 8.c3 dxe4 9.xe4 c6 10.g5 h6 11.xe7 xe7 12.e1 White has managed to use his odd king position to get black to follow suit and uncastle. The net result is a rather typical Queen's Gambit structure where Short is very much at home. f8 13.f3 d7 14.g3 f6 15.c2 g6 16.g2 g7 The c6 and d4 weaknesses balance out but Short has vast experience with this kind of position and is happy to play on. 17.a4 e8 18.e2 b5 19.a6?! This looks slightly helpful. [ 19.c2 ] 19...b6 20.xb6 axb6 21.he1 f8 22.c2 ad8 c6 is a tad harder to get at than d4, so black has the tiniest of advan tages . 23.a2 d6 24.ec1 d7 25.e5?! Forcing matters - black gets the
initiative now. xd4 26.xc6 xc6 27.xc6 d2 28.1c2 ee2 29.xd2 xd2 30.c3 xb2 31.d5 e5 32.xb6 g4 33.h3 [ 33.g1 xf2 34.a4 h3+ 35.h1 ( 35.f1 f2+-+ ) 35...g5 36.xb5 a2 ] 33...xf2 34.a4? d3+ 35.f3 bxa4-+ 36.a6 b3 37.a8+ g7 38.c7 a3 39.h4 a2 40.e4 b4 41.e8+ f8 42.f6+ e7 43.d5+ xd5 44.xd5 xg3 45.xa2 g4 46.h2 h5 47.e5 f5 48.h1 e4+ 49.d5 f6 50.h2 g5 51.hxg5+ xg5 52.g2+ f4 53.h2 g4 54.g2+ f3 55.g5 f4 56.xh5 e1 57.d4 g4 58.h8 f3 59.f8 g3 60.g8+ h2 61.f8 g2 62.g8+ f1 63.d3 f2 64.d2 e5 0-1
1904 Zhukova,Natalia Grabuzova,Tatiana 2nd ch-EUR Women (7) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2460 2375 29.04.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 5.e2 b4 6.bc3 xd3+ 7.xd3 d6 8.0-0 e7 9.f4!? [ 9.d5 d7 10.f4 g6 11.d4 0-0-0 12.b4 g7 13.b5 xd4+ 14.xd4 f5 15.e1 he8 16.b2 fxe4 17.xe4 g8 18.c3 f7 19.e3 exd5 20.xd5 xe3 21.xe3 xd5 22.cxd5 xd5 23.a4 b8 24.a5 xb5 25.axb6 axb6 26.d4 c6 27.c1 b7 28.f5 gxf5 29.g5 e8 30.h5 e4 31.f2 f6 32.f7 e7 33.a2 g4 34.a1 e4 35.a7+ c8 36.c1 b7 37.a4 e7 38.b3 0-1 Gelfand,B-Short,N/ Novgorod 1997/CBM 60 (38) ] [ 9.h3 d7 10.e3 g6 11.d5 a6 12.dxe6 xe6 13.h4 g7 14.b3 0-0 15.d4 f6 16.ad1 ae8 17.fe1 c5 18.e3 f5 19.h6 xh6 20.xh6 fxe4 21.g3 f5 22.xf5 xf5 23.e3 1/2-1/2 Bareev,E-Kengis,E/Pula 1997 ] 9...g6 [ 9...d5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.e5 g6 12.d2 h5 13.f5 xf5 14.f4 g7 15.f2 e7 16.cxd5 d7 17.e6 fxe6 18.xc7+ xc7 19.xe6 d7 20.e1 f7 21.xg7 xg7 22.d5 he8 23.c3+ h7 24.d1 1874
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ad8 25.f6 c8 26.b4 e3 27.d2 ce8 28.g5 3e5 29.d6 5e6 30.c1 c8 31.a1 xd6 32.e1 d4 33.a3 c7 34.a2 d1 35.fe2 d4+ 36.h1 d5 0-1 Mussoni,M-Kutuzovic,B/Nova Gorica 1998 (36) ] 10.g3 d7 11.f5 exf5 12.exf5 0-0-0 13.g5 gxf5 14.d5 g8 15.xe7 xe7 16.xf5 h4 17.ge4 g7 18.af1 b8 19.b5 dg8 20.g3 d8 21.d4 e8 22.f6 xf6 23.xf6 e5 24.e2 xb2 25.xf7 xf7 26.xf7 e8 27.f2 a1+ 28.g2 xa2 29.f4 a1 30.e6 e5 31.e2 h5 32.h3 g6 33.f3 c8 34.d4 xe2+ 35.xe2 f6 36.c6+ b7 37.a2 a6 38.b4 a5 39.c6 d7 40.b1 xc6 41.dxc6+ xc6 42.e4+ c5 43.xh7 b2+ 44.f3 c3+ 45.g2 d2+ 46.f3 c3+ 47.g2 c6 48.g4 a4 49.f5+ b4 50.f4 a3 51.xd6+ b3 52.xc6 a2 53.xb6+ c2 54.g6+ c1 0-1
1905 Bilobrk,Franjo Mestrovic,Zvonimir TCh Neum BIH (8) [Jon Tisdall]
A41 2355 2402 07.06.2002
1.d4 c6 2.f3 d6 3.e4 f6 4.d5 e5 5.xe5 dxe5 6.c3 [ 6.b5+ is more popular and was examined in Vujakovic,B-Mestrovic,Z/Pula CRO 2001. The text move is sensible as well, and poses black problems. ] 6...a6 7.f4 d6 8.f3 d7 [ 8...exf4 9.xf4 b4 is messy, but looks very risky. ] 9.f5 [ 9.g3 g6 ] 9...g6 10.e3 gxf5!? 11.exf5 h6 12.0-0-0 xe3+ 13.xe3 h5 14.b1 f6 The targets on f5 and potentially d5 give black play, but the long-term pressure on the e -f il e s t i ll s e e m s t o give wh i t e t h e m o r e pleasant position. 15.d3 d7 16.he1 xd5 [ 16...g8 17.g3 g4 18.e2 is also unpleasant - black must watch for Ne4 as well as the pressure on the e-file. ]
17.xd5 xd5 18.e4! [ 18.xe5 xe5 19.xe5 f6 20.e2 ] 18...b5 19.d5 b6 20.xb6 cxb6 21.xe5 f6 22.xb7 fxe5 23.xa8 f7 24.b7 f6 25.xa6 c6!? A tenacious move, black combines active play on the kingside with a policy of restraining the white bishop. 26.g3 h4 [ 26...b5 27.c4 b4 28.c2 ] 27.b3?! [ 27.g4!? is greedy and critical - white presumably feared the chance of his entire kingside dropping off. d8!? keeps black reasonably active for the pawns. ] 27...b5 28.c4 b4 29.b5 xb5! 30.cxb5 hxg3 31.hxg3 xf5 32.g4+ f4 33.g5 e4 [ 33...b8 34.g6 xb5? 35.g7 b8 36.f1++- ] 34.b6 [ 34.g6 g8 35.g1 e3 and black's e-pawn a n d kin g a re a s st r o n g a s wh i t e 's s p li t passed pawns. ] 34...b8 35.g6 xb6 36.g1 b8 37.g7 g8 38.c2 e3 39.g5 e5 40.d1 f4 41.g1 White is trying to check and transfer his rook to the 7th rank. f5= 42.e2 f6 43.g4 xg7 44.xe4 g2+ 45.f3 xa2 46.xb4 e6 47.e4 d6 ½-½
1906 Carneiro,C Oratovsky,Michael Summer Festival Open (2) [Jon Tisdall]
A41 2177 2486 22.08.2000
1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.d5 a5 [ Or 3...e7 when in the following extract it soon became clear that White wasn't sure how to play the position: 4.c3 f6 5.f3 0-0 6.h3? ( This just wastes a whole tempo. Instead 6.e4 was the natural move.) 6...a6 7.c2 c6 8.e4 d7 9.e3 c8 10.dxc6 xc6 11.d1 a5 12.d2 c7 13.e3 c5 14.d3 xd3+ 15.xd3 xe4! 16.xe4 f5 17.xd6 e4 18.b5 a5+ 19.d2 xa2 20.e3 f4 21.d4 exf3 and Black soon won in Kobin-Van der Wiel, Neum 2000. ] 4.c3 e7 5.g3?! As in the game in the 1875
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 notes above, White hesitates to play [ 5.e4 Perhaps he had never studied the King's Indian Mainline and so wasn't happy to enter the standard pawn structure, even with the black bishop on e7. ] 5...f5! 6.f3 f6 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 a6 9.b1 d7 10.b3 e8 11.a3 c5 Black has encounter ed no problems at all in equalising and can now think about a direct attack on W hite's king. His opponent's passive p lay makes it very easy f or him . 12.e3?! [ He should strive for activity with 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 ce4 14.b2 ] 12...ce4 13.d2 h5 14.e1 xd2 15.xd2 f4 16.e4 f5 17.xf6+ xf6 18.c1 h6 19.h4 xh4? This sacrifice is unnecessary when a continuation like [ 19...g5! would win easily. ] 20.gxh4 g4 Here White resigned. After 21.f3 [ If 21.f3 xf3 22.exf3 xh4 23.fe1 h2+ 24.f1 g6 wins. ] 21...xh4!? 22.fxg4 [ 22.f2!? ] 22...h2+ 23.f2 e4! Black probably has a winning attack, but W hite should still have played on to see what happened. 0-1
1907 Kludacz,Magdalena Malaniuk,Vladimir P Bank Pocztowy Open [Jon Tisdall]
A41 2260 2570 2000
problems. ] 7...d7 8.h3 xh3 9.xh3 f6 10.b2 [ If 10.g4 h5! 11.g5 f5 followed by Nd7 and Ng6 looks nice for Black. ] 10...h6 11.0-0-0 c7 12.d2 e7 13.e4? This weakens the d4 square. The correct idea was still [ 13.g4! when if xg4 14.g1 would give White active play. In the game, White fails to find a decent plan and is gradually outplayed. ] 13...f7 14.hd1 ad8 15.g1 h5! 16.f3 b4 17.e1 g5 18.f3 h4 19.d3? [ He had to keep the kingside closed with the ugly 19.g4 ] 19...hxg3 20.hxg3 h3 21.g4 e6! The knight heads for the hole on f4, after which White falls into a positional bind. 22.a3 xc3 23.xc3 f4 24.c2 This loses a pawn, but W hite was under such pressure that material losses were inevitable sooner or later. c5! 25.xd8 xb3+ 26.d1 xd8 27.c3 c7 28.b2 c5 29.b4 ce6 30.d2 c5 31.c3 d4 32.xd4 cxd4 33.c2 c6 34.b3 c5 35.d3+ xd3 36.xd3 g5 37.a4 a5 A gruesome zugzwang. 0-1
1908 Mikhalevski,Victor Davies,Nigel R Rishon le Zion (2) [Nigel Davies]
A41
1995
If W hite plays 4.Nf3 my method of 1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 dxe5 4.xd8+ counterattack is to pressure the knight with 4... xd8 5.c3 e6! Black keeps an eye on Bg4 and then undermine d4 with 5...c5. All in the g4 s qu are. He a voids tran sp osing t o aid of breaking open the h8-a1 diagonal. 1.d4 Epishin-Salov with d6 2.f3 g6 3.c4 g7 4.c3 g4! 5.e3 [ 5...f6 6.f3 fd7 7.b3 f6 when 8.g4! [ After 5.g3 I quite like Alexander Ivanov's gives White chances for advantage. He also d7!? with Winer - Ivanov, Washington avoids the similar ] 1999 going 6.g5!? ( 6.h3 can be met by [ 5...d7 6.f3 f6 7.g4 and again White xf3 7.exf3 c6 8.d5 d4; and 6.g2 by can put pressure on Black's kingside with h3 ) 6...c8 7.h3 d7 8.g2 f6 9.e4 g5. ] e5 10.f3 exd4 11.xd4 0-0 12.e3 e8 6.b3 c6 7.g3 when the p on was quite awkward for White [ A critical line is 7.f3 f6 8.g1 d7 9.g4 because the attack on h3 meant that he had h5! 10.h3 ( 10.g5 f5 ) 10...hxg4 11.hxg4 to play g3-g4 before castling. ] h6 12.g5 f5 and Black has no 5...c5 6.dxc5 The most forcing move. 1876
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ In my experience White usually plays the solid 6.e2 cxd4 7.exd4 ( 7.xd4 xe2 8.dxe2 f6 9.0-0 0-0 was pretty much equal in Lahav - Davies, Tel Aviv 1990) 7...c6 8.0-0 ( 8.e3?! h6 9.d5 xf3 10.gxf3 e5 11.f4 d7 12.h4 f5 13.h5 c5 gave Black an excellent game in Zilberman - Davies, Herzliya 1993) 8...h6 9.d5 xf3 10.xf3 e5 11.e2 0-0 12.f4 d7 13.e3 a5 14.b1 fc8 produced a complex game in Murdzia - Davies, Hamburg Open 1995 ] [ 6.d5 produces a Benoni-type position in which White will want to move his e-pawn a second time. f6 7.e2 0-0 8.0-0 a6 9.a4 e6 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 c7 intending ... Nbd7 produces a tough, doubleedged position. ] 6...xc3+! It is important that Black damages White's structure while he still can. [ 6...dxc5 7.xd8+ xd8 8.d2 would put him in a difficult position. ] 7.bxc3 dxc5 8.xd8+ xd8 9.e5 e6 10.e4 f6 11.b1 True to his style, Mikhalevsky goes for active counterplay. [ After 11.f3 bd7 12.xd7 xd7 Black would already be threatening to pick up the c4 pawn with ...Nb6 or ...Ne5. ] 11...xe4 12.xb7 d6 13.b1 d7 14.f4 b6 15.e2 f6 16.d3 c8 17.xd6 exd6 18.f4 f7 19.0-0 c7 20.fd1 b8 21.b3 xc4 Putting Black a good pawn up. White's active pieces make it difficult for Black to win, but I have no excuse for what actually happened. 22.a1 he8 23.f3 d2 24.a3 xf3+ 25.gxf3 b7 26.d1 g5 27.d5+ xd5 28.xd5 c6 29.d2 ee7 30.g2 d5 31.f4 gxf4 32.f3 b6 33.a4 b1 34.xf4 e6 35.a4 e7 36.f4 e6 37.a4 b5 38.xa7 c1 39.xd5 xc3+ 40.g4 c2 41.f5 ee2 42.b7+ c6 43.f7 xa2 44.5xf6+ d5 45.d7+ e5?? 46.dd6 e4+ 47.g5 h6+ 48.xh6 1-0
1909 Prie,Eric Steinhart,Christopher 5ème open International (8.3) [Eric Prié]
A41 2513 2034 19.04.2007
1.d4 d6 2.f3 d7 3.f4!? [ 3.e4! is more precise, actually, as we saw last month. Then it is time to talk about A) 3...gf6? 4.e5 dxe5 ( 4...g4 5.h3; 4...d5 5.c4 5b6 6.c3 With the uncommon idea g6 7.e3 g7? 8.c5 winning the Nb6!) 5.dxe5 g4 6.f4 g5 7.e6! gxf4 ( 7...fxe6 8.xg5 de5 9.xd8+ xd8 10.h3 h6 11.hxg4 hxg5 12.xh8 ) 8.exf7+ xf7 9.g5+ f6 ( 9...e8 10.e6; 9...g8 10.e6 e8 11.c4 f7 12.xg4+ g7 13.xg7 xc4 14.f5+ f7 15.g7+ e6 16.d4+ d6 17.xh8 ) 10.xg4 e5 ( 10...c5 11.xf4+ ) 11.e4+ e7 12.g5+ e8 13.h5+ e7 14.c4 e8 15.g5+; B) 3...e5 4.c4 I have known from my early years of chess that this old version of the Philidor is almost unplayable for Black due to a known tactical trick. B1) 4...e7 5.dxe5 xe5 ( 5...dxe5 6.d5 ) 6.xe5 dxe5 7.h5; B2) 4...gf6 5.dxe5 xe5 ( 5...dxe5 6.g5 ) 6.xe5 dxe5 7.xf7+ xf7 8.xd8 b4+ 9.d2 xd2+ 10.xd2; B3) 4...exd4 5.xd4 when there is no Nc6...; B4) 4...c6 5.0-0! e7 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.g5! B4a) 7...xg5 8.h5 e7 9.xg5! gf6 ( 9...xg5 10.xg5 With the limpid and strong plan a4, b3, f3, and then bring the Nb1 to c4 heading for d6 after the bishop has moved, hence 5.0-0! instead of 5.Nc3. As for White's queen's bishop, it will exert its domination over the dark squares from e3, or even better a3 via c1.) 10.xg7 O r f o r a q u i e t e r l i f e : ( 10.b3 b5 11.a3 b4 12.b2 0-0 13.a3 c5 14.d2 h6 15.e3 ) 10...g8 11.h6 c5 12.f3 e6 13.e2 0-0-0 14.c3 g6 15.h4 dg8 16.f2; 1877
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B4b) 7...h6 8.e6! fxe6 9.xh6 b6 ( 9...gxh6 10.h5+ f8 11.xe6 e8 12.xh6# ) 10.h5+ g6 11.e2 xc4 12.xc4 d4 13.xd4 exd4 14.g7 g8 15.xd4 ] 3...g6 [ 3...c6 4.e4 c7 5.e5! dxe5 6.dxe5 gf6 A) 7.g3 g5 ( 7...d5 8.e6 a5+ 9.d2 ) 8.xg5 xe5 9.e2 a5+ 10.c3 g6 11.d2; B) 7.g3!? e4 8.e6 a5+ 9.c3! ( 9.b4 xb4+ 10.c3 b2! ) 9...fxe6 10.bd2 xg3 ( 10...ef6 11.d3 c5 12.c2 a6 13.b1 ) 11.hxg3 f5 12.e2! c2 ( 12...g6 13.d4 e5 14.xe6 f7 15.e4!? xe6 16.f4+-; 12...e5 13.e3 f6 14.d3; 12...c5 13.e3 g6 14.g4 d5 15.c4 d6 16.0-0-0 ) 13.c4 xe2+ 14.xe2 g6 ( 14...b5 15.ce5 b7 16.xd7 xd7 17.e5+ c7 18.g6 g8 19.g4 c8 20.xh7 ) 15.d3 f7 ( 15...g7 16.xh7 ) 16.ce5+ xe5 17.xe5+ g8 18.0-0-0 g7 19.f3 f6 ( 19...f7 20.g5+ f6 21.xh7+ ) 20.xg6 g7 ( 20...hxg6 21.d8+ f7 22.dxh8 ) 21.c2 e5 22.de1 e6 23.xe5 ] 4.e4 g7 [ After 4...gf6 5.c3 White must be ready to meet ...c7-c5 and if dxc5 the recapture by the knight at any moment. ( 5.e5?! d5 6.g3 h6 7.c4 f4 ) 5...g7 ( 5...c5 6.dxc5 xc5 7.e5 ) 6.d2 ( 6.h3 c5 7.dxc5 a5 8.d2 xc5 ) A) 6...c5 7.dxc5 xc5 8.e5 fe4 ( 8...ce4 9.d3 dxe5 10.xd8+ xd8 11.xe5 ) 9.xe4 xe4 10.b4! ( 10.d5 c5 ) 10...dxe5 11.xe5 d6 12.b5+ f8 13.0-0-0; B) 6...0-0 7.0-0-0 ( 7.h6 e5 ) 7...c5 8.dxc5 ( 8.h6!? ) 8...xc5 9.e5 fe4 10.xe4 xe4 11.e3 d5 12.b1! ( 12.d3 b6 ) 12...b6 ( 12...f5 13.d4; 12...g4 13.h3 xf3? 14.gxf3; 12...f6 13.d3 fxe5 14.xe5 xe5 15.xe4 f4 16.xd5+ ) 13.xb6 axb6 14.e3 Thanks to Kb1, the a2 pawn does not hang. e6 15.a3 c5 16.b5 ] 5.e5! dxe5 [ 5...b6 6.c3 ]
[ 5...h6! 6.c3 ( 6.d2 g4 7.exd6 cxd6 8.h3 gf6 9.c3 0-0 ) 6...f5 ( 6...g4 7.e2 ) 7.c4 c5 The critical move... 8.g5 And the critical response. e6 ( 8...0-0? 9.xf7 xf7 10.e6 ) 9.xe6 fxe6 10.xe6 a5 ( 10...e7 11.d5 ) 11.0-0 cxd4 ( 11...dxe5 12.dxe5 xe5 13.e1 xf4 14.xf4+ f8 15.g4 d4 16.e6+ f7 17.xd4 cxd4 18.xd4 f6 19.c4+ g7 20.e7+ h6 21.f7 ) 12.b4 xb4 13.d5 c4 14.ec7+ f7 ( 14...d8 15.g5+; 14...f8 15.exd6 b8 16.e1 ) 15.e6+ g8 16.d3 xd3 17.cxd3 b8 18.g4 h4 19.e7+ f8 20.xd6 ] 6.dxe5 e6 7.c3 e7 8.d2 0-0 [ 8...c6 9.e4 0-0 10.0-0-0 d5 11.h6 ] 9.0-0-0 c6 10.g5!! Black can resign. e8 [ 10...f6 11.exf6 xf6 12.xf6 xf6 13.e4 f5 14.d6 ] 11.e4 xe5 12.xe5 xe5 13.f6! The point. c7 14.g4?? An idle mind is the devil's workshop. [ 14.g5! d5 ( 14...f5 15.c3 f6 16.xf6+ xf6 17.xf6 e7 18.h8+ f7 19.g4 ) 15.g3! ( 15.xd5?? exd5 16.h6 f4+ 17.xf4 xe4 18.h6 e1# ) 15...e5 16.h6 ] 14...d5 15.b1 Alas the pawn cannot retreat... So White has to win the game for a second time. Fortunately there is genuine compensation for the pawn. f4 16.e2 b5 17.h4 h6 18.g5 h5 19.d4 d7 20.g2 e8 21.f3 e5 [ 21...c7 22.f6+ xf6 23.xf6 e5 24.xh5 ] 22.c5 e6 23.xd5! cxd5 24.f6+ h8 25.xd5 a6 26.xe8 g4 27.f3 xe8 28.fxg4 d8 29.d1 hxg4 30.e7 d7 31.f6+ h7 [ 31...g8 32.xf7+! xf7 33.d8+ f8 34.d3 xd8 35.xg6+ f8 36.g7+ e8 37.e7# ] 32.h5 1-0
1878
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1910 Reader Question Modern Defence / 1...Nc6 [John Watson]
A41
Here's a question from Dominic Bennett about a game of his in the Pirc Defence: The opening was a Modern Defence, which I had "prepared" at 6am that morning, using Nigel Davies 1. ... d6 Universal DVD. The opening moves were: 1.f3 d6 2.d4 g6 3.c4 g7 4.c3 g4 5.e4 xf3 6.gxf3 c6 7.e3 e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 "This is where my theory ran out, because at this point on the DVD Davies says Black plays his knight into d4 and gets a very good game (no mention of White's next move)." 9.a4 "A logical move, and a good one! What to do about the coming 10.Rd1? I think I found a reasonable solution over the board, but have looked in vain for some theory on this. NCO doesn't cover it, I can't find any games with this exact move order on ChessBase and Speelman and McDonald's book on the Modern doesn't cover it either. I looked on ChessPublishing today but can't see it there either, hence this email." ge7 [ B l a c k a l s o s t a n d s p o o r l y a f t e r 9...d6 10.d1 ( or 10.c5 ) 10...b4 11.xb4 xb4 12.b5 ] 10.d1 b8!? "At this point White possibly diverges from best play. Has black played the best moves? What is the queen doing on b8?! What I'd like to know is how Black should play after 9.Qa4." [jw: your 10... Qb8 is a good move in principle as I'm sure you reasoned, the queen is on b8 because you don't want to go to c8 and get hit by Bh3 ] [ [jw: But 10...c8 may be just a little better (or maybe not it's simply more ambitious) it allows Bh3, but stops a rook from getting to d7 and has the idea of ...f5. In my opinion, White then has some advantage: A) 11.d5 0-0 12.xe7+ xe7 13.h4 ( 13.d7 c6! 14.h3 b8! 15.0-0 d8= ) 13...d8 14.h5 xd1+ 15.xd1 c6 16.hxg6 hxg6 with a small edge; B) 11.h4 0-0 12.h3 f5 13.h5 d4 (the key square for Black, and W hite's main source of difficulty) 14.hxg6 xg6! 15.exf5 f4 and White has the advantage, albeit a limited one, for example, 16.d5
( or 16.g4!? ) 16...xd5 17.f6! b6 18.xd4 xa4 19.xc8 axc8 20.fxg7 f7 21.d2 b6 22.b3 xg7 23.c5 d7 24.c6! bxc6 25.e2 and Black's pawns are very vulnerable. ] 11.h4 [ jw: 11.c5 is a good option, e.g., 0-0 A) 12.d7!? e8 13.d5 xd5 14.cxd5 d4 15.xd4 exd4 16.d6 ( 16.c4 f8 ) 16...cxd6 17.c4 f8 18.b3 and if there 's any advantage, it's White's, but this doesn't look dangerous for either side; B) 12.d5 e8 13.xe7+ xe7 14.h3 b6 15.e3 White has the bishop pair and stands better, although this isn't the end of the world for Black. ] [ Another idea to be investigated is 11.h3 0-0 12.f4!? ] 11...0-0 12.h5 d8 [ [jw:] Probably 12...d4! is the way to go. Then White can simply defend f3 if he wants by 13.g2 but at least c6 keeps White's knight out of d5. ] 13.hxg6 xg6 14.d5? [ 14.e2 xd1+ 15.xd1 ] 14...d4 15.g2 c6 16.c3 a5 17.d2 e6 . Black st ands well here, but obviously had somewhat the worse of it in the opening. Do m in ic co nclu de s th a t 9 Qa 4 d e s erve d mention on Davies CD, and indeed I can't see a clear-cut way to equality.
1911 Schoen,Antoni Adasiak,Leszek World Seniors (10) [Jon Tisdall]
A41 2059 22.09.2000
1.c4 d6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 f5 4.c3 f6 5.c2 This doesn't turn out well, but if [ 5.g3 g6 6.g2 g7 7.e3 0-0 8.ge2 bd7 9.b1 e4! 10.0-0 e5 11.b3 g5 12.d4 d3 13.d2 ( 13.f4!? ) 13...g4 14.e6 xe6 15.dxe6 ge5 left White in a horrible bind in McMahon-Fernando, Mondariz 2000. He tried to break out but was quickly routed: 16.d5 e8 17.g4 xg4 18.xe4 dxf2 19.f3 xe4 20.xf5 xd2 21.xg4 xf1 22.xf1 c6 1879
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.f7 cxd5 and White resigned. ] 5...e7 6.e4 fxe4 7.xe4 xe4 8.xe4 0-0 9.d3 f5 10.e2 e4! [ Instead 10...xd3 11.xd3 would be OK for W hite. It is essential that Black keeps the dynamism in his set up. ] 11.c2 [ The tactical justification for Black's pawn offer is seen in the line 11.xe4 xe4 12.xe4 h4! 13.e3 xf2+! 14.xf2? e8 winning the queen. ] 11...d7! The knight heads for the d3 square. W hite's biggest problem is that he cannot efficiently develop his kingside. 12.e3 e5 13.0-0-0 The king will soon face a big attack on the queenside, but no where on the board offered it a safe sanctuary. d3+ 14.xd3 exd3 15.d2 c6 16.d4 cxd5 17.cxd5 c8+ 18.c3 b5! As usual, a pawn stab is needed to convert positional pressure into victory. 19.b1 b4 20.d4 c2 21.e3 g5 22.f4 e8 23.f3 d2 24.b3 c3+ 0-1
1912 Tarasov,Mikhail Zhukov,Klim White Nights Open (5) [Jon Tisdall]
A41 2401 28.06.2000
1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.f3 d7 This is a solid alternative to [ 3...e4 ] 4.c3 g6 5.g5 Of course he could simply play [ 5.e4 but White tries to exploit Black's move order. ] 5...f6 More or less forced, as [ 5...gf6? loses a pawn after 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.xe5! while ] [ 5...e7? 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.d5 looks awkward. ] 6.e3 White will later regret this move when he wants to develop his king's bishop with e2e3.Interestingwas [ 6.d2!? ] 6...g7 7.h4 [ As White intends to castle queenside I would suggest 7.g4!? as a bold attac king idea. Then the bishop on f1 could be
deployed to g2 or possibly even h3 in the future. ] 7...h5 8.c2 e7 9.d2 More or less necessary if he wants free his king's bishop. 0-0 10.e3 c6 11.0-0-0 a6 12.e4 c7 13.dxe5 xe5 14.b4 c5 15.xe5? W hite shouldn't part with his dark squared bishop, even if [ 15.c3 f5 is an unpleasant pin. ] 15...cxb4! 16.d3 f5 17.g3 g4 18.d2 a5 19.b1 b5! Suddenly Black has the ma kin gs o f a h u ge at t ack. 20.f4 b3! 21.axb3 c6 22.d5 e6 23.c3 f5! This unleashes the king's Indian bishop with deadly effect. 24.xd6 b4 25.d2 fd8 26.ge2 bxc4 27.bxc4 xc4 28.xd8+ xd8 29.d4 a2+ 30.c1 xd4 31.exd4 b3 32.d3 xd4 33.e3 xd3+ 34.b1 d8 35.g4 f4 0-1
1913 Utnasunov,Alexander Balashov,Yuri S IV Russian Cup Final (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A41 2257 2575 21.08.2000
1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 dxe5 4.xd8+ xd8 5.f3 This natural move may be inaccurate. If White leaves his knight on g1 he has the option of a later Bh3 to exchange bishops though Black is still perfectly OK for example [ 5.c3 e6 6.b3 d7 7.g3 c6 8.h3 xh3 9.xh3 h6!? Black avoids the obvious ( 9...f6 -which was given in KludaczMalaniuk as he wants to keep the f6 square for his knight and also avoid being besieged by a later g4-g5.) 10.b2 gf6 11.f3 c7 12.f2 c5 and Black was perhaps slightly better in Fernandes-Ftacnik, Lisbon 2000. ] [ Meanwhile 5.e4? is a positional mistake: c6 6.e3 f6 7.c3 e6 8.d3 d7 9.ge2 c5 10.d2 e7 11.a4 a5 12.b3 c8 13.c3 b4 14.a3 xc3+ 15.exc3 e7 16.c2 d6 17.e2 hd8 18.hd1 b5 19.cxb5 cxb5 20.b2 ac8 and White was losing material in Braun-Polishchuk, Kiel 2000. ] 5...f6 6.c3 e6 7.b3 d7 8.g3? 1880
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 W hite makes no effort to set his opponent any problems and just develops passively. He had to try to arrange the customary flank attack on Black's centre with g4-g5. Here for example [ 8.g1 would immediately prepare g2-g4. ] 8...c6 9.g2 b4 10.d2 h6! Whereas White is just playing 'natural' moves, Blac k is t re a tin g t he p o sit io n in a s u bt le manner. The knight will have more options by he a d in g f o r d 6 via f 7 t h a n it wo u ld a f t e r theroutine [ 10...e7 ] 11.0-0 f7 12.fd1 a5 13.e1 f5 Now Black provokes White into weakening his dark squares 14.e4? [ This leaves a big hole on d4. Much more sensible was 14.e4 ] 14...g4 15.f3 c5+ 16.h1 e6 17.a4 d4 18.c3 xc3 19.xc3 e7 20.d5+ White is being slowly outplayed and so tries to force matters, but Balashov is ready with a fine strategical response. cxd5 21.cxd5 f5!! This temporary pawn sacrifice leaves Black dominant on the dark squares. 22.exf5 d6 23.g4 hc8 24.ac1 b6 25.f4 W h ite at t em p ts to f re e h is bisho p , b ut it allows Black to create a passed pawn that eventually wins the game. e4! 26.c2 c3 27.d4 xd5 28.xc3 xc3 29.c1 c8 30.a4 g6 31.fxg6 hxg6 32.f5 gxf5 33.xf5+ xf5 34.gxf5 c5 35.e1 d6 36.h4 e5 37.h2 xf5 38.g3 e5 39.h5 f5 40.h6 c8 41.h7 h8 42.h1 d5 43.f2 b6 A test book example of how to play this line as Black. 0-1
1914 Voltolini,Giuseppe Tomescu,Vlad op Cesenatico (6) [Jon Tisdall]
A41 2279 2432 07.09.2000
1.d4 c6 2.f3 d6 3.d5 e5 4.xe5 dxe5 5.g3 e6 6.c4 exd5 7.cxd5 f5 [ 7...f6 8.g2 c5 ( 8...b4+ 9.c3 0-0 10.0-0 h6 11.b3 e7 12.h3 a6 13.e3 d7 14.ac1 d6 15.a4 fb8 16.c5 b5 17.c2 a5 18.fd1 a4 19.a3 e8
20.d2 b6 21.d3 e4 22.b4 e3 23.xe3 xg3 24.fxg3 xe3+ 25.h2 b5 26.xc7 xe2 27.c6 xc6 28.dxc6 xb2 29.f4 e8 30.d4 xa3 31.c7 ac8 32.xb6 h7 33.b1+ g8 34.f5 b2 35.c2 b6 36.c5 b3 37.dd2 h5 38.c3 b1 39.a3 e1 40.c1 e5 41.c5 e3 42.dc2 d3 43.d2 a6 44.a5 d3 45.5c3 d1 46.xa4 e1 47.a6 ee8 48.d3 e1 49.b7 h4 50.gxh4 e5+ 51.g3 b5 52.xc8 e4 53.d7 xd7 1-0 Jelling,EKroll,O Aarhus 1989.) 9.0-0 0-0 10.c3 d7 11.c2 c8 12.g5 e7 13.fd1 e8 14.a4 1/2-1/2 Bekker Jensen, DBekker Jensen,S Hamburg 1999. ] 8.e4 f6 9.c3 fxe4 10.g2 c5 11.xe4 xe4 [ 11...b4+!? ] 12.h5+? A greedy moment that shows a complete lack of appreciation of the vital matter of king safety. [ 12.xe4 0-0 13.0-0 ] 12...g6 13.xe5+ f7 14.xe4 e8 15.f4+ f5 16.f3 g8 Now the relative security of the kings has become clearer, and white's need to protect e4 means his king must live in the war zone. 17.d1 xe4 18.fxe4 d7 19.b3 g7 20.e5 xe5 21.xe5 xe5 22.f4 xd5+ 23.c2 b4 24.a3 c5+ 25.b1 c3 26.a2 e5 27.d2 d8 28.e1 d3 29.e3 xe3 30.xe3 c3 31.xa7 xb3+ 32.c2 c3+ 33.d1 b6 34.a4 c5 35.d2 f7 36.d7+ e6 37.xh7 a5 38.b8 xa4 39.h6 g4 40.e2 d7 41.f3 a4 42.xg6 a8 43.xb6 cxb6 44.xe5 a2 45.h4 b5 46.g4 b4 47.h5 e6 48.d4 b3 49.h6 h2 0-1
1915 Vujakovic,Branko Mestrovic,Zvonimir TCh Pula CRO (1) [Jon Tisdall]
A41 2372 2428 10.09.2001
1.e4 c6 2.f3 d6 3.d4 f6 4.d5 e5 5.xe5 dxe5 6.b5+ d7 7.e2 A quick survey of this variation, which has 1881
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.d2 g7 10.c4 h5 11.g4?! f4 tremendous potential to just be a safe and 12.xf4 exf4 13.0-0-0 0-0 ( 13...a4!? ) enduring positional plus for white: e6 14.e5 e6 15.d6 cxd6 16.xd6 a4 [ 7...g6 17.b1 f3 18.xf3 xe5 19.he1 xd6 A) 8.0-0 g7 9.xd7+ xd7 10.c4 0-0 20.xd6 ac8 21.b3 a5 22.ed1 c5 11.c3 h5 12.g3 c5!? ( 12...a6 23.1d2 b5 24.h4 a5 25.6d3 e5 13.e3 e8 14.f3 f5 15.f2 f6 16.b4 26.e2 h2 27.h5 g1+ 28.b2 a4 g7 17.b5 h5 18.bxa6 xa6 19.ab1 29.a3 b4 30.axb4 a8 31.ed2 axb3 a8 20.b2 b6 21.c5 bxc5 22.xc5 32.d1 h2 33.xb3 e5+ 34.c3 g5 e8 23.b8 xb8 24.xa6 d6 35.f3 fe8 36.d4 ed8 37.a3 ab8 25.b1 e8 26.c6 d8 27.a7 fxe4 38.e3 xb4+ 39.a2 f6 40.xd8+ 28.b8 xb8 29.xb8 xb8 30.fxe4 xd8 41.h6 d5+ 42.b3 a4+ 43.b2 b4 31.xc7 g5 32.a4 e3+ 33.f1 a8 44.f4 e5 45.b4 d8 46.c5 f7 34.d1 d4 35.c2 c4 36.e2 d1 47.a7 c8 48.c3 f8 49.d3 b6 37.a2 g7 38.f3 a5 39.c2 e1 50.e3 a5 51.a3 b8+ 52.c1 b6 40.e2 d6 41.f3 c4 42.e2 c7 53.c3 e7 54.e3 h4 55.b3 d4 43.d3 d6 44.c7 b3+ 45.c2 c8 56.b2 f6 57.b6 e7 58.b3 b7 46.c6 b8 47.d7 f8 48.e6 e4 59.f4 c7 60.b7 xf4 61.d5 e3 xe4 49.xg6 f6 50.h6+ f7 62.a7 f6+ 0-1 Rasic,D-Mestrovic,Z 51.e3 b2+ 52.d1 f2 53.g5 e6 Pula CRO 2001. ] 54.d6 d2+ 55.c1 d3 56.d7 c3+ [ 7...a6 looks like the most sensible option 57.b1 xd7 58.xh5+ e7 59.c2 it has by far the best record of the d6 60.f7 c8 61.a3 c5 62.c4+ alternatives. Here is a typically dramatic c6 63.e7 b8+ 64.c2 b4 Mestrovic performance. 8.xd7+ xd7 65.d6+ b7 66.xe5 xa4 67.c6+ 9.0-0 e6 10.c4 exd5 11.cxd5 d6 12.d2 a7 68.d7 a2+ 69.d1 b7 0-0 13.c4 e8 14.b3 b5 ( 14...f5!? 70.c8 xh2 71.b8+ a6 72.c7 looks fine and safer.) 15.xd6 xd6 a7 73.c4 b6 74.xb6 xb6 16.a3 f5 17.exf5 xf5 18.ac1 f7 75.xe6+ c7 76.g4 d6 77.g5 h8 19.c6 g5 20.d1 d7 21.dc1 h3 78.g6 e8 79.f6 1-0 Mokos, J22.g3 f5 23.xe5 h5 24.xc7 h6 Mestrovic,Z/Zadar 1995) 13.dxc6 xc6 25.c8+ xc8 26.xc8+ h7 27.c7 14.e3 e6 15.b4 f5 16.b5 e8 17.c5 xh2+ 28.f1 g5 29.d6 h3+ 30.e1 f7 18.f3 b6 19.d6 d7 20.ad1 c8 g6 31.f8 xg3 32.fxg3 xg3+ 33.e2 21.c5 bxc5 22.c4 f6 23.xe5 cd8 h2+ 34.d3 xa2 35.d7 1/2-1/2 Cvitan, 24.xd7 xd7 25.xg7 xg7 26.f4 e7 O-Mestrovic,Z Pula 1999. ] 27.exf5 exf5 28.d5 e6 29.c3+ h6 30.g4 fxg4 31.d2 e4 32.f5+ g5 8.dxe6 fxe6 9.g5 [ 9.0-0 d6 10.g5 0-0 11.d2 e8 33.e1 xf5 34.e7 f6 35.d5 h5 12.xd7 xd7 13.ad1 f6 14.c4 d8 36.f5 f8 37.xc5 b6 38.xb6 axb6 15.b3 d7 16.xf6 gxf6 17.xd6 cxd6 39.g7+ h6 40.f5+ g6 41.e7+ 18.c4 h8 19.d3 g8 20.fd1 e7 f6 42.c6 d2 43.f1+ g7 44.e5 21.f3 b6 22.h5 gd8 23.f3 f7 g6 45.f7+ g8 46.f5 d1+ 24.3d2 g6 25.g3 g7 26.b4 f7 0-1 Barle, J-Mestrovic,Z Krsko 1997.; 27.a3 f8 28.c5 bxc5 29.bxc5 d5 30.c6 B) 8.xd7+ is the latest game here, but d6 31.c7 c8 32.exd5 exd5 33.xd5 not the most impressive. Although xd5 34.xd5 xc7 35.g2 e6 36.d8+ maestro Mestrovic has not had a bad run g7 37.a8 h6 38.h4 c6+ 39.xc6 with ...g6, the positions he gets worry me xc6 40.d3 g6 41.f3 c4 42.e3 slightly - I am not terribly convinced that a4 43.c3 h5 44.d2 f5 45.f3+ e6 there is any real compensation for the 46.c2 f5 47.c3 f4 48.d2 f5 49.e2 clogged structu re - th ough it must b e g4 50.gxf4 exf4 51.f1 xh4 52.g2 c o n c e d e d t h a t t h i s wa y o f p l a y i n g i s g4 53.b3 c4 54.b7 f3+ 55.h2 a5 p ro b a b ly t h e m o s t c o m p li ca t e d . xd7 1882
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 56.g7+ f5 57.f7+ e4 58.g3 h4+ 59.g4 a4 60.xf3 e5+ 61.g5 e4 62.h3 f4 63.e3+ e4 64.h3 f4 65.xh4 1/2-1/2 Bubalovic,D-Mestrovic,Z Tucepi 1996. ] 9...c5 [ 9...b4+ 10.c3 d6 11.d2 0-0 12.0-0 a6 13.xd7 xd7 14.c4 b5 15.fe1 h6 16.xd6 cxd6 17.xf6 xf6 18.ad1 b6 19.d2 d8 20.e3 c6 21.ed1 f7 22.h3 f6 23.g4 c5 24.h3 h7 25.e2 g8 26.e3 c6 27.d3 f4 28.f3 f7 29.1d2 b5 30.h1 c7 31.a3 f7 32.h2 c7 33.f4 exf4 34.xf4 f7 35.h4 b6 36.g4 f1 37.xe6+ h7 38.d4 e1 39.f2 c5 40.f7 e2 41.d5 e3 42.f5+ h8 43.f8+ xf8 44.xf8+ h7 45.f5+ h8 46.xd6 g5 47.xg5 hxg5 48.b4 xe4 49.xa6 c4 50.g6 xc3 51.xg5 xa3 52.xb5 b3 53.h4 h7 54.g3 g6 55.h3 f6 56.g4 g6 57.f4 e6 58.g4 f6 59.b6+ f7 60.g5 1-0 Grivas,E-Wall, T Cappelle la Grande 1995. An instructive example of how black's pawns structure can simply spell suffering, even when optically repaired (by ...cxd6) . ] 10.d2 0-0 11.0-0 c6 12.c4 e8 13.ad1 b5 14.b3 c8 15.f3 h5 16.h3 a5 17.a3 a4 18.a2 h6 19.e3 e7 20.b6 c5 A desperate attempt to confuse mat ters - a ll of b lack's wriggling h as no t m a n a g e d t o s o l ve o r d i s g u i s e h i s b a s i c structural problems. 21.xb5!? [ 21.c7!? ] 21...a6 22.c6 xf1 23.xf1 h7 24.xe6 e8 25.xe5 xc6 26.xc6 d6 27.a5 xe4 28.c4 ae8 29.d7 e7 30.c6 b8 31.e1 f4 32.g3 f6 33.xe7 xc4 34.c3 h8 35.g2 h5 36.f3 g5 37.f7 e5 38.a8 g4+ 39.hxg4 xg4 40.d5 xc3 41.f8+ g7 42.g8+ h7 43.xc4 e5+ 44.e2 xc4 45.g5 xb2 46.xh5+ g6 47.xc5 xa3 48.a5 b1 49.d3 a3 50.c7 f7 1-0
1916 Gurevich,Mikhail Banikas,Hristos Rapid Match Rapid rapid (5) [Andrew Martin]
A42 2640 2520 2002
1.d4 g6 [ 1...d6 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c4 d7 5.c3 e5 6.f3 e7 McNab always adds his own little twist to the Modern. 7.e4 0-0 8.0-0 exd4 9.xd4 c6 10.de2 a6 11.f4 e8 12.b1 b8 13.a4?! b4 14.e3 f5 15.a7 a8 16.d4 f6 17.e5 dxe5 18.xe5 e7 19.b3 e6 20.d4 c5 21.ce2 g4 22.xg7 xg7 23.h1 f7 24.c3 g8 25.f3 xc4 26.c1 xc3 27.bxc3 d5 28.f1 de3 29.h3 d5 30.hxg4 fxg4 31.g1 gxf3 32.dxf3 xf1 0-1 Richardson, J-McNab,C/4NCL, Birmingham ENG 2002 (32) ] 2.c4 g7 3.e4 d6 4.c3 f5!? An original idea of Hungarian GM Istvan Bilek. Of course Black loosens his position but in return he gets considerable tactical counterplay. Ideal for rapidplay in other words. In my opinion, White does best to play positionally and not t ry t o r e f u t e 4 . . . f 5 i m m e d i a t e ly, wit h f o r instance 5 exf5 Bxf5 6 Bd3 ?! Bxd4 7 Bxf5 Bxc3+ 8 bxc3 gxf5 9 Qh5+ etc - that just gives Black what he wants- a mess! [ 4...c6 5.e3 e5 6.ge2 ( 6.d5 ce7 7.d3 f5 8.f4!? Mayhem fxe4 9.xe4 f5 10.xf5 xf5 11.d2 exf4 12.xf4 f6 13.ge2 0-0 14.0-0 e4 15.xe4 xe4 16.d4 f5 17.ae1 h4 18.e6 xe6 19.dxe6 ae8 0-1 Sterijov,S-Veleski,R/XI MKD-Cup, Stip MKD 2002 (68)) 6...f6 ( RR 6...d7 7.d2 exd4 8.xd4 ge7 9.0-0-0 0-0 10.h4 h5 11.e2 f5 12.f3 fxe4 13.xe4 f5 14.g5 e8 15.d3 f7 1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,V-Efimov,I/Batumi 1999); RR 6...ge7 7.d5 b8 8.d2 d7 9.h4 h5 10.g5 a5 11.f3 c5 12.0-0-0 d7 13.g3 b6 14.g2 a4 15.b1 a5 16.hf1 c8 17.c1 g8 18.f4 g4 19.fxe5 xd1 20.xd1 xe5 21.f3 Luukkonen,T-Tusa,T/Jyvaskyla 2001) 7.f3 exd4 8.xd4 xd4 ( RR 8...a6 9.e2 0-0 10.0-0 d7 11.d2 e8 12.ac1 e5 1/2-1/2 Holl,R-Bernhoeft,E/Bad W ildbad 1993 (12) ) 9.xd4 0-0 10.e2 h6 11.0-0 1883
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h5 12.g3 h3 13.e1 g5 W h a t a n i n t e r e st i n g a n d d i r e ct wa y o f wh ipp in g u p a n a t ta ck! 14.d5 xg3 15.f6+ xf6 16.hxg3 g5 17.f2 e6 18.f4 d8 19.b3 d7 20.d3 b6 21.f3 f5 22.d3 ae8 23.e5 dxe5 24.fxe5 f4 25.ad1 g4 26.e2 xd1 27.xg4 c2 28.f3 fxg3 29.xg3 f5 30.d5+ h8 31.xf5 gxf5 32.h4 g7 33.e6 f6 34.g3 e7 35.f2 f4 36.h2 h4+ 37.f1 xe1 38.xe1 0-1 Pazos Gambarrotti,P-Frometa,Z/Capablanca Mem Mixto, Havana CUB 2002 (38) ] 5.exf5 xf5 6.ge2 [ 6.f3 h6 7.e2 0-0 8.0-0 a6 9.d5 c5 10.g5 c7 11.d3 has been the recommendation of theory for some time . Black's position does not appeal in fact it looks like a Leningrad Dutch gone wrong. The e6 beckons and White can pressurise along the e file. Doubtless there will be tacticians who mention the f file and the po s s ibilit y o f . .. b 7 -b5 b u t m o st st ro n g players would prefer W hite. It's a bit surprising Gurevich doesn't go for this but then again, he was probably surprised by the Greek's audacious choice. Which brings us conveniently to 6 Nge2-not a bad move at all , intending perhaps Ng3 h4-h5, Bd3 or maybe d5,Nd4. It all takes time. Black can cope. ] 6...h6 7.g3 0-0! Relying on the slowness of White's idea and the vulnerability of d4 to compensate for the loss of the bishops. 8.e2 So Gurevich is patient. c6N 9.e3 e5! More or less forced . Black has to play very actively with such obvious long-term positional defects. 10.dxe5 xe5 11.d2 hg4 12.g5 d7 13.0-0 e6 14.b3 h6 15.e3 xe3 16.xe3 f7 17.d2 ae8 White has fiddled around a bit too much. He hopes to create some sort of endgame where the Bg7 shoots into thin air, but as you can s e e , t h e re a re n o cu r re n t d if f i cu lt ie s f o r Banikas. 18.ae1 d8 19.f4 d7 20.f3 b6 21.d5 xe1 22.xe1 xd5 23.xd5 e8 24.d2 f6 25.e1 xe1+ 26.xe1 xd5 27.e6+ h7 28.cxd5 h4 The aforementioned ending but White has at least as many problems as Black. His king is less secure and the knight is a very long way
from the outpost on e6.White could try 29 f5 but then 29... Qd4+ is at least a draw 29.f7 g4 30.f2 d1! 31.e2 h8 32.e8+ [ 32.xg6 xd5 33.g4 h1= ] 32...h7 33.e4 d2 34.a4 f6 35.g3 g7 36.c4 f8 37.f3 [ 37.xc7?? d4+ ] 37...e8! Interesting and cold-blooded. White still hopes to make his better structure count but his winning chances are problematic-he will have to take a risk. 38.f5 gxf5 39.f4 c3+ 40.xc3 xc3 41.e6 d7 42.f4 c5 43.xf5 I guess this is what Gurevich saw bef ore 3 8 f 5 bu t the en dgame cannot b e better for White. Black's passed pawn on the queenside will see to that. a6 44.e4 [ 44.g6 d2 45.f4 b5 46.axb5 axb5 47.f5 xf4! demonstrates graphically how badly things can go wrong for White if he gets too frisky. ] 44...b5! 45.axb5 axb5 46.g4 f6 47.h3 c4 48.bxc4 bxc4 49.f4 c7 50.h4 b6 Producing a position which, if one is very short of time, will be difficult to defend. [ 50...xh4 51.d4 f6+ 52.xc4 is a complete draw. ] 51.g2 c5 52.g5?? [ 52.h5 g5 53.e1 b4 54.f3 c3 55.d3 b3 56.d4+ b2 57.c2 f4 58.e1= is the right circuit. ] 52...hxg5 53.hxg5 xg5 54.e1 b4 55.f3 d2 56.c2+ c3+- 57.a3 b3 58.b5 c3 59.e2 c2 60.xd2 b2 61.xd6 c1+ 62.d3 c5 63.c4+ b3 64.e3 c3+ 65.e4 b4 66.d6 d2 67.d5+ c5 68.e3 xd6 69.f5 e6+ 70.f4 f6 71.g4 d5 72.g3 e5 73.h3 g5 74.e2 h5+ 75.g3 xe2 0-1
1917 Lautier,Joel Speelman,Jonathan S Dutch Open Blitzchess blitz (7) [Nigel Davies]
A42
24.02.2001
1.d4 d6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 g7 4.e4 c6 5.d5 d4 6.ge2 c5 7.e3 b6 Black tries to keep the knight on d4 for as long as possible. 1884
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 7...xe2 8.xe2 is just nice for White, who has a gained a lot of time compared with normal Benoni positions. ] 8.a4 The simplest and most solid route to t h e b e t t e r g a m e . a5+ 9.d2 d8 Black has tried two alternatives, but neither of these has brought himequality: [ a) 9...a6 10.xd4 xd4 11.c3 d7 12.d3 f6 13.h3 h6 14.c2 b6 15.b1 g5?! 16.e2 e5 17.g3 g8 18.b4 a6 19.f4 gxf4 20.gxf4 d4 21.xd4 cxd4 22.e5 h5 23.f2 0-0-0 24.hg1 with a large advantage for White in Lerner, - Buchal, Bad Wiessee 2000 ] [ b) 9...c7 10.c3 e5 11.dxe6 xe6 12.xg7 xg7 13.ac3 d7 14.d2!? ( Simply 14.g3 followed by 15.Bg2 is also better for White) 14...c6 15.0-0-0 d8 16.g4!? a6 17.f3 b5 18.f4 b4 19.cd5 a5 20.b1 e6 21.e2 h6 22.h4 e7 23.f4 and White soon developed a strong attack in Agrest - Helin, Rilton Cup, Stockholm 1999 ] 10.xd4 [ Alternatively White can get an edge with 10.c3 e5 11.dxe6 xe6 12.xg7 xg7 13.ac3 f6 14.g3 ( 14.d2 followed by 15.0-0-0 may be possible here too) 14...0-0 15.g2 a6 16.d2 e6 17.b3 e7 18.0-0 ab8 19.a4 fd8 20.h3 d7 21.ad1 c6 22.fe1 Golod - Hoi, Copenhagen 2000, White has space and pressure on d6. ] 10...xd4 11.c3 d7 12.d3 f6 [ B l a c k s h o u l d p r o b a b l y p l a y 12...g7 first, though for me this is just a bad form of Benoni. ] 13.e2 0-0 14.xd4 cxd4 15.0-0 e5 16.g5 g7 17.f4 Nasty. The following moves are forced, with Black's king ending up in the frying pan. h6 18.fxe5 hxg5 19.exf6+ h7 20.d2 h8 21.xg5 g8 22.e5 h5 23.g3 h8 [ Or 23...xe5 24.xg6 etc. ] 24.e6 e8 25.ae1 b5 26.exf7 xf7 27.e7 g8 28.xf7 xf7 29.xg6 1-0
1918 Levitt,Jonathan Davies,Nigel R Redbus KO Southend ENG (1.1) [Nigel Davies]
A42 2427 2515 02.04.1999
4...a6!? carries provocation to the extreme and has a number of subtle effects. On the face of it Black is playing for ...b7-b5, but depending on White's reply he can also play in the centre. 1.d4 d6 2.c4 g6 3.e4 g7 4.c3 a6!? A provocative looking move with a number of interesting ideas in mind. Does Black want to expand on the queenside with .... c6 and ... b5? Maybe. 5.e3 [ When I tried my line against Zviagintsev in Calcutta 1997, the young Russian showed it c o n s i d e r a b l y r e s p e c t b y p l a y i n g 5.h3 after which f6 6.f3 ( 6.g5 0-0 7.a4?! a5 8.f4?! c6 9.f3 h5!? 10.d2 d5!? 11.d3 g3 12.g1 dxe4 13.xe4 a6 wa s g o o d f o r B l a c k i n N e f f e - D a v i e s , Owens Corning 1995) 6...0-0 7.e3 c6 8.d3 b5 was OK for Black. ] [ One of the cute points of 4...a6 is that 5.f3 can be met by g4 6.e2 c6 7.e3 e5 8.d5 xf3 9.xf3 d4 10.xd4 exd4 leaves the b5 square unavailable for W h i t e ' s k n i g h t a n d 11.e2 h6 looks quite good for Black. ] 5...c6 6.c5 b5 7.cxb6 xb6 8.d2 f6 9.f3 This position might also be reached via a Saemisch King's Indian. Black has very little to worry about here. 0-0 10.c4 a5 11.ge2 a6 12.xa6 xa6 13.0-0 bd7 14.a4 b6 15.xb6 xb6 16.ac1 fc8 17.b3 a6 18.c3 ab8 19.a4 d7 20.c2 b6 21.xb6 xb6 22.fc1 b4 23.c4 xc4 24.xc4 b5 25.d5 c5 26.f2 h5 27.a4 a8 28.e2 b6 29.c4 a7 30.g3 h7 31.g2 h6 32.f4 g7 33.e2 e6 34.d3 exd5 35.xd5 b5 White's superior pawn structure is balanced by the exposure of his king. 36.f2 d7 37.f5 h6 38.xh6 xh6 39.g2 e7 40.c4 f6 41.e5 dxe5 42.xc5 e7 43.d8 e4 44.f8+ h7 45.fxg6+ xg6 46.g8+ h6 47.f8+ g6 48.g8+ h6 49.f8+ ½-½
1885
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1919 Polajzer,Danilo Davies,Nigel R Graz [Nigel Davies]
A42
1981
7...c5 steers the game into an unusual type of Czech Benoni in which Black hasn't blocked his f-pawn with ...Ng8-f6 and White's g2-g4 is arguably rather early. 1.d4 g6 2.c4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.e4 c6 My early preference in this position, hitting d4. [ I later discovered the more flexible 4...a6!? ] 5.e3 [ 5.d5 d4 ( 5...e5!? ) 6.e3 ( 6.ge2 c5 7.xd4 cxd4 8.b5 b6 9.c5 dxc5 10.f4 f8 11.c1 a6 12.c7 f6 13.a3 b5 14.xc5 d3 15.xd3 xb2 was not at all clear in Azmaiparashvili Davies, Albena 1986, though this variation was later 'annotated by result' as good for White. ) 6...c5 7.ge2 ( 7.dxc6 xc6 8.d2 f6 9.e2 0-0 is a version of Maroczy Bind in which White's knight is still on g1. ) 7...b6 8.xd4 ( 8.a4 a5+ 9.d2 c7 10.c3 e5 11.dxe6 xe6 12.xg7 xg7 13.g3 f6 14.g2 0-0 15.0-0 d7 16.ac3 may be slightly better for White as in Tisdall - Davies, Oslo 1988 for example.) 8...cxd4 9.a4 a5+ 10.b4 ( 10.d2 c7 11.c5 f6! is unclear.) 10...xb4+ 11.d2 a3 12.c1 b4+ 13.d2 a3 14.c1 1/2-1/2 Danailov Davies, Albena 1986 ] [ 5.ge2 e5 6.e3 ( 6.d5 ce7 7.g3 c5 8.a3 h5 9.e2 h4 10.f1 was Larsen Davies, Hastings 1987-88 and now h6 looks logical.) 6...h6! 7.d5 ( 7.f3 f5 is also OK for Black - the h6 knight drops back to f7.) 7...e7 8.c1 g4 9.g5 f6 10.d2 f5 11.f3 f6 12.b4 0-0 13.h3 fxe4 14.fxe4 h5 15.a4 f4 16.c2 f5! gave Black the initiative in Bellon Lopez Davies, Portugal 1986 ] 5...e5 6.d5 ce7 7.g4 This is probably W hite's best, attempting to prevent Black from expanding on the kingside. [ The main alternative is 7.c5 after which I h a v e p r e f e r r e d f6 with M.Trifunovic Davies, Vrnjacka Banja 1988 went ( 7...f5 is the 'book' move, but to me it seems a bit
lo o se n in g.) 8.b5+ d7 9.cxd6 cxd6 10.h4 f5 11.exf5 gxf5 12.h5+ f8 13.h6 g8 14.g5 f7 15.h5+ f8 16.xg7+? White could and should have repeated the position xg7 17.xd7 xd7 18.f3 h6 with a good game for Black. ] 7...c5!? Once again my own treatment, going for a kind of Czech Benoni structure in which White has played g2-g4 quite early. [ The standard 7...f5 8.gxf5 gxf5 9.h5+ g6 10.exf5 h4 may be OK for Black, but it has been quite heavily analysed. ] 8.h4 f6 [ In Bagirov - Davies, Portugal 1986 I varied with 8...f5 with the game continuing 9.gxf5 gxf5 10.h5+ is better for Black after ( 10.f3 is better ) 10...f8 11.h3 f6 12.d1 b5! with ferocious counterplay. ] 9.g5?! Giving Black's knight access to f4 from where it is later supported by some tactical byplay. h5 10.e2 f4 11.f3 0-0 12.ge2 f5! 13.d2 a5 14.0-0-0 [ After 14.xf4 exf4 15.xf4 there follows fxe4 16.xe4 xc3 17.bxc3 xf4 18.xf4 xc3+ 19.e2 xc4+ etc. ] 14...b8! 15.xf4 exf4 16.xf4 fxe4 17.xd6 [ The variation 17.xe4 xc3 18.bxc3 xf4 19.xf4 xc3+ 20.b1 ( 20.c2 f5 21.d2 a1+ ) 20...b5! 21.xd6 b6 22.d8+ f7 shows the point of putting the rook on b8. ] 17...xf3 18.xb8 xc3+ 19.b1 e3 20.fxe3 f5+ 21.a1 c2 As White captured the rook on c2 his flag fell. [ After 21...c2 22.xa5 White gets mated with xb2+ 23.b1 d2+ 24.e4 xe4# ] 0-1
1920 Ward,Christopher McShane,Luke J GB CH Millfield (11) [Andrew Martin]
A42
11.08.2000
1.d4 g6 2.e4 g7 3.c4 d6 4.c3 d7 5.e3?! e5 6.d5 e7N [ 6...h6! Mc Shane seems unaware of this excellent move-probably because it was popular long before he was born! Ward's 5 1886
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Be3 is inaccurate . 7.xh6 ( 7.d2 xe3 8.fxe3 a6 9.f3 h5 10.h3 g5 11.0-0-0 f6 12.b1 g6 13.f2 gf6 14.b4 h4 15.d3 h5 16.e2 a5 17.a3 axb4 18.axb4 a4 19.e1 df6 20.c2 a3 21.d3 xd3 22.xd3 xe4 23.xg5 xg5 24.xe4 xe3 25.c2 g3 26.xg3 xe1+ 27.xe1 hxg3 28.c5 f5 29.e3 f4 30.a3 0-0 31.f3 xh3 0-1 Roberts, D-Trevelyan,C/Cardiff 1994) 7...xh6 8.d2 g4 9.h3 gf6 10.d3 a6 11.ge2 e7 12.a3 c6 13.b4 cxd5 14.cxd5 0-0 15.g3 b6 16.0-0 d7 17.e3 a4 DRAW ! Ivkov-Panno Caracas 1970 An oldie and a goldie. ] [ 6...a5 7.d3 A) 7...c5 8.c2 d7 9.f3 f5 10.exf5 gxf5 11.ge2 h6 12.xh6 xh6 13.d2 f6 14.0-0-0 0-0-0 15.g3 hg8 16.f4 e4 17.ce2 g4 18.d4 b8 19.h3 h6 20.c3 h4 21.ge2 xg2 22.xa5 b6 23.c3 dg8 24.b4 a4 25.xa4 xa4 26.a3 e8 27.c5 dxc5 28.bxc5 e7 29.d6 cxd6 30.cxb6 8g7 31.d2 d5 32.c3 2g6 33.c2 b7 34.d2 xb6 35.hc1 a4 36.c8+ ( 36.c8+ xc8 37.xc8+ b7 38.f8 f7 39.xf7+ xf7 40.xf5 b2+ 41.e3 xa2 42.c3 a3 43.d4 d7 44.xd5 a4+ 1/2-1/2 Bodrogi,L-Francsics,E/Hungary 1999 ) 36...xc8 37.xc8+ b7 38.f8 f7 39.xf7+ xf7 40.xf5 b2+ 41.e3 xa2 42.c3 a3 43.d4 d7 44.xd5 a4+ 1/2-1/2 Bodrogi,LFrancsics,E/Hungary 1999; B) 7...h6 8.d2 xe3 9.xe3 c5 10.0-0-0 d7 11.c2 e7 12.f4 f6 13.g3 0-0 14.f3 ae8 15.f5 gxf5 16.exf5 g4 17.e2 e4 18.d4 xf5 19.b1 d7 20.h3 e5 21.g4 Westerinen,H-Larsen,B/Helsinki 1969 ] [ 6...h5 7.d2 a5 8.d3 c5 9.c2 d7 10.ge2 h6 11.0-0 xe3 12.xe3 f6 13.f3 f8 14.b3 g7 15.a3 a6 16.fb1 b8 17.b4 a7 18.xa7 xa7 19.c5 aa8 20.c6 bxc6 21.dxc6 e6 22.a4 axb4 23.axb4 hb8 24.b5 c5 25.ec3 xa4 26.xa4 xa4 27.xa4 e8 28.c3 a8 29.a4 f8 30.f2 e7 31.e3 d8 32.g3 c8 33.b3 a3
34.xe6+ fxe6 35.d2 d5 36.exd5 ( 36.exd5 exd5 37.xd5 xf3 38.e7+ b8 39.xg6 e4 40.e5 a3 41.c4 d3+ 42.c2 f6 43.d1 f3 44.d8+ 1-0 Kraidman,Y-Suttles, D/Skopje 1972) 36...exd5 37.xd5 xf3 38.e7+ b8 39.xg6 e4 40.e5 a3 41.c4 d3+ 42.c2 f6 43.d1 f3 44.d8+ 1-0 Kraidman,Y-Suttles,D/Skopje 1972 ] 7.g4 f5 [ 7...b6 8.e2 a5 9.a4 0-0 10.c2 f5 11.gxf5 gxf5 12.g5 c5 13.f3 e8 14.b5 d7 15.0-0-0 g6 16.f1 f7 17.e3 fxe4 18.fxe4 g4 19.e2 xe2 20.xe2 ac8 21.g3 f3 22.xc5 Markl,M-Pourvoyeur,K/Kufstein 1999 ] 8.f3 Holding the position , giving White's game a certain stability. Typical Ward ,who loves the Samisch structure. [ 8.gxf5 gxf5 9.h5+ g6 10.exf5 h4 11.g5 f6 12.g3 f4 13.b5 d8 14.xh4 xh4 15.f3 f6 16.0-0-0 c5 17.xf4 exf4 18.h3 d7 19.hg1 e5 20.g5 a6 21.d4 e7 22.b3 g8 Huebner,R-Mohr,S/Germany 1990/GERchT ] 8...h5?! Very risky. If Mc Shane wanted to go ...h7-h5 he had to block first e.g. [ 8...f4 9.f2 h5 Even here, thanks to White's long-term plan of 0-0-0, Kb1, Nc1-b3, Rc1, c4-c5!, Black is worse, but at least it's not too serious. The game move encourages White to open the kingside- very, very risky. ] 9.gxf5 gxf5 10.d2 f6 11.0-0-0 f4 12.f2 g6 13.h3 h4 14.f5 g8?! Playing for five thousand pounds, Mc Shane oversteps the mark. [ 14...df8 was more solid, with White still for choice. ] 15.h3 b6 16.hg1 f8! 17.xb6!! A superb idea, which seventy people in the commentary room failed to spot. Ward wins a pawn in a very unstereotyped fashion. [ 17.c5! was expected. ] 17...axb6 18.xg6 xh3 19.xh5 [ 19.f5! xf5 20.xg8+ xg8 21.exf5 a suggestion of Speelman, might be even better. ] 19...g5 20.xg5 xg5 21.g4 xg4 22.g1 f7?! There are two unsatisfactory 1887
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 queen sacrifices. Black can thrash around in time trouble though, with practical chances. [ 22...xf3 23.xg5 xg5 24.f2 h5 25.g2 f6 26.h3 f7 27.b5 ] [ 22...h3 23.xg5 xg5 24.b5+- c8 25.c3 ] 23.xg4 h5 24.g2 f6 25.h4 e7 26.b5 c6 27.c3+- It took two moves to expose the Achilles heel, first on c7, leading inexorably to e6. d7 28.g7+! xg7 29.xg7+ c8 30.f8+ c7 31.xa8 xf3 32.dxc6 Mopping up nicely- Chris Ward has calculated everything and deserves his big pay packet. e3+ 33.c2 bxc6 34.b4! f3 35.b5 f2 36.bxc6 1-0
1921 Winants,Luc Abolianin,Arthur Belgian Interclubs [Paul Motwani]
A42
2000
Curiosity of the Month Consider game W 5, the encounter L.Winants-A.Abolianin in the Belgian Interclubs on February 20th. The openings moves in the Modern Defence were 1.d4 g6 2.e4 c6 3.c4 g7 [ 3...d5 merits serious consideration, at least as an attempt to challenge White's spatial advantage ] 4.c3 d6 5.e3 In practice it's quite common to see a similar position with the white queen on d2 and the c-pawn still on c2, but GM Luc W inants has been allowed to establish an even stronger version with more space due to the pawn on c4 f6 6.e2 P r e v e n t i n g . . . N g 4 a6 Black is already struggling to find a truly constructive p u r p o s e f u l p l a n 7.f4 This case of "f for forward!" further cramps Black a5 8.d2 b6 9.e5 dxe5 10.fxe5 g8 Black is in a me s s , a n d t h e m o ve -cou n t h a s o n ly ju st r e a c h e d d o u b l e f i g u r e s ! 11.f3 White certainly does not mind leaving the b2pawn "en prise", since Black is so underdeveloped that he can hardly afford a precious tempo to take it! g4 this shows one reason why Black didn't play 10...Nd7 before, but of course White's position is too powerful
anyway 12.c5 c7 13.a4 Black is cl early in really dire straits, but the game now ended most abruptly as W hite was suddenly 'a wa r d e d ' a wi n o n t h e gr o u n d s t h a t h i s opponent's mobile phone started ringing at this point during the match, thereby breaking one of the more curious rules of Belgium's national interclubs team competition!! 1-0
1922 Wright,D Ward,Christopher league London [Chris Ward]
A42
2011
1.f3 c5 2.c4 It is via the symmetrical English that I have obtained the majority of my Accelerated Dragons but as you will soon see, in this game something a little different was going to occur. g6 3.e4 g7 4.d4 d6 [ Yes rather than simply entering a standard M a r o c z y B i n d v i a 4...cxd4 5.xd4 , I thought I'd try something else. Previously I've annotated one of my games on this site with 4...Qb6 but this a first for me with this move. ] 5.c3 [ Instead 5 d5 is not unlikely to enter more of a Benoni type position when ... e6 inevitably c o m e s a n d a f t e r 5.dxc5 although many might be tempted to respond with 5...Qa5+, actually in practice the endgame after dxc5 6.xd8+ xd8 has in practice been fine for Black e.g. 7.e2 c6 8.0-0 g4 9.bd2 ( or 9.d1+ e8 10.c3 xc3 11.bxc3 f6 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 e5 14.f4 xf3+ 15.gxf3 d7 16.ab1 b6 17.a4 g5 18.g3 e5 19.d5 f6 20.bd1 d8 21.h4 h6 22.g2 e7 23.h3 b8 24.g4 c6 25.h5 hg8 26.xd8 xd8 27.xh6 gxh4 28.h7 g5 29.f4 g4 30.fxe5 hxg3 31.exf6+ xf6 32.fxg3 f7 33.f1+ e7 34.a5 f8 0-1 as in Pogorelov, R (2429)-Minasian, A (2567) Ubeda 2001.) 9...f6 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 d7 12.b3 d4 13.xd4 xd4 14.b1 c7 15.f4+ e5 16.d2 a5 17.d1 a4 18.g4 f6 19.f3 h5 20.fc1 hd8 21.c2 d6 22.b4 axb3 23.axb3 da6 1888
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.e1 a1 25.cc1 xb1 26.xb1 a2 27.f1 g5 28.g4 h4 29.d1 d7 30.d3 f8 31.d2 e6 32.e2 c6 33.e1 a1+ 34.d1 xf2+ 35.xf2 xd1 36.d5 b1 37.xe5 b2 0-1 Uhlmann, W (2440)Pavasovic, D (2581) Austria 2002. W hite could maintain the tension by developing a bishop but the text developing move looks obvious too. ] 5...c6 It was still my intention to avoid the standard Maroczy Bind positions and as this was a relatively fast paced time limit London League game, at the time I was happy to give t h i s a w h i r l ! 6.d5 Let's face it, there are subscribers out there who will question what this is doing on the Dragons site, but although I don't intend to feature this sort of thing too often, I think it is important to note that Black d o e s h a v e a l t e rn a t i ve s t o a cce p t in g t h e Maroczy Bind when he adopts the HyperA c c e l e r a t e d D r a g o n m o v e o r d e r . d4 7.xd4 cxd4 8.b5 At this point though I suddenly started having memories of having played this position a long time ago with the other colour and being a main line Queen's pawn player against a Modern Defence I had liked the position as White! Hence I slunk into deep thought hoping to come up with something tricky just in case my opponent w a s f a m i l i a r w i t h t h i s v a r i a t i o n . f6 And this was it, seemingly only having been played once before. What had come flooding back to me was [ 8...b6 9.c5! dxc5 ( or 9...xc5 10.d2 with the white rook destined for c1.) 10.f4 w h e n a f t e r f8 White has at least a repetition by attacking the rook whilst 11.c7 ( Rather than 11.c7 b8 12.b5 a8 13.c7 etc. ) 11...f6 is dangerous e.g. 12.a4 h4 13.d3 f6 14.g3 h6 15.0-0 c4 16.xc4 xe4 17.d6 e5 18.f3! with a winning position for White in Cebalo, M (2460)-Arapovic, V (2360) Medulin 1983. ] 9.xd4 0-0 So basically rather than travel down the previously mentioned theoretically ropy variation I had chosen to sacrifice a pawn for a lead in development and a bit of play! 10.e2 g4!? [ 10...e6 11.d3 exd5 12.cxd5 d7 13.xd6 c5 14.g3 e7 was the only
other example of 8...Nf6 that I have since located but Szuk, B (2340)-Seres, L (2470)/Budapest 1997 didn't turn out well for Black. ] 11.f3! [ I was hoping for 11.xg4 xg4 12.d3 a6 13.c3 e5 14.e2 c8 with serious pressure on the queenside but in fairness my opponent played some accurate moves. ] 11...d7 12.c3 e6 Seeking to open some lin e s a n d o f co u rse t h re a t e nin g . .. Nxd 5 . 13.dxe6 xe6 14.e3! [ Because ...Nd5 was again in the air, the white queen had to retreat and definitely i n f e r i o r w a s 14.d3 c8 15.b3 b5! with strong pressure against c4 and c3. ] 14...c8 15.0-0 [ Sadly for my opponent over the next three moves he has the opportunity to grab the pawn on a7 and he definitely picks the worst of the three. In truth I had the feeling that he wouldn't fancy 15.xa7!? with his king still in the centre. ] 15...xc4 16.xc4 [ A g a i n t h e i m m e d i a t e 16.xa7!? looks critical when I had ideas of breaking w i t h . . . d 5 b u t xe2 17.xe2 d7 is logical looking to activate this knight and the bishop as well as the obvious ...Rc2. Now ( 17...d5 18.e5 d7 19.f4 f6 looks a little murky too.) 18.xb7 c2 clearly offers Black some compensation but whether it's enough I'm not sure. ] 16...xc4 17.xa7? [ I had assumed that White had given up on this pawn and was instead going to c o n t i n u e p o s i t i o n a l l y w i t h 17.d1 Of course he is no longer a pawn up but there remains an outpost on d5 and obvious pressure in both the short and long term against the isolated pawn on d6. Still Black has play elsewhere and White still has to figure out a way of getting his bishop out. ] 17...xe4! Yes White is a tad vulnerable along the g1-a7 diagonal and luring the black rook to c4 didn't help his cause! 18.d1 [ Upon 18.xb7 d4+ 19.h1 Black should settle for 19...Nf2+ rather than seeking fame via g3+? 20.hxg3 c5 as 1889
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.d5! foils the h-file mating plans. ] 18...xc3 19.bxc3 xc3 And suddenly I was a pawn up! However although I also possessed a troublesome knight, I was of course wary of the dark squared holes around my king. 20.e1 h4 This might not be the be st o pt io n a va ilab le to t he qu ee n bu t it seemed to fit in with my aggressive strategy. 21.e3 b5! The priority was ensuring that I didn't get mated on g7 but other than that I wanted everything protected so that I could get on with advancing my d-pawn. 22.d2 b4 23.e7 xe7 24.xe7 g7 Obviously with this I could have been setting myself up for a fall with tactics along the b2-g7 diagonal but I also didn't want to get chained to the back rank. 25.d7 a8 26.xd6 b3 27.b6 [ I did briefly wonder whether 27.xc3+ xc3 28.d2 c2 29.xc2 bxc2 30.f2 xa2 31.c1 f6 was actually winning but also 28...Rc2 isn't forced. ] 27...xa2 28.xc3+ xc3 29.b1 cc2 Now White resigned before the black rooks wreak havoc on the seventh rank. 0-1
1979. ] 8.b3 g6 [ 8...d6 9.e4 g6 10.d3 g7 11.0-0 0-0 12.b2 f5 13.c4 c7 14.exf5 xa1 15.xa1 gave White excellent co m p e n s a t io n f o r t h e e xch a n g e in t h e game Sukharisingh-Suhl, Groningen 1996. ] 9.d2?! Preparing a disruptive check on e3, but White may well be advised to play as in the last note with e2-e4. d6 10.e3+ e7 Now the bishop has been forced to an inferior square (e7 rather than g7), but W hite has spent time to force this concession and now l a g s b e h i n d i n d e v e l o p m e n t . 11.h6 Going after a very hot pawn... d7 12.g7 f8 13.xh7 f5 14.h6 f6 15.e3+ d8! White's last few moves has seen his queen travel from e3 to win the h7-pawn and t h e n re t u rn b a ck t o e 3 . in t h e m e a n t im e Black's pieces have co-ordinated and the bishop has reached its favourite diagonal. 16.d1 b6 17.h6 Back we go again! h8 18.f4 c7 19.xb6 axb6 Both of Black's rooks have found activity on their original squares. W hite has still to develop his kingside. 20.e3 c3+ 21.d2 xa2 Black has regained the pawn and is fully in 1923 A43 control. 22.d3 a6! 23.xa6 [ Now 23.0-0 xd3 24.cxd3 xd2 Arkell,Keith C 2481 nets a piece for Black, so W hite's king is Summerscale,Aaron 2459 forced to stay in the centre. This is the British Rapidplay rapid (11) 19.11.2000 final contribution towards White's downfall. ] [John Emms] 23...xa6 24.f3 a2 25.c4 [ 25.0-0 e5 wins for Black. ] Is there another headache for White after 3... 25...xc2 26.b5 White threatens b5? 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g5 b6 So far we have concentrated on the c o u n t e r p l a y w i t h Q c 6 + , b u t . . . d8! revival of 4...Ne4, but Black also has another T h e k i n g r u n s b a c k t o t h e s a f e t y o f t h e alternative in Summerscale's chosen move. kingside. 27.xb6+ e7 28.c7+ f6 29.xd6+ g7 30.e2 c4 31.bxc4 a2 5.c3 [ The main alternative for W hite is 5.xf6 32.f4 ha8 33.d6 xd2+! The final tactic. f o r e x a m p l e xf6 6.c3 d6 7.e4 a6 It's mate after [ 33...xd2+ 34.xd2 xd2+ 35.e1 a1# 8.a4!?N b4 9.cxb4 xb2 10.bd2 xb4 An excellent game by Summerscale ] 11.b1 with good compensation for the pa wn in Ko ma ro v-Ize ta T xa ba rri, P aris 0-1 1996. ] 5...b4 6.a4 a5 7.xf6 exf6!? This looks like a better bet than 7...gxf6. [ 7...gxf6 8.b3 f5 9.e3 d6 10.d3 g7 11.b1 a6 12.h4 e6 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.h5+ e7 15.0-0 was better for White in the game Browne-Evans, Philadelphia 1890
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 dealing with the threat to the f5-pawn. ] A43 gxf5 20.xf5! This is a neat 2517 19.h1 2440 combination, based on the idea of Qg4+ and 15.02.2000 the weakness of e7. xf5 [ 20...xf5 21.xf5 xf5 22.g4+ wins for White ] A D i s r u p t i v e C h e c k : W h i t e e m p l o y s a n 21.xe7 [ 21.g4+ runs into the defence g5! ] interesting line against the Schmid Benoni: [ but 21.xe7 d7 22.xf5 xf5 23.xd6 An early check which cause some also looks very strong ] inconvenience to Black. 1.d4 c5 2.d5 d6 3.e4 f6 4.c3 g6 5.f3 g7 6.b5+ 21...f6 [ 21...f6 puts up more resistance, but White This check is slightly disruptive, as neither the is still in control after 22.e2 d7 23.f1 ] c8-bishop nor either knight necessarily want to go to the d7-square. In particular, after the 22.xc7! xf4 [ 22...xc7 23.xf5 xh4 24.g4+ more common 6 Be2, Black often develops wins for White ] with a later ...Nb8-a6-c7, supporting the ...b7[ 22...xh4 23.g4+ g5 24.xh4 xc7 b5 advance. bd7 7.a4 Otherwise Black will 25.fxg5 is also lost for Black. ] expand on the queenside with ...a6 and ...b5. 0-0 8.0-0 a6 9.e2 b6 10.e1 e8 23.g3 g4 24.h7+ f8 25.xd6+! xd6 So here it's this knight which goes to c7. 26.xc8+ xc8 27.xg4 The tactics have finished and White is two pawns up with an 11.g5 [ 11.f4 c7 12.f1 b7 13.d2 f6 overwhelming position. 14.ad1 d7 was drawn in Dumitrache- 1-0 Vajda, Timisoara 1994, the players preferring a day off rather than fighting out A43 a Schmid Benoni. Of course there is still lots 1925 to play for in the final position. ] Baburin,Alexander 2593 11...c7 12.d2 b8 13.c4! Preparing to Rustemov,Alexander 2573 meet ...b6-b5 with Na5, when the threat of Bayern-chI Bank Hofmann 3rd (9) 31.10.1999 N c 6 i s v e r y a n n o y i n g . e5 14.e3! [John Emms] White refuses to exchange pieces and thus free Black's position. Now W hite aims to 1.d4 g6 2.e4 g7 3.c3 c5 4.d5 d6 e x p a n d i n t h e c e n t r e w i t h f 2 - f 4 . h6?! 5.f3 g4 6.e2 f6 7.0-0 0-0 8.d2 This looks a natural enough move, but in my xe2 9.xe2 fd7!? 10.c4 opinion it simply chases the bishop to a safer [ Or 10.a4 a6 11.c4 b6 12.e3 c7 square. The immediate transposing. ] [ 14...b5 may well be stronger, for example 10...b6 11.e3 a6 12.a4 c7 13.h1 15.axb5 axb5 16.f4 d7 17.e5 f6! Preparing f2-f4. 18.exf6 exf6 19.h4 e8 and Black's [ In M.Michna-K.Rohonyan, Chisinau 2005, position isn't so bad. Also worth a punt W h it e ch o se 13.d1 d7!? ( 13...a5!? ) looks 14...f5, when the knight is ready to 14.a5 c8 15.c4 b8 ( 15...b5 16.axb6 retreat to f7, where it will gain time on the xb6= ) 16.a3 b5 17.axb6 xb6 ( if bishop. ] 17...axb6 18.ab5! with a bind) 18.f4 a6 15.h4 f5? Now this just leaves Black with a and Black had equalised. W hite can play terribly weak pawn, which is virtually lost by 19.e5 here, and indeed this was played in force. Stronger is the game, but it's obviously double edged in [ 15...b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.f4 d7 18.e5 view of Black's pressure against the d5b6 19.e4 ] pawn. ] 16.f4! f7 17.exf5 d4 18.d3 h8!? [ Another option is 13.a5 d7 14.c4 [ 18...xf5 19.xf5 gxf5 20.h5 d7 . It's important to realise that the Nc4/a5 set21.h1 leaves Black with big problems up is less scary if Black hasn't committed to 1924 Aseev,Konstantin N Alekseev,Vadim Petroff Mem Open (8) [John Emms]
1891
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ... a6, since ...b5 is easier to engineer. For example, here Black can play it immediately: b5 ( another possibility is 14...e5 , e.g. 15.xe5 xe5 16.f4 g7 17.f5 e6!? ) 15.axb6 xb6= Black doesn't have to worry about 16.a5 b e c a u s e a f t e r d7! excellent counterplay is ensured with either ...f5 or ...e6. ] [ 13.f4!? ] 13...e8 Preparing ...e6, which is Black's only source of action if W hite avoids a4-a5 and Nc4. [ If 13...d7!? 14.f4 the pawn grab ( 14.a5 c8 15.f4 ) 14...xc3 15.bxc3 xa4 looks a bit too risky to me. ] 14.f4 [ Black again gets sufficient counterplay on 14.a5 d7 15.c4 b5! 16.axb6 xb6 ] 14...e6! 15.a5 [ Objectively 15.dxe6 might be stronger, and White can still fight for an edge after fxe6 ( if 15...xe6 16.f5 d4 17.f2 I feel W hite's control of d5 gives him an advantage ) 16.d3 ] 15...bxd5! An excellent piece for two pawns sac, which guarantees Black a full share of t h e c h a n c e s . 16.exd5 exd5 17.b5 The only move, otherwise Black regains his piece with advantage, by playing ...d4. d4 18.xc7 xc7 19.d5! xe2! [ If 19...c6? 20.f3! ( rather than 20.e7+?? f8 21.xc6 xe2-+ )] 20.xc7 c8 21.d5 c4 I'm not totally sure about this move, as now White's knight can protect the vital c2-pawn with Nb4. [ 21...ce8!? threatens ...Rxc2 and if 22.c7 Black can repeat moves at the very least. ] 22.d1? It's unclear what White's best move is here, but it's certainly not this. [ Either 22.a6 b6 23.b4 ] [ or the immediate 22.b4 look better. ] 22...f5? Missing a chance. [ After 22...ce8! Black guards against Ne7+ s o . . . R x c 2 b e c o m e s a t h r e a t . I f 23.d2 Black has f2! threatening to double rooks on the seventh. Only Black can be better here. ] 23.g1! f7 24.f1! Just in time! Crucially, Black gets his rook trapped if he takes on c2, so White is a bit better now. The game soon s im p lif ie s in t o a t e ch n ica l e n d in g wh e re
W hite's knight is worth slightly more than Black's three pawns, and Baburin's excellent technique prevails. e4 [ 24...xc2 25.b4! ] 25.d2!? e6 26.b4 c3 27.c1 d3!? 28.xd3 cxb2 29.xb2 xb2 30.xb2 xf4+ 31.g1 xc2 32.d3 d4 33.ab1 c3 34.e1+ f6 35.f2 c7 36.e2 d5 37.be1 e5 38.d3 xa5 39.e6+ f7 40.xd6 e7 41.c1 a4 42.c2 ae4 43.f2 b6 44.g3 4e6 45.d5 b7 46.h4 ee7 47.h5 bc7 48.d2 a5 49.f4 c6 50.d8 gxh5 51.2d5 c2+ 52.f3 c5 53.5d6 c3+ 54.g2 h4! 55.gxh4 b3?? [ 55...c2+ 56.f3 c3+ 57.d3 e6 ] 56.h5? [ 56.d5! wins. ] 56...c7 57.6d7+ xd7 58.xd7+ f6 59.xh7 b2+ 60.g3 b3+ 61.f2 b2+ 62.e3 b3+ 63.d2 f3 64.d3 h3 65.f4 f3 66.d5+ g5 67.h8 f4? Losing. [ 67...b3 68.h6 ( 68.c7 h3 69.e6+ f6 ) 68...b5 69.e7 a4 70.h7 h6 ] 68.h6 f2+ 69.d3 h2 70.h7 1-0
1926 A43 Bareev,Evgeny 2714 Van Wely,Loek 2617 Amber Rapid Monte Carlo MNC rapid (3) [John Emms] 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 This can lead to an a n t i-B e n o n i sys t e m a f t e r 3 . . . e 6 4 Nc 3 ! ? (instead of 4 c4), while a transposition to the S ch m id B e n o n i is a l so p o s sib le if B l a c k simply continues with 3...g6 4 Nc3 Bg7. b5 Black's opts for something more ambitious. 4.g5 This is White 's most critical choice. 4 a4 is well met by 4...Bb7, but White does have the option of transposing to the Benko Gambit Declined with 4 c4. e4 This line has become popular since its successful introduction by the Bulgarian GM Veselin Topalov. 5.h4 This is certainly not the only move here. [ 5.d3 is interesting, but not that threatening for Black (see Golod-Topalov, Bugojno 1999, in ChessPub - ECO code A43). ] 1892
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ For 5.f4 see Hebden-Hodgson, Millfield 2000. ] 5...b7 [ Topalov's improvement over the old 5...a5+ 6.bd2 b7 7.a4 xd5 8.axb5 c7 9.a4! , which was good for White in Kasparov-Miles, Basle 1986. ] 6.d3 Attacking both b5 and e4. Again we have already covered other options for White on this site: [ 6.a4!? - see Summerscale-Mannion, British League 2001 ] [ 6.e3 - see Cosma-Repkova, Leon 2001. ] 6...f5 7.g4!? Wow! This looks like a direct attempt at refuting Black's ambitious play. The idea behind this shocking lunge is simply to undermine the knight on e4. [ 7.bd2 can be seen in the game Sarakauskas-Feuerstack, Hamburg 2003 ] [ while 7.xb5 xd5 looks okay for Black. ] 7...a5+ 8.bd2 e6 Trying to dismantle White's centre. [ 8...xd2 9.xd2 fxg4 10.g2 and with White's pawn on d5 secure, Black will find it very difficult to develop effectively. ] 9.gxf5 exd5 10.c3 d6 11.e3 d7 12.xe4 dxe4 13.g5 This knight will be a monster on e6. d5 14.e6 d4 15.g3 dxc3 [ Or 15...e3 16.g2! ] 16.bxc3 I think White missed a big chance here: [ 16.0-0-0! xa2 ( 16...c8 17.xg7+ is devastating; 16...cxb2+ 17.b1 c6 18.xf8 xf8 19.d6 ) 17.c7+ f7 18.xd7+ g8 19.xc3 looks winning for White. ] 16...f6 17.g2 White keeps his monster on e6. [ 17.c7+ f7 18.e5 e7 19.xa8 xa8 gives Black obvious compensation for the exchange. ] 17...d6! Now the position is totally unclear and Black is no worse. 18.h3 e5 19.0-0 xc3 20.xc3 xc3 21.ac1 b4 22.fd1 c8 23.d6 g8 24.cd1 c6 25.e3 e5?! [ 25...a4! looks good for Black for example, 26.d8+ e7 27.xg8 xg8 28.c1 c4 ] 26.d8+ xd8? [ 26...e7! ] 27.xd8+ f7 28.g5+! e7 29.xg8
xg8 30.xe4+ d7 31.xc5+ White has overturned the pawn deficit, although winning will still be difficult due to Black's queenside pawn majority. d6 32.xc6 xc6 33.d3 c3 34.f1 a5 35.e2 a4 36.f3 b3 37.axb3 axb3 38.d1 b5 39.c1 c4 40.b2+ xb2+? [ 40...b4 offers good drawing chances. ] 41.xb2 d3 42.e4 e3 43.e5 xf3 [ White also wins after 43...f4 44.e6 xf5 45.e7 xe7 46.xe7 f4 47.xb3 xf3 48.c4 g2 49.d6 g5 50.d4 g4 51.e4 h5 52.f5 h3 53.g3! h4 54.f4!! ] 44.g5! g4 45.f6 gxf6 46.exf6 xf6 47.xf6 1-0
1927 Bates,Richard Short,Nigel D 4NCL Div1 [Eric Prié]
A43 2367 2690 2003
1.d4 e6 2.f3 c5 3.g3 cxd4 4.xd4 b6!? Larsen's idea [ 4...c7 White will not play c4 but... A) ... 5.c3 a6 instead transposes into a pure Kan Sicilian. ( 5...d5? 6.db5 b6 7.f4 ); B) 5.g2 a6 6.0-0 f6 7.b3 ( 7.b3 d5! 8.b2 e5 9.f3 c6 10.bd2 c5 11.c4 d4 12.a3 a5 Tikkanen,K-Chernin, A Skelleftea 2000 0-1(39)) 7...c6 8.f4 d6 9.c4 e5 10.1d2 g6 11.g5 e7 12.c1 h6 13.xf6 xf6 14.c5 d5 15.e4 e7 16.c2 0-0 17.exd5 exd5 18.f3 f5 19.d2 e4 20.fd4 fe8 21.e1 ( 21.xe4!? dxe4 22.e1 c6 23.f5 ) 21...xd4 22.xd4 c6 23.d2 xg2 24.xg2 d4 25.xe8+ xe8 26.xd4 1/2-1/2 Harikrishna,P-Xu Jun Jodhpur 2003 ] 5.g2 [ 5.b3 c6! 6.f3 d5 ] 5...c5 6.e3 c6 [ 6...f6 7.b3 e7 8.c4 c7 9.e2 d6 10.c3 a6 11.e4 bd7 12.0-0 0-0 13.e3 e5 14.d2 eg4 15.f4 e5 16.g5 h6 17.xf6 xf6 18.fc1 b6 1893
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.f1 e6 20.e3 fc8 1/2-1/2 Mecking, H-Short,N Buenos Aires 2001 ] 7.b3 e7 8.e4 f6 9.c3 d6 Black has transposed into a classical g3 Sicilian , with the "little center" e6, d6 but has managed to drive the active Knight away from d4 to the less active square b3 and not e2, at the same time avoiding the problems resulting from the captureonc6! 10.0-0 0-0 11.e2 d8 12.a4 c7 13.f4 d7 14.fd1 a6 15.a5 e5 16.d4 ac8 17.f1 c6 18.ad1 h6 19.g2 White's main problem, possibly because as a d-pawn player he is not well acquainted with such a position, is that he does not seem to know what to do.. . e8 20.f1 fd7! a5 is the weakness. 21.e3 c5 22.xc5 dxc5 23.xd8 xd8 24.f4? [ 24.f4 xd1 25.xd1 f6 26.a1 d8 ] 24...c6-+ 25.xd8 xd8 26.h5 xa5 27.c4 d8 28.e5 [ 28.xc5 g6 29.xe7 d4+ 30.g2 gxh5 ] 28...b5 29.d3 c4 30.e4 f5 0-1
the line I refer to later. ] 2.c4 c5 3.d5 exd5 4.cxd5 d6 5.e4 [ 5.c3 g6 6.e4 g7 7.d3 is an attempt to reach the Modern Main Line, but Black can go his own way with e7!? - see YrjolaEfimov, Batumi 1999. ] 5...g6 The thing about delaying ...Nf6 is that... 6.d2!? White doesn't have to play Nc3! Beliavsky doesn't play on autopilot but i n s t e a d s h o ws s o m e i m a g i n a t i o n i n t h e opening and is rewarded with a very pleasant position. f6 [ 6...g7 7.c3 xc3+ 8.xc3 ] 7.c3 g7 8.d3 0-0 9.e2 b5 10.a3 bd7 11.0-0 a6 [ 11...e5!? ] 12.b4! b6 13.d2 b7 14.h3 ac8 15.c1 fe8 This reminds me very much of a variation of the Modern Main Line (see above). In fact if you look closely you can see that Black has exactly the same piece configuration after 15 moves in Ikonnikov-Cox. W hite's set-up is of course different: outwardly less active but not necessarily worse and perhaps even better. The point is that White sometimes finds it difficult to find a really useful role for the dark-squared bishop 1928 A43 in the MML, but here I think it is ideally placed Beliavsky,Alexander G 2646 on c3. Eventually Black in this game felt there Efimov,Igor 2446 was nothing better than to offer an exchange ETCC Crete GRE (1) 28.10.2007 of dark-squared bishops and usually this helps W hite. Also in the MML the c3-knight [John Emms] sometimes hops via e2 to g3 but the e4-pawn 1.d4 e6 With this move order Black must be is sometimes a problem when considering this idea. Here White doesn't have that problem prepared to play the French. [ T h e p r o b l e m wi t h 1...c5 2.d5 e6 and White is ready to play Ng3. 16.b1 e7 is that White is not forced to play c2-c4, and 17.h2 ce8 18.g3 h5 19.f3! h7? indeed 3.c3! is a bit of a pain for Black. This makes White's plan too easy. [ Black has to annoy W hite with 19...h6 Fo r e xa m p le f6 4.e4 d6 ( 4...exd5?! 20.d2 and now back with g7! ] 5.e5! is good for White - see Wohlfahrtd8 21.xg7 xg7 22.c3 Grooten, Boeblinger 2003.) 5.b5+! d7 20.d2 6.dxe6 fxe6 7.c4! e7 8.f3 b5!? Now W hite has a definite advantage... f6? 9.xb5 xb5 10.xb5 a5+ 11.c3 ...which quickly reaches decisive proportions. xe4 12.0-0 xc3 13.bxc3 xc3 14.b1! 23.h4! f7? 24.xg6! xg6 25.e5+ f5 with some advantage f or W hite, Atalik- 26.e6 ff8 27.xf5 [ 27.xf5 xf5 28.g3+ g5 29.f4 Nurkic, Bosnia 2005. ] and Black loses everything. ] [ 1...f6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.c3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.f3 g6 7.e4 a6 8.h3 b5 1-0 9.d3 g7 10.0-0 0-0 11.a3 e8 12.e1 bd7 13.f4 b6 14.d2 b7 15.b4 ac8 (see Ikonnikov-Cox, Port Erin 2006) is 1894
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A43 34.xa6 xa6 35.xa6 xb4? [ 35...dxe4 36.xe6+ d7 37.xe4 xb4 2425 and W hite will find it hard to convert the 2374 pawn advantage. ] 18.11.2001 36.xe6+ f7 37.d6 dxe4 38.fxe4 b2+ 39.d3 xg2 40.d7+ Now the connected 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g5 e4 passed pawns are a killer. g8 41.d8+ f7 T h i s l i n e h a s b e c o m e p o p u l a r s i n c e i t s 42.d7+ g8 43.e5 xh2 44.e6 f6 successful introduction by Topalov. 5.h4 45.f7 g7 46.b7 f6 47.d5 h1 48.xb5 a1 49.b8+ g7 50.b7+ g8 b7 6.d3 f5 7.bd2 [ 7.c3 see Lodhi,M-Ghaem Maghami,E/ 51.h6 a8 52.f7 e5 From this point on I I s t a n b u l O l y m p i a d , T u r k e y 2 0 0 0 i n d o n ' t h a ve a c o rre ct sco r e o f t h e g a m e . Suffice to say that W hite's two monsters in ChessPub (ECO code A43) ] the middle of the board were sufficient for 7...a6 [ 7...c4 8.d4 a6 9.c3 transposes victory. ( 9.0-0-0 b4 see Hasidovski,A-Greenfeld, 1-0 A/Ramat Aviv ISR 2000 in ChessPub (ECO code A43). )] 1930 A43 8.c3 c4 9.d4 xd2 10.xd2 [ 10.xd2 has also been played. ] Bu Xiangzhi 2637 10...b6 11.e5 c5 12.xf5 g6 Zhou Jianchao 2516 13.e5! This move seems to cause Black zt 3.3 Beijing CHN (9) 25.10.2005 problems. [John Watson] [ 13.xg6+ hxg6 14.g5 xd5 15.f3 e5 16.e4 c6 17.e2 e7 was a quick draw Bu Xiangzhi is not only an improving star but in Hu e b n e r, R- T o p a lo v, V / I st a n b u l T U R a devoted player of the English Opening. Here 2000. ] he grabs a pawn that traditionally would have 13...d6 14.d4 h5 15.b3 cxb3 seemed too risky to accept, then consolidates [ 15...c8 16.bxc4 bxc4 17.f3 xd5 relatively easily. But Black had better. 1.c4 c5 18.xc4 c6 19.e4 and White was a bit 2.f3 g6 3.e4 g7 4.d4 d6 This can also better in Bocharov,D-Shinkevich,V/Tomsk arise from an Accelerated Fianchetto Dragon RUS 2001. ] or a 1.d4 opening, but I'll cheat and include it 16.axb3 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.e4 c6 here as something aggressive 1.c4 players 19.b4 e6 20.a6 d7 21.f3 Black has may want to know. 5.d5 e6 6.c3 e7 r e g a i n e d h i s p a w n b u t W h i t e h a s t h e A standard position in which W hite usually advantage due to the weaknesses on a7 and plays slowly. No one tries to refute Black's b5. g6 22.b3 g7 23.d2 hc8 24.a3 opening until: 7.dxe6!? xe6 e8 25.f2 d7 [ 7...fxe6 8.f4 d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.d2! ] [ 25...a6 26.d4 xd4 27.cxd4 b7 8.f4 bc6?! A natural move that counts 28.d3 c7 29.h4 and White still keeps an upon Black's rapid development to make up niggling edge. ] for a pawn, but in the end White seems to get 26.d4 a6 27.e3 xd4 28.cxd4 e6 the better of it. A better way to gambit is 29.d3 c4 30.c2 e6 31.ha1 c6 [ 8...a5! 9.d2 ( 9.b3 bc6 10.xd6 32.d3 d5 0-0-0 11.0-0-0 g4 with some [ 32...d7!? 33.xc4 xc4 34.xa6 xa6 compensation.; 9.d2 0-0 ) 9...bc6 35.xa6 xd4 36.xd4 xd4+ 37.c3 10.e2 ( 10.xd6 0-0-0 ) 10...0-0-0 c4+ 38.b3 ] Black has no problems. Apart from ...Bxc3, 33.xc4 xc4? the ideas of ...Ne5 or ...Bg4 with control of [ 33...dxc4 must be played. White is better d4 give him plenty of play. ] after 34.c3 but there is no obvious way 9.xd6 Very daring! And through. ] [ 9.xd6! may be even better, e.g., a5 1929 Bocharov,Dmitry Grachev,Jurij ch-NR Novosibirsk RUS (6) [John Emms]
1895
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 9...b6!? 10.b3; 9...d4 10.xc5 xf3+ 11.xf3 a5 12.e3; 9...xc3+ 10.bxc3 a5 11.b3 0-0-0 12.0-0-0 ) 10.b3 0-0-0 11.0-0-0 g4 12.e2! xf3 13.xf3 d4 ( 13...he8 ) 14.xd4! cxd4 15.b5 ] 9...xc3+ 10.bxc3 a5 11.d2 d8 12.b2 0-0 13.d2 [ White tries to avoid something like 13.e2 d4!? 14.xd4 cxd4 ] 13...a6?! Too slow. A better continuation was [ 13...f5 ] 14.b5 a3 15.b3 a6 16.e2 Now it begins to look like a matter of technique. d7 17.0-0 fd8 18.fd1 f6 19.h4 c8 20.f1? [ Simply 20.b5! ruins Black's plans, since a3 fails to 21.b3 xd1+ 22.xd1 xd1+ 23.xd1 ] 20...a5? [ 20...xd1! wins the c4-pawn (White must ha ve o ve rlo o ke d t h is): 21.xd1 xd1 22.xd1 b6! ( 22...xc4 23.e2! ) 23.e3 xc4 24.e2 xb3 25.xa6 xa2 26.xb7 d8 27.a6 e6 and White would be clearly better if he could coordinate. However, 28.d2 a4 29.c4 b2 ties White down. ] 21.a3 [ or 21.b5 ] 21...xd1 22.xd1 xd1 23.xd1 b6 [ 23...xc4 24.xc5 ] [ 23...xc4 24.xc5 c6 25.e3 ] 24.a4 c6 25.e3 b1 26.b5 xb5 27.cxb5 Now it's easy. e5 28.a4 d6 29.c2 g7 30.f1 h6 31.e2 g5 32.g3 b6 33.f3 f8 34.d2 e7 35.d5+ xd5 36.exd5 ec4+ 37.e2 f5 38.f4 g4 39.h5 f7 40.h4 a3 41.d1 e4 42.d3 b1 43.e1 g3 44.c4 a3 45.b3 f6 46.xg3 xh5 47.h2 1-0
1931 Chuchelov,Vladimir Gashimov,Vugar Schachbundesliga 2010-11 (11) [John Emms]
A43 2565 2719 27.02.2011
1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 d6 4.c3 g6 5.e4 g7 6.e2 0-0 7.0-0 g4!? Exchanging the light-squared bishop is of course a logical idea, and one seen many tim es in Ben on is. Ind ee d, in t he Mod ern Benoni Classical Variation ...Bg4 is the main choice for Black, while in the Modern Main Line White prevents it with h2-h3. Interestingly, though, in the Schmid Benoni, 7...Bg4 is less popular than both 7...Na6 (the commonest choice) and 7...e6. [ 7...a6 can transpose to ...Bg4 lines, e.g. 8.f4 c7 9.a4 g4 ( 9...b6 ) 10.h3 ( 10.d2 ) 10...xf3 11.xf3 d7 12.d2 a6 reaches the note on 10 Bf4, below. ] 8.h3 [ 8.d2 is covered in Swiercz-Kempinski, Warsaw 2010, and Baburin-Rustemov, Bad Wiessee 1999. ] 8...xf3 9.xf3 a6 Black's knights will sit on d7 (to uncover the g7-bishop and protect e5) and c7 (to facilitate ...b5). [ The alternative is 9...bd7 . For example, 10.f4 a6 ( Black can return to Plan A with 10...e8 and ...Nc7) 11.a4 b6 ( 11...b8 ) 12.d2 b8 13.fe1 ( 13.e2!? b5 14.axb5 axb5 15.xb5 xe4 16.e3 ) 13...b5 14.axb5 axb5 15.ad1 b4 16.e2 e8 17.b3 e5= A.Volodin-S.Kasparov, Peterhof 2008. ] 10.e1 Alternatively: [ a) 10.e3 b8 11.a4 c7 12.a2 b6 13.b5!? ( or 13.e2 a6= Milic ) 13...d7! 14.xa7 cxd5 15.exd5 xa7 16.c4 b5! and Black was at least equal in G.Barcza-G. Tringov, Leningrad 1967. ] [ b) 10.f4 is the more natural bishop move. d7 11.d2 c7 ( 11...c4!? ) 12.a4 a6 13.e2 b8 A) 14.a5 b5 ( 14...b5 ) 15.axb6 xb6 16.a4 b4 17.c3!? xe4 was A.Aleksandrov-A.Kovchan, Smolensk 2000, and here 18.f3 ( 18.g3 xd5! was the game) 18...xf4 19.xf4 e5 gives Black reasonable compensation for 1896
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the exchange; B) 14.h6 b5 15.xg7 xg7 16.d1 f6 17.f3 e6! 18.axb5 axb5 19.e3 exd5 20.exd5 e8 21.a7 e5= A.Karpov-W.Browne, Madrid 1973. ] 10...d7 11.e2 An advantage of choosing ... Na6 and ...Nfd7 (as opposed to ...Nbd7 and ... Nf6-e8-c7) is that there are some situations where Black can play more actively. [ F o r e x a m p l e , i n t h e e v e n t o f 11.f4 Black could consider c4!? intending ...Nac5, ...Qa5, ...b5, etc. ] 11...c7 12.a4 a6 [ 12...b6 to cut out a4-a5 after ...a6 is possible, but a bit slow if you compare it to the main game. 13.g5 h6 14.e3 h7 15.d2 f6 ( more consistent would be 15...a6 followed by ...Rb8) 16.f4 e6 17.dxe6 fxe6 18.f3 d5 19.e5 d7 with some advantage to W hite, S. Prudnikova-E.Borulya, German League 1997. ] 13.g5 Chuchelov allows Black to play ...b5 unhindered, hoping to gain activity when the afile opens. His rooks do end doubling on the afile, but find that not a great deal is achieved by this. [ The other option for White, and perhaps a better one here, is to induce a split in the pawn structure with 13.a5 . For example, b5 ( Black is more or less committed to ...b5 anywa y, bu t 13...b8 , ...b5 and ...Rxb6 is another way to carry it out) 14.axb6 xb6 15.g5 d7 16.a5 fb8 ( both 16...f5!?; and 16...e6!? are more active) 17.d2 c8 18.b3 b4 19.d3 d8 20.ea1 M.Mitkov-Z.Stanojoski, Struga 1993. ] 13...b8 14.d2 [ A g a i n W h i t e e s c h e w s 14.a5 b5 ( 14...b5!? is also possible here, now that the bishop no longer defends b2.) 15.axb6 xb6= ] 14...b5 15.axb5 axb5 16.a7 e8! Usefully protecting against both Bxe7 and Bh6 ideas. 17.ea1 White has achieved his objective, and his pieces look active, but what next? c4! Black begins to create counterplay, with ...Nc5 coming next. 18.e1? A clear sign that something has gone horribly wrong in White's planning. [ 18.d1 c5 19.f3 is much more
consistent, and better: b6 followed by ... Ra6 with a roughly equal position. ] 18...c5 19.f1 b4! Suddenly White's pieces are driven backwards, whereas Black's knights move forward and he grabs what turns out to be a decisive initiative on the q u e e n s i d e . 20.d1 b5 21.a2 c3! 22.c1 cxb2 23.xb2 c3 24.a7 5xe4 25.e3 xg5 26.xg5 f6 27.d2 c8 28.c4? b5! 29.a5 c3 30.d1 xe1 31.xe1 c3 32.e3 c7 33.a7 c5 34.xc5 dxc5 35.d6 exd6 36.xd6 e1 37.f3 d8 A very smooth win by Gashimov. W hite should probably play a4-a5 bef ore Black plays ... b5. 0-1
1932 Cosma,Elena Luminita Repkova,Eva EuTChw Leon ESP (2) [John Emms]
A43 2357 2330 07.11.2001
1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g5 e4 5.h4 [ 5.d3 is interesting, but not that threatening for Black (see Golod-Topalov, Bugojno 1999, in ChessPub - ECO code A43). ] 5...b7 Topalov's move, which has made this whole variation popular for Black once again. [ 5...a5+ 6.bd2 b7 7.a4 xd5 8.axb5 c7 9.a4! is good for White, KasparovMiles, Basel 1986. ] 6.e3 [ 6.d3 f5!? see Hasidovski,A-Greenfeld,A/ Ramat Aviv ISR 2000 (in ChessPub - ECO code A43). ] 6...b6 Covering the attacked b5-pawn. [ 6...g6 see Timman,J-Topalov,V/ Wijk aan Zee NED 2001 (ChessPub ECO code A43). ] 7.a4 a6 8.axb5 axb5 9.xa8 xa8 10.d3 At t a ckin g b o t h e 4 a nd b 5 , bu t B lac k will remain equal on material due to the weakness on d5. f5 11.xb5 xb5 12.xb5 xd5 Black has no problems in this ending. Material is equal and Black has a nice compact pawn structure. 13.bd2 g6 14.0-0 g7 15.c3 d6 16.a4 e5 17.d1 f7 18.e4 e6 1897
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.exf5 gxf5 20.b3 a6 21.g5 xg5 22.xg5 f7! Making use of the fact that d7 cannot be taken due to ...Bxb3. 23.e3 c4 24.d6!? cxb3 25.xa6 f4 26.c5 e4 27.g3 e5 Despite the lack of pieces the situation is quite unclear now. Black's pawns are well advanced but it's not clear whether they are strong or weak. 28.a7 c8 29.b4 d4! 30.a5 [ 30.cxd4?? allows c1+ 31.g2 f3# ] 30...b6 31.a6 e3 Again Black uses tactics. 32.fxe3 [ 32.xb6 e2 33.c4 xc4 is winning for Black - the pawn on e2 is too strong. ] 32...xe3+ 33.g2 d5+ 34.h3 f3 35.xd7 b7 36.e6+ g7 Now White is a pawn up but that pawn on f3 is looking d a n g e r o u s . 37.a1 c6! 38.xb3? A mistake. [ W h i t e is s t i ll in t h e ga m e a f t e r 38.d7 although h6+ 39.g4 xh2 leaves Black well on top. ] 38...c8+ 39.g4 [ 39.h4 h6# ] 39...f2 White has no good way of avoiding mate with ...Rh6. 0-1
[ 5...d6 is Black's safest move, leading to the main line of the Schmid Benoni (see JE93, Kozul-Ponomariev) ] 6.e5! I believe it was the American Grandmaster Alex Yermolinsky who first came up with this idea. [ 6.e2 b5 7.xb5?! ( 7.e5 g4 ) 7...xe4! 8.xe4 a5+ is the main point of Black's idea ] 6...g4 Logically attacking the e5-pawn [ 6...e8?! 7.h4! d6 8.e6! fxe6 9.h5 gave White a strong attack in YermolinskyKhmelnitsky, US Ch 1995. ] 7.g5 This is the point of Yermolinsky's idea. White goes for a very quick attack, which is surprisingly effective. d6 Other moves also promise White a strong initiative: [ 7...h6 8.h4 f6 9.ge4N f7 10.h5! f5 ( 10...xe5 11.hxg6 hxg6 12.f4 f7 13.g4 ) 11.g5 xg5 12.xg5 with a very powerful attack for W hite in Huzman-Minasian, Pula 1997. ] [ 7...xe5?! 8.f4 f6 9.xh7! xh7 10.fxe5 fxe5 11.d3 threatening Qh5+. ] [ 7...h5!? is given in NCO as Black's best chance, with no further analysis given. This could be a move for future debate. ] 8.e6 h6 9.h4 fxe6 10.h5! White's attack is crud e , b ut ve ry st ro n g n evert he les s. It 's 1933 A43 possible that Black is already losing. exd5 De Vreugt,Dennis 2511 11.xh7! g4 [ 11...xh7 12.hxg6+ xg6 13.d3+ f7 Al Sayed,Mohamad Naser 2370 14.h5+ ] WJun Yerevan ARM (8) 26.09.2000 12.xd5+ e6 13.xb7 a5 [John Emms] [ 13...d7 14.xf8 simply leaves White material ahead. ] In this game Black plays an interesting line of the Schmid Benoni. delaying the advance of 14.d2 b4 15.xa8 Black doesn't have the d-pawn. However, this way of playing is enough compensat ion f or the rook . xb2 presently under a cloud due to a discovery for 16.b1 xc3 17.d3 [ But not 17.xc3?? xc3# ] White by the American GM Yermolinsky. 1.e4 In this particular game we reach our position 17...e5+ 18.e4 xe4+ 19.xe4 xh7 20.hxg6+ g8 21.xh6 via a Sicilian Defence [ The same position can be reached via the 1-0 move order 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e4 ] 1...c5 2.f3 g6 3.d4 g7 4.d5 f6 5.c3 0-0 This is an ambitious move, aiming to attack White's centre with a quick ... b7-b5. To gain that extra tempo Black leaves out ... d7-d6, but of course this gives W hite extra possibilities. 1898
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1934 Douven,Rudy C Gelpke,Peter chT Leeuwarden NED (5) [John Emms]
A43 1935 2389 Ehlvest,Jaan 2379 Williams,J 18.03.2000 Las Vegas [John Emms]
A Useful Trick: 1.d4 c5 2.d5 d6 3.e4 f6 4.c3 g6 5.f4 This is a vicious alternative to 5 Nf3. (for that move see Kozul-Ponomariov g7 6.f3 It's very possible that this natural move is a mistake. [ The preferred line is 6.b5+ which causes a slight disruption in the Black camp. fd7 ( 6...bd7?? 7.e5 wins a piece; 6...d7 7.e5 is also strong for White.) 7.a4 0-0 8.f3 a6 9.0-0 c7 10.d3 a6 11.e1 b8 12.f5! is given as a slight advantage to White, according to NCO. ] 6...0-0 7.c4 7 Be2 is probably stronger, but Black could still play 7...b5!? b5! This is a useful trick to know. 8.xb5 [ 8.xb5 xe4! the point! 9.xe4 a5+ 10.c3 xc3+ 11.bxc3 xb5 and Black is better, for example 12.f2 d7 13.e1 e8 14.f5 f6 15.fxg6 hxg6 16.g5 a6 17.d2 h7 18.c4 b2 19.e3 c3 20.e2 f6 21.g1 xd5! and Black went on to win in Charbonneau-Day, North Bay 1998. ] 8...xe4 The exchange of the b-pawn for the e-pawn favours Black, as now he need not worry about facing a central pawn avalanche. Overall Black can be fairly happy about the outcome of the opening. The rest of the game is not particularly important, but note that the lack of an e-pawn really does effect White's chances of creating a decisive pawn break 9.0-0 a6 10.a3 b7 11.d3 f6 12.e1 bd7 13.d2 a7!? 14.ad1 e8 15.b1 a8 [ 15...a8!? ] 16.b3 b6 17.a5 b8 18.xb6 xb6 19.c3 b7 20.h3 c8 21.g4 d8 22.f5 d7 23.h4 h8 24.fxg6 hxg6 25.d2 g8 26.e4 xe4 27.xe4 f6 28.f3 g5 29.de2 g6 ½-½
A43
2003
1.d4 c5 2.d5 f5 3.c3 f6 4.f3!? Another direct approach from W hite, which was recommended by Richard Palliser in Play 1 d4!. White intends a very quick e2-e4, and when compared to analogous positions in the Dutch, here Black is in no position to prevent this with ...d7-d5. e5 Claiming some space in the centre. Black has a couple of alternatives here, but White should keep an edge: [ a) 4...d6 5.e4 fxe4 6.fxe4 a6!? 7.f3 ( 7.a4 g6 8.e2 g7 9.f3 0-0 10.0-0 g4 was not so bad for Black in StefanovaMiton, Bajada de la Virgen 2005) 7...g4 ( maybe 7...b5 here, although then 8.e5 does rather suggest itself even so, perhaps Black's position is just about playable after dxe5 9.xe5 e6!? ) 8.e2 xf3 ( o t h e r w i s e N g 5 i s i n t h e a i r ) 9.gxf3! (Ward) when White will follow up with f3-f4. ] [ b) 4...g6 5.e4 fxe4 ( 5...d6?! 6.b5+ d7?! 7.exf5 gxf5 8.h3! , intending Nf4, gave W hite a clear plus in Izoria-Ehlvest, Batumi 2002 obviously Ehlvest was impressed enough to switch sides a year later ) 6.fxe4 d6 7.f3 g4 (ThesingBie nhu els T hesing-B ien hue ls Th esingBienhuels, Munsterland 2003) and now probably White should opt for 8.e2!? xf3 9.gxf3! again. ] 5.e4 [ 5.dxe6?! is met by d5! ] 5...f4 Trying to achieve a bind on the kingside. In some ways Black would prefer to keep the tension, but this is easier said than done. For example, [ a) 5...g6 6.d6! and White is preparing both Nb5 and the possibility of Bg5 with Nd5. ] [ b) 5...d6 6.b5+! blocking on d7 allows White to play 7 exf5. ] 6.h3!? Hitting f4 in preparation of g2-g3 naturally White wants to try and force Black to relinquish his space advantage on the kingside. Another point of Nh3 is that in some line the knight can go to g5, especially if Black weakens the e6-square with ...d7-d6. 1899
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ W hite can also play the immediate 6.g3 , e.g. d6 7.h3 xh3 8.xh3 h5 9.g1 ( IM Tsesarsky suggests 9.e2!? ) 9...h6 10.e2 a6 11.gxf4 h4+ 12.f2 xf4 13.xf4 xf4 14.g4 f7 15.0-0-0 with an edge for W hite, AkhsharumovaZayac, Kuala Lumpur 1990. ] 6...h5? Trying to prevent g2-g3, but this meets with a powerful response. That said, it's not that easy to suggest an alternative for Black here. [ a) 6...a6 7.g3!? ( 7.d6 c6 8.xf4!? exf4 9.xf4 was unclear in Ortega-Gentilleau, Mo n t e c a t i n i T e rm e 1 9 9 7; Tsesarsky assesses 7.a4 as an edge for W hite) 7...h5 8.d6! looks good for White. One nice line here is fxg3 9.hxg3 xg3 10.c4! xh1 11.g5 b6 12.d5 and White mates. ] [ b ) P e r h a p s B l a c k ' s b e s t h e r e i s 6...d6 even if 7.g5!? looks very enticing for White. ] 7.d6! Splitting Black's position in two and t h r e a t e n i n g b o t h N b 5 a n d N d 5 . B l a ck i s already in big trouble here. h4+ [ Both 7...a6 8.d5! xd6 9.dxf4 xf4 10.xd6 xh3 11.xe5+ ] [ and 7...f6 8.b5! a6 9.c4 are not very encouraging from Black's point of view. ] 8.f2 c6 9.g3! f6? Now Black simply loses a piece. [ 9...fxg3? 10.hxg3 also drops the knight on h5 ] [ the only way to stay in the game was with 9...g5 ] 10.g4! Trapping the knight on the edge of the board. The rest is very easy for White. g3 11.d5 xd6 12.hxg3 fxg3 13.h3 d4 14.c3 e6 15.e3 b6 16.a4 g6 17.g2 b5 18.c2 b7 19.d1 c6 20.f4 d6 21.0-0 h5 22.e2 hxg4 23.xg4 exf4 24.hxf4 h6 25.h3 h8 26.e5 1-0
1936 Elsness,Frode Ber,Yves Moss GM turnering (9) [Berg, Emanuel]
A43 2460 2594 18.04.2010
1.d4 e6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 exd5 4.cxd5 d6 5.c3 g6 Black is playing a Benoni, trying to do without ...Nf6 depending on how W hite re acts. Th e N migh t a lways go t o f 6 a n d transpose back to the main lines. 6.f3 g7 7.g3 h6 An original idea. This move has only been played twice before according to Mega Database 2010. 8.g2 [ 8.h4 can be answered with f6 9.h5 g5 a n d t h e h - p a wn a t t a c k h a s n ' t b r o u g h t White anything, but is rather a weakness for him. ] [ 8.f4 f6 9.a4+ is an interesting option, when Black has some coordination problems. ] [ 8.g5? is simply a loss of tempo compared to the game. Black likes to play ...f6 in any case and now he will get it for free. f6 9.f4 f7 10.g2 a6 11.h4 0-0 is similar to the game, but with Black having an extra tempo. 12.0-0 c7 13.a4 e7 14.e1 d7 15.b1 f5 16.e4 g4 17.d2 xf3 18.xf3 g5 19.e3 gxh4 20.gxh4 f5 21.exf5 xh4 22.g2 e5 23.g5 h5 24.e4 xf5 25.f4 f3+ 26.xf3 xf3 27.xd6 h5 28.g3 xd5 29.f4 xf4 30.xf4 a6 31.e7 f8 32.e3 f7 33.e8+ f8 34.e7 b8 35.f1 b4 36.e2 a6 37.g1 f8 38.c7 e8 39.f3 c6 40.e2 f5+ 41.f4 e7 42.xe7 xe7 43.xc5 xb2 44.e1 f6 45.g4 g5+ 46.h3 f7 47.e3 b5 48.axb5 axb5 49.b1 d5 50.xd5 xd5 51.b4 c3 52.f4+ g6 53.g4+ f5 54.g5+ e6 55.xd5 xd5 56.f4 b4 57.c1 b3 58.f5 h5 59.h4 e4 60.xh5 xf5 61.h4 e4 62.g3 d3 63.f2 c2 64.a3 b4 65.xb4 b2 66.e3 b1 0-1 Kashlinskaya, A (2344)Stetsko, L (2067)/Moscow 20091 Extra ] 8...0-0 9.0-0 a6N [ 9...f5 has been tried earlier and also looks reasonable, but I had an other idea in mind. 10.g5 b6 11.b1 e8 12.f4 d7 13.d2 e5 14.xe5 dxe5 15.a4 1900
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d8 16.e3 d7 17.b3 b5 with an interesting battle in 1/2-1/2 Dydyshko, V (2525)-Kostenko, P (2466)/ Istanbul 2000 ] 10.f4 White puts some pressure against the d 6 - p a w n a n d p r e p a r e s t o p l a y Q d 2 . f6 Preparing ...Nf7 where the Knight protects the d6 pawn and also can support the advance of the pawns on the kingside. Later on this N might end up on e5. 11.b1 White prepares the b4 advance and is ready for a3 and b4. In case of . ..Nc7 b4 might come right away. f7 Black prepares slowly the advance of ... g5 and ...f5, but has no concrete threat yet. 12.h4?! An unnecessary weakening of the position for W hite. Now Black's plan of advancing the kingside pawns can soon be seriously considered. [ Better was 12.a3 followed by b4. ] 12...f5! A forcing move. Now White must either weaken his position with e4 or move the R from b1, which would complicate the advance of a3, b4. 13.e4 g4 Black has a nasty pin against the N on f3 and already t h r e a t e n s t o p l a y . . . g 5 . 14.d2 d7 Black activates the Q, threatens to take space on the queenside playing ...b5 as well as p r e p a ri n g . . B h 3 i n s o m e va r ia t io n . 15.a3 Now White is ready to meet ...b5 by b4. g5!? Black starts an attack on the kingside before White gets time to create counterplay on the queenside. 16.e3 [ 16.hxg5 xf3 17.gxf6?? ( 17.xf3 fxg5 18.e3 e5 ) 17...xg2 18.fxg7 f3! 19.gxf8+ xf8 is winning immediately for Black, because White is unable to prevent the mate threat s withou t huge materia l losses. 20.e3 g4!-+ ] 16...xf3 17.xf3 gxh4 18.gxh4 e5 [ I n c a s e o f 18...h3 19.g2 xh4 Black is a pawn up, but here Whit gets good counterplay with 20.f4 when Black lacks activity. ] 19.g2 f5 Black will soon exchange off his weak f-pawn and open further lines for the coming attack against the White King. 20.f4 h8 Getting the g-file ready for the Rooks. 21.h1 [ 21.g3!? was perhaps a better way of defending the White position. ] 21...fxe4 22.xe4 g4!
[ I w a s t e m p t e d t o p l a y 22...f3 but the move is rather pointless if W hite d o e s n ' t t a k e . 23.e3 and White has no problems. ] 23.xe5? This Bishop is far too important for White, even though he can force exchange of Queens by this move. [ A b e t t e r d e f e n c e w o u l d b e 23.g3 when Black should play f3 24.e2 ae8 25.be1 d4! in order to keep the initiative. ] 23...xe5 24.g5 g8 25.xg4 xg4 W hite is about to loose a pawn, but even more important his King will be in great danger as well as the B and N. White's chances rely o n t h e p a ss ive B l a ck N o n a 6 . I f h e c a n create counterplay before that N comes into the game he might have survival chances. 26.g5 xh4+ 27.h3 c4! A strong move that gives a route for the N a6 to get into the game. Now also the P b2 becomes a serious weakness. 28.f4 f6 29.a4 White tries to prevent Black from playing ...b5 and so to we a ke n t h e P c4 . B u t n o w W h it e c re a t e another weakness that Black immediately makes use of b4! The N is heading for d3 and the c4-pawn can still be protected by ... Rc8 if necessary. 30.fe1 d3 31.e6 xb2 32.h2 c3 The c-pawn is unstoppable and White resigned. 0-1
1937 Fressinet,Laurent Tregubov,Pavel V ChIP Paris FRA (6) [John-Paul Wallace]
A43 2646 2599 12.07.2007
1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g5 b6 5.c4!? This is an extremely rare and paradoxical move - f irstly because W hite takes play back into a Benko, which is what he was trying to avoid in the first place, and secondly because in most lines in the 4.Bg5 variation White tries to prove an advantage by gaining piece control of the c4 square. Nevertheless, when such a strong player as Fressinet tries it on there has to be a point, so let's try and make sense of it. Well, we have reached a Benko where both sides have an 1901
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 extra move thrown in, W hite has Bg5 and Black Qb6, so clearly Fressinet thinks this will help him. If Black captures on c4 now, the obvious move, White can continue in gambit style with 6.Nc3, which was my first thought although I am not sure how good it is. However, it is also possible to capture on f6 and play Qc2. Finally, Black may play ...b4 and it is here that, I feel, Fressinet's concept at least makes the most sense, because in this case I am not sure what good the queen do e s o n b 6 . b4N A new move, although the position after 5.c4 has only occurred 5 times before, and none of those games were in GM practice. [ 5...bxc4 A) 6.xf6 xf6! ( 6...gxf6 7.c2 b4+ 8.bd2 a6 9.e4 h6 10.a3 a5 11.c3 xc3 12.bxc3 xd2+?! 13.xd2 d6 14.xc4 xc4 15.xc4 and White had a very pleasant endgame in Lymar, I (2350)-Georgiadis, I (2038)/Korinthos op 7th 2004 (3)/1-0) 7.c2 ( 7.c3!? ) 7...g6 8.e4 g7 9.c3 a6 10.xc4 b8 11.0-0 b6 12.b3 0-0 Black is already at least equal here, with a powerful darksquared bishop. 13.a4?! a5 14.ac1 d6 with a nice game for Black in Djurkovic, M (2220)-Cepon, D/SLO-ch Slovenia 1991/ 1-0; B) 6.c3 xb2 7.d2 b6 8.e4 d6 B1) 9.b1 d8 10.xc4 e5 11.dxe6 fxe6? ( 11...xe6! looks like an i m p r o v e m e n t , f o r e x a m p l e : 12.xe6 fxe6 13.g5 d7 ) 12.g5! e7 13.e5!+- d5 ( 13...dxe5 14.f3 e4 15.gxe4+- ) 14.xd5 exd5 15.xd5+Matthiesen, M (2322)-Vistisen, L (2199)/ Politiken Cup 21st 1999; B2) 9.xc4 g6 10.0-0 g7 11.e5 dxe5 12.xe5 0-0 13.e2 e8 14.fe1 d6 15.d3 f5 and I already prefer the Black position, it is solid and he is a pawn up. White has a slight lead in development but that is all. 16.ab1 d8 17.xf5 xf5 18.c4 d6 19.e2 xe5?! ( 19...e8!; 19...c8! ) 20.xe5 c4 21.e2 xd2 22.xd2 d7 a n d W h i t e n o w h a d e n o u gh p la y i n Martin, B (2320) -Levi, E (2300)/
Auckland 1992 (10)/1/2-1/2 ] [ 5...g6 6.c2 ( 6.bd2 ) 6...g7 7.e4 bxc4 8.c3?! This move is probably a bit premature, and loses the option of Nbd2 with control over the c4 square. ( 8.xc4! d6 9.0-0 and White is still slightly for preference.) 8...d6 9.xc4 a6 10.xa6?! ( 10.d2! ) 10...xa6 11.e2 0-0 and Black is already better in Haataja, RMartynov, P (2455)/Haapajarvi op 1999 (5)/ 0-1 ] 6.bd2 d6 7.e4 bd7 8.d3 h6 9.xf6! This works out very well for White! [ 9.h4?! g5 10.g3 h5= ] [ 9.e3!? g4 10.f4 g5 11.g3 g7 ] 9...exf6!? [ 9...xf6 10.e5! dxe5 11.xe5 and W hite has a dangerous lead in development. ] 10.0-0 g6 [ 10...e7 11.h4 g6 leads to the game ] 11.h4! after this move it is clear that White has emerged from the opening with a big advantage. He plans to play f4 and Black has problems gaining any decent squares for his minor pieces. e7 [ 11...g7 12.f4 0-0 was perhaps some improvement, although White can either play 13.f5 immediately, or build up, in both cases with a big edge . 13.f5!? ( 13.f3 f5?! 14.exf5 d8 15.g3 )] 12.e1?! this finesse was unnecessary, because Black was not in a position to play ... f5. [ 12.f4! f5 13.e1! fxe4 14.xe4 f6 15.e2+- ] 12...b7 13.f4 0-0-0 14.hf3 de8 15.f2 f8 16.a3 a5 17.axb4 axb4 18.c2 The position is horrible for Black, as all of his minor pieces are still struggling! g7 19.a4 e7 20.fe1 he8 21.f5! h5 22.e5!? [ 22.fxg6! the computer's solution forces W hite into a nasty self pin, but probably works well: fxg6 23.h4!+- f5 24.xg6 d4 25.xe7+ xe7 26.e3! d8 27.h1 ] 22...fxe5 23.fxg6 e4 [ 23...fxg6 24.e4 is positionally very bad for Black ] 24.gxf7 xf7 25.xe4 fe7 26.eg5 xe1+ 27.xe1 xe1+ 28.xe1 e5 1902
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 29.xe5 xe5 30.f7+Now White is winning although technique is required. b3 31.xe5 dxe5 32.c3 f6 33.e3 f5 34.xb3?! [ 34.xc5+! b8 35.h4 b1+ 36.h2 xb2 37.b6+- ] 34...f4 35.c3 a6 36.b3 e4 37.g3 g4 38.e3 d8 39.b4?! g7 suddenly now it is somewhat tricky for White, as his king and queenside pawns are shaky. 40.b3 a1+ 41.f2 b2+ 42.e1 b1+ 43.d2 b2+ 44.c2 xb4+ 45.d1 xc4 46.xe4 a4+ 47.c2 d4+!= now Black has finally managed to gain a drawn position. 48.xd4 cxd4 49.h4 e7 50.d2 c4 51.g6 xd5 52.xh5 e4 53.e2 f6 54.g4 [ 54.e1 e5 55.f2 f5! 56.g4 xg4!= ] 54...e5 55.g5 f4 56.d3 d5 57.g6 g4 58.g7 xh4 59.e4 g8 60.d3 g5 61.xd4 f6 62.d5 xd5 63.xd5 xg7 64.e4 A disappointing game for Fressinet, who had Tregubov close to resignation, but credit to the second player for his resilience under pressure. Fressinet's 5.c4 was a great success in it's first GM outing, although I think that Tregubov's 5...b4 was too accommodating, and that future attempts should focus on 5...bxc4. ½-½
1938 Gazarek,Danko Rogulj,Branko TCh Pula CRO (2) [John Emms]
A43 2354 2460 11.09.2001
1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 This can lead to an a n t i-B e n o n i s ys t e m a f t e r 3 . . . e 6 4 Nc 3 ! ? (instead of 4 c4). However, Black's choice has been very fashionable of late. b5 4.g5 4 a4 can be met by 4...Bb7. It should also be mentioned here that White can transpose into the Benko Gambit Declined with 4 c4. e4 5.d3 This is interesting, but it's not the most critical test of Black's idea. These are 5 Bh4 and 5 Bf 4. xg5 6.xg5 b6!? 'White's idea is seen after the bizarre sequence' [ For 6...g6 see Golod-Topalov, Bugojno 1999 in ChessPub (ECO code A43). ] [ 6...h6 7.h7! as played in the game Wells-
Buckmire, Oakham 1986. White will chop on f8 and keep an edge. ] 7.d6!? [ 7.xh7 h6 is interesting, for example 8.xf8 c1+ 9.d1 xb2 10.d2 xf8 and I quite like Black's position - the rook on h8 has a nice semi-open file to look at. ] 7...c6 8.f5 d8 9.xh7 e6!? Black goes for an enticing exchange sacrifice. [ 9...xd6 is the solid option. ] 10.h5 xd6 11.f6+ gxf6 12.xh8+ e7 13.d2 b7 14.e3 c6 15.g7 b4 16.d3 xd3+ 17.cxd3 a5 18.h4 W hite aims to queen this pawn. He is successful but still loses the game! c4 19.h5 c3 20.bxc3 xc3 21.e2 b4 22.ad1 It seems that W hite has everything under control... c8 23.h6 b2 Now the threat of . ..Rc2 looms large. 24.g4 [ 24.h4 a5 25.h7 c2! ] [ 24.h7 c2 25.e4 xd2+ 26.xd2 xd2+ 27.f3 xd3+ 28.g4 xe4+ 29.h3 f5+ 30.h4 c5! and Black wins, for example 31.h8 ( 31.f1 xg2 32.xg2 xh7+ 33.g3 d5 with a winning advantage ) 31...xf2+ 32.g3 e4+ 33.g4 xh1+ 34.h3 xg3+ 35.xg3 e1+ 36.g4 e4+ 37.g3 e3+ 38.h4 g5# ] 24...c2 25.xb4+ The only way to avoid an immediate catastrophe. xb4 26.h7 g4+ 27.e1 xg2 28.h8 xh1+ 29.xh1 xh1 Black, with a two pawn advantage, wins t h e e n d g a m e . 30.f3 g2 31.f2 h3 32.g3 f5 33.e4 g6 34.a3 a2 35.e1 xd2 0-1
1939 Gelfand,Boris Ponomariov,Ruslan World Cup Khanty Mansiysk RUS (7.8) [Mikhail Golubev]
A43 2758 2739
This is the last rapid game between Gelfand and Ponomariov, in a must-win situation for Black. 1.f3 g6 2.d4 g7 3.e4 d6 4.c4 c5 5.d5 e6 Intending ...Ne7!?. Polish GM Heberla is probably the main expert for Black in this system. 6.c3 1903
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ It is curious that Morozevich also used " T h e K i n g' s I n d i a n wi t h . . . Ne 7 " , a l b e i t without success, in his must-win game from the second round: 6.d3 e7 ( 6...exd5 7.exd5 g4 8.0-0 e7 9.h3N xf3 10.xf3 d7 11.c3 0-0 12.d1 e5 13.e1 e8 14.f4 a6 15.a4 b6 was OK for Black in Urban-Hracek, Warsaw Ech-rapid 2009) 7.0-0 h6 ( 7...0-0 8.h3 exd5 9.cxd5 a6 10.a4 f5N 11.c3 d7 12.g5 h6 13.d2 f4 14.b1 and here the draw was agreed in Kempinski-Heberla, W arsaw Ech-rapid 2009) 8.c3N 0-0 9.e3 exd5 10.xd5 bc6 11.d2 g5 12.h3 xd5 13.cxd5 e7 14.ae1 b6 15.b4 b8 16.h2 g6 17.g4 xg4 18.hxg4 d7 19.f3 . Black has a playable position but he spoiled his chances over the f o llowin g mo ve s: a4!? 20.b1 fc8 ( 20...a5!? ) 21.fc1 d4?! ( Morozevich was probably afraid of b4-b5, but 21...e5 looks better than the text) 22.xd4 cxd4 23.f1 a3? ( clearly a lesser evil was 23...e5 24.xd4 xa2 ) 24.c6!+Laznicka-Morozevich, Khanty-Mansiysk 2009 ] 6...e7 7.e2 Ponomariov already tried this setup in a game against W ang Yue at the Aeroflot open 2005, where White played 7.h3. 0-0 8.0-0 exd5 9.exd5 h6 [ The plan with ...g5 is somewhat risky strategically, but it gives Black practical chances for serious counterplay. Instead, 9...g4 transposes to Iljushin-Morozevich, Russian Ch 2003 and Timman-Topalov, Corus 2004 ] 10.h3 g5 11.e1N [ In Vijayalakshmi-Heberla, Kavala 2006 White played 11.d3 ] 11...d7 12.e4 f6 [ After 12...b6 White has 13.g3! , planning Nh5 (Ponomariov). ] 13.xf6+ xf6 14.d3 g7 15.c2 b5 Otherwise it is not clear what should Black do: . . . N g 6 we a k e n s t h e f 5 s q u a r e . 16.cxb5!? xd5 [ M o r e a m b i t i o u s t h a n 16...b7 with a somewhat better position for White. ] 17.d2 [ An interesting option, which I overestimated in my notes in Chess Today, was 17.e4!?
b4 ( 17...e6? 18.d1! ) 18.a4!! d5 19.b1 threatening 20.a3. Now I see that after g4 20.hxg4 xg4 21.h2 ( if 21.a3 xf3 22.gxf3 d4 23.axb4 xf2+ 24.xf2 h4+ ) 21...e8 22.xh6+! xh6 23.xg4+ g7 24.xe8 xe8 25.f5 xb2 Black is in the game, more or less. ] 17...b8 18.ad1 a6 Black is trying to complicate matters at all cost. 19.a4?! [ Here Gelfand missed a strong move 19.c4! with a clear advantage: e6 ( if 19...c7?! 20.a5! axb5 21.e4 h8 22.c6 b7 23.e4+- ) 20.xe6 fxe6 21.e4 h8 22.xe6 ( not bad is also 22.bxa6 ) 22...c7 23.f5 ] 19...axb5 20.axb5 e6 21.c4 e8 22.xg5 [ More precise was 22.xd5! xd5 23.xe8 xe8 24.xg5 hxg5 25.xd5 xb5 - White is somewhat better and should not risk losing, at least ] 22...hxg5 23.xd5 xb5 24.b3 [ Gelfand could try 24.xe6!? fxe6 25.e5 xe5 26.xe5 w i t h t h e i d e a o f f6 27.xd6! xe5 28.d7+ f6 29.h7 e1+ 30.h2 e5+ and here 31.g1 secures the desired draw for W hite. ( W h i t e c a n p l a y f o r a w i n b y 31.g3 where Black possibly holds: xb2 32.g2 bb8 33.h4 g8 )] 24...xd5 25.xe8 xb3!? [ After 25...xe8 26.xd5 White is very solid. Ponomariov's move led to a chaotic fight where Black eventually succeeded. ] 26.e4?! [ Better was 26.e2! xd1 27.xb5 c7 ] 26...d5! 27.e2 d7 [ Interesting is 27...c4!? with the idea of 28.xc4?! dxc4! 29.exd8 xd8 30.xd8? c3! ] 28.e1 c4 29.e3 [ A good, probably better alternative was 29.d2!? ] 29...d4! 30.c1 d3 31.a3 h7!? 32.a8?! d3! 33.c1 d5!? 34.ae8? [ S p o i l i n g h i s l a s t c h a n c e s : 34.a6!? with a trap c4?? 35.xf6 xf6 36.a1+ g6 37.e5+ ] [ Or 34.c8!? with the idea of f5 35.c7 xh3 36.gxh3 xf3 37.xf7+ xf7 38.c4+ g7 39.xb5 xh3 40.b7+ 1904
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g6 41.d5= ] 21.c2 h6 22.g3 b7 23.b1 h5 24.h4 34...c4!-+ 35.a3 d2! 36.d1 c3 37.f8+ c6 25.g2 d3 26.f1 d5 27.b3 g6 38.c8 b3 39.c6 xd1+ 40.h2 [ 27.exd5 xd5 28.e1 xe1! 29.xd5 xf3! 41.gxf3 d1 xb1 30.xf7+ xf7 31.xb1 c6 0-1 is very strong for Black, with the two bishops far outweighing rook and pawn. ] 27...c5 28.exd5 xd5 29.bxc4 bxc4 1940 A43 White has managed to simplify the position Golod,Vitali 2568 so m e wh a t , b u t n o w t h e p a wn o n c 3 i s a xg2 Topalov,Veselin 2690 p e r m a n e n t w e a k n e s s . 30.g5 15th ECC Final (2) 30.10.1999 31.xg2 d5+ 32.gf3 xc3 33.c2 xd2 34.xd2 e5 35.a1 f5 This pin on [John Emms] the knight is decisive. 36.e3 e5 The Retreating Queen: White tries an unusual 0-1 queen move early on, but this only leads to later problems. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 A43 This can lead to an anti-Benoni system after 1941 3...e6 4 Nc3!? (instead of 4 c4). However, Gonda,Laszlo 2359 Topalov's choice is also very playable for Fogarasi,Tibor 2445 Black. b5 4.g5 4 a4 can be met by 4.. . Bb7. FSGMA April Budapest HUN (2) 03.04.2002 It should also be mentioned here that White [John Emms] can transpose into the Benko Gambit Declined with 4 c4. e4 5.d3 This is interesting, but 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 d6 4.c3 a5 p e r h a p s i t 's n o t t h e m o s t c rit ica l t e st o f 5.d2 Black's idea. [ ECO gives the reference 5.d2 b5 6.e4 [ 5.h4 a5+ 6.bd2 b7 7.a4 xd5 b6 7.xf6+ exf6 8.e4 e7 9.a4 bxa4 8.axb5 c7 9.a4! led to a very good 10.c3 with a slight edge to White, position for White in the game KasparovSkembris-Papaioannou, Thessaloniki Miles, Basel 1986. It would be interesting to 1997. ] see what improvement Topalov had lined up 5...b5 6.e4 a6 against this. ] [ The immediate 6...b4 is also possible ] 5...xg5 6.xg5 g6 7.a4 White immediately strikes on the [ White's idea is seen after the bizarre queenside and forces Black to move the b5sequence 6...h6 7.h7! as played i n the pawn. Thus th e knight on c3 is f orced t o game Wells-Buckmire, Oakham 1986. White retreat but White will obtain the powerful c4will chop on f8 and keep an edge. ] outpost. 7.e4 In the next few moves White has several [ Also possible is simple development, for chances to nab a pawn on b5, but chooses example: 7.e2 g6 8.0-0 g7 9.f4 bd7 not to. Naturally Black will get counterplay, 10.f3 0-0 11.e2 b4 12.d1 b5 13.c4 but the question has to be asked, "W hat's bxc3 14.xc3 xe2 15.xe2 b6 16.c4 white's queen doing on d3, if it's not taking a xc4 17.xc4 b8 18.b1 e8 pawn?" g7 8.c3 0-0 9.e2 e6!? 10.f3 and Black was okay in Huzman-Van der exd5 11.xd5 b6! 12.bd2 Werf, Wijk aan Zee 1993. ] [ Obviously 12.xa8 b7 traps the white 7...b4 8.cb1 queen. ] [ 8.e2 g6 9.g3 g7 10.c4 c7 12...b7 13.b3 c4 14.d1 d6 15.a4 a6 11.d3 0-0 12.f4 ] 16.axb5 axb5 17.xa8 xa8 18.0-0 d7 8...g6 9.e2?! After this White has problems White's queen has finished its lengthy circuit with his e-pawn. and has ended up back on d1. Black's extra [ I prefer 9.c4 c7 10.d3 g7 11.0-0 space and bishop pair are good enough for a and White can follow up with Bf4, h2-h3 (to healthy advantage. 19.e1 c5 20.f1 e8 give the bishop an escape square on h2 if 1905
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 harassed by ...Nh5), and Nbd2. ] 9...c7! A clever prophylactic measure. Now Nd2-c4 doesn't come with tempo, so W hite will have to protect e4 first. 10.b3 g7 11.b2 0-0 12.0-0 e6! Pressurising the centre before White has time to consolidate wi t h f 2 - f 3 a n d N d 2 - c 4 . 13.dxe6 xe6 14.d3? d5! 15.xf6 A very sad move to have to make, but [ 15.exd5 g4! 16.g3 xb2 17.a2 xd5 18.xg4 g7 is also very strong for Black. ] 15...xf6 16.a2 c6 17.exd5 xd5 18.e4 d4 19.c4! Otherwise the rook on a2 would never be able to enter the game. e6 20.g5 ad8 21.xe6 fxe6 22.e2 xf2+! A powerful sacrifice in order to open up the wh it e k in g. 23.xf2 xf2 24.xf2 f4+ 25.e1 [ 25.g1 d4+ regains the bishop. ] 25...c1+ 26.f2 f8+ 27.g3 f4+ 28.h3 h6+ 29.g3 g5+ 30.h3 Black has a draw by perpetual check if he wants it, but there are greater rewards on offer. d4 31.g4 e3+ 32.g3 f3! Threatening 33. ..Qh6+ 34 Kg4 Qh5 mate. White's reply is forced. 33.xg6 [ 33.gxf3 xf3 wins the white queen. ] 33...g1+?? Spoiling all the previous good work. [ 33...h6+! w i n s a f t e r 34.h5+ h8 35.gxf3 ( 35.g4 g1+! 36.h4 f4 ) 35...xh5+ 36.g2 g8 and White's rook and knight are no match for the black queen. ] 34.g4 xg3+ 35.xg3 hxg6 36.f2 The material is level but Black's knight is stuck on a horrible square and is in constant danger of being trapped. From a winning position a few moves ago, Black is now lost. d8 37.d2 d3+ 38.f4 g7 39.e5 e3+ 40.d6 e2 41.xc5 a5 42.b5 d4+ 43.xa5 xb3+ 44.xb4 c1 45.b5 d3 46.f3 e5+ 47.b6 c5 48.a3 d7+ 49.c7 f6 50.a5 e2 51.f3 c2 52.e5 d5+ 53.d6 b4 54.a6 1-0
1942 Gupta,Abhijeet Koneru,Humpy 5th ch-Asian (3) [John Emms]
A43 2404 2540 08.10.2005
1.d4 e6 2.c4 c5!? Recently we've looked at the Keres Defence with 2...Bb4+, but Black has another option in this Pseudo Modern Benoni in which Black can delay or even omit ...Nf6 in favour of ...Ne7. 3.d5 exd5 4.cxd5 d6 5.c3 g6 [ 5...e7!? is also interesting, Black playing with a Modern Benoni structure, but developing the bishop to f6 and the knight to g6 - see Harstad-Tissir, Catalan Bay 2004. ] 6.e4 g7 7.f3 Alternatively: [ a) For 7.d3 see Yrjola-Efimov, Batumi 1999 (ECO code A43). ] [ b) White can try to play in Flick-Knife Attack style with 7.f4 but with the knight still on g8, an early e4-e5 in no longer such a threat, and Black has other ways to play the position. For example, a6 8.f3 g4 9.d3 d7 10.0-0 e7 (AulanderConquest, Germany 2002) ] [ c) If White wants to play in Modern Classical style then the most accurate move is 7.h3 Of course Black can transpose to the Modern Benoni proper with 6...Nf6, but e7 is also playable and gives Black new options: 8.f3 0-0 9.d3 a6 10.a4 and now perhaps 10.. .f5!? or 10...h6!? followed by ...g6-g5 and ...Ng6 ] 7...a6 8.a4 g4! The same rules still apply: ... Bg4xf3 is a good trade for Black. 9.b3!? [ If White is looking to play the position q u i e t l y t h e n 9.e2 is the way to go, although Black has no real problems after xf3 10.xf3 d7 11.0-0 e7! and indeed he has scored very well from this position. One practical example continued 12.e2 0-0 13.a5 f5! 14.g5?! h6 15.d2 f4! 16.g4 e5 17.e6+ h8 18.h1 f3 with very good play for Black, M. Gurevich-A.Ivanov, Philadelphia 1989. ] 9...xf3! [ 9...c7?! 10.d2! leaves the bishop looking silly on g4. ] 10.xb7! [ After 10.gxf3 Black can still offer the b1906
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pawn with 10...Nbd7, but there's also no reason not to play c7! when it's unclear what W hite has achieved with his early Qb3. ] 10...xg2!? This desperado keeps the m a t e r ia l s it u a t io n b a l a n c e d a t a co s t o f accelerating White's development. [ Black can make it a real pawn sacrifice with 10...d7 11.gxf3 when 11...Ngf6 transposes to the very similar line arising from the Modern Benoni (see Crouch-Povah, Portsmouth 2003 - ECO code A70), while of course Black still has the option of e7 , e.g. 12.f4 0-0 13.e2 f5 14.e5 b8 15.xa6 dxe5 16.d6 c8 17.0-0 b6 18.c4+ h8 with a very complex position (I think I'd take Black), Borges MateosChatalbashev, Mondariz Balneario 2003. ] 11.xg2 d7 12.g5? This allows Black to reach a very favourable ending. Alternatively: [ a) 12.c6? is no good on account of e7! when White embarrassingly has to move the queen back to b7 - 13.xd6?? sees it being trapped after e5! ] [ b) 12.f4 can be met effectively by 12... Ne5 or e5 ] [ c) 12.0-0 is probably best, when Black continues with 12...Ne7 and ...0-0. ] 12...b8! 13.xd8 There's no choice. xb7 14.a5 e5! Simply threatening to trap the bishop with ...Nc4. 15.f1 f3+ 16.d1 xb2 17.xa6 f6 In the long term White's passed a-pawn could become a major player, but at the moment it's Black who has all the activity. With the next move White decides to get rid of that annoying rook on b2, but at a cost of dropping the e4-pawn. 18.a2? xa2 19.xa2 xe4 20.e2 d4+ 21.e3 f6 22.b7 d7 23.b1 b8! Threatening to capture on d5. 24.c3 g4+ 25.d2 e5! Now ...Nc4 is coming and that bishop on a5 is looking very poorly. 26.d1 c4 27.c6+ xc6 28.dxc6+ c8 29.b5 xa5 30.xd6+ c7 31.xb8 xb8 32.c7+ White regains the piece, but there's a sting in th e t ail. . . xc7 33.e8+ d7 34.xg7 e7! There's no way out for the knight! 35.h4 f8 For those who don't mind playing the French, 1...e6 and 2...c5 looks like a worthwhile option. 0-1
1943 Harstad,Christian Tissir,Mohamed Masters Catalan Bay ENG (9) [John Emms]
A43 2113 2436 04.02.2004
1.d4 e6 2.c4 Obviously Black must be prepared to play the French Defence after 2 d4, but is there any advantage in delaying the development of the g8-knight? c5! 3.d5 exd5 4.cxd5 d6 5.c3 e7!? Black plays with Modern Benoni structure, but develops the bishop to f6 and the knight to g6. As we shall see, there are certain advantages in playing this way. [ 5...g6 is also possible, after which the game could easily transpose into Modern B e n o n i, a lt h o u gh B la ck a lso h a s o t h e r options here. For one thing, the knight can still be developed at e7 - see the game Yrjola-Efimov, Batumi 1999 in ChessPub (ECO code A43). ] 6.e4 f6 7.f3 a6 8.a4 e7 9.h3 W hite plays in the Modern Classical style. g6 10.d3 0-0 11.0-0 d7 This reminds me somewhat of Watson's ...Nh5 line against the Modern Classical in the 'real' Modern Benoni. But the knight is less vulnerable on g6 (as opposed to h5) and has extra options of going to e5 and h4. So perhaps this is actually an improvement for Black over that line. 12.e1?! Another advantage over the real Modern Classical Variation is that White doesn't have the option of Bg5. [ 12.e3 looks stronger, ready to meet de5?! 13.xe5 xe5 with 14.f4 ] 12...de5! In the real Modern Classical with ... Nh5 White usually replies to this move with Bd3-e2 and following an exchange on f3, Black has to do something about the threat to h5. Here, however, there is no such problem! 13.xe5 [ 13.e2 xf3+ 14.xf3 e5! intending ... Qf6, or ...Qh4 and ...f5 with good counterplay. ] 13...xe5 Black's position is already more than pleasant. The move ...Qh4 is coming and at the right time ...f 7-f5 will augment the obvious activity on the kingside. Perhaps the Modern Classical isn't the way forward against ...Be7-f6 and ... Ne7-g6. 14.h5 f4 1907
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 14...a5!? ] 15.xf4 xf4 16.e2?! After this move W hite gets in a real tangle and Black soon builds up a winning position. [ White should probably try to get motoring on the kingside with 16.g3 g6 17.e2 e5 18.g2 (intending f2-f4) d7 19.f4 d4 , although I still prefer Black. ] 16...g6 17.f3 e5 18.e3 h4! 19.c2 d4 20.e1? A final mistake, although 20 Qe2 Bd7, followed by ...Rae8 and . ..f7-f5, is ra t h e r u n p le a sa n t t o p la y a ga i n st . xh3! 21.gxh3 g3+ 0-1
of
[ 5...a5+ 6.bd2 b7 7.a4 xd5 8.axb5 c7 9.a4! as in the game Kasparov-Miles, Basel 1986. ] 6.d3 f5!? 7.bd2 c4 8.d4 a6 9.0-0-0 [ 9.xe4 fxe4 10.xe4 b4 11.0-0-0 a5 seems reasonable enough for Black, e s p e c i a l l y a s 12.a3 can be answered by xd5! 13.xd5? e6! ] 9...b4 10.xe4 fxe4 11.g5 b6! 12.xe4 xa2+ 13.b1 b4 We've reached a somewhat unusual position, in which only one central pawn (W hite's dpawn) has actually moved. White can try and attack Black's weakened kingside, while Black can attempt to do the same on the other wing. 1944 A43 14.c3 [ 14.xh7 xd5 15.xd5 xh7 16.xh7 Hasidovski,Arnold 2177 xd5 17.e4 f7 is an amusing line, which Greenfeld,Alon 2563 looks roughly level. ] Israeli League (8) 31.03.2000 14...h6! [John Emms] [ 14...xd5 15.xd5 e6 now fails to 16.xh7! ] GAME OF THE MONTH: Beware of the Rooks!: An impressive game by Black, who 15.cxb4 hxg5 16.xg5 a5! Excellent pla y develops in quite an original manner. This by Black, who is a pawn down , but has a could well breathe some new life into the 3... raging attack on the queenside. Somehow, b 5 s y s t e m . 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 Black has managed to activate both rooks on e6!! This can lead to an anti-Benoni system after t h e i r o r i g i n a l s q u a r e s ! 17.e3 3...e6 4 Nc3!? (instead of 4 c4). However, Another shocking move, after which Black Black's choice is more ambitious. b5 4.g5 takes control of the position. 18.xe6 [ 18.dxe6 xe4+ 19.c1 dxe6 is better for This is W hite's most critical choice. 4 a4 is Black ] well met by 4...Bb7, but White does have the option of transposing to the Benko Gambit 18...dxe6 19.bxa5 exd5 20.b6 e5 21.e3 White has remained a pawn ahead, but Declined with 4 c4. e4 5.h4 Once again h6 B l a c k i s extremely active, and has an this is considered to be W hite's sharpest impressive pawn umbrella on the queenside. response. [ 5.d3 is interesting, but not that One idea Black has is to simply round up the d4! threatening for Black (see Golod-Topalov, a5-pawn with ... Bf8-b4xa5. 22.e2 23.exd4 This allows a winning combination Bugojno 1999, in the theory section). ] 24.c1 xb6!! 25.axb6 b4 [ White's other main try here is the retreat 5 e4+ Bf4. 5.f4 for example, b7 6.d3 f5!? Suddenly W hite cannot avoid mate. 26.b3 Mate with ...Ra1 is imminent. An 7.bd2 c4 8.d4 a6!? 9.c3 ( 9.xe4 c3 fxe4 10.xe4 b4!? ) 9...ac5 10.xe4 extremely original game from Greenfeld. xe4 11.g4 e6 12.gxf5 xd5 13.h3 f6 0-1 14.xf6 gxf6 15.fxe6 dxe6 and Black was fine in the game Mittelman-Avrukh, Israeli League 2000. ] 5...b7! This looks like a new attempt to reach a playable position for Black, and certainly in this game it works very well. It's well known that White is better after the "book response" 1908
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.h3 with an unclear position, although I A43 prefer White. ] 2505 2640 13.h4 [ 13.xe4!? must be the critical move here, 11.08.2000 for example e5 14.dxe6 0-0-0 ( 14...dxe6 15.d1! ) 15.d2 ( 15.c5 xd4 16.cxd4 dxe6 17.e3 xc5 18.dxc5 d5=; 15.e7!? ) In this game we see a continuation of the 15...xd4 16.cxd4 dxe6 and it's true that revival of 3...b5!?. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 Black has play for the pawn, but this deficit b5!? This move is currently enjoying some still has to be justified. ] popularity at the moment, but whether this will remain we shall have to wait and see. 4.g5 13...h6 14.g3 [ Again 14.xe4!? must be critical. ] This is W hite's most active choice. 4 a4 is well met by 4...Bb7, but White does have the 14...f6 15.xe4 xd4 16.cxd4 xd5 option of transposing to the Benko Gambit 17.g2 e6 18.0-0 e7 19.fd1 0-0 Now Black is slightly better, nut Julian only Declined with 4 c4.' e4 5.f4 [ For 5.h4 see the game Hasidovsk- required a draw to retain the championship so... Greenfeld. ] [ 5.d3 is interesting, but not that ½-½ threatening for Black (see Golod-Topalov). ] [ A more recent 5 Bh4 encounter went 5.h4 A43 b7 6.d3 f5 7.bd2 c4 8.d4 a6 1946 9.xe4 fxe4 10.xe4 a5+!? 11.c3 b4 Heinzel,Olaf 2347 12.c2 bxc3 13.bxc3 c5 14.e3 xd5 Khenkin,Igor 2572 15.e2 e4 16.c1 g5 17.g3 d3+ 5th Bayern-Ch Bad Wiessee (6) 2001 18.xd3 xd3 19.d4 e5 20.f3 a3 [Eric Prié] 0-1 Gazarek-Shinkevich, Pardubice 2000. ] 5...b7 6.d3 f5 7.bd2 c4 8.d4 a6 1.d4 e6 2.f3 c5 3.c3 c6 4.f4?! Black uses the same idea as in Hasidovsk- This is the main advantage of the move order: Greenfeld. White can grab a pawn on e4, but The "London System player" cannot get in his then Black achieves excellent counterplay with standard development (d4, Nf3, Bf4 or g5, e3, ...Na6-b4. 9.c3 c3). Yet, there exists a multi-purpose waiting [ 9.xe4 fxe4 10.xe4 b4!? 11.0-0-0 move in this position: 4.a3! which I would a5 12.a3 xd5 13.xd5 e6! fancy playing as White. The idea is b4 and is favourable for Black. ] t h e n B i s h o p o u t m u ch l i k e m y f a v o u r i t e 9...c7!? The first new move of the game, Chameleon Slav! and perhaps a good one. [ 4.g5 b6 5.b3 xb3 6.axb3 cxd4 [ 9...ac5 10.xe4 xe4 11.e5!? 7.xd4 xd4 8.cxd4 d5 9.c3 b4 looks like an important improvement. It's 10.e3 ( 10.a4 a5 ) 10...d7 ] not clear how Black should proceed here. 4...cxd4! 5.cxd4 b6 6.d2 ( In contrast 11.g4 e6 12.gxf5 xd5 [ 6.b3 Thematically loses a pawn after 13.h3 f6 14.xf6 gxf6 15.fxe6 dxe6 xd4 7.xb6 xf3+ 8.exf3 axb6 ] wo r k e d o u t we ll f o r B l a c k in t h e g a m e 6...f6 7.c3 d5 Mittelman-Avrukh, Israeli League 2000. )] [ 7...b4 8.e3! ( 8.a3 e4 9.c2 a5 10.xe4 fxe4 11.xc7 10.c1 xc3+ 11.bxc3 d5= ) 8...e4 [ 11.g5 xd5 12.xe4 b6 looks fine for 9.c2 a5 10.c1 d5 11.d2 ] Black. ] 8.e3 e4! There is no need for long 11...xc7 12.g5 f4 comments in this game. I think the moves and [ Black can also try the extremely ambitious the variations speak for themselves. 9.c2 12...e6!? here, for example 13.dxe6 d5 d7! 10.e2 14.f7 g8 (planning ...Bc5) 15.e3! c5 [ 10.xe4 b4 11.b1 dxe4 12.xe4 16.d1 g6 17.e2 e7 18.g4 h5 c8 ] 1945 Hebden,Mark Hodgson,Julian M ch Millfield ENG (11) [John Emms]
1909
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10...c8 11.0-0 e7 12.d2 [ 12.xe4? xd4 ] 12...g5! 13.g3 [ 13.dxe4 gxf4 14.d2 fxe3 15.fxe3 g5 16.f3 xd4! 17.exd4 xd4+ 18.h1 xd2 ] 13...xg3 14.fxg3 [ 14.hxg3 h5 is also bad. ] 14...h5 15.b3 f5 16.d1 g4 17.a4 c7 18.ac5 g5 19.d2 h4 20.gxh4 [ 20.xd7 xd7 21.xg4 fxg4 22.f7+ e7 23.c5+ e8 24.xe6 d6-+ ] 20...xh4 21.f4 Black was menacing Mate in t wo wi t h a t h e Q u e e n s a c r if i ce o n h 2 f o l l o we d b y F f 2 ! g5 22.xd7 xd7 23.b5 e7 24.xc6 xf4 25.exf4 xc6 26.e1 b6 27.e3 d6 28.c1 c2 29.d3 h7 30.e5 d8 31.b3 c7 32.b4 e7! 33.xe7+ [ 33.a4 h4 ] 33...xe7 34.d3 d2 0-1
1947 Khmelnitski,Alexander Provotorov,Ivan 6th Open Voronezh RUS (4) [John Emms]
A43 2460 2307 15.06.2002
1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e4 0-0?! Until a few years ago this was considered to be a clever move order for Black. The idea is that after 6 Be2 Black can complicate with 6...b5! (7 Bxb5 Nxe4!). Black a ls o a vo id s t h e va ri a t io n 5 . . . d 6 6 B b 5 + . However, a discovery then cast a severe shadow over this variation as far as Black is concerned. [ For 5...d6 see Shabalov-Wojtkiewicz, Philadelphia 2000 in ChessPub (ECO code A43). ] 6.e5 g4 The most logical move, attacking the e5-pawn. [ However, it's possible that the more passive 6...e8 is actually stronger, for example 7.h4 d6 8.e6 fxe6 9.h5 gxh5!? 10.g5 exd5 11.d3 ( 11.xh7 xh7 12.xh5+ g8 13.h7+ f7 14.d3 g8 15.xd5 e6 16.h5+ f8 17.g5 (De VreugtMalakhov, Lausanne 2000) and now xg5!
18.xg5 c3+! wins for Black.) 11...f6 12.xh7 xh7 13.xh7+ xh7 14.xh5+ g8 15.h7+ f7 16.h5+ g8 with a perpetual check, AdrianovYermolinsky, Las Vegas 1999. ( 16...e6 17.g4+ f5 18.xg7 looks good for White. )] 7.g5! h6 [ 7...xe5 8.f4 and the knight is trapped in m i d - b o a r d : f6 9.xh7 xh7 10.fxe5 looks nice for White: ] 8.h4! c7 I can't find any earlier examples of this move, which doesn't alter the general consensus that Black is in big danger. Just to illustrate how much trouble Black is in from White's crude but effective attack, here are a couple of miniature wins for White [ 8...f6 9.ge4 f7 10.h5 f5 11.g5 xg5 12.xg5 xe5 13.hxg6 hxg6 14.d6! (making way for Qd5 or Bc4) f6 15.xf6 xf6 16.c4+ e6 17.d2 f8 18.d5! exd5 19.xd5+ e6+ 20.xe6+ dxe6 21.g5 d7 22.0-0-0 e8 23.d8 1-0 Huzman-Minasian, Pula 1997. ] [ 8...xe5 9.h5 g7 10.xh7! xh7 11.hxg6+ fxg6 12.xh6 h8 ( 12...xh6 13.d2 g5 14.xg5 f6 15.d3+ ) 13.d2 g8 14.0-0-0 d6 15.d3 f8 16.xg7 xg7 17.xh8 xh8 18.e1 f7 19.g5 f6 20.xg6+ 1-0 Mikac-Prevot, Dresden 2000. Scary stuff! ] 9.f4 f6 [ Or 9...xe5 10.b5! a5+ 11.d2 b6 and W hite simp ly p resse s f o rward wit h 12.h5! ] 10.d6! exd6 11.c4+ h8 12.exf6 xf6 13.xd6 e8+ 14.f1 Black's already taking a sever beating and he does well to last as long as he does! b6 15.b5 f5 [ Or 15...a6 16.f3 f5 17.h5! ] 16.f7+ g7 17.h5 There was also not much wrong with 17 Nc7. e6 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.g4 c6 20.h2 xd6 21.bxd6 e5 22.xe6 xh2 23.d5 a6+ 24.c4 c6 25.d2! Coming into h6. Black's sorry looking queenside are no help. xd6 26.h6+ f6 27.h8+ e7 28.d8# 1-0
1910
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Spencer-Berry, Stirling 2002. ] A43 2451 9...d6 10.0-0 0-0 11.e4? Now this is too 2366 late - it simply accelerates Black's attack on 03.04.2004 t h e kin g sid e . I t 's s u rp r isin g h o w qu ic k l y W hite's position goes downhill from here. d4! 12.exd5 g4! 13.xh7+ [ Or 13.xd4 xh2+! 14.h1 h4 15.f3 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 e6 4.c3 xf3! and Black wins. ] W hite is not obliged to enter the Modern Benoni with 4 c4. With 4 Nc3 White hopes to 13...h8! [ Stronger than 13...xh7 14.g5+! g8 get a small edge after the typical continuation 15.xg4 exd5 ] 4...exd5 5 Nxd5 Nxd5 6 Qxd5. This is not bad for Black, but a bit dull and it's very difficult 14.g5 It looks suicidal to give up the h-pawn, to generate counterplay. W ith this in mind, but alternatives were hardly promising for V a v r a o p t s f o r s o m e t h i n g a l i t t l e m o r e example: [ 14.e4 exd5! 15.xd5 xf3+ 16.xf3 a m b i t i o u s . b5 Offering a pawn sacrifice for xh2+ 17.h1 h4 and Black wins. ] control of the centre. This gambit can be [ 14.xd4 xh2+! 15.h1 h4 16.g5!? compared to the Blumenfeld (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 xg5 17.f3 h6 18.d3 e5+ 19.g1 3 Nf3 c5 4 d5 b5!?). 5.dxe6 Accepting the xf3 and Black mates. ] gambit. [ White can also decline, preferring to 14...xh2+ 15.h1 exd5 16.f3 [ 16.g6 also loses after f4! 17.xf4 xf4 c o n t i n u e w i t h d e v e l o p m e n t w i t h 5.g5 18.h3 d6! (threatening both the bishop - see Sakaev-Volkov, New Delhi 2000 in on g6 and to uncover an attack on h2) 19.g3 ChessPub (ECO code A43) ] ( 19.xf4 xf4 20.g3 h6+ mates on h2) 5...fxe6 6.xb5 d5 19...xg6! 20.gxf4 h5 21.g2 e3+! [ 6...a5+ 7.c3 d5 8.d2 b6 22.fxe3 xh3+ 23.f2 ( or 23.g1 g6+ ( 8...d8!? ) 9.e4 d4 10.a4 c6 11.e5 24.f2 g2+ 25.e1 xc2+ ) 23...h4+ was unclear in Yermolinsky-Alburt, New 24.g1 g3+ with mate next move. ] York 1993, but ECO gives 8 e3 as a slight 16...d6 17.fxg4 xg4 18.d3 edge for White. ] [ Or 18.f3 f4! and the attack is 7.e3 devastating: 19.xf4 xf4 20.d3 xf3 [ 7.c4 , adding pressure to the centre, is 21.gxf3 h4+ 22.g2 h2# ] certainly an alternative for White. ] 7...a6 Forcing the knight back to c3 so that 18...c4 19.f4 xf4 [ 19...xf4 Black wins after 20.xd4 h6+ White cannot arrange an early c2-c4. On the 21.h3 and now simply xh3 ] other hand, White now has options of e3-e4, so it's difficult to know whether this is better 0-1 than simple development with 7...Nc6, offering W hite the chance to play 8 c4!?. A43 8.c3 c6 9.d3 I'm not sure about this 1949 move. Kozul,Zdenko 2612 [ White can actually play e3-e4 without any Ponomariov,Ruslan 2616 p r e p a r a t i o n : 9.e4!? d4 ( 9...dxe4 ch-(team) Bled SLO (4) 11.11.1999 10.xd8+ xd8 11.g5 is very pleasant [John Emms] f o r W h i t e - B la c k's p a wn s a re a m e s s) 10.e5! g4 11.e4 d5! ( 11...gxe5 8 captures: A long tactical sequence leaves 12.xe5 xe5 13.h5+ f7 14.c4 e7 White on top. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 d6 15.0-0 gave White a very nice position in 4.c3 g6 5.e4 g7 6.e2 0-0 7.0-0 Toth-Salles, Rio de Janeiro 1991) 12.fd2 This is the main line position of the so-called gxe5 ( I prefer 12...cxe5 , preparing to "Schmid Benoni", which is can compare with answer 13.f4? with e3! ) 13.f4! g6 the Modern Benoni, except that Black has a 14.c4 d8 15.0-0 and White was better in pawn on e7 and W hite has one on c2. The 1948 Konopka,Michal Vavra,P1 TCh-Extraliga 2003-4 (10) [John Emms]
1911
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 young Ukrainian Grandmaster Ponomariov has been experimenting with this line recently, with mixed results. e6 The other main moves for Black include 7... a6, 7...Bg4 and 7...Na6. 7...e6 puts early pressure on the d5-pawn. 8.d2! The knight heads for the excellent c4 square. exd5 9.exd5 a6 [ More normal is 9...bd7 intending to meet 10.c4 with b6 ] 10.c4 c7 11.a4 b6 12.f4 a6!? Now there's a scuffle of tactics. Black can avoid giving up the d6-pawn with 12...Nfe8, although then he remains rather passive. 13.xd6 xc4 14.xc7 xe2 15.xd8 xd1 16.xf6 xc2 17.e7 The position has simplified, Black has the bishop pair, but the passed d-pawn remains an important player. fb8 18.d6 b7 19.a5 b5 20.d5 b3 21.c7 c8 22.ae1 d4 23.g5 Threatening d7. Black is forced to sacrifice m a t e r i a l t o g e t r i d o f t h e p a w n . bxc7 24.dxc7 xc7 Black's bishop pair provide some compensation for the exchange, but Kozul's endgame technique is very good. 25.e8+ g7 26.f4 d7 27.e3 Offering to exchange off one of Black's prized bishops. a6 28.h3 b4 29.b8 c2 30.e1 b3 31.c1 d5 32.g4 g5 33.c8 h6 34.g2 d3 35.ee8 c4 36.cd8! xd8 37.xd8 e5 38.c8 f5 39.f3 f4 40.c6 W hite has completely stifled all of Black's counterplay and now the a6-pawn is ready to be captured. f7 41.xa6 e7 42.a8 c3 43.bxc3 xc3 44.a6 [ 44.a6 b2 45.xb2 xb2 46.a7 wins for White. ] 1-0
1950 Kozul,Zdenko Topalov,Veselin 34th Olympiad (8) [John Emms]
A43 2611 2707 05.11.2000
position. So far we've studied 5 Bh4, 5 Bf4 and 5 Qd3 (see the theory section). 5 h4!? can be compared to 3 h4 in an analogous position in the Trompovsky (after 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 Ne4). This early h2-h4 would certainly get the seal of approval f rom Trompovsky king Julian Hodgson, who has used Topalov's line with success himself(see Hebden-Hodgson). g6 6.bd2 xg5 7.hxg5 g7 8.e4 In similar positions in the Trompovsky White can bolster his centre with f2-f4. Here however, the knight is already committed to f3, so thei plan is no longer available [ 8.c3 is also possible ] 8...a6 9.a4 [ Once again White should consider 9.c3 ] 9...xb2 10.axb5 c7 [ O f c o u r s e n o t 10...xa1? 11.xa1+and White wins. ] 11.a2 g7 12.c4 d6 13.b3 e6 14.d3 f8! This is a very far-sighted move. Instead of castling, Topalov just sticks his king on f8, where it is perfectly safe. Meanwhile Black will break later with ...h7-h6, in order to get his rook into the game. Black is already more than comfortable. 15.a3 exd5 16.exd5 a6 17.0-0 [ 17.b6? b8 followed by ...Na8 and black will win the pawn. ] [ 17.h4!? may offer White more chances than the text move. Now Black can attack down the h-file. ] 17...b8 18.e1 h6! 19.gxh6 xh6 20.e4 b6! 21.a2 g4! suddenly Black has an attack down the h-file 22.eg5 f6 23.d2 h5 24.a5 a8 25.e4 [ 25.bxa6 xg5-+ wins for Black. ] 25...xf3 26.gxf3 d4 27.f1 h2 28.e2 [ Or 28.bxa6 f5-+ ] 28...f5 29.d2 xf2 30.ea1 e3+! 31.xe3 g5+ [ 31...g5+ 32.f4 g3+ 33.f3 f2# An impressive display by Topalov. ] 0-1
In this game we witness Topalov's speciality of 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 c5 3 d5 b5!?. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g5 e4 This is Topalov's speciality, and the main reason why there has been an upsurge in interest in 3...b5. 5.h4!? As far as I can see, this is a new move in this 1912
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1951 Lodhi,Mahmood Ghaem Maghami,Ehsan Olympiad, 2000 [Paul Motwani]
A43 1952 Lputian,Smbat G Zvaginsev,V 2000 Mem Karpov Poikovsky (8) [Eric Prié]
Quick Tricks and Traps 1) B19: "For W hite, no fortune in this fourteen-mover!" M.Lodhi-E. Ghaem Maghami, Istanbul Olympiad, Turkey 2000. Trompovsky Attack (variant), Code A43. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g5 The same position can be reached via the Trompovsky Attack move-order 2 Bg5 c5 3 d5 b5 4 Nf3, although in that case White might prefer 4 f3 intending 5 e4. Equally, Black could deviate earlier with 3...Qb6 or 3...Ne4, for example. e4 5.h4 [ B19.1: 5.h4 g6 6.bd2 xg5 7.hxg5 g7 was also fine for Black in the game Z. Kozul-V.Topalov played exactly one week earlier at the Olympiad. ] 5...b7 6.d3 f5 7.c3 [ B19.2: 7.bd2 a6!? (menacing ...Nb4) 8.c3 c4 9.d4 xd2 10.xd2 b6 11.e5 c5!? 12.xf5 g6 13.xg6+ hxg6 14.g5 xd5 posed Black no problems in the super-GM encounter R. Huebner-V.Topalov, which also occurred at the Istanbul Olympiad. ] 7...c4 8.d4 a5 9.e3 [ W h i t e c o u l d w e l l c o n s i d e r 9.d2 t o b re a k t h e u n p le a sa n t p in o n h is c3 knight. ] 9...e6! 10.dxe6 dxe6 11.0-0-0 The threat of 12 Qd8+ looks very dangerous, but the Iranian no.1 has a complete answer prepared... d5!! 12.xe4 [ 12.xd5 c6! 13.f6+ xf6! leaves White's queen in terrible peril ] [ as does 12.e5 c5 ] 12...fxe4 13.e5 xa2 14.xc4 [ Desperation from White. The 'trick' 14.xe4 A) backfires against 14...a1+ 15.d2 a5+ ( or 15...xd1+ 16.xd1 xe4 ); B) 14...xe4?? with the idea of 15.d8# ] 14...c6 IM Mahmood Lodhi resigned in view of 15 Qc3 bxc4 or 15...Bb4 16 Qxg7 Qa1. 0-1
A43 2607 2627 2001
1.d4 e6 2.f3 c5 3.g3 c6 [ The same idea one move earlier is also interesting. 3...a5+!? 4.c3 ( 4.c3 cxd4 5.xd4 d5!? (5...Nc6 6.Nxc6 is the difference)) 4...f6 5.g2 d5 6.0-0 c6 7.g5 e7 8.dxc5 h6 9.e3 xc5 10.xc5 xc5 11.e4 0-0 12.exd5 exd5 13.e2 b6 14.b3 f5 15.c3 fe8 16.ed4 e4 1/2-1/2 Cosma,I-Lalic,B Cappelle la Grande op 1998 ] 4.g2 [ 4.c4 cxd4 5.xd4 b6 is known for being n o t ve ry go o d f o r W h i t e wh o wi ll h a v e problems with the c4-pawn and the long open diagonal. ] 4...a5+!? The young Russian is one of the most inventive players on the circuit. 5.c3 Of course not 5.Bd2?! Qb6 6.Bc3 Nf6 with a great position for Black already. [ 5.d2 b6 6.c3 f6 ] 5...cxd4 6.xd4 xd4 7.xd4 f6 8.b4! Otherwise Black plays ...Bc5 with a good game. b6 [ 8...c7!? ] 9.e3 xd4 10.xd4 d5 11.d2 e7 12.e4 0-0 13.0-0 d8 14.a3 f8 15.fe1 a6 16.b6 d6 17.d4 d8 18.ac1 h6 19.b6 d6 20.d4 d8 21.h3 d7 22.exd5 exd5 23.b3 [ 23.xf6 xf6 24.xd5 xh3 ] 23...e6 24.a5 [ 24.c5 xc5 25.xc5+ g8 26.e7 d7 27.xf6 gxf6 28.cd1 ] 24...d7 25.c4 dxc4 26.xb7 b8 27.xf6 xf6 28.xa6 b2 29.xc4 xa3! 30.c8+ [ 30.c8+ xc8 31.xc8 c7 32.xe6 xb4 33.e2 xa5 34.d5 is dead drawn. ] ½-½
1913
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A43 the bishop on g7). Naturally Black keeps this 2360 bishop as capturing on h6 would be virtually 2586 suicidal. 23.e2 d7 24.h1 ac8? [ 24...f7! prevents the following sacrifice, 10.08.2002 after which I suspect that Black is better. ] 25.xg6! The only way forward for White. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 g6 4.c3 g7 xg6 26.h7+ f8 [ 26...f7?? loses to 27.h5 ] 5.e4 0-0 Until a few years ago this was Now Black has to do something considered to be a clever move order for 27.xg6 Black. The idea is that after 6 Be2 Black can about the deadly threat of Rh7. He plays the 28.e5?? After this complicate with 6...b5! (7 Bxb5 Nxe4!). Black o n l y m o v e . xc3! a ls o a vo id s t h e va ri a t io n 5 . . . d 6 6 B b 5 + . b l u n d e r B l a c k i s w i n n i n g . W h i t e w a s However, a discovery then cast a severe attempting to close the long diagonal but shadow over this variation as far as Black is overlooks a deadly counterattack. [ 28.h7! is best. Black has to find a series concerned. See the game Khmelnitski, Aof 'only moves' to stay in the game: xc2+! Provotorov,I/Voronezh 2002 (ECO code A43) 29.xc2 a4+! 30.b1 d4 31.e5! for more about this variation. 6.e5 g4 g1+ 32.c2 c8+ 33.c4 xc4+! 7.g5 h6 8.h4 f6 34.xc4 d4 ] [ Khmelnitski,A-Provotorov,I/Voronezh 2002 28...dxe5 29.h7 xc2+! 30.xc2 c8+ continued with 8...c7 ] [ 30...c8+ 31.d1 xd5+ 32.e1 c1+ 9.ge4 f7 10.xc5 33.f2 d4+ 34.g3 xf4+ 35.h3 [ 10.h5 looks like a critical test of Black's h1# is mate ] position. Indeed, it would take a very brave player to take this on with Black: f5 11.g5 0-1 xg5 12.xg5 xe5 ( 12...h6 loses to 13.hxg6! hxg5 14.h8+!! xh8 15.h5 A43 f7 16.gxf7+ g7 17.e2 and White will 1954 follow up with 0-0-0 and Rh1) 13.hxg6 hxg6 Moradiabadi,Elshan 2540 14.d6! (making way for Qd5 or Bc4) f6 Tregubov,Pavel V 2599 15.xf6 xf6 16.c4+ e6 17.d2 f8 ChIP Paris FRA (4) 10.07.2007 18.d5! exd5 19.xd5+ e6+ 20.xe6+ [John-Paul Wallace] dxe6 21.g5 d7 22.0-0-0 e8 23.d8 and Black was forced to resign in Huzman- 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g5 b6 Minasian, Pula 1997. ] 5.c3 This move has become a very popular 10...xe5 11.f4 f7 12.h5 f5 13.hxg6 continuation after Dreev's spectacular victory hxg6 14.f3 h6 15.d2 b6 16.d3 d6 against Tregubov last year. b4 6.a4 a5 17.0-0-0 d7 18.e1 Despite not playing the 7.b3 d6! most dangerous line, White has achieved a [ 7...e4 8.f4! d6 9.d2 xd2 10.xd2 strong position from the opening and has h6 11.a3 a6 12.axb4 xb4 13.c3!! pressure down both the e- and h-files. e8 the start of some amazing play by W hite 19.e3?! This is the beginning of a dubious wh ich wa s su re ly h o m e p re pa ra t io n b y transaction whereby White gives up his darkDre ev, eithe r tha t o r is o ne of th e b es t squared bishop for the knight on h6. opening concepts I have ever seen! xb3 [ 19.f2 , preparing g2-g4 looks simple and 14.e4 g5 15.e5!! dxe5 16.xa6 xa6 strong, for example f6 20.b5! d7 17.xc5 and White emerged from the 21.xd7 xd7 22.g4 and White is doing opening with a clear advantage in Dreev, A very well. ] (2673)-Tregubov, P (2563)/XIII TCh-RUS 19...a5 20.d4?! xd4 21.xh6 f8 2006 (2)/1-0 ] 22.h3 g7 Now Black has a good defensive 8.d2!? set up and , more importantly, has control [ 8.xf6 exf6 9.a3 f5 10.d2 d7 over the dark squares (White cannot opposes 11.c4 c7 12.axb4 cxb4 13.d2 b8 1953 Milicevic,Goran Degraeve,Jean Marc GPA Open Ontario CAN (6) [John Emms]
1914
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.g3 e7 15.e3 this move loses some time, but the idea is that the Black knight is not so well placed on f6 so it may be ok. f6 16.g2 b5 17.0-0 0-0 and Black had full counterplay and went on to win in Riazantsev, A (2621) -Tregubov, P (2615)/ TCh-RUS Sochi RUS 2007 (4)/0-1 ] 8...bd7 9.e4 g6 10.b2!? [ 10.d3 For some reason this move has not been tried before, although it is very natural. W hite gets on with his development and figures that the Na4 can be brought back into play later. g7 11.0-0 c7 12.a3 a5 13.c3 bxc3 14.xc3 0-0 15.b5 b8 16.a4 Now the position is a Benko, and if W hite can consolidate he will have a big advantage as he has already gained control over b5 and c4. However, af ter Black's correct reaction in the centre the assessment of the opening battle is still yet t o b e d e t e rm in e d . e6! 17.dxe6 fxe6 18.c4 ( 18.f4!? intending to meet ...d5 with e5 deserves serious attention.) 18...d5 19.exd5 exd5 20.cd6 e5?! ( 20...a6!? 21.xc8 xc8 looks a bit better for White, but is probably ok for Black.) 21.e1 fg4 22.e2! and White took hold of the advantage in Khamrakulov, I (2545)Reinaldo Castineira, R (2452)/TCh-ESP Honor Gp2 2007 (3)/1-0 ] 10...g7 11.bc4 c7 12.a4?!N A new move, although this position has only been reached once before. I don't see the point of a4, while on the downside White loses the chance of opening the a-file with a3. [ 12.e2 b6 13.0-0 xc4 14.xc4 0-0 15.e1 the start of a unique regrouping. g4 16.d1 e5?! this move is based on a misunderstanding of the position, as now W hite gains a favourable version of the Kings Indian. With either 16...a5!? or 16... Ne5 Black could have gained good counterplay. 17.f3 f6 18.g4 e8 19.h1 f6 20.h6 g7 21.e3 and White had a typical opening advantage in Veingold, A (2425) -Nyysti, S/Naantali op 1996 (3)/1-0 ] 12...0-0 13.e2 b7 14.0-0 e6! Black now takes over the initiative. 15.f4 [ 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.f3 d5 17.exd5 exd5 18.e3 e5! 19.h4 h6-+ ] 15...exd5?! This is very tempting, but Black
had a simple way to gain a big advantage here: [ 15...e8! 16.c1 the problem for White is that if 16.dxe6 f xe6 his Bf4 is hanging. ( 16.f3 xa1 17.xa1 e5-+; 16.dxe6 fxe6 17.g3 xa1 18.xa1 e5 19.f4 and White's compensation is speculative.) 16...exd5 17.exd5 df6 ( 17...xd5 )] 16.xd6 d8 17.xf8 xf8 18.e3?! Now White will come under heavy pressure and it will be difficult to defend in a practical game, instead there was a way out here: [ 18.exd5! xd5 19.c1 c3 20.e1 g5 ( 20...a2 ) A) 21.g3 e8 22.e3 xe2+ 23.xe2 d5! 24.xd5 ( 24.f3 xe3 25.xe3 d4-+ ) 24...xe2-+; B) 21.f3! xf3 22.xf3 xc1 23.xc1 e2+ 24.h1 xc1 25.xc1= and White can hold the ending. ] 18...dxe4 19.c4 8d7 20.e2 h5 21.ad1 d4 22.d5?! [ 22.f5?! g5! 23.xe4 xf5 24.d6 f4-+ ] [ 22.g3! after this the game continues, although it is preferable to play Black. ] [ 22.g4?! this move only loses time... g7 23.g3 f5 24.e3 g5 ] 22...e5! 23.e3? An unfortunate retreat, as White can not afford to give Black two tempi in such a sharp position. The computer finds a remarkable defence here: [ 23.xe4 g7 24.b1!! f6 ( 24...f5 25.e2 xd5 26.xd4 xc4 27.xc4 xc4 28.xc4= ) 25.e2 xd5 26.xd4 cxd4 27.xe5 xc4 28.bxc4 and White can probably hold the position. ] 23...f4 24.e1 g5 25.g3 c3 26.h1 h3 27.e2 d8 28.a5 h5 Black's attack plays itself now... 29.b5 d4 30.dc4 g4 31.a6 a8 32.g2? A blunder in a difficult position, with 32.Rde1 White could have continued to put up resistance. [ 32.de1 ] 32...f4+ A complicated fighting game, which naturally produced errors from both sides. It looks like this variation is holding up for Black, thanks to Tregubov's efforts, although the onus is still on Black to equalise after 10. Bd3. 0-1
1915
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1955 Nikolic,Predrag Johansen,Darryl Keith op Gold Coast (5) [Eric Prié]
A43 2659 2494 2000
1.d4 e6 2.f3 c5 3.g3 The third possibility with a "d pawn specials spirit" this is favoured by such players as White here in this game, who use this order of moves almost whatever Black does! He is ready to play a kind of Gruenfeld, with colours reversed, where his opponent has already lost some flexibility with ...e6. There is a plethora of lines to combat this interesting although non-critical idea. cxd4 For other possibilities on move 3 see the next game. 4.xd4 c6 5.g2 b6 6.xc6 The only justif ication of W hit e's openin g according to me. [ 6.b3 d5 7.0-0 f6 8.e3 c7 The opening is a complete success for Black who has not even lost a tempo with the Queen in the process of dislodging the knight from d4 since the bishop on e3 will also have to move again. 9.f4 e5 10.g5 e4! The point 11.xe4 dxe4 12.c3 f6 13.d2 h3 14.e1 f5 15.d5 f7 16.c4 d6 17.c2 0-0 18.ad1 ae8 19.c3 e6 20.c5 b8 21.f3 exf3 22.exf3 f4 23.e4 fxg3 24.hxg3 g6 25.f2 ( 25.h2 h6 26.g1 h5 ) 25...f5 26.e2 g4 27.d3 e4! 0-1 Den Boer,BM o t w a n i , P C h T - B E L 2 0 0 1 ( 27...e4 28.xe4 xg3+ 29.xg3 xf3+ )] 6...dxc6 7.0-0 e5 8.a4! a5?! [ 8...f6 9.a5 c7 leaves no target. Then White has 2 plans: c3 immediately and then quickly bring the Queen to a4 to threaten a6 and attach the Bishop to d7 then probably B g 5 Nd 2 , o r p l a y B g5 , Nd 2 , c 3 Q c 3 t o complete development with good control over the light squares. ] 9.d2 e6 10.e4 d8 Black seems to have easily equalized but that is more of an optical illusion: He will soon have to cope with a strong initiative. 11.e1 b4 [ 11...d5 12.c3 f6 13.e3 a6 ( 13...b4 14.fd1 ) 14.c5 ] 12.c3 e7 13.e3 c7 [ 13...xb2 is highly risky : 14.b1 c2 15.xb7 d5 16.b1 xa4 17.b6 a8
18.c5 xe4 19.b8+ xb8 20.xb8+ d7 21.xe7 xe7 ( 21...xg2 22.d6+ ) 22.h3+ f5 23.xh8+- ] 14.b4 f6 15.bxa5 d5 [ 15...xa5 16.b1 d7 17.b6 a6 18.c5! xc5 19.xc5 With a very strong a t t a ck. Fo r in st a n ce t h e n i ce lin e xe2 20.a5 d5 ( 20...c4 21.a6!; 20...a6 21.e1 d8 22.f1 a8 23.a6 ) 21.a6! bxa6 22.xd5!! A) 22...cxd5 23.b8+ d8 24.c7 d7 25.c8+ d8 26.c6+ d7 ( 26...d7 27.d6 And Mate on e7 ) 27.fb1; B) 22...xd5 23.c4 the point xc4 ( 23...f3 24.e1 ) 24.b8+ d8 25.xe5+ e6 26.ad1 b3 27.c7 ] 16.d2 0-0 17.a6! [ 17.c4 f6 18.e3 d7 19.c3 is not as decisive. ] 17...b6 [ 17...bxa6 18.c4 b6 19.a5 xc4 20.c3 d5 ( 20...xe2 21.fb1 b8 22.e3 c4 23.xc7 xb1+ 24.xb1 xe3 25.fxe3 ) 21.fb1 b8 22.c5! ( 22.b2 d8 ) 22...xg2 23.xg2 a7 ( 23...d5 24.xc7 xb1 25.xe5 ) 24.xb6 xb6 25.xb6 xb6 26.d7+- ] 18.axb7 c4 19.c1 xd2 [ 19...f5 20.g5 xd2 21.xe6 ] 20.xd2 xb7 21.c2 a6 22.fe1?! [ 22.f3 f6 23.fb1 wins time ] 22...f5 23.f3 e4 24.d4 c4 25.eb1 c5? [ 25...c5! 26.b5 e3 27.fxe3 ( 27.f4 d2 ) 27...h6 With serious counterplay ] 26.e3! Now it is over h8 [ 26...a7 27.f1 xf1 28.xf1 d5 29.fd1 ] 27.f1 d3 28.b3 xd4 29.cxd4 f4 Despair but what else? Such attempts hardly work against top class grandmasters. 30.xd3 exd3 31.d1 c5 32.xd3 c4 33.a3 f3 34.h3 e6 35.h2 f6 36.g1 h5 [ 36...h6 37.g4 ] 37.ab1 c8 38.b5 f5 39.c1 h4 40.g4 xb5 41.axb5 d5 42.b4 b8 43.xc4 xb5 44.f8+ g8 45.c8 1-0
1916
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1956 Oliveira Fernandes,Antonio Open, 2000 Lisboa [Paul Motwani]
A43 and the chances are it just doesn't work, assuming W hite plays accurately. But it's possible that it still holds some surprise value, 2000 and so against certain opponents it might be worth a punt. [ 5...d6 see Shabalov-Wojtkiewicz, Philadelphia 2000 in ChessPub (ECO code B20: " Black's having f u n, an d winn ing in A43). ] 'lucky' 21!" Queen's Pawn Game (by transposition), Code A43. 1.f3 f6 2.d4 6.e5! The best move. [ Black's idea behind delaying ...d6 is to c5 3.d5 b5 The same position was reached answer 6.e2 with b5!? intending 7.xb5?! in game B19 via the move-order 1 d4 Nf6 2 ( 7.e5 is stronger here too) 7...xe4! Nf3 c5 3 d5 b5. 4.a4 8.xe4 a5+ ] [ White chose 4.g5 in the aforementioned 6...g4 game B19. ] [ 6...e8 was covered in Timoshenko4...b4 5.c4 e6 6.dxe6 Malakhov, Halkidiki 2002. ] [ This is too submissive and timid for my liking. I would prefer 6.g5 to at least make 7.g5! xe5 [ Against 7...h6 White immediately begins a fight for the initiative. ] a n a t t a c k w i t h 8.h4! - see the notes to 6...fxe6 7.g3 b7 8.g2 e7 9.0-0 0-0 Milice vic-De grae ve , O nt ario 2 00 2, a n d 10.bd2 Clearly not an active developing Khmelnitski-Provotorov, Voronezh 2002. ] move, but White's queen's knight has nowhere else to go! c6 11.b3 e8! Black's queen is 8.f4 The knight is trapped in mid-board. Black hea ding f a st f o r h5 , f ro m whe re sh e ca n can save the piece, but at some cost. f6 [ After 8...h6 9.h3 Black does lose a quickly generate serious threats towards h2. piece ( 9.ge4 f5 10.fxe5 fxe4 11.g4 12.b2 h5 13.c2 d5 14.cxd5 exd5 h7 12.xe4 (Broomfield-Calzetta Ruiz, 15.ad1 h8 A little safety measure, Genova 2004) is also good for White. )] because Black's king was slightly exposed on 9.xh7! xh7 10.fxe5 This looks promising the a2 to g8 diagonal. 16.fe1 ac8 17.d3 [ White really had to seek some activity via from White's point of view, who will just castle queenside and then storm with h4-h5. f5! 17.e4 ] [ 10...fxe5 11.d3! is even worse for 17...a5! Now preventing e2-e4, and at the Black. ] s a m e t i m e t h r e a t e n in g . . . c 5 - c 4 . 18.b5? This looks like a good pawn sacrifice. Missing Black's clever response... a6! 19.d3 11.f4 [ If 19.xa5 then d8 neatly traps White's b6 12.d2 d6! [ I don't rate Black's chances of survival after queen. ] 12...xb2 13.b1 a3 14.h4! ] 19...c4 20.e3 c5 21.d4 [ 21.e5 loses to c3 ( or 21...xf2+ 13.0-0-0! [ 13.exd6? xb2! ] 22.xf2 g4+ )] 21...g4 White resigned in view of 22 Qe6 13...dxe5 [ Maybe 13...d7 14.exd6 exd6 15.h4 f6 Bxd4 23 Nxd4 Qxh2+ 24 Kf1 Rxf2. , although even here Black's position looks 0-1 precarious after 16.h5 e4 ( or 16...gxh5 17.d3 d7 18.g4!? ) 17.hxg6+ g8 18.e3 ] 1957 A43 There might be a better defence for Pert,Nicholas 2528 14.g5 Ehlvest,Jaan 2609 Black than the one chosen by Ehlvest, but League Gibraltar ENG 05.03.2008 even so maybe Black is just simply losing this position. e4 15.h4! This is much more to the [John Emms] point than 15 Bxe7. d7 16.h5 e5? [ 16...f6 17.hxg6+ xg6 18.c4 ] 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e4 0-0!? This move is highly provocative 17.xe7 e8 18.hxg6+ g8 19.d6 e6 1917
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.h7 [ 20.g5! is also good enough. ] 20...xg6 21.xg7+! xg7 22.g5 xe7 [ 22...-This was forced, as White was threatening 23.f6+ h7 24.c4 xc4 25.h1+ g8 26.xg6# ] 23.dxe7 e8 24.g4! [ A nice finish. Black's defences collapse after 24.g4 fxg4 ( or 24...xe7 25.gxf5 ) 25.xe4 xe7 26.f6+ h7 27.g5+ h6 28.g2 followed by Rh1. A very nice attack by Nick Pert, which on this evidence seems to more or less refute 7... Nxe5. ] 1-0
1958 Reinaldo Castineira,Roi Rocha TCh Lanzarote ESP (6) [John Emms]
A43 2405 2335 11.05.2003
1.e4 d6 2.c3 f6 3.f4 g6 4.f3 g7 5.d4 c5 6.d5 In this game we have arrived at this position from a Pirc Defence, but it could have easily arisen from the Benoni via 1 d4 c5 2 d5 g6 3 e4 Bg7 4 Nc3 d6 5 f4 Nf6 6 Nf3. 0-0 7.d3 [ 7.c4? has been played quite a few times, but it allows Black a neat tactic: b5! 8.xb5 xe4! 9.xe4 a5+ 10.c3 xc3+ 11.bxc3 xb5 and Black has regained the material and has a nice position (the d5pawn is weak and White cannot castle). ] 7...e6 Attacking the centre immediately. Other worthwhile options include 7...Bg4 and 7...Na6, intending ...Nc7 to support an eventual .. .b7b5. 8.dxe6 xe6 9.f5 White immediately harasses the e6-bishop and gains valuable space on the kingside. The quieter option was 9 0-0. d7 [ The old ga me Matanovic-Vidmar, Ljubljana 1951 is an illustration of how difficult Black's position can become in this line and also has a very neat finish: 9...c8 10.0-0 c6 11.h1 g4 12.d5 e8 13.h3 ge5 14.xe5 xe5 15.f6 f8 16.b5 e6 17.e1 a6 18.e2 b5 19.h4 b7 20.g5 d7 21.ae1 xd5 22.exd5 e5 23.g4 xe1 24.xe1 h6? (White was clearly better but this is suicide) 25.xh6
xf6? 26.g5 g7 27.e8!! and Black resigned. ] 10.0-0 c6 11.f4! A very good move, preventing Black from developing effectively with ...Nbd7. e8? Logical, but also extremely risky. It's only natural to put more pressure on White's weak spot - the e4-pawn. However, this move does leave the f7-pawn extremely vulnerable to attack. [ Black can contemplate the ambitious 11...b6 ] [ or play 11...a6 12.a4 c7 (preparing ... Nb d 7 ) , wh i c h l o o k s o k a y, f o r e x a m p l e 13.fxg6 hxg6 14.d2 h5 15.e3 d7 ] 12.fxg6 hxg6 [ Black already has to be very careful: 12...fxg6?? loses to 13.c4+ h8 14.g5 ] 13.g5! Now Bc4 is a nasty threat. d5 Black tries to counter in the centre but it's unsurprising that White should have a forced win after this - the f7-square is too weak. [ 13...h7 14.xh7 xh7 15.f3 is clearly better for White, although there's no forced win. ] 14.e5! c4 The only try. [ 14...h5? loses after 15.xf7! b6 ( or 15...xf7 16.g5+ ) 16.xg6 xf4 17.xf4 xb2 18.h5! xa1+ 19.f2 and Black has no way to prevent the mating threats, for example xc3 20.h6+ xh6 21.f7+ g7 22.g6+ f8 23.xh6+ e7 24.d6# ] 15.exf6? This complicates unnecessarily. [ The calm 15.e2 leaves Black suffering: h7 16.xf7! b6+ 17.h1 d4 18.xc4! dxc3 19.d6+ h8 20.xe8 xe8 21.d5 and White wins. ] 15...xf6 16.xf7! xf7 17.xg6+! [ Black survives after 17.g5 d7 18.e2 g7 19.xf6+ xf6 ] 17...xg6 18.g4+ h7? The losing move. [ M u c h m o r e r e s i l i e n t i s 18...f7! , f or e xa mp le : 19.g5 ( 19.h5+ g8 20.xb8 xb8 21.g6+ g7 22.f7+ h8 23.h5+ g8 24.f7+ is a draw by perpetual check) 19...d7 20.h5+ e6 21.ae1+ d6 22.xe8 xe8 23.xe8 xe8 24.xf6 xf6 25.xf6+ and White is a pawn up in the endgame but after either 25...Ke5 or 25...Kc5 Black has some compensation in the form of a very active 1918
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 king and the idea of ...d5-d4. ] 19.g5! Now Black has no defence d7 [ Or 19...xg5 20.h5+ g8 21.g6+ h8 22.f7 , which is similar to the game. ] 20.f3! xg5 [ Or 20...e5 21.h5+ g8 22.xf6 ] 21.h5+ g8 22.g6+ h8 23.f7 Black cannot avoid mate. 1-0
1959 Sakaev,Konstantin Delchev,Aleksander 2nd IECC Ohrid MKD (9) [John Emms]
A43 2637 2584 10.06.2001
Nice work if you can get it. Konstantin Sakaev scores a very easy point. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g5 a5+ [ 4...e4 has been the move in the recent revival of this line - see for example the game Timman-Topalov in the theory section. ] 5.c3 e4 6.h4 b7 7.e3 [ 7.d3 f5 8.bd2 e6 9.xe4 fxe4 10.xe4 xd5 11.f4 was a bit better for White in Sale-Zelic, Solin 1996. ] 7...e6?! Naturally Black strikes back at the centre, but Black may well be in trouble after this move. [ 7...g6!? ] 8.dxe6 dxe6?? Disaster strikes! [ 8...fxe6 9.e5 is a problem for Black as White threatens Qh5+, but the chosen move is even more of a nightmare! ] 9.xb5+! Of course! The bishop cannot be taken. c6 [ 9...c6 looks like a better defence, after which White is "only" a clear pawn up with a good position. But I guess Black was still recovering from shock. ] [ 9...xb5 10.d8# is the idea. ] 10.e5! Now Black loses even more material, for example. A very nice easy point for Mr Sakaev in a tournament where there were very few "easy points". [ 10.e5 c7 ( 10...xb5 11.d7# ) 11.a4 ] 1-0
1960 Sakaev,Konstantin Delchev,Aleksander European Individual Ch [Paul Motwani]
A43
2001
W 47: "Black in double trouble even before he's into double figures!" I'm always curious to see exactly what happened whenever I notice a top player losing quickly, and so I can safely say that the following 10-move defeat for GM Alexander Delchev, rated 2584, counts as my 'Curiosity of the Month'!! 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g5 We could class the opening as a form of the Trompovsky Attack, since the same position can be reached via the move-order 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 c5 3 d5 b5 4 Nf3. a5+ [ Black was much more successful with 4...e4 in game B19. ] 5.c3 e4 6.h4 b7 7.e3 e6? 8.dxe6! dxe6? [ Black could fight on longer after 8...fxe6 b u t e v e n t h e n 9.e5 is still highly unpleasant for him, as W hite's queen threatens to shoot out to h5 (or f3). ] 9.xb5+! c6 [ 9...xb5 10.d8# was another way for Black to exit. ] 10.e5! White threatens Qd7 as well as putting Black's c6-knight in double trouble--which rapidly becomes triple trouble in the case of 10...Qc7 11 Qa4!. So, GM Alexander Delchev resigned. 1-0
1961 A43 Sakaev,Konstantin 2627 Volkov,Sergey 2554 FIDE WCh KO New Delhi IND (1.4) 29.11.2000 [John Emms] 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 e6 4.c3!? So far we have concentrated solely on 4 c4, b u t wi t h t h e m o ve o r d e r t h a t W h i t e h a s chosen he is certainly not obliged to enter the Modern Benoni. After Sakaev's choice Black n o rm a lly p la ys 4 . . . e xd 5 , wh ich p ro b a b l y grants W hite a tiny edge. Here Volkov tries something more ambitious. b5 Offering a 1919
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pawn sacrifice for contol of the centre. This gambit can be compared to the Blumenfeld (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 c5 4 d5 b5!?). 5.g5 [ White can also accept the gambit with 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.xb5 Then a5+ 7.c3 d5 8.d2 b6 ( 8...d8!? ) 9.e4! d4 10.a4 c6 11.e5 was unclear in YermolinskyAlburt, New York 1993, but ECO gives 8 e3 as a slight edge for White. ] 5...b4 [ 5...a5 6.xf6 gxf6 7.e4 g7 8.d2 0-0 9.xb5 f5 10.b1 led to a win for White in Rakic-Messing, Yugoslavia 1969. ] 6.a4 [ 6.e4 is also possible, and led to a brief encounter in the game Figler-Sideif Zade, correspondence 1983. This continued b7 7.c4 bxc3 8.xc3 ( 8.xf6 gxf6 9.xc3 f5 10.e3 g7 11.c4 a6 is unclear, according to Sideif Zade) 8...xd5 9.xd5 exd5 10.xf6 xf6 11.xd5 xb2 12.d1 c4! 13.e4+ d8 14.d2 b4 15.xa8 xd2+ 16.xd2 b1+ 17.d1 b4+ 18.d2 c3 19.xa7 c2! 20.xb8+ xb8 21.xc2 h5 and White resigned. ] 6...a5 7.xf6 gxf6 8.b3 f5 9.e3 [ 9.e4!? led to a quick win for White in the game Urday-Correa, Sao Paulo 1995, after g7 ( 9...fxe4!? ) 10.b1 b7 11.c4 fxe4 12.g5 0-0 13.h5 h6 14.xe4 a6 15.0-0 c7? 16.exc5 xd5 17.b7 and the black queen is trapped. ] 9...g8 10.e5 b7 11.h5 g7 12.dxe6 dxe6 13.b2 c6 14.bc4 c7 15.xc6 xc6 16.d1 d5 Black has come out of the opening with a reasonable position, having the two bishops and a half-open g-file on which to operate. Nevertheless White is still well in the game, until his next move that is! 17.e2?? xg2 18.g1 f3! Did White miss this? 19.xf3 xg1+ 20.f1 d8 21.xd8+ xd8 Black is an exchange and a pawn up, with a completely winning position. Not a sever test for 5...b5, but still a point is a point! 22.a8+ e7 23.f4 g7 24.f2 g6 25.g2 e5 26.d5 exf4 27.g8 fxe3+ 28.e2 f6 29.h4 f4 30.e8 h6 31.e5 f3+ 32.xf3 g7 33.e2 f6 34.g4 f4 35.xf6 f2+ 36.d3 f1+ 37.e4 xf6 38.c4 xh4+ 39.d5 g5+ 40.c6 f5 41.d3 g5 42.b7 d5+ 43.xa7 g5
44.c4 f5 45.b6 h5 46.b5 h4 47.c6 h3 48.h1 f4 49.d3 0-1
1962 Sarakauskas,Gediminas Feuerstack,Aljoscha HSK IM Hamburg GER (2) [John Emms]
A43 2428 2196 13.10.2003
1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 This can lead to an a n t i-B e n o n i sys t e m a f t e r 3 . . . e 6 4 Nc 3 ! ? (instead of 4 c4), while a transposition to the S ch m id B e n o n i is a l so p o s sib le if B l a c k sim p ly co n t in u e s wit h 3 . . . g6 4 Nc 3 B g7 . However, in this game Black's opts for the m o s t a m b i t i o u s c h o i c e . b5 4.g5 This is White 's most critical choice. 4 a4 is well met by 4...Bb7, but White does have the option of transposing to the Benko Gambit D e c l i n e d w i t h 4 c 4 . e4 This line h as become popular since its successful introduction by the Bulgarian GM Veselin Topalov. 5.h4 This is certainly not the only move here. [ 5.d3 is interesting, but not that threatening for Black (see Golod-Topalov, Bugojno 1999, in ChessPub - ECO code A43). ] [ For 5.f4 see Hebden-Hodgson, Millfield 2000. ] 5...b7 Topalov's improvement over the old [ 5...a5+ 6.bd2 b7 7.a4 xd5 8.axb5 c7 9.a4! , which was good for White in Kasparov-Miles, Basle 1986. ] 6.d3 Attacking both b5 and e4. Again we have covered other options for W hite (see ChessPub): [ 6.a4!? was played in SummerscaleMannion, British League 2001 ] [ 6.e3 was seen in Cosma-Repkova, Leon 2001. ] 6...f5 7.bd2 [ 7.xb5 xd5 looks okay for Black. ] 7...c4 8.d4 a6! This knight is ready to jump quickly to b4. 9.xe4 Or: [ 9.c3 - see Bocharov-Grachev, Novosibirsk 2001. ] [ 9.0-0-0 - see Hasidovski-Greenfeld, Ramat Aviv 2000 . ] 1920
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...fxe4 10.xe4 b4 Attacking d5 and also preparing ...Qa5. 11.d1!? There's a subtle point to leaving the king on e1 rather than castling queenside. [ 11.0-0-0 a5 seems reasonable enough f o r B l a c k , e s p e c i a l l y a s 12.a3 can be answered by xd5! 13.xd5? e6! , t h e v a r i a t i o n 14.f4 xd5 15.e5 failing to the simple e1# ] 11...xd5 12.xd5 a5+ 13.d1? White continues with the 'trick' but this is a mistake. [ White should play 13.c3 xa2 ( 13...e6?? loses to 14.f4 xd5 15.e5! ) 14.d4 xd5 15.xd5 b1+ 16.d2 xb2+ 17.d1 when Black should probably keep checking with b1+ ] 13...e6? Black falls headlong into the trap. [ 13...xa2! , however, looks very strong, for example 14.f5 ( 14.d4 c3! ) 14...e6 15.e5 ( or 15.f4 xd5 16.e5 b1+ 17.d2 b4+ ) 15...b1+ 16.d2 b4+ 17.c3 xb2+ 18.d1 a1+ 19.c2 xc3+ and Black is winning. ] 14.f4! b4 [ Of course 14...xd5 again loses to 15.e5! so Black remains a piece down. His activity provides some compensation, but not enough. ] 15.g5 f8 16.c1 c3 17.bxc3 xc3 18.e4 xe4 19.d3? Giving Black a chance. [ 19.e3 xf3+ 20.gxf3 b4 21.xb5 is winning for White: b1+ 22.e2 xh1 23.xe6+ ] 19...b4? [ After 19...xd3! 20.cxd3 xf3! 21.gxf3 a4+ 22.c2 xh4 23.xb5 d4 Black is back in the game. ] 20.g4! xf3+ 21.gxf3 d6 22.e2 d5 23.e3 1-0
Court Variation, so named after a block of flats in London where the English GM Jonathan Levitt lived for over 20 years. As well as Levitt, this line has been used sporadically by grandmasters such as Ehlvest, Tukmakov and Summerscale. Black aims for a kind of Dutch/Benoni hybrid without allowing so m e o f t h e t r ic k y a n t i - Du t c h l in e s . F o r example, if White plays c2-c4 here, Black will continue a la Dutch Leningrad with ...g7-g6, ... B g7 , , . . . N f 6 a n d . . . 0 - 0 wi t h a p e rf e c t l y playable position. 3.e4!? A direct attempt at refutation - White plays in Staunton Gambit fashion. fxe4 4.c3 f6 5.g4! The critical line. It compares favourably to the g2-g4 line in the real Staunton Gambit. After 1 d4 f5 2 e4 fxe4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 g4 h6 Black is ready to support his e 4 pawn with . ..d7-d5 . Here , however, that option is obviously out of the question. h6 It's natural that Black wishes to take the sting out of the possibility g4-g5, but it's possible that Black has an improvement here (see line 'c'): [ a) 5...d6? doesn't solves Black's problems at all: 6.g5 fd7 ( after 6...g4? the check with 7.b5+ is very annoying for Black ) 7.xe4 b6 8.f4 e5 9.dxe6 d5 10.f6+! was already almost winning for White in Rajkovic-Martinovic, Tivat 1995 as gxf6 allows mate in 2 with 11.h5+ e7 12.f7# ] [ b) 5...g6 6.g5 h5 7.xe4 ( GM Boris Kant sler suggest s th e ve ry d irec t 7.e2 g7 8.h4! ) 7...d6 8.g3 xg3 9.hxg3 (A.Matros-J.Ehlvest, Stockholm 1999) and here I prefer W hite's pawn structure and the possibility to use the half-open h-file (even if Ehlvest did win this game and has play the Clarendon Court since). ] [ c) I quite like the look of the challenging 5...e6!? A) 6.g5 xd5 7.xd5 exd5 8.xd5 c6 looks okay for Black, e.g. 9.d2 1963 A43 e7! 10.xc5 ( or 10.xe4 d5 ) 10...d5 11.0-0-0 c6; Schlosser,Philipp B) 6.dxe6 h6! (planning ...d5!) 7.g5 hxg5 Bischoff,Klaus 8.xg5 e7 9.ge2 c6 10.g2 dxe6 Austria 1997 11.xd8+ xd8 12.0-0-0 e7 13.g3 [John Emms] d7 14.gxe4 xe4 15.xe4 xg5+ 16.xg5 e7 17.h3 1/2-1/2 Buturin1.d4 c5 2.d5 f5!? This provocative-looking Trushnikov, Lvov 1996. ] opening is generally known as the Clarendon 1921
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 6.g2 e6 [ After 6...d6 White can transpose to the ma in ga m e wit h 7 h3 e 6 8 Nge 2 , wh ile 7.xe4!? xg4 8.h3 f6 9.xf6+ exf6 10.h5+ d7 gave White obvious compensation for the pawn in Fahnenschmidt-Scheuermann, St Ingbert 1998. ] [ 6...b6 has also been played: 7.ge2! ( 7.xe4?? loses a piece to xe4 8.xe4 b4+! ) 7...d6 8.h3 g5 9.xe4 xe4 10.xe4 b4+ 11.c3 g7 12.d2! xb2 ( against 12...xc3?? White has the simple intermezzo 13.g6+! ) 13.b1 a3 14.b3 a6 15.b5 and White's initiative is worth more than a pawn, Conquest-Becerra Rivero, Cienfuegos 1996. ] 7.ge2 [ 7.dxe6? d5! gives Black everything he wants. ] [ H o w e v e r , t h e a m b i t i o u s 7.d6!? may be even stronger than the text: b6 8.f4! xb2 9.ge2 (Bigg-Farley, Witley 2001) doesn't look like much fun for Black. ] 7...d6 8.h3 bd7? Black runs into big trouble after this move. [ 8...e7 9.f4! is also unpleasant for Black, ] [ but 8...exd5! looks like it minimizes White's e d g e , e . g . 9.xd5 c6 10.ec3 e6 11.e3 ( 11.0-0!? ) 11...xd5 12.xd5 d7 13.xe4 0-0-0 14.c3 (VaisserSarmiento Alfonso, Las Palmas 1996) and here I think Black should challenge White's authority over d5 with e7! ] 9.dxe6! e5 10.xe4 xe6 11.f4! f7 This loses a pawn for no compensation, but [ 11...c4 12.b3! a6 13.e6! e7 14.xf6+ gxf6 15.d5 is painful for Black too. ] 12.xf6+ xf6 13.xb7 b8 14.g2 g5 15.d5 d8 16.0-0 g7 17.e3!? g6 18.c6+ f8 19.d5 xd5 20.xd5 xb2 21.xb2 xb2 22.f4! Black has regained his pawn but at the expense of allowing a winning attack. xf4 23.xf4 gxf4 24.xf4+ g7 25.f3 e7 26.f1 [ M y d a t a b a s e a c t u a l l y g i v e s 26.d1 here, but I'm convinced that White played the text move, otherwise the end makes no sense. ]
26...b7 27.e4 g5 28.h4 g6 [ Or 28...xh4 29.g5! xg5+ 30.g4 ] 29.h5 1-0
1964 Shabalov,Alexander Wojtkiewicz,Aleksander National Chess Congress (5) [John Emms]
A43 2601 2581 28.11.2000
Here Shabalov tries an unusual move early on in the Schmid Benoni, and is rewarded with the full point after a tactical melee. 1.e4 c5 2.f3 g6 3.d4 g7 4.d5 f6 5.c3 d6 6.e2 Here the Schmid Benoni has been reached via the Sicilian move-order. Benoni players would reach the same position after 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 c5 3 d5 g6 4 Nc3 Bg7 5 e4 d6. 0-0 7.0-0 This is the main line position of the so-calle d "S chmid B enon i", which is ca n compare with the Modern Benoni, except that Black has a pawn on e7 and White has one on c2. e6 The other main moves for Black include 7...a6, 7...Bg4 and 7.. .Na6.7...e6 puts e a r l y p r e s s u r e o n t h e d 5 - p a w n . 8.f4!? This move is quite rare, but certainly not bad, White puts direct pressure on the vulnerable d6-pawn. [ For 8.d2 see Kozul-Ponomariov in the theory section. ] 8...exd5 9.exd5 a6 [ 9...g4!? aiming for exchanges, looks a reasonable way for Black to continue. ] 10.d2 c7 11.c4 b5!? After this move there are great complications, but they seem to work out in White's favour. [ 11...ce8 12.f3 b6 13.b5 a6 14.a4 xb5 15.axb5 c7 16.e1 gave White an edge in Bistric-Cebalo, Kastel Stari 1997. ] 12.xd6 b4 13.a4 fxd5 14.g3 The centre has opened completely and now the activity of the pieces becomes paramount. d7 [ 14...d4!? ] 15.xc5 xb2 16.f3! c6? After this move W hite is able to of fer a very strong queen sacrifice. [ Black has to go for the material with 16...xa1 17.db7 e7 18.xa1 c6 1922
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and if 19.d6 then Black will happily give the exchange back with g5 ] 17.b1! c3 18.xc6! xd1 19.fxd1 At the moment W hite has only two minor pieces for the queen, the multitude of other threats leaves Black in a bleak position. f6 [ 19...g7 20.de4 c8 21.b7 b8 22.d7 picks up a third minor piece on c7. ] 20.d7 c3 21.xa8 [ 21.xa8 xa8 22.e5 leaves White with a winning advantage. ] 1-0
1965 Speelman,Jonathan S Paulsen,Dirk Bundesliga 2000-1 (2) [John Emms]
A43 2623 2431 15.10.2000
In this game Black tries a truly "weird" variation of the "W eird Benoni", but Speelman's direct play seems to pretty much refute the idea. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 c4?! I'm not sure if this defence has a name (it's not mentioned in the Oxford Companion to Chess). It's certainly not been played very often. Black's idea is to follow up with ...Qa5+ and ...b7-b5. 4.c3 [ 4.e4 is another direct way of meeting B l a c k ' s i d e a . A f t e r xe4 5.xc4 W h ite mu s t b e b e tt e r, f o r e xam p le g6?! ( ECO gives 5...b5 6.d3 a5+ 7.bd2 f6 8.0-0 b7 9.c4 bxc4 10.xc4 xd5 11.b3 a6 12.e3 e6 13.fd1 b4 as clearly be tter f or W hit e in the gam e Tukmakov-Trauth, Zurich 1994, but maybe Black's has some improvements in this line. Certainly 4...b5 looks a better bet than 4, ,, g6 ) 6.c3 f6 ( 6...xc3 is probably better, although White is still doing well after the zwischenzug 7.d4! ) 7.d6 e6 8.b5 a6 9.f4 b6 10.e5 b7 11.d4 g7 12.c7+ xc7 13.dxc7 e7 14.d6 h5 15.d3 f6 16.a6 xb2 17.xb7! and Black resigned in Dautov-Telljohann, Bremen 1998 ( 17.xb7 xa1+ 18.e2 f4+ 19.xf4 xh1 20.d6! and Black is lost )] 4...a5 5.d4!? [ Nunn's Chess Openings gives the line
5.d2 xd5 6.e4 xc3 7.xc3 c5 8.d4 ] 5...a6 [ 5...b5 6.g5 a6 7.e4 b7 8.e2 e6 9.xf6 gxf6 10.xf6 g8 11.e5 led to a very quick win f o r W hite in th e game Ruppert-A.Mueller, Germany 1988. ] 6.e4 b4 7.d1 After this move it's true that White has given up the right to castle, but he is way ahead in development and the c4-pawn is ripe for picking. [ 7.d2 xe4! 8.xe4 xc2+ is Black's trick. ] 7...e6 8.a3 a6 [ 8...exd5 9.exd5 bxd5 10.xd5 xd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.xc4 c7 gives White a clear advantage, although at least Black is still on the board. ] 9.xc4 c5 10.d2 b5? This is refuted quite easily. 11.xb5 xd2+ 12.xd2 g4 13.e2! exd5 14.xd5 b8 15.c4 0-0 16.b4 b6 17.b2 xf2 18.hf1 g4 19.d6 h6 20.xf7! [ 20.xf7 xf7 21.xf7 xf7 22.f1 is winning for White. ] 1-0
1966 Summerscale,Aaron Mannion,Stephen R 4NCL Birmingham ENG (7) [John Emms]
A43 2513 2369 17.03.2001
Here's yet another look at Topalov's antiBenoni line with 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 c5 3 d5 b5. After much success for Black it now seems that White is finally getting his own back. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g5 e4 This move is still popular owing to the success of Topalov, but it now seems that W hite is finding new ways to combat the idea. 5.h4 [ White's other main try here is the retreat 5 Bf4. 5.f4 for example, b7 6.d3 f5!? 7.bd2 c4 8.d4 a6!? 9.c3 ( 9.xe4 fxe4 10.xe4 b4!? ) 9...ac5 10.xe4 xe4 11.g4 e6 12.gxf5 xd5 13.h3 f6 14.xf6 gxf6 15.fxe6 dxe6 and Black was fine in the game Mittelman-Avrukh, Israeli League 2000. ] 5...b7 1923
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 5...a5+ 6.bd2 b7 7.a4 xd5 8.axb5 c7 9.a4! is good for White, KasparovMiles, Basel 1986. ] 6.a4!? This looks like a natural way to exploit Black's ...b7-b5 lunge. [ For 6.e3 see Timman-Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 2001. ] 6...b4?! This doesn't work out too well here in particular, Black doesn't have tricks involving hitting W hite's queen on d3 with ...c5-c4. Perhaps Black should look at the alternative [ 6...a6 , although after 7.d3 a5+ 8.c3 f5 9.bd2 e6 10.xe4 fxe4 11.xe4 xd5 12.f4 c6 13.e4 b3 14.e2 bxa4 15.0-0 e7 16.xe7 xe7 17.e5 f8 18.g3 g6 19.c4 White had good compensation for the pawn in BurmakinAvrukh, Ubeda 2001. ] 7.d3! f5 8.bd2 a6 9.b3 xd2 10.xd2 c7 [ 10...g6 11.e4 xf1 12.xf1 also looks p r o m i s i n g f o r W h i t e , f o r e x a m p l e h6 13.c4 g5 14.f3 0-0 15.h5 and Black's in some trouble. ] 11.e4 xf1 12.xf1 f4 13.c4 Black's situation doesn't look too healthy â (+) his only developed piece is the queen and the prospects don't look too good for the rest of his pieces! His knight only has the a6 square at the moment and the bishop cannot move at all. Meanwhile, W hite's knight has found a very nice outpost on c4. Already White has a winning position. e5 14.h3 d6 15.f5! Simply preventing Black from castling. The rest is gruesome viewing for Black. a5 16.g3 Forcing Black to open up lines for the h1-rook. fxg3 17.hxg3 a6 18.g5 h6 19.g6+ f8 20.h5 Black can hardly move a piece. g8 21.e8+ f8 22.xe5 h7 23.f4 b6 24.f7 b7 25.xh6 1-0
1967 Swiercz,Dariusz Kempinski,Robert ch-POL Warsaw POL (1) [John Emms]
A43 2474 2617 09.01.2010
1.d4 c5 2.d5 d6 3.e4 g6 4.c3 g7 5.f3 g4 6.e2 f6 7.0-0 0-0 8.d2
T h e m a in re s p o n se t o . . . B g4 . T h e lig h t squared bishops are exchanged and White's knight heads for the all-important c4 outpost. xe2 9.xe2 fd7!? A very rare move, but it looks like a clever one to me. Black is still aiming for the typical set-up with his knights (...Nf6-d7 and ...Nb8-a6) but in contrast to the main move here, 9...Na6, Black is in a position to immediately challenge White's knight with ... Nb6 if it goes to c4. This is important because it means White doesn't have time to play Nc4, Bf4 (or Bg5) and then Ne3 in response to ... Nb6. Instead W hite must either accept that the c1-bishop gets blocked in after Ne3, or choose the less optimal square a3. [ 9...a6 and other moves are covered in Yevseev-Efimenko, Moscow 2006. ] 10.a4 [ White has also played the immediate 10.c4 , as in Baburin-Rustemov, but a transposition is likely, e.g. b6 11.e3 a6 12.a4 ] 10...a6 11.c4 b6! A key move. Any d e la y wo u l d a l lo w W h it e t o a c t i v a t e t h e bishop with Bg5 or Bf4. Now assuming White wants to avoid exchanges he must choose between Ne3 and Na3. 12.a3 [ 12.e3 is covered in Baburin-Rustemov, Bad Wiessee 1999. ] [ Typically Black is happy to ease his position via an exchange of minor pieces: 12.f4 xc4 13.xc4 c7= ( or 13...a5= )] 12...b4 13.g5 [ 13.a5!? must be a consideration here. After d7 14.c4 Black chooses either e5 ( or 14...f5!? )] 13...h6 14.h4 Try to guess Black's next move... a5!? A "rule-breaker", with an identical motive to the one we see in Tregubov-Akopian, Aix-les-Bains 2011 (in the Modern Benoni). Black is ready to gift White the b5-square it means he can safeguard the b6-knight in order to control c4 and prevent W h i t e ' s p l a n o f a 4 - a 5 f o l l o we d b y N c 4 . Furthermore, Black has a clear plan of activity involving ...Qd7 and ...f5. 15.ab5 d7 16.g3 [ 16.f4!? looks more challenging. White might well play f5 if Black doesn't, and f5 leads to unclear complications which White should probably aim for given what happens 1924
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 i n t h e g a m e . 17.e5 ( 17.ad1; 17.exf5 xf5 ) 17...dxe5 18.fxe5 6xd5 19.ad1 e6 20.xd5 xd5 21.c4 fd8 22.xe7 xe7 23.xd5= ] 16...f5! 17.exf5 [ 17.f3 ] 17...xf5 18.ad1 Too passive. [ White needed to hit the e7-pawn quickly, with 18.fe1 to try and compromise Black's coordination. That said, maybe Black can ignore the attack with af8 ( the point is 18...4xd5 19.xd5 xd5 20.ad1 with pressure) 19.xe7 because xc2 20.xd7 xd7 21.xd6 h5 might just be good for him. ] 18...af8! Now Black is most certainly in time to play ...Rf7 in response to Re1, and the key f e a t u re in t he p o sitio n b eco m e s W h it e 's severely weakened d5-pawn, which soon drops off the board. 19.fe1 8f7 20.d2 [ T h e p r o b l e m f o r W h i t e i s t h a t 20.e4 , protecting d5, allows xa4! ] 20...4xd5 Black is much better here because White has little or no compensation for the pawn, but Kempinski drifts somewhat and his advantage has disappeared by the end of the game. 21.e4 c6 [ 21...xa4 looks good, e.g. 22.c4 f4 23.xf4 xf4 24.b3 b6 25.xc5 c6 26.d3 4f5 ] 22.c4 f4 23.xf4 xf4 24.b3 d7 25.f3 e5?! [ 25...e5 ] 26.d3 4f5 27.d2 h5 28.g3 g5 29.e4 h5 30.g3 g5 31.e4 Th e rare 9 . .. Nf d 7 lo o ks like a p rom isin g option for Black and it will be interesting to see some more games with this move. ½-½
1968 The Hawk N,Archana [John Emms]
"The Hawk". 4.c3 a5 5.d4!? a6 [ 5...b5!? 6.g5!? ( 6.e4 is the main line according to Buecker.) 6...a6 7.e4 h6! Buecker ( 7...b7 8.e2 e6 9.xf6 gxf6 10.xf6 g8 11.e5 led to a very quick win for White in the game Ruppert-A.Mueller, G e r m a n y 1 9 8 8 .) 8.h4 ( 8.xf6?! (this allows Black to develop more comfortably) exf6! and Black has ideas of ... Bf8-c5/ b4. This looks very promising for Black. ) 8...g5 9.g3 g7 10.e5 h5! and this position looks very unclear to me. Maybe White should consider playing 6 e4 after all. ( 10...b4?! 11.exf6 xf6 12.e5 bxc3 13.bxc3 xe5 14.xe5 gives White a clear plus )] 6.e4 b5!? This move was suggested by Speelman as an improvement. [ 6...b4 7.d1 was played in SpeelmanPaulsen, which was a very quick win for White ] 7.e5 b4 8.exf6 bxc3 9.fxg7 cxb2+ 10.d2 c3!? [ Black can also consider 10...xg7 11.xg7 bxa1+ 12.xa1 c3! 13.xc3 b4 which looks very unclear ] 11.gxh8 bxa1+ 12.e2 b5+ 13.e3 b6 At this point Shirov joined in the analysis 14.xb6 axb6 15.xc3 c1+ 16.d2 c7 17.g7 xd5+ 18.f3 a3+ 19.d3 e6 20.c4 c5 21.e4 [ 21.e5 also looks good ] 21...f5 22.xd5 xd5+ 23.g3 f4+ 24.h4 analysis ends here
1969 Timman,Jan H Topalov,Veselin Corus Wijk aan Zee NED (3) [John Emms]
A43 2629 2718 16.01.2001
A43
Finally a reverse for Topalov in the AntiBenoni line which he is making his own. On this occasion Timman produces a rare but natural move to claim an edge out of the 1.d4 f6 2.f3 opening. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 [ 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e4 "the Vulture", was 4.g5 e4 5.h4 a n o t h e r o n e o f B u e c k e r' s [ 5.d3 is interesting, but not that recommendations, ] threatening for Black (see Golod-Topalov, Bugojno 1999, in the theory section). ] 2...c5 3.d5 c4 Buecker named this variation 1925
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ White's other main try here is the retreat 5 Bf4. 5.f4 for example, b7 6.d3 f5!? 7.bd2 c4 8.d4 a6!? 9.c3 ( 9.xe4 fxe4 10.xe4 b4!? ) 9...ac5 10.xe4 xe4 11.g4 e6 12.gxf5 xd5 13.h3 f6 14.xf6 gxf6 15.fxe6 dxe6 and Black was fine in the game Mittelman-Avrukh, Israeli League 2000. ] 5...b7 [ 5...a5+ 6.bd2 b7 7.a4 xd5 8.axb5 c7 9.a4! is good for White, KasparovMiles, Basel 1986. ] 6.e3 I can find only one other example of this move on my database, which is surprising as it looks very natural. White moves a central pawn, prepares to develop his bishop and attacks b5. [ Also possible is 6.a4!? a6 ( 6...b4 ) 7.d3 a5+ 8.c3 f5 9.bd2 e6 10.xe4 fxe4 11.xe4 xd5 12.f4 c6 13.e4 b3 14.e2 bxa4 15.0-0 e7 16.xe7 xe7 17.e5 f8 18.g3 g6 19.c4 and White had good compensation for the pawn in Burmakin-Avrukh, Ubeda 2001. ] [ For 6.d3 see the game HasidovskiGreenfeld, Ramat Aviv 2000**. ] 6...g6 7.c3 a5 [ 7...b6 8.a4 b4 9.a5 d6 10.c4 e6 11.a6!? xa6 ( 11...xa6!? ) 12.bd2 xd2 13.xd2 g7 14.e4 e5 was unclear in the earlier game GauselSvedenborg, Oslo 2000. ] 8.bd2! xd2 [ 8...xd5 grabbing a pawn, is obviously critical. 9.b3 ( 9.a4 xd2 10.xd2 b4 11.c4 xc4 12.xc4 bxc3 13.0-0 is also interesting) 9...xb3 10.axb3 b6 11.d3 ( 11.d5 c6 is okay for Black) 11...d6 12.g3 b4 13.e5 and White has some pressure. ] 9.xd2 g7 10.e4 d6 11.d3 d7 12.0-0 My feeling is here that White's centre gives him and advantage. In particular the bishop on b7 is rather shut out of the game. a6 13.fc1 c8 14.h3 b6 15.f1 f6 Shielding the e7-pawn in anticipation of castling. 16.e1 0-0 17.a4! fe8 18.a5 c7 19.c4 b4 20.e5 dxe5 21.xe5 h5 22.g4 d4 23.ad1 e6 24.e4!? Now the game becomes very complicated. [ 24.dxe6 xe6 25.xe6 fxe6 is not clear -
Black has a glaring weakness on e6, but his pieces are very active. ] 24...f5 [ 24...exd5 25.xd4! cxd4 26.xd4 is good for White. ] 25.h6+ g7 26.xe6 xe6 27.dxe6 f4 The knight on h6 has no squares. 28.e1!? [ 28.g3 xh3+! 29.h2 ( 29.gxh3 xg3+ wins ) 29...f4 30.xh3 fxg3 and White's king is more vulnerable than Black's ] 28...xh6 29.g3 g5 30.h4 Now Black has an extra piece, but pins along the h2-b8 and c1-h6 diagonals are very annoying. e8 31.e7 e4 32.hxg5+ xg5 33.h1 xe7 this walks into another pin. [ 33...e5 34.f3 b7 looks good for Black. ] 34.f3 e6 35.h2 [ 35.fxe4 h6+ 36.h2 leads to the same ] 35...h6 36.fxe4 g6?? Black slips at a crucial time [ 36...xh2+ 37.xh2 d6! threatening b o t h . . . Q h 6 + a n d . . . B g 1 + 38.e3 the only move fxe4 and Black may even be better. ] 37.g3 h5 38.exf5+ [ 38.exf5+ g7 39.g5+ is terminal. ] 1-0
1970 Timoshenko,Georgy Malakhov,Vladimir ECC Halkidiki GRE (2) [John Emms]
A43 2528 2668 23.09.2002
1.e4 c5 2.f3 g6 3.d4 g7 4.d5 f6 5.c3 This game starts off as a Sicilian Defence but the position could have been reached via the Benoni move order 1 d4 Nf6 2 N f 3 c 5 3 d 5 g 6 4 N c 3 B g 7 5 e 4 . 0-0 We've already seen this move order once or twice be f ore on this site. Bla ck's ide a o f delaying ... d7-d6 is seen in the sequence 6 Be2 b5! (7 Bxb5 allows Nxe4!). Black also avoids the variation 5...d6 6 Bb5+. However, there is one big problem in that it allows White's next move. [ For 5...d6 see Shabalov-Wojtkiewicz, Philadelphia 2000 in ChessPub (ECO code A43). ] 6.e5 e8 1926
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ So far we have only seen examples of 6...g4 . See, for example MilicevicDegraeve, Ontario 2002. ] 7.h4 d6 8.h5 The logical and natural way forward for White. [ The alternative is 8.e6 but this has worked out okay for Black in practice: fxe6 9.h5 gxh5!? 10.g5 exd5 11.d3 ( 11.xh7 xh7 12.xh5+ g8 13.h7+ f7 14.d3 g8 15.xd5 e6 16.h5+ f8 17.g5 (De Vreugt-Malakhov, Lausanne 2 0 0 0 ) a n d n o w xg5! 18.xg5 c3+! wins for Black.) 11...f6 12.xh7 xh7 13.xh7+ xh7 14.xh5+ g8 15.h7+ f7 16.h5+ g8 with a perpetual check, Adrianov-Yermolinsky, Las Vegas 1999. ( 16...e6 17.g4+ f5 18.xg7 looks good for White. )] 8...dxe5 9.hxg6 hxg6 10.h6 More direct play which, I have to say, comes very easily to White in this line. Black's defensive bishop has to be exchanged. xh6 11.xh6 g7 12.d2 d6 [ 12...f6 was more successful for Black: 13.xe5 bd7 14.xd7 xd7 15.0-0-0 c7 16.c4 h8 17.dh1 b6 18.xh8 xh8 19.xh8 xh8 20.h6+ h7 21.d6 xd6 22.xf7 g5 23.xd6 exd6 and Black managed to draw in GasanovZubarev, Alushta 2000. However, my overall feeling is that W hite was better here and this line should be consigned to the dustbin as far as Black is concerned. ] 13.xe5 d7 14.c4 f6 15.0-0-0 d7 16.d3 xc4 17.xc4 h8 18.dh1 b6 19.g5! d6 [ 19...f5 would prevent White's next but would only delay the attack. White can play 20.f3 and follow up with g2-g4. ] 20.d3! Threatening a devastating capture on g6. g4 21.xh8 xh8 22.xh8 xh8 23.e4 Winning the crucial e7-pawn and breaking Black's resistance. h2 24.xe7 f4+ 25.b1 g7 26.xc5 h2 27.a3 xg2 28.xa7 f5 29.d4+ f6 30.d6 e5 31.xf6! e6 [ Or 31...xf6 32.f4 ] 32.e8+ f7 33.b3 1-0
1971 Vallejo Pons,Francisco Vaisser,Anatoli TCh-FRA Top 16 GpA (1) [John-Paul Wallace]
A43 2679 2554 09.02.2007
1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 This is an interesting idea, and is usually employed by frustrated Benko Gambit players who have been cheated out of their favourite opening by W hite's sneaky move order. It has never found favour amongst the World's elite players, although Tony Miles used it a few times. The problem is, of course, that White will not play c4, but a4 (or Nc3 in order to provoke ...b4) instead, after which he will usually gain the c4 square and this can be enough for a positional advantage. On the other hand, from Black's point of view, he has succeeded in forcing White out of normal, 'boring' d4 theory and the unusual positions that result can provide him with reasonable chances. On the whole, however, I must confess to being a supporter of the White side of this variation, because it seems that Black usually needs to struggle to find counterplay while White can play more easily thanks to his positiona l assets. In other words, more so than in other openings, I think this is a difficult defence for Black to play. The one time I tried it was against Australian Master Craig Laird and I seemed to gain a horrible position right from the opening, with Craig just playing normal developing moves! Nevertheless, GM Tregubov has been employing it regularly with excellent results, so perhaps it is time to stop ph ilo so p hisin g a nd le t t he mo ve s d o t h e talking! 4.g5 This move is clearly the correct response. Now Black needs to deal with the possibility of doubled pawns. The key moves for Black now are 4...Ne4, 4...d6 and 4...Qb6, with the latter beginning to take over as the modern main line. d6 With this move Black decided to get on with normal development, and he is ready to play 4...Nbd7 to prevent the doubled pawns if White does not take the chance on his next move. Now almost always White does take on f6 here, but Spanish GM Vallejo has won 2 games very convincingly th is yea r with a d if f e re n t a pp roa c h : 5.e4! This move has only been played a dozen 1927
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 times or so, and yet the benefits are very clear. After the alternative, 5...Bxf6, Black always has the possibility of the dark-squared bishop becoming a very strong piece, and that helps to counterbalance W hite's extra space and outpost on c4. With 5.e4 however, White is playing much more ambitiously - he wants it all! Space advantage, the c4 square and both his bishops. On the other hand Black can take on e4, though he usually avoids this move. a6 [ 5...xe4 6.xb5+ d7 7.d3 f6?! practice had already shown this move to be incorrect, and this game was no exception. ( 7...xg5 8.xg5 e5!? 9.dxe6 xg5 10.exd7+ xd7 worked out well in BoersmaErmenkov Amsterdam 1985, although no doubt Vallejo had something up his sleeve here. ) 8.0-0 g6 9.xf6 exf6 10.d2 h6 11.e1+ e7 12.a3 f8 13.e3 f5 14.c4 f6 15.xd6 xb2 16.ae1 f6 17.e8 b6 18.c4 g5 19.d6 and Black was already forced to resign in Vallejo Pons, F (2676)-Lostuzzi, M (2406)/TCh-ITA Palermo ITA 2007 (4)/1-0 ] [ 5...a5+ is an interesting alternative. ] 6.bd2 bd7N This move is a novelty, and while '?!' may be a bit harsh, it is probably not the most accurate. The point is that W hite has shown with 5.e4 that he is not interested in doubling up the Black pawns, and so it just loses options for Black to play this move. Specifically, Black loses the option of exchanging the Bc8 (often a bad piece in Benoni structures), or at least forcing White to waste a move with h3 in order to prevent this. [ 6...g6 7.a4 b4 8.d3 g7 A) 9.h3 a5! I like this idea - see the comments to Vallejo's 8th move 10.0-0 0-0 11.c4!? ( 11.c4 ) 11...bd7 and Black had full counterplay in Bernard, C (2295)-Desmoitier, J (2140)/FRA-ch Acc Montpellier 1991; B) 9.c4 g4!? 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 0-0 According to Golod this is dubious because of W hite's next move. ( 11...bd7!? 12.a5! and White still has the advantage.) 12.h4 bd7 13.h5 xh5 14.xh5 f6! and now instead of the courageous but not quite correct 15.Rxh7 Huzman suggests 15.Rh2 with an advantage to White. ( 14...gxh5? 15.e5!+-
and White's attack is too strong.) 15.xh7 xh7 16.e5 fxg5 17.h5+ g8 18.xg6 f4! Golod, V (2591)-Shevelev, A (2364)/ISR-chT Israel 2001 (1)/1/2-1/2 ] 7.a4 b4 8.a5! Excellent positional play by Vallejo. It is important for White to keep minor pieces on the board, and the text prevents either ...Nb6 exchanging off a White Nc4, and ...a5 and ...Ba6. g6 9.d3 g7 10.c4 c7 11.0-0 0-0 12.d2 White has already won the opening advantage - he is better mobilised and enjoys a spatial advantage to boot. Here we see the idea behind the rare 5. e4: usually we have this same structure with Bxf6 exf6 thrown in and while White tends to gain a small edge Black's dark-squared bishop ca n be a re al asse t . e8 13.h3 b7 14.f4?! Black's only hope of counterplay is to play ...e6 so White takes steps against this. However, ironically enough is a mistake, because Black will force through ...e6 in any case. The solution instead was to develop so that when Black does play ...e6 White is well prepared to meet it, and to that end 14.Rad1 looks good. [ 14.h6!? this move is also interesting, it swaps off a defender of the Black monarch which means that W hite may have some tactics when Black plays ...e6. ] [ 14.ad1! e6?! ( 14...ad8!? ) 15.f4! and W hite gains the advantage, for example: exd5 ( 15...e5 closing the position gives W hite a definite positional edge.) 16.xd6 e6 17.xb7 xb7 18.exd5 xd5 19.e4!+- ] 14...f8! Certainly not a move you want to make, but completely correct. Vaisser knows full well that he can't just sit there and wait for Vallejo to build up at leisure, so for better or for worse he aims for ...e6. It turns out, in fact, that he should have gained good play. 15.h2 [ 15.ad1 e6 16.dxe6 xe6 17.fe1 d8= ] 15...e6 16.e5?! This is a typical moment in master play - I suspect at this point Vallejo re a lised t h a t t h in gs h a d go n e wro n g b u t decided to pull a 'semi-bluff' as is known in Poker. The idea is that Vaisser, psychologically, probably felt under pressure here, and his position does not look good. Yet 1928
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 it is actually fine for him, and if Vallejo plays correctly with 16.dxe6 then after 16...Rxe6 he will have pro blem s wit h his own e-pawn . T h e re f o re , o n t h e b a l a n c e , h e p r o b a b l y decided to go for the aggressive and incorrect option, as Vaisser was probably not in the right frame of mind to find his chance. [ 16.dxe6 xe6 17.fe1= ] 16...exd5? and Vallejo is immediately rewarded! The computer finds the refutation quickly: [ 16...xe5! A) 17.cxe5 dxe5 18.xe5 ( 18.xe5 d6!-+ ) 18...d8 19.dxe6 xe6 and White is in difficulties.; B) 17.fxe5 exd5! this move is the point! Now W hite is in trouble. 18.b6 dxe5 19.xa8 xa8 ] 17.xd6 xd6 18.exd6 Now, on the other hand, Vaisser's position is bankrupt, with no dark-squared bishop to protect the weaknesses in front of his king, and a huge W h i t e d - p a w n a t h o r n i n h i s s i d e . c6 19.fe1 e4 20.f4 f6 21.h4 e6 22.d2 c4 23.xe4! xe4 [ 23...dxe4?! 24.xc4+- ] 24.xe4 dxe4 25.e2 g7 26.d1 c3 27.b3 c5 28.g4 f8?! The final error he could have put up resistance with 28.. .Bc6, but now the d-pawn decides. [ 28...c6! ] 29.d7+- xa5 30.d6 h5 31.h3 d5 32.e7 e6 33.g3 d8 34.d6 A good game by Vallejo, although objectively he won the game with his incorrect 16th move! From the theoretical point of view 5.e4 looks like an excellent idea, and Black failed to equalise in both of Vallejo's games this year. 1-0
1972 Van Wely,Loek Topalov,Veselin Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (4) [John Emms]
A43 2681 2780 15.01.2008
1.d4 e6 Topalov doesn't normally play the French, but then neither does Van W ely so perhaps he felt if was safe enough to offer. 2.c4
[ In any case there's always 2.e4 c5!? ] 2...c5 3.d5 exd5 4.cxd5 d6 Looking at games reaching this position, by far the most popular move here is 5 Nc3, but recently in one or two games it has been shown that there are some advantages to delaying this knight development, and some might even argue that 5 Nc3 is premature! 5.e4 [ 5.c3 g6 6.e4 g7 7.d3 e7 8.f3 0-0 9.0-0 a6 10.a4 g4! 11.h3 xf3 12.xf3 d7 13.e2 c7 14.f4 ae8 15.f3 f5! is a good example of Black justifying a ...Ne7 development - see the annotations to Yrjola-Efimov, Batumi 1999. ] 5...g6 6.f3 [ Recently in the game Beliavsky-Efimov, Crete 2007, we saw 6.d2!? with White reaching a not unfavourable set-up after f6 7.c3 g7 8.d3 0-0 9.e2 b5 10.a3 bd7 11.0-0 a6 12.b4! b6 13.d2 b7 14.h3 ac8 15.c1 fe8 . But White can also develop normally with the exception of leaving the knight on b1 f or the time being. ] 6...g7 7.d3 a6 I'm not a real fan of .. .a6 in this particular position, because ...b5 isn't really a possibility and so White can ignore the idea. [ I think that Black is better off completing kingside development and then deciding what to do. 7...e7 8.0-0 0-0 and now: A) 9.e1 g4! turned out well for Black in Cramling-Ponomariov, San Sebastian 2006: 10.bd2 d7 11.e2 ( 11.c4 b5! 12.xd6 xf3 13.gxf3 c4 14.f1 b6 ) 11...h6 12.c4 xf3 13.xf3 b5! 14.e3 ( 14.xd6 b6 ) 14...c4 15.a4 a6 16.axb5 axb5 17.xa8 xa8 18.c2 a4 19.d4 c5 20.e3 b4 21.e2 d3 was a typical Benoni success story for Black.; B) 9.h3!? preventing ...Bg4 looks more challenging, but at least when compared to the main game Black is better placed, although I'm not saying W hite has no advantage. h6 ( 9...d7; 9...f5!? ) 10.e1 g5 11.bd2 d7 12.c4 f6 and now when compared to the game ( 12...b6!? ) 13.d2 no longer threatens Ba5.; C) 9.-- ] 1929
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.h3! [ There's no need for 8.a4 and here g4 9.bd2 d7 10.b3 c7 11.0-0 e7 12.e1 e5 13.h3 xd3 14.xd3 e2 15.e1 xd3 16.xd3 0-0= was equal in Krivoshey-Priehoda, Komarno 1997. ] 8...e7 9.0-0 h6 Planning ...g5 and ...Ng6. [ The game Jankovic-Zelcic, Cannes 2005, is worth seeing, as White is very creative with his a1-rook!: 9...0-0 10.e1 d7 11.a4 f5 12.bd2 h6 13.a3!? f6 14.e5 dxe5 ( 14...fxd5!? ) 15.xe5 h7 16.c4 fxd5 17.d3 c7 18.df3 b4 19.d6 c2? ( Black had to play 19...f6 although 20.d8 is strong ) 20.xg6! xg6 21.g5+! a n d B l a c k r e s ign e d o n a cco u n t o f hxg5 22.h5+ ] [ 9...b5? is premature and allows White to justify delaying moving his b1-knight: 10.a4! c4 ( or 10...b4 11.bd2 d7 12.a5 0-0 13.c4 ) 11.e2 and Black cannot keep his pawns intact, e.g. b7 12.axb5 axb5 13.xa8 xa8 14.a3 d7 15.d4 ] 10.e1 0-0 11.a4 g5 12.bd2 d7 13.c4 f6 14.d2 Now there's the annoying idea of Ba5 so Black has to lose more time. Perhaps around this stage Topalov was beginning to regret playing 7...a6. b8 15.c3 g4 This already hints of desperation, and illustrates just how uncomfortable Black's position already is. [ 15...b5 is soundly refuted by 16.xd6 intending xd6 17.e5 b6 18.a5! ] [ 15...g6 is better, but White is still dominating after 16.xd6 ( or 16.b4 b6 17.a5! ) 16...xd6 17.e5 d8 18.exf6 xf6 19.xg6 fxg6 20.e5 ] 16.hxg4 xg4 17.e5! dxe5 18.xe5 exd5 [ Of course Black can save his rook by 18...c8 but his position is a mess, and W hite has various ways to keep a strong advantage, even by direct means such as 19.xf6 xf6 20.d6 c6 21.d2 g7 22.fe5 ] 19.xb8 xb8 20.ce5 In reality Black has little or no compensation for the material loss. Topalov battles very hard for the rest of the game, but in the end Van W ely is able to c o n v e r t h i s u n d o u b t e d a d v a n t a g e . e6 21.b3 e3 22.b6 ed5 23.xc5 c8
24.d4 g4 25.ad1 b5 26.axb5 axb5 27.e4 df6 28.e2 b6 29.b1 h5 30.d2 e8 31.d3 h6 32.d4 b8 33.dd1 g7 34.d2 b6 35.d4 b8 36.d2 b6 37.xg4 hxg4 38.d4 b8 39.g5 b3 40.c1 d8 41.e3 d5 42.cd1 e8 43.d3 xe1+ 44.xe1 c4 45.e3 h6 46.e5 xe5 47.xe5 g3 48.fxg3 g4 49.c5 g7 50.e4 f6 51.h1 d7 52.f5 f6 53.c2 g4 54.b3 e3 55.c5 e2 56.f3 f1 57.d4 xg3+ 58.h2 f4 59.xe2 xe2+ 60.h3 d4 61.g4 d2 62.d5 e3 63.e4 f6 64.h5 d2 65.d5 e3 66.f5 b4 67.d3 g7 68.d7 f8 69.e4 e8 70.b7 d2 71.d5 f6 72.h5 f5 73.g4 e7 74.e6 f8 75.b8+ g7 76.e8 c6 77.g8+ h7 78.c8 e5 79.c7+ h8 80.b7 e1 81.g5 This was a convincing answer to ...Ne7 by Van Wely. 1-0
1973 A43 Vera Gonzalez Quevedo,Reynaldo 2481 Duarte,Leonardo 2420 42nd Capablanca Mem Abierto (9) 27.05.2007 [John-Paul Wallace] 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g5 e4!? along with 4...d6 and 4...Qb6 this is Black's main alternative here. Now White most often chooses 5.Bh4, but there is another interesting and sharp option. 5.f4 [ 5.h4!? ] 5...b7 6.d3 f5 An unusual opening position has arisen, and although Black's position looks rather loose the tactics tend to wo r k o u t q u i t e w e l l f o r h i m . N o w W h i t e chooses a continuation that is very rare, although it has been played before. 7.c3!? [ 7.bd2 this move is the main line - and the jury is still out on the assessment of the position. c4 8.d4 a6 ( 8...f6!? )] 7...c4 8.d4 a5N A novelty which appears to be playable, although perhaps not better than 8...Na6 which has been tried a few times already. [ 8...a6 A) 9.xe4 fxe4 10.xe4 b4 1930
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and we have reached a position that can also occur after the much more common 7. Nbd2 Na6 8.Nxe4, although I should point out that in this case Black has the additional option of 7...Nf6, as is sometimes seen in practice. 11.c3 xd5 A1) 12.e5 d6 13.g3 d7 14.c2 e5 15.0-0-0 g6 16.e4 h6+ 17.b1 f6 18.xe5 A1a) 18...c7?! 19.xc4! ( 19.xc4!? bxc4 20.xd6 ) 19...bxc4! ( 19...dxe5 20.xb5+ Ogloblin, N (2429)-Grishchenko, S (2229)/RUS-ch sf Tula 2003 (3)/1-0) 20.a4+ d7 21.xc4; A1b) 18...e6 19.c6? xc6 20.xd6 xd6 21.xd6 xe4-+; A2) 12.d4 e6 13.g5 b6 14.xb6 xb6 15.d4 a6 16.f3 e5 17.c2 d5 Garcia Paolicchi, R (2273)-Cramling, P (2470)/ ESP-chT fin Sanxenxo 2003; B) 9.0-0-0!? This very risky continuation d e s e r v e s s e r i o u s c o n s i d e r a t i o n ! a5 10.xe4 fxe4 11.g5 xa2 12.xe4 a1+ 13.d2 a5+ and now in position it looks like an important improvement exists for W hite: 14.c1 ( 14.c3! a2 15.e5! xb2+ 16.e1 ) 14...b6?! and now it seems as though White could have gained the advantage in a couple of ways: ( 14...a1+ Black could have played this, if she was satisfied with a draw, although here too White could still try 15.Kd2 Qa5 16. c3!) 15.d6! also looks good for White. ( 15.xb6 axb6 16.c3 c5 17.b1 a6 and now White has to play the computer's solution: Goczo, M (2201)-Gara, T (2296)/HUN-ch (Women) 2000 (3)/0-1 18.c7! b4 19.xb6 bxc3 20.xc5 b8 21.d4 xb2+ 22.c1 )] 9.g4!? b4 [ 9...xc3 10.bxc3 fxg4 A) 11.e5?! xd5! 12.g1 e6 13.xg4 ( 13.xg4 c5 14.d2 d6-+ ) 13...c6 and although the position is quite random, it looks doubtful for White.; B) 11.d2 d6 12.e4 d7 13.e2 and White has compensation, although it is unclear how much! ] 10.xe4 fxe4 11.d2 xd5 12.xd5 xd5 13.g2 e6
[ 13...c6 14.xe4 e5 15.g3 e6 16.g5 xg4 17.xe5 h6 18.f3 is also more pleasant for White. ] 14.xe4 c6 15.e3 e7 16.0-0 the position has stabilised, and White has a small advantage - he will generally gain the advantage of the two bishops, while he has a v e r y s l i g h t l e a d i n d e v e l o p m e n t . 0-0-0? this was a very dubious decision, as after kingside castling White can only gain a light advantage. [ 16...0-0 17.ad1 ad8 ( 17...xe4 18.xe4 d5 19.xd5 exd5 20.xd5+ h8 21.xc6 only gives W hite chances.) 18.xd5 exd5 19.g5 h8 20.xd5 xg5 21.xg5 c8 and again the exchange sacrifice gives W hite some chances, although Black can hold. ] [ 16...xe4 17.xe4 d5 18.g2 f6 19.e4! W hite needs to react sharply, otherwise B l a c k w i l l h a ve n o p r o b l e m s . ( 19.ab1 e5= ) 19...0-0 ( 19...d4 20.h1 xc2 21.ac1 b3 22.axb3 cxb3 23.exd5 xb2 24.b1 e5 25.g3 ) 20.g3 ad8 21.ad1 ] 17.d6+! [ 17.fd1 d6 18.a3 also gives White some edge, but less than in the game. ] 17...xd6 18.xd6 xg2 19.xg2 Now White has a serious bind over the Black p o sit io n . No w o n ly i s t h e B d 6 a t h o rn i n Black's side, but White will be able to switch between pressurising Black on both wings. a5 20.a3 b7 21.axb4 axb4 22.a4 a8 23.fa1 xa4 24.xa4 b6 the alternative, swapping the last pair of rooks, probably loses by force. [ 24...a8 25.xa8 xa8 26.f3! and I think White can win by transferring his k i n g t o g 5 , t h e n p l a y i n g B f 8 . ( 26.h4?! first advancing the pawns is a mistake, as it allows the Black king to make it back to f7 after which he can hold the position. b7 27.h5 c8 28.f3 d8 29.f4 e8 ) 26...b7 27.f4 c8 28.g5 d8 29.f8 g6 30.h6 and the position looks winning for White. ] 25.b3 b5 26.f4 h5 27.g5 g6 28.e4 g8 29.h4 cxb3 30.cxb3 a5? Black loses his patience, although ultimately his position was probably lost. 1931
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 30...g7?! 31.a8! ] [ 30...c8 31.g3 e8 32.f2 ( 32.f5?! exf5 33.exf5 gxf5 34.f4 is too speculative.) 32...c8 33.e3 e8 34.d3 c8 ( 34...g8 35.a2 a5 36.c2 ) 35.a2 and White is close to winning, for example: a5 36.c2 xc2 37.xc2 c6 38.d3 d8 39.f5 exf5 40.exf5 gxf5 41.g6 e6 42.e5+- ] 31.xb4+ c6 32.b8 g7 33.e5 f7 34.c8+ b5 35.g8 xb3 36.xg6 d2 37.g8 A well played game by Vera Gonzalez. Nevertheless, Black's 8...Qa5 novelty might be ok, although in this game White emerged from the opening with a slight advantage. Perhaps af te r 9. g4 Nxc 3 10 . b xc3 f xg4 sho uld b e explored, as although White has compensation only practice will be show what the real assessment should be. 1-0
1974 Wohlfahrt,Rainer Grooten,Herman 20th Open Böblingen GER (5) [John Emms]
A43 2127 2390 28.12.2003
Including this game is basically just for a bit of fun. Black plays a very dodgy opening and his position is resignable after seven moves. However, White doesn't play the most precise refutation and before we know it Black has tremendous compensation for the piece. 1.d4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.d5 e6 [ 3...d6 4.e4 g6 is a Schmid Benoni ] 4.e4 exd5?! This is a well-known mistake. [ Black must play 4...d6 ] 5.e5! e7? Only compounding his earlier error. [ The abject retreat 5...g8 is relatively best. ] [ 5...d4? loses material to 6.exf6 dxc3 7.e2+ ] 6.e2 e4?? This loses immediately. [ Again Black must suffer the consequences after 6...g8 7.xd5 d8 ] 7.xd5 xe5 8.c3? Winning a piece for two pawns, but not the best way to punish Black for his errors. [ After 8.c4! , threatening Bf4, Nf3 and f2-f3,
should cause Black to resign immediately! ] 8...d5 9.f3 f5 10.fxe4 fxe4 11.f3 f5 12.h4? After this mistake Black begins to get back into the game. [ I prefer 12.g5 e7 ( or 12...h6 13.xd5! xd5 14.h5+ e7 15.b5! and Black's in some trouble) 13.h5+ g6 14.h6 and here f8 can be met by 15.h3! ] 12...f7 13.f2? Funnily enough, the trade of queens doesn't seem to help White. [ 13.d1 e7 14.g3 e6 15.b5+ c6 16.f1 f6 17.e3 still looks good for White. ] 13...xf2+ 14.xf2 e7 15.b5+ [ Is it even t ime to b ail out wit h 15.xd5 xh4+ 16.e3 here? ] 15...c6 16.g3 [ 16.xc6+ prevents a later ...Nd4, but bxc6 17.g3 0-0+ 18.e1 d4 19.e2 h3 still looks rather unappetising for White. ] 16...0-0+ 17.e1 [ Or 17.g2 e6 , threatening ...g5 ] 17...d4! 18.a4 e6 Suddenly White's position is a real mess - Black's compensation f or t he p iece is enormous. 19.e2 g5 20.xd4 cxd4 21.c3 [ 21.g2 loses to b4+ 22.d1 g4# ] 21...dxc3 22.g2 cxb2 23.xb2 b4+ 24.e2 [ Or 24.d1 f2 ] 24...g4+ 25.e3 c5+ 26.d2 f2+ 27.c3 c8 0-1
1975 Yevseev,Denis Efimenko,Zahar Moscow Aeroflot op-A (7) [John Emms]
A43 2557 2666 14.02.2006
1.d4 c5 2.d5 g6 3.e4 g7 4.f3 d6 5.e2 f6 6.c3 0-0 7.0-0 g4 8.d2 White's most popular choice has been 8 Nd2, and this is followed by 8 h3. However, there's no obligation to commit so quickly to either move. [ If 8.f4 White is ready to play Nd2-c4 with the bishop already developed. For example, a6 ( 8...fd7 9.d2 xe2 10.xe2 a6 11.c4 c7 12.a4 b6 13.e3! 1932
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 sees White's plan in action, although even here I feel Black can minimise White's edge by a5! (this paradoxical move again!) 14.d2 d7 , as played in H.Berti-M. Zuccotti Bozzano, ICCF email 2008.) 9.d2 ( 9.h3 xf3 10.xf3 d7 11.d2 c7 12.a4 a6 returns to 8 h3 and KarpovBrowne (see the notes to ChuchelovGashimov) ) 9...xe2 10.xe2 c7 11.a4 e6!? ( this is the most active way to combat White's idea, and adds quick pressure to d5 especially when Black's f6-knight hasn't m o v e d i n s t e a d 11...d7 is again met by 12.c4 b6 13.e3 ) 12.d3 ( 12.dxe6 xe6= ) 12...exd5 13.exd5 ( 13.xd5!? ) 13...h5 14.e3 f5 15.f3 f4 16.d2 f5 with decent counterplay, V.Bronznik-X. Montheard, Metz 2005. ] 8...xe2 9.xe2 a6 The most popular choice in practice, but Black has struggled to gain equality with this move. Alternatively: [ a) For 9...fd7!? , perhaps Black's most challenging move, see Swiercz-Kempinski and Baburin-Rustemov. ] [ b) 9...bd7 10.c4! ( 10.a4 e8 11.c4 b6 12.e3 c7 transposes to BaburinRustemov ) 10...b6 11.e3 e8 12.a4 e6 13.dxe6 xe6 14.a5 bd7 15.f3 b8 16.d1 L.Stein-I.Bilek, Moscow 1967. ] [ c) 9...e8 10.c4 e6 11.f3 exd5 12.exd5 bd7 13.f4 e5 14.xe5 dxe5 15.fe1 J.Diez del Corral-L.Stein, Las Palmas 1973. ] 10.c4 c7 [ 10...b8 11.b5 c7 12.a4 a6 13.xc7 xc7 14.a5 is an edge for White, as indicated by Tukmakov. For example, fe8 15.d3 g4 16.f4! e5 17.xe5! xe5 (White's knight outweighs Black's bishop) 18.f4 g7 19.ae1 bd8 20.e5 H.Dietz-V.Kuklin, German League 2007. ] [ 10...d7 11.f4 c7 12.a4 transposes to 8 Bf4. ] 11.a4 a6 [ 11...e6 12.g5! exd5 13.xd5 cxd5 14.exd5 d7 15.xf6! xf6 16.f3 g7 17.c3 was V.Moskalenko-G.Kuzmin, Alushta 1994, another example of White's c4-knight being stronger than Black's darksquared bishop. ] 12.a5 b5!? Efimenko's move, a novelty at
the time of the game, exchanges Black's a6pawn f or W hite's e4-pawn. Normally this wo u ld b e a f a vo u ra b le t r a d e , b u t i n t h i s instance W hite is very active and Black is very passive. In fact, I'm not convinced 12... Nb5 is any improvement at all over previous theory. [ The stem game for this line went 12...d7 13.a4 b5 14.c3 c7 15.f4 ae8 16.ad1 e5 17.dxe6! ( if 17.d2 Tukmakov gives f5 18.f3 d8= intending Qh4 ) 17...xe6 18.d3 with an edge for W hite, V.Tukmakov-T. Giorgadze, Decin 1977. ] 13.xb5! [ 13.a4 is also possible and has been played by Romanishin, but 13 Nxb5 looks stronger. ] 13...axb5 14.b6 a6 15.xb5! [ White must avoid 15.f3? d7! ] [ and 15.g5 d7! is fine for Black. ] [ If 15.e5 dxe5 an d o n ly n o w 16.xb5 Bla ck ca n sa f e ly p la y xd5 in view of 17.d1 c3! ] 15...xe4 16.e1 f6 17.g5 h6 18.d2 [ 18.xf6 xf6 19.a4 c7 20.ae4 g7 21.h3 d8 22.c3 g8 23.1e3 d8 24.b4 , a s p l a ye d i n M . S t e p a n o v-C. Hu m e a u , Corsica 2008, also looks good. Black is struggling for any breathing space in these positions. ] 18...e8 19.b3! [ Not giving Black the opportunity to confuse t h in g s, wh ich h e wo u ld d o a f t e r 19.e2 xb6! 20.axb6 xd5 ] 19...d8 [ If 19...d7? then 20.c4! wins. ] 20.b5 e8 21.b3 d8 22.e2 e8 Yevseev was clearly in a generous mood on this occasion, or perhaps content to gain rating points from his higher-rated opponent. [ After 22...e8 23.ae1 Black's position looks extremely uncomfortable. Overall, Black is struggling to find equality or any real counterplay after 9...Na6. ] ½-½
1933
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1976 Yrjola,Jouni Efimov,Igor Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (7) [John Emms]
A43 2412 2445 06.12.1999
Game of the Month: "It's not always f6": Black finds another square for his king's knight to develop. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 exd5 4.cxd5 d6 5.c3 g6 6.e4 g7 7.d3 So far it looks as if we will reach a main line of the Modern Benoni, via an unusual move order, but what happens if instead of ...Ng8-f6, Black plays... e7!? This is a very interesting idea. The diagonal is kept free for the bishop and Black can also consider an early ...f7-f5. 8.f3 0-0 9.0-0 Perhaps White should take time out to prevent ...Bg4 with h2-h3, as in the Modern Classical Variation. a6 10.a4 g4 11.h3 xf3 12.xf3 d7 13.e2 c7 14.f4 ae8 Once again White has expanded in the centre, but on this occasion Black is ready to hit back with ...f7-f5. 15.f3 f5 16.g4 c4 17.c2 fxe4 18.xe4 c5 19.c2 b5! Black's play is very logical and energetic. Black expands on the queenside, preparing to meet 20 axb5 axb5 21 Nxb5 with 21...Qb6!, hitting the knight and preparing a discovered check. By playing ...f7-f5 Black has isolated the white pawn on d5, which is now quite vulnerable. 20.axb5 axb5 21.e3 b4 22.b5 d7 23.d4 b3! The pawn chain marches on. If Black can round up the d5-p awn , t hen he will b e winn ing. 24.d1 d3! Preparing a very efficient exchange s a c r i f i c e . 25.e6 xd5 26.xf8 b5! For the moment White is a rook up, but the knight on f8 is trapped. Notice also that the b2-pawn is also ripe to be eaten. If this one goes then Black gets an irresistible trio of passed pawns. 27.e6 xe6 28.a8+ f8 29.d4 5xf4? This allows White a chance t o t u r n t h e t a b l e s wi t h a b r i l l i a n t q u e e n sacrifice. [ 29...3xf4! would have kept Black in control. ] 30.c8? White misses his big chance. [ 30.xd3!! cxd3 31.xf4 would have left Black in all sorts of trouble, as e8 loses to 32.xe8 xe8 33.xb3+ and White mates. ]
30...d5 31.g5 b7 32.d8 e4! Now Black has assumed control once more and the result is not in doubt. 33.f6 b6+ 34.h1 e3! W h i t e h a s n o g o o d wa y t o c o n t i n u e , a s moving the queen allows ...Rxh3. 35.xf4 xf4 36.xf4 e1+ 37.g2 g1+ It's mate after 38 Kf3 Re3. A very entertaining game. 0-1
1977 Ziyaev,Negmat Smerdon,David 36th Olympiad (6) [John Emms]
A43 2295 2425 20.10.2004
1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 e6 4.c3 Of course W hite is certainly not obliged to enter the Modern Benoni and 4 Nc3 is a very serious choice for White - and a bit of a pain for Black. The 'main line' is 4...exd5 5 Nxd5 Nxd5 6 Qxd5. It's true that this line is not bad for Black in a theoretical sense, but it's a bit dull and it's very difficult to generate counterplay. b5!? This is the move to play if Black wants more action, though of course it's far riskier than 4...exd5. Black offers a pawn sacrifice for control of the centre in a similar way to the Blumenfeld Gambit - 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 c5 4 d5b5!?. 5.dxe6 [ White can also decline, preferring to con tinu e with d evelop me nt wit h 5.g5!? - see Sakaev-Volkov, New Delhi 2000 in ChessPub (ECO code A43) ] 5...fxe6 6.g5!? This seems to be a bit inconsistent - if W hite wants to decline the pawn then it looks more logical to play 5 Bg5 and keep some presence in the centre. And after capturing on e6 it looks normal to grab the pawn. That said, White doesn't get a bad position in the game so it's probably not so bad. [ Konopka-Vavra, Czech Rep 2004 continued 6.xb5 d5 7.e3 a6 (Forcing the knight back to c3 so that White cannot arrange an early c2-c4. On the other hand, White now has options of e3-e4, so it's difficult to know whether this is better than simple development with 7...Nc6, offering W hite the chance to play 8 c4!?.) 8.c3 c6 1934
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.d3 (I'm not sure about this move) ( 9.e4! is probably stronger) 9...d6 10.0-0 0-0 11.e4? d4! 12.exd5 g4! and Black had a very strong attack - see ChessPub (ECO code A43) for the rest of this entertaining game. ] 6...b4 7.e4 d5 8.xf6+ gxf6 9.h4 A strange position: Black has f ive pawns developed but nothing else W hite has two pieces developed but no pawns! e7 10.e4! A good move - W hite has to make an impression on Black's pawn structure. [ 10.e3?! 0-0 11.e2 c6 12.0-0 b7 gives Black a very easy life. ] 10...dxe4 11.d2 d5! [ Trying to hang onto the e4-pawn smacks of g r e e d i n e s s : 11...f5?! 12.h5+ f8 13.h6+ f7 14.xe7 xe7 15.0-0-0 and it looks like W hite has made a good investment. ] 12.c4 [ Also possible is 12.g4 , for example b7 13.c4 f5 14.xe6 , which looks fairly level. ] 12...f5 13.e2 c6 14.b5 b7 15.xe4 0-0-0 16.c3 hg8 17.g3 e5 Black's position looks quite loose, but it's very possible that he has the advantage due to his very active pieces. It's a very difficult one to call. 18.a6 c4! 19.xb7+ xb7 20.0-0 d3 21.cxb4? The first move of a double error which hands the game to Black. It was absolutely crucial for W hite to try and undermine the knight on d3, which holds Black's position together. [ For that reason, there's a big argument for the move 21.b3! Now if Black plays in the game with h5 White has 22.bxc4 h4 23.ad1! hxg3 24.xd3 gxh2+ 25.h1 and White may well be better. ] 21...h5! 22.c5+? After this White is definitely losing. [ 22.h4 is the best chance, even though after d4 23.f3 g6 no one would disagree that Black is on top. ] 22...xc5! 23.bxc5 h4 24.xh4 [ 24.d6 is more resilient, but the position after xd6! 25.cxd6 xg2+! 26.xg2 ( 26.h1 d5! ) 26...f4+ 27.f3 xe2+ 28.xe2 d3+ 29.e1 xd6 should be winning for Black. ]
24...xg2+! 25.h1 d5! 26.e3 xf2+ 0-1
1978 Cramling,Pia Gregoire,Sylvain TCh-FRA Top 16 Gp A (2) [John Emms]
A44 2515 2261 04.02.2006
1.d4 c5 2.d5 [ The illogical-looking 2.dxc5 , "giving up the centre", is not as bad as it first looks and has been played by a handful of GMs (White plays a sort of Queen's Gambit Accepted Attack!). Now there's nothing wrong with 2... Nf6 or 2...Na6, but I guess the most obvious m o v e h e r e i s e6 with the intention of an immediate recapture on c5. White does best to give the pawn back immediately (3 b4? runs into the convincing 3...a5!)with 3.c3 answering xc5 with 4.e4! If the bishop moves W hite can continue with Nd6+ so Black should play d5! 5.xc5 a5+ 6.c3 xc5 with a roughly level position. Note here t h a t a f t e r 7.e4!? Black should continue simp ly wit h e7! ra th e r th a n ( 7...dxe4?! 8.g4! )] 2...e5 Black can play also 2.. .Nf6, 2...g6 and 2. ..e6, all reaching some kind of Benoni position. With 2... e5 Black prepares to keep it all stodged up just like in the Czech Benoni (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e5). 3.e4 d6 4.c3 [ 4.f4!? is very direct - see Roghani, AHamad, A/Fajr 2001 in the archives (ECO code A44). ] [ 4.c4 is another main move, immediately giving the Czech Benoni structure. With 4 Nc3 W hite prefers to keep the c4-square free. This does mean that White has less space on the queenside than normal, but on the other hand the c4-square could end up as a useful outpost for a knight. ] 4...a6 Black position is rife with possible different move orders here - I won't bore you by listing all of them. The main point of 4...a6 is to cut out annoying Nb5/Bb5+ ideas for W hite, and of course ...b7-b5 is virtually always handy if Black - time permitting - is a llo we d t h is a d va n ce . 5.f4! The robotic reaction is 5 a4 (see Davila-Castillo, San Jose 1935
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2004 in the archives), but I'm all for the way Pia Cramling plays it here. If 4...a6 has a weakness, it's that it doesn't really help out in the development stakes, so why not try to blow a few holes in the centre? When I was younger someone told me that playing f4 in these positions is risky because it gives Black the e5-square, but it looks like a whole lot more fun than the turgid 5 Nf3. exf4 6.xf4 g5!? I would really love it if Black were able to get away with playing moves such as this, but sadly I suspect in reality it's too weakening to work against someone who knows what he or she is doing. I really like the concept, though: Black gains time on the bishop and plans to do battle for the all-important e5-square with ...Bg7 [ If Black is looking for a sounder way to contest e5 then I can recommend 6...e7! , intending ...Ng6. For example 7.f3 g6 8.g3 e7 and, if allowed , Black's next few moves will be ...0-0, ...Qc7, ...Nd7, ...Bf6 and ... Nde5 when it's clear he or she has won the battle for the e5-square. In Azmaiparashvili-Rashkovsky, Strumica 1995, White unsurprisingly circumvented this basic plan of Black's by playin g 9.e5 dxe5 10.xe5 and following the game's 10... 0-0 11 Nxg6 hxg6 12 Be2 12 Be2 Bh4 13 Qd2 Re8 14 0-0 I quite like the look of White's position - the passed d-pawn looks strong to me. That said, I believe Black missed a trick here with xe5! 11.xe5 0-0 the point being to answer 12.d3 with h4+! 13.g3 e8 ] 7.g3 g7 8.f3 g4 9.d2! White's quite happy to recapture on f3 with the g-pawn. It might seem that W hite is merely targeting Black's g5-pawn, but just watch where White's queen ends up in just five moves time. xf3 10.gxf3 e7 All logical stuff: Black plans ...Nd7 with total control of the vital e5square... 11.h4! h6 12.hxg5 hxg5 13.xh8 xh8 14.h2!! I find this move very appealing. It's true that Black often gets into trouble with the d6-pawn in the Benoni, but I can't recall a queen and bishop battery exploiting it as blatantly as this, certainly not so early in the opening. d4? Suicide. [ I think I would have covered d6 with 14...e5 and accept the monster d5 passer
after 15.xe5 xe5 16.xe5+ dxe5 Funnily enough, this position has actually occurred before! Mochalov-Rumiancev, Polanica Zdroj 1994continued 17.h3 d7 18.f2 e7 19.g1 f6 20.d6! g6 21.d5 when White was beginning to dominate. So 6...g5, as well as being a bit on the dodgy side, doesn't even has the distinction of being original. ] 15.xd6 White doesn't need asking twice. Typically with the loss of the d6-pawn, Black's position collapses, and Pia Cramling finishes off with style. f6 16.e2! xb2 17.e5 xf3 18.g2 f5 [ Another pretty line is 18...c3+ 19.d1 e3 20.xc3 xc3 21.h8! xa1+ 22.e2 d7 23.h3+ and White forces checkmate. ] 19.h8! g6 [ I f B l a c k g r a b s t h e r o o k w i t h 19...xa1 White has 20.xg8+ d7 and now 21.h3! f o r c e s m a t e : xh3 22.xf7+ d8 23.e7+ c8 24.c7# ] 20.b1 [ Moving the bishop from b2 allows the rook t o c o m e d o w n t o b 7 wi t h d e va s t a t i o n . 20.b1 a3 and now the deflector 21.e4! is one of many wins: xe4 allows mate in two after 22.xg8+ d7 23.xb7# ] 1-0
1979 Davila,Carlos Castillo,Rommel zt2.3.c2 San Jose CRC (5) [John Emms]
A44 2339 2118 08.09.2004
1.d4 c5 Playing ...c5 as early as move one is certainly very playable for Black, and it gives both sides some extra options not normally available after 1...Nf6 2 c4 c5 2.d5 [ Another idea is to grab the pawn with 2.dxc5 Following e6 White does best to give the pawn back immediately (3 b4? a5!) with 3.c3 answering xc5 with 4.e4! If the bishop moves White can continue with Nd6+ so Black should play d5! 5.xc5 a5+ 6.c3 xc5 with a roughly level p o s i t i o n . N o t e h e r e t h a t a f t e r 7.e4!? Bla ck sho uld co ntinue simply wit h e7! 1936
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( rather than 7...dxe4?! 8.g4! )] 2...e5 Naturally Black can play also 2...Nf6, 2... g6 and 2. ..e6, all reaching some kind of Benoni position. With 2...e5 Black prepares to keep it blocked just like in the Czech Benoni (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e5). 3.e4 d6 4.c3!? This makes use of the fact that White hasn't committed his pawn to c4. Instead W hite keeps this square open for a piece (Nf3-d2-c4 is on e p lan ). 4 c4 wo u ld b rin g a bo u t t h e Czech Benoni pawn structure. [ 4.f4!? is very direct - see Roghani,AHamad,A/Fajr 2001 in ChessPub (ECO code A44). ] 4...a6 5.a4 f5?! Even though this move has been played by a world champion (the earliest example I can find is a game of Alekhine's) I don't trust this move. It's understandable that Black might want to get some early activity but this leaves too many weak squares in Black's position for my liking. [ A more sober move is 5...g6 , for example 6.e2 h5!? 7.f3 h6 8.0-0 xc1 9.xc1 (Sokolov,I-Morozevich,A/Amsterdam 1996). Black has managed to get rid of his socalled 'bad bishop' but White's still probably a bit better. ] 6.exf5! [ Stronger than the 6.f4!? of Euwe-Alekhine, Netherlands 1934. ] 6...xf5 7.ge2! Planning to harass the bishop with Ng3, which also eyes up the juicy outpost on e4. f6 8.g3 g6 9.h4! [ 9.d3 is very pleasant for White, but given the speed of Black's demise in this game, it's extremely difficult to argue with the text move. ] 9...e7 10.h5 f7 11.f5 0-0 12.g4! I ro n ic a l ly B la c k p la ye d . . . f 7 -f 5 f o r so m e activity, but it's W hite who is doing all the attacking. Now Black must play 12...Ne8 to avoid what's coming. bd7? 13.g5 e8 [ 13...xh5 14.xh5 xh5 15.xe7+ xe7 16.xh5 is not a great option, although as far as Black is concerned it's still preferable to the game. ] 14.g4 g6 [ Allowing g5-g6 is just a s b ad : 14...h8 15.g6 ef6 16.h6!! xg4 17.hxg7+ g8 18.gxh7# - nice work if you can get it! ] 15.h6+ g7 16.xf7 xf7 17.hxg6 hxg6
18.h4 ...and that's the end of that! There's no good answer to the threats of Qh8 and Qh7. 1-0
1980 Graf,Alexander Muranyi,Karl Jasmin ch-GER Osterburg GER (4) [John Emms]
A44 2604 2359 06.02.2006
1.d4 c5 2.d5 e5 3.e4 d6 [ 3...a6!? ] 4.b5+!? Opting for this slightly disruptive check before Black has the chance to prevent it with ...a7-a6. d7! I like this move much more than 4...Bd7. Having already consigned the f8-bishop to a prospectless life, I'd really prefer to keep my other bishop alive. 5.f4! Here we go again! exf4 6.xf4 Now I see one of the points of 4 Bb5+: Black would like to play th e typical ... Ne7-g6 he re, b ut o f course 6...Ne7 simply drops the d6-pawn. [ I guess White could also play in King's Gambit fashion with 6.f3 g5! 7.h4! g4 8.g1 ] 6...b6 This queen move seems very cheeky to me, but it certainly does the business in this game. 7.a3 [ Perhaps White should consider sacrificing b2 in another way: 7.c3 a6 8.a4 xb2 9.ge2 and now Black must spend more time retreating his queen as b5? 10.b1 a3 11.b3 sees it being trapped. ] 7...a6 8.xd7+ xd7 9.f3 [ 9.c4? b4+! ] 9...xb2 10.c4 f6! Black is not letting his d6-pawn go without a fight. [ 10...b4+ 11.fd2! ] 11.xd6!? c3+! Perhaps Graf missed the strength of this outwardly surprising move [ 11...xd6 12.e5 xe5 13.cxe5 followed by 0-0 looks very appealing from White's point of view: the d-pawn is strong and Black has problems developing normally. ] 12.fd2 xd6 13.xd6+ The d6-pawn goes and Black is forced to move his king. I must admit I thought this was absolutely terrible for B l a ck a t f i r s t . I wa s sh o c ke d b y B l a c k ' s 1937
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 counterplay. e7 14.6c4 [ After 14.xb7 b5! the knight on b7 is lacking a retreat square, while Black goes on the attack and already threatens the decisive ...Qe3+. ] [ 14.f5+ looks reasonable, but following xf5! 15.exf5 f6 16.0-0 hd8 Black's kin g will safely tuck itself in the corner. I even reckon that Black is better h e r e - I f I we r e W h i t e I wo u l d b e a b i t nervous about losing that d5-pawn. ] 14...b5! Suddenly White's knights find themselves in a bit of a pickle. Graf decides it's time for drastic measures (not that I could f in d an y quiet way to p lay t his posit io n). 15.b1! xc4 16.xb7+ f6 17.c6+ e5! Always attack with the king when possible! One of Black's ideas is ...Kd4-e3, threatening mate with ...Qxd2. 18.c7+! [ I've come to the conclusion (with a little bit of help from my silicon friends) that snaffling the rook in the corner seems to lead to a forced win for Black: 18.xa8? xa1+ 19.f2 (take my rooks!) A) 19...xh1?? runs into a mating sequence: 20.b8+ f6 ( or 20...d4 21.b2# ) 21.d6+ g5 22.f3+ h5 23.e5+ h6 24.g5#; B) 19...d4+! (no thanks!) 20.e1 f6! (you t a ke m y roo ks! ) 21.xh8 a1+ 22.f2 xe4+ ( 22...xh1?? allows a visual mate in two after 23.b8+ d4 24.b2# ) 23.xe4 d4+ 24.f3 xe4+ 25.g3 e3+ 26.h4 ( 26.g4? allows the bishop to join the action with devastation: e2+ 27.h4 f4+ 28.h3 g4# ) 26...h6+ 27.g3 g5+ 28.h3 xd5! 29.e1+ d4! 30.d1+ c3! 31.xd5 (th ere 's not hin g e lse ) xd5 when the queen ending must be winning for Black, e.g. 32.xg7+ xc2 33.xh7+ d3+! 34.xd3+ xd3 and the c-pawn promotes. ] 18...d4! 19.f4!? f6! [ There is still not time to gather 10 points of material: 19...xa1+?? 20.f2 xh1 21.e3+ e5 22.g3+! f6 ( 22...d4 23.c3# ) 23.d6+ g5 24.f3+ etc. ] 20.d1? [ a) White's problem is twofold: his knight is pinned and the rook on a1 has been
hanging for a while. He could eliminate t h e s e w i t h 20.0-0-0 which incidentally threatens a discovered double check and mate with Nf3 or Nb3. Unfortunately Black gets in first with his own mating attack: a3+! 21.b1 xa2+ 22.a1 b3+! 23.b1 a2+ 24.c1 xc2# ] [ b) 20.f2+? looks tempting but in fact B l a c k ' s k i n g c a n t i p t o e b a c k w i t h e5 21.f5+ d6 22.e5+ c7 23.d6+ d8 when W hite's attack has run out of gas: 24.exf6 e8+ and it's White's king who is getting mated. ] [ c) 20.e5+ is an obvious try, but xd5 21.xc4+ xc4 22.xc4 xc4 23.exf6 is clearly favourable for Black - look at that active king. ] [ Shredder 9 gives 20.d6 as White's best move here. It looks a bit irrelevant at first (typical computer move!) but the idea is to play Qf2+ and then capture on c5, when it's check. One line is xa1+ 21.f2 xa2! ( 21...xh1?? 22.e3+ e5 23.xc4+ e6 24.h3+ mates ) 22.f3+ c3 23.d2+ b2 24.c1+ c3 25.d2+ when White can settle for a perpetual check. I'll leave the readers to decide whether analyse the multitude of other possibilities. ] 20...he8! Threatening ...Rxe4+ and forcing White's hand. Maybe Graf missed that 21 Kf2 co uld be a n swered b y 2 1. .. Ng4+! . 21.e5+ xd5 22.f2 d4+! 23.xd4+ cxd4 24.exf6 e2+ 25.f3 e3+ 26.f4 g5+! Winning. 27.xg5 g8+ 28.f4! [ 28.h6? runs into a forced mate: e5! (threatening ...Rg6+) 29.g4 g6+ 30.xh7 xg4 31.h6 g6+ 32.h7 h5# ] 28...xg2? It's quite possible with all the complications so far that time trouble was playing a major part in the game here. [ Black has a forced win with 28...e6! 29.g4 xf6+ 30.g3 e2! 31.de1 xg4+ 32.h3 h6# ] 29.xc4 f2+! This intermezzo is vital: [ 29...xc4? allows 30.xd4+! xd4 31.d1+ ] 30.g5 xc4 With his superior rooks and king, Black is obviously looking to win this position, but Graf puts up terrific resistance and is rewa rded as Bla ck lose s t he p lot . 31.h4! g3+ 32.h6 xf6+?! 1938
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 32...xc2 33.a4 d3 34.xh7 d2 35.h2! d3 36.h5 a5 37.h6 e3 38.h8 c8+ 39.h7 d8 40.hh1 It looks like Black should have some way of winning here, but I can't find it! ] 33.xh7 g2 34.h5 c6? This move must have been influenced by time trouble - the rook is worse here than on f6. 35.dg1! xc2 [ Or 35...xg1 36.xg1 c3 37.g2! ] 36.h6! f5 37.g7 Now White is winning! b2 38.c1+! [ Much stronger than the impetuous 38.h7 b7+! 39.h8 when White's king is again stuck in front of its pawn. ] 38...d5 39.xc6 xc6 40.h7 b8 41.h8 xh8 42.xh8 d5 43.f6! [ 43.a8 f4 44.xa6 d3! 45.h6 f3 46.a4 d2 47.h1 e4 48.a5 d3 49.a6 e2 50.a7 d1 51.xd1 xd1 52.a8 f2 i s a t h e o r e t i c a l d r a w : 53.f3+ e1 54.e3+ f1 55.g6 g1 56.g5+ h2 57.f4+ g1 58.g3+ h1! ] 43...e4 44.e8+ f4? [ 44...f3! forces White to be more accurate, b u t it 's win n in g if W h it e u se s h is kin g: 45.a8! ( 45.xf5? d3! ) 45...d3 46.xa6 f4! 47.f5! d2 48.d6 e3 49.g4! f3 50.g3 f2 51.e6+ d3 52.xf2 d1 53.d6+ c2 54.xd1 xd1 55.a4 ] 45.e6 a5 46.e5! d3 47.xf5+ e4 48.e5+ [ 48.e5+ d4 49.xa5 d2 50.a8! d1 51.d8+ and White wins. An incredible game! ] 1-0
1981 Leimeister,Erhard Siebrecht,Sebastian 20th Open Böblingen GER (3) [John Emms]
A44 2182 2435 27.12.2003
as the main move. ] 4...e7 5.f3 a6!? Black doesn't commit himself on the kingside just yet, so he leaves the option open of playing ...Bg4xf3 and ... Bg5. [ 5...f5?! looks a bit risky and was punished by some excellent play in the game Rustemov-Bachin, Russia 2001: 6.e4 f4 7.g3 g5 8.gxf4 exf4 ( 8...gxf4 9.xe5! dxe5 10.h5+ f8 11.xe5 f6 12.xf4 d7 13.d2 is clearly better for White Rustemov ) 9.e5! g4N ( 9...dxe5 10.xe5 f6 11.h4! ) 10.e6! gxf3 11.xf3 b6 12.d2! f6 13.0-0-0 , when Black's position is literally cut in two. ] 6.e4 c7 7.d3 a6 8.a4 b6 [ I would be tempted to forego this move to play the immediate 8...g4 ] 9.b1 [ And here I think White should avoid ...Bg4 with 9.h3! ] 9...g4 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 g5 12.g3 The beginning of a dodgy queen venture. [ 12.0-0 xc1 13.fxc1 is better. ] 12...xc1 13.xg7? This cheeky pawn grab is neatly refuted. g5! 14.xh8 d2+ 15.f1 e7 16.xh7 [ P e r h a p s W h i t e m i s s e d t h a t 16.e2 allows Black to trap the queen with f6 17.g7 g8 ] 16...xd3+ 17.g1 f4 Black's two minor pieces clearly outweigh the rook and pawn. White decides to end his misery as quickly as possible. 18.g3? xg3! 19.fxg3 xg3+ 20.f1 f3+ [ Black wins after 20...f3+ 21.g1 f6 and ...Rg8. ] 0-1
1982 A44 Roghani,Arash 2210 Hamad,Ahmad 2226 1.d4 c5 2.d5 e5 3.c4 d6 4.c3 Open Fajr IRI (7) 09.02.2001 [ 4.e4 is another main move, immediately [John Emms] giving the Czech Benoni structure. One p o s s i b l e i d e a f o r B l a c k h e r e i s e7 This games not particularly important in a , preparing to trade the traditionally 'bad' theoretical sense, but White's decisive attack bishop with ...Bg5.W hite can prevent this at the end does have a nice flow to it. 1.d4 c5 with 5.f3 but Black can renew the 'threat' Playing ... c5 as early as move one is possible, with g4 . E C O n o w g i v e s 6.bd2 and it gives both sides some extra options. 1939
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2.d5 [ Another idea is to grab the pawn with 2.dxc5 e6 ( 2...a6 3.a3 xc5 4.b4 e4 5.f3 ef6 6.e4 c7 7.b2 e6 8.c4 d6 9.c3 a6 10.f4 e7 11.f3 g6 12.d2 e7 13.d3 0-0 14.0-0 occurred in BauerBezo ld, France 1 999 .) 3.c3 xc5 4.e4!? d5 5.xc5 a5+ 6.d2 xc5 7.g5!? f8!? 8.e3 f6 9.d3 c6 10.e2 e5 11.0-0 g4 12.f3 h6 13.h4 e6 14.a3 e7 this position looks reasonably level here but White won quickly after 15.b4 0-0 16.b2 d7 17.g3 f6 18.f4 e4 19.b5 fc8 20.a4 a5 21.b5 c5? 22.bxc6 xa4 23.xf6! 1-0 MilovMantovani, Saint Vincent 2001. ( 23.xf6 xf6 24.cxb7 wins )] 2...e5 Naturally Black can play also 2...Nf6, 2... g6 and 2. ..e6, all reaching some kind of Benoni position. With 2...e5 Black prepares to keep it blocked just like in the so-called Czech Benoni (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e5). 3.e4 d6 4.f4!? This is very direct. exf4 5.xf4 e7 6.b5+ d7 7.xd7+ xd7 Black is forced to capture this way as he must keep the dpawn protected. 8.f3 [ 8.d2 g6 9.g3 e7 10.gf3 0-0 11.0-0 f5 12.exf5 xf5 13.c4 a6 14.c3 c7 15.b3 b6 16.fe5 xf1+ 17.xf1 xe5 18.xe5 dxe5 19.d6+ e6 20.dxe7 xb3 21.axb3 d5 22.d1 xe7 23.xe5 c6 24.c7 was drawn in D.GurevichGheorghiu, Geneva 1995. ] 8...g6 9.g3 c7?! Vacating the d7square for the b8-knight, but surprisingly this move lands Black into early trouble. [ Also played has been 9...b5! 10.bd2 e7 11.a4 a6 12.f2 d7 13.e1 f6 14.e2 xe2+ 15.xe2 ge5 with a completely level position, LericheLuce, France 1991. ] 10.0-0 e7 11.a3 a6 [ 11...0-0 is safer, but 12.b5 b6 13.a4 a6 14.a3 c7 15.c4 is pleasant for White. ] 12.c4 b5 [ 12...d7 is answered by 13.e5 gxe5 14.fxe5 xe5 15.xe5 dxe5 16.d6 ] 13.xd6+! xd6 14.e5 xe5 [ 14...f8 keeps the extra piece, but after 15.g5 White's attack is pretty awesome. ]
15.xe5 0-0 Black can be forgiven for thinking he is over the worst now, but... [ 15...xe5 16.xe5 xe5 17.e1 wins for White. ] 16.xf7!! xg3 [ 16...xf7 17.xf7 xf7 18.h5+ and White wins after g8 19.e8+ ] 17.h6+! gxh6 18.g4+ g7 and Black resigned without waiting for [ 18...g7 19.xf8+ xf8 20.f1+ g8 21.c8+ ] 1-0
1983 Roghani,Arash Hamad,Ahmad Fajr Open 2001 [Paul Motwani]
A44
2001
W32: "Old Benoni looking older as White gets bolder!" Old Benoni, Code A44. 1.d4 c5 2.d5 [ A fascinating alternative is 2.dxc5 e6 3.c3 xc5 4.e4!? intending d5 ( or 4...e7 5.d6+ ) 5.xc5 a5+ 6.d2 xc5 7.g5! as was played recently by super-GM Vadim Milov, whose opponent chose f8 ( rather than falling for 7...f8?? 8.d8#! )] 2...e5 [ 2...f6 3.c4 e6 would transpose to the Modern Benoni Defence, whereas in the act ua l ga me we se e a n old f o rm o f th e Benoni. ] 3.e4 d6 4.f4! A particularly potent case of "f f o r f o rwa rd " ! A b o u t t we n t y ye a r s a go i n Dundee, I also played 4 f4 in several training games against fellow-Scot Dr David Findlay, and White scored 100% in those encounters. exf4 5.xf4 e7 Black plans ...Ng6 to fight for control of the central e5-square, but White gets in a disruptive check first... 6.b5+! d7 [ 6...d7? drops the d6-pawn ] 7.xd7+ xd7 8.f3 g6 9.g3 c7?! Black's top priority should be ...Be7 and ...0-0, with king-safety in mind. 10.0-0 e7 11.a3! The knight may soon leap forward to b5 or c4, depending on exact circumstances at the time. a6 12.c4 A big position al threat now is the advance a2-a4-a5 with a powerful grip on the queenside, but we'll soon see that White has 1940
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 spotted a deadly tactical possibility too... b5 D (2185) - Simons,M (2145) 4NCL 1998 13.xd6+!! xd6 14.e5 xe5 ( 19.f4! )] [ If 14...e7 then White has the luxury of 15.hxg3 c5 16.d2 xd4 17.cxd4 f5 being able to choose between 15.e6 ( or 18.f4 xg3 19.g1 xf1+ 20.gxf1 d6? 15.d6 )] A mistake. 15.xe5 0-0 [ 20...d8! Black must hang on to the pawn [ Of course 15...xe5 loses quickly because at all costs! 21.d5 ( 21.h1! Therefore of 16.xe5 xe5 17.e1 but in the actual wi t h t h e p l a n a 2 - a 3 , R a g 1 i n o r d e r t o game Black is now quite safe...right? ] provoke . .. g7 -g6 an d t he n Rhh 6-Rgh 1 16.xf7!! Wrong! xg3 winning the pawn back is, indeed, uneasy [ If 16...xf7 17.xf7 xf7 ( 17...xf7 for Black to face!) 21...a6 22.g1 g6 18.xd6 ) 18.h5+ then the key point is that 23.gc1 ( 23.a4 d6 24.b4 Just fails to e6 g8 loses instantly to 19.e8+ ] 25.b5 a5 26.xb6 c7 ) 23...d6 24.c7 17.h6+! gxh6 18.g4+ Black resigned in A) 24...e6 25.xb7 c8 ( 25...xd5 view of 18...Kh8 19 Rxf8 or 18...Qg7 19 Rxf8+ 26.b8+ ) 26.xb6 xb6 27.xb6+ b7 Kxf8 20 Rf1+ Kg8 21 Qc8+ Qf8 22 Qxf8. 28.a4; 1-0 B) 24...a5 25.ac1 e6 26.xb6; C) 24...e8! 25.ac1 e6 26.b4 a7 27.d5 d7 28.e4 h5 ] 1984 A45 21.d5 a5 22.xb6 e6 23.a4 h5 24.d5! a6 Ackermann,Daniel [ 24...xd5? 25.b4 ] Koermer,Jens Peter White effective ly just plays a clear GER jub50 qJVH02 corr 1996 25.a5 exchange up with no pawn as compensation: [Eric Prié] Black's queen's rook will never see the light of 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ day again! d7 26.b4 d8 27.g1 h7 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 28.e3 h4 29.f2 f6 30.f4 h3 31.g3 f5 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 32.f3 h2 33.h1 g5 34.fxg5 And here it seemed that Black resigned. exf4 12.d4 d5 13.g3! e3 [ Following 34.fxg5 xb6 ( 34...h4 35.gxf6 [ 13...c5! And this is the point of Black's xb6 36.g8+ d7 37.f7 e4+ 38.g3 12th move as it transposes into the main line xh1 39.f8 ) 35.axb6 h4 36.e3! with 12...Bc5. Incidentally, it makes me ( 36.gxf6? e4+ 37.e3 xh1 38.g8+ think that despite the oddness of moving the d7 39.f7 e4+; 36.g6? e4+ 37.e3 same (and indeed the only developed) piece xh1 38.g7 xd5 ) 36...e4 37.xh2 xh2 two times in the opening it is therefore not 38.xe4 The rook ending should be won yet clear cut which is better, in the end, 12.. . more because of the particular pawn Nd5!? or the acknowledged 12...Bc5! configuration (with the confinement of the 14.h3 leads to a well known transposition ( black king on the bottom ranks allied to his that occurred, by the way in the game given counterpart's activity, capable of decisively in t h e n ot e! ) se e ne xt t wo ga me s . xd4 hitting d6 while preventing any transposition 15.cxd4 a4 16.xf4! xf4 17.gxf4 xd4 into any pawn ending) than because of the 18.e3 ] extra (doubled) pawn on its own. 14.h3! fxg3! A) 38...xe2+ 39.f3 d2 40.e3! [ 14...c5 15.d2 xd5 ( 40...b2 41.gxf6 b3+ 42.f4 A) 15...c4+ 16.c2 xd4 ( 16...e3+ xb4+ 43.f5 ) 41.g6 e5+ 42.f4 e8 17.d3 Black cannot take on g3 43.f5 e7 44.e3+ d7 45.xe8 anymore. ) 17.cxd4 fxg3 18.hxg3 e3+ xe8 46.xf6; 19.d3 Of course instead of 19.Kd2 this B) 38...fxg5! would transpose into the actual game.; B1) 39.e3!? h4+ 40.f5 xb4 B) 15...xf1+ 16.hxf1 fxg3 17.hxg3 41.xg5 xb6 42.e6 a6 ( 42...b3 xd4 18.cxd4 d6 19.f2 1/2-1/2 Gunter, 1941
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 43.xd6 xe3 44.g8+ e8 45.xe8+ xe8 46.c7 ) 43.g8+ c7 44.g7+ c8 45.d7 b5 ( 45...a3 46.xd6 a6+ 47.e7 a3 48.e4 e3 49.d6 xe4 50.e7! ) 46.xd6 xd6+ ( 46...a4 47.e5 ) 47.xd6 b4 48.e7 b3 49.d6 b2 50.d7+ b7 51.d8 b1 52.d5+ c7 53.c4+ b7 54.e4; B2) 39.f5 I hesitate about what is best xe2 ( 39...h4 40.g4 e7 41.xg5 h2 42.e4 b2 43.h4 xb4 44.h7+ d8 45.xb7 xe4 46.b8+ d7 47.b7 b4 48.f8 xb7 49.f7+ c8 50.xb7 xb7 51.f6 b6 52.e7 c5 53.e6 ) 40.xg5 d7 41.g7+ c8 B2a) 42.c7+ d8! 43.xb7 e5+ 44.f6 c8! ( 44...xd5? 45.e6 ) 45.c7+ b8=; B2b) 42.f6! e5 43.g5 e8 ( 43...e4 44.b5 ) 44.g7 Or any rook move on the g-file leads to Black's zugzwang. ( 44.b5? d8 45.g7 e5 46.g8+ d7 47.g5 xg5!! 48.xg5 e8 49.f6 f8 50.e6 e8 51.xd6 d8 52.e6 e8 53.d6 d8= ) 44...e5 45.g8+ First attract the king on the 7th d7 46.g5 e4 47.g7+ c8 48.c7+ d8 ( 48...b8 49.e7 ) B2b1) 49.b5 e5 50.g7 ( 50.xb7 c8 ) 50...c8!; B2b2) 49.xb7 xb4 50.e6 ( 50.b8+ d7 51.b7 c7 ) 50...c8! 51.c7+ b8 B2b21) 52.d7 xb6 53.xd6 b1 54.d8+ b7 With the king on the short side this position is drawn.; B2b22) 52.xd6 xb6+ 53.d7 h6 54.d6 h1 55.c4 ( 55.e6 h6+ 56.d5 h1 ) 55...h7+ 56.c6 c8 57.g4 c7+!; B2b23) 52.c6! b7 53.xd6 b1 Neither my own knowledge nor my documentation being sufficiently adequate in endings I still have a doubt about whether this is won in spite of the two extra pawn s. In this ca se, th e quee n
ending with the extra central pawn and the centralized queen introduced by the 39th move alternative could represent the best option and explain why Black resigned so abruptly. ] 1-0
1985 Adams,Michael Gelfand,Boris GpA Cap d'Agde FRA rapid (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2725 2703 26.10.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.d5 b6 5.c1 g6 Another possibility generated by W hite's "uneconomical" order of moves, in terms of opening pre paration, and let u s remind ourselves that this system is largely secondary to 4.f 3 in importance, except, apparently, amongst top grandmasters! Be that as it may, it can therefore represent a su r p r i s e we a p o n , n o t l a c k in g in v e n o m , against poorly prepared opponents. 6.f3 d6 The logical complement to the previous move as first played in 87 by the imaginative GM Granda Zuniga. It is a strange to see that GM Finkel considers it to be dubious whereas his ChessBase colleague GM Hertneck awards it an exclamation mark! GM Rotstein, as for him, contents himself with a sober "interesting" appreciation for its f irst appearance (n~/ =55-1992 ) in the pages of the Informant... The latter is probably right and both the fact that it has been played recently by prominent GM theoreticians like Lalic, and Vadim Milov, or that Finkel is NOT a KID player (rather Grünfeld and Nimzo) and therefore probably little acquainted with the dangerousness of the massive SÃNmisch center, militate in favour of that opinion. 7.e4 g7 8.c3 f5 9.exf5 xf5 10.d3 A Novelty that shall not go down in history unless further analysis proves he could have taken the pawn on move 15. For the ultra-radical [ 10.g4!? ! See the next game. ] 10...0-0 11.xf5 xf5 12.ge2 c4! 13.g3 f8! [ 13...xc3+ 14.bxc3 e5+ 15.e4 a5 16.d6 exd6 17.f4 e6 18.xd6 xc3+ 1942
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.f2 With excellent prospects for the vodkas, taking three moves to undevelop his pawn considering the state of development d a r k s q u a r e d b i s h o p . H o we v e r , s o m e of Black's queenside and his frightening subtle positional factors are at work. White holes on the dark squares. ] will gain time to build a big center with f3 14.e2 a6 15.a4 followed by e4. In the resulting Benoni-like [ 15.xc4 d6 Next ...Bd7, provides Black positions, the Black queen is inefficiently with supplementary options along the open placed on b6, as it obstructs the b-pawn, c - f i l e t o t a k e a d va n t a g e o f h i s l e a d i n one of Black's main sources of development against the uncastled opposing counterplay. ] king. ] 4...f6 An unusual system. Black is trying to 15...b4 16.a5 d4 17.a4 xd5 keep the game as simple as possible. 18.xd5 xd5 19.xc4 xc4 20.xc4 [ 4...a5+ Is an important alternative, when: f6 Black precisely managed the opening 5.c3 f6 phase and even emerges out of it with a slight A) 6.d2 Is a totally different kettle of fish. advan tage tha nks t o his pa ir of bishops. White hopes to build a big pawn center, 21.0-0 c6 22.e4 e6 23.c3 a6 24.a4 h o w e v e r , w i t h : cxd4 7.b3 b6 b6 it appears that Black has little to fear, after [ 24...b5!? With the idea ...Rb8, .. .b4. ] either: 8.xd4 ( 8.cxd4 c6 9.e4 e5 ) 25.e3 xa5 26.xa5 bxa5 27.a1 b8 8...c6; 28.xa5 xb2 29.xa7 The liquidation of the B) 6.d5 is normal. e has a space queenside has somewhat ironed out a position advantage, whilst Black hopes to cause that White will now hold without difficulty. b7 problems with moves such as: Qb6 and e6. 30.d4 e5 31.c5 f8 However, after Qb6, for example W hite [ 31...d5 32.b4 c6 33.a6 b5 34.b6 has the opportunity to play the cheeky Bc1, c4 35.b8+ f7 36.b7+ g8 yet again. ] 37.b8+= ] 5.d5 32.xf8 xf8 33.a5 d6 34.a7 e7 [ 5.dxc5 A useful move against opponents 35.e4 h6 36.c4! e6 37.c3 c2 who don't usually play the Sicilian Defence 38.xb7 xc3 39.c7 h5 40.h4 c2 against 1.e4. a5+ 6.c3 xc5 7.e4 ½-½ Bla ck h as b ee n f o rce d in to a n un us ua l Sicilian, where his queen is slightly exposed and W hite is poised for a kingside pawn 1986 A45 storm. g6 Black opts a Dragon formation, a risky strategy as W hite is well placed to Adams,Michael 2630 carry out the lethal Yugoslav Attack. 8.d2 Georgiev,Kiril 2660 d6 9.0-0-0 White adds the finishing touches Burgas 1993 to his barbaric plan of marching the h-pawn [Adams,M] up the board and tearing the Black king limb f r o m l i m b . g7 10.h6 0-0 11.h4 59/81 TROMPOWSKY ATTACK: The 2..Ne4 Once the h -file has been ripped open, Black 3.Bf4 c5 main line. The 3...c5 variation is an will have trouble keeping the wolf from the ambitious attempt by Black to wrest control of door. e6 12.h5 As usual in such situations, the initiative from White. But (and this is a big material considerations are low on the list of but), if Black fails to take advantage of his priorities. xh5 It is inevitable that the h-file early pressure, White's space advantage will will be opened and Black decides that he begin to tell. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 may as well have a pawn for his troubles. This is one of Black's most ambitious 13.xg7 xg7 14.g4 f6 15.h6+ approaches against the Tromp, especially White's plan has been successful, all that when combined with an early Qb6. 4.f3 remains is to eliminate the key kingside [ 4.d5 b6 5.c1 Is one of my favourite d e f e n d e r o n f 6 . g8 16.ge2 f2 lines in the Tromp. At first sight, it seems White was threatening 17.g5 Nh5 18. Ng3, as though W hite has had a few too many 1943
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with a winning attack. Black prevents this, but only by allowing W hite another nice tactical possibility. 17.e5! A common theme in the Dragon, White frees the e4 square for h is k n i gh t , e f f e c t i ve ly f o rc in g B la ck t o sacrifice a piece. c8 ( 17...dxe5 18.e4 Would be abysmal for Black.) 18.exf6 exf6 19.d5 Black could already resign, as White is a piece up, with a raging attack! Instead, he continues for a few pointless moves, allowing the humiliation to be complete. xd5 20.xh7+ f8 21.h8+ Black's rook i s n e x t o n W h i t e ' s s h o p p i n g l i s t ! e7 22.xc8 xf3 23.h8 Ouch! e3+ 24.b1 1-0 Adams,M-Leko,P/Places 9-10, Cap D'Agde FRA 1996 (24) ] 5...d6 A number of players who are unfamiliar with the Tromp, instead of challenging it head on, choose to implement a quiet set up. 6.e4 g6 7.c3 White's strategy here is similar to that in the legendary 150 Attack. The aim is to exchange dark squared bishops and launch a ma ting a tt ac k . g7 8.d2 0-0 9.h6 Stage one complete. xh6 10.xh6 e6 This is a reasonable try at defence against W hite's automatic kingside attack. Black allows himself the possibility of defence along his second rank. 11.0-0-0 exd5 12.exd5 a6 13.ge2 As an immediate kingside pawn storm is unlikely to be successf ul, W hite s e n s i b l y c o n c e n t r a t e s o n im p r o vi n g t h e position of his pieces (for the time being!). b5 Black's queenside counterplay is more of a demonstration than a counterattack. 14.g3 e8 15.ce4 e4 is an ideal stepping stone for the White knights on their way to the kingside. xe4 16.xe4 f5 This kingside weakening is forced, due to the threats of Qf4 and Ng5. 17.g5 e7? An unfortunate choice of square for the queen, allowing White a forced win. However, even after the improvement 17... Qc7, White has an excellent position after 18. Bd3 intending Rhe1. 18.xb5! The refutation of Black's previous move. The bishop is taboo. e3+ [ The alternative 18...axb5 loses quickly to: 19.he1 ] 19.b1 e7 20.e8! [ 20.e8 A fantastic winning move! Black is powerless against the threat of Rhe1 f o l l o w e d b y B f 7 + , f o r e x a m p l e : aa7
21.he1 xe1 22.f7+ Winning the Black queen. ] 1-0
1987 Adams,Michael Smirin,Ilia PCA-op New York (10) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2640 2615 1994
TROMPOWSKY ATTACK: The 2...Ne4 3.Bf4 d5 main line. Inspired by his friend Hodgson's enormous success with the Tromp, Britain's No. 1 Michae l Ada ms ha s b ecome a f u lly fledged member of the Tromp fan club. The message for Black, when Hodgson or Adams are playing the W hite side is "be afraid, be v e r y a f r a i d " . 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 This is the main line of the Trompowsky. Black avoids any danger of White damaging his pawn structure and poses an immediate q u e s t i o n t o t h e W h i t e b i s h o p . 3.f4 This is the current preference of most Tromp aficionados, which Hodgson has modestly named after himself! It is a much more solid m o v e t h a n t h e w i l d 3 . h 4 o r 3 . B h 4 . d5 An extremely sensible approach, Black grabs a fair share of the center and tries to anchor his Ne4. 4.f3 [ 4.e3 Adams and Hodgson have recently shown a preference for this solid move. The aim is simply to capture Black's knight on e4 (Bf1-d3xe4) and then go about attacking t h e r e s u l t i n g s e n s i t i v e e 4 p a w n . c5 Continuing Black's policy of central occu p at io n . ( 4...f5 can be met by: 5.f3 f6 6.c4 when White will continue with Nc3 and a general kingside pawn storm.) 5.d3 b6 Black continues to play aggressively. By targeting b2, he hopes to force a concession from White on the queenside. 6.xe4 dxe4 7.c3 White ignores Black's threat on the queenside and obstinately continues his plan of targeting e4. xb2 8.ge2 g4 Black may well have been pinning her hopes on this move, which gives her the option of exchanging queens with Q xc 3 + . B u t : 9.xe4 this excellent riposte dashes Black's hopes. W ith a big lead in development, White does not mind his king 1944
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 b e i n g s l i g h t l y i n c o n v e n i e n c e d . xe2 10.xe2 cxd4 11.d3! White covers any potential route to his king and prepares to go on the offensive with Rb1. f5 Black panics u n d e r p r e s s u r e . W h it e ' s i n i t i a t i ve wa s substantia l anyway, but this move only serves to create weaknesses for W hite to l a t c h o n t o . 12.g5 c6 13.e6 The White knight reaches a splendid post, a direct consequence of Black's 11th. c8 14.hb1 c3 15.xc3 Normally the exchange of queens would give Black some hope of salvation, however, in this case, White's extremely active pieces guarantee h i m a l a r g e e n d g a m e a d v a n t a g e . dxc3 16.xb7 f7 17.d4 The Nc6 is Black's best defensive piece, so W hite logically arranges it's removal. f6 18.c7 xd4+ 19.exd4 White's accurate play has left him with an important outpost on e5 for his dark squared bishop. a6 20.a7 e6 21.b1 White's last inactive piece prepares to join the attack, ready to inflict the final hammer blow to the Black position. e7 22.e5+ 1-0 Adams,M-Xie Jun/Premier, Hastings ENG 1997 Black must lose a piece, after 22...Kf7 23.Rbb7 Rhe8 24.Bd6, and so gave up the ghost. ] 4...f6 5.c3 A more ambitious approach, which will appeal to players who like gambits is: 5.e4, when W hite achieves a BlackmarDiemer with an extra tempo. e6 6.e4 b4 Black pins White's knight in the style of the French Winawer. [ 6...e7 and ] [ 6...c5 are interesting alternatives. ] 7.e5 fd7 8.a3 e7 Black decides to keep the bishop pair after all, however, Bxc3+ deserves a test. 9.e3 The bishop gets out of the way of the f-pawn, a common idea in this v a r i a t i o n . c5 10.f4 White has achieved a p o s it i o n s i m il a r t o t h e S t e i n it z va r ia t io n a g a i n s t t h e F r e n c h D e f e n c e . cxd4 Black takes the opportunity to exchange on d4, before W hite can recapture with a knight. 11.xd4 c6 12.d2 dxe5?! Black lashes out, giving the game an original twist, but opening lines for the White attack. 13.fxe5 d4 14.0-0-0 dxe3 15.xe3 Black has acquired the bishop pair and has left White with a potential weakness on e5, but
at the same time has accelerated W hite's development. a5 16.f3 0-0 [ 16...d7 Intending 0-0-0 would perhaps have been more circumspect, although White would keep the advantage with Nb5 and Nd6+. ] 17.h4 White prepares a welcoming committee for the Black king. d8 18.d3 The White pieces are pointing ominously at the Black king. g6 A concession that would have been forced anyway in the very near future. 19.h5 b6 20.f4 White had no intention of swapping off his queen, right in the middle of h i s a t t a c k . d7 21.hxg6 fxg6 22.e4 The inclusion of this knight in the assault stretches Black's defences to breaking point. Notice how ineffective the Black queenside p i e c e s a r e . d8 23.fg5 Black has no defence to the coming invasion on the f-file. a5 24.df1 xg5 25.xg5 There is no good defence to Qf8. 1-0
1988 Agababean,N Baklan,Vladimir 3rd ACP Blitz Prelim1 blitz (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2216 2615 31.05.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 f5 6.c3? After this, Black does not even have to provoke this move with ...Bg7 to we a k e n t h e s u p p o r t f o r t h e d 5 p a wn . I f necessary, his bishop will go directly to h6 to be exchanged against the f4-knight to win W hite's central pride! a6! 7.e3 c7 8.c4? [ 8.c4 was the only move, which casts a harsh light on the uncalled prophylactic weakness of White's 6th move. g7 9.c3 d6 10.d3 a5 11.ge2 b5 The loss of a tempo in this Benko type structure with c2c4... is good news for Black with a great bishop on g7, but W hite, who would be simply lost strategically if Black had his pawn on g6 rather than f5, can still resist. ] 8...d6 9.d2 b5 10.e2 b7 11.a3 xd5 12.f3 xd2+ 13.xd2 b8-+ Well, the rest is not particularly interesting, full of inaccuracies typical of a blitz game. 1945
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.d1 g7 15.c2 b4?! Giving the c4 square for the poor Na3. [ 15...e4+! For instance, followed by d5, e6, f5 in case of the exchange, and then b4 was absolutely crushing. ] 16.cxb4 cxb4 17.c4 d5 18.a5 a8 19.b1 0-0 20.e2 fc8 21.c1 b5 22.f4 e6 23.d3 d6 Another one... [ 23...f8 ] 24.xc8+ xc8 25.c1 d6 26.c7 b5 27.c1? [ 27.d7 With the idea Bh5 ] 27...f8 28.c6 xc6 29.xc6 d6 30.e5 b7 31.h5 g7 32.g4 fxg4 33.xg4 c4 34.c8 e7 35.b3 d2+ 36.c2 e4 37.d3? [ 37.c6 ] 37...f5 38.e5 xf2+ 39.e2 e4 40.c6 f6 41.e8 c3+ [ 41...b6! 42.xe6 a6! ( 42...c5 43.d6 e5 44.xd5 ) 43.f1 xa2 44.xb4 xh2 45.e8 g5! ( 45...d2+ 46.g1 f3+ 47.f1 h4 48.d3 ) 46.xd5 d2+ 47.e1 ( 47.g1 f3+ 48.f1 h4 And Rf2 mate unavoidable!) 47...h4+ 48.d1 xb3 49.e7+ h8 And Rd2 mate. ] 42.f3 xa2 43.xe6 c3? [ 43...c1 ] 44.f4 e4 45.xf5 a1 46.e8? [ 46.e7+! With excellent drawing chances! Impressive, considering Black's rating... ] 46...d6+ 47.e6 xe8 48.e7 c7+ 49.d6 b5+ 50.e6 xe7+ 51.xe7 d4 52.e8 c7 53.b5 dxe3 0-1
7...e6 8.e4!? An offbeat and highly tactical variation where White is ready to sacrifice his h-pawn and lose the right to castle in order to move the struggle onto the field of doubleedged complications. [ 8.c4 is critical with this set-up. See the November update. ] 8...exd5 9.exd5 [ 9.e5? e6 ] 9...d6! This is the problem! Black takes advantage of the capital b8-h2 dark diagonal, deserted by W hite, to develop swiftly and aggressively. 10.a3 0-0 11.c4 [ 11.e2 a6!? ( 11...e8 12.h3 What else? The Bc1 cannot move because o f b 2 h a n g i n g . a6! My proposal. Development is the most important factor in this line with an open centre. 13.c4 c7 14.a4 b6 has yet to be tested in practice.) 12.c4 c7 13.a4! b6 If White plays a4a5 it will be impossible for Black to develop his queenside. ( 13...xh2? Even loses by force : 14.d6 g3+ 15.f1 c6 16.h3 b5 17.axb5 axb5 18.xa8 xa8 19.b6 a6 20.xc8 xc8 21.xg3+- ) 14.g5 b7 15.xf6 gxf6 16.h3 e8 17.d2 f8 18.0-0 ( 18.d6!? c6 ) 18...b5 19.axb5 axb5 20.xa8 ( 20.d6 d8 21.xa8 xa8 22.a3 xd6 23.xb5 ) 20...xa8 21.a3 c4 ( 21...b4 22.b5 e5 23.c4 ) 22.xb5 c5+ 23.d4 xd5 24.f2 White looks slightly better. Tu Hoang Thong(2507)-Sadorra,J Singapore op 2002 1-0 (49) ( 24.f4 h6 )] 11...e8+ 12.e2 c7 13.g5 [ 13.a4 b6! The point of Black's set-up. The real target is not h2 but d5 while hampering White's kingside development. ] 1989 A45 13...b5! 14.xf6 bxc4 15.g5 xh2 Agababean,N 2216 However, when d5-d6 is not possible, this is Golubev,Mikhail 2532 another story! [ 15...f4 16.xf4 xf4 17.h3 e3 3rd ACP Blitz Prelim1 blitz (2) 31.05.2004 18.d2 ] [Eric Prié] 16.d2 g3+ 17.d1? Even if White 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ m i s c a l c u l a t e d t h e c o n s e q u e n c e o f h i s 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6! 7.c1 Almost every following rook sac [ 17.f1! is better on principle, threatening experience I have seen in my chess practice f3-f4. e5! ( 17...b7 18.xc4; 17...a6? of an early In t h is ca se ? 18.f4! h6 19.d6! b6 [ 7.b3 when the queen bishop was not to be 20.xh6 gxh6 21.h3 wins the piece back developed on the long diagonal have in a winning position.) 18.xc4! ( 18.f4 e3 appeared to me little encouraging... ] 1946
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.xe3 xe3 20.h3 h6 21.f3 hxg5 22.xg3 gxf4 ) 18...h6 19.xh6! gxh6 20.e2 g7 21.xg3 xg3 22.xh6 g7 23.d6 is surprisingly not that clear. ] 17...b7! 18.xc4? Well... though it was played in an important event this year and d o e s s u p p o r t t h i s ra re va ri a t io n ( 8 . e 4 ! ? instead of 8.c4) it is not worth more, ultimately, than an Internet blitz game.... [ 18.f4 h6 19.d6 c6 20.f3 a4+! ] 18...e1+ 19.c2 xa1-+ 20.d3 g6 21.f6 [ 21.e3 e1 ] 21...f4 22.e2 xf6 23.xa1 c7 24.h1 a6! 25.xa6 xa6 26.g4 e8 27.g5 f5 28.xf5 gxf5 29.d3 c4+ 30.d2 c5 31.d4 e5 32.f4 xd5 33.e3 e6 34.h6 xf4+ 0-1
22.fxe5 xd5 23.ad1 " W i t h co m p e n sa t io n " G M I g o r S t o h l i n CBM62 (who as one can see is a lot more circumspect, (Should I say respectful?) in his assertions than his substitute. Indeed in those times the programs were not that 'strong', and one could not, or would not dare, rely on their judgment, even with 3 pawns up after 23... Qxa2, to thrust forward a definitive assessment of such an incalculable line in practice. Now, my opinion is that this position 'smells' for Black who plays without his queenside. But seeing the resource xa2 24.g5 a6! I also 'feel' that Black should be able, somehow, to defend. For instance 25.h5 g6 26.h4 d5 27.exd6 d7 ) 22.d6! "Now White has space and attacking chances for only one pawn." Stohl e6 And instead of 23.e4 Speelman,J (2630)-Kazhgaleyev,M (2500) W ch T L u ze rn 1 9 9 7 W h i t e sh o u ld h a v e 1990 A45 continued by ( 23.ae1 b6 24.c2 xe5 25.fxe5 Speelman. You can find the rest of Agdestein,Simen 2590 this great game, commented on in one or Bacrot,Etienne 2613 the other source given above. )] Bundesliga 0001 (11.7) 11.03.2001 13.ge2 [Eric Prié] [ 13.f4!? I do not trust this 9.Nc3 line, but this could be an improvement. exd5 14.xd5 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ xd5 15.xd5 e7 16.c3 0-0 17.f3 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.c1 e6 8.c4 b4+ e6 18.0-0 ] "! by GM Murtas Kazhgaleyev,M. The explicit addition: "This move's idea is very simple: to 13...e7 14.a4 e5 15.g4?! h5! 16.g5 h7 grab the pawn without any fear of phantoms" I 17.g1 d7 18.e3 d8 19.d2 0-0 g6! The way Black will convert his guess this reveals the sharp judgment of 20.h4 T s e s a r s k y . 9.c3 Dubious according to material advantage, attacking precisely on the Speelman in INF 71, whilst commentating the wing where his opponent looks the strongest Unfortunately for second game that saw Black taking up the is very ed if ying. 21.c1 gauntlet of the pawn sac, as far back as 97 ... White, as it cedes the e5 and g4 squares, his a n d t h a t i s s o m e t h i n g ! I n d e e d , a l w a y s only plan in this position is somehow to play privilege the opinion of the game authors who f4. [ 21.f4 exf4 22.xf4 e5 23.xe5 dxe5 were confronted to the strategical stakes 'as 24.d1 d6 25.b5 g4 And f6 again. ] they occurred' rather than that of the commentators, especially when this opinion 21...f6! 22.gxf6 xf6 23.g2 Better seemed [ 23.d3!? hf8 24.0-0-0 Because f3 was e m a n a t e s f r o m a p r o m i n e n t p l a ye r l i k e not 't hat' h anging. xf3 25.e2 f7 Speelman. xc4 10.e4 b4 11.d2 b6 26.xh5 with complications. ] 12.c4 d6 [ 12...exd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 c6 23...df8 24.d3 f7! 25.0-0-0? [ 25.f4 xh4+ 26.d2 exf4 ( 26...f6 15.f4?! Speelman ( 15.e2 c4!? 27.fxe5 xe5 28.xe5 dxe5 29.xc5 ) Kazhgaleyev) 15...b4 16.f3? ( 16.c4 27.xf4 g4 ( 27...xf4 28.xf4 g5 d5 17.exd5 f5 Speelman ) 16...xd5 29.af1 f6 30.c2 xf4 31.e2; 17.exd5 e7 18.e2 d6 19.0-0 0-0 27...f6 28.e5 g4 29.e6 "Big advantage 20.c3 f6 21.e5 e7 ( 21...xe5 1947
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 for Black" is the line given by Tsesarsky without mentioning, prudently, where the rook should go... W ith similar humour, I would like to reply "Ask what the Bc8 thinks of it!" ) 28.c2 g5 29.xg5 xg5 30.e5 At worst, White will establish a nail on e6 by way of compensation for the 2 pawns. ] 25...xh4! 26.xe5 [ 26.f4 exf4 27.xf4 g4 28.df1 g5 ] 26...dxe5 27.d6 f6! The safest, while threatening Be6... There is no special premium in Chess to 'overwin' a game and 2 bishops against a rook, while eliminating the opponent's attack is usually more than enough. That said 28.xf7+ [ 28.b1 e6 29.xe6 xe6 30.xg6+ g7 31.xh5 g5 With a piece for a pawn, is possibly trickier than the rest of the game but Black can also play something less direct. ] 28...xf7 29.xc5 e6 30.b1 c8 31.xa7 c6 32.d7 xd7 33.f4 exf4 34.e5 f5+! 35.a1 a5 36.exf6 xa7 37.d5+ e6 38.e4 xf6 39.xf4 c4! All the potentially dangerous elements of White's play have disappeared and Black's counter attack is terrible. 40.d6 xc3! 41.bxc3 xa4+ 42.b2 b3+ 43.c1 xc3+ 44.b1 b3+ 45.c1 c4+ 46.b2 a2+ 47.c1 [ 47.c3 e4+ ] 47...f5 48.c7+ 8d7 49.ge1 a1+ 50.d2 b2+ 51.e3 g4+ 52.f4 [ 52.f3 f2# ] 52...h2+ 0-1
Open circuit come from an uncanny ability to d isp a t ch su b 2 6 0 0 l e ve l o p p o sit io n wit h apparent ease, as the following game shows. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 6.d2 a6 As we have seen before, an early Nb5 by white can have devastating consequences in the Tromp. So Black sensibly rules it out from an early stage. 7.f4 g5 8.f5 When Black menaces the White fpawn, it is often a good idea to shove it up the board, even if this involves the sacrifice of a pawn, as the White pieces are well placed to exploit the resulting open lines. exf5 9.d5 d8 10.exf5 xf5 Forced, due to the threat of Qe3+. 11.f2 Taking aim at the weak spot on f6. c6 12.xf5 cxd5 13.0-0-0 With the opening still not yet over, White has a commanding advantage. The poor Black kin g is st u ck in t h e ce nt re a n d h is p a wn structure leaves much to be desired. c6 14.d3 White is in no hurry to take the weak d5 pawn and instead concentrates on completing his development. e7 [ 14...xd4 is the alternative but still leaves B l a c k i n t r o u b l e a f t e r 15.xd5 b6 16.e1+ ] 15.e2 d7 16.f2 An excellent practical decision. White has absolutely no intention taking on d5 and allowing Black to exchange the dangerous light squared bishop by Nb4, and instead chooses to leave Black's king in a quandary. d8 17.c3 Illustrating another reason to not take on d5 with the queen. White wants that square for his knight. c6 18.de1 e6 19.f5 Without even regaining his pawn, W hite's advantage has reached de cisive pro po rtio ns. B lack is u ltim at e ly unable to get his king to safety and pays the 1991 A45 highest price of all. d8 20.xd5 a4 Akopian,Vladimir 2640 21.xe6 A mini combination to finish Black off. Iliushkin,Evgen 2405 The rook is taboo as after 21...fxe6 22.Qg6+ Open Novgorod RUS (5) 23.03.1999 Kd7 23.Nb6+ the Black queen is dead. I find the most impressive element of White's play [Aaron Summerscale] in this game is how Black was never ever Grandmaster Akopian sounded a warning given any counterattacking chances. salvo to the GM elite by reaching the finals of 1-0 the recent FIDE world championships in Las Vegas. He often leads his opponents into u n f a m i l i a r t e r r i t o r y , w h e n h i s a we s o m e creative and calculating skills can take effect. His many successes on the International 1948
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 19.c7! g3+ 20.d1 d3+ 21.c1 A45 c4+ 22.d1 ( 22.d2 xa2+ ) 22...d3+ 2627 23.c1 ] 2431 20.f2 c4! Now drastically 16.07.2006 19...d2+ reducing the expenses to an exchange for a pawn because of the recurrent mating theme. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5! Naturally, Needless to say that with the state of White's this is the 2nd most critical line, after 2...c5, development, the game will soon be over. against the Tromp. 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 21.a3 0-0 22.c7 b2 23.a7 [ 23.c3 e5 24.c1 d4+ 25.g3 e3 6.d5 b6 7.e4 xb2 8.d2 xc3 9.c7 26.c3 ( 26.d1 e5+ 27.f4 xe4 ) Everything has been said about this gambit 26...d2 Completing the surrounding of the that was destined to sign a Tromp revival, rook. 27.xc4 xc4 28.xc4 e1+ h o w e v e r . . . d6! Of course, this is the move! 29.h2 xh4-+ ] Rather than ...b7-b6 as in Pavlovic-Alexandrov With an unstoppable threat... or ...g7-g6 in the infancy of the line, Black 23...e5! increases his square control with the opening 24.xe7 [ 24.a5 d4+ 25.g3 e3 26.h2 b4 of the c8-h3 diagonal for his queen's bishop 27.a7 e1 28.xe7 ( 28.g3 f4 and diminishes the activity of his counterpart 29.xb6 xg3+ 30.g1 c3 ) 28...f6 29.g3 by closing the b8-h2 diagonal! 10.e2 e3! f2+ 30.g2 xe2 31.xd6 c3 ] 11.c4 h6! 12.xb8? White wins back (little) material but will have to face some 24...xd5! 25.exd5 b6+ 26.e1 xa7 serious worries on the dark squares with his 27.h5 e3 28.d1 c3 There seem to be a king stuck in the centre after the abandon of curse hanging over the no.1 Byelorussian with this variation! Indeed, as Alexander Grishuk his most valuable piece. [ 12.a5 b5 13.d2 g5 14.a5 h4+ told me last year at lunch in some kebab restaurant in Clichy during the final phase of 15.g3 h5 ] 12...xb8 13.a4+ d7 14.xa7 g6 our league championship, his team mate Good enough for a draw and probably the Alexa nd rov wa s t h e f irst to la u gh at th is ridiculous move Bc7 and kid him after his loss easiest to opt for over the board. [ 14...b5! 15.a5 g6 16.b1 ( 16.c6 b7 to Chernyshov in this variation. The man from 17.a5 b6 18.xb5 xd5 19.a5 Minsk must have laughed on the other side of c7 ) 16...g7 17.c6 b7 18.a5 0-0 his face when he got crushed by Pavlovic Black has managed to castle without giving some time after. Did he think after that he back too much material, thus... 19.xe7+ might as well play it with the other side? h8 20.xc8 xc8 21.xb5 xb5 0-1 22.xb5 b8! 23.xd7 e3 24.d1 b1+ 25.c2 b2+ 26.d1 d2# ] 1993 A45 15.b6 xb6 16.xb8 e3! [ 16...g7 17.b1 0-0 18.xb6 ] Aleksandrov,Aleksej 2535 17.b1 Frolov,Denis 2315 [ 17.c7 g7 18.c1 c4 19.xc4 0-0 ] St Petersburg op (9) 1994 17...h6 18.h4? A very strange move which [Eric Prié] does not even parry the following mating threat. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 [ 18.xb6? d2+ 19.f2 e3+ 20.g3 5.c1 f5 6.c4 h6 7.e3 f4 8.exf4 xf4 e1# ] 9.xf4 xb2 10.e2 xa1 11.ec3 d6! [ 18.h3 And Black has to take the perpetual 12.d2 g8! The obvious check. ] [ 12...f5 funnily f ails to 13.e2! xb1 18...f4! 19.b3? Crossing the line. 14.0-0 Winning back the piece and, one [ 19.xb6? d2+ 20.f2 e3+ 21.g3 move later, the black queen! It is because of e1+ 22.h2 xh4# ] such variations that Van der Wiel played 11... 1992 Aleksandrov,Aleksej Danin,Alexandre Inautomarket Open (7) [Eric Prié]
1949
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Qb2 allowing 12.d6! in his famous encounter against Mr Tromp... a few months later! ] 13.g3 a5!? I have put the games in chronological order rather than according to theoretical importance but clearly the previous one has to be considered as the key game in the 6.c4 sub-line. And it is not even sure, in an op en t ou rn am en t, t ha t Mr Fro lo v wa s aware that the number one Byelorussian had p l a y e d t h i s v e r y va r i a t i o n e a r l i e r i n t h e tournament, except if he witnessed the game by chance. So was that stubbornness bluff? Or had he really found anything against 13... a6! I would be really curious to know about it, a n d s o wo u ld L a jo s P o rt i sch I p re s u m e ! Anyway, by analogy, neither is it clear, back in those days of Internet infancy, that "Mr Tromp" knew about these 2 games when he participated in the Amsterdam open in the summer. 14.d3 h3 15.f4! If this possibility of activating his king's rook did not exist, W h it e wo u ld ju st b e a n e xch a n ge d o wn , without any piece capable of attacking the enemy queen. a6 16.f2 b6 17.e1 b2? [ 17...b2!? 18.c2 d7 ( 18...b4? 19.e2 d8 20.a4 a6 21.a3 ) 19.e2 A) 19...a1 20.e3 e6 21.d2! is very dangerous for Black for instance c1 ( 21...h1? 22.f1 b2 23.e4+- ) 22.dxe6 fxe6 23.d5 b2 24.c3!! Mu c h s tro nge r t h an 24 . Nf 6 + K d 8 d8 ( 24...xc2 25.f6; 24...h1 25.xb2 xh2+ 26.e1 xg3+ 27.d1 g1+ 28.e1 g4+ 29.c1 ) 25.xa5+ e8 ( 25...b6 26.a8 c8 27.e7+ c7 28.a7+ d8 29.xg8 c6 30.b7 xc2 31.f6 c8 32.xb6+ e7 33.d5+ ) 26.e4 c6 27.ef6+ f7 ( 27...f8 28.a8+ ) 28.c7; B) 19...d8! 20.e3 e8! With the idea ...Qb4, attacking c4 followed by ...a5-a4, eventually getting the Black queen out of p ris o n via a 5 , wh e re I se e n o m a t in g attack but rather a difficult ending... for W hite, after ( 20...e6 21.xh7 ) 21.a4 xa4 22.xa4 d4 23.xe8 xe8 ] 18.c2 f5 19.a3 xc2 20.xc2 b2 21.e3!! Certainly, when Black chose to play the rook on b2 instead of the queen, he must
have overlooked this fantastic move... e6 22.e2 As a result, White gets a strong attack against the black king left in the center, in return f or only one pawn, which is to say almost nothing if you compare the respective activity of the pieces and consider that this very pawn lies on b7... g4 [ 22...xc2 23.dxe6! c6 24.d5! A) 24...g6 25.c7+! e7 26.f5 e5 27.g2! ( 27.fxg6?? g4+ ) A1) 27...g4 28.f6+! xf6 29.h6+ g6 ( 29...e7 30.d5+ e8 31.exf7+ xf7 32.f6+ g8 33.e7# ) 30.f2+ e7 ( 30...f3 31.f4+ g7 32.xf7+ h6 33.xf3; 30...f5 31.h4+ g7 32.xb2 ) 31.h4+ f8 ( 31...f6 32.xh7+ d8 33.e7+ xc7 34.e8+ b6 35.d8+ a6 36.a8+ b6 37.hxb7# ) 32.d8+! Mate in 6 moves! g7 33.e8+ h8 ( 33...h6 34.h4# ) 34.f6+ g7 35.g8+ h6 36.xh7+ g5 37.h5#; A2) 27...fxe6 28.fxg6 hxg6 29.b5 d7 ( 29...xa2 30.xd6 ) 30.h3! a4 31.h2 In order to avoid Be4+ on Nb5a3 or stronger, if possible Qe3-f2 taking advantage of the pin along the second rank and therefore winning the bishop , moves that Black cannot avoid anyway. b1 32.a3 f1 33.f2 xc4 34.f4 xf2+ 35.xf2 xa3 36.f7+ d8 ( 36...c6 37.f3+ ) 37.f6+ c7 38.c3; B) 24...d4 25.xd4 cxd4 ( 25...xd4? 26.f6+ f8 27.e7+ g7 28.xg8 ) 26.xc2 f8 27.exf7 xf7 28.b2 b8 29.e2 ] [ 22...g6 23.e1 b6 ( 23...b4 24.b5 e7 25.xd6 xd6 26.e5+ ) 24.f3 g4 ( 24...f8 25.h4 h6 26.g2 g4 27.f2 Threatening f4-f5.) 25.dxe6 xe6 26.d5 d8 27.d3 xf3 ( 27...c6 28.b2 xf3 29.xh7! ) 28.xf3 c6 29.xe6+ fxe6 30.h5+ f8 31.h6+ f7 32.xh7+ f8 33.e3 ] 23.d2 c1 24.g2 g6 25.f2! The comment given above about the extreme fragility of Black's material advantage takes all it s se nse no w whe n W h it e of f e rs a n d somehow forces the exchange of queens... [ 25.e4 h3+!! 26.xh3 f1+ 27.h4 1950
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h6+ 28.g5 h3 29.xd6+ ( 29.f6+ xf6! 30.xf6 h6# ) 29...f8 30.f5 e5! 31.xe5 f6+ 32.xf6+ xf6 33.xf6 h6+ 34.e5 xd2-+ ] 25...xe3 [ 25...b2? 26.f5! xf5 27.e1 b4 28.xf5 xc4 29.f4 a6 30.f3+- ] 26.xe3 d7 [ 26...f5 27.xf5 exf5 28.b2 d7 29.xb7 d8 30.a4! As Russian trainers like to say: "In such a position it is urgent to be patient!" Indeed, when the opponent is deprived of any counter-play, improve the position at much as possible first, before starting to 'harvest' the weaknesses... c8 31.b5 With the idea of Nc3-d1-e3, prot ecting c 4 wh ile hitt ing f 5, and the n Rxa5 without fearing ...Nd7-b6. ] 27.h3 f5 28.g4 g7 [ 28...g8 was no better. 29.h2 g6 30.f5 exf5 31.gxf5 h5 32.e4 e7 33.g3 ( 33.b2 ) 33...g5 34.h4 ] 29.h2 g6 [ 29...d3 On the other hand, to deviate the White rook from the f-file, was slightly more t e n a c io u s . 30.b2 ( 30.d2 g6 31.f5 exf5 32.gxf5 h5 33.e4 f3 34.g3 h5 35.f2 h4 36.xf3 hxg3+ 37.xg3 ) 30...c8 ( 30...e7 31.xb7+ d7 32.a7 g8 33.xa5 b8 34.b5 a8 35.a4 ) 31.d2 g6 32.b5 ] 30.f5! exf5 31.gxf5 h5 32.e4! Wins the entire bishop, this time, and not only the exchange since 32.. .Ke7 is impossible because of the fork 33.f6+. 1-0
is crucial for the validity of the whole 6.c4 line in the 3.Bxf6 main line of the 2...c5 variation! Which let us not forget, is the most important chapter, when taking into account all the thematic strategies, f or a practical, deep understanding of the Trompowsky. Quite surprisingly, the 6.c4 sub-line also represents one of the highest average ELO ratings (2375) of the Tromp from a sample of 100 games... 10.e2 xa1 11.ec3 d6! 12.d2 Resolutely trapping the opposing queen. g8! 13.g3 a6! 14.c2 [ 14.g2 b5 15.0-0 b4 16.a4 d7 ( 16...d4 17.xd4 cxd4 18.b6 b7 19.xa8 xa8 20.d1 d7 21.xd4 a5 ) 17.bc3 bxc3 18.xc3 xf1+ 19.xf1 b8 ] [ 14.d3 A) 14...b5?! 15.cxb5 axb5 16.xb5+ d7 17.d3 ( 17.e2!? ) A1) 17...a6 18.0-0 b4 19.a3! xf1+ 20.xf1 xa3 21.b2 xc3 ( 21...a8? 22.a3 a6 23.xa6 xa6 24.b8+ c8 25.xc8# ) 22.xc3 xd5 23.b3 b4 24.a3 c6 25.b7; A2) 17...h3 18.h6! c8 ( 18...g2? 19.g1 f3 20.xh7 f8 21.f5 ) 19.d2 ( 19.xh7 f8 20.0-0 b2 ) 19...d7 ( 19...h3 Draw ?!? ) 20.0-0 e5 21.e2 ( 21.f4 xd3 22.xd3 a6 23.xh7 f8 24.e1 b2 ) 21...a6 22.f4; B) 14...d7! Having his most powerful piece trapped in the heart of the enemy camp, and threatened to be captured in a few moves, is usually a very stressf ul situation for the player concerned, who 1994 A45 tends, then, to nervously focus all his energy and attention on this 'worry': "how Aleksandrov,Aleksej 2535 to get out of this place", and forgets about Zhelnin,Vladimir V 2420 the rest. However, one should not forget St Petersburg op (3) 1994 that a queen, even trapped, remains a [Eric Prié] queen! First of all immobilizing a lot of material for her confinement, most of the 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 time at least equivalent to her value (white 5.c1 f5 6.c4 h6 7.e3 f4 8.exf4 xf4 Queen and 2 knights in our example) and 9.xf4 xb2 It is quite true that this particular second potentially capable of causing very continuation is of minor theoretical interest to big damage when infiltrated in the enemy the Trompowsky theory since it concerns only camp. This is a very complex strategic about 0,5 % of its corpus, i.e. about 100 theme, more frequent and useful in games in my database. On the other hand, it 1951
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 practical play than the majority of endings. However, in comparison to some studylike examples when the material sacrifice, usually a rook or an exchange and the consecutive 'shutting in' policy worked out smoothly, the history of chess is littered with games where it just failed... With even more games where analysis proved it wrong! But where the defender eventually succumbed to a direct attack against his king for having wanted to bring back home, as quickly as possible, his greedy princess, instead of having maintained the pressure right inside the enemy camp! The game Hodgson-Van der Wiel is just the perfect illustration of that important statement and this game its exact antithesis. By the way, the knowledge of that little tip served me well last year for I should have scored 1,5 points out of two against strong opposition in a hot line of the 4.. .a6 Slav, in the forefront of theory, when I found myself with my queen stuck on a1 after having grabbed the a2 pawn! 15.0-0! ( 15.f4 b5! 16.cxb5 axb5 17.xb5 a6 Ernst ) 15...e5 16.e2 h3 17.c1 b5 18.a3 xc1+ 19.xc1 b4 20.e4 bxa3 21.f4 d7 22.xa3 A complicated struggle ensues, certainly no worse for Black with 2 rooks against a queen. ] [ 14.e2 h3! 15.h6? f5-+ ] 14...f8! A great mo ve, protecting the g8rook in case of 15.Qxh7 which then allows 15... Qb2 and removing the king from a check on b5 when the right to castle is useless for Black in such a position. 15.b3 [ 15.d3 b5 16.cxb5 axb5 17.xb5 No check! Black therefore won the tempo for a6 18.xa6 xa6 19.a3 b8 ] [ 15.xh7 b2 ] 15...d7 16.e2 b5! 17.cxb5 [ 17.0-0 b4-+ ] 17...axb5 18.xb5 e5 19.e2 [ 19.0-0 f3+ 20.g2 d4-+ ] 19...c4 20.b6 [ 20.xc4 xc4 21.xc4 b2 22.0-0 a6 23.c6 b7 ] 20...f5 21.0-0 xa2! The simple st. This is the problem when you have sacrificed material for a long term initiative, far out of possible calculation: most of the time there is a way,
somehow, f or the opponent to return the material and emerge with a comfortable game, like the Lemberger in the BDG for instance o). That is always what the defender should seek in such situations rather than hang onto the material, exhausting his energy in calculation attempting to keep all of it, which is a source of b lun d e rs in t he e n d . 22.xa2 xa2 23.e1?! In the process of annihilating the opposing initiative Black has even managed to keep a valuable passed pawn and should be quietly winning. Nevertheless, a bit more resistant was [ 23.c3 d2 24.b4 g4 25.d1 c2 26.xg4 xg4 ] 23...b3! 24.d8+ Eventually, after having lost the conduct of affairs, i.e. that famous 'initiative', W hite starts to 'attack' and gets the satisfaction of flinging his sole check of the game! [ 24.e3 xe3 25.fxe3 g7 26.c3 b8-+ ] 24...g7 25.xe7 xb1 26.h5 [ 26.xd6 e8! ] 26...g6 27.xd6 [ 27.xe5 dxe5 ( 27...xh5 Intending 28.xh5 d1+ Wins as well.) 28.xe5+ f6 29.e7+ h6 30.xf6 b1+ 31.g2 f5-+ ] 27...d3 28.xg6 hxg6 29.e7 When your op p on e n t d o es n ot resign in a de a d lo s t position, you should ask yourself why. Maybe he has seen a blunder you could commit? f8! Avoiding the last trap [ 29...b2? 30.xf7+! xf7 31.d7+! f6 32.d6+ f5 33.e6+ g5 34.e7+= h6 ( 34...f6? 35.h4+ f5 36.g4+ xg4 37.xf6 ) 35.h4+ g7 36.e7+= ] 30.c6 b2 0-1
1995 Andreikin,Dmitry Aronian,Levon Khanty-Mansiysk Candidates (13.1) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2709 2830 29.03.14
1.d4 f6 2.g5 Recognising that his opponent had to win to have any hope of qualifying for the world championship match, 1952
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Andreikin sensibly avoids excessive theory and settles for an old favourite of his. g6 [ This surprised me when I flicked through the games later that evening. Presumably Aronian wanted to fight in a very unusual position or had perhaps already given up on qualification. I would have expected 2...c5 ] [ or 2...e4 3.f4 c5 from a player striving to win as Black. ] 3.xf6 exf6 4.c4 White often moves his epawn one square or fianchettoes first, but there's nothing wrong with this natural advance. b4+!? [ An extremely rare move and one which doesn't f it particularly well with Black's second move. Aronian really is after uncharted waters. Instead, 4...g7 5.e3 0-0 6.c3 f5 7.g3 d6 8.g2 brings about something of a tabiya, in which a recent e xa m p le s a w c5 ( 8...c6 9.ge2 d7 10.0-0 f6 11.b4 is fairly pleasant for White - see Kessler-Kolus, Budapest 2002, as covered by Aaron in the Archive) 9.ge2 cxd4 10.xd4 c6! 11.de2! ( 11.xc6 bxc6 12.xc6 b8 regains the pawn, as if 13.b1 xb2! 14.xb2 xc3+ ) 11...e6 12.b3 (Wells ended his analysis here in his classic Trompowsky work, concluding quite l o g i c a l l y t h a t W h i t e h a d a n e d g e ) a5 13.c1 ( 13.d2! would have avoided what follows ) 13...b4 14.0-0!? ( a choice that smacks of the ludicrously fast FIDE time control used in Dubai, 90 minutes for the whole game plus 30 seconds a move that said, by now White really had to employ the text if he wanted to win, as 14.d2 d5 15.cxd5 xd5! is a strong temporary piece sa c rif ic e : f or exa mp le , 16.xd5 fd8 17.f4 ac8 18.0-0 xd5 19.fxd5 xc3 20.xc3 xc3 21.xc3 xd5 , regaining the piece with a drawn ending) 14...xa2 15.xa2 xa2 16.f4 a3 17.b1 b4 18.d5 . This was Rahman-Prince, Dubai 2014, where White undoubtedly had some positional compensation, but surely not enough after something sensible like fe8 19.d3 a5 . ] 5.d2! [ Amazingly this is already a novelty. An d re ikin wa nt s t o win t he bisho p -p a ir without allowing his pawns to be doubled.
Moreover, after 5.c3 c5 6.d5 0-0 7.e3 xc3+ 8.bxc3 d6 9.d3 f5 Black's doubled f-pawns begin to look quite useful in this rather Nimzo-like position. ] 5...c5 6.a3 xd2+ [ Aronian might have liked to keep his bishop, but 6...a5?! 7.dxc5 would have left him coming up short. ] 7.xd2 cxd4?! [ Aronian is in too much of a hurry to simplify. He should have preferred 7...d6 when 8.e3 wo u l d r e t a i n a s m a l l p l u s i n m y v i e w , ( but not 8.dxc5 dxc5 9.xd8+ xd8 10.e3 e6 when Black is OK as White cannot easily get his knight to d5. )] 8.f3 c6 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4 a5+ 11.b4 e5 Black must remove the queens and try to show that W hite's last was potentially weakening. 12.0-0-0?! [ This doesn't lead anywhere, but it was round 13 of a gruelling tournament so we shouldn't be too tough on the players. As pointed out by various annotators, including Matthew Lunn in the forthcoming May issue of 'CHESS', 12.d1 would have given White an edge. The threat is simply to place the bishop on a great diagonal after g3 and b6 ( 12...a5 13.b5 doesn't especially help Black since he is a fair way from attacking c4) 13.h4! xd4 ( to avoid 13...b7? 14.xd7+ f8 15.h5 ) 14.xd4 b7 15.h3 leaves W hite with a very pleasant edge indeed. ] 12...a5! 13.b5 d6 14.xe5+!? [ This will likely be criticised by your engine, but Andreikin had undoubtedly seen the line which occurs in the game and trusted in his queenside majority. Instead, 14.e3 e6 15.f4 xd4 16.xd4 e7 17.b2 ac8 18.e2 f5 19.hd1 hd8 is surely just going to be a draw. ] 14...dxe5 15.g3! e6 16.g2 xc4?! Critical, but Black didn't have to go in for this and I wouldn't be surprised if Aronian later rejected his decision. The alternatives: [ a) 16...b8!? 17.c5 c4 18.d2! was pointed out by Lunn, but after xb5 19.b1 d8+ 20.e3 c6 21.xc6+ bxc6 22.b6 e7! perhaps it's just going to be a draw: for example, 23.hb1 c8 24.a6 b8 25.bb6 xb6 26.cxb6 b8 27.d3 1953
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d6 28.c4 f5 and White doesn't have enough pawn moves. ] [ b) 16...c8!? 17.xb7 xc4+ 18.d2 d7 19.c1 xb5 20.xc4 xc4 21.c1 e6 22.c5 "and White emerges with a passed a-pawn, but Black should hold this with ease" (Lunn). ] 17.xb7 b8 18.c6+ f8 19.a4! b3 20.b2! A great concept. Andreikin is happy to give up the exchange to have his bishop entrenched on a fine square and to preserve his queenside majority. xa4 [ This leads to a highly unpleasant endgame, but one doesn't need to be 2800 to realise that 20...xd1 21.xd1 g7 22.c3 ( 22.d7 hd8 isn't so clear) 22...f5 23.d7 isn't at all pleasant for Black. The engine indicates hd8 24.a7 d1 25.xa5 c1+ 26.d2 b1 27.a7 when White is all set to advance his majority and Black may well not be able to find a precise sequence to activate his rooks in time. ] 21.d5 e7 [ This soon loses time, but 21...g7 22.a3 ( 22.c1? hc8 suddenly equalises due to the queenside pins) 22...c2 23.d2 f5 24.a4 was no improvement. ] 22.a3 c2 23.d7+ f8 24.e4 Black is suffering. Indeed, one wonders if Aro n ia n was re gre t t in g n o t gra b b in g t h e exchange and hoping to launch a desperate counterattack. W hite has far the superior bishop and king, as well as complete control over the position. a4 25.c1 [ Not the only promising approach. Indeed, White might have regained his pawn with 25.d5 g7 ( 25...xb5? 26.xf7+ e8 27.c7 picks up material) 26.xf7+ h6 27.b4 while retaining a large advantage. ] 25...b3 26.d5! Perhaps a surprising decision, but like Fischer, Andreikin knows full well that it's what stays on the board that matters, not what goes off. xd5 27.xd5 g7 28.c7 b6 29.c6 White is still nominally a pawn down, but this endgame is extremely dif f icult f or Black to def end, if indeed it is possible. b7 [ White's king arrives first on the scene in t h e e v e n t o f 29...xc6? 30.bxc6 c8 31.c5 f8 32.xa4 e7 33.b5 . ] 30.xa4?
[ Having been a pawn down for so long, there was no hurry to regain it. Indeed, 30.b6! followed by Rdd6 would have left White in full control. ] 30...a8+ 31.a6 c8! Aronian is an exce llen t p ract ical player and se izes his opportunity to go active with both hands. 32.b6! c2 33.b5 xf2? [ Bagging a pawn, but now White's king gets in. Much more challenging would have been 33...b8! , retreating so that Kc6 doesn't come with tempo. I must admit that I haven't f o u n d a wa y f o r W h i t e t o win h e re : f o r example, 34.f3 ( 34.d7 b2+ 35.c6 c2+ is just a draw, as if 36.d6 f8 ,; so White might try 34.d1!? xf2 35.b1 , although even here it seems that Black can hold, such as with xh2 36.a7 g2 37.b7 xg3 38.c6 c3+ 39.d6 d3+ 40.c7 dd8 ) 34...f8 35.h4 b2+ 36.c6 c2+ 37.d7 e8! and Black's second rook arrives just in the nick of time. ] 34.c6 e7 35.aa5! Aronian must have missed this. The rook returns almost from the dead and now ...Rc2+ will achieve little. e6+ 36.d6 e7 37.dd5 e6+ 38.c7 e7+ 39.c8 e8+? [ Either on the previous turn or here, Black had to go 39...xh2 , although after 40.b7 xb7 41.xb7 e2 42.c6 xe4 43.d7 I'd be surprised if he could hold, despite the four pawns for the rook, as f7 is falling. ] 40.d7 f8 41.b7 e7+ [ White has a much improved version of a position we saw in the notes to Black's 33rd. There simply aren't enough good checks on the e-file, but if 41...b2 42.ab5 . ] 42.c6 e6+ [ 42...xb7 might still have been tried, although after 43.xb7 xh2 44.a7 e2 45.d7 this time the resulting endgame is just an easy win for White. ] 43.c7 e7+ 44.b6 The b-pawn will cost Black a rook. Fine play in general from Andreikin. 1-0
1954
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 good central control. Taking on e5 helps A45 Black to unravel. ] 2397 2520 10...dxe5 11.e3 [ 11.cxe5? xe5 12.xe5 xg2 13.f3 16.12.2005 xf3 14.xf3 0-0 is NOT what the Doctor ordered. ] 12.f5 d8 Black defends 1.d4 f6 2.g5 The Trompowsky has come 11...0-0 a long way in the last 20-30 years to become c o m f o r t a b l y . T h e r e t r e a t w i l l o n l y b e e6 14.c4 f6 almost at the forefront of modern chess theory. t e m p o r a r y . 13.e2 White can no longer rely on the opening as a 15.g4!? I am suspicious. [ But it must be said that 15.0-0-0 b6 surprise weapon he must work for his points. 16.d3 e6 is at least unpromising. ] e6 3.e4 15...b6 16.b3 a5 17.h4 Yes, it's one of [ I feel that both 3.e3 and ] [ 3.d2 hold more promise these days. They those positions where White feels he has to are not so well known and do not commit be going somewhere, but where in reality he W h i t e t o g i v in g u p t h e t wo B is h o p s . A has nothing. xf5 18.exf5 a4 19.c2 a3 humorous trap follows: e7 4.c3 d5 5.e3 20.e4 [ 20.b3 e4 21.d4 c5 22.b5 drags the bd7 6.gf3 c5 7.d3 b6 8.a4 0-0 Knight of fside and af ter the further d5 9.e5 xe5 10.dxe5 d7 11.h4 h6 only Black can be better: 23.g5 ( 23.c4 12.xe7 xe7 13.xe7 1-0 Stefanovaa5! 24.0-0-0 xc3 25.xc3 xc3 26.g5 Morales Ortega Spain 2005 Make sure that hxg5 27.hxg5 xg5+ 28.b1 d4 ) you don't fall for that one! ] 23...hxg5 24.hxg5 xg5 25.xe4 f6! 3...h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 6.d3 26.xd5 fd8 27.xb7 d2+ ] [ 6.d2 e5! ] 6...g6!? A very interesting move which 20...axb2 21.xb2 c4 [ 21...a4 22.c2 d6 23.g5 c5 ] disrupts the natural flow of White's development. Basically White wants to play 22.xb7 a4 23.b5 b6 24.d3 d6 N e 2 , 0 - 0 a n d f 4 - f 5 a n d s o B l a c k p u t s a The game has the smack of time-trouble, spanner in the works. 7.f3!N Offering a more for White than Black, as the next move shows: 25.xd6?? because 25... Rxe4 wins. gambit and a good, spirited reply. [ Instead 7.f3 protects the pawn, but now What to say about 6...Qg6!? Definitely good White has to make sense of his pieces: e5! for confusing purposes and may well force Why not? 8.h3 e7 9.e2 h4 ( Just W hite to sacrifice. I believe in Black's two 9...0-0 was indicated, after which Black is Bishops! fine. ) 10.d2 c6 11.b5 d7 12.d5 0-1 e7?! ( 12...b8 13.xd7+ xd7 14.c1 g5= ) 13.xd7+ xd7 14.0-0 ( 14.g3 A45 g5 15.c4 h5 16.h4 h6 17.e3 1997 af8 ) 14...g5 15.g4+ ( 15.b3 ) Aronian,Levon 2648 15...f5 16.exf5 xf5 17.a4+ c8 Short,Nigel D 2702 M o r e n o R u i z , J - A y a s F e r n a n d e z , A / Rapid Reykjavik ISL rapid (2.2) 19.03.2004 Ayamonte 2002 An odd game, which Black [Eric Prié] eventually won in 76 moves. ] 7...d7 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3! c5 [ Point being that 7...xg2 8.g1 h3 5.d3!? f6! 6.dxc5?! c6! 7.b5 9.g3 h5 10.bd2 leads to a t position I u s u a l l y h a v e a d i a m e t r i c a l l y o p p o s e d for Black, who faces the easy plan of Qb3, punctuation to Wells who blesses this move 0-0-0 with no clear reply. ] with an exclamation mark. However, since I 8.bd2 e5 9.c4 e7!? 10.dxe5 proved unable to find an undisputable [ I prefer 10.e3! 0-0 11.c2 c6 12.a4 advantage for Black in Schaefer-Peredy after wit h a d e f in i t e e d ge t o wh it e , wh o h a s the improvement 7...Qa5+! 8.Nc3 a6! 9.Bxc6+ 1996 Argandona Riveiro,Inigo Mirzoev,Azer GM Elgoibar ESP (8) [Andrew Martin]
1955
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 bxc6 10.Qd4 e6! 11.b4 Qa3 12.Nge2! a5 13. b5 Bxc5 14.Qa4! 0-0!? 15.bxc6 Ba6 16.Rb1! I see myself constrained to revise my contentious impulsions. In any case, I am persuaded that we shall soon witness new developments from the position after 14.Qa4 and it is the reason I did not judge it op p o rt u n e t o que st th e u lt im a te t rut h b y analysing it too much here. e6 Wells: "I am very surprised that the take up rate on 6 dxc5(!) has been so low, since so far as I can see it should come close to winding up the debate on the passive 5 ...Nf6." And if there was a concrete reason behind that, with the wiser chessplayer well advised to mistrust dynamism? [ 7...a5+! 8.c3 a6! 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.d4 e6 11.b4 a3 12.ge2! a5 13.b5 xc5 14.a4 ] 8.b4 a5 9.xc6+? Remember: "The worst bish op is st ronger t han the best knight! " Kasparov bxc6 10.c3 a6! [ 10...e4? 11.f3 xc3 The formal European champion is very imaginative but sometimes quite optimistic... 12.xc3 axb4 13.a4 a6 14.b6 a7 15.d4 f6 16.xb4 e5 17.g3 b5 18.f2 a6 19.c3 d4 20.exd4 exd4 21.e1+ f7 22.b3+ g6 23.a4 d3 24.axb5 xc5+ 25.f1 a3 26.c4 d2 27.d1 e8 28.c2+ f7 29.c4 d3 30.d6+ xd6 31.xd3 xg3 32.c4+ e6 33.hxg3 cxb5 1-0 McShane, L (2649) - Sutovsky, E (2646) Pamplona 2003 ] 11.e2 d7 12.d2 e5 13.g3 h5 14.f3 f6! 15.h4 e7 16.0-0 f5 17.e1 0-0 18.a4 fc8 White has managed to avoid every trap and complete development but is still lef t with a contorted position without activity or any plan to make use of his extra (doubled) pawn. 19.b5 b7 20.ed4 exd4 21.exd4 f6 22.d2 By a flick of a divining rod, White has transformed his position into a splendour. Regrettably though, if one discerns the abnormal constitution of the bit of wood on b7 one will perceive that its counterpart in the white camp is absent, and this is normally decisive at this level of chess consecration. f8 23.e5 g6 24.xf6 xf6 25.e3 e8 26.ae1 xe3 27.xe3 xh4 28.xh4 xh4 29.e5 f8 30.e2 g6 31.e7 c8
32.bxc6 f6 33.c7 f5 34.b5 g5 35.b7 h4 36.b8 c1+ Just to be able to place the kind of hazy pun I love so much, I will leave the last word of this cardinal update on dxc5?! to Wells: "In short, this is one of the Chapters that leaves the Trompowsky looking like a very good opening!" Well, we'll see, but it is not exactly the impression Short gave me in this game... 0-1
1998 Atalik,Suat Moldovan,Daniel Ciocaltea mem (11) [Eric Prié]
A45 2500 2420 1995
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 a5+ The ide a to t ake th e p awn ba ck wit h th e queen is more logical when W hite has already captured on f6, in order to reserve the dark-squared bishop for the long diagonal. 4.d2 e4 That is why this attempt to profit from the situation of the Bg5 is bluntly dubious. 5.e3! e6? [ 5...xc5 6.c3 c7 7.gf3 d5 was almost forced 8.xc5!? ( 8.b3 ) 8...xc5 9.e4 dxe4 10.xe4 b6 11.c4! W ith a promising lead in development in return for the concession of the bishop pair. ] 6.c3! Black will never see the pawn back! xd2 7.b4! [ 7.xd2 xc5 8.b4? xe3 ] 7...xf1 [ 7...c7 8.xd2 b6 9.cxb6 axb6 10.f3 is not very attractive for Black, though I find it impossible to judge which position of the two is "less worse"! Still, the latter was probably easier to handle, for the chess player usually has a sensible idea (as well as the experience!) of what to do a pawn down, without compensation, whereas he generally sees his estimation blurred and lacks markers to find his bearings with the kind of material disequilibrium of the game. Actually, approximately 90% of the positions of the basic ending queen against 2 light pieces are won. To opt for one or the other alternative depends, above all, on the knowhow and the personality of the player. But 1956
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 m y f e e li n g i s t h a t t h e f a c t t h a t , in t h i s precise case, W hite has the certainty of having W ON the queen, rather than the opponent having SACRIFICED it, this will give him a helpful feeling of confidence that will make him play better. To sum up, I would say that Black having assessed that to part with his most powerful piece was his best chance (and that may be true, but it is not the point), already signs, unconsciously, the admission of defeat in his mind. So I think that, psychologically, this decision was wrong: However the game turns-out White will have very few occasions to doubt. I n a d d i t io n , s t r o n g p la ye rs r a r e l y l o s e concentration in "one way" games, when they are "completely winning" like here. In my belief, they even tend to be more motivated. Indeed, it is annoying not to win with an extra pawn but it happens. On the other hand, what a shame to get "swindled" a queen up! ] 8.bxa5 xe3 9.fxe3 xc5 10.f3! The struggle of 2 bishops against queen is not a lways in f avou r o f th e side wit h th e material advantage. Just give Black a5 and e3 in this position and despite the very unf avou ra ble co un t, he will no t be m uch worse! Contrary to the bishop and knight couple, two bishops "mechanically" cooperate well, so the evaluation of the position mainly depends on the activity of the queen. White is well aware of that, as "confidence" is not a synonym of relaxation, and he will finish the game in a very energetic way. c6 [ 10...xe3 11.d6 ] 11.a6 b6 12.d3 0-0 [ 12...b8!? 13.d1 ( 13.d4 See the further comment. ) A) 13...xa6 14.e4 c6 ( 14...d5 15.xd5 b7 16.d8+ xd8 17.xb7 ) 15.e5 c8 ( 15...d5 16.a4 ) 16.xd7; B) 13...0-0! ] 13.d4 b8 Intending ...Ne5 without fearing Qe4. [ 13...b8 Such moves are difficult to play but it was necessary to take on a6 and develop the queen's bishop. 14.0-0 xa6 15.e4 d5 16.g4 ] 14.b5! e5 15.b3 xe3 16.d1 f5 17.d6?! White must have thought that, in this
way, his opponent was completely tied up, forgetting about the possibility of the 18th move, otherwise he would have played: [ 17.d3! f4 ( 17...c5 18.xc5 bxc5 19.xc5 b1+ 20.d1 xd1+ 21.xd1 xa6 22.d2 b8 23.d1 ) 18.d2 h8 19.e4+- ] 17...f4 18.h4 d8! [ 18...h8 19.h5 h6 20.h4 f5 21.d3 e7 ( 21...g5 22.g6 ) 22.xh6+!! This is the main pitfall lying in wait for the d e f e n d in g s id e i n o p e n sit u a t io n s wit h queen against insufficient material. "Her majesty" has such a potential that it is easy for the strong side to invest material for liberating its 'mightiness'. gxh6 23.d6 f3 24.exf3 g5 ( 24...c6 25.g4 xa6 26.g6; 24...a8 25.xe7 xa6 26.xd7 ) 25.g4 a8 26.xg5! hxg5 27.xe7 xa6 28.g4 ff8 29.xe5+ h7 30.e4+ h8 31.d4+ g8 ( 31...h7 32.xd7+ ) 32.d5+ h8 33.d4 ae8+ 34.d2+- Black is completely dominated, g5 is doomed and the knight is ready to "jump" to f5. ] 19.xe5 f7 20.d5 xa6? [ 20...h8! 21.h5 h6 ( 21...xd6 22.xd6 xa6 23.h6 gxh6 24.e5+ g8 25.h4 ) 22.g6 xa6 Offered some chance of resistance. ] 21.xd7 bd8 Facing such a dominating queen in the center, the Romanian Master is now lost. Most probably he had overlooked the following strong simplifying manoeuvre. 22.xf7+! xf7 23.xd8+ f8 24.xf8+ xf8 25.d4 b7 [ 25...g6 26.f1 e7 27.c2 ] 26.f5! xg2 [ 26...c1 27.0-0 d2 28.d1 xc3 29.d8+ f7 30.d6+ e7 31.xb7 ] [ 26...c5 27.f1 g6 28.d4 xg2 29.xf4+ e7 30.f3! d6 31.g4 h3 32.e4+ d7 33.g5 f5 34.a4 a5 35.xh7+- ] 27.h2 d5 28.xe3 fxe3 29.a3 1-0
1957
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1999 Atea,Saad Shehata,Aly Golden Cleopatra (2) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2000 2309 Avila Jimenez,Javier 2152 Rojas Keim,Luis Alberto 08.04.2002 XXXII Open Barbera ESP (5) [Eric Prié]
Trompowsky Attack: The Black attempts to avoid Tromp theory backf ire badly in the following game. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d6 Avoiding any theoretical debate and heading for a Pirc formation. 4.f3 f6 5.e4 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d2 This is certainly White's most aggressive way of playing, and he hopes for an early Bh6 and h4-h5. 0-0 8.h6 c6 9.0-0-0 c7 A step in the wrong direction. In this variation the Black queen is better placed closer to her monarch on e7. [ Either 9...bd7 or ] [ 9...b5 were better options. ] 10.h4 e5 11.ge2 b5 12.h5 a5 Black's queenside offensive is all mouth and no trousers. Unlike W hite, he lacks clear targets. 13.xg7 xg7 14.g3 h8 15.f4 Preparing to open some lines towards the B l a c k k i n g . e7 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.f5 Charge! gxf5 18.xf5 xf5 19.exf5 a7 20.e2 a4 21.d6 White finds the simplest way to take advantage of the Black weaknesses on both sides of the board. Black was almost ready with his queenside counterattack, so an exchange of queens is the most prudent course. e8 22.xe7 axe7 23.d6 Giving the knight a real headache. b4 What else? [ 23...g8 24.e4 is also miserable for Black. ] 24.xf6 bxc3 25.bxc3 d8 26.h6 Completing e bind. Black's resignation may seem a bit premature, but he has nothing to do except sit and wait for his execution. White on the other hand knows exactly how to wield the axe - Bc4 and Rh1-h4-g4-g7. 1-0
A45 2212 2453 08.07.2009
Now some topicality: 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6 3.d2 b6 4.gf3 xb2 5.e4 d5 [ 5...c3 6.d3 h6 ( 6...d5 7.0-0 dxe4 8.xe4 xe4 9.xe4 is already an improvement on the main game because of the awkward position of the queen on c3 with Bd2 coming. Still, 7.e5!? as in the previous game, remains a serious option.) 7.e3 a6 8.0-0 ( 8.a3 g4 9.0-0 xe3 10.fxe3 d6 11.e5 d5 12.b1 With the ideas Rb3 and c2-c4 or Qe2-f2 with threats against f7, when the defence ...Be6 is not possible with b7 hanging.) 8...b4 9.c4 xd3 10.cxd3 b5 ( 10...xe4? 11.c1 ) 11.c1 b4 12.b1 a4 ( 12...c3? 13.b3 ) 13.xa4 bxa4 14.b2 Hodgson, J (2640)-Lisanti, A (2300) Bundesliga 2001 1-0 (79). The fact that 3. Nd2! was the move selected by "Mr Tromp" to combat 2... c6 should act as a strong signal to everyone! ] 6.d3!? xe4 7.xe4 dxe4 8.xe4 This position also looks dangerous for Black but he has the disruptive b4+! 9.d2 d6 10.0-0 g6 11.c1 g7 12.f4 Too straightforward. W hite has some compe nsation f or th e pawn bu t nee ds t o mobilize all his forces first. [ 12.e1 0-0 13.c3 c7 ( 13...d7 14.f4 ) 14.b1 ] 12...d8 13.b1 d7 14.d5 cxd5 [ 14...f6 15.dxc6 xe4 16.d1! A nice intermediate move. a5 17.cxb7 ] 15.xd5 b6 16.e4 0-0 17.d1 e8 18.h6 a4 White's initiative has backfired. 19.xg7 xg7 20.b2+ f6 21.d4 a5 22.bd1 f5! And when the opponent starts to have tactics in his favour himself, it is a bad sign. 23.b4 [ 23.xb7 ab8 24.e4 d5 25.a1 ( 25.xd5 xd5 ) 25...c3 ] 23...xe4 24.xe4 f7 25.d4 e5 26.e6+ h8 27.b3 e7 28.h4 ae8 29.d8? [ 29.d6 c8 30.d5 b6 ] [ 29.d8 c5 Intending ...Qc7. ] 1958
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 29...xd8 30.xd8 d2! 31.d3 Saving the knight but equivalent to resignation. [ 31.e6 d6 ] 31...xd3 32.cxd3 d7 33.e6 xd3 34.c5 d1+ 35.h2 d4! Accurately calculated. [ 35...d2-+ ] 36.f3 [ 36.xd4 exd4 37.g1 d5 38.xb7 d3 39.f1 f4! ( 39...c3 40.e1 xa2 41.d2 b4 ) 40.e1 xg2+ 41.d2 xh4 ] 36...d2 [ 36...d5 37.xb7 xe4 38.fxe4 c3-+ ] 37.xb7 The last micro chance was [ 37.a3 a2 ( 37...d5 38.a4 f4 39.xa7 xg2+ 40.h1 g3 41.xb7 xf3 42.a4 a3 Should win too.) 38.f4 exf4 39.xf4 f5 40.f3 c4 41.c3 b5! ( 41...xa3 42.e6 g8 43.c7 e2 44.g7+ h8 45.e7 h6 46.e8+ h7 47.g5+ hxg5 48.xe2 ) 42.a4 a6 43.xa6 xa4 44.c7 d6 45.h5 c4 ] 37...xa2 38.g3 d5 39.h2 f4 40.c4 xg2+ 41.h1 d2 42.c7 e6 43.c6 d4 0-1
[ A common enough raid in the French, but rather a rare choice at this point. As will become clear, though, the move doesn't have to have any independent benefits and 7.d3 would actually lead straight into the game, but with both sides saving a couple of moves on the scoresheet. ] [ At the tail-end of last year, one of our former resident columnists was White here and pref e rre d 7.f3 c5 8.dxc5 xc5 9.d3 c6 10.0-0 0-0 ( 10...a6 re ce ived a n exclam f ro m Eric, with t h e important line 11.bd2 d7 12.b3 b6 being considered by him in HutchinsonWard, Scarborough 2004 - see the Archive) 11.c2 , a tricky retreat which I mentioned back in my 'Starting Out' book. However, after the calm c7!? ( 11...f6 12.exf6 xf6 13.d3 g6 leaves Black with only two pawns unmoved, but he is strong on the dark squares and in the centre) 12.e2 ( I'm not so sure about this, but then again even 12.e1 f6 13.exf6 xf6 14.bd2 b6 15.b3 is unlikely to be anything for White) 12...a5 13.bd2 ( 13.a3!? was worth c o n s i d e r a t i o n , s i n c e xa3?! 14.bxa3 , while ugly, should favour the first player with Qd3 next up: for example, f5 15.exf6 xf6 16.c4 , with pressure in the centre for W hite and Black rather missing his dark2001 A45 squared bishop) 13...b6 14.d3 (White has won the b5-square and kept the bishops on, Bacallao Alonso,Jorge 2522 but has, of course, lost time in the process) Dvirnyy,Daniyl 2560 a4 15.ac1 a7 16.b4 axb3 17.axb3 Capablanca Premier, Havana (6.2) 14.05.2014 (Summerscale-Vachtfeidl, London 2013), I [Richard Palliser] can't believe that Black would have been doing too badly after d7 18.b4 e7 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 , and if 19.b5 a5 20.d4 c5 5.c3 d5 with rough equality. ] [ A solid choice and a move which often appeals to those with some experience of 7...g5!? [ A new move and one which sends White's the French. More common, however, is, of queen scurrying back since he hardly wants course, 5...d6 , as we've seen on plenty of to grant Black a half-open file. Previously, occasions of late. ] 7...h5 8.g3 g5 9.d2 c5 10.b5+ c6 6.e5 11.e2 d7 had led to a very early draw in [ The more traditional approach, if one can Meduna-Juptner, Czech League 2011. That describe anything within the Trompowsky said, I wouldn't mind playing W hite here as "traditional". Instead, 6.d2 is the more after 12.0-0 with f2-f4-f5 very much an modern choice and Richard Pert's idea. ] recommendation in his 2013 work on the [ However, I do wonder what Bacallao's idea opening. ] was after 7...c5! . With ...Qb6 high on the 6...d8 7.g4 1959
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 agenda, presumably 8.dxc5 was it, but here g5 is even more annoying than in the game: 9.xg5 hxg5 10.b4?! a5 11.f3 axb4 12.cxb4 d7 13.c3 c6 14.b5 a4 15.d6+ xd6 16.exd6 g4 17.d2 xb4 is a quick sample line to show how White can quickly find himself being pushed back. Indeed, I do wonder if his 7th move should simply be denoted as dubious. ] 8.d1 Back we go. Now one would imagine that Black might wait for Nf3 before retreating in kind, but perhaps the Italian Grandmaster was hoping for a quick draw. d8 9.d3 [ Once again Bacallao chooses a rare move r a t h e r t h a n t h e s t a n d a r d 9.f3 , as we covered above. ] 9...c5 10.e2!? [ White doesn't want to exchange on c5 and i s d e t e r m i n e d t o b e c r e a t i ve . A n o t h e r a p p r o a c h i s 10.f3 b6 11.e2 , but af ter d7 it's not so easy to solve the problem of the knight on b1. 12.dxc5 xc5 13.b4 e7 14.bd2 does get it out, but after c7 Black will surely obtain sufficient counterplay on the queenside. ] 10...c6 [ Dvirnyy is far from his best in this game. On c e a ga in , 10...b6! must be the critical move. I presume 11.b3 was White's idea, but after ( 11.d2!? xb2 12.0-0 a3 shouldn't be enough compensation in a longplay game ) 11...c4 12.xb6 axb6 13.c2 b5 Black surely just has easy counterplay. Admittedly due to the king's knight's development the f-pawn is unimpeded, but 14.0-0 b4 15.cxb4 xb4 16.bc3 c6 17.f4 0-0 18.f5 fails to really threaten anything d7 followed by ...Ba5 and arranging ...b5 just looks rather nice for Black to me. ] 11.0-0 d7 [ On ce a ga in 11...b6 looks more critical, although here White might gambit: 12.d2!? cxd4 13.cxd4 xd4 ( or 13...xb2 14.b3 a3 15.f4 with easy play on the kingside and definite compensation) 14.xd4 xd4 15.b5+ d8 16.e2 with decent, MilnerBarryesque compensation. ] 12.d2 b6 Finally the queen emerges, but W hite has long solved the problem of his queen's knight and now puts that piece to
good use. 13.f3 cxd4?! [ The first definite slip on what is a sudden road to ruin. Critical must be 13...c4! 14.c2 xb2 15.a4 ( 15.d2 a3 16.f4 might even be met by b5!? 17.h5 b4 ) 15...b6 16.f4 when White has freed his position and obtained some potential kingside pressure (and queenside should Black go long) for the pawn, but after the calm g6! I remained unconvinced that it would have been fully sufficient. ] 14.exd4 xd4 [ He must exchange if he wants to bag b2 14...xb2? 15.b5 would just be rather embarrassing. ] 15.xd4 xb2!? [ Dvirnyy probably couldn't believe that he'd allowed White to untangle and fully develop, but the attempt to bag a pawn and refute B a ca ll a o 's a p p ro a ch wa s a r isky if n o t unsound one. After the somewhat saner 15...c5 Black would still have been very much on the board, although I slightly prefer White on account of his kingside prospects after 16.g4 0-0 17.b3 . ] 16.b1! [ The most scary try. 16.b5 xb5 17.b1 xc3 18.xb5+ d8 may displace Black's king, but ...Qc7 is next up and W hite appears to be running a little too low on minor pieces with which to attack. ] 16...xc3 17.xb7 c5 18.b5!? [ Continuing to roll the dice. Otherwise, 18.b5 xb5 19.f3!? is a neat idea, since going short would cost Black his queen, but after xd3 20.xf7+ d8 White has to force perpetual with 21.c7+ e8 22.f7+ .] 18...xd4?? [ A terrible blunder. It really wasn't Dvirnyy's day. It's not totally impossible, though, that h e o v e r l o o k e d 18...0-0 19.e2 b4 when White can take on d7 in two different wa ys, b u t ne it h er wins m a te ria l. 20.c6 is a better choice, but after xc6 21.xb4 xb4 Black enjoys full material compensation for the queen and may even be for choice with those unopposed bishops. ] 19.xd7+ [ A strange moment to resign you might think, 1960
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 but one doesn't have to be a grandmaster to realise that 19.xd7+ d8 leaves White with a number of ways to win, since Black c a n ' t re a l l y sh i f t t h e r o o k f r o m b 7 : f o r instance, 20.a4 ( 20.h5 is also rather effective ) 20...c4 ( this doesn't help, but 20...xe5 21.xe6 would f o rce mat e) 21.xc4 dxc4 22.d1 b6 23.b5+ c8 24.a6 and it's complete carnage. ] 1-0
2002 Bakalarz,Mieczyslaw Dzagnidze,Nana Kaupthing op (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2361 2443 10.05.2008
1.d4 f6 [ 1...d5 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.c3 f6 ( 4...e6 5.b5 a6 ) 5.b5 a6 ] 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.c3 e6 5.a3 d5! Probably best then. 6.b5 a6 As a result of t h e m o ve o rd e r, W h ite h a s ju st lo st a tempo compared with the side line 1.d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3.e3 Qb6?! 4.Nc3 Nf6 or 4...e6 5.Nb5 forcing 5... Na6 after which there are 2 ideas: take on c5 (6.dxc5) and expand later on the queenside against the Na6 by c2-c3, a2-a4, b 2 -b 4 -le t B la c k p la y . . . c5 -c4 (t h e re f o r e weakening the position of the Nb5) starting with 6.c3 or 6.a4 and continue with the other move. In no case we see the moves a3 or Rb1 anyway... 7.dxc5 [ 7.b1 d7 8.c3 c8?! ( 8...d6= ) 9.f3 a5 ( 9...d6 10.e5 ) 10.d2? ( 10.e5 e4? 11.xd7 xc3 12.bxc3 xc3+ 13.d2+- ) 10...c4 Pirs, M (2329)Diehl, K (2108) Mehlingen 2000 1/2(29) ] 7...xc5 8.b4 e7 9.d4? [ 9.f3 d7 10.c4 dxc4 11.c3 xb4! 12.axb4 xb4 13.e5 d5 14.c1 f6 15.d4 d6 ] [ 9.c4! was logical and best. ] 9...0-0 10.xb6 axb6 11.c3 d7 White has lost a lot of time and it is not clear how he can save himself now... 12.d3 [ 12.f3 e4 ] [ 12.f3 fc8 ] 12...e4 13.e2 ec5! But all because of this trick! 14.bxc5 xc5-+ 15.c7 xd3+
16.d2 xf2! Much stronger than [ 16...xf4 17.xa8 xe2 18.xb6 b5 19.ab1 a6 20.c4 ] 17.xa8 e4+ 18.c2 a4+ 19.b2 xa8 White cannot prevent ...Nd2-c4+ or ...Nf2-d3+ with fatal consequences for him. 0-1
2003 Barron,David Eames,Robert Ron Banwell Masters (6) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2068 2333 23.08.2001
After1.d4 Nf6 The move 2.g4 is undeniably cheeky. White gambits a pawn in order to lure Black away from his main defences and to set up a big pawn centre. If this sounds like a good deal to you, take a look at the following game, which may whet your appetite. 1.d4 f6 2.g4 An interesting gambit, although my gut feeling is that it simply can't be sound. White gambles that building a big pawn centre i s w o r t h t h e m a t e r i a l i n v e s t m e n t . xg4 The only real test, as White was threatening to play g5 followed by e4 anyway. 3.e4 d6 4.e2 White, getting himself in the spirit of the gambit, develops as quickly as possible, gaining time in the process by attacking the Black knight. f6 5.c3 c6 By delaying his development, Black is simply playing with fire. [ 5...e5 striking back in the centre was much more sensible. ] 6.f4 a5 The only consistent follow up to his previous move. 7.d2 b6 8.f3 g4 [ 8...xb2 9.b1 a3 10.b3 a5 wins another pawn, but W hite has a dangerous initiative after: 11.e5 ] 9.e5 dxe5 10.fxe5 d5 11.a4 White is naturally keen to avoid exchanging pieces. d8 12.g5 An excellent attacking thrust, aiming to take advantage of Black's potentially vulnerable kingside light squares. f5 [ 12...xe2 Was the safer course, although White has undoubted compensation after: 13.xe2 h6 14.e4 ] 13.e6 A typical pawn lever in such positions. The Black pawn formation is considerably we a k e n e d a n d h i s d e v e l o p m e n t f u r t h e r 1961
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 retarded by this second pawn sacrifice. fxe6 14.c5 c7 15.f4 The Black posit ion is under heavy fire. He simply cannot defend all his weak points at once. ba6 A sensible decision. Development is the most pressing matter. 16.xb7 d5 An unfortunate choice of square for the queen, where she looks active, but in reality is about to be used as target practice. [ 16...c8 17.xc7 xb7 18.e5 Is more pleasant for White, but there is still a long way to go. ] 17.0-0 h6 18.c4 White misses his best chance. [ 18.xc7 Decisively opens the f-file for the White rook. xc7 19.c4 d7 20.h5+ g6 21.xf5 is absolutely crushing. ] 18...d7 19.e5 [ 19.f3 Intending Ne 5, was a very strong alternative, after which White is still firmly in the driving seat. ] 19...g8 20.xf5 White gets carried away with this final error. It was still possible to win with the spectacular : [ 20.xg7 xg7 21.h5+ g6 22.f3 xd4+ 23.h1 when Black has no good def ence against the threats Qxc6+ and Qxf8+. ] 20...exf5 21.h5+ g6 22.xg6+ xg6 23.h5 White has bet the bank on this attacking thrust, but it is neatly parried. e6 White's early sacrifice of his g-pawn comes back to haunt him. The knight on g5 cannot captu re t he queen as it is pinned . 24.e1 d7 25.d5 Desperation. The Black king is making his getaway and W hite tries a last l u n g e b e f o r e g i v i n g u p t h e g h o s t . cxd5 26.d1 xg5+ 27.h1 b6 Adding insult to injury, Black rounds up the W hite knight. 28.a4+ c6 0-1
continuation than the advance to d5. cxd4 7.b3 d8 [ Two very important alternatives are 7...b6 ] [ and 7...f5!? . Indeed, the solid text move has never been seen on these pages before, albeit partly because the other two options already "seemed sufficiently critical" and fine for Black to Eric. ] 8.cxd4 d5 [ Quite common at this point, although 8...e6 9.e4 c6!? , as played by Kotronias, can by no means be dismissed out of hand. ] 9.e3 e6 [ Mark Hebden has employed various lines against the Trompowsky over the years, and it's interesting that he once opted for the solid queen retreat to d8. However, after 9...c6 10.d3 g6!? 11.e2 g7 12.0-0 0-0 13.d2 e8 14.ac1 e5 15.dxe5 xe5 16.b5! e7 17.ed4 a6 18.e2 White enjoyed an edge in Shepley-Hebden, Denham 2011. ] 10.g4!? [ A tempting gain of space. Black would be very happy with 10.d3 c6 11.e2 h5! ,] [ but one can make a decent case for 10.c1 . Indeed, after b4+ ( 10...c6 11.b5 d7 12.e2 b4+ 13.f2 is s im ila r) 11.f2 0-0 12.d3 c6 13.e2 , while Black was pretty solid, W hite was slightly for choice in Vamos-Xu, Kecskemet 2012. He might play on the queenside with Nc5 and/or Bb5, but needless to say an advance of the g-pawn is always on the agenda too. ] 10...d6 [ This sensible move appears to be new. In my 'Starting Out' work I just gave 10...c6 11.e2 d7 12.c3 e7 13.d3 h4+ 14.e2 a6 15.g3 with an edge for White in Rizzo-Helbich, correspondence 2005. ] 2004 A45 [ I'd also slightly prefer to take White after 10...b4+ 11.f2 0-0 12.d3 d6 13.e2 Bartel,Mateusz 2619 , although the further c6 14.g5 e8 Shomoev,Anton 2561 15.b1?! xf4 16.exf4 d6 17.h4 d7 European Championship, Legnica (11.40) 18.h5 e7! showed that the kingside attack [Richard Palliser] do e sn 't ju st p la y it se lf in S rb is-Ze lb e l, Pardubice 2009. ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 Arguably a more positional 11.xd6 1962
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Bartel doesn't want to block his king's bishop by developing the knight to e2, but 11.g3!? should always be considered in such positions, since it's extremely rare that Black would want to exchange on g3 and so open the h-file. After, say, c6 12.b5! 0-0 13.xc6 bxc6 14.c1 White can surely claim a pull on account of his plusses down the c-file. ] 11...xd6 12.g5 g8! Refusing to gum up his development by retreating to d7. Moreover, the knight will do a good job of restraining White's kingside pawns from e7. 13.f4 [ After this it's no longer clear that White can fight for the advantage. Development with 13.d3 appears preferable and after h6 ( 13...e5 may have put off the Polish Grandmaster, but White can calmly continue to develop in response or even go 14.dxe5!? xe5 15.d2 xg5 16.0-0-0 , with some compensation for the pawn thanks to his lead in development) 14.g6 f6 15.e2 the position is hard to assess. Black's king will be safe enough on the kingside, but on the other hand, it looks more likely that Ng3 and e4 will cause more problems than any ... e5 push. ] 13...h6! I really like this well-timed kingside challenge. Shomoev immediately threatens to wi n a p a w n a n d c l e a r l y W h i t e i s n ' t i n a position to push his own h-pawn in response. 14.g6?! [ This asks too much of White's position. C o r r e c t w a s 14.d3 hxg5 15.g4! a n d a f t e r , s a y , c6 16.xg5 b4+ 17.d2 f8 there would have remained everything to play for. ] 14...f6 [ Rightly keeping lines closed, rather than allow W hite obvious compensation for his pawn after 14...fxg6 15.d3 e7 16.f3 .] 15.e2 e7 16.g3 If the pawn wasn't on f4 I wouldn't mind White's position, but with it there the coming ...e5 push will come with extra impact. Indeed, Bartel is already looking rather overextended on the kingside. bc6 17.d3 e5 18.dxe5 [ 18.fxe5 fxe5 19.0-0 would have prevented Black from castling, but that's the end of the good news: e4 20.e2 xg6 21.h5 h3
22.f4 f8 surely doesn't give White enough for a pawn. ] 18...fxe5 19.0-0 There was nothing better, but, of course, the white king would prefer to have slightly less air around it. h3 20.f2 0-0 21.h5 exf4 22.exf4 d7 23.af1 Bartel has defended aggressively and well thus far, and now hopes to land a blow with f5f6. h8! [ Prophylaxis against White's main idea and possibly Shomoev realised that 23...b4 24.b1! ( 24.e2? b6 is much less effective for White) 24...b5 25.e1 ae8 26.f5 was by no means so clear, with both f6 and Qg4 followed by Nh5 very much on the agenda. ] 24.d2?! [ I certainly haven't fully grasped this move. Presumably Bartel didn't like 24.f5 g8 ( 24...e5 25.e2! ae8 26.d4 reveals one reason for keeping the knight on b3 ) 25.h4 f6 , but after 26.b5 ac8 27.c2 White is not without his trumps, even if the long-term health of his king remains a cause for concern. ] 24...b4 Now Black is fully within his rights to le a p f o rwa rd a n d so se ize t h e in it ia t ive . 25.b1 b5 26.de4? [ 26.e1 d3 27.f5 xb1 28.xb1 b6 29.g2 would have left White grovelling, but the text is simply a blunder. ] 26...xg6 Did Bartel really miss that this was possible with White lacking a good discovery from the b1-bishop thanks to his hanging pieces? 27.xg6 xg6 28.c5 xf1 29.xg6 The best try, but unsurprisingly White has nowhere near enough for a pawn and the exchange here. h3 30.a3 c6 31.xb7 e7 32.d3 ac8 There's to be no letting up from Shomoev. 33.e2 xf4! 34.e1 c6 35.d6 e5! Continuing to torment White over his back-rank weakness. The tactics are all in Black's favour and Bartel now elects to be mated rather than resign: 36.xe5 c1+ 37.f1 cxf1+ 38.xf1 xf1# 0-1
1963
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xd4 19.e2 d2 20.e1 d7 21.c7 A45 c6 22.f1 xc2-+ ] 2361 2259 8...0-0 9.0-0 bd7 10.a4 b6 11.a2 c4! 01.05.2011 Again this problem, appearing to refute the white setup with Bf4. 12.d6 e6?! [ 12...e6 13.dxe7 xe7 14.d6 d8 15.xf8 xf8 ] 1.d4 f6 2.f4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.f3!? [ 12...exd6! 13.a5 ( 13.xd6 e8 14.a5 [ 4.d2 is normal. It is the Vorotnikov-Koganbd5 15.xd5 xd6 ) 13...e6 14.axb6 He b d e n A t t a c k o f t h e B a r ry wh e r e t h e xb6+ 15.h1 xb2 16.d2 g4 17.b1 absence of the knight on f3 provides White a3 18.c1 xc1 19.fxc1 d5! with interesting and new features. I have 20.xb7 d4 21.a4 c3 22.xe6 cxd2-+ ] myself some experience with it and shall 13.g5? focus on it some time. ] [ 13.e5 bd5 ( 13...fd5 14.xg7 4...c5!? xg7 15.d4+ f6 16.e4 ) 14.d4 [ 4...g7 5.e4 dxe4 6.fxe4 c5 7.d5 ( 14.xc4 e3 15.d3 xf1 16.xf1 ( 7.b5 0-0 8.c7? h5 ) 7...b6 b6+ 17.h1 d7 ) 14...b4 15.ad1 ] is the critical line of this "Barva" variation 13...h6 14.h4 bd5 15.xd5 exd5 against the King's Indian however. ] 16.xf6 xf6 17.xd5 e6 18.d2 xb2 5.e4 dxe4 [ 5...cxd4 6.xd4 c6 7.b5 g7 8.exd5 19.ae1 g7 20.xe6 The best practical 0-0 9.d2 b4 10.c4 f5 11.b3 a5 attempt but Black will not falter. fxe6 21.xc4 b6+ 22.h1 ad8 23.d1 h7 24.d3 12.a4 ] c5 25.d7 6.d5 exf3 7.xf3 [ 25.h4 f7 26.xe6 f6 ] [ 7.xf3!? g4 8.e3!? ( 8.b5+ bd7 9.e3 g7 10.d6 ) 8...xd5 ( 8...g7 25...e7 26.h4 f5 27.e4 [ 27.g4 f4 28.h5 xg4 29.hxg6+ h8-+ ] 9.h3 a5 10.hxg4 xd5 11.b5+ c6 28.g3 xd7 29.d3 xf3! 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.f3 xc3 14.xc6+ ) 27...e5 9.xd5 xd5 10.xb8! g7! ( 10...xb8 30.xg6+ g8 31.c4+ f8 32.xd7 xd7 33.g2 f6 34.h7 c6+ 11.b5+ d7 12.d1 )] In conclusion to the 1st part, the answer to 7...g7!? [ 7...a6 8.d2 g7 9.0-0-0 0-0 10.h6 b5 the forum question "What is the current status 11.xg7 xg7 12.e3 c7 13.e4 bd7 of the Morris gambit?" is: Good for White in 14.e2 xe4 15.xe4 f6 16.e3 b7 its accepted form with an appealing surprise Van Almsick, G-Arnold, B Zuerich 1989 value. Indeed, theory seems to have become beset by a lack of white followers 4 years ago 0-1(40) ] but Black has forgotten it was because of 3... 8.c4 [ 8.b5? 0-0! ( 8...a6? Trifonov, D (2291)- Nc6! and not 3...dxe4 4.d5! In any case the Urban, K (2464) Barlinek 2007 0-1(44)) BDG approach does not improve the white 9.c7 h5 10.d2 xf4 11.xf4 e5! prospects. A special mention to this game for 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.g3 c6 14.xa8 the disorientation Black will have to cope with ( 14.d1 d4 15.xd4 cxd4 16.xa8 out of his pet King's Indian if he is unprepared! a5+ 17.d2 h6 18.d3 e5 19.c4+ 0-1 h8 20.b4 a3-+ ) 14...xb2 15.d1 c3+ 16.e2 a5 It looks rather problematic to repatriate the Na8. In the mean time, with all Black's pieces attacking White's draughty king, White will have lost too many pawns. 17.f2 ( 17.g5 xa2 18.f2 xc2+ 19.e2 d4 20.e3 d7 21.c1 xe2+ 22.xe2 xe2 23.xe2 b4 24.c7 c8 ) 17...d4+ 18.xd4 2005 Barva,Attila Farkas,Tibor HUN-chT 1011 (10) [Eric Prié]
1964
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.d5 c5 17.e1 ] A45 2633 13...e8 [ 13...h4! 14.g3 e6 ] 2241 30.04.2011 14.0-0 b6?! [ 14...g7 15.a5 e6 16.b6 a7 17.d5 c7 18.c3 e5 19.d2 With the idea Qe3 against the Ra7. ] 1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.c3 cxd4 5.exd4 d6 6.b5+! I like this idea in relation 15.ec3 g7? [ 15...a7 16.e1 f5 17.xf6+ exf6 to the intervention of the a-pawn in the game. 18.d2 g7 ( 18...ae7 19.xe7 xe7 [ 6.d2!? f5 ( 6...xb2 7.b1 a3 20.d5 e6 21.b4 ) 19.d5 8.b5+ d7 9.f3 a6 10.xd7+ bxd7 W ith a practically decisive advantage for 11.xb7 ) 7.b5+ bd7 8.f3 ( 8.ge2!? White. ] a6 9.a4 ) 8...e6 9.0-0-0 e4!? Neuberger, G (2126)-De Boer, S (2342) 16.xe7+ 1-0 Triesen 2006 0-1(52) ] 6...d7 [ 6...c6? 7.d5 a6 8.a4 b4 ( 8...xb2 A45 9.ge2 b5 10.b1 a3 11.c1 c5 2007 12.e3 a3 13.b3 ) 9.ge2 b5 10.a3 Bauer,Christian 2602 a5 11.b4 b6 12.e3 b8 ( 12...c7 Le Roux,Jean Pierre 2480 13.xb5 ) 13.xb5 axb5 14.dxc6 ] 6th Masters Belfort FRA (1) 15.12.2003 7.a4! [Eric Prié] [ 7.xd7+ bxd7 8.b1 e6 9.f3 e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.e1 fc8= Vujic, B (2360)- 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c6!? Hansen, C (2633) Germany 2004 (33) ] The idea of this move is to control the e5 7...a6 8.c4!? square and be able to use the Ne4 before it is [ 8.a5 c7 9.xd7+ bxd7 10.f3 e6 chased away in order to get rid of W hite's 11.0-0 e7 12.d5 e5 13.e3 ] Trompovsky bishop when the whole idea of 8...g6?! the "modern" 4.e3 variation is to reserve the [ 8...c6 9.f1! ( 9.e2 xg2 10.f3 g6 possibility of driving away the black knight 11.d2 c6 12.ge2 ) 9...b6 10.a5! with the move f2-f3, rather than exchanging it b4 ( 10...xb2 11.d2 Threatening Ra2, with Nbd2, which would only lead to equality. Nb5-c7+ e6 12.f3 Threatening Na4... It is well illustrated after the natural d5 13.b1 a3 14.xd5 xd5 15.c4 [ 4...f5 5.f3 ( 5.c4?? e5 6.dxe5 b4+ ) c3 16.b3 xd1 17.xa3 b2 5...f6 6.c4 e6 7.b3 b6 8.c3 c6 9.g4 18.a2+- ) 11.f3 c6 ( 11...e4 12.d3 g6 10.h4 With a nice position for White. ] xc3 13.bxc3 xc3+ 14.d2 c7 [ Still, 4...c5 is the main move (See 15.g5 ) 12.d2 xd4 13.b5 xf3+ Radjabov-Polgar for instance), but 4...c6 14.xf3 c5 15.xb7 c8 16.e3 c6 5.d3 d6 may well be the most solid. ] ( 16...xc2 17.c1 ) 17.xc6 xc6 18.d4 5.d3 f5 c7 19.xa6 e5 20.e2 d5 ( 20...xc2 [ 5...g5 6.g3 h5 7.xe4 dxe4 8.h4 ( 8.h3 21.b7 ) 21.c3 xe3 22.fxe3 ] h4 9.h2 f5 10.c3 e6= ) 8...gxh4 [ 8...e6! Then must be the move, with a 9.xh4 g4 ( 9...e5 10.xe4 ) 10.f3! similar configuration to the next game or ( 10.d2 e5!? ) 10...exf3 11.gxf3 ] the intrepid ] 6.c3! An original and quite effective way to [ 8...xb2!? 9.ge2 b4 10.d3 ] get rid of the knight on e4 while keeping the 9.g5! g7 10.xf6 xf6 11.d5 c6 square f3 for the Ng1 with an eye on e5. e6 12.b3 0-0 13.e2 [ 6...a6 7.xe4 dxe4 ( 7...fxe4 8.h5+ g6 [ 13.f3!? f5 ( 13...g4 14.h3 xf3 9.xd5 ) 8.d5 is annoying. ] 15.xf3 d7 16.a5; 13...e8 14.0-0 g7? [ 6...xc3 7.bxc3 e6 8.f3 d6 9.0-0 0-0 15.g5!+- ) 14.0-0 e4 15.xf6+ exf6 10.c4 White may have a more 2006 Bauer,Christian Bressac,Stephane 8th Balagne Open (7.2) [Eric Prié]
1965
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 sophisticated way to play this variation but, on p rin c iple , he is n o t af ra id o f ha vin g altered his structure when it is fairly easy to undouble the pawns against a black pawn on d5. ] 7.xe4 dxe4 [ 7...fxe4!? 8.b5 b4+ 9.c3 a5 10.h5+ g6 11.h6 e7 Intending ...e6e5. ] 8.b5 d6 [ 8...b4+ 9.c3 a5 10.h5+ g6 11.h6 e7 12.0-0-0 e5 13.g5 f7 14.d5 b8 15.d6 ] 9.h5+ g6 10.h6 e7 11.xd6+ [ 11.0-0-0 e5 12.xd6+ cxd6 13.g5 f7 aiming at a2. ] [ 11.e2 looks more accurate. b4? 12.0-0 xc2 13.ac1 b4 14.xd6 cxd6 15.c7+ ] 11...cxd6 12.e2 d7 [ 12...b4!? ] 13.d5! exd5 14.c3 e6 15.0-0-0 0-0-0 [ 15...c8 would have indirectly (and momentarily!) protected the pawn on d5 but was compromising in the long term because of the exposure of the king left in the center. 16.b1 or 16.f3 or 16.h4 ( 16.xd5? xd5 17.xd5 f7! 18.hd1? b4; 16.b5 e5 17.xd6+ xd6 18.g7 g8 19.xe5 xe5 20.xe5 e7= )] 16.g5 f8 17.xf8 dxf8 18.xd5 d7? W h i t e e v e n t u a l l y e m e r g e s wi t h a c l e a r advantage out of the opening because of the opposing black squared weakness, comprising the d6 pawn. Yet [ 18...h6 19.f4 d8 was more resistant. ] 19.f4! e5 20.c3 c6 [ 20...f7 21.xd6 xd6 22.b5 c6 23.xd6+ xb5 24.xe6 ] 21.xd6+! xd6 22.d1+ e7 [ 22...c6 23.xe5 hg8 24.d6+ ] 23.xe5 a6 24.a4! There is no reason to waste a tempo taking on h8 right away. g5 25.d4! hg8 26.d6+ f6 27.xf8 xf8 28.b4 f7 29.d2 [ 29.e2 e5 30.d4 d5 31.b6 f4 32.d2 amounts to the same thing, more or less. ] 29...d7+ 30.e1 This way Black cannot even dream of any counterplay on the f-file. c7 31.b6 e5 32.e2! d7 33.d4
xa4 34.e6+ d5 35.b3 d7 [ 35...c6 36.h6 f7 ( 36...b5 37.c4+ bxc4 38.bxc4+ c5 39.e6+; 36...e7 37.xf5 ) 37.e6! The signal of a mating a t t a c k ! E v e n s t r o n g e r t h a n ( 37.h5 which would have simply won the (extra!) pawn back while having created some new weaknesses in Black's camp.) 37...g4 ( 37...e7 38.c4+ e5 39.xg5 ) 38.c4+ e5 39.d8 f6 ( 39...e7 40.xc6; 39...d7 40.e6# )] 36.c4+ c5 37.e7 d6 38.xh7 c5 A p a rt f r o m sp e ci f i c c a s e s, e n d i n g s wit h knights, a pawn up, against a bishop, with pawns on both wings, are reckoned by theory to be the most difficult ones to defend for the sid e h a vin g t h is kin d o f m a t e ria l d e f ic it , because of the manoeuvring ability of the kn igh t a llo win g, in ge n e ra l, t o ra is e a n y blockading situation. 39.g7 f4 40.d2 b5 41.g6+ c7 42.xa6 bxc4 43.b4 e5 [ 43...c3+ 44.c2 c4 45.b3 c2 46.xc2 ] 44.a5 1-0
2008 Belikov,Vladimir Golubov,Saveliy Alushta (7) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2473 2228 07.09.2013
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 [ W e 'l l e xa m in e P e r t 's p r e f e r e n c e , 5.c3 , in Fier-Rozum. ] 5...d6 6.d2 a6 [ Black hints at queenside play, but this move i s d e f i n i t e l y s e c o n d b e s t t o 6...c6 in my view. ] 7.0-0-0 [ Going long can hardly be bad, but the immediate 7.f4 has rightly been praised be f o re on Che ssP ub : f or e xam ple , g5!? ( this must be critical instead, in PalliserBritton, York 2004, 7...d7 8.f3 d8 9.0-0-0 gave White quite a pleasant set-up before c5? 10.d5 e5 11.fxe5 xe5 12.xe5 dxe5 13.d6 e6 14.c4! turned into something of a massacre) 8.f5! 1966
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 exf5?! 9.d5 d8 10.exf5 gives White a strong early initiative, as shown by Aaron in both Akopian-Iliushkin, Novgorod 1999, and Wells-Britton, Bradford (rapid) 2002. ] 7...d7 [ Here 7...g5!? makes even more sense to me. Indeed, following 8.e5 ( White might first try to soften up Black's kingside with 8.h4!? g7 9.hxg5 hxg5 10.xh8+ xh8 11.f3 g4 and only then go 12.e5 ) 8...d8 9.f4 ( and here too 9.h4 might be tried, and if dxe5 then 10.f3!? g7 11.e3 exd4 12.xd4 with some initiative for the pawn) 9...gxf4 10.xf4 dxe5 11.dxe5 g5 12.xg5?! hxg5 13.e4 d7 Black was already better in Konenkin-Belous, Moscow (rapid) 2013. ] 8.f4 Now White is back on track along the lines of Palliser-Britton, above. b5 [ 8...d8 9.f3 would have directly transposed to that aforementioned game, but at least this would be solid for Black something which the game continuation cannot be described as. ] 9.e5 d8 10.d5! [ With such a lead in development, it must be right to strive to open the position. In an earlier game White had had similar thoughts, but 10.f3 b7 11.d3 dxe5 12.f5?! xf3! 13.gxf3 g5 allowed Black to get the queens off with rough equality in Rodriguez Vila-Vasquez Schroder, Villa Martelli 2008. ] 10...b6 [ Slightly to my surprise, 10...dxe5 11.dxe6 fxe6 wouldn't have been fatal for Black, although it's not hard to see who is calling all the shots after 12.e2 d6 ( or 12...g6 13.f3 g7 14.xe5 ) 13.h5+ f8 14.e4 e7 15.f3 . ] 11.dxe6 xe6 12.f2 [ The Russian Grandmaster logically pins Black down the d-file, although he might first have gone 12.f3 , and only then dxe5 13.f2 . ] 12...f5?! [ Black lacks time to move the bishop to an undef ended square. Many club players would have tried to close the centre with 12...d5 , but White has a few good ideas here, including just placing his bishop on d3 and 13.b1 g6 14.h4 h5 15.f3
followed by Ng5. ] [ Presumably Golubev didn't like the fact that 12...e7!? permits 13.f5 , but d7 may not be so terrible for Black, tempting for White though 14.f6! gxf6 15.exd6 xd6 16.e4 e5 17.f3 does look. ] 13.f3 e7 14.d4 [ Belikov decides to pursue a central initiative a good plan, as was 14.d3 xd3 15.xd3 0-0 16.g4 . ] 14...d7 15.f5! Here we go. Suddenly Black's position begins to look rather suspect, although actually matters remain far from clear since he has a number of defensive resources. dxe5 16.e6! Of course, this was the main idea behind his previous move. My machine takes a little while to appreciate the move, but W hite will emerge with excellent play for a pawn. fxe6 [ The machine may, however, be correct that 16...h4!? was a better defence. That said, e ve n h e r e a f t e r 17.g3 ( 17.c5 fxe6 18.fxe6 g5+ 19.b1 xe6 isn't so clear, since 20.xc7 0-0 21.xb6 g6! suddenly leaves Black quite well c o o r d i n a t e d) 17...fxe6 18.fxe6 g5+ 19.b1 xe6 20.gxh4 e7 21.g2 f8 22.c6+ d7 23.g2 White can hardly be worse , wit h e asy p la y a nd Black's k in g trapped in the centre. ] 17.fxe6 g5+ [ Black needed to break out as he does. 17...f8 18.g3 would be even tougher to try and defend. ] 18.b1 f6 19.exd7+ xd7 20.g3 [ Belikov wants to destabilise Black's temporary kingside defence with h2-h4, but he must also have been sorely tempted by 20.e2!? , and if 0-0-0 21.g3 . ] 20...b6?! [ Matters take another downturn for Black af ter this move. It would have require d strong nerves to go in for 20...0-0-0 21.h4 f4 22.h3 f7 , but he really had to take o n s u c h a k i n g p o s i t i o n , a n d i f 23.f3 return the extra pawn with e4 24.xe4 b6 in a desperate bid to simplify. ] 21.h4 f4 22.f2 Suddenly there's a rather large threat t o trap th e bishop on f 4 an d Golubev fails to find a defence. g6 [ No better would have been 22...b4 23.e4 1967
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c6 ( or 23...f5 24.xb6! ) 24.f3 . ] 23.c5 Black may have saved his bishop, but just look at his king position. The end is nigh. d7 24.xc7 d8 25.g3! A neat way to conclude. White gives up a pawn to enable his bishop to finally develop and with tempo. xg3 26.h3 f7 27.xd7+ 1-0
2009 Bellon Lopez,Juan Manuel Candela Perez,Jose ch Linares (5) [Eric Prié]
A45 2490 2380 16.08.1998
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 e4 4.e3 e6 5.g3 xc5 [ 5...xc5? 6.xc5 xc5 7.d4 g5 8.f4 c6 9.c3 f5 ( 9...d5 10.xg7 f8 11.f3 ) 10.xg7 f8 11.a3 is hardly enough for the pawn. ] 6.g2 [ 6.c4 b6! 7.d2 c6 8.f3 e4 ] 6...d5! 7.c3 Qb6 is not really a threat when Black cannot push .. .d5-d4 after the deviation of the white queen to c1, and W hite has to play for c2-c4, so I would rather have opted for [ 7.f3 and if b6 ( 7...c6 is better ) 8.c1 c6 9.0-0 e5 10.c3 threatening b2b4 followed by pressure on the d5 pawn, and even ] [ 7.c4!? immediately with the idea dxc4 ( 7...b6 8.cxd5 xb2 9.d4 ) 8.xd8+ xd8 9.d2 c3 10.bxc3 ] 7...c6 8.d2 e7 9.gf3 0-0 10.0-0 b6 11.a4 b7 Black has equalized. The 2 knights on the c-file look well placed. 12.b4 The Spanish Grandmaster has a reputation for always playing without any compromises! Yet, with his bishops aimed at the queenside, it is logical to play like this. Only later will the weakness of c3 reveal its serious c h a r a c t e r . d7 13.a5 c8! This is the advantage of a harmonious development. The good moves come by themselves... [ 13...bxa5 14.b5 ce5 15.xe5 xe5 16.d4 c7 17.a4 ] 14.b3 [ 14.a6 a8 15.b5 a5 White has given up many squares and c3 is very exposed.
16.xa5 bxa5 17.xa7 b6 18.a1 c7 19.xb6 xb6 ] 14...f6 And their coordination follow naturally. 15.a6 a8 16.b5 e7 17.d4 e5 18.c1 This could have been an interesting concept with Black's queen bishop "walled in" on a8, if only b5 was not so weak. [ 18.e3 xc3 followed by d5-d4 liberating the bishop was disastrous. ] 18...exd4 19.cxd4 c4 The desire to keep this rook active on the queenside can provide W hite with some combinational motives. I think it was be tt er to con cen trat e o n th e regrouping plan starting with [ 19...xc1 20.xc1 ( 20.xc1 c8 21.d1 d6 is similar to the position commented on White's 21st move.) 20...f5 21.a2 d6 22.c3 e4 ( 22...c7 23.b3 ) 23.d3 e7 which does not look very joyful for White. ] 20.e3 [ 20.d3 was more tricky. b4 ( 20...c8 21.fd2 d6 22.xc4 dxc4 23.xc4 xg2 24.xg2 xc4 25.xc4 e8; 20...c7 21.fd2 c8 22.xc4 dxc4 23.b1 xg2 24.xg2 d6 25.d2 xd4 26.fd1 ) 21.bd2 c8 22.h3! A) 22...g6 23.c3 xb5? ( 23...e7! ) 24.xc8 xc8 25.xc8 xc8 26.xd7; B) 22...e7? 23.f5! ] 20...f5 21.fd2? [ 21.d3 was at least setting a trap. d6 22.bd2 b4? ( 22...xc1 23.xc1 e8 with the plan ...Nf8, ...Ne6, ...Nc7 which should tie W hite up completely, then possibly improving the position with moves like . .. g6, ...h5, ...Kg7, ...h4 to open the hfile or ...Qd7, ...Be7, Bf8 ...in order to play ... Nd6-c4 to liberate the bishop under the most favourable circumstances.) 23.a3! wins the piece back. ] 21...b4 Now White's position collapses. 22.c2 [ 22.b1 e7! Prophylaxis teaches us to ant icip at e th e op po ne nt 's t hrea ts e ve n b e f o re t h e y m a t e ri a lize a n d Dvo re t s k y generalizes the concept by saying: "If your opponent has no threats, always take time to improve your position before executing your main idea"... or something like that. 23.c3 f6 24.b1 d6 25.d2 xb1 1968
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.xb1 d7! White can resign. 27.d3 9.ge2 c6 10.f4 xc5 11.0-0-0 ( 27.b3 c8 28.xd5 xd5 29.xd5 W h it e 's kin gsid e ch a n ce s sh o u ld m o s t xd5 30.xd5 xb5 ) 27...c8 28.b1 certainly not be underestimated) 8...cxd4 c7! There again! As a principle, it is good to 9.b5 c6 10.f3 0-0 11.bxd4 d5! ensure the domination of the c-file before 12.exd6 xd6 13.e4 d5 Black was thinking of putting a knight onto the 4th rank. close to equality in I. Schneider-Kolbus, 29.e2 ( 29.f3 fe4 30.e2 c4; Hamburg 2011. ] 29.d1 c8 30.e2 c2 31.h3 c7 )] 6...c5!? 22...d6 23.a1 xb5 24.c1 c5! [ A thematic counterstrike on the dark 25.a2 a4 26.fc1 xa6 27.f1 d7 squares. For the solid, reliable alternative 28.b2 a3 Understandably, White, who is 6...d6 7.a3 a5 the interested subscriber already a piece and a pawn down, does not should consult the Archive ] want to witness, in addition, the consequences [ and Black can also play in French style here of the opening of the long diagonal for the too with 6...d5 . In one recent test 7.e5 d8 resurrected a8-bishop. 8.a3 e7 9.f4 c5 10.dxc5 ( 10.f3 c6 [ 28...a3 29.c3 c4 ] 11.0-0-0?! would not be advisable on 0-1 a c co u n t o f c4! ) 10...xc5 11.f3 c6 12.0-0-0 a5 13.b1 was prematurely agreed drawn in Tristan-Saldano Dayer, 2010 A45 Buenos Aires 2011. After 0-0 14.f5 exf5 15.xd5 xd2 16.xd2 e6 Black would Bellon Lopez,Juan Manuel 2422 have been pretty comfortably placed, since Jussupow,Artur 2569 17.c7 ad8 18.xe6 fxe6 19.c4 f7 Gibraltar Open (9.25) 01.02.2012 can only favour him with e5 isolated. ] [Richard Palliser] 7.e5!? [ Bellon Lopez is arguably the most prolific of 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 all the leading Trompowsky practitioners, so 5.c3 b4 we must take his choice seriously, but this [ A reliable choice. 5...d6 is hardly a bad is pretty ambitious. That said, after 7.a3 alternative and has received quite a good xc3 8.bxc3 d6 Black has decent Nimzopress of late, but just a quick reminder that l i k e c o u n t e r p l a y i n a n y c a s e , wi t h 9.f4 last month in Palliser-Griffiths we saw that w e l l m e t b y e5! . Here 10.b5+ d7 W hite has begun to fight back in the line 11.b1 was considered a fair while ago by 6.d2 c6 7.f4 e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.f5 b4 Aaron Summerscale in his notes to Hall-De 10.f3 d7 11.a3 a5 12.b4! . ] Firmian, Malmo 1999, but he didn't consider 6.d2 exd4! 12.cxd4 cxd4 13.f3 c6 14.0-0 [ The main line, but I still prefer an idea 0-0 (Wells) at this point when White can which first came to prominence when Peter regain his pawn with equality, but nothing Wells considered it in his classic work on more than that. ] the Tromp, namely 6.d3!? . Following c5 ( one of my fellow columnists preferred 7...d8 [ A new move for the site. Previously we've 6...0-0!? in J-L.Weller-Jones, British seen that 7...e7 8.a3 cxd4?! 9.axb4 Rapidplay Championship, Halifax 2010, dxc3 10.xc3 0-0 11.b5 gave White a where 7.0-0-0 d5 8.ge2!? xf2 9.exd5 pleasant edge in Ubezio-Mazzariol, Novara exd5 10.xd5 d6 11.e3 xe3+ 2002, ] 12.xe3 c6 13.c4 c7 14.c3 d7 [ but 7...f5!? hasn't been seen either and 15.d5! gave both sides chances, but my yet is quite promising for Black in my view, suspicion is that giving up f2 wasn't especially after 8.d3?! g4 . ] entirely correct) 7.e5 d8 ( 7...e7! has been more common) 8.0-0-0 ( 8.dxc5! 8.a3 [ White is happy to simplify against his was advo cated b y W ells and still looks illustrious opponent. A more unbalancing p r o m i s i n g f o r W h i t e t o m e a f t e r a5 1969
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and arguably preferable option was 8.dxc5!? c7! 9.f4 ( 9.f3?! xc5 10.d3 c6 leaves e5 quite vulnerable) 9...xc5 10.f3 c6 11.0-0-0 with a complicated game ahead, albeit one where it's hard to believe Black doesn't have good counterplay g5!? already being possible for starters. ] 8...xc3 9.xc3? [ A surprising mistake. He would have done much better to retain the queens with 9.bxc3 .] 9...cxd4 10.xd4 a5+! [ A strong move. I doubt Yusupov knew that 10...c6 had previously been seen in one fairly obscure game, where W hite didn't need to blunder a pawn away and might have fought with 11.c5!? b6 12.e3 . ] 11.c3 [ Not what White wanted to do, of course, but after 11.b4 c6 he would have had to consent to the exchange of queens under even less favourable circumstances. ] 11...xc3+ 12.bxc3 b6 Taking stock we can see that Black has emerged from the opening with an ideal Nimzo position. The queens are off and White's structure pretty sickly to say the least. How Bellon Lopez must have been regretting his misguided 9th move. This is exactly the sort of position one doesn't want to play against a man with Yusupov's technique . 13.f3 b7 14.d4 Avoiding f u r t h e r s t r u c t u ra l d a m a ge a n d go i n g f o r counterplay, but sooner or later a pawn is going to drop. c6 15.xc6 [ Suboptimal, but 15.f4 would have been well met by g5! and if 16.b5 just e7 17.d6 ab8 . ] 15...xc6 16.a6!? [ 16.f3 would have maintained the material balance for now, but after e7 17.d3 ac8 followed by ...Bd5 and ...Rc5 the front c-pawn would not have been long for this world. ] 16...xg2 17.g1 e4 I presume that Bellon Lopez didn't overlook this (the rook will be trapped by ...Bg6 if it captures g7), but rather sacrificed g2 out of desperation. 18.0-0-0 g5 19.d4 c6 Black is simply a clear pawn to the good and still with the better structure. W h it e do es h is b est to f ight b ack on t h e kingside, but it's clear he's facing an uphill
task. 20.h4 gxh4 21.xh4 e7 22.d1 ag8 23.hd4 h5! And why not push the passed pawn? 24.b7 Yusupov had no doubt seen this coming and the resulting simplification only helps him, but it's not clear what else the veteran Spanish Grandmaster could have tried. d8 25.xc6 dxc6 26.h1 xd4! A classy decision. Many players would not have wanted to improve White's structure, but Yusupov knows that the single rook ending is the easiest way to win with W hite's remaining rook so passively placed. 27.cxd4 h4 28.h3 f6! Opening lines for the king, which will infiltrate via g6. 29.d2 fxe5 30.dxe5 f7 31.e3 g6 32.e4 g5 33.f4+ g6 [ Keeping it simple. Yusupov must have realised too, though, that 33...g4 34.h1 g3! was also very strong for Black, who wins t he race a f t er, sa y, 35.f5 exf5+ 36.xf5 h3 37.e6 h2 38.e7 g2 39.xh2+ xh2 40.e6 g2 41.d7 f3 42.e8 xe8 43.xe8 e3 44.d7 c5 . ] 34.h1 h3 35.g1+ f7 The king may have been driven backwards, but thanks to zugzwang it cannot be kept from f5 i n d e f i n i t e l y. 36.f3 h2! 37.h1 g6 38.g4 b5 [ The finish might have been 38...b5 39.f3 f5 40.g3 h7 41.f3 h3+ 42.g2 h4 43.g3 g4+! winning f4 with check or forcing the white king to a bad square in the event of 44.h3 g6 . ] 0-1
2011 Bellon Lopez,Juan Manuel Martin del Campo,Roberto Guillermo Garcia mem Premier, Villa Cla [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2455 2485
TROMPOW SKY ATTACK: The wild 3.Bh4: After 2...Ne4 3.Bh4 is the most provocative response. Right from the start Black is encouraged to go for wild complications. Against a mad hacker, this would be like showing a red rag to a bull, but if played against a sedate player, there is a greater chance of success. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 This leads to some of the sharpest lines 1970
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 in the Tromp. Like the h4 Tromp, it cannot be considered completely sound, but it is great fun for attacking chess. c5 The most incisive response. Black opens the gateway for his queen to attack White's vulnerable queenside. 4.f3 g5 Best! Black seizes the ideal moment to gra b the b ish op pa ir, whe n W hite ha s weakened his dark squares. 5.fxe4 gxh4 6.e3 It is imperative for White to try and regain some control of the dark squares. b6 [ Black has a strong alternative in: 6...h6 when White could consider the rarely played Qd3, and should probably avoid the main line: 7.f2 when apart from the shock value of the move, W hite's position has little to recommend it. ] 7.c3 White's main idea is to manoeuvre the knight to the aggressive d5 square, where it will have great influence over the entire board. g7 This falls directly in with White's plan of Nd5. Any moves that allow Nd5 should be avoided. Much more sensible would be 7... e6. 8.d5 d6 9.g4 Black's co-operative play has allowed White to build up an impressive attacking position. f8 Black was obviously reluctant to castle kingside, because of his compromised pawn structure. 10.f3 e6 11.xh4 It is testament to the strength of White's position that he is already threatening mate. c6 12.e5 b8 [ 12...xd5 13.c4 superbly wins the Black queen in the center of the board! ] 13.f6 The discoordinated Black pieces make a pathetic sight, and White proceeds to home in on the Black position. d6 14.b5 dxe5 15.xc6 bxc6 16.xe5 The impressively posted W hite knights dominate the Black position. b4+ This is simply a spite check and only has mild irritation value. 17.c3 xb2 18.0-0 The Black position is a wretched sight, just look at the difference in piece activity, king safety, and pawn structure in comparison with the White setup. xc3 The equivalent of resignation. Black walks straight into a killer tactic, the quickest way to end his misery and suffering. 19.d5 White has almost too many threats to count. The most serious being mate on d8. f6 20.xf6 Black threw in the towel, and not before time. 1-0
2012 Benjamin,Joel Yermolinsky,Alex ch plof United States (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2610 2590 1994
TROMPOW SKY ATTACK: The 2...e6 variation. 2...e6 poses an interesting problem to the Tromp player. He needs to rapidly exploit his central advantage, before Black can cash in on the superiority of his bishop pair. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 2...e6 is one of the most challenging variations against the Tromp. Black dares W hite to build up a big pawn center at the expense of the bishop pair. W hite must opt for an aggressive set up, hoping for a decisive attack before Black can o p e n t h e p o s i t i o n a d v a n t a g e o u s l y . 3.e4 The move most in keeping with the spirit of the Tromp. It is possible to wimp out with a moves such as e3 or Nd2, but e4 is the most u n c o m p r o m i s i n g . h6 4.xf6 xf6 W e now have an important parting of the ways. 5.c3 [ 5.f3 leads to positions that could arise from the Torre attack. There is nothing wrong with this fairly solid approach, but recently, White has been trying to extract even more from the position. ] [ 5.c3 This is one of the latest ideas in the Tromp. I believe we will be seeing quite a lot more of this move. Although it looks quite unassuming on the surface, the plan associated with it is extremely dangerous. d6 6.d3 The first important point. The bishop can go to d3 without fear of losing the d pawn. d7 7.e2 The second and more important point. The W hite knight swings to e2 to allow the f pawn to advance freely. Once W hite castles and plays f4, with ideas of following with either e5 or f5, he will have a very imposing attack. The b1 knight can aim to land on e4 and the queen will often manoeuvre to g3 via e1.This could be the future of the whole variation. ] 5...g6 This move is unnecessarily passive, as it allows White to carry out his attacking plan with ease. [ More forthright is the plan beginning with: 5...d6 6.d2 g5 At first sight it looks strange to weaken the kingside like this. 1971
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 However, Black is trying to stop W hite's natural plan of f4 and attempts to thwart it have been quite successful in practice. The fact that a positional genius such as Karpov uses it, is testament to it's viability. The best test of the defence was seen in the FIDE world championship match between Anand and Karpov, where White continued playing for f4 with Bc4, Nge2 and 0-0 with an interesting battle. ] 6.d2 d6 7.f4 White's central space clamp already gives him the advantage. e7 8.f3 g7 9.0-0-0 This is exactly the sort of position White is aiming for in the Nc3 variation. The advanced f pawn will be used as a battering r a m a g a i n s t t h e o p p o n e n t s k i n g s i d e . a6 10.d3 d7 11.f5 Charge! White invites Black to open the center, when his king and queen would be uncomfortably exposed, but: e5 Black must keep things as closed as possible, due to W hite's enormous lead in development. 12.d5 d8 One of t h e main plus points of the 2...e6 variation (obviously only from White's point of view) is that Black often has to waste several moves retreating his exposed queen. 13.dxe5 xe5 14.hf1 c6 15.e3 The white knight has managed to e f f ic ie n t ly r e gro u p t o a m o re d a n ge ro u s location. White has a clear advantage here, as Black's position is riddled with weaknesses a n d h i s d e v e l o p m e n t i s r e t a r d e d . 0-0? In an admittedly difficult situation Black walks into a simple tactic. 16.xe5 xe5 [ Taking with the pawn is no better after: 16...dxe5 17.fxg6 Black is in a terrible mess as: fxg6 18.c4+ wins material decisively. ] 17.g4 Black must lose at least a pawn, le a vin g W hit e m at e ria l u p, wit h a st ro n g kingside attack to boot. In this Super Grandmaster clash, Black decided to show his opponent the proper respect and called it a day. 1-0
2013 Berg,Klaus Navara,David Morso It (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2418 2531 11.02.2002
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.d3 c6 6.xe4 dxe4 7.d5 e5 8.g3 e7 9.c3 f6 10.h5+! This disruptive move practically refutes the whole line for Black taking into consideration, of course, what happened in the previous game. [ 10.xe4?! xd5 11.xe5!? f5! ( 11...fxe5? 12.h5+ With a winning attack according to Boris ALTERMAN.) 12.g3 e6 13.e4 ( 13.c3 xc3 14.xd8+ xd8 15.bxc3 e7 With good compensation for the pawn.) 13...b4 14.c3 ( 14.f4 xd1+ 15.xd1 0-0-0+ 16.d2 Although not quite satisfactory, looks better than the game. At least W hite has 'something' to hang on to for it is not that simple for Black, this time, to capture on a2 and then get 'it' back into play.) 14...xd1+ 15.xd1 xa2 16.1e2 xc3+ 17.xc3 0-0-0+ 18.e2 a6 19.hd1 d6 20.d5 Black is slightly better because of his 2 bishops but White managed to hold thanks to his strong centralized knight Liang Chong-Dizdar,G Wch Las Vegas m(1) 1999 1/2 (43) ] 10...g6 [ 10...g6 11.h4 grabs a hot pawn since xd5? i s i m p o s s i b l e . 12.0-0-0 e6 13.xe4 ] 11.0-0-0 a5 12.f4! exf3 [ 12...exf4 13.exf4 f5 14.b1 e7 15.xe4! That is why a2 had to be protected first. ( 15.d6 f6 16.d7+ xd7 17.xd7 xd7 18.xf5+ e8 ) 15...fxe4 16.f5 0-0 17.fxg6 hxg6 18.xg6 f5 19.h5 ] 13.xf3 c7 14.b5? The young suede falls into a clever 'defensive' trap set by the new 18-year-old Czech number one player (on t h e Ja n u a ry list ). A n d o n e qu e st io n wa s whether or not it was possible to award a question mark to a move actually winning a piece? If the position had been more co m p li c a t e d a n d n o t s o o ve rwh e l m i n g l y advantageous looking, as it really is, then I probably would not have. But the truth is that 1972
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the moves are almost forced, easy to work out and that White only erred through great haste. [ After 14.hf1! bringing the ultimate piece into the attack, Black had no moves, in general, and specifically against the threat Bxe5 and Nh4. A) 14...f7 15.g5 d7 16.e6 ( 16.xh7 g4 17.xg4 xg4 18.xf8 xf8 19.d2 ) 16...a6 17.e4; B) 14...a6 15.xe5 fxe5 16.h4 d6 17.e4 b6 18.d6; C) 14...d7 15.xe5 g4 16.xg4 xg4 17.g3; D) 14...c4 15.xe5! fxe5 16.h4 b6 17.xg6! xg6 18.xe5+ d8 "Everything wins here" but there is also a s i m p l e w a y 19.d6 e6 ( 19...e6 20.g5+ d7 21.b5 ) 20.d5 d7 ( 20...xd5 21.xf8+ xf8 22.e7+ c8 23.c7# ) 21.f6+! The fastest ( 21.c7 d8 22.b5+ c8 23.xe6 xe6 24.c5+ d7 25.c7+ e8 26.d7+ xd7 27.c8+ e7 28.xd7+ xd7 29.f7+ xf7 30.xd7+ ) 21...gxf6 22.b5+ d8 23.xb7 c8 24.d7+- ] 14...d7! 15.h4 Now White cannot back away in front of the double threat of losing his Nb5 and seeing his own queen getting "mated" by her lady colleague. g4! 16.c7+ f7 17.xg4 xg4 18.xa8 xd1 19.xd1 xh4 20.xh4 d6 21.e4 [ 21.c4 e4! 22.g3 xg3 23.hxg3 xa8 ] 21...xa8 [ 21...b5? 22.a4! bxa4 ( 22...b4 23.b3 xa8 24.d2 g6 25.d3 f5 26.exf5+ xf5 27.f1+ ) A) 23.d3 c4! "Demoniac" Fritz... 24.c3 c8 25.b3 xa8 26.xc4 ( 26.bxc4? b4 27.d3 c8 ) 26...axb3 27.cxb3 e7 28.f2; B) 23.d2! xa8 24.a1 b8 25.xa4 xb2 ( 25...b7 26.g4 g6 27.b3 ) 26.xa7+ g6 27.f2 b4 28.d3+- ] 22.f1 [ 22.c4! a6 23.c2 ( 23.d3 b5 24.b3 h5 ) 23...b5 24.c3 Was keeping interesting options on the queenside as it is clear that W hite should not allow his opponent to gain space on the kingside and play ...f6-f5 under good conditions, but on principle has play on both flanks to hope for
s o m e t h i n g . bxc4? 25.b1 b8 26.a3 b3+ 27.xc4 e3 28.e1+- ] 22...b5 Now it is drawn as Black can bolt the queenside. 23.g4 h6 24.g3 a5 25.d2 c4 26.a3 a4 27.c3 h8 28.h4 g5! A classical defensive move in minority attack situations which, in our case, builds a fortress after 29. Rh1 Kg7. ½-½
2014 Berg Jensen,Joachim Gausel,Einar Troll Masters (5) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2231 2481 08.01.2001
Trompowsky attack: The bishops strike back! We all know that Bishops love open lines. In this game, we see the White king receiving a right religious rollicking. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 6.d2 g5 7.0-0-0 g7 8.g3 c6 A critical position in this line. White's next is the most obvious, but perhaps not the best. 9.b5 [ 9.b5 is an interesting idea of Julian Hodgson's. On: 0-0 10.f4 is the idea, with e5 to follow. ] 9...0-0 10.xc6 bxc6 11.f4 c5 12.ge2 Ooooh, do I not like this. This strange move, lets Black have things all his own way. [ Much more testing was: 12.dxc5 b7 ( 12...dxc5 13.e3 ) 13.e3 ] 12...cxd4 13.xd4 b7 14.fxg5 hxg5 15.hf1 g6 Bishops don't get much more g r o o vy t h a n t h i s . F e e l t h e p o we r o f t h e bishops as they rake across the entire board. This awesome force gives Black a clear edge. 16.e3 ab8 17.g4 e5 18.e2 g7 I don't know about you, but if I were White, I'd be very nervous about the fate of my b2 pawn. 19.f2 a5 20.h1 Preparing a half-hearted counterattack. a4 21.a3 c5 22.de2 a6 B l a c k 's t h r e a t s b e g i n t o r e a c h a la r m i n g p r o p o r t i o n s . 23.h4 gxh4 24.h3 b7 Very calm! There is absolutely no need to rush, as W hite has no hope whatsoever of d e f e n d i n g h is p o si t i o n . 25.dh1 fb8 26.xa4 xe2 27.xe2 a7 [ 27...f4+ 28.d1 d4+ was equally as effective. ] 1973
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28.c3 g5+ 29.d1 xb2 With his [ 12...g4 13.h3! xe4? 14.xe4 xh3 queenside in gruesome tatters, White finally 15.xf6# ] called it a day. 13.f4! b7 14.b1 xd5 15.xd5 0-1 [ 15.exd5 This recapture is thematic in the Sicilian but here it allows Black to equalize f5! 16.f2 ( 16.d3?? g7 17.e1 f6 ) 16...g7 ( 16...b6 17.d2 ) 17.d3 b4 2015 A45 A) 18.b3 e4! 19.d2 d4 20.xd4 Berkes,Ferenc 2349 ( 20.d3? f8 ) 20...xd4 21.g3 c5 Tolstikh,Nikolay 2405 22.h3 e6=; Kupa 18th Zalakaros (6) 17.05.1999 B) 18.c3 e4 19.a3 f8 20.g1 a5! [Eric Prié] White does not have the time for the plan g2-g3, Qc2 and Bg2 which, under other 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 circumstances, would have offered him a c6 5.h4 b5 6.e4 a6 substantial advantage. ] [ 6...b4 7.d5 ] 7.0-0-0! h6 At first I was not sure that this key 15...c8 [ 15...b4 16.f5 ] theme was the most appropriate one at this [ 15...g4?? 16.xg4 e1+ 17.d1 ] stage, but after some analysis I had to admit that White is very fast in developing a strong 16.f2 [ 16.f5!? ] initiative in the center and that the combined pressure exerted by his queen and bishop is 16...c5 17.e2 [ 17.xc5 dxc5 18.g3 c7 19.e2 very annoying, preventing Black from using his W as obviously unpleasant for Black e-pawn to control the d5 square. For instance because of the possibility, for W hite, to [ 7...d6 8.f4 d7 ( 8...b4 9.xf6 gxf6 open lines on the uncastled enemy king or 10.d5 f5 11.e5! ) 9.f3 a5 ( 9...b4 win the d5 square after the sequence 19... 10.xf6 gxf6 11.d5 f5? 12.h5 ) 10.b1 e7-e6 20.f5, as well as on the other flank c8 11.d2! ( 11.d3 b4; 11.e5 b4! with a2-a4, when Black is handicapped by a 12.exf6 bxc3 13.fxe7? b4! 14.exf8+ poor structure, and pawns on f7 and a6 as xf8 15.b3 a3; 11.d4 xd4 12.xd4 potential targets. c4 ] xc3! 13.bxc3 e6 ) 11...d4! 12.d3 With the idea Qf2 without fearing Nxc2 and I 17...c7 18.hd1 e6 19.5d2 [ 19.xc5! xc5?! 20.f3 With the idea f5 would rather be White in this position which is even worse for Black than 19...dxc5. very much resembles a Sicilian RichterSee previous comment. ] Rauzer where the plan Qd2-e1-h4 is not 19...f5! Getting rid of the doubled pawns such a rare occurrence. ] [ 7...e6 8.f3 now is appropriate. b4?! means a significant improvement of Black's position. Now his bishop has some 9.d5! ] 8.f3 g8 9.xf6 gxf6 10.d5 d6 perspectives and White has to weaken his gBlack wants to make some natural use of the pawn while limiting the activity of his own opened g-file against the enemy queen after bishop to support the f4-f5 thematic thrust. having compelled White to double the pawns 20.exf5 xf5 21.g4 c5 22.f5 e5 23.f3 on f6. Another interesting plan seemed to be c5 24.h4 g5 25.fxe6 fxe6 26.g3 27.e1 In the absence of serious to chase the Nd5 away, but unfortunately for g7 Black it appears easier said than done to put structural problems for the opponent, little by little White's advantage is fading away as the into practice. [ 10...g7 11.g3 d6 12.b1 And it is attacking chances against the opposing king difficult for Black to play ...e7-e6 because diminish... xe1+ 28.xe1 e7 29.e4 d5 30.g6+ d7 31.d1 g7 32.a3 b4 of the weakness of d6. ] [ 10...b7 11.f4 c8 12.h4 followed by 33.d3 bxa3 34.xa3 xa3 35.bxa3 d6 And now Black is even slightly better. 36.d3 Nf5. ] c7 37.c1 c3 38.d1 c5 39.e2? 11.d4 xd4 12.xd4 a5 1974
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 39.e2 e5? 40.h3 ] 39...e5?? This must be mutual time trouble. [ 39...e5! The same trick! 40.d1 xh2 ] 40.xd5 xd5? Black collapses. On principle, the drawing tendency of endings with opposite-coloured bishops is higher than those with rooks but here, in addition, the exchange of bishops spells the end of the h6 pawn. 41.xc3 a5 [ 41...d4 42.d3 ] [ 41...e7 42.c6 ] 42.h3 d5 43.xh6! When preparing against him, as a coach, in last year's World Und er 18, I ha d a lre ady no ticed th at th e f utu re c hamp ion, ra ted 2616 in Octo ber, enjoyed playing endings... xa3 44.g5 a5 45.g6 e6 46.h4 a4 47.h5 h3 48.g7+ f7 49.g6 g8 50.h6 Black is a tempo short : [ 50.h6 a3 51.b6 h7 52.b8 g3 53.h8+ g6 54.g8+ ] 1-0
2016 Berkes,Ferenc Volokitin,Andrei Wch U12 Cannes (9) [Eric Prié]
A45
1997
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 e6!? Black is ready to use the most direct means to cut loose the pressure on the h4-d8 diagonal, the main strategical stake in this line. 5.0-0-0 h6 6.h4 g8 7.xf6 [ 7.d2 d5 8.f3 ( 8.e4 d4 9.b5 a6 10.e5 axb5 11.exf6 xf6 ) 8...c6 ( 8...e7 9.f4 ) 9.e4!? d4 ( 9...g5!? ) 10.e3 e5 11.xe5 xe5 12.xd4 ] 7...xf6 8.xf6 gxf6 9.e4 e7 10.d6+ xd6 11.xd6 e7 12.d2 b5! After the natural 12...d5, W hite will have the time to play g3 and Bg2 nullifying the action of the Rg8 along the semi open file, then prepare e2e4 or c2-c4 against Black's d-pawn. 13.e4 [ 13.g3 b7 14.f3 xf3 15.exf3 a6 16.f4 c6 17.g2 ac8= ] 13...b7 14.f3 a6 15.e2 d6 16.g3 d7 17.e2 e5 18.hd1 ad8= 19.b3 h5! [ 19...b4 20.b2 a5 21.c3 ] 20.xh5
[ 20.f4 g4 21.xg4 xg4 22.e5 fxe5 23.fxe5 d5 ] [ 20.f1 h4 21.e2 h3 ] 20...xg2 21.f4 g6 22.f5 [ 22.f3 xd2 23.xd2 f5 ] 22...e5 23.d3 xd2 24.xd2 h8 25.f4 h4 26.f2 g4 27.e2 xh2 28.fxe6 xf4! [ 28...fxe6?? 29.g6+ ] 29.xh2 xe6 [ 29...fxe6?? 30.h7+ ] 30.h8 xe4 31.d2 f5 32.e8+ d5 33.a8 f2+! With 2594, the Ukrainian too has reached the top of the ELO hierarchy. Still, wh e n you th in k o f t he le ve l o f t he s e t wo unrated youngsters, it makes you wonder... 34.e1 [ 34.e3 f3+ 35.e2 h3 36.xa6 h2+ 37.d1 Was the most resistant. ( 37.e3 e5 38.xb5 f4#; 37.f1 d4 38.xd6+ e3 39.xe4 fxe4 40.f6 xc2 41.xf7 xa2 42.f5 b4 43.b5 a3 44.xb4 f3 ) 37...xd3 38.cxd3 f4 39.a4 f3 40.e1 d4 41.a7 bxa4 42.bxa4 f5 43.a5 a2 44.f1 e3 45.e7+ xd3 46.d7 e3 47.e7+ f4 48.d7 d5 49.xd5 g3 ] 34...h2 35.xa6 d4! 36.xd6+ e3 37.xb5 f4 38.f1 f3 The threat of f2+ and Rh1 is unavoidable. 0-1
2017 Bigg,Andrew J James,David J 4NCL Telford ENG (11) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2292 2253 05.05.2003
Trompowsky: One of the main points behind the h4 tromp is to open the h-file for the White rook. Once achieved W hite can often look forward to dangerous attacking chances. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 h6 The most solid. 4.f4 e6 I'm not sure about this one though. [ 4...d5 or ] [ 4...c5 would be my preference. ] 5.d2 xd2 6.xd2 d5 Stopping White from expanding in the centre, but at the cost of blocking in his light squared bishop. 7.f3 b6 8.0-0-0 a6 9.g4 Not falling in with 1975
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.xe3 xg3+ 13.hxg3 dxe3 14.xe3 d6 Threatening ...Qb4+ ] [ 9.xe5 b4 ] 9...b4 10.ge2 exf3 [ 10...0-0! Winning a tempo in every case. 11.fxe4 e3 12.xd8 xd8 13.c1 c5! 14.xc6 ( 14.g1 b4 15.a4 c6 ) 14...xg2+ 15.f1 e3+ 16.f2 xc2+ 17.g2 e3+ 18.f3 g4+ 19.f4 h5 20.xb7 g2+ 21.g5 e7# ] 11.gxf3 f5 12.d4 xc3 [ 12...xc2!? 13.0-0 xc3 14.bxc3 ( 14.xb4? xe2+ ) 14...a3 ] 13.xc6+ bxc6 14.xb4 xe2 15.xe2 b8 16.c3 [ 16.a3 d4! 17.b3 xc2 18.ac1 d3+ ] 16...0-0 17.ad1 Not the most urgent, especially when Black wants to open the position with ...f7-f6 anyhow. In general, it is not very advisable for the rhythm of the game to force the opponent to play good moves he intended to make in any case... [ 17.b3 Followed by Kf2 while asking a question of the c6-pawn, with approximate equality. ] 17...e7 18.a3? But this is the guilty one which seriously weakens the situation of the white queenside. [ 18.f2! b5 ( 18...f6 19.he1 fxe5 2018 A45 20.xe5 f7 21.e3 ) 19.d2 with the idea fb8 20.b3 c5 21.e3 xc2 22.xc2 Bigg,Andrew J 2275 xc2 23.c1 f5 24.xc6 ] Palliser,Richard 2411 Specsavers YM (4) 21.07.2004 18...b5 19.d4 [ 19.d2 fb8 20.b4 c5 ] [Eric Prié] 19...f6 20.b4 [ 20.a4 fxe5 21.xa7 g6 ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.f3 f6 5.e4 dxe4 6.c3 d5! This is therefore the 20...fxe5 21.xb5 cxb5 22.xe5 [ 22.xe5 f7 23.xb5 xc2 24.c6 only original way to profit from the White set( 24.f1 d8 Followed inevitably by ...Bd3.) up. The acceptance of the pawn is far too 24...a4! 25.e4 ( 25.b7 c4+ ) risky â (+) see the Kasparov game! 7.g3 25...e8 26.e5 e6 27.xa4 ( 27.f4 [ 7.d2 xf4 8.xf4 xd4 9.d1 e5 c6 ) 27...xe5+ 28.d1 b8 ] 10.xd4 exf4 11.xe4+ d8= Dunworth, C (2293) - Buckley, D (2140) Monmouth 2000 22...xc2 23.g1 [ 23.xc7! g5 24.f4 g2+ 25.e3 b3 1/2(33) ] 26.f1! Followed by Rf2 and this position 7...c6 8.b5 looks more tenable than the one White got [ 8.fxe4? e3 9.d2 xf1 10.xf1 xd4 in the game after the simple ] 11.xd4 xd4 12.d5 e6 13.xc7 d7 23...f7 defending c7. 24.f4 g6 An extra 14.g3 c8 15.c3 c5 ] pawn, better king, structure and pieces. Black 8...e5 9.dxe5 [ 9.fxe4 e3 10.e2 exd4 11.d5 d6 sh o u l d wi n t h is e a s i l y. O n ly t h e n a t u r a l Black's plan of trading light squared bishops and creating some chances on the kingside. d7 10.g5 d6 [ 10...h5 can be met by the disruptive. 11.g6 fxg6 12.h3 ] 11.g2?! Careless. hxg5 [ 11...xe2 Deserved serious consideration. 12.de1 a6 And Black has good chances to consolidate his extra pawn. ] 12.hxg5 xh1 13.xh1 e7 14.e5 Now W hite is back in control. f8 15.e4 Breaking open some lines. b7 16.exd5 exd5 17.h3 Keeping the Black king in the centre for now. e6 18.e1 f8 [ 18...0-0-0 19.xf7 ] 19.h1 With no chance of the Black king escaping to the queenside, White turns his evil eye back to the h-file. g6 20.e3 g7 21.g4 Missing a nice shot. [ 21.xg6! xg6 22.xe6 fxe6 23.d3+ ] 21...xf4 22.xf4 xe5 After this Black is doomed. [ 22...e8 wa s e s s e n t i a l . 23.d7 d8 and Black can hope to survive. ] 23.dxe5 e8 24.e6 With the dark squares a r o u n d t h e B l a c k k i n g o p e n in g u p h e i s doomed. 1-0
1976
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 drawing t ende ncy of th e op posite-c olou r bishops could make this task problematic in an ending... [ 24...f5 25.b3 e6 26.xb5 ] 25.d4 c5 26.d5 d7? [ 26...b7 27.xc5 d7 ] [ 26...h8!? ] 27.xd7? Here we are so I think I had better stop commenting this game here. [ W h a t w a s t h e p o i n t a f t e r 27.xc5 by the way? ] 27...xd7 28.h4 c4 29.g5 c2 30.c3 a6 31.f5 h6 32.g6 a7 33.d4 d7 34.e3 xf5 35.xa6 e7+ 36.f3 d7 37.a7 c6+ 38.g3 d7 39.c7 f7 40.a4 bxa4 41.xc4 f5 42.c5 f7 43.c7 h7 44.b7 e7 45.b3 axb3 46.xb3 e4 47.f2 g6 48.c3 b4 49.d3 f5 50.d4 b5 51.f4 c8 52.c4 b7 53.c5 b4+ 54.g3 b3+ 55.h2 b2 56.g3 b3+ 57.h2 f3 58.a5 d3 59.c5 d5 60.c7 d2 61.g3 d3+ 62.h2 f6 63.c3 d1 64.g3 f5 65.e3 b1 66.e7 b3+ 67.e3 b4 68.e1 g4+ 69.h3 g1 70.f2 f1 71.g3 g5 72.hxg5 h5 73.e1 h4+ 74.xh4 xf2 75.g3 g2+ 76.h3 xg5 77.f1+ e5 78.f8 e6+ 79.h4 g4+ 80.h5 g3 ½-½
2019 Bistrikova,Elena V Lomakina,Galja Rudenko mem w (2) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2139 2160 09.12.2001
T ro m p o ws k y A t t a ck: T h e S icilia n T ro m p against 2...c5 is one of the least explored of White paths. If you fancy having a go at your opponent, why not give it a try? 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 The Sicilian Tromp. A powerful way to take your opponent out of his "book". cxd4 4.xd4 c6 5.h4 The W hite queen never enjoys such early unrestricted movement in the Sicilian proper, largely due to the e4 pawn. a5 6.0-0-0 b5 B l a c k t a k e s a t h re a t e n i n g s t a n c e in h e r majesty's territory, but he lacks the development to really make this dangerous for
White. 7.b1 b7 8.e3 There is no reason to give Black a target on e4. a6 9.f3 c8 10.xf6 gxf6 11.d5 The knight takes up a dominating post and Black cannot afford to leave it unchallenged for long. e5 12.xe5 fxe5 13.e2 Unlike his opponent, White has no problems completing his development. xd5 14.xd5 c7 Threatening mate in 3! However, this is easily parried. 15.d2 e6 [ 15...g7 was objectively best, although Black comes under severe pressure after: 16.g4 f6 17.hd1 d6 18.a4! ] 16.f6 g8 17.h5 Uh-oh! Storm-clouds are g a t h e r i n g a r o u n d t h e B l a c k K i n g . g7 18.hd1 d8 Black decides to evict the qu e e n f ro m h e r t h re a t e n i n g p o st o n t h e kingside, using a tactical trick. Unfortunately, White has seen further. [ 18...e4 19.g4 Also leaves White firmly in the driving seat. ] 19.xe5 g5 Black was relying on this double attack to get out of jail, but... 20.xf7+! Ouch! xf7 21.xd7+ e7 22.xg5 Not a bad twosome. White has: 1. a winning a t t a c k a n d 2 . a m a t e ri a l a d va n t a g e . f8 23.h5+ g8 24.g4+ f7 25.e4 There is no longer any defence or hope for Black. h6 26.xe7+ A nice illustration of White's attacking possibilities in the Sicilian Tromp. 1-0
2020 Bouaziz,Slim Labib,Ibrahim Hasan Arab-ch 4th Beirute (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2383 2426 14.08.2000
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e6 8.b1 c7 9.b5+ d7 The 'natural' move, in comparison with 9...Nbd7 discussed in September, that I would have reckoned best, a t f i r s t s i g h t . 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.c4?! White has to exchange on d7 as in the next game. It must be the idea behind the bishop check to then try to take advantage of the weakness of the light squares in the enemy camp. e7 Black enjoys an extra tempo compared to Puschmann-Adzic last 1977
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 September, and had better play [ 11...a6 12.a4 c6 13.f3 e7 A) 14.g5 d4 15.f5 d5! 16.fxe6 ( 16.exd5? exd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xd5 e5+-+ ) 16...dxc4 17.exd7+ xd7 18.e5? ( 18.0-0 0-0 ) 18...f5! 19.exf6 xc2+ 20.xc2 ( 20.e2 d4+ 21.e1 xf6 22.ge4 0-0 With a winning black attack. ) 20...xc2 21.fxe7 b5!; B) 14.0-0 ] 12.f3 c6 13.0-0 xe4!? [ 13...a6 14.g5!? d8 15.f5 ] 14.xe4 d5 15.xd5? [ 15.c3!? dxc4 ( 15...dxe4 16.e5 0-0-0 17.xd7 xd7 18.xd7+ xd7 19.xe6 ) 16.xg7 g8 17.e5 xe5 18.xe5 0-0-0 19.e2 ] 15...exd5 16.c3 e6 17.g5? The first ever African Grandmaster does not seem very inspired in this game, at least he could have tried [ 17.f5! xf5 ( 17...f7 18.g5 xg5 19.xg5 0-0 ) 18.xd5 d7 19.xe7 xe7 20.g5 xd1 21.bxd1 leading to a more uncertain position. ] [ 17.e1 d7 18.e2 f7 ] 17...xg5 18.b5 d7 [ 18...e7! 19.fxg5 0-0-0 ] 19.h5+ [ 19.fxg5 a6! ( 19...0-0-0 20.f4 e7 ) 20.c3 b5! Followed by long castles, putting an end to W hite's initiative. ( 20...0-0-0 21.a4 e7 22.f4 b5 23.c4!! Fritz dxc4 24.f3 b7 25.fe1 )] 19...g6 20.xg5 0-0-+ Because of the massive opposing centre and extra pawn, White has no way to take advantage of the holes on the dark squares around the enemy king whilst his position is just a ruin. 21.c4 f5 [ 21...f5 22.g3 dxc4 23.c3 d4 W it h two goo d e xt ra pa wn s t his way o f closing the long diagonal looks even clearer. 24.e3 d5 ] 22.be1 d4 23.h3 a6 24.a3 ae8 25.g4 d3 26.xe8 xe8 27.f2 b6 As c5 was hanging, [ 27...e7! was decisive, practically forcing the exchange of queens. 28.d5+ h8 29.f5 gxf5! ( 29...e4 30.f6 ) 30.gxf5 g8+ 31.g2 ( 31.h2 e4 32.f6 c7+ 33.f4
g2+! 34.xg2 xf4+ 35.g1 xd5 ) 31...xg2+ 32.xg2 xf5-+ ] 28.f5 e7 Better [ 28...e5 29.f6 f7 30.f4 a4 31.c1 b5 ] 29.f6 f7 30.f4 Although the strong protected enemy passed pawn is blocked in the least economical way, Black should still be winning because of his other assets: better light pieces keeping the Na3 out of play and of course the extra-pawn, but things shall become more complicated. e6 31.g5 e5 32.g3 e4 33.f4 d3 The game abruptly stops here. Although [ 33...d3 does not immediately appear decisive, White has some concrete reasons to call it a day: 34.d2 xf4 35.xf4 h6 36.h4 f5! With the idea Re4. For instance. 37.b8+ A) 37...e8 The exchange of queens probably wins but Black has to be careful: 38.xe8+ xe8 39.b2 hxg5 ( 39...e3 40.xb6! hxg5 41.hxg5 xa3 42.b8+ f7 43.b7+ e6? 44.f7 ) 40.hxg5 e6 ( 40...e5 41.xb6 e4 42.xa6 xg5+ ) 41.f2 f7 42.e2 d3! 43.xe6 xe6 44.e1 d6 45.d2 f5! 46.c2 e6 47.d3 e5 48.e1 f4 Cleans off White's kingside.; B) 37...e8! T h e f a s t e s t . 38.d6 ( 38.xb6 e1+ 39.h2 e8 40.xc5 b8+ leads to mate.) 38...e1+ 39.f2 e8 40.f4 e3+ 41.xe3 xe3 42.c2 h3-+ ] 0-1
2021 Boyd,Tristan Humphrey,Jonathan Australian Open (6) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45
05.01.2003
Trompowsky: I feel that the versatility of the Tromp is one of its main strengths and as such, the reason that so many strong players continue to employ it. Black can easily end up in strange variations of the French, Benoni or Queens Gambit, to name but a few. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 d5 An unusual way of meeting the Tromp and it seems not a 1978
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 particularly satisfactory one. 4.e5 The critical response. h6 5.e3 fd7 6.f4 Reaching a position similar to that of a French Classical. However, there are a couple of critical differences. Firstly, W hite can support his centre with his c-pawn. Secondly, the Black pawn on h6 weakens Black's kingside, which makes it harder for Black to contain White's initiative there. c5 7.c3 c6 8.f3 f5 9.exf6 White can exploit Black's weaknesses better by opening the position. xf6 10.d3 d6 11.e5 The White knight finds an excellent post. 0-0 12.0-0 cxd4 13.cxd4 d8 14.c3 f6 15.g4 Charge! e7 16.g5 e8 [ 16...hxg5 is much worse, as it opens the hfile for White's queen. 17.fxg5 and Black is not long for this world. ] 17.gxh6 gxh6 18.h1 Preparing the d e c is i ve in f il t ra t i o n a lo n g t h e g -f i le . f5 19.g1+ eg7 20.h5 h4 21.xg7+! The Black knights are the key to his king's defence. They must be removed at any cost. xg7 22.g6+ h8 23.xf5 Rg1 is coming with devastating consequences. 1-0
7...xb2 8.d1 d6 9.b5+ d7 10.xd7+ bxd7 11.ge2 White has insufficient compensation here. 0-0 12.g3 a3 13.0-0 a6 14.f4 b5 Black's extra pawn starts to make its presence felt. 15.c1 a5 16.a3 b4 17.b1 a4 Now White cannot save his structure. 18.axb4 [ 18.d2 e5 19.f4 c4 wins. ] 18...xc2 19.bxc5 desperation. [ 19.a3 xe4 leads to a hopeless ending. ] 19...xb1 20.c3 b3 21.c6 c5 22.fe1 e8 A piece down, White has no reason to continue the struggle. 0-1
2023 Breutigam,Martin Gauglitz,Gernot Bundesliga 1999-2000 (10) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2343 2390 19.02.2000
The h4 tromp continues to do good business at all levels. I would guess that Black players sim p ly d o n 't t a ke t h e m o ve h 4 se rio u s l y enough until it's too late! In the following game, W hite demonstrates, to good ef fect, how 2022 A45 tactically sharp the h4 variation can be. 1.d4 Boyd,Tristan f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.d5 d6 Xie,George 2225 A solid approach, avoiding the over-ambitious Australian Open (7) 07.01.2003 pawn grab lines that occur with 4...Qb6. 5.d3 [Aaron Summerscale] xg5 6.hxg5 b6 Black, seeing no particularly appealing way to defend h7, goes Trompowsky: From the games posted on this into counter-attack mode. Unf ortunately, site, you might get the impression that Black White has been better organised that Black, should never take the "poisoned" pawn on b2. from as early as move 4. 7.d2 The macho This game helps to redress the balance. 1.d4 m o v e ! G i v i n g u p t h e q u e e n s i d e f o r t h e f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e4 initiative. h6 A sneaky move, which the Tromp specialist [ 7.c3 is an interesting alternative ] should be wary of. 6.h4?! The wrong way! 7...xb2 8.b1 xa2 9.e4 a5 [ 6.f4 is stronger. The support of the bishop B l a c k , a l t h o u g h a l r e a d y b e h i n d i n will be needed later to help the e5 pawn development, feels strangely obliged to waste break. ] more of his valuable developmental time 6...b6 7.f3?! Too ambitious. For once, bringing his queen back to safety. 10.g6 fxg6 Black can get away with taking the poisoned 11.g3 Sneaky! This tactic is frequently seen pawn on b2. in the h4 Tromp, W hite threatens Rxh7 [ 7.d2 can lead to similar problems, followed by Qxg6+. d8 The king heads for especially if White goes for the plausible- t h e h i l l s . 12.gf3 c3 13.d3 d7 looking : xb2 8.b1? xe4! 9.xb2 At last. Black finally manages to bring another xc3 winning. ] minor piece into the game. 14.g5 e5 1979
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.f4 c4 With his king horribly trapped in the center, Black has little choice but to try a n d f o r c e a n e n d g a m e . 16.f2 xd2 17.xd2 xd2+ 18.xd2 c7 19.f7 g8 20.xh7 g5 Black embarks on a desperate bid activate his dark squared bishop. But the price paid, as we shall see, is way too high. 21.xg5 a5 22.e5 White is obliged to play actively. If Black is allowed time to organise his position, th e bishop pair an d outsid e passed pawn might swing the balance in Black's favour. g6 [ 22...e6 23.g6 is very powerful. ] 23.exd6+ xd6 24.e4+ xd5 25.b6 The "active" Black king suddenly finds himself in no-mans-land, totally out-numbered and out-gunned. c4 26.c3+ d4?? The Black king rushes to his doom but the alternative was not much better. [ 26...c5 f a l l s f o u l o f 27.a4+ d4 28.c3+ d5 29.xg6 xg6 30.xg6 f5 31.h5 when White is simply winning. ] 27.b5! F o r c i n g m a t e . cxd3 28.cxd3 Mate is inevitable on either e2 or d5. 1-0
2024 Bricard,Emmanuel Nevednichy,Vladislav Open Montpellier FRA (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2456 2593 09.07.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 The 1993 French Champion must have been slightly surprised: Before this game his Romanian opponent was well-known as the strongest advocate of the move 2...c6! 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 e5 7.f4 d6 8.f5 As recommended by theory W hite opts for the kingside bind rather than the protected passed pawn. h5! 9.f3 bd7 10.d3 a6 11.e2 e7 12.d1 c4! If White plays c4 followed by a4, it will be practically impossible to make good use of the extra b-pawn while still having to face some disagreeable pressure on the other flank. This way, Black equalizes and prevents the opponent from being able to focus his attention on the part of the board where he is the strongest. In the long term, he has even better prospects thanks to his superior pawn
s t r u c t u r e . 13.xc4 c5 14.f2 d7 15.d3 c8 16.0-0 c7 17.fc1 b5 18.a4!? After a useful prophylactic move like 18.Kh1, Black would have had to show his intentions. Possibly with the plan of transferring the king's Bishop to b6 in order to improve the position of the only piece that may not be already on its best square. bxa4 [ 18...xa4? 19.c4 ] 19.b4 a7 20.h1 a5 21.a3 0-0 22.d2 xd3 Black could have waited for this exchange but he didn't want to see a knight on c4 e xcept with th e 2 roo ks of f . 23.xd3 [ 23.cxd3 xc1+ 24.xc1 c8 25.c4 b5! ] 23...b5 24.c4 a6 25.h3 [ 25.b2 Would have thwarted Black's plan. ] 25...d7! 26.c2 [ 26.xh5 e3 ] 26...c7 27.g4 fc8 28.ac1 hxg4 29.hxg4 g5! Showing deep understanding of the position. It is important to deal with the cpawn first. 30.xd6 xd2 31.xd2 xc4 32.xc4 xc4 33.xc4 xc4 34.xe5 [ 34.f2 b6 35.e7 b3 36.g2 a3 37.xa5 a2-+ ] 34...xe5 35.xe5 e7 36.d6? [ 36.f4 ] 36...xe5 37.d7 xe4+ 38.h2 If White's queen moves from d2, Black will just need a tempo to be winning. For instance [ 38.g2 b1+ 39.h2 b8+ 40.h1 ( 40.g1 a7+ 41.h2 xd7 ) 40...d8 41.c6 a6! 42.g2 ( 42.xa4 a8+ 43.g1 d5; 42.xa6 xd7 43.xa5 d1+ 44.h2 xg4 ) 42...a3 43.xa6 xd7 44.xa5 d3-+ ] 38...e5+ 39.h3 [ 39.g1 g3+ 40.g2 e3+ 41.f2 ( 41.h2 h6+ 42.g1 b6+ 43.h1 d8 ) 41...d3 ] [ 39.g2 d5+ 40.f2 d6 ] 39...f1+ 40.h4 e7+ 41.g5! f6 [ 41...xd7?? 42.f6 g6 43.h6 ] [ 41...e1+ 42.h5 ] 42.d2 d8 43.d5+ h7 44.g3 c4 45.h1+ [ 45.c6 b8+ 46.g2 b2+ 47.g3 c3+ 48.g2 d2+ 49.g3 d5 ] 1980
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 45...g8 46.c6 b8+ 47.f2? The king has nowhere to go. If he stays on the kingside, a timely ...Bd5 will be f atal. If he tries to escape on the other side, he will collide with natural activity of the bishop on c4 supported by the a-pawns. [ 47.f3 h7!! ( 47...b3+ 48.f4 ) 48.xc4 b7+ 49.e3 xd7 With the long but surely won endgame, Black has been striving to obtain. ] 47...h2+ 48.e3 g1+ 49.d2 d4+ 50.c2 d3+ [ 50...d3+ 51.c1 ( 51.b2 a3+ ) 51...c3+ ( 51...e3+ 52.b1 d3+ 53.b2 d2+ 54.a1 e1+ 55.b2 a3+ 56.xa3 b4+ 57.a2 c4+ 58.a1 a3+ 59.b1 d3+ ) 52.d1 ( 52.b1 d3+ 53.a2 b3+ 54.a1 b1# ) 52...b3+ 53.e2 xc6 ] 0-1
2025 Brumen,Dinko Kinez,Ivo Open Pula CRO (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2403 2091 16.05.2000
Trompowsky Attack: Another Black player falls victim to the Rxh7 idea in the Tromp. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 g6 5.e5 An interesting alternative to the more common 5 Bd3. W hite f orces Black to weaken his kingside. f6 6.g3 g7 7.d3 xg3 8.hxg3 e5? Black falls for a tactic that will be familiar to those who have played the h4 Tromp. [ 8...f5 would put a temporary stop to White's tricks. However, with the g4 and c4 pawn breaks still to come, W hite retains a pleasant position. ] 9.xh7! Bang! This must have come as a shock. e4 What else? [ 9...xh7 10.xg6+ f8 11.xh7 ] 10.xh8+ xh8 11.f1 e6 12.d2 White is clearly better, due to his extra pawn, but the matter is not trivial. Black has more space and the advantage of the bishop pair. White sets out to engineer his most promising pawn break: c4. d7 13.e2 e7 14.c4 dxc4 Black gives up the center, but he hopes
to activate his bishops. 15.f4 f7 16.xc4 xc4 17.xc4 h7 18.g4 A brave and well calculated move. White dares Black to go ro o k m un chin g, in t he gra n d o ld st yle o f nineteenth century attacking chess. 0-0-0 [ 18...h1+ would have been the exciting way to exit after: 19.d2 xa1 20.xg6+ f8 ( 20...e7 21.h7+ e8 22.g6 i s t h e e n d .) 21.e6+ e7 22.xc7 leaves Black unable to adequately defend against all the threats to his king. ] 19.c1 g8 20.d5 b8 21.xe4 Another pawn bites the dust and Black can resign. f7 22.a5 f5 23.f3 c6 24.f4+ e5 25.dxe5 xd5 26.e6+ e5 27.c4 A piece is going west, so Black finally calls it a day. 1-0
2026 Brumen,Dinko Polak,Tomas 8th Cvitanovic Mem (6) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2371 2463 03.05.2003
T r o m p o ws k y: W h i t e i s r e w a r d e d f o r h i s offbeat approach to the 2...e6 Tromp. Watch out for his nice finish. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e3 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.f4 An interesting attempt to set up a stonewall, without the t r o u b l e s o m e d a r k s q u a r e d b i s h o p . g5 The critical response. 6.fxg5 hxg5 7.c3 b4 8.d2 b6 9.0-0-0 b7 10.a3 xc3 [ 10...d6 is interesting here. 11.b5 xh2 12.xh2 xh2 13.xc7+ d8 14.xa8 xa8 15.e1 leaves chances balanced. ] 11.xc3 c6 12.b1 White prepares to expand in the centre. 0-0-0 13.e4 h6 14.e2 dh8 Black is making serious inroads on the kingside, so it is time for W hite to develop so me co unterplay. 15.f3 g4 16.e5 xe5 17.dxe5 g6 18.b5 The d-file is the most likely source of initiative for White at the moment. c6 19.d4 g5 20.d6 xh2 21.hd1 Black is a pawn up with the better structure, but the initiative is what counts here. Black must proceed with extreme caution. d8?? This natural looking move is the decisive mistake. [ 21...e7 was essential when: 22.f1 c7 1981
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.d2 d8 24.f4 leaves White better but no more. ] 22.xc6! Crunch! xc6 23.xd7! 1-0
f2 37.b5 xf3 38.c4 h3 39.b6 b3 40.c6 g5 ) 30...xg2 31.xb6 d2+ 32.e5 d7 33.c4 f8 34.f6 e8 35.c5 d8 36.g7; B) 29.xd4! b2 B1) 30.g4 xh2 31.d6 f2 32.e3 c2 33.d3 f2=; 2027 A45 B2) 30.d7 xg2 31.xb7 xh2 Bruzon Batista,Lazaro 2602 32.xb6 h5 33.c4 h4 34.c5 ( 34.a6 Flores,Diego 2448 h1 35.d4 h3 36.a2 h2 37.c5 XII Guillermo Prem I (1) 21.05.2004 f8 38.e2 g5 39.b5 f5 40.b6 ) [Eric Prié] 34...h1 35.c6 c1 36.d2 B2a) 36...c4 37.e2 h3 38.f2 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ c2+ 39.g1 f8 40.b5 e7 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 41.b8 d6 42.d8+ e7 43.c8 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 b2 ( 43...d6 44.b6 xc6 45.b7 ) exf4 12.d4 c5 13.h3 More or less 44.c7+ d8 45.d7+ c8 46.b7 forcing d5 And now f6 47.b6 g5 Anyway is still equal.; [ 13...xd4? 14.cxd4 a4 15.xf4 xd4 B2b) 36...h3! 37.xc1 h2-+; 16.e3 ] B3) 30.d6 xg2 31.xb6 xh2 14.e4! fxe3 32.xb7 h5 33.c4 In this way White has [ 14...e3?! Transposes into the Leroy-Le won several tempi in the race and is Quang note in the game Marzolo-Mamedov ] ready to launch his c-pawn. h1 15.c4 c7 16.f4 0-0 B3a) 34.c5 c1 35.d2 ( 35.c7 [ 16...xd4 17.cxd4 0-0 18.e2 e8 h4 ) 35...c4 36.e2 h4 37.f1 c2 19.hc1 ] 38.b6 f8 39.c6 h3 40.g1 e7 17.0-0-0 d5 41.b5 d6 42.b7 f6 43.d7+ c5 [ 17...b5 18.xb5 xb5 19.xb5 xa2 44.b7 d6=; 20.b1 a7 21.xd7 b5 22.xc8 xc8 B3b) 34.a7!! h4 35.d4 h3 36.a2 23.d5 "White has a clear plus. Blacks h2 37.c5 f8 38.e2! g5 39.b5 f5 pawns on e3 and b5 are weak and the white 40.b6 g4 41.fxg4 fxg4 42.b2!+pieces control important squares in the The final touch. ] centre." Boris Alterman for ChessBase. Well, e3 eventually fell signing Black's defeat in 24.xf5 a3 25.g1! The point of the trap that Black must have overlooked! g6 Hodgson,J-Sutovsky,E York 1999 ] [ 25...d2+ 26.e1 b2 27.d5 ] 18.xd5 xd5 19.xd5 d8 20.e2 f5 21.he1 White is slightly better, intending 26.e5 d2+ 27.e1 c5 28.d4 d3 Ng3-e4 for the same reason as exposed in the 29.e2 xc3 30.d1 a b o v e g a m e o f H o d g s o n ' s , b u t m o r e 1-0 importantly sets a cunning trap for the opponent. xd5?! 22.xd5 xa2 23.d1! 2028 A45 xb2? [ 23...g6! i s t h e o n l y c h a n c e , 24.d4 Bruzon Batista,Lazaro 2603 ( 24.b4? c2+! 25.c1 d3 26.xd3 Nijboer,Friso 2586 a1+ 27.c2 xe1 ) 24...a1+ ( 24...xd4 GMB Wijk aan Zee NED (3) 13.01.2004 25.xd4 xb2 26.g4 e6 27.xe3 xh2 [Eric Prié] 28.b4 Then may be the best defensive attempt. ) 25.e2 d3+ 26.xe3 xe1+ 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 27.xd3 b1 28.b4 xd4 5.d2 b6 6.e4 e5 7.f4 d6 8.f3 bd7 A) 29.xd4 b2 30.d6 ( 30.d8+ g7 9.fxe5 dxe5 10.c4 This is the normal move 31.b8 d2+! 32.c4 xg2 33.xb7 for which there are pros and cons, for instance xh2 34.xb6 h5 35.c5 h4 36.a6 ...Nb6 at some point attacking the bishop. In 1982
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 our previous reference game, Kanep developed this bishop to e2!? (after Rb1, Qd8) which was a novelty enabling the typical use of the c4 square for the Nf3, via d2, but also the counter sacrifice ...c5-c4 for the opponent. e7 If Black wants to play this move, which means that he will first use his queen as a blockader against White's d-pawn in order to avoid the problems resulting from the pin on the d8-h4 diagonal, I reckon he has to try [ 10...a6!? First. 11.0-0 e7 ( 11...c7 but Black will have to constantly watch out f o r t h e p a wn m o ve d 5 - d 6 d a n g e r o u s l y opening the Bc4's diagonal... as in this game! ) 12.b1 d6 13.a4 0-0 14.h4?! b6 15.a2 ( 15.e2 fxd5! 16.exd5 xh4 ) 15...c4! ( 15...fxd5?? 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 xh4 18.g5! xg5 19.xf7+ xf7 20.xd6+- )] [ 10...d6 11.h4! 0-0 ( 11...g6 12.0-0 W ith the idea Qf3) 12.f5 a6 13.0-0 Bruzon,L ] 11.b1 d8 12.g5 h6? [ 12...d6 As I have already said, and as we have seen some months ago, White's space advantage and the strong protected passed pa wn o f f e r him go o d co m pe n sa t io n , in practical play and this assessment will not be drastically altered by the loss of a tempo in a closed position. I don't know if this tempting variation will be acknowledged by theory as White's best choice against the critical (and wild) 2...c5 Tromp in the future, (Personally I prefer the calmer waters of 3. dxc5...) but I am pretty sure that a change in the deeply unclear character of the position is not just around the corner! ] [ 12...a5 13.d2 a6 14.0-0 0-0 15.a4 Is t h e d e f e n ce in d ica t e d b y t h e Cu b a n player. ] 13.d6!! hxg5 14.xg5 0-0 15.0-0 b6 [ 15...xd6 16.xd6 b6 ( 16...e8 17.d5! xd5 18.xd5 f6 19.xf6 ) 17.xf7+ h8 18.xe5 d4+ 19.xd4 cxd4 20.e2+- ] 16.dxe7 xe7 17.xb6!! Preparation? axb6 18.d5! xd5 19.h5 xg5 Black has to give up the queen to avoid mate and that would be OK for him, considering the material a n d t h e s t ru c t u r e , wit h go o d b l o cka d in g
possibilities, if only W hite did not keep a surprising mating attack somehow. [ 19...f6 20.xf6 ] 20.xg5 f4 21.xe5 e6 22.xf4! xc4 23.h5 xa2 24.h4 a1+ 25.f2 f5? [ 25...f6 26.h7+ f7 27.g4 g8 28.e5! This lateral attack of the bishop is the key idea. f1+ ( 28...e6 29.g6! Threatening Rxf6+ fxe5 30.xe6 xe6 31.xg8+; 28...b5 29.xc4! bxc4 30.e6+ f8 31.g6 ) 29.g3 e6 30.g6+ f8 ( 30...e7 31.d3! xg4 32.xg4! f2 The rook hangs and 32...Re1 leads to the same finish as in the main line. 33.d6+ f7 34.d5+ g6 35.xg8+- ) 31.d3 xg4 ( 31...e1 32.d6+ f7 33.c7+ f8 34.a4 ) 32.xg4! e1 33.d8+ f7 34.d5+ f8 35.e6 g6 36.d7 g7 37.d8# ] 26.h7+ f7 27.exf5 1-0
2029 Buckley,Simon T Rayner,Francis Open Portsmouth ENG (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2266 2216 22.02.2003
Trompowsky: White shows the right way to get to grips with this increasingly popular offbeat try for Black. The thrust of the e-pawn leaves Black's structure in tatters. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 c5 4.d5 The correct approach. d6 5.c3 e7 6.b5+ A useful check, simply designed to weaken Black's structure. d7 7.dxe6 fxe6 8.e5!? Splitting Black's structure in two. dxe5 9.e2 c6 10.0-0-0 P r e s s u r e i s t h e n a m e o f t h e g a m e . d5 11.h5+ g6 12.xe7 xe7 13.f3 d4?! [ 13...f8 looks stronger here. ] 14.xd5 exd5 15.xd7+ xd7 16.f6 Now the second player's position begins to look very shaky indeed. f8 17.xe5+ e6 18.e1 d7 19.c3 After this simple White move, his opponent must lose at least a pawn. f7 This attempt to trap White rebounds, but there was a lack of good alternatives. [ 19...xe5 would have been the safest, but the ending after: 20.xe5 e6 21.xd5+ holds no joy for Black. ] 1983
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.cxd4 ae8 21.f3 The White queen cannot be safely captured, which leaves White in the pleasant situation of being a piece ahead. 1-0
2030 Buhmann,Rainer Van Veen,Oscar ch U20 op Hengelo (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2416 08.08.2000
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e6 8.b1 c7 9.b5+ I know it is theory, or more exactly I discovered it was, but despite some impressive successes (like this present game), I do not fully understand the utility of this move if W h ite want s to ta ke on e 6 lat er. According to me, it only gives Black a free tempo in developme nt and I would much rather play 9.dxe6 even if it gives Black's queen knight the c6 square which did not prove very effective in the game PuschmannAdzic last month. bd7 10.e2!? [ 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.f3 a6 12.g5? For the other alternatives, see the next game. axb5 13.xe6 c6 14.d5 a4! The key move, like in the Sveshnikov! 15.0-0 xe4 16.dc7+ e7 17.e1 b4 18.xb4 cxb4 19.xb4 c5 20.f5 xe6 21.xe6 xe6 0-1 Bondarenko,V-Scherbin,D RUS ChT Podolsk 1993 ] 10...a6 11.e5 The critical moment. axb5? [ 11...dxe5 12.dxe6 ( 12.fxe5? xd5 13.xd5 exd5 14.e6 fxe6 15.xe6+ e7 16.g5 d6-+ ) 12...fxe6 13.fxe5 A) 13...axb5 Now! 14.xb5 c6 15.exf6 xf6 16.f4! ( 16.f3 d6 17.c3 0-0 ) A1) 16...d5 17.e5! ( 17.h5+ g6 18.e5 g8 19.c4 xf4 20.c7+ d8 21.d1+ d7 22.xa8 xg2+ 23.f2 h4 ); A2) 16...xa2 Obviously more with the idea of absconding from the fork, while preparing some possible counter play along the 2nd rank, than counting material. 17.c7+ ( 17.c3 d5 18.xa2 xf4 ) 17...f7 18.f3 a4
19.0-0 xc2 20.d2 I do not like the look of this position for Black, but probably White has not enough for the 3 p a wn s a f t e r ( 20.g5+ g8 21.f3 d7! 22.xb7 xg2+! 23.xg2 xg2+ 24.xg2 c6+ 25.g1 xb7 ) 20...d6; B) 13...d5 14.xd5 exd5 15.e6 axb5 16.exd7+ xd7 17.f3 d6 18.0-0 e8! ( 18...b4 19.e5+! xe5 20.f7+ c6 21.xc7+ xc7 22.c4 ) 19.xb5+ c6 20.b2 c7 21.xg7+ b8 A strange position! Somehow, Black managed to d e ve l o p a l l h i s p i e c e s , i n c l u d i n g h i s queen's rook directly along its original file!! Consequently, and despite the still wild character of the position, he should be slightly better with his 2 bishops and his predominance in the centre. ] [ 11...xd5? 12.xd5 exd5 13.exd6+ A classic and the idea behind White's 10th move ] 12.xb5 b8 [ 12...d8 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.exd6! f7 15.c7 xa2? ( 15...b6! 16.xb6 xa2 ) 16.xe6+ g6 17.f5+ h5 18.e2+ g4 19.h3 h4+ 20.g3! In order to open the h file with check. xg3+ 21.d1 leads to a quick mate. ] 13.exf6 xf6 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.f3 h6? With his queen exiled and stalemated (!), far away from the center of the action (even if, at the moment, his pawns seem to provide a barrier against the attack), you do not need to be a genius to realize that this position is highly hazardous for Black! And in such a situation every tempo is precious. [ 15...xa2 16.g5 xc2 ( 16...a4 17.c3 ) 17.xe6 xe6 18.xe6+ e7 19.d1! The black rook is trapped! xd2+ 20.xd2 ] [ 15...e7! Obvious development could have saved Black: 16.g5 0-0 17.xe6 xe6 18.xe6+ f7 19.c3! ( 19.0-0? d5 ) 19...c8 20.xc8+ ( 20.b3? c4 ) 20...xc8 21.xf6 xf6 22.0-0 a8 is about equal. ] 16.d3! f7 17.0-0 e7 Too late. 18.c3!! Disaster is now unavoidable after a knight's bound onto the 5th rank, opening the f file... d8 As Black first had to parry the rather 1984
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 original threat: [ 18...d5 19.e5+! dxe5 ( 19...g8 20.g6 h7 21.xe7+ xe7 22.xd6 ) 20.xe5 Wins the black queen as the 'stale' has gone! ] [ 18...xa2 19.e5+! ( 19.g5+? hxg5 20.fxg5 d5 ) 19...dxe5 20.fxe5 A) 20...a6 21.f3 c4 22.h5+! g6 23.xf6+! xf6 24.f3; B) 20...d8 21.h7!; C) 20...c4 21.d4 Anything wins 21.Qxc4, Qf3 while this one looks like the most precise. xc2 ( 21...d8 22.h4 c5+ 23.h1 e3 24.h5+ ) 22.exf6 gxf6 23.xf6+! e8 24.g6 f8 25.xc4 d7 26.c7+ d8 27.xe6+ xe6 28.xe6+-; D) 20...h5 With the idea of the lateral defence Rh6, Black's position is hopeless anyway 21.exf6 gxf6 22.xf6 xf6 23.d6+ e7 24.xf6! xd6 ( 24...xf6 25.f1+ e7 26.f7+ d8 27.xc8+ xc8 28.d7# ) 25.f7+ xf7 26.xd6+- ] 19.g5+! And the 'echo variation'... hxg5 20.fxg5 h8 21.gxf6 gxf6 22.xf6! xf6 23.xd6+ e7 24.xf6 1-0
2031 Carlsen,Magnus Aronian,Levon FIDE WCh KO Tripoli LBA (1.4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2552 2645 20.06.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 [ 5.d2 d5 ( 5...c6!? 6.f3 b4 7.c3 e7 )] 5...b4! In my opinion this is the big problem of this important line of the Tromp for White. "I have never trusted this bishop move for Black as it more or less commits him to it's exchange when he will struggle to find c o m p e n s a t io n f o r W h it e ' s ce n t r a l sp a c e advantage" (Aaron Summerscale). And that statement was well demonstrated in the only game (Vegh-Forarasi FSGM Budapest 2000) he ventured to comment on this line, when Black duly won in 29 (long) moves... W ell,
tastes and colours anyway, at least I and Mrs Theory radically disagree on that statement! 6.d2 d6 [ 6...c5 is also interesting but compels Black to give back the bishop immediately while reinforcing W hite's center. 7.a3 xc3 8.bxc3 b6 ] 7.ge2 A novelty at this stage. White 'waits' for Black's next move hoping that this prophylactic strategy will limit his options. [ 7.a3 a5 is 'theory' and on 8.f4 xc3! The antidote which was found only 5 years ago. 9.bxc3 e5 Note that when Black plays this move, which is nothing less than his go a l in t h is l i n e , t h e n o t i o n o f ' c e n t r a l predominance' becomes 'relatively relative'. 10.g3 0-0 Black has equalized effortlessly and a possible continuation is 11.f3 g4! 12.dxe5 e7 13.g2 xf3 14.xf3 dxe5 This is mainly the reason why White had to explore new paths like Hodgson's 5.c3 in the 2...e6 Tromp. ] 7...c6! The choice had been reduced but there was still this excellent move as White's main idea was to transpose into: [ 7...e5 8.a3 a5 ( 8...exd4 9.axb4 dxc3 10.xc3 xc3+ 11.xc3 ) 9.b4! b6 10.d5 d8 11.d1 exd4 12.xd4 Like in a game of Spanish specialist Romero Holmes, convincingly won by the latter. ] [ And there again on 7...c6 8.a3 a5 The knight taking back on c3 dissuades Black from exchanging on c3 even more. 9.b4! c7 10.a4 0-0 11.a5 With a big advantage for White according to German GM Rainer Knaak. ] 8.a3 xc3 9.xc3 9.Nxc3 is of course impossible because d4 is hanging and likewise 8.0-0-0 because of f2. 0-0 10.f4 e5! 11.dxe5 [ 11.d5 d4 12.xd4 exd4 ] 11...dxe5 12.f5 g6?! I do not like this plan. [ 12...d8 With the idea ...b6, ...Ba6 or ... Bb7, leaving W hite to cope with the development of his kingside on his own looked more simple... 13.g3 b6 14.d3 b7 15.0-0 d6 ] 13.g4 h5!? 14.h3 [ 14.g3!? hxg4 15.xg4 ] 14...d8 15.e3 b6 16.g5?! Now that e4 was protected, Why not 1985
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 16.fxg6! xg6 17.gxh5 xh5 18.g1+ Where the opening of lines on the kingside seems more dangerous for the black king than for his homologue left in the center. ] 16...d6 17.c3 d4! 18.xd4 xd4 19.0-0-0 gxf5 20.c4 g7 [ 20...f4! 21.g6 ( 21.d5 e6 ) 21...e6 And White has no compensation whatsoever for the sacrificed pawn. ] 21.exf5 xf5 22.hf1 f8 23.h4 c6 [ 23...xc2 24.de1 b3 ] 24.e2! xe2+ 25.xe2 g6 It was impossible to defend h5 and prevent the intrusion of the rook on d7, synonym of counter chances. 26.d7 ad8! 27.xa7 d4 28.h1 fd8 29.e7 8d5? [ 29...d2 30.d3 xd3 31.cxd3 ( 31.xd2? e4+ ) 31...f2 ( 31...8xd3 32.f1 )] 30.d3? [ 30.c4! d7 ( 30...c5? 31.b4 ) 31.xe5 d2 32.d1 ] 30...xd3 31.cxd3 f4 32.d2 e4 33.e3 f3+ 34.e2 dxd3 35.xe4 b3 36.a4 c5 37.e7 f4 After all these ups and downs, and twists and turns, we would have liked to say "And the rest is just a matter of t e c h n i q u e " . . . W e l l , n o ! 38.b7 xb2+ 39.e3 bb4? [ 39...xa4 40.f1 b3+ 41.d2 a2+ 42.c1 a1+ 43.c2 xf1 44.xb3 b1+-+ ] 40.g1 be4+ 41.d3 d4+ 42.e3 de4+ 43.d3 g4? [ 43...xh4 44.g6 hg4 45.xg4 xg4 46.gxf7 xa4 47.xb6 xf7 ] 44.f1 gf4 45.xf4 xf4 46.xb6 xa4 47.c6 xh4 48.xc5 g4 49.e3 g6 50.f3 xg5 51.c6+ f6 I know that this ending with 2 pawns f and h should be a theoretical draw, but, (like Carlssen?) I never got to seriously study its details. 52.c4 g1 53.c8 g4 54.g8+ f5 55.h8 g5 56.h6 e5 57.h8 f5+ 58.e3 d5 59.a8 e6 60.a7 b5 61.f4 b4+ 62.f3 f5 63.a5+ g6 64.a8 h4 65.a5 b3+ 66.g4 h3 67.g5+ f7 [ 67...fxg5? is stalemate! ] 68.h5 e6 69.h8 c3 70.f4 f7 71.g4 g6 72.f4 c2 73.g3 h2 74.f3 f5 75.h5+ e6 76.h8 e5
77.e8+ d4 78.d8+ c3 79.h8 d2 80.g3 d3 81.f3 c2 82.g3 d1 And this is the way the young Norwegian prodigy, only 13 years old, who had gained his presence in Tripoli thanks to the (fully legitimate) attribution of a wild card, was eliminated, in the first round, in the tiebreak rapid games, by the 2002 W orld Junior champion. 0-1
2032 Cebalo,Miso Brkic,Ante TCh-CRO Rabat CRO (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2482 2427 25.06.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 exf4 12.d4 Instead of the classical compensation, for one pawn, of a lead in development and the initiative combined with a completely repaired structure after 11... dxc6!? 12. Bxe5 Be6 (that we thoroughly examined recently and against which I have found no riposte so much so that it made me drop the Tromp in my latest games!) , here Black generally opts for active play generated by a strong pair of bishops and his opponent's worries on the dark squares to make up for his horrible pawn structure. d5 A natural move: Black prevents any Nh3 attacking his f4 pawn and gains space. 13.g3 This entire variation revolves around one and only theme of undermining Black's nail on f4, but this move, in this configuration, is clearly inferior to 13.e3! as we shall see next and such a fine ending specialist as the former no.1 Croatian player got nothing (and even less than that...) with it twice. d6 14.b5 e5 15.gxf4 xf4 16.e3 e5 17.h3 Alternatives: [ 17.f4 b8 18.h3 0-0 19.xc8 xc8 20.f3 e8 21.d2 g4 22.bd4 ( 22.he1 xe3! 23.xe3 xf4 24.ae1 xe3 25.xe3 e8 ) 22...xe3 23.f5 f4 24.d3 c4 25.c2 e5 26.h3 xf3 27.xf3 e3 1/2-1/2 Cebalo,M (2475) Isonzo,D (2336) St Vincent op 2004 ] [ 17.d3!? 0-0 18.e2 e8 19.f2 d7 1986
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.ed4 ( 20.bd4!? c6 21.g3 d7 22.hd1 c5 23.c2 a4 24.xa4 xa4 25.d2 ) 20...c6= Curien,N (2218) -Cebalo, M (2527) Davos op 2004 1/2 (69) Quite funny to note that consecutive to his last fruitless experience with the line, he adopted it with Black no less than 2 months later! ] 17...e6 18.xe6 fxe6 19.f4 b8 20.f3 0-0! [ 20...d7 21.g1 g6 22.a3 e8 23.0-0-0 e5 This plan also seems to work quite well with the king in the centre. 24.fxe5 xe5 25.b1 d6 26.xd6 xd6 27.c4? ( 27.d3= ) 27...xe3 28.g5 f8 29.cxd5 e5 Turner,M (2491)-Ftacnik, L (2608) Hastings 2000. ] 21.g1 e8! 22.bd4 White is not in a position to prevent the forthcoming pawn b r e a k , w h i c h i s e q u a l i z i n g , a t l e a s t : e5 23.fxe5 xe5 24.xe5 xe5 25.c2 a4! 26.g2 h4 27.0-0-0 eh5 28.dd2 f7 I guess Black is already slightly better... [ 28...g4 29.c4! dxc4 30.d8+ f7 31.d7+ With counter play ] ½-½
enemy pieces. [ 16...g6 ] 17.dxe6 fxe6 18.0-0 f6 19.e3 e7 20.a4 c7 [ 20...g5 21.h3 h6 22.fd1 ] 21.fd1 b5 22.xb5! xb5 23.xb5 b8 24.c6 b7 25.c7 d5 26.exd5 exd5 27.xd5 xd5 28.xd5 b1+ 29.f1 e6 30.c8+ e7 31.g5+ f6 32.e5 Just as good as the mate in 2 since provoking the same abrupt interruption of the game! 1-0
2034 Cebalo,Miso Tseshkovsky,Vitaly World Seniors (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2483 2552 03.11.2009
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6!? 3.xf6 exf6 4.c4 f5!? Experimenting with 2...c6 ... 5.c3 a6 6.e3 b5 7.a3 g6 8.g3 bxc4 So White will not expand and advance his pawn to c5 as in the f irst game . 9.xc4 d5 For aesthetic reasons, I would have loved that this move be a reasonable one the go before... and also if 2033 A45 White's best reply had then been specifically d6 Cebalo,Miso 2505 c4-c5 instead of c4xd5... ! 10.e2 Guido,Flavio 2323 11.f3 d7 12.c1 0-0 13.a4 b6 XXVI Open A Bratto ITA (3) 21.08.2006 14.c5 e7 15.0-0 h5 16.e1 a5 17.b3 b8 18.c3 It is the weakness of his a-pawn [Eric Prié] rather than the backward c-pawn that 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ eventually questions the viability of Black's 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.e4 xb2 8.d2 original concept. g5 xc3 9.c7 d6! 10.e2 e3! 11.c4 [ 18...a8!? 19.b3 a4 ( 19...a4 g5?! Similar reasoning to the next game 20.a5 ) 20.xc6 d7 21.c2 with 10...Qe5 instead of 10...Qe3. For better ( 21.xd5?? b6 22.b7 fb8 ) or for worse, the sole more or less stable 21...fb8 ] square of retreat for the black queen is h6. 19.h4 f6 20.g2 g7 21.a6 12.a5! a6 13.d2 g6 14.f4 g5 [ 21.a6! And Black's position collapses. [ 14...h6 was better on principle, keeping b7 22.xc6 ] the possibility of ...g7-g5. 15.h4 d7 21...xc5 16.b1 ] [ 21...f4 ] 15.b1 d7 22.xc8 fxc8 23.dxc5! [ 15...h6!? Still and possibly White has no [ 23.xc5 c4! ( 23...a4? 24.c2 more than a perpetual against the black xb2 25.hxg5 fxg5 26.xf5 )] queen. ] 23...c4 24.b3 e5 16.e2 e5? Now, the opening of the position [ 24...xa3 Put some pressure on White, is fatal to Black who will rapidly lose d6 which however 25.d3! f4 26.exf4 gxf4 27.d4 opens a boulevard towards his king for the W ith the threat Nf5, Ne7+ h8 28.f5! 1987
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 To improve your chess (over the board...) you have to be able to detect the existence of such winning attacking possibilities and analyse its mechanism. For instance fxg3 29.xc6!! gxf2+ ( 29...a8 30.e7 h6 31.e5! fxe5 32.xe5+ g8 33.xd5+ h8 34.e6 g7 35.xh5+ g8 36.g6 ) 30.xf2 xc6 ( 30...a8 31.e7 h6 32.e5 d2+ 33.f3 ) 31.xh5+ h7 32.e8+ xe8 33.xe8+ g8 34.xc6 ] 25.xe5 fxe5 26.hxg5 e8 27.h1 f7? [ 27...xg5 Was the most resistant. 28.h4 g6! The b3 weakness could also be hit f r o m t h i s d i a g o n a l w i t h Q b 1 + 29.ch1 ( 29.c2 g7 30.ch1 f4; 29.xa5 xb3 30.a4 b2 31.ch1 f4 32.exf4 eb8 W ith the horrible threat . ..Rxf 2 + 33.f1 8b3 34.h3 ) 29...f4! It seems this is bound to fail with such a weak black king, ... b u t t h e c e n t re , t h e a ct i vit y . . . ! 30.xh5 ( 30.1h3!? d4 31.exd4 e4+ 32.h2 e2 33.c4+ xc4 34.bxc4 exd4 35.xf4 d3 36.xh5 Stopping the promotion because of a mate in 2 threat... g7 37.g4+ f6 38.h6+ e5 And nothing is clear 39.d6 ed8 40.gd4 xd6 41.xd6 b3 42.a4 e4 ) 30...e4+ ( 30...fxg3 31.f3 ) 31.f3 xe3 32.h8+ ( 32.c2 e4 33.g5+ f7 34.f5+ g7 ) 32...f7 33.1h7+ f6 34.h6+ f5 ( 34...e7? 35.8h7+ f8 36.xa5 Black gets mated immediately when the white queen comes into play, missing the perpetual by one tempo.) 35.h5+ f6 36.8h6+ f7 Keeping the g-file available for a black rook is essential 37.h7+ f6 38.5h6+ g5! ( 38...f5? 39.f7+ g5 40.gxf4+ exf4 41.g7# ) 39.gxf4+ xf4 40.xc6 g8! ( 40...d4? 41.g7+ h5 42.e1 ) 41.f2! g6! And the game continues in an ocean of complications. ] 28.h4 d4 29.exd4 xb3 30.c4 xc4 31.xc4 e4 32.c2 d3 33.xh5 xd4 34.h6 Now its over. e3 [ 34...c8 35.d6 d5 36.f1 f7 37.e2 e7 38.xd5 cxd5 39.e3 ] 35.e2 d2 36.f3 xe2 [ 36...exf2 37.xe8+ f7 38.g2 xe8 39.xc6 f7 40.f6+ g7 41.xf5 c2 42.c6 a4 43.f4 ]
37.xe2 exf2+ 38.xf2 b8 39.f3 g7 40.xc6 b3+ 41.f4 xa3 42.a6 a4 43.xf5 f3+ 44.e6 a3 45.g4 d3 46.e5 g3 47.d5 f7 48.g6+ g7 49.c4 xg4+ 50.b3 With a g-pawn to take and another white pawn outside 'the square' on c5, Black cannot play the king ending. g1 [ 50...g5 51.b4 like in case of 50...Rg3+ ] 51.xa3 xg6 52.c4 f7 53.e3 1-0
2035 Chakov,Plamen Todorov,Todor chT Varna (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2355 2315 1995
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e6 8.b1 Compared to the previous game which saw [ 8.dxe6 immediately, where the provenance of the games was split 50-50 between the proper 7...e6 and the confusing 7...e5. After 6...d6, the theory seems different for these two moves - the latter provoking the i n t e r m e d i a t e r o o k ' s m o ve i n t h e g r e a t majority of cases! Maybe it has something to do with the different psychological impression caused by the 2 moves, one pawn reaching the 5th, the other one not? With the white player's state of mind feeling more 'full of drive' with Black's queen bishop momentarily blocked by the pawn? Well, this a kind of a mystery to me anyway, for I have always been told, not to chase away (and therefore replace...) an enemy piece that was misplaced. And the black queen seems, he re , t o co rre sp o n d t o t h is ca se . . . fxe6 9.e5!? On general grounds, I would rather advise direct play to profit from the fact that the Black queen does not control e5. dxe5 10.fxe5 A) 10...fd7 Does not allow White to activate his queen but accentuates the development problems. 11.f3 ( 11.d3? xe5 12.h5+ f7 13.f3 g6 ) 11...e7 12.c4 0-0 13.0-0 c6 14.e2 b6 15.g5! With big worries for Black. Look at his queenside!; 1988
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 10...d5 11.d3 g6 12.g4 B1) 12...b4 13.xg6+ hxg6 14.xg6+ d7 15.d1! ( 15.0-0-0 c7 16.f6 c4! 17.xh8? d3+! 18.cxd3 a3+ 19.c2 b2# ) 15...c7 16.f6 xc2+ 17.f1 h7 ( 17...g8 18.f7+ ) 18.xf8 d7 is less clear; B2) 12...d7 13.b1 c7 14.f3 On the other hand, is really perilous for Black who was lost at some point in the game Arduman,C-Gombac,J Nova Go rica 2 0 01 o p 0 -1 (4 9 ) ho we ver. . . ( 14.xd5!? exd5 15.xg6+ d8 )] 8...c7 9.dxe6!? fxe6 10.f3 a6 11.e5?! Seems a bit strange now, in connection with Rb1 and I would not recommend this move at this stage but rather 11.Bc4 as in the last ga m e o f t h e u p d a t e . I n co m p a riso n wit h Arduman-Gombac, given in the notes, this move does not have the same effect now for, with a knight already developed on f3, the W hite queen cannot 'weigh' on Black's k i n g s i d e i n q u i t e t h e s a m e w a y . . . dxe5 12.fxe5 fd7! The pressure on White's e5 changes the evaluation. 13.e2 [ 13.d3 xe5 ] 13...e7! 14.0-0 0-0 15.g5 xg5 [ 15...xf3 16.xe7 xc3 17.d6 d8 18.d3 is not that clear. ] 16.xg5 xe5 17.ce4 c6 18.d3 xf1+ 19.xf1 f6! 20.f3! [ 20.xf6+ gxf6 21.xh7 f5! The point 22.g5 e3+ ] 20...h6! [ 20...d4 21.xf6+ gxf6 22.h5 A) 22...xg5? 23.xh7+! ( 23.e8+ g7 24.e7+ g8 25.e8+= ) 23...f8 24.g6 f3+ 25.h1 e5 26.h8+ e7 27.e8+ d6 28.d8+ d7 ( 28...d7 29.d1+ c6 30.e4+ b5 31.xa8 ) 29.d1+ c6 ( 29...e5 30.c7# ) 30.e4+ b5 31.xb7! xb7 32.xd7+ b6 33.b1+ a5 34.xb7+-; B) 22...f3+ 23.xf3 xg5 24.d1 Black is actually two pawns up but it is not easy to see how he will develop his queen's bishop... ] [ 20...c4? 21.xc4! d4+ 22.h1 xc4 23.xf6+ gxf6 24.xf6 e5 25.f1 d7 26.f7 xf1+ 27.xf1 f8 28.h6+ g7
29.c1 f4 30.h3! xh6? 31.g3 ] 21.h3? [ 21.xf6+ Still offered an occasion for Black to go astray: A) 21...xf6? 22.h5 d7 23.f1! d4+ ( 23...e8 24.g4 e7 25.xe6+! xe6 26.h7+ h8 27.f8+ g8 28.xg8#; 23...xg5? 24.f7+ h8 25.f8+! xf8 26.xf8# ) 24.h1 e5 25.f3 xf3 26.xf3 g6!! The incredible 'Fritzian' defence freeing the g7 square for the queen! 27.xg6 h8 28.xb7 g8; B) 21...gxf6! 22.e4 f5 23.f2 b4 ] 21...xe4 22.xe4 c4-+ Unless the game a c t u a ll y s t o p p e d h e re , wh ic h i s e n t i re l y plausible to me, the rest is not available and this has absolutely no importance whatever the result (...1-0) in the base is. Black wins a piece and the opposing attack is gone. 0-1
2036 Chernyshov,Konstantin Bae,Torstein Olomouc (9.5) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2534 2420 07.08.2012
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 c5 [ It's worth comparing what follows with 3...h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d5 6.e5 d8 . If you look this position up in the Archive you'll see that White invariably continues A) but presumably Chernyshov would have gone 7.f4!? . After c5 White is pretty much a whole tempo up on our main game, but I still don't entirely buy his ambitious concept: for example, 8.f3 c6 9.bd2 ( 9.d3 b6 , and if 10.d2 d7 , is a typical inconvenience in such French positions) 9...g5! when it already feels like Black has seized the initiative, since the e5-pawn rapidly becomes rather weak if White tries 10.fxg5 hxg5 11.dxc5 xc5 12.b3 b6 .; B) 7.f3 , ] 4.xf6?! An amazing move and one which I've never even considered before. White, of course, usually pushes either centre pawn forwards and to give away the bishop-pair without waiting for h6 does look like madness. 1989
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Chernyshov is a fan of a number of offbeat systems and, as here, he does well enough with them, but still every bone in my body tells me this move must be a mistake. xf6 5.c3 d5 By no means the only move, but heading for a French-like structure makes good sense when compared with the massively more established variation I mentioned above. 6.e5 [ One might have thought that 6.exd5 exd5 7.f3 was White's idea, aiming for some sort of French Tarrasch where Black may have the bishop-pair, but probably isn't yet better. Chernyshov, however, has something more ambitious in mind. ] 6...d8 7.f4 [ Again, the most ambitious choice and technically a novelty. In a predecessor game 7.a3 c6 ( 7...b6 8.d2 c6 9.f3 c4!? was hardly a shabby alternative) 8.f3 d7 9.e2 f6 10.exf6 xf6 11.0-0 cxd4 12.cxd4 d6 13.c3 g5! had seen Black seizing the initiative in K.Meyer-Joachim, Bad Zwesten 2002. ] 7...g5?! [ The desire to punish White's seemingly ridiculous opening is understandable, but Bae quickly regrets this rush of blood to the head. Simple and strong would have been 7...c6 8.f3 b6 when 9.d2 leaves the knight on b1 struggling a little to develop ( a n d n e i t h e r i s 9.b3 exactly going to scare Black. In either case he will develop rapidly with some combination of ...Bd7, ...Be7, .. .0-0, ... Rac8 and ...f6, obtaining at the very least easy equality and quite probably more. )] 8.h3! Having lured his opponent into a wild, original position, Chernyshov the Grandmaster begin to play. I rather fancy Black may even have missed this move, but once you see it, it makes very good sense. gxf4 [ Black is quickly worse after this, so perhaps 8...g4!? deserved attention, when 9.f2 ( 9.xg4 cxd4 10.h5 e7 looks more ambitious than good for W hite) 9...h5 10.dxc5 xc5 11.d3 b6 would result in some unusual piece placements, with the chances likely roughly level. ] 9.b5+! d7 [ Easy to criticise when one sees what
follows, but 9...c6 10.0-0 b6 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.f2 echoes the game and also looks rather dangerous for Black to me. Not only is he vulnerable on f7, but that lightsquared bishop may struggle to influence the struggle for quite a few moves. ] 10.xd7+ xd7 11.0-0 b6 12.f2 0-0-0 [ Clearly 12...h6? 13.h5 had to be avoided, ] [ but perhaps 12...cxd4 13.cxd4 xe5!? 14.dxe5 c5 wasn't as ridiculous as it may at first appear. After, say, 15.e2 0-0 16.c3 xf2+ 17.xf2 f6 18.exf6 xf6 Black's position is a little loose, but at least his rooks have some files to use on the kingside. ] 13.b3! Another excellent move from the Russian Grandmaster. If the queens come off Black will struggle for counterplay (...f6 would leave e6 very weak), and W hite will slowly increase the pressure on the kingside. c7 14.a3 a6 15.xf4 f6! An essential break for freedom and to keep Black very much in the game. 16.exf6 d6 17.f3 xh2+ 18.h1 hg8 19.e1 The position is rapidly becoming critical. Black can point to White's two knights on the rim and the fact that the white king is down to a pawn shield of just one, but will those factors compensate for the p r e s s u r e d o w n t h e c e n t r a l f i l e s ? xf6! 20.xf6 xg2!? [ In this most critical of positions Bae once again plumps for the most ambitious continuation. The alternative was 20...g7 when 21.f2 ( or 21.c2 xf6 22.xh2 cxd4 23.cxd4+ b8 followed by placing a rook on the c-file) 21...g3 22.c2 xf2 23.xf2 df8 would have left the black major pieces quite actively placed and with everything to play for. ] 21.fxe6? [ Underestimating his opponent's threats. Correct was 21.xg2 g3+ 22.f1 d3+ 23.e2 xh3+ 24.e1 h4+ 25.ff2 whe n W h it e is a ro ok ah ea d, bu t ba dly pinned. Best play from here appears to be f8! ( 25...g3? 26.b6 doesn't give Black enough ) 26.b6 ( 26.c2? g3 t h r e a t e n s a r a t h e r n a s t y c h e c k o n h 1) 26...f6 when 27.xc5+ b8 28.b5! axb5 29.e7 g3 30.d8+ a7 31.a5+ 1990
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 sees White prudently forcing a draw. ] 21...d6?? [ And this is horribly overambitious. Black had to be consistent and keep going forward with 21...g1! when 22.6e5 (the only real defensive try he must block the diagonal a n d t h r e a t e n t o c a p t u r e o n g 1 ) g7 23.xg1 xg1+ 24.xg1 h6+ 25.g2 g8+ would have left Black two pieces in arrears, but with a huge attack: for example, 26.f3 ( if 26.f2 h2+ ) 26...f6+ 27.e3 g3+ 28.e2 xg1 29.xd5 f1+ 30.d2 d1+ 31.e3 g3+ 32.f2 g1+ 33.e2 h2+ 34.d1 d3+ 35.e1 g1+ 36.e2 d1+ 37.f2 d2+ 38.g3 g1+ 39.f4 f2+ is an extremely long engine-assisted sequence which ends with W hite having to give up his queen, since it's mate after 40.e4 e1+ 41.d3 f1+ 42.e4 e2# . ] 22.xg2 g7+ 23.f1 f8+ 24.f2 I wondered what Black had missed around here. He is a rook and piece in arrears and e ve n a f t e r a f u r t h e r sa cr if ic e t h e re 's n o p e rp e t u a l. xf2+ 25.xf2 f7+ 26.g2 g7+ 27.h1 g3 28.c2 The queen returns with some effect. 1-0
2037 Chernyshov,Konstantin Grischuk,Alexander RUS-ChT Dagomys [Eric Prié]
A45 2531 2724 2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.e4 Instead of [ 7.c1 , that we studied some time ago, or the unappealing and weakening ] [ 7.b3 ] 7...xb2 8.d2 This double gambit is not new in itself, but it never previously offered, by far, adequate compensation for the huge amount of sacrificed material. xc3 9.c7!? Can this move, cutting the a5 retreat square off from the black queen, represent the future of the 2...Ne4 line? Indeed, W hite is struggling to demonstrate any advantage at t h e m o m e n t , a n d t h i s i d e a t o wh i c h t h e paternity seems to belong to the Voronezh
leader of the white pieces in this game, could therefore revolutionize the Tromp by directing Black towards other second moves that I personally find more convenient to meet. g6 10.c1 e3+ 11.e2 a6 Natural... [ 11...h6? See next game. ] 12.c4 Obviously not falling into the nasty trap [ 12.f4? b4! 13.xe3 d3# ] 12...h6 13.f4 g7 [ 13...g5! Though compromisin g this must be the critical move for at least two reasons if we consider the f uture course of this game: it enables ...Qg6 in one go and on 14.e5 Allows ( Better 14.e3! ) 14...d6 ] 14.a4!! g5 15.e5 g4 16.f4 g6 17.g3 g8 18.e3 b4 After White's fantastic 14th move, the actual World no. 12 just could not find a way to develop his pieces. He now resigns himself... to sacrifice a piece for 3 bad p a wn s n o t s im p ly b e ca u s e i t is h i s b e s t practical chance but because otherwise he was more or less threatened to be mated before long! [ 18...h5 19.xa6 bxa6 20.xc5 h4 21.c4!! b7 ( 21...d8 22.c7+ e8 23.b8 b7 24.c8+ xc8 25.xc8# ) 22.b4 c8 23.b8! d8 24.a5+ e8 25.xc8# ] 19.a3 c6 20.dxc6 dxc6 21.e2 d7 22.0-0 With f7 in the line of fire after the opening of the f-line. After the simple [ 22.c7! however, it is impossible for Black to get out of this and survive more than 10 moves in such a ruin. ] 22...xe5 23.fxe5 h6 24.b3 e6 25.c3 b6 26.cd1 xe3+ 27.xe3 g5 28.c3 d8 29.f5 h5 30.a4 [ 30.c4! h4 ( 30...g6 31.xd8+ xd8 32.d1+ c7 33.d3 xc4 34.d7+ b8 35.xe7 ) 31.b3 With a winning attack xd1 32.xd1 xc4 33.xc4 e6 34.a6! exf5 35.c8+ e7 36.d7+ e6 37.xc6+ xe5 38.d5+ xe4 39.d1+ e3 40.d5! closing the mating net. ] 30...h4 31.a5 xd1 32.xd1 xf5 33.d3! f8 34.exf5 f4 35.d8+ g7 36.xe7 xf5 [ 36...e3+ 37.h1! xe2 38.g5+ h7 39.h5+ g7 40.f6+ f8 41.d8# ] 37.xh4?! Time trouble as 1991
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 37.f1 Obviously wins on the spot. e6 ( 37...g6 38.f6 b1+ 39.f1 f8 40.e6 ) 38.xe6 fxe6 39.axb6 axb6 40.xg4 c8 ( 40...e8 41.f6 b5 42.xe6 xe6 43.xe6 c4 44.f2 ) 41.f6 b5 ( 41...c4 42.xe6 e8 43.xc4 ) 42.xe6 c4 43.e7+ f8 44.h7 ] 37...e8 38.f1 xe5 39.xg4+ f8 40.c4 e7 41.f4 e1+ 42.f1 e5 43.g3 e6 44.h4 b5 On principle, it was good for W hite not to exchange on b6 and keep a potentially decisive 'good colour' apawn! 45.d8+ g7 46.d7 f6 47.g4+ h6 48.d2+ [ 48.c8!! Fritz e3+ 49.g2 f3+ 50.h3 xf1+ 51.h4 h7 52.g8+ h6 53.h8# ] 48...h7 49.d3+ h8 50.e4 d5 51.c3! Now the win is only a matter of elementary technique. d6 52.f4 g7 53.f2 c4 [ 53...d4+ 54.xd4 cxd4 55.xf6 xf6 56.f3 e5 57.h4 b4 58.h5 f5 ( 58...c5 59.h6 f6 60.g4 c4 61.g5+ xg5 62.h7 ) 59.h6 f6 60.xf5 ] 54.e4 c5 55.e3 d4+ [ 55...e6 56.xf6+ xf6 57.xf6 xf6 58.d5 c3 59.d3 b4 60.b3 e7 61.c4 ] 56.xd4 cxd4+ 57.xd4 a6 58.d5 f6 59.g4+ h8 60.c5 xa5 61.b4 a1 62.xb5 c3 63.c4 c1 64.b4 c2 65.h4 a5+ 66.b3 This game does not appear in the database but had been apparently published in Chess Today issue no. 1631 and posted on the section's forum by Geoff Strayer where I spotted it some time ago. 1-0
2038 Claverie,Christophe Rajlich,Vasik G FSGM Sept Budapest HUN (5) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2392 2338 11.09.2002
complications. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.dxc5 An unusual alternative to the main lines. This is the choice for those who want to explore less frequently visited avenues of attack. a5+ 5.d2 e5!? A radical reaction t o W h i t e ' s c h o i c e o f o p e n i n g . 6.xe5 White accepts the challenge. xf2 7.xf2 xc5+ 8.e3 xe5 9.gf3 xb2 The smoke has cleared, leaving Black with a clear extra pawn and the bishop pair. However, White has a significant lead in development as compensation. 10.b1 f6 11.e4 h6 12.b5 A novel way of making the most of his developmental lead. The White rook enters the fray in the most direct way possible. c6 13.d5 e7 14.d6+ xd6 15.xd6 The first fruits of White's labour are revealed, as he wins control of the central dark squares and makes completing development difficult f o r B l a c k . g6 16.h4 0-0 17.g5 White begins to increase the pressure against Black's disorganised position. f6 18.e4 g7 19.h3 White certainly makes good use of his rooks in this game. Activity is always the key. e5 20.h5 f5 Black is relying on this counter to escape his problems, bu t unfortunately there is a rather unfortunate tactical f law. 21.hxg6! Giving up the knight with check! fxe4+ 22.g1 f3+ [ 22...g5 also leads to disaster after: 23.xh7+ g8 24.d5+ f7 25.gxf7+ xh7 26.xg5 ] 23.h1 d2 However, Black lacks good alternatives. 24.a1+ g8 25.xh6 xf1+ 26.xf1 xf1 27.gxh7+ Black is in no position to stop the h-pawn, ouch! 1-0
2039 Collins,Sam Paschall,William M FSGM October (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2412 2351 05.10.2008
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6!? 3.xf6 gxf6!? Interesting although I believe this recapture is Trompowsky: In the Sicilian-Tromp, Black not what gives t he most value to Black's finds a way to mix things up from the very second move... Indeed, we have already beginning. However, Tromp specialists are observed (in the previous games with 3... n o t n o r m a l l y o n e s t o s h y a w a y f r o m e xf 6 ! ) t h e c l o se r e l a t i o n sh i p t h a t e xi s t s 1992
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 between 2...c6 and 2...d5. Af ter 3...gxf6, however, the answer to 4.e3 or 4.c4 is clearly 4...c5! despite the fact that Black, with his second move, has already pushed this pawn one square... 4.e3 [ 4.c4! is more precise I reckon, see after. ] 4...b6 5.b3 d5 6.f3 g4?! [ 6...e5! With one extra pawn in the centre and the necessity to activate his bishops in order to make up for his altered structure, Black needs to challenge the opposing darksquared control. A) 7.dxe5 fxe5 8.xe5 g7 9.h5 ( 9.d4 c7 10.f4 d7 ) 9...c7 10.f4 e6 11.c3 ( 11.d2 d7 12.df3 a5+ 13.f2 f6 14.h4 e4+ 15.g1 c3 16.e1 xc2 ) 11...xe5 ( 11...d7!? 12.xd7 xd7 ) 12.xe5 xe5 13.fxe5 d7; B) 7.e2 e4 ( 7...g8!? 8.g3 h3 9.dxe5 g2 10.g1 xf3 11.xf3 fxe5 ) 8.h4 f5 9.g3 c5! 10.c3 c6 11.0-0 e6 12.g2 B1) 12...cxd4 13.cxd4 c8 14.f4 d6 15.c3 xf4 16.a4 ( 16.gxf4? xd4 ) 16...d8 17.gxf4 h4 18.h1 e7; B2) 12...d6 13.a3 ( 13.dxc5! Black should have denied his opponent this possibility by taking on d4 before, as soon as he had prevented the development of White's queen knight to c3. xc5 14.b4 b6 15.a3 a6 ) 13...cxd4! ( 13...a5 14.dxc5 xc5 15.b4 b6 16.d2 e5 17.c1 Followed by Nb3.) 14.cxd4 c8 15.h1 e7 16.d2 a5 17.f3 0-0 18.g4 ( 18.fxe4 fxe4 19.f4? From g2 the knight defends e3! xf4 20.xf4 c3 ) 18...exf3 19.xf3 1/2-1/2 Bui Vinh (2448)-Varga, Z (2496) Budapest FSGM 2008 ] 7.h3 xf3 8.xf3 d7 9.d3 e6 [ 9...e5 10.f5 exd4 11.xd7+ xd7 12.xf6 ] 10.0-0 f5 11.c4 a5 12.c1 d6 13.c3!? [ 13.a3 0-0 14.c3 Was also favourable for White with prospects on the queenside but also on the other flank by g2-g4. ] 13...a3 14.c2 b2 Winning a piece??!! 15.b4!?
[ 15.xb2 xc3 16.e2 f6? 17.b4! ] 15...a3 16.b1 xc3 17.b3 a4 18.cxd5!! [ 18.bxc3 xb4 ( 18...dxc4! 19.xc4 b6 20.c5 xb4 ) 19.cxd5! ( 19.b3 e1+ 20.h2 dxc4 21.xc4 b6 is a lot less clear. ) 19...cxd5 20.b3! ( 20.c8+ e7 ) 20...e1+ 21.h2 b6 ( 21...b6 22.g3 ) 22.b5 a6 ( 22...e7 23.c7 hd8 24.h5 xf2 25.xd7 xd7 26.xd7+ xd7 27.xf7+ c6 28.c3+ b5 29.d7+ b4 30.b3+ c4 31.b5# ) 23.xd7+ xd7 24.h5! hf8 25.xb6+- ] 18...xb4 Black takes his chance. [ 18...cxd5 19.bxc3 ( 19.cxc3 xa2 ) 19...xb4 20.b3 ] 19.dxc6 bxc6 20.xc6 0-0 21.a6 a5 22.b5 a3 23.f1 xa2 24.bxa5 b1 25.xa7 I selected this game to appear as a main game in the update, rather than the much more pertinent game given in the note to move 6, because of the uncommon fight between the black queen and the 2 rooks on the queenside, but now White emerges out of this skirmish with an extra pawn in a better position... xa7 26.xa7 d8 27.c6 b6 28.xb6 xb6 29.e2 d7 30.a6 d5 31.f3 f4 32.a3 g7 33.d3 fxe3 34.fxe3 f5 35.f2 f4 36.e4 b4 37.d2 c6 38.d5 e5 39.d1 f6 40.g4 xg4+ 41.hxg4 exd5 42.xd5 xd5 43.exd5 e5 44.f3 xd5 45.xf4 d4 46.g5 d3 47.g4 1-0
2040 Conquest,Stuart Garcia,Gildardo mem-A Cienfuegos (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2540 2525 1996
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 c6 5.h4 e6 6.e4 e7 [ 6...b4!? This may explain why White castles first in the majority of cases. ] 7.f3 Initiating the interesting plan of gaining co n t ro l o ve r t h e e 5 sq u a r e f o r a k n i gh t . Unfortunately, it implies parting with the lightsquared bishop in the critical line. a5 [ 7...d6 8.0-0-0 a5 9.b5 The necessary 1993
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 complement to the plan. d7 10.e5!? ( 10.he1 ) 10...xe5 11.xe5 xb5 12.g4 c6! ( 12...g8 13.xe7 xe7 14.g5 f5 15.e3 h6 16.g4 c6 17.xf5 xf5 18.xf5 exf5 19.xd6 ) 13.xf6+ xf6 14.xf6 gxf6 15.xf6 g8 16.f4 ( 16.xd6 g5+ 17.xg5 xg5 18.g1 e7 19.d3 xg2 20.xg2 xg2 21.g3 c6 22.h3 h8 ) 16...d8 17.he1 g6 18.h8+ e7 19.xh7 xg2 20.h4+ e8 21.g1 c5 22.b1 b5 23.h8+ e7 24.h4+ e8 25.h8+ e7 26.h4+ 1/2-1/2 Kosanovic,G-Zakic,S/ Vrsac 2000 ] 8.b5 d6 9.0-0 [ 9.e5 dxe5 10.xe5 0-0 11.xc6 bxc6 12.xc6 b8 13.0-0 xb2 14.e4 f5 ( 14...xc2? 15.xf6+ xf6 16.e4 ) 15.xf6+ xf6 16.xf6 xf6 17.xf6 gxf6 18.a4 e5= ] 9...d7 [ 9...0-0!? ] 10.fe1 a6?! [ 10...0-0!? ] 11.xc6 xc6 12.e5! dxe5 [ 12...xf3? 13.exf6 gxf6 14.xf6 g8 15.xe7 xg2+ 16.f1+- ] 13.xe5 c8 [ 13...0-0 14.xc6 ( 14.e3 b4; 14.g4 xg4 15.xe7 fe8 16.ad1 f5= ) 14...bxc6 15.e4 f5 16.xf6+ xf6 17.xf6 xf6 18.xf6 gxf6 19.ad1 ] 14.ad1 0-0?! Black had to play [ 14...b4! 15.g3 ] 15.d3! A dangerous reinforcement to the attack, protecting the c3-knight at the same time. Quoting Alexander BABURIN : "This game shows an attack on a king castled on the same wing. Usually such an attack can be successful if there is a space advantage on t h i s f l a n k , wh i c h a l l o w s t h e a t t a c k e r t o accumulate an advantage in force on that particular sector" b4 [ 15...h6 16.xh6 ] 16.f4 b6+ 17.h1 xb2? [ 17...fd8! 18.g3 f8 With some strong counterplay based on the forthcoming Qf2. ] 18.g3 h8 [ 18...xg2+ 19.xg2 ( 19.xg2? xc3 ) 19...xc3 20.eg1 h8 21.xf6 xf6 22.xf6! Flashy but 21.Bh6 was winning too.
gxf6 23.g8+ xg8 24.xf7# ] 19.h6! g6 [ 19...gxh6? 20.xh6 e8 21.xf8+! xf8 22.xf7# ] 20.g5! g7 [ 20...h5 21.xe7 xg3+ 22.hxg3 xc3 23.f6+ g8 24.h6 xe1+ 25.h2 ] 21.h6+ g8 22.xf6! [ 22.xf6 xf6 23.h3 fd8 24.xh7+ f8 25.xf7# ] 1-0
2041 Cordova,Emilio Granda Zuniga,Julio E Torre ENTEL PCS (8) [Eric Prié]
A45 2440 2631 27.03.2006
1.d4 f6 2.g5 Having trained and formed some of the best French players (Bacrot, Fressinet...) with a method based on theoretical preparation, I have acquired a certain knowledge in the domain of fundamental opening mechanisms. That is why I only cover what seems relevant to me at the moment I do it in this section, at a topical average level of over 2400, although my own games may not always reflect this... and so people may complain that they don't see their pet line treated in these columns more often. Thus in January of this year, apart from a digression on 2...Ne4 3.h4, I had not dealt with the Tromp for almost a year and a half, which coincided with my dropping of the line in August 2005. Why? The first reason is that I lost faith in the variation after an impressive series of setbacks of which I will show some examples in the updates to come. And faith is the most important thing when you deal with not entirely correct openings (i.e. the totality of the d-Pawn Specials corpus) since one has to realise that if the World's top chessplayers play 2.c4 or 2. Nf3 and 3.c4 there must be a reason...! Faith brings you confidence in what you play, and confidence makes you play better, which is essential in non-mainstream openings. That is why you should not analyse them too deeply and rather concentrate on ideas, and a feeling for the position. Because if you do analyse too much it can only bring 1994
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 you questions and then doubt hangs over your head like the sword of Damocles in some critical lines. Then it is time to change openings and look for something 'new', or rather fresher, which is easy in the static dPawn Specials f amily. Coming and going between the Tromp, the Torre and the London approaches: this is the way I understand my devotion towards the d-Pawn Specials universe. The second reason is a lot more concrete: today White is experiencing problems everywhere in the Tromp. Problems I had anticipated... and previously mentioned in this section. And the very first of these problems, which has always been my main concern and the reason why I dealt with it so extensively in these columns, trying to p e r s u a d e m ys e lf I co u ld f in d a p l a ya b l e position according to my standards, remains 2...c5!: c5! 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e6 8.b1 [ 8.b5+ d7 9.dxe6 fxe6 10.e5 dxe5 11.fxe5 d5 12.xd5 exd5 13.xd7+ xd7 14.f3 a6! ] [ When a variation faces problems, sometimes you need to go far back to find a n i d e a t o r e h a b i l i t a t e i t , b u t t h i s wi l l probably not be 8.f3 exd5 9.e5 dxe5 10.fxe5 e4! As in McShane-Ni hua I mentioned on the occasion of my very first effort for ChessPublishing on the 2...c5 Tromp! ] [ 8.dxe6 xe6 9.b1 c7 10.f3 ( 10.f5 d7 I referred to this improvement in Ippolito-Baginskaite but without giving the key idea hereafter:) 10...e7! Wells, P in "W inning with the Trompowsky" Batsford 2003, with the excellent idea of keeping the c6 square f or the bishop, especially as White tends to follow-up with f4-f5 to install h is k in g's b is h o p o n c4 , o n t o h is m o s t a c t ive d ia go n a l, a n d t h e n . . . Nb d 7 wit h minimal compensation for White. ] 8...c7 9.b5+ I have said everything about this position and I pointed out in PuschmannAdzic that 9.dxc6 fxe6 10.Nf3, although giving Black the better square c6 for his queen's k n i g h t a n d t h e r e f o r e n o t s o l vi n g a l l t h e interrogations of this line from the white point of view, was probably more promising for White. bd7! 10.dxe6
[ 10.e2!? a6 11.e5 Is Buhmann-Van Veen that saw 11...axb5? when I gave the improvement dxe5 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.fxe5 axb5 ( 13...d5 14.xd5 exd5 15.e6 axb5 16.exd7+ xd7 17.f3 d6 18.0-0 e8 19.xb5+ c6 20.b2 c7 21.xg7+ b8 is good too.) 14.xb5 c6 15.exf6 xf6 16.f4 xa2 17.c7+ f7 18.f3 a4 19.0-0 xc2 20.d2 d6 ] 10...fxe6 11.f3 a6 12.c4 b6 13.xb6 xb6 14.e5?! [ I s u g g e s t e d 14.g5 in MamedjarovAroshidze. Then instead of 14...d5 15.exd5 Be7 16.dxe6 0-0 17.f5 with compensation for W hite, the straightforward and 'hairraising' b4!? is also opened to investiga tion . 15.e2 ( 15.xe6 xe6 16.xe6 d7 17.f5 xe4 18.0-0 ) 15...b5 16.xb5 ( 16.xe6 xe6 17.xe6 d7 18.g5 c4 ) 16...b1+ 17.f2 xh1 18.c7+ e7 ] 14...dxe5! The improvement on the aforementioned game. [ 14...d5 15.exf6 gxf6 16.e5 !! Wells, P As for me, I had just given: ( 16.e2 c4 17.f5! ) 16...fxe5 17.h5+ d7 18.xe5 g8 19.xd5! exd5 20.xd5+ c7! The first line of today's engines not to give d 6 t o b e t a k e n w i t h c h e c k ! ( 20...d6 21.xg8 b1+ 22.f2 xh1 23.e6+ c6 24.d5+ c7 25.a5+ b6 26.xb6+ xb6 27.xd6+ "This is a mating attack" Wells', P "This long and complex line could be of great theoretical value"...) 21.xg8 b1+ 22.f2 xc2! 23.f7+ ( 23.d5 e6! ) 23...d7 24.e2 e8 ( 24...xd2? 25.d1 ) 25.d1 d6 Rybka shows it is completely equal and Fritz even prefers Black now! ] 15.fxe5 g4! Wells only considers [ 15...d7 that still awaits the test of practice by the way! I guess he is not to blame for this o mission. Co nside ring t he st ate o f theory when he wrote the book, his coverage of what he calls "the really sharp way to tackle Black's challenging second move" after 3.d5!? is really rather outstanding. ] 16.h3?! [ 16.h4 xe5 17.h5+ f7 18.0-0 g6 19.f3 ( 19.xg6 hxg6 20.xg6 c7 1995
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.xe6 xh2+ The opening of the h file... ) 19...c7 ] [ 16.0-0 e7 17.h4 d8! 18.xg4 d4+! 19.xd4 cxd4 Excellent preparation from the no. 1 Peruvian, but surprisingly, with an extra exchange in the ending, things are only beginning! 20.e4 xh4 21.d6+ d7 22.f7+ c6 23.xg7 d7 24.d3 ( 24.xb7 ag8 25.f7 f8 26.a5+ c7 27.xe6 xf7 28.xf7 f2+! 29.xf2 f8 ) 24...af8 25.g3 hg8 26.e4+ c7 27.a5+ b6 28.xb6+ xb6 29.xd7 g5 30.xh7 e3+ 31.g2 f2+ 32.h3 b8 The black rooks are very active, his king now stands better than his counterpart, in ad d it io n , t h e p re sen ce o f t h e o p p o sit e coloured bishop renders the hypothetical u t ili za t i o n o f t h e 2 e xt ra p a wn s o n t h e kingside even more complicated... ] 16...h6 17.xh6 gxh6 18.0-0 [ 18.d2 c7! 19.h5+ ( 19.0-0 xe5 ) 19...f7 ] 18...d7-+ Thus the case is clear: Black will manage to castle either side as appropriate with a pawn an exchange and the two bishops in the pocket! 19.e2 e7 20.b1 c7 21.e4 0-0! 22.d6 [ 22.e3 b5 23.d3 c4 24.e2 c6 ] 22...b5 23.d3 c6 24.e4 ad8 25.xc6 xc6 26.e4 f4 27.e1 c4 28.e3 xe4! 29.xe4 xe4 30.xe4 d1+ 31.e1 [ 31.h2 a1 ] 31...xe1+ 32.xe1 b4 33.f3 c3 34.f2 a5 The fact that Black has unsightly doubled h-pawns does not matter: they are just good eno ugh to hold t he opponent's kingside. What does matter is the balance of power on the other wing, decisively in his favour. 35.e2 [ 35.e3 a4 36.e4 b4 37.d4 a3 38.b5 b2 39.f4 b3 40.cxb3 cxb3 41.xa3 bxa2 ] 35...a4 36.d1 a3 37.g4 g7 38.h4 h5 39.gxh5 h6 40.c1 f7 41.d1 e7 42.c1 d7 43.b1 c6 44.g5 hxg5 45.hxg5 xe5 0-1
2042 A45 Corrales Jimenez,Fidel 2507 De la Paz Perdomo,Frank 2433 ch-CUB Open Santa Clara CUB (6) 15.01.2007 [Eric Prié] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 [ 2.c3 d5 3.f3 c5! 4.e4 cxd4 5.xd4 c6 6.b5 d7 7.xc6 xc6 8.e5 d7 9.g5 b6! And I already prefer Black, to be examined later on. ] 2...e4 3.f4 d5 4.f3 f6 5.c3 Designed to avoid the inconvenience of the previous month's manoeuvre with ...Nf6-d5. However, it offers Black one tempo of respite which allows him to attack the centre with c5! naturally. 6.e3 [ 6.e4 cxd4 7.xd4 c6 8.b5 d7 9.xc6 xc6 10.exd5 xd5 A) 11.0-0-0 e6 12.ge2 xf4!? ( 12...b6 Quite similar to that refutation of trying to force Black into the acceptance of the BDG as shown in the note above. 13.e5 xc3 14.xc3 c5 15.he1 xe5 16.xe5 f6 17.d6 f7= ) 13.xf4 f6 14.c4 e7 15.d4 c8 16.xc6 xc6 17.a4 a6 18.b1 e5!; B) 11.xd5?! xd5 12.xd5 xd5 13.0-0-0 e6 14.b1 c5 15.e2 e7 16.a3 hd8 Nordenbaek, J (2251) Kuljasevic, D (2408) San Marino op 2006 0-1(38) ] 6...e6 7.a3 [ 7.b5!? a6 8.h3 h5 9.d2 ] 7...a6 8.g4 With a pawn committed to f3 White is very much concerned by the idea ... Nh5 but pushing his kingside pawns only seems to weaken his position. I have the impression that only Chigorin or Baltic experts with the reverse colour would know how to handle this delicate position as White... c6 9.d2 b5 10.h4 a5 11.ce2 b6 12.g5 h5 13.h2 g6 14.c3 cxd4 15.exd4? [ 15.xd4 b7= ( 15...a5 16.e5 g7 17.xg7 xg7 18.f4 )] 15...a5! 16.d3 d6 Black is not really interested in making the opponent lose the right to castle queenside after [ 16...b3!? 17.d1 d6 as he wants to attack there in fact! ] 1996
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.h3 c4 18.b1 [ 18.0-0-0 a5 ] 18...xh2 19.xh2 d6 20.g2 [ 20.f2 Intending f2-f4 e5 ] 20...0-0 21.g4 e5 The truth is that contrary to his counterpart, the W hite king did not have anywhere to go and will soon feel unwell as the centre opens. 22.dxe5 xe5 23.d4 g7 24.d1 f5! 25.xf5 [ 25.xd5 xd5 26.xd5 xg4 27.fxg4 e4 ] 25...xf5 26.f4 ae8 27.f2? [ 27.d2 c5 28.h2 ( 28.d4 c4+ 29.c1 fe3 ) 28...e3 29.b1 5c4+ 30.c1 f1 31.g2 fd2 32.a1 b3+ What a cavalry!! ] [ 27.f2 b6+ 28.d4 c4 29.b3 ce3 ] 27...d3+ 0-1
2043 Curi Milia,Gabriel Rodriguez,Santiago ch Montevideo URU (8) [Aaron Summerscale]
attractive advantage of the bishop pair in an open position. 13.xc5 a5+ 14.c3 xc5 15.e2+ e6 It's hard to offer Black constructive advice here, but damage limitation with: [ 15...f8 was almost certainly better. ] 16.xe6 fxe6 17.xe6+ f8 18.0-0-0 e8 19.b3 All White needs to do here is tidy up his position. He can then look f orward to collecting the full point. g5+ 20.b1 g6+ 21.a1 Black gave up, although somewhat prematurely, he probably wanted to avoid hours of torture, with the result always going against him. [ After 21.a1 A possible continuation would have been: dxc3 22.c5+ e7 23.xc3 When Black, a pawn down, with his pieces i n a m e s s , d o e s n ' t h a ve m u c h t o l o o k forward to. ] 1-0
A45
22.04.2000
2044 Czap,Bernhard Fernandes,Antonio 8th ch-Euro Dresden GER (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2204 2448 05.04.2007
W hite sharpens the struggle right from the s t a r t i n t h e f o l l o wi n g g a m e . O n c u r r e n t 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 evidence, the Bh4 Tromp where Black plays 5.c1 g7 6.g3 d6 7.c3 f5 8.g2 d7 3...d5 just looks good for White. 1.d4 f6 9.h3 2.g5 e4 3.h4 d5 4.f3 This is White's [ 9.d2 e5!? There are many games at a most ambitious approach, hinting at a quick high level in the database with the natural e4 break. d6 5.c3 c5 Rather than just ( 9...f6 but the issue basically remains the give up the centre Black fights back with a same: Black initiates some kingside action pawn s ac rif ic e. Th is ga me ca sts seriou s and improves his structure at the same time, d o u b t s o n t h e so u n d n e ss o f t h is a ct io n . with ...h5-h4, as soon as he sees an 6.dxc5 o p p o s i n g k n ig h t o n h 3 t h a t m a k e s t h e [ Not 6.xd5 when f5 wins a piece! ] blockade by h2 -h4 impossible, th en h e 6...f5 7.f2 d4 8.e4 quietly plays ...Bd7 with the idea of [ 8.e4 is interesting here. ] castling queenside and often retreats the 8...e5 9.g4 White fights for the initiative. queen to c7 (rather than a6) in order to Control of e3 is important to White's plans. better meet White's only plan of bringing a h6 knight to e3 (via c4 or f1) and Qc2, hitting f5. [ 9...e3 is the most consistent with Black's Eventually the move ...e7-e6 should come plan, but I feel that Black will have difficulty as the crowning of his strategy...) 10.gf3 regaining his pawn after: 10.xe3 dxe3 g6 Another original idea which firstly aims 11.xd8+ xd8 12.0-0-0+ ] at preventing the installation of a strong 10.e3 c6 11.exd4 exd4 12.c4 xc5 white knight on f4 and secondly at soothing B la c k h a s p a i d a ve r y h igh p ri ce f o r t h e the weakness of f5 after the creation of the recapture of his pawn. W hite now has the pawn duo e5 and f5 by taking the h4 square 1997
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 away from any enemy knight, and with the further idea of ...h5-h4, while if White plays h4 h im se lf t he n .. .f 5-f 4 u nd ou blin g th e pawns more effectively. 11.e3 e5 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.0-0 0-0 14.c2 d5 15.ad1 h8 16.h4 e5 Marville, G (2031)-Czap, B (2204) EU-Ch Dresden 0-1(49) ] 9...h5! Peter Wells who "would have been pleased to find a more generic answer to the ad va n c e o f t he h -p a wn wh ich re t ain s it s vitality" treads gingerly with his supposed 'solid repertoire' for W hite in his book "Winning with the Trompowsky" (published by Batsf ord in 2003). He also concludes the dedicated chapter with these prophetic words, referring to Valeri Popov's [ 9...e5!? depriving the knight on the edge of the board of the f4 square: "I am not saying that W hite has problems, but this does in t ro d u c e a wh o le ne w se t o f st ra t e gic problems and a caref ul study would b e advisable before tackling this from either side." Tongue in cheek, we know what this means... Contrary to what he states, most RECENT sources suggest that White is not even "slightly better" after giving up his bishop for free, in the case of both 2...c5! and 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5! 3.Bxf6 alike. My idea is that this is because of the extensive use of engines in preparation and analysis which have nowadays become inhumanly strong when assessing the global dynamic aspects of t he po sitio ns, in ge ne ral, an d , mo re specifically, with the handling of the bishops. ] 10.c2 e5! Covering the c4 square 11.d2 d7 12.f4 [ 12.f1 0-0-0 13.e3 b8! 14.0-0-0 Protecting b2 but the white king is much weaker on this side. e6 ( 14...a5 15.b1 f6 Leaving f5 in return for a strong initiative against the enemy long castle is also interesting.) 15.g5 ( 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.f4 f7; 15.b1 f6 16.f4 h4 And Black has everything under control.) 15...h4! 16.f4 f6 Is also fine for Black for this tactical reason. 17.h3 c4 18.d2 g4 19.xg4 fxg4 20.g5 xg5 21.fxg5 hxg3 22.hxg3 xh1 23.xh1 f2 24.e3 xg3 25.h7 f8! A little tactic should always come along to help out impeccable
strategy. 26.g6 fxg6 27.dxe6 ( 27.xd7? f2 ) 27...xe6 28.xb7+ c8 ] [ 12.f3 c4! ] 12...h4 13.h3 g4 [ 13...e6 14.e4 ] 14.e4 fxe4 [ 14...hxg3! Opening the pin on the f-file. 15.hxg3 0-0-0 16.exf5 b8! Freeing the Ng4 17.f1 f2 has to be protected. f6 And White is helpless against the following manoeuvre. 18.0-0-0 h6 19.g2 xf4 20.gxf4 h4 ] 15.c4 c7? [ 15...a6! 16.xe4 hxg3 17.hxg3 f6 W hite does not have time to castle queenside because of the double threat a g a i n s t c 4 a n d h 1 . 18.xd7+ xd7 19.f5+ c7 20.xh8 xh8 ] 16.xe4 f6 [ 16...hxg3 17.hxg3 0-0-0 18.xg4 xh1+ ( 18...xg4 19.xh8 xh8 20.g6 ) 19.xh1 xg4 20.h7 ] 17.xd7+ xd7 18.f3 f8!? [ 18...hxg3 19.hxg3 0-0-0= ] 19.0-0 h6 20.g2?? A climb-down difficult to explain. [ 20.e3 ] 20...g5 21.ce3 h3 22.e1? Self-weaving the mating net. [ 22.fe1 hxg3 ( 22...xe3 23.xe3 hxg3 24.hxg3 ) 23.xg3 xe3 24.xe3 ( 24.xe3 g8 ) 24...xg3 25.fxg3 xd5 ] 22...xe3 23.fxe3 hxg3 24.g2 gxh2+-+ 25.h1 xg2+ 26.xg2 h3 27.c4 [ 27.f4 xe3 28.xh2 g7 29.g1+ h6 30.ae1 g4+! 31.g2 xe1 32.xe1 e5 ] 27...e4 28.f4 g3+ 29.g2 h1+ 30.xh1 xh1 0-1
2045 Danielian,Oganes Hellsten,Johan Hallsberg op 9293 U18 [Eric Prié]
A45 2440 2315 1993
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6 3.d2! Controlling e4 and therefore more precise than 3.Nf3. b6 4.gf3 Of course, we have witnessed more 1998
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 dubious gambits in this section... xb2 5.e4 This position is obviously very dangerous for Black. Actually all the criteria of 'gambitability' are respected by White: 1st of all it is a side pawn that will allow a white rook to immediately join the fight for free, 2nd White has gained a big lead in development that will offer him at least a lasting initiative, 3rd he has more space thanks to his centre which is ready to get moving, and finally, and the most important to my eyes: W HEN ACCEPTED, THERE IS NO SIMPLE WAY TO GIVE BACK THE PAW N TO ACHIEVE EQUALITY which is sometimes quite pleasant, as in the case of the Lemberger against the BDG... Hence: d5 6.e5! It is in this first game played with this gambit (according to my database) that you find the answer! e4 [ 6...h6 Is the best defence according to the computer. But it is true that they still have to make progress in the evaluation of such positions in the long term... 7.e3! ( 7.h4 h5; 7.xf6!? gxf6 8.exf6 ) 7...g4 8.f4 g5 ( 8...f5 9.h3 xc2 10.c1 ) 9.g3 h5 10.h3 h6 11.b1 ( 11.e6!? ) 11...xa2 12.xg5 f5 13.e6 With a strong attack ( 13.d3!? xd4 14.0-0 )] 7.xe4 dxe4 8.b1 xa2 [ 8...c3+ 9.d2 a3 10.g5 ] 9.d2 a5 10.e2 g6 [ 10...f5 11.0-0 g6 12.f3! exf3 ( 12...d8 13.c3 ) 13.xf3 g7 14.c4 ( 14.c1! Heading for the a3 square to prevent Black from castling because of the weakness of e7. ) 14...c7 15.e6 b5 16.a2 a5 17.d5 a6 18.h4 b4 19.xf5 gxf5 20.h5+ d8 21.d6? ( 21.bd1 cxd5 22.f7 ) 21...xd6 22.bd1 d4+ 23.h1 xa2 24.xd4 xd4 25.d1 xd1+ 26.xd1+ c7 27.xe7 b7 0-1 Howes, T-Artner, W ICCF Email 2000 ] 11.h4!? [ 11.0-0 f5 12.f3 ] 11...g7 12.h5 h6? For better or for worse, Black had to live with the idea h5-h6 hanging over his head. 13.e3 g5 14.0-0 Now White ge t s e 4 b a c k . O n ly o n e p awn f o r s u ch a massive position is a true gift! b5 15.xe4 [ 15.c4!? b4 16.xe4 f5 17.d3 ] 15...f5 16.d3 d7 17.f6+! exf6 [ 17...xf6? 18.exf6 xd3 19.fxg7 ]
18.xf5 c7 [ 18...fxe5 19.xd7+ xd7 20.dxe5+ c7 21.f4 ad8 22.f3 ] 19.e6 b6 20.exf7+ xf7 21.g6+ g8 22.g4 f8 [ 22...d5 23.e6+ f8 24.d2 With the deadly threats Re1-e8 and Ba5. ] 23.f4 The decisive reinforcement. Black's position is ripe for explosion. g7 [ 23...e7 24.be1 ] 24.fxg5 hxg5 25.xf6! [ 25.xg5 fxg5 ( 25...e7 26.xf6+ xf6 27.e4+ f7 28.g6+ e7 29.xf6+ ) 26.xg5 e7 27.f7+ xf7 28.d3+ Was also mate. ] 25...xf6 26.xg5+ g7 [ 26...e6 27.f5+ e7 28.f7+ d6 ( 28...d8 29.e8# ) 29.f4# ] 27.e8+ 1-0
2046 A45 Danilov,Ilie Vladimir 2363 Perez Fungueiro,Manuel Antonio 2300 V Open Vila de Marin ESP (4) 24.08.2005 [Eric Prié] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 dxc6 12.xe5 e6 13.e4!? The new tendency: Rather than enduring pressure because of the weakening of the b3 square in connection with the plan ...b5-b4, White returns the pawn immediately, relying on his kingside majority and easier development to insure himself a minimal advantage in the ending. b5 14.d3 d7 15.d4 xa2 In this way the benefit of the open a-file for Black is just annihilated [ 15...xa2? 16.b1 ] 16.xa2 xa2 17.e2 c5 Surprisingly to me with this structure it is not so convenient for Black to undouble his pawns [ 17...c5 18.e3 c4 19.c2 b4 20.cxb4 xb4+ 21.d2 ] [ 17...c4 18.xc4 ( 18.d2!? ) 18...bxc4 19.d2 ] [ 17...e6 18.f4 b3 19.d2 b4 20.a1 ] 1999
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.c2 b3 19.f2 f6 20.e3 [ 20.c1 xd4 21.cxd4 c4 ] 20...d6 21.xb3 The only way to make progress. Alas, it should not prove enough because of the possibility for Black to exchange the strong enemy knight against his dark-squared bishop thus reaching a drawish o p p o s i t e - c o l o u r e d b i s h o p e n d i n g . xb3 22.d4 c4 23.d1 f8 [ 23...e5! or 23...Bc7 looks safer 24.f5 g8 25.d6+ xd6 26.xd6 f8 27.g4 f7 ] 24.b3 f7 25.b4 g6 26.a1 The advance of development is bouncing back after having changed sides! d7 27.a7 c7 28.a8 g8? What a silly move! [ 28...g7 29.xh8 xh8 30.h6 f5 31.exf5 xd4+ 32.cxd4 gxf5 33.e3 d6 34.f4 e6 is a 'no sweat' draw. ] 29.f4+ d6? One mistake calls for another. Black could still save his skin with the uncommon defensive manoeuvre [ 29...b6 30.d8 c4! ( 30...e7 31.d7 e8 32.e3+- ) 31.d7 g7 32.c7+ a7 33.d8 e7 34.e8 c5= ] 30.xd6+ xd6 31.xg8 xg8 32.e3 Now, it is difficult. White is the equivalent of a pawn up and Black has a bad bishop as far as his difficultly improvable queenside structure can tell. c4 33.h4? In order to maximize his winning chances, the first thing White had to think of was being provident with the recycling of his knight. [ 33.f4! b6 34.g4 c5 35.f3 Black may still have chances to further establish a blockade but at least W hite will have a free rein on the kingside. ] 33...b6 34.g4 [ 34.f4 c5 35.f3 e6 ] 34...c5 35.c2? [ 35.e2! h6 36.f4 e6 ( 36...g5 37.g3 e6 38.hxg5 hxg5 39.e5+ fxe5 40.e4+ e7 41.f5 ) 37.f5 ( 37.g5 hxg5 38.fxg5 fxg5 39.hxg5 e5 40.f4 f7 41.d3+ d6 42.f4 e8 43.e5 e6 44.g4 d7 45.f6 c6= ) 37...gxf5 38.gxf5 f7 39.f4 ] 35...h6 36.f4 g5 37.hxg5 hxg5 38.e1 b3? [ 38...gxf4+ 39.xf4 e6 40.f3 ( 40.g5? fxg5+ 41.xg5 e5 ) 40...e2 41.e3
d1 And White cannot make progress be ca u se of t h e we akn e ss o f t h e d 1 -h 5 diagonal. ] 39.fxg5 fxg5 40.f3 d1 41.xg5 xg4 42.f4 c8 43.f7+ e7 44.e5 d6 45.g4 e6? This has to be the square for th e kin g an d B la ck will pro b a bly h old b y oscillating from e6 to d5 with the white pawn on e5. 46.e5+ The kind of opportunity one must not miss! e7 [ 46...d5 47.e3+ c6 48.g5+- ] 47.f6 a2 48.e4 cxb4? One mistake too many! [ 48...d5! 49.d6 ( 49.f5 e6+ 50.g5 d5 51.d6 e6 52.f4 c6 53.c8 b7 54.xb6 c4 is a 'mirror'.) 49...c6 50.c8+ e6 51.xb6 cxb4 52.cxb4 b7 All of a sudden, White is in zugzwang and has to give up his extra e5-pawn in order to liberate his knight!! ] 49.cxb4 b1 [ 49...e6 50.c3 ( 50.g5+ d5 51.e6 d6 52.f5 e7 53.e5 b3= )] 50.g5 c2 51.e3 b3 52.d4 Free access to this square has not really worsened Black's structure but makes a big difference in the estimation of the position! a2 [ 52...c4 53.e4 f1 ( 53...e6 54.d6 f1 55.c8 ) 54.f6 And Nd5+ takes b6. ] 53.e4 c4?! Unfortunate, but Black was lost anyhow. [ 53...d7 54.d6 c6 55.e4! b1+ ( 55...e6 56.f5 d7 57.d4 c4 58.f5; 55...b3 56.f5 d5 57.f6 a2 58.xb5 c4 59.e6 xb5 60.e7 ) 56.f4 d3 57.g5 d5 58.f6 e2 59.f5 c4 60.e6 xb4 61.e7 h5 62.g7+- ] 54.d6+- f1 55.c8+ d7 56.xb6+ c6 57.d5 h3 58.e7+ d7 59.g8 e6 60.f6 f5?! Same comment, same punctuation. For a non trivial win, the bishop had to stay on the f1-b5 diagonal. [ 60...f1 61.e4 e2 62.c5+ e7 63.d3! f1 64.f4 c4 65.c5 f1 66.c6! c4 67.e6! Zugzwang f1 68.d5 f6 69.d6 ] 61.e4 d7 [ 61...h3 62.g5+ ] 62.d6 h3 63.xb5 f1 64.c3 e6 65.d5 d7 66.c5 e6 67.e3 a6 2000
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 68.c4 b7 69.b5 1-0
2047 A45 De la Villa Garcia,Jesus Maria 2458 Herraiz Lopez,Herminio 2415 TCh Barcelona ESP (8) 12.08.2000 [Aaron Summerscale]
23.a4 The knight's arrival on b6 spells the end of Black's resistance. ] 23.a8+ d7 24.d1+ d6 25.xa6 Black must lose more material after: 25...Rc6 26.Qb7+ Rc7 28.Rd6 +! Kd6 29 .Nb5+, s o Black called it a day. 1-0
2048 A45 In one of the most debated main lines, Black De la Villa Garcia,Jesus Maria 2500 takes a slight liberty with his move order. And Miezis,Normunds 2505 as we know, slight liberties are always ripe for Elgoibar (4) 1995 pu n is h me n t . 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 [Eric Prié] This remains one of the most topical and important variations of the Trompowsky. The 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 key question is, does the Black bishop pair c6 5.h4 d6 6.e4 e6?! Black wants to f u l l y c o m p e n s a t e h i m f o r h i s s p a c e prevent the opponent from long castling...or disadvantage. h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 at least frighten him a bit. Nevertheless, it [ Bucking the recent trend for: 5.c3 ] does not help in solving his chronic problem 5...d6 6.d2 g5 The most aggressive o f h o w t o d e v e l o p h i s f 8 - b i s h o p w h e n treatment which carries the Karpov stamp of refraining f rom playing ...e6 at all. W hite approval. 7.0-0-0 a6 A slow move which enjoys some space advantage which gives d o e s n o t h i n g t o co m b a t W h i t e ' s p l a n o f him more development flexibility. 7.d3 central expansion. Better is Bg7 followed by [ 7.0-0-0 a5 8.a3 c8 ] Nc6. 8.g3 h5 9.e5 h6 10.f4 Here we can 7...c8 8.ge2 e5 9.f4 xd3+ 10.cxd3 ta ke st o ck of t h e p ositio n. W h it e c a n b e b6 11.f5 d7 12.0-0-0 Failed! h6 13.b1 happy with results of his opening. He has a g8 14.xf6 gxf6 15.d5 a6 16.ef4 bind on the dark squares and a substantial a4 17.c1 c6 18.f2 d8 19.c3 xc3 lead in development . gxf4 11.gxf4 d7 20.xc3 a6 21.cd5 h5 22.c2 c6 12.f3 c6 13.g5 If Black was allowed The idea turns out to be a complete fiasco for 0-0-0, then he would certainly have a fighting Black, so he takes the practical decision of chance. So consequently, W hite starts to sacrificing a pawn to avoid suffocating to make things difficult for the Black King. e7 death. 14.h4 f8 15.d5! With the Black king as yet [ 22...c6 23.d2 With the ideas Rc1 and unable to find sanctuary, W hite naturally Qa5+ takes a7. ] opens up the centre. b4 16.g2 0-0-0 23.xh5 h6 24.hf4 d7 25.g3 g5 Finally the King makes a run for it, but White 26.a3 has cleverly prepared an unpleasant [ 26.b4 b5 27.xc6 bxc6 28.e2 ] welcoming party on the queenside. 17.d4 26...c8 27.c1 e6 The idea of having the c5 18.dxc6 xc6 bishop on g5. 28.fxe6+ fxe6 29.h4! xf4 [ 18...xc6 is no better after: 19.xb4 xg2 30.xf4 b5 31.e2? 20.hg1 c6 21.exd6 ] [ 31.d4 e5 ( 31...g8 32.d5 ) 32.e2 exd4 19.b6 The queen finds an ideal home in the 33.xd4 e5 34.xc6 xc6 35.d3 ] heart of the Black king position. Notice the 31...e5 32.f4 g8 33.f2 f5 34.exf5? difference in the respective positioning of the Quite sim ilar t o his regre tt ed com pa trio t queens. The Black queen remains a casual Mikhail TAL and, making due allowance, the bystander. dxe5 20.xd7! Wallop! This blow Latvian player (to whom I once lost 4 pawns completely dismantles the Black defences. u p ! ) i s a so rt o f " m a gi ci a n " i n t h e a r t o f xd7 21.xc6 bxc6 22.xc6+ c7 reversing compromised situations. [ 22...d8 Looks better until you see: [ 34.e2! fxe4? 35.f7+ ] 2001
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 34...xf5 35.e3? The game has turned sour for the Spaniard who could still retrieve the situation with the clever [ 35.a1!! e5 36.xc6! bxc6 ( 36...xc6 37.f3+ c7? 38.d5+ ) 37.xa7+ e8 38.b8+ f7 39.c7+ f8 40.xd6+ f7 41.c7+ f8 42.d8+= g7 43.g5+ xg5 44.e6+ g6 45.hxg5 f5 46.c5 xg5 47.e4 ] 35...e5 36.e2 f3 37.d2 b5 38.c3? [ 38.d1! e4?! White is so tangled-up that B l a c k c a n h o p e f o r m o r e t h a n a d r a w. 39.dxe4! xe4+ 40.a1 xe2 41.xd6+ A) 41...c8 42.c1+ c6 43.xc6+! bxc6 44.xc6+ b8 ( 44...d8 45.a8+ ) 45.d6+ c8 ( 45...b7? 46.d5+ ) 46.c6+=; B) 41...e8 42.d5 e1+ 43.d1 ( 43.a2? c4+ ) 43...e2 "The equilibrium of terror", both sides have to repea t moves. ( 43...e7? 44.d5; 43...e4? 44.d4 e1+ 45.a2; 43...e3? 44.b8+ f7 45.xb7+ )] 38...e4 39.c1 e3! 40.c2 c6 41.e2 f8 42.a2 f7+ [ Better 42...d5+ 43.b3 f2 44.b2 ( 44.d4 f3 45.h7+ c8 46.g8+ c7 47.h7+ b6 ) 44...b5!! 45.c2 g2 46.c7+ d8 47.c8+ e7 48.c7+ e6! When the knight stays pinned, the black king can safely go to this square. ] 43.b3 e6 44.b2 [ 44.d4 f2 45.h7+ d8 46.h5 ( 46.c2 g4 47.f4 xc2+ 48.xc2 xg3; 46.h8+? e8 ) 46...d5 47.h8+ c7 48.xe3 b5 49.h7+ b6 50.c2 g2-+ ] 44...f2 45.c2 g4 46.d4? [ 46.b1 b5 47.h8! c6 ( 47...xe2? 48.c8+ e7 49.xg4 ) 48.d4 ] 46...xd4! 47.xd4 b5! A nice finish. The Nd4 is completely dominated. [ 47...b5 48.a1 xd3 49.c1 e2 Followed by Rf1. ] 0-1
2049 Degraeve,Jean Marc Chuchelov,Vladimir Le Touquet op [Eric Prié]
A45 2425 2530 1995
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 f5 8.xb8 xb8 9.xd4 b6 10.e4 f4 11.h3 c7 12.e5 g8 13.0-0-0 e6 14.g5! The most precise move order with the direct intention of Ne4-d6+ and recapturing with the queen in order to maintain pressure against d7. [ 14.f4 f5!? 15.e2 h6 16.hg1 e7 17.g4 fxg4 18.xg4 0-0 19.d3 is the famous game Salov,V(2685)-Nunn, J(2615), Amsterdam 1995 1/2 (42) - White is slightly better because of the annoyance of the backward opposing d-pawn. According to the leader of the black pieces in this game (in INF 64/54), play should have continued: b5 20.b1 ] 14...e7 [ 14...f5? 15.exf6 xf6 16.b5!+The idea behind the move order: Black is p o we rl e ss t o p a rr y t h e f a t a l t h r e a t c5 17.xe6 ] 15.f4 f5 If Black could complete d e ve l o p m e n t t h is wo u l d b e a n e xc e lle n t square for the knight, controlling d6. Unfortunately he is so behind in development that, on f5, it only becomes a target adding even more problems to the second player. 16.f2! Controlling as many squares as possible. [ 16.d2 h6 17.f3 b7 18.fd4 xd4 19.xd4 a6 20.g1 e7 21.g3 0-0 22.g2 fd8= Nguyen Ngoc Truongson(2466)-Ilincic,Z(2520), FSGM Budapest 2004) ] 16...e7 17.d3! h6 Practically forced [ 17...xg5 18.fxg5 e7 19.hf1 0-0 20.h4 g6 ( 20...g6 21.xg6 hxg6 22.d3 xe5 23.h3 f5 24.gxf6 xf6 25.xf6 xf6 26.h8+ f7 27.f3 ) 21.de1! Guarantees White a winning attack b7 22.e3 xg2 23.f2 d5 24.h3 h5 25.gxh6 xe5 ( 25...xb3 26.h7+ h8 27.f6# ) 26.e2 ( 26.xe7?? e1+ 27.c2 xf2+ ) 26...g5 ( 26...d6 27.f6 ) 27.g3 f6 28.xg5+ g6 29.g3 h8 2002
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 30.f2+- ] 18.f3! Threatening g4 winning the knight. h5 19.xf5! exf5 20.fd4 g6 21.b5 c4 22.d6+ xd6 23.xd6 White is strategically winning. In order to link his forces, Black will be compelled to give up the d7 pawn or put all his pieces in awkward defensive positions, which is just the start of his worries, which are soon over anyway. b7 24.hd1 a4 [ 24...d8 25.1d4 c7 26.h4! xg2 ( 26...0-0 27.g5 fe8 28.xg6+! fxg6 29.xg6+ f8 30.f6+ g8 31.d3 h4 32.xh4 d6 33.g3+ g7 34.xg7+ xg7 35.f6+ g8 36.d4 ) 27.e6! fxe6 28.g5 e4 29.xg6+ f8 30.xe6! dxe6 31.f6++- ] 25.xd7? The French Grandmaster usually excels in calculation. [ 25.b1! c6 26.1d4 a6 27.d2 was of course fine for White, intending h3g4 in case of Black castling but is, as it turns out, less decisive! ] 25...xa2 26.e6 0-0 [ 26...xb3 27.exf7+ f8 28.d4 h7 29.d6+ g7 30.f8# ] [ 26...e4 27.exf7+ f8 28.d4 b1+ 29.d2 xb2+ 30.e1 ] 27.e7 xb3? The quickest way to resignation. [ 27...fe8! 28.d8 A) 28...c8 29.xc8 xc8 30.d8 d7 31.xd7 xb3 32.d8 b5 33.d4 is worse, f6 34.xf6 f1+ 35.c2 e2+ 36.d2 ( 36.b3 b5+ 37.a2 a4+ Leads nowhere.) 36...xe7 37.xg6+ f8 38.xf5+ g8 39.g6+ f8 40.xh5 e4+ 41.b3 e6+ 42.d5 Some 15 moves ahead, not bad... However; B) 28...a8!! defends, B1) 29.d4 xb3 30.d7 ( 30.xa8 xa8 31.d7 c6! 32.xc6 xe7 ) 30...axd8 31.exd8 xd8 32.xd8+ h7 f7 is protected from long ranged and Be4, threatening mate, on c2, or Qa2, b1+ is coming. Despite the extra exc ha nge , W hite migh t n ot even b e better! 33.f8 e4 34.d2 a2 35.d1 b1+ 36.e2 d5! 37.xd5? e4+;
B2) 29.xa8 xa8 30.d8 c6 31.d4 a1+ 32.c2 a4+! B2a) 33.d3 b1+ 34.c4 a2+ 35.d3 b1+= 36.c4 a2+ 37.b3?? ( 37.b4?? a5# ) 37...xf2 38.bxa4 a2+ 39.b4 g7 40.xe8 f6-+; B2b) 33.b3 a2 34.xe8+ xe8 35.d4 a4! 36.xa4 xa4 37.d3 f6 38.d4 f7 39.c4 xe7 40.d5 Because of the opposing kingside doubled pawns, White cannot lose this. Still, a pawn down, I doubt he can win it after B2b1) 40...e8? 41.c6+ d7 ( 41...xc6+ 42.xc6 g5 43.b7 d6 44.xa7 c6 45.g3 h4 46.b4 b5 47.b7+- ) 42.xa7 c7 43.c4 f7+ 44.b4; B2b2) 40...a5! Holding on. ] 28.exf8+ xf8 29.d4 g8 30.e5 Wins another piece. 1-0
2050 Delchev,Aleksander Kohlweyer,Bernd Karpos Open, Skopje (8.20) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2638 2416 04.04.2014
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 [ Normal, but I can't help but feel that 5...d5 is due for a revival. ] 6.d3 e5 7.e2 g6 8.0-0 g7 9.f4 e7 An important tabiya and one where White has a strong advance, as advocated by Pert. 10.f5!? [ The critical advance. White can also begin with 10.d2 when A) Instead, 10...exd4 11.cxd4 0-0 12.f5 g5 13.e5!? dxe5 14.f6 xf6 15.g3 gave W h ite a certa in init iat ive f or his pawns in Lindberg-Fransson, Swedish League 2012, as we've seen before,; B) while 10...d7 looks a little strange. Perhaps it's not too bad though and 11.dxe5 ( 11.f5! f6 12.fxg6 fxg6 13.b3 is Pert's consistent recommendation, transposing to a position 2003
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 we'll consider in the notes to Black's 12th m o v e , b e l o w) 11...dxe5 12.f5 f6 13.fxg6 fxg6 14.h3?! ( t o o s l o w ) e6 15.a4+ c6 16.b3 a5! saw Black seizing the upper hand in Cebalo-Opl, European Senior Team Championship, Sibenik 2014.; C) 10...0-0 is indicated, as we've noted before. ] 10...d7 [ Pert's main move. Instead, we saw 10...c6!? 11.c4!? in Fier-Rozum, Izmir Open 2013. ] 11.fxg6 fxg6 12.d2 [ Delchev is normally well prepared, but why he preferred this to 12.b3 isn't clear to me. I'd certainly want to activate the queen and after f6 13.d2 play has transposed to the next note. ] 12...f6!? Rather than activate his bishop, Black wants to walk his king to relative safety on g7. This may seem, on top of creative, a little extravagant, but in any case Black just seems to be a bit worse. [ Pert focuses on 12...f6 13.b3 when c6 was tried by the aforementioned Cebalo in Ru s e v-Ce b a lo , Za d a r 2 0 0 7 , b u t it 's n o wonder that he was quick to switch sides w h e n o n e c o n s i d e r s 14.c4! e6? 15.xb7! (Pert). ] [ The text is actually a novelty, with 12...f8 having been preferred in another earlier game, where 13.b3 b6 14.a4! e6 15.d5 c8 16.a5 d7 17.a6 left White for choice, Kanep-Chuiko, Moscow 2005. ] 13.b3 f8 14.a4! [ It's not clear what White's up to on the kingside after 14.f2 g7 15.af1 f8 , so Delchev undertakes a logical gain of space while further cramping Black's position. ] 14...g7 15.a5 g5 [ It must be right to activate the bishop. Instead, 15...f8 16.a6 bxa6 just looks quite pleasant for White after 17.xa6 ( or 17.c4!? . )] 16.c4 f6 17.h1 Both sides have played pretty well up to h ere and no w the gam e begins to hot up. h5!? [ Ambitious. Black might just have moved his rook to the h-file, but Kohlweyer has designs
on t he kin gsid e. A f t e r 17...g4 18.h3 the knight would have had to go back as e3? 19.xe3 xe3 20.f3 g5 21.af1 just plays into White's hands. ] 18.a3 c5!? [ A bold way of breaking the pin. Moreover, the re was no th ing wro ng with th e so lid 18...e8 , and if 19.g1 exd4!? 20.f3 f4 21.cxd4 xe4 22.xe4 xe4 23.ae1 c6 when White is just short of a killer blow from what I can see. ] 19.b4! [ Delchev is quick to pursue his queenside initiative. Instead, 19.d5 g4 20.h3 e3!? reveals the sort of line that Kohlweyer was no doubt dreaming about. After 21.f3 f2+ 22.h2 g4+ neither side can really avoid the repetition. ] 19...cxd4 20.b5?! [ A scary move, but objectively he should really have preferred the simple 20.cxd4 . ] 20...e6? [ The bluff is rewarded. I'm sceptical that White has quite enough compensation after 20...dxc3 21.xc3 ( 21.xd6 c7! is the other line, but W hite is surely struggling af ter 22.c4 e6 23.xc3 g4 ) 21...d8 . ] 21.xe5! More wood is thrown on to the fire. Many grandmasters are good at randomising the position seemingly out of nothing and then out-calculating their shocked opponents. dxc3 [ 21...g4 is a logical try to sidestep what follows, but I wouldn't be surprised if even here Delchev was considering 22.xg6!? xg6 23.e5+ h6 24.exd6 g7 25.xd4 with three pawns and a right mess for the piece. ] 22.xg6! The tactics are far from over. xg6 23.e5+ g7 24.exf6+ xf6 25.ae1 It's time to take stock after a short, f airly forced passage of play. White is a pawn down, but his rooks radiate power down the open files. One might have thought that W hite would have at best enough for his pawn, but Delchev's earlier judgement was excellent. Indeed, the position is simply pretty unpleasant for Black. e5?! [ It's logical to block the e-file, but now White will regain his pawn. That said, even after 25...ae8 26.c1! ( 26.f4 d7 2004
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 unpins and there's no killer blow) 26...e5 27.d4 it's hard not to like White's initiative, based on the point xd4? 28.xe6! xe6 29.g5+ followed by mate. ] 26.f4 f7 27.xc3 ae8 [ Black would have lost serious material after 27...xc3? 28.xe7 , ] [ but perhaps he would have done better with 27...ac8!? , and if 28.d2 ( 28.d4 c1!? is a neat way to try and reduce W hite's firepower ) 28...c5 . ] 28.d2 h6 The machine doesn't like this, but deeper exploration reveals that it's not so bad. Kohlweyer's problem is that his king is far too exposed. 29.h3! [ 29.e3 f6 30.ef3 looks simple and strong, but Delchev wants to avoid exchanges while activating his knight. ] 29...e6?! [ It would have remained most unpleasant, but Black would still have been on the board after 29...f8 30.g5 d5 . ] 30.g5 d7? [ Collapsing. Black had to grovel with something like 30...g8 , and if 31.f3 f8 32.e3 h4 . ] 31.f7 [ I presume this wasn't actually played and was just a sloppy input error. W hite has nothing after 31.f7?? xf7 32.g5+ g6 ,] [ but 31.f3! leaves Black defenceless, as if now f7 32.g5+ g6 33.h4 . ] 1-0
relative security here protected by a strong wall of pawns. [ 6...cxd4? A) 7.c7+?? d8 8.xa8 c3+ 9.e2 b6 10.xd4 a6+ 11.f3 ( 11.d1 xd4+ 12.exd4 xf1 ) 11...b7+ 12.e2 xc2+ 13.d2 xd2+ 14.xd2 xa8; B) 7.b1 xa2 8.c7+ d8 9.xa8 a5+ 10.d2 xd2+ 11.xd2 dxe3+ 12.fxe3 b6 13.e2 b7 14.f3 c6 15.xb6 axb6 16.xb6 c7 17.b3 e6 18.e2 d5 19.hb1 a5? 20.c3+ c6 ( 20...c4+ 21.xc4+ dxc4 22.xb7+ ) 21.d4 g7 22.xb7+ xb7 23.xc6+- ] 7.c4 [ 7.f3 e6 8.b1 xa2 9.xf6 cxd4 10.exd4 a5+ 11.d2 b4 12.fe4 d5 13.c3 xc3 14.xc3 xc3 ] [ 7.b1 xa2 8.dxc5 a5+ ( 8...e6 9.c3 a5 10.d4 e7 11.b5 a1+ 12.b1 a5 13.b5 a1+= 14.b1 a3 15.a4 c6 16.f4 ) 9.c3 xc5 10.b5 d6 11.h5 a6 12.b2 ( 12.b6 c6 13.xf7 e5 ) 12...b5 13.xf7 c6 14.f3 e5 15.xe5 xe5 16.d2 d6 Threatens Be6. 17.b4 b7 ] 7...e6 8.b1 [ 8.xf6 c3+ ] 8...a3 9.b3 a5+ 10.c3 d5 11.dxc5 d7 12.xd5 White cannot back away: [ 12.b5 xc5 13.d4 e7 14.b1 e4 15.ge2 c5 16.a4 ( 16.d3 b4 17.b3 a6 ) 16...xa4 17.xa4 e7-+ ] 12...exd5 13.xd5 xc5 14.xf7 b6! 15.ge2 a6 16.d4 c4 17.e6+ xe6 2051 A45 18.xe6 c8! Great defensive skill. White Depasquale,Chris 2315 cannot avoid the exchange of queens. 19.0-0 [ 19.b5 c4 20.h3 a6 21.d4 b4+ Solomon,Stephen J 2385 22.d1 c5 23.f5 ( 23.b1 e4 ) Masters Melbourne (9) 2001 23...xb3 24.axb3 f7 ] [Eric Prié] 19...e5 20.xe5 fxe5-+ 21.d1 e8 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.e3 b6 22.e4 c5 [ 22...xc2! 23.bd3 c5 ( 23...c7 5.c3 At first, this looks the best since it will 24.xd7 xd7 25.f6+ e7 26.xd7 deprive Black of the right to castle if he takes g7 W ins too. The knight is trapped.) the pawn, but this attacking knight might just 24.d8+ ( 24.xc5 bxc5 25.a3 e7 as well become a target that forces White to 26.xa7 f8 ) 24...f7 25.xc5 bxc5 perf orm acrobatics in order not to lose a 26.8d7+ e7 27.xa7 d8 28.b1 dd2 second pawn. xb2 6.d5 d8 If it was not 29.a4 b2 30.f1 e6 ] the only move it could be granted an e xc la m a t io n m a rk! I n f a ct , t h e kin g is in 23.c3 e7 24.xc5 xc5 25.xc5 xc5 2005
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.d5 f7 27.d7+ g6 28.xa7 d8 29.g4 d2 30.a4 xc2 31.a5 b5 [ 31...a2 32.axb6 xa7 33.bxa7 xa7 34.g2 b6 ( 34...g5 35.f4+ ) 35.h4 d8 36.g3 c7 ( 36...e7 37.f4 e4 38.f5+ ) 37.f3 d8 38.e4 xh4 39.f4 ] 32.b7 b4 33.b5 [ 33.a6 a2 34.b5 ( 34.c7 b3 35.b7 b2 36.g2 xe3 ) 34...e7 35.b6+ f7 36.f1 e4 37.g5 a5 38.h4 c5 39.b7+ g6 40.c7 b3 41.b7 xa6 42.xb3 h5 ] 33...e7? [ 33...g5 34.h3 h4 35.g2 xe3 36.f3 d4 37.xb4 xh3 ] 34.g2 e4 35.h4? [ 35.a6! a2 36.b6+ f7 37.g3 With a draw in sight. ] 35...xh4 36.xb4 xf2+ 37.g1 [ 37.h3 d8 38.g3 ( 38.xe4 c7 ) 38...f3+ 39.g2 xe3 ] 37...a2 38.xe4 g5! It is more important to keep the white king cut off. 39.a6 f2+ 40.f1 [ 40.g2 xe3+ 41.f3 f4 42.e7 a3+ 43.e2 h6 ] 40...g3 Black has made his task really difficult, but the 2 pawns for the bishop and the "wrong" h-pawn prove insuf ficient for White to succeed in drawing. 41.a7 [ 41.e7 h6 42.g7+ f6 43.h7 g6 44.a7 d6 45.a8 c5 46.e4 g5 47.g8+ f4 48.g6 f2+ 49.e1 h2 50.g7 e3 51.f1 ( 51.d1 d3 52.d7+ d4 53.e1 h1# ) 51...f2+ 52.e1 a2 53.f1 xa6 ] 41...h6 42.e8? [ 42.c4 d6 43.c6 e7 44.c7 f6 A) 45.c4 xa7 46.g2 a2+ 47.f3 ( 47.h3 e5 ) 47...h4; B) 45.f7 a1! ( 45...b2 46.g2! xg4? 47.f2 ) 46.h7 b2!-+ 47.g2 ( 47.e1 c1; 47.f7 xg4 48.f2 a1+ 49.g2 e5; 47.e4 d4 ) 47...g7+ 48.f3 g6 ] 42...xa7 43.g2 h4 44.g8 [ 44.e6 a2+ 45.f3 f2+ 46.e4 g5 47.c6 f7 48.a6 e1 49.c6 b4 50.d5 f8 ] 44...a6 45.f3 f6+ 46.e4 c7 47.d5 [ 47.g7 d6 48.d5 a3 49.g8 c1
50.e5 b6 51.e4 e6+ ] 47...b6 48.e4 e3 49.e5 f1 50.e6 g5 51.d6 d1+ 52.c7 e1 53.d7 xg4 54.xg5+ hxg5 55.e7 f5 56.e8 xe8 57.xe8 g4 0-1
2052 Dimakiling,Oliver Laylo,Darwin 3rd Dato Arthur Tan (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2463 2428 23.08.2006
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4!? d5 Back to the my favourite study which on more general grounds I find crucial in the d-pawn specials universe: W here is that white queen's bishop best placed with the structure d4 against d5? On f4 where he can often be attacked and taken by the opposing knight from h5 therefore requiring the protective tempo h2-h3? Or g5 where it is also subject to direct harassment by the knight from e4 but cannot be captured without the commitment ... g5? And then, where to retreat it? On f4 or h4, the shorter diagonal where it pins the opposing e-pawn, or even staying on g5 after the support of a pawn on h4 in the typical case o f t h e T r o m p ? 4.f3 Somehow providing coherence to this update... [ 4.d2 however. Against Black's last move this more static approach is also possible and the Latvian player is supposed to be the W orld's nu mber 1 specialist of this Tromp sub-line and more generally of the strategic theme of an early sortie of the queen's bishop with the structure d4-d5 as in the Baltic defence for example. That is why 3...c5! must be the critical line here. f5 5.e3 xd2 6.xd2 c6 7.c4 d7 8.f3 e6 9.e2 f6 10.0-0 e7 11.d3 xd3 12.xd3 a6 13.fe1 0-0 14.g3 fe8 15.e4 f8 16.h3 ad8 17.b3 h8 18.e2 dxe4 19.xe4 e5 20.c2 exd4 21.xd4 f7 22.ad1 xd4 23.xd4 c5 1/2-1/2 Rausis, I (2510) - Malisauskas, V (2510) Liepaja Rapid 2006 ] 4...d6 Arguably the main line [ 4...f6 5.c3 c5 6.e4 dxe4 7.dxc5 a5 8.d2 e3 9.xe3 d5 10.d2 xc3 2006
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.xc3 xc3+ 12.bxc3 e6 13.f2 e7 14.b5+ d7 15.b1 c6 16.e2 0-0-0 Hennig, D (2385)-Pribyl, J (2379) Bayern op 2005 0-1(60) ] [ As for the manoeuvre 4...g5 5.fxe4 gxh4 6.exd5 xd5 7.c3 Followed by e2-e4, it appears unatt ractive f or B lack with th e preliminary move ...d7-d5 ] 5.c3 f5 6.f2 e5 7.dxe5 d4 8.e4! dxc3 [ 8...dxe3 9.xd8+ xd8 10.0-0-0+ d7 11.e1! Keeping the bishop. c6 12.f4 g5 13.g3 gxf4 14.gxf4 ce7 15.ge2 c6? ( 15...c8 16.h3 e6 17.e4 ) 16.h3 c7 17.xd7+! xd7 18.d4 h6 19.g3! g6 20.ce2! No counterchances. c7 21.xf5+- Obsivac, J (2335)Freisler, P (2350) Olomouc op 1995 1-0(50) ] 9.xd8+ xd8 10.0-0-0+ e8 11.exf5 cxb2+ 12.xb2 xf5 13.e2 c6 14.g3 [ 14.c3 a6 15.f4 Is it possible that White had forgotten the opponent could not castle queenside anymore?! ( 15.d5!? c8 16.f4 e6 17.e2 b4 18.c4 Looks even stronger. ) 15...d8 16.e2 h5 17.f3 h6 18.d5 d7 Carlsen, M (2552) - Lie, K (2430) NOR-ChT Trondheim 2004 0-1(44) ] 14...e6 15.b5 a6 16.xc6+ bxc6 17.e2 b8+ 18.a1 a3 19.b1 e7 20.d4 d7 21.c3 c5? [ 21...c5 22.h4+ f6 23.he1 xb1+ 24.xb1 ] 22.c2 xb1+ Incidentally, an Internet blitz game between Mamedyarov (2595) Nestorovic (2424) stopped here with W hite winning as well in 2004... 23.xb1 f5 24.xa3 xb1 25.xb1 b8+ 26.c2+e6 27.xc5 xe5 28.c4 g6 29.b1 h5 30.c3 c6 31.h4 b7 32.e2 e6 33.d4+ d7 34.a4 b8 35.a5 e8 36.d2 e5 37.b3 g5 38.g3 gxh4 39.gxh4 f5 40.e3 1-0
2053 Dishman,Stephen Matikozian,Andranik National Open (5) [Eric Prié]
A45 2321 2469 10.06.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.d3 b6 I think I mentioned this possibility some time ago but never actually dedicated a game to this obviously critical line, characteristically hitting b2 in the "d-Pawn Specials". In this peculiar case however, it looks quite risky for Black due to the more open character of the position, as also acknowledged by Wells in his book "Winning with the Trompowsky" Batsford 2003: "The evidence suggests that this ambitions queen sortie is probably asking just a bit too much. I have already had occasion to refer to the scepticism of IM Ilya Tsesarsky who writes on Trompowsky topics for ChessBase Magazine, and seems to have particularly little sympathy with a number of those cases where the White cause has to take on a gambit element. This is a case in point as (admittedly in 1997) he attached the highly optimistic marking." [ 5...cxd4 basically does not change the character of the position which in fact relies on the soundness of the main game's co u rse in a n y ca se , e xce p t t h a t it m a y provide W hite with the extra possibility 6.xe4 dxe4 7.xd4!? which, between us, could well be countered by ( 7.exd4 b6 8.c3 Transposes further where it is unclear that the black queen is best developed on b6 if it turns out that she cannot take the b2-pawn, in the end...) 7...c6!? Intending 8.xd8+ xd8 To be examined later in all cases when topical games become available. ] 6.xe4 dxe4 On [ 6...xb2 The Michael Adams exchange sacrifice is the historical reference after 7.xd5 ( Nevertheless 7.d2 dxe4 8.e2 may well be as good and there have been a couple of examples with the 2 alternatives since W ells' book came out...) 7...xa1 8.f3 ] 7.c3 xb2 Exactly the same remark as above when Black's idea is rather [ 7...cxd4 8.exd4 ( 8.xd4! c6? 9.xb6 2007
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 axb6 10.xe4? e5 11.g3 f5 ) 8...c6 ( 8...xb2 however, is especially important for the overall assessment of the line in order to avoid W hite's next great intermediate move. Then the most accurate m o m e n t t o e x e c u t e t h i s m a n o e u vr e i s probably as soon as on move 5 as Wells as well correctly points out. 9.ge2 g4 ) 9.ge2 g4 Intending to bring a rook to d8 to put the d4-pawn under pressure rather then take the b2 pawn. Then 8.Qxd4! is evidently an improvement compared to the previous note not only because of the extra tempo Nc3, leaving Black's e4-pawn under attack, but also because the exchange of the queens on b6 rather than d8 after 8... N c 6 ? , f o r i n s t a n c e , g r a ve l y a l t e r s t h e op p o s in g s tru ct ure t o a se em in gly lo st position after 9.Qxb6 axb6 10.Nd5! ] 8.ge2! [ 8.d5? a6 ] 8...g4 [ 8...cxd4 9.b1! Now naturally. See the next game. ] 9.xe4! xe2 10.xe2 cxd4 [ 10...b5+ 11.d3 xd3+ ( 11...c4 12.c3 ) 12.cxd3!? cxd4 13.ab1 W ells, P "W ith continuing pressure. ( 13.hc1 c6 14.ab1 e5 15.xb7? d8 Wells, P ) 13...b6 14.hc1 d7 ( 14...dxe3? 15.c8+ d7 16.xb8 ) 15.exd4 followed inevitably by Rc7. ] 11.d3! Interesting what Wells says at this stage: "This seems to be what Black overlooked, or at least underestimated. By denying Black's queen the b5 square, White at a stroke creates huge embarrassment in the opp os it io n ca mp. I d on 't know if Xie Ju n simply assumed that Adams would recapture, but if her calculations fell down for this reason she would find herself part of a very long illustrious tradition! Assumptions of recaptures have been responsible for some memorable mistakes at absolutely all levels." b6 The supposed improvement of Xie Jun's play, at last, and apparently a Novelty on the board although it was suggested by Tsesarsky in CBM 58, some 10 years ago... [ 11...f5 "Black panics under pressure. White's initiative was substantial anyway, but this move only serves to create
weaknesses for W hite to latch onto." Summerscale, A referring to Adams, M(2685) - Xie Jun(2510) Hastings 1996 1-0 (22). More cautious this time then the last month about a 22 move old achievement, I found this game had not escaped the nonchalant sagacity of my predecessor but to my immense surprise he only slipped it in as a note inside his commented version of... Adams-Smirin New-York PCA 1994! ] 12.hb1!? Avoiding leaving a2 hanging in some lines, while keeping the rook on the appropriate file for the idea a4-a5 if Black plays ...b7-b6 to soothe the pressure against b7. [ 12.ab1 c6 13.exd4 e6 14.c4 d7 15.d5 a6 16.f1 ( 16.he1 xa2+ 17.f1 c5 18.xc5 xc5 19.e2 a6 20.dxe6 0-0 ) 16...e5 17.e2 d8 18.g5 f6 19.h4 c5 20.h5+ f8 21.e2 d4 Tsesarsky, Since then, the engines have somewhat improved... ] 12...c6 13.exd4 e6 14.c4 d7 15.d5 a6 16.dxe6!? [ 16.f1! e7 ( 16...e5 Following Tsesarsky 17.e3 c8 18.b5! e7 19.d6 d8 20.c5!; 16...exd5 17.xd5 0-0-0 18.xf7 ) 17.d6 d8 18.g1 0-0 19.b5 ] 16...fxe6 17.d1 c6 18.d6+ xd6 19.xd6 c8! Not falling into the trap [ 19...xc4+? 20.e1 c6 21.ac1 when the opening of the c-file decisively helps White. xd6 22.xd6 b5 23.c7 a5 ( 23...a6 24.a3 d8 25.d6 ) 24.b7 ( 24.a3 d8 25.d6 b4 ) 24...b4 25.xb4 axb4 26.dxd7 xa2 27.xg7+- ] 20.ac1 f8 21.g5 [ 21.e3 b6 ] 21...f6 22.f3 f7 [ 22...xd6 23.xd6 f7 24.e3 b6 25.c5 e7! 26.d3 d5 And Black holds on. ] 23.a3 c5 24.a4+?! [ 24.xc5 xc5 25.e3 a5 26.c2 c7 ] 24...f8! 25.e3 e5 The picture has changed as it is clear now which king is the most e xpo sed .. . 26.b4+ g8 27.d6 d e f e n d i n g h 2 . h5 28.c5? Only giving squares as White will have no time to get rid of his weakness by c5-c6. [ 28.f1= ] 2008
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28...e8! [ 28...e5 29.e6 e8 30.h3 xh3 31.gxh3 Not very aesthetic but probably tenable for White. ] 29.c4 [ 29.c6 bxc6 30.xc6 d7 31.g3 b5+ ] 29...d7 [ 29...e5! With the double threat e5-e4 and Qxh2 was strong too. ] 30.xd7 [ 30.g3 xd1 31.xd1 f5 32.e2 b1 ] 30...xd7 31.xd7 e5 32.g4 g6 33.g5? [ 33.f2 leaving the Black queen imprisoned in a way. ] 33...h4! [ 33...xh2 34.xb7 e4 35.f4 ] 34.g4 [ 34.xb7 c4+ 35.f2 e4 36.f4 xa2+ 37.g3 e2 ] 34...f6! 35.h4 [ 35.xb7? a6+ ] 35...b6 36.d6 e7 37.h5 bxc5 38.c6 [ 38.xc5 c7 39.a3 ( 39.b4 e4! 40.hxg6 c4+ 41.f2 xb4 42.gxh7+ h8 ) 39...e4! 40.xe4 xe4+ 41.fxe4 c2+ ] 38...b7 39.xc5 e4 40.hxg6? b2+? [ 40...exf3+! 41.f2 ( 41.gxf3 b2+ 42.f1 xe3 43.gxh7+ h8! 44.c8+ xh7 45.c7+ h6 46.c6+ h5 47.c5+ e5 ) 41...xe3! 42.gxh7+ h8 43.xe3 e7+ 44.d4 d7+ 45.c3 xg4 ] [ Possibly White lost on time at this stage since the position is now absolutely unclear due to the unhappy position of the black queen on the a1-d4 diagonal. 40...b2+? 41.f1 exf3? ( 41...b1+ 42.c1 d3+ 43.f2 h5 44.xe4=; 41...hxg6 42.xg6+ f7 43.g4 exf3 44.f4+ e6 45.e4+ d6 46.d4+!= xc5 47.d2+ xe3 48.xb2 ) 42.gxh7+ f7 ( 42...h8? 43.d4+; 42...xh7? 43.h5# ) 43.f4+ e6 ( 43...g6 44.g5+! ) 44.gxf3 ] 0-1
2054 Dmitrenko,Viktor Gavrish,Leonid Kaissa Open Kharkov UKR (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2324 2030 25.01.2002
Tro mpo wsky att ack: Bla ck on ce again is severely punished for his greed in the Tromp. And as a result, his eighth move innovation is unlikely to catch on. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 Ambitious, if a little foolhardy. 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 bd7?! Asking for trouble. Practice has shown that Black has only one way of trying to stem the tide. [ 7...e5 is best. ] 8.f3 c7 A new move, but not one likely to increase the popularity of Black's 7th move. 9.b5 Highlighting Black's plight in this line. The advance e5-e6 is very hard to stop. a6 10.xd7+ xd7 11.e2 b5 12.e5 We can see that White's central pawn mass gives him a dangerous initiative. Meanwhile, the Black king is a long way from reaching safety. b7 13.0-0 b4? A strange decision. The White knight is already heading for e4, so why drive him there? 14.e4 dxe5 15.fxe5 xd5 [ 15...xe5 i s w e l l m e t b y 16.f4 when the pin is awkward to meet. ] 16.d6+ d8 17.xf7+! A temporary piece sacrifice, in order to open more lines on the kingside and in the centre. xf7 18.e6 h5 19.ad1! Clever play! There is no rush, the poor knight is effectively dead, as the vicious threat of Bf4 stops it from running away. c6 20.f4 a7 21.e5! This double attack on h5 and b8 decides matters quickly. xf3 [ 21...b7 22.xh5 xe6 23.g5 is also hopeless. ] 22.b8+ c8 23.xa7 c6 Black defends as best he can, but with his kingside pieces so utterly redundant, it is hardly surprising that he has no hope of saving the game. 24.xd7+! xd7 25.d1 1-0
2009
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2055 Dombai,Istvan Berczes,David Spring Festival (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 4.d4 The only idea. [ 4.e3 xc5 5.d2 g6 6.b3 g7 7.xc5 2214 a5+ 8.c3 xc5 9.d4 a5 10.e5 d8 2146 11.g3 0-0 12.d3 d6 Certic, B (2421)18.03.2002 Pa p, G (25 0 8) Po rto Sa n G iorgio 20 1 0 1-0(39) ] Trompowsky Attack: Black tries a tricky new 4...a5+ 5.c3 Unfortunately for White on [ 5.c3?! There is xc5! ( 5...xc5? 6.e3 idea in one of the main lines of the Tromp. xd4 7.exd4 b4 8.0-0-0 bd5 9.xd5 White makes one slip in unfamiliar territory xd5 10.d2 e6 11.g3 e7 12.g2 and is immediately terminated. 1.d4 f6 1/2-1/2 Boguszlavszkij, J (2258)-Galyas, M 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 (2406) Budapest 2002) 6.b4? ( 6.d2 6.d5 b6 7.b3 e6 8.e4 exd5 9.exd5 d6 b6= 7.b4?! ce4 8.xb6 axb6 9.b5 10.g5 0-0 A relatively unexplored idea, a4 ) 6...e6 ] which could give the unprepared Tromp player quite a bit to chew over. 11.xf6 The natural 5...xc5 6.e3 xd4?! [ 6...h5 7.e5 d6 8.xa6 bxa6 9.xc5 retort, after which White is forced to gum up dxc5 10.c4 b7 11.f3 ] his natural development. e8+ 12.e2 [ 6...a5!? 7.f3 d6= ] [ 12.f2 f4! is the point, when White c a n n o t h a n g o n t o h i s e xt r a p i e c e , f o r 7.exd4 b6 8.d2 b7 9.gf3 g6 10.c4 example: 13.h4 ( 13.g3 is relatively best, g7 11.0-0 c8 12.fe1 c7 13.d6!? but leaves Black very comfortable after: e6 14.a3 c7 15.e5 a6 16.b3 b5 17.df3? The knight is badly placed here in e3+ 14.g2 xf6 ) 13...c4+ And wins. ] [ 12.e2 is also possible, when one viable sight of the b7-bishop [ 17.b4 d5 18.a5 c8 19.g3 d6 continuation is: gxf6 13.d2 e5 14.c2 20.d3 ] f5 15.c4 h6 Black has good darksquared control, in order to make up for 17...d5 18.d3 d6 19.b4 df4! 20.d5 c5 21.ad1 a5! his kingside weaknesses. ] [ 21...xb3 22.axb3 a5 23.c6 xc6 12...gxf6 13.d2 c7 14.g3 Losing on the 24.xd6 ( 24.dxc6 0-0 ) 24...xd5 25.xd5 spot to Bxg3+, so White, realising the game xd5 26.xc7 a4 27.bxa4 bxa4 ] was up, resigned without further ado. [ 14.e4 is critical, when Black's best is 22.c6 xc6 [ 22...xb3 23.xd6 d7 24.xf4 ] probably e5 15.d2 d6 16.f4 d4 with a very complicated position. If you're in 23.dxc6 xc6 24.xc5 xc5 25.xd6 a4 the market for an offbeat idea against the 26.c2 a3 27.a6? [ 27.bxa3 xc3 28.e3 e5 29.a6 Tromp, you should certainly explore this ( 29.xe5 exd6 30.d3+ d7 31.xc5+ position thoroughly. ] dxc5 32.a4 b4 33.b3 e6; 29.d2 b2!! 0-1 30.e1 c3 ) 29...xc2 30.xe5 c1+ 31.e1 xe1+ 32.xe1 d7 33.a4 b4 34.b6? d5 ] 2056 A45 Dorner,Matthias 2243 27...axb2 28.a8+ d7 29.a7+ c7 Philipowski,Robert 2298 White must have wrongly evaluated this move NRW Class1 0304 (9.3) 25.04.2004 but [ 29...d6 30.exe7 xc3 31.ad7+ c5 [Eric Prié] 32.c7+ b4 33.e4+ a5 was also problematic. ] 1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 And now, to be exhaustive, some black options of lesser 30.xe7+ xe7 31.xc7+ d6 32.xf7 e6 importance. 3.dxc5 a6 [ 32...c8! 33.xg7 xc3 would have [ 3...e6 4.d6 At last one advantage of spared White some 80 moves! ] having the bishop on f4! ] 33.b7 c8 34.d2 xc3 35.e4+ d5 [ 3...b6!? ] 2010
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 36.xb5+ d4 37.f1 f4?? 38.g3?? Time trouble?! [ 38.b3! d3 ( 38...d2 39.xb2 c1 40.b4+ ) 39.d6!! ( 39.xc3?? xc3 40.xd3 xd3 41.xb2 c1# ) 39...c5 ( 39...b4 40.xb4+ xb4 41.xc8 ) 40.b5+ c4 41.xc3+ xb5 42.xd3+ ] 38...d3?? [ 38...d5 ] 39.e2?? Wow [ 39.xc3 xc3 40.xd3 xd3 41.xb2 ] 39...c1+ 40.d1? The least but the last. [ 40.f1 xa2 ] 40...d8! 41.b6 [ 41.b1 c4+ 42.c2 xb5 43.xc3+ b4 44.xb2 d2+ 45.xc1 xc3 ] 41...e5+ 42.d6 xd6+ 43.xd6 xd6-+ 44.b1 c5 45.h4 d4 46.g4 d3 47.e2 e5 48.f3 c4 49.h5 gxh5 50.xh7 hxg4 51.fxg4 d2 52.d1 b1+ 53.xb1 xb1 54.c2 a3+ 55.b3 c4 56.a4 a5 57.b5 e5 58.c5 f4 59.d5 xg4 60.e4 g5 61.d3 e1 62.e4 f6 63.d5 f5 64.d4 e6 65.e4 d6 66.d4 c6 67.d3 b5 68.e2 b4 69.d3 a4 70.c2 a3 71.b1 d6 72.a1 c4 73.b1 e3 74.a1 e5+ Black cannot be bothered [ 74...b4 75.b1 d2 76.a1 c2+ 77.b1 b4 78.a1 xa2 79.b1 b3 80.a1 c1 81.b1 a3 82.a1 b2+ 83.b1 c3# ] 75.b1 c4 76.c2 xa2 77.d3 b3 78.e4 c3 79.d5 d3 80.c5 e3 81.c6 c4 82.b6 d5 83.b5 d6 84.b6 f5 85.b5 d4+ 86.b6 f4 87.b7 d6 88.b6 d2 89.b7 a5 90.a7 c7 91.b7 d7 92.a7 c6 93.a8 e6 94.a7 c5 95.a8 d7 96.a7 b6 97.a6 b8 98.a5 d5 99.a4 c5 100.b3 b4 101.c3 f4 102.b3 d2 103.a4 c2 104.b3 d4+ 105.a4 c4 106.a3 b5 107.a2 b4 108.b2 e3 109.a2 c1 110.b1 a3 111.a2 a4 112.a1 b3 113.b1 b5 0-1
2057 Drazic,Sinisa Inkiov,Ventzislav open Cesenatico (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2508 2421 28.10.2000
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 a6 4.c3!? xc5 5.f3 d6 Black accepts entering a Scheveningen Sicilian-type position, English Attack style with his queen's knight not on c6. It is quite original because W hite's king's knight will not go to d4 but rather support a surge of pawns on the kingside. [ 5...b6!? is critical and fully justified in reaction against the weakening of the dark squares initiated by W hite's last move. 6.d2 xb2 7.b1 a3 8.e4 With compensation. ( 8.b5 xa2 )] 6.e4 e6 7.d2 e7 8.h4 [ 8.b5+ d7 As suggested by the winner of this game in Informator No. 80, is not an impressive alternative because, whatever White plays now, 9.a4, 9.Rd1, 9.Ne2, 9.Nh3, Black will reply 9...a6 forcing the exchange on d7 with a recapture of the c5-knight where these two moves, ...a6 and ...Nbd7, are part of a normal setup of Black's. Furthermore, this exchange of bishops, with the pawn on c2 does not weaken Black's position and if proved troublesome, would have been easy to avoid on move 6 with ... a6 instead of 6...e6. ] 8...h6 9.e3 a6 10.0-0-0 Threatening 11.e5. c7 11.b1 b5 [ Black could have started the thematic "ra ce " wit h 11...d7 12.g4 b5 13.h3 c6! ( 13...b4 14.e2 b4 is now hanging while the Nf6 does not have the square d7 after W hite's g5.) 14.g5 hxg5 15.hxg5 fd7 16.a3 Which is typically double edged after 16... Qb7 or 16...Rb8. Evidently, 16.a3 is not the only move the aggressive line 16. Qd4 e5 17.Qd2 Nb6 can be considered, but the thing is that the c4-square has to be guarded by the Bf1, otherwise the idea of bringing a knight to it will be very strong for Black. ] 12.xb5+!? In normal positions with reduced material, it is generally interesting to have 3 connected passed pawns supported by a bishop and a king, against a knight, a bishop 2011
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 OF THE OPPOSITE COLOUR and a king, for the s im ple rea son t ha t the b ishop o f th e attacking side not only strongly supports the advance of his infantry on the squares of his colour but also threatens the enemy knight trying to blockade the pawns on the squares of the other colour, with the help of his bishop. So, White's plan is clear. axb5 13.xb5 c6 [ 13...a5 14.xa5 ( 14.xd6+ xd6 15.xd6 xa2+ 16.c1 a1+ 17.d2 cxe4+ ) 14...xa5 15.xd6+ xd6 16.xd6 e7 17.d2 a6 18.h3 b8 with the same characteristics as in the game is undeniably an improvement. Fritz even gives the surprising line ] [ 13...b7 14.xd6+ xd6 15.xd6 cd7 16.c5 g8 17.d4 h7 as the best! This is far from clear, but on the other hand, it is true that Black has firm control over the light squares and that the presence of the black queen "strongly" prevents the white pawns, in front of it, from mobilizing. ] 14.xd6+ xd6 15.xd6 xd6 16.xd6 a6 [ 16...a4 17.e2 e7 18.d2 a6 19.c1 hb8 20.b3 With the idea Bd4 Drazic,S ] 17.e2 e5 [ 17...e7 is awarded an exclamation mark by the Yugoslav grandmaster who considers t h e p o s i t i o n t o b e e q u a l a f t e r 18.d2 pro ba b ly be cau se o f d8 which allows Black to keep an active rook on the queenside while controlling the key square d6 annihilating the enemy pressure along the d-file. ] 18.hd1 e6 19.b3 0-0?! It was better to keep the king closer to the center with 19... Ke7. 20.c3 fb8 21.b2 White does not have to fear anything against his queenside castling with the queens swapped off. b4 22.1d2 e8 [ 22...c8 23.a3 a6 24.a4 ] 23.b6 White enjoys a big advantage as the good placement of his forces authorizes him to exchange the right pieces in order to be able to set in motion his queenside majority. xb6 24.xb6 c6 25.a4 b8 26.e3 f5 27.c5 c8 [ 27...f7 28.exf5 xf5 29.c4 ] 28.exf5 xf5 29.c4 This a typical situation
where the three pawns are much superior to the piece, a knight in this case which has no square to lean on but this statement mainly results from positional advantages like the pawn structure and the activity of the pieces. f7 30.c3 e7 [ 30...a8 31.a4 b8 32.g4 e6 ( 32...h7 33.d7+ ) 33.h5 ] 31.a3 c7 [ 31...a8 was the last chance to slow down the steamroller. ] 32.b4 a8 Too late! 33.a4 e6 34.g4 h7 35.b5 cd4 36.xe6 xe6 37.xd4 exd4+ 38.xd4! Good judgment. [ 38.b4 d3 is less clear ] 38...xa4 39.b6 a1 [ 39...a3+ 40.b4 xf3 41.b7 A) 41...f1 42.d6+ xd6 ( 42...e7 43.b6 ) 43.b8+ e7 44.h8; B) 41...f8 42.c5 e5 43.c6 xd4 44.c7 ] 40.b4? Time trouble probably. [ 40.c5 b1 41.d6+ e5 ( 41...e7 42.c6 ) 42.d7 f1 43.b7 xf3+ 44.b4 f8 45.c6 e4 46.c5 ] 40...c2 41.c5 a4? [ 41...a5+ 42.c6 a4+ 43.b7 ( 43.c7 c5+ 44.d8? c6 ) A) 43...e8 44.h5! d7 Black has nothing to do. ( 44...c5 45.a6 ) 45.f4 e7 46.f5 d8 47.d5; B) 43...b3 B1) 44.b8 c5 45.b7 xc4 46.a7 c7 ( 46...a5+ 47.b6 b5+ 48.c6 ) 47.b6 ( 47.xc4?? xc4 48.b8 a4+ 49.b6 b4+ 50.c7 xb8 51.xb8 e5-+ ) 47...xb7+ 48.xb7 d5+ 49.c7 xf3 is not a clear win, and even a theoretical draw if g5 is exchanged against h4!; B2) 44.f4!! e7 ( 44...c5 45.a7 a5+ 46.b8; 44...h5 45.gxh5 xh5 46.a6 ) 45.b8 c5 46.b7 xc4 47.a7 a5+ 48.b6 b5+ 49.c6 f1 50.d1 c4 51.c1 b4 ( 51...e2 52.e1 ) 52.c7+- ] 42.b7 1-0
2012
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2058 Drazic,Sinisa Krejic,Igor 3rd Open Backa Palanka YUG (6) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2059 2474 Dresen,Ulrich 2231 Berg,Michael 07.05.2002 BL2-West 0506 (5.5) [Eric Prié]
Trompowsky: Some King's Indian players will go to any lengths to achieve their favourite fianchetto. However, the resulting positions resemble the Pirc more than anything, and the well prepared Tromp specialist can feel right at home. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 g6 This move is ama zingly popular, despit e Black's poor results with it. I suspect that most Black players are trying to get back to their beloved King's Indian. However, in the Tromp, things are rarely so simple. 4.f3 f6 5.e4 d6 6.c3 g7 7.d2 This is certainly W hite's m ost aggre ssive way of playing. W hite prepares to exchange dark squared bishops. c6 8.0-0-0 bd7 9.e5 Impressively direct play, putting Black on the back foot. dxe5 10.dxe5 h5 11.e6! Excellent play, opening up the Black king. fxe6 12.h6 a5 13.h3 [ 13.xg7!? ] 13...0-0 [ 13...xc3 should have been given serious co ns id erat io n . 14.xc3 xc3 15.bxc3 gives White compensation for the pawn, but no more. ] 14.xg7 xg7 15.c4 b6 16.b3 d5 17.d4+ White begins to pile on the pressure. hf6 18.e4 b6 The first signs of panic start to emerge, as Black desperately tries to exchange queens. [ 18...c7 would have been much better, preparing to block the a1-h8 diagonal with e5. ] 19.e5 c7?? A horrible blunder, born out of Black's anxiety to exchange queens. [ 19...g8 is relatively best, escaping the pin. ] 20.xd5 1-0
A45 2296 2341 15.01.2006
1.d4 f6 2.g5 d5 3.e3! Accepting the transposition into the 2...Ne4 Tromp of the 1st two games without giving up the bishop as in the last 3 games! e4 4.f4 This is why I am so ve ry in t ere st e d in th is p osit io n wh ic h embraces two of the major Tromp problems: 2...d5 and 2...Ne4 3.Bf4 d5. c5 5.d2!? Considering the numerous questions left in suspense with [ 5.d3 And other lines than f6 or ( 5...c6 6.xe4 dxe4 7.d5 or their introduction (to these questions...) in the 2 previous games, this move, alleviating the possible problems against b2, represents a decent alternative to Bd3 in my opinion, provided that Black has already committed himself with ...c7-c5. )] 5...xd2 [ 5...f6 6.c3 ] 6.xd2 c6 [ 6...cxd4 7.exd4 c6 8.f3 A) 8...f5 9.h4 ( 9.d3 xd3 10.xd3 e6 11.0-0 1/2-1/2 Kosanovic, G (2428) Szeberenyi, A (2411) Budapest 2002) 9...e4 10.f3 e5 ( 10...xc2! see below ) 11.dxe5 xh4+ 12.g3 e7 13.fxe4 dxe4 14.g2!? ( 14.0-0-0 d8 15.e3 xd1+ 16.xd1 ) 14...d8 15.e2 d4 16.xe4 f5 ( 16...b4+ 17.c3 xb2 18.0-0 c5 19.h1 xc3 20.g5 ) 17.xb7 xc2+ 18.e2; B) 8...b6?! 9.c3 f5 10.h4 The key move in this line. g4 11.h3 h5 12.g4 g6 13.xg6 hxg6 14.h4 0-0-0 15.0-0-0 e6 16.d3 d6 17.xd6 xd6 18.h5 Lputian, S (2590) - Alexopoulos, G (2255) Washington DC 1994 ] 7.f3 g4 High rated Black players have often erred in this position by being afraid of getting their queen's bishop outside of the pawn chain and playing the timorous 7... e6 (Chekhov, Andres Gonzalez, A) or the useless [ 7...b6 8.c3 Is a move that actually helps White when the control of the b5-square can be achieved in a more economical way than 2013
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 by posting the queen on this passive square. cxd4 ( 8...g4? 9.dxc5 xc5 10.b4 b6 11.xd5 ) 9.exd4 f5 10.h4 e4 ( 10...d7 11.d3 e6 12.e2 e7 13.f3 h6 14.0-0 Legky, N (2453) - Imbert, C (2136) Montigny le Bretonneux op 2005) 11.f3 g6 12.xg6 hxg6 13.d3 e6 14.0-0 I prefer Lputian's long castling just above... 0-0-0 15.b4 d6? ( 15...e5! ) 16.xd6 xd6 17.a4 dd8 18.a5 c7 19.g3 Giessmann, S (2287) - Schebler, G (2480) Hoeckendorf 2004 0-1(47) ] [ 7...cxd4! 8.exd4 Unless Black plays the sharp line with 5...Qb6!? 6.Nxe4 dxe4, which is largely overestimated by Wells (I guess because he had the preconceived notion of advocating the other questioning of the black knight on e4 by e3 and Bd3...) from the black point of view as we shall see later, you will likely obtain this fixed Caro-Kann structure in this 5.Nd2!? line, unless of course Black shuts his queen's bishop in with ...e7-e6, in order to protect c5 or take the risk of sacrificing that very pawn, at the risk of never seeing it back, as could have occurred in the main game... A) 8...g4!? 9.e5 xe5 A1) 10.dxe5 a6 11.d3 ( 11.d4 e6 12.a4+ b5 ) 11...e6 12.0-0 e7 13.e3 0-0 14.g3 h5; A2) 10.xe5 b6 11.c3 ( 11.d3!? f6 12.f4 e6+ 13.e3 ) 11...d7 12.e2 b5 13.0-0 xe2 14.xe2 e6 15.h5! Xf7 Kosanovic, G (2442) Prelevic, D (2358) TS10 GM(8) Belgrade 2001; B) 8...f5! The right place for the bishop. 9.c3 ( 9.h4 then is critical, however... e4! 10.f3 xc2!! The fantastic idea of leaving the queen on d8 to eye the h4 square. 11.xc2 e6 Regaining the piece with interest. 12.g3 g5 13.e5 xe5 14.dxe5 a5+ 15.f2 c5+ 16.g2 gxh4 ) 9...e6 10.d3 xd3 11.xd3 d6 12.xd6 xd6 13.0-0 1/2-1/2 Kosanovic, G (2442)-Nestorovic, D (2428) TS10GM Belgrade 2001 3 rounds before. Clearly, if White cannot profit from the having kept his king's knight (who besides, momentarily hampers his own realization of the minority attack by f2-f4-
f5) to harass the enemy bishop as soon as it extracts himself out of the pawn chain, then the advantage generated by the extratempo Qd2 has to be qualified. Nevertheless, this position is ultra solid for White and a player used to the subtlety of this structure, as in a reversed O r t h o d o x E xc h a n g e , wo u l d n o t m i n d continuing it for a while after 13... 0-0 14. a4... ] 8.e2 [ 8.dxc5! xf3 ( 8...e6 9.d4! xc5 10.xc6 bxc6 11.c3 b6 12.xg7 f8 13.xg4 xb2 14.d1 c3+ 15.e2+-; 8...f6 9.b4 e5 10.g3 a5 11.c3 ) 9.gxf3 e5 ( 9...e6 10.0-0-0 xc5 11.c3 f8 12.g1 ) 10.g3 xc5 11.0-0-0 d4 12.exd4 exd4 13.e1+ e7 14.c4 appears somewhat unpleasant for Black. ] 8...e6 9.0-0 cxd4 10.exd4 d6 11.fe1 0-0 12.c3 xf3 In Kosanovic's footsteps, It seems that this unsuspicious variation is auspicious to peacefulness! ½-½
2060 Dresen,Ulrich Spiekermann,Michael NRW-Liga I 9293 [Eric Prié]
A45 2270 1993
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 e6 7.e4 exd5 8.exd5 [ 8.e5?! This well known theme does not pro m ise a n yt hin g f o r W h it e in t his lin e because of h5 hitting the bishop. Laurent Fressinet told me had been through this line as well during his prep. 9.c1 d8! 10.g3 c6 11.f4 g6 12.xd5 a6? A waste of time with serious consequences. ( 12...d6!= without fearing 13.b5 b6 14.a3 e6 ) 13.f3 d6 14.g5! e7 15.c4 e6 16.xe6 fxe6 17.xd6! xd6 18.exd6 e5 19.0-0 xd6 20.f5! f8 21.fxg6 xf1+ 22.xf1 hxg6 23.e3 White has a pair of b i sh o p s i n c l u d in g a s u p e r- s t r o n g l ig h t squared bishop, better pawn structure , wing majority and good prospective (e4 and c4) squares for the knight. Schenk,A(2325)Ananjev DLM-chT Bad Homburg 2000 1-0 2014
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 (37) ] 8...b5? This game is just a curiosity. Indeed, this b-pawn thrust is thematic in such Benoni positions to undermine the support of White's strong d5 pawn but here it does not tell us more than what we already know... 9.a3! [ 9.d6 b7 ( 9...a6 transposes to a further note. ) 10.e2+ d8 11.xb5 xb5 12.xb5 forcing e8 was another immediate and obvious way of showing what was wrong with 8...b5? ] 9...c4? [ 9...a6 10.d6 c6 11.e2+ ( 11.d2 d8 ) 11...d8 12.d2 ] 10.d6 a6 11.d4!! Black could have resigned here: As a result of pushing his qu e e n s i d e p a wn s h e o n l y s u c c e e d e d i n completely destroying his own position. b8 [ 11...d8 12.g5! Another idea behind White's previous move. ] 12.e5+ d8 13.xc4! a4 14.b3 bxc4 [ 14...b4 15.cxb4 xb4+ 16.d2 still traps the queen. ] 15.bxa4 1-0
2061 A45 Dubov,Daniil 2622 Sutovsky,Emil 2673 European Championship, Legnica (11.16) [Richard Palliser] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 e6 [ Let's not forget Eric's view: "This has sometimes been considered the poor r e l a t i v e o f B l a c k ' s m a i n m o v e , 6...b6 , but I'm not convinced that it's so bad." Pertinent words, indeed, as we shall see. ] 7.e4 exd5 [ An alternative is to retain the tension with 7...d6!? and after 8.dxe6 ( 8.d2 usually transposes to note 'a' to White's 9th move in our main game after exd5 9.exd5 ) 8...xe6 9.a3 d5 10.xb8 ( 10.b3!? was suggested by Eric in a joint annotation with leading French Grandmaster Laurent Fressinet, they continued b6 11.xb6 axb6 12.b5 a6 13.e5 d7 and commented "with complicated play",
which is fair, although in Saldano DayerFlores, Buenos Aires 2010, 14.h3 e7 15.g3 h5! 16.d6+? f8 17.xb7 h4 18.f4 c7 19.d6 xh3 20.gxh3 e6 21.e3 xe5 saw White being completely outplayed ) 10...xb8 11.b5+ e7 12.e5 a critical position arises. W hite has displaced the black king, but Black can point to the bishop-pair and potential queenside expansion with ..b5 as trumps. At this stage A) M u c h m o r e r e c e n t l y 12...e8!? was tried, preparing to drive White back with ... Nc7 and after A1) deviating from the earlier 13.f4 c7 14.d3 b5 ( 14...c4 15.e2 e8 16.c2 g5!? could well be fun, and for b o t h s i d e s) 15.c2 d4? 16.b4! of Shantharam-Muralidharan, India 1994, but, of course, Black's play isn't so hard to improve here; A2) 13.xe8 xe8 14.e2 e7 15.0-0 d8 16.f4 ( White's problem is his knight on a3 and it's hard to believe that 16.f4 b6 could be too troubling for Black ) 16...g6 17.g3 d4 18.c4 b4 19.d3 g8 chances were roughly balanced in a clash between two rising stars, Zherebukh-Lenderman, Wheeling 2013.; B) 12...d7 was seen in FressinetDominguez, W ijk aan Zee 2004, as annotated by Fressinet in collaboration with Eric. ] 8.exd5 d6 9.e2+ Criticised by Eric before and not without some reason. The alternatives: [ a) 9.d2 e7 10.c4 d8 11.c3 0-0 looks a little passive for Black, but isn't so bad for him, partly because W hite's king position and kingside development aren't entirely ideal. See my notes to V.PopovNedilko, European Championship, Plovdiv 2012. ] [ b) 9.a3 e7 10.c4 d8 11.a4 0-0 12.e2 e8 is another line where practice has shown that Black's chances are by no means inferior. ] 9...e7! 10.xd6 xd5 11.a3!? I don't believe that this should bring White the advantage, but it does seem that the move ha s b e e n n e gle ct e d . I n de e d , t he o ry h a s 2015
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 tended to focus instead on: [ a) For Eric's notes to 11.e5?! c6 12.xd5 e6! see the game Neihs-Cvitan, Oberwart 1993, in the Archive. ] [ b) 11.xb8 xb8 12.e5 b6!! is another important point - see Eric's notes to Moelder-Engl, correspondence 2002. ] [ c) I suggested that White might have nothing better than 11.xe7 xe7 12.b5+ in my 'Starting Out' guide, but this is hardly inspiring for him and after bc6 13.xa5 xa5 14.b5+ d8 15.d2 c7 16.e2 a6 17.d3 d8 Black obtained sufficient cou nt erplay in Zivan ic-B ece rra Rive ro , Richardson 2011. ] 11...e6 [ Logically blocking the e-file. In the only previous test of this position which I could find, Black employed a temporary piece sacrifice, 11...0-0 12.xe7 e8 , but after 13.0-0-0 xe7 ( 13...xe7? 14.b5! xb5 15.xb5 e6 16.c4 wins a piece) 14.b5 (Stefanova-Zdebskaja, Beijing (blitz) 2008) bc6 15.xa5 xa5 16.b5 White has a small initiative, even if one would favour Black to hold after, say, f8 17.c7 b8 18.d3 f5 19.e2 bc8 20.b5 cd8 21.f4 . ] 12.xe7 xe7? [ The cause of Black's difficulties and I'm at a loss to explain why Sutovsky rejected 12...xe7 . Possibly he just didn't want to allow a 'dull' queenless middlegame after the check on b5. However, that would hold no fears for Black and yet W hite should probably take it: 13.c4 ( 13.b5+ bc6! is at least equal for Black, since he easily meets 14.xa5 xa5 15.b5 with d5 ) 13...c7 14.0-0-0?! 0-0 really doesn't look like something the first player should be doing Black's attack will be much the faster with ...b5-b4 already a threat. ] 13.c4 c7 14.h3! Bringing the knight straight into the fray and exploiting the fact that Black can no longer exchange on h3 due to his misguided 12th move. e8 [ At f irs t t h e m a ch in e in d ica t e s 14...c6 15.g5 ad8 , but even here White is for choice: 16.g3 b5 17.h3! and after bxc4 18.xe6 fxe6? ( 18...e5 really has to be tried ) 19.xe6+ f8 20.0-0-0 d7
21.e4 White's initiative will enable him to regain the sacrificed material with interest. ] 15.g5 f8 Sutovsky has almost managed to castle by hand, but at the cost of a lot of time and, indeed, now Dubov is able to castle long without fearing a sudden counterattack. 16.0-0-0 c6 [ And not 16...b5? 17.xd5! , with the idea of xd5 18.xh7+ g8 19.xe8+ xh7 20.d3+ g6 21.xb5 . ] 17.f2! [ Wisely getting off the e-file rather than grab a pawn. Indeed, after 17.xh7+? g8 18.g5 b5! ( even stronger than regaining t h e p a wn wi t h 18...f5 19.e4 xe4 20.fxe4 f6 ) 19.d2 b4 Black would suddenly have obtained a strong initiative. ] 17...ad8 [ 17...f4+ 18.d2 ad8 was an alternative, but after 19.xf4 xf4 20.xd8 xd8 I dare say Dubov would now ha ve gra bb ed : 21.xh7+ e7 22.g5 f o llo wed b y g3 if ne e d e d wh e n Bla c k 's compensation should be insufficient. ] 18.xe6+ fxe6 19.d3?! [ One would prefer not to grab pawns against such a legendary attacking player as Emil S u t o vs k y , b u t 19.xc5+ g8 20.d3 looks like a safe enough extra pawn from what I can see. ] 19...b5? [ Typical Sutovsky, but this asks too much. Correct was the calm 19...b6 when White would presumably have improved his position, such as with 20.g3 , after which he could have claimed a pleasant edge ( but not 20.xh7? f4+ 21.d2 e3 22.de1 c4 23.e2 xd2 24.xd2 g6! 25.xg6 e5 with very dangerous counterplay. )] 20.xc5+ g8 21.e3 [ Keeping it safe, although it seems that White might have grabbed: 21.xb5!? b8 22.c5 f4+ 23.d2 , and if ec8 24.d6 .] 21...b4 22.he1 bxc3 23.xd5 xd5? [ I've little doubt Sutovsky saw the following tactic, but this desperate exchange sacrifice was never really going to save him. After 23...cxb2+? 24.b1 exd5 25.xe8+ xe8 26.b5 it would have been a classic case of 2016
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pin and win, ] [ but 23...exd5 24.xe8+ xe8 25.bxc3 ( 25.b5 is no longer so clear on account of f4+ 26.b1 b4! ) 25...f4+ would at least have kept the game going. ] 24.xh7+! xh7 25.xd5 exd5 26.xe8 f4+ 27.e3 cxb2+ 28.b1 c4 Taking stock we can see that White's king is experiencing a little discomfort, but to a player of young Dubov's class there is no real danger and , ind ee d, he con solid at es we ll. 29.a3! d4 [ U n f o r t u n a t e l y f o r B l a c k , 29...d4? only leads to him being mated after 30.e4+ h6 31.h8+ . ] 30.d2 a5 31.e1 h8 32.e8+ h7 33.b8! Having repeated to gain time on the clock, White finds the best way to remove the thorn in his side from b2. f5 [ 33...b3 may look strong until you spot 34.c2+ xc2+ 35.xc2 . ] 34.xb2 c7 35.b5 e5+ 36.a2 e3 37.xa5 Netting a second pawn. The game is up for the amiable Israeli Grandmaster. e6 38.d3+ f5 39.g4 d4+ 40.b2 1-0
2062 Dunworth,Christopher Borriss,Martin EUCup 17th Panormos (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2289 2445 24.09.2001
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.c1 e6 8.c4 "?, big advantage for Black, losing or sacrificing a pawn - it is not important. In any case, W hite hasn't compensation for pawn lack." IM Ilya Tsesarsky Ilya (2416) Gee! Fritz or Junior, in the case of the dedicated Israeli Chessbase commentator for the Trompowsky, could not have 'said' it better! "Space, development, initiative. These words mean nothing to some players, who will do anything for an extra pawn. Will they ever learn?" GM Aaron Summerscale (2483) in the introduction of Wells-Boriss. What a dilemma! Who should I trust? And how to express my reservations for both of these contradictory, yet 'strong', statements in a diplomatic way, as, conversely,
they both lack analytic rigour for sounding so inadequately nuanced? ... I prefer when Peter Wells comments games on the Tromp! b4+ 9.c3 xc4 From what we have seen, the c4 pawn sac may not be very good for Black but what, with reversed colours ? 10.e4 b4 11.d2 b6 12.c4 d6 13.ge2 e5! "B la ck is d e sp e rat e ly t ryin g t o clo s e t h e position." Summerscale I like the "desperately"... 14.f4 bd7 15.0-0 a6 16.g3 d8! This stubborn hardworking German player... who improves his game against Wells just a few months afterwards! When it seemed from Aaron's comments that he never had a chance... 17.a4 g6 18.a3 [ 18.f5 was obligatory h5!? The Ng3 is badly placed compared to f3 and not at all in his "most aggressive position". ] 18...h6! 19.f5 xd2 20.xd2 g8! 21.fxg6? Any move other than this, keeping some tension in the position was more tenacious. But it is quite true that W hite's compensation appears very slim, if not clearly insufficient, when you consider that Black is threatening ...g6-g5 closing the position. That would leave him with a more difficult task of converting his material advantage, though. fxg6 22.d1 f8! 23.af3 g8! The rest of the game, although quite instructive, does not need further comment. It just sees W hite despera tely t rying t o jam the met hodica l progress of the technical realization of a good extra pawn, and in a better position because of the poor c4-bishop. 24.h3 xf3 25.xf3 df6 26.c3 [ 26.b4 b6 ] 26...d7 27.f2 f7! Thumbing his nose at White! 28.h1 g7 29.g4 h6 30.f1 b6 31.b3 f8 32.f2 d8 33.fd1 a5 34.e3 h7! 35.xf8 xf8 36.d3 h7 37.g2 gf6 38.g3? xc3! 0-1
2017
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2063 Duquesnoy,Jean Philip Sakaev,Konstantin TCh-Top 16 Gp A (4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2242 2649 30.03.2006
1.d4 f6 [ 1...d5 2.f4 f6 3.e3 c5 4.dxc5 c6 5.b5 Suddenly unveiling the "pot aux roses": Yes, it is exactly the same position, with a 2 move difference, that we know is bad for White from the 1...d5 Neo-London!... See the Shaefer-Peredy game for further developments on this matter. d7 6.c3 e5!? A) 7.xc6 xc6 8.xe5 d4 9.exd4 xg2 10.e2 e7 ( 10...e7!? 11.b5 d8 ) 11.xf6 gxf6 12.0-0-0 xh1 13.h3 d7! ( 13...c6 14.d5 d7 15.f4 0-0 16.d6 ) 14.xh1 0-0-0 15.d1 xh3 16.xe7; B) 7.g5? d4 8.exd4 xd4 9.xd7+ xd7 10.xf6 gxf6 11.ge2 0-0-0 12.xd4 exd4 13.e2 d5 14.0-0 g8 15.g3 xc5 16.d3 h5 17.fe1 h4 18.e4 f5 19.e3 A finger mistake or a bad transcription, White probably intended 19.Qh3 which is unclear. dxe3 0-1 Zivic, SHuzen, P Email 2001 ] 2.g5 d5 3.e3! e4!? 4.f4 Of course there are also the transpositions 4.Bh4?! and 4.h4!? in the case of the 2...Ne4 move order that I will not f orget when I complete the jigsaw on the alliance of ...Nf6-e4 and ...d7-d5. c5 [ 4...c6!? 5.d3 d6 Intending ...Bf5 and all the positions with the idea ...Ne4-d6 also represent a problem but possibly a minor one compared to the text move. ] [ I also examined 4...e6, 4...Nc6 at the time but not 4...f5 5.f3 ( 5.c4?! e5 ) 5...d6!? This does not look critical but would deserve a g a m e s o m e t i m e . ( White has a super score on 5...f6?! 6.c4 )] 5.d3!? More surely than 5. c3 at that stage [ 5.d2 Is the alternative that will be relevant only in case there happens to be a gap with the move 6.c3! after the black knight's back kick. ] 5...f6! [ 5...cxd4 On the other hand should not
represent a problem but probably not b e c a u s e o f 6.xe4 dxe4 7.xd4 I mentioned like walking gingerly in PriéN o r d h a l b e c a u s e o f c6! which I had missed at the time, but rather because of 7. exd4 to be seen quite soon and 8.Nc3 in case of the badly reputed 8...Qb6. ] [ 5...b6 neither because of 6.xe4 dxe4 ( 6...xb2 7.xd5 xa1 8.f3 Probably wins by force, after all it is only an exchange! ) 7.c3 cxd4 Has to be considered a less precise way to reach the same position in case of 8.exd4 because of 8.xd4! Th is t im e . xb2? 9.d5 xd4 10.c7+ d7 11.exd4 Winning at least an excha nge .. .bu t wit h the quee ns of f th e board! ] [ 5...c6?! Is the 4th term of the alternative on which I have already focused around Radjabov-Polgar, J Benidorm 2003. 6.xe4 dxe4 7.d5 ] 6.dxc5?! [ 6.f3 b6 ( 6...c6 7.0-0 g4 8.c3 e6 9.bd2= Wells, P (2515) - Sutovsky, E (2575) Oxford GMA 1998 0-1(39)) 7.dxc5 ( 7.c3? c4 8.e2 xb2; 7.b3 g4 8.0-0 My Fritz starts to get really excited here by the ephemeral W hite's advance of d e ve lo p m e n t b u t I kn o w it , a n d h o w t o moderate its ardour... cxd4 9.exd4 c6 10.c3 e6 11.e2 e7 12.e3 0-0 13.e5 xe5 14.xe5 h5 15.h3 g6 16.xg6 hxg6 17.d2 ac8= ) 7...xb2 ( 7...xc5? 8.c3 ) 8.bd2 c6 9.0-0 g6 10.c4 g7 ] [ 6.c3! Is the move of course, to be seen next month. It is a pity the Englishman so often gave the impression of repudiating Caissa and "normal chess" in his aggravating attempt to justify the title of his book: "Winning with the Trompowsky"... ] 6...c6! 7.b5 d7 8.xc6?! Never freely give your bishops against knights! [ Thus, with little suspense until the next game, from a third order of moves... 8.c3 e6 ( 8...e5!? 9.xc6 xc6 10.xe5 d4 11.exd4 xg2 12.e2 See above in the London move order.) 9.xc6 xc6 10.d4 a5?! ( 10...a5 11.b4 a3 12.d6 xd6 13.cxd6 a5 14.b5 d7 15.e4 b4 16.ge2 xd4 17.xd4 c8 18.d2? 2018
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e5 19.f3 d4; 10...d7 11.b4 e7 Golod in INF89/31) 11.f3 d7 12.d6 f6 13.0-0-0? ( 13.xf8! ) 13...xd4 14.exd4 xd6 15.cxd6 f6 16.he1 f7= Skembris, S (2439) - Golod, V (2544) Zurich op 2003 0-1(62) ] [ 8.e2 e6 9.xc6 xc6 10.d4 d7 11.b4? ( 11.bc3 xc5 12.0-0= ) 11...a5 12.c3 e7 ] [ 8.c3!? Seems to be the only move then. e5?! ( 8...e6 9.b4 a5 Transposes into Winants-Carlsen.) 9.xc6 xc6 10.xe5 d4 11.f3 dxe3 12.xd8+ xd8 13.fxe3 xc5 14.d4 ] 8...xc6 9.f3 a5+ 10.bd2 xc5 Black has gained the centre and the 2 bishops. Since it is easy to catch up in development, I see no other plan for the opponent than trying t o e s t a b l is h s o m e b l o c ka d e o n t h e d a r k s qu a re s . S o m e t h in g t h a t p ro ve d n o t t o o difficult to lift with the continuation of the game... 11.0-0 e6 12.e5 [ 12.b3 b6 13.d4 ] 12...e7 13.a4 0-0 14.b3 b6 15.a5 [ 15.d3 d7 ] 15...a6 16.g5? [ 16.xc6 bxc6 ( 16...xc6 17.d4 d7 18.a6 b6 19.e2 Securing a good b5 square for the Nd4.) 17.d3 xd3 18.cxd3 d7! And Black seizes the control of operations, intending ...e5, ...Rb8. 19.d4 c5 20.c6? f6 21.d6 fc8 22.e7+ xe7 23.xe7 ab8 ] 16...b5 17.e1 d6 18.d4 a6 19.d3 [ 19.f4 d8 With the idea Bd6, Qc7. ] 19...ac8 20.h3 e4 21.f4 d8 22.f3 f6 23.d2 e8 24.h2 f8 25.ec1 h6 26.b4? White cannot stand the unpleasant impression of being ground down little by little and accelerates his fate. e5 27.f5 [ 27.xa6 exd4 28.b4 dxe3 ] 27...b5 28.d1 d7 29.g4 g6! [ 29...xb4? 30.xb4 xc2 31.d6 e7 32.b3 ] 30.xd5? Definitely evacuating the stress by losing a piece after the first fissure of the 26th move. [ 30.h4 xb4 ( 30...d4 may even be stronger. ) 31.xb4 xc2 ] 30...xd5 31.xd5 xd5 32.xd5 c6-+ A n o b vi o u s i n t e rm e d i a t e m o ve , t h o u g h .
33.xe5 gxf5 34.gxf5 xe5 35.xe5 xf3 36.c3 e4 37.f6 c5 38.f4 c6 The game as it was originally recorded gives 38...Bg6 but it is a move hardly imaginable on the part of the St-Petersburg GM, even in the most extreme time trouble. So I am rather i n c l i n e d t o f a vo u r a c o m m o n c o n f u s i o n between the c and g files... 39.f2 [ 39.a6 b5 40.b8 g5+ 41.f2 c5 ] 39...f5 0-1
2064 A45 Fernandez del Rio,Sergio San Emeterio Cabanes,Jose Luis 2288 XVII Moratalaz Open (2) 18.10.2001 [Aaron Summerscale] November Update: Trompowsky Attack: One of the things that White must be most careful of in the Tromp is to keep good control of his dark squares. In the following game, W hite ignores this advice and pays the ultimate price! 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.c1 My favourite move in the Tromp! e6 8.e4 However, this would not be my first choice. [ 8.c4 is my preference, when if Black continues with exd5 9.cxd5 c4 White has 10.e3 which gives him some useful dark squared control in the centre. ] 8...c4 Very interesting. With White unable to put up much resistance on the a7-g1 diagonal, Black sacrif ices a pawn in order to seize control of White's vulnerable dark squares. Although the idea itself is well known, this is a new move (as far as I can tell). 9.xc4 exd5 10.xd5 c5 11.e2 [ 11.h3 would be the critical test of Black's idea and if d6 then 12.b4 e3 13.a3 leaves Black with his work cut out to justify his material investment. For example: xh3 14.c4 and White is winning. ] 11...0-0 12.c4 xd5 13.xd5 d6 Black sensibly continues with his development, ra t h e r t h a n wa st e t im e b y d i sp la c in g a n already immobile White king. 14.bc3 e6 15.d3 c6 Black's better developed forces begin to make their presence felt. The im me d ia t e t hre at is Ne 5 . 16.d5 e5 2019
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.c2 a6 Black shows his versatility by switching his attack from the dark squares to the light ones. 18.b3 xd5 19.exd5 b5! Excellent play, forcing a crucial weakening of White's queenside structure. 20.b2 bxc4 21.xe5 dxe5 22.bxc4 [ 22.xc4 a5+ 23.f1 fd8 leaves Black with plenty of compensation for his sacrificed pawn, most obviously in the form of open lines for all his pieces. ] 22...ab8 23.g3 a3 Preparing an invasion along W hite's second rank. The White position is now going onto the critical list. 24.c1 Good alternatives are hard to find. [ 24.b1 is no better after xb1+ 25.xb1 c3+ ] 24...b2 25.e2 fb8 Black's final piece enters the fray, allowing the Black queen to seek a more deadly attacking role. 26.f1 d3 The twin threats of Rb1 and Qxe2+ are impossible to meet. 0-1
2065 Fier,Alex L'Ami,Alina Limburg Open, Maastricht (6.6) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2580 2444 09.06.2014
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 [ The Limburg Open was an event with double-round days and later the same day Fier repeated the Trompowsky. Emanuel Berg plumped for 2...e6 , after which 3.d2 c5 ( this break first to avoid the vaguely trendy 3...h6 4.h4 c5 5.e4!? ) 4.e3 h6 5.xf6!? ( an attempt to refute Black's concept more normal is, of course, 5.h4 , a f t e r wh i c h d5 6.c3 d6!? 7.gf3 brought play into Torre waters in AndreikinKovchan, Moscow Open 2012, as we've considered before) 5...xf6 6.e4 d8 7.dxc5 xc5 8.xc5 a5+ 9.d2 xc5 10.0-0-0 c6 was roughly level in Fier-Berg, Maastricht 2014. W hite has managed to bypass the theoretical highways, but it's hard not to believe Black is quite comfortable here and 11.e4 0-0 12.f4?! ( maybe White has to settle for something
like 12.b1 , and if d5 13.exd5 exd5 14.d3 with approximate equality) 12...d5! 13.e5 ( after 13.exd5 even b4!? is possible) 13...b5 14.f3 a5 left the talented Swedish Grandmaster ahead in the attacking race. ] 3.c3!? Once again we see Fier happy to avoid the main lines, although here play can, of co u rse , still b eco me pre tt y sh arp a n d theoretical. cxd4 4.xd4 c6 5.h4 d6 6.e4 e6 7.0-0-0 e7 8.f4 a5 9.f3 After a critical if far from forced line we've r e a c h e d s o m e t h i n g o f a t a b i y a . h6 Your database, like mine, might want to claim this is a novelty, but it's not and "leads to the critical line", as Pert points out. [ Instead, 9...d7 10.b5 a6?! 11.xc6! xc6 was seen in Lindberg-Landa, European Club Cup, Eilat 2012, when 12.e5! would have been strong - see the Archive. ] 10.e5! Once again we find that White must be happy to give up material to blow open the centre. dxe5 11.fxe5 xe5 12.xe5 xe5 13.b5+ f8 14.f4 White has displaced the black king and enjoys a handy lead in development, but the black position is, of course, still pretty solid. f5?! [ An important and superior alternative is 14...c5!? when Pert analyses and rather likes 15.g3 , ( rather than the 15.e1 a6 16.d3 d7 of Kalinitschew-Gustafsson, D r e s d e n 2 0 0 2 , w h e n E r i c ' s 17.f1 may retain just about enough compensation. The text actu ally hasn't b een criticise d before, but W hite just seems to be doing well after it from what I can see. )] 15.d6! g5+ [ L'Ami elects to remove the queens, but even this won't solve her problems as Fier has realised. Previously, 15...xd6 16.xd6 g5 17.e1! g4? 18.f1 g5+ 19.b1 a6 20.d3 e8 21.d4 had left Black terribly coordinated and under huge pressure in R. Pert-Perez, London 2011. ] 16.xg5 hxg5 17.a3 "The threat of Rd8+ wins material", as Richard Pert observes. d5 [ Electing to give up a pawn. The alternative was to ditch the exchange with 17...xa3 18.d8+ e7 19.xh8 d6 . After, say, 20.h3 b8 21.d1 d7 22.xb8 xb8 23.xd7 xd7 it's not so easy to activate 2020
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the rook and perhaps Black might draw, but more likely she wouldn't. ] 18.xd5 exd5 [ 18...xa3?? would not be a clever intermezzo on account of 19.b6 . ] 19.xd5 The threat remains unchanged and s o g 5 m u s t f a l l . e6 20.xe7+ xe7 21.xg5 g6 22.d3 Our Flank Openings authority may not have generated material for his own column, but must have been delighted with how the opening had panned out. That said, there is a lot of work ahead if White is to convert the extra pawn. b6 23.h3 ac8 [ When one sees where White's rooks land up it's tempting to prefer 23...f6 . After 24.h4 xh4!? 25.xg6+ fxg6 26.xh4 W hite goe s a clear pawn ahe ad, but a t least Black's king is in the game. ] 24.b3 hd8 25.b2 d4 26.e1 f6 27.ge5 Fier has managed to coordinate his forces. The next step is to combine offering exchanges with placing Black under some pressure. c7 28.5e4 d8 29.f4+ g7 30.e5! I'm not so sure Black should have rejected a trade of rooks, since now White's pieces dominate the board which enables him to obtain something of a clamp on the kingside. h8 31.h4 d7 32.g3 c8 33.g4! h8 34.g5 Mission accomplished. Black's king is now restricted and an active king can, of c ourse, ma ke all th e d if f ere nce in th e endgame. hd8 35.f6 g4?! [ L'Ami spots the threat, but she might well have done better with 35...h8!? , and if 36.xg6 ( White doesn't have to trade instead, he might repeat with 36.f4 hd8 and then probe elsewhere with, say, 37.a4 ) 36...xh4 37.d3 h5 , thereby obtaining a little bit of counterplay. ] 36.c4 h8 37.d5! The Brazilian Grandmaster makes excellent use of his rooks in this endgame. Here Black doesn't want to swap and weaken f 7, but by passing she allows the white rook to drop back and cover h4. e7 38.d4 f5 39.b4 [ It might have been more precise to begin with 39.a4 , but by this stage I dare say that the players were starting to run slightly low on time. ] 39...c7 40.b3 e7 41.a4 c7 42.f4 e8
[ Now White can play against the bishop on f5. Likewise, after 42...d8 43.h5! d2 44.h6+ h7 45.c4! it seems unlikely that Black would have held. ] 43.h5! e2 44.h6+ h7 45.c4 ce7 [ White's point was that 45...xc4? 46.xf7+ h8 47.xc4 xc2+ 48.b3 h2 49.f8+ h7 50.g8+ would have forced immediate resignation. ] 46.b5 [ Seizing yet more space, although White might have preferred 46.c3 , and if g2 47.xf7+ xf7 48.xf7 xg5 49.c7 . ] 46...g2! L'Ami has defended pretty well bar allowing her king to be imprisoned and now poses questions by transforming the structure. 47.h4? [ White wants to hold on to h6, but he shouldn't have. Admittedly 47.fc6! xg5 48.c7 xc7 49.xc7 xh6 50.xa7 is more messy than White might have liked, but this should be winning pretty easily thanks to the somewhat more advanced majority. ] 47...xg5 48.xf7 g2 49.b3 g4? [ Having got back into the game, Black o ve r l o o k s a t a c t i c . H a d L ' A m i i n s t e a d improved her coordination with 49...ge2 it wouldn't have been at all easy for White to make progress, being so tied down to the weakling on h6. ] 50.d5 g3 51.xg6!? [ Fier has spotted a neat tactic to simplify, but there was actually an even better one: 51.g8+! xg8 52.xg6+ h7 53.hxg4 xg4 54.xg4 xh6 55.c4 when surely White must win with Black's king so cut off. ] 51...xg6 52.h7 xh7 53.e4+ f6 54.xh7 e5? [ I suspect by now we are deep into quickplay finish or increment-alone territory. Even here Black might have been able to draw with 54...e3 , and if 55.d3 e7 . ] 55.d3 d4 56.xa7 Now White is just two pawns ahead. Not only is L'Ami unable to drum up any real counterplay, but she quickly walks into a fatal pin. c5? 57.g7 b4 58.e2? [ Hardly terrible, but the ultra-precise silicon is right to recommend 58.c3+ c5 ( if 58...xa4? 59.a7# ) 59.e4 with near 2021
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 zugzwang and complete domination. ] 14.b4 (I did mention this idea in 'Starting 58...a5? Out: The Trompowsky', but at least also [ Now White has a mating net. I believe admitted that it was probably only equal) 58...xe2 59.xg3 xa4 60.e3 f1 cxb4 15.cxb4 b5 16.c1 b8 17.c7 61.f3 xb5 62.c3 a5 63.d4 d8 admits that White didn't have anything should be winning, but this was still worth in R.Pert-Wells, British League 2011. )] playing out. ] 10...c6!? 59.c3! [ As readers of Pert's work will be aware, he 1-0 mainly focuses on both 10...0-0 11.b3 ] [ and 10...d7 11.fxg6 fxg6 12.b3 when W hite appears to be slightly better. 2066 A45 Neither does Rozum's choice equalise from wh a t I ca n se e , s o p e rh a p s W h it e h a s Fier,Alex 2592 finally regained the initiative in this Rozum,Ivan 2525 particular sub-variation. ] Izmir Open (8.2) 07.09.2013 11.c4!? Preventing castling, but we should [Richard Palliser] also consider the alternatives: [ a) 11.d5 was preferred in the only existing 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 practical test of this position. White relies on 5.c3 As mentioned, this has long been his extra space and after d8 ( 11...b8 Richard Pert's preference and, as such, was looks more sensible) 12.d2 h5 13.h1 an unsurprising recommendation in 'Playing d7 14.e1! was slightly for choice in the Trompowsky'. d6 6.d3 g6 Duong The Anh-Lengyel, Budapest 2008. [ B l a c k o f t e n p r e f e r s t o g o 6...d7 Black may be very solid and enjoy some before fianchettoing and after 7.e2 g6 decent dark-square control, but his position 8.0-0 g7 9.f4 w e c o n s i d e r e d 0-0 is rather cramped and that knight on d8 a in Laznicka-Moisee nko, San Sebastia n cause for concern. ] 2012. ] [ b) 11.fxg6 fxg6 12.b3 is another attempt 7.e2 e7 8.0-0 g7 9.f4 e5 While both t o ke e p B la ck 's kin g in t h e ce n t re , b u t sides have plenty of deviations along the way, whether exd4 13.d2 dxc3 14.xc3 d4 we've reached what many consider to be the can really offer White quite enough for his critical pos ition af t er W hite's f if t h m ove . pawn is something I doubt. ] 10.f5!? [ Going for it in a manner which I've only 11...gxf5 [ It would take a brave man to go 11...exd4 mentioned before in passing in these pages. when White might well just exchange on g6 Indeed, I remarked last year that 10.d2 and then go Nf4, although 12.f4!? gxf5 reaches "a position where I believe Black 13.d5 d8 14.exf5 is also quite tempting, shouldn't have any real problems whether with a certain bind and initiative for the he deploys his remaining knight to d7 or pawn. ] goes 0-0 ". ( Before we move on, do note that 10...exd4 11.cxd4 0-0 is also possible, 12.exf5!? [ Our ChessPub contributor isn't afraid to but riskier, with 12.f5 g5 13.e5!? dxe5 sacrifice. If White didn't want to then 12.d5 14.f6 xf6 15.g3 giving White a certain was indicated and after b8 13.exf5 d7 initiative for his pawns in Lindberg-Fransson, 14.d2 f6 15.g3 White will hope to Swedish League 2012 my machine isn't slowly squash Black after placing a knight on e n t ire ly c o n vin ce d , b u t in p ra ct ice f e w e4. ] would enjoy defending a kingside which r a t h e r r e s e m b l e s a S w i s s c h e e s e; 12...d7 [ After 12...exd4 13.cxd4 ( I believe that R e t u r n i n g t o 10...0-0 , and now Pert White should probably find time for the calm believes that W hite should advance his f13.h1! when dxc3?! 14.bxc3 p a w n . H e h i m s e l f h a d t r i e d 11.f3 looks too risky for Black with Nd5 and/or f5, but after d7 12.d2 c5 13.ae1 a6 2022
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f6 next up) 13...xd4! I haven't managed to find anything too amazing for W hite, with 14.xd4 ( 14.bc3 xe2+ 15.xe2 c6 16.d2 e5 is very solid for Black) 14...e3+ 15.h1 xd4 16.e2+ d8 17.f6 xf6 18.c3 g4! an annoying defensive resource. ] 13.d2! [ If White didn't like the look of our next note t h e n h e m i g h t h a ve p r e f e r r e d 13.a3!? , hoping for exd4 14.cxd4 xd4? 15.xd4 e3+ 16.h1 xd4 17.f6! xf6 18.f3 with serious threats, but this time I'm much more taken with the decision to offer d4. ] 13...a5? [ The turning point of the game. White now gains a strong attack, but it was no longer so easy for Black to decide on 13...exd4!? , since 14.f4! ( 14.xd4 xd4 15.e1 looks tempting, but actually e6 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.b3 0-0-0 18.xe6 is only going to land up in mass simplification and a likely draw ) 14...dxc3 15.bxc3 gives White a dangerous initiative, as shown by ( 15.d5 cxb2 16.b1 d4+ 17.h1 d8 18.f3 e5 just about keeps things together well enough for Black) 15...e3+ 16.h1 xc3 17.b1 0-0-0 18.d5 . ] 14.d5! 0-0-0 [ I wonder what Rozum had missed. Could it e v e n h a v e b e e n 14...c6 15.f6! xf6 16.e4 ? ] 15.b4 c6?! [ Instead, 15...c6 16.xc6 xc6 17.d5 b8 18.e4 d7 19.c4 just looks extremely grim for Black with W hite basically enjoying a free attack, but unfortunately for Rozum it looks like he had to try this. ] 16.b5 b8 [ This walks into a strong blow, but 16...a5 17.a4 b6 18.c4 was scarcely any improvement. ] 17.f6! The Brazilian Grandmaster has conducted the whole game in a most energetic vein and now crashes through. xf6 18.e4 g5 19.xf7 e8 20.b3 Suddenly White has a number of nasty threats, including b6 axb6 Nxd6+ cxd6 Qxb6 and the simple Qa3, and there isn't a defence. g4 21.b6! axb6 22.xb6! Ole! xf7
[ 22...cxb6 23.xb7# is not a mate you get to see too often. ] 23.xb7+ d7 24.xf7 xe2 25.d5 [ There was no option but to give up as 25.d5 g4 fails to cover the e6-square, in view of 26.e6+! xe6 27.c5+ . ] 1-0
2067 Fowler,S Dourerassou,Jonathan EU-chB18 Herceg Novi MNE (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2181 2336 16.09.2006
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3! I reckon this transposition is the best in this e ve n m o re p o p u la r m o ve o rd e r t o o . T h e difference here is that Black has to be ready to cope with [ 4.f3?! f6 5.e4 ( 5.c3 e6! 6.e4 b4 ) 5...dxe4 ( 5...e6 6.e5! fd7 7.e3! c5 8.c3 ) 6.c3 d5! ] [ And 4.d2!? Where it is not sure that adding fuel to the fire with c5 as Wells advocates, may be his wisest decision. 5.xe4! ( 5.e3 And Black can still back down with xd2 6.xd2 c6 His problem, however, is that after 7.f3 controlling the e5 square, c5 is hanging. So was it worth playing this move to follow up with 7...e6, shutting in his bishop or reducing the tension now with cxd4 8.exd4 ? ) 5...dxe4 6.e3 b6 In this position Black has to go forward since ( 6...cxd4 7.xd4 c6 Does not work anymore when it is the queen's knight that has been exchanged on e4 and not the king's bishop! 8.xe4 b6 9.0-0-0 ) 7.dxc5 ( 7.b1!? ) 7...xb2 8.d4 All these questions will be solved in the near future. Anyhow, in the case of 4.Nd2!? Bf5! or the quite similar 4...Nxd2 5.Qxd2 Bf5 Black duly equalizes by refraining from attacking White's d-pawn immediately. A position that can only arise through 2. ..Ne4 contrary to the subject of this update privileging 2...d5! for a wider purpose. ] 4...c5 This is where the 2 branches of the 2... d5 and 2...Ne4 Tromp join. 5.d3!? f6! 6.dxc5?! c6! 7.b5 g4?! The idea of this move is to play ...e6 and ...Nd7 but with 2023
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the bishop outside the pawn chain from where it can exert some pressure on White's king's knight. However, it may be exposed here in some lines and if W hite has to part with his king's bishop on c6 in any case, which is likely, the bishop would be better placed on a6 as in the Aronian-Short game. 8.d4 [ 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.d4 e6 ( 9...d7 10.h6! Otherwise ...f7-f6 h5 11.xg7 e5 12.xe5 xc5 13.f4 ) 10.d2 e7 11.gf3 xf3 12.gxf3 d7 13.d6 xd6 ( 13...f6 14.a4 xb2 15.b1 c3 16.xc6 c8 17.a4 a5 18.xa5 xa5 19.b7 xc5 20.e7+ d8 21.xa7 ) 14.cxd6 e5 15.a4 b6 16.g1 g6 17.0-0-0 0-0 ( 17...c5!? 18.c4 d8 In order to defend d7 and castle 19.b1 0-0 ) 18.b3! c5 19.a3 A) 19...xb3+ 20.axb3 fd8 21.c4 ab8 22.d3 b4! 23.xb4 xb4 24.c5! ( 24.cxd5 xd6 25.dxc6 xc6+ 26.b1 h4 ) 24...b5 25.c3 d4 26.exd4 exd4 27.c2 xb3 28.g4; B) 19...e6? 20.g4! d8 21.a4 Bigg, A (2277)-Hinks Edwards, T (2343) 4NCL 2005 Birmingham 1/2(50) ] [ 8.f3 developing a piece, looks perfectly pertinent too. See the Ellis-Anderson and Shaefer-Peredy game for more about this. ] 8...e6 9.e2 [ 9.b4 e7 10.d2 d7 11.xc6 bxc6 12.e4? What is W hite doing? ( 12.xg7!? f6 13.xg4 xa1 14.e2; 12.gf3 f6 13.e5 ) 12...a5! 13.a3 e5 14.xe5 xe5 15.xe5 0-0? 16.b1 ( 16.g3 f5! 17.exf5 xf5 ) 16...axb4 17.axb4 dxe4 18.xe4 ( 18.xe4 e8 19.f4 xc5! 20.bxc5 a5+ 21.f1 b5+!! 22.xb5 a1+ 23.b1 xb1+ 24.c1 xc1# ) 18...h5! ( 18...g5 19.xg4 xd2+ 20.f1 xc2 21.d1 ) 19.gf3 g5 20.xg5 xg5 21.f4 d8 22.0-0 ( 22.f3 e8 23.e5 f6 24.0-0 fxe5 25.fxe5 d7 26.be1 f7 ) 22...xd2 23.f2 c3 24.xc6 a1 25.ff1 ( 25.xa1 xa1+ 26.f1 d4+ 27.h1 xb4 ) 25...xb1 26.xb1 xc2-+ Lawson, E (2373) Mikhalevski, V (2553) Montreal op 2005 0-1 (37) ] 9...xe2 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.xe2 d7 12.b4
[ 12.c4! The move that White should seek to play in such set-ups in order to get a chance to utilize his extra pawn. Otherwise... f6 ( 12...e5 13.xe5 xc5 14.f4 0-0; 12...xc5 13.c3 ) A) 13.d6 xd6 14.cxd6 b8 15.cxd5 ( 15.c5 b5+ ) 15...cxd5 16.a3 xd6 17.ac1 a6 18.e4 0-0 19.exd5 exd5 20.hd1 fe8+ 21.f1 xh2 22.xd5+ h8 23.g3 e5; B) 13.cxd5 e5 14.c3 exf4 ( 14...cxd5 15.c6 c5 16.g3 c8 17.d1 xc6 18.a5 b8 19.c3 xb2+ 20.f1 ) 15.d6 Somehow, Black should have a way to break the blockade and utilize his extra piece since W hite can claim little compensation in terms of attacking chances. It was more complicated than the game anyhow. ] 12...a5 13.c3? [ 13.a3 e7 14.c3 0-0 Already threatening ...e6-e5 with an unavoidable expansion of the black centre providing him a frightening initiative, and, in any case, full compensation. ] 13...e7! 14.e4 dxe4 15.d2 [ 15.xe4 axb4 16.cxb4 f6 17.d2 xa1 18.xa1 f6 19.b3 e5 ] 15...e5! 16.xe5 xe5 17.xe5 d3+ 18.e1 0-0-0! 19.f5+ [ 19.d1 f6 ] [ 19.xe7 xd2+ 20.f1 d3+! 21.g1 d1+ 22.xd1 xd1# ] 19...b7 20.d1 f6 21.h3 e3! 22.fxe3 xc3 0-1
2068 A45 Franco Alonso,Alejandro 2371 Gonzalez Rodriguez,Jorge Armando2401 Torneo Federacion-2 (7) 13.11.2002 [Eric Prié] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 a5+ 4.d2 This is another drawback of Black's last move when the bishop has NOT taken on f6: The position will soon acquire all the characteristics of an Open Sicilian RichterRauzer (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 d6 7.Bg5), sharp by nature, but 2024
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 w i t h e x t r a - t e m p i f o r W h i t e h e r e ! xc5 As a former player of the king pawn, I would not like to be in Black's shoes now. Thus, I believe that for better or for worse, he had to change the queens and take the pawn back immediately: [ 4...xd2+ 5.xd2 a6 Which does not lo o k v e ry e n t e rt a i n in g f o r B la ck in t h e perspective of a struggle to win as well as taking into account the usual uncompromising character of his second move. Especially if we consider that ( 5...e6 6.xf6 gxf6 7.e4 ) 6.e4! xc5 7.e5 may even be annoying in the ending. ] 5.c3 [ 5.c3 is good for a draw but less critical. a6 6.xc5 xc5 7.c3 fe4 8.xe4 xe4 9.f4 g5 10.e3 g7 11.0-0-0 h6 12.f3 d6 13.d4 xd4 14.xd4 f5 15.d3 d6 16.e4 h4 17.b3 b6 18.b5+ d7 19.xd7+ xd7 20.g3 g6 21.e2 e5 1/2-1/2 Rabinovich,A-Solak,D/ Saint Vincent op 2000 ] 5...d6 6.f3 I prefer 6.e4 with the follow-up 0-0-0, f3 to keep some f lexibility with the knight on g1 as in the comments to the game Drazic-Inkiov. But let us consider the next completely fictive sequence to justify the plural given afore to the word "tempo": [ 6.e4 b6 7.0-0-0 c6 8.f3 From the sequence of the Richter Rauzer given above, it is just as if White had played 3 moves in a row after 7...Qb6 : 8.0-0-0, Qd2 and Nd4-f3! Ok, f3 is not the best square for the knight and 6...Qb6 in our fiction does not improve the position of the black queen at all in comparison with c5, but still, it is 2 tempi in an attacking position... ] 6...g4?! [ 6...c6 was better but White's idea was p ro b a b ly t o p la y 7.0-0-0 without fearing xf2? in view of 8.e3 ] 7.d4! Of course 7.0-0-0 was possible and Black was not going to take on f3 but, in that way, White usefully finds the time to improve his position. c6 8.b3 b6 9.e4 d7 From now on, after each black move, I have found a dozen games in total, including GM games, in my database with exactly the same position coming from a Sicilian... with Black to play!
[ 9...e6 10.f3 h5 11.g4 g6 12.h4 e5 13.h3 h5 14.e3 c7 15.g5 fd7 16.b5 ] 10.0-0-0 e6 11.f3 a6 12.g4 c7 13.e3! In the Richter-Rauzer, the question of taking on f6 arises when the bishop is attacked, but normally White refrains from doing it willingly. e5? The threat g5 is very unpleasant with a bishop on d7 as it takesthef6-knight's natural square of withdrawal. [ So 13...h6 was the only move. 14.h4 e5 15.e2 b5 16.g5 ( 16.a3 c4 17.xc4 bxc4 18.d4 b8 W ith counterplay) 16...b4! 17.b1 h5 was the only chance. 18.f4?! ( 18.gxh6 ) 18...c4! 19.xc4 ( 19.d4 c8! Threatening e5 or Ng3. 20.xh5? xe3 ) 19...xc4 which is, for instance, not so clear. ] 14.g5! h5 [ 14...xf3 15.f2 ] 15.f4 c4 16.xc4 xc4 Now the picture is absolutely different and the knight on h5 is a top grade target does not even have the g3square. 17.f5! b5 [ 17...exf5 18.d5 b8 ( 18...c6 19.a5 a4 20.c7+ ) 19.a7 c8 ( 19...d8 20.a5 xa2 21.c7+ e7 22.xd6# ) 20.b6 loses material for a start. ] 18.c5?! [ 18.f2! with a winning attack making full use of the combinational themes in White's favour: first of all, the "sensitivity" of f7, then the position of the queen on c4 and the "hanging" Nh5 and Ra8, and to conclude the dark-square weaknesses on the enemy queenside. A) 18...c8 being relatively the most tenacious. 19.fxe6 xe6 20.d4 c6 21.d5; B) 18...e7 19.f3 g6 20.hf1! exf5 ( 20...0-0-0 21.f6 f8 22.b6; 20...f8 21.f6 d8 22.xd6 ) 21.exf5 c8 22.fxg6 fxg6 23.d4; C) 18...0-0-0 19.a5 c7 20.b6; D) 18...b4? 19.fxe6 fxe6 ( 19...xe6 20.d5 ) 20.hf1! bxc3 21.f7+ d8 22.b6+ c8 23.xf8+!! xf8 24.xf8+ e8 ( 24...b7 25.a5+ xb6 26.xc4+ ) 25.xe8+ d7 26.xa8+In 4 moves White has taken 2 rooks and 2 bishops!! ] 2025
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18...b4 19.b1 c6 [ 19...b5! 20.he1 dxc5 21.b3 xe4 ] 20.b3 b5 21.a4 b8! [ 21...bxa3 22.xa3 b8 23.fxe6! dxc5 24.e2 A) 24...f4 25.exf7+ xf7 26.hf1; B) 24...g6 25.exf7+ xf7 26.c4+ g7 27.hf1 e8 28.d2 h6 29.gxh6+ xh6 30.xf8!! xf8 31.f1 g8 32.c3+ h7 ( 32...f6 33.xc5 ) 33.f7+ g7 34.xg7+ xg7 35.xg7 xg7 36.xc5; C) 24...f5 25.exf5!! f4 26.g4 xh1 27.xf4 b4 28.f6! Threatening f7+ and Rd7 mate. d8 ( 28...e7 29.h5+ g6 30.f7+ f8 31.h6#; 28...c6 29.f7+ e7 30.d6+ d8 31.xc5+; 28...xa3+ 29.b1 c6 30.f7+ e7 31.d6+ d8 32.e7+ xe7 33.b8+ is mate in 4.) 29.fxg7! xa3+ 30.b1 xg7 31.h5+ e7 32.f7# ] 22.e2 dxc5 23.fxe6 b7? [ 23...g6! 24.exf7+ ( 24.c4 f6 25.xc5 xc5 26.xc5 f4+ 27.d2 c8 ) 24...xf7 25.c4+ g7 26.hf1 e8 The f act t hat t he c3 -squa re is gu arde d makes a big difference. Of course White has a perpetual check, but it is not sure that he can claim more. 27.d4+ cxd4 28.xd4+ g8 ( 28...f6? 29.xf6 g8 30.c4+ g7 31.df1 ) 29.c4+ g7 30.d4+ ] 24.xh5 xe4 [ 24...g6 25.f3 fxe6 26.f6 ] 25.d7 Black's resignation seems a bit hasty, but he was actually right in doing so. [ 25.d7 g6 26.xb7 xh5 27.e7!! ( 27.exf7+ d8! Menacing Bf3. 28.f1 c8 29.b6 ) 27...xe7 28.e1 d8 ( 28...f8 29.f4 e8 30.exe7 xe7 31.d6 ) 29.f4 e8 30.e3 c4 ( 30...g6 31.e2 ) 31.bxc4 g6 32.e2 Black cannot prevent a deadly check on the d file anymore. ] 1-0
2069 Fressinet,Laurent Dominguez Perez,Leinier GMB Wijk aan Zee NED (12) [Fressinet,Laurent-Prié,Eric]
A45 2636 2605 24.01.2004
Laurent Fressinet: Before getting to the heart of the matter, I think it is important to talk about my situation in the tournament. I started by winning my first 3 games. Afterwards, I totalled 6/7 with a 1,5 point lead over the second player. That constitutes a comfortable advance but it was a long tournament... So, 3 rounds from the end I had managed to keep a 1 po int lea d o ver the da nge rous Cu ban s Bruzon and Dominguez. But, in the 11th, I simply blundered in a slightly better position against a young and talented Dutchman who also collected some warm applause and the prize of the public! That leads to this game against Dominguez. At this stage, I only had a 1/2 point lead over the Cubans. I had to try to win, being aware that a defeat would signify non-qualification for the main tournament in 2005 (which was my goal) when a draw would transfer everything onto the last round. For this capital game, I decided to surprise my opponent as early as the 1st move by p l a y i n g . . . 1.d4 Usually, I only open with the king's pawn. My choice is easy to explain: Lenier Dominguez has been playing the Semi Slav exclusively for 5 years... like me! And I felt I had spotted a weakness in his repertoire. f6 Played after a 10 minute thought! Frankly, I suspected he would do this because he used to play the King's Indian. 2.g5 Sorry, no King's Indian today! e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5!? I spent the morning preparing this variation, for the rare games he had played in the Tromp had all started this way. e6 [ 6...b6 7.c1 e6 is the main line, See next month as well as the move 6.e4 reaching the same position but without the insertion of the moves 4.. .Qa5+ 5.c3. Eric ] 7.e4 d6!? A very rare move destined to take me out of my preparation. Unfortunately for my opponent, I had already discussed this exact variation with GM Hicham Hamdouchi, who was also competing in the tournament.. 8.dxe6!? 2026
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 8.d2 with the idea 9.c4 is another interesting option. ] 8...xe6 9.a3 d5! Probably the only move allowing Black to obtain a reasonable game. Hicham had preferred [ 9...c6 10.c4 xc4 11.xc4 e7 12.b3 0-0 13.xb7 ab8 14.xc6 xb2 15.c1 b6 16.c7 d8 17.c8 d5 18.exd5 a4 19.xc5 e8+ 20.f1 d7 21.d4 b2 22.b3 An although the position remains complicated, W hite m a n a ge d t o re p e l t h e a t t a c k. W e lls, P Hamdouchi,H Pulvermuehle 2000 1/2 (36) (Note: This game has been commented in excellent English... by Peter Wells himself in his h a bit ua l 'f re sh ' style in Che ssB a se Magazine 75. In such a case, I see no point in making a copy for Chesspublishing.com while urging you to have a look at it, if you are interested in this 6.d5!? line. Eric) ] 10.xb8 [ 10.b5 gives nothing because of a6! ] [ 10.b3!? on the other hand is an interesting possibility. b6 11.xb6 axb6 12.b5 a6 13.e5 d7 With complicated play. ] 10...xb8 11.b5+ e7 Any other move would lose immediately. 12.e5 d7 13.f4 g6 The position arising from 10.Bxb8 was more or less forced and I immersed myself in a long reflection as if Black succeeds in securing his king, then he would be clearly better. 14.e2 Simply the only move, in my opinion. After [ 14.f3 h6! wins a tempo by hitting f4 15.g3 hd8! and the black king finds shelter on the kingside. ] 14...g7 15.xd7 Otherwise Black would play similarly: 15...Rhd8 with a better position. xd7 16.0-0 [ 16.c4!? is very interesting too. a6 ( 16...b5 17.e3 bd8 18.a4 c6 19.b4 And White has the initiative.) 17.e3 c6 18.0-0 hd8 19.b4! b6 Avoiding giving the d4 square to the e2-knight. 20.b5! b7 It seems that White is slightly better here. ( 20...xb5? 21.c4 almost winning. )] 16...bd8 17.c2 c8 18.b4 cxb4 19.xb4 White now has a fabulous square for his king's knight. [ 19.cxb4 b6+ 20.ed4 f6! And Black
gets counter-play. ] 19...f6 20.d4 he8 21.d3 Here, I th ought I was just winning because my knights muzzle the opposing bishop pair and the semiopen b file promises some nice attacking prospects. b8 22.b3 c8 23.ab1 b6 [ 23...a6? 24.b4+- ] 24.b4 It is now clear that White holds a powerful initiative. d7 25.e6! a4 26.a3 [ 26.xd5? xd5 27.xd5 f5! And Black will m o st ce rt a in ly a vo id d e f e a t i n t h i s ending. ] 26...a8 The only move. The threat was again Nbc6+. 27.xd5? Strangely, this natural move lets the victory escape. Instead, [ 27.f5! would have let Black facing insurmountable difficulties. ] 27...f5 28.b5! When I played this move, I did think that the defensive resources of the Cuban were not going to be sufficient. xb5! [ 28...f8? 29.bc7+ b7 30.b4!! xb4 31.cxb4 For instance, imprisoning the queen, was one of the traps set for him. ] 29.xa5 bxa5 30.xb5 xc3! [ 30...xe6 31.fb1 Threatening 32.Rb8+, f o l l o w e d b y 3 3 . N c 7 m a t e , w i n s . ec6 32.e7 ] 31.fb1?! Here, I was persuaded I was winning! My opponent had only a couple of minutes left to reach the time control. As for me, I had 15 minutes on the clock, and I spent 13 of them looking for a forced win... [ 31.xc3! xc3 32.e1 Was providing so m e ch a n ce s wh ich sh o u ld n o t p ro v e decisive, though, against correct defence. ] 31...b4 32.a3 [ 32.e7?! a6 33.b6 c5+ 34.f1 xb6 35.xb6+ b7 And Black has got over it. ] 32...a6 33.b6 c5+ 34.f1 xb6 35.xb6+ a7 36.xc8+ xc8 37.e1 e8 38.e7 b6 39.e5 c6 40.xa5 xe7 41.xa6+ The time control has passed, and I still thought I had some chances to gain the upper hand, but that is utopian for the black king is too active. d5! 42.a4 c7 43.f2 c3 44.h3 b3 45.a7 e4 46.a4+ d5 47.g1 b1+ 48.h2 b3 49.h4 c3 50.g3 h5 51.h3 b3 52.g2 b2+ 53.f3 I was impressed by the stubbornness of my opponent. In a difficult position and with little time on the clock he defended very well. 2027
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Therefore, it is not surprising if he was the only player to finish the tournament unbeaten. (Since then, he also reached the 1/4 final of the FIDE W orld Championship in Tripoli, elim in a t e d b y Ra d ja b o v in t h e 7 t h ga m e 'sudden death blitz' of the Tie-Break, after he o n l y d r e w wi t h W h i t e . H e a l s o m a d e a n excellent score in the Olympiad in Calvia, losing only to Ivanchuk, who was in super form. Eric) This draw then allowed Bruzon to catch me up in the lead just before the last round. During that last game my play was catastrophic and the Cubans profited from this opportunity to overtake me. ½-½
initiative changing hands, the Black queen is simply misplaced on h1. e6 20.f4 a6+ 21.f2 c7 22.xd6 Simple chess, but deadly effective. xd6 23.f5 There is no good defence to Qe7. 1-0
2071 Garcia Palermo,Carlos H Nakamura,Hikaru Pan-Americano-ch 2nd (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2443 2568 20.08.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 f5 6.g3 g7 7.c3 e6!? Now, or later, 7...Na6 looks more critical because if White is 2070 A45 forced to take on e6, Black will win a tempo Froehlich,Peter 2425 by playing ...d5 in one go seizing a full centre Edwards,Jonathan 2093 wh i c h wi l l b e q u i t e c o n s t r a i n i n g f o r t h e 41st Doeberl Cup (1) 18.04.2003 opponent's minor pieces. 8.g2 a6 9.a3 c7 10.c4? [Aaron Summerscale] [ 10.h3 See after ] Trompowsky: Black gets overaggressive in 10...a6! I now realize that this idea (which is the opening and pays the ultimate price in the obviously more difficult to implement when following entertaining game. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 the f1-bishop stays on the a6-f1 diagonal...) is e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 d7 5.d3 df6 6.f3 the major drawback of this line with g2-g3, This is always Black's problem in the Ne4 although I am aware that there are problems tromp. His knight can always be attacked and everywhere, anyhow, after such a commitment either exchanged or forced back. d6 7.c3 as the capture on f6. 11.f4 0-0 12.h3 d6! 13.0-0 c6 [ 13.xd6? e5 ] [ 7...f5 is not a good idea. White comes out [ 13.xd6 xc4 14.xc7 xc3+ ] on top after the long sequence 8.xd6 xd3 9.xc7 xc2 10.xd8 xd1 11.xe7 xf3 13...e5 14.h4 f4 15.b3 b5 16.d2 f5 17.a4 12.xf8 xg2 13.xg7 ] [ 17.g5 h6 18.e6 xe6 19.dxe6 e4 ] 8.e4 h5 9.c1 e5 Black mixes things up, trying to exploit the weakness of W hite's 17...bxa4 18.c4 b5 19.xa4 b7 k i n g s i d e d a rk sq u a re s . 10.dxe5 h4+ 20.a5? [ 20.c1! Preventively defending c3, while 11.f1 g3+ 12.hxg3 xh1 13.exd6 xd6 the queen cannot easily move, was better It is time to take stock. Black has given up a because it keeps the a7-pawn pinned and rook for two minor pieces. Although the White White can exploit the tactical idea of Nb6 position is slightly uncoordinated, if Black fails to snatch an important piece of the black setto develop a serious initiative he is doomed. up on c8. ] 14.exd5 c5 15.e1+ d8 16.e3 White's position looks loose, but there is no 20...f7 21.c1 fxg3 [ 21...f6!? 22.h6 g6 23.xg6+ hxg6 way for Black to take advantage. e8 17.e4 24.gxf4 exf4 25.xf4 xc3 ] d6 [ 17...f5 i s e ve n wo r s e . 18.xc5 fxe4 22.xg3 [ 22.hxg3 e4 ] 19.dxc6 ] The signal of a brutal attack with the 18.dxc6 bxc6 19.d1 Now he Black king 22...f4! finds himself in the firing line and with the misplacement of the Nh3 as neuralgic point. 2028
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.d3 h5 24.xf4 [ 24.f3 h4 25.xb5 xh3 26.d3 f6 ] 24...exf4 25.xb5 f3 26.exf3 [ 26.xf3? xf3 27.exf3 g5+ 28.g4 xg4 29.fxg4 xc1+ ] 26...h3 27.f1 [ 27.xh3 g5+ ] 27...xf3! 28.xh3 [ 28.c6 h8 ] [ 28.xf3 xf3 29.f4 xf4 30.xh3 xc1+ ] 28...xh3 29.g2 h8 30.g4 e5 31.c6? [ 31.g3 xg3 32.fxg3 On hxg3 the plan ... Rg8-g6-f6 is very strong because the white queen is attached to the defence of g3 and the rook cannot leave the 1st rank because of Qd1+. e8 33.f2 xd5 34.f6+ g8 35.f1 e5 36.f7+ h8 37.c6 xg3+ 38.hxg3 xg3+ 39.h1 h3+ 40.g1 g8+ 41.f2 g2+ 42.e1 e3+ 43.d1 d2# ] 31...xh2+ 32.f1 f4 33.e7 h1+ 34.e2 xc1 The motive of the rook hanging on c1 also played a major role in bringing a swift success to the black enterprise... 35.d3 Rg8+ would lead to mate...if only it was not pinned! f7 0-1
( 12...xd5 13.xb8 xb8 14.xb1 a5 15.c4 ) 13.axb4 d6 14.b5+ ( 14.xg7 g8 15.b5+ e7 16.d4 f5 17.f3 g4! 18.0-0 d2 19.fe1+ e6 20.e2 xf3+ 21.xf3 xd4 22.dxe6 ) 14...e7 15.b2 f5 16.e2 Threatens Bd3 a6 ( 16...d8 17.xg7 g8 18.f6+ c7 19.f3 ) 17.xa6 bxa6 18.f3+Followed by Rhxb1; B) 5...d5=; C) 5...cxd4 6.xd4=; D) 5...c6! 6.c3 ( 6.d5 g5! 7.d3 g7 8.xe4 xa1 9.xg5 b4+ 10.xb4 xb4; 6.f3 b4+ ) 6...cxd4 7.exd4 e5! ] [ 4.xf6 xb2 ( 4...xf6 5.c3 was mentioned, as a possibility, in the 2...c5 3.Nc3 Trompowsky.) 5.d2 gxf6 6.dxc5 see next game. ] [ 4.c3!? xb2 5.ge2 cxd4 6.exd4 a3 7.b1 a5 8.d2 With some compensation. ( 8.b5!? )] 4...xb2 5.d2 e6 It is true hat Black has to ta ke t h e pa wn o n c5 b a ck b u t t h is m o ve weakens d6 and f6. [ 5...c3 is probably better. 6.d3 ( 6.c4 e4 ) 6...xc5 7.gf3 d6 8.b1 bd7 ] [ 5...e5 6.gf3 xc5 7.b1 is about the same. ] 6.b1 xa2 7.xf6! gxf6 8.c4 [ 8.c4!? A) 8...a4 9.d4! a2 ( 9...c6 2072 A45 10.d6+ xd6 11.xa4 ) 10.a1 xc2 11.d3 b3 12.b1 a2 13.e2; Gavrilescu,Calin 2310 B) 8...xc5 9.c3! ( 9.a1?? b4+ Musat,Adrian 2275 10.e2 xc4+ ) 9...a6 10.b6 xb6 Tim Bucharest (2) 1993 11.xb6 axb6 ( 11...xb6 12.g4 d5 [Eric Prié] 13.g7 f8 14.xh7 ) 12.f3 Is unclear for the material scale would 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.e3 The GM Sarhan ra th er t ip in B la ck' s f a vo ur, b ut t he 2 GULIEV's approach, but unfortunately for our pawns are doubled and his king is not very subject, none of his 2500+ opponents played safe. ] the critical: b6 They all transposed with 3... Ne4 4.Bf4 into the 2...Ne4 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 line 8...a5 9.b5 c7 10.e4! It is always of the Trompowsky where W hite does not sufficient to make beautiful, empty, phrases, sacrifice a pawn after 4...Qb6 5.Nc3 as we but there is very little to explain in this game. The rest is only tactics, whereas only the 10th shall see some other time. 4.dxc5 move has just been reached, and tactics [ 4.b3? e4 5.f4 A) 5...b4+? 6.c3! xc3 7.a3 a5 speak for themselves... e5 [ 10...d5 11.xf6+ e7 12.d4!! dxc4 8.d2 cxd4 9.exd4! ( 9.xb8 f5!! 13.h4 c6 14.f3!! e5 ( 14...xb5? With complications.) 9...e5 10.xe5 b4 15.d5+ d7 16.e5+ e8 17.c7# ) 11.d5! xb1 ( 11...xd5 12.axb4 15.g8+ ( 15.xe5 xf6 ) 15...e8 The Ra1 is protected!) 12.xb4 xb4+ 2029
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.xe5 xg8 ( 16...e6 17.f6+ d8 18.d4+ d7 19.fxd7 xd7 20.xb7; 16...xb5 17.f6+ e7 18.d5+ e6 19.c7+ xe5 20.f4# )] [ 10...a6! 11.b1 ( 11.xf6+ e7 12.d5+ exd5 13.xd5 d8! ) 11...e5 12.d3 f5 ] 11.d3 f5 Perhaps expecting the knight to move?! [ 11...a6 12.f3 c7 13.a1! axb5 14.xa8 a6 15.xf6+ e7 16.e4 g7 17.0-0 xc5 ] 12.c6!! g7 13.cxb7 xb7 14.xb7 xg2? The point of Black's 12th move, but too risky. [ 14...fxe4 15.xe4 d5 A) 16.xd5 exd5 17.xd5 a1+ 18.d2 ( 18.e2 a6+ 19.c4 e6 ) 18...f6; B) 16.d3 B1) 16...xg2? 17.b5+ d8 18.a1! b4+ ( 18...xh1 19.a5+ c8 20.c7# ) 19.e2 g4+ 20.f3 d4 21.b1 c5 ( 21...e4 22.xb4 xb7 23.xd4+; 21...c3 22.a3 ) 22.a5+ b6 23.xb6; B2) 16...c3+ 17.f1 a6 18.e2 c6 19.b1 d6 20.b2 0-0= 21.f6 After all these turns White has no more than the draw. xb7 22.g5+ h8 23.f6+ g8 24.g5+= ] 15.f6+! e7 [ 15...d8 16.xb8+! e7 ( 16...xb8 17.e4 b4+ 18.e2 ) 17.xa8 xh1 18.e8+ xf6 19.a1+ g6 20.xh8 xg1+ 21.f1 ] 16.e4! The point of the attack. Now, Black will sadly get mated. fxe4 17.xd7 c6 [ 17...xh1 18.e5+ f6 19.xf7+ g5 ( 19...xe5 20.d4# ) 20.g4+ h6 21.h4# ] 18.e5+ f6 19.xf7+ g5 [ 19...xe5 20.f4+ exf3 21.xf3+ xf3 22.xf3 ] 20.h3+! [ 20.h3+ h6 ( 20...xh3 21.g1+ h6 22.f6# ) 21.g4+ g6 22.f4+ xf7 23.d7+ e7 24.xe6+ g7 25.xg2 ] 1-0
2073 Georgiev,Kiril Grischuk,Alexander CCM4 Ordix Open rapid (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2626 2705 07.08.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.d5 Havin g lo st h is surprise sta tu s, t he lit tle " t h e o rize d " T ro m p o p e n in g h a s re c e n t l y seduced a new clientele of pure 1.d4 players attracted by this very pawn structure rather than having to face another 'equalish' Nimzo. b6 5.c1 [ 5.b3? This time bluntly loses on the spot to f6 ] 5...e6 [ 5...g6 See note ton move 8. 6.f3 f6 7.e4 d6 8.c4 g7 9.c3 0-0 10.d3 e6 11.ge2 exd5 12.exd5 bd7 13.f4 e8 14.0-0 f5 15.h1 df6 16.g1 d7 17.f3 c7 18.c2 ae8 19.h3 e7 20.d2 Radjabov,T-Grischuk,A Corsican Masters 20' Bastia 2003 1/2 (40) ] 6.f3 [ 6.c4 b4+ 7.d2 xd2 8.xd2 xc4 ] 6...f6 7.c4 exd5 8.cxd5 c4 Even in this uncommon order of moves [ 8...d6 9.e4 g6 10.c3 d8 just transposes into a completely normal KID-SÃNmisch-Benoni which is probably wh a t t h e st ro n g ce n t re lo ve r ge n e ra ll y concealed behind t he classical d-pawn player seeks. ] 9.e3 [ 9.e4!? c5 10.h3 See the November update and a further note in the Kasparov game. ] 9...c5 10.f2 0-0 11.xc4 e8 12.b3 d8! definitely better than [ 12...d6 As played by Kotronias in November. ] 13.e2 In fact, although practice lacks examples, Black does not seem to fear the thematic. [ 13.d6 h8!? ( 13...f8 Eric. White will lose his d-pawn and may face some problems later, after an uncertain stage of m u t u a l re o r ga n i za t io n , b e c a u se o f h i s exposed king and/or e-pawn on the open file. ) 14.h3 ( 14.xf7?! f8 "With attack" is the line given by Sulskis (see next game) 2030
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 in his commented effort in INF 85.) 14...c6 "With counter-play" 15.g5? g4+ 16.fxg4 xg5 ] 13...d6 14.bc3 With one extra-move a6 15.a4 bd7 16.g3 b8! 17.d2 b5!! Enormous preparation from the young Russian who, apart f rom his silver medal behind McShane and before Bacrot in the 1992 W orld Under 10 in Duisburg, has the strange particularity of never having won anything in the youth competitions! 18.axb5 axb5 19.e2 [ 19.xb5 e5!! ( 19...b6 20.he1 a6 21.a4! xb3 22.xb3 xb3 23.xa6 xb2 24.e2 xd2 25.xd2 xe3+ 26.e2 xd2+ 27.xd2 ) A) 20.a4 d7 21.xd7 fxd7 22.hb1 b6 23.c2 ec4 24.ce4 xd2 25.xd2 c4 26.d3 xe3 27.xc5 dxc5 28.e4 ( 28.d6? c4 29.d2 b6 ) 28...xd5=; B) 20.c2 xb5!! 21.xb5 b6 B1) 22.c3 c4! ( 22...xe3+ 23.xe3 eg4+ 24.fxg4 xe3+ 25.f1 a6+ 26.ge2 xg4 27.e1 f2+ 28.d2 e3+ 29.e1 f2+= ) 23.f1 xe3 24.e1 a6 With a winning attack.; B2) 22.b4 xe3+! 23.xe3 eg4+ 24.fxg4 xe3+ 25.f1 a6! 26.f2 ( 26.xa6 e1# ) 26...c3! The final touch brought to the edifice. ( 26...xb5+ 27.g1 c3 28.f1 ) 27.d1 xb5+ 28.g1 xg4 29.f4 e1+ 30.xe1 xe1+ 31.f1 xf1 32.g3 d1 33.xg4 xg4 34.xf1 d1+ 35.f2 xh1 ] 19...b4 20.a4 b7 The supports of the white pride on d5 having been methodically sa pp ed , B la ck wins h is pa wn b a ck while retaining some initiative. 21.xc5 [ 21.c4 e5 22.f4? xe3+ 23.xe3 g4+ ] 21...xd5 22.c2 xc5 23.he1 c8 24.f5 b6 25.f4 e4! 'cutting' the attack against b4. 26.g1 d5? [ 26...b3!? 27.a6 b8 28.fxe4 xd2 29.d3 Looks good for Black but the coming Nf5 could shade this estimation. ] [ 26...e6 27.h4 c2 28.xb4! xb4 29.xe4 xe4 30.d3! xb2 31.xe4
xe4 32.xe4 g6= ] 27.h4 g6 [ 27...d3 28.d4 xe2 29.xd5 ( 29.xe2? b3 30.xd5 xa1; 29.xe2 b7 ) 29...d3 ( 29...a6 30.f5 c6 31.d4 e6 32.xb4 ) 30.d4 b8 31.h5 e5 32.f4 a6 33.e4 ] 28.d4! b7 29.c4? [ 29.e4! b3 30.a6! The key move White must have overlooked. xa6 ( 30...a8 31.xd5 xd5 32.exd5+- ) 31.xa6 xd4 32.exd5 xe1+ ( 32...ed8 33.e4 ) 33.xe1 Black will eventually lose one of his typical weaknesses on d6 or b4. ] 29...b6 30.b5? [ 30.a2 b3 31.b1= ] 30...b3 31.xb4 xa1 32.xa1 [ 32.xe8 c2 ] 32...d5 33.a5 [ 33.xd6 xb5 34.a5 b3 35.xd5 ( 35.xd5 d1+ 36.f1 cd8 37.c6 d3 38.c1 xc1 39.xc1 xf1 40.xf1 d1+ ) 35...xe3! ] 33...c5! [ 33...e5? 34.a6 ] 34.xe8 xa5 35.xa5 h6? [ 35...c7! 36.d7 xb2 ] 36.b4? When offered the chance, that pawn was easier to defend on its base with reasonable chances to hold the draw. [ 36.b5 a8 37.d7 ] 36...d3! [ 36...xb4 37.b5 c8 38.xf7+ xf7 39.xb4 c2 40.d4= ] 37.b5 c7 38.c6 b6 39.a1 xb5 40.xb5 xb5 It is well known and duly acknowledged by practice that queen and knight cooperate well together. W ithout the pawn in compensation for the rook and bishop White, who has no hope of building a fortress, precisely because of the presence of the knights, should be lost. 41.f1 e6 42.e1 d5 43.d1 e2 44.c1 d4 45.d2 b5 46.exd4 xd4 47.e1 d3 48.h1 h7 49.c1 f6 50.e3 f5 51.g1 h4 52.g3? [ 52.e3 ] 52...xf3? Undoubtedly, the consequences of a boisterous blitz finish [ 52...d2 0-1 ] 53.f1 g5 54.f2 f7 55.e2 e5 2031
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 56.f4 e4 57.h3 c4 58.e2 e3 59.g3 d5 60.e2 d1 61.f3 e6 62.d4 d7 63.f5 b2 64.h4 c4 65.c3 e5 66.f3 g6 67.c4 d5 68.d4 b7 69.d6 f4 70.d2? [ 70.h2! c7 71.d1! e2+ 72.h1 g3+ 73.h2 h5-+ ] 70...xh3 71.d4 g5 0-1
2074 Gerstner,Wolfgang Ranft,Sandra Chemnitz op (8) [Eric Prié]
A45 2360 1998
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 remains the welltried response possibly for other reasons than 3...d5, that said... d5 4.e3 c5 5.c3?! A dubious transposition into D03 when the original feature of the Tromp is the possibility to question the Ne4 immediately with 5.Bd3 as in the last 2 games or 5.Nd2 as seen next month. b6! [ 5...c6 In this move order appears less precise due to 6.d2 xd2 7.xd2 cxd4 8.exd4 Still not much for White if anything after f5 9.f3 e6 10.b5!? ] 6.c2?! [ 6.b3 c4 7.c2?! ( 7.xb6 axb6 is the only move see the games MartinovicPerunovic and further Kalinitshev-Volodin a few months ago plus the following PriéNajer. ) 7...f5 8.f3? ( 8.c1 ) 8...e5! 9.xe5 ( 9.dxe5 g3 10.e4 xh1 11.exf5 xg1 ) 9...g3 10.e4 xh1 11.exf5 f6?? ( 11...d7! Of course, serving the same pu rp o s e b ut win n in g a vit a l t e m p o a n d leaving the 6th free for the queen. 12.f4 0-0-0 13.h3 d6 14.e2 xf4 15.xf4 d6! 16.d2 16 .g3 Qh 6 ! g5-+ h2 falls, liberating the knight.) 12.f4 d6 13.h3 0-0 14.e2 d7 15.a3? A very mysterious move ( 15.f1! fe8 16.g1 e7 17.xd6 xd6 18.xh1 ae8 19.g1! ) 15...fe8 16.d2 e7 17.f1 A) 17...xa3 18.bxa3 ae8 19.e1 g5! The main purpose of this move is difficult to detect: Freeing the e6 square for the
queen! 20.fxg6 hxg6 21.c2 ( 21.g1? xe2! 22.xe2 b1+ ) 21...g5 22.c1 e6!! 23.g1 ( 23.g6+ h8 24.h6+ h7 25.g6 f8 26.c2 xh3 27.gxh3 xh3+ 28.g1 g3 ) 23...xe2 24.g6+! ( 24.xe2 xe2 25.g6+ f8 26.h6+ e7 27.xh1 e1+ 28.g1 xc1 ) 24...f8 25.h6+ And White now escapes with a perpetual check because the e7 square is not available for the Black king.; B) 17...ae8 18.e1 g5? Black was unable to put the ideas in the right order. ( 18...xa3 19.bxa3 g5! ) 19.xd6 xd6 20.g1 g3 21.hxg3 xg3 22.f2 b6 23.c2+- Stefanova, A (2495) - Gonzalez de la Torre, S (2245) Andorra op 2000 1-0(41) ] 6...f5?! [ 6...c6! 7.f3 This position also belongs to D03. In our case the difference is f5 8.dxc5 xc5 9.b3 0-0-0! ] 7.dxc5 xc5 [ 7...g6 8.xb8 xc5 9.d2 xb8 10.xd5 d3+ 11.xd3 xd3 12.e2 e6 13.e5 d8 14.f4 ] 8.b3! b6 [ 8...b6 9.f3 d7 10.a4 g6 11.a6 g7 12.0-0 0-0 13.b4 b5 14.xb5 c8 15.b3 b6 16.c1 c4 17.a3 e5 18.g3 ed6 19.d1 xa3 20.f1 dc4 21.ac1 e8 0-1 Gerstner, W (2375)Kishnev, S (2530)/ Berlin 1992 ] 9.xb8?! [ 9.xb6 axb6 10.f3 Would suffice to make me happy as White. ] 9...xb3? [ 9...xb8 10.b5+ d8! 11.xd5+? is what W hite must have had in mind but d6! ] 10.axb3 xb8 11.b5+ d8 12.xa7 d6 13.a3 xb5 14.xb5 d3?! [ 14...e5 ] 15.d4 a6? [ 15...e5 16.d2 e4 17.df3 c5 ] 16.xa6 bxa6 17.c6+ c7 18.xb8 xb8 19.f3+- f6 20.d2 e6 21.d4 e5 22.e6 b7 23.a1 b6 24.b4 g6 25.a5 d4 26.exd4 h6+ 27.d3 e8 28.xa6+! 1-0
2032
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2075 Gerstner,Wolfgang Zabystrzan,Pavel 3rd Neckaropen (6) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2365 2325 04.04.1999
Trompowsky Attack: The move 5...Bh6 in the complicated 2...c5 3.Bxf6 line of the Tromp has been under a cloud ever since the famous game Hodgson-Van der W iel, Amsterdam, 1994. In the following game Black tries a less greedy approach, but eventually cannot cope with the pawn weaknesses inflicted upon him by White's third move. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 h6 6.e3 f5 7.c4 a5+ A slightly bizarre alternative to 7... f4 which led to a crushing defeat for Black in Hodgson-Van der Wiel. As far as I can see, the move has no redeeming features, yet is typical of the sort of planless play that Black pursues when he has been led out of book by the Tromp. 8.c3 d6 9.d3 White gets on with the business of targeting Black's pawn weaknesses. d7 10.f3 f6 11.0-0 e5 Black will be forced into either this or e6 at some point in order to successfully defend f5. The drawback being that it leads to a considerable loosening of his position. 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.c2 d7 14.e4 The most logical pawn break, further dis man tling B lack's cent ra l p osition . c6 15.fe1 0-0-0 16.e5 An excellent thrust, ass urin g W hite of a lon g t erm posit io na l advantage. dxe5 [ 16...xf3 17.exf6 hg8 18.g3 Leaves black with no decent way to defend against the twin threats of 19.Rxe6 and Bxf5. ] 17.xe5 c7? A poor choice. For better or worse, Black had to preserve his bishop pair with Be8. 18.xc6 g4 This attempt at counterattack foolhardy and doomed to failure. 19.xa7+ b8 20.g3 f4 Black simply lacks the firepower to back up this rather crude attack. He should have instead concentrated on the defence of his rather exposed king. 21.ab5 f7 22.a4 xd3 23.a7+ c8 24.ad1 Cutting off any possible escape route for the Black king. W hite is determined to really put the boot in. xf2 25.a8+ d7 26.xd3+ It is a fairly straightforward forced
mate in 5, so I'll leave it to you to finish Black off. In the game, Black resigned, and denied White the pleasure. 1-0
2076 Glendinning,J Mannion,Stephen R Grangemouth op2 [Eric Prié]
A45 2350 2000
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.c3?! b6!? As long as there is no Nc3... 4.c2?! cxd4 5.cxd4 c6 6.e3 d6! In the previous games we have witnessed the idea ...e7-e5 against the Bf4. After the exchange of the c-pawns it becomes more dangerous for W hite than ever. 7.a3? There are only 2 ways of parrying the threat of ...e7-e5 followed by ...Bf5: [ 7.d2 e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.g3 ( 9.g5 b4 10.c3 fd5 11.xe5+ e6 ) 9...b4!? ( 9...e6 10.c4 b4 11.xe6 fxe6 12.gf3 e4 13.e5 Schumacher, G (2205)-Bagaturov, G (2530) Dresden 1999 0-1(31) ) 10.b3 ( 10.d1 f5 11.c1 d8! 12.xe5 e4 13.d4 xd4 14.exd4 xd2 15.xd2 xa2 ) 10...e6 11.c4 c8! 12.xe5 xc4 ] [ 7.f3 e5! 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.g3 ( 9.xe5? a5+ 10.d2 b4 ) 9...e4 ( 9...f5 10.xf5 xb2 11.xe5 ) 10.fd2 b4 11.c1 e7 12.c3 0-0 Geluk, P (2169)Runting, T (2494) ICCF webserver 2004 0-1(23) ] [ 7.h3? A move even more ridiculous than the one of the main game. e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.h2 f5 10.b3 b4+ 11.c3 0-0 12.a3 xc3+ 13.xc3 e4 Guenther, MBagaturov, G (2532) Griesheim 1999 ] 7...e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.g3 f5 10.c1 a5! Brutally decisive for Black after only 10 moves! 11.b4 [ 11.d2 c8 12.d1 xb2 ] [ 11.c3 d6 12.b4 c8 13.bxa5 xc3 14.axb6 c1+ 15.e2 ( 15.d2 xf1 16.bxa7 e7 ) 15...xb1 16.f3 d3+ 17.xd3 xa1-+ ] 11...b3 12.b2 xa1 13.xe5+ e7-+ 14.xa1 a5 15.b5 xb1 16.xb1 xa3 17.d3 0-0 18.e5 fe8 19.f3 b4+ 2033
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.e2 h6 21.g1 g4 23.xc5 xc5 24.h3 xe3+ 0-1
c5
c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 exf4 12.d4 c5 13.g3 If the estim ation given in the note to White's critical 16th move choice is wrong then he should prefer 13.Nh3 as in the next 3 games. 2077 A45 [ 13.e3 being obviously wrong because of fxe3 14.e2 d5 ] Goldberg,Menashe 2039 13...xd4! Killing White's best piece. 14.cxd4 Knight,T Guernsey Open (2) 21.10.2002 a4 15.gxf4 d5! [ 15...xd4?! 16.e3 a4 17.e2 0-0 [Aaron Summerscale] 18.c3 a5 19.0-0-0 e8 20.b4! a8 ( 20...h5 21.e4 h4 22.f5 f4 23.g2 Tromp: A highly original game, with both is hardly better.; 20...a3 21.b2 xc3 players not just straying from, but leaping off 22.xc3 xe3+ 23.d4! Always the same the beaten track as soon as possible. 1.d4 r e c u r r e n t t h e m e xf3 24.c1 xf4+ f6 2.c3 e6 Hoping for a French. 3.g5 25.d3+- ) 21.e4 d5 22.b5 d8 23.e5 c5 Highly unusual. 4.e4 White goes his own h5 24.xd5 e6 25.xb6+way, 1-0 Karttunen,M (2429) - Nyysti,S (2245) [ 4.d5 looks more to the point, with a slight Helsinquia 2002 ] edge in prospect. ] 16.f5 Instead of being forced to defend after 4...cxd4 5.xf6 gxf6 6.xd4 e7 7.0-0-0 this, White should have tried the sacrifice [ 7.d6+!? ] [ 16.h3!? xd4 ( 16...d6? 17.e4 xh3 7...c6?! This allows White what he wants. 18.b5+ d7 19.xa4 xa4 20.exd5+-; [ 7...d5 steals most of White's thunder. In 16...e3 17.f2 xf1 18.hxf1 xd4 fact Black seems to be better after this. ] 19.fd1 ) 17.c1 ( 17.e4 e3 18.e2 8.d6+ xd6 9.xd6 a5 10.b1 xf1 19.hxf1 d5 20.f2 dxe4 21.fxe4 White has pleasant pressure along the d-file e7= ) 17...e7 18.e4 e3 19.g1 and the better structure. e5 11.d2 d5 ( 19.d3 g2+ 20.e2 d5 21.f5 ) 12.f3 h5 13.h4 f5 Black gains space, but A) 19...g6 20.d3! Fritz d5 ( 20...xd3 his queen is well out of the way of all the 21.e2 d4 22.xe3 ) 21.f2; action. 14.e3 d7 15.c4 White decides to B) 19...d5! 20.f2 xf1 21.xf1 dxe4 take advantage of Black's un-coordinated 22.fxe4 g6= ] forces and opens the position. 0-0-0 16.cxd5 [ 16.e4! xf4 17.f2 xd4 18.e3 e6 exd5 17.e2 e6 18.e5 White has 19.c1 e7 20.c4 d6 21.e2 ] increased his advantage and Black's position teeters on the brink of disaster. h6 19.xc6 16...xd4 17.e4 e3 18.e2 [ 18.e2 xf1 19.xf1 d5 20.e3 a4 ] bxc6 20.c1 d7 21.c3 Black is in no position to defend himself. c8 22.a6 c7 18...c2+ 19.f2 d2 20.c1 d5 21.g2 [ 21.h3 dxe4 22.fxe4 0-0! ( 22...e7? 23.xh8 The rook disappears, but even 23.hd1 hd8? 24.xd2 xd2 25.f6+ without this material disadvantage, Black was xf6 26.xc8 d4 27.e3 xe2+ in a hopeless position. 28.xd4 xb2 29.e5+ e7 30.xb7+- ) 1-0 23.hd1 fd8 24.xd2 xd2 25.f3 d7 26.f4 c6= ] 2078 A45 21...dxe4 22.fxe4 e7 23.hd1 hd8 Golubovic,Boris 2462 24.xd2 xd2 25.f3 g6 26.g3 gxf5 Brenjo,Slavisa 2463 27.c3 Intending Nd5+, Nxb6 f4+ 28.xf4 TCh-BIH Prem (5) 08.06.2005 e6= 29.d5+? [ 29.d1 b4 ( 29...d4? 30.e3 ) 30.a3! [Eric Prié] c6 ( 30...d3+ 31.e3 xc1 32.xd2 ) 31.c2= ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 29...xd5 30.exd5 d6 31.h4 d4 32.e4 22.d4
2034
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xb2 33.c8 f5 34.d3 h2 [ 34...xd5! Immediately getting rid of the dangerous passed pawn would have been t h e m o s t d e lica t e f o r W h it e t o d e f e n d . 35.d8+ c5 36.c8+ c6 ( 36...b4?? 37.c4+ ) 37.xf5 f2+! 38.g4 ( 38.g5 h6+; 38.e4 xa2 39.xh7 a4+ 40.e3 xh4 ) 38...h6 39.e6 b5 40.h5 f6 41.b3 b4 42.c7! ( 42.h8 e5 43.xh6? f5# Mate!! ) 42...b6 43.f7! d6 44.h7= ] 35.d8+ c7 [ 35...c5 36.e5 ] 36.g8 xh4+ 37.e5 f3+ 38.xf5 h5+ 39.f4 e5 40.f5 g6+ 41.xg6 hxg6 42.g7+ d6 43.xg6+ c5 44.e4 xd5 45.xb6 xb6 46.xd5 ½-½
2079 Grant,Alan Holzke,Frank Monarch Assurance (5) [Eric Prié]
A45 2193 2492 29.09.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 e6 7.e4 exd5 8.exd5 d6 9.d2! e7 10.c4 xd2+ 11.xd2 h5 12.e3 f5 13.f4! A Novelty implying that White gives up his dark-squared bishop in a d i f f e r e n t s c h e m e o f d e v e l o p m e n t . f6 After this game, it is definitely Black's turn to have to find a reinforcement in the variation. Possibly something like [ 13...d7!? 14.d3 df6 15.e2 d8 16.bc3 0-0 ] 14.c3 g4 15.e1 f7 16.f3 xe3 17.xe3 a6 [ 17...h6 18.b5 is the same. ] 18.d3? White does not sense "the critical moment" and the very interesting possibilities generated by his 13th move novelty. [ 18.b5!! Would have given him an enormous initiative. For instance A) 18...d7 19.g5+ f6 20.d3 g6 ( 20...xb5? 21.e6# ) 21.he1 d8 22.c1 ( 22.xd6 a5+ 23.c1 xe1 ) 22...xb5 ( 22...h6 23.e6 xb5 24.cxb5 b4 25.c4 a5 26.1e2 ) 23.e6+ g7 24.cxb5 b4 ( 24...c7
25.xd6 ) 25.c4 h6 26.f3 a6 27.b6! xb6 28.a3+-; B) 18...h6 19.d3 d7 20.he1 he8 ( 20...f8 21.h4! g6 22.g4! xb5 23.cxb5 b4 24.gxf5 g5 25.g6 h7 26.c4 ) 21.xe7+! ( 21.xf5!? xf5 22.xe7+ xe7 23.xd6+ f6 24.xe7 xe7 25.xf5+ f6 26.g4 h5 27.h3 hxg4 28.hxg4 h8 29.a3 ) 21...xe7 22.xd6+ In all these lines, like in every Benoni set-up, the d6 pawn is Black's Achilles' heel. Added to his small space advantage and slight advance in development, that makes White's position pleasa ntly pref e rable with very sobe r means. f6 23.e5 g6 ( 23...g5 24.xd7+ xd7 25.e6+ g7 26.xf5+ ) 24.g4! d8 25.g5+!! hxg5 26.g4+! fxg4 27.fxg5+ xg5 28.xe7+c8 ( 28...f5 29.f7+ f6 30.xd8 xe7 31.xb7 ) 29.xc8 ( 29.e4+ ) 29...xc8 30.e5+ f4 ( 30...f6 31.e6+ g5 32.xg6+ ) 31.e4+ g5 32.e2 h8 33.xg4+ f5 34.h4 ] 18...c7 N o w B l a c k i s O K . 19.h4 h5 20.he1 e8 21.g3 d7 22.a4 b6 23.b5 xb5 24.cxb5 g6 25.c4 f6 26.g5+ xg5 27.hxg5 [ 27.fxg5 xe3 28.xe3 e8 Draw. 29.a3? e4 ] 27...xe3 28.xe3 h8 29.a5 h4 30.axb6 axb6 31.gxh4 xh4 32.f3 The rest of the game, where Black desperately gesticulates in every direction with the hope of his (300 ELO points) lower rated opponent losing the thread of the game bears little interest. In this blocked position, the knight has only one point of entry into play, via h5, so White needs only to watch the g3 square, while the bishop holds the queenside, to safely secure the draw. e7 33.f1 d8 34.b3 e8 35.e3 g7 36.e2 h3+ 37.f3 h8 38.d3 e8+ 39.d2 h5 40.c2 e7 41.b1 e8 42.d1 f7 43.d2 f8 44.c2 a7 45.c1 a2 46.b1 a5 47.d3 a7 48.c1 g8 49.b1 h7 50.d2 g7 51.d3 h2+ 52.e3 a2 53.c4 h5 54.e2 a7 55.d3 a3 56.c4 g7 57.d2 f8 58.h3 h5 59.f3 f7 60.e3 a8 61.d2 a2+ 62.e3 b2 63.d3 g8 64.e3 g2 65.f1 h2 2035
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 66.c4 g7 67.f2 69.f1 h3+ 70.f3 ½-½
2080 Groffen,Hans Berzinsh,Roland Monarch Assurance (1) [Eric Prié]
h3+
68.f3
h4
A45 2244 2455 25.09.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 For the important alternatives [ 7...f5 and ] [ 7...d8 also see next month. ] 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 dxc6 12.xe5 e6 13.e4!? d7 14.d4 c5!? Continuing in a gambit style while actually threatening ...Nb3. 15.a3 b3 16.h3 0-0-0 17.e2 a4 18.0-0? [ 18.f4 b5 19.d3 f6 ( 19...c5 20.f2 c4 21.e5 )] [ 18.f2! Of course was the critical move. A) 18...xb2 19.xb6 d7 20.0-0 ( 20.b1 xa3 21.a1 d6 22.a8+ b8 ) 20...d2 21.fe1; B) 18...c5 19.e3 c4 B1) 20.d1 xb2 21.xb3 cxb3 22.xb6 d7 23.a4 c4 24.d4 a3 25.d1 b2; B2) 20.d4 f6 21.0-0 c5 22.d1 xb2 23.xb3 cxb3 24.fb1 ( 24.ab1 c4 25.xb3 d2 ) 24...xd4!; B3) 20.b1! I n t e n d i n g B d 1 c5 21.xc5 bxc5 22.d1 he8 23.e2 f5 24.xb3 cxb3 25.hd1 xd1 26.xd1 fxe4 27.xe4 d8+ 28.e2 c4 White is a pawn up but I fail to see how to exploit it without the participation of his rook tethered to the defence of b2. ] 18...c5! Forcing entry towards the 2nd rank. 19.d1 [ 19.xc5 bxc5 20.f4 d2 21.g4+ c7 22.f2 hd8 ] 19...xd1 20.xc5 bxc5 21.axd1 xb2 22.b1 c4 23.f2 [ 23.g5 he8! 24.xf7 d7 25.g5 h6 26.h3 d2 ] 23...d3 24.c1 hd8 25.a2 d1+! 26.xd1 xd1+ 27.f2 c1 28.g5 xc3
29.xh7 b5 30.g5 b4! Queening by force and costing White his rook at least. 31.axb4 cxb4 32.xf7 [ 32.e5 b3 33.a8+ b7 34.e6 fxe6 35.a4 c5 ( 35...b2 36.b4+ c7 37.xe6+ d6 38.xg7 c1 wins too. ) 36.e4 c2+ 37.g3 b2 38.xc5+ c6 ] 32...b3 33.a8+ b7 34.a4 b2 35.b4+ c7 36.g5 c5 0-1
2081 Gustafsson,Jan Bekker Jensen,David It Hamburg GER (6) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2410 2255 15.01.1999
Trompowsky Attack: Sometimes our opponents will do anything to avoid falling in with our plans. In the following game, Black pre-empts one of White's most popular plans in the Tromp. However, White shows there is more than one string to his bow and wins convincingly. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 g6 3.xf6 exf6 4.e3 b6 Black tries an original way of meeting the W hite plan of controlling the h1-a8 diagonal and fianchettos first. 5.e2 Despite the Black plan, White is quick to react and finds a way to control the critical diagonal. b7 6.f3 xf3 7.xf3 The exchange of light squared bishops benefits W hite more than it does Black. Black no longer enjoys the advantage of the bishop pair and has potential weaknesses for White to exploit, on both the king and queenside. c6 8.c3 f5 9.ge2 g7 10.h3 White prepares to assault the Black kingside pawn structure with a timely g4. h5 11.f4 e7 12.0-0-0 As usual, it is important to bring all the pieces into play before attempting to decimate Black's reasonably solid position. c6 13.g4 hxg4 14.hxg4 g8 [ Attempting to castle quickly with: 14...c7 doesn't relieve black of his problems, as after 15.xh8+ xh8 16.h1 0-0-0 17.h7 White is left with a pleasant edge. ] 15.h7 The arrival of the rook on the seventh rank spells doom for Black, who finds that he has this irritating piece permanently stuck down his throat. d5 16.gxf5 xf5 17.e4 2036
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 With the Black king stranded, W hite immediately grabs the opportunity to open the center and attack. xd4 [ 17...dxe4 18.xe4+ e7 19.d5 is also miserable for Black. ] 18.xg7 xg7 19.xd4 f6 20.d3 White has tw o very good knights in exchange for rook and pawn and an excellent position. Indeed, White's lead in development forces Black to jettison a pawn, in a vain attempt to get his king to safety 0-0-0 21.exd5 g5 Even without this fatal mistake, Black's task was almost impossible. 22.g4+ With Nh5 to follow, W hite will be a piece up. Black understandably called it a day. 1-0
2082 Halkias,Stelios Simeonidis,Ioannis GRE-ch Athens (1) [Eric Prié]
A45 2528 2329 28.11.2002
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6!? 3.xf6 exf6 4.e3 a6!? c7 is usually the retreat square for the Bd6 after ...d7-d5 but it is true that sometimes activating this knight via d7, f6 and the move ...f7-f5 (closing the c8-h3 diagonal) also has drawbacks in spite of the appreciable control then gained over the e4 square in return. [ 4...d6 Another gate of transposition... 5.c4 f5 6.c3 d7 7.g3 h5 8.h4 g6 9.g2 h6 10.h3 0-0 11.d3 f6 12.f4 e8 Indeed both camps have just executed the moves of the 2...d6/2...g6 Tromp when the giving up of the just developed bishop by 3. Bxf6 is advisable - and this may be the only case in the Tromp! Because of the difficulty for Black to put a pawn on d5 after ... 4.c4! A) 13.0-0 W ithout fearing g5? 14.hxg5 xg5 15.h3 d7 ( 15...g4 16.xh5 ) 16.g2; B) 13.f1?! d7 14.f3 c7 15.g2 e7 16.b4 ae8 17.ab1 e4= White lost too much time on the queenside attack in Kovacevic, B (2429)-Dizdarevic, E (2528) Pula 1999 1/2 (59) . ] 5.c4 Of course not [ 5.xa6? a5+ ] [ 5.d3?! Playing on the superior structure
with the pieces against the knight. This plan is dubious, however, for a tactical reason: d5 6.a3 c7 7.f3 d6 8.e2 A) 8...h5! 9.h3 e6 10.h4 c5!? ( 10...c7 11.g3 g4 12.g2= ) 11.dxc5 ( 11.f5 xf5 12.xf5 e4 ) 11...g4 12.cxd6 xf3 13.gxf3 xd6 14.d2; B) 8...e6?! The knight is worse placed h e re t h a n o n c7 . 9.h4 b6 ( 9...h5 10.d2 Followed by e3-e4.) 10.b3 c7 11.d2 e7 12.c4! xa3 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.xd5 b4 15.a2 0-0 16.0-0 Miladino vic, I (251 0)-At alik, S (25 55 ) Halkida 1997 1-0(78) ] 5...c7 6.c3 e7 7.d3 d5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.ge2 With a promising set-up for White in comparison with those with the same structure resulting from 4...d5 5.c4 dxc4! 6. Bxc4 Bd6 for instance. 0-0 10.0-0 c5? Black had to play 10...f5 or [ 10...g4 betting on the drawing tendency of positions with opposite colour bishops. 11.d2 White has to keep the knights to retain a slight advantage. ( 11.xd5 xd5 12.f3 e6 13.c2 f5 14.f4 d7 On the other hand, is OK for Black because of the newly created weakness on e3. )] 11.dxc5 b4 [ 11...xc5? 12.xd5 xd5 13.xh7+ xh7 14.xd5 ] 12.f4! The point Black must have overlooked. xd3 [ 12...xc5 13.xh7+ xh7 14.h5+ g8 15.xc5 ] [ 12...g5 13.a3 ] 13.xd3 b6 14.c2 [ 14.f3 a6 15.fd1 xd3 16.e4 xc5 17.xd3 e7 18.ad1 ] 14...bxc5 15.fd1 a5 16.f4 e8 17.e4!! Quite unexpectedly, there is a tactical wa y f or W h ite t o consolida te his advantage. g4? [ 17...b8 18.cd5 b7 ( 18...d8 19.xe7+ xe7 20.xe7 xe7 21.d8+ e8 22.xe8# ) 19.h5! b5 ( 19...e6 20.dxf6+ gxf6 21.xb7; 19...h8 20.dxf6 gxf6 21.xf6 xf6 22.xe8+ g7 23.xc8 ) 20.a4 d7 ( 20...c6 21.xe7+ bxe7 22.xc6 ) 21.ac1! ( 21.dxf6+ xf6 22.xf6+ gxf6 23.xd7 xe4 24.d8+ g7 25.xc8 xb2 2037
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.xc5 xa4!= ) 21...e6 22.xe6 xe6 23.xe7+ bxe7 24.xc5 b7 25.f4 xb2? 26.xe6 fxe6 27.c7 a5 28.g3+- ] [ 17...a6! 18.d7 ( 18.fd5 f8 19.g4 e6 20.d2 ) 18...f5! 19.e5 ( 19.xf5 c8 ) 19...f6 20.d5 ed8 21.xf7+ h8 with some compensation for the pawn, was the most tenacious. 22.fd5?! c4 ] 18.fd5! xd1 19.xe7+ f8 [ 19...xe7 20.xa8+ ] 20.xd1 ad8 21.xd8 xd8 22.cd5 g6 [ 22...xe7 23.xh7 e8 24.h8+ d7 25.xd8+ xd8 26.xe7+- ] 23.f4 23.Qh4 also forced Black to give up his queen to avoid being mated. 1-0
2083 Hall,Jesper De Firmian,Nick E Sigeman & Co (8) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2486 2610 16.06.1999
Trompowsky: Another one bites the dust. You might expect amateur players to be confused by the offbeat openings on this site but surely not seasoned pro's, especially a 2600+ GM. W ell just take a look at the following. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 b4 I have never trusted this bishop move for Black as it more or less commits him to it's exchange when he will struggle to find c o m p e n s a t io n f o r W h it e ' s ce n t r a l sp a c e advantage. 6.d2 c5 7.a3 xc3 8.bxc3 d6 Black is hoping to complete his development and then set about targeting W hite's weakened queenside pawns. 9.f4 White is obliged therefore to play with gusto to put as many obstacles in Blacks way as possible. e5 Black plays this to prevent White from doing so. 10.b5+ d7 11.b1 White piles on the pressure giving Black almost no breathing space. exf4 12.e2 g5 13.xd7+ xd7 14.xb7 The rooks arrival on the seventh rank indicates that W hite has won the opening battle. The Black King will have great difficulty finding a safe haven and his pawn structure is clearly worse. b6 15.d3 e6 16.h4 W hite prepares to dismantle the Black kingside. Black's main hope of salvation is in
trapping the Rb7. c8 Black blows his best chance. [ B e t t e r w a s 16...c4 17.f3 c8 Which does indeed trap the rook, although after 18.xb6 axb6 19.hxg5 White has plenty of compensation for the exchange. ] 17.a6 0-0 Castling into the attack but good alternatives were hard to come by. 18.hxg5 hxg5 19.e5 An excellent thrust preparing to bring the queen back into the attack with decisive effect. e8 20.d3 It is forced mate after 20...Qxb7 21.Qh7+ Kf8 22.Qh6+! 1-0
2084 Hauke,Christian Appel,Helmut BL2-S 9697 Germany [Eric Prié]
A45 2190 2050 1997
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.f3 f6 5.e4 dxe4 6.c3 d5! 7.xd5 xd5 8.xc7 The best chance, which was also duly recommended by Wells. [ 8.c4 A) 8...d8!? Gunar Berg HANSSEN 9.fxe4?! e5! 10.xe5! ( 10.dxe5 b4+ 11.f2 c5+ ) 10...c6 ( 10...h4+ 11.g3 xe4+ 12.e2 ) 11.f3 xe5 12.xe5 h4+ 13.d2; B) 8...a5+ 9.d2 f5 B1) 10.f4 This is the main move but it looks a bit ridiculous: Black is a pawn up without being behind in development. Something that he may profit from by my favourite: e5! 11.dxe5 ( 11.fxe5 c5 ) 11...c5 12.e2 c6; B2) 10.e2 c6! Wells, P 11.fxe4 ( 11.c3 e5 12.fxe4 f4 ) 11...f6 12.f3 ( 12.e5 h4+ 13.g3 xd4 14.c3 g4 ) 12...g4! ( 12...xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.c3 d6 15.d1 g6 16.d3 ) 13.c3 xd4 14.xd4 xf3 15.gxf3 ( 15.f2? e5 ) 15...xd4 16.d1 f6 17.d2 c6 "White clearly has some pressure for the pawn but Black will play ...e6 next and it is unclear how tangible trouble can be caused." Wells. Can I can answer?: No. ] [ 8.d2 c6 9.e3 e5 ] 2038
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8...c6 9.c3 f5! "Keeping the tension and as usual somewhat stymieing W hite's development" Wells 10.b3!? [ 10.e2 e5! A) 11.dxe5!? A1) 11...d7 12.d6 0-0-0 13.xf8 xd1+ ( 13...hxf8 14.xd7+ xd7 15.f4; 13...e6 14.b3 ) 14.xd1 xd1+ 15.xd1 xf8 16.f4 ( 16.c2 xe5 17.fxe4 g6 18.f3 c4 ) 16...g5 17.g3 White holds the pawn.; A2) 11...c5 The book move. 12.fxe4 xe4 13.f3 There is no rush in playing Bd6. xf3 14.xf3 c8 15.d6 xd6 16.exd6 ( 16.xd6 xe5 17.xc5 xf3+ 18.gxf3 xc5 19.0-0-0 c7! 20.he1+ e7= ) 16...0-0 17.d5 ce8+; B) 11.xe5 xe5 12.dxe5 xe5 13.a4+ d7 14.xe4 xe4 15.fxe4 0-0-0 16.0-0-0 ( 16.f3 On principle c6? 17.e5 ) 16...c5 17.f3 c6 18.d3? ( 18.e5 ) 18...xd3 19.xd3 xe4 20.d2 xd3 21.xd3= Djurhuus, R (2495) - Elsness, F (2250) Gausdal 1995 1/2 (46) ] [ 10.fxe4 xe4+ 11.e2 ( 11.e2 e5 12.xe5 xe5 13.dxe5 0-0-0 14.f3 c5 ) 11...xg2 12.f3 xb2 ] 10...d7 [ 10...e6 11.xb7 xd4 12.xd5 c2+ 13.d2 ( 13.d1 e3+ 14.d2 xd5 ) 13...e3+ 14.d1 exd5 15.c1 ] 11.f4 [ 11.g3!? As suggested on the forum, indeed it looks like an improvement. Then Black should pursue in the same counter gambit style with e5! 12.d5 0-0-0 13.d1 a5 14.b5 Only square c7 15.e2 exf3 ( 15...e3!? ) 16.xf3 d6 with an interesting lead in development and .. .e 5-e4 in t he air with o ut a ny ma te ria l deficit. ] 11...e6 [ 11...e5! I would have loved to see Black more or less forced to engage himself on the mined ground of the BDG complex and I founded great hopes in this direction due to the fact that the opponent had the bishop on f4 to prevent any easy Lemberger sidestepping. Unfortunately I see no way to
prevent this liberating move as soon as Black has his knight developed on c6. Thus, it is a bit ironic to see that all this is only possible because of the extra tempo that forces the exchange of the knights on d5 because of the extra tempo making the bishop hang on f4! In every case "He clearly obtains some positional compensation in the form of the bishop pair and the weakness of White's extra pawn." as Wells says. And he concludes his study of 6... Nd5! with these wo r d s : " T h i s a l l l o o k s l i k e a t e m p t i n g approach f or Black, not least because I would be very surprised if our gambiteers would feel temperamentally comfortable on the W hite side of this kind of a tussle." 12.xe5 ( 12.dxe5 c5 13.c4 b6 14.fxe4 e6 15.d3 e7 16.d6 h4+ 17.g3 h5 ) 12...xe5 13.dxe5 0-0-0 14.d1 xd1+ 15.xd1 xd1+ 16.xd1 c5 17.c4 d8+ 18.e1 ( 18.c1? e3+ ) 18...e3! 19.xf7 d2-+ 20.b4 d3!! 21.bxc5 f2 ( 21...b2 22.b3 b1+ 23.d1 ) 22.h3 e2+ 23.d1 b2 Followed inevitably by Rb1 mate. ] 12.d1 d8? [ 12...e7!? 13.e2 0-0-0 14.fxe4 xe4 15.f3 g5! 16.xg5 xg5 17.xg5 dg8 18.f6 xg2 19.g1 d5 ] 13.e2 e7 14.fxe4 xe4 15.f3 d5 16.c2 0-0 [ 16...xa2? 17.b3 ] 17.0-0 c8 From this magnificent position where you would expect Black to have an extra-c pawn at least to make up for it, White will err a little... 18.b1 [ 18.a3 a5 19.e5 d8 20.d3 f5 21.e2 ] 18...d8 19.d3 f5 20.e5 a5 21.c4! d8 22.e3 Getting rid of the main defender g5 23.g3 f6 24.de1 e7 25.h1 b5 26.xd5 xd5 27.e5 [ 27.c2! d7 28.b3 d5 29.e5+- ] 27...g6 28.g3 [ 28.xf6 xf6 29.c2 f4 ] 28...g7 29.d1 a6 30.e2 ce8 31.c4 bxc4 32.xc4 xd4 33.d1 xb2 34.d7+ h6?? [ 34...f7 35.xf7+ xf7 36.xb2 xb2 37.xf5+ f6 A pawn is still missing. ] [ 34...h8! 35.h5 ( 35.d2 c3 2039
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 36.d6 f4 37.xf4 gxf4 38.xf4 g5 9.c3 c5! 10.d5 b8 11.a4 b4 12.e2 39.c2 f6 ) 35...e7 36.xe7 xe7 f5 and Brown, a Grunfeld aficionado, must 37.xe6 f4 38.f2 f3 39.gxf3 f4 40.h6 have been fairly happy with how the opening ( 40.g4 h5 41.g1 xe6 Controlling had gone White's d-pawn is much more of a d4. ) 40...f6 41.xg5 xe6-+ ] weakness than a strength. ] 35.h5+! xh5 36.xh7+ g4 37.h3+ 3.d5 e4 But it was worthwhile waiting! [ The Vaganian Gambit, 3...b6 4.c3! 1-0 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 , is fraught with danger for Black, but does Kett really obtain a superior version with the knights off the 2085 A45 board? ] b6 5.d2!? Like 3 h4, this old Hebden,Mark 2554 4.f4 Kett,Timothy 2270 gambit has recently received something of a new lease of life. xd2?! British Championship, Aberystwyth (4.6) [ The denotion may be harsh, but as Aaron [Richard Palliser] wrote " 5...xb2 is rightly considered to be the main line, when Black has equal 1.d4 f6 2.g5 Yes, that is correct. Mr Barry, chances". This was tested in a later round of Mark Hebden, does appear to have switched the British, and against a leading to the Tromp. I can't say I'm surprised as the T r o m p o w s k y a u t h o r i t y n o l e s s : 6.xe4 Barry has been looking suspect or dull for a b4+ 7.c3!? ( a fairly fresh approach 7.d2 while (depending on whether one chooses 5 xe4 8.e3 g5 was the old main line) Qd2 or 5 e3), and I'm sure Mark will be quick 7...xe4 8.e3 g5!? ( still fairly critical, if far to enrich Trompowsky theory. c5 from forced 8...e6 was preferred in Paragua[ Two rounds earlier Hebden had to face Song, Arlington 2014, where 9.c4 exd5 2...g6 3.xf6 exf6 4.e3 d5 . This solid line 10.f3! e7 11.cxd5 b4+ 12.d2 d6 can hardly be terrible (an d Aronian did 13.b1 a5 14.b5+ d7 15.0-0 employ it twice in the W orld Blitz gave White just about enough for his pawn) Championship), but if you want to play ...d5, 9.g3 g7 10.c1 f6 (slightly perplexing, why not do so on move 2 and omit ...g6? Be but it does allow ...Qg6-g7) 11.c4 ( 11.d6!? that as it may, Hebden-M.Brown, was surely crying out to be played) 11...d6 A b e r y s t w y t h 2 0 1 4 , c o n t i n u e d 5.d2 12.f3 g6 13.b3 b6 14.h4! h6 15.d3 ( alternatively: 5.g3 d6 6.g2 c6 7.d2 f5 16.e2 d7 17.a4 gave White some e6 8.e2 looks very sensible, but h5!? lasting compensation for his pawn in R.Pert9.h4?! d7 10.c1 b6 11.b3 e7 Storey, Aberystwyth 2014. The engines 12.0-0 g5 did manage to randomise the aren't convinced, but then again it's not position in Le Quang Liem-Aronian, Dubai especially easy for Black to untangle, being (blitz 2014),; 5.e2 c6 6.f4!? d6 7.g3 under potential pressure on both flanks. ] h5 8.h4 g4 9.e2 xe2 10.xe2 d7 11.d2 was a more sensible approach to 6.xd2 xb2 7.e4 g6 [ Not forced, but the bishop really wants to t h e k i n gs id e f r o m W h i t e in Na k a m u ra come out this way and 7...b6 8.f3 g6?! Aronian, Dubai (blitz) 2014,; and 5.c4 dxc4 9.c3 is a problem. ] 6.xc4 d6 7.c3 0-0 8.h4!? h5 9.c2 g7 10.ge2 was route one stuff in 8.b1 e5 9.d3 g7 [ 9...c4!? has also been seen in practice, but Radjabov-Leko, Linares 2004, which can be after 10.f3 c7 11.e2 g7 12.0-0 f o u n d in t h e A rc h ive) 5...g7 6.c4 White has some lead in development and ( with Black's bishop now committed to g7, I threatens to regain his pawn with Rb4. ] prefer 6.g3 , only gradually building up to the c4 break) 6...0-0 7.e2?! ( and this is 10.f4!? [ A new move for us, if one which many new, but doesn't improve on 7.cxd5 xd5 would have played. Previously, Aaron had 8.gf3 when c5 9.c4 h5 10.c1 d7 examined 10.f3 c7 11.h4 and now in might be quite critical) 7...dxc4 8.xc4 a6 2040
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Winants-Franzen, Cappelle la Grande 2001, surely Black had to keep lines closed with h5 .] 10...c7 11.c4 That's some centre. Hebden might be used to being on the black side of the Four Pawns Attack, but I very much doubt he minded sitting behind the white pieces on this occasion. White's compensation is clear and in practice his chances must be preferred. d6 12.h3 Logically preventing Black from freeing his position with an exchange on f3. Kett responds by desperately trying to challenge in the centre. 0-0 13.f3 e6 14.0-0 exd5 15.exd5! [ The right way to recapture. Black's extra bp a wn is f a r l e s s u se f u l n o w t h a n a f t e r 15.cxd5 when it's not so easy for White to build up, as shown by d7 16.e1 c4! . ] 15...d7 16.f5 And now it's time for full speed ahead. Hebden made much of his living in the Eigh t ie s f rom th e G ran d P rix At t ac k a n d W h ite 's a t ta c k h ere is ju st a s d ire ct a n d potentially deadly. e5? [ This attempt to trade pieces fails to convince. Black should be rushing units to the defence of his king and, indeed, 16...f6 had been tried in an earlier game. Even here I rather like White, although matters aren't t o t a l l y c l e a r : 17.e1 ( 17.c3 d7 18.g5!? is another way of doing things) 17...gxf5!? ( radical, but the vintage attack would just have been too strong after, say, 17...d7? 18.h4 : Bh6, Ng5 and clearance of the f-file follows) 18.h4 e4 19.xe4 fxe4 20.g5?! ( over ambitious there was time to collect the pawn, with 20.xe4 , and then go Ng5) 20...d4+ 21.h1 f5 22.xe4!? (White goes all in) fxe4 23.xf8+ xf8 24.f1+ g8 25.h6 and now in Milovic-Musovic, Cetinje 2012, White got lucky when Black dropped a piece and the game with g7?? , ( rather than finding 25...xh3! 26.gxh3 d7 when anything might have happened. )] 17.xe5 dxe5?! [ And this is positional suicide, although unsurprisingly I also have my doubts about 17...xe5 18.f6 e8 19.f3 for Black. ] 18.f6 h8 19.h6 e8 20.e4! Hebden is a master at keeping control in such positions. A l r e a d y K e t t m i g h t we l l h a ve r e s i g n e d ,
although fortunately for us he didn't, so we can see a model example of how to win such a position. d6 21.h4! b5 22.h5 Black can have his queenside play. Hebden has realised that his own attack is much too quick. bxc4?! 23.hxg6 hxg6 24.xg6! And good night, Vienna. xf6 25.h5 e7 26.h7+! h8 27.e4 g8 28.g5 1-0
2086 Hector,Jonny De Firmian,Nick E KSU-75 Copenhague (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2507 2536 11.02.2002
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 e6 This is the best reply when W hite wants to keep his b ish o p . E s p e c ia l ly if we co n sid e r t h a t i t restricts the flexibility of the white game by cutting of f the possibility of doubling the p a wn s u n d e r f a vo u r a b le circu m st a n c e s . 4.e4?! This move is wrong and, although its incorrectness is only demonstrated by tactical play, it is easy to understand why: In the 2... e6 3.e4 Tromp, when Black plays 3...c5 , instead of the standard 3... h6, which is a fashionable line for Black nowadays, the two main alternatives for the opponent are 4.e5 or 4.d5. I do not imagine W hite seriously considering 4.dxc5 here and, in fact, there is n o t a s in gl e g a m e wit h t h i s m o ve in t h e database... except our game, by transposition! xc5 5.d3 [ 5.e5 A) 5...xf2+!? 6.xf2 e4+ 7.e3 xg5 8.h4 is unclear the knight is trapped. Of course it is easy for Black to get at least 3 p a wn s f o r i t b u t h e wi l l r e m a i n t o o underdeveloped to hope for more against the "wandering" opposing king.; B) As well as 5...h6!? B1) 6.h4 g5 7.g3 e4 8.c3 ( 8.c3 xg3 9.hxg3 b6 10.e4 b4+! 11.d2 d4 ) 8...b6 9.c2 xg3 10.hxg3 c6; B2) 6.exf6 hxg5 7.fxg7 g8; C) 5...b6 6.exf6 xf2+ 7.e2 ( 7.d2 gxf6 8.xf6? e3# ) 7...xg1 ( 7...gxf6? 8.h3! ) 8.xg1 ( 8.fxg7 f2+ 9.d3 2041
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d4+ 10.e2 xg7 ) 8...b5+! ( 8...xg1?? 9.fxg7 g8 10.d6 c6 11.e3 h1 12.c5 d8 13.c3! quickly leads to mate.) 9.d3 xg5 10.fxg7 xg7 11.c3 c6 with the idea 12.b5 e5+ ] 5...b6 6.h3 So this is the idea of the most "romantic" Grandmaster on the planet: Quick and original development in compensation for b2 and the possibility of using his e-pawn against the knight on f6... d5! but he surely had not forecast that, with the black pawns on d7 and e6, he would have some worries on the c8-h3 diagonal! 7.exd5 xb2 8.d2 e5+ 9.f1 exd5 Logical and very tempting, but I do not fancy White's attacking chances after 9...Nxd5 very much, keeping the e-file closed. 10.f3 d6 11.e2+ f8 12.e1!! A f a n t a s t ic re s o u rce in a se e m in gly lo st position. xh3 Black has to go for it [ 12...c6 13.xf6 gxf6 14.d2 g7 15.h4 followed by Nf4 with a strong attack. ] 13.xf6 [ 13.gxh3 c6 14.xf6 xf6 ] 13...xg2+ 14.xg2 gxf6 15.e8+! g7 16.h4! T h e p o i n t . xe8 17.xe8 f8 18.f5+ g8 [ 18...h8 19.xf8+ xf8 20.b1 b6 21.c4= Wins THE pawn back, when the doubled f -pawns are not worth more, in this position, than their single homologue on f2, since 21...dxc4 is obviously impossible in view of 22.Be4. ] 19.h6+ h8 20.xf7+ g7 21.xf8 xf8 22.d8 c6 23.e6+ The draw is agreed because after [ 23.e6+ h8 ( 23...f7 24.c7 d8 25.xh7 ) 24.b1 b6 25.b5 e7 26.a4 White has enough activity to maintain the balance. ] ½-½
2087 Hellborg,Teodor Kulagin,Maxim 32nd Rilton Cup (7) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2240 2049 03.01.2003
Tromp: The Bh4 Tromp can lead to some of the most hair raising variations of the whole opening. Against an unprepared opponent, White can cause mayhem. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.f3 g5 5.fxe4 gxh4 6.e3 h6 7.f2 c6 Black shows his inexperience in this sharp variation of the Tromp. [ 7...cxd4 8.exd4 b6 has a much better reputation. ] 8.h5 A u s e f u l d o u b l e a t t a c k . g7 This proves to give Black insufficient compensation. [ 8...b6 is better, with unclear play in the e n d ga m e a f t e r : 9.xc5 xb2 10.c3 xc3 11.xc3 ] 9.xc5 d6 10.g5 The White queen embarks on a wild goose chase. [ 10.c3 looks a decent alternative. ] 10...f6 11.h5 b6 12.b5 White's queen is in overdrive. c7 too passive. Now White has a clear advantage. [ 12...xd4 is a valiant attempt to mix things up. 13.exd4 xd4+ 14.e1 xe4+ although after the calm 15.e2 White still has good chances of taking the full point. ] [ 12...h3 13.xb6 axb6 14.f3! also seems to consolidate. ] 13.c3 a6 14.d5 d7 15.xf6+ exf6 Even if he wasn't a pawn down, Black's pawn structure is too horrible to look at. 16.h5 e6 17.xh4 White starts mopping up. e7 18.d3 b5 19.e2 g6 20.h5 Normally the side with a material deficit gets some activity as compensation, but Black has nothing to brag about here. b7 21.f4 e7 [ 21...xf4 22.exf4 xe4 23.xe4 xe4 24.ae1 would add insult to injury. ] 22.d5 xd5 23.xd5 The White queen deserves a sit down, she must be exhausted, a s t h is is h e r 9 t h m o ve o f t h e ga m e . 0-0 24.hf1 e6 25.g1 h8 26.f5 Th e re is no n e e d f or W h it e to e xc h a n ge queens on e6. Black lacks counterplay so W hite can take his time targeting his 2042
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 o p p o n e n t ' s n u m e r o u s we a k n e s s e s . g7 W i j k a a n Z e e 2 0 1 3 - s e e t h e A r c h i v e) 27.f3 h4 Futile, but in any case, Black is 11.d3 e4 12.c1 xc3 13.bxc3 merely awaiting his execution. 28.g3+ h8 leaves White all set to castle and then break 29.h5 g6 30.h3 with e3-e4. ] 1-0 10.h3!? [ With Black's knight not coming to e4, it makes sense to place the knight on f4. The text is logical and approved by Komodo, but 2088 A45 was also an over-the-board novelty. Hera,Imre 2566 Previously, though, 10.e2 d7 11.h3 Zhou,Yang Fan 2475 had been seen, reaching a position which Budapest (8.1) 23.08.2014 could also have come about in our main [Richard Palliser] g a m e . A f t e r g6 ( 11...g8 has been preferred in the correspondence world, but 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 after 12.0-0 0-0-0 13.ab1 b8 14.b4 5.c1 f5 6.c4 White's most ambitious c8 15.a3 most people would slightly prefer approach and a move I've long quite liked to take White who will double on the b-file) ever since seeing it in Wells' classic book. d6 12.0-0 0-0-0 13.a3 dg8 14.h1 h5 Solid and sensible. The alternatives include: I'm still not too sure what was going on in [ a) 6...h6 is critical, if risky, and for the Sedlak-Milanovic, Serbian Championship, c r i t i c a l p o s i t i o n a r i s i n g a f t e r 7.e3 Vrnjacka Banja 2012, but my suspicion ( few players in practice enter this variation remains that Black has enough counterplay a s B l a c k , b u t o n e d i d i n B a rt e l- G ivo n , on the kingside. ] Moscow 2014, where 7.c2!? b4+ 8.c3 xc4 9.e3 was an important new idea by 10...h5!? [ Just a reminder that 10...d7 11.e2 not pushing the pawn two squares W hite would take play into our previous note and can target f5 and, indeed, b4 10.a3 b6 this move order has been seen in a couple 11.d3 d6 12.xf5 xf5 13.xf5 of email encounters. ] - t h r e a t e n i n g a c e r t a i n c h e c k - d7 14.ge2 g7 15.0-0 f6 16.ab1 11.e2 d7 12.0-0 h4 Zhou's play is very l o o k e d q u i t e p l e a s a n t f o r t h e P o l i s h logical. White will now found it much harder to Grandmaster) 7...f4 8.exf4 xf4 9.xf4 meet any doubling on the g-file with g2-g3 xb2 10.e2 xa1 11.ec3 d6 12.d2 a n d m e a n w h i l e a k n i g h t o n f 4 c a n b e g8 you should really check out the dislodged by ...Bh6. However, crucially, Black is still some way from doubling his rooks. extensive analysis in the Archive. ] [ b) Eric has also devoted plenty of time to 13.ab1 [ An actual novelty. 13.a3 h6 14.ab1 analysing the ramifications of 6...b4+!? clearly has similar intentions and after a6?! 7.c3! xc4 , which again you can find in 15.b5! c8 16.fe1 b6 17.f4 g4 the Archive. ] 18.d3 the opening had been a definite 7.c3 d7 8.e3 g7 9.c2 success for White in Rodriguez Amezqueta[ Once again White has his sights on f5. Van Leeuwen, correspondence 2009. ] 9.h3 f6 10.c2 is similar, but the king's knight shouldn't be committed so early and 13...f6 [ Clearing the g-file. Another possibility was e4! 11.d3? ( 11.c1! ) 11...xb2 13...0-0-0 14.b4! b8! ( 14...cxb4 15.a3 12.xb2 xc3+ 13.xc3 xc3 would open lines) 15.a3 c8 , switching to was an early disaster for the first player in def ence as well as potential counter S c h l e i c h - J a n s a , B a ye r is c h E i se n s t e i n pressure on the queenside. After 16.b3 2014. ] cxb4 17.xb4 c5 18.fb1 b6 there is 9...e5 everything to play for, but again I'd prefer [ After 9...a5 it is time for 10.h3! as f6 to take W hite if only because a4-a5 will ( 10...b6 11.d3 d7 12.0-0 xc3 occur. ] 13.bxc3 was Nimzo-like in Van Wely-L'Ami, 2043
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.a3 [ 14.e4!? may look tempting, but here would have been rather double-edged in view of c7! , and if 15.exf5 c8 . ] 14...g8 15.f4 c7 [ I'm not too sure about this. Evidently Zhou didn't like the idea of castling into it, but 15...0-0-0 16.b4 b8 was likely a better try than the game continuation. ] 16.h3! One should always be careful when pushing pawns in front of one's king, but this little nudge merely confirms that White's early p la n h a s b e e n t h e su p e rio r. He will n o w defend his king with Kh1 and Bf1, and can target its counterpart whether it stays on e8 or goes long. h8 Another slightly mysterious if engine-approved move. One senses that Black was n't too happ y around here an d hoped to tough it out with a solid defence. 17.h1 b6 18.h5! Good vision from Hera. The knight on h5 isn't easy for Black to target and now f2-f4 followed by Bd3 is the plan. g6 19.d3 c8 20.f4 [ White is in no hurry, but he didn't have to reject the plan. Something like 20.f4!? f8 21.be1 d8 22.e4 may open lines for Black's bishops as well as White's forces, but matters are under control as shown by fxe4 23.xe4 xh3? 24.g5! . ] 20...e5? [ It's never easy to sit on one's hands, but the text does most of the hard work f or White. It was time to return the knight and sit tight with 20...e5 . ] 21.dxe6! fxe6 22.xg6 xg6 23.e4 This is the problem f or Zhou. His central advance may have lead to the undoubling of his f-pawns, but lines are opening far too quickly for the comfort of his king. b7 24.f3 xc3 There was little better, but even this attempt to distract the queen and so castle lon g won't f ully succeed . 25.exf5 exf5 26.bxc3 f6 [ Miserable, but giving up the h-pawn to castle looks like a better try than 26...0-0-0 27.xf5 f6 28.e4 . ] 27.f2! 0-0-0 28.xh4 df8 29.fe1 Black has got his king to safety, but that's the end of the good news. White dominates the board and Hera now makes good use of his major pieces to increase the pressure. c6
30.f4 8f7 31.e2 a6 32.be1!? [ White is happy to gambit the a-pawn for the initiative. Another tempting idea was 32.g5!? xa3 33.e7! xe7 34.xf6 , picking off f5. ] 32...xa3 33.d2 The queen is forced back to defensive duties, but a rook is set to land on e7 and White retains a clear plus. d7 [ 33...d7 34.e7 b8 is the machine's in it ia l t ry, b ut a f t e r 35.c2!? it quickly realises that there isn't a great defence with d 6 n o w h a n g i n g a n d c7 rebuffed by 36.1e6! xe6 37.xf7 a2 38.h2! , ( but not 38.d5?? e1+ 39.h2 xc2 . )] 34.g5 df7? [ This passage of plays bears all the hallmarks of a time scramble. The defensive text doesn't work and Black's last chance was 34...xc3!? 35.xf5 xf5 36.xf5 xc4 , which might at least worry White with the 4-0 queenside situation. ] 35.d2 d7 36.g5 df7 37.e7 Hera gets it right second time lucky. The game is now up with the black king so exposed. xc3 38.g8+ [ Hardly bad, but 38.xf5+!? was possible, and if xf5? 39.g8+ f8 40.e6+ . ] 38...f8 39.g7 b8 [ T h e l a s t c h a n c e w a s 39...8f7!? , although after 40.xf5+ b8 41.g3 White would surely have won in any case. ] 40.h2! Again getting off the back rank proves very strong. Now Black can no longer play a cheeky rook move to the second and lacks a defence (Rxa7 and Bxf5 are but two threats). c8 41.xf5 1-0
2089 Herder,David A Nguyen,Kim 26th Keres Mem (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2260 18.05.2001
July Update: The h4 Tromp is a great surprise weapo n. If Black is f oolish en ough to b e unprepared, it is so very easy for him to go wrong, as the following game demonstrates. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 The move that in 2044
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 their heart of hearts, every Tromp fan would love to play, if only they could summon up the courage! c5 4.dxc5 xc5 Black has clearly n o t b e e n d o in g h i s h o m e wo rk o n t h e h 4 Tromp. W ell, if we're honest, most players don't bother, and often to their cost. [ 4...xg5 is a much more popular sideline here. The bishop pair is highly regarded in modern chess, but Black is often made to pay for paving the way down the the h-file for White's rook. ] [ 4...a5+ and ] [ 4...a6 are the main lines. ] 5.c3 c6 6.e4 A strange Sicilian-like position has arisen. Both sides have their trumps (as opposed to Tromps), but I suspect White has the upper hand over the board, as B la c k wil l a l m o st c e rt a i n l y b e o u t o f h i s preparation by now. c7 7.d2 e6 8.f3 a6 Black is trying to play a Taimanov, but what on earth is that knight doing on c5? 9.a3 d6 10.e2 b5 11.0-0 h6 12.f4 e7 13.b4 b7 Black had been adapting to his novel situation quite well so far, but this is a very strange choice. I can understand his wish to bolster the d6 pawn, but the poor knight has very gloomy prospects from this square. [ 13...d7 14.fd1 ce5 would have been a much more prudent course of action, although W hite could still pile on the pressure with: 15.a4 ] 14.a4 White continues to play creatively, taking the fight to Black on what is traditionally his territory. xb4 15.axb5 a5 16.a4! The c-pawn is a small price to pay if White can access the b6 square. g5 17.e3 W hite is sensibly not distracted by Black's kingside prot est . xc2 18.fc1 xd2 19.xd2 The White initiative continues into the endgame, despite the pawn deficit. c5 Un f o rt u n a t e ly B la ck cru m b le s u n d e r t h e pressure, although it was very hard for him to hold everything together. [ 19...d8 was relatively best although: 20.hxg5 hxg5 21.xg5 regains the pawn, with a very promising position. ] 20.b6 Winning material and effectively the game. b8 21.xc8 xc8 22.xa5 The Black knight (b4) is stranded in enemy territory, ripe for capture and execution. b8 23.xb4 b3 Winning back an exchange,
bu t t he d a ma ge ha s a lre a d y b e e n d o n e . 24.b1 xa5 25.xa5 gxh4 26.c7 The end is nigh, as Black will have to pay too high a price to stop the White b-pawn. 1-0
2090 Hess,C1 Schebler,Gerhard Schachtuerken-Cup A (4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2250 2486 28.12.2009
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6 3.c3!? b6!? At first I thought this appetite for the white bpawn was even riskier than with the knight on d2, but this is absolutely unclear. [ 3...d5 is 'normal'. 4.d3!? is probably the best move in this case, although Christoph lately illustrated the main 3...c6 defence against the Veresov (I have myself only co n ce n tra te d o n 3. . .Nb d7 . .. ) wit h ( 4.e3 instead, and the 'stonewallesque' idea f2-f4, Nf3-e5... which makes me say that I may well do a little subject on this VeresovTromp-Torre idea myself in the next update! )] 4.d2!? In comparison to the similar gambit issued from 3.Nd2! Qb6 4.Nf3 Qxb2 5.e4, as in the first games of this update, the white queen turns out badly placed here. Furthermore, the Nc3 is paradoxically less active on c3, where it hampers the c-pawn, than on d2. That is why a majority of players, including a couple of titled ones, prefer the sedate [ 4.b1 here as in the next game. ] 4...xb2 5.b1 a3 6.e4 d6 7.f4 It is difficult for White to do without this move in what now looks very much like a Czech Defence (1.d4 d6 2.e4 Nf 6 3.Nc3 c6 4.f 4 Qa5)... but without W hite's b-pawn! bd7 A natural improvement over the disgraceful [ 7...a5 8.d3 e6? once upon a time commented in this section. ] 8.f3 [ 8.e5 h6 9.h4 g5! A third problem for White is the awkward position of his bishop on g5 which again is paradoxically less active here than on d2, for instance (as sometimes in the 3...c6 Veresov, by the way, 2045
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 transposing into our subject when Back plays a rapid ...Qa5 with the idea ...Ne4!) wh e re h e wo u ld qu e st io n th e id e a l a 5 square for the opposing queen! Hence the idea 4.Qd3!?, solving 2 concerns at the same tim e, with the ide a of de velopin g without f2-f4 so as to always allow Bg5-d2 10.exf6 ( 10.g3 h5; 10.fxg5 hxg5 11.xg5 dxe5; 10.f2 g4 11.g3 gxf4 12.xf4 dxe5 ) 10...gxh4 11.fxe7 xe7 12.f3 b6 13.d3 h3 14.g3 g4 Black will castle queenside and is even ahead in development now! ] 8...a5! 9.e2 e5 10.0-0 [ 10.xf6 xf6 11.fxe5 dxe5 12.xe5 b4 ] 10...e7 11.h1 exd4 12.xd4 [ 12.xd4 h6 13.h4 With the idea Be1. ] 12...h6 13.h4 xe4! 14.xe4? W hite agrees to playing an ending a pawn d o wn , wh i c h i s p ra ct ic a l l y e q u i va l e n t t o resignation. [ 14.e3 xh4 15.xe4 was obviously more combative, although W hite's compensation in return for the invested material appears rather slim after ( 15.xe4+ f8 ) 15...0-0 16.xd6 b6 ] 14...xd2 15.xd2 xh4 16.f5 e7 17.xg7+ f8 18.f5 c5 19.xe7 xe7 20.f5 f6 21.c4 d5 22.e3 h5 Parrying Ng4+ 23.g4? e8 Winning at least another piece. 24.g5+ xg5 [ 24...xg5 25.g1+ h6 26.g3 e4 27.g2 c3 ] 0-1
some other time. The basic reason is this: after the exchanges, on e6 and d7, White will be able to take advantage of the lightsquared weaknesses in the enemy camp by pressurizing his Achilles' heel on e6. There is no lack of ways to achieve this, Nf3g5, Qe2-c4 and then the 'X-ray attack' after the thematic thrust e4-e5. Therefore Black will have no time to castle kingside, and will be forced to move his king to the queenside, colliding with the natural activity of White's rook along the open b-file, which already provides 'classical' compensation for a pawn which is then enhanced by the weakening of the a5 -d8 little d iagona l caused by th e inevitable ...a7-a6. It may well be that the idea behind the bishop's check does not answer all the questions judging from this ga m e , wh e re t h e qu a si-in ve n t o r o f t h e gambit line swiftly found himself with is back to the wall. ] 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.f3 a6 12.c4 b6 13.d3 c4 14.e5?! [ 14.e2 c5 Otherwise White will play Be3 next move 15.e5 ( 15.c1 d5 16.e3 a5 17.d2 c5 18.e3 a5= ) 15...dxe5 16.fxe5 fd5 17.e4 a3 ] 14...cxd3 15.exf6 dxc2 16.xc2 gxf6 17.f5 g7! [ 17...d5 18.fxe6 xe6 19.d4 f7 20.0-0 d6 21.xf6 ] 18.fxe6 0-0! [ 18...xe6 19.e4 ] 19.0-0 [ 19.b3 c4! 20.d5 c5 21.e7+ h8 22.b4 b5 23.a4 ( 23.xc8 axc8 24.0-0 b6+ 25.h1 fe8 26.fe1 d5 ) 2091 A45 23...e8 24.xc4 xe7 25.0-0 xe6 26.f4 fd8 ] Hodgson,Julian M 2545 [ 19.f5 The most tricky. e8 20.a5 Alber,Horst 2335 B la ck lo se s a p ie ce . . . xe6+ 21.d1 Neu Isenburg op (5) 25.04.1992 ( 21.f1 c4+ 22.f2 c5+ 23.xc5 [Eric Prié] dxc5 Protecting the knight 'out of the blue'!) 21...d5 22.a4 c4!! 23.xb6 e2+ 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 24.c2 c6+ 25.b3 d3+ 26.c3 5.d2 b6 Forced, of course ( 26.a4 c4+! 27.xc4 d7+ 28.b4 [ 5...e6? 6.b1 a3 7.b5 a4 8.c7+ ] f8+; 26.b2 c2+ 27.a1 f5+ ) 26...f5! 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e6 8.b1 c7 9.b5+ bd7! 27.bc1 d4 28.hd1 e6+ 29.a4 c4+! The 'natural' A) 30.xc4 xc4+ 31.b4 b5+ 32.a3 [ 9...d7 which seems best at first sight, ( 32.a5 c7# ) 32...xa2#; turns out to be weaker, as I was somewhat B) 30.a3 xc3+ 31.xc3 f8+ 32.b2 astonished to observe and as we shall see 2046
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 32.a4 xd1+ ) 32...dxc3+ 33.xc3 xd1 34.xa8 g7-+ A great variation! ] 19...xe6 The rest of the game, where it seems that White eventually won despite his clearly insufficient compensation for the 2 pawns, is not available. Possibly Black paid for the effort and time, so precious in rapid play, that he had used up during the early stage of the game. 1-0
2092 Hodgson,Julian M Hebden,Mark Masters Kilkenny IRL (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2605 2510 27.11.1999
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 h6 One of the problems with the h4 Tromp is that this simple move seems to steal most of White's thunder. White is forced back into a Bf4 Tromp, where it is questionable whether h4 has been a bonus or drawback. Black has tried several other moves. [ 3...f6 is the kind of response that every Tromp player loves to see. I can imagine the White player sitting at the board, rubbing his hands together. Black has weakened his kingside for no apparent gain. 4.f4 c6 5.f3 e5 6.h2 f5 Very aggressive, but if White can weather the storm, he has good long term prospects. 7.xe5 xe5 8.fxe4 g4 9.exf5 d5 10.e4 h5 11.d3 d6 12.e2 dxe4 13.xe4 e7 14.d3 If we pause for breath, here we can see that Black has been left with insufficient compensation for his two pawn deficit. (Eliet, N-Chabanon,J/ French Teams, FRA 1996.) ] [ After 3...c5 White has tried two approaches: A) 4.d5 This must surely be the acid test of the variation. g6 5.d3 xg5 6.c3 A Hodgson speciality, but one that is not ultimately too dangerous. f6 7.hxg5 d6 ( 7...g7 Is also playable, as after: 8.d2 d6 9.gxf6 exf6 10.g3 0-0 11.h4 h6 12.g3 g5 Black had a playable position with plenty of potential in Hodgson,JGufeld,E/Kings Head Quickplay, London ENG 1995. ) 8.gxf6 exf6 9.h3 h6
10.g3 b6 11.b3 The common denominator in all these lines is that White gives up considerable control of the dark squares in exchange for kingside attacking chances. 0-0 12.e3 d7 13.h4 b4+ 14.xb4 cxb4 15.a3 b6 16.axb4 xd5 17.c4 e6 18.a5 c7 19.xe6+ xe6 20.c3 White has a slight edge due to his better pawn structure Hodgson,JNunn,J/ Luebeck GER 1999.; B) 4.dxc5 I have never felt comfortable giving up the center like this. It is perhaps just a matter of taste, but in the recent games that I have been examining, Black certainly seems to be having a few problems. a5+ 5.d2 h6 ( taking the bishop is also highly plausible: 5...xg5 6.hxg5 g6 7.c3 xc5 8.gf3 g7 9.e3 c6 10.d3 b5 Black's queenside pressure is balanced out by W hite's pressure along the h-file. Sadly, in the face o f wh a t m igh t b e a ra t h e r in t e re s t in g c o n t i n u a t i o n , a p r e m a t u r e d r a w wa s agreed here, in the game Paasikangas Tella,J-Kochyev,A/Jyvaskyla FIN 2000.) 6.f4 e5!? A creative move, getting into t h e s p i r i t o f t h e o p e n i n g . 7.e3 ( If White had tried: 7.xe5 xf2 8.xf2 xc5+ 9.e3 xe5 Then Black would have reached the position that 6...e5 was aiming for.) 7...xc5 8.c3 c7 9.xc5 xc5 10.b4 e7 11.e4 0-0 I feel that Black is quite comfortable here. He has a backward d-pawn, but as compensation, he has the bishop pair and better d e ve l o p m e n t . 12.c1 a5 13.a3 d6 14.c4 d7 15.gf3 b6 16.b3 d8 Preparing the desirable d5 break, which obliges W hite to launch an of f ensive. ( 16...g4!? ) 17.g5 White finds a use for t h e h 4 p a wn . d5 ( 17...hxg5 18.h5 with a smashingly gorgeous win for White. ) 18.xf7 ( 18.h5 f6 19.exd5 also came into consideration.) 18...xf7 19.exd5 f8 20.e4 c4 21.f3+ g8 22.d6 xd6 23.c5 xc5 24.xc4+ h8 25.bxc5 xc5 The early fireworks have led to material equality and both pawn structures are fairly ghastly, so the players, perhaps sensibly, bailed out with a draw in Casagrande,H-Gerhold, M/Linz 2047
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 AUT 2000. ] [ 3...d5 4.d2 f5 This is the most solid o p t i o n a t B l a c k ' s d i s p o s a l . ( 4...xg5 Is a much riskier move. Black bags the bishop pair but allows White the normal hfile pressure. 5.hxg5 c5 6.dxc5 e5 7.e4 White fights fire with fire, challenging Black for control of the center. xc5 8.b3 d4 9.xc5 The beginning of a long forcing sequence. a5+ 10.c3 xc5 11.cxd4 exd4 12.c1 b4+ 13.d2 xd2+ 14.xd2 c6 15.b5 d7 16.f3 0-0 17.h4 After which White was much better in Stefanova,A-Ivanov,J/ Salou ESP 2000, due to the pressure down the h-file and potentially weak Black d-pawn.) 5.e3 h6 6.f4 xd2 7.xd2 e6 8.d3 xd3 9.xd3 d7 10.f3 b4+ 11.c3 d6 Black's careful handling of the opening has allowed him to easily equalise and the game soon fizzles out. 12.h5 f6 13.h4 0-0-0 14.0-0-0 b8 15.xd6 cxd6 16.e4 dxe4 17.xe4 e7 18.hh1 f6 White certainly needs some new ideas in this line if he wants to continue to fight for an advantage, 1/2-1/2 Hodgson,J-Rowson,J/York ENG 1999. ] 4.f4 c5 [ 4...d5 Is as usual a very solid alternative. 5.d2 f5 6.xe4 xe4 7.f3 h7 8.c3 c6 9.e3 b6 10.d2 If Black had dared to castle short, then W hite would have had great potential for a sustained kingside attack. But sadly for our festive fun, Black had absolutely no intention of castling on that side. d7 11.h3 f6 12.d3 xd3 13.xd3 0-0-0 14.0-0-0 e5 This central blow equalises the chances. 15.g3 d6 16.f2 a5 17.b1 he8 18.h5 e4 19.fxe4 xe4 Black had no reason to complain in Miladinovic, I-Manca,F/Open, Saint Vincent ITA 1998. ] 5.d5 b6 6.d2 xd2 [ It is not clear how the inclusion of the moves h4 and h6 helps W hite in the variation: 6...xb2 7.xe4 b4+ 8.d2 xe4 9.e3 but Hebden decides not to take any chances. ] 7.xd2 e5 8.dxe6 dxe6 9.c3 c6 Black has some minor difficulties completing his kingside development, but it is only a
small inconvenience. 10.e3 d7 11.f3 0-0-0 12.d2 c7 13.a3 b8 Wisely tidying up on the queenside. 14.h5 e5 15.b5 e7 16.xc6 xc6 17.g4 g5 Black has solved most of his opening problems. His bishop pair fully compensate him f or his slightly loose pawn structure. 18.0-0-0 f6 19.hf1 b5 20.fe1 hf8 21.g3 c6 22.f1 White prepares f4 but this is easily dealt with. e4 23.xc7+ xc7 24.h1 d5 25.f1 f5 26.e1 e5 27.c3 f5 Black shows that he is happy with a draw and although Hodgson continues to gently probe, from this moment, the result is never really in doubt. 28.d2 d8 29.xd8 xd8 30.e1 e5 31.g3 d7 32.c3 e7 33.d1 c7 34.b4 b6 35.bxc5 bxc5 36.d5 c6 37.xc5+ Even this tactical trick doesn't really change things. xc5 38.b4+ d5 39.xe7 h4 40.e2 xf2 41.f4+ c4 42.d2 g3 43.f8 g4 44.xg7 xf4 45.exf4 f5 46.xh6 xh5 47.g7 g4 White may have won a pawn, but the opposite colour bishops make a draw inevitable. The h4 Tromp is a good surprise weapon if you choose your opponent carefully. However, White must be prepared to accept an equal game if Black plays accurately. ½-½
2093 Hodgson,Julian M Pert,Richard G British Rapidplay rapid (9) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2589 2302 21.10.2001
October Update: Trompowsky Attack: Black grabs a hot pawn against the world's leading Trompowsky expert. As you might expect, Hodgson gives short shrift to such impudence! 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 This one of Black's most ambitious lines against the Tromp, but at the same time, one of the riskiest. Black will lose a significant amount of time getting his queen back to safety. 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 g4 [ 7...e5 is the acid test, preventing White from easily expanding in the centre. ] 8.e2 xe2 9.xe2 a6 10.b1 c7 11.e5 White has a colossal lead in development, so 2048
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 it is only natural to try and open the position. dxe5 12.fxe5 fd7 13.f3 W hite's development is very smooth and Black must constantly be on his guard for the e6 pawn break. e6 14.0-0 exd5 15.e6! Smashing open the rather inadequate defences of the Black king. fxe6 16.xe6+ e7 17.xd5 Wallop!! d6 18.g5 Black must have felt as if he had fallen out of the wrong side of bed. Hodgson prepares to a d m i n i s t e r t h e c o u p d e g r a c e . c6 This loses, but sadly there was nothing better. [ 18...xe6 19.xe6 is just hideous. ] 19.c7+! xc7 20.f7+ d8 21.e6+ Ouch! c8 22.xc7 xc7 23.f4+ An d B lac k h a d see n e n ou gh. A sple nd id attacking game from Mr Trompowsky himself. 1-0
2094 Hodgson,Julian M Schandorff,Lars Bundesliga 0001 (15.3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2640 2520 29.04.2001
2000 ] 14.e1 f7 [ 14...df6? 15.xc5! dxc5 16.d6 ] 15.h3 [ 15.d3 e5 ] [ 15.f4 df6 16.d3 ( 16.e2!? g4 Transposes further. 17.h3? g3 ) 16...g4 And White misses a tempo to complete the set-up with Nge2 and then be able to retreat his Be3 to g1 because of the f4-pawn now protected. ] 15...e5! 16.g5+ [ 16.f4!? g4 17.e2 h6 18.f2 hf6 19.xg4 xg4 20.xg4 fxg4 21.e2! f5 22.he1 f6! ( 22...he8 23.b5 ) 23.b5 ad8 ] 16...xg5 17.xg5 h6 18.e3 d7 19.e2 g5 20.g3 f4 Black has fully equalized after 21. Bf2 Nf6. His dominating Ne5 eyeing the f3 p a wn m a ke s u p f o r t h e o p p o sin g p a ir o f bishops. ½-½
2095 A45 Hodgson,Julian M 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ Summerscale,Aaron 5.c3 f6 6.d5 e6 7.e4 exd5 8.exd5 d6 Open Reading (5) 04.06.2000 9.d2! The most promising move and what, [Aaron Summerscale] eventually, Laurent Fressinet told me he had prepared for his game against Dominguez. I tried to tussle with Mr Trompowsky himself a n d p a i d a h e a vy p ri ce , in t h e f o llo win g e7 10.c4 [ 10.g4!? is an interesting suggestion. If encounter. However, there are significant there is no tactical problem that I am not in improvements for Black along the way, so I the mood to check out, it would ideally fit don't think that we have seen the last of this line. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 the position, on strategical grounds. ] 10...xd2+ 11.xd2 h5 12.e3 f5 xf6 5.c3 d5 I have been waiting to try out Black has to play like this otherwise White will this move ever since Michael Adams used it s i m p l y g e t a b i g s p a c e a d v a n t a g e a n d with great effect in a blitz game against me. wonderful development with g4, Nc3, Bd3, 6.d2 [ I tried 6.e5 against Mickey but d8 7.f3 Nge2, a4 if necessary. 13.c3 d7! c5 gives Black a reasonable French [ 13...0-0 14.d3 d7 15.f4 df6 16.ge2 g5? 17.h3! ( 17.fxg5 g4 position. ] 18.h4 f4 ) 17...gxf4 18.xf4 d7 19.e6! 6...c5 7.gf3 cxd4 8.xd4 Mr Trompowsky, xe6 20.dxe6 d8? More resilient ( 20...f4 in h is u su al st yle, t akes th e ga me o n a n 21.f2 Tsesarsky.) 21.h6 e8 22.g4! independent course. fxg4 23.hxg4 g7 24.xg7 xg7 25.g5 [ 8.e5 would lead to another French position g4 26.xh7+ g8 27.h5 e5 28.ah1 after: d8 9.cxd4 b6 ] [ 8.cxd4 dxe4 9.xe4 b4+ xd3 29.xd3 xe6 30.h8+ g7 31.1h7+ g6 32.d7 e3+ 33.c2 looks reasonable for Black. ] 1-0 Hodgson,J (2640) -Wells,P (2506) York 8...c5 9.a4+ d7 10.b5 c6 2049
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 10...xd4 11.cxd4 e7 was a safer way to play, with approximate equality. ] 11.2b3 xd4 12.xd4 e5? An extremely b a d m o ve , I h a d c o m p l e t e ly o ve rl o o k e d White's reply. [ 12...0-0 would have held the balance for example: 13.xc6 bxc6 14.xc6 xc6 15.xc6 e5 and with Rfc8 and Rab8 to come, Black has nothing to worry about. ] 13.b3 dxe4 14.c5 Now Black is in trouble. 0-0-0 15.a6! An excellent attacking move, which again I had completely missed. (this was not one of my best moments.) a5 Forced. [ 15...bxa6 loses to 16.xa6+ c7 17.b7+ d6 18.xe4+ ] 16.xa5 bxa6 17.0-0 b6 18.a3 The first wave of attack has been fended off, but the Black king is horribly exposed. Against a player with the attacking flare of Julian Hodgson, the Black king is in for a rough ride. c6 19.b4 White has the clear aim of advancing his queenside pawns, opening lines and I felt helpless to stop him. e3 A desperate a t t e m p t a t c o u n t e r a t t a c k . 20.c4! Wisely getting on with the business in hand. exf2+ 21.xf2 f6 22.b5! axb5 23.cxb5 xb5 [ 23...xb5 was more stubborn but ultimately futile, following: 24.b1 d5 25.a4 c7 26.c3 d3 27.xb5 xc3 28.a6+ ] 24.c1 White has the killer threat of Rb2. 1-0
2096 Hodgson,Julian M Van der Wiel,John TH Amsterdam [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2580 2555 1994
61/60 The Trompowsky: The Hodgson Legacy: Julian Hodgson has done more than anyone to revitalise the Tromp. For anyone learning this exciting opening, his games are a treasure trove of interesting and entertaining ideas. The following game highlights Hodgson's creative approach to the Tromp, as he happily sacrifices material for a fierce initiative. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 One of the main aims of the Trompowsky is to force Black
onto uncomfortable ground in the opening, as early as move two. The threat of Bxf6 rules out a whole host of possible Black defences, such as: the Nimzo Indian, Kings Indian, Grünfeld and Benoni to name just a few. c5 The most uncompromising counter, Black ignores W hite's "threat" and intends to counterattack against White's dark squares. 3.xf6 [ 3.d5 Is a popular alternative, recently given t h e H o d g s o n s t a m p o f a p p r o v a l . b6 ( 3...e4 will likely transpose to the 2...Ne4 line. ) 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 An interesting situation has arisen, Black has won a pawn, but will have to lose time with his queen. White plans to go for a quick pawn push in the center with e4, f4 and if allowed, e5. ] 3...gxf6 The alternative recapture exf6 is almost never played, f or Black will, in all likelihood, be saddled with an isolated d-pawn for the entire game. 4.d5 A common idea in the Trompowsky, White grabs a central space a d v a n t a g e . b6 Black aims for the Achilles heel in the White position, the pawn on b2. 5.c1 h6 Black continues to play as actively as po ssib le . T h e b ish op is im m un e f ro m capture at the moment, due to the threat on the vulnerable b2 pawn. [ 5...f5 6.c4 g7 Is a more solid approach for Black, af ter: 7.c3 d6 Leads to a typically unclear middlegame Tromp position. Black has the bishop pair, and a p a rt icu la rly t a st y d ia go n a l f o r h is d a r k squared beast. White has a space advantage and the better pawn structure. ] 6.e3 f5 7.c4 f4 Black is hell- bent on breaking through on the dark squares, relying on W hite's b2 weakness to justify his play. However, this provocative approach against Hodgson, is like a red rag to a bull! 8.exf4 xf4 9.xf4! Do your worst! White rises to the bait and allows Black to carry out his materialistic plan. xb2 10.e2 xa1 11.ec3 White has calmly let the Black queen maul his queenside, but now, in no uncertain terms, shuts the aforementioned lady out of the game. b2 N The Black queen makes a bolt for it, before she is forever trapped on a1 by Qd2. 12.d6! For the moment, White leaves the W hite queen alone, and instead sets about creating more holes in the Black 2050
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 position. c6 13.d3 exd6 Black decides that he can no longer tolerate the White pawn, even at the cost of further weakening his pa wn s t ru ct u re . 14.0-0 White removes his vulnerable king and allows his rook a possible p a r t i n t h e a t t a c k . e5 Black had to do something about the threat of Re1+. 15.f6 The Black king begins to look exceedingly uncomfortable. 0-0 This is more or less forced, as 15... Rg8 16.Nd5 is a real bone-cruncher! 16.d5 Hodgson continues to play incisively, threatening mate in one! e8 17.g5+ g6 [ 17...h8 loses to: 18.f6 when the threat of Qh6 is very hard to meet. ] 18.f6+ White begins the final assault, driving the Black king into the center of the board. f8 19.h6+ e7 20.d5+ White continues the game in the spirit in which he began, disregarding material concerns in order to prolong the attack. d8 21.xg6 hxg6 22.bc3 /\\ Qg5 Finally, the White queen's knight gets in on the act, cutting the Black queen off from defence of her king. Black is left helpless against the threats of Qg5+ and Qh4+. 1-0
2097 Hodgson,Julian M Yermolinsky,Alex 9596 Hastings (5) [Eric Prié]
A45 2590 2560 1996
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 e6 5.d3 b6!? With the natural idea of developing the queen's bishop on the c8-a6 diagonal or offering useful possible protection to the e4 pawn after the exchange on e4. This was a novelty at the time from the future first board of the US squad which won the silver medal in the 1998 Olympiads in Elista. Notes on the game till move 11, by the way and wh e n m a rk e d , co m e f ro m h is co m m e n t s p u b l i s h e d i n I N F 6 6 . 6.xe4?! Dubious according to Yermolinsky who proposes instead [ 6.d2 b7 ] 6...dxe4 7.c3 b4!? Original punctuation from the leader of the black pieces until move 11.
[ 7...b7 8.g4 h5 9.h3 ( 9.g3 h4 10.g4 d7 11.b5 f6 ) 9...g5!? 10.e5 h6 11.0-0-0 d6 Yermolinsky, A ] 8.g4!? [ 8.ge2 Y e r m o l i n s k y , A a6 Eric ( 8...b7!? Eric 9.a3 e7 10.g3? g5 11.e5 f6 12.h5+ d7 13.0-0-0 e8 ) 9.a3 xe2 10.xe2 xc3+ 11.bxc3 0-0 12.0-0 d7= ] 8...0-0 9.g3? This must be the result of an incorrect estimation of the position. After Black's next move, the gaping holes on the light squares will be patent in White's camp. It is clear that his extra doubled c-pawns will never get passed the c4 square when, in the meantime, it is well known that the presence of opposite coloured bishops f avours the attack... Indeed, White could not back down now in face of the ...e6-e5 threat and had to 'fully' accept the challenge with [ 9.e5! Yermolinsky,A f6 10.xe4 fxe5 11.xa8 exd4 12.0-0-0 xc3 13.bxc3 ( 13.xb8 d5! 14.bxc3 xa2 15.e2 e5 16.xc7 f5 17.cxd4 c8 18.xc8+ xc8 19.dxe5= ) 13...d6 14.xd4 a3+ A) 15.d2 d7!? ( 15...e5 16.d5+ h8 17.xe5 c6 ); B) 15.b1 d7 16.f4 ( 16.e2 c5 17.f4 e8!? 18.c6 d7 19.xc7 e5 ) 16...f6 17.c6! d7 18.c4 c5 19.e2 b5 20.b3 a6 21.d1 c6 ] [ 9.h6 f6 10.xe4 e5!! Hodgson,Ju ( 10...d7 11.xa8 c6 12.xa7 d6 13.ge2 xh6 14.0-0-0 d7 15.a6 ) 11.xa8 ( 11.f3!? xh6 12.xa8 exd4 13.xd4 c5 14.a3 cxd4 15.axb4 dxc3 16.xb8 cxb2 17.b1 f6 18.0-0 a6 19.xa7 xf1 20.xf1 d6= ) 11...exd4 12.f3 ( 12.exd4 c6 13.e3 xc3+ 14.bxc3 a6 15.xf8+ xf8 ) 12...xh6 13.exd4 e8+ 14.d1 ( 14.ge2 xc3+ 15.xc3 a6 16.0-0 xe2 17.fe1 d6 ) 14...c6 When the game is sufficiently recent so that it has been 'checked' with a computer, and when its author is a Top GM who looks interested in thoroughly analysing it, searching for the truth, which is the case here, then I do not see myself interfering with his work... ] 9...xc3+! 10.bxc3 c6 11.h3 [ 11.xc7? d5 12.d6 c4 13.e2 b7 2051
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 /\\ Rac8-+ ] 11...a6 With a big advantage for Black as claimed by Yermolinsky. 12.f3 exf3 13.gxf3 f6 14.h6 f7 15.g1 e7 16.f4 h8! 17.h4?! [ 17.xg7+ xg7 18.xg7+ xg7 19.xg7 xg7 20.xe6+ f7 21.xc7 g8 22.f2 ( 22.xa6 g1+ ) 22...c4 23.a4 The ending does not look very pleasant but this was the only chance to f ight on. a6 24.d5 ] [ 17.xe6 gxh6 ] 17...gxh6 18.xh6 g8 19.g6+ [ 19.xg8+ xg8 20.f2 c4 21.g1+ ( 21.h5 f8 22.g1+ h8 23.f4 xa2 White has nothing. ) 21...g7 ] 19...xg6 20.xg6 a3! The counter attack is decisive. 21.d2 [ 21.xf6 xc3+ A) 22.d1 xd4! 23.exd4 ( 23.xf7 xc2+ 24.e1 e2# ) 23...xa1+ 24.d2 xd4+ 25.c1 xf6; B) 22.f2 d2+! 23.g3 g7+ 24.f4 e5+ 25.dxe5 e7! 26.f8+ g8 Threatening, amongst others, Qb4+ 27.f6 b7 Threatening Qxh2+ 28.h1 ( 28.xg8+ xg8 29.e6+ f7+ ) 28...xf3 29.g1 ( 29.xf3 g2+ 30.f4 g4# ) 29...g2 30.xg2 xg2 31.xg8+ xg8 32.d8+ f7-+ ] 21...e5! And White resigned for although the win may not be immediate the path leading to it, 'everything with check', presents very few ramifications or opportunities to go wrong: [ 21...e5! 22.xf6 ( 22.dxe5 d7+ 23.e1 xc3+ 24.f2 d2+ 25.g3 xe5+ 26.f4 xf4+ 27.exf4 hxg6 ) 22...c4+ 23.d3 ( 23.e2 xc3! 24.xf7 d2+ 25.f1 xe3+ 26.g1 g2# ) 23...xe3+! 24.xe3 ( 24.d2 c4+ 25.d3 e5+ 26.d2 xf3+ 27.xf3 xf3 ) 24...xc3+ 25.e4 xc2+ 26.e5 ( 26.e3 d3+ 27.f2 xd4+ 28.g2 xf6; 26.f4 d2+ 27.e4 b7+ ) 26...e2+ 27.f4 e5+! 28.dxe5 d2+ 29.g3 ( 29.e4 b7+ 30.f5 xh6 ) 29...g7+ 30.xg7+ xg7 ] 0-1
2098 Hoffmeyer,Falk Fish,Gennadij BL2-Nord 0203 (3.3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2236 2500 15.12.2002
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e6 8.b1 c7 9.b5+ d7 This is the 'natural' move, compared to the 9...Nbd7 we discussed in September, that at first sight I would have reckoned to be the best. It is also the most 'aesthetic' move in the position (which is as efficient a way of finding 'candidate' moves as any...), thus it consequently should be the best, as GM Miodrag Todorcevic, former member of the Yugoslav team in the years of its splendour, once told me. Nonetheless, every rule has its exceptions... 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.xd7+ bxd7 [ 11...xd7!? as far as I can see has never b e e n t r i e d . 12.f3 c6 13.e5 d5 14.e4 dxe5 15.xe5! xe5 16.fxe5 e7 17.0-0 0-0-0 White has compensation but Black is surely not worse. ] 12.f3 h6 Necessary while it is not as easy as in the Buhmann game (September update) for White to profit from the weakness of the g6 square. [ 12...0-0-0? 13.b5! b8 14.g5 e8 15.a5! b6 16.f7 g8 17.fxd6+ xd6 18.xd6+ c7 19.xe8+ xe8 20.e5 d5 21.d2+- ] 13.e2 [ 13.b5? c6 ] 13...a6 14.e5! [ 14.c4 0-0-0! ( 14...d5 15.exd5 exd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 0-0-0 18.0-0 ) 15.xe6 e8 16.f7! c6! 17.0-0 e7 18.b3 xe4 19.d5 e8 20.c4 df6 21.fe1 ] 14...dxe5 15.fxe5?! [ 15.xe5! g8 What else ? Black cannot castle queenside because of the fork on f7 and has to maintain a knight on f6 in order to prevent Qh5+ which he cannot parry with ...Qf7 because of the hanging b7-pawn . 16.a4 ( 16.0-0! 0-0-0 17.c4 is the simplest. White has superbly placed pieces and does not have to force events.) 16...xe5 17.b6! With this intermediate 2052
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 m o v e , n o l o n g c a s t l i n g a n y m o r e ! d8 18.fxe5 d5 19.0-0! With a fierce attack coming against the black king stuck in the center, intending xb6 20.a5 ] 15...d5 16.e4 0-0-0! [ 16...xc3 17.g6+ ] 17.xd5? [ 17.0-0! c6 18.g4 xc3 19.xc3 g5 does not remain that comfortable for Black after 20.d2 For instance, but at least he got rid of a powerful assailant on his castle. ] 17...exd5 18.xd5 [ 18.f5 e8 19.0-0 c6 Black is solving all his problems. ] 18...xe5! 19.xe5 [ 19.e6+ d7 ] 19...xe5+ 20.xe5 e8 21.c3 d6 22.0-0 xe5 23.xe5 xe5 24.f7 b5 25.xg7 [ 25.a7 d8 26.xa6 d2 ] 25...he8 26.f1 e1 27.g6 8e6 28.xe6 xe6 29.f7 d6 30.f1 d1+ 31.e2 a1 32.h7 xa2 33.d3 [ 33.d2 b4 34.xh6 b3 35.c3 bxc2 36.d2= ] 33...c4+ 34.c3 a5 35.xh6 b4+ 36.xc4 xc2+ 37.b3 c3+ 38.a4? [ 38.a2 b7 39.f6! a4 ( 39...c2+ 40.b3 xg2 41.f5 b6 42.f6+ c7 43.f5= ) 40.f4 b3+ 41.a3= ] 38...a3+ 39.b5 c7! After a couple of unsuccessful attempts to defend this position as W hite - which will not appear here- , I searched for it or something similar in my endgame books but could not find any relevant occurrences. So I guess it is already lost. [ 39...b3? 40.c6 d8 41.d6 e8 42.e6 f8 43.f6 g8 44.g6+ h7 45.g7+ h8 46.b7= ] 40.c6+ d7 41.b6 [ 41.c1 b3 42.h4 a4 43.h5 e6 44.h6 f7 45.h7 g7 46.b4 a2 47.h1 h8 48.c3 b2 49.c2 a1 50.b1 a3 51.g4 xb1 Note that with Black not capturing one of the enemy kingside pawns, he would still be winning here with ( 51...a2 52.xb2 c1+ 53.xc1 a1+ where White is very far from being able to establish one of the drawing fortresses with this kind of material. ) 52.xb1 xh7 ]
41...a4! 42.c4 b3 43.c3 a2 44.b4 d6! 45.h4 c5 46.c4+ b5 47.b4+ a5 48.b8 c2+ 49.d3 xg2 With his king cut off in front, White has lost all suppleness and had to mobilize all his forces to prevent the opposing pawns from advancing leaving his own infantrymen as easy preys to the enemy rook. 50.c3 c2+ 51.d3 h2 52.c3 xh4 53.b2 h2+ 54.b1 h5 55.b2 b5 56.a8+ b4 57.a7 b8 58.a6 h8 59.b6+ c5 [ 59...c4 60.c6+ b5 Is the elementary winning manoeuvre. 61.g6 ( 61.c7 h2+ 62.c3 c2+ ) 61...h2+ 62.b1 ( 62.a3 a2# ) 62...a3 63.g5+ c4 64.g4+ d5 65.g5+ e4 66.g4+ f3 67.g1 e2 68.c1 f2 69.h1 f1+ 70.xf1 ] 60.b7 h2+ 61.c3 c2+ 62.d3 a3 63.xb3 a2 64.a3 b4 65.a8 c3+ 66.d4 a3 67.b8+ a4 68.c4 c3+ 69.d4 c1 0-1
2099 Holving,Rasmus Livner,Anders Salongernas [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2130 2170 1999
The following variation is very important to the e6 Tromp. Black tries a offbeat line, which has been given the Graham Burgess stamp of approval. However, with a series of natural moves, W hite keeps a pleasant space advantage, without for once, having to part with the bishop pair. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 c5 This is the critical idea. Black strikes at the W hite center immediately, without w a s t i n g v a l u a b l e t i m e o n h 6 . 4.d5 An extremely natural space grabbing way to deal with Black's Benoni-Tromp response. d6 [ 4...h6 is a critical alternative. The following game should give you an idea of what White is looking for in this variation. 5.xf6 xf6 6.c3 d6 7.dxe6 fxe6 8.b5 a6 9.c3 d5 10.exd5 e5+ 11.e2 xd5 12.f3 e7 13.e5 0-0 14.d1 xa2 15.g6 f6 16.xf8 xf8 17.d6 d7 18.h5 e8 19.xe8 xe8 20.b5 c8 21.0-0 b8 22.g4 c6 23.f4 e5 24.d8+ 2053
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e7 25.d2 g5 26.d1 xb2 27.xc6 xc6 28.d6+ 1-0 Danielian,O-Hohelj,S/ Paris 1994. ] [ 4...exd5 5.exd5 b6 6.c3 would be an interesting gambit! ] [ 4...b6 is Graham Burgess ' suggestion, in his book "101 Chess Opening surprise's" but White will get good play for the pawn after: 5.c3 xb2 6.d2 ] 5.c3 e7 6.f3 The opening skirmish has resulted in a Franco-Benoni set-up. W ith White having the slightly better chances, due to his space advantage. 0-0 7.d2 exd5 8.exd5 a6 Typical development for Black, who plans queenside expansion based on b7b5. 9.e2 c7 10.0-0 b8 11.a4 b6 12.ad1 White doesn't go for the smash and grab option, but instead adopts a solid central strategy, ready to meet absolutely anything that Black might throw at him. a6 13.f4 b7 Black poses the question to the d5 pawn. 14.xf6 A radical solution, giving up the bishop pair to alleviate the pressure. [ 14.c4!?= is an alternative worth consideration. ] 14...xf6 15.e4 e7 Aiming to keep hold of his bishop pair, Bla ck plays a mbitiously, whereas: [ 15...xd5 would lead to a fairly level endgame after: 16.xf6+ xf6 17.xf6 xf6 18.xd6 ] 16.c4 e8 [ 16...b5 17.axb5 axb5 18.b3 keeps White's space advantage. ] 17.d3 g6 What can you say about such a closed position? W ell, I seriously doubt in suc h a sc en ario whe the r t he bisho p p air confers any advantage. Although, looking on the brighter side (for White that is), his extra s p a c e a llo ws h im t o b u ild u p a p o we rf u l kingside attack. 18.h6 f6 This may prevent a knight intrusion on g5, but seriously loosens the kingside defences. 19.fe1 c8 20.e3 g4 21.de1 xf3 The Black bishop which has been redundant for most of the game rush es t o exchan ge itself , b ut B lack ha s o v e r l o o k e d a c u n n i n g t a c t i c . 22.g5! Lightening strikes from a clear sky! W hite finds an excellent way to highlight the cramp in the Black position. Black is simply too p a s s i v e l y p l a c e d t o p r e ve n t t h e c o m i n g
invasion. fxg5 23.xe7 f7 24.xf7 xf7 25.xh7+ Black resigned. The following possible continuation illustrates how completely and utterly lost he is. [ 25.xh7+ g7 26.xg6+ f6 27.h6 e2 28.xe2 b7 29.h5+ f5 30.g6+ f4 31.e4# ] 1-0
2100 Horvath,Julia Dembo,Yelena ch-Women Budapest HUN (2) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2308 2322 22.07.2000
Bf4 continues to be the most popular way of me et ing 2. . .Ne 4. He re in a no t he r t ren d y variation, White fights Black tooth and nail for control of the central squares and is ultimately rewarded with a nice attacking victory. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 e6 5.d3 c5 A very ambitious approach, which seeks to grab the initiative in the center. [ 5...d6 is an important and proven possibility here. ] 6.f3 e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.c4 White shows that she will not meekly surrender the fight for central territory and challenges Black where it hurts, on the light squares. c6 9.c3 f6 [ 9...xc3 which exchanges off a potential attacker may have been more circumspect. ] 10.h3 b6 11.cxd5 exd5 12.e5 This now looks like a Queen's Gambit Declined position, wh e re W h it e h a s t h e a ggre ssive p la n o f a t t a c kin g o n t h e k in gs id e , t h a n k s t o h i s "Pillsbury" knight on e5. b7 13.c1 a6 14.g4 White makes no secret of her designs on the Black king. b5 15.g5 e4 Black goes for active defence, which normally would be a great plan, but here fails for tactical reasons. [ 15...e8 would have been a tougher defence. Here White may have had nothing more appealing than to go for a superior en d ga m e wit h : 16.xc6 xc6 17.dxc5 xg5 18.h5 h6 19.xg5 xg5+ 20.xg5 hxg5 21.e2 ] 16.xe4 xe5 17.f6+ White goes for glory but the more prosaic: [ 17.xc5 would have been just as effective in securing the point. ] 2054
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17...xf6 18.gxf6 g6 [ 18...xd3!? would have been better, but yet again Black misses the opportunity to dispatch one of White's attacking pieces. ] 19.fxg7 e8 20.h5 e6 21.e5 The White pieces line up, poised for the kill. e8 22.f5 b6 23.h2 c8 24.b1 e6 25.g1 The inclusion of the rook in the attack instantly decides matters. d7 26.g5 e7 27.xh7+ With a textbook mate on h8 to follow. 1-0
2101 Huang Qian Ju,Wenjun 12th ch-Asia w (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2410 2345 09.09.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.d2!? So at least there is this way to play the Tromp in a static way! It appears less "promising" than in the previous game, however, because Black is not forced to play with ...c7-c5. In any case, this is what Wells says about it: "4.Nd2 seeking to exchange the piece off, aims at rather modest gains in terms of development and possible queenside play. This was once considered as the main line, but none too exciting at the best of times and is now under something of a cloud due to the sharp reply 4...c5!?!?" one more time emphasizing a typically outmoded "original English way" of maladjusted handling of the Tromp that has lef t the ope nin g in crisis in almo st e very dynamic line, and by way of consequence to a complete disinheritance at a high "who know, and who seriously prepare" level. f5 [ 4...xd2 5.xd2 f5 6.e3 e6 7.d3 xd3 ( 7...c6 8.f3 White should exchange without waiting and play against the structure just in case the opponent may change his mind! d7 9.xf5 exf5 10.d3 g6 11.0-0 f6 12.g5 g7 13.b3 e7 14.c4 dxc4 15.xc4 Schulz, M-Meister, Y Germany 2006) 8.xd3 c6 9.f3 d6 10.xd6 xd6 11.0-0 d7 12.c4 dxc4 13.xc4 0-0 1/2-1/2 Mellado Trivino, J (2388)-Kovacevic, S (2340) La Pobla de Lillet op 2006 ]
5.e3 e6 6.c3?! 6.Nf3 is more logical as in the next game. In such positions the handling of the c-pawn is of major importance if White has any hope for a micro something. Generally it has to be used with great care to unbalance the position and the extra support of the d4 pawn may only be required in case of an opposing ...c7-c5, especially as White does not seem to threaten Qb3 in this position. xd2?! To deflect the white queen from the control of g4?! Most often the kingside expansion g4-h4 against the Bf5 will only lead to a weakening of the white position and a loss of time. [ 6...d6 7.b3? xd2 8.xb7 d7 9.xd6 cxd6 10.b5 b8 11.xd7+ e7! 12.xa7 xd7 13.xd7+ xd7 14.xd2 xb2+ 15.e1 c8 16.e2 d3 ] 7.xd2 d6 8.xd6 xd6 9.f3 h6 10.c4 dxc4?! Black should not abandon the centre and offer a tempo to the opponent like this. Indeed, the modification of the structure does not promise anything for White at this stage partly because of the reduced material. [ 10...0-0 11.c5 ( 11.cxd5 exd5 12.d3 xd3 13.xd3 d7 Practically the same p o s i t i o n a s i n t h e p r e vi o u s g a m e wi t h reversed colours!) 11...e7 12.d3 xd3 13.xd3 c6 14.0-0 fd8 15.b3 ab8 Followed by the liberating ...e6-e5. ] 11.xc4 d7 12.0-0 0-0 13.fd1 fd8 14.ac1 The kind of quiet position I would enjoy as White with possibilities such as Qe2, h2-h3, b2-b4 to improve White's position while it is no t so ea sy f o r B la ck to libe rat e his position with ...e5 or ...c5 now. c5 15.e2 [ 15.b5!? cxd4 16.xd4 ( 16.xd4 b6 17.e2 ) 16...xd4 17.xd4 b6 18.c7 xd4 19.xd4 c8 20.xc8+ xc8 21.xf5 exf5 22.c4 Heading for d5 in case of ...Nd6 with a better bishop, structure and therefore a slightly superior ending. ] 15...e7 16.h3 Now it is too late for [ 16.b5 ac8 17.xd7 xd7 18.dxc5 xc5! Hence h2-h3... ] 16...e4 17.d2 c6 18.b3 a4 19.b5 xb3 20.axb3 cxd4 21.c7 a6 22.xd7 White correctly decides to call it a day. [ 22.d3 d6 23.xb7 c5 24.b4 e5 ] 22...xd7 23.xd7 xd7 24.xd4 c7 ½-½ 2055
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2102 Huette,Stefan Hausrath,Daniel Essen op 20th (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2480 05.05.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 a5+ 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 xc5 7.g6 "Detonating the kingside" What a joke! In fact, only a few hours of analysis suffice to reach the limits of this gambit which is the tabiya of this line. And the recipe to refute it is wellknown since Black can p lay on h is o the r assets (his bishop pair, central duo and fast development). What he should not do is be too conservative with his heap of pawns on the kingside (he can happily give one of them back!) but rather seize the centre, castle qu e e n s id e t o p u t h is kin g in s a f e t y, a n d counter attack while his opponent wastes time recovering his investment. fxg6 8.e3 d6 [ 8...d5!? Curiously, this logical idea seems n e ve r t o h a ve b e e n t e st e d in p ra ct ice . Probably because White can then react with a rapid c2-c4, opening up the light squares, as well as compromising the opposite king's security on the queenside. However not the direct 9.d3 ( Better 9.gf3 c6 See the transposition just below.) 9...f5 10.e2 ( 10.b3 d6 11.e2 c6 12.xf5 gxf5 13.f4 0-0-0 ) 10...e5! ( 10...c6? 11.xf5 gxf5 12.f4 Threatening Qh5+ 0-0-0 13.e6 ) 11.b3 d6 12.xf5 gxf5 13.c3 c6 14.xd5 0-0-0 ] [ 8...c6! On principle, this is the correct move order, playing the obligatory move before the optional (d6 or d5) one. 9.gf3 Already a more subtle white move order. d5!? ( 9...d6 See next game. ) A) 10.b3 d6 11.c4 dxc4 ( 11...e6!?; 11...b4+ 12.bd2 e6 13.g5 g8 14.cxd5 xd5 ) 12.xc4 ( 12.xd6 exd6 13.xc4 e7 ) 12...b4+ 13.bd2 f5 14.g5; B) 10.c4! e6 11.cxd5 xd5 12.c1 a5 13.c4 xc4 14.xc4 ] 9.d3!? f5 10.gf3 c6 11.b3 d5 12.xf5 xf5? [ 12...xd1+ 13.xd1 gxf5 14.h4 e5 ( 14...f7 15.xf5 g6 16.h6+ xh6
17.xh6 g7 18.h4 ac8= ) 15.xf5 c8 16.bd4 g6 ] 13.h4 f6 14.d3 g8 15.b5? [ 15.f3! A) 15...h6 16.fd4! xd4 17.xd4 0-0-0 ( 17...a6 18.b3 exploits the same theme. ) 18.c4+ b8 19.xg8; B) 15...h8 16.0-0-0 0-0-0 17.h4 I n t e n d i n g R f 4 a n d Ng 5 . g5 18.a4 ( 18.xh7 xh7 19.xh7 g4 20.fd4 xd4 21.xd4 e5 22.f5+ xf5 23.xf5 d5 24.e4 g6 ) 18...b8 19.b5 With attack, threatening Na5 and Nxg5. ] 15...0-0-0 16.f3 h6 17.fd4 xd4 18.xd4 d5 One tempo can make a big d i f f e r e n c e . . . 19.c5+ And White does not look very thrifty! [ However 19.a5 fails too. b6 20.xb6 axb6 21.e6 d6 22.xf8 xf8 ] 19...b8 20.a5 e5 21.b5 a6 22.c7+ a8 23.a4 b4+ 24.c3 c8 25.d7 gd8! Excellent chess, simply transposing into a won ending. 26.c7+ b8 27.xd5 xd7 [ 27...g5 28.f7 xg2 29.0-0-0 Indeed is far from being clear. ] 28.xf6 gxf6 29.cxb4 h5! The point of Black's idea. The collected pawn on move 7 has turned into a solid element of his kingside majority, and since W hite cannot prevent o t h e r l o s s e s o n t h e q u e e n s i d e . . . 30.0-0 Activating the rook from the side was also insufficient. [ 30.b5 axb5 31.axb5 d5 ( 31...c2 32.b3 b2 33.h3 xb3 34.g3 g5 35.f3 f7 36.f5 xb5 37.f4 ) 32.h3 xb5 33.g3 g5 34.f3 c6 35.b1 e4 36.h3 c2 37.xh5 f5 ] [ 30.h3 c2 31.g3 ( 31.f3 f5 ) 31...dd2 32.xg6 xf2 33.b5 axb5 34.axb5 ce2+ 35.d1 xb2 ] 30...c2 31.b3 dd2 32.b5 axb5 33.a5 [ 33.axb5 b2 34.ad1 ( 34.a3 c7 35.a8 xb3 ) 34...c7 35.xd2 xd2 36.c1+ b6 37.c8 xb5 38.g8 g5 39.f8 d6 Black will always be able to defend his kingside with a rook on the 6th. ] 33...a7 34.b4 b2 35.ab1 f5 36.g3 xf2! 0-1
2056
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2103 Hutchinson,Paul A Kotronias,Vasilios Monarch Assurance (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2216 2608 26.09.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 It is important to deflect White's king bishop from the h2-b8 diagonal. For the less important line [ 6...e6 7.e4 exd5 8.exd5 d6 See next month, the key to Laurent Fressinet's preparation. ] 7.c1 e6 8.c4 This is what the Frenchman told me he had intended to play in his decisive game against Dominguez in the penultimate round of Wijk aan Zee B this year. But this implies a debatable pawn sacrifice a f t e r 8 . . . Q b 4 + . S e e ga m e s 5 t o 9 in t h e November update. [ 8.e4 is very rare now, also see why next month. ] 8...exd5 9.cxd5 c4?! Another critical line of the Tromp. Unusually, it is Black's turn to sacrifice a c4 pawn! [ 9...d6 10.e4 g6 11.c3 d8 is just a completely normal SÃNmisch-Benoni. And this is why personally, for this reason alone, I would not play this line as White and prefer the alternative 6. Nd2 cxd4 7.Nb3. ] 10.e3 c5 11.f2 [ 11.xc4? b4+ 12.d2 xe3 13.e2? 0-0 14.xe3 e8 ] 11...0-0 12.xc4 e8 13.b3 d6 14.c3 [ 14.e2 b5! 15.xb5 a6 ( 15...xd5? Remarkable chess understanding! After the . . . b 7 - b 5 m o v e d e st i n e d t o r e le a s e t h e pre s s u re on t h e a 2 -g8 d ia go na l, B la ck hands the opponent the diagonal on a silver platter! 16.c4 h5 17.f4 f5 18.xf7++- Trent, L-Soskov,V EU-chJ PeÃ+/ -iscola 2002) 16.bc3 b8 17.d1 b4 Ramesh,R (2480)-Mahesh Chandran, P(2436) IND-Ch Nagpur 2002 ] 14...f4 15.ge2 [ 15.f1!? e5 ( 15...xe3? 16.ce2!! h6 17.d6! 'THE theme'! xc1 18.xf7+ h8 19.xe8+- ) 16.e4 d6 Not that clear. But to tell the truth, and as in the next game, I would rather be White here... ] 15...xe3+ 16.xe3?
[ 16.f1!! h4 17.xe3 xe3 18.d6! h5 ( 18...c6 19.xf7+ h8 20.c4! ) 19.g3! ( 19.f4 xf3+ 20.gxf3 xf3+ 21.g1 xf4 is le ss clear.) 19...g6 20.f2 e5 21.he1 It appears that I do not understand this line for Black... ] 16...xe3+ 17.f1 d6 Phew! 18.e4 So that was White's idea but an unpleasant surprise was awaiting him... xe4!! 19.fxe4 g4 20.e1 [ 20.xe3 xe3+ 21.f2 xc4 22.ac1 b6 ] 20...xe4 So Black has already one pawn for the exchange, a strong initiative and potentially better pieces (a strong knight on black squares and therefore a good bishop) whilst the unfortunate situation of the white king, which is stuck in the centre while having lost the right to castle, also prevents the rooks from linking and becoming active. W hite's only chance would be to swap off the queens, even at the cost of a second pawn, but that is only a dream and Black only needs a couple of calm developing moves to complete the encircling of the enemy monarch. 21.g1 [ 21.f3 xc4 22.c1 b4+ ] 21...e5 22.c1 bd7 23.c2 [ 23.c3 c5 24.c2 On principle, offered more chances of resistance. ] 23...h4+ 24.g3 [ 24.g3 f3+! ( 24...xh2? 25.e4! W i t h t h e i d e a R h 1 o r Q h 1 , f o r c in g t h e exchange of queens.) 25.f2 ( 25.d1 xh2 26.f1 de5 ) 25...f6 26.c3 de5-+ ] 24...c5 [ 24...xh2 25.f2 ] 25.e2? Facilitates Black's task when the least we can say is that White's position has not re ally im pro ve d sin ce th e 2 0t h m ove comment! [ 25.b4 xh2 26.e2 ( 26.f2 g4+ 27.f3 h4 28.bxc5 f6+; 26.f2? cd3+ ) 26...h4+ ( 26...b5 27.bxc5 bxc4 28.e4; 26...cd7 ) 27.g3 f3+ 28.d1 g4 29.f1 e4 30.d3 f5 31.xf3 xf3 32.xe4 xe4 ( 32...xe4?? 33.c8+ xc8 34.xc8# ) 33.xe4 xe4-+ ] 25...xh2 [ 25...d4! 26.f1 f4+ 27.e1 ( 27.f3 2057
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xf3 28.gxf3 h3+ 29.e1 e8+ 30.e2 xf3 ) 27...cd3+! 28.xd3 xd3+ 29.xd3 xc1+ 30.f2 xb2+ ] 26.f2 h6-+ 27.h1 f4+ 28.g1 xg3 29.xh7+ Only 2 checks. f8 30.h8+ e7 31.h4+ [ 31.c3 e1+ 32.f1 d2 Threatening Ne 4 a n d Q d 4 + 33.h4 ( 33.h4+ g5 ) 33...g6 34.h5 d7 ] 31...xh4 32.xh4 a5 33.d4 d7 34.b3 f5 35.c3 g5 36.h3 e4 37.a4 c8 38.h7+ f6 39.c4 g4 40.b5 c1+ 41.f1 g3 42.f4 e2+ 0-1
2104 Hutchinson,Paul A Ward,Christopher ch Scarborough ENG (1) [Eric Prié]
A45 2216 2490 02.08.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d5! The refutation of this line which gained some popularity some years ago after a couple of nice wins from Top GM Vadim MILOV... against other moves however... [ 5...c5 6.f3 This is the whole point. We have now transposed into the Torre (See games 3 to 5) proving by example, that 3... h6 which 'asks the question' as early as possible, is more precise than 3...c5. ] [ 5...d6 6.d3 e5 7.e2 The concealed idea behind W hite's set-up that has done much for its absolutely unjustified flattering reputation. We have seen that it was quite difficult for him to develop any initiative without the help of his f-pawn. Now he will c a s t l e k i n g s id e a n d p l a y f 4 wi t h s o m e interesting perspectives. ] 6.e5 [ 6.d2 See next game. ] 6...d8 In the database, White's score is appalling in this variation 7.f3 c5 8.dxc5 This is White's idea: Compensate the loss of the dark-squared bishop by making use of the d4 square for an allegedly strong knight. xc5 9.d3 c6 [ 9...b6!? 10.c2 ( 10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 d7 W hite does not want to play b4.) 10...c6 11.0-0 0-0 12.bd2 f6 ]
10.0-0 a6! 11.bd2 d7 12.b3 b6 13.e2 b8 14.bd4 a7! 15.xc6?! [ 15.fd1 xd4!? ( 15...0-0 16.c2 Keeps more tension.) 16.xd4 xd4 17.cxd4 xd4 18.xa6 b6 19.d3 0-0= ] 15...bxc6 16.d2 a5 17.h1 a4 [ 17...0-0!? 18.f4 f5 19.g4 g6 The control of the g1 square is essential. 20.g2 h7 ] 18.f4 [ 18.g4 g6 ( 18...0-0!? 19.f4 f5! As often in this French Advance structure, nipping the attack in the bud. 20.exf6 xf6 ) 19.xg6? g8 20.xf7+ xf7 21.f3+ g7 22.f6+ h7 ] 18...g6 I prefer [ 18...0-0 19.f5?! exf5 20.xf5 xf5 21.xf5 ae8 22.af1 e7 ] 19.f3 Now that Black has weakened his kingside position W hite has to play energetically on the queenside in the hope of finding a narrow path to reach the enemy king, left in the centre. h5 20.c1 a5 21.h3 d8 22.g4 e7 23.f1 [ 23.gxh5 gxh5 24.xh5 xh5 25.xh5 e3 26.e2 xf4 ] 23...0-0-0 24.g5 c7 Consecutive to the closure of the kingside Black has now a plan: Bring his king to g7 and ideally put his rooks on b8 and c8! The more White waits to open the queenside, the less it will be effective. Therefore 25.c1 [ 25.b4! axb3 26.axb3 ] [ 25.c4 b8 26.cxd5 cxd5 27.c1+ d8 ] 25...b8 26.c2 [ 26.b4! axb3 27.axb3 a2?! 28.b1 b2 29.c2 ] 26...c5 27.f3 d8 28.b4 Too late... axb3 29.xb3? [ 29.axb3 e7 30.b4 b6 31.b3 a3 32.b2 c5 33.f1 ( 33.xc5 xc5 34.a2 xc3 35.bxc5 xc5 ) 33...c4! but only for that tactical reason. 34.a1 cxd3 35.g2 ( 35.d2 c6 36.xa3 d4+ 37.g1 dxc3+ ) 35...xa1+ 36.xa1 hc8 37.d2 c6 ] 29...e7?! [ 29...a3 30.c4 e7 is the same. ] 30.c4?! [ 30.xc5! Get rid of that poisoning bishop! xc5 31.c4 ( 31.f2 xf2 32.fxf2 c5 ) 2058
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 31...d4 32.e4 is for sure better than the game. ] 30...a3 31.d2 b4 32.d1 a4 33.c2 b4 34.c1 a3 35.df1 [ 35.b2 b8 ] 35...g8 With little time on the clock and good control over th e position , it is dif f icu lt t o evaluate with certainty things like [ 35...f8 36.xg6 xf3 37.xf3 fxg6 38.xg6 g8 39.h6+ e8 40.xh5+ d8 41.h7 ] 36.e2 xf3 37.xf3 a8 38.d3 a4 39.e2 a3 40.f1 c3 41.c2 b2 Little by little with the help of his dark-squared bishop, Black is conquering all the squares. 42.cxd5 Desperation. [ 42.d1 f8 ] [ 42.f2 xc2 43.xc2 d4 44.e2 e3 45.g2 a3!-+ ] 42...cxd5 43.xg6 fxg6 44.xg6 f8 45.f5 xe5! [ 45...xf5 46.g7+! d8 47.xf5 xc1+ 48.g2 exf5 49.f6+ c7 50.d6+ c8 51.a6+ b8 52.b6+ was a diabolical perpetual check net. ] 46.f6+ d6 47.xh5 b5 48.d1 f2! 49.h3 h8! [ 49...h8 50.xh8 f3+ 51.g1 d4+ 52.xd4 f1# ] 0-1
4.d2 xb2 5.b1 a3 6.e4 a5 Black has wasted considerable time extracting h i s q u e e n . 7.d3 d6 8.f4 Sounding the charge. e6 9.f3 e7 10.0-0 d8 11.e5 White is now fully mobilised and ready and wil li n g f o r t h e b a t t l e t o co m m e n ce . dxe5 12.fxe5 d5 13.xe7 xe7 14.e4 The Knight is excellently placed here, as it e ye s t h e we a k d 6 squ a re . W h i t e h a s a n awesome attacking position. The fireworks are on their way. 0-0 15.g5 h6 16.f6+ h8 17.h5 f5 What else? [ 17...d7 18.g5 is curtains. ] 18.g4 xd4 19.h4 e7 20.g6 A very nice finish, Black never had a chance. 1-0
2106 Ippolito,Dean Baginskaite,Camilla US op 98th Kissimmee (4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2390 2250 10.08.1997
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e6 As in the 2 p r e v i o u s g a m e s , wi t h t h e s a m e i d e a o f accepting risks in return for larger winning prospects, this attempt introduces another critical line for the system where White has to make use of his mobile centre and development advantage to maintain some 2105 A45 initiative in compensation for the pawn. Ignatescu,Radu Mihai [ When 7...e5 as in game 4, presents White Ceteras,Marius with a decisive choice he cannot postpone ROM-chT (3) 1993 concerning the pawn structure and [Aaron Summerscale] consequently the type of position sought. Thus, both moves, though not played in the Trompowsky: 2...c6 against the Tromp is an same spirit, lead to exactly the same irregular move but it's quite sound. This game po sition if W hit e wish es so a f t e r 8.dxe6 may well provide some inspiration on tackling A rare occasion in chess theory where this it! 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6 3.c3 Offering a en passant capture is perfectly sound and transposition to the Veresov after 3...d5. not only motivated by the desire to show off [ 3.xf6 is another logical move, which your erudite handling of a peculiar chess damages the Black structure, af te r exf6 rule as well as, possibly, in the post-mortem, 4.c4 Now White can pursue his standard your impeccable French pronunciation! fxe6 plan of Nc3, g3, Bg2, e3, Nge2 and a later 9.b1 and so on. ] queenside expansion with b4-b5. ] 8.dxe6 'Theory' rather recommends here 3...b6 is the only other way of interfering with [ 8.b1 which therefore does not apply to 7.. White's plan of e4. However pawn grabbing in .e5 in the same way, FOLLOW ED BY 9. the Tromp can be a health hazard for Black. Bb5+ as we shall examine next month. I 2059
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 disagree with it and prefer the text move even if d8 9.dxe6 provided that White d o e s n o t g i v e t h e c h e c k , i s o b vi o u s l y strictly equivalent. ] 8...xe6 9.b1! With b7 now unprotected it is a good moment to activate this rook along the o p e n f i l e . c7 10.f5!? Apparently a suggestion of the late Estonian No 1 player L e m b i t O l l i n a n o l d I n f o r m a n t . c8 In order to reserve the d7 square f or the queen's knight but [ 10...d7 looks better, without fearing A) Neither 11.g4 h6 12.h3 e7 13.f4 c6 14.g2 bd7 15.h4 0-0-0 16.0-0! W ith compensation for W hite, Holst,ASchmittdiel,E Ostende 1991 (38) ( 16.g5 hxg5 17.hxg5 xh1+ 18.xh1 h8 19.g2 e8 20.cd5 d8 ); B) 11.g5 e7 12.xf6 xf6 13.d5 a5+ ] 11.h3! The whole idea, keeping the g4 square under control ready to throw the gpawn into the battle. In some variations, White also manages to take advantage of the placing of the opposing queen by installing this knight on d5 via f4. e7 12.e2 0-0 13.0-0 d7 14.g4 "a l'attaque"! The threat of dislodging the defender of the key-square d5 is critical for Black. c6 15.g5! xe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.f6 c6? [ 17...d8 Surely was not a pleasant move to play but still more resistant than giving up t h e p i e c e . 18.f2 g6 19.f4 e8 20.xd6 For instance, when White obviously has all sorts of other tempting continuations xc2 21.d2! ( 21.xc7 xd1 22.fxd1 xc7 23.xb7 xe2 24.xc7 a6 25.xa7! ee8 26.dd7 xa7 27.xa7 b4 28.e4! is another way, rather linear, to obtain a clear edge in the ending. h6? 29.g6! f8 30.d6 gxf6 31.xf7 g7 32.e5+ g8 33.g4 ) 21...d7 22.g4 c6 ( 22...f5 23.xf5 xf5 24.fe1 e6 25.xe6 fxe6 26.xb7 gxf6 27.xb8+- ) 23.bc1 a4 24.xc5 a6 25.fxg7 ] 18.f2 d5 19.xe4 dxe4 20.f4! d8 21.fxe7 xe7 22.d6 fe8 23.xe7 xe7 24.d6 d7 25.xc5 With two great bishops 'sweeping' the board against a knight and only 2 flimsy pawns, the rest presents very little interest and one would say, 'it just plays
it se lf '. . . e5 26.fd1 b6 27.d6 f3+ 28.xf3 exf3 29.f4 xd1+ 30.xd1 c8 31.c7 f8 32.d8+ xd8 33.xd8 e8 34.c7 d7 35.e5 e6 36.xg7 f5 37.f6 h6 38.h4 hxg5 39.xg5 f6 40.d2 g4 41.e1 f5 42.h2 b5 43.f2 a5 44.e1 a4 45.f2 And Mrs Baginskaite, eventually bored, resigned. 1-0
2107 Iuldachev,Saidali Serper,Grigory Tashkent [Eric Prié]
A45 2445 2575 1993
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 c6 5.h4 e6 6.0-0-0 e7 [ 6...d5?! 7.e4! d4 8.f3 e5 9.b5 d6 ( 9...d6 10.d5 e7 11.xe7 xe7 12.xd4! exd4 13.e5 ) 10.xd4! The same one, "in colour". exd4 11.e5 c7 12.exf6 dxc3 13.fxg7 cxb2+ 14.b1 xg7 15.d8+ xd8 16.xd8+- ] 7.e4 a5 [ 7...h6 8.f4 g8!? 9.xf6 xf6 10.g3 xc3 11.xc3 a5 12.xa5 xa5 13.e5 g5 14.g3 ( 14.fxg5 hxg5 15.f3 c6 16.h3 ) 14...gxf4 15.gxf4 b6 16.e2 b7 17.g1 xg1 18.xg1 e7 19.b5 d5 20.e2 g8 21.g1= Dorfanis,I-Atalik,S Katerini GP op 1993 ] 8.f4 d6 This is the correct way of handling the position. Controlling e5 and evacuating the queen from the d-file is necessary before taking any interest in the g5-bishop. 9.f3 h6 10.e5 Pawn sacrifices to seize the initiative, " i n n o r m a l p o s i t i o n s " , a r e in t e r e s t in g i n practice, but they rarely withstand thorough analysis. Besides, this move is even marked as dubious by Grigory Serper in INF58. [ 10.b5 d7 11.e5 dxe5 12.xc6 xc6 13.xe5 c8= Serper,G ] 10...dxe5 11.fxe5 xe5 12.b5+ d7! 13.xe5 xb5 14.xf7!? [ 14.g4 c6 15.xf6+ gxf6 16.xf6 xf6 17.xf6 g5+ 18.xg5 hxg5 ] 14...xf7 15.xf6 xf6 16.h5+ g8 17.xb5 [ 17.xb5 xa2 ] 2060
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17...xc3 18.xb7 xb2+! [ 18...g5+ Serper,G 19.b1 h7 20.e4+! ] [ 18...b4 Serper,G 19.xa8+ h7 20.xh8+ xh8 21.bxc3 xc3 ] 19.xb2 [ 19.xb2? e5+! 20.c1 b8 21.f3 b2+ 22.d2 xa2 ] 19...h7 20.he1? [ 20.d3 was the only defence according to Serper. ] 20...hd8! Intending Qg5+ [ 20...ab8 Serper,G 21.e5! a4 ( 21...c7 22.d4 ) 22.c3 With the idea Qd3+ ] [ 20...hb8 with the same idea is better but 21.e5 a4 22.c3 xa2 23.d7 b1+ 24.d2 b7 25.d3+ g8 26.xe6 ( 26.d8+ xd8 27.xd8+ f7 ) 26...b4+ 27.c1 And the fight continues. ] 21.xd8 xd8 22.e5 [ 22.c3 g5+ 23.b1 d2 24.b7 xg2 25.e4+ f5 ] 22...d5!-+ [ 22...xa2 was winning too. ] 23.e4+ h8 24.a4 [ 24.xe6 d2+ 25.b1 b5+ ] [ 24.e3 xa2 ] 24...d2+ 25.b2 d4 26.a8+? [ 26.e3 b4+ 27.c1 xa4 ] 26...h7 White cannot parry the Rb4+ threat and simultaneously protect his rook. 0-1
8.fd2 d5 9.c4 e6 10.c3 ) 7...d6 8.c3 ( 8.g3 g4 9.bd2 e4 ) 8...a6 9.c5?! Preparing a winning ending... dxc5 10.dxe5 fxe5 11.xe5 e6 12.c4 c7 13.c2 0-0-0 14.a3 g7 15.d1 xd1+ 16.xd1 d7+ ( 16...d8+ 17.c1 b5 18.d2 c4 could have been annoying.) 17.c1 f5 18.e2! c7 ( 18...xc3 19.xc3 xg2 20.d1 g7 21.d2 d5 22.d6+ b8 23.xa6 bxa6 24.a5 ) 19.a4 e7 1/2-1/2 Cech, P-Drbohlav, FCZE-ChT1 2001 ] 6.c4 e5 [ 6...f5 The other thematic development for the black pieces in this line. 7.c3 e6 8.f3 d7 9.e2 e7 10.0-0 0-0 Black looks like having comfortably equalized... 11.c5!? c7 12.h4 g6 13.f4 f5 14.f3 b6 15.b4 fb8 1/2-1/2 Popovic, M (2387) -Blagojevic, D ( 2 5 3 2 ) E U - C h P l o v d i v 2 0 0 8 ( 15...fb8 16.d2 h5= )] 7.c3?! a dubious gambit. [ 7.f3 e4 8.fd2 Transposes into the note above. ] 7...h6? Black had to take up the gauntlet with [ 7...dxc4 8.xc4 exd4 9.exd4 xd4 With very obscure compensation for White because of 10.b3 ( 10.ce2 e4 11.f3 g8 12.f1 h3! ) 10...c5 11.c2 e5+ 12.ge2 f5 13.d2 d7 ] 8.f3 g4 9.dxe5 xf3 10.gxf3 d4 11.e4 dxe3 [ 11...fxe5 12.d6+ f8 13.f5 c5 ] 2108 A45 12.e2! Even the result, as appearing in one Ivanisevic,Ivan 2550 of those ChessBase Magazines, is fantasy in Kozul,Zdenko 2627 this game! [ 12.e2! is surely a brilliant move but I do BIH-chT Neum (9.2) 06.06.2004 not imagine a fighter like Kozul resigning so [Eric Prié] abruptly. A draw maybe?!? d7 ( 12...fxe5 13.fxe3 xe3? 14.xe3 xb2+ 15.d2 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6!? 3.xf6 gxf6 4.e3 xa1 16.d6+ f8 17.f5 e8 18.b4! b6 5.c1?! I do not like this move. Clearly And Black gets mated. xa2+ 19.e3 c5 the d1-h5 diagonal is interesting for the white 20.xb7 ) 13.h3 xe5 14.c3! e7 queen in this structure. It also tends to justify 15.fxe3 hd8 16.hd1 ] the opposing queen's sortie to b6 ... d5 [ 12.xf6+ e7 13.e2 Was less precise [ 5...e5!? 6.f3 g8 7.c4 because of the resource d8 Threatening ... ( As the opponent has now irremediably Rd2+ 14.fxe3 xe3! 15.xe3 xb2+ ] corrupted his pawn structure, I would have concentrated on solving the problem of the 1-0 g2-pawn as soon as possible. 7.g3 e4 2061
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2109 Ivanisevic,Ivan Nataf,Igor Alexandre French League (1) [Nataf, I-A]
A45 2602 2589 10.02.2007
And now back to the main line and the futuristic sequence 11...Qh6! 12.Ba5! with a game briefly commented by its friendly winner, the current French no. 6: 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5!? Here, I was sure my opponent from Antibes was going to play Chernyshov's line with Bc7. I had the possibility to play with 6...e6 (as I did one week later in the Icelandic League against Movsesian) because I knew he would play 6...Qb6 7. Bc1!) or take some heavy risks in the ensuing complications. I preferred to try my luck. b6!? 7.e4 xb2 8.d2 xc3 9.c7! Here we are! Before the game I had seen Alexandrov got a hiding f rom som e unknown 2400 in 28 moves! d6!? 10.e2 e3 11.c4 h6! 12.a5!N He played this move very quickly. At the end of the day it must be an improvement on the aforementioned fiasco for White. g5! [ 12...b5?! 13.d2 g5 14.a3 a6 15.h4 ] [ 12...g6?! 13.b1! And I have no moves anymore, no ...Bg7, nothing... ( 13.h4!? ) 13...g7 14.d2 h5 15.h4+- ] 13.d2! h4+!! A typical computer move. I understood the bishop had to be attracted to g2 and the square g3 taken from the king's knight to prevent Nf5. [ 13...g7?! 14.b1 ] [ 13...g6!? 14.h4 g4! 15.f4 g7 16.b1 g8 ] 14.g3 [ 14.g3? h5 ] 14...h5 15.g2 [ 15.c3 g7 16.h4 g4 17.f4 0-0 ( 17...xe4!? 18.xe4 xd5 )] 15...h6! I have to develop! 16.g4!? [ 16.0-0! w a s m o r e n a t u r a l . bd7 ( 16...g6 17.e5 xd5 18.exd6 c6 19.f4; 16...0-0 17.g4 g6 18.g3 b5 19.e3 e6 20.c3 b4 21.b2 a6 22.f2 c4 23.dxe6 fxe6 24.xd6 c3 25.c1 fd7 26.xb4 g7 ) 17.g4 g6 18.g3 b6 19.e3 g7 20.ef5 h5 ] 16...g6
[ 16...h4+ I almost played this but it looks even riskier than the game. 17.f1 g7 18.c1 xe4 19.fxe4 xa1 20.xa1 g8 ] 17.c1 [ 17.g3 0-0! 18.f5 xf5 19.exf5 ( 19.gxf5 h5! 20.h4 g4!? Nothing is clear. ) 19...g7 Now Black is fine. ] 17...g7! I felt I had to play this before it is too late. 18.h4! Played rapidly to reach the critical position. [ 18.xg5? h5! was my intention. 19.f4 xg5 20.h4 h6 21.g5 h7 ] 18...h5! A hyper-tense move but I had calculated very accurately. 19.hxg5 hxg4 20.xh8+? [ 20.gxf6 xh1+ 21.xh1 A) 21...xf6!? 22.b1 ( 22.f4 h6 23.g2 xa1 24.xa1 d7 ) 22...h5 23.f2 h2+ 24.e3 b5 25.xb5 g3; B) 21...xf6 22.c3 h4+ 23.d2! The point which was missed by my opponent. h6+! ( 23...gxf3 24.xg7 fxe2 25.e3 ) 24.f4 b5! The move proposed by Ivanisevic in the post-mortem. S t i l l , B l a c k i s p r o b a b l y O K . ( 24...h2 25.f1 ) 25.e3 b4 26.b2 a6 With activity. 27.e1 h2 28.g2 c4!? 29.d4 e5!? 30.dxe6 c6 ] 20...xh8 21.gxf6 gxf3 22.xf3 xf6! 23.c3 xf3 24.xh8 h1+! This is the idea I had foreseen a few moves ago. 25.d2 xh8 26.h1 xh1 27.xh1 d7 28.h8+ f8 29.f4 d7 30.g8 0-0-0 31.g7 e8 32.e3 e6! Nf5 needs to be prevented. 33.g8 b5 34.g7 exd5 35.fxd5 g6! 36.c3 [ 36.xf7 e5 37.c7+ ( 37.h7 c4+! And it wins easily after the exchange of knights. ) 37...b8 ] 36...e8 37.f5 e5 38.e3 c6 39.f4 b5 [ 39...d7!? ] 40.xd6+ xd6 41.xe5 d7 42.g8+ c7 43.a3 d3 [ 43...d3 44.d5+ xd5 45.exd5 e3+ 46.f6 xa3 ] 0-1
2062
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A45 30...c4 31.c3 h3 32.e2 f7 33.d3 2388 xd3 34.xd3 d4+ 35.c2 d5! [ 35...f5 36.exf5 f4 37.d5 xf5 38.d3 2493 looks more complicated. g5 ] 11.04.2003 36.exd5 f5 37.d2 xd2+ 38.xd2 e4 39.e3 c5+ 40.f4 f6 41.h4 d6+ 42.e3 e5 43.h5 f8 44.f2 f4 45.g2 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c1 [ 4.b3 Can quickly turn out disastrous for a6 46.h3 d4 47.g4 f3 48.g3 d6+ W h ite af t e r e4 5.e3 ( 5.f4? f6 ) 49.f2 f4 50.h6 [ 50.a4 b6 Leads to the same zugzwang. ] 5...b4+! 6.c3 ( 6.d2 c3; 6.d2 d4 ) 50...xh6 51.d6 f4 52.d7 c7 53.d1 6...xc3 7.xc3 xc3+ 8.d2 d4 ] d3 54.a4 b6+ 55.g3 c7+ 56.f2 4...a5+ [ 4...b4+ 5.c3 ( 5.c3? e4 ) 5...e4 d8 57.g3 b5 58.axb5 axb5 59.f2+ ( 5...e6 6.d2 ) 6.d3 xc3 7.bxc3 a5 d4 60.g4 b4 61.b3 c7+ 62.f2 d3 63.f1 8.e4 ] [ 63.e5+ c3 64.c4 d4 65.e3 d8 5.d2 66.f5+ d3 ] [ 5.c3 e6 ] [ 5.c3!? b5! ( 5...e4 6.d3 xc3 63...e3 64.e1 e2 0-1 7.d2; 5...e6 6.d2 )] 5...b6 6.c1 The shortest "forced" draw by repetition ever? Indeed a very interesting and A45 original, possibility for prearranged games to 2111 cut cross the arbiter's reprimands for absence Jakubiec,Artur 2485 of a "real and genuine fight"... e6 7.c4 Mista,Aleksander 2489 T h e r e f u s a l o f t h e t a c i t d r a w o f f e r h a s CZE-chT 0506 (7) 14.01.2006 revealed the truly wild character of White as [Eric Prié] well as the concealed virulence of the variation! 1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.c3? A better support of [ 7.c3 exd5 8.xd5 xd5 9.xd5 c6 White's d-pawn is naturally 10.e4 Otherwise Black plays ...Ne7 and ... [ 3.e3 to which the next update will be d5. b4 11.b3 e6 12.xe6+ dxe6 dedicated. ] 13.d1 d7 14.c3 c6 15.f3 0-0-0 3...b6! 4.b3 Is therefore the only move. 16.c2= ] cxd4! 7...b4+ 8.c3 xc4 9.e4 b4 10.a3 [ 4...xb3 5.axb3 cxd4 b6 11.g4 h6 12.f4 d6 13.g5 hxg5 A) 6.f3!? Unnecessary but still 14.fxg5 h5 15.g6 e5! 16.gxf7+ xf7 interesting. dxc3 ( 6...c6 7.xd4 xd4 17.h3 d7 18.f3 8.cxd4 Koggala, W (2026)-Klasan, V [ 18.e6+ e8 19.g4 f4! 20.xf4 exf4 (2393) Olm Khanty-Mansiysk 2010 21.xd7+ xd7 22.g6+ d8 23.0-0-0 0-1(61) ) 7.xc3 a6 8.e4 Koggala, W With unclear consequences was more to the (2026)-Araz, B (2348) Olm Khantypoint. ] Mansiysk 2010 1/2 (66); 18...e7 19.g1 c4! 20.e6+ e8 21.e2 B) 6.cxd4 c6 7.e3 e6 ( 7...b4 8.a4! c5 22.xc4 b3 23.b5+ xb5 fd5 9.c3 ) 8.c3 a6 9.f3 24.xb5 xe6 25.dxe6 With a playable position for White in Shlak, [ 25.c7+ d7 26.xa8? h3 ] L-Gayvoronskiy, S Russia 2004 1-0 (30) ] 25...xe6 26.g5 xg5 27.xg5 c8! 5.xb8 Avoids losing a pawn but fails to avoid 28.d1 giving the advantage to the opponent. [ 28.xa7 c4 ] [ 5.xb6 axb6 6.cxd4 ( 6.xb8? dxc3!! 28...f6 29.xf6 gxf6 30.g2 Reminiscent of the Tromp and which only [ 30.xd6+ xd6 31.xd6 xh2 32.g8+ works thanks to the preliminary opening of e7 33.xc8 xd6 ] the a-file in Black's favour. 7.e5 xa2! 2110 Jakab,Attila Ovsejevitsch,Sergei FSGM April Budapeste (7) [Eric Prié]
2063
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.xa2 c2 Dorner, M (2265)-Jacob, G (2226) BL3 NRW 2003) 6...c6 7.e3! ( 7.c3 xd4 8.0-0-0 e6 9.g3 g6 Nykanen, O-Luukkonen, T (2100) Jamsa 1 9 9 6 0 - 1 ( 5 4 )) 7...b4 8.a3! d6! The open a-file facing a 'bad' knight on a3 p lu s go o d ligh t -squ a re d co n t ro l: B la c k should not be too greedy. ( 8...xa3 9.bxa3 c2+ 10.d2 xa1 11.d3 e6 12.f3 A position we know from the NimzoLondon... ) 9.f3 g6 10.b5+ d7 11.e2 g7 12.xd7+ xd7 13.c4 fd5 ] 5...xb8? [ 5...dxc3? 6.e5 ] [ 5...xb3 6.axb3 xb8 7.xa7 ( 7.cxd4 a6 8.c3 d5 Then is probably White's le ss e r e v i l. I s i t b e c a u s e it lo o k s a b i t depressing for W hite that I found no games matching this position in my database?!) 7...dxc3 ( 7...e5!? 8.f3 c5 9.a1 d6 ) 8.bxc3 ( 8.xc3 d5 Bu t a lso 8 . . . b5 ! ? , 8. . . e 5 ! ? 9.e3 e6 Koggala, W (2026)-Soozankar, A (2299) Zuerich 2010 0-1 (42)) 8...e5 ( 8...d5 9.e3 f5 10.b5+ d8 11.d2 c7 Kodric, V-Krumpacnik, D (2379) Ptuj 2005 0-1(33) ) 9.e3 c5 10.a4 e7 11.f3 d6 Hunko, G-Eberth, Z (2270)/ 1/2 Hungary 2000 1/2(51) ] 6.xb6 axb6 7.cxd4 d6 8.c3 [ 8.e3 g6 9.c3 d7 10.f3 g7 11.e2 0-0 12.0-0 fc8 13.fc1 c7 14.b5 1/2-1/2 Hunt, M (1912) -Purdon, C (2081) Birmingham 2001 ] 8...d7 9.e3 e6 10.f3 e7 ½-½
opinion, one should always start with the obligatory moves [ 9.g2 rather than the 'optional' ones as a good rule for development in theoretically un kno wn p o sit io n s. b5? 10.d6 c6 11.dxe7 ] 9...e6 Furthermore, there is no need to provoke a move that Black will play anyway. On the other hand, W hite does not know where his queen will be best placed, c2 or d2 as in the game in the note from where she usefully supported his d-pawn. 10.g2 a6 11.a3 c7 12.d6 e8 13.c4 b8 14.a4 b6 15.f3 a6 16.fd2 f6 17.h3? White does not sense the danger [ 17.0-0 g4?! ( 17...fd8 ) 18.h3 e5 19.xe5 ( 19.b3!? ) 19...xf1? ( 19...xe5 20.fd1 fd8 21.f3 g7 22.e4 fxe4 23.xe4 b7= ) 20.xd7 xg2 21.xg2 bd8 22.xf8 xf8 23.c4 xd6 24.d1 Was even clearly better for him. ] 17...e4! Short castling will be problematic for W hite af ter this move, opening the a6-f 1 diagonal, with all sorts of unpleasant c o n s e q u e n c e s . 18.xe4 Since 18.b3 is impossible because c3 is hanging, here Fritz proposes to pragmatically move the king's rook off the long diagonal, on g1 for instance, to loosen the tension by threatening to take on e4 and then continue with a fearless long castling. I am not sure it realizes what it's doing... fxe4 19.xe4 b7 20.xb7 xb7 21.xb7 b8 22.a6 [ 22.g2 g6 23.e4 ( 23.0-0 d3 24.a3 xd6 ) 23...a6 ] 22...h5 23.g4? [ 23.d1 was compulsory without fearing A) B u t r a t h e r 23...f5! 24.b5 c2 2112 A45 25.a1! ( 25.0-0 a6 26.xa6 xa4 27.a1 c6 followed by b6-b5.) 25...a6!! Jaracz,Pawel 2439 26.xa6 b5 27.xb5 xb5! 28.axb5 Malakhatko,Vadim 2496 e4 29.0-0 xc4 30.b6 b3 31.a7 op Swidnica (6) 03.07.1999 xb2 32.b7 f8 33.d1 b6 34.b8 [Eric Prié] xb8 35.xd7 g7; B) 23...f3?! 24.0-0 ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 After 24.0-0 b5 25.Bxb5 Rxb5! 5.c1 f5 6.g3 h6!? 7.e3 g7 8.c3 0-0 23...d5! 9.c2 In this position, it is clear that White B l a c k r e a l i z e s t h e s a m e t h e m e a s j u s t will develop his king's bishop to g2 and his mentioned but without having to give his d7 king's knight to e2 (obviously more flexible pawn and against a more exposed white king than h3, with the same idea of aiming at f4, after the weakening of his castled position. when e3 has been already played). In my 0-1 2064
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2113 Jenks,Chris Bruce Rudd,Jack 98th ch Sheffield ENG (3.19) [Eric Prié]
A45 2146 2278 27.07.2011
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5! I have always been conscious of the fact that this lateral attack represented the acid test of W hite's 2.Bf4 mo ve ord er. For so m e rea so n , h owe ve r, following a mixture of 'so far, so good' and an 'ostrich policy', I had always managed to we a t h e r t h e s t o r m . . . u n t i l r e c e n t l y ! 3.d5 T h e m o ve re c o m m e n d e d i n t h e b o o ks. . . b6?! Unfortunately for White, there are far less heartening options than this transposition to the Tromp, see the next games. 4.c3 xb2 [ 4...d6!? 5.e4? ( 5.b1!? e6 6.e4 xe4 7.b5+ d7 8.dxe6 fxe6 9.xe4 xb5 10.xd6; 5.e3 xb2 6.b5+ d8!? 7.ge2 xd5! 8.xd5 xb5 9.0-0 c6 ) 5...xe4! The first shot in a long series stressing the disadvantage of having the bishop on f4 (rather than g5 in this specific case) as soon as White has stopped ...Nf6e4 (which is indeed a typical Tromp problem!) 6.xe4 b4+ 7.d2 xe4+ 8.e2 ( 8.e2 ) 8...f5! ( 8...b4?! 9.c3 b6 10.f3 Drill, F (2140) -Zunker, R (2235) Wiesbaden 1994 1-0(30); 8...xg2? 9.0-0-0 xh1 10.f3 ) 9.0-0-0 d7! Without enough compensation, for instance after the natural ( 9...a4 10.b1 xc2+ 11.xc2 xf4 12.h3 f6 13.b5+ d7 14.a4 ) 10.f3 a4! 11.b1 xc2+ 12.xc2 xf4 ] 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 We know from the Tromp (retreat of the bishop to d2 from g5) this position is quite dangerous for Black. Also in case of [ 6...e5 7.f4 d6 8.f5! ] 7.f4 a6 A move I did not treat at the time... in this game which breaks all the records of topicality (played just a few weeks ago) as well as being one of the very few matching this position that occurs from the Neo-London move order rather than the Tromp! [ A reminder: 7...e6 8.b1! c7 ( 8...d8 9.b5+! This check is valuable when the queen stands on d8, leaving the b7-pawn
without protection. bd7 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.f3 a6 12.d3 b5 13.g5 e7 14.xb5!! axb5 15.xb5 b6 16.e5 ) 9.f3 exd5 ( 9...a6!? 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.e5 dxe5 12.fxe5 g4 13.d3 xe5 14.e4 bd7 15.0-0 f7? 16.g5! f6 17.f4 e5 18.d5! d7 19.xf7 xf7 20.xe5 e7 21.h5+ g8 22.xf6 gxf6 23.xf6 1 -0 Mo ska le n ko , V (2 5 3 8 )-E rd o gd u , M (2513) Ankara 2010) 10.e5 dxe5 11.fxe5 e4 12.xd5 d8 13.c4!? Compared with Mc Shane-Ni Hua where when using the same idea White had to protect his d5 knight with his c-pawn, White may now try t h i s m o v e , w i t h t h e d e v i l i s h i d e a e6 ( 13...c6 14.0-0 e6 15.xb7! xd5 16.g5! ) 14.xb7 xd5 15.b5+ c6 ( 15...c6 16.c4 b8 17.cxd5 xb7 18.xc6+ d7 19.e6 ) 16.xb8 xb5 17.xd8+ xd8 18.b1 ] 8.e5 dxe5?! Black should quickly lose after this move which completely liberates the op p osin g a tt a ckin g p o te n tia l, n ot ic ea b ly opening the f-file for his coming short castling. [ 8...fd7 9.f3 c7 10.g5! ( 10.a4? dxe5 11.d3 g6 Among others (11...c4, 11...exf4) clearly without enough co m p e n sat io n f or t h e 2 p a wn s in A vila Jim e n e z, J (2 2 2 1 )-B u rgo s Figu e ro a , C (2263) Sabadell 2009 0-1 (34)) 10...dxe5 11.c4! With the lethal threat d5-d6. d6 12.ce4 g6 ( 12...h6 13.d6 e6 14.0-0 f6 15.xf7 xf7 16.fxe5 ) 13.d6 e6 14.f5! xf5 15.g3! g6 ( 15...f6 16.f1 xd6 17.3e4 e7 18.xf7 ) 16.0-0 xd6 17.xf7+- ] 9.fxe5 g4 10.e6 f5 11.b1 [ 11.h3! f6 ( 11...e5 12.e2 d6 13.f3 xf3+ 14.xf3 g6 15.f4 d8 16.e5 g8 17.g4+- ) 12.f3 xe6 ( 12...g6 13.g4 g7 14.gxf5 0-0 15.fxg6 hxg6 16.b1 c7 17.g2! b5 18.xg6 b4 19.f3! Controlling e5 and freeing the g1 square. bxc3 20.h6 h5 21.g1! Stopping ...Qg3+ xf3 22.xh5+- ) 13.b1 xd5 14.xb6 xf3 15.xf3+- Corrales Jimenez, F (2586)-Manet, E (2009) Cappelle la Grande op 2009 1-0(27) ] 11...d6 12.f3 g6 13.b5+?? The wrong move order! [ 13.f4 e5 ( 13...d8 14.g3 2065
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Threatening to win a piece by Bxb8 but also the queen by Bc7! g7 15.ge2 ) 14.b5+! ( 14.g3 g7 15.b5+ bc6! 16.dxc6 axb5 17.xb5 xc6 18.xe5 e4+ ) 14...axb5 ( 14...bc6 15.e3 g7 16.dxc6 axb5 17.xb5 xc6 18.xe5 xe5 19.xe5 0-0 20.f3 xe6 21.0-0 ) 15.g3 g7 16.xb5 d8 17.xe5 ] 13...axb5 14.xb5 [ 14.f4 d8 ] 14...d8 And White is just lost. 15.h3 [ 15.g3 a6 16.c3 xd5! Time for a c o u n t e r -a t t a c k ! ( 16...g8 17.h3 f6 18.xf6 exf6 19.c4 a5+ 20.f1 xa2 Should also win.) 17.xh8 h6 18.e2 ( 18.d1 xe6+ 19.e2 d7 20.c4 xb5 21.cxb5 b4 ) 18...d2+ 19.f1 e3+ 20.f2 xe6 ] 15...g7 16.g5 0-0 17.f7 e5 18.xe5 xe5 19.0-0 xe6 20.h6 xd5 21.d3 xa2 22.e2 c6 0-1
2114 Jirovsky,Pavel Nemec,Pavel chT2 9900 CZE [Eric Prié]
A45 2344 2310 1999
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 a5+ 4.d2 xc5 5.gf3 d5 6.e3 c6?! The main problem with the line 3...Qa5+ is that Black is chronically behind in development. So he has to watch out for any sudden opening of the position which can quickly turn out delicate for him... [ 6...e4 7.b3 c6 8.e5 d6 9.f4 ] [ 6...bd7!? With the idea 7.c4 e4 8.cxd5 ( 8.b3 b4+ ) 8...xg5 9.xg5 xd5= ] 7.c4! e4 8.cxd5 xd5 [ 8...xg5 9.dxc6 This the drawback of h a v i n g a k n i g h t o n t h i s s q u a r e . xf3+ 10.xf3 xc6 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.c1 ] 9.xe4 xe4 10.a3 f6 11.d3 g4 12.h3! h5 [ 12...xg2? 13.h2 ] 13.h4 e6 [ 13...e5 14.b3 f7 15.c4 c7 16.c1 W ith the plan 0-0, Rfd1 is hardly an improvement for Black. ]
14.0-0 e7 15.c2 0-0 16.b4! a6 [ 16...d7 17.b5 d8 ( 17...e5 18.xe5 xe5 19.xh7+ h8 20.a4 ) 18.c7 ] 17.g3 h8 [ 17...d7 18.fd1 fd8? 19.c7! dc8 20.xh7+ xh7 21.xh7+ xh7 22.xd7 ] 18.e4 d7 19.fd1 e8 20.d4! The Czech player is now a confirmed International Master rated 2400... f7 21.a2 From a simple position, without any pawn breaks, W hite has shown limpid and exemplary strategy so far. 21.Qb3 with the same idea was already better, but in the same spirit of straightforwardness [ 21.xc6! would have allowed him to deal t h e f i n i s h i n g b l o w . xc6 ( 21...c8? 22.e5! ) 22.xc6 A) 22...ac8 23.d3! xc6 ( 23...bxc6 24.xa6 ) 24.d7 b6 ( 24...d8 25.xf7 xf7 26.xd8+ ) 25.c7 b5 26.d7 e8 27.c1! h6 28.d6! xd6 29.xf7 xc7 30.cxc7+-; B) 22...fc8 B1) 23.d7! xc6 24.d3 ( 24.e4 f5 25.f3 f6 26.ad1 ac8 27.xb7 ) 24...b5 25.d6 e8 26.a4 bxa4 27.xa4 xd6 ( 27...c1+ 28.h2 xd6+ 29.xd6 f8 30.xa6 ) 28.xf7 c1+ 29.f1 h2+ 30.xh2 xf1 31.xa6 xf2 32.xe6! g8 ( 32...g8 33.xg7+ xg7 34.xe8 ) 33.b5 h5 34.b6+-; B2) 23.d3 bxc6 24.d7; B3) 23.c7 xc7 ( 23...bxc6 24.d7 e8 25.xc6 d8 26.c1 ) 24.e8 xc2 25.xf7 ac8 ( 25...e5 26.d7 f8 27.xb7 ) 26.xe6 ] 21...xd4 22.xd4 [ 22.exd4 a5 23.xb7 a7 24.c8 axb4 25.xe6 g6 looks alright for Black, but 26.d5! bxa3 27.d6 will leave White with an extra passed pawn on d4. ] 22...e5 [ 22...a5! ] 23.xf7 [ 23.d5 g6 24.g4 d3 25.xb7 a7 White has won a pawn, but his rook on g4 is terribly misplaced when the black pieces start to become very active. ] 23...xf7 24.c4 b8? Eventually losing the pawn that was the stake of the game. 2066
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 24...f8 25.ac1 with ideas of Rc7 or Rc8. e7 26.c7 c6 27.xe7 xe7 28.xc6 c8 29.d1 xc6 30.d7 ] [ 24...d8! And after 25.d1 Or 25.Rc1 White retains only a small plus. ] 25.d5 f8 26.c7 d6 27.xb7 b5 [ 27...c8 28.b6 ] 28.xb8 xb8 29.c1 Moreover, White controls the only open file... g6 30.f3 d8 31.e4 g7 32.f2 and has better bishops after this obvious manoeuvre. The rest is without interest. f8 33.b6! d7 [ 33...b8 34.c7 ] 34.c8+ g7 35.c5 h6 36.h2 xc5 37.bxc5 g5 38.g3 f5 39.h4+ h5 40.c6 g7 41.h3 f4 42.e8 h6 43.xe5+ g5 44.f5 g6 45.hxg5 hxg5 46.g4 h6 47.f6+ h7 48.d6 1-0
"positional" compensation whatsoever he could put forward to try to justify the interest of the sacrifice. Black has a safe king, good pieces, space, control over the center, easy moves and even some typical Sicilian tactics on the opponent's long castle. His only little worry is the temporary passivity of his king's rook... [ 17.f1 So here is "Mr Trompopoulos's" preparation - This game was played one month later- in this line.. He usually plays 3. Bxf6 gxf6 4.dxc5 or 3.dxc5 in the 2... c5 Tromp. c6 18.g4 d8 19.e3 e5 20.f2 b4 21.e2 d7 22.h3 e8 ( 22...d5 23.d4 c7 ) 23.d4 d5 24.xf6 gxf6 25.b1 ( 25.xf6 g5+ ) 25...e7 26.f4 c5 27.xc5 1/2-1/2 Miladinovic,I-Gustafsson,J Match GRE -GE R Fue rt h 2 0 0 2 T h e po sit io n is levelled after xc5 28.h5 e7 29.xf6+ xf6 30.xf6 ] 2115 A45 17...c6 18.g4 d8 [ 18...f3 19.e2 ] Kalinichev,Andrey 2275 f3 20.g5 Desperation. This Gustafsson,Jan 2540 19.h4 ZMD op Dresden (5) 2002 "succedaneum" for attack will only result in solving the problem of the h8-rook. [Eric Prié] [ 20.d2 xg4 21.dg2 h5 ] [ 20.e2 xd1+ 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 A) 21.xd1 d5!! 22.xf3 xc3 c6 5.h4 e6 6.e4 23.bxc3 ( 23.e1 xa2+ 24.b1 b4 ) [ 6.0-0-0 e7 7.e4 h6 8.f4 a5?! 9.c4?! 23...xc3 24.d6 ( 24.b1 b4+ ) ( 9.e5! d5 10.xd5 xg5 11.fxg5 exd5 24...e3+ 25.b2 b6+; 12.b1 xe5 13.gxh6 xh6 14.g5 g6 B) 21.xd1 xd1 22.xd1 g5 ] 15.f3 ) 9...f8! With the black queen [ 20.e3 a5 21.g5 hxg5 22.hxg5 g4 already on a5, this move is much stronger 23.d2 xe3 24.xe3 c5! forces the as it a u th o rizes Black t o e xch a nge t h e exchange of queens. 25.e1? xg5 ] queens and double the c-pawns equivalent to, at the very least, equality. 10.xf6 xf6 20...hxg5 21.hxg5 d5 22.xd5 xd5 11.g3 g5!? ( 11...xc3 12.xc3 xc3 Keeping it simple. [ 22...xd1-+ ] 13.bxc3 e7 14.f3 b6 ) 12.f5 e5 13.b3 b5 Lindam,I-Inkiov,V 0-1 Gent op 23.e2 xd1+! 24.xd1 xd1+ 25.xd1 xd1 26.xd1 e8 27.d3 h4 28.e3 2002 0-1(30) ] 6...e7 7.f4 d6 8.0-0-0 Quite surprisingly, g4 29.b3 b5 30.c3 xg5 31.xg5 Even in a position as winning as this this is the actual order of moves in both the g1+! main game and the following one given in the present one, you should always seize any note. Have I missed something or has the occasion to maximize your chances. 32.d2 World leading specialist of the Tromp found xg5 33.c8+ d7 34.a8 d5+ 35.e3 anything against 7...Qb6, as in Rogozenko's d6 36.a7+ e8 37.e4 c6 38.c3 f8 game? a5 9.f3 h6 10.e5 dxe5 11.fxe5 39.d4 g5 xe5 12.xe5 xe5 13.b5+ f8 14.f4 0-1 c5 15.e1 a6 16.d3 d7 17.g1 As a result, White does not have any sort of 2067
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2116 Kalinitshev,Andrei Volodin,Aleksandr ch-EST Tallinn EST (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2369 2244 06.03.2006
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 [ 3...c5 4.e3 b6 5.c3 ] 4.e3! c5 5.d3!? f6! 6.c3! The fact that this position is surely playable for White, in this specific move order, whereas only probably in the Martinovic-Perunovic one, instead of the suspect capture on c5, could also open new horizons for investigation in the case of Black's annoying main option of 3... c5 after W hite's less common 4.e3!?. I already mentioned this a long time ago when studying the equally problematic 2...c5 (You always find the same moves at the origin of the same concerns...) Tromp. Then the main reply 4...d5 would not be feared and W hite would only have to concentrate on 4...Qb6 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6.bxc3. This position is forgotten by Wells as well as most of the typical d-Pawn Specials replies like c2-c3 or e2-e3, aiming at keeping a strong pawn on d4 after an opposing lateral attack with ...c7-c5. However indicators of dynamism are green here for White, contrary, in fact, to many positions he strives to deal with without granting much attention to the static factors that should act as guidelines for sound and especially LONG LASTING statements of the opening phase. Indeed, White will enjoy at least an advance of 2 tempi in development plus the semi-opening of the b-file and the subsequent reinforcement of his centre to make up for the grave deterioration of his structure. Please find a recapitulative of the moves supporting this hopeful thought in the Shaefer-Pock game. c6 [ 6...b6!? 7.c2! ] 7.d2! g4 [ 7...b6 8.b1! Now with a fine position for W h i t e f i n a l l y e n j o yi n g a n e xt r a t e m p o compared to a normal London and not the p o o r 8 . Q b 3 ? ? t h a t w o u l d b e a s e ve r e mistake due to 8...c4! ] 8.gf3! [ 8.a4 White should wait until the opponent plays ...e7-e6 before executing this idea.
d7! ( 8...e6 9.h3 h5 10.gf3 d6? 11.b5?? 11.Ba6!+- 0-0! 12.xc6 bxc6 13.xc6 xf4 14.exf4 cxd4 15.xd4 b8! 16.2b3 xf4 17.0-0 e5 Deutsch, E (2364) - Bykhovsky, A (2374) only some 2006 playchess.com Blitz, after all, that White won in 43 moves by the way.; 8...c4!? 9.e2! ) 9.c2 c8 10.b1 h5! This thematic manoeuvre emphasizes the guilty desertion of the kingside by the queen. 11.g5 h6 12.h4 cxd4 13.exd4 g5?! ( 13...f4! 14.g3 or 14.Bf1 in the spirit of Qb1?! xd3+ 15.xd3 b6 16.b3 a5 ) 14.g3 e5 15.dxe5 b6 ( 15...xg3 16.hxg3 c5 17.gf3 g4 18.h4 xe5 19.b3 ) 16.gf3 g7 17.0-0 0-0 18.b3 xg3 19.hxg3 xe5 20.h7+ h8 21.f5 ( 21.xe5 xe5 22.f5 xf5 As in the game Black should play 22...Be6, keeping t h e b a l a n c e . 23.xf5 xg3 24.ad1 ) 21...xf3+ ( 21...xf5 22.xf5 g6 23.xg6 xf3+ 24.gxf3 fxg6 ) 22.gxf3 With a roughly equal position after 22...Be6 that Black should have played in Caselas Cabanas, J (2406) - Fernandez Losada, D (2142) Mondariz op 2006 1-0(41) ] [ 8.b3? d7 Of course, threatening ... c5c4 even more insistently. ] 8...e6 9.h3!? [ 9.a4 The inferior position of the bishop on g4, compared to f5 which was impossible because of the extra-tempo Bd3, in the already scrutinized 1...d5 Neo-London, a l l o w s s u c h a m a l i c i o u s i m p u l s e . c4! ( 9...xf3? 10.xf3 d6? 11.a6! a5 12.xa5 xa5 13.xd6 bxa6 14.xc5+Ionov, S (2490) - Relange, E (2450) EU-Ch clubs Budapest 1996 1-0 (45)) 10.c2 ( 10.e2 a6 11.e5 xe2 12.xc6 d7 ) 10...a6! ( 10...d6 11.xd6 xd6 12.b3 cxb3 13.axb3 0-0 14.0-0 fc8 15.fc1 With the plan b3-b4-b5 not to give the b4 square to the Nc6, Bc2-d3 and then c3-c4.) 11.e5 b5 12.xc6 b6 13.a5 xc6 14.b4! ( 14.a4 b4! 15.cxb4 c3 ) 14...d6 15.a4! b8 ( 15...xf4? 16.axb5 ) 16.xd6 xd6 17.axb5 axb5 18.a6 With a possible slight edge for White. ] 9...h5 10.0-0 d6? [ 10...e7 11.b3 c8 12.dxc5 xc5 13.c4! ] 2068
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ So it was time to reduce the central tension: 10...cxd4! 11.cxd4 d6 12.b3 b8 ( 12...0-0!? 13.xb7 b4 ) 13.e5 xe5 ( 13...0-0 14.ac1 xe5 15.xe5 xe5 16.dxe5 d7 17.f4 ) 14.dxe5 ( 14.xe5 xe5 15.dxe5 d7 16.f4 a5! 17.f2 c5 18.b5+ xb5 19.xb5+ e7= ) 14...d7 15.a3 ( 15.e4 c5; 15.ac1 ) 15...e7 16.xe7+ xe7 17.g5+ f6 18.exf6+ gxf6 The better king and the centre compensate the opposing pair of bishops. ] 11.b3! b8 [ 11...0-0 12.xb7 a5 13.a6 ( 13.xa8 xa8 14.xd6 c8 15.xc5 is less clear.) 13...xf4 14.exf4 And there is no double attack with ...Qb8. ] 12.dxc5 xf4 13.exf4 0-0 14.a3!? [ 14.fe1! Simple chess. e7 ( 14...d7 15.c2 h8 16.b4; 14...a5 15.b5 ) 15.g4 g6 16.f5+- ] 14...c7 15.g3 a5 16.b4 d4 17.cxd4? [ 17.bxa5 fd8 18.fc1 ( 18.ab1 dxc3 19.xc3 d5 is t h e s a m e .) 18...dxc3 19.xc3 d5 20.a6 bd8 21.f1 bxa6 22.xa6 ] 17...axb4 18.b2 fd8 19.fc1 d7 20.b5 xf3 21.xf3 d5 22.xc6 bxc6 23.b3 f5 24.g2 d5 25.c2 xc2 26.xc2 a8 27.b2 [ 27.e5 a6 ] 27...f6 28.e1 In this position the white knight should head for d6: [ 28.e1 f7 29.d2 And White has probably managed to keep some advantage in spite of his 17th move slip. ] 28...a4 29.c2 b8 30.ab1 b5 31.b3 To conclude this survey on the second knot f ound in this section (The f irst be ing th e Nimzo Torre when Black later plays ...d5 and ...c5) I would say that from the Tromp 2..Ne4 (2... c5) A45 the Indian Neo-London 1...Nf6 2. Bf4 c5 A45 the Pseudo-Bishop's attack 1...d5 2.Bg5 Nf6 or because of 2...f6! the Tromp 2. .. d 5 i d e n t ic a l ly E CO co d e d D0 0 t h e Ne o London 2.Bf4 D00, the classical London 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 D02 until the Torre 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bg5 D03, the key word is UNIVERSALITY. Without its possession, it is impossible to comprehend an opening with all its global nuances. Relying on moves one after the other rather than
strong, solid, general concepts can only lead to a highly unstable evaluation of the position. This is what happened to Wells by underestimating the recoil 5...Nf6, with the unpleasant consequence of therefore leaving the whole chapter on 1.d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. Bf4 d5 4.e3! sort of hanging in the air... ½-½
2117 Kalisvaart,Peter Kharitonov,Alexandr HZ Open Vlissingen NED (5) [Eric Prié]
A45 2437 05.08.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 c6 5.h4 e6 6.0-0-0 e7 7.e4 0-0 Black wants to be able to use his h-pawn in order to create problems for the opponent on the "heavily laden" d8-h4 diagonal. This is natural but a bit naive and highly risky as we sh all se e in th e ne xt gam e . 8.f4 h6?! 9.xf6?! Although it is not that simple, this exchange is a little success for Black. xf6 10.g3 d5!! A fantastic central reaction by the Under 18 vice World champion this year, illustrating the danger, sometimes, to rashly pa rt wit h o ne 's b ish o p s. 11.exd5 b4 12.dxe6 a5 13.exf7+ h8 14.c4 f5 Within a couple of moves (and at the cost of 3 pawn s.. .) t he sto rm h as bea ten down o n White's queenside! 15.b3 xc3! 16.bxc3 [ 16.xc3 xa2+ ( 16...xc2 17.d5 ) 17.xa2 xa2 18.a3 c4 19.b3 ( 19.c3 xf4+ 20.d2 a4 ) 19...xb3 20.cxb3 ac8+ 21.d2 xf7 22.f3 c2+ 23.e3 xb2 ] 16...a3+ 17.d2 [ 17.b1 xc2+ 18.xc2 xa2+ 19.c1 xc2# ] 17...xc2 [ 17...ad8+! It cannot be a bad idea to get rid of a defender. 18.e1 xd1+ 19.xd1 xc2+! 20.xc2 d8+ 21.e2 xc2 Unless he can do something with his f-pawn, this position looks hopeless for W hite... 22.h4 ( 22.f3 xa2 ) 22...a6+ 23.f2 d2+ 24.g3 ( 24.f3 f1+ 25.g4 e3+ 26.h5 d5+ 27.g6 d3+ ) 24...g6+ 25.g5 ( 25.g4 xg2+ ) 2069
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 25...xf7 And actually is. ] 18.e2 [ 18.xc2 xa2 ] [ 18.f3 ac8! ( 18...b2 19.b1 ad8+ 20.d4 xd4+ 21.cxd4 xd4+ 22.e2 Black misses his rook to conclude the attack and therefore has no more than a perpe tual.) 19.e5 b2 20.c4 cd8+ 21.e2 d4+ 22.f1 e2+ 23.g1 xb3 24.xd8 xd8 25.h3 xa2 Should be winning, a piece up, despite the problem of the f7 pawn. The bishop on f5 is very strong and cannot be chased and Black has the regrouping plan ...Kh7, ...Rf8, ...Nd4c6. ] 18...ad8+ 19.d4 xd4 20.cxd4 xd4+ 21.e3 e4+? With the reduction of material, i.e. "mating" potential, Black gets more and m o r e c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h e f 7 p a wn a n d p r e f e r s t o f r e e h i m se l f wi t h f r o m wo r r y. Unfortunately for him, it has a symmetrical effect on the White's king security who, at last, finds time to "get his breath back". [ 21...xd1 22.xd1 c2 23.d7 ( 23.d2 xd1 24.xd1 d8+ 25.c2 c8+ 26.d1 c1+ 27.e2 b2+ 28.f3 c3+ 29.g4 xg3+ 30.xg3 g6-+ ) 23...xb3 24.axb3 xb3+ 25.f2 c2+ 26.g1 xf7! This would have been a final combination worthy of this game. 27.xf7 b1+ 28.f2 a2+ 29.g1 xf7-+ ] 22.f3 xf7 23.he1 Now the game is roughly equal. fe7 24.d8+ h7 25.xe4 xe4 [ 25...xe4+ 26.g4 a5 27.g8+ h8 28.f8 will lead to a perpetual check. ] 26.f2 e7 27.g8+ g6 28.d2 e3+ [ 28...e3+ 29.xe3 xd8 30.b3 h5! ( 30...b6 31.g4 ) 31.xa7 d3+ 32.e3 e4+ 33.f2 xe3+ 34.xe3 xg2 is dead drawn. ] ½-½
2118 Kalmachevskikh,Viktor Gajsin,Evgenij 60th ch-RUS sf Urals (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2333 2456 22.03.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 e5 7.f4 [ I mentioned 7.b1 c7 8.b5 d8? ( 8...b6!? 9.f4 d6 10.f3 bd7 However looks playable where Black will follow up with ...a6 gaining the c7-square for h i s q u e e n , a s i n t h e g a m e .) 9.d6 In Stefanova-Nijboer. ] 7...d6 8.fxe5 [ 8.f5 ] 8...dxe5 9.f3 bd7 10.b1 c7!? Inaugurating a new defensive set-up with ... Qc7 and ...Be7 rather than ...Qd8 and ...Be7 which proved very unstable in Bruzon-Nijboer because of the lack of control of the d6-square, ...Qd8 and ...Bg7 in Kanep-Landa or ...Qd8 and ...Bd6 in Nakamura-Nijboer provided that W hite sho uld not d elay the crea tion of a strong protected passed pawn on d5 for too long because of the possibility ...exf 4 as illustrated by Stefanova-Nijboer (and NguyenKaratorossian). 11.c4 [ 11.b5 b8 Still keeping d6 under control. ] 11...a6 12.a4 e7 13.0-0 0-0 14.e1! The advantage of having the bishop on e7 rather than d6 can be seen in the line [ 14.h4 b6 Where Black does not have to fear a Rxf6... 15.a2 e8 Attacks the k n i g h t o n h 4 . . . 16.f5 ( 16.a5 xh4 17.xb6 d8 ) 16...xf5 17.xf5 d7 And gets a strong blockading square on d6 for his king's knight. 18.d6?! xd6 19.d5 d8 The knight on d6 also protects b7! ] 14...e8 15.g3 f6 16.h4 d6 17.h6 g6! 18.xf8 xf8 19.e2 g7 20.f3 [ 20.g4!? g8 21.f2 h5 22.h3 f6 23.xc8 xc8 24.e2 c4 Still with interesting compensation for Black in spite of the exchange of his second best light piece. ] 20...g8 21.f2 f6 22.d2 d7 23.bf1 fe8 24.f3? In general , it is not a very wise thing to force the opponent to play (excellent) moves he intends to make anyway... 2070
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 24.g4 b5 ] 24...f6! 25.h4? White had to acknowledge the erroneous side of his plan with [ 25.d2 b5 ( 25...h6 26.c4 f4 27.xf4 ) 26.axb5 axb5 27.g4 b4 28.xd7 xd7 29.d1 h6 30.d3 a3 31.c3 ] 25...b5 Now Black takes control of the queenside encircling the enemy pawn on e4 with the possibility of activating his king's bishop via h6 against a knight on d2. It is im p ort an t t o always b e ar in m in d t h at t o express his potential superiority over a minor piece an exchange needs files and ranks! 26.axb5 axb5 27.h5 b4 28.hxg6 bxc3 29.gxh7+ xh7 30.h4 d8 31.h5 g8 32.g6? White collapses in a difficult situation. [ 32.g6 Protecting e4. a4 ] 32...xe4 33.e3 xf2 34.xf2 d6 35.xc5 e4 Bis repetita placent! 36.e7+ h8! [ 36...h7?? 37.g6+ ] 0-1
2119 Kamsky,Gata Ivanchuk,Vassily Gibraltar (9.1) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2709 2739 05.02.2014
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 The critical test of White's move order. 3.e3 [ The normal move, but it's notable that Lakdawala recommended 3.d5 in 'Play the London System'. Then b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 was the way that Hebden reached the Vaganian Gambit and the line we considered in Smerdon-L'Ami. ] 3...b6 4.c3 [ The critical move, but one which only leads t o a d r a w. H o we ve r , d o n o t e t h a t E r i c denoted 4.b3 as dubious in his notes to PrieLibiszewski, Donostia 2011. ] 4...xb2 [ As this only leads to a draw, if Black is after more he should likely not employ this line. It is p o s s ib le t o d e via t e h e re , b u t 4...a6 5.a3! may well be a little better for White. That said, e6 6.e2 (rather passive) e7
7.dxc5 xc5 8.b4?! ce4 9.a4 c6 10.b5 d5 was not exactly ideal for the first player in To-Szeberenyi, Budapest 2014. ] 5.b5 d5 6.b1 Kamsky was already thinking by this point. W e know him as the world's highest-rated regular London player, but surely he'd analysed this critical line before? Perhaps not. Moreover, surely Kamsky should have subscribed to these pages to read Eric's thoughts... [ Instead, 6.a3!? i s w e l l m e t b y a6! when W hite must force a draw with 7.b1 , as pointed out by Eric. The winning try is a2 8.c1!? axb5 9.a1 xa1 10.xa1 , but Eric didn't appear to particularly believe in it - see his notes to Prie-Gonzalez de la Torre, Donostia 2011. ] 6...xa2 7.a1 [ Wise. Instead, 7.c4? a5+ 8.d2 xd2+ 9.xd2 xf4 10.c7+ d8 11.xa8 g6 wa s p la in t e rrib le f o r W h it e in L i Yin gRatsimikatry, Saint Denis 2013. ] 7...b2 8.b1 a2 9.a1 [ W h i t e t r i e d t o f i g h t o n w i t h 9.g3!? in Overton-Seia, correspondence 2011, but after cxd4 ( 9...a5+? 10.c3 a6 11.dxc5 is rather problematic for Black) 10.a1 b2 11.b1 had to force a draw in any case. ] 9...b2 10.b1 ½-½
2120 Kamsky,Gata Kramnik,Vladimir Presidents Cup rapid (5) [Eric Prié]
A45 2702 2790 30.04.2010
1.d4 f6 2.f4 A slight surprise: In his p r e vi o u s e f f o r t wit h t h e L o n d o n S y s t e m (against Topalov in 2007) commented in this s e c t i o n , t h e l o n g t i m e d - P a wn S p e c i a l s sympathizer had started with [ 2.f3 ... ] 2...c5! 3.d5 b5!? With the plain intention of winning W hite's advanced pawn by ...Bb7. 4.a4 [ 4.c4 bxc4 ( 4...b7!? 5.c3 b4 6.a4 e6 7.d6? a5 followed by Bc6.) 5.c3 d6 6.e4 A) 6...a6 7.f3 a5 8.e5! dxe5 2071
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.xe5; B) 6...a5! 7.d2 ( 7.e5 dxe5 8.xe5 bd7; 7.c2 a6 8.f3 bd7 ) 7...a6 8.f3 bd7; C) 6...g6?! Black should first hang on to the pawn. 7.xc4 g7 8.ge2?! 0-0= Mueller, J (1916)-Young, M (1966) Cork 2005 0-1(40) ] [ 4.f3 Never played... possibly because of h5! Directly and immediately stressing the un ha p py co nju nct ure o f t he m o ve s d 4 d 5 + B c 1 - f 4 . ( 4...e6 5.e4 exd5 6.exd5 b7? 7.d6! is the only trap Black must avoid. ) 5.e3 d6 6.f2 A) 6...g6 7.e4 a5+ 8.d2 ( 8.d2 b4 9.a3? h6! ) 8...h6 ( 8...g7 9.a4 bxa4 10.c3 ) 9.a4 bxa4 10.c3 d7 11.g4 f4 12.e3! g2+? 13.xg2 xe3 14.c4; B) 6...b6 7.e4 d7 8.d2 g6 9.a4 bxa4 10.c4 b8 11.c3 b6 12.xb6 xb6 13.xa4+ d7 14.c2; C) 6...d7! About the only square for this knight. Actually it also frees the b8 square for the rook so as to dissuade the opponent from playing his key move a2a4. 7.e4 b8 8.d2 g6 9.a4 bxa4 10.xa4 xb2 11.c4 b8 12.a5? e5 ] 4...b7 5.axb5?! [ 5.e4 See the next game. ] 5...xd5 6.g3 g6 7.e4 b6 8.d2?! White had better forget about the c4 square and concentrate on swift and natural development by [ 8.c3 g7 9.d2 ( 9.f3 xc3+ 10.bxc3 xe4 11.e2 ) 9...0-0 10.f3 d6 11.h4 h5 12.f4 ] 8...g7 9.c3 0-0 10.gf3 d6 11.d3 a6 This is the problem: W ith this move at the op p o rtu n e mo m e n t B la ck e rad ica te s t h e opposing advantage of the semi open a-file. 12.0-0 axb5 13.xa8 xa8 14.xb5 b6 15.e2 c6 [ 15...c7 16.d3 xb2?? 17.b1 ] 16.xc6 xc6 17.b1 c7 Black stands better, with typical pressure against the b2-c3 small chain thanks to his strong Bg7 and the semi-open b-file, hardly compensated by the possession of the c4 square for a white knight without any central or kingside prospects.
18.h4 a8 19.c4 b5 20.xb5 xb5 21.f4 f5! Another typical Volga/Benko Gam bit mo ve . 22.g3 a4 23.exf5 gxf5 24.f1 e5 25.d2 d5 26.e3 e7 27.c4! Ra th er t ha n le t Black play . .. d5 -d 5 . dxc4 28.b3 cxb3 29.xb3 d4 30.b8+ f7 31.g5+ g6 32.b6+ f6 33.g2? Missing the study-like incredible resource [ 33.xh7!! xh7 34.xf6 g7 ( 34...f3+ 35.g2 xd2 36.f7+ ) 35.d6 a2 The bishop is dominated but 36.c4 f4 ( 36...c2? 37.h6+ ) 37.d7 f6 ( 37...f8 38.d8+ g7 39.d7 ) 38.gxf4 ef5 ( 38...e6 39.d6+ ) 39.fxe5+ e6 Black wins the bishop eventually but is stripped of all his pawns! 40.c7 f3+ 41.g2 xd2 42.xd2 xd2 43.xc5= ] 33...ec6? [ 33...h5 ] 34.d5? Time trouble undoubtedly. Instead White could force his way through the 6th with [ 34.e6!! thus emphasizing the opponent's last error. a2 35.xd4 xd4 36.d5 xd2 37.xf6+ g7 38.h5 h6 39.g6+ f7 40.xh6 c4 41.h7+ e6 42.h6! xd5 ( 42...b2 43.h8 ) 43.g7 T h e h - p a w n c a n n o t b e s t o p p e d . c3 ( 43...e6? 44.d7+; 43...b2 44.h7 b8 45.g8 ) 44.h7 c2 45.c7 d1 ( 45...c6? 46.xc6 xc6 47.h8 ) 46.h8 c1 47.xc1 xc1 ] 34...d8 Normal service resumed. 35.b1 [ 35.b7 a7 ] 35...h6 36.h5+ xh5 37.f7 g5 38.xg5 hxg5 39.d6 g4 40.c1 b4! 41.e3 [ 41.xc5 a1 42.xb4 ( 42.f6+ g6 43.d7 d3 ) 42...f3 ] [ 41.f6+ g6 42.d7 d3 43.xc5 xc5 44.xc5 a1 45.c4 e4 46.e3 f3 47.f1 e1+ 48.g1 d3 49.c2 ] 41...g6? [ 41...a2! 42.dxf5 d3 43.f1 xf5 44.xf5 c4 45.e3 c3 ] 42.xc5? The last one... [ 42.b7 ] 42...d3 43.c8 [ 43.c3 e1+ 44.h1 a1 45.f1 a7! 46.e3 h7+ 47.g1 df3+ ] 43...e1+ 44.h1 a1 45.f1 d3 46.g2 a2 47.e3 xf2+ 48.h1 f3
2072
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 49.dxf5 h2# 0-1
2121 Kanep,Meelis Landa,Konstantin 7th Neckar op (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2446 2643 21.04.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 The counter attack aga in s t t h e b 2 -p a wn is t h e m o st n a t u ra l reaction in d-pawn systems when W hite's queen bishop leaves the f irst rank early, (some might say prematurely!) Compared to the under-analysed 2.... c6, 2...c5 asks an immediate question of the White center but gives up control of the d5-square and authorizes the capture of the pawn. As for 2... Ne4, followed by c5, which can be regarded as the main idea in the Trompowsky, things are slightly different. First of all, W hite can play the interesting 3. h4. And if he chooses to retreat the bishop, the possibility to attack the e4-knight, with the f-pawn for instance, usually brings other types of position in which the vulnerability of b2 is not at stake. 3.d5 Basically, s the big question about the Trompowsky: Since it cannot be considered as a surprise weapon anymore, should the move 2.Bg5 be considered as a "normal" developing move, designed to off er more flexibility and to take Black out of his pet Indian defence? Or should it be considered to be an immediate attacking move, introducing the threat of doubling pawns that, therefore, would need to be parried? Personally, I am prone to privilege the second option. W hite concedes a very slight material disadvantage, in the form of the bishop pair, not only for a better pawn structure but mainly in the hope of being able to take advantage f rom the lasting weakened cover of the opposite king. One could retort that Black just has to castle queenside then. True, but straightforward development to achieve this goal does not exist for Black in the Trompowsky, especially after 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4.d5. This is the reason why it is the main line that we shall study, with all the aforementioned possibilities next month! b6 For a note on 3...g6 refer to the game
P o va h - W e l l s . 4.c3 xb2 Statistically , while taking into account the level of the players, Black has good results when taking this pawn in the Trompowsky. But it is true that "digesting" the present is usually not very spectacular and takes more than 30 moves... 5.d2 b6 6.e4 e5! It is another story to have to cope with the initiative in a closed position rather than in a "Poisoned Pawn" Najdorf, for instance, where all the lines are already opened with pawn contacts and a mobile structure! 7.f4 d6 8.b1 d8 9.fxe5 This way of releasing the tension, rather than 9.f5 , does not significantly compromise the spa ce a dvan tage. B ut b y f ea tu ring m ore "open" play, it means that White will have to "cre a t e " so m e t h in g a ga in . I n re t u rn , t h e protected passed pawn provides a tangible compensation for the material deficit. dxe5 10.f3 bd7 11.e2 g6 Controlling the key square f5 but natural development with 11... Bd6 also deserved consideration. 12.0-0 g7 13.g5 h6 14.h4 0-0 15.d6 b6 16.d5 b7 17.e7+ [ 17.xe5 xd5 18.xd7 xd7 19.xf6 xe4 ] 17...h7 18.e1 e8 [ 18...b8 19.g5+ ( 19.d1!? xe4 20.b5 ) 19...h8 is very unclear. ( 19...hxg5 20.xg5 g8 21.b3 )] 19.g5+? White carries on with his idea, when moves like 19.Bb5 or Bc4 seemed to offer better perspectives. hxg5 20.xg5 xe7 21.dxe7 xe7 22.g4 e8! The Estonian hope must have underestimated this move when he embarked on the piece sacrifice. 23.h4+ g8 24.xd7 [ 24.xf6 xf6 25.xf6 xf6 26.xf6 c6! 27.xe5 xe4-+ ] 24...xd7 25.b3 a6! 26.f2 e6 27.h3 xa2 28.h7+ [ 28.c4 a1+ 29.f1 d4+ 30.e3 xc4 31.h7+ f8 32.hf3 f6 33.xg6 ( 33.h6 xh6 34.xh6+ e7 ) 33...f7 ] 28...f8 29.g4 e6 30.h6 xh6 31.xh6+ e7 32.g5+ d6 33.hf3 f5 34.exf5 gxf5 35.xf5 g8 36.d2+ c7 37.g5 e4 Finding use of the open long diagonal with 37... Bb7 would have quickly ended the game. 38.f4+ c8 39.e3 b7 40.h4 h8 41.c3 d8 2073
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 41...xh4 42.f8+ c7 43.g3+ d6 44.xh4 xf8 ] 42.b3 c4 43.c3 e3 44.2f4 e4 45.f7 d5 46.7f5 e4 47.f7 e5! [ The same idea 47...f6 was winning as well. 48.7xf6 ( 48.xe3 d1+ 49.f2 g4+ 50.xg4 xg4 51.f8+ b7 52.f7+ c6 53.f6+ b5; 48.f8 xf8 49.xe3 d8 50.gxf6 g8+ 51.f2 g2+ 52.e1 xc2 53.xe4 d1# ) 48...d1+ 49.h2 ( 49.f1 g4+ 50.h2 g2# ) 49...h1+ 50.g3 h3# ] 48.f8 [ 48.xe4 xf7 49.xe3 d1+ 50.h2 d2+! ( 50...f1 51.h3+ ) 51.g1 ( 51.g3 f1 52.xd2 f3+ 53.h2 xe4 ) 51...f3+ 52.f1 f5 53.e8+ c7 54.e7+ d7 ] 48...f3+ 49.g2 xg5+ 50.f1 h3+ 51.e1 g3+ 52.e2 g2+ 53.xe3 g3+ 54.f3 xf3 [ 54...g1+! 55.f2 xf8 ] 55.xd8+ xd8 56.f6+ d7 57.g7+ e6 58.g6+ e5 59.e8+ f5 60.f8+ g4 61.hxg5 e5+ 0-1
2122 Kanep,Meelis Seeman,Tarvo ch-EST Tallinn EST (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2474 2401 16.05.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 a5+ 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 xc5 7.g6 fxg6 8.gf3 c6 9.c3 [ 9.b3 f5 10.d2 e6 ( 10...d5 11.0-0-0 ) 11.g5 This straightforward attempt will naturally f lounder. ( 11.0-0-0 e7 ) 11...h6! ( 11...e7 12.xh7 f7 13.0-0-0 g8 14.e4 e5 15.f4 c7 16.e5 xh7 17.xh7 xh7 18.d3 xe5 19.fxe5 xe5 20.b1 d5 21.h1+ g8 22.xg6 ) 12.e4 f6 13.0-0-0 e7 14.f3 0-0 ] 9...d6 [ 9...d5! The ideal moment for this move. 10.e4 This attack against the d5 pawn is less to be feared than c3-c4 because it does not bot her th e black king saf ety on th e
queenside and prepares a bright future for his black squared bishop. e6 11.g5 g8 12.exd5 xd5 13.gf3 0-0-0 Black is fine. 14.c4? ( 14.c2 e6+ ) 14...xc4 15.xc4 xd1+ 16.xd1 xc4 ] 10.e3 g4! If a plan based on ...d7-d5 proves untimely, I like this move, leaving the 5th rank free for the queen while controlling just the necessary amount of light squares. [ 10...f5? This move should be played only in case of Bd3, as now it takes the retreating square on f5 from the Black queen, as from here she can defend the kingside and in particular the sensitive f7 square which hinders Black f rom long castling. 11.b3! b6 12.g5 e5 13.a4! d3+? Miladinovic, I-Georgieva, L Nice 2002 1-0 (23) to be retrieved, adorned (commented is a big word...) with witticism, somewhere in this section ] 11.h4 [ 11.d3 f5! ( 11...0-0-0!? 12.xg6 What matters in similar positions, in fact, is not to lose the right to castle h5 Intending ... Rh6, ...d6, ...d5, ...Kb8, ...e7-e5) 12.b3 d5 Like in the previous game. 13.xf5 xd1+ 14.xd1 gxf5 15.h4 e5 16.xf5 c4 17.b1 g6 ] 11...e6?! Backing down for no reason [ 11...f5 12.g5 ] [ 11...h5! 12.b3 ( 12.c2 0-0-0 13.xg6 e6 With a couple of menacing clouds hanging over White's head: ...Be7, ...Bf5, ... Ne5. ) 12...0-0-0 13.e4 f5 14.d3 d7 15.eg5 e5 16.xg6 ] 12.e4 b6 13.d3 f5 14.g4! xe4 15.xe4 xb2 16.xg6+ d8 [ 16...d7 17.b1 xc3+ 18.f1 c7 19.d4 xd4 20.c1 ] 17.c1 xa2 18.g5 e5 [ 18...c7 19.f7 b2 20.d5 ] 19.e4 c7 20.b1 b8 21.f4 c6 22.d5+The attack is now terrible while the black forces on the kingside are only spectators. a5 23.d3 Refinement [ 23.e6+ c8 24.d3 a6 25.c4 a3 26.h2 Brings up the decisive reinforcement into the assault. ] 23...e5 [ 23...d8 24.h2 a6 25.a2 c5 26.a4 d7 27.c4 a3 28.f5+ e8 29.f7+!! 2074
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 It is the same mate with the bishop not quite b6 ) 12...xd6 13.xd6 exd6 14.e3 e7 as spectacular though! xf7 30.xf7+ d7 15.h6 0-0 16.bd4 g7 17.h1 31.xb7+ xb7 32.e6+ e8 33.c8# ] Where I would rather be White because of 24.e6+ Or 24.Rh2 is a matter of taste. Black the superior pawn structure. ] is completely outflanked in any case. d7 10...xc4 25.xf8+ hxf8 26.xh7 e7 27.xg7 [ 10...0-0-0 11.b4!? ( 11.h4 xd6 exf4 28.exf4 c5 12.gf3 b6 13.c1 g7 14.c3 [ 28...xf4 29.e3 Hurts ] Is safe. Then W hite will play Nc4 or Bc4 29.f5 d8 exch a n gin g o n e b ish o p , Q c2 , Rd 1 a n d [ 29...b6 30.f1 be8 31.b4 a5 32.c4 remain a pawn up, for which I do not see d8 33.e6 d5 34.c8+ xc8 35.d7# much compensation for Black. This is the Is another goody. ] problem when he castles queenside: first of 30.e4 d5 31.d1! all he ca n hardly a tta ck the re an d p la y [ 31.b5 d6 ] su c h t h e m a t ic m o ve s a s . . . b 5 - b 4 , a n d 31...g1+ secondly his rook on h8 is attached to the [ 31...e8 32.xd5 d8 ( 32...xd5 d e f e n s e o f h 7 u n l e s s h e e xc h a n g e s i t 33.xd5 xd5 34.xd5 f7 35.g8+ f8 against its wandering counterpart.) 11...b6 36.xf8+ xf8 37.g5+- ) 33.f7+! xf7 12.c3 xd6 ( 12...xc4 13.xc4 b5 34.xd8# ] 14.dxe7! xe7 15.d6+ xd6 16.xb5 32.e2 h2+ 33.f1 f6 xd1+ 17.xd1 ) 13.c5 g7 14.gf3 ] [ 33...f4+ 34.g1 ] 11.xc4 34.e2 e5 [ After 11.d7+ xd7 The knight is pinned! [ 34...xe2+ 35.xe2 e8 36.xd5 12.xc4 c7 13.g4 f5 14.gxf6 exf6 Basically leads to the same ending as after 15.0-0-0 d8 White's compensation for the move 31, and it was this that made Black exch a nge a pp e a rs m e rely 'su b limin a l'. resign, when seeing 35.Bxd5, unless he lost 16.gf3 ( 16.f4+ e5 ) 16...f5 17.f4+ on time. ] d6 ] 1-0 11...e6!? Black is greedy. [ 11...0-0-0 12.dxe7 ( 12.xf7 xd6; 12.g4+ e6 ) 12...xe7 13.g4+ b8 2123 A45 14.gf3 e5! 15.f4 d6 16.e4 xf3+ 17.xf3 a3! 18.d3 ( 18.0-0-0 c3!! Kanep,Meelis 2474 19.bxa3 xd2 20.d3 c8!-+ ) 18...b4! Zjukin,Sergei 2373 ( 18...xb2 19.b1 c3? 20.xb7# ) ch-EST Tallinn EST (4) 12.05.2005 19.0-0-0 xd2+ 20.xd2 xa2 [Eric Prié] Defending f7! ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 12.b4 xg5 [ 12...xb4!? 13.d7+ d8 ( 13...xd7? a5+ 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 g6 7.h4! c6 14.b3+ d3+ 15.f1+- ) 14.b1 ] 8.c4 d5 9.cxd6 e6 10.e3!? I am not sure about this particular move but this is certainly 13.d7+ d8 14.gf3 e7 [ 14...xg2!? 15.b5 a5! 16.f1 ( 16.e2 an idea. W hat I do understand is that the xc4 17.xc4 h1+ 18.f1 xf3 ) shrewd original resource of 7.Rh4 is 16...g4 ] successful against 6...g6 by radically c h a n g i n g t h e n a t u r e o f t h e g a m e a n d 15.b5 b8 [ 15...a5 W as also good. 16.e2 g7 abolishing any positional markers. However, I 17.d1 c7 ( 17...xd7! 18.b3+ c7 do not see why, having fulfilled its mission 19.xa5 c3+ 20.f1 xa5 21.e5 and won two pawns (!) in the meantime, it is ad8 ) 18.f1 hd8 ( 18...ad8 19.b6+ not therefore possible to come back with the axb6 20.b5 c6 21.c4 xd7 22.b1 ) rook: 19.b3 xb3 20.cxb3 xd7 21.c1 d8 [ 10.h4 xg5 11.gf3 c5 ( 11...b5 22.b6 a6-+ ] 12.e3 xb2 13.b1 ) 12.b3 ( 12.e4 2075
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.e4 xd7?! But this is an inaccuracy allowing W hite to gain several tempi in his 'phantom attack'. [ 16...g7! 17.b1 xd7 18.b6 ( 18.d6 c7 ) 18...axb6 19.b5 ( 19.xb6 c7 20.b5 a4 21.d3 b4 22.d4 xd4 23.xd4 xb5 24.xb5 d8 ) 19...f5 20.d6 c7 21.c4 hd8 Going for the nice counter finish but lots of moves repel White's agitation anyway. 22.xd7 xd7 23.e2 xa2 24.xb6 b4+! 25.xb4 a1+ 26.d1 dxd1+ 27.e2 db1 ] 17.d4 g8 [ 17...e5 Was again a good defence. 18.d5 c7 19.eg5 g7 20.xf7 xf7 21.xf7 e4 22.d4 he8 ] 18.0-0-0 c8! [ 18...g7 19.e5 a3+ 20.b1 b4+ 21.a1 ( 21.c1 a3+= ) 21...xe5 22.xe5 xc4 23.f6+ A) 23...c8 24.xf7 xc2 ( 24...d8 25.d6+ ) 25.xd7+ b8 26.d6+ c7 27.xe6; B) 23...c7! 24.f4+ ( 24.xd7+? xd7 25.xf7+ d8 26.xg8+ c7 27.xa8 xc2 ) 24...e5 ( 24...b6 25.d6+ a5 26.d3 ) 25.xd7+ xd7 ( 25...b6 26.xb7+! ) 26.f6+ e6 27.xc4+ xf6 28.h4+ g7 29.e7 ] [ 18...c7 19.b6+! Obstruction first. axb6 20.e5 c5! ( 20...d8 21.xd7 xd7 22.xd7+ xd7 23.xd7+ xd7 24.f6+; 20...b8 21.d3 c6 22.xc6 bxc6 23.e5+ b7 24.d6+ ) 21.xc5 bxc5 22.f4 g5 ( 22...b6 23.d7+ a7 24.c7 ) 23.g3 c8 24.d7 xd7 25.xd7 xd7 26.f3!+- ] 19.d3 f5?? [ 19...g7 20.d6 ( 20.d6+ c7 21.f4 e5 ) 20...xd6 21.xd6+ c7 22.xf7 c5 ] 20.f6! Black must have only relied on something like. [ 20.c3? g7 21.xe6+ d8! ( 21...b8?? 22.f6! xf6 23.f4+ e5 24.xe5 ) 22.d5 fxe4 ( 22...xc3 23.c5 b4 24.xd7 d6 25.xd6 xd6 26.xg8 ) 23.xb7 xe6 24.g5 f5 25.c5 b8! 26.c7+ e7 27.xf5 gxf5-+ ]
20...xf6 21.xe6+ c7 22.c3+ 1-0
2124 Karadeniz,Emre De Firmian,Nick E 34th Olympiad (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2278 2567 28.10.2000
Trompowsky Attack: Grandmaster Agony! The Tromp claims another unsuspecting GM, in one of the most fashionable lines. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 Regular readers of this site will know that I believe: [ 5...d5 to be the critical move here. In my opinion, the move played in the game allows White to reach his ideal set-up without any problems. ] 6.d3 d7 7.e2 h5 A bizarre move, to say the least. Black, unwisely does nothing to stem the tide in the centre. White is clearly gearing up for the dangerous f4 pawn push, a move that Black should not have ignored. I ca n't even p ass th e B la ck m ove of f as a beginners' mistake, as it was made by a top class Grandmaster! Perhaps he thought that the usual rules didn't apply to him, but he was about to be taught a painful lesson. 8.0-0 h4 9.f4 h3 The point behind the Black moves. W h i t e i s f o r ce d t o we a k e n h is ki n g s i d e . However, this is not really such a big deal and Black has fallen dramatically behind in development in the process. 10.g3 b6 11.e5 d8 12.f5! Of course! While Black has been merrily shoving his h-pawn down the board, White has been preparing a central avalanche. exf5 13.xf5 dxe5 14.e4 b8 15.b3 The better developed White forces find it easy to make threats with every move. f6 [ 15...e7 Would not have been a good choice. Black is already lagging behind in development, and blocking in his f8 bishop would clearly not be a clever idea. ] 16.b5+ d7 17.xe5+ e7 18.d3 0-0 19.d2 c6 20.f4 The opening smoke has cleared and W hite can be quite pleased, having recovered his sacrificed pawn while maintaining a more active position. Black may 2076
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 have caught up with development, but now he has castled, the pawn on h3 will be a c o n s t a n t s o u r c e o f c o n c e r n t o h i m . d6 21.f5 xf4 22.xf4 e8 23.c4 The first slight error from White, as the horse is immediately forced backwards again. [ 23.xh3 was stronger as d5 can be well met by 24.af1 ] 23...b5 24.d2 e3 25.e4 xd3 A terrible e. Black spots a tactic based on the weak light squares around the White king, but the trapper is about to become the trapped. 26.xf6+ gxf6 27.g4+ f8 28.h4! Suddenly Black is completely lost. [ The GM with the Black pieces had been relying on the recapture: 28.xd3 when d5 wins for Black! ] 28...d5 29.h8+ g7 [ 29...e7 30.e1+ only prolongs the agony. ] 30.h7# 1-0
2125 Karhanek,Pavel Bartos,Jan Open A Ostrava CZE (9) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2136 2211 25.05.2002
Trompowsky: The moves Bg5 and c4 rarely sit well together in the Tromp and this month we get a classic example of exactly why this is the case. Please don't try this one at home or in your next chess match or you'll be heading to the bar early. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 f5 5.c4? A word of warning. This is never a good idea in the Ne4 Tromp. Black is ideally placed to exploit White's lack of dark squared protection on the queenside. e5! Ouch! 6.dxe5 b4+ 7.e2 Eughhh and double eughhh. A revolting and disgusting move to have to make. You couldn't be presented with a more clear sign that things have gone horribly wrong. h4 No rest for the wicked. 8.g3 h5+ 9.f3 dxc4 10.g4 White puts his head in the lion's mouth, but it is d if f ic u lt t o o f f e r him go o d a d vice . h4 11.h3 xg4 If you are of a nervous disposition, please watch no more of this. 12.a4+ c6 13.g3 h5 14.fxg4
A desperate bid to be put out of his misery. xg4# 0-1
2126 Kartsev,S Nevednichy,Vladislav 21st Muensterland Open (5) [Eric Prié]
A45 2208 2575 20.10.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 c6 5.h4 d6 6.e4 e6 [ 6...d7 7.0-0-0 h6 8.b1 a6 9.xf6 ( 9.f4? h7!; 9.f3 g8! 10.xf6 gxf6 Black is doing fine. 11.Nd5 is impossible because of Rg4, and h6 is not a waste of tim e sin ce in th is ma nn er, with a wh it e queen on the h-file, it is protected. 11.d5 g4 12.h5 xe4 13.d3 g4 ) 9...gxf6 10.f4 g8 11.d5 ( 11.f3 g4 ) 11...g7 12.f5 e5 13.f3 c6 A) 14.xe5! fxe5 15.c4 Although this may not be decisive because of the possibility for Black to transpose, at some point, into a position with opposite coloured bishops, W hite is clearly to be preferred because of the weakness of e7 and f7, and because it is absolutely not sure that the Bg7 "will see the light" again. For instance: b5 ( 15...e6? 16.xd8+ xd8 17.fxe6 fxe6 18.c7+ d7 19.xe6 de8 20.hf1!+- xe6 21.f7+ e7 22.xe7+ xe7 23.xg8 ) 16.b3 a5 17.a3 b4 18.a4 c8 19.h5 f8 20.h4; B) 14.e2? xd5 15.exd5 ( 15.xd5 c7 16.xe5 fxe5 17.d3 f6 18.xh6 xg2 19.e3 c8 20.c3 d7 21.xc8+ xc8 is also about equal.) 15...d7 16.e4 0-0-0 17.xe5 fxe5 18.h5 df8 19.d3 f6 20.h4 b8 21.hd1 g7 22.b3 e8 23.d2 c7 24.a3 a5 25.b4 c5 1/2-1/2 Berkes,FGomez,J W YCC U16 Oropesa del Mar 2001 ] 7.0-0-0 a6 8.f4 c7!? This is a variation on the same theme as the previous game, but here the big dif f erence is that W hite has already played e4 and f4 which increases the potential of Black's dark-squared bishop. 2077
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.xf6 [ 9.f3 e7 Is a little success for Black who did not have to play Bd7 to cut the d1-rook's action on the d-file. ] 9...gxf6 10.f3!? b5 [ 10...g7 11.f5! ] 11.xf6 g8 12.e5 [ 12.h4!? A) 12...h6 13.e5! dxe5 14.fxe5 b7 ( 14...xe5? 15.xe5 xe5 16.d8# ) 15.e4; B) 12...b4 13.e2 ] 12...d5 [ 12...dxe5!? 13.fxe5 b7 ] 13.h4 h6 14.b1 d7 15.e2 b6 16.ed4 With this move White will win a second pawn but, in return, will have to face a fierce initiative on the dark squares. [ 16.f5! c8 17.f4 Black is in big trouble. ] 16...xd4 17.xd4 c5 18.b3 e3 19.xh6 a5 20.g3 a4 21.h7 f8 22.c1 a3 23.b3 c8 24.h4? This an obvious blunder, but the position after [ 24.e2 b4 with the idea Bb5 and Qc5, instituting the terrible threat of Bxe2 and Qc3 looked difficult to meet in any case. ] 24...xc1! 25.xc1 [ 25.xc1 d4 26.c3 xc3 27.h2 xc1+ 28.xc1 g1 ] 25...e3+ 26.d2 c3 27.d1 xg3 28.f5? [ 28.d3 xf4+ 29.d2 xe5 30.d4 xd4 31.xd4 e7 would have ed the game, however without putting the final result in question. ] 28...e3+ 29.d2 xe5 30.d1 h8 0-1
2127 Karttunen,Mika Agopov,Mikael FIN-ch Helsinquia (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2429 2412 2002
to make it exist on its own, as a bonus! xc4 10.e4 d4? [ 10...b4 11.d2 b6 See Bacrot's game. ] 11.d2 exd5 12.ge2 e5 13.f4 e6 14.exd5 b6 15.d6! g6!? 16.d5! [ 16.d2 g7 17.e3+ f8 18.e7+ g8 19.0-0-0 c6 was Black's idea. ] 16...xd5 17.xd5 f6 [ 17...g7 18.e4+ f8 19.e7+ g8 20.e8+ f8 21.e5 is another story! ] 18.c3 xb2 19.c1 c6 20.c4 d8 21.e4+ [ 21.d2!! with the nasty idea Bb1, Nb5 b6 22.b5! e6 23.c7+! f7 ( 23...xc7 24.f7+ d8 25.xf6+ e8 26.f7# ) 24.xa8+- Game over. ] 21...e6 22.xe6 dxe6 23.0-0 With the idea Nd5. g7 24.d3! b4 [ 24...d7 25.b1 a3 26.xb7 f5 27.xd7! xc3 ( 27...xd7 28.b5+ d8 29.g5+ c8 30.c6+ b8 31.c7# ) 28.e7+ f8 29.b5 d4+ 30.h1 xf4 31.b7 xd6 32.xg7 ] [ 24...0-0! was the most stubborn. 25.d7 c4 26.dxc8 axc8 27.e4 ] 25.d5!! exd5 26.e2+ f7 [ 26...d7 27.e7+ c6 28.c7+ b5 29.b1 ] 27.e7+ g8 28.e8+ f8 29.h6 d7 30.xa8 f7 31.fe1! c4 [ 31...xh6 32.e7# ] 32.b1 xd6 [ 32...c5+ 33.h1 does not change anything. ] 33.xb7 e6 [ 33...xh6 34.xh8 f8 ( 34...g7 35.e8# ) 35.xh7+ g7 36.h3 f5 37.g3! The final point, otherwise it is not so clear. f4 ( 37...c6 38.c7 wins the Bd7.) 38.g4 b6+ 39.xb6 xg4 40.b7+ f6 41.fxg4+- ] 34.xf8+! xf8 35.xe6 1-0
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.c1 e6 8.c4 b4+ 9.c3 Originally I intended to give this name in a note as a remarkable interlink between 9. Nc3? and 9.Bd2! but it is so wildly enjoyable, though completely 'one-sided', that I decided 2078
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2128 Karttunen,Mika Portisch,Lajos EUCup 17th Panormos (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2466 2591 25.09.2001
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 f5 [ 5...h6 6.e3 f5 7.c4!? f4 Was the move order of the all time legendary Tromp game Ho dgs on -Va n d er W ie l, co mm e nt e d b y Aaron but, as I said last month, it is not relevant! For the simple reason that 7.g3, stopping the threat, is just simple and good, as testified by practice. Black's strong darksquared bishop has nothing to do on h6 ... apart from maybe taking a white knight on f4 to win d5, if possible! ] 6.c4 h6 7.e3 [ 7.c3?! 0-0 With the idea ...Bg7. ] [ 7.c2!? Which, as far as my database is concerned, would be a novelty, is much more interesting. For instance b4+ 8.c3! ( 8.d1 e6; 8.d2 xd2+ 9.xd2 xc4 10.c1 xa2 11.xc5 a6 ) 8...xc4 9.e4 b4 10.a3 b6 11.exf5 is very similar to game 4, Nyman-Bern, but I seriously doubt that the development of the bishop on h6, rather than g7, is an improvement on Black's play ... ] 7...f4 This position is the acid test of the 6.c4 line, for the evaluation of which it is absolutely essential to have carefully studied the present game and above all the next two, rather than the flashy aforementioned one. And possibly th is is wh at W hite d id n ot , or n ot d ee ply enough, when he refused to embark on the exchange sacrifice 8.exf4 Bxf4! 9.Qxf4 Qxb2 10. Nge2 Qxa1 11. Nec3, however strongly recommended by Tromp theory (see the next two games), and instead opted for 8.e4 g6! 9.c2 d6 10.f3 g4 11.bd2 d7 12.h4 f6 13.f5 f8 Threatening e7-e6 winning the Nf5! 14.h3 h5 15.g4 fxg3 16.xg3 g6 17.h4 h5 18.h3 h6 19.xd7+ Otherwise Ne5 will be annoying. xd7 20.b1 hc8 21.d3 ab8 22.f1 a6 23.a4 d4! With all his pieces ideally placed Black of course seeks (and forces!) the exchange of queens before making the pawn ruptures necessary to reveal the power
of his two bishops. Mainly the dark-squared one, which is a genuine 'Benoni monster'(!) whose counterpart is cruelly missing from White's camp... 24.e2 xd3+ 25.xd3 b5 26.b3 e6 Just as one should not presuppose the course of this game from the ELO dif ference between the two protagonists, young Finnish Tromp follower Mikka Kartunnen being a strong IM, one should not suspect a 'gap' in the preparation of his elder opponent and f ormer candidate, in a line normally 'condemned' by theory since 1994... but rather another 'obscure area' in the 7. c4 garden. 27.f3 exd5 28.cxd5 bxa4 29.bxa4 c4+ 30.c2 g7 31.g5 e5 32.f5 a5 33.f3 [ 33.b5 xb5 34.axb5 a4 35.h3 c3 36.h1 c5 37.a1 xb5 38.xa4 b2+ 39.d3 d2+ 40.e3 xf5 41.exf5 d4+! 42.f4 c2 43.c4 b2 ] 33...f6 34.b5 xb5 35.axb5 xf5 Everything wins here: [ 35...a4 Without liberating the e4 square ] [ 35...e8 with the idea 36.e1 ( 36.d2 c3 ) 36...xf5 37.exf5 xe1 38.xe1 c7 b5,d5, f5, h4! will fall like ripe fruits. ] 36.exf5 a4 But I doubt that this mix of two simple winning plans is the fastest. Time trouble maybe... [ 36...c5 37.b6 xd5 38.b1 c8 39.b7+ b8 40.d2 d4-+ ] 37.d2 e5 38.b1 c7 39.a3 b6 40.b1 c5 41.b6 xd5 42.b7 b8 43.b4 d4 44.xc4 c5 45.xa4 xb7 46.f4 [ 46.e3+ e5 wins the f5 pawn. ] 46...b8 47.d2 e8! [ 47...g8 48.e4 ] 48.b1 e2+ 49.d3 e3+ 50.d2 d4! White is completely tied up and on the verge of losing the whole kingside as the bishop also prevents any counter play by controlling a7! 51.a3 b3! Refinement! [ 51...h3 52.c2 c5 53.b4+ xb4+ 54.xb4 xh4 55.b7 xf4 56.xf7 e5 wins prosaically. ] 52.c2 c5 White is practically in a state of zugzwang! 53.a8 f3 54.h8 c4! [ 54...c4 55.e1 xf4 56.xh5 f2+ 57.d1 c3 58.g5 d2+ 59.c1 e3! That bishop! 60.g3 d3+ 61.b1 d1+ 2079
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 62.a2 xe1 ] 0-1
2129 Karttunen,Mika Volokitin,Andrei EUCup 18th Chalkidiki (1) [Eric Prié]
A45 2434 2545 22.09.2002
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2!? cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 dxc6 12.xe5 e6 13.a3 b5 14.e4 This move looks frightening as far as the white king's safety may be concerned. Un f o rt u n a t e ly it t u rn s o u t t o b e t h e o n l y attempt to digest the pawn. To be honest, I do not believe it. After b4 15.cxb4 xb4+ 16.e2 Black visibly has adequate compensation for the pawn as well as a clear plan: long castling (because after having made W hite lose h is own righ t to castle , Black's queen's rook has nothing more to do on the open a-file), ...Rhe8, and the freeing of his f-pawn in order to break open the cover of the enemymonarch. 0-0 "This natural move proves to be too slow and White manages to complete development of the pieces. More logical for Black is to castle queenside as was played in Miles-Hebden." Finkel,A in Chessbase. Nothing to add, except that, how lucky, it is our next game! 17.c1 a5 18.c3 b6 19.d2 d7 [ 19...b3 20.xf6 gxf6 21.c4 fd8+ 22.e2 xc4+ 23.xc4 d7 24.h3 ( 24.f4 d4 25.f3 xb2 26.a4 b5 ) 24...ad8 25.c2 f5 26.e1 fxe4 27.fxe4 ] 20.e2 fd8 21.c2 e3 22.d1 [ 22.e1? c5 23.c1 "Big advantage for White" Finkel. This, on the other hand, is a joke! xc1! 24.xc1 b3+ 25.b1 d3 26.xd3 xd3 Contrary to the actual course of the game, there is absolutely no way W hite can make use of his extra pawn in this opposite-coloured bishop and rooks endgame ] 22...c5 23.d4 a4 24.e2 xc3 25.xc3 g5 26.xe6 [ 26.c2!? f6 27.xe6 fxe6 28.f4
Finkel,A ] 26...fxe6 27.c4 f6+ 28.c2 f7 29.f4 b5 30.e2 [ 30.a2!? c5 31.e5 e7 32.b1 xd1?! 33.xd1 d8 34.xd8 xd8 35.b3 Finkel,A ] 30...d4 31.e5 e7 32.d3 ab8 33.hd1 c5 34.h3 Direct play is not sufficient [ 34.b4 h6 35.bxc5 xc5 36.xd8 xd8 37.xd8 xd8 38.b3 e3 39.f5 exf5 40.xb5 f4= ] [ Neither 34.h4 Because that would put just too many pawns on the colour of the enemy bishop: f2! 35.xd8 xd8 36.xd8 xd8 37.xb5 g3 38.d3 xf4 39.e4 c1 40.a4 xb2 41.a5 c3 42.a6 c7 43.c4 b6 44.h5 e1 ] [ Still, White has various ways to reinforce his position. For instance 34.g3 f7 ( 34...g6 35.h3 ) 35.h3 b4 36.a4 W here, compared to the game, the black king is very badly placed on the f-file. ] 34...b4! 35.a4 [ 35.xh7? bxa3 36.xg7+ f8-+ ] 35...h6 [ 35...b3+? 36.xb3 xb3 37.xb3 b8+ 38.b5 ] 36.c4 [ 36.a5 f8 37.g3 b3+ ] [ 36.g3 g5 37.fxg5 xe5 ] 36...f8 37.f1 f7 38.g4?! What a pity! A guilty overext ension just b ef ore the tim e control that will allow Black to soothe his defense by somehow exchanging the rooks. After [ 38.a5! The young Ukrainian no. 3 would have been in serious trouble. bf8 39.hf3 g5? 40.fxg5 xf3 41.xf3 xf3 42.gxf3 xe5 43.a6 b8 44.gxh6+- ] 38...ff8 Parrying the threat of f5. 39.b3? [ 39.a5! Passed pawns are made to be pushed forward! b3+ 40.xb3 ( 40.xb3 a8 41.a1 xf4 ) 40...xb3 41.xb3 And Black is not yet out of trouble, For instance g5 ( 41...a8 42.a1 g5 43.fxg5 hxg5 44.a6 a7 45.a5! xe5 46.xc5 xh2 47.c6 ) 42.f5 exf5 43.a6 a8 ( 43...xe5 44.d5 b8 45.gxf5 ) 44.xf5 xa6 45.f7+ e8 46.e6 ] 39...a8 40.h5 ad8! 41.h3 [ 41.a5 e3 ] 2080
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 41...c3 42.d3 xd3 43.xd3 [ 43.xd3 xe5 44.e4 c7 ] 43...g5! Eventually the idea White had been trying to prevent. 44.fxg5 xf1 45.xf1 hxg5 46.a5 d7 Black still has to remain concentrated and will do so in an instructive and active way but the toughest has clearly gone. 47.g2 c7 48.d3 xe5 49.h4 gxh4 50.g5 b8 51.e4 c3 52.f4 a7 53.f1 d2+! [ 53...h3? 54.g3 ] 54.g4 h3! 55.xh3 c4! [ 55...a6 56.f1+ xa5 57.c4 b6 58.h5 c7 59.g6 c3 60.h6 d6 61.g7 xg7+ 62.xg7 e5 63.f6 e4 64.f5 e3 65.f4+- ] 56.g6 c3 57.bxc4 b3 58.f1 b2 59.d3 a6 60.c5+ xa5 61.f3 b1 62.xb1 b5 63.e4 xc5 64.g7 xg7 65.a2 d6 Such a splendid defence that Black even emerges a pawn up at the end of the game! ½-½
h7 18.xd7+ xd7 19.xg6 winning. ] 17.f3 f6 Now Black's structure resembles Swiss cheese! [ 17...axb5 i s h o p e l e s s 18.xf7+ d8 19.g6 ] 18.h5+ d8 19.g6 g8 20.e2 r e g r o u p i n g b e f o r e t h e f i n a l a s s a u l t . b5 21.g4 b6 22.a5 Black seems to have bee n u tt erly tie d u p f or t he who le ga me . Resistance is futile. f7 23.xe5 With his position so discombobulated, there is no point Black struggling on in the endgame. 1-0
2131 Kasparov,Garry Carneiro,Marco Paulo Sao Paulo 450 anniv simul [Eric Prié]
A45 2817 21.08.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.f3 f6 5.e4 dxe4 6.c3 exf3 7.xf3 Not to give the impression to my readers of considering 2130 A45 bad ideas with Black, I did not want to publish Karttunen,Mika 2413 any gam e with this accepta nce, which is Winge,Stefan 2262 obviously a "much more treacherous course 32nd Rilton Cup (4) 30.12.2002 of action than in the related Blackmar Diemer [Aaron Summerscale] gambit" as W ells claims. That is why I concentrated on declining the Greek present Tromp: Once again the pawn on b2 proves too b u t h o w c o u l d I r e s i s t s u c h a c l e a n hot to handle for Black. Why do Black players achievement from the King?! g4 8.h3 xf3 keep subjecting themselves to this onslaught? 9.xf3 c6 10.0-0-0 e6 11.c4 bd7 12.d5 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 cxd5 13.xd5 xd5? I t n e ve r c e a s e s t o a m a ze m e h o w m a n y [ 13...exd5! 14.he1+ e7 15.d6 players can't resist grabbing an extra pawn, Making use of the extra-tempo! 0-0 16.xe7 no matter how much time is lost. 5.d2 b6 c7 17.xd5 ( 17.xf8 xc4 18.e7 6.e4 d6 7.f4 g4 On the surface a useful xa2 19.a3 c4 Black has two not very developing move, but underneath the bishop valiant pawns for the exchange and the proves to be a liability here. 8.c1 e5 9.f5 White king is not entirely safe) 17...e5 This is the point. The bishop suddenly finds 18.a3 fc8 ( 18...xd5 19.xf8 ) 19.b3 i t s e l f t r a p p e d . xe4 10.xe4 xf5 c4 20.xc4 xc4 21.b3 xb3 22.axb3 Black has managed to maintain material parity c6 23.xf6 xf6 24.d7 Winning a pawn. in the traditional sense, but in the modern f2 25.g4 h2 26.xb7 h6 ( 26...xh3 game a piece is usually preferred to three 27.xa7 ) 27.f1 f8 28.f3 ] pawns. 11.g3 c8 12.f3 d7 13.a3 14.xd5 The rest is a massacre that Black The W hite queen seeks greener pastures. could have spared himself. a5 15.xb7 a7 c7 14.b5 a6 15.0-0 h6 16.h4 b8 16.xd7! f6 It is not easy to stop W hite's play on the [ 16...xd7 17.c6+ e7 18.c5+ f6 kingside. 19.g5# ] [ For example 16...g6 falls f oul of 17.f3 [ 16...xd7 17.c6 ] 2081
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.hd1 e7 18.xe7+! xe7 [ 18...xe7 19.d6+ d8 20.c5+ c7 21.c6+ b8 22.d6# ] 19.c6+ f8 20.d6 Garry must have been troubled by his opponent not resigning... g6 21.xe7+ xe7 22.c5+ f6 23.xa7 f8 24.d4+ e5 25.d6+ g7 26.xe5+ g8 27.f6 h5 28.d5 h7 29.xf7 1-0
2132 Kaunzinger,Albert Schoellmann,Jochen Oberliga Bayern 0910 (8.5) [Eric Prié]
A45 2186 2180 21.03.2010
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.b5 a6 Inferior to 5...Nd5 as it takes away the possibility of attacking the Nb5 by ... a7-a6 from Black. As a result White can now d e a l m o re a n n o yin gly wit h t h e o p p o sin g queen encirclement, beginning, as before by the way, with 6.a3! d5 7.b1 [ 7.c4 c3 ] 7...a2 8.b3! cxd4 [ 8...b6 9.e2 ] [ 8...d6 9.c1 db4 10.b2 d5 11.axb4 cxb4 12.xb4 ] [ 8...xf4 9.c3 xb3 10.cxb3 presents Black with the same material of rook, bishop and pawn against the queen, but obviously not with the same conditions... ] 9.exd4 d6 [ 9...e6 10.e2 ab4 ( 10...xf4 11.xf4 ) 11.axb4 xb4+ 12.xb4! ( 12.d2 xd2+ 13.xd2 0-0 14.ec3 wins too. ) 12...xb4 13.c7+ e7 ( 13...d8 14.c3 b2 15.d2 b8 16.7b5 a8 17.c7+ e8 18.g5 ) 14.c3 b2 15.d2 b8 ( 15...a1+ 16.e2 b6 17.3b5 ) 16.d6+!! Just for the sake of this mating attack. xd6 17.7b5+ c6 ( 17...e7 18.g5+ f6 19.xg7+ ) 18.f4! e5 ( 18...xc2+ 19.d1 ) 19.xe5 c1+ 20.e2 xc2+ 21.f3 ] 10.c1? White misses two stronger and, what is more difficult to understand with Black's choice, entirely thematic continuations here,
after which the game loses most of its interest: [ 10.c4 f5 ( 10...xf4 11.c3 g4 12.f3 xf3 13.gxf3 xb3 14.xb3 ) 11.cxd5! c2 12.e2 xb3 13.xd6+ d8 ( 13...d7 14.b5+ xb5 15.xb5+ c7 16.xf7+ b6 17.xa6 xa6 18.xh8 ) 14.xf7+ e8 ( 14...d7 15.e6+ e8 16.b5+! xb5 17.d6+ ) 15.xh8 c3+ 16.d2 a1+ 17.c1+- ] [ including the limpid 10.e2! f5 11.bc3 xc3 12.xc3 xc2 13.xc2 xc2 14.xb7 This position for just a pawn... and t h e f o r c e d b8 It is not necessary to see 15.d5! in advance, then, opening the d2a5 route for the bishop while threatening the f o rk o n c7 , t o p l a y it . d8 ( 15...e4 16.b5+ d8 17.d2 xd5 18.a5+ c8 19.c7+ d8 20.c1# ) 16.d2 d7 17.a5+ b6 18.xb6 axb6 19.xb6+ c8 20.c7+ b8 21.xc2+- ] 10...ac7 11.f3 a6 12.xc7+ xc7 13.d3 g4 14.0-0? [ 14.c4! Would have trapped the queen again. e5 15.b1 a1 16.b2 ] 14...b5 15.e2 [ 15.c4 bxc4 16.xc4 c8 17.b4 a1 18.xf7+ xf7 19.g5+ ] 15...e6 16.b2 xa3 17.xb5 a4 18.b1 g6 19.c4 g7 20.h3 0-0 21.d5 f5 22.xf5 gxf5 23.h4 [ 23.b2 Soon followed by Nd4. ] 23...e6 24.b7 ac8 25.dxe6 fxe6 26.b6 d7 27.f3 b8 28.xb8 xb8 29.a3 b3 30.c1 White will have shilly-shallied a lot in this game! c6? [ 30...a5 ] 31.g5 d7 And he is not alone! 32.d1 b1 33.f4 xd1+ 34.xd1 e8 35.h5 f6 36.d1 h6 37.f3 e4 38.b3 h7 39.b6 c8 40.xd6 xc4 41.b8 A draw may have been sufficient for Black to win the match.. . [ 41.b8 b5-+ ] ½-½
2082
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A45 e v e n h e r e W h i t e a p p e a r s t o o b t a i n 2509 reasonable compensation. h5 [ A risky move from a long-term perspective, 2202 but a very understandable choice. Instead 26.05.2013 10...a6?! is recommended by the misguided machine, but after 11.g4! e7 ( or 11...b5 12.e2 b6 13.g5 ) 12.g5 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 g8 13.h4 h6 14.f3 Black would have 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e5 8.b5+!? found himself rather cramped. ] [ An extremely rare move. Indeed, I can't say a6 12.a4 This could have been I'm surprised it's not been covered on the 11.f3 site before, since it's scarcely been played delayed by a move, but it always makes sense and wasn't considered by either W ells or to prevent Black from freeing his position with m ys e l f i n o u r r e s p e c t i ve wo r k s o n t h e ...b5 in such Benoni structures. e7 13.0-0 Trompowsky. Don't forget that Eric has c4+ 14.h1 c7 15.e2 0-0 16.g5! a wa r d e d t h e i m p o r t a n t a l t e r n a t i v e 8.f5 Finally beginning to head forward. It's clear an exclam. For coverage see the Archive that White has promising play on the kingside and especially his notes to Prié-Cossin, and Griggs finds himself having to counter Caen 2011. I did search for recent games quickly on the other flank. fb8 17.a5!? [ The resulting open b-file doesn't scare from this position, but didn't find any on Ke ke lidze, who m ay well ha ve a vo id e d TWIC. That's partly because not every white 17.h3 on accoun t o f h4 , ( rather than player likes to close the position so, and 17...b5 18.axb5 axb5 19.xa8 xa8 also because fewer player these days as 20.xb5 . )] Black want to grab such a hot pawn, despite Yelena Dembo's pleas for the defence in 17...b5 18.axb6 xb6 19.h3 b2?! [ This achieves little and here too 19...h4!? her generally excellent 'Fighting the Antica m e in t o co n side ra t ion . I nd e e d , a f t e r King's Indians'. ] 20.a4 ( 20.e1 b2 21.c1 h7 8...d7 22.xh4 xg5 23.xg5 xg5 24.xg5 f6 [ This feels natural, but one might also make should be tenable for Black,; while 20.e1 a case for 8...bd7 , preparing to blockade a5 21.xh4 b4 followed by ...Nc5 doesn't with the dark-squared bishop in the event of seem overly clear to me with the a-pawn a pawn exchange on e5. White could debate mobile ) 20...b7 21.xc4 , while White has t h a t o r t r y 9.f3 a6 10.xd7+ xd7 regained his pawn, c8!? 22.xc8+ xc8 11.0-0 e7 12.e1 , looking to build up on 23.a1 b2 should give Black enough the kingside. ] counterplay. ] 9.xd7+ [ Already a novelty. The Georgian 20.c1 b7 21.g4 Here it comes! d8 Grandmaster really does know how to get 22.xf7!? [ Naturally 22.f3 hxg4 23.hxg4 xg4 away from the beaten track. In any earlier 24.g1 df6 wasn't what White wanted to game, 9.b1 was tried, but after c7 d o , b u t h e d i d n ' t h a ve t o g o i n f o r t h e 10.f3 a6 11.xd7+ bxd7 12.a4 exf4 temporary piece sacrifice. ] 13.xf4 e5 14.0-0 e7 (Zimolzak-Smola, [ Indeed, 22.gxh5! followed by building up Polanica Zdroj 2004), even 15.xe5!? dxe5 along the g-file just looks quite effective to 16.h4 0-0 17.f5 ad8 18.a5 me, since xd5 23.xd5 xg5 24.xg5 wouldn't have given White more than some xg5 25.f6! is hardly what Black wants to pressure for his pawn. ] be doing. ] 9...bxd7 10.f5! Kekelidze elects to close the kingside after all, hoping to eventually break 22...xf7 23.g5 h4 [ Returning the extra piece without delay. through there while keeping Black's Griggs had to avoid 23...g8 24.xh5+ counterplay under control. It does seem a f8 25.f6 gxf6? 26.g6 , ] lit tle st ra nge to f irst slightly f re e B lack's [ but 23...e8!? 24.xh5+ g8 wouldn't position with an exchange of bishops, but
2133 Kekelidze,Mikheil Griggs,Walker Chicago Open, Wheeling (7.15) [Richard Palliser]
2083
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 have been so clear, even if W hite has a dangerous looking choice between 25.g1 followed by pushing the f-pawn, ( and the calm 25.g4!? possibly followed by advancing the h-pawn. )] 24.gxf6 xf6 25.g5! Not only reminding Black that his 23rd move left the h-pawn vu ln e ra b l e , b u t p r e p a r i n g a p o s it io n a l l y desirable trade. It's clear that the sacrifice has turned out well for White, even if it takes the machine a few moves to appreciate the point. h8 [ 25...a5!? looks like a better try, since 26.xh4? h8 27.f2 h5 followed by ... Rh8 would suddenly turn the tables on the kingside. ] 26.xf6 xf6 27.d1! Bringing the knight over to the kingside and with the trend of the game against him, Griggs now rather collapses. c8? [ Again why not try 27...a5!? and allow White to do his worst? Indeed, even here 28.e3 a4 29.xc4 ( 29.g4 a3 30.xf6 xf6 31.g1 f7 32.g4 h6 defends ) 29...b8 would offer Black compensation and counterplay on the queenside, with his s u p p o s e d ly b a d b i sh o p h o l d in g t h in g s together well enough on the other flank. ] 28.e3 c5 29.h5+ e7 30.g4 T h e a b s e n c e o f B l a ck ' s q u e e n f r o m t h e kingside is quickly felt. Now he had to move his rook to f8, but instead there came: g8? 31.g1 [ Black is devoid of a good move after this, b u t W h it e d id n ' t h a ve t o d e l a y: 31.xf6 xf6 ( or 31...gxf6 32.h7+ ) 32.g6+ e7 33.f6+ d8 34.f7 f8 35.xa6 crashes through. ] 31...bb8 32.xf6 1-0
2134 Keskel,Marko Mirme,Heino Keres Mem Open (9) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2067 31.07.2001
2.g5 g6 3.xf6 exf6 4.e4 An aggressive alternative to the more popular plan of g3, B g 2 f o l l o w e d b y a p a wn a s s a u l t o n t h e queenside. c5 Very committal and extremely risky. Black attempts to open the position for his bishops, but at the expense of damaging his own pawn structure. [ 4...g7 would be the saner approach, when W hite would continue with Bd3, c3 and Ne2. ] 5.f3 b6 This was Black's idea. He wants White to weaken his queenside dark squares with a move like b3, but W hite has other plans. 6.c3 "I dare you!" White directly confronts Black's strategy. a5 Black doesn't rise to the challenge and backs down. [ 6...xb2 is the consistent move, after which W hite gets lasting compensation: 7.d5 ] 7.c4 cxd4 8.xd4 g7 If Black could only get castled, he would have a definite chance of unleashing his dark-squared bishop with a t i m e l y f 5 . 9.b4! Not giving Black any time to get his act together. d8 10.c5 c6 Black fails to find what amounts to his last chance. [ 10...d6 11.b5+ f8 Would at least have left Black with a fighting chance of saving the game. ] 11.b5 f8 12.d5 Now Black must lose material. xb4+ 13.c3 0-0 Saving the King, but sadly leaving the Black bishop to its fate. 14.cxb4 a6 15.d6 xb4 16.d2 c6 17.0-0 It's fair to say that Black should already resign here, as he has next to no compensation for the extra piece. The rest is simply a mopping up exercise for White. e7 18.ad1 d8 19.fe1 e6 20.e5 f5 21.h6 b5 22.d5 b8 23.d4 W hite chooses the most direct method of finishing Black off. The threat of Rh4 forces Black to further weaken his crumbling defences. f6 24.exf6 xf6 25.g5 g7 26.xg7+ Although Black's defence wasn't the best, I am sure that from White's point of view we haven't seen the last of this line. 1-0
August Update: Trompowsky Attack: Exploiting structural weaknesses is the theme of this month's games in the Tromp. 1.d4 f6 2084
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A45 26...g5 27.xd6 e6 28.c5 xd4 [ 28...e7 also wins easily after: 29.e5 2099 f6 ] 2200 23.03.2002 29.bd1 [ 29.e5 d2 is also hopeless. ] 29...e3+ Now the mate is unavoidable. Trompowsky Attack: Black demonstrates a 0-1 keen eye for attack in one of the quieter lines of the Tromp. W hite had his chances, but A45 failed to take them. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 g6 2136 3.xf6 exf6 4.c4 g7 5.e3 0-0 6.c3 f5 Klein,Leo 1972 7.g3 d6 8.g2 c6 9.ge2 d7 10.0-0 f6 Womacka,Mathias 2455 11.b4 This is undoubtedly White's best plan Teplice Open (3) 13.06.2011 here, when his forces are ideally placed to [Eric Prié] launch a queenside offensive. a6 12.a4 d7 13.a5 Eyeing the vulnerable b6 square. e7 1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.b3?! e6 14.a4 e4 15.b6 ad8 16.b1 Another acid test I was prepared against. White is in no particular hurry, he knows that White now has to watch out for the motif ... t h e r e i s n o n e e d t o r u s h , a s B l a c k ' s Nd5, ...cxd4, ...Bb4+ 5.c3 queenside weaknesses will not simply vanish [ 5.f3 c6 Controlling d4. ( 5...d5 6.g3 by themselves. He know that at some stage cxd4 7.xd4 ) 6.e2 ( 6.a3 ) 6...d5 b5 is on the cards, which will shatter Black's 7.g3 cxd4 8.exd4 ( 8.xd4 b4+ 9.f1 d e f e n s iv e f o r t re ss . fe8 17.c2 h5 c3?? 10.xc3 xc3 11.b5 xa1 A sensible bid for counterplay. Black cannot 12.c7+ d8 13.xa8 c5 14.xa1+- ) afford to just sit and wait for the axe to fall. 8...b4+ 9.f1 c3 10.d3 ( 10.xc3 18.h4 g5 Breaking open the kingside. This xc3 11.c1 xd4 ) 10...xb1? Black move is extremely committal, because if ( 10...xe2 11.xe2 d5 ) 11.xb1 e7 this kingside offensive does not work, his 12.c3= After h4-h5 White was not so badly pawn weaknesses will come back to haunt p la ce d in B a t i n ic, J (1 9 3 9 ) -Ma la d a , V him. It is ho wever, the on ly way to make (2326) Split 2011 0-1(50) Another game progress. 19.hxg5 xg5 20.f4 h4 played this year! ] 21.gxh4 xh4 Black has drummed up some [ 5.a3!? d5 ( 5...c6 6.f3 d5 ) 6.g3 considerable counterplay. 22.f3? Prematurely cxd4 7.exd4 ( 7.xd4?! c6 8.xb6 weakening the kingside. axb6 Remstedt, M-Becker, M Pinneberg [ 22.fe1 was relatively best with the sneaky 19 9 7 0 -1 (3 6 )) 7...c6 8.f3 a5+ trap: xd4? 23.xd7 xd7 24.xe4 fxe4 ( 8...f5? 9.c4 ) 9.bd2 xa3? 10.c4! db4 25.g2! winning material. And leaving the 11.d5! ( 11.e2 f5 ) 11...exd5 12.e2 Black player extremely red in the face. ] Black is losing a piece... dxc4 13.xc4 22...g3 23.f2 h6 c2+ 14.f1 c3 15.a2 ] [ 23...xd4 24.exd4 xf4 is fine for Black. ] 5...c6 6.f3 e7 7.e2 0-0 8.0-0 d5 24.fe1 xe3 Over ambition, which could 9.bd2 d7 10.e5 fd8 11.d3 a5 cost Black the game. 12.c1 [ 24...xf4 25.exf4 g7 intending Rh8 [ 12.c2!? ac8 13.xd7 xd7 leaves Black in the driving seat. For ( 13...xd7? 14.xh7+ ) 14.a3= ] example: 26.xe8 xe8 27.xd7 e2 12...ac8 winning the queen. ] [ 12...xa2? 13.dxc5 xc5 ( 13...a3 25.xe3 xf4 26.e7?? The final mistake, 14.b4 ) 14.xd7 xd7 15.b4 d6 16.a1 after which there is no turning back. b2 17.b1 a3 ( 17...a2 18.c1 ) [ 26.f2 gives White the chance to defend 18.xd6 xd6 19.c2 c8 20.a1 xb4 himself i.e.: g7 27.xd7 h8 28.b2 21.xa3 xc2 22.xc2 ] and Black has no breakthrough. ] 13.g5? h6 14.h4 xa2! This capture is
2135 Kessler,Bernd Kolus,Lajos Spring Festival (9) [Aaron Summerscale]
2085
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 now possible due to the Ne5 exposure allied to the presence of a black rook on c8! 15.b1 [ 15.xd7 xd7 16.dxc5 a3 17.b4? xb4 ] 15...a5 16.xf6 xf6 17.c2? W hite collapses... xe5 18.dxe5 xe5 19.h7+ but delivers one check! f8 20.f4 xc3 21.f3 f6 22.g4 b5 23.f2 e7 24.g5 c3 25.e5 g8 26.h1 d2 27.f5 xc1 28.f6+ A n d a n o t h e r o n e ! ! d6 29.xf7+ c7 30.f1 xf1 31.gxh6 e1 0-1
2137 Kokarev,Dmitry Dvoirys,Semen Governor's Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk (3.6) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2631 2562
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.f3 Eric wasn't a fan of this direct move, but theory may have been too quick to condemn it as bad. It's certainly not as reliable as the sober advance of the e-pawn, but doesn't seem to lead to an inferior position for White from what I can see. f6 5.c3 [ White can also essay the BlackmarDiemeresque 5.e4 dxe4 6.c3 , but then he has to take into account, amongst others, d5 . ] 5...e6 [ This French-like choice has been Black's main move, but we should also mention 5...c5!? , as covered by Aaron in KostadinovPitre, Vancouver 2001, and Eric in CorralesDe la P az, S a n ta Cla ra 2 0 0 7 - se e t h e Archive. ] [ There's also 5...f5 and after 6.e4!? dxe4 7.c4?! ( 7.fxe4 xe4 8.d3 is a better try ) 7...e6 8.e2 b4 9.0-0-0 xc3 10.bxc3 0-0 Black was doing well in this m e s s y p o s it i o n in P o n k ra t o v- A k o p i a n , Khanty-Mansiysk (blitz) 2013. ] 6.e4 e7 [ The experienced Russian Grandmaster d e v e lo p s a s p e r t h e C la s si ca l F re n ch , rejecting the chance to play a la the W i n a w e r w i t h 6...b4 , which Aaron and Eric have both also given some coverage to. ]
7.d2 [ Sensible. Instead, 7.e5?! fd7 8.e3 c5 9.f4 c6 10.f3 0-0 would leave Black a tempo up on a topical line of the Classical French. ] 7...0-0 8.0-0-0 a6 The battle is quick to heat up as both sides prepare early strikes against the opponent's king. 9.g4! dxe4!? [ A new idea. Dvoirys asks White if he really wants to sacrifice his g-pawn. Previously Black has preferred 9...b5 10.g5 e8 11.h4 b4 , as in Lputian-Gufeld, Los Angeles 1998, whereupon 12.ce2!? a5 13.g3 a4 would have been pretty unclear as I pointed out in my Starting Out book. ] 10.g5!? [ Kokarev doesn't fear losing the bishop-pair. T h e a l t e r n a t i ve wa s , o f c o u r s e , 10.fxe4 when I doubt that Dvoirys would really have ta ke n t he p a wn : xg4?! 11.f3 b5?! ( 11...e5 is an attempt to catch up in development, but Black is still somewhat worse after 12.xe5 xe5 13.xe5 c6 14.f4 g4 15.e2 ) 12.g1 f6 13.h6 just leaves Black in some trouble. ] [ Instead, after 10.fxe4 , b4 might well be tried when one intriguing line runs 11.d3 c5 12.dxc5 e5 13.xe5 xg4 14.ge2 bd7 15.d6 xc5! 16.xf8 xf8 with decent play for the exchange thanks to the pins created by Black's fine bishops. ] 10...d5 11.xe4 The only real move to make any sense. d7 [ Dvoirys is content to develop. This can hardly be terrible, but there was no reason not to bag the bishop-pair. Moreover, after 11...xf4 12.xf4 d7 White is hardly about to go Rg1 and Nf6+ with any great force and Black always has ...f5 if he needs it. Following, say, 13.h4 b5 14.d3 b7 15.e2 the position is likely about equal, with b8! looking like a slightly annoying move from White's perspective. ] 12.g3 b5 [ This reminds White that Black too might lau nch a ma jo r pa wn-st orm, while a ls o preparing to bring the light-squared bishop to a good square. I'm sure Dvoirys also considered the thematic 12...c5 , but after 13.c4! it's not so easy for Black: for example, 5b6 14.dxc5 ( 14.h4 cxd4 15.xd4 2086
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 also looks pretty reasonable) 14...a4 15.h4 dxc5 16.xd8 xd8 17.xd8+ xd8 18.d6 , with a definite plus as d7? 19.b4 would rather embarrass the black pieces. ] 13.h4 b7 [ White is definitely on top after this, so the m a c h i n e ' s s u g g e s t i o n o f 13...5b6!? may not be so strange. After 14.h5 f5 15.gxf6 xf6 the e6-point is, of course, a small eyesore, but the main idea is that a time ly ... Nc4 is likely to rem ove on e o f White's key attacking pieces. ] 14.h5! There's no need to develop when your king is safe and plan of attack clear. Moreover, is, say, the light-squared bishop really worse on f1 than d3 where it would be pestered by ... Nb4? f5 [ A logical attempt to break up the flow of play on the kingside. Black didn't have to react just yet, but after, for instance, 14...c5 I quite like White's position no matter which pawn he pushes on and 15.h6 g6 16.dxc5 xc5 ( 16...xc5? 17.d4 would be embarrassing) 17.xc5 xc5 18.e2 would leave W hite slightly for choice on account of his huge dark-square potential. ] 15.gxf6 5xf6 [ T h e e n g i n e s s l i g h t l y p r e f e r 15...7xf6 16.g5 c8 , but if Black really has to grovel so, then clearly things have gone wrong. ] 16.g5 e4!? [ 16...d5 17.e1 would just pick off e6. Dvoirys was no doubt relying on the tactical b lo w p ro d u c e d b y t h e t e xt , b u t it 's n o t enough for Black to equalise. ] 17.xe4 xe4 18.h2!? [ Kokarev wants to continue posing problems, but there was no particularly good reason not to go a useful pawn to the good with 18.xc7 xc7 19.fxe4 f6 20.d3 . ] 18...f5 [ The game isn't so easy to fully understand a t t h is p o in t . P re su m a b ly t h e t e xt wa s p r e f e r r e d t o 18...d5 on account that it neutralises Bh3 ideas and yet this followed by 19.xc7 c8 20.d6 xd6 21.xd6 b8 looks like a reasonable enough grovel for Black. ] 19.xc7 g5+?
[ Bringing the queen to f6 achieves little, but White would still have faced some technical difficulties in unravelling and consolidating after 19...c8 20.d3 b7 , continuing to keep an eye on the f3 weakling. ] 20.b1 f6 21.d3! ae8 [ Perhaps Dvoirys had been hoping that 21...xd4? would be an issue, but after 22.e2 that loose knight on d7 is going to cost Black serious material. ] 22.e2 xd3 23.xd3 e5 An entirely understandable attempt to break out, if also one which fails to dent the notion that White is in full control of the position. 24.c3 c6 25.xe5 xe5 26.dxe5 xf3? [ Dvoirys hasn't been at his best in this game and this miscalculation ends any hopes he might have harboured of saving it. Correct was 26...f4 , and if 27.h4 xe5 when 28.d5 f6 29.g4 e2 30.c3 would have left White a pawn to the good, but with various technical issues still to overcome after e6! . ] 27.g2! ef8 28.d5 [ The hard-to-spot-in-advance point was that 28.d5 xd3 29.e7+ wins the black queen and the game. ] 1-0
2138 Kosic,Dragan Maksimovic,Branimir 48th TCh-SCG (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2515 2385 16.05.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 exf4 12.d4 a5!? This is destined to prevent any W hite e-pawn advance while controlling some important squares along the 5th rank and directly mobilising the queen's rook rather than attempting to do this 'n a t u ra ll y' vi a t h e 8 t h wh i ch is a l wa ys a problem for Black because of his 'shut in' bishop on c8. [ 12...d6 Obviously parrying g3 but 13.e4!? I would prefer ( 13.f2 followed by g3.) 13...fxe3 14.f5 c5 15.xg7+ f8 16.f5 d6?! ( 16...d5 looks better in any 2087
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 case 17.d3 xf5 18.xf5 d4 19.e2 dxc3 20.xc3 g8 21.g4 h5 If White has something in this position, it is really minimal. ) 17.d3 b5 ( 17...g8 18.b4 xg2 19.e2 ) 18.b4 b6 19.e2 e6 20.0-0 xf5 21.xf5 a3 22.c2 d5 23.b3 xc3 24.xc3 e2+ 25.f2 d4 26.c1 e1+ 27.xe1 xc3 28.e4 Aleksandrov,A 2650) - Kotronias,V (2597) EU-ch Istanbul 2003 ] 13.g3 [ 13.e4 fxe3 14.e2 The thematic m a n o e u v r e w o u l d t h e n b e m e t b y e5 The main idea behind his 12th move. ] 13...d6 14.f2 0-0 15.h3 d5 16.xf4 xf4 17.gxf4 xf4 18.e3 g5 [ 18...e5 In order to pary Bb5 19.a4! c5 20.b5 ] 19.h3 [ 19.b5! Making the Black rook on a5 look a b i t s i l l y . e8 20.f4 f6 21.a4 then is clearly better for White. ] 19...g6 20.hd1 e8 21.f4 h4+ 22.f3 e7 Intending the grand transformation with ... Rh5 23.g4 h5 [ 23...f5 24.h3 d6 25.g2 d7 26.f2 ] 24.h3 g5! 25.fxg5 xg5 26.c2 ae5 27.d3 f8 28.ad1 b5! Black has to play energetically! 29.xd7 [ 29.d5!? Exchanging one rook in order to release the counter pressure against e3. b6 ( 29...xe3+ 30.xe3 xe3+ 31.f2 xh3 32.xg5 xh2+ 33.g3!+- xb2 34.c5 ) 30.xe5 xe5 31.xd7 b7+ 32.e2 e4 W it h com pe nsa tion f o r insta nce 33.b4 b7 34.d3 e4 35.d4 b7 36.c6 xc6 37.xc6 xe3+= ] 29...xd7 30.xd7 xe3 31.7d5 [ 31.xb7? f5+ 32.g3 ( 32.e2 h6+ 33.d3 f3+ 34.d4 d8+; 32.g2 f2+ ) 32...f4+ 33.g2 ( 33.h3 e2 34.h1 xc2 ) 33...e2+ 34.f3 xc2 35.e4 f6-+ ] 31...c5 32.1d2 8e6 33.xe5 xe5 34.a3 e7 35.h3 f6 36.h4 ½-½
2139 Kosic,Dragan Markovic,Miroslav zt Kladovo (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2455 2505 1993
TROMPOWSKY ATTACK: The aggressive h4 Tromp: After 2...Ne4 3.h4 is perhaps the right move to really surprise your opponent. Although not considered totally sound, it is difficult to refute and is home to some extremely nasty tactical points. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 The h4 Tromp is an ultra aggressive, if not entirely correct weapon. W hite retains his pin on the e7 pawn, and entices Black to "win" the bishop pair, with Nxg5. However Black often finds that doing so is more trouble than it is worth, due to the resulting semi-open h-file. c6 Black strays from the well trodden paths of 3...c5 and 3... d5 and elects to take a walk on the wild side, in the adventurous spirit of the opening. [ 3...h6 May well be the best line against 3. h4. After: 4.f4 Even Hodgson admits that it i s d i f f i c u l t t o f i n d a n y l i n e s wh e r e t h e inclusion of h4 and h6 favour White. ] 4.d2 xg5 5.hxg5 The semi-open h-file more than compensates White for the loss of his dark squared bishop and allows him some i n t e r e s t i n g t a c t i c a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s . b6 Black decides to immediately go about exploiting the absence of said bishop, by targeting the dark squared pawns. 6.e3 xb2 7.g6! It is possibilities such as this that originally attracted creative players, such as Hodgson to the h4 Tromp. Black is forced to seriously compromise his king position. fxg6 8.d3 This is the point behind White's 7th. The threat of Bxg6+ guarantees that White will recoup his sacrificed pawn. d5 9.xg6+ White forces the king to move, and is now well on top. d8 10.gf3 g4 This simply helps W hite to infiltrate on the queenside, Black was obviously still reeling from the impact of 7. g6. 11.b1 The inevitable fall of the b7 pawn means that the Black king will never find a saf e haven . c3 12.xb7 d7 13.b1 The White queen begins to probe for a way into the Black position. She will not have long to wait! xf3 Black is seeking relief through exchanges, but in effect, is simply removing 2088
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 5...axc5 6.c3! xc3 Of course not [ 6...a5? 7.b4 ] 7.xc5 e4 8.d5 xg5 9.hxg5 b6 10.0-0-0 xf2 11.e4 A first amelioration, controlling e3 with h7 in the line of fire. e6 12.f3 c5 13.d3 The prelude to a completely mad game: d6 [ 13...g3 14.h3 f2 ( 14...c7 15.xh7 ) 15.h1 g3 Draw? 16.xh7 xh7 17.xh7 With the standard complications. ] 14.g4 e5 [ 14...d7! Like best play in the previous game: return the pawn to rely on the (amply sufficient) remaining assets of a powerful pair of bishops, much superior structure and the establishing of counter tactics due to the opening of files against the white king on t h e q u e e n s i d e . 15.g6 ( 15.h2? c6 16.f4 e5; 15.xb7 c8 ) 15...c6! 16.gxf7+ xf7 17.f4+ g8 18.h2 f8 19.xf8+ xf8 20.xf2 xf2 21.xd6 e7 22.d3 f8 ] 15.g6 [ 15.h2 g3 ] 15...e6 [ 15...fxg6 16.xe5! e3+ 17.d1! dxe5 18.xe5+ f7 19.c7+ f6 20.g5+ xg5 ( 20...xg5 21.f3+ ) 21.e7+ f4 22.xe3! d8+ ( 22...xe3 23.h4+ g4 24.xg4+ xg4 25.xe3 ) 23.xd8 xe3 24.h4+ g3 25.b4 f2 26.h4+ xf1 ( 26...g1 27.b3 g5 28.e1 ) 27.h1+ 2140 A45 f2 28.h2+ f1 29.f4+ ] Kosic,Dragan 2530 16.h2 g3 [ 16...xf1+ 17.d1 Trapping the queen. ] Shipov,Sergei 2535 GRE-chT Thessaloniki (1) 1996 17.xh7 [ 17.xb7 0-0 18.gxh7+ h8 19.g2 [Eric Prié] f4+ ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 a6 17...0-0-0 18.b4! d5! [ 18...b6 19.xd6 xd6 20.xh8+ c7 5.d4! This laid-back move order reminds me 21.gxf7! ( 21.c4 xc4 22.xc4+? c6; fondly of my game against Levin in the 2...c5 21.e8 f4+ ) 21...xf7 22.h7! Tromp: 3.dxc5 Na6 4. Qd4! e6 5.Nc3 Bxc5 6. ( 22.xe5?? xe5 23.xe5 e3+ 24.b2 Qh4. d4+ 25.c3 xe5 ) [ 5.d2 axc5 6.xe4 xe4 7.d5! A) 22...d4 23.xe5+ ( 23.xd4?? xg5 8.hxg5 b6 9.0-0-0 xf2 10.e4 e1+ 24.b2 xd4+ ); g6!? 11.h3 ( 11.e5 f6; 11.f3 c5; B) 22...f2 23.xg7 xf1+ 24.b2 11.e3! Na t u ra lly a n d i f f5 12.d4 ) d4+ 25.xd4 exd4 26.h7!! 11...b6 ( 11...c5 makes a better Leaves Black hopeless! Didn't someone i m p r e s s i o n .) 12.f4 g7 13.c3 s a y: " t h e t h r e a t i s s t r o n g e r t h a n t h e Deak, S-Sax, G HUN-ChT 1997) ]
an important defender of his king. 14.gxf3 e5 15.xd7+ Black must have been wishing that he had never got out of bed! The glaring absence of the light squared bishop makes this spectacular sacrifice a crushing blow. xd7 16.b7+ e6 17.h5 As so often in the Tromp, W hite ignores the possibility of recouping his material investment, in favour of going for Black's jugular. hxg6 Black grabs all the material he can lay his hands on, but a less greedy approach would not have helped, for instance: [ 17...exd4 18.f7+! f6 ( 18...d6 19.xa8 Leaves Black a piece down, facing a raging attack.) 19.f5+ White throws the kitchen sink at Black in the pursuit of his king. xf5 20.d7+ g5 21.g4+ There is no way out for Black, his king is pushed mercilessly around the board. f6 22.e6+ g5 23.e5+ h6 24.h5# Who needs rooks for attacking! Certainly not this White player! ] 18.xe5+ f6 [ Black is in an equally helpless position after: 18...d6 19.f7 when mate on e6 is inevitable. ] 19.d7 Mate on e6 is threatened and is only avoidable with the sacrifice of most of the Black pieces. Not surprisingly, Black chose the more dignified option of resignation. 1-0
2089
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e x e c u t io n " ? ( 26.e7+ d7 27.c5+ d8 28.h7 f6 And Black defends) 26...d7 ( 26...f6 27.g5 g6 28.xg6 xg6 29.xf7+ c8 30.f5 ) 27.e5+ c8 ( 27...d6 28.h6 ) 28.h8+ d8 29.c5+ d7 30.xd4+ ] 19.xe5 xe5 20.xe5 xh7 21.gxh7 d6! [ 21...xb4 22.e4 d4 23.h3! Not falling i n t o t h e c l e v e r t r a p ( 23.xd4? a3+ 24.b1 xd4 25.h8+ d8 regaining the queen. ) 23...h8 24.c4 xc4 25.xc4 d7 26.e5+ e6 27.f3 c3 ( 27...c5 28.d2 ) 28.d1 g6 29.g5+- ] 22.c4 xb4 [ 22...dxc4 23.xd6 h8 24.d4 xh7 25.g2 h4 ( 25...c3 26.d3 ) 26.f3 f5 27.d5! ( 27.d6 fxg4 28.xe6 gxf3 29.exf3 c3 30.d1 xb4 ) 27...xd5 28.xd5 fxg4 29.d2 Followed by Rg5 and White just manages to equalize. ] 23.e3? [ 23.e4! d4 24.xd4 h8 25.b6+ axb6 26.xb4 ] 23...h8 24.xd5 xd5 Black must have had his dose of calculations or was possibly already short of time. Otherwise he could have played on with [ 24...d6! 25.b6+ c7! 26.d5+ b8 27.g2 xh7 28.f3 h4 29.e3 f4 30.b2 h2 where he is a bit better ( 30...xe3 31.xe3 xg4 32.xg4 xg4 33.e8+ c7 34.e7+ c6 35.xf7 )] [ 24...c5 25.f4 ( 25.c3 b6 ) 25...xg4 26.h3 ] ½-½
2141 Kostadinov,George Pitre,Hanniegn G 26th Keres Mem (6) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45
having in your repertoire, for when you want to mix things up and even for the look of surprise on your opponent's face. f6 5.c3 c5 6.d2 An interesting novelty. Previously only 6.e4 and 6.e3 had been played here. cxd4 [ 6...c6 is well met by 7.b5 ] [ 6...e6 seems a reasonable alternative. ] 7.b5 c6? Much too ambitious. This exchange sacrifice is simply not viable. [ 7...a6 8.xd4 looks reasonable for White, Black's extra central pawn is offset by both his misplaced knight on a6 and White's lead in development. ] 8.c7+ d7 9.xa8 e5 Black has a great pawn center, but I simply cannot believe that it is worth his material investment. 10.g5 b4 [ 10...b6 Would obviously aim to win the Na8. However, White is not one to sit back and give up his knight without compensation and could set about breaking up Black's pawns with: 11.e3 still this would be a better option for Black. ] 11.c3 dxc3 Black must actively before White can consolidate but this move also opens up the position of his own king. 12.bxc3 a5 13.xf6 xf6 14.xd5+ e8 15.c5 Very calm, White keeps a careful eye on the Black king whilst also defending the c-pawn. e4 16.0-0-0 e6 Black's position looks quite a ct ive b u t h e ' s c le a rly a l l m o u t h a n d n o trousers. His vulnerable king makes it impossible for him to drum up any meaningful counterplay. 17.e3 xc3+ [ 17...xa2 18.b2 e6 19.b5 is equally dismal for Black. ] 18.xc3 xc3 19.c7+ And with White's knight escaping, Black is left with no reason to play on. 1-0
29.05.2001
2142 A45 June Update: Trompowsky: White introduces Kotronias,Vasilios 2578 a new idea in an old line of the Tromp. Stathopoulos,Ioannis 2248 Black's sudden disorientation means that he Isthmia Open, Vrachati (4.4) 20.08.2013 immediately goes astray. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 [Richard Palliser] e4 3.f4 d5 4.f3 This has largely been superseded by 4. e3, thanks to the efforts of 1.d4 f6 2.g5 One associates the leading Hodgson and Adams. But it is certainly worth Greek Grandmaster with a heavily theoretical 2090
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1 e4 repertoire, but having produced such a detailed work for Black on the Fianchetto King's Indian must have taken its toll, as Kotronias heads into slightly less theoretical waters. d5 3.xf6 [ Another recent Tromp game which caught my eye (played just two days before I write these words!), deviated with 3.e3 c6 4.d3 ( kee ping t he knight s f lexib le , bu t 4.f3 is tempting too, since White is happy with g4 5.xf6 exf6 6.c4 - see my notes to Laznicka-Bobras, Czech League 2013, in the Archive) 4...g4 5.e2!? bd7 6.h3 ( by no means obligatory, with 6.0-0 e6 7.c4 a decent alternative AleksandrovShomoev, Vladivostok 2012, continued d6 8.bc3 h5 9.h3 dxc4 10.xc4 a5 11.f4 whereupon Black was provoked, but d5 12.c1 h6 13.h4 g5? 14.e4 e7 15.e1! d8 16.2g3 g6 17.f5 exf5 18.xf5 was surely not what he wanted to be doing ) 6...h5 7.f4 with an unusual type of Stonewall. Black's bishop isn't going to be trapped and with such a hole on e4, I can't believe that W hite should be better. Moskalenko-Ganguly, Spanish Team Championship 2013, continued e6 8.d2 b6 9.b1 g6 10.0-0 d6 11.xf6 xf6 12.f3 c5 13.c3 xd3 14.xd3 e4 15.d2 f5 and was roughly level, later drawn. ] 3...gxf6 Much the more dynamic of the two recaptures, of course. 4.c4 e5 [ I'd always considered 4...dxc4 5.e3 c5 to be quite critical, ] [ but Eric made a decent case for 4...c5!? in his notes to his two 2010 training games with Sevan Buscara. And what of the text? W ell, I can imagine this being played at club level where it may look like the logical follow-up to Black's last, but the reality is that it leaves his kingside full of holes, and not just the f5-square. ] 5.c3 [ This feels like the critical test, since 5.dxe5 b4+ ( even the Albin-like 5...d4!? 6.exf6 xf6 7.f3 c6 comes into consideration) 6.c3 d4 7.a4+ c6 8.0-0-0 looks a bit risky. This was actually seen in Cubas PonsS e m e n o v a , P r a g u e 2 0 1 3 , w h e r e fxe5 9.d5 f8!? 10.e3 h6 11.f4!? d7
was extremely murky. ] 5...b4 Pinning feels like a pretty natural reaction, but Black can also continue with his central pawn play: [ a) 5...dxc4 6.f3 exd4 7.xd4 c5 8.c2 xd1+ 9.xd1 e6 10.e4 c6 11.e3 (R.Pert) sees W hite regaining his pawn, likely with a small plus. ] [ b) 5...c5!? deserves further attention and can easily become pretty unclear: for example, 6.e3 cxd4 7.exd4 c6 8.f3 dxc4 9.xc4 exd4 10.e2+ e7 11.0-0-0 when neither king is especially happy, but I imagine White is for choice, since b1 will be a safer square than h8 and Nd5 is threatened. ] 6.e3 [ Keeping it simple, but in his brand-new work 'Playing the Trompowsky', Richard Pert prefers 6.cxd5 , and if xd5 7.a4+ c6 8.xb4! xb4 9.xd5 xd5 10.e4 b4 11.c1 when one has to agree that White is for choice on account of his superior structure. I dare say we'll encounter more lines from Pert's oeuvre as the months go by, but from an initial perusal it does appear to be packed with some critical new ideas and looks like essential reading for the Trompowsky aficionado. ] 6...exd4 [ This only helps White to develop, but 6...c6 7.a3 exd4 8.axb4 dxc3 9.bxc3 e6 10.c5! favoured White in Martinez Garcia-Penillas Mendez, Mondariz 1997, ] [ as did 6...dxc4?! 7.xc4 c6 8.ge2 g4 9.f3 d7 10.0-0 in Kartsev-Polaczek, Belgian League 2007. ] 7.xd4 e6?! [ Black must have forgotten his bishop would be attacked after White's next. Otherwise, h e wo u l d h a ve go n e 7...dxc4 , not that 8.xd8+ xd8 9.xc4 e7 10.ge2 can exactly be described as appetising for the second player. ] 8.cxd5 c5!? [ A more spirited try than grovelling in a pawndown ending with 8...xc3+ 9.xc3 xd5 10.xf6 a5+ 11.c3 xc3+ 12.bxc3 . ] 9.b5+ e7?! [ There was no need to move the king since W hite's queen was attacked. Indeed, 2091
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...c6 10.f4 ( 10.dxc6?! cxd4 11.c7+ d7 12.xd7+ xd7 13.0-0-0 xc3 14.bxc3 xc7 15.cxd4 xa2 isn't all clear ) 10...xd5 should have been preferred, although after 11.xf6 g8 12.f3 xg2?! 13.h8+ e7 14.xa8 xf3 15.xb7+ f6 16.f1 Black does seem to come up short. ] 10.f4 xc3+ 11.bxc3 xd5 Regaining the pawn, but clearly Black's position is a wreck and Kotronias must have wondered why he doesn't employ the Trompowsky more often. 12.f3 d6 13.a4 d8 14.0-0 a6 15.c4 [ Slightly lax. Instead 15.e2 c6 ( or 15...c6 16.c2! ) 16.h4 would have kept White well in front. ] 15...c6! Stathopoulos seizes his chance to get back into the game to an extent. 16.b3 [ Unfortunately for White, 16.xc6 xc6 17.e2 (he would rather not, of course, u n d o u b l e B l a c k ' s p a w n s o n e 6 ) b5 would have given Black good counterplay, so Kotronias is forced to retreat. ] 16...b5 17.xe6! Undoubling Black's pawns, b u t re t a in in g t h e a d va n t a ge , si n c e b o t h W hite's k ing an d kin gside pawns rem ain somewhat the safer. fxe6 18.b1 [ 18.b2 is given in the official gamescore, but surely Black would not then have replied h8 . ] 18...h8 [ Sub-optimal, but so too would have been 18...f5 19.e1! , beginning to direct some fire against the black king. ] 19.a4! Seizing the queenside initiative. Kotronias might have wobbled very slightly, but he is still clearly for choice. bxa4 20.c2 d7 21.xa4 Now White's rook is active and, indeed, it soon makes its presence felt along the fourth rank. b6 22.g4 f7 23.c4 ad8 24.h4!? Not such an easy pawn move to understand as White's last, but Kotronias may well just have wanted to be threatening Ng5+ in the event of a ...Rdg8 Rf4 sequence. d7 25.d1 c7?! Black was beginning to run low on moves, but it cannot have been a good idea to allow White's queen to advance. 26.e4 f8? [ It was grim, but he really had to retreat with 26...b8 . Now the legendary attacking Grandmaster strikes. ]
27.e5+!! fxe5 28.f3+ e8 29.xd8+ xd8 [ For the second time in this sequence, the only way to preserve the material situation, which 29...xd8 30.f6+ wouldn't have done, but Black is a goner in any case. ] 30.g7 b8 [ Allowing mate, but there was no defence to the threats along the seventh, with 30...d7 31.a8+ d8 32.c6+ d7 33.xd7 xd7 34.c8+ winning the house. ] 31.f7+ 1-0
2143 Kovacevic,Blazimir Brkic,Ante XII It Solin-Split CRO (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2503 2454 10.12.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.c1 e6 8.c4 exd5 9.cxd5 c4 Played just one month ago, it is exactly the same position as the previous game with one extra tempo! This fortuitous discovery made me fall upon a veritable gold mine of critical, highest level, games which had escaped me in the previous updates. Also it pushed me to refine my opening key... 10.e3 c5 11.f2 0-0 12.xc4 e8 [ 12...d6 Sulskis. But then White is not forced to misplace his queen, in order to defend his e-pawn, and replace, at the same time, the opponent's one! For instance, 13.e2 e8 14.d4 ] 13.b3 d8! This was a Novelty in INF 85 (2002). It is amazing how 'theory' is growing on the Tromp these days! 14.e2 d6 15.d1 a6 16.a4 bd7 17.g3 [ 17.d4 b6 18.c3 xc4 19.xc4 b5! 20.d3 Was the continuation of the great game Mamedyarov (2542) -Sulskis (2577) EU-Ch op Batumi 2002 0-1 (36) The e v e n t u a l w i n n e r r e c k o n e d ( 20.b3 s t i l l p r o t e c t i n g d 5 b4 21.ce2 a5 With the compensation of a strong pair of bishops was White's best try. Please have a look at it in the above mentioned source. At least in remembrance of those times when the Azeri warrior, unfortunate second in the 2092
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 just finished W ijk-aan Zee B tournament (a f t e r h a vi n g l e d a ll t h e wa y t h ro u g h which reminds me of Laurent Fressinet, who acted as a spur to the study of this most important system of the Tromp!) behind Karjakin could get baited with the white pieces! )] 17...h5 18.e2 h4 19.f1 h5! White's light-squared bishop is, or anticipating a bit I should say 'was', an essential element of his defensive set up. 20.a5 f4 21.a4 xe2 22.xe2 h3 The complement, weakening the white squares in the vicinity of the king. 23.g3 e5 24.c3 d7 25.e4 [ 25.a1 f6! 26.d2 f5! 27.e4 ( 27.ce4 b5+ 28.f2 g4+ ) 27...xf3!! After the preliminaries, starts the stripping! 28.xf3 xe4+ 29.xe4 b5+! 30.d2 xe4 31.e1 b4+ 32.d1 xe1 33.xe1 e2# ] 25...xa5 White is utterly massacred. [ 25...f6 26.f4 ] 26.f2 b5 27.e2 ac8 28.d2 b6 29.b4 f5 The rest is a blood bath. 30.xc5 xc5 31.dd4 [ 31.ed4 c2 ] 31...xe4 32.xe4 c4! 33.d4 ec8 34.c6 c7! Everything had been forecast. [ 34...xc6?? 35.xc4 ] 35.xe5 [ 35.xc4 bxc4 36.c3 xc6 37.dxc6 xc6 ] 35...c2+! 36.e1 [ 36.d2 xd2+ 37.e1 c1+ 38.d1 xd1# ] 36...a5+ White resigns one move before checkmate. 0-1
2144 Kovacevic,Slobodan Oratovsky,Michael Ciudad de Albacete op-10 (8) [Eric Prié]
A45 2374 2553 06.09.2002
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 f6 5.d5 h5! I like this move! 6.e3 [ 6.g5 h6 7.h4 b6 The whole idea. 8.d2 The only move. White will get some sort of compensation but visibly less than in
the 2...c5 3.d5 Qb6 4. Nc3 Tromp. ( 8.c1? b4+ 9.c3 xh4+ ) 8...xb2 9.e4 d6 10.c4 b6 ( 10...f4!? 11.g3 f6 with the idea ...g7-g6 or ...g5) 11.e2 g6 12.0-0 g7 13.b1 c7 14.f4 0-0 15.h1 Rabinovich,A-Liss,E ISR-ChT 1999 1-0 (44) ] 6...e5! 7.f2 When the utility of the f3 move is reduced to making a square for the Tromp bishop, instead of proudly supporting the e2e 4 ce n t ra l a d va n ce , t h e n t h e r e m u s t b e something wrong with White's way of handling the opening! [ 7.c3 d6 8.g4 f4 9.f2 e7 ( 9...g6 10.h4 h5 ) 10.h4 f5 11.h5 ( 11.e3!? g6 12.b5+ d7 13.h5 h4 ) 11...fxg4 12.e3 h3 13.xh3 gxh3 14.xh3 xh3 15.xh3 d7 16.g3 0-0 17.e2 f5 18.h6 g6 19.e4 d7 20.0-0-0 f6 21.xf6+ xf6 22.e4 f4+ 23.d2 h4 24.g2 xf2 25.xf2 f7 Kanep,M-Yemelin,V Keres mem op Tallinn 2001 0-1(47) ] 7...d6 8.e3 [ 8.e4 g6 9.c3 ( 9.d2 e7 ) 9...h6 ] 8...f5 9.a4 g6 10.e2 g7 11.g3 Quite ironically, White seeks to exchange the 'strong' knight on the edge of the board! f6 12.c3 0-0! 13.e4 a6! 14.d3 b4 15.e2 [ 15.exf5? xd3+ 16.xd3 gxf5 17.xf5 c4! ] 15...h5 16.h4 h6 17.d3 Now that the bishop on h6 hangs with check, White hopes to solve his problems with a little trick.. . h8! 18.exf5 xd3+ 19.xd3 gxf5 But that is more a sign of his incapacity to make any concrete counter plan in the position. 20.0-0 d7 21.e1 g8 Black clouds are gathering around the white king. 22.h1 c4!! [ 22...g7 23.g1 c4 24.e2 f4 25.f1 ] 23.xc4 White has no other choice than accepting the offer. [ 23.d1 g7 24.g1 e3 ] 23...g7 24.g1 [ 24.e2 f4 The point of the idea, winning the poor knight on the spot! ] 24...e3-+ 25.f1 d7 26.ge2 xg1 27.xg1 f4! White resigns a bit prematurely. But it is true that after [ 27...f4 28.d1 h7 29.d2 h3 30.c1 2093
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 b6 31.f1 f5 his pieces are completely t o s t a r t wi t h 17.xc8 xc8 ( 17...fxe3 disorganize d W hile Black p repares th e 18.b7 b8 19.c6+ f8 ) 18.f5 e5 central break ...e5-e4 by doubling on the g19.e1 d3 ] file or making use of the c-file. ] 15.b3 a6 16.d1 b7 17.g5! 0-1 In fact, the young Croatian hope, now a GM and rated 2541 - I remember him as a youth champion but I have forgotten the year and 2145 A45 the category - may have underestimated the Kovacevic,Vlatko 2520 power of this fine move... f8 18.xf5! [ 18.xb6 axb6 19.xf5 f6 ( 19...xa3? Stevic,Hrvoje 2300 20.g5 f6 21.xh7+ ) 20.a4 xe2 Mravinci-A 1995 ( 20...c8 21.h5 xh3 22.h6+! g8 [Eric Prié] 23.xh3 xe2 24.f5 ) 21.f1 a2 22.b5 c8 23.e4 With the initiative but 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 not more. ] 5.c1 f5 6.c4 b4+!? 7.d2 Considering 19.xd5 e6 20.xd6?? what happened in the previous game, this is a 18...xd5 sad necessity, then, as this square is OK for And his legendary national team captain, the knight, although preferably when it is p o ss ib ly t h e m o s t e xp e ri e n ce d " d -P a wn Specials" player of the planet, spoils heading for c4! [ 7.c3? g7 8.xb4 cxb4 b2 cannot be everything, here, in one move! [ 20.h5! xd5 21.g5 b7 The only protected. ] move... ( 21...e5 22.g2! ) 22.xd6 e7 7...g7 8.b1 d6 9.a3 a5 10.g3 d7 23.dxf7 e8 ( 23...g8 24.xh7+ e8 11.gf3 25.h6+ d7 26.xg8 xg8 27.xd5+ ) [ On 11.c2 White probably did not 24.e4! ( 24.h4 h6 25.xh8 hxg5 appreciate e5 ( 11...b5!? 12.cxb5 b6 ) 26.h7 should win too.) 24...h6 ( 24...c6 12.h3 ( 12.gf3 xf3+ 13.exf3 f4 ) 25.xe6+ g8 26.c7 xf7 27.e6 ) 12...h6 ( 12...b8!? With the idea ...b5. 25.f3 xe4 ( 25...hxg5 26.d6+ g8 White remains with the problem of how to 27.xe8 ) 26.xe4 hxg5 27.xh8 xh8 develop his king's knight.) 13.f4 ( 13.c1? 28.xe6+- ] xc4 ) 13...g4 ] 11...b5! Of course, this move is easier to 20...exf5 21.xa6 xa6 22.xf5 With two make when there is no knight on c3! 12.h3 pawns for the exchange, White should not be A critical moment where I think White had to worse , bu t th e o pp on en t's stron g pa ir o f accept the challenge while he still had the time bishops, the open character of the position, which advantages the rooks, allied to the to [ 12.b4! cxb4 ( 12...b6? 13.bxc5 xc5 impossibility of mobilizing his kingside majority, 23.d3 14.xb5 ) 13.axb4 c7 ( 13...b6 14.h3 complicates the estimation. e7 f6 15.c5 ) 14.cxb5 xc1+ 15.xc1 b6 ab8 24.fd2 hd8! 25.g2 [ 25.xh7 c3 26.f1 ( 26.d3 xd2 16.g2 b8! Attacking d5 and necessary if 27.xd2 xd3 ) 26...xc4 27.bxc4 xb1 Black wants to play ...e7-e6 to free his Bc8 28.xb1 d1 29.e4 a1 As in the game, from the defence of f5, with some the a-pawn will most probably cost White a complications but good chances of gaining piece. ] some advantage because of his bishop pair after the recapture of the b pawn(s), which 25...h6 26.h4 f8 27.g4?! White has to do something but seems difficult for White to avoid. ] [ 27.e4!? seemed more circumspect. 12...b6 13.0-0 bxc4 14.xc4 a4?! g8? ( 27...b7 28.f1= ) 28.xc5 xc4 A strange move. Why not 29.xc4 dc8 30.d7! b7 31.a6 ] [ 14...b5!? With the same idea. Possibly, Black was afraid of 15.e3 ( 15.b3 xd5 ) 27...d4! 28.g3 h5! 29.gxh5 h6 30.f3 15...xe2 16.g2 When he seems to have xc4 31.bxc4 [ 31.xd4 xd3 32.c6 b6 ] q u i t e a f e w t e m p t i n g c o n t i n u a t i o n s . f4 2094
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 31...xb1 32.xd4 see the follow-up. 3.e4 f6 [ 32.xb1 xc4 ] [ After the main alternative 3...d5 I think I like 32...g1+! a very valuable tempo. 33.h2 A) 4.e2!?; a1 34.b3 B) 4.f4!? led to an unpleasant defeat for [ 34.c2 a2 35.e3 ( 35.g3 c1 ) White in the following game, but perhaps 35...g7 36.g3 b2 ] he could have played better: dxe4 5.c3 34...xa3-+ 35.xc5 a5 36.g2 a1 f6 6.f3 White goes for a suped-up 37.c2 Mutual time trouble probably. Blackmar-Diemer. exf3 ( 6...d5! 7.xd5 [ 37.b3 a3 38.d4 Does not change the xd5 8.c3 f5 ) 7.xf3 g4 8.c4 e6 result anyway. ( 38.c5 e7 or 38...Kg7 9.0-0 e7 10.d2 c6 11.d5 exd5 with the same idea as in the game but not 12.xd5 0-0 13.g2 xd5 14.xd5 38...a4? 39.Bc2! 39.f3 ) 38...a4 39.f5 xd5 15.xg4 d4 16.h6 f5 17.g5 c3 40.xh6 xd3! 41.exd3 a3 ] xg5 18.xg5?! e3 0-1 Biliy, V37...c1 38.b3 c3 39.e3 g7! Oleksienko, M/Alushta 2005; [ 39...a4? 40.xa4 xc4 41.d7+ e7 C) 4.f3 f6 5.c3 dxe4 ( 41...g7 42.d1 ) 42.b6! b4?? C1) 6.g5!? exf3 7.xf3 seems to 43.d5+ ] offer compensation: bd7 ( I have no 40.f3 a4! Without the knight check on d7 idea at all what is happening after White loses a piece. 7...xd4 8.ge2 d7 9.g2 [ 40...a4 41.d1 c1! 42.e2 a3 43.b3 and I imagine that this is exactly the a2 44.xa2 c2+ ] frame of mind that W hite is trying to 0-1 induce. It's clear that Black has some serious defending to do.) 8.0-0-0 e6 9.d3 e7 10.ge2 c6 11.hf1 c7 2146 A45 12.g3 with some comp, Rouleau, JFernandez, D/Washington DC 1999; Kozel,Roman 2377 C2) 6.e3 exf3 7.xf3 c6 8.c4 g4 Matjushin,Oleg 2189 9.g2 ( 9.f2 intending Nge2 and 0-0-0, ch-UKR sf Alushta UKR (3) 18.05.2005 has to be carefully considered.) 9...bd7 [Andrew Martin] 10.f3 xf3 11.xf3 e6 12.0-0-0 c7 13.hg1 0-0-0 Maybe White has one It is very dif f icult to take som e ope nings pawn's worth of compensation. But that seriously. There is definitely a tendency to is it. Black is rock-solid and in typically dis miss s tran ge ide as ou t of h an d, e ve n Grandmasterly fashion is willing to return among club players and as a consequence one of the pawns in order to complete many interesting possibilities are put to one his development. 14.f4 d6! 15.xd6 side. I am going to present a crazy gambit xd6 16.xg7 df8 17.e4 xe4 here which will certainly shock your opponents. 18.xe4 xh2 19.h1 d6 I very much doubt whether they will have seen C2a) T h e p r o b l e m i s t h a t 20.hxh7 it before and even if they have the chances of is met by xh7 21.xh7 ( 21.xh7 them coming to terms with the odd positions xd4 ) 21...f6-+; that arise are remote. Whether this is an idea C2b) 20.c3 h5 There it , the extra for blitz alone I leave you to judge. Among pawn. Not to be distracted from his very strong players, I doubt that there is any game plan, Sakaev pushes this little mileage in it. At club level, I am sure it will guy as far as he will go. 21.f1 h4 lead to entertaining chess and a lot of quick 22.fxf7 xf7 23.xf7 h3 24.xe6 wins for White. What can go wrong? Plenty. h2 25.xd7+ xd7 26.f1 h3 1.d4 f6 2.g4!? This is the gambit with no 27.h1 g8 28.c2 g2+ 29.xg2 name. I'm not sure it deserves a polite name. xg2+ A better endgame emerges for White gives a flank pawn in order to take the Black from the smoke. How often have centre and gain time. xg4 I would certainly we met this scenario? Schlenker, Jtake the pawn if I was Black. I would want to 2095
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Sakaev, K/Biel 1994; D) 4.e5!? here, gaining space and to a certain extent embarrassing the Black Knight, but there are other moves: g6 D1) 5.f4 h5 D1a) 6.c3 c6 7.d2 h6 8.0-0-0 xf4 9.xf4 f5 D1a1) White certainly has an i m p r o v e m e n t h e r e i n 10.ge2! and he has reasonable value for a p a wn a f t e r b o t h d7 ( 10...b6 11.g3 c8 12.e2 ) 11.h3 h6 12.g3; D1a2) 10.d3?! d7 11.ge2 h6 12.g3 xd3 13.xd3 a6 14.d1 c7 15.d2 h4 16.f1 0-0-0 17.a5 b8 18.a3 b5 19.d3 f5 20.b4 f6 Matous, M-Kucera, P/Mlada Boleslav 1993; D1b) 6.d2 f5 7.c3 c6 8.f3 d7 D1b1) I prefer the cold-blooded 9.0-0-0! which makes perfect sense. White has definite compensation: D1b11) 9...h6 10.g5 g7 11.d3! e6 ( 11...xd3 12.e6!! f5 13.xf7 a5 14.xh8 f8 15.f3! ) 12.xf5 gxf5 13.h3 h6 14.hg1; D1b12) 9...g7 10.h3 h6 11.h4 f8 12.g1 e6 13.g5 a5 14.b1; D1b2) 9.h4!? h6 ( 9...e6 is a sterner test, leaving W hite's Knight on the edge. After that comes 10.0-0-0 a5 11.d3 0-0-0 12.f3 ) 10.xf5 xf5 11.e6! It is necessary to play such moves w h e n u s i n g t h i s o p e n i n g . fxe6 12.g1 g8 13.e2 f6 14.0-0-0 I lik e W h it e 's ch a n ce s. He 's t wo pawns down, but Black is all gummed up and not really having a n y f u n a t a l l . b5 15.f3 f7 16.b1 a5 17.e2 En route to f4. d6 18.e5 de4 19.e3 White can easily shrug off any Black gestures because he is playing with a l l h is p i e c e s a g a in st t wo B la c k Knights! b4 20.xe4 xe4 21.f3+
f6 22.f4 Ouch! Weaknesses appear on e6, g6, e5 and g5 h6 23.d3 g5 24.xf6 exf6 25.xh5+ g7 26.h4 From here on in the game becomes much easier to understand. White is putting the boot in. e8 27.e2! f7 28.de1 a7 29.f4! g4 30.xg4 e7 31.f5 ( 31.eg1 g7 32.xg7+ xg7 33.h5 h8 34.g6 was also pretty strong. ) 31...g7 32.xg7+ xg7 D1b21) 33.g1! is by far the best move, retaining all options and pieces: exf5 ( 33...g8 34.fxe6 xe6 35.g4 e7 36.f5 h8 37.h5 ) 34.h5+ f8 35.xf5 d7 36.f4 e8 37.d6; D1b22) 33.f4 e5 ( 33...exf5 34.h5+ f8 35.xe7 xe7 36.xf5 ) 34.g6 b7 35.dxe5 fxe5 Kindsvogel, R-Roederer, K/ B a d e n 1 9 9 2 , w h e n 36.xe5+! xe5 37.h5+ f8 38.h6+ wins.; D2) 5.c4 c6 ( 5...c6 6.f3 dxc4 7.xc4 ) 6.c3 h6 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.g2 e6 9.f3 ] 4.c3 d6 5.f4N White gets to push his pawns. Some players like to push pawns. It is immediately apparent to me that a passive approach by Black gives White everything he could wish for from an opening gambit. He gets time, space and the attack excellent value! [ A lt e rn a t ive ly W h it e m a y ch o o s e 5.e2 Black still has problems getting his pieces out. c6 6.d5 e5 7.f4 ed7 8.e3 e5 9.dxe6 fxe6 10.d2 e5 11.f5 e7 12.f3 g4 13.g5 xg5 14.xg5 df6 15.c4 h6 16.0-0-0 e7 17.hg1 g6 18.e6 f7 19.g7++Spaete, E-Strater, H/ Niederrhein 2000 ] 5...c6 6.f3 g6 7.g1 a6 8.d3 b5 9.e5! At some stage White will have to go for it and as Black has been moving only pawns so far, there is no time like the present. d5 [ I think that 9...b4! might have been better: 10.e4 xe4 11.xe4 d5 12.d3 e6 W h it e h a s st ill t o f in d a d e cisive p a wn lever. ] 10.xd5 cxd5 11.e2 e6 12.d2 e7 2096
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.0-0-0 c6 14.de1 It's interesting to note 10.xg5 c7! that W hite is in no great hurry. He puts his [ 10...g6 11.h6! e8 ( 11...c7 12.e5 pieces into optimal attacking positions and xe5 13.fxe5 xe5 14.ce4 e8 only then opens the game. b6 15.f5! dxe5 15.d3+- ) 12.e5 f8 13.h3! h5 14.g4 [ 15...gxf5 16.exd6 xd6 17.xf5 d7 f6 15.gxh5 fxg5 16.hxg6 g7 17.e4 ( 17...xd4 18.xd4 xd4 19.g4! b6 e7 18.h7+ f8 19.g1! 20.c3 h5 21.g7 ) 18.g5! ] A) 19...xe5 20.fxe5 xe5 21.xg5 16.xe5 xe5 17.xe5 g8 18.f6 f8?! f4+ 22.b1 xh7 23.gxh7 f7 [ 18...d8 19.xd5 b7 20.b3 b6 24.d3! xg5 ( 24...d5 25.f1 ) 25.d6+ 21.e4 a7 22.f3 leaves Black short of g7 26.xe8+ h8 27.g1; good moves. ] B) 19...gxf4 20.f6 xf6 21.exf6 xh7 19.xd5 b7 20.xe6+ fxe6 21.f7+ 22.gxh7 f7 23.g7+ xf6 24.g8 ] In order to play at our best, we have to get 11.e5! xe5 12.d5!! into positions that we can play well! Those [ 12.fxe5? xe5 With the idea Nh5. with a flair for attack would have been very 13.ce4 ( 13.e1 f5 followed by Qg4.) much at home in this game. 13...f5! 14.d3? xe4 ] 1-0 12...exd5 13.fxe5 xe5 14.e1 f5! [ 14...d6? 15.d3 g6 16.h6 With the idea Rhf1, Rxf6 wins because it is 2147 A45 impossible to evacuate the f8 square: d8 17.xg6 fxg6 18.xg6+ f8 ( 18...h8 Krasenkow,Michal 2545 19.f7# ) 19.f7# ] Degraeve,Jean Marc 2375 Cappelle la Grande 1990 15.xe7 g4! 16.xg4 xg4 17.b5! A multipurpose move obviously attacking d7 [Eric Prié] but also controlling e8 while preparing the 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 recovery of the invested pawn on d5 in the c6 5.h4 e6 6.0-0-0 e7 7.e4 0-0 8.f4 case of f6 by Black. f6 [ 17...f6!? 18.f3 ( 18.h3!? Krasenkow, h6?! with the idea Nf4) 18...f7 19.e8+ f8 [ According to the winner of this present 20.he1 a6 ( 20...b6 21.h3 f2 22.1e7 game. Better is 8...e8 9.xe7 xe7 ] xe8 23.xe8+ f7 24.xd7 b7 9.f3 25.xa8 xa8 26.d4; 20...d6? 21.xf8+ [ 9.xh6?! gxh6 ( 9...xe4 10.g4 ) xf8 22.e8+ f7 23.d7 ) 21.a4 b5 10.xh6 g4! ( 10...h7? 11.d3+- ) 22.b3 b7 23.8e2 ac8 ( 23...f5 24.h3 11.h5 ( 11.h3 f5! ) 11...f2! f6 25.h4! e4 26.xf5! This is why the ( 11...f6!? 12.g5+ h8 13.h6+ h7 king should not stand on d2. ) 14.d3 g8 15.h3 With a long and A) 24.e4 Wins the pawn back complicated attack.) 12.d2 xh1 13.d3 immediately but not in the best is given by Krasenkow (with Glek as coc i r c u m s t a n c e s . h6 25.d4 fe8 commentator) in INF 49 without f urther 26.xd5+ xd5 27.xd5 xe1+ 28.xe1 explanation, as presumably good for White. e8 29.d2 g4! 30.f3 ( 30.xd7? However, after the standard defence f6 e5! 31.a7 c4+ 32.d1 xb2+ ) with the idea 14.h3 e8 Although I am not 30...e3 31.xd7 xg2 32.d6 e3!; saying it is trivial to play for the opponent, I B) 24.c3 With a nice little advantage cannot see any reason for W hite to hope having in mind the plan a4, axb5, h3, Kd2, for success when Black can use his f-pawn Nd4. b4? 25.e4 f2 26.d4 to liberate some breathing space around his ( 26.xb4?? d3+ ) 26...bxc3? 27.f1 king, when the g3 square is guarded, when Trapping the knight ] he is not developed and when ...a piece and 18.h4!! Without this fantastic idea, White a rook down! ] would just be worse after a6, b5 and Bb7. a6 9...hxg5 19.d3! b5 [ again. 9...e8 ] 2097
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 19...g6 20.f1 g7 21.g4! A) 21...d6 22.xf7! xf7 ( 22...g8 23.c7 ) 23.xf7+ xf7 24.g5; B) 21...b5 22.h5! ( 22.xf7?? g8! ) 22...gxh5 ( 22...b7 23.xg6 ) 23.gxh5 g8 24.exf7+ xf7 25.xf7 b7 26.d6 c6 27.g1+ f6 28.g6+ B1) 28...e5 29.f7+ d4 ( 29...f4 30.h6 e7 31.f6+ ) 30.h6 e7 31.g4+ c5 32.h7; B2) 28...e7 29.f5+ f7 30.d2+- ] 20.h5 e8 [ 20...b7 21.h6 gxh6 ( 21...ae8 22.h7+ h8 23.xf7+ ) 22.xh6 e4 ( 22...g7 23.g6+ h8 24.xf6 ) 23.xe4 dxe4 24.xd7 c8 25.e7 g7 26.d6 f5 27.xe4 ] 21.h7+!? [ 21.xf7? e5 ] [ 21.he1 xe7 22.xe7 b7 23.xf7 d4 ( 23...xh5 24.xd7 ) 24.h6! gxh6 25.xf6 hxg5 26.f5 is mostly unpleasant for Black bec aus e o f t he "ba d" bishop , t he wea k structure and the impossibility to generate counterplay or enter any king or bishop ending which is bound to be lost in view of White's free pawn on the kingside. ] 21...f8? An aberration in time trouble. [ 21...h8 22.he1 b7 23.f5 Personally , I would evaluate the advantage resulting from 21.Rhe1 as somewhat more substantial than the one possibly emerging from this position. Anyway, it is given as a big advantage for White, end of analysis. d4 ( 23...g8 24.xd7 xe7 25.xe7 e4 26.f5! xg5 27.xb7 ) 24.xf7+ ( 24.g4 d5; 24.xd7! xe7 25.xe7 xg2 26.xf7+ g8 27.g5 xh5 28.e6+ h8 29.d7 f4 30.b3 There again this is not comfortable for Black, despite the reduced material, because of the awkward situation of his king, when White plays Kd2 t o a v o i d t h e f o r k o n e 2 a n d R xd 4 . c6 31.d6 ) 24...g8 25.g6 ( 25.g4? xe7 26.xe7 f8 ) 25...xe7 26.xe7 xg2 ( 26...f8 27.e2 ) 27.d6 h3! ( 27...f3 28.f5 xh5 29.xh5 xh5 30.xg7+ h8 31.xd7 g4 32.d5 ) 28.e5 W hite should be cautious with his rook. ( 28.e4 f8! 29.xf6+ xf6 30.d2 e6 T h r e a t e n i n g R x g 6 a n d K f 8 . 31.d3
f5+!= ) 28...b8 29.d2 b6 30.e4 e6 31.xf6+ gxf6 32.e4 g7 33.xd4 b4 on the other hand, looks about equal. ] 22.xf7# 1-0
2148 Kremenietsky,Anm Hvenekilde,Jorgen 7th ch-Euro Senior (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2353 2221 04.06.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.e4 Finally, two other minor alternatives. [ 10.a3 e5! ( 10...d5!? 11.d4 1 Having prevented the annoying pawn sacrifice of game e5 12.xc6 exf4 13.d4 W e have studied this position before...) 11.e3 d5 12.xb6 Therefore transposing into the previous game. d4! 13.cxd4 e6 A) 14.c5 d5! 15.xe6 fxe6 16.c5 xd4 ( 16...exd4!? ) 17.xd4 ( 17.xf8 xf8 18.c1 e3 19.f2 dc2 ) 17...exd4 18.c1 d6 Kovacevic, V (2 4 8 5 )- S m ir in , I (2 5 9 0 ) Za gr e b 1 9 9 3 0-1(29); B) 14.d5 xd5 15.c5 Playing the casual 15...Be7 here in Lesiege, A (2500)Shaked, T (2445) Bermuda 1997 1-0(61), and here Black missed the very strong reply a5! 16.xa5 xc5 17.xb7 d4 18.e4 e3 Since he will soon recover his temporary 2 pawns investment, at least ] 10...d5! Black needs not be afraid of 11.e5 because of h5 [ 11...d7 12.b5 ] 12.e3 xe5 13.xb6 c4 14.xc4 dxc4 15.d1 d7 16.c5? [ 16.a5 f4!? heading for d3. ( 16...e6 17.xc4 xa2= 18.e5?! f6 ) 17.xc4 b5 ( 17...xa2? 18.e5 ) 18.a3 a6 19.c4 e5 20.e2 xa3 21.bxa3 xe2 22.xe2 xc4+ 23.f2 xa2 ] 16...c6 17.e2 e5 Black is simply much better with ease 18.e4 a6? The bluff has worked. [ 18...xa2 It is only one check. 19.d8+ 2098
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e7 20.d2 ( 20.c5+? xd8; 20.b8? a1+ 21.f2 xh1 ) 20...a1+ 21.d1 xd1+ 22.xd1 e6-+ ] 19.c7 xe4 20.fxe4 e7?! Come on grandpa, take that pawn! [ 20...xa2 21.f1! f6 ( 21...xb2? 22.f5; 21...f6 22.g4 f4 23.xf4 exf4 24.d8+ f7 25.xf4 h5 26.g5 ) 22.f5 d7 23.xe5 g6! ( 23...xb2 24.c7 Followed by Rfd5.) 24.xh8 gxf5 25.exf5 f6! ] 21.a3 The position is level again. e6 22.d5 f6 23.xe5 xe5 24.xe5 xe4 25.d4 0-0 26.f1 c5 27.xc5 xc5 28.f4 c8 29.h3 g6 30.d4 f5 31.d1 d6 32.f2 e8 33.b5 g3 34.e2 xe2 35.xe2 f7 36.e3 I will develop the reasons for the Tromp being in a crisis presently in almost all its lines with the original dynamic approach in a broader way when I finish with the 2...d5 3. Bxf6 exf6 line. Nevertheless, one thing I can say today in form of conclusion to this subchapter, one thing that prevents me from playing the Tromp again, even occasionally, unless I am fairly sure what line my opponent will adopt, is that I have not come across even one stable line, even reputedly equal, that could satisfy my static tastes, when Black attacks the d4 pawn with 2... c7-c5! or after the preamble 2...Ne4! ½-½
2149 Kristjansson,Stefan Hebden,Mark Reykjavik (4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2468 2519 14.04.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.e4 xb2 8.d2 xc3 9.c7 d6 10.e2 e3 11.c4 [ 11.c1?! Even the inventor of 9.Bc7 has not found the remedy against 9...d6! b5! 12.c3 h6 13.b3 b4?! ( 13...d7! With the idea ...Na6 hitting the bishop then ... c5-c4, ...Nc5 with a big advantage for Black. 14.g3 a6 15.f5 h5 16.g4 g5 17.h4 f4 ) 14.c1 a5 15.g3 g6 16.e5! Chernyshov, K (2553) - Gozzoli, Y (2 4 5 3 ) Ca p p e lle la G ra n d e o p (5 ) 2 0 0 7
wh e r e W h i t e e ve n t u a l l y wo n . A n o t h e r exclusivity from my secret files for chesspublishing.com! ] 11...h6 12.a5 Although it was technically a Novelty in the Nataf game, this manoeuvre was already strongly suggested by Cebalo's game. g5 hiding the queen home. I already mentioned this pawn push, which played a certain role in my prudent reserve when I first dealt with Chernyshov's idea. Naturally, it is better to execute it in one go rather then after having played 9...g6 as Grischuk did! 13.h4 No ...Qh4 check as in the previous game. gxh4 14.d2 g6 15.xh4 g7?! [ 15...h5! Giving the queen a bit more room and getting the possibility of .. .Bh6 16.a4+ ( 16.f2 h6 17.f4 g7 ) 16...d7 17.a3 a6 Hebden, I suppose with the idea 18.b1 xd5 19.xb7 db4 20.xb4 xb4 21.xa7 d8! ( 21...c2+?? 22.d2 xa3 23.xa8+ c8 24.xc8+ d7 25.b6+ A nasty omission. e6 26.f4+ )] 16.b1 0-0 17.f2! b5 18.xb5! a6 19.a4! [ 19.f4 g5 20.g3 xb5 21.h3 xe4+ 22.fxe4 f6+ 23.g2 d4 ] 19...xb5 20.axb5 bd7 21.f4 g5 22.g3 b6 23.h3 And Black is short of a tempo to be able to escape the perpetual check net against his queen. g6 24.f4 g5 25.h3 g6 26.f4 g5 I believe this double gambit has lived and now has to be reserved for gambiteers who care more about the emotional aspect of the game rather than its objective final result... ½-½
2150 Kruse,Hartwig Bohak,Janko YUG email Yugoslavia [Eric Prié]
A45
2000
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.d3 b6 6.xe4 dxe4 7.c3 xb2 8.ge2! [ 8.xe4? has never been played as far as my database can tell. In my opinion it would be a instructive mistake that needed some 2099
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 explanation if only to justify the exclamation mark awarded to 8 Nge2! cxd4 ( 8...f5!? My proposal 9.b1 xa2 10.c3 xc2 ) 9.xd4 ( 9.exd4 c6 ) 9...xd4 10.exd4 The line given by Tsesarsky without further enlightenment and reproduced in the c o m m e n t o f t h i s g a m e b y i t s u n k n o wn author whose approval I am more inclined to trust than Tsesarsky's, in any case ... ] 8...cxd4 [ 8...g4 9.b1 ( 9.0-0 xc3 Adams, M in INF68 "This should be quite playable here too for W hite, but Mickey's route is much nastier for the defender. W ith Black's rather modest development the desirability of playing with queens on the board hardly needs to be explained. The fact that Black can force his opponent's king to e2 hardly impacts on this assessment at all." Wells, P ) 9...xc3+ 10.xc3 xd1 11.xd1 cxd4? The fact that this position seems actually playable for White after this move may prove of a certain importance for all the variations arising from an early exchange on d 4 . N o w h o w e v e r t h e r e i s ( 11...c6! keeping the pawn on c5 as an anchor for the knight. 12.d5 0-0-0 13.e2 b4 ) 12.exd4 c6 13.d5 0-0-0 ( 13...e5? 14.dxc6 0-0-0+ 15.d2 ) 14.e2 d4+ 15.e3 f5+ ( 15...xc2+ 16.xe4 a3 17.bc1 d7 18.e2 e8 19.c7 d7 20.hc1 b5 21.xd7 xd7 22.b1 d6+ 23.xd6 xd6 24.xb7 ) 16.xe4 d6+ 17.f3 g8 Tu Hoang thong(2480)- West, Guy(2405)/ Elista Olm 1998 ] 9.b1! a3 10.exd4! Now Black is denied the development of his queen's bishop because b7 would be hanging. [ 10.xd4 c6 11.xe4 f5 ( 11...e6 12.b5 a5+ 13.ec3 f5 14.c4! ) 12.d5 e6 13.d2 e5 14.b5 e7 15.g5 xg5! ( 15...f7 16.ec3 e6 17.d6+ xd6 18.xd6 h6 19.b5 d7 20.a3 b6 21.d1 d4 22.d6+ f8 23.exd4 hxg5 24.d5 f7 25.c8+ Turzo, Attila(2415) -Hatanbaatar, B a za r( 2 4 4 5 ) B u d a p e s t FS 0 6 G M 1 9 9 8) 16.c7+ e7! 17.xa8 xg2 18.g3 ( 18.g1 xh2 19.c7 g6 20.d5+ f7 ) 18...g5 19.c7 f4 20.d5+ e6 I have kept this, unfortunately unsigned,
comment, which reveals the depth of the Black correspondence player's analysis, as well as the following untouched from ChessBase Corr 2004. ] 10...f5 11.0-0 [ 11.b3 a5 12.b5 d8 13.d5 a6 14.e3 e6 ] [ 11.b5 a5+ 12.d2 d8 13.f4 a5+ 14.c3 a6 15.b3 d8 ( 15...d7 16.d5+- ) 16.0-0 b6 ( 16...e6 17.c4 e7 18.fd1 ) 17.c4 b7 18.c5= ] 11...a6 12.e5 [ 12.b3 a5 13.d2 d8 14.f3 exf3 15.xf3 e6 16.e3 ( 16.e5 c5 17.b1 d7 18.f4 f6; 16.d5 c5+ 17.h1 0-0 18.dxe6 xd2 19.xd2 b6 20.f4 c7 ) 16...e7 ] 12...e6 13.b5 a5! [ 13...xa2? 14.ec3 a5 ( 14...c4 15.xg7!+- ) 15.h5+ g6 16.h3+- ] 14.f4 h5!? 15.d5 h6 16.dxe6 [ 16.xh5 h7 17.dxe6 xe6 18.d6+ xd6 19.xd6 d5 20.xd5 xd5 21.xg7+ f7 22.fd1 c6= ] [ 16.xe6 xe6 17.dxe6 d8= ] 16...g5 [ 16...xe6 17.xe6 xe6 18.d5 f7 ( 18...c5 19.c7+ ) 19.d6+ xd6 20.xa5 xe5 21.xb7+ g8 ] 17.xh5 1-0
2151 Kuzubov,Yuri Sachdev,Tania Dubai Open (5.14) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2619 2409 11.04.2013
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 b4 6.e5!? This aggressive move turns out to be new for the site. Previously we've just considered the much more common queen moves to d2 and d3. e7 [ 6...d8 also makes good sense to me, especially since if White plays by analogy with the game with 7.d3 c5 8.a3 xc3+ 9.bxc3 t h e n B l a c k h a s a5 with Winaweresque counterplay. ] 7.d3!? [ Somewhat more aggressive than 7.d2 2100
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 , after which d6 8.a3 a5 9.f3 d7! ( the right way to develop White might well be able to claim a pull after 9...c6 10.b4 b6 11.e2 on account of Black's restricted bishop on b6) 10.0-0-0 c6 11.e3 0-0 was far from dead, but probably about equal in M.Muzychuk-Zhao Xue, Khanty-Mansiysk 2012. ] 7...c5 8.a3 a5 [ 8...xc3+ makes slightly less sense to me with Black's queen on e7, but, of course, this can hardly be bad. That said, after 9.bxc3 0-0 10.f3 d6 11.e2! Black will have to make a concession, either with ...d5 or d7 12.e4 f5 . ] 9.b4! [ Perhaps I should denote this gambit merely as interesting, but I rather like its surprise value and suspect it may have been Kuzubov's intention when he went e4-e5. Another move with clear French conno tatio ns is 9.g4 when Black might counter by moving her queen to the g-file too and cxd4 10.xg7 f8 11.xf8+ xf8 12.b4 c7 13.b5 xe5 14.f3 c6 should also be okay for the second player. ] 9...cxb4 10.e4 [ It turns out that this had all been played before, although I doubt that Sachdev was aware of that. In Mesropov-Grigoriants, Moscow 2001, 10.b5 was preferred and after bxa3+ 11.c3 0-0! 12.xa3 c6 13.a1 b6 14.e2 f6 White came up short. ] 10...bxa3+ 11.c3 c7 [ Covering the d6-square, but here too 11...0-0! looks like the critical test to me. Now I wonder if 12.c1 ( 12.g4 d5!? 13.exd6 d8 is a clever defensive resource, although after 14.xa3 f5 15.g6! c6 16.f3 there's still everything to play for) 12...c6 13.e2 c7 14.0-0 was Kuzubov's intention. This looks slow, but W hite will regain one pawn and retain some play for the other, such as with f4-f5. That said, it is hard to imagine this position occurring in the upcoming Anand-Carlsen match and after d6 15.exd6 xd6 16.xd6 xd6 17.e4 e5 White at best is going to regains his pawn and draw. ] 12.g4 f8
[ It was either this or advance the f-pawn, since 12...0-0?? was no longer anywhere near so good: 13.f6+ h8 14.e4 g6 15.h4 g7 16.h5+! and Black loses her queen. ] 13.g3! By this point Kuzubov must have been feeling quite confident. This prophylactic re t r e a t p r e ve n t s B l a c k f r o m f r e e i n g h e r position with ...d6 and now Ne2-f4 is on its way, with typical French-like kingside chances for W hite. b6 14.e2 b7 15.f4 c6 16.0-0 d8 Sachdev has sensibly completed her queenside development and is still two pawns up we should not forget. Now ...d6 is back on the agenda and what is White to do? 17.f3 [ It wouldn't have been at all easy for Black to m a ke p ro gre ss a f t e r 17.d6 xd6 18.exd6 g5 19.xa3 xg3 20.hxg3 , but naturally such a course of action was never going to be appeal to the much higherrated Kuzubov. ] 17...g8 18.h5 f8 19.fe1!? [ Spurning the repetition which was on offer with 19.f4 . My understanding is that Dubai was played at a pretty quick time control, like all moves in 90 minutes plus 30 seconds a move, and my suspicion is that Sachdev probably spent a fair amount of time on the opening, allowing Kuzubov to have built up a large time advantage by this stage. ] 19...d6? [ This natural move doesn't turn out well, but I don't feel we can be too harsh on Sachdev for missing White's amazing combination. Instead the machine even prefers to give up a piece! Actually after 19...xe5! 20.dxe5 xe5 Black does have four pawns for it and will f inally be able to push some pawns and untangle her position, leaving everything to play for in a very unclear scenario. ] 20.f4 g8 21.f6+!! A bolt from the blue and a very powerful bolt at that. gxf6 [ I also considered declining the piece with 21...f8 , b u t a f t e r 22.6d5! xe5! ( and not 22...exd5? 23.g6+ ) 23.dxe5 xd5 24.g6+ e8 25.b5+ d7 26.xd5 exd5 27.exd6! xd6 28.xe7+ xe7 29.xh8 White should be winning, despite the a3-pawn, as the knight will be 2101
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 able to escape from the corner. ] 22.d5! exd5 [ Forced, since otherwise Black either loses the queen or is mated by 22...f8 23.xf6+ g7 24.g4# . ] 23.exf6 xe1+ 24.xe1 f8 Yet another only move. Taking stock we can see that Sachdev has rook, bishop and knight for the queen, but the exposed position of her king proves the key factor. 25.g3 g8 26.e3 h8 27.b5! White can do much better than merely repeat moves. e5 The only real try, since she could hardly allow the white queen to invade down the e-file. 28.dxe5 dxe5 Even here Black has rook, bishop and two pawns for the queen, but crucially White has the initiative and Kuzubov doesn't let up. 29.c4! d6 30.c5! bxc5 [ If 30...xc5 31.xe5 and there's suddenly a rather large threat of mate on e8. ] 31.xa3 a6 [ Making it easy for White, but Sachdev must have be en she ll-sho cke d b y t his po int . Moreover, 31...a8 32.a4 would surely h a v e le d t o a d e c is ive i n va s io n b y t h e white pieces in any case. ] 32.a5! [ After 32.a5 b8 33.b6 the unopposed queen is quick to make her presence felt. ] 1-0
2152 La Rosa,Edelmira Otazo,Annyd American Continental Women (9) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2005 29.09.2001
Stonewall attack: If W hite sets up the stonewall formation before Black has committed to d5, then a very handy resource is a timely d6, denying White the use of the key e5 square, when the W hite attack can soon be running on empty. 1.d4 f6 2.f4 While I'm quite a fan of the stonewall attack, in my view, this is asking a bit too much of the White position. Black has not yet committed any of his pawns, which gives him maximum flexibility in meeting White's set-up. e6 3.f3 b6 4.e3 b7 5.d3 e7 6.0-0 c5 7.c3 0-0 8.e2 d6 An important move, which
highlights the drawback in White's formation. In the stonewall, e5 is a massively important focal point of the White attack. Here, because Black hasn't committed his d-pawn to d5, W hite is de nied t ha t a ve nu e of p le as ure forever. 9.bd2 c6 10.g5 h6 11.ge4 W ith the e5 o utpost sadly denied f or th e launch of his attack, White resigns himself to pie ce e xch an ge s. c8 12.xf6+ xf6 13.g4? A sure sign of frustration! White, unsure of how to proceed, lunges forward on the kingside. Unfortunately, she lacks control in the centre, which allows swift and violent retribution. cxd4 14.exd4 xd4! 15.cxd4 xd4+ 16.f2 h4 The White kingside position resembles swiss cheese and Black is quick to exploit the holes. 17.e4 h3 There is no good defence against the threat of f5 18.g3 Allowing a quick finish, but perhaps White had already seen enough. [ 18.f5 exf5 19.gxf5 fe8 will be too horrible to watch. ] 18...g2# 0-1
2153 Lahiri,Atanu Tukhaev,Adam Summer Alushta UKR (11) [Eric Prié]
A45 2355 2419 04.06.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 e5 7.f4 d6 8.f5 Like Wells I am now also inclined to consider this move to be the most promising for White (h avin g an a lyse d all t he se u n su cc es sf u l attempts with the protected passed pawn policy as in the previous game). However he says something very interesting about it: "I think it is quite possible that the only barrier to W hite scoring very heavily here is the gambiteer's psychological or stylistic aversion to this type of blocked position!" I have not that aversion for blocked positions, on the contrary! But I do have an aversion to being a pawn down, forced to play dynamically against my nature as in the game against Pogorelov and unfortunately, it is not the 6...e5 option of this game or the previous one but the Granda game with 6...d6 7.f4 e6 that makes me state 2102
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 that I would never be capable to play this Vaganian Gambit as W hite ... even if I now realize that, with White compelled to handle the position in this way or similar against 2... c 5 ! , t h is is p ro b a b ly h is b e st ch a n ce f o r success. Incidentally, I guess this explains why W ells' coverage of "the attacking repertoire" 2...c5 3.d5!? is so unusually good: The requirement of the position may ideally fit his own style and also the 'British way' he sees the Tromp as an opening! Because against 2...Ne4 3.Bf4 d5, 2...d5 3.Bxf6, 2...e6 3.e4... e7 Erroneously letting White expand for free on the kingside. [ 8...h5! 9.f3 g6?? A terrible mistake, weakening the crucial e6 square. BricardN e v e d n i c h y h a d c o n t i n u e d ( 9...bd7 10.d3 a6 11.e2 e7 12.d1 c4! ) 10.b5+ d7 11.b1 xb5 12.xb5 c7 13.fxg6 h6 14.0-0 bd7 15.gxf7+ xf7 16.xh6 xh6 17.g5+ e7 18.e6 c8 19.g7 1-0 Bellon Lopez, J (2416)Rodriguez Costa, M (1970) Albacete op 2004 ] 9.g4 h6 10.h4 d8 11.f3! h7 The defensive set-up suggested by De la Villa which is countered by Wells's 12.g3 g8 13.f3 f6 "After which the passivity of Black's game looks ridiculous" And this W hite eloquently demonstrated in the continuation of the game even allowing himself the luxury of a far from optimal handling of his king's bishop! 14.h3 d7 15.f2 b8 16.a4 b6 17.f1 a8 18.e2 b6 19.ag1 c7 20.g5 Black is painfully stifled. If only there had been a circuit to bring the other knight to f7... fxg5 21.hxg5 xg5 22.xg5 xg5 23.xg5 xg5 24.xg5 hxg5 25.xg5 e7 26.hg1 f8 [ 26...e8 27.h5 d7 28.xe8 xe8 29.xg7+ xg7 30.xg7+ f7 31.b5 a6 32.xd6 ] 27.h5 b7 28.f6 e8 29.xe8 xe8 30.b5! d7 31.xg7 f8 32.c7+ xc7 33.xc7 xf6+ 34.e3 1-0
2154 Lakdawala,Cyrus Ivanov Continental Open (5) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2434 2472 28.07.2000
White chooses one of the most exciting lines in the Ne4 Tromp. Black declines the often lethal early pawn grab, only to get greedy later. White tops off a fine attacking game with a splendid queen sacrifice. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.f3 f6 5.e4 The most ambitious approach. White offers a pawn in order to achieve an accelerated BlackmarDiemer gambit. e6 The jury is still out on this gambit's soundness ,so Black, maybe wisely, d e c id e s t o p la y i t s a f e a n d d e c lin e s t h e offered pawn. 6.e5 fd7 7.e3 The usual regrouping, which allows White to support his e5 pawn with f3-f4. c5 8.c3 b6 9.d2 f6 10.f4 g5 In a similar manner to that of the French Defence, Black must respond vigorously to the W hite central space advantage. White's main priority is to support his centre and then complete his d e ve l o p m e n t . 11.f3 g4 12.h4 c6 13.e2 fxe5 14.fxe5 cxd4 15.cxd4 dxe5 Black was clearly relying on this tactical blow to free his position. Although now we can see how far he is falling behind in development. 16.0-0 g6 17.xg6 hxg6 18.c3 d6 Making use of the open h-file. This threat is e a s i l y p a r r i e d , l e a vi n g B l a c k t o a n s we r serious questions about his weakened kingside pawn structure. 19.g3 d7 20.b5 b8 21.a4 a6 22.a5 d8 23.g5 Just in case Black was even thinking about relocating his Queen to the kingside, White chops out the option. e7 24.c3 d6 25.f6 h7 26.g5 Suddenly Black lacks a decent way to keep his kingside together. Disintegration is imminent anyway, but Black manages to walk into a spectacular finish. h5 27.xg4 e5 28.xh5 Bang! Every chess player's dream. A gorgeous winning queen sacrifice, which totally destroys the Black position. gxh5 29.xh5+ f8 30.xe7+ Black gives up the ghost, the only way to keep his queen is 30... Kxe7 but then 31.Nxd5+ Ke6 32. Bf7+ is a rather classy mate! 1-0 2103
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2155 Larsson,Johan Malmdin,Nils Ake Solett Open Skelleftea SWE (8) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2195 15.04.2001
April Update: Trompowsky Attack: The 2...e6 system continues to be all the rage against the Tromp. Instead of following the fashion with 5.c3 White plays Hodgson's old favourite and is rewarded with a victory to savour. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 b4 6.d2 d6 7.0-0-0 This a rarely seen sideline in this variation of the Tromp. Hodgson, among others, has preferred the more direct 7.a3. The move played has the advantage of not weakening the queenside, allowing the W hite king to breathe a little easier. e5 Very aggressive. Black takes the fight directly to the White player, but I'm not entirely sure of the wisdom of opening the position whilst behind in development. 8.dxe5 xe5 Black piles on the early pressure but it is easy for White to resist, as Black appears to have forgotten to develop most of his pieces. At the same time, Black has just lost his valuable foothold in the centre. [ 8...dxe5 9.b1 Intending Nd5 is interesting. ] 9.ge2 0-0 10.a3 Black is slowly being pushed back. a5 11.f4 f6 12.b1 c6 13.h3 Preparing a kingside pawn storm. e6 14.g4 c4 15.e3 A useful move breaking the pin on the Nc3 and allowing a queen swing over to the kingside. b5 16.d5 xd5 17.xd5 b6 18.g3 White has no need to disguise his intentions towards the Black king. b4 Black desperately tries to drum up some counterplay, but his plans are easily thwarted. 19.a4 d4 20.h4 Charge!! Could White have any more pawns pointed at the Black k in gs id e ? ? xe2 21.xe2 h8 22.h5 Black is helpless against the coming breakthrough. d4 23.g5 e3 24.g4 f5 [ 24...xe4 25.f3 ] 25.exf5 b3 As good as any other move. What else can Black do? 26.gxh6 The White attack crashes through and Black had seen enough. 1-0
2156 Laznicka,Viktor Hausrath,Daniel 25th ECC Ohrid MKD (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2634 2528 05.10.2009
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6 3.f3!? If White is not willing to sacrifice his b2 pawn for a strong initiative, this is an interesting alternative... [ 3.c3 is appropriate, to solve the latter c o n c e r n a f t e r b6 4.b3 but is more passive in the longer term. d6 ( 4...d5 ) 5.d2 e6 6.c2 bd7 7.e4 g6 8.d3 a5 9.h4 h6 Le Kieu Thien Kim (2250)Nguyen Thi Thanh An (2330) Ho Chi Minh City 2009 1-0(92) ] 3...b6 [ 3...e4 4.f4 b6 ( 4...g5? 5.xg5 a5+ 6.d2 xd2 7.xd2; 4...d5 5.bd2 b6 but 6.b1!? Then g5 7.e3 The e3 tempo for the support of the d4 pawn is missing in this case.) 5.c3! Apparently a Novelty, and a point for preferring 3.Nf3 to 3. Nd2! A) 5...a5 6.d3 d5 ( 6...xc3 7.d2 ) 7.d2! xc3 ( 7...f5 8.cxe4 dxe4 9.b3 ) 8.b3 b6 9.bxc3; B) 5...d5 6.e3 g4 ( 6...g5 7.e5 f6 8.xb8 xb8 9.xe4 dxe4 10.d2 f5 11.b1; 6...xb2 7.xe4 dxe4 8.d2 f5 9.e2 looks terribly dangerous for Black. ) 7.e2 xb2 8.xe4 dxe4 9.b1 xa2 10.d2 xe2 11.xe2 b5 12.0-0 xc2 13.fc1 a2 ( 13...d3 14.d1 ) 14.xb8 ( 14.d1 e6 ) 14...xb8 15.xc6 With probably more than enough compensation for the invested material a l r e a d y . F o r i n s t a n c e b4 16.d1! The key move. e6 17.a1! d5 18.a4 d7 ( 18...b5 19.c8+ ) 19.c4! f6 20.xe6+ e7 21.xa7 xe6 ( 21...d8 22.d6+ f8 23.xd7 xd7 24.a8+ d8 25.xd8+ xd8 26.e8# ) 22.xb8+ f7 23.xh8 xc4 24.xh7+- ] 4.c1 [ 4.bd2 d5 Transposes into a note to the previous game. ] 4...e4 5.f4 d6 [ 5...d5 Similar to the 2...Ne4 3.Bf4 d5 Tromp, with the idea Bd3xe4 to get rid of the annoying knight without allowing any 2104
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 levelling ...Ne4xd2 as in the previous game. 6.e3 f5 7.d3 f6 8.c3 ( 8.0-0 g5 9.xb8 xb8 10.c3 xc3 11.xf5?? e2+ ) 8...d7 9.xe4 ( 9.h3!? ) 9...dxe4 10.d2 e5 11.dxe5 fxe5 12.g3 h5 13.h3 0-0-0 14.dxe4 e7 15.0-0 g5 ] 6.g3!? I would have seriously considered trying to take advantage of Black's timid last move with a more thematic 'd-pawn specials' [ 6.bd2 xd2 7.xd2 f5 8.e3 d7 ( 8...h6 9.c4 ) 9.h4 e6 10.d3 ] 6...e5 7.e3 exd4 8.xd4 c5 9.b3 d5 10.g2 e6 11.0-0 d7 12.a3 An unusual position for this section... Actually, W hite may be Ok: He wants to play c4 in reversed Grünfeld style. However, he might have tested the subtle [ 12.d1!? f i r s t , w i t h t h e i d e a e7 ( 12...ef6! 13.a3; 12...df6 13.c3 xc3 14.bxc3 c7 ) 13.c3! xc3 14.bxc3 f6 ( 14...0-0 15.b1 a6 16.xd5 ) 15.b1 c7 16.c4! Now Black is outflanked d8 ( 16...dxc4 17.f4 b6 18.d4 ) 17.a3 b6 ( 17...dxc4 18.xd8+ xd8 19.xc5; 17...d4 18.f4 c8 19.a5 ) 18.f4 d6 ( 18...d7 19.a6 d4 20.c3 ) 19.cxd5 xd5 20.a4+ f8 21.xd6+ xd6 22.f4 ] 12...df6 [ 12...f5!? 13.c4 d4 ] 13.c3 c8 14.d1 e7 15.f3 d6 16.f2 [ 16.xc5? f5 ] 16...a5 17.f4 0-0 18.xc5 xc5? Both players probably missed the point: [ 18...xb2 19.c1 xc1 20.axc1?! ( 20.dxc1 de4 21.xe6 fxe6 22.fxe4 xa3 23.cb1 xe4 24.xe4 dxe4 25.xb7= ) 20...de4! when the Na3 hangs 'through' the Nc5. Difficult to see, like every X- ra y m o t iv e ! 21.xe6 xf2! 22.xf8 xd1 ] 19.b4 axb4 20.cxb4 c4 [ 20...f5 21.bxc5 ( 21.d3 d7 22.bxc5 xc5 23.f1 ) 21...xc5 22.f1 ] 21.c2! [ 21.xc4 xb4 ] 21...h5 22.c1 fc8 23.bxc5 xc5 24.xc5 xc5 25.d4 b2 26.b1 c4 27.e3 b4 [ 27...b4 28.a3 ] 28.e1 The smoke has cleared and White
emerges out of the maze of calculations with a so lid e xt ra e xch a n ge . xd4 29.exd4 xd4+ 30.h1 d3 31.e2 f2+ 32.xf2 xf2 33.xb7 h6 34.a4 d4 35.b8+ h7 36.b1+ g6 37.a5 f5 38.g1 b2 39.a6 1-0
2157 Laznicka,Viktor Huzman,Alexander European Club Cup, Eilat (4.5) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2678 2591 14.10.2012
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.d3 c6?! [ Gelfand's no.2 is normally extremely well prepared, but despite the result of this game I believe the text still deserves to be denoted as dubious. Instead 5...f6 is probably best, ] [ while we considered 5...cxd4 6.exd4 c6 7.xe4! dxe4 8.e2 g4 9.bc3 e6 last mo nth with Vit iugo v-Ding Liren , S t Petersburg (rapid) 2012. ] 6.xe4 dxe4 7.d5 e5 [ Trying to block things up is the best policy. Instead 7...b4?! 8.c3 e6 ( t o m y s u r p r i s e 8...f5 9.a3 a6 was tried in Nakamura-Mamedyarov, Moscow (blitz) 2010 here I'd be tempted to p u s h t h e f - p a w n , b u t 10.ge2 g6 would also have been good had Naka now just collected a pawn with 11.g3 ) 9.d6! is just very good for W hite as shown by practice - see the Archive for some examples. ] 8.g3 e7 9.c3 f6 [ A g a i n , r e l a t ive ly b e s t . I n s t e a d 9...g6 was well met by 10.h4! in Radjabov-Polgar, Be nid orm (ra pid ) 2 00 3, wh ich E ric h a s covered before. ] 10.h5+! [ Best once more. Instead 10.e2?! f5 11.c4?! was rather materialistic in Shimanov-Zakhartsov, Taganrog 2011, and after h5! 12.xe4 d6 13.g6+ e7 14.h4 Black had a few tempting options, including f5!? 15.g3 f7 when the bishop should fall for insufficient 2105
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 compensation. ] 10...g6 [ 10...g6 11.h4 is now a relatively safe pawn grab. ] 11.0-0-0 d7!? [ New. Huzman wants to get the queens off and rely on his bishop-pair. Previously, 11...a5 12.f4! exf3 13.xf3 c7 had been seen in K. Berg-Navara, Morso 2002, and now 14.hf1! would have been strong, as shown by Eric in his notes. ] 12.xe4 [ This does win a pawn, but now the queens wi l l c o m e o f f . A s s u c h , t h e a m b i t i o u s 12.e2!? very much deserves attention: for instance, f5 13.h4! d6 ( or 13...h5 14.f3 exf3 15.xf3 d6 16.g5 , already beginning to exploit the holes in Black's position ) 14.h5 e7 15.f3 exf3 16.xf3 f4 17.exf4 exf4 18.f2 when it's hard to believe Black will survive with White set to invade via the e-file and g5-square. ] 12...f5! 13.xf5 [ White is also better after 13.f3!? xf3 14.xf3 h5 15.h4 d7 , although even here it won't b e so easy to break down Black's solid defence. ] 13...xf5 14.d2 b5! Keeping White out of c4 and even giving himself the option of some later counterplay on the queenside. 15.e4 [ I wonder if the Czech Grandmaster had prematurely relaxed having won a pawn for he doesn't demonstrate his usual high level of technique in this game. Here I would have been tempted to complete development and only then decide on a further course of action: 15.f3 d6 16.e2 e7 17.f2 h5 and now even 18.g3!? is possible, followed by h3 and g4. Yes, White has a lot of work to do here, but so does he in the game. Indeed, the thought continues to grow that grabbing the e-pawn was perhaps not the best of the available 'refutations'. ] 15...d7 16.c4 A logical gain of space, but what does this do to White's pawn breaks? Note too how Huzman now moves to rule out f2-f4. h5! 17.h4 d6 18.e2 f7 19.f3 f4! 20.xf4 exf4 21.f2 g5?! [ We might rightly have criticised Huzman's play in the opening, but since then he has demonstrated his deep understanding of the
game and obtained counterplay across the board. That said, the text was probably a slip and 21...a5! likely an improvement. ] 22.c2?! [ I think White missed a chance here. Assessing 22.b4! cxb4 ( 22...ac8 23.e5! fxe5 24.e4 is another important point) 23.c5 wasn't trivial, but after, say, hc8 24.b3 a5 25.c6 g4 26.d4 e5 27.b1 e8 White must be able to keep control and eventually force his pawns home. ] 22...g4 23.cxb5 Logically trying to bring a knight to c4, but even this is nowhere near en ou gh t o win, t ha nks to B la ck's c en tra l blockade and kingside counterplay. xb5 24.b3 ab8 25.c4 xc4 26.bxc4 b4! Continuing to defend actively and rightly not fearing having his rook driven to the edge. White's advantage is most certainly dwindling. 27.a3 a4 28.b3 a6 29.a2 g8 30.b1 gxf3 31.b7+ e8 32.gxf3 g2 Your engine may not agree, at least initially, but Black is now active enough to hold with some ease from what I can see. 33.f1 e5 34.b3 b6+ 35.xb6 axb6 36.a4 [ With such a bishop and rook it's hard to see White making any real progress either after 36.a4 d7 37.b5 c7 38.a4 d6 39.a5 bxa5 40.xa5 g8! . ] 36...d6 37.a5 bxa5 38.a4 d7 39.xa5 g8 40.g1 a8+ 41.b6 b8+ 42.a6 a8+ 43.b6 b8+ 44.a6 a8+ 45.b6 ½-½
2158 Laznicka,Viktor Moiseenko,Alexander San Sebastian 2-game KO (6.3) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2703 2715 04.01.2012
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 Rather than hurry to gain a lead in development, White prefers to build a strong centre. d6 [ Black's most popular defence, but 5...d5 is a very im port ant alt erna tive and ha s received the backing of both Eric and John Cox. For some coverage see HutchinsonWard, Scarborough 2004, in the Archive. ] 6.d3 d7 Simple development, but there 2106
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 are alternatives and quite critical ones at that: [ a) Both 6...g5 7.f3 xg2 8.g1 h3 followed by Eric's 9.bd2 (see his notes to Pixton-Finegold, Connecticut 2002), ] [ b) and 6...g6 7.f3! , as in Argandona Rivero-Mirzoev, Elgoibar 2005, offer White reasonable compensation for his pawn. It's noticeable that pawn-grabbing with the queen, while critical, hasn't been especially popular of late, perhaps because of practical considerations - the resulting positions are generally easier for White to handle. ] [ c) 6...e5! wastes no time countering in the c e n t re a n d h a s b e e n a p r e t t y co m m o n choice. Play often continues 7.e2 g6 ( for coverage of the less important 7...c6 8.0-0 d8 9.f4 exd4 10.cxd4 e7 11.bc3; and 7...d7 8.0-0 d8 9.f4 e7 10.d2 c6 11.h1 see respectively Rogers-Schnitzspan, Deizisau 2001, and Reynolds-Simeonidis, Panormo 2001, as considered by Aaron) 8.0-0 g7 9.f4 e7 10.d2 , reaching a position where I believe Black shouldn't have any real problems whether he deploys his remaining knight to d 7 o r g o e s 0-0 . White's set-up may look impressive, but it's not so easy to keep going forwards and meanwhile those dark squares can easily become a tad weak: for example, 11.f3 ( 11.f5 d7 holds everything together) 11...c5!? ( again, 11...d7 has been quite a popular choice here,; while in Hoang Thanh TrangO l e k s i e n k o , C h e n n a i 2 0 1 2 , 11...c6 12.e1 exd4! 13.exd4 xd4 14.xd4 d7 15.f2 c5 16.c2 c6 was slightly in Black's favour) 12.h1 ( this is slow, but I'm not too sure what W hite should be doing after 12.fxe5 dxe5 13.d5 d7 14.d2 b6 White's d-pawn is under lock and key, and Black has all the long-term chances) 12...exd4! (often the pivotal move in such s t r u c t u r e s ) 13.cxd4 cxd4 14.f5! g5 15.fxd4 d7 16.c1 f6 and White had obtained some activity in Sulava-Jankovic, Croatian Championship, Opatija 2012, but I'd still slightly prefer to take Black here thanks to that unopposed prelate on g7. ] 7.e2 g6 8.0-0 g7 Just as in variation 'c', above, Black bolsters his kingside with a
fianchetto and hopes that one day his darksquared bishop will be master of a cleared long diagonal. 9.f4 0-0 [ Keeping the queen in situ so long hasn't been too common, but is a sensible choice i n t h i s p a r t i c u l a r p o s i t i o n , a s 9...e7 might be met by 10.f5!? 0-0 11.f4 . ] 10.d2 [ Now 10.f5 can be met by g5!? when 11.f3 ( and not, of course , 11.d2?? e3+ ) 11...f6 12.g3 h5 looks quite scary for Black, but my machine at least is yet to find more than a draw for White. ] 10...e7 [ Black would like to go 10...e5?! , but it's too l a t e f o r t h i s : 11.fxe5! ( 11.f5 e7 is a ga in secure en o ugh f o r th e se co n d player ) 11...g5 12.f3 ( simple and strong, whereas 12.exd6? e3+ 13.h1 xd3 14.dxc7 b5 surely doesn't offer W hite enough for his piece) 12...e3+ 13.h1 dxe5 14.c2 h5 15.ae1 h6 16.c4 and White's pressure against f7 is not so easy to counter. This is why if Black is after a set-up with a kingside fianchetto he should begin with the immediate 6...e5. ] 11.e5! Preventing ...e5 for good and so securing an edge. Moiseenko's handling of the opening, not to mention subsequent play, might not have been top notch, but then again we shouldn't forget that he was playing two games simultaneously against Laznicka! b6 12.e4 Continuing to disrupt Black's development. b8 13.a4 a6 [ Instead 13...a5!? 14.c6 d8 15.e4 d5 16.4g3 b7 was preferred in Panjwani-De Firmia n, Ca lgary 2010, where 17.ad1?! ( 17.xb7 xb7 followed by either a d v a n c i n g t h e c - p a w n o r j u s t 18.c2 would have retained a pull in the case of t h e l a t t e r B l a c k m u s t b e o n h i s wa t c h against powerful sacrificial breakthroughs w i t h f 4 - f 5) 17...xc6 18.xc6 b5! condemned White's queen to a pretty risky existence. ] 14.ae1 b5 15.c2 c5 At first glance it may appear that Black is obtaining decent enough co un t erp la y, bu t W h it e's ce nt re re m ain s secure and meanwhile we should not forget that he too might advance in that part of the board. 16.h1 Keeping the tension and luring 2107
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black forwards. d5 17.f3 b4? [ It wasn't easy for Black to maintain the central tension and White's well-positioned queen discourages any break with ...f6, but this does not turn out well. I have my doubts about the soundness of Black's set-up after 17...c4!? 18.g4! , but still this may well have been a better try. White's minor pieces are not ideally placed for a kingside assault and breaking through on the kingside would not have been a trivial business af ter, say, h4!? , sneakily preparing to meet 19.f5? with xe5! 20.dxe5 xe5 . ] 18.c4! Keeping the b-file closed and now Moiseenko finds that it's his centre which is the one coming under the most pressure. b7 [ This doesn't turn out well, but there simply would have been too many accessibly weak squares in the black camp after 18...dxc4 19.xc4 . ] 19.cxd5 xd5 [ Initially criticised by the machine, although even that fearless piece of silicon soon b e gi n s t o re a l ise t h a t t h e d a m a ge h a s already been done, with 19...exd5 20.f5 gxf5 21.g3 cxd4 22.xf5 hardly a panacea either. ] 20.xd5 exd5 21.f5! Just six moves ago it didn't look like White had a promising pawn break available, but in his bid to coordinate his pieces Black has now allowed not one but two strong pawn breakthroughs. White is now doing very well and Laznicka wrapped matters up without too much difficulty despite the distraction of the other game. gxf5 22.g3 cxd4 23.xf5 g5? [ The attack is too strong after this. The last real chance was to grovel with the ugly 23...e6 . ] 24.f3 d8 [ Or 24...h5 25.xg7 xg7 26.c7 b6 27.xd4 followed by crashing through on the e6-square. ] 25.3xd4 b6 [ Black must shed material after this, but so would he in the event of 25...c8 26.xc8 ( 26.d1!? , heading for the g-file, might be even stronger ) 26...xc8 27.e7+ . ] 26.e6! fxe6 27.xe6 xe6 28.xe6 h8 29.fe1 f6 30.h4 g8 31.g6+ g7 32.e7 f8 33.f5+
[ 33.xf6! xf6 34.f5+ g7 35.g4+ would have been an immediate knock-out, but of course the text is plenty good enough. ] 33...h8 34.d6 1-0
2159 Laznicka,Viktor Parligras,Mircea 8th ch-Euro Dresden GER (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2608 2522 04.04.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 f5 [ 5...g7 6.d2?! Normally White cannot avoid the move c2-c3 and just like playing it where Black is not attacking b2, i.e. with his pawn on f5 but the bishop still on f8 as some time ago in a game Agabean-Baklan, this loss of a tempo should directly lead to the loss of the d5-pawn. A) 6...f5 7.b1 ( 7.c4? b4+; 7.c3 d6 ) A1) 7...a5! Would be a Novelty. 8.a3 ( 8.e3 xa2 9.c4 a5 10.gf3 b5 ) 8...c4 9.e3 xd5 ( 9...b5!? 10.e2 d6! To be able to meet Bf3 with ...Nd7-e5 while keeping f5 protected and then decide whether the pressure against d5 is effective enough to develop it to b7.) 10.xc4 ( 10.xc4? xg2 ) 10...b5; A2) 7...a6!? Against 7...d6, White can possibly do without c2-c4 so that in order to avoid an inferior transposition into Kovacevic-Stevic where Black implemented the plan ...b7-b5, ...Nd7-b6 or . . .Nd 7-e 5 in o rd e r t o p re ven t t h e installation of a white knight on c4 after the opening of the b-file. A2a) 8.e3 b4 9.c4 ( 9.c4 g6 10.d2 f4! 11.c1 xa2 12.a1 b4 13.c1 a2 14.a1 b4 15.c1 a2 1/2-1/2 was a laughable result in Lachmann, H-Speer, A Moeller Werke 1970 ) 9...d6; A2b) 8.c4 d6! 9.c2 ( 9.e3 f4 10.exf4 f5 ) 9...d7 ( 9...b4 10.b3 d7 11.a3 a6 12.c2 ) 10.a3 ( 10.e3 b4! 11.b3 a6 2108
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.a3 a4 ) 10...g8 Before deciding between ...e6 or ...e5 Black wants White to lose another tempo with the defence of his g2-pawn. 11.e3 f6 12.h3 e6 13.f4 0-0-0 ( 13...e5 14.h5 e7 15.g3 ) 14.d3 b8 15.0-0 With a complicated game since Black will have to play ...e6-e5, and possibly ...e4, sooner or later, winning space but to the detriment of his bishop's activity.; B) 6...d6?! In any case, It is interesting to force the white rook to b1: 7.e3 d7 8.c4 c7 9.a4 f5 10.e2 b6 11.f4 f6 12.e2 0-0 13.d1 ( 13.0-0 b7 14.d1 h6 15.f3 a6 16.b3 ) 13...d8 14.0-0= Shmirina, G (2115)-Khukhashvili, S (2334) EU-ch Fem Dresden 2007 0-1(37) ] 6.e3 In May, I will take a stock on [ 6.g3 and continue with 2...Ne4 3.Bf4 c5! which was also decisive in my dropping of the Tromp, wh en as I had f orecast this Chernyshov double gambit with Bc7 proves just unsound. ] 6...g7 7.c3 d6 8.h3 d7 9.f4 f6 10.c4 d7 11.d2 c7 12.a4 0-0 13.0-0 b6! These two highly topical games seem to acknowledge the idea that White has realized that this set-up beginning with 6.e3 (which I have not dealt with so far) may be the only one which is more or less stable for him in this line. Nevertheless, the light-squared bishop is defensively placed on c4 and subject to Black's ...b7-b5 when he should be on d3 or h3 to pressurize the f5-pawn in the hope that the reply ...e7-e6 or ...e7-e5 would not be possible because of the newly created weakness on d6,which is precisely attacked by his knight on ... c4! As a result he lacks a c l e a r c o u r s e o f a ct i o n t o u n b a la n c e t h e position when Black seems the only one to be able to undertake things with that purpose... 14.b5 [ 14.c2 a6 15.f3 b5 No time for Nh4 either. 16.axb5 axb5 17.d3 e6 18.dxe6 fxe6 19.g5 xa1 20.xa1 e8= ] 14...e5 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.c2 ae8 17.c4 e7 18.xd7 xd7 19.fd1 c6 20.a3 h6 21.d3 g7 22.g3 e7 Black must have forecast
[ 22...xf4 23.exf4 h5 but renounced it at the last moment when it not obvious to understand why. 24.f3! ( 24.f1 e5 ) 24...d8 25.f1 Still equal, but Black was possibly already nourishing bigger ambitions. ] 23.b1 d8 24.g2 g7 [ 24...g4!? 25.d2? ( 25.f4 ) 25...e5! 26.xd6 xd6 27.xd6 d7 28.b8+ f8 29.xd7 f3+ 30.f1 xd7 ] 25.c3 g4 26.f4 ed7 [ 26...xc3 27.xc3 f7! With the same strong idea Nf6-e4, then ( 27...f7 28.b3 d5 29.h4 ) 28.d2 ( 28.h4 xa4 29.xd6 xd1+; 28.b3! f6 29.h4 e4 30.b2 Intending Qe2 or g2 protecting f 3 a n d N h 4 - f 3 w i t h e q u a l i t y, a s i n t h e game. ) 28...fd7 29.c3? Would lose an important tempo. f7 30.b3 d5 ] 27.h4! Holding on for a tactical reason. xc3 28.xc3 f7 [ 28...xa4? 29.h3 h6 30.f6 ] 29.b3 a6 30.c2 f6 31.e2 b5 32.axb5 axb5 33.f3 bxc4 34.bxc4 e7 35.h3 e4 36.d2 c6 ½-½
2160 Laznicka,Viktor Zubarev,Alexander2 Rubinstein mem (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2602 2518 22.08.2006
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.c1! Back to the old recipes with this conservative but nevertheless provocative move! e6 8.e4 So this is the way they play this line now?! Peter Wells does not even consider this move in his book... [ For his favourite if nowadays completely outmoded 8.c4 (since my dedicated update on this move some 2 and a half years ago) and a final look at the 2...Ne4 3. Bf4 Tromp, see next month. ] 8...exd5 9.exd5 e7 10.c4 0-0 11.d3 e8 12.e2 d6 13.bc3 bd7 14.b3 f8 15.0-0 g6 16.h3! g7 17.d2 Of course, the move b2-b3 was played only to authorize Bc2 by defending the c4-pawn against the 2109
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 manoeuvre ...Ne5 but White had absolutely 13.xc4 f2+ 14.e2 c5 15.gxh3 0-0 no intention of abandoning the c1-h6 diagonal, [ 15...h4 16.b3! 0-0 ( 16...f2+ 17.d1 including the sensitive e3-square, to Black. 0-0 18.e3 Forces the exchange of d8 18.f4 a6 19.a4 White has obtained the queens. ) 17.e3 c7 18.c1 e7 optimal setup. Black has no squares for his 19.a3 is no better. ] p i e c e s a n d i s co n d e m n e d t o t h e r o l e o f 16.d3 defender against the forthcoming kingside [ 16.e3 xe3 17.xe3 b5+ 18.f2 attack. f8 20.f3 b6 21.c2 h6 22.af1 xb2+ 19.e2 e5 20.d4 ] a7 23.g4 ae7 24.g3 xg4 16...c8 Black seizes a practical chance before it is too [ 16...a6 17.e3 xe3 18.xe3 c7 late, but this will prove insufficient. 25.hxg4 19.f2 In the long term, White may have xg4 26.f5! d4+ 27.g2 xf3+ 28.xf3 worries about the situation of his king but, h7 h6 hangs but the main problem for Black at the moment, he is a good pawn up with a remains his inability to profit from his solid pair of bishops protected behind a domination of the e-file. strong centre and therefore holds a big [ 28...g5 29.f6 e1 30.ce2 g6 31.xg6 advantage. To answer a question that had 1xe2+ 32.xe2 xe2+ 33.f1 h2 been privately asked to me by mail on this 34.xf7+! h8 35.g6 f8 36.e3 ] very subject: apart from the beginning of the 29.ce4 e5 30.c1 An outrageously oneline with 9...c4, I do not have a clue where sided game. Black can improve! ] 1-0 [ 16...h4 17.e3 c7 18.c1 followed by Qa3. ] 17.b4! xc4 18.xc4 xc4 19.xf2 xb4 2161 A45 20.a3 b6 21.e2 a6 22.hc1 [ 22.hb1 c5 23.xb6 axb6 24.b2 Lerner,David B Du e t o t h e d o u b l e d b -p a wn s , W h i t e i s Rajlich,Vasik G 2270 effectively a pawn up but Black has some CCA ChessWise op (2) 12.06.1999 activity. h5 25.e3 f5 ] [Eric Prié] 22...b4 23.c4 a5 24.ac1 [ 24.c1 a6 25.e3 b2 26.d4 b4 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ ( 26...d2? 27.e3 ) 27.a3 xc4 28.xc4 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.c1 e6 8.c4 exd5 c8 29.xa6 bxa6 30.b1 As in other 9.cxd5 c4?! 10.e4!? As far as my database similar endings, is obviously dreadful for can tell, this critical move has been only Black. ] played twice as it seems paradoxical to 'fall in' 24...f8 25.c8+ xc8 26.xc8+ e7 with Black's idea by leaving the a7-g1 xa2 28.xa5 c3 29.c4 diagonal wide open, but it is essential for the 27.a8 estimation of this important branch of the White has missed the bus when [ 29.e5 fxd5 30.exd6+ d7 31.c4 b4 T r o m p , w h i l e a l s o s e r vi n g a s a s t r i k i n g 32.xf7 which should not prove enough, demonstration of the power of the centre. c5 was the last chance to pla y with active 11.h3 d6 12.d2! bishops. ] [ 12.g4 0-0 13.c3 e8 14.a4 1/2-1/2 Chernyshov,K-Brodsky,M Cappelle 29...d7! Now he should start to be careful.... la Grande op 2004 I could have reversed the 30.h4? [ 30.e3 e5 31.d4 ] roles and put this game as the leading game, between 2 Grandmasters, held in 2004, but 30...e5 31.f1 d1+? [ 31...b1! When, all of a sudden, the th is wo u ld h a ve b e e n, le t 's sa y. . . a b it coordination of the black pieces is menacing, polemic o) ] f o r in sta n ce, t he t hre at o f Nxf 3 p ro ve s 12...xh3 d e l i c a t e t o c o u n t e r . 32.a7 b3 [ 12...c3 13.bxc3 xh3 14.c4 f2+ ( 32...xf3? 33.d3 d1 34.c2 d2+ 15.e2 c5 16.gxh3 xc4+ 17.xf2 35.xf3 xc2 36.xb7+ f6 37.xd6 ) xc3 18.b1 ] 2110
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 33.h5 xf3 34.c4 xe4+ 35.e2 d4+ 36.d1 b1+-+ ] 32.e2 b2 [ 32...c4 33.a8 ( 33.a7 c3+ 34.d3 b5 Beware of the nimble knights!) 33...b1 34.h3= ] 33.f4 ec4 34.a7 xa3 35.xa3 c4 36.a7 f6? [ 36...b3 ] [ 36...b1= ] 37.d3! Short legged knights, most of the time... b1 38.e2 b5 [ 38...b2! ] 39.d4! b4 40.c3 b1 41.d4? White, now rated 2125, who overall played a go o d g a m e , s e e m s t o h a ve h a d e n o u g h excitement whereas after [ 41.d7! h1 42.xc4 bxc4 43.xd6+ e7 44.a6 xh2 45.d6+ d7 ( 45...e6 46.f5+ d7 47.e5 xh4 48.a7+ c6 49.xf7 ) 46.e5 xh4 47.a7+ e8 48.e7+ f8 49.f5 Always the centre e4 50.e6 fxe6 51.fxe6 g6! 52.b4! ( 52.xh7? xe6 53.h8+ g7 54.d7 xh8 55.d8+ g7 is only a theoretical draw when the black rook oscillates from f5 to h5, but 56.d7+ f6 57.d4!? c3!? is too far ahead to see if Black can establish the well-known fortress.) 52...h5 53.c5 e5+ 54.xc4 h4 55.d4 e1 56.d5 he could have won this game, eventually! ] 41...b4 42.c3 b1 ½-½
(possibly Denis and not Anatoli) against Joe Gallagher, analysed in this section. 4.b3!? A move that is condemned by theory. The reason why W hite should have taken on f6 and why Black should have accepted the favourable transposition afore-mentioned is that now, after [ 4.c2! e4 is not so strong because of 5.dxc5 xc5 ( 5...xc5 6.e3 c6 7.d2 ) 6.d2 Where White gets a "normal" d -p a wn p o si t io n wi t h h is d a rk squ a re d bishop still present on the board. And if ] [ 4.c2 cxd4 5.xf6! xf6 ( 5...gxf6 6.cxd4 is our game Tseitlin-Naumann.; 5...exf6 6.cxd4 c6 7.e3 d5 8.c3 f5 9.d3 b4 10.a4+ d7 11.b5 xb5 12.xb5 c6 13.e2 b4+ 14.bc3 xc3+ 15.bxc3 like a variation in the same ga m e is t h is t i m e o b vio u s ly in W h it e ' s favour.; 5...d3!? 6.exd3 gxf6 7.b3 ) 6.cxd4 c6 7.e3 d5 8.c3 e6 9.a3 is all-right for White because of the "lockingup" of the bishop on c8. See the comment a b o u t B la ck' s 8 t h m o ve , wit h re ve rs e d colours, in the game Tseitlin-Naumann. ] 4...cxd4 [ 4...e6 A) 5.xf6 gxf6 6.dxc5 ( 6.e3!? ) 6...xc5 7.xb6 xb6 8.d2; B) 5.d2 d5 6.xf6 gxf6 7.xb6 axb6 8.gf3 ( 8.e4!? ) B1) 8...c4! 9.a3 ( 9.e4 b5 10.a3 b4 ) 9...b5 10.b1 f5 11.e3 d7 12.e2 b6; B2) 8...c6 9.e3 d7 10.a3 cxd4 2162 A45 11.cxd4 d6 12.e2 e7 13.0-0 hc8 14.fc1 c7 15.c3 1/2-1/2 Boidman, Letelier Martner,Rene Y-Koutsin,S Prievidza(9) 1996 ] Fischer,Robert James [ 4...e4 5.e3 ] Mar del Plata (14) 14.04.1960 [ 4...xb3!? is possibly better. It appears [Eric Prié] that the doubled pawns on the b-file which give the opponent a strong square in front of 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 Contrary to the them is a handicapping weakness that the other line of this survey with e3, White should opening of the a-file is insufficient to take on f6 first if he intends to support his d4 compe nsate . 5.axb3 cxd4 6.xf6 gxf6 pawn with the c-pawn. b6 And here Black 7.cxd4 c6 Quite surprisingly this position should play 3...Ne4 transposing into a sub-line has apparently never been tested in of the 2...Ne4 Trompowsky after 2.Bf4 (Bh4) practice! 8.e3 b4 9.d2 At least is it c5 where 3.f3 is normal and 3.c3 considered clearer in this case: Black can always play .. . rightly as dubious, again because of the b2 a5 and White has very little to expect from problem. A good illustration of this estimation t h e a - f il e . I n d e e d , i t wi l l b e e xt r e m e l y is provided by the famous game Terentiev, 2111
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 difficult for him to unblock the b4 square be ca u se o f its co nt rol b y B la ck's d arksquared bishop which has no counterpart anymore. ] 5.xb6 axb6 6.xf6 gxf6 7.cxd4 So, by inversion of moves, we have reached, if not the critical position of the 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4.c3 Trompowsky (after 4...Qb6 5.Qb3 cxd4 6. Qxb6 axb6 7.cxd4 ), then, at least, something i n t e r e s t i n g f o r W h i t e . c6 8.f3? A slack move. It is clear that this knight sees his perspectives limited by the presence of the black pawn on f6. [ 8.e3! b4 A) 9.a3!? xa3 10.bxa3 c2+ 11.d2 xa1 12.d3 ( 12.b5 ) 12...e5 13.e2; B) 9.d2 xa2 10.xa2 xa2 11.c4 b4 12.c3 e6 ( 12...a6 13.d5 ) 13.d5! g8 14.g3 c5 15.ge2 e7 16.a1 d6 17.a8 d8 is not so bad for White. Indeed, Black's extra pawn on the b-file does not look very useful in front of the b2 pawn. Apart from that, Black is also a bit restrained to pretend to be able to exploit his pair of bishops and, in this configuration, his pawn structure with his dpawn not on d5 is worse than usual. Still, I would not call it a white advantage as Fritz does! Still, I would not mind testing it in practice.. . ] 8...b4 9.d2 [ 9.a3!? xa3 10.bxa3 c2+ 11.d2 xa1 12.e3 Will win the knight back in return of the a3 pawn with a similar comment as previously regarding its objective value as a pawn up, doubled, and this time on an open file. ] 9...xa2 10.xa2 xa2 11.a3 This is the problem. W hite cannot prevent Black from putting a pawn on d5 unless by playing the compromising 11.e4 which opens the position for the black bishops and gives the opponent the plan of undoubling the f-pawns by ...f6-f5. A n d i f h e p l a y s 1 1 . N c 3 wi t h t h e i d e a o f strengthening his center after 11...Nxc3 12. bxc3, Black will be happy with this plan giving him a goal for his b-pawns. [ 11.e4 h6+ 12.d1 d6 13.c4 b4 14.c3 ] 11...d5 And that gives a completely different forecast. 12.e3 e6 13.c2 b4 14.xb4
[ 14.b5+ is slightly better. A) 14...d7 15.xd7+ xd7 16.xb4 ( 16.a1 c6 ) 16...xb4+ 17.d3 a8 18.c1 a2 19.c2 is bearable.; B) 14...d8 15.c1 xc2 16.xc2 d6 Followed by e6-e5 liberating the bishop on c8 with a small advantage for Black. ] 14...xb4+ 15.c2 d7 Now it is difficult. Black's two bishops will demonstrate their power. 16.b3 d6 17.d3 e7 18.a1 c8 19.a7 Unlike the great Bobby himself in the very f irst game of his Homeric W orld Championship tussle against Spassky in Reykjavik 1972 when he took the "poisoned" pawn... [ 19.xh7? f5 20.g4 h8 ] 19...c6 20.g3 h6 21.a1 d7 22.a7 c7 23.a1 b5 24.c1 b6 25.a1 d7 26.h4 c6 27.a8 By giving up the first rank, it seems to accelerate the defeat but Black had a strong plan to make progress which was hard to oppose: [ 27.d1 c7 28.a1 a6 29.c1+ b6 Followed by ...Ra8 and ...b4 with the idea ... Ba4+. ] 27...c1 28.h8 b4 29.xh6? [ 29.a8 h1 30.f3 e5 ] [ 29.f3! was incredibly more stubborn, after which there are so many possibilities of attack and defence that it is easy to get confused for both camps. That is why, I will give here only the most salient lines hoping that I have not forgotten anything big! As far as my numerous hours of analysis of this position can tell, the winning plan has to develop in 5 stages. First, activate the center to take as many squares as possible from White's light pieces. A) 29...a1 30.c2 a4+ ( 30...b3+ 31.c3! e5 32.d2! e4 33.e2 e1 34.h5 a4 35.xb3; 30...e5 31.d2 ) 31.b3!! ( 31.d2 d1! 32.h4 b3 Threatening mate. 33.c3 c7 34.e4 c6 ) 31...a2+ 32.c1! A1) 32...xb3? 33.d2 a4 34.b1 a3 ( 34...b3 35.xa2 bxa2 36.b2 b4 37.a8 b5 38.b3 ) 35.xh6 With counterchances; A2) 32...xf2 33.d2 b5 34.xb5 xb5 35.xh6 f5 36.c2; B) 29...e5! 2112
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B1) 30.dxe5 fxe5 31.xh6 c7 32.d2 ( 32.e4 a1 33.c2 b3+! 34.xb3 d4 35.c4 a4! Threatening two different mates with 36...Rc1+ 37. Kd5 Bc6+ or with 36.. .b7-b5+ 37.Kd5 Bb3+. 36.xe5 xe5 37.h5 b5+ 38.d5 g7 39.h7 b3+ 40.c5 d1 41.e2 f8+ 42.xb5 c1 ) 32...e4 33.e2 e1! 34.f1 ( 34.h5 a1 35.c2 a4+ 36.b3 b5 37.xf7 d3+ 38.b2 e5# ) 34...a1 35.c2 b3+ 36.xb3 ( 36.c3 a4 37.h7 c1+ 38.d4 d1 39.xf7+ c6 40.c3 b5 ) 36...a4+ 37.c3 c1+ 38.d4 d1 39.c3 d4+! 40.exd4 c1#; B2) 30.d2! e4 31.e2 Then, drive the bishop off the a6-f1 diagonal so that our bishop can use it. e1 32.h5 b5! Next, use the mating motives which start to appear to weaken the position of the en em y k in g. ( 32...a1 33.c2 b5 34.b3 ) B2a) 33.xf7 a1 34.c2 d3+ 35.b3 e2 36.xd5 d1+ 37.c4 c1#; B2b) 33.c2 d3+ 34.b3 c1 35.xf7 ( 35.a2 c2 36.b3 c4 37.xh6 xf2 ) 35...c2 36.xd5 xd2 37.xh6 xf2; B2c) 33.xh6 a1 34.c2 d3+ 35.b3 b5 B2c1) 36.xf6 c4+ 37.xc4 ( 37.c2 b3+ 38.xb3 d3+ 39.c3 b4# ) 37...dxc4+ 38.c2 b3+ 39.d2 b4+; B2c2) 36.xf7 d1 37.h5 xd2 38.xd5+ ( 38.xd5 c2+ 39.a2 a4 ) 38...c6 39.f5 b5! 40.xf6 c7 41.a2 ( 41.g4 b1 42.xd6 xd6 43.g5 xf2 44.g6 e7 ) 41...c4+ 42.b1 b3 43.c1 c2+ 44.b1 e2 45.c1 e1+ 46.d2 b4#; B2d) 33.a8 h1 34.xf7 c6! 35.h4 h2 36.d8 c7 37.h8 xf2 38.c2 xg3 39.xh6 e2 40.d1 e1+ 41.c2 f2 42.xf6 xe3; B2e) 33.a2! c4+ 34.b3 After, combining tactics against the king and the knight, win the f2 pawn or
the knight but in that case be very ca re f u l t h a t t h e o p p o n e n t h a s n o t enough pawns for it: On white squares they are easy targets for his bishop. e2! The key move. 35.xf7 B2e1) 35...c6 36.c8+ d7 ( 36...c7 37.xd5+ ) 37.c2 d3 38.b2; B2e2) 35...d1 36.b1 c6! ( 36...f1 37.d2 xf2 38.b1 xh2 39.xd5 d3+ 40.c1 f5 ) 37.xh6 ( 37.c8+ c7 38.h8 f1! 39.e8+ b6 40.xh6 xf2 41.a1 d1 42.a4 a6 43.h7 b5 44.xc7 bxa4 45.bxa4 b3 46.c3 bxc3 47.xc3 c4 ) 37...e7! The square h5 is guarded, so all the important pawns can be kept. 38.h5 f1! 39.xe2 ( 39.b2 xf2 40.c1 f1+ 41.b2 d3 42.d2 e1 43.h7 d6 ) 39...xf2 40.b2 xe2+ 41.c1 xe3 5th and last phase. W h e n f 2 h a s f alle n, th e po s it io n collapses, and e3 follows revealing a deadly passed pawn. 42.d2 e1+ 43.c2 d6 ( 43...e3 44.f3 f1 45.e5+ b5 46.d3 f2+ 47.c1 d2 48.e1 xd4 Wins too ) 44.g4 g1 ( 44...e3 45.f3 f1 46.h3 ) 45.h4 e6 W hite does not have to be a pawn down, in a near state of zugzwang, to be lost, ...Bd6 is also coming. ] 29...a5!-+ 30.a2 b3+ 31.xb3 a4+ 32.a2 b4 33.b3 xb3+ 34.b2 d1 35.b1 [ 35.h7 d2+ 36.a1 a3 37.f3 d1+ 38.b1 b4 ] 35...d2+ 36.a1 c3 [ 36...c3 37.h8 ( 37.f3 a3 38.xd2 b2# ) 37...a3 38.c8+ b4 39.h7 f5 ] 0-1
2113
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 game. ] A45 2441 10.e3 [ 10.a5 Has to be played in any case. c6 2434 11.a4 d5 ( 11...d6 12.e3 d7 13.a3 ) 2004 12.e4 dxe4 13.xe4 a6 ( 13...d7 14.c5 ) 14.c4 ] 11.b3 b6 Preventing a4-a5 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4?! c5! 10...c6 As seen on the forum, I don't know if this 12.h4 b7 13.bd4 [ 13.a5 xa5 14.xa5 bxa5 15.ha4 xf3 explains why 'Mr Tromp' dropped this line but I 16.xf3 b8! 17.1a2 0-0 18.xa5 am sorry, it is not the 'solid' line 3...d5, with xb2! ] W hite "finding no way to fight for a big Black gets ready to push his central initiative" that hurts but rather this thematic 13...d8 re s p o n s e . I t m a y n o t b e so d e a d ly a s t o pawns. 14.xc6 xc6!? I prefer [ 14...dxc6 15.b3 a6 ( 15...h5 16.gxh6 explain the loss of interest in the variation all xh6 17.xh6 xh6 18.c4 ) 16.b4 b5 by itself but it is damaging enough to make 17.axb5 cxb5 18.c4 0-0 19.cxb5 axb5 White think twice before conceding his Tromp 20.xb5 c6 looking very dangerous for bishop, much as in the 2...Ne4 3.Bh4 line, by White. 21.c5 d6 Threatening ...Bxf3 and the way. 4.dxc5 a5+ 5.d2 ...Qd2 mate. ] [ 5.c3 xc5 ( 5...xg5? 6.b4 ) 6.e3 c7 ] 5...xg5 6.hxg5 g6 Black postpones the 15.b5 b7 16.e2 [ 16.d3 Intending a4-a5 and this time it is recapture on c5 in order to blockade the g6 the h-rook which swings along the 4th rank. square but this may not be critical. 7.c3 a6 ( 16...0-0? 17.0-0-0 ) 17.c4 ( 17.xa6 [ Throwing the king's rook into the battle to xa6 18.xa6 xc3+ 19.e2 xb2 compensate the annoying loss of the Tromp 20.c4 xc4+ 21.xc4 xa1 ) 17...0-0 bishop 7.h4!? is the only clever idea, 18.0-0-0!? d5 19.b3 e5 20.c2 b5 resourcefully using the open h-file. ] 21.dh1 bxa4 22.xa4 h5 23.gxh6 f6 ] 7...xc5 8.gf3 g7 9.a4 An attempt to 16...h5!? An interesting sacrifice in order to improve on [ 9.e3 a6 10.a4 d5 11.a5 c6 12.a4 seize the initiative, but [ 16...a6! 17.d3 ( 17.c4 d5 ) 17...h5 h5! A key move in this line where Black all of 18.gxh6 xh6 19.xh6 xh6 20.h1 g7 a sudden annihilates his opponent's hopes 21.h7 f8 appears simpler. ] for activity along the h-file. This is what [ 16...c5 17.c4 f5 ( 17...xf3+ 18.gxf3 Nicolas Gerard, a candidate IM, played xg5? 19.xd7+!! xd7 20.c8# ) 18.c7 against me in an open some months ago to xf3+ 19.gxf3 0-0 20.f4 ] categorically put me off this positively too [ 16...0-0? 17.h1! a6 18.xh7! xf3+ sophisticated line. And this is also what we 19.gxf3 axb5 20.xg7+ xg7 21.h6+ had briefly come across, by chance amongst g8 22.h1 c4+ 23.e1 ] others "d-Pawn Special" curiosities, with Maxime during a training session just a 17.gxh6 f6! [ 17...xh6 18.xh6 xh6 19.d4 couple of days before the beginning of the This is the difference when the Nc6 has championship! 13.e4 e6 Thanks to his gone! f6 20.h1 g7 21.g4 f7 mighty pair of bishops without any other ( 21...xf3+ 22.gxf3 f7 23.g1 g5 problems, Black is already clearly better. 24.f4 ) 22.h4+- ] 14.d3? xa5! 15.exd5 ( 15.b4 xc3 ) 15...xd5 Miladinovic, I-Van Wely, L FIDE 18.h3 a6 19.d3 e5 20.c2 d5 21.f1 c8 22.h1 c5 23.c1 Wch Groningen 1997 0-1(43) ] [ 23.d2 f8 ] 9...c7 A novelty, when it seems that the black lady is able to stay without mishap, 23...g4? [ 23...f8 24.e4 ] more exposed though more active, on the 5th [ 23...e4! 24.d4 f8 ] rank: e4 25.d4 f8! 26.f3! [ 9...c6 is the next, even more convincing, 24.g1 2163 Libiszewski,Fabien Vachier Lagrave,Maxime Championnat de Junior (4.2) [Eric Prié]
2114
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 The variation [ 26.h7 g7 27.f1 xh7 28.xh7 xh7 29.xa6 e5 30.b5+ f8 31.g3 ( 31.f4 exf3 32.xf3 xf3 33.gxf3 h2+ 34.f1 g3 35.e2 h1# ) 31...xd4 32.exd4 f3 33.b4+ g7 For instance, without pretending that every move was forced, illustrates the depth of the black concept. ] 26...c8! [ 26...exf3 27.gxf3 h5 28.d3 xh6 29.xa6 h8 30.b7 f8 31.a5 h7 Black cannot take on d4 and f3 because his rook is pinned on h6. ( 31...bxa5 32.xa5 h7 33.xd5 ) A) 32.a6!? is more hair-raising but also seems to pose problems. xd4 33.cxd4 xf3 34.xh7 xh7 35.f2 h2+ ( 35...e4 36.c7 h4+ 37.g3 e7 38.g1 g8 39.b4!! And Black is helpless against the idea b4-b5 anchoring t h e b i s h o p t o c 6 , a 7 , a 8 = Q u e e n .) 36.xf3 d6 37.xd5!! xd5 38.c8+ g7 39.a7+-; B) 32.d2 bxa5 33.xa5 xd4 34.xd4 ] 27.fxe4 [ 27.h7! exf3 ( 27...g7 28.fxe4 xh7 29.xh7 xh7 Followed by Qe1, Qf2) 28.gxf3 g7 29.d2 xh7 30.g2 ( 30.xh7 xh7 31.g2 h3+ ) 30...h5! ] 27...xh6 28.xh6 xh6 29.f3 [ 29.e1 g5! ] 29...g4 30.e5 g7 31.h2?! [ 31.d2 xf3 32.gxf3 g5+ ( 32...xe5 33.f4 ) 33.f1 xe5 slowly but surely would have moved towards a peaceful result. ] 31...e2! 32.e4? [ 32.d2! xe5 33.f3 xf3 34.gxf3 g5+ 35.f1 d4! 36.d1 dxe3 37.xd8+ xd8 38.xd8+ xd8 39.e2 f4 40.d3 a5 41.b4 should also be insufficient in this o p p o s i t e - c o l o u r e d b i s h o p e n d i n g . e7 42.c4 f5 43.d5 f6 44.b7 g5 45.c8!= ] 32...h5! 33.e3? [ 33.exd5! xe5 34.f1! ] 33...xe5 34.f3? Under the pressure of both time and complications White starts to crack up. [ 34.f1 d4! ]
[ 34.h3 d4! ( 34...xh3 35.gxh3 d4 36.g4 ) 35.xh5 gxh5 36.f3 ( 36.e1 d3 37.d1 g3 ) 36...xf3 37.gxf3 dxc3 38.bxc3 d2 39.b3 xc3 ] 34...xf3 35.xf3 [ 35.gxf3 h2+ 36.f1 xc2 ] 35...h2+ 36.f2 dxe4 37.e3 [ 37.xe4 d2+ 38.e1 xb2 ] [ 37.xe4 d2+ 38.e3 xg2 ] 37...g3+! [ 37...d2+ W i n s t o o . . . 38.xd2 g3+ 39.e2 xg2+ 40.e3 f4+! The other way round. 41.xf4 xd2+ ] 38.f1 h1+ 39.g1 xg1+ 40.xg1 e3 So, thanks to his win in this decisive encounter, the (at the time) current World under 14 vicechampion became the youngest French under 20 champion ever, ahead of two IMs. He will be part of the French team in the coming Turin Olympiads. [ 40...e3 41.d1 xd1+ 42.xd1 e2 ] 0-1
2164 Lie,Espen Vachier Lagrave,Maxime ETCC Crete GRE (4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2421 2634 31.10.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 f5 8.xb8 xb8 9.xd4 b6 [ 9...d5!? Is interesting, but Black probably does not need to gamble this way. 10.xa7 e5 11.d4 c7 12.e4 b5 13.e5 d7 14.f4 e6 15.f3 c5 Gorovykh, E (2402) Andreikin, D (2555) Chigorin Mem A(3) St Petersburg 2007 0-1 (105) ] 10.e4 f4 11.h3 c7 12.e5 g8 13.0-0-0 e6 14.d3?! Considered to be inaccurate, as in W ang W henhao-Zhou Jianchao 2005. W e shall have to wait for a while to see what the current French individual champion had up his sleeve against the normal continuation: [ 14.g5 e7 15.f4 b7!? ( Some fantastic improvement on 15...f5 16.f2 in spite of the knight looking awkwardly exposed on f5 against the ideas Bd3, g2-g4 as already testified by a couple 2115
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 of examples in this section?!; Or rather 15...c6!? As in Toth-Lima where White did not reply the most precise 16.d3!; As for 15...d5 immediately, it does not appear judicious at this stage to lose flexibility with the knight since it fails to prevent both 16. Bd3 and 16.e4 xf4? 17.d6+ xd6 18.exd6+- ) 16.d3 With the idea ( 16.e4? f5 17.d3 This is the square for the bishop! c6 18.e1 a4 19.b1 h5 ) 16...xg2 17.he1 o r 1 7 . R h g 1 d5 This looks a bit foolish considering Black's state of development, but is very much in his style. Indeed, 16.Bb5 instead, as in Efimov-Miezis, in the note to Toth-Lima, did not appear really convincing from the White point of view. ] 14...e7 15.f4 Yet better than [ 15.d6? in the Chinese game. ] 15...b7 16.f2 d5 17.g5 c5! 18.h4? [ 18.xc5 xc5 19.d2 ( 19.xc5? bxc5 And W hite cannot adequately defend against the dual threats ...Nxf4, ...Ne3. 20.e4 h6 ) 19...e3 20.hf1 f5= As in the Sicilian, the square on e4 is now controlled, making the exploitation of the backward d-pawn by White quite difficult. ] 18...e3+ 19.b1 xf4 20.xh7 xe5 21.he1?! [ 21.f6+ xf6 ( 21...gxf6!? ) 22.xh8+ e7 23.h5 f4 24.b5 xg2 With a superb pair of bishops and 2 pawns for his material assets, Black was right to sacrifice the exchange, however this position is more unclear than the one in the game. ] 21...f4 22.b5 [ 22.f6+ Now plainly loses the queen after xf6 23.xh8+ e7 24.h7 g6 25.b5 d5 Followed inevitably by ...Rh8. ] 22...d5! [ 22...d8 This rook is not doing anything on b8. 23.f6+ xf6 24.xh8+ e7 25.h7 a6 26.d4 g6 Was strong too. ] 23.d4 The last chance, pinning his hopes on some tricks based on Nd4-f5+ [ 23.f6+ xf6 24.xh8+ e7 25.h7 g6 26.c4 c6-+ ] 23...xg2! 24.f6+ gxf6 25.xh8+ e7 No fear of phantoms and the white position c o l l a p s e s . 26.h3 xe1 27.f5+ exf5
28.xd5 d6 29.f1 [ 29.d1 c5 30.a4 f2 ] 29...b7 30.c4 [ 30.c4 a6 31.a4 b5 32.b3 bxc4 33.xc4 f3 34.xd6 xd6 ] 30...c8? It is quite rare to witness the winner of the 7th Lausanne young Masters committing mistakes of calculation in a simple position, independently of any other circumstances I may ignore. [ 30...b5! 31.b3 ( 31.xb5 e4+ ) 31...a5 32.a3 b4 Making use of the rook on b8 to open the 2nd. 33.axb4 axb4 34.c4 h8 35.xe1 xh2-+ ] 31.b3 c5 32.h1? Fortunately he is not alone when time trouble probably meddles. [ 32.xe1 xd5 33.h1 e6 34.c4 d1+ 35.xd1 e4+ ( 35...e7 36.d5 ) 36.c2 g4 37.d5+ e7 38.a3 f8 ] 32...xd5 33.xd5 a6 There is a secret door on d3. 0-1
2165 Lin Weiguo Hania,Jan Gent op 17th [Eric Prié]
A45 2520 2355 1994
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6 3.d2 [ 3.f3 a5+ 4.c3 d6 5.bd2 Transposes further. In whatever case, it is not because of this idea 3...Qa5 that one should prefer 3. Nd2 to 3.Nf3... ] 3...a5 4.gf3 [ 4.xf6!? Exceptionally... exf6 5.e3 d5 6.d3 With the idea Qf3, Ne2 was tempting, on the other hand, with the black queen misplaced on a5. ( 6.c4 e6 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.e2 c6 9.a3 d6 10.c3 Likewise... )] 4...d6 [ 4...e4 5.e3 d5 ( 5...xd2 6.xd2 b6 7.e4!? ) 6.c3 xd2 7.xd2 f5 8.h4 ] 5.c3 bd7 6.e3 [ 6.e4 h6 7.f4 g5 8.g3 h5 ] 6...h6 7.f4 h5 8.g3 xg3 9.hxg3 f6 Better was [ 9...g6 And White may even find himself wo r s e i n t h e l o n g r u n , b e c a u s e o f t h e 2116
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 opposing pair of bishops and his difficulty to [ A s p o i n t e d o u t b y E r i c , 6...b4!? use his asset of the open h-file. The white may be rare but very much comes into the queen's bishop is 'more fragile' when the equation too. ] opponent has a pawn on d6. Hence 4.Bxf6!? 7.0-0-0 10.d3 g7 11.c2 f6 12.e4 0-0 [ Probably best, although matters aren't so 13.e5 g4 ] clear af ter 7.f4!? . This controversial move 10.d3 g4 11.b3 c7 12.a4 e6 13.a5 walks into b6! when White must give up a d5? pawn and after 8.0-0-0 e3+ 9.b1 xe4 [ 13...e7 14.h2 f5! ( 14...h5 15.f3 d5 10.xe4 xe4 11.xe7 ( 11.d3! 16.hf1 )] i m p r o v e s w h e n xg2 12.xe7 xe7 14.e5 d6 15.df3 13.e2 g6 14.h5 was suggested by De [ 15.a6 b6 16.xc6 0-0 17.b4 xg3 la Villa in his excellent work on the 18.fxg3 xg3+ 19.f1 xe3 20.c2 h5 Trompowsky moreover, this looks like pretty 21.xh5 xh5 22.e1 g3 ] decent compensation to me: for example, 15...xf3?! A decision difficult to explain in 0-0 15.hg1 c6 16.g3 d6 17.h3 h6 any case. 18.g1! e5 19.hg3 e4 20.xg6 fxg6 [ 15...0-0 ] 21.xg6 f7 22.xe4 with a crushing 16.gxf3 xe5 17.dxe5 xe5? attack ) 11...xe7 12.d3? g6 13.h5 Black completely cracks up. xf4! 14.xf7+ xf7 15.xe4 e7 [ 17...d7 18.f4 c5 19.c2 xd3+ Black converted without too much difficulty 20.xd3 a6 21.g4 0-0-0= ] in Pajeken-Rogozenko, Hamburg 1998 - see 18.xb7 0-0 19.xc6 ab8? 20.f4! the Archive. ] This position well deserved a game! 7...d6 1-0 [ This or the immediate 7...a5 (when 8.f4 d6 transposes) is by some margin Black's best defence in my view. ] 2166 A45 8.f4 a5 9.f3 [ Invariably played, but White can also Lindberg,Bosse 2403 consider 9.b5!? , as I showed in 'Starting Landa,Konstantin 2641 Out: The Trompowsky'. After d7 ( 9...0-0?! European Club Cup, Eilat (4.7) 14.10.2012 10.f3 looks pretty risky for Black and after [Richard Palliser] the h6? of Brandics-Ott, Kecskemet 1990, I analysed 11.xh6! gxh6 12.xh6 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3!? This is very to a winning attack) 10.f3 play has much W hite's third choice in the position actually transposed to our main game. ] (after the exchange on f6 and advancing the This seems pretty sensible. Practice d-pawn), but Black still needs to know what 9...d7 he's doing, especially if he's not a Sicilian has also seen: [ a) 9...a6?! 10.e1! b5 11.e5 saw White player. cxd4 seizing the upper hand in Mensch-Nicoara, [ Taking play into Sicilian-like waters, French Team Championship 1999, as although there's no direct transposition to a shown by Aaron Summerscale. ] line of that venerable opening. Should such [ b) 9...h6!? is fairly critical and after 10.e5 a policy not appeal to Black he might prefer ( I wasn't convinced by this in my 'Starting 3...d5 , taking play into a fairly respectable O u t ' w o r k w h e r e I p r e f e r r e d 10.b5 line of the Veresov. ] , but af ter Serper's d7 11.e5 dxe5 4.xd4 c6 5.h4 Here we go... White's 12.xc6 xc6 13.xe5 c8 Black is OK: play is admirably direct and one also has to for example, 14.he1 xg2 15.xf6 gxf6 wonder if the Swedish FM is a fan of 'Chess 16.g4 xc3 17.xf6+! f8! 18.d7+ for Tigers', not least with the author of that e8 19.f6+ and neither side can really classic work, Simon W ebb, having lived in avoid the repetition) 10...dxe5 11.fxe5 Sweden for many years before his untimely xe5 12.xe5 xe5 13.b5+ f8 14.f4 death. e6 6.e4 e7 2117
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c5 ( "while Black can't castle, there doesn't appear to be a particularly promising way for White to take advantage" was my fear, but one strong English IM would appear to disagree instead 14...f5 was seen in R. Pert-Perez, London 2011, where 15.d6 xd6 16.xd6 g5 17.e1! g4? 18.f1 g5+ 19.b1 a6 20.d3 e8 21.d4 left Black terribly coordinated and under huge pressure) 15.e1 a6 16.d3 d7 and now, as shown by Eric in his notes to Kalinitschew-Gustafsson, Dresden 2002, White may have just about enough for his pawn after 17.f1 . ] 10.b5 [ Continuing to develop a tempo, but both 10.d2!? ] [ and 10.e1!? deserve serious attention in this particular position. The latter was tried in Meenakshi-Harika, Chennai 2009, where after h6 11.h4 0-0-0 12.e5! dxe5 13.fxe5 g8 14.b5 xh4 15.xh4 ge7 White might have retained a pull with 16.f4 , and if hf8 17.he1 . ] 10...a6?! [ The Russian Grandmaster has developed very logically thus far, but this move suggests he wasn't familiar with all the nuances of the variation. Instead 10...c7? 11.e5 dxe5 (Rudisile-Pitzen, German L e a g u e 1 9 9 4 ) 12.fxe5 g8 13.e4 gives W hite an overwhelming initiative on the dark squares, ] [ while 10...0-0-0?! 11.e5 dxe5 12.fxe5 d5? 13.xd5 exd5 14.xc6 xg5+ 15.xg5 xc6 16.xf7 won the exchange in I lle s c a s Co rd o b a -Rive ra , B a rc e lo n a 1984. ] [ However, once again the critical move a p p e a r s t o b e 10...h6! , preventing any notion of Qe1 and not fearing 11.e5 , since dxe5 12.xc6 ( 12.xd7? xd7 13.xe5+ c7 doesn't give White enough compensation) 12...xc6 13.xe5 c8 transposes to an important tabiya, as we saw in note 'b' to Black's 9th move. ] 11.xc6! [ Giving up the bishop-pair, but White must pursue the initiative. Instead one again wo n d e r s a b o u t 11.e5 dxe5 12.xd7? , but this now fails to axb5! . ]
11...xc6 12.he1?! [ Except that now Lindberg hesitates and allows his strong opponent to complete his de ve lop m e n t . 12.e5! was crying out to be p l a ye d a n d a f t e r dxe5 13.fxe5 xf3 14.gxf3 ( 14.exf6!? xd1 15.fxe7 is also pretty tempting) 14...xe5 15.hg1 Black's king lacks a safe home and White has at least good compensation. ] 12...0-0-0 13.f2 [ Perhaps only here did Lindberg realise that after 13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 ( or 14.xd8+ xd8 15.fxe5 h6 ) 14...xd1+ the tactics s a v e B l a c k , a s s h o w n b y 15.xd1 ( 15.xd1? xf3 16.gxf3 xe5 nabs a pawn; and 15.xd1 d8+ 16.c1 h6 saves the piece) 15...xf3 16.exf6 ( or 16.gxf3 d5 17.xe7 xe7 and White can't take on e7 with his rook hanging on e1 ) 16...gxf6 17.xf6 d8 18.c3 xf6 19.xf6 h5 when it's about equal. ] 13...h6 14.h4 c7 [ The position clearly resembles an Open Sicilian (a pretty comfortable version for Black in my view), and as such 14...g5!? very much came into the equation. After 15.fxg5 g4 16.g3 hxg5 17.xg4 gxh4 the onus appears to be on W hite to demonstrate sufficient activity having run out of bishops to rely on. ] 15.b1 b8 16.e2 [ I'm not sure either player was all that au fait with either t he Najd orf or the Classica l S i c i l i a n . H e r e 16.d4! d7 17.f3 would improve White's pieces, with ideas of both e4-e5 and f4-f5 in mind. ] 16...he8 17.f2 d7 [ One might have thought that Black's last h a d i n m i n d 17...d5!? , but perhaps after 18.e5 e4 19.e3 c5 20.d4 W h ite is ju st a bo u t O K in t h e res u lt in g French-like position. ] 18.d4! At last Lindberg hits on the right idea. Not only may he now regain a bishop, but both central advances come more into the equation. f6 19.c4 [ Now Black can equalise. The alternative was 19.e5!? when dxe5 20.xc6+ xc6 21.fxe5 e7 ( not 21...xe5? 22.xd7; or 21...xe5? 22.g3 ) 22.g4 g5 is probably about equal. ] 2118
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19...d5! 20.e2 [ After 20.exd5 xd5 21.xc7+ xc7 22.xd5+ exd5 Black does have an IQP, but his is quite well coordinated and should be able to exploit the hole on e4 to maintain a rough balance. ] 20...dxe4 21.xc6+ xc6 22.xe4 b6?! [ An ambitious, probably too ambitious try to generate something against his lower-rated opponent. Better would have been 22...e7 23.d4 g6 , battening down the hatches to maintain a solid defence. ] 23.xb6 [ One reason I don't particularly like Landa's choice is that White was never really going to lose after the text. Moreover, with 23.xf6 gxf6 24.d4! White would have obtained a definite advantage from what I can see: e5 ( White can also press after 24...d5 25.g3 c8 26.b3!? c3+ 27.xc3 xc3 28.d3 c7 29.ed1 ) 25.fxe5 c4 26.e6! xe6 27.f2 ed6 28.c3 and while there will always be tricks with the knight, W hite's bishop is secure on d4 and he can play down the e-file as well as against Black's vulnerable pawns. ] 23...xb6 24.xf6 gxf6 25.b3 xd1+ 26.xd1 d8 Basically acquiescing to the draw, although the ludicrous ECU rules meant the players had to continue until move 40 (draws can't be offered before then, although the players might acquiesce in a three-fold repetition). Such a policy may make sense in elite all-play-alls, like the Grand Slam or the London Classic, but in a team event and, moreover, one compromising a large number of amateur and semi-amateur sides... 27.xd8+ xd8 28.h5 f8 29.g3 f5 30.a4 c7 31.e2 c5 32.h5 f8 33.e2 c5 34.h5 g1+ 35.b2 d4+ 36.b1 g7 37.e2 c3 38.h5 g7 39.e2 d4 40.h5 g7 ½-½
2167 Lindberg,Bosse Swinkels,Robin European Club Cup (3.11) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2403 2494 13.10.2012
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 e6!? [ A reasonable alternative to the main line, 6...b6 . ] 7.e4 exd5 8.e5!? [ Ambitious. W hite usually prefers 8.exd5 when d6 9.d2! e7 10.c4 xd2+ 11.xd2 gives him decent chances for a lasting pull. ] 8...h5 9.e3!? [ And this is certainly quite rare. I once tried this line and here went 9.c1 , but after d8! 10.e3 ( 10.g3 c6 11.f4 g6 12.xd5 was considered by Eric in his notes to Dresen-Spiekermann, German League 1993, and now d6 is clearly indicated, as he demonstrates ) A) whereas 10...d4 11.cxd4 cxd4 12.xd4 ( 12.xd4?! was preferred in Bukavshin-Kokarev, Samara 2012, but after c6 13.e2 d6 14.exd6 xd6 15.f2 0-0 White was already in some trouble ) 12...c6 13.e4 a5+ ( 13...d5! 14.exd6+ e6 15.c3 f6 would enable Black to equalise) 14.f2! g6 15.c3 began to favour White in in Palliser-Doran, Doncaster 2005.; B) 10...b6!? Black should achieve enough counterplay, ] 9...d4 This is the reason I retreated first to c1, but evidently the Swedish IM doesn't fear this c o n s i s t e n t a d v a n c e . 10.d2 d8 Already we've reached quite an important and unexplored position. The engines rather like Black, no doubt due to the threat on h4 as well as his extra pawn, but matters aren't entirely clear as he can become weak in the centre and his knight on h5 is not necessarily a strength. Overall, I can't believe that White is better, but neither does he seem to be worse. 11.e2! [ A logical improvement over 11.g3 d6 12.f4 g6 13.e2 dxe5! 14.xh5 gxh5 15.xh5 c6 16.fxe5 e6 17.f3 d7 which left Black doing pretty well in Berglund-Jaeger, 2119
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Tromsoe 1988. ] 11...d3!? [ Played to distract the white queen and so d e a l wi t h t h e t h r e a t o f g 2 - g 4 . I n s t e a d 11...h4+ 12.f2 xf2+ 13.xf2 g6 ( 13...dxc3? 14.xc3 threatens both g2-g4 and Nd5 ) 14.cxd4 cxd4 15.a3! would have given W hite decent compensation for his pawn. ] 12.e3 [ Consistent, at least to a human mind, although the machine may be right that 12.xd3!? h4+ 13.d1 c6 14.h3 is also playable. ] 12...h4+ 13.f2 [ Again, it's not at all easy to be sure if this w a s b e s t . M o r e o v e r , a f t e r 13.d1 I wonder if Swinkels might have gone c4!? ( 13...g3 14.e1 f5 15.xd3 xe1+ 16.xe1 d5 is probably about equal) 14.g4 c6 when something like 15.gxh5 xh5 16.g5 xg5 17.xg5 xe5 gives Black three pawns for the piece and good compensation, since it's far from easy to shift Black's control of c4. ] 13...e7 14.e3 h4+ 15.f2 e7 16.e3 f5?! [ Swinkels hasn't become a GM by not taking risks, but I'm not sure this was the right way to continue the game. That said, whether after 16...c6!? 17.g4 h4+ 18.f2 e7 19.gxh5 xe5 20.e3 b5 Black definitely has enough compensation isn't so obvious. Thus it seems that objectively Black should have gone over to the arbiter, having first noted the return of the queen to h4 on his scoresheet. ] 17.a3! [ Swinkels may have been relying on 17.f4 when d6 ( or even 17...g5!? would have broken up W hite's centre, but the text is much more dangerous. White too wants to go after the opposition monarch! )] 17...f4 18.e4 h4+? [ This runs into a stunning riposte. As such Black should have preferred to develop some pieces at last with 18...c6 19.0-0-0 d6 , which actually wouldn't have been too bad for him. ] 19.g3!! [ Continuing to play for the attack. This
actually commits White to sacrificing a rook and Lindberg can't have worked everything out, but must have realised that his initiative w o u l d b e v e r y s t r o n g . 19.d1 was the alternative when g3 20.e1 xe4 21.xh4 g5 22.fxe4 gxh4 23.f3 ( or 23.xd3 c6 24.f3 g8 ) 23...g8 would have been structurally rather messy, if probably about equal. ] 19...xg3 20.hxg3 xh1 It's not such an uncommon sight to see W hite give up an exchange on h1 for the initiative, but here there's no time to save the knight on g1. 21.xf4 [ Stronger than 21.h3 fxg3 when the gpawn is a bit of a nuisance, ] [ but one might also make a decent case for 21.b5!? e7 22.xf4 xg1 23.0-0-0 . ] 21...xg1 22.b5 c6 [ 22...d2+!? was an attempt to distract the white pieces, but af ter 23.xd2 h2+ 24.e2 White's initiative remains extremely dangerous: for example, d8 25.d6! c7 26.g4 h3 27.f7 g8 28.e6+ b6 29.e7 xe7 30.xe7 , regaining an exchange and more importantly giving rise to a decisive attack. ] 23.0-0-0 c4 [ Desperation, but perhaps only now did Swinkels realise the trouble he was in. An alternative was 23...d8 , but after 24.e6 d6 25.xd3 h2 26.d5 White will crash through on d6 with irresistible force. ] 24.d6+ [ It makes sense to spurn the check on c7, but 24.xd3 would have been strong, since c5 25.xc4 leaves Black without a good defence to the threat of Nc7+ Kd8 Ne6+: for instance, d8 26.e3 c6 27.d6!! xe4 28.c7+ e7 29.g5# . ] 24...d8 [ Of course the knight was taboo: 24...xd6? 25.exd6+ f7 ( or 25...d8 26.g5+ ) 26.d5+ f6 27.h3 xd1+ 28.xd1 g6 29.h6 with a mating attack. ] 25.f7+ c7 [ T h i s d o e s n ' t h e l p , b u t a f t e r 25...e8 26.d6+ d8 I've little doubt White would have rejected the repetition in favour of 27.xd3 when f2 28.f7+ c7 29.e6+ d6 30.xc4 echoes the game and is equally 2120
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 crushing. ] 26.e6+ d6 27.xc4?! [ Allowing Black a chance. Stronger would have been 27.xd3! c5 28.xc4 which may seem rather calm (and slow), but actually Black is short of a good move here with b2-b4 such a threat, as well as just Nxh8. ] 27...b5? [ Now d6 will fall after all. He had to distract the bishop with 27...g5! when 28.xd3 f2 ( 28...xd1+ 29.xd1 gxf4 30.xh8 fxg3 31.e2 should be winning for W hite) 29.xg5 h6 30.d5 retains a highly dangerous initiative for the rook, but Lindberg would still have had to find some good moves to win from here. ] 28.xd3 xe6 29.xd6! Black is still a whole rook ahead, but his king is simply too exposed. d8 [ Alternatively, 29...a6 30.xb5+ b7 31.c7 with huge threats, as shown by, for instance, c8 32.xa8 xa8 33.h3! . ] 30.f7+ d6 31.xd6 xa2 32.xb5 b6 33.c4+ 1-0
d6 18.d4 g7?? The fatal mistake. This cuts off a vital escape square from the Black king. [ 18...f6 19.f3 Intending Kg2 completing development is very comfortable for White, but there is still plenty of fight left. ] 19.b5! Bang! e5 20.xc7 1-0
2169 A45 Llobel Cortell,Enrique 2377 Zapata,Alonso 2549 XX Open Andorra la Vella AND (7) 12.07.2002 [Aaron Summerscale]
Trompowsky: W hite is completely crushed after Black successfully complicates in the opening. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 a5 A useful move if Black wants to mix things up. W hite is virtually f orced to relinquish the bishop pair. 4.xf6 gxf6 5.e3 [ 5.d5!? ] 5...e6 6.h5 d5 Now the position strongly resembles a Veresov. 7.0-0-0 cxd4 8.exd4 c6 [ 8...b4 looks tempting, but White can simply avoid trouble by playing: 9.b5+ d7 2168 A45 10.xd7+ xd7 11.ge2 ] Lindberg,Bosse 2281 9.b1 d7 10.ge2 c8 Black is building Winge,Stefan 2262 an ominous looking queenside attack. 11.f3 Tch-2002-3 Sweden SWE (5) 07.12.2002 e7 12.f4 a6 13.g3 White's problem is [Aaron Summerscale] obvio us. His m onarch cou ld e asily com e under attack from the well placed Black pieces, Trompowsky: In textbook fashion White meets whilst the Black king is far from easy to get at. a n a t t a c k o n h i s f l a n k s wi t h t h e c l a s s i c [ 13.h5 f5 14.g3 would at least cause uppercut in the centre. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 Black some inconvenience. d8 15.g7 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 c4 c7 a n d n o w n o t 16.xf7? ( 16.f6! An unusual move. Black intends to fight White and White is well in the game. ) 16...e8 ] for queenside space, but this idea seldom 13...b4 14.a3 This natural riposte is met by works well for Black in the Tromp. 6.g3 f5 a su cke r p u n ch . xc2! 15.xc2 a4+ 7.c3 e6 8.g2 a6 9.h3 h5 16.b1 xc3! One by one the vital defenders Very aggressive. Black wants to take the fight of the White monarch are blasted into oblivion. to White on the kingside as well. 10.d2 c5 17.bxc3 b6+ 18.a1 c2 It is not easy to 11.e4 With Black attacking on the flanks, this meet the twin threats of Qb3 and Be4. 19.c4 traditional counter in the centre makes perfect a5 20.d3? The fatal mistake. As a general sense. h6 12.c2 exd5 13.exf5 e7+ rule, abandoning defence of your vulnerable Inconveniencing the W hite king, but what back rank is a very bad idea. comes around goes around. 14.f1 c5 [ 20.c1 was essential, when the game 15.e1+ f8 16.f3 The storm clouds begin co n t i n u e s a f t e r : e4 21.c3 xc3+ to gather around the Black king. c7 17.e2 22.xc3 xh1 23.cxd5 e5 although I would 2121
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 39.h2 c2+ 40.g1 g2+ 41.h1 f2 42.xd8 f1+ 43.h2 f2+ 44.h3 f1 45.f6+ g7 46.g8+ xf6 1-0 Kazhgaleyev,M-Mensch,E FRA-chT N1 2002 ] 4...f5 5.g3 g6 6.c3 g7 7.g2 0-0 8.e3 d7 9.ge2 c6 10.b4!? This move, taking space on the queenside but weakening the c4 square, is part, if not the key, of W hite's strategy in this line. [ 10.0-0 e8 would have just postponed the 2170 A45 decision, as in the next game. ] Lputian,Smbat G 2623 10...b6 11.c5 c4 12.0-0 d5 13.f4 g5 Iuldachev,Saidali 2513 14.d3 e8 15.e1 a6 16.a4 e6 17.a2 ADCF Masters op (5) 20.08.2003 h5 Black put his hopes on Kingside activity to compensate the permanent weakness of the [Eric Prié] structure. 18.e2 [ 18.xh5?? g4 19.h4 f6 20.h5 g5 1.d4 f6 2.g5 d6 This approach of how to With the threat Rh6 ] face the Trompowsky without the help of the c o u n t e r - a t t a c k t h e m e a g a i n s t b 2 i s 18...h6 19.b2 xb2 20.xb2 h4 21.f4 complementary to last month's survey. It has d7 22.f2 h8 23.fxg5 xg5 24.f4 advantages and drawbacks compared to 2... e8 25.g1 f6 26.f3 [ 26.h3 e4! 27.d2 hxg3+ 28.xg3 d5 which centre on differences in the use of xf4+! 29.exf4 xf4+ 30.g1 h4 the c2-c4 move, and the f4 square by a white 31.gd3 ] knight. 3.xf6 White has to take to stay in the spirit of the opening, otherwise Black will play 26...d8 27.d3 hxg3+ 28.hxg3 h2+ ...Nbd7. Apart from this subtlety, the outlines 29.g2 xg2+ 30.xg2 g8 31.h1 g7 of development are identical for both sides as 32.h2+ g8 33.f1 c7 [ 33...xg3? 34.h5 ] in the variation 2...g6 3.Bxf6 exf6. exf6 4.c4 [ 4.e3 g6 5.g3 h5 6.g2 g7 7.c4 f5 34.h3 f8 35.g2 a5! 36.bxa5 xa5 8.c3 0-0 9.ge2 c5?! This radical way of 37.f2 c7 38.h4 d8 39.h1 c8 handling the position is dubious. Trying to 40.e2 g8 41.xg5 xg5 42.a5 g7 release the bolt on d4 only leads to bigger 43.a1 h8 44.f3 e8 45.a6 This is the problems. This plan, as well as the reason only attempt to break Black's defence but will f o r W h i t e ' s s e t - u p h a s a l r e a d y b e e n prove insufficient because of the reciprocal commented by my p redecesso r, on th e weakness of the e3 pawn. The resulting rook 46.xa6 occasion of a game Sokolov,I-Har Zvi,R/Wijk ending will just be drawn. bxa6 aan Zee op(10) 1993, in a far more vivid xf4! 47.gxf4 xa6 48.xa6 e6 49.a7 English than mine! 10.0-0 c6 11.d2 g6 50.a8 f6 51.a7 g6 52.a8 g7 f4!? ( 11...e8 12.ad1 ) 12.xf4 cxd4 53.d8 f6 54.h8 g7 55.h3 e8 13.b5!? ( 13.exd4 xd4 14.fe1 g4 56.h5 g6 57.g5+ f6 58.g3 b8 15.e3 f5? 16.d3 ) 13...dxe3 14.fxe3 59.g2 e8 60.e2 b8 61.h2 g6 e5 15.d3 g7 16.f2 e6 62.a2 e8 63.b2 e6 64.b3 h5 ( 16...a5!? ) 17.xd6 b6 18.fe4 65.b8 g6 66.c8 xb2 19.xb2 xb2 20.ab1 g7 ½-½ 21.xb7 ab8 22.xb8 xb8 23.c5 e5 24.xe6 fxe6 25.c5 b2 26.c6 c2 27.e4 c5 28.e8 xc6 29.xg6 h6 30.e4 e3+ 31.h1 d4 32.f7 g5 33.xh5 c2 34.xa7 e3 35.h4 d8 36.d7 c1+ 37.h2 c2+ 38.h3 c1
prefer Black with his bishop pair. ] 20...e1+ 21.b2 b1+ The rest is carnage. 22.c3 xa3 23.d2 b4+ 24.c3 [ 24.e3 c1+ ] 24...e4 25.d1 White resigned, rather than face the horrendous material losses following 25...Bxc3+. 0-1
2122
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A45 24...g5 25.e2 f4! [ 25...f6!? 26.d5 h6 2350 A) 27.d6 f4! 28.gxf4 h4 29.g3 xe3! 2445 30.b3 ( 30.fxe3 h2+ 31.f1 xg3 1993 32.b2 gxf4 ) 30...gxf4 31.h1 e6 32.fxe3 c4; B) 27.dxc6 xd1+ 28.xd1 bxc6 1.d4 f6 2.g5 d6 3.xf6 exf6 4.g3 g6 With an almost irresistible attack too. ] 5.g2 f5 6.e3 g7 7.e2 d7 8.c4 f6 26.e4 f6 27.gxf4 gxf4 28.f3 h6 9.bc3 0-0 10.0-0 e8 11.c2 [ 11.d3 guarding the c4-square, is better 29.ac3 h4 30.e5 e6! The decisive as we shall see in the next game of the reinforcement. 31.e4 g6 32.d6 h2+ 33.f1 e3+! 34.fxe3 xg2 35.xg2 survey. ] There is no time to get rid of the Bc8 in view 11...c6 [ 11...h5 12.b4 h4 13.fe1 hxg3 14.hxg3 of the threat Qh1+. h3 36.xh3 xh3+ g4 15.c5 dxc5 ( 15...c6 16.b5 d5 ) Will cost White at least the e2-knight after 37. 16.bxc5 c6 17.ad1 g5 18.f4 h6 Ke1 (37.Kg1 f3) fxe3. 19.h3 e6 20.b1 ad8 21.d2 d5 0-1 22.f1 f6 ( 22...e4!= ) 23.xd5 xd5? ( 23...xh3 24.g2 h5 25.b1 ) 24.f4 A45 g7 ( 24...d7 25.f3 xe3 26.xe3 xd4 2172 27.g2 ) 25.f3! h8 26.g2 xe3 Lys,Josef 2353 27.xe3 xd4 28.ed3 hd8 29.h2 g5 Michenka,Jozef 2325 30.h3 h5 31.f2 g5 ( Better op-A Ostrava (9) 25.05.2002 31...xh2+ 32.xh2 b6 33.cxb6 axb6 [Eric Prié] 34.g2 ) 32.f4 xf4 A desperate attempt to k e e p t h e qu e e n s o n t h e b o a rd . 33.xd8 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.c3 xd8 34.h3 xf1+ 35.xf1 f6 36.f2 The variation of GMs Eduard MEDUNA and e7 37.d3 c3 38.b2 xb2 39.xb2 Mihail TSEITLIN. b6 5.d2?! White does xc5 40.d7 b5 41.d3 b6 42.e5 not wish to expose his queen on the c-file, but 1 - 0 L e gk y , N - P ri e , E Ro s n y o p e n 1 h K O this move, which would be appropriate if c5 1993 ] had already been exchanged against d4, is 12.fd1 e7 13.b4 e6 14.d3 wrong here for it deprives the queen's knight [ 14.d5 cxd5 15.cxd5 d7 16.ac1 ac8 of its only development square. Thus, it does 17.b3 e4 18.xe4 fxe4 is equal. ] not help in solving the crucial concern of the 14...ac8 15.ac1 d7 16.c5 The best b2 pawn. For the same reason the pressure developing setup has been achieved for both on the d-file to prevent Black from throwing in sides. It is time to start the battle of ideas. his e- pawn is illusory. d5 Of course Black [ 16.b5!? e4 17.a4 ] does not release the tension in the center 16...dxc5! After 17...d5, White has a free rein which is in his favour. 6.e3 The only way to o n t h e q u e e n s i d e . I n t h i s va r i a t i o n , t h e get the b1-knight out before it is too late is to possession of the e4 square is one of Black's take on c5: trumps, but there is no use "over controlling" it. [ 6.dxc5 xc5 17.bxc5 cd8 18.c2 h5 The backward A) 7.e3 e5 8.a3 e6! ( 8...b6 pawn on the open b-file is a serious concern, 9.xd5 xb2 10.b5+ xb5 11.xb5 but in revenge the structure is stabilized for a6 12.e2 e6 13.g3 c5 14.d3 some time, which authorizes Black to become 0-0-0 15.e2 And White can hold.) 9.c2 enterprising on the other flank. 19.b1 c8 c6 10.f3 g8 11.g3 0-0-0 12.g2 20.f4 h4 21.b3 Intending Nxg6 hxg3 b8 13.0-0 Castling queenside is not 22.hxg3 f8 23.a3 g4! 24.a4 recommended because of the weakness [ 24.xa7? xf2 25.xf2 xe3+ 26.f1 of a2. b6 14.ab1 d6 is difficult for xc3 ] W hite, who sorely lacks space and 2171 Lukasiewicz,Grzegorz Prie,Eric open Chanac (9) [Eric Prié]
2123
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 squares for his knights to lean on. Additionally, in the absence of counter play on the other flank, he will have to deal with the plan ...h5, ...Ne7, ...Ng6 forcing the opening of the h-file or dangerously weakening the castle and the g3 pawn, if he stops it by playing h4 himself.; B) 7.a3 e5 8.d1 c6 ( 8...e6 9.e4 ) 9.xd5 ( 9.e3 e6 10.b5 0-0-0 ) 9...xd5 10.xd5 e6 11.d2 xa3 12.bxa3 c8 13.e3 e7 ] 6...f5 [ 6...e5!! A redundant problem... 7.dxe5 ( 7.f3 c6 ) 7...fxe5 8.xd5 xb2! 9.xe5+ e6 10.xh8 c1+ 11.e2 c6! 12.f6 ( 12.h3 0-0-0 13.f4 e8! Threatening Bg4+ 14.f2 xh3 15.gxh3 xe3+ 16.g2 e4+ 17.g1 c4; 12.xh7 0-0-0 13.f3 c4+ 14.f2 xf1+ 15.g3 e1+ 16.h3 e6+ 17.g4 f1+ 18.g3 d6+ 19.f4 e1+; 12.d2 xa1 13.xh7 0-0-0 14.c2 g7 ) 12...d8! Threatening Qd1 mate. 13.f3 ( 13.f4 c4+ 14.f2 xf1+ 15.g3 d6 ) 13...xf1 14.c4 d4+! 15.exd4 ( 15.g3 d6+ 16.h4 xg2 ) 15...d3+ 16.f4 h6+ 17.xh6 xd4+ 18.g5 f5# ] 7.e2 [ 7.dxc5! xc5 8.a3 e5 ( 8...e6 9.b5 a6 10.d4 ) 9.d1 e6 10.e4 d4? 11.cxd4 exd4 12.b5! ( 12.xd4? a5+ 13.d2 b4 )] 7...e6 8.f4? [ 8.dxc5 xc5 9.d4 g6 10.b3 e7 ( 10...d6 11.d4 ) 11.d3 d7 ] 8...cxd4! This is a 'co-record' in the 2...c5 Trompowsky. W hite could sign the score sheets after8littlemoves! 9.exd4 [ 9.cxd4 xb1 10.xb1 b4 ] [ 9.xd4 xb2 ] 9...h6 Threatening to take on f4 to deviate the white queen from the protection of b2. 10.g3 [ 10.a3 xf4 11.xf4 xb2 12.c1 xc1+ 13.xc1 c6 14.b5 c8 15.d2 e7-+ ] [ 10.b3 e5 11.dxe5 fxe5 12.xd5 xf4 13.g3 h6 14.xe5+ e6 15.xe6+ fxe6 16.g2 c6 ] 10...e4 11.g1? [ 11.f3 xf3 12.g2 xg2 13.xg2 xf4
14.gxf4 c6 15.a3 0-0-0 16.0-0-0 dg8 17.h3 e7 ] 11...g8! Pinning the g-pawn and therefore renewing a threat which cannot be parried anymore. 12.b4 [ 12.b3 e5 13.e2 xf4 ] 12...e5 13.e2 xf4 0-1
2173 Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar Anastasian,Ashot 3rd IECC Batumi GEO (13) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2542 2591 26.06.2002
Trompowsky Attack: W e start with a heavyweight clash, in which Black pays the price for some over-cautious opening play. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 6.d2 g6 This move simply gives White too free a hand in the centre. 7.0-0-0 g7 8.f4 a6 9.g4 You have to respect W hite's attitude. Black is mincing around trying to erect some sort of hedgehog, so White announces his attention to blow him off the board! d7 10.f3 b5 11.e5 e7 12.f5 Now the point behind White's ninth becomes clear. This pawn break has been given crucial support. dxe5 13.dxe5 xe5 14.xe5 xe5 15.g2 b8 16.he1 Only one of the b ra ve W h it e p a wn s h a s h a d t o s a c ri f ic e himself, which is a small price to pay, as now every other pawn is participating in the attack. f6?! Black desperately tries to maintain a blockade of the e-file. However, this amounts to a critical weakening of his position. [ 16...f6 was a much more difficult nut to crack. 17.b1! g5 18.c6+ f8 19.d4 f6 20.a7 is still better for White, but Black can put up a better fight with: xc3! ] 17.fxg6 b6 18.xe5 fxe5 19.e4 Black is positionally bankrupt. The threat is g7 followed by Qxh6. g8 [ 19...b7 20.g7 g8 21.f6+ xf6 22.d7# was one possible finish. ] 20.xh6 At this level there is no reason for black not to acknowledge defeat. A move of the White g-pawn will swiftly bring him to his knees. 1-0 2124
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2174 Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar Aroshidze,Levan EuJun Baku (1) [Eric Prié]
A45 2542 2345 14.07.2002
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e6 8.b1 c7 9.b5+ bd7 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.f3 a6 12.c4 b6 13.xb6!? Quite brave but 'Mame' always trusts his tactical skill which, I can tell you, f or having witnessed him in several post-mortems during the tournament, is something phenomenal! W ell, it did not work this time, causing the greatest sensation of the last European Junior in history, as early as the first round. At least this defeat did not a f f e c t t h e l o c a l h e r o t o o m u c h si n ce h e eventually won the silver medal, then the European U18 title, and, a few months later, pulled himself up, again, to the 2nd step of the podium in the World U18, behind Berkes, and despite an impressive score of 9,5 out of 1 1 ! T h e n e xt ye a r, in 2 0 0 3 , h e ga ve t h e European a miss, managed to improve his score by half a point in the W orld, 2 points ahead of the field, and f inally gained the supreme youth title, while still under 18, in the W orld Junior in Nakchivan!! It is true that most of the best young hopes (like his famous compatriot Radjabov, or Ponomariov, Bacrot and so on) have been reluctant to continue playing in youth tournaments once they had shown their superiority by winning a World title, often in an 'upgraded' age category, but I have never seen such a regular and exceptional record amongst youths! xb6 14.e5 [ 14.g5!? d5 15.exd5 e7! ( 15...exd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 e7 18.0-0 With a strong attack against the black king, which is unable to evacuate the centre.) 16.dxe6 0-0 ( 16...h6? 17.d5 xd5 18.h5+ d8 19.f7+ c7 20.xd5! b1+ 21.e2 xh1 22.a5+ b8 23.e5+ a7 24.b2! b8 25.b6 a7 26.c7+ a8 27.xh8+- ) 17.f5! ( 17.0-0 h6 18.f3 xe6 ) 17...c6 ] 14...d5! 15.exf6 gxf6 [ 15...dxc4 16.e5 g6 17.f5! d6 18.f7+ d8 19.g5+ c7 20.f6+- ]
16.xd5? Ouch! This one is really optimistic, exactly in the image of the very friendly Azeri! White had to retreat the bishop [ 16.e2 c4 17.f5! ] 16...exd5 17.xd5 e6+ 18.e3 [ 18.e5 May have been White's intention, but it does not work. xd5 19.h5+ e7 20.g6+ d6! 21.xd5+ xd5 22.xh8 g7 23.f7 e6 Eventually traps the knight. ] [ 18.e2 xe2+ 19.xe2 f7 20.xf6 f5! ( 20...g7 21.e4 ) 21.g4 g7 ] 18...d6! 19.0-0 g4 [ 19...f5! looks even more efficient 20.h4 ( 20.c4 0-0-0 21.b3 e4 ) 20...0-0-0! 21.c4 e6! Black won a tempo and now the knight is pinned. W ith its disappearance, th e ho u se o f ca rds colla pse s. ( 21...e4 22.g4+ b8 23.f5! Intending Bf4) 22.f2 xd5 23.cxd5 e6! 24.dxe6 xd1+ 25.f1 xf1+ 26.xf1 d6 27.f5 c7 ] 20.c4 0-0-0 White can only claim visual compensation for the exchange 21.b3 xf3 [ 21...g8 ] 22.xf3 f5 23.f1 [ 23.b2!? g8 24.e5 is Fritz's positional defence with the fine idea A) But 24...b8! 25.xf5 g6! Also f o rcin g t h e exch a n ge o f qu e e n s beca use of th e m ate on g2 bu t u nde r much more favourable circumstances. 26.xg6 ( 26.h3 d3 wins the critical c4 pawn. 27.e6 d6 ) 26...hxg6 27.f5 gxf5 28.xf5 d6 b5 is coming and it is not easy for White, who has only a pawn for the exchange, to advance his own majority in front of his king.; B) 24...xe5 25.fxe5 b5 26.e6 d6 27.e7 de8 28.f6 bxc4 29.xg8 xg8 30.xf5 e8 31.xc5= ] 23...g8 24.b1 c6 25.g3 [ 25.d3 e6 as in the game just improves the loca tion of t he black que en . 26.b3 ( 26.b6 xd5 ) 26...g7 ] 25...b8 26.c2 e6 27.f2 g7 28.e1 d7 29.b2 f7 30.b6 d6 31.a5 c8 Black is solid. 32.b1 c6 33.d1 d7 34.e1 d8? May well be time trouble. [ 34...g6 35.c3 a7+- ] 35.e5 g7 [ 35...d7 36.xf5 ] 2125
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 36.xf5 White has won a pawn for the exchange but is not out of trouble for that. f8 [ 36...e8 with the same idea Bd4 is more logical, this rook on the only completely open file now being stronger than White's Rf5, but it is also logical to reduce White's 'hacking' potential. 37.f7 d4 38.xd4 cxd4 39.f6 c5-+ ] 37.g5 [ 37.xf8+ xf8 38.e1 Presented Black with some technical difficulties but d4!? 39.xd4 ( 39.g2 xf2 40.xf2 f5 ) 39...cxd4 40.e5+ a7 41.xd4+ c5 42.xc5+ xc5 43.e3 b6! 44.f5 c6 Entering the f pawn square, looks c o m p le t e ly win n i n g, a g a i n st t h e 'sh o r t legged' knight, after the unavoidable loss of White's a pawn. ] 37...d4! 38.d2 h6! The decisive m a n o e u vre p u t t i n g t h e ro o k o u t o f p la y. 39.g4 e6 40.h4 e4! Since the exchange on d4, giving Black a passed pawn and opening the c line against the c4 pawn, is i m p o s s i b l e , W h i t e ' s p o s i t i o n e ve n t u a l l y c o l l a p s e s . 41.e3 The threat was Bxf2+ followed by Qxc4. b6 42.f5 And the nice finish: b1+! 43.f1 xh4! [ 43...xh4 44.gxh4 g8+ 45.h1 xf1+ 46.g1 fxg1# ] 0-1
21.fd1 c7 22.d5 xd5 23.xd5 b5 24.f3 ed8 25.d4 a4 26.b3 e8 27.d5 a4 28.b3 [ 28.b3= ] 28...f8 [ 28...d7 ] 29.h4 h5 [ 29...c6= ] 30.e4 d7 [ 30...fxe4 31.xe4 c6? 32.xg6+ ] 31.d4 a4 32.e1 The huge rating difference prompts White to take risks. [ 32.d3= ] 32...e5 [ 32...g7! 33.exf5? xd4 34.fxg6 xd5! 35.xd5 xg3+ 36.h1 xh4+ ] 33.b3 g7 34.a5! The previous year's World under 18 champion eventually hits the chink in the armour. b5 35.xb7 xb7 36.xb7 d3 37.f4 d4 38.exf5 xc5 39.f6+ h7 40.e4 d6 41.xg6+!! fxg6 [ 41...xg6 42.g5+ h7 43.g7# ] 42.c7+! [ 42.c7+ xc7 ( 42...g8 43.f7+ f8 44.e8+! xe8 45.fxe8+ xe8 46.f7+ d8 47.d7# ) 43.xc7+ d7 44.e7+ h6 ( 44...g8 45.d8+ e8 46.xe8# ) 45.c1+ d2 46.e2! The final point of this fine combination. ] 1-0
2175 Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar Tasan,Askin Saraybahce GP op (2) [Eric Prié]
2176 Martinez Rubio,Felipe Alvarez Ibarra,R 5th Pablo Gorbea Mem Open (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2542 2128 18.08.2002
1.d4 f6 2.g5 d6 3.xf6 exf6 4.c4 f5 5.g3 g6 6.c3 g7 7.g2 0-0 8.e3 d7 9.ge2 c6 10.0-0 e8 11.b4 b6 12.c5 c4 13.d5!? dxc5 14.bxc5 cxd5 15.xd5 a5! To protect b7 [ 15...e5 16.b5 f8 17.b3 xc5! ( 17...a6 18.d6 xd6 19.cxd6 e6 20.d4 xd6 21.xe6 fxe6 22.xb7 ab8 23.a4 ) 18.f4 xe3+ 19.g2 e6 20.xe6 xe6 21.fxe5 xe5 ] 16.c1 d7 17.d4 a6 [ 17...c8 ] 18.b3 c6 19.g2 b8 20.e2 e7
A45 2014 2417 06.09.2001
Trompowsky Attack: White gets carried away with pawn moves and never manages to catch up with development. Please turn away if you are of a delicate disposition. This game is a true example of pain and suffering. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.b3 This is the main alternative to 7.Bc1, but personally, I have never liked it. To my eyes the White queenside just looks weak! e6 8.e4 exd5 9.exd5 d6 10.xd6? This is seldom a good idea. Exchanging dark squared bishops gives Black a free hand. [ White should instead consider: 10.g5 e7 2126
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.c4 after which we would be in for an interesting battle. ] 10...xd6 11.c4 0-0 [ The immediate 11...e5+ can be parried by 12.e2 ] 12.e2 now Qe5 was a real threat. e5 13.d2 d6 14.c1 White's position just looks horribly congested. W hen the Tromp goes wrong, White's early pawn moves come back to haunt him. W hite's dark squares in particular look vulnerable. e8 15.f1 f5 Black increases his advantage effortlessly, with natural and simple developing moves. 16.g3 a6 17.a3 e7 Preparing to double rooks along the e-file. A plan which White is in no position to oppose. 18.f2 d4+ 19.g2 ae8 It's hard to offer White sensible advice in a position like this. Like a lamb to the slaughter, the only question is not if, but when the end will come. White's next move invites a quick, although not painless end. 20.f1 e1 0-1
2177 Martinovic,Sasa Nevednichy,Vladislav Nova Gorica op-A 12th (1) [Eric Prié]
A45 2378 2567 26.01.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6 3.d2 b6 4.gf3 [ 4.b3?! This is not the idea behind Nd2. d5! 5.xf6 ( 5.e3 a5! 6.a4 e4 7.f4 g5 8.e5 f6! 9.h5+ d8 10.xb8 b4+ 11.c3 xb3-+ Hence 5...a5 provoking the weakening of the b3 square...) 5...exf6 6.e3 a5 7.a4 a6 White's only plan is to play c4 so b4 will also be weak... 8.f3 d6 9.e2 h5!? ( 9...0-0 And I would rather be Black.) 10.fd2 h4 11.c4 dxc4 12.xc4 b4+ 13.bd2 c7= Chernyshov, K (2556)Kustar, S (2351) Budapest 2004 1/2(51) ] 4...xb2 5.e4 d5 6.xf6? Gambiting is about space and time, and W hite loses everything with the added material concession of the pair of bishops. exf6 7.exd5 b4! 8.d3 [ 8.e2+? e6 9.dxe6 xa1+ ] 8...xd2+ 9.xd2 xd4 10.0-0 [ 10.e2+ e6 Again. ]
10...0-0 11.h5 g6 12.h6 cxd5 13.f3 c3 14.ae1 c6 15.e3 c5 White only ha s a p ha nt o m at t ack in re tu rn f o r t he 2 sacrificed pawns. 16.h4 e5 17.f5 [ 17.f5 xf5 18.xf5 fe8 19.h3 gxf5 20.xh7+ f8-+ ] 17...e8 18.g3 [ 18.h3 f8 ] 18...f8 19.d2 h8 20.f4 c5+ 21.h1 c4 22.d3 e3! 23.xe3 xe3 0-1
2178 Martinovic,Sasa Perunovic,Milos 13th Festival A (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2378 2547 04.01.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 d5 3.e3! Everything regarding the early capture on f6 to double the pawns will be examined next month. [ 3.f3?! This transposition is granted a chapter of its own in the ECO system: D03. A bit strange for a dubious opening because of e4 Of course, even if Black regularly plays 3. .. e6 in th is po sition , t he re f o re transposing into the Torre complex, for a reason that escapes me. It is my plan to deal with this D03 which covers both 1...Nf6 and 1...d5 after I finish the Veresov. 4.f4 c5 5.c3 c6 6.e3 b6 7.b3 c4 8.xb6 axb6 9.bd2 xd2 10.xd2 b5 ] [ 3.c3?! By the way, transposes into a well known open ing t hat h as ha d my f avou r these last few months, a bit too long in fact o) h ence a co uple of we eks break . c5!? ( 3...bd7! ) 4.e4!? ( 4.f3!?; 4.e3 c6 5.a3! Speelman. At last somebody who has thought over the problems of how to tune a defensive set-up to an extra-tempo... )] [ 3.f3 e4 4.f4 ] 3...c5 4.c3!? [ 4.c3 Or ] [ 4.xf6 gxf6 5.c3 are the main responses here which actually both transpose into the main line of the 3...c5!? Veresov as lauded by IM John COX in his book 1. d4 deviations, or so I've heard. I will therefore give them a separate treatment later. I understand it must be 2127
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 more concise than 3... Nbd7(!) in the move order 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bg5 in terms of learning, failing to be less complex, and practical for the 1...Nf6 player since assuming he plays 2...d5 after Nc3 he can now use the same knowledge in the 2...d5 Tromp. Faithful to his dynamic approach to lever open the position after freely 'gambiting' the little exchange, something always bizarre to the mind of the 'authentic' d-Pawn Specials player, there is nothing in GM Peter WELLS' book "Winning with the Trompowsky" (edited by Batsford in 2003) about these two possibilities. Fortunately there is something to put your teeth into in the second book by GM Nigel DAVIES , more modestly entitled "the Veresov" (Everyman 2003), which I am decorticating at the moment! As for myself, I play 1...d5! and against the Pseudo-Bishop's attack 2. Bg5?! I would find something more interesting to put on f 6 than my knight! Anyway, my general feeling is that if this line poses problem for White, then it is the entire Chigorin construction that must be wo b b ly. S u c ce ssf u lly p la yin g t h e " P rié attack" (NIC 78) as W hite however, I am very well placed to know that reversed play is not so simple... ] 4...e4 [ 4...b6 5.b3 c6 ( 5...c4 6.xb6 axb6 7.d2 b5 8.xf6!? Risky, White should transpose with a3 and Rc1. gxf6 9.e4 ) 6.d2 c4 7.xb6 axb6 8.a3 b5 9.c1 e5!? 10.dxe5 xe5 11.xf6 gxf6 12.gf3 d7 13.d4 g8 14.h3 0-0-0 15.f4 c6 16.f2 The opponent's black squared bishop is completely gagged so I prefer White, who still has to be careful for tactics. ] 5.f4 c6?! [ 5...b6! 6.b3 ( 6.c2?! Is only a trap. f5? Black should firstly play 6...Nc6 of course. Then b7 can be economically defended with long castling in case of the same W hite manoeuvre. 7.dxc5 xc5 8.b3 B l a c k c a n n o t p l a y c7 with d5 hanging ) 6...c6! A) 7.d2 xd2 8.xd2 c4 ( 8...d8!? ) 9.xb6 axb6 10.a3 b5 11.e1 f5 12.f3 a5 Looks annoying for White but ma y b e pla ya b le wit h th e kin g o n d 1 .
13.d1 e6 14.d2 e7 15.e2; B) 7.xb6?! axb6 8.c7 c4; C) 7.xd5? xf2!? ( 7...xb2! T h e se c u re r e f u t a t i o n . 8.xe4 g6! Intending ...Bf5 9.b5 xb5 ) 8.xf2 xb2+ 9.e2 xa1 10.b3 cxd4 And White seems to miss time to organize anything against the imprisoned opposing queen because his Nb1 is pinned in fact a g a i n s t t h e R h 1 , h o w e v e r . . . ( 10...e5 11.dxe5 e7 12.f3 0-0 13.d1 e6 14.c4 ) 11.f3 dxc3 12.xc3 xh1 13.b5 With complications.; D) 7.f3 c4 8.xb6 axb6 9.bd2 xd2 10.xd2 b5 11.e4 This is the main position of the D03 chapter as mentioned right on top, to be seen later. ] 6.d3?! [ 6.d2! b6 7.xe4 dxe4 8.b3 e6 ( 8...cxd4 9.exd4 e6 10.xb6 axb6 11.f3 exf3 12.xf3 xa2 13.xa2 xa2 14.c7 ) 9.xb6 axb6 10.e2 xa2 11.xa2 xa2 12.g3 f6 13.c7! ] 6...f6 [ 6...g5!? 7.e5 xe5 8.dxe5 b6 9.b3 c4 10.xb6 axb6 11.xe4 dxe4 12.d2 g7 13.xc4 e6 14.d2 d5 ] 7.f3?! [ 7.d2! See Kalinitshev-Volodin at the end of the update. ] 7...e6?! Fortunately, the game will not last long after this disgraceful move. [ 7...g4 At least 8.h3 h5 9.bd2 ] [ 7...b6! 8.b3?! ( 8.c2! ) 8...c4 9.xb6 axb6 10.c2 b5 Et cetera when the concerns about 11.a3 in this position will be treated in due course. ] 8.0-0 e7 9.bd2 0-0 10.e5 d7 11.df3 dxe5 12.xe5 xe5 13.xe5 ½-½
2179 Marzolo,Cyril Mamedov,Rauf 6th EICC Warsaw POL (5) [Eric Prié]
A45 2388 2511 22.06.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 2128
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 exf4 12.d4 d5!? There are other moves like 12...Ra5 or 12...g6 which are specifically directed against W hite's most dangerous freeing plan i.e. e2-e3 followed by Ke2xe3 which we shall deal with some other time. Then White can usually implement the g2-g3 alternative satisfactorily. This strange 'time costing' move is trickier as it somehow prepares the recycling of the black knight to the c7-square to control the vital b5 point in addition to d5. 13.e4 fxe3 [ 13...e3 14.h3 d6 15.d2 0-0 A) 16.e2!? Wins a pawn. c4+ ( 16...f5 17.exf4 xf1+ 18.hxf1 fxe4 19.fxe4 a4 20.d3 ) 17.c2 e3+ 18.d3 b5 19.hxf4 c4 20.c2 e3+ 21.d2 c4+ 22.c1 f5; B) 16.f2 e5 17.c2 xf1+ ( 17...d5 18.xe3 fxe3+ 19.xe3 dxe4 20.xe4 ) 18.hxf1 d6 19.b4 e6 20.c2 Evacuating the d-file for a rook. f5 21.fd1? ( 21.fe1! fxe4 22.xe4 d5 23.f2 f5+ 24.b3 f6 25.xd5 h4 26.e7+ h8 27.xf5 xf5 28.e2 ) 21...fxe4 22.xe4 f5 23.d5?! ( 23.d3! xe4 24.fxe4 g5; 23.e1?! ) 23...xe4+ 24.fxe4 f3! 25.d2 ( 25.xb6 ae8 26.d7 fxg2! 27.xf8 xf8! Next comes Rf2+, Bh2 and g2g1=Queen ) 25...fxg2 26.xg2 a4 27.e2 b5= Leroy,D ( 2378) -Le Quang,K (2348) Bagneux 2000 ] 14.c4 c7 [ 14...f4!? This would be a novelty as far as m y d a t a b a se ca n t e ll. 15.g3 e6 16.c2 c5 ( 16...b5!? 17.xb5 c5 ) 17.b4 e7 18.xe3 ] 15.ge2 Normally, this is not the idea, although after [ 15.e2 c5 16.xe3 b5! Without this key move, allowing him to get rid of his doubled pawns while attacking the dark squares, Black would be in some trouble. ( 16...d6 17.ge2 e6 18.d3 ) 17.b3 b4 18.cxb4 xb4 19.c1 e6 20.ge2 0-0 21.hd1 d6 22.f2 c5 Black is very active. ] 15...c5 16.b4 xd4 17.xd4 d5 18.b3 0-0 19.e2 e8 20.hd1 d7 21.d3 e6 22.xe6 [ 22.xe3? f4+ 23.f2 xe3 24.xe3
xg2+ ] 22...fxe6 23.xe3 a4 24.e1 ½-½
2180 McShane,Luke J Cvitan,Ognjen 36th Olympiad (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2629 2532 16.10.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 exf4 12.d4 d5 However, by taking the d5 squ a r e f r o m h i s kn igh t B l a c k a ll o ws t h e s e c o n d u n d e r m i n i n g m o v e 13.e3! Quite astonishing though thematic and with a great effect. fxe3 14.e2! The necessary complement g6 [ 14...c5 15.xe3 0-0 16.d3 ( 16.b5!? a5 17.a4 ) 16...d7 ( 16...e8+ 17.f2 xd4+ 18.cxd4 a4? 19.b5 ) 17.ge2 b5 18.a3 e8 19.d2?! ( 19.f4! It is possible that the king may be better placed on f2 eventually c7 20.d2 xd4 21.cxd4 a4 22.b3! I like this repetitive motive! xd4 23.e3 ) 19...d6 20.f4 ( 20.ae1! c4+ 21.c1 fc8 22.b1 ) 20...c4+ 21.xc4 ( 21.c2 e3+ 22.b3 xd4 23.cxd4 a4 24.he1 xd4 25.xe3 xf4 26.e7 c6 ) 21...dxc4= Polaczek, R (2426) - Heimann,A (2495) playchess INT 5' 2005 ] 15.xe3 h6+ 16.f2 0-0 17.b5! Preventing ...Re8 and ...Be3+ that would f orbid the linking of the white rooks . d7 18.ge2 fe8 19.hd1 e3+ 20.f1 The result being that every white piece is d e ve l o p e d i n a n o p t i m a l wa y wh ic h wa s enabled by a quasi winning pawn structure from the start where Black has holes on b5, b4, d6, d5, and d4! Black now proves unsuccessful in worrying his opponent's king and was unable to f ind suff icient counter a ct i vit y o n t h e d a rk sq u a re s, e it h e r . e5 21.xd7 xd7 22.c2 f6 Black must have been afraid of exiling his rook to the kingside, for instance after [ 22...c5 23.f4 h5 24.h3 f6 25.d3 e4 26.g4 h4 27.g2 h5 28.g5 d6 2129
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 29.cd4! e8 30.e1 ( 30.f3 xg5 ) 30...xf4 31.f3 xg5 32.xd5 f6 33.xh4 xh4 34.ed1 ] 23.xe3 xe3 24.f4 While Black is now definitely deprived of any counter play without his black squared bishop, the painful massage against d5 can begin. e5 25.d4 f8 26.d3 e6 27.b4 a5 28.ad1 e5 29.a3 h5 30.d3 Direct means do not win, so W hite has to mix them with threats against the enemy doubled b-pawns. e6 31.f4 e5 32.b4 f5 33.d3 d7 34.e1! First phase achieved! f6 35.f4 f5 [ 35...b8 36.g3 a6 37.d4 c7 38.d3 ( 38.e5 e6 ) 38...f5 39.f2 White prepares to double on the e line and invade the 7th. ] 36.d3 [ 36.d4 e5! ] 36...f6 37.d4 f5 [ 37...e6!? 38.f4 xe1+ 39.xe1 f6 40.h4 was pretty depressing for Black when White would have then prepared g2-g4-g5, but possibly represented a more stubborn resistance. b5?? 41.b4 ] 38.b4 Second phase on the way: combine threats against Black's isolated rook on the kingside with penetration into the enemy camp via the only open file. c5 39.e2 [ 39.c2 e5 ] 39...f6?! [ 39...a5 40.c2 c5 ( 40...e5 41.xe5 xe5 42.e3 c5 43.xd5 xd5 44.xd5 c4 45.a4 xb2 46.xb6 ) A) 41.d3 e5; B) 41.e3 e5 42.c4 ( 42.g3!?; 42.h4 ) 42...f6 43.xd5 xe2 44.xe2 xd5 45.cxd5 Black must have been afraid of this variation losing a pawn when the rook ending is clearly one of his best opportunities to fulfil his dream of a draw! e7 46.d6+ d7 47.d3 ( 47.d2 c6 48.a4 b5! ) 47...c1; C) 41.ed2! T h r e a t e n i n g N e 3 f6 42.e3 e5 43.2d3 g7 ( 43...g5 44.h4; 43...e7? 44.f4 e4 45.xd5+ xd5 46.xe4+ xe4 47.xd5 ) 44.f2 ( 44.e2 c8 45.d2 ce8 ) 44...f8 45.h4 g7 46.g3 e8 47.f4 White will eventually win d5 but meanwhile
can still improve his position, R3d2, g2-g3 etc. ( 47.xd5 xd5 48.xd5 e2 49.d2 )] [ 39...b5 40.d1! e5 41.ed2 b6 42.d3+- ] 40.c2 e8?! [ 40...a5 41.d3! Threatening to trap the b l a c k r o o k h4 ( 41...c5 42.d4 g5 43.h4 g3 44.f2 e4+ 45.xe4 dxe4 46.e3 )] [ 40...d7 (See above) Again was the most resistant but the formal W orld junior ch a m p io n (1 9 8 1 ) wa s p ro b a b ly in t im e trouble...as usual. ] 41.d3! c7 [ 41...f6 42.d4 d6 43.de3 c4 44.e8+ g7 45.8e7 ] 42.b4! Wins the exchange and the game. c6 [ 42...c4 43.e3 ] 43.d4 ff6 44.xc6 bxc6 45.a4 d6 46.a2 d8 47.a5 b8 48.f2 b5 49.g3 d6 50.f4 e7 51.h4 c4 52.g4 f6 53.d1 f7 54.e1 b7 55.axb6 xb6 56.ea1 c8 57.a8 c7 58.1a6 e7 59.g5 fxg5+ 60.xg5 f7 61.f4 e7 [ 61...f6 62.b5 e7 63.b6 b7 64.8a7 b8 65.c7 ] 62.e5 f7 63.d4 e7 64.c5 d7 65.f4 d6 66.8a7 e4+ 67.b6 xa7 68.xa7+ There follows Rc7 and the b-pawn marches on. 1-0
2181 McShane,Luke J Gordon,Stephen J ch-EU Liverpool ENG (10) [Andrew Martin]
A45 2614 2443 15.09.2006
Coming up is a indication of why White does not play 5 Nc3 very often any more in one of the main lines of the Tromp. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 It is interesting to see McShane prefer 5 Nc3 over 5 c3, but maybe he fears an early ...d7d5. Nevert heless, a f ter 5 Nc3 Bb4 Blac k cannot really be stopped from playing the critical central advance and to my mind this is t h e a c i d t e s t o f t h i s m o v e o r d e r . d6 2130
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Re c o m m e n d e d b y J o h n C o x in a re c e n t repertoire book on d-pawn openings. The text is solid enough. 6.d2 c6 7.f4 e5 8.dxe5 [ 8.ge2 s h o u ld b e a n swe re d b y e7 9.0-0-0 0-0 10.g3 and now Black has two interesting possibilities: g4!? ( 10...b5!? 11.g2 d8! dissuading White from taking on e5 and threatening to plough on with .. . b5-b4. Either way, Black is getting counterplay.) 11.g2 exd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 a6= ] 8...dxe5 9.f5 b4! In order to stabilize the position and create attacking chances White needs to be able to play 0-0-0, Bc4 and then to advance on the kingside. 9...Bb4! is thus very logical, making room for the Queen to retreat to e7 and preparing ...Nd7 and either ... Nc5 or ... Nf6, hitting e4. Black interrupts the White scheme. [ 9...d6 10.d3 e7 11.f3 d7 seems more cumbersome, but even in the coming fragment, Black achieves a good game: 12.a4 a5 13.g4 c5 14.f2 xf2+ 15.xf2 d6 16.c4 f6 17.ad1 c7 18.g5 hxg5 19.xg5 f8 20.e2 d7 21.h4 e7 22.h5 e8 23.d3 h8 24.g3 Hodgson, J-Magem Badals, J/ Linares 1995 b5 ] 10.f3 [ A good illustration of what Black is aiming f o r ca n b e se en in t he f o llowing gam e : 10.0-0-0 d7 11.f3 e7 12.a3 a5 13.b1 f6 14.d3 ( 14.d5 xd2 15.xe7 xe7 16.xd2 g4! ) 14...d7 15.he1 b5 16.g4 b6 17.h3 0-0-0 18.a2 b8 19.c1 c5 20.c4 b4 Thorhalsson-Stefansson Reykjavik 2004 ] 10...d7 11.a3 a5 12.c4 [ 12.g4 e7 13.g1 f6 14.d3 d7 15.0-0-0 0-0-0 16.g3 b8 17.b4 c7 18.a4 c8 19.c3 g6 20.b2 gxf5 21.gxf5 xf5 22.exf5 e4 23.e1 d6 24.xe4 f4+ 25.d2 xd2 26.xd2 xe4 Cordova, E-Hellsten, J/Arequipa 2005 ] 12...e7 13.0-0-0 f6 White's problem is that he has nowhere to take the position. Black continues with 0-0-0, ... Bb6, ... etc. in my view Black has more potential. 14.he1 d7 15.a2 b5 16.e3 c7 [ 16...b4 17.axb4 xb4 18.d3 d8
19.e1 0-0 20.g4 ] 17.d3 a5 18.g4 0-0-0 Gordon finds a good way to organise his pieces. It would have been more dangerous to castle short meanwhile the Bishop on d7 masks the d file and White cannot create any pressure there. 19.e2 b7 20.a4 b4 21.b1 c5 22.b3 c4!? [ 22...c6 23.bd2 xd3 24.cxd3 e8 ( 24...d8 25.c4 e8 26.c2 xg4 27.g1 f6 28.xg7 d7 ) 25.f2 xa4 26.xc5 b5 might be a more reliable way of gaining counterplay. ] 23.xc4 xa4 24.xd8 xd8 25.xd8 xd8 26.xf7 c6 27.bd2 xg4 Po ssib ly t h e en d o f B la ck' s ca lcu la t io n s before 22...c4. The computer is showing that White is a little better but I don't believe it. The two Bishops and possible outside passed pawn tempt me to think the reverse! 28.c4 [ 28.b3 b8 29.fd2 f6 30.c4 'c o n n e c t s ' t h e W h i t e p o s i t i o n , b u t d6 is solid enough. ] 28...f6 29.b5 d7 30.xc6+ xc6 31.b3 a7 32.b1 b7 33.d3 a7 34.b2 b7 35.c1 a7 36.e2 b7 The time-trouble coming and going is endless. 37.e1 b6 [ I q u i t e l i k e 37...c3 38.b5+ b6 n o w, wit h t h e i d e a s 39.d3 ( 39.ef3 a1+ 40.b1 a7! ) 39...a1+ 40.b1 d4 ] 38.c4 a7 39.g2 b7 40.d3 xe4 41.xb6 xb6 42.xe5 d6 43.d2 c7 44.d4 b5 45.a7+ Perhaps White finally has the advantage, but he is working with limited tools. b7 46.c4 c5 47.xc5+ xc5 48.xa5 e4 49.c4 c6 50.d1 c5 Black's active King saves the day. 51.e2 d4 52.f3 f6 53.e3 e5 54.h3 e8 55.e2 e4 56.d2 d6 57.f6 gxf6 58.g4 f5! 59.xh6 f4 60.g4 f3 61.e5+ g3 62.e2 f5! 63.d3 f3 64.xf3 xf3 65.c4 e3+ 66.xb4 ½-½
2131
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2182 McShane,Luke J Kotronias,Vasilios Gibraltar Masters (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2568 2573 03.02.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.d5 b6 5.c1 [ 5.c1 c4! 6.e3 a5+ will be illustrated by an example some other time. The gambit ] [ 5.d2 Likewise, which has to be brought together with our 2...c5 3.d5 Qb6 Tromp favourite because of the obvious transposition 3...Ne4, instead of 3.. .Qb6 4. Bf4 (4. Bc1!?). ] 5...g6 6.f3 d6 7.e4 g7 8.c3 f5 9.exf5 xf5 10.g4!? as successfully played a few months before by this other great English Tromp specialist, seems more appropriate for a 'lively' creative treatment of the position. [ 10.e4 d6! 11.xd6+ xd6 Followed by the thematic 0-0, Na6, Nc7, b5 laying siege to White's advanced d-pawn. ] [ 10.h3!? 0-0 11.e4! See next month by transposition. ] 10...h6 [ 10...d6!? However, and that was possibly what bothered the no. 1 English player in the previous game which saw the quieter 10. Bd3. ] 11.d6 e6 12.b5 a6 13.f4 c6 The problem with this move, threatening Nxg4, is that it takes the square c6 from the black queen's knight, which must move if Black is to chase the cramping Nb5 away, after having short castled because of the fork on c7, in order to untie his queenside. [ 13...0-0 ] 14.xh6!! xh6 15.c4 0-0 16.h4! f4 17.h5 g3+ 18.e2 b4? [ 18...g5 O f c o u r s e . 19.h6! With the idea Rh5, Qd2-c3 when W hite's position suddenly appears less -let's say- 'readable'! e5 ] 19.hxg6 h6 20.g7! xg7 21.d2 f4 22.c3+ g8 23.a3 a6 [ 23...d5 24.d3 That is the all point. ] 24.d3 g7 25.h3 e5 26.g2 b6 27.hg1! f4 28.c3+! g6 29.xf4+ xf4 30.e3! Attack! e5 [ 30...f6 31.f4 Actually wins the queen! ]
31.xe5 xc4 32.h1 The impossibility for Black to parry the obvious Rxh6+, Qf6+, Rh1+, Rh8 mate cruelly brings out the misery of his right flank. 1-0
2183 McShane,Luke J Volokitin,Andrei It Igualada ESP (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2625 2671 18.08.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 exf4 12.d4 c5 13.h3 d5 14.e4 fxe3 15.c4 b4! This is the latest trend in the f orm of a cru cial and only two month old novelty, no doubt the result of deep preparation... 16.0-0-0 [ If 16.e2 then xd4 17.cxd4 d5 18.b3 ( 18.b5+ d7 19.xd7+ xd7 20.a3 c2 21.ad1 a4 ) 18...xh3 19.gxh3 d7 20.a3 c6 21.xe3 d6= ] [ 16.b5 c2+ 17.e2 xa1 18.c7+ e7 19.xa8 d5 20.xd5 A) 20...xh3 21.gxh3 xa8 22.xa1 d8 23.d1 b5 24.xb7 xd1 25.xd1 d6; B) 20...d8 21.c7 c2 22.d1 d6 23.b5 ( 23.e4 xc7 24.xd8 xd8 25.xc2 xh3 26.gxh3 xh2= ) 23...xh2 24.e4 xd1 25.xd1 a1 26.d4; C) 20...c2! C1) 21.c7 d6 22.e4 xc7 23.xc2 xh3 24.gxh3 d8=; C2) 21.g5 d7 22.c7 ( 22.c1 b5+ 23.c4 d4+ 24.d3 c6 25.c7 c8 26.xc6 bxc6 27.a6 d8; 22.xb7? d8!! 23.c7 b5+! 24.xb5 d2+ 25.f1 e2# ) 22...c8 23.c1 a3 24.bxa3 xc7; C3) 21.f4! d8 ( 21...d7? 22.xb7 d8 23.d5+ d6 24.ac7 ) 22.d1 g5 23.h5 d7 24.c7 ( 24.xb7?? b5+ ) 24...c8 ( 24...a4 25.b3 xb3 26.axb3 xd1 27.xd1 a1 28.b4 ) 25.e4 xc7 ( 25...a3? 26.d5+ ) 26.xc2 f5= 27.b4 xb4 2132
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28.xf5 xf5 29.cxb4 c2+ 30.xe3 xg2 and as I said: "no doubt the result of deep preparation..." ] 16...xd4 17.xd4 d5 18.cxb4 [ 18.b5+ c6 19.a4 ( 19.f4 xa2 20.b1 a5 21.xd5? f5+ ) 19...xh3 20.gxh3 0-0-0 21.e1 he8= ] 18...dxc4 19.e4+ f8 20.e1 xh3 21.gxh3 xa2 22.b1 a8 23.1xe3 g6 Black cannot hang onto the pawn but still maintains the balance because of the equally ruined white pawn structure compensated by the latter's initiative. [ 23...b5? 24.e5 ] 24.xc4 g7 25.e7 he8 26.xb7 e1+ 27.c2 e2+ 28.b3 e3+ 29.c3 e2 30.h4 [ 30.xb6 xh2 31.f4 White cannot afford to lose h3 which would open the way for Black's rocket on h7. f2 even seems risky for him. ] 30...d8! Black activates. [ 30...xh2 31.c4 f2 32.f4 f8 33.xb6 ] 31.h5 xh2 32.hxg6 hxg6 33.xb6 dd2 34.a4 xb2 35.bc6 b1 36.3c4 g5 37.4c5 f6 38.f5 a2+ 39.b5 ab2 40.fxf6 xb4+ 41.c5 f4 42.xf4 gxf4 43.d5 b5+ ½-½
2184 Meduna,Eduard Bilinskas,Raimundas op Prague (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2450 2250 1996
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.c3 b6 5.c2 d5! 6.e3 c6 [ 6...f5?? 7.xf5 xb2 8.c8# ] 7.f3 e5! As usual! [ 7...f5? 8.dxc5! xc2 9.cxb6 axb6 10.a3 g6 11.b5 is fine for White. ] 8.bd2 d7 Black wants to use the c-file without diluting the central pressure, but when the knight is on d2 it is logical to take on d4 ensuring a strong bind in the center. 9.e2 [ 9.dxe5 fxe5 10.e4 dxe4! ( 10...d4 11.c4 as in the game.) 11.xe4 ( 11.c4 c7 12.xe4 0-0-0 ) 11...e7 ( 11...0-0-0!?
12.fg5 f5 13.d2 g8 14.c4 c7 15.f7 e8 16.0-0-0 b8 ) 12.0-0-0 ( 12.g3 ) 12...0-0-0 ( 12...c7 13.g3 ) 13.d6+= ] 9...c8?! If Black had imagined White's next manoeuvre he would have gone in for [ 9...cxd4 10.exd4 e4 ] 10.dxe5! Now that Black cannot castle long anymore, this thematic central reaction is a lot stronger. fxe5 11.e4 d4 [ 11...dxe4 12.c4! c7 13.xe4 f5 14.d5+- ] 12.c4 g8 13.0-0 d6 The picture is completely different for White to what usually happens when he wants to preserve a pawn o n d 4 wi t h o u t l o s i n g t h e o n e o n b 2 : N o annoying pressure in the center or against b2, good squares for his knights, a powerful light sq u a r e d b is h o p a n d e ve n a b e t t e r k i n g ! 14.h4 On the other hand, he has to play actively for the opponent's strong protected passed pawn and pair of bishops should not be neglected. [ 14.d5!? e7 ( 14...h3 15.e1 ) 15.c4 c7 16.xb7! b8 17.d5 ] 14...e7 15.ae1 b8 16.f4! exf4 17.e5 h6 18.hf3 b5 19.e4! bxc4 20.f6+ d8 21.cxd4 cxd4 22.d2? [ 22.xg8 xg8 ( 22...b6 23.xh7 ) 23.xd4 e7 ] 22...d3 23.a5+? c7 24.xa7 b8! 25.h1 [ 25.xg8 b6+ 26.xb6 xb6+ 27.h1 xg8-+ ] [ 25.f2 is better c6 26.xg8 g7 27.a6?! ( 27.a3 xg8 28.h1 ) 27...b6 28.ef1 a5! 29.h1 ( 29.f6 c8 30.b5 xf2+ 31.xf2 xb5 ) 29...xg8-+ ] 25...g6 The way the Czech Grandmaster has led the attack is completely incomprehensible. The material could be about equal, although unbalanced with a rook against 2 pieces and a ruined structure, he could have the d-file opened, instead he is now a piece down with no open lines for his rooks! 26.d4 xf6! He must have overlooked this reply and the sequence initiated by 24... Rb8! the purpose of which being to put the king in the corner. 27.exf6 f5 28.xc4 g3+ 29.g1 e2+ [ 29...xb2! 30.h4 2133
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A) 30...h5!! 31.xd3 ( 31.c3 b6+ [ 19...c7 20.xc7 xc7 21.hd1 ] 32.h2 xg2+! 33.xg2 g4 34.e8+ 20.hd1 f6 21.d6! a4 xe8 35.xd3+ d7 ) 31...b6+ 32.h2 [ 21...xh2? 22.f4 ] g4 The threat of Qh3 mate will cost 22.b4! Black is being completely outplayed! White the house.; b5 23.g1 B) 30...xf1 31.xf1 xf6 32.xd3 g6 [ 23.xb5 b6 Liberating the poor is an elementary win even with little time imprisoned bishop at the cost on only one on the clock. ] pawn that Black will have good chances to 30.xe2 Obviously White is not very keen on regain afterwards, by hitting the weaknesses repeating moves. dxe2 31.xe2 xf6 32.b3 on a2 and c3. ] b6 33.h1 f5 34.d2 c8 35.h3 d6 [ 23.g2!? After this move, intending the 36.b2 d3 37.a1 c6 38.h2 e2 same plan of h2-h3, if necessary for tactical Rg6 is coming. 39.e1 f2 40.h8+ d8 reasons, followed by f3-f4, I do not fancy 41.xh7 xf3 42.f5+ b8 Black's chances much: In addition to the 0-1 extra tempo, White would also have had a be t te r kin g co mp a re d to th e ga m e ! a6 24.xc8 ( 24.xb5 xh2 25.f4? g4+ 2185 A45 26.f3 e8 27.d3 ae6-+ ) 24...xc8 25.f4 g4+ 26.g1 xc3 27.xb7 ] Menacher,Manfred 2327 Hebden,Mark 2544 23...b6 24.f1 a6 25.a3 g7 26.h3 b8 12th Monarch Assurance (4) 30.09.2003 27.f4 xd6 28.xd6 e8 29.c4 xe3 [ 29...bxc4? 30.c3 ] [Eric Prié] 30.xb6 bxc4 31.b5 xb5! [ 31...c8 32.b8 e8 33.b6 ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 32.xb5 axa3 33.xa3 xa3 34.c5 d5 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 35.c7+ h6 36.f7 e4 37.d7 d3 38.g2 d1+ 39.h2 d2 40.g1 c3 exf4 12.d4 g6!? 13.g3 [ 13.h3 d6 14.b5 e5 15.e3 fxe3 41.f3 d1 42.c7 d4 43.e5! d2 [ 43...d3 44.xe4 fxe4 45.g4+ h5 16.e2 0-0 17.xe3 e8 18.d2 d5 46.xh7# ] 19.g1 d7 20.d3 d4 21.xd4 f4+ 22.c2 d5 Miles,A (2595) -Olafsson,H 44.f3 d1 45.e5 d2 ½-½ (2505) Reykjavik 1998) ] [ Of course not 13.e3 fxe3 14.e2 h6 The whole idea of Black's 12th, while the 2186 A45 f5 square is naturally under control. ] Mensch,Etienne 2368 13...d6 If Black is forced to release the bind Giffard,Nicolas 2343 after 05.05.2004 [ 13...h6 14.h3 fxg3 15.hxg3 ChT Top 16 France (8.5) he surely does not want his bishop on the h- [Eric Prié] file. ] 14.b5 b8 15.gxf4 xf4 16.e3! 1.d4 f6 2.g5 d6 3.xf6 exf6 4.e3 f5 A common trick which is why the idea of trying 5.g3 d7 6.g2 f6 7.e2 g6 8.c4 g7 to activate his queen's rook via the 5th rank 9.bc3 0-0 10.0-0 e8 11.b4 c6 12.d3 struck Black's mind in the previous game. e5 The critical position of this system which, for Black, presents the advantage of not requiring 17.h3 0-0 [ 17...a5 18.a4 d5 19.f2 c7 any specia l the oret ica l kno wled ge as h e 20.xc7+ ( 20.f4 xb5 21.fxe5 c7 invariably adopts the same development seth5! 'Practically' the only idea. In our 22.f3 f6 23.exf6 f8 24.e2 xf6 up. 25.hf1 ) 20...xc7 21.e2 h5 previous reference game , Stefanova-Klinova, Black had played the less accurate 12...Qe7. 22.g2 ] 13.h4 g4 This attack, as fierce as it may be, 18.e2 d5 19.f2 f5 2134
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 should not wo rk as W hite's piece s' goo d positioning guarantees him counter-play and defensive chances. 14.f4 [ 14.b5!? d7 ( 14...c5 15.dxc5 dxc5 16.xd8 xd8 17.ad1 ) 15.fb1 g5 16.hxg5 xg5 17.bxc6 bxc6 18.b7 c8 19.c7 h4 20.xc6 hxg3 21.xg3 h4 looks very "hot" for instance, but 22.d1 xe3 23.fxe3 xg3+ 24.f1 b8 25.b1 repulses the attack. ] 14...g5 15.hxg5 xg5 This is the point: If Black has to go 'all in' and 'sacrif ice' his structure for the attack, then it is better not to have wasted any time by having played 12... Qe7. Indeed, as we have seen, the square e4 is a lure for a black knight which does not prevent the opponent from building a strong initiative on the queenside. 16.ae1 h4 17.h3 h6 18.gxh4 xh4 19.e2 e6 20.ef4 h6 21.b5 d7 22.bxc6 bxc6 23.b1 h8 24.b7 f6 25.a3 g8 26.xd7?! [ 26.xd6 f8 27.e5 e6 28.c1 g4 Remains very complicated. ] 26...xd7 27.xa7 e5!! [ 27...e5 w a s w e a k e r . 28.dxe5 dxe5 29.e2 f6 30.g3 f4 31.xf7 fxg3 32.f4 ( 32.f3 e7 33.f5 xc4 34.xe5+ f6 ) 32...e4 33.e6 ] 28.dxe5 xg2+?? [ 28...dxe5 29.xd7 exf4 30.xf5 xh3 31.xh3 xh3 32.exf4 ( 32.d1 f3 ) 32...h4 33.f3 ( 33.d1 hg4 ) 33...xf4 34.c1 xf3-+ ] 29.xg2? [ 29.xg2 dxe5 ( 29...g4+ 30.h2 xe5 31.f3 xf3+ 32.xf3 xf3 33.d4+ h7 34.d2 And the white cavalry holds the house. ) 30.g1! exf4 31.d4+! ( 31.xf4 g4+ 32.f1 d1+ 33.g2 g4+ ) 31...h7 32.xf4 e5! 33.f1 g4 34.g3 h1+ 35.e2 b1 36.h3 xa2+ 37.f1 ( 37.f3 xc4 ) 37...c2! with a draw in sight. ] 29...xh3 30.f4 c5! 31.a8+ [ 31.xf7 h1+ 32.f2 d3+ 33.e2 xg2+ 34.xd3 e4+ ( 34...xf1+ ) 35.c3 xe3+ 36.b4 b6+! 37.a4 a6+ 38.b4 c5+ 39.c3 The forced retreat onto a rank that allows Black's rook activation now makes the mating process
trivial. h3+ 40.b2 h2+ 41.c1 a3+ 42.d1 d3+ 43.c1 c2# ] 31...h7 32.f8 h2+ 33.f2 d3+ 34.e2 xg2+ 35.xd3 xf1+ [ 35...e4+ As previously, leads to mate. ] 36.c3 c1+ 37.d3 b1+ 38.c3 b7 39.exd6 h2 40.d3 c5 41.e7 b1+ 0-1
2187 A45 Mensch,Etienne 2249 Nicoara,Malina 2245 ch-(team) 1998-9 French Team Ch FRA (1) [Aaron Summerscale] A very interesting sideline of the 2...c5 Tromp is 3.Nc3 when the game takes on a Sicilian character. Both players tend to go hell for leather at the opposing kings. Often it is a case of survival of the fastest. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 This is an important alternative to the more usual Bxf6. Play now develops along lines more familiar to Sicilian defence players. cxd4 4.xd4 c6 5.h4 e6 6.e4 The battle lines are drawn, White will attack in the center and Kingside while Black will counter on the queenside. e7 7.0-0-0 a5 8.f4 d6 9.f3 a6 Perhaps the first inaccuracy. [ 9...h6 Joe Gallagher gives this improvement in his book "The Trompowsky", when White should probably continue with: 10.b5 ] 10.e1 This move appears a bit retrograde, but rather than being a meek retreat, White is intending some vigorous central action. b5 11.e5 b4 Ultimately, this is the only way to stop a White knight landing unimpeded on d6, but 11...dxe5 should have been interposed first. [ 11...dxe5 12.fxe5 b4 13.exf6 gxf6 would have given Black less problems. ] 12.exf6 gxf6 13.xf6 xf6 14.e4 Now the pawn on d6 proves a juicy target. e7 15.xd6+ f8 16.b1 White sensibly prevents potential counterplay before continuing with the attack. c7 17.d2 W hite, a pawn up, clearly doesn't fear an endgame. a5 18.e5 Clever play! White is using Black's reluctance to exchange queens 2135
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with Qxd6 to force further concessions. d8 19.xc8 xc8 20.a6 b8 Black caves in under the pressure, however, [ 20...a8 21.e2 intending a combination of Rd7/Qh5 was no picnic either. ] 21.d7+ Forcing a decisive gain of material. g8 22.e3 To add insult to injury, White is now threatening mate. White must have been enjoying himself. f6 23.xb8 xb8 24.d7 f8 25.hd1 Black is bound hand and foot and had no reason to continue. 1-0
2188 Mikhalevski,Victor Matikozian,Andranik Gufeld Memorial (1) [Eric Prié]
A45 2548 2450 22.11.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 e6 5.d3 d6 The whole idea of 4...e6. 6.f3!? [ Of course, 6.xd6 xd6! With the nice plan ...Nd7, ...b6, ... Bb7, and ...c5 does not promise anything for White. ] 6...xf4 7.exf4 d6 8.bd2! The compensation after [ 8.g3 b4+ 9.bd2 xd2 10.xd2 ( 10.xd2 xd4 ) 10...xb2 ( 10...xd2+ 11.xd2 is almost equal.) 11.0-0 a3 are less clear. ] 8...xf4 [ 8...f6 9.g3 ] 9.g3 d6 10.xe4 dxe4 11.xe4 d7 [ 11...b4+ 12.d2 xb2 ( 12...xd2+ 13.xd2 d7 14.c3 ) 13.0-0 Already threatening Rfb1 followed by the advantageous recapture of b7 and if a3 Then ( 13...0-0? 14.xh7+! xh7 15.d3+ f5 16.fb1 ) 14.g5! f8 ( 14...0-0? 15.xh7+ xh7 16.h5+ g8 17.g5 ) 15.ab1 c6 16.c4 Looks like presenting Black with some unsolvable development problems. ( 16.fe1 )] 12.e2 f6 [ 12...b4+ 13.c3 ] 13.0-0-0 xe4 14.xe4 d5 [ 14...0-0? 15.g5 g6 16.h4 h5 17.e4 ] 15.xd5! exd5 16.he1+ e6 [ 16...f8 17.d3! Gives White a strong
in it ia tive . h6 18.c3 c6 19.e5 e6 20.b3 ] 17.g5 d7 18.e5! ae8 [ 18...f6 19.xe6 h6 20.de1 hxg5 21.e7+ c6 22.1e6+ b5 23.xc7+- ] 19.xe6 fxe6 20.f4 hf8 White's plan is simple: Profit from his space advantage to activate his king and prepare the only serious pawn break available in the position (Black's ...c5 is not equivalent as it can be adequately met by c2-c3) directly against the backward e6 weakness to transpose into a won king en dgam e . Alt ho ugh I a m a wa re th a t th is ending is a real torture for Black, 'my instinct' tells me that he should somehow be able to counter this plan with precise play and great technique, but I have to admit that I have not seen how yet! 21.de1 c6 The first step in the defence is to exchange one rook so this mo ve is co mp ulso ry in th e Ro ok e nd in g, anyway. It is not necessary to calculate if the king and pawn ending is lost after [ 21...f5 22.xf5 exf5 23.e5 xe5 24.dxe5 ( 24.fxe5 g5 25.h4 h6= )] 22.d2 f5 23.h4 xe5 24.xe5 b6 25.e3 f8 [ 25...c5 This move is not only an attempt to find some activity but is also essential to improve the pawn structure in view of the transpositions to king endings. Unfortunately f o r Bla ck it a lso wea ken s a n im p orta n t support of the d5 pawn. 26.f5!! ( 26.dxc5 bxc5 27.c4 e7; 26.c3 f8 27.h5 h6 28.g4 cxd4+ 29.cxd4 c8 ) 26...d6 ( 26...exf5 27.xe8 xe8 28.f4 g6 29.dxc5! bxc5 30.e5+- ) 27.c3! e7 ( 27...a5 28.a4 h6 29.f4 c4 30.g4 e7 31.h5 e8 32.g5 e7 33.gxh6 gxh6 34.fxe6 xe6 35.f5 ) 28.f4 cxd4 29.cxd4 a5 ( 29...exf5 30.xe7 xe7 31.xf5 d6 32.g4 a6 33.b4 a5 34.b5 a4 35.a3 d7 36.e5 ) 30.a4 A) 30...h6 31.g4 e8 32.g5 e7 33.h5 ( 33.f6? gxf6 34.gxf6 f7 ) 33...e8 34.xe6+ xe6 35.fxe6 xe6; B) 30...e8 Black is completely tied up 31.g5 e7 32.h5 e8 33.h6 gxh6+ 34.xh6 e7 35.xe6+ xe6+ 36.fxe6 xe6 37.xh7 f5 38.h6 g4 39.g6 xg3 40.f5 f3 41.e5+- ] 26.h5 h6 27.g4 Otherwise, Black will play 2136
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Rf5. e7 28.e5 d6 [ 28...g6 29.h5 gxh5 30.xh5 ] [ 28...f6 29.f5 exf5 30.xf5+ e7 31.xf8 xf8 32.f4 ] 29.f5 f6 [ 29...exf5 30.gxf5 ] 30.h5 e7 [ 30...c5 31.c3 c4 32.f4 ] 31.f4 f7 [ 31...a5 32.a4 b5 33.g5 ] 32.b4!! exf5 [ 32...e7 33.g5 hxg5+ 34.xg5 xf5+ ( 34...f7 35.xe6 xe6 36.fxe6+ xe6 37.g6 ) 35.xf5 exf5 36.b5! cxb5 37.xf5+- ] [ 32...a6 33.e3! ( 33.a4 a5 34.bxa5 bxa5 35.g5 hxg5+ 36.xg5 xf5+ 37.xf5+ exf5 38.xf5 e7 39.g6 f8= )] [ 32...a5 33.b5! cxb5 34.g5 hxg5+ 35.xg5 exf5 36.xf5 b4 37.xf6+ gxf6+ 38.f5 a4 39.h6 ] 33.gxf5 [ 33.xf5 xf5+ 34.xf5 b5= ] 33...d6 34.e3 f6 [ 34...c5 35.dxc5 bxc5 36.e5! ( 36.bxc5 c6 37.a3 xc5 38.xa7+ f6 39.a6+ f7 With some drawing chances.) 36...a6 ( 36...d4 37.a3 ) 37.bxc5 xa2 38.c3 d4 ( 38...e7 39.c6 d8 40.d6 d4 41.b3 c8 42.f6 gxf6 43.g3 ) 39.c6! dxc3 40.c7 a5+ 41.d4!+- ( 41.d6 a6+ 42.d7?? a4 43.c8 d4+ 44.c6 c4+ )] 35.g3 f7 36.e5 d7 37.g6 e7+ 38.e6 xe6+ [ 38...a6 39.d6 ] 39.fxe6+ e7 40.b5 cxb5 41.xd5 1-0
position, except that it is his turn to move here. That should, one might have thought, be enough for Black to equalise here, and, indeed, e6 5.g4!? g6 6.h4 h6 7.e3 a6 8.h5 h7 9.d3 c5 10.ge2 xd3 11.cxd3!? cxd4 12.xd4 bd7 13.de2 e5 14.g3 d6 saw Black's strong centre o f f s e t W h i t e ' s e xt ra ki n g s id e s p a c e i n Jobava-Hovhannisyan, European Championship, Yerevan 2014, as we've seen before. ] 2...e4 3.f4 d5 4.f3 f6 5.c3 [ On the current evidence this is a more powerful weapon than the BlackmarDiemeresque 5.e4 . ] 5...f5 [ Black tries to prevent e2-e4, but now White will switch to another advance. More common and arguably more critical is 5...e6 when 6.e4 e7 ( 6...b4 is also rather important - see the Archive) 7.d2 0-0 8.0-0-0 a6 9.g4! was the sharp course of Kokarev-Dvoirys, Khanty-Mansiysk 2013, as we covered fairly recently. ] 6.g4! [ Taking the opportunity to enjoy Jobava-Prie waters a whole move ahead. This just looks good, if still a little radical to a classical eye, and much better than 6.e4!? dxe4 7.fxe4 xe4 8.d3 . ] 6...g6 7.h4 h6 [ The invariable way of saving the bishop. Moreover, here it's fairly essential as 7...h5? 8.g5 either sees d5 fall if Black retreats to d7 or leaves him in serious trouble after g8 9.e4 : f or example , e6 10.exd5 exd5 11.e2+! e7 12.b5+ bc6 13.0-0-0 with a huge initiative for the first player. ] 8.e3 [ 8.d2 e6 9.0-0-0 c5 would have given 2189 A45 B l a c k c o u n t e r p l a y, s o t h e S e r b i a n M r Trompowsky plumps for a sensible Miladinovic,Igor 2583 positional continuation, exchanging of f Cabarkapa,Novak 2392 Black's best minor piece. ] Serbian Championship, Subotica (4.4) 8...e6 9.d3! xd3 10.xd3 There's no [Richard Palliser] need to recapture with the pawn here as the active queen will be quite an asset. c5!? 1.d4 f6 2.g5 [ The talented 18 year-old behind the black [ It's worth comparing the game continuation p i e c e s k n o ws n o f e a r a n d i s h a p p y t o with that most topical of beasts, the Jobavasacrifice a pawn. However, one might make Prie Attack: 2.c3 d5 3.f4 f5 4.f3 a g o o d c a s e f o r t h e r e s t r a i n e d 10...a6 . You'll find Miladinovic encounter this very 2137
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 . After 11.ge2 c5 12.dxc5 ( this does develop Black's bishop in one move, but White surely can't contemplate 12.0-0-0 c4 13.d2 b5 with an automatic attack for Black ) 12...xc5 13.0-0-0 c6 I would slightly prefer to play W hite, but everything remains up for grabs. A sample line: 14.d4 xd4 15.exd4 b5 16.b1 c8 17.e3! a5 18.b3 and as Black still can't castle, White should be a little better despite having had to weaken his king's defences. ] 11.b5+ New in praxis, but clearly the critical test of Black's last. d7 12.dxc5 [ Black is still very much on the board after t h i s , s o I w o n d e r t o o a b o u t 12.xd7+!? , and if xd7 ( 12...bxd7 13.b5 d8 14.d6 xd6 15.xd6 nabs a bishop for knight advantage) 13.ge2 c6 14.0-0-0 c4 15.e5! followed by an exchange on f6 and e3-e4 with some pressure. ] 12...c6 [ I wonder if Cabarkapa was put off 12...a6 by 13.xd7+ bxd7 ( 13...fxd7! 14.a4 c6 is the way to do things and 15.d6?! xd6 16.cxd6 b5 17.c3 de5 will regain the pawn with a good game) 14.a4 xc5? 15.b6 d8 16.c7 e7 17.b4! when Black won't obtain enough for the exchange. ] 13.0-0-0 0-0-0? [ A strange choice, but presumably Black badly underestimated White's next. Correct was 13...a6 when 14.b6 is the only way t o h o l d t h e e x t r a p a w n , b u t a f t e r c8 15.a4 d7 that is only going to live for one more move. ] 14.a4 e5 15.h2 Granted Black does have a powerful-looking centre, but both the rook on d1 and the bishop on h2 radiate power and there's still that matter of the extra pawn on c5. e8! Cabarkapa begins the fight-back well. The knight is bound for e6. 16.e2 c7 17.d3 e6?! [ Completing his regrouping, but by this stage he would have done better with 17...e6 18.b1 e7 , settling for being a pawn down and placing the emphasis on White to find a good way to go forward. ] 18.ec3 b4? [ Retreating the knight to c7 would have been
grim and 18...d4 19.c4 a5 20.e2 f6 21.b5! also looks quite unpleasant, but the tactic which Black is playing for turns out to be badly flawed. ] 19.f5 Completely undermining the once proud black centre. There's absolutely no reason to worry about a2. xa2+ 20.b1 xc3+ 21.xc3 [ It's never nice to resign when one isn't material down, but Black would quickly have been just that after, say, 21.xc3 xc5 22.xe5 d6 23.d4 . ] 1-0
2190 Miladinovic,Igor Chatalbashev,Boris 47th It Reggio Emilia ITA (8) [Eric Prié]
A45 2611 2554 05.01.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 a6 5.d4 axc5 One big question, nevertheless, amongst others concerning this line, remains: since the Greek player, despite a period of neglect, has never really stopped playing it, what has he found on [ 5...a5+ 6.c3 xg5 A) 7.b4!? xb4 ( 7...e6 8.bxa5 xd4 9.cxd4 e5 10.e3 b4 11.a3 ) 8.cxb4 e6 9.b2 d8 10.d2 b6 ( 10...a5 11.a3 axb4 12.axb4 xa1+ 13.xa1 b6 ) 11.cxb6 xb6 12.e3 b8 13.c1! Dittmar, P-Radecke, P Bad W iessee op 1999 1-0 (33) W ith the type of unclear, 'resembling nothing' position that he is usually fond of...; B) 7.hxg5 ? Well, maybe something like xc5 8.f3 xd4 9.xd4 g6 10.e4 g7 11.d2 c7 Igor Stohl commenting the game for ChessBase asserted that Black was slightly better because of his 2 Bs... whereas Miladinovic pretended the contrary in the Inf ormant af ter 12.a4 ! i n s t e a d o f 12.c4? b5! 13.d3 b4 With queenside pressure that eventually led, after lots of complications, to the loss of the c3 pawn and the game. Miladinovic, I-Adams, M Olm Moscow 1994 0-1 (44) ] 6.c3! xc3 7.xc5 e4 8.d5 xg5 9.hxg5 b6 10.0-0-0 e6 11.d2 xf2 2138
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.h3!! e7 13.f3 c5 14.e4 d6 15.e5! dxe5 [ 15...d5 16.d3 d7 17.g6 ] 16.h4! Playing this line with White is something very special. "You must be born with it" or something like that. Constantly t e e t e r i n g o n t h e e d g e o f a n a b ys s , a n d developing treasures of ingenuity along the hfile not to tumble ... and I am convinced that the witchcraft of the 94 W orld Junior Champion (I witnessed him beating Babula, who was half a point ahead at the time, with a Chigorin as Black in the last round!) is not t r a n s f e r a b l e . 0-0? Castling coffin side. But what else? Deflecting the rook with [ 16...e4 17.xe4 wins one tempo and gives the possibility of freeing the queen's bishop with e6-e5 but does not solve all the problems. Then Fritz comes up with the radical b5!? 18.e5 c7 19.xb5+ f8 and seems to be happy with his counter play on the b file... ] 17.d3 h6 [ 17...g6 18.dh1 h5 19.g4 is also crushing e4 20.xe4 c4 21.gxh5 xa2 22.c3 d8 23.e2 ] 18.c4+- d5 19.gxh6 g6 20.c3! b5 21.xg6! b4 [ 21...xc4 22.xe5 f6 23.g3 h8 24.h7! f7 25.g8# ] 22.e1 a5 23.e4 From this stage, with B la c k u t t e rl y o u t f la n ke d , a n yt h in g win s , including the most flashy [ 23.g3 f6 24.g4 fxg6 ( 24...xa2 25.e4+ h8 26.g7 a1+ 27.d2 d8+ 28.e3 ) 25.xg6+ f7 Mate in 5 Do you see it? 26.xf6+ xf6 27.g7+ f5 28.g5+ e4 29.d4+! exd4 30.d2# ] 23...h8 24.xa8 a6 [ 24...xa2 25.xe5+ f6 26.g3 g8 27.xc8 ] 25.d5! xa2 [ 25...b6 26.c6 b8 27.d7 V e r y a e s t h e t i c ! xa8 28.xe7 xc6 29.g3 g8 30.xe5+ h7 31.xf7+ xh6 32.h2+ g6 33.h7# ] 26.xe5+ f6 27.g3 g8 28.g4 c8 29.h7! You can count the checks [ 29.h7 xc2+ 30.xc2 b3+ 31.c3 ] 1-0
2191 Miladinovic,Igor Georgieva,Ljubka XVIII Winter Open (3) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2518 2232 27.12.2002
Trompowsky: In the h4 Tromp there is one critical attacking idea that all W hite players must be aware of. The move g6 detonates t h e kin gsi d e , f o r cin g B l a ck t o t a k e a n t i positionally with the f-pawn. This game is instructive, as W hite doesn't rush to exploit his p o sit io n a l p lu s, b u t slo wly squ e e ze s Black's light squared weaknesses. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 a5+ 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 xc5 7.g6 One of the main ideas in the h4 tromp. fxg6 8.e3 c6 9.gf3 d6 10.c3 f5 Black has successfully covered the weakness on g6, but as we are about to see, White has more than one string to his bow. 11.b3 b6 12.g5 The e6 and f7 squares also prove to be sensitive. e5 13.a4 d3+? An ill-advised decision, as it results in the exchange of Black's important light squared bishop. [ 13...0-0-0 14.a5 c7 15.d4 is also unpleasant. ] [ 13...h6 14.a5 c7 15.d4 is similar but both these alternatives were preferable to the carnage below. ] 14.xd3 xd3 15.xd3 xb3 16.h4 W hite finds a nice use for his King's rook. Castling is not obligatory in chess, rules are made to be broken. a5 Stopping Rb4, but White has a rather vicious contingency plan. 17.c4! Cutting the queen from the defence of her king. e5 18.d5 e7 What else? 19.f7+ Slow torture. White knows he can win the Black queen at will. d7 20.e6+ e8 21.c8+ xc8 22.xb3 Posing Black the unpleasant choice of a quick death or slow lingering agony! Black chooses the former. xg5 23.e6+ 1-0
2139
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18...g6 ] A45 2604 11.e2 a6 Yannick blames this move as 2510 the first cause of his defeat because of the 24.02.2008 weakening of the d7 square ( after Bb5+ and the knight interposition) but also acknowledges that during the game (as now!) 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 An act of he could not see another way to get his pieces b r a v e n e s s ( D i d I h e a r b r a va d o ? ! ) t o b e out. [ 11...h6 12.c4 g5 13.a4+! d7 saluted from the young Frenchman who only ( 13...bd7 14.b6 ) 14.a5 ] needed a draw in this last round to clinch his s e c o n d G M n o r m ! I n d e e d , e n t e r i n g t h i s 12.c4 h6 13.a5 g5 14.g3 g4 [ 14...g6 15.d3 ] critical line against Mr Trompovic seems just [ 14...g7 15.e3 Again, disaster comes like playing in his opponent's court... However, via f5. ] following his inspiration along hot theory w i t h o u t f e a r w a s t h e p a t h t h a t p r o v e d 15.xb7!! xb7 [ 15...b4 16.c7 gxf3 17.gxf3 g8 18.a3 successful when he made the first one, a few xg3 19.axb4 cxb4 20.e5 dxe5 21.hxg3 weeks before, against Krasenkov in the Polish xh1 22.a4+ d7 ( 22...d7 23.c6 ) team championship. Furthermore, the 23.xd7 xd7 24.xe5 g7 25.xd7+ Yugoslav d-Pawn Specials legend did not f8 26.xb4 xe5 27.xe7+ g8 appear to be in his best form in the 28.xe5 ] tournament. 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 [ 15...gxf3 16.gxf3 ( 16.xd6+ exd6 7.e4 Something one could expect from 17.b5+ d7 18.xd7 ) 16...g8 Ivanisevic's compatriot rather than the lame 7. 17.xd6+ exd6 18.b5+ d7 ( 18...d7 Bc1. xb2 8.d2 xc3 9.c7 d6 10.b1!! 19.xd7 e3+ 20.f1 ) 19.xd7! xd7 A sensational Novelty as well as the best 20.xd7+ xd7 21.a4+ e7 22.f5+ move in this position to the naked eye! White f6 23.c3++- ] is not in a hurry to chase the opposing queen t h a t wil l b e u n c o m f o rt a b ly p la ce d in h e r 16.f5 [ 16.xd6+ In fact is 'more forcing' d7 k in gs id e re f u ge i n a n y ca s e . I n st e a d h e ( 16...exd6 17.b5+ d7 18.xd7+ xd7 a c t i va t e s a p o we r f u l p i e c e , i n t r o d u c i n g 19.a4+ e7 20.f5+ f6 21.c3+ g6 pernicious ideas like Rb1-b3 or Bxb8 followed 22.xh6 xh6 23.d7 c8 24.xd6+ ) by Qd1-a4+xa7 when the queen's rook is not 17.b5+ xd6 18.f5+ e5 19.c3+ hanging on a1 anymore. f4 20.c1# ] [ 10.e2 e3 11.c4 ( 11.c1?! b5! Gozzoli, Y already! Where would you prefer 1-0 this rook, here or on b1?!) 11...h6 12.a5 g5 was my previous reference where I found A45 Black OK. Incidentally there is an article 2193 about 9...d6 in this Chernyshov gambit in the Miladinovic,Igor 2563 very last NIC yearbook no. 86 which went Ivanov,Jordan 2461 out just a few days before this game was 1st It A Salou ESP (7) 23.10.2000 played ... which puts everything back into [Aaron Summerscale] doubt! ] 10...e3+ T r o m p o ws k y A t t a c k : I n o n e o f t h e m o s t [ 10...b6 Is the first 'normal' try but then theoretically important lines in the whole Black may face some serious annoyance on Tromp, White unleashes an important novelty, the light squares, precisely because the wh ich I h ave a f e elin g m ay a t trac t a f e w White queen is free: 11.a4+ d7 12.b5 followers. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 d4 13.xd7+ bxd7 ( 13...fxd7 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 14.c4 ) 14.c6 c8 15.e2 d3 16.b7 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.e3 xc7 17.xc7 a6 18.c4 ( 18.c6 ) This is Miladinovic's new idea, in a position 2192 Miladinovic,Igor Gozzoli,Yannick 6th Festival Gp A (9) [Eric Prié]
2140
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 which previously seemed fine for Black. [ The "normal" 10.d4 appears to be well met by the pawn sacrifice e5 11.xc6 dxc6 12.xe5 e6 13.a3 b5 with good counterplay in Miles-Hebden, British Championship 2000. ] 10...b5 White entices the pawn forward, into an extremely vulnerable and isolated position, where it can easily be targeted. 11.d2 e5 12.e4 b4 13.b5 bxc3 14.xc3 White can be reasonably satisfied with the results of the opening. He has the initiative and the better pawn structure. b4 15.e2 e7 16.c1 White prepares an invasion along the c-file, e n c o u r a g i n g B l a c k t o t a k e a c t i o n . xa2 Very committal. I suspect that Black had overlooked W hite's 19th. 17.xc6 xc3+ 18.xc3 xb2 19.d5 xg2 Black may h a ve t h r e e p a wn s f o r h i s p ie c e , b u t t h e compromised nature of his structure leaves him clearly worse. 20.c4 b5 Black may be in a very bad way, but this pawn sacrifice simply makes matters worse. 21.xb5 b7 22.c5 a8 23.f1 b2 Blundering a second pawn, which proves fatal, but he was lost in any case. 24.d3 1-0
2194 Miladinovic,Igor Janssen,Ruud Kavala op-11 (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2501 2468 14.08.2002
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 a5+ 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 g6 7.c3 xc5 8.gf3 g7 9.a4 c6 [ 9...0-0? 10.a5! d5 11.a4 Of course, this is the only idea: To ingeniously make a way for the white queen towards the kingside in case of an over hasty kingside castles from Black, and not, even if it actually happens, "an ambitious queenside space-gaining plan". Commenting the game Aaron gave this savoury observation at this stage: "Hello. Where are you off to?". I find it genuinely appropriate... c6 12.b3!? ( 12.h4 h5 13.gxh6 f6 14.a4 ) 12...c4 13.a3 T h r e a t e n i n g R h 4 . g4 ( 13...e5; 13...e4 ) 14.g3 e5? ( 14...e5 15.xe5
xe5 16.xe7? e4! 17.h4 xc3+ 18.bxc3 xe7 ) 15.c5!! You know the famous chess maxim... "The queen always has a square". Well, it clashes here with an eve n mo re co nsensua l gen eral sa ying: " e v e r y r u l e h a s i t s e x c e p t i o n " ! xa5 ( 15...f5 16.0-0-0! Taking the c2 square, after which Bh3, catching the black queen, is unavoidable. ) A) 16.h3 c4 ( 16...h5? 17.g4! xg4 18.g2 ) 17.d2 b5 18.xa5 xa5 19.xa5 b6; B) 16.h4! B1) 16...f5 17.xa5 ( 17.h3 c2 18.xa5 b6 19.a4 xb2 20.b3 ) 17...b6 18.a4 bxc5 19.h3; B2) 16...c4 17.b3 f5 18.h3 "Finally bagging the Black lady". Miladinovic, I-Pfrommer, C Bad Woerishofen op 2003 1-0 (30) You can find the rest of this great game, where White continued to display considerable ingenuity in order to exploit his minimal material advantage of a queen against rook bishop and pawn, previously commented by my predecessor, in his usual (full of...) light style where the moves (and not the variations!) speak for themselves. ] 10.a5 d5! [ 10...xa5? 11.b4 xc3 12.xa5 ] 11.e4 e6 12.a6 b6 13.a4 0-0! 14.exd5 xd5 15.h4 Completing the idea. However, is it enough to make up for the wasted time which leaves his king stuck in the centre in a dangerously open position? As a matter of fact, White castling on any side now looks problematic... fd8 16.c4 [ 16.xh7+ f8 17.e2 xf3 18.xf3? ( 18.gxf3 Like in the game is the only recapture xd2 19.xd2 d8+ 20.e1 xc3+ 21.f1 xb2 ) 18...xd2!! 19.xd2 xf2+ 20.c1 b4 The point of the attack. 21.e4 ( 21.cxb4 c8+ 22.d1 d8+ 23.c1 xb2# ) 21...e3+ 22.b1 xe4+ 23.c1 c2# ] 16...xf3! 17.xf3 [ 17.gxf3 e5! 18.e2 ( 18.0-0-0? xd2 19.xd2 xc4-+ ) 18...d3+! 19.xd3 xd3 20.e4 b5! Without this move, White would have been OK but it is here, as 2141
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a result of the opponent's initiative not being exhausted. 21.xh7+ f8 22.h3 xb2 23.0-0 ad8 ] 17...b5! 18.b3 xc3+! 19.f1 [ 19.bxc3 xc3+ 20.e2 b2+ 21.c2 ( 21.e3 xb3+ ) 21...xc2+ 22.f1 d1+ 23.xd1 ( 23.e1 d3+ 24.g1 h5 ) 23...xd1+ 24.e1 h5 25.gxh6 h7 26.f4 f8-+ ] 19...g7 [ 19...xb2?? 20.xh7+ f8 21.xf7# ] 20.xh7+ f8 21.h4 White must have pin n e d his h o p e s o n t h is m o ve bu t a f t e r Black's next it will be clear that he will not be given the time to reorganize. [ 21.h4 d3! ] 21...f5! Taking all the important squares while actually threatening ...Qd3+, and ... Qxb3. [ 21...d3?? 22.xf7! ] 22.g1 [ 22.g3? xf3 23.xf7 xf7 24.f4+ xf4 25.gxf4 h8 I have always liked this theme! ] [ 22.d1 d4 ( 22...xb2 23.d4 xd4 24.xd4 e5 25.f4 g7 ) 23.xd4 xd4 24.f3 c8 ] 22...d4! 23.xd4 xd4 [ 23...xd4?? 24.xd4 xd4 25.h8# ] 24.xd4 xd4 25.h4 xb2 Game over, as g5 will soon know the same fate. 26.d1 c8 27.g3 [ 27.h3 xh3 28.gxh3 c3 29.d8+ g7 30.d1 a3 31.e2 xa6 32.xb5 a5 33.d5 e6 ] 27...e5 28.e3 c3 29.xa7 xb3 30.a8+ g7 31.a7 d3! [ 31...d3 32.f1 b1 ] [ 31...b1 32.d5 g3! 33.a8 ( 33.fxg3 xd5 34.xb1 d4+ 35.h2 xa7 ) 33...xf2+ 34.h1 f1+ 35.xf1 xf1# With the same motive was a nice one too! ] 0-1
2195 Miladinovic,Igor Marzolo,Cyril GM Nancy FRA (4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2611 2428 16.02.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 a5+ 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 g6 7.h4 c6 8.c4 d5 9.cxd6 e6 10.c3! By releasing the annoying pin on the a5-e1 diagonal, 'Mr Trompopoulos' once again enlightens us in this variation, HIS variation. exd6 Probably the best move actually. [ 10...xc4 11.xc4 xg5 A) 12.f3!? f5 ( 12...f6 13.d7+ d8 14.a4 c7 15.0-0-0 d8 16.a5 h6+ 17.e3 xa5 18.xa5+ b8 19.c4 With such a pawn on d7 firmly supported by the bishop if necessary, as a result of the exchange of the only potentially obstructive piece, White cannot be worse. ) 13.d4 d7 14.b5 exd6 15.d5 d8 ( 15...0-0-0 16.xa7+ xa7 17.b6+ ) 16.e4+ e7 17.bxd6+ f8 18.0-0-0 g7 ( 18...e6 19.xe6 fxe6 20.xb7 xd1+ 21.xd1 ); B) 12.d7+ d8 13.f3 ( 13.b3!? c7 14.f3 f5 15.e3 xd7 16.d5+ b8 17.0-0-0 ) 13...f5 14.d4! xd7 ( 14...d5 15.xc6+ bxc6 16.a4 g7 17.d1 b5 18.a3! a5 19.e3 Threatening Nd6, with a strong and probably decisive attack in return for a slim material investment. c7? 20.d8+ axd8 21.xe7+ c8 22.xd8+ xd8 23.d6+ xd6 24.xb5 ) 15.xc6+ bxc6 16.e5! xd1+ 17.xd1+ e8 18.g3 g7 19.g2 c8 20.xc6+ ( 20.xc6 a6 ) 20...f8 21.b7 e8 22.c6 h5 23.xa7 h4 24.gxh4 xh4 25.c6 At the moment the Rh4 is stopping the White steam-roller on the queenside but it will be difficult for Black to maintain the status quo with only one piece. ] [ 10...0-0-0 This move is also less efficient this time because of 11.a4 xg5 12.gf3 d5 13.d4 ] 11.f4 xg5 12.g3 [ 12.e3 e7 13.gf3 g7 14.c4 0-0 15.e2 d5 16.d3 a6 Planning ...b7-b5b4 ] 2142
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12...e7 13.g2 g7 14.c4 0-0 Missing an interesting chance of active play with the bishops instead of a cramped position behind the isolani. [ 14...d5! 15.xd5 ( 15.e3 h6 ) 15...d8 ( 15...0-0-0 16.xe6+ ) 16.xc6+ ( 16.e3 h6 17.e4 xe3 18.xe3 xd5 ) 16...bxc6 17.a4 0-0 18.xc6 ( 18.a5 d6 19.xc6? b7 ) 18...d5 19.a6 fe8 With a great position!... For two pawns, alas, that may prove a bit too much. ] 15.e3! ac8 [ 15...h6 16.e4 f5? 17.xe6 ] 16.d5 d8 17.a4? [ 17.e3 e5 18.e2 White is Ok intending Ra4, Nf4 ] 17...a6 The wrong way round [ 17...g5! 18.c4 a6 19.a3 b5 20.xc6 xc6 21.e7+ xe7 22.xc6 c7 23.xa6 ( 23.g2 a5 ) 23...b8 24.xb5 xc3+ 25.f1 xb2 26.d1 xa2! 27.xa2 xb5 ] 18.d1 g5 19.e4 Now that d5 is defended, this move is welcome. f5 20.e3 h8 21.f3 e5 22.xe5 xe5 [ 22...dxe5 23.b4 ] 23.b4! e6? [ 23...a5 24.b6 e6 25.xd8 cxd8 26.b6 With a pleasant ending for White. h5 ( 26...xa2 27.a1 e6 28.xa5 ) 27.d5 Intending Nc4. ] 24.b6 [ 24.b6 a5 A) 25.b5 e8! When resigning, Black possibly overlooked this resource, but not ( 25...c5? 26.xc5 dxc5 27.xd8 xd8 28.xe5 ); B) 25.xa5 c7 26.b4 cd8 27.d5+B la c k is a p a wn d o wn in a m is e ra b l e position in any case. ] 1-0
2196 A45 Miladinovic,Igor 2526 Pfrommer,Christoph 2293 19th Open Bad Woerishofen GER (3) 15.03.03 [Aaron Summerscale] Tro mp o wsk y: Mr Milad ino vic o nce aga in unleashes his favourite h4 Tromp and makes
full use of his resources to score the full point. Attention all h4 Tromp fans!! Make sure that you study this man's games. Only Hodgson rivals his understanding of this particular variation. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 a5+ 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 g6 Putting a stop to any g6 ideas by White. 7.c3 xc5 8.gf3 g7 9.a4 The tromp player has to be a creative sort and here whilst relatively undeveloped, White embarks on an ambitious queenside space-gaining plan. 0-0 10.a5 d5 11.a4 Hello. Where are you off to? c6 12.b3 [ 12.h4 looks tempting. h5 13.gxh6 f6 and the White attack flounders. ] 12...c4 Black is soooo worried about a possible kingside attack that he is tempted into anchoring his queen on a very vulnerable square. 13.a3 Threatening Rh4. g4 14.g3 e5 15.c5 Taking away yet more squares from the Black queen. xa5 16.h4 c4 17.b3 f5 18.h3 Finally bagging the Black lady. xh3 19.xh3 xh3 20.xb7 White has a winning material advantage. e4 Black must try to drum up counterplay. 21.xd5 exf3 [ 21...xb2 22.xe4 is no improvement for Black. ] 22.xc4 fxe2 23.xe2 fe8 24.e4 This may look awkward, but there is no way for Black to exploit the pin. h6 25.xa7! Beginning the final simplifying combination. ad8 26.gxh6 xh6 27.f6+! At first sight this looks dangerous, due to the pin along the e-file, but the Grandmaster, of course, has it a l l w o r k e d o u t ! f8 28.xe8 xe8 29.xe8+ xe8 30.a8+ Rh8 is coming next, winning a piece. 1-0
2197 A45 Miladinovic,Igor 2560 Potpara,Nikola 2260 Montenegrin Team Championship, Ulcinj (8.2) [Richard Palliser] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 [ And so again we see Miladinovic avoiding his old favourite, 3.h4 . ] 3...g5?! Full credit to Potpara for taking on his 2143
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 much higher-rated opponent, but this Groblike thrust surely can't be entirely correct. Still, it has some surprise value and is new to ChessPub, so we'll give it a bit of coverage. 4.e5 Richard Pert's recommendation and the critical test. That said, one can also make a decent argument for: [ a) I remember once being surprised by this sub-variation twice within the same simul and went 4.c1!? in both games. Afraid I've little recollection what happened after that, but more recently and relevantly g7!? 5.f3 d6 6.c3! ( 6.xg5?! c5 is Black's point and worth avoiding) 6...h6 7.e4 b6 ( 7...e5 might be tried, but after 8.e2 Black would rather have his pawn back on g6, covering the f5-square) 8.e3 a6? 9.xa6 xa6 10.d3 b8 11.e5 b7 12.h4 was a complete disaster for Black in Admiraal-Van Osch, Maastricht 2014. ] [ b) 4.e3 g7 5.f3 d6 6.c3 is a slower approach. It looks less critical to me, but was played by a Trompowsky expert and after c5?! ( creative, but again 6...e5 looks more to the point) 7.dxc5 c4 8.f2 d5 in Cebalo-Sucher, Triesen 2014, White might have seized an early initiative with 9.e4! . ] 4...f6 5.e3 h5 [ Tempting and the consistent follow-up. Perhaps 5...g7 6.h5+ f8 isn't so ridiculous, but after, say, 7.f3 ( or 7.d3 d5 8.f3 d6 9.xd6 xd6 10.h4!? ) 7...d6 8.fxe4 dxe5 9.c3!? one would surely prefer to take White. ] 6.e2 [ Threatening mate, but Pert prefers the "relatively rare " 6.d3!? and, moreover, makes a good case for the move: d5 7.f3 fxe5 8.fxe4 exd4 9.exd4 is all fairly forced and has given him a definite edge (just look at Black's king!) in a couple of online blitz encounters. ] 6...g4 [ Allowing White's bishop to live. It may not b e qu it e e n o u gh f o r a p a wn , b u t B la ck should surely prefer to generate some mess with 6...g7!? 7.xh5+ f8 : for instance, 8.g3 c5 9.f3 xg3 10.fxg3 cxd4 11.exd4 d5 when Black isn't getting mated and can hope to gradually probe on the dark
squares. ] 7.f4 d5?! A new move and not one which I like. That said, in any case White seems to be doing well: [ a) 7...f5 8.f3 f6 9.c3 d6 10.h3! saw W hite seizing the initiative in HuberLindorfer, Schoeneck 1998. ] [ b) Even 7...g7!? 8.d3 d5 9.e2 favours White as e5?! is rather well met by 10.dxe5 fxe5 11.xe4 dxe4 12.xd8+ xd8 13.g5+ . ] 8.f3! Miladinovic is quick to break up Black's pawns while harassing the knight. d6?! [ Hardly the world's best-ever gambit, but even 8...gxf3 9.xf3 g7 10.xh5+ f8 11.d2 wouldn't have given Black enough compensation. ] 9.fxg4 f7 10.g5? [ Miladinovic has a very unique style, but I really don't get this move. What was wrong with 10.gxh5 e5 11.g3 with two extra pawns? Black has a bit of compensation for one of them after h6 , but no more than that, especially with 12.dxe5 fxe5 13.c4! possible. ] 10...fxg5 11.g3 h4 12.e5?! [ The scary move, but I'd much prefer the passive 12.f2 even if White has already squandered most of his advantage. ] 12...h6?! [ The frankly baffling moves continue. After 12...xe5 13.dxe5 c6! , and if 14.h5+ d7 I'd rather take Black thanks to his unopposed dark-squared bishop. ] 13.c4 Continuing to battle for the initiative in this extremely murky position. c6 14.h5 e6 [ I also have my doubts about White's p o s i t i o n a f t e r 14...dxc4!? and then, for instance, 15.xf7+ xf7 16.f3 g4 17.0-0 g8! . ] 15.c3 cxe5 Removing a very useful bishop and leaving White practically all in: he needs the pin on f7 to win serious material. 16.dxe5 dxc4 17.f3 c6? [ Too slow. Black had to either take his c h a n c e s w i t h 17...g4 18.xf7+ xf7 19.f4 b6 20.ge2 h6 ] [ or go 17...xh5!? 18.xh5 d3 . Both lines are rather unclear, but surely Black cannot be worse. ] 2144
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.ge2 Suddenly Nd4 is a large threat and Potpara quickly collapses. g4 19.xf7+ xf7 20.f4 g7? [ Backwards queen moves are never easy to s p o t , b u t h e re B la ck re a lly h a d t o f in d 20...d3! 21.0-0 g6 . ] 21.0-0 h5 22.xc4?! [ Hardly bad, but one would have expected a grandmaster to pref er the more clinical 22.d4 ] [ or 22.g5! g6 23.f4 . ] 22...e6 23.e4 d5 Good defence from Potpara as the swings of fortune continue. 24.d6+ e7 25.c2? [ I might be wrong, but it does appear that Mi l a d i n o v ic r a t h e r u n d e r e s t i m a t e d h i s opponent and/or was just confident he'd always win. The text gives Black a definite chance, whereas with 25.b4! c5 26.a5! b6 27.a4 xe5 28.ad1! White would have obtained a very strong initiative in return for a bit of material. ] 25...xe5? [ Potpara may have overestimated the following sacrifice. Black would still have b e e n v e ry m u ch f i gh t in g a f t e r 25...xe5 26.c4 c5 27.ad1 f8 , ] [ or even 25...g6!? 26.ad1! f8! . ( Note here the need to avoid 26...xc2? 27.f7+ d8 28.xd5 exd5 29.xg7 when White dominates with his active rook and knight-pair. )] 26.ad1 xh2+? [ T h i s s i m p l y d o e s n ' t w o r k . 26...xd6 27.xd6 xd6 was the last chance. ] 27.xh2 e5+ 28.h1 g3 If it was Black's move then ...h3 might be dangerous, but it's not and White has a few ways to force the win. 29.c4 g5 30.d2 1-0
2198 Miladinovic,Igor Roeder,Mathias Masters Open (4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2604 2404 26.04.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4?! c5 4.dxc5 a6 5.d4 axc5 6.c3! xc3 7.xc5 e4 8.d5 xg5 9.hxg5 b6 10.0-0-0 e6
11.d2 xf2 12.h3!! c5 13.c3 xg1?? Incomprehensible naivety! It is not as if Black had simply overlooked the possibility of his queen getting hemmed in! [ 13...f4+ 14.e3 ( 14.b1? xg1 ) 14...xg5 15.b1 This position makes me t h i n k o f t h e C h e r n ys h o v d o u b l e p a w n sacrif ice: I cannot believe it is right but resisting the initiative without the possibility of giving something back to alleviate its brutality poses horrifying practical problems to Black. So we will have to wait for the next well-prepared player who is brave (foolhardy?) enough to confront the 'sorcerer of the h-pawn' on his home ground to know the truth. And I can assure you, it will not be me! ( 15.f3? xe3+ ) 15...d6 16.f3 f6 ( 16...xe3? 17.xg7 f8 18.b5+ d7 19.xd7+ xd7 20.e5+ ) 17.b5+ f8 18.d4 With hair-raising compensational complications. ] 14.e3! b6 [ 14...f2 15.f3 h4 16.xc5 h6 17.h3 e4 ( 17...a4 18.e5 ) 18.gxh6 ( 18.d4 f5 ) 18...xh6 19.xh6 gxh6 20.c3 d5 What else? ( 20...e5 21.c4 ) 21.b5+ d7 22.h8+ e7 23.xa8 xe3+ 24.b1 xb5 25.xb7+ d7 26.b4+ Amongst others e8 27.d2+- ] 15.d2 xe3 16.xe3 h2 17.d4 [ 17.b5 0-0 18.h3 e5 19.dh1 h6 20.gxh6 g6 21.h7+ h8 22.xd7 d8 23.e3 g7 24.d3 ] [ 17.b1!! The calm before the storm, after which I did not see how Black could have defended himself. A) 17...0-0 18.h3 e5 19.d3 h6 20.e1 c5 ( 20...a5 21.b4 xg5 22.xg5 hxg5 23.h7+ h8 24.e4+ g8 25.xa8 ) 21.gxh6 g6 22.f4! W i t h a d o u b l e t h r e a t . . . f5 23.e4 E v e n t h o u g h ! fxe4 24.xe4 h7 25.xa8+-; B) 17...c7 18.c3 b8 19.b5 0-0 20.h3! I t o ld yo u ! e5 21.dh1 h6 22.gxh6 g6 23.e1! It is all a matter of winning all the black squares on the long diagonal that works now because Black was impeded from slipping in an expedient check on g5. B1) 23...f6 24.f3 h8 ( 24...h4 2145
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 25.h7+ h8 26.c3+ f6 27.ef1 ) 25.h7+ xh7 26.h3 g7 27.d6 b7 28.h2; B2) 23...xb5 24.d4 f6 25.e4 h7 26.xa8+- ] 17...0-0 18.h3! The postman always rings twice! e5 19.xh2 [ 19.h4? f4+ ] 19...exd4 20.xd4 e8 21.d3 g6 22.dh4 e5? [ 22...e1+! Attracting the white king to the second rank. 23.d2 e5 24.xh7 xg5 ( 24...b7 ) 25.h8+ ( 25.c4 xg2+! This is t he dif f erence . 26.xg2 xh7 27.xf7 b7= ) 25...g7 26.2h7+ f6 27.f8! ( 27.a6 xg2+ 28.c3 g3+ 29.b4 g4+ 30.a3 xa6 31.xa8 b7 32.xa7 c6 33.a6 b5 ) 27...xg2+ 28.e3 A) 28...g5 29.f4 a5 30.hxf7+ e6 31.xg6 a4+ 32.e3 xa2 33.h7! xb2 ( 33...b7? 34.xa8 xa8 35.f7+ ) 34.hh8+- Winning the bishop on c8.; B) 28...b7 29.fxf7+ g5 30.xd7 W ith a big advantage for W hite, most probably decisive, after the fall of a7. ] 23.xh7 xg5 [ 23...b7? 24.h8+ g7 25.2h7# ] 24.c4!! A great move designed to provoke d5 and assure the win of the exchange after depriving the g5-rook of the c5 square and putting an end to the German tenacity. [ 24.c4 A) 24...d5 25.h8+ g7 26.a6! ( 26.2h7+ f6 27.a6 xa6 28.xa8 xg2 29.xa7 c8 30.axf7+ ) 26...xa6 27.xa8 f1 28.xa7 xg2 29.b7+-; B) 24...f5 25.h8+ g7 26.g4! c5 27.b4! e5 ( 27...xc4 28.g5 And R2h7 mate. ) 28.2h7+ f6 29.xf7+ g5 30.ff8; C) 24...b7! 25.xf7+! ( 25.h8+ g7 26.2h7+ f6 27.xf7+ e5 28.xa8 xa8 29.xd7 a5 ) 25...f8 26.c4! e8! ( 26...h5 27.2xh5 gxh5 28.g3 ) 27.g7! h5 ( 27...d8 28.e6 c6 29.h8+ c7 30.xa8 xa8 31.xd7+ c6 32.xa7 ) 28.h3 c8 ( 28...xg2 29.xh5 gxh5 30.xg2 ) 29.d3 f8 30.xg6+But of course, Black had seen
all this before signing the score sheet... As it turns out, direct play was no simpler, and led only to a very advantageous, though complex, tussle of two rooks against rook, bishop and pawn. ] [ 24.h8+ g7 25.a6 c5 26.2h7+ f6 27.f8 e6 ( 27...xa6 28.xa8 d3 29.c3 c7 30.g3 ) 28.hh8 xa6 29.xa8 d3 ( 29...b7 30.xa7 xg2 31.a6 c6 32.b8 b5 33.xc6+ dxc6 34.b3 f5 35.a4 f4 36.d2 bxa4 37.bxa4 d6 38.a5 ) 30.c3 g5 31.he8+ d6 32.e3 c4 33.b3 e6 34.d3+ ] 1-0
2199 Miladinovic,Igor Tirard,Hugo CCAS Open Cap d'Agde FRA (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2599 2421 28.10.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 The Greek player may not be the strongest Tromp player in terms of ELO rating, but he surely is one of the most active Grandmasters on the circuit and therefore, in my opinion, the best expert of the opening as he regularly undergoes the test of practice against strong opposition in open tournaments. He also happens to be a "monomaniac" of the move 2.Bg5 which he plays against 1...d5 as well and, as black, he is a well known specialist of the Chigorin Defense where his queen's bishop very often goes to g4... to be swapped off against the kn ig h t o n f 3 ! T h e f a ct t h a t h e h a s o f t e n changed his allegiance against 2...c5 is the sign that it is indeed a, if not the, critical l i n e o f t h e o p e n i n g ! a6 4.c3 Another approach, threatening to keep the pawn with b4. At that stage it is also possible to transpose into the 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4.dxc5 line with 4...Na6, where 5.Nd2 is more useful than 5.c3, allowing 6.g3 af ter 5...Nxc5 bef ore Black's queen bishop develops on the long diagonal. xc5 5.d2 b6 [ 5...ce4!? ] 6.e4!? c7! Controlling some important dark squares. [ 6...cxe4 7.xe4 xe4 8.d5 b7 9.xb7 xg5 10.b5 Threatening Bxd7+ 2146
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c8 11.xa7 ( 11.d1?! c7 12.xd7 xd7 13.e2 e5 14.0-0 e7-+ )] 7.c2 fxe4!? [ I like 7...b7 8.f3 ( 8.xf6 gxf6 9.gf3 h6 ) 8...a6! with the idea ...d7-d5. ] 8.xe4 e5 9.f3 f5 10.0-0-0 fxe4 11.h3 The young French IM is not very keen on opening the central files in front of his king. b7 12.c4 0-0-0? To take up the gauntlet o n m o v e 7 n e c e s s i t a t e d so m e p o we r o f calculation as well as a certain amount of courage. So it was obligatory to continue in the same vein with [ 12...exf3 13.he1 xh2 ( 13...e4 14.d2 fxg2 15.xe4! xe4 16.d5 f5 17.xa8 xh3 18.xg2 is very dangerous while ) 14.b4 leads to a complete mess. ] 13.f4! f5 [ 13...h5 14.fxe4 A) 14...xe4 15.xe4 xe4 16.a6# is the famous "Boden mate"!; B) 14...e5 15.g5 xe4 ( 15...e8 16.d5 ) 16.d2 e8 ( 16...d5 17.e2 ) 17.b4; C) 14...xe4 15.he1 d6 16.xd6 exd6 17.b1 With full compensation. ] 14.he1 d6 15.fxe4 xe4 16.e2 Black is now in big trouble. c6 17.b4 d7 18.e6 f6 19.d4! b8 20.g5! e5 21.h4! as effective as the flashy [ 21.xe5 dxe5 22.xd8+ b7 ( 22...c7 23.xe5+ xd8 24.xf6 exf6 25.f7+ ) 23.c8+ c7 24.e6+ xe6 25.xe6 exf4 ( 25...xd8 26.xe5 e8 27.d1 h5 28.c7 with unavoidable mate.) 26.c8+ b7 ( 26...d6 27.c4 g5 28.c5+ bxc5 29.bxc5+ xc5 30.d7 ) 27.b5! The fastest ( 27.d1 f3 28.gxf3 g6 29.f4 g7 30.xh8 xh8 31.b2 wins too. ) 27...xb5 ( 27...xg2 28.d1 f3 29.cd8 f2 30.1d7# ) 28.e5 c6 29.f5 g5 30.cxf8 xf8 31.xf8 xg2 32.d2+- ] 21...e8 Black is so tied-up anyway that it does not really matter. 22.xe5 dxe5 [ 22...xe5 23.xe5 ( 23.d2 g3 24.f7 g8 25.g4 h2 26.xd6 ) 23...dxe5 24.d2 g6 25.f7 g7 ( 25...g8 26.xe5 ) 26.xh8 xh8 27.g4+- ] 23.c4! b5 24.f1 xc4 [ 24...e4 25.xf6 exf6 26.xe4 xc4 27.f4+! b7 28.xc4 fxg5 29.d5+
b8 30.e5+ b7 31.d5+ ] 25.xc4 g6 26.d1 27.Rd7 comes next and if 27...Rc8 28.Rb7+! Kxb7 29.Qxc8 mate. 1-0
2200 Miladinovic,Igor Vachier Lagrave,Maxime IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2579 2632 26.04.2008
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.e4 xb2 8.d2 xc3 9.c7 d6 10.b1! The story goes that the owner of the biggest progression on the forthcoming July Elo list, amongst the 2600+ club (+50 to make him to 2682!) was watching the game Miladinovic-Gozzoli live with his trainer when they thought of how to refute W h i t e ' s b r i l l i a n t n e w i d e a . . . ! ! fd7!! GM Mark Hebden also mentioned the possibility of this strong reply to me during the last 4NCL phase, a few weeks ago. He did not seem to be aware it had already materialized over the board just a few days before! As for myself, I could not have thought of it, reasoning by elimination, although not really emotionally involved in the position for either side, 'undeveloping' Black's only piece out clashes too much with my principles... without the feeling you may get over a proper chess board. The reason behind this awkwardly looking retreat is obvious, though: anticipate the queen's coming harassment by freeing the f6-square. Yet, to detect that it is the only move (something that no chess program is capable to find) actually deserves a double exclamation mark... if only for that. 11.a4 Even if "Mr Trompovic" was so greatly vexed after that game that he publicly announced his decision to give up the double pawn sac, I am ready to bet there will still be volunteers to take up the torch again with a bishop move to c4 or b5, intending Ne2 next... g6 12.e2 d3! 13.a5 [ 13.b3 a6 was indicated by the Evry chess club's (which just finished 4th in the French Team championships) top board, pre cisely in the op en ing b ulletin of th e competition of which the final stage had 2147
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 been entrusted to them. He also m i s c h i e v o u s l y m e n t i o n e d ( 13...c2! "with the help of a good computer". )] 13...h6 14.f4 0-0 15.b3 b5! [ 15...c2 Also seems to avoid losing the queen, in a far more acrobatic way though: 16.a3 g7 17.g3 a6 18.xa6 ( 18.d3 b4 ) 18...bxa6 19.e5 b8 20.xb8 xb8 21.f2 f5 22.c1 d3 23.xd3 xd3 24.exd6 exd6 25.c7 e8 26.xd6 d4+ ] 16.a3 [ 16.xb5 b6! 17.xb6 d7 18.c1 ( 18.b3 xa4 19.xd3 axb6 ) 18...xb5 19.xb5 xb5 20.xb5 axb6 ] 16...b4 17.xd3 [ 17.a4 e5!! The key to the courageous black preparation. The bronze medal of the 2005 U 16 World championship, whom I had myself trained on several occasions up to the year before, was always found of such study-like nuggets. The very sharpest play where no one else dares to tread, and the sharpest preparation (assisted by a computer and his faithful and hard-working second GM Arnaud Hauchard) seems to be t h e o n l y wa y t o g a i n 5 0 p o i n t s i n o n e delivery at this level! ( 17...a6 18.g3 b7 19.f3 ) 18.b2 How ironic: It is now the white queen who needs space against the threat of ...Bd7!! ( 18.xd3 xd3+ 19.d1 b2+ 20.c2 xa4 ) 18...xf4! 19.xf4 e3+ 20.e2 ( 20.e2 d3+ ) 20...xf4 21.a3 a6 22.axb4? e3 ] 17...bxa3 18.h3 g7 19.xa3 a6 A pawn up with the superior development now, the point is in the bag. 20.c3 b4 21.d1 [ 21.xg7 xg7 22.b3 xa2 ] 21...f5 Undermining the support of the d5pawn. 22.xg7 xg7 23.c3 fxe4 24.dxe4 b6 Black goes for the d5-pawn rather than f4 but he could probably have had both! [ 24...xf4 25.g3 ( 25.b5 e5 26.g3 f3 ) 25...f8 26.h3 ( 26.b5 xd5 27.c4 7b6 28.xd5 xd5 29.xa7 xa7 30.xa7 d7 ) 26...b6 27.xc8 fxc8 28.g5 6xd5 29.xd5 xd5 30.e6+ f7 31.e1 ab8 32.c2 b7 33.g5+ g8-+ ] 25.g3 b7 26.g1 6xd5 27.xd5 xd5
28.c3 c6 29.d2 fb8 30.a5 b7 31.e2 [ 31.a3 d5 32.g2 b2+ 33.c1 xg2 34.xg2 xc3 ] 31...ab8 32.e1 d5 33.d1 c7 Just one rook holding the irresolute opposing p a i r wh il e t h e Rb 8 a c t i va t e s f o r a r a p i d outcome. 34.a3 [ 34.d3 b4 ] 34...b1 35.d3 a1 36.c4 [ 36.c2 a2+ ] 36...b7 37.a6 b6 38.b3 b5 39.a5 c4 40.xc4 0-1
2201 Miladinovic,Igor Van der Hallen,N Windesheim Open (2) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2526 08.03.2003
Trompowsky: Black avoids simplification at too great a cost and is given a lesson in the power of the h4 tromp. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 d5 4.d2 d6 Black should shy away from this continuation, which serves to congest his position. [ 4...xd2 is undoubtedly stronger. ] 5.e3 h6 6.f4 e6 7.d3 d7 8.gf3 e7 For the moment both sides develop peacefully enough. 9.c3 b6 10.e5 xe5 11.dxe5 f5 It was probably the thought of moving the knight to this square that enticed Black into his fourth move, but the time lost has been c o n s i d e r a b l e . 12.h5 c5 13.e4 h4 The Black knight continues its journey, but he is heading straight for trouble. 14.0-0 g6 15.g3 [ 15.g3 looks strong here, if g5 16.e3 d4 then 17.cxd4 cxd4 18.a4+ looks completely winning. ] 15...d4 16.cxd4 xd4 17.c4 eyeing the sensitive d6 square. gxh5 Black has no time for this. [ 17...0-0 was absolutely essential, when Black has at least some hope of survival. ] 18.xh4 Now W hite wins by force. xh4 19.d6+ f8 20.xh5 h7 21.xh4 The threat of Qd8 means Black cannot afford
2148
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to recapture his piece on d3. 1-0
2202 Miles,Anthony J Avrukh,Boris Biel op (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2600 2430 1995
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 f5 8.xb8 xb8 9.xd4 b6 10.e4 f4 11.h3 c7 12.e5 g8 13.0-0-0 e6 14.g5! e7 15.f4 f5 16.f2! h6 From this position, Black has tried various moves differing from the previous game's 16...Be7, as in this encounter played only a few months afterwards. Nevertheless, it seems that the d a m a ge i s a lre a d y d o n e b e c a u s e o f t h e fragile knight position on f5. For another less optimistic alternative see the next game. [ 16...b7 17.d3 e7 18.hf1! The good file for the rook. W hite is now ready to play to mobilize his g-pawn. d5 ( 18...0-0? 19.xh7 xh7 20.g4; 18...h6 19.g4!? hxg5 20.gxf5 ) 19.xf5 xb3 20.axb3 exf5 21.d4! h6 ( 21...d8 22.e6! fxe6 23.xg7 f8 24.xh7 ) 22.f3 d8 23.d3 g6 24.d4 W hite is discretely preparing his modest business... 0-0 25.f3 b7 and 26.xf5!! 1-0 Romero Sanchez, J-Simmelink,J ICCF Email 2001. Nice game though, enough not to be ignored but too similar to the previous o n e t o t o p t h e b i l l o f t h i s u p d a t e ! gxf5 27.xf5 c6 ( 27...d5 28.exd6 h4 29.g4+ h7 30.xh4; 27...h8 28.d6 xd6 29.f6+ h7 30.h3 ) 28.g3+ h8 29.d6! The key idea. ] [ 16...d5 17.d3 Simply - Black is forced to retreat with the knight because d5 hangs af ter the capture on d5. b7 ( 17...h6 18.f3 ) 18.xf5 exf5 19.e6 ] 17.e4 [ 17.f3! d5 18.d3 e7 19.bd4 Followed by an offensive expansion on the kingside by g2-g4, f4-f5 etc. ] 17...b7 18.d3 d5 19.g3 [ 19.ed2 c5! 20.xc5 bxc5 ] 19...xg3 20.hxg3 c5 21.e2 d8
22.g4 g6? [ 22...f8 ] 23.xg6 g8 [ 23...fxg6 24.xe6+ e7 25.xc5 bxc5 26.xg6+ f7 27.xh6 ] [ 23...e3+ 24.b1 fxg6 25.xe6+ e7 26.xg6+ f7 27.d3 h7 28.f5 ] 24.xh6 [ 24.xe6+ f8 ] 24...e3+ 25.b1 d4 26.xe6+ f8 27.h7 [ 27.f6!! xg6 28.xg6 e4+ 29.a1 xg6 30.h1 e8 31.e6+- ] 27...d5 28.f6 e7 29.xe7+ xe7 30.c2 As unbelievable as it may be, Black will hold this ending! dxc3 [ 30...xg3 31.xd4 xd4 32.xd4 xg2 33.b3 ] 31.f5?! [ 31.bxc3 xb3 32.axb3 xd1+ 33.xd1 xg3 34.h5 xg2 35.f5 f4 36.xf7+ d8 37.e6 ] 31...xb3 32.xb3? Time trouble? [ 32.f6+! e6 33.xb3+ xe5 34.e1 xg3 ( 34...d4 35.h4+ d3 36.c4+ d2 37.e2+ d1 38.h1+; 34...d3 35.c4 ) 35.g7!+- ] 32...xd1+ 33.xd1 d4 34.f6+ [ 34.e6 g7 Oh, oh, The opposite coloured bishop 'injustice' strikes again! Black could even be the three kingside pawns down and still draw this game by just putting his king on f6 and his bishop on the h6-c1 diagonal! ] 34...e6 35.b3+ xe5 36.bxc3 xc3 37.xf7 xg3 38.g7 f4!= "It's a kind of magic"! 39.f7 g6 40.d5 a5 41.c7 xf6 42.c6 e5 43.f3 b5 44.c5+ d4 45.xb5 g5 46.b6 e7 47.c2 c5+ 48.d1 g5 49.a4 e3 50.b2 c4 51.a2 f4 52.e2 d4+ 53.e1 d6 54.f3 d2! 55.xd2 [ 55.a1? f2! And Black wins!! 56.b1 ( 56.c1 b4+ 57.d1 d2+ 58.e1 xg2+ 59.f1 f2+ 60.g1 xf3 ) 56...b4+ 57.d1 d2+ 58.c1 a3+ 59.b2 xb2+ ] 55...b4 ½-½
2149
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 been taken from the bishop. c4+ 24.e1 A45 xf1 25.xf1 ] 2584 2505 20.f4 0-0-0 21.c3 b6 22.e1 [ 22.g3 ] 10.08.2000 22...he8 23.e2 xe4!! You could feel it coming. 24.fxe4 xe4 25.g3 [ 25.f1 de8! ( 25...g5 26.h5 c4 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 27.g3 de8 28.xe4 xe4 29.b3 5.c3 f6 6.d2!? cxd4 7.b3 b6 xe2+ 30.d1 a6 is less clear in this 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 case. ) 26.xg7 11.xc6 dxc6 12.xe5 e6 13.a3 b5 A) 26...c4 27.f3! xe2 28.xe2 14.e4 b4 15.cxb4 xb4+ 16.f2 c5+ xe2+ 29.f1 c2 30.xf7 ( 30.e1? 17.e1 Does Black have more than a xe1+ 31.xe1 xg2 32.xf7 xh2 ) repetition is one question here, since White 30...ee2 31.d1 f2+ ( 31...xg2? has already lost his right to castle, and is left 32.f8+ c7 33.e5# ) 32.xf2 xf2+ with a weak king in a ready-to-be-opened 33.e1 xg2 34.e5=; centre. But in order to avoid it, W hite must B) 26...c7 27.f3 xf4 28.f1 xe2 play a move that hampers the problematic 29.xf4 ( 29.xb3 xh2 30.h3 c7 development of his pieces even more! 31.xh7 b6 ) 29...d5 30.f2 xf2+ [ 17.g3? h5+!! Black announces a 31.xf2 g8 32.e5 xg2+ 33.e3 forced mate in 8! 18.h4 e7+! 19.xh5 d7 ] a5! The surprising point of it all. 20.b5 [ 25.h5 c4 26.g3 xe2+ 27.xe2 xb5 21.f4 xe5+! 22.f5 ( 22.fxe5 h6 e8 28.b3 xe2+ 29.d1 d3 30.g3 f6 And ...g6 mate next move.) 22...xe4 Followed by ...Rg2, ...Bc2+ takes b3, ...Bd5 23.f3 ( 23.fxe6 h4#; 23.g4 xf5 24.h3 with an attack that is far from getting weaker, g6# ) 23...xf5 24.he1 g4# ] and will soon garner at least two pawns for 17...b4+ 18.e2 the exchange. ] [ 18.c3 xc3+ 19.bxc3 e7 20.e2 a7 21.d4 ha8 22.b1 ( 22.c2 b3 25...g5 26.f6 g8 27.d2 [ 27.d3 ge8 28.e5 ( 28.c1 c4 ) 23.d4 xa3 24.b1 a1 ) 22...d7 28...e6 29.g7 ( 29.f1 a5+ ) 29...f6-+ ] 23.c2 c5 followed by the unavoidable 27...gxf4 28.d3 a5+?! Black has won his Bb3xc2, Rxa3 with advantage to Black. ] piece back and relaxes, counting his booty. 18...a5 19.h3 [ 19.c1 0-0-0 20.b4 ( 20.c3 c4+ Nevertheless, the smoking remains of his 21.e1 xc3+ 22.bxc3 xf1 23.xf1 initiative were still harmful andwith [ 28...e3! he could have seriously d2 ) 20...b6 21.b5 he8! shortened the duration of the game: A) 22.bxc6 xe4! 23.cxb7+ xb7 29.xh7 ( 29.gxf4 g2+ 30.c3 c2 24.fxe4 g4+ 25.f3 xe5 26.c4 T h e h id d e n d o o r !) 29...a5+ 30.c1 a5; ( 30.c3 d8+ 31.c1 xc3 32.bxc3 fxg3 B) 22.g3 xe4 23.fxe4 g4+ 24.e1 33.b2 d5 ) 30...ge8 31.c3 xc3 ( 24.f3 xe4# ) 24...xe4+ 25.e2 32.bxc3 fxg3 33.hxg3 xc3+ 34.b2 a5+ 26.f2 d2; xg3-+ ] C) 22.c3 ] [ 19.b4 b6 And Black wi ll castle kingside 29.c3 xc3+ 30.xc3 e3 From this point this time to keep the natural pressure on the onwards, on the other hand, Black's technique will show no fault. 31.gxf4 d8 32.xb3 a3 pawn. ] 19...b3! Ensuring the domination of the dxd3+ 33.a2 d2 34.ad1 f2 35.d4 [ 35.df1 ee2 36.xf2 xf2 37.g1 xf4 crucial open file and the flexible positioning of 38.g7 h5 ] the Ba5, eyeing d2. [ 19...0-0-0 20.b4 b6 21.g5 b3 35...ee2 36.b4 c7! Keep the bind and ( 21...he8 22.xe6 ) 22.b1 a2 23.b2 do not soothe the defence by offering the All the squares on the a2-g8 diagonal have opponent a file and some counterplay. 2203 Miles,Anthony J Hebden,Mark GBR-ch Millfield (10) [Eric Prié]
2150
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 36...xh2 37.g1 ( 37.xh2 xh2 38.f5 16.d1 e7 17.xd8+? ( 17.b4 or; h5 ) 37...h5 38.g7 e7 39.f5 ] 17.d4 Surely more testing.) 17...xd8 [ 36...b5 37.c1 d7 ( 37...b7 38.a4 18.e2 f5 19.h3? Same remark ( 19.e5 b6 39.axb5 c5 40.b3 xf4 41.d1; g5 20.e3; 19.b4 d3+ 20.xd3 xd3 37...c7 38.xb5 ) 38.h3 ] 21.e2 ) 19...fxe4 20.fxe4 xe4 21.f2 37.h3 xf2 22.xf2 f8 23.g3 g5 24.e5 [ 37.a4!? xh2 38.g1 ] f5 0-1 Karhanek,P (2216) - Vesselovsky, 37...b5 38.g1 b6 39.g8 S (2400), Frydek Mistek 2005; [ 39.a4 a5 ] B) 13.e4 d7 14.g3 Following Milov's 39...e6 40.b8+ c5 41.g8 h6 42.g7 recipe, however... c5 f6 43.g4 b6 44.a4 a5 45.a3 d6 B1) 15.h3!? b3 ( 15...xh3 46.axb5 cxb5 47.g3 d1 48.e4? 16.gxh3 b3 17.b1 xa2? [ 48.f5 xf5 ( 48...a1+ 49.b3 b1 18.c4+- ) 16.b1 xa2 17.g5 b5!; 50.a3 Gets nowhere) 49.e4 Was more B2) 15.a3 0-0-0 ( 15...b3!? stubborn. ] In this line White cannot bring his knight 48...a1+ 49.b3 b1 50.c3 fxb2 to e2 nor play the defensive possibilities 51.g7 b3+ 52.c2 1b2+ 53.c1 f5 b2-b4 or Rd1-d4 that W hite neglected 54.e5 f2 55.xf5 xh3 Now it is simple. above! 16.e2 d3+ 17.d2 xb2 ) 56.g1 h4 57.f8 h5 58.f5 hf4 59.g5 16.d1 e7 And although White played h4 60.h5 a4 61.d8 b4 62.d1 a3 really indolently in the game given in the 63.f6 c4+ 64.b1 xf6 65.a5+ b3 note, it can still be instructive to have a 66.a2 c3 67.h1 h3 68.ah2 ff3 look at that massacre. ] 69.e2 g3 70.eh2 c4 71.a1 a3+ 13.e4! e6 14.e2! White played the inferior 72.b1 gb3+ 73.b2 xb2+ 74.xb2 [ 14.d3 In Danilov-Perez Funguero last g3 mo n t h a n d o n d7 h a d t o re p ly 15.d4 0-1 ( 15.g3 b4 16.e2 c5 ) 15...c5 ( 15...b4 16.e2 c5 17.e3 ) 16.c2 ] 14...d7 15.g3! xa2 16.xa2 xa2 2204 A45 17.d4 c5 The no. 1 Swiss player awards Milov,Vadim 2632 h i m s e l f a s m a l l a d v a n t a g e i n h i s Kotronias,Vasilios 2598 c o m m e n t a r i e s f o r C h e s s B a s e . H e i s FRA-chT2 0304 (9) 14.03.2004 completely right of course because on [ 17...b4 18.d2! With the square e6 [Eric Prié] threatened by the knight on d4, it is easy to figure out the problems that the bishop on 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ a2 will soon have to face in conjunction with 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 the fact that Black is significantly behind in c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 development. ] dxc6 12.xe5 As I was gathering material for the exhaustive study of this 7.Nb3 main line 18.d2 [ 18.b4 e6 19.f5 d7 20.e2 g6 Tromp, I came to wonder why such prominent 21.e5 g8 22.e3 d6 23.xd6 xd6 specialists as Hebden (who seems to have 24.f2 a8= Milov,V ] adopted 7... Qd8) and Volokitin (who played [ 18.e2 b3 ( 18...a4 19.d2 ) 19.d1 1 1 . . . e xf 4 a ga i n st M a c-S h a n e in A u gu st , c5 ( 19...xd4 20.cxd4 b3+ 21.d2 postponed to next month's update) had given b4+ 22.e3 d7 23.a1 ) 20.f2 up playing the gambit we examined last month. ( 20.f5!? 0-0 21.c2 a8 22.d1 And I fell upon this important encounter which a5 ) 20...0-0 ( 20...e7 21.c2 d8? I had missed because of the unusual move 22.h4+ f6 23.xb3 ) 21.c2 d8 22.d1 order... which is probably inaccurate as we b6 Intending a general exchange on d4. shall see. b5?! 23.xb3 xb3+ 24.xb3 xd1 25.xb6 [ 12...e6! d2 26.f1 d1= The bishop cannot A) 13.a3 0-0-0 14.e4 d7 15.f4 c5 2151
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 escape the repetition! ] 18...b3+ 19.c2 a1+! 20.d3 b3! 21.e2 c5 [ 21...xd4 22.xd4 Milov,V ] 22.d1?! According to Milov, better was [ 22.f5 0-0 23.d1 d8+ 24.c2 xd1 25.xd1 f8 26.d6 b6 27.b7 ( 27.c8 e8 ) 27...e3 28.d8 a5 29.b4 ] [ 22.d1 xd4 23.cxd4 c4+ 24.c3 b6= Apparently the best defensive structure from Black's point of view. ] 22...xd4 23.cxd4 c4+ 24.e3 xe2 25.xe2 b6= 26.d6 [ 26.d5 e7 Milov,V ] 26...d7 27.c5 c7 [ 27...xc5 28.dxc5+ c7 29.a1 Milov,V ] 28.g3 b6 29.b4 a8 30.d3 h5 31.f4 d6 32.c3 g6 33.d5 cxd5 [ 33...c5 34.f6 c4+ 35.c3 a4 36.e5 b4+ 37.c2 c5 Milov,V ] 34.exd5 h4 35.f6 [ 35.gxh4 a4! 36.d4 ( 36.e5 f6 37.b3 b4 38.xf6 xf4 39.g5 f3+ 40.c2 e5= ) 36...c5! 37.e5 f6! 38.xf6 xf4 39.e5 ( 39.g5 d4+ 40.e2 xd1 41.xd1 d6= ) 39...xh4 40.a1 h3+ ( 40...h5 Is equivalent in fact.) 41.e4 ( 41.e2?? e3+; 41.c2 h5; 41.g3 d6 42.a7+ e8= ) 41...h4+ 42.f3 h5 43.a7+ e8 44.e4 h4+ 45.d3 h5 ] 35...hxg3? Time trouble [ 35...h3 36.e4 ( 36.c1 a4 37.d4 a2= ) 36...c8 37.d2 ( 37.f3 c2 38.h1 e7 ) 37...b4= 38.e2 e8+ 39.f3 xe2 40.xe2 d6 41.f3 xd5 42.g4 e4 43.xh3 f3 44.h4 g2 Milov,V ] 36.hxg3 a4 37.h1 e7 38.e5 f6 39.c3 b4 40.d4 d6 Black is likely to be lost already: his doubled b-pawns are not worth more than one and f6 is now an easy target thanks to the fulcrum liberated on e6. [ 40...a5 41.c4 b5+ 42.b3 d6 43.e1 xd5 44.xe7 xd4 45.e6 f5 46.xg6 e4 47.xb4 a2 48.b3 b2 49.g5 b1 50.g4 fxg4 51.xg4 f5 52.g5+ xf4 53.xb5+- ] 41.e1+- d8 42.xf6! xf6
[ 42...c7 43.e5+ ] [ 42...a8 43.xd8 xd8 44.d4 ] 43.e6+ xd5 44.xf6 a2 45.c2 g5 46.b3 A convincing game that will not make me change my mind though, neither does it fully answer the question set at the beginning, as although White is ready to give the pawn back and complete development in return for a small edge in the ending, (which is a safe st ra t e gy t h a t I a lwa ys a d vo ca t e ! ) B la c k , un f o rtu n a t e ly, is n o t f orce d to a c c ep t it ! Actually, he is able to continue in dangerous gambit style that I personally do not feel very enthusiastic about facing as White. 1-0
2205 Milov,Vadim Sandler,Leonid Australian Open (10) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2640 2385 13.01.1999
Tro m p owsky A t t a ck: B orro win g f ro m t h e Blackmar-Diemer: If you like the look of the Blackmar-Diemer anyway, then it must surely be even more awesome with an extra tempo. Unsurprisingly, in the following game, Black opts not to take the gambited pawn, but still finds himself on the worse side of a strange French. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.f3 f6 5.e4 White issues the Blackmar-Diemer challenge. It would pay all White players who like this particular variation to brush up on the Blackmar-Diemer theory contained elsewhere on this site. e6 A popular riposte. Rather than enter the Blackmar-Diemer complications, when White has the bonus of an extra tempo, B la ck t r ie s t o st e e r t h e ga m e t o wa rd s a French type of position. 6.e5 fd7 7.e3 The bishop withdraws, to allow W hite the standard advance of the f-pawn. c5 8.c3 c6 9.f4 b6 This position resembles a French advance, although the Black knight is strangely placed on d7. I feel that this favours White. As normally Black would be able to use this knight to add extra pressure on the White centre (i.e. Ng8-h6-f5). 10.d2 e7 11.f3 0-0 12.d3 The bishop es up a dangerous post, and points directly at the Black king. In the longer term, it also supporting the 2152
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 desirable pawn lever f4-f5. cxd4 13.cxd4 a5 14.c3 b6 Black is taking considerable steps to e n su re t he excha n ge of light squ are d bishops, but there is more than one string to W hite's bow.. 15.c1 a6 16.0-0 xd3 17.xd3 ac8 18.f5 The key idea. Despite the exchange of his best attacking minor piece, W hite is still able to mount considerable pressure on the Black kingside. b4 19.b1 a6 20.cd1 It is much more important for W hite to prevent the exchange of queens (after 20...Qd3) than to challenge for control of the unimportant c-file. All the action is taking place on the kingside. c6 21.g5 White plans to launch an attack on the dark squares around the Black king and is na t u ra lly k e e n t o e xch a n ge o f f t he ir ke y defender. b4 22.f6 Forcing a fatal weakness. g6 23.h6 fe8 24.c1 xd4 Hitting the panic button is Black's only option, as he is defenceless against the threat of Bg7 f o l lo we d b y Q h 6 a n d if n e ce s sa ry, N g5 . 25.xd4 c5 26.e3 xd4 27.xd4 Black's sacrifice has only delayed the inevitable, with Qh6 looming he had no choice but to call it a day. 1-0
unimpeded short castling and without having given any pawns. 13.gf3 c5 14.d4 d7 [ 14...xd4 15.e4 e5 16.xd4 xd4 17.xd4 g7= ] 15.e3 g7 16.b5 e5 17.e4 b6 18.b4 0-0 19.bd6 c6 20.b5 c7 21.xd7 xd7 22.xb7 a5 23.b5 fb8 24.b3 c6? [ 24...a4 25.b4 a3 26.bxa3 f6 27.f1 xe4 28.xe4 xa3 29.g1 xc3 ] 25.g5? [ 25.d1! xe4 26.xd7 a4 27.d5 b1+ 28.e2 e6 29.c4 ] 25...e6 26.a4 a7?? [ 26...xg2 27.0-0-0 xb7! Even without this combination, which is undoubtedly difficult to calculate precisely, Black is better after 27...Ne5 for instance. 28.xb7 c5 29.b8+ f8 30.b5 xb8 31.xb8 xg5 32.d8 g1+ ( 32...e7 33.e8 d7 34.c8 d6 35.d8 b6 36.xd6 xc8 37.a6 h5 38.d2 d6 39.e2 ) 33.c2 xf2+ 34.b1 f1+ 35.a2 c4+ 36.b1 e4+ 37.a2 xa4+ 38.b1 e4+ 39.a2 ( 39.a1 h1+ 40.a2 h6 ) 39...c4+ 40.b1 d7 41.xd7 e4+ 42.c1 xe3+ 43.c2 h5 44.d8 h6-+ ] 27.xa5 xb5 28.xc6 xb3 29.xa7 2206 A45 xb2 30.0-0-0! The move Black must have Milovic,Jovan 2223 forgotten, probably only counting on [ 30.b5?? xb5 31.axb5 xc3+ 32.e2 Zinchenko,Yaroslav 2322 xa1 ] TCh-Europe u18 (3) 21.07.2003 [ 30.a3 c5 31.c4 c2 32.a5? b2! ] [Eric Prié] 30...b7 31.b5 e5 [ 31...b6 32.d8+ f8 33.d6 ( 33.a5? 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 c4 34.a6 xb5 35.a7 b6 ) 33...a7 a5+ 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 g6 7.h4 c6 34.dxf7! xa4 ( 34...xf7 35.xf7 xf7 8.c4 d5 9.cxd6 e6 10.d7+?! 36.a5 e7 37.b8 d7 38.a6! c5 The argument against this move is similar to 39.b7 e8 40.a7 ) 35.e5 c5 36.e8 the one given in the previous game: "For just a2 37.xh7 xh7 38.xf8+- ] one pawn (since White cannot hang on to g5) [ 31...c5 32.d8+ f8 33.d6 b3 Black gets full compensation of two bishops W a s t h e m o st r e si s t a n t 34.c2 a3 and a massive lead in development." xd7 35.xh7 xh7 36.xf8 a2+ ( 36...f5 11.c3?! Not very consequent 37.c8 xa4 38.b5 a1 39.a8 ) [ 11.gf3 h6! 12.c3 ( 12.h4 g7 13.c3 37.b1 xf2 38.xf7+ xf7 39.xf7 hxg5 ) 12...hxg5 13.b3 c7 ( 13...f5 xa4 40.c2 should be winning though. ] 14.c5 0-0-0? 15.e4 g4 16.b3 ) 32.f4 b8 33.e4 g7 14.xg5 h5 15.f3 0-0-0 ] [ 33...b6 34.d8+ g7 35.c5 ] 11...e6 12.a4 xg5 As a result Black has dangerously equalized without much effort, 34.c2 e5 35.ed6 xd6 [ 35...b6 36.a5 a6 37.e8+ f8 keeping the advantages of the position with 2153
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 38.xd7 xe8 39.b7 a8 40.a6 exf4 41.a7 e5 42.exf4 xf4 43.c4 ] 36.xd6 Considering the split white structure on the queenside, you would have expected a tougher task to exploit the material advantage, b u t a s i t t u rn e d o u t t h e p a wn s p r o vid e d practically optimal squares for the pieces! a7 37.b5 b7 38.b3 g5 39.fxg5 g6 40.b4 xg5 41.a5 b8 42.d6 g4 43.a6 xa6+ 44.xa6 g3 45.a2 d7 46.c4 d3 47.c5 xe3 48.c6 1-0
2207 Minasian,Artashes Georgiev,Krum 34th Olympiad (6) [Aaron Summerscale]
exchange light squared bishops, he further highlights the weakness of the Black f (not only pawn, but) pawns. c7 23.b2 dh8 24.d3 b8 An indication that Black has taken his kingside attack as far as it can go for the moment. White, however is just getting started! 25.a6 c8 26.ab1 hxg3 27.fxg3 b6 28.a5 White is crashing through with great effect. Notice how the Rb2 is ideally placed for both attack and defence. xa6 29.xa6 e7 30.xb6+ White finishes Black off in style. It's forced mate after 30...Ka8 31.Rb8+ so there was no need to play on. 1-0
A45 2595 2532 02.11.2000
2208 A45 Mitura,Vaclav 2235 Mrva,Martin 2447 Tatry Open High Tatras SVK (9) 06.10.2001 1.d4 Trompowsky Attack: A high powered all [Aaron Summerscale] GM clash produces a very instructive and exciting game. f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 Torre vs King's Indian: It's always nice to see [ 3.d5 is more popular these days but that an experienced master get a mauling from a may just mean Bxf6 is due for a revamp. ] lesser light. The finish is textbook stuff. 1.d4 3...gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 f5 6.g3 f6 2.c3 This move is only useful as a means This is one of the most solid lines at White's of avoiding theory, as Black has a clear cut disposal in the 2...c5 variation. He ensures route to equality with 2...d5. I suspect White himself a good grip on the potentially weak already knew that his opponent was a King's d a r k s q u a r e s . e6 It seems natural to put Indian man. g6 3.g5 g7 4.d2 0-0 5.e3 pressure on the W hite center, but Black is b6 6.f4 By omitting Nf3 at an early stage, never really threatening d5, as this would White has allowed himself the possibility of leave his remaining kingside pawns far too this souped-up stonewall. c5 7.d3 b7 weak. 7.c4 g7 8.c3 b4 This temporary 8.e2 d6 Black sensibly decides not to hand queen activity might look aggressive, but it the e5 square to White. 9.gf3 c7 10.0-0 actually achieves very little. 9.e3 d6 10.a3 bd7 11.e4 As White cannot occupy e5, he a5 11.ge2 d7 12.f4 The knight finds has to revert to plan b, occupation of the a n e x c e l l e n t p o s t , f r o m w h e r e h e c a n centre. e5 The thematic riposte that Black pressurise the Black position. b6 13.d2 was no doubt ready for, but this does weaken xc3 14.bxc3 d7 15.e2 0-0-0 16.0-0 h5 the kingside dark squares. 12.dxe5 dxe5 The battle lines are drawn. Both sides intend 13.f5 gxf5 Left to his own devices, White will to hurl their respective kitchen sinks at the start a kingside pawn storm, so Black decides opposing king. Black's main problem is that to t ry an d t h ro w a spa n ne r in t he wo rk s . he will find it difficult to involve his offside 14.h4 queen in the attack. 17.dxe6 xe6 18.d5 [ 14.exf5 would allow Black to start fighting h4 19.fb1 xd5 Black may lose some time back with the dangerous e4!? 15.xe4 but the alternative xe4 16.xe4 ae8 17.d2 xe4 [ 19...xd5 would leave the f5 pawn T h e p o i n t ! 18.xe4 e8 19.f4 h6 dangerously weak. ] And White must part with material. ] 20.cxd5 d7 21.a4 h6 22.b5 14...xe4 15.xe4 fxe4 16.xe4 White reveals a key idea. By threatening to For his pawn investment, White has definite 2154
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 kingside attacking chances and more [ 12...d8? 13.b5+! f8 14.xb8 d6 importantly, good control of the position and 15.xa7 e3 16.f2! g5 ( 16...c2 in p articula r th e f 5 squ are . f6 17.c1 17.a3 xa1 18.e2 h4+ 19.g3 h6 A temporary retreat. h8 18.f5 g8 20.c4 c2 21.a4 f5 22.a8+ e7 The experienced master quickly brings pieces 23.xh8 ) 17.d2 xg2+ 18.xe3 xh1 o v e r t o h e l p h i s w e a k e n e d k i n g . 19.f3 19.e4 xh2 20.xd6 xd6 21.d1! W hite is no less swif t in bringing in extra e5+ ( 21...xd1 22.xc5+ g8 at t a ck e rs . f8 20.h3 d8 21.c2 e4 23.xc8+ d8 24.xd8# ) 22.f2 g5 At this stage, the chances are finely balanced, 23.b6 g7 24.d6 f5 25.d5 c2+ with bo th sid es se ekin g t o imp rove t he ir 26.e2 g6 27.xc5 f6 1-0 Oswald,H position, whilst also limiting their opponent's (2280)-Mandel,A (2365) Baden-RRW ChT possibilities. I personally prefer White with his Gladenbach 1996. ] kingside activity, which means Black will have 13.xb8 to defend very accurately in order to avoid a [ 13.d2 e6 ] nasty defeat. Very few players can defend [ 13.xd5 xb2 14.e5 0-0! 15.xe7 well under such sustained pressure. 22.e3 ( 15.xb8 e8! Threatening a mate in two Taking on e4 would offer Black an beginning with ...Bh4+. 16.e2 xa1 unnecessary source of counterplay along the And b1 cannot be protected.) 15...f5! n e wl y o p e n e d e - f i l e , s o W h i t e s e n s i b l y ( 15...xa1 16.e4 ) 16.g5 g6 17.d2 prepares to bring his queen's rook into the xa1+ 18.f2 fe8 19.e2 bd8 20.f1 game. e6?? Black loses his sense of xc3 21.h4 h6 22.f4 d3? danger and blunders horribly to bring a fast Popov,V(2260)-Novik,M(2420) St end to what had been an interesting and wellPetersburg-ch op 1992 Black has the played battle. material advantage, and this is the aspect [ 22...d5 was the order of the day, to give he privileged when he went on to win this Black the option of later withdrawing the game in... 53 long moves. However, bishop to help with kingside defence. ] considering the hopeless situation of the 23.xh7+! Bang! It's mate in two more moves! enemy kingside and king, it is surprising 1-0 that here he missed ( 22...d1!! 23.g3 d4! 24.c7 e1+ 25.h2 xh4+ 26.h3 xe2 )] 2209 A45 13...0-0 14.d2 e3! It does require Fritz a couple of minutes to find these moves but it Moelder,Bernd Engl,Heinz 2045 does find them. Then its estimation topples DESC STS028 email 2002 over... [ 14...d6? 15.c4 ] [Eric Prié] 15.e5 [ 15.b1 d6 16.a8 f5 ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 e6 7.e4 exd5 8.exd5 d6 15...c2+ 16.d1 f6 17.e4 xa1 9.e2+?! e7! 10.xd6 xd5 11.xb8 18.c1 d8 19.c4 d6 20.e3 b5! xb8 12.e5 Tricky Informantor, giving an Deflecting the bishop from the a2-g8 diagonal exclamation mark to 6...e6 without a word with the white pawn at the end of it in the line about this triple attack... b6!! A great move of fire. 21.xb5 e6 22.h3 [ 22.b3 Would have been the fatal blow definitely burying White's 9th move check. But given to the weakened black squares. f5 I can just imagine the look of the unprepared ( 22...xb3 23.axb3 xd2+ 24.xd2 OTB player suddenly finding out he would xb3+ 25.c2 xd2 26.e2= ) 23.g4 lose material for having blindly trusted what c2 24.e2 ( 24.f2 xc3 25.gxf5 a3 ) was written in the Chess player's 'bible'! As, 24...d4! 25.cxd4 xd4 26.gxf5 b2+ alas, it unfortunately happened to me once... 27.d1 b1# ] Indeed, in the following game played in this 22...xa2 23.c4 critical sub-line, things turned out differently: 2155
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 23.e4 b6 24.xf6+ xf6 25.d1 9.e2 0-0 10.f4 e6 11.e2 ( 11.d3 ) b3+ 26.c2 g6+ 27.d3 xg2+ 11...d7 12.0-0 ad8 13.d2 ( 13.c2 28.f2 b8 looks more complicated. And f5 14.d3 ) 13...e5 14.fd1 a6 that is it: In a purely tactical position, like ( 14...c4!? ) 15.d4 Grigore,G-Gheng,J here, whe re th e Silicon m on ste rs h ave Bucareste 2002 1/2(56) ] become genuine 'scarecrows', deciding [ 4.dxc5 xc5 5.e3 b6 6.c1 d5 7.c3 between two (or more) equally bad (or good) c6 8.d2 e5 9.b3 e7 10.c2 0-0 lines given by the computer, in addition to 11.d4 d7 12.gf3 fe8 13.e2 f8 correcting its horizon and envisaging every 14.0-0 c4 15.ab1 Even with an order of sensible move that your knowledge of the move far from being optimal, White enjoys a game commands you to do, you must use small advantage after the stabilization of your brain to interpret these decimals of the position. Shtyrenkov, V-Dvoirys,S RUSevaluation which often have no tangible ChT Moscow 1994 0-1(40) ] significance, but that will make it 'prefer' [ 4.d5 is not as convincing because of the one line to another! ( 28...g6?? 29.f1 )] opening of the long diagonal that will offer 23...xc4 24.xc4 b3+ 25.b1 d5 Black's dark-squared bishop good prospects 26.e1 h6 27.a3 d6 Attacking h2. 28.f4 and make thematic play on the queenside d5! 29.g3 d6! With the lethal idea Re6. impossible for White is good compensation Although W hite's resignation appears a bit f or the altered structure. Similar to th e hasty, it seems that the 2 protagonists of this update concerning the 2...d6/2...g6 line of remarkable game understood each other... A the Trompowsky, in fact, since Black will pure masterpiece indeed, close to perfection! develop in exactly the same manner: ...d6, ... Between unrated White and 2045 Black! The g6, ...Bg7, ... 0-0, ...f5, ...Nd7, ...Re8 and new pleasure of correspondence Chess: Just so on. ] put your engine on... and it will f aithf ully 4...cxd4?! retrieve every single move of this important [ 4...d5!? Is critical for the estimation of the game for theory!! recapture with the e-pawn and has yet to be 0-1 tested in practice. Black offsets the greater exposure of his d-pawn by a gain of space, synonymous with greater liberty in 2210 A45 manoeuvring. 5.e3 ( 5.e4 dxe4 6.dxc5 f5 7.xd8+ xd8 8.0-0-0+ d7; 5.dxc5 d4 Moiseenko,Alexander 2581 6.e4 f5 7.d6+ xd6 8.cxd6 xd6 Dvoirys,Semen I 2578 9.c3 b6! 10.b3 a5= 11.xb7? dxc3 op Dieren (9) 26.07.2001 12.b4 a3! 13.xa8 0-0 14.d5 b2 [Eric Prié] 15.d1 c2-+; 5.d2 c6 6.f3 g4 ) 5...e6 6.ge2 ( 6.dxc5 c6 7.h5 a5! 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 exf6 8.0-0-0 0-0-0 9.ge2 xc5= ) 6...c6 The possibility for the f8-bishop to intervene 7.a3 d7 8.d2 White has reinforced his early in the course of the battle on the dark control over d4, somewhat weakened by his squares initiated by 2. ..c5 is not relevant here 4th move, but the position is still difficult to against correct play. W hat is, on the other assess for 3 crucial and interdependent hand, is the fact that sooner or later the white questions which cannot be clearly decided pawn on d4 will be exchanged against c5 f o r e ith e r sid e : W h ere t o ca st le, wh ic h leaving Black with an awkward isolani on the dstructure to aim for (Black can play c5-c4 file. 4.c3 By developing his queen's knight and White can take back on d4 with the eon its "natural" square, which aims at d5, pawn) and what to do with the king's White therefore prevents 4... Qb6. bishop? Indeed, an untimely g3 by W hite [ 4.c3!? d5 ( 4...b6 5.c2 cxd4 6.cxd4 could be met by the unpleasant ...h5, and a c6 7.e3 d5 8.c3 f5 9.d2 b4 bishop move by Black will lose a tempo after 10.ge2 is fine for W hite.) 5.e3 c6 the capture on c5. ] 6.d2 e7 7.dxc5 xc5 8.b3 b6 2156
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 5.xd4 c6 6.e4+ e7 7.e3 0-0 8.c4 b4 [ 8...a6 9.ge2 b5 10.b3 b7 11.0-0 g6 12.ad1 f5 13.d5 ( 13.d3 e5 14.d4 f6 15.d6 g7 16.d5 e8 ) 13...d6 14.f4 ( 14.d2 e8 15.d5 f8 is t h e s a m e .) 14...a5 15.d3 xb3 16.axb3 e8 17.cd5 With an agreeable plus for White because the knights are not less strong than the bishops here. Chandler, M-Knott,S GBR-ch Millfield 2000 1-0 (65) ] 9.ge2 e8 10.d5 e5 11.b3 b8 12.0-0 b5 13.fd1 a6 14.d4 White did not have to outplay his opponent nor to spend tons of creativity to get this big advantage out of the opening: He has played all the most obvious moves! f8 15.g3 b7 16.d5 c8 17.a4 Like in the Sicilians with a "hole" on d5, this is the thematic plan to use the radiance of the dominating white knight and create decisive weaknesses on the enemy queenside. c4 [ 17...b4 18.xb4 c5 19.d2 f3 20.dc1 a5 21.c3 b8 22.d5 xd5? 23.xd5 c4 24.e2 xb2 25.cb1 f8 26.b4 xb4 ( 26...xa4 27.c2 ) 27.cxb4 xb4 28.a2+- ] [ 17...c6 18.g4 e5 ( 18...a5 19.h5 ) 19.f5 b4 20.e4 ] 18.axb5 axb5 19.a7! c6 [ 19...c5 20.xf6+ h8 ( 20...gxf6 21.g4+ h8 22.xb7 ) 21.h4 ] [ 19...d6 20.d3 e5 ( 20...a8 21.xa8 xa8 22.f5 xf5 23.xf5 e5 )] 20.xc4 bxc4 21.b6! [ 21.xc4 e5 ] 21...c7 22.xc4 b5 23.xc7 [ 23.a3 c5 24.xc7 xd4 25.xb5 e5 26.dxd7 xc7 27.xd8 xd8 28.b4 e7 29.c3 ] 23...xc7 24.d6? It was better get rid of the light-squared bishop, the d7 defender. [ 24.b3! c8 25.d2 xc4 26.bxc4 xc4 27.xd7 b8 28.h3 b4 29.d4 xc2? 30.xb4! xb4 31.d8# ] 24...xd6 25.xd6 xc2 26.d2 c8 27.h3 g6 White is like a pawn up but this is not enough because of the difficulty in 'recycling' his knight. 28.xc2 xc2 29.b1 f5 30.b4 f8 31.f1 e7 32.h2 e2! 33.b5 d8 34.f3 xf3 35.gxf3 c7
36.b6+ b7 37.d1 xb6 38.xd7 c7 39.d8 c6 40.g2 d7 41.h8 h5 42.g3 d6 43.e8 e7 ½-½
2211 Moiseenko,Alexander Kulaots,Kaido Rector Cup 5th (6.2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2597 2513 25.03.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 f6 5.d5 This is possible, of course, but if this may not be the worst moment for W hite in the jungle of variations with this pawn push after 3 . . . c 5 , i t is a t le a s t t h e o n e o f f e rin g t h e opponent the widest choice of replies, including the quite annoying one given in the next game, with likely transpositions into other Tromp systems, such as b6 6.c3!? [ 6.c1 g6 ( 6...e6 7.c4 Transposes into the Black's 6th move note of the Fressinet game. ) 7.c4 g7 8.c3 0-0 9.e4 Is just a casual KID SÃNmisch where the Black queen, badly placed on b6, has moved again. ] 6...xb2 7.d2 b6 8.e4 e5 9.dxe6?! White has an extra-tempo compared to the critical Tromp line 2..c5 3.d5 Qb6 4. Nc3 Qxb2 5. Bd2 Qb6 6.e4 e5, which corresponds to the f 2 -f 3 m o ve lo o kin g u se le ss wh e n t h e o ry precisely recommends [ 9.f4! d6 10.f3 that you may recognize as heavily analysed this summer! ] 9...dxe6 10.e5 d5 11.b1 xc3 12.xc3 c7 13.f4 c6 14.f3 b6 15.c4 e7 16.0-0 0-0 White has only symbolic compensation for the pawn... 17.e1 b7 18.g3 ad8 19.be1 d4 20.xd4 cxd4 21.d3 d5 [ 21...xf3!? 22.xf3 g6 ] [ 21...h6! After that little prophylactic move, I do not see at all how W hite, whose darksquared bishop is cruelly missing, amongst other defects in his position, is going to attack Black's short castle: 22.f5 exf5 23.xf5 fe8! With the nasty idea 24.g4 ( 24.h4 xh4 25.xh4 d5 ) 24...b4! 25.e2 xf3 26.xf3 xe5 ] 22.g5 g6 23.h4 h5 24.g4 xg5 2157
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 25.fxg5! [ 25.xg5 hxg4 26.xg4 g7 27.g5 f5! nipping White's attack in the bud, with the idea ...Rf8-f7, ...Rd8-h8, ...Qc7-e7 ( 27...h8 28.f5 ) 28.e2 d7! 29.h5 d8!! A fantastic defensive move showing how precarious the situation of the white king can become. A) 30.xg6+ h8 31.g3 ( 31.f2 g8 32.f6+ xf6 33.exf6 g2# ) 31...g7 32.g6 xg6! 33.xg6 g8; B) 30.g3 h8-+ ] 25...hxg4 26.h6! c4! [ 26...f3 27.h3 ] 27.f6!! Somehow, although Black's play can undoubtedly be improved, White managed to generate some kind of an initiative against which Black eventually had no more than a draw. [ 27.h4 xd3 28.cxd3 c2! 29.h5 xd3 30.f6 g3+ 31.f1 h3+ 32.g1 xh5 ] 27...xd3 28.cxd3 c8 [ 28...c3 29.xg6+ Perpetual check. ] 29.h4! gxh3? Black does not sense the danger. He had now to leap at the draw with [ 29...c3 ] 30.f3 h2+ 31.xh2? Mutual time trouble? After [ 31.xh2! I do not see how can Black parry the Rf3-h3 threat apart from playing the hideous f5 ( 31...c3 32.ef1; 31...c2 32.h4 ) 32.gxf6 ] 31...c3! 32.e2 c1 33.h3 f4+ 34.g2 g4+ 35.f2 f4+ 36.g2 g4+ 37.f2 f4+ 38.f3 c1 Threatening Rc8c2 39.h3 ½-½
2212 Moiseenko,Alexander Sakaev,Konstantin Aeroflot op-A 2nd (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2597 2645 16.02.2003
with reversed colours and also not 1.e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 where the fact that the e-pawn, and not the c-pawn, was exchanged against the d-pawn obviously makes a huge difference. As the game develops, it can acquire a certain similarity to an open Sicilian Richter-Rauzer when White doubles the pawn on f6 but never more than that. h6 6.0-0-0 Fascinating 3.Nc3 ? Indeed! In which other opening can you see one side long castling with a useful semi-open d-file as early as on move 6? In which other opening, substantiated by GM practice, do you see, from the very early moves, one camp exchanging a side-pawn against a central one, together with an early sortie of the queen in the middle of the board? a5 Do note the aesthetic position of both queens. 7.f3 h7 Basically the opening revolves around the interesting theme of the annoying combined pressure exerted on the same diagonal by the bishop-queen couple against a knight on f6 and how to release it. 8.d2 g5 9.c4 b4 W hen Black manages to exchange the queens in the open Sicilian, this is usually equivalent to equality, but here his pieces may not be best placed! 10.xb4 xb4 11.b5 a6 12.c3 g8 13.e4 g4 14.h4 You would hardly guess that this position, let us call it, "unconventional", was found in an actual game from a very serious tournament between 2 super GMs... Anyhow, it should not to be shown in Chess schools for you can now see 3 knights on the edge of the board to be added to the previous liberties taken with the classical rules of general opening theory! g5 15.d3 e6 16.b4 I am not sure that it was Black's intention to follow up with ...Nc5 rather t h a n b r i n g h i s N a 6 b a c k i n t o p l a y . ac7 17.f5 xb5 18.xb5 a6 19.c4 b5 20.d5 Presumably, White has the feeling he has missed something stronger and starts doubting, so he offers a draw while still better which, of course, is accepted. ½-½
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 c6 5.h4 This position resembles nothing else. Especially not the main line of the 'BelgoPortuguese Scandinavian' (1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 Bg4 4.Nf3 Qxd5 5.Be2 Nc6 6.Nc3 Qh5) , 2158
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2213 Moiseenko,Alexander Svidler,Peter RUS-chT9 Ekaterinburg (4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2575 2688 20.05.2002
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 Not falling into the trap of the seducing [ 6...d5? 7.b3 a4 ( 7...b6 8.dxc5 e6 9.h3 ) 8.xb8 xb8 ( 8...e3? 9.c1 xf1 10.f4 ) 9.xc5 ] 7.b3 f5!? A forcing line. Black gains the t wo b is h o p s a t t h e co s t o f s o m e s e ve r e d e ve lo p m e n t p ro b le m s t h a t h e h o p e s t o compensate precisely thanks to his enhanced dark-squared control. 8.xb8 xb8 9.xd4 b6 [ 9...a8 10.e4 f4 11.h3 c7 12.e5 g8 13.0-0-0 The additional move ...b7-b6 clearly favours the defender. ] 10.e4 f4 11.h3 c7 12.e5 g8 13.0-0-0 e6 14.d3!? The idea behind this move is to keep the queen centralized by being ready to exchange this light-squared bishop against the black knight (when it gets to c6), and then bring the king's knight from h3 to d6 via g5-e4 or f2-e4 in order to get rid of Black's strong dark-squared bishop and try to take advantage of the d-file domination and anchor on d6. e7 15.e4 c6 16.xc6 xc6 Like in an open Paulsen Sicilian, Black wants to keep the option of the thematic undermining move ...f7-f6. [ 16...dxc6!? 17.g5 A) 17...c5?! 18.f4! ( 18.d8+?? xd8 19.xd8+ xd8 20.xf7+ e8 21.xh8 g6 ) 18...f5 19.g3! e7 20.xh7!; B) 17...e7 18.e4 c5 19.d6+ xd6 20.xd6 xd6 21.xd6 b7 22.d2 d7 23.e4 e7 24.hd1 f8! 25.xd7+ xd7 26.d6 f6 27.f4 fxe5 28.fxe5 f2 29.d2 f1+ 30.d1 f2 31.d2 Draw agreed with another order of moves (14.Ng5 Ne7 15.Bb5 Nc6 16.Bxc6 dxc6 17.Ne4 c5 18.Nd6+ and so on) corresponds to Nedimovic, L(2176)-Tratar, M(2452), Portoroz op 2004 ] 17.g5 e7 18.e4 b7 19.he1 d8 20.e3 0-0 21.d6 a8 22.b1 f6! The spring which until now was compressed,
is losing its tension! 23.e2 fxe5 24.xe5 f6! If in this way the white pawns on the kingside can become targets, the validity of W hite's idea of Bd3 has to be questioned. 25.ed2 g6 26.e2 c7 27.h3 [ 27.b5 xh2 ] 27...xd6 28.xd6 d5 29.e5 c4! In my database the following sequence begins with the astonishing 29...Qc5 (!), which is obviously wrong. Being acquainted with the material, I think I repaired it correctly. [ 29...xg2? 30.6xd5 ] 30.g4 [ 30.d2 xg2! 31.xg2 f1+ ] 30...f6 31.6xd5!? Most probably neither a stroke of luck, nor had it been planned far ahead, but this is the best practical chance in order to save the f-pawn. exd5 32.d4 df8 33.f5 d6? [ 33...g6! Freeing the f-file and by consequence the key square on f4 for the b l a c k q u e e n . 34.h6+ ( 34.b3 c5 35.e7+ h8 36.xd5 d6! All the same! 37.e1 c7; 34.e7+ h8 35.xd5 d6 36.xf6+ xf6 37.xf6 f4; 34.d4!? Somehow, I sense White deserves to have something that complicates better than this, with the plan h4-h5, but my little German 'friend' in front of me formally disagrees with this impression and I do not see how to make it swallow its smug assurance! b5! ) 34...h8 ( 34...g7 35.g5?? ) 35.xd5 f4 36.xf4 xf4 37.xd7 a5 38.a4 xf3 39.g5 Imprisoning the Black king but xh3! 40.f7+ xf7 41.xf7 g3 42.b7 xg5 43.xb6 h5 And Black is well placed to win this race. 44.b5 f5! ] 34.e7 8f7 [ 34...6f7? 35.e6 a4 36.xd5 h8 37.xd6 ] 35.e8+ f8 36.e7 8f7 ½-½
2159
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2214 Movsesian,Sergei Kotronias,Vasilios Aeroflot Open (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2637 2572 15.02.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.c1! e6 8.e4 exd5 9.exd5 d6 [ 9...d6! Also see next time. ] 10.c4 g6!? By directly opting for a kingside fianchetto, Black tries to win time on the previous game, however... 11.e2+ d8! 12.c2 g7 13.d3 a6!? A poor position f o r t h e q u e e n 's k n i g h t i n t h i s s t r u c t u r e , compared to the Benoni one, for instance, and which is only justified by a tactical trick that will eventually turn sour - something that must have been quite difficult to estimate at the time. [ 13...e8+ 14.e2 bd7! A) 15.f4 g4 16.bc3 ( 16.0-0 e3 17.xe3 xb2 ) 16...d4; B) 15.0-0! e5 16.bc3 xd3 17.xd3 f5 ( 17...e7!? 18.g3 f8 19.f4 d7 20.ce4 xe4 21.xe4 f5 ) 18.d2! Trying to recover some harmony after the loss of the important lightsquared bishop ( 18.d1 e7 19.g3 d7 20.f4 xb2 ) 18...e7 19.b3 f8 20.b2 g8 ( 20...a5 21.g3 d7 22.f4 Hitting the thematic weakness on d6. ) 21.g3 d7 22.ce4! d8? 23.xd6 ] 14.a3 e8+ 15.e2 e7 16.bc3 f8 17.0-0 b4 18.axb4 cxb4+ 19.h1 bxc3 20.xc3 d7 21.d2 c5 22.b5 xd3 23.xd3 Reaching the critical position for the provocative 13... Na6 idea. d7 [ 23...xb2 A) 24.ab1 f5 25.b3 ( 25.h6+ g8 26.d2 h8 ) 25...e5!; B) 24.a5 e3 ( 24...c5 25.c7 g8 26.xd6 e3 27.xe3 xe3 28.c7 xa1 29.xa1 b8 30.c5 c3 31.xa7 ) 25.xe3 ( 25.b1 e5 26.f4 f5 27.a2 xa1 28.xa1 c5 29.h8+ e7 30.c3 d7; 25.d1 xa1 26.xa1 e5 27.c3 f4 28.c7 h3 ) 25...xe3 26.a2 ( 26.b6 b3 ) 26...e5 27.f4 ( 27.b6 b3 28.c7
xb6 29.xa8 b4 30.xa7 d4 ) 27...f6 No back rank mate as e1 is under control. 28.b6 ( 28.b4 f5 29.xd6+ g7 30.c5 b3 ) 28...b3 29.xa7 ( 29.xa7 d7 30.xd6 d4 ) 29...xa7 30.xa7 g4; C) 24.c3 xa1 25.xa1 e3; D) 24.a2!? f5! 25.b3 f6 26.a3 g8! 27.xd6 e7 28.b4 a5! 29.c5 ( 29.xe8 xb4 30.a4 d3 31.d1 xc4 ) 29...xd6 30.xd6 e3 31.c1 ae8; E) 24.h6+ g8 25.d2 xa1 26.xa1 f6; F) 24.ae1!! C e n t r a l p l a y . . . f5! This annoying intermediate move consistently forces the W hite queen to occupy an inferior square to a3. 25.b3 F1) 25...xe1 26.xe1 e5 27.f4 f2 28.fxe5 xd2 29.g3 dxe5 30.xe5 g8 31.d6 f6 32.e7 f8 33.h3 a5 34.xf5 gxf5 35.e3 f4 36.e6+ h8 ( 36...g7 37.g4+ h8 38.xf4 ) 37.d6 b4 38.xb4 axb4 39.b3; F2) 25...e5 26.f4 d4 ( 26...f6 27.a3 g8 28.e3 d8 29.xd6 e7 30.c5 b6 31.xe8 xc5 32.a1 Having contested the e-file actually makes a difference!) 27.b4 xe1 ( 27...c5 28.c3! g8 29.a5 xe1 30.xe1 a6 31.c7; 27...ed8 28.xd6! xd6 29.a3 ad8 30.c5 b5 31.cxd6 xd5 32.d1 ) 28.xe1 f2 ( 28...d8 29.a3 Threatening Ba5. c5 30.c3 g8 31.a5 ) 29.a1! Having eliminated an essential asse t o f t he bla ck def ense t he roo k returns to the a-file to pin Black's a-pawn a n d a u t h o r i z e t h e m o v e B a 5 . g8 ( 29...d7 30.b2 xb5 31.h8+ e7 32.xa8 xc4 33.a5 d4 34.d8# ) 30.b2 a6 31.a5 ( 31.f6 d8 ) 31...c5 ( 31...e3 32.xd6 ) 32.f6 h4 33.xh4 axb5 34.c3 xa1+ 35.xa1 c7 36.f6 f8 37.e5! ( 37.h8+ e7 38.f6+ d7 39.xh7 b6 40.xf7+ c8 41.e8+ b7 42.xb5 d3 ) 37...e8 ( 37...dxe5 38.d6 xc4 39.h8# ) 38.xd6 d8 39.e5+ d7 40.c5 e8? 41.c6+ bxc6 42.dxc6+ d8 43.c7+ ] 2160
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.a5 e3 25.xe3 xe3 26.xd6 b3 [ 26...xb2 27.ab1 a3 ( 27...b3 28.f2 b6 29.e1 ) 28.xb7 xd6 29.xd7 ] 27.c5 xb2 [ 27...e5 28.c4 xb2 29.fb1! ( 29.ab1 b5 30.d2 a3 ) 29...xa1 30.xb3 b6 31.a3! d4 32.cxb6 axb6 33.b4+ ] 28.ac1 b5 [ 28...a4 29.fe1! e5 is controlled so the king cannot approach to help stop the epawn promotion... ( 29.c6 bxc6 30.dxc6 e7 )] 29.fe1 b6 30.c6! a6? Time trouble probably. [ 30...bxa5 Was more resistant. 31.c7 d4 The king needs an escape square. ( 31...d7 32.c8+ xc8 33.e8#; 31...h6 32.c8+ xc8 33.xc8+ g7 34.b8 d2 35.d1 a6 36.xb5 g5 37.d6 xb5 38.xb5 axb5 39.d7 d8 40.e1 b4 41.e8 f6 42.d8 xd8 43.xd8 b3 44.b8 a4 45.b4 ) 32.c8+ xc8 33.xc8+ g7 34.xb5 ( 34.b8 c3 35.c1 a6 ) 34...xb5 35.d1 e5 36.c6 ( 36.d8 a4 37.d6 a3 38.d7 f6 39.c8 a2; 36.g3 d6 37.c6 b6 38.a1 b4 ) 36...b7 37.g3 W ith a probable technical win. One po ss ib ilit y: ( 37.d6 d7 38.d5 f6 ) 37...c7 38.d6 d8 39.d7 f8 40.c2 b6 41.e2 e6 42.xe6 fxe6 43.g2 e7 44.f2 a4 45.d3 And the white king crosses the d-file to take the a-pawn or support the d-pawn while there is no fortress with this altered structure if Black manages to give up both his a-pawns against the dpawn. ] 31.c7 h6 [ 31...d4 32.c3 ] 32.c8+ [ 32.c8+ xc8 33.e8+ g7 34.c3+ ] 1-0
2215 Mueller,Jan Hendrik Littlewood,Paul E 96th ch-GBR Torquay ENG (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2149 2358 29.07.2009
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6 3.c3 b6 4.b1 d5 5.e3 [ 5.xf6 exf6 6.e3 d6 ( 6...b4 7.d2 f5 8.ge2 d7 9.g3 e6 10.d3 c5?! Better was 10...g6 with equality, according to Finkel in Yevseev, D (2496)-Grechihin, V (2521) Samara 2000 1-0(42)) 7.d3 f5 8.f3 g6 ( 8...f4 9.ge2 fxe3 10.fxe3 e6 11.0-0 d7 12.f4 0-0= ) 9.ge2 e6 10.0-0 d7 11.f4 0-0 12.ce2 f6= with equal chances. Finkel, A for ChessBase. ] 5...f5 [ 5...g4 6.f3 f5 7.g4 ( 7.d3!? xd3 8.xd3 bd7 9.ge2 e5 After 9...e6, White will play e3-e4. 10.xf6 gxf6 11.0-0 0-0-0 12.b4 This is the idea: weaken the opposing king situation on the right flank so as to entice him to seek shelter on the other side and make an enhanced use of the rook on b1! ) 7...d7 8.f4 e6 9.a4 a5+ 10.c3 c5 11.xc5 xc5 12.dxc5 xc5 Was unclear after 13.d4 in Shtyrenkov, V (2435)-Gromova, I (2201) Pardubice op 2007 0-1(32), because W hite must have realized by then that he could not play the thematic ( 13.b3 c6! 14.xb7 0-0 15.g5 ab8 16.xb8 xe3+ 17.e2 xb8 18.c7 xg5 19.f4 g6 20.c1 e5 )] 6.d3 xd3 [ 6...g6!? A) 7.xf6 exf6 8.f3 White wants to play for e3-e4. ( 8.f3!? d6 9.ge2 a6 10.a3 c7 11.0-0 ) 8...a6 9.0-0 ( 9.a3!? d6 10.0-0 c7 11.e1 0-0 12.xg6 hxg6 13.e4 ) 9...b4 ( 9...f5? 10.h4 ) 10.xg6 hxg6 11.a3 a6 12.e4 dxe4 13.xe4 0-0-0; B) 7.f3 bd7 8.0-0 e6 9.e2 ( 9.f4!? ) 9...d6 10.xf6!? ( 10.e4 dxe4 11.xe4 xe4 12.xe4 xe4 13.xe4= ) 10...gxf6!? Gonzalez Velez, F (2375)-Cano Sanchez, J (2361) Barcelona 2000 ( 10...xf6= )] 2161
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7.cxd3 bd7 8.f3 e6 9.0-0 h6 10.f4 e7 [ 10...a5 11.a4 Followed by the same white moves: h3, Qc2, Rfc1 etc. ] 11.b4! It is because of this possibility that 4. Rb 1 o p p o s it e t h e Q b 6 lo o ks like a m o r e appropriate solution than the gambit... 0-0 12.h3 [ 12.a4! ] 12...fc8 [ 12...a5! Similarly, Black should prevent the strong idea Na4-c5 as soon as possible. 13.b5 c5 14.a4 a7 15.dxc5 ( 15.b6 a6 16.c2 cxd4 17.xd4 fc8 18.c7 e8 19.b5 ) 15...xc5 16.b6 a6 17.xc5 xc5 18.c7 ( 18.c2 ac8 19.fc1 xe3 )] 13.e2?! Too much preparation when in any case it is clear that the white queen should not move away from the scene of action: the queenside! [ 13.a4! a6 ( 13...d8 14.c5 ) 14.c5 ( 14.b3!? ) 14...xc5 15.bxc5 b6 ( 15...b5 16.a4 ) 16.c2 ] 13...d8 14.fc1?! [ 14.a4 a5 15.b5 c5 ] 14...f8 15.a4? [ 15.a3 still would have kept the balance, with the idea a5 ( 15...b5 ) 16.bxa5 xa3 17.c2 a7 18.a2= ] 15...xb4 16.c5 xc5 17.dxc5 xc5 18.d4 ce4 19.xb7 c5 As a result of his 'combination', W hite has given a pawn for almost nothing and quickly collapses. 20.e5 d6 21.d7 xd7 22.xd7 c4?! [ 22...e4 23.f3 f6 24.b7 cxd4 ] 23.xc4? missing the unique opportunity: [ 23.b1! cxd4 ( 23...b6 24.d6 e8 25.e7 c6 26.dxc5 ) 24.exd4 b6 25.d6 e8 26.e7 c6 ( 26...a4 27.h5 f8 28.c7 xa2 29.bc1 c4 ) 27.f3 f8 28.g3 c2 29.e1 c8 ( 29...c4 30.1xe6 xd6 31.xd6 xa2 32.f3 ) 30.e5 h7 31.b7 ] 23...dxc4 24.d6 e8 25.e7 c6 26.h5 f8 27.e5 e4 28.h2 c3 29.d5 g6 30.f3 xe3 31.xf7 gxh5 0-1
2216 Nabaty,Tamir Loncar,Robert Zagreb Open (3.2) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2586 2358 19.03.2014
1.d4 f6 2.f4 [ 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 f6 5.dxc5 a5+ 6.c3 xc5 7.e4 d6 8.d2 may just look like a random Tromp insertion, but see what follows... ] 2...c5 The critical test of White's early bishop d e v e l o p m e n t i n m y v i e w . 3.dxc5!? Rapport tried this idea earlier this year. It does avoid theory and works well in our main game, but surely can't lead to any advantage. a5+ [ Eric pointed out that 3...e6 can be met by 4.d6 , ] [ as well as that 3...a6! is the critical move. Unsurprisingly this was seen in Rapport-Giri, W ijk aan Zee 2014, where 4.d4 a5+ 5.c3 ( criticised by Eric he considered 5.c3 xc5 6.e3 in his notes to DornerPhilipowski, German League 2004, where h e s h o w e d t h a t a5!? 7.f3 d6 wa s on e rou t e to co mf ort ab le e qua lit y) 5...xc5 6.d2 ( 6.b4? e6 7.c4 d8 is not really what White wants to be doing t h a t p a wn o n b 4 s t i c k s o u t l i k e a s o r e thumb ) 6...e6!? ( 6...b6 is good enough for equality in Eric's view and I can't disagree, or fault Giri's choice here the move is underpinned by the line 7.b4?! ce4 8.xb6 axb6 9.b5 a4 when again W hite finds himself overextended on the queenside ) 7.h4 g5! (and why not?) 8.g3 d5 ( 8...g7 might be even better when 9.0-0-0 d5!? is a possibility after 10.xd5 xd5 the g7-bishop is defended, so White must attend to the defence of a2 with 11.b1 ) 9.e4!? ( unsurprisingly Rapport finds a more creative and ch a ll e n gi n g ch o i ce t h a n 9.e3 ) 9...d4 10.b5+ d7 11.xd7+ xd7 12.d5 c5 with an unusual, roughly level position before Rapport really went for it with 13.f3!? xc2 14.0-0 xe4 15.c7+ xc7 16.fe1 d5 17.xc7 . ] 4.d2 [ I t h i n k I wo u ld h a ve p r e f e rr e d 4.c3!? 2162
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to cut out the possibility in the next note, and if e6 5.a3 xc5 6.e4 . ] 4...xc5!? [ The Croatian Grandmaster wants to take play into Sicilian-like waters, but this was a slightly risky course. Safer was 4...xd2+ 5.xd2 a6 6.b3 e4 with easy equality. ] 5.c3 d6 6.e4 In comparison with the Trompowsky position, W hite is without the move f2-f3. However, in both cases I rather like W hite. He has easy development and Black's queen is misplaced on c5. e6?! [ 6...g6! looks like the right course, since it's hard to believe White can avoid an early f2f3 and cause Black problems. Then, at least for Black, the first player finds himself a move down on the Tromp version. ] [ Instead, 6...e6?! 7.0-0-0 would be excellent for White, but the rather artificial text also fails to convince. ] 7.f3 a6 8.0-0-0 bd7 Loncar has in mind an early queenside initiative with ...Rc8, ... Qa5 and maybe ...b5, but W hite can strike first. 9.g5! g6 [ 9...c4 was the alternative, but after 10.e3 c7 11.f4 b5 12.b1 White's development must surely count for quite a lot. ] 10.xe6 fxe6 11.g3! Borrowing a motif from the Dragon. Black's doubled e-pawns do control a number of important squares, but e6 wo n ' t b e e s p e c ia l ly e a s y t o d e f e n d . g7 12.h3 f7 [ 12...e5?! 13.e3 c4 14.f3 0-0 15.b1 is pretty dis gusting f or B lack, with Nd 5 coming, after which White will dominate the light squares. ] [ However, 12...h5!? very much came into consideration, and if 13.e2 ( 13.xe6 xf4 14.gxf4 xc3 15.xc3?! xc3 16.bxc3 c5 17.d5 f8 would be excellent for Black) 13...xf4 14.xf4 e5 15.d3 b5 16.xe6 c5 17.b3 xb3+ 18.cxb3 0-0 with some, if likely not quite enough, play for the pawn thanks to that unopposed Dragon bishop. ] 13.e3 a5?! [ Loncar wants to attack, but he should have first driven back the annoying bishop with 13...h5 . ]
14.f4 hc8 15.d4 [ Hardly terrible, but 15.e5! would just have been pretty strong. The main point is the q u i e t f o l l o w - u p dxe5 16.hf1 when ( the more direct 16.he1!? also looks quite good ) 16...exf4 17.xf4 c5 18.e3 leaves W hite in control of the position, if without an immediate kill. ] 15...c4? [ Hopelessly underestimating the coming danger. Black h ad to play the thematic ' s a c r i f i c e ' 15...xc3! 16.xc3 xa2 w h e n , s a y , 17.d3 ( 17.a3! xa3 18.bxa3 xe4! 19.xe6+! xe6 20.xg7 is likely the critical line after dc5 21.he1 f7 22.d4 c8 Black has only a pawn for the exchange, but his position is compact and W hite shouldn't find it easy to make progress ) 17...c8 18.de1 c5 would have given him good counterplay. ] 16.e5! dxe5 [ 16...d5 17.xd5 xd5 18.b3 cc8 19.exd6 xd4 20.xd4 xd4 21.xd4 would also have left the Israeli Grandmaster well on the path to victory. ] 17.fxe5 xe5 18.e2 fd7 The only try, but clearly Black's position hangs together by a thread. 19.e4!? xa2? [ Losing and I dare say that Loncar will play many better games. He simply had to cover the g5-square with 19...f6 when 20.b1 (there's no need to hurry) ac8 21.c3 followed by Bg2 and h4-h5 would have left White in complete control, but Black clinging on for the time being. ] 20.xe6+! e8 [ 20...xe6 21.g5+ leaves the black king without a good square, as it's mate after f6 22.f1+! xg5 23.f4+ h5 24.h4# . ] 21.xd7+ xd7 22.d6+ Winning the house. f8 23.xc4 1-0
2163
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 When the White knight on f5 will dominate the position. ) 32...b5 33.e2; B) 27...h5 Was a critical continuation where it is not easy for White to regroup, in order to take advantage of the f5 square, for instance B1) 28.e2 f4 29.xf4 gxf4 30.f2 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 ( 30.d2 g4 31.f2 d7 32.xf4? 5.d2 b6 6.e4 e5 7.f4 d6 8.f3 bd7 exf4 33.e5+ f5 ) 30...b8 31.d2 f5; 9.fxe5 dxe5 10.c4 d8 B2) 28.g3 g7 A good prophylactic move the idea of which B2a) 29.d2! was probably best then. may have occurred during the game he played W h it e ca n p la y 'slo wly' b e t t in g o n in the round in between! In the space of 3 p o s i t i o n a l c o m p e n s a t i o n . f5?! consecutives rounds with the same colour, to ( 29...g8 After which the position is play the same, sharp, non mainstream unclear. 30.bf1 h3 This is a va ria t io n e ve ry t im e m u st b e a n a ll t im e drawback of having played g3 to guard record! 11.b1 d6 12.0-0 the f4 square. 31.1f2? b5 32.axb5 [ 12.b5? xe4 13.e2 df6 ] axb5 33.xb5 a1+ ) 30.exf5 xf5 12...0-0 13.g5 h6 14.h4 a6 15.a4 a5 31.e4; 16.e1 B2b) 29.d1 f5! 30.exf5? e4! [ 16.d3 h5 17.e2 f4 ] 31.xe4 e8 32.d3 xe1+ 33.f2 16...d8 17.h4 It is not clear what Black e5 34.f6+ f5 ( 34...f5 35.xb7! would have done if his opponent had repeated xd3 36.xg7+ h8 37.xd3 ) 35.g4 the moves as it is quite difficult for him to find xf6 36.e3 b5! 37.axb5 axb5 an enterprising plan in order to make use of 38.xb5 ( 38.xb5 xe3 39.xe3 his extra material. See the general comment d4 40.gxf5 h4+ 41.g2 ) on the overall estimation of the line in the 38...xe3! 39.xe3 c4 40.e4 p r e v i o u s g a m e , wh i c h wa s , b y t h e wa y, c5-+ ] completely conf irmed by Nijboer himself , (a lt h o u g h m o r e c ir cu m s p e c t l y, a n d le s s 26...h5 27.e3 b8 28.bf1 f6 29.d2 30.h4? The slack move in all its enthusiastically than me, from Black's point of g5 view!), when I spoke with him in July at the splendour! It is so 'natural' in this structure, famous chess camping site La Rochade... and with the h6-pawn in the line of fire. This is on top of this I just saw today, as I was about typical of a casual strategical consideration to send this (late...) August update off, an colliding with practical play. g4 31.3f2 [ 31.f5 g3! ] article written in black and white in the last White will suffer unbearable material N I C y e a r b o o k 7 1 , b y t h e s a m e p e r s o n , 31...f5! comforting my analysis!! e8 The square h4 loss just to avoid getting mated... 32.exf5 has been freed for the knight to head for f5 but, This capture leads to a more 'severe' one. g3 in return, the f6-knight has been liberated 33.f3 xh4 34.e1 xc4? [ 34...xf5! The opening of the f-file is from the pin along the h4-d8 diagonal, and absolutely lethal for White. 35.d3 ( 35.e2 can head for d6. 18.f5 df6 19.e3 e7 e4 ) 35...xd3 36.xd3+ g7 20.g3 d6 21.d3 d7 22.f5 h7 A) 37.e2 h2+ 38.f1 xf3+ 39.gxf3 23.f3 g6 24.xd6 xd6 25.f2 f6 f4! S p e c t a c u l a r w h e n ( 39...h1+ 26.h3 40.g1 f4 41.e3 g2+ 42.e1 h3 [ 26.h4 g5 ( 26...e7? 27.d6 ) 27.e1 43.d2 xg1 Makes Black emerge A) 27...e8!? 28.e2 e7 29.c3 f6 prosaically from the attack with a rook and 30.a5 d6 31.g3 Here again White has a piece more!) 40.xh2 ( 40.xf4 h1# ) excellent compensation. d7 32.f1 40...gxh2 41.xf4 h1+; Fritz even gives the surprising positional B) 37.e4 h2+ 38.f1 h1+ 39.g1 e x c h a n g e s a c r i f i c e . ( 32.b6 b5 xf3+ 40.gxf3 ( 40.xf3 f8 ) 40...f4 33.xd6!? xd6 34.xb5 axb5 35.xb5 2217 Nakamura,Hikaru Nijboer,Friso GMB Wijk aan Zee NED (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2571 2586 18.01.2004
2164
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 The simple move W hite may have forgotten. His bishop is not there anymore to guard this square and Qg2+ will win the house. ] 35.xh6 xf5 36.xf8 xf8 37.g5 g6?? Heavy time trouble undoubtedly... [ 37...d4+! 38.h1 g6-+ ( 38...g7; 38...g4-+ ) 39.e4 xf3! 40.gxf3 f2 ] 38.e4!! An unbelievable surprise! The black queen is trapped!! f5 [ 38...xe4 39.xh5+ g7 40.xg3+ f6 41.h6+ e7 ( 41...f5 42.g5# ) 42.g7+ f7 ( 42...e8 43.e6+ d8 44.d7# ) 43.e6+ d8 44.xd6+ c8 45.g8+ f8 46.xf8# ] 39.xf5 [ 39.xf5 xc3 40.g4 e1+ 41.f1 is even 'stronger'. ] 39...xf5 40.xc4 f4 41.e4 f8 42.xg3 d7 43.h5! 1-0
2218 Nakamura,Hikaru Polgar,Judit Super Sixteen, London rapid (6.1) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2786 2693 13.12.2013
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 [ Another recent high-level rapid game saw instead 3...c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 e6!? ( this advance continues to gain some support at the cost of the traditional main line, 6...b6 ) 7.e4 exd5 8.exd5 d6 . Here we've tended to focus on the main move, A) Instead, Grischuk-Giri, Beijing (rapid) 2013, continued 9.a3 e7 10.e2!? ( a new move for us previously, we've n o t e d t h a t 10.c4 d8 11.a4 0-0 12.e2 e8 13.f2 a6 14.c1?! c7 15.e3 f8! left Black slightly for choice in Stips-Korneev, Porto San Giorgio 2011 it's notable how Grischuk refrains from driving the black queen back, instead preferring to focus on the other flank) 10...h5 ( being a rapid game, Giri is keen to seize the initiative and he may also have realised that 10...b5 11.g4 0-0 12.g3 leaves White will placed on both
th e kingsid e a n d t o re a ct t o e it h e r o f Black's queenside advances; however, 10...0-0!? 11.g4 d8 12.g3 e8 might be the critical test of Grischuk's idea when one important line runs 13.f2 a6 14.c4 b5 15.e3 and while the knight should be happy on e3 here it permits g5!? , and if 16.xg5 xg4+ 17.fxg4 xg5 ) 11.e3 0-0 12.g4! ( a new move and a stronger plan than the previously played 12.c4 d8 13.a4 ) 12...h4+ 13.f2 xf2+ 14.xf2 f6 15.g3 (Black has e xc h a n g e d o f f a p o t e n t i a l l y p r o b l e m bishop, but lacks counterplay, partly due to the excellent defensive work performed by the knight on a3 Giri now sacrifices a pawn for some activity) c4?! 16.xc4 c5+ 17.d4 ( 17.e3 looks even stronger, and if e8 only then 18.d4 ) 17...xd5 18.xc5 dxc5 19.d1 e6 20.e4 and W hite was pressing, eventually winning on move 60.; B) 9.d2 , most recently in Palliser-A. Zhigalko, European Club Cup, Rhodes 2013. ] 4.e3 c5 5.d3 c6?! [ Polgar didn't appear too well prepared in London. She had played the text before, but there's a reason why pretty much every other GM has abandoned the move, in large part for 5...f6 . ] 6.xe4 dxe4 7.d5 e5 [ P r a c t i c e h a s a l s o s h o w n t h a t 7...b4 8.c3 e6 9.d6! is in White's favour. ] 8.g3 e7 9.c3 f6 [ A new try for the former top-ten player and nowadays acclaimed author. Previously 9...g6 h a d b e e n w e l l m e t b y 10.h4! in Radjabov-Polgar, Benidorm (rapid) 2003 see Eric's notes in the Archive. ] 10.d2?! [ A natural enough move, but one would have expected the world no.3 to know about 10.h5+! g6 11.0-0-0 , which is just very strong, as shown by Eric's notes to K.BergNavara, Morso 2002, and mine to LaznickaHuzman, European Club Cup, Eilat 2012. ] 10...f5 11.f3 [ Freeing the g3-bishop to an extent and undermining the cramping pawn on e4, but W h i t e m i g h t h a v e p r e f e r r e d 11.0-0-0!? 2165
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 , and if c8 12.f4 , gaining a move over the game, albeit at the cost of committing the king to a side of the board where it might be attacked. ] [ Note too that 11.d6? c8 would just drop a pawn for insufficient compensation. ] 11...c8! [ This pawn sacrifice is a novelty, but it makes excellent sense. Instead, 11...exf3 12.xf3 c8 13.e4 g6 14.0-0 looks quite pleasant for White, with Nh4 and Qe2-g4 one plan. ] 12.f4! [ Nakamura really is determined to free his bishop. White can cling on to an extra pawn with something like 12.fxe4 g6 13.h3 d6 14.f2 , b u t a f t e r b5 Black is for choice: not only is e4 a problem, but White is devoid of a good plan and has a rather unhappy bishop. ] 12...exf4 13.xf4 d6 [ Watching live at Olympia I rather liked the idea of 13...h5!? , gaining some useful space and making it hard for W hite to go Ne2-g3. ] 14.ge2 c4 A bit sub-optimal, but necessary if Black wanted to maintain the pawn on e4 while completing her development. 15.c1 d6 [ Facilitating castling, but Polgar has got away without completing development thus far and might have continued in that vein with 15...g4!? . The idea is that d5 is as weak as e4 and, unfortunately for W hite, 16.g3? runs into g5 . ] 16.0-0 g6 17.g3 e7?! [ Nakamura had played the last few moves pretty quickly, as is his wont, and I'm sure th at wit h m ore t im e P o lgar wo u ld ha ve found something better. Pushing the f-pawn looks pretty sensible and there was also 17...xf4 18.xf4 d6 , although after 19.d2 e7 20.e2 White should be slightly for choice, since h4-h5 is very much an idea. ] 18.b3! Prodding the knight at the most opportune moment. e5 [ The best try. Black might like to go 18...b6 , but af ter 19.f5! xf5 20.xd6 xd6 21.xf5 White will safely bag the e4-pawn, since e7 can be met by 22.f4 . ]
19.xe5 xe5 20.cxe4 [ Going for the extra pawn makes a lot of se n se , a lt h o u g h 20.ce2 d6 21.c4 would also have left White doing pretty well on the positional front, with a queenside advance one plan. ] 20...b6 21.xc5 xd5 22.d3 xd3 23.cxd3 0-0 Of course, the e-pawn was immune, but now at last Polgar is castled. Moreover, her centralised pieces exert a fair amount of pressure and it isn't so easy for Nakamura to realise his extra pawn. 24.e4?! [ Too ambitious, but perhaps the American superstar was either over confident or just not in th e mo od t o play h avin g alre ad y qualified for the quarter-finals. Here 24.e1 followed by Qd2 would have been somewhat more circumspect. ] 24...d4+ 25.h1 ac8 26.d2 [ Now Black's queen and knight team generate some threats to the white king, but in the case of 26.f5 xc1 27.xd4 xf1+ 28.xf1 b4 Polgar would have regained her pawn with full equality. ] 26...e3 27.fc1 g4 28.h3?! [ Whether this was a rare outright blunder or just Nakamura trying too hard isn't clear. W h a t is cle a r is t h a t o b je ct ive ly W h it e sh o u ld h a ve se t t le d f o r 28.f5 f2+ 29.g1 h3+ 30.h1 f2+ with a draw by repetition. ] 28...xd3! 29.f4 e3 30.xe3 xe3 31.xc8 xc8 32.e1 c3 Suddenly it's Black who is the one pressing. Now W hite should have offered a trade of knights on f5, but instead committed a second oversight. 33.e5? c2 34.c1 [ Better to pin than to play the pawn-down knight ending which would have arisen after 34.e4 xe1 35.xc3 fxe5 . ] 34...fxe5 35.f5 b5 36.e3! A good recovery from Nakamura. Due to the position of Black's rook in front of the e-pawn, Polgar will struggle to shield her queenside p a wn s f r o m a t t a c k a n d W h i t e c a n d r a w without too much trouble. xe3 37.xc2 e1+ 38.h2 a1 39.g3 [ Now Black's pawns live, but presumably Nakamura wasn't too sure about 39.c8+ f7 40.c7+ f6 41.xa7 e4 42.g3 e5 , although this does just seem to be a 2166
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 draw after, say, 43.xg7 xa2 44.xh7 b2 45.h5+ d4 46.xb5 e3 47.b7 b1 48.f3 . ] 39...a5 40.c5 xa2 [ I'm not convinced that this rook ending was terribly well played, but then again it was a rapid game. Here 40...a4!? 41.xb5 ( or 41.bxa4 bxa4 42.c2 f7 ) 41...a3 42.xe5 xa2 43.b4 b2 44.a5 b3+ 45.f2 f7 would still have left Black with some chances to press. ] 41.xb5 a3 42.f2?! [ And here White might have drawn by force: 42.g4! e4 43.f4 e3 44.f3 f7 45.e5 and by evading the tactics along the third rank, W hite picks off the extra black pawn. ] 42...e4 43.b4 a4 44.e5 [ Easy to criticise, but the damage had already been done, as shown by 44.a5 f7 45.b5 e6 46.b6 d6 47.a7 c6 and Black's passed pawns carry much the greater threat. ] 44...e3+ [ Maintaining the pawn as White can hardly enter a pawn ending, but one might also make a decent case for 44...f7!? 45.xe4 b3 . ] 45.f3 b3 46.b5? [ A further error. Indeed, 46.a5 xb4 47.xe3 should be a pretty easy draw for someone of Nakamura's level. ] 46...a3? [ Returning the favour. Based on another small tactic along the third rank, 46...f7! 47.xe3 xb5 would have prevented White from getting his rook behind the a-pawn and so retained good winning chances. ] 47.e8+ f7 48.a8 Suddenly the draw becomes clear as White is just going to push his b-pawn. f6 49.b6 g5 50.a5+ f6 51.b7 xb7 52.xa3 h5 ½-½
2219 Narciso Dublan,Marc Pereira Figueroa,Manuel XXXIII Open Sevilla ESP (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2513 2181 09.01.2008
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 f5!? 8.xb8 Trying to keep the bishop is evidently unplayable for White: [ 8.xd4 c6 9.d2 e5 10.g3 d5 11.e3 e7 12.d3 e6 13.e2 0-0 14.0-0 h5 15.e4 dxe4 16.fxe4 g6 17.h1 g4 18.f2 fd8 19.e3 ac8 20.ae1 c7 21.f2 cd7 22.bc1 h4 0-1 Mamedjarova, Z (2298)-Cramling, P (2470) OlW Istanbul 2003 ] 8...xb8 9.xd4 b6 10.e4 g6? To play this line as Black however, you need to b e co nsciou s (o r n ot f righ te ne d, a f t e r wo r k i n g t h i n g s o u t , i f y o u d i s c o ve r t h i s position over the board for the 1st time...) that over the next few moves you will have to put almost all your pieces back in their starting positions, as in the next game! 11.e5 g8 12.0-0-0 A move I had mentioned as simpler than 12.Nh3 at the time. h6? [ 12...c6 13.h3 e6 14.g5 f6 15.e4 e7 ] 13.b5 e6 [ 13...b7 14.a6 f5 15.d2 c6 16.xb7+- ] 14.h3 f5 15.d3! [ 15.d2 g6 16.f4 h6 ] 15...g5? [ 15...g6 16.f4 h6 17.g4 h4 18.g3 ] [ After the only move that did not lose on the spot 15...h4! White would have had to show his attacking skills. 16.d4 ( 16.f4 f5 17.d4 g6; 16.g3? xh3; 16.g4 g6 17.b1 h6 18.d4 d5 19.c4 b7 ) A) 16...h6+ 17.f4 a6 ( 17...xg2 18.f5 e6 19.g5 xf4 20.e4 ) 18.xa6 ( 18.c6 Probably wins too, in any case at least an exchange after dxc6 19.xc6 f6 20.xb8 ) 18...g6 19.xc8 xd3 20.xd7+ xd7 21.xd3 xg2 22.g1 h4 23.f5+; B) 16...xe5 17.c6; C) 16...d5 17.e6! fxe6 18.f4 d6 ( 18...e5 19.dxe6; 18...xa2 2167
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.dxe6 b7 20.he1 a6 21.c6 a7 22.e4! It is the first time in my life that I see BOTH pawns d7 and e7 being the targets of a mating attack with the black king stuck in the centre! dxc6 23.d8+ f7 24.xc8; 18...b7 19.dxe6 a6 20.xa6 xa6 21.c7+ ) 19.fxe6 g6 ( 19...a6 20.c4 axb5 21.c7+ d8 22.de6+ dxe6 23.xb5 b7 O t h e r w i s e R x d 6 + a n d Q c 7 + 24.xh4; 19...xg2 20.c4 f4 21.c7+ d8 22.c6+ dxc6 23.xc6 e2+ 24.b1 f5+ 25.a1 c8 26.xd6+ exd6 27.d1 xc7 28.e8# ) 20.c4 h6+ 21.b1 xg2 22.f5 xd1+ 23.xd1 gxf5 24.xd7+ xd7 25.c7+ f8 ( 25...d8 26.c6 ) 26.xd7 ] 16.f4! h6 [ 16...gxf4 17.g5 ] [ 16...h6 17.fxg5 g7 18.hf1! One should not miss such improvements of t h e p o s i t i o n f o r f r e e . ( 18.f4 xe5 19.xd7+ f8 20.xc8 xf4+ 21.b1 d6! A m i r a c l e !) 18...h4 19.c4 The elegant finish for those who enjoy easy ca lc u la t in g. ( 19.f4 g4 20.h3 f5 21.xf5 xf5 22.h5 is normally enough to make a majority of players stop here. e3 23.xg7+ f8 24.f5 xf1 25.xf1 ) 19...xe5 20.xf7+ d8 ( 20...f8 21.g3 ) 21.d4 c7 22.fe1 A) 22...a5 23.b5+ d8 ( 23...b7 24.d5+ a6 25.c7# ) 24.f4; B) 22...c5 23.b4 Whoops... d6 24.b5+ ] 17.g4 1-0
subject to caution. [ 7.xf6 gxf6 8.xf6 g8 9.h4 h6 ( 9...g7 10.xh7 e7 11.d3 xc3 12.xc3 xa2 13.a3 ) 10.e3 g7 11.ge2 ] 7...a6 8.f3 b5 9.d2 e7 Now Nd4 is impossible. 10.b3 b6 11.d5!? exd5 12.exd5 0-0 [ 12...e5! 13.d6 g6 ( 13...d8 14.e1 xd6 15.f4 ) 14.b4 winning back the piece. a5! ( 14...d8? 15.xf6 xf6 16.e4+ e5 17.xa8 ) 15.e1 ( 15.xb5 xb5 16.xb5 h6 ) 15...a4 16.a1 ( 16.d4 xd6 ) 16...0-0 ( 16...a3 17.b4 ) 17.dxe7 e8 ] 13.dxc6 dxc6 It seems that Black has equalized... 14.d3 h6 15.e3 c5 16.b4!! cxb4 17.xb6 b7 [ 17...e6 18.d4! ( 18.he1 fe8 ) 18...xa2 19.f5 d8 20.xd8 axd8 21.b3 ] 18.he1 fe8 19.d4 xg2? [ 19...ad8 20.f3 ] 20.xe7! xe7 21.xf6 gxf6 22.g1 f8 23.xg2 e1+ 24.d2 b1 25.d4 [ 25.a3! a5 26.axb4 a4 27.d4 xb2 28.g1! ( 28.c6 a6!! 29.xb5 a3! 30.xa6 a2 31.g1 b1 ) 28...xb4? 29.c3 ] 25...xb2 26.h7 e7 [ 26...a7? 27.c6 d7+ 28.c1 xa2 29.g8# ] 27.e4 c8? [ 27...d8! 28.e3 d6 And Black has good chances to hold. ] 28.d5! The problem with doubled pawns is that sometimes they count as one. c5 [ 28...a5? 29.c1 ] 29.b3 b1 30.g7 a5 31.xf7+ d6 2220 A45 32.f4! a4 33.xf6+ e7 34.f7+ d6 Nataf,Igor Alexandre 2340 35.e6 h5 36.h3 Everything is defended. Conquest,Stuart 2520 The game is over. c5 37.d7 f1 38.f5 [ 38.e3! e1+ 39.f3 Simple and chT FRA 1995 decisive. ] [Eric Prié] 38...xh3 39.d5+ c4? [ 39...b6 40.xb5+ c7 41.xb4 f2+ 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 42.e1! g2 ( 42...f4? 43.b5+ ) 43.e2 c6 5.h4 a5 6.0-0-0 e6?! 7.e4 h1+ 44.d2 hh2 45.e4 f2 ( 45...h5 It looks dangerous to grab the pawn and open 46.f6 ) 46.d3 h5 47.c4+ d6 48.d4+the long diagonal for the powerful Black darkh4? 49.e4 h3 50.c6+ e7 51.e5 squared bishop, but if you look at it "coolly", e2+ 52.xe2 xe2+ 53.f4 h2 54.c7+ "from the outside", this conception appears 2168
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f6 55.h7 ] 40.e2 b3 41.a3 1-0
2221 Negulescu,Adrian Istrate,Bogdan ch-ROM Lasi ROM (3) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2440 2277 15.12.1999
JANUARY UPDATE: TROMPOW SKY ATTACK: The following game features the unusual 2.. .d6. White can possibly try a pure Tromp approach with 3.Bxf6, but it makes sense to go for a quick e4, as Black is unlikely to react with d5. In this game, Black is severely punished for overambitious play. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 d6 An unusual response to the Tromp, but not one that is likely to leave White quaking in his boots. Black is trying to avoid even the small amount of theory that exists on the Tromp. 3.c3 A sensible follow up, preparing the central pawn push e4. g6 4.d2 h6 5.f4 bd7 6.e4 e5 If Black was relying on this central break to give him an easy equality, he was sadly mistaken. 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.g3 h5 Very ambitious. Black bags the bishop pair but loses valuable time in the process. 9.0-0-0 xg3 10.hxg3 c6 11.f3 a5 This counterattacking gesture on the queenside lacks any real bite and the queen would have been better off looking after her king. 12.c4 g7 13.b1 A useful waiting m o v e t h a t s e t s a d e v i o u s t r a p . c5 What else? [ The natural 13...0-0 falls foul of the simple 14.xh6 When the Black position is in it's final death throes. ] 14.d6 Highlights the fact that Black's king is hardly saf e in the center! e6 15.d5 Cru n c h ! A b o ne cru she r o f a m o ve . cxd5 16.xd5 f8 Otherwise Bb5+ is crushing. 17.xe5 c7 18.b5+ e7 19.xh8 The dust has settled. W hite is left a clear exchange and pawn up, with the safer king. a6 20.a4 b5 21.b3 g7 22.h7 b7 Threatening both Bxd5 and Rh8, winning the queen. 23.d4! White demonstrates that he is up to the task and leaves Black with no hope of salvation. f8
[ 23...xd5 24.exd5 xd4 25.xg7 Black is totally def enceless against the threat of Re1+. ] 24.xe6+ fxe6 25.h4 g5 26.f5+ The body blows continue to reign down on Black and he could already resign with a clear conscience. exf5 27.g8+ e7 28.xg7+ d8 29.g8+ 29...Ke7 30.Qe6+ followed by Rxh6 is decisive, so Black, not before time threw in the towel. 1-0
2222 Neihs,Harald Cvitan,Ognjen Oberwart op (1) [Eric Prié]
A45 2550 1993
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 e6 In Informator 42, back in 1986, this move was a novelty that was even granted with an exclamation mark! Since then, we h a ve s e e n t h a t 6 . . . Q b 6 , f i r s t d r iv i n g White's light-squared bishop from the b8-h2 diagonal was probably better, see further. 7.e4 exd5 8.exd5 d6 9.e2+?! e7! The point of Black's strategy. It must have taken some time of analysis to check that 8...d6 was not refuted (somehow if Black has to play 9...Kd8) by a simple check! 10.xd6 White asks 'to pay' to see, otherwise Black will simply castle followed by ...Re8. xd5 11.e5 [ 11.xb8 Winning a piece, as in the next game, is the 'main' critical test for the line. ] 11...c6 12.xd5 [ 12.xg7 f6 13.h6 e6! ( 13...xc3 14.d2 d5 15.c4; 13...b6 14.d2 e6 15.a3 e3 16.xe3 xb2; 13...f5!? 14.d2 e6 with the idea. 15.a3 xc3 16.bxc3 xa3 ) 14.c4 ( 14.d2 0-0-0 15.c4 xc3+ ) 14...0-0-0 15.xd5 xd5 16.xf6 he8+ 17.f2 b6! 18.b3 c4+ 19.f1 ( 19.g3 g8+ 20.h3 e6+ 21.g4 f2 ) 19...cxb3 20.axb3 c4+!! 21.bxc4 b2 22.f5+ e6-+ ] 12...e6! The first point, Black wins the piece back. 13.xc5 [ 13.d2 0-0-0 14.b4 cxb4 15.cxb4 h5 ] 13...xc5 14.xc5 xc5 15.b5 2169
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 15.d2 0-0-0 Kogan, B-Wilder,M USA (ch) 1986 It is just a fragment in Inf 42. Possibly W hite even played 16.Bb5 here when it transposes into our main game. If 16.0-0-0 xa2 Of course. 17.b3? e3-+ ] 15...0-0-0 16.d2 [ 16.e2 e5 17.d2 a6 ] 16...e3! With those gaping holes on dark squares in the enemy camp, Black can hope for more than [ 16...f2+ 17.xf2 xd2+ 18.e2 xb2 ] 17.c4 [ 17.0-0-0? xd2 The 'good old' standard combination. 18.xd2 d8 ] 17...xc4 18.xc4 he8! 19.e2 d2 20.b4 [ 20.xf7 e7 21.c4 ( 21.b3 h6 22.c4 e5 23.b5 xb2 24.a4 a6 ) 21...e5 22.b5 a6 23.a4 ( 23.f4 g4 24.c4 b5 25.h3 bxc4 26.hxg4 xf4 27.0-0 e3+ 28.h2 xe2 ) 23...d3+ 24.f1 b6 25.d1 f2 26.e1 xb2 The house of cards crumbles. ] 20...e5 21.b5 e7 [ 21...ed8 defending the Rd2. 22.h3 ( 22.f4 g4 23.h3 f2+ 24.f1 d1+ 25.xd1 xd1# ) 22...a6 23.f4 axb5 24.fxe5 c2! 25.g3 ( 25.d1 xd1+ 26.xd1 d2+ 27.e1 xa2; 25.g4 dd2 26.h2 f4 27.g2 xe5; 25.f1 dd2 26.d4 xd4 27.cxd4 e2+ 28.d1 cd2+ 29.c1 xd4-+ ) 25...dd2 26.h2 d5 ] 22.f4 g4? [ 22...a6 23.fxe5 axb5 24.f1 xe5 ] [ But 22...g6! 23.d1 To secure the d3 square f or the b ishop which abso lutely needs to stay on the a6-f1 diagonal ( 23.f1 xf4; 23.g3 a6 ) 23...xa2 24.g3 xf4! 25.gxf4 xf4 26.c4 ( 26.d2 g2+ 27.d1 e3+ 28.e1 a1+ 29.f2 xh1 ) 26...b2-+ ] 23.h3 f6 24.f1 a6 25.f3! b2 Unless White lost on time at this stage, which is not mentioned in the record of the game, the rest is unavailable. Indeed, he has considerably improved his chances after 26. Bc4 ready to evacuate the e-file via f1 and without fearing 26...b5 27.Bd3 Rd2?? because of 28.Rxe3! Rxe3 29.Kxd2 - the idea behind 25.Rf3! 0-1
2223 Neuillet,Alexandre Bellon Lopez,Juan Manuel chT FRA (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2210 2447 1999
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 e5 7.b1 d8 8.f4 d6 [ 8...exf4? 9.e5 of course. ] 9.f3 exf4 A double-edged move which looks quite playable. The opening of the position presents White with a larger 'tactical space' but, in return, offers Black better perspectives to develop his game and use his extra-pawn if he manages to survive the initiative. 10.xf4 [ 10.b5+!? seems critical bd7 11.xf4 A) 11...a6 12.xd7+ xd7 13.0-0 e7 14.e5 dxe5 ( 14...xe5 15.xe5 dxe5! 16.xe5 0-0 17.d6 ) 15.xe5 0-0 16.d6 f6 17.xd7 xd7 18.d5 d4+ 19.h1 b5 20.c3 f6 21.e3 ( 21.g3 g5 ) 21...e5 22.e7+! ( 22.xc5 h4 ) 22...h8 23.xc5 xc3 24.b3 e5 ( 24...f6? 25.xf6! gxf6 26.d4 g7 27.g3+ h6 28.h4+ g7 29.xf6# ) 25.xf7 is fine for White.; B) 11...e7! 12.e5 dxe5 13.xe5 0-0 B1) 14.xd7 xd7 ( 14...xd7? 15.d6 ) 15.d6 h4+ 16.g3 e8+ With the idea 17.e2 a5! is also very c o m p l i c a t e d . 18.d2 f6 19.d5 xa2; B2) 14.d6 xe5 15.xe5 g4! B2a) 16.g3 f6 17.d5 e6 18.0-0 xd5 19.xg4 ( 19.xd5 e3 ) 19...xa2; B2b) 16.f4 h4+ 17.g3 f6 18.d5 d4 19.c3 f2 20.c2 ( 20.d2 e4 ) 20...xh1 21.cxd4 cxd4 22.f1 With an extremely intricate situation. For instance ( 22.e7+ h8 23.f1 g5 24.xg5 xd6 25.c7 Spectacular!... h3+ 26.g1 ad8 27.xh1 f6 Though not quite effective. With a rook and 2 pawns against bishop and knight, Black is not against playing an ending. ) 22...g5! Black has to get rid of the d6 nail, 'at any cost'. 23.e5 f6 24.xd4 xd6 25.c4 g7 ( 25...f7? 26.xf6+ f8 27.c3 2170
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e6 28.xe6 xe6 29.g1 ) 26.g2 At first glance appears great for W hite but... b6!! Killing at least 2 threats with one move! 27.d2 h6 28.xh1 b7 29.c3 fd8 30.d1 ac8 31.b3 c5 and Black strikes back. Although, considering the tremendous complexity of the variation, I would not be too surprised if there were a few 'holes' in this deep analysis... ] 10...a6 11.a4 [ 11.e5 dxe5 12.xe5 d6 ] 11...h5 12.e3 g6 After this sequence, however, Blacks just seems to have obtained a fine Benoni, and Spanish GM Bellon Lopez, as a long time and notorious follower of the Trompowsky, as W hite, presumably knew what he was doing... I really wonder why this idea has not been reproduced. 13.d2 g7 14.d1 [ 14.e5!? 0-0! ( 14...dxe5 15.xc5 )] [ 14.g5 c7 as in the game rather helps Black. ] 14...0-0 15.d3 b6 16.0-0 d7 17.g5 [ 17.b2 Towards c4 b5 ] 17...c7 18.e3 h6 19.h4 xa4 20.g4? [ 20.e5 dxe5 21.e4 At least introduced some complications. ] 20...f4-+ 21.g3 xd3 22.cxd3 b5 23.h4 d7 24.h5 e5 25.h4 e7 26.hxg6 fxg6 27.xe5 xe5 28.g2 g5 0-1
2224 Nguyen,Ngoc Truongson Karatorossian,David FSGM June Budapest HUN (8) [Eric Prié]
A45 2431 2401 12.06.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e5 8.f3 In this uncommon (and inaccurate?) order of moves, Black also has to reckon with [ 8.dxe6 see further ] [ While 8.b1 , on the other hand (the transposition that was missing!) does not look the most accurate now c7!? 9.f3 a6 A) 10.fxe5 dxe5 11.a4 d6 Compared
to Bruzon's note on his game against Nijboer, the square f5 is still under control which makes the idea Nh4-f5 less effective, and after 12.g5 ( 12.h4 0-0 13.g5 e8 ) 12...bd7 13.h4 h6 14.d2 f8 15.c4 g6 ( 15...8h7!? ) 16.xg6 fxg6 17.0-0 0-0 Black is fine.; B) 10.a4 exf4! 11.xf4 bd7 Could be the tricky advantage of that order of moves as played by IM Karatorossian. I d o n o t kn o w if it is t ru ly re le va n t , f o r developing a rook along a semi-open file cannot be a bad thing and it is not very economical in terms of preparation since it implies Black must be ready for 2 completely different systems, but it does win a tempo on the next Bellon game for instance, and Black is now ready to play ... Nf6-g4 firmly controlling the key-square e5. This probably means that W hite should now react with ( 11...h5!? 12.e3 g6 ) 12.d2 e7 13.c4 0-0 Unclear, with the plan Nf6-e8, Be7-f6, Nd7-e5 for Black. 14.e5? dxe5 15.d6 xd6-+ ] 8...exf4 In this order of moves, this can also be tried after an early Rb1. It does not seem to change anything. 9.b1 [ 9.xf4 bd7 10.b1 a5! For this reason, 9.Rb1 looks more accurate. 11.d2 or 11.Qd2 e7 ] 9...d8 [ 9...c7?! You can't have your cake and eat it! 10.xf4 bd7 ( 10...a6 11.e5 ) 11.b5 a5+ 12.d2! ( 12.c3 a6 13.xd6+ xd6 14.xd6 xe4 15.e2 xc3+ 16.d1 df6 17.e5 0-0!-+ ) 12...xa2 ( 12...xd2+ 13.xd2 d8 14.xd6 xd6 15.xd6 e7 16.xc8+ hxc8 17.xb7 ) 13.d1?! ( 13.c1! ) 13...xe4 ( 13...b8 14.xd6 xe4 15.e3 a5+ 16.c3 ) 14.e2! ( 14.e3 a5+ 15.c3 f5 ) 14...df6 ( 14...a5+ 15.d2 ) 15.c7+ d8 16.xa8 c3 That is why 13.Rc1! 17.d2 ( 17.c4 xc4 18.xc4 xd1 19.xd1 h6 ) 17...xd1 18.g5 g4! ] 10.xf4 e7 11.d3 [ 11.b5+ See note in the next game. ] 11...0-0 12.0-0 bd7 13.h3! Otherwise Black will pla y ... Nf 6-g4-e5 , with a grea t position. This move also gives a good square for W hite's queen bishop in case of ...Nh5. 2171
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e8 14.e5 dxe5 [ 14...b6!? 15.e2 dxe5 16.xe5 f6 ] 15.xe5 xe5 16.xe5 d6 17.e2 e7 [ 17...g5! 18.e4 f5 ] 18.e4 f5 19.xd6 xd6 20.c4 b6 [ 20...c7!? 21.f4 xf4 22.xf4 e8! 23.g4 d6 ( 23...fxg4? 24.xh7+ xh7 25.xf8 ) 24.b5 g5! 25.f3 xb5 26.xb5 b6 27.xf5 xf5 28.gxf5 ae8 ] 21.b5 f6 [ 21...h6!? To control f4. 22.be1 d7 A) 23.d6+ h8 24.xf5 ( 24.d5 d8 ) A1) 24...xf5? 25.e4!! b8 26.xf5 f6 ( 26...xf5? 27.xe8+ xe8 28.xe8# ) 27.xf6; A2) 24...xb5!; B) 23.e7 ] 22.be1 d7 23.f4! a6 24.c7 xc7 25.xc7 d4+?! Was this occasion for Black to get rid of the 'knightmare' on d5 overlooked by the opponent? [ 25...b5! 26.xf5! ( 26.c4? d4+ 27.h2 xd3 28.e7 d4 29.d1 f6; 26.d1 f7 27.f4 xd3 28.xd3 b5 ) 26...d4+ 27.h1 xd3 28.xf8+ xf8 29.cxd3 xd3 30.d6= ] 26.h2!! [ 26.h1 xd5! 27.e7 f7 28.e4 c4! T h e f i r s t p o i n t o f t h e d e f e n c e . 29.xf7 xf1+ 30.h2 a7!! And the fantastic second one ensuring the perpetual check. 31.xa7 f4+ 32.g1 ( 32.g3? d2+ 33.g2 xf7-+ ) 32...c1+ 33.h2 f4+= ] 26...xd5? Not at all! Rather a nice trap set by the tricky Vietnamese as following the logic of his last move, Black grabs the pawn... 27.e7! And succumbs to a sudden attack. f7 [ 27...a7 28.g3! ( 28.xa7? d6+ 29.h1 xe7 ) A) 28...g6 29.h4 d6+ 30.h1 f7 ( 30...h5 31.c4+ h8 32.g5 ) 31.c4; B) 28...d4 29.c4+ Quite ironically, it is the opening of the a2-g8 diagonal caused by the capture of the d5 pawn that again causes Black's loss. h8 30.d1 f6 31.dxd7; C) 28...f7 29.e4! d4 30.xf7 xf7 31.xf5 xf5 32.xf5+ e6 ( 32...g8 33.b8+ d8 34.xd8# ) 33.f3 ]
[ 27...ad8 28.xf5! xf5 ( 28...xf5 29.xd8+ f8 30.xd7 ) 29.xg7+ h8 30.xh7+ xh7 31.xh7# ] [ 27...fd8 28.xf5 xf5 29.xg7+ f8 30.e7# ] 28.e4! xe4 29.xe4 b5 30.xf7+! xf7 31.xf5++- g8 32.e7 c4 33.a3 c8 34.fe5 c6 35.a7 h6 36.e8+ h7 37.e4 b5 [ 37...e6 38.xa6 ] 38.g4 1-0
2225 Nikolaev,Nikita Kopasov,Evgeny 10th Chigorin Mem B (3) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2358 2098 27.10.2002
Trompowsky: This represents one of Black's most double-edged tries against the Tromp and the d4 specialist needs to familiarise him or herself with White's approach in this game. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 e4 4.f4 e6 5.f3 f6 This is an usual line, where Black complicates the game right from the very start. 6.xb8 xb2 7.fxe4 xa1 8.g3 xa2 So, rough material parity has been established. Black is seeking t o utilise his quee nsid e majority, whilst W hite looks to his central control and the possibility of attacking the Black king. An interesting battle is in prospect. 9.e3 b5 10.f3 b7 11.e2 a5+ 12.bd2 exd5 13.0-0 Material considerations rightly take a back seat to the deployment of forces. f6 to prevent Ng5/Ne5, but this does weaken the Black kingside. [ 13...dxe4 14.e5 d5 15.b3 is devastating. ] 14.exd5 b6 [ 14...xd5 15.b3 xb3 16.cxb3 And Black's light squared weaknesses will come back to haunt him. ] 15.e4 c4+ 16.h1 c5 17.a1 Threatening a queenside initiative. e3 [ 17...0-0 l o o k s n a t u r a l b u t 18.b1 is hard to meet. a6 19.b2 And Black loses an important queenside pawn. ] 18.xc4! A splendid piece sacrifice. xd2 19.xd2 bxc4 20.xc4 a6 21.d6+ e7 2172
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.e1! This is the move that White had to xb2 9.e2 cxd4 10.exd4 ) 8...f5 9.0-0 foresee on move 18. Black has no good retort d7 10.a4 a6 11.a5 d8 saw Black to the threat of e5. hf8 23.e5 xd5 clinging on to e4 in Moskalenko-Cabrera, [ 23...d8 24.exf6 gxf6 25.a5+! Salou 2012. However, W hite has various picks up a piece. This line illustrates the tempting options here, with the tactical problems that Black is facing thanks s t r a i g h t f o r wa r d 12.f3!? exf3 13.xf3 to his exposed king. ] , and if e7 14.d5 , perhaps the pick of 24.exf6+ d8 25.e7+ c7 26.c4+ them. ] Black will sustain heavy material losses in his 8.ge2 g4 futile attempts to avoid being mated. [ Eric has also considered 8...cxd4 9.b1! 1-0 a3 10.exd4 ( 10.xd4 c6 11.xe4 f5 is much less effective) 10...f5 11.0-0 a6 and now 12.e5 was played in his main 2226 A45 game Kruse-Bohak, correspondence 2000. ( Once again it's hard to believe this was the Nisipeanu,Liviu Dieter 2679 only good option and 12.f3!? exf3 13.xf3 Cernousek,Lukas 2476 e6 14.e5 looks to me like fantastic value European Championship, Legnica (3.56) for a pawn, especially with Nf4 followed by [Richard Palliser] Rg3 and/or d4-d5 on the way. )] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 One doesn't associate the 9.0-0 [ White does obtain an edge after this, but Romanian no.1 with the Trompowsky, but let's here Nisipeanu's inexperience in the Tromp hope this wasn't an one-off outing for him with w a s p e r h a p s f e l t , a s 9.xe4! xe2 the opening. e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.d3 10.xe2 cxd4 11.d3! has been known b6?! Principled to a certain extent, but ever since Adams-Xie Jun, Hastings 1996/ t h e o ry h a s lo n g co n d e m n e d t h i s gre e d y 97, to offer White a monstrous initiative. If approach. Evidently the Tromp still has the you're really not convinced, do just check ab ilit y t o c a tc h o u t so me ge n e ra lly we llout Eric's notes to Dishman-Matikozian, Las prepared players. 6.xe4 dxe4 Vegas 2007. ] [ Th e alt e rn a t ive is 6...xb2 , but after 7.d2 ( even 7.xd5!? xa1 8.f3 9...xc3 [ This turns out to be a novelty, although I is possible) 7...dxe4 8.e2 once again feel that says more about White's decision practice has shown that W hite's lead in on his last turn than anything else. The text development gives him more than enough is certainly pretty sensible and no doubt for the pawn. ] lin es like 9...cxd4 10.xe4 dxe3 11.f3! 7.c3 xb2 We should also consider: e6 12.d3 b4 13.ab1 c4 14.xe3 [ a) 7...cxd4 8.xd4! ( recommended by with an ongoing initiative rather scared the Eric and played to avoid 8.exd4 c6! Czech IM. ] 9.ge2 g4 with pressure against d4 and a n u n c l e a r g a m e a h e a d a f t e r 10.0-0 10.xc3 xd1 11.fxd1 [ It makes sense to retain the rook on the half0-0-0!? ) 8...c6?! 9.xb6 axb6 10.xe4 open file, although 11.axd1!? with the idea e5 11.g3 f5 was once mentioned by Eric. cxd4 12.exd4 f5 13.b5 a6 14.f3 exf3 Black does look pretty active, but like our 15.xf3 also came into the equation. ] expert I'm not entirely convinced. Indeed, after 12.f3 xe4 13.fxe4 a4 ( 13...b4 11...cxd4 12.exd4 e6 [ Returning the extra pawn in a bid to catch is most certainly not to be feared on account up in development. Of course, the critical of 14.d2 d8+ 15.e2 xc2 16.c1! test must be 12...f5!? 13.ab1 b6 14.b5 b4 17.c7 ) 14.f3 xe4 15.f2 ( or 14.d5 d7 15.b5 ) 14...g6 15.d5 Black's doubled pawns will surely eventually a6 16.a4 when White's initiative provides count against him. ] full compensation for the pawn. Typically [ b) 7...e6 8.ge2 ( I can't see too much silicon advice isn't convinced that it's worth wrong either with the straightforward 8.xe4 2173
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 any more than that, but let's not forget that such undeveloped, grovelly positions are much easier to defend in analysis than over the board. ] 13.ab1 b6 14.xe4 Looking at this position, one has to wonder why Cernousek didn't decide to cling on to his extra pawn. Not only does White now have the d6-square to aim at, but his hanging pawns are mobile and Nisipeanu is quick to increase his edge. e7 15.c4! [ Correctly rolling the pawns. At first 15.d6+ xd6 16.xd6 looks tempting, but after c6 17.c4 0-0-0! 18.c5 b7 Black's defences won't be so easy to break. ] 15...0-0?! [ Making it too easy for his esteemed opponent. Black really had to go 15...d7 when 16.d6+ ( 16.d5 e5 17.e3 f5 is much less effective) 16...xd6 17.xd6 0-0-0 18.b3 definitely gives White a pull and there's no black knight yet ready to plug lines from a5, but we are still some way from talking about more than an edge here. ] 16.d5 c8!? [ Alternatively, 16...exd5 17.cxd5 d7 18.d6 f6 19.xf6+ xf6 20.bc1 and once again Delroy is odds-on favourite to decide proceedings. ] 17.d6!? [ Taking up the challenge, although he might have kept it simple with 17.d6 , and if d8 18.dxe6 fxe6 19.e5 . ] 17...d8 Credit to Cernousek for this defensive idea. W hite must now be careful lest Black complete his blockade with ...Nd7, ...Rc6 and ...Rac8. 18.d7! Nisipeanu is fully aware of the dangers and so sacrifices a pawn to deny Black's knight the d7-square. xc4 19.bc1 xc1 20.xc1 The battlelines are drawn. Will White be able to force his d-pawn one square further? f6 [ Logically preparing to restrict White's pieces while freeing a square for the king. Note too that the knight couldn't move: 20...c6? 21.f4 and suddenly there's a rather nasty threat of Rc1-c8. ] 21.g4! Grandmasterly and energetic play. Nisipeanu realises that he must force open lines before Black sets up his concept with ... e5 and ...Kf7-e6. e5
[ Naturally one also wonders about 21...f7 , b u t a f t e r 22.d6+ f8 23.b7! Black is undone on the dark squares. ] 22.f4! c6? [ Cernousek has come under heavy pressure and now buckles. It turns out that Black is unable to hold his e5-point, so he should ha ve p re f erre d 22...exf4! 23.xf4 f7 . Undoubtedly White has a strong initiative here and good chances in practice, but matters are still by no means so clear: for example, 24.d6+ e6 25.f5 g6 26.d4+ may look tempting, but after d5! 27.b5+ c6 28.c7 g5 29.c1+ xd7 30.xa8 gxf4 the knight surely isn't going to re-emerge from the corner. ] 23.b2 f7 [ It was too late for 23...exf4 on account of 24.c1 e7 25.a3 f7 26.xe7 xe7 27.c8 . ] 24.fxe5 b5 [ This desperate attempt to free the bishop doesn't particularly help, but it's hard to feel that Cernousek would have survived either after 24...fxe5 25.c1 e7 26.xe5 . ] 25.c1 b6+ 26.g2 e7 27.exf6 gxf6 28.xf6 Now Delroy is even an extra pawn and the Romanian Grandmaster is quick to combine its presence with threats against the black king. d8 29.f1 g6 [ Heading towards a mating net, but 29...e6 30.e1+ f7 31.xh7 would have left White with too many passed pawns. ] 30.h4! c6 31.h5+ h6 32.e8! Creating the decisive threat of Bc1+. e3 33.f6+ g5 34.xc6 xd7 35.f3 1-0
2227 Nita,Marian Nick Onikul,Arkadiy Western Pacific Open (5) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45
13.04.2003
Trompowsky: In one of the sharpest lines of the Tromp, Black's creative queen manoeuvre puts the wind up W hite at an early stage, from which he never really recovers. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.xf6 gxf6 5.c1 f5 6.e3 g7 7.c3 g6 An interesting idea, 2174
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 7.gf3 g6 ] 7...e7! Now Black can play this move for d5 does not really hang because of the check on b4. Still, compared to the next game, RogersHe r m a n s s o n , W h i t e wi l l a ga i n h a v e t h e possibility of playing e2-e4 in one go but this tempo gain is not so relevant. 8.c3 [ 8.xd5 b4+ 9.d2 xb2 10.b1 xc2 11.e3 c6! ] 8...c6 9.d3?! [ 9.d4 f5 10.0-0-0 d7 11.h3 ] 9...g6?! [ 9...d7! 10.xh7 xh7 11.xh7 xe5 ] 10.e4 dxe4 [ 10...d7!? ] 11.xe4 g7 [ 11...f5 12.e3 d7 13.d4 ( 13.e2 h5 14.ed4 g4 ) 13...g4? ( 13...xe5 14.xf5 gxf5 15.xe5+ xe5 16.h5= ) 14.f3 e6 15.f4 d5 16.0-0-0 b6 17.gf3 0-0-0 18.e2 h5 ( 18...xa2!? 19.e6 g7 ) 19.g4 xa2 20.e6 xe6? ( 20...g7; 20...d5 ) 21.xc6 bxc6 22.a6+ c7 23.e5+ d6 ( 23...d6 24.xd6 xd6 25.d4 d5 26.h3 xf3 2228 A45 27.xf3 hxg4 28.f1 h5 ) 24.xh8 xg4 25.xd6 xd6 26.d2? ( 26.e5 ) Noetzel,Frank 2338 26...d5! 27.e1 ( 27.f1 d6 ) 27...d6-+ Richter,Wolfgang 2423 Miladinovic, I (2611) - Buli, V Montecatini NRW Class2 0506 (5.2) 08.01.2006 Terme, however. An nth wonder from the h[Eric Prié] pawn sorcerer in his pet line.... ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 d5 4.d2 12.0-0-0 f5 13.d4 [ 13.e3 Like Miladinovic d7 14.d4 xg5! Much stronger than xe5 15.xf5 gxf5 16.d3= ] [ 4...f5 5.xe4 xe4 6.f3 As often [ 13.h4 xh4 14.xh4 d7 15.d3 successfully played by Mr Trompovic. To try xd3 16.xd3 0-0-0 17.e4 de8 to refute his idea, this bishop has to be 18.de3? h6 ] taken at some point! ] A generous draw offer by Black 5.hxg5 e5! Incidentally, this also appears a 13...d7 quite strong alternative to the main line 3.. .c5 considering the possible continuation 14.Bd3 Be6! hitting a2. Well, maybe it is not so clear that we fully examined some time ago. [ 5...c5 6.dxc5 e5 7.e4 Hence the utility of because Black has some problems castling not having play e2-e3 before... xc5 8.b3 either side.. . d4 9.xc5 a5+ 10.c3! xc5 ( 10...dxc3? ½-½ 11.a4+ ) 11.cxd4 exd4 12.c1 b4+ 13.d2 xd2+ 14.xd2 c6 15.b5 d7 16.f3 0-0 17.h4! ad8 18.ch1 h6 19.gxh6 g6 20.c4 e6 21.xe6 fxe6 22.g4 e7 23.c1 c8 24.xc8 xc8 25.xd4+Stefanova, A (2514) - Ivanov, J (2461) Salou 2000 1-0(28) ] 6.dxe5 xg5 7.df3 a t t e m p t i n g t o i n t e r f e r e wi t h t h e s m o o t h development of White's kingside. 8.f3 [ 8.h3 could be met with: e5 ] 8...d6 9.a3 a6 10.c2 c7 Useful. Black targets d5 and hints at queenside expansion. 11.b5? This looks attractive, but it is based on a superficial analysis of the tactics involved. [ 11.0-0-0 was to be preferred. ] 11...xd5 12.0-0-0 a6 13.xd5 axb5 14.xb5+ f8 The upshot of White's over aggressive play is that he now has two pawns hanging and cannot defend both. 15.g3 xa2 16.b1 e6 Black is a pawn to the good and is building a strong attack to boot. 17.h4 f6 18.dd1 a5 19.d3 A desperate attempt to re-establish material parity, but it will all end in tears. a2+ 20.c1 c4 21.xf5 b3 22.e4 a1+ Black could of course take the exchange here, but he is after much bigger game. 23.d2 a2 24.a1 xc3+ Ouch! 25.e2 xb2+ 0-1
2175
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A45 18...c8 19.c4? [ 19.c6 d7 ( 19...a6 20.xe7 xe7 2095 21.a5 ) 20.xa7 xa7 21.xa7 f7 2408 ( 21...c4 22.e4 dxe4 23.xc4 c5 1999 24.b5! xb5 25.xb5 xb5 26.d5 ) 22.e4 a8 23.exd5 xa7 24.d6 xd6 25.xd6 e7 26.d2 xa2 27.f3 e6 ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 a5+ 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 g6 7.h4 19...d7 20.a3 d4 After the stabilization of his pawn weaknesses, Black finally enjoys a a6!? [ 7...c6 8.c4 I find b6!? already more light plus thanks to the awkward position of interesting here with the knight not on the the opposing rook on a3. 21.e2 [ 21.exd4 cxd4 22.b3 ( 22.ad3? b4+ ) edge. 9.c3 ( 9.cxb6!? xg5 10.bxa7 g7 22...a4 ] 11.gf3 a5 12.c3 0-0; 9.b4? xb4 10.b3? xc2# ) 9...bxc5 10.b3 b6 21...b8 22.b3 a6 23.a5 dxe3 24.fxe3 11.xc5 a6 ( 11...e6 12.c4 a6 f5? [ 24...c8! Protecting a6 to release the 13.h4 ) 12.d5 ( 12.e3 e6 13.xa6 knight. 25.h3 e6 26.f4 d8! xc5 ) 12...d6 13.e3 xf1 14.xf1 h6 ] An important intermediate move. 27.a4 8.c4 b6 xf4 28.exf4 b6 Maintaining the convict [ 8...xc5? 9.b4 ] in prison ] 9.c3? [ 9.cxb6 xg5!? ( 9...axb6 10.gf3 h6? 25.d3? [ 25.d2! Defending b2 and preventing Bc2. 11.c3! hxg5 12.b3 f5 13.d4 f6 Black loses a pawn. 0-0 26.xc5 fd8 14.d5 b8 15.xc8+! xc8 16.b7+-; 27.b3 ] 9...xb6 10.b3 h6 11.gxh6 xh6 12.h3 b7 13.e4 g7 14.c3 d8 25...xd3 26.xd3 b4 27.xc5 xb2 15.f4 e6 16.e2 f8 17.0-0-0 28.xa6 0-0! 29.f1? [ The elementary 29.d7! xa6 30.xe7 Black does not have the usual b4 31.aa7 would have forced Black to compensat ion beca use of th e awkward take the perpetual. d3+ 32.d1 f2+ p l a c i n g o f h i s k n i g h t . F o r i n s t a n c e d5 33.e1 d3+ ] 18.exd5 e5 19.h3 xd5 20.xd5! xd5 21.c8+ e7 22.xa6; 9...d5 10.h4 29...a8 30.d7 Too late! b4! 31.b5? [ 31.xb4 xa5 32.d3 b1+ 33.f2 g7 11.c3 xb6 12.b3?! Dittmar, P xa2+ 34.e2 e6 Only one exchange (2363) - Maugg, L (2130) Bad Wiessee op down, White's pieces are too badly placed to 1999 1/2 (47) This is the place for the knight! p u t u p a n y s e r i o u s r e s i s t a n c e . 35.c5 12.Nb3 avoiding the exposure of the queen ( 35.d6 g5! 36.xf6 e4+; 35.e7 g5 on an open line while eyeing d5 and 36.e4 f8 ) 35...c2 36.d6 xc5 re i n f o r c i n g c o n t ro l o f t h e se n s i t i ve d 4 37.xc5 xc5 38.xf6 c2 Wins the square. ) 10.bxa7 g7 11.c3 0-0 ] knight on e2 next. ] 9...bxc5 10.b3 b6 11.d5 b7 12.e5 31...xa6 32.db7 xa2 f6 0-1 [ 12...d5!? ] 13.gxf6 xf6 14.xf6 exf6 15.d1!? [ 15.a5 d5 ( 15...d5? 16.f4 c8 A45 17.xf6 ) 16.a4 c7 17.e4 e6 2230 18.0-0-0 ] Nyman,Sture 2400 15...e7 Bern,Ivar 2590 [ 15...d5 16.a4 c7 17.a5! ( 17.a5 SSKK Bulletinen40 corr 1994 c8 ) 17...e6 18.e4 dxe4? 19.b5+ ] [Eric Prié] 16.e3 d5 17.a4 c7 18.a5? Use that 'knighty' rook! 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 [ 18.a5! e6 19.b5+ f7 20.d7 ] 5.c1 f5 6.c4 White reserves the c3 square 2229 Nowak,Rafal Szelag,Marcin Poznan Pocztowiec-ch op-B (2) [Eric Prié]
2176
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 for his queen's knight and thus consolidates his strong point on d5 so that the idea of attacking it by means of ...Na6-c7 should be less ef f ective. Unf ortunately f or him, the opening of the long diagonal for the enemy king's bishop presents Black with a wide range of opportunities, linked to his ensuing darksquared domination, to try and take advantage of this factor. Indeed, although that famous theoretician GM Igor Stohl (or maybe was it Ernst? And then which one, the Swedish GM or the Dutch IM? It is never clear with the ChessBase multi-commented games....) even labelled this line dubious, in '94, it has been advocated by some strong players, seduced by the superior pawn structure. This has to be considered a minor line compared to 6. g3 when you take into account all its 'suspect, o b s c u r e a re a s '. A n d t h e f i rs t o f t h e m i s b4+!? 7.c3 xc4 8.e4 b4 9.a3 a5 10.exf5 g7 Black has swapped his doubled f-pawn defect, as well as his weakness on f5! Gaining a strong mobile queenside majority in the process, supported by a bishop on g7 wh ich is s t ro nge r t h a n e ve r. T a kin g in t o account every standard of evaluation, the last 4 moves should represent an improvement of his position. On the other hand, the cover of his king has been slightly altered and White s h o u l d p la y a ct ive l y t o d e m o n st ra t e t h e pertinence of this. 11.f3 d6 12.d3 d7 13.0-0 e5 14.xe5 xe5 15.c2 [ 15.e1! keeping options for the White queen on the c1-h6 diagonal, with the idea of sacrificing the exchange against 'the monster' on e5 was certainly more to the point. For instance d7 ( 15...f8 16.xe5! dxe5 17.h6+ e8 18.d6 ) 16.g5 d8 17.xe5! dxe5 18.d6 With a strong attack and more than enough compensation. ] 15...d7 16.fe1 f8! 17.d2 h5 18.ac1 b5 19.e2 c4 20.b1 b6 21.d1 e8 22.h1 d4 23.e4 xe4 24.xe4 c8 25.e2 g7 26.g3 c5 27.f4 f6 28.h3 a5 29.e3! In order to hold on, White had to control c4, and c2. hc8 [ 29...c3 30.b4 axb4 31.axb4 c7 32.g2 a8 33.g4 hxg4 34.hxg4 a4 35.g5 d4 36.c2 b6 37.d3 is just OK for White. ] 30.g4 hxg4 31.hxg4 f8 32.g5 g7 33.g2 b4 34.axb4 axb4 35.f3 b3
36.d1 a8 37.c3 ca5 38.g2 a1 39.gg1 xc1 40.xc1 a5 41.e3 c8 42.d1 a6 43.f3 a2 44.b1 g8 45.e4 b7 46.c1 Good defence by White against not just anybody, since Norwegian IM Ivar Bern happened to be World champion in 1989! And probably had something ready to counter White's 15th move suggestion... ½-½
2231 Orr,Mark JL Kristjansson,Stefan Gibraltar Masters (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2324 2438 31.01.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6!? Interesting but risky as it more or less forces Black to go grabbing a 'hot pawn' on g2.5...d5 is clearer See the April update. 6.d3 g5 [ 6...e5 7.e2 The concealed idea behind the white set-up. We have seen that it was quite difficult for him to develop any initiative without the help of his f-pawn. Now he will ca stle kingside a nd play f 4 wit h some interesting perspectives. ] 7.g3 [ 7.f3 i s c r i t i c a l . xg2 8.g1 h3 Although, like Fritz, I believe in the capacity of Black to defend himself , I personally would not enjoy doing it! ] 7...e5 8.d2 [ 8.f3 f6 is exactly the kind of set up that White has been trying to avoid. ] [ The straightforward 8.e2 , which would be a novelty, on the other hand looks more interesting. e7 ( 8...h3?! 9.b3 ) 9.0-0 A) 9...0-0 10.f4 h5 11.f5!? d7 ( 11...g5 12.d2 e8 13.f3 e3+ 14.g2 ) 12.g2 f6 13.h3 ( 13.dxe5? g4 ) 13...d5 Unclear.; B) 9...h3 10.f4 h5 11.f2 d7 But really, short castling does not seem to fit very well with both Bd3 AND g3. ] 8...g6 9.e2 g7 10.b3 0-0 11.0-0-0 c6 12.f4 e7 13.d5 b8 14.f5 [ 14.h4!? d7 ( 14...h5!? 15.g4? xg4 16.xb7 d7 ) 15.h5 c5 16.c2 g5 ( 16...g4 17.hxg6 fxg6 18.df1 ) 17.b1 2177
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 17.fxg5 xg5 18.b1 g4 19.df1 e3 ) 17...g4 18.df1 Keeping the tension m a k e s t h e p o s it i o n ' l e s s r e a d a b l e ' f o r Black. ] 14...d7 15.g4 a5? A loss of time that could have had serious consequences. [ 15...c5 16.c2 c6 ] 16.h4 c5 17.c2 c6 18.c4! [ 18.g5!? hxg5 19.hxg5 ( 19.h5 gxf5 ) 19...xg5 20.dxc6 bxc6 21.fxg6 fxg6 22.c4+ e6 23.xe6+ xe6 24.hg1 h5 ( 24...f6 25.c4 ) 25.d3 is highly unclear. ( 25.c4? f2 )] 18...b5!? Black starts to feel the danger and opts for radical measures. [ 18...f6 19.g5 hxg5 20.hxg5 xg5 21.b1 g7 22.f3 e3 23.g3 ] [ 18...d7 19.c3 ] [ 18...gxf5 19.gxf5 cxd5 20.c3 d4 21.d5 d8 22.dg1 h7 ( 22...h8 ) 23.h3 f6 24.f3 d7 25.g5+ h8 26.e2 really illustrates the danger of White's attack. ] [ 18...cxd5 19.c3 ( 19.exd5 ) 19...d4 20.d5 d8 21.g5 h5 22.f6 h8 is like sacrificing a piece but is possibly Black's best try! ] 19.dxc6 b4 The heap of white pieces in the centre suddenly looks awkward... 20.b3! In order to exchange Black's best piece. [ 20.f1!? e8! The only move. Certainly not easy to find... ( 20...f6 21.e3 xh4 22.d5 g5+ 23.b1 a7 24.g1; 20...a4 21.d2! b3 22.a3; 20...c7 21.g5! e8 22.f6 f8 23.h5; 20...b3!? 21.axb3 e8 And so on. ) A) 21.g5 gxf5 ( 21...hxg5 22.fxg6 fxg6 23.h5 ) 22.exf5? e4; B) 21.e3 c7 With complex doubleedged play. Intending 22.f6 f8! 23.d5 xc6 24.g5 h5 Although Black's darksquared bishop is not that brilliant, it is better placed than on h8 as it at least controls the vital e7-square to give him a free rein on the queenside. ] [ 20.g5 a p p e a r s l e s s e f f e c t i ve . hxg5 21.hxg5 xg5 22.b1 ( 22.dg1 e3 23.g3 xd3+ 24.xd3 xd3 25.xd3 gxf5 ) 22...a4 23.dg1 f6 ] 20...f6 21.xc5 dxc5 22.g5! hxg5 23.h5?? What a ridiculous move! Closing the
ki n g s i d e i n s t e a d o f h a vi n g i t wi d e o p e n against the Black king! [ 23.hxg5 xg5+ 24.b1 With an enormous attack for White while the c6 pawn is still alive, thus preventing the linking of the Black rooks. For instance a4 25.g3 b3 26.h2 bxa2+ 27.a1 g7 28.df1 f4 29.xf4!! exf4 5 Mate in 30.h6+ f6 31.h5+ e5 32.xf4+ d4 33.d1 gxh5 34.e2# ] 23...gxf5 24.exf5 e4! In addition resurrecting -that is the word- the dark-squared dragon! 25.xe4 e8 26.g3 [ 26.d3 a4 ] 26...c7? A really paradoxical game where phases of good understanding of the position are suddenly interrupted by hardly explainable losses of time! [ 26...a4 27.c7 ( 27.d7? e5; 27.h6 b3 28.axb3 a3 29.h7+ h8 30.bxa3 xa3 31.h5 d4 ) 27...b3! 28.axb3 a3!! First blockade and then pierce. The proper way to open files in flank attacks against a castled king that White himself failed to use on the kingside! 29.b1 ( 29.xa8 a2 30.d2 e3# ) 29...a6 30.h6 axb2 31.h7+ h8 32.d3 xc7 33.h5 a5 34.xf6 a2+ 35.c2 b1+ 36.c3 ab2# ] 27.hg1? [ 27.g2! a4 28.h6 a3 29.h5 Again is a terrible mess! ] 27...a4 28.d7? Does not help [ 28.d2 a3 29.b3 e5 30.b1 Still fighting. ] 28...f4+ 29.d2 a3 30.b3 e5! [ 30...xe4 31.xe4 xe4 32.xg5+ h8 ( 32...f8 33.d6+ e7 34.d8# ) 33.g2 b2+ 34.d1 b1+ 35.e2 e4+ 36.d1= ] 31.c2? One too many... [ 31.d6 was less clear. ] 31...a1+ 32.b1 The bishop had to go to b1 t o p ro t e c t t h e ki n g, n o t t h e qu e e n . c3+ 33.d1 [ 33.c2 e3+ 34.d2 xg1+ ] 33...xd7 34.cxd7 ad8 35.e2 xd7+ 36.d5 f3 37.c2 e3 38.e1 c3+ 39.d1 f2 Threatening ... Qxg1 and ...Re1 mate. Still, this must have been a furious mutual time scramble 2178
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 39...d3+ 40.c1 is so natural. ] [ 39...f2 40.h1 42.g6+ g7 ] 0-1
2232 Ozyilmaz,Arif Ersahin,Bulent Open Antalya TUR (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
e3+
41.b1
d2
de7
41.f6
xf6
important f5 square. d7 24.f5+ d8 25.g2 preparing for the final siege along the d-file. d4 26.xc6 xe3+ 27.b1 bxc6 28.xe4 Black's king is simply far too exposed to offer any hope of survival. d2 29.e5 1-0
A45 2144
2233 A45 25.02.2002 Pajeken,Wolfgang 2290 Rogozenco,D 2495 Hamburg-chI Hamburgo (1) 29.05.1998 Trompowsky Attack: White bamboozles his [Eric Prié] opponent with a dark-squared strategy in the h4 Tromp, which he promptly turns into a fully 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 fledged kingside attack. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 [ 3...b6 In this position, is an interesting, e4 3.h4 xg5 Rather co-operative. Black relatively unexplored, possibility, if White opens the h-file without even being asked to does not wish to transpose into the critical 4. move his centrally placed knight. 4.hxg5 g6 d5 Qxb2 5.Bd2, like in the October update. 5.f4 An interesting approach to the position. A) 4.xf6 gxf6 ( 4...xf6! I don't know if W hite aims to blot out Black's potentially this is well known as pure theory, but I see strong dark-squared bishop by putting his no way for White to take advantage from pawns on dark squares. g7 6.f3 c5 7.c3 his lead in development.) 5.d5 d8 b6 8.d2 cxd4 9.cxd4 c6 10.e3 ( 5...xb2 6.b1! xa2 7.c7+ d8 So far so good. Black can hardly consider f6, 8.xa8 ) 6.dxc5 e6 7.c3 xc5 8.e4 as it would weaken his already vulnerable d5 9.xc5 a5+ 10.c3 xc5 11.e3; kingside, leaving him with one pawn break, B) 4.e3 xb2 5.b5 b4+ 6.c3 a5; namely e5, to aim for. d6 11.c3 f5 C) 4.dxc5 12.h4 d7 13.d5 d8 14.d3 e5 C1) 4...xc5 5.f3 h6 6.xf6 gxf6 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.f5 At first sight this looks 7.e4 e6 8.e2 a6 9.0-0 c6 10.h1 quite risky, as it leaves the g5 pawn vulnerable, b5 11.d2 g8 12.f4 b7 13.b3 however, it has the benefit of keeping Black's b6 14.f3 e3 15.e5?! ( 15.d5! dark squared bishop out of the game. gxf5 "Of course", W hite should employ the 17.xf5 e6 18.e4 xd5 Black spots the same themes as in similar Sicilian chance to grab a pawn, but White has seen positions but, on the other hand, he may further. 19.xd5 xg5 20.xf7+! not be acquainted with them.... exd5 A bolt from the blue! The bishop offers itself 16.exd5 ) 15...fxe5 16.fxe5 xe5 in order to draw the black king into the central 17.e1 ( 17.h5 d6! 18.xf7+ d8 wilderness. e7 19.h5 g5 20.xh6 xg2!-+ ) [ 20...xf7 is possible, but Black must tread 17...d6 Quite possibly not the best a t rea ch ero us pa th in o rde r to su rvive . square. 18.e2 0-0-0 19.a4 b4 21.d7+ e7 ( 21...e7 is worse 22.0-0+ 20.e4 With compensation when White f6 23.d5+ f8 24.f5 c7 25.d6 ) posts a knight on c5. Mensch,E-Lutz,T/ 22.0-0+ f6 23.xf6+ xf6 24.f1 xf1+ Konigshoffen op 2001; 25.xf1 Despite Black's slight material C2) 4...xb2 advantage, his exposed king means that it is C2a) 5.xf6 gxf6 6.d5 e6! 7.b1 White who is having all the fun. ] ( 7.c7+? d8 8.xa8 c3+ 9.d2 21.0-0-0 ad8 22.d5 e4 Finally releasing xa1+ ) 7...e5; the bishop, However, W hite is quick to C2b) 5.d2 a3 6.e4 xc5 7.f3 maintain his initiative. 23.g4! Grabbing the With obscure compensation. ] 2179
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 4.xd4 c6 5.h4 e6 6.e4 e7 7.f4?! Thus, the order of moves seems important W hite should castle long first, then. b6!? Winning a pawn. 8.0-0-0 e3+ 9.b1 xe4 10.xe4 [ 10.b5 xg5 11.fxg5 f2 ] 10...xe4 11.xe7 xe7 12.d3? [ 12.g5 g6 ( 12...g6 13.h3 0-0 14.d3 With some compensation.) 13.c5 b6 14.a3 b7 15.f3 Is not that clear eit h e r, a lth o u gh I d o ub t it wo u ld p ro ve sufficient after extensive analysis. ] 12...g6 13.h5 [ 13.g5 xf4 ] 13...xf4! 14.xf7+ xf7 15.xe4 e7 The rest of the game is not very exciting. Black may have problems in converting his material advantage because of his lack of space but he really dictates the course of the game and his opponent can only oppose passive resistance. 16.c4 h5 17.e2 f6 18.f3 b8 19.d4 b6 20.he1 b7 21.f5+ f8 22.xb7 xb7 23.d6 c7 24.d3 c5!? To control the f5 square laterally and create new weaknesses in the enemy camp, but [ 24...g6 with the idea ...Ke7 looked safer 25.b3 a6 ] 25.b4 g5 26.g3 e7! 27.h4 g4 28.f5+ f8 29.d6 h6 30.a3? [ 30.c2! g5 ( 30...g6 ) 31.f3 g7 32.ef1 was offering some chances to save t h e g a m e c o n s i d e r i n g t h e t r a p f8?? 33.xf6 xf6 34.e8+ ] 30...d4 31.b5 [ 31.c5 xb4+ 32.c2 g6 33.xa7 e7 ] 31...xc4 32.b3 e7-+ Black's sole problem was to liberate his king's rook... 33.xa7 e4 34.b2 f8 35.e2 d6 36.d2 [ 36.a4 a8 37.b5 xb5! ( 37...xa4 38.c3 axb4?? 39.d5+ ) 38.axb5 a4 ] 36...a8 37.xd6 xd6 38.d3+ e7 39.b3 d5 40.xd5 exd5 0-1
2234 Palliser,Richard Griffiths,Ryan Rhys British Championship, Sheffield (10.8) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2454 2301 4.8.11
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 [ A very important alternative is, of course, 5...b4 , but the text remains an important choice and has been quite popular ever si n c e i t r e c e i ve d J o h n C o x' s s t a m p o f approval in his popular 2005 work 'Dealing with d4 Deviations'. ] 6.d2 c6 7.f4 e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.f5 d7 [ Cox actually preferred the move order 9...b4 when play transposes in the event of 10.f3 d7 . ] [ Black most certainly has other options here and 9...g6!? was recently tried by a leading t h e o r e t i c i a n , w i t h 10.fxg6 ( 10.d3! looks somewhat more critical, meeting gxf5 11.exf5 a6 with 12.e4 ) 10...fxg6 11.f3 e6 12.0-0-0 d7 13.c4 0-0-0 giving Black a very easy game in DanilovRogozenko, Romanian Team Championship 2011. ] 10.f3 [ I think White might as well develop this knight. He doesn't gain anything by going 10.d3 b4 11.a3 a5 12.b4 b6 , ] [ while we should note that Cox only looked a t t h e l i n e 10.0-0-0 b4 11.f3 , which is, in de ed, we ll me t b y Han ne s Stefansson's e7 followed by ...Nf6, . ..Bd7 an d . . .0 -0 -0 wit h a ve ry so lid ga m e f o r Black. ] 10...b4 11.a3 a5 12.b4!? A new idea, or perhaps I should say an idea I found a couple of years ago, analysed with a couple of pupils and which only now appears on the databases. White wastes no time breaking the pin, but there are alternatives: [ a) 12.0-0-0 e7 13.c4 f6 14.he1 d7 15.a2 b5! 16.e3 c7 17.d3 a5 18.g4 0-0-0 showed the Stefansson/Cox method in operation and was at least equal for Black in McShane-Gordon, Liverpool 2006, as annotated by Andrew Martin at the time. ] [ b) 12.d3 e7 ( by no means the only 2180
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 m o ve , wi t h 12...b5!? 13.b4 c7 14.a4 bxa4 15.xa4 a5! quite a critical a l t e rn a t iv e) 13.b4! b6 14.a4 0-0 15.g4!? d4?! 16.c3 b5 17.cxd4 bxa4 18.c3 was a little better for White in Mam edyarov-Pa nelo Mun oz, Calatrava (r a p i d ) 2 0 0 7 - t h e g a m e wh i c h g o t m e thinking about the immediate advance of the b-pawn. ] [ c) 12.g4 has been tried by a couple of GMs, but after b5!? ( the more solid 12...e7 , as in Cordova-Escobar Forero, Bogota 2010, is also possible and Black obtained decent counterplay with 13.c4 b5 14.a2 f6 15.d3 b7 16.0-0-0 d8 17.e3 b6 ) 13.0-0-0 e7 14.h4 b7 15.g5 hxg5 16.xg5 0-0-0 Black's defences were tight and again he had the long-term advantage of the bishop-pair to look forward to in Cebalo-Haug, European Championship, Rijeka 2009. ] [ d) 12.c4!? e7 13.b4 is a similar approach to our main game. White switched from queenside to kingside play after c7 14.0-0 f6 15.ab1 0-0 16.h1! in Shimanov-Roser, European Championship, Aix-les-Bains 2011. The computers aren't so impressed, but after, say, b5 ( 16...a5!? ) 17.b3 a5 18.g4! axb4 19.axb4 d8 20.g2 White's attacking chances are beginning to look pretty serious indeed. ] 12...b6 [ Dropping the bishop back further with 12...c7 has pros and cons. It isn't vulnerable to attack so easily, but is less actively placed and this way White doesn't need to send his knight round to the rim. Indeed, 13.d1! ( 13.d3 with the idea of a5 14.b5 is the alternative) 13...a5 14.b1 is quite appealing and after axb4 15.axb4 b5 16.e3 0-0 17.g4! e7 18.g5!? White was quick to whip up a strong attack in an earlier game from Sheffield, albeit played in the Major Open or B-section, J-L. Weller-Cumbers, Sheffield 2011. ] 13.a4! [ White must force the bishop back without delay. 13.d3 a5 14.a4 gives Black the extra option of a7 . ] 13...c7 14.d3!?
[ I was struggling to remember my analysis here, not having expected this line, but the text does improve over an earlier game by one of my pupils. J-L.W eller-P.Hopwood, York 2010, had gone 14.c4 e7 ( 14...a5! 15.d3 axb4 16.axb4 b6 improves and equalises for Black after 17.d1 xa4 18.xa4 xa4 19.xa4 0-0 20.f2 d8 that bishop on c8 is no longer such a bad piece, with ideas of ...g6 and even ...Bxf5 on the cards ) 15.c5 b6?! 16.c2 b7 17.e2 bxc5 18.bxc5 a5+ 19.f2 0-0 and now W hite might have exploited his spatial plus and clamp on the position to begin a strong attack with 20.g4! . ] 14...b5 [ This must be critical. Black fights back on the queenside in a bid to free his slightly cramped position. Instead 14...0-0 15.c4 b6 16.b2 just looks quite nice for White, with a pleasant space advantage and both black bishops rather restricted. ] 15.b2 a5 16.0-0 d6 17.h1 [ I wanted to avoid any checks on the long d i a g o n a l , b u t t h e i m m e d i a t e 17.c4!? was also quite playable. Moreover, after axb4 ( Black should begin to liquidate thus: 17...0-0? 18.c5 just incarcerates his lightsquared bishop with some effect,; while 17...bxc4 18.xc4 e7 19.xa5!? xa5 20.bxa5 c5+ 21.h1 xa5 22.c2 must be a little better for White) 18.axb4 xa1 19.xa1 c5 20.cxb5 ( 20.a8?! 0-0 doesn't lead anywhere for White) 20...cxb4 21.c4 c5+ 22.h1 ( 22.f1!? m igh t a l so b e p o ssib le , ce n t ra l is in g i n preparation for any endgame) 22...0-0 play actually transposes to the game! ] 17...0-0 18.c4 axb4 [ Again liquidation is the correct policy. 18...f6?! 19.c5 e7 20.c3 would just leave W hite with a rather pleasant advantage indeed. ] 19.axb4 xa1 20.xa1 c5 The consistent follow-up. It may appear that my talented young Irish (despite the W elsh name!) opponent is about to equalise, but even here White keeps a little something thanks to his more active pieces. 21.cxb5 cxb4 22.c4 c5 23.c1! Allowing Black's b-pawn to live in return for retaining the initiative. xb5 2181
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.cxe5 b8?! [ Black has spotted a way to activate his dark-squared bishop, but this just leads to a bit of a miserable endgame. I had mainly been focussed on 24...b6 25.c6 a5 a n d w a s t h e n t r y i n g t o m a k e 26.xf7!? xf7 27.c1 work. Af te r b6 28.c4+ e7 Black may well be OK, but his defence in practice would not have been such an easy one, with ideas of both e4-e5 and Nh4g6 on the cards. ] 25.c6! White has nothing better than to consent to the simplification. f4 26.xb8 xd2 27.xd2 xb8 28.g1 d8 29.f2! I had to see this move before agreeing to exchange queens. Black remains hampered by his back rank and yet-to-move bishop. I suspect he should be able to hold the resulting endgame, but that b-pawn is loose and W hite's central majority not to be underestimated. g6 [ A natural bid for space, but the machine may be right that a better defence was to activate Black's pieces and keep trying to generate threats after 29...d7!? 30.e3 f6 31.e2 e8 . ] 30.fxg6 fxg6 31.c4+ g7 32.d5! Cementing the bishop on d5 and asking Black just how he intends to prevent the activation of the white king via e3 and d4. f6 33.e3 e6 34.d4 c8!? [ Giving up the b-pawn to get the rooks off and obtain some breathing space. I find it hard to criticise such a move, especially when grim def ence with something like 34...e7 35.c4 c6+ 36.c5 b8 was the alternative. ] 35.xc8 xc8 36.c5 d7+ 37.xb4 During the game I assumed Black should now be able to hold without too much trouble, but then I spotted that e5 might not be such a gre a t s qu a re f o r h i s kin g a f t e r a ll . . . e5 38.c3 f6?? [ A very natural move, especially when one has a hanging flag, but this blunders away the game. Correct was 38...c5 when, say, 39.c4+ f6 40.d4 b3+ 41.e3 e6! sh ou ld b e a com f orta b le en ou gh d ra w, although White can certainly try to squeeze for a little while longer. ] 39.c4+! f4 40.d4 Ouch. Suddenly
Black's king finds itself the wrong side of W hite's pawn and even in danger of being mated. a6 41.e5 xd5 [ The resulting d-pawn is too strong after this. After 41...g5 Black can actually avoid being mated, but W hite has a promising c h o i c e , wi t h 42.g3 h5 43.f7+ g4 44.e6+ f3 45.e5 my simple intention during the game. Following e8 46.d5+ f2 47.g5 g1 48.h4 g7 49.e6 Black won't be long for this world. ] 42.exd5 f5 43.d6! The simplest. Black's king will ma ke it ba ck, bu t no t in t im e t o prevent its counterpart from breaking through with decisive effect. e6 44.d7 e7 45.c5 f1 46.c6 1-0
2235 Palliser,Richard Zhigalko,Andrey European Club Cup, Rhodes (1.10) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2455 2615 20.10.13
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 e6 [ 6...b6 is, of course, the main line, but there's nothing wrong with the simple text. Indeed, Richard Pert comments: "I find it surprising that this interesting move is not played more often." ] 7.e4 exd5 8.exd5 [ The main and best move. We considered the critical alternative 8.e5 h5 9.e3!? d4 10.d2 d8 in Lindberg-Swinkels from last year's European Club Cup - see the Archive. ] 8...d6 9.d2 [ And again the game stays in the main line. Had I expected this line and prepared for it, I suspect I would have played in the same way, although 9.e2+ e7! 10.xd6 xd5 11.a3!? is possible, as we saw in DubovSutovsky, European Championship, Legnica 2013. ] 9...e7 10.c4 xd2+ [ Pert's Trompowsky work is in general very thorough, but this position appears to have slipped out of his web of analysis, since I cannot find any mention of the important 2182
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a l t e r n a t i v e 10...d8 11.c3 0-0 . Here W hite has a few ideas, including 12.e2!? ( I prefer to see this as preparation for g2-g4, rather than as a passive deployment instead, 12.g4 e8! 13.0-0-0 a6 14.h4 b5! gave Black good counterplay in V.Popov-Nedilko, European Ch am pion sh ip , P lo vd iv 2 0 12 , as we've seen,; while 12.d3 bd7 13.c2 a6 14.a4 e8 was very solid for Black in Martinovic-Palac, Croatian Team Championship 2013, and agreed drawn after 15.ge2 f8 16.0-0 e5 17.g5 h6 18.h4 xd3 ) 12...a6 ( 12...a6 13.g4 b5!? 14.cxb5 d7 looks like the critical test of White's ambitious new idea) 13.g4 c7 14.h3 a6 15.a4 b6 16.f2 b8 17.0-0 gave W hite a grip and a pleasant edge in van de Griendt-Zaragatski, European Club Cup, Rhodes 2013, before he unfortunately a l l o we d B l a ck t o f r e e h i m s e lf wi t h d7 18.b3 fe8 19.ab1 h6 20.h3?! g5! 21.e3 f5 . ] 11.xd2 [ The usual choice, although I couldn't help but notice that a leading expert on this subvariation has experimented with 11.xd2!? . Following h5 12.e3 f5 (this should, of course, be compared with our main game) 13.e2 0-0 14.0-0-0 d7 15.c3 e5 16.e1 (the first in a sequence of tactical hits down the open file) b6 (Black spots the threat) 17.f4 g4 18.f3 xe3 ( bagging an important bishop Black didn't have to rush with this, though, with 18...f6 19.b5 e8!? one alternative, since 20.c7 xe3 21.xe3 xe3 22.xa8 xf1 23.xf1 xf4 looks like a decent enough exchange sacrifice) 19.xe3 f7 20.g5+ xg5 21.fxg5 d7 22.f3 White retained a small nibble in MoskalenkoFluvia Poyatos, Catalan League 2013, but Black might now have neutralised the last vestiges of it with g6!? 23.h4 h6 24.gxh6 xh6 . ] 11...h5 [ Staking out some space on the kingside. The alternative is 11...b5 , but after 12.c3 bxc4 13.xc4 White enjoys an edge thanks to his more active pieces. ] 12.e3 f5 13.h3!?
[ I can't remember if I'd analysed this idea before (it felt familiar during the game, but isn't in any of my databases), but contesting the f4-square felt logical at the board. More often, though, White has preferred 13.c3 wh e n h e n e e d n o t f e a r f4 ( 13...d7 14.e1 f7 is likely the critical line, but in his notes to Hodgson-Schandorff, German League 2001, Eric didn't recommend the uncompromising 15.g4!? , which Pert rather likes for White) 14.f2 d7 on account of 15.e1 followed by g2-g4 and Ne2. ] [ Before moving on I should mention that Eric q u i t e l i k e d 13.f4!? , as he covered in A. Grant-Holzke, Port Erin 2004, ] [ while that we discussing quite a fertile position can be seen from the fact that Pert also considers the unplayed 13.d3!? . ] 13...0-0 14.g3 [ Adding further cover to the key f4-square. Instead, 14.f4 xf4 15.xf4 g5! 16.g3 f4 17.f2 d7 just looked pretty pleasant for Black ] [ and I also wasn't too convinced by 14.f4 d7 15.e2 hf6 16.f2 b5 . ] 14...a6 [ A new move. The Belorussian Grandmaster wants to bring his knight round to support t h e . . . b 5 b r e a k . I n s t e a d , 14...d7 was tried in Ipatov-Vehi Bach, Barbera del Valles 2010, but after 15.c3 e5 16.e2 d7 17.a4 h6 18.hf1 h7 19.a3! it wasn't clear that Black had quite fully equalised. Indeed, W hite often seems to retain a nagging pull quite deep into this sub-variation. ] [ Note too that here the Benko approach is no t hin g t o f e a r: 14...b5?! 15.cxb5 a6 16.c3 d7 17.f4 xf4 18.xf4 and Black lacks sufficient pressure against b5. ] 15.c3 d7 16.e1 [ Finally, it's time to use the rooks, although I was also quite tempted by 16.b5!? fe8 ( 16...xb5 17.cxb5 c7 18.c4 a6 19.a4 leaves W hite with a firm grip on the position ) 17.d3 . ] 16...fe8 17.g1!? [ Preparing to up the ante, although I might we ll h a ve p ro ce e d e d m o re si m p ly wit h 17.d3 c7 18.f4 , which would have 2183
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 retained a clear edge. Black would like to get in ...b5, but even after xf4 19.xf4 f7 20.h4 a6 21.a4 ab8 22.c2 he can't get in that break just yet, since f5 would drop. ] 17...c7 18.g4?! [ This is the key pawn break, but should not have been hurried. Once again, I might have first completed development with 18.d3 . To be honest I was a bit more concerned by b5?! here, but after 19.cxb5 ab8 20.xc5! dxc5 21.xe7 xe7 22.d6 W hite is doing better than I thought and should emerge with more than enough for the exchange. ] [ If that line seemed a bit messy, I can't r e a l l y e x p l a i n w h y I r e j e c t e d 18.f4 , preparing to squeeze on the kingside if the k n i g h t g o e s b a c k t o f 6 a n d e v e n xf4 19.xf4 f8 20.d3 a6 21.xe8 xe8 22.g4 retains some pressure. ] 18...h4 19.e2 fxg4?! [ Now White is on top once again. Zhigalko may have been worried about his bishop being trapped after 19...f6! , but I haven't found a good way to do so and 20.f2 xf2 21.xf2 a6 should be OK for Black. ] 20.fxg4 f6 21.f2 xf2 22.xf2 xe2+ 23.xe2 f8 [ Bringing his final piece into play, whilst avoiding blundering with 23...e8?? 24.g5 and the knight has nowhere to go. ] 24.fe4 White is pressing, but Black's defences will not be at all easy to break. ce8 25.a3 [ P e r h a p s I s h o u l d h a v e t r i e d 25.g3!? , aiming for a timely invasion on the e-file or even a sudden switch to the queenside. T h a t s a i d , h6 26.h4 f7!? ( 26...f7 is a less convincing attempt to untangle, in view of 27.xf6+ xf6 28.g5 hxg5 29.hxg5 e8 30.e4 f5 31.e3! when W hite retains a fair bit of pressure) 27.g5 xe4+ 28.xe4 f5 should be defensible for Black, since he always has the idea of exchanging on g5 and bringing his rook to the h-file. ] 25...b6 26.h3 h6 27.h4 f7 28.xf6 [ At first I thought that my 27th move was strong, since 28.g5 xe4+ 29.xe4 e7 30.h5 looks like it may leave d6 in some trouble, but Black can hold that key point
with hxg5 31.hxg5 d8 32.e1 c7 . ] 28...xf6 29.f1+ e7 30.xf8 xf8 31.e3 a6 32.f4 c7 33.e4 [ This could have waited and 33.d3 b5 34.b3 would have retained control and an edge, albeit with one's money still heavily on a draw. ] 33...e7 34.g5 Now if White had time to exchange on h6 and go Ng3-f5 he might have something serious, but Black's counterplay is in time. b5! 35.g3 [ W hite doesn't have anything after 35.b4 cxb4 36.axb4 bxc4 37.xc4 b5 38.b3 d3 , ] [ but perhaps an Ulf Andersson would still have found a way to grind away after 35.b3! bxc4 36.bxc4 a8 37.g3 b6 38.d3 .] 35...hxg5+ 36.xg5 bxc4 37.xc4 a5 38.f5+?! [ Having briefly checked that Black couldn't activate his knight I accepted that it was going to be a draw, but it was still a lu dicro us d ecision to a llo w Zh iga lk o t o torture me for a bit. Indeed, 38.g6 f8 39.e4 e8 followed by two sensible moves and a draw offer (an illegal act under ECU rules before move 41) would have ended the game somewhat faster than now occurred. ] 38...xf5 39.xf5 a8 40.a4 b6 41.b3 d7 42.e2 e5 43.h5 f7 44.g5 W hite's bishop might be bad, but it does prevent the knight from getting into play and the white king is just too active for Black to have any realistic hopes of obtaining anything. d7 45.f5 f6 46.f3 g8 [ As good a try as anything, especially as 46...c4 47.bxc4 d7 48.d1 b6 49.b3 would have held the queenside when Black even loses if he goes in for d7 50.c2 e5? 51.c5 . ] 47.g5 e7 48.e2 c8 49.f5 b6 50.b5 e7 51.c4 d7 52.e2 f7 53.g5 e5 54.f5 e7 55.g5 f8 56.f5 f7 57.g5 e7 58.f5 d7 59.b5+ e7 ½-½
2184
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2236 Palos,Osman Nagel,Herbert Vienna op (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2375 2210 1994
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e6 8.b1 c7 9.b5+ d7?! 10.e2! An excellent move preparing the thematic thrust e4-e5, while increasing the domination on the light squares, which , as a re sult , allows us to est imat e Black's 9th move as a dubious alternative since it more or less forces a6 [ 10...exd5? 11.e5! dxe5 12.fxe5 e4 13.xd5 xe5 14.c4! With the devastating threat of Bf4. d8 15.f3 e8 This cannot be called a position for Black! ] 11.xd7+ xd7 [ 11...bxd7 looks better, but 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.c4 for instance is a straightforward concern for Black. But I even prefer ( 13.f3 Here, with the idea Ng5, emphasizing what is wrong with Black's po sition a f ter th e exchange of the light-squared bishops... )] 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 d5 15.h3! I like this move! Thus, all the lines remain open and in addition to the square on g5 this knight can go to f4 putting pressure on B l a c k ' s e 6 p a w n . c6 16.0-0 0-0-0 The development of the knight on the edge is of interest but has also unguarded the important d4-square, with access to f5 for a black knight to obstruct the f-file. So could Black have put up sterner resistance to defend in the critical position? [ 16...d4 17.g4 b5 ( 17...0-0-0 18.g5; 17...xc2? 18.xd5 xd5 19.a4+ b5 20.xc2 ) A) 18.g5 e7 19.ce4 h5 20.h3 f5! ( 20...g6 21.f6+! xf6 22.exf6 0-0 23.f7+ g7 24.be1 ) 21.xe6 xe6 22.xf5 d7 23.e1 g6 24.f3 xh3 25.xh3 e6 26.g3 hg8=; B) 18.xd5! xd5 ( 18...exd5 19.e6 ) 19.f4 B1) 19...d7 20.a5! Then Rbd1 and a timely, and lethal c2-c3, for instance. g6 21.bd1 c6 22.xg6! g8 23.xf8+ xf8 24.xf8 xf8 25.f4+ e8 ( 25...g7 26.g5+ h8 27.d8;
25...f5 26.g4 f7 27.d8! ) 26.f6 d5 27.h1 b4 28.c3 bxc3 29.xc3; B2) 19...xa2 20.e3! ( 20.h5+ d7 is less clear. ) B2a) 20...xc2 21.f3; B2b) 20...g5 21.xg5 e7 22.h5+ d7 23.bd1 c4 24.c3! xc3 25.d3 b4 ( 25...c4 26.c1 ) 26.f7 c4 27.xd4 cxd4 28.fd1; B2c) 20...f5 21.bd1!! A good recipe for 'cooking' a successful mating net is to surround the enemy king first! B2c1) 21...xe3 22.h5+ g6 23.xg6 xd1 ( 23...hxg6 24.xg6+ e7 25.f7# ) 24.xf8+ d8 25.xd1+ B2c11) 25...c7 26.d6+ c8 ( 26...b7 27.f7+ ) 27.c6+ b8 ( 27...d8 28.d7# ) 28.d7+ a7 29.b6#; B2c12) 25...d5; B2c2) 21...a7 22.h5+ f7 23.f3! c7 24.g4 xe3 25.a8+ f7 ( 25...e7 26.g6+! hxg6 27.d8# ) 26.g6+!! xf1 ( 26...f5 27.xh8+ g8 28.gxf5 ) 27.xf1+ xg6 28.e8+ g5 29.h5#; B3) 19...e4! The most stubborn defence. 20.c3 f5 B3a) Unfortunately 21.g3? fails to xf4!; B3b) 21.xf5 xf5 22.xe6 d7 23.g5 e7 ( 23...g6 24.g4 ) 24.e6+ is only a little better for White.; B3c) 21.d1! Against such a vulnerable opposing king, W hite should strive to keep the queens on the board! c6 22.a4 b8 23.axb5 axb5 24.c4! xe5 ( 24...xe5 25.d5 d3 26.c7+ d7 27.f4! d6 28.xb5; 24...b4 25.a4 c8 26.a6 c7 27.d5 ) 25.cxb5 ( 25.xe6 xe6 26.e1 e5 27.f4 d6 28.h5+ g6 29.xe5 xe5 30.xe5 xe5 31.xe5 d7= ) 25...d8 ( 25...d4 26.b6 With the terrible threat Qa4+.) 26.h1! After this move, introducing the pernicious threat of Ng6 and Bf4 2185
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 24...c6 25.f7+ d7 26.cxb5 xb5 winning the rook on b8, the attack just 27.xb5! axb5 28.a7+ d8 29.a5+ gets too strong... and f or only one b6 30.xb6+ xb6 31.d7# ] pawn! ( 26.b6 d4+ 27.h1 d6 [ 24...c6 25.cxb5+ axb5 28.h5+ g6 ) 26...b7 ( 26...d6 A) 26.e3 c4 ( 26...a8 27.d3 ) 27.c3! xc3 28.xd6 ) 27.b6! 27.xc4 a8 28.a5+ b6 29.d2 27.Ba5 and 27.Re1 most probably also is less fun and convincing.; win. d7 ( 27...d4 28.e2 d7 B) 26.fc1!! e2+ ( 26...c4 27.e3 29.c3 d6 30.h5 ) 28.e1 f5 e2+ 28.h1 xc1 29.c5# ) 27.h1 29.b7 d6 30.xe6! xe6 31.a4! xc1 28.xc1 e7 ( 31...b8 32.c6 0-0 B1) 28...a4 29.a5! gf8 ( 29...a7 33.xd7 ) 32.h4+! f8 ( 32...e8 30.f3+ d7 31.f7+ e7 32.xg8 33.c4; 32...f6 33.g5 ) 33.f1+xa5 33.c8# ) 30.d3! c4 31.e4+ I find it very revealing to analyse these c5 32.xc4+ bxc4 33.xc4#; 'tense' positions with Fritz, which is so B2) 28...c4 29.xc4 bxc4 ( 29...a8 much stronger than any human being 30.a5+ xa5 31.xc5+ b6 in the tactical domain, to sometimes 32.xa5+ b7 33.c7+ ) 30.a6+ correct his 'horizon' (thanks to my own d5 ( 30...c7 31.a5+ b8 32.b1+ feeling for the game) and try to find out b7 33.xb7# ) 31.xc4+ xe5 the real 'truth' about them. Somehow it ( 31...c6 32.xc5+ b7 33.b1+ feeds your unconscious with tactical a8 34.a3+! a7 35.f3+ ) motives and one day you will use one 32.e2+ of them without even knowing where it B2a) 32...f6 33.f2+ e7 c a m e f ro m ! No t h in g re vo lu t i o n a r y ( 33...g6 34.g3+ f5 35.f4+ about that, it is just the normal way of g6 36.g5+ f7 37.f1# ) learning things on the endless 'road 34.g5+ d6 35.xc5#; to improvement'... ] B2b) 32...d6 33.d3+ c6 17.g5 e8 34.a6+ d5 35.d1 wins at least [ 17...d4 18.g4 h5 ( 18...f5 19.xd5 the queen for nothing. ] xd5 20.f7 xd2 21.xh8 e7 22.f7 ) 19.h3 xc3 20.xc3 e8 25.xa4!! [ 25.xa4 bxa4 26.a5+ c6 27.b6+ 21.xd4 cxd4 ( 21...xd4+ 22.h1 g4 c7 28.fb1! xd6 ( 28...b3 29.6xb3+ 23.b3 ) 22.f7 e7 ( 22...e7 23.xe6 c6 30.b6+ c7 31.xa6#; 28...d8 xe6 24.xe6 ) 23.bf1 xf7 24.xf7 29.b7+! e7 30.xd7+ xd7 31.b7+ e7 25.xe6 e8 26.xg7 ] c6 32.c7# ) 29.exd6+ d7 30.b7+ 18.f7! g8? xd6 31.c7+ c6 ( 31...e7 32.e5+ [ 18...xc3 19.xc3 g8 20.bd1 d4 f8 33.d6+ ) 32.1b6+ d7 33.e5+ ( 20...c7 21.d6+ xd6 22.exd6 d7 d8 34.b8+ e7 35.6b7+ f8 23.h5 ) 21.e4! ( 21.xd4 cxd4 22.c3 36.d6# Some great pictures of mate for a b8 23.cxd4 e7 ) 21...h6 ( 21...c6 great game by the Bosnian International 22.xh7 e2+ 23.h1 xc3 24.d3 Master! ] e7 25.xc3 ef8 26.g6 ) 22.xd4 cxd4 23.d6+ xd6 24.xd4 c5? 25.xc5+ 1-0 c7 26.xc7+ xc7 27.f7++- ] 19.e4! b5 20.fd6+ xd6 21.xd6+ c7 22.c4! The infiltrated knight on d6 deserves a better fate than 'merely' being exchanged for a rook! d4 23.d3 b6 24.a3! The slaughter is on! a4 [ 24...b4 25.xb4! One may say: "Naturally" cxb4 26.xb4 b8 27.f7 ] [ 24...ef8 25.xc5+ ] 2186
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c6 18.d1 ] A45 [ 14...e5 15.d2 d6 16.b1 leaves Black 2471 with insoluble problems ] 2630 17.10.2005 15.d2 b2 [ 15...a6!? ] 16.e2 e5 17.b5+ d8 18.0-0 g6 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 19.f4 White's manoeuvering with this Bishop 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.e4 xb2 8.d2 is a joy to behold h5 20.g3 h4 21.d2 xc3 9.c7 b6 It is very early in the life of 9 h6 22.e5! The Black queen has been shunted Bc7 and perhaps life will be short, perhaps not. right out of the game and now the action starts. Here's another recent try by Black. 9...b6 The coming play is easier to understand than restores a5 as a retreat square and prepares what went before. e8 23.e4 f5 24.g3 id e a s s u c h a s . . . . B c 8 - a 6 , c o ve r i n g c 4 i f h5 25.xc5! dxc5 26.c6 c7 27.xa8 needed. 10.c1! White forces the opponent xa8 28.e6 c7 29.xc5! A superb move, to make a critical decision as to which way fatally exposing Black's King . bxc5 30.b2! ba6 31.xh8 g5 the queen should go. [ 31...e8 32.xc7 xc7 33.b2! [ 10.e2 might also be pla yable : a3 is a switchback which forces mate! ] ( 10...a5 11.e5 d6 12.c3 a3 13.c4 a6 14.g3 ) 11.b1 a6! 32.xf8+ e8 33.xf5 9 Bc7 will give Black considerable problems at the board and if he 12.b3 a5 13.c1 ] or she is not extremely well prepared could 10...a5 lead to a quick win. So for the time being, the [ 10...e3+ 11.e2 d6 12.c4 g5 A) I think I prefer the immediate 13.a4+! ball is in Black's court to come up with some w i t h t h e i d e a o f t a k i n g o n b 6 : b5 new ideas in this most interesting opening ( 13...d7 14.a3! and Nxb6 is hard to duel. stop. ) 14.xb5+ fd7 15.b1! f6 1-0 ( 15...g6 16.a4! renewing the idea of Nb6 a6 17.c6! xc7 18.xc7 g7 A45 19.c6+This would be a typical raid on 2238 the Black queenside, which seems Peroutka,Ivo 1921 rather compromised without the presence Okara,Andrey 2382 of the queen! ) 16.e5! with a big attack.; Pardubice Czech op2 (1) 12.07.2007 B) 13.xb8?! xb8 14.a4+ d7 [Eric Prié] 15.xa7 g6 16.f4 f6 17.g3 h6 18.h3 0-0 19.xd7 b7 20.a8 xd7 1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.f3? A curiosity... 21.xb6 c7 22.xc8 cxc8 23.a6 cxd4 4.xd4? b2 24.c4 a8 25.c2 a3 26.0-0 [ 4.xd4 c6 ] g7 27.b1 a4 28.b3 xb3 29.xb3 4...e5!-+ Ah, the bishop on f4! 5.xe5 a5+ xe4 30.b7 a8 31.f2 f6 32.f3 6.c3 Although not an isolated case: ea4 33.g4 h6 34.g3 a3+ 35.b3 [ 6.c3 xe5 0-1 Shuler, M-Hall, E (2345) xb3+ 36.axb3 a3 37.e4 xb3+ USA 1990 ] 38.g2 d4 39.c4 b2+ 40.g3 e2 6...xe5 7.f3 a5 8.e3 b4 9.d3 0-1 Garnett, J-Ozanne, M/Douglas 2005 ] xc3+ 10.bxc3 xc3+ 11.e2 0-0 12.b1 11.e5! A curious retreat which makes perfect d5 13.b3 c7 14.b1 c6 15.h4 e8 sense now that Black has played . ..b7-b6. 16.c3 e5 17.h5 xd3 18.xd3 e4 The queen is in danger once again. a6 19.h6 c4 20.xc4 dxc4 21.a3 g4 [ 11...d6 12.c3 xa2 ( 12...a3 13.c4 22.hxg7 ed8 23.h4 f5 24.e1 d3 xa2 14.a1 ) 13.c4 a3 14.b1+- ] 25.a5 ad8 26.xg4 fxg4 27.d4 xc3 12.c3 a3 13.c4 xc4 14.xc4 d6 0-1 [ 14...e6 15.e2! exd5 16.xf6 dxc4 17.d5! also looks much better for White: 2237 Pavlovic,Milos Aleksandrov,Aleksej SCG-chT1 Vrnjacka Banja (8) [Andrew Martin]
2187
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 effect the ideal Colle/London central A45 transformation. ] 2434 Pert's recommendation, but by no 2194 9.0-0 16.11.2013 means forced and practice has also seen: [ a) 9.h3 h5 10.0-0 ( 10.b3 b6 11.xb6 axb6 12.b5 surely wouldn't have given W hite anything in Porper-Haessel, 1.d4 f6 2.g5 It's great to see that Pert is Calgary 2013, had Black now broken the pin still happy to play the Trompowsky despite w i t h t h e l o g i c a l d7 ) 10...d6? having, of course, written a fascinating book ( alternatively, 10...e7 11.b3 c8 on it this year. e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.d3 12.dxc5 d7 13.d6 xd6 14.cxd6 c5 f6 This solid move has become established 15.b5 xd3 16.xd3 d7 17.c4 as the most challenging. White finds himself a gave White an edge in no less a game than tempo ahead of a London, but with Black's R.Pert-Wells, 4NCL 2011,; but 10...cxd4! light-squared bishop still able to get outside 11.cxd4 d6 was Eric's extremely sensible the pawn chain. 6.c3 recommendation for Black) 11.b3! b8 [ White can also begin by moving his king's 12.dxc5 xf4 13.exf4 left Black in trouble in knight, but few Trompowsky players any Kalinitshev-A. Volodin, Tallinn 2006, which lo n g e r h a v e a n y c o n f i d e n c e i n 6.dxc5?! can be found in the Archive. ] on account of c6 7.b5 a5+ 8.c3 a6! [ b) 9.a4 d7 ( based on the notes to Prie9.xc6+ bxc6 10.d4 e6 11.b4 a3 Schaefer, Arvier 2007, 9...c4!? 10.c2 d7 , as Eric liked to point out. ] appeared to impress Eric when he had to 6...c6 7.d2 White continues to hold back face it ) 10.0-0 e7 11.h3 h5 12.ae1!? on the deployment of his king's knight in the 0-0 13.c2 f5!? 14.h2 c4 15.e2 g6 hope that Black will push his e-pawn. g4 seemed fine for Black in Laznicka-Greenfeld, [ Mark Hebden preferred 7...g6!? against me Beer Sheva 2013. ] and this move might well be something of a theoretical obstacle for White. The key line 9...c8 [ This has received Avrukh's stamp of runs 8.gf3 g7 9.0-0 ( 9.e5?! approval. The move may again appear a wa s m y ra t h e r ra sh ch o ice in P a lli se r little mysterious, but it offers support to c6 in Hebden, Leeds (rapid) 2013, and after b6 the event of any Qa4 and/or Bb5 and Ne5 10.b3 h5! I was already in trouble) r a i d . M o r e o ve r , 9...d6?! is well met by 9...0-0 10.h3 d7 11.b5!? 10.b3! , with e7 11.xd6 xd6 , as in Anastasian-Ghaem Maghami, (Bogosavljevic-Boskovic, Kragujevac 2013) Stepanakert 2004. White deploys his forces 12.xb7 surely a safe enough pawn to grab to preventing ...e5 and after a6 12.xc6 as b8 13.a6 cxd4 14.cxd4 xb2? bxc6 13.b4 c4?! ( unfortunately Pert fails to fails to 15.b5 . ] take into account Finkel's suggestion of I believe this was a novelty when 13...cxb4 14.cxb4 a5! against which I'm yet 10.a4!? to find any route to an advantage for White) played, although it did receive a good two 14.e4 the Armenian Grandmaster enjoyed a pages of analysis in 'Playing the Trompowsky'. d7 11.e5 dxe5 12.xe5 d7 13.g3 pleasant edge. ] h5 One suspects that Guthrie may have 8.gf3 e6 [ Worried by Qa4 and Bb5 ideas, Black prepared with the aid of Pert's book for the chose 8...c8 in Palliser-Sreeves, European two players are racing down the main line Club Cup, Rhodes 2013, but this allows considered there. 14.dxc5!? [ This is actually relegated to a note, with 9.h3!? and after xf3 ( 9...h5 isn't as 14.fe1 Pert's main line. The main idea is loose as it might appear, with 10.a4 e6 e7 15.dxc5 xc5 16.b3 b6 17.h4 11.e5 b6 12.b1 cxd4 13.exd4 e7 when Black's broken kingside should give 14.0-0 0-0 looking extremely solid for the W hite a little something. More tests are second player) 10.xf3 e6 11.0-0 d6?! certainly required! ] 12.dxc5! xc5 13.e4 I had managed to 2239 Pert,Richard Guthrie,David British League (4NCL) (1.2) [Richard Palliser]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14...xc5 15.h4 Once again we see this idea. g6?! [ Too accommodating, so perhaps Guthrie h a d ju s t b e e n f in d i n g se n sib le -lo o kin g moves over the board up to this point. As pointed out by Pert, Black should prefer 15...g6! , since it's not at all easy to trap his bishop. After 16.b3 e7 17.a4 0-0 18.f3 f5!? 19.ad1 Black's position looks a little loose, but it may not be too bad with White's queen also potentially offside. ] 16.xg6 fxg6 17.f3 0-0 18.e4 This "definitely looks better for White, who will continue with Rad1 and Qg4 to pressure Black's weak central pawns" writes Pert, the man who will now give us a model demonstration of that very plan. h6 19.ad1 f7 20.g4 Both sides proceed logically, W hite increasing the central pressure and Black covering g5 and e6, but now Guthrie suffers a rush of blood to the head. h5?! [ White's queen will scarcely be buried out of p l a y o n h 3 . 20...b6 21.fe1 g5 looked somewhat more to the point. ] 21.h3 dxe4 [ Sub-optimal, but it's hard to view 21...ce8 22.g5 f6 23.h4 e5 24.fe1! ( 24.d3?! xf2+! 25.xf2 xg5 isn't so effective) 24...xf2+ 25.xf2 xg5 26.c5 f6 27.exd5 as a major improvement. ] 22.g5 f5 23.xe6 [ Pert opts to activate his pieces, but he would also have been doing pretty well after 23.xf5 when Black must either sacrifice the exchange or suffer with xf5 24.xe4 e7 25.d7 . ] 23...xh3 24.gxh3 f5 25.d7 b6? [ Another strange choice from Guthrie, not least as White will hardly be hindered by the d e f e n c e o f f 2 . I n s t e a d , a f t e r 25...e7 26.e1 b5 27.e2 f6 Black would still have been in the game. ] 26.xg7+ h8 27.xg6 e8 [ 27...e5 28.xe5+ xe5 29.h6+ g8 30.h1 f7 31.f4 looks equally hopeless. ] 28.g7! Pert finds the most effective method to simplify. h7 29.xe8 xg6 30.d6 a5 31.a3 h4 This was worth a punt, but was always unlikely to affect the result. 32.xh4
e5 33.g3 f3+ 34.g2 d2 35.d1 e3 36.fxe3 xe3 37.e1 g5 38.h4 d8 39.xb7 d5 40.xd8 1-0
2240 Pert,Richard G Le Roux,Jean Pierre EuChJun Boys (8) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2245 2285 24.07.2001
Trompowsky Attack: If you are going to allow pawn weaknesses in your position, please make sure that you get decent piece activity in return, or your pawn structure will come back to haunt you. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 d6 Not as forcing or popular as the main line with Nc6. Black's score with this move has been much less impressive. 9.xb6 axb6 10.e4 In the Nc6 line, this move can be met with d5. W hich would now simply lose a tempo. e6 11.b5+ fd7 12.c1 White has time to re-organise, as the weakness on b6 is long term. Just look at it, it's going to be there for quite a while. c6 13.e3 f5 Black does his best to u n s e t t l e h i s o p p o n e n t , a s h e wi l l s u f f e r structurally if White is allowed to settle in and organise his position. 14.ge2 fxe4 15.fxe4 f6 Attacking the new weakness on e4, but leaving the miserable b6 pawn to its fate. 16.g3 h5 17.h4 d5 18.ce2 dxe4 19.xb6 It's questionable if Black's strategy has been a success, as the new weakness on e4 is at least as vulnerable as the old weakness on b6. And in the process of just swapping weaknesses, Black has further mangled his own structure. h6 20.e3 h7 21.f4 f7 22.h3 White is assuming control, creating new threats with every move. xa2 Bagging a pawn, usually a good thing, but Black is in no position to contest the open files with his Rh7 so badly misplaced. 23.0-0 g4 24.c5 h6 25.xa2 xa2 26.a1 b3 27.a8+ The decisive infiltration. f7 28.g5+ g8 29.xc6 Bxe7 will win a piece. 1-0
2189
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 see Andrew Martin's notes to PavlovicA45 Aleksandrov, Vrnjacka Banja 2005, in the 2464 Archive. ] 2261 29.12.2010 11.e2 d6 12.c4 h6 [ A new move, but not one which solves Black's problems. 12...g5 had been seen in Garnett-Ozanne, Douglas 2005, and here 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ Andy has pointed out that 13.a4+! b5 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.e4!? Pert goes for the 14.xb5+ fd7 15.b1 would have been critical double-pawn sacrifice. xb2 8.d2 rather strong, with 16 e5 one idea and 16 xc3 9.c7 Fashion has rather turned its Qa4 followed by 17 Nb6 another. ] back on this variation, with only four games played with it in 2010, but W hite's cause is 13.a4+! Here too the check is strong. d7? [ After 13...b5 14.xb5+ fd7 15.b1 not exactly a dead one as far as I'm Black is in some trouble, as we saw above, concerned. b6? with the slight difference in the position of [ Quite a common but misguided approach. his queen making no real difference. Ledger Black's queen will not be safe should she tries to avoid such a fate, but his return to a5. Instead 9...d6 is critical and unfortunate choice only makes matters even best. Then one recent encounter saw worse. ] A) 10.b1!? fd7 is a critical and pretty a6 How else to save the rook? i m p o r t a n t a l t e r n a t i v e , w h e n 11.a4 14.a3 wa s c o n s i d e r e d b y E r i c i n t h e g a m e 15.xb6 a7 16.xb8 b7 It's likely that Milad ino vic-V achie r Lagra ve, P lovdiv Black was pinning all his hopes on this fork, 2008, ( but here 11.b5!? is also possible, but White's highly-aesthetic, Speelman-like when one line runs g6 12.e2 f6 next demonstrates that he will actually emerge 13.c4 g7 14.e5! with the initiative and a piece ahead. 17.a8! e6 [ Black is just a piece down after this and decent compensation for White ); might even have given up straight away. Of B) 10.e2 e5? ( this has been known course, he would have wanted to go t o b e m is g u id e d f o r a wh il e n o w, b u t 17...xb8 , but 18.c7+ d8 19.a5 evidently 7 e4 is still catching plenty of leaves him without a good defence to the players out Black should prefer 10...e3 threat of smothered mate: e6 does avoid 11.c4 h6 when the key line runs such a fate, but it's clearly a massacre after 12.a5 g5! 13.d2! h4+! 14.g3 h5 20.xa6+ e8 21.xb8 . ] 15.g2 h6 , which subscribers will find d8 19.xa6 exd5 20.e5! c o v e r e d i n I va n i s e v i c - N a t a f , F r e n c h 18.c7+ L e a g u e 2 0 0 7 , a n d h e r e N a t a f h a s Pert continues to play with great energy and unsurprisingly assessed 16.0-0!? bd7 to attack. dxe5 21.a5+ c8 22.xe5 a7 17.g4 g6 18.g3 b6 19.e3 g7 23.f4 [ I dare say that White wasn't agonising over 20.ef5 h5 a s u n c l e a r) 11.c4? each move by this point, with the win pretty ( returning the favour a fan of the gambit much in the bag, but 23.b1 would have s h o u l d r e a l l y k n o w t h a t 11.g4! saved him a bit of work, with Black places Black in some danger) 11...h5 defenceless down the b-file in view of the 12.a5 b5 ( 12...g5!? looks more to the neat point b7 24.c7+! xc7 25.b8# . ] point ) 13.e3 a6 14.h4 and Black's o f f s i d e q u e e n g a v e W h i t e d e c e n t 23...g5 24.c3 c6 25.b4 Arguably compensation in Dauenheimer-Raykhman, White has drifted a little, but now Pert begins to calculate well and soon obtains a mating Bad Liebenzell 2010. ] 10.c1! Forcing Black to commit his queen to attack. d4 26.xd4 xf4 27.xc6 xa2 a4 29.b4 a3 30.a6+ one flank or the other, but on neither side will 28.e5 Beginning what will be the final king hunt. d7 it be free from further harassment. e3+ [ After 10...a5 11.e5! White rescues his 31.d2+ e6 32.c8+! xe5 [ Sporting allowing a mid-board mate, rather bishop and enjoys a powerful initiative 2241 Pert,Richard G Ledger,David Hastings (2.9) [Richard Palliser]
2190
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 t h a n r e s i g n o r b e c r u s h e d b y 32...e7 33.xc5 . ] 33.f4+ e4 34.c4# 1-0
2242 Petkov,Vladimir Galiana Salom,Juan Ramon IV Open Palmi ESP (4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2477 2221 23.11.2009
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6!? 3.xf6 exf6 4.c4 The move that suggests itself in order to avoid [ 4.e3 d5! ] 4...d5 5.cxd5 xd5?! [ 5...cxd5!? Another quite interesting feature of Black's second move. 6.c3 c6 7.e3 e6 8.b3?! d7 9.ge2 a5 10.b5 xb5 11.xb5 b4+ 12.bc3 c8 13.d2 c4+ 1/2-1/2 Stamenkovic, D (2417)-Capatti, E (2169) San Jose de Rio Preto 2008 ] 6.c3 b4 7.e3 0-0 8.ge2 [ 8.a3!? xc3+ 9.bxc3 d7 10.f3 ( 10.c4!? ) 10...b6 11.e2 c5 12.0-0 After completing development W hite will always emerge out of the opening slightly better thanks to his central predominance. e6 13.d2 cxd4 14.cxd4 d7 15.b1 ( 15.e4 a4 16.b1 Threatening Bb5... a6 17.f3 Threatening Rxb7... ab8 18.d5 f5 19.d4 ) 15...fc8 16.e4 f5 17.d3 xe4 18.xe4 g6 19.a4 ab8 20.b5 e7 21.d3 c3 22.e2 c8 23.b2 c7 24.d2 White is still clearly b e t t e r a s a f t e r t h e o b v i o u s ( 24.fc1 but the game will soon inexplicably end in a draw. ) 24...d6 25.a5 b6 26.b4 d8 27.a6 f5 1/2-1/2 Stefanova, A (2463)Dizdarevic, E (2504) Solin 2007 ] [ 8.f3 a5 9.c2 f5 10.d3 ] 8...g4? [ 8...d8 ] 9.a3! xc3+ [ 9...xe2 10.axb4! xd1 11.xd5 ] 10.xc3! h5 11.e2 xe2 12.xe2 xe2+ 13.xe2 d7 [ 13...a5 14.d5 ] 14.b4 With a treat of an ending for White. ac8 15.e4 b6
[ 15...f5? 16.d6 ] 16.hc1 ce8 17.f3 e7 18.g4 d8 19.a4 h5 20.h3 Why not [ 20.gxh5!? a6 ( 20...d5 No threat 21.a5 d7 22.a6! f5+ 23.g4 d5 24.f4 b8 25.axb7 xb7 26.h6 ) 21.b5! ( 21.h6 f5 22.g3 g6 ) 21...axb5 22.axb5 cxb5 23.c5 d5 ( 23...b4 24.h6 ) 24.b1 f5 25.g3 xc5 26.dxc5 c4 27.xb5 ] 20...d5 21.b5 cxb5 22.axb5 b6? [ 22...hxg4+ 23.hxg4 ] 23.g3? But this is exaggerated! [ 23.gxh5 A pawn is a pawn! h7 24.c6 b4 25.c4 d5 26.g3 ed7 27.ac1+- ] 23...hxg4+ 24.hxg4 g6? 25.c6? By obstinately refusing to calculate, White will almost draw this game. [ 25.e4! Plainly winning the knight. b4 26.c4 d3 27.e3 b2 28.c2+- ] 25...ed7 26.ac1 g7 27.e4 e7 28.1c4 dd7 29.c8 c7 30.c3 e8 31.a8 d6 32.a4 f5 33.g5 e4 34.xe4 fxe4+ 35.g4 f6 36.gxf6+ xf6 37.f4 d5 38.4xa7 f5+ 39.g3 g5+ 40.h3 h5+ 41.g2 g5+ 42.f1 xa7 43.xa7 xb5 44.b7 b2 45.g2 e6 46.g3 f6?! [ 46...g5 ] 47.f4! xf2+ 48.xe4 b2 49.d5? [ 49.c7 g5 ( 49...b3 50.c6+ g5 51.d5 ) 50.c6+ f7 51.e5 g4 52.f6+ g7 53.f4 g2 54.d5 g3 55.d6 g1 56.d7 d1 57.e6 h6 58.g4 ] 49...g5 50.e4 g4 51.e5+ g6 52.b8 f7? The blunder W hite has been desperately waiting for! [ 52...g7 53.e6 e2 54.d6 g3 55.xb6 g2 56.b1 f6 57.d5 f2 58.g1 d2 59.c6 e7= ] 53.e6+ Gainin g a de cisive tempo . e7 54.b7+ f6 55.f7+ g6 56.f4 e2 [ 56...g2 57.e4 ] 57.xg4+ f5 58.g1 1-0
2191
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A45 17.xd7 f8 18.xa7?? White is too greedy, 2370 as a genuine shock, at least equivalent to the 2540 rook sacrifice on d7, is waiting for him. [ 18.xa6 xd7 19.xh7 And the bishop 1993 simply has no squares. h8 And there is no b a c k r a n k m o t i v e . ( 19...e5 20.d2+ ) 20.xf7+ xf7 21.xf7+ e7 22.b5+ 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 a6 d6 ( 22...d8 23.g8+ c7 24.xa8 ) 5.d2 axc5 6.xe4 xe4 7.d5! xg5 23.e5+ xe5 24.xe7+ xe7 25.xe5+- ] 8.hxg5 b6 9.0-0-0 xf2 10.f3? 19.b8+ c8 20.b5+ Unfortunately letting the black queen escape 18...xa7 while blocking the king's bishop. See the The final touch of the attack, however... xb5 s u b s e q u e n t g a m e s f o r t h e s u c c e s s i v e !! 21.xa7 [ 21.xc8+ e7 And the presumptuous improvements. e3+ 11.b1 e6 12.c4 white lady gazes upon herself checkmated! ] g6? In the first game ever played on our Black is completely winning with an critical position after the h-pawn recapture on 21...c6 g5, in m y d at aba se , W hite did n ot prove extra bishop and a safe king. The way he, rated 2540, will now drown himself in a thimble enough compensation after [ 12...d5! The counter approach one should of complications is absolutely stupefying and always favour and seek against gambits, a c t u a l l y r e m i n d s m e o f m y o wn g a m e s ! especially in such situations where there 22.d1 xe4 23.d2 b7 [ 23...h6 24.xb6 h8-+ ] exists the possibility of emphasizing arguments other than an extra pawn later 24.a4+ b5 [ 24...c6 ] on. 13.b5+ d7 14.xb7 c8 [ 24...c6 ] Kosic, D-Kiselev, S Becici 1993 1/2 (53) B e c a u s e o f t h e m o r e c o m m o n o r d e r 25.a5 d5 26.a4 b4? I criticize this move featured in the next 3 games, the move only because it is difficult to do simpler than [ 26...bxa4 27.xa4+ c6 28.a3 f5 number was superior by one unit however. ] Followed by Kf7-g8. W ith extra material, 13.d3 c5 14.f4 g7 15.e4 b6 16.e2 think of putting your king in a safe place a6? before anything else! ] [ 16...b7! 17.xd7 ( 17.hd1 c8 18.c3 f6 28.b5 fxg5! 29.c4! d5 19.exd5 xd5 ) 17...xd7 18.xf7+ 27.d4 Could Black have possibly overlooked this last e7 A) 19.d1+ d5 It is different because rattle? [ 29.d6+ e7 30.xb7 f1+ 31.d1 the bishop can interpose. 20.f4 af8 xd1# ] ( 20...b4? 21.e5+ ) 21.e3 c5 29...e4+?? 22.b3 f4; [ 29...b3 30.d1 e4+ 31.a1 c6 B) 19.b5+ d8 20.d1+ d5 21.exd5 32.a7 ( 32.d6+ xd6 ) 32...e5! ] ( 21.f4 b4 22.e5 xb5 23.exd5; [ 29...c6 30.c7+ d7 31.xd5 21.xd5+ exd5 22.xd5+ c7 23.c4+ ( 31.cxd5 f1+ 32.a2 c4+ 33.b3 b8 ) 21...xf7 22.dxe6+ e7 23.exf7 a1# ) 31...f1+ 32.c2 exd5 33.xd5+ hd8 24.h1 ( 24.f1 xf7 ) 24...xf7 ( 33.a7+ c8 34.xd5 xc4+ ) 25.c4+ e7 26.c3 With interesting 33...e6-+ Already a bit more sportsmanlike compensation. Actually, I think that as long than opening the f -file f or the rook and as W hite keeps his rook, and he has 4 fleeing to g8 with the king or opening the bactive files (and the c-file via h4!) at his file and attaching the white queen to the disposal to prevent an exchange, he has defence of b2! ] little risk of losing because of the o p p o s i n g k in gs p re ca ri o u s si t u a t io n , 30.a2 c6? Suddenly it is very difficult for reinforced by the presence of the opposite Black. Fritz gives only [ 30...e7! 31.d6 b1+ 32.xb1 f1+ colour bishops, which, as everyone knows, 33.c2 ( 33.a2? b3+ 34.a3 ) 33...b3+ tends to favour the attack. ] 2243 Pisulinski,Jan Malisauskas,Vidmantas Polanica Zdroj op (2) [Eric Prié]
2192
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 34.d3 c6 And White has to take the Ncd5 Black is utterly crushed. ] perpetual check. 35.a7+ f8 36.b8+ 18.d5! xd5 19.xd5 f6 e7 37.a7+ ] [ 19...e6 20.e5 f6 21.h5+ d8 31.d6+ W h i t e i s wi n n in g a g a i n ! e7 22.g3 c6 23.c3 d4 24.xd4! cxd4 32.a7+ f6 33.d4+ e5 34.xe4+ f7 25.b5 b6 26.a4 a5 ( 26...g6 35.d7+! No b ra gg in g t h is t im e . xd7 27.xg6 xb5 28.xf6+ e8 29.e1+ ) 36.xd7+ g8 37.c5 c8 38.b3 g4 27.e1 Astonishingly (or not...) wins the 39.a5 h5 40.a6 h4 41.a7 h3 42.gxh3 Black queen! ] gxh3 43.b7 h2 44.b8 20.b1 The record of the game which, 1-0 allegedly, saw Black resigning 2 moves later, is wrong in the database from now onwards. Anything wins anyway, even this move! A 2244 A45 clean end could have been : [ 20.h5+ f7 21.c3 Threatening Bc4 Pixton,Aaron 2351 and Re1. b4 22.d5 a4 23.e1+ d8 Efimenko,Zahar 2523 24.xf7 ] Wch U16 Oropesa del Mar (10) 01.11.2001 1-0 [Eric Prié] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.c1 e6 8.c4 b4+ 9.d2! xc4 The point of White's last move is that this capture looks impossible! Indeed, the reason why White lost almost without a fight in the previous 2 games of the November update is that they sacrificed a central pawn which, as often, turned out to be cruelly missing later on when White hoped to maintain some pressure after the opponent finished development, while offering no semi open files to attack on. In the last game of this update Black took the b2 pawn - at least that is a motive familiar to the Tromp player. 10.e4 d4 11.c3 exd5 12.ge2 e5 13.f4 e6 [ 13...h5 14.h4! ( 14.g3 h4 ) 14...dxe4 ( 14...g6 15.g3 h5 16.e5 g8 17.xd5 d8 18.d3 ) 15.g3 g6 16.h5 xh5 17.xh5 exf3 18.e5+ d8 19.gxf3 Black can count his pawns, but if he survives this position more than 10 moves I will eat my hat! ] [ 13...e7 14.b5 a6 15.d6 d8 ( 15...e6 16.f4 ) 16.e5 g8 17.xd5 e7 18.e4+- ] 14.exd5 b6 15.d6! c6 [ 15...g6 See next game. ] 16.d2 Simply developing wins on its own, rather than any forcing idea like Nd5. The d6 pawn literally cleaves Black's position open. d8 17.0-0-0 h6 [ 17...e6 18.e5 With the idea Nf4, Bxf6,
2245 Pixton,Aaron Finegold,Benjamin Foxwoods Open (5) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2432 2533 30.03.2002
Trompowsky Attack: Black tries a risky but ultimately successful novelty in the mainline of the 2...e6 Tromp. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 6.d3 g5 This ambitious move appears to be a novelty. Black chases a kingside pawn and hopes to force a concession. 7.f3 The natural way to try and punish Black for his early queen sortie. [ 7.g3 e5 8.f3 f6 gives White some light squared weaknesses to worry about. ] 7...xg2 8.g1 h3 9.e5?! I'm not a big fan of this lunge, as White is not ready to back it up. It is simply too committal. [ 9.bd2 would be my choice, waiting to see how Black develops before changing the central situation. ] 9...d7 10.bd2 c6 Black is already beginning to highlight some of the problems with White's 9th move. 11.e2 d7 12.0-0-0 dxe5 13.dxe5 c5 Black enjoys a comfortable edge. His slight problems with his g-pawn and his vulnerable queen in no way compensate W hite for the sacrificed pawn. 14.c2 0-0-0 15.g3 h5 16.dg1 e7! The g-pawn is immune from capture so Black takes the opportunity to complete his 2193
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 development. 17.f1 [ 17.xg7 g5! ( Not 17...xd2 18.xd2 xf3 19.g8+ winning. ) 18.7xg5 hxg5 19.xg5 h6 leaves Black well on top. ] 17...g5 [ 17...f5 was a better try for the advantage, one spectacular line pointed out by Fritz being: 18.xg7 xf3 19.xe7 h4 20.gg7 xd2! 21.xc7+ b8 22.xd2 f4+ with mate to follow. ] 18.xg5 hxg5 19.xg5? Now Black keeps control. [ 19.b4 was worth a try h4 ( 19...d7 20.b5 ) 20.bxc5 f4 21.e1 xh2 leaves Black with compensation for the piece, but the issue is still far from clear. ] 19...xh2 20.xg7 xd2! Suddenly it's all over. 21.xd2 f4+ 22.e1 c1+ 23.d1 d8 24.e2 d3+ Nf4 is on the way, with fatal consequences for White. 0-1
2246 Polonski,Vladimir Dzjuba,Vsevolod Paul Keres mem (9) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2279 22.08.2000
In the following game, W hite shows a total d is re ga r d f o r t h e b a sic p rin cip l e s o f t h e Stonewall and is justly punished, Don't try this at home! 1.d4 f6 2.e3 c5 3.c3 b6 4.f4 g6 A kingside fianchetto is undoubtedly the best way of meeting the Stonewall Attack. 5.f3 g7 6.d3 d5 7.c2 I really don't like this move. It commits the queen far too early. Kingside castling was a much better idea, followed by a queenside fianchetto or Qe1-h4. 0-0 8.dxc5 This goes against the spirit of the entire opening. Giving up the centre like this is surely asking for trouble. bxc5 9.c4 c6 10.d2 d4 11.exd4 xd4 12.xd4 xd4 Black has very active pieces, which immediately gives him the advantage, especially as White will have great hardship evacuating his king from the centre. 13.c3 d8 14.e2 f5 15.c1 g4 The dangers of not castling and leaving your vulnerable King in the centre become extremely apparent, as the Black pieces begin to crawl all over the
W hite position. 16.xg4 xg4 17.h3 f5 18.g4 White lashes out in desperation, but his position was pretty hopeless in any case. e4 19.xe4 xe4+ 20.f2 d3 White is help less against the invading Black army. A short sharp lesson on the dangers of giving up the centre in the Stonewall. 0-1
2247 Ponomariov,Ruslan Grischuk,Alexander VI World Blitz blitz (20.10) [Eric Prié]
A45 2744 2771 17.11.2010
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 cxd4 4.exd4 b6 The immediate exchange on d4 only favours White unless he has nothing other than 5.Nf3 or 5.c3 after [ 4...e6 when 5...b6! intending ...Ba6 at the appropriate moment (i.e. when White's king b i s h o p h a s m o ve d f ro m f 1 ) i s a c t u a l l y unpleasant as testifies Kamsky-Topalov Sofia 2007 in this section. For this reason I have advocated 2. Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 c5 4.c3 rather than 4.e3. Likewise, I have long been reluctant to get my London bishop out on move 2 because 2.Bf4 c5 3.c3 was impossible as we saw last month. Until I found A) 5.d3!? is similar b6 ( 5...b6 6.c3! a6? 7.f3 Using the momentary vacancy of the f3 square! d5 8.b5 xb5 9.xb5+ bd7 10.e2; 5...c6 6.c3 And there is no ...Ba6 anymore.) 6.e2 c6 ( 6...xb2 7.bc3 a6 8.0-0 ) 7.bc3 xd4 8.e3 c5 ( 8...e5 9.0-0 xe2+ 10.xe2 c7 11.f4 ) 9.a4 a5+ 10.ec3 ( 10.c3 xe2 11.xc5 f4 12.xf4 xc5 ) 10...b4 ( 10...d6? 11.xd4 xd4 12.b5+; 10...b6 11.a3 ) 11.xd4 xa4 12.f3; B) 5.c3! b4 ( 5...b6? 6.b5 d5 7.d6+ xd6 8.xd6 ) 6.d3 c6 7.f3 d5 8.d2 xc3 9.bxc3 e7 10.h4 I n t e n d i n g N g 5 . h6 11.e2!? 0-0?! ( 11...d5 12.e5 xe5 13.xe5 0-0 14.h5 With an attack, including the ideas Bxh6 (which will probably not offer more than a draw by the way) or g4-g5.) 2194
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.g4 d5 13.g1 ] [ Nonetheless, 1. d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 c5 3.e3 cxd4 4.cxd4 can be a convenient order of moves for the second player to reach this reversed Carlsbad structure, which is typical of the exchange Caro after 4...d5 thus avoiding 1. d4 d5 2.c4 for all the London players as W hite who reject 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4. Even so there are 1. d4 d5 2.Bf4 c5 3.e4!? and 2... Nf6 3.e3 c5 4.dxc5 which may be playable to prevent this black possibility. This shall be discussed later, anyway, as well as ] [ 4...g6 5.c3!? (which now makes a lot more sense) when studying the attack 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3!? intending 3...d5 4.Qd2 after I f inish with the normal London vs KID. ] 5.c3 d6 In comparison to what I will examine next month, without the exchange on d4, [ 5...xb2? is now bad for Black due to 6.b5 A) 6...a6 7.a3! d5 8.b1 ( 8.d2!? ac7 9.b1 a2 10.c1 xb5 11.a1 ) 8...a2 9.b3 d6 10.c4 f5 ( 10...xf4 11.c3 g4 12.f3 xf3 13.gxf3 ) 11.cxd5 c2 12.e2 xb3 13.xd6+ d7 ( 13...d8 14.xf7+ e8 15.xh8 c3+ 16.d2 a1+ 17.c1 ) 14.b5+! The point of it all. xb5 15.xb5+ c7 16.xf7+ b6 17.xa6 xa6 18.xh8 e4 19.f3 xd5 20.e2 g6 21.c3 g8 22.e5 c8 23.d2 h6+ 24.f4+-; B) 6...d5 7.b1 xa2 8.d2! a6 9.a1 b2 10.c4 b4 11.c3 xa1 ( 11...c2+ 12.d2 ) 12.c7+ ( 12.xa1!? c2+ 13.d2 xa1 14.c7+ d8 15.xa8 b3+ 16.c2 xd4+ 17.xd4 ) 12...d8 13.e6+ dxe6 14.xa1 ] 6.a3 The good and standard indirect protection of the b2-pawn. For riskier options, see the next game. g6 7.c4 g7 8.ge2 0-0 9.0-0 g4 10.h3 xe2 11.xe2 c6 12.c3! With the b2-pawn still untouchable W h it e e me rge s sligh t ly be t t e r o ut o f t h e op en ing th an k s t o h is go od bish o ps in a structure that can be modified. e5 [ 12...xb2 13.b3 a5 14.b1 xa3 15.c1 ]
[ 12...a5 13.d3 xb2 14.b1 a2 ( 14...xa3 15.a1 ) 15.c4! e5 ( 15...fc8 16.c3 xa3 17.b5 a2 18.a1 b2 19.xa5 a6 20.c1 b4 21.a4 ) 16.c3 xa3 17.b5 a2 18.dxe5 dxe5 ( 18...h5 19.h2 c6 20.g4 ) 19.xe5 ad8 20.b2 xd3 21.xa2 xd1 22.xd1 xc4 23.xf6 xf6 24.xa7 ] 13.e3! c7 [ 13...xb2? 14.a2 b6 15.dxe5 ] [ 13...exd4 14.xd4 xb2 15.b5 e4 16.c1 xc3 17.xc3 xc3 18.a4! renewing the threat... g7 ( 18...a6 19.c2 b5 20.xb2 bxa4 21.c2 e5 22.d5 ) 19.b1 e5 20.xb7 d5 ( 20...e7 21.d1 d5 22.b3 ) 21.xc6 dxc4 22.xc4 ] 14.a2 ad8 15.dxe5? A decision which is difficult to understand unless one realizes that this was only a blitz game after all! [ 15.a4 ] 15...dxe5 16.c2 [ 16.a4 d5 17.g5 f6 18.xd5 xg5 19.ad1 b6 20.b4 e7= ] 16...d4 Rapidly smoothing away the game 17.xd4 exd4 18.ad1 h5 19.c4 d3 20.xd3 xd3 21.xd3 xb2 22.b1 e5 23.c5 xc5 24.xb7 f4 25.xf4 c1+ 26.f1 xf4 27.g3 f3 28.g2 xa3 29.d5 d6 30.xd6 d4 ½-½
2248 Ponomariov,Ruslan Svidler,Peter VI World Blitz blitz (35) [Eric Prié]
A45 2744 2722 18.11.2010
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.c3 e6! Since [ 4...xb2 may lead to a forced draw if White chooses, as we shall see next time, so this is the move to address the validity of the White set-up and more generally his choice of what to do with his attacked d-pawn on move 3. ] 5.a3 [ 5.b5? d5 6.g3 a6 ] [ 5.f3 Only postpones the problem. c6 6.a3 h5! ] 2195
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 5...c6 [ 5...cxd4 6.exd4 e7 7.b1 ( 7.f3 0-0 8.d3 d6 9.0-0 d7 10.e1 ) 7...0-0 8.f3 d6 9.d3 d7 10.0-0 c6 11.e1 bd7 12.e4 xe4 13.xe4 xe4 14.xe4 b5! Kaunzinger, A (2200)-Wells, P (2530) Crailsheim 1995 0-1(55) ] 6.f3 Transposing... [ 6.dxc5!? xc5 7.b4 e7 8.f3 ( 8.b5? e5 ) 8...0-0 9.d6 ] 6...a6!? [ into Pakleza-Moskalenko in the Archive and Moskalenko's consequent work f or ChessBase Magazine on the Nimzo-London after 6...h5! 7.d5N xf4 8.exf4 d4 9.b1 e7 10.d3 ( 10.c4!? ) 10...0-0 11.0-0 a6 12.e1 d6 Karlik, V (2268)Sodoma, J (2365) Nachod 2011 0-1(29) ] [ 6...e7? 7.h3 ( 7.dxc5! xc5 8.b4 e7 9.b5 d5 10.d6+ ) 7...0-0 8.e2 d5 9.0-0 d8 10.e5 Dehn, M (2137)-Rohit, G (2457) Groningen 2008 0-1(78) ] 7.e2 [ 7.h3 d5!? 8.d3? ( 8.e2 ) 8...c4 9.e2 xb2 10.a4 b5 ] 7...d5 8.0-0 cxd4 Forced [ 8...e7? 9.a4 ] 9.exd4 e7 10.e1 It is not clear that the rook is best placed here. An alternative idea to live with the Veresov/Reversed Chigorin knight on c3, for better or for worse, is h2-h3 ( an important preliminary in order to keep control of White's main asset in the position represented by the London diagonal against a possible ... Nh5), followed by Qd3 (a good central post of control), Rf d1 (in order to protect the d4-pawn) and afterwards Ne5 or b2-b4 with the idea Na4-c5. 0-0 11.d3 [ 11.e5 xd4 12.e3 xe2+ ] [ 11.h3!? ] 11...d7 12.b1 [ 12.e5!? was at least consistent with the previous white moves. fd8 ( 12...xd4? 13.e3 )] 12...ac8 13.e2 a5 14.e5 b5 An unfortunate consequence of the manoeuvre Rb1-Ne2... 15.c3 xd3 16.xd3 b3 In this typical Karlsbad structure White, who is deprived of any attacking prospects on the kingside, is fighting for a draw with the 'magic knight' on d3. The hole on b3, however,
su re ly d oe sn 't f avo u r h im . 17.g5 h6 18.xf6 xf6 19.c5 xd1 20.exd1 c7 21.c1 e7 22.5b3 c4 23.d3 fc8 24.f1 d6 25.g3 f6 26.f4? Ending the disap p oin tin g P on o ma rio v sa ga wit h t h e (Neo)London (did he choose this opening to conceal his preparation in view of a fruitful 2011!?) in this VI World blitz Champ with the kind of blunder you may only see with this rate of play. [ 26.e2 e5?! ( 26...f7 ) 27.b4= ] 26...e3+ 27.e2 xd1 28.xd1 f7 29.d2 g5 30.f2 b5 31.f1 a5 32.e3 f5 33.c2 f6 34.f3 h5 35.e1 xc3!? [ 35...gxf4 36.xf4 xf4 37.gxf4 g7-+ ] 36.fxg5+ e7 37.bxc3 xc3 38.e3? [ 38.b1 xd3+ 39.e2 c3 40.d2 c7 41.xb5 f4 ] 38...xc2 39.f4 xf4 40.xf4 b4? [ 40...xh2 41.b3 h4 42.xb5 f2+ 43.e5 e2+ 44.f4 e4+ 45.f3 hxg3 46.xg3 xd4 ] 41.axb4 axb4 42.b3 f2+ 43.e3 xh2 44.xb4 h4 45.b7+ f8 46.f3? White may instead have played [ 46.f4 f2+ 47.e5 hxg3 48.f6 e8 49.b1 g2 50.g1 f8 51.g6 b2 52.g7+ g8 53.c1 b8 54.g1 b2= ] 46...hxg3? [ 46...h3 ] 47.xg3 h1 48.f4 g1?? [ 48...e1 49.g6 g1 ] 49.e5! f4 50.f6 e8 51.xe6? Such as this final one removing an 'umbrella', mistakes are pouring down at the end of this blitz game. [ 51.b2! f3 52.f2 g3 53.g6 f8 54.b2 e8 55.g7 g1 56.f2 g3 57.f1! Zugzwang d7 ( 57...e5 58.dxe5 d4 59.e6 d3 60.b1 ) 58.f7 d6 59.g8 xg8 60.xg8 e5 61.f7!+- exd4 62.f6 c5 63.e5 c4 64.f4 c3 ( 64...d3 65.e3 c3 66.c1+ ) 65.xf3 d3 66.c1+! d2 ( 66...b2 67.c8 d4 68.f2 d2 69.e2 ) 67.a1 c2 ( 67...d4 68.f2 c2 69.a2+ d1 70.a4 d2 71.xd4 c2 72.e2 ) 68.f2 ( 68.e3? T h e t r a p W h i t e m u s t b e a wa r e o f . d4+ 69.xd4 d2 70.a2+ c1 71.c3 d1+= ) 68...b2 ( 68...d2 69.e2 d4 70.a2+ ) 69.d1 c2 70.e1 d4 2196
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 71.d2+ c3 72.d1 ] [ 51.b3 g3 52.b2 is the same. ] 51...d8? Black must have won on time. [ 51...e1+! 52.xd5 ( 52.f6 f3 53.b2 e4 54.f2 xd4 55.xf3 d1 56.g7 e7 57.g6 d4 58.g8 g1 59.g7 e6 60.h7 e5 ) 52...f3 53.g6 ( 53.b2 f7 54.f2 e3 55.c6 g6 56.d5 xg5 57.d6 f4 ) 53...g1 54.g7 f2 55.b8+ d7 56.f8 g5+ 57.c4 xg7= ] [ 51...d8? 52.f6! f3 53.b2 g2 54.b5 f2 55.xd5+ e8 56.f5 g4 ( 56...f8 57.d5 ) 57.g6 f8 58.xf2 xd4 59.e5+ ] 0-1
2249 A45 Popov,Ivan 2613 Milliet,Sophie 2369 European Championship, Aix-les-Bains (4.92) [Richard Palliser] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 f5 6.g3 g7 7.c3 a6 The transfer of the knight to c7 is by no means unknown in this structure, but hasn't been overly popular here. [ Please note too that the line 7...e6 8.g2 a6 can easily transpose well, so long as Black opts for an ...e6 approach in our main game (see the notes to move 9). ] 8.g2 [ Natural and best, especially as after 8.e3 Black wouldn't transpose to the realm of Van Wely-Giri, but would immediately set about challenging in the centre with c7 9.g2 e6 . ] 8...c7 9.d2 a6!? [ This attempt to tie White to e2 and free the b-pawn is quite ambitious. Perhaps more logical is 9...e6!? when 10.c4 looks very natural, but was criticised by Eric in his notes to Garcia Palermo-Nakamura, and with some reason as after a6 11.f4 0-0 12.h3 ( 12.e3 is an alternative, but after d6 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.d1 e8 Black's centre is secure and he should be happy to control the central squares thus, as well as possess the two bishops) 12...d6 Black breaks up the centre to secure
counterplay. That said, I'm not sure this should be so terrible for White and after the 13.e3! ( improving over 13.0-0 , Garcia's choice ) 13...e8 ( it's too early for 13...e5? on account of 14.f3 ) 14.f3 f6 15.f4 e4 of B.Hansen-Jacobsen, Danish League 2 0 1 0 , w i t h 16.h5! White would have secured enough counterplay, meeting h6 with the consistently vigorous 17.g4!? . ] [ Another recent game saw 9...0-0 10.h3 h6 and now in Meulner-Liepold, Forchheim 2011, 11.f4 e5 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.0-0 d6 14.c2 would have led to an unbalanced middlegame. It's easy to note Black's bishoppair and pawn centre, but I wouldn't mind playing White here: Rfd1 and Nc4 is a plan, while ...d5 can be challenged by c3-c4. ] 10.h3!? [ A noteworthy idea. White wants to do without e2-e3 and finds another route for his knight to f4. Going via h3 is not unusual, but the resulting structure certainly is. In an earlier game W hite had preferred 10.c2 and after e6 11.h3 h5 12.f4!? e5 13.d6! xd6 14.c4 a6 15.d5 xd5 16.xd5 enjoyed sufficient play for his pawn en route to causing an upset in Martinez Pena-Kogan, Tarragona 2003. ] 10...h6 11.c2 d6 12.f4!? [ White is happy to accept a pair of doubled fpawns too, safe in the knowledge that he will be able to attack f5 much more easily than Black can pressure f4. Popov's play makes a powerful impression, but a good case can also be made for 12.f3 followed by 0-0, e3 and Nf4. If Black goes long White will chuck the queenside pawns forward, but neither is e6 a panacea for the second player on account of 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.h5+ . ] 12...xf4 13.gxf4 g8 14.f3 b5 15.f1! Without this White would have nothing, but this manoeuvre gives him definite chances for an edge. He will now be able to castle kingside and the pressure against d5 is not so tricky to deal with after all. b8 Essential preparation for ...e6. 16.g3 [ The engines rather like 16.e3!? e6 17.dxe6 fxe6 18.0-0-0 e7 19.hg1 , but after xg1 20.xg1 xa2 21.g7+ d8 22.xh7 and the n, p erh aps , d5 is this anything more than just pretty 2197
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 unclear? ] 16...e6?! [ The French WGM has played actively and consistently so far, but while the text may also appear active and consistent it does not turn out so well. I suspect a better try was t h e l o n g - t e r m p a w n s a c r i f i c e 16...b4! , i n t e n d i n g 17.xf5 ( 17.c4?! b3 is a little awkward for W hite) 17...bxc3 18.bxc3 xf5 19.xf5 a3 20.d3 b2 21.c1 g7 when it's hard to see how White might hope to consolidate and Black is surely at leas t O K af t er som et hin g like 22.c2 c4 23.f5 d8 24.e3 xc2! 25.xc2 a5 26.d2 xd5 . ] 17.0-0! [ Preparing a powerful if thematic sacrifice. Instead the position would just have been pretty unclear after 17.dxe6 fxe6 18.0-0 b7 19.e4 fxe4 20.xe4 . White will look to attack down the e-file, but those doubled f-pawns are not the most attractive pawns you'll ever see. ] 17...b7 18.fd1 xd5 [ Of course, taking first with the e-pawn would have dropped f5, while play would have transposed in the event of 18...xd5 19.xd5 xd5 20.xd5 exd5 . ] 19.xd5 xd5 20.xd5 exd5 21.xf5 The point of W hite's play. In return for the exchange he has much the more active queen, a potentially dangerous queen and knight combo, and the safer king. The computers aren't entirely convinced, but I'd be very surprised if W hite was worse here and his position is certainly the easier to play over the board. a4 22.f1 Calmly unpinning and now Black panicked somewhat, returning the e xc h a n ge wh il e re m a in in g wit h a f ra gil e structure. xg3? [ Correct was 22...g6! , preventing Nh5 (or a later Ne4) from coming with tempo. After 23.b3 ( maybe 23.h4!? ) 23...a5 24.xd5 xc3 25.d1 f8 26.e3 f6 White would have retained some play for the exchange, but the exchange of pawns would undoubtedly have helped Black. ] 23.hxg3 e4 24.h5! Keeping the queens on, both to eye Black's weaknesses and to remind her about her king position. b4 25.f3 c2?
[ Far too materialistic. Again I feel Black would have done better to give up a pawn: 25...e6! 26.xh7 e7 and the position isn't so clear, since it won't be so easy for White to make progress while covering his weaknesses on both flanks. ] 26.xd5 xb2 27.c6+ Perhaps this check h a d b e e n u n d e re st im a t e d b y Millie t . f8 28.xd6+ g7 29.e5+ f6 Black is clinging on by a thread, but sooner or later White will move his rook away and generate decisive threats. 30.c7+ h6 31.d1? [ A slip. 31.e1 would have been somewhat simpler, as then bxc3 32.f2! heralds a neat late mating attack. ] 31...e8 32.e1 Hitting on the right idea, only a move too late. xc3? [ Missing a resource. After 32...bxc3! 33.f7 ( 33.f2 xe2+! 34.xe2 c2 35.xc5 c1 reveals Black's other trick) 33...c2 34.xe8 c1 35.xc1 xc1+ 36.g2 the queen ending wouldn't have been such an easy win for White with that c-pawn set to scamper down the board. ] 33.f7 [ There's no good square for the rook, as shown by 33.f7 e3 ( or 33...e3 34.xf6+ h5 35.g4# ) 34.g2 . ] 1-0
2250 A45 Popov,Valerij 2546 Nedilko,Vasily 2392 European Championship, Plovdiv (5.101) [Richard Palliser] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 e6 [ This has sometimes been considered the poor relative of Black's main move, 6...b6 , but I'm not convinced that it's so bad. ] 7.e4 exd5 8.exd5 d6 9.d2 Best, as shown by a quick perusal of the alternatives: [ a) 9.e2+ e7! 10.xd6 xd5 is fine for Black. As I observed in my 'Starting Out' book, quite possibly White has nothing better than to almost sue for peace with 11.xe7 ( the point that underpins this line for Black is 11.xb8 xb8 12.e5 b6! - see Eric's notes to Moelder-Engl, 2198
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 correspondence 2002,; while his coverage of 11.e5?! c6 12.xd5 e6! can be found under the game Neihs-Cvitan, Oberwart 1993, which is also available in the Archive ) 11...xe7 12.b5+ . ] [ b) 9.a3 e7 10.c4 feels quite natural, but Black's queen was set to retreat in any case. Moreover, W hite's kingside development remains non-existent here and after d8 11.a4 0-0 12.e2 e8 13.f2 a6 14.c1?! ( 14.g3 c7 15.e3 had to be tried) 14...c7 15.e3 f8! B l a c k wa s s l i g h t l y f o r ch o i c e i n S t i p s Korneev, Porto San Giorgio 2011. ] 9...e7 10.c4 [ Invariably played, but I should remind s u b s c r i b e r s t h a t E r i c ' s i d e a o f 10.g4!? could really do with some testing. ] 10...d8!? [ Black decides to keep the queens on. He h a s m o r e o f t e n g o n e i n f o r 10...xd2+ 11.xd2 h5 12.e3 f5 , but after 13.f4!? White had a pull in A.Grant-Holzke, Isle of Man 2004, as previously covered by Eric. ] 11.c3 0-0 12.g4!? [ Always a tempting idea in such positions, but h ere I wo uld pref e r st raightf o rward development with 12.d3 and after h5 ( here 12...e8 would just allow White to build up almost at his leisure after 13.ge2 d7 14.g3 ) 13.e3 d7 14.ge2 e5 15.g3! White was slightly better in Moskalenko-Pena Gomez, Can Picafort 2008. ] 12...e8! [ Black decides to intimidate White with the possibility of a check on h4. The only previous game which I could find from this p o sit io n s a w 12...e8 and after 13.f2! fd7 14.d3 f8 15.ge2 g6 16.g3 h4! 17.ae1 White retained a small pull in Saada-Briet, Belfort 2010. ] 13.0-0-0 [ When I first flicked through this game, I felt this was an error, since sooner or later W hite will come under attack on the queenside, but then I realised that 13.f2 h4+ 14.g2 ( 14.g3 is what White wo uld lik e to d o, bu t th e n f5 is quite annoying ) 14...d7 15.ge2 f5 would have given Black decent counterplay
in any case. ] [ I'm not too sure what's going on after 13.h3!? h4+ 14.f2 f5 15.g5 , but having gone 12 g4, perhaps W hite needed to try this. ] 13...a6 14.h4 b5! We now have a race scenario where Black clearly has decent counterplay, no matter what your engine may try to tell you. 15.b1 [ Perhaps a machine might get away with 15.cxb5 axb5 16.xb5 c7 ( unfortunately Black seems to come up short after 16...a5 17.e1! c7 18.a4 f6 19.xd6 ) 17.d3 ca6 ( the disruptive 17...f5! very much comes into the equation too ) 18.a3 d7 19.ge2 , but I remain convinced that Black will score well from here in most human encounters: for instance, b6 20.c2 f5!? 21.gxf5 c4 22.e4 c5 and White's king position remains a cause for concern. ] 15...d7 16.g5 b6 Through simple methods, Nedilko be gins to increase th e pressure on the queenside. 17.cxb5? [ After this Black quickly gains an ideal type of Benko Gambit. White tends to ignore the attack on c4 in such positions (think various lines of the Samisch King's Indian), and after 17.h5!? f5+ 18.a1 xc4 19.xc4 bxc4 20.ge2 b8 21.g3 d3 22.ge4 both sides would have had their chances. ] 17...c7! 18.bxa6 xa6 19.xa6 [ Easy to criticise, of course, but 19.a3 b8 20.c2 g6 would have led to similar problems. Should the light-squared bishops come off, White will be highly vulnerable to ideas of ...c4 and ...Nc5. ] 19...xa6!? [ Black wants to retain the ...Bf5 option, but I can't see too much wrong with the straightforward 19...xa6 threatening ...Nc4 followed by ... Qa5 with a strong attack. ] 20.c2 g6 21.c1 [ Alternatively, 21.a1 f5 22.e2 c4! and it's not hard to imagine White collapsing down the open a-file. ] 21...f5 22.e2 a7 It's clear that the grandmaster is being outplayed and his active next fails to dent the notion that White is just in some trouble. 23.b5 d7 [ Hardly terrible, but 23...a8! would have 2199
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 been very strong, as 24.xb6 b7 25.c6 d7 traps the errant queen. ] 24.f1 a4 Eliminating a key defender and clearing the way to target b2. 25.ge2 b6 26.b3 [ Hardly what White wanted to do, but the bpawn would also have had to advance in the event of 26.d2 b8 . ] 26...b8! 27.d2 [ A desperate attempt to flee with the king. White's attack has clearly come to a halt on the kingside and after, say, 27.e4 b4 28.d2 c4 Black would have quickly broken through on the other flank. ] 27...xc3 28.xc3 b4 29.c4 xa2+ It's all too easy for Nedilko as he regains his pawn while retaining a crushing advantage. 30.e3 b2?! [ On the verge of an upset, Black gives his opponent the glimmer of a chance. Simple a n d s t r o n g w o u l d h a v e b e e n 30...xb3 31.xb3 xb3 when the neat retreat 32.c1 ( or 32.d3 aa3 followed by ...Bf5) 32...f8! would soon have led to heavy material gains. ] 31.xb4 xb4 32.b1 2xb3 33.xb3 xb3 34.d2 Black remains a clear pawn to the good and with the bishop-pair, and I'm at a loss to explain why he now chose to repeat moves, even if by now he was down to just the 30 second a move increment. b2+ 35.e3 b3 [ If Black was worried about White's rook infiltrating down the a-file, he might have crea te d so me luf t wit h 35...f5! , and if 36.a1 b3 37.d2 b4 38.e3 c4 . ] 36.d2 b4 [ Again 36...f5! would have been fairly effective, ] [ while even after 36...b5 37.a1 c4 38.a7 f8 39.a8+ g7 40.a7 f8 41.d7 , which was presumably the sort of line which scared Nedilko, Black might have found a way to play on having reached the time control here maybe with b2+ 42.c1 f2!? , ( as 42...b6 43.e4 seems to give White enough counterplay to draw. )] 37.e3 b3? ½-½
2251 Povah,Nigel E Cherniaev,Alexander Open Portsmouth ENG (3) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2360 2504 22.02.2003
Trompowsky: Here we see why this idea has been catching on for Black. White must know his stuff or else he'll get clobbered! 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 This is too ambitious. [ 4.d5 Is the right idea (as we saw in the previous game) and carries the Hodgson seal of approval. ] 4...h6 5.d2 e4 6.d3 xd2 7.xd2 cxd4 Black has emerged with an extra pawn and the bishop pair. Not bad! 8.f4 c6 9.gf3 d5 Denying White the use of the e4 and c4 squares for his knight. 10.a3 c5 11.b4 b6 12.b3 d7 13.0-0 a6 14.e1 White tries to find something to do, but the Black position is very solid. 0-0 15.h1 c8 16.g4 Weakening, but White is desperate to show some initiative for his pawn deficit. f6 17.g3 fxe5 18.fxe5 g5 19.h3 [ 19.h4 looks the natural move, but fails on account of: gxh4 20.xh4 xf1+ 21.xf1 xe5 ] 19...g7 20.c1 This slow regrouping is more evidence of W hite's lack of attractive options. c7 21.e2 xe5 22.xe5 xe5 23.g3 xg3 With the exchange of this kn ig h t , a n y r e a l h o p e t h a t W h it e h a d o f launching a successful attack has flown out of the window. 24.xg3 c7 25.h3 d6 W ith nothing to show for his pawn deficit, White wisely decided to call it a day. 0-1
2252 Povah,Nigel E Jackson,Sheila 4NCL Birmingham ENG (8) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2360 2186 26.03.2000
May Update: Trompowsky: Another b-pawn grabber bites the dust: For attack minded players, there is nothing better than watching your hapless opponent pointlessly move his queen around the board, munching as many 2200
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pawns as possible along the way. Kasparov may get away with it in the Najdorf, but not everybody has his defensive technique. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 This is one of m y f a vo u rit e lin e s in th e Tro m p . xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 g4 Is not considered to be best. [ 7...e5 is critical, when White should reply: 8.f5 with the plan of g4 kingside expansion. ] 8.e2 xe2 9.xe2 This natural recapture prepares one of White's main ideas in this line, the e4-e5 pawn thrust. a6 Black, a pawn up, seeks an endgame, but this simplistic approach only serves to lose Black time. 10.b5 b6 11.b1 a6 12.c3 c7 13.e5 W hite begins to open lines f or his bette r developed pieces. dxe5 14.fxe5 fd7 15.f3 g6 [ 15...b5 In this situation, the phrase "too many pawns spoil the broth" seems appropriate. Now I would be very tempted by: 16.e6 fxe6 17.xe6 with the idea of Ng5. ] 16.0-0 g7 17.e6 White is fully mobilised and begins to take control of the position. fxe6 18.g5 Excellent play! A move that many players would miss. Rather than routinely recapturing on e6, White traps the enemy king in the center, with disastrous consequences for Black. e5 19.xe6 The knight's arrival on e6 spells doom for the Black player. a7 YUCK! Could the rook be on a more patheticlooking square? If you are ever forced to m a k e h o r r e n d o u s m o ve s l i k e t h i s , t h e n something has gone seriously wrong. 20.e4 f6 21.c3 Amazingly winning the Black q u e e n i n t h e c e n t e r o f t h e b o a r d . xc3 22.xc3 xc3 23.e3 e5 Normally, two pieces and a pawn for a queen would give Black some hope of salvation, but here, his utter lack of co-ordination means that he is completely lost. 24.xc5 b6 25.xd7 xd7 26.xb6 White moves into mopping up mode. a8 [ 26...xb6 27.xe5 When the twin threats of Qxh8 and Qb8 are impossible to meet. ] 27.b7 d6 28.e6 c5 29.f7+ d8 30.f8+! 1-0
2253 Povah,Nigel E Wells,Peter K Open Portsmouth (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2360 2486 23.02.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 [ 3...g6 4.c3 g7 5.e4 h6 6.h4? ( White has to play 6.e3 (Eric) or 6.Bd2) 6...b6 7.b1 ( 7.d2 xb2 8.b1 xe4! 9.xb2 xc3-+ Aaron in the game Boyd,TXie,G Australian open 2003.) 7...xe4! 8.xe4 b4+ 9.d2 xh4 ] 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 As we saw in the previous game, closing the position with 6...e5 may facilitate the defence. 7.f4 c7 [ 7...e6!? 8.f3 exd5 9.e5 dxe5 10.fxe5 e4 ( 10...e6 11.b5+ c6 12.0-0 e4 13.xe4 dxe4 14.g5 xe5 15.xf7 d4+ 16.h1 g8 17.g5 h6 18.xe4 ) 11.xd5 d8 12.c4 g4 13.b1 White is happy to have this drawing c o m b i n a t i o n . xd2 14.xb7 xf3+ 15.gxf3 xf3 16.c7+ e7 17.d5+ ( 17.xf3? xc7 18.xa8 xe5+ ) 17...e8 18.c7+ e7 19.d5+ A) 19...e6?! 20.f4+ ( 20.c7+ xe5? 21.xf3 ) 20...xe5 21.xf3 h4+ 22.e2 xf4 23.d5+ f6 24.g2; B) 19...e8 20.c7+ 1/2-1/2 McShane,LNi Hua Olm Bled 2002 ] 8.f3 g4 9.b5+ bd7 10.0-0 a6 11.xd7+ xd7 12.e1 xf3 13.xf3 g6 14.e2 g7 15.c3 f6! It is a matter of taste. After [ 15...xc3 16.xc3 0-0 I do not imagine Black getting mated. ] 16.e5 e4 17.e6 xc3 [ 17...0-0 18.exf7+ xf7 19.xg7 xg7 20.d4 cxd4 21.xe4 c5 ] 18.exf7+ xf7 19.xc3 af8 Possibly, the moves are wrong here. Black may well have p la ye d t h e o t h e r r o o k wh i ch lo o k s m o r e logical. 20.b1 d7 21.e4 h6 22.g3 b5 23.e4 e6 24.e1 e8 Then he would have played 24...Rae8... 25.dxe6+ xe6 26.b7+ e7 27.xe6 xb7 28.xd6 e8 Reaching the same position anyway! 29.xa6 d4+ 30.h1 2201
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 30.f1? be7 Forces White to part with his Knight to avoid the mate on e1. ] 30...e1+ 31.f1 be7 Black may be a pawn down but this is only momentary. He has a monster on d4, the consequence of his excellent decision 16 moves ago. 32.f5 [ 32.g3 c1 ] 32...g5!? [ 32...gxf5 33.xf5+ g7 ] 33.f6 [ 33.g4 h5 34.h3 hxg4 35.hxg4 c1 ] [ 33.xh6 g4 34.h7+ f6 35.xe7 xe7 36.f4 e3 37.f6+ e6! 38.f7 xf4 39.f8 xf1# ] 33...d7 34.g4 c4!! [ 34...c1 35.a8 xc2 36.h8 f2 37.xf2 xf2 38.xh6 d3 ] 35.c3 [ 35.a5 c1 ( 35...b4 36.b5 c3 37.c5 ) 36.xb5 xc2 37.a4 ( 37.b4 c3! 38.d3 c1 39.g2 c2 40.c4 d1 ) 37...a2 38.b4 c3 39.c4 e5! 40.a5 d1-+ ] 35...xc3! 36.xc3 xf1+ 37.g2 xf6 38.xf6+ xf6 39.a4 bxa4 40.xc4 a7 In this manner White did not take revenge on the defeat published last year, in the same tournament, but one round earlier, with the same opening, but in another line! 0-1
2254 Povah,Nigel E Wells,Peter K Open Portsmouth ENG (5) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2351 2517 10.02.2002
T ro m p o ws k y A t t a ck: A n o t h e r st ro n g G M provides an excellent example of what Black should be looking for in the Sicilian Tromp. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 f6 5.dxc5 White opts for the Sicilian approach to the Tromp. a5+ 6.c3 xc5 7.e4 g6 Not a very popular approach, but on the basis of this game, perhaps that is about to change. 8.d2 g7 9.0-0-0 c6 10.e3 Driving the queen off the potentially lethal c-file. However, she is just as aggressively placed on a5. a5 11.c4 d6 12.h6 An important moment. xh6 At which Black makes the correct
decision. [ The inferior: 12...0-0 13.h4 would leave W hite with a very promising kingside attack. ] 13.xh6 e6 14.xe6 fxe6 In exchange for weakening his kingside, Black has considerably increased his grip on the centre. 15.ge2 b5 Part and parcel of most Sicilian c o u n t e r p l a y i s t h i s p a w n t h r u s t . 16.g5 White hopes to exchange queens along the 5th. e5 No chance, says Black! 17.f4 b4 18.fxe5 bxc3 The opening of lines on the queenside can only be in Black's interests. 19.xc3 b8? inaccurate. [ A n i m m e d i a t e : 19...d7 deserved consideration. ] 20.d3? [ 20.h4! would leave White well in the game as, dxe5 21.d3 is, from White's point of view, a huge improvement on the game co n t i n u a t i o n . J u s t l o o k a t t h o s e B la c k pawns. ] 20...d7 The Black knight now finds its ideal outpost, giving him a pleasant advantage. 21.f1 xe5 22.g3 Forced, due to the threat of Nd3. h6 23.f4 d7 Unusually, the King finds perfect safety in the centre of the board. 24.d1 hc8 An absolutely dream position for any dragon player. All of Black's major pieces bare down on the W hite king. 25.d2 a6 Even stronger than 25...Qxa2 26. Ra3. 26.f2 c4 White has no chance of surviving the onslaught. The Sicilian is all about attacking and here, White simply has n o a t t a c k t o s p e a k o f . 27.xh6 xa2 W ith his queenside crumbling, there is no reason for White to prolong the agony. 0-1
2255 Prie,Eric Argandona Riveiro,Inigo I Goi Mailako Centre GM (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2490 2388 18.07.2011
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.b5 d5 6.a3 a6! 7.b1 a2 8.c1 axb5 9.a1 xa1 10.xa1 c6 11.xb5 cxd4 [ 11...xd4 12.exd4 xf4 13.e2 xg2+ 2202
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.f1 h4 15.dxc5 e6 16.c3 g6 17.g3 ] [ 11...xf4 12.xc6 bxc6 13.exf4 cxd4 14.xd4 xa3 15.f3 e6 16.0-0 ] 12.xc6 [ 12.e2!? e5 13.xc6 xa3 ( 13...b4+ 14.c3 ) 14.xa3 xa3 15.xd5 exf4 16.exd4 d6 17.d2 ] 12...bxc6 [ 12...dxc6 13.xd4 A) 13...xa3 14.f3 f6 15.0-0 e5 16.xe5 fxe5 17.xe5+ e7 18.xg7 f6 19.h6 a4 20.e1 c3 ( 20...f5 21.e4 xe4 22.c4 xc4 23.d2 ) 21.d1 f5 22.d6 xc2 23.e5 xe5 24.xe5+ f7 25.xd5 cxd5 26.xh8 d4 27.h4 d3 28.xh7+ f6 29.f4! Wins by allowing a decisive queen check on e5 , in evita bly f ollo we d by an ot he r check on the d-line grabbing the d2 pawn. ( 29.g4 d2 30.h6+ f7 31.h5+ f6 32.g5+ e6! ) 29...d2 30.h8+ g6 ( 30...f7 31.h5+ f8 32.c5+ ) 31.e8+ f6 32.e5+ f7 33.d5+ e7 34.xd2; B) 13...f6 14.c4 ( 14.f3!? e5 15.xe5 fxe5 16.xe5+ e7 17.e4 f6 18.0-0 ) 14...e5 ( 14...xf4 15.exf4 xa3 16.b2 a4 17.e2 xc4 18.a2 c5 ) 15.xe5 fxe5 16.xe5+ e7 17.f3 xa3 18.0-0 d3 ( 18...f7 19.d1 h6 20.h3 ) 19.g5 h6 20.e4 f7 ] 13.xd4 f6 14.c4 xf4 15.exf4 e5!? It is not clear W hite's slight superiority of queen and knight + space vs Rook, 2 bishops and pawn may even be winnable. At least is he not on the receiving end after [ 15...e6 16.f3 or ] [ 15...xa3 16.f3 ] 16.fxe5 xa3 17.exf6 0-0 18.e2? T h is v a ria t io n , a n d t h is m a t e ri a l ra t io i s definitely not for humans. Actually it appears much easier to play for Black who also has the f o rtres s strategy in re serve if t actics misfire. [ 18.fxg7! e8+ 19.d1 d5 Looks totally frightening for W hite, doesn't it?! Yet the machine stays cool and shows why it artificially tends to add a hint of decimals in favour of the queen in its evaluation: ( 19...e6!? 20.c5 d6 21.f3 xc5
22.c3 a3 ) 20.f3 dxc4 ( 20...c5!? ) 21.g5! a6 22.xh7!! xh7 ( 22...ad8 23.f6+ f7 24.d7 ) 23.g8+ xg8 24.h4+ g7 25.g3+ f7 26.xa3 How could I have seen all this?? ] 18...b4+ 19.d1 xf6 20.c5 b8 21.g3 d5 22.e5 f8 23.f3 b7 24.d6 f6 As (mis)calculated Black takes the draw, but amazingly he could have fought on by [ 24...d7! 25.c2 ( 25.e7 e8; 25.h5 c3 26.c2 d4 ) 25...f6 26.e5 e6! ( 26...xc5 27.a1 ) 27.g5 ( 27.d4 e8; 27.f4 e8 ) 27...h6 28.f4 b5 ( 28...e8 29.g4 g6+ 30.d1; 28...xc5 29.b1 ) 29.c7 e7 30.d8+ f7 31.a1 ] 25.d8+ f8 26.d6 f6 27.d8+ f8 28.d6 d7 29.h5 c8 30.g3 ½-½
2256 Prie,Eric Barsov,Alexei VIII op int Nantes (5.2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2496 2491 28.12.2009
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.a4 a5+?! Designed to either interrupt the d5-pawn's protection or play ...b5-b4 under more favorable conditions, but this inaugurates a very risky manoeuvre which was improvised over the board. [ 4...b4 indeed looks like the critical line, although it still awaits the test of practice. A) 5.f3!? b7 ( 5...g6!? to keep the Bc8 on the right diagonal if White has to go c2-c4 in any case.) 6.c4 e6 ( 6...g6 7.bd2 ) 7.dxe6 fxe6 8.bd2; B) 5.f3 e6 ( 5...h5!? 6.e3 ) 6.e4 exd5 7.exd5 e7+ ( 7...h5 8.e2+ e7 9.g5 xe2+ 10.xe2 h6 11.e3 ) 8.f2 h5 9.c7! c4! ( 9...d6 10.b5+ d7 11.h3 h4+ 12.g3 xh3 13.e2+ e7 14.xd6 ) 10.d6 e5 11.d2 ( 11.e2 xe2+ 12.xe2 a6 13.xc4 xc7 14.dxc7 c5+ 15.f1 ) 11...c5+ 12.e1 f4 13.xc4 e6 ] 5.d2! b4!? Possibly not the best but assuredly the trickiest move order. [ 5...xd5 6.axb5 b4 ( 6...xb5? 7.e4 ) 2203
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7.e5 d6 8.e4! d7 9.gf3 xe5 10.xe5 dxe5 11.c1!! The point, forcing Black to give up his c-pawn for free in order to save her majesty. Would I have found it over the board!? c4 ( 11...d4 12.c3 xc3 13.bxc3 d6 14.b1! b7-b6 is coming with annoying consequences for Black.) 12.exd5 xb5?! ( 12...g6! 13.xc4 h6 14.e2 e6! 15.c3 f4 16.b3 xc1+ 17.xc1 xc1 18.xc1 exd5 19.a1 And W hite has no more than a slight advantage thanks to his pressure down the a-line. ) 13.xc4 b7 ( 13...b6 14.b3 d7 15.0-0 g6 16.c4 f6 17.e3 ) 14.0-0 g6 15.b3 g7 16.a5 d7 17.e3 0-0 18.fd1 ] 6.e5! xd5 [ 6...bxa4 7.e4 xe4 8.c3 ] 7.e4 c6 [ 7...d6 8.xb5+ d7 9.c3 xb2 10.b1 xc3 ( 10...a3 11.c4; 10...a2 11.c4 xa4 12.xa4 xa4 13.xd5 c6 14.xd6! exd6 15.a1 b5 16.c4 ) 11.f3 xd2+ 12.xd2 xb1+ 13.e2 dxe5 14.d3 a6 15.xd7+ xd7 16.f3 ] [ 7...f6? 8.c3 ] 8.g3 b6 [ 8...xb2 9.exd5 d4 10.d3 c4 11.b1 a2 ( 11...a3 12.e2 ) 12.e4 f5 13.gf3 c3 14.0-0 xf3+ ( 14...cxd2 15.xd4 fxe4 16.xb5 ) 15.xf3 cxd2 16.d6+- ] [ 8...f6 9.axb5 d8 10.e5 d5 11.a2 Followed by c2-c3. ] 9.axb5 d8 10.b3 [ 10.gf3 d6 11.a2 c4 12.c3 xb5 13.d4 c5 14.xc4 xc4 15.a4+ ] 10...d6 11.d3 [ 11.c1! Threatening to win the queen before Black has time to play ...g7-g6. c4 ( 11...c3!? 12.d3 g6 13.e2 f6 14.0-0 h6 15.e5! dxe5 16.b2 ) 12.bxc4 e6 ( 12...g6 13.c3 c5 14.b3 c7 15.c5 ) 13.a3 xa3 14.xa3 g6 15.gf3 g7 16.e5 ] 11...g6 12.e2 g7 13.a2 [ 13.c1 c4 14.bxc4 e6 15.c3 c5 16.e5 dxe5 17.e4 c8 18.c5 c4 ] 13...c4 [ 13...h5 14.h3 h4 15.h2 ]
[ 13...e6 14.c1 d4 15.e5! e6 ( 15...xe5 16.xe5 dxe5 17.c3 xe2 18.xe2 f4 19.f3 b8 20.xa7 0-0 21.0-0 ) 16.xd4 xd4 17.e4 d5 18.a4 c3 19.0-0 h6 ( 19...0-0? 20.b1; 19...xe5 20.xe5 xe5 21.c4 c3 22.c6+ d7 23.e1 ) 20.f4 e3+ 21.h1 e2 ( 21...0-0 22.f3 e2 23.d3 Finally!! ) 22.c4+- xf4 23.xf4 xf4 24.xf4 d8 25.c6+ f8 26.e4 dxe5 27.f1 f5 28.e1 d3 29.xc5 d4 30.b4 h5 31.xa7 h4 32.h3 ] 14.bxc4 e6 15.0-0 xc4 16.c3! c5 [ 16...xc3 17.xc4 xc4 18.a4 b3 19.xb4 xd1 20.xc3 ] [ 16...xb5 17.d4 xd4 18.cxd4 d5 19.exd5 xd5 20.e2 c8 21.b1 c6 22.c2 ] 17.xc4 xc4 18.xc4 xc4 19.a4 [ 19.d5! xd5 ( 19...c8 20.f3! Protecting e4 and preparing Bf2 after which Black has no other option than to take on d5. xc3 21.c2 b4 22.d3 d4+ 23.xd4 xd4+ 24.xd4 defending the rook. ) 20.exd5 The black knight is now deprived of the e6 square. b8 ( 20...b7 21.fa1 a5 22.bxa6 c5 23.a7 d7 24.f4 ) 21.b1 b7 22.f3 d7 23.f2 e6 24.xa7 exd5 25.b6 c8 26.f4 ] 19...xa4 20.xa4 b8 21.c4 b7 22.f3?! Just as in the previous game (and so often...) a f t e r h a vi n g m o r e o r l e s s s u c c e e d e d i n steering through troubled waters, White starts to lose his course just in sight of the harbour. [ 22.f4! e6 23.f2 d7 ( 23...c5 24.xc5 dxc5 25.d1 0-0 26.f2 e5 27.f5 gxf5 28.exf5 e4 29.d5 ) 24.d1! c7 ( 24...c8 Or 24...Ra8 25.e5 ) 25.xa7 a8 26.b6+ b8 27.xa8+ xa8 28.d4 xd4 ( 28...xd4+ 29.xd4 xf4 30.c6 c7 31.f1 e5 32.d1 ) 29.xd4 a7 ( 29...xd4+ 30.xd4 a7 31.e5 a4 32.f2 b7 33.exd6 exd6 34.xd6 xc4 35.f6 ) 30.c6 a4 31.e5! dxe5 ( 31...xc4 32.a1+ b7 33.a5+ ) 32.d7! exf4 33.b6+- ] 22...e6 23.f2 c5 24.a3 [ 24.xc5 dxc5 25.d1 0-0 26.f2 d4+ 27.xd4 d8 28.e2 cxd4 29.e5+- ] 24...d7 [ 24...0-0 25.d4 ] 2204
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 25.d4? [ 25.xc5 dxc5 26.d1+ c7 27.f2 d8 28.xd8 xd8 29.f4 White did lose a tempo... d7 30.e5 c8 31.e3 f6 32.exf6 exf6 ( 32...xf6 33.a6 ) 33.g4! f5 ( 33...b7 34.a6 d1 35.g3 c1 36.e4 ) 34.gxf5 gxf5 35.a6 e7+ 36.f3 d4 37.g3 e3+ 38.g2 c3 39.xf5 b8 40.c6 xc4 41.d6 c2+ 42.f3 a6 43.b6 ] 25...xd4+ 26.xd4 a6! 27.d1 axb5 28.xb5 f6 29.f2 c8 30.e3 ½-½
2257 Prie,Eric Berthelot,Yannick ch-FRA Top 16 Poule Basse (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2447 2322 05.05.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 [ Reminder: 3.e3 b6! ( 3...e4 4.f4 b6 5.c3 belongs to the next chapter; 3...cxd4? 4.exd4 b6 5.c3 xb2 6.b5 b4+ 7.d2 )] 3...gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 f5 6.g3 g7 7.c3 e6!? 8.g2 a6 9.h3 c7 10.f4?! [ 10.a3 0-0!? And now what ( 10...xd5 11.c4 a6 12.xd5 exd5 13.e3 h6 14.f4; 10...exd5 11.f4 d4 12.c4 a6 13.cxd4 xd4 14.e3 g7 15.0-0 0-0 16.d1 Is typical of what Black must avoid in t h i s li n e a f t e r c a p t u ri n g t h e d 5 p a wn .) 11.c4 a6 12.e3 d6 13.f4 d7 14.c2 e5 ] 10...e5! Stronger than the [ 10...h6 11.e3 xf4 12.exf4 xd5 13.xd5 exd5 I gave in YegiazarianGaprindishvili, already assuming that 10. Nf4 was dubious at that stage. ] 11.d3? Going for hazy compensation. [ 11.h5 h6 12.e3 g6 ( 12...e4 13.c4 ) 13.d1 d6 14.0-0 d7 15.a4 0-0-0 16.d2 Does not look very exciting for White but at least the material is equal and his king relatively safe while he can always defend his knight on the edge with Bf3 in case of ...f7-f6, ...Be8. ] 11...h6 12.e3 e4 13.f4 xf4 14.exf4 xd5 15.0-0 f6 16.c4 d5 17.cxd5 xd5
18.c3 xc3? [ 18...e6 19.xd5 ( 19.a4? b5 20.xc5 c8 ) 19...xd5 20.c3 ( 20.h3 e6 21.c3 0-0-0 22.ac1 c4 ) 20...0-0-0 ( 20...0-0!? Now that the square f6 is guarded, but 21.fd1 fd8 22.h3 e6 23.xc5 b6 24.d4! xa2 25.xd8+ xd8 26.xd8+ )] 19.xc3 0-0 20.ac1? A bit of a shame but being objective, I had to rush for the perpetual check with [ 20.fd1 e6 21.f6 ] 20...e6 21.fd1 ad8 [ 21...xa2!? 22.e5 e6 23.xc5 fd8 ] 22.f6 c8 [ 22...h6! A move difficult to see or to a n t i c ip a t e a s W h it e . 23.b3 ( 23.xh6 xd1+ 24.xd1 xb2 ) 23...c8 24.e7 d4 ] 23.g5+ h8 24.e7! g7 25.e5+?! [ 25.g5+= g6? 26.xd8 xg5 27.xf8 ] 25...g8 [ 25...f6! 26.xc5 xb2 27.xd8 xd8 28.xe4 e6 ( 28...fxe4? 29.g5+; 28...b6 29.c2 xc2 30.xc2 e6 31.b3 ) 29.b1 b6 ] [ 25...g8 26.h3 ] 26.xd8 xd8 27.h3 e6 [ 27...c4!? 28.xf5 ( 28.xc4 e6 29.c2? d1+ 30.g2 a6 31.b8+ g7 32.e5+ g6 33.xf5+ xf5 ) 28...d2 29.e8+ ( 29.f1 xf5 30.xf5 e3 ) 29...g7 30.e5+ f8 31.f1 ( 31.h8+? e7 32.e5+ e6 33.f1 d5 ) 31...xf5 32.xf5 d4 ( 32...e3 33.c8+ g7 34.g4+ g6 35.f3 e2? 36.c3+ ) 33.c8+ g7 34.g4+ ( 34.xb7 xb2 ) 34...f6! ( 34...f8 35.c8+ ) 35.h4+ e6 And Black escapes the perpetual check with the best chances as with b2 condemned, his c-pawn will be a major asset, in addition to the tactical motives based on ...e4-e3. ] 28.xf5 [ 28.xc5 d1+ 29.g2 a6 30.b5 c4 ] 28...d5 29.b8+ d8 30.e5 d5 In conclusion... I wanted to gain a feeling for this 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4.d5 line against the perfidious 2...c5 over the board, but this only added to my confusion. ½-½ 2205
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2258 Prie,Eric Chabanon,Jean Luc Grand Prix CCAS 2010 (5.3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2526 2457 27.10.2010
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 d5 4.g3 b6 5.c3 xc3 6.bxc3 d5 Among the inferior options to the previous 6...e6!? [ 6...b2 7.e2 e6 ( 7...cxd4 8.cxd4 e6 9.c1 ) 8.a4 Secures White at least a draw ... c6 9.d5!? ( 9.b1 a2 10.a1 b2 11.b1= ) 9...exd5 10.b1 a3 11.b3 xa4 12.f4 ] 7.b1!? [ 7.xb8 xb8 8.b1 c7 9.b5+ d7 10.xd7+ xd7 11.f3 e6 12.e5 c7 13.e2 d6! ( 13...a6!? 14.e4 dxe4 15.0-0 d6 16.xe4 0-0 ) 14.b5+ e7 ] 7...a5 8.b5+ [ 8.d2 xa2 ] 8...d7 [ 8...c6 9.e2 a6 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.0-0 ( 11.dxc5 e6 12.0-0 xc5 13.d4 0-0 14.xc6 xa2 ) 11...c4 ( 11...xa2 12.f4 e6 13.d3 cxd4 14.cxd4 Intending Ne5.) 12.e4 dxe4 13.e5 Intending Ng3. ] 9.xd7+ xd7 10.e2 b6 11.0-0 e6 [ 11...c4! 12.f3 ( 12.e4 dxe4 13.f4 e6 14.g3 e7 15.xe4 0-0; 12.f4 f6! 13.f3 xc3 ) 12...e6 13.e4 a3 14.d2 0-0 With not much for White to make up for his inferior structure. ] 12.c4! On the other hand he now seizes the initiative. xa2 [ 12...dxc4 13.d5 0-0-0 14.f4! e5 ( 14...f6 15.f3! exd5 16.h4 ) 15.f3 ( 15.h3!? ) 15...d6 16.h5 hg8 17.xf7 ] 13.cxd5 xd5 14.c3 b7 [ 14...c4 15.b5 ] 15.d5 e7 [ 15...f6 16.e4 exd5 17.exd5 0-0-0 18.f3 xd5? 19.fd1 ] 16.dxe6 fxe6 17.b5 [ 17.h5+! g6 18.h6 f6 ( 18...f8 19.h3 f7 20.f3! Intending Ne4.) 19.fd1 f7 20.e4 xe4 21.xe4 xe4 22.d7 ae8 ( 22...xc2 23.xe7+ xe7 24.g7+ ) 23.h4 xc2 24.a1! ( 24.bd1
g5! 25.xg5?? xd1+ ) 24...b2 ( 24...g5 25.xg5 ) 25.ad1+- ] 17...c8 [ 17...0-0 18.c7 ac8 19.xd7 ] 18.h5+ f8 [ 18...g6 19.h6 f7 20.fd1 f6 21.e4!? xe4 22.xa7 a8 23.e1 xc2 ( 23...b7 24.b5 a4 25.c7 e4 26.f3 ) 24.c6 he8 25.bc1 ( 25.xb6 ) 25...f5 ( 25...a4 26.e5+ g8 27.xg6! d8 28.xe6! ) 26.e5 d3 27.g5 g8 28.e5 f8 ( 28...c3 29.xg6+ ) 29.xf8+ xf8 30.xd3 ] 19.d6! f6 20.e5 d8 21.fd1 xd6 [ 21...f7 22.xe7 xe7 23.d6 xd6 ( 23...c8 ) 24.xd6+ f7 25.a1! a5 ( 25...a8 26.c7 ) 26.g3 c6 27.d6+ g8 28.e4! ] 22.xd6 e7 23.d3! Black is completely tied up as his extra pawn appears completely useless. e8 24.xe8 xd3 25.cxd3 xe8 26.c7 h6 27.xa7 g8 28.xb6 Black cannot avoid the loss of a second pawn. g6 [ 28...d7 29.c1 xd3 ( 29...h7 30.b1 c8 31.d4+ ) 30.xe6+ h7 31.c6 d8 32.h3 ] 29.d1 g4 [ 29...f5 30.e4 e5 ( 30...g4 31.f3 ) 31.c1 ] 30.c1 f7 31.xc5 d8 32.d4 d5 33.c2 g8 34.h3 g5 35.c8+ h7 36.c2+ g8 37.e4 f6 38.c8+ f7 39.h7 d7 40.g8+ g6 41.f8 [ 41.f8 e7 42.e8 ] 1-0
2259 Prie,Eric Chernuschevich,Alexei GP CG de l'Herault (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2441 2521 10.07.2004
1.d4 I really wanted to put only commented games from 2006 on this Happy New Year 2007! update to gain forgiveness for my faded Veresov turpitudes but really could not miss out some remarkable achievements like EllisAnderson. So I clinched one of my very own. o) That said, if 2...d5 has always been a 2206
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 tough option to negotiate in the Tromp, it is not because of this game that I gave up the opening in August 2005. f6 2.g5 d5 3.e3! I have alternated this move with the rarer [ 3.d2!? Then my opponents often let me do what I wanted after 3...g6 or 3...e6 as in Prie-Shoucair but rarely replied with the critical c5! To be seen next month. ] 3...e4!? Possibly stronger than 3...c5 as in the previous game Martinovic-Perunovic. Even if they often transpose, only the complementary study and the comparison of certain positions noticed there with D03 will permit us to settle the question. And if not then the study of the Veresov transpositions 4. Bxf6 gxf6 5.Nc3 or 4.Nc3 which deny Black the possibility to play either ...Nf6-e4 or ...Qb6 because of d5 hanging. 4.f4 "No worries" after this move proclaims W ells as it transposes into another major Tromp line about which he thinks "it was the vitality of White's position in that case which played a k e y ro le i n re n d e r in g 3 . e 3 a f u l ly v ia b l e option" after 2...d5. He is right although the variation he employs, which supplies the essence of this update, to come to this conclusion is particularly subject to caution. c5 "Although Black may be slightly behind in development, this lateral attack on White's dpawn is logical after having deprived it of the possibility of advancing." 5.d3! "Assuming that the doubling of pawns on f6 was a threat introduced by W hite's second move, this position, resulting from the most 'natural' moves from one part and the other, has to be re ga rd e d a s T HE crit ica l p o s it io n o f t h e Trompowsky around which, without any doubt, theory will gather and develop in the future." T h i s i s wh a t I wr o t e i n R a d j a b o v- P o l ga r Benidorm 2003 sometimes at the beginning of 2004 and it is a p leasu re t o see tha t th e evolution of theory has proved me right. So W e l l s i s r ig h t a g a i n i n s a yi n g t h a t : " t h e Bd3xe4 idea has added hugely to the punch of the Trompowsky, and poses Black tricky and un-stereotyped problems." It is just abandoning the centre with 6. dxc5 that is suspect. f6! Avoiding any defect in the structure while Black has already achieved his goal of attacking White's d-pawn with no harm. Here is W ells' opinion about it: "In
g e n e r a l I h a ve b e e n q u i t e h a r s h o n t h e va rio u s a t te m p t s t o avo id a f igh t b y t h is retreat which have cropped up every so often throughout the chapter. Not because I think BIack is somehow morally obliged to engage in a good scrap, rather because I feel that W hite should generally be doing well if not e ve n t h e s l i g h t l y w e a k e n i n g m o v e f 3 i s r e q u i r e d t o i n d u c e t h i s . " 6.dxc5?! Errare humanum est. For my defence I can only say that I was playing the Tromp only for 7 months having studied it only using ChessPublishing. Now, I have understood a few things in the stubborn world of d-Pawn Specials... As for W ells he grants an exclamation mark to this move held up, I choose my words, by the comment: "I am convinced this is the critical move, as I wrote back in 1999 for ChessBase, and while De la V il la a g re e s , i t h a s f o u n d o n ly a li m i t e d following in practice. Of course W hite can instead continue with normal' chess with Nf3/ c3 and so on. My feeling is simply that this leads to the kind of position in which time is not the critical factor, and that Black should rather be punished for his loss of tempo. I think Aaron had done his homework rather well!" Talking about the ancient game Summerscale-Hermansson Oxford GMB 98 that sa w the poor 6 ...Qa5+? inst ead: My euphemistic predecessor and the charismatic Hilsmark-Kingfisher1 leader on the same wavelength, what a scoop! c6! 7.b5 e6 8.d4? A novelty that will not stay long in the annals. For the move b2-b4 see the games Winants-Carlsen and Short-Aronian, as well as Danielan-Matveeva. Now Black instructively gains a big advantage by force: [ 8.b4 a5 9.c3 d7? 10.a4 xb4 11.cxb4 f6 12.f3 xa1 13.0-0 e7 14.a3 d8 15.bd2 axb4 16.xa8 c3 17.xd7 xd7 18.e5+ 1-0 Bigg, A (2275) - Sowray, P (2349) Ch-GBR Scarborough 2004 ] 8...d7! 9.xc6 bxc6 10.b4 e7! 11.f3 f6 12.e5 [ 12.e5 c7 13.xf7 xd4 ( 13...e5 14.xh8 exf4 15.d1 g6 is good too.) 14.xc7 xa1 15.xh8 e5! ( 15...e7? Fritz's move... 16.c3 a6 17.d2 xh8 18.c2 ) 16.xe5 xe5 17.d2 a6 ] 2207
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12...xe5 13.xe5 g5! The point 14.xd7 xg2 15.f1 a6 16.d2 xf1 17.xf1 xd7 18.f4 e7 19.c7+ f6 20.f4+ g6 21.g3 h6-+ The black king is going home eventually after a not really sweaty stroll but having made some 'exchangeable' (for a point) purchase. 22.e2 h7 23.a4 a6 24.h4 he8 25.h5 e5 26.f5+ h8 27.e4 d4 28.a3 ab8 29.f3 b7 30.b3 g1 31.d2 e6 32.e2 g5+ 33.d3 d8! 34.c4 b8 35.g4 f6 36.f3 h7 37.c1 f4 38.h3 f5 39.e2 g8+ 40.d3 fxe4+ 41.fxe4 f6 42.g3 f3+ 43.e2 xb3 44.cxb3 f7 [ 44...xb3? 45.f5+ g8 46.c8+ h7 47.f5+ ] 45.f5 xb4 46.d6 f4 47.g2 e3+ 0-1
2260 Prie,Eric Cossin,Sebastien National B Cande 14) (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2490 2502 24.08.2011
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e5 8.f5! e7!? Considered better is [ 8...h5 9.f3 e7 10.c4 bd7 11.e2 c7 12.a4 b6 13.b5+ d7 14.a5 S o o r s , S ( 2 3 5 3 ) - N a va l g u n d , N ( 2 1 8 8 ) Chennai 2011 1-0 (64) ] 9.g4 h6 10.h4 a6! A new idea found over the board (although after almost an hour's blindfold thought due to an inappropriate triggering of a fire alarm...) and stronger than our previous reference 10... Qd8 or [ 10...a6 11.f3 d8 12.g5 g8 13.h5 b5 14.h3 b4 15.ce2 a5 16.f6 gxf6? ( 16...f8 ) 17.g6 Spoerk, R (2024)Sandhoefner, F (2200) Oberwart 2009 1-0 (30) ] 11.b1 After analysing this game it is still not clear whether I should have activated this rook and returned the black queen to a better defensive post or not. [ 11.h3 h7 ] [ 11.h3 c4! Hitting the Ng1. ] [ 11.f3!? b4 12.d1 g6 13.g5! ] 11...d8 12.f3 d7!
[ 12...b4 13.b2 ] 13.g3?! [ 13.g5!? b4 14.b2 hxg5? ( 14...a5 ) 15.hxg5 xh1 16.xh1 xg5? ( 16...a5 17.h8+ f8 18.b5 ) 17.h8+ f8 18.b5+ d7 19.xd7+ xd7 20.xg7 ] 13...b6 14.f3 d7 15.a3? This over subtle move gives Black just enough time to allow his king to evacuate the centre. It was the moment to go all in. [ 15.g1! A) 15...b4 16.d1 a4 17.a3 xc3+ 18.xc3 a6 19.g5 hxg5 20.hxg5 c4! 21.f6 ( 21.xb7 c5 ) 21...gxf6 22.g6 g8 23.h4!! ( 23.h4 xg6 24.xg6 fxg6 25.h7 c7 26.g8+ f8 27.xg6+ e7 28.h7+ e8 29.h5+ e7= 30.h4? e8 ) 23...c7 ( 23...c5 24.gxf7+ xf7 25.g6 xe4 26.h8+! The unusual key motif of this attack... easy to miss in advance by both sides. xh8 27.g7+ e8 28.xh8+ f8 29.h5+ e7 30.h7+ e8 31.xe4 ) 24.gxf7+ xf7 25.g6 e8 26.h4 d8 ( 26...f8 27.e2 followed by Qh7 after having parried ... Bg4+ ) 27.xe5! xg1 28.h8+ e8 29.f7+ c8 ( 29...d7 30.h3+ is mate. ) 30.xe8+ d8 31.e2 xf1 32.e6+! Using the rook on b1 prior to taking on f1. b8 ( 32...d7 33.xd6+ c7 34.xb7# ) 33.xf1 c5 34.e8 xe4 ( 34...c8 35.xf6 ) 35.e1 And Black loses a piece in a miserable position.; B) 15...c4!? However 16.g5 ( 16.e3!? In comparison to the game White has won a t e m p o . . .) 16...hxg5 17.hxg5 c7! ( 17...c5? 18.f6! gxf6 19.g6 g8 20.h4 xg6 21.xg6 fxg6 22.h7 f8 23.xg6+ e7 24.g5! fxg5 25.xe5! W ith a winning attack. c7 26.xg5+ e8 27.e2 ) 18.f6 gxf6 19.g6 fxg6 20.xg6+ d8 21.g7 e8 22.h4 c8 23.e2 ] [ 15.h2!? c4 16.g5 a4! ] 15...c4 16.e3 c8 17.g1 c5 18.xc5 xc5 19.g5 hxg5 20.hxg5 a5?! [ 20...c7 was simpler. ] 21.f6 gxf6? 2208
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c6 [ 7...e6 8.f4 c7 9.f3 c6 10.d4 Is a casual position that may issue from a Richter-Rauzer. Quite possibly ... there is a better white 10th move than that, meaning that he is no less than 2 tem pi up on a typical Open Sicilian position! ] 8.f4! This is the big difference. White's darksquared bishop exerts a stronger pressure on the opponent's position and development, making the g7-g6 move, for instance, almost impossible because of the exchange on f6, from his natural Tromp placing rather than f ro m a su b st it u t e d L o n d o n lo ca t io n . g4 Black is even struggling to make the most elementary developing moves. [ 8...h6 9.xf6 gxf6 10.d5 ] 9.e2 xe2 10.xe2! 0-0-0 [ 10...d7 11.f3 b6 12.h4! c4 13.xc4 xc4 14.d5 c8 15.b3 4a5 ( 15...a3 16.b6 d8 17.c4 ) 16.b6 ] 11.f3 b8? With the idea ...Rc8 and ...e7e6, eventually, but Black will have no time for it. [ 11...g4 12.he1 ( 12.d2!? e3 13.c4 h6 14.e1 c5 15.xc5 dxc5 16.xd8+ xd8 17.h4 ) 12...f2 13.xf2 ( 13.c4 e3 ) 13...xf2 14.d2 g4 15.h3 f6 16.e5 dxe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.fxe5 xd2 19.xd2 d7 20.e6 fxe6 21.xe6 ] [ 11...h6 therefore was the only move and the reason why White was not in a rush to 2261 A45 part with his strong bishop and double the op po n en t 's f -p awn . 12.xf6 ( 12.h4!? Prie,Eric 2439 g5!? With some counter-chances at the Gelis,Dorian 2173 p r i c e o f a p a w n .) 12...gxf6 13.b1 Carcassonne 20' op (4) 28.11.2004 ( 13.d5 e6 14.xf6 g7 ) 13...e6 [Eric Prié] 14.f5 ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 a5+? 12.e5! dxe5 [ 12...g4 13.exd6 xd6 14.xd6 xd6 "Natural" but wrong, as a reminder of the ( 14...exd6 15.h3 e3+ 16.d2! xd2+ November 2003 update. In every case clearly 17.xd2 ) 15.h3 f6 ( 15...f6 16.d1 c7 worse than the 2..Ne4 3.Bf4 c5 4. f3 Nf6 5. 17.e5 ) 16.d1 c7 ( 16...c5 17.hxg4 dxc5 Qa5+ 6.Qd2 Qxc5 line that we examined fxg5 18.xg5 ) 17.d5 a5 18.h4 h6 last month. If the novelty f eatured in the ( 18...xa2 19.hxg4 a1+ 20.d2 a5+ pre vio u s ga m e is re a lly so m e t h in g 'b ig', 21.c3 ) 19.b1 f5 20.f2+- ] White's 3rd move option in the critical 2...c5 13.xe5!+- xd1+ Tromp, leaves Black with only the [ 13...d4 14.e1 Sets to bright light the [ 3...e6 a l t e r n a t i v e . 4.e3 xc5 5.a3 key idea: f7 cannot be protected. ] with the idea d5 6.c4 a5+?! 7.d2 ] 4.d2 xc5 5.c3 a6 6.e4 d6 7.0-0-0 [ 21...f8! W ithout fearing 22.xe5 gxf6 23.xd7 ( 23.gxf6 xf6 24.xd7 xd7 25.xb7 xa3 ) 23...xd7 24.g6 fxg6 25.xg6+ f7 ] 22.g6 Now it is Black who has to be cautious. g8 23.h4 xg6 [ 23...g7 24.h5! f8 25.gxf7+ xf7 26.g8 xa3 27.h4! e7 ( 27...xc3? 28.xf8+! xf8 29.h8+ e7 30.g6# ) 28.e2! ( 28.g6 xc3 29.xe7 xe7 ) 28...d8 29.g6 e8 30.h8 g7 31.xe8+ xe8 32.g8 ( 32.h7!? a4 33.h3 c5 34.f5 )] [ 23...fxg6? 24.h7 f8 25.h4 g5 26.e2!+- g7 27.h8+ g8 28.h6+ g7 29.g6+ g8 ( 29...f7 30.h5 ) 30.h8+ f7 31.xe5+! dxe5 32.h5+ g6 33.h7+ f8 34.xg6 e6 35.h8+ g8 36.h6# ] 24.xg6 fxg6 25.h7 f8! [ 25...c8 26.h4 c5 27.xg6 e3+ 28.e2 f8 29.xf8 xf8 30.xb6 axb6 31.xd7 xa3 32.xd6+ f7 33.e6+ g6 34.e8+= ] [ 25...c7 26.g8+ f8 27.xg6+ d8 28.g8 e8 29.g6+ d8 30.g8 ] 26.xg6+ e7 27.h7+ e8 28.h5+ e7 29.h7+ e8 30.h5+ White misses his bishop on e2 to hope for more than a perpetual check... e7 ½-½
2209
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.xd1 h6? 15.xf6 exf6 16.d7+ 1-0
2262 Prie,Eric Georgiev,Kiril 12th ch-EUR Aix les Bains FRA (5.51) [Eric Prié]
A45 2508 2666 26.3.11
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.c3 d6!? Cutting off the action of the London bishop on the h2-b8 diagonal, which implies that Black likely threatens to take on b2, def ending against Nb5 with ...Qb4+, ...Qa5 in addition to k e e p i n g t h e c e n t r a l t e n s i o n . 5.b5+! This is similar to the Bauer game, and is also the move preferred by the engines, although it was found over the board here. Anyway, it is probably the best way to remove the b2-pawn problem. [ 5.a3 cxd4 6.exd4 d7 7.b1 In comparison with the games in the next note White has not really lost a tempo in the process of defending b2 as the lightsquared bishop (preventing Na4) is not so well placed on d7. e5!? 8.g5? ( 8.e3 g4?! 9.c4; 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.xe5 c5 10.g3 0-0 11.e2 d8 ) 8...exd4 9.xf6 gxf6 10.e4 d5 11.d2 c6 12.d3 g8 13.e2 e5 ( 13...xg2!? 14.g3 e5 15.h3 xh3!! 16.xh3 e6 17.e2 xh3-+ ) 14.0-0 0-0-0 15.g3 g4 The rest of the game is missing with an actual black win, not a draw, on the table in Ponomariov, R (2744)-Aronian, L (2801) Moscow Blitz 2010 ] [ 5.b1 g6 6.f3 ( 6.h3 g7 7.f3 cxd4 8.exd4 0-0 9.d3? The worst place for this bishop calling f or c6 10.e3 b4 Harmon, C (2203)-Ehlvest, J (2622) Oak Bridge 2000 0-1(45)) 6...g7 ( 6...g4 7.h3 ) 7.e2 0-0 8.0-0 With the idea Nd2c4 combined with d4-d5, e3-e4 Martini, B (2306) -Szeberenyi, A (2342) Hungary 2008 1-0 (31) ] 5...d7 6.a4 a6 7.a5 c7 8.a4?! I thought this was clever but playing ...b7-b6 is part of the black plan anyway, and then a white piece on a4 will be badly placed. g6 [ 8...xa4 9.xa4 cxd4 10.exd4 c6
11.g5 xa5 12.xf6 gxf6 13.d5 d8 14.b4 c6 ( 14...c4 15.e2 c8? 16.xf6# ) 15.b5 a7 16.b6! ( 16.bxa6 bxa6 17.xa6 e6 18.a1 ) 16...b5 17.c4 e6 18.cxb5 exd5 19.bxa6 xb6 20.axb7 xb7 21.e2 g7 22.xa8+ xa8 23.0-0 0-0 24.g3 ] 9.g5 g7 10.d2 xa4 11.xa4 bd7 12.f3 0-0 13.0-0 fe8 14.h3 e6 15.e4?! [ 15.d1= ] 15...b5 16.axb6 xb6 17.a2 cxd4 18.xd4 fd7 [ 18...d5 19.exd5 fxd5 20.xd5 xd5 21.fa1 eb8 22.c3 b6 ] 19.de2 ec8 20.h6 c4 21.c1 f6 [ 21...xc3 22.xc3 xb2 23.d5! exd5 24.xb2 ] 22.d1 [ 22.g5 xc3 23.xc3 xb2 ] 22...c6 23.d4 c5 24.ce2 cb6 25.b3 c7 26.e3 b7 27.f3 Following a phase of hedging, W hite is the first to start moving forward. d5 28.e5 h8 29.g3? Although guarding the e4-square this is the wrong set-up for the White knights. [ 29.ed4! c5 30.g5 e4 ( 30...bd7 31.f4 a5 32.h4 g7 33.xg7 xg7 34.h5 ) 31.xe4 dxe4 32.c4 d7 ( 32...xe5 33.f3 f6 34.g5 d8 35.ad2 ) 33.f4 ] 29...c7 30.f4 a5 31.da1 a4 32.h4 ab8 33.h5 axb3 34.cxb3 c3 35.e1 g7 [ 35...xe3 is the computer's suggestion... However it is not at all clear that Black is b e t t e r a f t e r 36.xe3 ( 36.fxe3 c5 ) 36...c1+ 37.h2 d1 38.a7 d4 ( 38...a8 39.b7 ) 39.e4 d3 40.b4 ] 36.h6 f8 37.a7 b4 38.e2! Even in severe time trouble, while under latent pressure since he has lost a clear plan of action after the opening, White manages to stay in the game, not withstanding the rating difference. c4? [ 38...a8 39.ea1= ] 39.bxc4 c5 40.xd7 xe3 41.xe3 xc4 42.ed4 a4! With an exclamation mark not for the (best) move, not that difficult to find a c t u a l ly, b u t f o r t h e d r a w o f f e r t h a t wi l l unsettle Black after just having painfully made it till the 40th move. 2210
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 42...a4 43.e7 ( 43.d6 ) 43...a3 ( 19...xe5 20.0-0 b7 21.c3 ) 20.0-0! 44.g5 b6 ( 44...f8 45.xe6+! fxe6 ( 20.b6?? c7 ) 20...xa8 ( 20...xe5 46.xh7+With the lethal threat of Bf6, 21.c3 c6 22.b6 ) 21.c3 The point of it Rh8+ Ng5 Mate.) 45.f6 The best engines a l l a s W h i t e r e g a i n s t h e p i e c e . c6 of the World in my possession claim Black ( 21...a6 22.b1 a3 23.a1 ) 22.b1 is slightly better here. The truth, however, is a3 23.a1+- ] that deprived of any concrete counterplay he [ 6...xf4 7.exf4 a6 ( 7...cxd4 8.c4 ) is conversely probably lost here in the long 8.c4 d5 9.a2 ] t e r m ! T h i s i s a t y p i c a l p r o b l e m o f 7.b1 a2 8.c1!? Declining the overestimating the queen's power (f or I [ 8.a1 b2 9.b1 forced draw... This accepted the draw because of weariness means that White, playing 3.d5 on a regular and not because I felt I was not actually basis, may change his choice and opt for 3. better...) that I have realized on the occasion e3 against higher rated opposition when not of analysing this game. But this will b e eager to win!? ] clearer in the next update when studying the 8...axb5 9.a1 xa1 10.xa1 c6! line 4...Qxb2! 5.Nb5 which wins the black [ 10...xf4 11.exf4 b4 ( 11...c4!? 4 queen by force and for a while concludes See game ) 12.a4 cxd4 ( 12...g5 13.dxc5 the subject. c3 46.h2 ] g8 14.f5! g7 15.a2 c3+ 16.d1 ½-½ c6 17.c4 e6 18.e2 ) 13.b5 c6 14.f3 Winning the d4-pawn back. ] 11.dxc5?! 2263 A45 [ 11.xb5 should prove better at the end of the day, see the next game. ] Prie,Eric 2490 Gonzalez de la Torre,Santiago 2460 11...b4 12.a4 c3 13.f3 [ 13.e2 g5 ] I Goi Mailako Centre GM (3) 15.07.2011 13...xa4 14.c1 I did not like [Eric Prié] [ 14.b2 g6 ] 1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.c3 xb2 14...f6!? [ 14...g6 15.d3 g7 16.d2 d5 5.b5 d5 6.a3 a6! 17.b3 c3+ 18.e2 ] [ 6...c3?! recalling last month, then, is the Studying a complicated line with the first line to study: 7.c7+ d8 8.c1 15.e4? xc1+ 9.xc1 e5 10.xe5 d6 11.xa8 computer and having it on a real board are two different things! Actually the position is dxe5 12.dxe5 A) 12...b6? 13.e2! xe2 ( 13...d5 unpleasant for W hite with ...e5 coming to 14.d1; 13...a4 14.d1+ d7 15.f4 exile his London bishop to an observer state b7 16.b5; 13...b5 14.c4 xa3 on g3, followed by ...Bxc5 adding a second 15.c3 xc4 16.xc4 b7 17.f4 ) pawn in Black's favour to the material ratio 14.xe2 b7? 15.d1+ c8? queen/ pieces. And White falters, due to his human nature, by freeing his game in return 16.g4+; B) 12...c4!? 13.xc4 ( 13.a1 e6 for a fateful 3rd pawn. Alas, this will never 14.e2 xe2 15.xe2 c8 ) 13...xa3 allow him to generate enough play to boost 14.a1! b2 15.xa7 Frees the b6 the great unbalancing power of her majesty. [ 15.c7!? e5 16.b6 d5 17.cxd6 xd6 escape square for the knight, however 18.d2 ( 18.c4 f5 19.0-0 b3! c6 t r a p s t h e r o o k ! 16.a2 xa2 20.cxb3 xc4 )] 17.xa2 So White emerges out of the 1st phase of complications with 2 extra pawns 15...xe4 16.c7 e6 17.d3 xc5 18.b5 but his Na8 is not out of trouble yet. b4 a3 19.0-0 e7 20.f4 g5!? [ 20...0-0 As a matter of fact this is simply ( 17...b5 18.b6 b7 19.d5 xe5 good f or Black. 21.xc6 ( 21.d6 g5 ) 20.h3 c4 21.e2! xd5 22.d1 ) 21...bxc6 22.d6 xd6 23.xd6 c3 ] 18.b3 b5 ( 18...xe5 19.f3 c3+ 20.e2 e7 21.b6 ) 19.e2 b7 21.c4 c3 22.e2 g4 23.xc6 2211
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 defenders. 8.d3 f6 9.c3 g6 10.f3 g7 11.0-0 0-0 12.e1 bd7 13.h3 To prevent Ng4-e5.) 7.dxe6 fxe6 8.d2 xd2 ( 8...f6? 9.c4; 8...e7 9.xe4 xe4 This bishop is exposed on e4. 10.h3! 0-0 11.d3! The forced exchange of Black's strong light-squared bishop makes his a-pawn actually look like a backward pawn. xg2? 12.h5 h6 13.g1+- ) 9.xd2 ( 9.xd2 a6 10.xb8? xb8 11.bxa6 e5+ ) 9...a6! 10.c3!? ( 10.h5+ g6 11.e5 g8 12.f3 axb5 13.xa8 xa8 14.xb5 b6 15.c4 xf3 16.gxf3 g7 17.e4 xb2 18.h4 ) 10...axb5 11.xa8 xa8 12.h5+ ( 12.g4!? ) 12...g6 13.h3 ( 13.g4 g8 14.xb5 b6 15.d3 g7 16.e2 xc3+ 17.xc3 xb2 18.d2 b4 ) 13...e5 14.xb5 g7 15.f3 0-0 16.0-0 ] 5...xd5 6.g3 d6 7.e4 b6 8.c3 e6 Also natural though probably weaker than Kramnik's 8...g6 9.f3 e7 10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 a6 12.bxa6?! [ 12.d3 ] 12...xa6 13.b5 d5?! Replying in kind. [ 13...e5 14.d2 c7= ] 14.exd5 exd5 15.e1 Suddenly White has all his pieces well placed and a reinvigorated London bishop. d4 16.c3! Not only breaking the remains of the opposing central domination but also discreetly playing against the Na6 by controlling the b4 square. dxc3 17.bxc3 xd1 18.axd1 fd8 19.b1! e4 20.a1 [ 20.bc1!? Threatening Nc7. d5 21.h4 f6? 22.c4 xf3 23.gxf3 f8 24.e6 f5 ( 24...d7 25.d1 b6 26.xd7 xd7 2264 A45 27.d5 Wins a piece.) 25.ce1 f4 26.xf4 xf4 27.xe7 d5 28.b7 Threatening Prie,Eric 2526 Re5. ab8 29.a7+- ] Govciyan,Pavel 2437 VII op int Grasse (5.2) 26.09.2010 20...f8 21.h4! Intending Ng5 f6 22.h5 f7 23.c7? [Eric Prié] [ 23.h4 c4!? 24.g4 ( 24.xc4+ xc4 25.xe4 c5 26.xa8 xe4 27.xd8 1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.a4 b7 xd8 28.f5 a5= ) 24...c5 25.xa8 5.axb5? If White has to exchange a central xa8 ( 25...xa8 26.d6+ xd6 27.xd6 pawn against Black's b-pawn anyway, he may ba4 28.f3 ) 26.f3 d3 27.f5 ] as well keep the one that most restricts the [ 23.f1!? d3 ( 23...d5 24.h4 g6 opposing game: 25.hxg6+ hxg6 26.xg6 ) 24.c7 xc7 [ 5.e4!? xe4 6.axb5 e6 ( 6...d6 7.c4 25.xc7 xa1 26.xa1 a8 27.xa8 a6 Black cannot play this move when there xa8 28.xd3 xc7 29.xh7 ] is Bxb8 getting rid of one of the a6
[ 23.h4 A) 23...d4? 24.xg4 xb5 25.h5+ f8 26.f4 d6 ( 26...d8 27.e1 d5 28.f5! ) 27.g6+ hxg6 28.xh8+ e7 29.h6!; B) 23...f5!? 24.xc6 ( 24.g3 d4?? 25.e5 ) 24...bxc6 25.e5 ( 25.xf5 exf5 26.d6 e6 ) 25...a6 26.d2 xf1 27.xc3 bxc3 28.xc3 f8! R e m a i n i n g c o m p a c t 29.xf1 e4 30.d3 xh4 ] 23...bxc6 24.h4 [ 24.d4 g8 25.e1 a6 26.d2 g5 ] 24...g8! Even better than [ 24...f5 which gives up the important control of the e5-square. ] 25.e1 a6 26.d1 d5 Black continues to expand thanks to his perfectly coordinated pieces... 27.a1 And White can only gesticulate, hoping for a hypothetical opposing collapse. xc2 No bluff ... 28.b6 [ 28.f5 exf5 29.d6 e2! The point probably missed by W hite at the time he opted for 27.Qa1 rather than 27.Qd2, which did not make much difference as to the final outcome anyway. 30.xc5 xc5-+ ] 28...d3 29.d1 b5 30.b1 b2 31.a1 b3! Again the best move with not so much time on the clock. 32.h3 [ 32.xd3 a2 ] 32...c2 33.b1 c4 End of the fuss. 34.xd3 xd3 35.xb3 c1+ 36.h2 d6+ 37.g3 e4 38.f3 gxf3 39.f2 f1 40.c3 xf2+ 41.g1 c2 0-1
2212
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23...xc7 24.xc7 xa1 25.xa1 a8 W hite's advantage vanishes with this overlooked resource... 26.e1 d5 27.d2 [ 27.c4 f8! being its final touch. ] 27...xc7 28.xe4 f5 29.c4+ f8 30.g3 g6 31.e2 g7 32.hxg6 ½-½
2265 Prie,Eric Korobov,Anton 12th ch-EUR Aix les Bains FRA (3.54) [Eric Prié]
A45 2508 2647 24.3.11
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 The 'typical' London approach. I see This of f ers Black a wide choice of possible transpositions however, only specific moves may now disrupt White's 'Londonitude'. And the 1st one is [ 3.d5 more as an attempt to adapt a classical d-pawn reaction to the 'unclassical' London bishop's sortie... which is not without causing White worries as we saw last time! ] 3...d5 4.g3 [ 4.xb8 xb8 5.e4 c7 ( 5...a5+ 6.d2 c7 7.d5 ) 6.f3 ( 6.d5 g6 ) 6...d5?! ( 6...g6 7.dxc5 g7 8.c3 e6 ) 7.exd5 xd5 8.c4 ( 8.b5+ d7 9.xd7+ xd7 10.0-0= ) 8...a5+ 9.bd2 f6 10.d5?! ( 10.d3 e6 11.0-0 cxd4 12.xd4 e7= ) 10...g6 11.d3 g7 12.0-0 0-0 13.e1 e6 14.dxe6 xe6 Tran Tuan Minh (2295)-To, N (2345) FSIM Budapest 2011 1/ 2(30) ] 4...b6 5.c3 xc3 6.bxc3 The study of the lines 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bg5 Ne4! 4.Bf4/ Bh4 c5 5.e3 Qb6 6.Nc3 which were already examined in this section may prove useful for a better understanding of this position. e6!? Possibly more precise than [ 6...d5 as in the next game authorizing a further Bb5 check with tempo. ] 7.f3 [ 7.a4!? c6 ( 7...b2 8.e2 ) 8.d5! exd5 9.a5! b2 ( 9...xa5 10.e2 ) 10.e2 d4 ( 10...h5 11.h4 ) 11.b1 a3 Keeping an e y e o n c 3 . ( 11...a2 12.f4! xa5 13.d5 d6 14.c4 e6 15.xb7 xd5 16.xd5 xc3+ 17.f1 c8 18.xf7+
d8 19.e6 c7 20.b3 ) 12.exd4 ( 12.a1 b2 13.b1= ) 12...cxd4 13.a6 b6 14.b3 a5 15.xd4 c5 ( 15...xa6? 16.xa6 xa6 17.b5 0-0-0 18.0-0 ) 16.b5 0-0 17.c7 b8 18.d3 d6 19.0-0 ] [ 7.d3 d5 With the idea c5-c4. 8.h3 c4 9.e2 a5 10.0-0 e7 11.e4 dxe4 12.d2 0-0 13.xc4 d7 ] [ 7.b1 a5 8.d2 xa2 ] 7...b2! Black waits for the white knight to develop to his best square to play this thematic move, forcing 8.d2 c6 9.e5 [ 9.a4!? a5 10.b1 a2 11.dxc5 xc5 12.d4 xd4 13.exd4 b6 ] 9...xe5 10.xe5 f6 11.g3 [ 11.c7 cxd4 12.exd4 g6 13.a4 e5 ( 13...h6+ 14.f4 e5 15.g3 exd4? 16.e1+ ) 14.c4 h6+ 15.e2 ( 15.d3 d5 16.xd5 f5+ ) 15...xc3 16.d3 xd3+ 17.cxd3 d5 18.xd5 d7 19.a5 exd4 ] 11...e7 [ 11...cxd4!? 12.exd4 g6 ] 12.a4 [ 12.c7 a3 ] 12...b6 [ 12...0-0 13.c7 completing the opposing queen encirclement. ] 13.h5+ g6 14.h6 f7 15.d3 d8 16.h4 f8 17.f4 d5 18.a5?! [ 18.hb1 This is the problem when you ha ve t hre e goo d sp ot s with in t ere st in g prospects further ahead along a file (a, b, h) with only 2 rooks to occupy them! In this case, the most rele vant elem ent o f th e decision should have been to prevent Black f rom deve loping h is qu een's bishop . c4 19.e2 e7 20.a5 ] 18...c4 19.e2 d7 20.h5 g5 21.f3 h6! [ 21...c6 22.h6! g8 23.h5+ g6 24.h3 xh6 25.h5+ e7 26.g4 With excellent compensation, was White's intention. ] 22.e4 c6 23.exd5 xd5 24.e3 d7 [ 24...xg2 25.xc4 ] 25.f3 g7 26.hb1 This was White's idea, succeeding in playing e3-e4, however the pawns on b7 and c4 will not prove that fragile when the opposing central flexibility is actually a concern with a king on d2... he8 27.e1 2213
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ad8 28.f1 c6 29.b4 Each camp is developing his own conception... Yet, there are always tactical details to work out. [ 29.xd5 xd5 ( 29...exd5 30.f3 d7 31.b2 ) 30.b4 ] 29...f5! [ 29...xf3? 30.xf3 ] 30.e5! [ 30.xd5 And Black can now change tack exd5 31.e5 ( 31.f3 f4 32.h2 g8 ) 31...f4 32.e2 g8 33.ab1 d7 ] 30...xe5 31.dxe5?! [ 31.xe5!? xf3 32.gxf3 A) 32...xf3? 33.c7+ e7 ( 33...g8 34.xb7 h1+ 35.e2 e4+ 36.d2 xd4+! 37.c1 f4+ 38.xf4 xf4 39.xa7 xf2 40.a4 g4 41.xc4 g3 42.cc7 g2 ) 34.xd8 h1+ 35.e2 xa1 36.h8 With perpetual check.; B) 32...e7! 33.e2 c8 34.aa4 d5 ( 34...ec7 35.xc4 xc4 36.xc4 xc4 37.d5 exd5 38.e5 ) 35.xc4 xc4 36.xc4 xa5 37.c5 d8 38.c4= ] 31...xf3 32.gxf3 [ 32.xf3 d5 33.g4? g8 34.gxf5 xa5! ] 32...e7 33.ab1 a6? Both players are putting up a great fight but the error is always lying in wait, especially in time trouble... [ 33...g4? 34.xh6 xf3? 35.h7+ f8 36.h8+ f7 37.xd8+- ] [ 33...g8 ] 34.e2? [ 34.b6! d5 35.d4! ( 35.g2 g4 36.xh6 xf3+ 37.g1= is even possible.) 35...dd7 ( 35...xd4 36.cxd4 xd4 37.xb7 d5 38.xe7+ xe7 39.b7+ e8 40.b6= ) 36.xd5 ( 36.d6!? ) 36...xd5 37.xb7 xe5 38.xe7+ xe7 39.b7+ f6 40.h7 g4 41.fxg4 fxg4 42.xh6+ g5 43.h8 xa5 44.h6 a2 45.h7 g6 46.g8+ xh7 47.xg4 xc2 48.xc4= ] 34...d5! 35.g2? Collapsing before the time control. [ 35.xc4 xa5 36.cb4 dd7 37.c4 And the fight goes on. ] 35...g4 36.e3 gxf3+? [ 36...g8! 37.xh6 xf3+ 38.g1 g3 ] 37.h2? [ 37.h1 g8 38.xh6 e8 ( 38...e4?? 39.f6+ Controlling the h4 square! e8
40.xb7 ) 39.e1 ] 37...g8 38.g1? [ 38.d4 A) 38...g4 39.xd5 exd5 40.b6! ( 40.xb7 xb7 41.xb7+ e6 42.b6+ xe5 43.xh6 g2+ 44.h1 xf2 45.xa6 f1+ 46.h2 f4 47.h6 d1 48.h7 f2 49.h8 f1 50.h4+ e3-+ ) 40...g2+ 41.h3 xf2 42.xh6 i s l e s s c l e a r . F o r i n s t a n c e xc2?? 43.h7+ e8 44.xe7+ xe7 45.h6; B) 38...xd4 39.cxd4 g2+ 40.h3 xf2 41.xc4 g2 42.b3 ( 42.cb4 f8! 43.xb7 xb7 44.xb7 g1 ) 42...g5 ] 38...xg1 39.xg1 g8! It is all over now. 40.d4 g7+ 41.f1 xa5 42.e1 g4 43.d6 e4+ 44.d2 d5+ 45.c1 e1+ 46.b2 xd6 47.exd6 b5! 0-1
2266 Prie,Eric Levin,Felix 3e Open International de Rochefort (6.2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2429 2486 2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 a6 Accordingly the best move as we saw some time ago. 4.d4!? This improvisation over the board is in fact broadly inspired by the 3.Nc3 system that we studied in January, and where nothing has happened since then to make me ch an ge m y eva lu a tio n of th e p os itio n a s unconvincing, for the least, after 3...Qb6!? [ I have already mentioned 4.c3 xc5 5.f3 b6! 6.d2 xb2 7.b1 a3 8.e4 With compensation. ( 8.b5 xa2 9.d1 e6 10.e4 a6 )] 4...e6 5.c3! A novelty, on move 5 this time! In the only other game with 4.Qd4, W hite p l a ye d t h e i n s i p i d 5 . e 3 . xc5 6.h4 Here, Black is 'a tempo ahead'. But if you consider that it was used to 'develop' his queens knight on the edge of the board when 2 moves are required to recycle it onto its natural square, c6 or to develop his king bishop to c5 when it will have to retreat to e7, t h a t c l e a r l y d o e s n o t f a v o u r h i m . b6 After this critical move, the difference with the 2214
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 re f e re n c e v a r ia t io n is t h a t W h i t e h a s t o im m e d i a t e ly p a rt wit h h is d a rk- s qu a re d bishop when, in the other, he usually manages to maintain it on g5, thanks to the pseudo pin on the h-file and exert an unpleasant pressure on the d8-h4 diagonal. [ 6...h6!? 7.e3 g8 ] 7.xf6! gxf6 [ 7...xb2 8.b1 xc2 9.xg7 g8 10.f6 g6 ( 10...b4 11.xb4 xb4 12.xb4 c1+ 13.d1 ) 11.e3 b4 12.xb4 xb4 13.xb4 xf6 ] 8.0-0-0 e7 [ 8...xf2 9.xf6 e3+ 10.b1 f8! 11.f3 d5 12.d4! Is the 'tense' continuation where White has some tricky i d e a s f o r i n s t a n c e b4 ( 12...d7? 13.xd5! exd5 14.e5+ ) 13.a3 xd4 ( 13...c6? 14.f5! exf5 15.xd5 ) 14.xd4 c6 15.h4 d7 16.e4! d4 17.b5 ] 9.e3 f5 10.h6 f8 11.g5 One of the main stakes in the position is the control of the black squares so it is necessary to fight for them and 'occupy the field'. h6 12.g3 c7 13.h4! [ 13.f3 xg3 14.hxg3 d5 is easier for Black to defend. ] 13...b4 [ 13...d5 14.b5+ d7 15.xd5 exd5 16.xd5 a5 17.f6+ d8 18.xd7+ c8 19.c4+ Was the variation I had calculated forgetting about the mate on e1 after c7 attacking the bishop on b5 at the same time. So it means that I just had to play 'normally' with 14.Nf3. ] 14.a3 c6 15.b5 b8 16.e2!? At the time I was somewhat in an aggressive mood and I did not mind keeping the queens on the board for I estimated that my position was worth more than [ 16.g3 xg3 17.hxg3 b8 18.d6+ xd6 19.xd6 e7 20.d2 d5 Which is really pleasant but probably I was wrong. ] 16...e7 [ 16...a6 17.d4 e7 18.h5 A) 18...c7 19.gf3 In the post mortem, when I was completely exhausted, my opponent (whose dream, so far in this game, had been to exchange the queens and hold the ending) suddenly
tra nsf o rm e d in to a u n da u nt e d f igh t e r proposing moves like b5 with the idea of mating me on the queenside making a fuss to boast that he just spoiled a good position in order to justify his status of Soviet Grandmaster... having been completely outplayed in this encounter!. ( 19...d5 Unclear, is probably better. ); B) 18...xd4? was my clever trap but it is true that Black can improve with 19.exd4! f4+ 20.b1 xf2? 21.g3 And Black has nothing to oppose against the manoeuvre Nh3, Rd3, Bf3 winning his queen. ] 17.g3 With an extra tempo I really thought I was going to win h6 or at least get a strong initiative against the enemy king, even with the queens off, on the kingside. [ 17.h5!? ] 17...xg3 18.hxg3 b8 19.d6+ xd6 20.xd6 e7 21.d1 b5?! Does not help at all. Black should put a pawn on d5 to try to hold on. 22.f3 d5 [ 22...b4 23.axb4 xb4 24.c3 Only reveals a new weakness on the a-file. ] 23.h4 f6 24.d4! xd4 25.exd4 d7 26.c3 a5 27.b4! The weakness on b5 is now fixed. a8 28.b2 g7 [ 28...axb4 29.cxb4 With access to c5 for a W hite rook can hardly be considered as an improvement of the structure from Black's point of view. ] 29.d3 f6 30.e3 a6 31.f4 aa8 Black has nothing to do and is condemned to waiting f or the opening of the kingside... 32.g4! Where White had a nice concealed idea! fxg4 33.f5 h5 [ 33...exf5? 34.e7+ ] [ 33...axb4 34.cxb4 A) 34...e5 35.xg4+ f7 36.dxe5 fxe5 ( 36...xf5 37.f4 ) 37.xe5 ae8 38.xe8 xe8 39.d3 e3 40.d4; B) 34...he8 35.xg4+ ( 35.fxe6 f5 36.e5 xe6 37.xe6 xe6 38.xb5 g6 ) 35...f8 ( 35...f7 36.h4 exf5 37.h5+ ) 36.fxe6 xe6 37.f4 d7 ( 37...g7 38.xb5 ) 38.xf6+ g7 39.ff3+- ] 34.fxe6 c6 [ 34...ae8 35.xg4! hxg4 36.exd7 xe3 37.xh8 ] 2215
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 34...he8 35.xh5 xe6 36.xe6 xe6 37.xb5 ] 35.d3 h6 36.h1 [ 36.g3 ] 36...a4 37.e7 [ 37.f1 g7 38.f5 ( 38.e7 f7 39.f5 a7 )] 37...d7 38.f1? With only 2 minutes on the clock and a bit astonished to have overlooked this obvious defence against the threat Re6, the idea [ 38.b1! ae8 39.a2 Winning a key pawn on d5, did not even cross my mind... h7 40.he1 h4 41.xd5 h3 42.gxh3 gxh3 43.c4! bxc4 44.b5! h2 ( 44...xb5 45.xh3+ ) 45.b6 g5 46.b7 When it is just easily winning. ] 38...g5 39.e2 ae8 40.ef2 h6 41.f5 [ 41.g3 xe7 42.f5+ xf5 43.xf5+ g6 Unf ortu na te ly, th e discovered che ck is useless. ] 41...xe7 42.xd7? Aware that I had missed my chance in this fighting game, I was then unable to 're-motivate' myself for the rest of the defence whereas after [ 42.g3 h4 43.xd7 xd7 44.f5+ g6 45.xf6+ h7 46.6f4 The win for Black is far from trivial. ] 42...xd7 43.f5+? In fact, as I was not in the state to calculate anything anymore and that subconsciously, at least, I must have been eager to finish this piece of shame, I wanted to check, practically, if my instinct was not deceiving me, by furiously saying that there was no drawing net if I let the Black king take my g2 pawn. [ 43.g3 d6 44.f5+ g6 45.5f4 h7 46.e1 was of course more stubborn. ] 43...h4 44.e1 g3 45.e2 h4 46.c2 h3 47.e3+ xg2 Well, quite curiously my instinct was right... [ 47...xg2 48.d2 h2 49.e2 g3 And I did not add insult to injury by thinking my opponent could have played ( 49...h1?? 50.f2+ g1 51.g3+ g2 52.gxg2+ h1 53.f1; 49...h1-+ winning too. That is how the way towards h is e ve n t u a l vi ct o ry in t h e t o u rn a m e n t found itself wide open for him. )] 0-1
2267 Prie,Eric Libiszewski,Fabien I Goi Mailako Centre GM (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2490 2480 19.07.2011
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.b3?! Having found nothing but the forced draw after [ 4.c3 xb2 5.b5 d5 6.a3 a6 7.b1 a2 I had decided to try 4.b3 should the line reappear for the 3rd time in a week. The two interesting points I found with it were the possibility of direct refutations to turn against the opponent, as well as what I consider to be the most important factor nowadays (especially in Round Robins when the players do not have 2 or more rounds to play each day...): to take 'the preparation initiative' by hitting with the first surprise. A n d a s h e t o ld m e a f t e r t h e ga m e , t h e future winner of the tournament did indeed have one ready for me: 8.c1 ( 8.a1 b2 9.b1= ) 8...axb5 9.a1 xa1 10.xa1 xf4!? 11.exf4 c4 12.b2 e6 ( 12...a5 13.d5 ) 13.xb5 c6 14.xc4 ( 14.f3 xa3 For White has no time to get rid of t h e a n n o y i n g c 4 - p a w n .) 14...xd4 ( 14...xa3 15.b2 ) 15.b2 f5 This is the whole idea: In some lines of the first 2 games of the update, Black suffered problems along the a1-h8 diagonal. On the other hand, he enjoys a free and solid game in this line, with a superior structure, the pair of bishops and once again the standard compensation of rook and minor piece + pawn in return for the queen after 16.f3 ( 16.g4!? is risky xa3 17.c3 e7 18.xg7 g8 19.xh7 b4+ 20.e2 a1 ) 16...xa3 17.b6 0-0 18.0-0 d6 19.d3 c5 20.b2 b6 With equality, a c c o r d i n g t o L i b i s z e ws k i . I s h a r e t h i s opinion... but surely would not have appreciated having to work out this equally go o d o p t io n f o r B la ck, o ve r t h e b o a rd , without assisted preparation! ] 4...d6 [ 4...d5 5.g3 cxd4 ( 5...b4+ 6.c3 xc3 7.a3 ) 6.exd4 b4+ 7.c3 xc3? 8.a3 xd1+ ( 8...a5 9.d2 ) 9.axb4 b2 10.b5!+- To prevent ...Nc6 prior to collecting the Nb2 with Ra2 ] 2216
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 4...cxd4 5.exd4 c6 6.c3 ( 6.f3!? d5 7.c3 g4 8.e2 e6 9.0-0= Bischof, R (2018) -Podzielny, K (2482) Recklinghausen 2 0 0 3 1 / 2 ( 4 1 )) 6...d6 7.f3 e5 ' A l a A r o n i a n ' 8.dxe5 ( 8.e3!? g4 9.c4 ) 8...dxe5 9.xe5 xe5 ( 9...c5 10.d3 ) 10.xe5 c5 11.d4 ( 11.xf6!? xf2+ 12.d2 ) 11...0-0 12.xc5 xc5 13.e2 g4! 14.0-0 ad8 15.c2 xe2 16.xe2 fe8 ] [ 4...g6 5.f3 g7 6.c3 Adding another pawn to the g7 bishop's diagonal is not a good idea which will be cheerfully punished in this topical game. When White does not have time f or c2-c4 , Nc3 he had bette r satisfy himself with the game set-up. 0-0 7.d3 d6 8.0-0 c6 9.bd2? d5 10.c2 cxd4 11.c4 c7 12.ac1 xf4 13.exf4 dxc3 14.fe1 g4 15.e2 b4 16.e4 f5 17.xe7 xe7 0-1 Sesar, A (1766)-Horvath, C (2517) Sibenik 2011 18.f1 ] 5.f3 [ 5.c3 g6 ( 5...cxd4!? 6.exd4 e5 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.xe5 c5 ) 6.b5+ Therefore may be more accurate. ] 5...g6 6.c3 [ 6.e2 g7 7.c3 Same remark as above. h5 8.g3 xg3 9.hxg3 d7 10.bd2 0-0 11.c1 f6 12.d3 c7 13.0-0 b6 14.e2 a6 15.e4 b7 Segovia Sanchez, A (2006) -Mirzoev, A (2541) San Sebastian 2010 0-1(31) ] 6...g7 7.b5+!? [ 7.e2 0-0 8.0-0 c6 9.a4 ( 9.d2!? ) 9...a5 10.c4? ( 10.e1 ) 10...h5 11.g3 ( 11.g5 cxd4 12.exd4 xd4! ) 11...xg3 12.hxg3 cxd4 13.exd4 g4 Backwinkel, P (2400) -Maus, S (2385) Germany 1991 1/ 2(73) ] 7...d7 [ 7...c6! Would have come as an unpleasant surprise, with the idea 8.d5? ( 8.0-0 0-0 9.g5 ) 8...d7! ] 8.a4 a6 9.xd7+ bxd7 10.0-0 0-0 11.e1 [ 11.a5 c7 12.d5 h5 13.d2 is the general idea, intending h2-h3, Rfe1 and so on, but I wanted Black's queen rook less well placed for b5 14.axb6 xb6 is possible now with the a6-pawn protected! ]
11...a5!? [ 11...ac8 12.a5 c7 13.d5 h5 14.d2 b5 15.axb6 xb6 16.xa6 b7 ] 12.e2 ac8 The position is roughly equal after 13.c4 or 13.h3. ½-½
2268 Prie,Eric Linnemer,Laurent op Montpellier (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2441 2140 12.07.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.d2 c5 Should Black play the intermediate sequence 3... h2-h6 4. Bh4 ? This is a complex question to which I can not clearly answer. A s we saw in th e previous game it eventually weakened some light squares around the black king, but one thing is sure, if he plays now [ 3...d5 Then, in addition to the Stonewall setu p a lre a d y m e n t i o n e d , W h it e c a n a ls o transpose into a classical French SteinitzR u b i n s t e i n a f t e r 4.e4 dxe4 5.xe4 Where there exists some hot theory, at the highest level, in the line e7 6.xf6 xf6 7.f3 ] [ 3...h6 4.h4 c5 5.c3 g5 6.g3 cxd4 7.cxd4 b6 8.e3 xb2 9.gf3 is an interesting pawn sacrifice for White. ] 4.c3!? [ 4.e4 This can be a drawback of not having played 3...h6. a5+ 5.d2 b6 A) 6.dxc5 xc5 7.xc5 xc5 8.f3!? With the idea ( 8.e3 e4; 8.c3 ) 8...e4 9.e3 b4+ 10.d2 xd2 11.xd2 xb2? 12.d4 a3 13.xg7 All this ha s to be tested in practice but as a general comment W hite will probably face difficulties activating his pair of bishops because of his lack of space.; B) 6.xf6+ gxf6 7.c3 cxd4 8.xd4 xd4 9.xd4 e5 10.c3 d5 11.e3 c6 12.0-0-0 e6 Alburt,L-Schussler,H Reykjavik op 1984 ] 4...cxd4 Black should play [ 4...h6 5.xf6! xf6 6.e4 ] [ 4...d5 5.e3 With a norm al game that, having played the Slav almost all my life, I imagine already between small and big 2217
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 advantage for White o) ] 5.cxd4 c6 [ 5...b6 The critical move for the evaluation of this idea. A) 6.c4 b4+ 7.d2 xd4 8.xb4 xc4 9.d6 c6 ( 9...e4? 10.c1 ) 10.e3 d5 With insufficient c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r t h e p a wn a f t e r t h e exchange of queens.; B) 6.xf6 gxf6 7.c2 c6 8.e3 d5 Unfortunately... ( 8...b4 9.b3 c6 10.d1! With the plan Rc1, a2-a3, Kc2, Kb1...I love this idea!) 9.gf3 e5! Th a t is t h e p ro b le m . I n t h is stru ct u re White's queen's knight has nothing to do on d2 whe n, o n c3 , h e wo uld preven t Black playing this strong move. ( 9...d7 10.a3 c8 11.b3 ); C) 6.gf3!? xb2 7.e4 c6 ( 7...d5 8.xf6 gxf6 9.exd5 exd5 10.d3 ) 8.b1; D) 6.c2! c6 7.e3 d5 8.a3 d7 9.e2! c8 10.c3 e7 11.d3 h6 12.h4 0-0 13.0-0 a5 14.ac1 I would not mind playing this exchange Slav type position with either side! ] 6.e3 a5 If Black has to take back on f6 with the g-pawn, it is better to have refrained from playing ...h7-h6, for this square can be useful for one of his pieces. 7.xf6 gxf6 8.a3 b6!? 9.gf3 One principle I have always taught my pupils was not to chase away (and replace) a piece that was badly placed! The queen on a5 can stay there as long as she wants! b7 10.d3 d6 Everything is being carefully placed to mate me on the kingside... 11.g4!? [ 11.b4 h5 12.e4 e7 This was my opponent's idea, which he kept on proposing in the post mortem rather than the sedate ... Be7. 13.xd6 xd6 14.d2 h6 15.c1 e7 16.e4 ] [ 11.0-0 h5 12.e4 e7 13.xd6 xd6 14.e5 xd1 15.c4+ e7 16.fxd1 Under normal circumstances I would have picked-up one of these continuations to torture my opponent in the ending, but after his tenth move, thinking of the prize, I just could not stay earnest... ] 11...b5 12.b4 b6 13.e4 e7? [ 13...e7 14.c5 a5 15.b1 axb4 16.axb4 d6 ( 16...h5 17.gxh5 xh5
18.g1 ) 17.xb7 xb7 18.d5 ( 18.e2!? b8 19.f1 d5 20.d2 ) 18...e5 19.e2 0-0 20.0-0 ] 14.fd2! This was my master plan, after all: 'Guessing' Black would play ...Ke7. Now he cannot avoid Qf3 with fatal consequences. h5 [ 14...xb4 15.axb4 xb4 16.b3 ( 16.f3? f5 17.gxf5 exf5 18.c5 xd3+ 19.xd3 c6 20.de5 d5 21.c1 ac8 W i t h t h e u n s t o p p a b l e t h r e a t f 7 - f 6 .) 16...xd3+ 17.xd3 f5 18.gxf5 exf5 19.g3 xh1 20.xh1 f4 21.e4+ e6 22.xf4+- ] [ 14...xd4 15.exd4 xd4 16.f3 ] [ 14...f5 15.gxf5 exf5 16.xd6 xd6 17.g1 hg8 18.xg8 xg8 19.f3! g1+ 20.f1 c7 21.xf5 ] 15.f3 h6 16.xd6 [ 16.xd6 xb4 ( 16...xd6 17.f4+ e5 18.dxe5+ fxe5 19.xh6 xh1 20.e4 ) 17.xb7 xd3+ 18.e2 xd6 19.xa8 ] 1-0
2269 Prie,Eric Murey,Jacob N1-C Aix (10.2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2494 2437 14.05.2011
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.c3 cxd4 5.exd4 e6 6.a3 With this peculiar order of moves, on the other hand, this way of protecting the b2 pawn appears natural. a6 7.f3 d6 8.d3 d7 9.0-0 c6 [ 9...xb2 10.d2 b6 11.ab1 c6 Controlling e4 and avoiding an annoying pin on the b8-h2 diagonal. ( 11...c7 12.e4 c6 13.c4 e7 14.c5 xe4 15.xe4 0-0 16.d5! exd5 17.xd5 c8 18.cxd6 f6 19.fc1+- ) 12.fe1! logically heading for the d4-d5 thrust now. ( 12.b3!? e7 13.d5 Now that c3 is protected c7! 14.fb1 b5 15.a4 bxa4 16.b7 c8; 12.g5 d5 ) A) 12...d5 13.e5 c8 14.g4!! e7 ( 14...xg4 15.xd5 ) 15.xf6+ gxf6 And now what does White want to play? 16.xd5! exd5 17.xe7+!! xe7 18.d6+ e8 ( 18...xd6 19.b4+ And Mate next move!) 19.h6 c6 20.xf6 ( 20.g7 e6 21.xh8+ d7 ) 2218
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20...f8 21.e1+ e6 22.xf8 xf8 23.f5 d8 ( 23...d8 24.h6+ e8 25.xe6 fxe6 26.xe6+ e7 27.f6 Threatening Rd6. c7 28.h8+ d7 29.xe7+ xe7 30.xa8 ) 24.c4 The ultimate, and decisive reinforcement. xc4 ( 24...dxc4 25.d5 xf5 26.h8#; 24...g8 25.h6! ) 25.xe6 xe6 26.h8+; B) 12...e7 13.d5!! xd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.c4 c5 ( 15...c6 16.e4 ) 16.b2! 0-0 17.xb7 a7 18.xb8!! xb8 19.xb8+ f8 ( 19...c8 20.e3 ) 20.g5 g6 ( 20...f5 21.xe6! xa3 22.xd6 a1+ 23.f1 ) 21.e4 c6 22.h6 ( 22.xd6? c8 ) 22...c8 23.f6+ h8 24.xf8+- ] 10.e1! e7 [ 10...xb2 11.d2! b6 ( 11...xf3 12.eb1 ) 12.g5 e7 13.xe6!! fxe6 14.xe6 d7 ( 14...d8 15.ae1 f8 16.xd6 xd4 17.e5 d7 18.xf6 ) 15.xf6! Similar to the game, White has reached, thanks to his development, a sort of "everything works" state. xf6 16.d5 d8 ( 16...xd4 17.xf6+ xf6 18.e1+ f8 19.c4 ) 17.e1+ f7 18.c4 b5 ( 18...e6 19.xe6 ) 19.b3 f8 20.xf6 xf6 21.g5+- ] 11.g5! bd7 [ 11...0-0 12.d5! xd5 13.xh7 xh7 14.xd5 exd5 15.xe7 ] 12.b1 [ 12.e2!? xd4 13.xf7 xf4 ( 13...0-0!! 14.d2 e5 15.g5 c5 ) 14.xe6 0-0 15.e2! ( 15.xd6+ h8 16.xe7 g8 ) 15...c5 ( 15...d2 16.xd6+ h8 17.xe7 g5 18.g3 ) 16.xh7+! xh7 ( 16...xh7 17.h3+ h6 18.xh6 gxh6 19.f5+ h8 20.f4 ) 17.h6+ h8 18.xf4 xe6 19.g6# ] 12...h6 13.xe6! fxe6 14.xe6 f8 [ 14...d8! was the only defence since Black will never castle anyway. ] 15.e3 f7 16.c4+ d5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xd5+ e8 [ 18...xd5 19.h5+ ] 19.b3 d8 20.c4 g6 21.g3 c8 22.e2 3 pawns for the piece, two mighty b is h o p s a n d a ra gin g a t t a ck a ga in st t h e
opposing king in the centre with split rooks: White does not even have to force his talent... [ 22.c5! c6 ( 22...b5 23.f7 f8 24.e1 ) 23.e1 eyeing the a5-square. ( 23.c2 h5 ) 23...d7 ( 23...d5 24.e6 ) 24.f7 df8 ( 24...h4 25.d5 xc5 26.b4 ) 25.d5 ( 25.a5+ d7 26.d5 xc5 27.a4+ b5 28.g4+ d8 29.d6 f6 30.e8+ is crushing too.) 25...xc5 ( 25...f6 26.a5+ b6 27.cxb6 ) 26.d6 f6 ( 26...xd6 27.xd6 xd6 28.d1 ) 27.e8+ d7 28.xg6 xg6 29.e6+ c6 30.d7+ ] 22...a5 23.c2 g5 24.e1 g4 25.h4 f4 26.f3 xe3 27.hxg5 xc2 28.xe7 xe7 29.xb7+ e6 30.e4+ d7 31.xf4 hxg5 32.d5+ e8 33.e6+ d8 34.xg5+ c7 35.f4+ b7 36.e4+ [ 36.c5 ] 1-0
2270 Prie,Eric Najer,Evgeniy Bastia op 1hKO (9.11) [Eric Prié]
A45 2439 2629 31.10.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.d3 f6 6.c3 b6!? [ 6...c6 I have already examined this position... but it was Black to move after 1. d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Bd3? See the white disasters Israel-Geenen and P a c i - B r u n o s o m e t i m e a g o . 7.d2! See the next game ] 7.c2! [ 7.b3!? c4 ( 7...c6 8.d2 c4 9.xb6 axb6 10.c2 b5 ) 8.xb6 axb6 9.c2 ( 9.xb8 xb8 10.c2 The price of the 2 bishops is too expensive to counter the idea b6-b5-b4. ) 9...c6 10.f3 b5 11.a3 T h e o n l y wa y t o j u s t i f y 7 . Q b 3 . ( 11.e5 h5; 11.bd2 b4 12.0-0 e6 13.e4 ) A) 11...a5 12.c7; B) 11...b4 12.b5 d7 13.cxb4 e6 14.0-0 xb4 ( 14...xb4 15.b1 ) 15.b3; C) 11...e5? 12.xb5; D) 11...a7! The idea ChessBase magazine 's edito r G M Rainer KNAA K recommends in similar positions coming 2219
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 from the London System. It is well adapted to our case where Black's queen's bishop cannot reach his best square on f5 because of his opposing homologue on c2, but on the other hand this same bishop impedes the Na3 from recycling via this very same square. 12.0-0! ( 12.b4 g6 13.0-0 g7 14.d2 d7 15.e4 c8 16.ab1 xe4 17.xe4 dxe4 18.xe4 c6 19.d5 d7 ) 12...e6!? ( 12...g6 ) 13.b4 e7 14.b1 0-0 15.bd2 d7 16.e5 e8 And I prefer Black ] [ 7.c1?! Is the only move to stay in the game with the knight already on c6 as in Paci-Bruno but here it is dubious merely because W hite can pretend to something m o r e e n t h u s i a s t i c t h a n s u r v i v a l . c6 ( 7...h5! As ever 8.xb8 xb8 9.f3 e6= ) 8.h3 ( 8.f3 h5 9.dxc5 xf4 10.exf4 xc5 ) 8...d7 ( 8...d7!? 9.f3 f6 With complications in sight against the threat of explosion of the W hite centre.) 9.d2 c8 10.b1 e6 11.gf3 cxd4?! Absolutely unnecessary: Black should keep the tension. ( 11...e7 12.0-0 0-0 13.e5 fd8 Then he cannot play ...Na5 because of dxc5 and the fork b2-b4 but can always take on d4 prior to that if an opportune moment arises. ) 12.exd4 e7 13.0-0 0-0 14.e1 a5 15.a4! Orr, M (2360) - Lagevsky, J Kilkenny 1998 1-0(89) ] 7...g6 8.f3 g7 [ 8...c4 9.e2 f5 10.c1 c6 ( 10...h5 11.e5 f6 12.xb8 ) 11.h3 g7 12.bd2 0-0 13.0-0 fc8 14.e1 ( 14.b3 cxb3 15.axb3 b4 ) 14...a5 15.d1 ( 15.b3!? b5 16.b2 ) 15...d3 16.c2 b5 17.b1 e4 18.a4 a6 19.xd3 xd2 ( 19...cxd3 20.xe4 dxe4 21.g5 f5? 22.a2+ ) 20.xd2 cxd3 21.e4 White proved smarter... ] 9.bd2 0-0 10.0-0 c6 11.h3 e6 12.fe1 ac8 13.b3 c4 14.xb6 axb6 15.c2 b5 16.a3 f5 17.e4 xe4 18.xe4 xe4 19.xe4 dxe4 20.xe4 fd8 21.e5 W h ite lo o k s like h a vin g a pu ll b u t it wa s urgent to remain patient and improve the position first with Rae1, Bg5, g2-g4 possibly Kg2 etc. xe5! 22.xe5 f6 23.f4 d5 24.ae1 f7 25.g4 h5 26.g2 h8 27.f3 e8 28.g3 d7 29.h4 f8
[ 29...e8 30.g5 e5 31.g2 f5 32.4e3 ] 30.g5 f5 31.4e2 a8 32.g2 e8 33.e6 g8 34.g3 White has to avoid a couple of pitfalls to make his king join the queenside and then breakthrough with b2-b3 but even there it is not clear whether he has improved or worsened his position! [ 34.f2 g7 ( 34...e8 35.d6 d7 36.c5 ) 35.1e2 ( 35.1e3 g8 36.e1 g7 37.d2? xd4 ) 35...g8 36.e1 g7 37.d1 g8 38.c1 ( 38.c2 xd4 ) 38...g7 39.b1 g8 40.a2 g7 41.g3 ( 41.b3 cxb3+ 42.xb3 xd4; 41.h2 g8 42.g3 g7 43.b3 cxb3+ 44.xb3 f4 ) 41...g8 42.h2 g7 43.b3 g8 44.b2 g7 ] ½-½
2271 Prie,Eric Nemet,Ivan Mitropa Cup Zemplinska Sirava SVK (8) [Eric Prié]
A45 2427 2361
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 e6 5.d3 d6 6.xe4 The Mikhalevski game was my theoretical reference at the time but eventually I made up my mind to 'improvise' over the board. dxe4 7.c3 xf4 8.exf4 c6 [ 8...f5?! 9.d2 c6 10.0-0-0 With the id e a f 2 -f 3 a n d t h is t i m e W h it e 's k in g' s knight will be ideally developed after the recapture on this square! ] 9.ge2 f5 Both sides have a weak structure with a pair of doubled pawns, and the c8bishop is potentially strong on a6 or b7 so White's claim to the advantage relies only on his success in maintaining some initiative thanks to his slight advantage in development after the d4-d5 breakthrough, opening the file for his rook and providing his king's knight with the interesting d4-square or 'repairing' his structure with f2-f3, but for any of these plans to work he has to act fast and energetically. 10.d2 There exists a couple of games with 10.0-0 and the idea f2-f3, which potentially stresses the weakness of Black's backward epawn after the opening of the e-file but also, unfortunately for White, 'gives an avenue' to 2220
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Blac k's ligh t-square d bishop on the lon g diagonal and does not help in activating the knight on e2. a5?! A 'taking space move'... in the desert, whereas the weakness of this pawn and the b6 square will become important. [ 10...a5? 11.xe4 c4 12.b4 xb2? 13.4c3 ] [ Of course, as I had suspected during the game 10...e7 11.0-0-0 A) 11...0-0 12.d5 ( 12.hf1!? ) 12...exd5 13.xd5 e6 14.e3 xd2+ 15.xd2 c6 16.h3 ( 16.d4!? xd4 17.xd4 fd8 18.hd1 xd4 19.xd4 f7 With the idea Ke7, c5 is equal . With his 'bad' bishop Black should keep the rooks on the board.) 16...ad8 17.a3 xd2 18.xd2 g6 19.c3 d8 20.b4 f7 21.d1 xd1 22.xd1 f6 23.e3 And in spite of his legendary technique in a pleasant position, Peter Leko did not succeed in making Mrs Zsuza Veroci's defence knuckle under. ChT HUN 1998 1/ 2 (54); B) 11...d5 was the critical continuation. B1) As for me, I had rather planned 12.hf1 0-0 It is true that such a move as ( 12...h4!? which explains 12.g3 is not something that I considered seriously. Still, it should be checked with a deeper analysis. 13.f3 xh2 ) 13.f3 W ith the e 2-knight f indin g a n atura l square of development on c3 after the exchange on d5, e5 being reserved for a rook to support the d4-d5 thrust, the estimation is different.; B2) 12.g3 b6! 13.hf1 a6 14.fe1 ( 14.f3? xc3 15.bxc3 exf3 16.xf3 d5 ) 14...0-0= Tu Hoang Thong-Pinter, J Olm Elista 1998 0-1 (34) ] 11.0-0-0 0-0 12.d5 exd5 13.xd5+ xd5 14.xd5 f7 15.e3! e6 16.d4 d8?! [ 16...xd4 17.xd4 was obligatory. But here W hite firmly controls the only open file which can only be contested by the exchange of the 4 rooks which will bring an even less favourable forecast for Black in the knight (and superior king already at the queenside) against 'bad' bishop ending. ] 17.d2 g6 [ 17...xa2? 18.b3 a4 19.b2 c5 20.e2!
axb3 21.cxb3 c6 22.a1 b4 23.c1+- ] 18.hd1 f8 19.g3 [ 19.b5 c6 20.c7 c8 21.xd8 xc7= ] [ Black does not enjoy the slightest hope of counter play, so White could quietly improve h is p o sit io n b u t 19.a4 was probably the most precise with the idea d7? 20.d5 ] 19...f7 [ 19...a4!? 20.a3 c6 ] 20.a4 [ 20.b5 e6 21.d5? c6 ] 20...c6 21.b3 e8 [ 21...e6 22.xe6 xe6 23.b2 f7 ( 23...b5 24.d6 ) 24.c4! ( 24.c3 b5! ) 24...xc4 25.d7+ g8 26.bxc4 f7 27.xf7 xf7 28.d7+ ] 22.g4!! ? New punctuation signifying here: 'good and very interesting move' when in addition to the aforementioned plan Kb2-c3, Nc4, I could have had the idea [ 22.f3!? I had not understood that this was what Black's last move that was meant to prevent. exf3? ( 22...f8! And White has st ill t o wo rk t o b rin g a kn ight o n t o e 5 .) 23.xf3 xe3 24.xd8+ xd8 25.xd8+ Actually, more inspired by a flash of intuition than by sheer calculation, I suddenly went for this tactical opportunity, arguable, but which proved quite effective considering the time scramble of my opponent. ] 22...fxg4 [ 22...e6 was the most tenacious. A) 23.gxf5!? xf4 24.e2 xe2+ 25.xe2 ad8 26.xd8 xd8 27.fxg6 xg6 ( 27...hxg6 28.g4 ) 28.d2 a8 29.c4 b5 30.e5 also remains uncomfortable for Black.; B) 23.xe6! xe6 B1) 24.gxf5 gxf5 25.g1+ f7 26.g5 h6! ( 26...g8? 27.xf5 xg5 28.d6+; 26...f6 27.d6 e7 28.d1 ); B2) 24.g5 was the position I was aiming for, as I had roughly and quickly evaluated it as superior to the same one with the pawn on g3 because of th e access to the important f6 square but it was not as simple as that, f or Black could then generate some counter play 2221
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 in opening the h-file. For instance: B2a) 24...h6 25.gxh6!? ( 25.h4 tra n sp o s es in to t he m a in b ra n ch .) 25...f7 26.c4 h8 ( 26...xc4 27.bxc4 e7 28.d8 ) 27.d6+ e7 28.xb7 xh6 29.f3; B2b) 24...f7 25.h4 h6 26.c4! xc4 27.bxc4 hxg5 28.hxg5 e7 29.d6 e6! ( 29...g7 30.f6 g8 31.dd6 h7 32.d2 Black are 'stalemated') 30.d7+ e7 31.1d6 ( 31.7d6= ) 31...h8 32.d2 h4 ( 32...h3 33.xe7+ xe7 34.xg6 f3 35.e2 xf4 36.g7+ d6 37.xb7 g4 38.a7 ) 33.e3 h3+ 34.d4 f3 Which, on the other hand is not clear at all, noticeably because o f t h e t r i c k y l i n e 35.f6+ e8 36.xe7+ xe7 37.e5 B2b1) 37...xf2? 38.xg6 e3 39.e6+! ( 39.xf5?? xf4+!! 40.xf4 e2-+ ) 39...d7 40.xf5 xf4+ 41.xf4 xe6 42.xe3 f5 43.d4+-; B2b2) 37...e3! ] 23.xg4 g7 24.f5 h5 [ 24...g5 25.e2 h5 ( 25...h5 26.h3 ) 26.e3 The knight on d8 is a serious problem for Black when numerous combinatory themes start to appear as a consequence of the exposed situation of his king. f6 27.c3 e5 28.d4 f4 29.e2+ A) 29...f3 30.g1+ f4 ( 30...xf2 31.d2 Followed by Rf1 mate.) 31.h3+ e5 32.xg5; B) 29...e5 30.g3 f4 31.g2+ f3 32.e1+ f4 ( 32...xf2 33.xe4+ ) 33.f3+- ] 25.fxg6 xg6 [ 25...xb3 26.cxb3 hxg4 27.g1 xg6 28.xg4+ f6 29.f4+ g5 30.f5+ h6 31.e2 ] 26.e3 f6 27.f1! I rejected [ 27.df5 be c au se o f g6 28.d6 e7 29.xe4+ xe4 30.xd8 xd8 31.xd8 h4 But Fritz 'the oracle' calls 29.Rf1! with the same idea as even stronger! ] 27...e6 [ 27...e6 28.f3 h3 29.ff2 g5 30.fxe4 xe4 31.c4 ]
28.f3! xd4 29.fxe4+! e5 30.xf7 b5 [ 30...xe4 31.c4 With the deadly threat Nd6+. ad8 32.xb7 ] 31.axb5 cxb5 32.f5! f3 [ 32...e6 33.b7 xf5 34.exf5+ xf5 35.d5+! g4 36.bxb5 h4 37.d4+! A little accuracy is required yet. h3 38.h5 xh2 39.dxh4+ g3 40.a4 ac8 41.axa5 e2 42.ac5+- ] 33.d5+ xe4 34.xb5 [ 34.d3! was winning on the spot. e1 ( 34...e5 35.d6# !; 34...xh2 35.d6+ e5 36.xe8 xe8 37.e3+ ) 35.d6+ e5 36.d1 e6 ( 36...e6 37.f5# ! ) 37.f2 ] 34...a6 35.g3+ e3 36.d5! e5 [ 36...xh2 37.d3# ! ] [ 36...d4 37.f1+ e4 38.xh5 a4 39.d2+ e3 40.d1! axb3 41.h3+ f3 42.hxf3+ d4 43.xb3+ ] 37.f5 h4 38.fxe5+ Only at the last moment, when I was about to play the 'criminal' [ 38.f1+?? Having worked out another c h e c k m a t e o n f 1 t h i s t i m e a f t e r e2 39.d2+ e1 40.e3 I realized that the Black king had the square e4 'forking' my 2 rooks !!... which may be not losing, by the way, because of 39.Ne3! ] 38...xe5 39.xe5+ When the king goes to the fourth attacking the rook there is Re4+ soon winning h4. 1-0
2272 Prie,Eric Nevednichy,Vladislav 12th Aosta Open (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2429 2548 15.02.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 [ 2.c4 c6 3.f3 d5 4.e3 g4 5.cxd5 xf3 ( 5...cxd5?! 6.b3 ) 6.gxf3 cxd5 7.b3 d7 8.c3 c6 is an important variation for Black for those, like me, who prefer 5... Bg4 to 5...Bf5 against the slow Slav. ] 2...c6 3.xf6 At that time I already saw myself winning (hence the Tromp...) every time I doubled the pawns on f6! gxf6 [ 3...exf6 Then I would confidently have 2222
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 gone 4.e3 d5 5.c4 dxc4 6.xc4 d6 which just gives absolutely nothing for White as we have already seen... if not less than that. ] 4.c4 b6 5.d2 d5 Eventually it struck me, I had not left my mark on the 2... c6 Tromp! [ Definitely better is 5...e5 6.e3 d5 as given in a note in the November update. It is good thing to back up this idea of c4/ Qd2 to protect the b2 pawn with a proper 'bonus' game anyway. ] 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.c3 Thus denying Black ...e7e5. e6 8.f3 c6 9.e3 [ 9.a3!? In order to profit from the extra tempo compared to the same position with reversed colours, given in a note, to play e3e4. a5 10.b1 ] 9...h5 10.g3 d7 11.d3 With Black's h pawn already committed to h5 [ 11.e2 was probably more accurate. ] 11...f5 12.0-0 e7 13.h4 g8 14.h2 d6 15.ac1 e7 preventing the idea Na4-c5. [ 15...f6!? 16.a4!? ( 16.a3 e7 17.e2 Transposing into what could have been the continuation of the game.) 16...b4 17.c5 f4! An unpleasant surprise. 18.gxf4 xd2 19.xd2 xd4 20.xb7 b4 21.b3 f3+ 22.h1 e7 ] 16.e2?! [ 16.e5! or ] [ 16.a3 at least. ] 16...f6 17.f4 [ 17.a3 Again was a more patient and better option, without fearing e5? 18.dxe5 fxe5 19.g5 e4 20.b1 ] 17...f7!? Courageous.. . [ 17...h8 ] 18.e2?! Coward! [ 18.xh5! h8 19.f4 e5? ( 19...ag8 ) 20.dxe5 fxe5 21.xd5 xd5 22.c4+- ] 18...xf4 19.exf4 c8 20.c3 d6 21.b3 d8 22.e5+? [ 22.c1 ] 22...fxe5 23.fxe5 c4 24.h6 g7 The overlooked defence... 25.xb7 [ 25.xc4 dxc4 26.xb7 g8 27.xh5 c6 28.xg7+ xg7 29.c1 Yet was more resistant, with the trap d5 ( 29...d5! 30.g4 f3-+ ) 30.g5+ f7 31.f6+ e8 32.g6+ d7 33.f7+ c8 34.f8+ c7 35.e7+ b6 36.b4+ And perpetual
check ] 25...a5! 26.b4 c6 Game over. In coffee chess there is the saying "two pawns and a check are worth a piece" but not in this case! 27.a4 g8 28.c1 b6 29.d2 a5?! Of course not stumbling on the [ 29...xe5?? 30.b4 cheapo. Nevertheless, ] [ 29...b8 30.b3 xe5! Would have quickly wrapped up the business. 31.dxe5 xf2+ 32.h1 xg3 ] 30.c5 xe5 31.axa5 xa5 32.xa5 c6?! [ 32...g4+ ] 33.a4 h7 [ 33...e5 must have been Black's intention, then afraid of 34.h6 b7! 35.dxe5 xe5 36.a5 g4+ 37.xg4 hxg4 however keeping things more or less under control. 38.f6 h7 ] 34.xh5 Suddenly it is less clear with a 3rd pawn for the piece. b8 35.d1 protecting the rook. [ 35.e2!? e5 36.b4 a7 37.b3 is still uncertain. ] 35...e7 36.a3 g8 37.f3? [ 37.b3 c7 38.b4 f4 39.c3 ] 37...f6 38.f4? Even short of time, what a ridiculous idea to self-trap my second best piece! [ 38.b3 d6 39.e2 e4 40.e3 ] 38...e4 39.c1 b6 40.h5 xd4 And thus, interminably recovering from a long disease, I was heading for my record of 2427 on the 1st of April... 0-1
2273 Prie,Eric Nordahl,Helge Andreas 12th Aosta Open (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2429 2346 13.02.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 d5 3.e3 e4 4.f4 c5 T h e g o o d m o v e b u t . . . 5.d3 e6?! This transposition into our main subject is more 'dubious' than 'very ambitious' Black has to play the ending [ 5...cxd4 6.xe4 dxe4 7.xd4 xd4 8.exd4 c6 9.c3 Which is far from obvious 2223
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 for White despite some good statistics when you start to have a close look at it, or the acknowledged retreat 5...Nf6. ] 6.xe4! [ 6.f3 was the game Horvath,Ju-Dembo,Y, the only precedent of 4...e6 in the eBook. ] 6...dxe4 7.c3 cxd4 [ 7...b6 8.ge2 xb2 9.0-0 I do not imagine Black surviving this position for longer than a couple of moves cxd4 10.b1! dxc3 ( 10...a3 11.b5 ) 11.xb2 cxb2 12.xb8! xb8 13.d4 a8 14.d1 f5 15.xb2 f7 16.d4 Game over. ] 8.xd4! xd4 9.exd4 b6? This opponent must have read my hazy theories about the psychological shock provoked by the change o f p h ys io gn o m y o f a g a m e in a d e l ic a t e position! [ 9...b4 10.ge2 c6 11.0-0-0 f5 12.d5 exd5 13.xd5 a5 14.c7 0-0 15.xa5 xa5 16.h4 c6 17.ef4 f7 18.d2 is a real treat although Black can resist. 'A c t i v e b u t t e c h n i c a l l y l o s t ' i n s t e a d o f 'pretty bad without the slightest hope of counter-play' proved a quite clever choice in the end! ] 10.xe4 b7 11.f3 c6 12.0-0-0 d8 13.c3 The rest should be a matter of technique but, precisely, I never had too much of it! e7 14.h3 0-0 15.he1 [ 15.g5 f6 ] 15...d5 16.b1 fd8 17.hf2 It is important to have a knight on this square to protect d1 and watch Black's only breakthrough: e6-e5. I have a poor technique but I usually try to compensate by knowing how to place my pieces! h6 18.c7 [ 18.d3 ] 18...8d7 19.f4? [ 19.g3 Of course was my idea, but somehow I became afraid of f5 ( And 19...g5 Ha vin g n o t se e n 20.g4 g7 21.e3 ) 20.d2 g5 21.d3 xd4 As I had 'f orgotten' the fine point of my strategy 22.cxd4 xd4 23.e5! 7d5 24.c2 c5+ 25.dc4 cxc4+ 26.xc4 xc4+ 27.b3! c5 ( 27...d5 28.xd5 exd5 29.xe7; 27...b4+ 28.c3 f7 29.d7 ) 28.xe6+- ] 19...a6 20.g3 b5? So the subtle loss of a tempo 'attracting' the Black rook onto a better
s q u a r e h a s p r o vo k e d i t s e f f e c t ! W h a t a f a s c i n a t i n g p s y c h o l o g i c a l b a t t l e ! 21.b4! Well, now, I have got a plan! b7 22.a3 a5 23.c2 g5 24.c1 c7 25.b3 axb4 26.axb4 xb4 27.cxb4 xd4+ 28.b2 c2+ 29.b1 xf2 When I played 25.Kb3 instead of Kb2 (with the couple of minutes he had left on his clock...) for instance, I had worked out a little 'surprise' for my opponent... 30.e4? [ 30.e3 xg2 31.xd4 xh2 32.e4+The rook on h2 is exposed to Bd4-e5 and the discovered check Nf6-g4, so Black has to give up another exchange, his expenses would then amount to a whole rook, that even 4 not particularly advanced pawns will hardly compensate. ] 30...xg2 31.f6+ f8 32.xd5 xf3 Of course, that was a 'good surprise'! as I had missed this intermediate move, too far beyond m y c a l c u l a t i n g p o we r . . . 33.f6 xe1 34.xe1 xh2 35.b2 e7 [ 35...h1-+ ] [ 35...h4 36.c3 g7 ] 36.e5 Rxb2 was threatened. From this stage, as one can imagine, I am not exaggeratedly interested in commenting the rest of the game! h4 37.c2 xb4 38.d3 a4 39.g8+ d7? [ 39...f8! 40.f6 ( 40.xh6 h4 ) 40...g7!-+ 'Isn't it good, Norwegian wood... '] 40.xh6 f5 41.f7 e4+ 42.c3 g4 43.d6 c6 44.xe4 xe4 45.xe4 fxe4 46.d4 b4 [ 46...e3 47.xe3 d5 48.b2 e5 49.c3= ] 47.xe4 b3 48.f4 d5 49.b2 e5+ 50.xg4 e4 ½-½
2274 Prie,Eric Philippe,Christophe Top 16 Nancy (2.6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2439 2374 05.02.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.d2 [ 3.c3 Attempting to make White's idea of provoking Black to play ...d7-d5 in order to 2224
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 play a reverse Stonewall with the white bishop on g5 outside of the pawn chain work, thanks to this prophylactic move, can also be short circuited with c5! 4.e3 White has to play 4.Nf3 transposing into the normal line as in the first 2 games. cxd4 ( 4...b6 5.b3 ) 5.xf6 ( 5.cxd4?? a5+ 6.c3 xg5 ) 5...xf6 6.cxd4 b4+ 7.d2 ( 7.c3 xc3+! Black should not allow the opponent to play Rc1. 8.bxc3 b6 ) 7...b6 8.gf3 b7 9.e2 d8= ] [ 3.e3!? c5 4.dxc5 xc5 5.a3 Also transposes into the line I play, and recommend, against the 2...c5 Tromp! With the move order 3.dxc5 e6 (3...Na6 is critical here) 4.e3 Bxc5 5.a3. If you distrust 3.e4, because of Carlsen-Aronian for instance, there is a wide choice of other possibilities like 3.Nf3, 3.c3, which comes under focus next month, or 3.Nd2 all linked to the Torre sphere, but unfortunately for White, there exists no panacea as each of them has its little inconvenience! ] 3...h6! You have to 'ask the question' as early as possible. The fact that White has not opted for 3.e4 is a sign that he is not in a mood to give up the pair of bishops in return for an ephemeral possession of the centre. [ 3...c5 4.e4!? Is a specific feature of 3. Nd2 see the game Prié-Linnemer. ] 4.h4 c5 5.e3 When I played this game, I had just analysed Morozevich-Anand and I wanted to reproduce White's idea or at least I felt 'inspired' by it! [ 5.c3!? is my normal 'preparation' which can originally be found in Prie-Linnemer. cxd4 6.cxd4 b6 7.c2 ( 7.gf3 xb2 8.b1 xa2 9.e4 White has an impressive lead in development which will undoubtedly seduce the gambiteers when I, myself, mainly see the 2 pawn deficit!) 7...c6 8.e3 ( 8.xf6? gxf6 9.e3 d5! Followed by ...e6-e5 and White will not manage to hold the d4 bolt.) 8...d5 ( 8...b4?! 9.b3 c6 10.d1! e4 11.gf3 With the idea Rc1, a3, Kc2, Kb1 and everything is fine for White!) 9.a3 d7 10.e2 c8 11.c3 e7 12.d3 0-0! 13.0-0! a5 14.ac1= At the time I wrote: "I would not mind playing this exchange Slav type position with either side!" W ith a couple of months distance I
believe that this position is pretty equal. White has not achieved anything out of the opening. ] 5...cxd4! Ensuring a pawn majority in the centre which is the main concern for White in the Torre attack. Black should not allow him to consolidate his d pawn with c2-c3 which would permit an important recapture towards the centre in case of ...c5xd4. 6.exd4 e7! Alas! [ 6...b6? 7.c4 ] [ 6...b6 7.e4 This is the difference with Morozevich-Anand, although ( 7.xf6 xf6 8.gf3 b7 9.c3 c6 10.g3 could have transposed into it after g5 11.g2 ) 7...e7 ( 7...g5 8.xf6+ xf6 9.g3 ) 8.xf6 gxf6 ( 8...xf6? 9.d6+ ) 9.g4! f5 10.g7 f8 11.d2 f6 12.xh6 xd4 13.c3 Black has a powerful dark squared bishop but White's pawn structure is very superior. ] 7.c3 The idea of playing c2-c4 can be relevant for White in some positions of the Torre, after a rapid exchange on d4, however, only when his queen's knight can be developed on c3... b6 8.gf3 I spent some time at this stage trying to take advantage from the vacant f3 square but could not find anything. It means that Black easily equalized in what has now become a normal Torre. [ 8.xf6 xf6 9.e4 e7 10.f3 c6 11.g3 0-0 12.d6 xd6 13.xd6 b7 14.f3 b8 provides less than nothing... ] 8...b7 9.xf6 I dislike parting with my bishops like this but I know that White has to watch out for Nd5, profiting from the weakness of the square f4 after the exchange of the dark-squared bishops. xf6 10.d3 0-0 11.0-0 [ 11.e2 c6 12.0-0-0 g6 See note in the next game, as played by Karpov. ] 11...d6 12.e1 d7 13.a4 a6 14.e4?! W hite has exhausted his reserve of uncompromising moves in order to strengthen his position. In these conditions, let's at least deprive the opponent of the pair of bishops. [ 14.e4! Nevertheless this is the correct idea with the plan Bc2, Qd3. See the note in the next game. ] 14...c7 15.xb7 xb7 16.c4 d5 [ 16...e7 17.e3 Intending d4-d5. ] 17.e3 2225
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 17.cd2 b5 18.axb5 axb5 19.b4 A thematic try to counter the minority attack which fails to work here. xa1 20.xa1 a8 21.b2 b6 22.b3 c4 23.c2 a3 24.c5 a7 Apart from masking the weakness of c3 along the open file, the Nc5 is completely 'out of play'. ] [ 17.ce5 xe5 18.xe5 xe5 19.xe5 b5 The similar counter plan f2-f4, f5 creating the same kind of pawn weakness would come too late. ] 17...b5 18.a5 there is some idea behind the a2-a4 move nevertheless: play against the night on d7. b4 With the a-file now locked and deprived of easy access to c4 via b6 for his knight, Black has to watch out for the move b2b4! followed by the installation of a white knight onto c5, via d2-b3 or e5-d3, 'the royal way' in this structure, or possibly via d1-b2-d3 if maintaining control of the e5 square appeared necessary.. 19.c4 dxc4 20.xc4 fd8 21.a4 ab8! 22.ac1 d5 [ 22...b5! A) 23.xb5? xb5 24.d6 d5! ( 24...xa5?? 25.b7 ) 25.b7 b8 26.c7 xd4; B) 23.b3 Transposition into the ending was only justified by the hope of placing an obvious fork, and would prove rapidly disastrous. d5 24.e3 The queen looks less active than on a4, but W hite can then transfer his attention towards the idea Nfe5 without fearing the intermediate Nc5 after the exchange on e5 anymore, and besides, the recapture with the d-pawn will provide a support to the key d6-square for the Nc4. ] 23.ed1 g5?! [ 23...b5 was more precise although 24.e3 ( 24.b3 b8! ) 24...xa5! 25.xb4 b5 26.xb5 ( 26.e1!? a2 27.d5 Seems more tense but c5! 28.dxe6 xe6 29.xd8+ xd8 30.d1 f4 31.c3 a5! ) 26...xb5 27.a1 should not make White suffer too much in search of a draw. ] 24.xg5 hxg5 Doubled pawns ALWAYS represent a weakness, however well balanced by dynamic possibilities. 25.h3 b5 26.e3 d6 [ 26...xa5? 27.xb4 b5 28.e7 ]
27.c4 f6 28.dc1 [ 28.c5 db8 ] 28...e4 29.c2 f4 30.e2! d6 [ 30...xa5 31.c8! f8 ( 31...d6 32.xd8+ xd8 33.c4 d5 34.xe4 ) 32.g3 xg3 33.xf8+ xf8 34.e1!! ( 34.fxg3 xg3+ 35.g2 xh3 ) 34...xd4 35.d1 e4 ( 35...xb2 36.c4 e2+ 37.f1 g3+ 38.g2 ) 36.fxg3 e5 37.g2 xe1+ 38.xe1 e2 39.d3 Black can only lose this ending with his 2 3/ 4 pawns for the piece! ] 31.c6! [ 31.g3 e4 32.c6 f5 ] 31...xa5 32.g3 f6 [ 32...e4? 33.xd6! The key theme of this heated exchange inaugurated by 30.Qe2! xd6 34.c8+ h7 35.h5# ] 33.g4 e7 [ 33...f5 34.xa6 ( 34.6c5!? xc5 35.dxc5 b5 36.c6 ) 34...xa6 35.xa6 d5 36.e3! xd4 37.a5! b7 ( 37...b8 38.d1 b6 39.xg5 ) 38.xg5 xb2 39.c7 b8 40.xb7 xb7 41.d8+ h7 42.h4+ Perpetual check. g6? 43.g4+ f6 44.f3+ ] 34.e5! Black faces some serious coordination problems, because of the pawn grab on a5. b5? [ 34...f6 35.xa6! ( 35.g4 ) 35...xa6 36.xa6 f5 37.c8!! xd4 38.d7! e7 39.d6!! f3+ 40.g2 e1+ 41.f1 xd6 42.xd8+ h7 43.f6+ gxf6 44.xd6 f3 45.b6 b3 46.e2+- ] [ 34...d5! 35.xa6 b7 36.ca1! ( 36.c6? b5!! The fantastic 'Fritzian' resource. 37.xd8 xd4 38.f1 xd8 )] [ 34...f5 35.6c4! Turns out the same. ( 35.c7?? a1! 36.xe7 xc1+ 37.g2 xe7 38.xa6 d5 )] 35.6c4! Wins material thanks to the weakness of the c6-square which has been neatly fostered ever since the exchange of the light-squared bishops! f8 [ 35...xd4 36.xd4! xd4 37.c8+ d8 ( 37...d8 38.c6 ) 38.xd8+ xd8 39.c6 a1+ 40.g2 dd1 41.xb4+- ] 36.c6 c7 37.xa5 xa5 38.e5?! [ 38.d5! exd5 39.c8 d6 40.xf8+ xf8 41.e5 b6 ( 41...c4 42.b8+ ) 42.xd5 e8 43.xg5 Would have shortened the 2226
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 game by twenty moves. ] 38...d8 39.xb4 d7 40.d1? A loose moment, just before the time control, which could have had serious consequences. [ 40.a1! c8 ( 40...f6 41.e4 d6 42.ba4 ) 41.d5 exd5 42.xg5 c6 43.h4 ] 40...f6 41.e2 d8 White now faces some serious coordination problems, in spite of his extra exchange! 42.h2 d5 [ 42...e5 43.d5 d4 44.bxd4! exd4 45.xd4 was the intention. ] 43.c4 f5 44.e2 d5 45.a4! e5 46.c4 xc4 47.xc4 xd4 48.a1 b8 49.a2 [ 49.b4 b6 ] 49...a5 50.c5 b3 51.c7 b4 52.g2 h7 53.f1 g6 54.e2 f5 55.d3 [ 55.xg7?? c1+ ] 55...g4!? 56.h4 Without giving Black any counter-play whereas [ 56.hxg4+ xg4 57.c4+ ( 57.c3 b6 58.xg7+ f3 ) 57...f3 58.xb4 axb4 59.c4 With complications far beyond calculation was possibly winning by force. ] 56...g6 57.c3 Threatening Rxa5. Black cannot maintain the blockade in that state. d4 58.d3 [ 58.xa5? b3+ 59.c4 xb2 ] [ 58.c4?? b5+ 59.d3 e4+ ] 58...b3+ 59.c3 b4 60.ca3 b3 61.c2 Before embarking on a forced continuation, always test the defence, especially if the opponent is short of time, wi t h a s e r i e s o f ' n e u t r a l ' m o v e s s w i f t l y executed! d4+ 62.d3 b3 63.c3 c1 64.a1 e2+ 65.c2 d4+ 66.b1 b3 67.1a2 e4? Any rook move along the b-file and the win has still to be demonstrated... 68.c2 d4+ 69.d1! The rooks being swapped off, the task is immediately easier. b3 70.a4 f3 71.xb4 axb4 72.e1 c1? [ 72...c5! 73.b3!! I am not sure I would have found this move over the board... f5 74.c2! xb3 75.c6 The h-pawn is a genuine rocket that the short legged knight could probably not have caught up. ] 73.a6 d3+ 74.f1 xb2 75.xf6+ e4 76.xg6 c4 77.e2 d4 78.xg4+ c3 79.h5
[ 79.xc4+! xc4 80.h5 c3 ( 80...b3 81.d2 ) 81.d1 b3 82.c1 was 'purer'. ] 79...d6 80.g6 f5 81.c6+ b2 82.b6 The last game of the round which allowed my club of Montpellier to wrest the draw against the slightly favourite local team. 1-0
2275 Prie,Eric Pogorelov,Ruslan XXVIII Open San Sebastian ESP (8) [Eric Prié]
A45 2439 2472 25.03.05
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 a6 [ 3...a5+ 4.d2 ( 4.d2 xc5 5.gf3 is more my style normally, but I was still under the f avourable impression lef t by game against Gelis...) 4...xc5 5.c3 d6 6.e4 ( I have already commented a game from the same player with black after 6.f3 g4?! ) 6...bd7!? 7.0-0-0 a6 8.f4?! Against a knight on d7 better is an English attack set-up with f3, g4, Be3, g5 etcetera. But then comes the concern of the so-called 'Dragadorf' 8...g6!? now or later where White may even have lost time at the end of the day compared to an equivalent Sicilian! b5 9.xf6 gxf6 Of course! ( 9...xf6 10.e5 b4 11.a4 a5 12.exf6 xa4 13.c4 ) 10.g3 I have played a certain number of RichterRauzers with the same structure when I was a fierce king's pawn player and the more I was considering this position, the less it was app ea ling t o me . b7 11.g2 0-0-0? Phe w! My opp one nt wa s n ot a genu in e Sicilian player otherwise he would have continued with any of those promising lines ( 11...b4 12.d5 a5 13.e2 e6 14.e3 a4; 11...b6 12.d5 xd5 13.exd5 f5 14.e2 g7 15.d4 c8 So what is this?! This was the only dynamic line I would put all my trust in as White in the Tromp, and it turned out to be just as bad as the rest, if not even worse! W e were in August 2005 a n d i t wa s t im e t o s a y g o o d b ye t o t h e T r o m p o w s k y .) 12.f3 e6 13.d4 And thanks to the thematic idea f4-f5, I was back in a game I eventually won. It actually proved decisive for the win of the 2227
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 tournament on tie-break with both of us having scored 7/9 Prie, E (2464)-Gonzalez Rodriguez, J (2386) Figueres op 2005 1-0 (33) ] 4.d4 e6 5.c3 xc5 6.h4 e7! An improvement on Prie-Levin. 7.e4 a5 8.0-0-0 b4! 9.a3 c6 10.f4 [ 10.f3!? Keeping the d2 square for the b i s h o p w i t h o u t h a v i n g t o f e a r xa3? 11.xf6 gxf6 12.xf6 0-0 13.bxa3 xa3+ 14.d2 However, in a future race for attack, ...b7-b5-b4 will considerably gain in strength... ] 10...h6 [ 10...d6 11.f3 h6 12.e5 Is exactly the same pawn sacrifice as Iuldachev-Serper and Kalinitchev (Miladinovic) -Gustafsson from the wild but dubious 2...c5 3.Nc3 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Tromp... with the extra-move a2-a3! T h e n , c o n s id e rin g t h e co u rs e o f t h o s e games, it is probably an advantage to have it h e r e wi t h o u t h a vin g t o wo rr y a b o u t a 2 h a n g i n g, b u t i t a c t u a l l y r e p r e se n t e d a we a k n e s s i n m y g a m e t o w h i c h B l a c k brilliantly adapted! ] 11.e5 f8! 12.exf6 [ 12.xf6!? gxf6 13.exf6 xa3 14.ge2 b4 15.b1 d5 16.xh6 d7 ] 12...hxg5 13.fxg5 gxf6 14.gxf6 [ 14.b5!? fxg5 ( 14...a6 15.gxf6 ) 15.g3 e5 ( 15...d8 16.f3 ) 16.f3 a6 17.d6+ xd6 18.xd6 c5 19.d2 f6 20.h4 gxh4 21.g6+ d8 ] 14...xa3 15.b5 b4! 16.b1 a6 17.d6+ xd6 18.xd6 b5 Actually this position, which does not resemble anything I usually practice from either side, while still in the opening phase, is OK for White. The result, however, was that my feelings about it were not comfortable and I had already been forced to endure an unusual dose of stress for only 18 moves, reflected on my clock. As a consequence, when the position required h a n d l i n g i n t h e s a m e d yn a m i c , e n e r g y consuming style, I was not in full possession of my powers and somehow blew it. [ 18...b4 19.c4 ] 19.e2 [ 19.d3!? Was an elegant and highly soph isticate d so lution, (typ ical of such positions) to solve the problem of the knight
on b4, that completely escaped me. e5 ( 19...b4? 20.a3; 19...b7 20.f3 0-0-0 21.e2 ) 20.a3 d2 21.e4 d1+ 22.a2 c6 ( 22...xf1 23.xa8 c4+ 24.b3 ) 23.xb5! b7 24.xc6 xc6 25.b4 d6 26.f3 ] 19...b7 20.f3 c8 21.xc6 [ 21.c3!? b4 22.e2 bxc3 23.xc3 b4 24.d4 ( 24.xb7 xc3 ) 24...xc3 25.xc3 f5+ ( 25...a2+? 26.c1 a1+ 27.d2 xh1 28.c7 ) 26.a1 ( 26.c1? a2+ ) 26...a5+ 27.b1 f5+= ] 21...xc6 22.e2 b4 23.hd1 c5 24.d4 [ 24.h7 D e f e n d i n g c 2 . b3! ( 24...d5 25.6xd5 exd5 26.f5 ) 25.cxb3 e5 26.c3 xf6 ] 24...xd4 25.1xd4? My first real mistake in this game that emphasizes the main problem o f n o t h a vin g re a li ze d t h a t m y r o o k wa s inactive on d6... Instead of going down surely with Black little by little lif ting the bind, I had to keep some complicated tactical balance with [ 25.6xd4 h8! 26.g4! ( 26.h4 b3 27.cxb3 xg2 28.xd7 h6 ) 26...d8 27.h4 h6 28.f1 ] 25...a5 [ 25...h8! ] 26.c1?! Once again more resistant was [ 26.g4! d8 27.h4 h8 28.g7 xh4 29.d1 ] 26...g8! 27.g3 g6 28.f4 d8! 29.d3 [ 29.b3!? c7 30.d2 b6 ( 30...a8! 31.d4? e5 ) 31.d4! e5 ( 31...d5 32.f5!; 31...h8 32.xc6 xc6 33.c4+ b5 34.c7; 31...b7 32.f3 ) 32.xc6! exf4 33.e7= ] 29...c7 30.xc6+ [ 30.dd4 d6 31.f2 e5 32.h4 d7! f6 will fall and then the entire W hite position. ] 30...dxc6 31.e5 g5! 32.xf7 f5 The manoeuvre I missed, decisively 'disconnecting' my pawns on the kingside. 33.xf5 exf5 34.g5 d6 35.a2 a4! Naturally. 36.h4 e5 37.f7 f8 38.h5 [ 38.c3 c5 39.b1 d6 40.c2 e7 41.d3 a3 42.bxa3 bxa3 43.c2 b8 ] 38...f6! 39.h7+ xf7 40.xf8 xf8 41.c3 c5 42.b1 g7 43.c2 h6
2228
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 44.d3 xh5 45.c4 a3 46.bxa3 bxa3 0-1
2276 Prie,Eric Randazzo,Adrian Castelsarrazin 20' (4.3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2447 2271 24.04.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 exf4 12.d4 c5! Ultimately the best move, which as usual happens to be the most natural one! Black develops a piece and is ready to exchange the opponent's only developed, and evidently best, piece. I remember an Italian subscriber asked me to deal with it...some 10 months ago. 13.g3 d5?! [ 13...xd4 14.cxd4 a4 is correct, see n e x t g a m e , a n d o n l y i n c a s e o f 15.gxf4 d5! now. ] 14.gxf4? Therefore this is wrong. White should play [ 14.h3! xd4 ( 14...fxg3 15.hxg3 e3 16.d2 xd4 17.cxd4 f5 18.f4 Transposing into the capital game Ackermann-Kroemer) 15.cxd4 a4 16.xf4 xf4 17.gxf4 xd4 18.e3 ] 14...e3! 15.d2 [ 15.f2 c2 ] 15...xf1+ 16.xf1 xa2 17.c2 d5! [ 17...e7 18.e3 d6 19.ge2 e6 20.a1 ha8 21.xa2 xa2 22.d1 g6 Grosu,D (2200) - Berclaz,P (2375) ICCF Email 1999 ] [ 17...d6 18.e4! e6 19.ge2 e7 20.a1 ha8 21.xa2 xa2 22.d1 g6 23.h4 a8 24.h5 c4 25.c1 1/2-1/2 Wells,P (2530) Shaked,T (2500) London 1997 ] 18.e3? A surprising and instructive mistake. The only move is [ 18.e4 0-0 19.ge2 dxe4 20.fxe4 e8 21.e5 g4 22.c1 a4 23.cb3 c8 24.a1 xd4 1/2-1/2 Huerga Leache,M (2176) -Perez Fungueiro,M (2300) Vila de Ma rin op 2 0 0 5 ( 24...a6! appears safer: 25.f5 e8 26.hg1 h5 27.g5 xa1 28.xa1 g6= ) 25.cxd4 xd4+ 26.d3 xb2 It looks that the white king is so
exposed that only Black has winning chances with already two pawns and a pair of bishops, but this is not so clear when White manages to exchange one rook for instance: 27.a2 f5+ 28.e3 c3+ 29.e2 c2+ 30.d2 f6! ( 30...g4+ 31.d3 f5+ 32.e4 ) 31.b1 d4 32.xc2 xc2 33.c1 a4 ] 18...d7? Black misses his bus! [ 18...xd4!! is st ro n g , 19.cxd4 ( 19.exd4 f5+ 20.b3 a5 ) 19...f5+ 20.b3 a5 21.e2 ( 21.b4 d7 22.e2 d3 23.e1 b5+ 24.c3 xe2 25.xe2 c8+ 26.d3 b3+ 27.d2 xb2+; 21.e4 dxe4 22.fxe4 xe4 23.e1 f5 ) 21...b5+ 22.a3 d7 23.b3 ( 23.b4 a8+ 24.b3 d3 25.c3 c4+ 26.c2 xf1 27.xf1 xb4 ) 23...e8 24.c3 a5+ 25.b2 xe3 ] 19.ge2 0-0 20.a1 fa8 21.xa2 xa2 22.e1 b5 23.c1 a8 24.d3 e7 25.b4 xb4 26.cxb4 c8+ 27.d2 c4 28.b3! The asset of the structure strikes again. c8 [ 28...xb4 29.c3 ] 29.c1! Whether the knight ending is actually won is only of secondary importance. What matters is to realize that this is the best try, and immediately places the opponent in an 100% defensive, and annoying position. [ 29.a1!? f8 30.a7 c7 31.a5 c8 32.h4 White is only visually better. ( 32.xb5? b6 33.d6 bxa5 34.xc8 xc8 35.bxa5 )] 29...xc1 30.xc1 f8 31.d2 e7 32.e2 d6 33.d3 h3 34.c3 c6 35.d4 g2 36.xd5 [ 36.e4!? And if dxe4 ( 36...xf3 37.exd5+ b6 38.e5 c7 39.xb5+ ) 37.fxe4 h3 38.f5 In all these positions White can afford to sacrifice his b-pawn, as it is worth practically nothing whilst Black cannot use his own b5 pawn, in return for some initiative on thekingside ] 36...xf3 37.e4 d1 38.e7+ d7 39.f5 g6 40.e3 xb3 41.e5 [ 41.c5 Only draws c4 42.b6 ( 42.g4 e6 ) 42...h6 43.h4 e6 44.xb7 f6 45.b6 g5 46.hxg5 hxg5 47.fxg5 fxg5 48.c5 e2 49.d4= ] 41...b6? Time trouble in rapid play. 2229
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 41...e7 42.g4 h5 43.f6 h4! 44.h7! c4 45.f5 gxf5 46.exf5 The ending is probably drawn but Black is not yet out of trouble and can still commit mistakes like ( 46.xf5 e6+ 47.g5 h3 ) 46...e2 47.f6+ d7 48.g5 h5 49.e4 c6 50.c5 g6 51.b3 d3? 52.d4+ d7 53.f3 h3 54.g5 ] 42.f6 d6 43.g4 c2? [ 43...d7 44.h6 e8 45.g7 e7 46.h4 c4 ( 46...c2 47.xf7 xe4 48.g5 d3 49.xh7 d6 50.f8 d5 51.xg6 ) 47.xh7 f8 48.f5 d3 49.fxg6 fxg6 50.xg6 xe4+ 51.f6 ] 44.e5+ d7 45.xf7 b3+ 46.f6 e6 47.h6 b3 48.f7 c4 49.g5 h6 50.e6+ e8 51.f7 1-0
2277 Prie,Eric Schaefer,Mi1 III EUICC Arvier ITA (8) [Eric Prié]
A45 2513 2228 22.06.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 d5 3.e3! These days I willingly play the Tromp uniquely when I know from computer preparation that I will get this position, or move a KID player to the probably less usual ground (for him) of the Torre if he normally (and somehow incoherently I consider...) plays 2...e6 3.c3! [ 3.d2 at this stage in comparison is only a "coup d'épée dans l'eau" because Black can s t i l l r e a c t w i t h t h e e m b a r r a s s i n g c5! a n d t h e f o r t h co m in g . . . Q b 6 a s kin g t h e question of d4 and b2 if W hite does not abandon the centre with the concession 4.dxc5 ] 3...e4 In that case, White must be ready to meet [ 3...c5 with 4.c3 without parting with his st ro n g bis h o p as so m e tim e s d ub io u sly recommended... e4 5.h4!? Instead of Bf4. b6 ( 5...c6 6.d2 xd2 7.xd2 cxd4 8.exd4 f5 9.f3 ) 6.b3 c6 7.f3 c4 8.c2! ( 8.xb6 axb6 9.bd2 xd2 10.xd2 b5 And White misses a tempo to prevent the thrust ...b5-b4. 11.e4 e6 ) 8...f5 9.c1 Typical D03 stuff, to be
seen later. ] 4.f4 c5 5.d3 Since the course of this game proved slightly disappointing for me after Black's strong 10th move Novelty, when compared to the glowing expectations the analysis of the Kalinitschew-Volodin game had painted, I will compare the respective merits of this move (with other trickier continuations than the retreat 5...Nf6 though) and 5.Nd2!? in the next update. f6 6.c3! Actually, my German opponent turned out to be the first acknowledged victim (as White!) in my database of that great refutation I found and published here in January 2006: [ 6.dxc5?! c6! 7.b5 a5+! 8.c3 a6! 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.d4 e6! 11.b4 a3 W ith the idea 12.c7 a5! 13.xa5 xa5 14.bxa5 xc5 And ...Bb4 winning for Black. ] 6...c6 7.d2! g4 8.gf3! e6 9.a4 c4! 10.c2 [ 10.e2 a6 11.e5 xe2 12.xc6 d7 ] 10...d7!N Threatening the queen. At the time, I had only considered [ 10...a6 11.e5! b5 12.xc6 b6 13.a5 xc6 14.b4! ( 14.a4 b4! 15.cxb4 c3 ) 14...d6 15.a4! b8 ( 15...xf4? 16.axb5 ) 16.xd6 xd6 17.axb5 axb5 18.a6 With a probable slight edge for White. ] [ 10...d6 11.xd6 xd6 12.b3 cxb3 13.axb3 0-0 14.0-0 fc8 15.fc1 With the plan b3-b4-b5 not to give the b4 square to the c6-knight, Bc2-d3 and then c3c4. ] 11.b1 e7 12.e4 White should take a d va n t a g e o f t h e r e le a s e o f t h e c e n t r a l tension with ...c5-c4 with either b2-b3 or this move... a6 13.h3 h5 14.0-0 0-0 15.e1 g6 16.a3 Too sophisticated, I should have go n e b a c k t o d 1 wit h t h e q u e e n wit h o u t waiting b5 17.d1 b6 18.c2 a5 19.g3 In order to take on d5 without leaving the bishop attacked if Black recaptures with the knight which is especially important in case of b5-b4 weakening the c4-pawn. a7 [ 19...b4 20.exd5 xd5 21.xg6 hxg6 22.e2! bxc3 23.bxc3 xc3? 24.xc4 Winning a knight. ] 20.f1 a8 21.3d2 b4 22.a4?! I wanted to take on d5 only when I had my 2230
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 knight on e3 so that I could profit from the f5 square without having to change the bishops on g6. [ 22.exd5 exd5 23.xg6 hxg6 24.e3 ] 22...d8 [ 22...b3 23.b1 f5! This counter idea is quite strong for Black however, giving the opponent complete control of the e-file, including the important e5 point in return for burying alive not only the bishop on Bb1 but more annoyingly the rook on a1! I must admit I actually underestimated it. ] 23.e3 b3 24.b1 d7 25.h4! f5 Still the correct plan which was obviously more effective without letting White expand on the kings ide with his h -pa wn af ter wh ich tactical tricks can occur against the f5 pawn. 26.exd5 exd5 27.h5 e8 28.f4 g5 For instance [ 28...d8? Intending ...Bc7 eliminating an essential asset of the white set-up followed by the transfer of the b6-knight to e7 via c8. 29.xf5! xf5 30.xf5 xf5 31.xe8+ ] 29.hxg6 xg6 [ 29...hxg6 30.f3 g5 31.g3 d8 32.xf5 ] 30.f3 d8 31.g3 e7 more resistant was [ 31...c7 32.f3 xf4 33.xf4 c7 34.e5 xe5 35.dxe5 d7 It looks horrible for Black but in fact the outcome of the game will only be decided by the problematic implementation of the move g2g4, freeing the white potential on the kingside probably after f2-f4 to be able to meet the capture with the advance f4-f5. ] 32.f3 c7 33.e5 xe5 34.xe5 c6 Black backs down with little time on the clock rendering his defence very testing. [ 34...xa4 35.d6 ( 35.e2! The idea of this move also crossed my mind with the idea b6 36.f4 a4 37.a3 And the regrouping f3, Kf2, Re1-h1 and g4 at some point with more than simple compensation for the pawn in any case.) 35...xb2 36.g4! ( 36.xe7 xe7 37.xf5 g7 ) A) 36...fxg4!! 37.xe7 xe7 38.xe7 xe7 39.xg6 hxg6 40.d6 f7! 41.xa5? ( 41.xd5+ g7 Being even unclear ) 41...g3! 42.fxg3 e1+ 43.f2
d3+ 44.f3 f1+ 45.e2 ( 45.g4 f2+ 46.f3 e4+ 47.e2 xd6 ) 45...e8+! 46.d2 f2+ 47.d1 e1#; B) 36...f4 37.xf4 d3 ( 37...xb1 38.h6+ h8 39.e5+ f6 40.xf6#; 37...xf4 38.xf4 xb1 39.f6+ ) 38.xd3 cxd3 39.h6+ g7 40.e5+ xh6 41.e3+ h5 42.g7 f5 ( 42...g8 43.xf8 ) 43.h3+ B1) 43...g5 Mate in 7 only with checks 44.f4+ xf4 45.h6+ xh6 46.g3+!! f3 ( 46...g5 47.h4+ f5 48.f4# ) 47.f1+ e3 48.xh6+ No escape via d2 f4 49.xf4+ e2 50.ae1#; B2) 43...h4 44.e5+ f5 ( 44...f5 45.g4+ g5 46.f4+ xf4 47.h6+ g5 48.xg5# ) 45.xf8 b2 46.b1 d2 47.g4+ ] 35.f4 c8? Losing an exchange and quickly the game. [ 35...f7 36.g5 e7 ( 36...e6 37.g4! fxg4 38.g2 f6 39.e8+ g7 40.h6# ) 37.h6 f8 38.h2 With the lethal idea Bd6-c5 and the black position collapses with the loss of d5. ad7 39.f3 f6 40.f2 ff7 With Black practically in zugzwang and condemned to waiting with the moves ... Rf7-f6 there should be a way t o d e cis ive ly re in f o rce t h e p o si t io n f o r White. ] 36.h6 8e7 [ 36...f7 37.xf5 xf5 38.xf5 xf5 39.e8+ f7 40.f8+ ] 37.xf8 xf8 38.f4 g7 [ 38...h5 39.g3 Followed by the decisive transfer of the knight to f4 or h4 accordingly via g2. g7 40.g2 ] 39.g4 Eventually! 1-0
2278 Prie,Eric Solodovnichenko,Yuri 4eme Open International de (6.1) [Eric Prié]
A45 2439 2514 2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 After 4.d5 and [ 6.d5 b6 7.c1 thoroughly examined a 2231
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 few months ago, eventually we come to the main line. ] 6...cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6! 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 Thinking of preventing ...e5 e5 All the same! 11.xc6 dxc6!? Rather than getting a dreadful structure after [ 11...exf4 12.d4 (although Black has the compensation of active play generated by a strong pair of bishops and the opponent's worries on dark squares) Black opts for the classical compensation, for one pawn, of a lead in development and the initiative with a completely repaired structure. ] 12.xe5 e6 13.a3 b5 14.e3 [ 14.h3 b4 15.cxb4 xb4+ 16.f2 c5+ 17.e3 d5 18.d4 xd4 19.exd4 xh3 20.gxh3 a4 21.d1 d7 22.d3 e8 23.e4 d6= Prié,E-Bedouin,X Montpellier op(4) 2004 1/2(62) ] [ 14.e4 Therefore may be the only try. See the next game ] 14...d7 15.f4 [ 15.g3 c5! 16.f2 b4 17.e2 bxa3 18.bxa3 b6 19.e4 a4 20.xc5 xc5 21.d4 a4 22.d1 e7 23.c2 ha8 24.b2 4a5 25.xe6 fxe6 26.e2 a4+ 27.b3 c5+ 28.b2 a4+ 29.b3 c5+ 1/2-1/2 Prié,E-Lejarre,L(2304) Round 2! ] 15...c5 16.0-0-0 b3 17.d2 a2!! In the post-mortem of my 2nd round game, we c a r e f u l l y a n a l ys e d t h i s l i n e w i t h m y opponent concluding that the compensation may not be quite sufficient after [ 17...e6 18.h3 ( 18.g3 c5 19.f2 b4! 20.cxb4 xb4 21.d3 c4 22.d1 b3 Another forced draw by repetition!) 18...c5 19.d3 0-0 20.e1 ] [ The problem is that I had not checked the variation with Fritz who immediately proposes this move as best, denying the white king access to b1! 17...e6 18.c2 b3+ 19.b1 e6 20.g3 c5 21.f2 0-0 22.e2 fd8 23.d4 ] 18.c2 b3 19.d1 c5 20.d2 This was a very important game played on table one between the 2 leading players on 4, 5 o u t o f 5 . A d e c is ive re s u l t co u l d h a ve practically decided the outcome of the tournament but I was not so much eager on victory to play the crazy and unassessable
[ 20.d4?! b3 ( 20...b3+ 21.b1 e6 22.d2 c5 23.h3 ) 21.e4+ e7! 22.e2 ( 22.d6 0-0-0 23.xe7 xd6 24.c4 b4! 25.axb4 hd8! With the u n b e a r a b l e t h r e a t o f R d 1 - c 1 M a t e !) 22...d8! ( 22...c5 23.d4 b3 24.d1 c5 25.d4 ) 23.d4 c5 24.e5 f6 25.h5 f7 26.h3 g5 27.g3 h5 I am not sure that the machine giving White a big advantage is correctly estimating the concern of the Rh3... ] 20...b3 21.d1 c5 ½-½
2279 Prie,Eric Taylor,Peter P 4NCL Telford (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2429 2289 17.01.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.d2 Like 'Mrs Tromp', Antoaneta Stefanova, the newly crowned female W orld champion, I recommend the transposition in the Torre here. But a special kin d of To rre where the 'threa t' of e2 -e 4 forces Black to react with ...c7-c5 which I always f ound more pleasant (W orld no 1 Torre specialist Mark Hebden also agrees on that) to play against, rather than the ...b7-b6, ... Bb7, ...Be7, ...Ne4 plan or ...d7-d5, providing White with the interesting possibility of playing a Stonewall formation i.e. e2-e3, c2c3, f2-f4, Ng1-f3 but with his queen's bishop o u t s i d e t h e p a w n c h a i n . h6 4.h4 When e6 ha s been played, I find it somewhat 'anti-positional' to give up this bishop which is already exerting some pressure on Black's development and give him a free tempo for the development of his queen. c5 5.e3 [ 5.c3!? See next game. ] 5...c6 [ 5...cxd4! As soon as possible to obtain the squ a r e d 5 a n d a f a vo u r a b le s t r u c t u re . 6.exd4 e7 ( 6...b6?! 7.xf6 gxf6 8.c4 b4+ 9.c3 is just bad for Black.) 7.gf3 ( 7.xf6 xf6 8.c3 d5 ) 7...b6 ( 7...d5!? ) 8.xf6 xf6 9.c3 b7 10.d3 When this is just, plain, 'normal' Torre stuff. ] 6.c3 b6 7.gf3 e7 8.a3 b7 9.d3 0-0 10.e2 cxd4 11.cxd4 When given the 2232
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 choice always privilege this recapture towards the center. h5 12.g3! d6 With a pawn on e3, White does not have to worry about the square f4 and Black's plan ...f7-f5-f4. 13.c1 d7 14.0-0 xg3 15.hxg3 fc8 16.g4 c7 17.e4 ac8 18.cd1 b8 19.c3 a6 20.d5! e8 [ 20...xd5 21.xd5 exd5 22.f5 ] 21.b1? A ridiculous move but this was after the fire alarm had gone off which had made us evacuate the premises in a mad rush to find a shelter... outside in the cold, without a coat, for almost an hour, and then afterwards, when the danger was lesser, in the hotel lobby for another hour, without, would you believe, the permission to go back to the room, take a book, or anything, just to kill time where you could see somewhere posted on the wall of the entrance "warm English hospitality"... The only smoke we 'saw' that day was the one going out of all our irritated brains impatient to go back to our hot boards!! [ 21.dxe6 fxe6 22.d4 ( 22.b1 d7 23.d3 f8 ) 22...f6 23.e4 xe4 24.xe4 d5 25.b1 Black has big holes on the light squares, as a consequence of his su perf icial 3 rd mo ve (!) Qd3-h7+ is coming followed by the preparation of the t h e m a t i c b r e a k t h r o u g h e 3 - e 4 . d7? 26.xa6 ] 21...e5 22.g3 A bad plan, 22.Nd2 is better but I could not concentrate on the game anymore. At last I was back in front of the board, but I could not get back into it! d7 23.g2 f6 24.h1? d8?? [ 24...xc3! You could see this coming... 25.bxc3 xd5 26.c2 ( 26.d3 f6 Threatening e4) 26...f6 27.c1 e4 28.b2 c6-+ ] 25.g5 hxg5 26.xg5 xd5? [ 26...d7 27.ge4! xe4 28.h5!! Spark ...ling c hess! f5 29.xe4 fxe4 30.xe4 e7 ( 30...c4 31.xd6 xd6 32.e8+ f8 33.h8+ xh8 34.xf8+ h7 35.f7; 30...e7 31.g5! ) 31.g6! d8 ( 31...e8 32.e6+ f7 33.h8+ ) 32.xd6+- ( 32.h7? f7 )] [ Unfortunately 26...g6! ] 27.h7+! [ 27.xd5 xg5 28.h7+ f8 29.f5 xd5+ 30.xd5 c6 ]
27...f8 28.e4 f6 [ 28...xc3 29.h8+ e7 30.xe8+ xe8 31.bxc3 xg5 32.xb7 xb7 33.g4 d7 34.xg5 ] 29.xb7 xb7 30.h8+ g8 31.h7+ e7 32.g4 [ 32.d5+! e6 33.xg8! ( 33.e4 f5 34.exf5+ d7 35.xa6 wins too. ) 33...xg8 34.g4+ f5 35.g6+ A) 35...f6 36.dxf6 gxf6 ( 36...f7 37.g5+ ) 37.xf6+ d7 38.xd6+ e8 39.f6+; B) 35...d7 36.xf5+ e6 37.f8+ ] 32...xc3 33.bxc3 c6+ 34.g1 h6 35.g5+! f6 36.xg7+ f7 37.xf6+ d7 38.xf7+ c8 39.e6+ d7 40.f8 1-0
2280 Puschmann,Laszlo Adzic,Slobodan chT2 9394 HUN [Eric Prié]
A45 2335 2265 1994
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e6 This critical line again. 8.b1 c7 9.dxe6!? fxe6 10.f3 [ Obviously, the 'meant to be disruptive' thematic 10.b5+ is now a bit ridiculous in view of c6 ] 10...a6 It is quite stressing to have to constantly watch for Nc3-b5, but this move, in return, weakens the b6 square. 11.a4 c6 12.c4 In this (correct) way connected with the idea f4-f5, White obtains a different type of compensation from the initiative generated by the central thrust e4-e5. d4 [ 12...g6 13.0-0 g7 14.g5 e7 ( 14...d8 15.e1 with the idea e5.) 15.f5! gxf5 16.exf5 d5 17.e1! With a winning attack. ] [ 12...e7 13.0-0 b4!? ( 13...0-0 14.f5 xe4 15.xe4 d5 16.fg5 xg5 17.xg5 dxc4 18.h5 h6 19.fxe6!+-; 13...a5 14.a2 c4 15.e3 ) 14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5 fd5 seems the only playable continuation for Black then. ] 13.0-0 e7 14.f5! exf5 [ 14...0-0 15.g5 b5 While justifying the move 12...Nd4 was the only chance. ] 2233
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.d5! Now Black will get slaughtered with his king left in the center, incapable, even of finding a shelter on the queenside precisely because of the weakness of his b-pawn! xd5 16.xd5 f4 [ 16...fxe4 17.xd4 cxd4 18.h5+ g6 19.f7+ d8 20.xg6 e3? 21.a5 ] 17.xd4 cxd4 18.xf4 f6 19.h5+ g6 20.e2 e5 21.f2 [ 21.f7 xf7 22.xf7+ xf7 23.c4+! was crushing too. ] 21...d7? It is actually difficult to propose a move but this one is just suicide. [ 21...f8 22.xf8+ xf8 23.f1+ e8 ( 23...g7 24.f3 e7 25.g5! xg5 26.f8# ) 24.g5! Anything wins but this is the most precise. b8 ( 24...g7 25.f3! h6 26.b3!! hxg5 27.c6+! xc6 28.g8+ e7 29.xg7+ d8 30.f8+ e8 31.f6+ d7 32.xe8 xe8 33.xd6 ) 25.f7 xf7 26.xf7+ xf7 27.c4+ f8 28.c7 a8 And Fritz, here, proudly announces a Mate in 12! 29.e7+! g8 30.d8+ f7 31.f8+ e6 32.g5! d7 33.f7+ c6 34.d8! c5 ( 34...d7 35.d5# ) 35.a5! g4 36.c7# ] 22.xb7 xc2 23.f7+ Followed by a deadly dark-squared bishop check. 1-0
2281 Rabinovich,Alexander Greenfeld,Alon chT Ramat Aviv (11) [Eric Prié]
A45 2406 2563 12.05.2000
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.e4!? a5+ 6.d2 f5 7.xf6+ gxf6 8.e3 c6 9.a4 b8 10.f3 b5 11.h4 xc2 12.xf6 g8 13.c1 e4 [ 13...g6 14.f4!? ] 14.g5 g6 15.xg6 xg6 According to Alexander FINKEL, Black should have played [ 15...hxg6 16.e4 e7 17.c3 e5 18.d2 f5 19.c3 a6 20.d5 b7 Which he gives as unclear. ] 16.h4 [ 16.xh7? e7 17.f4 f6 ] 16...h6 17.e4 f5 18.h5! g7 19.c5 e5
20.e4! Hitting the weakness on h6 . d6 21.b3 fxe4 22.xh6 h7 23.xf8 xf8 24.xb5 xb5 25.xc8+ g7 26.e2 d3 27.g3 After [ 27.g4 w i t h t h e i d e a g5 ( 27...e5? 28.g5 ) 28.f3 Black's defensive task would have been more complicated. ] 27...hxh5 28.xh5 xh5 29.e3 d5 30.c5 d4+! Finkel writes that this is not the safest way to reach the draw, but he may be wrong... [ 30...xc5 31.xc5 f6 32.c7 a5 33.a7 f5 As he gives, here, the "meek" 33.b3 without mentioning the critical continuation: 34.xa5 f3+ 35.e2 d4 36.b5 e5 ( 36...d3+ 37.e1 e3 38.fxe3 xe3+ 39.d2 xg3 40.b3 ) 37.a4 ( 37.b8 e6 ) 37...d3+ 38.e1 e3 39.fxe3 xe3+ 40.d2 xg3 41.a5 e4 42.a6 Where there is no clear draw in sight. g2+ 43.e3 e2+ 44.f4 A) 44...d2 45.d5 d1 46.xd1 xb2 47.d6+!+- ( 47.a1 b8 48.a7 a8 49.xe4 e6 ) 47...e7 ( 47...f7 48.xe4 ) 48.a7 a2 49.h6 e3 50.xe3 d7 51.h8 xa7 52.h7+; B) 44...e1 45.a7 a1 46.xe4 d2 47.d5 a4+ 48.e3 e6 49.xd2 xa7 ] 31.xd4 d5+ 32.c4 xc5 33.xc5 d2 34.e5 [ 34.c7+ f6 35.xa7 xf2 ( 35...xb2 36.d4 xf2 37.xe4 ) 36.b4 d2! ( 36...e5 37.a5+ f6 38.d4; 36...e3 37.d3 b2 38.xe3 xb4 39.a4 f5 40.a5 b3+ 41.f2 a3 42.a6 e5 43.a8 e4 44.g2 ) A) 37.c3 e3 38.h7 ( 38.a3? d1 ) 38...xa2 39.d3=; B) 37.a3 e5 38.b5 d4+ 39.c5 d5+ ( 39...d3? 40.b6 xa3 41.b7 c3+ 42.b4 ) 40.c6 d6+! 41.c7 d3! 42.a8 ( 42.b6? xa3 43.b7 a7 ) 42...e3 43.b6 ( 43.h8? e2 44.h1 d1 ) 43...e2 44.b7 e1 45.b8 xg3!= ] 34...xb2 35.xe6 xa2 36.xe4 ½-½
2234
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2282 Radjabov,Teimour Polgar,Judit Hotel Stars Benidorm ESP (11) [Eric Prié]
A45 2650 2722 29.11.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 On 3...c5 Black, of course, has to be prepared against the ending resulting from the popular sequence 4.f3 Qa5+ 5.c3 Nf6 6. Nbd2 cxd4 7. Nb3 (7.Nc4!?) Qb6 8.Qxd4 Nc6 9.Qxb6 but also has to reckon with the line 4.d5 Qb6, with the interesting gambit 5.Nd2, but mainly 5.Bc1 with the idea f2-f3, e2-e4 which is likely to transpose into a Saemish Benoni, without any loss of time for W hite, since the badly placed black queen on b6 will have to move again. This may well suit the King's Indian player but probably not his Nimzo Indian colle ague . 4.e3 c5 Although Black may be slightly behind in development, this lateral attack on W h ite's d-pawn is logical af te r having deprived it of the possibility of advancing. 5.d3 Assuming that the doubling of pawns on f6 was a threat introduced by White's second move, this position, resulting from the most 'natural' moves from one part and the other, has to be regarded as THE critical position of the Trompowsky around which, without any doubt, theory will gather and develop in the future. c6?! White has a fantastic score against this line in the database. [ 5...f6 6.dxc5 has to be considered to be the main line. ] 6.xe4 dxe4 7.d5 e5 [ 7...b4 8.c3 e6 9.d6 seems to be just good for White, as suggested by practice in the maze of ensuing complications, when the d6 pawn turns out to be a very annoying nail planted in the middle of the enemy camp rather than an 'isolated scout' susceptible to be sacrificed. ] 8.g3 e7 [ 8...b4 9.c3 g4?! 10.xg4 xc2+ 11.d2 xa1 12.ge2 b6 13.c1 Speelman,J in INF 70 ] 9.c3 [ 9.c4!? Speelman,J f6 10.c3 f5 11.f3!? exf3 12.xf3 ] 9...g6 Apparently a Novelty which will
probably not gain widespread acceptance b e c a u s e o f W h i t e ' s n e x t m o v e . 10.h4! Threatening h4-h5 followed by Bxe5 while freeing the h2 square for the Bg3. The World number 11 is on the verge of losing one pawn! [ 10.xe4? f5 11.c3 f4 ] 10...h5 [ 10...b6 11.h5 xb2 12.ge2 e7 13.b1 a3 14.b5 a5+ 15.c3 f5 16.xe5+- ] 11.f3 [ 11.xe4 A) 11...f5 12.c3 f4 ( 12...e7 13.d3 ) 13.d3 b6 14.exf4 exf4 15.h2 followed by 0-0-0 is unbearable for Black.; B) 11...e7 12.d6! xh4 13.xh4 xh4 14.d5+-; C) 11...b6 12.e2 xb2 May be more playable although I do not fancy Black's position much after 13.0-0 ] 11...e7 This is again a mysterious move to me and I must avow my perplexity. Why not simply [ 11...exf3 12.xf3 d6 ] 12.xe4 f5 13.c3 xh4 14.xh4 xh4 15.d2 [ 15.e2!? g5?! 16.0-0-0 xg2? 17.f4! g4 18.d2 The knight is trapped. ] 15...g5 16.h3 [ 16.0-0-0!? xg2? 17.f4! exf4 18.f3 fxe3 19.e2 wins the piece. g4 20.dg1 f4? 21.xe3+ ] 16...g3+ 17.f2 f4 [ 17...xg2 17...Nxg2+ is the same 18.xg2 xg2+ 19.f2 h4 20.ag1 f8 A) 21.f4 e4 ( 21...exf4 22.xf4 ) 22.g5 g6 23.gxe4 fxe4 24.xg6 f5 25.g5 g6 26.e2 d8 27.c4 h4=; B) 21.b5! B1) 21...d7 22.g5 xf3? ( 22...g6 23.c7? 23.Nd6! with the idea Ngf7. c8 24.ce6+ g8 ) 23.xf3 xb5 24.e6+ e7 25.xg7+ f6 26.hg1 e8 27.c7+-; B2) 21...a6 22.c7 b8 23.g5 g6 24.ge6+ f7 ( 24...xe6 25.xe6+ f7 26.g5 e7 27.xg7+ f6 28.e4 ) 25.xc5 ] 18.xf4 [ 18.xg3 fxg3 19.g5 xg2+ 20.e2 h4 21.ag1 f4+ 22.exf4 exf4 23.h3 ] 2235
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18...xf3+ 19.gxf3 exf4 20.xg3 fxg3 21.e4 h4 [ 21...f5? 22.d6+ ] 22.xg3 0-0 23.xh4 xf3 24.e4 f5? It was not the tournament of the number 1 Hungarian player, in rapid play anyway. [ 24...xe3+ 25.f2 h3 was the only chance. 26.xh3 ( 26.f4!? Playing for the attack while leaving Black with the problem of how to develop his bishop is also another interesting possibility. h2+ 27.e3 xc2 28.g1 ) 26...xh3 A) 27.g3 f5 28.xc5 ( 28.f4 f8 29.e5 xe4 30.xe4 f2 ) 28...c8; B) 27.c4 with a strong protected passed pawn doe s no t lo ok very chee ring f o r Black but at least the material is equal. ] 25.e2 xe4 26.xe4 Now it is over. White is a clear pawn up in a superior position. af8 27.d3 b5 28.e7 8f7 29.e8+ f8 30.xf8+ xf8 31.a4 b4 32.c4! Winning by sheer effort. xe3 33.xc5 e2 34.c4 xb2 35.c6 b3 36.d6 d2 37.d7 b2 38.f1+ e7 [ 38...g8 39.b1 f7 40.xb2 ] 39.e1+ f7 40.c7 1-0
2283 Radjabov,Teimour Romero Holmes,Alfonso Hotel Stars Benidorm ESP (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2650 2544 28.11.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.d5 a5+ 5.c3 b6?! As if Black had inverted the moves by mistake. [ 5...e6 6.d2!? ( 6.dxe6 fxe6 7.d2 xd2 8.xd2 c6 9.f3 d5 10.e3 e7 11.d3 c4 12.c2 f6 1/2-1/2 Fiorito,F (2435) - Sorin,A (2405) Acasusso op 1991; 6.f3 f6 7.e4 Is, once again! FressinetDominguez ) A) 6...f6 7.dxe6 ( 7.e4!? Keeping some m o re t e n s io n . exd5?! 8.exd5 xd5? 9.c4+- ) 7...fxe6 8.c4 d8 9.d6+ ( 9.xb8? xb8 10.d6+ xd6 11.xd6 b6! W e are familiar with this trick.) 9...xd6 10.xd6; B) 6...exd5! 7.xe4 dxe4 8.d5 c6
9.xe4+ e7 10.f3 ( 10.d6 0-0! What W hite did eventually amounted to nothing. 11.xe7 e8 12.e3 xe7 ) 10...b6 ( 10...0-0 11.e3 f6? 12.d3 g6 13.d6 ) 11.0-0-0 d5 12.xd5 e6 13.d2 xa2 14.e5 ] 6.d2! This possibility emphasizes the defect of this move order compared to the usual se qu e n ce : 4 . . . Q b 6 5 . B c 1 Q a 5 + 6 . c 3 a s examined last month. xd2 Black cannot t o l e r a t e N c 4 . 7.xd2 d6 8.e4 e5? Creating a crippling weakness on d6. Somewhat behind in development, Black should have striven to maintain the position closed by way of [ 8...d7 9.f3 c7 ( 9...g6 10.e5! dxe5 11.xe5 g7 12.c4 d8 13.d6 ) 10.d3 g6 ] 9.dxe6! xe6 [ 9...fxe6? 10.c4! ( 10.0-0-0 e5 11.e3 e6 ) 10...e7 11.0-0-0 0-0 12.xd6 d8 13.e5+- ] 10.f3 c6 11.g5! Black is already in dire straits. e5 To cover the c4 square. 12.xe6 fxe6 13.0-0-0 e7 14.g3! In order to free the f-pawn and dislodge the knight from the protection of c4. [ 14.xe5 dxe5 15.d7+ f7 Appears unconvincing. ] 14...c6 15.f4 f7 16.c4! d7 [ 16...xe4 17.b5+ f8 18.he1 f5 19.d3 f6 20.e3 d8 21.de1 h5 22.c4 h4 23.f2 h6 24.xe6 ( 24.f5 e5 25.d5 With an insistent initiative. Like in t h e g a m e , t h e d o m in a t io n o f t h e l ig h t squared bishop over the black knight is so dazzling that it eclipses the material deficit of the pawn on e4.) 24...xe6 25.xe6 xe6 26.xe6 xe6 27.d5 e2 28.f3! ( 28.h5 xf2 29.h8+ f7 30.xa8 xg2 ) 28...e6 29.xb7 e8 30.d1 ] 17.f5! g5 18.f4! [ 18.fxe6 xd2+ 19.xd2 c6 20.exf7+ e7 21.e5 d5 22.xd5 h6 is less clear. ] 18...xf4 19.xf4 e5 [ 19...exf5 There again, the pleasant choice between the mate rial advanta ge o r th e continuation of the attack... A) 20.xf7+ xf7 ( 20...xf7 21.xd6 ) 21.xd6 e7 ( 21...fxe4? 22.he1 ) 22.exf5 xd6 23.xd6 0-0 24.d5; 2236
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 20.exf5! e5 21.he1! which is equality in A.Stojanovic-Lajthajm, Vrnjacka clearly stronger here, within the bounds of Banja 2014.; calculation, besides. e7 22.xd6! B) 9...g4!? , ] B1) 22...xd6 23.xe5+ f8 8...c6!? ( 23...d7 24.d5 ) 24.e8+; [ A new move. The Ukrainian Grandmaster is B2) 22...d3+ 23.xd3 xe1+ 24.c2 happy to bring his queen out. Previously, e2+ 25.b3 Followed by an we've only considered 8...gxh4 9.xh4 c6 unstoppably devastating Re3+ ] 10.gf3 when White has definite 20.d2 d8 compensation for the pawn - see the [ 20...0-0-0? 21.e6 ] Archive. ] 21.g4 0-0 22.g5 h8 23.hg1 b5 24.e6 9.hxg5 e7 25.d5 Did I talk of "domination"? b8 [ Not the only move, but breaking up Black's 26.g3 d8 kingside must be critical. Instead, 9.c4 [ 26...b4 27.c4 b3 28.a3 Without thinking, gxh4 10.xh4 a5 11.gf3 develops would have only allowed Black to pass the rapidly and yet I'd be surprised if White was 30th move. ] better here, with e3!? one possibility. ] 27.h3 f7 28.g1 Apart from prolonging 9...xg5 10.gf3 g7 his agony by a couple of moves (by giving the [ It's rare to see a fianchettoed queen at such piece on g5), Black is dramatically powerless an early stage. I'm not entirely convinced, to parry any of the decisive White threats: Qg2, but 10...d8 would just see Black losing followed by g5-g6, Nh6 Rxh6! gxh6 g6-g7+ but time and 11.c4 de7 12.d3! also nasty mating motives including the rook to dissuade ...Nf5 looks like pretty nice sac on h7. compensation for the first player. ] 1-0 [ Instead, 10...g4!? is a cheeky engine suggestion, best met by 11.d3 ( 11.h4 g7 12.c4? e3! reveals Black's big 2284 A45 idea ) 11...e3 12.e2 . ] Rahman,Ziaur 2486 11.h3 [ And so the rook is developed along its file in Fedorchuk,Sergey 2647 any case. Rahman cuts out ...Ne3 tricks, but Kolkata Open (7.4) 24.03.2014 he might also have done that with 11.e2!? [Richard Palliser] . Yes, the bishop on f1 is blocked in, but it's not as if Black's development is so great. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.d2 h6 4.h4 c5 Moreover, it's not especially easy to free his 5.e4!? Pert's favourite gambit and one which position here, with f6 12.0-0-0 e7 13.exf6 packs a certain punch as we've seen before. xf6 14.b3 a plausible line in which White cxd4 regains his pawn with a plus. ] [ Standard, although Black can also consider 5...d5 6.e5 g5 7.g3 fd7 11...d6?! [ The move White had been waiting for - see Rombaldoni-Caprio, Italian before committing his light-squared bishop. Championship, Rome 2013, in the Archive. ] Fedorchuk's position isn't easy to handle 6.e5 g5 7.g3 d5 8.h4! and I rather suspect he stumbled into this [ W e've noted before that 8.c4 c6 line. Perhaps Black should prefer 11...h5!? 9.gf3 seems less effective. I still feel that , and if 12.c4 b6 13.e2 e7 Black shouldn't fear receiving Irish d-pawns looking to stir up some trouble with ...h4, and should go although after 14.0-0-0 it's hard not to like A) whereas in another recent game White's lead in development and potential 9...f4 10.xf4 gxf4 11.e2 d5 12.exd6 down the h-file. ] xd6 ( 12...xd6 13.0-0-0 g7 was surely indicated) 13.0-0-0 e7?! 12.b5 d7 13.xc6?! [ Rahman wants to open the position, but 14.e4 d7 15.xd6+ xd6 16.c3 there was no reason not to begin with the saw White regaining his pawn with rough 2237
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 simple 13.exd6 . The main point is f6 14.e2 when Black is cleaned up after e5? 15.xc6 xc6 16.xe5! fxe5 17.xe5 . ] 13...xc6 14.xd4 dxe5 15.xc6 bxc6 16.e2 Despite his imprecision, White's position is still pretty attractive. He remains down a pawn, but has much the more harmonious position and enjoys a potent initiative. f6?! [ Far too ambitious. Black had to offer to re t u r n t h e p a wn wi t h 16...e7 , and if 17.0-0-0 f4 . ] 17.0-0-0 b8 [ It's hard to entirely believe, but the silicon bea st may b e correct t hat Black is just about holding things together after 17...e7 18.c4 b6 19.e4 h5!? . ] 18.c4! Now the knight had to retreat to b6, but it's easy to be disorientated in such a position and Fedorchuk must have hoped that he was obtaining some counterplay. b4? 19.e4 [ Simple and strong, although a preliminary 19.h4 might have been even better. After, say, e7 20.a3 a6 21.f3 c8 22.e4 f8 23.g3 f7 24.xf6! the black position collapses. ] 19...e7 [ 19...xa2+ 20.b1 b4 21.h5+ e7 22.h4 would be complete devastation. Talk about the difference between a developed, c o o rd in a t e d f o rce a n d o n e st i ll la rge l y sleeping in its bed. ] 20.a3 a6? [ 20...d5! 21.cxd5 cxd5 was the last, if slightly desperate chance. Now we reach a scenario all too familiar from the last two notes. ] 21.h4! h5 22.g3 f8 23.f3 h6+ 24.b1 f4 The only chance, but a player of Rahman's experience and ability was never going to have allowed this without having a powerful rejoinder in mind. 25.xf6+! xf6 26.xc6+ f8 27.xf6 xb2+ 28.xb2 xf2+ 29.b1 xg3 Black's minicombination might have exposed the white king, but only one king was ever going to be m a t e d h e r e . 30.d6+ f7 31.e7+ The black queen is lost for starters once the king edges forward. 1-0
2285 Rakhmangulov,Andrei Malakhatko,Vadim ch op Alushta [Eric Prié]
A45 2417 2496 1999
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 f5 6.g3 h6!? 7.e3 g7 8.c3 0-0 9.a4!? This is interesting, pre-emptive and shows a good understanding of the position, considering that ...Na6-c7, ...b7-b5 is the key idea for Black in such positions. a6 10.d2 When the white queens goes to this square, then a3 is the natural place for the queen's knight which makes the move a2-a4 even clearer. c7 11.g2 e6 12.d6! In this configuration of pieces, this move, 'cutting Black's camp into 2 parts', is much stronger. e8 13.a3 b8 14.e2 b6 15.0-0 f6 [ 15...a6 16.b5 e5 17.f4 xd6 18.xd6 xd6 19.xd6 xe2 20.f2 c4 21.xd7 a5 22.d1 ] 16.f3 Covering e 4 while avoiding the exchange of bishops on the long diagonal for the moment. b7 17.b5 a6 18.c7 e8 19.xe8 fxe8 20.f4 xg2 21.xg2 ec8 22.fd1 c6 23.c2 f8 24.d2 f6 25.g1 d8 d7 being now protected, Rxd6 is threatened. 26.d1 b5 27.a5 c4 28.g4 fxg4 29.xg4+ g7 30.e4 f6 31.h1 h8 32.e2 g8 33.g1 cc8 34.f3 h6 35.f1 h4 36.dd1 g4 37.e5 cg8 38.g1 8g6 39.xg4 xg4 40.xg4 xg4 41.f1 Eventually, having solidly supported his pawn in the heart of Black's po sit io n , W h it e h is be t t e r a s all s o rt s o f combinational motives start to appear with its promotion. f6? [ 41...g8 ] 42.f5! fxe5 [ 42...exf5 43.e6 dxe6 44.d1 g8 45.d4 ] 43.fxe6 dxe6 44.g1!! [ 44.f6 ] 44...xg1+ [ 44...g7 45.g3 g5 46.e4 d8 47.c5 xa5 48.d7 e4 49.a1 d8 50.xa6+- ] 45.xg1 g7 [ 45...e4 46.h3! f8 47.d7 e7 48.f4 ] 2238
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 46.d7 g5 47.f3 d8 48.xe5 xa5 counterplay with c5! , ( whereas 10...c6 49.c6 b6 50.d8 xd8 51.xd8 f6 11.h5 d6 12.e2 xf4 13.xf4 d7 52.g2 e5 53.f3 d5 54.f7 a5 14.0-0-0 a5 15.b1 0-0-0 16.c4! 55.g5 b4 56.e4? gave W hite a definite edge with his extra [ 56.cxb4! axb4 57.xh7 The knight looks space in A.Rombaldoni-Nguyen, to be far away from the field of action but Ruzomberok 2014. )] sometimes makes up for his 'short legs' with [ b) 3...c6 is rare, but can't be so bad. Now a surprising agility... and the help of some one wo uld expect W hite t o deve lop his checks! c3 ( 57...d4 58.e2 c3 59.b3 ) knight to d2, but that was delayed in 58.bxc3 Volodin-Seeman, Viljandi 2014, where 4.c3 A) 58...b3 59.f6+ c4 60.e4 d3 a5 5.f3 d5 6.bd2 f5 7.xe4 xe4 ( 60...b2 61.e3 b3 62.h4 ) 61.c5+ 8.d2! f5 9.e3 ( 9.e4!? dxe4 10.c4 xc3 62.xb3 xb3 63.h4 c3 followed by Qb3 or Qe2 looks quite 64.e4+-; tempting ) 9...h6 10.f4 e6 11.g4 g6 B) 58...bxc3 59.e3 c2 60.d2 e4 12.f3 d7 13.d3 xd3 14.xd3 e7 61.g5+! f5 ( 61...f4 62.xe6+ g4 15.g1 c5 reached a typically unbalanced 63.d4 h3 64.f3 g4 65.h4 ) h4 Trompowsky middlegame. ] 62.h3 e4 63.g1 e5 64.xc2 e3 4.dxc5 65.d1 f2 66.h4 xg1 67.e2! [ As this has been the recent choice of not ( 67.h5? f2 )] just the rising Hungarian star, but also Igor 56...bxc3 57.xc3+ c5 58.e3 b4 Miladinovic, we must take the move 59.d2 b3 60.c1 a4 61.b1 c3! seriously. Rombaldoni has remained true to 62.bxc3 4.d5!? and I'm not so sure why the position [ 62.xc3 a3 63.b1 axb2 64.d1 c4! after b6 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 xb2 Now the Black king has enough space to hasn't attracted more support of late. It's reach the h-pawn and is also a pawn up certainly fun and not so easy for Black to compared to the line given above which handle over the board. Here I quite liked enables him to draw comfortably 65.xb2+ A) but many h4 exponents prefer to offer d4 66.c2 e4 67.d2 f3 68.d3 another pawn with 7.g6!? . D.Rombaldonig2 69.h4 g3 70.h5 g4 71.h6 g5 ] Gajek, Ruzomberok 2014, continued fxg6 62...a3 63.xa3 xa3 64.c2 e5 65.h4 8.e3 d6 9.b1! (natural and surprisingly h5 66.d3 b3 67.e4 xc3 68.xe5 new) c3?! ( 9...e5 10.d3 xd5 c4 11.xg6+ d8 12.f3! xf3 13.gxf3 ½-½ gives White a certain initiative for the two pawns, with Ng5 on its way, but still Black should retreat to either e5 or f6) 10.e2 2286 A45 e5?! (losing further time) 11.f4 f5 ( 11...f6 12.d3 would merely renew the Rapport,Richard 2701 threat ) 12.xb7 d7 13.b5 Damljanovic,Branko 2562 , wh i ch a l re a d y ga ve W h it e a d e a d l y Paracin Open (7.1) 09.07.2014 initiative. If this game doesn't inspire you [Richard Palliser] to give 3 h4 the occasional punt, I'm not sure what will.; 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4!? B) 7.e4 in my Trompowsky book, ] Dubio us a ccording to E ric, but the move certainly has surprise value. c5 The critical 4...a5+ [ Miladinovic's most recent outing with his test, if not the only move seen in recent GM old favourite saw him face the rare 4...xg5 practice: 5.hxg5 c6 , wh e r e u p o n 6.d2 a5 [ a) 3...d5 4.d2 f5 is a solid, very 7.gf3 g6 8.c3 xc5 9.a4!? d5 10.e4! sensible reaction. After 5.xe4 xe4 6.f3 dxe4 11.xe4 b6 12.a5!? ( the simple h6 7.f4 h7 8.e3 e6 9.d3 xd3 12.e2 may be even stronger, and if g7 10.xd3 Black should though develop 2239
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.d6+ f8 14.xc8 xc8 15.b5 , p re pa rin g t o ma ke go o d use o f t h o se cramping advanced rook's pawns) 12...xa5 13.e2 g7 was typically murky, but the Serbian GM won quickly in MiladinovicAmdouni, Zeralda 2014. ] 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 g6 7.c3 [ A ve ry im p o rt a n t a lt e rn a t ive is 7.h4!? , which I see Eric even attached an exclam to in his notes to Kanep-Zjukin, Tallinn 2005. ] 7...xc5 8.e4!? [ Whether this was preparation or over-thebo ard ins pira t io n, I 'm no t sure, b u t it 's certainly a novelty from the ever creative R a p p o r t . W h i t e u s u a l l y g o e s 8.gf3 and after g7 has tried a wide range of moves. For coverage, do please see the Archive, where it's safe to say Eric wasn't entirely convinced by White's strategy. ] 8...e5?! [ Just because White didn't advance his rook on the seventh move, doesn't mean that he won't for the rest of the game. I suspect the experienced Damljanovic missed or at least underestimated W hite's next move, otherwise he would have preferred 8...b6 . Perhaps 9.d4 was Rapport's idea here. After xd4 10.cxd4 d6 11.e3 c6 12.c1 White can hope to extract something from his bind on the position, but Black does have the two bishops, is pretty solid and can aim to break out, such as with f5 13.d3 g7 14.e2 h6 . Further tests are required as they say! ] 9.h4! g7 10.f3 c7 11.e3 White's setup may not impress everyone, but his pieces are coming quickly to rather active squares and Black must be careful. d6 [ My engines naturally have no fear and want to castle, either next move or here: 11...0-0!? 12.c4 d6 13.e2 ( 13.b3 d7 14.f1 would be a slower approach, retaining some control) 13...d7 14.0-0-0 b6 . I can't imagine many humans being so happy with a half-open h-file available to their opponent, but the g7-bishop is unopposed and White mustn't be too gungho, as shown by 15.b3 a5 16.dh1? ( 16.c2 a4 17.a3 was the way to proceed when surely the attack is just rather
dangerous ) 16...a4 17.c2 d5 18.ed2 a3 and it's Black who strikes first. ] 12.c4! Making good use of the king's rook's active posting. c6 13.b3 [ This works wonders in the game, but one might also make a decent case for 13.e2 followed by going long. ] 13...d8 [ It's hard to believe Damljanovic wanted to play this passive retreat. However, it's easy to say that by now Black really had to take t h e b u l l b y t h e h o r n s a n d g o 13...0-0 . E a sy a n d wro n g I m igh t a d d. I n d e e d , D a m l j a n o v i c p r o b a b l y d i s l i k e d 14.d5 as ...e6 will leave a huge hole on f6. Your machine might indicate e5 15.xe5 xe5 , but after 16.f4 ( 16.0-0-0? e6 17.f6+ xf6 18.gxf6 exd5 19.xd5 c5 20.xc5 dxc5 21.h6 is the sort of line I waste too m u ch t im e o n in ga m e s B la ck d e f e n d s satisf act orily wit h f5 22.dh1 g5 ) 16...g7 17.c2 f5?! 18.g4 d7 19.0-0-0 I rather enjoyed disposing of mine in a quick blitz game. ] 14.d4 [ Centralising and hoping to land a blow on d 6 a f t e r N b 5 . 14.0-0-0 also looks very strong. In short, the opening has been a complete disaster for Black. ] 14...a6 15.0-0-0 xd4? [ Despite all his experience, Black may very well have given up by this point. From what I can see, the only way to stay in the game was 15...b8! , overprotecting, and after 16.dh1 ( 16.d5 may be stronger) 16...b5 17.d3 c6 Black is still very much on the board. ] 16.exd4 f5 17.g3 c8 Now White might take on f5 or retreat his bishop, but Rapport preferred to make further use of the active development of his king's rook. 18.d5!? d7 19.dh1 b5 20.xh7! There goes a pawn and without his dark-squared bishop, Black's kingside doesn't look at all solid whatsoever. f8 21.d3 a5 A desperate attempt to drum up a counterattack with ...b4 and one which is easily sidestepped. 22.b1 b7 23.b4! Not the only way to win, but one I rather like. xb4 [ The hapless knight is out of squares after this, but if 23...b6 24.xf7! xf7 ( or 2240
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24...xf7 25.h8+ f8 26.xg6+ ) 25.xg6+! xg6 26.e4+ f5 27.xf5 xf5 28.h6+ g7 29.xf5 and the attack leads to mate. ] 24.cxb4 c7 25.f4 c8 26.a3 Talk about complete domination. d8 27.h8 b7 28.f5! gxf5 29.xf5 xf5 30.xf5 There's nothing to be done about the coming g5-g6. 1-0
2287 Rausis,Igors El Arousy,Abdul Hameed 3rd Open Tanta City EGY (2) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2486 2319 04.05.2000
when White has no obvious breakthrough after: 21.b3 xa2 22.xb7 e8 ] 21.b3 a4? The decisive mistake. [ Instead 21...d8!? limits the damage to a pawn after: 22.xb7 c6 ] 22.xb6 xd1 23.xe6 xf3 24.xe7 Af ter this forced sequence, W hite wins a second pawn. Now, any Black resistance is f u t i l e a g a i n s t a n e x p e r i e n c e d G M . e4 25.xe4 dxe4 26.xb7 Black had no wish to test his opponent's technique and retired to the bar. 1-0
2288 A45 Rausis,Igors 2486 Loetscher,Roland 2218 Another Bh4 Tromp leads to a seemingly Master Open Lausanne SUI (1) 31.05.2000 equal middlegame. Black is lulled into a false [Aaron Summerscale] sense of security and after a few inaccurate m o v e s , f i n d s h i m s e l f i n a h o r r i b l e l o s t I n t h e f o llo win g ga m e B l a ck is s o o n le f t endgame. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 d5 regretting his early queenside expansion. 1.d4 4.d2 d6 5.gf3 g6 A more solid f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b5 approach for Black than the plan with ...Nf5 in An early b5 is becoming increasingly popular AS157. 6.e3 g7 7.c4 White takes the early in many types of Benoni structures, but here I initiative on the queenside. dxc4 8.xc4 0-0 feel that it lacks viability, as Black has no way 9.xd6 cxd6 10.e2 c6 11.0-0 d5 of putting pressure on the White centre. 5.e4 White has emerged from the opening with a b6 6.d2 The knight heads for the potential slight advantage. Both Black bishops are outpost on c4. b7 7.a4 a6 Black tries to largely inef f ective, and W hite meanwhile keep his queenside pawn structure in one exerts annoying pressure against e7. 12.b3 piece, but the cracks are beginning to show. h6 13.ac1 g5 An exceptionally radical way 8.c4 f5 9.exf5 g7 10.gf3 xb2 11.b1 of dealing with the pressure against e7 and c3 12.d3 Cool, calm and collected. Rather o n e t h a t I d e f in it e ly d o n o t re c o m m e n d . than grab the first pawn offered, White simply 14.g3 e6 15.b5 d7 16.h4 Highlighting completes his development. He has bigger t h e d r a w b a c k s o f B l a c k ' s 1 3 t h m o ve . f6 fish to fry than a lowly pawn. b4 13.0-0 xd2 Black has to accept a further weakening of Otherwise Ne4 was definitely on the cards. his k in gs id e , wh ich a lso le a ve s h is d a rk 14.xd2 f6 15.g5 g8 16.e4 d4 squared bishop looking like a large pawn. 17.f6 Ouch. It's starting to get hot down there. 17.d3 b6 18.d1 The Black King begins to feel the heat. g6 [ 18.c3 was a good solid alternative. ] 18.xb4 A fantastic attacking concept. White 18...fc8 sacrifices a rook in order to bring Black's 19.xb4 [ Perhaps Black should have tried: 18...xb2 position to boiling point. cxb4 19.b1 xa2 20.xb7 When White has There is no good way for Black to meet the obvious compensation, but as I always say, twin threats of Qxe7 and Qxb7. d6 20.xb7 a7 21.c8# "a pawn is a pawn!" ] 19.hxg5 hxg5 20.c3 e7 Black is simply 1-0 playing routinely and consequently leaves himself in hot water. [ 20...xb2 should have been considered, 2241
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c8+- 27.ed6 ] A45 2257 25.ed1 [ 25.xe6 might have been a quicker kill. For 2300 example: fxe6 26.h6+ with mate in two. ] 26.02.2000 25...xc4 Losing on the spot but the superior: [ 25...e8 would only have delayed the inevitable. ] One thing is for certain. Black has to be very sure of himself in the 2...c5 lines. The White 26.f6 p o s i t i o n i s v e r y s o l i d a n d B l a c k h a s 1-0 weaknesses on the kingside and sometimes the queenside to take aim at. Black has to be A45 careful not to be despatched in short order. 2290 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 Rey,Guillermo 2346 5.c1 f5 6.g3 White's strategy in this line is Shakhnazarov,Oleg 2230 to keep a greater grip on the dark squares 2nd Team Match (9) 01.04.1999 than with the more expansive 6 c4. g7 7.c3 [Aaron Summerscale] d6 Black starts to surround the d5 pawn and frees his b pawn. 8.g2 b5 9.f3 f6 Here we see W hite demonstrating what a [ 9...b7 10.h4 is awkward for Black. ] t o t a l l ia b il it y t h e e -p a wn c a n b e c o m e i n 10.0-0 b7 11.a3 The nature of this line is certain circumstances. Even if White fails to for White to play energetically and this game win a pawn, he will be able to open lines is no exception. Rather than guard his weak against the Black king with a timely f3. 1.d4 pawn White goes on the counterattack. xd5 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 e6 Another offbeat [ 11...a6 was more circumspect when it try against the Tromp, against which White is rem ain s t o be see n whe the r W hite ha s advised to keep it "tight at the back". 4.e3 anything better than: 12.d1 ] Is Hodgson's recommendation in his "Secret's 12.d1 e6 13.xb5 b6 14.c4 e4 of the Trompovsky". White plays solidly aiming [ 14...c6 15.d6+ e7 16.b1 for a small advantage. gives White a pleasant advantage due to his [ 4.f3 d6 Black aims to force the exchange well placed knight. ] of White's Tromp bishop. ] 15.f4 0-0 4...d5 5.d2 [ 15...a6 16.e5 is very nasty for Black. ] [ 5.d3 is another interesting possibility. ] 16.c7 c6 5...c6 [ 16...xb2 17.xa8 xa8 18.ab1 [ 5...xd2 6.xd2 is an important is no better for Black. ] alternative. ] 17.xa8 xa8 18.xd7 It seems natural to 6.xe4 dxe4 7.f3 White sets about grab a pawn and grab "seventh heaven" at the demolishing Black's central pawn wedge. b6 same time. However, 8.b1 c5?! This pawn sacrifice proves very [ perhaps 18.g5 with the idea of Qh4 was hard to justify. Like it or not, Black had to even stronger. ] accelerate W hite's development with the 18...xb2 19.ad1 xe2 Black is obliged to u n p l e a s a n t e xf 3 . 9.fxe4 c6 10.f3 munch as much material as possible to make White already stands clearly better, with an up for his exchange deficit. 20.e1 c2 extra central pawn. e5 Black, clearly detesting [ 20...xc4 meets with the same response. ] the course of events seeks to mix it up even 21.g5 xg2 22.xg2 c3 The Black more. 11.xe5 cxd4 12.xc6 bxc6 q u e e n t r i e s t o f i n d a p a t h b a c k t o h e r 13.xd4!? Although this eventually turns out vulnerable king but it is too late. 23.h4 xg5 well, I can see no reason why W hite didn't B l a c k c a n n o t h o l d o n t o t h e m a t e r i a l straighten out his pawn structure with exd4. 24.xg5+ f8 a5+ 14.f2 e6 15.b4 White gains control [ 24...g7 simply gives Black a lost of c5. xa2 16.d3 a3 17.hd1 endgame after: 25.xg7+ xg7 26.xe6 White can simply build up at his leisure, as 2289 Rebers,Eugene H Geurink,Jasper chT Hengelo NED (3) [Aaron Summerscale]
2242
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B l a c k h a s p r o b l e m s c o m p l e t i n g h i s moving in for the kill. f7 22.d5+ e7 d e v e l o p m e n t . d8 18.e5 a4 [ 22...e6 does not help, as White wins The remoteness of the Black queen only after: 23.f1+ g8 24.xe6+ xh8 exacerbates Black's problems. 19.b5 g8 25.e8 ] 20.bxc6 The creation of a strong advanced 23.g5+ pa s s ed p awn sp e lls B la ck's d em ise. His [ 23.g5+ f7 24.xg4 leaves White a position is a very sorry sight! d6 21.c7 d7 piece up with a murderous attack. ] 22.cxd8+ And Black could stomach no more 1-0 humiliation. 1-0 2292 A45 Reynolds,Pat 2291 A45 Putka,Verner 2277 25.09.2001 Rey,Guillermo 2359 ECC Panormo GRE (3) Wong 2061 [Aaron Summerscale] Frisco Masters (2) 01.04.2000 [Aaron Summerscale] Trompowsky Attack: A brand new idea against the Tromp. Just the thing for your Christmas 1.d4 Trompowsky: The next game concerns a stocking. A line to bemuse and bewilder your crucial line of the Ne4 variation. Practical hardened Tromp opponent. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 results have heavily favoured White, but I feel e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c6 A new move. Black that Black has some, as yet unseen resources intends to bag the bishop pair. 5.f3 [ 5.d3 is interesting, then: g5 6.g3 h5 in this line. f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 7.xe4 dxe4 leads to an unbalanced c5 5.d3 c6 6.xe4 dxe4 7.d5 b4 position, with chances for both sides. ] 8.c3 e6 9.d6 f5 This is quite a critical line The point. Rather than meekly retreat, in the Tromp. Both players, although looking 5...g5 at the same position, have a quite different Black counterattacks against W hite's dark version of events. White hopes to undermine squared bishop. 6.g3 [ 6.fxe4 gxf4 7.exd5 xd5 8.c3 e6 the Black central pawns and prove his d6 9.e4 g7 looks roughly equal. ] pawn to be a huge asset. Whilst Black hopes to argue that the d6 pawn has simply ventured 6...xg3 7.hxg3 d6 8.f2 h5 Black gives into the lion's mouth! 10.f3 c6 11.fxe4 W h i t e n o t i m e t o b r e a t h e a n d i n s t e a d fxe4 This move simply cannot be continues his attack on W hite's weakened recommended. kingside. 9.d3 e5 The centre also falls into [ 11...e5 is interesting after: 12.exf5 xf5 Bla ck's h an ds. His ope nin g strate gy ha s with an unclear position. ( Not 12...exf4 definitely been a success. 10.c3 h4 11.e2 13.h5+ g6 14.fxg6 When White has a For the moment, W hite is able to hold his kingside together. f6 12.d2 d6 13.b5 very strong attack. )] Black prepares queenside castling to 12.h5+ White enters a forced sequence of d7 moves, which he has calculated give him the b r i n g h i s f i n a l p i e c e i n t o p l a y . 14.f1?! better chances. g6 13.xc5 e5 14.xe5 A passive move, which simply overprotects the vulnerable g3 square. Unfortunately, this g5 15.d4 xg2 16.0-0-0 xh1 17.xh8 [ 17.d5 was also possible and perhaps just encourages Black to seek new avenues of even stronger. f5 18.c7+ d7 19.xh8 attack. [ 14.b3 would at least give Black g4 20.d5 is clearly good for White. ] something to think about, other than his own 17...d7 Definitely not best. He had to try the attack. ] disruptive 17...Bg4. 18.b5 g4 But it is too The White King is beginning to look late to go back now! 19.d7+! A disruptive 14...e4 check which neatly opens lines against the very vulnerable indeed. 15.e1? A horrible Bla ck king. f7 20.c4+ e7 21.c5+ blunder, which only serves to make a bad 16.gxf3 0-0-0!? White toys with his helpless opponent before p o s i t i o n w o r s e . exf3 2243
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Blac k m ust have b een f ee lin g ge nerous. Taking on f3 was by far the clearest way to victory. [ 16...xf3 17.h2 0-0-0 leaves Black with all the trumps. ] 17.f2 That said, White is still in a very bad way. g4 18.h2 d7 19.xc6 bxc6 20.c4 White must try to open lines against the Black king to create counterplay. His main and rather daunting problem is that he is soooo far behind Black in the race to exploit the weakened king positions. [ 20.a4 hxg3+ 21.xg3 h3 Also leaves Black well on top. ] 20...hxg3+ 21.xg3 xg3+ 22.xg3 h3+ 23.g2 dh8 Black's pressure on the h-file is decisive. 24.e2 h6 25.g1 The only way to delay material losses. g3+ 26.f1 h3+ 27.e1 g2 Winning a piece and ending any faint hope that W hite may have had of salvation. The rest is an exercise in mopping up. 28.f1 g3+ 29.d1 hxh2 30.xh2 xh2 0-1
2293 Reynolds,Pat Simeonidis,Ioannis ECC Panormo GRE (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2280 23.09.2001
Trompowsky Attack: One of W hite's main aims in the 2...e6 Tromp is to build a big pawn centre. Countless games have shown that ignoring White's greater central control can be fatal to Black's chances and this game is no exception. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 Regular subscribers to this site will know that I believe: [ 5...d5 to be the best move here. ] 6.d3 e5 7.e2 Now White gets what he wants. A free reign for his f-pawn. d7 8.0-0 d8 The Black queen will have to evacuate the f-file in the near future anyway, so Black tucks her out of harms way. 9.f4 e7 10.d2 c6 11.h1 Sensibly avoiding any nasty surprises along the a7-g1 diagonal. 0-0 12.a4 a5 13.c4 Putting pressure on the centre and heading for the tasty f 5 square. exd4
Opening things up for his bishops is a commendable aim for Black, but he is nowhere near being sufficiently developed enough to exploit this. 14.xd4 c5 15.c2 d5? This just creates a target for White to latch onto and therefore can be regarded as a clear mistake. [ Simple development with either 15...c7 or ] [ 15...d7 was to be preferred. ] 16.exd5 cxd5 [ 16...xd5 avoids the IQP, but unfortunately loses to 17.b6 ] 17.e3 The d5 pawn already looks terribly vulnerable. a6 [ 17...e4 18.b3 also leaves White well on top. ] 18.f3 e6 [ 18...d6 doesn't help, as White has: 19.b5 d7 20.ad1 bagging the dpawn. ] 19.f5 The d-pawn must die! d7 20.xd5 d6 21.f6 A bone crusher of a move! Having won the central battle, W hite now turns his attention to the kingside. Black must have been left regretting his decision to encourage the advance of the f-pawn. e5 22.fxg7 xg7 23.f5+ h8 24.e3 The double attack on c5 and h6 is decisive. 1-0
2294 Roberts,Paul Van der Veen,Jan Essent Open Hoogeveen NED (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2155 2135 15.10.2001
Trompowsky Attack: Main line 2...c5, 3.Bxf6. Although not so popular these days, this line still contains more than a drop of poison for the unsuspecting Black player, as the lethal following game illustrates. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 The main line in this variation. gxf6 4.d5 d6 [ 4...b6 is the most ambitious move. ] 5.c4 f5 6.e3 d7 Black aims to contest the central light squares, but White is well placed to join the battle. 7.c3 f6 8.c2 a6 9.d3 e6 10.ge2 Black can never capture on d5, as it would leave f5 terminally weak, 2244
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and this White can concentrate on completing development before resolving the central tension. d7 11.dxe6 fxe6 12.e4 W ith the Black kingside so vulnerable, it makes sense to open the position. Black is in no position to make his possession of the two b i s h o p s a f a c t o r . fxe4 13.xe4 e7 14.xf6+ xf6 15.0-0 0-0-0 16.b4! Black's open lines on the kingside will give him a potent attack once he catches up on development, so White must strike while the iron is hot. cxb4 17.ab1 c6 18.xb4 g8 19.g3 e7 [ 19...h5 was a better chance to complicate the position. ] 20.b6 Having snuffed out Black's kingside counterplay along the g-file, White turns his attention back to the black king. g5 21.e4 Offering to exchange Black's key queenside defender. d5 22.cxd5 exd5 23.f5+ b8 24.fb1 The almost unbearable pressure continues to mount on Black's poor beleaguered king. a7 25.b3 Setting up a spectacular finish. b8 26.xa6+! xa6 27.b6# 1-0
Compared to game one, the fact that the black knight has not been exchanged will play a significant difference to the development of counterplay on the other flank. ] 12...cxd5 13.cxd5 d7 14.b3 b6 15.ac1 g4 16.h3 e5 17.fd1 fc8 18.d4 e8 19.ce2 Rather surprisingly, the exchange of pieces will just lead to an unpleasant ending. Therefore White should have opted for [ 19.f1! With a little advantage. ] 19...a6! 20.xc8 xc8 21.c1 xc1+ 22.xc1 c4 23.xc4 xc4 24.cb3 a4 25.f1 b6 26.g2 d7 27.e2 [ 27.f1 a4 28.a5 ( 28.a3 c3 29.e1 is better but still difficult for White. b1 30.a5 xd4 31.exd4 b6 32.c4 f8 33.a4 xa4 34.xd6 d7 ) 28...xd4 29.exd4 b6 ( 29...c8 30.c4 ) 30.b7 ( 30.c4? b5 ) 30...c3 31.a3 f8! 32.xd6 e7 33.b7 c8 34.d6+ d7 35.e1 b5 ] 27...b5 28.f4 [ 28.ed4!? xd4 29.exd4 With the idea Na5 ( 29.xd4? c4 30.a3 a6 wins a pawn )] 28...c3 29.a5 xb4 30.xb7 c4! 2295 A45 Wins a decisive pawn, which is not the only Rogers,Ian 2538 factor in Black's favour here: a powerful pair Azmaiparashvili,Zurab 2674 of bishops controlling the important half of the Europe-match 30 (9) 19.09.2001 board, and as a consequence an active king, and a weak white pawn on d5. That will make [Eric Prié] the task of realization very easy. 31.d8 [ 31.a3 xa3 32.a5 b5 33.c6 a6-+ ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 d6 3.xf6 exf6 4.c4 g6 32.c6 a5 33.xb4 axb4 5.c3 g7 6.e3 d7 7.g3 f5 8.g2 c6 31...xa2 34.d3 b3 35.b2 b1 36.f1 e4 9.ge2 0-0 10.0-0 f6 11.b4 White could have resigned here, but this is [ 11.d3! is best. ] fxe4 38.e2 11...e6 11...a6 ?! was played in a game quickplay chess. 37.xe4 K e s s l e r , B - K o l u s , L c o m m e n t e d i n 2 0 0 2 . xd5 39.d2 f8 40.a4 e7 41.c3 12.d5!? A well-advised recipe to play against xc3 42.xc3 d5 43.xb3 d6 44.b4 a pair of bishops is to fix the pawn structure, c6 45.g4 g5 46.c3 c5 47.d2 d4 already in White's favour here. But in our case, 48.exd4+ xd4 49.e2 e5 50.e3 h6 it also offers perspectives to Black's king 51.f3 exf3 52.xf3 d4 53.f2 d3 54.f3 d2 55.f2 f6 56.f3 e1 bishop. 57.e3 f1 58.f3 g1 59.g3 h1 [ 12.d3 d5 ( 12...c8!? ) A) 13.cxd5 cxd5= ( 13...xd5!? 14.b5 60.h4 gxh4+ 61.xh4 g2 0-1 c5 ); B) 13.c5 will still provide White with some queenside initiative, but this structure makes it easier for Black to contain it. 2245
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A45 utterly busted. 2528 1-0 2319 15.04.2001 2297 A45 Rombaldoni,Denis 2462 Caprio,Guido 2418 The Tromp: Black chooses a passive system of defence in the 2...e6 Tromp. Perhaps he Italian Championship, Rome (8.5) 29.11.2013 was in awe of his illustrious opponent, but the [Richard Palliser] Tigers of the chess board like nothing more than chasing timid little rabbits. 1.d4 f6 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.d2 h6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 [ I t ' s w o r t h n o t i n g t h a t 3...c5 4.e4?! Personally, I prefer: gives W hite a far inferior version of our [ 5...d5 which gives Black more central game continuation on account of cxd4 5.e5 co n t ro l a n d b e tt e r ch a nce s o f a n e a rly a5! . ] equality. ] 4.h4 c5 5.e4!? 6.d3 e5 7.e2 c6 A real time waster of a [ This uncompromising choice has received move. In this variation it is important for Black some interest at GM level of late. The far to be able to strike in the centre with a timely more solid, much more common option is, of exd4 and c5. Control of the d5 square is at course, 5.e3 e7 6.c3 b6 7.gf3 b7 this point largely irrelevant. 8.d3 , as we considered last month with [ 7...g6 Would have been better, for all the Predojevic-Berg, Norwegian League 2013. ] reasons mentioned above. ] 5...d5 8.0-0 d8 Black retreats before he is forced [ The alternative is the Sicilian-like 5...cxd4 to, after White plays f4. 9.f4 exd4 10.cxd4 when 6.e5 g5 7.g3 d5 brings about e7 11.bc3 The opening has been a quite an unexplored gambit. Here Richard res ou nd in g su ccess f o r W h it e. He ha s a Pert has advocated an immediate kingside central space advantage and good chances challenge with 8.h4! ( 8.c4 seems less for attacking the Black king. g4 12.h1 effective, as in Jurcik-Pacher, Trencin 2013, The White king can be vulnerable along the where c6 9.gf3 might have been met by a7-g1 diagonal, so he takes time to tuck his g4!? 10.h4 d6 , and if 11.exd6 f6 ) king away in the corner. d7 13.h3 xe2 8...gxh4 9.xh4 c6 10.gf3 and in one 14.xe2 b6 15.f2 0-0 16.e5 recent test d6 ( 10...e7 was preferred in R. When Black has given up central control, it is Pert-Jones, London 2011, and now 11.c4! always a good idea for White to free his light would have offered an exchange sacrifice squared bishop and give his knight the e4 which Black should really decline as shown square. f5 Black takes direct action to counter by Pert in his work) 11.b5 dxe5 12.xe5 the W hite ide as which I h ave me nt io ne d d7 13.xd7 ( 13.xc6 xc6 14.h5 a b o ve . H o we v e r , n o w t h e ki n gs i d e li g h t is Pert's main line and likely an even squares begin to look terribly weak. 17.ad1 stronger choice) 13...xd7 14.f3 g7 ad8 18.b1 White is in no hurry. Black will 15.xd4 saw White regaining his pawn with find it very hard to break down the imposing a s m a l l p u l l in Ye m e l i n - B e d o u in , R i g a W h i t e c e n t r e . dxe5 Black's position is 2013. ] certainly unpleasant, but this is bordering on 6.e5 g5 7.g3 fd7 Once again the darkthe suicidal. Opening up the f-file gives White squared bishop has been chased back to g3 exactly what he wants. A devastating attack and we now have a French-like situation on on the Black kingside. 19.fxe5 b4 20.g3 the board. Will White's centre be undermined f5 is caving in. And unfortunately for Black, or can he stabilise it and instead doing the that paves a direct route for White to his king. undermining himself on the kingside? 8.h4 b8 21.xf5 xd4 22.g6 Completely [ Thematic. Trompowsky and French c r i p p li n g . W i t h t h i s in f i l t r a t i o n , B la c k i s authority Viktor Moskalenko preferred 8.c4 2296 Rogers,Ian Schnitzspan,Lothar 5th Neckar Open (7) [Aaron Summerscale]
2246
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 , but after c6 9.cxd5 exd5 10.h4 g4 11.dxc5 xc5 12.a3 a5 13.b5 b6 14.a4 g7 15.e2 0-0 wasn't able to obtain quite enough play for the falling e5pawn in Moskalenko-Rodshtein, Benasque 2013. ] 8...g4 [ Black strives to keep the kingside as closed as possible. However, this is by no means forced with 8...c6!? 9.dxc5 ( 9.hxg5 cxd4 10.gf3 g7 11.gxh6 xh6 12.xh6 xh6 13.b3 b6 14.d3 f8 may be just about OK for Black) 9...g4 10.xg4 dxe5 an alternative which might appeal to those with some French experience. W hite's centre has been well and truly destroyed, but he enjoys open lines for his pieces and 11.xe5 xe5 12.b5+ d7 13.e2 g7 14.c3 c8 15.gf3 xc5 16.xd7+ xd7 17.b3 c4 18.bd4 0-0 19.0-0 maintained a rough balance in Vitiugov-Vallejo Pons, Khanty-Mansiysk (rapid) 2013. ] 9.xg4!? [ This obvious move is actually a novelty, but like the strong Italian IM I can't see any reason to reject the pawn. Pert preferred to concentrate on 9.dxc5 and after h5 10.b5 ( 10.e2 c6 11.f4 was tested in Nakamura-Caruana, Moscow (blitz) 2012 after dxe5 12.b3 d7 13.c3 f6 14.b5 a6 15.a4 h6 16.d3 it will likely not come as a surprise to learn that the American no.1 triumphed in this messy position, but Black must be at least OK h e re , s u c h a s a f t e r 0-0 ) 10...c6 11.e2 xc5 12.0-0 a6 13.xc6+ bxc6 14.c4 a5 15.d4 (Vitiugov-Caruana, Re ggio E m ilia 2 0 1 1 ) a6!? ( 15...b6 16.c2 d7 was the game and here even 17.xe6!? fxe6 18.g6+ d8 19.xe6 w a s p o s s i b l e a s p o i n t e d o u t b y P e r t) 16.xc6! b6 17.cxd5 exd5 18.d4 xf1 19.xf1 xb2 20.e3 White enjoys a dangerous-looking initiative for the exchange. ] 9...c6 [ Instead, 9...cxd4 10.gf3 c6 brings about a position which could also have arisen in the game, but after 11.h5 followed by 0-0-0 and Nb3 W hite must be
for choice. ] 10.gf3 b6?! [ Highly French-like, but White's centre is still in tact and he just appears to be doing pretty well after this move. As such, Caprio should have preferred 10...h5! 11.f4 cxd4 , although even here I have my doubts that Black is OK after, say, 12.b5 h6 13.g5 xg5 14.xg5 . ] 11.0-0-0 h5 It feels logical once again to insert this advance, but without the queen on d8 White will be much less troubled by any ... Bh6. 12.f4 cxd4 13.g5! [ Rombaldoni wants to attack. This is very strong, although one might also make a good case f or the usef u l 13.e1 g7 14.b1 before leaping forward with Ng5. ] 13...dxe5 [ 13...cxe5 14.df3 g7 is but a transposition. ] 14.df3 g7 Essential to help keep the f7 point under control. 15.xe5 xe5 16.e1 And just like that Black suddenly finds himself in all manner of trouble. Do not underestimate this concept of 5 e4! a5? [ This desperate counterattack won't succeed, but it's not hard to see why Caprio wasn't convinced by 16...f6 17.xe5 fxg5 18.xg5 f8 : for example, 19.d2 h6 20.e2 d7 21.xh5+ d8 22.e5 when White is in complete control and his kingside pawns should sweep all before them once Black takes the exchange. ] 17.xe5 xe5 18.b5+! A neat way to prevent the threatened mate with tempo and so decide proceedings. xb5 19.xf7+ d8 20.xe5 1-0
2298 Romero Holmes,Alfonso Gulbas,Cemil ECC Halkidiki GRE (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2524 2301 25.09.2002
Trompowsky In an critical line of the Tromp, White manages to refute overambitious play by Black. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.d3 cxd4 6.xe4 dxe4 7.xd4 [ 7.exd4!? ] 2247
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...xd4 8.exd4 An important position in this line of the tromp. Black as so often happens, has gained the bishop pair, but at the cost of compromising his pawn structure. c6 9.c3 e6 [ 9...f5 looks more logical here. ] 10.d2 f5 11.f3 Black has manage d to protect e4, so White opens the e-file in order t o a t t a c k t h e n e w we a k n e s s o n e 6 . e5?! A radical solution to his positional problems, but this is a true pawn sacrifice. [ 11...exf3 12.gxf3 gives White long term pressure against e6. ] 12.xe5 xe5 13.dxe5 e6 14.e2 exf3 15.xf3 Black may have opened the position for his bishops, but I feel that his compensation is insufficient. W hite has a g r e a t s q u a r e o n d 4 f o r h i s k n i g h t s . g6 16.fd4 c4 17.b3 This poses an awkward question to the Black bishop, which is short of g o o d s q u a r e s . xe2? Black rids f of his problem piece and unfortunately jettisons a large part of his compensation at the same time. [ 17...d5 18.f4 continues the harassment. Bu t t h en at le a st th e b ish o p rea che s a secure post with: ( 18.0-0 keeping White's options open may be stronger. ) 18...e4 ] 18.xe2 g7 19.he1 c8 20.c4 f7 21.f3 h6 22.ad1 c7 White has a clear advantage thanks to his extra pawn. 23.d5 e8 24.d3 g5? A fatal weakening that hastens the end. 25.d4 The threat of e6+ followed by N/Rf5 forced Black to give up the ghost. 1-0
2299 Rozentalis,Eduardas Nithander,Victor Gothenburg (2) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2585 2438 12.08.2012
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.f3 'This has been considered harmless for nigh on twenty years now', as I've written before on the site. I would even go so far to say that the variation is only really suitable for blitz or rapid games, where Black might fall for a c e r t a i n t r a p , b u t e vi d e n t l y R o ze n t a l i s
disagrees. d6 [ The French-like 5...d5 is also quite viable see Zherebukh-Alsina Leal, Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2012, in the Archive. ] 6.c3 d7 7.d2 c6?! [ Nithander begins to slide down the slippery slope with this move. As we've seen before B l a c k s h o u l d p r e f e r 7...a6 8.0-0-0 and now either e7 , as covered by Eric in Muse-Bischoff, Internet (blitz) 2005, ( or 8...d8 9.h4 c5!? when one recent exa m p le sa w 10.dxc5 xc5 11.e5 d5 12.d4 c7 13.f4 b5 14.g4 , which was admirably direct and consistent from the white player, but still after b7 15.h3 b4 16.ce2 e4 17.e1 c5 18.b1 b6 Black enjoyed decent counterplay in IpatovSwiercz, Moscow 2012. )] 8.0-0-0 e5 [ This is often denoted as dubious, but the damage has already been done in my view. Bla ck doe sn't wan t e 4-e 5 to com e wit h t e m p o , b u t a g a i n 8...d8 is probably a better way of avoiding that. W hite leads s o m e w h a t i n d e v e l o p m e n t , s o 9.d5 makes se nse whe n cxd5 10.exd5 e5 11.g4!? e7 12.h4 looks dangerous, but Black is still very much in the game after the calm c5 . ] 9.dxe5 dxe5? [ Rozentalis gets lucky as the Swedish IM slides much further down the slope. Had Nithander been a ChessPub subscriber he would have avoided falling for this fairly wellknown trap, probably by employing a dif f e re n t 7t h m o ve or a t le ast b y goin g 9...xe5 here. Af ter 10.xe5 ( 10.d4!? , and if g5 11.h4! , is also quite tempting) 10...xe5 ( a n d a g a i n n o t 10...dxe5? 11.b5! ) 11.f4 a5 12.b1 White has an edge, but nothing more. ] 10.b5! A strong blow and one which leaves White very much in front. d8 [ This grim move may actually be best. After 10...b8 11.xa7 Black was just a pawn down in Rogers-Glek, Linz 1997, as annotated by Aaron Summerscale, ] [ while 10...cxb5 11.xb5 is a killer pin, as illustrated by another recent game: c5 ( t h e o v e r l o a d i n g 11...e6 12.xe5! is the key point) 12.xd7+ e7 13.d5 2248
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xf2? 14.hf1 d8 15.xe5 and Black might already have resigned in KristiansenLeutwyler, Helsingor 2012. ] 11.a5+! Forcing a further concession. b6 12.c3 'With mounting and lasting pressure', as Aaron Summerscale put it. c5! [ The IM continues to mount the stiffest defence. When Black had previously fallen for the trap, he'd usually opted for 12...a6 , after which 13.d6 xd6 14.xc6 e7 ( n o w t h e e xch a n ge go e s we s t 14...b7 15.xb7 e7 16.c4 restricts the damage to just a pawn) 15.xa8 c5 16.a7+ d7 17.xa6 b8? 18.xd6! xd6 19.d1 was a quick win for the Everyman author in C.Lakdawala-Banawa, Los Angeles 2010. ] [ N o t e t o o t h a t 12...cxb5? 13.xb5 would again result in a killer pin: c5 ( if 13...d6 14.c6; or 13...e7 14.c7 ) 14.xe5 c7 15.xd7 d8 16.b4 xd7 17.bxc5 with two extra pawns and an ongoing initiative. ] 13.b4! [ Continuing in vigorous fashion. Instead 13.xe5 a6 14.xd7 xd7 15.d4 c7 would only have left White a pawn ahead, ] [ but a very good case might be made for 13.xe5!? , with the point cxb5 14.d5 b8 15.e5 , regaining the piece with some advantage. ] 13...xf2 [ White finds himself attacking and with at t h e l e a s t a c l e a r a d va n t a ge a f t e r b o t h 13...xb4 14.xb4 cxb5 15.xb5 c7 16.d5 ] [ and 13...cxb5 14.bxc5 c7 15.cxb6+ xb6 16.b4 . ] 14.xe5 cxb5 15.xb5 A familiar motif by now. White will regain his piece on d7 with a huge advantage. e3+ [ This doesn't help, but 15...e8 16.xd7 xe5 17.c6+ c7 18.xa8+ would have le f t B lac k t h e e xch a n ge a n d a p a wn in arrears. ] 16.b1 f4!? In some ways a blunder, but I'm not sure what else to suggest. 17.xd7 [ Hardly bad, but still a slightly strange choice. One would have expected Rozentalis to spot 17.xd7+! xd7 18.d1 e8 ( 18...xe5 19.xd7+ e8 20.xa7+ is the main
point ) 19.xd7 f8 20.xf7+ xf7 21.xf7 xf7 22.f3 when White will emerge with queen and bishop against the rooks. ] 17...xe5 18.xc8+ e7 19.d7+ f8 20.c4! Underlining White's superiority on the light squares and in terms of coordination, while menacing carnage on f7. b5 He had to deflect the queen with Rf1 such a threat. 21.c5+ g8 22.d5 h7 The best defence, but now White gets to weaken the black king's defences yet again while netting a second pawn. 23.f5+! g6 24.xe5 gxf5 25.xf5 g6 26.hf1 hf8 27.d5 g7 28.h4 By no means the only good move, but why not attack with Black's king so exposed? ae8 29.h5 e6 30.d4+ f6 31.e5! Crashin g t hro ugh . fxe5 32.g4+ h7 33.xf8! [ A neat final touch. 33.xf8 xg4 34.1f7+ g7 35.xg7+ xg7 36.xe8 would see White emerging a whole rook ahead. ] 1-0
2300 Sarapu,Ortvin Barczay,Laszlo Izt Sousse [Eric Prié]
A45
1967
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.e3 b6 5.f3 The alternative gambit to 5. Nc3, with B la c k h a vi n g a vo id e d p l a yi n g . . . e 6 , a n d enjoying a straight plan of development with ... Bg7, ...0-0, have even less chance of success than they do when White doesn't capture on f6. [ 5.dxc5 xb2 6.d2 c3! 7.gf3 xc5 8.c4 g7 9.0-0 0-0 10.b1 a6 11.d3 Being aware of his 8th move inaccuracy. d6 12.d4 c6 13.e4 a5 14.b5? This "desperado" attack does not work, and for many reasons, but White had nothing for th e p awn a nywa y. axb5 15.h5 d8 16.g3 A) 16...h6 17.df5 xf5 18.xf5 ( 18.xf5 e6 19.xh6+ xh6 20.xh6 f5 ) 18...f8! 19.h7 ( 19.h5 b4 20.xg7 xf5 21.xf5 e6 ) 19...f5 20.xf5 c3-+; 2249
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 16...xd4 17.xh7+ f8 18.exd4 ( 18.h5 c6 19.xg7+ e8 20.g8+ d7 21.xf7 c7 22.xf6 b8 ) 18...d2 19.f4 ( 19.h5 h6 ) 19...f5 20.e2 xa2 21.h4 e3+ 22.h2 e6 23.c3 b2 24.xb5 g6 25.xg6 fxg6 26.d5 d7 27.a3 b5 28.h3 a8 29.b1 a1 30.d2 xf1 31.xf1 b4 32.d2 a4 33.c4 xc2 0-1 Mak Keng Kei-Rytshagov,M Olm Bled 2002 ] 5...xb2 6.bd2 cxd4 7.exd4? [ 7.xd4 c6 8.b5 e5 9.f3 b8 10.d3 a6 11.c3 ( 11.bd4 e5 12.f5 d5 ) 11...e6 12.0-0 g7 13.b1 c7 ] 7...h6! 8.d3 xd2+ 9.xd2 xd4 By this time Fischer had already withdrawn from the tournament, but still, it must have be e n un s e t tlin g to b e a lm o st win nin g so quickly, in the tournament antechamber of the candidates, whilst being witnessed by living legends like Larsen, Korchnoi, Geller, Gligoric, Portisch, Reshevsky, Hort, Stein, Mecking, Kavalek et cetera... 10.0-0 c6 11.f3 d6?! Possibly the Hungarian Grandmaster had thought that he just had to castle queenside safely to collect the full point but it was not so simple. He had to combine this with active play, like White, to be successful. [ 11...g4 12.e1 ( 12.h3 g7 13.h1 g8 14.g1 h6 15.b1 b6 ) 12...g8 13.g3 d5 ( 13...b6!? ) 14.b1 e5 ] 12.e2 b6?! [ 12...e6 13.d2 g8 14.xh7? xg2+! 15.xg2 g4+ 16.h1 xf3+ 17.g1 d5 18.e3 h5 19.d3 h3 20.g3 0-0-0 21.fe1 h8-+ ] 13.ad1 c7 [ 13...e6 14.d2 ( 14.e4 a6 15.xa6 xe4 16.fe1 g6 17.b7 d8 ) 14...g8 15.fe1 g4 16.g3! W ith the idea xf3 17.e4 is already not very clear. ] 14.h4 b7 [ 14...d6 15.e4 e6 16.b5 ] 15.f5 e5 16.h5 What a change of situation! From the position 6 moves ago, it is as if Black had played only two moves, ...b6 and .. .Bb 7 with out , f or all th at, f inding a shelter for his queen... 0-0-0 17.fe1 d5 18.c4 [ 18.xe7!? e5? 19.e4! xe4 20.d6++- ]
18...c5 19.xe7+ xe7 20.xc5+ bxc5 21.xe7 h6 22.f5 c6 23.f3? [ 23.d6 he8! 24.dxd7! ( 24.xc6+?? b8 25.xc5 xe7 26.g4 e5-+ ) 24...xd7 25.xd7+ xd7 26.xe8+ c7 27.f1 d4 28.e7+ d6 29.xf7 e6 30.xa7 xc4 31.e2 ] [ 23.xf7! hf8 24.h7 h8 25.xh8 xh8 26.d6 c7 27.xf6 ] 23...c7 Phew! 24.xf7 df8 25.g7 ½-½
2301 Sargissian,Gabriel Froehlich,Peter Anibal Open Linares ESP (9) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2520 2451 16.01.2001
February update: Trompowsky attack: A fine display of the attacking prowess of queen and knight! This game is enough to make the supposedly superior bishop extremely jealous. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 By far the most uncompromising approach. gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 f5 6.g3 g7 7.c3 This is one of White's most solid approaches to this line. It is not, however, lacking in ambition and has been tried by among others, Michael Adams. d6 8.g2 d7 9.d2 f6 10.h3 In this line as in the Benoni the usual Black plan is to put early pressure on d5. Thus, in anticipations, W hite prepares to route his k n i g h t t o f 4 . h5 11.c2 a6 12.f1 When the knight finally arrives on e3, it will highlight the Black pawn weaknesses. I say highlight, rather paint a neon flashing sign around the horribly weak pawns. h4 13.e3 e6 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.g4! Bam! An excellent pawn lever which utterly and brutally shatters Black's kingside structure. g8 [ 15...fxg4 16.g6+ f8 17.g5 is curtains. ] 16.gxf5 h6 17.g1 xe3 18.fxe3 e5 Black has made the best of a bad situation, but is now dangerously behind in development. By now, you should be aware that such an assertion (especially about development) can only spell doom. 19.0-0-0 xa2 Regaining the pawn deficit, but, oh no!! losing yet further time. 20.d5! a1+ 21.d2 xg1 22.xa1 2250
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Incisive play. Many players are reluctant to exchange two rooks for the queen, but in this specific position, White has seen a way into Black's uncoordinated position. [ 22.xg1!? ] 22...xa1 23.b3 xd5 24.xd5 xf5 25.g8+ e7 26.g7+ White goes for glory although the more mundane: [ 26.xa8 was equally as good. ] 26...e8 27.g5 Just watch the Queen and Knight work together. They are, as billed, a lethal combination. d8 28.xb7 c8 29.f7+ e8 30.xd6+ A very convincing attacking display by the player of the White pieces. 1-0
I t h i n k B l a ck s h o u l d s t ri ve t o p r o v o k e a reduction of the central tension by c4xd5 so that he gets the ideal c6 square for his knight, pressurizing the opposing d4 pawn... [ 7...b6!? 8.xb6 ( 8.f3!? d7 ) 8...axb6 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.f3 c6 ] 8.f3 a5 9.cxd5 cxd5 [ 9...xd5 10.c4 xf3 11.xf7+ d8 12.gxf3 exd4 13.0-0-0 ] 10.b5! This is the problem: The threats against e5, d5 or b7 will now induce Black to make moves he would have preferred to avoid such as: b4 obstructing the b-file. 11.0-0 e4 12.h4 a6 13.xd7+ xd7 14.a3 xc3 15.bxc3! Black must have pinned some hopes on [ 15.xb7+?? d6! 16.fc1 hb8 ] 15...ab8 16.f3 hc8 2302 A45 [ 16...b5 17.fxe4 dxe4 18.d5 ] Schneider,Ilja 2500 17.ac1 f5 [ 17...c4 18.fxe4 dxe4 19.xf6 ] Glek,Igor V 2537 Bundesliga 2009-10 (5) 12.12.2009 18.g4!? [ 18.fxe4 fxe4 19.f5 Was a lot less [Eric Prié] complicated.. b5 20.a2 d3 21.f2 xc3? 22.g3! xf5 ( 22...xc1 23.d6+ 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6!? 3.xf6 gxf6 4.c4! e5 c8 24.e7# ) 23.xc3 xc3 24.xf5 [ 4...b6 5.d2 The main idea behind 4.c4 c1+ 25.f1 ] instead of 4.e3. e5 6.e3 d5 7.c3 e6 Black looks outflanked and his 8.cxd5 ( 8.f3 dxc4! 9.dxe5 d7 ) 8...cxd5 18...g8 9.b5+ ( 9.dxe5!? c6 10.exf6 0-0-0 exp lo d ing ce n t re e nh a nce s t h e u n ha p p y 11.f3 d4 12.exd4 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 position of his king. Nevertheless, all this business remains highly unclear against cold14.c2 ) 9...c6 A) 10.dxe5 0-0-0 ( 10...fxe5 11.xd5 blooded defence... 19.h1 fxg4 [ 19...d8 20.xf5 xf5 21.xd5+ ] xd5 12.xd5 b4+ 13.f1 ) 11.xc6 bxc6 12.f3 Was critical, with 20.fxe4 g3 [ 20...dxe4 21.d5! xd5 22.cd1 e6 compensation for Black.; ( 22...c6 23.xd5 xd5 24.f6+; B) 10.ge2 0-0-0 22...g5 23.c4 ) 23.xd5 xd5 24.f6+ B1) 11.c1 b8 12.xc6 xc6 xf6 25.xd5 ] 13.e4 b6 14.xf6 b4 15.c3 exd4 16.exd4 ( 16.xd4? xd4 21.g2 gxh2 [ 21...b5 22.c2 bc8 23.exd5 xd5 17.exd4 h5! Followed by ...Be7, 24.f5+ ( 24.e4 b3 25.d2 h5 )] trapping the knight.) 16...c8 17.f4+ [ 21...h3? 22.xf7+ e6 ( 22...e8 d6; 23.xh7 ) 23.cf1+- gxh2? 24.1f6# ] B2) 11.0-0 b8 12.ac1 e7 13.d3 Not allowing the exchange sacrifice. e4 14.b1 Zlochevskij, A (2505)- 22.f4 Petrosian, K (2380) BL2 1995. With the dxe4 23.c4 g5 [ 23...g4 24.c5 f3+ ( 24...g7 25.d5+ ideas f2-f3 and chiefly Na4-c5 where it c8 26.e5 g8 27.d5 f3+ 28.xf3 appears clear that the black queen is not exf3 29.e7+ d7 30.d6+ e8 well placed... in any case worse placed 31.xg8 ) 25.xf3! g1+ ( 25...exf3 than the Qd2. Hence the continuation of 26.xf7+ c6 27.d5+ b5 28.d7# ) the main game. ] 26.xh2! xc1 ( 26...d2+ 27.h3 ) 5.e3 d5 6.c3 e6 7.b3 d7 2251
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 27.xf7+ c6 28.f2 Regrouping with d e c i s i v e t h r e a t s , f o r i n s t a n c e e1 ( 28...xa3 29.e6+ b5 30.a2 xe3 31.b6+ c4 32.a4+ c3 33.b4+ c2 34.a2+ d1 35.a4+ e1 36.g2+ ) 29.e6+ b5 30.b2+ a4 31.b3+ a5 32.b6+ a4 33.b4+ xa3 34.a5# ] 24.a4+ [ 24.c2 be8! 25.xe4 c8 The black king is suddenly safer than his counterpart! 26.b1 e7 27.xe6 fxe6 28.c5 e5 With counter play based on the diabolical possibility 29.c6? e6!!-+ 30.cxb7+ b8 31.fc1 g1+! 32.xg1 hxg1+ 33.xg1 h6+ 34.h4 xh4# ] 24...c7 25.c2 g4?? Time trouble, undoubtedly. [ 25...b6! Always the king's security first! 26.d5 d7 27.c5+ ( 27.xe4 a7 28.f3 ) 27...a7 28.c6 bxc6 29.c5+ a8! ( 29...b6 30.b1 d8 31.a4 g1+ 32.xg1 hxg1+ 33.xg1 b7 34.b4 ) 30.dxc6 ( 30.a5 c8 ) 30...g4 31.xg5 ( 31.c7 f3+ 32.xf3 g1+ A recurrent theme... ) 31...xg5 32.xh2? ( 32.c7 c8 ) 32...b2+ 33.h1 b8!-+ ] 26.xe4 f5? [ 26...be8 27.d5+ b8 28.f4+ xf4 29.xf4 ] 27.d5? He who wins in chess only makes the penultimate error... [ 27.e5+ d7 28.d5+ c7 29.e4 ] 27...gd8? And this is the final one. [ 27...bd8 ] 28.c5+ d7 29.g2! g8 30.d5+ 1-0
[ 15...c7 or the important Volokitin novelty ] [ 15...b4 of last month's October update. ] 16.0-0-0?! better is [ 16.f4! xd4 17.cxd4 0-0 18.e2 e8 19.hc1 ( 19.ac1 b5 ) 19...g5 Otherwise Rc3 takes e3...or c8 if Black is incautious! ( 19...a4 20.b3 a3 21.c3 ) 20.d5 xd5 21.xd5 a4! 22.d3 d6 23.c7 f5+ 24.e4 ( 24.e2 e6 ) 24...e6 25.d5 f5!= ] 16...d5 [ 16...0-0 17.f4 ] 17.b5+ f8 18.a3 [ 18.f4? xd4 19.xd4 xa2 ] 18...xh3 19.gxh3 d8 A mysterious move [ 19...e8 20.he1 c7 21.f1 e8 and Black is fine. ] 20.d3 d6 21.xe3 xd4 22.cxd4 e6 23.c3 g6 24.d2 h5 25.e1? [ 25.c7 f4 26.xb7 g7 ( 26...xh3? 27.d7 For this reason alone it was not good for White to exchange the rooks on e1! e7 28.b8+ g7 29.xh8 ) 27.c1 xh3 28.c6! Exchanging the only protector of b6 now after which Black can expect the worst, facing two mighty outside connected passed pawns fully supported by bishop and rook. ( 28.d7 e7 )] 25...xe1 26.xe1 f4 27.c8+? B i s h o p a n d r o o k t o g e t h e r a r e ge n e r a l l y stronger than rook and knight so the fact of pushing the black king away hardly justifies the lost tempo. [ 27.c7 e6 28.xb7 xd4 29.d3 ( 29.xb6 e7 30.f2 xb5 31.xb5 c8 32.xd5 c2+ 33.g3 xb2 34.a4 ) 29...xf3+ 30.e2 e5 31.xb6 ] 27...g7 28.c7 e6 29.xb7 xd4 30.a4 c8 31.d1 c2 32.e8 xb2 33.xf7 2303 A45 b4 34.f4 h8 [ 34...h6 35.g8 ] Schneider,Ilja 2372 Polzin,Rainer 2520 35.a7? [ 35.xd5 xa4 36.xb6 f5 37.e2 xf4 German Cup Baden Baden GER (2) 17.04.05 38.b7 is completely drawn. ( 38.b8+ g7 [Eric Prié] 39.b7+ h6 40.g8 g7 ) 38...h4 39.g2 ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ All of a sudden Black takes a big 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 35...f5 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 a d v a n t a g e b y k e e p i n g h i s f r e e d p a wn . exf4 12.d4 c5 13.h3 d5 14.e4 fxe3 36.xd5? Time trouble undoubtedly. d4+ 15.c4 f6!? Another Novelty played this 0-1 year instead of the old 2252
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 19...xc6 was really the only hope, giving up some material to alleviate the pressure. ] 20.g6+ e7 21.f7+ d8 22.b5 01.01.2002 The W hite attack proceeds like clockwork. b8 [ 22...e7 23.g6 is equally hopeless. ] d6 24.xc6+ xc6 25.e7+ Blackmar-Diemer Declined: W hite uses an 23.f4 interesting move order to reach his desired set- The rest is simply carnage. c8 26.xd6+ up. Black shows his unfamiliarity with the xd6 27.c1+ A powerful on of the power of resulting position and is duly punished in a White's kingside pawn advance in french type r e s o u n d i n g f a s h i o n . 1.d4 f6 2.f3 po sitio ns. Bla ck p aid t he p rice f o r b ein g I f y o u wa n t a p r o p e r B l a c k m a r - D i e m e r , thrown onto his own resources from an early without having to play the Hubsch gambit, stage. then this move is the one that you should look 1-0 at. d5 3.e4 e6 Black opts for a french formation, but the fact that White has not yet A45 developed his b1 knight, allows him to defend 2305 his centre more easily. Schulz 2260 [ 3...dxe4 4.c3 transposes directly back Moritz,Hartmut into the Blackmar-diemer. ] Open Rostock GER (5) 31.08.2002 4.e5 fd7 5.f4 c5 6.c3 c6 7.f3 [Aaron Summerscale] White has built an imposing pawn centre, and the million dollar question is "Can Black break Trompowsky: Far too passive play by Black it down?" cxd4 As a french player myself, I brings it's just rewards. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 find it hard to agree with Black's approach in 3.e4 e7 A passive choice which guarantees this game, as releasing the central tension so W hite an opening advantage. 4.d3 d6 early can only help White's cause. 5.f3 bd7 6.h3 h6 7.e3 a6 Black is [ 7...b6 followed by f6 is more in the spirit p l a y i n g a t y p i c a l h e d g e h o g f o r m a t i o n . of things. Black must generate counterplay Although not the most active of defences it is in the centre or he will surely be doomed. ] quite difficult to break down. 8.0-0 0-0 8.cxd4 b6 Black begins a far-fetched plan to 9.bd2 h7 10.c4 c5 11.c2 e5 e xc h a n g e h is b a d li gh t -s qu a r e d b i sh o p . B l a c k c o n t i n u e s a l o n g h i s s t o d g y p a t h . P e r h a p s h e s i m p l y wa s n ' t a w a r e o f t h e B l o c k i n g t h e c e n t e r d o e s c e d e W h i t e a traditional plans in this type of position. By central space advantage. 12.d5 g5 13.h2 trying to play it safe and decline the Blackmar, In order to make progress White must open Black has bitten off more than he can chew. lines. This prepares the f4 pawn lever. f6 9.a3 a5 10.b5 e7 11.d3 Preventing 14.e2 e8 15.a4 gh7 16.h4 f8 17.h5 Ba6 and eyeing the sensitive f5 square. b7 Denying Black the use of the important g6 12.g4 Charge! c8 13.c3 h5?! Normally square. 8h7 18.a3 b8 19.f4 White has this would be a good positional move but with prepared this well and now is the time to h i s p i e c e s s o u n d e ve l o p e d , t h i s s i m p l y strike. exf4 20.xf4 g5 21.e5! amounts to a critical weakening of his W hat a difference three moves make. kingside structure. 14.f5 exf5 Suddenly all the W hite pieces are ready to [ 14...hxg4 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.g5 h6 s p r i n g i n t o l i f e . fh7 22.d3 dxe5 17.0-0 leaves Black with unsolvable 23.xh7+ problems down the f-file. ] [ 23.xe5 was simple and stronger than the 15.gxf5 c6 16.e6 Sit back and watch the game continuation but I suspect White could show and the Black kingside is torn limb from n o t re st ra in h im se l f f ro m t h e f o llo win g limb. fxe6 17.fxe6 f6 18.e5 White is combination. ] remorseless in his exploitation of Black's light 23...xh7 24.xh6! A powerful finish to a squared weaknesses. d6 19.xc6+ xc6 well playe d ga me. W hile ob je ct ive ly t his 2304 Schoupal,Patrik Leniart,Arkadiusz Open Trinec CZE (8) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45
2253
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 should lead to a draw over the board Black cracks under the strain. gxh6 25.xf7! The White pieces crash in around the Black king. g5?? Black resigned rather than wait for Qg6-g7 mate. [ 25...f8 was the best defence when 26.xf8+ xf8 ( 26...xf8?? 27.f3+ f6 28.g6 wi n s q u i c k l y.) 27.g3+ g7 28.xg7+ xg7 29.g6+ f8 30.xh6+ g8 31.g6+ leads to a draw by perpetual check. ] 1-0
2306 Schwarz,Thomas Ritter,Uwe Schloss Open (3) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2149 15.04.2000
Black plays an ambitious line against the Tromp, which involves a vital pawn grab. Unfortunately, he chickens out at the vital m o m e n t . A s a r e s u l t , w e c a n wa t c h h i s position go steadily downhill. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 d6 Black has a strange last minute change of heart and aims for a quiet life. In this position, taking on b2 is the only logical continuation, as otherwise the queen is simply misplaced on b6. [ 4...xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e5 I s t h e m o s t c r i t i c a l c o n t i n u a t i o n . 8.f5 with the idea g4-g5, is White's best. ] 5.e4 g6 6.b1 g7 7.f3 0-0 8.e2 a5 The queen must move again, in order to make space for the b-pawn. A sure sign that Black's opening play has been poorly thought out. 9.d2 a6 10.a4 It goes without saying that ... b5 must be prevented. d7 11.c4 c7 12.a5 Ruling out ...b5 for the foreseeable future. b5 13.b6 The Knight finds an e x c e l l e n t o u t p o s t . xe2 14.xe2 White enjoys a small but persistent advantage, due to his extra space and outpost on b6. So there is no need to enter the unclear complications resulting from: [ 14.xa8 xd1 15.xc7 xc2 ] 14...a7 YUCK! This looks and is completely disgusting, but sadly forced. 15.0-0 bd7 16.ca4 c4?! Probably prompted by a desperate need to free some space for the
horribly cramped Black pieces, but in reality this is just a pawn sacrifice, for scant compensation. [ 16...d8 May well have been Black's best approach, intending to exchange on b6 f ollowed by .. .Nf d7 . 17.b4 would leave White firmly in the driving seat. ] 17.e3 White realises that the c4 pawn is going nowhere and that he can take it at his leisure. Thus he first improves the position of his bishop. [ 17.xc4 was a greedier, but equally viable approach ] 17...e5 18.f4 eg4 19.d4 h5 20.h3 h6 21.bd1 Black's temporary attempt at active defence has rebounded. He is not only faced with the imminent loss of his c4 pawn, but two of his pieces are woefully misplaced (Nh6 and Ra7). An early trip to the bar was in order. 1-0
2307 Sedlak,Nikola Ni Hua Tromso Olympiad (7.4) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2554 2666 09.08.2014
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d5 6.d2 c5 7.gf3 [ In view of the game continuation, I did w o n d e r a b o u t b e g i n n i n g w i t h 7.b5+ , b u t B l a c k s e e m s t o b e f i n e a f t e r d7 8.xd7+ xd7 9.gf3 cxd4 10.xd4 c5 .] 7...a6!? Cutting out the check on b5 at the cost of a tempo. Important alternatives are: [ a) 7...c6 8.b5 d7 9.exd5 exd5 10.0-0 cxd4 11.xd4 is a position we discussed briefly earlier this year. There we s a w T w a n B u r g g o i n g l o n g . e7 was preferred in Sadilek-Filip, Arad 2014, where 12.b3 ( 12.h5!? is an aggressive idea after d6 13.fe1 xd4 14.xd7+ xd7 15.cxd4 0-0 16.f3 White is nominally for choice, although Black s h o u l d o b j e c t i ve l y b e O K) 12...d6 13.fd1?! ( 13.fe1 0-0 14.2f3 would be a more natural approach) 13...a6 14.e2 xd4 15.cxd4 0-0 16.f3 e6 2254
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.f1 ac8 18.e3 fd8 was fine for the second player. ] [ b) 7...cxd4 8.xd4 c6 should be met by 9.b5 , ( whereas 9.a4 d7 10.b5 c5 11.0-0 xd4 12.exd5 exd5 13.xc6 already had to be accompanied by an early draw offer in Gallagher-Jenni, Swiss League 2014. )] 8.dxc5 [ Now Black won't have to lose a tempo with his dark-squared bishop. White should avoid 8.b3?! cxd4 9.cxd4?! c6! , which already favoured Black in Walton-D. Buckley, British League 2005, as shown by Eric, ] [ but 8.d3!? is possible. Then cxd4 9.e5 ( Tzermiadianos' 9.cxd4!? dxe4 10.xe4 is t h e a l t e rn a t ive) 9...d8 10.xd4 gives W hite some development lead in a French-like position. Black is solid and with the bishop-pair, but I wouldn't mind taking W h i t e h e r e , wi t h c6 11.2f3 c7 12.e2 g5!? 13.xc6 bxc6 14.0-0 b6 15.b4! a5 16.a3 looking like an edge in Sanchez Enriquez-Perez Mitjans, Castell de Sant Ferran 2014. ] 8...xc5 9.exd5!? [ A novelty, if "the critical idea for the subvariation" according to Eric. Previously, 9.d3 0-0 10.0-0 c6 11.e2 a7 had seemed OK for Black in KarttunenHellsten, European Team Championship, Plovdiv 2003. ] 9...exd5 [ Recapturing and naturally sidestepping 9...0-0? 10.e4 . ] 10.b3 a7!? [ This move went unmentioned by Eric. He considered 10...e6+ to be "the point of the black idea" and after 11.e2 b6 12.0-0 0-0 13.e1 d6 14.d3 c6 15.d1 g4 16.c2 g6 assessed the position as equal, which seems quite correct. ] 11.xd5 0-0 12.0-0-0!? [ Sedlak is happy to return the pawn on f2 and wants to make use of his major pieces down the central files. A materialistic player would prefer 12.e2 e8 13.d1 e7 14.c1 c6 15.0-0 . Eric actually considered this position, albeit with the black bishop on b6, and wasn't convinced by
the compensation, but after f5 I'm not so sure what W hite should do: for instance, 16.d3 ad8 17.e1 d6 18.xe8+ xe8 19.e2 e6 with ongoing activity for the pawn. ] 12...c6 [ The Chinese Grandmaster correctly wants t o d e v e l o p a t e m p o . I n s t e a d , 12...xf2 13.d3 c6 14.e4 g6 15.hf1 would have allowed W hite some counterp re ssu re a n d le f t t h e ch a n c e s ro u gh l y balanced. ] 13.d3 e8 I fear I'm not a great materialist and am not that keen on W hite's position, extra pawn or not. That half-open c-file is a definite worry, as is the bishop-pair and Ni Hua ensures that Qe4 won't cause any real trouble. 14.he1 e6 15.e4 g6 Black is fully developed and the threat to f2 is becoming real. Moreover, just what is White up to? 16.fd4!? [ Condemned by the engines, but 16.c4 xc4 17.xc4 xf2 would have left Black with the superior minor piece, ] [ and 16.e2 b4 would have been fairly a w k w a r d , i n v i e w o f 17.cxb4? xb3 18.xe8+ xe8 19.xe8+ g7 20.axb3 c6+ . ] 16...xd4 17.xd4 xa2 18.xe8+ xe8 19.xe8+ g7 Sedlak's opening may not have been a success, but at least he has avoided coming under a deadly attack on the queenside. Moreover, he does have two rooks f or the qu een . B lack rema ins sligh tly f o r choice with the bishops, the initiative and his active queen, but White has good chances to construct a solid position. 20.f3?! [ After my praise for his last few moves, Sedlak begins to drift. 20.c2! would have threatened b2-b3 and after c4 21.f3 White could have continued to resist. ] 20...xf2 21.e4? f4+ 22.c2 e6! 23.xe6! [ The best practical try, whereas 23.d3? a4+ would have picked off the stray rook on e8. ] 23...fxe6 24.d7+ f6 25.d2 e3 26.d3 Sedlak finds a tactical defence, but surely Black will gradually whittle down his defences you might think. b5 27.h3 g5 [ Ni Hua's technique is surprisingly lacking in 2255
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 t h i s g a m e . H e r e 27...f2 28.b7 a5 would have been an obvious way to edge forwards. ] 28.b7 f2?! [ There was no need to give up the a-pawn, although admittedly 28...a5 29.e4+ e5 30.c6 a4 31.b7 would have left Black still looking for a breakthrough plan. ] 29.xa6 e5?! [ And here 29...f4 30.b7 b4!? would have been somewhat more vigorous. ] 30.b7 e7 31.b4! Fixing b5 as a weakness and even more importantly White appears to have constructed a f ortress. Black has c e r t a i n l y d r i f t e d . e1 32.c6 e4!? Tempting, but Sedlak finds the right way to pick off the pawn. 33.d7+! e6 34.xe4 c1+ 35.d3 The only move, but a good one at that. Black has now given away two pawns and it's unclear that exposing the white king was worth this investment. f4 36.c5+ f6 37.e4+ [ I suspect the players were down to just the increment by now, if indeed they hadn't been for a while. Here 37.e2! would have kept the king safe enough while retaining the useful check on e4. ] 37...g6 38.e2 e3+ 39.f1 c1+ 40.e2 e3+ 41.f1 h2 Ni Hua pinpoints the downside to White's play. 42.f2 g3 [ The position has suddenly become rather co mp le x an d he re 42...xc3!? was also p o s s i b l e : f o r e xa m p l e , 43.e4+ ( or 43.xb5 g3 44.d3+ h5 45.e2+ h4 46.d1 xb4 , not that winning this would be at all easy in practice, if indeed it is possible ) 43...h5 44.d3 c1+ 45.d1 c4+ 46.d3 xb4 when somehow Black's king appears to be just about safe enough. ] 43.e4+ h5 44.f3+ g4! As the king can't go to f6 or h4, this was the only winning try. 45.hxg4+ h4? [ Now that there's a pawn on g4, Black s h o u l d h a v e g o n e 45...g6! , and if 46.e4+? ( 46.d3 has to be tried) 46...f6 , winning a piece. ] 46.d3 The knight covers the two key squares as the worst appears to be over for Sedlak. b8 47.d5 g3 48.e2 a7 Black's only hope is to invade via g1, but it turns out that White can easily give up g2 and
still retain his fortress. 49.e1 e4 50.e5 xg2 51.g5! c6 52.d2 b8 53.c5 a6 54.gxh6 xh6+ 55.d1 [ The ice-cool engine points out that White might have tried 55.c2!? e3 56.h5 , but by this stage both players were probably happy with splitting the point. ] 55...h1+ 56.c2 e4 57.g5+ h2 58.h5+ g3 59.g5+ ½-½
2308 Shabalov,Alexander Kreiman,Boris ch USA (8) [Eric Prié]
A45 2600 2425 1994
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 e4 This move may be better than 3...Qa5+, but equally, I do not think much of alternatives which do not develop pieces in this position. Nevertheless, it has one merit: White cannot transpose in the 3. Bxf6 line anymore. 4.e3 The only "independent" line. 4.Bf4, 4.Bh4, 4. h4 all transpose into the 2...Ne4 line where it is established that, at least for 3.Bf4 or Bh4, that after 3...c5, 4.f3 is the main line(s) for White and not 4. dxc5. e6 5.g3! Ex-World junior champion and reputed theoretician, GM Valeri CHEKHOV has considered White's 4th move dubious, in his comments on an old game Tolush-Boleslavsky, but he was only analyzing the possibility of hanging on to the pawn with [ 5.b4?! a5 6.f3? ( 6.d3 ) 6...h4+! 7.g3 xg3 8.f2 xb4+ 9.c3 b2 10.hxg3 xa1 11.c2 a4 12.a3 a6-+ ] 5...xc5 [ 5...xc5? 6.xc5 xc5 7.d4 g5 8.f4 c6 9.c3 f5 ( 9...d5 10.xg7 f8 11.f3 ) 10.xg7 f8 11.a3 is hardly enough for the pawn. ] 6.g2 [ 6.c4 b6! 7.d2 c6 8.f3 e4 ] 6...c6?! 7.c4! Black is immediately punished for his incautiousness. e7 8.f3 0-0 9.c3 d6 10.0-0 a6 11.a3! c7 [ 11...d7? 12.b4 ] 12.c1 b8 [ 12...b6 13.b4 d7 14.d5! exd5 2256
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 14...d8 15.d4 xd4 16.xe7+ xe7 17.xa8 ) 15.cxd5+- ] 13.c2 d7 14.fd1 White's "English" development is perfectly appropriate to the s it u a t io n a s t h e b ish o p o n e 3 ca n n o t b e b o t h e r e d b y t h e b l a c k k n i g h t s . b6? How to develop the bishop on c8 is a serious concern, but with this move Black jumps out from the frying pan into the fire! He had to try something like 14...Nde5 or even 14...Nf6. 15.g5! xg5 The loss of the dark-squared bishop is usually very harmful for Black in hedgehog setups, not only because it gives the opponent a strong pair of bishops in a position where he already enjoys more space, but mainly because it is an essential defender of the d6-pawn. 16.xg5 b7 17.e4! [ 17.xc6 xc6 18.e7 e8 19.xd6 b7 wo u ld h a v e c o m p le t e ly so l ve d B l a c k ' s problems just for the advantage of one pawn, and it is always problematic to convert this i n t o a wi n i n s i t u a t i o n s wi t h o p p o s i t e coloured bishops. ] 17...d5 18.cxd5 exd5 19.f4! of course not [ 19.xd5? b4 20.axb4 xd5 ] 19...ce5 [ 19...a7 20.d6 ] 20.g5 f6 21.f5 [ 21.c7! was easily winning straight away. A) 21...e8 22.xe5 xe5 23.xf7+ h8 24.f4 protecting g5 first xe2 25.c7 g8 26.xb7; B) 21...ed7 22.xh7! xh7 ( 22...xh7 23.c2+ g8 24.xb8 ) 23.xd7; C) 21...fd7 22.xd5 xd5 23.xd5 xc7 ( 23...c8 24.xc8+ xc8 25.xc8+ xc8 26.xe5 xe5 27.xe5 f6 28.e6 fxg5 29.xb6 ) 24.xc7 f6 25.e4+- ] 21...e8 22.f3 xf3+ [ 22...fd7 23.xe5 xe5 24.xd5! xd5 25.xd5 a7 ( 25...g6 26.f6 d8 27.xe5 ) 26.xe5 xe5 27.c8+ ] [ 22...c8 23.b1 xf3+ 24.xf3 a7 25.c7 b7 26.f5 transposes into the game. ] 23.xf3 a7 24.c7 This position is so horrible-looking from Black's point of view that it is actually winning in a few moves. ac8 25.dc1 a8 W h a t e l s e ? 26.e5
26.Bg5 also wins but the "classic" [ 26.h6! wa s m o re spe cta cula r! xc7 ( 26...gxh6 27.xf6 xc7 28.xc7 f8 29.h5 e8 30.xb7 ) 27.xc7 c8 28.g5 e8 29.e7 f8 30.xg7+ is the simplest, but the machine announces a m a t e i n 1 0 a f t e r . ( 30.xe8+ xe8 31.e5+ Anyway, with the black queen "banished" on a8 the combinations come in t h i s p o s i t i o n " l i k e a b a b y ' s s m i l e " . . .) 30...xg7 31.f6 c1+ 32.g2 e8 33.xe8+ xe8 34.h6+ e7 35.xc1 ] 26...xc7 27.xc7 c8 28.f4 d7 [ 28...e6 29.xf6 xf6 30.xd5! b8 31.e7! xf4 32.e8# ] 29.d4 f8 [ 29...f6 30.d6 ] 30.g5! [ 30.g5 f6 ( 30...g6 31.xd7 xd7 32.f6 ) 31.xf6 xf6 ( 31...xf6 32.xg7# ) 32.xd5+ ] 1-0
2309 Sharif,Mershad Magerramov,Elmar Abu Dhabi op 11th (5) [Eric Prié]
A45 2474 2555 29.08.2001
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6!? 3.xf6 exf6 4.c4 b4+! The whole point of playing 2...c6!? 5.d2 [ 5.c3 xc3+ 6.bxc3 d6! With the basic plan ...0-0, ... c7-c5, ...Nc6, ...b7-b6, ...Re8 etc. The idea ...Qa5, ...Nd7-b6 stopping W hite's play along the semi open b-file, followed by ...Be6 to put pressure on the c4 p a wn , is a lso in t e re st in g. I n a n y c a s e , having levelled the defects in the pawn structure, I believe Black enjoys pleasant equality. ] 5...d5 6.e3 0-0 [ 6...e6 7.cxd5 cxd5! As in the hint given in a note to the previous game. ( 7...xd5 8.a3 d6 9.e4! e6 10.c4 xc4 11.xc4 0-0 12.e2 e8 13.c2 c7 14.0-0 d7 15.ad1 b6 16.e3 e7 17.c3 ad8 18.f4! Hodgson, J (2605)Slobodjan, R (2550) Bundesliga 1999 1-0(28); 7...xd5 8.e2 ) 8.a3 d6 9.e2 2257
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A knight on f3 would be stupid... 0-0 10.c3 [ but 4...h6!? 5.xf6 xf6 6.c3 g5!? And W hite needs a knight here anyway. is a possibility. ] c6 So the subtlety of the disruptive check 5.c3 e7 4...Bb4+! has allowed Black to win a tempo [ There's no reason for Black to fear the on 4...d5 5.cxd5 cxd5. Consequently he is centre opening, but if he does then the ahead in development. However, that is Closed Benoni style 5...e5 might be seen. likely to be as relevant as the possibility of After 6.e2 e7 7.e3!? ( avoiding any ... losing his isolated pawn on d5 by force... N x d 5 s h o t , b u t t h e c l a s s i c a l 7.f3 Thus I would rate his chances in the ensuing followed by Nd2 was a good alternative) lo n g st ra t egica l f ight , f ro m t his c rit ica l 7...0-0 8.g4 e8 9.h4!? xh4 10.d2 position, as pretty equal, with all his good e7 11.h3 d7 12.0-0-0 a6 13.h2 pie c e s c o m p e n sa t in g f o r t h e d e f e ct ive c7 14.dh1 White enjoyed some play for structure. ] his pawn in Sahu-Tesik, Budapest 2011. ] 7.gf3 [ A n o t h e r p o s s i b i l i t y i s 5...a6!? [ 7.a3 xd2+ 8.xd2 e6 9.cxd5 xd5 , as advocated by Cherniaev and 10.e2 e8 11.f4 d6 12.e2 ] Prokuronov in their 'The New Old Indian'. 7...g4 8.b3 c5 9.dxc5 a6 10.cxd5 This prevents the check on b5, but after 6.f4 xf3 11.gxf3 xd2+ 12.xd2 xc5 W hite can try to make the tempo-loss 13.c4 d6 14.c1 d7 count. ] [ 14...ac8!? 15.b4 ( 15.h3 c7 16.e2 6.b5+ g6 ) 15...e6 16.xc8 xd5+ 17.d3 [ The critical test. 6.f3 is also seen quite xc8 18.xc8+ f8 19.hc1 g6 20.e2 often, but after 0-0 7.d2 exd5 8.exd5 g7 ( 20...xa2+ 21.1c2 b3 22.b8 a6 Black should be OK in the resulting g7 23.xb7 ) 21.1c7 xa2+ 22.f1 ] symmetrical structure - see Aaron 15.d4 fd8 16.f4?! Summerscale's notes to Holving-Livner, [ 16.c4! b6 ( 16...e5 17.e2 ac8 Salongernas 1999, in the Archive. ] 18.d3! Keeping the sensitive a6-f1 6...d7 diagonal under control and White hangs on [ I can't say I'm especially impressed by to the pawn.) 17.e2 xc4 ( 17...xd5? 6...f8 when White might just exchange on 18.hd1 ) 18.xc4 xd5 19.xd5 xd5 e6 and go f2-f4, and 7.f3 e5 8.e2 bd7 20.d1! b5 21.b3 ] 9.0-0 h6 10.e3 g6 11.d2! g7 12.a4 16...b6 17.g2 Playing for the draw... xd5 h5 13.f4 also sufficed for a pleasant edge in ½-½ Lapshun-Fikiet, Philadelphia 2011. ] 7.dxe6! [ The Austrian Grandmaster decides to 2310 A45 transform the structure. The alternative is 7.xd7+ , b u t a f t e r xd7 ( 7...bxd7 Shengelia,Davit 2558 , and if 8.dxe6 fxe6 9.f3 0-0 is also fine Maurer,Jochen 2272 for Black ) 8.f3 exd5!? 9.xd5 xd5 Austrian Bundesliga (6.5) 03.03.2012 10.xd5 c6 11.0-0 xg5 12.xg5 0-0 [Richard Palliser] 13.ad1 ad8 14.c3 e7 15.b3 c6 Black was able to force through ...d5 and 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 c5!? 4.d5 so equalise in Siddharth-Bojkov, Los [ The sensible choice, but the sharper 4.e5 Angeles 2011. ] remains the critical test of this uncompromising sideline in my view. See 7...fxe6 8.a4!? [ Quite a rare move, but evidently White was Weller-Palliser. ] happy to keep control and gradually outplay 4...d6 his lower-rated opponent. Moreover, the text [ In turn this is Black's safest response. may even be best, since the more criticalInstead 4...b6 5.c3 xb2 6.d2 looking 8.e5 dxe5 9.xf6 ( or 9.e2 c6 transposes to a line of the Vaganian Gambit 10.0-0-0 d5 11.h5+ g6 12.xe7 xe7 where I quite like White's compensation, ] 2258
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.f3 , as in S.Buckley-F.Rayner, Portsmouth 2003, when Black would have be e n f o r c h o ice a f t e r A a ro n 's se n sib le s u g g e s t i o n o f f8 ) 9...xf6 10.xd7+ xd7 11.e4 xd1+ 12.xd1 e7 13.f3 c6 failed to give White more than e n o u gh f o r h is p a wn in t h e o f t - q u o t e d reference Moiseenko-Kruppa, Ukrainian Team Championship 2004. ] 8...0-0 9.f3 c6 [ New. Maurer decides to retain the lightsquared bishops. Black failed to fully equalise with 9...c6 10.e5! e8 11.xe7 xe7 12.xc6 xc6 13.exd6 xd6 14.0-0 in Karttunen-Kosmo, Joensuu 2002, ] [ and 9...xb5 10.axb5 bd7 11.e2 h8 12.0-0 also looks a little more pleasant for White, ( ra t h e r t h a n t h e 12.e5 dxe5 13.xe5 xe5 14.xe5 d4! of Miladinovic-Aleksic, Cutro 2001. )] [ However, 9...a6 is possible, and if 10.xd7 ( or 10.c4 c6 11.0-0 g4 12.xe7 xe7 which echoes our main game, but h e r e . . . N e 5 wi l l c o m e wi t h t e m p o a n d pe rh ap s eve n 13.h3 xf3!? is possible, since 14.xf3? fails to ge5 15.e2 d4 ) 10...bxd7 11.xf6 xf6 12.0-0 d5 13.g5 d7 seems to hold everything together. ] 10.0-0 g4 [ It's natural to free Black's position with this exchange of bishops, but again I wonder about 10...a6!? , since 11.xc6 ( 11.c4 would transpose above) 11...xc6 12.e5 d5 13.xe7 xe7 14.e4 f4!? 15.exd6 e8 gives Black a surprising amount of activity. ] 11.xe7 xe7 12.h3 Now there's no ...Rxf3, so Maurer must retreat. ge5 13.xe5 xe5 14.d2 Taking stock, we can see that White has emerged from the opening with a small but clear edge. His f-pawn is mobile and d 6 a l i t t l e s e n s i t i ve , wh e r e a s B l a c k wi l l struggle to generate much counterplay down the f-file. c6 15.f4 g6 16.a5! ad8 [ Not such a bad choice, despite slightly weakening Black's queenside defences. Indeed, 16...xb5?! 17.xb5 fd8 would not have helped matters, in view of the powerful sequence 18.a6 b6 19.f5! exf5 20.d5+ h8 21.exf5 e5 22.ad1
by which W hite greatly extends his advantage. ] [ Note too that 16...a6 17.xc6 bxc6 18.b3 would have left the position resembling a Grand Prix Attack and W hite with a pretty pleasant advantage. ] 17.a6 The point of White's powerful play and now Black is forced fully on to the defensive. xb5 18.xb5 bxa6 [ Not a move Black would have wanted to play, but 18...b6 19.f5! exf5 20.d5+ h8 21.exf5 would have left White pressing, ] [ and 18...d5!? 19.exd5! ( 19.e5 doesn't seem so clear after bxa6 20.xa6 b8! 21.xa7 h4 ) 19...xd5 20.e3 b6 21.c4 would have left White in charge. ] 19.xa6 b7?! [ This attempt to swap d6 for b2 doesn't work out especially well. Black had to take his chance and break out with 19...d5! when 20.exd5 ( or 20.xa7 dxe4! 21.e3 f6 ,; so White might do best to retain some c o n t r o l wi t h 20.g3!? ) 20...b7 21.a5 xd5 would have offered him good counteractivity. ] 20.xd6 xd6 21.xd6 xb2 22.g3 [ White is in no hurry, having realised that Black's queenside will prove vulnerable in an endgame, but 22.f5!? was also tempting, and if e7 ( not 22...exf5? 23.d5+ h8 24.f7+ ) 23.d3 e5 24.c4 , maintaining the initiative. ] 22...e7 23.c4 d4+?! [ Black will suffer after this, but even 23...b7 24.e3 would have left him under pressure. ] 24.xd4 cxd4 25.a1 c8 26.a4 [ A theoretically-drawn 3 vs. 2 rook ending would have arisen after 26.xa7 xc4 27.xe7 xc2 28.xe6 d3 29.d6 e2! , ] [ but as well as the text, 26.e5!? c6 27.f3 followed by centralising the king very much came into the equation. ] 26...c6 27.d6! d8 28.e5 Cementing the knight in position and now Black will struggle to activate his rook, since that needs to be able to defend the knight on c6, otherwise a pawn or two will simply drop. a5 29.f2 a8 30.e2 b4!? Easy to criticise, but at some point Black needed to go active, since passive defence would have failed with Kd3 2259
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a n d st ill d o : e7 ( Black can't block lines with 14...f5? on account of the crushing 15.b5 ) 15.b5 a6!? ( 15...g6 16.f4 c5 17.d2 retained a small but clear edge in Galyas-Ilincic, Torokbalint 2004, which was one of my illustrative games in the a f o r e m e n t i o n e d wo r k) 16.f4 f5 ( I d a r e s a y t h a t B l a c k m i s s e d 16...f6? 17.xe6 in Kartsev-Kutliakhmetov, St Petersburg 2009, and now xe5 18.xe5 fxe5 19.c7+ d8 20.xa6 nabs a useful pawn ) 17.d3!? ( an idea of Rybka's 17.g4 axb5 18.gxf5 f6! 19.fxe6 dxe6 20.e4 xe5 was murky in Treppner-Braslavsky, G e rm a n L e a gu e 2 0 0 4 , a n a ss e s s m e n t which even Wells' suggestion of 21.xe5!? fxe5 22.hg1 doesn't convince me to change ) 17...f6 18.xh7! xh7 19.xf5 and now h6! ( the f iendish 19...exf5? 20.he1 e7 21.g3! creates rather powerful threats down the h2-b8 diagonal and on the kingside) 20.he1 fxe5 21.g3 f7 22.c2 remains far from clear, although I prefer White thanks to his safer 2311 A45 king and possibilities on the kingside. 14 Ng5!? certainly deserves further tests. ] Short,Nigel D 2685 Ivanchuk,Vassily 2741 14...e7 [ Black wants to bring the knight to f5, d5 or Capablanca Memorial, Havana (1) 10.06.2010 c6. As well as this flexible choice, he has [Richard Palliser] tried to block with 14...f5 and after 15.e2 h6 16.hg1 e7 17.g4! fxg4 18.xg4 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 0-0 19.d3 White was slightly for choice in 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 f5 8.xb8 Salov-Nunn, Amsterdam 1995. ] xb8 9.xd4 b6 10.e4 f4 11.h3 Wells' recommendation and the choice of the 15.g5 b7! [ As previously analysed by Eric and this majority of the strongest players to have seems strong. Instead 15...f5 16.f2 reached this position. c7 12.e5 g8 gives W hite pretty easy play and after h6 Thus Blac k is again f o rced back, bu t his ( 16...e7?! 17.d3! h6 18.f3 position contains no weaknesses and it won't embarrasses the black knight - see be so easy for W hite to force any. 13.0-0-0 Degraeve-Chuchelov, Le Touquet 1995, in A logical start, keeping White's options open the Archive) 17.e4 ( Eric prefers 17.f3!? while eyeing d7. e6 d5 18.d3 e7 19.bd4 "followed by an [ Universally played and without a knight on offensive expansion on the kingside by g2e2 blocking White's kingside development, g4, f4-f5 etc") 17...b7 18.d3 White was 13...f6?! 14.f4 would only help the first slightly better in Miles-Avrukh, Biel 1995. ] player. ] [ In this critical position our esteemed 14.f4 Fre n ch co lle a gu e h a s a ls o co n s id e re d [ As shown by Eric in the Archive, 14.d3 15...c6 via the game Toth-Lima, Rio de e7 has done fairly well for Black in Janeiro 2004, and here Eric recommends practice, ] 16.d3!? b4 and now I quite like his idea [ but while writing 'Starting Out: The of 17.g3 , after which Black should avoid T r o m p o w s k y ' I q u i t e l i k e d 14.g5!?
followed by Nb5 and annexing the d4-pawn on the way. 31.d2 d5?! [ At least with 31...g5! , and if 32.fxg5 f8 , B l a c k wo u l d h a ve b ro k e n u p W h i t e ' s structure and obtained some counterplay something which he never quite manages to do in the game. ] 32.b5 e3 33.d3 d1 34.xd4 c8 35.c4 b2 36.d6! The knight returns to this rather powerful outpost and the resulting simp lif ica t io n le ave s W h it e wit h a pret t y straightforward technical task. xa4 37.xc8 f8 38.c5 e8 39.b6 b2 40.c6 d8 41.f5! a4 42.fxe6!? [ White can even allow Black to queen, although many would have preferred the straightforward win with 42.f6 a3 43.f7 . ] 42...a3 43.e7+ xe7 44.c7 a2 45.c8 a1 46.d5+ f7 47.f5+ [ It will soon be mate after 47.f5+ e8 48.e6+ . ] 1-0
2260
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 17.c4 receives more analysis in the a f o r e m e n t i o n e d g a m e) 17...b7?! ( 17...e7 might be more prudent, but 18.b1 d5 19.d4 has to offer White at least an edge) 18.b5! d8 ( 18...c6? 19.xc6 xc6 20.d4! is strong too, as xa2+ 21.b1 a4 22.d3 continues to h o u n d t h e e r r a n t k n i g h t) 19.f5! wi t h d a n g e r o u s a t t a c k i n g c h a n c e s f o r White. ] 16.d3!? [ A new move, but one indicated by Eric after he pointed out that 16.e4?! f5 17.d3 c6 only helps Black, ] [ and that 16.b5 d5 17.b1!? a6 18.d3 was hardly at all clear in EfimovMiezis, Castellaneta 1999. Still, I believe that is no less promising a path for W hite than the text. A critical continuation must be xg2!? 19.hg1 d5 when capturing on h7 resembles the game and 20.e3!? h6 21.f3 b5 22.fd2!? looks a little slow, but retains some compensation Nd4 and h2-h4h5 may follow. ] 16...xg2 17.hg1 [ T h e a l t e r n a t i v e w a s 17.he1 d5 when Eric has commented: "This looks a bit foolish considering Black's state of development, but is very much in [Miezis'] style." I'm not sure that one can exactly compare Ivanchuk with the Latvian Gran dm as t er, alth o ugh bo th are pret t y creative and original players. However, what is clear is that after either rook move the onus is very much on W hite to prove his compensation. ] 17...d5 18.xh7 [ This critical raid doesn't turn out well, but what was White to play? He might like to go 18.e4 , but h6 19.xd5 hxg5! 20.f3 f5 surely only opens lines to Black's benefit. ] [ Perhaps the calm 18.e3!? h6 19.f3 was worth a try, although after b5! 20.b1 c4 I have my doubts that White has enough for the pawn. ] 18...xh7! 19.xh7 g6 I can't believe that Short was especially happy at this point, even t h o u g h W h i t e m a y n o t y e t b e wo r s e . I n practice he certainly faces difficulties, though, as not only is the bishop trapped, but Black
has good cent ral control a nd might eve n attack with ...b5 and ...a5. 20.b1 [ Safeguarding the king, but I suspect that 20.f2! was a better try. Then a critical line runs b5!? ( 20...f5? 21.xd5! exd5 22.xg6! fxg6 23.xg6+ d8 24.xf5 with an attack and two pawns for the exchange was W hite's idea) 21.h4 b4 22.h5! bxc3 23.hxg6 fxg6 24.xg6+ xg6 25.xd5! ( and not 25.xg6? xb3 26.axb3 a5 ) 25...exd5 26.xg6 when White appears to have generated sufficient counterplay and simplification just in time. ] 20...f5 21.d3 c4 [ With the queens off Ivanchuk plans to slowly round up White's bishop with his rook or king, but he must have been tempted too by 21...c6!? 22.d2 b5 . Indeed, I dare say that this was a better try: for instance, 23.de1 ( or 23.ge1 e7 24.e4 b4 25.b3 f8 26.c4 xe4 27.xe4 c5 and the bishop remains a serious cause for concern for White) 23...c5 24.xg6!? fxg6 25.xg6 f7 26.f6+ e7 27.h3 g8 and White has failed to open sufficient lines for his major pieces, leaving him in trouble. ] 22.xc4 xc4 23.d4! White must prise open Black's light-square fortifications. e7 24.xg6? [ A desperate try to rescue the bishop, but unfortunately for Short the ending will be clearly against him despite his having three pawns for the piece. I assume that had the English Grandmaster realised that he would have gone in for 24.xf5 exf5 ( Black must keep the g-file closed and the bishop bottled up 24...gxf5? 25.g8+ f8 26.h4 w o u l d o n l y h e l p W h i t e) 25.g3!? ( the immediate 25.xg6 fxg6 26.xg6 is also possible) 25...e6 26.dd3 f8 27.xg6! fxg6 28.xg6 with rough equality. Possibly Short didn't like Black's unopposed bishops, but White has an active rook and two pawns for them, and something like f7 29.h6 ( but not 29.dg3? h8 30.h3 h4 ) 29...g8 30.h7+ f8 31.g3 should maintain a rough balance. ] 24...fxg6 25.xg6+ f8 26.xf5 [ Black also emerges clearly for choice after 26.xf5 exf5 27.xf5 e6 28.g3 g4 thanks to his strong blockade. ] 2261
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26...exf5 27.xf5 d8! quite risky response to the Vaganian Gambit. [ Now White can't capture the pawn with his 8.b1 d8!? bishop on account of the resulting pin and [ A fairly rare move. Indeed, Eric focussed Black also welcomes an exchange of rooks. e x t e n s i v e l y o n 8...c7 when he mainly I n s t e a d t h e m o r e m a t e r i a l i s t i c 27...e6 examined the check on b5, but notably wo u ld h a v e e n a b le d W h i t e t o d r u m u p 9.f3 received his seal of approval and is some counterplay with 28.e4 d8 29.f5 also Richard Pert's recommendation. .] Unfortunately 'Playing the Trompowsky' is, 28.xd7 however, silent over the text. ] [ Netting a fourth pawn for the piece, but 9.dxe6 now Black's bishops prove too strong. Thus [ This time the check on b5 may be better White might have tried 28.b3!? , although and was employed at the tail-end of last after b5 29.c2 c6 30.d3 f7 year by no less a player than Mark Hebden! 31.h3 g8 Black would have remained Yes, the man who has done so much for somewhat for choice. ] Black in the Trompowsky was white in a 28...xd7 29.xd7 c5 30.c2 e3 31.f5 Vaganian Gambit. Hebden actually reached f4 Forcing the pawns on to light squares this position via a London move order, but after which they can be blockaded, after 9.b5+!? d7 ( 9...bd7 10.dxe6 surrounded and picked off. 32.e6 e7 33.h4 fxe6 11.f3 a6 looks quite sensible for e2 34.c6 g3 35.h5 xh5 36.d3 Black, but runs into an impressive idea of d6! Ivanchuk ensures that White won't have Eric's: 12.d3 b5 13.g5 e7 14.xb5! t im e t o s u p p o rt h is p a wn s wit h h is kin g . axb5 15.xb5 b6 16.e5 with a strong 37.g2?! initiative ) 10.dxe6 fxe6 [ The bishop will defend the f-pawn from h3, A) both Hodgson and Moskalenko have but White will soon be forced into zugzwang. preferred 11.e5!? , which must make it the The defence wasn't easy, but it seems that critical move Hodgson-Glavina Rossi, a better try was 37.a4!? , even if after f3 Spanish Team Championship 1993, ( 37...g4 38.e4 h3 is possible too) continued d5 ( 11...dxe5 12.fxe5 d5 38.e3 g2! 39.d1 e7 40.d4 f6 m igh t a lso b e m e t b y a ch e ck , b u t i n 41.c2 e5+ 42.c4 a6 43.a4 d6 Moskalenko-Colls Gelaberto, Figueres 44.b4 e5 Black gradually would have 2009, 13.g4 xc3 14.xc3 xb5 arranged a timely moment to capture on f5 15.xe6+ e7 16.c8+ d8 17.xd8+ having f irst kept W hite out on the other xd8 18.xb5 was hardly an outcome flank. ] W h i t e wa s g o i n g t o c o m p l a i n a b o u t) 37...e5 38.h3 h4 39.b4 e7 40.a3 12.h5+ g6 13.g4 c6 14.e4! dxe5 f3! Zugzwang. 41.c4 e2+ 42.b3 d3 15.fxe5 c7 16.c4 xe5 17.f3 f5 43.a4 a5 The final touch, ending any tiny 18.cxd5 exd5 19.xf5 xf5 20.f6+ hopes W hite may have entertained of f7 21.xd5! xb1 22.0-0 when White's activating his king on the queenside. attack more than compensated for the 0-1 exchange and two pawns - I highly recommend checking out this engrossing encounter, whether via your database or 2312 A45 Cyrus Lakdawala's new 'The Trompowsky Attack: Move by Move'; Smerdon,David 2508 B) 11.f3 xb5 12.xb5 d7 13.b1?! L'Ami,Alina 2398 ( 13.e2 looks more to the point, retaining Amsterdam (7.1) 28.02.2014 some compen satio n) 13...b6 14.e5 [Richard Palliser] it was hard to be fully convinced by his compensation in Hebden-Bao, London 1.d4 There won't be any anti-Sicilians today! 2 0 1 3 . E ve n g4 might be possible, and f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 a f t e r , sa y, 15.g5 dxe5 16.h3 h6 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e6 A critical if also 2262
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.b3 c6 Black is definitely for choice. ] 9...fxe6 10.e5 [ The principled reaction, but it doesn't seem to lead to anything here. As such, perhaps Lakdawala was right when he preferred the slower 10.d3 c6 11.f3 in a rapid game. ] 10...dxe5 11.fxe5 fd7! [ Both L'Amis are always very well prepared and this retreat looks like a useful novelty. I must admit that I was quite enthusiastic about White's chances in my 'Starting Out' work, but there I only considered 11...d5 12.d3 xc3 13.xc3 g5 14.f3 c6 15.h3 h4+ 16.f2 which left Black in all sorts of trouble due to his lack of development and king position in LahiriKamble, Hyderabad 2006. ] 12.f3 e7 13.d3 0-0 14.0-0!? [ Something of a gamble. Instead, 14.e2 c6 15.e4 g6 16.0-0 looks quite natural to my eye, but maybe Dave wasn't entirely convinced by White's position after f5 . ] 14...xe5? [ F a l l i n g f o r t h e t r a p . I n s t e a d , 14...c6 , and if 15.e2 dxe5 16.xe5 d4+ 17.h1 xe5 was the way to do things. After 18.xf8+ xf8 19.e4 White has enough for one pawn, but not two. ] 15.xe5 d4+ 16.h1 xe5?! [ 16...xf1+ 17.xf1 xe5 was a superior alternative, but W hite enjoys full compensation here too, even if 18.f3 c6 19.f1 f6 20.xh7+!? h8! 21.d3 d4 22.e2 xh7 23.h5+ would only lead to a draw. ] 17.xf8+ xf8 18.f3 d7?! [ This should have lost, although L'Ami was in some trouble in any case, as shown by 18...d6 19.h3 g6 20.b5 a6 21.xd6 xd6 22.c3 with two monster raking bishops. ] 19.e1?! [ Letting Black back in the game, but it's never easy to play a tournament (and Dave did win this Batavia all-play-all) while also teaching students. Simple would have done it, though: 19.f1 f6 ( 19...f6 20.h3 is curtain s) 20.e4 and Black is going to crumble on the f-file with Bc3 next up. ]
19...f6 20.h3 Even here White retains a rather dangerous initiative, but there's no longer a clear kill. h6 21.e4 [ It was hard to move the rook again, but 21.f1! deserved definite attention, and if e7 22.g3 . Even here it's hard to believe Black could have survived, since g5 23.h4 blows open lines. ] 21...e7 [ 21...f5!? is endorsed by the machine, but e v e n a f t e r 22.h4 c4! 23.xc4 f6 24.xf6+ xf6 25.g4 d7 26.d3 White retains strong pressure. ] 22.g3 b5 Condemned by the machine, but a very human attempt to break out. I certainly can't fault the move. 23.xb5 b7 24.d3?! [ A bit slow. If only Dave hadn't been working during the tournament... Instead, he might have picked off h6 or found 24.g5! when hxg5 25.c4 e8 26.xe6+ xe6 27.xe6 xe6 28.b3 is a strong fork. ] 24...c8 25.c4 d8 26.c3!? [ Continuing to play for compensation and the attack. Instead, 26.xh6 f6 27.f2 d6 would have seen Black untangling, and if 28.f4 d4 29.e5 d6 . ] 26...e5 27.h3 [ 27.g6! would have prevented Black's next and after e8 28.f5 e7! it seems that the position may, however amazingly, just be about equal. ] 27...f6 28.xf6+ xf6 [ 28...gxf6!? 29.e3 h8 looks rather risky for Black, but I've failed to dent the engine's defences despite a number of tries and take-backs. ] 29.xe5 e8 30.g3 g5 Forcing the queens off. There's still a bit of play in this entertaining encounter, but by now one's money was very much on a draw. 31.xg5 hxg5 32.g6 e6 33.f5 e8 34.d7 e7 35.g4? g6? [ Presumably blitzing towards move 40, both players failed to notice that White's last had meant he couldn't defend c4 in the event of 35...a6 . ] 36.c3 xe1+ 37.xe1 f7 38.d2 e7 39.e3 f6 40.g1 e4 41.e2 e5 42.f2 b1 43.a3 e4 44.h3 c2 45.g4 b3 46.f1 a5 47.e2 a4 48.f1 a2 ½-½ 2263
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 king, as Black lacks the co-ordination to mount a successful attack. f5 15.g3 Would you care to trade sir? h6 A demoralising retreat, but after 15. ..Nd4 16.Nce2 all of Black's manoeuvring would simply have resulted in an e xch a nge in knight s. 16.ce4 g4 TROMPOWSKY ATTACK The 2...g6 variation. Black finally conjures up a threat, but it is f6 18.g5 When Black tries to revert to a Kings Indian e a s i l y r e p u l s e d . 17.h3 with 2...g6, it pays to foil his plans with Bxf6. White's defence has been exemplary and he T h i s t h r o w s B l a c k ' s h o m e p r e p a r a t i o n now switches to the attack. The Black queen, completely out of the window and gives White seemingly so threatening, begins to become a promising course of action, based on a worryingly short of squares. h5 Black would kingside fianchetto. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 g6 have liked to kick away the troublesome knight, Some opponents stubbornly refuse to let go but after 18...h6?? 19.Nf3 it would be "off with of their favourite systems. Black is obviously her head", as far as the Black queen was xh5 20.h2 hoping to revert to some sort of Kings Indian c o n c e r n e d . 19.xh5 or Grünfeld. 3.xf6 But with this move White The White king goes on a short walk, which cuts across Black's plans with one fell swoop. effectively decides the game. Far from shying By c o m p ro m is in g B lack's kin gsid e p a wn away from the Black queen, he actively seeks s t r u c t u r e , h e t a k e s a w a y a l o t o f t h e her acquaintance! h6 21.g3 With a threat dynamism from Black's position. exf6 4.e3 f5 that Black fails to spot. f6? The retreat 21... 5.e2 White's pl an in these positions is to lay Bg7, admitting that he had made a mistake sie ge to t h e ce n t ra l a n d que e n side ligh t was (relatively) best, but would leave Black s q u a r e s . T h e k n i g h t i s p o s t e d o n e 2 i n objectively lost, a clear pawn down. 22.f3 readiness to influence the battle for control of The Black queen has been totally trapped. d5 (via f 4 pe rh a ps) a n d n ot o b st ruct t h e 1-0 fianchettoed bishop. g7 6.g3 0-0 7.g2 T h e W h i t e b i s h o p r e a c h e s a n e xc e l l e n t A45 diagonal, which immediately probes into the 2314 heart of the Black position. d6 8.c4 c5 Song,Raymond A very optimistic move. Black is seeking to Stuart,Peter 2215 open the diagonal for his dark squared bishop. Open Auckland AUS (9) 31.01.2003 The drawbac k is tha t the d 6 p awn is lef t [Aaron Summerscale] backward and potentially weak. [ 8...c6 Would temporarily keep some Trompowsky: W hite plays one of the sharp control over the White squares, but would pawn sacrifices in the Tromp, but the question inevitably be met by a future b4-b5. ] is: should Black take the second extra pawn? 9.bc3 cxd4 10.exd4 c6 11.d2 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 g6 White prepares to bolster his d pawn with Rd1 5.e4 d6 6.f4 A very aggressive treatment of if necessary. An interesting feature of the th e p o sit io n . xb2 7.b5 b4+ 8.c3 position is that White effectively has an extra xe4+ pawn on the queenside, due to his superior [ 8...a5 9.xd6+ is good for White. ] pawn structure. f4 A radical response. Black 9.e2 a6 10.xd6+ The point, but does d o e s n o t l i k e t h e w a y t h i n g s a r e g o i n g White get enough for his pawn deficit? exd6 strategically and so decides to mix it up. 11.xf6 g8 12.f3 c7 13.0-0 12.gxf4 h4 Black's 11th has weakened the Setting-up a diabolical trap. White structure and opened a diagonal for his [ 13.g5 Is interesting, then: xd5 14.xh7 light squared bishop but, as a wise man once is very murky. ] said, "a pawn is a pawn". 13.d5 e7 14.0-0 13...xd5? Falling for it. A seemingly brave decision, but W hite has [ 13...e3+ was relatively best, but White calculated that there is no real danger to his still has f ull compensation after: 14.h1
2313 Sokolov,Ivan Har Zvi,Ronen op Wijk aan Zee (10) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2640 2485 1993
2264
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 intending Re1. e7 15.c4 xf4 16.d2 and now xf6 is best. ] [ 13...d7 14.e1 is hopeless for Black. ] 14.b5+ d7 15.e1+ Winning. e6 [ 15...e7 16.xe7+ f8 17.g5 Is absolutely crushing. ] 16.xe6+ fxe6 17.xd7+ xd7 With only a rook and two pawns for the queen, Black's fate is sealed. 18.c4 e8 19.a4+ c8 20.xa7 W hite mops up efficiently. e7 21.xe7 xe7 22.b1 Piling on the pressure. a6 23.a8+ b8 24.g5 h6 25.e4 Black cannot adequately cover the weak spot on d6. d8 26.b6 ed7 27.xd6+ 1-0
2315 Stamenkovic Mekhitarian,Krikor Sevag V Magistral da Hebraica (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2440 2466 11.04.2008
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 If 6.d5 turns out to be impossible in spite of Chernyshov's renewing idea, White has to switch back to this far less e c o n o m i c m o v e . cxd4 7.b3 f5!? The "forced variation" but as far as topical theory is concerned, things are no less simple after [ 7...b6 A n d t h e ga m b i t 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5! 11.xc6 dxc6 12.xe5 e6 ] [ Even the third option 7...d8 8.cxd4 d5 which I have never covered in these columns because the first 2 already seemed to m e s uf f icie ntly critical, repre sen ts a certain amount of work, in a completely different position, in order to be able to possibly edge anything out of the opening... ] 8.xb8 xb8 9.cxd4?! [ 9.xd4? In this way White gains only one tempo against the queen. This is hardly e n o u g h t o m a k e u p f o r h i s we a k d a r k squares in this Sicilian-like position, a5 10.e4 a6 11.c4 e6 12.b3 c7 13.e2 d5! 14.d3 ( 14.exd5 b5 15.d3 xd5 16.h3 d6 ) 14...d6 15.g3 0-0 16.h3 dxe4 17.xe4 xe4 18.xe4 h6 19.f2
b5 20.he1 b7 21.e2 fd8 22.ad1 d5 Martinez, F (2185)-Paramos Dominguez, R (2410) Mondariz 1996 0-1(34) ] 9...e5! 10.a3 [ 10.dxe5 b4+ 11.f2? g4+ 12.g3 xe5+ 13.xg4 d5+ 14.h4 e7# ] [ 10.e4 b4+ 11.e2 e6 12.dxe5 xe5 13.d4 d6 14.f2 c7 Followed by the liberating advance ...d7-d5. ] 10...e4! The refutation of the white idea. In this way Black secures some space advantage and a nice active outpost for his queen in addition to his slight material advantage of the 2 b ish o p s . 11.c2 d6!? Black wants his light-squared bishop on b7 behind his e4pawn. [ 11...e7 12.c7 a8 Only helps Black. ] [ 11...d5! 12.c7 ( 12.e3 d6 13.b5+ f8 Followed by g7-g6, h7-h5, Kf8-g7.) 12...a8 13.e3 a6 14.c5 ( 14.f4? g4 ) 14...xc5 15.xc5 e6! Threatening ... exf3. 16.f4 g4 ( 16...b6 17.b4 a5 18.b5+ d7 19.xd7+ xd7 ) 17.c3 0-0 18.h3 h6 19.g3 d7 20.g2 f6 21.e2 ac8 With more space, the "bad bishop" on c8 turns out to be superior to its white counterpart: on its original diagonal preventing W hite from castling because of h3 hanging... or on b5. ] 12.e3 h5 Intending Qh4+ [ 12...b6!? 13.fxe4 xe4 14.f3 b7 15.d3 e6 ] 13.f4 g5 [ 13...b6!? First ] 14.e2 [ 14.h3 gxf4 15.xf4 xf4 16.exf4 0-0 ] 14...b6 15.c3 b7 16.e2 g6 17.b5 e7 18.0-0 c8 19.d1 gxf4 20.xf4 a6 21.c3 d6 22.h4 e7 [ 22...g5! Forcing the rook to the inferior square h3 because e3 is hanging. ] 23.f1 cg8 In spite of several inaccuracies Black has eventually achieved the attacking p o sit io n h e h a s b e e n lo o kin g f o r, wit h a dominant dark-squared bishop. [ 23...hg8! And the white rook on h4 will remain out of play after a further possible exchange on g4. ] 24.d2 h5 25.c4 c7 26.c1 g5 27.f2 h7 28.f1? 2265
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 28.h1 The only move. hg7 29.g3 d5 30.e5 xe5 31.dxe5 xe5 32.a4 d4 33.xb6 d3 34.d1 is not that clear in fact. ] 28...hg7 29.h1 [ 29.g3? xh4 ] 29...xg2+ 30.xg2 xg2 31.xh5 d6? [ 31...d5 32.e5 xh5 33.xh5 ( 33.xf7+ e6 34.f1 xe5 35.dxe5 2g5 ) 33...f6 S u r p r i s e , s u r p r i s e . . . 34.h7+ 8g7 wo u l d h a ve wo n t h e kn i gh t . ( 34...2g7? 35.g6+ )] 32.a4 d5 33.e5 xe5 If you have not 'seen' the quite unusual theme just mentioned in the note, why should you 'see' it now? 34.dxe5? [ 34.xf7! d6 35.xg8 xg8 36.g1 ] 34...xh5 35.xh5 d4-+ 36.d1 d5 37.hf5 c4 38.e1 e2 39.exd4 f3 40.xf3 exf3 41.f1 h8 42.xf3 hxh2# 0-1
e8 This loses, but Black is in deep trouble in any case. [ 20...xh5 21.xh5 f7 22.dh1 is hopeless. ] 21.fxg7 f4+ 22.d2 xh5 23.g8 g6 24.xh7 White can easily afford to return some of her material surplus. xe4 25.xe4 xe4 26.f7 There is no good defence to the mate threat on b7. e1+ 27.d1 1-0
2317 Stefanova,Antoaneta Carretero Ortiz,Francisco op Dos Hermanas (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2391 2175 12.04.2002
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 e6 4.e3! T h i s i s t h e c o r r e c t m o ve . xc5 5.a3 White had to watch out for the possibility of 5...Qa5+ c6 Quite curiously, the opening has transposed into a kind of Queen's Gambit 2316 A45 with colours reversed, that was studied in the Stefanova,Antoaneta 2550 July update... except that the bishop was on Bibiloni,Jorge Jaime 2233 c1! To have it outside the pawn chain has XXXIV Open Mar del Plata ARG (2) 13.04.2003 arguments for and against. In our case, it has [Aaron Summerscale] some similarities to an important line of the Nimzo-Indian after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Trompowsky: Black tries to set up a Czech Bb4 4.Qc2 c5 5.dxc5 0-0 6.a3 Bxc5 7. Bg5 b6 Benoni, only to be shortly checkmated by one 8.e3!? (8.e4 is a serious alternative which of chess' top female stars. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 tends to justify the placing of the queen on c5 3.d5 e5 Unusual, Black is trying to get c2) but then Black's dark-squared bishop has some sort of Czech Benoni. 4.c3 d6 5.xf6 lost a tempo in the route f8-b4-c5, the White's gxf6 Mixing things up from the outset, but queen knight has already committed itself to damaging your own structure like this should c3 and especially his queen is on c2 which never be un dertaken lightly. 6.e4 f5? again has pros and cons by freeing the d1 This is taking things far too lightly! Black will square for the a1-rook, after a possible long p a y a h e a v y p r i c e f o r n e g l e c t i n g h i s castles for instance, in exchange for a slower development. 7.b5+ d7 8.exf5 g5 development of the kingside and risks of 9.f3! Now Black will have great difficulty exposure on the c-file. ever regaining his pawn. a6 10.e4 h6 [ 5...a5+ 6.d2 e4? 7.b4 xb4 8.axb4 11.xd7+ xd7 12.e2 0-0-0 13.h4 xb4 9.b1 a5 10.b5 c3 11.e2+- ] Beginning an advance on the kingside, where [ 5...b6!? 6.xf6 ( 6.c3 xb2 7.a4 White's extra pawn can soon make itself felt. e5 8.f3 c7; 6.c1 e4 ) 6...gxf6 g8 14.g4 f6 15.g5 fxg5 16.hxg5 7.c1 ( 7.b4 e7 8.d2 a5; 7.a2!? ) It's beginning to be painful even to look at 7...d5 8.c4 dxc4 9.xc4 ( 9.d2!? ) Black's position. His bishops are hemmed in 9...g8?! 10.e2! xg2? 11.g3 d7 and he suffers from a general lack of space. 12.f1 c6 ( 12...xf2 13.xf2 xe3+ g7 17.2g3 f7 18.0-0-0 b8 19.h5 14.xe3 xb2+ 15.d2 xa1 16.g2 The beginning of the final assault. g7 20.f6 e5 17.xe5 fxe5 18.xb7 ) 13.xg2 2266
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg2 14.g1 c6 15.c3 ] 6.f3 a5?! When White's light-squared bishop is not able to develop on the long diagonal, then the advance of the b-pawn to the 4th rank is not to be feared by Black who is happy to reposition his bishop onto a better square with the idea of attacking b4 with ...a5 as in the game Reddman-Votava. 7.c4 h6 8.h4 e7 You see? In the process, Black has just given up the b5 square. 9.c3 d5 10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 dxc4 12.xc4 g4? [ 12...e5 is not pleasant for Black after 13. Qc2 or 12.Qb3 but still a lesser evil compared to the actual course of the game. ] 13.g3 Naturally, White is not cooperative! Now the knight on g4 looks stupid and her queen bishop has been freely replaced on its most active diagonal! f6 14.xd8! xd8 15.fd1 e8 15...Rf8 was only slightly better but it is clear that Black is facing big problems of development with his queen's bishop in relation with the poor placing of his stranded knight on the kingside. [ 15...b6 16.c7 ( 16.h3 xd1+ 17.xd1 ge5 18.xe5 xe5 19.xe5 xe5 20.d8+ h7 is not decisive.) 16...xd1+ 17.xd1 A) 17...ge5 18.xe5 xe5 19.f1 ( 19.a2 d7 20.a4 is also strong.) 19...a6 20.e4 xf1 21.xf1 c4 22.xf6+ gxf6 23.b3 c8 24.d8+ xd8 25.xd8 d2+ 26.e2 xb3 27.xb6 a4 28.d3; B) 17...a6 18.xa6 xa6 19.d6 ge5 20.xe5 xe5 21.b3 e7 22.xb6 xb6 23.xb6 xa3 24.xa5 ] 16.b5 [ 16.a4 ge5 17.xe5 xe5 18.xe5 xe5 19.b5 f8 ( 19...c6 20.ac1 e5 21.h3 ) 20.b6 b8 21.ac1 is as terrible for Black. ] 16...xc3 17.bxc3 e5 18.h3 f6 19.xe5! And a small combination to finish the job. xe5 20.xc6 c5 21.d8+ h7 22.f3 xc3 23.e5 c5 [ 23...c4 24.e2 c6 25.d3+ g6 26.b5 e6 27.xf6 xf6 28.c1 Wins the poor bishop on the spot! ] 24.d4 c7 25.e2! g6 [ 25...g8 26.d3+ g6 ( 26...f5 27.xf5+
xf5 28.xa8 ) 27.b1 f6 Black is stalemated. 28.b6 g7 29.xg6 xg6 30.xg8+ f7 31.h8 c6 32.xc6 bxc6 33.xh6+- ] 26.d3+ h5 27.b1 [ 27.xf6 gxf6 28.g8 Led to a quick mate, but everything was winning anyway. ] 27...f5 28.b5! xd8 29.xf5+ g5 30.xf6 c6 31.e2+ h4 32.g4! A smooth victory by the female world No. 2 who also happens to be a leading expert of the Trompowsky. 1-0
2318 Stefanova,Antoaneta Cornette,Matthieu 2nd Trophee Universitaire (4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2483 2482 01.03.2007
1.d4 f6 The young Frenchman, who I often accompanied at international youth championships, is right to begin with this move order with the idea of 'catching' his op p o n e n t wit h h is p owe rf u l p re p a ra t io n : Against 1...d5, the Bulgarian 10th Women's World champion may have been inspired to employ the "Prié attack", as she did last year against Chiburdanidze! 2.g5 But what is this A45 doing alone in this survey among D00s?! If you are a subscriber for a certain time you know the answer, otherwise see the next additional game! e4 [ 2...d5 3.e3! e4 ( 3...c5 4.c3! ) 4.f4 c5 5.d3 ( 5.d2!? ) 5...f6 6.dxc5?! Is another way to reach the same position. ] 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c5! 5.d3 f6! 6.dxc5?! c6! 7.b5 [ 7.c3?! Easily open to criticism but the damage is done anyway. e5 8.g5 e6!? ( 8...xc5 9.xf6 gxf6 10.ge2 e6 Followed by a queen move and castles queenside seems so simple...) 9.a4 h6?! ( The thematic 9...a5+ 10.c3 b5! 11.cxb6 axb6 With the threat ...b7-b5, should be equally favourable for Black in the ensuing complications. Note that with the bishop still on f1, i.e. in the London move order, this idea would gain in strength considerably by cutting off two defending possibilities 2267
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 our previous unique reference but I was for White: Qe2 aiming at the square b5, and already some moves ahead in analysis with b2-b4 because of the knight sacrifice on b4 the text move! ] when the king does not have the square f1 [ 12.d6? xd6 13.cxd6 a5 14.b5 xd6 ] at his disposal!) 10.h4? Inconsistency. ( 10.xf6 xf6 11.e2 e7 ) 10...g5 12...a5 13.b1? [ 13.b5! xc5 14.a4! b2! 15.0-0 11.g3 d7 12.c3 xc5 13.xc5 xc5 ( 15.b1 cxb5 16.xb2 bxa4 17.xa4 Hoang Thanh Trang-Boros, D FSGM March a7 18.b6 Delaying this exchange by 18. Budapest 2007 ] Nec3 0-0 does not change anything. xb6 7...a5+! 8.c3 a6 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.d4 19.xb6 e5! 20.g3 0-0= ) 15...cxb5 e6! My discovery, instead of the poor 10...Bf5 16.xb5 d7 17.fb1 xb5 18.xb5+ allowing White to establish a strong bind on xb5 19.xb5 d7 "Intending . ..Ke7 with the dark squares. It was first published on only equality and only now the computer ChessPublishing.com exactly 2 years ago. starts to turn its coat, that is to say 24 halfThen I mentioned it in our magazine Europemoves after the crucial decision initiated by Echecs, while commenting my game against 7...Qa5+, needless to say far beyond the Gozzoli and why I have been forced to adopt horizon of any nth Fritz..." Well, Rybka does the attack that the NIC yearbook staff no t a gre e wit h t h a t so le t 's go d e e p e r: b a p t i z e d wi t h m y n a m e . N o t s p a r i n g o f 20.d1 ( 20.c7 a4 21.c4 dxc4 22.c1 'disclosures', I also mentioned it freely in the e7 23.xc4 hc8!= 24.bxc5? xc5 main French Chess forum. Still, I would notice 25.xc5 d7-+; 20.c4 dxc4 21.c1 e5 that even strong grandmasters, unaware of 22.g3 e7 23.xc4 d6 24.c3 hc8 ) the danger, continue to play this line as White, 20...e7! Heading for the good square f6 but giving up the centre for the sake of an Black has to castle first in order to avoid an ephemeral possession of the c5 -pawn. So I o p p o s i n g B d 6 . ( 20...e7 21.c4 dxc4 decided to play the game you have just seen 22.xd7+ xd7 23.xc5 hc8 ) above in December 2006 in the Elgoibar GM A) 21.c1 a3 22.cb1 e7 23.b7 tournament with the London system, just hc8 24.d4 d6 25.g3 xg3 hoping it would be interesting enough to hang 26.hxg3 d6; it to for the next Informant, in the idea of thus B) 21.c7 0-0! This is the key idea. giving my Novelty a wider audience. I W h ite 's stru ct u re is so ba d t h at af t e r ha m m e re d it a s we ll in Ja n ua ry 20 0 7 b y catching up on development af ter the making a special update in this section on linking of his rooks, Black will eventually how Grandmasters had erred in the critical win the pawn back and emerge a little position, after W hite's 7. Bb5 in the Tromp b e t t e r i n t h e e n d i n g . 22.xa5 fc8 move order, and 5.Bb5 in the London one. 23.d4 ( 23.d2 e5 Intending ...Nc4.; Afterwards, there was this game Matthieu 23.c1 c5 24.xc5 xc5 25.c3 warmly thanked me for and NIC contacted to xa2 ) 23...c4! ( 23...e5 24.a4 c4 do a survey on the Neo-London f or the 25.b4 ) 24.db1 ( 24.b7 xa5 ye arb oo k 8 3 b y sh ee r coin cid en ce! Also 25.xd7 f6 26.b1 h5 27.bb7 e5 ) referring to the 14th World champion trying 24...f6 25.c3 a4 26.b7 4xa5 his hand at the classical London 1.d4 d5 in 27.xd7 xa2; the previous game: "Chess theoretical C) 21.g3 In order to play Nd4 without kno wle dge is t he lea st well sha red th in g allowing the fork ...e6-e5. c5 ( 21...h5 amongst titled players!" 11.b4 22.h4 c5 23.c4 dxc4 24.d4 0-0 [ 11.d6 xd6 12.cxd6 b8 13.0-0-0 25.xc4 fc8 26.f4; 21...f6!? ) 22.c4 ( 13.a4 c5 ) 13...0-0 14.f3 c5 15.a4 This is why W hite has to get rid of his b6 16.a3 xd6 ] weakness on c2 first. ( 22.d4 e4 ) 11...a3 12.ge2! 22...dxc4 23.d4 0-0 24.xc4 fc8 [ 12.c7? a5! 13.xa5 ( 13.b1 axb4 25.d4 f6! Thematic, to limit the scope of 14.xb4 d7 ) 13...xa5 14.bxa5 xc5 a 'London bishop'. 26.b6 e5 27.c6 Schaefer, M-Peredy, F Triesen 2006 was 2268
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f8 Now the assessment is down to 0.00 so do you finally see, incredulous 'little fish'?! ] 13...axb4 14.xb4 d7 Taking the pawn back with the 2 bishops and a much superior structure. 15.a4 [ 15.d6 e5! 16.h4 g5! 17.g4 h5 18.xg5 xb4 19.xe5 e7 20.g7 f8-+ ] 15...xa4 16.xa4 xa4 17.xa4 xc5 18.b6 a6 19.f3 d7 20.xd7 xd7 21.d2 f6 22.g3 e5 23.f4 b4+ 24.c3 d6 25.fxe5 fxe5 26.b1 a8 27.a4 e6 28.b6 c4 29.xc6 d7 30.b6 xa4 31.c1 a1 32.c2 [ 32.b7+ c6 33.xg7 a3 ] 32...c5 33.b1 xb1 34.xb1 e6 35.f2 d6 36.c2 f1 37.g3 f5 38.b3 e4 39.d2 g4 40.e1 c4 41.d4 h3 42.e6 e5 43.d2 h6 0-1
2319 A45 Stefanova,Antoaneta 2503 Klinova,Masha 2388 ECC Women Rethymnon GRE (7) 04.10.2003 [Eric Prié] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 d6 3.xf6 exf6 4.c4 g6 5.c3 g7 6.e3 d7 7.g3 f5 8.g2 c6 9.ge2 0-0 10.d3 There is no subtlety behind this order of moves. [ 10.0-0 f6 11.d3 is strictly equivalent. ( 11.b4 See the previous game. )] 10...f6 11.0-0 e8 12.b4 e7 13.a4 Attacking the black pawns on the light squares with b5, rather than d6 with the cpawn, is the critical way to lead the queenside a t t a c k . T h e r e i s n o wa y t o s t a b i l i z e t h e position to offer better prospects for kingside counterplay. Fortunately, I stopped playing Indian defences before I had to study another system against the Trompowsky! a5 [ 13...e6 14.f4! ( 14.b5 c5 15.a5 ac8; 14.a5 d5 ) 14...d7 15.a5 g5 16.fe2 e4 17.a6 b6 18.b5 ] 14.b5 c7 15.ab1 d7 16.b3 f8 [ 16...c5 17.b6! c8 18.b5 xb5 19.xb5 e4 20.f4 ] 17.fb1 ec8 A move that seems like an
admission of failure. If Black had understood she had no means to check the queenside initiative, at least she would have started some counter-action on the other flank from move 13. [ 17...ab8 18.1b2 With the idea to triple on the b file. ] 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.b7 d8 20.1b6 c7 21.b1 xb7 22.xb7 e7 [ 22...a6 was better. ] 23.b6! xb6 [ 23...e8 Keeping the queens on the board, would have helped to drive W hite's rook away from its dominating location by giving some extra control over the position. ] 24.xb6 d8? [ 24...c8 25.f4 d8 26.b7 c7? 27.b8 c8 28.a8 wins the a-pawn. ] 25.xc6 xb6 26.xa8 The rest should not be too difficult. But the Bulgarian champion has to watch out for the possibility of her o p p o n e n t e xc h a n g i n g h e r l i g h t - s q u a r e d bishop against a knight, entering an oppositecolour bishops ending, that would give her some drawing chances. f8 27.b7 e7 28.f4 d8 29.h4 e6 30.a6? [ White must have been in time trouble to play such a move "self-limiting" the activity of her superb bishop. Instead, after 30.d5 e7 ( 30...xd5 31.cxd5 a7 32.xe6+ fxe6 33.c3 e5 34.b5 ) 31.f1 Black is kept tight h6? 32.xe6 fxe6 33.xg6+ ] 30...h6 31.b5 a7 32.f1 g5 33.fe2 [ 33.hxg5 hxg5 34.h3 h7 With the idea 35...f4. 35.f4 g4 36.f2 f6 ] 33...e4 Threatens Bxc4 and Nd2+ winning back the piece. 34.b1 [ 34.xe4 fxe4 35.hxg5 hxg5 36.c3 h3+! ( 36...f5 37.g4 ) 37.e1 f5 ] [ 34.hxg5! hxg5 35.e1 A) 35...xc3 36.xc3 e7 ( 36...f4 37.e4 d5 38.cxd5 xd5 39.xg5 ) 37.f4! With the knights on the board, it was difficult to play this thematic move, fixing the pawn structure, because of the weakness on g3.; B) 35...f6! And White still has to find a winning plan. ] 34...c7 35.hxg5 hxg5 36.f3 f6 37.d2 c8 38.b3 b6 39.f2 b7 2269
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 39...g4 ] 40.d5 [ 40.c5! dxc5 41.dxc5 a7 42.xa5 xc5 ( 42...d5 43.d4 xc5 44.xf5 g4 45.fxg4 xg4+ 46.e2 ) 43.xb7 xb7 44.c4 b6 45.xf7 a5 46.e6 ( 46.b3 b4 47.c2 d5 48.d4 f4 ) 46...xa4 47.xf5 d5 48.d4 b4 49.c2+ ( 49.e6 xe3! 50.xe3 c3 ) 49...c3 50.e2 b4 51.e1 d5 52.g2+- ] 40...c8 41.ed4 d8? [ 41...g4! Would have made life difficult for last year's European champion. 42.c6 A) 42...f4 43.gxf4 gxf3 44.cd4! ( 44.xf3 g4+ 45.f2 e4+ 46.g2 xe3 ) 44...g4 45.d2 h5 46.e8 xf4 47.g3 d7 48.xd7 e2+ 49.xf3 xd4+ 50.exd4 xd7 51.b3; B) 42...gxf3 43.xf3 g4 44.cxa5 xe3 45.c6 g5 ( 45...d7 46.cd4 g5 47.xd7 e5+ 48.e2 xd7 49.xf5 xc4 50.a5 ) 46.a5 White has a big advantage but I see no clear win. For instance d7 47.cd4 e5+ 48.e2 f4 49.xd7 xd7 50.f3 xc4!! 51.xg5 fxg3 Where White will have probably have to win the ending K+2Ns against K+P...in less than 50 moves nowadays! ] 42.xa5! 1-0
then bang! a6 11.c4 a5 12.ge2 g8 13.f4 c7 14.he1 Now fully developed, W hite is ready to break open the position. e6 [ U n p l e a s a n t t h o u g h i t l o o k s 14...e5 was Black's best chance. 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.g5 d7 17.h5 and the White attack continues. ] 15.e5! Black is in horrible trouble. d5 [ 15...dxe5 16.dxe5 h5 17.xe6 xe6 18.xe6 fxe6 19.xh7 leaves Black hopelessly placed. ] 16.exf6 dxc4 17.xh7 Material down and with his King stuck in the firing line, Black gave up the ghost before the final execution. 1-0
2321 Stefanova,Antoaneta Nijboer,Friso GMB Wijk aan Zee NED (5) [Eric Prié]
A45 2478 2586 15.01.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 e5 7.b1 d8 [ 7...c7? 8.b5 d8 9.d6 a6 10.c4 ] 8.f4 d6 9.f3 [ 9.fxe5 dxe5 10.f3 Provides Black with the additional option d6 ] 9...bd7 10.c4 So, this is an important point: having limited the opponent's options 2320 A45 as much as possible, and most noticeably the Stefanova,Antoaneta 2550 opportunity to postpone the development of Lamperti,Julio Franco 2155 his queen's knight to d7 in order to ensure XXXIV Open Mar del Plata ARG (6) 16.04.2003 better control of the key square d6, W hite [Aaron Summerscale] should now take on e5, precisely as played against the Dutch GM in rounds 3 and 7, Trompowsky Attack: This is a typical real without fearing game situation. You've done the right thing [ 10.fxe5 xe5?! because of 11.xe5 dxe5 and developed all your pieces to sensible 12.b5+! The disruptive move! s qu a re s . T h e qu e st io n i s. . . h o w d o yo u A) 12...d7 13.0-0 a6 14.h5! e7 proceed? White's answer in the game is spot ( 14...g6 15.xe5+ ) 15.g5 g6 16.xe7 on. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 g6 4.f3 gxh5 17.xd7+ xd7 ( 17...xd7 18.f6 f6 5.e4 d6 6.c3 g7 7.d2 c6 8.h6 g8 19.a4 ) 18.xf8 xf8 19.xb7+-; The bishop is not ideally placed on f4, so it B) 12...d7 makes sense to trade it. xh6 9.xh6 b6 B1) 13.g5!? The move recommended 10.0-0-0 White's play in this game is so b y B r u z o n . . . xb5 14.xb5 a5+ straightf orward and yet so ef f ective. The ( 14...a6 15.xf6 gxf6 16.c3 b5 strategy is simple, just get the pieces out and 17.0-0 c4 18.e2 With the idea Ng32270
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f5. ) 15.d2 ( 15.d2 d8 16.c4 ) 15...xd2+ 16.xd2! ( 16.xd2 d7 17.a3 b6 18.c4 d6 ) 16...xe4+ 17.e3 d6! ( 17...xg5?! 18.c7+ d7 19.xa8 b6 20.h4 ) 18.xd6+ ( 18.c7+? d7 19.xa8 f6 20.h4 e7 ) 18...xd6 19.xb7 f6 ( 19...0-0? 20.d7 ) 20.h4 0-0 21.c4; B2) 13.xd7+ xd7 14.g5 is probably the correct continuation then, w i t h t h e i d e a . e7 15.d6! xd6 ( 15...xd6 16.xf6 gxf6 17.d5 e7 18.0-0 c4 19.xf6! is even more ugly looking f or Black.) 16.xd6 xd6 17.xf6 gxf6 18.xb7 Black's extra pawn is only a (temporary!) figment of the imagination. ] 10...e7 [ 10...exf4!? is already possible, when it is not at all clear that having his king's bishop blocked on c4, instead of d3, is an improvement for White compared to the next game. 11.xf4 a6 12.a4 A) 12...h5!? 13.e3 e7 ( 13...g6!? 14.0-0 g7 15.d2 a5 16.b3 0-0 ); B) 12...g4 13.0-0 e7 is another concern for W hite with the idea. 14.e1 f6! 15.xd6 de5 16.xe5 ( 16.xc5 c7! ) 16...xe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.d6! 0-0 19.d5 xd6 20.h4 Where White retains some activity for the pawn and the weakness of his dark squares.; C) 12...e7 13.e5?! dxe5 14.xe5 xe5 15.xe5 g4! ] 11.0-0 [ 11.fxe5 xe5 is the difference. ( 11...dxe5 12.g5 See previous game. )] 11...exf4! 12.xf4 0-0 13.e5? [ Better 13.h3 ] 13...xe5 14.xe5 dxe5 15.xe5 g4 16.f4 f6 17.d2? This year 's Women's World champion has not seen the danger! [ 17.e4 d4+ 18.h1 was the only con tinu at ion wit h the t ricky resou rce f5 19.d6+ h8 20.g5 ] 17...g5! Wins the exchange and the game, presumably, after a short phase of complications. 18.g3 d4+ 19.h1 e3-+ 20.d3 xf1 21.xf1 f5 [ 21...a6!? 22.d6 b5 23.d5 a7 ] 22.c7 f6 23.b5 d7 24.xd4 xd4
25.g3 h6 [ 25...xc4 26.xg5+ f7 27.xf5+ xf5 28.xf5+ g8 ( 28...e7? 29.e6# ) 29.g5+ f7 30.f5+= ] 26.d6 f7 [ 26...f6 27.xd7 xc4 28.e1 c3 29.e8+ xe8 30.xe8+ f8 31.e6+ h7 32.e7+ g7-+ ] 27.e2 g4 28.xh6? [ 28.f4 was the most complicated. f6 29.xc5 e8 30.f1 c6 31.d6 ( 31.d6 d8 32.dxc6 xd6 33.xd6 xd6 34.cxb7 xb7 35.xf5 d2 ) 31...e4! 32.xe4 fxe4 33.c4 h7 34.xf7 ( 34.g1 f8 ) 34...e3 The point of Re4! 35.xe3 f1+ 36.g1 xg2# ] 28...e8! 29.d3 The bishop has nowhere to go. [ 29.d1 b5 30.g1 xc7 ] 29...c4 30.xf5 xf5 31.d6 d7 32.c1 f4 So, the Dutch player was right to persist, although he eventually failed in the previous game to one of the most 'shocking' swindles I have ever seen at this level. Since he was more than 'completely winning' there, one can then say that he won 'the Wijk aan Zee 2004 battle of the Trompowsky'! 0-1
2322 A45 Stefanova,Antoaneta 2451 Paramos Dominguez,Roberto 2381 III Open Dos Hermanas ESP (9) 13.04.2002 [Aaron Summerscale] Trompowsky Attack: Black comes a cropper in one of the sharpest lines in the Tromp. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.d5 b6 5.c1 e6 6.f3 f6 7.c4 exd5 8.cxd5 c4 Black's sharpest option. Black has yet to prove full compensation for this pawn sacrifice. 9.e3 c5 10.f2 0-0 11.xc4 e8 12.e2 This is a slightly odd choice of square for the queen. [ Previously W hite has preferred: 12.b3 in an attempt to entice Black into an endgame. ] 12...d6 The start of a rather dubious plan. [ 12...d6 is a more logical try, attempting to disrupt White's natural development on the 2271
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 kingside. ] 13.c3 a6 14.a4 b5? It's hard to know what was going through Black's mind here. Perhaps it was simply a rush of blood to the head and he desperately wanted to prove compensation. Unfortunately, this exchange sacrifice has the opposite ef fect. 15.axb5 axb5 16.xa8 bxc4 17.xc4 b7 18.a5 White is simply winning. b6 19.b5 a6 [ 19...a6 is well met by 20.b4 ] 20.b3 g4+ A desperate attempt to muddy the waters. 21.fxg4 f4+ 22.f3 xe3+ 23.xe3 xe3+ 24.g3 Unfortunately for Black, White's king is exceptionally safe here. 1-0
2323 Stefanova,Antoaneta Royset,Paal Nikolaj Open Rethymno GRE (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2535 2239 17.07.2009
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6!? The counter attack aga in s t t h e b 2 -p a wn is t h e m o st n a t u ra l reaction when White's queen's bishop leaves the first rank early (some might say prematurely!), in d-pawn systems. But this move is a lot cleverer for those who have assimilated the subtleties of the position resulting from 2. ..d5 3.Bxf6?! exf6!... that I exposed in my last update in July! Indeed, I have already said (and showed) that the best move for W hite after 2...d5 is 3. e3 rather than freely parting with the bishop. However, this is impossible here because of the clearance of the 5th rank! It is hard to call it "a trap" but, incidentally, Black wins a piece after the very careless 3.e3?? Qa5+! with 11 games in my database, including one Grandmaster as White!! 3.xf6 Knowing me you could guess that I cannot recommend this move... instead I will deal with my preferred 3.Nd2 (3.Nf3) next when finally tackling the missing link of the d-pawn specials that is the 1.d4 d5 Torre after 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bg5 or, alternatively, 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.Nf3. [ The gambit line 3.c3 b6 ( 3...d5!? Transposes into a Veresov main line where the idea Qd3, e2-e4 will gain some
strength because of the tempo lost by Black in the process of counter attacking the white p a wn o n d 4 wi t h a l a t e r . . . c7 -c 5 ! I wil l illustrate this with one game some other time, hopefully...) 4.d2 xb2 5.b1 a3 6.e4 i s o b v i o u s l y d a n g e r o u s f o r B l a c k wh o defended very poorly in the only game of reference (Ignatescu, R-Cetereas, M ROMchT 1993) ever published on the site involving the ...c6 line. ] [ 3.d2 ] 3...exf6! 4.e3 b6?! In the light of the July update, the fact that Black cannot prevent c4 wit h 4 .. . B e 6 he re d oe s n o t re a lly m a t t e r because we then saw that in the case of [ 4...d5 5.c4 dxc4! 6.xc4 d6 the lost tempo with ...c7-c6 instead of castling is not critical at this stage. It is part of the black set-up and is often executed later anyhow. ] 5.b3! This move is part of the White plan against this structure anyway, with Black's dpawn soon expected on d5. Is it possible that Black had not been aware of the close relationship between the 2...c6 and 2... d5 lines against the Tromp?! d5 6.d3 f5? [ 6...a6 Misplacing the knight which will have to recycle via c7 instead of the stronger and more natural route d7-f6 after ...f6-f5. 7.c3 d6 8.d2 0-0 9.h5 g6 10.f3 f5 11.h4 Panko, A (2180)-Grechihin, V (2508) Kaluga 2003 1-0(38) ] [ 6...a5!? 7.a3 ( 7.c3 b4 8.ge2 a4 9.a3 ) 7...a4 ( 7...a6? 8.e2 e7 9.c4 0-0 10.bc3 dxc4 11.bxc4 Miladinovic, I (2496)-Gesos, P (2351) Korinthos 2001 1-0(37) ) 8.b4 e6 9.d2 d7 10.e2 ( 10.gf3!? d6 11.c4 dxc4 12.xc4! That is the difference: W hite has Nf3-d2 defending the bishop. c7 13.c2 xc4 14.xc4 With better chances for White in spite of the presence of the opposite colour bishops.) 10...d6 11.c4 dxc4 12.xc4 ( 12.xc4? xc4 13.xc4 xb4+ ) 12...c7 ( 12...xc4 13.xc4 c7; 12...xc4 13.xc4 c7 14.c3 Attacking a4.) 13.c3 b6 14.xe6 fxe6 15.de4 0-0= ] 7.e2 g6 In order to transfer the knight to f6... 8.c4 dxc4 9.bxc4 White has her dream position. The rest is a model of execution: 2272
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d7 10.bc3 f6 11.0-0 g7 12.a4 c7 13.a5 g4 14.g3 h5 15.h3 f6 16.h4 g4 17.f4 d7 18.c5 0-0 19.b3 h7 20.fb1 ab8 21.c4 h6 Black has never succeeded in creating any counterplay on the other flank. He will be crushed on the q u e e n s i d e . 22.a4 f6 23.ce2 g7 24.a3 bd8 [ 24...b5? 25.axb6 axb6 26.a7 d8 27.xb6 xb6 28.cxb6 xb6 29.xd7 ] 25.ab4 c8 26.a6 bxa6 27.xa6 d7 28.c4 e8 29.b8 The decisive, though narrow, gate of invasion, with the idea... ed8 30.a8! g4 [ 30...e8 31.bb8 Followed by Ba6. ] 31.a1 a6 32.xf7! This idea had also been hanging over Black's head for a while. xf7 33.b3+ d5 [ 33...g7 34.e6+ h6 35.xa6 b7 36.xb7 xb7 37.xd8 ] 34.xd8 xd8 35.xd5 cxd5 36.xd5+ g7 37.xa6 f6 38.a8 1-0
B2) 18...xe5 In the other order of moves, W hite's attack also looks in u f f i ci e n t . 19.xe5 xf6 20.gxf7+ h8 21.h5 ( 21.xc1 h4+ 22.e2 dxe5 ) 21...xb2 22.g1 f5 0-1 Rusev,K-Socko, B EU-ChT Plovdiv 2003 23.g8+ xg8 24.fxg8+ xg8 25.f7+ g7 ] 8...0-0 9.h3 f5 10.exf5 xf5 11.e4! After having analysed Adams-Gelfand last month, I would have thought that this line (5... g6 6...Nd6) was also critical for W hite. But then I fell on this game where this idea seems to breath new life into the white plan. I am happy with this, in conclusion, as it somehow comforts my first intuition that 5...Qa5+! (as in the Svildler and Kasparov productions) was the main problem of this provocative and offbeat 4.d5 variation. a6 [ 11...xb2 12.b1 a5+ 13.d2 xa2 14.c3 ] 12.c3 c7 [ 12...d6 13.hf2 Keeping a strong knight in the center ought to be the idea behind 9. Nh3. ] 2324 A45 13.a4 e8 14.e2 f6 15.0-0 d6 16.c4 Stefanova,Antoaneta 2478 d7 17.e2 Black clearly did not manage to Stellwagen,Daniel 2489 so lve t h e p ro b le m s o f t h e o p e n in g . ae8 GMB Wijk aan Zee NED (10) 22.01.2004 18.eg5! e5 19.dxe6 d5 20.d1 c6? More resistant was [Eric Prié] [ 20...xe6 21.xe6 xe6 ( 21...xe6 22.f4 ) 22.xd5 xd5 23.xd5 fe8 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 e4 4.f4 b6 W i t h s o m e c o m p e n s a t i o n . ( 23...c4+ 5.c1 g6 6.f3 d6 7.e4 g7 8.c3 24.f2 ) 24.f4 c4+ 25.h1 c6 ] [ 8.d2 0-0 9.f4 e6! 10.e5 f5 11.c4 21.a5 c7 22.d3 h6 23.xf5 gxf5 d8 A) 12.e3!? h4+ 13.g3 xg3 14.f3 24.f7 xf7 [ 24...xe6 25.xh6+ ] h5 15.g1 xf1 16.xf1! [ 24...h7 25.f4! c8 26.c2! xe6 When Alterman only considers 16. Nxf1 27.fg5+ hxg5 28.xg5+ g8 29.xe6 ] but 16...f6, is unclear however, but the text has the idea f6 17.g4! fxe5 18.h4 25.exf7+ xf7 26.e1+- d4 27.cxd4 cxd4 Winning the black queen. xh4 19.xh4 28.f4 h7 29.d2 g8 30.e2 d7 xf4+ 20.g2 ( 20.f3 e4 ) 20...xh4 31.e7 f8 32.a6 b6 33.d6 b8 34.e7 f6 35.xf6 xf6 36.xa7 21.dxe6 d4 22.e7!+-; B) 12.f3 d6 13.g4 exd5 14.gxf5 dxc4 1-0 15.f6 h6 16.xc4 c6! 17.f5? ( 17.xd6 xd6 18.exd6 b4 19.b3 c4 20.a4 d8 21.d2 d5 ) 17...xc1 18.fxg6 B1) 18...hxg6 19.xc1 xe5 20.xe5 xf6! ( 20...dxe5? 21.g5!+- ) 21.xg6 e8+!; 2273
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2325 Stefanova,Antoaneta Zhongyi FIDE WCh Women KO (1.2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2326 2490 Steiner,Bruno 2250 Karavade,Eesha 23.05.2004 Open A Pardubice CZE (7) [Eric Prié]
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 exf4 12.d4 d5 13.g3 This is the right move. g5? Weakening f5. [ 13...d6!? 14.gxf4 xf4 15.e4 f6 16.c4 d5 17.ge2 e3 18.b5+?! White has to take up the gauntlet. ( 18.exd5! For instance h3 19.c2 c5 20.ed4 0-0-0 ) 18...d8 19.e5 h5 20.g3 g6 21.xh5 gxh5 22.e2 f4 23.hg1 e7 24.a3 e6 25.f2 hg8 26.h4 xe5 Curien,N (2264) - Chernov,V (2456) Davos op 2005 1/2 (62) ] [ 13...c5! See further. ] 14.e4! Played only now, with an enhanced ef f e c t , a f t e r B la ck h a s com p ro m ise d h is t e r r i b l e p a w n s t r u c t u r e e v e n m o r e . fxe3 15.c4 c7 16.e2! e6 [ 16...c5 17.xe3 b5 18.b3 b4 19.cxb4 xb4 20.h4! ] 17.c2 a5 18.xe3 b5 19.b4! a3 20.b3 b6 21.f2 b7 22.e2 g7 23.f5 Another obvious and lethal defect of having played ...g7-g5. e5 [ 23...g4 24.d6+ ] 24.hd1 c6 25.ed4 0-0 26.e7+! h8 27.ac1 Once again, White has all his pieces on their best possible squares provoking her opponent's position to collapse. Please note how the black position's 'rigor mortis' stopped her from playing any constructiveplan! b7 [ 27...d8 28.dxc6 dxc6 29.xd8! xd8 30.xc6 d2+ ( 30...e8 31.xf7 f8 32.xe5 ) 31.e3 dxa2 32.xa2 xc3 33.c2 b2+ 34.e4 xa2 35.e5 g7 36.d3+- ] 28.xb5 aa8 29.xd7 a6 30.d4 xd4 31.cxd4 f6 32.f5 ad8 [ 32...c8 33.d6 d8 34.h6 g7 35.xf7 e7 36.dc6 ] 33.xd8 xd8 34.c6 1-0
A45 2287 2370 28.07.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.e4 I have already mentioned [ 7.d2? xd5 ] 7...xb2 8.d2 xc3 9.c7!? g6 10.c1 [ 10.e2 d3 11.c1 h6! Only in this particular case! No doubt we will soon see any number of interesting games blossom with this brand new alternative and I will try to keep in touch but another line to illustrate the concreteness of the black lady's in c o n ve n i e n ce : ( 11...d6 12.c3 b5 13.d4 b4 14.b5 a6 15.a3 b2 16.c4 xc3+ 17.xc3 xc7 18.e5 dxe5 19.d6 e6 20.b5! d7 21.b3! With a strong initiative in spite of the slight material deficit.) 12.xc5 a6 13.c3 xd2+ 14.xd2 xd2+ 15.xd2 xc7 16.xc7 d8 17.c3 d6 18.d4 Still with some compensation. ] 10...e3+ 11.e2 h6? This square is the only mouse hole to where the black queen can edge her way back in order to return to her lines! 12.c4 g5 13.h4 h5 14.g3 1-0
2327 Stohl,Igor Mazur,Stefan Slovakian League (7.1) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2528 2421 08.03.2014
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 [ Before we entirely leave the 3...d5 4.e3 variation behind for this month, I should mention c6!? , which was played against another leading theoretician. Peter W ells responded with his own recommendation of 5.d3 ( 5.f3?! g5! reveals the point of Black's play - see Reynolds-Putka, Panormo 2001, in the Archive) 5...g5 ( Eric explained why 5...f5 6.c3! was a good move in Bauer-Le Roux, Belfort 2003 this certainly looks like a good version of the 2 Nc3 Dutch 2274
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f or W hite to m e) 6.g3 , but was soon thinking, especially as his opponent's next was a novelty: g7!? ( previously, 6...f5 7.c3 d7 8.xe4! xe4 9.xe4 dxe4 10.h4 g4 11.e2 had given White an edge in Corrales Jimenez-Margvelashvili, Philadelphia 2013,; but 6...h5!? 7.xe4 dxe4 "leads to an unbalanced position, with chances for both sides" in Eric's view maybe we'll soon see more of this sideline f o r Black ) 7.xe4 (the principled reaction in this and related positions with an early Bd3) dxe4 8.d2 ( Wells wants to deploy his knights to d2 and c3 to gang up on e4, but Bisby moves quickly to counter as such, I prefer 8.c3! when f5 9.e2!? is a sneaky idea, facilitating queenside castling and letting the open d-file put Black off ... e5: for example, e6 10.0-0-0 e7 11.h4 g4 12.b1 0-0-0 13.c4 and while an effective f2-f3 has been ruled out, W hite's better structure and lack of a restricted light-squared bishop should give him a pull) 8...e5! 9.dxe5 xe5 10.xe5 ( 10.xe4 e7 11.e2 0-0 gives Black a f a i r a m o u n t o f a c t i v i t y f o r h i s p a w n) 10...xe5 11.c3 f5 was unclear, but seemingly OK for Black in W ells-Bisby, British League 2014. ] 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 It's been a while since we considered this move on ChessPub, but it's not that many years since Eric was trying to make it into a serious weapon for White. cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 [ Black's main move, but in another recent game he didn't appear so au fait with the t h e o r y . I n d e e d , 10...a5 11.b4! i s s u p p o s e d t o f a vo u r W h i t e , ( whereas 11.e4?! e5 12.xc6 dxc6 13.e3 b5 14.e2 e6 15.a3 a4 was comfortable for Black in Dominguez Pons-Joa.Fluvia Poyatos, Catalan League 2014. )] 11.xc6 dxc6!? Mark Hebden's critical pawn sacrifice. 12.xe5 e6 13.a3 [ The main move, but White should also consider retreating the bishop to d4 and even 13.e4!? . See Eric's fairly extensive coverage of this line in the Archive for his thoughts. ] 13...d7!?
[ A new move for us, if engine-approved. Previously, 13...b5 14.e3 d7 15.f4 c5 16.0-0-0 b3 17.d2 a2! had left White unable to avoid a repetition without undertaking certain risks in PrieSolodovnichenko, Rochefort 2005. ] [ That encounter can be found in the Archive, a s c a n s o m e c o v e r a g e o f 13...0-0-0!? 14.h3 , as in Wiley-Vesselovsky, Frydek Mistek 2007. ] 14.d4 b3 [ The Slovakian IM wants to prevent White from going long and bringing a rook to the dfile. This seems best, especially as I don't agree with my engine that 14...c5 15.e4 b3 16.d1 xd4 17.cxd4 can offer Black quite enough for his pawn. ] 15.e4 c5 16.h3 We've reached something of a tabiya and a key position for an assessment of Black's 13th move. My engines now slightly prefer White, but matters don't seem so clear to me. a4! [ A new move and one wonders if this was blitzed out, having been prepared in advance. Previously, 16...0-0-0 17.e2 a4 had been tried in Groffen-Berzinsh, Port Erin 2004, when 18.f2 would have been good for W hite, as c5 19.xg7 hg8 20.f6 d6 21.e7 is a useful attack. ] 17.b1 [ Stohl must have thought for ages here, trying to assess 17.f2!? xb2 18.b1 xa3 19.xg7 g8 20.d4 . Black's queenside pieces present a strange impression, but there are three of them and a2! ( 20...c5 21.e3 c4 isn't so advisable: 22.xb2! xb2 23.xc4 a1+ 24.d2 xh1 25.xh1 xg2+ 26.f2 and Black will suffer thanks to his offside bishop ) 21.a1 c5 appears to maintain a rough balance: for example, 22.d2 e7 23.c2 c4 24.g4 xd4 25.cxd4 b5 and th e a 2-b ish op con tin ues to re main immune. ] 17...c2 18.c1 b3 19.b1 [ Acquiescing to the repetition. One wonders if the GM had spent most of his time by this point and Black just a matter of minutes. Instead, 19.f2 would have been an attempt to steer play back into our last note, 2275
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 but Black can even hold off on the capture for a move with f6!? . ] 19...c2 20.c1 ½-½
No rest f or th e wicke d . xc5 29.b4+ Black threw in the towel before being mated. [ 29.b4+ d5 30.d4# Lovely! ] 1-0
2328 Sulskis,Sarunas Labuckas,Aidas ch Vilnius LTU (3) [Aaron Summerscale]
2329 Summerscale,Aaron Lalic,Bogdan Coulsden (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2499 2307 27.03.2000
Trompowsky: Here we see one of the major drawbacks of Black's gxf6 recapture. The Black king is sometimes left with nowhere safe to hide. It is my extreme pleasure to show you this game, where the Black king is mercilessly hunted down and mated mid-board. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 d6 3.xf6 gxf6 This recapture is more aggressive, but also riskier than the standard exf6. 4.c3 f5 5.d2 c6 6.e4 g6 7.d3 We may have only seen seven moves, but already White has a small plus, due to his better pawn structure and extra central space. d7 8.f3 a5 9.e2 d5 10.h4 A wise man once said, (imagine the old man in Karate Kid) "If you have control of centre, then you dictate events on flanks." h5 11.f4 dxe4 12.xe4 xe4 13.xe4 g4 14.e3 d8 The twin threats of Nf6 and Nd6 + send Black running for the hills. 15.d5 c7 [ 15...d7 is clearly no picnic, as after: 16.f3 f5 17.d1 the pressure is mounting. ] 16.dxc6 bxc6 17.f3 f5 18.g3 A s u rp ris in gly re st ra in e d m o ve a f t e r t h e p re vio u s a c t ive p la y. I wo u ld h a ve b e e n tempted to go after the h5 pawn with Ng3, cashing in on W hite's advantage. However, the text move is not without it's good points. h6 19.0-0-0 g8 [ 19...e5 deserved consideration, although White is far from out of it after: 20.c5 ] 20.e6+ xe6 21.xh6 xa2 22.f4+ c8 23.he1 White is unconcerned by the loss of a measly pawn. He has bigger fish to fry, and readies his troops for the final assault upon the Black King. a4 A desperate attempt to counterattack. 24.f5+ c7 25.c5 White is ready to crash through on the central files. e8 26.d7+! A triumphant finale to force mate. xd7 27.xd7+ b6 28.b7+
A45 2425 2560 05.09.1999
Knightmare in the Tromp. Playing against the highly respected GM Bogdan Lalic is never anyone's cup of tea. In the following game I managed to bamboozle him with the Tromp leaving him in a passive position from the start. One fantastic knight manoeuvre later (if I do say so myself!) left him open to a spectacular sacrificial finish. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.d5 d6 I chose the Tromp against Lalic because he is such a strong theoretical player. I d e ci d e d t o a vo i d a m a i n li n e Ni m z o o r Grünfeld and get him thinking for himself from an early stage. 5.f3 f6 6.e4 e5 Black opts for a Czech Benoni type of set-up which gives him a solid if slightly passive position. 7.e3 e7 8.e2 With the position closed White can afford a leisurely build-up. 0-0 9.c4 e8 10.d2 It is important to prevent Black from exchanging dark squared bishops with Bg5. g6 Black opts for Plan B and prepares the f5 break. 11.h6 g7 12.bc3 d7 Before commencing with his kingside break Black prepares to evict the Bh6 with Kh8 followed by Nf6-g8. 13.0-0-0 f6 14.h4 White sounds the charge. My intention quite clear, rip open the h file and mate! h8 15.h5 fxh5 16.g4 f6 17.g3 There is no immediately decisive continuation so I co n t e n t e d m yse lf wit h st re n gt h e n in g m y position, gradually bringing my reserves to the kingside. g8 18.b1 f6 19.d3 f7 Black lacks counterplay and so goes for the bunker approach, defying White to break his defensive barrier. 20.e3 f8 21.h3 e8 22.dh1 e7 23.h2 b6 A critical moment has arisen, the White major pieces are ideally placed along the semi-open h file but need the support of their minor comrades before they can force matters. I was very proud of 2276
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the following knight manoeuvre which brings [ Developing a tempo, but 9.f3 is a very matters to a head. 24.c1 a6 25.d1 b8 important alternative - see the Archive. ] 26.e3 The knight is heading for the key h4 9...d7?! square when Black will struggle to meet the [ Yet another strong grandmaster proves to threat to g6. b5 27.g2 g7 28.h4 f7 be insufficiently prepared for the 29.gf5! With all the White pieces pointing at T r o m p o ws k y. A s E r i c h a s s h o w n o n a the Black king it should come as no surprise number of occasions, 9...bd7 is the critical that there is a winning sacrificial continuation. move. ] gxf5 30.exf5 e7 31.g6+ g8 32.h6 10.f3 The arrival of the dark squared bishop means [ Switching back to straightforward kingside that Black can no longer hold the h7 pawn de velo p me n t. A s a qu ick gla n ce a t t h e which is the only thing preventing White from A r c h i ve wil l s h o w, E r ic a l s o e xa m in e d c r a s h i n g t h r o u g h o n t h e k i n g s i d e . bxc4 10.dxe6 fxe6 on a couple of occasions, ] 33.xg7 xd5 34.e4 Black gave up the [ as well as 10.e2! a6 11.xd7+ xd7?! ghost with disgust. His queenside counterplay 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 d5 is wo e f u l ly in a d e q u a t e a n d h is k in gs id e 15.h3! , which was pretty good for White in defences have been blasted wide open. Mate Palos-Nagel, Vienna 1994. I think this would is only a few moves away. be my choice as White, although one can 1-0 also make a pretty good case for Swinkels' move. ] 10...e7 2330 A45 [ The Azeri GM decides to develop quickly too. Instead, 10...a6 11.xd7+ bxd7? Swinkels,Robin 2493 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.g5 was already Durarbeyli,Vasif 2614 something of a disaster for Black in ManicEuropean Club Cup, Bilbao (2.6) 15.09.2014 Djukic, Kraljevo 2014. ] [Richard Palliser] 11.dxe6 fxe6 12.g5 [ Tempting, but it may be that the crafty 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 12.c4!? is stronger. Indeed, c6 13.0-0 [ The standard Vaganian Gambit route into 0-0 ( o t h e r w i s e , 13...0-0-0? 14.g5 the game would, of course, be 2...c5 3.d5 carries two threats; and 13...d4? runs into b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 14.e5! dxe5 15.fxe5 , and if xf3+ 7.f4 e6 . ] 16.xf3 xe5 17.b5! 0-0 18.fe1 h5 3.e4 c5 4.d5 b6 19.xh5 xh5 20.c7 with some [ Extremely risky. 4...d6 would be the safe in i t i a t i ve) 14.g5 leaves Black without a way to go. ] p a r t i c u l a r l y g o o d m o v e , a s a g a i n d4 5.c3 xb2 6.d2 b6 15.e5! is just rather awkward: for instance, [ With this move order Black does have the dxe5 16.fxe5 xe5 17.f4 f5 18.xb7 option of 6...xe4? 7.xe4 e5 g6 19.xd7! xd7 20.xe6 h8 , but this is simply far too risky a venture in 21.xf8 xf8 22.d5 with the bishop-pair view of 8.d3 exd5 9.f3 e7 10.0-0 and an ongoing initiative. ] dxe4 11.xe4 when Black will do extremely 12...c6 well not to be butchered down the e-file. ] [ This seems to be new and in any case is an 7.f4 d6 We've reached quite a critical line of obvious improvement over 12...0-0? 13.c4 the Vaganian Gambit, if also one which it's .] hard not to feel is more than a tad risky for 13.f5!? Black. 8.b1 c7 [ Principled and aggressive. Having moved [ I n v a r i a b l y p l a y e d , b u t 8...d8!? his knight prematurely, White's problem is is also possible as we saw in that lively that 13.c4 d4 leaves him without an encounter Smerdon-A.L'Ami, Amsterdam effective e4-e5 hit and 14.0-0 h6 15.f3 2014. ] 0-0-0 surely only offers him sufficient 9.b5+ 2277
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 compensation for the pawn. ] 13...exf5 14.exf5 d4?! [ Even 2600+ GMs can lose their way in muddy uncharted waters. Af ter 14...xf5 15.0-0 d7 16.f3 White would have obtained the initiative in return for the two pawns, ] [ but 14...a6! looks quite strong, and if 15.c4?! d5! , making use of the potential check on e5. ] 15.0-0 d5? [ Far too ambitious. Instead, there would h a ve b e e n e ve ryt h in g t o p l a y f o r a f t e r 15...0-0! 16.c4+ h8 17.f7+ xf7 18.xf7 xf5 , with two pawns for the exchange. ] 16.f4 d6 [ Hardly optimal, but 16...c8 was no better in view of 17.xd5! , and if xd5 18.h5+ .] 17.xd7+ xd7 18.xd6 xd6 Necessary to keep b7 protected, but matters have clearly gone badly wrong for Black. 19.e6! a5 [ Desperation, but 19...xe6? would, of course, have dropped the queen to 20.b5+ .] 20.xd4 cxd4 21.b5+ d7 22.xd4 Swinkels has won back his pawn while maintaining excellent attacking chances. Indeed, it's amazing that Durarbeyli managed to survive this. b6 23.c4! Logically levering o p e n l i n e s t o wa r d s t h e b la c k k i n g . hc8 24.cxd5 xd5 25.b3 e8 26.e6? [ A strange choice. Swinkels must have overestimated his position after breaking through on g7. Of course, White would like to retain the queens and, indeed, 26.g3 c4 ( if 26...d8? 27.e1+ ) 27.e1+ f7 was strong. Now the rook could go to d3, but much stronger is 28.e6! xd1 29.xg7+ e8 30.xd1 with a much improved version of the game. ] 26...xd1 27.xd1 c2 [ Abandoning g7 for counterplay, but 27...f7!? 28.g3 g6 29.g5+ g7 30.f1 c6 was by no means totally impossible. ] 28.g3 ac8 29.xg7 Compared to the note to White's 26th, Black's rooks are much better placed. Swinkels is still doing well, but he is o n l y c l e a r l y b e t t e r , n o t w i n n i n g . c1
Black's only hope is to exchange a pair of rooks and trust in the oft-large drawing haven of rook endings. Admittedly here a pair of knights remain and W hite does have a 3-1 kingside majority, so Swinkels must still have been quite confident at this stage. 30.xc1 xc1+ 31.f2 c2+ 32.e3 xa2 33.g4 The material count might be level, but there's no doubting that White still enjoys a powerful in it ia t i ve . h6 34.h4 a5 35.f4 a1! Good defence from Durarbeyli, creating the maximum checking distance from behind. 36.e5 The g-pawn couldn't advance, so Swinkels continues to make good use of his king. It's hard to believe there was a better move, but amazingly the text may not be sufficient to win. d7+ 37.d6? [ White's king won't enjoy its excursion to the queenside, so 37.d5! d1+ ( 37...f6+ 38.d6 d1+ 39.c6 c1+ 40.b7 is a much improved version of the game) 38.d4 would have been a better try. Presumably Black will race here, but after a5 39.g5 hxg5 40.hxg5 a4 41.g8+! ( 41.f6 a3 42.e7+ d8 43.e2 f8 44.a2 d3 isn't so clear) 41...e7 ( 41...f8? 42.g6 decides ) 42.a8 b5 43.a7 W hite's pawns would have remained the more mobile and he would have retained good winning chances. ] 37...d1+ 38.c7 [ Likewise, 38.c6 e5+ 39.b5 b1+ 40.a6 a1+ 41.b7 f1 seems to just about hold, and if 42.xa7 b5 . ] 38...c1+ 39.d6 d1+ Unfortunately for W hite there's no way to reach the position mentioned in the note to move 37. Somehow Dura rbe yli has su rvived . 40.c7 c1+ 41.b7 c5+! 42.xc5 [ Black was right to trade the knights as shown too by 42.xa7 xe6 43.fxe6 b5 44.h7 b4 with sufficient counterplay for a draw. ] 42...bxc5 43.g5 hxg5 44.hxg5 Connected passed pawns are usually a mighty asset, but here Black's king is well placed, unlike its counterpart, and the c-pawn secures the draw. c4 45.g6 f8 46.f6 f1 The last accurate move. 47.f7+ g8 48.g7+ f8 49.f7+ g8 50.g7+ f8 Instructive defence from Durarbeyli, if something of a tragedy for poor 2278
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Swinkels. ½-½
2331 Swinkels,Robin Greenfeld,Alon HMC Calder Cup, Rosmalen (5.5) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2512 2545 24.06.2014
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 [ In a later round of the same tournament, T w a n B u r g p r e f e r r e d 5...d5 against Swinkels, play continuing 6.d2 c5 7.gf3 c6 ( a new move for us instead, 7...cxd4 8.xd4 c5 9.a4+ d7 10.b5 was Hodgson-Summerscale, Reading Open 2000, to which you'll find Aaron's notes in the Archive,; while 7...a6!? 8.b3 cxd4 9.cxd4?! c6! already favoured Black in Walton-D.Buckley, British League 2005, as sh o wn by E ric) 8.b5 d7 ( 8...cxd4 9.xd4 d7 10.0-0 is a more common move order to reach our next note) 9.exd5!? ( unusual, but by no means bad instead, 9.0-0 cxd4 10.xd4 leads to a somewhat more common position, and one in which Richard Pert believes that W hite may be able to retain an edge) 9...exd5 10.0-0 cxd4 ( and this is new in the only previous t e xt o f t h e p o sit io n wh ich I co u ld f i n d , 10...0-0-0 11.b3 g4?! was tried in Moreno Ruiz-Garcia Serrano, San Sebastian 2000, but after 12.xc5 xc5 13.dxc5 e5 14.e2 Black had nothing better than mass exchanges on f3 followed by ...d4, with definite chances to hold the doublerook endgame) 11.xd4 0-0-0 12.2f3 xd4 ( it's hard to believe Black really wants to simplify, but then again neither does his position look great in any case: for example, 12...b8 13.xc6 bxc6 14.b4 , with a clamp and potentially dangerous attack) 13.xd7+ xd7 14.cxd4!? (giving up on standard anti-IQP play to go for an attack) d6 15.a4 a6 16.b4 , which left White on the front foot in Swinkels-Burg, Rosmalen 2014. ] 6.d3 e5 7.e2 e7!? [ An unusual move, but developing the
bishop to here rather than g7 is not entirely untopical, albeit with 7...d8!? 8.0-0 e7 having been tried in Van Wely-Giri, Wijk aan Zee 2014, which we examined at the time. ] [ b) Black's most popular course remains 7...g6 8.0-0 g7 9.f4 e7 , but for how much longer one has to wonder. As saw in Delchev-Kohlweyer, Skopje 2014, Pert's A) but 10.d2 can hardly be bad and brings about a position which can occur from a number of move orders. Here c6 is rat he r u nu su al, b ut h as re ce ived a co u ple of rece nt t est s: 11.f3 d7 ( 11...0-0 12.d2 g4 tried to pressure d4 in Swiercz-David, French Team Ch a m p i o n s h i p 2 0 1 4 , b u t a f t e r 13.c2 exd4 14.cxd4 d5 15.e5 b4 16.c3! xc3 17.bxc3 e7 18.g3 Black had clearly failed to equalise) 12.b3 0-0 13.ae1 a6 14.a4 a5 15.d5 d8 16.f5 b6 17.b5 left Black solid but a little too cramped in Le Roux-Terrieux, French Team Championship 2014.; B) 10.f5!? is quite dangerous for Black, ] 8.0-0 c6!? Again we see this knight development and here it's a novelty. Previously: [ a) 8...0-0 9.f4 exd4 10.cxd4 c6 ( 10...g4 was preferred in Nikolov-Lapcevic, Bar 2006, but 11.bc3 c6 12.c2! a6 13.d3 was a rather effective battery for White ) 11.d2 g4 12.c4 d8?! 13.e3 e6 14.e5 already left Black in some trouble in Scherer-Monn, correspondence 2003. ] [ b) 8...g5?! is a remarkable lunge, weakening the light squares. Surely White isn't about to be mated? Indeed, 9.d2 h5 ( 9...d7 10.c4 f8 11.e3 g6? 12.d5 1-0 was Demac-T.Larsen, Bergen 2 0 1 0 B la ck n e e d n 't b lu n d e r so , b u t h e should really prefer Greenfeld's move to pushing the g-pawn) 10.c4! h4 11.e3 (I wonder if Black was still so keen on his plan of kingside expansion by the time the knight had reached this location) c6 12.h3 g4 13.hxg4 h3 left White with various good options in Fowler-Grekh, Peniscola 2002, including 14.g3 ( 14.f4!? was probably a tad too ambitious in the game) 14...exd4 15.cxd4 xd4 16.e2 with a huge lead in 2279
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 development and Nef5 imminent. ] 9.a3! [ I rather like this calm response from the young Dutch GM, exploiting the age-old tactic that the d-pawn is indirectly protected. Instead, 9.d2?! exd4 10.f3 dxc3 11.xc3 might appeal to ambitious souls, although I'm not sure there's quite enough compensation with Black very solidly placed after d8 ( or 11...e5!? . )] [ No doubt the ever well-prepared Greenfeld had also carefully considered 9.d5 b8 10.f4 , presumably deciding that Black could withstand being quite cramped after 0-0 11.f5 , since his knight will come to c5 or f6, he is rock-solid on the dark squares, and there's always the ...c6 break. ( Likewise, 11.fxe5 xe5 12.d2 g6 13.f3 g7 should be fine for Black, since it's hard to find a particularly effective plan for the first player. )] 9...0-0 10.c2 g5 An active feint, but one has to wonder if Greenfeld had been overly optimistic assuming he'd analysed this far in advance. In any case, the queen looks rather misplaced on the kingside (be it f6, g6, h4 or g5), and if Black wants to be solid and avoid ... g 6 , I m u c h p r e f e r G i r i ' s m e t h o d . 11.e3 As we are seeing, this is always a good spot for the queen's knight in this line, eying the vulnerable squares on d5 and f5. g4 [ Wisely looking to simplify, since something like 11...d7 12.f4 h4 13.b5!? would have left Black under pressure. ] 12.f4 [ Tempting, although by no means forced with, for instance, 12.xg4!? xg4 13.b3 surely another route to an edge. ] 12...exf4 13.xg4 xg4 14.xf4 [ The more ambitious recapture. 14.xf4 xd1 15.axd1 leaves White with a small but clear edge, but after, say, g5 16.d5 ac8 17.g3 e7 18.f4 Swinkels presumably thought that Greenfeld would be able to hold things together. ] 14...g5?! [ Staying on the dark squares was tempting, but doesn't work out too well and, as such, 14...d7 would have been a safer option. ] 15.f5! e3+ 16.h1 g5 17.f3 d2 The only move, of course, but W hite has
everything protected and after his next had quite useful pressure from what I can see. 18.b3 a5? [ The knight will soon prove something of a vulnerability on the rim. As such, Black had to try 18...b6 , and if 19.af1 take his c h a n c e s i n a5 20.d5 c6 21.xd6 xb2 , unconvincing though his decentralised position may appear. ] 19.b5! b6 20.b4 This is the problem for Black. Retreating to b7 will allow White to fork the knight and c7 with his queen, and even Greenfeld's ingenious defence shouldn't have been sufficient. a6 21.d5 [ One might also make a rather good case for 21.d7!? , with complete domination. ] 21...e3 22.f4?! [ Swinkels protects d3 and relies on his pressure down the f-file, but he could have done even better with 22.xf7! . The main point is xf7 ( or 22...h8 23.xa6! ) 23.xa8+ f8 24.xa6 , covering back and if xa2 25.g1 xg1 26.xg1 when the black knight m u st f a ll a f te r a ll, lea vin g White with clearly the better prospects. ] 22...xf4 23.bxa5 Even here matters appear quite bleak for Black. Can he really survive with such light squares? c6? [ This should have lost. No doubt Greenfeld was keen to avoid 23...e3 24.xf7! xf7 25.xa8+ h7 26.xa6 xc3 27.d1 , but while White is doing pretty well, he is not definitely going to win after, for instance, bxa5 28.e5+ g6 29.e6 e7 30.d5 . ] 24.f5?! [ Another move which I too might well have played over t he boa rd, bu t the deviou s engine points out 24.b3! when Black's queen is trapped and bxa5 25.d1 ab8 26.xd2 xb3 27.xf4 xc3 28.g3 leaves White a piece up. ] 24...e3 25.e5 Now it's not f7 or the queenside holes which is causing Black the most pain, but rather that most important of light squares when one has castled short. g6 26.e4 g5 27.e6 [ White has a plethora of riches and it's hard to be certain what was best. Swinkels keeps up the pressure while bagging some pawns, but, for instance, 27.axb6!? d5 28.g4 h5 29.d7 xc3 30.af1 might have been 2280
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 even stronger. ] 27...f5 28.xc6 ac8 29.xd6 fd8 30.xb6 xc3 Taking stock, White is two pawns ahead, has a monster e-pawn and the safer king. Can he, though, retain control in the run-up to the time control? 31.af1? [ Throwing away much of White's advantage. Greenfeld has done well to randomise, and to maintain a huge advantage, White had to decide on 31.e7! xa1+ 32.f1 xf1+ 33.xf1 xe7 34.xg6+ f8 35.xh6+ f7 36.xa6 , which would, of course, require one to spot far in advance that there were no back-rank issues. ] 31...xd4 32.xa6 b8 33.c7 g7! Good defence. Black might be two pawns down, but he still enjoys an unopposed bishop and the white pawns are quite strung out. 34.xg7+ [ 34.c3 would have been less compliant, but I dare say that the players may well have been blitzing by this point. ] 34...xg7 35.b3? [ An unfortunate slip. The rooks were s t r u g g l i n g t o f i n d a r o l e , b u t 35.g4! would have assisted their cause no end, while retaining some advantage after, say, b2 ( 35...d2 36.b3 now works, in view of a8 37.b7+ f6 38.e7! ) 36.d3 xa2 37.gxf5 gxf5 38.a6 . ] 35...xb3 36.axb3 a8 37.c4 xa5 A pawn has fallen and it turns out that the blockade of the two passed pawns cannot be broken. 38.d1 [ Black creates an excellent set-up with his next three moves, but clearly White had to avoid 38.b4 a4 39.b1 e7 . ] 38...e7 39.g3 a2 40.d7 f6 A tragic position to reach at move 41 for poor Swinkels. With his king cut off, there's simply nothing for W h i t e t o d o . 41.b4 a4 42.b7 xb4 43.xb4 ½-½
2332 Tate,Emory Baldursson,Hrannar Reykjavik International (1) [Eric Prié]
A45 2406 2129 11.04.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.f3 f6 5.e4 dxe4 6.c3 e3 7.c4 The good idea in my opinion: White wants to keep his extra tempo, in comparison with a declined BDG, by recapturing on e3 with the queen. Then, similar to the next few games after 6...Nd5!, the drawback of installing a knight on d5 emphasizes the not so comfortable position of the bishop on f4 after all. [ 7.d3!? Trying to keep the extra tempo but the arrangement Qe3-Bf4 is not the most fortunate, as Black will demonstrate in this g a m e b y i n s t a l l i n g a k n i g h t o n d 5 . e6 8.xe3 e7 9.0-0-0 0-0 10.b1 c6 11.g4 b4 12.g3 b6 13.a3 bd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.e1 b7 16.d3 c5 17.c4 f6 18.dxc5 e8 19.d6 bxc5 20.xe7 xe7 21.h4 g6 22.h3 fd8 23.g5 f8 24.e4 xe4+ 25.xe4 xe4 26.fxe4 d4 27.xd4 cxd4 1/2-1/2 Benjamin, J (2575) - Yermolinsky, A (2560) US-Ch Modesto 1995 ] 7...e6 8.d3 c6 9.0-0-0 b4 10.xe3 bd5?! Too eager to seize the pair of bishops. [ 10...e7 Like Yermolinsky above, with the extra possibility of taking back on d5 with the e-pawn but only after White uses the tempo a2-a3 to chase the knight! ] 11.xd5 xd5 12.xd5 xd5 13.b1 Now c7 hangs. d6 14.e2 0-0 15.e5! f6? [ 15...d7 16.c3 a5 17.f4 xe5 ( 17...b6 18.e4 ) 18.dxe5 c6 19.d4 fd8 20.hd1 ] 16.f4 c6 [ 16...c4 17.xd6 cxd6 18.b3 c6 19.xe6 ] 17.d5! exd5 18.xd6 xd6? [ 18...cxd6 19.xd5 ( 19.b3!? ) 19...e8 20.c3 xc3 ( 20...e6 21.xc6 bxc6 22.c7 ) 21.xc3 d8 22.b5 d5 23.c7 b8 24.xd5 ] 19.xd5 c6 20.e7! With his queen's bishop a constrained spectator, Black cannot 2281
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 avoid annoying material loss now. e8? forces in two. Thus, without gambiting [ 20...e8 21.xc7 ] something 'for real' this time, I do not see how 21.d8 f5 Black can get organized otherwise. [ 21...xd8 22.xd8+ f7 23.e1 xc2+ [ 8...h6 Fritz 9.gxh6 b5 ( 9...xh6 10.c3 24.xc2 f5+ 25.d3+- ] e5 11.b3 ) 10.b4! ( 10.b3 xh6 11.e3 22.h5! g7 ) 10...xh6 11.e3 xb4? 12.b1 a5 1-0 13.c3 ] 9.cxd6 e6 10.dxe7? This is not the idea. For just one pawn (since White cannot hang 2333 A45 on to g5) Black gets full compensation of the two bishops and a massive lead in Terentiev,Anatoli development. xe7! Gallagher,Joseph G [ 10...xc4 Is already a serious test: 1990 Liechtenstein 1990 11.exf8+ xf8 ( 11...xf8! Therefore is [Paul Motwani] better 12.c3 e6 13.gf3 h6 And in spite of the slight material disadvantage of 2 B30: "Trompovsky trampled!" 1.d4 f6 pawns for the exchange I prefer the black 2.g5 The Trompovsky Attack. e4 3.f4 co m b i n a t i o n o f a c t i ve r o o k s a n d g o o d c5 4.c3 development ) 12.b4! [ 4.d5 b6 5.d2 xb2 ( 5...xd2 A) 12...e5 13.xc4 c3+ 14.d2 6.xd2 xb2 7.e4 also gives White some xb4 15.c1 c8 16.e3 xc2+ 17.e2 play for his sacrificed pawn) 6.xe4 b4+ d4+ 18.exd4 xc1 19.gf3 f6 7.d2 xe4 8.e3 has led to interesting W ith an unclear, and quite uncommon, battles in various encounters, since, in struggle of two rooks against three pieces compensation for a one-pawn deficit, White which I find difficult to evaluate.; has a lead in development plus more space B) 12...xb4 13.c3 b5 ( 13...xc3 and opportunities to harass Black's queen. ] 14.c1 a5 15.xc4 0-0-0 16.gf3 f6 4...b6 5.b3 cxd4! 6.xb6 17.e3 fxg5 18.a4 ) 14.b1 a6 [ 6.cxd4 xd4 puts Black a sound pawn 15.e4 d8 16.c1 b6 17.f4 f5 up. ] ( 17...xa2? 18.f6+ e7 19.c7+ 6...axb6 7.xb8? Missing Black's e6 20.xc6+ e7 21.e4+ e6 forthcoming sizzling sequence, but in fact 7 22.b4+ d6 23.e4 ) 18.d6+ xd6 cxd4 Nc6 is also rather unpleasant for White, 19.xd6 e7 20.f3 xa2 21.d1; who finds himself facing threats of ...Nxd4 or ... C) 12...a6 13.e4 d8 14.b1 f5 Nb4. dxc3!! 8.e5 Diagram B30D1 xa2! 15.gxf6 d5 16.e3 a3 17.c3 f7 and W hite soon resigned because after 9 18.f3 xe4 19.g5+ xf6 20.xe4+ Rxa2 c2 he cannot prevent Black's charging cg7 21.b3 ] pawn from promoting to a new queen at b1 or 11.c3 h6!? Interestingly keeping the bishop c1. on the a3-f8 diagonal, although I struggle to 0-1 see what White had to oppose the prosaic [ 11...xg5 12.gf3 f6 13.a3 b6 ( 13...c7 14.c3 0-0 15.e3 ad8 16.a4; 2334 A45 13...b4 14.b1 0-0 15.c3 ) 14.b1 Teske,Henrik 2463 A) 14...0-0!? 15.e3 ad8 16.e2 Pachow,Joerg 2297 ( 16.d3 b4 17.f1 xa2 18.a1 Bundesliga 0001 (7.6) 28.01.2001 e6 ) 16...g5 17.f1 ( 17.c3 f5 [Eric Prié] 18.b3 c7 19.c1 e6 20.a3 g4 21.d4 h2 ) 17...g4 18.e1 g3; 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 B) 14...0-0-0 15.e3 b8! ( 15...g5 16.c3 a5+ 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 g6 7.h4! c6 g4 17.d4 ) 16.d3 ( 16.c3 f5 17.e4 8.c4 d5 What else? While a white c5-pawn xe4 ) 16...g5 ( 16...h5!? 17.f1 h4 ) is usually easy prey for Black, now it splits his 2282
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.e4 e7 18.a4 hg8 With a fierce i n i t i a t i v e ( 18...g4 19.fg5 hg8 20.xe6 fxe6 21.f1 h5 )] 12.gxh6 xh6 13.gf3 g5 14.e3 h1 15.e2 b4 16.d3 g4!? Black wants to realize the trade of the exchange against two pawns under the best circumstances but it is not sure he had more than [ 16...c4 17.c3 a6! A) 18.a3 g4!! ( 18...e7 19.0-0-0 ) 19.cxb4 ( 19.d4 e5 20.cxb4 d5 21.e4 d7 22.b5 xb5 23.xb5 xd3+ 24.d1 xb5 ) 19...xb4 20.axb4 xa1+ 21.d1 xd1+ 22.xd1 xd3-+; B) 18.b3 a4 19.c2 ( 19.cxb4? xb4 20.c5 a5 21.xa6 xd3+ 22.d1 xb2+ 23.xb2 xf1+ 24.c2 xf2+; 19.c1 d6 ) 19...e7 20.0-0-0 ( 20.fd2 g4 ) 20...xa2 21.e2 a5 22.fd2 ( 22.xa5 xd3 23.xd3 xd1+ 24.xd1 xa5 ) 22...xb3+ 23.xb3 xd1+ 24.xd1 xd3 25.xd3 a6 26.h7! With compensation... but for White! ] 17.d4 xd2+ 18.xd2? White wrongly decides to increase his ambitions but a very nasty surprise awaits him. [ 18.xd2 c4 19.xa5 xa5 20.0-0-0 xd3 21.xd3 xd1+ 22.xd1 c6 23.f5 g3 24.fxg3 xd4 25.exd4 e7 I don't think White can win but he will surely not lose. ] 18...xd4 19.exd4 f8! 20.a3 [ 20.0-0-0 xa2 21.c3 f5 ] [ 20.d5! Was the only move f5 ( 20...xd5 21.0-0-0 ) 21.b4 A) 21...xb4 22.0-0-0 a3+ 23.b1 e8 ( 23...b4+ 24.c1 a3+= ) 24.c4 e4 25.d4 h6 26.d6 e6 ( 26...xd6 27.xd6 xc4 28.xc4= ) 27.4d3!! d4!! 28.xd4 xc4 29.xc4 e8 30.d7+ d8 31.xf7 ( 31.e1? b4+ ) 31...c5 32.xg4 d6 33.xd6 xd6 34.f3 xd7 35.b3; B) 21...a3! 22.c4 b2 23.ad1 c8 24.d4 xa2 25.a1 e8+ 26.e2 xc2 ] 20...c4!! 21.xc4 [ 21.b4 xe2 22.bxa5 xf1+ 23.xe2 xa1 ] 21...e8+ 22.d1
[ 22.e2 xe2+ 23.xe2 b5+ 24.d3 xb2-+ ] 22...a6!! A combination I have never seen before and I wish I had been there to see the face of the solid German Grandmaster at this moment! It is hard to believe but W hite is helpless to avoid the recapture of the bishop followed by a whole rook! 23.c5+ g7 24.d3 [ 24.g5+ h8 End of the checks... ] 24...xf1+ 25.d2 xa1 26.g3 [ 26.g5+ g6 ] 26...h6+ 27.c3 e6 28.g5+ g6 The forced exchange of queens should have en ta ile d W h it e's re signa t io n b ut in te a m competitions it can sometimes be useful to maintain a semblance of suspense regarding the result of the game. Or maybe he was just wasting time in order to be able to prepare himself f or an unbearable outcome in 28 moves after having been completely outplayed as White throughout against a player giving him almost 200 rating points? 29.xg4 [ 29.f4 c8+ 30.b4 b6+ 31.a4 c4+ 32.b4 xb4# ] 29...xg4 30.xg4+ f6 [ 30...f8 31.d2 ee1 32.h4 ad1+ 33.c3 e2 And the white pawns are ripe. ] 31.f4+ e6 32.b4 f5 33.c4 d8 34.g4 fxg4 35.xg4 f8 36.d5+ e5 37.g7 xf2 38.b3 a5+ 39.a4 fa2 40.xa5 xa3+ 41.b4 a7 42.b5 1a5+ 43.b6 7a6+ 44.c7 b5 45.g5+ f6 46.h5 bxc4 47.bxc4 c5+ 48.d7 a7+ 49.d6 xc4 50.f5+ g6 No m ira cle . 51.f6+ g7 52.f1 c8 53.g1+ f8 54.f1+ f7 55.h1 d8+ 56.c6 f6+ 57.c5 f5 58.d1 e7 59.e1+ d7 60.e6 c8+ 0-1
2335 Tiberio,Joey Gokhale,Chandrashekhar Open Dubai UAE (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2405 15.04.2002
Stonewall Attack: White comes a cropper after an inaccurate move order. You have been warned! 1.d4 f6 2.e3 e6 3.d3 b6 4.f4 b7 5.f3 c5 6.c3 c7 7.bd2?! 2283
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A dubious decision, as Black's last move was directed specifically against this. [ 7.0-0 is stronger. ] 7...cxd4! 8.cxd4 [ 8.exd4 should have been given serious consideration, as after: xf4 9.c4 c7 10.0-0 White has some dangerous open lines on the kingside in compensation for the sacrificed pawn. ] 8...d5 9.f2 A strange looking move, but the natural: [ 9.e2 is well met by b4 ] 9...e7 10.e5 0-0 11.h5 f5 12.g1 White limbers up for a kingside pawn break, however, with a series of accurate defensive m o v e s , B l a c k s n u f f s o u t t h e t h r e a t . d6 13.ef3 f6 14.h3 g4+ 15.e2 a6! The key move. With the White king stuck in the centre, Black prepares an attack on the vulnerable light squares. 16.g3 xd3+ 17.xd3 b7 18.e1 An uncomfortable looking move, but it is very difficult to keep a grip on e4 and defend the e3 pawn. a6+ 19.c2 c8+ 20.d1? The final mistake, which hastens the inevitable end. [ 20.b1 keeps the game going, although it is obvious that Black enjoys a clear advantage. ] 20...h4! Devastating, as White must part with his queen if he is to prevent either Nf2 or Ne3. 0-1
2336 Torre,Eugenio Sharavdorj,Dashzeveg zt3.2a Vung Tau VIE (7) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2557 2473 27.05.2000
[ The critical variation has always been: 3...c5 but for some reason, Black has re cen t ly b ee n a vo id ing t his sh a rp lin e . Watch this space! ] 4.d2 d6 Although a seemingly passive retreat, this knight aims to harass the dark squared bishop. 5.e3 f5 6.g5 h6 7.f4 e6 8.d3 c5 9.c3 c6 10.gf3 g5 A clear sign that Black is playing for the full point, although weakening the kingside like this obviously entails some risk. [ 10...e7!? ] 11.e5 xe5 12.xe5 g7 13.a4+ f8 Forced, but I can't help feeling that bagging the bishop pair has caused Black more trouble than it is worth. 14.0-0 xe5 It is hard to see how Black can co-ordinate his forces without this capture, but then, if you're going to play this, why go to all the bother over the bishop pair in the first place? 15.dxe5 c7 16.e4 With Black lagging behind in development, it is natural for White to open up the position. d7 [ 16...dxe4 17.xe4 is pleasant for White. ] 17.a3 dxe4 18.xe4 b6 [ 18...xe5 f a l ls f o u l o f : 19.xc5 e8 20.fe1 With an enormous attack. ] 19.f6 The knight takes up an extremely dominating outpost. c6 20.xf5 xe5?? a terrible, but not glaringly obvious blunder. [ 20...exf5 was better, as after: 21.fe1 d8 22.b4 White is in control, but there is still a long way to go. ] 21.e4! White can keep his extra piece, due to the rather tasty fork on d7. 1-0
2337 A45 Toth,Christian Endre 2344 The Bh4 Tromp makes a lot of sense, as the Lima,Darcy 2537 01.03.2004 pin on the e7 pawn can be quite annoying for ch-BRA Rio de Janeiro BRA (7) Black, although, despite this, it has always [Eric Prié] been regarded with some scepticism. However, the fact that many strong players 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ still wheel it out, gives the variation some 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 f5 8.xb8 respectability. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 xb8 9.xd4 b6 10.e4 f4 11.h3 c7 There have been quite a few recent games in 12.e5 g8 13.0-0-0 e6 14.g5! e7 15.f4 the Bh4 Tromp. This line has a poor reputation, Thu s we h ave t he crucial que st ion , f ro m but maybe it is time for a drastic re-evaluation. Black's point of view, and for the validity of d5 this variation: can Black improve now? Or 2284
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 sho uld he co nt en t him se lf with t he m ore c o m m o n ( b u t l e s s c o m p r o m is i n g f o r h i s opponent) moves 7...Qd8, and principally the e n d i n g r e s u l t i n g f r o m 7 . . . Q b 6 . c6!? W ith the Brazilian Grandmaster, my proposition for an improvement. [ 15...b7 16.b5 ( 16.f2 ) 16...d5 17.b1 a6 18.d3 h6 ( 18...xg2!? 19.hg1 d5 20.xh7 xh7 21.xh7 g6 is not that clear.) 19.e4 c6 20.f2 a5 21.d4 b5 22.g3 b4 23.d6+ xd6 24.exd6 xd6 25.c4 xc4 26.xg7 xd3+ 27.xd3 f8 28.xh6 Efimov,IMiezis,N Castellaneta 1999 1-0(46) ] 16.d2 [ 16.f2 b7 17.e4? xe5 18.fxe5 xe4 ] [ 16.e3 d5 17.d3 h6 18.f3 ] [ 16.d3! I n t e n d i n g N e 4 - d 6 + b4 ( 16...b7 17.b1; 16...f6? 17.xh7 b4 18.g6+ d8 19.xf8 ) 17.c4 White wants to implement his plan which, if proved successful, will guarantee him a simple advantage. ( 17.g3!? with the idea Ne4-d6+ and then recapture on d6 with the e5 pawn when g7 hangs and f4 is protected, or; 17.h3!? are also interesting with more complex attacking perspectives.) 17...xc4 18.xc4 b7! ( 18...f6 19.e4 b7 20.he1 ) 19.b5! ( 19.cxb4 c8 ) 19...c6 ( 19...d5 20.c4 a6 21.xd7+ xd7 22.cxd5 xd5 23.xf7 ) 20.he1 a6 21.f1 ( 21.xc6 xc6 22.e4 d5 ) 21...e7 22.c4 g6 23.g3 ] 16...f6!? 17.exf6 gxf6 18.e4 f5 19.f6+ f7! 20.h5 [ 20.xd7 h6! 21.g3 d8 22.e5+ xe5 23.fxe5 xd2+ 24.xd2 xd2 25.xd2 xe5= ] 20...g8 21.d4?! [ 21.h3 With the idea g4. White must play dynamically against the black king otherwise he will be worse because of the opponent's central domination and mighty pair of bishops. ] 21...xd4 22.xd4 e7 23.g4? c5! [ 23...b7 24.g1 c5 25.xc5 xc5 26.xd7+ e8 27.f6+ was probably White's sole calculation. ] 24.gxf5 [ 24.xc5 bxc5 25.gxf5 b7 The other way
round, the effect is different! ] 24...xd4 25.cxd4 b7 Snatching the exch a n ge a nd t h e ga m e . 26.d5 bc8+ 27.b1 xd5 28.xd5 exd5 29.g3 g4 30.g2 xf4 31.xd5+ f8 32.g1 c5 33.d1 d4 34.xd4 xd4 35.e4 e7 0-1
2338 Trent,Lawrence Howell,David 4NCL West Bromwich ENG (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2377 2304 01.05.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.c1 e6 8.c4 b4+ 9.d2 xb2! 10.c3 b6 11.e4 e5! 12.f4 Curiously, W hite has an extra tempo compared to this section's 'favourite' pawn sacrifice 1.d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 c5 3.d5 Qb6 4.Nc3 Qxb2 5.Bd2 Qb6 6.e4 e5! 7.f4 which corresponds to the move c2-c4 which occupies the allegedly most active square for his light-squared bishop! Clearly, whilst not a drawback, this is probably not too relevant. exf4? [ 12...d6! "Space, development, initiative. These words mean nothing to some players, who will do anything for an extra pawn"... and then proudly defend against the initiative to eventually take advantage of the gift... W ill gambiteers ever learn o) that advance of development eventually vanishes and that sacrificing a pawn is just wind if not sustained by deep analysis? Well, concerning this critical position and therefore THE ENTIRE BODY OF APPROXIMATELY 600 GAMES IN THE 6. d5 ALTERNATIVE OF THE MOST P O P U L A R L I N E I N T HE T RO M P : a s a matter of taste, I would rather be Black but my evaluation is basically the same as in the above-mentioned variation: unclear with b a l a n c e d c h a n c e s . 13.f5 This move is logical in this position as, compared to Bricard-Nevednichy for instance, Black does not have the freeing .. .b5 counter gambit at his disposal. h5! White's g2-g4 cannot be tolerated. 14.d3 d8 15.f3 a6 16.0-0 c7 1/2-1/2 Tan,D-Howell,D GB-Ch 2285
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Scarborough 2004 ] 13.e5 g8 14.d6! The key idea, as recurs in this study, threatening Nd5-c7+. Black is already strategically lost and the rest was only a (short, though) 'knightmare' for him. d8 15.xf4 g6 16.d5 a6 17.d2 h6 18.f3 [ 18.xh6? h4+ 19.g3 xh6 Soothes Black. ] 18...xf4 19.xf4 f8 To find 'shelter' on g7. 20.d3 [ 20.g5 e8 21.e2 h6 22.e4 is horrid too. ] 20...b4 21.xb4 cxb4 22.0-0 e8 23.d4! h6 24.xg6! Exclamation mark but everything wins. [ 24.e6 h7 25.exf7 ] 24...fxg6 25.g5+ f6 26.xf6+ g7 27.f7+ g8 28.e6 1-0
2339 Trent,Lawrence Skjoldborg,Jesper S&WYM Millfield School ENG (2) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2246 2201 11.07.2002
Trompowsky: For once, W hite fails to capitalise on the thematic sacrificed b-pawn, but if you look closer you will see that he certainly had his chances. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 c5 A useful surprise weapon to have in yo u r r e p e rt o ir e . 4.d5 b6 5.c3 Boldly sacrificing a pawn, in an attempt to wrest the initiative away from Black. xb2 6.d2 b6 7.c4 d6 8.f4 e7 9.f3 W hite sensibly continues development, as there is little chance that a direct attack will work. 0-0 10.0-0 d8 11.b1 exd5 Sooner or later Black had to make this capture. 12.xd5 xd5 [ 12...xe4 is impossible on account of: 13.e1 ] 13.xd5 c6 14.f5 An attempt to snuff out Black's light squared bishop, gaining kingside t e r r i t o r y o n t h e w a y . c7 15.c3 Now we can see that the range of the Black b i s h o p o n e 7 i s r a t h e r l i m i t e d . f6!? A radical solution. Black accepts permanent structural weaknesses on the kingside in order
to try and block W hite's avenues of attack. 16.xf6 gxf6 17.e1 h8 18.h4 e7 Black looks forward to using e5 as a base for h i s k n i g h t . 19.h6 g8 20.h1 e5 Black has been gearing up for this, but as we will soon see, it proves to have some drawbacks. [ 20...b4!? ] 21.xe5 xe5 dropping f7 but the alternatives were also uninspiring. [ 21...fxe5 22.h5 f8 23.f6 is unpleasant. ] [ 21...dxe5 22.f3 b8 23.bb3 preparing to swing both rooks to the kingside, is also very dangerous. ] 22.xf7 g7 23.d5 b8 24.g4 Having regained his pawn, White now has a d e f i n i t e a d v a n t a g e . b6 25.g5 b7 26.gxf6?? Disaster! After all his hard work White falls for a deadly and cunningly hidden cheapo. [ 26.xf6 xd5 ( 26...xf6 27.gxf6 i s w o r s e f r o m B l a c k ' s p o i n t o f v i e w .) 27.xe5 dxe5 28.exd5 xg5 29.be1 gives White the better rook endgame. ] 26...xe4+ Feel the x-ray power of the b7 Bishop. 0-1
2340 Trent,Lawrence Tan,Desmond 4NCL Telford ENG (10) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2257 2307 04.05.2003
Trompowsky Attack: White has been attacking hard and then it was the time to put the icing on the cake. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.d2 d5 This seems to be a novelty in this particular position, although the idea is certainly not new. 6.c3 c6 7.0-0-0 b4 8.e5 d8 9.a3 e7 10.f4 White has the usual pleasant grip in the centre, but at the cost of the bishop pair. a5 11.f3 b5 12.a4 Interesting! White is also taking the fight to Black on the queenside. b4 13.e3 xc3 14.xc3 bxa4 Opening lines on the qu e e n sid e is e sse n t ia l if B la ck wa n t s t o create counterplay. 15.h4 b6 16.h3 a6 17.g3 The beginning of an energetic attack 2286
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xh4 22.gxh4 g6-+ ) B2a) 20.xg6 is the most resistant. f5 21.xh8 e7! ( 21...xe4+ 22.xe4 xh8? 23.f5 ) 22.he1 xe4+ 23.xe4 xh8 24.f5+ d8 25.xe7 xe7 is probably more difficult to win than with the piece for two pawns.; B2b) 20.g2 g4 21.f3 h3 22.g2 e6 23.d5 xh4 24.dxe6 xd1+ 25.xd1 xg2-+ 26.c4+ ( 26.xg2 g6+ 27.a1 xe6; 26.d7 g6 ) 26...b8 27.d7 e5 28.a4 ( 28.b4 e1+ 29.c2 xf2+ 30.b3 b6 ) 28...e8 29.e7 f5+ 2341 A45 30.d3 e1 0-1 Simonenko,S-Safin,S/ Ashkhabad 1996 ] Tseitlin,Mikhail S 2430 [ 9...exd4 Hamdouchi,Hicham 2455 A) 10.xd4 xd4 11.cxd4 d7! FS11 GM Budapeste (13) 1993 ( 11...xd4? 12.b5+ d8 13.0-0 ) [Eric Prié] 12.e2 c8; B) 10.d3! dxc3 11.bxc3 e6 12.0-0 ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.c3 b6 5.c2 d5! 6.e3 c6 7.f3 e5! 8.bd2 10.b3 c7 11.e2 [ 11.dxe5 fxe5 12.g5 h6! 13.xe6 cxd4 9.exd4 e6! Somewhat logically, the xd2+ ( 13...fxe6 14.d1 0-0-0 15.b3 most natural move corresponds to the most e4 ) 14.xd2 fxe6 15.f3 0-0 16.e1 b5! ] accurate way of treating the position. 11...0-0-0 12.g3 Untimely prophylaxis or not, [ 9...e4 10.h4 f5 11.g3 f4 A) 12.g2 f3 ( 12...fxg3 13.hxg3 d6 it is difficult for White to solve the problem of 14.e3 e6 15.h3 ) 13.f4 e6 the open g-file without this move. h6 13.d1 14.xe6 fxe6 15.h3 e5 16.xe4 dxe4 e4! 14.h4 hg8! 15.f1 [ 15.0-0? xd2! 16.xd2 f4 17.d5 e7 18.a4+ f7 19.xe4 Wins a piece! 17.c2 xh4 ] is a m u c h b e t te r ve rsio n o f t h e sa m e [ 15.g2 h3! 16.0-0! ( 16.e3 xe3 idea.; 17.fxe3 xg3! 18.f1 g2 ) 16...f5 B) 12.xe4 dxe4 13.xe4+ e7 17.fe1 ( 17.f4 xg2 18.xg2 xf4 14.c4 h3! ( 14...xb2 15.0-0 g7 19.h1 xg3 ) 17...f4 18.h1 f5!-+ 16.ae1 a3 17.g2 looks very With an overwhelming attack that is worth dangerous.) 15.0-0-0 0-0-0 16.xf7 f6! more than a piece for two pawns. ] White has painfully gained a third pawn for the piece but they have no hold over the 15...f5 With this structure for White there is no position at the moment. On the other hand, possible barrier on the dark squares against f4 Black has managed to secure his king and t h e f -p a wn (s) st e a m ro lle r . 16.g2 now seizes the initiative with the help of 17.xf4 xf4 18.gxf4 xf4 19.e3 [ 19.g3 f5 20.b5 c7 21.xc6 xc6 his powerful two bishops to gain 22.e2 f4 23.xf4 g4 24.d2 f3 advantage from the awkward placing of 25.f1 d6 26.e2 xh2 27.c4 ] the white pieces. B1) 17.b3 h6 18.b1 g5 19...g6 20.d2 dg8 21.a3 The king ( 18...g6 19.xg6 f5?? 20.e7+ could not flee from the danger zone because xe7 21.xf5+ ) 19.a1 xh4 of the weakness of f2 and now Black reap the fruits of his exemplary strategy with a little 20.gxh4 xh4 21.hg1 g6-+; B2) 17.h5 h6 18.f3 d7 19.b1 combination. h3 [ 21...g1+ 22.xg1 xg1+ 23.f1 g6 ( 19...g5 20.e5 xe5 21.dxe5 on the Black king. 0-0 18.f5! Charge! exf5 19.e3 h8 20.e6 f6 [ 20...fxe6 21.xe6 with Ne5 to follow is clearly very unpleasant for Black. ] 21.e7 e8 22.e5 Anyway! a7 The knight is taboo. [ 22...fxe5 23.xe5 leaves Black with the difficult question of how to defend g7. ] 23.xg7! Beautiful. White destroys the Black k in g's d e f e n c e s . xg7 24.g3+ h8 25.f7+ h7 26.h5 Leaving Black completely helpless. g8 27.e8 1-0
2287
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 23.f1 Leads to the same finish. h3 24.c4 xf1 25.xf1 xf1+ 26.xf1 xd2 27.f8+ d7 28.xf7+ e7 29.cxd5 d1+ 30.g2 g4+ 31.f1 f5 ) 23...h3 was more precise. ] 22.f1 [ 22.d1 xf2 23.c4 With a small respite. ( 23.g4+ xg4+ )] 22...g1! 23.xg1 xg1 24.f8+ d7 25.c5 xf1 26.xd5+ c7 27.xf1 e3! 28.e2 [ 28.c2 exf2+ 29.e2 g4+ 30.xf2 xf1+ 31.xf1 d1+ 32.g2 xc2+ ] 28...exf2+ 29.xf2 e3+ [ 29...e3+ 30.e2 c1+ 31.f2 xf1+ ] 0-1
2342 Tseitlin,Mikhail S Naumann,Frank Krumbach op (1) [Eric Prié]
A45 2490 2280 1991
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.c3 b6 5.c2 cxd4?! Forcing White to take back with the c-pawn, and so freeing a splendid square for his queen's knight, in return for some initiative, is not the best strategy. [ Neither is 5...c6?! 6.d5 ] 6.cxd4 c6 Of course not 6...Qxd4??, c8 is hanging. 7.e3 d5 8.c3 f5! [ 8...e6 9.f3 d7 10.e2 c8 has been played a couple of times in the database but it is not the most precise for a very simple reason: After 11. Qd2 for instance - There is nothing wrong with 11. 0-0-0 we have reached exactly the same position with reversed colours as in one of the main lines of the anti-Slav English after 1. c4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bg4 amongst many move orders 5.cxd5 (5.Qb3 Qb6 6. cxd5 Bxf3 7.gxf3 Qxb3 8.axb3 Nxd5=) Bxf3! (5...cxd5? 6.Qb3 wins a pawn) 6.gxf3 (6. Qxf3 cxd5 7.Bb5+ Nc6 8. Bxc6+! to play against the backward pawn on the c-file is the correct way to play for an advantage.) cxd5 7.Qb3 Qd7 8.d4 Nc6 9.Bd2 e6 10.Rc1 which is renowned as innocuous for Black and confirmed by my experience! ] 9.d2
[ 9.xf5? xb2 ] [ 9.d3!? A) 9...xd3 10.xd3 e6 ( 10...xb2 11.b1 a3 12.xb7 c1+ 13.d1 e6 14.e2 a3 15.dc3 ) 11.ge2 d6 12.0-0 f5 13.ac1; B) 9...b4 10.a4+ d7 11.b5 xb5 ( 11...d3+? 12.e2 xb5 13.xb5 xb2 14.d6+ d8 15.e8+ c7 16.b5+ xb5+ 17.xb5; 11...c2+? 12.xc2 xb5 13.xd5 ) 12.xb5 ( 12.xb4 c6 13.xb6 axb6 14.ge2 e6= ) 12...c6 13.e2 e6 14.0-0 a6 ( 14...e7 ) 15.bc3 f5 16.fc1 d6 17.ab1 0-0 If any, is not much for White. ] 9...0-0-0 10.f3 [ 10.b5! b8 ( 10...g8 11.ge2 xg2 12.g3 e4 13.cxe4! xb5 14.c3 c4 15.e2 e5 16.xc4 dxc4 17.f1 ) 11.ge2 indubitably short-circuits a fair number of Black's aggressive ideas. ] 10...e5 11.c1 [ 11.e2 g8! 12.d1! ( 12.0-0? h3 13.h4 exd4 ) 12...h6! ( 12...xg2? 13.h4 g5 14.xf5 xf5 15.g4; 12...e6 13.0-0 b8 14.a3 White has succeeded in containing the initiative and holding his pawn on d4 leaving the opponent with the sole option of playing "dynamically" with the plan ...e5-e4, ...f6-f5-f4. Since he has some chances of also surviving this, see the following analysis, I would bet on White in the long run.) 13.a4 c7 ( 13...b4 14.xb4 xb4 15.dxe5 c2 16.c1 ) 14.b4! b8 15.b5 xd4 16.xd4 exd4 17.xd4 xg2 is really unclear. ] 11...e4?! With his last two moves, White has played with f ire but that loosening of the central tension suddenly solves almost all his problems. [ 11...exd4? 12.xd4 xd4? 13.a4+ c6 14.exd4+- ] [ 11...b8! 12.b5!? exd4 A) 13.xd4 xd4 14.exd4 ( 14.xd4 xd4 15.exd4 h6 16.d1 c2 17.a1 hg8 18.0-0 g4 ) 14...e6+ 15.e2 ( 15.e3 h6 ) 15...a6 16.a4 g8 17.0-0 b4! 18.xb4? xg2+!! 19.xg2 h3+ 20.h1 ( 20.f3 e4+ 21.g3 g4#; 20.g1 g4+ 21.g3 2288
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f3 ) 20...e4+! 21.f3 xe2 22.c2 ( 22.g1 xf3+ 23.g2 xg2# ) 22...xf1#; B) 13.exd4! e8+ 14.e2 e4 15.f4+ a8 16.0-0 g8 ] 12.h4 e6 13.e2 g8 14.0-0 e7? [ 14...f5 A) 15.f4 e7 16.a4 c7 17.e1 g7 18.h1 dg8 19.c5 d8 20.g3 xh4 21.gxh4 b8; B) 15.f3!? b8! ( 15...exf3 16.xf3 f4 17.xf4 h6 18.ff1 b8 19.h1; 15...e7 16.fxe4! xh4 17.exf5 d7 18.xd5+- ) 16.fxe4 fxe4 17.f5 g5; C) 15.a4! c7 16.g3 f4 17.exf4 ( 17.b5 f3 isolates the Nh4.) 17...e7! evacuating the c file with tempo. ( 17...b8 18.b5! e7 19.xc6 xh4 20.xb7 xb7 21.a5 d6 22.b5+ a8 23.c6+ b8 24.c3+- ) C1) 18.b5 xh4 19.xc6 bxc6 20.xc6+ d7 21.fc1 e8; C2) 18.h1 b8 19.b5 ( 19.f5 d7 20.c5 f6 21.xd7+ xd7 22.b5 h6 ) 19...b4! 20.xb4 xb4 21.a3 a6 22.axb4 ( 22.e2 c6 23.fd1 g7 ) 22...axb5 23.c3 xb4 With more than enough compensation after 24.xb5 g4; C3) 18.g2 b8 19.b5 d7! W it h good co mpe nsa tio ns f or Black because W hite will most probably be forced to play an open position with 2 knights against a strong pair of bishops in order not to preserve the key pawn on d4. ( 19...b4 20.xb4 xb4 21.a3 a6 22.axb4 axb5 23.c3 xb4 24.e3 ) 20.c5? xd4 21.xd7+ xd7 22.xd4 ( 22.xd7? f3+ ) 22...xb5 ] 15.g3 h3 16.g2 xg2? One mistake calling for another, Black completely loses the thread. After the obligatory 16...Kb8, W hite was better anyway, with the nice choice of playing against the opposite castles with 17. Na4 or against the structure with 17.f3. [ 16...f5 17.f4! xf1 18.fxd5 xd5 The only move. ( 18...a5 19.xe7+ xe7 20.d5+ b8 21.xa5 ) 19.xd5 d8 20.xe7+ xe7 21.xf1+- ] 17.xg2 b8 18.f3! f5 19.fxe4 fxe4
20.xf7 h5 21.f5 h4? [ 21...g5 22.cf1 ( 22.xg5 xg5 23.xh5? xd4 )] 22.xd5 xd5 23.xd5+- c7 24.e5 24.g4 is safer but everything wins anyhow. d6 [ 24...hxg3 25.h3 f8 26.xe4 f2+ 27.g1 ] 25.xe4 xg3 26.g4 xg4 27.xg4 [ 27.xg4 xh2 28.d5 g3+ 29.h1 xg4 30.xh2+ ] 1-0
2343 Ubezio,Marco Mazzariol,Oscar 3rd Weekend Novara ITA (6) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2195 2141 03.11.2002
Tromp: White chooses a relatively unexplored and interesting path in one of the main lines in the 2...e6 system. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 b4 6.d2 c5 7.e5 Most White players prefer 7.a3 here, but this appears to be just as good and has the benefit of the element of surprise. e7 8.a3 cxd4 [ 8...xc3 may well be better. ] 9.axb4 dxc3 10.xc3 0-0 11.b5 A useful move, gaining space and making Bla ck's de velop men t more awkwa rd . b6? This natural looking move is in fact a mistake. [ 11...d5 was essential and would have limited Black to a small disadvantage. ] 12.e2 b7 13.f3 Suddenly Black has serious problems on the queenside. c8?? Blind panic, when if he had been calmer, he would have realised that he still could have escaped with: [ 13...xf3! 14.xf3? ( 14.xf3! leaves White comfortably better.) 14...b4+ 15.c3 xb2 16.d1 d5 17.exd6 d7 allows Black to escape with a very reasonable position. ] 14.xb7 xc3 15.bxc3 Black will pay too dear a price for his extra queen. c5 16.e2 xb5 17.xa8 a5 18.f4 f6 19.exf6 d5 Black's point is that he wants to trap the W h i t e b i s h o p w i t h Q a 6 , b u t . . . 20.f5! dashes Black's hopes. e5 2289
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 20...a6 21.fxe6 xa8 22.f7+ f8 23.f4 and a White queen will reappear shortly. ] 21.fxg7 d7 22.0-0 The most aggressive. xe2 23.f6 c4 [ 23...xf6 24.xf6 xg7 was a better chance, although White is still on top after: 25.af1 ] 24.h1 c5 25.ad1! Deft play. White intends to utilise the e-file. d4 26.cxd4 exd4 27.de1 xf6 28.xf6 xc2 29.e4 c5 30.g6 Black is defenceless against the threat of Bd5 followed by Re8. 1-0
2344 Usiskin,Clive Adu,Oladapo US Amateur Team East (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2253 19.03.2000
O n e d - p a wn s p e c i a l t h a t I h a ve n o t ye t covered, is the opening with no name 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nd2. I su spe ct th at th e reason f o r t his anonymity is that nobody wants their name associated with such an unpromising system. Any takers out there? 1.d4 f6 2.d2 This is one d -pa wn sp ecial th at I can no t recommend. The threat of e4 is easily parried leaving the knight passively placed on d2. d5 3.e3 f5 4.c4 e6 5.b3 c8 The Black queen would normally feel uncomfortable on t h is s qu a r e , b u t t h e W h i t e r o o k s a r e a n extremely long way from the c-file. 6.gf3 c6 7.e5 d6 8.df3 0-0 9.d3 e4 Black, who already comfortably equalised, searches for ways to put pressure on the White position. 10.c2 bd7 11.0-0 c7 12.xd7 xd7 13.xe4 xe4 14.e5 c7 15.f3 f6 Black is mixing it up, hoping for a mistake. [ Instead 15...f6 16.f4 would leave Black slightly better due to his good bishop and the outpost on e4. ] 16.fxe4 White fatally allows the opening of the position, which Black's better development allows him to exploit. [ 16.g4 is the best option for W hite f5 ( 16...h5 17.fxe4 hxg4 18.g3 is definitely be tt er f or Black, b u t le aves W h it e wit h
fighting chances.) 17.fxe4 fxg4 18.xf8+ xf8 19.e5 And White is over the worst. ] 16...fxe5 The exposed White kingside proves very hard to defend. 17.d2 [ 17.g3 exd4 18.exd4 xg3 wins an important pawn as 19.hxg3 xg3+ 20.g2 xf1+ 21.xf1 f8+ 22.g1 e1+ 23.h2 f2 picks up the White queen. ] 17...exd4 18.exd4 xh2+ After this, the hideously exposed dark squares around the his king will haunt W hite for the rest of the game. 19.h1 g3 20.cxd5 Although he wa s a l r e a d y l o s t , t h i s wa s W h it e ' s f i n a l mistake. Perhaps he just wanted to get things over with. [ 20.c3 would stop Black's plan in the game, but that is unfortunately the only redeeming feature of the White position. ] 20...e7! R e s i s t a n c e i s f u t i l e ! 21.f3 W hat else ? h4+ 22.g1 h2+ 23.f1 xf3+ There is no way to prevent mate. 0-1
2345 A45 Vaganian,Rafael 2570 Cerbulenco,Liviu 2160 European Championship, Yerevan (1.90) [Richard Palliser] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.d3 cxd4 [ A move that I've tinkered with myself and the best option at this stage, along with 5...f6 . That solid retreat was seen in another game from the super-strong European Individual, where 6.c3 c6 7.d2 g4 8.gf3 e6 9.a4 ( 9.0-0 is Richard Pert's preference, and only if c8 10.a4!? - see R.Pert-Guthrie, 4NCL 2013, in the Archive) 9...d7 ( 9...c4!? 10.c2 d7 also seemed OK for Black in PrieSchaef er, Arvier 2007, wh ich was late r annotated for us by the eventual winner) 10.0-0 e7 11.c2 c4 12.e2 f5 ( 12...g5!? 13.g3 f5 14.e4 g6 combines play on both sides of the board, but also doesn't look so easy for White to counter ) 13.e4 g6 14.b3 b5 15.bxc4 bxc4 16.a4 c8 17.e5 dxe5 18.xe5 2290
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 0-0 saw Black maintaining comfortable equality in Grachev-Givon, Yerevan 2014. The early queen raid has been quite popular, but there's a good reason why it isn't Pert's recommendation. ] 6.xe4 [ The most popular choice, but Pert gives 6.exd4 an exclam. Then c6 7.xe4 dxe4 8.e2 leads into the note to White's 7th move, below. ] 6...dxe4 7.xd4 [ Vaganian opts to keep it simple against his lo we r-r a t e d o p p o n e n t . A m o re p o p u la r c h o ic e in re ce n t ye a rs h a s b e e n 7.exd4 when c6 ( 7...b6 8.c3 c6!? 9.ge2 g4 10.0-0 d8 is an important alternative, pressuring the d-pawn, as in I.SchneiderArnaudov, Austrian League 2014 the main point is 11.d5 e6 12.h3 h5 when even after 13.d2 f6!? 14.g3 f7 15.d6 d4 that d-pa wn is going to be rounded u p) 8.e2 e5!? ( otherwise, 8...g4 9.bc3 e6 has received a fair bit of attention in this column, such as with Vitiugov-Ding Liren, St Petersburg (rapid) 2012,; while 8...b6!? 9.bc3 would transpose to our last note) 9.dxe5 xd1+ 10.xd1 g5!? ( this looks like an important new try from our Brazilian columnist instead, in Wells-Visser, London 2006, 10...g4 11.bc3 0-0-0+ 12.c1 h6 13.e1 g5 14.d2 g7 15.xe4 xe5 16.c3 hadn't given Black quite enough for his pawn) 11.e3 ( a simple response moreover, it's not hard to blame White for wishing to avoid 11.xg5 g8 12.e3 xg2 when Black is very active, as shown by 13.d2 f5 14.g3 g4+ 15.e1 b4 , with a serious initiative) 11...xe5 ( 11...g7!? 12.bc3 xe5 13.xe4 h6 was a slower approach, but also one not without merit) 12.bc3 f5 13.b5! (Black has temporarily regained his pawn, but White now seizes the initiative, which helps to explain my interest in the last note) d7 14.xg5 g8 15.f4 g6 16.g3 f4!? was admirably active in GodartFier, Cappelle-la-Grande 2014. However, after 17.xf4 xf4 18.xf4 h6 19.g3 xf4 20.gxf4 c6 21.d4+ d5 22.c3 I can't believe that Black has quite enough f o r t wo p a wn s , t e n d e r t h o u g h W h i t e ' s
kingside and light squares are. ] 7...xd4 [ As I pointed out in my old (well, 2009) Trompowsky work, Black had thought he's f o u nd th e an swe r to th is line in 7...c6! 8.xd8+ xd8 9.c3 e5 . It would be interesting to know what Vaganian intended here, as the f irst playe r has ab solutely nothing from what I can see. ] 8.exd4 c6 9.e2?! [ A new move for ChessPub. Prioritising development is tempting, but there's a flaw. Previously, the sensible 9.c3 has been touched on by both Aaron and Eric, with e6 10.d2 f5 11.f3 covered by the former in Romero Holmes-Gulbas, Halkidiki 2002. ] 9...g4?! [ B l a c k m i s s e s h i s c h a n c e w i t h 9...b4 , which might have left W hite slightly redfaced. Following 10.d2 ( the problem with 10.a3 is that the knight can never really be evicted with c2-c3 on account of the resulting hole on d3 f5 11.0-0 c8 12.c3 e6 leaves Black with the two bishops and queenside pressure) 10...g4 11.bc3 d8 White can untangle with 12.ad1! , but Black must be at least OK after, say, xe2 13.xe2 e6 14.a3 d5 15.g3 c8 . ] 10.bc3 0-0-0 [ It's notable that the leading Spanish Trompowsky expert had this position before switching approach on move 9. His predecessor game ran 10...e6 11.0-0-0 b4 12.de1! f5?! 13.g3 g6 and now in Romero Holmes-Visser, W ijk aan Zee 2000, 14.gxe4 d8 15.a3 d5 16.xd5 xd5 17.c3 would have placed the onus on Black to demonstrate that his bishop-pair and minority attack fully compensate for the pawn. ] 11.0-0-0 g6? [ After 11...e6 12.h3 xe2 13.xe2 d6 Black would have retained equality, whereas the text allows Vaganian to assume the initiative and breathe more easily for the first time in the game. ] 12.d5! b4 [ The gaping hole on d6 means that Black also comes up somewhat short after 12...e5 13.dxe6 xd1+ 14.xd1 xe6 15.xe4 . ] 2291
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.d4 xe2 [ Meek and Black will soon lose material, but it's not hard to appreciate why he wasn't drawn to 13...xa2+ 14.b1 xc3+ 15.xc3 b6 ( 15...f5 16.c4+ d7 17.c7+ e8 18.xb7 g7 19.b5 is also rather promising for the first player) 16.xe4 when the threats of Rc4+ and Be5 aren't easy to parry. ] 14.xe2 xd5 [ Walking into a strong pin, but it's hard to view 14...a6 15.c4+ d7 16.xe4 as all that much of an improvement. ] 15.hd1 e6 16.c4?! [ Claiming two pieces for the rook, but I'm far f ro m c o n vin c e d t h i s wa s b e st . I n d e e d , 16.c4+ d7 17.c7+ e8 18.xb7 would have regained the pawn while maintaining a powerful initiative. Black's chances don't look too great here. ] 16...c5 17.cxd5 xd4 18.xd4 xd5? [ This hasn't been a great game and now White is able to regain the initiative. Correct was 18...exd5 when White would have had t o h a v e f o u n d 19.a4! ( 19.c3 b6 20.b5 b7 21.d6+ c6 22.xf7 df8 isn't so clear) 19...a6 20.a5! to maintain the upper hand. ] 19.c4+ d8 20.c3 f5 21.e3 The rook on h8 isn't playing and Cerbulenco will quickly have to pay for his exposed dark s q u a r e s a n d k i n g . d7 22.g4!? f3 23.xe4 h3 24.f6+ e7 25.g5 This is why the g-pawn initially advanced. The knight is a right pain in Black's side and he quickly collapses. d6 26.c3 e5? [ Presumably only now did Black notice 26...e5 27.f4+ f5 ( or 27...d6 28.c5+ ) 28.c5+ when his king would be out of squares. ] 1-0
shows himself to be adept in the murky lines of the 3.Bh4 Tromp. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c6 An unusual and on the evidence of this game, a not particularly strong alternative to the more normal 3...c5. 4.d2 xd2 5.xd2 d5 6.f3 f5 7.0-0-0 d7 8.e4 Very robust. Encouraging to see a world class grandmaster who is willing to gambit a pawn in the opening, in return for the initiative. dxe4 9.c4 b6 10.b3 d7 11.fxe4 xe4 12.e2 d5 13.c4 Pushing Black back. e6 14.f3 f6 15.b1 g5 16.f2 g7 17.d5 The thematic breakthrough. cxd5 18.cxd5 f7 [ 18...xd5 19.he1 wins on the spot. ] [ 18...f5+ 19.a1 0-0 20.d6+ e6 21.d4 Is also very good for White. ] 19.he1 0-0 20.xb6 axb6 21.d4 a5 [ 21...fe8!? 22.g4 Leaves White with a pleasant bind. ] 22.xe7 g4 [ 22...xe7 i s n o h e l p 23.xe7 xd5 24.e6 xb3 25.xg7+ h8 26.axb3 and W hite would be a piece ahead after: e5 allowin g th e spe ct acular: 27.f7 ( 27.dd7 wins as well. )] 23.e6 e8 24.d6 A very energetic move, which seals Black's fate. f5+ [ 24...xe7 25.dxe7 and the passed pawn will shortly become a queen. ] 25.a1 f8 26.xe8 A fitting finish, as 26... Bxe8 is met by 27.Nd4+ regaining the queen with interest. 1-0
2347 Vallejo Pons,Francisco Svidler,Peter Rapid KO Leon ESP rapid (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2666 2733 04.06.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.d5 b6 2346 A45 5.c1 e6 6.f3 a5+! In comparison with the Vaganian,Rafael A 2667 more popular sequence 4.f3 Qa5+! forcing Moreno Carnero,Javier 2508 ( m o r e o r l e s s ) 5 . c 3 N f 6 6 . d 5 w h i c h w e Bundesliga 2002-3 (11) 09.02.2003 studied lately 6...e6 7.e4 or the interposed 6... Q b 6 7 . B c1 e 6 8 . c4 , re a c h i n g t h e s a m e [Aaron Summerscale] position as in game 1, the Black queen is Trompowsky: Vaganian, a world class GM much better placed on a5 than b6 or, if you re n o wn e d f o r h i s t h e o r e t i ca l k n o wl e d g e prefer, the white queen's bishop is obviously 2292
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 less active on c1 than, developed, on f4! 7.c3 [ 7.d2 f6 8.dxe6 dxe6 9.e4 c6 10.h3 e7 11.e2 0-0 12.0-0 e5 13.f2 d4 14.d3 c7 15.c3 e6 16.g3 g5 17.a4 e6 18.c4 ad8 19.b3 d7 20.h4 h3+ 1/2-1/2 Hodgson,J (2 5 6 5 ) - Hr a c e k, Z ( 2 6 1 5 ) B u n d e sli ga 1 1999 ] 7...f6 8.e4 Now, the support of the d-pawn by the way of c2-c4 comes up against the rules of chess.. . d6! [ 8...exd5? Now would be a mistake! 9.e5 And there is no Qb6-e6! ] 9.g5 e7 10.c4?! A move difficult to understand. [ 10.d2 exd5 11.exd5 0-0 12.c4 d8 ] [ 10.dxe6!? fxe6!? ( 10...xe6 11.a3 0-0 12.c4 ) 11.xf6 gxf6 ( 11...xf6 12.xd6 ) 12.f4 ] 10...b5! 11.e2 0-0 [ 11...xd5 12.xe7 xe7 13.xd6 ] 12.a3 a6 I must admit that I have rarely seen such a disastrous opening from White's point of view at this level of the game. 13.dxe6 [ 13.h3 exd5 14.xf6 ( 14.exd5 h6 15.h4 bd7 16.0-0 b6 ) 14...xf6 15.xd5 xh3 16.gxh3 d7 17.xd6 ad8 18.c2 ( 18.0-0 xc3 ) 18...e5 19.d5 c7 ] 13...xe6 14.h3 There is no good way for W h i t e t o c o m p l e t e d e v e l o p m e n t . xh3 15.gxh3 c6 16.g1 fe8 17.xf6? An hallucination. White must have ' o v e r l o o k e d ' B l a c k ' s 1 8 t h m o v e . xf6 18.xd6 e6 The name of Leon is remembered amongst others (also organizer of the 2001 European team championship which was won "-Cocorico!" by the French girls and where the boys finished on the 2nd step of the podium behind the Dutch...) for having promoted and hosted the concept of "advanced chess", implying the help of the machine. I guess it was another formula last year ...! [ 18...d4! Obviously Svidler saw this theme (See note on move 19) but rejected it for some reason when it seems to duly win the exchange. 19.0-0-0 ( 19.g2 e6 20.d5 xc3+ 21.bxc3 xc3+ 22.f2 xa1 ) 19...e6 20.d5 xg1 21.xg1 b4 22.cxb4 cxb4-+ ]
19.g3? [ 19.xc5 d4 ] [ 19.d2 d8 20.c1 Is absolutely dreadful for White but at least is he a pawn up! ] 19...xc3+ [ 19...xc3+ 20.bxc3 xc3+ 21.f2 d4+ 22.g2 ( 22.f1 xa1+ 23.g2 xa2 ) 22...g6 ] 0-1
2348 Van Ruitenburg,Joost Overeem,Marc 3rd ACT Amsterdam NED (9) [Andrew Martin]
A45 2315 2243 23.07.2006
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 A discredited variation which has the habit of occasionally surfacing with devastating eff ect. Among Grandmasters it is only Bellon Lopez who has consistently championed 3 Bh4. c5 4.f3 g5 5.fxe4 gxh4 6.e3 h6 This is the most critical line of course. 7.d2 One of Bellon's wacky inventions. Well, anything rather than play 7 Kf2?!. Qh5 features prominently in the mix and 7 Nd2 naturally dissuades ...Qb6. xe3 He whips off that pawn. [ 7...d5 must also be carefully considered that would be my main worry as White. ] 8.d5 d4?! What an odd move, but this position has its own laws. [ 8...c7 9.gf3 f4 is being suggested to me by my silicon friend, but isn't White OK after 10.c3 g8 11.a4 and then castles next. It's tough for Black to get his pieces out. ] 9.c3 f6 10.h5! Now I begin to believe in White's compensation. d6 11.gf3 g8 12.e5! dxe5 13.0-0-0 If one plays this line as white, one has to be prepared to make such moves. Besides, our hero Bellon has been here before, as you can see. g4N [ After 13...a5 14.xe5 xe5 15.xe5 d7 16.e3 f6 ( 16...xa2 17.e1! ) 17.c4 White has massive compensation. The rest of this game is fun! g4 18.d6 e6 19.df1 d7 20.h3 h5 21.xe6 0-0-0 22.c4 a6 23.xc5+ b8 24.c7+ a8 25.xd7 e2 26.f4 xd7 27.xd7 xc4 28.c7 xa2 29.xc4 a6 30.d7 2293
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a1+ 31.c2 xg2+ 32.d3 1-0 Bellon a5+ 10.d2 xd2+ 11.xd2 dxc4 Lopez, J-Dworakowska, J/Stockholm 1999 ] 12.xc4 g7 13.c3 might be a tad better 14.xh7 h8 15.e4 h5 16.d6! for White in a rather Grunfeld-like setting) A very powerful and convincing move. c6 8.hxg3 g4 9.d2 f6 10.e2 c6 11.e4 17.b5 dxe4 12.0-0-0 f5 ( sensibly avoiding [ 17.c4! seems crushing too. ] becoming embroiled in the likes of 17...b6 18.a4 12...xd4 13.dxe4 e5 14.xf6+ exf6 [ 18.d7+ d8 19.a4+- ] 15.b5! ) 13.dxe4 e6 14.f3 g7 15.fxg4 18...g6 19.e3 exd6 20.c4 c7 xe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.xe4 d5 21.xd6! Ugh! g7 22.xc5 3 Bh4 is dead, a draw was already looking pretty likely in long live 3 Bh4! Rapport-Aronian, Wijk aan Zee 2014. ] 1-0 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 6.d3 e5 7.e2 d8!? [ Richard Pert's sterling research had 2349 A45 appeared to point towards White having the upper hand in this key line of the Van Wely,Loek 2672 Trompowsky, but perhaps this rare move is Giri,Anish 2734 the one which will save Black. The main line, Wijk aan Zee (3.6) 13.01.2014 as we've seen several times before, is 7...g6 [Richard Palliser] 8.0-0 g7 9.f4 e7 , but Giri has an even more solid set-up in mind. ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 For the second time in three e7 Not as active a square as g7 for years at Wijk, Van Wely is happy to surprise 8.0-0 the bishop, but now f4-f5 won't hit g6 and his young compatriot with the Tromp. e6 0-0 [ Just a quick reminder that 2...c5 3.xf6 threaten to open lines against f7. 9.f4 This seems sensible and provokes gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 f5 6.g3 g7 7.c3 10.d2 f6!? 8.e3 a6 9.e2 c7 10.f4 Giri into central action. Alternatively: [ a) 10.fxe5?! dxe5 11.dxe5?! c5+ favoured White in Van Wely-Giri, Wijk aan 12.h1 c6 would just be plain terrible for Zee 2012 - see the Archive. ] White. ] [ B a c k a t t h i s y e a r ' s W i j k , 2...d5 [ b) 10.f5 f6! 11.d2 exd4 12.cxd4 c5 was preferred in another third round gives Black excellent counterplay on the encounter and after 3.e3 bd7 4.f3 h6 dark squares. ] ( logical, but not the only logical or decent move with, for instance, 4...g6 5.bd2 g7 10...exd4 [ Something of a concession, if far from 6.c3 0-0 taking play into a solid line of the terrible. Instead, 10...d7 11.c4 c6 Torre ) 5.f4 ( this fails to deter ...g5 of would leave both sides jockeying for position, course, 5.h4 could easily transpose, but with, I suspect, the chances approximately h e r e B l a c k a l s o h a s c5 , as in R.Perteven. ] Adams, British Championship, Canterbury 2 0 1 0 , w h e r e 6.dxc5 g5 7.g3 g7 11.xd4! [ The right recapture, giving the position a 8.bd2 h5 gave Black good counterplay) certain Philidor air. Instead, 11.cxd4 c5 5...g5 6.g3 e4 7.c3 ( a strange choice, 12.d5 d7 13.a4 e8 14.c4 b6 at least to my eye, but the young Hungarian looks like a decent enough version of a Grandmaster does like to go his own way Benoni for Black. ] and 7.c4 did turn out well for me in PalliserG.Pinter, British League 2011 here, as I've 11...e8?! [ It can't be right to weaken f7 so and, indeed, s h o w n b e f o r e , c5!? 8.cxd5 a5+ the rook soon returns. Black might well looks like the critical line, if not one which prefer to develop his queen's knight, while should be too scary f or the f irst player) 11...c5 was seen in the only previous test of 7...xg3 ( it makes sense to remove the t h e p o s i t i o n w h e r e 12.4f3 ( 12.c2 bis h o p, a lth o u gh 7...xc3 8.bxc3 c5 is another way of bringing a knight to e3) is a ls o lo gic a l en o u gh , wh e re u p o n 9.c4 2294
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12...c6 13.h1 g4 14.c4 d7 15.e3 ae8 16.e1 left White for choice in Freeman-Deighton, British League 2013. ] 12.h5 Van Wely is quick to pinpoint the downside to Black's last. d7 13.c4 f8 14.e5! Leading in development it must be right for White to prise open the position, although even here Black isn't doing too badly unless he allows an e5-e6 hit. b6 15.b3 c5 16.exd6 [ Best. Instead, 16.f5 xf5 17.xf5 dxe5 18.ad1!? isn't anything for White, in view of exf4 19.xf4 ( or 19.xf4 d7 ) 19...g5 20.xf7+ h8 21.f2 e7 . ] 16...cxd4? [ Giri appears a little lax in this encounter. I may be being rather unf air though, as I suspect he saw the line 16...xd6 17.e4 ( 17.4f3! is the calm route to an edge, and if e6 18.xe6 fxe6 19.g3 followed by ganging up against e6) 17...c7 18.f5 xf5 19.xf5 c4 20.c2 and was concerned, but Black can defend thanks to g6 21.h3 d5! . That said, after 22.f5 White remains slightly for choice, ( and not 22.xh6? e3 23.f2 g4 . )] 17.dxe7 xe7 18.ae1 d8 19.e4 Black's position grows ever more uncomfortable, with f5-f6 very much on the cards. dxc3 20.f5!? [ At first I thought that this calm move was over hasty, but White, as well as Black, has hidden resources after it. That said, the calm 20.bxc3 would have left White doing pretty well: for example, e6 ( or 20...d7 21.f5 f6 22.xf6+ xf6 23.g6! d7 24.xf6 gxf6 25.e7 with a lasting edge) 21.f5 xb3 22.f6! ( 22.axb3 d5! isn't so effective ) 22...d5 ( 22...d5? 23.fxg7 xg7 24.g4+ h8 25.f6 terminates proceedings,; as does 22...e6 23.fxg7 xg7 24.e3 ) 23.fxg7 xh5 24.f6+ xg7 25.xh5+ g6 26.f6+! h7 27.axb3 with a clear plus thanks to Black's shattered kingside. ] 20...d4+ 21.h1 cxb2 Suddenly Black is two pawns ahead and his queen performs invaluable defensive duty backwards down the long diagonal. 22.f6 e6 The only move, but a good one at that. 23.fxg7?
[ It is here that Van Wely errs. It looks like 23.xe6! fxe6 24.f7+ h8 25.g5! cannot work f or W hite, but the machine shows that the twin threats of Qg6 and Nxe6 actually give him a decisive advantage, the main point being the remarkably calm d5 26.h4! , simply renewing the main threat. ] 23...xg7 24.f3?! [ An unusual case of the wrong rook. The same defensive resource saves Black from d i s a s t e r a f t e r 24.e3! , namely ac8 , and if 25.g3 c1 ( however, 25...xg3? isn't anywhere near as good as in the game o n a cco u n t o f 26.xh6! g7 27.f6+ xf6 28.xf6 c1 29.g5+ ) 26.xg7+ xg7 27.e5+ f6 28.g3+ h7 29.f4 xf1+ 30.xf1 c8 . However, this was still the right path for Van Wely as here White can continue to press, even if 31.c3 xb3 32.b1+ g7 33.xb2 e8 34.h3 f7 35.f2 e5 might well be a draw with best play. ] 24...ac8 [ Not the wrong rook this time, although 24...fc8 was also possible and after 25.g3 xg3 26.hxg3 c1 White must avoid 27.d1? as Black's king has the f8-square, ( and prefer 27.xe6! xe1+ 28.h2 fxe6 29.g6+ f8 30.f6+ g8 31.g6+ to draw. )] 25.g3 xg3 26.hxg3 c1 27.d1 [ O n c e a g a i n 27.f6+ g7 28.e5 came into the reckoning, but it transpires that White has no more than a draw after fc8 29.h5+ f8 30.h8+ e7 . ] 27...b1 28.xh6 Black is a whole rook ahead, but cannot avoid the perpetual. d5 29.g5+ h8 30.h6+ g8 ½-½
2350 Van Wely,Loek Giri,Anish Wijk aan Zee (7) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2692 2714 21.01.2012
1.d4 f6 2.g5!? This must have come as a surprise. As far as my research indicates, Van Wely has only ever employed the Tromp 2295
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 take W hite - see Aaron Summerscale's in blitz games. c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 notes to Sargissian-Froehlich, Linares 5.c1 f5 The players head down one of the 2001, for further coverage. ] most unbalanced and critical of all [ b) 7...e6!? is quite a principled move, but T r o m p o ws k y l i n e s . Q u i t e a n in t e r e s t i n g hasn't been tested much of late. Eric approach here is to advance the c-pawn to c4, covered it well in his notes to both Garcia as I've employed on a few occasions myself, Palermo-Nakamura, Buenos Aires 2003, but Van Wely is content with the older, tried and Prie-Berthelot, French League 2005. ] and tested method of blunting the long [ c) 7...d6?! , hoping to surround and win diagonal by placing the pawn instead on c3. t h e d - p a wn , a s k s t o o m u c h o f B l a c k ' s 6.g3 g7 7.c3 f6!? A rare move. I couldn't p o s i t i o n a n d a f t e r 8.g2 b5 9.f3 f ind an y m en t io n o f th is que en so rt ie o n ( 9.c2!? f4 10.h3! fxg3 11.hxg3 ChessPub, not to mention in W ells' classic might be even stronger) 9...f6 10.0-0 b7 work on the Tromp or even in my 'Starting 11.a3! White is doing pretty well - see Out' guide. Giri wants to keep the queen Re b e rs -G e u ri n k, He n ge lo 2 0 0 0 , in t h e active on the kingside before advancing his dArchive. ] and/or e-pawn. The alternatives: [ d) We'll cover a related approach to Giri's, [ a) 7...d6 has been Black's most popular namely 7...a6 8.g2 c7 , in Popovchoice of late and might be considered the Milliet. ] main lin e. That sa id, it allo ws W hit e t o develop his pieces to their ideal squares and 8.e3 [ This very natural move is already a novelty, after which just shows how rare 7...Qf6 has been A) I ' m n o t s o c o n v i n c e d b y 8.h3!? and likely with good reason, as we'll soon , as in Nilssen-Andersen, Danish League appreciate. Previously after 8.g2 d6 2012, where e6 9.f3 d7 10.a3 f6 9.d2 d7 10.a4 b6 11.h3 ( I prefer 11.c4 c7 ( 11...a6!? 12.e3 d7 11.c2!? and if a6 then 12.df3 13.c2 0-0 looks OK too for the second it may look like Black can exploit W hite's player ) 12.g5? ( maybe the machine is s l i g h t l y t a r d y d e v e l o p m e n t w i t h e6 right that White should undouble Black's , but after 13.h3! he surely doesn't want to pawns and hope to provoke weaknesses capture on d5 and wreck his structure, and with the slightly unnatural 12.dxe6!? fxe6 yet otherwise something like e5 14.h4 e4 13.f4 e5 14.h4 ) 12...0-0 13.e3 15.0-0 followed by f3 should see the position was all rather too ambitious by White and opening to W hite's advantage) 11...h5! after e4 14.h4 b6! 15.g5 (just in time to gain some cou nterplay) (going all-in, but what else to do?) xg5 12.c2 h4 13.f4 hxg3 14.hxg3 b7 16.xg5 xb2 17.0-0 xc3 18.ad1 White hadn't got his knights quite where he would he really have had enough for his wanted them and Black was surely OK in pawns? I somewhat doubt it; Ionescu-Goriachnik, Trier 2002. ] B) 8.g2 d7 9.d2 f6 ( if Black wa n t s t o e m p l o y t h i s l i n e , h e s h o u l d 8...a6 9.e2 c7 10.f4 h6 [ This tempo loss isn't ideal, but quite c o n s i d e r t h e u n s t e r e o t y p e d 9...e5!? possibly Black was a little worse in any case. 10.gf3 g6 as advocated by Yelena My suspicion is that despite his meteoric rise Dembo in her generally excellent 'Fighting to 2700+, Giri had never fully studied this t h e A n t i - K i n g ' s I n d i a n s ') 10.h3 variation and that his seventh move was the ( the normal move I'm not so convinced by product of over the board inspiration. An 10.c2 d7 11.c4 , since what does alternative was 10...d6 , but af ter 11.c2 the knight achieve here, bar a small tempo e6 12.g2 I'm not too sure what Black's up gain moreover, ... b5 is on its way and in to. Van W ely might have met h6 with Tugui-Parligras, Romanian Team 13.c4 , ( but I think I prefer 13.dxe6! fxe6 Championship 2011, a6 12.e3 e6 14.0-0 . Again White's play might be 13.h3 h5! gave Black promising play) described as anti-positional, but this whole 10...h5!? 11.c2 I would slightly prefer to 2296
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 positionally complex variation does not subscribe to normal rules! Now an exchange on f4 would only help White after exf4, but otherwise the key pawn breaks belong to White: e3-e4 and c3-c4 whether or not Black goes ...d5. )] 11.c4!? [ Better late than never! Van Wely is used to pushing his c-pawn to c4 on move 2 and now decides the time is finally right to gain some useful space. One might also make a d e c e n t c a s e f o r 11.g2 d6 12.a4 , keeping Black's counterplay under control and maintaining a pleasant edge. Perhaps I should even have awarded Black's 7th move a dubious symbol! ] 11...d6 12.c3 d7 13.e2 Revealing a small downside to the ambitious plan commenced by c3-c4, W hite must keep an eye on the ...b5 break which could prove annoying. a6 14.a4! Wisely continuing to restrain ...b5. Giri is now forced to passively await events and cannot have been happy with his position. b6 15.h5 g6 16.f3 Little by little White improves his pieces and begins to turn the screw. b8 17.e2! f8 [ As ever tactics are bubbling just under the surface while the players manoeuvre here 17...b5? wasn't advisable on account of 18.axb5 axb5 19.a7 c8 20.c3 g8 21.a5 with a monstrous initiative for White. ] 18.d2 a5! This accepts that Black is unpleasantly worse, but was a good decision. It won't be so easy for White to break through on the kingside and in the centre, and now there's no longer any danger of a timely a4-a5 or b2-b4 break. 19.0-0 [ The obvious choice, but I can't help but wonder whether Petrosian wouldn't have b e e n a t t ra c t e d t o 19.d1!? , intending something like Nef4 and Kc2-b3-a3. OK, Black might go ...b5 and sacrifice a piece, but that shouldn't work and with the king pretty safe on a3 White might then turn his attention to engineering e3-e4. ] 19...d8 20.fe1! Unsurprisingly Van Wely has spotted the main pawn break and gets on with opening the position. e8 21.ef4 g8 There wasn't much choice here, but Giri is continuing to defend well, refusing to panic
and create further weaknesses. 22.e4 h8 [ Hoping to annoy White by reminding him of his small weaknesses on b2 and d4. The alternative was 22...fxe4 23.xe4 g7 , but White had arranged to meet this with 24.e6+! fxe6 25.xh6 xh5 26.xh5 , retaining something near to a clear advantage in my view: h7 is pretty weak, while Black is yet to solve the problems down the e-file or over his king position. ] 23.e2 [ At first I wanted to go 23.exf5!? xf5 24.e6+ ( doubling or even trebling on the ef i l e a f t e r 24.a3 is likely a better policy) 24...fxe6 25.xh6 here too, but after e5 26.e4 xe4 27.xe4 f5 28.h4 g8 Black's defence turns out to be unexpectedly tough. White has no more than a small plus here. ] 23...b7 24.e5! Giri has defended stoutly and n o w V a n W e ly d e cid e s h is b e st t ry is t o remove the queens. The text initially seems somewhat misguided, but White will continue to dominate after it, whereas Black's defence would have been easier after the alternatives: [ a) 24.exf5 xf5 25.e4 is a logical try to open the position, but after g6! and then, say, 26.ad1 g7 27.d3 xh5 28.xh5 c8 Black remains solid enough. ] [ b) 24.d3!? (angling for e4-e5 and then to recapture with the knight) fxe4 25.xe4 continues to leave Black quite tied down. After c8 (to facilitate ...Ng7) 26.hf4 f6 27.e2 f5 28.a3 Black's pieces suddenly appear quite active, but W hite has everything under control. One possibility is Ng2, keeping Black on his toes for any light-square invasion after Nh4 Bc8 Be4 and a piece to f5, while also enabling the other knight to gradually regroup via c1 and a2 to c3 and then perhaps b5. ] 24...xe5 25.xe5 dxe5 26.xe5 d6 This is the downside to the decision to break in the centre, but even here W hite retains m o r e t h a n a p l e a sa n t p u l l t h a n k s t o h i s superior structure and more active pieces. 27.b3 g8! The young Dutch star continues to defend grimly but well. 28.ae1 f8 29.5e3 b8 30.h4 c7 31.d1! Improving his worst-placed piece, but is White going to be able to break the solid defence? 2297
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e8 32.c2 d8 33.3e2 [ I'm not too sure what was wrong with the immediate 33.d3!? , simply preparing Ne5xd7 and Bxf5+. The machine suggests that Black will defend with g6 ( 33...h6!? 34.f3 f4 may have been the line which put off Van Wely after 35.dxf4 g4 36.d3 f5 and ...Nd4 White's knights are tied d o wn a n d B la c k h a s s o m e p l a y f o r h i s pawn ) 34.e5 h6 , but this looks ugly and 35.f4 g7 would have left Black's rook rather offside. ] 33...g4 34.h2 g8 35.f3 c7 36.d3 It feels to me rather as if these moves were played under the influence of a bit of time trouble. Van Wely now hits on the right plan, but even slamming the knight into e5 does not c om plete ly b re ak Giri's po sition . g6 37.e5 h6 38.xd7 [ Maybe 38.f4!? to incarcerate the rook again. Then one plan would be to try and advance the g-pawn. Van Wely's approach is hardly a bad one, however. ] 38...xd7 39.g4! e6! A timely bid for freedom and one which saves Black's position from collapse just in the nick of time. 40.e5 [ Increasing the pressure little by little. I n s t e a d a f t e r 40.f4 e5! ( but not 40...xh4+? 41.g3 h6 42.dxe6+ fxe6 43.g5 when the rook is cornered) 41.xe5 xe5 42.xe5 fxg4 43.fxg4 xh4+ 44.g3 h1 Black would surely have been OK, ] [ while there was no time for 40.g3 e7 41.h1? on account of exd5 and if 42.cxd5? xh4+! . ] 40...e7 Irritating White on h4 as the bishop prepares to take up a slightly more active role on d8. 41.h3 d8 42.1e2 f8 43.d3 Playing in plus-equals mode (although White's advantage is somewhat larger than that), or doing nothing if you prefer. And why should White hurry? Black is the side with the passive defence and rather misplaced rook, and should he make a misguided break from freedom... fxg4+ [ Forcing the pace. However, White will continue to grind away after this, so maybe Black too should have passed and asked W hite just what he was up to after 43...c7!? . ] 44.fxg4 exd5 45.xd5 c7!
[ 45...f5? is just the sort of tempting but rash breakout Black had to avoid: 46.xf5+ xf5 47.gxf5 xh5 doesn't suddenly turn the tables as it's White who wins material and the game after 48.e6 e7 ( or 48...c7 49.g4 ) 49.xe7+! xe7 50.f6+ . ] 46.f5 g8 47.e3 f8 48.ee5 Continuing to probe in what must have been quite a grudge match. Van W ely, the longtime Dutch no.1, being up against his recent successor, the immensely talented Giri. g8 49.c2! Black wasn't going to trade on f5, so White regroups the bishop and switches to probing with g4-g5. f8 50.d1 e8 [ Despite my praise of Giri's tenacious defence, there can be no doubt that Van Wely has ground well and now has Black on the ropes. The text prepares to exchange both pairs of rooks, which is logical enough and besides it's hard to find much better: 50...e6 51.f4 xe5 52.xe5 again leaves h7 extremely vulnerable, ] [ while only a machine would feel co m f o r t a b le c u rl in g u p in t o a b a l l wit h 50...h8 51.g5 g6 52.f4 gg8 when 53.d2! suddenly creates strong threats in the centre. ] 51.xe8 xe8 52.g5 d6 [ Easy to criticise, but Black's activity would have been short-lived after 52...e6 53.f4 e3+ 54.g2 e4 : 55.f3 d6 56.c2 e8 57.h5 h8 and now 58.xh7!? ( or just 58.e5 ) 58...xh7 59.g6 fxg6 60.e6+ is a surprisingly fiendish tactic. ] 53.xd6 xd6 54.c2 Black might have got the rooks off, but that's the end of the good news as White is about to obtain a powerful passed pawn. f6 55.g6! [ An excellent decision. White spurns materialism to maintain much the more active pieces while setting up an outside passed pawn. Giri was no doubt hoping for 55.g4 fxg5 56.hxg5 e5 57.xh7 d4 58.c2 e5 when it's not so easy to breach Black's defences and blockade after ( but not 58...c3 59.d1 d2? 60.f3 c3 61.c6 and the blockade is broken) 59.f4 g7 60.d5 e6 61.g6 g7 . ] 55...hxg6 56.xg6 c7 57.f5 e6 [ Black is dominated after this, but so would h e h a v e b e e n i n t h e e v e n t o f 57...e5 2298
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 58.g3 ( not 58.g4? e8 ) 58...e7 is quite rare, largely because it makes it ( 58...e8 59.h5 d6 60.h6! leaves the hharder for White to prevent ...b5 with a2-a4. pawn too far advanced) 59.d7! f8 However, that doesn't have to be the end of 60.g4 . ] the world and d7 9.c2 ( 9.c4 d8 58.xe6 xe6 59.g7+? 10.a4 f6 11.d1 b6 should be very [ Quite possibly low on time, Van Wely falls comfortable for Black) 9...f6 10.b5+! for a trick and throws away his hours of f8 11.d1 a6 12.e2 c7 13.h3 b5 patient hard work. Correct was 59.f4+ f5 14.0-0 b8 15.f4 e5 16.h5 xh5 60.d5 to restrict the bishop and after g6 17.xh5 e7 18.e2 gave chances to 61.g4 f5+ 62.g3 f7 63.h5 g5 both sides in Torre-Nava, Philippine 64.xb6 e6 65.d5 e5 66.f3 Championship, Boracay 2012. ] while some work remains, White really ought 6...g7 Natural development, but by no to win. ] means forced: 59...e5 60.g4 [ a) 6...h6!? 7.e3 f4 8.exf4 xf4 9.xf4 [ In the event of 60.h5 f5 61.h6 f6 xb2 10.e2 xa1 11.ec3 d6 the black king would have made it back just ( 11...b2? 12.d6 c2? 13.e3 in time. ] already led to Black's resignation in one 60...f5+! 61.xf5 xh4! The problemo. classic Trompowsky win, namely W ellsWhite will land up a knight ahead, but with no Shirov, Gibraltar 2006 Black really does way of saving his queenside. 62.xh4 d4 need to know his theory if he's going to grab 63.f3 c3 64.e3 xb3 65.d3 xa4 the exchange) 12.d2 g8 is the critical 66.c3 b5! line. Current theory seems to be of the view [ Liquidating the final pawn. Black mustn't that Black should be able to survive, but in become too ambitious, however, and practice his position is not so easy to handle. 66...a3?? 67.f5 a4 68.e3 a2 Now 69.c2 a3 70.d5 a1 71.c3 A) a n d W h i t e c a n a l s o g o 13.e2 places him in a f atal zugzwang, with a2 , as in Martinovic-Zelbel, Pula 2012: 72.e4 b5 73.cxb5 c4 74.c5 c3 A1) c r i t i c a l , o f c o u r s e , b u t 13...a6! 75.b3# one pretty enough finish. ] is a sneaky and much better move when ½-½ White should probably push the g-pawn after all, since 14.0-0 h3! is quite awkward, with 15.e1 ( 15.f3? d7 2351 A45 16.a3 e5 reveals Black's main idea, u n d e r p i n n e d b y t h e k e y l i n e 17.e4 Van Wely,Loek 2679 xg2 18.xa1 xe4+ 19.f1 d3+ L'Ami,Erwin 2627 20.e2 g1+! 21.xg1 f3+ ) Wijk aan Zee (4.1) 15.01.2013 15...xg2+ 16.h1 g6 17.a3 g2+ [Richard Palliser] 18.g1 xd5+ 19.f1 g2+ 20.g1 xe1+ 21.xe1 c6 unbalanced but 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 su re ly go o d f o r B la ck, a s sh o wn b y 5.c1 f5 6.c4 Yelena Dembo during some pioneering [ White decides to advance his c-pawn after research undertaken for her 'Fighting the all and such a policy is gradually becoming Anti-King's Indians'; more popular than the traditional approach A2) 13...xg2? 14.f3 g6 15.e2 in this variation where White blunts Black's g4 ( I've criticised this before, but am unopposed dark-squared bishop by placing n o l o n g e r c o n v i n c e d t h a t 15...b5!? his pawns on c3 and e3. Last year at Wijk is an improvement after 16.cxb5 a6 Van Wely had opted for that plan and 6.g3 17.b6 what on earth does Black do next g7 7.c3 f6!? 8.e3 was his game with wh i l e Rc 1 a n d N a 3 is o n t h e wa y ?) Giri which I annotated at the time. ] 16.c1 d7? ( meek 16...c6 17.dxc6 [ Of course, it's possible too to begin with e6+ must be more challenging, 6.e3 g7 7.c3 , b u t t h e n d6 8.a3!? 2299
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ a) 9.h3 e5! 10.c2 ( 10.f4 h5!? although after 18.f1 xf3 19.cxb7 seems fine for Black: for instance, 11.h4 b8 20.a3 xc1+ 21.xc1 xb7 b4 12.d3 a5 13.xe5 xe5 14.c2 22.c2 White was still for choice in Weild7 15.d3 e6 with easy and decent G.Diez, Bad Homburg 2007 he is counterplay) 10...g6 11.e2 d7 12.0-0 currently quite tied down, but the 0-0-0 13.a3 dg8 14.h1 h5 was typically imminent activation of the queen will hard to assess in Sedlak-Milanovic, qu i c k l y d i sr u p t B la c k 's a c t i vi t y a n d Serbian Championship, Vrnjacka Banja probably pick up the key pawn on h7) 2012, but my suspicion is that Black has 17.xg4 xg4 18.a3 xc1 19.xc1 enough counterplay on the kingside. ] 0-0-0 20.h6 left White's queen and [ b) 9.e2?! f6 10.c2 e4! 11.xe4 knight somewhat superior to Black's fxe4 12.b1 a5+ 13.f1 was Curienrooks and two extra pawns.; Edouard, Biel 2012, and now the rapidlyB) 13.g3 was covered in two 1994 improving French Grandmaster might well Aleksandrov games by Eric, ] have gone in f o r xa2!? 14.xe4 a5 [ b) 6...b4+ 7.c3 ( 7.d2 g7 8.b1 15.c2 d7 with easy and good play on the d6 9.a3 a5 10.g3 d7 11.gf3 b5! queenside. ] gave Black early and good counterplay - see Eric's notes to V. Kovacevic-Stevic, Mravinci 9...a5 [ L'Ami wants to keep his knight's options 1995, in the Archive) 7...xc4 8.e4 b4 open. Instead if 9...f6 White is now in time 9.a3 a5 10.exf5 g7 is another rather for 10.d3 e4 ( 10...e5 11.dxe6!? fxe6 critical line. Black has acquired certain 12.f3 d7 13.0-0 0-0 14.e4 was similar positional trumps, but his development and in W ells-S.Ledger, Southend 2003, but king situation are a cause for concern. I'd B l a c k s h o u l d r e a l l y h a v e g o n e l o n g) certainly be happy enough as W hite here 11.ge2 and xc3 12.bxc3! e6 13.0-0 and for more coverage do see the notes to d8 14.dxe6! fxe6 15.e4 saw him seizing Nyman-Bern, correspondence 1994. ] a s t r o n g i n i t i a t i ve i n R o m e r o H o l m e s [ c) 6...f6 echoes Giri's play, but 7.e3 a6 Reinaldo Castineira, Spanish Championship, 8.c3 c7 9.d3 g8 10.g3 b5!? Torrevieja 1997. ] 11.cxb5 b7 12.c4 g4 13.f4 g7 14.d2 failed to give Black enough for his 10.h3! [ The knight is en route for f4 which makes a pawn in Neuman-Kislinsky, Stare Mesto lot of sense to me, but seems to be new 2012. ] here. Of course White could also begin with [ d) 6...d6 can easily transpose to our main 10.ge2 ] game, but Black doesn't have to hurry to [ and 10.f3 was once McShane's choice fianchetto. That said, after 7.c3 d7 8.e3 a n d h a s se e n a f a ir b it o f t e s t in g. I t i s f6 9.c2 perhaps he should, since e5 directed against the black knight coming to 10.g3 h5 11.f3! e4 12.h4 g4 13.e2 e5, but doesn't prevent it, as L'Ami had g7 14.a3 d7 15.g2 e5 16.h3 f6 previously showed: e5! 11.xe5 dxe5 17.h4 a6 18.0-0 d8 19.ab1 left White 12.0-0-0 d7 13.e2 a6 gave Black quite opening the queenside and in charge in a dynamic set-up and decent enough Nguyen Van Hai-Ni Hua, Ho Chi Minh City co u n t e rch a n ce s in M. Nie lse n -E . L 'A m i , 2012. ] Helsingor 2012. ] 7.c3 d6 8.e3 d7 Black's play appears quite natural so far and this position has been 10...b6 [ This pretty much commits Black to a Nimzore a che d a f e w tim e s in p ra ct ice , b ut t h e l i k e e xc h a n g e o n c 3 , b u t L ' A m i ' s p l a n second player should not be so routine: he is doesn't work out too well. Instead 10...e5 going to struggle to obtain sufficient may appear more natural, but after 11.e2 counterplay. 9.c2 Best according to Wells d7 12.0-0 White has quick development and certainly a natural move, although not and while ...e6 shouldn't prove too everyone has been keen to play it quite so challenging, Black might well be troubled by quickly: 2300
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a3 and b4, or f4 followed by e4. ] [ Another quite critical line must be 10...f6 , but after 11.d3 ( 11.f4 e4 12.c1 xc3 13.bxc3 d7 14.d3 e6 15.h5 is often a key resource in this structure, but here g8 16.xg7+ xg7 17.0-0 0-0-0 doesn't seem so clear) 11...e4 ( 11...e6 12.0-0 d7 13.a3 also leaves White well placed to seize the initiative) 12.c1 xc3 13.bxc3 e6 14.0-0 White must be doing quite well and may well again go in for a rapid opening of the centre. ] 11.d3 d7 12.0-0 xc3 [ A big decision, but what else to do with f5 en prise? Note too that 12...e6 would again be met by a familiar device: 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.e4 . ] 13.bxc3 e6 [ In an ideal world Black would like to keep t h e p o s i t i o n c l o s e d , b u t a f t e r 13...a4 White has a few good options, including just 14.b2 ( 14.e2 g8 15.h5!? is a more direct idea, and if xc4 16.g5 g7 perhaps 17.e6 ) 14...0-0-0 15.ab1 when the plan is Qe2, Rb3 and Qb2. ] 14.dxe6! This strong exchange certainly shouldn't have come as a surprise by now. fxe6 15.e4 fxe4 16.xe4 Taking stock after something of a structural transformation we can see that White has seized the initiative and, indeed, L'Ami can't have been feeling too comfortable around here. 0-0-0 [ 16...a4!? was a logical alternative, attempting to bring Black's queen back into play. That said, W hite has a few ways to retain the upper hand even here and after 17.d2 0-0-0 ( 17...xc4? 18.g5 traps the black king in the centre) 18.xd6 xc4 19.e5 White's safer king surely ought to count for something. ] 17.g5 hg8? [ Having coming under pressure, L'Ami ditches the exchange to remove the pesky knight and bring his queen back into play, but he won't obtain enough for it. No doubt the younger of the two Dutchmen wasn't entirely happy with 17...df8 , but after, say, 18.xh7 ( perhaps White should prefer 18.d3 , possibly followed by Rab1, Rfe1 and Ne4 in some order) 18...f7 19.ab1 a6 it's not so easy for White to maintain
control, as shown by 20.g5 g7 21.f4 xc4 22.g3 a4 , beginning to overload the white pieces. ] 18.f7 xc4 19.xd8 xd8 20.e2! Van Wely sees no reason to pocket the h7pawn and allow Black some play. Instead he improves his pieces, takes control of the centre and prevents Black from obtaining any real counterplay. d5 21.d3 d6 22.e3 c4 23.xh7 Only now. Black can continue to thrash, but now it's a whole exchange and by th is st age L 'A m i wa s ra th e r re lyin g o n a swindle. h8 24.c2 c7 25.fe1 [ Continuing to improve his pieces, rather than allow Black some play with 25.xa7?! h4 26.h3 g8 . ] 25...f6 26.a4 h6 [ A sign of desperation, but what else to do with both black minor pieces remaining rather forlorn in the case of 26...h4 27.h3 .] 27.e5 Slightly cheeky, but then again why shouldn't W hite exchange queens on his terms? h5 28.xh5 xh5 29.g4! Grandmasterly technique. Observe how Van Wely first deploys his pawns to restrict Black's pieces, then improves his king and only then pushes the h-pawn. h4 30.f3 b5 31.g2 h8 32.g3 a5 Finally Black has a threat, but the h-pawn is going to be even more important than the resulting passed a-pawn. 33.axb5 xb5 34.e3 a8 35.a4! d6 36.h4 xa4 37.xa4 b7 38.h5 c5 39.a2 d6 40.f4 a4 41.h6 e7 42.g5 f7 43.g4 e4 [ The pawns steam home after this, but 43...g6 44.e5! a6 45.f5+ exf5+ 46.xf5 scarcely counts as an improvement. ] 44.h3 g8 45.g6 h8 46.f5 exf5+ 47.xf5 a3 48.e5 a6 49.h7! [ 49.h7 xg6 50.xa3 leaves Black undone on the back rank. ] 1-0
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2352 A45 Van de Griendt,Jan 2317 Schaefer,Markus 2404 European Club Cup, Rhodes (7.15) 26.10.2013 [Richard Palliser] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d6!? A rare choice, if not a terrible one for players with so m e e xp e rie nce o f t h e P irc a n d/ o r Philidor. 4.d3!? Played after some thought, this is a pretty rare response. More often White has preferred one of: [ a) 4.d2 is Pert's recommendation when f6 5.e4 g6 6.gf3 g7 could be viewed as a Pirc, or as a London System where White has gained a tempo. That may not be anywhere near fatal for Black, but he should be a touch worse. ] [ b) 4.f3 f6 5.e4 is quite a critical line, since Black can no longer really head for a Pirc set-up. As such, bd7 ( 5...g6?! 6.c3 g7 7.d2 leaves White's extra tempo looking very useful indeed - see Aaron's notes to Atea-Shehata, Cairo 2002, in the Archive ) 6.c3 e5 7.e3 e7 reaches quite an important, Philidorish position. One fairly recent example saw 8.d2 0-0 9.0-0-0 c6 10.g4 b5 11.b1 b4 12.ce2 a5 13.c1?! ( 13.g3 looks more to the point) 13...exd4! 14.xd4 c5 15.f2 e8 16.h3 e5 with good c o u n t e r p l a y f o r B l a c k i n B a u e r - K o zu l , Istanbul Olympiad 2012. ] 4...f6 [ 4...f5?! 5.c3 should favour White, since e2-e4 is coming, as with d5 6.f3 d6 7.e4 .] 5.e4 g6 6.c3 g7 7.e2 An excellent move. W hite is a tempo up on a Pirc, but clearly that will be lost if he has to retreat his queen to d2. As such, van der Griendt avoids the hackneyed Qd2 and Bh6 plan for now and prepares to use his pawns to create some pressure on the kingside. c6 [ I can't blame Black for wanting to avoid 7...0-0 8.h4 ( or first 8.0-0-0 , as played in the only other test of the position af te r White's 7th move which I could find HennigSchoene, German League 1999, proceeded c6 9.f3 b4?! 10.d2 c5 11.dxc5 a5 12.a3 and now Black had to go dxc5
if he wanted to have any chance of justifying his ambitious play, better for White though 13.e5 g4 14.c4 does appear) 8...h5 9.0-0-0 . ] [ However, he can try to challenge in the centre after 7...0-0 8.h4 ( or 8.0-0-0 c6 9.f3 d5!? ) 8...d5!? , which is a device often seen in lines like the Spike Attack in the Pirc. Here 9.e5 e4 10.xe4 dxe4 11.xe4 f5!? 12.xb7 xd4 would have quickly plunged the board into total chaos. ] 8.d5 b8?! [ This is taking the tempi donation too far. The German IM had to go 8...e5 when 9.d2 c6 would have begun counterplay, wit h a re a s o n a b le e n o u gh p o s it io n f o r Black. ] 9.d2!? Now that Black has conceded a central wedge and further time, van de Griendt is h app y t o lose a litt le tim e h ims elf an d begins to probe on the kingside. 0-0 [ Not ideal, but I'm not sure there was anything greatly better as shown by the line 9...h6 10.f3 c6 11.0-0 when Black can't castle and White has a pretty pleasant edge. Quite simply Schaefer has wasted too much time in the opening. ] 10.h6 e6 Finally Black gets around to a ce n t r a l c h a ll e n g e , b u t W h i t e ' s a t t a c k i s already in full flow. 11.h4 exd5 12.h5!? Sensing his opponent's nervousness, the Dutch FM bravely ploughs straight ahead. e7? [ Very meek. From my seat next door I thought that the critical line was 12...dxe4! 13.hxg6 fxg6 14.c4+ h8 15.xg7+ xg7 16.h6+ h8 . Then after 17.ge2 followed by bringing the knight to f4 White would have enjoyed full compensation, but whether he can claim more than that isn't so clear. ] [ Moreover, if Black wanted to defend solidly why didn't he prefer 12...d4 13.xg7 xg7 14.xd4 c6 15.e3 e6 ? This still looks quite pleasant for White, but at least Black's development is better than in the game. ] 13.xg7 xg7 14.hxg6 fxg6 15.exd5 Following the bout of exchanges we can take stock and note that whilst Black isn't about to get mated, his position is pretty grim. Indeed, 2302
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White has the simple and strong plan of trying to land his king's knight on e6. bd7 [ Perhaps 15...a6!? was a better try, although after 16.0-0-0 c5 17.f3 f5 18.de1 all the trumps are with White. ] 16.0-0-0 e5 17.e1! Pretty much the killer move. Suddenly the pressure down the e-file becomes a further problem for Black and another slightly strange choice from Schaefer quickly leaves him in a pretty hopeless situation. d7?! 18.h3 f7 19.f4 g5 Covering the e6-square, but allowing a little tactic. Black was, however, pretty much lost by this stage in any case. 20.xg6! hxg6 21.xg5 g8 22.h4 f6 23.d3 g8 Resigning was perhaps more appropriate, but I dare say the German IM was in a state of shock after the mauling he'd received. 24.e4 xd5 25.h6+ f7 26.h3 a4 27.g5+ f6 28.f3+ [ Surely by now Black might have allowed the neat mate with 28.f3+ f5 29.e6# . ] 1-0
Jean-Claude MOINGT (the brand new President of the French Federation after the passing of the much regretted Jean-Claude LOUBATIERE) and I met Kasparov and asked him, as he was presumably interested in Clichy not losing the match against the superfavourites, if he could give us a tip on how to hold the draw with White against the man who was going to be his unfortunate challenger in the 1995 PCA W orld championship final in New-York. He had this wonderful answer: "Sorry, with W hite, I only know how to beat Anand"!! 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.d5 b6! 5.c1 e6 6.f3 a5+! [ 6...f6 7.c4 exd5 8.cxd5 c4 9.e4! Building a strong center as a rampart against the attack. In November, I inferred it could be the refutation of the black pawn sac. Since then, I found out (curiously from this order of moves, and consequently with a difference of one tempo), 2 other Grandmaster games where White stood fine out of t he open ing. c5 10.h3 d6 11.xc4 ( 11.d2!? Possibly even stronger See the game Lerner-Rajlich )) 11...xh3 2353 A45 12.gxh3 0-0 13.c3 "With a small white advantage" is given by the King himself in Van der Wiel,John TH 2520 INF 34 ... far back in 1982. Every time I Kasparov,Garry 2675 have analysed a game of a player of this Moscow Interzonal (11) 1982 calibre, especially if I was benefiting from [Eric Prié] the help of his own comments, I have felt 'enlightened'. ] 1.d4 f6 In my career I have been in contact with the 'Ogre of Baku' a couple of times - in 7.c3 f6 8.e4 d6! 9.a3 [ 9.d2 Is probably best then. b6 10.c4 the company of GM Marjanovic, we even xb2 11.c3 b6 12.f4 e5! 13.f5 d8 once lengthily discussed history... and since it ( 13...h5 Would have amazingly transposed is almost unhoped for to see the World no.1 into Howell's game from November!) 14.f3 player appear in this section, I have a good ( 14.g4!? ) 14...g6 15.d3 e7 16.0-0 anecdote to tell about his approach to the bd7 17.b1 h6 18.fxg6 fxg6 19.h4 game. It was in 93 on the occasion of the final f8 20.c2 f7! 21.f3 g7 22.a4 of the French League. At that time the With only positional compensation for White enormous means of Lyon, 2 times European due to the opposing difficulties in using his champion were drawing the quality of the extra pawn. Szymanski,M (2327) -Ni Hua competition upward. And the ambitious club (2369) Ol U18 Artek 1999 1/2 (37) ] of Auxerre, which was that season in contention for the title with my club Clichy, 9...exd5 10.exd5 e7 11.c4 d8 12.e3 recurrent second behind Lyon, had hired the 0-0 13.e2?! [ 13.d3 bd7 14.e2 e5 15.0-0= undisputed reigning World Champion in a sort Kasparov,G like the rest of the notes except of 'arms race'. So it was on the morning of the when mentioned. ] decisive encounter against Lyon when I was destined to be 'sacrificed' with White on top 13...e8 14.g4? frivolously gaining space on board against Anand. At breakfast, my captain the kingside to the detriment of the, always 2303
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 primordial, security of the king. [ 14.g3 With the idea Be2= ] 14...fd7! 15.g3 [ 15.g2 e5 16.0-0 g5! 17.g3 ( 17.f4 xg4! ) 17...xe3+ 18.xe3 xg4 19.fxg4 xe3 ] 15...g5 16.f2 e5 17.b5 [ 17.h4 xe3+ ( 17...xh4 18.f4 g6 19.g5 Eric ) 18.xe3 f6! 19.g5 ( 19.g5! Eric g4+ 20.g1 e5 21.f2 xf2 22.xf2 ) 19...xg4+ 20.g1 e5-+ ] 17...d7 18.xd7 bxd7 19.ef5 c4!-+ 20.h5? Kasparov only gives the main line of the analysis [ 20.xg5 xg5 A) 21.g2 At the start, Fritz believes he can hold with this defensive move but r a p i d l y b e c o m e s d i s i l l u s i o n e d . d3 22.e4 xe4! 23.fxe4 7e5 24.h4 f4 25.e2 g6 A1) 26.d4 xg4 27.h3 e8! 28.f1 xe4 29.xf4 xf4+ 30.f3 xe2 31.xe4 f5+ 32.f3 ( 32.xf5 f2+ ) 32...g1+ 33.g3 xh3 34.xh3 a6; A2) 26.xd6 d8! 27.b5 ( 27.af1 xd6! The point in many sub variations.; 27.xc4 xc4 28.xd3 e3+; 27.xb7 b8 28.a5 xb2 ) 27...xg4; B) 21.xd6 d3+ B1) 22.f1 e1+; B2) 22.g1 e3+ 23.g2 f2+ 24.h3 f4+ 25.h4 g2 26.xe8 h6! 27.f1 ( 27.xg7 h3# ) 27...g5#; B3) 22.g2 f4+ 23.f2 ( 23.f1 e3 24.h4 d8 25.xc4 d3 26.d2 e5; 23.g1 e5 24.ge4 h6 25.xc4 xd5 ) 23...c5 24.xe8 cd3+ 25.f1 xe8+- ] 20...d3+ 21.g3 xc1 22.xc1 g6 [ 22...g6 23.d2 Heads or tails ? ( 23.h6+ f8 ) 23...gxh5 ( 23...gxf5?? 24.h6 ) 24.h6 f6-+ I sincerely apologize for mingling the name of the 13th W orld champion to such a display of dated, devoid of interest, theory. I understand that the dPawn Specials section should be just fun and curiosity: The Colle, London, Veresov, GBD, Reversed Stonewall... Not much to do with winning chess, neither will they help to improve one's level of play, but I shall try
to keep it in mind, if I can! ] 0-1
2354 Vanhee,Freddy Ottevaere,Herman BEL-ch corr [Eric Prié]
A45
1983
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 One of my predecessor's favourite lines, into the heart of h e a rt s o f t h e wild e rn e ss o ) wi t h 8 wh it e triumphs for one lonely share of the point this month. Not bad statistics for what has long been thought-of as a suspect move for the first player! c5 4.dxc5 a6 Alas, as it has become a custom, no reflection on this logical response... abundantly more audacious for Black than it would appear at first glance. That is why [ 4...a5+ is the toughest nut to crack. Then, the public question "The h4 Tromp, has it been killed?" shall meet, next month, a more explicit verdict than the one conveyed here in this pleasant introduction. ] 5.d2 Very seldom employed by the World expert on the 3.h4 deviation, Igor Miladinovic. axc5 [ 5...xg5! 6.hxg5 xc5 Probably representing the reason why, but not ] [ 5...a5? 6.a3! ( 6.c3 xg5 7.b4 a3 8.hxg5 xc3 ) 6...xg5 ( 6...xd2 7.b4 ) 7.b4 ] 6.xe4 xe4 7.d5! Avoiding ...Qa5+ which wou ld f re e t he e -p awn f ro m the p in , an d therefore more or less obliging: xg5 8.hxg5 A genuinely fascinating scene: after just 8 moves W hite has conceded possibly everything that he could cede: his influential dark-squared Tromp bishop, the centre, he has compromised his structure and is not even ahead in development! Needless to say t h a t h a vin g p u t a ll h is e g gs in t h e s a m e basket for the sake of a semi open file, it has to be a hefty, dynamic basket! e6 [ 8...b6 9.0-0-0 e6 10.d3 ( 10.d2! In common with the other games of this update. ) 10...a5 11.b1 xg5 12.xh7 xh7 13.xh7 g6 Miladinovic, I-Banikas, H Kavala op 1996 1/2 (28) ] 2304
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.d2 e7 10.0-0-0! Retorting in an off the cuff spirit, much as in the Alekhine-Chatard Gambit of the French: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6.h4!? and, in its accepted form 6...Bxg5 7.hxg5 Qxg5, a n s we r e d b y He ct o r 's s t u n n in g 8 . Q d 3 ! ? repeated by Kasparov himself against K o r t s c h n o i . xg5 11.f4 e7 12.e4 Where is Black to castle now? d6 13.c3! d7 Who else than a heap of sand would play 13...Bf8 or Kf8 in such a situation? 14.xg7 f6 15.h6 c8 16.e5! c7 17.d3 e7 18.g7 f8 19.f5! Breaking open the black king's fragile central refuge. d5 [ 19...exf5 20.f3 ] 20.f3 c5 21.xh7 a6 22.g4! Menacing annoyances like the exchange on e6 and Bf5 or prosaically g4-g5-g6 against which Black is supremely bound hand and foot. b5 23.h2! xd3 24.xd3 b6 25.fxe6 xe6 26.h6 e7 27.b1 d4 28.xd4 xd4 29.xd4 c5 30.c3 c6 31.dd6 The white sovereign will calmly stroll out to b3 to escape the checks and then... 1-0
2355 Vegh,Endre Fogarasi,Tibor ch-KO Budapest HUN (2.1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2306 2456 30.08.2000
sequence: xf3 13.xf3 dxe5 14.0-0 c6 ] 12...dxe5 13.f5 This was White's master plan, threatening to trap the Black bishop, however, it is very time consuming. d8 14.e3 f6 15.h3 h5 16.g4 f7 17.f3 d7 18.d3 a3 Forcing White to waste more time. Now watch as the Black initiative reaches alarming proportions. 19.e2 b6 20.g5 hxg5 21.h4 W hite risks all on this desperate kingside lunge, but with Black so well developed, the odds are clearly set against him. g4 22.d2 b2 23.d1 h5 24.g1 xc2 Black draws first blood. With the White king stuck in no-man's-land this is likely to turn into a bloodbath. 25.xg4 d3 Black really sticks the dagger in. 26.c5 xc3 27.e7 e8 28.b4 xg4 29.xg4 e3+ White is losing at least a rook. A horrible game from the White players point of view. 0-1
2356 Vitiugov,Nikita Ding,Liren Russia-China, St Petersburg (rapid) (1) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2703 2680 7.7.12
1.d4 f6 2.g5 d5 3.e3 e4 4.f4 c5 5.d3 cxd4 [ D i n g L i r e n ' s a p p r o a c h a v o i d s 5...c6 6.xe4! dxe4 7.d5 , ] Black unleashes a stunning new idea in one of [ but I should remind subscribers that Eric the main lines and is well rewarded. This may considers 5...f6! to be the critical move. ] explain why Hodgson, among others, avoids 6.exd4 the issue completely. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 [ The simple approach. Once again White 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 might like to make 6.xe4 work, but after [ 5.c3 Is the trend set by Hodgson. ] dxe4 ( there's also 6...a5+!? , as I pointed 5...b4 6.d2 d6 7.f4 xc3 8.bxc3 e5 out in my 'Starting Out' work this might even This looks to me like it could be an important be a good argument for following Vitiugov's n e w i d e a a g a in s t t h e Nc 3 T r o m p . B la c k move order ) directly fights for control of the center using A) 7.exd4 should probably be met by c6 his aggressively posted queen as the main with a transposition to our main game, aggressor. 9.g3 0-0 Black is ready to force ( since 7...b6 8.c3! xb2 9.ge2 White to make a concession in the center with g4 10.0-0 gives White good Nc6 and Bg4. 10.f3 g4 Already the White compensation, whether or not Black goes p o s it io n b e gin s t o lo o k a b it vu ln e ra b le . in for xc3 11.xc3 xd1 12.fxd1 ); 11.dxe5 e7 12.g1 A pathetic retreat. B) 7.xd4 xd4 ( a pretty good case can [ 12.g2 was much more solid although also be made for 7...c6 8.xd8+ xd8 Black is actually a bit better after the logical 9.c3 e5 in my view) 8.exd4 c6 9.c3 2305
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the position 'is far from obvious for White despite some good statistics', as Eric has noted. One recent game continued b6 ( 9...f5 10.d2 g5!? is an alternative) 10.d2 b7 11.0-0-0 d8! 12.f3 e6 13.g3 exf3 14.gxf3 g6 15.e5 ( 15.c4!? g7 16.d5 c5 might be the c r i t i c a l l i n e) 15...f6 16.g3 h6 with the bishop-pair and good counterplay for Black in Hoang Thanh Trang-Cmilyte, Gaziantep 2012. ] 6...c6 7.xe4! [ B e s t . W h i t e h a s n o t h i n g a f t e r 7.c3 , as Vit iu gov ha d e a rlier f o u nd ou t : f5 (cementing Black's control over the e4square) 8.e2 e6 ( Karjakin doesn't fear doubled pawns, but if Black does he might begin with 8...g6 , as in Shimanov-Panarin, Tyumen 2012, where 9.g3 d6 10.e2 e6 11.d2 e7 12.0-0 0-0 13.e1 a6 began the Minority Attack with a good game for Black ) 9.f3 d6 10.xd6!? xd6 11.xf5 exf5 12.f4 0-0 13.0-0 e8 14.d2 c7 15.g3 a5 gave Black sufficient counterplay in Vitiugov-Karjakin, Russian Championship, Moscow 2010. ] 7...dxe4 8.e2 g4 9.bc3 e6 We've reached quite an important position. I've been happy to play it with both colours, but must admit that this game has only served to confirm my belief that W hite should be slightly for choice. 10.xe4!? [ Very natural and to my shame this logical move wasn't scrutinised closely enough in my Starting Out book. W hite must avoid 10.0-0?! g5! 11.e3 f5 which gave Black the initiative in S.Fowler-R.Palliser, Halifax (rapid) 2004, ] [ b u t a s I d i d p o i n t o u t , 10.h3 h5 ( 10...xe2 11.xe2 xd4 12.0-0 is also promising for White) 11.xe4 xe2 12.xe2 xd4 13.d3 c6 14.0-0-0 xd3 15.xd3 gave White a small pull in Hodgson-Wells, Oxford 1998. As the eagleeyed reader will have spotted this is the same position as in our main game, but with the addition of h3, which certainly can't do any harm. ] 10...xe2 11.xe2 xd4 12.d3 c6 13.0-0-0 xd3 14.xd3 e5 [ Ambitious, but now White will have a small
but definite edge with bishop against knight. As such 14...b4! a la Wells was a better t r y . A f t e r 15.b3 d5 16.g3 b6 the knight does a good job of plugging the dfile and 17.d6+ ( 17.c4 c8 is another important point) 17...xd6 18.xd6 d7 19.g3 hc8 is surely a decent enough version of, say, a Caro for Black. ] 15.e3 f5 16.d6+ xd6 17.xd6 d8 [ Black didn't have to remove all the rooks, b u t o t h e r wi s e 17...c8 18.hd1 c7? would not have satisfactorily covered the seventh in view of 19.xa7! . ] 18.hd1 xd6 19.xd6 f8 20.c5 f6? [ Ding Liren clearly hoped that his central p a wn m a ss o n t h e e - a n d f -f ile s wo u ld c o m b i n e we l l wi t h h i s k n i g h t , b u t t h a t doesn't prove to be the case. As such Black should likely have kept things tight at the back with 20...f7 when White would have had a lot of work to do. Indeed, it's not so easy to mobilise the queenside pawns, as shown by 21.c4 e4 22.d5 b6 23.d6 ( or 23.e3 b4 ) 23...d7 when .. .Kf7-e6 will follow, with decent counterplay. ] 21.xf6 gxf6 22.g3! Good prophylaxis. Vitiugov halts the black pawns and rightly doesn't fear ideas of . ..e4 in association with ...Ne5. d7 23.c4 b6 24.e3 b4 [ Risky, since the knight will land up a little offside on f3, unable to generate the counterplay the Chinese Grandmaster was after. Instead 24...e4 25.h3 e5 26.b3 keeps everything under control, after which Kc2-c3 followed by advancing the queenside majority will follow, but at least Black's knight is still well placed and whether W hite can definitely win I'm not entirely sure. ] 25.a3 d3+ 26.c2 e1+ 27.c3 f3 28.h3 h5 29.b4 f4? [ He wants to obtain a passed h-pawn, but Ding Liren has missed something major. Black should instead have played s o m e t h i n g s e n s i b l e l i k e 29...e6 wh e n o nly W h it e ca n win th a nk s t o h is queenside majority, but we are a long way from talking about a definite win. ] [ However, 29...h4? would also have been misguided, because after 30.d3 e6 31.a4 White is going to obtain two passed 2306
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pawns: for instance, g1 32.gxh4 f4 33.d2 xh3 34.e1! f5 35.h5 e4+ 36.e2 g5 37.h6 and the h-pawn will prove too strong. ] 30.gxf4 exf4 31.xf4 g1 [ In view of what follows Black might have c o n s i d e r e d 31...h4 32.e3 e6 , but after 33.d3 f5 34.c5 the c-pawn should decide proceedings. ] 32.e3! The problem. Now Black's knight becomes trapped on the rim. xh3 33.f4 e6 34.d4 f5 35.c5 bxc5+ 36.bxc5 e6 37.e4 d7 38.f5 [ 38.f3 would have done the business too, ] [ but after 38.f5 c6 39.f3 g5+ 40.xg5 fxg5 41.f6 White's split pawns com ple tely o ut cla ss Bla ck's con necte d passers. ] 1-0
2357 Vitor,Antonio Pinheiro,Jose LVI ch Barreiro POR (9) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2302 2288 10.09.2000
questionable recapture. In my opinion, both the other alternatives were better, as the Black kingside light squares now get into serious trouble. 10.e4 c6 [ 10...xe4 11.h5+ d8 would have been similar to the game. ] 11.d3 xe4 12.h5+ d8 13.f3 Black has won a pawn but his exposed king gives White very definite compensation . d6 14.0-0 f6 15.h4 e7 16.d1 e8 17.a4 With the not so subtle or difficult to spot threat of Bb5, winning the queen. c7 18.a3 a6 19.c4 e5 More or less forced, due to the threat of Nxd6 ,but this allows White to start cashing in his chips with the startling: 20.fxe5! Wham! dxe5 21.xe5 W hite's lead in development is truly overpowering. f8 What else? [ 21...d6 22.c4 leaves White with too many threats to handle. ] 22.xh7 d6 23.c6 The white pieces are crawling all over the Black position . xf4 24.g6+ It's forced mate on either h8 or d8. Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas!! 1-0
2358 A45 I'm not entirely sure of the objective merits of Vlasov,Alexander White's strange move order in the following Anjuhin,Alex 2460 game, but it certainly threw his opponent off Novaya ladoga 2001 balance and in this season of festive fun, it [Eric Prié] certainly made for a very entertaining game. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.d5 b6 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.e3 b6 This must be the idea. Black's structure 5.c1 A rarely played move. White defends 5.b3 b2 in the most natural way, but this leaves d5 has been weakened and White estimates that lacking in protection. a5+ this is more significant than his own [ 5...c4 Is the acid test, as Black wins a weaknesses on dark squares. cxd4 6.exd4 pawn after: 6.e3 a5+ 7.c3 xd5 8.f3 c6 7.f3 d5 8.c3 g4 9.e2 0-0-0 c5 9.e4 and now Black avoid the trap: 10.bd2 e5! In the same way as the 4.c3 line, d3+ ( 9...c6 10.xc4 e6 from which this game could actually come if Is Hodgson's recommendation in his book White had defended his b-pawn by pushing it, "Secrets of the Trompovsky".) 10.xd3 t h e p r o b l e m i n t h e p o s i t i o n i s d i r e c t l y xd3 11.h3 when the diabolical threat is connected with the reinforcement of Black's Nf2, winning the Black queen. ] presence in the center caused by the 6.c3 f6 7.d1 b6 8.b3 By using an exchange on f6 which authorizes the latter to unusual move order, White has lost a move play annoyingly against the d4 pawn. So, it on the 4.f3 variation (where it would be Black has to be admitted that the c5 Trompowsky to move with a pawn on f3). However, White with 3. or 4.e3 is a dodgy choice against good has not given up on the e4 pawn push, as we preparation. 11.0-0 g8 12.e1 s h a l l s e e . e6 9.dxe6 fxe6 Weird!! A [ 12.h1!? b8 ( 12...exd4?! 13.xd4 2307
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xe2 14.xe2 is OK for White.; 12...e4 13.e1 e6 14.c2 d6 15.e3 f5 16.f4! ) A) 13.xe5 fxe5 ( 13...xe5 14.dxe5 xe2? 15.xe2 fxe5 16.xe5+ ) 14.xg4 exd4 15.cxd4; B) 13.a4 e6 14.a5 c7 15.b4 e7 ] 12...h3 13.f1 Weakening the castle was a lesser evil: [ 13.g3 A) 13...e4 14.h4 f5 15.f1 g4 16.e2 ( 16.f3 exf3 17.dxf3 f4 ) 16...xe2 17.xe2 f4 18.h5 fxg3 19.hxg3 ( 19.fxg3 xd4 ) 19...c7 20.f5 b8; B) 13...exd4 14.c2 ( Better 14.c4 b4 ) 14...dxc3 15.xh7 h8!! 16.xh8 xf2+! 17.xf2 c5+ 18.d4 xd4+ 19.f3 xh8 20.f1 There is nowhere else to go! Now, just about everything wins, including the comforting c2 Which takes back the exchange immediately. 21.ac1 c3 22.f2 ( 22.e3 xe1 23.xe1 e5+ 24.f2 d4 25.xc2 d3; 22.d3 xe1 23.xe1 e5+ 24.e2 g4+ 25.e3 d4+ 26.d2 f3+ ) 22...xf1 23.xf1 ( 23.xf1 xh2+ 24.e3 d4+ 25.d3 b4+ 26.c4 xe2 ) 23...xe1 24.xe1 d4 25.h4 e8-+ ] 13...exd4 14.xd4 xd4 15.cxd4 xd4 16.c2+ b8 17.ad1? White must have b e e n p e r t u r b e d wh e n r e a l i z i n g t h a t h i s intended resource would not work, so he just forgot that his opponent's last move had, itself, created a terrible threat... [ 17.xh7 c5 18.xh3 xf2+ 19.h1 g1# ] [ After 17.g3 g4 With the idea Bb4, Black was much better, and a pawn up, anyway. ] 17...xg2+! 18.h1 [ 18.xg2 g4 19.f1 xg2+ 20.g1 f3+ 21.f1 g2# ] 18...xf2 19.xg2 xg2# 0-1
2359 Volkmann,Friedrich Karl Czakon,Jakub 15th Donau Open (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2421 2486 27.12.2006
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.e4 xb2 8.d2 xc3 9.c7 d6 10.e2 e5?! A dubious centralization that, in fact, will leave the queen even more exposed. 11.g4! Taking the h5square from the black queen and therefore threatening Nc4 and h2-h4. [ 11.c4? h5 12.f4 h6 13.g3 g5 ] 11...xg4!? The radical way which gives Black more than enough material for the piece. It does not solve all the problems, however, because of his difficulty castling kingside. As a matter of fact, Black has to keep withstanding the pressure, with his queen often having just one square in the middle of the battlefield and not repatriated home as in the next games. [ 11...a6 A) 12.f4 b4!! 13.a4+ d7 14.xd7+ ( 14.fxe5 d3+ 15.d1 xa4+ ) 14...xd7 15.fxe5 d3+ 16.d1 f2+ 17.c2 ( 17.e1 6xg4 18.a5 d3+ 19.d1 e3# ) 17...6xg4; B) 12.a5 g5 13.h4 e3; C) 12.c4! xa1 ( 12...g5 13.h4 g6 14.f4 h6 15.g5 Checkmate to the queen! ) 13.xa1 xc7 Once again with enough material for the queen but White actually keeps a strong initiative. ] [ 11...g5!? If Black does not wish to play the suspect looking 11...Nfd7 which frees the f6 square for the queen. It happens to be the programs' favourite with the idea 12.h4 e3 because the drawback of having played g2 -g4 is th e we a ke nin g o f t he f 3 p a wn which attaches the d2-knight to its defence. 13.c1 ( 13.b1 c4 ) 13...d3 ] 12.fxg4 xg4 13.b1 d7 14.a4! Allowing White to dislodge the black queen after the indirect protection of e4. g6 15.c4 f6 [ 15...xe4? 16.xd6+ ] 16.e5 [ 16.b6 h6 The bishop looks better placed on this square than g7 if W hite is 2308
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 going to defend the 3rd and the capital f3 square with Rb3 prior to cashing the material. I n a n y c a s e , ( 16...h4+ 17.g3 g7 18.xa8?? c3+ 19.f2 f6+ 20.g2 f3+ 21.g1 e3+ 22.g2 f3+ 23.h3 h6+ 24.h5 e5 And Qxh5 mate after a couple of desperate checks, is a line that does highlight the black resources in the position. ) 17.b3 ( 17.xa8 0-0 18.b3 e5 ) 17...d8 ( 17...0-0 18.xd7 h4+ )] 16...f5! [ 16...h4+ 17.g3 g7 18.e3 xe5 19.xg4 xg3+ 20.e2! ( 20.xg3 e4 ) 20...xg4+ 21.xg4 xh2 22.xb7 ( 22.xh2 b6 23.d2 c8 ) 22...e5 ( 22...f4 23.f3 g5 24.b5 ) 23.f3 h5 24.e3 Does not look very good for Black despite his bunch of pawns on the kingside. ] 17.xb7 h6 18.xd6 [ 18.g1 0-0 19.xd6 exd6 20.xg4 d3 ] [ 18.a5!? Opening the 7th against the Nd7 and controlling the key square c3, with the idea 0-0 19.g3 f3 20.e2 xd5 21.xd7 xe2 22.xe2 g2+ 23.d1 ab8 24.c2 f3+ 25.e1 f4 26.g1 ( 26.f1? xg3+ 27.hxg3 xg3+ 28.f2 g1+= 29.e2? g4+ 30.f1 xd7 ) 26...d5 27.d2 a3 28.c3 d4 29.a1 e3+ 30.e2 White has finally succeeded in regrouping but he will now lose h2 and e5 which leads to the quite unusual battle of 2 pieces against 6 pawns. ] 18...0-0 19.xd7 [ 19.xe7 e4 20.xf8? xe2 21.xe2 xh1+ 22.f2 xf8 ] 19...e4 20.xe7 xe2 21.xe2 xh1+ 22.f1 xd5? [ 22...e4+ 23.f2 The king cannot cross the d-line. f4+ 24.g1 g4+ 25.h1 ( 25.g2? d4+ 26.f1 xc4+ ) 25...e4+ 26.g1 g4+= ] 23.b3! e4+ To take the h4-square from the white queen. 24.f2 fe8 [ 24...f6 25.e6+ f7 ( 25...h8 26.xf8 xf8 27.f3 ) 26.f3 ] 25.f6 c2+ 26.g1 a5? Black's initiative is only a memory while it is now obvious that the Bd6-Nc4 couple is stronger than the rook plus c (blocked) and g-pawn. So he had to
switch to painful defence with [ 26...d1 first of all parrying the threat of Rb7. 27.f3 d4+ 28.g2 d5 ] 27.b7 f8 28.xf8 [ 28.e6! g7 29.exf7+ h8 30.e5! The move White must have missed in time trouble. xf7 31.xf7 ] 28...xf8 29.b2? [ 29.e6! fxe6 ( 29...g7 30.exf7+ h8 31.f3 d4+ 32.h1 ) 30.xe6+ h8 31.e5+ g8 32.d2 d1 33.e6+ h8 34.e7 g4+ 35.h1 xf1+ 36.xf1 f3+ 37.g1 And the e3-square is controlled! Of course this is very difficult to play when short of time, especially when having missed the e-pawn push idea the move before. So I guess White could have played safely ] [ 29.h4!? Driving away one of the opponent's attacking piece. ] 29...e3+ 30.xe3?? [ 30.h1 e4+ 31.g2 ] 30...xb2 31.h1 Realizing that Nd5 or Ng4 would lose the piece. d4 32.c4 b8 Did White lose on time? [ 32...b8 33.h3 ( 33.d6 d5+ 34.g1 h5 freeing the h7-square for the king and therefore liberating the rook from the 8th rank defence.) 33...b4 ( 33...b1 34.d6 d5+ 35.g1 Threatening Qd8+ followed by Ne8+; 33...d5+ 34.h2 b4 35.f4 ) 34.d6 f4 35.xf4 xf4 36.c4 was still fighting. ] 0-1
2360 Vukotic Jovsic,Dragan Martin Martin,Luis Vicente Madrid-ch qual A (8) [Eric Prié]
A45 2035 2089 20.11.2007
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.c3? Just bad with the bishop on f 4... cxd4 But the question is: to take or not to take? 4.cxd4 b6 5.d2 [ 5.c3 consequently this is the best practical chance. xb2 ( 5...c6!? 6.f3 xb2 7.d2 b4 8.c1 xa2 9.xa2 xa2 10.e3 ) 6.d2 ( 6.c1!? c6 7.f3 e6 8.e4 b4 9.d2 ) 6...b6 7.f3 d5 8.b1 d8 9.e5 c6 10.e3 ] 2309
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 5.b3 c6 6.e3 e4 7.f3 g5 8.xg5 xg5 9.xg5 a5+ 10.d2 xg5 11.g3 d5 12.f3 e6 13.a3 b6 14.g2 a6 15.h4 a5+ 16.b4 xb4 0-1 Aggelaki, F (1 8 1 4 ) -P a rligra s, M (2 5 5 7 ) P a le o h o ra 2009 ] [ 5.c1 d5 6.f3 c6 7.e3 f5 Ossenbrueggen, L (2055)-Stabolewski, A (2270) Hamburg 1997 0-1(43) ] 5...c6 6.f3 d5?! [ 6...e4! 7.c2 ( 7.c1 xd4 ) 7...d5 8.c3 f5 9.g4 ( 9.b3 e6 10.e3 xb3 11.axb3 b4 12.c1 a5 13.b5+ e7 ) 9...xg4 10.xd5 a5+ 11.c3 xc3 12.xc3 f5 ] 7.c3 e4 8.xe4 [ 8.c1!? xd4? 9.xd4 xd4 10.e3 c5 11.xe4 xc1+ 12.xc1 dxe4 13.b5+ d7 14.xd7+ xd7 15.c7+ e6 16.xb7 ] 8...dxe4 9.d5? [ 9.e5 xd4 ( 9...xd4? 10.e3; 9...e6 10.xc6 d7 11.a3 xc6 12.e3= ) 10.xd4 xd4 11.e3 c6 12.b5 a6 ( 12...d7 13.xd7 xd7 14.e2 ) 13.a4 f6 14.xc6 d7 15.0-0 xc6 16.xc6+ bxc6 17.c7 ( 17.ac1 e5 18.g3 h5 19.h4 c5 20.c4 b8 21.b3 b4 22.fc1 d7 ) 17...d7 18.a5 c5 ] 9...e5-+ 10.0-0-0 [ 10.e3 d4 11.xd4 b4 ] 10...b4 11.c2 exf3 12.exf3 exf4 13.e4+ e7 14.d6 c6+ 0-1
2361 Vukotic Jovsic,Dragan Vazquez Igarza,Renier Madrid Moratalaz op (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2018 2553 16.09.2007
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 [ I shall treat 2...d5 3.e3 c6 4.f3 b6 o n e d a y . . . T h e n 5.b3!? c5 6.c3 looks quite promising for White, thanks to the extra tempo. ] 3.e3 b6 4.b3?! d5! Natural then and probably best. 5.f3 [ 5.dxc5?! xc5 6.d3? ( 6.f3 g4 7.e2 ) 6...c6 7.f3 g4 8.d2 e4
9.c1 g5! 10.xe4 ( 10.xg5 g7 11.c3 xc3 ) 10...gxf4 11.d3 b4 12.d2 fxe3 13.fxe3 h6-+ Ponomariov, T (2297)Skvortsov, A (2186) Voronezh 2008 1-0(29) ] 5...c6 [ 5...f5!? This bishop belongs on g4... 6.d3 xd3 7.xd3 c6 8.0-0 g6 9.c4! b4 10.e2 e4? 11.dxc5 ( 11.a3!? a6 12.b4! cxb4 13.c5 a5 14.axb4!! xa1 15.b5+ d8 16.xb7 c8 17.xd5+ e8 18.e5+- ) 11...xc5 12.e5 f6 13.d4 d6 14.cxd5 xd5 15.c3 xc3 16.xc3 d3 17.b2 d5 18.ac1 xc3 19.xc3 d6 20.c4 g7 21.c2 0-0 22.d1 a3? 23.a4 1-0 Najjar, A (2 2 67 )-Sh a rb e l, M (2 0 28 ) Be iru t 20 1 1 . Another quite recent example... ] 6.dxc5 [ 6.e2 g4 7.c3 e6 8.0-0 e7 9.h3 h5 10.a4!? ( 10.dxc5 When Black does not win a t e m p o . . . xc5 11.b4 e7 12.bd2 W ith a more or less standard set-up for White intending a2-a3, c3-c4.) 10...cxd4 11.exd4 0-0 12.bd2 fc8= Soloviov, S (2390)-Saulin, D (2340) Briansk 1995 1/ 2(39) ] 6...xc5 7.c4? Suicidal. White opens lines including the fragile a5-e1 diagonal (after the development of his queen's bishop to f4 and the move b2-b3) when he is already behind in development! [ 7.a3 g4 8.b4 b6 9.e2 ] 7...g4 8.e2 dxc4 9.bxc4 e5 10.g3 d8 11.a4 White is helpless. [ 11.bd2 a5 ] [ 11.c2 e4 12.fd2 b4 13.a4+ b5! ] [ 11.b3 e4 12.fd2 xe2 13.xe2 h5+ 14.e1 b4 15.a3 d3 16.b2 xd2+ 17.xd2 0-0 18.xb7 fd8 19.a2 c3 20.b2 xc4-+ ] 11...b4+ 12.xb4 xb4+ 13.fd2? [ 13.f1 e4 ] 13...f5! Wins a piece. 14.a3 a5 0-1
2310
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 games in my database), from the main variation of the Richter-Rauzer... Where the queen is much better placed on d2, at that stage, and where it is W hite to move! b4! 11.b1 [ 11.a4? xd4 12.xd4 a5 13.xf6 ( 13.b3 e7 ) 13...xa4-+ ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 c6 5.h4 b5!? In INF 72, Mihail TSEITLIN 11...a5 12.b3 [ 12.xf6 gxf6 13.xf6 g8 even granted this move, a novelty at the time, a2 is unprotectable. 14.c4? e5 15.b3 a double exclamation mark. 6.e4 e7 16.h6 g5+ ] [ 6.xb5? b6 ( 6...b8!? ) 7.c4 a6 8.c3 12...c7 The bluff has worked! xb2 9.c1 ] [ 12...xa2 13.1d2 Straightforward play [ 6.0-0-0 b4 7.d5 a5 8.e4 xa2 e v e n s e e m s w i n n i n g : ( 13.c4 e5 ) 9.c7+ d8 10.xa8 a1+ 11.d2 13...a5 14.xf6 gxf6 15.xf6 g8 16.c4 xb2 Tseitlin,Mi ] a4 17.h5 ( 17.c5 g6 18.h8 dxc5 ) 6...a6 17...d8 18.e5 ( 18.c5 xc4 ) 18...a6 [ 6...b4 7.d5 ] 19.xd6+ xd6 20.exd6 axb3 21.cxb3 7.f3 If White wants to play this move, he xg2-+ ] should on principle mobilize his f-pawn first, 13.1d2 At least White had to try especially with a black pawn already on b5. [ 13.xf6 gxf6 14.xf6 g8 15.g3 ] [ 7.0-0-0 is the move see next game. ] 7...d6 8.e2 The beginning of the wrong plan 13...e7 14.g3 a5 15.b1 [ 15.xf6 gxf6 16.c4 e5 17.xe5 fxe5 by comparison to an Open Sicilian. W hite 18.g7 f8 19.xh7 a4 20.d2 a3 ] should be very careful, especially with the position of his queen, when entering such 15...a4 16.c5? d4! Obviously, White had lines in the Trompowsky, for Black develops overlooked this reply. Now he is just lost. exactly the same way when he, on the other 17.xd7 xc2+ 18.a1 b3+! 19.xb3 axb3 20.xf6+ xf6 hand, cannot. [ 20...f8 21.xh7+ xh7 22.xe7+ g8 [ 8.d3 and short castles is better, but also 8. And White resigns. ] Nd5. ] 21.b5+ f8 22.xd6+ g8 23.d8+ [ 8.0-0-0 d7 ] xd8 24.xd8+ xd8 25.xd8 h6 26.e7 8...e6 9.0-0-0 [ 9.xf6?! xf6 10.xf6 gxf6 11.0-0-0 I guess that the 'improvement' [ 26.a4 xf2 27.xb3 xg2 would not b7 Tseitlin,Mi. 12.d4 c8 13.xc6 have changed the result of this encounter! ] xc6 14.a4 g8 15.hg1 bxa4 16.xa6 b8 17.d4 g5! 18.d3 c5! 19.c4? 26...h7 27.xb4 a8 28.a3 [ 28.a3 xa3 ] ( 19.xa4? a5 20.b3 xa4 21.xa4 xa4 22.bxa4 h6+ 23.d1 b1+ 28...d8 24.e2 xg1; 19.a2 is not pleasant to 0-1 play, but it was the only move which avoided material loss. e5?! 20.b4; 19.e2 A45 e5! 20.c4 h6+ 21.b1 a3 22.b3 xc4 2363 23.xc4 xe4 ) 19...h6+! 20.b1 xc4 Walton,Alan J 2181 21.xc4 d2! 22.a2 xc3 23.bxc3 Buckley,David 2223 xe4-+ 24.d3 xd3 25.cxd3 b3 26.c1 4NCL Nottingham ENG (5) 22.01.2005 d5 27.d4 f5 28.g3 h5 29.h4 e7 30.c4 [Eric Prié] dxc4 31.xc4 f3 0-1 Grimm,S-Tseitlin,M Passau op 1998 ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 On the verge of [ 9.0-0 Tseitlin,Mi e7 ] ending this update, it is important to make a 9...d7 10.d4 Thus, we have reached a lengthy digression about the so called "spirit side line, with the king's bishop on e2 (120 of the Trompowsky". Indeed, asking for the 2... 2362 Vysochin,Spartak Kislinsky,Alexey Independence Cup (8) [Eric Prié]
A45 2560 2401 20.08.2003
2311
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e6 Tromp line we are examining, an enthusiastic subscriber wrote to me a couple of weeks ago in these terms: "Like GM Peter Wells in his book I firmly believe that if 3. e4 is unplayable against the Tromp, the Tromp as a whole will be a lot less "scary" for Black.". W ell, this is not my experience and for me playing the Tromp is a result of a slow and long process. I started chess with 1.e4, then moved on to the 1.Nf3-1.d4 complex in 'Kramnikian' style, then back to 1.e4 with s o m e s h a r p , u p - t o - d a t e , h e a vy o p e n i n g p re p a ra t i o n a f t e r wh i ch I b e c a m e a n I M without any training guidance. Taking up 1... d5 against 1.d4 or 1.Nf3 I acquired the necessary maturity to become a GM some years later. Then I went back to 1.Nf3 (which is less compromising) when, for certain other professional reasons I had a lot less time to devote to chess. Next, I went into the magic World of 'd-Pawn specials' o) afterwards with 1.d4 2.Nf3 3.Bg5 and afterwards 1.d4 2.c3 3. Bg5, which is less energy consuming than anything else in terms of getting something solid 'to get your teeth into' out of the opening a g a i n s t go o d o p p o s i t i o n . A s i t wa s wi t h re ve rs e d c o lo urs, t h e kin d o f st u f f I h a d p la ye d m o s t o f m y ca re e r, wh ich is a lso playable without any specific opening preparation! Finally the Tromp which in my opinion gives less room for Black to adapt then interposing any 2nd white move. Thus my approach to the system is different than those players who have adopted it f or its surprise value at the beginning, more c o m p a c t t h e o r y n o wa d a ys, o r it s 's ca ry' aspects. As far as I am concerned, the Tromp is just something entirely natural! like 1.Nf3 d5 2. g3 (or 2.d3, 2.b3) 2...Bg4 with which I ha ve h a d e xc e llen t re su lt s f o r 15 ye a rs. Classical chess recommends moving the knights before bishops but it is only because the knights find their development place (Nf3 in case of 1. e4 in 90% of the cases) more easily than the bishops! There are man y examples where the evolution of theory has proved the relativity of this principle. Particularly in the case of 1.d4... I find 2.Bg5 even quite logical, when, against a knight on f 6 , g 5 wi ll m o s t c e rt a i n l y b e t h e s q u a r e exerting the biggest pressure on the opposing
position, and is immediately justified in case of 2...e6 ...! Under these conditions, I am sorry but I just cannot consider a move like 3. e4, sacrificing material (the pair of bishops) and forcing White to play dynamically at the very beginning of the game, to be good. At least is it not the way I like to play chess, putting all my eggs into one basket on move 3. In addition, this goes against the predominance of static factors in the modern game that the evolution of theory relays. So I compassionately understand the people who have been put off from playing the Tromp after 2...e6 3.e4?! very well. In conclusion, There is no Tromp spirit. It is a delusion in the world of a unique opening! With its subtleties and its completely different ways of handling the position according to Black's second move, but where the general rules of Chess do still apply. The deeper you get to know it, the more you will understand the considerable links it entertain s with t he 1 ... d 5 (1 ...c6 2. ..d5 ) sphere more than anything else... h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 [ 5.c3 b4 has already been covered. Like in the Lemberger, a good recipe for equalizing is to give back the material to make life more comfortable! ] 5...d5! 6.d2 c5! Interesting to compare with game 6 in a very similar position. 7.gf3 [ 7.b5+ d7! ( 7...c6 8.gf3 cxd4 9.cxd4 dxe4 10.e5 ) 8.xd7+ xd7 9.exd5 ( 9.dxc5 xc5 Threatening mate!) 9...cxd4 ] 7...a6!? An interesting idea of GM Hellsten. [ 7...cxd4 8.exd5 exd5 ( 8...dxc3 9.e4 d8 10.xc3 exd5 11.b5+ c6 12.e5 ) 9.xd4 c6 10.2b3 d6 11.f3 xf3 12.xf3 g4 13.e2 0-0-0= Bigg,A-King,D 4NCL West Bromwich 2004 1/ 2(61) ] 8.b3?! [ 8.dxc5 xc5 ( 8...d7 9.exd5 exd5 10.b3 ) A) 9.b3? xf2+ Alas. .. 10.xf2 dxe4; B) 9.d3 c6 10.0-0 0-0 11.e2 a7 12.fe1 ( 12.e5 f4 Intending f7-f6.) 12...d7 13.ad1 ad8 14.f1 dxe4 15.xe4 g6 16.e3 g7 17.c4 c8 18.c2 f6 19.h4 f5 20.d6? c5 21.f4! xf2+ 22.h1 xd6 ( 22...xc2 2312
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.xh6 g5 24.e4 ) 23.xd6 b8? ( 23...xc2! 24.xh6 f6 Intending Qf5h5. 25.g4 d8 26.xd8+ xd8 27.h5 f7 28.xg6+ xg6 29.hxg6 h8 30.d1 b6 ) 24.xh6! ( 24.d2 g3 ) 24...xd6 25.xg6 fxg6 26.xg6+ h8 27.h6+ g8 28.g6+ 1/2-1/2 Karttunen, M-Hellsten,J EU-chT Plovdiv 2003; C) 9.exd5 The critical idea for the subv a r i a t i o n . exd5 ( 9...0-0? 10.e4 ) 10.b3 e6+! The point of the black idea. ( 10...b6 11.xd5 0-0 12.e2 e8 Black seems to have interesting compensation... 13.d1! e7 14.c1 c6 15.0-0 Well, not that much in fact.) 11.e2 b6 12.0-0 ( 12.bd4 d6 13.0-0 c6 14.b3 c7 ) 12...0-0 13.e1 d6 14.d3 c6 15.d1 g4 16.c2 g6= ] 8...cxd4 9.cxd4? [ 9.xd4 c6 ] 9...c6! 10.exd5 exd5 11.xd5 e6 12.e4 0-0-0 Clearly here, however, practically winning the pawn back by force. 13.c2 [ 13.c1 d5 14.e5 b4 ] 13...b8 14.a3 xd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.f3 f6! [ 16...b6 17.e2 a5+ ( 17...c8 18.d2 g5 19.0-0 g7 ) 18.c3 ( 18.f1 g5 19.h3 g7 ) 18...xc3+ 19.bxc3 c8 20.d2 c5 ] 17.e2 g5! White will lose at least a pawn in a dreadful position. 18.0-0 g7 19.a4 [ 19.ad1 g4 ( 19...xb2 20.xb2 xb2 21.xa6 xa3 22.b1 d5 Wins a good pawn too. ) 20.d2 xb2 21.xb2 xb2 ] [ 19.ab1 f5 ] [ 19.b4 g4 20.d2 ( 20.e1 xa1 ) 20...c3 21.xc3 xc3 ] 19...g4 20.e1 xb2 21.xb2 xb2 22.b1 d2-+ 23.d3 a2 24.f3 xb1 25.xb1 d4+ 26.h1 d1 27.c2 c1 28.d3 c3 29.c2 xf1+ 30.xf1 d8 31.e3 gxf3 32.gxf3 d4 0-1
2364 Walton,Alan J Povah,Nigel E British League (4NCL) (1) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2147 2336 24.10.2009
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 f5!? [ I remember when Luke McShane played this against me in a couple of blitz games several years ago. At the time I considered i t i n f e r i o r t o t h e m a i n l i n e , 7...b6 , but my view soon changed as I began to explore it more deeply. McShane is by no means the only Trompowsky player to have employed it and it is a decent try if one is after an unbalanced and not overlytheoretical struggle. ] 8.xb8! [ White must concede the bishop-pair. 8.xd4?! c6 9.d2 e5 10.g5 already left him worse in Kirchev-Rusev, So f ia 2 0 10 , a n d n ow Bla ck might ha ve employed the simple e7 , since 11.e4? fails to xe4! . ] 8...xb8 9.xd4 [ Again correct, as White must obtain a lead in development to of fset the loss of the bishop-pair. Otherwise 9.cxd4?! e5! 10.a3 e4! is just promising for Black - see Stamenkovic-Mekhitarian, Sao Paulo 2008, in the Archive. ] 9...b6! [ Best. Black might try 9...d5!? , but there is no real need for such speculation ] [ a n d t h e r e ' s d e f i n i t e l y n o t f o r 9...e5?! 10.xa7 d6 11.d1 c7? ( 11...e6 ) 12.c5! , which left White with the pawn and t h e co m p e n sa t io n in Ch e n g-K le in m a n , Toronto 2010. ] 10.e4 f4 [ The queen goes forward with the aim of retreating to a sensible square on c7. Black doesn't have to lose a further tempo, but 10...g6? badly fails to convince and after 11.e5 g8 12.0-0-0 White went on to score a crushing victory in Narciso DublanPereira Figueroa, Seville 2008 - see Eric's notes. ] 11.e2!? [ We must take White's choice seriously in 2313
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 this battle between two long-term Trompowsky aficionados. Indeed, it deserves further attention and looks like at least a decent alternative to 11.h3 c7 12.e5 g8 13.0-0-0 , which I used to consider the critical continuation, as we'll explore in Short-Ivanchuk. ] 11...c7 12.e5 g8 13.g3 [ White must lose time with his knight. In this new position for us on ChessPub we should note that he has also tried 13.e3 e6 ( straightforward and likely best 13...f6!? looks pretty suspicious for Black on account of 14.e6! dxe6 15.ed4 e5 16.b5+ d7 17.e6 c8 18.e2 , but a materialist might try this, netting a pawn in return for having to grovel for a while) 14.ed4 , and after a6 15.f4 e7 we reach the crux of the problem: W hite might have more space and a lead in development, but Black is extremely solid and it's far from easy to de n t h is p o s it io n . I gn a t ia d is-V o ro b io v, Paleohora 2009, continued 16.d3 d5 17.g3 f5!? 18.exf6 ( the less greedy 18.0-0 followed by a3 and c4 might be a better approach) 18...xf4 19.fxg7 xg3+ 20.hxg3 xg7 21.xh7 xh7 22.xh7 e3 with good compensation for the pawn in the shape of the bishop-pair, although W hite went on to hold his much higherrated opponent. ] 13...h6 [ Keeping White out of f5, but the knight will be rather restricted here. More critical must be the continuation 13...f6!? A) again 14.e6!? dxe6 15.b5+ looks more challenging, although one can hardly describe the position after f7! ( 15...d7 16.xd7+ xd7 17.xd7+ xd7 18.0-0-0+ e8 19.f4! leaves Black's kingside rather blocked up) 16.0-0-0 h6 as anything but rather unclear and in need of a test or two; B) 14.f4 g6 15.0-0-0 fxe5 16.fxe5 g7 17.e1 h6 18.h4 e6 19.d4 0-0 , which saw Black bringing his king to safety while seizing the upper hand in Brumen-Zelcic, Medulin 1997. ] [ Moreover, Black cannot afford to dally: 13...b7?! 14.0-0-0 d8 15.f5! c6 16.e3 wasn't exactly pleasant for him in
Kinsman-Borge, Tjalfe 1995. ] 14.d3 e6 [ Black would like to go 14...g6 , but I dare say that Povah was concerned about his king in such a line and 15.e6 g8 16.exd7+ xd7 17.0-0-0 g7 18.h4 followed by Rhe1 would have left W hite beginning to exert some pressure. ] 15.h5! Tying Black's bishop down to g7. Now Povah will have to lose time easing the kingside pressure and it is clear that W hite has emerged from the opening stages with slightly the upper hand. b7 16.0-0 [ It might seem more natural to castle while bringing a rook to the d-file and, indeed, one can make a good case for 16.0-0-0!? g8! 17.b5 d8 followed by the useful prophylactic move 18.b1! . Then g6 19.f6+ xf6 20.exf6 h6 21.b4 f8 22.h4 h5 23.he1 h6 is a plausible continuation, but I suspect not one which enables Black to fully equalize despite his bishops: White has the g4-break to play for as well as keeping up the pressure against d7. ] 16...g8! Povah shows a prudent willingness to retreat his knight, having realised that ...g6 will be the only way to drive away the awkward steed on h5. 17.ad1 g6 18.b5 d8 19.g3 [ Walton goes back, angling to bring his knight to e4 and so retain a grip. However, at best this gives W hite a small edge so 19.f6+!? xf6 20.exf6 deserved attention, although after h5 21.f2 a6 22.f1 h4! and ... Rh5 Black would have unravelled. ] 19...g7 20.f4 e7 21.e4 xe4?! [ A little too simplistic for my taste and now White does obtain the pull he's been after. More dynamic would have been 21...f5 22.b4 ( 22.d6+ xd6 23.xd6 xd6 24.xd6 f8 25.d2 a6 26.e2 e7 followed by ...d6 will break out) 22...xe4 23.xe4 0-0 when ...f6 is high on the agenda and I haven't found anything especially good for White: e.g. 24.g4 e7 25.c4 ( 25.d6 f6 26.fd1?! is what W hite would like to do, but d5 27.c4 fxe5 28.fxe5 f4 29.xd7 xd7 30.xd7 xe5 31.xe5 xe5 favours Black with his better coordinated 2314
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 remaining forces) 25...b7 26.f2 g5 27.fxg5 xe5 28.d3 g6 and Black's stro ng c entre a nd b isho p m ust at least fully compensate for the large gash in his kingside. ] 22.xe4 0-0 23.d3 c8 [ D e f e n s i v e . 23...f5!? would no longer come with tempo, but was still worth a try: 24.d4 ( 24.g4 h4 25.e3 g5! again breaks up W hite's central bulwark) 24...xd4 25.cxd4 d6 26.c1 and White is only a little better thanks to his more active bishop. ] 24.d4! [ Centralising and wisely rejecting the pawn: 24.xd7 h8! and the pin is quite awkward, as shown by the likely continuation 25.d2 ( 25.b5 e7 reveals one of Povah's main points, keeping the white queen out of c6) 25...f6 26.exf6 xf6 27.fd1! f7 28.b5 a6 29.c6 dxd7 30.xd7 (White is a little f o r t u n a t e t o h a v e t h i s r e s o u r c e ) xd7 31.xd7 xf4 32.d8+ f8 and White will regain his piece, leaving a draw looking rather likely. ] 24...d6? [ The point of Black's play, but the resulting simplification is in W hite's favour. Thus 24...f6! was correct, keeping White's advantage within bounds after 25.f3 fxe5 26.fxe5 and only then d6 . ] 25.c6! Walton is up for the challenge. a6 26.a4 b5!? [ Black might have saved the rook with 26...d7 , but with 27.b8 dd8 28.xa6 e7 29.e3 White would have pocketed a pawn for insufficient compensation. ] 27.xd8 bxa4 28.xe6 fxe6 29.xa6 [ Hardly terrible, but 29.exd6! would have been strong: for example, b6+ 30.h1 d8 31.c4 xd6 32.xe6+ h8 33.d5 and by dominating the d-file White secures a large advantage. ] 29...a3!? A good practical try to confuse the issue. 30.xa3 [ Easy to criticise, but White's queen will be able to make it back into play. Again 30.exd6!? was tempting, though, and after b6+ 31.xb6 xb6 32.bxa3 W hite remains for choice despite his s h r e d d e d s t r u c t u r e . S t i l l , a f t e r d5
( 32...d8!? 33.fe1 f7 34.d3 a4 is also possible, but 35.b1 keeps White in front ) 33.c4! e3 34.c5 xf1 35.xf1 xf4+ 36.e2 c4 37.d7 f6 38.d8+ xd8 39.xd8+ f7 40.c8 e5 Black would have had chances to hold the resulting rook ending. ] 30...dxe5 31.fxe5 xe5 32.fe1 f5 33.f1 [ Having a rook and two good pawns for the two minor pieces I'm at a loss to explain why W hite settled for the repetition. Moreover, after 33.a6! it's far from easy for Black to attack the white king. W alton may have been worried by f2+ 34.h1 xb2 , breaking up his pawns, but this enables W hite to take over the initiative: 35.xe6+ h8 36.f1! xc3 37.c1 xf1+ 38.xf1 h6 39.xg6 and White retains a clear advantage thanks to the apawn and his safer king. ] 33...e5 34.fe1 f5 35.f1?! ½-½
2365 Wang Wenhao Zhou Jianchao Real Estate Cup (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2387 2473 10.05.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 f5!? 8.xb8 xb8 9.xd4 b6 10.e4 f4 Eve n if it costs ano the r t em po the Blac k queen should retreat to the defence of the unusually vulnerable d7 point. [ 10...g6? 11.e5 g8 12.h3 ( 12.0-0-0 i s s i m p l e r) 12...c2 13.d1 b7? ( 13...xb2 14.b5 b7 15.c4! d8 16.0-0 Would have given White a very strong attack. Still, this would have been a bit more delicate to negotiate with a blindfold o n m y e ye s !) 14.a6 xg2 15.xb7! xh1+ 16.g1 A) 16...d8 17.xc8 d6 ( 17...xc8 18.xd7+ b8 19.d8+ b7 20.d7+ a6 21.c8+ b5 22.d4+ a5 23.xa7# ) 18.a6 xh2 19.f1; B) 16...xg1+ 17.xg1 xb7 18.d4+Prie-Marchand Val d'IsÃ..re 2004 Blindfold 2315
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 simul 7 boards ] 11.h3 c7 12.e5 g8 13.0-0-0 e6 14.d3!? Contrary to the previous game, or maybe due to a hole in his preparation, White, i n t h i s p r e s e n t g a m e , wi l l n o t s h o w t h e necessary comprehension behind this ordinary development move. e7 15.d6? These straightforward attempts to split the enemy camp in two and short circuit its lines of communication have to be worked out very carefully in closed positions. One forgotten or wrongly evaluated reorganization and the 'nail' on d6 may all of a sudden become an irre vo c a b l y c o n d e m n e d we a kn e ss ! xd6 16.exd6 d5! On f6 this knight will be stably controlling a bunch of important squares. Then t h e s ie ge o f d 6 wil l b e gi n , in c lu d in g t h e manoeuvre ... Kd8, and ...Ne8 as White can only support it with his 2 rooks since a knight on c4 or b5 can be chased away or exchanged. This simple mathematic observation (outside any tactical considera tion s) should have occurred t o White before he embarked on this intransigent line. 17.he1 f6 [ 17...xd6? 18.e4 0-0 19.c4 b4 20.cxd5 xe1 21.xe1 ] 18.e4 [ 18.c2 b5! With the idea ...Rb6. ] 18...xe4 [ 18...b5 Was also a problem. ] 19.xe4 b7 20.a4 a5 21.c4 c6 22.a3 e5! The move White must have overlooked, taking all the squares from his knights! 23.a1 [ 23.e1 xd6 ] [ 23.f4 xg2 ] 23...f6 24.c2 f7 25.f2 g6! Prophylactic ally controlling the square on f5 while preventing the white rook from recycling to the better square on e3. [ 25...e6 26.e3 xd6 27.d4+ e7 28.f5+ ] 26.b4 [ 26.b1 e6 27.e3 xd6 28.d4+ e7 ] 26...axb4 27.xb4 c8 28.b2 [ 28.a6 b5 29.xb6 xc4+ 30.c2 a4 31.b2 h6+ 32.b1 hc8-+ ] 28...e6! The final touch to White's strategical f ia s c o , win n in g d 6 a n d t h e ga m e . 29.a6 xd6 30.a3 c5 31.xc6 xc6 32.d3
e3 33.b3 hc8 34.e1 d4 35.c1 d6 36.e1 g5 37.b4 c5 38.d5 b5 39.xd6+ xd6 40.e3 bxc4+ 41.xc4 e7 42.a4 d5 43.e3 b8+ 44.c2 c5 0-1
2366 Weller,Jean-Luc Palliser,Richard York (4.1) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2074 2451 10.11.2011
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 h6 5.c1! [ The main line. Somewhat to my surprise, only 5.d2?! has been covered before on ChessPub and after e4 6.d3 xd2 7.xd2 cxd4 8.f4 c6 9.gf3 d5 Black was already better in PovahCherniaev, Portsmouth 2003. ] 5...d5 6.c4 b6!? [ Not the most active-looking square for the knight, but Black wants to quickly open the centre. The steed can also go to both e7 and b4, but I've never been too convinced by 6...c7?! and after 7.dxc5 xc5 8.f4!? ( 8.g4 , as per our main game, is also promising ) 8...c6 9.f3 g5 10.g3 g4? 11.fd2 d6 12.exd6 xd6 13.xg4 Black found himself a pawn in arrears in Shirazi-Abergel, Caen 2011. ] 7.dxc5 [ One point of Black's play is that 7.d5 d6 detonates the centre and promises him easy equality. W eller's approach is somewhat more challenging. ] 7...xc5 8.g4 A common ploy in this line, taking aim at Black's weakened kingside, but not one which promises White any advantage here from what I can see. f8! [ I had discovered this idea while editing 'The N e w O l d I n d i a n ' f o r E ve r ym a n C h e s s . Previously, Black had both retreated the bishop and tried 8...g6 , b u t a f t e r 9.c3 c6 10.f3 d6 11.exd6 xd6 12.c5! xc5 13.b5 White had good pressure for his pawn in Wells-Efimenko, Hastings 2003/ 04. ] 9.c3 [ 9.a3!? was advocated by Peter Wells in his 2316
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 classic work on the Trompowsky, but after c6 10.f3 d5 , and if 11.c3 ( 11.b4 e7 12.c5!? is what White would like to do, but looks too ambitious after d7 13.b2 c7 14.g3 a5 ) 11...dxc4 12.e2 d4 , Black is fine, as shown by Cherniaev and Prokuronov. ] 9...c6 10.f3 d6! [ This seems best. Instead 10...b4 11.e4 see s W hite m ain ta ining cont ro l a nd h e e m e r g e s w i t h t h e a d v a n t a g e a f t e r d5 12.exd6 xd6 13.f4 c2+ 14.e2 , ] [ but 10...d5 is again possible. ] 11.f4 h5!? [ White was better after 11...dxe5 12.xe5 d4?! 13.g3 g5 14.e3 xe5 15.xe5 xe5 16.xc5+ in Vigus-L.Williams, British League 1998, but the text, an unplayed idea of Cherniaev's, is somewhat more challenging. ] [ He and Prokuronov also analyse 11...g5!? , which Cherniaev has himself played and after 12.g3 ( 12.e3!? worried me at the board after xe3 13.fxe3 dxe5 14.g3 f6 15.e2 Black is a pawn up and not in any immediate danger, but his ugly kingside and restricted development gives W hite decent compensation for the pawn) 12...h5! 13.xg5 xg5 14.xg5 h4 15.f4 dxe5 16.e3 xe3 17.fxe3 e7 Black was slightly f or choice thanks to his central p a wn m a s s a n d k i n g s i d e p r o s p e c t s i n Tavoularis-Cherniaev, Coulsdon 2007. ] 12.g3 h4 13.g4 b4! [ Still following the book, although by now I had still begun to consume a fair amount of time, considering too lines like 13...dxe5 14.d1 ( and not 14.xe5? d4 ) 14...c7 15.b5! b4+ 16.e2 e7 17.xe5 xe5 18.xe5 f6 , which is perhaps about equal. ] 14.d1? Underestimating Black's threats on the queenside. That said, W hite's position wasn't so easy to handle, as we can see from a perusal of the alternatives: [ a) 14.e2 d7! is the only variation given by Cherniaev and Prokuronov, who note the neat line 15.exd6? ( 15.d1 improves, but still looks promising for Black after a5 16.exd6 xc3+ 17.bxc3 e5 ) 15...f6 16.g5 h5 , trapping the white queen. ]
[ b) 14.0-0-0?! xc3 15.xd6 offers Black a pleasant choice between xb2+ ( and 15...d7!? 16.bxc3 a5 17.b1 c5 ) 16.xb2 a4+ 17.a1 a5 18.d2 c3 19.xc3 xc3+ . ] [ c) I considered 14.g5! to be critical during t h e g a m e , b u t a f t e r f6!? ( 14...xc3+ 15.bxc3 c7 16.exd6 xd6 is a safe and se n s i b l e a lt e rn a t i ve) 15.exf6 gxf6 Black seems to be OK, despite his looselooking position. Probably best is 16.d2! ( 16.f4?! f7 17.xh4 e5 can only favour Black,; while 16.xh4? fails to e5 ) 16...f7 17.d3 g8 18.e4 d5 when the complications continue, with the chances most likely about equal. ] 14...a4 15.a3!? [ A bold attempt to blast his way out of trouble. Instead after 15.d2 xb2 16.b1 xc3 17.xc3 a4 Black would have emerged a pawn to the good. ] 15...xc3 16.d3 [ Again, 16.bxc3 xc3+ 17.e2 just leaves White a pawn in arrears and, moreover, d5 18.d3 a5 19.e3 b6 looks pretty hopeless for him. ] 16...a5!? [ After 16...e4+ 17.axb4 xb4 18.e2! xd3+ 19.xd3 c5 20.b1 White would at least manage to castle and enjoy some play for the exchange. I preferred to retain the initiative. ] 17.exd6? [ White had to find 17.d2! , even if xe5 ( or 17...dxe5 18.xc3 xc3+ 19.xc3 d8 with a good extra pawn) 18.xe5 xe5+ 19.e3 e4 20.xb4 f5 would still have lef t Black somewhat in front. ] 17...e5! [ Opening the centre to go after the white king felt pretty much decisive during the game, although the straightforward 17...e4+ 18.axb4 xb4 was also pretty tempting. ] 18.d7 The only hope to confuse the issue. xd7 19.xd7 exf4! 20.d3 [ White is routed after 20.e2 e4+ 21.f1 c5 ] [ and unfortunately for him, there's no draw after 20.xf7+ xf7 21.g5+ , in view of 2317
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg5 ( or even 21...f6!? 22.e6+ xg5 ) before, here cxb4 14.cxb4 a5! (Finkel) 22.xg5 e4+ . ] appears to equalise. ] 20...e5 Black remains a piece up and with 11...e5 t h e i n i t ia t iv e . T h e ga m e is cl e a r l y o ve r . [ Hebden sticks to his guns and carries out 21.xe5 xe5+ 22.f1 e8 23.g3 e1+ the threat, but via a conventional London 24.g2 h3+ move order (see above), Black has often 0-1 been happy to undertake a second fianchetto with 11...b6 . We'll examine this in Langeweg-Kouatly. ] 2367 A45 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.xe5 xe5 14.f3 Wells,Peter 2455 Black may have liberated his position, but Hebden,Mark 2554 White's set-up is solid and he aims to obtain some central pressure. c6 South Wales International, Cardiff (3.1) [ Another recent game saw the radical [Richard Palliser] 14...xf3+ 15.xf3 d4 ( White can even meet 15...e6 with 16.b3!? as d4?! 1.d4 f6 2.g5 It's most welcome to see the 17.xb7 dxc3 18.bxc3 seems to work out author of 'Winning with the Trompowsky' still i n h i s f a v o u r) 16.exd4 cxd4 17.c4! having faith in his old favourite. with a small edge for W hite. His bishops [ It may seem rather strange at this stage, exert the greater pressure and the d-pawn but please keep in mind the move order isn 't goin g an ywhere. I nd eed , af te r f6 2.f3 g6 3.f4 g7 4.e3 0-0 5.e2 d5 ( 17...d3 18.d2 b6 gives White a few 6.bd2 c5 7.c3 c6 8.h3 d7 9.0-0 . ] o p t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g 19.xd3 xb2 2...e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.d3 f6 20.ad1!? xa2 21.d6 e8 22.c5 This may look like a waste of time, but Black with promising compensation thanks to the is happy to play a tempo-down version of the pressure against b7) 18.d2 a6 19.fc1 London since his light-squared bishop can still d7?! 20.b4 ac8 21.b5 a4 22.d3 come out to g4. 6.c3 c6 7.d2 g6!? e6 23.c5 White's pawns were much the [ Hebden's favourite approach, taking play more dangerous in Cori-Almedina Ortiz, into London King's Indian waters. W ells Linares 2014. ] himself once preferred 7...g4 , a move An important move. White prevents which was also endorsed by Avrukh - see R. 15.b3! t h e d e ve lo p m e n t o f t h e b i s h o p f r o m c 8 . Pert-Guthrie, 4NCL 2013, in the Archive. ] Moreover, his pressure against d5 and b7 8.gf3 g7 9.h3 [ Prudent and standard in the London. Just a appears sufficient for him to claim a small reminder that 9.e5?! was my rather rash edge from what I can see. a5 16.a3 b6 choice in Palliser-Hebden, Leeds (rapid) The queen protects c5 and sensibly flees the 2013, where af ter b6 10.b3 h5! d-f ile bef ore a white rook appears there. 17.ad1 e6 I was already in trouble ] [ Hebden is ever principled and happy to 9...0-0 10.0-0 d7 Black menaces ...e5. This repeat an earlier game of his. Via a London position is also known in the normal London move order one GM and one future-GM where it is, of course, Black's move and he colleague of his have pref erred 17...d8 can equalise at once by advancing his e. Both games ended in draws, but after pawn. 11.e2!? 18.b4 ( logically breaking up Black's pawn [ Wells is happy to give up a tempo. The duo I also wonder about the other standard Swindon -based GM is a lways very well lever 18.e4!? , with the idea of dxe4?! prepared, so we can assume that the text is 19.xd8+ xd8 20.d1 b6 21.g5 qu it e c ritic a l. Mo re o ve r, t he m o ve wa s , which will regain th e pawn with s om e initially introduced by Richard Pert. That's pressure ) 18...cxb4 ( 18...c4?? an interesting fact as in his 'Playing the was apparently preferred in Roy ChowdhuryTrompowsky', Pert endorsed 11.b5 a6 Ganguly, Mumbai 2003, where White moved 12.xc6 bxc6 13.b4 , but as I've shown 2318
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 his queen, assuming the inputter was correct, rather than win on the spot with 19.xc4 dxc4 20.bxc5 f6 21.g5 ) 19.cxb4 c4 20.b3 e6 21.d4 White was slightly for choice and was soon pressing in M.BouazizM.Andersen, Tromso Olympiad 2014. ] 18.g5! [ A novelty and a good one at that. Wells hunts down the bishop-pair. In the stem game (at least f or a Trompowsky move order), Richard Pert had preferred 18.b4 , b u t h e r e cxb4 19.cxb4 c4 20.b3 allows Black to f ind a better move than deploying a rook to d8 and a5! obtained sufficient counterplay in R.Pert-Hebden, London (rapid) 2014. ] 18...ad8 19.xe6 fxe6 At first one might think that W hite isn't up to much, but just observe Wells' next move, which may well still h a ve b e e n p a rt o f a n e xc e ll e n t p ie c e o f preparation. 20.h4! White plans to soften up the black king's fortress and create a target on g6 for his unopposed bishop. c6 [ Black may have an extra central pawn, but he is unable to make good use of it. Indeed, 20...e5?! 21.g5 f6 ( another instructive line where W hite is doing rather well runs 21...d7 22.e4! d4 23.h5 c4?! 24.b4! ) 22.b4! cxb4 23.cxb4 c6 24.xf6 xf6 25.b5 a5 26.h5 would have left White in full control of the proceedings, not to mention with the safer king and superior minor piece. ] 21.h5 e7?! [ I'm not so sure about this, but Hebden was presumably keen to obtain some counterplay and hoped to land his knight on d3. Instead, 21...e5 seems sensible, and if 22.g4 de8 23.g5 f6 24.h6 g7 , continuing to thematically trade off one half of the bishop-pair. ] 22.hxg6 xg6 23.g3 c4 Hebden's idea, bu t t h is is p os it io n a lly ra th e r co m m it t a l. 24.h5?! [ Wells wants to attack, but this is the one moment of the game where I'm not totally ha p p y wit h h is p la y. 24.b3! looks both principled and good. I can only assume it was rejected because cxb3 ( 24...xc3 25.bxc4 merely sees the position opening to the delight of the bishop-pair) 25.b1 c6
26.xb3 a6 27.b4 b5 28.a4 might lead t o d r a w i s h s i m p l i f i c a t i o n a n d y e t bxa4 29.a3 c8 30.g4 still seems to retain a fair degree of pressure. ] 24...e5 [ Not the only approach. Indeed, one might have expected Hebden to try and drum up some counterplay with 24...f5!? 25.g4 g5 26.h3 h8 , angling to trade the darksquared bishops on e5 and obtain something down the g-file. ] 25.d4 d7?! [ White gets his nose somewhat back in front a f t e r t h i s . 25...d3 26.g4 must have worried Hebden, but c5 27.e5 d7 seems solid enough for the second player. ] 26.xe5!? Once again White rejects the chance to push his b-pawn in a bid to target the black king as the game begins to hot up. xe5 27.g4+ g7? [ I suspect that Black had simply missed White's next. Instead, 27...g7 would only have left him slightly worse. ] 28.e7 c6? [ As so often the mistakes bunch together. 28...f6 29.xg7+ xg7 30.g4 f6 would have been grim, but really had to be preferred. ] 29.f4! f6 [ Easy to criticise, but 29...xg4 wasn't really a n y b e t t e r i n v i e w o f 30.fxe5! xf1+ 31.xf1 g6 32.xg6 hxg6 33.f2 c8 34.g3 when there's no defence to the advance of the white king. ] 30.xg7+ xg7 31.f3 Another piece joins the attack and already Black is simply lost. e5 The only hope, but it isn't a very large one. 32.fxe5 h6 [ Likewise, after 32...xf3 33.gxf3 h6 34.e8+ f8 35.f4 g7+ 36.f1 t h e r e wo u l d h a ve b e e n li t t le t o d o : f o r example, e7 37.c8 b5 38.f3 f7 39.f5 and the pawns will sweep all before them. ] 33.f7+ h8 34.g3 b8 35.xd5 I'm guessing Wells was rather low on time by this stage, otherwise Hebden would surely have resigned, two pawns down and still with severe problems over his king position. b5 36.e4 g8 37.d5 b8 38.e4 g8 39.e6 a5 40.f7 h4 41.d5! 2319
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ A clinic al f inish. It 's ma t e a f t e r 41.d5 xg3 42.xg8+! xg8 43.e7+ . ] 1-0
2368 Wells,Peter K Borriss,Martin Tch-2000-01 Fuerstenfeld AUT (10) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2522 2439 17.03.01
1.d4 The Tromp: Space, development, initiative. These words mean nothing to some players, who will do anything for an extra pawn. Will they ever learn? f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.c1 Long term subscribers to this site will know this is one of my favourite moves in the Tromp. It does not perhaps have the surprise value that it once did, but that makes it none t h e l e s s e f f e c t i v e . e6 8.c4 b4+ This a particularly pawn greedy line. The Black queen has already moved twice and now em ba rks on th e m ost t ime co nsu min g o f ventures. 9.c3 xc4 10.e4 b4 11.d2 b6 [ O f c o u r s e n o t : 11...xb2 12.b5 With the duel threats of Bc3 and Nc7. ] 12.c4 d6 13.ge2 e5 Black is desperately trying to close the position. 14.f4 White on the other hand is keen to blow things open. bd7 15.0-0 a6 16.g3 The White pieces begin to find their most aggressive positions. exf4 17.xf4 g6 18.e5 Black must not be given time to consolidate. dxe5 19.g5 g7 20.d6 Suddenly all White's pieces are operating in unison and this, coupled with Black's poor coordination, do not bode well for the Black player. 0-0 21.d5 xd5 22.xf7! Crunch! The Black kingside fortress is torn asunder by this imaginative rook offer. xb2 [ 22...xf7 23.xd5 is terminal. ] 23.xd5 d4+ Black is clearly desperate to exchange queens, but this merely delays the inevitable. 24.xd4 exd4 25.xd7+ h8 26.c7 b5 Black's queenside pawn phalanx may look dangerous, but in reality it is going nowhere and Wells manages to mop up easily with his extra piece. 27.d5 b8 28.e1 d3 29.ee7 d4+ 30.h1 1-0
2369 Wells,Peter K Britton,Richard British Rapidplay rapid (10) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2489 2295 01.11.2002
Tromp: Grandmaster Peter Wells gives a nice illustration of how to exploit W hite's space advantage in the 2...e6 line. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.d2 d6 6.c3 a6 This is unusual. If Black wants to play g5, then he should do so immediately. 7.f4 g5 8.f5 The natural remedy, although it has been se ld o m p la ye d . W h it e ge t s t o grip s wit h Black's weakened structure immediately. exf5 9.d5 d8 10.exf5 c6 [ 10...xf5 11.f2 e6 12.f6+ is obviously very good compensation for the pawn deficit. ] 11.e3 g7 12.0-0-0 d7 13.h4 W h y n o t ? B la ck is f o rce d t o we a k e n h i s structure further. gxh4 14.f3 f6 15.b1 Stepping out of the way of any nasty tricks on the h6-c1 diagonal. g8 16.c4 Suddenly the Black position starts to look very exposed. d5 17.e1+ f8 18.xh6+ g7 19.d6 Black is defenceless against the W hite o n s l a u g h t . e7 20.xh4 f6 21.xf7! Bang! xf7 22.e5+ After 22...Kf8 23.Ng6+ is decisive. 1-0
2370 Wells,Peter K Roevekamp,Frank MTO Biel SUI (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2494 2325 28.07.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 f6 5.dxc5! a5+ 6.c3 [ 6.d2 may be more precise but if the crucial improvement, for the variation, of W hite's 18th move below is valid then it d o e s n o t m a k e a n y d i f f e r e n c e . xd2+? 7.xd2 a6 ( 7...d5 8.xb8 ) 8.b3 ( 8.e4 ) 8...d5 ( 8...e6 9.d6 ) 9.d2 e6 10.e4 db4 11.xb4 xb4 12.d2 ] 6...xc5 [ 6...e6!? 7.d6 d5 8.e4 xc3 9.d2 b6! defending the Qa5, White has no time 2320
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 for Ne2. ( 9...c6!? ) 10.xf8 xf8 11.cxb6 axb6 12.xc3 xc3+ 13.bxc3 a6 14.d3 c6 15.e2 e5 16.d2 c4+ 17.xc4 xc4 A) 18.d4! Eric A1) 18...xa2?! 19.hb1 xb1? ( 19...a6 20.b2 c4 21.xa6 xa6 22.xb6 ) 20.xa8+ e7 21.a1; A2) 18...xa2 19.xa2 xa2 20.a1 c4 21.b1 e7 22.xb6; A3) 18...e7 19.hb1; B) 18.hb1 xe2! 19.xe2 a6 20.c4 e7 21.a4 fa8 22.b4 d6 23.d3 c6 24.c3 a5 25.b3 g5 26.b5 f6 27.b4 And Black succeeded in defending this rook ending a pawn dawn twice against no less th an GM Vlatko Kovacevic back in the early eighties! ] 7.e4 [ 7.d2 d5? ( 7...e5? 8.g5 ) 8.0-0-0 e6 9.e4 is crushing so it is very clear that both 6. Nc3 and 6.Qd2 are equivalent and reach the same position 2 or 3 moves later. ] 7...d6?! [ 7...g6!? 8.d2 g7 9.0-0-0 c6 Is Povah,N-Wells,P Portsmouth op 2002 in this section which apparently did not impress the leader of the White pieces too much in this game! In my opinion White should now have played 10.b1 A useful move in every case, because if ( 10.h6 xh6 11.xh6 Then, as it happened more or less similarly in the game mentioned in the note, Black can leave his king in the center and build a strong attack against White's long castle by means of ...d7-d6, ...Bc8-e6, ...Ra8-c8, ...b7b5 etc; 10.d5 xd5 11.exd5 b4 12.a3 a2+ 13.b1 b6! ) 10...d6 11.g4 ( 11.d5? xd5 12.exd5 b6 13.c4 f5+ 14.a1 b4 ) 11...e6 12.e3 ( 12.d5!? xd5 13.exd5 e5 14.g5 ) 12...a5 13.g5 h5 ( 13...xe4 14.fxe4 xc3 15.xc3 xa2+ 16.c1 ) 14.d5 At least something like this, based on what is acknowledged to be another strong plan against the Dragon: the occupation of the outpost on d5. xd2 15.xd2 ] 8.d2 bd7 [ 8...g6? 9.0-0-0 Threatening e4-e5 c6 10.b5! b6 11.e5! dxe5 12.e3 d4 13.xd4 exd4 14.xd4 c7 15.xf6 exf6
16.b5+ e7 17.b4++- ] 9.0-0-0 a6 10.g4 In all these transpositions to Scheveningen-Najdorf set-ups f or Black, W hite gets a very nice (and rapid!) sort of English Attack, sometimes with clear extra tempi on known positions, where one characteristic is the difficulty for Black to develop his king's bishop. That is why the Dragon option may be the sole solution for him. h6 11.ge2 b5 [ 11...e5 12.d4 ] 12.g3 b7 13.h4 e5 14.e2 0-0-0 15.g5 hxg5 16.hxg5 xh1 17.xh1 fd7 18.b3 [ 18.e3 c7 19.d5 xd5 20.exd5 c4 21.xc4 xc4 22.b3 c7 23.f4 is typically also very unpleasant for Black. ] 18...e6 19.e3 a3+ 20.b1 c5 21.f4 c6 [ 21...g6!? ] 22.h8 a5 [ 22...e7 23.h7 b4 24.d5! Sicilian stuff! exd5 ( 24...f8 25.b6+ b8 26.c4 ) 25.exd5 b8 26.xg7 is crushing. f8 27.xc5 dxc5 28.f5 ] 23.g6! [ 23.xf8? xf8 24.xd6 d7 The Nc3 hangs. ] 23...b4 24.xf8! xf8 25.xd6 d7 26.a4 d8? [ 26...c7 only move. A) 27.b6+!? d8 A1) 28.c4 xd6 ( 28...fxg6 29.b6; 28...c8 29.gxf7 ) 29.xd6 c7 30.xf7 d8; A2) 28.d3! fxg6 29.g4 e8 ( 29...e8 30.c4 ) 30.xe6 xb6 31.xb6 e7 32.f5 With a strong attack and one pawn in compensation for the exchange.; B) 27.c5 d8! ( 27...xd6 28.xd6 fxg6 29.b6+! xb6 30.xf8 ) 28.gxf7 xc5 29.xc7+ xc7 30.xc5 c8 31.e5 ( 31.xa6 d6 32.xc8 xc8 33.d3 f8 ) 31...f8 32.xa6 xf7 33.xc8 xc8 34.xe6 ] 27.xa6! cb8 28.b6! xb6 29.xb6+ xb6 30.xb6 xa6 31.gxf7 xf7 32.xe6+ d7 33.f5 d8 34.d6 c6 35.f7+ Black resigns because after 35...Kc7
2321
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 36.Ne5 Nxe5 37.Qxe5+ he will lose b4. 1-0
2371 Wiley,Tom E Vesselovsky,Serguei 18th Pobeskydi Arcimpex (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2343 2368 06.04.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 dxc6! 12.xe5 e6 13.a3 The main line that I focused on in 2005, keeping the a-pawn. In the meantime however, I had received Well's book which mentions the interesting alternative [ 13.d4 here, as suggested by GM De la Villa. b5 ( 13...d7! Nevertheless, defending b6 and if 14.e4 c5! consistent with the gambit style, as in GroffenBerzinsh! ) 14.a3 c5? ( 14...b4 15.cxb4 xb4+ 16.f2 This is the whole idea while there is no annoying check on the a7-g1 diagonal as in Miles-Hebden or KarttunenV o l o k i t i n . 0-0 where Black has some compensation. For instance, after 17.e4 fd8 18.e2 d7 19.c1 d6 ) 15.xf6 gxf6 16.e4 ( 16.e3!? To limit the opposing dark-squared bishop b4 17.b5+ e7 18.cxb4 cxb4 19.e2 ) 16...b4 17.b5+ d7? ( 17...d8 18.cxb4 cxb4 19.a4 c5 20.e2 e7 21.d1 ad8 22.f4 b3 And maybe Black can save himself in the opposite-colour bishop ending, a pawn down, res ult in g f ro m 23.d5+ xd5 24.exd5 d6 ) 18.xd7+ xd7 19.0-0-0+ d6 20.axb4 a1+ 21.c2 xd1 22.xd1 cxb4 23.e2 With what should be a technical win for W hite. Schneider, I (2392)-Holzke, F (2479) BL1 05-06 Solingen 2006 ] 13...0-0-0!? A Novelty that fits in well with the more ambitious modern way of handling this position as Black, to rely straightforwardly on the lead in development rather than opening the queenside beforehand. However, there is a drawback with having the king on c8 when the white bishop is still on the b8-h2 diagonal...
[ 13...b5 Is the normal continuation 14.b1!? ( recalling the idea 14.e4 b4! 15.cxb4 xb4+ 16.e2 0-0-0!; 14.d4 However, when Black has already committed himself t o . . . b 6 - b 5 . d7 For 14...b4 see the note above in the German fragment. 15.e4 c5 16.d1 0-0-0 With two ideas: . ..Bb3 and ... Ne6, dislodging the d4-bishop f rom his strong post where he also attacks g7, or ...f7f 5 to open up t he ce ntre .) 14...d5?! ( 14...0-0-0 15.e4 c5 16.e2 he8; 14...d7 15.d4 f6 16.e4 d6 17.e2 e5 ) 15.d4 Thanks, I was just heading there! c5?! ( 15...f5 16.e4 fxe4 17.fxe4 f6 ) 16.f2 b4? Black tries too hard when this pawn sacrifice, with the queens off, is all about long term compensation... ( 16...b6 17.e4 c4; 16...c7 ) 17.e4 c7 18.axb4 cxb4 19.e2 bxc3 20.xc3 b4 21.b6 d7 22.f2 c6 23.e3 b6 24.e2 b7 25.hc1+- Same remark as in the f ragment above, W ang Yue (2626)Areshchenko, A (2641) Lausanne Young Masters 2006 1-0 (43) ] [ 13...c5?! 14.e4! Followed by Ne2 instead of Nh3. ( 14.d4 0-0-0 15.e3 he8 )] 14.h3 c5? Anything but this [ 14...d7 15.d4 c5 16.f2 b3 17.e4 e5 ] [ Or the seemingly equivalent. 14...b3 ] [ A n d e v e n A r e s h e n k o ' s i d e a 14...d5 15.g5?! ( 15.d4 ) 15...e3 16.xe6 c2+ 17.f2 fxe6 18.c1 c5+ 19.g3 e3 20.b4 d6 21.xd6 xd6 22.f4 c4 23.e4 e5+ 24.g3 e3 25.f2 xf1 ( 25...d1+!? 26.e1 hd8 27.e2 b2 ) 26.hxf1 d2+ 27.g1 hd8 ] 15.b4? [ 15.f4! he8 ( 15...e3 16.xe6 fxe6 17.g3 d5 18.f4 xf4 19.gxf4 hd8 20.h3 8d6? 21.e4 d2 22.e5; 15...b3 16.g3 d6 17.h3+ c7 18.d4 ) 16.g3 ( 16.xe6 xe6 ) 16...d7 ( 16...f5 17.xf6 gxf6 18.h5 e3 19.g7 d2+ 20.f2 e3+ 21.g2 e5 22.xf5 xf5 23.f4 b5 24.f3 d2 25.b1 xc3? 26.bxc3 xb1 27.h3+ c7 28.xb1 ) 17.xf6 gxf6 18.h5 And I see no satisfactory way to protect the pawn apart from the 'subsiding' e7 ] 15...e3 16.f4 d5 17.xe3 xe3 2322
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.c1 he8 19.f4 c4 20.h4 [ 20.f2 d2 ] 20...f6 21.h5 g5 Black embarks on a drawing continuation unhappily activating the opposing king's rook on its original square, when he must have overlooked the concealed target of the a3 pawn that was within reach after [ 21...c7! 22.g3 a8 ] 22.hxg6 hxg6 23.xg6 xg2+ [ 23...xf1 24.xf1 xe2 25.g1 ] [ 23...xg2+ 24.f2 e3 25.f4 d2 26.h3+ f5 ] ½-½
2372 Wilhelm,S Todoran,Ion George Banc-Post A2 (5) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2171 2080 29.08.2002
Trompowsky: The c5 Tromp is a rare guest in tournaments these days. It often leads to great complications in positions where White's structural superiority is compensated for by Black's bishops and early activity. In the Tromp though, you have to believe in the power of knights and if you don't believe, then this game should help convince you. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 e6 6.c4 g7 7.c3 f5 As always in this sharp variation of the Tromp there is a fight between Black's strong dark squared bishop and W hite's extra space and better structure. 8.e3 d6 9.ge2 d7 10.f4 e5 11.d2 d7 12.h5! White finds the weakness in the Black position, the tender f6 square. h6? This Ok-looking bid to keep the bishop fails tactically. [ 12...g8 Needed to be tried. ] 13.f4 g6 14.f6+ e7?? The fatal mistake. [ 14...d8 However unpleasant this appear, it was essential. ] 15.dxe6! The threat of the fork on d5 is lethal. c6 16.cd5+ xe6 17.g4! The Black king is going for a walk from which he will never return. The famous phrase "I may be some time" could not apply more! fxg4 18.f5+ xf5 19.d3+ e6 20.f2 The threat of
Qf5 seals Black's fate. f4 22.e3# 1-0
2373 Willems,Matthias Ikonnikov,Vyacheslav Karl Mala mem op 10th (2) [Eric Prié]
21.exf4
he8
A45 2084 2587 21.07.2006
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.c3 d6 5.d3 Dubious but then the only alternative to continue in gambit style. [ 5.f3? xb2 6.b5 b4+ 7.d2 xd2+ 8.xd2 a6 9.dxc5 dxc5 10.e2 ( 10.b3 b6 ) 10...g6 11.b1 g7 ( 11...h5 12.e5 g7 13.xg7 xg7 14.f3 ) 12.e5 ( 12.f3!? 0-0 13.c7 xc7 14.xc7 regaining the pawn) 12...0-0 13.f3 d7 14.xg7 xg7 Hoellmann, L (2206)-Malakhatko, V (2578) Goch 2010 0-1(69) ] [ 5.h3? xb2 6.b5 ( 6.b5+ d7 7.xd7+ bxd7 8.ge2 b6 ) 6...b4+ 7.d2 xd2+ 8.xd2 d7! 9.a4 ( 9.dxc5 e4+ ) 9...g5 10.h2 g7 Kovacevic, S (2330) -Gonzalez de la Torre, S (2412) Donostia 2010 0-1(59) ] 5...g6 6.h3 [ 6.ge2 g7 7.dxc5?! xc5!? ( 7...dxc5 ) 8.e4 0-0 9.d2 c6 10.e3 ( 10.h6? xh6 11.xh6 xf2+ ) 10...a5 11.h6 xh6 12.xh6 The knight on f3 is missing which removes a touch of venom from the white idea of exchanging the dark squared bishops... as well as generally speaking from t h i s s e t - u p . b6! 13.0-0 ( 13.c1 ) 13...xb2 14.fb1 a3 Boguszlavszkij, J (2281) -Horvath, P (2441) Hungary 2002 0-1(44) ] 6...g7 7.f3 xb2 Now that the white knight stands on f3. 8.b5 b4+ 9.f1 a5 With his king on f1 and Black ready to castle, White does not have enough compensation, unless 10.xd6 exd6 11.xd6+ e7 works for him. Unfortunately this is not the case, especially following 12.b1? [ 12.e5 cxd4 ( 12...xd6?? 13.c4+ ) 13.exd4 e6! 14.xb7 d5 15.c5 xd4 16.xe6 xe5! ( 16...fxe6 17.f3 d6 2323
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is good too. ) 17.xg7 f8-+ ] 12...xd6 13.b5 d8 14.e5 e7 15.xc5 bd7 16.b5 a6 17.b3 xe5 18.dxe5 d7 19.f4 c5 20.c3 a5 21.c4 d8 22.d4 e6 0-1
2374 Winants,Luc Carlsen,Magnus ECC Rethymnon GRE (4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2501 2385 01.10.2003
1.d4 f6 [ 1...d5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e6 4.f3 dxc4 5.a4 b4 6.e3 b5 7.d2 a5 8.axb5 xc3 9.xc3 cxb5 10.b3 b7 11.bxc4 b4 12.b2 f6 13.c5 0-0 14.b5 c7 15.a4 c6 ( 15...c6! ) 16.0-0 fd8 17.fd1 1/2-1/2 Vanderstricht, G (2300) Lautier, J (2645) Antwerp 1998 For comparison with the Gustafsson-Avrukh game, it is clear that time does not matter much but that the queen's bishop is better placed on b7(b2) than f5(f4). ] 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3! c5 5.d3!? f6! 6.dxc5?! c6! 7.b5 e6 Clearly, I do not think much good of Bg4?! which is important for another reason, nor a6?! nor g6?! in this position as in the two previous games, which is why I did not grant them much consideration in term of chess comments. However, if Black has better than my find ...Qa5+! followed by ...a6! and ...e6!, I guess it will be here, with ...e6, but I doubt it. 8.b4 d7 9.c3 a5 10.b3! "The other thematic move" as I wrote in Rowson-Dorfman that saw Qe2. It is not surprising to see the Belgian GM, who also happens to be one of the most prominent specialists on the 1...d5 2. Bf4 Neo-London, really giving the impression of knowing what he does, and showing the way as White, contrary to the next two games with the same ...e6 option. [ 10.a4 axb4 11.xc6 xc6 12.cxb4 b6 13.d2 bxc5 14.b5 b7 15.gf3 c4! 16.0-0 b4 17.c2 0-0 18.fb1 a5 19.h3 e8 20.d1 e7 21.e5 Eventually the bishop returns onto his best d ia go n a l. . . d7 22.d4 ec8 23.c3
c5 Gustafsson, J (2571) - Avrukh, B (2609) EU-ChT Plovdiv BUL 2003 1/2 (58) ] 10...axb4? "unfortunately there seem to be some problems for W hite on the white squares after" [ 10...e5! 11.a3 xb5 12.xb5 d3+ 13.f1 xf4 14.exf4 e7 See more details in Rowson-Dorfman. ] [ 10...h5!? Is also annoying See MatveevaDa n ie lian b u t th e n W h it e m a y h a ve a n answer with 11.e2! ] 11.cxb4 e4 12.c3 [ 12.e2! ] 12...f6? [ 12...xc3 13.xc3 e7 ] 13.ge2 xf2 14.0-0! g4 15.h3 ge5 16.a4 c4 17.e4! With a winning attack. d4 18.xd7+ xd7 19.xd4 xd4+ 20.h1 xe4 21.ae1 [ 21.ad1!! c8 22.xc4 xc4 23.b6+ d8 24.xc4 ] 21...g6 22.c1 e8 23.xc4! dxc4 24.xc4 e5 25.b6 a3 26.xe5 e6 27.e1!+- e7 28.b5+ f8 29.xg7+ xg7 30.xe6 fxe6 31.d7 f6 32.d4+ e5 33.h4+ f7 34.h5+ g7 35.d5 1-0
2375 Winants,Luc Franzen,Jozef Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2515 2310 24.02.2001
Trompowsky: Black ventures down a rare old gambit sideline and is soon regretting his decision. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.d5 b6 5.d2 xd2 A risky way to grab the pawn. [ 5...xb2 is rightly considered to be the main line, when Black has equal chances. ] 6.xd2 xb2 7.e4 g6 8.b1 e5 9.d3 g7 10.f3 c7 11.h4 In return for the pawn investment, White has a huge lead in d e ve l o p m e n t . T h is in it i a l l y ra s h lo o k i n g kingside lunge, ensures that the Black king will find it extremely difficult to find a safe haven. d6 12.c4 d7 13.h5 e5 14.xe5 xe5 15.b3 0-0 A dangerous decision, but how else is Black to complete his 2324
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 development? 16.c3 Forcing the exchange of Black's best kingside defender and actually his only active piece. b8 17.b2 e6 18.xe5 dxe5 19.d2 With the a1-h8 diagonal blocked the W hite queen seeks greener pastures. f6 20.hxg6 hxg6 21.h6 g7 22.e2 g5 23.bh1 Increasing the pressure on the Black kingside, move by move. b6 24.e3 f7 25.d6 Yet another thorn is created in Black's side. He is powerless against the coming h-file invasion. g4 26.g3 g5 27.1h5 1-0
for Black provided that the opponent abstains f r o m a c ce p t i n g h i s g a m b it p l a y! A s i t i s possible to imagine Black has some compensation after: [ 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5 e3+ 14.d2 b6 15.e4 e6 ] 12...e8 13.ge2 xe3 14.d4 e8 15.b5 d7 16.xc6 xc6 [ 16...bxc6 17.a4 c4 18.b3 a6 19.b2 ab8 20.c5 b6 21.c3 ] 17.g5 h6 As I witnessed this game, the young (just 14...) German talent, who made his first IM norm in the tournament continued to produce his moves at the speed of light, as if everything had been thoroughly planned 2376 A45 well ahead... Indeed, if you are to land up in Wirig,Anthony 2422 such a rubbish tip right out of the opening, Bindrich,Falko 2253 because of some poor preparation, better do it without losing time and at least showing Mitropa Cup Zemplinska Sirava SVK (2) some assurance! You never know! Maybe [Eric Prié] your opponent will start to ask himself some 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 f6 e xist e n t ia l qu e s t io n s: " Ho w ca n it b e s o 5.dxc5! When Black does not give the check easy?" "How come can my opponent look so on a5, White's queen knight will have the c3 confident?" "W hat did I overlook?" "There s qu a re , a n d t h is is a cc o rd in gly t h e b e s t ought to be something for him!" and so on. response. e5? Most probably an idea of the Well, maybe this what happened in the head of the elder French IM who had done German captain GM Uwe BÃPnsch... [ 5...a5+ 6.d2! xc5 7.c3 absolutely nothing to deserve such a big advantage with the ideas he had produced is very pleasant for White, see next game. ] and apparently did not know this maxim: [ 5...e6? 6.d6 ] [ 5...b6?! 6.c3! bxc5 7.e4 d6 8.e5 dxe5! " N e v e r a t t r i b u t e t o m a l i c e w h a t c a n b e 9.xd8+ xd8 10.0-0-0+ bd7 11.xe5 adequately explained by ignorance". 18.g3 b7 12.h3 c8 13.g3 h6 14.c4 e6 As for time, he, on the other hand , had spent 15.f4 e7 16.b5 Carlsen,M-Ganguly,S quite a reasonable amount and here 'missed' the logical Dubai op 2004 1-0 (43) ] [ 18.f4 With the same idea of the kingside [ 5...a6!? Possibly the only move, about assault by means of g2-g4, h2-h4 against which I need time in order to study it more which it is not easy to find a defence. ] carefully. In fact, although instinctively I 19.b3 e3+ 20.b1 e5 prefer White in this peculiar Open Sicilian 18...d7 structure, Black has a very good score with it 21.f2 c6 22.d4 d7 23.g4 f4 24.g3 xg3 25.hxg3 e3 26.c1 ae8 in the Database... 6.e4 xc5 7.c3 ] 27.d2 f8 28.g5!? 6.xe5 xc5 7.d6! b6 [ 28.a4 followed by a5 and the general [ 7...xg1 8.xg1 b6 9.h1 xb2 exchange of the heavy pieces along the e10.d2 c6 11.e4 ] f i l e wo u l d h a ve p r o m i s e d B l a c k s o m e 8.xc5 xc5 9.c3 0-0 intense moments of bliss in the ending... ] [ 9...d5 10.e3! xe3+ ( 10...0-0 11.d4; 10...c6 11.d2 ) 11.e2 e7 12.xe7+ 28...hxg5 29.h8+ g8 30.e4 This was xe7 13.0-0-0 e6 14.ge2 c6 Anthony's idea, not bad in itself, but just too difficult to assess correctly as Black already 15.d4 ] 10.d2 c6 11.0-0-0 d5 12.e3! has 2 pawns, including one doubled, this is But the idea of the game is completely wrong true, for the exchange. 2325
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 30.xd5 3e5 31.c4 ] 30...3xe4 31.fxe4 xe4 32.c3 g6 33.e1?! I sound a little bitter about this game as I just happened to be the captain of the young and promising French team who did so terribly in this competition! And was myself very unsuccessful, just as in this game, as I had indirectly participated with the opening preparation... [ 33.f1 g7 34.h7+ xh7 35.xf7+ h6 36.xd7 e7! ] [ 33.dh1 g4 34.e2 b5 35.1h3 g7 36.3h7+ f8 37.h3= ] 33...g4 34.e3 g7 And now that the Ng8 gets active, it is even less clear. 35.h2 f6 36.d3 e4 37.e2 f5! 38.d4? [ 38.d4 xg3+ 39.xf5+ xf5 ] 38...f6+! 39.e5 [ 39.c5 c4+ 40.d6 ( 40.b5 d7+ 41.a5 a4# ) 40...c6+ 41.e5 g4+ 42.d4 c4+ 43.xd5 xe3+ ] 39...a4! And the end of the 'knightmare', the 'family' fork, unavoidable, will cost a whole rook. 40.d6 g4 41.d4 xe3 42.b3 a6+ 43.c7 b6 44.a4 d1 45.a5 f6 46.xb7 a6 47.c4 dxc4 48.bxc4 e3 49.c5 e4+ 50.b8 f5 51.d2 xg3 52.b5 axb5 53.d6 f5 Indeed an atypical course from the German 4th board who made the norm from his first 6 games at the Mitropa-cup... and lost the remaining three! After that his father congratulated him on the phone, to the great displeasure of his captain who wanted to conceal the performance for the good of the team.. . 0-1
on the long diagonal from where it supports 'the bolt' on d5 while hampering the development of the enemy queenside and s u b s e q u e n t l y h i s c o u n t e r p a r t . a6!? This manoeuvre, with the black queen sliding along the 6th rank, is generally acknowledged my modern theory to be the critical plan to play against White's strong d5 pawn, in this line of the Tromp. [ 6...h6?! 7.e3 Just helps White in regaining some control over the dark squares. ] 7.g2 c7 8.e3?! I think that this move is too slow. [ 8.h3! See next game. ] 8...g7 9.c3 d6! 10.c2? The move given by Fritz in this position! But what if W hite decided to hang on to the pawn? [ 10.d2 A) 10...e6 11.a3 A1) 11...exd5 12.e2 b5 13.f4 b7 14.d1 ( 14.xd5!? xd5! 15.xb5 c6 16.xd5 a6 17.bc7+ f8 18.e4 c8 19.g5 d6 20.xf5 xc7 ); A2) 11...xd5? 12.c4; B) 10...b5! 11.e2 ( 11.a3 a6! 12.e2 b4 ) 11...b7 ( 11...a6 12.0-0 b4 13.cxb4 cxb4 14.c1 0-0 15.d4 ) 12.f4 e5 13.a3 B1) 13...a6 14.d1 ( 14.c4 ) 14...0-0 ( 14...xf4 15.exf4 e6 16.c2 xd5 17.e3 e7 18.xd5 xd5 19.xd5 exd5+ 20.f1 0-0 21.xd5 e6 22.g2 ) 15.0-0 And White maintains his 'nail' on d5.; B2) 13...xf4! Black's plan of surrounding the enemy d-pawn su ccee ds just by o ne t em po . 14.exf4 2377 A45 xd5 15.xb5 xb5 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 b8= ] Wirig,Anthony 2422 Leroux,Jean Pierre 2442 10...xd5 11.xf5 [ 11.d2 e6! ( 11...c7 12.xd6 exd6 ) Ch FRA - Accession (10.2) 2003 12.a3 ( 12.c4? e5 ) 12...b8!! [Eric Prié] Thanks to this idea, while White looks for an acceptable way to regain his material, 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 Black gets a strong initiative in every case. 5.c1 f5 6.g3 The main line. White starts the 13.e2 ( 13.c4 b6 14.cxd5 xb2 process of regaining some lost control over 15.xb2 xb2 16.c2 xa1 17.xa1 the dark squares, prepares the installation of d6; 13.d1 b5 14.c4 bxc4 15.xc4 a6 a knight onto the key square f4 (as always 16.xd5 exd5 17.xd5 0-0 ) 13...b5 when he has doubled the enemy pawns on f6) 14.f4 b4 15.cxb4 xb4 16.xd5 exd5 and, chiefly, develops his light-squared bishop 2326
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.xd5 xb2! 18.xf7+ e7 19.xd6+ xd6 20.c4+ e7 ( 20...xc4? 21.d1+ ) 21.xb2 xb2 22.c4 ( 22.d5 a6 ) 22...d6 23.0-0 e6 ] 11...b4!! 12.e4 b6! 13.g4 f6 Still threatening d7-d5. 14.e2 d5 15.g2 [ 15.c2 xc2+ 16.xc2 f5! 17.a4+ f8 ] 15...c4?? Unfortunately for the commentator, this very important theoretical game will not be a pure 'twentymovish' piece of work... [ When 15...d3+ , however, was fully in the spirit of the game! 16.xd3 ( 16.f1 ) 16...xb2 17.e2 xa1 18.c2 d4 19.exd4 cxd4 20.cxd4 ( 20.0-0 d3! 21.xd3 xa2 22.xb7 xb7 23.b5+ f8 24.xb7 g7 ) 20...e6 21.xb7 b8 22.c6+ f8 23.0-0 xa2-+ ] 16.cxb4 xb4+ 17.d2 xb2 18.a3 a4 [ 18...xa3 19.xd5! ( 19.xa3 xa3 20.xd5 c3; 19.gf3 c3 20.0-0 cxd2 21.fb1 d6 22.xd2 0-0 ) 19...c3 A) 20.gf3 b2 21.b1 ( 21.a2 c2 ) 21...c2 22.0-0 cxb1 23.xb1 c5 24.xf7+ xf7 25.e4 f5 26.xb2 f8; B) 20.b3 b2 ( 20...c2+ 21.d2 ) 21.a2! c2+ 22.f1 ( 22.d2? c3 ) 22...c1+ 23.xc1 xc1 24.g2 Black will have some serious problems to bring back his bishop to his lines. ] 19.b1 c3 20.xb2 cxb2 21.d3 d7 [ 21...c6 22.gf3! c1+ 23.e2 The square b1 remains firmly under control. ] 22.c3 0-0 23.xb2 ac8 24.gf3 b5 [ 24...c2 25.a1 a5! ( 25...b5 26.d4 fc8 27.xc2 xc2 28.d1! b2 29.g4+ THE very bad surprise!) 26.0-0 xd2 27.e1 b5 28.xd2 xd2 29.xd2 xf1 30.xf1 e6= ] 25.f1? White probably even missed the win here! [ 25.d4! d3 ( 25...a6 26.f5! f6 27.xe7+ g7 28.xc8 xc8 29.b3 d3 30.d4 a5+ 31.b4 c1+ 32.d2 ) 26.f1 ( 26.xd5 a5 ) 26...g6 27.h3 c7 28.0-0 With the queens on the board the weakness of Black's dark squares makes the position delicate for him despite the arithmetical balance of the
material. ] 25...c4 26.xc4 dxc4 27.c3 fd8 28.0-0 f6! The situation has turned again! Black's two rooks are very strong along the central files. His weak d-pawn has me t a m o rp h o se d it se lf o n t o a d a n ge ro u s a d va n ce d p r o t e ct e d p a s se d p a wn . A n d , especially after the opening of the d-file and this move, his king looks secure. 29.e4 [ 29.d4 e5 30.f5 d3 31.b4 ( 31.c1 d7 ) 31...xb4 32.axb4 f8!-+ ] 29...d3 30.b2 c6 31.ed2 c3 32.b3+ d5 With such pieces the transposition to the ending is the safest way to victory. 33.d4 xb3 34.2xb3 c2 35.c1 [ 35.a4 e5 36.c1 ( 36.f5 xb3 37.e7+ f7 38.xc8 b1 ) 36...a3 37.f5 d8 38.e4 d1 39.e3 xf1+ 40.xf1 a1 ] 35...xa3 36.g2 e5 37.de2 d8 38.f4 d1 39.fxe5 fxe5 40.f5 xe3 41.f2 xe2+ 42.xe2 xc1-+ White's obstinate insistence to keep on playing is completely ridiculous, particularly considered the rate of play, 6 hours, 2 periods, with 30' increment, but this game, played on board one of the penultimate round was the decisive encounter for promotion to the main Round Robin French Championship, cat XIII, beginning in two weeks... 43.d2 h1 44.xc2 xh2+ 45.d3 h3 46.g5+ f7 47.e4 h6 48.xe5 g6 49.f5+ e7 50.f3 a5 51.a3 b6 52.d5 d7 53.f3 g5+ 54.c4 c5+ 55.b3 h5 56.f6 c7 57.g6 b7 58.g4 hxg4 59.xg4 a6 60.a4 f5 61.g6 f4+ 62.a3 a4 63.g5 b5 64.g8 f3+ 65.b4 b3+ 66.c5 a3 67.h8 b4 68.c4 b2 69.h6+ a5 70.h8 a2 71.b8 c2+ 72.d3 c3+ 73.d4 a4 0-1
2378 Woelk,Ralf Kunz,Harry Bernard Partridge mem fin corr [Eric Prié]
A45 2311 2403 2000
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.d5 d6! This relatively confidential idea is, however, what causes me 2327
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the biggest headache. For the 3rd time (after ...Qb4+ in game 1, ...Nh5 in game 2...) Black will manage to exploit the premature development of the London bishop. 4.c3 [ 4.c4 b5!? ( 4...e5 5.d2 f5= Nielsen, J-Jensen, H (2095) Copenhagen 1 9 9 7 1 / 2 ( 6 8 )) 5.cxb5 a6 6.e3 g6 W ith a good version of the Benko/Volga Gambit for Black in Diaz Begonte, MEstrada Martinez, C (2205)/Madrid 1999 0-1(33) ] 4...e5 5.dxe6 I have analysed every move of the bishop. Unfortunately none of them is entirely satisfactory. In any case [ 5.g5 is White's best try. A) 5...bd7 6.e4 a6 ( 6...h6 7.xf6 xf6 8.b5+ ) 7.a4 h6 ( 7...b6!? ) A1) 8.xf6 xf6 9.a5!? ( 9.f3 ) 9...h5 ( 9...b5 10.axb6 xb6 11.b5+ ) 10.e2 g6 11.f3 h6 12.d2 xd2+ 13.xd2 f8 14.0-0 g7 15.f4; A2) 8.d2!? e7 9.f3 h7 10.d3 ( 10.h4 df8 11.g3 ); B) 5...e7 The problem now is the threat ...Nxd5 B1) 6.h4?! The problem with this move is the exposure of the h-pawn when White is not able to realize his plan of e2e 4 , g 2 - g 3 . h6! ( 6...bd7 7.e4 h6 8.d2 0-0?! 9.g4 ) 7.xf6 ( 7.d2 g4! 8.c1 a6 9.e4 c7 ) 7...xf6 8.f3 ( 8.e4 xh4; 8.g3 e4! 9.xe4 xb2 10.b1 a5+ 11.d2 xa2 12.xd6+ d7 ) 8...e4 9.xe4 xb2 10.b1 f6 ( 10...a5+ 11.fd2 ) 11.xf6+ xf6 12.e4 0-0 13.d3 d7 14.0-0 b6; B2) 6.e4!? B2a) 6...xd5 7.b5+ f8 ( 7...d7 8.xd5 xg5 9.xb7; 7...d7 8.xe7 xc3 9.xd8 xd1 10.a5 xb2 11.c3 a6 12.xd7+ xd7 13.xb2+- ) 8.xd5 xg5 9.f3 e7 ( 9...f6 10.0-0-0 ) 10.c4 e8 11.b5 e6 12.xb7 xc4 13.a3 c6! 14.xc4 b8 15.c7 ( 15.a6? b4 ) 15...c8 16.b7 b8=; B2b) 6...h6 7.xf6 xf6 8.e2 0-0 9.a4 ( 9.g4 d7 ) 9...d7 ( 9...g6 10.f3 g7 11.d2 f5 12.c4 a6
13.0-0 ) 10.f3 g6 11.d2 g7 12.c4 b6 13.e3 f5 14.exf5 gxf5 15.a5 d7 16.c4 f6 17.b5 e8 18.h5; B2c) 6...xe4 7.b5+ ( 7.xe7 a5! 8.h4 xc3 9.d2 b4 ) 7...d7 8.xd7+ xd7 ( 8...xd7?? 9.xe4 xg5 10.g4+ ) 9.xe4 xg5 10.xd6+ e7 11.c4 ( 11.e4!? h6 12.f3 ) 11...e4; B3) 6.f3 In this regard then this appears the most promising. h6 7.xf6 xf6 8.e4 0-0 ( 8...a6 9.b5+ ) 9.a4 a6 If the plan to play ...f7-f5 falters, be ca u se o f t h e d6 -p a wn we ak n e s s , B la ck m a y t ry t h is a lt e rn a t ive id e a . 10.d2 ( 10.xa6!? bxa6 11.d2 g5 12.c4 f5 ) 10...b6 11.e2 c7 12.0-0 a6 13.g4 b8 14.xc8 xc8 15.c4 e8 16.e2 The absence of the pawn on c4 makes a huge difference in comparison to the Czech Benoni: W hite's light-squared bishop is very strong on the f1-a6 diagonal, the transfer of the knight to c4 presses on the opposing d6-pawn but the most important factor in W hite's favour remains his space advantage, of course. ] [ 5.d2 f5 6.f3 e4 7.g4? xd5 8.g5 xc3 9.d2 e7 10.xe7 xe7 11.xc3 h4+ 12.d2 h6+ ] 5...xe6 6.e4 c6 7.d2 a5 This move is more effective after White long castles. [ 7...d5 8.exd5 ( 8.e5? h5 ) 8...xd5 9.0-0-0 xf4 10.xf4 f6 11.xf6 gxf6 12.b5 ] [ 7...h6!? ] 8.f3 d5 [ 8...h6 9.b5 ( 9.e2 g5 10.e3 0-0-0 11.0-0 g7 ) 9...0-0-0!? 10.xc6 bxc6 11.0-0 g5 12.g3 ( 12.e3 d5 ) 12...h5 13.a3 xg3 14.hxg3 g7 ] 9.d3?! [ 9.g5 d4 10.b5 xd2+ 11.xd2 d7 12.a4 ] 9...c4 10.exd5 xd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.e2 f5 13.d4 xd4 14.xd4 xc2 [ 14...c5! 15.xg7 ( 15.e5 xe5 16.xe5 f6 17.c3 0-0-0 18.0-0 d4 ) 15...xf4!! 16.xh8+ e7 17.xa8 xf2+ 2328
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.d1 xg2 19.f1 e3 And White is amazingly helpless against the threat ... Qd5+. 20.e1 ( 20.f3 h1+ 21.f1 d5+ 22.d3 g4+ 23.e1 cxd3 ) 20...g4! 21.xb7+ xb7 22.xg4 g2 23.e2 xh2-+ ] 15.c1 f5 16.xc4 The position is now completely equal. ½-½
2379 Yegiazarian,Arsen Gaprindashvili,Valerian op Ubeda (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2500 2405 28.01.1999
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 f5 6.g3 a6!? 7.g2 c7 8.h3! There is only one game with this excellent move, well, out of 4 in total with 6.g3 Na6. That gives plenty of room for personal analysis! Here are some ideas. h6?! [ 8...g7 9.c3 e6 10.d2 ( 10.f4 h6 11.e3 xf4 12.exf4 xd5 13.xd5 exd5 )] [ 8...e6 9.f4 ( 9.0-0!? xd5 10.xd5 exd5 11.c3 d4 12.d5 d6 13.hf4 With compensations for W hite.) 9...h6 10.c4! b4+! ( 10...e5 11.c3!; 10...0-0 11.c2 ) 11.d2! ( 11.c3 g7 12.xb4 cxb4 13.d3 d6 14.d2 a5 ) 11...xf4? 12.gxf4 exd5 13.a3 a4 14.cxd5 xf4 15.xc5 ] 9.f4 [ 9.e3? xd5! 10.xd5 xh3 ] 9...e5 10.dxe6 fxe6 Normally, Black is happy with this exchange, undoubling his pawns, but in this very position his queen is a bit out of play allowing W hite's very strong 11.e3! W hen suddenly some serious coordination problems start to appear in Black's game as well as an unsuspected fragility of his center. d6 [ 11...g7 12.c3!? ( 12.c3 d6 c5 was hanging. 13.d2 0-0 14.c4 d5 15.d6 b6 looks fine for Black) 12...d4 13.d3 g7 14.h5! xc3+ ( 14...f7 15.e3 e5 16.f4 ) 15.bxc3 e7 ( 15...f7 16.d6 ) 16.c4 ] [ 11...d5 12.xd5 ] [ 11...e7!
A) 12.e5? f6 13.xc7 xb2; B) 12.c3 0-0 13.d1 ( 13.0-0-0 g7 ) 13...g7 And Black is ready for a d7-d5 in one go.; C) 12.c4 g7 13.c3 d4 White is not given the time to play Rd1. 14.d3 xd3 15.xd3=; D) 12.d2! 0-0 ( 12...g7 13.0-0-0 d4 14.f3 ) 13.0-0-0 g7 14.f3 d5 15.h4! ( 15.e5? d4 ) 15...f6 ( 15...d4 16.e5 f6 17.xc5; 15...b5 16.g5! ) 16.c3 d4 17.cxd4 cxd4 18.xd4 e5 19.b3+ h8 20.de6 xe6 21.xe6 xe6 22.xe6 e4 ] 12.c3 e7 13.d1 0-0 14.cd5 xd5 15.xd5 f6 16.0-0 b8 17.g2 Threatening Nd5 because of the intermediate check on f6. f8 18.a3 Here White missed the very strong move order [ 18.b4! b6 ( 18...cxb4? 19.xa7 ) 19.bxc5 bxc5 ( 19...dxc5? 20.e5 wins the Rb8!) 20.a3 a6 ( 20...d5 21.c4 d4 22.xa7 d6 23.b1 ) 21.a5! ] 18...a6 19.c4 d7 20.b4 cxb4 21.xb4 f7 22.b1 [ 22.b6 f8 23.fe1 c8 ] 22...g8 [ 22...f8 23.e4 ] 23.fe1 b5 24.e4! Black defends well but White still has the initiative! fxe4 25.xe4 bf8? [ 25...bxc4 A) 26.d5 exd5 ( 26...f7 27.xe7+ xe7 28.xd6 ) 27.xe7 a4; B) 26.xc4! With the threats Qc7, Nxe6 and above all Qxa6. ] [ 25...f8! was the only move to resist. 26.c5 ( 26.h3!? xf4 27.xf4 xh3 28.xd6! xd6 29.xd6; 26.d4 c8 27.a7 f7 28.xa6 bxc4 ) 26...d5 27.d4 ( 27.xd5 exd5 28.xd5+ e6 29.xe6 xe6 30.e1 be8 h3 is controlled and defends e6 at the same time. ) 27...c8 28.d3 ] 26.b7 d8 27.c5 There were two simpler moves to quickly end the game. [ 27.d5 exd5 28.xe7 g4 29.xd5+ h8 30.de1 df8 31.f4+- ] [ But 27.xe6! was even stronger with some similar ideas against the bishop on e7. A) 27...xe6 28.xe7 d7 ( 28...df8 29.xe6 xe6 30.d5 ff6 31.e1 ) 2329
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 29.e8+ f8 30.xe6; B) 27...xe6 28.xe6 xe6 29.xe7 f8 30.xd6 f6 ( 30...bxc4 31.e1 ) 31.xe6+! xe6 32.d5+- ] 27...f8 28.c6 c8 29.a7 e8 30.e3 d5 31.h3 c5 32.e5 d6 33.g5+ h8 34.xd5! Fortunately for White there was this trick which happens to be more complicated than it appeared in the game, as presumably Black was in time trouble. h6 [ 34...g6! 35.e3 exd5! 36.xe8 xh3 37.xd5 g7 38.c7! f3 ( 38...xc7 39.e7+ ) 39.e4 A) 39...f6 40.c1 c8 41.e8! ( 41.c6 a1+ 42.g2 h3+!! 43.xh3 f1+ 44.h4 xf2 45.d4+ xd4+ 46.xd4 e7+ 47.f6!! This is a fantastic illustration of the "desperado" theme: The rook is lost but by suffering its destiny on an other square than c6 it suf ficiently disorganizes Black to radically change the course of the game. xf6 48.d7 f4+ 49.h5 f5+ 50.g4 c5 51.xe7+ g6 52.f4 h5 53.e4 f6 54.h7 e6 55.h3+- ) 41...f8 42.d8 f6 43.c6; B) 39...xe4 40.xe4 f7 ( 40...f6 41.g4 xc7 42.d7+ f7 43.ee7 ) 41.h5 ] 35.g2 e5 36.e3 f6 37.e2 c5 38.e4 b4 39.d5 d4 [ 39...xe3 looked more tenacious by eliminating White's 'poison' on c6. 40.xe3 xc6 41.c2 g7 ( 41...c3 42.e4 g7 43.xb4 ) 42.a4 c3 43.d2! But not quite sufficient. ( 43.xe5 xe5 44.xe5 xe5 45.xe5 h3 )] 40.c2 f7 [ 40...e6 41.d6! xe3 42.fxe3 f1+ 43.g2 h3+ 44.xh3 xd6 45.c7 c8 46.c6 d7+ 47.g2 ff8 48.xe5+ ( 48.h6! d2+ 49.h3 d7+ 50.h4 xc7 51.xh7 xh7 52.xe5+ g8 53.xh7 xh7 54.e4+ g7 55.xb4 ) 48...g7 49.xg7+ xg7 50.d5 fe8 51.e6 xe6 52.xe6 xc7 53.xa6 Wins too. ] 41.c7 h6 42.h4 xe3 43.fxe3 g8 44.h3! g7 45.d8 b3 White won but the last 5 moves of the game are incomprehensible. A possible end could have been 46.xc8! xc8
[ 46...xc8 47.g4+ g6 48.xg6 xg6 49.d7+ f7 ( 49...f6 50.f2+ g5 51.g4# ) 50.xc8 bxc2 51.g4+ h7 52.c8 ] 1-0
2380 Zhang Pengxiang Sutovsky,Emil 8th Karpov Poikovsky RUS (1) [Eric Prié]
A45 2643 2629 15.03.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.e3 The second choice: White avoids the central push ...e7-e5 with tempo while attacking the weakness without waiting, in the hope of making it move one step further to b5, when the recycling move Nb3-d4 will prove more effective. e5! The correct approach: Black sacrifices b6 to set his powerful centre in motion thus emphasizing his active forces compared with the opposing kingside's state of moroseness. [ 10...b5 11.d4 d5 ( 11...xd4 12.xd4 e6 13.e4 b4 14.b5 Vadim Milov.) 12.f2 xd4 13.xd4 e5 14.xe5 e3 15.f2 ( 15.c1 c4 ) 15...c2 ( 15...c5 16.d4 c2 17.c1 is the same.) 16.c1 c5+ 17.d4! Improving on Peter Wells' "awkward" ( 17.g3 e3 ) 17...xd4 18.cxd4 xd4+ 19.e3 xb2 20.c2 e5 21.xb5 0-0 22.e2 ] 11.xb6 d5 12.e4 Now White has to watch out for ideas like ...d5-d4 shutting the bishop in, followed by ...Be6, ...Nd5 see the next game. [ 12.f2 d4 13.e4 e6 14.d2 c5 is very dangerous for White and you never feel it as much as when thinking about it over the board in a proper game as once happened to me! ] 12...dxe4 [ 12...e6 13.c5 xc5 14.xc5 d7 15.exd5 xc5 16.dxe6 b3 17.b1 xa2 18.c4 ca5 19.exf7+ e7 20.d5! d8 21.d1! a1 Most unfortunately the only move! ( 21...xb2 22.xb3 xd1+ 23.xd1 ) 22.xb3 xb3 23.xa1 xa1 24.h3 b3 25.g5 d2 26.0-0 xb2 2330
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 26...h6 27.e4 xb2 28.d1 xf7 29.d7+ f8 30.xb7+- ) 27.e1 1 -0 S o c k o , B (2 6 2 1 )- B o b ra s , P (2 5 3 5 ) Polanica Zdroj 2006 ] 13.c4 [ 13.b5 e6 14.a5 ( 14.c5 xc5 15.xc5 xa2= ) 14...d7 15.xc6 bxc6 16.xc6 b8 17.f2 xb2 18.a4 d8 19.fxe4 c7 20.xd7 xd7 21.f3 f6 22.0-0 c6 23.fe1 e7 With excellent compensation f or the pawn thanks to a mighty pair of bishops and the porous nature of the white structure. 24.a5 a8 25.b6+ b7 26.ad1 a6 27.d2 b3 28.c2 a4 29.a2 b5 30.c4! xc4 31.c2 d3 32.c7 And this sudden activity proved sufficient to escape the loss, Prie, E (2429)-Lejarre, L (2295) Rochefort op 2004 ] 13...f5 14.d2N [ 14.e2 exf3 15.gxf3 e7 16.g3 g6 17.f2 d7 18.e3 f5 Hoang Thanh Trang (2487)-Lahno, K (2468) Olw Turin 2006 ] 14...e7 15.fxe4 xe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.f3 a5 18.xa5 [ 18.b5+ c6 19.xc6+ xc6 ] 18...xa5 19.0-0-0 c5 . [ 19...c5 20.b3 f5 A) 21.a4+? f7! 22.d7 a8 23.b3+ e8 24.hd1? ( 24.dd1 ) 24...c6! 25.7d2 ( 25.c7 xf3 26.xc5 xd1 ) 25...xf3 26.gxf3 g5-+; B) 21.he1 f6 followed by ...Ke7 and I would rather be black... ] ½-½
counterplay and White's position looks very underdeveloped. Perhaps he is just a great believer in pawn power! 6.c3 xc3 7.bxc3 f6 The Black queen takes up a useful post, attacking the vulnerable W hite queenside. 8.cxb5 exd5 Black has achieved a good Blumenfeld position, without the inconvenience of having to sacrifice a pawn. 9.b2 b7 10.d2 d6 11.f3 0-0 Black has a very active position. His only problem being the Nb8, which lacks a good square. 12.e3 a6 13.c4 White endeavours to keep Black's problem knight under lock and key. d4 14.e2 White must get his king out of the centre before it opens up. Although the trouble is that with Black's bishops raking through his heart of the position, his king is n o t m u c h s a f e r o n t h e k i n g s i d e . axb5 15.cxb5 c7 16.0-0 h6 Forcing a concession from W hite's kingside pawns. 17.g3 e8 With the exception of his beleaguered knight, all of Black's pieces now are exerting considerable pressure on the White position. 18.a4 a5 The dark squared bishop, having f orced a weakness seeks greener pastures. 19.c2 dxe3 20.h4 A desperate attempt at counterplay, but White was simply dreaming if he thought his knight would be allowed to reach f5. e4 21.xc5 b6 Suddenly the game is all but over. White ca n n o t p o ss ib l y h o p e t o d e f e n d a g a i n s t Black's fabulous Bishop duo. 22.c3 exf2+ 23.xf2 d5 Very calm! ck realises that there is no need to grab the rook yet, so he instead prepares a path for his knight to join the fray. 24.a5 The queenside pawns are a long way from queening, but this is about the only hope 2381 A45 that White has left. e3 25.a3 d4 26.c7 Only now does Black grab the rook! Zichichi,Alvise 2313 xf2+ Acs,Peter 2526 W ith the queen deserting her king, Black 10th Open Valls d'Aosta ITA (7) 15.02.2002 takes advantage of the proffered opportunity and brings matters to a speedy conclusion. [Aaron Summerscale] 27.xf2 d3 The Black queen's entrance on Trompowsky Attack: A strong Grandmaster d2 is decisive. 28.f1 [ 28.c1 is also hopeless after d2 29.b2 shows exactly how to deal with an unusual line d1 30.xd1 d2+ 31.e2 d3+- ] in the Ne4 Tromp. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 e4 4.c1 This is quite a popular variation. 28...d2+ Although, I think that this retreat is more 0-1 logical when it leaves Black's queen misplaced on b6. e6 5.c4 b5! This is the problem. Black can start immediate queenside 2331
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A46 d6 The Black pieces start to point ominously toward the White king. 16.c4? White cracks 2435 under the pressure and blunders material. 29.09.1998 I n s t e a d , 1 6 . c 4 w o u l d h a v e l i m i t e d h i s d i s a d v a n t a g e . xd4 Winning a pawn by force. 17.exd4 xf3 18.xf3 xh2+ LONDON SYSTEM: Black plays a Nimzo/ The loss of this important kingside defender is Queens Indian set up: Despite it's solidity, the merely the beginning of W hite's problems. London system has an Achilles heel, in the 19.h1 f4 The threat of Qh4 forces White form of the b2 pawn. When Black goes after in t o f u rt h e r K i n g si d e co n ce ss i o n s . 20.g3 this pawn with vengeance, accurate W hite xf3+ 21.xh2 f4 The killer blow! The White defence is strictly necessary. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 king, bare of all defenders, does not even e6 3.f4 The London system is slightly more have a cat in hell's chance against Black's ef fective against a Nimzo/Queens Indian final assault. 22.c3 Hoping to rush the queen f o r m a t i o n , a s B l a c k l a c k s s o m e o f t h e over to the defence of her beleaguered king. aggressive options of the previous game. c5 h5+ 23.g1 xc4 Black eliminates the last 4.e3 b6 Black again decides to target the possible defender of the White king, whose f3 main weakness in the White position, the b2 d e a t h i s n o w i n e v i t a b l e . 24.bxc4 pawn. 5.c1 London system players tend to Mate is unavoidable after the coming Qh3 or shy away from early tactics and so W hite Ng4. avoids the complexities of sacrificing a pawn 0-1 with Nbd2 or Nc3. h5 Black continues to hassle White, not allowing him to settle into A46 his usual routine. W hite must go to some 2383 lengths in order not to exchange his dark Abdulla,Al Rakib 2513 squared bishop. 6.e5 Almost certainly better Gurpreet,Singh Maras 2253 w a s 6 . B g 3 , a s B l a c k w o u l d h a v e b e e n Nagpur Open (8.7) 20.10.2012 reluctant to open the h-file with Nxg3, while [Richard Palliser] the White rook is still on h1. c6 No rest for the wicked! 7.dxc5 The only way to preserve 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 c5 the bishop pair. However, the price paid, is a [ In this game White meets Black's flexible l o s s o f c e n t r a l c o n t r o l . xc5 8.c3 Hedgehog approach with a very aggressive Finally the bishop finds a safe haven, but set-up involving long castling. In the notes White has lost an awful lot of time. f5 9.e2 I've tried to flag up some related examples, 0-0 10.0-0 c7 Black prepare s to complete which include 3...b6 4.bd2 b7 5.e3 h6 his queenside development, when the 6.h4 e7 7.d3 d6 8.c3 bd7 9.e2 unbalanced pawn structure will give him good c5 10.0-0-0!? , as in Prie-Dranishnikow, chances to seize the initiative. 11.bd2 f6 Lahnstein 2006 - see the Archive. ] The Black kn ight has done it's job of evicting 4.e3 h6 the dark squared bishop and now returns to [ Sometimes Black exchanges first and after tighten Black's grip on the center. 12.b3 b6 4...cxd4 5.exd4 e7 6.d3 b6 7.bd2 13.b2 White finally achieves some pressure ( 7.0-0 b7 8.c4!? isn't such a tame set-up, against the Black position along the a1-h8 as I showed in my 'Move by Move' guide) diagonal. b7 14.ad1 ac8 7...b7 White will often go short, but Black highlights the awkward set up of White 8.xf6!? xf6 9.e2 d6 10.e4 e7 queenside pieces by increasing the pressure 11.h4!? d7 12.eg5 c7 13.0-0-0 a l o n g t h e c - f i l e . 15.d4 After all his actually packed a certain punch in Lipkamanoeuvring, W hite finally admits that his Jurek, Czech League 1998, as showed by dark squared bishop is more trouble than it Aaron Summerscale. ] was worth and agrees to it's exchange, in an 5.h4 b6 effort to alleviate some of Black's pressure. [ One grandmaster who has experimented a 2382 Abdul Ghani,Hayder Bistric,Faruk olm Elista (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
2332
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 fair bit with the exchange on f6 followed by long castling is Juan Bellon Lopez. Indeed, after 5...cxd4 6.exd4 d6 7.bd2 e7 h e h a s p la y e d 8.xf6 xf6 9.c3 d5 10.d3 c6 11.e2 c7 12.f1!? d7 13.e3 e7 14.g3 a6 15.h4 0-0-0 , n o t t h a t t h i s wa s a n yt h in g m o re t h a n ro u g h ly e q u a l i n B e ll o n L o p e z- Ri ve r a , Cienfuegos 1996. ] 6.bd2 [ Not essential and for those who like something slightly different, here too 6.d3 b7 7.0-0 e7 doesn't have to be followed up by 8.c3 , ( with 8.c4!? a less stereotyped approach )] 6...b7 7.c3 e7 8.d3 0-0 [ After 8...cxd4 9.exd4 d6 I wonder if A b d u l l a w o u l d h a v e g o n e 10.xf6!? ( 10.e2 bd7 prepares to recapture with the knight in the event of an exchange on f6 ) 10...xf6 11.e2 d7 12.0-0-0 , but here Black hasn't castled and so an immediate a6 followed by ...b5 very much comes into the equation. ] 9.e2!? [ White would normally go short here, 9.0-0 , hoping for d5?! ( 9...cxd4 10.exd4 d6 keeps W hite out of e5 and is what Black should be doing) 10.e5 fd7 11.xe7 xe7 12.f4 , which gave him an edge in Kagan-L.Jones, W arwick 2002, as Aaron once covered. ] 9...d6 10.xf6!? Moving the bishop once a ga in , b u t A b d u ll a wa n t s t o a t t a ck ! xf6 11.0-0-0 I'm not entirely sure what to make of this approach. It certainly gets Black away from the positions he is most likely used to and expecting, but W hite's approach is not without risk. cxd4 12.exd4 b5!? [ Gurpreet offers a pawn to get his cou nt erplay un de r way. Previou sly two grandmasters had reached this position and 12...g6 13.h4 g7 saw Black trying to shore up his kingside in Miladinovic-Zelcic, Cutro 2003. However, while Black does have a fine dark-squared bishop he can be attacked on the light squares and af ter 14.e4! xe4 15.xe4 d5 16.c2 d7 17.de1 a6 18.h3 c7 19.b1 b5 Miladinovic might even have gone 20.d2!? when ab8 21.h5! g5 22.xg5! hxg5
23.xg5 h8 24.g3 g8 25.e7 is a surprisingly fiendish piece sacrifice. ] 13.b1 [ Safeguarding his king before advancing on the kingside. The pawn wasn't necessarily u n t o u c h a b l e , b u t a f t e r 13.xb5 b6 14.b1 c6 15.e4 e7 16.d3 a5 Black's compensation is clear and he would have enjoyed easy play on the queenside. ] 13...d7 14.h4! Here we go... e5 [ This allows White to switch to positional mode, but actually the position isn't so easy for Black. He'd like to go 14...b8 15.g4 b4 , b u t t h e n 16.c4 keeps lines closed and leaves g4-g5 next up. ] 15.dxe5 xe5 16.e4! Trying to deprive Black of the bishop-pair, as well generate so m e ce n t r a l p r e s s u r e . xf3 17.xf3 xe4+? [ This is too compliant. Gurpreet had to go 17...d5! , even if 18.c2 b4 may look slow with White well placed on the b1-h7 diagonal. However, after 19.cxb4 b6 20.d3 g6 21.h5 g7 matters aren't so clear, since 22.hxg6 ( or 22.a3 a5! ) 22...fxg6 opens the f-file for counterplay and 23.f3 f6 ( 23...xb4 24.b3 f4 25.xg6 a5 probably doesn't give Black quite enough for his pawn either) 24.b3 f7 would have left everything to play for, even if W hite should be slightly for choice. ] 18.xe4 xh4 [ Unconvincing, but 18...e5 was hardly any better: for example, 19.d5 b8 20.d3 b6 21.f1 b4 22.c4 followed by f2-f4 when White is in complete control. ] 19.xd6 g5 [ I dare say Gurpreet had underestimated White's initiative. The text logically tries to make his bishop safe. An alternative was 19...f6!? , but after 20.f5 g5 21.d6 e5 22.d5 e6 23.xb5 Black wouldn't h a ve h a d a n ywh e re n e a r e n o u g h f o r a pawn. ] 20.d5 b6? [ Allowing White to switch back to the kingside with some effect. He had to play for exchanges with 20...e7 21.e4 fd8 .] 21.g3! f5 [ Now that the knight on d6 isn't loose and 2333
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White has a major piece on the g-file he was B) 7...a6 . ] a l l s e t t o c r a s h t h r o u g h , s u c h a s w i t h 7...b4 21...ad8 22.xg5! . ] [ Black must push on. Naturally he doesn't 22.f4 f6 23.xf5 Collecting a second pawn want to see his queenside become while maintaining a crushing initiative. Already fragmented through an exchange on a4, G u r p r e e t m i g h t h a v e g i v e n u p . fd8 which also opens useful lines for W hite's 24.xh6+ f8 25.g6! Flashy, but also p i e c e s , a n d 7...cxd4?! would be mistaken pretty strong. gxh6 26.xh6+ f7 27.h7+ too: 8.axb5! dxc3 9.xc3 gives White a f8 28.h6+ f7 29.h7+ f8 30.f5 useful grip on the position and after a6 ( or e6 9...d5 10.e3 bd7 11.xa7 xa7 [ Now White regains his piece, but 30...d6 12.xa7 0-0 13.d2 when Black's extra would, of course, have run into 31.h8+ . ] centre pawn gives him some but probably 31.h8+ e7 32.h7+ d6 33.xf6 not enough compensation) 10.d4! xg2 1-0 11.xg2 b6 12.f3 White is somewhat for choice, with Black's knight still entombed on b8. ] 2384 A46 8.dxc5 [ Adly decides to make Black move his Adly,Ahmed 2591 bishop again. Instead 8.cxb4 cxb4 9.bd2 Aronian,Levon 2781 was pre f erred in th e elite en cou nte r T . World Team Championship (9) 13.01.2010 Petrosian-Polugaevsky, USSR [Richard Palliser] Championship, Leningrad 1977, not that Black was especially troubled by his slight 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 b5!? 4.g2 weaknesses on a5 and c5 after 0-0 10.b3 [ As we'll see in this column, White has a d6 11.e1 xg2 12.xg2 bd7 13.d3 number of closely-related move orders after (trying to probe, so Polu decides to remind 3...b5 and transpositions are from far White that he also has a queenside hole) d5 unknown. Here, for instance, the immediate 14.g5 e4 by when play was looking fairly 4.a4 might well lead to the game position level. ] after b4 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 c5 7.c3 e7 , ( although with this move order Black might 8...xc5 [ Even here 8...a6!? deserves attention, circumnavigate Adly's exchange on c5 with but it's likely now too late to guarantee the solid 7...cxd4 8.cxd4 e7 . )] Black full equality: 9.cxb4 xb4 10.e3! 4...b7 5.0-0 c5 6.c3 e7 c8 11.a3 gives White a pull, as we can [ Cox's preference is for 6...a6 , which we'll see by following the semi-forcing line xc5 cover in Belov-Slavin. The two moves can 12.xc5 xc5 13.d4 b6 14.c4 c2 easily transpose after the common 15.xb6 xd4 16.xd4 xg2 17.xd7 sequence 7.g5 e7 , but White isn't xd7 18.xg2 when the extra pawn must forced to commit his bishop to g5. ] count for something in the resulting 7.a4!? Adly decides to prod Black's queenside, endgame. ] but this set-up would never have become fully acceptable for Black at Grandmaster level if 9.e5 [ The exchange of light-squared bishops is he wasn't able to handle such an advance. often slightly in W hite's favour, as it [ A major alternative is 7.g5 when Black weakens further Black's defences on the might well take play back into the realm of queenside. Here White might also explore Belov-Slavin with 9.cxb4!? xb4 , a f t e r w h i c h 10.b3 A) He doesn't have to, but should be ( trying to exploit the position of Black's aware that 7...h6?! 8.xf6 xf6 9.dxc5! bishops otherwise, 10.d2 e7 11.a5 is a lit t le a n n o yin g , a s sh o wn b y a6 seizes some space, but in Hosek-Hala, ( 9...c7?! 10.d6 would be even worse) Czech League 2009, a6 12.c3 0-0 10.a3 when White remains a pawn 13.b5 e4 gave Black easy equality) ahead.; 2334
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10...a6 11.c3 0-0 12.e3! reaches a slightly deceptive position. One might have thought that Black was doing well with that extra centre pawn and his pieces seemingly active enough, but matters aren't so clear as it's not that easy for him to deal with the pressure down the b-file and against a7. Indeed, after e7 ( I would prefer to bring the queen to join in the main battle with 12...a5! when 13.fc1 c5 14.d1 ac8 seems OK for Black) 13.ac1 e5?! ( a rather loose advance even here matters wouldn't have been too bad for Black after 13...d6 ) 14.fd1 fb8 15.b5 d5 in Hacche-Smerdon, Canberra 2010, there was no good reason for W hite not to grab with 16.xa7 . ] 9...xg2 10.xg2 b6 [ This very natural move turns out to be a novelty. One long-time exponent of 3...b5 had previously preferred the closely-related 10...c7 and after 11.d3 bxc3 ( 11...a6!? a la Aronian might be an even b e t t e r t r y) 12.xc3 e7 13.d2 ( 13.b3!? c6 14.b5 would keep Black's queen from b7, but doesn't seem especially effective after b8 ) 13...b7+! 14.f3 c6 15.b1 a5 Black clearly hadn't any problems in Luce-Arkell, Cappelle la Grande 1993, before going on to take over the initiative after 16.b5 0-0 17.b3 b6 18.a2?! d5 . ] 11.d3 a6 [ 11...bxc3 12.xc3 e7 would have p r e s e r v e d t h e b i s h o p , b u t a f t e r 13.e4 White would have enjoyed a small initiative. Aronian unsurprisingly prefers to unbalance the position. ] 12.a5 [ This only drives Black's queen to a square where she is normally well placed after an exchange of light-squared bishops in this variation, controlling various key squares on the long diagonal, as well as generating some pressure down the b-file. However, I'm not entirely sure what W hite should have preferred, since 12.xc5 xc5 13.e3 0-0 seems fine for Black, such as after 14.d4 ( 14.cxb4?! xb4 15.c3 also avoids being left with an isolani on c3, but after fc8 White will clearly come under some
pressure on the queenside) 14...ab8 15.xf6 gxf6 16.c4 c6+ 17.g1 fd8 , lining up ...d5. ] [ Maybe 12.cxb4!? xb4 13.xc5 xc5 14.c3 was best, allowing Black a reasonable degree of activity and potential queenside pressure, but hoping to bring White's extra bishop to a good square (d4, f4 or even d6). I suspect that this would have been roughly even. ] 12...b7+ 13.f3 e7! Now Black can safely preserve his bishop and, indeed, if anyone must be careful here it's White, as Black is the better-developed side and the one with a bit of queenside pressure. 14.e4?! [ Unless White can follow up with a quick e4e5, I'm rarely convinced by this advance in such posit ions. Rat her t han p otent ially weaken his king's defences, W hite might have lef t the e-pawn securely at home, p r e f e r r i n g 14.cxb4 xb4 15.c3 0-0 16.xb4 xb4 17.d3 with a dynamically balanced position, in which he might look to probe with Bg5 or to fix a long-term target on a7 with a6 and Be3. ] 14...c8 15.a4 [ Continuing creatively, but the damage has already been done. Adly's problem is that after 15.g5 0-0 White's queenside remains loose and 16.e5? d5 would only play somewhat into Black's hands. ] 15...d5! Aronian wastes no time highlighting the drawback to e4. Now White doesn't want to activate Black's pieces and weaken himself down the long diagonal with an exchange on d5, but neither is closing the centre a panacea for him. 16.e5 d7 17.e3 bxc3 Only now does Black release the queenside tension, having realised that bringing a knight to c5 will conf irm that h e enjoys a prett y p l e a s a n t ve r s i o n o f t h e F r e n c h . 18.xc3 dc5! 19.xc5 xc5 20.b4 [ Adly opts for active defence. The alternative was to begin grovelling with 20.xc5 xc5 21.e2 , b u t a f t e r b3 there can be no doubt that Black enjoys a pleasant edge. ] 20...c6 21.g4!? [ Easy to criticise in view of Aronian's response, but W hite really had to stir up trouble. Imagine that he'd preferred the more routine 21.xc5 xc5 22.h4 e7 2335
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.d4 - would he really then have been able to prevent Black from slowing taking over the board after 0-0 24.d2 f6 ? ] 21...h5! 22.b4?! [ The g-pawn was, of course, taboo as 22.xg7?? f8 traps the errant rook, ] [ but placing another piece on the fourth rank is risky too. I suspect that White had to try 22.f4 , daring Black to carry on pushing his p a wn s wi t h g5 when his own king position might later become a cause for concern too after ( 22...b8 would be a safer, likely superior approach) 23.d4 and perhaps f4. ] 22...b7 23.d4 0-0 [ Aronian is happy to castle despite the protruding pawn on h5, but one might also make a good case for 23...h4!? 24.g4 ( or 24.g4 f8 25.e2 h5 , keeping the king safe and activating the rook via the side ) 24...h3+ 25.h1 0-0 when the hpawn might well land up being a serious thorn in White's side, especially as it's hard to be lieve he 'll b e a b le t o m a int a in h is blockade of d4 forever. ] 24.f4 g6? [ Aronian wants to fix the kingside structure in true Gurgenidze style, but he has underestimated White's play. Correct was either 24...a6!? , fixing the weakness on a5 a n d i n t e n d i n g 25.f5 ( 25.xh5? b3 breaks the blockade) 25...e4 26.fxe6 fxe6 27.xf8+ xf8 when Black's threats seem the more important, ] [ or the immediate 24...e4!? when 25.a6 a8 26.xe4 dxe4 27.e2 fd8 would have seen Black beginning to take control, due in no small part to his much safer king. ] 25.h3? [ Adly is a very creative and courageous player, but it appears he missed a decent chance at this point. Both players must have considered 25.f5! , but perhaps they hadn't fully realised that gxf5? ( I suspect A r o n i a n w a s i n t e n d i n g 25...d7!? , but this is more messy than he needed to a l l o w a n d h e r e 26.d3 gxf5 27.ff4! gives White decent counterplay) 26.xh5 b3 27.a6! is very strong, since a8 ( or 27...b6 28.cxd5 exd5 29.xd5 c6?
30.xf5 and White's attack crashes through ) 28.g4+! ( my initial idea was 28.h4 , which appears to result in perpetual, but unsurprisingly Rybka can do much better) 28...fxg4 29.f6! leaves Black unable to stave off mate for long. ] 25...g7!? [ Black might have kept the kingside fully closed with 25...f5 , which would have been rather good for him, but Aronian is unafraid to provoke complications. ] 26.bxd5!? [ This slightly desperate try comes up short, but now after 26.f5 exf5 27.bxd5 e6 Black would have been somewhat for choice, with his own king pretty safe and White's still on a rather precarious square. ] 26...exd5 27.f5 [ After 27.xd5 e6 28.d3 fd8 I dare say it wouldn't have taken Aronian long to put the extra piece to good use. ] 27...g5 28.b4 e6! 29.d3 d4 The floodgates open. Adly battles on for a few moves, but by now the result was never in doubt. 30.e2 gxf5 31.xd4 e3 32.xf5 xd4 33.xd4 d7 34.g4 c3 35.h4 d8+ 0-1
2385 Alekseev,Vadim Borisova,Elizaveta Chigorin Mem (3) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2412 2168 02.11.2000
Torre Attack: W hite opts for solidity rather than ambition, in one of Black's most aggressive anti-Torre lines, but he still gets the job done in the end. 1.f3 f6 2.d4 c5 3.c3 White is trying to reach a Torre attack, but there is a problem with this move order. e6 But it's not this! [ In my opinion 3...d5 equalises immediately for Black. ] 4.g5 b6 5.b3 Certainly not the most exciting possibility. [ 5.bd2 contains more than a drop of poison after: xb2 6.c4 xc3+ 7.d2 xc4 8.e4 traps the Black queen! However, this may not be the end of the story. xf1+ 2336
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.xf1 xe4 leads to an unbalanced position, where Black has two pieces and three pawns for his queen. This type of p o s i t i o n m a y a p p e a l t o c re a t i ve B l a c k players, who want to go all out for the win. ] 5...c6 6.e3 e7 7.bd2 d5 8.c2 d7 9.d3 c8 10.b1 White's position is solid enough, but it is difficult to foresee any real problems for Black. h6 11.h4 0-0 12.0-0 c4 This is the real cause of Black's future problems. By abandoning his pressure on the White centre, he is just asking for trouble in the form of e3-e4. 13.c2 a5 14.e1 b5 15.a3 b6 16.e4 When White gets this move in free of charge, he is normally assured of the advantage. a5 17.exd5 xd5 18.xe7 dxe7 19.d1 The queen heads back to the kingside. a4 Very strange. I have no idea why Black would practically rule out any chance of counterplay for himself on the queenside! 20.e4 a5 21.e5 c6 22.h5 Having ruled out any thunder and lightening of his own, the storm clouds begin to gather over the Black kingside. xe4 23.xe4 d8 24.g4 There is no good defence to the threat of Qxh6 and Black could already resign. f5 25.xh6 g6 26.h4 1-0
2386 Andreev,Encho Pelitov,Dimitar TCh Pamporovo BUL (3) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2206 04.10.2001
Torre Attack: Black takes a very no-nonsense approach to his problems in the Torre. He b rin gs t h e b a t t le t o h is o p p o n e n t o n t h e queenside f rom such an early stage tha t White's own attack never really gets going. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 encouraging White to enter the Torre-Tromp with 4.Bxf6 Qxf6 5.e4. 4.h4 Of course, taking on f6 is by no mea ns ma nd ato ry. W hit e f orgo es th e opportunity to build a big pawn centre, in order to retain the bishop pair and the pin on the Black knight. c5 5.e3 c6 6.c3 d5 Black opts for greater central control at the expense of hemming in his light squared bishop and handing W hite the e5 square.
7.d3 [ 7.bd2 was interesting in order to meet Qb6 with Rb1. ] 7...b6 8.c1 d7 9.0-0 c8 Black begins to mount unpleasant pressure along the c-file. 10.bd2 cxd4 11.exd4 d6 12.b3 I can't help feeling that this is a step in the wrong direction. Here, the knight just proves to be a target for Black's queenside initiative. [ I would prefer both 12.e1 and ] [ 12.xf6 ] 12...a5 Black, as we all would, leaps at his chance to gain the advantage. 13.c2 a4 14.c1 e4 Black starts some complications, hoping to confuse his opponent. [ 14...b4 15.e2 xd3 16.xd3 b5 was also promising. ] 15.xe4 dxe4 16.e1? An abject retreat. [ 16.xe4 Although not pleasant, it had to be tried. xb2 17.e2 And things are far from clear, as White intends Rfb1. ] 16...0-0 Black is in no rush, he knows that his advantage is not simply going to disappear. [ 16...xd4 17.xe4 f5 also leaves Black completely in the driving seat, but W HY would you voluntarily get rid of the monster on e4? ] 17.g3 e7 [ 17...xd4 18.xe4 xg3 19.hxg3 xb2 was winning immediately. ] 18.xd6 xd6 19.e2 d5 White is completely tied up and just waits for his fate to be sealed on the light squares. 20.a3 f5 21.f3 b5 22.f2 White resigned immediately, before Black could administer the death blow: 22...e3 23.Rf1 Qc4 winning at least a piece. [ 22.d2 e5 is clearly uncomfortable for White, but nevertheless, it had to be tried. ] 0-1
2387 Andreikin,Dmitry Svidler,Peter FIDE World Cup, Tromso (rapid) (5.3) [Richard Palliser]
A46 2716 2746 25.8.13
1.d4 f6 2.g5 [ One of several possible Torre routes to our game position would be 2.f3 e6 3.g5 2337
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h6 4.h4 c5 5.e3 b6 6.bd2 e7 7.c3 .] 2...e6 3.d2 h6 [ We should compare the game position with 3...c5 4.e3 e7 5.c3 b6 6.gf3 a6 . It's hard to believe that the slight difference on the kingside can make too much difference and this position has also been extremely rare. One of the few examples continued 7.xa6 xa6 8.0-0 ( 8.xf6 xf6 9.e4 would likely have been Andreikin's choice) 8...0-0 9.e2 c7 10.ad1 cxd4 11.xd4!? (a slightly strange decision) c8 12.a3 b7 13.e4 d6 with a comfortable enough Sicilian-type setup for Black in Pohjala-Nieminen, Tampere 2008. ] 4.h4 c5 5.e3 e7 6.c3 b6 7.gf3 We saw last month how Andreikin knocked Karjakin out of the previous round of the World Cup with the Torre. There the young superstar didn't appear at all ready for the opening and here too Svidler came up with a rather unusual line. a6!? [ It can't be too terrible an idea to exchange off a potential attacking piece in the shape of White's light-squared bishop, but virtually all Grandmasters have preferred 7...b7 , heading for the standard Hedgehog-type set-up. ] 8.xf6 [ Already a novelty, so rare has this line been. W h i t e h a d p r e v i o u s l y p r e f e r r e d 8.xa6 xa6 9.e2 and after c7 10.e5! fd5 ( it's actually not so easy for Black to equalise, since 10...cd5 leaves the knight rather vulnerable to kicks and 11.0-0 c7 12.g3! d6 13.e4 works out in White's favour ) 11.g3 d6 12.c6 d7 13.xe7 xe7 14.0-0 0-0 had netted the bishop-pair in Forchert-Ullrich, Detmold 1988. Now 15.dxc5! dxc5 ( 15...bxc5 16.e4 f5 17.ad1 is a little awkward for Black) 16.e4 would have given him a definite edge. ] 8...xf6 9.xa6 xa6 10.e4 White is nicely centralised, but Svidler cannot have be e n t o o un h a p py e ith e r sin ce t h e e a rly exchanges have brought him close to equality. cxd4 [ A well-timed exchange, whereas 10...0-0?! 11.a4! b8 12.dxc5 wouldn't have given
Black enough for his pawn. ] 11.xf6+ [ This retains a small pull. To see why Andreikin made the exchange we should examine the line 11.exd4 e7 12.0-0 0-0 wh en W hit e's ext ra knight is in no wa y superior to Black's bishop: for example, 13.a4 c7 14.e5 e8! , preparing to kick back the more advanced of the white knights. ] 11...xf6 12.cxd4 e7 13.0-0 0-0 14.a4! An important move. The position might be symmetrical, but Andreikin is able to claim a small initiative thanks to his more active qu e e n a n d kn igh t . c7 15.ac1 d5 16.e5! [ The only real way to maintain the initiative. Instead, 16.c2 d6 17.fc1 might look obvious, but after e8 it's not so easy for W h i t e t o g e t i n : f o r i n s t a n c e , 18.xe8 ( 18.c4 f5! is a handy defensive resource) 18...fxe8 19.e4?! b4 , hitting a2. ] 16...d6 17.d3 [ Andreikin is happy to keep his knight flexible and retain the option of e3-e4. It might seem tempting to go 17.c6 d7 18.c2 , and if fc8 19.fc1 c7 then 20.b4 , but after ac8 21.b5 f5 it won't be so easy for White to make further progress. ] 17...fc8 18.h3!? [ White isn't in a hurry and presumably didn't feel that his chances would be all that great in the event of 18.e4 f6 19.f3 d7 20.xd7 xd7 21.f2 , although one could imagine Karpov playing this way followed by expanding on the kingside en route to grinding out the full point. ] 18...b7 19.a3 Forcing the black queen back before improving his own. d7 20.a6 f5 21.fe1 Andreikin reacts to Black's logical last by hinting at a timely e3-e4 as well a certain knight manoeuvre. f7 [ It can hardly be bad to improve the king, although he might also have semi-passed with 21...ab8 , basically asking White: 'what next?'. Indeed, I'm not too sure what White should try here, with 22.f4?! b4 23.e2 xa2 24.xc8+ xc8 25.e4 b4 looking like an improved version of the game for Black. ] 22.f4! White hopes to obtain some pressure 2338
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 down the e-file in the event of an exchange on f 4, bu t this does entail a pawn sacrif ice . b4!? [ Svidler is up to the challenge as the game b e g i n s t o h e a t u p . I n s t e a d , 22...xf4?! 23.exf4 ab8 24.d5! exd5 25.d3 regains the pawn with advantage, ] [ but one wonders if Svidler later regretted not keeping things solid with 22...f6 . ] 23.e2 xa2 24.xc8 xc8 25.e4 White's initiative offers him decent compensation for the pawn, since Black's kingside is weak and his knight currently offside. Most importantly, though, it's always easier to attack than defend as the players begin to run low on time towards the end of a rapid game. b4 26.exf5 exf5 27.f3 [ Beginning to probe. The alternative 27.h5+ g8 28.g6 would have prepared to invade on the seventh, but after e8! ( 28...d5? 29.f3! is a vicious switch-back) 29.xe8+ xe8 30.xf5 c6 31.d5+ h7 32.f4 e1+! 33.h2 xf2 Black would, with a little care, have been able to reach a drawing haven. ] 27...a5 [ Svidler avoids blundering his knight to Qb3+. T h e m a i n a l t e r n a t i v e w a s 27...d5!? , b u t a f t e r 28.e5 g8 29.b3! a5 30.xd5 xd5 31.xd5 a4 32.f3 he would have come under a bit of pressure in any case. Still, at least unless Svidler was going to spot the right defence on his next move, he should have preferred this and then perhaps c1+ 33.h2 c7+ 34.g3 f4 35.gxf4 c2 . ] 28.e6 g8? [ Trying to escape the danger, but this fails to. O n c e a g a i n 28...d5! came very much into the equation, but this would have required B l a c k t o s p o t t h e c a l m m o v e 29.g3 ( 29.xb6 c6 30.h5+ g8 31.b8+ c8 should defend) 29...c1+ 30.h2 c6 31.g6+ f8! , since White has nothing special after 32.xc6 ( or 32.xf5+ g8 ) 32...xc6 33.e6+ e7 , and if 34.xg7 xd4 . ] 29.g3 Suddenly h6 is attacked and Black finds himself under heavy pressure. d5? [ 29...c6 30.h5 h8 31.xd6 f7 32.f4 would have seen White regaining his
pa wn while ret a in ing th e p ressure , b u t likely Black had to try this. W ith the text Svidler had clearly overlooked a little trick. ] [ Note too that the equally fiendish 29...c7 30.xh6 c1+ 31.h2 d3! fails to get Black fully out of jail after 32.h4 xf4 33.xf4 , but again, of course, this was a much better try. ] 30.b3! [ 'Loose pieces drop off' as they say. Here because 30.b3 xf4 31.e7+ wins the black queen. ] 1-0
2388 Arencibia Rodriguez,Walter Rivas Pastor,Manuel 3rd Open Malaga ESP (8) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2529 2453 03.03.2000
There are some exceptionally boring days, when your opponent is in a peaceable mood and content to go about exchanging all your attacking pieces as quickly as possible. Step forward Mr Arencibia to give a masterclass in successful attacking with just a handful of pieces. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 c5 4.e3 h6 5.h4 b6 6.c3 e7 7.bd2 0-0 8.d3 a6 A standard tactic in the d-pawn specials, Black seeks to exchange White's dangerous light squared bishop. 9.xa6 xa6 10.e2 Highlights the weakness of Black's opening play. The off-side Black knight is targeted, while White gains time for his central advance. c7 11.e4 h5 Black is exchanging pieces as if his life depended on it, trying to rob the position of all it's dynamism. 12.xe7 xe7 13.e5 f6 14.d3 cxd4 15.cxd4 d5 [ 15...fc8 16.0-0= ] 16.e5 White guarantees himself a central space advantage and the clear plan of p l o u g h i n g t h r o u g h o n t h e k i n g s i d e . e4 17.0-0 White avoids the complications of [ 17.xe4 dxe4 18.xe4 ad8 when he must still be better. But now Black has compensation for the pawn, in the form of the weak d4 pawn. ] 17...xd2 Continuing the strategy of exchanging pieces, probably hoping for an early draw. Black is certainly going to be 2339
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 disappointed! 18.xd2 b5 19.e3 a5 20.f4 Charge! ac8 21.a4 a7 22.f5 White undermines the pawn chain and gives Black some extremely awkward questions to answer on the kingside. exf5 23.xf5 c4 24.af1 c6 Black was probably relying on this counterattack on d4, but unfortunately for him, White has seen further. 25.e6! xd4? Black crumbles under the pressure, completely missing White's idea. [ 25...f6 was much better although after 26.xd5 d8 27.f4 White has the idea of Ng6, which leaves him clearly on top. ] 26.xf7 Black resigned, rather than see the painful variation: [ 26.xf7 xf7 27.exf7+ f8 28.xe7+ xe7 29.e5 The f-pawn will fulfil it's destiny and queen. ] 1-0
[ 14.f1 c8 15.b4 ] 14...g5 Now, Black is able to conjure up some threats against the White King. Although with best play, these shouldn't be too serious, they require careful handling. 15.g3 f4 16.e4 g4 As predicted, Black latches onto the weakened kingside light squares. 17.xc7 c6 Black has very real compensation for his pawn, due to the weak White king. Over the board, personally I would take Black every time. 18.d2 fxe3 19.fxe3 g5 A nice switchback, highlighting the fact that W hite's dark squares are also potentially weak. 20.e1 ae8 21.h4 In his panic, White completely misses Black's big idea. [ He had to try: 21.f2 ] 21...d5! A knockout punch. The mate threat on g2 forces a decisive gain of material. 0-1
2389 Bastys,Robertas Sarakauskas,Gediminas ch Vilnius LTU (2) [Aaron Summerscale]
2390 Bellin,Robert Epishin,Vladimir Masters Catalan Bay ENG (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2236 2352 26.03.2000
The weird b5. It seems that Black systems with an early ...b5 are making a small comeback. Black grabs some early queenside space and hinders White's normal approach of c4. As you are all d-pawn specialists, this shouldn't pose too many problems. My advice is don't underestimate your opponent, just because he plays a few funny-looking opening moves. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 b5 This is a relatively rare move, but although slightly weakening, it should be treated with respect. R e m e m b e r , T o n y M i l e s oncebeatKarpovwitha6andb5! 3.g5 b7 4.xf6 exf6 5.e3 a6 6.c4 It makes a great deal of sense to break up Black's queenside pawn structure. bxc4 7.xc4 b4+ 8.c3 0-0 9.b3 xc3+ [ 9...xf3 10.gxf3 c6 should be slightly better for W hite after: 11.a3 due to his greater central control. ] 10.xc3 c6 11.0-0 e7 12.d2 g6 13.fc1 f5 14.d3 Definitely a mistake. Alternatively, White would retain a small but long lasting edge after the cautious:
A46 2360 2626 28.01.2003
Torre Attack: If you are looking for an opening plan against the Torre attack without having to memorise a whole string of moves, then take a loo k a t the f ollowin g gam e. Blac k deploys his forces efficiently and is ready to meet any White activity. Now let Grandmaster E p i s h i n c o n d u c t c l a s s a s h e sh o ws y o u exactly what to do next. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 4.h4 d6 5.h3 Giving the dark squared bishop an escape route if needed.. bd7 6.bd2 e7 7.e3 0-0 8.c3 b8 Black finds an interesting plan. Rather than expanding in the centre, he plans to attack on the flanks. 9.c2 b5 10.e2 c5 11.0-0 a6 12.fd1 White's play is quite passive and this leads to problems later. Perhaps he was intimidated by his highly esteemed opponent. [ 12.a4 or ] [ 12.e4 would be more energetic. ] 12...c7 13.ac1 b7 14.a4 fc8 Black builds up patiently, as W hite is not really threatening anything. 15.axb5 axb5 16.dxc5 [ 16.xb5?? xf3 ] 2340
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16...xc5 17.b4 b6 18.d4 Black has effortlessly attained a good Sicilian type of position. a6 19.a2 a8 20.e4 e5 Eyeing the vulnerable c4 square. 21.a1? White cracks and as we will see, leaving the c3 pawn undefended has dire consequences. xe4! Bang! Black wins a crucial pawn. 22.xe4 [ 22.xe7 xc3 is even worse. ] 22...xh4 23.a5 Heading up a blind alley. b8 24.xa6 Desperation, but White is in trouble anyway. [ 24.xb5 Falls foul of: b7 Picking up a piece. ] 24...xa6 25.xa6 White resigned without waiting for 25...Qb7 forking rook and knight. 0-1
2391 Bellon Lopez,Juan Manuel Obers,Frits Western Canadian Open (2) [Eric Prié]
A46 2416 2096 10.07.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.f3 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.e4 From the Tromp, via the Torre for one move, the game has again swung, transposing into a sub-line of the 2..e6 Tromp, the normal sequence being 3.e4 h6 4.Bxf6 Qxf6 5.Nf3, and this has a sulphurous reputation for White d5 This is why 5.Nc3 (preventing Black's last, but not avoiding the major concern of 5...Bb4) is the main line of the 2...e6 Tromp. 5...d6 is another, possibly better, alternative. See next month with the previously announced 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 d5 and related positions I did not have room to cover this month. 6.bd2 d8 [ 6...c5!? This fragmentary game is important for understanding why in the 2... e6 Tromp 3. e4 h6 4.Bxf6 Qxf6 5.c3 d5! 6. Nd2 c5! as in game 8 is obviously stronger for Black. 7.b5+ ( 7.dxc5 xb2 ) 7...d7 ( 7...c6 8.e5 ) 8.xd7+ xd7 9.exd5 exd5 10.0-0 e7 11.dxc5 xc5 12.b3 d8 ( 12...d6 13.xc5 xc5 14.c3 ) 13.xc5 xc5 14.e1+ f8 15.c3 g6 16.e5? ( 16.b3! b6 17.xb6 xb6 18.ad1 ) 16...g7! 17.xd5 b6 18.b4 xf2+ 19.h1 xd5 20.xd5 d8
Bellon Lopez,J-Rico Galiano,A Seville op 2005 1/2 (49) ] 7.c3! c5? [ 7...e7! 8.d3 0-0 9.0-0 c5 Now 10.exd5 xd5 11.e4 d8 12.c4 d7 13.ce5 xe5 14.dxe5 c7 15.e2 d7 16.fd1 1/2-1/2 Grillitsch,K-Janetschek,K AUT-ChT 1991 ] 8.exd5 xd5 [ 8...exd5 9.b5+! d7 10.e2+ e7 11.dxc5 0-0 12.b3 xc5 13.xd7 xd7 14.0-0-0 ] 9.c4 d8 10.e5! a6? [ 10...c6 Only move 11.b5?! d7 ] [ 10...d7 11.b5 a6 12.f3 e7 13.xd7+ xd7 14.xb7 ] 11.0-0? [ 11.h5! A) 11...c7 12.d3! d6 ( 12...g6 13.xg6 fxg6 14.xg6+ e7 15.f7+ d8 16.f6+ ) 13.xf7; B) 11...g6 12.xg6 fxg6 13.xg6+ d7 ( 13...e7 14.e4 ) 14.dxc5 White gets at least 3 pawns in addition to a massive attack. ] 11...cxd4 12.h5 c7 13.cxd4 [ 13.d3 d6 14.xf7 xh2+ 15.h1 0-0 ] 13...c6 14.ac1 xe5? [ 14...g6 15.f3 xe5 16.f6? g4! ] 15.dxe5 a5 16.e4 [ 16.fd1! e7 17.b3 0-0 18.c4 b4 19.d6 ] 16...e7= 17.c3? Losing a pawn for nothing. [ 17.g3 Intending g6?! ( 17...0-0 ) 18.e2 ] 17...g6 18.d1 xe5 19.e1 0-0 20.h3 g7 21.d6? [ 21.d2 h7 22.d3 ] 21...d8 22.d3 xd6 23.xd6 xd6 24.xd6 xb2 Two heavy ELO costing pawns down, the optimistic Spanish Gra n d m a st e r is co m p le t e ly lo st ! 25.d8+ g7 26.d1 c2 27.b3 c5 28.d6 [ 28.e8 f8 ] 28...b5 29.h4 a7 [ 29...b7 "The simplest moves are the least complicated" Old Chinese proverb. 30.e7 c1+ 31.d1 ( 31.d1 c6 32.f3 e8 ) 31...d5 32.xd5 exd5 33.e5+ g8-+ ] 2341
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 30.d2 c7 31.d4+ e5 32.e3 f5 [ 32...c1+ 33.h2 e7 ] 33.d5 a8? The first real mistake giving back one pawn without simplifying the position. [ 33...f6 34.d8 xd8 35.xa7+ d7 36.xa6 d3 ] 34.xe5 c8? [ 34...d8 35.e7 d7 ] 35.e7 c1+ 36.xc1 xc1+ 37.h2 Back in business. f6 38.a7 c6 39.xf7 h5 [ 39...b4! 40.d5 d6 41.b7 e6 Black is still better! ] 40.d5 d6 41.b7 d2? [ 41...b4 42.xa6 e6 43.b5 d2 ] 42.xa6+ It will not appear in the Guinness b o o k o f r e c o r d s b u t 3 p a wn s o f f e re d a s absolute presents in a simple position is really something! e5 43.g3 b4 44.a5+ d4 45.d5 [ 45.d5+ c3 46.xd2 xd2 47.d5 e2! ( 47...c3? 48.f4 b2 49.f7 a3 50.g5 b1 51.f3 b2 52.g4 hxg4 53.fxg4 a3 54.f6 b2 55.h5 gxh5 56.gxh5 xa2 57.h6 b1 58.g6 ) 48.c4+ d3 49.f7 f5 50.f3 e3 is probably drawn. ] 45...c3 46.f7 d6 47.f3 b1 48.a7 b2 49.f4 f6+ 50.e3 d6 51.a4 c3 52.g4? After this Black has several ways to equalize. hxg4 53.fxg4 d4?! [ 53...d7 54.b3 h7= ] 54.a3 xg4 55.xb4 g3+? [ 55...g1?! 56.b3+ c2 57.b6 c3 58.a4 ] [ 55...xb4! Always bear in mind ancient Chinese sagacity... 56.axb4 xb4 57.f4 c5 58.g5 d6 59.f6 ( 59.xg6 e7! The 'bad' h pawn! 60.xb1 f8 61.h6 g8 ) 59...d3 60.xg6 e2 61.f5 d1 62.g5 e7 63.g4 xg4 64.xg4 f6= ] 56.f2 1-0
2392 Belov,Vladimir Slavin,Alexei European Championship (1) [Richard Palliser]
A46 2619 2368 06.03.2010
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 b5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 [ 5.g5 e7 6.0-0 c5 7.c3 a6 is another possible route into the game. ] 5...c5 6.c3 a6 [ Play transposes in the event of 6...e7 7.g5 A) b u t h e r e B l a c k p r e f e r r e d 7...b6 in Danielsen-Hammer, Oslo 2010: 8.bd2 ( by analogy with lines we'll look at in Cordova-Delgado, 8.dxc5 xc5 9.b4!? d5 10.a4 could well present more of a challenge ) 8...cxd4 9.cxd4 h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.e3 a5 12.e1 xg2 13.xg2 0-0 and with both sides enjoying their own sm all t rum p s, th e p o sit io n wa s a bo u t equal.; B) 7...a6 , ] 7.g5 e7 8.d3!? [ The queen is well placed here, eyeing the b5-pawn and supporting a possible advance of the e-pawn. The old main line, as much as there ever has been one after 3...b5, was 8.bd2 0-0 , but many leading fans of 3 g3 have shied away from this in recent years and with good reason. Indeed Black seems t o b e O K h e r e , a s h e w a s a f t e r 9.a3 ( alternatively, 9.xf6 xf6 10.e3 b6 11.a4 b4 12.e2 d5 left Black slightly for choice thanks to his queenside initiative in Ataman-Pantsulaia, Turkish Team Championship 2010,; and White likely does better to wait, such as with 9.e3 , for h6 before giving up the bishop-pair: 10.xf6 xf6 11.e1!? - this rare idea deserves further tests - xg2 12.xg2 b6 13.d3 fc8 14.f3 d5 15.a3! held Black up on the queenside in Ansell-R.Griffiths, Dun Laoghaire 2010, before b4?! 16.axb4 cxb4 17.c4 saw White taking over the initiative) 9...c8 ( the immediate 9...h6 if fine too, as I tried in Hempson-Palliser, Rotherham (rapid) 2007, where 10.xf6 xf6 11.e4 - rather ambitious - b6 12.e5 e7 13.e1 cxd4 14.cxd4 ac8 gave me easy 2342
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c o u n t e r p l a y) 10.e3 ( Cox mentions only 10.e1 , quoting the instructive encounter Gouvela-Kasparov, Rio de Janeiro (simul) 1996: cxd4 11.cxd4 h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.e3 d6 14.b1 b6 15.d3 b8! 16.ac1 d7 17.h4 e7 and the man himself had regrouped, leaving him with a very harmonious position, not to mention the bishop-pair) 10...h6 ( Black's standard method of dealing with the pin, but here I do wonder what's wrong with the simplifying 10...e4!? , since 11.xe7 xe7 12.e5 doesn't really lead anywhere for White after f5 13.e2 d6 ) 11.xf6 xf6 12.e1 xg2 ( 12...d5!? 13.d3 c4 14.f4 c7 makes Black's light-squared bishop 'bad', but does give him chances of carrying out a Mino rity A tt ack af te r .. .a 5 an d .. . b 4) 13.xg2 ( 13.xg2!? followed by Nd3 a la Ansell was also possible) 13...d5 14.h4 b8 , which gave rise to a complex middlegame in Votava-Yusupov, German League 2009. Here the e4-break and White's kingside possibilities compensate for Black's potential queenside breakthrough, and after 15.e2 d7 16.f4 b6 17.f3 g6?! ( one would have expected Yusupov to regroup with the safer 17...fe8 followed by ...Be7-f8) 18.h5! g5 19.d3 d6 ( 19...a5! was required) 20.b4! cxd4 21.cxd4 White had managed to seize a small but clear advantage. ] 8...b6 9.a4! A very logical new move, which combines three of White's favourite themes in this variation (the undermining a4-thrust, the pin with Bg5 and the active placement of the queen on d3), and sees him emerging from the opening with a plus. [ Previously White had preferred the more restrained 9.bd2 and after cxd4 10.xf6 (again White hopes that the stable structure will favour his knight-pair) xf6 11.cxd4 ( the reason Black must always time any e x c h a n g e o n d 4 c a r e f u l l y i s 11.xd4 , but here this would just allow Black to hoover off all the pieces with xg2 12.xg2 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.cxd4 e7 ) 11...b4! 12.b3 e7 13.a3 c6 14.e3 0-0 15.fc1 fc8 the positional maestro enjoyed easy equality in Zubov-Karpov, Calatrava (rapid) 2007. Note how Karpov
wasted no time improving his knight from the rim wit h t em po , a nd h ow f rom c6 it no t only neutralised ideas of Ne5, but also gave Black chances of seizing the initiative with ...Na5-c4. ] 9...b4?! [ This isn't especially challenging, but even a f t e r t h e s u p e r i o r 9...cxd4 10.axb5 ( 10.xd4!? may be even stronger, since W h it e ca n m e e t xg2 11.xg2 bxa4 with the aesthetic and likely effective idea of 12.b4! ) 10...c5 11.xd4 xb5 12.c4 b6 13.c3 White would have emerged with a small but clear pull. ] 10.bd2 0-0 11.e4 [ Continuing to make good use of the queen's position, but 11.c4!? c7 12.f4 would also have been pretty effective, since a pawn drops off following d6 13.dxc5 xc5 14.xd6 xd6 15.xd6 xd6 16.xd6 . ] 11...h6 12.c4 [ Black's play has been rather sub-optimal ever since he was surprised by White's new concept and here Belov must also have b e e n p re t t y t e m p t e d b y 12.e5!? d5 ( 12...hxg5? 13.xg5 g6 14.exf6 xf6 is even worse for Black, since W hite can strike with 15.c4 c7 16.xb7 xb7 17.xf7! ) 13.c4 c7 14.xe7 xe7 15.d6 , invading the hole on d6 with some advantage. ] 12...c7 13.xf6! [ White retains a pleasant advantage after this, but I wonder if he'd been lulled into a false sense of believing anything would do on the previous move and only now realised that 13.e5 wouldn't have been so clear, in view of e4! 14.e2 hxg5 15.exf6 xf6 16.xe4 d5 when Black regains his piece with some counterplay. ] 13...xf6 14.d5! Black might have an unopposed dark-squared bishop, but it is rather blunted by the pawn on c3, so I doubt Belov had to think too hard about taking play into a Benoni structure where W hite is pleasantly better thanks to his outpost on c4. exd5 15.exd5 d6 16.fd2 fd8 [ If Black wanted to keep his bishop on the lo n g, d a rk-squ a re d ia go n a l t h e n 16...g6 was necessary, but I wonder if Slavin was 2343
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 even worried about the direct 17.f4!? . ( Moreover, even here the bishop can't stay on the diagonal due to the weakness of d6 and after 17.e4 e7 18.ae1 White remains at least slightly for choice. )] 17.ab1!? This wasn't essential, but I rather like this prophylactic nudge, which makes Black think twice about any exchange on c3. e7 18.fe1 f8?! [ R a t h e r p a s s i v e . I n s t e a d 18...e8 would have left the onus on White to come up with a particularly good plan, although I suspect he might have begun to probe with 19.h3 ( 19.b3!? is another plan) 19...f8 20.e4 followed by doubling on the e-file and/or advancing the f-pawn. ] 19.e4 [ Belov wants to attack, but one can also m a k e a d e c e n t c a s e f o r t h e p o si t i o n a l 19.b3 e8 20.ba5 , not so much to exchange off Black's light-squared bishop, b u t ra t h e r t o e st a b li sh a k n ig h t o n t h e glaring hole on c6. ] 19...ac8?! [ Continuing to shuffle his pieces at a rather pedestrian pace, but Black really needed to bring a rook to the e-file with 19...e8 when 20.g4!? ( I suspect Belov might well have preferred to advance a different pawn here: 20.f4 , intending f5-f6) 20...ad8 21.g5 hxg5 22.xg5 g6 would have left his defences in much better shape than in the game. ] 20.g4! Realising that Black isn't up to much, Belov turns one of his king's defenders into a powerful bolt which will rip open the opposition king's defences. b8? [ Another slow move, but much of the damage had already been done and even if Black had challenged W hite's aims with 20...e7!? he would have come under a s t r o n g a t t a c k a f t e r 21.f4 ( the more restrained 21.g3 , followed by Nf5 and h4, also gives White promising chances on the kingside ) 21...e8 22.g5! hxg5 23.xg5 , as g6 fails to 24.xf7! xf7 25.e6 g8 26.f5 with a crushing attack. ] 21.g5! d7 [ Fianchettoed bishops are usually good defenders of their kings, but here 21...hxg5 22.xg5 g6 23.h3 g7 is flattened by
24.e6! fxe6 ( or 24...e8 25.xd6 fxe6 26.h7+ f8 27.xg6 with complete carnage ) 25.h7+ f8 26.xe6+ , mating rather than netting the black queen. Hence Slavin's rather desperate-looking defensive try in the game. ] 22.gxh6 g6 23.g5! Belov conducts the whole game with impressive energy and here ref uses t o allow B lack any time to s trin g together even a semblance of a defence. xh6 24.e6! [ Even stronger than 24.xf7 xf7 25.h3 when f6 26.e6+ g7 27.e7+ xe7 28.xe7+ g8 29.xb7 b8 would have seen Black escaping into a pawn-down endgame. ] 24...fxe6 [ This loses by force, but 24...b8 25.xd8 xd8 26.a5 would have left White a clear exchange ahead and still calling the shots. ] 25.xg6+ g7 26.xe6+ f8 [ It's ma te down th e h -f ile a f te r 26...h8 27.xd6 e5 ( or 27...f6 28.f7+ h7 29.e4+ ) 28.e3 . ] 27.e7+ g8 28.e6+ White may well have repeated to gain some time on the clock, but it's not impossible that Belov was just savouring his position. f8 29.e7+ g8 30.xd6 e5 [ After 30...f6 31.xb7 xe7 32.xe7 White's three extra pawns would soon have proved decisive. ] 31.xc8 xc8 Material-wise Black isn't doing terribly with two pieces against a rook and three pawns, but a combination of the d-pawn and his exposed king proves a killer. 32.e6+ f7 33.d6! b8 34.d7 1-0
2393 Braga,Fernando Alberto Doghri,Nabil Manila ol (Men) [Eric Prié]
A46 2405 2300 1992
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.f4 h5 [ 3...e7 When it is time to talk again about Johnsen/Kovacevic's book "W in with the London system", Gambit 2005, where this move is granted no less than one 2344
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e x c l a m a t i o n m a r k ! ! A s f o r 4.h3 it is considered by them as dubious because "too slow" (!?), and instead they then put forward the ridiculous especially when their main line goe s ( 4.bd2? h5! ) 4...c5 5.c3! As usual anyway ( 5.e3 b6 ) 5...cxd4 6.cxd4 d5 "with equality." although I strongly suspect that this one had not been checked by the Croatian Grandmaster... In the same facetious spirit, I could retort that: "Ask your c8-bishop what he thinks of that!" Indeed, after the hardly less logical moves 7.c3 c6 8.e3 we reach a well known position from the Slav Exchange, with around 500 games in my database, about which I prefer to conceal the statistics not to lay it on too thick... ] 4.d2!? [ 4.g5! See the next few games. ] 4...c5 [ 4...f6 5.c4 probably, just as in the case of 4...d5, rather than 4.Nc3 d5 where the B d 2 t e m p o i s a b s o l u t e l y u s e l e s s . e4 6.c3 ] 5.e4! f6 6.e5!? [ 6.c3 cxd4 7.xd4 c6 8.xc6 bxc6 ( 8...dxc6 9.f3!? ) 9.e5 d5 10.f3!? ( 10.e4 c7 transposes into an order of moves sometimes favoured by Sveshnikov players i.e. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Ne4 Qa5+!? (instead of the main 8...Qc7) 9.Bd2 (instead of the main 9.c3) Qc7 with 30 games in my database with normal favourable statistics for White. 11.f4 b6 ) 10...c7 11.g3 ] 6...e4 7.c3 xd2 8.xd2 cxd4 9.xd4 White has gained space and a frightening advance in development in return for the 2 bishops. d6? [ 9...c6 10.f4 ( 10.xc6 dxc6 11.xd8+ xd8 12.0-0-0+ c7= ) 10...d5 ] 10.b5+! Winning a very important pawn. d7 11.exd6 a6 [ 11...xd6 12.xe6 fxe6 13.xd6 ] 12.xd7+ xd7 13.e4 e5? [ 13...xd6 14.f5 ( 14.xe6?? xe6 15.xd6 xe4+ ) 14...e5 15.fd6+ f8 16.0-0-0 ] 14.0-0-0! Keeping the pawn with an irresistible attack against the black king stuck in the
centre. a4 [ 14...exd4 15.he1 d8 16.a5+ c8 17.c5 c6 18.e8+! xe8 19.c7# ] [ 14...xd6 15.f5 ] 15.he1 d7 16.b3 c8 17.f4 g6 18.fxe5 xa2 19.e6 fxe6 20.f6+! d8 [ 20...xf6 21.d7+ d8 22.dxc8+ xc8 23.d8# ] 21.xd7 xd7 22.e3 e8 [ 22...h6 23.xh6 xc2+ ( 23...xb3 24.g7+ c6 25.cxb3 ) 24.xc2 c8+ 25.d3 xb3+ 26.e2 b5+ 27.f2 f5+ 28.g1 ] 23.f1 e5 24.h3+ [ 24.h3+ A) 24...c6 25.c3+ b5 ( 25...d7 26.c7+ e6 27.f7# ) 26.c5+ a4 27.c4#; B) 24...d8 25.f7 a4 26.xb7 f4+ 27.b1 f5 28.c3 c8 29.a5+ c7 30.xc7# ] 1-0
2394 Bures,Martin R Walek,Milan ch CZE (7) [Eric Prié]
A46 2215 2320 1993
1.d4 f6 2.f3 d6 3.c3 [ 3.bd2 is harmless compared to a Nc3, Ne2, g3 set up. Black can follow-up either in a Philidor style with bd7 4.e4 e5 5.c3 e7 or Pirc with 3...g6 4.e4 Bg7 5.Bd3 0-0. ] 3...f5 If Black's the Pirc or the Philidor against e4, I suppose he would just reply 3.. . g6 or 3... Nbd7. 4.g3 c6 4...h6 to be able to re ply 5. .. Bh 7 on 5 . Nh 4 is p ro ba bly mo re accurate. [ 4...c6 5.d5! b4 6.d4 d7 7.e4 c5 8.f3 g4 9.g2 g6 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 g7 12.0-0 0-0 13.g2 d7 14.g5 Libeau,R-Milov,V MTO op Biel 2002 0-1 (75) ] 5.g2 h6 6.0-0 bd7 7.e1 e5 8.e4 [ 8.d5 c8 is the simplest but 8...Bh7 with the idea of ...Qc7, queen's rook somewhere, and if 9.Nh4 e4!? threatening to win a piece by ...g5 is also interesting. ] 8...h7 9.b3 As a consequence of this 2345
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 improved Philidor, White's queen bishop has no good square along its original diagonal. It is difficult for White to be more active: [ 9.h4 exd4 10.xd4 e7 11.f5 xf5 12.exf5 0-0 13.b4 ( 13.g4 d5 14.h4 h7 ) 13...b6 14.a4 a5 15.b3 T h r e a t e n s R x e 7 e8 16.e3 fd7 17.ad1 d5 as in the game, favours Black in the long term. ] 9...e7 10.b2 0-0 11.a4 a5 12.e2 e8 13.ad1 exd4!? [ 13...c7 followed by ... Bf8 is normal. It will succeed in forcing W hite to release the tension in the center which is one of the main goals for Black with this structure, but the text capture, without waiting for White's d5 or dxe5, is also tempting because of the extra pressure on the e4 pawn due to the h7bishop. ] 14.xd4 f8 15.d2 [ 15.f3 is better, not fearing 15...Ne5 16. Qf4, with the possibility of a further Nf5. ] 15...b6 16.a3?! [ 16.f4 ] 16...c5 17.f4 e5! [ T h e c o m b in a t io n 17...cxe4 18.xe4 xe4 19.xe4 xe4 20.xe4 xe4 21.xe4 d5 22.g4 xa3 does not work, because of 23.f5 b2 24.xh6+ ] 18.f5 xf5 19.exf5 ae8 This takes control over the open file but leaves the rook exposed. It was more relevant to play on the advantage of the structure with [ 19...xe1+ 20.xe1 d5 ] 20.xe5 xe5?! [ 20...dxe5 21.c1 A) 21...g4 22.f1 ( 22.d2 e4 ); B) 21...cd7 22.xf8 ( 22.b2 c5 23.d2 d4 ) 22...xf8 23.e3 is about equal. ] 21.g4 c7 [ 21...e8 22.h4 d5 23.g5 hxg5 24.hxg5 fe4 25.e1 ] 22.b2! e7 [ 22...d5? 23.xd5! protects the queen a g a i n s t R e 1 + xd5 24.xc7 xd1+ 25.f1+- ] 23.f1 e8 24.f3 To prevent the intrusion of Black's rook on e2, but it was not necessary. [ 24.b1!
A) 24...e2?! 25.d2 fd7 ( 25...d5 26.d4! b6 27.e3 ) 26.g5!; B) 24...e7 25.xf6 ( 25.g5!? hxg5 26.xg5 fe4 27.g4 ) 25...gxf6 26.c3 ( 26.d2 d5 27.c4?? d3 28.g3 e1+ 29.xe1 xe1#; 26.xd6?? d7 ) 26...d5 27.xd5! cxd5 28.xd5 c6 29.xe7+ xe7 30.g1 ] 24...d5 25.e2 e7 26.a3 [ 26.xf6 gxf6 27.c4 dxc4 28.xc4 d7 29.c3 e5 30.g3 ] 26...d7 27.b2 d6 [ 27...ce4 28.h4 ] 28.d4? To hope for counterchances White has to keep his queen on the c1-h6 diagonal. [ 28.c1 e5 29.a3 ce4 30.h4 ] 28...e7 Black is back on track! 29.g3 [ 29.h4 b6 30.g5 e5 ] 29...b6 30.d2 ce4 31.d3? [ 31.c1 c5 ( 31...e5! 32.a3 d7 ) 32.xe4 xe4 33.f6! e6! ( 33...xf6 34.xf6 gxf6 35.xh6 ) 34.xe4 dxe4! ( 34...xe4 35.fxg7 e6 36.e1 xg4 37.xh6! xe1+ 38.xe1 g1+ 39.d2 xf2+ 40.d1 f3+ with nothing more than a perpetual.) 35.d2 e3 36.fxe3 d6 ( 36...xe3 37.d8 e1+ 38.g2 ) 37.e2 xd1+ 38.xd1 xe3 39.d8+ h7 40.d3+ xd3+ 41.cxd3 gxf6 42.xf6 g6 43.d8= ] 31...c5 [ 31...xg3!? 32.hxg3 xg3+ 33.g2 ( 33.fxg3 e3 ) 33...ge4 ] 32.d4 xd4 33.xd4 c5 34.d3 d4 35.xe4 xe4 36.xe4 xe4 37.h3 e5? A mysterious move. After the natural centralizing [ 37...e5 with the idea of ...h5, Black has an obvious way to increase his advantage. Maybe he was not sure about the pawn ending? 38.g3 xg3 39.fxg3 e3! 40.d3 xd3 41.cxd3 f8 42.f2 e7 43.f3 d6 44.f4 f6 45.h4 b5!! 46.axb5 ( 46.e4 bxa4 47.bxa4 c6 48.h5 d6 49.f3 d5 50.e2 c4 ) 46...c7 47.g5 hxg5+ 48.hxg5 fxg5+ 49.xg5 a4 50.g6 axb3 51.xg7 b2 52.f6 b1 53.f7 f1 54.f8 xf8+ 55.xf8 c4 56.dxc4 d3 ] [ 37...c6 38.g1 f4 Looks good too. ] 38.f3 f6?! Sets things ready for a lot of 2346
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 perpetual check themes and secures a shelt er.. . f o r th e wh ite king, in case of a f o r w a r d e s c a p e , o n t h e h f i l e . 39.d2 A fascinating try, there is no clear plan to hold the position anyway. [ 39.c3 d7 40.cxd4 cxd4 41.c1 ( 41.d3 b5 ) 41...d3 42.a8+ h7 43.c8 xc8!! 44.xc8 d2 45.d8 e1+ 46.g2 d1 ] 39...e1+ It will prove to be tough to get anything from the activity against the enemy king. Therefore Black could have waited and improved the position of his own monarch with 39... Kh7. [ 39...b5 40.axb5 xb5+ 41.g2 e1 42.c4! dxc3 ( 42...e8 43.a2; 42...b4 43.e2 ) 43.d8+ h7? ( 43...e8 44.xe8+ xe8 45.xc3= ) 44.a8! f1+ 45.g3 g1+ 46.h4 xf2+ 47.h5+- ] 40.g2 h7 [ 40...g1+ 41.xg1 e1+ 42.g2 xd2 43.d5+ h7 44.f7 ] [ 40...e5 41.c3! dxc3 42.c2 ] 41.c3! dxc3 [ 41...e4 42.cxd4 cxd4 43.c2 e5 44.c8 ] [ Better 41...d7 42.cxd4 cxd4 43.d3 ( 43.d3 c6+ 44.g3 h5 ) 43...e5 With a small edge. ] 42.c2 [ 42.xc3 e4+ 43.f3 ( 43.f3 g1+ 44.xg1 xf3 ) 43...b1 ] 42...c4 [ 42...b1 43.xc3 e1 44.g3! g1+ 45.h4 b2 46.e3 xf2 ( 46...xf2+ 47.xf2 xf2 48.e6 b2 49.xb6 c4 50.b5 ) 47.e4! d2 48.e8 d8 49.g6+ g8 50.e8+ xe8 51.xe8+ h7 52.g6+ g8 53.e8+ ] 43.xc3 cxb3 44.xb3 xa4 45.xb6 White has succeeded in activating is rook, the draw is in sight. a1 [ 45...c4!? 46.b8 f1+ 47.g3 e2 48.b3 Black still seems better but how to progress? Now, the exchange of queens will lead to an easily drawn rook ending. ] 46.b7! h5 [ 46...h1 47.xg7+! xg7 48.b7+= ] [ 46...a4 47.a7 d4 48.b7 ] 47.h2 [ 47.gxh5 g1+ ( 47...h1 48.xg7+!!
xg7 49.g3+ f8 50.b8+ g7 51.g3+= h6? 52.g6# ) 48.h2 g5 49.h4 e5+ 50.h3 xf5+ ( 50...xf5 51.g4 c3+ 52.g2 c6+ 53.f3 ) 51.xf5+ xf5 52.a7 xh5 ] 47...c1 48.a7? A final mistake ends this instructive heavy piece endgame. [ 48.gxh5 f1 49.h6! ( 49.g2? f4+ 50.g3 xf2+ ) 49...xh6 ( 49...xh6 50.g3 e1 51.a7 e5 52.g4 " Z u g z w a n g " ! ! d5 53.xg7+! xg7 54.h5+ g8 55.e8+ f8 56.g6+ g7 57.e8+ h7 58.h5+ h6 59.f7+ h8 60.e8+= ) 50.b5 d2 ( 50...a4? 51.b4 ) 51.g2 a1 52.g4 g5 53.f4 xg4+ 54.hxg4= ] 48...hxg4 49.hxg4 h6+ 50.g2 h1+ 51.g3 g1+ 52.f4 h2+ 53.e3 e5+ 54.d3 b5+ 55.d2 b2+ 56.d3 [ 56.e3 e1+ 57.f4 e5# ] 56...b3+ 57.e4 c4+ 58.e3 c3+ 59.e4 e1+ 60.e3 [ 60.d5 e5+ 61.d6 c5+ 62.d7 e7+ 63.d8 d6+ 64.c8 e8+ 65.b7 b8# ] 60...xe3+ 61.fxe3 a4 62.f4 a3 63.g5 fxg5+ 0-1
2395 Burmakin,Vladimir Kniest,Oliver Staufer Open (4) [Richard Palliser]
A46 2590 2322 03.01.2010
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 b5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 c5 [ If Black wants to avoid the tricky lines which we'll examine in this game, he might wish to begin with 5...e7 when 6.g5 ( 6.d3!? is, of course, quite a thematic idea, if fairly rare here, and in Sakaev-Gabrielian, Ru ss ia n T e a m Ch a m p i o n sh ip 2 0 1 0 , a6 7.bd2 d5! 8.b3 b4!? 9.c4 bxc3 10.xc3 bd7 11.b2 c5 saw Black developing without any difficulties) 6...d5 ( 6...c5 is more ambitious and hopes to reach the main line after 7 c3 Na6 the critical response looks to be 7.dxc5 xc5 8.c3!? b4 9.xf6! gxf6 10.a4 e7 11.d4 2347
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg2 12.xg2 when I would take White, offside though one knight currently is, but Black might try to improve over this sequence ) 7.c3 transposes to a position we'll consider in our next game and I'm not sure that W hite can do any better here, ( with 7.a4 b4 8.c3 a5!? surely OK for Black. )] 6.a3!? This unclassical response to Black's unclassical idea goes unmentioned by Cox, but looks like quite a critical challenge. It was first played from what I can see by Kouatly back in 1987, but has since been adopted more than once by the likes of Romanishin, Andersson, Davies and, more recently, Wells a fine pedigree which suggests that 6 Na3 deserves to be taken very seriously indeed. [ One idea behind the text is to support the c4-advance. That can also be played immediately, but after 6.c4 bxc4 7.a4 ( or 7.a3 d5!? ) 7...cxd4 8.xd4 xg2 9.xg2 I can't believe White has any advantage, partly just because Black has exchanged his b-pawn on c4, not his d-pawn as in a Catalan. Play might continue c8 ( 9...b6!? 10.xc4 c6 11.xc6 c8 looks like an easy equaliser) 10.d2 c3 11.bxc3 e7! ( wisely eschewing the pawn and intending to follow up with ...Na6-c5 indeed, 11...xc3?! 12.b1 looks a little risky for Black, as can be seen from the possible continuation c7 13.c4 e7? 14.f4 d8 15.d6+ xd6 16.xd6 when W hite dominates) 12.a3 a6 Black had no problems whatsoever in MarisSmirnov, Paleochora 2010. ] [ A m o re c h a lle n ging a lt e rn a t ive is 6.a4 , although after b4 7.c4!? ( by no means forced otherwise, 7.dxc5 xc5 8.bd2 0-0 9.b3 e7 10.a5 d5 11.e3 c8! 12.e5 bd7 was fine for Black in JandkeBindrich, Dresden (rapid) 2010,; as was 7.bd2 cxd4 8.b3 e7 9.a5 0-0 10.xd4 d5!? in Byron-Arkell, Treforest 2010, from which we might infer that the positionally-desirable advance of the apawn actually isn't especially threatening ) A) this must be critical Black preferred 7...d6?! in Lenderman-Gareev, Mesa 2010, which isn't a very grandmasterly move and after 8.dxc5 d5 9.a5! - now this is strong
- dxc4 ( 9...xc5 10.a6 c6 11.e5 nets the bishop-pair with a pleasant pull) 10.a4+ c6 11.xb4 bd7 12.xc4 xc5 13.e3 d5 14.c3 White found himself a pawn to the good; B) 7...cxd4 8.xd4 ( I wonder what L e n d e r m a n i n t e n d e d h e r e , a s 8.xd4 c6 9.d3 c5 10.bd2 is fine for Black, so long as he activates his bishop with a5 ,; and 8.bd2 c7 doesn't really give White anything better than 9.xd4 after all ) 8...xg2 9.xg2 c7 10.d2 c6 I wouldn't be especially scared as Black. ] 6...a6 This was once employed in a game between Romanishin and Andersson, after which the le ading Swe dish G ran dma ste r switched sides! Indeed, Black's two alternatives have been chosen more often by his grandmaster colleagues and are unsurprisingly more challenging: [ a) 6...b4 7.c4 A) 7...d5 8.ce5 e7 was the choice of a 2600-player in Sevostianov-S. Zhigalko, Alushta 2010, but now I quite like 9.a3!? , since, for example, bd7 10.xd7! xd7 ( 10...xd7 11.e5 b5 12.axb4 cxb4 13.c4! bxc3 14.bxc3 is also not exactly ideal for Black) 11.dxc5 a5 ( or 11...bxa3 12.b4 a5 13.c3 ) 12.axb4 axb4 13.xa8 xa8 14.d4 sees the queenside opening in White's favour; B) 7...cxd4 8.xd4 ( 8.xd4 xg2 9.xg2 d5 10.e5 d6 is very solid for Black ) 8...d5 9.ce5 e7 10.a3 ( W h i t e m i g h t a l s o c o n s i d e r 10.d2!? and if b6 only then 11.a3 bxa3 12.bxa3 , hoping to pose some problems d o w n t h e b - f i l e) 10...bxa3 11.bxa3 ( it's annoyingly hard to find anything after 11.b3 a5 for White ) 11...0-0 12.c4 ( 12.b1!? , with the idea of c7 13.f4 d6 14.c4 , looks like a better try) 12...bd7 13.xd7 xd7 saw Black equalising in Cosma-P.Cramling, Romanian Team Championship 2010. ] [ b) 6...b6 7.c4 a6 ( an important alternative is 7...b4 8.c2 and now I quite like e4!? , as in Pacheco-Stupak, KhantyMansiysk Olympiad 2010, where 9.b3 e7 10.b2 0-0 11.e3 cxd4 12.xd4 xg2 2348
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.xg2 a6 reached a roughly-level m i d d l e g a m e) 8.e3!? ( new, but I don't u n d e r s t a n d w h y W h i t e r e j e c t e d 8.cxb5! axb5 9.b3 , especially as cxd4?! 10.xb5 d5 11.d3 c6 12.fxd4 again looks like one of those lines in which Black won't obtain quite enough for a pawn) 8...b4 9.c2 a5 10.a3 a6 11.ce1 ( White can also look to improve here, with o n e s i m p l e o p t i o n 11.axb4!? xb4 12.xb4 axb4 13.xa8+ xa8 14.dxc5 xc5 15.xc5 xc5 16.d4 xd4 17.xd4 e7 18.a1 , taking the a-file in the resulting endgame) 11...cxd4 12.xd4 c5 13.axb4 xb4 14.xf6 gxf6 15.d2 h5! gave Black enough counterplay to ma in t ain t he b a la n ce in Mirzoe v-E se n , Turkish Team Championship 2010. ] 7.c4 b4 [ Now White's knight returns from the rim with some effect, but it's not so easy to offer Black good advice here. W e saw 7...b6 in note 'b' to his sixth move, ] [ while 7...bxc4 8.xc4 also improves the k n i g h t a n d a f t e r cxd4 9.d2! ( e v e n s t r o n g e r t h a n 9.xd4 xg2 10.xg2 with a pleasant pull) 9...a5 ( 9...c5 10.c1 c6 11.xd4! regains the pawn with some effect, in view of xd4? 12.d6+ f8 13.xb7 and the knight makes it out, such as with b6 14.a5! ) 10.c1 e7 11.b3 d5 12.xd4 0-0 13.xd5 xd5 14.b7 White was already clearly better in WellsSlavin, British League 2010. ] [ Finally, 7...cxd4!? 8.cxb5 xa3 9.bxa3 axb5 is recommended by Alburt, Dzindzichashvili and Perelshteyn, who note that 10.b2 ( however, they don't mention 10.xd4 xg2 11.xg2 when Black is losing his b-pawn and after 0-0 12.xb5 d5 13.f4 I'm not entirely sure that he has quite enough compensation, despite White's c4square being weak and the a-pawns doubled ) 10...0-0 11.xd4 d5! 12.xf6?! xf6 slightly favoured Black in AdorjanTimman, Frankfurt (rapid) 1998. ] 8.c2 cxd4 9.cxd4 [ That aforementioned RomanishinAndersson encounter (Polanica Zdroj 1993) s a w i n s t e a d 9.fxd4 xg2 10.xg2
. I guess that the Ukrainian had ideas of a rapid a3, but this approach seems less logical and less effective than Burmakin's choice. Admittedly with c7 11.d3 c6 12.f3 c8 13.xc6 xc6 14.xc6 xc6 15.b3 d5 16.e3 dxc4 17.xc4 e7 18.b2 0-0 19.ac1 fc8 20.fd1 f8 White retained an edge, but unsurprisingly Andersson managed to hold. ] 9...e7 10.f4 White has emerged from the opening stages with an improved version of the Symmetrical English. He has managed to bring a knight to d4 without exchanging the light-squared bishops, while Black's b-pawn just looks rather like it's missed its mark. 0-0 11.a4!? [ The Russian Grandmaster wants to remind Black of his weaknesses down the d-file, but the previously-played 11.c1 should also retain an edge, as it did after d6 12.b3 a5 13.c5! dxc5 14.xd8 xd8 15.xc5 d5 16.e5 xg2 17.xg2 in P.SchmidtLibeau, German League 1996. ] 11...b6 [ W h i t e w o u l d h a v e m e t 11...c6 i n t h e s a m e m a n n e r w i t h 12.b3 when the attempt to avoid transposing with d5!? fails to equalise after 13.fd1 c8 14.e3 , ( focussing on the vulnerable c5square, whereas 14.ac1 e8 15.e5? g5! , with shades of Kramnik-Nakamura from London, would not be the way to go. )] 12.b3 c6 13.ad1! This rook to prevent Kniest from developing counterplay against f2. fd8 14.d6 [ Hardly bad, but I wonder why Burmakin rejected 14.e3! c7 15.c5 , since xc5 ( B l a c k s h o u l d p e r h a p s t r y 15...d5 , although I can't believe 16.xb7 xb7 17.d4 xd4 18.xd4 to be anything but a p r e t t y p l e a s a n t a d v a n t a g e f o r W h i t e) 16.xc5 leaves the second player with a rather unappetising choice between losing his b-pawn and a5 17.d6 . ] 14...xd6 15.xd6 e4 16.d3 ac8 [ After 16...d5 17.cxd5 exd5 18.e3 White keeps control with a pleasant edge, ] [ but 16...d6!? 17.e3 c5 18.xc5 xc5 was surely worth a try, bringing the queen to a good square, reducing the piece count and keeping White's edge under control. ] 2349
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.e3 [ White's last chance to be better was likely 17.fd2! w i t h t h e p o i n t t h a t c5?! ( 17...f6 18.c5 is also a little annoying for Black,; as is 17...xd2 18.xd2 d6 19.fd1 ) 18.xc5 xc5 19.e4 leaves him some way up on the game. ] 17...c5! Black seizes the chance to activate his queen and now it's far from easy for White to show that the pawns on b4 and d7 are actually weaknesses. 18.xc5 xc5 19.d2 c7 20.b3 a5 21.a3 d5! The German has defended well since the early stages and now seizes his chance to develop some counterplay. 22.cxd5 exd5 23.axb4 [ 23.f3 c2 would have been a little awkward for White, but neither is placing the rook on d3 and it's clear that White has lost some control. ] 23...axb4 24.d3 e5 [ Hardly bad, but it may be that 24...c8!? wa s e v e n s t r o n g e r , a f t e r wh i c h 25.b3 ( s o m e t h in g lik e 25.e1 might be more prudent, but after g4 26.b3 cd7 Black continues to look rather actively and well placed) 25...c4 forces 26.d4! ( or 26.a5 ,; but not 26.d2? a7 when the queen is trapped) 26...xd3 27.xc6 f8 28.xb4 d2 29.xd5 collecting two pawns for the exchange, not that Black should have any problems whatsoever after c1 . ] 25.d4 c6 26.h4!? [ Burmakin has no desire to repeat against his much lower-rated opponent and presumably didn't much care either for the line 26.b3?! e7 27.xd5 a8 when his pieces are rather loose: 28.b5 ( or 28.a5 e5 29.b5 xg2 30.xg2 ca7 , leaving White badly tied down by the pin ) 28...a7 ( but not 28...a6?? 29.a1! ) 29.b6 xd5 30.xd5 ac8 , for instance, sees Black picking up the exchange for not quite enough compensation. ] 26...d4? [ Tempting, but this thematic advance will backfire on Kniest. Better was something sensible like 26...h6 when 27.h5 e7 28.a1 e5 would have reached an unbalanced but rough-level position. ]
27.b3 c2 The point of Black's play, since otherwise he would just have dropped a pawn, but Kniest has underestimated the coming danger on the kingside. 28.e4! d3 [ Black stakes everything on his d-pawn. The alternative was 28...xb2!? when 29.c5 a8 30.xh7+ f8 31.f4 e8 32.d1 sees W hite re-routing his queen with the initiative and some advantage, albeit still with plenty left to play for. ] 29.xh7+ f8 30.e4 g8 [ Not ideal, but there was a threat to capture on c6 followed by checking and after 30...e7? 31.c1 xb2 32.xc6 xc6 33.xc6 xc6 34.xc6 xb3 35.c5+ White would have enjoyed a decisive attack, as shown by the possible continuation d6 36.e4+ d7 37.b5+ c6 38.b7+ c7 39.d4+ , picking up the black rook. ] 31.h7+ [ White is on the right lines, but this is the w r o n g e x e c u t i o n . C o r r e c t w a s 31.b5! when xb3 ( 31...xb2!? gives Black the option of defending with a timely ...g6, but after 32.h7+ f8 33.c5+ e7 34.xd3 g5 35.xg5 e5 36.xe5 xe5 37.e4 W hite's two extra pawns should decide) 32.h5 would have given White a winning attack: f8 ( or 32...f6 33.g6 f8 34.h8+ ) 33.c5+ e8 ( 33...g8 34.h7+ h8 35.h5 f o r c e s m a t e) 34.h8+ d7 35.f5+ and Black must give up his queen. ] 31...f8 32.b5? [ It wasn't too late to go back with 32.e4 g8 and then forward with 33.b5 . ] 32...xb3? [ K n ie st m is se s h is c h a n c e wi t h 32...g6! . I dare say that the possibility of 33.xg6 fxg6 34.g5 put him off, but after xb3 B la ck i s t wo p ie ce s a h e a d a n d 35.h8+ g7 36.h6+ ( or 36.xd8 e6!? , defending and hoping to launch a devastating counterattack with 37.xd3?? e5 ) 36...f6 defends from what I can see. Here White can pick up the loose rook with 37.xd8 xd8 38.f4+ e6 39.xc7 , but only Black can surely be better after d5 . ] 33.c5+ e7 34.xd3 White remains a piece down, but the attack down the h-file is a 2350
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 killer. g6 [ After 34...g8? White mates with 35.h8+! xh8 36.h5+ . ] 35.h8+ g7 36.xd8 xd8 [ Black's days would have been somewhat numbered too after 36...xb2 37.b1 f6 38.d6 . ] 37.c4 W inning serious material. xb2 38.xe7 d2 39.xf7! xf7 40.xb7 1-0
don't think we will be seeing much more of this idea. 1.f3 f6 2.d4 e6 3.e3 c5 4.d3 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.c4 The Queens Indian treatment of the position. cxd4 7.exd4 d5 8.cxd5 xd5 Very odd. It is much more common for the knight to recapture on d5. 9.c3 a5 10.e1 c6 11.a3 d8 Perhaps this early pressure on d4 is the point behind Black's strange queen manoeuvre. That said, it doesn't appear to achieve much. 12.f4 d5 13.xd5 xd5 14.e4 b5 15.c2 White leaps on the chance to develop 2396 A46 w i t h t e m p o . g6 16.ad1 f6 17.e5 Chatalbashev,Boris 2494 Black has be en trying t o discourage this Petraki,Maria 2114 invasion, but White is not to be deterred, even 18.c7 Open Ano Liosia GRE (7) 03.01.2001 a t t h e c o s t o f a p a w n . xd4 Very awkward for Black. e8 19.g4 g7 [Aaron Summerscale] 20.e5 White homes in on Black's kingside Torre Attack: Black makes a common mistake dark squared weaknesses d7 Would you for which he is soundly punished. This is c a r e f o r a q u e e n e x c h a n g e s i r ? 21.c5 something with which all Torre specialists "Not likely!" xe5 22.xe5 It's painful just to should be familiar. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 look at Black's kingside. d6 23.f6 f8 3.g5 c5 4.e3 b6 A well known mistake, but 24.h6 Ouch! d7 25.h8+ e7 26.g8+ as we shall see, that doesn't stop it f rom d8 27.f6+ c7 Black resigned before happening in international games, to high being painfully parted from his queen. r a t e d p l a y e r s ! 5.d5 exd5 6.c3 1-0 W h i t e a l r e a d y h a s t h e a d v a n t a g e . e7 7.xd5 xd5 8.xd5 c6 9.0-0-0 0-0 A46 10.b5 White is piling on the pressure with 2398 Collier,David 2255 every move. Black must already have been Coates,Kenneth G 2188 wondering why he bothered getting out of bed. 4NCL Birmingham ENG (9) 04.05.2002 e8 11.h4 Charge! a6 12.d3 a7 [ 12...h6 was relatively best but it is perhaps [Aaron Summerscale] not surprising that Black elected not to To rre At t ack: B la ck m ake s a we ll kn o wn weaken his kingside. ] 13.xe7 xe7 14.xh7+ A standard greek mistake and is duly punished, albeit in an gift sacrifice to finish Black off. If 14...Kxh7 unorthodox way. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e3 4.f3 b6?! A well known mistake. then 15.Qh5+ and Ng5 quickly puts the boot in. c5 Perhaps Black was confused, as this position A horrible game from the Black perspective. is usually reached through a Torre not Tromp 1-0 move order. 5.c4?! Returning the favour. It is well established that: [ 5.d5 gives White a nice advantage here. ] 2397 A46 Claesen,Pieter 2416 5...b7 I don't like this move, which allows Dive,Russell John 2414 White the set-up he desires. [ 5...e7 makes it much harder for White to 34th Olympiad (13) 10.11.2000 [Aaron Summerscale] carry out the d5 pawn thrust. 6.d5? xd5! ] 6.d5 h6 7.xf6 xf6 8.c3 White's space Colle Q uee ns I ndian : Bla ck choo se s th e advantage gives him a slight edge. e5 9.d3 Scandinavian recapture on d5 with his queen d6 10.a4+ An irritating move, designed to in order to quickly attack the White IQP, but I i n t e r f e r e w i t h B l a c k ' s n a t u r a l p l a n o f 2351
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d e ve lo p m e n t . d7 11.0-0 g6 12.d2 0-0 11.c1 c6 12.e1 fe8 13.dxc5 Prepa ring the f 4 pawn lever, which is so dxc5 14.c2 a5! 15.cxb5?! ( a better critical in many lines of the Tromp, where de f e nce was to p in wit h 15.b2 b4 White drags the Black queen to f6. a6 13.f4 16.c3 , thereby saving the a-pawn) 0-0-0 14.ae1 e7 15.f5 Strong play. White 15...axb5 16.xc5 b4 17.xb4 xb4 g u a r a n t e e s h i m s e l f t h e e 4 o u t p o s t . g5 Black had given an excellent demonstration 16.de4 f6 17.a3 With the centre blocked, of how to seize the initiative by making use W hite must seek to open lines against the of a surely but temporary pawn sacrifice in Black king on the queenside. h5 18.b4 g4 Nadirashvili-V.Gaprindashvili, Tbilisi 2010. ] 19.b1 h6 Black has some temporary 6...e7 activity, but his permanent problem is that it is [ As we've already seen, an important impossible to open lines on the kingside. alternative is 6...a6 when Black is able to 20.fe1 h7 21.bxc5 White, on the other meet 7.a4 with b4 , since a quick Nd2-c4 hand, has no problem opening lines on the won't cause problems (unlike when the black queenside. xc5 22.xc5 bxc5 23.e4 queen is on b6). ] f7? An rather unfortunate choice of square 7.bd2 for the rook, although Black's position is [ A d l y , o f c o u r s e , o p t e d f o r 7.a4 difficult in any case. 24.b6 c7 against Aronian, ] [ 24...g7 25.xa6 is very strong. ] [ and White might also play on the queenside 25.xd6 Nxd6 with the same idea was with 7.dxc5!? xc5 8.b4 e7 9.a4 perhaps even more effective, but the White . This is certainly energetic, although after queen's infiltration on e8 will be decisive in bxa4 ( but not 9...a6? because Black won't the event of a recapture on d6. Otherwise, be ab le t o h a ng on t o h is b-p a wn af t e r White remains a pawn ahead and in complete 10.axb5 axb5 11.xa8 xa8 12.a3 ) control. 10.xa4 0-0 11.bd2 ( in an earlier test, 1-0 11.c4 c8 12.bd2 d5!? 13.c5 a5 14.bxa5 c6 15.b3 e4 had given Black sufficient counterplay in Rashkovsky2399 A46 Kurajica, Strumica 1995 we will see more of the theme of luring White's b-pawn up to b5 Cordova,Emilio 2560 in what follows) 11...a5?! ( I'm not sure Delgado Ramirez,Neuris 2575 t h e r e w a s t o o m u c h w r o n g w i t h 11...d5 Bogota (9) 18.07.2010 12.b3 e4 , as Black had preferred in [Richard Palliser] Dittmar-Salvador, Arco di Trento 2007, since W hite doesn't seem to have a killer blow 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 b5 4.g2 b7 after 13.a5 a6!? 14.b5!? xc3 15.c2 5.0-0 c5 6.c3 xb5 16.c6 c7 17.xe7+ xe7 [ If White wants to adopt a Colle-like , and this is likely a better course of action ) approach, albeit after having fianchettoed on A) not only does Black now obtain a good the kingside, I prefer Cordova's method to blockade on the b6- and c5-squares, but t h e Z u k e r t o r t - l i k e 6.e3 b6 7.b3 the re was n o go od rea so n no t to t es t . The problem is that Black will be able to Black's ambitious idea head-on: 12.bxa5! hold his own without too much difficulty, c6 ( this looks like a better try than s u c h a s wit h e7 ( here this or 7...cxd4 12...c6 13.b3 c8 14.d2 8.exd4 e7 looks like the correct reaction,; when White is able to maintain the extra s i n c e a f t e r 7...a6?! in Capak-Detko, pawn on a5) 13.a2 c7 14.d4 xg2 Slovakian League 2006, Black would have 15.xg2 xc3 16.2f3 and while Black been left regretting blocking his a-pawn had h a s r e g a i n e d h i s p a wn , t h a t o u t s i d e W hite undermined with 8.a4! ) 8.c4 a6 passer should count for something one 9.a3 d6 . It's certainly not easy here for day; White to increase or perhaps I should even B) 12.b5?! d5 13.a3 bd7 14.xe7 say obtain any pressure, and after 10.bd2 2352
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xe7 15.a3 xa3 16.xa3 a4 Black had trumps of his own by this stage and wasn't worse in Berkovich-Nabaty, Israeli Championship, Haifa 2010. ] [ If White wants to advance in the centre he usually tries to clear Black's knight from f6 with 7.g5 , as we have seen, but Cordova has a slightly different idea in mind. ] 7...cxd4! [ Sensible, since 7...0-0 8.dxc5 xc5 9.b3 e7 10.bd4 a6 11.a4 would have seen White improving his knight with tempo and would have given him a little pull. ] 8.cxd4 0-0 9.e1 d5 [ As we'll see, this is quite an acceptable method in general of preventing e4 and here White's bishop remains stuck on c1, not already on g5 or even traded off on f6. H o we v e r , a s B l a c k I wo u l d h a ve b e e n inclined to prefer something a little more provocative, such as 9...b6!? when 10.e4 c6 11.e5 ( 11.b3 d5! 12.e5 e4 13.e3 fc8 gives Black a decent version o f t h e F r e n c h , d e s p i t e t h e h o le o n c 5) 11...d5 12.e4 resembles certain lines of the c3 Sicilian and now Black might begin counterplay with f6 ( or 12...fc8!? 13.g5 f8 , just letting White does his worst on the kingside and that's probably not too much with the light-squared bishop on g2. )] 10.e5 bd7 [ This solid and logical move turns out to be a new one. In Raev-Panbukchian, Pleven 2005, Black had adopted a more ambitious a p p r o a c h w i t h 10...b6!? 11.b3 a5 and after 12.e3 a6 13.g5!? (only now that the queen's knight doesn't cover d7) fc8 14.e3 d8!? ( risky instead 14...c7 15.c1 ac8 would have been pretty level) 15.a4 b4 16.c5! ( or 16.axb5!? c2 17.c5 xe1 18.xb7 b6 19.xe1 xb7 20.c6 with full compensation for the exchange) 16...xc5 17.dxc5 complications, likely in White's favour, had broken out due to the by-nowawkward pin down the h4-d8 diagonal. ] 11.df3 c8!? [ Had Delgado had peaceful intentions I suspect he might have preferred 11...xe5 12.xe5 ( 12.dxe5 e4 13.d4 b4 seems okay too for Black ) 12...d7 , ]
[ or 11...e4 , but one suspects he had more ambitious intent in mind in this 10-round tournament which he went on to win, whereas Cordova limped in second last. ] 12.d3 [ This only plays into Black's hands. White l i k e l y wo u l d h a ve d o n e b e t t e r t o h a v e realised that he hadn't any advantage and so begun to steer the game towards the safe h a v e n o f a d r a w w i t h 12.xd7 xd7 13.d3 b6 14.f4 followed by attempting to trade all the rooks down the c-file. ] 12...b4 13.a3 [ It makes sense to remove the cramping pawn from b4 before Black expands with ... Qb6, ...a5 and ...Ba6, and 13.b5 b6 14.xb6 xb6 15.a3 e4 would also have left Black slightly the more active and slightly for choice. However, the text is not entirely ideal either and W hite's opening has clearly not been a major success. ] 13...bxa3 14.bxa3 e4 Beginning to probe. 15.b5! [ A bold but consistent follow-up to White's earlier play. By no w he had to procee d vigorously, since after the slow 15.xd7 xd7 16.b1 with f6 17.d2 c6 Black would have prepared to double on the c-file, as well as to irritate W hite with ... Ba6. ] 15...b6!? [ Delgado eschews exchanges and prepares to advance his f-pawn. The alternative was 15...xe5 16.xe5 d6 when White is vulnerable on the c4-square, but can we really talk of an advantage for Black after 17.b3 a8 18.d2 f6 19.d3 c4 20.b4 , with c5 weak too? ] 16.a4! [ The Peruvian Grandmaster handles this stage of the game like the grandmaster he is. White must accept the complications, since 16...f6 followed by 17...Bc6 was on its way with quite an ideal position for Black. Rybka offers up 16.a5?! , but I'm not so convinced by its concept of f6 17.xa7 fxe5 18.h3 , with ( 18.xb7? d6 19.a6 a8 20.d3 e4 costs White a piece ) 18...exd4 19.xe6+ h8 20.xb7 c5 21.xc8 xb7 22.xb7 d7 2353
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 but on e c ont inu ation in wh ich I'd m uch prefer to take Black (and so too by now would the machine). ] 16...f6 17.a5 fxe5 18.axb6 Both sides have continued critically over the past couple of moves a nd n ow t he Cu ba n Gran dm aste r comes up with another ambitious approach. a6! [ Bold and correct. After the text Black will hope to show that the b6-pawn is vulnerable, as well as to cause problems along the g1-a7 diagonal in general, whereas after 18...xb6?! 19.xb6 axb6 20.h3 f6 21.a7 it would have been White who enjoyed the initiative. ] [ Note too that after 18...axb6 19.xe5! t h e f - p a w n w a s t a b o o : xf2?! ( or 19...xf2? 20.a7 causing serious problems, since b8 21.d7? wins heavy material ) 20.f3! ( 20.xe4 dxe4 21.xf2 xd4+ 22.e3 f8+ 23.g2 xe3 doesn't seem so clear) 20...f6 21.e3 a n d B la c k wo n ' t o b t a in e n o u gh f o r t h e exchange. ] 19.b2 exd4 20.xd4 c5 21.e3 f6 Taking stock after a semi-forced sequence, we can see that Black's forces remain quite actively placed, with pressure against f2 and the threat to expand in the centre with ...e5. However, White's defences remain solid and there's always that pawn on b6 to keep Black a little worried. 22.xe4 [ A big decision, but it shouldn't be too easy for Black to get at the white king on the light squares after this. However, the text was n o t e s s e n t ia l, wit h 22.ec1!? a worthy alternative, since e5 ( after 22...xf2 23.xc5 xc5 24.f1 b5 25.a3 xb6 26.xf2 I'd favour White's minor pieces over Black's extra rook and two pawns) 23.xe4! exd4? ( Black should prefer either 23...xd4 24.xd4 exd4 25.f3 d3 26.xf6 xc1+ 27.xc1 xf6 28.b1 , with equality,; or 23...dxe4!? when one fun and important line runs 24.b3+ h8 25.e6 xe3 26.fxe3 f2+ 27.h1 xc1+ 28.xc1 c8! 29.d1 xc1 30.xc1 f6 31.c5 xb6 32.xb7 xb7 33.c5 a8 34.a5 , w h i c h W h i t e s h o u l d b e a b l e t o h o l d) 24.xc5! xc5 25.xd4 sees the tactics clearly favouring White. ]
22...dxe4 23.ac1 fd8 24.xc5? [ A sign of the Peruvian's bad form. White won't obtain anywhere near enough for the exchange, but presumably he was worried by his slightly precarious-looking pieces after 24.c4 . However, I can't see any way other than d5 for Black to increase the pressure, when White might just go back: ( 24...d5? hopes to double on the d-file, but gives White time to unpin with some advantage through 25.c2 ) 25.cc1 ( 25.c2!? is also possible ) A) 25...f8 tries to avoid repeating, but after 26.ed1 a3 27.xc8 xc8 ( 27...xb2? 28.xe6! wins ) 28.a1 White is in charge of the position and that b-pawn beginning to look pretty powerful; B) 25...b7 26.c4 and it seems that n e it h e r si d e ca n p r o f i t a b l y a vo i d t h e repetition. ] 24...xc5 25.b4 cd5 26.c2 b5 27.a3 h6 Black's bishop might not be too active, but neither are W hite's forces. Mo reo ver, Bla ck' s m a jo r pie ce s are we ll pla ced a nd De lga do is quick to da sh, b y attacking on the kingside, any hopes W hite might have had that he enjoyed a fortress. 28.c1 f5 29.f1 h5! 30.a1? [ This won't save Cordova. A better try was 30.c1 f5 when 31.h4! keeps the kingside closed for the time being, since xh4? ( Black should likely prefer to calmly regroup with 31...f8 ) 32.e7 forks the black rooks. ] 30...f5 31.h4 By now there was nothing else, but this merely allows Black to conclude with a flourish: xh4! 32.d1 [ It's mate after 32.gxh4 g4+ 33.h1 xh4+ 34.g2 g4+ 35.h1 d5 . ] 32...xd1+ 33.xd1 h5 34.f1 The only way to def end, but with W hite's queen now tied to the kingside, Black doesn't forget that he too has a passed pawn. a5 35.d4 d5 36.c1 a4 37.g2? e5 0-1
2354
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2400 Crea,Vincenzo Trauth,Michael Open A Arbo HUN (7) [Eric Prié]
A46 2082 2225 28.10.2005
1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.c3 The move I lazily recommend too...If you cannot be bothered. See last month's Prie-Palleja. e6 4.f4 cxd4 5.cxd4 b6 6.c2 c6 7.e3 b4 8.b3! The Novelty I prepared and want to recommend. bd5 [ 8...a5 9.c3 f5 10.c1 d3+ 11.xd3 xd3 12.b5! xb3 13.c7+ d8 14.axb3 b8 15.xe6+ dxe6 16.xb8+- ] [ 8...h5 9.g3 ] 9.g3 [ 9.xb6! axb6 10.g3 ( 10.e5!? b4 11.a3! ) A) 10...e4 A1) 11.c4 xg3 ( 11...b4 Of c ou rs e, f orcing t he white kin g t o o c c u p y t h e i n f e r i o r s q u a r e o n d 1 .) 12.hxg3 b4 13.d2 d5 14.b3 ( 14.b5+ ) 14...f6 15.c3 d7 16.a3 c6= Coent, Y-Lorans, S (2160) L'Etang salé op 2001 0-1(39); A2) 11.bd2 b4 A2a) 12.c1 xg3 13.hxg3 xa2 14.a1 d5 15.d3! a5 ( 15...d7 16.b1 ) 16.b3 b4 17.xa5 xd3+ 18.e2 xb2 19.hc1 d7 20.xb7 b5+ 21.d2 c4+ 22.d1 c6 23.a7 a4+; A2b) 12.xe4! c2+ 13.d1 xa1 14.c3 b5 ( 14...b4 15.c1 xc3 16.bxc3 xa2 17.b1 a5 18.b2 And the Rh1 will collect the knight.) 15.xb5 b4 16.c1; B) 10...b4 11.a3! B1) 11...e4 B1a) 12.d1 B1a1) 12...e7 13.b5 0-0 14.e2 d5 ( 14...xa3 15.bxa3 c3+ 16.d2 xb5 17.axb4 ) 15.hc1 xg3+ 16.hxg3 f6; B1a2) 12...d5; B1b) 12.d2 xg3 13.hxg3 xa3 14.bxa3 c2+ 15.d1 xa1 16.d3 d5 17.e2 xa3 18.xa1 d7;
B1c) 12.b5 e7! ( 12...xa2 13.xa2 xa2 14.a7 d8 15.c4 b4 16.e5 d6 17.b5 xc4 18.xf7+ e8 19.xh8 g6 20.b3 a5 21.a7 g7 22.xc8 ) B1c1) 13.e2 xa2 ( 13...xa2 14.xa2 xa2 15.a7; 13...xg3+ 14.hxg3 xa2 15.d2 a5 16.g5! h6 17.d6! One again the Bc8 re pre sen t s B lack's A ch ille s ' heel. xg5 18.xc8+ d8 19.xb6 ) 14.h4+ g5! 15.xg5 xg5 16.xg5+ f6 17.d2 fxg5 18.c4 d5 19.xa2 xa2 20.xa2 d7 21.c3 g7 White has a kingside majority, however the structure is not very favourable for the creation of a passed pawn and Black has a powerful dark-squared bishop.; B1c2) 13.c1! The good way. Actually, the white king had better stay at his post for the moment waiting for the a2-pawn problem to be settled as both the e2 and d1 squ a r e s a r e m i n e d f o r h i m a f t e r Nxa2 and the threat of a check on c3 w i n n i n g t h e r o o k o n a 1 . xa2 14.a1 a5 15.a3 b4 16.c1 c6 ( 16...a8 17.c4 d5 18.d3 xg3 19.hxg3 With e4 coming and the capture of b6 or b5 if the pawn has advanced.) 17.c7 ( 17.c4 a2! 18.d5 exd5 19.xb6 xg3 20.hxg3 xb2! The point of Black's play since the knight would be trapped on c8 this time. 21.xd5+ e8 22.h4 ) 17...f6 18.d3 b4+ 19.e2; B2) 11...xa3 12.bxa3 c2+ 13.d2 xa1 14.d3 xa3 15.xa1 d5 ( 15...d5 16.b1 ) 16.b1 b4+ 17.c2 e7 ( 17...a5 18.d6 ) B2a) 18.c4 b4+ 19.c3 b5 ( 19...d5 20.b5+ c6 21.e5 d7 22.xc6 xc6 23.xc6 bxc6 24.xb6 ) 20.xb5 xa2+ 21.c4 0-0! Unpinning the d7-pawn to hold the position by taking advantage of the situation of the white king as after 22.xd7 xd7 23.xb7 c8+ 2355
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 23...d8 24.e5 a4 25.xe7 c8+ 26.d3 f6 is similar.) 24.d3 b4+ 25.e2 c2+ 26.f1 c1+ 27.e2 c2+; B2b) 18.e2!? Is also interesting since this bishop has to move against the threat of Nb4+xd3, with the idea Ne5 or Nd2-c4 and possibly avoiding tactical defences based on its exposure as in the two more 'forward going' alternatives jointly cited. In any case I feel I can be glad about what White has obtained after the tactical phase in the opening.; B2c) 18.b5 B2c1) 18...b4+ 19.b2 c6 20.c7 ( 20.c3 d6 ) 20...d8 21.d6 e7 22.xe7 xe7 23.c3 d6! 24.xc6 bxc6 25.xb6 c7; B2c2) 18...0-0 19.e5 d6 20.c4 d8 21.e4 ( 21.f3 f5 ) 21...f6 22.f3 ( 22.xb6 xe4 23.d3 xg3 24.hxg3 e5 ) 22...d5 23.xb6 dxe4 24.c7 f8 25.fxe4 xe4 26.d3 f2+ 27.e3 g4+ 28.f3 f6 29.c4! Now White's idea appears clearer: he wants to take on c8 and b7 with the two b is h o p s a n d a st r o n g o u t sid e a pawn. d8 30.d6 ( 30.xd8!? xd8 31.xc8 xc8 32.xb7 f8 33.b3 ) 30...xb6 31.xf8 xd4 32.e7 b6 33.xf6 ( 33.a4 d7; 33.e2 b7 34.g3 d5 35.xd5 xd5 36.a4 f5= Followed by Bc6 a n d W h it e h a s n o t im e f o r B d 8 .) 33...gxf6 34.g3 ] 9...b4+ [ 9...xb3! 10.axb3 e4 11.bd2 b4 12.d3 f5 13.e2 xg3+ 14.hxg3 a5 15.c4 0-0 16.e4 fxe4 17.xe4 f6 18.d3 b5 19.b6 b8 20.xc8 fxc8 ] 10.fd2!? [ 10.bd2 On principle is better. In any case, the difference with the line given above is that Black now needs to concede the pair of bishops if he wishes to double the b-pawns. e4 11.d3 xd2 12.xd2 xd2+ 13.xd2 xb3 14.axb3 e7 15.a4 ] 10...e4 11.d3 f5 12.e2?
[ 12.xe4! Taking advantage of having played Nfd2 rather than Nbd2. fxe4 13.0-0 And W hite wins a pawn due to the dual threat of Nc4 and Nxe4. xd2 14.xd2 xb3 15.axb3 f6 16.c4 d5 17.f3 exf3 18.e4 fxg2 19.xg2 f6 20.b6 axb6 21.xa8 e7 22.c1 Not a simple exchange. ] 12...xd2 13.xd2 f4? 14.c4 c7 15.exf4 d6 16.e5 The other two alternatives may be better at the end of the day but surely more complicated: [ 16.xd6+ xd6 17.f5 f4+ 18.f3 g5! 19.fxg6 0-0 20.gxh7+ h8 21.e3 xg2+ 22.d2 xd4 23.c3 xc3+ 24.bxc3 Threat ening Be5 + f4 25.xf4! xf4 26.hg1 f8! ( 26...xf2+ 27.e3 f8 28.af1 d8 29.g6 b6 30.f7 b7 31.f4 f8 32.g8+ xg8 33.hxg8+ xg8 34.h4+ g7 35.xg8 xg8 36.f4 d6 37.g5 g7 38.c4+- ) 27.g3 d6 28.ag1 d7 29.f4 c6 30.e3 ] [ 16.f5 f4+ 17.xf4 ( 17.f3 g5 18.fxg6 0-0 19.gxh7+ h8 20.xf4 xf4 21.e2 d5 22.e3 ) 17...xf4 18.fxe6 dxe6 ( 18...d5 19.b5+ c6 20.e5 xb5 21.xb5+ e7 22.g3 xe5 23.dxe5 xe6 24.ac1 ) 19.g3 ] 16...0-0 17.f5 b4 18.fxe6 dxe6 19.c4 xg3 20.hxg3 xd3 21.xd3 g6 22.e5 b6 23.ac1 g7 24.h4 a5 25.e1 b7 26.f3 fd8 27.e3 ac8 28.xc8 xc8 29.f4? [ 29.b3 d5 30.xb6 ] 29...c7? [ 29...h6 30.c4 h1+ 31.f2 d5 32.b3 b5 33.h4 a1 34.h6 c7 35.f4 f7 36.b8+ f8 37.c7 xa2+ 38.g1 f7 39.b8+ f8 ( 39...g7 40.d6 ) 40.c7 f7= ] 30.b3 d5 31.xb6 h5 32.b8+ h7 33.xc7?! [ 33.b3 ] 33...xc7 34.f7+ xf7 35.xf7 xa2 36.d2 g7 37.e5 g5 38.c3 d5 39.c4 h4! 40.gxh4 gxh4 41.e5? [ 41.xa5 xf3! ] [ 41.e3! c6 42.c4 ] 41...f6 42.d2 f5 43.e3 b7? [ 43...g5 ] 44.c4 Not really a great game but somehow 2356
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 important analysis needs to be hung onto something... 1-0
23.d6+ A fantastic attacking display from the White player. 1-0
2401 Crut,Aurelien Olivier,Jean Christophe ch-Accession (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
2402 De Castro,A Moraes,Nelson 5th Itau Cup (2) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2207 2393 21.08.1999
Torre Attack: There is more than one way to cook Black's goose in the b2 gambit. It seems to me, that in most cases if Black wants to take the hot pawn on b2, he had better have the defensive technique of a strong grandmaster. Most of the time he is in severe danger of being simply blown away. This is a fantastic line for defeating stronger opponents. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 c5 4.e3 b6 5.bd2 xb2 6.d3 White strays from the usual Bxf6. He has bigger and better plans for his dark squared bishop. e7 7.0-0 b6 The queen f lees the scene of the crime with her booty intact, although there is a price to be paid in terms of tempi lost. 8.b1 c7 9.e4 Straightforward enough, immaterial of pawns, White intends to plough through the middle. cxd4 10.e5 d5 11.xe7 xe7 This looks strange, until you see that the attempt to whisk the king to safety by: [ 11...xe7 12.c4 0-0 falls foul of 13.xh7+ xh7 14.g5+ with an awesome a t t a c k , f o r e x a m p l e : h6 15.g4 With ideas of Qh4-h7 and Rb3-h3. ] 12.c1 However, the Black king is not exactly safe in the center. d6 13.exd6+ xd6 14.e4 Obliging the lady to move for the 6th time in 14 moves. A sure sign that the opening h a s n o t b e e n a s u c c e s s f o r B l a c k . c7 15.a3+ d8 16.xd4 c6 17.xc6+ bxc6 18.c4 White has a direct route to the Black king along the d-file. All he has to do is clear it of obstacles. f6 19.fd1 b8 Black makes it easy, probably shell shocked by his lower rated opponent's strong attacking play. [ He had to try and close the d-file by: 19...d7 a l t h o u g h a f t e r 20.d6 He is hopelessly placed. ] 20.xb8 xb8 21.xf6 gxf6 22.e4+ c7
A46 2305 14.10.2001
Torre Attack: It's nice to see that still after all these years, the greek gift is still claiming victims, even in international competition. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 e7 4.xf6 White takes the opportunity to guarantee the e 4 p a wn a d va n c e a t t h e e xp e n se o f t h e bishop pair. xf6 5.c3 Directed against c5. d5 6.bd2 d7 7.e4 0-0 [ 7...dxe4 should also be considered, with a slight advantage to White after: 8.xe4 b6 ] 8.e5 e7 9.d3 c5 10.h4 With a diabolical threat that Black unfortunately misses! b6 [ 10...f5 was Black's best, avoiding White's next. ] 11.xh7+ The f amous Greek gif t. xh7 12.g5+ h6 Relatively best. [ 12...g8 13.h5 is instantly decisive. ] [ 12...g6 13.c2+ f5 14.exf6+ xf6 15.h5 gives White a very powerful attack. ] 13.c2 f5 [ 13...g6 14.h5! is very dangerous for Black. ] 14.exf6 xf6 15.c4?! This is a little too elaborate. [ After 15.h5 e4 16.gxe4 dxe4 17.c4 c6 18.e5 d5 19.c4 xd4 20.g4+ h7 21.d1 The Black queen is rather unusually trapped mid-board!. ] 15...dxc4 16.h5 e4 [ 16...xh5 leads to perpetual check after: 17.h7+ xg5 18.xh5+ f6 19.f3+ g5 20.h5+ ] 17.xe4 f5 Forced. 18.f7+ h7 19.g4 xb2?! [ 19...g8! 20.gxf5 xf7 gives Black a better chance of a successful defence. ] 20.0-0 xc3 [ 20...g8 21.gxf5 xf7 22.fxe6+ g8 23.g6 leaves Black in a precarious position, despite his nominal material advantage. ] 2357
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.gxf5 xd4 22.g2 White insists upon attacking. [ 22.ae1 taking the endgame was also quite playable. ] 22...exf5? [ 22...f6 was the critical continuation, after which W hite still has to prove his attack. 23.g6+ g8 24.h6 xg6+ 25.fxg6 gxh6 leads to an interesting endgame, f inely balanced between White's extra exchange and Black's imposing queenside majority. ] 23.g6+ g8 24.h6+ h8 25.ad1 [ 25.ae1 was another way to win, as Black cannot defend as in the game with: f6 as 26.f7+ g8 27.xe7 xe7 28.h6 leaves White completely won. ] 25...f6 26.fe1 f8 [ 26...xg6+ 27.hxg6 giving Black the overwhelming problem of W hite's active rooks to solve. ] 27.f7+ g8 28.h6 The march of the hpawn is decisive. 1-0
13.d2 White has to play actively otherwise he could rapidly get tied down to the defence of the backward c-pawn. To that end he does not have a thousand plans in this position: P l a y a 4 - a 5 t o c r e a t e a we a k n e s s i n t h e o p p o sin g q u e e n sid e o r m o u n t a n a t t a c k against the king using the f-pawn. e5 14.b3 d7?! [ 14...c6! This is the square for that knight and the whole point behind Black's idea to pressurize the d4 pawn and make it move forward, which will isolate the c3 pawn even more. 15.e3 ( 15.d5 e7 16.a4 g6 17.g3 g5 ) 15...ac8! 16.ac1 ( 16.f4 exd4 17.cxd4 b4 ) 16...e7 17.f4 exf4 18.xf4 e6 Black is doing fine, with the idea ...Rfe8, ...Ng6 hitting e4. ] 15.d2 g5 16.a4 ac8 To free the a8 square for the bishop if necessary. [ 16...d5 17.exd5 xd5 18.c4 b7 19.d5 ] [ 16...fc8 17.a5 d5 ( 17...d8? 18.a6 c6 19.d5 ) 18.b5 f8 19.a6 c6 20.dxe5 xe5 21.xc6 xc6 22.exd5 xc3 23.fe1 f6 24.d4 ] 17.a5 c7 18.axb6 axb6 19.a7 a8 2403 A46 20.xa8+ xa8 21.a1 b7 22.d5 d8 Del Rey,Diego 2373 Black has stabilized the structure but he lacks Polak,Tomas 2505 sp a c e a n d h a s so m e wh a t we a ke n e d h i s Zaragoza op (4) 2001 kingside. [ 22...f4 23.c2 f6 24.a7 g4 25.g3 [Eric Prié] f3 26.e2 xe2 27.xe2 f6 28.d2 e8 29.c4 ] 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 c5 4.c3 h6 5.xf6 Thus, this is the position Mark Hebden 23.b5 Typical of the good "bad bishop": just w a n t s t o p l a y w h e n p l a y i n g 3 . c 3 . W e enough pawns of his own colour to limit the mentioned the drawback of 3... b6 in game 1. scope of his counterpart while guaranteeing Indeed, in the rest of this update I shall strive himself good diagonals. c5 24.xc5 xc5 [ 24...bxc5!? With only one weakness on d6 to prove that against the proper Torre 3.Bg5 Black has good chances to hold. ] h6! is more precise than 3...c5. xf6 6.e4 cxd4 7.cxd4 b4+ 8.c3 There again I 25.c4 g7 26.a7 b8 27.a3 d8 28.h3 c7 29.b4 c5 30.a7 b8 31.a3 g6 prefer 32.h2 g7 33.a4 g6? [ 8.bd2 See next game. ] [ 33...c7 White can reorganize the way he 8...xc3+! Otherwise White will play Rc1 and wa n t s - h is o p p o n e n t is co n d e m n e d t o take back on c3 with the rook. 9.bxc3 b6 waiting - but eventually he will have to open 10.d3 b7 11.0-0 0-0 12.e2 d6! a second front on the kingside with g2-g3 The white possibility e4-e5 has to be parried a n d f 2 - f 4 , h 3 - h 4 wh i c h m a y n o t p r o v e first. sufficient. 34.d7? c6 ] [ 12...c6 13.e5 A) 13...f4 14.d2 ( 14.g3 g4 ) 34.e8!! c8 [ 34...c7 35.b4! c8 ( 35...e7 36.c6 14...a5 15.g3 g5 16.f4 e7 17.f5; xc6 37.xe7; 35...xe8 36.xd6+ g7 B) 13...e7 14.e4 g6 15.f4 g7 37.xc7 ) 36.xf7+! xf7 37.xb6 c7 16.d2 f5 17.c4 a6 18.fd1 ] 2358
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 38.xd6 xa7 39.xc7+ g8 40.c5 a8 41.c6 a6 42.xe5+- ] [ 34...g7 35.d7! xa7 36.xf7+ h8 37.f6+ g8 38.g6+ h8 ( 38...f8 39.f7# ) 39.f7 Next Qxh6 mate. ] 35.b4 g7 36.xb6 xe8 37.xb7 xc4 38.xd6 xe4 39.b6! [ 39.b6 h4 40.g3 h5 41.g4 h4 42.b8 a4 43.xe5+ g6 44.g8+ h7 45.h8# ] 1-0
2404 Dougherty,Michael Shepherd,Michael 11th Monarch Assurance (2) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2320 2071 29.09.2002
Torre Attack: When Black keeps his options open in th e Torre a nd ref uses to commit himself, then White is well advised to take the battle to his opponent. 1.d4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.g5 c5 4.e3 h6 5.h4 e7 6.bd2 b6 7.d3 b7 8.0-0 0-0 9.c3 c6 10.e2 d6 11.fd1 e8 12.a4 a6 13.ac1 Both sides have built up patiently, but White is now ready to expand in the centre with e4, thus Black is forced to take action. d5 14.c4 Attempting to take advantage of the slightly exposed nature of the Black queen. [ 14.e5!? ] 14...cxd4 15.xd4 b4 [ 15...xd4 exchanging pieces looks more prudent with a typical IQP position after: 16.exd4 dxc4 17.xc4 Both sides have their chances here. ] 16.b1 e4 A typical device to exchange pieces. 17.xe4 xh4 18.cxd5 xd5 19.c6 Making the life of Black's queen very awkward. xc6 [ 19...d7 20.e5 e7 21.h5 keeps up the pressure. ] 20.xc6 d7 21.c4 ec8 22.cd4 Sensibly avoiding the inevitable release of tension which would follow the exchange of rooks. c6 23.a2 e7? This just loses a pawn. [ 23...c2 would have kept White's advantage to a minimum. 24.f3 e7 a n d B la c k s h o u ld b e a b le t o h o ld . ( Not
24...xb2 25.xd5 exd5 26.d6 )] 24.xd5 exd5 25.c3 The key move that Black must have missed. a7 26.xd5 c5 27.4d2 xa4 Understandably, Black is desperate t o get his p awn ba ck, b ut yo u should always be suspicious of strangers b e a r i n g g i f t s . 28.b4! winning at least an exchange. f8 29.xb6 1-0
2405 Dzagnidze,Nana Zivkovic,Vesna 7th ECCW Antalya TUR (6) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2281 2181 05.10.2002
T o r re A t t a ck : A s s o o f t e n i n t h e d -p a wn specials, Black pays the price for not concentrating his attentions on the centre. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 4.h4 b6 5.e3 b7 6.d3 e7 7.bd2 d6 8.e4 With Black failing to exert any pressure on the centre, it is only natural for White to expand there. bd7 9.0-0 0-0 10.c3 e5 11.e1 W hite h as a slight e dge du e t o his extra space advantage , but Black is quite solid and has no obvious targets to attack. Hence a slow build-up is necessary. g6 12.g3 Logically forcing Black to resolve matters in t h e ce n t re . exd4 13.cxd4 h5 14.c4 xg3 15.hxg3 As usual, bagging the bishop pair has come at some positional cost. Black has lost control of the centre, and his kingside l o o k s s l i g h t l y v u l n e r a b l e . c5 16.e5 Preparing an assault on the light squares. d5 [ 16...cxd4 17.e6 d5 18.d3 is the same.. ] 17.d3 cxd4 18.e6 c5 19.exf7+ g7?! An unfortunate choice of square for the King. [ 19...h7 20.b3 xd3 21.xd3 xf7 keeps White's advantage to a minimum. ] 20.xd4 Now, the vulnerable e6 square is a c o n s t a n t s o u r c e o f c o n c e r n . xf7? Black cracks under the strain. [ 20...xf7 was essential, however unpleasant after: 21.c2 d7 22.2f3 ] 21.b4 f6 22.g4 Ouch! c8 [ 22...xd3 23.e6+ Picks up the Black queen, but such is his desperate situation, Black should probably have tried this. ] 23.xg6+ f8 24.c6 The White pieces pile 2359
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 in around the Black king. d7 25.bxc5 xc6 26.xh6+ g8 27.g6 There is no satisfactory defence against the W hite onslaught. xa1 [ 27...g7 28.e8+ xe8 29.xe8 xa1 30.c6 is winning. ] 28.xf7+ 1-0
2406 Efimov,Igor Roser,Kevin Coupe de Monaco MCO (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2494 2319 26.06.1999
TORRE ATTACK: If Black plays the solid 2... e6, then the Tromp gives W hite an obvious opportunity to transpose back to the Torre. Lovers of the bishop pair tend to take this opportunity, rather than enter the main line with 3.e4. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.d2 c5 4.e3 cxd4 5.exd4 e7 6.gf3 0-0 7.d3 b6 8.e2 Graham Burgess in his recent book "The Gambit Guide to the Torre attack" is suspicious of this move, claiming that Black should be able to equalise with a timely Nd5. I r e c o m e n d h i s b o o k t o a n y T o r r e p l a ye r wanting to improve their theoretical knowledge of the opening. I agree with Burgess's assessment, and would suggest White players stick to the standard plans involving kingside castling. b7 9.c3 c6 [ With this, Black starts to go wrong, instead; 9...d5 10.xe7 xe7 looks fine, when I can't see anything better for White than the slightly wimpy: 11.g3 ] 10.h4 e8 Terribly passive, instead Black had to try Nd5 again. [ 10...d5 ] 11.0-0-0 f6 12.c2!? A very ambitious move. Alternatively, the simple Bf 4 would leave W h i t e w i t h a r i s k f r e e a d v a n t a g e . fxg5 13.hxg5 xg5 Black commits hari-kari. Allowing white to take on h7 is certain to be extremely painful. [ 13...g6 Would be a much sterner test. After 14.e4 threatening Rxh7. f7 15.h4 g7 Would leave Black very passive, but as the famous saying goes "a piece is still a piece!" ]
14.xh7+ f7 15.d5! White rips open the center, leaving the Black king in no-mansland. f6 Black tries to alleviate the pressure by returning a piece. Good alternatives were hard to come by. [ 15...exd5 16.d3 Threatening both Qg6+ a n d Q xd 5 + a n d l e a vi n g W h i t e wi t h a n awesome attack. ] 16.dxc6 xc6 17.e5+ e7 18.g6+ The W hite initiative runs rampant. W hite seems to be enjoying hitting the Black king from pillar to post. d8 19.xf8 Winning the exchange. W ith the Black king stuck in the centre, the game is effectively over. xg2 20.hg1 f3 21.b5 The double attack on g5 and d7 forces capitulation. 1-0
2407 Ehrke,Michael Feick,Stefan BL2-N 9192 Germany [Eric Prié]
A46 2240 2300 1992
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.f4 c5 Due to lack of space, as I privileged the surprising idea of 5... b5 this time, I had to postpone stories with an early [ 3...h5 as put forward by Johnsen/ Kovacevic (Although I can't help feeling that the idea is added more to promote their concept of playing the 'Bishop first' 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 e6 3. e3 than anything else...) to a more appropriate moment. ] 4.c3 cxd4 5.cxd4 [ 5.xd4?! a6 6.d2 d5 7.c2 d6 8.xd6 xd6 9.e4 xe4! 10.xe4 e5 11.f3 dxe4 12.fxe4 f4!= Borchgrevink, H (2297) - Ekeberg, C (2365) NOR-ChT Oslo 2007 1/2(36) ] 5...b5!? When I read in John COX "dealing with d4 deviations" (Everyman 2006) that this move was recommended by Andrew Martin, I was very much tempted to exclaim "Say no more!" However, it appears that it is suggested in ECO too, so it probably deserves more consideration... 6.a4 6.e3 (as in the next game) is the move W hite plays almost automatically in this position, regrettably giving up on the idea of playing e4 in one go. 2360
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xa3 23.a1 is completely levelling. )] Mainly for this reason I am personally inclined Now the development of the knight to to consider both 6. a4 (although this is a bit 6...b4? suspect in case of Black's reply 6...bxa4) and d2 will perfectly fit in with White's plans. [ 6...bxa4! Of course b2 is obviously more chiefly vulnerable than a7 and the knight will have [ 6.c3!? as naturally more testing. a6 a superb square on b4, possibly anchored ( 6...b4?! 7.b5 ) 7.g3 An interesting way to by a pawn on a5. 7.c3 develop the pieces which is adapted to the A) 7...b7 Is probably simpler after which concern of the early development of the I must admit I have not found a way to bishop to f4 - W hite keeps the d2 square profit from the more active positioning of free for the dark-squared bishop in case of W hite's queen's knight. 8.xa4 ( 8.e3 a knight attack from d5 or h5. ( 7.e4 b4 c6 9.d3 b4; 8.g3 Therefore is the 8.a4 xe4 9.d3 f6; 7.a3 b7 8.e3 only way to continue development while c6 9.d3 b4 10.axb4 xb4 ) 7...b7 keeping all the 3 possibilities to take back 8.g2 e7 ( 8...c6 9.0-0 e7 10.d5; on a4 accordin g to how Black re acts . 8...b4 9.a4 d6 10.0-0 e7 11.a3 However, I am a bit worried by the serious Now the rook is active on its original file and deterioration of the structure in return for can go to b1 in one move in case of the the 2 bishops resulting from xf3 9.exf3 opening of the b-file. a5 12.d3! ) 9.0-0 a3! 10.bxa3 a5 11.d2 c6 12.b5 0-0 10.c1 ( 10.a3!? is my favorite d8 13.a4 a6 14.c3 b6 15.e3 therefore also Black can now play 10...d5 b2 16.c1 xa3 17.d3 xa4 under better conditions with the idea ...Nc6, 18.xa4 b4+ 19.f1 d5 20.e4 . . . b 5 - b 4 s i n c e c6 immediately fails to b8 ) 8...b6! 9.d2 ( 9.b5 c6 11.d5 exd5 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5 f6 10.e3 b4; 9.b5 d5 10.d2 c6 14.ad1 xb2 15.xd7 xd7 16.xd7 11.e4 a6 ) 9...xb2 10.b5 b4 a5 17.d2 c8 18.c7 c4 19.b4 11.d6+ e7! 12.xb7 e4 13.a2 e6 20.xf8 xf8 21.g5 ) 10...b4 ( 13.a2? b1+ 14.d1 xa2 ) ( 10...d6 11.a3! bd7 12.d3; 10...d5!? 13...xd4 14.e3 xd2+ 15.xd2 xd2 No w, o r e a r li e r o n , a l s o qu e s t io n s t h e 16.d1 ( 16.a3+ d6 17.d1 c4 ) development of the fianchetto bishop as it is 16...b4 17.xd2 xb7 18.g5+ e8 now hitting the strong point on d5 and the 19.xg7 b4+ 20.d2 f8 21.xh7; knight is on c3 rather than d2 where it would B) 7...c6 8.e4!? ( 8.xa4 b6; 8.xa4 have better access to the hole on c5. White b6 ) 8...b4 9.xa4 ( 9.d3 a3 10.c2 may have some tiny edge however, with the axb2 11.xb2 0-0 12.0-0 a5 idea of transferring the other knight to this is insufficient for the pawn. ) key square via d3.) 11.a4 d6 12.a3 a5 B1) 9...xe4? 10.xb4 xc3 11.bxc3; 13.e1 ( 13.b3 d5 ) 13...xg2 B2) 9...b6 10.d3 d5 ( 10...xd4? ( 13...d5 14.d3 ) 14.xg2 ( 14.xg2 11.xd4 xd4 12.0-0 Now threatening d7 15.b6? b7+ ) 14...bd7 15.d3 Nb5. 0-0 13.e3 d6 14.e5 xe5 b6 16.xb6 ( 16.b5 fd5 17.d2 15.xb4 ) 11.e5 e4 12.c2 b8 xa4 18.xa4 b6 ) 16...xb6 17.e3 ( 12...a5 13.0-0 xc3 14.bxc3 a6 A l l r i g h t , W h i t e c a n n o t d o e ve r yt h i n g : 15.e1 Intending f2-f3.; 12...g5 13.e3 doubling on the c-file, limit the opposing g4 14.d2 xd4 15.xd4 xd4 activity on the queenside while improving 16.dxe4 dxe4 17.xe4 b8 18.0-0 his light-squared control with a3-a4 and xe5 19.xa7 ) 13.0-0 xc3 14.bxc3 recycle his g2 knight, but this is the kind of b3 15.xe4 dxe4 16.xb3 xb3 position with sufficiently deep strategical 17.d2 xc3 18.xe4 c2 19.c1 issues that I would not mind playing as xc1+ 20.xc1 0-0 21.a3 d8 W hite against an opponent reassured by 22.d6 d7 23.c4; the harmless aspect of the pawn structure... B3) 9...xc3+ 10.bxc3 xe4 11.c2 h5 18.d5 ( 18.c4 a6 19.d2 d5 d5 12.d3 On the other hand offers 20.e5 xd3 21.xd3 bxa3 22.bxa3 2361
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White interesting compensation for the pawn. ] 7.e3 e7 [ 7...a5 8.bd2 ] 8.bd2 b7 [ 8...a5 9.d3 a6 10.b3 As a matter of fact, the exchange of the light-squared bishops seems to favour White. ] 9.a5! a6 [ 9...h5!? 10.a6 d5 ( 10...c6 11.xb8 xb8 12.e5 f6 13.xc6 dxc6 14.c1 c8 15.a4?! 0-0! 16.xc6 d5 ) 11.g3 ( 11.xb8 xb8 12.c4 a8 ) 11...0-0 12.d3 ( 12.e4 c6 13.d3 d5; 12.c4 xc4 13.xc4 d5 14.ce5 b6 15.a4 f6 16.d3 c6 ) 12...f5 13.0-0 c6 14.c4 xg3 15.hxg3 xc4 16.xc4 d5 17.ce5 xe5 18.xe5 c8 19.a4 ] 10.c4! 0-0 [ 10...d5 11.b6 a7 12.a4+ c6 13.c2 fd7 14.c1 ] 11.d6? [ 11.d3 h5 12.d6 ] 11...xd6 12.xd6 xf3 13.gxf3 [ 13.xf3 c6 Attacking a5 when Qa4 is now impossible. ] 13...c6 14.f4 e8? [ 14...xa5 15.g2 a7 16.a4 b6! ] 15.c4 c7 16.g2 d5 17.e5 xe5 18.fxe5 f6 19.exf6 xf6 Not very logical. The top priority for Black should have been to recycle his knight. Hence the correct set up [ 19...xf6 20.0-0 b5 21.d2 ( 21.a4 g6 22.f4 c8 23.xb4 xa5 ) 21...g6 22.h1 b3 Intending ...Nd6, ...Qh4, ...Rc8 or b8 et cetera. ] 20.0-0 h4? [ 20...b5 And there must be some way to g e t s o m e c o m p e n s a t i o n a f t e r 21.a4 and the unavoidable loss of b4. ] 21.a4! f6? [ 21...b5 22.xb4 ac8 23.d2 d6 ] 22.c6! g6 23.f4 d8 [ 23...a7 24.b6 b5 25.f5 xg2+ ( 25...exf5 26.b8+ f7 27.xf5+ f6 28.xf6+ gxf6 29.xd5+ ) 26.xg2 e4+ 27.f3 exf5 28.d8+ f7 29.c1 e7 30.c8+- ] 24.ac1 b5 25.h1 d6 26.f5 xf5 27.xf5 xg2 28.xe6+ 1-0
2408 Eliseev,Alexey Smirnov,Artem White Nights (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2471 2246 09.06.2001
Torre-Tromp: W hite uses an original idea against Black's kingside fianchetto. It would be nice to see more of this type of chess. White certainly displays a great eye for the attack in this lovely gem of a game. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.f3 h6 4.xf6 I have to confess to being slightly confused by W hite's move order. W e do however soon reach a typical position, but to restrict Black's options, 3.e4 w o u l d h a v e b e e n m o r e a c c u r a t e . xf6 5.bd2 g6 6.e4 Now everything's back to normal. g7 7.d3 d6 8.e2 0-0 9.e5 e7 10.h4 A surprisingly rare move in this variation. But what could be more natural than attempting to tear into Black's already tender kingside position. Hit him where it hurts! d7 11.h5 g5 12.0-0-0 First a little bit of house cleaning. W hite tidys up his king position before continuing with the attack. c5 Detonating the center, but this doesn't worry the W hite player. The only blast that he's interested in is around the Black king. 13.b1 cxd4 14.exd6 xd6 15.e4 e7 16.exg5! Very tasteful . Just when Black must ha ve b een f ee lin g co mf o rtab le, his kingside position explodes in his face! hxg5 17.h6 h8 18.xg5 e5 [ 18...xg5 Looks quite natural, until you see: 19.h7+ g7 20.h5 xg2 21.e4 trapping the Black queen! ] 19.f4 d6 20.h7 Black's king is in serious trouble. f5 21.xf8 xf8 22.g4 White start s the second wave of the attack. Black never g e t s a c h a n c e t o c a t c h h i s b r e a t h . h7 23.dg1 The White pieces are perfectly poised for the decisive breakthrough. g6 24.gxf5 exf5 25.xg6! T a ke t h a t ! xg6 26.g1+ [ 26.h7 also was winning, but White goes for glory. ] 26...f6 27.h5 xf4 28.h4+ Black is, at best losing his queen. I'll leave the variations for those with sadistic minds to work out. A superbly played attack by the player with the
2362
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 winning position. ] 19...xf3+ b2 will fall, leaving White with no compensation for his two pawn deficit. 0-1
White pieces. 1-0
2409 Feibert,Fred Philippe,Christophe FSIMB July Budapest HUN (3) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2270 2316 08.07.2002
Other d-pawn specials. An early c5 is one of the most irritating ways for Black to meet the d-pawn specials. Here, we see that White fails to get to grips with the demands of his position. 1.d4 c5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 b6 An annoying system for the Colle player to meet, as Black can still employ a kingside fianchetto. However, there is one way to try and take advantage of Black's move order. 4.dxc5 bxc5 5.e4!? Based on a tactical point, White can grab the centre. b7 [ 5...xe4?? 6.d5 winning. ] 6.e5 d5 7.c4 [ 7.d3 continuing development is preferable here. ] 7...c7 8.c3 g6 9.e2 g7 White has to now be careful that his e5 pawn doesn't just drop off. 10.0-0 0-0 11.b3?! Black deals wi t h t h i s t h r e a t e a s i l y a n d t h e q u e e n i s somewhat exposed on the b-file. [ 11.f4 was better, with balanced chances. ] 11...c6 12.d5 The bishop was of course taboo. [ 12.xb7 b8 Ouch! ] 12...b8 13.g5 White is desperately trying to drum up some activity before his e-pawn bites the dust. h6 14.f4 e6 15.g3 ed4 16.d3 White misses his last chance. It was vital to protect the pathetic weakling on e5. [ 16.e3 was best, when c2 17.xc5 xa1 18.xa1 gives White some compensation for his missing exchange. ] 16...xf3+ 17.xf3 xe5 18.e2 White has lost his central pawn and now the game is beyond repair, as b2 is also under pressure. d6 19.ad1 [ 19.ab1 xf3+ 20.gxf3 e6 leaves Black with an extra pawn, the better structure and th e b is h o p p air. I n sh o rt , a co m p le t e ly
2410 Fuller,William La,Jimmy Lansing MI Aug mini [Eric Prié]
A46 2290 2200 1992
1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.c3 Incidentally, there are many games with this move order transposing into our subject. If Glenn Flear (see his section) thinks that the Blumenfeld [ 3.d5 e6 4.c4 b5 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 is playable for Black, then 3.c3, accepting to play an exchange Slav after 3...cxd4 4. cxd4 d5 (which is generally not to the taste of the 2...c5 player at all) has to be considered the standard reaction of the "dPawn Specials" supporter. ] 3...cxd4 [ 3...e6 4.g5 h6 5.xf6!? xf6 6.e4 cxd4 7.cxd4 b4+ 8.bd2 Reaching the same position on move 8 is more logical. ] 4.cxd4 e6 5.g5 b4+ 6.bd2 h6 7.xf6!? In that particular case, I would rather advise [ 7.h4 g5 8.g3 e4 9.a3 1 See the note in game ] 7...xf6 8.e4 The critical position, and also very important for the Trompowsky links as w e s h a l l s e e . g6?! An inaccuracy that plainly illustrates the dangers of being behind in development for Black [ 8...c6 9.a3 e7 ( 9...a5 10.b4 b6 11.e5 e7 12.e4 ) A) 10.c4!? d5 ( 10...g6 11.d3 xg2 12.g1 h3 13.xg7 g5 14.d6+; 10...0-0 11.e5 T ra n sp o s e s) 11.e5 g6 12.e3 h5 13.d3 h6 14.h4; B) 10.e5 B1) 10...f4 11.d3 Setting a wonderful trap. B1a) 11...h5 12.g3 h6 13.e4 0-0 ( 13...h4 14.gxh4 xh4 15.d6+ f8 16.xh4 xh4 17.e4 ) 14.h4; B1b) 11...xd4? 12.g3 xf3+ 2363
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.xf3 g4 14.h3 h5 15.g4 Trapping the queen!; B2) 10...g6 11.c4 0-0! ( 11...f6 12.d3 xg2? 13.g1 h3 14.g3 h5 15.g6+ ) B2a) 12.d3 xg2 13.g1 h3 14.c2 ( 14.e2 f5 15.exf6 xf6 16.e4 f5 ); B2b) 12.h3! Another Chess classic and a more economical way than 12. Ne3 f5, which would unguard d6, to avoid the complications resulting from the pawn offer f6 ( 12...b6 13.d3 f5 14.g4!; 12...f5 13.d5 exd5 14.xd5+ e6 15.0-0-0 b5 16.d6 ) 13.d3 e8 ( 13...xg2? 14.h2 ) 14.e2 is very promising for White. ] [ 8...b6 9.a3 e7 10.d3 g6 ( 10...a6? 11.e5 f4 12.g3 g4 13.h3 h5 14.g4 ) 11.0-0 is the same. ] [ 8...d5 logically should be the best move, taking the c4 square from the Nd2 9.e5 g6 10.a3 ( 10.b3 e4+ 11.e2 c6 ) 10...e7 11.b3! 0-0 12.h3! White will play Bd3 emphasizing the uncomfortable position of the black queen, then castle queenside and attack with g2-g4 in case of a black ...f6-f5. f6 13.d3 e8 14.c2 c6 15.d3 f5 16.g4 d7 17.g1 Unclear. White has a clear plan of action but Black is not de prived of co unt erchan ces on th e queenside. ] 9.d3! xg2? It was necessary to back down. [ 9...c6 10.0-0 d5 11.e2 Protecting d3. h5 A) 12.exd5 xd5 13.e4 xd4 ( 13...d6 14.d5 ) 14.xd4 xd4 15.xb7 xb7 16.b5+ d7 17.xb4 a5 18.c5? ( 18.c3 0-0 ) 18...xd2 19.fd1 b4; B) 12.ad1!? The rooks towards the centre. 0-0 13.e5 f6; C) 12.e5? xd4! 13.b5+ ( 13.xd4 xe2 14.xe2 xd2 ) 13...d7 14.xd7+ xd7 15.d3 c6; D) 12.e3 dxe4 13.xe4 Very similar to Hebden-Hunt last month. ] 10.g1 xd2+ 11.e2! A very bad surprise. h3 12.xd2 0-0
[ 12...g5 13.c3! a6 14.d5 f8 15.f6 W it h a d e cis ive a t t a ck f o r in s t a n c e . d6 16.g3 h5 17.e5! g4 ( 17...dxe5 18.d6 ) 18.exd6 gxf3+ 19.d1 ] 13.e5! Practically winning by force. Black has no development to help his king. c6 [ 13...f5 14.g6! f7 ( 14...h8 15.ag1 g8 16.f4 ) 15.ag1 h8 ( 15...h7 16.g5+! hxg5 17.xg5 ) 16.f4 c6 ( 16...h5 17.g3 f4 18.g2 c6 19.xg7 xd4+ 20.f1 ) 17.h4! b6 18.xh6++- ] 14.f4 f6 [ 14...h5 15.xg7+! ( 15.f6? xd4+ 16.f1 h3+ 17.g2 xg2+ 18.xg2 gxf6 ) 15...xg7 16.f6+ g8 17.g1+ ] 15.exf6 g5 16.xg5+ h8 17.g7 xf3+ 1-0
2411 Genocchio,Daniele Felgaer,Ruben Saint Vincent op (4) [Eric Prié]
A46 2349 2508 2001
1.d4 e6 2.f3 c5 3.dxc5 f6 4.c4 xc5 5.c3 0-0 6.e3 a6 [ 6...c6 ] 7.e2 c7 Probably because of the ELO rating difference, Black opts for a Hedgehog set-up instead of the equalizing [ 7...c6 when White cannot prevent the idea ...d5, ...d4 anymore. 8.0-0 d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.c2 e7 11.d1 d8 ] 8.0-0 b6 9.a4!? e7 10.d4 d8 11.b3 c6 12.h4 b7 13.a3 e8 14.c3 e7 [ 14...e5 ] 15.ac1 c8 16.fd1 b8 [ 16...g6 17.h3 e7 18.b2 ] 17.d6 a8 18.d4 b5! [ 18...xg2 19.f3 e5 20.xe7 exd4 ( 20...xe7 21.f5 xf3 22.g3 ) 21.xd8 cxd8 22.d5 xd5 23.cxd5 xe3 24.d3 h6 25.xg2+- ] 19.cxb5 xc3!! 20.xc3 e4 21.bxa6 d5? [ 21...xc3 22.axb7 xb7 And White has to give up the exchange 23.e1? f5 24.f4 d5 25.e5 f6 26.e4 xd6 ] 22.d3! g6 23.xe4!! xe4 24.xe4 2364
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xe4? [ 24...xa6= ] 25.c8 An extraordinary position with all his p i e c e s a n d 3 m o ve s t o go B l a c k c a n n o t prevent White from queening! h4 26.f3 xf3+ [ 26...g4 27.g3 xf3+ 28.gxf3 xf3 29.dc1 f8 30.a7 e7 31.xf8+ xf8 32.c8 d1+ 33.g2 d5+ 34.f3 d2+ 35.f2 ] 27.gxf3 xf3 28.dc1 g4+ [ 28...e5 29.a7 g4+ 30.f1 h3+ 31.e1 ] 29.g3 In conclusion, I would say that, as far as I am concerned, the reason I gave up playing 1... e6 on 1 d4 was not the fear of only obtaining a position lacking perspective after 2. Nf3 and super solid play beloved of some "d-pawn Specials players", but just the desire to change opening! 1-0
2412 Gonzalez Velez,Fermin Oms Pallisse,Josep TCh Barcelona ESP (2) [Aaron Summerscale]
17.f3 f6 What else? But now the weaknesses in the Black king position allow W h it e so m e co m b in a t io n a l p o ssib ilit ie s . 18.xg6 Crash! The g-pawn is the first ca su a lt y o f wa r . xg6 19.xe6 xh4 20.h5 Black has no way of keeping what is a temporary two piece advantage and his King has become fatally exposed. g7 21.xh4 [ 21.xd5 was also powerful. ] 21...xc3 22.bxc3 d5 23.xd5 xd5 24.de1 The pin along the e-file proves far too much for Black's exposed forces. f7 [ 24...d7 25.g4+ h8 26.g6 Is no better for Black. ] 25.xh6 f5 26.e3 1-0
2413 Gormally,Daniel Ward,Chris British League (4NCL) (4.3) [Richard Palliser]
A46 2520 2448 15.01.2012
A46 2375 2430 06.08.2000
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 b5 4.g2 d5 [ The safe and solid choice. A more adventurous approach being 4...b7 5.0-0 c5 , as we've seen before. ] 5.a4!? In a fairly standard Torre position, W hite [ Gormally wastes no time getting in a highlights the advantages of not moving the cchallenge on the queenside. W hite more pawn too soon in the opening. 1.d4 e6 2.f3 of t e n p re f e rs t o f irst d e ve lo p wit h 5.0-0 f6 3.g5 c5 4.e3 h6 5.h4 b6 6.d3 bd7 and then build for a2-a4 with 6.c3 cxd4 7.exd4 b7 8.0-0 e7 9.e1 0-0 - see my notes to V.Popov-Panarin, 10.c4 The opening has so far been standard, Voronezh 2010. ] with both sides playing moves that should [ In the final round game, Kamsky-Topalov, come as no surprise to any self respecting Wijk aan Zee 2012, White accelerated such Torre attack player. W hite's last move an approach with 5.c3 . This seems quite requires some comment. The standard Torre r e a s o n a b l e t o m e a n d i t p r o vo k e d t h e plan would be c3, Nd2 etc, but with c4 White former Avignon Pope into some early begins a different strategy of directly attacking a g g r e s s i o n : a5!? 6.0-0 ( 6.a4 b4 the center. The likely result is an IQP position, was Black's idea and I suspect he might where the aggressive White player can hone have met 7.c4 w i t h t h e s o l i d bd7 his attacking skills. d5 11.c3 bd7 followed by ...Ba6) 6...bd7 7.f4 e7 12.e2 e8 13.ad1 f8 14.e5 dxc4 8.c2 c5 (and why not?) 9.bd2 b7 15.xc4 d5 Black rushes to blockade the 10.e5 0-0 11.a4 bxa4! 12.xa4 xe5 IQP before it can advance. However, this 13.dxe5 d7 and Black was at least OK leaves his kingside a little more vulnerable, a before later being outplayed in the ensuing factor that White is quick to exploit. 16.h5 manoeuvring middlegame. ] g6 5...b4 6.c4 bxc3 [ 16...xh4 17.xf7+ h8 18.xb7 ] [ Now if 6...a5 Black would be a tempo down 2365
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 on a position we considered above and White might seek to exploit that with 7.cxd5 exd5 8.e5!? followed by Bg5, Nbd2, Rc1 and Nb3, clamping down on that key c5square. ] 7.bxc3 a6!? [ Positionally desirable, but also ambitious. It may be that Black does better with 7...e7 , retaining the option of placing the lightsquared bishop on the long diagonal, especially in the event of an early Ne5 from White. ] 8.0-0 e7 [ This is a little too solid for my liking and perhaps even a little out of keeping with C h r i s ' u s u a l d y n a m i c s t y l e . 8...bd7!? looks a little more to the point, covering e5 and supporting the ...c5 break. One practical test saw 9.a3 e4 ( rather ambitious it's not hard to see why Black disliked 9...c5?! 10.b5! ,; but 9...e7 10.f4 c6 would have been solid eno ugh f or him) 10.c2 e7 11.e5!? ( again we see this structural transformation, although here I suspect a good case can be made for first 11.c4! a n d o n l y i f c6 then 12.e5 ) 11...xe5 12.dxe5 c5 13.b5 0-0 with chances for both sides in AlaverdyanKalashian, Jermuk 2010. ] 9.e5! [ New and I rather like this way of preventing Black from developing his b8-knight for now. Instead 9.a3 bd7 10.e1 0-0 11.fd2 was all too slow and Black enjoyed easy e q u a l i t y a f t e r xa3 12.xa3 c5 in Trichkov-Roy Chowdhury, Prague 2008, ] [ while 9.a3 bd7 10.c4 c6 11.d2 0-0 12.e1 b4! saw Black beginning to take over the initiative in Stojanovic-Pogonina, Tbilisi 2011. ] 9...fd7 [ Black challenges without delay, just as he does in certain lines of the Queen's Indian. That said, 9...0-0!? 10.c4 c6 followed by ... Nfd7 might be an improvement. Black's position reminds me rather of a solid Queen's Indian set-up and I'm not sure that the open queenside necessarily gives White that much of a pull, especially with c4 under some pressure. ] 10.d3 Keeping pieces on to emphasis his
extra space and slightly freer development. White has an edge. 0-0 [ I ' m s u r e C h r i s w a n t e d t o g o 10...c5?! , but just couldn't make it work with White s e t t o o p e n t h e c e n t r e w i t h 11.e4! . An instructive line runs f6 12.exd5 xd5 13.e1 d7?! 14.xd5! exd5 15.g5 f6 16.f4! and suddenly White's initiative has become rather powerful. ] 11.e4 c6 Digging in for the long haul. It's hard to suggest anything better, though, and I'm sure that Chris was regretting not selecting the more active option back at move 4. 12.e1 Gormally calmly continues to improve his forces and makes Black lose further time f o rcin g W hit e to co mm it his e -p a wn . f6 13.e5 fd7 14.f4 b6 15.g4 Even now I can't quite believe that W hite d id n ' t win t h is ga m e . G o r m a lly is a ve r y dangerous attacking player on his day, but maybe it just wasn't that and, as we'll see, Black did defend pretty solidly and well. h8 16.d2 8d7 17.h4! The position continues to look like a turbo-charged King's Indian Attack for White, although I suppose it may be the case that he has nothing more than a pleasant edge. g8 [ Chris really is digging in for a long defence. Th e t ext n ot o n ly f a cilit at e s .. . Nf 8, b u t attempts to dissuade h5-h6 ideas, which would badly weaken Black's dark squares (or obtain a sac target if Black met h5 with ... h6). That said, hemming the king into the co rn er d oe s lo o k a litt le u n n at u ral a n d perhaps Black might have got away with 17...c5!? 18.h5 b8 19.h6 gxh6 , borrowing some modern defensive ideas from the French: for example, 20.h5 c4 21.xc4 xc4 22.h3 b3 23.xh6 xc3 and Black is clinging on for the time being on the kingside by offering up an exchange. ] 18.f3 [ At various points over the last few moves, the engines have liked the idea of 18.a5!? c4 19.f1 , meeting xd2 with 20.xa6 b3 21.a2 xc1 22.xc1 and here I a gr e e t h e y m a y h a ve a p o in t . A f t e r a l l opposite-coloured bishops should favour the attacker after c5 23.d3 . ] 18...f8 19.g5! The standard KIA approach 2366
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to increase the pressure. xg5 20.hxg5 c4 Black is hoping to hold his kingside together long enough to get something going on the queenside. W hite, meanwhile, faces something of a dilemma: should he try to blast straight through on the king's flank or first attempt to contain Black's play on the other flank, leaving the knight on f8 and rook o n g 8 l o o k i n g a l i t t l e s i l l y . 21.f3?! Gormally ploughs straight ahead on autopilot in a bid to show that Black can't get away with trapping his own king in the corner, but it appears he had underestimated Black's 23rd. White had some better options, including: [ a) 21.g6! fxg6 22.xe6 xe6 23.xe6 with a lasting structural advantage. Moreover, any blockade on e6 is some way off and White might yet have got to exploit the half-open h-file this way. ] [ b) 21.d3!? simply brings the knight round to help control the queenside ahead o f resuming the kingside attack. ] 21...a5! Black must act. He will be mated if he dallies. 22.g2?! [ Continuing with his plan. Gormally wants to keep his knight on the kingside for understandable reasons, but had he gone in for 22.e2 b8 23.g2 then he would still have retained reasonable prospects on the kingside from what I can see. ] 22...xc3 23.h1 [ The alternative was 23.g6!? , but after xe1! 24.gxf7 d2 25.fxg8+ xg8 Black is OK in the complications: for instance, 26.b2 f1+ 27.g1 xf3+ 28.xf3 e2+ 29.xe1 xf3 30.a3 and a draw begins to look quite likely. ] 23...g6! [ Essential defence. White had no doubt b e e n h o p in g f o r 23...xa1? 24.g6 f5 ( 24...fxg6 also leads to mate after 25.xh7+ xh7 26.xg6# ,; and even 24...b1!? doesn't save Black on account of 25.h4! fxg6 26.xe6 followed by Ng5) 25.h3 h6 26.xh6+ gxh6 27.xh6+ g7 28.h5# which would have been a beautiful way to finish the game. ] 24.b1 There was no good square for the bishop or way to sacrifice the rook any longer, but now Black is able to force a draw. c2 [ The prudent choice, whereas Black's queen
might have found itself in a little spot of trouble after 24...c8 25.e2 c2 26.f4 .] 25.b4 c3 [ After such a close shave with danger, it's no wonder Black was happy with a draw. The way to play on was 25...c5!? 26.dxc5 xe5 , but opening the long diagonal like this feels very risky, especially with White having ensured that his rook supported Bb2. T h a t s a i d , a f t e r 27.b2 ( by no means f orced an d 27.h4!? might be a better try, leading to a big mess with both kings rather exposed after xf3 28.xf3 d4 ) 27...xb2 28.xb2 xg4 29.xg4 d7 30.xd5 gc8 31.f6 xf6 32.gxf6 xc5 33.d1 c7 only Black can be better in the resulting endgame. ] 26.b1 c2 27.b4 ½-½
2414 Harikrishna,Penteala Polgar,Judit World Rapid Championship, Dubai (4.6) [Richard Palliser]
A46 2726 2685
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 d5 Despite being a Queen's Indian player, whom one might expect would head for a Hedgehog set-up, Polgar is h appy to cou nte r Ha rikrish na's favourite weapon with a classical arrangement. 4.e3 c5 5.c3 bd7 6.bd2 e7 7.d3 b6 8.e5 xe5 As we've seen before, the knight must go lest White support it with f2-f4. 9.dxe5 d7 10.xe7 xe7 11.f4 b7 12.0-0 [ An interesting moment. The text is the standard move, but Harikrishna had earlier preferred 12.e2!? , keeping White's options open while waiting to see where Black will castle. After f6 ( 12...0-0-0 13.a4! reveals another point behind White's move order ) 13.exf6 gxf6 14.e4 White must have been quite happy in HarikrishnaMoradiabadi, Doha 2006. I was sufficiently impressed to make that an illustrative game in 'The Torre Attack: Move by Move', but maybe the Indian star has discovered a downside to the move or was just blitzing at 2367
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 this stage and so made the more natural move. ] 12...0-0 [ This is often avoided for fear of coming under a kingside attack, but is quite playable. Instead, 12...0-0-0 13.f3 g5! reaches quite a critical position - see Eric's analysis to Dreev-Azarov, Internet 2004, in the Archive. ] 13.e2 [ Only now does he move the queen to e2. W hite has designs on the e4-square and wants to avoid 13.f3 f6 14.exf6 gxf6 15.e2 f5 . ] 13...ad8 [ Polgar is happy too to improve her pieces, but the critical move must be 13...f6 . After 14.exf6 xf6 ( now 14...gxf6 is well met by 15.e4 ) 15.f3 Black is very solid, but White might be able to claim a small pull based on t h e w e a k n e s s o f e 5 , ( while avoiding the early complexities of 15.e4 c4 16.c2 e5!? . )] 14.f3 f6 It's not clear what else Black can do bar this break, but I dare say that Ha rikris hn a d id n't min d se eing it . 15.exf6 xf6 [ Once again, 15...gxf6 16.e4 with useful central pressure, is not what Black wants to be doing. ] 16.ad1 g6 17.fe1 White isn't in a hurry, but why should he be with Black devoid of an effective pawn break? Harikrishna is content to improve his pieces and only then decide whether to go in for Ne5 or aim for e3-e4. d6 18.f2 g7 19.c2 e7 Polgar is unable to find a way to strengthen her position and is hoping for Ne5 when ...Nd7 may lead to a welcome simplification. Harikrishna, however, finds a stronger continuation. 20.g3 h5 21.g4 f6 22.h3 c8?! 23.h4 More manoeuvring, but good manoeuvring by W h ite as t he bla ck knigh t is n o w p in n e d against its queen. b7 24.e5 White is quick to exploit the pin, although admittedly his advantage still isn't huge as Black remains very solid. g7 25.f1 d8 26.g5 d7 27.g4 Following the classic principle that the side wit h mo re spa ce a nd t he saf er kin g should keep pieces on. f6 28.g5 d7 29.g3?
[ A slip, but Harikrishna may have been getting frustrated at being unable to break Black's passive if solid set-up. White should have repeated and then gone 29.g4 f6 ( 29...xe5? is much weaker than in the game as e6 is loose and 30.fxe5 c6? 31.xf8 xf8 32.f1 d8 33.f6 w o u l d s e e W h i t e ' s p i e c e s p o u r i n g i n) 30.g3! . A f t e r, sa y, e7 ( this doesn't particularly help, but it's not so easy to find a good move Black must avoid 30...d7?? 31.xg6!; and 30...h5? 31.g5! is also rather awkward, playing against the knight on the rim) 31.xg6 hxg6 32.xg6+ h8 33.f3 g7 34.h3+ h7 35.h5 W hite would have enjoyed a strong initiative. ] 29...xe5! 30.fxe5 d7 31.g4 df7 As ever, Polgar is quick to seize her chance, but she remains a touch worse on account of having the wrong-coloured bishop. 32.f4 c7! 33.g5 [ Black's idea was 33.xe6 xf4 34.exf4 xf4 when the e-pawn isn't all that useful, as shown by 35.e1 f8 36.g4 c8! 37.g3 e6 with a firm blockade. ] 33...e7 34.g3? [ White has underestimated Black's counterplay and failed to appreciate that the trend is against him. It was time to simplify with 34.xe7 xe7 35.df1 , even if the pure bishop ending is surely just a draw. ] 34...a6! Removing the f1-square from the white rooks while teeing up a powerful pawn break. 35.d2 d4! 36.h4?? [ Harikrishna suffers an uncharacteristic collapse, although such rushes of blood to the head are hardly uncommon when one misses a strong idea and has little time in which to regroup. The initiative may have changed hands, but White might still have maintained a rough balance with 36.cxd4 cxd4 37.dxd4 c5 and then the only move 38.f2! . ] 36...dxe3 37.xf7+ xf7 38.d6 [ Now the newly-minted e-pawn is a killer, but so would 38.xe3 f1+ 39.h2 xh4+ 40.h3 f4+ have been. ] 38...e2 39.h2 f1 40.xg6 hxg6 41.h5 f7 42.d7 xd7 43.xg6+ h8 0-1 2368
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 17...d7? 18.xd7+ xd7 19.a3 The white rooks have been linked thanks to the bishop check. d5 20.xb7+ c7 21.d5 dxe5 22.c6+ d8 23.d6 ] 18.f4 [ 18.a3 d5 ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.c3 c5 4.f3 cxd4 18...dxe5 19.fxg5 g6 20.af1+ g8 A piece has been lost in return for only 2 bad 5.cxd4 b6 6.c2 [ 6.c1 The idea of this move, for White, is pawns while the miserable situation of his to be able to keep his queen's bishop but king does not offer White any hope for tactical Black equalizes easily by taking advantage compensation either. 21.d1 exd4 22.exd4 [ 22.f3 dxc3+ 23.bxc3 xa2+ 24.e1 of the lack of control of e4. c6 c2+ 25.d1 xe3+ 26.xe3 b1+ A) 7.xf6 gxf6 8.e3 d5 9.c3 d7 27.d2 xb5 ] 10.d2 c8 11.c1 ( 11.d3 b4 12.b1 ) 11...b4 or 11...Bd6 is a typical 22...d8! 23.f3 xg5+ 24.d1 [ 24.e1 c2+ 25.d1 e3+ ] position, as in the game Georgiev,Vl-Prié.. . 24...g4 Following the exchange of queens, with reversed colours!; B) 7.e3 e4 8.f4 b4+ 9.fd2 d5 Black having won a pawn the process, the xf3 10.d3 xd2 11.xd2 d7 12.0-0 c8 rest presents no interest. 25.e2 13.d1 e7 14.b3 xb3 15.xb3 26.xf3 g7 27.a3 c6 28.d5 exd5 b4 16.b1 g5 17.g3 b5? ( 17...c2 29.xd5+ e6 30.e4 g4 31.h3 g3 18.xc2 xc2 19.ab1 0-0 20.fc1 32.c2 c8 33.f4 xc3 34.bxc3 e5 fc8 ) 18.c1 xc1+ 19.xc1 0-0 35.xh4 cxc3+ 36.d2 xa3 37.b1 b6 20.a4 c8 21.xh7+ xh7 22.axb5 c2 38.b5 a2+ 39.e1 23.b1 a5 24.bxa6 bxa6 25.f1 f5 0-1 26.f3 1/2-1/2 White,K-Estremera Panos,S Gibraltar op Round 2! 2005 1/2(26) ] A46 6...c6 7.e3? This attempt to keep the 2416 bishop fails by force in an instructive manner. Hebden,Mark 2575 b4 8.b3 e4! 9.h4 Slightly better Adams,Michael 2680 [ 9.f4 a5?! ( 9...c6! 10.c3 xc3 BCF-ch Hove (10) 14.08.1997 11.bxc3 d5 ) 10.bd2 d5 ( 10...g5? [Eric Prié] 11.e5 f6 12.xe4! c2+ 13.d1 xa1 14.xf6+ d8 15.d3 xa2 16.xg5 ) 1.d4 f6 2.f3 d6 3.c3 f5 4.g5 11.g3 b4 12.d1 d6 13.a3 xd2+ bd7 5.h4 g6 6.xg6 hxg6 7.e4 e5 14.xd2 xg3 15.hxg3 would be pleasant Th is is th e m a in lin e. T h e con t act in t h e for White. ] center gives White more strategical problems 9...a5 10.fd2 to solve, in addition to the question of the ... [ 10.bd2 g5 ( 10...c7 11.xe4 c2+ Nxe4 tactic. 8.d2 12.d1 xa1 13.c3; 10...xd2 11.xd2 [ 8.g3 I reckon this is the best move in the c7 12.d1! Intending Rc1, a2-a3, Kc2. )] position. It is not clear what use can Black 10...g5! 11.g3 h5! 12.c3 This was make of the c4 square. Furthermore, White's idea aiming to release the tension on provided that its opposing counterpart has the 'crowded' (indeed!) a5-e1 diagonal. Alas disappeared, a fianchettoed bishop is often for the French master, the number one Dutch a good way to diminish, and even player had seen further sometimes annihilate, the attacking potential [ 12.xe4 d3+! 13.d1 ( 13.e2 c1+ of an open file on one's castle. c6 ( 8...e7 14.d1 xb3 ) 13...e1+ 14.c2 b4+ ] With the idea Nd5!?) 9.e3 a5 10.g2 12...xd2 13.xd2 h4 14.e5 f6!! 15.xf6 b6 11.0-0 c4 12.c1 e7 13.e2 h6 The queen is defending g5! 16.e5 d6 exd4 14.xd4 0-0-0 15.e2 e5 16.d2 17.b5+ f7! c7 17.c4 h7 18.h3 dh8 19.ac1 b8 2415 Hauchard,Arnaud Van Wely,Loek FRA-chT 9900 (1.2) [Eric Prié]
A46 2513 2646 04.02.2000
2369
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.f4 ed7 21.b4 h5 22.f3 f6 23.f2 xd4 24.xd4 e8 25.d3 b6 26.c5 dxc5 27.bxc5 c8 28.b1 hh8 29.db3 e7 30.e5 g5 31.a4! b6 32.cxb6 xb6 33.xc6 1-0 Next move is Rxb6 Malaniuk,VFedorov,A St Petersburg op 1994 ] [ Natural development has still to be explored: 8.e2 e7 9.e3 c6 And here W hit e ha s a wide cho ice of candidate s moves: 10.a4 to prevent b5 but it stops White from long castling and weakens the control of the queenside dark squares from which Black may profit by playing ...Qa5, ... Qb4 or ...a5 and firmly install a knight on c5, followed by ...Qb6, ...Qb4 10.Qd2, possibly d3, but he should be careful about castling queenside because of the advance of the bpawn. It also loses a tempo on exd4 if he recaptures with the queen 10.0-0 but then Black may make some use of the open h-file. As a first consequence, 10...Qc7 with tactics in direction of h2 would practically force 11. h3. Then a further need for support of the e4 pawn by f3 would create big holes in the dark squares in White's camp. It authorizes Black, as well, to castle on the same side without f earing a lightning attack 10.d5 seems premature, 10...Qa5 11.Qd2 when 11...Qb4 is bad in view of 12.a3 Qxb2? 13. Ra2 but 11...exd5 12. exd5 then the manoeuvre 12... Bd8!, ...Bb6 looks strong. Of course it is also possible to strengthen the position first with moves like ...Rc8, ...a6. Th at is wh y I wo uld su ggest a mo d est , uncompromising and prophylactic move like 10. a3 directed against 10... b5 that would then be unpleasantly met by 11.d5, as an interesting alternative in the position. In general, Black's flexibility is a compensation for the pair of bishops and the doubled pawns, so he should be able to adapt to whatever his opponent does. He has solid control over the center and for this reason is not in a rush to "give the address" of his king who may even castle artificially with ... Kf8, ...Kg8 if the activity of the h8-rook along the open h-file is worth it. Indeed, in so m e lin e s t h e m o ve . . . Rh 4 h a s t o b e considered! ] 8...e7 9.a4 [ 9.0-0-0 c6 10.e2 To prevent ...Ng4 a5
Threatens ...exd4 when the g5-bishop hangs on Qxd4. 11.e3 b5 ] 9...c6 [ 9...exd4 10.xd4 c5 11.c4 fxe4? This other typical combination does not work here. 12.xe7 xe7 13.d5 d7 14.b4 wins a piece. ] 10.e2 0-0 I like the idea 10...Qa5 11.Be3 Bd8! 11.e3 [ Black would get a serious counter initiative on the wild 11.h4 with a5 ] 11...exd4 There again I prefer 11...Qa5. 12.xd4 [ 12.xd4 c5! 13.xc5 ( 13.f3 d5 14.e5 fd7 15.f4 e6 16.f2 b4 17.0-0 dc5=; 13.f3!? ) 13...dxc5 14.xd8 fxd8 15.d1 xd1+ 16.xd1 d8+ 17.c1 d4 18.f3 d6 19.g3 f8 20.b3 c7 21.d1 g5 22.f2 e7= Collas,D-Nicoara,M FRAChT 2003 1/2 (78) ] 12...d5!? But this is the idea behind the last 2 moves. 13.exd5 c5 14.d2 xe3 15.fxe3 [ 15.xe3 e8 16.d2 cxd5 A) 17.xd5? xd5 18.xd5 e7 19.d2 ( 19.0-0? f6 ) 19...ad8 is intolerable.; B) 17.0-0 c5 18.fd1 c8 19.f3 ce4= ] 15...cxd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 h4+ 18.g3 b4+ 19.f2 [ 19.d2 xb2 20.d4 xd4 21.exd4 ac8 With counter play on the hanging pawns. For instance: 22.d2 fd8 23.c3 c5 24.hb1 e4+ 25.d3 xc3+ 26.xe4 e8+ 27.d5 d8+ 28.e4 e8+= ] 19...f6 20.d4 e7 21.hd1 e4+ 22.f3 [ 22.g2 ad8! 23.xa7 ( 23.c4 c8 24.b3 c5 25.d5 xe3 ) 23...g5 24.d3 ( 24.xd8 e4+ 25.f2 h3+ 26.e1 xd8 is very risky.; 24.f3 xf3 25.xf3 f6+ 26.g2 xb2 ) 24...f6 25.f1 ( 25.xb7 b8 26.d5 fd8-+ 27.c4 f3+ 28.g1 h3# ) 25...c6+ 26.e4 xe4 27.xe4 xe4+ 28.g1 d2! 29.f2 fd8 30.af1 d1 31.c5 xf1+ 32.xf1 d2 33.f2 d1+ 34.f1 d2= ] 22...fe8 23.d3 g5+ 24.g2 e6 25.f4 c6+ 26.e4 xe4 27.f3 e5 28.e1 f5 29.b3 a6 30.h4 ae8 31.e2 2370
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c7 32.f4 [ 32.ae1 d2! 33.xe5 xe5 34.f4 c6+ 35.f2 e4+ 36.xe4 xe4 37.xe4 fxe4= ] 32...c6 33.f3 [ 33.h2 offers Black various ways to appear enterprising, but nothing is really convincing. It may even backfire on him since entering a traditionally superior Q+N against Q+B is dubious here because of the poor pawn structure. So the best is to stay calm an wait while W hite cannot improve his position either. h7 ( 33...g5?! 34.hxg5 g6 35.ae1 g7 36.f3; 33...f6?! 34.c4+! xc4 35.xc4+ f8 36.ae1 ) 34.ae1 8e7 35.e3 c5 36.1e2 ( 36.xe4 xe4 37.xe4 xe4 38.xe4 xc2+ ) 36...c6= 37.c4?! a5 ] 33...c7 34.f4 c6 35.f3 c7 36.f4 ½-½
A f e w e xch an ge s a n d su d d e nly W hit e is winning! g6 18.f3 Black is given no time to organise any kind of defence. xg5 19.hxg5 Threatening to take on both a8 and h7! c6 20.e4 Preparing a decisive infiltration of f6 and renewing the threat to h7. c8 21.c1 A nice quiet move to finish off the game. Nf6+ will be decisive, so Black had no choice but to give in. 1-0
2418 Hebden,Mark Estremera Panos,Sergio Gibraltar Masters (6) [Eric Prié]
A46 2521 2384 30.01.2005
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c3 c5 4.g5 cxd4 5.cxd4 b6 6.xf6?! A gamble. [ 6.c2 7 is the move. See game ] 6...gxf6?! 2417 A46 [ 6...xb2 is the critical line, of course - see Hebden,Mark 2556 the next game. ] De Sousa,Jose Claude 2275 7.d2 d5 8.c3 c6 9.e3 d7 10.d3 ch-(team) 1998-9 French Team Ch FRA (3) I reckon [Aaron Summerscale] [ 10.c1 is more precise, not only because of the general principle that I will discuss in Torre Attack: Mark Hebden's games are well a few moves time, but also to avoid Black's worth studying on the White side of the Torre next move possibility. c8 11.d3 f5 A t t a c k , a s h e h a s t h i n g s e xt r e m e ly we l l 12.a4 ( 12.0-0 d6 13.a4 b4 worked out. As we shall see, it only takes one 14.c5 xd2 15.xd2 c7 16.b5 e7 mistake, and Black never gets back in the 17.xd7 xd7 18.b3 a6 19.xc6+ game. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c3 A Hebden xc6 20.xc6 xc6= ) speciality, designed mostly I suspect to gain A) 12...a5 13.xa5 ( 13.c5? b6 some time on the clock. c5 4.g5 e7 14.xa5 xa5 15.xd7 xc1+ ) 5.bd2 b6?! 6.e4 By his unusual move order, 13...xa5 14.xc8+ xc8 15.e2 W hite has tricked his opponent into an The centralized king makes this ending unfavourable version of the usual Torre attack. pleasant. d7 16.c5 xc5 17.dxc5 White is already better. cxd4 7.cxd4 b7 c6 18.d4; 8.d3 0-0 9.e2 d6 10.h4 Having secured B) 12...b4?! 13.c5 b6 14.xd7 control of the center, White allows himself to xd7 15.xb4 xb4+ 16.e2 d6 play ambitiously on the wing. e8 11.0-0-0 17.b5; c8+ 12.b1 With his own king safe, White C) 12...d8 can now turn his attention towards the Black C1) 13.c5 b6 14.a6!? ( 14.xd7? monarch. a6 Black is naturally keen to b4! 15.c3 xd7 16.b5 xc3 exchange off the dangerous light squared 17.xc3 0-0 18.0-0 b7 ); bis h o p , b u t h e is wa st ing va lu a ble t im e . C2) 13.0-0! On the other hand, this idea 13.xf6 xd3+ 14.xd3 xf6 15.e5 of saving a tempo with a3 more or less W hite wastes no time in launching his implies the sacrifice of a pawn. o f f e n s i v e . dxe5 16.dxe5 e7 17.g5 C2a) 13...b4 14.xc8 xc8 2371
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 14...xc8 15.c1 ) 15.c5 xc5 16.b5+ d7 17.xd7+ xd7 18.dxc5 xa2? 19.a5; C2b) 13...b6 14.a6 c7 15.c3; C2c) 13...b4!? 14.e2 ( 14.d1 xd4 15.xc8 xf3+ ) 14...a5 15.c5 ( 15.c3 e7 ) 15...xc5 16.xc5 xa2 17.fc1 With obvious compensation.; C2d) 13...xd4 14.xd4 ( 14.exd4 xa4 15.xc8 xc8 16.c1 d8 17.e5 a6 18.e2 g7 19.xf5 0-0 ) 14...xa4 15.xc8 xc8 16.c1 d8 17.b5+ ( 17.b5 a6 18.c7+ d7 19.xd5 d6 20.f4 c6 ) 17...xb5 18.xb5 C2d1) 18...a6 19.d4! g8 20.c7+ d7 21.a4+ e7 22.b4+ f6 ( 22...d6 23.xb7 ) 23.h4+ g5 24.f4; C2d2) 18...e7 19.xa7 ( 19.d4!? 0-0 20.xa7 d7 21.a4 c8 22.xc8+ xc8 23.g3; 19.c7+ f8 20.d4 g8 21.xa7 g4! ) 19...0-0 20.b5 ] 10...f5 [ 10...b4!? 11.b1 A) 11...c8 12.0-0 ( 12.e4 ) 12...d6 13.a3 c6 Intending ...Na5 to profit from the abandon of the control of squares caused by the undesirable and unnecessary advance of White's a-pawn when the queen stands on d2.; B) 11...a6!? 12.e4 dxe4 13.xe4 d5 14.d3 b5= ] 11.0-0 White should definitely play [ 11.c1 in keeping with the essential rule of piece development in the opening which t e l l s u s t o m a k e t h e o b l i g a t o r y m o ve s BEFORE the optional ones. Indeed, where is the white rook going to go apart from c1? Also, castling can represent an important loss of time if White plays an ending after the thematic manoeuvre Na4-c5. In accordance with the same principle, Black should then reply with 11...Rc8 transposing into the lengthy analysis above. But what happens if he does not? d6?! 12.a4 d8 13.c5 With a nice White advantage after the exchange on c5 for which Black just lost a tempo with his king's bishop. b6
( 13...b8 14.0-0 only makes things worse f o r B l a c k w i t h a u s e l e s s r o o k m o v e .) 14.b7! ] 11...d6 It is too late for [ 11...b4 12.e5 ] 12.a3 [ 12.ac1! Come on Mark! 0-0 13.a4 b4 14.c5 xd2 15.xd2 xc5 16.xc5 fc8 17.a3 e7 18.fc1 xc5 ( 18...b6?! 19.c7 ) 19.dxc5! ( 19.xc5 c8 20.b4 b6 21.xc8+ xc8 22.b5 d6 23.a4 f6= )] 12...d8 13.b5 f6! again Bxc6 and Ne5. 14.ac1 a6 15.xc6? The opening is a failure but admitting it with a retreat to e2 or d3 was a lesser evil. [ 15.d3 0-0 16.a4? ( 16.e2 ) 16...xd4 ] 15...xc6 16.fe1 0-0 17.e2 h8 18.f4 g8 19.g3 e7 20.e5 The possess ion of this square is only temporary as the black bishops now find their places and set the center in motion. e8 21.c3 f6 22.ed3 f7 23.c5 e5 24.fd3 [ 24.dxe5 xc5 25.e6 g6 26.xd5 d6 ] 24...ac8 25.b4 h5 26.dxe5 fxe5 27.f4 White has to create squares for his cavalry. e4 28.c1 f6 29.1b3 [ 29.a2!? with the idea Nc5-b3-d4. ] 29...b6 30.a4 c4! 31.d4? [ 31.cc1 attacking b6 and d5 b5 32.c3 w a s m o r e s t u b b o r n . ( 32.ac5 f3! wi t h a s t r o n g a t t a c k 33.xd5? h6! 34.xc4 xg3+! 35.hxg3 h1+ 36.f2 g2# )] 31...xf4! 32.xc4 dxc4 33.exf4 d8 34.c3 xd4+ 35.xd4+ xd4 Black his completely winning: he dominates the only open file has a good bishop and will win a second pawn. 36.f2 [ 36.xb6 c3 37.c1 d1+ 38.xd1 xd1 39.f2 c2 ] 36...d2+ 37.e3 d3+ 38.f2 f3+ 39.g1 b5 40.c5 xa3 41.f2 f3+ 42.g1 g4 43.e6 h5 A mysterious move when "everything wins", to start with the obvious 43...Rb3 or 43...Ra3 intending a6-a5. 44.d4 a3 45.xf5 f3 46.f2 a5 47.bxa5 b4 48.e3 a2+ 49.f1 c3 50.d5 a4 51.c1 e3 52.xe3 xa5 53.f2 e4 54.d1 c2 55.b2 a2 56.c4 b3 57.e3 g6 58.g4 b2 2372
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 58...b2 59.xb2 xb2 60.f5 e8 61.d2 a4 62.c3 b1 63.d2 g7 64.g5 b5 65.f1 d5+ 66.c3 d1 ] 0-1
2419 Hebden,Mark Grabuzova,Tatiana open Cappelle la Grande (3) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2515 2315 1997
A HEBDEN SPECIALITY. REEL 'EM IN AND GO FOR THE JUGULAR. TORRE vs NIMZO: an early c3. To Black players unaccustomed to the Torre Attack, resulting positions seem unthreateningly calm. No wonder then, that m a n y f e e l s a f e t o g ra b a p a wn ( o r t wo ) . Suddenly it hits them, a bolt from the blue. W hite vs Black immediately becomes Mike Tyson vs Mr. Bean! 1.d4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.g5 c5 4.c3 This is a major option for those players who like solid positions and playing for a small opening advantage, although as we shall see, this is by no means always the case. cxd4 [ Black can also try the early queen sortie 4...b6 but then one of the main points of W hite's f ourth move becomes apparent 5.bd2 as after xb2 6.c4 xc3+ ( 6...b5 is well met by 7.e4 gaining yet more time on the hapless queen.) 7.d2 xc4 8.e4 The greedy queen finds herself trapped! ] 5.cxd4 The main difference between this variation and those we have seen before, is the early pawn exchange is less effective for Black, as there is no pawn imbalance and the White queens knight can come to the more active c3 square. h6 This lands k in a bad Trompowsky. So better would be d5, with a fair stake in the centre. Mark Hebden, one of the leading exponents of this line for White, believes White is better after 5. ..d5 because Black's light squared bishop is a poor piece. 6.xf6 xf6 7.e4 Quite naturally, White takes up the invitation to build a big centre. b4+ Black, for his part, concentrates on speedy development. We have already seen some catastrophes where he has failed to do this. 8.c3 0-0 9.c1 White could also
consider the immediate Bd3, but I guess he was trying to encourage Black's next: g6? Is it the Torre attack's outwardly calm appearance that encourages Black players to be co me so pa wn h un gry? Do t he y re ally believe the opening is so quiet they can get away with pawn snatching? Time and time again they are taught a valuable, if painful lesson. 10.d3! Be my guest! xg2 11.g1 h3 White has a lead in development and good attacking chances in exchange for a measly pawn. 12.a3 xc3+ This seems a bit co-operative, as it helps to bring W hite's queens rook to the queenside. However, good alternatives were sparse. For instance: [ 12...a5 13.b4 b6 14.g3 h5 15.e2 And White gains time for his attack, due to the threat of Nf4 ] 13.xc3 b6 14.e5 White simply has to clear ranks to the kingside in order to begin t h e f i n a l a s s a u l t . h4 15.b1 c6 Black is doing what he can to catch up on development, but he is fighting a losing battle and his king is perilously short of defenders. 16.cg3 White is now ready for the final breakthrough and is prepared to sacrifice in order to achieve this. xe5 [ There is a lack of decent alternatives. 16...g6 Is rou ghly dealt with : 17.xg6! Crash! fxg6 18.xg6+ h7 19.f3! This Lady can't be taken a6 20.g7+ h8 21.e5 With the terminal threat of Rh7 mate! ] [ 16...g5 receives similar punishment 17.f3 h5 18.xg5 And Black is completely defenceless, even after the exchange of queens. ] 17.xg7+ But now all that remains is for White to successfully introduce her majesty into the attack. h8 18.dxe5 a6 19.f3 With the queen's arrival, the end is nigh, as Black finds himself unable to cope with the l e t h a l t r i o o f W h i t e m a j o r p i e c e s . ac8 W hat else? 20.1g4 Black called it a day, as mate is inevitable after either: xh2 [ or 20...e7 21.h3 ] 21.f6 1-0
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A46 to the e-file for the decisive attack. 2534 1-0 2195 01.10.2002 2421 A46 Hebden,Mark 2534 Hunt,Harriet 2406 T o r r e A t t a c k : T h e e a r l y h 6 s ys t e m s a r e 15.09.2002 nowhere near as effective for Black when Leek op Leer (5) White plays the Torre with 3.c3. first. In fact, [Eric Prié] the position after 6.e4 looks very favourable for White and practice has born this out. 1.d4 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c3 c5 4.g5 cxd4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c3 Hebden's special way of 5.cxd4 a5+ 6.c3! e4 7.d2 xd2 introducing the Torre attack. c5 4.g5 h6 8.xd2 d5 This makes the lack of 5.xf6 xf6 6.e4 This line has given White a perspectives for the c8 bishop even more nice plus score over the years. c6 7.d5 perceptible but it is the only move to prevent Gaining space and time. exd5 8.exd5 e5 the establishment of a strong constricting 9.xe5 xe5+ 10.e2 d6?! The bishop white centre. 9.c1 There are two plans for will prove to be a target here. W hite in this position: - thematically play [ 10...e7 is a better choice, although White against the black queen with a2-a3, b2-b4 is still slightly better. ] (implying that his queen's rook should stay on 11.a3 0-0 12.c4 f6 13.0-0 b5 a1 to protect the a3 pawn) and bring a knight A cre at ive at te m pt to f re e his ga me th a t to c5 via a4 -or leave the black queen where it unfortunately f ails against accurate play. is (badly) placed and open the centre to try to 14.xd6 xd6 15.xb5 b8 16.d3! make something from a better coordination of White know s that he must return the pawn, the pieces. but by first connecting his rooks, he ensures [ 9.e3 c6 10.d3 e7 ( 10...b4 himself control of the b-file. a6 17.c4 xb2 11.b5+ ) 11.0-0 0-0 12.a3 f5 13.b4 d8 18.ab1 xb1 19.xb1 The problems that 14.a4 b6 15.fc1 d7 16.a6 e8 Black is facing are not so much from White's ( 16...xd4? 17.xd4 xa4 18.xe6 ) control of the b-file, but rather from the fact 17.b2 With the idea Nd3-e5 was another that it is annoyingly difficult to develop his treat for White in the game Hebden, M-Hunt, light squared bishop. e8 20.g3 g6 21.a4 H Scarborough 1999 1/2(44) ] W hite continues to play strong positional 9...c6 10.e3 e7 moves. The pawn is preparing to secure an [ 10...d6!? Having deprived himself of the o u t p o s t o n b 6 . g7 22.h4 Another farpossibility of a3-b4 followed by e3-e4 and sighted move, giving the W hite king some Nxe4 winning a tempo on the bishop, White extra legroom. h5 23.a5 c7 The queen also has to consider this move. ] could have retreated at any stage prior to this, 11.d3 d7 12.0-0 0-0 13.a3 a6 but the response would have been the same. [ 13...ac8!? looks safer and if 14.fd1 f5 ] 24.d6 xa5 25.f3 With Black's forces 14.e4 dxe4 15.xe4 fd8 16.e3 e8 effectively cut in two, White turns his attention 17.fd1 h5 In order to defend the kingside. to where Black will feel the pain most, his king. [ 17...f6 18.d5! ( 18.d2 b6 ) 18...exd5 f5 19.xd5 xb2 20.b1 ( 20.xh7+? xh7 [ 25...f8 fares no better, as White has: 21.g5+ g8 22.h3 xd5 23.h7+ 26.e1 b6 27.e7 xd6 28.xf7+ xf7 f8 ) 20...xa3 ( 20...xa3 21.d3 a5 29.xf7+ h6 30.g8 winning. ] 22.b6 ab8 23.c4 ) 21.a1 c5 [ 25...f6 26.d5 f8 27.b8 22.g5 b5 ( 22...xd5 23.xd5 ) is also extremely unpleasant for Black. ] 23.db1! c4 ( 23...b4 24.xb4 xb4 26.d5 f8 27.e5+ h6 28.f4+ 25.xb5 axb5 26.xa8 xa8 27.xb4 Black resigned before White shifted his rook a1+ 28.b1; 23...e2 24.f6+ h8 25.xc5 gxf6 26.f8# ) 24.c1! 2420 Hebden,Mark Grant,Alan 11th Monarch Assurance (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 The winning rook disposition. b5 25.xc5! xc5 26.f6+ ] 18.d5! exd5 19.xd5 d6 20.h3 f5?! The anticipating [ 20...ab8 was more resilient. ] [ 20...e5 21.b6 ab8 22.xd6 xd6 23.xe5 xb6 ( 23...xe5 24.xh7+ xh7 25.xe5 ) 24.xb6 ( 24.f3? h6 ) 24...xe5 25.c7 xc7 ( 25...xb2 26.b1 ) 26.xc7 b6 27.b4 a5 28.bxa5 bxa5 29.a7 a4 ( 29...b5 30.a8 e5 31.c6 f8 32.a4 ) 30.c2 This rook ending is supposed to be drawn after h5 31.xa4 xa4 32.xa4 b1+ ( 32...b2 33.f4 a2 34.a4 f6 35.h4 ) 33.h2 a1 with the black rook behind the a-pawn but I have seen some top grandmasters losing this! ] 21.d3 f7 22.c4 ac8? [ 22...ab8 23.g5 f4 24.xf4 xg5 25.xf7+ xf7 26.b3+ e7 ( 26...f6 27.e6# ) 27.e1+ e5 ( 27...d7 28.f7+ c8 29.e6 f6 30.xd8 xd8 31.e8# ) 28.e6 f6 29.xd8 xd8 30.xb7+ f8 ( 30...d7 31.e4 ) 31.c8 ] [ 22...h6 23.b6 Was the last chance ] 23.b6! Eventually Black succumbs because she did not measure the importance of the weakening of the b6 square 10 movesago! f4 [ 23...c7 24.xd6 xd6 25.e8# is a goodie. ] [ 23...b8 24.xf7+! xf7 25.g5 a2 26.c4 e8 27.d3 c7 You must know that one: 28.d5+ h8 29.f7+ g8 30.h6+ h8 31.g8+ xg8 32.f7# ] [ 23...e8 24.xc8 xe3 25.xf7+ xf7 26.xd6 b3 27.fxe3 ] 24.e4 b8 [ 24...e8 25.xf7+ xf7 26.xc8 xe4 27.xd6 g6 28.xe4 xe4 'Only' two ro o k s f o r t h e q u e e n t h is t im e ? 29.xc6! bxc6 30.d8+ f7 31.g5+ ] 25.xf7+ xf7 26.d5 [ 26.xd6 also wins. xd6 27.xf4+ f6 ( 27...e7 28.e1+ e6 29.c7+ f6 30.d7+ f7 31.xb8+ ) 28.c7+ g6 29.xc6 xc6 30.xb8 xb6 31.e8+ Surprise! h6 32.e3+ ] 26...h6 [ 26...g6 27.g5+ g8 28.xg6 hxg6
29.e6 ] 27.g5+ g8 28.c4 1-0
2422 Hebden,Mark Turner,Matthew Golombek mem (1) [Eric Prié]
A46 2505 2491 03.09.2000
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 c5 4.c3 cxd4 5.cxd4 a5+ 6.c3 [ 6.d2 b6 7.c3 d5 White will hardly find time to move his queen's bishop again and protect b2. Indeed, after 8.e3 the reciprocal lock-up of the queen's bishops si g n i f i c a n t l y r e d u c e s h i s h o p e s f o r a n advantage in this symmetrical structure. Nevertheless, he may still try with the oddlo o kin g m o ve ( 7...xb2?? 8.b1 a3 9.b5 ) 8.b1!? c6 9.f4 d7 ( 9...e4 10.e3 a5 11.b3 b4 12.c2 is exactly what White wants. ) A) 10.h3 e4! 11.e3 a5 12.b3 b4 13.c1 c8 14.a3 ( 14.d3? e5! 15.xe5 a4 W inning t he queen .) 14...xc3+ 15.bxc3 e7 16.d3 xc3 17.xc3 xc3+ 18.xc3 xc3; B) 10.e3 h5! ( 10...e7 11.h3 ) 11.g5 h6 12.h4 g5 13.g3 ( 13.e5?! xe5 14.dxe5 g7 15.g3 f5 ) 13...xg3 14.hxg3 g7= ] 6...e4 7.d2 xd2 8.xd2 d5 9.e3 c6 10.d3 e7 [ 10...b4 11.b5+ ] 11.0-0 0-0 12.a3 d7! Reaching the critical position of this line. I have no idea why the World's strongest specialist of the c3 Torre changed his order of move (9.Rc1 as in the p re vi o u s g a m e se e m s l e ss ' t e st i n g ' a n d flexible) two years later since he could have transposed, here, with 13.Rac1. [ After 12...f5 Black allowed the manoeuvre 13.b4 in a note in the previous game ] 13.b4 d8 14.e4! [ 14.a4? xd4! ] [ 14.fc1 c8 15.d1 d6 16.a4 b6 17.a6 c7 18.c3 b8= ] 14...dxe4 15.xe4 [ 15.xe4!? f5 16.c2 f6 17.b3 c8 2375
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.fe1 e8 19.ad1 It is not clear that the gain of space b2-b4 presents an advantage whereas it weakens the pawn structure on the dark squares but after soon opening the c e n t r e wi t h e 3 - e 4 i n t e n d i n g d 4 -d 5 t h e placement of the white rooks on the central files is surely preferable. ] 15...e8 [ 15...b6 16.e3 ] 16.e3 b8 17.c5 c6 18.e4 c7 19.ac1 [ 19.e5 xe4 to avoid the complications resulting from ( 19...xc5 20.xc6 b6 ) 20.xe4 ( 20.xe4 d7 21.ac1 d8 ) 20...xc5 21.dxc5 is a small improvement on the game. ] [ 19.ad1 a5! ] 19...xc5 20.dxc5 [ 20.xc5 d6 21.e5 xe4 22.xe4 d7 ] 20...d7 21.fd1 f6 22.xc6 bxc6 23.e5 b7 24.d6 a5 25.d4 fc8 26.b1 axb4 27.xb4 a6 28.b6 xa3 29.xc6 d5 30.h3 [ 30.xd5? exd5 31.e7+ h8 32.xc8 c1# ] 30...h6! [ 30...xb6? 31.e7+ h8 32.xc8 xc8 33.d8# ] 31.xd5! exd5 32.e7+ h7 33.f4! The last bullet. [ 33.xc8 xc8 34.b5 c1+ 35.h2 c4 ] 33...f8! [ 33...xc5? 34.xh6+! gxh6 35.xf7+ h8 36.g6# ] 34.c6? [ 34.f5+ h8 35.f4 Draw by repetition would have been a f air outcome to this ga m e . Did W h it e se e it ? O r wa s h e s o desperate to win that he was ready to play with fire? ] 34...a6? [ 34...a4 Taking the f4 square. 35.f5+ h8 And an exchange down, there is no forced draw in sight. 36.xd5? f4 37.g3 a1+ 38.g2 c1 ] 35.f5+ g6 36.xg6 fxg6 37.xf8 a1+ 38.h2 a8 [ 38...e5+ 39.f4 e6 ( 39...a8 40.xa8 xf4+ 41.g1 c1+ 42.h2 f4+ 43.g3
f2+= ) 40.d8 f7 41.xd5 c6= ] 39.f4 [ 39.f7+ g7 40.xg7+ xg7 41.xd5 c8 ] 39...g7? [ 39...g7! 40.d6 e8 41.xd5 e5+! 42.f4 xd6 43.cxd6 d8 44.d7 g7 45.b6 f6 46.g4 e7 47.g3 b8 ] 40.c6? [ 40.d6 f6 ] [ 40.xd5! With two pawns for the exchange including the dangerous c-pawn still holding on would have been quite uncomfortable for B l a c k w i t h s u c h a n e x p o s e d k i n g . f8 41.e3 f5 42.c6! xd5 43.e7+ g8 ( 43...h8 44.f8+ h7 45.f7+ ) 44.e6+ g7 45.xd5 f6 46.c5 ] 40...f8 41.e3 f6 42.c7 d6+ 43.g1 xc7 44.xd5 ½-½
2423 Hebden,Mark Van der Stricht,Geert EUCup Gr3 Albufeira Algarve (1) [Eric Prié]
A46 2510 2347 01.10.1999
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c3 c5 4.g5 cxd4 So this is the second question. If the direct attack on the b2 pawn by 4...Qb6 fails to 5. Qb 3 a s in th e p re vio u s ga m e, ca n B la c k combine it with the opening of the a5-e1 diagonal? 5.cxd4 [ 5.xf6?! xf6 6.cxd4 is another story since b4+! 7.c3 xc3+! 8.bxc3 b6 9.e4 b7 10.d3 0-0 with the plan ...d7-d6, ...e6-e5, ...Nb8-c6-a5, ... Rac8 is fine for Black because of the white backward cpawn. This has been said before but it is so important that it will be never repeated enough! ] 5...a5+ 6.c3! e4 7.d2 xd2 [ 7...xc3 8.xc3 b4 9.c1 xc3+ 10.xc3 c8 always hangs. c6 11.a3 ] 8.xd2 It is a matter of taste but if you like simple positions with nicely developed pieces I advise you to play this position which I find pleasant for W hite in spite of the opposing bishop pair. With reversed colours you can compare it with 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 (the 2376
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Colle move order, to stay faithful to the name of the section...) 3...Bg4 4.c4 c6 (when as we have seen, it is nothing else than a normal Slav) 5.h3 Bh5 6.cxd5 Bxf3! the key move which Black should not miss, and which is also available in case of White exchanging on d5 one move earlier. 7.Qxf3 cxd5 which as far as my experience is concerned does no t promise anything for W hite for the simple reason that he has already committed his pawn to d4 and theref ore cannot inf lict a backward c-pawn on his opponent after 8. Bb5+ Nc6 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 for instance 10.Nc3 e6 11.Bd2 c5 getting rid of the weakness, which is equalizing, at least. b6?! [ 8...b5 is no better. 8...d5 is the only sensible move. See next game. 9.e4 b4 10.d1 a6 11.d3 xd3 12.xd3 a6 13.xa6 xa6 14.e3 e7 15.d2 0-0 16.hc1 1-0 Hebden,M-Dishman,S 4NCL 2000 1-0 (41) ] 9.c1 A subtlety of which the utility is far from obvious to me. [ 9.e4 A) 9...b4 10.c1 a6 11.a3 xc3 12.xc3 xc3+ 13.xc3 xf1 ( 13...e7 14.xa6 xa6 15.e2 hc8 16.hc1 is very uncomfortable for Black because of t h e p o o r p o s i t i o n o f h i s k n i g h t . d8 17.xc8+ xc8 18.xc8+ xc8 19.g5 wins a pawn. f6 ) 14.c8+! e7 15.xh8 xg2 16.g1 xf3 17.xg7 xe4 18.gg8+-; B) 9...a6 10.d3 b4 11.c1 xd3 12.xd3 B1) 12...xa2 13.0-0 a6 ( 13...xc3? 14.xc3 0-0 15.a1 ) 14.b5 0-0 15.e5; B2) 12...xc3+ 13.xc3 ( 13.xc3 ) 13...0-0 14.0-0 c6 15.a3 ] 9...b7 [ 9...a6 10.a3 e7 11.d5 Surrounding the black lady must have been what Black was afraid of as well as, possibly, White's idea but I do not clearly see how to get more than 9.e4. ] 10.e4 b4 11.a3 xc3 12.xc3 0-0 13.d3 a6 As a result Black has lost a tempo AND his dark-squared bishop. [ 13...f5 14.b4 Quite effective when the Black queen cannot 'slide' to h5 along the
5th. a4 15.e2 ] 14.0-0 xd3 15.xd3 f5 16.e5 a6 [ 16...d6 17.c4 a6 ( 17...b5 18.exf5 exf5 19.f3 d5 20.d6 d7 21.xd5+ ) 18.exf5 d5 ( 18...exf5 19.f3; 18...xf5 19.e4 ) 19.e3 xd3 20.xd3 exf5 21.xd5 ] 17.e3 b7 18.exf5 xf5 19.fc1 White has a massive advantage underlined by the opponent's concern to simply complete development. a6 20.b4! af8 [ 20...ff8 21.b5 b8 22.c7 d5 23.c8 ] [ 20...b5 21.f3 ff8 22.e4! Sorry, no exchange of rooks which would have allowed the poor Na6 to get out of jail via c7. ] 21.f3 [ 21.b5!? b8 ( 21...xf2 22.xf2 xf2 23.xf2+- ) 22.f3 d5 hitting b5 ( 22...d6 23.c7 d5 24.d3 xb5 25.xe6+ ) 23.a4 d6 24.c6 xc6 ( 24...d7? 25.e7+ ) 25.bxc6 c8 26.c7 ] 21...d5 [ 21...d6 22.e4! xe4 23.fxe4 f4 24.d7 e8 ( 24...d8 25.c8 xc8 26.xc8+ f7 27.f8+ g6 28.xf4 ) 25.b5 b8 26.c8 f7 27.xe8 xe8 28.xb8 ] 22.e4! d6 23.c4 d5 24.d3! Eyeing a6. b5 [ 24...g5 25.e3 xf3 26.xa6 f2+ ( 26...b5 27.1c2 Black has nothing.) 27.h1 b5 28.b7 ( 28.xa7?? xg2! 29.xg2 f1+ 30.xf1 xf1# )] 25.e3 xd3 26.xd3 b5 27.d5! b8 [ 27...e5 28.d1! Whoops f4 29.c3 c4 30.dd1 ] 28.dxe6 dxe6 29.d6 e8 30.c4 f7 31.e4 a6 Despair more than a 'Chigorinian' switchback. 32.c4 f6 33.c6 d5 34.e3! This one, after having disorganized the black forces. d2 [ 34...d3 35.g4+ f5 ( 35...f7 36.e5+ ) 36.e5+ g6 ( 36...f4 37.c4+ d4 38.xd4# ) 37.cxe6+ xe6 38.xe6+ f7 39.e3 ] 35.h4 [ 35.g4+ f7 36.f4+ g8 37.e5 ] 35...e7? [ 35...h5 Would have given White another 2377
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g6 ( 7...exd4!? 8.xd4 g6 ) 8.dxe5 xe5 9.0-0 xf3+ 10.xf3 g7 11.f4 0-0 12.e1 ( 12.e5 dxe5 13.xe5 c6 14.e4= ) 12...c6 13.e5 dxe5 14.xe5 xd1 15.axd1 xf3 16.gxf3 c6 Rochev, Y (2395)-Hebden, M (2556)/Dun Laoghaire 2010 0-1(65) ] 4...bd7 5.h4 g6 6.xg6 hxg6 7.d5!? c6 [ 7...c5 8.e4 e5 9.b5+!? I had mentioned as "appropriate" ( 9.dxe6 xe6 10.e3 c6 11.f3 ) 9...cd7 10.f3 e7 ( 10...a6 11.xd7+ xd7 12.xf6 ) 11.e3 a6 12.e2 ] 8.e4 c8 9.e2 cxd5 10.exd5 a5 11.0-0 [ 11.d4!? xc3 12.xc3 ] 11...xc3 12.d2 xd5 13.f3 7b6 14.bxc3 c4 15.e2 c5 16.fe1!? Losing a tempo of some importance. [ 16.fb1! b5 ( 16...b6 17.a4 a6 18.d3 e6 19.xd5 xd5 20.xd5 exd5 21.e3 ) 17.xd5 ( 17.a4 xd2 18.xd2 xc3 19.xb5 xb5 20.axb5 xb5 21.xa7 ) 17...xd5 18.e3 a6 ( 18...e5 19.h3 ) 19.a4 e6 20.axb5 axb5 21.f3! xf3 ( 21...h5 22.a8+ e7 23.a7+ ) 22.gxf3 h5 23.a8+ e7 24.ba1 ] 16...e6 17.a4 e7 2424 A46 [ 17...b6 18.ab1 c7 ] Hebden,Mark 2468 18.ab1 db6 [ 18...b6 19.b5 ] Zhou,Yang Fan 2265 96th ch-GBR Torquay ENG (4) 30.07.2009 19.b5 c7 20.f4! The most tense again. [ 20.a5 xd2 21.xd2 c4 22.d4 d5 [Eric Prié] 23.h3 a6 24.xg7 f8 25.bb1 d2 26.a1 xf3+ 27.gxf3 d7 ] 1.d4 f6 2.f3 I could not believe my eyes when I saw the ELO rating of the legendary 20...a6 [ 20...0-0 21.a5 ] Leicesterian! Almost convinced of a finger slip ( a 4 i n s t e a d o f a 5 i n t h e 2 x 6 8 ) i n t h e 21.b4 f6 [ 21...a5 22.b5 f6 23.eb1 xc3 recording of the game, I went on to check the 24.e3 d5 25.g3 b4 26.xb6 xb6 FIDE site. But no... and then I thought t o 27.xb6 xb6 28.c3 ] myself: Too much 1...e5 (instead of 1...d5!) against the King pawn butterfly?! Too much 22.eb1 xc3 23.xc4? [ 23.4b3! d4 24.xb7 xb7 25.xc4 Indian stuff (instead of 1...d5!) against 1.d4!? e4 Enough to make any 'normal' human Or as W hite more certainly some Queen's calculator stop there... But 26.c7!! xf2+ Gambit (Instead of 2. Bf4!) mishaps? Yet, he ( 26...xf4 27.b8+ e7 28.xh8; must be the GM the most faithful to the d26...0-0 27.e3 ) 27.xf2 xf4+ 28.f3 pawn specials, and his word should have d4+ 29.f1 xh2 30.xb6 h1+ authority in this section!... d6 3.c3 f5 31.e2 e4+ 32.d2 d5+ 33.d3 4.g5 Especially in this opening as he plays xg2+ 34.c3+- ] both sides: [ 4.h4?! d7 5.e4 e5 6.f3 c6 7.e2 23...xc4 target and the g5 (g6) square but more important some breathing space for his king who will now face a strong mating attack in spite of the reduced material. ] 36.f4+ g6 [ 36...e5 37.g3 d8 38.g4+ d5 39.c2 e5 40.xe5 xe5 41.e2+ d6 42.d4+ c6 43.c2+ b5 44.xd8 ] 37.f5! c7? [ 37...e8 38.d6 A) 38...e7 39.g4+ h5 ( 39...f6 40.e4+ e5 41.xd2 ) 40.g5+! xh4 41.e4 a2 42.g3+ h3 43.h5#; B) 38...b8 39.g4+ h5 ( 39...h6 40.f5+! h5 41.g5# ) 40.xe8 xc6 41.xg7+ h6 42.xe6; C) 38...d1+ 39.h2 d8 ( 39...e7 40.c8 e8 41.xa7; 39...a8 40.g4+ f6 41.e4+ f7 42.g5+; 39...a8 40.g4+ f6 41.e4+ f7 42.g5+ g8 43.xe6; 39...g8 40.c8 e8 41.xa7 ) 40.f7 e8 41.e5+ h5 42.g4 g6 43.f7 h6 44.e4 ] 38.xe6+ f7 39.d4+ Re8 mate comes next move. 1-0
2378
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 23...xc4 24.xd6 xe2 25.xe2 a5 6.c2! ( 25...xa4 26.xb7 h4 27.xa6 d4 [ 6.bd2 xb2 7.c4 b4+ 8.fd2 xd4 28.b5+ d8 29.b8# ) 26.c7 c4 9.e3 d5 10.b1 xd2+ 11.xd2 0-0 ] 27.xb7 xc7 28.xc7 d6 29.g3! [ 6.c3 xb2 7.d2 b6 8.e4 d5 9.exd5 stopping first any natural activation of the exd5 10.b5+ c6 ] black rook via the h-file! 0-0 30.xa6 a8 [ 6.c1 c6 7.e3 h5 The problem with 31.b5+- ] having the queen on c1, in addition to her 24.xb7 c8 25.d5 lesser influence over the position from that [ 25.c6+ xc6 26.b8+ e7 27.xh8 square, also lies with the difficulty of playing xa4 28.c8 a1+ 29.f1 xf1+ a2-a3 because of the hole on b3. 8.g3 d5 30.xf1 d5 ] 9.c3 d7 10.a3 a5 11.c2 xg3 25...e5 12.hxg3 b3 ] [ 25...a5!? [ 6.b3 xb3 7.axb3 Of course is playable A) 26.a7 0-0 27.xd6 ( 27.b3 xb3 when free play and the opening of the a-file 28.cxb3 e5 29.e3 a5; 27.a2 c6! compensates the serious deterioration of 28.xa6 b4 ) 27...exd5 28.xf8; the structure. That strategy would be good B) 26.b6 0-0 27.f3 d5 ( 27...c4? as Black, with the same structure, but hard 28.c6 ) 28.xa6 c4 29.c6 xa6 to promote with the opposite colour... c6 30.xa6 c8 Two bishops and an 8.c3 b4! Followed by ...Ke7 and ...d6 or o u t s i d e p a s s e d p a wn b u t a n i n f e r i o r ...d5. The square in front of the doubled structure and chiefly equal material. ] pawns is difficult to regain and it shows why 26.xa6! 0-0 Black should take on d4 prior to playing 4... [ 26...exd5 27.b5+ d7 ( 27...f8 Qb6 which would then be strongly met by 5. 28.b8 ) 28.xd6 Threatening Rc7. d8 Qb3! and if 5...cxd4? 6.Qxb6 axb6 7.Nxd4 29.a5! ( 29.c7 xc7 30.xc7+ xc7 ) Nc6 8.Nb5 with a pleasant White advantage. 29...d4 ( 29...e8 30.xd7+! xd7 9.d2! e7! 10.e3 b6= Dawidow, J (2331)31.b6+ c8 32.b8# ) 30.a6 e8 Hracek, Z (2579) Czechia 2004 1/2(47) and 31.f1!+- ] also Knezevic (2505) - Velimirovic (2520) 27.b3 White is not worse but still has to win Praia da rocha zt78 0-1 (54) ] this game for a second time after his mistake 6...c6 7.e3 4 moves ago. d5 28.b5 d4 29.h3 c3 [ 7.c3 xd4 8.xd4 xd4 9.e3 c5! 30.e2 c6 31.d2 c5 32.f1 ( 9...b6 10.d3 d6 11.b5 d5 12.0-0 A n d a t l a s t , a t l a s t , B l a c k c r a c k s : b8? d7 Is also good. In all these cases, White 33.b4! xb4 34.xb4 xb4 35.h4 f6 has hardly enough for the pawn. )] 36.g3 c6 37.a6 d4 38.a7 b4 7...b4 39.c5 b8 40.a5 b5 41.a6 d4 42.a7 [ 7...h5 8.g3 d5 9.c3 xg3 ( 9...d7 f8 43.xf8+ 10.h4!? ) 10.hxg3 d7 11.a3 c8 1-0 12.c1! ( 12.d3 a5 13.b4 xb4! 14.axb4 xb4 15.c1 a4 16.b1 b3 ) 12...a5?! ( 12...d6 13.d3 In this case.) 2425 A46 13.b4! c4 14.xc4 xc4 15.e5 c7 16.xd7 xd7 17.a4! c6 ( 17...xb4+ Huang Qian 2313 18.d1 xc2 19.xb6+ axb6 20.xc2 Li Ruofan 2433 xa3 21.b1 ) 18.c5+ xc5 19.dxc5 ] zt 3.3 w Yongchuan CHN (4) 14.07.2003 8.c1 [Eric Prié] [ 8.b3! See the next game. ] 1.f3 f6 2.d4 e6 3.f4 c5 4.c3 cxd4 8...bd5 [ 8...a5! 9.c3 f5 With the queen on c1 Better than the artificial 4...Qa5?! 5.Nbd2! I t h is m a n o e u vre is n o w m u ch st ro n ge r . finished the last update with, and undoubtedly 10.h4 d3+ 11.xd3 xd3 12.d1 the critical idea of playing 4.c3 rather than e3 xd1+ 13.xd1 ( 13.xd1 b4 ) 13...a6 as in the Kosic-Berczes game. 5.cxd4 b6! 2379
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.a4 d5 covering b6 and soon followed by b5. ] 9.g3 e4 10.d3 [ 10.bd2 xg3 11.hxg3 d6 12.c4 d8 13.d3 f6 14.d2 d7= Glienke, M (2335)-Horvath, T (2410) EU-ChT Plovdiv 1983 0-1(42) ] 10...xg3 11.hxg3 d6 [ 11...b4 12.e2 ] 12.c3 xc3 13.bxc3 d7 14.b1 c7 15.b2 b6 16.c4 e7 17.c1 c8 18.e2 f5 19.d2 [ 19.g4? fxg4 20.g6+ hxg6 21.xh8+ f7 22.xc8 gxf3+ 23.gxf3 xc8 ] 19...e5?! Black was not quite ready to open the position with this move making his light squares fragile. [ 19...0-0!? 20.g4 h6 ] 20.g4 0-0 21.c5! h6? [ 21...bxc5 22.dxe5 dxe5 ( 22...d5! 23.xf5 xf5 24.gxf5 xf5 25.c2 g6 ) 23.f3 Now, how to defend e5? A) 23...e4? 24.c4+ h8 25.xh7+ xh7 26.h1+ g6 27.e5+; B) 23...f6 24.c4+! ( 24.g5 e6! 25.gxf6 e4 ) 24...h8 25.g5 e4 26.h4! Winning the Bf6. xb2 27.g6#; C) 23...d6 24.c4+! ( 24.b3+ h8 25.h4! e8 26.xf5 g6 ) 24...h8 25.h4 e8 ( 25...f6 26.g5 ) 26.xf5 e4 27.c2! e5 ( 27...b8 28.xd6 xd6 29.xh7+ xh7 30.h1+ g6 31.xe4+ f6 32.f4 b2+ 33.f3 ) 28.xe4 g6 ( 28...b8 29.xh7+! ) 29.b1 ] [ 21...dxc5! Natural and, as often, best. 22.dxe5 A) 22...h8 23.f3 fxg4 24.xh7+ g8 25.ch1 gxf3+ 26.gxf3 c4 27.g6; B) 22...b5 23.b3+ h8 ( 23...c4? 24.xc4+ bxc4 25.xc4 xc4+ 26.xc4 e6 27.c1 fxg4 28.a4 c7 29.c2 fc8 30.a3 ) 24.e6 e8 25.c2 c4 26.xf5 h6 27.f4; C) 22...c6! This queen will be quite useful on the kingside. 23.f3 g6 ] 22.b3+ h8 23.c6!+- e4? [ 23...e8 24.xf5 exd4 looked a bit more complicated with W hite having to find the very strong continuation 25.e6! xf5 ( 25...d8 26.xh6+ gxh6 27.xh6+ g8
28.h7# ) 26.gxf5 d3+ ( 26...xc6 27.xh6+ gxh6 28.xh6+ g8 29.g6+ f8 30.h1 b5+ 31.f3 ) 27.xd3 xc6 28.f3 ] 24.a6 e8 25.xc8 xc8 26.c7 f4 27.f3 exf3+ 28.gxf3 fxe3 29.xe3 b5+ 30.f2 f7 31.g5 a6 32.g6 f8 33.xe7 1-0
2426 Huebner,Robert Janssen,Ruud German League (10) [Richard Palliser]
A46 2605 2520 27.02.2010
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 b5 4.d3 a6 An ambitious attempt to cut across White's plans, but not one which I'm totally enamoured by. 5.g5!? Remarkably this logical move, developing quickly and helping e4 to come with greater effect, is a novelty, although I dare say that says more about the rarity of 4... Ba6 and even 4 Qd3. Previous practice had seen instead: [ a) 5.e4 b4 reveals Black's main idea and after 6.e3 xf1 7.xf1 d5 8.e5 fd7 9.a3 c5 10.axb4 cxd4 11.xd4 xb4 12.g2 b6 Black had sufficient counterplay in Prudnikova-Alexandrova, Kragujevac 2000. ] [ b) 5.g2 d5 6.g5 echoes our main game and after c5 7.0-0 b6!? ( 7...c4 8.d1 e7 would transpose directly to HubnerJanssen ) 8.xf6 gxf6 9.c3 d7 10.bd2 f5 11.e3 g7 12.b4! (otherwise Black would just enjoy quite a harmonious and active position, but now both his bishops find themselves a little blunted) c4 13.a4 White was slightly for choice in Archangelsky-Narciso Dublan, La Massana 2010. ] 5...c5 [ After 5...b4!? 6.d1 b7 7.g2 e7 8.0-0 0-0 both sides have lost time and I slightly prefer White here, at least so long as he doesn't challenge Black's a-pawn, but p r e f e r s d e v e l o p m e n t w i t h 9.bd2 . Still, Black is quite solid here and this might be a better choice than Janssen's more ambitious play. ] 2380
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 6.g2 c4 [ Black could have left the pawn on c5, but 6...d5 7.0-0 b6 hasn't turned out so well either for him, as we saw above in note 'b' to White's 5th move. ] 7.d1! Straight back to base to stay out of trouble and now Black's advanced queenside just looks a little brittle. Janssen solidifies his position by advancing his d-pawn, but unsurprisingly a4 and b3 aren't White's only breaks there's also e4. d5 8.0-0 e7 9.fd2 [ Hubner plays for the logical break. By analogy with the Torre, 9.e5 came into consideration, but after h6! 10.xf6 ( or 10.f4 g5!? 11.e3 c7 followed by ... Nbd7 with counterplay across the board) 10...gxf6 11.f3 b7 White's pawn breaks wouldn't have been so effective and Black is likely at least OK here. ] 9...bd7 [ A little meek. If Black wanted to justify his a m b i t i o u s p l a y, 9...c6!? was required. However, the critical 10.e4! ( 10.c3 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.e4 is the sensible a l t e r n a t i v e) 10...xd4 ( Black might do better with 10...0-0 11.exd5 xd5 12.xe7 cxe7 13.e4 , although undoubtedly White has an edge here) 11.exd5 xd5 ( or 11...exd5 12.c3 when White regains his pawn on d5 or with b7?! 13.xc4 ) 12.xe7 leaves Black without an ideal r e c a p t u r e , a s xe7? 13.c3 costs him material down the central files. ] 10.e4 h6 11.f4 With e4 already in position, th ere was no re ason no t t o ma int ain t h e bishop-pair. Now White might well advance with 12 e5 and Janssen finds himself clarifying the position. dxe4 12.xe4 xe4 13.xe4 c8 14.g2 The bishop retreats before it was pushed by ...Nf6. Taking stock we can see that while Black's position is fairly solid and his knight will be well placed on d5, White has decent control of the position and might look to probe on either flank thanks to his extra central space and less-brittle structure. 0-0?! [ Had Janssen realised the coming danger in the centre, I suspect he would have accelerated his redeployment with 14...f6! 15.a3 b6 16.c3 b7 , the point being that 17.e3 ( 17.d5?! d8 ) 17...xg2
18.xg2 b7+ now avoids any danger with d5 and after 19.f3 xf3+ 20.xf3 d7! it's not even clear that Black is worse. ] 15.a3! Wisely preventing any activity with a timely ... b4 while preparing what follows. b6 [ Unfortunately for Black, it's too late to prevent the d5-breakthrough. He might have tried 15...f6 16.c3 b6 , but after 17.e3! b7 18.d5 c5 19.xc5 xc5 20.dxe6 cd8 21.e2 xg2 22.exf7+ xf7 23.xg2 White finds himself a pawn to the good. ] 16.c3! b7 17.d5 Highly-energetic play from one of Germany's three strongest-ever p l a ye r s . W h i t e i s r i g h t t o t r a n s f o r m t h e position before Black obtains a grip on the d5square and now the position opens to favour White's better coordinated forces. e5? [ White would have enjoyed a small but clear p u l l a f t e r 17...exd5 18.xd5 xd5 19.xd5 c5 , but Black had to try this. Allowing the pawn on to d6 is simply asking far too much of his position. ] 18.d6! g5 [ Easy to criticise, but what else was there? For instance, 18...f6 19.e3 c5 20.d5 xd5 21.xd5 fd8 22.ad1 leaves White in complete control, ] [ and 18...d8 19.e3 a6 is hardly all that much better for Black. ] 19.xb7 xb7 20.xg5 hxg5 21.d5 Splat! It's not so much the d-pawn per se which is going to cost Black, but rather the key square it controls: e7. g6 [ The extra exchange would have been quick to make its presence felt too after 21...fe8 22.e7+ xe7 23.dxe7 c7 24.d5 . ] 22.e7+ g7 23.xc8 xc8 24.g4 e4 A little desperate, but the check on f3 represents Black's only hope of counterplay. 25.xg5 f6 26.e3 e5 27.fd1 e8 28.h3! Buying control of some key squares and now Janssen will never manage to land a blow on the kingside, try as he might. f3+ 29.g2 d7 30.d5 g5 31.c5 g6 32.xb5 e6 33.d7 h8 34.h1 e3 35.xf3 1-0
2381
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A46 11...a5 12.0-0 d5 13.e2 [ 13.b3 a4 No Bb5 check... ] 2237 13...d7! 14.c5 [ 14.b3 d8 15.c5 ( 15.d2 a5 22.06.2004 This is the problem. Not only has the 'primitive' ...Nb4 permitted the win of a pawn but is also a strong piece, ideally supported 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 c5 4.c3 cxd4 by a strong outside passed pawn, 5.cxd4 b6 6.xf6?! xb2 Naturally the considerably ham pering W hite 's vagu e critical line 7.xg7 impulse for activity.) 15...b6 16.xd7 xd7 [ 7.bd2 gxf6 8.e3 c6 9.e2 d5 10.0-0 17.b3 a5 ] e7 11.e4 0-0 12.exd5 exd5 13.b1 xa2 14.d3 b4 15.a1 b2 16.b1 14...b6 15.c1 0-0 I like this line: (With his c3 17.b3 c7 18.b1 f4 pair of bishops and queenside majority) "Black G a r c i a A l b a r r a ci n , F - G u e r ra B a s t id a , D has good compensation for his extra pawn!" 16.b1 fc8 17.fc1 xc5 18.xc5 c8 Almeria 1989 1-0(36) ] The classical way of converting an advantage. 7...xg7 8.bd2 c6 [ 18...e5 19.b3 ( 19.b5 xb5 20.xb4 [ 8...xd4? 9.b1 ] c6 ) 19...a5 Playing on the other 9.e3 favourable aspects of the Black game is [ 9.b1!? My experience tells me not to also decisive. ] believe in this pawn sacrifice, but I am ready to make some efforts if, at least, the white 19.xc8+ [ 19.e5 xe5 20.xc8+ xc8 21.dxe5 pieces can develop in a seemingly c5 22.f3 a5 23.g5 c2 24.xc2 aggressive way! xa2 10.e3 d5 11.d3 xc2 25.h5 a4 26.xf7+ g7 27.xe6 ( 11.b5!? d7 12.a4 ) 11...0-0 g6 28.f4 ( 28.xc8 xg5 29.xb7 A) 12.0-0 a3 13.xh7+ xh7 14.g5+ b4 ) 28...xe6 29.xe6 a3 30.c5 a2 g6 15.g4 f5 16.g3 f4 17.g4 31.b3 xe3 32.f2 c2-+ ] ( 17.exf4 xg3 ) 17...e7 18.df3 20.g5 f5 21.h5 f8 ( 18.xe6+ f6 ) 18...h8 19.exf4 e5 19...xc8 Protecting the Nb4. 20.e6+ h7 21.fxe5; [ 21...h6? 22.f7+! h8 23.xe6! xe6 B) 12.xh7+!? xh7 13.g5+ h6 24.xe6 xe6 25.xb4 b6 26.g3 ] 14.g4 e5 15.h4+ g6 16.g3 [ 21...a5 22.f7+ h8 23.d1 h6 24.h5 I may be following the wrong track and d8 ( 24...a4 25.g6! hxg5 26.h5+ h6 something might have escaped me earlier 27.xh6# )] so I do not want to analyse this piece h6 23.f7 c7! 24.g3? s a c r i f i c e t o o d e e p l y , b e f o r e h a v i n g 22.df3 directly sorted out with Mark Hebden, The difficult ending resulting from [ 24.xh6+ xh6 ( 24...g7 25.f7 c2 whom I shall see in 2 weeks' time, the 26.f1 Does not force the exchange of matter of the preliminary pawn sacrifice. ] queens this time.) 25.xb4 c1+ 26.e1 9...b4! 10.c1 xe1+ 27.xe1 was the only chance. ] [ 10.b1 c2+ 11.e2 xa2 12.d3 This cannot work b6! 13.c3 b7 14.xc2 24...c2! 25.xh6+ [ 25.f1 d3 ] c8+ 15.c4 xc2+ 16.xc2 d5 ] 25...g7! In the attempt of maximizing his 10...xa2 [ 10...xa2? 11.b1 a3 ( 11...c3 chances W hite must have overlooked this 26.xc2 xc2 27.f7 a5! 12.c4 b4 13.b3 c2+ 14.e2+- ) move. 12.c4 c3+ 13.fd2 f8 14.e5! The 'rocket' has launched... 28.3e5 a4 [ 28...b4 29.d1 b5 30.d8 a4 31.dc6 With a strong initiative intending Bc4. ] xc6 32.xc6 d7 33.e5 e8 34.d3 11.c4 b4 35.c1 ] [ 11.e4 0-0 12.d6 a6 ( 12...d5 29.d3 b5? And it could have made his way 13.b5 ) 13.e2 b5 14.0-0 d5 ] down all the way through! [ 11.e2 d5 12.0-0 ] 2427 Ignatenko,Vladimir Kliun,Bogdan 5th Kurass Mem (5) [Eric Prié]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 29...a3! 30.c1 b4 31.e5 a2 32.b3 c2 33.d1 a1 34.xa1 xa1 35.f1 b5! 36.e2 a6 37.d2 a3! 38.d3 b4 39.c5 c4 The b-pawn will cost another piece. ] 30.fe5 b4 31.d1? Some technical problems start to appear after [ 31.e8 a3 32.c1 a1 33.a4 a6 34.f3 c4 35.d2 Where the promotion for the piece will be more expensive. a2 36.h4 b3 37.xb3 xb3 38.dxb3 a3 39.xa2 xb3 40.c3 although most probably not compromising the outcome of the game. ] 31...b3 32.c5 xc5 33.dxc5 a3 0-1
2428 A46 Ipatov,Alexander 2630 Kramnik,Vladimir 2793 World Team Championship, Antalya (6.4) [Richard Palliser] 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 [ Another recent high-level Torre encounter was Andreikin-Tkachiev, European Team Championship, Warsaw 2013, where 3...c5 4.e3 cxd4 5.exd4 e7 6.d3 b6 7.bd2 b7 8.c3 d6 9.f1!? was a new idea for us from the leading Russian Torre expert. Just as White sometimes does in the Ruy Lopez, the idea is to bring the queen's knight to a decent kingside square before castling. A n d r e i k i n e v e n f o l l o w e d u p w i t h bd7 10.g3 c7 11.e2 h6 12.d2 0-0 13.0-0 fe8 14.ae1!? , evidently determined to show that he had gained a tempo with his idea. That, of course, depends on how well the king's rook stands on its post-castled square. White's set-up is u n d o u b t e d l y a m b i t i o u s a n d ye t I c a n ' t believe Black should be doing too badly, although f8 15.d1 e5 16.h4 exd4 ( 16...g6 looks more to the point when 17.c1 d8!? 18.xg6!? fxg6 19.xg6 a6 20.xe8 xe8 21.xh6 xf1 22.xf1 f6 23.xf8 xf8 is an unclear line pointed out by the silicon monster) 17.cxd4 a6 18.hf5 c6 19.f3 did see him beginning to come under
pressure in the game. ] 4.h4 d6 Unsurprisingly Kramnik chooses one of the more critical counters to the Torre. 5.e3 [ Hardly terrible, although many prefer to gain more space in the centre with 5.bd2 g5 6.g3 h5 7.c3 d7 8.e4 . ] 5...g5 [ Kramnik is happy to go straight ahead with hunting down the Torre bishop, but if Black wishes to avoid the idea mentioned in the notes to White's 7th move below, he might begin with 5...bd7 . ] 6.g3 h5 7.d3 [ White can force Black to exchange on g3 with 7.fd2!? which is the critical move in my view. Another recent game continued xg3 8.hxg3 g7 9.c3 a6 10.a4 e7 11.e4 b6 12.c4 b7 13.bd2 d7 14.e3 with a model set-up for White, if also a far f rom terrible situation for Black in Pohjala-Mertanen, Finnish League 2013. ] 7...g7 8.bd2 e7 9.c3 d7 10.c2 a6 [ This is often a useful move in this structure. Black hints at ...b5 and also covers that square, making it possible to go ...c5 without fearing Bb5+ in return. An alternative is 10...b6 11.0-0-0 d7 , which looks slightly le ss logical to my e ye, but wa s quite approved of by Eric - see his notes to Mueller-Wahls, Dudweiler 1996. ] 11.0-0-0 [ White's king won't be entirely happy here. I dare say that the rising Turkish star didn't like the look of 11.0-0?! xg3 12.hxg3 h5! ,] [ so White might have tried to keep his king i n t h e c e n t r e f o r n o w w i t h , s a y , 11.a4 . However, even here I'm not a huge fan of his set-up and would prefer the white queen on the d1-h5 diagonal and the king's knight ideally on c4, as we saw above. ] 11...b5 12.b3 b8 [ A new move, rightly not hurrying to exchange. Black had previously done so, but 12...xg3 13.hxg3 c5?! 14.dxc5! xc5 15.xc5 dxc5 16.e4 was a touch awkward for him in Stolte-Adamski, German League 2000. ] 13.b1 0-0! 14.fd2 [ Black's king is quite safe on the kingside as 2383
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.h4 xg3 15.fxg3 g4 16.fd2 f6 would keep lines closed in that sector. ] 14...f5 15.f3 xg3 16.hxg3 c5 Kramnik must have been delighted with how the opening had panned out. Black enjoys the two bishops, greater space and possibilities right across the board. White is at least pretty solid, but that's about all that one can say about Ipatov's position. 17.a5 b6 18.f4? [ Ipatov hits on a strategy of blocking the position. One can understand his aims, but essentially it just lead to endless torture and a slow death. As such, W hite might have tried to break out with 18.e4 when c4 might have worried the former World Junior Champion, but then W hite can even consider 19.xc4! bxc4 20.dxc4 , fighting hard for counterplay and to avoid being squashed. ] 18...d5 19.b4 c4 20.e2 f6 21.df1 d7 22.d1 g4! Masterly judgement from Kramnik. W hite's knight is marooned on a5 and he lacks an effective pawn break. Black, on the other hand, enjoys plenty of space to regroup within and can aim to break not just with ...h5h4, but even ...e6-e5. 23.b2 f7 24.c1 f8 25.c2 h7 26.h2 e8 27.fh1 d7 28.b2 h5 29.c1 White has managed to halt any breakthrough on the kingside and Kramnik's next must have come as a rude awakening to the Turkish no.1's hopes of holding a draw. e5!! Now White can hardly allow the e-file to open, so he must accept the piece. 30.dxe5 xe5 31.fxe5 xe5 32.f1 g7 As Malcolm Pein pointed out in 'CHESS', "White's pieces have no sensible moves his rooks and Na5 are hopelessly placed." Even my materialistic engine gives Black an advantage of about half a pawn, but in reality I feel it's much greater. Defending such a position as White is extremely hard, if indeed possible. 33.a3?! [ He didn't have to give away c3, but after 33.d2 e6 34.d1 g6 I'm not sure what White does while Black simply goes ...Bf6, ... Bg5 and ...Rhe7. ] 33...xc3+ 34.xc3 xc3 35.d1 e6 T h e q u e e n s m ig h t b e o f f t h e b o a r d , b u t Black's dark-squared bishop rules the roost. Mo re o v e r , ju s t c o n t i n u e t o c o m p a re t h e difference in coordination between the two
forces. 36.c2 g6 37.d2 [ Giving up a further pawn, but 37.d1 d4! would have been equally grim for Ipatov. ] 37...xe3 38.d1 f6 39.hh1 d4 The pawns are coming and the game is pretty much up. 40.de1 he7 41.xe3 xe3 T h e r e ' s si m p l y n o d e f e n c e t o t h e b r u t a l concept of ...d3 followed by ...c3. 0-1
2429 Izeta Txabarri,Felix Vehi Bach,Victor Manuel op San Sebastian [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2505 2390 1993
A HEAVYWEIGHT SACRIFICE. When White decides that a transposition into the Trompowsky is not his cup of tea, and graciously declines Black's kind offer, attacking opportunities are still rife! From a se e m in gly cle a r sky, W h it e 's a t t a c k is a lightening bolt into the heart of Black's kingside. This game is for all those who love a good old fashioned, bloodthirsty king hunt. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 4.h4 It is, of course, a perfectly viable option for W h ite to sim p ly ret rea t th e b isho p wh e n challenged. The resulting positions retain a d i s t i n c t l y T o r r e A t t a c k f l a v o u r . b6 The queenside fianchetto is one of the most popular responses to the Torre attack. Black's f irst two moves su ggest a nimzo/que en s indian is on the cards and Black is happy to c o n t i n u e i n t h e s a m e v e i n . 5.e3 W hite continues unabashed with his easy development. b7 6.d3 c5 It will be hard for Black to organise his counterplay without this thrust. At any rate, Black has to undertake some central action in order to halt the W hite Plan of an eventual e3-e4. 7.0-0 cxd4 8.exd4 e7 9.xf6 Again, White ma ke s t h is t ra d e t o pre ven t Nd 5 / h 5 xf6 10.c3 With his kin g safely on the kingside, White has no reservations about cementing his centre against attack. If white had castled queenside, however, such a pawn advance would only have weakened the white king position and created a target for the Black attack. 0-0 11.bd2 d6 12.e1 As we have 2384
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 seen before, under certain circumstances the black e-pawn makes a juicy sacrificial target, so this is a natural square for the rook. d7 13.e4 Back you dog!. A key defender of the Black king is driven away. e7 14.c2 White cleverly anticipates the Black plan and prepares a lethal attack. f6 Black offers, quite naturally, to exchange one of W hites a g gr e s s i ve l y p o s t e d p i e c e s, b u t t h i s , i n conjunction with his next move, is definitely a mistake. [ Instead 14...e8 15.d3 f8 would be a more prudent defensive idea, when White could try to increase the pressure with a rook swing to the kingside, via e3. ] 15.xf6+ White is seemingly happy to fall in w i t h B l a c k ' s p l a n s . xf6 16.d3 W ith a threat. g6? In contrast to some of the previous examples, Black has played what ap p e a r t o b e n a t u ra l d e velo p in g m o ve s. Indeed, it is hard to see without hindsight that Black is actually in serious trouble. [ Black had to cross his fingers and try 16...e8 ] 17.xe6!! Whallop! s a little unfair that Black, through playing a series of seemingly "normal" moves, is now completely lost. fxe6 [ Exchanging on f3 first simply opens another avenue for the White attack after 17...xf3 18.gxf3 fxe6 Perhaps Black should refrain from this capture, but then he is simply a pa wn d o wn . 19.xg6+ The White queen's a r r i v a l i s v e r y b a d n e ws f o r t h e B l a c k monarch. g7 20.h7+ f7 21.g6+ f6 22.h5! After a series of forcing moves, White introduces the killer threat of Qg6+, much like the main game. h8 23.h1! e5 Black is defenceless against White's plan. 24.g1 It is this possibility that makes exchanging on f3 dubious for Black. The Black king will be pursued mercilessly to his doom. According to Fritz it's mate in 6 at most! ] 18.xg6+ Although White now doesn't have an open g-f ile to attack along, somewhat surprisingly the Bb7 becomes a tasty side dish to the main king hunt. g7 forced 19.h7+ f7 20.g6+ f6 Poor Black has absolutely no c ho ice wit h a ny of h is mo ve s. 21.h5! The key move. Qg6+ becomes a crushing threat, so Black's hand is again forced. h8
22.xh6+ White gathers all the extra material he can, just in case he is unable to force a speedy victory. This is a good policy, as it ultimately gives White a material advantage, to go with his crushing attack. e7 23.h7+ At last W hite sets his sights on the Black queen's bishop. f6 24.xb7 e7 25.e4 Thanks to his clever play, White has 3 pawns for the exchange, but more to the point, has the crushing threats of Qg6+ and Qh4+. Black, understandably, had seen enough. 1-0
2430 Jenni,Florian Forster,Richard ch-SUI Lenzerheide SUI (5) [Eric Prié]
A46 2542 2438 12.07.2010
1.f3 f6 2.d4 d6 3.c3 It has been quite a long time since I have done an update on this, indeed. f5 [ 3...bd7 At this stage with the intention of transposing into the Philidor (see some further tips about this in games 3 to 5) has been a big concern of mine. It has regularly made me prefer 3.Bf4 (or 3. Nf3 if I played Bf4 on the second move as in game 4) 3... Nbd7 4.h3 until I discovered that this little tempo could be exploited by Black under certain conditions after 4...g6... See October! ] 4.g5! bd7 [ 4...h6 5.xf6 exf6 6.e4 ] 5.h4 g6 6.xg6 hxg6 7.e4 c6!? I have already treated 7...e6 and 7... e5. This is a new move, with the obvious intention ... Qa5 while dissuading Bc4 because of ...b5-b4. I doubt it is because of this that it enjoys such flattering statistics in the database. Well, at least it keeps White guessing... 8.d2 [ 8.e3 a5 9.f3 e5 10.d2 e7 11.0-0-0 exd4 12.xd4 b5 13.b1 b4 14.e2 b6 15.c1 Hebden, M (2560)Hanley, C (2322) Halifax 2003 0-1(58) ] [ It is interesting for White to castle kingside but this is not easy to realize. 8.e2 a5 9.d2 b6 ] [ 8.h4 e5 9.e2 b6 ] [ Preventing the disturbing queen's sortie 2385
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 does not work either: 8.b4 e5 9.b1 c7 10.e2 d5! ] [ 8.f3!? My suggestion. a5 9.h4 ( 9.d2 b6 ) 9...d5 ( 9...e5 10.0-0-0 b5 11.d5 This is the idea: to fully use the rook on the d-file. b4 12.dxc6 bxc3 13.cxd7+ xd7 14.c4!? f6 15.e3 cxb2+ 16.b1 ) 10.exd5 xd5 11.d2 ( 11.c4 e6 12.0-0 e7; 11.d3 xc3 12.d2 e5; 11.g3!? ) 11...xc3 ( 11...b4 12.c1 e6 13.a3 d5 14.e4 ) 12.xc3 f5 13.e2!? ( 13.xf5 gxf5 14.g3 ) 13...xc2 14.d5 ] 8...e6 9.0-0-0 I prefer [ 9.e2 e7 10.0-0 b5 11.a3 ] 9...e7 10.h4 a5 11.b1 b5 12.d3 b8 13.f3 [ 13.he1 finishing mobilization looks better. The only problem is that it does not really threaten e4-e5. For instance A) 13...0-0? 14.d5 d8 15.xe7+ xe7 16.e5; B) 13...b4 14.e2 c5 ( 14...e5 15.f4 ) 15.dxc5 xc5 16.d4; C) 13...e5! However helps better to understand W hite's previous move. 14.e2 xd2 15.xd2 g4; D) 13...a6 14.e5 b4 15.e4 d5 16.xe7? c3+ 17.c1 xa2+ 18.b1 c3+ ] 13...c5 14.dxc5 dxc5! [ 14...xc5 15.g4! ( 15.f1 b4 16.e2 fxe4! 17.fxe4 xe4 18.d4 xg5 19.xg7 e5 ) 15...b4 16.e2 a4 17.a1 e5 18.d4! 0-0 19.e3 ] 15.xf6 [ 15.f4 e5 16.g3 c4 17.e2 b4 18.e1 ] 15...xf6!? Another courageous decision, although objectively dubious. [ 15...xf6 16.e5 b4 ] 16.e2 [ 16.xb5 0-0 17.a4 a6 18.xd7 xc3 ] [ 16.xb5 xb5 17.xb5 xb5 ] 16...0-0 17.xd7? Falling into the trap. [ 17.xb5! as now d7 really hangs! xd2 ( 17...xb5 18.xa5 xa5 19.xd7 ) 18.xd2 b6 19.f4! e5 ( 19...a6 20.e5 ) 20.xa7 a4 21.b5 exf4 22.c4 ] 17...fd8 18.c6 xc3 19.bxc3 xc3 20.xd8+ [ 20.d7 b4+ 21.c1 c4! The point of a
deep (!?) calculation af ter which W hite cannot avoid perpetual: 22.h5 ( 22.hd1 c3 23.xd8+ h7 24.xc3 xc3 25.xb8 a3+ 26.b1 b4+ 27.c1 a3+ 28.d2? d6+ ) 22...c3? ( 22...xd7 23.xd7 c3 24.f1 b2+ 25.d1 b1+ 26.e2 xc2+ 27.e1 g5 28.h6 gxh6 29.xh6 g7 30.h1 b1+ 31.f2 c2 32.d4+ g6 33.h6+ xh6 34.f6+ h7 35.xf7+ h6= ) 23.xd8+ xd8 24.xb5 d6 ( 24...a3+ 25.b1 d6 26.a1 ) 25.e5! ( 25.hxg6?? f4+ 26.b1 b8 )] 20...xd8 21.xb5 [ 21.d1 b4+ 22.c1 a3+ 23.b1 b4+ ] 21...d4 22.e8+? The shock of the last move that White must have overlooked from the start (otherwise he would have chosen 17. Nxb5!) allied to time trouble, probably due to all those calculations. [ 22.a3! xa3 23.c4 c3 24.b3 b4 25.a6 c4 26.c8+ h7 27.d1 ( 27.h5? xb3+ 28.cxb3 xb3+ 29.c1 c3! 30.hxg6+ xg6 ) 27...xb3+ 28.cxb3 xb3+ 29.c1 c3+ ( 29...c3? 30.d8 ) 30.b1 b3+= ] 22...h7 [ 22...h7 23.f1 b4+ 24.c1 e3+ 25.d1 b1# ] 0-1
2431 Kagan,Naum Jones,LR Oceana zt Warwick Fiji FIJ (9) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2250 11.05.2002
Torre Attack: One of the most annoying retorts to the Torre/Colle systems is when the Black knight sinks his teeth into e4. Here we see White get around this problem. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 4.h4 b6 5.e3 b7 6.d3 e7 7.bd2 c5 8.c3 0-0 9.0-0 d5 Falling in with White's plans to infiltrate on e5. This is a little too compliant for my liking, although Black's position remains very solid. 10.e5 fd7 11.xe7 xe7 12.f4 White's attacking chances on the kingside are helped by the fact that Black has already 2386
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 we ak en ed h is light squ ares wit h h6 . c6 B) 13.h2 xb2 14.b3 d3 15.ad1 13.df3 f6 14.g4 xe5 15.xe5 e4 ( 15.c2? b4 ) 15...h5 16.g3 f6 Normally, this annoying move is a reasonable ( 16...c7 17.b5 xc3 18.xh5 ) try for equality, but White finds a way around 17.b1 e5 18.dxe5 ( 18.xd3 e4 ) Black's light squared blockade. 16.f3 h4 18...c5 ] 17.xe4 dxe4 18.g3 Preparing to break 10...b5 o p e n lin e s o n t h e kin gsid e wit h g5 . cxd4 [ 10...b4 11.c3 d3 12.h2 xb2 19.cxd4 ac8 20.g5 hxg5 21.xg5 c7 13.b3 ( 13.c2 a3; 13.b1 a4 ) 22.h5 The Black queen must be driven from 13...d3 14.c2 The difference of the extraher defensive duties on the kingside. f6 tempo. ] 23.g5 After long and accurate defence, [ 10...d5!? With the idea ... Bd6. ] Black finally errs. h6?? 11.c3 c7? [ 23...fc8 with counterplay along the c-file [ 11...d5! 12.h2 ac7 13.a4 a6 was much better. ] With a plan that is difficult to thwart this time. 24.g4 Winning the queen, as if she runs Fo r in sta n ce 14.b3 d6 15.a2 d7 away White whips out the lethal Nf6. 16.fa1 c6 where I would rather be 1-0 Black... ] 12.a4 cd5 [ 12...b4 13.c4 ] 2432 A46 [ 12...fd5 13.xc7 xc7 14.axb5 xb5 15.a4 ] Kamsky,Gata 2705 a6 14.b3 b6 15.a2! Topalov,Veselin 2772 13.h2 MTel Sofia BUL (9) 19.05.2007 T h e B u l ga ri a n h a s m is se d t h e b u s a f t e r probably having overlooked this strong and [Eric Prié] quite uncommon idea, after which I am not so 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.f4 c5 4.e3 cxd4 keen on commenting his defensive effort... d6 I m m e d i a t e l y " W i t h o u t g i v i n g W h i t e t h e 16.fa1 ab8 17.axb5 axb5 18.a6 d8 opportunity to recapture 'the good way' (i.e. 19.a7 c7 20.e1 fd5 21.d3 d7 towards the centre if the idea of playing c2-c3 22.b4 xb4 23.xb4 c6 24.c4?! fc8! occurs to him on the next move)" as I wrote Black is back! [ 24...bxc4? 25.xc4 xc4 26.xc4 d5 just 2 m onth s a go.. . Th anks so much Mr 27.e3! fe8 ( 27...xe3 28.fxe3 g5 World n~/= 2 for confirming my views! 5.exd4 29.xd6 xe3+ 30.f1 xd4 31.xb8 b6 6.bd2 e7 7.h3 0-0! 8.d3 a6!? xb8 32.a8+- ) 28.xd5 exd5 29.xe7 [ 8...b7 Is more critical on principle with the xe7 30.xd6 eb7 31.xb8 xb8 same plan of playing against the structure 32.b4! ] as in the game (and Prié-Philippe some time ago from a 2...e6 Tromp!) 9.e2 c6 25.cxb5 c2! [ 25...xb5 26.c4 d5 27.xc6 xc6 10.c3 a6 11.0-0-0 b5 12.b1 but maybe 28.a8+ f8 29.c4 ( 29.e4 bb6 ) W hite can develop something on the 29...b6! ] kingside in this case, ready to meet ...b5-b4 with c3-c4. Then the plan of ...d7-d5 shutting 26.f1 d5 [ 26...xb5? 27.xc7 ] in the bishop, and playing ...Na5-c4 is very 27.d2 b3 28.e3 f8 29.g3 xe3 committal for Black. ] 30.xe3 xb5 31.f3 f6 32.1a6 b6 9.xa6 33.a1 xb2 34.f4 [ 9.c4 d5 now, willingly. ] [ 34.h5 b7 ] 9...xa6 10.0-0 34...d5 35.e3 c2 36.h2 g6 37.g3 h5 [ 10.a4 b4!? 11.0-0 c8 12.c3 d3 A) 13.g5 c7 ( 13...xb2 14.b3 38.a8 bc6 39.1a6 This motive deserves d3 15.b5 xc3 16.xf6 xf6 a diagram! f7 40.f4 c3 41.e2 c2 17.e4 a6 18.b1 Winning the 42.e1 xa8 43.xa8 d7 44.b1! c8 [ 44...xf2+ 45.g1 xf4 ( 45...f3 exchange. ) 14.b3 d5 15.b5 f4; 2387
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 46.b4 f7 47.d6 ) 46.gxf4 c6 47.b8 And Black has to take the perpetual check. ] 45.xc8 xc8 46.g6! Winning the pawn back. c4 47.e3 e5 48.dxe5 d4 49.e6! dxe3 Surely disappointed Topalov was not in the mood to test the Sofia rules to the limit by continuing with something like [ 49...xe6 50.xd4 h4 51.d3 ] 50.f7+ h7 51.xh5+ ½-½
2434 Karaulov,Dmitry Mihalichenko,Vladimir Kaissa Open Kharkov UKR (5) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2230 25.01.2003
Torre Attack: Black demonstrates another strong plan for dealing with the dreaded Torre. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 4.h4 g5 A ve r y d i r e c t a p p r o a c h , wh i c h b a g s t h e important bishop pair early. 5.g3 e4 6.bd2 xg3 7.hxg3 g7 8.e3 d6 9.c3 2433 A46 c6 10.c2 Chances are finely balanced as Karadeniz,Emre 2307 White has a very solid structure and possible Izoria,Zviad 2556 play on the h-file in return for the bishop pair. 3rd IECC Batumi GEO (1) 12.06.2002 d7 11.d3 e7 12.e4 h5 The beginning of a strong plan to eradicate the weakness on [Aaron Summerscale] h6. 13.0-0-0 0-0-0 14.b1 g4 15.g1 [ 15.h4 is possible, but there is a danger Torre Attack: Plans with an early g5 against that the knight would be out of play for the the Torre continues to be the the choice of rest of the game. ] many strong players. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 16.e2 hxg3 17.xg3 g5 3.g5 h6 4.h4 d6 When Black wants to 15...h4 play for the win, I feel that this is one of his With his main cause of concern eradicated, best choices against the Torre. 5.bd2 g5 Black begins to assume the initiative. 18.c4 19.e3 df8 20.xh8?! 6.g3 h5 7.e3 g7 Black quickly develops e7 his kingside pieces, but is in no hurry to castle. A poor decision. Giving up the h-file plays right 8.d3 d7 9.h4 g4 Naturally, there is no into Black's hands. [ 20.b3 was better, when: f5 21.xh8 mileage in allowing White to open the h-file. xh8 22.exf5 exf5 23.d5 leaves White 10.h2 f5 11.c3 0-0 12.hf1 e5 well in the game. ] This thematic advance threatens to overrun W h i t e o n t h e k i n g s i d e w i t h f 4 . 13.f4 20...xh8 21.a3 h2 22.ef1? The decisive So he decides to get his advance in first, but mistake. W hite was just plain wrong if he his pieces look very awkward after this. e7 thought he could trap the Black rook. xg2 23.e5 c6 14.f2 df6 15.fxe5 xg3 [ 23...dxe5 24.e4 g1 25.e2 [ 15...dxe5!? ] was White's idea, although it is easily dealt 16.xg3 dxe5 17.dxe5? After this, the with. ] White position quickly goes downhill. [ 17.b3+ h8 18.ae1 While certainly no 24.exd6 cxd6 25.e4 xe4 26.xe4 f4 picnic, this would at least offer some hope Covering d6 and resuming control. Although slightly premature, White resigned in disgust. of resistance. ] 17...xe5 18.c4 e4+ The opening of the 0-1 f -f ile is th e killer blow. 19.xe4 fxe4+ 20.g1 g3 White will sustain heavy 2435 A46 material losses trying to avert mate. Kiik,Kalle 2422 0-1 Agopov,Mikael 2431 ShakkiNet International, Helsinki (3.4) 11.6.14 [Richard Palliser] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.f3 Long condemned, this approach 2388
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 recently received a recommendation in the latest Trompowsky repertoire for White, Cyrus Lakdawala's 'The Trompowsky Attack: Move by Move'. d6 [ Black's main move, but a French player m i g h t w e l l p r e f e r 5...d5 , as we last considered in Zherebukh-Alsina Leal, Moscow 2012. I should point out that here rather than closing the centre with 6.e5 , ( Lakdawala prefers 6.bd2 . )] 6.c3 a6 [ It's rare to see this move quite so early, but if Black wants to set up as Agopov does he can play his next three moves in any order. W h a t h e m o s t ce r t a in l y m u s t n o t d o i s 6...d7 7.d2 c6?! 8.0-0-0 e5 9.dxe5 dxe5? , which walks slap, bang into White's m a i n p o i n t : 10.b5! - see RozentalisNithander, Gothenburg 2012, in the Archive. ] 7.d2 d7 8.0-0-0 d8 [ This feels very sensible, moving the queen out of harm's way and hoping to activate her on the queenside, but 8...e7 is also quite viable - see Muse-Bischoff, Internet (blitz) 2005, with Eric's notes in the Archive. ] 9.h4 [ Juan Bellon Lopez's latest preference. The veteran Spanish GM has long been one of the few grandmasters not to have abandoned this line, but his earlier 9.g4 g6 10.h4 g7 11.e5 d5 12.e2 c5 13.c3 b5 wa s n ' t e s p e c ia lly c o n vin ci n g in B e l lo n Lopez-Laznicka, Gibraltar 2012, as we've seen before. ] 9...b5 [ Lakdawala's main move, but as I've covered a bit before here on ChessPub, I prefer 9...c5 , as was seen in a recent mini-match between Bellon Lopez and Stellan Brynell: A) instead, 10.g4!? would be Lakdawalalike and might even transpose into our n e x t n o t e a f t e r b5 , ( although in Radovanovic-Arsovic, Cetinje 2013, Black borrowed a different Sicilian idea with 10...e7 11.h3 cxd4 12.xd4 g5!? ); B) 10.dxc5 xc5 11.f4!? ( the latest try as we've noted before, 11.e5 d5 12.d4 c7 13.f4 b5 14.g4 was admirably direct and consistent from the white player, but after b7 15.h3 b4 16.ce2 e4
17.e1 c5 18.b1 b6 Black enjoyed decent counterplay in Ipatov-Swiercz, Moscow 2012,; while 11.a3 looked a little slow in Bellon Lopez-Brynell, Norrkoping 2014, where c7 12.b1 d7 13.h3 e7 14.g4 c8 15.d4 a4 se e m e d so lid e n o u g h f o r t h e s e c o n d player, W hite preferring not to have to trade knights and then rooks down the cfile ) 11...d7 12.e5 d5 13.b1 b5 14.d4 (once again the position is rather French-like, but at least this time for White the enemy c-pawn has gone) b4 15.ce2 e7 16.g4!? was typically bold from the Spaniard in Bellon Lopez-Brynell, Halmstad 2014. He eventually prevailed, but I have my doubts about this course of action, whether Black goes a5 ( or 16...xh4!? 17.h2 e7 18.f4 c7 19.f5 c8 . )] 10.h5 Seizing space, but whether White should be playing so positionally is a moot point: [ a) 10.d5 e5 11.g3 e7 12.b1 c5 13.e3 b4 14.e2 a5 was rather too easy f o r B l a c k i n A r vin d - Xi o n g, R ic h a rd s o n 2013. ] [ b) 10.g4!? is Lakdawala's recommendation. After c5 11.h3 cxd4 ( the strong American IM's main game, FinegoldBenjamin, Saint Louis 2010, features 11...a5 and after 12.b1 b7 13.d5 White was for choice) 12.xd4 Lakdawala writes that "the position looks like a very favourable Najdorf for White". I can't deny that his lead in development looks scary and there are sacrifices looming on d5, e6 and f5. H o we ve r , S i c i l i a n p l a ye r s a r e u s e d t o defending such positions and A) At first I wanted to go 12...b6 13.f4 b7 , but after 14.g5 White is pretty quick: f o r in st an ce , hxg5 15.hxg5 b4 ( or 15...g6 16.xe6! xh1 17.xh1 fxe6 18.xe6 e7 19.f5 with full compen satio n) 16.g6 xh3 17.xh3 bxc3 18.gxf7+ xf7 19.xc3 with something of a mess.; B) 12...c5 looks quite sensible. ] 10...b7 11.d5 e5 12.g3?! [ A new move and one which prepares to unfurl the bishop on an unopposed diagonal, 2389
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 but it fails to create any problems for Black. P re vio u s ly, 12.e2! c6 13.dxc6 xc6 14.g3 was Cech-Rupprecht, German League 2007, where W hite had definite chances for an edge, but Black may be just about OK after f6 15.d3 e7 16.f5 0-0 . ] 12...e7 13.h3 b4 Highly logical play from the Finnish IM. Black seizes space, both to discomfort the white king and to activate his light-squared bishop. The f5-square might be potentially tender, but the second player just seems to have an easy game from what I can see. 14.a4 [ White soon runs into trouble in the game, but so would he after 14.e2 a5 15.b1 c6! , blowing open the centre. ] 14...a5 15.b1 0-0 16.e3 [ I'm not a fan of White's position in any case, but suspect he had to try and obtain some c o u n t e rp l a y wit h 16.c3!? , and if f6 17.f5 c8 18.xc8 xc8 19.e2 g4 20.de1 . ] 16...a6 17.f1 Positionally desirable and fairly essential with the knight in some danger on a4, but now Agopov will be able to carry out a strong pawn break. xf1 18.hxf1? [ I don't really buy 18.dxf1 f5 19.d2 f6 20.exf5 d7 21.b3 for White, but it seems this had to be tried. ] 18...f5 19.d2 e8! Even here the knight on the rim is a hindrance. A pawn is falling on the kingside. 20.exf5 [ 20.h1 would have accepted his earlier mistake, but not kept the material level on account of f6 21.b3 fxe4 22.xe4 xe4 23.xe4 xf2 . ] 20...xh5 21.f3 xf5 22.e2 g5 23.e4 Kiik is renowned in the Finnish League for being extremely hard to beat, but even he was going to struggle to save this position, down a pawn and with one knight still rather offside. f6 24.xg5 xg5 25.c4 f7! Good judgement from Agopov, who elects to allow White some queenside gains in return for crashing through on the kingside. 26.c6 af8 27.b5 h5 28.xa5 xg3 29.fe1 f4 30.c3 bxc3 31.xc3 xf3 White has done well to get his knight back into play, but that has come at the cost of a second pawn. 32.b5 e4 33.a4 The a-pawn is White's only
trump, but unfortunately for Kiik Black too has a rather big passed pawn, not to mention some rather active pieces. e3 34.a5 e4 35.xe4 xe4+ 36.a2 f4 Not the only approach, but in connection with Black's next two moves, a very sensible, practical course. 37.d3 e2 38.c3 a4+ 39.xa4 xa4+ 40.a3 e4 That e-pawn is just too far advanced for White to have any real hopes of saving the game. 41.b3 f3+ 42.c2 c4+ 43.d2 xa3 44.bxa3 c5 45.xe2 xd5+ 46.c3 xa5 47.b4 a7 48.a4 h5 49.a5 h7 [ Black is quite simply far too far ahead in the race, as shown by 49...h7 50.b5 h4 51.a6 g5 52.e8 h3 53.b8 h2 . ] 0-1
2436 Klinge,Jim King,Daniel J it Lucerne Switzerland (27) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2475 2495 1989
SHORT AND SWEET! THE TROMPOWSKY TORRE! An experienced Grandmaster losing a piece by force in 13 moves. Surely not, you cry! Even with the bishop pair, Black is no match for the power of the Torre Attack. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 Black invites a transposition to the trompowsky, where White has committed himself to an early Nf3. 4.xf6 White takes up the challenge, but as we shall see in the next game, it is perfectly possible to retreat with Bh4. xf6 5.c3 d6 6.e4 The battle lines have been drawn. W hite enjoys a space advantage and controls the centre, whilst black hopes to gain an advantage from his bishop pair, if the game opens up. d7 Black adopts a solid "wait and see" strategy. However, it is also possible to play more aggressively, with the move p o p u l a r i s e d b y K a r p o v 6 . . . g 5 ! ? 7.d2 White prepares to castle long. c6 8.0-0-0 W hite is rapidly completing development, before introducing complications. Now the threat is to gain space and harass the black queen with e5. e5 Hence, Black puts a stop to the af oremen tioned idea . 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.b5! It was the discovery of this move that 2390
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 rendered this line unplayable for Black. b8 knight to take on f3 with check! Where the [ Critical is: 10...cxb5 but the continuation move a2-a3 proves more adapted to the 11.xb5 e6 12.xe5 Leaves Black position's requirements than developing a defenceless against the threat on d7. ] piece... xb5 9.xg7 g8 10.e5 ] [ A l t e r n a t i v e l y : 10...d8 11.a5+! 2...e6 3.f4 c5 4.e3 b6 5.c3 c6 It is important to weaken the white squares 6.b5 d5 7.d6+? on Black's queenside, forcing: b6 12.c3 [ 7.d6 xd4 8.xf8 xf3+ 9.xf3 With mounting and lasting pressure. ] A) 9...xf8!? 10.g3 a6 ( 10...e7 11.xa7 White wins a pawn and recovers the 11.e4 ) 11.d6+ e7 Quite as in the bishop pair to boot. c5 This move l ands main branch of analysis, Black can hardly Black in extremely hot water, but good avoid the exposure of his king but now his alternatives were hard to come by, for king pawns have become weak. 12.c4 example: ( 12.xc8+? axc8 13.xg7 b4+ ) [ 11...b6 I s w e l l m e t b y : 12.a5 12...c7 13.e4 ( 13.g5+ f6 14.xg7 Leaving Black in all sorts of trouble. ] b5 15.d2 g8 16.h6 b7 ) 13...xg3 12.xc8 xc8 13.b4 It is not you see an 14.hxg3 b4 15.0-0-0 h6 16.h5 experienced GM lose a piece by force. The ( 16.b6 b8 17.c3 c6 18.f4 d6 ) knight cannot move, of course, because of the 16...xa2+ ( 16...b5 17.d6 c4 18.a4 mate on d7. e6 14.bxc5 xc5 15.c3 b8 19.c3 c6 20.axb5 axb5 21.xb5 ) Black could already resign, but decided to play 17.b1 b4 18.xc5 b5 19.d6 c6 on, perhaps trying to avoid the inevitable ( 19...b8 20.c7 ) 20.f4; publication of this game in magazines and B) 9...xf8! Protecting g7 and away from books of miniatures. d6 16.c4 e7 any Nd6 or Nc7 check. 10.0-0-0 ( 10.c4 17.xd6 White is just showing off, attempting a5+ ) 10...a6 11.a3 a5 12.e4 e7 to humiliate his opponent and impress his 13.e5 b8 Threatening ...b5 against the m a t e s wit h h is sa crif ic ia l p ro we ss . xd6 knight on the edge, so W hite does not 18.d1 e7 19.xe5 The exchange of have a choice: 14.c4! xa2 15.d6 qu e e n s is t h e sim p l e st wa y f o r W h it e t o One of the drawbacks of having the king realise his advantage. xe5 20.xe5 0-0 on f8. ( 15.g4 c6 16.d6 a1+ 21.d7 Any Black resistance is futile! 17.d2 a5+ 18.c3 xe5 19.f4 f6 1-0 20.g5 d8 ) 15...f5 16.xc8 xc8 17.xb7 ( 17.xd7 a1+ 18.d2 c7! 19.xc7 a5+ 20.c1 xc7 21.xa6 2437 A46 xe5 22.xb7 e7 ) 17...a1+ 18.d2 a5+ 19.c1 ( 19.c3? e7; 19.e2 Kogan,Artur 2485 d8 20.xd7 xd7 21.xd7 g6 ) Stocek,Jiri 2465 19...d8!? The only move to play on Lazne Bohdanec (2) 1996 ( 19...a1+ 20.d2 a5+ ) 20.d3 [Eric Prié] ( 20.b1 g6; 20.xa6 c7 ) 20...g6 21.xf5 gxf5 22.xd7! Another drawback 1.d4 f6 2.f3 is the weakness of d7. xd7 23.xd7 [ 2.f4 c5! 3.e3 b6 4.c3 ( 4.a3!? d6 a1+ 24.d2 xh1 25.d8+ g7 5.c4 c7 ) 4...e6 5.a3 26.g5+= White enjoys clear A) 5...a6!?; compensation after the pawn sacrifice, B) 5...h5? 6.dxc5 xc5 ( 6...xb2? well-worth playing in a game over the 7.e5 c6 8.a2; 6...xc5 7.xh5 board. However, I would rather bet on a xb2 8.xc5 xa1+ 9.d1 ) 7.e4 black improvement to break the c6 8.xh5 xe4 9.0-0-0 c6 balance... ] 10.f3; [ 7.dxc5 xc5 8.d6+ ( 8.d6 a6 C) 5...c6 In 'Moskalenko's spirit', as in 9.xc5 xc5 10.c4 axb5 11.cxd5 exd5 the previous game, however 6.b5! d5 12.d2 0-0 13.c1 e7 14.xb5 xa2 7.d6 xd4 8.xf8 And there is no 2391
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.0-0 b4 ) 8...xd6 9.xd6 xb2 10.b1 xa2 11.c1 c3 12.b3 a5 ] 7...xd6 8.xd6 xd4 With a depressing version (f or W hite) of the main analysis. 9.e5? [ 9.exd4 xd6 10.c4 ] 9...xf3+ 10.gxf3 f6 11.g3 xb2 Game over. 12.b1 xa2 [ 12...c3+ 13.e2 a3 Wins an exchange on c3 outright. ] 13.d6 c3 14.a1 b2 15.c1 xc1+ 16.xc1 b6 Let me count: 3 pawns up in the ending?! Is that right? And it took Black 30 moves to convert it into a win!? 17.e4 b7 18.a1 c6 19.d2 b5 20.xb5 xb5 21.hb1 c6 22.a6 b7 23.a3 f7 24.ba1 e5 25.xa7 e6 26.c7 b5 27.c4 bxc4 28.c3 hc8 29.xa8 xa8 30.xa8 xa8 31.xc4 d6 32.d3 c6 33.e3 g5 34.d8 a4 35.d2 b3 36.e2 h6 37.b6 f5 38.c7 c4+ 39.d2 d7 40.b8 e6 41.d3 f4 42.e2 c6 43.f1 h3+ 44.e1 g2 45.e2 h5 0-1
2438 Kosic,Dragan Berczes,David FSGM March Budapest HUN (9) [Eric Prié]
A46 2504 2433 11.03.2007
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.f4 c5 4.e3 I add this bonus game for its topicality and its 'unleashing' aspect that will undoubtedly seduce some of the more dynamic subscribers to this section... but I am not really interested in commenting pure tactical firework displays in general and especially a f t e r t h i s m o v e , wh i c h g o e s a g a i n s t m y principles. b6? [ 4...b6 5.bd2 b7 6.c3 e7 7.d3 cxd4 8.exd4 d6 9.0-0 0-0 10.e1 bd7 11.h3 a6 12.a4 e8 13.h2 f8 14.e4 xe4 15.xe4 xe4 16.xe4 f6 1/2-1/2 Kosic, D-Farago, I Budapest FSGM03 2007 Chess 644 ] [ 4...cxd4! As Farago did later, but without giving W hite the opportunity to recapture 'the good way'. My game against Philippe has really vaccinated me against willingly
playing again this pawn structure. 5.exd4 b6 ] 5.c3 cxd4 6.exd4 xb2 7.b5 d5 8.b1 xa2 9.d2 a6 10.a1 b2 11.c4 ab4 12.0-0 I do not know if this represents the preparation of the year, from White's point of view, or even where the first deviation from acknowledged territory was, but all the engines give W hite winning at this stage... xc2 13.xc2 xc2 14.xd5 xa1 15.c7+ d8 16.xa8 c2 17.e5 Wasn't [ 17.e4! b4 18.e5 evidently more 'shortening'? ] 17...g8 18.e4 b4 19.xf7+ e7 20.xh7 xd2 21.xg8 xd4 22.d1 c3 23.c7 a5 24.d6 xd6 25.b5+ c5 26.xc3 b5 27.xb5 xb5 28.c1+ b4 29.xc8 a4 30.d8 a3 31.xd7 a2 32.d1 c7 33.f4 g6 34.h4 c3 35.h5 gxh5 36.f5 1-0
2439 Kosic,Dragan Prie,Eric Olm Chanac (10) [Eric Prié]
A46 2480 2435 1990
1.d4 e6 2.f3 c5 3.e3 f6 4.d3 d6 [ 4...d5 5.b3 bd7 6.0-0 g6!? 7.b2 g7 8.c4 0-0 9.bd2 b6 10.cxd5 xd5 11.c4 b8 12.a3 b7 13.d2 e7= Kosic,D-Baklan,V JUG-ChT Budva 2002 0-1 (56) ] 5.0-0 bd7 6.b3 g6 7.b2 g7 8.bd2 0-0 9.e2 c7 10.e4 cxd4 11.xd4 a6 12.a4 b6 13.c4 b7 14.ae1 fe8 15.b1 ad8 Classically speaking this is the best placing of the Rooks in Hedgehog systems except when W hite has already played b4, when there is already some pressure on c4 from a Rook on c8. 16.b4 d5! 17.c1 [ 17.e5 e4 18.xe4 dxe4 19.f4 ( 19.xe4 xe4 20.xe4 xc4 ) 19...exf3 20.xf3 xf3 21.xf3 a5 22.b5 c5 is pleasant for Black. ] 17...dxe4 18.xe4 e5 [ 18...h5! 19.c5 bxc5 20.bxc5 f4 21.e3 xe4 22.xe4 f6 Threatening to 2392
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 win a piece after the liquidation on d4 and the check on e2, as well as ...Ng4. 23.e2 ( 23.f3 e5 ) 23...6d5 24.xd5 xb2 25.xf4 xc1 26.xc1 exd5 27.xd5 xe3 28.xc7 c3 29.e1 ( 29.b1 xc5 30.xa6 c6 31.b4 b8 ) 29...xc5 30.xa6 c4-+ ] 19.b3 a5 20.c5 d5? From the start of the complications initiated by 16.d5!, Black has forgotten about the possibility of the next move. [ 20...xe4 21.xe4 xe4 22.xe4 axb4 23.cxb6 ( 23.xb4 f8 24.cxb6? xc1 ) 23...xb6 24.c4 f8 Momentarily, White has some compensation with the free apawn and the slight passivity of the black pieces. ] 21.c6! xb3? [ 21...b8 22.xf6+ xf6 23.bxa5! xb3 24.e3 ( 24.f3 xa4 ) 24...bxa5 ( 24...xa4 25.axb6 ) 25.xb3 xc6 26.f3 e6 27.e4 c8 28.fd1 With very good compensation, this time, for the pawn. ] 22.cxd7 xd7 23.xf6+ xf6 24.f3 d5 [ 24...e6 25.c6 ] 25.xf6 xg2 26.xg2 [ 26.xe5 xe5 27.xe5 xf1 28.xf1 xa4 Of course gives White some good winning chances but will still require some work because there are only 2 pawns left after the exchange on a5, including a "bad" h - p a w n , a n d t h e e x p o s e d K i n g . 29.b5? ( 29.c7? d1 ) 29...g4+ 30.g3 c4 ] 26...g4+ 27.h1 d6! 28.f3 [ 28.xd6 f3+ 29.g1 g4+= ] 28...xb4 29.c3 [ 29.xe5! xe5 30.c8+ g7 31.xe5+ h6 32.xd6 xd6 33.c2 ] 29...xf6 30.xb4 axb4 31.c4 f4 32.xf4 Doubling the pawns weakens black structure but more relevantly exchanges off one piece and activates the e8-rook. Therefore White should have played 32. Rc6 Rb8. exf4 33.e4 d8 34.b1 d4 35.g1 f5 36.c6 f7 White is not better anymore, but after having suffered a lot his opponent, as often in such cases, only plays f o r a d r a w . 37.b2 e6 38.f2 d6 39.b5 g5 40.h3 [ 40.c2 d5 41.c6 d2+ 42.e1 xh2
43.xb6 g4 may be dangerous only for White ] 40...h5 41.e8 c5 42.xh5 c4 43.c2+ [ 43.g6 c3 44.b1 b3 45.c1+ ( 45.xf5 d2+ 46.e1 b2 47.d1 h2 48.d3+ c4 49.d6 h1+ 50.d2 b1 51.xb1 xb1 ) 45...d2 46.c6 ] 43...b3 44.c6 xa4 45.xb6 d2+ 46.e1 h2 47.f7 To summarize the main line, I would say that as shown in these games and as far as I am concerned, the double fianchetto idea employed by Black in the peculiar move order 1.d4 e6 2. Nf3 c5 3.e3 is a good idea. Most of the time I obtained a nice Hedgehog position with at least one extra tempo compared to a likely transposition from one of the main lines in the Kan Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4. Cxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Nf6 6.0-0 d6 7. c4) where experience has shown that Black's legitimate desire to put his Bishop on g7 rather than e7 is often thwarted. In fact, as you noticed I was able to achieve one of the thematic liberating pawn pushes (..e5, ...d5, ...b5) as soon as my development was over! ½-½
2440 Lukasiewicz,Grzegorz Prie,Eric A op Chanac [Eric Prié]
A46 2320 2435 1990
1.d4 e6 2.f3 c5 3.e3 f6 4.d3 [ 4.c4 d6 5.c3 bd7 6.d3 a6 7.a4 g6 8.b3 g7 9.b2 0-0 10.0-0 b6 11.e4 cxd4 12.xd4 b7 13.e2 h5 Black's nice Hedgehog position leads him to inaugurate an over-optimistic plan... 14.e3 c5 15.c2 e5 16.de2 f5 17.f3 ( 17.exf5 gxf5 18.d2 f6 19.d5 is also a problem.) 17...f4 18.exf5 h6 19.xf4 xf4 20.f2 ( 20.e1 gxf5 21.d1 g5 22.d5 is a similar concern.) 20...g5 21.fe1 gxf5 22.ad1 h5 23.h3 f6 24.e2 g5 25.b4 d7 26.g3 ( 26.f4 h4 27.g3 g6 ) 26...f7 27.xf5! xf5 28.xf5 xf5 29.xd6 f4 30.ed1 f8 31.xb6 b8 32.d8?? W hite as played well so far and although 2393
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the position remains somewhat complicated, he should be winning after the defensive 32. Qf2. xd8 33.xd8 e3+! 34.h2 f4+? ( 34...c2 35.d3 f4+ 36.g1 xb2 ) 35.h1 xf3? ( 35...g3 36.xe5 xe5 37.d6 f5 ) A) 36.f1! xg2+ ( 36...g3 37.xf8+! xf8 38.xf3+; 36...f5 37.h4 ) 37.xg2 e4+ 38.f3 c2+ 39.f1 xc4+ 40.e1 xb4+ 41.e2 xb2+ 42.xe3 c3+ 43.f2 c2+ 44.g1 g6+ 45.h1 b1+ 46.g2 c2+ 47.f2 g6+ 48.h2+-; B) 36.xe5? f5! 37.h4 Qxh3+ was t h e m e n a c e . xd1 38.g3+ g5 39.xg5+ xg5 40.a5 b3 41.b5 xc4 0-1 T revelyan,J-Prie ,E Ch T-EU Haif a 1989 ] 4...d6 5.0-0 bd7 6.b3 a6 [ 6...g6 ] 7.c4 [ 7.b2 g6 is possible and does not seem to change anything. ] 7...g6 8.b2 g7 9.c3 0-0 10.e2 c7 11.ac1 e8 12.b1 b6 13.fd1 b7 14.dxc5 xc5 15.d4 ad8 16.h4 e7 17.d4 d5 18.cxd5 xd5 19.dd1 xc3! A f in e s trat e gic al d e cisio n a pp rop ria te ly illustrated by the course of the game. 20.xc3 xd1+ 21.xd1 d8 22.e2 xf3 23.xf3 xc3 24.xc3 d6 It is better not to change pairs! It is well known that apart from specific positions Queen and Knight cooperate better than Queen and Bishop, and it is the opposite wi t h R o o k a n d K n i g h t v e r s u s R o o k a n d Bishop. [ 24...f6 25.c1 xf3 26.gxf3 a5 27.c2 ] 25.c1 d2 26.f1 a5 27.h4 d5 28.g3 g7 29.c7 b4 30.g3 a4 31.bxa4 xa4 32.c1 c5 [ 32...b2!? 33.c2 xc2 34.xc2 c3 35.a1 d2 36.b3 b2! With the idea Ne4, Nd2 37.g4 e4 38.f3 d2 39.d1 c4 40.e4 e3 41.b3 g2+ 42.h1 f2 43.g5 xf3 ] 33.f1 b2 34.f4 h5 35.c4 b5 36.c2 b4 37.e2? [ 37.d1 e4 38.xd5 exd5 39.g2 c3 40.d2 c5 41.d3 b4 ] 37...a4 38.c1 d2 39.e1 b2 40.a3
[ 40.d1 e2 ] 40...c3 0-1 Lukasiewicz,G-Prie,E/Val Thorens 1990 (40) 0-1
2441 Macieja,Bartlomiej Anand,Viswanathan 36th Olympiad (13) [Eric Prié]
A46 2613 2781 28.10.2004
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 Anand has often varied his move order against the Torre. Still, the purpose of this month's update is to show that this move is more precise than [ 3...c5 immediately, that he played against Morozevich in Linares. ] 4.xf6 xf6 5.e4 d5 6.bd2 g6!? Like in the semi-Slav Moscow variation, the idea of this move is to reserve the e7 square for the queen. 7.c3 g7 8.d3 0-0 9.0-0 d7 [ 9...b6 10.e1 c5 11.a3 a5 12.b5 b7 13.a4 c8 14.ad1 A) 14...c6!? 15.dxc5 ( 15.exd5 exd5 16.dxc5 bxc5 17.b3 d6 ) 15...bxc5 16.b3 a7; B) 14...cxd4 15.xd4 a6 16.xa6 xa6 ( 16...xa6 17.d7 b8 18.c6 xc6 19.xc6 dxe4 20.xe4 ) 17.exd5 exd5 18.f1 Then White followed with the simple plan Rd2, Qd1, a3-a4, Ne3-c2-a3b5 and it was obvious that, because of the opposing isolated pawns, his knights were, quite unusually considering the open character of the position, superior to the enemy bishops. Speelman, J-Brynell, S Copenhagen 1996 1-0(79) ] 10.e5 Difficult to suggest another plan. [ 10.e1 c5 ] 10...e7 11.h4 c5 12.e2 [ 12.h5!? gxh5 and then? 13.e2 cxd4 14.cxd4 f6 15.exf6 xf6 Due to the opposing 'lack of preparation' in the pawn offer, Black can adapt his development. 16.e5 g4! 17.df3 ( 17.g6? d6 18.f3 xf3 )] 12...cxd4 13.cxd4 d8 14.a3 f8 15.h5 d7 [ 15...gxh5 16.h2 ( 16.g3 g6 17.g2 2394
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h4; 16.ac1 d7 17.c7 ab8 18.fc1 dc8 19.b3 xc7 20.xc7 d8 ) 16...h4 ( 16...g6 17.g3 h4 18.h5 d7 19.g4 g5 20.xg5 hxg5 21.f3 ) 17.f4 ( 17.g4 g5 18.df3 xg4 19.xg4 g6 20.xg6 fxg6 21.xh4 g5 ) 17...d7 ( 17...f5 18.exf6 xf6 19.b3 d7 20.g4 e7 21.e5 ac8 22.ae1 W ith promising compensation this time. Black's extra (doubled) h-pawn seems to play an insignificant role in the position.) 18.g4 ( 18.h5 f5 19.df3 g6!! 20.xg6 e8; 18.g4 f5 19.exf6 xf6 20.hf3 e8 21.e5 h5 22.h3 g6 ) 18...ac8 ( 18...h5 19.f2! f5 20.xh5 e8 21.e2 g6 22.h3 h6 23.e3 ac8 24.f3 c7 25.fg5 Then White will organize the opening of the g-file by g2g3 while controlling the queenside.) 19.ae1 Ac c o rdin g to m e t h is is u n cle a r. W h it e prepares the f4-f5 break, possibly followed by Ne3 to recapture on f5 with the knight, but Black has good development. ] [ Of course not 15...g5? 16.h2 f5 17.exf6 xf6 18.df3 d7 19.g3 e8 20.e5 ] 16.hxg6 xg6 17.g3 f5 18.exf6 xf6 This looks all right for Black since the impossibility for W hite to install one of his knights on e5 makes some difference but the open character of the position makes it quite unstable for him. 19.ae1 [ 19.c2 e7 20.d3 f5 21.e5? b5! 22.xb5 xd4 23.d3 xc2 24.xc2 xe5 ] 19...f8 20.g2 [ 20.b1! ac8 ( 20...e7 21.e5 Attacking the bishop. e8 22.d3 f5 23.g4 Direct play wins material.; 20...b6 21.d3 f5 22.xf5 exf5 23.a2 ) 21.d3 A) 21...e8 22.e5 xe5 23.h7+ ( 23.dxe5 f5 ) 23...f7 24.dxe5 g5 25.f3 g4 26.h2 g5 27.d3 Protecting g3 with the idea f4-f5 and a strong attack.; B) 21...f5! The only defensive motive. 22.b3 g4 23.xb7 c6 24.b3 ( 24.xa7 b5 ) 24...f6 With compensation ... for Black! ] 20...f7 21.d1 af8 22.c2 This was W hite's plan: Dislodge the knight from g6
then gain the e5 square. f4+!! Unfortunately for him, this deep tactical resource spoils everything. The W orld no.2 must have had quite a fright in this game! 23.gxf4 xf4 24.g1 [ 24.h1 g4+ ( 24...xd4? 25.h4 ) 25.f1 xf3 26.xf3 xf3 27.g1 h8 ] 24...xd4 25.f1+ [ 25.xd4 g7+! 26.g6 xf2+ 27.h3 ( 27.h1 h4+ 28.g2 f2# ) 27...e5+ 28.f5 xf5! 29.xg7+ xg7 30.g1+ g5+ ] 25...h8 26.e2 c8 27.b1 f6! 28.e1 [ 28.a2 e5 29.xd5? h3+ 30.e1 c1# ] 28...e5 While setting the centre in motion, the addition of the black light-squared bishop into the attack is decisive. 29.g2 h3 30.h1 [ 30.b3 h4 31.e1 cf8 ] [ 30.e1 h4 ( 30...fc7 31.c4 dxc4 32.e4 g7 Naturally wins too.) 31.g6 g7 32.h5 ( 32.xe5 xg6 33.e8+ xe8 34.xe8+ h7 ) 32...xg2 33.xg2 xg2+ 34.xg2 g8+ 35.h1 ( 35.f1 h2 ) 35...f5! 36.e3 xf2 37.f1 g1+ 38.xg1 xg1 39.xg1 xh5 ] 30...xg2+ 31.xg2 g7+ 32.f1 gc7! 33.b3 [ 33.a2 c1+ 34.e1 xd2 ] [ The more stubborn 33.c4 dxc4 34.g6 g7 35.e4 f8 Intending ...Qf5 would have led to a desperate ending 2 pawns down. ] 33...c1+ 34.xc1 xc1+ 35.xc1 xc1+ 36.e1 [ 36.g2 g5+ 37.f1 e4 38.b1 xb2! ] 36...f4 37.b1 e4 38.a2 h4 39.e2 d4 0-1
2442 Maksimovic,Suzana Petronic,Jovan 53rd ch-(women) (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2278 2423 09.04.2000
Colle System players need to become experts on how to attack with an isolated queens pawn. Here White, in text book fashion, demonstrates all the positive features of this structure to obliterate his opponent. 1.d4 f6 2395
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2.f3 e6 3.e3 c5 4.d3 c6 5.0-0 cxd4 6.exd4 e7 7.c4 When Black delays committing his d-pawn in the Colle, I am a great supporter of the move c4. Black will normally seek to create an IQP, but W hite always gets bag loads of attacking chances. d5 8.c3 b4 9.e2 dxc4 10.xc4 0-0 11.e5 Black has a firm grip on the blo cka din g s qua re d5, bu t t his ha s b ee n achieved by weakening his attack on d4 and e5. It therefore makes sense for the W hite knight to immediately head for its strongest outpost. a6 12.b3 d6 13.f4 bd5 Black is compelled to do something against the threat of Ng6. 14.g3 b4 15.c1 d8 16.e1 f8 17.f3 e7 [ 17...xd4 looks tempting until you see: 18.ed1 b6 19.xd5! exd5 20.xd5 When Black is under huge pressure. ] 18.e4 White is now fully mobilised and it is surprising just how quickly Black's seemingly solid position crumbles. f5 19.xf6+ gxf6 20.xf7! CRASH! Suddenly Black is dead lost. xd4 [ 20...xd4 loses to: 21.xf6 ] [ 20...xf7 21.xf5 leaves White ready to smash through on h7, e6 and c7. ] 21.g5! Fantastic p lay! The knight throws it's weight around, daring Black to capture him. xg3 [ 21...fxg5 22.xf5 leaves Black unable to parry all the threats to his king. ] 22.xf6! White continues in energetic fashion, he now threatens mate in two. h4 23.xe6! Black cannot avoid mate. A fabulous attacking game by White! 1-0
2443 Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar Anastasian,Ashot Aeroflot Open (5) [Eric Prié]
A46 2657 2568 19.02.2005
1.d4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.g5 h6 4.h4 e7 I doubt this is the most accurate order of moves. 5.bd2 For instance White could have tried [ 5.e3!? here. with the ideas b6 ( 5...c5 6.dxc5 xc5 7.a3 With the idea c2-c4, Nc3
etc see Stefanova-Carreter Ortiz a very important game f or this common set up which can be attained in various lines of the Tromp. ) 6.c4 b7 7.d3 e4 8.xe7 xe7 9.xe4!? xe4 10.c3 b7 11.0-0 0-0 12.e4 ] 5...c5 6.e3 [ 6.dxc5!? xc5 ( 6...a6 7.e4 xc5 8.e5 fe4 9.xe7 xe7 10.xe4 xe4 11.d4 ) 7.e4 ] [ 6.c3 See next month as with Black's order of moves there is absolutely no drawback to playing this move now. A logical continuation would then be d5 7.e3 A) 7...c6 8.xf6!? gxf6 Unclear. ( 8...xf6 9.dxc5 ); B) 7...bd7 8.d3 ] 6...cxd4 7.exd4 b6 8.d3 b7 Back on a normal track... 9.c3 d6 Against a tactical genius like Mamedjarov, it always appears risky to give the address of one's king first! This is a good move anyway, with the idea of taking back with the knight on f6. [ 9...0-0 10.e2 ( 10.0-0 d5 11.g3? f5 ) 10...c6 ( 10...d5 11.xe7 xe7 12.g3 c6 13.0-0-0!? ) A) 11.0-0 d5 is now a 'serious' concern. 12.xe7 cxe7 ( 12...xe7 13.e4 f4 14.e3 g5 15.g3 ) 13.e5 c8! ( 13...d6 14.g3 White has managed to keep the f 4 - s q u a r e u n d e r c o n t r o l .) 14.fe1 ( 14.e4? g6 15.d6 df4 16.c2 f5 17.ed2 xg2!! You could have played t h i s g a m e . . . 18.xg2 g5+ 19.h1 xd2-+ ) 14...c7 Black is slightly better. After moves like ...f7-f5, ... Ng6 or ...Nf4, ...f7-f6 and the forced exchange of queens, he can combine some action on the ki n g si d e a r o u n d t h e f 4 s qu a re a n d a classical minority attack, .. .b6-b5 and then ...b4 after having prevented White's c3-c4 in order to inflict a weakness on c3 on him.; B) 11.xf6 xf6 12.0-0-0 g6 13.h4 g7 14.b1 e7 15.e4 d5 16.d2 d6 17.c2 c8 18.de1 e8 19.h3 b5 20.h5 f5 21.hxg6 fxe4 22.xe4 f6 Sokolov,I-Karpov,An Linares 1995 ] [ 9...d5 however is not to be feared so early. 10.g3 f5 11.c4 f4 12.g6+ f8 13.ce5 g8 14.c4 ] 2396
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.0-0 [ 10.xf6 xf6 11.0-0 0-0 12.e1 d7 See further. ] 10...bd7 11.e1 0-0 12.xf6 [ 12.e2 d5 13.e4 g6 14.xe7 xe7 15.c4 7f6 16.h4 h5! 17.g4?! df4! 18.g3 f5 19.h4 g5 20.xe6 xe6 21.xh5 f6 ] 12...xf6 [ 12...xf6 Would have transposed exactly into the previous game! So if we continue for a while mixing it with the Azeri's idea: 13.a4 a6 14.e4 c7 15.c2 fe8 16.d3 White has no direct threat at the moment but could slowly develop an underhand attack with h2-h4, Re2 or Re3-Rae1, in any case this is much more in the spirit of the position than my insipid 14.Be4. In conclusion of the theoretical part of the e3 Torre study , I would say that my harsh evaluation of the white side of it is undoubtedly motivated by an overestimation of the static factors (pair of bishops, better centre) which make me feel uneasy and I m u c h p re f e r , a s a m a t t e r o f t a st e , t h e alternative branch of the c3 Tromp that we shall examine next month. Strangely, if I were Black with this pawn structure (and this happened to me a couple of successful times in the Reti after 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 Nd7 4.c4 e6 ( 4. ..c6 is dubious here) 5. cxd5 exd5 I would surely be very happy with White's present position with reversed colours! ] 13.e4 c7 The one we called "the sheriff" (A s h o t t h e s h e rif f . . . ) h a s p a rt icip a t e d in numerous Soviet Championships and 'he knows the music'. Having achieved nothing out of the opening, I guess his opponent was already satisfied to split the point. [ 13...xe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4 d5 16.e2 d6 ( 16...b5 17.e5 c8 18.a3 d6 19.d3 a5 20.d2 The classical blockade. ) 17.a4= ] 14.xf6+ xf6 15.c2 g6 16.e3 ae8 17.e2 e7 18.e1 a6 19.h4 xf3 [ 19...h5 giving up the g5-square looks less stable but I see nothing concrete for White after 20.b3 fe8 21.d3 g7 22.g5 e5 ] 20.xf3 xh4 21.xa6 g7 22.b3 e5
23.dxe5 dxe5 24.e4 g5 25.d3! [ 25.c4 d6 ] 25...c6 26.a4 The activity for White or the activation of the central majority for Black proving insufficient, the exchange of queens n o w m a ke s t h e p o sit io n co m p le t e ly f la t , stressing, without stress from the players, the natural drawish tendency of the oppositecoloured bishops. [ 26.d5 a8 ( 26...f5 27.exe5 ) 27.d3 a5 28.d6 c5 ] [ 26.d5 f6 27.b4 b8 ] 26...xa4 27.xa4 c1 28.d5 xb2 29.b4 e4 30.xe4 xe4 31.xe4 e8 [ 31...c8 32.d6 xc3 33.xb6 c1+ 34.h2 d4 35.b7 xf2 36.d5 ] 32.d5 e1+ 33.h2 a3 34.b3 f5 35.d2 f6 36.g3 c5 37.g2 g5 38.c2 c1 39.a4 g4 40.a5! bxa5 41.xf5 a4 42.xg4 a3 43.f3 xc3 44.d5 c1 It is almost impossible to pass the a2 blockade, and even if it was, Black would be left with the wrong h-pawn. ½-½
2444 Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar Nyback,Tomi Wch U18 Chalkidiki (5) [Eric Prié]
A46 2595 2497 27.10.2003
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 c5 4.c3 cxd4 5.cxd4 b6 6.c2 c6 [ 6...b4+ 7.c3 Without the possibility of playing Nf6-e4 does not help Black at all. ] 7.xf6 gxf6 8.e3 In the ChessBase commented game given below in a note you can find this great line from the expert Tsesarsky: "Of course, opening strategy like this cannot be recommended for White. Black equalizes without problems by various ways." The funniest thing about it being that he could not even present a proper game to justify this a s s e r t i o n ! ! d5 9.c3 d7 10.a3! I wo uld also pref er to develop th e king's bishop on d3. [ 10.e2 c8 Time to recall what I said some 2 years ago (a lready!) about this posit ion in th e ga me Tseitlin-Na uman n which saw a completely different order of 2397
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 moves: 1.d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 c5 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4. c3?! Qb6 5.Qc2 cxd4?! 6.cxd4 Nc6 7.e3 d5 8.Nc3 e6 9.Nf3 Bd7 10.Be2 Rc8. "has been played a couple of times in the database but it is not the most precise for a very simple reason: After 11. Qd2 for instance - There is no t hin g wron g wit h 1 1 .0 -0 -0 - we h a ve reached exactly the same position with reversed colours as in one of the main lines of the anti-Slav English after 1.c4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bg4 amongst many move orders 5. cxd5 (5. Qb3 Qb6 6.cxd5 Bxf3 7. gxf3 Qxb3 8.axb3 Nxd5=) Bxf3! (5...cxd5? 6. Qb3 wins a pawn) 6.gxf3 (6.Qxf3 cxd5 7. Bb5+ Nc6 8. Bxc6+! to play against the backward pawn on the c-file is the correct way to play for an advantage.) cxd5 7.Qb3 Qd7 8.d4 Nc6 9.Bd2 e6 10.Rc1 which is known to be innocuous for Black and is co nf irme d by m y expe rien ce !" I can no t remember if the extract: "There is nothing wrong with 11.0-0 ( 11.0-0-0? " is a simple mistake or a misinterpretation of a written move as a comment (instead of a proper line) but it is precisely wrong! Because of the obvious b4 12.b1 xd4 13.xd4 xc3 ) 11...f5 12.fc1 b8 13.e5! d6 14.f4 0-0 15.h5 The idea concealed b e h i n d t h e ' q u i e t ' d e ve l o p m e n t o f t h e bishop Speelman,J-Macieja,B FIDE W -ch Delhi 2000 1-0(35) ] 10...c8 11.d3 a5 12.d2!? The move I would play if Black did not have doubled fp a wn s , b u t h e r e W h i t e c a n p l a y f o r t h e initiative against the more exposed enemy king. [ 12.0-0 A) 12...b3 13.e2 c4 14.ab1 e7 ( 14...xb2 is a bit too optimistic. 15.xb2 xc3 16.xb7 xa3 17.b5 c6 18.xc6+ xc6 19.xa7 0-0 20.e4 When; 14...xa3? to reach the same position on the other hand is just a blunder. 15.d2! b4 16.a2 ); B) 12...b3 13.ad1 d6 ( 13...f5 14.e5 is always annoying and that is why, in my opinion, White should strive to keep this knight on f3. This can be devastating after the frequent error d6? 15.xd7 xd7 16.xd5 exd5 17.xf5+ e7 18.xc8 )
B1) 14.e4!? dxe4 15.xe4 f5 16.d3 xd4 17.xd4 xd4 18.xf5 ( 18.b5 e5 19.xd7+ xd7 20.f4 c5+ 21.h1 c6 22.a4 c8 ) 18...e5 19.g3 xf5 20.xf5 exf5 21.xd6; B2) 14.e2!? intending the thematic e3e4 under better conditions. f5 15.e5 I do like White! ] 12...f5 13.0-0! d6 14.f4 a6 I reckon [ 14...c6 is better but this retreat seems like an admission of defeat and illustrates how difficult it is for Black to clearly equalize with his inferior structure. 15.f3 f6 ] 15.b4 c7 [ 15...c6 16.a4 a7 17.c5 ] [ 15...c4 16.xc4! With the Black queen poorly placed, White does not need a rook on c1 and can dangerously open the position. dxc4 17.f3 ( 17.a4 xa4 18.xa4+ c6 ) 17...f6 18.e4 ] 16.fc1 c4 17.d1! xd2 [ 17...b5 18.b3 The knights are at ease in these closed positions. ] 18.xd2 b6 19.xc8+ xc8 20.b2! "En route" towards e5 or c5. d7 21.c2 e7 22.d3 b5 23.c5 a7 24.a4 c4 25.a5! Stabilizing the position of the do min at ing kn igh t . b6 26.axb6 xb6 27.d3?! Of course this is the idea: weaken the support of Black's a-pawn to open a dual front for the success of the coming attack. However, W hite loses some crucial time at this stage while parting with a potentially strong attacking piece ready to intervene directly into the combat via a4 or h5. Instead, the subtle inversion [ 27.e1!! Would have crowned White's strategy with success. A) 27...b8? 28.h4+ e8 ( 28...f8 29.d7+; 28...f6 29.xh7+ ) 29.a4+ b5 30.xh7 xa4 31.xa4 xc5 32.dxc5 b5 33.xa6! xb4 34.h8+ e7 35.a7+ b7 36.xb7+ xb7 37.c3+-; B) 27...f6 28.d3! xd3 29.xd3 ] 27...xd3 28.xd3 b8 29.e1 [ 29.a4 b5 30.d1 f8 31.c5 b6 32.h3 g7 White cannot make any progress. ] 29...xb4? [ 29...b5! Would have won a saving tempo 2398
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 on the white knight. 30.d1 ( 30.c5 xb4 31.h4+ e8 32.xa6 c3; 30.e5 xe5 31.fxe5 f8; 30.a3 xb4 31.xb4 xb4 32.h4+ f8 33.xa6 With his pawn on h3 W hite would probably be winning. b1+ 34.f2 b2+ 35.g3 e1+ ) 30...f8 31.h4 g8= In all these po sition s, B la ck h o ld s be ca use he h a s enough counter-play on the queenside so that his opponent cannot concentrate on the other flank that the black king alone can now p roudly def end a gainst the enem y queen. ] 30.h4+ e8 31.b1? Designed to win a tempo but in fact losing one, at least! [ 31.xh7! f8 32.e5 b7 33.h4! Far less effective than the game but still reaching a similar position to duly illustrate B la c k ' s p ro b le m s. b3 34.e1 c3 35.e2 a5 36.h5 a4 37.g8! a3 A) 38.h6? a2 39.h7 ( 39.xa2? e1+ 40.h2 h4+ 41.g1 b1# ) 39...a1+ 40.h2 cc1 41.h8 h1+ 42.g3 xh8; B) 38.h2! Black is suddenly hopelessly lost. c7 ( 38...b2 39.xb2 axb2 40.h6 b1 41.h7 and H8=Q )] 31...a5? [ 31...c7! 32.xb4 xb4! 33.xb4 c1+ 34.f2 d2+ 35.f3 xb4 36.xh7 a5= ] 32.xh7 c7 33.e5 c8? [ 33...b7! 34.g8+ ( 34.xb4 c1+ 35.f2 d2+ 36.f3 xb4 37.g8+ f8 ) 34...f8 35.xb7 ( 35.e1 c3 36.e2 a4 37.h4 a3 38.h2 b2 ) 35...xb7 36.h4 a4 37.h5 a3 38.h6 a2 39.h7 a1+ 40.h2 e1! 41.h8 e7 42.h5 7h4+ J u s t i n t i m e . 43.xh4 xh4+ 44.g1 e1+= ] 34.g8+ f8 35.h4 e7 36.h5 f6 37.h6! 1-0
2445 Miles,Anthony J Robovic,Saudin Muenster op Münster (3) [Eric Prié] 1.d4 f6 2.f3 d6 3.c3 f5 4.g5 [ 4.h4 d7 5.e4 e5 6.f3
A46 2565 2365 1993
c6
followed by a possible kingside fianchetto, provides Black with a valuable extra-tempo. Obviously, if we consider the well known sequence 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 wh e n t h e P h i li d o r p la ye r ( a f t e r h a vi n g avoided losing the right to castle) is usually happy here, and in this order of moves, to continue with 4...Nbd7. ] 4...bd7 5.h4 g6 6.xg6 hxg6 7.d5!? c6 [ 7...c5 is the right move 8.e4 A) 8...fxe4 9.b5+! ( 9.xe4 xe4 10.b5+? c6 11.dxc6 a5+ 12.c3 xb5 ) 9...c6 10.dxc6 xc3 11.c7+ xb5 12.cxd8++-; B) 8...e5 9.dxe6 xe6 10.e3 c6 11.f4 A queen move like 11.Qf3 to prepare long c a s t l i n g w a s m o r e a p p r o p r i a t e . a5 12.d3 d5! 13.d2 ( 13.e5 d4 ) 13...dxe4 14.xe4 b6 15.g5 xh2! 16.f1 ( 16.xh2 g1+ 17.f1 xh2 18.e2 g3+ 19.d1 0-0-0 20.xf7 xd2+! 21.xd2 e4 22.e2 xf4 i s a k i l l e r .) 16...0-0-0 17.xf7 e8 18.e5 g5! 19.f5 xg2 ( 19...b8-+ ) 20.f3 xb2 21.xg2 xa1+ 22.f2 xa2 23.xg5 e4+! 24.xe4 xg5 25.f5+ c7 0-1 Wilhelmi,C-Heinatz,T Bundesliga 1999-2000 ] 8.e4 a5 9.d2 c8 10.0-0-0 c5 11.b1 b5?! [ 11...a4 12.xa4 xa4 13.f3 cxd5 14.exd5 c5 15.b3 ( 15.c4 e5 16.dxe6 xg5! 17.b3 a5 ) 15...d7 16.c4 ] [ 11...a6!? ] 12.dxc6! b4 If Black had sensed the danger he would have played 12... a6. 13.xf6 gxf6 14.d5 xe4 [ 14...xc6 15.xb4 xb4 16.xb4 b6 17.d5 b8 18.f3 ] 15.e2 f5 16.c7! Suddenly, a Mate in 2 is threatened. xc7 [ 16...g7 17.f3 e6 ( 17...c5 18.xe7# ) 18.a6! xa6 19.xa6 d7 20.b5#! ] 17.f3! Black cannot avoid a loss of material which do not come down to a simple exchange. c5 [ 17...c5 18.b5+! xb5 19.xc7+ d7 20.xb5 ] [ 17...g3 Forced Mate in eight moves! 18.f6+!! d8 19.xd6+ c8 ( 19...exd6 2399
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.e8# ) 20.a6+ xa6 21.xa6+ b7 ( 21...b8 22.d8+ c8 23.xc8# ) 22.c6+ b8 ( 22...d8 23.d1+ d7 24.xd7# ) 23.d7+! a8 24.c8+ b8 25.xb8# ] 18.fxe4 h4 [ 18...e6 19.e3! ( 19.f4 e5 20.c4 xe4 21.c6+ e7 22.xd6+ f6 is le ss c lea r.) 19...fxe4 20.c4 c7 21.xe4 d5 22.e5 xe5 23.xe5 Only one pawn for a piece is not enough ] 19.g4! fxg4 [ 19...xg4 20.f6+ exf6 21.exf5+ e5 22.xg4 ] 20.g2 [ 20.d4 Simply picks up the b4 pawn. ] 20...g7 21.d2 with the idea Qg5 h5 22.xe7?? The search for brilliancy in winning positions is the first cause of the " (self)-swindle" among chess players! Even the greatest, as we can see.. . [ 22.xb4 wins prosaically, since on 22... Rhxd5, there is the intermediate check 23. Qb8+. ] 22...xe7?? In fact, it could have been a nice finish, if there was not [ 22...b3!! 23.axb3 ( 23.xa5? bxc2+ 24.c1 cxd1+ 25.xd1 xa5; 23.xd6? xa2+ 24.c1 xc2# ) 23...xd2 24.xd2 xe7 ] 23.xd6+ e8 24.d7+ f8 25.hf1 f5 The weakness of the back rank is fatal. [ 25...f6 26.d6 g8 27.dxf6 xf6 28.xf6 c7 ( 28...hg5 29.e8+ g7 30.f7+ h6 31.h8# ) 29.e8+ h7 30.xg6+ h8 31.f8# ] 26.exf5 hxf5 27.e4 c7 28.d8+ f7 29.xf5 [ 29.xf5 gxf5 30.d5 ] 1-0
at the time, "which no one ever plays" reveals John Cox. cxd4 [ 5...b4+ 6.c3 xb2 7.b5 e4 ( 7...d5 8.d2 On the other hand the fact that the pawn stands on c3 in this attempt at improvement in comparison with 5...Qxb2 6.Nb5 Nd5 7.Nd2! seems of little importance in this particular sub-line. a6 9.b1 xa2 10.a1 b2 11.dxc5! xc5 12.c4 xb5 13.d6+ xd6 14.xb5 xf4 15.exf4 xc3 16.c2 Without the exch ange 1 1.d xc5 This winn ing mo tive would simply not exist.) 8.g3 ( 8.e2? xc3 White will not be able to play Qe1 because of the Be2 hanging.) 8...a6 ( 8...xc3? 9.c7+ d8 10.c1 b4 11.xa8 There is no dangerous discovered check. ) 9.b1 xa2 10.d3!? then is very i n t e r e s t i n g ( 10.a1 b2 11.b1 is at least a draw.) 10...d5 11.a1 b2 12.0-0 This position appears highly perilous for Black in view of the threats Rxa6 and Qa4, Rf b1. xg3 13.fxg3! c4 14.c2 d7 ( 14...xb5 15.a4 ) 15.b1 a2 16.e5+- ] 6.b5 [ 6.exd4 "!?" Moskalenko xa3 7.bxa3 ] 6...a6 [ 6...d5 The critical continuation. 7.xd4 A) 7...a5+ 8.c3 ( 8.d2 xd2+ 9.xd2 xf4 10.exf4?? a6 Ott, J-Matosec, T (2085) AUT 1999 0-1(24) ) 8...c6 9.d6+ ( 9.c4 b6 10.0-0-0 a6 11.d6+ xd6 12.xd6 a5 13.c5 xc5 14.xc5 b6 15.d6 Holland, C (1821 ) -Delbe cq, J (2 010 ) Be t h u n e o p 2 0 0 4 0 -1 (4 5 )) 9...xd6 ( 9...d8 10.c4 xf4 11.xf7+ e8 12.xf4 a3 13.xh8 xb2 14.d1 xc3+ 15.d2 ) 10.xg7 xf4 11.xh8+ e7 12.exf4 f5 13.g3 b6 14.g7 e4+ 15.e2 a6 16.xf7+! d8 2446 A46 17.0-0-0 b4 18.d4 xe2 19.xe6+ xe6 20.xe6 dxe6 21.xd6+ e7 Mitkov,Nikola 2551 22.d2+-; Tiviakov,Sergei 2667 B) 7...xd4 8.fxd4 xf4 ( 8...b4+ II Int Open Morella MEX (4) 17.02.2007 9.c3 a5 Perez Wertheim, R (1999)[Eric Prié] Avalos, J (2323) Buenos Aires 2005 1/ 2(62); 8...c6 9.g3 e5 10.c4 db4 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.f4 c5 4.e3 b6 11.xc6 bxc6 12.c7+ d8 13.xa8 5.a3! intending Nc4, which considerably c2+ 14.d2 xa1 15.xe5 b7 reduces Black's choice. A move I had missed 2400
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.d3 f6 17.c3 xa8 18.xa1+G o c h e la s h vili , D (2 3 5 3 )-Za kh a r o v, A ( 2 4 1 4 ) S o c h i 2 0 0 5) 9.c7+ d8 10.xa8 B1) 10...d5 11.e2! ( 11.c4? b6 12.xd5 exd5 13.b5 b7 14.xb6 axb6 15.0-0 h5 16.fd1 a6 17.d2 c7 18.d4 e6 19.b5 c7 20.d4 e6 21.b5 c7 1/2-1/2 Gierth, J (2266)-Bohnenblust, S (2214) SUI-chT 2003; 11.g3 b5! 12.xb5 b7 With the Rh1 in the line of fire.; 11.c4 b4 12.e2 b6 13.f3 d3+ 14.e2 xb2 ) 11...b5 ( 11...b6 12.f3 b7 13.c4 ) 12.xb5 b7 13.c4 f6 ( 13...b4 14.0-0 xa8 15.xa7; 13...b4+ 14.f1 f6 15.a3 e7 16.ac7 a6 17.f3 axb5 18.xb5 ) 14.f3 e4 15.ac7 ( 15.xa7 xa8 16.d1 ) 15...a6 16.e2 axb5 17.xb5; B2) 10...g6!? "Unclear" according to Moskalenko without going further. In every case it looks as if W hite cannot save his knight in the corner. On the other hand, he can sell his life dearly and get at least two pawns in return. Nevertheless, some factors appears to favour White in the resulting ending of rook+2pawns vs knight and bishop: A strong and mobile majority on the queenside, pawns on dark squares to limit the activity of the opposing king's bishop and the open d-file. Although Moskalenko's assessment of positional imbalance seems right, as for myself I believe it is impossible for Black to enter t h i s l i n e w i t h a l i g h t h e a r t . 11.b5 ( 11.g3 b6 12.g2 d5 13.e4 b7 14.xb6 axb6 15.exd5 xd5 16.xd5 exd5 17.0-0-0 c7 ) 11...b6 ( 11...a6? Opening a way out via b6. 12.c3 c5 13.a4 a7 14.8b6 ) 12.xa7 b7 13.xb6 c5 14.b5 ( 14.xd7!? Gets a third pawn but loses time. xd7 15.b5 h4 16.g1 e5 ) 14...xb6 15.d6 f8 16.xb7+ c7 17.b5 xb7 18.e2 With an optimal material configuration for White. ] 7.exd4 [ 7.xd4 c5 ]
7...d6 8.a4 [ 8.c4!? e7 9.b3 0-0 10.xd6 ] [ 8.d2! c6 9.a4 Threatening Nxd6+, Bb5. d7 10.a3! ( 10.c4 e4+ 11.e3 c6 12.c3 First preventing the recycling Nb4-d5. ) 10...d5 11.g3 ac7 12.e4 ] 8...e7 9.e2 0-0 10.0-0 d8 11.h3 b6 12.d2 b7 13.c4 d5 14.d2 Covering the e4 square. [ 14.cd6 c6 Gives nothing against the Na6 b ecau se o f th e o th er knigh t on d 6 hanging. ] [ 14.e5! Is 'naturally' best: b4 15.c3 c6 16.d3 xe5 ( 16...a6 17.xc6 xc6 18.c7 a7 19.xa6 ) 17.dxe5 ] 14...b4 15.a5 bxa5 16.b3 c6 17.c7!? [ 17.c5 xc5 18.dxc5 e5 19.g5 h6 20.xf6 xf6 21.d6 ab8 22.b3 ] 17...c8 18.a6 d7 [ 18...b6 19.ac5 xd4 20.xd4 xc5 21.xc5 xc5 ( 21...xc5 22.d3 d7 23.e3 e5 24.h4 ) 22.xc5 xc5 23.d6 xc2 24.d3 d2 25.xf8 xd3 26.c5 ] 19.d2 b6 20.xa5 xa5 21.xa5 c4! 22.ac5 xc5 23.dxc5 xc5 24.xc5 xa5 25.xb7 b6 Black has won a pawn but W hite will save himself thanks to the presence of the opposite colour bishops and the reduced material. 26.c4 xb7 27.cxd5 exd5 28.f3 xb2 29.xd5 c5 30.f3 a5 31.e1 a4 32.e2 d4 33.g3 g6 34.c2 d6 35.g2 a3 a2 will be a tough squ a re t o p a ss. . . 36.c6 e5 37.a6 And now it will be even more difficult. e7 38.h4 d8 [ 38...h5 39.d3 h7 40.xf7? xf7 41.xd6 a2 42.a6 xf2+ ] 39.h5 g7 40.a4 [ 40.c3+? e5 ] 40...f8 41.c3+ e5 Black prefers to call it a day rather than weaken his king position but with a pawn on a3, this is the only way to seal the long diagonal. [ 41...f6 42.f3 c5 ] [ 41...f6?? 42.h6+ ] 42.xa3 ½-½
2401
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2447 Morozevich,Alexander Anand,Viswanathan Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (5) [Eric Prié]
A46 2741 2786 20.01.2005
2763,5! Almost but not quite! I am afraid that with 'special' Morozevich's recent results, the previous section record of 2773 (against Kramnik in Astana 2001) is not likely to be beaten in the near future... 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 The Torre attack, understood as an 'anti-Nimzo weapon', is the most â obviousâ [] opening of the section. Indeed, its introductory sequence appears so natural that every player would feel confident in playing it, without any particular knowledge. Conversely, its handling, composed of subtleties in the hope of getting something tangible out of the opening, is complex. c5 4.e3 A more tactical continu ation than 4 .c3 (Se e next month ) inviting Black to attack the b2 pawn. h6 [ 4...b6 5.bd2 ( 5.c1 e4 6.f4 c6 7.c3 d5 may be solid for White but he can hardly claim anything out of the opening.; 5.c3? xb2 6.b5 b4+ 7.c3 a5 ) 5...xb2 6.d3 With a big lead of de ve lop me n t in re t urn f or a wing pa wn seems to suit Morozevich's style. Nevertheless, the white player should be aware that the statistics from recent games are not a point in the gambit's favour. Much as in every gambit of this kind, by the way, p r o b a b l y d u e t o t h e d e ve l o p m e n t a n d assimilation of 'computer play' by chess masters. ] 5.h4 [ 5.xf6 xf6 Then Black will develop his queen's bishop onto the long diagonal but without releasing the tension on d4. ] 5...cxd4 Simple and good. In one of the very f irst games playe d with this syste m, an d commented in this section, World champion Lasker, although he eventually lost, wa s much better with Black against its inventor. 6.exd4 b6 Standard business. 7.xf6!? Quite interesting, especially in connection with the next move. If White has to carry out this exchange in order to avoid the annoying plan ...Be7, ...Nd5 eyeing the f4-square while taking advantage of the pawn structure, then
the black queen may be more awkwardly placed on f6 than the bishop. That could also be why the preliminary 6...Be7, as by transposition in the next game, is the most common. [ 7.d3 b7 8.0-0 e7 9.c4 0-0 10.c3 d5 11.xf6 xf6 12.cxd5 exd5 13.e1 c6 14.c2 d6 15.d3 g6 16.a3 fe8 17.h3 g7= Sokolov,I-Rivas Pastor,M Leon 1995 0-1(45) ] [ 7.c4 b7 8.c3 e7 9.d3 xf3! 10.xf3 c6 A) 11.d5? xd5! 12.cxd5 ( 12.xe7 dxe7 ) 12...e5 13.e4 xd3+ 14.xd3 xh4; B) 11.e2 b4+ 12.f1 e7 13.d1 c8 14.b3 b4 ( 14...0-0 15.xf6 xf6 16.e4 g6 17.d5 exd5 18.xd5 b4 19.d6 xa2 20.b1 c3 21.xc3 xc3 22.h4 White just manages to preserve the balance.) 15.b1 d5 16.xf6 xf6 17.a3 c6 18.cxd5 xd5 19.xd5 exd5 20.g3 e7 21.g2 h5 22.h4 d7 23.d3 d6 24.hd1 c6 1/2-1/2 Spraggett,K-Hebert,J Montreal m(2) 1985 ] 7...xf6 8.g3 Apparently a new idea of the imaginative W orld No.6 in order to counter balance the action of Black's light-squared bishop on the long diagonal but mostly to control the chronically sensitive f4 square. c6 9.c3 [ 9.g2 a6!? ] 9...g5 10.bd2 b7 [ 10...g4 11.h4 h5 12.h3 ] 11.g2 0-0-0 [ 11...a6? 12.a4 d3 13.e5 ] 12.a4 h5 13.a5 xa5 14.b4 c6 15.c4 b5 16.0-0?! A decisive choice, indeed, had to be made in this critical position as White did not lack seductive continuations, although they were difficult to estimate to the necessary depth. [ 16.ce5 xe5 ( 16...g4! 17.xc6 gxf3! 18.xa7+ b8 19.f1 h4 20.g1 hxg3 21.hxg3 e5 ) 17.dxe5 f5 18.xa7 g4 ( 18...e4+ 19.f1 d6 20.e1 c4+ 21.d3 ) 19.d4 xe5+ 20.f1 xg2+ 21.xg2 d5+ 22.g1 ( 22.f3 g7 ) 22...h4 23.a1! White hits the target first. d6 24.a6+ b8 25.c4!! bxc4 26.b5 2402
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 hxg3 27.c6+ and mate on b7, eventually. ] [ 16.a5!? xa5 17.xa5 h4 18.0-0 a6 19.e2 hxg3 20.fxg3 h6 21.fa1 g4 22.h4 d5 23.xa6 xa6 24.xa6 c1+ 25.f1 also unclear. ] 16...bxc4 17.b5 b8 18.xa7 d5 19.e5 d7!! Unfortunately for the optimistic Russian, the fantastic calculating power that Anand usually exhibits when attacking is as efficient when he gets to defending! 20.a4 d8 21.xc4 dxc4 22.xc4+ c7 23.xb7+ d8 24.e2 [ 24.d3 b6 ] 24...d6 [ 24...b6? 25.e5! ] 25.fa1 [ 25.c4 b6 26.f3 xa7 27.f6+ c7 28.c5 xb7 29.xh8 xc5 30.dxc5 xc5 ] 25...xc3 Thanks to a firm control over the dark squares, the black king finds shelter behind his pawns in the center while after the attack tails off the extra piece remains. 26.d5? xb7! 27.dxe6 xa7 28.xa7 fxe6 29.xe6 e5 30.e7 a1+ 31.e1 [ 31.g2 xe7 ] 31...xe1+ 32.xe1 Somewhat surprisingly at this level of the game the hand keep s wriggling about ridiculously... d7 33.g2 c5 34.d1 d7 35.d5 e6 36.f3 f8+ 37.e2 e7 38.h4 g4 39.xh5 c5 40.e5 xf2+ 41.d3 f6 0-1
starting with Ng1. On the other hand, from this square the queen still watches the knight on h5, and long castling is easy to consolidate with Kb1, without fearing the opening of the c-file. b6 Now, standard development fails for one tempo because of a tactical subtlety. [ 10...f5?! 11.0-0-0 df6 12.e4! f4 13.e5 would advantageously win back the piece thanks to a check on g6. ] 11.0-0-0 d7 12.e4 c8! 13.d5 [ 13.c4!? xc4 14.xc4 c5 15.d5 xg3 16.hxg3 b5 17.e2 ] 13...e5 14.f1 f5!? [ 14...c6 15.e3 cxd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.exd5 0-0 18.h7+ h8 19.f5 b5 20.h4 g4 21.xd7 xd7 22.g5 f6 ] 15.exf5 xd5 16.f6?! [ 16.h4! g4 17.3h2 df6 ( 17...xg3 18.xg3 xh4 19.e4 With the idea f6 and Nf3 winning the queen.) 18.e2 xg3 19.xg3 h5 20.f3 was a continuation entirely in the spirit of the opening. ] 16...hxf6 17.g6+ f8 In this variation, the king is often better placed on this square than after short castles! 18.b3 e6 After 18... Nb6, White wanted to play 19.Ne3 and go to f5 with some compensation. 19.xb7 a5 20.1d2 b6 21.he1 xa2 22.b1? At least White had to show some consistency with [ 22.xe5 dxe5 23.xe5 And the idea Bb1, Ng6+ ] 22...fd5 23.e4 e7 24.xd6 It appears that W hite's royal couple is in a more 2448 A46 awkward position than his opposing equivalent. Mueller,Karsten 2490 So he decide s t o sacrif ice the excha nge 25.xb6 Wahls,Matthias 2540 hoping for complications... cxd6 Ch Dudweiler (6) 1996 c6 26.c2 d5 [ 26...f6 27.b3 a1 28.xe5! dxe5 [Eric Prié] 29.xe5 xe5 30.xe5 a4 31.e6 a8 32.d7!! a3 33.bxa3 was one of them! ] 1.d4 f6 2.f3 d6 3.g5 bd7 4.bd2 h6 5.h4 g5 6.g3 h5 7.e3 g7 8.d3 27.a3 a4 28.d1 e6 29.e3 f7 e6 9.c3 e7 10.c2 An original approach. 30.e2 hd8 31.e1 d7 32.d4 f6 [ 32...exd4 33.h5+ ] W hite continues to mobilize his forces i n t e n d i n g t o c a s t l e q u e e n s i d e w i t h o u t 33.db5 c5 34.xa4 d5 35.b3 f8 worrying about the other flank. Note that 10. 36.d1 f4 37.xf4 xf4+ 38.b1 d5 Qe2 is possible with the same idea but then 39.g3 g4 40.e1 f5+ 41.c2 f6 The time control has passed and it is there is a lesser control of the key diagonal 42.d2 b1-h7. It also takes the square from the king's obvious that the gamble has failed. This time, knight in case of a necessary reorganization the opponent did not lose the thread! b8 2403
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 43.a4 a6 44.b3 cxb5! [ 44...d7 45.e3 d4 46.f3+ g8 47.c4 ] 45.xb5 xb5 46.xb5 xb5 47.b2 d4 48.e4 e6 49.f3+ g8 50.a8+ h7 51.e4+ h8 52.a8+ g8 53.a4 [ 53.c4 b4 54.d3 ( 54.d1 e4 ) 54...e1 55.f3 h7! 56.f8 xc4! 57.bxc4 b4+ 58.c2 xf8 ] 53...f1 54.a8 e1 [ 54...dxc3+ ended the job right away. 55.xc3 c1+ 56.d3 e4+ 57.e2 c3 58.d1 ( 58.d8 e1# ) 58...c2+ 59.f1 xd1+ ] 55.c2 h7? same as [ 55...dxc3 56.d8 xf2+ 57.xc3 e4+ 58.b4 b6+ 59.a4 xb3+ 60.a5 e3 ] 56.f3 a1 But not the nice trap [ 56...xb3+? 57.xb3 xd2 58.f5+ g8 59.e6+ h8 60.c8+ h7 61.f5+ g8 62.e6+ f8 63.c8+ e7 64.c7+ f6 65.d6+ f5 66.d7+ e4 67.g4+ d5 ( 67...d3?? 68.f3+ ) 68.d7+ With a perpetual check! ] 57.cxd4 exd4 58.d3 h8 59.f5 a8 [ 59...a2+ 60.c1 xb3 61.xb3 xb3 62.c8+ g8 ] 60.f3 d5 61.d1 a2+ 62.c1 xf2 63.h5 The opportune moment when to resign is a consideration that is not unanimously appreciated by every Grandmaster! h7 64.g4 e1+ 65.d1 f2 66.g4 g1+ 67.d1 xh2 68.xd4 xd4 69.d3+ g8 70.xd4 h1+ 71.b2 f3 72.e5 xb3+ 73.c1 c4+ 74.d2 f7 75.f6 d5+ 76.c3 e6 77.d8+ g7 78.c2 b3+ 0-1
inclined to consider both [ 6.a4 ] [ A n d c h i e f l y 6.c3!? as naturally more testing. Actually this topical main game, improving on the immediate advance of the a pawn, could make me change my mind... ] 6...a6 7.a4! The only consequent continuation after W hite's previous move. For the other options please ref er to Ehre-Feick in the section. bxa4 8.xa4 [ 8.e2!? The bishop is well placed here from where he can intervene on the long diagonal via f3. b6 ( 8...h5 9.g5 ) 9.c3 xb2 10.xa4 b4+ 11.d2 e4 12.b1 xd2 13.xb4 xb4 14.f3 ] 8...b7 [ 8...c6 9.e2 b6 10.0-0 d5! 11.c3 ( 11.g3 xb2 Threatening Nb6. 12.bd2 c3 ) 11...xf4 12.exf4 xb2 13.fc1 b4 14.d1 Intending d4-d5. ] 9.e2 e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.bd2 [ 11.c3!? h5 12.d5 xf4 13.xf4 ] 11...d6 12.c4 [ 12.h3! And White has every reason to be better. ] 12...h5 This game eventually will not depart from the theme of this update! 13.g3 xg3 14.hxg3 c6 [ 14...c6 Covering the a5 square. 15.fc1 b8= ] 15.c2 b5 16.a5 White has a foot on the c file including the c6 square, and the bishop on e7 is rather passive. d7 17.xb5 axb5 18.fc1 d8 19.c3?? [ 19.b4 a6 20.c6 xc6 21.xc6 is highly unpleasant for Black ] 19...b6?? [ 19...b4! 20.xb4 xa5 21.xa5 c6 Actually wins the exchange! ] 20.d2?? g6?? When you have not seen it 2449 A46 b e f o r e , w h y w o u l d y o u b e a w a r e o f i t Mufic,Goran 2298 afterwards?! 21.db3 a7 22.d3 d8 Vernacki,Dusko 2157 23.d5 e5? [ 23...e8 24.c6 xa1 25.xa1 exd5 17th CRO-chT 1b (8) 04.09.2008 26.xd5 xc6 ( 26...c8? 27.e7+ ) [Eric Prié] 27.xc6 c7 28.xb5 b8 29.c4 d8 30.d5 ( 30.b4? xb4; 30.b3 f6 31.c2 1.f3 f6 2.d4 e6 3.f4 c5 4.c3 cxd4 xb3 ) 30...e7 31.b3 ] 5.cxd4 b5 6.e3 "The move White plays a l m o s t a u t o m a t i c a l l y i n t h i s p o s i t i o n , 24.c6 xa1 25.xa1 xc6 26.dxc6 a7 regrettably giving up on the idea of playing e4 27.c2! En route for d5. d5 28.b4 e4 [ 28...d4 29.e4 Followed by Nd5 or Nd3 if in one go." For this reason I was personally 2404
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the queen takes b5. ] breakthrough possibilities. 10.b1 29.xb5 xe3 30.c2 [ I f h e p l a y s 10.d5 he will open an [ 30.c7 c8 31.d7 xf2+ 32.f1 b7 undisputed boulevard for the fianchettoed 33.xf2+- ] o p p o sin g d a rk-squ a re d b ish o p wit h o u t 30...b6 31.xd5 a1+ 32.h2 d1 s u f f i c i e n t t a c t i c s t o c o m p e n s a t e . g7 33.f6+ g7 34.xb6 d5 35.g4 11.dxe6 fxe6 12.d3 0-0 13.e5? xe5 [ 35.c5 xc5 36.xc5 xf6 37.c7 14.xe5 xe5 15.xg6? f4 ] h5 is covered g5 38.c8 h5+ 39.h3 ] [ And if he plays 10.e5 First of all, Black can 35...xf6 36.c7+ d6 37.xd6+ close the position by Amongst others. xd6+ 38.g3 A) 10...g7 as well, without fearing. 1-0 11.exd6 ( 11.e3 dxe5 12.dxe5 c5 13.xc5 xc5 Followed by ...b7-b6 or ... b7-b5, ...Bb7 threatening to win the 2450 A46 weakness on e5. Even simple development with ...Bd7 and ...0-0-0 is Muse,Drazen 2418 good. ) 11...cxd6 12.h5 g5 13.d5 e5 Bischoff,Klaus 2555 14.d3 c5; 3rd ch-GER Internet Blitz GpC blitz (3.1) B) 10...d5 and direct his attention to a [Eric Prié] dangerous action directed against the white long castled king by way of ... b7-b5, 1.d4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.g5 h6 4.xf6 xf6 ...Nb6, ...Nc4, ...Qb4 with the big help of 5.e4 d6 In my opinion this is the major his bishop, which is already on the right drawback of having the knight on f3: Black diagonal! Alternatively he can play the can adopt a flexible development scheme and simple ] only later attack the centre. Having conceded a small material disadvantage in the form of 10...g7 11.d3 b5 12.e2 [ 12.d5 c5 ] the "little exchange" i.e. the pair of bishops in an evolving structure -which is very important- 12...c5 13.c3 [ 13.d5? c4 ] White should play dynamically. That is to say seize the initiative and attack, making use of 13...b7 14.g3 0-0 Here we are. Black, his centre. Indeed, a lead in development is having completed development without much most of the time fleeting, while, on the other trouble, actually has the better perspectives. hand, a material advantage is here to last, 15.e2 fe8! A rook in the center, facing the much like other "static" considerations, to enemy queen is always a good move when employ the vocabulary of GM Iossif Dorfman. strengthening the position before concrete play. 16.e5? Opportune prophylaxis tends to 6.c3 [ 6.c3 d7 7.d3 e5 Another solid way of provoke such 'off beat' reactions... White has handling the position for Black. ( 7...g5!? nothing to do and cannot adjust to defence is also interesting.) 8.0-0 e7 9.bd2 0-0 straight out of the opening. [ 16.h5 g5 17.d5 exd5 18.f5 f6 ] 10.c4 e8 11.a4 a5 12.e3 f8 [ In this move order or another, White had to 13.c2 g6 14.ad1 b6 15.fe1 h5 put up with his difficulties with patience. 16.b5 c6 17.f1 e6 18.dxe5 dxe5 16.c2 ac8 17.h5 g5 19.d2 c5 Once again, when A) 18.h2 cxd4 19.cxd4 c7 20.g4 development is levelled you are aware that ec8 21.b3 f6 22.d5 xg4 23.xg4 something is cruelly missing in the white exd5 24.exd5 ( 24.xd5? c2 ) 24...a5 position: his dark-squared bishop! 20.dc4? 25.he1 ( 25.f5 f6 26.xg7 xg7 ) xc4! 21.xc4 ( 21.xc4 xe3 ) 25...f6 26.e2 a4 27.e4 e5 21...xa4! 22.d7 ( 22.xa4 xf2+ 28.c3 f4 29.xf4 gxf4 30.xb5 23.h1 g1# ) 22...b5-+ Belezky,S-Suba, ( 30.c2 xc3 ) 30...axb3 31.xc7 M La Roda op 2005 0-1(35) ] xc7; 6...d7 7.d2 a6 8.0-0-0 e7 9.h4 g6 B) 18.he1 Activity serves nothing if not As the position testifies, White lacks effective 2405
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to make things worse: ] 16...cxd4 17.cxd4 xf3 18.gxf3 dxe5 19.h5 g5 20.dxe5 [ 20.e4 f5 ] 20...xe5-+ 21.c2 b4 After all, it is only a blitz game... [ 21...c4 was absolutely crushing. 22.e4? f6 ] 22.a3 c4 23.e3 ac8 24.c1 f4 25.xf4 gxf4 26.e4 c4 27.hg1 f8 28.b3 ed8 The power of the 2 Bischoffs: solid opening preparation allied to steady, fluid play. [ 28...xb2 29.c2 e5 30.a2 c7 ] 29.xc4 bxc4 30.c2 d3 31.d2 c3 32.b3 [ 32.e4 b8 33.b4 a5 ] 32...xf3 33.d1 e7 34.a5 c7 35.b4 h3 36.b3 xh5 37.c5 d5 38.xd5 exd5 39.xa6 a7 40.b5 d6 41.e2 [ 41.f3 d4 42.g2 d3!? leads to an abso lut ely unn ece ssary stud y-like win ! 43.xg7 e7 44.g1 e2 45.b4 b2+ 46.a1 d2 47.d1 ( 47.b6 xb4 48.axb4 c2 ) 47...c5!! 48.d3+ xb5 49.a4+ a5 50.xb2 c2 51.c4+ b4 ] 41...f3 42.e3 d4 43.xf3 d5 44.c2 c4 45.a4 e7 46.b6 d3+! 47.xd3 e2+ 48.d1 c2+ 49.xe2 c1 50.a5 c3 51.e3 xa5 52.b7 b2+ 53.d1 d2# 0-1
free his slightly cramped position. ] [ Another approach is to give up on any notion of a fianchetto in return for a central approach with 4...c6 , but after 5.d3 f6 6.0-0 d5 7.e5! White was nonetheless for choice in Kononen-Toikkanen, Oulu 2013. ] 5.0-0 g7 6.e1 d6!? [ Not such a strange square for the knight if you consider that the queen's bishop will be fianchettoed, but once again Black's problem is that it will be hard to carry out a c e n t r a l b r e a k . P r e v i o u s l y 6...b7 had been seen and after 7.d3 f6 8.e2 0-0 9.c4 e6 10.c3 d6 Black's position was at least fairly harmonious in NebolsinaPakhomova, Novosibirsk 2004. ] 7.d3 0-0 8.c4 b7 9.c3 e6 10.f4 Highly natural and sensible development from Nikolic thus far. f5?! [ Quite often the only way to justify a provocative opening is to continue in nonstandard vein and here 10...xf3! 11.xf3 c6 was required. After 12.d5 d4 13.g4 b8 14.ab1 6f5 White has the two bishops and a pull, but Black is quite well placed on the dark squares. ] 11.d5! Dealing with the threat to the d-pawn in the most aggressive manner and now the position begins to resemble a rather bad version of the English Defence for Black. a6 12.d2 d6 13.xf5! Commencing a simple but highly effective mini-plan. exf5 14.h6 xh6 2451 A46 [ B l a c k w o u l d l i k e t o g o 14...f6?? straightaway, but that would be Nikolic,Predrag 2603 embarrassed by 15.g5! . ] Petakov,Uros 2347 Gligoric Cup, Banja Koviljaca (1.3) 20.05.13 15.xh6 Taking stock we can see that Nikolic has both weakened Black's kingside and [Richard Palliser] deprived him of the bishop-pair. Moreover, Petakov is low on counterplay and can only 1.d4 f6 2.f3 b5 3.e4!? [ Just as in the reversed Sokolsky position, watch as White builds up on the kingside. f6 t h is is a t e m p t in g o p t io n , a lt h o u gh t h e 16.e3 fe8 17.ae1 xe3 18.xe3 c5 simpler 3.g5 is also a good option. See 19.h4! Nikolic makes sure that he involves as W an g Yu e-P on krato v, Zurich 2 010 , f o r many units as possible in the attack. d7 20.f4 c6 Weakening d6, but I find this hard details of this Torre approach. ] to criticise since Black really had to buy some 3...xe4 4.xb5 g6 [ As we've previously noted, 4...b7 5.0-0 counterplay before White plonked his pawn on e6 6.e1 e7 7.d3 f6 8.c4 0-0 9.c3 h 6 a n d i n va d e d d o w n t h e e - f i l e . 21.dxc6 d6 10.a4 gives White a pleasant edge. He xc6 22.d4 b7 23.db5 e5 24.xd6! has exchanged a centre pawn for one on the xd6 25.xe5 And so White has bagged a flank, but Black lacks a great pawn break to pawn. Black is able to activate his queen in 2406
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 return, but Petakov soon finds that his queen [ 7...e4? 8.c2+I hope that the is rather missed on the kingside. d2 26.h5 s u b s c r i b e r s o f t h i s s e c t i o n wi l l n o t b e c1+ 27.h2 f1 Finally Black has a threat, offended by this unnecessary reminder! ] but White's next pretty much ends the game. 8.e3 e7 28.d5 xd5 29.cxd5 [ 8...e4 9.d3 xd2 10.xd2 e5 [ T a k i n g t h e p a s s e d p a w n , b u t 29.xd5 ( 10...b4 11.a3 ) 11.0-0 d5 12.b3 b6 would have been even more clinical: for 13.dxe5 xe5 14.e2 e6 15.d4 example, f8 30.h6 xf2 31.e5 h4+ is a treat for White. ] 32.h3 f6 33.e7 . ] 9.c3 a6? 29...b5 30.hxg6 fxg6 31.e6+ g7 [ 9...d5 10.a3 As usual, pleasant for White 32.b3! A decisive switch of the rook. e8 but not more with possibly his king's knight 33.b7+ h6 heading for c5 via b3 after b2-b4 instead of [ There's absolutely no defence after his queen's knight via a4. ] 33...h6 34.f6 d8 35.e7 . ] 10.c4! d8 1-0 [ 10...c7 11.g3 d6 12.d5 exd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 wins d6. ] 11.xf6 gxf6? 2452 A46 [ 11...xf6 12.d6+ e7 13.de4 ( 13.ce4 a5+ 14.d2 xd2+ 15.xd2 Ornstein,Axel 2425 f8 ) 13...d5 14.xf6 xf6 Was the most Sjogren,Bo resistant. ] SWE-chT 9899 (3) 18.10.1998 12.d5 e5 13.xe5 fxe5 14.g3 b6 [Eric Prié] 15.d2 d6 16.g2 d7 17.0-0 0-0 f5 The main problem of doubled 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 4.h4 c5 18.ad1 p a wn s is u su a lly t h e ir l a ck o f f le xi b ilit y . 5.c3 cxd4 6.cxd4 a5+ [ 6...b6 7.c2 c6 8.xf6 gxf6 9.e3 d5 19.dxe6 xe6 20.d5 f6 21.xe6+ xe6 10.c3 d7 The intercalation of ...h6, Bh4 22.d5 d8 23.c1 Threatening a prosaic has changed very little in this line. Only f o r k o n c 7 . c8 The pawn offer is relatively Blac k's s ho rt ca stlin g cou ld be slight ly the best defence. [ 23...g6 24.c2 e4 25.f3 is devastating. ] weaker with a pawn on h6 instead of h7. If [ 23...b8 is only temporarily better: 24.c7 he plays dynamically, as he should do, f8 25.c2 g5 26.f4 exf4 27.xf4 ] inserting the idea h5-h4, it will be exactly the same! 11.e2 ( 11.a3 intending Bd3, 24.xc8 xc8 25.xe7+ xe7 26.xd6 as in last month's Mamedyarov-Nyback e6 27.d1 f7 [ 27...xd6 28.xd6 The rook ending a seems a more promising idea which also pawn down is lost because of the clears the interesting e2 square, off the c-file, combined weaknesses of b7 and h6. ] for the white queen.) 11...c8 12.0-0 a5 13.ab1 g7 ( 13...f5 14.e5; 13...c4 28.d5 h5 29.h4 b5 [ 29...f4 30.exf4 xd6 31.xd6 exf4 14.xc4 xc4 15.e4 ) 14.e4 dxe4 15.xe4 32.gxf4 e4 33.b6 xf4 34.xb7+ e8 0-0 16.h4 f5 17.e5 d8 18.g3 c6 35.a7 ] 19.xc6?! ( 19.fd1= xe5 20.dxe5 c7 a2 does not hang anymore. c6 21.d6 ) 19...xc6 20.d5? exd5 21.b5 30.d8 White wants to quickly end this game a8 ( 21...e8! 22.d3 xb5 23.xb5 31.b4! 32.c5 xb5 24.xb5 fd8 ) 22.d6 f6 with a genuine mating attack. c4 23.f4 g5 24.xg5 hxg5 25.xf5= xb4 33.c8 g4 [ 33...b1+ 34.h2 xa2 35.g8+ f6 Macieja,B-Dautov,R Olm Calvia 2004 1/2 36.xa2 ] (52) ] 7.fd2! The possibility of playing this better 34.f8+ e6 35.h6+ d5 36.c6# move, without the g5-bishop hanging anymore, 1-0 brings out the main drawback of the black move order. c6 2407
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2453 Paasikangas Tella,Johanna Kuzmin,Alexey op Andorra (4) [Eric Prié]
A46 2210 2530 1997
1.d4 f6 2.f3 d6 3.g5 bd7 4.bd2 h6 5.h4 g5 6.g3 h5 7.e4 g7 8.c3 c5 This is the standard continuation. 9.d5 [ 9.c4 cxd4 10.xd4 ( 10.cxd4 g4! 11.h4 b5! The bishop on g7 is defended by the knight on h5! 12.e3 12.Dxg4 Ndf6 a5+ 13.d2 xd2+ 14.xd2 xd4 ) 10...xg3 11.hxg3 c5 12.e3 a dubious sacrifice. After 12.f3 the position is level. xe4 13.df5 xf5 14.xf5 f8 15.xg7 xg7 16.d5 f6 17.xb7 b8 18.xa7 xb2 19.d3 c8! 20.0-0 ( 20.c4 e6+ ) 20...xc3-+ 21.ad1 e6 22.a4 c8 23.a5 c7 24.a8 d5 25.a6 d7 26.b1 xb1 27.xb1 a3 28.d1 c1 29.xc1 xc1+ 30.h2 xb1 31.c8 e5 32.c3 f6 33.c7+ g6 34.f3 xf3+ 0-1 Delemarre, J-Nijboer,F NED-Ch Leeuwarden 2003 ] [ 9.b3 a5 ( 9...b6 ) 10.a4 b6 11.b5 a6 ( 11...b7 ) 12.xa6 xa6 13.0-0 a8 14.fd2 xg3 15.hxg3 0-0 16.c4 A) 16...cxd4 17.xd4 ( 17.cxd4 f6 With the idea ...d5) 17...c8 18.e2 f6 19.f5 c7=; B) 16...c8? Black had to open the position. 17.d5! e5 18.bd2 g6 ( 18...e6 19.xe5 xe5 20.c4 ) 19.e3 e5 20.dc4 e7 21.f4 f6 22.fxg5 fxg5 23.g4 h8 24.e6 g8 25.xd6 c7 26.f7+ 1-0 Kovacevic, SLjubisavljevic,Z Mendrisio op 1985 ] 9...0-0 [ 9...xg3 10.hxg3 f6 11.d3 a6 12.a4 e6 13.dxe6 xe6 14.0-0 0-0 15.c2 c7 16.fd1 fe8 17.f1 g4 18.3d2 e7 19.c4 ae8 20.f3 e5 21.fe3 b5 22.axb5 axb5 1/2-1/2 Orso,M-Paehtz,T Berlin East 1987 ] 10.c4 df6 11.d3 xg3 12.hxg3 e6 13.dxe6 xe6 14.e3 d5! 15.e5 [ 15.xg5? hxg5 16.exd5 ( 16.e5? e4 ) 16...d7 17.c2 e8 ] [ 15.exd5 xd5 16.xd5 ( 16.f5 xf5 17.xf5 xc3! 18.bxc3 f6 19.c2
xc3+ 20.xc3 xc3+ 21.e2 fe8+ 22.d3 xa1 23.xa1 ad8+; 16.d2 xe3 17.xe3 b6 18.0-0-0 xa2 19.xg5 fe8 ) 16...xd5 17.0-0 e8 ] 15...g4 16.f5? [ 16.e2 was a lesser evil. ] 16...xf5 17.xf5 xe5! 18.xe5 e8 The point. Black wins a pawn. 19.0-0 [ 19.f4 xe5 20.fxe5 xe5+ 21.d2 xf5 22.xh6 d4 23.e2 dxc3+ 24.c2 d2+ 25.xd2 cxd2 26.ah1 g7 27.h7+ f6 ] 19...xe5 20.c2 e7 21.d3 f8 22.ad1 d8 23.b1 c4 24.f3 b5 25.h2 d6 26.d2 h5 27.d1 g4 In positions with opposite colour bishops, it is a good strategy to gain space by puttin g chains of your pawns on the colour of the enemy bishop. Mechanically, it has the effect of limiting its action and increasing that of your own b ish op. Ob viou sly th e m ate ria l advantage makes the whole thing easier. 28.g1 h6 29.d4 e6 30.h2 e2 31.b3 [ 31.c2 a5 32.a3 e5! A) 33.g1 b4 34.axb4 axb4 35.a4 ( 35.cxb4 xc2 36.xc2 xd4; 35.b1 b3 36.d1 xf2! 37.xf2 e1+ 38.f1 e3+ 39.h2 xf1 ) 35...xb2 36.cxb4 xb4 37.e1 f6; B) 33.b1 h4! 34.xg4 hxg3+ 35.fxg3 ( 35.xg3 f4 ) 35...g5 36.g6 h8+ 37.h4 ( 37.g1 e3+ ) 37...xh4 38.xf7+ g8 39.f5 xg3+ 40.xg3 e5+ 41.xe5 xg6+; C) 33.f4 gxf3 34.xf3 e1 35.f5 xd1 36.xe5 xd4 37.cxd4 g7 38.xh5 xd4 39.b3 e3 40.g4 d4 41.xb5 d3 42.b1 c3 43.b8+ e7 44.c8 c2 45.xc2 dxc2 46.xc2 d3 ] 31...g7 [ 31...h4 32.gxh4 g7 33.f5! ( 33.f4 e5 ) 33...xf5 34.xe2 xd4 35.cxd4 f4+ 36.g1 xd4 37.d1 ] 32.d2 [ 32.f4 was incredibly more tricky, after which Black would have had to get through an instructive heavy tactical phase to carry the day. xc3 ( 32...g8 33.f5 e5 34.f4 ) 33.g6! g7 ( 33...e1 34.xf7 ) A) 34.xh5 f5 35.f3 ( 35.b1 e4 2408
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 36.xe4 dxe4 37.bxc4 ) 35...d2! ( 35...e1 36.xe1 xe1 37.xe1 xe1 38.fxg4 fxg4 ) 36.c1 e2 37.xc3+! d4 38.xd2 xd2 39.fxg4 c3 40.xf5 c2 41.c5 d7!; B) 34.xf7 e5 35.g1! ( 35.f3 h4! 36.fxg4 d2! ) B1) 35...d2 36.xh5! ( 36.f5 xf5 37.xe2 b4 Trap s t h e bisho p .) 36...xf4 37.gxf4 e4 38.xg4 xa2 39.bxc4 bxc4 40.f3 xf4 41.xd5 a5 42.g3!; B2) 35...e4!! 36.bxc4 bxc4 ( 36...dxc4 37.xe4 ) 37.c1 d4! 38.xe4 dxe4 B2a) 39.xc4 e3 40.fxe3 xe3+ 41.h2 ( 41.h1 xg3 ) 41...h4 42.h5 ( 42.c7 xg3+ 43.h1 f6! 44.c1 xf1+ 45.xf1 e5 46.g1 h2+ 47.f2 f4+ 48.e2 xf1+ 49.xf1 xf7 ) 42...hxg3+ 43.h1 f6 44.c1 e5; B2b) 39.xc4 e3 40.h1 exf2 41.d3 ( 41.a3 h4! 42.gxh4 h6 43.g3 e4+ 44.h2 xh4+! 45.gxh4 e5+ ) 41...f6 42.b1 h4! 43.c8 hxg3 44.xg4+ h6 45.a4 h5+ 46.h3 f4 ] 32...xd2 33.xd2 e5 34.c1 h6 0-1
2454 Pakleza,Zbigniew Moskalenko,Viktor XXXIV Open Badalona ESP (6) [Eric Prié]
A46 2495 2569 06.08.2008
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.f4 c5 4.e3 W hen I saw GM Viktor MOSKALENKO denigrating W hite's 3rd move as "such an obscure manoeuvre" in an 'ultra-light' survey of CBM126, scarcely documented and furthermore centered on this pawn support of W hite's central anchor, rather than my advocated [ 4.c3! my blood started to boil! ] 4...b6 "A main line move played by dozens of grandmasters over the years" about the prospects of which John Cox, in his "Dealing with d4 deviations", Everyman 2006, is "not totally wild". Same as me. Indeed, I know this
motive of hitting the b2-pawn like the back of my hand. I believe it generally places the black queen in an awkward decentralized position and should be executed only in the case where it cannot be adequately met by the natural development of the Nb1 or by Rb1 when he has already freed the square. Could this represent an exception?! 5.c3 c6 improving on my previous reference: [ 5...cxd4 6.exd4 xb2 7.b5 d5 8.b1 xa2 9.d2 as in Kosic-Berczes, D Budapest 2007 ] 6.a3 [ 6.b5 as dubious as it may turn out at the end of the day, is still critical. See the next game. ] 6...h5 T h i s k e y m o v e a g a i n 7.g3?! As a reflex for the habitué of these systems (1. Nf3- 1.d4 d5 with reversed colours likewise) this bishop should be more recalcitrant! [ 7.e5! A) 7...d6? 8.dxc5 dxc5 9.b5 xe5 10.xe5 f6 11.c4 c6 12.f3; B) 7...f6 8.dxc5! xc5 9.d4 xd4 10.xd4 g6 11.e2 xd4 ( 11...g7 12.d2 Intending long castling, h2-h4 with initiative.) 12.xd4 xd4 13.exd4 f4 14.f3; C) 7...cxd4 8.b5! ( 8.xd4 xd4 9.exd4 e7= ) 8...xe5 9.xe5 f6 10.c4 c6 ( 10...c5 11.b4 c6 12.xd4 d5? 13.e5 xc2 14.d3 ) 11.xd4 ( 11.xd4 c5 The difference.) 11...c5 12.b4 ( 12.d3 d5 13.e5 a6 ) 12...c7 13.b5 b8 14.cd6+ ( 14.bd6+ xd6 15.xd6+ e7 16.b5 a6 17.d4 d5 18.c4 e5 19.f3 d8 20.c5 f8= ) 14...xd6 15.xd6 xd6 ( 15...a6!? 16.xb8 xb8 17.d6+ e7 18.d1 b5 Threatening ... Rb6. 19.c4 About the only move to prevent the threat of ...Rb6. That is why it is preferable not to have castled queenside in this variation. bxc4 20.xc4 d5 21.a5 And White might be microscopically better, although the a l l e g e d a d va n t a g e o f h i s q u e e n s i d e majority is relative with both kings centralized.) 16.xd6+ e7 17.0-0-0 d5 ( 17...a5 18.b5 d5 19.c4 ) 18.f5+ ( 18.e4!? xd6 19.f4! e8! 2409
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.exd5 e5 21.fxe5+ xe5 22.d3 ) 18...f6 19.g3 ( 19.d6 e7= ) 19...a5 20.c4 c7 ( 20...c3 21.d3 axb4 22.axb4 a1+ 23.b2 The Rh1 is p r o t e c t e d !) 21.e4+ ( 21.b5 d5 ) 21...e7 22.d6 e8 23.xe8 xe8 24.b5 d8= ] 7...xg3 8.hxg3 d5 9.e2 cxd4 10.exd4 a6 11.0-0 g6! 12.d2 g7 13.a4 c7 14.b4? [ 14.c3 In order to bring the knight in play via c5 to the 'magic square' d3. b6 15.f4 e5?? Black should play 15...Qb8 keeping b6 protected with an undeniable slight edge. 16.dxe5 xe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.e3 0-0 19.xb6 ] [ 14.c5? xd4 ] 14...0-0 15.c3 d8 16.f4 [ 16.c5 e5 ] 16...e5! 17.dxe5 xe5 Against the stranded knight and the c3 weakness. 18.fd1 g4 19.h1?! [ 19.ac1 xf3+ ( 19...ac8! ) 20.xf3 xf4 21.gxf4 xf3 22.gxf3 Threatening Nb6. d6 23.c4 ] 19...xf3! 20.gxf3 c6 21.c5 c4!? [ 21...b6 22.xa6 xc3 23.g2 d4 24.b5 ] [ 21...d7! 22.xd7 xd7 23.ac1 xc3 Wins a clear pawn as the state of White's queenside is not very favourable for the defence either... ] 22.xc4 dxc4 23.g2 xc3 24.xd8+ xd8 25.h1 [ 25.c1 d2 ] 25...b5 26.h4 f6 27.xh7+ f8 28.h6+ g7 29.f4 d6 30.e4 e8 31.c2 [ 31.b7 c3 32.e4 ] 31...g8 32.d1 f6 33.d7 c3 34.b3 f8 35.e4 [ 35.a7 f5 36.g4 ( 36.xa6 c2 37.g4 xc5 ) 36...f4 37.xa6 A) 37...e5! A1) 38.e4 h2+ 39.f1 c8 40.c2 ( 40.xg6+ h8 41.xf7 h1+ 42.e2 c2 ) 40...h1+ 41.e2 a1-+; A2) 38.xg6+ h8 39.c6 d8 40.e4 d3; B) 37...d2 38.c6 ( 38.xg6 c2 39.e4 c1 ) 38...d8 ( 38...b2
39.d5; 38...c2? 39.d3 d8 40.c7 ) 39.e4 ( 39.c7 f4 )] 35...c6 36.d6 c8 37.xg6! h7? [ 37...c2 38.f6+ h8 39.h6+! xh6 40.d3 A fantastic save! g7 41.h5+ h8 42.f6 ] 38.g4 c2? Time trouble... [ 38...f5 39.h4+ g6 40.c5 ] 39.d3? [ 39.g5+ g6 40.d3+ f5 41.e6+ f6 ( 41...h6 42.e3+ f4 43.e4 f6 44.h4# ) 42.xg7 c1 ( 42...xe6 43.c7 c8 44.c3+ ) 43.d6!! !!!!!!!! Of course, this is absolutely impossible to see. f7 A n e s c a p e s q u a r e t o o . ( 43...e8 T a k i n g t h e e s c a p e s q u a r e e 8 . 44.d4+ xe6 45.g6+ e7 46.d6+ f7 47.f6#; 43...1c6 44.e7+ This is the threat. e5 45.f4+ d4 46.e3+; 43...xe6 44.xf8+ e5 45.e7 3 pawns up...) 44.d4+! e7 ( 44...xe6 45.g6+ e7 46.d6+ e8 47.g8+ ) 45.a7+ xe6 ( 45...1c7 46.xc7+ xc7 47.xf7+ xf7 48.xc7; 45...d6 46.xf7 xe6 47.g6 ) 46.xf7+ d6 47.g6+ e5 48.g8 8c6 49.d8 1c4 50.g7+ e6 51.h6+ e5 ( 51...e7 52.f8+ e6 53.e8+ d5 54.xf5+ d4 55.e5+ d3 56.e2+ c3 57.e3+ d4 58.d2+ ) 52.e8+ xe8 53.e3+ e4 54.fxe4 fxe4 55.f3 ] 39...f5 40.g5+ h6! Black is finally rewarded for his unbelievable risk taking. 41.d6+ f6 42.f7+ h7 43.g5+ h6 44.f7+ h7 45.g5+ g6! 46.d3 c1 Only a f ew checks now... 47.e6+ f7 48.g5+ e7 49.e2+ e6 50.xe6 fxg4 51.c5+ f7 52.e4 8c6 53.d3 e7 0-1
2455 Palliser,Richard Edouard,Romain European Club Cup, Eilat (6.14) [Richard Palliser]
A46 2458 2664 16.10.2012
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.e3 [ Of course our game position can also come about via an e3 Queen's Indian, but after 3.c4 b6 4.e3 b7 5.d3 d5 6.cxd5 exd5 2410
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7.0-0 Black doesn't have to put his bishop on e7 and, indeed, has scored quite well in practice with the more aggressive d6 . ] 3...b6 4.d3 b7 5.0-0 e7 [ The French Grandmaster decides to prioritise kingside development, which is a natural and prudent way to play. Moreover, I can't really deny that I was hoping for 5...c5 6.c4 e7 7.c3 cxd4 8.exd4 when White obtains quite an active set-up, as we've seen on several occasions before. ] 6.c4 0-0 7.c3 d5 8.cxd5 [ It's also possible to maintain the tension, as, for instance, Mark Hebden likes to, but after 8.b3 bd7 9.b2 one has to take into account dxc4!? 10.bxc4 c5 when 11.d5 exd5 12.cxd5 xd5! 13.xd5 xd5 14.xh7+ xh7 15.xd5 f6 has never seemed so clear to me: for example, 16.f5+ g8 17.ad1 xb2 18.xd7 f6 and while White will dominate the d-file and can still hope to attack, that black queenside majority is not to be underestimated. ] 8...exd5 9.b3 bd7 10.b2 a6!? [ A rare move and one I see I failed to consider back in the days of writing 'Play 1 d 4 ! '. I n s t e a d 10...c5 is a logical advance, but one which I believe gives W hite good chances of obtaining an edge, as indeed he did with 11.e2 ( 11.c1 followed by Bf5 is a sensible alternative) 11...e8 12.c1 a6 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.g3 b6 15.g5! f8 16.h5 in G.Pap-Klein, European Championship, Plovdiv 2012. ] [ Black can also move a rook and while going to e8 is fairly common, 10...c8 is also seen on occasion and after 11.c1 ( 11.e2 c5 12.c1 e8 13.g3 would echo Pap's logical play above) 11...c5 12.e2 e8 13.fd1 d6 14.a6! xa6 15.xa6 cxd4 16.xd4 (Palliser-Ma.White, York 2006) e5! 17.e2 xf3+ 18.xf3 e5 19.dd1 e7 Black isn't doing so badly in an IQP scenario. ] 11.c1 [ Whereas I'd played quite quickly up to this point, Edouard was definitely taking his time and here I probably should have slowed d o wn . T h e t e xt i s h a r d l y i l l o g i c a l , b u t 11.e5! wouldn't have been either and
would have crossed Black's plans. After e4 ( 11...xe5 12.dxe5 d7 13.f4 looks quite nice for W hite) 12.c2 f5 13.f3 xe5 14.dxe5 xc3 15.xc3 Black has freed his position to an extent, but also f ailed to equalise. ] 11...d6 Only now did it fully dawn on me that ...a6 wasn't just played as prophylaxis against t h e p l a n o f Q e 2 a n d B a 6 . Do h ! B l a c k i s actually a tempo down on a position which sometimes arises from the e3 Queen's Indian (see above), but even so I don't feel that White can claim any advantage here as both sides begin to manoeuvre. 12.e2 e7 [ 12...e8 also feels quite logical and after 13.g3 g6 14.c2 c8 15.fd1 e7 16.e2 a8 it wasn't so easy for either side to make progress in Narciso Dublan-Alonso Rosell, Barcelona (blitz) 2012. ] 13.g3 g6 14.c2 [ Also unbeknown to me at the time was that I'd previously given for ChessPub 14.c2 e4 "and a tough manoeuvring struggle ensued in Arutinian-Ghader Pour, Dresden 2009." Oh to have a better memory! ] 14...ac8 15.e2 e4! Much stronger than returning the rook to a8. 16.xa6 [ 16.a4 a5 makes a strange impression, but ne it h e r is t h e t e xt co m p le t e ly id e a l f o r White. ] 16...xa6 17.xa6 a8 18.b7 [ A rather risky choice. Sensible would have been 18.e2 when xa2 19.a1 fa8 20.xa2 xa2 21.a1 xa1+ 22.xa1 xg3 23.hxg3 e4 is a little better for Black, but should really be a draw. ] 18...xa2 19.c2 xg3 [ This looks strong, but Black would have d o n e b e t t e r wit h 19...df6! , retaining a definite edge. During the game I had certainly failed to realise quite how bad the potential tactics are after 20.c6 e6 when the main point is 21.fc1? xg3! and a pawn drops off. ] 20.hxg3 e4 21.fc1 b8?! [ Once again Black would have done better with 21...f6 . Bringing the knight round towards b4 takes time time which I can use to get back into the game. ] 22.d2 e6 23.e4! dxe4 24.xe4 [ 24.d5?! f5 25.c4 caught my eye too, 2411
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 but there's no good follow-up after d7 . ] 24...a6 [ Here I had been expecting 24...e8 25.e1 xe4 26.xe4 d7 27.ee2 , but Edouard prefers to continue his plan. ] 25.xe6!? [ This was criticised by my opponent and not wit h o u t go o d re a so n . Ho we ve r, I d o n ' t believe it's a mistake - my mistake was believing I had a small edge after it. Instead 25.d5 xe4 26.xe4 b4 27.f6+ would have forced a draw, since after h8 ( 27...g7 28.e8+ repeats ) 28.e4+ xb2 29.xb2 d3 White can simply go 30.xd6 cxd6 31.bc2 xc1 32.xc1 . ] 25...fxe6 26.c3 xc2 27.xc2 f7 28.e4 e7 Black is the first to bring his king into the action and if he can now regroup his knight then White may begin to regret being l e f t w i t h s p l i t q u e e n s i d e p a w n s . 29.g4 A standard advance in such positions, although it doesn't achieve too much here. h5 30.e2?! [ By this point I had half an hour left against three minutes (plus increment) and definitely became too ambitious. Of course, I considered 30.gxh5 gxh5 , but then not the simple plan of 31.f1 f5 32.e2 (if in doubt activate the king!) b5 33.b2 when White should be able to defend. ] [ Indeed, I was spending far too long on lines like 30.b4 hxg4 31.b5 b8 32.d5 exd5 33.xd6 cxd6 which just don't really achieve anything. ] 30...hxg4 31.g5 f6 32.d5?! [ Now it quickly begins to go downhill. 32.g3! was required when Re4 is the idea and b4!? 33.xb4 xb4 34.d5 e5 35.xe5+ d6 36.e4 c5 37.xg4 xd5 38.e4 should hold a rough balance. ] 32...e5 33.a2? [ I missed so many responses to this move it was rather embarrassing in the post-mortem. Even now 33.e4 wouldn't have been too bad and after f4 34.h2! d7 35.g3 White has very good chances still to hold. ] 33...f5 34.d2 b4 [ 34...c5 35.b4 d3 was another way to do it. In either case W hite's position has suddenly become quite critical. ] 35.a8 xd5 36.h8 f6 37.e4+ f7
38.d8 e7 39.g8 f7 [ 39...f6! would have been strong, but the text is plenty good enough too. ] 40.d8 e7 41.h8 h5 42.g5+ e6 43.e8+ f5 44.xd6+ cxd6 45.d2 h7 46.d8 e6 47.g8 f6 48.c8 a7 Finally Black can get around to invading the white position. 49.b8 a2 50.g5 g3! [ The bishop must go after 50...g3 51.fxg3 a1+ , since 52.h2 walks into mate: g4+ 53.h3 f2+ 54.h4 h1# . ] 0-1
2456 Petersen,Terji Rowson,Jonathan 3rd Int Torshavn FAI (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2142 2494 06.10.2000
For those players looking for an offbeat way to take on the Torre they could do much worse than to follow Jonathan Rowson's Grandmasterly example in this game. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 4.h4 d6 5.c3 g5 6.g3 h5 One of the most aggressive ways of playing against the Torre attack. Black turns his attentions to the bishop pair from the off, in an attempt to unbalance the game. 7.e3 g7 8.d2 xg3 9.hxg3 d7 10.f3 a6 Black prepares an instructive change in his pawn structure. 11.g4 d5 12.e4 White hits out in the center before Black can ge t c5 i n . Ne e d le ss t o s a y, o p e n i n g t h e position when faced with a pair of bishops is an extremely risky and usually unadvised strategy. 0-0 13.0-0-0 c5 Of course! Black is desperately keen to open lines so he can get at the White king. 14.dxc5 d4 15.a4 e5 The Black knight finds an excellent outpost where he is master of all he surveys. 16.e2 a5 17.b6 d3! A hammer blow for White! He must lose material. 18.b3 [ 18.cxd3 xc5+ 19.bc4 b5 is horrible for White. ] 18...dxe2 19.xa5 exd1+ Black has won a rook so W hite, quite rightly gave his Grandmaster opponent the respect that he deserved. 0-1
2412
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2457 Piorun,Kacper Andreev,Eduard Cappelle-la-Grande Open (8.6) [Richard Palliser]
A46 2570 2499 07.03.2014
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 c5 4.e3 h6 5.xf6!? [ A new move for us, in place of the usual 5.h4 . It may seem a little strange to give up the bishop-pair having gone e3, but then again Black is already committed to ...c5 and must watch out for an early Ne4 hit. ] 5...xf6 I fear Eric wasn't too impressed with White's idea: "Black will develop his queen's bishop on to the long diagonal but without releasing the tension on d4." Whether that's such a gain, we must see. 6.bd2 d5 [ I dare say that Eric wouldn't approve of 6...cxd4 7.exd4 b6 , but this was seen in another recent game where 8.c3 b7 9.d3 e7 ( 9...d8 would avoid the following tangle, but after 10.e2 e7 11.a4 White might be able to claim an edge thanks to the ideas of a timely Ba6 and a4a5 ) 10.e2 d8!? 11.0-0 c7 12.e5 h4 13.g3 e7 14.f4 generated an edge, Nun-Hulin, Czech League 2014. ] [ Instead, 6...b6 7.d3 b7 would be more in keeping with an Eric-approved approach. This looks pretty sensible to me, as placing a piece on e4 would just lose time after a subsequent ...d5, so 8.c3 d8 9.e2 e7 could be the critical line. Perhaps here Piorun would have gone long, although White can again consider 10.a4!? , and if c6 11.a6 . ] 7.c3 [ An earlier all-grandmaster clash saw White try to pinpoint a downside to Black's last, but 7.b5+ d7 8.e2 a6 9.xd7+ xd7 10.e4 e7 11.exd5 exd5 12.0-0 0-0 13.fe1 d6 was an acceptable type of near-IQP position for the second player in Ivanisevic-Kryvoruchko, Kallithea 2009. ] 7...d6 This all looks very harmonious for Black. White does have his Colle e3-e4 break, but surely that's not going to buy him any advantage here? 8.d3 0-0 [ Apparently a novelty. Previously, 8...c6 9.0-0 0-0 10.e2 ( 10.dxc5! xc5 11.e4
wa s i n d i c a t e d , a s p e r o u r m a i n g a m e) 10...e5 11.dxe5 xe5 12.xe5 xe5 13.f3 h5 had already left Black on the more promising side of equality in Nosenko-Drozdovskij, Kharkov 2007. ] 9.dxc5 xc5 10.e4 The aforementioned break, but unlike in the Colle, White has given up the bishop-pair. c6 11.e2 dxe4?! [ This feels rather meek. Instead, Black might have indulged in a manoeuvring struggle with, say, 11...b6 12.0-0 b7 . ] [ It's worth noting too that White's position isn't as bad as your engine might have you believe - it's just about equal. Mine wants to go 11...d6 12.0-0 d7 , but after 13.fe1 c7 14.c2! begins to change its mind as to who's better. ] 12.xe4 e7 13.g4!? [ Wow. The young Polish Grandmaster is clearly happy to think outside the box. Call me old, but I'm not sure what was wrong with 13.xc5 xc5 14.0-0 e5 15.fe1 , perhaps with a small pull due to Black's light-square weaknesses. ] 13...b6 14.g5 h5 15.g1 [ Bearing in mind Black's next move, one has to consider 15.g6?! , but fxg6 16.g1 e5 sees White's ambition backfiring. ] 15...g6 16.0-0-0 g7 Wisely ensuring that Nf6 won't come with check. By this point the engines I consulted quite like W hite, but they're yet to find a devastating sacrifice on the kingside. Piorun doesn't manage to either. 17.c2 [ 17.f6!? must have been a better try, if only because Black is a little cramped and e5?! 18.e4 would leave that e5 point under some pressure. ] 17...e5 18.f6 c5 Andreev is quick to seize the chance to break out. 19.d2 e6 20.e4 [ Instead, 20.e4 e7 21.f6 c5 was a way to repeat moves, ] [ while 20.b3 xb3 21.axb3 fd8 22.gd1?! d4! was one for White to avoid. ] 20...fd8 [ An early end to an interesting struggle, but presumably neither player was too sure a b o u t t h e s i t u a t i o n a f t e r 20...fd8 21.xh5+! f8! ( 21...gxh5? 22.h7+ f8 23.g6! is rather dangerous for Black) 22.f6 2413
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xd2 23.xd2 d8 . ] ½-½
2458 Popov,Valerij Panarin,Michail Open Voronezh (8) [Richard Palliser]
A46 2592 2521 20.06.2010
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 b5 4.g2 [ Romanishin has dabbled in the immediate 4.g5 of late. A sensible response is d5 ( B la c k c a n a l so d e l a y t h i s wit h 4...e7 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 and only then go d5 , as we'll see in the notes to his 4th move, below ) 5.bd2 b7 , after which 6.xf6!? gxf6! ( 6...xf6 7.e4! was presumably W hite's idea when matters aren't entirely clear, but he should be at least a little for c h o ic e a n d m o r e i n t h e e ve n t o f dxe4?! 8.xb5+ e7 9.e5 f5 10.dc4 ) 7.g2 d7 8.0-0 c5 9.c3 e7 10.a4 bxa4 11.xa4 0-0 12.b3 c7 saw Black's bishop-pair offset the slight damage to his kingside in Romanishin-Franco Alonso, Nettetal 2010. ] 4...d5!? Panarin is happy to close the long d ia go n a l wi t h o u t d e l a y. T h is is q u i t e a n ambitious approach - Black hopes to prevent W hite breaking with both c4 and e4 - but does nonetheless usually lead to quite a solid position. Moreover, we should not forget that the idea of an early space-gaining d4 is by no means unknown in the Sokolsky and think too of the Speckled Egg variation: 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 g6 3 b4!?. [ Black can also develop with 4...b7 5.0-0 e7 6.g5 before going d5 , as he did in Telljohann-Kunin, Bad Wiessee 2010, where 7.c3 0-0 8.bd2 bd7 9.xf6 xf6 10.b4 (was this really more than an attempt to block the position and make a draw by the lower-rated white player?) a5! 11.a3 a4 12.e5 d6 was very comfortable and clearly fine for Black. ] 5.0-0 bd7 6.c3 The Russian Grandmaster hopes that the a4-break will pose problems. White has tested a number of other ideas of late without really troubling Black, although variation 'c' could do with further testing:
[ a) 6.bd2 b7 ( in an earlier round of the European W omen's Championship, Pia Cramling had preferred 6...e7 , but after 7.c3 0-0 8.a4 b4 9.c4 a5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.b3 White had a decent position in this version of the Queen's Indian in MolchanovaP.Cramling, Rijeka 2010 , a nd a f ter th e active defence e4 12.f4 c5 one route to the advantage would have been the simple 13.fd2 ) 7.a4 b4 8.a5 c8 ( 8...a6 had been seen in the earlier Cosma-C. Foisor, Baile Olanesti 2010, but I wonder if C r a m l i n g f e a r e d 9.e4!? when xe4 10.xe4 dxe4 11.g5 sees White regaining the pawn with a pull, as after f6 12.e1 d6 13.xe4 xe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4 0-0 16.e2 Black would surely prefer the b-pawn to still be at home) 9.c4 bxc3 10.bxc3 e7 11.c4 c5 gave Black decent-enough counterplay in Cosma-P.Cramling, Rijeka 2010, where 12.b2 0-0 13.a4 c6 14.a2 dxc4 15.xc4 d5 confirmed that Black had definitely equalised. ] [ b) 6.d3 a6 7.bd2 b7 8.b3 sees White striving to open the queenside with c4, but c5 sees Black beating him to it and after ( and is even stronger here than 8...b4 , as played in the analogous position we considered in the notes to Black's 5th in Burmakin-Kniest) 9.c3 ( 9.c4 cxd4 10.cxd5 xd5 is fine for Black, as White must avoid 11.xd4? e5 12.c3 c8 13.b2 b4 , which exploits his potentiallyloose knight on d4) 9...e7 10.b2 0-0 11.ac1 b6 12.b1 a5 it was Black who was pressing on the queenside and slightly for choice in Kovar-Babula, Czech Championship, Ostrava 2010. ] [ c) 6.a4!? b4 7.c4 is a better way of implementing a key advance, but after bxc3 8.xc3 a6 9.c2 c6 10.d1 e7 11.b1 b8 12.e4 0-0 I'm by no means certain that Black was worse in this Queen's Indian/Catalan-style position in Inarkiev-Alekseev, European Championship play-off, Rijeka (rapid) 2010. ] 6...b7 [ Natural enough, but does Black really need to complete the fianchetto without delay h a v i n g g o n e . . . d 5 ? I n s t e a d 6...c5!? 2414
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 looks quite critical and after 7.a4 b4 8.dxc5 ( I wouldn't be so keen to develop Black's bis hop f or him a nd it 's he re th at W h it e should look to improve might 8.cxb4!? cxb4 9.f4 and if h5 10.bd2!? not offer him chances for an edge, or is he just too weak on the c4-square?) 8...xc5 9.cxb4 xb4 10.d2 xd2 11.xd2 e4 12.d4 f6 Black was fine in Stohl-Stocek, Hustopece (rapid) 2009. ] 7.a4 a6 Presumably this was the point behind Black's last, but now White is able to develop actively and swiftly, with a small pull. 8.g5 d6 9.a3! Had Black got in ...c5, he'd pro b a bly b e O K , b u t h e h a sn't a nd e ve n Panarin's active implementation of that break isn't quite enough for him to equalise. bxa4 10.c4 c5!? 11.d2!? [ White increases the tension down the long diagonal and brings his own light-squared bishop into play, but I suspect that 11.cxd5!? xd5 12.xf6! was the correct route to an edge: xf6 ( not ideal, but neither is the recapture with the g-pawn or even 12...xf6 13.xa4 cxd4 14.c4 xc4 15.xc4 0-0 16.xd4 and White is somewhat for choice, thanks to his superior bishop and the weakness of a6) 13.xa4+ d7 14.c4 xa4 15.xa4 and Black comes under pressure in the queenless middlegame. ] 11...cxd4 12.cxd5 xd5 13.xd5 exd5 14.xf6! Even here this timely exchange causes Black some problems. xf6?! [ Tamely acquiescing to an inferior IQP position. Presumably Panarin disliked the pin 14...xf6 15.xa4 , b u t a f t e r d8! I haven't managed to find anything e s p e c i a l l y s t r o n g f o r W h i t e : 16.xa6 ( there's not enough time to gang up on d4 with both knights in view of the possibility of 16.b3 0-0 17.c2 d3! ) 16...0-0 17.b5 ( 17.b3 b8 gives Black decent-enough counterplay, as he can now strike after 18.b5 with xg3!? 19.xf6 xf6 20.hxg3 xb5 ) 17...c5 18.a3 fe8 19.xd6 xd6 and despite the doubled dpawns and White's passed b-pawn, Black seems to have enough activity to maintain a rough balance. ] 15.xa4+ d7 16.b5! Eliminating Black's bishop and thereby guaranteeing himself a
pleasant edge after all. 0-0 [ 16...b8?! would have kept the bishop covering c7 and immune from attack, but after 17.fc1 0-0 18.xd4 xa4 19.xa4 it would hardly have been at all active and Black would have come under heavy pressure. ] 17.xd6 xd6 18.xd4 e6 19.fe1 [ This prepares White's next, but most would have preferred to grind away with the moreroutine 19.e3 fc8 20.fc1 , even if Black does have good chances to hold the resulting slightly-worse endgame. ] 19...fc8 20.e4!? A surprising decision from the Russian Grandmaster - does W hite's advantage really grow or even remain the same once the IQP has been replaced by his more-centralised forces? dxe4 21.xe4 c6 [ This may be a little imprecise. Indeed, I rea lly ca n't te ll you wh y B lack reje cte d 21...xe4 22.xe4 c6 , since the doublerook ending after 23.e7 e8 24.d7 xd7 25.xd7 e6 is surely holdable without that much difficulty, slightly tied down though Black might be. ] 22.a5 [ White activates his rook down the file to t h e m a x i m u m , b u t 22.b4! xe4 ( Black must deal with the threat of 23 b5 and 22...ac8 23.c5 definitely favours W hite , since h3 24.d2 g4 25.f3 keeps everything covered) 23.xe4 f5 24.ae1 was likely a better way of coordinating the major pieces. W hite definitely has a pull here, although whether he'd have been able to do so much with it is somewhat less clear. ] 22...xe4 23.xe4 c1+ 24.g2 c6 25.d5 [ I'm assuming that this logical centralisation was played. Instead the gamescore gives the gobbledegook 25.a3? g6? ( 25...f5 wins the rook) 26.h4? h5? 27.g4 hxg4 28.h5? c8? 29.hxg6? and now '1-0', but again f5 is possible. ] 25...g6? [ A bad misjudgement. After 25...h6 26.g4 g6 27.h3!? White would have had some pressure on the kingsid e, but, perhap s surprisingly, this was a much better defensive try for Black. ] 2415
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.h4! Popov is quick to spot his chance and already Black is in some trouble. h5? [ White ploughs on after this. Bringing the q u e e n ' s r o o k i n t o p l a y w i t h 26...c8! was much a better try. The resulting single rook endgame is unpleasant af ter 27.h5 c4 28.xc4 xc4 29.xc4 xc4 30.h6! c8 31.d7 f8 32.a7 c6 33.a8+ e7 34.h8 , but it seems that Black can hold with f6 35.xh7 c8 , trapping White's rook and after 36.f4 b8 37.b4!? ( t h e b e s t t r y 37.h3 a5 38.g4 , for instance, allows Black a fairly easy draw with g5 39.g7 b3+ 40.g2 xb2+ 41.f3 gxf4 42.xf4 b4+ followed by checking where appropriate and bringing his rook to the h-file) 37...xb4 38.h8 b2+ 39.h3 b1 40.g4 g5 41.g8 gxf4 I haven't managed to find a way (or perhaps I should say tactical trick) for White to win. ] 27.g4! With his rooks preventing Black from doing anything down the long, light-square diagonal, White is quite safe to advance thus. hxg4 [ Now White's h-pawn becomes the decisive attacker. Black might have counterattacked with 27...a1 , b u t a f t e r 28.c5! ( m u c h c l e a r e r t h a n 28.gxh5? c1 29.d8+ xd8 30.xd8+ g7 31.d4+ f6 32.h6+ xh6 33.xf6 h1+ ) 28...b7 29.gxh5 e8 30.d5 e1 31.h6! f6 32.xe1 xe1 33.f3 White would have d o m i n a t e d a n d I su s p e ct t h a t B l a c k i s un a ble to d ef e nd h ere wit h h is king so exposed. ] 28.h5 c8 [ This loses, but Black appears to be d e f e n c e l e s s in a n y ca s e : f o r e xa m p le , 28...f8 29.hxg6 f5 30.e7 f6 31.de5! c6+ 32.e4! and there's no satisfactory way to avert mate after xg6 33.4e6 . ] 29.hxg6 [ Resignation may seem premature, but presumably Panarin was despondent having seen his position collapse rather suddenly since the slightly surprising 21 e4!?. H o w e v e r , h e r e a f t e r 29.hxg6 f6 ( Black has to try and keep the long diagonal closed: 29...fxg6? 30.e7 is curtains,; as is 29...xg6? 30.xg4 ) 30.d6 b5 31.d8+ g7 32.d7+ g8 33.h7
White's rook is secure and he wins. The only way to try and put up any resistance is b3 , b u t a f t e r 34.f4! d1 35.e4 d5 36.xd5+ xd5 37.xf6 the double-rook e n d i n g s h o u l d b e wi n n i n g wi t h o u t t o o much difficulty. ] 1-0
2459 Poulton,James Prie,Eric Challengers Hastings (4) [Eric Prié]
A46 2255 2460 1992
1.d4 f6 As a second stage on the road to improvement, playing the king's Indian against 1.d4, at least I hindered my opponents from playing e4... 2.f3 d6 3.c3 f5 4.g5 bd7 5.h4 g6 6.xg6 [ 6.d2 e6 7.xg6 hxg6 8.e4 e7 9.0-0-0 c6 10.b1 d5 11.f3 ( 11.e5 g8 12.e3 h6 ) 11...a6 12.exd5 cxd5 13.d3 a5 14.e2 xd2 15.xd2 d6= Desbonnes,S-Prie,E Fra-Cup 1993 0-1(54) ] 6...hxg6 7.e4 e6 8.c4 Not the best square for this bishop, especially considering that the idea of 6...e6 is to play ...c6 and ...d5 to regain control over the white squares after Black exchanges his queen's bishop. [ 8.f3 c6 9.0-0-0 With a small plus, is the correct approach. ] 8...e7 9.0-0? [ 9.f3 c6 ] 9...xe4! 10.xe7 xe7!? [ 10...xc3 11.xd8 xd1 12.xc7 xb2 13.b3 e7 ( 13...d5 14.ab1 c8 15.e5 c4 16.xc4 xc4 17.xb7= ) 14.ab1 hc8 15.xd6+ ( 15.a5 c4 16.xc4 xc4 17.xb7 xc2 ) 15...xd6 16.xb2 c3 ] 11.xe4 d5 12.xd5 [ 12.e2 h4 13.h3 xe4 ] 12...exd5 13.c3 0-0-0 The point. The pawn is taboo because of ...Qd6. Black is slightly be t t e r d u e t o (o ve rest im a t ed ! ) a tt a c k in g possibilities on the kingside and his more active pieces but undoubtedly it was preferable to opt for the ending 3 moves ago. 14.d3 [ 14.d2 b6 ] 2416
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14...de8! Now, to be able to achieve something, he should not neglect any positional factor. 15.g3 f6 16.ab1 h5 17.b4 f5 [ 17...g5? 18.xd5! xd5 19.g4+ f5 20.xh5 f4 21.f3 ] 18.b5 h5 19.e3 d8?! I was sure that the position deserved more than [ 19...xe3 20.fxe3 f6 ( 20...xe3 21.xf5 gxf5 22.xd5 e2 23.f1 g6 24.g4! fxg4 25.xf7 xc2 26.e7+ d7 27.xg6+ e6 28.f2 xf2 29.xf2 f5 30.e5 f4 ) 21.be1 d7 But against good defence I was wrong. ] [ Anyway, 19...d7 was probably a better square 20.d2 f4 21.be1! h8 22.f3 d6 23.g3 e6 24.f4 b4 With some initiative. ] 20.d2 f4 21.g3 [ 21.fe1 h8 ] 21...g5 22.bd1 h8 [ 22...h5 23.f3 ( 23.gxf4 g4+ 24.h1 f3+ 25.g1 xf4 26.h3 g4+! 27.hxg4 h8 ) 23...h3+ 24.g2 ( 24.h1 xf3 ) 24...g5 ( 24...h8 25.g4 ) 25.d3 ( 25.f4 e4 26.xe4 dxe4 27.de1 xb5 ) 25...h3+ ( 25...h8 26.h4 e6 27.e2 ) 26.g1 h8 27.e2! ( 27.d2 xf1+!! 28.xf1 xf3+ 29.g2 xd3 30.xd3 c6 ) 27...e6 28.g2 h7 29.f4 ] 23.f3 Parrying the menace. [ 23.a4 xh2!! 24.xh2 h5+ 25.g1 h3+ 26.g2 ( 26.h2 xf2+ 27.g2 h3+ 28.g1 h1# ) 26...f3+ 27.h2 h5 And Mate next move. ] 23...h3+ [ 23...h3 24.e2 ] 24.h1 f6 25.e3 [ 25.f4!? g5 26.g2 gxf4 27.xd5 d6 28.c4 fh5 29.xf4 xf4 30.xf4 xh2+ 31.xh2 xh2+ 32.xh2= ] 25...fh5 26.d2 d6 27.g2 g5 Black understands a bit late that his attack la ck s e n ou gh m at e ria l t o b re a k t hro ugh . 28.e2 e6 29.f4!? e8 30.d3 f8 31.g1 d7 32.f3 f6 33.e5 e6?! [ 33...e7 ] 34.c1 [ 34.e1! And it's Black's turn to be cautious. g4! ( 34...e4 35.c4 f5 36.c5 ) 35.ge2 xe5 36.xe5 xe5= ]
34...e4 35.c4 f6 36.xg6? Under pressure since the opening, W hite eventually cracks. [ 36.c2!! fxe5 37.cxd5 xg3+ 38.xg3 ( 38.g1 b6 ) 38...xd5+ 39.g2 e7 40.dxe5 f5 is roughly equal. ] [ 36.g4 h4! 37.xg6 xg4 ] [ 36.cxd5 xd5 37.c2 xg3+ 38.g1 xd4+ 39.f2 e2+ 40.xe2 fxe5 ] 36...f5! Traps the knight 37.c2 [ 37.g4 f2+ 38.xf2 xh2+ 39.xh2 xd3 ] [ 37.e7+ xe7 38.a3 e6 39.cxd5 ( 39.xa7 dxc4 40.a8+ d7 41.xb7 c3 ) 39...d6 40.xa7 xd5 ] 37...xg6 38.cxd5 f7 39.b6 axb6 40.a4 d6 41.gc2 xd5+ 42.g1 c6 0-1
2460 Predojevic,Borki Berg,Emanuel Norwegian League (2.5) [Richard Palliser]
A46 2602 2547 02.11.2013
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.d2 h6 4.h4 c5 [ Ivanchuk recently reached this position as W hite and faced 4...d5 , which must have pleased him. However, after 5.e3 c5 6.c3 c6 , rather than transpose to a fairly pleasant line of the Torre, he pref erred 7.f4?! . It's tempting to set up a Stonewall, of course, but unfortunately this asks too much o f W h i t e ' s p o s i t i o n . I n d e e d , a f t e r b6 ( E r i c r a t h e r l i k e s t h e s i m p l e 7...e7 for Black,; and even 7...g5!? 8.fxg5 h7 might be possible) 8.b1 d7 9.d3 d6 10.h3 ( keeping f3 free for the other knight 10.gf3 would be the natural move, but with g4 11.e2 g5! Black seizes the initiative, since 12.fxg5 hxg5 13.xg5 g3+ is not really what White wants to be doing) 10...e7 11.e2 c7 12.f2 0-0-0 13.a3 dg8 Black was slightly for choice in Ivanchuk-Zhao Xue, Cap d'Agde (rapid) 2013. ] 5.e3 [ Standard, although it's notable that Richard Pert p ref ers t he uncom pro misin g 5.e4!? in his recent work. ] 2417
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 5...e7 6.c3 b6 7.gf3 b7 8.d3 d6 Black often makes an early exchange on d4 in this variation, but there's nothing wrong with maintaining the tension as Eric has shown. 9.0-0 The Bosnian Grandmaster isn't afraid to give up the bishop-pair. In this tabiya practice has also seen: [ a) 9.h3 bd7 10.e2 d5 saw Black equ alisin g in P rie -Ab ergel, Ville neu ve Tolosane 2006, which can be found in the Archive. ] [ b) In his notes to his encounter with Abergel, E r i c a l s o c o n s i d e r e d 9.e2 and recommended that Black should then castle followed by a timely ...Nd5 or ...Nh5. A more aggressive plan is g5!? 10.g3 g4 and after 11.h4 g8 12.h3 h5 A) 13.0-0-0!? might be tried, since d5 ( 13...bd7 14.hxg4 hxg4 15.c4 c7 would be a more solid and pretty sensible approach from Black) 14.hxg4 xg4 15.f5!? exf5 16.xh5 gives White a surprisingly strong initiative for the piece; B) 13.hxg4 hxg4 14.e4 cxd4 15.cxd4 d5 chances were about equal in Nguyen Van Hai-Amin, Kazan 2013. ] 9...bd7 [ Continuing to develop along sensible lines, b u t B l a c k m i g h t a g a i n c o n s i d e r 9...g5!? when 10.g3 h5 is a typical anti-Torre ploy to net the bishop-pair. However, I'd be quite happy with this version as White, since it's not clear where Black's king is going. Moreover, 11.a4 begins to probe ( and 11.e4!? might be even stronger. )] 10.e4 0-0 11.e1 h5 This simplifying manoeuvre reveals the downside to White's set-up in Eric's view. Indeed, it's hard not to feel that Black should be fine here, but the position is far from unplayable for White, as we'll see. 12.xe7 xe7 13.a4 [ This move is rarely a bad one in the Torre, staking out some useful space, dissuading any notion of a minority attack by Black, and hoping to even obtain some pressure after a4-a5. In the only previous test of this pos ition which I cou ld f in d, the sligh tly mysterious or overly prophylactic 13.c1 was preferred and after f4 14.f1 fd8 15.g3 g6 16.g2 b5 Black obtained sufficient counterplay in Aguirre Izaguirre-
Sher, Oviedo 1993. ] 13...f4 14.f1 cxd4 15.xd4! [ This may not lead to the best ever version of an Open Sicilian for W hite which you'll see, but it does look like the best way to set B la ck s o m e p r o b l e m s. I n s t e a d , 15.cxd4 fc8 16.g3 g6 seems OK for Black and possibly even more than that in the event of 17.g2?! d5 (never forget to always consider all the pawn breaks!) 18.e5 b4 .] 15...d5? [ This break still feels very natural here, but runs into some surprising problems. As such, Berg should have retained the tension, such as with 15...a6 16.g3 g6 17.f4 ac8 when it's hard to believe that Black should be doing too badly in this unusual type of Sicilian. ] 16.g3 g6 [ The tactics may work for Black after 16...g5 in that he isn't losing material, but 17.a5 is still quite pleasant for White: for example, dxe4 18.xe4 xe4 19.xe4 d5 20.g2 7f6 21.e1 with a dream Catalan-like scenario. ] 17.a5! When White went a4 it looked like a useful move and now we get to see that the advance of the a-pawn really can pack a certain punch. bxa5 [ Not what he wanted to do, of course, but perhaps only now did Berg realise that after 17...dxe4? White can do much better than recapture . Indeed , 18.a6 d5 19.c4 traps Black's bishop mid-board. Material can b e sa ve d wit h f6 ( and not 19...b4? 20.a4 ) 20.cxd5 xd4 , but after 21.dxe6 fxe6 22.xe4 de5 23.xd4 f3+ 24.g2 xd4 25.ac1 the endgame looks most unpleasant for the second player to have to defend. ] 18.exd5 xd5 19.xa5 Predojevic has obtained everything he could ask for from the e a rly m i d d le ga m e wit h B la ck n o w u n d e r serious pressure on the queenside. b6?! [ A second mistake. Quite possibly Berg didn't like lines such as 19...f6 20.a4 , but after c7 21.a1 e5 Black does at least obtain a bit of counterplay in return for the falling a-pawn. ] 20.c4 f6!? 2418
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ A decent attempt to activate and so avoid 20...b7 21.c5 d5? 22.c6 when Black loses material due to the pin down the efile. ] 21.cxd5 xd4 22.dxe6 fxe6 [ This pawn won't last for long, so perhaps 22...ad8!? should have been tried. After the calm 23.e2 ( 23.e7 is a simpler approach and after xe7 24.xe7 xd2 25.xd2 xd2 26.b3 White enjoys a clear advantage in the endgame) 23...xb2 24.e1 fxe6 25.h3 h8 26.xe6 f6 27.xa7 White enjoys a strong initiative, albeit not as strong a one as he obtains in the game. ] 23.e2 xb2 24.xe6+ h7 I dare say that Berg may have hoped he'd be able to defend this position somehow, such as by giving up a7 to trade some pieces and hold the resulting 3 vs. 2 endgame. However, W h ite is ab o ut to in crea se h is in itia tive . 25.d3! Pinning if not quite winning. f6 26.e2 h8 Wisely stepping out of the pin, but the position remains most uncomfortable for Black on account of his kingside holes, we a k b a c k r a n k a n d p o o rl y co o rd i n a t e d pieces. 27.b5 d4 28.b3 Predojevic is quick to activate his pieces and continue creating threats. d6 29.c5 f8?! [ Too defensive. Black had to try and stay a c t i v e w i t h 29...d4 30.d1 d6 , unpleasant though his position would have remained after 31.h5 . ] 30.e4 Ratcheting up the pressure. Suddenly the d7-square is a major concern for Black as well as the b1-h7 diagonal. c8? [ 30...d8? fails to 31.e6 , ] [ and only a machine could find a defence here, which it does with 30...d6! . After 31.xb6 axb6 32.xa8+ f8 33.e4 xc5 34.e2 f6 35.c2 f8 Black is still on the board, although one's money would remain on a white victory after, say, 36.c7 g8 37.h4 . ] 31.xb6! xb6 32.d7 Not only will this regain the exchange, but the loose knight on g6 will finally fall. b4 33.xb6 xe4 34.xe4 Impressive powerplay from Predojevic. 1-0
2461 Prie,Eric Abergel,Thal L'Open de l'Ouest Toulousain (4.1) [Eric Prié]
A46 2467 2426 01.03.06
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 4.h4 b6 5.e3 b7 6.bd2 e7 7.d3 c5! 8.c3 d6 9.h3 White is obliged to prepare the transfer of his bishop onto the other diagonal with Bg3 with this move, in order to be able to play Qe2! As a matter of fact [ 9.e2 appears playable right now, something that proved too difficult for me to work out at the time. A) 9...cxd4 10.cxd4 d5 11.g3 b4 12.b5+ 8c6 ( 12...d7 13.c4! a6 14.xd6+ xd6 15.xd6 axb5 16.xb4 ) 13.0-0 a6 14.a3! axb5 15.axb4 0-0 ( 15...a7 16.a3 0-0 17.fa1 b8 18.e4 ) 16.xb5 d5 17.xa8 xa8 18.c1 xb4 19.c7 And White wins a pawn. e8 20.xb6; B) 9...0-0! However and then what?! 10.a3 The only move, with the white queen already committed to e2, in order to g u a r d t h e v i t a l s q u a r e b 4 . ( 10.0-0-0? cxd4 11.cxd4 d5 12.g3 b4 ) 10...bd7 All right but what about the next move? 11.0-0 ( 11.0-0-0 a6 With the pawn already on a3 and Black naturally faster, following up with b7-b5-b4, it does not seem very wise for W hite to castle q u e e n s i d e .) 11...c8 This position appears enjoyable for W hite but unfortunately I do not see any plan for me since on 12.e4 There is always ( 12.a6 c7; 12.fe1 e8 Followed by ...Qc7, or the Reti plan ...Rc7, and ...Qa8, ...a6, etc, now that the Be7 is protected. So Black is not out of good moves to strengthen his position either!) 12...h5! Grrr, damn bishop! 13.xe7 xe7 14.e3 cxd4 15.cxd4 e5 Unless of course to play 12.h3 a n d . . . B g 3 ! T h is wa s t h e s t r a w wh i c h sparked off the incident: If I have to play h2-h3 in any case, then the bishop would have been better placed on the b8-h2 diagonal in the first place! ] [ So the hyper subtle h3 proved the best I c o u l d c o m e u p w i t h s i n c e 9.g3? 2419
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 directly was firmly countered by h5 ] 9...bd7 10.e2 [ 10.a3 ] 10...d5! Unfortunately, my young opponent (now t he pos sessor of 2 GM norms) wa s awake that morning. [ 10...cxd4 11.cxd4 d5 12.e4! T h a t g o o d o l d t r i c k . c7 13.xe7 where it is a completely different story with the opening of the c-file. ] 11.g3 [ 11.e4 c7! 12.g3 ( 12.xe7 xe7 ) 12...cxd4 13.cxd4?! ( 13.xd4 a6 ) 13...f5 14.ed2 b4 ] 11...cxd4! 12.exd4 I have been caught, and forced to take back away from the centre, but I thought I could exploit some dynamic asset to make up f or it. 7f6!! No sooner was I disillusioned. 13.b5+ f8 14.a6 [ 14.h2 h5 15.g3 g6 followed by ... Kg7 was not much to my taste. ] 14...c6! The exchange of the bishops would give me a tempo and enough squares for the queen so that I could counter the installation of an enemy knight on f4 with the strong plan of Rfe1, c2-c4 and d4-d5. 15.b5 [ 15.c4 h5 16.xd5 xd5 17.0-0 A) 17...g5 18.c4 b7 19.d5!? exd5 20.d4 f6 21.d3; B) 17...g5 18.c4 b7 19.e4 f4 ( 19...f4 20.fd2 ) 20.c2; C) 17...xg3 Also, without unjustified fear o f t h e o p e n e d f - f i l e . 18.fxg3 g6 And W hite has nothing, at least... 19.c4 b7 20.f2 g7 21.e5 f8! 22.xf7? e8; D) 17...g6 Simply 18.h2 g7 And Black is slightly better thanks to his 2 bishops. ] 15...b7 16.a6 c6 17.b5 Ridiculous for the second time in a row with my pet Torre... ½-½
2462 Prie,Eric Dranischnikov,Egor Reinland-PfÃlz liga1 (6.1) [Eric Prié]
A46 2467 2289 29.01.2006
1.d4 f6 2.f3 I dropped the Tromp the year before, not because of its major problem, or at least the most easy to handle almost without preparation, especially for the Nimzo player, 2...e6, but because of more annoying reasons that I had besides glimpsed in these columns and that I will expose next month. So the switch to the Torre was easy f or me, practically overnight without any specif ic theoretical work to put in. Then I enjoyed the normal kind of success one should expect when one believes in what one is playing. After one year however - were my opponents more inspired or better prepared? The fine piece of strategy started to jam. And I begun to understand, not necessarily that there was something wrong in developing the bishop in the most natural way to g5 in this position, but that it also contained some inconveniences my opponent could take advantage of (with precise play) to level the game in an unsatisfactory way for me. So here are my last 3 games with the system which emphasize a crucial concern of this section about th e positioning of White's dark-squared bishop. e6 3.g5 b6 At this stage Black can postpone 3... h6 4. Bh4 which, in fact, repulses the bishop onto a slightly more favourable square away from ...Ne4 tricks. 4.bd2 [ 4.e4?! Gambiting the 2 bishops h6 ] 4...b7 5.e3 h6 6.h4 e7 7.d3 With his hyper-prophylactic move 3.c3 (before playing Bg5) against an opposing ...c7-c5 reaction, great Torre expert Mark Hebden believes he can still grind out some kind of edge by letting Black play ...Nf6-e4, exchanging at least 2 pieces, I do not. d6 8.c3 compulsory this time. [ 8.e2 d5 9.g3 b4 ] 8...bd7 [ 8...c5! 3 And White has no time for his plan. See game ] 9.e2 c5 10.0-0-0 Because of a small ta ct ical ide a, W hite h as b ee n ab le t o d o without a3 and it is fortunate with this set-up 2420
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 implying long castling! c7 [ 10...d5 11.e4! xh4 12.xd6+ f8 13.xb7 e7 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.xh4 xh4 16.b5 ] [ If Black wants to ensure the exchange of the bishops, then h e has to reduce th e central tension. 10...cxd4 11.cxd4 d5 12.xe7 xe7 But then White changes plan 13.a6 followed by some action on the kingside assuming that Black will castle there, facilitated by the contact point of h6, something that Black is deprived of on the opposite wing. If Black more castles qu e en s ide , W h it e will se t his ce n t re in motion with Kb1, g2-g3 (to control f4) and e3e4. ] 11.b1 a6 12.e4 White has obtained a nice position almost effortlessly and Black has to think twice before castling kingside because of the risk of a sudden aggression beginning with g2-g4. b5 [ 12...h5? 13.xe7 f4 ( 13...xe7 14.g3 ) 14.xd6 ] 13.e5?! Too early. some adequate preparation was required. [ 13.h3! Intending Bg3, possibly Bh2, and only then this thrust . It is here that th e awareness of the better placement of the bishop onto the London diagonal started to gain ground in my mind... ] 13...dxe5 14.dxe5 d5 15.g3 [ 15.xe7 A) 15...xe7 16.e4 xe4 ( 16...xe5? 17.d6+! xd6 18.xb5+ axb5 19.xd6 ) 17.xe4; B) 15...xe7! This square may be the ideal position for the black king! After the e x c h a n g e o f b i s h o p s t h e e 5 - p a wn i s weaker and that is obvious in the line 16.e4 xe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.xc5? xc3+ 19.bxc3 xc5 It is also more delicate to control f4 against that superb k n i g h t o n d 5 wi t h g 3 b e c a u s e o f t h e opening of the long diagonal which means that black will have sort of a f ree rein against the enemy castle ] 15...c4! 16.c2 c5 Sorry, no Nd2-e4-d6 now. 17.e4 Still, White has a subtle regrouping idea that will fail just short by one tempo... xe4 18.xe4 0-0-0 19.h4 [ 19.d2 g5 20.f3 xd2 21.xd2 e7 ]
19...d7 20.d2 hd8 21.f3 b6 22.e4 xd1+ 23.xd1 xd1+ 24.xd1 d7! because of the weakness of e5 forcing now... 25.d6+ [ 25.d4 c5 26.d6+? xd6! ] 25...xd6 26.exd6 xf3! Not under the best conditions because of this intermediate move. [ 26...c5 27.c1 ( 27.xb7+ xb7 28.f3+ d5 29.xf7 d1# ) 27...d5 28.h5! e5 29.f3 xf3 30.xf3 xd6 31.xf7 d3 The same problem in any case. ] 27.xf3 b7 28.xf7 e4+ 29.c1 e1+ 30.c2 e2+ 31.c1 e1+ ½-½
2463 Prie,Eric Dumitrache,Dragos Masters op Montpellier (9.8) [Eric Prié]
A46 2435 2514 15.07.2003
1.d4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.g5 We shall specifically discuss, some other time, the pros and cons of White's flexible and prophylactic second move that I had played for almost a year before moving on to the Trompowsky. However, one thing is clear in my opinion: B l a c k h a d b e t t e r p l a y 2 . . . d 5 le a v i n g h i s opponent with no other choice than playing another symmetrical, boring, equal London since now he has just transposed into another interesting line of the 2. ..e6 Tromp! Standing back from what happened to me in my game against Philippe last month, with 3.Nd2, I am close to believing that a clear transposition into the Torre with 3.c3 at that stage, in t e n d in g 3 . . . c5 4 . Nf 3 , m a y b e t h e m o s t suitable option for me in that system... c5 [ 3...h6 4.h4 b6!? This could be the slight problem of this move order. 5.d2 b7 6.gf3 W h a t e l s e ? e7 7.e3 e4! Now White will have to exchange a pair of pieces includin g h is good Tro mp-T orre bishop to regain control of the e4 square. It is important to note that such thing cannot happen in a proper Torre without a black ... c5:1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 h6 4.Bh4 b6 5. Nbd2 Bb7 6.e3 Be7 the Nf6 is ready to jump on e4 but... 7.Bd3 controlling the square just 2421
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 in time. 8.xe7 xe7 9.xe4 xe4 10.d3 b7 11.0-0 0-0 12.e4 d6 13.e1 e5 14.e2 c6 15.ad1 I had just made a draw in round 4 against Tony Kosten in this very position, with the black pawn still on h7 which does not seem to make any difference in
CBV to PDF
by Scorpionchess
Thanks to
Echai the master Uploader & his invaluable successor bandidobk
All friends who made the All in one Cbv
Dedicated to
Dearanna She inspired the idea
Introduction to the second Edition If the first edition had no introduction, the second need one ! The publication of the first edition of this series in 2013 represented an innovation in chess books shared at forums : It is part of a new trend that migrates from simple sharing to the creativity . This publication mainly benefited of the work made in the background by many forums members (Sharers, collectors, Cbv & pgn makers) and as I'm unable to name All, I just want to thank All of Them . Special thanks must go to the master sharer & Uploader Echai & his successor bandidobk : without their invaluable work & perseverance to update the chess publishing thread, this second edition would never have been released . This second edition has an updated material & also some improvements, especially to enhance readability ...and I will let you discover the rest . All your suggestions are welcome and will be as far as possible taken into account in the next editions. S.C 06/10/2014
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1 A00 Akopian,Vladimir 2660 Mamedov,Nidjat 2341 Open Dubai UAE (1) 28.04.2000 [Tony Kosten] 1.b4 The 'vice-FIDE World Champion' likes to play flank openings, although 1 Nf3 is his normal preference. e6 [ A more restrained approach than 1...e5 , but quite valid. ] 2.b2 f6 3.b5 White continues to gain space on the queenside. e7 [ 3...d5 4.e3 d6 5.f3 a6 6.a4 e7 7.c4 seems staid, but dissolved into mindboggling complications after dxc4 8.xc4 e5 9.g5! 0-0 10.c2 h6 11.h4! e4 12.c3 f5 ( 12...hxg5 13.hxg5 g4 14.xe4 f5 15.f6+ is very strong) 13.g4! (no let-up for Black) xg4 14.d5 e8 15.f4 axb5 16.c3 soon winning, Akopian, V-Ganguly,S/Goodricke Open, Calcutta IND 2000. ] 4.f3 0-0 5.e3 b6 6.c4 b7 7.e2 d5 8.0-0 [ The system's originator didn't obtain much after 8.a4 dxc4 9.a3 c3 10.xc3 d5 11.b2 f6 12.xf6 xf6 13.0-0 d8 in Sokolsky,A-Chekhover,V/Leningrad 1938, 1-0 (70). ] 8...bd7 9.cxd5 [ White keeps the play fluid, shutting the a1-h8 diagonal by 9.d4 is also possible, but less logical, e4 10.bd2 f5 Oliveira,LFigueiredo,F/BRA 1999. ] 9...xd5 10.c3 c5 Black must do this before White uses the b5-pawn to get a firm hold on c6. 11.bxc6 xc6 12.d4 b7 [ This new move is as valid as the alternative 12...xc3 when 13.xc3 b7 14.f3 xf3 15.xf3 offers little, Furlong,K-Wyeth,A/ Oxford 1998. ] 13.b5 An interesting way to continue, intending Qe2, and Rfc1, with play on the queenside, or Qg4, and f4 on the kingside. xc3 14.xc3 c8 15.f4 f6 Black has no particular problems here. 16.f5?! d5 [ 16...e5 17.f3 e4 18.d4 is less accurate. ] 17.e2 e4!? An original choice, Black allows the f-pawn to wind its way toward the king, but gains the bishop pair. 18.fxe6 xc3
19.dxc3 xc3! 20.exf7+ h8!? [ Playable, although 20...xf7 21.xf7 xf7 22.f1 is also fine for Black. ] 21.f5 c5 22.ad1 e5 The e3-pawn is a serious problem. 23.h1 g6 24.h4 xe3 [ 24...d6 25.f3 xf3 26.gxf3 xe3 27.f4 will probably lead to a drawish oppositecolour bishop position, too. ] 25.g4 d6?! [ This allows the exchange of queens, 25...c8 keeps an edge. ] 26.d4 xd4 27.xd4 e7 28.c4 W hite hangs on to his f -pawn, which will b a l a n c e t h e B l a c k p a i r o f b i s h o p s . g7 29.f3 c8 30.b3 c7 31.dd1 e2 32.h3 xf3 33.xf3 f8 34.fd3 ce7 35.d8 e1+ 36.xe1 xe1+ 37.h2 a5 38.g3 The different-colour bishops make this ending a draw. ½-½
2 Ardaman,Miles Anka,Emil Open Chicago USA (4) [John Watson]
A00 2324 2425 27.05.2006
Inspired by Tony's look at the openings that I have neglected, I've chosen a Pokish/ Sokolsky's/Orang-Utan opening to examine. With an average rating of 2375 I thought that at least the battle would be hard-fought and not the usual quick advantage and ultimate win for Black. It is somewhere in between. 1.b4 c6 [ 1...e5! 2.b2 ( 2.a3 d5 3.b2 f6 ) 2...xb4 3.xe5 f6 is the easies t way: Black plays ...0-0, ...d5, ...Re8, and ...c5 in one order or another. I always thought it was fun when something like 4.e3 0-0 5.c4 (establishing the central majority) e8 6.f3 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.e2? xe5! 9.xe5 f6 happened, based upon 10.f4 xe3 11.b3 xg2+ ] 2.e3 [ Here's an old trick from Sokolsky's book (late 1960's?), clever if not really worthy of high praise. 2.b2 b6 3.a3 a5 4.c4! axb4 ( 4...d6= ) 5.c5 c7 ( 5...xc5?? 6.axb4 ) 6.axb4 xa1 7.xa1 a6! 8.c3 1
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d6 9.d4 f6 , probably about equal, although Black is better-developed. ] 2...b6 This is one of the oldest anti-Sokolsky manoeuvres. Superficially, it makes more sense when W hite has played 2.Bb2 and Black's 2...Qb6 'pins' in b-pawn, but as we just saw that's nothing special either. 3.a3 a5 4.b5!? More of that clever-but-so-what stuff. d5 [ 4...cxb5 5.c3 b4?! 6.axb4 xb4 7.a3 yields more than enough compensation ] 5.f3 f6 6.a4 g4 7.h3 xf3! Taking over the centre without further ado. The bishops aren't really a consideration. 8.xf3 e5 9.b2 bd7 10.g4!? d6 11.e2 0-0 12.g5 e4 13.f5 d8 14.h4 All bark but no bite. e7 15.c3 ec5 16.f3 ae8 17.f2 d4!? [ 17...g6 18.h3 f6 favours Black's centralized position and weakness-f ree structure. ] 18.e4 dxe3+ 19.dxe3 xe4+ 20.xe4 f5 21.gxf6?! xf6 22.c4+ h8 23.ag1 cxb5 24.axb5 c5! 25.b3? d8 Uh-oh. The threat of ...Nd5 is a real problem. 26.c1 e4+! [ Better still 26...e4! ] 27.g2 d6 28.h5 d2 29.c3? g5+ 0-1
[ 6.xc7+ d8 7.e3 looks rather good, as xc7 8.d5+ forks king and queen. ] 6...b4+ 7.c3 e5 8.d5! This must have come as a surprise! a5 [ 8...xd5? 9.xc7+ f8 10.xd5 is overwhelming. ] 9.bd6+!! cxd6 10.xd6+ e7 Obviously forced. 11.xf7+ d8 [ 11...xd6? 12.f4 pins the queen. ] 12.f8+ c7 13.e8+ b6 Again Black has no choice. 14.e3+ Going for the attack (with every justification!) rather than play [ 14.xg7 xg7 15.xg7 which also looks good, as b4 is threatened. ] 14...a6 15.0-0-0 xc3? Not the best def ence, by any means, but Black is lost anyway, e.g. [ 15...g5 16.d6 ge7 17.f7 b5 18.b3 an d t he bla ck kin g, wh ich h a s n o lega l moves, is unlikely to last long. ] 16.bxc3?! While this move is winning, White has much neater moves: [ 16.d5! is the simplest, xb2+ 17.b1 xd5 ( 17...e7 18.c7# ) 18.c7+ a5 19.xd5 ] [ 16.a3+ is also strong, a5 17.bxc3 xe8 18.d5 b6 19.xa5+! bxa5 20.d6+ b7 21.f4 d8 22.d5+ b6 23.e3+ c7 24.xa5+ d6 25.xd8 etc. ] 16...ge7 [ 16...xc3+ is no help, as 17.b1 b4+ 3 A00 ( 17...ge7 18.c7+ a5 19.f4 ) 18.xb4 xb4 19.c7+ a5 20.xa8 Arwanitakis,Michael 2286 with a rook more. ] Woeber,Friedrich 2195 2nd Bundesliga Mitte 2005-6 (11) 26.03.2006 17.c7+! The only move to keep the win. [ 17.xh8 xc3+ 18.b1 b4+ draws. ] [Tony Kosten] 17...xc7 18.xh8 The attack has subsided, 1.c3 e5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 exd4 4.xd4 but White has an exchange and pawn more, f6? This move is fine in the Scotch, where a n d m e r e l y n e e d s t o c o n s o l i d a t e . a5 The queen heads back to the king's White hasn't yet developed the knight and has 19.xh7 f5 Menacing ...Qxc3+ again with a a pawn on e4, but here, amazingly, it just aid. perp. 20.d2 Both defending c3 and loses! Black might at least [ 4...f6 is Ivanchuk, V-Anand, V, see the threatening e4+. d6!? have tried archives. ] [ 20...xa2 when White should return 5.db5 c5 It is already too late to retreat: material: 21.xf5 ( 21.e4+ b6 22.f4! [ 5...d8? 6.f4 d6 7.d5 1-0 Santoro, Dshould also win, giving the king room to Roman, F/Buenos Aires 1987, although escape the checks) 21...a3+ 22.c2 Black persevered by d7 8.g3 a6 9.h3+ a4+ 23.b2 xd1 24.e4+ b6 25.d5 before resigning in Simon, P-Balcerak, M/ g4 (else Be3+ wins the queen) 26.d6! Nickenich 1996. ] and Be3+. ] 6.e4!? Not bad, but 2
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.e4+ b5 22.exf5 xa2 23.e3 e5 24.xd6+ a5 25.d2 a1+ 26.c2 b4 27.d4?? It is difficult to know quite what to make of the end of this game! [ 27.d5+ is elementary and forces mate: a4 28.b5+ a3 29.xa1# ] [ 27.d4?? allows Black to mate by b3+! 28.xb3 b8+ 29.c2 b1# so I think it must have been incorrectly noted. ] 1-0
4 Azmaiparashvili,Zurab Mahjoob,Morteza FIDE WCh KO Tripoli LBA (1.2) [Tony Kosten]
A00 2679 2478 20.06.2004
1.g3 f6 2.g2 d5 3.d3 e5 4.f3 d6 Less usual than [ 4...c6 of course, but perfectly reasonable. ] 5.c4 dxc4 Black aims for rapid development, [ 5...d4 leads to a Benoni-style position, and ] [ 5...c6 holds the centre. ] 6.a4+ c6 7.xc4 0-0 8.0-0 Play resembles a Reversed Dragon. g4!? Rather unusual, Azmai has had this position a few times, when [ 8...h6 was played, to control g5 and continue with ...Be6, 9.c3 ( 9.bd2 e6 10.c2 d7 11.e1 h3 12.h1 b4 13.b1 c5 is pleasant for Black, Azmaiparashvili, Z-Yakovich,Y/Kiev 1986) 9...e6 10.b5 b8 11.e3 d7 12.fc1 g4 13.d2 f5 with kingside chances, Azmaiparashvili,Z-Smagin,S/Minsk 1985. ] 9.c3 Best, [ 9.g5?! plans to exploit the absence of the black bishop from e7, but xf3! is a strong reply, 10.exf3?! Suttles,D-Karaklajic,N/ Chicago 1 97 3 a nd no w ( 10.xf3 d4 is the point, and the bishop can't move without leaving e2 en prise) 10...d4 threatens ...b5. ] 9...d7 10.d1 Better than [ 10.g5 when e6 11.a4 d5 12.d2 b6 13.d1 h3 with good play, Ivekovic, M-Medak,B/Zagreb 1997. ] 10...ab8 By defending b7 Black frees his c6-
knight to play ...Nd4, and prepares a tactical trick. 11.e3 White must take further control over d4 to stop the knight landing there. b5! 12.xb5!? Incredible, White sacs his queen for two pieces. [ 12.b3 e6 13.c2 b4 allows a black initiative, but this soon runs out after 14.e4 , say. ] 12...a5 13.xd6 Otherwise White loses a piece. xc4 14.xc4 This is the position White was aiming for, he has a solid structure, and both e5 and a7 are hanging. e6 [ 14...xf3 15.xf3 fe8 transposes. ] 15.xa7 [ 15.fxe5 xe2 ] 15...xf3 Black takes the pressure off the e5pawn, but this bishop will have a serious influence on the rest of the game. 16.xf3 e4! 17.g2 White prefers to keep this important piece, [ 17.xb8 exf3 18.xc7 fxe2 leaves the kingside looking a bit bare. ] 17...exd3 18.exd3 bd8 19.a4 White's plan is clear - he will push the a-pawn supported by the bishops. Black's problem is deciding quite how to stop it! f5 20.d4 fe8 21.a5 e2 Black counter attacks against the white king, at the moment the white pieces are quite far away. 22.d5 c2? Very poor, Black allows W hite to get his pieces coordinated with gain of tempo. [ 22...g4 is obviously superior, 23.f1 d3 24.e3 and now f5 with chances to both sides. ] 23.e3! xb2 24.d4 b4 25.a6 Now this pawn is almost unstoppable. b8 Not very good, but [ 25...d2 26.xd2 xd2 27.xf6 gxf6 28.a7 a8 29.d6 is also winning. ] 26.d6 Freeing the long diagonal. c6 27.xc6 xd6 28.xf6 [ 28.xf6 xf6 29.xd8+ xd8 30.a7 and a queen is born. ] 1-0
3
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 surely notice a three time repetition! ] A00 Basman,Michael J 2400 35.c3 d5?! This way Black only obtains a Bellin,Robert 2395 pawn for his piece. 36.exd5 xd5 37.h5 BCF-ch Edinburgh (10) 1985 xf3 38.exf3 a8 39.a4 Black is better, of course, he has an extra pawn, but his h and a[Tony Kosten] pawns are weak, and his chances of winning 1.g4 e5 2.h3?! This is also possible, but slim. a7?! 40.cc5 fa8 41.f4 a6 42.ce5 White will be better soon, if Black doesn't offer any noticeable advantages. c5 [ 2...d5! 3.g2 c6 would transpose to the continues to play this passively! h8 43.f5 c5?! 44.f4 White slowly improves his game Basman-Strauss. ] 3.c4 e7 4.c3 a5 5.d3 0-0 6.f3 bc6 position. g8 45.e6 [ 45.xc5 with advantage to White, is even 7.g2 d6 8.g5 Starting a kingside pawn better ] advance before Black plays ...Ng6, and ...f5, with a kingside attack. e6 9.h4 d5 10.cxd5 45...c4 46.bxc4 c8 47.e5 c5+ 48.d4 xd5 11.e4 White has managed to create ac6 49.xc6 The obvious trick [ 49.e8+ g7 50.f6+ fails to win, f7 a useful square for this piece. b4+ 12.f1 51.xc5 xe8 and Black is saved by his Unfortunately, White cannot play o u t s i d e , p a s s e d h - p a w n . 52.xc6?? [ 12.d2 as he needs this piece to protect would even lose after bxc6 ] his weak dark squares, Black would answer f4 Anyway, White is hardly likely to castle 49...xc6 50.g5 h6 51.g4 As is often the ca se in ro o k a n d p a wn e n din gs, W hit e 's kingside, anyway. ] 12...h8 13.h5 f5 14.gxf6 xf6 15.h4!? po sitio n a l p lu s is mo re im p o rta n t th a n a d4 16.g5? White is embarking on a material advantage. h7 52.d5 h5 53.e4 kingside attack, but he has overlooked a c7 54.e6 g7 55.c5 h4 This should lose, but Black was experiencing severe difficulties tactical point, no matter what he played. 56.g6+ h7 [ 16.h6 is better. ] 16...xe4!! A winning queen sacrifice. 57.g4 h6 58.f6 [ 58.xh4+ W a s sim p lest , a n d o n g5 17.xd8 xf2 18.b1 axd8?! 59.h8 xf5 60.a8 White will take the a[ 18...xh1+ 19.g1 xe2+ 20.xh1 pawn, and win. ] axd8 Should win at a canter, the white 58...h3 59.e6? position is a mess. ] [ 59.h4+ g6 60.xh3 xf6 61.h8 e7 19.f3 This is forced. g4! This is stronger 62.a8 still offered chances. ] than 59...c6+ 60.e7 c7+ 61.e8 [ 19...xh1 20.xh1 g4 ] Now the game peters out. h2 62.h4+ g5 20.h6 e4! 21.hxg7+ xg7 22.dxe4 c4 [ 22...xe2! Is convincing, for if 23.xe2 63.xh2 xf6 64.h5 e6 65.d8 c6 66.g5 f6 67.d5 e6 68.h5 f7 then c4+ ] 23.c1 xf3 24.xf3 d2 25.h4 e3+ 69.d7 g6 70.d5 f7 71.d8 e6 26.f2 xc1 Regaining the queen with a 72.h5 f7 73.d7 g6 piece as interest. 27.xc1 d1+ 28.g3 ½-½ e6 29.b3 c6 30.h1 And now, rather than e3 A00 [ 30...b2 was the best way of springing the 6 knight from the 'trap', e. g. 31.c2 d1 Basman,Michael J 2400 32.xd1 xd1 33.c1 d8 ] Keene,Raymond 2475 31.c3 d1 32.c1 e3 33.c3 Manchester Benedictine op 4th (7) 10.09.81 A whole piece down, White is very happy with [Nigel Davies] a draw, of course! d1 34.c1 but why didn't he claim it with this move? e3? This was After playing both Tony Miles and Raymond the last chance for Ke e ne in th is t ou rna m en t , Mike B a sm a n [ 34...b2 as on the next go White will commented to me that he thought that Keene 5
4
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 was much the better player. I think it's true that he was capable of the deepest and most stylish chess of any British player, but then Tony Miles was one of the greatest fighters I've ever met. In any case this game provides a great model for Black against the Grob. 1.g4 d5 2.h3 e5 3.g2 c6 Erecting a solid barrier of pawns against the bishop on g2. From an exponent of the Modern Defence one would expect no less! 4.d4 e4 5.c4 d6 6.c3 e7 Black's set-up makes perfect sense, protecting the d5 pawn whilst keeping open the option of ...f7-f5. Basman's next move seems designed against this move, but in giving Black the f5 square he ends up in even worse trouble. 7.g5?! [ Later in the tournament Basman improved on this with 7.g5 after which f6 8.d2 0-0 9.b3 h8 10.c1 a6 11.e3 f5 also gave Black the better game but by no means as crushing a position as he obtains after 7.g5 (Basman, M (2400)-Kudrin, S (2465), Manchester 1981). Of course none of this is much of an advert for the Grob from an objective point of view, though it can cause Black to get overexcited. ] 7...e6 8.h4 f5 9.h3 0-0 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.xd5 Apparently winning a pawn, but Keene has seen further. g3! 12.f6+ [ 12.fxg3 xg3+ followed by recapturing on d5 is just horrible for White. ] 12...gxf6 13.fxg3 xg3+ 14.f1 c6 15.e3 b4 The knight is coming to the blockading square on d5. 16.g2 d5 17.xg3 A bishop move might have been held on longer. xe3 18.d2 d6+ 19.f2 f4+ 20.f3 exf3 [ 20...exf3 21.xe3 xh4+ 22.xf3 d5+ is curtains. ] 0-1
7 Basman,Michael J Miles,Anthony J Manchester Benedictine op 4th (4) [Nigel Davies]
underestimate the strength of 8...Nf4, and secondly the position seems to be unclear after 13.e3. Of course none of it seems to be particularly promising for White... 1.g4 e5 2.h3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.c4 This all looks like madness but there is some method to it. White is fighting for the central light squares. dxc4 5.a4 [ Objectively speaking the best may be 5.xc6+ bxc6 6.a4 , but this is hardly an advert for White's system. ] 5...ge7 6.f3 g6 7.c3 e6 8.h4?! [ In retrospect maybe White should have tried 8.d3!? cxd3 9.g5 with some play on the light squares. And White is stopping 8... Nf4. ] 8...b4?! [ W h a t d o e s W h i t e d o a b o u t 8...f4 ? It seems like both players either overlooked or underestimated this move. ] 9.g5 d7 10.d5 0-0 11.c2 xg4 [ And here the other knight move looks good - 11...d4 12.e4 c6 13.xc4 b5 14.xf7 f6! seems to leave White in a lot of trouble. ] 12.e4 d7 13.xh7 Certainly spectacular but not the right move. [ White should prevent Black's knight from coming to d4 with 13.e3 after which xc3 14.bxc3 f5 15.xc4 e7 16.b3 isn't at all bad for White. ] 13...d4! 14.h5 f4 [ 14...f5! is also very strong, in fact White doesn't have a good move. ] 15.xf8 [ Both 15.h6 ] [ and 15.g1 are answered by f5 . ] 15...xf8 16.f1 White doesn't have any g o o d m o ve s h e r e . e8 17.xc4 c6 18.d5 c5 19.d3 xd5 20.g1 f4 21.e3 f8 22.g3 dxe2 0-1
A00 2400 2565 07.09.81
At first sight this game looks like a convincing win for Black but there are mistakes on both s i d e s . F i r s t o f a l l b o t h p l a ye r s s e e m t o 5
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 4.exd5 xg4 5.dxc6! xc6 with a clear A00 advantage to Black. ] Basman,Michael J 2390 Strauss,David J 2425 3...e5 And Black has his central constellation. [ This seems so natural, but, nevertheless, ch-GB Brighton 1984 Black has found an alternative in 3...h5!? [Tony Kosten] attacking the exposed white g4-pawn. 4.g5 f5!? ( 4...h4?! is too ambitious, 5.e4 dxe4 1.g4 d5 2.g2 A finesse, but one that does 6.c3 a5! 7.xe4 f5 and Black's lit t le t o h e lp t h e wh it e p o s it io n , if W h it e advantage is minimal, Skembris,Sdefends the g4-pawn, instead, by Gheorghiu,F/Skopje 1984.; but 4...e5 [ 2.h3 t h e n B l a c k c a n c o n t i n u e e5 must be best.) 5.f3 d7 6.h4! e6 with an 'ideal' start- control of the centre, 7.xf5 exf5 8.d3 e7 9.e4 c5 10.exd5 and an easy development. Still, after 3.g2 xd5 11.0-0 when, despite his loose Black normally bolsters his d-pawn by c6 kingside, White was doing OK, Reprintsev, reaching an identical position as that A-Rozentalis,E/New York 1997. ] brought about after 2 Bg2. ( However, Black d o e s h a v e o t h e r o p t i o n s , f o r i n s t a n c e 4.d4 This is an integral part of White's attempt 3...c6 when 4.c4 dxc4 5.a4 ge7 to drum-up some play against the black centre, 6.f3?! g6 7.c3?! e6 8.h4!? if White doesn't play this then it is difficult to was Basman-Miles, Manchester 1981, but it see what he will do: [ 4.d3 e7! this is a thoughtful move, the is difficult to believe that this position is knight will come to the square g6 where it playable for White, and my computer thinks can survey h4, and f4, two squares that that he is simply lost. )] were undermined by W hite's first move. 2...c6 This is the safest move, deterring White 5.f3 ( P i n n i n g t h e k n i g h t b y 5.g5 from playing c4, which is his main source of achieves less-than-nothing, b6 6.b3 g6 counterplay 9otherwise his g2-bishop will be 7.f3 c5 8.0-0?! h5 levering open the 'scotched' ), and genuinely menacing the g4wh ite kin gsid e, an d exp osing t he kin g, pawn. Yavez Acin,G-Sutovskij,E/Benasque 1996.) [ 2...xg4?! Is certainly playable, but 5...g6 6.c3 h4!? this leads to an edge unnecessary: 3.c4 c6 4.cxd5 White is for Black, but I would prefer to continue s o f t e n i n g - u p t h e h 1 - a 8 d i a g o n a l . cxd5 development, myself. 7.xh4 xh4 8.e4 ra t h e r ac qu ie sce n t , I su gge st ( 4...f6!? c5 Skembris,S-Ivkov,B/ Budva zt 1981. ] 5.b3 d7 6.c3 cxd5 7.xd5 c6 I like this move, which keeps control wh e n B l a c k e n jo ys f re e d e ve l o p m e n t .) 4...d7! 5.b3 f6 6.c3 e6 ( 6...c6!? 7.xb7 of the position. The alternative, and main line c8 ) 7.xb7 bd7 8.b5 c8 is [ 4...e4 gaining space, but this allows White wh ich is u n cle a r, P ollio t t o, A -Fige ac, A / t o a t t a c k t h e b l a c k c e n t r e , b y 5.c4 Montpellier - Masters 1998. ] as 5...dxc4 is not possible, because the e43.h3 pawn is en prise. d6 6.c3 e7 7.b3 [ The move 3.g5 seems to be taking the joke the game Tuturin,S-Nikitin,A/Moscow 1999, too far, e5 ( 3...h6 4.h4 hxg5 5.hxg5 continuing: h6 8.d2 c7 9.0-0-0 0-0 xh1 6.xh1 d6 is also promising.) 4.h4 10.g5 with chances for both sides. ] g4 5.c4 dxc4 6.b3 cxb3 7.xb3 c7 This loses pawn, now, but otherwise 8.c3 e6 and White's compensation for 5.c4!? the pawn is non-existent, Muller,E-Heitland, ho w do es W hit e ga in a ny a ctivity f or h is pieces? dxc4 6.c3 P/Dortmund 1987. ] [ B a s m a n h a s a l s o t r i e d 6.dxe5 [ The real point behind Black's second move and following xe5 7.xd8+ xd8 8.c3 is that 3.c4? is no longer feasible, dxc4 b4 9.e3 White had fair play for the pawn 4.b3 cxb3 5.xb3 e5 and Black is a pawn sacrificed, Basman,M-Dawson,K/Torquay up with a good position. ] 1982, but the simple 6...Qa5+ is better, 7 [ 3.e4?! Has been suggested by Skembris, Nc3 Nxe5 avoiding the displacement of the but f6! seems to be an effective reply, 8
6
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 king. ] 6...d6 7.f3 e7 Black calmly completes his development. 8.e4 c7 9.g5 f6 10.d2 exd4 11.xd4 e5 12.c3 d5 Objectively, White is quite lost, not only has Black consolidated his extra pawn, but his knights have found good squares. 13.d2 f4!? Black decides that he would prefer to take the light-squared bishop. Once more, this tactic exploits the lacunas of White's first move. [ 13...xc3 was, perhaps, simpler. ] 14.g1 xg2+ 15.xg2 d5 16.e3 0-0 17.d1 d8 18.d2 b6 A curious picture, both white knights are pinned. 19.f3 d3+? This is a strange combination, due to time trouble, I suppose, as otherwise, almost any move was good for Black, [ 19...g6! 20.g1 f8 to e6, is one possibility, as is simple development by ] [ 19...e6 , say. ] 20.exd3 xd4 21.xd4 xd4 22.xd4 xd4 23.dxc4 xd2 24.xd2 W hat a change ! Suddenly W hite has regained his pawn, controls the open d-file, and his uncastled king is well-placed in the centre! e6 25.b3 f8 26.f2 e8 27.f4 c8 28.d6 d8 29.c5 Black is being dominated. b6 30.b4 bxc5 31.bxc5 e6 32.f5 d5 33.b2 a5 34.a3 h6 35.e3 a8 36.h4 g8 37.f4 f8 38.g5 White increases his space advantage almost every move. hxg5+ 39.hxg5 fxg5+ 40.xg5 g8? Too passive, [ 40...a4! and if 41.b7 then a5 still held out some hope. ] 41.b7 f8 else White plays Kg6. 42.a7 f6?! 43.xg7+! xg7 44.e8+ f7 45.xf6 b3 46.g4 d5 47.e5+ e7 48.f6+ e6 49.f7 e7 50.g6 Black must give his bishop for the f-pawn, the rest of the game is without interest. xf7+ 51.xf7 e6 52.d6 d5 53.b7 c4 54.f5 a4 55.e4 b3 56.d3 xa3 57.c3 a2 58.a5 a3 59.xc6 1-0
9 Bauer,Christian Isik,Engin Yasar 23rd ECC Men (1) [Carsten Hansen]
A00 2626 2190 03.10.2007
1.b4 c6 This move is quite popular as an attempt to "refute" the Orangutan, but in my opinion, it is a rather dumb idea, particularly if Black proceeds as in the present game, which is the intention behind the text move. Black instead should play either 1...e5 or 1...d5. 2.e3 [ This move is supposed to prevent Black's i n t e n t i o n s , b u t e v e n 2.b2 which is supposed to be wrong on account of b6 3.a3 a5 and according to Black's scheme, White now has to play c2-c3 to avoid losing a pawn, but White instead plays 4.e3! axb4 5.d4!? ( even 5.axb4 xa1 6.xa1 xb4 is a p la yab le ga m b it f o r W h it e , th o u gh entirely unnecessary) 5...d8 ( 5...c5? is effectively met with 6.xc5! and if xc5 7.axb4 W hite wins) 6.axb4 xa1 7.xa1 d5 8.f3= ] 2...b6 3.a3 a5 4.b5! The availability of this move demonstrates the weakness in Black's idea, and demonstrates that White certainly has nothing to fear from Black's choice of variation d5 [ Black's alternatives are: A) 4...cxb5 5.c3 A) 5...b4 6.axb4 xb4 A1) 7.a4!? b6 8.a3 f6 9.c5!? d8?! ( 9...c7 10.b1 c6 11.b6 b8 12.c4 e6 13.b5 ) 10.b1 d5 11.b6 d7 12.b5 , and Black is being dispatched in brutal fashion: a6 13.xa5 g4 14.xa6 xa6 15.c7+ d7 16.b5+ 1-0 Andersson, LJansson/ corr 1987; A2) 7.b5!? c5 8.a3 b6 9.b1 d8 10.f3 c6 11.d4 ( 11.c5!? b4 12.c3 a6 13.d4 ) 11...d5 12.c4 e6 13.xf8 xf8 , so far Raeva, E-Videnova, I/Vratsa BUL 2007, and now 14.e2; A3) 7.a3 b6 A3a) 8.b1 e6 9.f3 d6 10.d4 g6 11.d3 xg2 12.e4 h3 13.d5! , and Black is very much in trouble, and in lack of a good answer to the threat of Nd5-c7+ ( 13.e2 f6 7
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.xf6 gxf6 9.xb5 d5 10.f3 f5 wi t h a c o m p l i c a t e d g a m e , t h o u g h 11.c4 c8 12.bd4 with approximately W hite's chances seem pref erable, even chances, Bernhard, A-Liedtke, A/ Bennett, H-Gibbons, R/Auckland Ruhrgebiet 1998; 1996 ); B) 5.c4 A3b) 8.d5! c6 B1) 5...g6 6.b2 g7 7.f3 0-0 A3b1) 9.e4! a6 10.f3 g6 ( 7...d6 8.c3 0-0 9.e2 bd7 10.d4 11.d3 f6 ( 11...xg2? 12.g1 e8 11.0-0 c7 12.b3 e5 13.fd1 h3 13.xa6 xa6 14.c7+ d8 e4 14.d2 f8 , and White's chances 15.xa6 bxa6 16.e2+- ) 12.e5+-; seem preferable, Basman, M-Smith, A/ A3b2) 9.c4?! b5 10.f3 e6 Torquay 1998) 8.e2 d6 9.0-0 e5 11.e5 b7 12.f3 d6 13.b6 10.d4 e4 11.fd2 cxb5 12.cxb5 d5 ( White can finish Black off with 13.c3 e6 14.a4 d6 15.c5 b6 13.c5! dxe5 14.xb5+ d8 15.c6 16.xe6 xe6 17.c1 a7 18.c3 xb5 16.xf7 xc6 17.xf8+ e8 19.c2 f8 20.c1 d6 e8 18.d6+ d7 19.b6+ e8 , Borkowski, A-Pedersen, C/Frome 1998, 20.c7++- ) 13...a7 14.xf7+ and now 21.a4 (intending Ba3 - the xf7 15.xf7 xf7 16.xc8 b4 exchange of the dark-squared bishops 17.b2 with a clear advantage for will help W hite penetrate Black's W hite, Rudenkov-Strugatsch/corr queenside) b4 22.c8 ae7 23.b1 1988; ( 23.f1!? ) 23...g7 24.a3 xc8 B) 5...f6 25.xc8; B1) 6.xb5 B2) 5...d5 6.c3 ( 6.d4?! g4 7.f3 B1a) 6...d5?! 7.f3 c6 8.b1 d8 f5 8.c5 c7 9.b6 d8 10.d3 xd3 9.d4 f5 10.d3 e4 11.h4 e6?! 11.xd3 bd7 12.b2 e5 ( 11...d7 12.f3 f6 13.0-0 e6 with chances to both sides, Gibbons, R14.e4 ) 12.xf5 exf5 13.0-0 Koeller, O/Auckland 2004) 6...e6 7.d4 Lu k ovs ki, L-B erger, G/ W ie sba d e n ( 7.f3!? ) 7...dxc4 8.xc4 c7 9.f3 2001; d7 10.b3 Stejskal, D-Pachmann, A/ B1b) 6...d6 7.c4 g6 8.b1 g7 CZE 1995 ] 9.e2 0-0 10.a4 a6 11.a3 c6 12.f3 c5 13.0-0 1-0 Sticker, O- 5.bxc6 [ This isn't necessarily White's best move, as Werner, A/Ladenburg 1992; he has a few alternatives at this juncture, B2) 6.xb5 e6 7.b1 which a ll d eserve re co gn it io n: A ) 5.c4!? B2a) 7...c7 8.f3 e7 9.0-0 0-0 dxc4 6.xc4 f5 7.c3 f6 8.f3 e6 10.b2 ( 10.e2 d6 11.b5 c6 1-0 Steffens, O-Doescher, A/Germany 2000 12.c4 ) 10...d5 11.d3 d7 12.d2 9.d3 e7 10.e4 g6 11.0-0 0-0 ] c8 13.xd7 bxd7 14.fc1 e5 [ B) 5.b2 f5 15.b5 b8= Kreuzer-Kern, M/corr A) 6.c4!? e6 7.f3 f6 8.c3 e7 1994; 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.e5 ( 10.e2!? bd7 B2b) 7...c6 8.f3 e7 9.b2 11.h4 g6 12.0-0 ) 10...0-0 11.g4!? ( 9.0-0 0-0 10.d4 d5 11.d3 ) e4 12.xe4?! ( 12.f3 d6 13.d4 g6 9...0-0 10.g5 c5 11.h4 ( 11.f4 e5 14.h4 ) 12...xe4 13.h4 f6 14.f3 d7 12.fxe5 xe5 13.f3 ) 11...d5 12.d4 15.d3 d6 16.a4 f7 is better for Black, d6 13.d3 h6 14.f4 xd4 15.exd4 but undoubtedly White felt more xf4 16.h3 g3+ 17.f2 xg2 comf ortable than Black in this type of 18.e2 , and it is doubtful Black has position, and actually went on to win in the sufficient compensation for the piece, e n d , M a e u re r , C - O b e r s t , T / G e r m a n y Poley, V-Daurelle, H/ St Lorrain 2005 ] 2001; [ B) 4...f6 B) 6.c3 a4 trying to annoy White by not A) 5.b2 cxb5 ( 5...d6!? ) 6.d4 d8 a l l o w i n g a 3 - a 4 7.f3!? ( 7.g4!? 7.c3 ( 7.xb5 e6 8.f3 ) 7...c6 8
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 looks fun and isn't altogether bad either) 7...e6 8.e2 d6? A bad blunder that i m m e d i a t e l y l o s e s m a t e r i a l ( 8...f6 is better, but W hite is still doing well: 9.b1!? ) 9.xd5 cxd5 10.xg7 f6 11.d4! g6 ( 11...e7 12.xh8 d7 13.g7+- ) 12.xh8 f7 ( 12...f7? 13.h5!+- ) 13.h4 e5 14.h5 e4 15.d3! xg2 16.g1+- Schuehler, E-Muller, M/ DDR 1990 ] [ C) 5.f3 f6 6.a4?! ( White can do better with 6.c4!? cxb5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.b2 c6 9.c3 xc3 10.xc3 and White has ample compensation for the pawn) 6...g4 7.h3 xf3 8.xf3 e5 ( 8...bd7!? ) 9.b2 bd7 10.g4 d6 11.e2 0-0 0-1 Ardaman, MAnka, E/Chicago USA 2006 ] [ D) 5.a4 f6 ( 5...e5 6.b2 d7 looks comfortable for Black, but isn't particularly bad for White either) 6.b2 g4 7.e2 xe2 8.xe2 bd7 9.f3 e6 10.0-0 c8 11.c1 d6 12.c4 dxc4 13.xc4 1-0 Marinelli, G-Petronelli, A/corr 1997 ] 5...bxc6 6.c4 f6 7.c3 e6 8.f3 e7 9.b1 d8 [ 9...c7 10.b2 a6!? ] 10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 bd7 [ 11...a6!? ] 12.d4 [ This will take the game to a pawn structure akin to a sort of Meran Defence where Black has played ...a6 and ... b5, followed by the exchange ...bxc4. Instead White can also consider keeping the game in flank opening s t y l e , b y g i v i n g p r e f e r e n c e t o 12.d4!? , e.g. c7 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.cb5 c5 15.a4 ( 15.d3!? ) 15...b6 16.c2 c5 17.c3 c7 18.a3 a6 19.db5 ] 12...dxc4?! [ This looks perfectly normal, but Black will do better to play 12...a6 , e.g. 13.cxd5 ( 13.c2 dxc4 14.a4 c5 15.dxc5 xc5 16.b6 b8 17.xc4= ) 13...xe2 14.xe2 cxd5 15.b2= ] 13.xc4 c5 14.e5! [ 14.dxc5 c7 is perfectly fine for Black ] 14...xe5 [ 14...d6 15.f4 cxd4 16.exd4 b6 17.d3 ] 15.dxe5 xd1
[ Or 15...d7 16.f4 ( 16.f3 b8 17.xb8 xb8 18.g3 d7 19.e4 h4 20.f4 h6 21.b5 ) 16...b6 17.xd8 xd8 18.a2 a6 19.d1 ] 16.xd1 d7 17.f4 b8 18.b5 [ This move is entirely logical, preventing the exchange of a pair of rooks and tying Black down, but White can also consider 18.d2!? d8 19.e1! xb1 20.xb1 f8 21.a4 , and White's position of domination is close to a winning one as well. ] 18...d8 19.b2 f8 [ Or 19...b6 20.xd8+ xd8 21.e4 d5 22.a4 ] 20.xd8 xd8 21.d2 [ W hite can also opt for 21.e4!? d7 22.a4 xb5 23.xb5 xb5 24.axb5 with an advantage for White in the endgame, but W hite undoubtedly preferred to stay clear of heavy exchanges against his much lower-rated opponent. Often keeping pieces on the board will allow the weaker player greater opportunity to play inferior moves thu s lo se b y h is o wn h an d, ra th er t ha n White's superior skill. This will also come to pass in the game. ] 21...e7 [ Black can try to save a tempo over the game continuation with 21...b7 22.a4 f6 , but W hite can then choose a dif ferent approach: 23.c4! fxe5 24.f5 f7 25.fxe6+ e7 26.b2! xe6 27.d5 xd5 28.xd5+ d6 29.xb8 xd5 30.b5 ] 22.a4 b7 23.a3 f6?! [ White's advantage appears rather comfortable at this juncture, but with aggressive counterplay, Black can stay in t h e g a m e , e . g . 23...g5 24.f2 c8 and Black's position isn't that easy to penetrate, for instance 25.c4 c6 26.d1 d7 , and Black has almost levelled the game ] 24.exf6 xf6?! [ The text makes very little sense, as Black's dark-squared bishop's influence on the play from its new position on the a1-h8 diagonal will be of a rather temporary basis, whereas the def ect of the pawn structure is of a more permanent basis. Therefore 24...gxf6 deserves consideration, e.g. 25.f5!? f7 ( 25...exf5 26.d5 xd5 27.xd5 9
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 also looks appealing for W hite, but may actually be Black's best) 26.fxe6+ xe6 27.g4 f7 28.c4+ e8 29.b5!+- ] 25.d1 The knight is en route to c4 via b2. c8 26.c2 e7 27.b2 d8 28.f2!? [ This is probably okay, but more appealing seems 28.c4!? d1+ 29.f2 a1 30.d2 d5 31.b2 h1 32.g3 , and Black is more or less forced to xc4 33.xc4 f7 34.b5 , and White is undoubtedly on top: W hite's minor pieces are far stronger than their black counterparts and Black's a5-pawn is doomed after a white Bc3 ] 28...e4 29.e2 g6?! [ This is a weird move that pretends to activate the knight, but in fact misplaces it and takes the protection away from the weak e6-pawn. A more active alternative is 29...g5!? 30.c4 gxf4 31.exf4 d3 32.xa5!? xe2 33.xe2 f7 34.c6 c8 35.e5+ f6 36.g3 d6 37.c4 e7 38.a5 b8 39.a6 , and White should win. Nevertheless this line challenges White far more than the path chosen by Black in the game. ] 30.g3 f7 31.c4 d1 32.e1 d3 33.c1 c3 34.b2 b3 35.a1 d3 [ This loses an exchange, but even after the better alternative, White is winning: 35...d5 36.xa5 a3 37.b2 a2 38.e2 d8 39.c6 with an extra pawn and better coordinated pieces ] 36.xa5 xb5 37.xb3 xa4 38.d2 The next target is Black's c-pawn. f8 39.c1 d7 40.b2 b5 41.a3 e5 42.e4 Now the c-pawn is forced forward with an exchange of the dark-squared bishops as a re s u l t , m a k i n g W h i t e ' s win si m p l e r . exf4 43.exf4 c4 44.xe7 xe7 45.d2 c5 46.e3 d3 [ 46...b3 47.b1 xd2 48.xb5 c3 49.d3+- ] 47.b1 and with the c-pawn dropping as well, Black finally called it a day. 1-0
10 Bellon Lopez,Juan Manuel Pecorelli Garcia,Humberto Premier Casablanca [Tony Kosten]
A00 2465 2460 1997
1.c3 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.xe4 f5 4.g3 Just as in the Caro-Kann, but [ 4.f3!? is also possible, and lends a more o r i g i n a l f l a v o u r t o t h e p o s i t i o n d5 ( 4...xe4?! 5.xe4 c6 6.c4 f6 7.e2 e6 was solid, if not particularly inspiring, in Spice,A-Angus,J/4NCL967-HE:SWD 1997,; and 4...e6 5.g3 xc2 6.xb7 d7 7.b5 is probably playable for Black, as well ) 5.d6+ xd6 6.xf5 c6 7.b5 f6 and Black has obtained a lead in development in exchange for the bishop pair, Marroleni-Foguelman, Argentina 1969. ] 4...g6 5.d4 Once again, White continues as if in a Caro-Kann [ White can also choose a set-up with the dpawn on d3 instead of d4, e.g. 5.h4 h6 6.f3 d7 7.c4 e6 8.d3 although, following gf6 9.e2 d6 10.h5 h7 11.d2 e7 12.0-0-0 b6 13.b3 a5 Black's position was quite promising, Van Geet,D-Prins,L/ Amsterdam 1970. ] 5...d7 6.h4 Completely standard in these formations, White will try to exploit the active black queen's bishop's placing to advance his kingside pawns. [ 6.f3 e6 7.h4 h6 8.h5 h7 9.d3 continuing just as in the Caro main line, Isler, P-Mantovani,R/Lugano SUI 1999, is probably not so bad, but, providing Black chooses a line where he plays ...c5 in one go, rather than by passing by the c6-square, he should equalize easily. ] 6...h6 7.h3 Coming to f4, this promises White little, objectively. e6 8.f4 h7 9.c4 White raises the possibility of a later sacrifice on e6 gf6 10.0-0 This looks odd with the white h-pawn on h4, and may well backfire at some stage. White is following a line of the Caro-Kann, but Black profits, as ever, from the extra tempo gained from not having played ...c6. b6! The extra piece developed (in the corresponding Caro-Kann position, this knight is still on b8) gains a further tempo. 11.b3 d7?! Keeping a close eye on e6. In a similar 10
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 position from a famous Tal-Botvinnik World Championship game (1960), Tal sacrificed his knight on e6, by Nxe6 fxe6 Bxe6, when the e6-bishop cut the black position in two. [ That said, I think I would pref er 11...c5 myself, striking at the centre. The black qu e e n p ro ve s t o b e ve ry u n f o rt u n a t e l y placed. ] 12.e1 e7 13.gh5 It seems that Black is in trouble, his g-pawn is menaced, and f8 This is hardly any better [ 13...0-0?? loses on the spot to 14.xe6 fxe6?? 15.xe6+ winning the queen ] 14.xe6! Crunch! Bellon is not known for his fear of sacrificing. c5 Sad, but what else? [ 14...fxe6? Loses the queen after the sequence 15.xe6+ e8 16.hxg7+ f7 17.c5+ ] 15.xf6 xf6 16.xf6!! And again, Black is a llo we d n o re s p it e . gxf6 17.h5 c4 Trying to keep one of the white pieces out of the game 18.xh6+ Not bad, but [ 18.xc4! was strong, for if xc4 then 19.d5 wins, for example g6 20.xh6+ ( 20.xh6+ is f lashier, but, af te r xh6 21.xh6+ e8 22.xf6+ e7 23.xd7 xd7 W hite has a lot of work to do.) 20...e8 21.f3! with a decisive attack. ] 18...e7 19.d2 f5?! Of course, it is difficult to defend such positions precisely, but 19...Qd6 would have been better, so as to offer some protection to the black king when it w a n d e r s t o t h e q u e e n s i d e . 20.h5? A mistake, throwing away a brilliant victory, the right path was [ 20.e1+ d7 21.g7! cxb3 22.xf7+ and Black can resign, as the white pieces move in for the kill, e.g. c8 23.e8+ xe8 24.xe8+ c7 25.e6+ d6 26.b4+ d5 27.c7+ c4 28.axb3+ xb4 29.e1# What a wonderful finish! ] 20...g6 Suddenly, Black defends his position and the material advantage will prove decisive. 21.g3 xh6 22.xf5+ xf5 23.xh6 cxb3 24.c3 bxa2 25.xa2 e6 White has only two pawns for his piece, and his light squares are weak. 26.a1 a6 27.f4 h8 28.g3 h5 29.f3 b3 30.e1+ d7 31.g2 a5 Black is going to target the weak b2-pawn. 32.g4 a2 33.c1 c4 34.e2 White is tied-up and the win is just a matter of
time. d1 35.e1 c2 36.h5 h7 37.e2 a1 38.h6 a2 39.c1 a5 40.f2 a1 41.h6 b1 42.f4 xb2 43.xb2 xb2 44.f5 a4 White has had enough. 0-1
11 Bilek,Istvan Geller,Efim P Havana [Nigel Davies]
A00
1971
1.g3 d5 2.g2 c6 [ Black can also play the immediate 2...e5 when 3.d3 f6 4.d2 c6 5.e4 transposes back into the game. ] 3.d3 [ Black's move order also presents White with the opportunity to play a Reversed Leningrad Dutch with 3.f4 , for example g6 4.f3 g7 5.d3 b6 6.c3 f6 7.e3 g4 8.0-0 bd7 9.c2 xf3 10.xf3 0-0 11.d4 e6 12.d2 e8 13.b3 f5 14.c4 led to a tough positional battle in Larsen, BDay, L/St John 1970. ] 3...f6 4.d2 e5! 5.e4 [ It's risky to play 5.gf3 here because of e4 6.dxe4 dxe4 7.g5 e3 8.fxe3 g4 . ] 5...c5 [ After 5...d6 6.gf3 0-0 there's a good c a s e f o r p r e v e n t i n g . . . B g 4 w i t h 7.h3 , for example e8 8.0-0 bd7 ( 8...a5 9.e1 a6 10.d4! dxe4? 11.xe5! gave W hite an edge in Sax, G-Martin, A/ Hastings 1983) 9.a3 a5 10.e1 d4 11.f1 b5 12.g4 f8 13.g3 c5 14.g5 6d7 15.f5 c7 16.h2 e6 17.h4 and W hite had attacking chances on the kingside in Rigo, J-Groszpeter, A/Kecskemet 1979. ] 6.gf3 0-0 7.0-0 e8 8.h3 bd7 9.h2?! After this passive move Black has a good game. [ W hite should play 9.exd5 cxd5 10.d4 when exd4 11.b3 d6 12.bxd4 gives White play against Black's isolated dpawn. ] 9...a5 10.exd5 cxd5 11.d4 exd4 12.b3 b6 13.bxd4 e4 If anything White would prefer to have his king on g1 here so as to 11
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 protect f2. 14.c3 df6 15.f4 h5 16.d2 d7 17.e1 [ 17.g1 may be White's best, but this would represent a difficult admission. ] 17...hf6 18.a4 c8 19.g1 d6 20.ge2 c4 21.b3 d6 22.d3 de4 23.d1 e7 24.f3 c5 25.c2 c7 26.h1 h5 27.f2 g5 28.f4 h6 29.f5 xf5 30.xf5 e4 31.xe4 dxe4 32.e3? [ 32.g2 would have been much better, when White doesn't stand at all badly. ] 32...g6 33.g5 xg5 34.fxg5 xg3+ 35.xg3 xg3 36.d7? [ 36.c4 would have made a better fight of it. ] 36...xc3 37.fxf7 e5 38.f4? f3 39.xh7 xf4 40.h6 e6 0-1
14.c3 e7 Black's manoeuvre seems timeconsuming but he hopes to weaken the white queenside and dissuade White from putting his king there. The last thing a strong player wants is to be attacked by a weaker one in an opposite-castling situation! 15.e5 xe5 16.xe5 0-0-0 A wise decision, castling kingside would encourage White to attack: [ 16...0-0!? 17.f1 d5 18.0-0-0 ( 18.xg7?! xg7 19.xd5 allows xd3! 20.xd3 exd5+ ) 18...ad8 19.g4 f6 20.f4 with mutual chances. ] 17.f3?! The queen was better-placed where she stood, [ 17.0-0!? is possible, White's pressure along the f-file should insure against any black attack. ] 17...hg8 An odd move, played to defend g7, of course, but 12 A00 [ 17...c5! is strong, hitting the e5-bishop, 18.f4 ( 18.xf6?! gxf6 19.xf6? b5 Brameld,Arthur F 2076 20.b3? e3+ mates ) 18...f5 with a real Ward,Christopher 2513 plus. ] Jersey Open Jersey JCI (1) 16.02.2003 18.f1?! [Tony Kosten] [ 18.0-0-0 seems more logical, with equal chances, or ] 1.c3 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.xe4 f5 4.g3 [ 18.0-0 although c5+ 19.d4 xd4! g6 5.h4 I discussed this move in the notes 20.cxd4 xd4+ is pleasant for Black. ] to Bellon Lopez,J-Pecorelli Garcia,H/ Ca p a b la n ca P re m ie r 1 9 9 7 , whe re W h it e 18...f5 [ 18...c5! is possible, once again, 19.d4 preferred to play in Caro style with xd4! 20.cxd4 b4+ 21.d1 xb2 [ 5.d4 ] and the white position is a mess. ] 5...h6 6.h5 g4 White's prevarication should [ 6.f3 d7 7.h5 may transpose, h7 19.a4?! 8.d4 Mestrovic,Z-Rouchouse,S/Cannes now cost him dear, 20.e2 [ 20.f4?! h2 wins an exchange. ] 1 9 9 5 , a g a i n wi t h a C a r o - K a n n t y p e o f 20...xe5 21.xe5 xd3?? Messing-up his position. ] 6...h7 7.c4 For what it is worth, this seems large advantage. [ 21...g5 hits h5, and after 22.h1 xd3 new, but of course the position is quite rare. Black wins a key pawn. ] [ 7.f3 c6 8.c4 e6 9.d3 occurred in Ha inzin ge r, J-Do pp e lh a m me r, H/ A u st ria 22.xf7! Ouch! This must have been a shock to our gallant Dragon expert. d6 1999. ] [ 22...xf7 23.xe6+ wins the queen with 7...e6 8.f3 d6 9.d3 This seems more in check. ] the spirit of the opening than [ 9.d4 which is like a Caro-Kann where Black 23.xe6+ [ 23.xe6+ xe6+ 24.xe6+ b8 has avoided ...c6. ] 25.0-0-0 is simpler, White has a 9...f6 10.e2 xg3!? An interesting considerable advantage. ] decision, conceding the bishop pair to weaken t h e w h i t e k i n g s i d e . P e r h a p s B l a c k w a s 23...b8 24.xd6 xd6 25.e7 gd8 26.0-0-0 a5 27.g4 Quite a generous draw worried about White castling long after offer, but of course White was happy to draw [ 10...0-0 ] 11.fxg3 c6 12.d2 d6 13.f4 b4+ 12
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with a strong GM. ½-½
13 Collas,Didier Vehi Bach,Victor Manuel IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (9) [Carsten Hansen]
A00 2446 2381 30.04.2008
1.b4 e5 2.b2 xb4 3.xe5 f6 4.c4 [ In Palliser's "Beating Unusual Chess Openings", the coverage is mainly focused on 4.e3 0-0 5.f3 e8!? , and now 6.e2 ( 6.c4 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.a3 c6 9.b2 d6 10.e2 g4 is given as comfortable for Black and playable for White by Palliser) 6...d5 A) 7.c4 c5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.0-0 c6 10.b2 f5 11.c1 ( 11.d3 ) 11...e7 12.c3 ad8 13.a4?! f4! , and Black is clearly better, Akopian-Ponomariov, Verdun 1995; B) 7.0-0 bd7 ( 7...c5 8.c4 ) 8.b2 b6 9.d3 d7 10.c1 a4 11.a3 a5 12.d4 b6 13.f3 c5 14.e2 c7 15.bc3 g4 , is very good for Black as indicated by Palliser based on the game Vidoniak-Tiviakov, Gausdal 2005 ] 4...0-0 5.f3 d5 [ 5...e8!? 6.a3 ( 6.e3 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 4 transposes to the line given after e3) 6...a5 ( 6...f8!? is an interesting suggestion of Palliser's) 7.e3 ( 7.g3? d5! is very good for Black ) 7...d5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.e2 c5 ( 9...xe5?! 10.xe5 f6 11.c4 xa1 12.xa5 is a recommendation by Tony K on t h i s s it e a n d q u o t e d b y P a l l i s e r i n t h e above-mentioned book) 10.0-0 c6 11.b2 f5 12.b3 ( or 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 b6 14.a2 g6 with an initia tive f or Black) 12...b6 13.xb6 xb6 14.c1 a4 , and now m y computer was kind enough to indicate that W hite can play the surprising ( 14...d7! 15.c3 ce5 16.xe5 xe5 is more solid and about even) 15.xg7! xg7 16.b5! (the point behind the previous move) e4 17.d3 g4 18.h3 g6 19.xa4 , and White has the upper hand ] 6.e3 c5 7.c3
[ White has tried several other things at this ju n ct u re : A ) 7.a3 is probably White's best move a5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.c2 A) 9...e7 A1) 10.d3 g6?! (this is a curious decision with White's bishop already on the diagonal and Black's bishop stuck on a5) 11.0-0 c6 12.b2 e6 13.c1 b6 14.b5 ac8 15.d3 fd8 16.bd2 Szczepaniak-Kozun/corr thematic 1991; A2) 10.e2 c6 11.b2 a6 12.0-0 b5 13.c1 b6 14.c3 e6 15.d3 g6 16.e4 ad8 17.d4 c4 18.xd5 xd5 19.e4 xe4? ( 19...e6! is much better, e.g. 20.d5 g4 21.dxc6 xf3 22.gxf3 g5+ 23.h1 d2 24.d5 xc2 25.xc2 f5 26.xb6 f4 with unclear complications) 20.xe4 xe4 21.xe4 xd4 22.xd4 xd4 23.xd4 xd4 24.e1 , and White should win, KuperskiKozun/corr 1992; A3) 10.c4 e6 11.0-0 d7 12.g3 h6 ( 12...f6!? 13.a2 ac8 may be an improvement for Black) 13.d3 7f6 14.bd2 xd2 15.xd2 ac8 16.ab1 ( 16.h4!? ) 16...h5 17.b3 xg3 18.hxg3 Pilczuk, A-Sternik, R/ corr thematic 1991; B) 9...g4 10.xc5? ( While the pawn is hanging, this is definitely not the way to go, of course unless you're angling to be at the losing end of a miniature...Instead 10.b2 c6 11.e2 e7 makes much m o r e s e n s e) 10...c6 11.b2 c8 12.b5 f4! 13.g5 xg5 14.xg5 d4! 15.f3 c2+ 16.f2 f5 17.a2 xe3 18.dxe3 xb1 19.a1 c2+ 20.g3 h5+ 21.h4 xb2 22.xh5 c8 23.g4 c5 24.e4 c7 0-1 AlgyEvoker/ www.playchess.de 2002. White's provocative 10th move was punished with computer-like (or probably more accurately computer-assisted...) accuracy.; C) 9...c6 C1) 10.xc5?! is simply put too risky for White who is far behind in development and with a king stuck in the centre xe5 11.xe5 C1a) 11...e6 13
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 C1a1) ? - a poor move by White, instead W hite should have played 12.c4 though f6 13.d4! ( 13.a2?! b6 14.xa5 xc4 15.c3 e5 16.c2 f5 should win f or Black) 13...xd4 14.exd4 d8 15.c3 xc3 16.dxc3 c8 , and Black is clearly better; C1a2) 12.b5 c8 13.c4 (?) f6 14.a2 b6 15.xa5 xa2 , and Black wins is given in the new book by Lapshun, but may in fact be a line quoted from an earlier work by Sokolsky, but I can't locate my copy of that book; C1b) 11...f5 12.c3 xc3 13.dxc3 e8 14.f3 c8 15.xa7 xc3 16.xb7 e4 17.b2 xf3 18.gxf3 a5 ( 18...a4!? 19.d2 f6 ) 19.h3 b8 20.c2 was played in Scholbach, T-Roe, P/IECG Email 1999, and now Black should have played a4+ 21.d2 ( 21.f1?! b2 22.c6 d8 gives Black too much compensation for the pawns) 21...a6 22.e2 g6 , and Black has adequate compensation for the sacrificed pawns White's main concern is to get his king to safety, and then get his pieces coordinated, neither task being particularly easy to accomplish; C2) 10.b2 e7 11.d3 h6 12.0-0 e6 13.c1 b6 14.c3 C2a) 14...xc3 15.xc3 ( 15.h7+ h8 16.xc3 is at first given preference by my computer, but Black is fine after f5 17.g6 c4 18.d3 cxd3 19.xd3 ad8 with a complicated game. ) 15...f6 16.e4 ( 16.h4!? looks obvious and attractive, the light squares around Black's king are s c r e a m i n g t o b e e x p l o i t e d; Another move with the same intention is 16.c2!? f5 17.c4 xc4 18.xc4+ f7 19.c3 with a better game for W hite) 16...a5 17.c2 fd8 "looks about equal" in the Lapshun book.; C2b) 14...ad8 15.a4 g4 16.e1
a5 17.ab1 ( 17.xb6!? axb6 18.ab1 looks good for White, but isn't m e n t i o n e d i n t h e L a p s h u n b o o k) 17...c8 18.h3 e6 19.xb6 axb6 20.f3 c4 21.h7+ h8 22.d4 C2b1) From the Lapshun book: "Trying to win the h7-bishop, but this allows a tremendous attack on the b l a c k k i n g . I n s t e a d 22...b3! 23.xe6 fxe6 24.d1 h4 25.f3 C2b11) CH: 25...xf3!? l o o k s l i k e a n o b vi o u s m o v e t o examine, but isn't mentioned in the L a p s h u n b o o k , e . g . 26.g6 ( 26.gxf3 g3+ 27.h1 xh3+ ) 26...f2+ 27.h1 f7 28.xe6 c6 29.xd5 xh7; C2b12) 25...b5 26.e4 is unclear as Black enjoys some counterplay on the queenside". Again this may be a quote from an e a r l i e r b o o k, b e c a u s e t h e l i n e given has obvious holes in it and it begs for improvements for both sides, improvements which may be fairly easy to find.; C2b2) 22...c3 23.dxc3 g6 24.xg6 fxg6 25.c4 f6 26.xg6 xc4 27.xh6+ g8 28.g6+ h8 29.a1 f7?? 30.xe6 xe6 31.b5 1-0 Katalymov, B-Giterman, S/Novgorod 196100 ] [ B) 7.e2?! c6 8.b2 d4! 9.c2 e8 10.0-0 g4 11.a3 d7 , and White's position is decidedly unpleasant, Amor Alcaide, M-Ionescu, C/Berga 1994 ] [ C) 7.cxd5 xd5?! ( 7...xd5!? ) 8.e2 ( 8.a3! a5 9.xf6 gxf6 10.a4 b6 11.c3 is an easy improvement for White, leaving him with the better chances) 8...c6 9.xf6 gxf6 10.0-0 f5 11.d3 ad8! 12.a3 a5 13.e4 xe4! 14.dxe4 xe4 15.bd2 f4 16.g3 ( or 16.a2! d4 17.d3!? xf3+ 18.xf3 c4 19.a4 xd3 20.xa5 xf3 21.gxf3 xf3 22.e1 g4+ 23.f1 h3+ with a draw by perpetual check ) 16...h6 17.a2 d4 18.h4 xe2+ 19.xe2 xd2 20.f5 g5 21.xd2 xd2 22.f3 e8 23.xb7 b6 24.c6 e6 25.a8+ d8 , thus far Lalic, S-De Kleuver, E/ Delden 1993, and now 14
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.f3 d2 27.a8+ d8 leads to a draw by repetition ] 7...bd7!? [ This idea is quite attractive and proves difficult for W hite to meet. Earlier games have tested 7...c6 8.xf6 xf6 9.xd5 g6 ( 9...b2 10.a3 a5 11.b1 xb1+ 12.xb1 b6 13.e2 f5 14.b2 e4 15.f4 , Myrberg-Dubleumortier, A/corr 1996 ) 10.f4 ( 10.b3!? f6 11.a3 a5 12.b1 g4 13.d3 ) A) 10...h6! 11.e2 ( 11.d5 g6 of course invites a repetition of moves) 11...g5 12.d5 g4 13.g1 f5 , a n d B l a c k h a s m o re t h a n a d e q u a t e compensation for the sacrificed pawn.; B) 10...e4? 11.d3 e7 12.0-0 g4 13.d5 d6? ( 13...d8 14.h3 h5 15.f4 ) 14.xh7+ h8 15.xb4 xb4 16.a3 xf3 17.xf3 xh7 18.axb4 cxb4 19.d4+- c7 20.h5+ g8 21.b5 a5 22.c5 fb8 23.fd1 1-0 Kreuzer-Sikora, A/ corr 1995 ] 8.g3 b6 9.cxd5 bxd5 This position already seems rather comfortable for Black. 10.c2 [ This definitely doesn't look good, but the alternatives are also far from promising, e.g. 10.xd5 xd5 11.a3 a5 12.a4 b6 13.c4 h5 14.0-0 b7 , and Black has the more comfortable game, even if the bishop on a5 is somewhat out of the game at the moment. ] [ 10.b3 e6 11.c4 xc3 12.dxc3 a6 13.e5 b5 14.xd5 xd5 15.d1 f6 16.f4 c4 , and Black dominates the game. ] 10...xc3 11.dxc3 f5 12.b3 a5 13.c1?! [ White should have given consideration after 13.c4!? e4 14.e5 g4 15.c2 e8 16.xe4 xc3+ 17.e2 xf3+ 18.gxf3 xe5 19.ab1 b6 20.f4 d6 21.xe8 axe8 22.f3 , and while White is a pawn down, he has some drawing chances. ] 13...e4! This strong move completely ties White up, and soon his troubles become very evident. 14.e2 [ Here 14.c4 is met by g4 , preventing 15.0-0 on account of xf3 16.gxf3 d2 , though this actually looks like a better
chance for White than the game continuation. ] 14...b6 15.a3? [ Or 15.0-0 xb3 16.axb3 xc3 , and Black is a pawn up for nothing, yet this is better for White than the game continuation, which is completely untenable for White. ] 15...xc3! This elegant combination wins a pawn and leaves Black with a won position. It exposes the issues in White's camp, first an foremost the vulnerable uncastled king and the last of overall coordination of the white pieces. 16.xc3 b1+ 17.d1 ad8 18.0-0 xd1 19.c1 xf1+ [ Black can also reach winning endgame after 19...xc1 20.xc1 xc1 21.xc1 d8 22.h4 b4 23.c7 d7 24.f4 f6 , and Black shouldn't have any troubles converting his advantage. ] 20.xf1 b4 21.c1 d8 22.e5 e6 23.a3 c3 24.b1 b3 25.h4 f6 26.f3 xb1 27.xb1 b6 28.e4 d3! Now White cannot prevent the loss of the a-pawn and furthermore with the rook and bishops ready to support the passed c-pawn, W hite is in serious trouble. 29.b8 c4 30.xa7 c3 31.e1 d2 32.c1 a2 33.c2 b3 34.d4 [ Of course 34.b4? xb4 35.axb4 loses to xa7-+ ] 34...a4 35.b8 c2 This well-supported passed pawn will end up costing W hite at least a piece and the game is already essentially over. 36.f4 c3 37.e3 b2 38.e1 xa3 [ Black can play even more convincingly with 38...b5 39.h5 xa3 40.e2 d3 , and it is all over. ] 39.xc2 xc2 40.xb6 With an extra piece, this is of course easily won for Black, even if it takes a while to convert. b4 41.e2 a1+ 42.h2 d1 43.e3 d6+ 44.g3 a3 45.g2 h5 46.xa3 xa3 47.f3 f7 48.f2 e6 49.e3 c1+ 50.f2 d6 51.d4 a3 52.g2 c5 53.c3 c6 54.b2 b5 55.c3 c4 56.b2 d3 57.c1 d6 58.f2 c5+ 59.g2 e2 60.b2 d6 61.d4 c2 62.b6 e5 63.c5 g6 64.b6 f5 65.exf5 gxf5 66.d8
15
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a4 0-1
14 Davies,Nigel R Lev,Ronen Ramat Hasharon [Nigel Davies]
A00 2475 2480 1990
1.g3 d5 2.g2 c6 3.d3 [ Adopting a Reversed Leningrad Dutch f o r m a t i o n w i t h 3.f4 is also a pretty good idea. ] 3...e5 4.f3 d6 5.e4 e7 More ambitious than putting the knight on f6 in that Black is leaving his f-pawn free to advance. 6.0-0 0-0 7.c3 f5 Presumably attempting to punish me for not playing a proper opening, but Black is taking on a lot of responsibilities with this move. Pawns do not go backwards so one sh ou ld b e ca u tiou s ab ou t p ushing t he m . 8.exd5 xd5 [ 8...cxd5 9.g5 ( 9.b5 bc6 10.c4 is also interesting) 9...e4 10.dxe4 dxe4 11.d4 bc6 12.xc6 bxc6 13.d4 h6 14.e3 ] 9.d2 [ Varying from an earlier game which went 9.e1 d7 10.d2 e8 11.e2 7f6 12.ac1 d7 13.a3 e4 14.dxe4 xc3 15.xc3 xe4 16.d3 xc3 17.xc3 when Black was doing fine in Marangunic, S (2470)-Horvath, T (2200)/ Virovitica 1977. ] [ Another possibility is 9.xd5 cxd5 10.c4 when dxc4 11.dxc4 c6 12.d5+ h8 13.g5 gives White a temporary initiative. A sample line is c7 14.ad1 e7 15.xe7 xe7 16.d6 xd6 17.xd6 e4 18.d4 xd4 19.xd4 e6 20.f3 with the better endgame for White. ] 9...d7 10.e2 b4 [ 10...e8 was an interesting alternative, along the lines of Marangunic - Horvath. W hite might then do well to consider 11.xd5 cxd5 12.g5 e7 13.xe7 xe7 14.fe1 encouraging Black to play e4 when 15.ad1!? is interesting. ] 11.ac1 f6 12.fe1 a6 13.d1 Aiming to come to c4 via e3 and/or play Bd2c3. c7 14.e3 b6 15.f1 Black has
stopped Ne3-c4 so the knight seeks another route. e4?! [ Perhaps Black had taken fright at the t h o u g h t o f 15...d7 16.c3 but b5 17.xe5 xe5 18.xe5 f4 wouldn't be clear there. ] 16.dxe4 xb2 17.e3 xa2 18.c4 Attempting to cut off the queen's retreat, though it's not entirely clear that this was necessary. [ 18.a1 f7 19.exf5 looks very strong here , f o r example xf5 20.g5 e8 21.xf5 xe2 22.xe2 xf5 23.e4 wins the h7 pawn and leaves White with a powerful pair of bishops. ] 18...c5 19.e5 e8? Losing. [ 19...d4 was better, preventing White's rook from going to a1. ] 20.a1 b2 21.d3 d4 22.xc5 xc5 23.a5 d4 24.exf5 The f5 pawn is an important one and its loss has catastrophic consequences for Black. d7 25.d1 f6 26.g4 b6 27.a3 c5?! 28.c3 Forcing the win of the c6 pawn. g5 29.xc6 xf5 30.xa8 xa8 31.xa7 g6 32.h4 1-0
15 Dergatschova Daus,Anna Jussupow,Artur Jussopow-Clock Simul (1) [Tony Kosten]
A00 2214 2628 01.05.2000
1.b4 e5 2.a3 [ White wishes to avoid the tactical line 2.b2 xb4 3.xe5 f6 ] 2...d5 3.b2 d6 4.e3 f6 5.c4 c6 6.d3 [ Oddly, at such an early stage of the game, this seems to be a new move, 6.f3 e7 is also fine for Black, see the archives. ] 6...0-0 7.d2 e8 8.e2 White's development is restrained, but this simply allows Black to consolidate his centre. bd7 9.gf3 f8 10.c2 g6 11.g3?! [ White is worried about some threat to his kingside, but this weakens his light squares. 11.0-0 is best. ] 11...a5 12.c5 c7 13.bxa5 xa5 14.0-0 h3 15.fd1 h6 16.e4 [ This attempt to stabilize the centre only 16
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 succeeds in consolidating Black's space advantage, possibly 16.db1 was better. ] 16...d4 17.c4 c7 18.a4 d7 19.a3 f6 20.db1 a7 Preparing to attack the a4pawn. 21.e1 gf8 22.b4 [ 22.d6?! xd6 23.cxd6 c8 menaces ... c5, when the d6-pawn is lost. ] 22...e6 23.d2 White is obliged to defend h i s we a k c - p a wn . ea8 24.ef3 e7 25.b3 White prefers to defend his c-pawn, t h a n h i s a - p a wn . xa4 26.xa4 xa4 27.bxd4?! A small combo, but it loses material! xd4?! [ Of course, this was only a simul, but 27...xb4 is more accurate, as Black wins the c-pawn after 28.xb4 exd4 29.xb7 dxc5 ] 28.xd4 xb4 29.xb4 exd4 30.xb7 d8 [ 30...a5! would kill the game quickly. ] 31.c4 f6 32.f4 e7 33.c7 g5 34.f5 [ Not 34.e5? when xe5 35.fxe5 xe5 and the double attack on c7 and e2 wins material. ] 34...e5 Black infiltrates on the dark squares. 35.b4 g4 36.f2 g5!? Black his ha ving severe problems exploiting his material plus, a n d m a y, i n f a c t , n o l o n g e r b e wi n n i n g . 37.xd4 f6 38.c8+ h7 39.e3 g7 40.e1?? [ Losing immediately, better 40.f4 when d7! ( 40...g5? 41.f6 swaps the queens) 41.xc6 xc5 keeps some attacking chances. ] 40...g5 0-1
the knight there. My German team-mate, Andre Lisanti, plays these variations a lot, and always seems to get good positions! d5 2.g3 f6 3.f3 g6 4.d3 g7 5.f2 c6 6.c3 e5 7.g2 and now, a 'purist' would play his queen's knight to c2 via a3! Boeye, L-Schumacher,H/Antwerp BEL 1998. ] 1...e5 2.f2?! [ This is a really bad move, the 'normal' line would be 2.h3 d5 3.f2 f6 4.e3!? ( now, 4.g3 is usual, as in the previous note, e.g. c6 5.g2 etc. ) 4...c6 5.b5 d6 6.d4 exd4 7.xd4?! 0-0 8.xc6 bxc6 9.0-0 c5 Black has the two bishops and potential pressure on the e-line, Hunt, TGraff,J/ California 1992. ] 2...d5 3.d3 [ This risks further weakening White's dark squares. The only move with a 'pedigree' is 3.e3 f6 4.d4 c6 5.b5 d6 6.e2 0-0 7.e1 e4 8.g3 h5 9.f4 g4 10.e2 g6 11.g1 e7?! 12.a3 Black has almost no advantage, W illiams,S-Simons,M/ Scarborough 1999. ] 3...d4! 4.e4 dxe3+ 5.xe3 f5 6.g3 c6 7.g2 f6 8.e2?! [ O v e r l o o k i n g B l a c k ' s n e x t , 8.c3 had to be played. ] 8...d5 9.d2 d6?! [ This allows White time to recover, the immediate 9...f4 10.gxf4 h4+ 11.f1 d6 is very unpleasant for White. ] 10.e1? [ This allows the previously mentioned kingside breakthrough, W hite would still have a playable position after 10.f4 ] 10...f4! 11.gxf4 h4+ 12.g3 0-0 13.fxe5 16 A00 xe5 14.g1 xf3+ 15.xf3 xf3 16.f2 Desmarais,Chris 2180 W hite thinks that he has braved the worst, Seres,Lajos 2427 however ... xg3! 17.xg3 xg3+ 18.hxg3 FSIMA July Budapest HUN (13) 14.07.2001 xg3+ 19.h1 g4 [ after 19...g4 20.f1 Black wins by [Tony Kosten] eliminating the def ende rs of f 3 so : e3 21.c3 xf1 22.xf1 f8 ] 1.f3 [ Well, I suppose if I had to pick the worst 0-1 possible opening move, this would probably be it! W hite weakens his king protection, and kingside dark squares with no obvious advantages. W ell, except that f2 is made a v a i l a b l e f o r h i s k n i g h t o r k i n g . 1.h3 is similar, White will follow with f3 and bring 17
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17 Fedorov,Alexei Ivanchuk,Vassily 2001 Wijk aan Zee [Paul Motwani]
A00
2001
0-1
18 Gelashvili,Tamaz Salgado Lopez,Ivan Acropolis Open (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A00 2612 2532 12.08.2008
1.a3 g6!? I seem to recall that this is the move that was recommended for Black against 1 a3 in the first edition of BCO. The argument behind the move may well be that b2-b4 now is less attractive and that a2-a3 isn't particularly useful against the King's Indian. Somebody clearly forgot to tell Gelashvili... 2.f3 g7 3.e3 f6 4.b4! Anyway! Black can move his knight to create an attack on the rook on a1, but it doesn't serve any real purpose, so Black decides to proceed as if everything is normal. d5 5.c4 0-0 [ 5...a5 6.b2 ( 6.b5 f5 7.b2 is likely the better continuation for White, though the chances here too are about equal ) 6...axb4 7.axb4 xa1 8.xa1 0-0 is fine for Black ] 6.b2 c6 7.e2 [ In some of the few games I could find with this variation, White also tried a couple of other moves as well: A) 7.c3 a5 8.e2?! ( 8.d4!? takes the games over in a Schlechter Variation of the Slav/Gruenfeld, which in this case is quite okay for White) 8...axb4 9.axb4 xa1 10.xa1 dxc4 11.xc4 b5 12.e2 a6 13.a5 d6 14.a3 c7 , and Black has a solid advantage, Raijmaekers-Simmelink, J/corr 1988 ] [ B) 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.e2 f5 9.0-0 a6 10.d3 e8 11.xg7 xg7 12.bd2 d6 13.b3 , and White's position is preferable, Thorsteinsson, E-Elyakim, D/ corr ICCF 1992 ] 7...a5
[ 7...g4!? 8.b3 ( 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.0-0 should be considered as it, like the latter game in the previous note, leaves W hite with a slightly more comf ortable game.) 8...e6 ( 8...dxc4!? 9.xc4 xf3 10.gxf3 bd7 11.d4 b6 is fine for Black) 9.d3 bd7 10.bd2 a5 11.0-0 b8 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 c8 14.fc1 b6 15.ab1 axb4 16.axb4 b7 17.f1 h6 18.g3 Le n d wa i, R-S p in d e lb o e ck, G/ O b e rwa rt 1995 ] 8.b5 cxb5 [ Or 8...dxc4 9.xc4 f5 ( 9...cxb5 10.xb5 c6 11.d4 ) 10.c3 d3 with approximately equal chances ] 9.cxd5 [ 9.cxb5 f5 10.0-0 looks like a better continuation, White has a tiny initiative ] 9...xd5 [ 9...a6!? 10.xb5 c7 11.e2 cxd5 12.0-0 g4 , and the chances are about even ] 10.xg7 xg7 11.xb5 d7 12.b3 xb5 13.xb5 d7 14.b2+ The pawn structure on the board, the extra central pawn for White and the backward b-pawn on the semi-open f i l e f o r B l a ck b o t h i n d i c a t e a s o m e wh a t favourable game for White. g8 15.0-0 c6 16.c1 White's position is easier to play, even if Black has a somewhat more active position. The dark squares in Black's position calls for trou ble lo ng-t erm, e ve n if h is p os it io n is fundamentally solid. ab8 17.c3 xc3 18.xc3 b5 19.ac1 fc8 20.h4!? [ White points to the weakness of the dark squares around Black's king. The alternatives don't threaten Black su bsta nt ia lly, e .g. 20.c5 b4 21.h4 ( 21.axb4 xb4 22.e5 e6= ) 21...b3 22.h5 a4 ] [ or 20.c2 a7 , and Black is more or less okay. ] 20...a7 21.h5 xc3 22.xc3 d8? [ This passive move decides the game in White's favour because Black cannot resist White decisive penetration. Instead Black should have tried 22...c6! , e.g. 23.h6 f6 24.c5 b4 25.axb4 axb4 26.b3+ f8 ] 23.h6 f8?! [ Or 23...f6 24.b3+ f8 ( 24...h8 25.g5! fxg5 26.c8+- ) 25.d4 a4 18
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.e6+ e8 27.c2 b6 28.g7+ f8 29.c7+- ] 24.c7 c8 25.e5 b6 26.c6 d5 27.d7 c8 28.xd5 xc6 29.d8 1-0
19 Gulko,Boris F Gutman,Lev USSR [Tony Kosten]
A00
1978
1.c3 c5 2.f3 Black, a Sicilian (Najdorf) specialist, was obviously hoping to encourage White to play [ 2.e4 with a transposition to a Closed Sicilian ] [ 2.d4?! would avoid the well-trod routes, but after cxd4 3.xd4 c6 4.h4 d5 5.f3?! ( 5.e4 is safer, although after d4 6.d5 e6 7.xd8+ xd8 8.f4 f6 9.f3 e5 10.d3 Black has the slightly superior endgame, Soetewey, S-Le Quang,K/ B r u s s e ls 1 9 9 3 .) 5...d4 6.e4 b4 rather awkward! 7.d1 f5 8.d2 c6 Mordiglia,R-Godena, M/Open, Saint Vincent ITA 1998, White's unusually-placed king will lead to his downfall. ] 2...d6 and again, 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.0-0 c6 surely W hite will play e4 now? 6.e3 No! W hite decides to go his own way. h6 7.d4 White has no advantage, to speak of, he suffers from the usual problem of playing his queen's knight to c3 before playing c4- his cpawn is now shut-in. cxd4 8.exd4 f5 forcing the white d-pawn forward, but this does mean White will have more space 9.d5 e5 10.g5 The player with the space advantage should normally avoid exchanges, of cou rse (s ee 101 Tips to Imp rove you r Chess) h5 This does weaken the kingside, but it does safeguard the two black knights, as f4, and g4, was threatened, driving them away from the centre 11.h3 d7 12.a4 c8 Black's pieces take -up active posts 13.e2 See the remark on move 7, White is obliged to move this knight if he wants to improve his queenside pawn structure b6 14.a2 A simple precaution, White wishes to play b3, and c4, and cannot afford to leave his
qu e e n 's ro o k o n t h e a 1 - h 8 d ia go n a l, f o r instance [ if 14.b3 then f3+ 15.xf3 xa1 would be feasible ] 14...a6 15.b3 b5 Lev Gutman just loves to play active, aggressive chess. Sometimes he plays brilliantly, but sometimes things go wrong 16.d2 White plays carefully, [ 16.f4 seems tempting, but after b6+ 17.h2? Black wins with g4+ exploiting the h8-rook's uncastled state ] 16...bxa4 17.c3 First the white a4-pawn was pinned, but having captured it, it is now t h e b l a c k a 4 - p a w n t h a t i s p i n n e d ! d4 18.xa4 e2 19.f4 The game reaches its critical moment, will the active black pieces find a knock-out punch, or will they be forced to retreat? xa4!? [ 19...xh3 is more to the point, 20...Qxg2 mate is threatened, and 20.xh3? loses to ( 20.xh3 must be played, ef3+ and now 21.h1 xd2 22.e1! which is unclear) 20...df3+ 21.xf3 xf3+ when White must play 22.xf3 and lose his queen: xd1+ or be mated on h2, so ] 20.fxe5 xe5 21.bxa4 c4 hitting the a2rook 22.a3 e2+ 23.h1 f6?? a baffling move, [ 23...xg3+ 24.xg3 xg3 would have been the logical continuation, although after 25.xf7 White's two pieces are better then the black rook, ] 24.e4 Naturally, the knight defends g3 f5 25.e1 Black is now a whole piece down. 1-0
20 Hasangatin,Ramil Ramirez Alvarez,Alejandro Aeroflot Open (7) [Tony Kosten]
A00 2523 2413 17.02.2003
1.b4 e5 2.b2 xb4 3.xe5 f6 4.e3 Solid, but normally W hite plays more aggressively with [ 4.c4 to exploit his central advantage, see Lindqvist-Soerenfors/corr 1975. ] 4...0-0 5.f3 d5 6.e2 d6!? A new idea, although there seems to be nothing wrong with the standard 19
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 6...c5 7.0-0 c6 8.b2 ( 8.g3? d4 9.h4 d6 10.c1? f5 11.b2 e4 Black dominates, Vokac,M-Badea,B/Krynica 1998 ) 8...d4!? played to complicate White's development, ( 8...e8 9.d3 a5 10.bd2 e7 is fairly level, Rogers, I-Stone,R/ H e r t o g e n b o s c h N E D 1 9 9 9) 9.c3!? the most direct, attacking Black's advanced pawn head-on, ( 9.b5 g4 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 e5 and White had problems with his b5-bishop, and developing his b1-knight, Arakelov, I-Lomaya,T/Batumi 1961) 9...d3!? ( 9...dxc3 10.xc3 with chances to both sides ) 10.xd3 xd3 11.cxb4 xb4 12.xf6 gxf6 13.e1 g6 14.c3 d8 W hite has the more solid structure, but Black the more active pieces, Pedersen, EChristensen,T/Denmark 1998. ] 7.0-0 c5 The position is similar to the above note, except that the black bishop is 'inside' his pawn structure, which is normally desirable. 8.d4 [ 8.c4 c6 9.xd6 xd6 looks very nice for Black, with his centralised forces. ] 8...c6 9.c3 e7! Threatening to capture the bishop and gain the bishop pair, always an advantage. 10.dxc5 [ 10.g3 h5 11.dxc5 xg3 12.hxg3 e6 is similar. ] 10...xe5 11.xe5 xc5 With an atypical IQP position: W hite's weak c2-pawn on the open c-file more than balances the d-pawn, and Black has the bishop pair, as well. 12.f3 e6 Black decides against the tactic [ 12...c7!? 13.d3 d6 attacking c3 and h2, 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5 xh2+ 16.h1 d6 when Black has dissolved his IQP, but White can play c4 and maintain a strong bishop on d5. ] 13.h3 c8 14.e2 c7 15.d3 b6 16.c3 White is under severe pressure, his c-pawn ties pieces down to its def ence, and it is difficult to exploit the squares on f4 and d4. e4 17.c1 c4 18.c2 The impression is that White is just hanging on. f5 19.g4 xf2!? An interesting tactic, and afterwards Black maintains the advantage, but I would prefer the simple [ 19...xg4 20.hxg4 fd8 ] 20.xf2 xc2 21.xc2 ce8 22.d1 xe3+ 23.h1 b6 24.f3 e5 Black has
t wo p a wn s a n d a r o o k f o r t h e t wo wh i t e knights, and various positional advantages, can W hite manage to activate his pieces? 25.b2!? xa2 26.c1 a5 27.cd3 e3?! [ 27...e7 is stronger. ] 28.b4?! Missing [ 28.c4! when c8 29.c5! ( 29.b3? xf3! 30.xf3 a1+ 31.d1 dxc4 32.c2 d4 l o o k s s t r o n g) 29...xc5 30.xd5 attacks f7, and menaces Nc4, when White has real counterplay. ] 28...b5 29.d1 d8?! Again Black is not on his toes, [ 29...d4! wins, 30.4d3 d7 31.a4 xf3! 32.gxf3 xh3+ etc. ] 30.d2 [ 30.a4!? xa4 31.xa4 c7 32.xd5 is unclear. ] 30...d4 31.c4 a5 [ 31...e5!? appears strong, but after 32.d5 xd5 33.cxd5 c7 White can just hang-on: 34.d6! ( 34.g1? h2+ 35.f1 g3 wins immediately) 34...xd6 35.g1 as now h2+ 36.f1 g3?? allows the trick 37.xe3 dxe3 38.d8# ] [ 31...d7 ] 32.2d3 White has managed to find a good blockading square for one of his knights, and n o w h a s r e a s o n a b l e c h a n c e s . ee8?! 33.xb7 h5 34.f3 f5 35.d5 Now White is clearly better. c8?? 36.g4 e4 37.xc8 xc8 38.e1 1-0
21
A00 Hernando Pertierra,Jose Carlos 2403 Gallagher,Joseph G 2558 Master Open Lausanne SUI (4) 02.06.2000 [Tony Kosten] 1.g3 e5 2.g2 c6 3.c3 White wishes to play a sort of reversed Caro-Kann with a kingside fianchetto, and a tempo more. d5 4.d4 [ 4.b4!? is taking originality too far, perhaps, f6 5.d4 exd4 6.b5 a5 7.cxd4 c4 8.f3 b4+ and Black had no cause to complain, Petran,P-Rechel,B/Olomouc CZE 1999. ] 20
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 4...f6 5.h3 [ Just as in the corresponding line for Black, the knight will come to f2 to support the e4thrust. 5.dxe5 is an alternative manner of playing this, xe5 6.d2 c5 7.gf3 xf3+ 8.xf3 0-0 with equality, Teske, HSiegel,G/Havana 1998. ] [ However, 5.g5 would be the way to exploit the extra move. e4 6.xf6!? xf6 7.f3 exf3 8.xf3 level, Benjamin,J-Browne, W/ Philadelphia 1992. ] 5...e7 [ This natural move is a novelty, which indicates how much rarer this variation is, played with W hite than with Black. 5...h6 6.0-0 f5 7.f3 d7 8.f2 e4 9.b3 d6 is also fine for Black, Dehn,M-Vogler,T/ Mainz 1989. ] 6.f3 Perfectly normal, the square f2 is needed for the knight. 0-0 7.f2 e8 8.0-0 a5! 9.a4 b6 10.a3 a6 11.b5 White blocks the light-squared diagonal, so Black immediately tries to reopen it. exd4 12.cxd4 a7! 13.xa7 [ 13.c3 allows c5 which successfully challenges the d4-pawn, supporting it with e3 being impossible. ] 13...xa7 14.e1 c5 Black already has a plus, the white kingside formation is inappropriate here. 15.e3 d6 Intending to d o u b l e r o o k s o n t h e e - f i l e . 16.g4?! White hopes to pressurise the d5-pawn, but this move is anti-positional. xg4 17.fxg4 cxd4 18.xd4 [ W alking in to so me ta ct ics, bu t 18.exd4 is hardly any better, xe1+ 19.xe1 e7 ] 18...c5! 19.xd5? d7 20.f5?! [ White falls to pieces, but anyway, 20.f3 loses the exchange to b4 ] 20...d1 White can resign with a clear conscience. 21.xd1 [ 21.f2 xe1+ 22.xe1 b4 23.f2 d1+ 24.f1 c8 is also hopeless. ] 21...xd1+ 22.f1 xe3+ 23.g2 The c1-bishop is pinned. b7+ 24.h3 xc1 25.d3 d2! Allowing a couple of checks, but this is the most accurate move. 26.xh7+ f8 27.f1 e6 [ Effective, but missing the pretty line 27...e2!! 28.xe2 g2+! forcing mate with checks, 29.xg2 xe2+ 30.h3 f1+
31.h4 g5+ 32.h5 h3# ] 28.h8+ e7 29.h4+ g5 30.h5 e2! [ 30...e2 intends the same mate, 31.xe2 g2+ 32.xg2 xe2+ ] 0-1
22 Hulak,Krunoslav Beliavsky,Alexander G zt 1.2 Pula CRO (5) [Tony Kosten]
A00 2495 2640 15.04.2000
1.g3 d5 2.g2 e5 3.f3 A reversed Alekhine's Defence, as briefly examined in the archives. e4 4.d4 c5 5.b3 c4 6.d4 c5 7.c3 c6 8.xc6 bxc6 9.b3 So far, all according to plan for W hite, who attacks the black centre. cxb3 10.axb3 h5!! [ A powerful innovation, Black immediately exploits his space advantage and attacks the white king in the most direct manner. p re vio u s ly B l a ck h a d p re f e rre d s im p l e development: 10...e7 11.d3 ( 11.0-0 0-0 12.a3 b6 13.c4 f5 14.c3 e8 15.c1 with mutual chances, Johansen, DLau,R/Wuppertal 1986, 1-0 (30)) 11...exd3 12.exd3 0-0 13.0-0 e6 14.d4 b6 15.a3 e8 16.d2 and, if anything, White holds the upper hand, Rabeler, G-Stern,R/ Germany 1998, 1-0 (56). ] 11.a3 [ If 11.d3 then Black keeps the centre closed by f6 12.d4 ( not 12.0-0 when h4 13.dxe4 hxg3 14.hxg3 g5! planning ...Qh6, with a mating attack. ) 12...b6 ] 11...b6 12.h4 h6! Intelligent play, the knight can come to g4, but, more importantly, f5. 13.d4 e3! Black is in a particularly aggressive mood! 14.f4?! [ If 14.fxe3?! then but c7 ] [ 14.d3!? exf2+ 15.xf2 g4+ 16.e1 may offer better chances. ] 14...g4 The black pieces have good posts on g 4 a n d f 5 . 15.d3 f5 16.0-0 h6! Another fine move, bringing the h8-rook into play. 17.c4 [ White desperately searches for counterplay, as if 17.h2 Black simply replies g6 ] 17...dxc4 [ The strongest, but 17...xg3 18.xe3+ 21
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e6 19.xg3 xd4+ 20.h1 xa1 is also sufficient. ] 18.e4+ d7 19.c3 xg3 20.c2 f5 21.c1 xf1 22.xf1 xd4 23.d1 e8 White has no real defence against ...Qxh4, and mate on f2. 0-1
pawn structure. ] 16...e8 Threatening to win a rook with ...c5. 17.c5 [ 17.cxd5 c5! anyway, winning material because of the d-file pin. Black's eleventh move continues to prove its worth. ] 17...e7! Another clever move forcing 18.c6 as if [ 18.cxb6?? c5 forks queen and rook. ] 23 A00 18...d6 19.c3 e8 The first doubled cIvanchuk,Vassily 2740 pawn bites the dust. 20.d4 xc6 21.d2 Anand,Viswanathan 2770 d7 22.d1 d8 23.c3 c5 Not only has Amber Blindfold, MON (3) 1998 Black won a pawn, but he has managed to retain his positional plusses, too. 24.d3 a4 [Tony Kosten] 25.b2 6d7 26.a3 b5 27.h3 a6 28.1d2 1.c3 e5 2.f3 c6 Black indicates that he g6 29.d1 a5 30.f3 h5 31.h4 c7 i s h a p p y t o t r a n s p o s e i n t o a k i n g - p a w n 32.g3 e5 Black does nothing precipitate, he p o s it io n a f t e r 3 e 4 . 3.d4 Introducing the knows that he will win, and so slowly improves 'pseudo-Scotch' variation, where W hite will h i s p o s i t i o n b e f o r e e n g i n e e r i n g a have various occasions to transpose directly, breakthrough. 33.d1 f6 34.g2 h7 by playing e4. exd4 4.xd4 f6 The most 35.3d2 g7 36.a1 g4 37.xg4 hxg4 38.g1 e5 39.a4 b4 Exchanging queens, solid reply. [ 4...c5 is also good. 5.f5 f6 6.e3 and bringing play to a rook and pawn ending. White eschews his last chance to transpose 40.cxb4 xa1 41.xa1 cxb4 42.d4 into the Scotch, by 6 e4. ge7 7.g3 d5! F o r k i n g t h e g a n d b - p a w n s , h a s B l a c k 8.g2 e6 9.0-0 d8 10.d3 0-0 b l u n d e r e d ? a5 43.xg4 d4! No, as the The white opening has been a complete protected, passed b-pawn is sufficient to win. disaster, Black has almost total control of 44.xd4 xd4 45.exd4 xd4 46.c1 b3 47.b1 b4 'Rook behind the pawn'! 48.f1 the centre, Wall,T-Flear, G/Hastings 1991. ] [ 4...xd4?! is a mistake, however, f6 49.e2 f5 50.d3 g4 51.c3 f5 Unfortunately, the king and pawn conceding the centre. 5.xd4 f6 6.e4 d6 52.b2 w i t h a d v a n t a g e t o W h i t e , D e m i a n , V - ending after [ 52.xb3 xb3+ 53.xb3 f3 is simply Salahub,M/ROM-chT (CCYB 1988. ] winning, Black will capture the white f and 5.g5 b4 6.e3 So it seems that there won't g-pawns, and then queen his own f-pawn. ] be a Scotch opening, after all. 0-0 7.e2 h6 Bla ck wis h es to b re a k t h e a nn o yin g p in . 52...xa4 53.d1 a2+ 54.xb3 xf2 8.xf6 xc3+! Wrecking the white queenside 55.d6 f3+ 56.a4 h5 Black will take the pawn structure. 9.bxc3 xf6 10.0-0 d5 g3-pawn, and then the h4-pawn, when his two Black is ready to complete his development, kingside pawns will march to the eighth rank. when he will be able to turn his attention to 0-1 t h e d o u b l e d c - p a w n s . 11.b1 d8 A useful move, just in case White wanted to A00 p la y c 4 , a s n o w t h is m o ve is im p o ssib l e 24 because of the subsequent pin on the d-file. Katalymov,Boris N 12.xc6 xc6 13.d4 e6 14.f3 b6 Kupreichik,Viktor D 15.c4 By clever play White has succeeded in Minsk 1971 exchanging one of his weak c-pawns. ab8 [Nigel Davies] 16.b4 White was not satisfied with the variation I once sat next door to Ilya Smirin and was [ 16.cxd5 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 When Black amazed to see him meet 1.b4 with 1...c5!? has control of the d-file to add to his better without even a second thought. It's not at all 22
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 an easy move for White to meet and has quite a bit of shock value. 1.b4 c5 2.bxc5 [ White can of course transpose into a Wing G a m b i t w i t h 2.e4!? , though this falls outside my remit. ] 2...e5 3.e3 xc5 4.d4 I don't like this move. [ 4.c4 looks like a better idea as in Sitnikov Aveskulov. ] 4...exd4 5.exd4 e7 6.d3 d5 7.f3 c6 8.0-0 g4 9.c3 f6 Reaching a kind of mutant Petroff Defence in which W hite's bpawn has been exchange for Black's c-pawn. This would seem to be quite nice for Black because he can get play along the c-file and possibly occupy the c4 square. On the other hand it seems unlikely that the b-file will do much for W hite because Black can simply block any play there with ...b7-b6. 10.h3 h5 11.b3 c7 12.e5?! [ 12.bd2 Would have been better. The knight's position is unstable on e5 and the attempts to support it just weaken White's position. ] 12...0-0 13.f4 [ 13.f4 d6 renews the problem White has with his knight. ] 13...g6 14.f5?! Critical, but very good for Black after his combinative reply. [ 14.xg6 was more stable, though Black would have the edge because of the weakness of e4. ] 14...xe5! 15.dxe5 c5+ 16.h2 h5! 17.xd5 [ After 17.fxg6 xe5+ 18.h1 g3+ 19.h2 xf1+ 20.h1 h2# White gets mated. ] [ and 17.e1 would also be good for Black after fe8 . ] 17...ad8 [ 17...ae8! was even stronger, for example 18.e1 f2 19.e2 d8 20.f3 g3+ 21.h1 xe5 22.fxg6 fxg6! is devastating. ] 18.e4 fe8 19.fxg6 hxg6 20.xf7! This counterattack is the best chance. [ After 20.c2 there would follow xe5 21.f4 xf4 22.xf4 d6 23.h1 e2 24.c1 c5! when Black is threatening 25... Qe5. ] [ And 20.f3 is similarly bad because of xe5 21.f4 xf4 22.xf4 d6 etc. ]
20...xf7 [ Maybe Black should have taken with the ki n g a s a f t e r 20...xf7 21.xg6+ f8 22.f5+ f7 23.xf7+ xf7 White has inadequate compensation for the exchange. ] 21.c4 e6 22.xe6?! There was no need to capture straight away and indeed this frees Black's pieces for action. [ White should have played 22.f3! when f2 23.xe6 xe6 24.xf2 xe5+ 25.g3 d3 26.d2 xg3 27.f4 xf4 28.xg3 e2+ 29.h1 e4+ 30.h2 is a draw. Needless to say this isn't an easy variation for humans to calculate. ] 22...xe6 23.d2 b6? [ 23...f2 was better with ongoing attacking chances. ] 24.f3?! [ Missing his chance to play 24.c4+ h7 25.e4 when g1+ 26.h1 d1 27.e2 d8 28.b2 leaves Black struggling. ] 24...d1 25.e3?? And this loses. [ 25.c4+ h8 26.h4 was quite playable for White, in fact he's still a pawn up! ] 25...xe3! 26.c4+ [ White can't take the rook because 26.xd1 f4+ 27.h1 g3+ 28.h2 xe4+ wins the queen and mates in a few moves. ] 26...h7 27.xd1 f4+ 28.xf4 xf4 29.g5+ h6 30.f7+ h5 31.d4 g5 An exciting game! 0-1
25 Kokolias,Konstantinos Romanov,Evgeny IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (1) [Carsten Hansen]
A00 2211 2547 21.04.2008
1.c3 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.xe4 d7 4.c4 gf6 [ This is fully playable, but allows White's next move which creates complications which aren't necessarily unfavourable for W hite. Therefore in "Beating Unusual Chess Openings" Palliser gives preference to the more solid 4...e6!? For further details, you should invest in that excellent book. ] 5.xf7+!? 23
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Keilhack, but Palliser continues playfully [ This option is the principal reason why with the following (and admitted computerPalliser chose 4...e6 as his recommendation. assisted) variation: 15.f2 b7 16.c7 Now the material unbalance creates unclear c5+ 17.d4 xd4+ 18.e3! e5! complications that are not entirely easy to 19.c4 xh2+ 20.f1 xc7 21.xe6+ deal with when you show up unprepared on f8 22.d1! e5! 23.xd7 ( 23.c5+!? either side of the board. Yet, with this being xc5 24.d8+ xd8 25.xe5 something as unusual as the Dunst Opening, isn't mentioned by Palliser, but is also it is quite likely that White will be the lower rather unclear) 23...a6+ 24.e2 xe3 rated player and the one who knows more 25.f5+ g8 26.d5+ f8 27.f5+ about this variation. The alternatives with a draw by perpetual check.; available to W hite are the following: D) 9...xg2 10.f3 xf3 11.xf3 e8 5.xf6+ ] ( 11...b6 12.c7 b7 13.e2 e5 [ 5.d3 ] 14.xe5 xh1 ) 12.a4 b6 13.a5 b7 [ 5.g5 ] 14.e2 xa8 15.axb6 xf3+ 16.xf3 [ 5.g3 ] axb6 This position is rather unusual[ 5.e2 All of which are discussed in detail looking with White's king being the only in the amazingly meticulous book "Knight on piece developed by W hite. It is being the Left: 1 Nc3" by Harald Keilhack. This evaluated as unclear by both Keilhack and book is a must for anybody remotely Palliser, but I have to admit that I prefer interested in 1 Nc3. ] White with his rooks that can easily be put 5...xf7 6.g5+ g8 7.e6 e8 8.xc7 i n t o p l a y , e . g . 17.d4 e5 18.e1 d8 , and W hite is on top, Van den Berg, A[ Black has another important option in Hicker, H/Lignano Sabbiadoro ITA 2005 ] 8...g6 9.xa8 and now Black has several 9.xa8 moves to choose between: [ 9.e2!? is an interesting alternative, which A) 9...d5 10.f3 ( 10.d3 b6 11.f3 i s n ' t m e n t i o n e d b y P a l l i s e r . N o w b6 b7 12.c7 e6 13.e2 e5 14.g3 is more or less forced, e.g. 10.xa8 xa8 xg3 15.fxg3 xc7 16.f4 d6 17.0-0 11.f3 d5 12.c4 h5 13.e5 xe2+ is also better for White) 10...7f6 11.e2 14.xe2 g6 15.d4 g7 16.e3 e5 12.g3 d6 13.0-0 g4 was played , and W hite has the better chances in Krajnak, M-Obsivac, J/Olomouc 1998, Chandler, P-Rutkowski, J/Griesheim 2000 ] and now 14.b3 f7 15.h3 gf6 16.d4 e6 17.c4 ( 17.dxe5 xe5 18.c4 e7 9...e5?! [ This is problematic for Black. Instead 19.e3 c6 20.f4 d6 21.b3 e7 p r e f e r e n c e s h o u l d b e g i v e n t o 9...e5 22.b2 ) 17...f4 18.xf4 xc4 19.c2 , although my computer initially hates the exf4 20.fc1 b5 21.b3 d5 22.c8+ move, e.g. 10.d4 d6 11.f3 ( 11.dxe5 e8 23.xe8+ xe8 24.c3! c6 xe5 12.e3 g4 13.d4 f7 14.e2 25.a4! with all the winning chances be c6 15.d2 b4 16.c3 xd2+ 17.xd2 squarely on White's side; d6 , Tolonen, J-Sisatto, O/FIN 2001, and B) 9...e5? 10.f1 f5 11.d3 d5 now White's best is 18.f3 e6 19.f4 d7 12.e2 e8 13.c7 xc7 14.f4 b5 20.b6 axb6 21.he1 with a complicated 15.c4 xb2 16.b1 xa2 17.xe5 e6 position, and chances to both sides, though I 18.a1 1-0 Steger, G-Thoeny, H/Wattens give W hite a slight preference) 11...e4 2000; 12.g5 ( 12.e5 xe5 13.dxe5 a5+ C) 9...b5!? 10.f3 ( 10.c7? xg2 14.d2 xe5 15.c3 e7 16.d2 e3 11.f3 b7-+; 10.f3!? c5 11.d4 b7 17.xe3 xe3+ 18.fxe3 g4 19.0-0 f7 12.g3! (Keilhack) xg2 13.dxc5 xh1 , and Black has the better chances thanks to 14.c7 is messy, but probably better for his bishop pair, and W hite's impractical White ) 10...d5 11.e2 f4 12.xb5 pawn structure, Van Geet, D-Henneberke, xg2 13.c4+ e6 14.xf4 xh1 F/Beverwijk 1964) 12...h6 13.e6 e7 with an uncle ar position according to 24
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.f4 h7 15.e3 b6 16.c3 b7 17.xb6 xb6 18.0-0 f8 with a complicated position with chances to both sides, Spice, A-Hinks Edwards, T/ England 1997. Van Geet claims W hite is b e t t e r , wh e r e a s K e i l h a c k a n d P a l l i s e r claim serious counterplay for Black, I call m y e va lu a t io n t o b e so m e wh e re in t h e middle, White's better, but he will have to be seriously careful. ] [ 9...c5 10.d4 a6 11.f3 e6 12.g5 e7 13.h3 d7 , Pel, B-Van Beek, L/ Hoogeveen 1998, and now 14.0-0-0 b5 15.d5! xd5 16.xe7 xe7 17.he1 l o o k s l i k e a wi n n e r f o r W h i t e , e . g . f6 18.xd5 xf3 19.gxf3 exd5 20.e8+ f7 21.xh8 ] 10.d4!? [ White should definitely consider 10.e2!? , for instance c6 11.c4+ e6 12.f3 ( 12.b4!? deserves attention, e.g. xb4 13.b2 d7 14.xf6 xf6 15.b1 f7 16.c7 a6 17.f3 , and White has excellent winning chances) 12...d7 13.0-0 d5 14.d4 d6 15.e1 ( 15.d3 xa8 16.c4 f6 17.e1 is another attractive option for White) 15...xa8 16.e5 xe5 17.dxe5 e7 18.c3 f7 , and a draw was, very prematurely, agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Mannhart, M-Rouchouse, S/Turin ITA 2006 after 19.g4 c8 20.c4 b6 21.b3 White appears to have the better chances. ] 10...f7 11.f3 e6 12.xb7?! [ 12.e2! d5 13.f3 xa8 14.0-0 b6 15.c4 xf3 16.xf3 xf3 17.gxf3 e6 18.f4 appears to be better for White, but it isn't entirely clear. ] 12...d5 13.c7 xa8 [ Or 13...xg2!? 14.xd8 xd8 15.f3 xh1 16.f2 e6 17.e3 g5 , and now 18.e2 g4+ 19.fxg4 xa8 20.c4 h5 is clearly better for Black ] 14.f3 e6 [ 14...e5!? looks attractive, e.g. 15.dxe5 b4+ ( or 15...e8 16.h3 d6 17.xa7 xe5 18.0-0 c8 19.f2 xc2 20.g5 g6 21.h3 with complications that appear better for White) 16.c3 e8 17.d7 xe5 18.f5 d6 19.e2 g6 20.c2 xf3 21.gxf3 xf3+ 22.f2 g7 with an unclear position, but I prefer Black because his king
is marginally safer ] 15.e2 d6 16.a5 b8 17.a6 g6 [ On 17...e5 , W hite replies 18.0-0 exd4 19.f4 e5 20.a4 f7 21.h1 with the better chances for White ] [ Or 17...c7 18.b3 e5 19.0-0 exd4 20.f4 e5 21.ae1 b7 22.a4 , and W hite can start thinking about consolidating his material advantage ] 18.f2 [ 18.b3!? begs to be considered, e.g. b7 19.d3 e5 20.0-0 exd4 21.f4 c8 22.xd4 , and White's position is clearly preferable ] 18...c7 [ 18...e5?! is p re m a tu re : 19.dxe5 xe5 20.d1 c5+ 21.f1 , and White is getting ready to consolidate his material advantage ] 19.d3? [ This move allows Black to grab the initiative with a firm hand. This premature retreat somewhat reminds me of the game Nimzowitsch-Capablanca, St. Petersburg 1914. The white queen should not retreat unless it is absolutely necessary, because it provides threats against Black's pieces on a6, whereas on d3 it is more passive and becomes a target of Black's pieces. Therefore W hite should consider 19.b3!? b7 20.c4! ( 20.d3 e5!? is more complicated) 20...b6! ( 20...xc4 21.bxc4 g7 22.c5 c7 23.b1 a6 24.c4! xc4 25.f4 , and White should win ) 21.a4! a6 22.a5! b7 23.xe6 g7 24.h6+! xh6 25.xd6 f5 26.f4 xe2 27.he1! with a complicated game and chances for both sides. ] 19...e5! 20.c3 b7 21.dxe5?! [ 21.f1!? appears to be a better option for White ] 21...xe5 22.d4 g7 23.d3 c8 24.e3 [ 24.b3? i s m e t b y t h e a m a z i n g e4! 25.fxe4 c3! 26.d1 xe4+ 27.f1 b6 , and it's goodnight for White ] 24...b8 [ This leads to a forced sequence of moves, which ends up with an advantage for Black. Yet Black may be able to even better with 24...xb2!? 25.hb1 c3 , and Black is 25
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 clearly better. But Black probably preferred a more controlled environment ] 25.b3 xh2 26.c4 e5 27.d2 eg4+! 28.f1 xe3+ 29.xe3 f7 30.e1 h5!? 31.c3? [ This leads to a lost position for White. Instead White should have played 31.xh2! xh2 32.g5 f4 ( 32...f4 33.e4 is better for White) 33.xf4 xf4 34.e7 , and W hite is still in the game, though Black should have the better chances ] 31...g3+ 32.f2 xh1+ 33.xh1 g3+ 34.f1 g8 and here the game ended on account of 35 Ne2 Bxc4!, which spells the ultimate end of White's games 0-1
strange positioning of the black queen prove a p r o b l e m ? 4.e3 White can also consider hitting the e5-pawn directly, by [ 4.f3 but after e4 5.d4 c6 6.e3 xd4!? 7.xd4 g6 White had some problems developing his kingside in Gielen, W-Lucas,F/Dieren 1990. ] 4...f6 5.d3 bd7 6.f3 c6 Black has successfully defended his central pawns, it remains to finish his development. 7.e2 g6 8.c4 g7 The king's bishop is certainly betterplaced on g7 than on the a3-f8 diagonal, as it s m o ve m e n t wo u l d b e h i n d e re d b y t h e queen. 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.0-0 0-0 It remains for Black to find a place for his queen's bishop, and his opening will be a success. 11.c3 a6 12.c1 b6 13.c2 [ 13.b3 Is a more active square for the 26 A00 queen. ] 13...b7 14.h3?! I am not so keen on this Lalic,Bogdan move, it might be time for White to try direct Uhlmann,Wolfgang Sarajevo 1980 action with [ 14.d4 e4 15.d2 , as Black now takes [Tony Kosten] matter into his own hands. ] 14...d4! Grabbing more space. 15.d1 ac8 1.b4 d5 [ 1...f6 2.b2 d5 could transpose into the 16.b1 d5 The logical follow-up, the knight next note, but King's Indian players are is targeting the sensitive squares e3, and c3. m o re li k e l y t o t r y ( 2...g6 3.c4 g7 17.e1 [ 17.e4 Is hardly any better, because of which transposes out of my 'area'. )] f4 ] 2.b2 18.fxe3 b5 19.f1 7b6 [ 2.a3?! takes provocation too far, Black 17...dxe3 would reply e5 with a strong centre as in the The 'other' black knight has found has also Hebden game, mentioned in the notes to found itself a good outpost, on a4. 20.d2 a4 21.a1 f5 Reminding White that Black ?? ] 2...d6!? A very ambitious move, suggested is also better on the kingside. 22.b3 fe8 a8 24.c3 Black's pieces can by Andersson, attacking the b4-pawn, and 23.a5 hardly expect to find better placements than preparing ...e5. [ 2...f6 3.e3 e6 is more normal, and quite they have already, so it is clearly time for a solid, White replies 4.b5 as the b-pawn was co mb ina t io n : xb2 25.xb2 e4 26.d4 White will pay for his lack of darkhanging, c5 5.f3 d6 6.c4 bd7 7.d3 xe3! 0-0 8.bd2 b6 9.e2 b7 as in Sokolsky- squared bishop. 27.e2 [ 27.xe3 xd4 pins the rook, and wins Keres, USSR Ch. 1950, when Black has a everything. ] pleasant development, but W hite a 28.xc8 xc8 29.c1 f8 q u e e n s i d e s p a c e a d v a n t a g e , a n d t h e 27...f4 White has had enough. straight-forward plan of a4-5. ] 0-1 3.a3 Tisdall has proposed the line [ 3.b5!? b4 4.e5 but, after xb5 5.xc7 c5 6.g3 c6 Black appears to have the edge, as ...e5 is threatened. ] 3...e5 So, Black ha s achieved his aim- setting up a pawn centre, will it be strong, or will the 26
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 27 Larsen,Bent Calvo Minguez,Ricardo Palma de Mallorca (10) [Nigel Davies]
A00 28
1968
1.g3 g6 2.g2 g7 3.c3 c5 4.d3 c6 5.a3 I really like this super-flexible move. White is adopting a plan reminiscent of the Panno lines of the King's Indian Defence, aiming to undermine Black's central control wi t h b 2 - b 4 . e6 6.f3 d6 7.g5 d7 Black is showing signs of being completely baffled by Larsen's provocative play. [ It must surely be better to play 7...f6 8.d2 ge7 , reserving the decision as to where to place his queen. But even so I prefer White after 9.b1 followed by b2-b4. ] 8.0-0 f6 9.d2 h6 10.b1 [ 10.b4!? was already possible because cxb4 11.axb4 xb4 12.e4 threatens both Bxb4 and Bxh6 followed by Nxf6+. ] 10...0-0 11.b4 cxb4 12.axb4 f7 13.b5 e7 14.c1 Larsen's manoeuvres are masterful. Here his queen is headed for a3 from where it will add to the pressure on B la ck ' s p o s it io n wh ilst a t t h e sa m e t im e maintaining great flexibility with his centre. e5 15.a3 d8 16.b4 The rook is headed for a4 from where it will add to the pressure on the a -f ile . e6 17.a4 c8 18.b1 f5 19.b6 a6 [ 19...xb6 20.xa7 would be very unpleasant for Black because of the weakness of b7. ] 20.e1 e4 [ 20...d5 would have been better, though White still has strong pressure after 21.a5 e4 22.a4 intending Na4-c5. ] 21.e3 d5 22.c5 f6? Rather premature desperation. [ 22...cd6 was a much better move. ] 23.b5 d8 24.c7 b8 25.d4 e5 26.a1 S h a d e s o f R i c h a r d R e t i . d7 27.xd5 d6 28.a5 b5 29.c4 xb6 30.xb6 f3+ 31.xf3 1-0
Larsen,Bent Gheorghiu,Florin (ol) Havana [Nigel Davies]
A00
1966
1.g3 g6 2.g2 g7 3.c3!? The more I look at this move the more I like it Larsen develops a piece whilst maintaining a very flexible pawn structure. c5 4.d3 c6 5.f4 [ Larsen would subsequently show a liking for 5.a3!? , even keeping a decision about his fpawn in reserve. The games against Calvo and Lehmann provide good examples of this. ] 5...e6 [ Black can also play 5...d6 followed by 6... e5 when White's best may be to transpose into a Closed Sicilian with a later e2-e4. This might be the reason why Larsen switched to 5.a3. ] 6.f3 ge7 7.0-0 0-0 8.a3 [ 8.e4 would transpose into a Closed Sicilian Larsen's move gives the game an independent character. ] 8...f5 This looks a bit odd to me Black is fighting for the d4 square when W hite can simply protect it at some point with e2-e3. [ 8...d5 was certainly an alternative when W h it e co u ld ch o o se b e t we e n 9 . e 4 a n d c o n t i n u i n g t o ' f i s h a r o u n d ' wi t h 9 . B d 2 intending Rb1 and b2-b4. ] 9.b1 b8 10.e4 b6 [ 10...e7 might have been a better idea, maintaining the option of ...b7-b6. ] 11.f2 d5 12.g4! fd4 13.d2! Highlighting the inadequacy of Black's plan of putting a knight on d4. As long as it cannot exchange itself it can simply be driven away. d8 14.e4 e7 15.c3 dc6 16.f3 f5 17.gxf5 gxf5 18.e5 d4?! A serious mistake which allows White to close the position and leave Black without any counterplay. [ 18...a5!? was a better chance for Black to get some counterplay. ] 19.c4 b5 20.d2 a5 [ 20...bxc4 21.dxc4 would allow White's f2 knight to come to d3 and attack the weak pawn on c5. ] 21.c2 b4 22.h1! The start of a profound manoeuvre the knight wants to go to h5. d7 27
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.g3 e8 24.a1 Threatening to penetrate along the a-file, which encourages Gheorghiu to close the queenside altogether. This leaves White's kingside play as the only game in town. b3 25.d1 h6 26.e2 h8 27.ae1 a4 28.g5 c8 29.h5 g8 30.f3 ce7 31.g2 g6 32.h3! W hite's pressure is manifesting itself into direct threats. W hite wants to play 33.Nf6. xg5 33.fxg5 c6 34.f6 f7 35.xc6 xc6 36.g3 fc8 37.h4 Black's problem here is that he has no counterplay. So White c a n i m p r o v e h i s p o s i t i o n a t l e i s u r e . f8 38.e2 6c7 39.g2 d7 40.f4 gxf6 41.exf6 c6 42.h5! h6 [ After 42...xh5 there would follow 43.h2 g4 ( 43...f7 44.g6 ) 44.xg4 fxg4 45.g6 xf6 46.e5 etc. ] 43.g6 xf6 44.xh6 e5 45.h3 e6 46.xf5 xf5 47.xf5 e4 48.f7 1-0
29 Larsen,Bent Lehmann,Heinz Palma de Mallorca (12) [Nigel Davies]
A00
1968
1.g3 g6 2.g2 g7 3.c3 c5 4.d3 c6 5.a3 f6 6.b1 a5 A controversial decision, preventing W hite's b2-b4 but at the cost of creating a weakness on b5. 7.a4 0-0 8.f3 [ 8.f4!? is also worth considering here, taking more space on the kingside. ] 8...d6 [ 8...d5 was certainly another possibility, for example 9.0-0 e5 10.g5 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.d2 e6 13.e4 d4 14.d5 b4 ma ke s it d if f icult f or W h ite t o m ain ta in control of d5. ] 9.0-0 e8 10.e3 d4 11.xd4 cxd4 12.b5 e5 13.c3 d7 [ Maybe 13...c7 was better, though I still like W hite after 14.xc7 xc7 15.cxd4 exd4 16.c1 b6 17.d2 intending 18. Nc4. ] 14.cxd4 xb5 15.axb5 exd4 16.a4 d7 17.fc1 [ The simple 17.xd4 was worth considering as after xd4 18.xd4 xb5 19.fc1
Black has a truly miserable position. ] 17...c7 18.xd4 xd4 19.xd4 xb5 20.a4 fd8 21.e3 a7 22.h4 [ And here 22.b4 looks highly unpleasant for Black, for example da8 23.d4 e8 24.h4 g7 25.d5 c7 26.xe8 xe8 27.bxa5 xa5 28.xb7 leaves White with all the chances. ] 22...c7 23.d4 b5 24.b6 b8 25.c6 c7 26.xb5 bxc6 27.xc6 xc6 28.xc6 The rook endgame is also good for White but Larsen doesn't make the most of his chances. a4 29.a1? It looks like Larsen missed something here though it's not quite clear to me what it was. [ 29.cc1 would maintain the extra pawn and leave Black struggling for the draw. ] 29...xb2 30.a3 d5 31.d4 a5 32.c7 h5 33.g2 g7 34.f3 f6 35.c1 e6 36.ca1 b4 37.f4 f6 38.f3 a8 39.c1 d6 40.c5 c4 41.b5 c6 42.b1 e8 43.g4 hxg4 44.fxg4 e4+ 45.g3 f5 46.gxf5 gxf5 47.h1 f4+ 48.exf4 cxd4 49.f3 e8 50.h5 g8+ 51.h4 a3 52.h6 a2 53.f2 a4 54.a1 d6 55.h5 a3 56.h2 e6 57.h7 h8 ½-½
30 Larsen,Bent Panno,Oscar Palma de Mallorca [Nigel Davies]
A00
1969
1.g3 g6 2.g2 g7 3.c3 e5 [ This looks like a more solid approach than 3...c5 because playing for b2-b4 would now be rather pointless for W hite. Instead he must play on the kingside with f2-f4. ] 4.d3 c6 [ Black might also try 4...d6 in order to ma in t ain t h e p o ssib ility o f .. . c7 -c5 , f o r example 5.f4 e7 6.f3 c5 7.0-0 bc6 8.e4 transposes into the Botvinnik Variation of the Closed Sicilian. Of course there's no need for W hite to rush into 8.e4 and he might also play f or b2-b4 with 8.Bd2 intending 9.a3 and 10. Rb1. ] 5.f4 d6 6.f3 ge7 7.0-0 0-0 8.e4 h6!? 9.e3 d4 10.d2 h7 11.ae1 e6 28
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.h4 [ T h e i m m e d i a t e 12.f5!? was also worth considering, for example gxf5 13.xd4 exd4 14.e2 c5 15.h4 fxe4 16.xe4+ f5 17.xb7 b8 18.f4 f7 19.f3 xb2 20.e6 gives White strong play on the light squares. ] 12...exf4 13.gxf4 ec6 14.f3 [ 14.f2 would have been strongly met by g5! 15.fxg5 xg5! ] [ whilst 14.f2 runs into xc2! 15.xg6 fxg6 . ] 14...xf3+ 15.xf3 f5 16.h1 f6 17.d5!? [ 17.d4? would not be good because of xd4 18.e5 dxe5 19.fxe5 xf3 20.exf6 xd2 21.fxg7 fd8 when White finds himself the exchange down. ] [ B u t h e m i g h t h a v e c o n s i d e r e d 17.g3 to put pressure on the weakened g6 pawn. ] 17...f7 [ It's not clear what Larsen intended after 17...xb2 because 18.xc7 is strongly met by c3 19.c1 xa2 , leaving White struggling to find adequate play. ] 18.c4 ae8 19.f2 a6 20.b3 b8 21.c1 c6 22.e3 d7 23.exf5 xf5 24.xf5 gxf5 25.xe8 xe8 26.h3 c5 27.b4 e6 28.e3 c3 29.g3?! f6?! [ 29...xb4 seems playable here and expose s the chancy nature of L arsen's previous move. ] 30.a3 e7 31.g1 g7 32.b6 e6 33.c2 f6 34.g2 f7 35.a4! With Black tied down on the kingside White operates on the other flank. The idea is to play b4-b5 to gain control of the d5 square. e8 36.f3 d8 37.f2 h5? 38.d4! g8 39.b1 h4 40.b5 axb5 41.axb5 c5 42.c3 Threatening to penetrate Black's position via t h e a - f i l e . e8?! 43.g1 And Black's last move presented White with more fertile fields on the other flank. White is now threatening Qxh5. g8?! 44.xf5+! 1-0
31
A00 Linqvist,Grels Sorenfors,Per
corr [Tony Kosten]
1975
1.b4 e5 2.b2 This counter-attack is probably better than passively defending the b4-pawn by [ 2.a3 as this allows Black to build a strong centre A) 2...a5 3.b2 e4!? is also interesting, 4.c4 f6 5.b3 a6! so as to answer b5 with ...Nc5, 6.bxa5?! this is too helpful for Black, as the b-pawn is not really attacked, ( maybe 6.c3 is possible, axb4 7.axb4 and the pawn is immune, because of the pin along the a-file.) 6...c5 7.c2 d6 8.e3 f5 and White can hardly develop a sin gle p ie ce , Fo rga cs, G - Fo rin t o s , G / Hungary 1981.; B) 2...d5 3.e3 f6 4.b2 d6 Defending e5 and continuing to develop n a t u r a l l y . ( 4...d6 Appears silly, but would, in fact, transpose into the game Lalic-Uhlmann.) 5.c4 c6 Black wants to keep his centre intact, of course. 6.f3 e7 7.e2 this is better than ( 7.c3 when d4! caused no end of problems, 8.e2 g4 9.exd4 xf3 10.gxf3 exd4 11.xd4 a5 and White's extra pawn was scant compensation, with his king stuck in the centre, and the e-file open, Welling,GSadler,M/Ostende 1991.) 7...0-0 8.c3 dxc4 9.xc4 bd7 10.c2 b6 11.e2 h6 12.h3 e4 Black enjoys extra space, and good piece-play, Steffens,O-Hebden, M/Hastings 1995. ] 2...xb4 Black banks on quick development. 3.xe5 f6 4.c4 As White has no pawn presence in the centre, it is normal that he should want to keep some control like this, but it m a y b e b e t t e r t o a t t e m p t t o c o m p l e t e development first, [ 4.f3 0-0 5.e3 e8 and now 6.e2 would continue this policy, the disadvantage is that, after ( 6.c4?! d5! 7.cxd5 xd5 would return to the main game.) 6...d5 7.0-0 bd7 8.b2 b6 9.d3 b7 10.bd2 d6 11.e1 c5 Black has a wonderful position, with more space, Campora, D-German,G/ 29
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Lomas de Zamorra op 1995, and there are certainly other effective ways to play this for Black. ] 4...0-0 5.e3 'All roads lead to Rome' here, and [ 5.f3 will probably transpose after e8 although in Afifi,A-Hakki,I/GM B, Cairo EGY 1997, White tried ( or 5...d5 6.cxd5 xd5 7.e3 e8 also bringing us to the main game, ) 6.a3 instead of ( 6.e3 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 transposing, but it didn't seem to i m p r o v e W h i t e ' s p r o s p e c t s , f o r a f t e r :) 6...a5 7.e3 d5 Black continuing in id en tica l st yle , 8.cxd5 xd5 9.b3?! b u t w i t h t h e e x t r a m o v e s , ( 9.e2 would now be possible, as xe5?! 10.xe5 f6 is now met by 11.c4 xa1 12.xa5 so Black should play something else at move nine, like 9...c5, with an edge.) 9...c6 10.b2 e6 11.c2 g4 12.a4 xe3!? once again exploiting the pin on the e1-a5 diagonal, 13.fxe3 xe3+ 14.d1 h4 15.b5? ( 15.c4! was the only chance, with the cute tactical point xf3 16.gxf3 xf3+ 17.c1 xh1?? 18.xf7+ wi n n i n g t h e b l a c k q u e e n .) 15...xf3 winning. ] 5...d5 6.cxd5 This might be a mistake, but even after [ 6.f3 e7!? redeploying the bishop, ( b u t I h a v e p l a y e d 6...e8 with a transposition to the main game after 7.cxd5 xd5 ) 7.e2 c5 8.b2 c6 9.cxd5 ( Adorjan suggests that 9.0-0 f5! 10.a3 d4 is also better for Black.) 9...xd5 10.0-0 f6! Black counters White's best piece. 11.d4 this doesn't turn out so well, but ( 11.c1 e8 12.a3 b6 13.d4 xd4! is also good for Black, Teichmann, E-Allen,K/Southampton 1986.) 11...cxd4 12.xd4 b6! 13.d2 xd4 14.xd4 xd4 15.exd4 e6 16.a3 ac8 and Black enjoys a positional advantage, because of the weak d4-pawn, Urzica,AAdorjan,A/ Sweden 1970. ] 6...xd5 7.f3 e8! Preparing a devilish tra p, int o wh ic h W hite o f t en f alls! 8.e2? This move loses, and [ 8.c3?! i s n o t m u c h b e t t e r , xe5!? 9.xe5 xc3 10.b3 d5 11.e4 xd2+ with a strong attack. ] [ 8.b2 might be best, although after f5
( Yudovic has suggested that 8...f4 9.c2 c6 is even better for Black, but I am not so sure, myself.) 9.d4 g6 10.e2 c5 11.b3?! c4! 12.d4 d7 coming to e5, thence d3, Black had a large advantage, Bobrov-Yusupov, USSR 1974. ] 8...xe5! This move devastates the white position. 9.xe5 f6 10.f4 What else, the knight is pinned, and [ 10.d3 xa1 is clearly hopeless. ] 10...xe3 The d-pawn is pinned! 11.b3 xg2+ 12.d1 xf4 The dust has settled, and Black has obtained three pawns for the exchange , plus a winning attack. 13.xf7 xf7 This is good, but [ 13...e6 14.xb4 xa1 is probably even better. ] 14.c4 e6 15.xe6 xe6 16.e1 Not [ 16.xb4?? f3+ ] 16...c6 17.xe6 xe6 18.xe6 d6 Picking off another pawn, as 19.h4? e5! 20.c3 f8 Wins back the exchange, because of the twin threats of ...Rf1+, and ... Kf7, trapping the e6-rook. 0-1
32 McDonald,Neil R Thipsay,Bagyashree Sathe Ron Banwell Masters (6) [Neil McDonald]
A00 2406 2241 23.08.2001
1.a3 White wanted to try the Dutch with an extra tempo! d5 [ Or 1...e5 2.e4 f6 3.c3 and Black can't reach the Ruy Lopez reversed as the little pawn on a3 is preventing 3...Bb4. Nor is the Scotch that great because if d5 4.exd5 xd5 5.h5! and Black can't play the usual riposte 5... Nb4 again thanks to the pawn on a3. Of course none of this prevents Black from having a decent position, but it might be upsetting for a player to be denied his usual opening systems. ] 2.f4 f6 3.f3 g6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 c5 7.d3 c6 8.c3 White has reached the 7...Nc6 Leningrad with colours reversed. d4 9.a4 [ A l s o i n t e r e s t i n g w a s 9.e4 xe4 ( M o r e s e n s i b l e m i g h t b e 9...d5!? ) 30
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.dxe4 when we have the 7...Nc6 8 d5 Ne5 9 Nxe5 dxe5 variation with colours reversed. In some lines the inclusion of a3 will help White as a standard idea is Qe1 combined with h2-h3 and g3-g4 to bring the queen to the kingside. Here he can do it withou t worrying about the reply Nb4 hitting the c2 pawn. ] 9...d6 [ Here 9...d7 10.c4 c7 11.d2 b6 12.b4 b7 13.b1 should be compar ed with the analysis in ****MadeukweMcDonald with reversed colours. ] 10.c4 g4!? [ Safe enough was 10...dxc3 but aiming at the e3 square makes sense. ] 11.b1 b8 12.b4 b6 13.bxc5 bxc5 14.b5! White finds a way to gain the initiative on the queenside, though it doesn't amount to much advantage- the hole on e3 continually h a m p e r s h i s a b i l i t y t o m a n o e u v r e . xb5 15.cxb5 d8 16.c2 e6 17.f5 gxf5 18.h4 f6? During the game I had thought that I had the advantage here but in fact [ 18...c7! leaves White with nothing e.g. 19.xf5 xf5 20.xf5 xb5 and the knight gets to c3. ] 19.xf5 e5 20.b6! Now White takes control. axb6 21.xb6 g7 22.c4 c7 23.f4 d8 24.h6+ xh6 25.xh6 e5 26.a4 e8 27.a5 e6 [ Losing the exchange, but if 27...f5 28.a6! xh6 ( 28...xa6 29.xf5 ) 29.a7 and the pawn queens. ] 28.c6! g7 29.xe8 xh6 30.xf7+ g7 31.xe6 xe6 32.a6 a8 33.b1! xa6 [ If 33...xc4 34.b7+ xb7 35.axb7 e3+ 36.f2 xf2+ 37.xf2 ] 34.b8 xc4 35.f8+ White gave some checks to safely reach the time control. g6 36.f5+ g7 37.xe5+ g8 38.e8+ g7 39.f8+ g6 40.f5+ g7 41.dxc4 1-0
33 McDonald,Neil R Thipsay,Praveen Mahadeo Ron Banwell Masters [Neil McDonald]
A00
2001
1.a3 g6 2.f4 g7 3.f3 d5 4.g3 d7!? Thipsay avoids the usual Dutch Def ence k n i g h t d e p l o ym e n t wi t h c 7 - c 5 a n d N c 6 . Evidently he had been talking to his wife, as against her a couple of rounds earlier in the tournament I had played a Leningrad reversed with Nc3- see ****McDonald-B.Thipsay. 5.g2 gf6 6.0-0 0-0 7.d3 c5 8.e1 Black's idea was that if [ 8.c3 d4 9.a4? b5 wins material- the black knight is on d7 rather than its usual c6 square so that c5 is defended. Still, d7 is a more passive square than c6 so in some sense it felt like a small moral victory to White. ] 8...d4 9.c3?! White drops another tempo! Here [ 9.c4! was correct. ] 9...b6! I had thought the knight would be badly placed on b6- I had completely missed that it can land on a4 in what follows. 10.c4 c7 11.h3 d8 12.b4? Still missing Black's 13th move. I should have acted on the kingside with [ 12.g4 and 13 Qh4. ] 12...h5! Preventing 13 g4. 13.bd2 a4! Black's knights take control on both sides of the board. 14.b3 [ More accurate was 14.e4 centralising the knight. ] 14...b6! Thipsay is playing superb positional and tactical chess. 15.bxc5? Giving away the b file is a serious mistake. I was thrown by the fact that if [ 15.fxd4 b7! 16.b5 d7 17.xb7 xb7 and not only is a1 hanging but the knight on b5 is trapped and threatened with 18...a6. ] 15...bxc5 16.h2 c3 17.e4! The only way to gain space before W hite is put in a stranglehold after 17...Rb8, etc. b8 18.bd2 h6! 19.e5 f6? Finally Black goes wrong. After the game Thipsay told me he had planned to play [ 19...f6! 20.g4 xg4 21.hxg4 xf4! 31
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.gxf4 xf4+ 23.h3 ( White's pieces are t i e d u p a f t e r 23.h1 g3 24.f2 but it is the best chance for him.) 23...h5! but he couldn't quite assess how strong the attack was. It looks tremendous, for example 24.f3 hxg4+ 25.xg4 g7 and 26...Rh8+ will be very strong. ] 20.df3 b3 21.g5! Now White has counterplay. f8 22.f5! Hereabouts the game descended into a time scramble-not so surprising as we had both been thinking hard since move one! xe5 23.f3 c7 24.xh6 e8 25.e5 h5 26.g4 g7 27.fxg6 hxg6 28.h1 b7 29.f2 f8 30.ae1 b6 31.h4 b2? [ He had to eliminate the knight with 31...xf3 ] 32.xg7 xg7 33.g5! xg2+ 34.g1 Suddenly the game is over. Black resigned for if h8 35.xf7+ g8 36.f8+ xf8 37.xh8# 1-0
34 Mestrovic,Zvonimir Sermek,Drazen ch-(team) Pula CRO (7) [Tony Kosten]
A00 2466 2545 16.09.1999
1.c3 c5 2.e4!? There is still a place for originality in chess! This amazing move hopes t o p r o v o k e t h e b l a c k p a wn s f o r w a r d . e6 A sensible e, defending the c5-pawn, and preparing to repel the knight. Actually, it is this move that is new, as W hite's second move has already been employed, [ in Mestrovic,Z-Hulak,K/Zagreb 1977, Black played 2...e5 instead, and after 3.g3 d5 4.e4 f6 5.d3 c6 6.e2 e7 7.f3 0-0 8.0-0 e8 9.h3 h6 10.h2 d4 11.g4 xe2+ 12.xe2 xg4 13.hxg4 e6 14.f5 f6 15.c4 d4 16.g3 h7 17.g2 White was doing well. ] 3.g3 d5 4.e4 dxe4 Rather a limp reply, Black is clearly happy with equality. 5.xe4 e7 6.f3 f6 7.b5+ d7 8.xd7+ xd7 9.e2 xe4 10.xe4 c6 11.0-0 0-0 12.d3 f6 Black has no particular problems here, for sure, but [ 12...d4 13.xd4 cxd4 might have been
more interesting, hoping to pressurize the backward c-pawn straightaway. ] 13.g5 g6 14.h4 h5 15.f4 g7 16.e4 e7 17.g5 White has managed to drum-up a lit t le p la y a ro u nd t h e d a rk squ a re s . b6 18.xe7 xe7 19.b1 c6 20.d2 ad8 21.c3 d4 [ 21...b4! looks stronger, to me, as after 22.xb4 cxb4 Black keeps the bishop's diagonal open. ] 22.xd4 cxd4 23.f4 d7 24.be1 c8 25.e2 dc7 26.ff2 White has only one weakness, the pawn on c2, and this is easily defended. f8 ½-½
35 Minasian,Artashes Becerra Rivero,Julio It Los Angeles USA (8) [Tony Kosten]
A00 2571 2569 25.08.2003
1.g3 It is nice to see strong GMs playing this move, I sometimes try it myself, with reasonable success. g6 2.g2 g7 3.e4 e5 4.e2 c6 5.c3 ge7 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 d5! We have discussed this idea before. 8.e5 f6 Attacking the pawn head-on forces White to close the c1-h6 diagonal. [ 8...0-0 9.0-0 f5 10.a3 f6 11.f4 is f airly similar, Ubeira,E-Prol,I/Burgas 1999. ] 9.f4 e6!? A new move, although the [ 9...0-0 10.0-0 g4 of Polgar,Z-Xie Jun/ Jaen 1996, seems pretty effective - see the archives. ] 10.bc3 d7 11.h3 f5 Black plays this to stop White from playing Be3. 12.0-0 0-0-0!? A really aggressive choice, especially c o n s i d e r i n g t h e o p e n c - f i l e . 13.a4!? A case of 'you can't make an omelette without breaking eggs'! White concedes control of b4 but judges the b5 square to be more im p o rt a n t . a5!? Putting paid to the a-pawn's advance, but breaking the rule concerning not moving pawns in front of the king. It is true that other moves allow W hite to establish control of c5, e.g. [ 13...b8 14.a5 a6 15.a4 although even here f8 seems more than playable. ] 32
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.b5 Adding useful support to the d4-pawn, a s w e l l a s m e n a c i n g t h e b l a c k k i n g . b6 15.d2 b7 16.c1 White's play on the queenside seems to be the dominant factor here. a8?! Black is taking a very passive approach to this game. 17.f3! A nice way to double rooks. fe7 18.h2 hc8 19.fc3 ab8 Black has brought his pieces over to defend the king, but renounced any chance of p l a y o n t h e k i n g s i d e . 20.b3 a8? A b l u n d e r i n a b a d p o s i t i o n . 21.f5!! A liberating sacrifice, which opens the h2-b8 diagonal for the dark-squared bishop, and the f4-square for the e2-knight. gxf5 The only move, [ 21...xf5? 22.xc6 xc6 23.xd5 is instant curtains. ] 22.f4 White is winning - the main threat is Nxe6, then Rxc6 and Bxd5 with a decisive pin on the c6-knight. xd4 Pretty desperate, but [ 22...f7 is no help: 23.e6 xe6 24.xe6 xe6 25.xc6 xc6 26.xd5 ( or 26.xd5 ) 26...xd5 27.xd5 and Black loses a lot of material. ] 23.xd4 fxe5 24.dxe6 exf4 25.xc7+ a7 26.xd5? I can only believe that such a move is due to time trouble, as W hite has several simple wins, for instance [ 26.b5+! a6 27.c7 menacing the queen, and if that moves, mate on a7. ] 26...fxg3+ 27.h1? [ 27.xg3 e5 28.xc8 xg3+ 29.xg3 is still very good for White. ] 27...a6?? Returning the compliment, with interest! [ 27...xc3 is far from clear, Black has rook and two pawns for the bishops. ] 28.xc8 xc8 [ 28...xc8? 29.xb6# ] 29.c7+ a7 30.b5+ [ 30.c4 is even quicker. ] 30...a6 31.c7 1-0
36 Minasian,Artashes Ramesh,Ramachandran B 9th Open Dubai UAE (8) [Carsten Hansen]
A00 2586 2453 29.04.2007
1.g3 e5 2.g2 c6 3.d3 f6 4.a3!? Minasian likes to play somewhat unorthodoxly in the opening, and here tries something akin to a 'Tiger's Modern' with the colours reversed. It will probably not produce an advantage, but against a positional player like former British Champio n Ramesh, it can some times b e worthwhile to try something offbeat, particularly when it suits your own style. d5 5.d2 e6 [ Also 5...a5 can be considered to prevent W h i t e 's n e xt m o ve . B u t I gu e s s e i t h e r Ra m e sh d id n 't e xp e ct it o r p e rh a p s h e wasn't particular concerned about it. Yet ... a7-a5 limits White's options considerably. ] 6.b4!? This is entirely in accordance with Tiger Hillarp Persson's recipe, except he plays it as Black. Normally Tiger develops his bishop to b 2 (7 ) a n d p u sh e s h is c-p a wn f o rwa rd b e f o r e f in is h in g t h e d e ve lo p m e n t o f t h e kingside. It is very provocative and can be hazardous to your health. Nonetheless, Tiger has scored very well with his variation against players of all strengths thanks to the variation suiting his very combative and original form of chess. d6 7.c4 a5 8.b5 b8 9.gf3 [ White can also play 9.cxd5 xd5 10.b2 with a position that looks a lot like it came from an English Opening, but Minasian has other things in mind. ] 9...c6 10.bxc6 bxc6 11.b2 fd7 [ I suppose 11...bd7!? is a perfectly good alternative too. ] 12.0-0 0-0 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.e4 d4 [ Also 14...c6!? can be considered, e.g. 15.exd5 ( 15.c1!? c8 16.exd5 xd5 17.e1 ) 15...xd5 16.c4 c5 17.e1 ( 17.fxe5? dxe5 18.xe5 xe5 19.xe5 xg2 20.xg2 d4 ) 17...f6 18.c1 A) Here 18...e8 and only after 19.d2 B l a c k g o e s b8 is probably a better continuation for Black, leaving him with a slightly better game 20.fxe5 dxe5 ( 20...xg2?! 21.xd7 xe1+ 22.xe1 33
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xd7 23.xg2 is better for W hite!) 21.xe5 xe5 22.xe5 xf2+ 23.xf2 fxe5 with no more than a pull for Black; B) 18...b8 19.d4!? xd4 ( 19...xf3 will likely reach the same position as in the main line through a little transposition 20.xf3 xd4 21.d5+ h8 22.xd4 xd4 23.d6 ) 20.xd4 xf3 21.xf3 xd4 22.d5+ h8 23.d6 b6 24.f1 and W hite's active pieces easily compensate for the missing pawn. ] 15.xd4!? This is an entertaining way of shaking the matters up quite a bit, and Black responds in startlingly terrible fashion by making a massive blunder. If White had tried a more King's Indian kind-of-move, Black would be better thanks to the soft d3-pawn a n d t h e m a n y we a k s q u a r e s o n W h i t e ' s queenside, whereas W hite will be far from p ro d u c in g a n yt h i n g o f su b st a n ce o n t h e kingside. c5?? [ A dreadful blunder, although it has to be said that White's strong 17th move can be overlooked. However, it isn't entirely clear why Black thought his move in the game is s t r o n g e r t h a n 15...exd4 16.e5 xe5! ( 16...a6 17.exd6 xd6 leaves White with an advantage) 17.xa8 b6! 18.c1 ( Or 18.b1 a2 19.c4 xc4 20.dxc4 xb1 21.xb1 d7 22.e4 f6 and Black is doing rather well) 18...bc6 19.e4 xa8 20.xd6 h3 21.f4 xf1 22.xf1 d7 23.d2 and White has an edge, but Black has chances too. ] 16.xe6 xe6 [ Or 16...fxe6 17.c4 c6 18.d4 xd4 19.xd4 exd4 20.e5 and White is again winning ] 17.d4! This may well have been the move that Black had overlooked since he now resigned without any further ado. A possible continuation is d7 18.c4 c7 19.xd6 xd6 20.dxe5 and Black is down two pawns without any form of compensation 1-0
37 Minasian,Artashes Van Beek,Alexander IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (1) [Carsten Hansen]
A00 2574 2343 21.04.2008
1.g3 d5 2.g2 e5 3.d3 f6 4.f3 d6 5.0-0 [ 5.c4!? was examined in AzmaiparashviliMahjoob, Tripoli 2004, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] 5...0-0 6.c4 dxc4 [ This is ECO's preference for Black. An alternative is 6...c6 A) 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.c3 ( 8.g5 bd7 9.c3 h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.c1 e6 12.d4 e4 13.e1 d7 14.f3 exf3 15.exf3 b5 16.d3 with chances to both sides, Petran, P-Kreindl, H/Vienna 1998) 8...h6 ( or 8...d4!? 9.b5 c6 10.xd6 xd6 11.d2 e6 12.a4 d5 13.h3 e4 14.b3 exd3 15.f4 e7 16.exd3 e2 , and Black has the initiative, H o d g s o n , J - S a d l e r , M / L o n d o n 1 9 9 1) 9.b5 ( 9.b3?! d4 10.d5 xd5 11.xd5 c6 12.d2 e6 13.b5 e7 , a n d B la ck 's ch a n ce s a re so m e wh a t preferably, W arakomski, T-Dziuba, M/ Krakow POL 2006) 9...c6 10.xd6 xd6 11.d4 e4 12.e5 e6 13.xc6 xc6 14.f4 d7 15.d2 h5 16.fc1 e6 was another Minasian game: Minasian, A-Izoria, Z/ Batumi GEO 2003, and here White is possibly slightly better after 17.e5!?; B) 7.c2 e7 8.e4 dxe4 9.dxe4 a6 10.c3 e6 11.b3 b4 12.e2 a5 13.b2 fd8 with approximately even chances, Schoene, R-Baumbach, F/ Germany 1995; C) 7.g5 h6 8.xf6 xf6 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.c3 d4 11.e4 e7 12.a3 c6 13.b4 , and White has the initiative, Maiwald, J-Kayser, F/Dresden GER 2007 ] 7.dxc4 c6 [ This move is perfectly logical, removing White's access to the d5-square. Nevertheless, Black has tried several other things in this position: A) 7...e7 8.c3 h6 9.d2 c6 10.a3 a5 11.c2 a6 12.b3 g4 13.b2 fe8 14.de4 f5 15.xf6+ 34
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xf6 16.e4 xe4 17.xe4 f5 with chances to both sides, Rajkovic, DAlburt, L/Odessa 1975 ] [ B) 7...e4 8.g5 f5 9.c3 e8 10.c5 ( 10.b3 is the only move covered in the ECO, e7 11.xb7 bd7 12.d5 d8 13.xf6+ xf6 14.b5 c5 15.h3 c7 16.f4 ab8 17.a4 , and Black has adequate compensation for the pawn, Jansa, V-Gurevich, V/Andorra 1993) 10...xc5 11.xd8 xd8 12.gxe4 xe4 13.xe4 e7 14.f4 a6 , Maiwald, JSteingrimsson, H/Kreuzberg GER 2003 15.fd1 ] [ C) 7...c6 8.c3 h6 ( 8...g4 9.e3 d7 10.g5 f5 11.xf6 xf6 12.e4 e7 13.xd6 ad8 with a comfortable game for Black) 9.b5!? ( 9.e1 g4 10.c2 c8 11.e3 h3 , and Black is more comfortable Agrifoglio, F-Vancini, E/ C e r i a n o 1 9 9 9) 9...e4 10.fd4 e5 11.xc6 bxc6 12.c3 xc3 13.bxc3 , and here a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Moldovan, D-Grigore, G/Bucharest 2001, though obviously there is still plenty of play left in the final position. ] [ D) 7...e8 8.c3 h6 9.b5 ( 9.e4!? g4 10.e3 c6 11.a3; 9.c5 xc5 10.xd8 xd8 11.xe5 c6 12.f4 a6= ) 9...c6 10.e3 e4 11.xd6 cxd6 12.d4 e5 , and Black has the initiative, thanks to the weaknesses on the light squares on W hite's kingside, Bancod, R-Grigore, G/ Genova 1999 ] 8.c3 h6 [ Black has tried a couple of other moves at this juncture 8...f5 9.c5 xc5 10.xe5 e7 11.c4 d8 12.e1 e6 13.d2 bd7 , and Black has nothing to worry about, Gerzadowicz, S-Harabor, M/corr 1990 ] [ 8...e6 9.b3 h6 10.b2 e7 11.c2 bd7 12.ad1 fd8 13.e4 xe4 14.xe4 was Galinsky, T-Madynski, P/ Bydgoszcz 1999, and now Black should have played c5 15.e3 e4 16.d4 g4 17.f3!? exf3 18.xe7 f2+ ( 18...xe7 19.exf3 h5 20.f5 f8= ) 19.xf2 xe7 20.df1 f6 , and the chances are about even ] 9.h3 [ Or 9.c2 e8 10.d1 e7 11.d2 e6
12.a3 a5 13.b1 a6 , and Black has solved his opening problems successfully, Weber, S-Liwak, P/ Germany 2002 ] 9...e6 10.b3 e7 11.c2 d8 12.b2 bd7 13.ad1 f8 14.h4 [ 14.g4 g6 15.e3 a3 16.a1 is fine for Black after h5 17.g5 h7 ] 14...a3 15.a1 The exchange of the darksquared bishops is in Black's interest, so obviously White doesn't oblige xd1 16.xd1 8d7 [ I think Black can do better with 16...c7!? 17.c3 d6 18.c5 ( 18.e3!? ) 18...e7 19.xe5 xe5 20.xe5 xc5 21.xf6?! ( 21.b2= ) 21...gxf6 is absolutely fine for Black, in fact I prefer Black's chances in this position on account of the bishops and Black's queenside pawn majority ] 17.e3 e8 18.hf5 f8 [ 18...f6 19.f4 c5 20.h2 is better for White ] 19.g4 d6 20.e4 White has the more active position and the initiative. f6 21.d1 d8 22.c3 c5 23.d2 [ White has a couple of interesting alternatives, e.g. 23.ge3!? ] [ or 23.b4!? a6 24.xd6 xd6 25.b1 c5 26.b5 c7 27.e3 with an advantage for White ] 23...f7 24.h4 d4 25.f5 [ 25.e3 d8 26.f4 exf4 27.gxf4 d3 opens the game unnecessarily ] 25...d7 26.c3 d8 27.f1 d3 28.e2 c5 29.h4 a5 30.f3 e7 31.ge3 d6?! [ 31...f8 32.d1 b6 33.g4 h7= ] 32.h3 [ 32.xe7+ xe7 33.d1 f7 ( 33...c5 34.f5 d7 35.xd6 xd6 36.xd6 xd6 37.xa5 ) 34.f1 d7 35.f5 c5 36.xd7 xd7 37.d1 b6 38.h5 ] 32...xf5 [ 32...c5 33.b4 xf5 34.xf5 axb4 35.xe7+ xe7 36.xb4 e6 37.g4 ] 33.xf5?! [ 33.xf5!? xf5 34.xf5 d6 35.g4 ] 33...xf5 34.xf5 b4= 35.xb4 xb4 36.g4 h8 37.h5 xa2 38.g2 c3 39.c1 a2 40.e1 and here I suspect Black lost on time, because he isn't worse after either 40...Nc3 or 40. ..b5. 1-0 35
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 38 Minasian,Artashes Volokitin,Andrei IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (2) [Carsten Hansen]
A00 2574 2684 22.04.2008
1.g3 e5 2.g2 d5 3.d3 c6 4.a3 f6 5.b4 [ 5.d2 e6 6.b4 was examined in Minasian-Ramesh, Dubai 2007, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] 5...d6 [ This move looks perfectly logical, but Black has in fact tried quite a few different things in this position: A) 5...a5!? 6.b5 d4 ( 6...a7!? 7.f3 d6 8.a4 c6 9.bxc6 xc6 10.0-0 0-0 with a comfortable game for Black, Conquest, S-Finegold, B/Oakham 1986 ) 7.c3 c6 8.b1 d6 9.e3 e6 10.ge2 0-0 11.0-0 e7 12.a4 d7 13.f4 f5 , and Black is doing fine, Larsen, BLjubojevic, L/Las Palmas 1975 ] [ B) 5...h6 6.b2 d6 7.c4 d4 8.d2 0-0 9.gf3 e8 10.0-0 ( 10.c5!? ) 10...a6 11.e1!? ( 11.b3 f5 12.e4 dxe3 13.fxe3 d7 14.e4 g4 15.h4 f8 16.df3 ad8 , and Black has the somewhat better chances, Norri, J-Ebeling, M/Helsinki 1990) 11...f5 12.h3 d7 13.h2 h7 14.e4 b5 ( 14...a5!? 15.c5 f8 16.b3 e6= ) 15.c1 Mista, ASzymanski, M/Warsaw POL 2005 ] [ C) 5...a6 6.b2 e7 7.d2 0-0 8.c4 e8 ( 8...d4!? 9.gf3 d6 ) 9.cxd5 xd5 10.gf3 f6 ( 10...f8 11.0-0 f6 12.c1 h8 13.b3 a5 14.b5 a7 15.a4 Koshy, V-Sofieva, A/Calcutta 1993) 11.0-0 e6 12.b3 d7 13.c1 h3?! ( 13...ad8 14.c5 xc5 15.xc5 b6 is solid and playable for Black) 14.xh3 xh3 15.e4! b6 16.d4 , and White has grabbed control over the game, W ohl, ASolomon, S/Canberra AUS 2005 ] [ D) 5...e6 6.f3 d6 7.0-0 d7 8.b2 0-0-0 9.b5 e7 10.xe5 h5 11.xd6 xd6 12.h4 g4 13.bd2 f5 14.e4 , and W hite has taken over the initiative, Mirzoev, A-Rodriguez Dobladez, V/ Balaguer 2005 ] 6.b2 0-0 7.d2 e8 8.c4 [ In an earlier game by Volokitin, White tried
8.e4 dxe4 9.dxe4 a5 10.c3 g4 ( 10...axb4 11.axb4 xa1 12.xa1 g4 13.gf3 d7 is given as better for Black by my computer, but I like W hite's chances) 11.gf3 e7 12.e2 d7 13.h3 h5 14.c4 ( 14.g4 g6 15.0-0 also looks promising for W hite) 14...b6 15.e3 ( 15.g4!? ) 15...d7 16.0-0 a4 17.ad1 axb4 18.axb4 f6 19.c1 , and White has the slightly better chances, Movsesian, SVolokitin, A/Koelln GER 2003 ] 8...dxc4 9.xc4 a5 10.b5 d4 11.a4 b4+ 12.f1 d7 [ Black can also consider 12...c5 , and after the normal 13.e3 , the piece sacrifice g4!? 14.f3 e6 15.exd4 exd4 deserves attention ] 13.e3 f5 14.f3 f6 15.g4!? Obviously W hite cannot let go of this opportunity to shake things up a bit. d6 16.xd6 xd6 [ 16...cxd6!? intending ...d5 and ...Nb6 also deserve consideration ] 17.d2 c5 18.e4 f5?! [ I don't like this move, but Black undoubtedly tried to take advantage of the positio n o f W h ite 's king. A be tter try is 18...xe4 19.xe4 b8 20.f3 with chances to both sides. ] 19.xd6 xd6 22 , and here a draw was prematurely agreed upon. W hite is doing rather well after 20 d4 exd4 Qxd4 Qxd4 Bxd4 [ 19...cxd6 20.d4 exd4 21.xd4 c7 22.d5+ h8 23.b6 e7 24.gxf5 xf5 25.g1 ] ½-½
39 Miralles,Gilles Bologan,Viktor National I Bordeaux FRA (6) [Tony Kosten]
A00 2451 2663 06.04.2003
1.b4 e5 2.b2 d6 Unusual, Black solidly defends his e-pawn, but [ 2...xb4 is more common, and ] [ 2...f6 is not bad, either. ] 3.g3 f5 4.g2 f6 5.c4 So White takes play into the English Opening scheme of things. e7!? This appears a trifle passive, Black normally prefers to fianchetto his bishop 36
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 by [ 5...g6 6.d3 g7 7.e3 0-0 8.e2 W hite can delay the development of his queen's knight to keep this different, a6!? ( 8...c6 9.b5 e7 10.d2!? Kalinin,OHn yd iu k , A / Z a b rza n sk i W rze s ie n 1 9 9 4) 9.d2!? ( 9.bc3 c6 would be fairly similar to Closed English lines) 9...c6 10.a3 b8 11.0-0 was another game of Gilles Miralles, against Hofmann, at Groningen but played more than twenty years before! ] 6.b3!? An odd idea, and Gilles was not very happy with it after the game. [ 6.c3 c6 7.f3 0-0 8.0-0 e6 was Braley,J-Tomkins,K/Seattle 1984. ] 6...0-0 7.f3 h8 8.0-0 White delays playing d3 in the hope that Black will play ... e 4 a n d o v e r - e x t e n d h i s c e n t r e . e8 Standard play in such 'Dutch-style' positions, Black plans ...Qh5, and ... f4 with a kingside attack. 9.c3 h5 10.d5 xd5 11.cxd5 d7 12.d3 f6 13.ae1?! After the game we examined the more natural [ 13.ac1 d8 as with the bishop on this less active square W hite is unlikely to be mated, 14.e4!? f4 ( 14...fxe4 15.dxe4 xe4 16.xe5 d2 17.d1 h6 18.e1 dxe5 19.xe5 and the knight will be trapped by f4 ) 15.d4 which seemed very favourable for White. ] 13...f4 14.e4!? White wants to follow with d4 and open the centre, but this weakens f3. h3 All according to plan, ...Ng4 and ...fxg3 come next. 15.d4 g4 16.dxe5 dxe5 [ 16...xg2 17.xg2 xe5 18.xe5 dxe5 19.f3 looks nice for White. ] 17.xh3 White may already be lost, for example [ 17.a3 fxg3 18.fxg3 xg2 19.xg2 xf3! 20.xf3 xh2+ 21.f1 g5! and there is no satisfactory defence against ...Qh1+, and then ...Qg2+. ] 17...xh3 18.xe5?! Obviously critical, for if White can't take this then Black has an attack for nothing, but all the same it was time to defend the second rank by [ 18.e2 ] 18...d6! 19.d4 After this Black wins by a direct sacrificial attack, but anyway [ 19.xd6 cxd6 20.e2 f6 is also very
unpleasant. ] 19...fxg3 20.fxg3 xg3! 21.e2 Defending h2 laterally, [ 21.hxg3? xg3+ 22.h1 xf3 kills the defender of h2. ] 21...e5! Black plays with great precision. 22.c5?! [ 22.xe5 xe5 further attacks the pinned white knight, 23.e3 g4+ 24.h1 xf3 25.exf3 xe4 and Black is a pawn to the good, with a great position. ] 22...f6 23.g2 xh2! 24.xh2 [ 24.xh2 allows a f orced mate: xh2+ 25.xh2 xf1# ] 24...xh2+ 25.xh2 g6+ 26.f2 xh2+ 0-1
40 Morozevich,Alexander Kasparov,Garry Fujitsu-Siemens Giants (10) [Tony Kosten]
A00 2748 2851 25.06.2000
1.c3!? A surprising attempt to take the World Champion out of his opening knowledge. c5 2.d4 [ Unusual, 2.f3 is the normal Dunst move. ] 2...cxd4 3.xd4 c6 4.h4 The point, the queen takes-up an active post on the kingside. f6 5.f3 [ 5.e4?! whilst apparently desirable, allows the reply b4 6.d3 xd3+ 7.cxd3 d5 and Black is better. ] 5...d5 6.g5 a5! [ Already a new move, 6...e6 7.0-0-0 e7 8.e4 a5 9.exd5 xd5 10.xd5 exd5 11.xe7 xe7 12.b1 favoured White in Becking,F-Staggat,R/Weilburg 1995. ] 7.0-0-0 e6 Odd, but the only way of defending d5 which doesn't lose a pawn. 8.d2 [ An unnatural reply, but White already has difficulties, the natural 8.e3?! allows e4! 9.xe4 dxe4 10.xe4 xa2 denuding the white king. ] 8...g6 Black takes the opportunity to complete his kingside development. 9.e4!? [ White hopes to profit from his superior development to open the position, but the ta ct ics a re no t u nf a vo ura ble f or B lac k . 37
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.a3!? ] 9...d4 10.e5 g4! [ 10...dxc3 11.xc3 xa2 12.exf6 is very risky. ] 11.xd4! xd4 12.h3 g7 13.hxg4 xe5 14.a3 c8 15.d3 White seems well-placed, as the open h-file stops Black from castling, b u t t h e b l a c k p i e c e s a r e a c t i v e . b3+! Black sees a neat perpetual, and decides to m a k e a d r a w . 16.cxb3 xc3 17.xc3 xc3+ 18.b1? [ A risky winning attempt, 18.bxc3 xc3+ 19.b1 xb3+ 20.c1 c3+ is an immediate draw. ] 18...xb3 19.h2 c3! A key tactical point, parrying the threatened Qb8+, and menacing mate, too. 20.b8+ c8 21.d2 The only move to defend b2. 0-0 [ 21...xd2?? 22.xc8# ] 22.h2 h5 Black's threats give him the time to defend his king. 23.hd1 xg4 24.f3 e6 Now White has two pawns less, for nothing. 25.g4 hxg4 26.fxg4 xg4 27.g1 xb2+! The simplest. 28.xb2 xd3+ 29.c2 d7 30.d2 xd2 31.xd2 f3 The ending is hopeless, the f our extra black pawns are much more significant than the exchange. 32.b2 c6 33.c3 g7 34.b4 e5 35.a4 a6 36.a5 e4 37.c5 e8 38.e1 e6 Black is in no rush, and simply puts his pieces on good squares, before pushing some o f h is p a wn s . 39.d4 f5 40.h2 f6 41.h8 d6+ 42.c5 d5+ 43.b6 b5+ 44.c7 xa5 0-1
Ernst,T/Skelleftea SWE 1999. ] 2.e3 I think that this is White's soundest reply. [ Black's system is designed to counter the obvious move 2.b2 as Black replies b6 attacking, and pinning, the b-pawn, 3.a3 a5 4.c4 A trick, based on a tactic, ( 4.c3?! is horribly passive, d5 5.e3 e5 and Black has a good position, Dovzik,J-Revuckij,V/ S ze g e d 1 9 9 8 .; but I wonder if 4.f3!? i s p o s s i b l e ? T h e p o i n t i s t h a t axb4 can be countered by 5.d4 c5? 6.xc5! w i n n i n g a p a w n , a s xc5?! 7.axb4 is a standard trick, winning the exchange.) 4...axb4 5.c5 This is the same idea, of course, c7 ( 5...xc5?? 6.axb4 wins a rook!) 6.axb4 xa1 7.xa1 d6 8.a4 e5 9.f3 d7 10.cxd6 xd6 11.g3 gf6 12.c3 b6 and White had problems b e c a u s e o f h i s we a k b - p a w n , a n d t h e imminent advance of the black e-pawn, Teichmann,E-Watts,D/Southampton 1986. ] 2...d5 3.b2 f6 The move [ 3...b6?! has absolutely no effect here, 4.a3 a5 5.d4 c7 6.f4 keeping a firm grip on the e5-square, axb4 7.axb4 xa1 8.xa1 d7 9.f3 gf6 10.c1! very original, the queen is coming to b2 to emphasize White's control over the a1-h8 diagonal. e6 11.b2 b5 12.e2 and the black light-squared bishop is se ve re l y in h i b i t e d , H o rt - A n ga n t ys s o n / Bundesliga 1985. ] 4.f4 The same idea as in the Hort game, W hite attempts to control the central darksquares. [ 4.f3 is less effective, g4 5.e2 bd7 6.h3 xf3 7.xf3 e6 8.a3 d6 and Black 41 A00 had a solid set-up, Palac,M-Rosandic,D/ Pula 1994. ] Ornstein,Axel 2425 Hansen,Sune Berg 2520 4...g4 5.f3 e6 Sensible play by Black, Troll Masters (8) 14.01.1999 having developed his c8-bishop outside the pawn chain, he can now put his pawns on [Tony Kosten] light squ a re s, ju st a s in t h e Cap a b la n c a 1.b4 c6 A strange move, under the Variation of the Reti. 6.a3 bd7 7.c4 d6 circumstances, but one with a definite tactical 8.cxd5 exd5 9.e2 0-0 10.0-0 e8 11.c3 12.d4 xe2 13.cxe2 a5! point. In fact, I once saw someone claim that c8 Black attempts to create a weakness on the this was the refutation of 1 b4. [ 1...a5 is worse, as after 2.b5 f6 3.b2 queenside. 14.c2 b6 15.ed4 c5 16.f5 g6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 0-0 6.c4 d6 7.c3 f8 17.bxc5 bxc5 18.g4? Bearing in mind e5 8.d3 Black has simply encouraged White that Black has the stronger central presence, to gain space on the queenside, Akesson,R- this weakening of the king's defences seems 38
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 most inappropriate. b6 19.b1 e6 20.h3 3...e5 The position has turned into a type of h5! Black does not waste his time, but hits King Pawn Opening. If Black omits 3...e5, then straight at White's weakest point. 21.f2 b8 we will have a g3 Pirc, again, i.e. 22.a4 d4 The thematic hanging-pawns thrust. [ 3...d6 4.d4 or, if Black plays ...c5, a Closed 23.a3 b4 24.exd4 a2 25.b5? Sicilian. ] This loses a piece, the best chance lay in [ 3...c5 assuming White plays Nc3, there is [ 25.d3 when hxg4 26.hxg4 xb2 27.fxb2 o n e o r i g i n a l l i n e , w h i c h g o e s 4.c3!? xa3 wins two pieces for a rook, but there is i n t e n d i n g d 4 , c6 5.e2 but White's still play in the position. ] results with this line are disastrous, e5 6.d3 25...xb2 ge7 7.e3 d6 8.0-0 0-0 Black has 0-1 adopted a Botvinnik set-up, which is more than satisfactory, Mozes,E-Wells,P/ Harkany op 1993. ] 42 A00 4.e2 c6 Black keeps control of d4, Polgar,Zsuzsa 2550 otherwise, [ 4...f6 5.d4 Xie Jun 2530 A) 5...exd4 6.xd4 concedes the centre, (m/1) Jaen 1996 but cannot be too bad, as a Pirc-style [Tony Kosten] position will be reached, in all likelihood. 0-0 7.c3 c6!? ( 7...d6 is safer. ) 1.g3 g6 2.g2 g7 This is a flexible 8.xc6!? dxc6 9.0-0 with advantage to response to W hite's opening. Black is, White because of his extra kingside pawn, presumably, happy to adopt a King's Indian King-Ostojic, Mondorf 1991.; should W hite play d4, or perhaps a Closed B) 5...d6!? 6.bc3 ( 6.dxe5 dxe5 Sicilian if White plays a later e4. 3.e4 7.xd8+ xd8 must be a little better for [ 3.c3 Is a pet line of Larsen's, refusing to White. ) 6...c6 7.h3 b5 8.a3 b7 9.e3 t r a n s p o s e i n t o ' n o r m a l ' l i n e s . c5 bd7 10.f4 unclear, Wessman-Shirov, Black invites 4 e4, which transposes to the Moscow 1991. ] Closed Sicilian. 4.d3 c6 5.f4 but White The same idea as in the note to move p r e f e r s a r e v e r s e d D u t c h ! ( 5.a3!? 5.c3 takes play into entirely new territory: e6 three, W hite tries to set-up a pawn centre. Black prepares ...d5 in reply, and this 6.f3 d6 7.g5 when, despite Black's lack ge7! of ambition, he still has a good position, will be successful as White has insufficient L a r s e n , B - C a l v o M i n g u e z , R / P a l m a d e control over this square without his queen's Mallorca 1968.) 5...b6 6.f3 b7 7.0-0 d6 knight on c3. [ 5...d6 is solid, if uninspiring, 6.d4 ge7 8.e4 Against Black's refusal to play ...d5, 7.d5 b8 8.c4 0-0 9.bc3 and in this KI White finally 'concedes defeat', and plays e4. position, White has an edge, DamljanovicA position not atypical of the Closed Sicilian Cvetkovic, 1992. ] i s r e a c h e d . L a r s e n , B - S t r i k o vi c , A / L a s 6.d4 exd4 7.cxd4 d5 The standard method Palmas 1992. ] [ 3.d4 Is one of the tricky points of this of disarming a pawn centre, before it can do system. If Black plays f6 mechanically, any damage. 8.e5 f6 9.f4 0-0 10.0-0 g4 expecting to take play into a KI after 4 Nf3, The black pieces are well-placed to pressure or 4 c4, then he may get a nasty surprise: the white centre. 11.bc3 fxe5 12.fxe5?! 4.e4 of course, White's second move has Better to keep the f-file closed, by [ 12.dxe5 although Black gets plenty of play prepared the ground for this by controlling after d4 as if 13.b3+ h8 14.d1 then e4. d6 Black has to play a Pirc, whether he c8 wins the exchange. ] likes it, or not. 5.e2 0-0 6.0-0 e5 7.h3 with transposition into the g3 Pirc. Whilst it 12...xf1+ 13.xf1 d7 14.h3? This allows is true that it is not that worrying for Black, a tactical sequence, but even after [ 14.e3 f8 15.c1 Black has a plus, h3 but only providing he knows what he is doing, exchanging White's better bishop. ] Miles, A-Fedorowicz,J/Ramsgate 1981 ] 39
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14...f8 15.f4 g5! 16.hxg4 gxf4 17.gxf4 xg4 The white centre is exposed, both the d, and f-pawns are going to come under attack. 18.e2 g3 19.f2?! xf2+ 20.xf2 xd4 21.xd5 g6 First the d4-pawn is lost, now Black attacks the e5, and f 4-pawns. 22.c3?! As White is in a bad way, she should try to exchange as many pawns as possible: [ 22.xc7 is the best chance, therefore, xf4 23.xf4 xf4+ 24.e3 although Black has every chance to win after xe5 ] 22...c6! 23.e3? xe5!? 24.d1 xf4 25.xf4 Unfortunately for White, winning the two pieces for the rook by [ 25.xd4 xd4+ 26.xd4 e6+ 27.e3 is quite hopeless after xd4 28.xd4 f2 as Black has too many pawns. ] 25...xf4+ 26.e3 f5+ 27.d3 g4 28.h3 d4+ Swapping rooks after this the game is a formality, despite the oppositecolour bishops. 29.e2 xd1 30.xd1 d6 31.b4 g7 32.a4 f6 33.f2 d4 34.d3 b6 35.f4 c5 36.d5+ e5 37.bxc5 bxc5 38.e7 a6 39.a5 c4 40.c6+ d6 41.b8 c7? A blunder, allowing a technical draw, [ 41...xa5 42.xa6 c4 was simple, and effective. ] 42.xa6+ b7 Trapping the knight, but 43.xc5+! The best, [ 43.f5 A l s o l o o ks g o o d , a f t e r xa6 44.d3 as b5 45.xc4+ forces 45...Kxa5, xc4?? would actually lose after 46.a6 and the pawn cannot be stopped! ] 43...xc5 44.a6+! b6 Forced, [ 44...xa6? 45.f5 h5 46.d3 b5 47.xc4+ xc4 48.f3 draws, as Black has the wrong rook's pawn! ] 45.d3? A mistake, [ 45.c8 should draw, as Black can only take the a6-pawn with his knight when a drawn position is reached. ] 45...d6 Stopping the above manoeuvre, and winning. 46.e2 xa6 47.f3 b6 48.e6 c7 49.g4 d8 50.h5 e3 51.g8 h6 52.b3 e7 53.g6 e4 54.d1 e6 55.g4+ e5 56.d1 g5 57.e2 f4 58.d1 g3 59.a4 h5 60.d7 h4 0-1
43 Pridorozhni,Aleksei Jakovenko,Dmitrij RUS Cup rapid final (2.3) [Fier, Alexandr]
A00 2517 2721 20.12.2013
It's always interesting to see how the top players react against exotic lines. In this game Pridorozhni tried 1.g4 and Jakovenko didn't try to refute it, but just played a solid and sound idea. It's important to appreciate that W hite needed to win this game to co n t in ue in th e Cu p . 1.g4 d5 2.g2 Since this position is not played so often at grandmaster level, alternatives can arrive early. 2.Bg2 makes some sense, developing the bishop and being ready to meet 2. ..Bxg4 with 3.c4, even if it is not clear if this is good for White. [ 2.h3 was the choice of one of the experts in this line when he played against Hebden. Black played som e st ra nge mo ve s an d White soon gained the initiative. This order can transpose to 2.Bg2 c6 3.h3 e5, but avoiding the line with 2... Bxg4 e5 3.g2 c6 4.d4 d7 5.c4 e4 6.c3 b6 7.c5 c4 8.b3 a5 9.f3 Basman, M (2340)-Hebden, M (2548)/4NCL rapid Daventry 2013. ] 2...e6 This is much less ambitious than the other moves. [ 2...xg4!? it's also OK to fall for this 'trick': 3.c4 c6 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.b3 f6 6.c3 e6 7.xb7 bd7 and White changes the gpawn for the b-pawn which doesn't make much sense. In addition the pieces are unstable, so I think Black is already better here. ] [ 2...c6 3.h3 ( 3.c4 dxc4 here the pawn would probably be better on g3 instead of g4 4.b3 xg4 5.bxc4 e5 6.b3 c7 a n d B l a c k i s a p a w n u p) 3...e5 would transpose to 2.h3 ] 3.d3 c5 4.c3 c6 5.e4 dxe4 [ 5...d4 makes more sense with the pawn on g4, compared to the same position with the pawn on g3 6.ce2 e5 and the break with f4 is now less effective 7.g3 e6 8.h3 and White is going to try Ng1-e2 and f4 at some point, but Black should be fine ] 6.xe4 f6 [ 6...e7 7.e2 f6 8.2g3 xe4 40
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.xe4 ] 7.g5 [ 7.xf6+ can transpose to the game again xf6 8.g5 ( 8.e2 also possible, but doesn't change much d7 9.g5 d8 10.e3 with a balanced position) 8...d8 9.e4 and we are back ] 7...xe4 [ 7...d5 is another interesting option, but Black doesn't mind changing some pieces 8.e2 e7 9.0-0 0-0 10.a3 e5 11.c4 c7 12.e3 e6 13.d2 with a complex middlegame ] 8.xe4 e7 9.h4 [ 9.f3 is another setup c7 to castle on the queenside ( 9...0-0 10.h4 c7 11.e3 and White has decent attacking chances) 10.e3 d7 11.e2 0-0-0 12.0-0-0 b8 with a game full of life ] 9...c7 [ 9...0-0 was still possible and White can transpose to the last note with 10.f3 ] 10.e3 b6 [ 10...b6 is a provocative idea, when White will probably sacrifice the pawn 11.b1!? a5+ taking the a-pawn instead 12.f1 xa2 13.f3 0-0 14.g2 with some compensation ] 11.f3 b7 12.e2?! White allows some unnecessary exchanges. With the advanced pawns it would be better to keep the queens on to have some attacking chances. [ 12.0-0-0 avoids the trick of the game e5 13.g2 xe4 14.xe4 d8 ( 14...c6 15.xe5 xh1 and now this move is not check 16.xg7 f8 17.xh7 ) 15.e2 with a level position ] 12...e5 13.g2 xe4 14.xe4 [ 14.dxe4 d8 and White's king stays in the middle, since 15.0-0 is not good because of c4 with a good position for Black ] 14...c6! A good move for those who needs to draw. 15.0-0-0 [ 15.xc6+ xc6 16.0-0-0 0-0-0 is also ok for Black ] 15...xe4 16.dxe4 g4 And now not only Black is fine, but he is already slightly better. 17.h3 d8 [ 17...xe3! was more direct and White has no time to consolidate the position 18.xe3 h6 19.f4 ( 19.g1 hxg5 20.hxg5 h2
is also annoying, Black will play ...c4 and ... Rd8 and W hite has no clear counterplay) 19...hxg5 20.hxg5 e5 and White has some problems with the structure ] 18.g1 xe3 19.xe3 d7 Black goes for the most solid approach. [ 19...h6 was still possible 20.e5 this can control the position, but White will be kind of static hxg5 21.hxg5 h2 22.f4 c4 23.e4 b5 with a small advantage for Black ] 20.f4 d8 21.a4 c7 22.f5 exf5 23.exf5 d6 24.c3 dd8 25.f1 he8 And White t r i e s i n va i n t o c r e a t e s o m e t h i n g i n t h e endgame over the next few moves. 26.ff3 xe3 27.xe3 d7 28.c2 e7 29.xe7+ xe7 30.d3 c6 31.e4 d6 32.g1 g3 33.f3 d6 34.b4 cxb4 35.cxb4 a6 36.d4 g6 37.f6 b5 38.a5 f2+ 39.e4 g3 40.d4 f2+ 41.e4 g3 42.e3 Trying to force somehow. [ 42.d4 f2+ would be a draw ] 42...d5 But now Black is just winning. 43.d3 d6 44.c3 e4 [ 44...f4 45.d3 g3 46.c3 e4 wins ] 45.d2+ d5 46.b3 e5+ [ 46...g3 is still quite interesting 47.c5 xh4 48.xa6 xg5 49.d3 xf6 With a pleasant endgame for Black. ] 47.d3 d6 48.c3 e5+ 49.d3 d6 50.c3 ½-½
44 Reti,Richard Alekhine,Alexander Baden-Baden Baden Baden (8) [Nigel Davies]
A00
25.04.1925
Besides playing 1.Nf3 Reti adopted both the English Opening and 1.g3 as White. Here we see him venturing the latter move against no less a player than Alexander Alekhine. 1.g3 e5 2.f3 A kind of Alekhine's Defence with colours reversed. The move ...g7-g6 is often useful for Black in the Alekhine so g2-g3 will be similarly useful for White. e4 3.d4 d5 4.d3 exd3 5.xd3 [ 5.cxd3 would be more in keeping with lines of the Alekhine Defence. But Reti wants to play a later c2-c4 and then play along the 41
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 open d- and c-files. ] 5...f6 6.g2 b4+ [ 6...c5 should be considered here. ] 7.d2 xd2+ 8.xd2 0-0 9.c4 a6 [ 9...c5 is well worth considering here, for example 10.4b3 a6 11.0-0 b4 is more or less equal. ] 10.cxd5 b4 11.c4 bxd5 12.2b3 c6 13.0-0 e8 14.fd1 Once again Reti has achieved an excellent position with play along the open c- and d-files and a useful kingside pawn majority. What's fascinating to see in this game is Alekhine stirring up massive complications. And this all goes to show that the opening is not enough. g4 15.d2 c8 16.c5 h3 17.f3 g4 18.g2 h3 19.f3 g4 20.h1 [ 20.g2 would repeat the position. The text indicates that White is getting ambitious. ] 20...h5 21.b4 a6 22.c1 h4 23.a4 [ 23.e4 b6 24.c3 is also very nice for White. ] 23...hxg3 24.hxg3 c7 25.b5 [ 25.e4 e7 26.a5 would strengthen the position of the knight on c5 but Reti wanted to attack c6. In retrospect this was a fateful decision. ] 25...axb5 26.axb5 e3! Just when it was starting to look as if Black's strategy was not succeeding Black launches this stunning combinative blow. The position is unclear after this but Alekhine succeeds in confusing his opponent. 27.f3?? [ 27.fxe3?? xg3+ obviously leads to mate ] [ but 27.f3 deserved attention. After ea3 28.bxc6 bxc6 29.g2 White's position looks pretty good. ] 27...cxb5! 28.xb5 c3 Black's pieces are swarming into the attack but with so many things en prise this hangs by a thread. 29.xb7 xb7 30.xb7 xe2+ 31.h2 [ 31.f1 is a lso h op ele ss a f t e r xg3+ 32.fxg3 xf3 33.xf3 xf3+ 34.g2 aa3 etc. ] 31...e4!! A fantastic move from Alekhine, wa s t in g n o t im e in clo sin g in o n W h it e 's position. [ After 31...xc1 32.fxe3 a3 33.g5 ] [ and 31...xf3 32.xe2 f5 33.b2 White would save the draw. ] 32.c4 Reti is trying to exchange some pieces
via tactical means. [ 32.d8+ xd8 33.fxe3 d5! and ] [ and 32.fxe3? xd2 33.xd2 xc1 are good for Black. ] 32...xf2! [ After 32...xf3 W hite can play 33.xe4! xe4 34.fxe3 xh1 35.xh1 xg3+ 36.g2 with good drawing chances. ] [ And 32...xd2 doesn't work because of 33.xd2 d3 34.c5! . ] 33.g2 [ 33.c5 was a slightly better chance but is still winning for Black after ae8 34.g5 xh1 35.xh1 xg3+ etc. ] 33...e6! 34.cc2? [ 34.b4 g4+ 35.h3 would have been the best chance. ] 34...g4+ 35.h3 e5+ 36.h2 xf3! [ 36...xf3+?! 37.xf3 xf3 38.xe2 is also better for Black but much less clear than the game. ] 37.xe2 g4+ 38.h3 Neither now nor before could the white king move to the first rank because of the deadly check on a1 e3+ 39.h2 xc2 40.xf3 d4 41.f2 xf3+ 42.xf3 d5 Either the knight or rook will be lost. 0-1
45 Rogers,Ian Lukacs,Peter Budapest Budapeste [Tony Kosten]
A00 2565 2500 1991
1.c3 d5 2.e4 dxe4 3.xe4 d7 Played in order to be able to confront the advanced e4-knight by ...Ngf6, and if White captures on f6, to recapture on f6 with a piece, thus keeping the kingside pawn structure intact 4.d4 Inviting transposition into a CaroKann by 4...c6, normally White tries to defer d4 for a while, and plays [ 4.c4 (or first 4 Nf3 Ngf6 5 Nxf6+ Nxf6, and then 6 Bc4) and now Black's safest move is e6 masking the f7-pawn, as if ( 4...gf6 then 5.xf7+!? xf7 6.g5+ g8 7.e6 e8 8.xc7 is possible. Following d8 9.xa8 e5 10.d4 d6 11.f3 e4 12.g5 h6 13.e6 e7 42
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.f4 h7 15.e3 b6 Spice,A-Hinks Edwards,T/4NCL, Telford ENG 1997, Black will win the trapped a8-knight by ...Bb7, when his two pieces may prove stronger than W hite's rook and pawns. Still, why get involved in this?) 5.e2 gf6 6.g5 b6 and not ( 6...h6? 7.xf7! decimating the black position) 7.b3 h6 8.5f3 e7 9.e5 0-0 10.gf3 c5 and Black has successfully brought play to a Caro position where he has an extra tempo. Still, after 11.d3 a5 12.a3 a4 13.a2 c7 White unleashed a strong attack with 14.g4! d6 15.h4 fd7 16.xd7 xd7 17.g5 h5 18.g6 fxg6 19.g5 with wild play, Schneider,A-Lengyel,L/ Budapest 1995. Perhaps Black should have deferred castling? ] 4...gf6 5.xf6+ xf6 6.f3 f5!? Ambitious in a pure Caro, Black would be happy to play ...e6, and then an eventual ...b6, and ...Bb7, bringing this piece into play on the long h1-a8 diagonal. Here, as he has a tempo more (in effect) he decides to play the bishop to a more active square immediately. 7.c3 e6 8.e5 e7 9.b3 c8 the first slight drawback to Black's sixth move is revealed, b7 is unde f ended . 10.e2 0-0?! A careless move, Black should have waited for White to castle before committing his king like this. The 'I have a tempo more, so I must have a good position' syndrome strikes! [ 10...h6 would have been more prudent ] 11.g4! Starting a kingside attack with gain of tempo . The f 5-bisho p pro ves to be more 'exposed' than 'active' e4 12.f3 d5 13.c4 c6 Finally finding safety, at least the bishop won't be lost 14.f4 e8 15.xc6 xc6 16.0-0-0 The dust has settled and White finds himself with the bishop pair, a space advantage, and the makings of a kingside attack d6 17.g3 a6 18.b1 This is almost always a useful precaution when one side has castled long. ab8 19.g5 e8?! 20.d3 g6 21.e4 d7 22.c5! Black is being pushed off the board xg3 This is hardly desirable, opening up the h-file onto his king, but [ 22...e7 loses material after 23.c6 24 and cxb7 ] 23.hxg3 c6 24.g4 c7 25.c2 Coming to
the h-file f5 26.gxf6 xf6 27.h6! bf8 28.dh1 xf3 Desperation, but other moves were also hopeless, e.g. [ 28...8f7 29.g5 f4 30.xg6 when the black king is not long for this world ] 29.xf3 xf3 30.xg6+! Pretty, and effective! [ 30.xg6+ hxg6 31.h8+ f7 32.1h7+ f6 33.xd7 wins easily ] 1-0
46 Short,Nigel D Caruana,Fabiano 5th Classic GpD 2013 (2.1) [Fier, Alexandr]
A00 2683 2782 11.12.2013
Short tries an unusual setup and Caruana punishes it in a good way. It's interesting to play some exotic lines, but to develop the pieces and control the center can't be bad either. 1.b4 d5 2.b2 f6 3.e3 [ 3.f3 is normal, trying to enter a normal position with some expansion on the queenside g4 4.e3 bd7 this was the setup chosen by Kobalia last year in a blitz game 5.e2 e6 6.b5 d6 7.h3 h5 8.0-0 and there is nothing wrong with the position. Later White managed to win in Nadanian, A (2428)-Kobalia, M (2651)/FIDE World Blitz 2013 blitz 2013. ] 3...f5 4.e2 Still avoiding the normal paths [ 4.f3 is again possible and was tried this ye a r b y Mo ro vic , e6 5.c4 c6 6.c5 but despite Black's loss, the opening was not the main problem in Morovic Fernandez, I (2560)-Obregon Rivero, J (2501)/ Capablanca Memorial op-A 48th 2013. ] 4...e6 5.a3 e7 6.d3 Trying to keep some flexibility, but basically it doesn't matter so much for Black [ 6.g4 I don't believe this move is completely sound, but it would be a legitimate try to use the fact that the knight is still on g1. With ideas of g5, h4-h5, White tries to disrupt the harmony between the Black pieces e4 this should be critical, trying to immediately p u n i s h W h i t e ' s e x o t i c p l a y ( 6...g6 is a solid option and, of course, playable 7.g5 e4 8.h4 and Black needs to keep 43
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 one eye on the h5-h6 idea. Still Black is bringing the knight to d6 and it's not so clear if W hite can continue the attack in a dangerous way. ) 7.f3 A) 7...g6 now the knight is not going to e4 anymore 8.g5 fd7 9.h4 e5 ( 9...0-0 is also possible 10.f4 with the idea of h5) 10.f4!? anyway exf4 11.h3!? this idea is also played in the lines with 1. d4 e6 2.c4 b6 where Black plays .. .f5 exf5 Nh6 fxe3 12.dxe3 b6 13.f4 with nice counterplay; B) 7...xg4!? again critical, going for what looks like a decisive attack, 8.fxe4 h4+ 9.f1 f2 10.b5+! an important detail, t o a c t i v a t e t h e q u e e n . ( 10.c1 d o e s n ' t w o r k b e c a u s e o f dxe4 and White's pieces have no place to go) 10...c6 11.h5 at the cost of one piece White activates his forces, cxb5 12.xg7 g8 13.xh7 xg7 ( 13...d7 trying to keep the rook is not so good 14.exd5 xh1 15.dxe6+ xe6 16.c3 c6 17.f3 and despite being a rook down White is better. Black's king is too exposed and his pieces are more or less hanging. For example: f2 18.d4 d7 19.d5 e7 20.xh4 xg7 21.xf2 with a huge advantage) 14.h8+ d7 15.xg7 xh1 ( 15...dxe4 Black can wait one more move to take the rook, since it's still hanging, 16.xf7+ e7 17.xe7+ xe7 18.g2 xh1 19.xh1 a5 and the material is back to normal, Black has some compensation for the pawn, but the position is unclear.) 16.xf7+ e7 17.xe7+ xe7 18.exd5 f2 19.c3 and Black kept the piece, but for 3 pawns. The game is still full of life. ] 6...h6 7.d2 bd7 8.gf3 Finally White brings the knight into the game. 0-0 9.h3?! The beginning of a flawed plan. White has not sufficient resources to start an attack against Black's king and he will be severely punished for this. [ 9.0-0 would be normal, and after a5 10.b1 c6 11.c4 the position is about equal ] 9...g6 10.b3 d6 Since White has no intentions of using the center, Black prepares t o o c c u p y it . 11.g4? Now there is no going
back anymore. W hite moves a knight to f5, and after ...Bxf5 gxf5 he is going to put the rook on the g-file. And after that? It's not clear. Meanwhile Black plays natural and strong moves. [ 11.c4 this would be my preference, but it doesn't make much sense to play 9.h3 then c5 ( 11...e8 lets White create a weakness on the queenside 12.c5! f8 13.a5 c8 14.c6 bxc6 15.xc6 with a slight advantage for W hite.) 12.cxd5 xd5 13.bxc5 xc5 14.xc5 xc5 15.0-0 and the position is quite normal ] [ 11.0-0 was still rational and prudent c5 12.xc5 xc5 13.bxc5 xc5 14.a4 and one day White can prepare the rupture on c4 to activate his pieces. ] 11...e5 12.h4 h7 13.f5 xf5 14.gxf5 e8 15.g1 [ 15.d2 would be interesting, to try 16.0-0-0, but there is no time for it c5 16.bxc5 xc5 17.xc5 xc5 and the king won't be safe on the queenside, either. ] 15...c5! Opening the other side too. 16.bxc5 xc5 17.xc5 xc5 And apparently both p l a ye r s m a n a ge d t o p u t t h e i r p l a n s in t o practice. White opened the file for the rook to attack Black's king and Black took the center and opened the queenside. The problem is that White needs one more piece at least to attack, and it's not so easy to bring the queen i n t o t h e g a m e w i t h o u t s p a c e . 18.f1 This move can't really work, but it's already hard to suggest anything decent for White. [ 18.c4 is the move suggested by the computer, but it also helps Black to open the position c8 ( 18...dxc4 19.dxc4 e7 20.f1 ed8 21.c2 ac8 and maybe White can bring the king to g2 and exchange some pieces) 19.cxd5 xd5 20.a4 f8 and it's still not clear what White is going to do next. ] 18...c8 19.d2 Since the queen can't go to the kingside, it tries to stay there, defending the pawns [ 19.f3 would be the plan, but now it's not possible because of b6 20.g2 ( 20.c1 e4 is just winning for Black) 20...f8 and both the bishop and the c2-pawn are hanging. 21.0-0-0 is not going to be enough. ] 44
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19...b6 20.d1 a5 21.c3 h8 Final prophylaxis. [ 21...d7 there was nothing wrong with this t o o , b u t i t ' s a m a t t e r o f t a s t e 22.c1 xf5-+ ] 22.f3 d4 23.g2 g8 24.cxd4 d5 25.f2 b6 26.e2 b3# mate 0-1
m o v e t h o s e k i n g s i d e p a w n s b a c k . exd4 28.c1 d3 29.xd3 e5 30.d1 fd7 31.g3 Breaking up Black's kingside pawns. fxg3 32.xg3 Suddenly the knight has access to the juicy f5 square. f6 33.f5 f8?! 34.a2 [ 34.h4! would have been very strong, for e x a m p l e a f t e r h6 ( 34...gxh4 35.f4 ) 35.hxg5 hxg5 36.b2 White's rook is coming to h2. ] 47 A00 34...g6 35.b2 h6 36.g2 h5 37.f4! Sitnikov,Anton 2443 xd1 38.xd1 f7? [ After 38...gxf4 39.xf4 Black loses the Aveskulov,Valeriy 2457 pawn on h6, but moving the knight from e5 Kharkov Femida (11) 26.10.2005 is the last thing he should do. Now White [Nigel Davies] comes crashing through... ] White's 4.c4 is a very sensible way of playing 39.b2+ h7 40.b1 be8 41.h4 g8 against this system, but I can't say it looks 42.hxg5 hxg5 43.h2+ g6 44.dd2 [ Missing mate via 44.e7+ xe7 45.f5# that promising. Black was doing well here until . I guess they were in time trouble. ] he overreached. 1.b4 c5!? 2.bxc5 e5 3.e3 44...f6 45.e7+ g7 xc5 4.c4!? [ 45...xe7 46.e5+ is disastrous. ] [ This makes much more sense than the 4.d4 of Katalymov - Kupreichik. Now if Black's 46.xg8 xg8 47.dg2 e3 48.e5 dxe5 wants to play ...d7-d5 he must allow the 49.fxe5 1-0 exchange of another more central pawn. ] 4...c6 5.c3 f6 6.ge2 I quite like this as a concept bringing the knight in contact A00 with the e4 and d5 squares. Unfortunately it 48 d o e s n ' t s e e m t o a c h i e ve ve r y m u c h . 0-0 Skembris,Spyridon 7.d5 d6 8.ec3 e6 9.e2 xd5 Mariotti,Sergio 2475 10.cxd5 e7 11.b3 a5 12.b1 zt Budva (3) 1981 [ After 12.0-0 Black can pressure the d5 [Tony Kosten] pawn with b4! . So White prevents this 1.g4 e5 2.g2 This may be inaccurate, before castling. ] [ 2.c4 might be better, trying to control some 12...ab8 13.a4 Preventing 13...b5. a6 14.0-0 fc8 15.c4 d7 16.d3 f5 17.d2 light squares, and in particular d5 . h5!? d8 18.d1 b6 19.e2 h8 20.a2 3.gxh5 xh5 4.c3 c6 5.d3 d6 6.g2 f6 21.g3 g6 22.b3 a5?! f6 Certain portions of the position [ White was probably still hoping to equalise resemble an English opening. 7.h4 g4 8.f3 d4 9.g5 with an unusual position, at this stage, planning to meet 22...exd5 which might be slightly better for Black, with 23.e4 when fxe4 24.xe4 xe4 25.dxe4 c3 26.xc3 xc3 27.d5 Basman,M-Arkell,K/Southampton 1986. ] when the opposite colour bishops minimise 2...h5 This is a very popular idea, trying to ruin the value of Black's extra pawn. If anything the white pawn structure, and isolate the h2it's Black's ambition that proves to be his pawn, but I still think that undoing. ] [ 2...d5 is the best move. ] 23.e4 f4 24.e2 b6 25.h1 g5 26.f3 3.gxh5 g5!? 4.f3 h4 5.c3 f6 g6 27.d4! With the opening of the centre 6.e4?! W hite's position looks decidedly more [ 6.d3 Is less committal. ] promising. In fact Black's king position now 6...c5 7.d4!? xd4 8.e2 xc3+ 9.bxc3 leaves something to be desired as he can't xh5 In return for his pawn minus, White 45
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 seems to have a rotten position! 10.e3 f4 11.b5 c6 12.0-0-0 a6 13.a4 f6 14.e2 e6 15.g4 d6 16.b3 c5! T h i s s h o u l d w i n . 17.xc5 g5+?! This is unnecessary, [ 17...xg4 18.xb7 0-0 19.xc6 xe2 wins at least an exchange, for no compensation. ] 18.e3 xg4 19.g3 b8 20.hg1 e6 21.c4 f3 A computer would greedily capture, [ 21...xh2 and after 22.f5 xe4 23.xg7+ f8 Black should be able to defend. ] 22.f5 xf5 23.exf5 h7 24.c5! W h i t e t r i e s t o g e n e r a t e s o m e p l a y . d5 Black plays 'safe', but [ 24...dxc5 i s f i n e , a s 25.d7!? can be answered by xf5 ] 25.xd5 xf5 26.g5 e4 27.d2 With a few careful moves Black will win, but he must take care as the white pieces are active. e2 28.g3! f1+ 29.b2 b5+ Black has a perpetual check, and perhaps he should take the draw? 30.c1 f1+ 31.b2 b6 32.gxe5+! f8? [ After 32...xe5 Black must have been wo rrie d a b o u t 33.xe5+ f8 34.xc7 but he has the resource b5+! with at least a draw, and probably more after 35.a1 bxc5 ] 33.e3 bxc5+? [ 33...c4 is better. ] 34.b3 Now Black has problems because his h7-rook is out of play. c8? 35.xc5 e2 36.e3! The knight must move, and then the cpawn drops, and along with it the rest of the black position. 1-0
49 Smyslov,Vassily Adorjan,Andras Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee (2) [Nigel Davies]
A00 2620 2475 01.1972
2.b2 xb4 3.xe5 f6 4.f3 0-0 5.e3 e7 Despite having scored excellent results, this preference of Adorjan's remains a rarity. In fact other moves also seem fine for Black, for example: [ a) 5...e8 6.e2 ( 6.c4 f8 7.b3 b6 8.b2 e4 9.c3 d6 10.d4 xf2!? 11.xf2 c5 12.d5 cxd4 13.xd4 b7 was fine for Black in Hecimovic, I (2220)Lalic, B (2575)/Pula 1996) 6...d5 7.0-0 bd7 8.b2 b6 9.d3 d7 10.c1 a4 started to get troublesome f or W hite in Vid oniak, R (2 41 7)-Tivia kov, S (263 1)/ Gausdal 2005. ] [ b) 5...d5 6.e2 c5 7.0-0 c6 8.b2 f5 9.d3 a5 10.bd2 c7 11.c4 dxc4 12.xc4 was about equal at this point in Schoenwaelder, B (2120) -Ikonnikov, V (2549)/Deizisau 2007. ] 6.c4 [ Varying from Adorjan's earlier game which went 6.e2 d5 7.c4 c5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.0-0 c6 10.b2 f6 11.d4 cxd4 12.xd4 b6 with an excellent game for Black in Urzica, A-Adorjan, A/ Stockholm 1970. But despite this (apparent) home cooking, White does not gain any advantage. ] 6...c5 7.c3 c6 8.xf6 xf6 9.c1 d6 10.e2 [ White has partial control of the d5 square but the problem is in using it. For example 10.d5 b4 11.xb4 cxb4 gives Black a dangerous queenside pawn majority, not at all the kind of thing that's to Smyslov's taste. ] 10...e6 11.0-0 c8 12.c2 h6 13.a3 e8 14.d3 [ T h i s w a s t h e l a s t c h a n c e f o r 14.d5 but after xd5 15.cxd5 a5 16.d3 b5 Black gets excellent play in a double edged position. Smyslov no doubt balked at the prospect of playing this against the yo u n g a n d ve r y d a n g e r o u s H u n g a r i a n player. ] 14...xc3! 15.xc3 b6 16.fd1 d5 ½-½
1.b4 In playing this Smyslov must have noted Adorjan's game against Urzica and thought he could do better f or W hite. Indeed his 6th move varies from the earlier encounter. e5 46
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A00 position typical of a reversed King's Indian, but Black is better, as he enjoys more space. Sokolsky,Alexey g6 9.g3 c8 10.g2 h3 11.0-0 g7 Veresov,Gavriil N ch Moscow (7) 1944 12.h4 0-0 13.d2 xg2 14.xg2 e6 15.e2 d7 16.h1 f5 Normally, White [Tony Kosten] should have played f4 before Black plays ...f5. 1.b4 e5 2.b2 f6 Erecting a barrier against 17.exf5 gxf5 18.f3 ae8 19.ae1 h8 the b2-bishop along the a1-h8 diagonal, and 20.c1 f7 21.g2 h5 22.b3 f4 preparing to continue with 3...d5 with a good This appears anti-positional, but Black has centre, is also a viable way of continuing- decided to attack the white king, and must f5 especially if Black doesn't like giving-up his we a k e n t h e p a w n c o v e r . 23.h3 This is the point behind Black's play, the h4central pawns. [ 2...d6 is solid, and aims for a King's Indian knight is pinned, so Black will be able to ruin Desperation, set-up, 3.c4 f6 4.e3 bd7 5.d4 g6 the white structure. 24.xf4 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.a3 g7 Jaszczuk,J-Geller,E/ W hite plays a combination relying on the W oerishofen chs 1991, Black winning by looseness of the d7-knight, but there is a flaw. direct attack, after playing an eventual ...e4, xh4 [ Not 24...exf4? 25.xe8 xe8? 26.xf5 and ...Ne5-f3+. ] and White is better. ] [ On t he ot he r h an d , 2...c6? is a bad 25.gxh4?! Losing quickly, mistake, and loses a pawn to 3.b5 ] [ 25.c1 was a better chance, but even so, 3.b5 A common idea in this variation, the b5after xf3 Black has a plus. ] pawn cramps the black queenside. [ White played in gambit style in the game 25...exf4 26.d2 Admitting defeat, [ h i s i n t e n d e d 26.xd7 loses to xe1 Sokolsky,A-Zagorovsky,M/corr 1968, by 27.xe1 xf3+ 28.g1 g8 threatening 3.e4?! but after xb4 4.c4 c6 5.f4 d6 an evil discovered check. ] 6.c3 a5 7.e2 e7 8.0-0 b6+ 9.h1 d7 10.d4 0-0-0 With the bishop on c4, 26...e5 c a s t l i n g s h o r t wa s a l wa ys g o i n g t o b e 0-1 problematical, so the black king goes the o t h e r wa y . 11.d2 h6 12.d5 a5 A00 13.a4 f5! and, by careful defence, Black has 51 disarmed the white initiative, and having Stein,Leonid completed his development, has a clear Book,Eero advantage. ] Tallinn 1969 3...d5 4.e3 e6 The most accurate move, as [Nigel Davies] White's counterplay depends on the move c4, Blac k a tt em p ts t o m ake t his p awn b re a k 1.g3 d5 2.g2 c6 3.d3 f6 4.d2 g4 impossible. A standard development of the bishop against [ 4...d6 is also possible, but allows 5.c4 ] both the King's Indian Attack and the Reti 5.f3?! Black takes complete control of the Opening, but here there are a few twists. 5.h3 centre after this, in later games Sokolsky f5?! White's reply gains an important tempo preferred on the bishop. [ 5.d4 when, after e4 6.d2 c6 7.a4 d6 [ Perhaps Black should have played just 8.c4 he would have achieved the c4-move, 5...h5 though he might have been in a 'French-style' position, and would be concerned about his bishop being shut out r e a d y t o c o n t i n u e wi t h Q b 3 , a n d B a 3 , of pla y af te r 6.f4!? ( Stein would probably exchanging his dark-squared bishop. ] have played just 6.gf3 ) 6...e6 7.g4 g6 5...c5! 6.c4 d4 The white position is critical, 8.e4 dxe4 9.dxe4 h6 10.f5 , though in this for his b2-bishop is 'biting on granite', and he final position White's game looks none too risks being swept-away by the black central compact. ] pawns. 7.d3 h6 8.e4 transposing into a 6.e4 dxe4 7.dxe4 e6 The bishop will prove
50
47
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 non e to o c om f o rta ble he re eith er, n ot t o mention the fact that Black cannot move his epawn for the time being. 8.gf3 a6 [ 8...bd7 is strongly met by 9.g5 . ] 9.0-0 a5 10.d4 0-0-0 Accepting the mangling of his pawn structure in order to avoid losing further time. [ 10...d7 is indeed none to pleasant for B l a c k a f t e r 11.c4 c5 12.b3 , for example 0-0-0 13.a3 h5 14.e5 xd1 15.axd1 d5 16.e6 xe6 17.xe6 fxe6 18.e5 g8 19.c4 gives White a large advantage. ] 11.xe6 fxe6 12.e2 g6 13.c4 c7 There's really no good square for Black's queen, just relatively bad ones. [ After 13...a4 14.b3 b5 15.a4 she also gets pushed from pillar to post. ] 14.f4 d7 15.fd1 e8 16.xd8+ xd8 17.d1 e8 18.f1 d7 [ Stein's last move prepared to meet 18...g7 with 19.b6+! axb6 20.xa6! bxa6 21.xa6# . Book manages to avoid this but does little to repair the rest of his position. ] 19.e3 c5 20.b3 ab8 21.a5 b6 22.xe6 [ After 22.xe6 bxa5 there follows 23.a6+ xa6 24.c6+ d8 25.a8+ ab8 26.xb8# . ] 1-0
Jonny Hector! ] 3...f6 When played in the Caro-Kann this m o ve d o e s n o t h a ve a p a rt i cu la rly go o d reputation, still, at the time that this game was played that was not the case. 4.xf6+ gxf6 Opening the g-file, and strengthening the black centre, however, the doubled f-pawns may turn into a liability [ 4...exf6 is the other possibility, and in Hector, J-Preuss,F/Roskilde 1998, play returned to a 'pure Caro' following 5.d4 c6 ] 5.c4 Pointing the bishop aggressively at f7, [ 5.d4 c6 leads to another Caro-Kann position ] 5...c6 Black, who likes to play Dunst's Opening himself, decides to take play in a resolutely original direction, [ 5...c6 would be more standard ] 6.h5 You don't often see this sort of crude p l a y f r o m s u c h s t r o n g p l a y e r s ! e5 parrying the menace to f7, with gain of tempo 7.b3 d6 8.f4 g6 9.e2 f5 Stopping the onward advance of the f-pawn 10.d4 e6! The positionally correct decision, Black swapsoff his lesser bishop, after which he will be able to place all his pawns on light-squares 11.g4!? White, clearly not happy with the outcome of the opening, decides to introduce a tactical element to the play xb3 12.axb3 d5 [ 12...fxg4? i s i m p o s s i b l e , a s 13.f5 would leave the knight bereft of squares, 52 A00 and win for White ] 13.f1 e6 14.c4 e4 15.gxf5 exf5 Suba,Mihai The black pawn structure leaves something to Bellon Lopez,Juan Manuel Bucuresti 1978 be desired, but White's is hardly better, and his light-squares are sensitive 16.d2 c2 [Tony Kosten] 17.c1 xb3 Now, if Black can bring his king 1.c3 d5 2.e4 Presenting Black with a to safety, he should be winning 18.xf5 e7 19.g4 h4+ 20.g3 f8 The black king choice of two good replies: dxe4 might be safe here, but it will be difficult to [ 2...d4 is the alternative ] develop the h8-rook henceforth. Perhaps 3.xe4 [ 20...0-0 could have been played, as there [ Hector has played 3.c4?! but it looks is hardly time for 21.f5 ae8+ 22.f2 rather dubious f6 4.d3 g4 5.ge2 xb2 23.cd1 f6 when Black will have an exd3 6.cxd3 e6 everything seems under attack, and several pawns, as compensation control, but 7.f3 f5 8.g4!? g6 9.h4 for his knight ] t h r e a t e n i n g t o s u r r o u n d t h e b i s h o p h6 10.f4 h7 11.g5 with a dangerous 21.f2 e8+ 22.f1 d3+ 23.g1 xd4? initiative for the pawn, Hector,J-Vafeas,A/ this loses the queen [ 23...f6 must be stronger, returning the Komotini GP-1 1992, White going on to win bishop to the fray, and planning to capture in 18 moves. Still, we can't all play like 48
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 19.fd1? a6! 20.a3 c3! wins on the spot. ] 19...xf4 20.f3 a6! 21.d6 cd8 22.xb7 xd4 23.a3 Intending 24.Rb4. d3! 24.a4 [ After 24.a1? Black has an attractive combinative sequence in h3+! 25.h1 xf3! 26.gxf3 d5 27.g2 f4+ 28.g3 e2+! 29.g2 xb7 etc. ] [ And after 24.b4 h e c a n p l a y h3+! 25.h1 xa3 just winning a pawn. ] 24...c8 25.a5 g6! 26.fd1 [ 26.b7 c5 27.c6 d6 28.b8 e2+ 29.h1 a5 leaves White's minor pieces 53 A00 stranded in a way that they won't be able to help the weak a-pawn. ] Urzica,Aurel 26...c2! 27.b7?! Adorjan,Andras [ After 27.xd3 xd3 28.e4 Stockholm 1970 A d o r j a n i n t e n d e d f5! 29.xf5 gxf5 [Nigel Davies] with an edge because of his well placed minor pieces. Still, this would have been 1.b4 The Orang Utan Opening. It got its name better for White than the game. ] because of Savielly Tartakower's friendship with one of these apes at New York zoo. e5 27...xd1+ 28.xd1 a2 29.h3 [ 29.c6 e2+ 30.f1 c3 would also Adorjan's recipe in this game is simple and lead to the loss of the a-pawn. ] effective. [ Those who are looking for a good answer to 29...xa4 30.c6 g7 31.e5 a5 32.c6 W hite's provocative opening might also a2 33.h2!? c2 [ 33...xf2 would not have been good consider the sensible 1...d5 followed by 2... because of 34.g3 ] Bg4. ] [ but Black could also have played 33...e2 [ A more exotic option is 1...c5!? 2.bxc5 e5 34.f3 xf2 35.g3 c2 when he wins a , though naturally this 'risks' a W ing second pawn. ] Gambit after 2.e4. ] 2.b2 xb4! 3.xe5 f6 4.c4 0-0 5.f3 34.e4 e2 35.d4 xf2 36.c6 a2 xh3 A nice game which well d5 6.e3 e7 7.e2 c5! This makes perfect 37.f3 illustrates the 2...Bxb4 approach. s e n s e , t a k i n g s o m e sp a c e in t h e c e n t r e b e f o r e W h i t e ' s c e n t r a l p a wn m a s s g e t s 0-1 properly established. 8.b2 c6 9.cxd5 xd5 10.0-0 f6! 11.d4 A00 [ After 11.c1 Ad orjan ga ve ju st f5! 54 a f t e r w h i c h ( 11...db4 12.xf6 xf6 Watson,William N 13.c3 was less good in the game Volke, K Hartston,William R 1982 (2480)-Schaefer, M (2460)/Germany 1994/ BCF-ch Torquay (10) GER-chT ) 12.a3 xb2 13.xb2 db4 [Tony Kosten] 14.c4 b6 is better for Black. ] 1.c3 d5 2.e4 d4 While this may not appeal 11...cxd4 12.xd4 b6 to players who prefer open positions, it has a [ 12...f4 was also pretty good. ] 13.d2 xd4 14.xd4 xd4 15.exd4 e6 lot of advantages. Firstly, Black gains a space advantage. 3.ce2 e5 4.g3 White makes16.a3 ac8 17.ab1 d6 18.b5 [ After 18.c4 Black can play f4 19.e3 way for his king's bishop. b6 with an unpleasant position for White. ] [ 4.f3 Hitting the e5-pawn, is the other m a i n p o s s i b i l i t y d6 5.g3 e6! 18...f4! 19.xf4 on d4 with the minor piece. Black must be better ] 24.c3 e3 hitting the rook on c1, but, unfortunately, after 25.e1 the position is lost for Black xe1+ 26.xe1 xe1+ 27.f1 xg3 28.hxg3 e3? this loses, but anyway, although material is nearly equal, without the use of the h8-rook, things were looking bleak for Black 29.f5 e5 30.d4 Forking the only two black pieces in play. [ 30.d4 xg3+ 31.h2 d3 32.xe5 ] 1-0
49
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 careful play, stopping Bc4 6.b5+ d7 7.e2 c6 8.c4 so White manages to play this anywa y, albeit at t he co st of som e tempi. c5 9.0-0 f6 with a good position for Black, Oppici,G-Marcoli,P/FIDE Open, Corsico ITA 1997. ] 4...e6! A good move, hindering White's natural development plan of Bc4, d3, Nf3, etc. 5.f3 f6 6.b3 White finds a way to bring his king's bishop to an active square. Naturally, he could not be happy with [ 6.d3?! when the light-squared bishop would be seriously confined. ] 6...c6 7.c4 White has achieved his aimexchange his lesser bishop. How will Black react? xc4 8.bxc4 d3! Well-played! Before White gets a chance to play d3 himself, Black takes control of the square. At the same time he frees the d4-square, and this will provide a fine square for a knight, or his bishop, and frees the g1-a7 diagonal. So much achieved wi t h j u s t o n e p a wn m o ve ! . 9.0-0 c5 The first fruit of his eighth move, the bishop enjoys a wonderful diagonal. 10.b1 ge7 11.cxd3 xd3 12.a4?? An awful blunder in a difficult position. [ 12.xb7? allows the bishop to be trapped by b6 13.c5 a6 of course, but ] [ 12.b3 held out better prospects, although Black is clearly better, anyway- W hite's backward d-pawn will never go away (unless Black captures it!) ] 12...xb1 13.d4 b4! After this, White should resign, a whole rook down for zero compensation, but continues a bit. 14.c2 xd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.d2 c5 17.b1 xf2+ 18.f1 xg3 19.hxg3 c6 20.b5 Allowing further simplification. d4 21.xc5 xc2 22.xc7 0-0 White was quite young wh e n t h i s g a m e w a s p l a ye d , a n d ye t t o achieve GM status. 0-1
55 Zschalich,Arndt Werner,H World Seniors (4) [John Watson]
A00 2087 27.10.2004
1.b4 e5 2.b2 xb4 3.xe5 f6 4.e3 0-0 5.f3 d5 6.c4 e8 [ Also good is 6...c6 7.b2 f5 8.cxd5 xd5 with wonderfully centralised pieces to pit against White's centre, e.g., 9.b5 de7 10.0-0 d3 11.xd3 xd3 ] 7.b2 e7!? Conservative yet not so easy to meet. This just shows how fundamentally sound Black's position is. Black has other promising moves: [ 7...c5 is the normal continuation. Then 8.cxd5 xd5 9.e2 f5 is pleasant. ] [ 7...c6 8.cxd5 ( 8.a3 a5 9.cxd5 xd5 10.b5 de7 ) 8...xd5 9.e2 e6 with free play. ( Probably insufficient but fun would be 9...xe3!? 10.fxe3 xe3 11.b3 xg2+ 12.f2 f4 , with ...Bg4 the major theme. )] 8.e2 c5 9.0-0 c6 10.cxd5 xd5 11.d3 [ 11.d4 f6 should favour Black. ] 11...b6 12.c3 xc3 13.xc3 f6 14.xf6 xf6 15.d4?! cxd4 16.exd4 [ Black stands much better here after 16.exd4 g4! ( 16...b7 is also goo d) 17.d5? ( 17.h3? xe2; 17.e1 ad8 with a large advantage. 18.d5 xf3 19.xf3 xe1+ 20.xe1 d4 21.e4 e2+ 22.f1 e8 ) 17...xe2! ] ½-½
56 Arencibia Rodriguez,Walter Kaidanov,Gregory S 34th Olympiad (13) [Tony Kosten]
A01 2513 2624 10.11.2000
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 d5 4.b5 d6 Black's most aggressive line, he constructs a full centre, if White can't successfully knock it d o w n t h e n B l a c k w i l l b e b e t t e r . 5.f4 Increasing the pressure on e5, the pawn is 'untakeable', as g7 is vulnerable. e7!? [ 5...h4+ 6.g3 e7 7.f3 g4 ( or 7...f6 are more popular, giving W hite a slight 50
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 light-squared weakness on the kingside. )] 6.f3 f6 7.c3 e6 8.0-0 h6!? [ Black brings his knight to f7, to further support his centre, but it appears to be too slow, the alternative 8...a6! allows 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.fxe5 fxe5 11.xe5?! but now, instead of A) 11...xe5! 12.h5+ f7 should be played, 13.xf7 xh2+ 14.xh2 xf7 15.e5+ e7 ( 15...e7? 16.xd5 cxd5 17.xg7 ) 16.xc7 gives White some dark-squared compensation for the exchange, but no more after 0-0; B) 11...f6 12.xc6 ( 12.e2!? ) 12...d7 13.d4 g4 14.f3 and W hite has a solid two-pawn lead, Naszadi,F-Pal,F/Hajduboszormeny 1995. ] 9.fxe5 fxe5 10.e4! White is fully developed, and strikes at the centre before Black can fully strengthen it. dxe4?! [ I don't like this, 10...d4 11.d5 d8 is worth consideration. ] 11.xe4 0-0 12.xc6 bxc6 The black pawn structure is a mess, and his light-squared bishop does not provide sufficient compensation. 13.e2 g4 14.c4+ h8 15.fg5 d7 16.ae1 f5 17.f3 The knight simply returns to control d4, and pressure e5. ae8 18.f2 Winning the e5pawn. e6 Black prefers to give the c-pawn. 19.xc6 d4 20.xd4 exd4 21.e4! [ 21.xd4? h4 22.f3 allows Black back into the game, h5 ( 22...xf3? 23.xe8+ f8 24.xf8+ xf8 25.xe6 ) 23.e4 xf3 24.xf3 d5 with at least a draw for Black. Anyway, why complicate? ] 21...d7 22.d5 f5 23.xd4 a3 24.f2 d8 25.xe8+ xe8 Thus we see the real horror of a weak pawn structure, Black has already lost his weak c6, and e5-pawns, but his structure remains weak! 26.e1 c8 27.e3 f8 28.d3 d6 29.fe5 c8 30.c4 Rather than grab the a7-pawn, White p r e f e r s t o e x c h a n g e s o m e p i e c e s . b7 31.xd6 cxd6 32.h4 [ Creating an escape square for the king, 32.e8?? f1+ ] 32...h6 33.e8 f1+ 34.h2 xe8 35.xe8+ h7 36.e1 f7 37.e6 d7 38.c4 1-0
57 Asimenios,Asterios Timoshenko,Georgy Open Kavala GRE (1) [Tony Kosten]
A01 2536 31.07.2004
1.b3 e5 2.e3 d5 3.b2 c6 4.b5 d6 5.f4 The critical line, but the weakening of the white kingside has its drawbacks. h4+ 6.g3 e7 7.f3 f6!? Defending e5, but this is actually a pawn sacrifice. [ 7...g4 is more solid. ] 8.xc6+ In the notes to Bagirov,V-Mainka,R I suggested that [ 8.c3 is safer, as in Chandler,M-Crouch,C/ Birmingham ENG 1998. ] 8...bxc6 9.fxe5 fxe5 10.xe5 White really has to take this pawn now, as otherwise he has no compensation for the bishop pair and Black's strong centre. f6 Black continues his development obviously [ 10...xe5? is met by 11.h5+ ] 11.f3?! The worst of several tries, [ 11.d3 0-0 12.0-0 h3 shows the problem for W hite in this line - the weak kin gsi d e li gh t sq u a r e s , 13.xf6 xf6 14.xf6 xf6 15.c3 f8 16.e2 g6 with a dangerous initiative, Pridorozhni,AGipslis,A/Decin 1997. ] [ 11.xc6! is really greedy, but best! e4 12.0-0 h3 13.f2 ( 13.f3? xf1 14.xe4+ xe4 15.xf1 0-0+ is almost winning for Black, Sandhu,M-Fedorchuk,S/ Oropesa del Mar 1998) 13...g4 14.f3 ( 14.c3?! h1+! 15.xh1 xf2+ 16.g1 xd1 is at least equal for Black, who has an exchange for two pawns, Krnic,Z-Vuruna, M/Yugo slavia 1 97 4) 14...f8 15.d4 Forced, ( 15.xf8+? xf8 16.e2 xc2 wins ) 15...0-0-0 ( 15...e5 16.xf8+ xf8 17.e2 g6 also keeps some initiative for the pawns ) 16.c3 g6 17.e2 Blatny,P-Van Buskirk,C/Agoura Hills USA 20 04 , a nd no w I t h in k B la ck sho uld t ry ( 17.xd5 xh2! 18.xh2 g4 19.f4 h6+ 20.g2 g5 is messy ) 17...c5 ] 11...0-0 12.0-0?! This novelty makes matters worse, the previous move was [ 12.e2 g4 and only now 13.0-0 e4 ( t h r e a t e n i n g . . . N g 5 ) 14.g2 d7 but Black is clearly better here, too, 15.c3 51
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h3 16.e2 xf1 17.xf1 xc3 18.xc3 g4 ( 18...f5 19.d4 xf1+ 20.xf1 xf1+ 21.xf1 c5 was also effective in Rosales,E-Asbjornsson,A/Caracas 1976) 19.g2 f7 20.g1 e4+ winning the cpawn, and soon the game, Lakic, N-Vukic, M/Yugoslavia (ch) 1976. ] 12...h3 13.e1 g4 14.e2 xf3! Already winning. 15.xf3 f8 16.e2 f2 Good, but [ 16...xg3! 17.hxg3 d6 18.h1 xg3 is even stronger. ] 17.xf2 xf2 18.xf2 f7+ 19.e2 [ 19.g1? f3 is mate next move. ] 19...h5+ 20.d3 The king is forced to go for a stroll on the wrong side of the pawns! b4 [ 20...f3! Forces a quick mate. ] 21.c3 [ 21.c3 is no improvement. f5+ 22.e4 dxe4+ 23.c2 e3+ ] 21...f3! Pinning the e-pawn and threatening a deadly check with the bishop on f5. 22.a3 f5+ 23.d4 c5+ 24.e5 xc3+ Black's next move is ... Qe4 mate. 0-1
58
A01 Bacrot,Etienne 2695 Adams,Michael 2729 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (19) 21.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen]
1.b3 e5 2.b2 d6 3.e3 g6 4.f4!? [ This complex move allows the game to move over towards a Bird Opening. White could keep it in the Nimzo-Larsen proper with 4.f3 g7 5.d4= though this is hardly critical for Black ] 4...g7 5.f3 [ 5.fxe5 h6 ( 5...c6 ) 6.e2 0-0 7.f3 g4 8.0-0 xe5 9.xe5 dxe5 Stretch, WDe la Rosa, E/Buenos Aires 1978 10.c4!? f5 11.d3 c6 12.e1 ] 5...d7 [ This is just one of many possible continuations for Black at this juncture, so let's have a brief overview of the others: A) 5...c6 is the main line, but I think Black will do best to stay clear of this line and give preference to either Adams' choice in the
ma in ga m e o r va ria t io n 'B ' b e lo w 6.b5 ( 6.c4 h6 7.0-0 0-0 8.fxe5 g4 9.e2 gxe5 10.xe5 dxe5 11.f3 e8 12.d3 f5= Rotstein-Hertneck, Austrian League 1999 ) A) 6...ge7 7.fxe5 0-0 8.0-0 , Wunder, S-Vlasov, I/St Petersburg 1992, and here Jacobs/Tait offer dxe5 9.c4 ( 9.c3 a6 ) 9...h6 , "and White has nothing very much at all"; B) 6...d7 7.0-0 ge7 8.fxe5 dxe5 B1) 9.g5 0-0 ( 9...f5?! 10.xf7 xf7 11.e4 Gutierrez, J-Castro Gonzales, G/ Bogota 1976) 10.c4 ( 10.a3 a5 11.e2 b6 12.b4 b7 13.b5 d6 14.c3 c8 with a complicated position with chances to b o th side s, Fo rin to s, G -Hoe n , R/ S k o p j e 1 9 7 2) 10...e8 11.c3 ( 11.g4 h6 12.e4?? b5! (Oops) 13.xb5 f5 , and Black is on top, Georgiev, K-Ermenkov, E/Sofia 1984) 11...a5 B1a) 12.d3 c8 was played in TaitMutton, Notts League 2000 as mentioned in Jacobs/Tait's book 13.f3 ( 13.g4!? leads to a crazy line only my computer can take credit for: h6 14.e6!? d7 15.b4 xe6 16.xa5 d6 17.b5 , and White may have an edge; 13.ce4!? h6 14.c3! c6 15.f3 e7 16.f2 d6 17.e4 f5 18.e2 d7 wi t h a c o m p l e x g a m e) 13...d6 14.a3 f5 15.e4 f4 16.e1 g5; B1b) 12.e2 B1b1) 12...c8!? is suggested by Jacobs/ Tait, one possible c o n t i n u a t i o n i s 13.ce4 d6 14.a3!? ( 14.c3 c6 15.f3 xe4 16.xe4 f5 17.xa5 fxe4 18.g4 ) 14...c6 15.d3 h6 16.f3 f5 17.xd6 cxd6 18.b1 , and with ready to expand on the queenside with c4 and b4, White's chances are preferable; B1b2) 12...f5?! 13.ge4 d7 14.b4 c6 15.b5 ce7 16.a4 , and White is in control of the game, Wall, T-Clegg, C/Sutton 1999; B2) 9.c3!? 0-0 10.g5 f5 11.ge4 52
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a6 12.e2 ce7 13.e1 c6 was played in Rahman, Z-Dzhumaev, M/ Kuala Lumpur 1993, and now I prefer White after 14.f2!?; B3) 9.c4 ] [ B) 5...f6!? 6.fxe5 g4 A) 7.c4 c6!? ( 7...d5 8.e2 d7 "seem OK for Black" Jacobs/Tait) 8.0-0 0-0 9.c3 cxe5 10.h3 xf3+ 11.xf3 e5 , and Black is already slightly on top, Bartholomew, J-Friedel, J/ Connecticut USA 2004; B) 7.c3 dxe5 8.a3 e6 9.h3 h6 10.e4 d7 11.e2 ( 11.c4 xc4 12.bxc4 c5 13.0-0 0-0 14.d5= Horn in CB M) 11...c6 12.0-0-0 a5= Minasian, A-Hansen, C/Groningen 1990 ] [ C) 5...g4 6.fxe5 xe5 7.xe5 dxe5 8.e2 d7 9.c3 Opitz, F-Klein, A/ Chemnitz 1997 ] [ D) 5...e7?! 6.c4 0-0 7.fxe5 bc6 8.0-0 ( 8.d4?! dxe5 9.d5 e4 10.xg7 wa s p l a ye d i n Ra f o l s A l b e t , J- G a r r e t a Martinez, A/Barcelona ESP 2007, and now Black should have continued wit h xg7 11.dxc6 xd1+ 12.xd1 exf3 13.gxf3 xc6 with a slightly better game for Black) 8...xe5 9.xe5 ( 9.xe5 dxe5 10.g5 f5 11.xf7 xf7 12.xf7+ xf7 13.g4 Van Run, J-Van Beek, A/Hengelo 1999) 9...dxe5 10.c3 ( 10.e4 c6 11.f3 e8 12.g3 Verot, M-Sorin, B/Hyeres 2000) 10...f5 11.e4 ( 11.a3! e8 12.e4 ) 11...b6 12.a3 c5= Takalo Eskola, ALehtinen, H/Oulu 2000 ] 6.c4 [ 6.a3!? e7 ( 6...h6!? ) 7.fxe5 xe5 8.xe5 dxe5 9.e2 f5 10.0-0 0-0 11.c4 , and although the chances are about even, White's position seems easier to play, Duche, J-Rocher, O/Sindelfingen 1984 ] [ 6.e2 e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.c4 ( 8.fxe5 xe5 9.xe5 dxe5 10.e1 e6 11.d3 f5 12.f3 c6 , and Black is doing fine, Canteli Martinez, D-Rodriguez Modrono, J/Asturias 2001 ) 8...e4 9.xg7 exf3 10.xf8 fxe2 11.xe2 xf8 12.c3 a6 13.ac1 f5 14.d5 c6 15.c7 a7 16.d3 b6 , thus far Ranby, H-Winsnes, R/Stockholm 1991, and now my trusted digital f riend
claims W hite has a way out with 17.xd6 f6 18.c5 bxc5 19.e8 f7 20.c7 f6 21.e8 with a draw by repetition as the best result for both players ] 6...h6 [ Black can also consider 6...e7 7.0-0 h6 8.fxe5 xe5 9.xe5 xe5 10.xe5 dxe5 11.f3 0-0 12.c3 c6 13.d4 , Rustemov, A - Y a n d e m i r o v, V / S t P e t e r s b u r g 1 9 9 6 , ( 13.a4!? ) 13...g4 14.e4 ae8= ] [ Whereas 6...e7? is a bad idea: 7.xf7+! xf7 8.g5+ f6? ( 8...g8 9.e6 e8 10.xc7 d8 11.xa8 b5 12.g4! c5 13.h4 b7 14.0-0 xa8 15.a4 ) 9.c3! c5 10.f3! f5 11.g4 , and it is already game over for Black, Melnikov, D-Fedoseev, V/St Petersburg RUS 2007 ] 7.0-0 0-0 8.fxe5 [ 8.a4 c6 ( 8...e4!? 9.xg7 xg7 10.g5 f6 appears pleasant for Black) 9.fxe5 xe5 10.xe5 xe5 11.xe5 dxe5 12.c3 g7 13.e1 Novikov, M-Bakutin, A/ Tula 2000 ] 8...xe5!? [ This appears to be slightly stronger than the line chosen in the only previous game I could find with this line: 8...dxe5 9.e4 c6 10.c3 b6 11.e2 e6 12.e1 f5 13.exf5 gxf5 with a complicated game and chances to both sides, Bagoly, J-Loginov, V/Hungary 1991 ] 9.xe5 dxe5 10.c3 [ 10.e1!? c6 11.a4 seems like the right way for White to go, as Black in the game continuation has the better chances. ] 10...c6 11.a3 e8 12.e4 [ 12.f3 e6 13.xe6 xe6 14.e4 f5 ] 12...b5 13.d3?! [ 13.e2 f5 14.g3 e6 ] 13...e6?! [ 13...f5!? 14.d6 f8! 15.xe8 xa3 ] 14.e1?! [ 14.d6!? e7 15.e4 c7 16.c5= ] 14...a5!? [ Black can also consider 14...f5!? 15.c3 e4 16.e2 a5 , and he is control of the game ] 15.c5 c8 16.b2 f5 [ 16...e7 17.e4 f5 18.g3 e6 ] 17.a3 g4 18.h3 f6 19.b4 d5?! [ 19...d7 20.xd7 xd7 21.e2 e6 ] 53
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.c4 bxc4 21.xc4 h8 22.e4 [ 22.d3 b6 23.xd5 cxd5 24.c1 axb4 25.xb4= ] 22...f4 [ 22...fxe4 23.f7 axb4 24.axb4 xa1 25.xa1 e3 ] 23.exf5 [ 23.e3 axb4 24.axb4 xa1 25.xa1 g5 ] 23...xf5 [ 23...g5 24.g3 xh3+ 25.h2 xf5 ] 24.e3 [ 24.h1 to take some of the potency out of Black's upcoming ... Qg5 is much better. From here onwards it is play to one goal ] 24...g5 25.g4 h5 26.e4 xe4 27.xe4 hxg4 28.h4 xh4 29.xf4 g3+ 30.h1 xf4 31.xg6 h6+ 32.xh6+ xh6 33.bxa5 xa5 34.c3 a4 35.b3 aa8 36.g2 g7 37.e1 f4 38.a4 f6 39.a5 ed8 40.e2 h8 41.e4 f5 42.c2 e6 43.b3+ d6 44.d4 c7 45.dxe5 h2+ 46.g1 h3 47.xf4 xc3 48.f7+ b8 49.f8+ a7 50.xa8+ xa8 51.f7 e3 52.e6 g3 53.g2 a7 54.h5 a6 55.f3 c5 56.xg3 xe6 57.f4 e7 58.e4 xa5 59.e3 b4 60.d3 c4+ 61.d4 d7+ 62.e3 c3 63.g6 b2 64.f5 d8 0-1
exploiting the undefended g7-pawn. h4+ Rather than defend e5 by the immediate 5... Qe7, Black first weakens White's kingside. ( 5...f6 6.h5+ g6 7.h4 exf4 8.exf4 f7 9.f3 ce7 Gonsior,E-Novak,I/CSSR 1979, is also a sound way for Black to react.) 6.g3 e7 7.f3 g4 Black relieves the pressure on his centre by pinning the attacking piece. ( 7...f6 is also possible, when White should play 8.c3 e6 9.e2 a6 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.0-0-0 with unclear play, Chandler,MCrouch,C/ Birmingham ENG 1998, as the line 8 fxe5 fxe5 9 Bxc6+ bxc6 10 Nxe5 Nf6! 11 Nxc6 Qe4 is very wild.) 8.h3 xf3 9.xf3 f6 Black has conceded a bishop for a knight, but should now be able to finish his development in peace. 10.c3 0-0 Barczay,L-Hardicsay,P/Budapest 1978, and now 11.xc6 ( 11.xd5? xd5 12.xd5 b4 is exceedingly awkward for White.) 11...bxc6 12.0-0-0 is best, with chances for both sides. ] [ 5.f3 seems inferior, although rather than e7 ( 5...f6 is better ) 6.d4 e4 7.e5 which would not be possible were the black fpawn on f6, xe5 8.dxe5 e6 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.d4 threatening Ba3, with a powerful grip on the dark squares, Groszpeter,A-Zimmerman,Y/2nd Perenyi mem, Gyula HUN 1998. ] 5...ge7 The alternative is [ 5...dxc4 when 6.f3 cxb3 7.xb3 59 A01 gives White good play for the pawn. ] 0-0 Good, logical, play by Black, he Bagirov,Vladimir 2485 6.f3 completes his development rather than waste Manika,Reinaldo 2430 Gausdal 1991 too much time defending his centre. 7.xc6 xc6 8.cxd5 b4 A standard ploy to regain [Tony Kosten] th e d 5 -p a wn, .. . Nd3 + is t h rea t en e d . 9.d3 10.xe5!? Very risky, White goes 51/3 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 d5 xd5 T h i s i s B l a c k ' s m o s t a m b i t i o u s l i n e . B y pawn grab bing, althou gh, it is true, if h e completing his centre in this way, he calls doe sn 't do th is he m ay be a little worse . White's bluff. 4.b5 d6 The e5-pawn needs xe5? Black goes astray, when his good play was about to bear fruit, defending. [ 10...xe3! is very strong, 11.fxe3 g5 [ 4...f6 is an inferior method, 5.d4 e4 6.e2 regains the piece with advantage, as neither a6 7.xc6+ bxc6 8.c4 f5 Larsen,B-Balinas, 12.f3? ( 12.c4 xg2 13.f1 h3 R/Manila 1975, and now 9.c2 f6 10.a3 14.f3 xh2 are sufficient.) 12...xg2 would have given White a superior reversed forking h1-rook and b2-bishop, nor ] Winawer-French type of structure. ] 5.c4 This is the thematic positional counter, 11.xe5 g5 12.g3 Simply masking the g2pawn. h5 13.h4! g6 14.e4 Black is hoping but the tactical [ 5.f4 is the critical test of this system, to get play on the light squares, his c8-bishop 54
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 has no opposition, and so White cleverly setsu p a l i g h t - s q u a r e d p a w n b a r r i e r . f5!? Black cannot afford to do nothing, he will just be a pawn down, so throws some wood on to the fire. [ 14...e3!? is a lso in terest ing, 15.c1 xg2+ 16.f1 f6 17.c3 e3+ and now 18.e2 may be strong, as after g4 19.d5 is awkward. ] 15.exd5 f4 16.h2 xg2 So, at the cost of a piece, Black has achieved his light-squared attack. 17.d2 xf2+ 18.e2 d4?! [ 18...xh4 Might be better, Black does have three passed pawns. ] 19.c3 g4 20.f1 ae8 The black attack is r e a c h i n g i t s a p o g e e . 21.g1 b4? A let-off for White. [ 21...e3! brings a further piece into the business zone, and relies on the fact that 22 Bxe3+?? fxe3 is check, and discovers an attack on the white queen. 22.h2 and now e2!! which certainly deserves a diagram, as almost all Black's attacking pieces are en prise. 23.xe2? ( 23.xe2? xd3+ wins immediately,) 23...xd3+ 24.c1 xc3+ winning. In fact, to avoid defeat White will have to find the, far from obvious, move 23 Qe1!!, with unclear play. ] 22.c2! After this, the white king finds safety. f3 23.f2 f7 24.c5 Proposing the exchange of queens, after which the game should be a formality for White. f4 25.f2 fe7 26.ae1 xe1 27.xe1 1-0
60 Barnaure,Vlad Victor Grunberg,Mihai ch-ROM Predeal ROM (9) [John Watson]
A01 2433 2414 05.12.2006
activity might even give him a small advantage. 9.g3!? [ 9.0-0 , intending f4 at some point, looks equ al. W h ite tries so met hin g d if f ere nt , preparing 0-0 and f4. ] 9...b5 10.xd6 cxd6 11.0-0 e8 [ 11...d5 and ] [ 11...c5 are options. ] 12.f4!? Loosening. [ 12.e2 ] 12...g4!? An ambitious move that threatens ...Qh4. [ 12...g4 13.e1 ad8 14.h3 d7 is equal. ] 13.f3? White goes astray. [ Instead, 13.h3 h6 ( 13...f6 14.fxe5 dxe5 15.f5 xf5 16.xf5 ) 14.fxe5 dxe5 15.h5 is solid and even promising. ] 13...exf4? Black could punish White's mistake by [ 13...e4! 14.e2 h4 15.h3 xg3 16.hxg4 xg4 winning a pawn, although winning that position will take some doing. ] 14.exf4 [ Or 14.xf4= ] 14...a7+ 15.d4!? [ 15.h1 makes 14...Qa7+ look useless. ] 15...e3 [ 15...e7! has the simple idea of ...Qe3+, exploiting the newly-made weakness on e3. ] 16.fe1 My copy of this game says '0-1' at this point. Unless White had an illusion regarding capturing the c-pawn by ...Nxc2 or didn't see 17 Qf2 and 16. ..Bg4, then my guess is that the game continued at this point with approximate equality. The opening looks equal to me, and quite interesting. 0-1
61 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 5.a3 Here we go again. See the notes to Karayannis-Banikas. a6!? 6.xc6!? [ 6.e2 is the other natural continuation, when b5 (to prevent Nc4) 7.f3?! ( 7.c4! ) 7...e7! 8.b1 0-0 gives Black space and development. ] 6...dxc6 7.c4 e7 8.e2 0-0 Fairly normal thus f ar. Black's space and
Bello,J Benko,PP 1971 Palma de Mallorca [Paul Motwani]
A01
1971
B31: "W ho's attacking who in the NimzoLarsen Attack?!" IM Byron Jacobs and Jonathan Tait, a former British Correspondence Chess Champion, are very 55
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 open and honest right from the outset in their new 192-page Everyman book entitled "NimzoLarsen Attack". They do not make any false attempt to claim an opening advantage for White after 1 b3, but it's fair to say that this quite rare starting-move does carry some surprise-value which may unsettle opponents with little or no experience of having faced it. Numerous illustrative annotated games in the 14.99 (UK pounds) book provide the reader with lots of noteworthy strategies and neat tactical ideas in the opening phase, and wellbeyond there too. On many occasions Black gets punished for overreacting to the innocuous-looking 1 b3, but instead a wiser approach is to seize a share of the centre with 1...e5!, for example, and then continue calmly with further sound, sensible moves which do not make brash attempts to instantly refute White's opening. Nevertheless, superqu ic k m in ia t u re vict o rie s a re so m e t im e s possible, and for your enjoyment now I've chosen and annotated a short attractive GMencounter from my own personal files. 1.b3 e5 2.b2 d6 A good move, which already blun ts t he e f f ect of W hite's f ia nche ttoe d bishop on the long a1-h8 diagonal. 3.d4 [ B31.1: The more common 3.e3 occurred, for example, in the game M.Munoz Muriel-X. Mateu at the 1996 Spanish Team Championship. The continuation was c6 4.b5 d7 5.e2 a6 6.xc6 xc6 7.0-0 g5! 8.g3 h5! (a case of "h for hunting!", which is the favourite attacking motto of Belgium's Gorik Cools) 9.f4 g6 10.f2 h4 11.f1 f6 (11...h3 would force 12 f5, since 12 g3? Qe4 is just too horrific for White) 12.d4? (certainly not the most t e n a c i o u s d e f e n c e ) h3 13.f5 g5 White resigned in view of 14 g3 Ng4 15 Re2 Qxf5 or 15...Bf3. ] 3...exd4 4.xd4 c6 5.d2 f6 6.c3 d5! With the terrible threat of ...d4 followed by ...Bb4. 7.e3 b4 8.b5? White plans to answer 8...Ne4 by 9 Qd4, but instead Black simply castles now, thereby really making ... Ne4 a huge threat. Therefore, 8 Bd3 should have been preferred. 0-0 9.0-0-0 9 a3 would also have lost to 9.. .Ne4 because of 10 Qd3 Qf6!. e4! 10.e1 d4!! 11.xc6 After 11 exd4 Nxc3 12 Bxc3 Qg5+ Black picks
o f f W h i t e ' s l o o s e b 5 - b i s h o p . xc3 GM Juan Bellon resigned, since White cannot avoid heavy loss of material. 0-1
62 Berkes,Ferenc Balogh,Csaba 54th ch Budapest HUN (6) [Tony Kosten]
A01 2614 2513 24.08.2004
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 5.a3 a5 6.e2 The bishop retreats immediately, to allow the black knight to take its place. [ 6.f3 was already analysed in Hodgson,JSpeelman,J/GBR 1998. ] 6...a6 7.c4 This move, gaining space on the queenside, and preparing a safe spot on c2 for the knight, has gained quite a following in recent years. [ 7.f3 e4!? was another Hodgson game in the archives, against-Barsov. ] 7...c5 Black gains more control of d4, and gives the d6-bishop some space to retreat. [ 7...0-0 8.f3 e8 9.c2 e4 10.h4 c6 11.f4?! c5 12.f5 d5! 13.cxd5 b4 was very promising for Black in Zurek,MHracek,Z/CZE 2002. ] [ 7...c6 8.c2 0-0 9.d3 it seems wise to stop Black from playing ...e4, e8 10.f3 f8 11.e4!? White stops Black from playing ...d5 with Sicilian-style play, Grabuzova, TPrudnikova,S/Varna BUL 2002. ] 8.f3 [ 8.d4?! cxd4 9.c2 d3?! ( 9...dxe3!? 10.xd6 exf2+ 11.f1 fxg1+ 12.xg1 c6 wins two pawns, but White has good p o s i t i o n a l c o m p e n s a t i o n) 10.xd3 1/2-1/2 Odesskij,I-Potkin,V/Pardubice CZE 2001, but now I prefer White. ] 8...c6 9.d3 c7 This is a new try, keeping the bishop on the queenside. In Teske,HBerndt,S/Tegernsee GER 1999 Black preferred [ 9...0-0 10.0-0 e8 11.c2 f8 keeping the bishop on the other side of the board, 12.d4 cxd4 13.exd4 e4 14.e5 d6 15.xc6 bxc6 16.d5 and White has an edge. ] 56
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.0-0 0-0 11.c1 e7 12.b1 A different idea for these positions, normally the knight goes to c2, but then where? Berkes decides that the best place for the knight is c3, with some control over d5, or d2, and so heads there instead. d5 Otherwise White plays Nc3. 13.cxd5 xd5 14.bd2 White opts for a typical Sicilian type of position, although objectively play is equal. d7 [ 14...b6 15.a3 b7 seems more logical. ] 15.c2 b6 16.fe1 Typical Hedgehog play, W h it e is r e a d y t o re a ct t o a n y a t t a ckin g gesture from Black. fe8 17.f1 a5 18.a3 ad8 19.g3 c8 20.b1 White plays a very can ny gam e, pla cin g his piece s o n goo d squares and asking Black how he intends to proceed. d8?! Black hastens too remove his queen from the same file as the white rook, but I prefer [ 20...cd8 as then 21.d4?! is met by e4 ] 21.d4! This is possible now that Black cannot play .. .e4 - White controls e4 with two pieces. exd4 22.exd4 cxd4 23.xd4 xd4 24.xd4 Strictly speaking White has only liberated his position, but the white pieces have slightly be tter squ ares in this ope n position. e7?! Black's tact ical neurons must have been switched off by the long manoeuvring phase! [ 24...g5 is obviously stronger, 25.e4 g6 wh en a f t e r 26.a6 Black can simply play cd8 ] 25.a6 White takes a move to force the rook off the open file. b8 26.d3 Returning with gain of time. g6 27.b2 Forcing a slight kingside weakness. f6 [ 27...xe1+ 28.xe1 f8 is very passive. ] 28.c2 White seems to be doing everything with gain of tempo. now g6 and c7 are attacked. d6 29.c4 [ 29.xg6?! hxg6 30.xg6 xa3 throws White's advantage away. ] 29...f8 30.xb6? This wins quickly, but I think it is a mistake. Better [ 30.xg6 hxg6 31.xg6 which seems good, b5 32.e3 xa3 33.cd1 and White has a very aggressive setup, for instance b4 34.d5! and wins. ] 30...xb6 31.xb6 xe1+?? A bad blunder, that can only be explained by time trouble. [ 31...xb6 seems OK, 32.c4+
can be answered by A) 32...e6!? c a n b e m e t b y 33.xe6! xe6 ( 33...xe6 34.xe6+ xe6 35.c4 f7 36.e1 transposes) 34.f5 f7 35.e1 e5 36.xe6+ xe6 37.xe6+ xe6 38.f4 xa3 39.fxe5 fxe5 and I prefer White; B) 32...h8 33.f7 d8 when Black is at least equal. ] 32.xe1 xb6 33.c4+! The point, Black's b a c k r a n k i s t o o w e a k . h8 34.f7 White attacks d7, and threatens to capture on g6 when f8 is hanging. d8 The only move to defend both pieces, but ... 35.xg6 hxg6 36.d1 [ 36.d1 e7 37.d5 leaves White with a solid exchange more. ] [ 36.e4 is also winning, menacing Rh4 mate: g5 37.d4 e7 38.h5+ g8 39.d1 and the bishop drops. ] 1-0
63 Bernadskiy,Vitaliy Nevednichy,Vladislav Albena Masters op (5) [Fier, Alexandr]
A01 2475 2580 05.06.2013
W h it e t rie s a n e xo t ic n e w se t u p a ga in s t Black's exotic setup in White's exotic opening, but maybe this time it has all gone a bit too far! 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 [ 3...d6 is another main line ] 4.b5 d6 For me this is the beginning of a strange path, but somehow it all makes sense. With the bishop on d6 Black goes for quick development and doesn't need to care about Bxc6 5.a3 a5 Avoiding Nc4 6.e2 a6 A v o i d i n g N b 5 7.c4 c5!? This move was played sometimes before and even analyzed here, but it's still kind of exotic. In a strange way it usually transposes to a Maroczy system, since White's knight can go back to d2 via b1 and Black usually plays with ...Nc6, .. .Bc7 and ...d5 at some point. 8.g4 But not today! This is a move that I would consider during a game, but W hite's position is probably not solid enough to go for it. If Black can open the center after this White has good chances to be close to lost 57
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 8.f3 c6 9.d3 0-0 10.0-0 c7 11.c1 e7 12.b1 d5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.bd2 was too normal in Berkes, F (2614)-Balogh, C (2513)/HUN-ch 54th Budapest 2004, ] 8...h6 [ 8...c6 can bring some complications after 9.g5 g8 10.f3 e4!? 11.xg7 exf3 12.xh8 fxe2 13.xe2 xg5 14.g1 h5+ 15.e1 xd1+ 16.xd1 ge7 17.g7 with an unclear position ] 9.h4 The problem is that after 8...h6 White needs to spend one more tempo to play g5 c6 10.f3 c7 11.e2?! Going for a wrong plan [ 11.g5 would be a logical continuation A) 11...hxg5 allows White to organize his pieces 12.hxg5 xh1 13.xh1 h7 A1) 14.f4!? exf4 15.h5 xg5 16.xh7 xg1+ 17.e2 g6 the queen needs to be defended ( 17...g5? 18.g8+ e7 19.xg7+- ) 18.g8+ ( 18.xg6 fxg6 19.g1 e7 is ok for Black) 18...e7 19.xg7 d5 ( 19...d6 20.f8+ d7 21.f1 is dangerous for Black) 20.f8+ e8 21.g1 ( 21.xg6 fxg6 22.xc5 g4+ 23.f1 fxe3 24.xe3 d4 25.xc6+ bxc6 26.xd4 d8 and the bishop pair comp ens ate s t he pawn in a unclea r position ) 21...xg8 22.xg8 e7 23.xe7+ xe7 24.xd5 fxe3 25.d3 b8 is a pacific equal endgame; A2) 14.h5 xg5 15.xh7 xg1+ 16.e2 g5 17.f3 with some compensation for the pawn, but nothing more; B) 11...g8! 12.h3 ( 12.gxh6 xh6 13.h5 f6 14.e2 d5 and Black is better ) 12...d6 13.gxh6 xh6 14.g5 f6 15.b1 f5 is more harmonious for Black, but things are far from clear, the position is playable ] 11...d5 12.g5 [ 12.cxd5 would be still better, but White's position is already collapsing b4 13.d3 xg4 14.xg4 xd5! A) 15.e4 xd3+ 16.f1 xe4 17.h2 d8 ( 17...f6 18.h3 xb2 19.xd5 xd5 20.b1 e4 21.xb2 0-0 ) 18.c3 xc3 19.xc3 b5 brings no joy for White;
B) 15.g1 xd3+ 16.f1 xb2 17.xd5 xd5 18.f3 d8 19.c4 xc4 20.bxc4 f6 21.xb7 0-0 and White is still alive ] 12...hxg5 13.hxg5 xh1+ 14.xh1 b4! Maybe W hite overlooked t his move, no w Black is winning 15.d4 [ 15.gxf6 d3+ 16.f1 xf6 17.f4 h4-+ ] [ 15.c1 g4 16.cxd5 xg5-+ ] 15...g4 16.dxe5 [ 16.c2 xg5 17.xb4 a5! 18.a3 cxb4 19.axb4 xb4+ 20.c3 xf2! 21.xf2 h4+ 22.g1 xc3 23.xc3 g3+ 24.g2 xe3+ 25.h1 xc3 would be a nice end ] 16...xg5 17.cxd5 xe5 [ 17...xe5 was also winning 18.xe5 xe5 19.c1 ( 19.g3 xe3 20.fxe3 xg3+-+ ) 19...f6 20.f4 g5 wins ] 18.f4 [ 18.d2 ed3 19.c4 g4 20.g1 d8-+ ] 18...ed3+ 19.d2 g6 20.c3 g4 21.f1 [ 21.b1 gives more resistance but it's still losing f5! defending e4 square ( 21...h5 22.xb4 xb4 23.e4+ f8 24.g2 e8 25.h1 xh1 26.xh1 xe4 27.xe4 xa2 White is just a pawn down) 22.c4 0-0-0 23.xb4 xb4 24.c3 b5 25.e5 xe5 26.fxe5 c6 27.g1 xe5 and Black has compensation for the extra pawn! ] 21...0-0-0 22.g3 xd5 23.e4 e6 24.g2 3b4 25.f5 xc3+ 26.e1 xg3+ 0-1
64 Bischoff,Klaus Khenkin,Igor Bundesliga 2000-1 (5) [Tony Kosten]
A01 2556 2633 07.01.2001
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.f3 Very unusual, W hite lures the black centre forward. d6!? [ According to my databases this is already a novelty! Normally Black plays 4...e4 5.d4 xd4 ( 5...d5!? 6.b5 d7 7.xc6 bxc6 8.e2 d6 9.d3 0-0 is also possible, 58
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Karlsson,L-Gausel,E/Hillerod 1995.) 6.xd4 e7 7.c4 0-0 8.c2 c6 9.c3 d5 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.e2 e6 12.0-0 c8 13.b2 which looks equal, despite the possible pressure along the a1-h8 diagonal, Larsen,B-Parma, B/Vinkovci 1970. ] 5.d3 0-0 6.bd2 e8 7.a3 b5!? 8.c4 b4 9.a4 b7 Black has found a way of developing his pieces 'around' his d6-bishop. 10.c2 c5 11.e2 g4!? Black is planning to attack on the kingside, and commences with a threat to sacrifice on e3. 12.f1 [ 12.a5?! xe3 13.fxe3 xe3 14.b1 xg2+ ] 12...f6? This whole idea is mistaken. 13.h3 h6 14.g1! White breaks the pin on the hpawn to drive the g4-knight away. The loss of castling rights is unimportant as he can castle queenside. xf2?! [ Sacrificing a piece, as unfortunately for Black, 14...f6? actually loses a piece to 15.g4! xh3 16.g3 h1 17.0-0-0 h6 18.g5 ] [ However, 14...e4 15.dxe4 ge5 is a better try. ] 15.xf2 f5 16.e1!? xe3 17.xe3 xe3 18.d2 c5 19.f1 a5 20.g5!? [ White decides to counterattack, although 20.d4 exd4 21.xd4 is more than sufficient. ] 20...xb3 21.d1 xf3 [ The re is no way to de f e nd f 5 , 21...f8? 22.xe5 ] [ 21...g6 22.g4 fxg4 23.xe5 ] 22.xf3 c6? [ Why not 22...f4! when Black has three p a w n s f o r t h e p i e c e ? A s i f 23.xa8?? e3# ] 23.xf5 f8 24.e4 ae8 25.h5 xf1+ 26.xf1 d5 27.cxd5 cxd5 28.e2 e6 29.f3 With a threat. a5? 30.d4 the e-pawn is p inn e d, s o B lack will lose b o th ce nt re pawns. 1-0
65 Bischoff,Klaus Sutovsky,Emil 3rd Julian Borowski A (6) [Tony Kosten]
A01 2533 2604 08.05.2001
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 5.e2 [ The most logical reply, 5.a3 was seen in the archives. ] 5...a6 Forcing the exchange of the bishop, which can only retreat at the cost of its life. 6.xc6 dxc6 Thus Black gets his d-pawn 'around' the d6-bishop. 7.bc3 [ The most thematic, 7.d4 aims for a central presence, e4 8.c4 0-0 9.bc3 e8 , f a irly le ve l, G a rcia P a d ro n , J-Ro m e r o Holmes,A/Cordoba 1995. ] 7...e4!? [ An innovation, unusually Black advances his e-pawn, which serves to hinder the b2bishop. More normally 7...e7 8.g3 g4 9.f3 e6 10.ce4 xe4 11.xe4 , but this is level, Lein,A-Malbran,G/ Philadelphia 1989. ] 8.g3 e7 9.e2 0-0 10.0-0-0?! [ The king is not ideally placed here, 10.f3 exf3 11.gxf3 may be better. ] 10...a3 Typically exchanging the king's defender. 11.xa3 xa3+ 12.b1 e8 13.f3 exf3 14.gxf3 a5 Black plays for a standard attack on the a-file. 15.ge4 [ It appears that Black's attack is stronger than W hite's along the g-file, i. e. 15.hg1 a4 16.g2 g6 and the attack gets nowhere. ] 15...xe4 16.fxe4 a4! 17.d3 [ It is difficult to know how to react, 17.xa4 is met by the exchange sac b5 18.c3 b4 19.a4 xa4! 20.bxa4 e6 with mate to follow. ] 17...e6 18.d2 b5 19.c1 b4 20.b2 axb3 21.axb3 a3 The build-up on the a-file, with a passing threat of a sac on b3, is too strong. 22.e2 ea8 23.hg1 Menacing mate! g6 24.c3 d6 25.f4 b4 26.b2 c5 This time the tripling on the a-file is really decisive. 0-1
59
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A01 43.f3 d2+ 44.g3 xf5+ Blatny,Pavel 2456 0-1 Arencibia Rodriguez,Walter 2528 III Festival Olimpico (1) 17.02.2005 67 A01 [John Watson] Blatny,Pavel 2479 Mueller,Karsten 2518 So far I've neglected 1.b3, which doesn't seem 05.12.2002 to be hot at the moment. It's most famous TCh-2002-3 Frohnleiten AUT (1) modern advocate was Bent Larsen, and for [Tony Kosten] some years now GM Pavel Blatny has used it with regularity. 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 Harvey Williamson writes: "I was wondering f6 4.b5 d6 This has become a popular what you thought about 4...e4 instead of ... defence. Black's idea is to castle quickly and Bd6 in the line 1.b3 e5 2.Bb3 Nc6 3.e3 d5 4. move the bishop again after driving White's Bb5 e4 then 5.Ne2 and what next, maybe ... bishop away. So f ar it seems the perf ect Qg5!?" 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 d5 4.b5 solution. W hite may need to return to 4.c4. e4!? There is no mention of this move in my 5.e2?! A little inconsistent. Instead, ECO A, rather than defend the attacked e[ 5.g4 0-0 ( 5...a6 6.e2 ) 6.g5? e4 pawn with the standard is over committal. ] [ 4...d6 Black simply advances. On the one [ But 5.f3 e4 6.g5 h6 7.h3 hand this gains space, but on the other was a plausible alternative. ] Black weakens his control of the a1-h8 5...0-0 6.g4?! Blatny likes such moves. The diagonal, and make the b2-bishop more po int is n 't ve ry cle a r, ho weve r, sin ce g5 influential. I prefer setting-up a barricade appears to help Black. b6 against this piece myself. ] [ 6...c5! would meet 7.g5 by e4 8.h4 5.d3!? Blatny, a Larsen's Opening specialist, d5! 9.d3 d6 with advantage. ] attacks W hite's advanced pawn head-on, 7.g5 e8 8.h4 b7 9.f3 e7 10.c3 although the most natural move seems to be a3!? 11.d5 d6 12.xa3 xa3 13.e2 [ 5.e2 when Harvey writes again: "The [ 13.c4 is also logical. ] game I am playing by email - these are the 13...d8! 14.g3 c6 15.c3 d5 16.f5 moves so far. They may be of interest" It's hard to find a good plan, and Arencibia g5!? there are no games with this gradually takes over the game. c8! 17.e4 aggressive move in my databases, so I d4 assume it is a novelty. Black puts [ Or 17...f6! ] immediate pressure on the white kingside, 18.e2 g6!? 19.h6+ g7 20.g3 e6 ( 5...a6 6.xc6+ bxc6 7.d3 g5 8.dxe4 21.g4? White had to bring his pieces to xg2 9.g1 xe4 10.xg7! favoured safety by White in Stojanovic,M-Pap,M/Palanka YUG [ 21.g4 ] 2001 ) 6.f4 g4 7.h4 xf4 this is forced, 21...f6! 22.xe6 xe6 23.gf5+? ( 7...xd1?! 8.hxg5 xc2 9.g6 h6 Desperate, but W hite was going to lose a 10.xd5 is better for White) 8.exf4 xd1 pawn and position in any case gxf5 24.exf5 9.xd1 ge7 ( 9...h5!? planning ...Ne7-f5) d5 25.g4 h8 26.g1 The only problem 10.h5 0-0-0!? 11.h6 g8 12.hxg7 xg7 is that this doesn't threaten anything. White's and Black has a pleasant position, with all w h o l e p l a n w i t h g 4 h a s f a i l e d . a5! h is p ie ce s d e ve lo p e d , a lt h o u gh o n t h e Second-rank defence. The rest is easy. 27.g6 downside his h-pawn is weak. ] a7 28.h5 b2 29.d1 xc2 30.d3 e4 5...f6!? 31.g3 e7 32.f1 e3 33.fxe3 dxe3 [ 5...exd3 6.xd3 g5 7.c3 f6 8.0-0-0 34.e2 c5 35.e1 d6 36.g4 g7 was unclear in Schober,M-Mosionzhik,I/ 37.exe3 xe3 38.xe3 h2 39.e7 d2 Rowy POL 2000, but why not ] 40.f7+ xf7 41.xf7 xd3+ 42.f2 e8 [ 5...g5!? , attacking the g2-pawn? 6.e2 xg2 7.g1 xh2 8.dxe4 dxe4 66
60
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 might just favour Black. ] 6.d2 e7?! Black must have a better move than this. 7.dxe4 dxe4 8.e2 White intends Ng3, attacking the e4-pawn, which causes Black a little inconvenience. f5!? 9.d4 d7 10.xc6 bxc6 11.e2 So, White has managed to cause structural damage to the black queenside without having to concede his bishop - he now has a positional plus. 0-0 12.g4!? Wow! [ 12.0-0 was quite satisfactory, but Blatny has more aggressive ideas. ] 12...e8 13.c4 White menaces the win of a piece with g5, as d5 was the knight's only square. b4? I prefer [ 13...c8 as then 14.g5 d7 15.xe4 c a n b e m e t b y b4+ 16.c3 xc3+ 17.xc3 xg5 with chances. ] 14.a3 White gains the important dark-squared bishop. Black was ready to answer [ 14.g5?! with g4 as the double capture on g4 would lose to ... Qxd2+. ] 14...xd2+ [ 14...xg4 is tricky, but loses to 15.g1! ( 15.axb4? xf2 16.xf2 h4+ 17.g1 g5+ draws ) 15...xd2+ 16.xd2 and Black has severe problems along the open g-file: h4 17.0-0-0 f6 18.c3 f8 19.b4+ g8 20.xd7 should win. ] 15.xd2 xg4?! Opening the g-file is extremely risky. 16.0-0-0!? This is not bad, although [ 16.g1! is more accurate, h4 17.0-0-0 wins a piece, as it transposes to the last note. ] 16...f5? Hoping for the exchange of queens. [ 16...xf2!? loses to 17.hg1 xd1 18.xg7+ ( 18.xg7? g4! ) 18...f8 19.xd1 f5 20.f2 f6 21.g1 g6 22.xf6 with a powerful attack. ] [ 16...f6 is Black's best chance, 17.hg1 h8 18.a5 ( 18.xd7!? xd7 19.xg7+ g8 20.f6+ o f f e r s l e s s) 18...g8 and Black is still in the game, although his position is quite unpleasant to play. ] 17.a5! This wins immediately. c8 18.xg4 xg4 19.g5 A lovely manoeuvre the queen moves from d2 to g5 despite there being a pawn on e3! f6 20.xf6 g6 21.h6 f7 Black could resign with a clear conscience, but decides to continue until mate.. 22.g7+
e6 23.h4 xd1 24.f6+ d7 25.xd1# 1-0
68 Blatny,Pavel Yudasin,Leonid Mayor's Cup New York USA (7) [Tony Kosten]
A01 2547 2568 24.06.2001
1.b3 c5 [ 1...d5 is more common, A) t h e i m m e d i a t e 2.f4 is likely to transpose: f6 3.f3 g6 4.b2 g7 5.e3 g4 6.e2 c5 7.h3 xf3 but now White should certainly avoid the 'clever' 8.b5+? fd7! Ouch, White was ( expecting 8...bd7 9.xf3 ) 9.xg7? ( 9.c1 xg2 10.xg7 offered some small chances) 9...xd1 10.xh8 xc2 W hite could, and should, resign, Khomeriki,G-Ehlvest,J/New York 1998.; B) 2.b2 f6 ( 2...c5 3.e3 c6 4.b5 f6 5.f4 is quite interesting for White, he can capture on c6 and play a favourable Nimzo-style position: f5?! 6.f3 e6 7.e5 White's f4-move prepared e5 for the knight's use, c7 8.0-0 e7 9.g4! the black bishop proves to be misplaced, g6 10.e2 (menace: Nxc6 and f5) h6 11.xg6 fxg6 12.d3 , Blatny,PSivasailam,J/ Saint Paul USA 2000, Black is in so m e t ro u b le , b u t co u ld t r y g5!?; 2...g4 3.f3!? interesting, White doesn't want to put his knight on f3 and allow Black to capture it, but tries to profit from the g4-bishop's exposed position. h5 4.h3!? e6 5.f4 f6 6.xh5 xh5 7.g3 f6 8.g2 c5 with chances for both si d e s , D u s s o l , P - B a u e r , C / P a r i s F R A 2001. ) 3.e3 B1) 3...c6 4.e2!? (to dissuade Black from ...Bg4) f5 5.g4!? e4 6.f3 g6 7.h4 h5 8.g5 fd7 9.f4 a bit late, e6 10.f3 White has an interesting kingside space advantage, Zurek,M-Polak,T / Team Championships, CZE 1998.; B2) 3...e6 4.f4 c5 5.b5+!? d7! ( 5...c6 will transpose to the Rogers game ) 6.xd7+ bxd7 7.f3 d6 8.0-0 c7 and having established 61
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 control of e5, Black has few problems, Wall,T-Tiviakov,S/Bunratty IRL 1999.; B3) 3...bd7 4.f4 g6 5.g4?! This is how to play real chess!? g7 6.g2 e5! A flank attack is countered in the centre... 7.e2 0-0 8.fxe5 xg4! 9.xg4 xe5 10.d4 d3+ 11.cxd3 ( 11.xd3 xb2 wins an exchange) 11...xd4 12.xd4 f5 13.c3 c6 14.e2 d6 White's three pieces are not quite a match for the queen here, the white king is too open, Blatny,PRodgaard,J/ Istanbul TUR 2000.; B4) 3...c5 the most natural, but there are others: 4.f3 c6 5.b5 e6 6.0-0 d6 7.e5 c7 8.f4 White has achieved a favourable Nimzo position, this could also occur after an earlier f4. 0-0 9.xc6 bxc6 10.f3 exploiting the b2-bishop and e5-knight to attack on the kingside, d7 11.h3 f6! 12.h5!? whilst watching this rapid game (I was doing the commentaries) I thought that this verged on a decisive attack, fxe5 13.xh7+ f7 14.g3 e8 15.xg7 a6! Rogers,I-Bacrot,E/Cap D'Agde F R A 1 9 9 8 , a n d n o w 16.g6 exf4 17.xe6+ d8 18.g7 e8 19.xe8+ xe8 is very unclear. ] [ 1...b6 2.b2 b7 3.e3 d5 ( 3...e6 4.f4 f5 5.f3 f6 6.c4 c5 7.c3 c6 tries to suggest that W hite's set-up is so good that it has to be copied! Arencibia,WRidameya Tatche,J/3rd Open, Malaga ESP 2000. ) 4.f4 e6 5.f3 f6 6.e2 d6 7.0-0 0-0 8.e5 fd7 is a very solid line f o r B la c k , h e co n t e st s e 5 , 9.e1 f6 10.xd7 xd7 11.c4 a6 12.c3 fairly equal, Fernandes, A-Bruzon,L/Lisbon POR 1999. ] 2.b2 f6 3.e3 b6 4.f4 b7 5.f3 g6 A very sensible line for Black, he neutralises the pressure on the long diagonal thus. 6.g3 [ Against such a strong opponent White decided not to repeat his 6.g4!? g7 7.g2 d6 8.0-0 bd7 9.e1 0-0 10.h4 e6 11.h3 e7 12.c3 and it is not clear if the advanced white kingside pawns are a plus or a minus, Blatny, P-Donaldson,J/ Stratton Mountain USA 2000. ] 6...g7 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 d5 9.e2 c6
Black plays in classical style. 10.e5 c7 11.xc6 xc6 12.d3 ad8 13.e5 b7 14.d2 fe8 15.f3 h6!? Black wants to drive the e5-bishop back, and then play ...e5, without allowing an exchange on g7. 16.b2 d7 17.f5!? e5 18.fxg6 fxg6 19.h4 f8 20.e4 d4!? [ 20...dxe4 i s t e m p t i n g : 21.xe4 xe4 22.xe4 ( 22.dxe4? d2 ) 22...xe4 23.dxe4 e3+ 24.h1 d2 but White can minimise his disadvantage by 25.c1 e2 26.xe3 xe3 27.ae1 ] 21.c1 g7 22.h3 xc1 23.axc1 e7 24.f2 f7 25.xf7 xf7 26.f1 e7 Black has extra space, but the white position is rock-solid. 27.g4 h8 28.f3 d7 29.g5 xg5 30.xg5 xh3 31.xh3 g7 32.g5 d7 33.a4 e7 34.f3 d7 35.d2 b8 36.c4 e6 37.f2 c6 38.f1 f6 ½-½
69 Cicak,Slavko Hansen,Curt VISA GP Reykjavik (4) [Tony Kosten]
A01 2480 2595 1998
1.b3 e5 2.b2 d6 Positionally speaking, blocking the a1-h8 diagonal with pawns is a very so und st rat egy f o r B lack. Bla ck will almost certainly have to fianchetto his king's bishop, which will take play into positions r e m i n i s c e n t o f t h e K i n g ' s I n d i a n . 3.c4 W hite takes a hold of d5, much as in the English Opening. Normally he will play this move sooner or later, others: [ 3.e3 f5 this is an ambitious continuation, ga in in g sp a ce o n t h e k in gs id e . ( 3...f6 4.c4 g6 is more normal, heading for the KI p o s it i o n s . 5.g3 g4!? Black adds a new twist, trying to exploit White's unusual mix of g3, and e3. 6.f3 e6 7.g2 c6 8.e2 g7 9.0-0 Now, 9...0-0 would be normal, wi t h a r e a s o n a b l e p o s i t i o n , b u t B l a c k decides to inject a dose of 'unbalance' into t h e p o s i t i o n . h5?! 10.d4 Of course, everyone knows how to react to a wing attack. exd4 11.xd4 xd4 12.xd4 h4 13.g4 h3 14.h1 which was quite obscure, 62
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Hodgson, J-Sadler,M/1998-9 French Team Ch FRA 1999.) 4.d4 e4 5.c4 White has decided to go for a reversed French set-up, which is the standard reaction whenever Black plays ...e5, and ...f5. f6 6.c3 e7 7.ge2 c6 8.f4 a6 The knight is coming to c7, to support the ...d5 push. 9.d5 So White plays it himself. 0-0 10.e2 c7 11.h4 1/2-1/2 Hodgson, J-Agrest,E/It, Harplinge SWE 1998, although White has an edge, as he has gained a couple of tempi on a line from the English. ] [ 3.g3 f6 4.g2 The ultimate in flexibility, a double fianchetto! c6 ( 4...g6 5.c4 g7 6.f3 0-0 7.d3 e8 8.0-0 c6 resembles a King's English, which is fairly typical, Spraggett,K-Barlov,D/ Paris 1991.) 5.e3 g6 6.e2 g7 7.d4 and White took play into a type of King's Indian position, Bezold,M-Piket,J/ 1998-9 French Team Ch FRA 1999. ] 3...g6 [ 3...c6 Is also perfectly reasonable, of course, 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.c3 e6 7.d3 d7 and, once again, a King's English set-up has occurred, Ehlvest,J-Atalik,S/ Beijing (open) 1996. ] 4.d4 More often, White prefers to defer this 'in your face' move, and plays 4 Nf3. g7 5.dxe5 d7 Black exploits the pin on the e5-pawn, along the a1-h8 diagonal, to avoid losing his castling rights . 6.d2!? A new idea in this position, protecting the b2-bishop, and obliging Black to capture the e5-pawn. [ 6.f3 is more usual, dxe5 7.c2 e7 8.a3 c5 9.e4 f6 10.c3 c6 11.d1 0-0 12.c1 h5!? 13.a4 b6 14.xc5 bxc5 15.e3 and White wins a pawn, when it is not clear that Black's compensation is sufficient, Zak, U-Rechlis,G/Ramat Aviv ISR 1998. ] 6...dxe5 7.f3 c6 8.c3 By retarding his kingside development, W hite gives himself other options, like exploiting the open d-file, but he has to take care that he doesn't find h i m s e l f b e h i n d i n d e v e l o p m e n t . gf6 9.g5!? Elaborate, simply [ 9.d1 e7 10.e4 gives a small plus. ] 9...0-0 10.ge4 White's time-consuming manoeuvre aims to establish a knight on the weakened d6-square. xe4 11.xe4 f5
12.d6 White has achieved his goal, can he now finish his development so that he might exploit his mighty knight? c5 13.d1 e7 14.a3 b6 15.b4?! Played to support the knight with Pc5, but [ 15.xc5!? bxc5 16.e4 was an interesting option, but possibly too slow d8 17.exf5 gxf5 18.e2 e6 looks dangerous for White. ] 15...e4 16.xe4 fxe4 White has doubled Black's pawns, but opened the f-file. 17.e3 g4 18.c1?! ad8 19.c2 h4 The black position begins to appear very active. 20.h3 h6! 21.g3 h5 22.e2 f3 There is not much chance that White will be able to castle kingside now with all his weak light squares, but what else can he do with his king? 23.d1 White tries to exchange pieces. xd1+ 24.xd1 f5? missing the combination, [ 24...xe3! 25.fxe3 g5 26.xf3 xe3+ winning everything. ] 25.xf3 exf3 26.g4 e6 Black is still better. 27.c2 e4 28.0-0 g7 29.h1 d8 30.c1 d3 31.b2 xb2 32.xb2 Despite the reduced material, Black's advantage is still consequent, he controls the d-file, and can attack the white king. h5 33.g1 hxg4 34.hxg4 g5! Black forces mate, by ...Qh6+. 0-1
70 Gorovets,Andrey Fedorov,Alexei ch-BLR Minsk BLR (4) [John Watson]
A01 2345 2603 07.03.2005
These Reversed Sicilians ought to be very n i c e f o r W h i t e wi t h h i s e xt r a m o v e , b u t somehow White never seems to get anything out of it. In this game with Larsen's 1.b3 he spends two moves playing b3-b4, which is hardly the way to exploit the tempo. 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.c4 f6 4.e3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.a3 d6 7.c2 [ You could argue that the queen does little he re a n d t h a t W h it e sh o u ld h e a d f o r a Scheveningen setup as soon as possible by 7.d3 0-0 8.f3 e7 9.e2 intending 0-0 and Nbd2, with Re1 when appropriate. ] 63
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...0-0 8.f3 e7 9.d3 f5 10.bd2 h8 [ Black could already play 10...f4 11.e4 b6 12.b4 a6 13.e2 e6 unclear. ] 11.b4?! White has to be careful to get developed. [ 11.e2 is more cautious, when Black's plan in the game is less impressive: d7 12.0-0 ae8 13.c4 e4 14.dxe4 ( or 14.xd6 cxd6 15.dxe4 fxe4 16.d2 g5 17.h1 g6 18.ad1 ) 14...fxe4 15.fd2 and W hite may even have a small ad va n t a ge wit h t wo b ish o p s a n d sligh t pressure on Black's e-pawn. ] 11...d7 12.e2 ae8 13.c4? [ 13.0-0 e4 14.d4 h4 yields a winning advantage af ter ( or 14...xe3 15.fxe3 h4 ) 15.g3 xe3! 16.gxh4 ( 16.fxe3 xg3 17.2f3 exf3 18.xf3 h3 ) 16...xd4! 17.b1 ( 17.xd4 xc2 ) 17...xe2+ 18.h1 xf1 19.xf1 f4 threatening ...Nxd3 or ...Bc6, e.g., 20.c4 ( 20.dxe4 fxe4 and ...Bh3 is still another threat ) 20...c6 21.b5 xb5 22.xd6 cxd6 23.g1 f7 ] 13...e4! 14.xd6 [ 14.fd2 xb4! 15.axb4 b5! 16.a5 cxb4 17.b3 exd3 18.xd3 xe3! etc. ] 14...cxd6 15.dxe4 fxe4 16.d4 g5!? 17.g3? White stood badly anyway but this allows a pretty finish: xf2! 18.xc6 [ 18.xf2 xe3+ 19.e1 xd4 20.xd4 xd4 21.d1 e3! ] 18...xe3! 19.c3 ef8 20.d4 xe2+ [ The finish could be 20...xe2+ 21.xe2 ( 21.xe2 g2+ 22.d1 a4+ ) 21...g4+ ] 0-1
71 Hertneck,Gerald Medvegy,Zoltan Schwarzach op-A (9) [Jonathan Rowson]
A01 2572 2430 02.09.2001
3.e3 g4 4.f3 h5 5.g4! g6 6.h4! If nothing else, such early pawn pushing looks like a lot of fun. h5 [ 6...h6 was the choice of a very young Etienne Bacrot, but White seemed to retain some advantage: 7.e2 e6 8.bc3 c6 9.f4 d6 10.b5 xf4 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.exf4 h5 13.f5 exf5 14.g5 d7 15.e2+ e7 16.xe7+ xe7 17.a3+ d8 18.d4 f8 19.xf8 xf8 20.d2 f4 21.e2 f5 22.xf4 g6 23.ae1 d7 24.e5 f6 25.gxf6 xf6 26.he1 e4 27.fxe4 xf4 28.exd5 xd4+ 29.c3 xd5 30.e7+ c8 31.1e6 b7 32.xg6 c5+ 33.b2 a6 34.h7 e5 35.g5 e2 36.hxh5 d8 37.c5 d6 38.a4 h2 39.c4 b6 40.b4+ a7 41.h7 1-0 Relange, E (2420)-Bacrot, E (2300)/ Epinal 1995 ] 7.g5 fd7 8.c3!? c6 9.h3 It is noteworthy that White doesn't play f4 too soon, keeping this square available for a knight. In previous games White had played f4 and achieved merely some extra space, but now Black's structural integrity soon comes into question. e6 [ 9...e5 is possible, but the position gets very sharp after 10.f4!? intending to snuff out the bishop on g6. exf4 11.exf4 d4 12.f5!? dxc3 13.xc3 is just off the top of my head, but Rybka seems to find it vaguely plausible. ] 10.ce2!? A devious manoeuvre that gives this line some sting. c7 [ 10...f5 11.xf5 exf5 12.g3 ] 11.f4 e5 [ 11...f5 12.xf5 exf5 13.g6 ] 12.xg6 fxg6 13.e2 d6 14.f4 f7 15.0-0-0 e4 16.d3 e8 17.f5 e5 18.fxg6+ xg6 19.f1 xb2+ 20.xb2 f8 21.xf8 xf8 22.f1 f7 23.e2 a6 24.dxe4 dxe4 25.g3 f3 26.f5+ f7 27.xe4 xf1 28.xf1+ e7 29.f5+ 1-0
1.b3 d5 2.b2 f6 [ 2...g4 Paradoxically, this move makes it harder for W hite to create immediate problems with the kingside pawns, simply because e3 is prevented, but as we see below, it invites different kinds of trouble. ] 64
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A01 d i a g o n a l , a n d p r e p a r i n g . . . d 5 . 12.d3?! Hodgson,Julian M 2605 Opening the centre only seems to f avour Barsov,Alexei 2539 Black here, perhaps [ 12.f4!? was best, xd4 13.exd4 d5 Vikings GM York ENG (8) 20.12.1999 14.cxd5! (creating the famous Irish pawn [Tony Kosten] centre) xd5 15.xd5 xd5 16.c1!? ( 16.c1 ) 16...c6 17.c5 d6 18.c1 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 hoping to play Qc3, and d5, but Black may Played as lon g ago as1859 , in t he gam e have sufficient resources. ] Suhle-Anderssen, at Breslau! 5.a3 a5!? This move of Sveshnikov's, which he played 12...d5 13.cxd5 exd3 [ 13...xd4 14.exd4 exd3 15.xd3 g4 as far back as 1975, is becoming all the rage. was also interesting, although I can 6.e2 understand that Black might have been [ Perhaps more accurate than the immediate worried about the loss of his dark-squared 6.f3 which transposes after a6 7.e2 bishop. ] , as W hite obtains other possibilities on 14.xd3 xd5 15.xd5 xd5 16.f3 d6 move seven. ] 17.0-0-0 White has little choice about this, 6...a6 7.f3 [ In another game from December '99, White although the king's position does look quite tried a different idea, 7.c4 gaining some exposed. b6 18.c2 A pragmatic draw space on the queenside, and controlling d5 offer, White can only be worse here, [ 18.c2 c5 19.e2 xb2+ 20.xb2 c4 c5 8.f3 c6 9.d3 0-0 10.0-0 e8 with an attack. ] 11.c2 f8 ( 11...c7 would be my p r e f e r e n c e) 12.d4 cxd4 13.exd4 e4 ½-½ 14.e5! d6 15.xc6 bxc6 16.d5 with a plus, Teske,H-Berndt,S/ Tegernsee 73 A01 GER 1999. ] [ However, 7.c4?! seems to give Black all Hodgson,Julian M 2575 he wants, xc4 8.bxc4!? ( 8.xc4 b5 Hall,Jesper 2485 9.e2 b7 is too easy for Black, but the Harplinge (2) 16.08.1998 text is risky) 8...e7 9.a4 0-0 10.h3 c5 [Jonathan Rowson] 11.f4? xe3! 12.xe5 ( 12.dxe3? b4+ ) 12...a7 13.f2 d6 14.b2 e8 15.d4 A positional classic, in which the Trompovsky g4 0-1 Sakaev,K-Sveshnikov,E/ Gausdal trend setter wins in Trompovsky style with 1. 1992. ] b3! Instead of d4, Bg5 and Bxf6, b3, Bb2 and 7...e4!? Bxf6 gets the same job done in the same [ A principled decision from Black, who n u m b e r o f m o v e s . I n s o m e c a s e s t h i s d o e s n ' t f e a r t h e o p e n i n g o f t h e a 1 - h 8 achievement comes at the cost of weakening diagonal. 7...e7 had been tried previously, the queenside, and W hite will need time to 8.c1 ( 8.b1 was played by Hodgson, see play d4 later. But in this case White makes the archives) 8...b5 9.c4 bxc4 10.xc4 good use of the d4 square for other purposes. xc4 11.xc4 a5 with counterplay, Murey- The following reminded me of Karpov's fairly Sveshnikov/USSR, 1975. ] f a m o u s s t r a t e g ic vi c t o r y a ga i n s t W a lt e r 8.d4 g6 Keeping the knight out of f5, Browne in a line that is quite similar. 1.b3 although at a cost to the kingside dark [ 1.c4 c5 2.b3 f6 3.b2 g6 4.xf6!? squares. 9.c4 0-0 10.b1!? exf6 5.c3 g7 6.g3 c6 7.g2 f5 8.e3 [ 10.0-0!? might be possible, although e7 0-0 ( 8...xc3 9.dxc3 gives White an looks annoying, White is forced to get his advantage based on the d-file.) 9.ge2 a6 knights into a tangle by 11.Ndc2, as he is 10.c1 b5 11.d3 b7 12.0-0 d6 13.d2 probably far from OK after 11.b1? e5! a5 14.fd1 ab8 15.d5 xd2 16.xd2 12.g3 c5 13.f4 exf3 14.xf3 e4 ] b4 17.d4 fd8 18.cd1 cxd4 19.exd4 f8 10...e8 11.c3 e5! Fighting for the a1-h8 20.c5 a7 21.e3 xg2 22.xg2 dxc5 72
65
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.dxc5 xd2 24.xd2 c8 25.d5 xc5 26.xb4 a5 27.d5 c6 28.e3 c5 29.f4 h6 30.d5 xd5 31.fxd5 xe3 32.xe3 e7 33.c4 c6 34.f3 e6 35.e3 d5 36.a3 e6 37.d3 d5 38.f3 h6 39.c3 h5 40.d3 f6 41.f4 g5 42.e3+ e6 43.h4 gxh4 44.gxh4 e7 45.c4 g6 46.g2 d6 47.b5 d5 48.xa5 e4 49.b4 f3 50.b5 xg2 51.b6 f8 52.b5 d7 53.a4 xb6 54.xb6 f3 55.a5 xf4 56.a6 e3 57.a7 f4 58.a8 f3 59.e8+ 1-0 Karpov, A (2630)-Browne, W (2530)/ San Antonio 1972 ] 1...f6 2.b2 g6 3.xf6 exf6 4.c4 g7 [ 4...d5!? 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c3 a5 7.a3! ] 5.g3 f5 6.c3 d6 [ 6...xc3 7.dxc3 0-0 I think to play 1.b3 successf ully, you have to be excited by tiny advantages in positions like this. In this case W hite will have a slight lead in development, a marginally better bishop, a n d t h e p a wn b r e a k c 4 - c 5 l o o k s m o r e feasible than f5-f4. ] 7.g2 d7 8.c1 f6 9.d3 0-0 10.f3 d7 11.b4 a6 12.0-0 e8 13.a4 c6?! 14.e3 b6 15.b5 b7 16.d4! xg2 17.xg2 d5 18.c6 d6 19.b3 dxc4 20.xc4 a5 21.fe1 d7 22.d5 c5 23.e4 Complete positional domination and a great advert for this way of playing with White. fxe4 24.dxe4 h5 25.cd1 e6 26.c2 ac8 27.a7 h4 28.xc8 h3+ 29.g1 xc8 30.c4 g4 31.f1 xe4 32.xe4 xe4 33.xh3 xa4 34.e1 f8 35.f6+ g7 36.h7+ xf6 37.h8+ g7 38.d8+ f5 39.d5+ g4 40.xf7 d4 41.xg6+ f3 42.h5+ g4 43.e3# 1-0
74 Hodgson,Julian M Speelman,Jonathan S 4NCL Birmingham (11) [Tony Kosten]
A01 2575 2605 1998
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 T h i s m o ve l o o ks l ik e t h a t o f a c o m p l e t e beginner, developing his king's bishop in front of the d-pawn, how will it ever be able to
move forward? In fact it is a good move, for White intends to capture on c6, so Black can recapture with his d7-pawn when his queen's bishop will be free to develop. That said, as soon as Black plays this move, White tries to a v o i d c a p t u r i n g o n c 6 , o f c o u r s e . 5.a3 I t s e e m s t h a t W h i t e h a s ca u g h t B l a c k ' s disease, for what sort of square is a3 for a knight? [ 5.c3 0-0 6.ge2 achieves nothing. e7 7.d4 c6 8.d3 exd4 9.xd4 b4 f ollowed by ...d5, with a good position, Bellon Lopez,J-Narciso Dublan,M/ Havana CUB 1999. ] [ 5.e2 0-0 6.0-0 e8 7.g3 e4 this illustrates a different method of development for Black, 8.e2 e5 9.xe5 xe5 10.d4 exd3 11.cxd3 d5 and Black has managed to play ...d5 anyway, and now has a good position, Morozevich,ASveshnikov,E/Podolsk 1993. ] [ After 5.f3 e4 White tried an unusual move in Mikhalevski-Avrukh, Ramat Aviv 1998, 6.h4!? instead of 6 Nd4. 0-0 7.0-0 e5 8.xe5 xe5 But Black has a fine position here, 9.f4 exf3 10.xf3 e7 11.c3 d5 12.e1 and now Black played c5!? planning to play ...c4 and trap the b5bishop. This led to obscure complications, and an eventual Black victory, but he had simpler options, like 12...c6 for instance. ] 5...a5!? I am not sure whether this a case of two of the most original chessplayers in the world battling out to see who can find the most original moves, or an example of modern GMs being guided less by established principles, than by concrete appraisal of the position! [ In fact, Black wants to stop the white knight se tt lin g o n c4, as in t h e gam e L ein , A Gruzmann,B/Grieskirchen GER 1998, which c o n t i n u e d : 5...a6 6.xc6 dxc6 7.c4 with a position not untypical of the Exchange Ruy Lopez. e7 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 b5! 10.xd6 cxd6 but Black could have no reason to complain about his opening. ] 6.f3 a6 7.e2 e7 Putting the question to the a3-knight. 8.b1 Rather than acquiesce to exchanging the a5-knight. 0-0 9.c4 b6 Black finally decides to leave the d7-pawn where it is, and develop the c8-bishop another 66
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 way. 10.c3 b7 11.0-0 fe8 12.d3 a3 13.c1 xb2 And the players, exhausted by having to find so many original moves, agreed to split the point. Seriously, this was a key battle for team supremacy in Britain, and the quick draw suited both sides. The position is level, anyway. ½-½
probably lead to Black taking en passant which would be the same as 9.d3. ] 9...0-0 10.h3 c5 11.f2 e8 12.g4 d6 13.g5 d7 14.h4 f8 Hereabouts Black starts to play rather passively, which will prove fatal with his opponent charging up the kingside like this. 15.h5 f5 16.g4 d7 17.e2 a5 18.0-0-0 [ 18.xf5 xf5 19.g4 looks quite strong here, preparing to diagonalise Black with 20. 75 A01 h6 or 20.Qg2 intending 21.Nh6+. ] 19.dg1 axb3 20.axb3 a5 Ipatov,Alexander 2507 18...a4 Fierro Baquero,Martha Lorena 2372 21.a1 c6?! 22.g6 [ 22.xf5 xf5 23.g4 seems very strong Andorra Open (5) 21.07.2010 here too. ] [Nigel Davies] 22...fxg6 [ 22...hxg6 would be decisively met by 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 23.h6! with a winning attack. ] 5.a3!? This odd looking move makes sense when Black can no longer play ...d7-d5 to 23.h6 gxh6?? A blunder in a poor position. [ 23...e7 would have put up more keep the knight out of c4. a6 6.e2 resistance. ] [ I think there's a good case for 6.xc6 dxc6 xf5 25.g4 There's no good 7.c4 , simply making sure the knight 24.xf5 doesn't get misplaced on a3. This doesn't defence to the threat of 26.Nxh6 mate. look like much for White, for example after 1-0 e4 . But his position would at least be nicely coordinated. ] A01 6...b5 Preventing the knight from coming to c4 76 but at the cost of weakening his queenside. Ismagambetov,Anuar 2531 Black has also tried other approaches which Lahiri,Atanu 2361 seem better, for example: 9th UIL&UL GM (4) 23.08.2009 [ a) 6...b4 7.c4 e4 8.a3 e7 9.d4 d5 [Nigel Davies] 10.e5 b8 11.f4 0-0 12.h3 c5 13.g5!? c6 14.h4!? was the enterprising 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 d5 4.b5 d6 but rather wild continuation of Karlsson, L 5.f4 This thematic pawn thrust hasn't been too popular lately. It does seem that if Black (2493)-Wang Hao (2624) / Taby 2007. ] [ b) 6...e7 looks like an eminently sensible knows what he's doing he gets fully equal choice for Black simply arguing that White's play. h4+ It makes sense to weaken White's knight will now be badly placed on a3. After kingside before dropping back to e7. 6.g3 7.c4 e4 8.f4 d5 9.e5 d6 10.d4 exd3 e7 7.f3 f6 8.c3 e6 9.e2 [ White has also played 9.0-0 , for example 11.cxd3 xe5 12.xe5 b6 13.f2 c5 h6 10.fxe5 fxe5 11.e4 dxe4 ( 11...c5+ 14.c1 d4 was simply good for Black in Ivanov, M (2470)-Vyskocil, N (2315)/ Brno is strongly met by 12.d4! exd4 13.xd5! ) 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.xe4 was agreed drawn 2009. ] (1 / 2 - 1 / 2 ) in M e l la d o T r ivin o , J (2 4 2 2 ) 7.c4 b4 8.c2 e4 9.f4 An ambitious looking move, trying to gain space on the kingside. Strikovic, A (2498)/Lorca 2005. I prefer [ On e ea rlie r ga m e sa w W h it e pla y 9.d3 White's position though the rating difference may have accounted for the early af t e r wh ic h exd3 10.xd3 0-0 11.f3 ( 11.h3!? ) 11...e8 12.f5 e7 13.d1 negotiations for peace. ] looked slightly better for White in Jarvenpaa, 9...a6 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.0-0-0 This sensible moves seems new, though it J (2090)-Tiitta, S (2204)/ Jyvaskyla 2008. ] [ 9.d4 is another idea, though this would does little to change the assessment of this 67
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 position as being very comfortable for Black. Earlier games had gone as follows: [ a) 11.a4 e4 12.d4 d7 13.c4 f7 ( 13...c5 makes sense here) 14.c5 e7 15.f5 h6 16.f1 g6 17.g4 g8 18.0-0-0 gxf5 19.gxf5 looked quite nice for White at this stage in Schramm, C (2350)-Rabiega, R (2520)/Germany 2003. ] [ b) 11.fxe5 fxe5 12.e4 d4 13.a4 h6 14.0-0-0 0-0 15.h3 c5 16.g4 f7 17.c4 d7 essentially refuted White's strategy in Krupkova, P (2293)-Polushkina, S (2159)/ Varna 2002 because she can not prevent a timely ...Bxa4. ] 11...h6 12.a4? Blundering away the exchange. [ 12.h3 is better, trying to cover up the kingside light squares. ] 12...e4 13.d4 g4 14.f1 xd1 15.xd1 c5?! 16.e2? [ 16.h5+ f7 17.e6 was a better try, and maybe Black should have avoided this by castling on his previous move. ] 16...0-0 17.h3 c4 18.b1 a3 19.c3 ab8 20.g4 c5 21.g1 Trying for g4-g5 but there's no way that White has enough here. f7 22.g5 fxg5 23.h4 d7 24.hxg5 d6 25.a1 f5 26.e5 b7 27.ec3 cxb3 28.cxb3 c8 29.b1 b4 30.a3 a5 31.c2 c4 [ 31...c6 might have been a steadier way to play it. Now White manages to selotape his queenside together for a while. ] 32.b4 c7 33.b2 d6 34.bc3 f8 35.b1 e6 36.e2 a5! 37.bxa5 b3 38.c1 b5 39.c3 xb1+ 40.xb1 xa3 41.a2 xc1 42.xc1 b8 43.a3?! d4! This break through spells the beginning of the end of White's resistance. 44.exd4 xd4! 45.c5 c6 46.xc6 xc6 47.b6 h5 48.gxh6 gxh6 49.xc4 h5 50.a3 h4 51.e5 a7 52.a4 h3 53.g4 f7 54.f5 c6 55.e5+ xe5 56.xe5 d8 57.f4 xd2! 0-1
77 Ivanchuk,Vassily Le Quang,Liem SportAccord Blitz Men 2013 blitz (29.6) [Fier, Alexandr]
A01 2731 2703
1.b3 is becoming more fashionable, especially for rapid and blitz games. Le Quang tries the idea played by Jakovenko last month and also gets into trouble. 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 5.a3 e7 [ 5...e4 is one of the critical variations and was tried in two elite games from this month 6.e2 a s o l i d a p p r o a c h ( 6.c4 is more direct, keeping the bishops e7 7.xc6 dxc6 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 e8 10.f3 and the position was level in Ivanchuk, V (2731)-Vachier-Lagrave, M (2745)/ S p o r t A c c o rd B a sq u e M e n 2 0 1 3 (3 . 1 ) .) 6...e5 7.c1 e7 8.xc6 dxc6 9.c4 xb2 10.xb2 arriving into a typical position for this variation. In this long game the knight proved to be stronger than the bishop, Nakamura, H (2786)-Jones, G (2654)/5th Classic GpC 2013 (4.2) ] 6.c4 d6 7.xc6+ bxc6 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 c5 10.f4 [ 10.d4 is strong, and was analyzed by me f o r C h e s s P u b l i s h i n g l a s t m o n t h , exd4 11.exd4 a6 12.a5 and White has good chances to obtain an advantage, as seen in Jobava, B (2694)-Jakovenko, D (2719)/29th ECC Open 2013 (6.4). ] 10...e4 To keep the f-file closed is quite natural and probably right. [ 10...exf4 was another possibility when the po sition h a s a dif f e re nt cha racte r th a n compared to the game. White has an open diagonal and the f-file for the heavy pieces, on the other hand Black has the bishop pair and good central control. 11.xf4 c6 12.f3 d5 13.e5 d6 14.d3 could be a natural sequence when the position is level, but easier for White to play. ] 11.g3 e8 12.d3 Since the pieces are now well placed, it's time to open the position. b7?! I'm not a fan of this move. White always has Na5 when he can get back the bishop pair at least. [ 12...exd3 was a respectable option and n o w b o t h r e c a p t u re s a re p o ss i b l e a n d 68
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 interesting 13.cxd3 with the idea of making the center more solid and concentrating the p i e c e s o n t h e k i n g s i d e ( 13.xd3 m o r e a i m e d t o p l a y i n t h e c e n t e r a5 14.ad1 a4 15.e4 g4 16.d2 axb3 17.axb3 a2 with a complex position) 13...a5 14.e4 d5 15.e5 f8 with a level position ] 13.a5 c8 14.xb7 A concrete approach, which is good with the right sequence. [ 14.d2!? since the bishop has no good squares to go to, it makes sense to wait a bit before taking on b7. d8 ( 14...a6 15.c4 exd3 16.e4 and the bishop is hitting rock ) 15.ac1!? another good prophylactic move, threatening 16. Bxf6. Now Black has difficult problems to solve. ] 14...xb7 15.f5 d8 16.e1 [ Makes sense, but is slow compared to the option 16.g4! this is the move which should be connected with 14.Nxb7, now Black's pieces are not well placed to defend the king, A) 16...e6 doesn't really help 17.xg7 xg7 18.g5 and the attack is much faster than any counterplay in the center; B) 16...exd3 17.cxd3 g6 18.h6+ f8 19.d2 and Black's king is in much more danger than White's.; C) 16...d5 17.f2! with the simple idea of bringing the rook to the g-file ( 17.xg7 xg7 18.g5 f5 and Black is fine) 17...e6 18.xg7 xg7 19.f5 d5 20.g5 and White is much better; D) 16...c8 again trying to go to f5 17.dxe4! xe4 18.f3 d5 ( 18...e6 19.g3 wins an exchange) 19.c4 c6 20.ac1 and it's hard for Black to defend against all the threats ] 16...d5 Black takes his chance and creates c o u n t e r p l a y i n t h e c e n t e r . 17.g3 A sad move to make. [ 17.g4 was still possible, but now things are completely unclear exd3 18.h4 h6! ( 18...dxc2 19.g5 wins a piece) 19.xg7 xg7 20.g5 h8 21.gxf6+ f8 with unusual chaos. ] 17...exd3 18.d1 c4 19.cxd3 [ 19.bxc4 w a s a l s o p o s s i b l e b7 ( 19...xc4 20.cxd3 xa2 21.a1 would be similar to the game) 20.c3 dxc2
21.d2 b6 and Black has few problems. ] 19...cxb3 Ambitious. [ 19...cxd3 doesn't win a pawn, but leaves Black with a comfortable position 20.d2 c6 21.xf6 ( 21.xd3 b6 22.d4 xd4 23.xd4 xd4 24.xd4 d5 is about equal ) 21...xf6 22.xd3 e6 23.f3 d5 and White has more reasons to be worried than Black ] 20.axb3 xb3 21.a1 White finally was able to stabilize the center at the cost of the apawn, which is not so important. After all the position remains unclear. g4 [ 21...b6 was a good idea, trying to fight against W hite's center and avoid 22.e4 22.f3 ( 22.d4 c5 23.a1 d5 is good for Black ) 22...b8 23.h1 d5 and Black's position is slightly preferable ] 22.e4 [ 22.e2 could bring strange positions after xe3 23.f5 c6 24.xg7 b6 25.xe8 xd1+ 26.h1 f2+ 27.xf2 xf2 28.f6+ g7 where I'm not able to say who is better. ] 22...f6 23.xf6 xf6 It's rational to exchange the dangerous white bishop, but it gave White time to consolidate the center and start a new attack with the remaining pieces. 24.f5 g6 25.h4 h5 [ 25...gxf5 this was better and the position will be probably be drawn by perpetual at s o m e p o i n t 26.g5+ ( 26.xf6 fxe4 27.g5+ h8 28.f6+ g8= ) 26...f8 27.xf6 fxe4 28.h6+ g8 29.f5 h8 and W hite has nothing better than perpetual. ] 26.e7+ g7 Now the position becomes just too dangerous for Black. [ 26...f8 was necessary, putting the king near the rook, 27.d5 c6 28.e3 ( 28.f6 xf6 29.xf6 g8 is less dangerous) 28...g8 29.f5 with the initiative. ] 27.f5 f6 Now Black's king is too exposed and also the knight on h5 has no squares. 28.d5 c6 [ 28...f8 would be another idea to defend, but after 29.h3 f7 30.g4 c6 31.e3 wins a piece ] 29.b1 And suddenly the attack comes from the other side. xd3 30.b7+ h8 31.fxg6 hxg6 32.xf6 Now it 's f in ished . e3+ 69
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 33.h1 h6 34.g5! g3+ 35.xg3 [ 35.g1 7 wa s m a t e i n e2+ 36.f2 xh2 37.xe8 ] 35...ab8 36.h7+ xh7 37.xh7 xh7 38.xd6 f8 39.xf8 1-0
78 Jadoul,Michel Fontaine,Pierre TCh-2003-4 Belgium BEL (1) [Tony Kosten]
A01 2342 2143 14.12.2003
1.b3 f5 2.b2 e6 Black tries to play a Classical Dutch against the queenside fianchetto, but is this wise? 3.e4!? Maybe not! The problem is that Black can hardly answer White's Qh5+ with ...g6 as the h8-rook would be lost. fxe4!? 'In for a penny ...' but the alternatives are not particularly enticing: [ 3...d6?! 4.exf5 exf5 Ventura,S-Tocco,P/ Saint Vincent 1999, when 5.h5+ forces e7 which is horrible. ] [ 3...f6 is th e be st b e t : 4.exf5 ( 4.e5 gains a lot of space) 4...exf5 5.e2+ e7 ( 5...f7!? ) 6.xf6 ( 6.g3?! c6?! 7.g2?! d5?! 8.h3?! is a bit limp, Skripchenko,AGervais, C/Cannes 1993) 6...gxf6 7.xe7+ xe7 and the doubled f-pawns give White a plus, Jadoul, M-Froeyman,H/Antwerp BEL 2000. ] 4.h5+ e7 [ 4...g6?? 5.e5 wins material. ] 5.c3! A novelty, but obviously this position is very rare. [ 5.d3 is similar, White is happy to make his pawn sac permanent and open the central files, f6 6.h4 exd3 7.xd3 d6 8.f3 with sufficient compensation for the pawn, and good practical chances for W hite Sinowjew, J-Wach,M/Voitsberg 1995. ] 5...f6 6.h4 d5 This is White's idea, he forces Black to defend his e-pawn before playing d3, this way the long diagonal cannot be closed by .. .d6 and ...e5. 7.d3 exd3 8.xd3 f7 9.0-0-0 e7 10.f3 White is close to completing his development, and is ready to attack Black before he manages to secure his king position. e8?! Retreating one of Black's only two developed pieces
seems odd, he should prefer [ 10...c6 , say, to control e5. ] 11.e5+ g8 12.h5 d6 13.b5 Aiming to deflect the knight from its defence of f7. d7?! Initiating a tactical sequence which just favours White, [ 13...e8!? was the best bet. ] 14.xd6 xe5 15.xc8 xd3+ 16.xd3 g5+ 17.b1 xc8 The fog clears and we see that White's initiative has increased: the black king is stuck in the corner stopping his rook from moving, and W hite has gained a swinging rook along the third rank. 18.g4 e7 [ 18...f7?! is worse, 19.e1 e8 20.g3 f6 21.xf6 xf6 22.f3 winning the queen. ] 19.e1 [ 19.xd5! is also tempting, as the e-pawn is pinned. ] 19...h5! This is Black's best chance, the rook might be able to re-enter the game. 20.xe6+ xe6 21.xe6 c6 Black has a solid position, but the white pieces are very active. 22.g3?! White misses a trick, [ 22.c4! is strong, trying to batter the rook's way through to the seventh rank: dxc4?! 23.d7 h7 24.bxc4 with a consequent advantage. ] 22...f7?! Black misses it too! [ 22...h6! is possible, solving Black's problems at a stroke! 23.xg5!? ( 23.xh6 xh6 is level ) 23...xe6 24.xg7+ f8 25.xb7 e1+ 26.c1 ce8 with good play. ] 23.d6 hd8?! Another error, Black resigns as after [ 23...hd8?! 24.xd8 xd8 25.xg7+ e6 26.xb7 he is two pawns down with a bad position. ] 1-0
79 Jobava,Ba Jakovenko,D 29th ECC Open 2013 (6.4) [Fier, Alexandr]
A01 2694 2719 25.10.2013
Jobava had one more success with 1.b3 and this time against a 2700 player. 5.. .Be7 is not 70
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 played so often (5...e4 is kind of critical lately and 5...Na5 is the mainline) and after some natural moves White already had a pleasant position. Maybe 9...c5 is already not the best, but it's nice to see how much poison there is in White's position 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 5.a3 e7 The basic idea is to come back with the bishop now that the pawn is not hanging on e5. So, after 6...d6 Black can finish normal development, which is not that common in this variation. [ 5...e4 was already played twice against Jobava 6.c4 looks more natural than ( 6.e2 e5 7.c1 0-0 8.h3 e7 where W hite was not really successful in Jobava, B (2711)-Aronian, L (2815)/Beijing Sportaccord blitz 2012) 6...e7 7.xc6 dxc6 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 with an interesting position in Jobava, B (2711)-Giri, A (2720)/ Beijing Sportaccord blitz 2012. ] [ 5...a5 was analyzed by me some months ago in Bernadskiy, V (2475)-Nevednichy, V (2580)/Albena Masters op 2013. ] [ 5...a6 is another popular alternative and was analyzed in games such as Ipatov, A (2507)-Fierro Baquero, M (2372)/Andorra Open 2010. ] 6.c4 d6 7.xc6+ bxc6 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 c5 Somehow I think Black starts to have some problems after this move. Nothing serious, b u t s t ill I t h in k t h e p o sit io n ca n b e co m e unpleasant quickly [ 9...e6 trying to get rid of the knight could be another option A) 10.d4 enters an unusual structure xc4 ( 10...exd4 11.xd4 only helps White ) 11.bxc4 b8 12.b1 d7 13.c5 f6 ( 13...exd4? 14.xd4 and Black has problems with the c6-square) 14.cxd6 cxd6 15.d3 with chances for both sides; B) 10.a5 is more in the spirit of the position and after d7 11.d4 e4 12.c4 d5 13.c2 d6 with a double-edged position. White needs to decide whether it's worth closing the position with c5 or not. An expansion on the queenside might be successful, but also there are not many people defending the other side. ] 10.d4 exd4 [ 10...cxd4 11.exd4 e4 12.d5! and White can use the e3, d4 and c6 squares.
Meanwhile it is not entirely clear where Black is going to put his pieces. For example: a6 13.e1 d7 14.e3 xe2 15.xe2 followed by 16.c4 with advantage ] 11.exd4 a6 [ 11...d5 is the main option, trying to open some space to activate the pieces and after 12.e5 e8 is better, aimed against the d x c 5 i d e a s ( 12...d6 if White opens the diagonal, all the pieces can go easily onto t h e a t t a c k 13.dxc5 xc5 14.g3 e8 15.f3 with some initiative for W hite) 13.c6 getting back the bishop pair ( 13.g3 d6 14.e1 cxd4 15.xd4 c5 16.d2 d4 is fine for Black) 13...d7 14.xe7+ xe7 15.g3 c4!? it's important to keep the diagonal closed for the moment, White has the slightly better prospects, but the game is balanced. ] [ 11...cxd4 12.xd4 d7 13.a5 and Black will always have problems with the c6-square. White can put the queen on f3 and bring the rooks to the central files with some advantage. ] 12.a5 d7 13.e1 [ 13.c4 can bring some nice complications it's less precise than the move in the game d5 ( 13...cxd4 14.xd4 c5 15.dc6 ) 14.dxc5 dxc4 15.xd7 xd7 16.b4! this works because the bishop on e7 is not defended c3 17.xc3 xc5 the best move order ( 17...xe2 is good for White 18.fe1 xc5 19.xe2 d6 20.c6 with strong control ) 18.fe1 b6 19.c6 and because of the bishop pair the position is equal. ] 13...b5 Trying to disrupt the harmony between White's pieces and defend against dxc5, but now the queen and bishop are on the wrong diagonal [ 13...cxd4 again this is not good 14.xd4 fe8 15.f3 with the usual problem on the c6-square ] 14.c4 ae8 15.e3!? Bringing the pieces to the kingside. e4 16.c4 [ 16.d5 was also interesting d7 17.ec3 xc3 18.xc3 threatening 19.dxc5 again c4 19.f3 with pressure ] 16...d7 17.dxc5 xc5 [ 17...h4 exchanging one piece, trying to free some space for the pieces, but still not e n o u g h f o r e q u a l i t y 18.g3 xg3 71
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 18...xc5? 19.xg7 xg7 20.d4++- ) 19.hxg3 xc5 20.b4 e6 21.d5 and almost all W hite's pieces are more active than Black's corresponding ones. ] 18.g3 d8 This move is too passive. [ 18...g5 is interesting, trying to exchange the bishop, Black needs to be aware of the bishop sacrifice 19.xg7!? ( 19.gf5 f6 20.d4 e6 21.xa7 f4 and after ...Bb7 and ...Be5 Black has some decent compensation for the pawn.) 19...xg7 20.ef5+ h8 21.d4+ f6 22.xe8 xe8 23.h4 and the bishop has no square to go to e5 24.xe5 fxe5 25.hxg5 e6 and Black is in the game. ] 19.h3 This move also looks too slow, White could try more direct approaches with [ 19.gf5 f6 20.d4 e4 21.d5+ f7 22.d2 ] [ or 19.b4 e6 20.gf5 f6 21.f3 in both cases with an initiative ] 19...b7 [ 19...f5!? trying to free Black's pieces 20.h5 ( 20.gxf5 xf5 21.xf5 xe1+ 22.xe1 xf5 23.e8+ f8 24.e1 is a hard to evaluate endgame. My feeling is that Black should be fine.) 20...e6 21.d5 c6 22.df4 xf4 23.xf4 e4 and Black is ok. ] 20.gf5 f6 21.b4 a4 22.d4 b6?! [ 22...g6 was also more active 23.h6+ g7 24.d2 e4 trying to sacrifice the exchange. ] 23.c5 d5 24.g4 h8 25.cxd6 cxd6 26.xd5?! [ 26.c4 just wins a pawn, xe1+ ( 26...c7 27.xe8 xe8 28.fxd6+- ) 27.xe1 g6 28.fxd6 c6 29.xd7 xd7 with a much better endgame for White. ] 26...xd5 Now things are not clear anymore. 27.e3 e6 28.f3 b6 it's dangerous to leave the a-pawn passed. [ 28...g8 29.ed1 f5 30.ac1 and White still has some initiative, but looks better compared to the game ] 29.xb6 axb6 30.a4 a8 31.e4 [ 31.d5! can enter an endgame with a pawn up where White has good chances to convert the point xd5 ( 31...ab8 32.a5 bxa5 33.bxa5 and the pawn becomes too dangerous ) 32.xd5 xa4 ( 32...h6 33.b5
and Black is dominated) 33.xa4 xa4 34.xd6 c8 35.xb6 h6 and it's not clear if the endgame is winning or not, but White is much better anyway. ] 31...f5 [ 31...d5 was another option 32.d4 xa4 33.xa4 xa4 34.xb6 e8 ] 32.f4 g8 Black has no active plan and a lot of weak pawns, in a few moves the position is close to collapse. 33.b5 b3 34.a3 f7?! 35.b1 e6 36.d1 d5 37.c3 a7 38.e5 f6 39.d4 Black can't do much now. af8 40.c6 winning material. f4 41.c7 [ 41.xd5 xd5 42.xf6 gxf6 43.xd5 also wins ] 41...b8 42.xf4 xc7 43.xc7 xf4 44.xb6 g8 45.a5 And the passed pawns decide the game. d4 46.g4 4f5 47.a6 d5 48.a7 d3 49.e3 d2 50.h2 d1 51.xd1 xd1 52.c7 dd8 53.b6 a8 54.d6 fe8 55.c5 1-0
80 Jobava,Baadur Andriasian,Zaven Fujairah Masters 2012 (5.6) [John Bartholomew]
A01 2710 2604 17.11.2012
Jobava played the Nimzo-Larsen five times at the Fujairah Masters, scoring a stellar 4.5/5. Perhaps even more impressively, all but one of his opponents were Grandmasters! He kept the 1. b3 tra in rolling a t his next e vent in December, the prestigious SportAccord World Mind Games. There he achieved only mediocre results playing 1.b3 in all his White games (+4, =2, -7), though he did manage to beat Ivanchuk, Mamedyarov, Giri, and Bologan. Thanks to Mr. Jobava's herculean efforts there is suddenly a wealth of high-level Nimzo-Larsen theory to digest. As such, I think it's only appropriate that we examine some of his fine efforts this month. 1.b3 e5 The main line, as played by Jobava's opponents in 10 of his 18 games. 2.b2 c6 [ T h e f l e x i b l e 2...d6 was preferred by Bologan and Guseinov. ] 3.e3 f6 72
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Leave it to Ivanchuk and Morozevich to try t h e l i t t l e - k n o w n m o v e 3...ge7!? . Those two games proceeded 4.e2 d5 5.d4 , and now: A) 5...exd4 6.xd4 xd4 7.xd4 f5 8.d2 c6 9.c3 e6 10.0-0-0 b4 11.a3 ( 11.g4!? ) 11...a5 12.b4 c7 Jobava, B (2711)-Morozevich, A (2748) Beijing CHN 2012 13.e4 dxe4 14.xd8+ xd8 15.xd8+ xd8 16.xe4 0-0=; B) 5...f6!? 6.bc3 e6 7.d2 d7 8.0-0-0 0-0-0 9.b1 b8 10.a4 b6 11.h4 f5 12.dxe5 fxe5 13.g3 b4 14.c1 f7 Jobava, B (2711)-Ivanchuk, V (2766) Beijing CHN 2012.3...Nge7!? is very intriguing and virtually unexplored. Based on these games, I think we'll be seeing it again. ] [ Nakamura went straight for one of Black's most ambitious lines: 3...d5 4.b5 d6 5.f4 h4+!? (a disruptive check, forcing a light-square weakness) 6.g3 e7 7.f3 f6!? 8.c3 ( 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.fxe5 fxe5 10.xe5 f6 Asimenios, A-Timoshenko, G (2 5 3 6 ) K a va la 2 0 0 4 [ T o n yK ] h e re T o n y indicates that W hite should play 11.xc6! , when d7!? 12.xf6 0-0! is a fantastic reply that might be Black's best) 8...d4!? ( a n o v e l t y ) ( 8...e6 was played in Ismagambetov, A (2531)-Lahiri, A (2361) Dh a k a 2 0 0 9 / [ Nig e l Da vie s ]) 9.d5 ( natural, but maybe 9.exd4!? is better, e.g. exd4+ 10.e2 d3 11.cxd3 h3 12.f2! and Black needs to prove compensation) 9...f7 10.fxe5 fxe5 and now Jobava sacrificed a piece for insufficient c o m p e n s a t i o n : 11.0-0? ( 11.c4!? ) 11...xd5 Jobava, B (2711)-Nakamura, H (2760) Beijing CHN 2012. ] 4.b5 d6 5.a3!? Preparing Na3-c4. This has been the 'tabiya' of Jobava's NimzoLarsen experience thus far. [ Alternatives like 5.e2 ] [ 5.e2?! ] [ and 5.h3!? can also be found in the archives, but apparently Jobava does not believe in them (rightly so, I think!). ] 5...a5!? Countering White's idea and similarly distinct fashion. [ 2700-rated Etienne Bacrot fell victim to the Jobava 1.b3 steamroller in classical chess
after 5...e7 6.e2 0-0 7.c4 e4 8.xc6 bxc6 9.0-0 a5 10.g3 d5 11.e5 e8 12.c4 d6 13.d4 exd3 14.xd3 e4 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.f4 xf4?! ( Black is not w o r s e a f t e r 16...xg3 17.hxg3 b7! because 18.xd5?? e4-+ wins ) 17.exf4 xg3 18.hxg3 d7 19.e1 b7 20.d4 and th e Geo rgian e nde d u p cru is ing t o victory Jobava, B (2710) -Bacrot, E (2702) Fujairah City UAE 2012. ] [ Instead, Jobava's highest-rated foe, Levon Aronian, preferred 5...e4 . After 6.e2 e5 7.c1 0-0 8.h3 e7 9.xc6 xb2 10.xb2 dxc6 the Georgian got a bit frisky with 11.0-0-0? and paid the price after ( 11.0-0=; 11.c4!? ) 11...a5 12.c3 b5 when White fell under serious pressure in Jobava, B (2711)-Aronian, L (2815) Beijing CHN 2012. ] 6.e2 [ For 6.c4!? see Karagiannis, A (2361) Banikas, H (2568) Salonica 2006/[John Watson]. ] [ The Trompowsky pioneer Julian Hodgson has played 6.f3 on a couple occasions. It could transpose to the game after a6 7.e2 e7 ( 7...e4!? Hodgson, J (2605)-Barsov, A (2539) York 1999/[TonyK] ) 8.b1 . ] 6...a6 7.f3 e7 8.b1 Funny, but this is the best move! [ 8.c4 xc4 9.bxc4 0-0 10.0-0 e4 ( 10...b6!? ) 11.e1 b5! 12.cxb5 axb5 13.xb5 b8 Utegaliev, A (2288)Sherbakov, R (2500) Izhevsk 2009 ] 8...0-0 9.d4 [ W hite obtained no advantage with 9.c4 in Hodgson, J (2580) -Speelman, J (2605) England 1998/[TonyK]. ] 9...exd4 10.xd4N [ 10.xd4 c6 11.h4 b4+!? 12.bd2 e4 13.xe7 xe7 14.a3 c3 15.xc3 xc3 16.d3 d5 17.b1 xb1 1/2 -1 /2 Filipo vic, B (2 44 4)-Bo sioc ic , M (2571) Sibenik 2009 ] 10...e5 11.c3 b5 [ Karjakin improved Black's play a bit in China: 11...c6 12.0-0 d6 13.f3 ( 13.f3 ) 13...f5 14.c1 b4 15.d1 c5 16.e1 e4 17.xe5 xc3 18.xc3 dxe5 19.a3 c6 20.b2 f6= Jobava, B (2711) Karjakin, S (2775) Beijing CHN 2012. The 73
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 view. 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 g6 This move was never analyzed on Chess Publishing before, but it's a logical one. Black wants to enter a King's Indian type of position, where W hite is not expanding on the queenside so easily. 4.h4 Not a surprise in Jobava's games. [ 4.f4 is typical in 1.b3 positions g7 5.b5 ge7 6.f3 d6 7.fxe5 0-0 8.0-0 g4 an d Bla ck will re co ve r t he pa wn with a good position, Pap, G (2569)-Szamoskozi, G (2368)/HUN-chT 1213 2012. ] [ 4.c4 trying to expand on the queenside g7 5.f3 d6 6.d4 exd4 7.e2 g4 8.a3 ge7 9.b5 is ok for White, but not hin g spe cial, a nd se en in It urrizaga Bonelli, E (2604)-Harika, D (2473)/Dubai op 12th 2010. ] 4...h5 Black doesn't want to allow White's expansion on the kingside, and thinks that the pawn on h5 will be more useful than the one on h4. [ 4...g7 was also played and White went 'all-in': 5.h5 a6 6.f4 d6 7.g4?! e7 8.g5 h6 but White could not control the position in Mandiza, F (2404)-Liou, Y (2283)/ Northern California op 2012. ] 5.f3 White tries to play like in an English, but this pawn on h4 makes things more comfortable for Black. g7 6.c4 d6 7.d3 ge7 8.bd2 a5 9.a3 0-0 10.c2 b8 This looks a bit mysterious, but it's aimed against White's long castling. 11.e2 g4 12.e4 d7 13.0-0-0?! This move is not prudent and after it Black's position should be better. Dubov now plays actively and precisely and quickly gets the better position. [ 13.0-0 would be normal, and better f5 14.g3 and the position looks slightly better for Black, but nothing serious. ] 81 A01 13...b5 W ithout losing any time. 14.cxb5 15.d4 The beginning of a nice Jobava,Baadur 2706 xb5 Dubov,Daniil 2614 sequence. White is pushing all Black's pieces Minsk Bronstein Memorial op-A (7) 17.02.14 to the first two ranks. The big problem is that after all the pieces have gone back White is a [Fier, Alexandr] tad over extended and the king has no safe Following the saga of 1.b3, this month we take place to go. b6! Important, the rook can go a look at another game of Jobava from a to c6 in some variations. [ 15...bb8 is less precise 16.dxe5 xf3 tournament that he won convincingly. This 17.gxf3 xe5 18.f4 g4 19.xg7 xg7 time the approach can't be considered good 20.b2 White is safe with the queen going for W hite and 0-0-0 is a bit too much in my
game was drawn. ] 12.f3 b7 13.xe5 [ Here 13.d5!? xd5 14.xe5 deserved attention. ] 13...xe5 14.f3 f5 15.xb7 xb7 16.0-0 fe8 17.e2 White has a small but stable advantage, so his opening can be considered a success. From here it's interesting to see how utterly helpless Jobava makes his 2600 opponent look! c5 18.f3 d6 [ 18...xe3?! is met by 19.g3 d5 20.xd5 xd5 21.d4 , winning the exchange. ] 19.e4 g5 20.g3 ad8 21.f5 e6 22.g4!? f4?! 23.e1 g5 24.g2 e6 25.d1 d7 26.h4! Jobava launches his attack. f6 27.h1 [ N o t b a d , b u t W h i t e m i s s e d 27.d5!+with the unstoppable threat of 28.Bc1. ] 27...g6 28.c1 [ 28.d5! ] 28...e5 29.h6+ g7 30.g5! Excellent! Andriasian's king is exposed to the elements. b4 31.g4 c3 32.f2 h5? [ Lo sing quick ly, bu t 32...fxg5 33.hxg5 was no picnic either! ] 33.d3 a1 34.gxf6+ h7 [ On 34...xf6 35.h6+ decides. ] 35.d2 df8 36.f7! Black resigned, as he's facing a decisive loss of material. The line with 1...e5 and 4...Bd6 is one of Black's most theoretically respected answers to the NimzoLarsen, and the analysis here shows he is fine in m o re t h a n o n e wa y. No n e t h e le s s, it ' s awesome to see how a creative and strong player like Jobava can play for the full point! 1-0
74
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to c3 and can even be slightly better ] 16.c5 Using the rook on b6. [ 16.dxe5 now this is worse compared to the note to the last move xf3 17.gxf3 xe5 18.f4 c6 this is the point 19.c3 g4 20.c4 b8 and White is under heavy pressure ] 16...f5! Provoking White's bishop. It will be more exposed on d3 than e2. [ 16...c8 17.a4 b8 18.dxe5 ( 18.d5 a7 19.b1 e4 20.xg7 exf3 21.gxf3 f5 22.e4 xg7 23.exf5 xf5 ) 18...xf3 ( 18...e6 19.c4 xc4 20.xc4 f5 21.c2 g4 ) 19.gxf3 xe5 20.b1 e6 21.a2 ] 17.d3 c8 18.a4 b8 19.d5 a7 [ 19...d8 to go to e6 was another interesting option 20.c4 c6 21.dxc6 xc6 also with advantage. ] 20.c4 So, finally White got what he wanted, but his position is now really unstable. [ 20.e4 gives the important d4-square c6 21.dxc6 axc6 22.c4 xf3 23.gxf3 d4 and White's position is close to lost ] 20...c6 21.dxc6 xc6 [ 21...d5!? was active, but there is no reason for Black to avoid the game continuation 22.xd5 ( 22.xd5 xd5 23.xd5 e6 24.xe6 xe6 is also good for Black) 22...xd5 23.xd5 e6 24.c7 xd5 25.cxb8 xb8 26.d2 xg2 and with the Bishop pair for nothing, Black should be winning. ] 22.e4 [ 22.c3 a4! 23.xa4 ( 23.d5 xd5 24.xd5 d7-+ ) 23...f5 24.c3 b5 25.xb5 xb5 and White's position collapses ] 22...b5 23.b1 fc8 I don't like this plan so much. [ 23...xf3 was another way to proceed and it would be my preference 24.gxf3 d4 25.xd4 exd4 26.a2 fc8 27.he1 d5!? 28.exd5 d6 29.e4 f8 30.c1 f5 and White has little to do ] 24.a2 [ 24.c1 could exchange some pieces, but th e p o s it io n re m a in s goo d f o r B la ck d5 25.xd5 xc2+ 26.xc2 xc2 27.xc2 xd5 28.exd5 f5+ 29.d2 d8 and there is no way to defend the d5-pawn
30.b6 ( 30.d1 e4 31.g5 f6 32.h3 g4 33.e1 xd5+ ) 30...d6 31.c4 xd5+ 32.e2 d3+ and White is in trouble ] 24...e6 [ 24...b7 can give White some counterplay 25.d3 d5 26.xd5 and White releases the pressure with massive exchanges xd5 27.xd5 xd5 28.xd5 xf3 29.gxf3 c2 30.b4! axb4 31.b3 xf2 32.axb4 xf3+ 33.c4 and things are not so clear ] 25.c1 h6 [ 25...b7 26.d3 d5 27.exd5 e4 28.xe4 xd5 29.xg7 b4+ ] 26.g5 xc4 Now things become more unclear. [ 26...xg5 27.hxg5 e8 with the idea of 28...Nc6 keeps the advantage ] 27.xc4 e8 28.d3 f6?! After this move things are more or less ok for White. During half a move! [ 28...c6 is still possible, and after 29.c3 xc3+ ( 29...bd4 30.d5 g7 31.c3 W h it e is in t h e ga m e) 30.xc3 a4! White is still under pressure ] 29.f4? An original idea, but White is just lost after this move. [ 29.xc8 is quite decent and White is a l r e a d y o k xc8 ( 29...xc8 30.c4+! xc4 31.bxc4 fxg5 32.cxb5 xb5 33.c1 with a balanced endgame) 30.b6! b8 ( 30...fxg5 31.xc8 xc8 32.d5+ h7 33.a4 d4 34.c1 and White is already better ) 31.d5 and it is Black who needs to take care to not be worse ] 29...fxg5 30.hxg5 f8? This is still not losing, but complicates the position for no reason. [ 30...g7 is quite simple and I don't see h o w W h i t e ca n co n t i n u e t o a t t a c k 31.f5 ( 31.fxe5 xe5-+ ) 31...gxf5 32.exf5 e4 33.xe4 xb2 34.xb2 xc1 35.xc1 f7 and Black is winning ] [ 30...xc1 31.xc1 f8 32.f5 gxf5 33.exf5 f7 followed by 34...Qd5 and Black is a piece up ] 31.fxe5 dxe5 32.xe5 xc1 33.xc1 c8? This is already pleasant for White. [ 33...d8 was good and Black is still better 34.c4+ h7 35.e6 g8! and White can't increase the pressure ] 34.c5 c6 75
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 34...g7 Black needs this move to defend the position 35.xg7 xg7 36.a4 a7 37.e6+ g8 38.d4 f7 and somehow Black is holding ] 35.d7 xe5? Now Black is basically lost. [ 35...g7 was still possible and necessary, but White can at least take the piece back 36.xg7 xg7 37.f6 d8 38.xd8 xd8 39.xc6 d2+ 40.a1 xg2 but Black has counterplay because of the active rook and the h-pawn ] 36.d5+ f7 [ 36...g7 37.f6 f7 38.xc8 is also good enough for White ] 37.xf7+ 1-0
Morozevich, A (2731) -Karjakin, S (2777)/ Moscow 2014 (1-0 (33)), when Black could consider opening the position by exf3 ] 8.e2 0-0 [ 8...e6 9.d3 ( 9.0-0 ) 9...b4+! 10.c3 xc3+ 11.xc3 e7 12.0-0 0-0-0 with play on the two central files, Bromann, T (2385)-Jones, G (2624)/Reykjavik 2011, 0-1 (47), although White is fairly solid. ] 9.0-0 Now Black has a wide choice. b6 However, this is the first time for this move. Black plans to bring his light-square bishop to either b7 or a6. [ 9...e8 is sensible, 'over-protecting' the advanced e4-pawn, 10.f3 ( 10.d3 f5 11.g3 g6 Bromann, T (2395)Christensen, S (2290) Denmark 2013, 1-0 (56), 12.f4!? exf3 13.xf3 I like White here, 82 A01 e4 is co ming.) 10...exf3 11.xf3 e6 12.e1 e4 13.d3 h4 14.f1!? xc4 Jobava,Baadur 2713 15.bxc4 d2 16.xf7! e7 ( 16...xf1? Dukaczewski,Piotr 2288 17.xg7+ f8 18.xf1+ forces f6 Tromsoe ol (Men) 41st (2.1) 03.08.2014 19.xf6 xf6 20.xh7! with advantage.) [Kosten, Tony] 17.xe7 xe7 18.f4 f8 19.g4? ( 19.e5 ) 19...xe3+?! ( 19...f6! wins, as 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 20.xf6? xf6 attacks a1 and threatens 5.a3 e4 An ambitious alternative to the mate on f1.) 20.h1 f6 21.xf6 xf6 more popular moves 22.g3 Ivanchuk, V (2731)-Vachier Lagrave, [ 5...a5 and ] M (2745) Beijing 2013, 1/2-1/2 (68). ] [ 5...a6 ] [ 9...c5 is also positionally well-founded, 6.c4 Normal. 10.g3 g4 11.e1 e6 Jobava, B [ 6.e2 allows e5 exchanging dark square (2711)-Giri, A (2720) Beijing 2012, 0-1 (83), bishops, as in Jobava, B (2711)-Aronian, L when W hite should probably play his (2815)/Beijing Sportaccord blitz 2012, and thematic 12.f3 here, exf3 13.xf3 Nakamura, H (2786)-Jones, G)/5th Classic with the typical play down the f -file and GpC 2013 (4.2). ] strong centre. ] 6...e7 7.xc6 [ 9...g4 10.d3 d5!? 11.h3 h5 [ 7.f4?! is met by b4! threatening to win is more aggressive, 12.e1 ( 12.hxg4?! the bishop, 8.e5 0-0 9.a3 bd5 10.e2 xg4 13.e1? is met by h4! 14.f4 d6 forcing White's pieces to retreat, xf2+ 15.f1 h4 winning. ) 12...e6 K a rl s s o n , L ( 2 4 5 3 )- Na rc i so D u b la n , M 13.f4 f5 14.xe6 fxe6 15.e2 ad8 (2535)/ Montcada 2010, but 1-0 (55). ] 16.ad1 b4 17.f1 d5 18.a3 d6 7...dxc6 Black accepts 'Exchange Spanish' 19.dxe4?! ( White has repelled the early doubled c-pawns to free the bishop and use a t t a c k , a n d c o u l d n o w p l a y 19.f4 the open d-file. with advantage.) 19...xe4 20.d2?! g5 [ The more ambitious 7...bxc6 was preferred 21.h4?! xc2! 22.a1? f3+! 23.gxf3 by Karjakin this year, 8.e2 ( 8.d3 0-0 g6+ 24.h1 h5 25.c4 f4 9.e2 d5 10.d2 exd3 11.cxd3 c5 0-1 (25) Bromann, T (2413) -Ris, R (2407) with the bishop pair and more space in Copenhagen 2014. ] return for the doubled pawns, Ipatov, A (2613)-Karjakin, S (2771)/Dubai 2014, 0-1 10.a4 e8 [ 10...c5 would stop White's next. ] (31). ) 8...0-0 9.0-0 d5 10.e5 e8 11.f4 76
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.d4! Aiming at both c6 and f 5. d5 Defending both squares. [ 11...b7 12.f5 c5 was still possible, but maybe White could play 13.f3! anyway: exf3 14.xf3! xf3 15.xf3 with strong threats. ] 12.f3 exf3 13.xf3 xf3 14.xf3 c5 15.b5 [ 15.f5 is more natural, but White may have been put off by xf5 16.xf5 e4 17.af1 f6 18.d3 d6 19.xd6 xd6 although he still has some advantage after 20.e4 and g4. ] 15...d8? This is passive, and leads to the sort of endgame that any strong player would strive to avoid. [ 15...d5! kept the game interesting, 16.e4 a6 17.exd5 axb5 18.axb5 xa1+ 19.xa1 d7 regaining the pawn with equality. ] 16.xf6 Of course. gxf6 17.af1 a6 18.c3 b7 19.g3+ [ 19.f4 was stronger, with d3 and e4 as in the game. ] 19...h8 20.d3 e7 [ 20...f5!? was a good chance, the point being that 21.xf5 h4 wins the exchange, 22.xf7 ( 22.h3 c8 ) 22...xg3 23.hxg3 ac8 24.e4 White is better, but Black is still alive. ] 21.e4 Now the game is over, the white knights have nice outposts on the light squares and Black's pawns are terribly weak. g8 22.gf3 g6 23.e3 ag8 24.g3 d8 25.g2 There is absolutely no rush. h5 26.f5 [ 26.cd5! xd5 27.xd5 g7 28.e3 would also leave Black with a bad bishop to add to his other woes. ] 26...h6 27.cd5 gg6? [ 27...c8 28.5f3 h4 ] 28.f4 g5 29.h4 xf5 30.xf5 h7 Now the black rook is in a mess! 31.d5 [ 31.d1! and d4 would be difficult to counter. ] 31...g8 32.g4!? Creating a passed h-pawn, but making the black rook useful again. f8?! Black decides to leave his rook on the h-file and centralise his king. [ 32...hxg4 33.g3 h8 34.xg4 h7 was more natural, when White has quite a lot more work ahead of him. ] 33.g3 hxg4 34.h1 c6 35.de3 c7+ 36.xg4 c8 Black has managed to do
something with his bishop pair, but it won't save him. 37.h5 e6 38.h6 e5 39.f3 e8 40.g4 d7 41.xe5+ [ 41.g7 xe6 is also good. ] 41...fxe5 42.g7 e7 43.xe6 xe6 44.g4 The rook ending should always be w i n n i n g w i t h s u c h a c o n f i g u r a t i o n . f6 45.h5 h8 46.f1+ e6 47.f5 a5 48.c4 Forcing a sort of zugzwang. f6 [ 48...h7 49.g5 h8 50.f6+ e7 51.f5 wins lots of pawns. ] [ 48...g8 49.h7 g1 looks like it might defend, but then 50.f6+! e7 ( 50...xf6? 51.h8+ is check. ) 51.h6 forces h1+ 52.g5 f6+ 53.xf6 xh7 54.xc6 which is hopeless. ] 49.f1 f7 50.g1 h7 51.g3 If the rook retreats then Rg7+ wins, and if the king goes back then Kg6 wins. h8 52.g7+ e6 53.g6 1-0
83
A01 Jobava,Baadur 2711 Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar 2764 SportAccord Rapid Men 2012 (2.7) 14.12.2012 [John Bartholomew] Jobava opts for a strategically rich line with 3. Bxf6!? and dismantles his formidable opponent in a mere 25 moves! 1.b3 f6 Arguably the most f lexible answer to th e Nimzo-Larsen, and the third most popular re p ly o ve r a l l ( b e h i n d 1 . . . e 5 a n d 1 . . . d 5 , respectively). [ J o b a v a f a c e d t h e c o p y - c a t 1...b6 a couple times in Beijing. His game with Anish Giri proceeded 2.b2 b7 3.e3 ( 3.c3!? c6 4.d4 d5 5.e3 e6 6.d2 d7 7.0-0-0 0-0-0 8.b1 b8 (apparently Kamsky had resolved to take the copy-cat strategy to an extreme!) 9.f3 g6 10.ge2 g7 11.h4 h5 12.f4 ge7= 13.a3 hg8 14.ce2?! e5 15.h3 exd4 16.exd4 f5 and Black went on to win in Jobava, B (2711)-Kamsky, G (2762) Beijing CHN 2012. ) 3...e6 4.c3 c5 5.ge2 f6 6.d4 e7 7.d2 0-0 8.0-0-0 c6?! 9.d5! exd5 10.xd5 xd5 11.xd5 f6 12.c3 b8 13.f5 d8 14.d3 f8 15.xh7 77
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and our hero prevailed in Jobava, B (2711)Giri, A (2720) Beijing CHN 2012. ] [ I ' v e n e v e r b e e n a b i g f a n o f 1...d5 (perhaps I've seen too many classic Nim z o wi t s c h -s t yl e e xp l o it a t i o n s o f t h e weakened d4 and e5 squares!), but it's certainly viable. Jobava faced this as well. 2.e3 f6 3.b2 and now: A) 3...c6 4.f4 f5 5.f3 bd7 6.h3 h6 7.c3 e6 8.g4 h7 9.g2 d6 10.d3 0-0 11.d2 e5 12.0-0-0 d4?! ( 12...exf4! 13.exf4 c7 14.e2 a5 ) 13.exd4 exf4 14.g5 hxg5 15.xg5 Jobava, B (2710) Ma Qun (2534) Fujairah City UAE 2012; B) 3...g4!? 4.f3 f5 5.g4!? (here comes the pawn roller) g6 6.h4 h5?! ( 6...h6! ) 7.g5 g8 8.e2 e6 9.f4 f5 10.c3 e7 11.ce2 d6 12.g3 d4 ( this seems risky Black should probably just continue developing, e.g. 12...bc6 ) 13.fe2 dxe3 14.dxe3 g6 15.xd6 cxd6 16.0-0-0 bc6 17.e4 0-0-0?! 18.f4! Jobava, B (2710) -Yu Ruiyuan (2538) Fujairah City UAE 2012; C) 3...g6 4.c4 g7 5.cxd5 0-0 6.f3 xd5 7.e2 c5 8.0-0 c6 9.d3 (W hite is happy to adopt a Hedgehog setup) b6 10.bd2 b7 11.a3 ad8 12.b1!? a5 13.c4 d7? 14.e4! h5 15.xg7 xg7 16.b2+ g8 17.fe5 h4 18.xd7 xd7 19.xb6 J o b a v a , B ( 2 7 1 1 ) - K a m s k y, G ( 2 7 6 2 ) Beijing CHN 2012 ] 2.b2 g6 3.xf6!? A Trompowsky-style approach to the position. White spoils Black's structure and aims to fight for the central light squares with c2-c4, Nb1-c3, g2-g3, Bf1-g2, e2e3, Ng1-e2, etc. Ideally he'll combine this scheme with an eventual pawn storm on the queenside. [ The opponents met in the blitz with the s a m e c o l o rs . T h e re Jo b a va t rie d 3.c3 , but after d5 4.d4 g7 5.e3 c5! 6.d2 c6 7.0-0-0 cxd4 8.exd4 0-0 9.f3 h5!? 10.b1 f5 11.a3 c8 Black had achieved a comfortable position. Jobava, B (2711)Mamedyarov, S (2764) Beijing CHN 2012. ] [ White has a number of other development schemes, e.g. 3.e4 ] [ 3.e3 , ] [ 3.f3 , ]
[ 3.g3 , etc. ] 3...exf6 4.c4 g7 [ Wang Hao had a unique take with 4...d5!? , opening the center before White can clamp down on d5. Following 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c3 d8 7.g3 g7 8.g2 0-0 9.e3 c6 10.ge2 f5 11.0-0 d7 12.d4 a5 13.a3 e8 the play was dynamically balanced in Jobava, B (2711)-Wang Hao (2737) Beijing CHN 2012. ] 5.c3 [ No small wonder this line attracted the attention of the Trompowsky "Godfather", Julian Hodgson: 5.g3 f5 6.c3 d6 7.g2 d7 8.c1 f6 9.d3!? 0-0 10.f3 d7 11.b4 (White's play is reminiscent of the English) a6 12.0-0 e8 13.a4 and White won a superb positional game in Hodgson, J (2575)-Hall, J (2485) Harplinge 1998/[JR]. ] 5...f5 [ Typical play for this line is 5...0-0 6.g3 f5 7.g2 e8 8.e3 d6 9.ge2 d7 10.d4 f6 11.0-0 g5 12.b4 , as in Mellado Trivino, J (242 6)-Va lle jo Po ns, F (2 674 ) Calvia 2005/[González, JW ]. Readers looking to familiarize themselves with this structure should definitely check the notes to this game. ] 6.c1 0-0 7.g3 e8 8.g2 f4?! Black seizes the chance to offload his doubled f-pawn, but this is not without risk. [ More normal is something like 8...d6 9.e3 d7 10.ge2 b8 11.0-0 f6 . Now 12.h4?! (I would be hesitant to play this if Black had not yet committed to ...h7-h5) h6 13.f4 c6 14.d3 was Orlova, Y (1961)-Pina Vega, S (2332) Mexico City MEX 2012, when g5 15.hxg5 hxg5 16.h3 g4 looks good for Black. White should play 12. d 4 o r e ve n 1 2 . d 3 i n p re p a r a t io n f o r a queenside assault ala Hodgson-Hall. ] [ Another example: 8...c6 9.e3 d6 10.ge2 d7 11.0-0 f6 12.b4 e6 13.b5 c7 14.d3 ac8 15.a4 d7 16.b1 h5 17.b3 h4 18.fb1 Barkhagen, J (2430) Holm, M (2315) Stockholm 1994. ] 9.gxf4 h4 10.f1! xc3 An unfortunate necessity if Black wants to regain the pawn. [ The problem is that 10...xf4? 11.d5 is already decisive, as Black cannot defend c7: d6 ( or 11...e5 12.d4 ) 12.c5+- . ] 78
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.xc3 Conveniently, White has managed to lif t h i s ro o k b y m o ve 1 1 ! xf4 12.h4! Black's king is vulnerable and his queenside lies dormant, so Jobava decides it's time to strike. d6 [ Nor does 12...h5 13.h3 d4 14.g3 promise an easy life. ] 13.h5 c6 14.h3 d4 [ 14...f6!? ] 15.e3 f6 16.f4 e7 17.f3 g5? A serious loss of time. [ Black must hasten to exchange queens: 17...g5! 18.d5 xd5 19.cxd5 ( 19.xd5 c6 20.f3 f5 ) 19...xf3 20.xf3 e7 with a worse but defensible position, e.g. 21.g2 f5 22.hc1 c8 23.g3 . ] 18.h3 c6? This doesn't help either. 19.hxg6 hxg6 20.xc8 axc8 21.h5! f5 Unfortunately for Mamedyarov, this was the o n l y m o v e . 22.d3! Black's position is collapsing. f7 Other tries fail: [ 22...d5 23.g1 h4 ( 23...h6 24.f6++- ) 24.d4! h2 25.f4+and Black is unable to pary the monster t h r e a t s o f R g 1 - h 1 o r N f 4 xg 6 , e . g . h6 26.xg6! xg6 27.xf5+- . ] [ 22...cd8 23.g1 h4 24.d4 h2 25.f4 is virtually the same ] [ 22...ed8 is the best try, but 23.g1 h6 24.f4 g5 25.e4!+- shreds Black's position beyond repair. ] 23.f4 cd8 24.h7+ f6 25.d1!! A beautifully timed retreat! Black resigned in view of the irresistible threat of 26.Qa1+. Should he interpose his rook (i.e. 25...Ng8 26. Qa1+ Re5), then 27. Nh3 followed by 28.f4 decides. Bravo, Baadur! 1-0
84 Juan Vallejo Pons,Francisco Calvia II op (2) [Gonzalez, JW]
A01 2426 2674 22.10.2005
Julio Alberto GonzÃ!lez writes: "I am a ChessPublishing subscriber. I write f rom Argentina. I attach a game commented in Spanish (you excuse me for not understanding the English language very well).
I think that it is an interesting game with the Nimzo-Larsen Attack." I've put in selected and severely abbreviated notes of Julio's. This involves a translation f rom the Spanish forgive me if I've introduced errors but I think the gist of it is there. 1.b3 f6 2.b2 g6 3.xf6!? Giving a type of Nimzo-Larsen Attack. It tries to interfere with Black's development. Just when the f8 bishop was about to contest the long diagonal W hite ch a n g e s p l a n s a n d f o c u s e s o n t h e l ig h t squares via c2-c4, Nc3 Bg2, and eventually the advance of the queenside pawns. exf6 4.c4 g7 After the game in the post-mortem, V a lle jo h a d d o u b t s a b o u t t h is m o ve a n d suggested the immediate [ 4...h5?! which has not appeared in the databases. This commentator has his doubts about that. If Black wants to play ] [ 4...d5 at this point, an example is 5.cxd5 ( 5.e3!? ) 5...xd5 6.c3 A) 6...a5 7.a3 c5 8.c1!? . JW Note: This isn't very convincing after c6 9.e3 ( 9.e4 e7 10.b2 0-0 ) 9...e6 10.c2 0-0-0!? or 10...Bd6; B) 6...d8 7.g3 f5 8.g2 g7 9.c1 c6 10.h3 0-0 11.f4 d7 12.d4 with initiative, Lovric-Turci, Montecatini Terme 1999. JW : this isn't much but I'd indeed rather be White. ] 5.c3 0-0 6.g3 [ 6.c1!? deserves attention, defending the knight against possible counterplay: f5 7.g3 d6 8.g2 c6 9.e3 d7 ( 9...a6!? 10.ge2 b5 11.0-0 e6 Martinez-Perelshteyn, Catonsville 2000) 10.ge2 e8 11.0-0 reaching a ion in which Black has experimented with various moves: 11...a5, 11...Nf6 and 11...h5!?. ] 6...f5 7.g2 [ Undoubtedly 7.Rc1!? again deserved attention. 7.c1!? ] 7...e8 8.e3 [ 8.h3 was looked at in the post-mortem. ] 8...d6 [ Black could use the counter-method 8...xc3!? (to avoid the suggested Rc1) 9.dxc3 d6 10.e2 d7 11.0-0 a5 12.c2 a4 13.fd1 e7 14.f4 c6 A.Segal-U. Andersson, Sao Caietano 1999 ] 9.ge2 d7 10.d4?! Al Nimzo-Larsen 79
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 player might disagree with this return to a classical central scheme. Perhaps it's a a matter of taste. [ 10.0-0 c6 11.c1!? ] 10...f6 11.0-0 g5!? An ambitious decision. [ Mellado hoped for 11...e4 12.d3 xc3 13.xc3 followed by b4-b5 with good play for White. ] 12.b4 b8?! [ Mellado thought that it was better to play 12...d7 13.b5 ( 13.xb7 b8 14.g2 xb4 ) 13...c6 ] 13.b5 d7 14.d3 [ Maybe directly 14.a4!? ] 14...h5 15.a4 JW: this is the end of the opening so I'll just give the moves from here on out. Note that the above are truncated co m m e n t s b a s e d u p o n Ja vie r G o n za le z' extensive notes. h8!? 16.a5 h4 17.a6 b6 18.gxh4 [ 18.d5 ] 18...gxh4 19.f4 [ 19.h1!? ] 19...h6 20.h1 g8 21.g1 [ 21.fd5! f4 ( 21...xd5 22.xd5 ) 22.xf4 xf4 23.exf4 g6 24.g1 ] 21...xf4! 22.exf4 g6 23.d5 xd5 24.xd5 e7!? [ 24...f6 25.xg6 ( 25.f3!?; 25.ae1!? ) 25...fxg6 26.e1 ] 25.g5?! [ 25.ae1! bg8! 26.f3! f6 27.h5+ g7 28.xg6+ fxg6 29.g5! ] 25...xg5 26.fxg5 xg5 27.g1 h5! 28.e3 g8! [ 28...e8? 29.f4 ] 29.e7?? [ 29.xg8+ xg8 30.f3 ] 29...xg1+ 30.xg1 d1+ 31.g2 h3+ 0-1
threatening one if flipping the colours, the idea employed by Black in our main game, would be no threat against the Pirc/Modern. Obviously, with a tempo less, it is even less dangerous. There are two main alternatives: A) 5...c5 A) 6.d2?! xf2+ ( 6...g4!? 7.e3 xe3 8.fxe3 xe3 9.e2 xc2+ 10.d1 xa1 11.xe5 0-0 12.xa1 e8 ) 7.xf2 g4+ 8.e1 e3 9.c1 xg2+ 10.f2 h4 11.gxh4 xh4+ Ca sas, E -Rod rigu e z, I/ Bu e n os Aire s 1975; B) 6.e3 g4 ( 6...d4!? 7.e4 a5 8.a3 h5 9.h4 e7 10.d2 g4 11.gf3 a6 Bezold, M-Aagaard, J/Budapest 2003) 7.c1 0-0 8.a3 a5 9.h3 e6 10.d2 d7 11.e2 b6 Castro Rojas, OGipslis, A/Budapest 1977; C) 6.f3 0-0 7.0-0 ( 7.xe5 xf2+ 8.xf2 xe5 9.h3 e8 10.f1 xh3 11.xh3 eg4+ 12.xg4 xg4+ 13.g1 e3 14.c1 xf1 15.xf1 was played in Craveta, C-Hervas, F/IECG Email 1998, and now Black's best seems to be e7 16.e1 f5; 7.d4 exd4 8.xd4 xd4 9.xd4 e7 10.xc5 xc5 Zimmermann, J-Kund, W/ICCF Email 2001) 7...e8 ( Black has a couple of alternatives at this point: 7...e7!? 8.a3 e4 9.dxe4 dxe4 10.d4 , Lovati, PSbarra, M/ Bratto 1998, and now xd4 11.xd4 d8 12.e3 xd4 13.exd4 c5 14.c3 f5; and 7...e4!? 8.dxe4 dxe4 9.xd8 xd8 10.fd2 e3 , Zimmermann, J-Korosec, S/ICCF Email 2001, and now 11.xf6 gxf6 12.e4 exf2+ 13.h1 b6 14.a3 e5 ) 8.c3 b6 9.a3 g4 10.h3 h5 11.h4 e4 12.e1 d7 Flesch, J-Szekely, M/Budapest 1969 ] [ B) 5...d6!? 6.c3 ( 6.d2 0-0 7.e4 g4 8.e2 dxe4 9.dxe4 e7 10.h3 xe2 85 A01 11.xe2 a3 12.xa3 xa3 Keskinen, S-Lehtivaara, P/Finland Team Ch 2002) Kamsky,Gata 2714 6...d4 7.b1 0-0 8.f3 e6 9.0-0 d7 Ponomariov,Ruslan 2705 10.e1 fe8 11.c3 dxc3 12.xc3 h3 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (36) 22.11.2007 13.h1 h6 14.c1 ad8= Vajda, A-Tincu, [Carsten Hansen] R/Tusnad 1997 ] 1.g3 d5 2.g2 f6 3.b3 e5 4.b2 c6 6.h3 [ 6.f3!? ] 5.d3 h5?! [ A novelty, but not really a particularly 6...b4+ 80
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 6...c5!? 7.f3 e7 ] 7.d2 e6 8.a3 d6 9.e3 [ White's set-up looks like something you would see in games between much lower rated players, but it is quite flexible and not entirely bad as Kamsky soon will demonstrate. An alternative is 9.gf3 d7 10.c4!? ] 9...e7 10.b4 0-0-0 11.b5 b8 12.a4 bd7 13.gf3 b8 [ 13...e4 14.d4 is fine for White ] 14.a5 c8 15.a6 b6 16.g5 c6 [ 16...c5 17.xe6 fxe6 ( 17...xe6 18.0-0 e8 19.f3 is pleasant for White) 18.d4 cd7 19.c4 exd4 20.xd4 ] 17.xe6 [ 17.bxc6 xc6 18.0-0 cc8 19.c4!? ] 17...fxe6 18.bxc6 xc6 19.0-0 c7 20.c4 hc8 21.e2 [ 21.f4!? ] 21...b4 [ 21...g5!? ] [ 21...e4!? ] 22.fc1 d6 [ 22...g5!? 23.f3 e4 24.dxe4 dxc4 ] 23.f3 e4?! [ 23...h7!? ] 24.dxe4 dxe4 25.d4 e7 26.b5 c6 27.c2 e5 28.a4 c5? [ This more or less stops Black's counterplay by blocking the open c-file. Instead 28...d6 p r o v i d e s B l a c k wi t h b e t t e r c h a n c e s o f obtaining sufficient counterplay, e.g. 29.d2 c5 30.a1 e6 31.ad1 c7 , and Black is still in the game, for instance: 32.d4 exd4 33.exd4 e3 34.fxe3 ce4 35.d5 d6 36.dxc6 xg3 , and now Black is actually better ] 29.c3 6c7 30.xe4 xe4 31.xe4 f6 32.g2 e4 33.xf6 gxf6 34.xh5 d7 35.a1 cd8 [ 35...e6 36.h6 e8 37.b1 f8 38.h5 f5 39.c5 c8 40.c6+- ] 36.f5 e8 37.cc1!? [ 37.xe4! ] 37...e6 38.xe6 xe6 39.d1 c7 40.xd7+ xd7 41.d1+ c6 42.g4 b5 43.cxb5+ xb5 44.f1+ b4 45.b1+ c3 46.c1+ b4 47.c4+ 1-0
86 Karayannis,Athanasios Banikas,Hristos 56th ch Salonica GRE (8) [John Watson]
A01 2361 2568 04.12.2006
More original chess is stemming from the variation in this game that any other 1.b3 line. The highest-rated players seem to be treating it as a main line just two years ago it was only a 'surprise' opening with great shock value. 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 5.a3 The idea is to play Nc4 and make the bishop on d6 look foolish. [ 5.e2 has also been played. but commits White's bishop to exchange on c6 after a6 6.xc6 dxc6 . Compare the lines below. ] 5...a5!? Now an established move, this stops Nc4 and clears the way to drive White's bish o p a wa y b y . . . c6 . B u t 5 . . .a 6 is a ls o possible, as in this month's game BarnaureGrunberg. 6.c4!? An interesting new try. [ We've seen 6.f3 a6 7.e2 on this site, with e4!? and 7...Qe7. ] [ The line 6.e2 a6 (versus Nb5) 7 c4 and 7 Nf3 have also been analysed. White hasn't really gained anything special in all these lines, but they have all yielded f ighting ideas for both sides. ] 6...xc4 7.xc4 c6 8.f3 e7 White seems to be losing the centre.. Black threatens ... Bc7 and . ..d5, while ...e4 can also be a strong move. So he should move fast. 9.d4?! [ 9.h4! g6 10.f4 exf4 11.0-0 goes for the initiative, with unclear prospects. ] 9...e4 10.e5 Probably best, but the knight lacks good retreat squares and has to be handled carefully. 0-0 11.a4 [ 11.0-0 c7 12.e2 d6 13.c4 b5 14.d2 d5 obviously favours Black, who has the centre and attacking prospects. ] 11...c7 Now 12...d6 is threatened, winning a piece! So White prepares a retreat square. 12.h3 d6 [ 12...h5?? 13.g6 ] 13.g4 d7 14.f4!? White wants to secure f2 for his knight this is too ambitious. Better is [ 14.0-0 , although h5 15.h2 d5 16.e2 g5! launches a serious attack. ] 14...h4+ 15.f1 81
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 15.f2? g3 hits g2 and e3. ] 15...b6! 16.e1?! [ 16.e2 f5 17.f2 g3 18.d2 f6 keeps the attack going. ] 16...xe1+ 17.xe1 xc4 18.bxc4 e6 19.c5 Forced, if White is not to lose material. But structura lly, it dooms his po sition . f5 20.f2 dxc5 21.dxc5 fd8 Two bishop s, central control, and W hite's weak pawns make success very likely f or Black in the position. The rest is easy to understand. 22.d1 a5+ 23.f1 xd1+ 24.xd1 d8 25.d4 b6 26.f2 [ 26.cxb6 c5 ] 26...bxc5 27.xc5 d2+ 28.g3 a6! Black is in no hurry, and saves his a-pawn before picking up material. 29.f2 xc2 30.d4 c5 31.e5 e2! 32.b1 e1 33.b8+ f7 34.b7+ e8 35.d6 xf2+ 36.h2 d7 0-1
87 Kovacevic,Blazimir Marzolo,Cyril 6th EICC Warsaw POL (6) [John Watson]
A01 2510 2388 23.06.2005
It's silly to call the variation in this game the 'Ma in L in e ' o f 1 . b 3 , b u t B la ck 's se t u p i s certainly popular! So nice to see professional players having some fun. I'll try to incorporate as much theory as I can of what Tony has already laid out on this site. 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6!? This has been all the rage versus 1.b3. 5.a3 Heading for c 4 t o e m b a r r a s s t h e b i s h o p . a5! We've seen this before. White really only has one idea so far, and Black prevents it at all positional cost! 6.e2 [ The main alternative has been 6.f3 a6 7.e2 e7 8.b1 Rather than acquiesce to exchanging the a5-knight. ( 8.c4 xc4 9.xc4 b5 10.e2 b7 or 10...0-0 looks fine: Black has space and actively-placed pieces. ) 8...0-0 9.c4 ( 9.h4 threatens Nf5. It is consistent to put yet another knight on the side of the board, and perhaps e6 10.g4 b5 11.g1 with the i dea of g5 (and perhaps Bg4) would complete the insanity.
This time W hite's position is a bit hard to believe in.) 9...b6 10.c3 b7 11.0-0 fe8 12.d3 a3 13.c1 xb2 1/2-1/2 Hodgson-Speelman, Birmingham 1998. ] 6...a6 Versus Nb5, and thus 'threatening' ... Qe7. 7.c4 The games that Tony cites as options are still relevant (one might also want to look at Jeroen Bosch's SOS volumes), e.g., : [ 7.f3 e4!? ( 7...e7 8.c1 b5 9.c4 bxc4 10.xc4 xc4 11.xc4 a5 'with counterplay' (Kosten), MureySveshnikov/USSR, 1975.) 8.d4 g6 9.c4 0-0 10.b1!? ( TK: 10.0-0!? e7 11.b1? e5! 12.g3 c5 13.f4 exf3 14.xf3 e4 ) 10...e8 11.c3 e5! ] 7...0-0 [ 7...c5 has also been played ] 8.c2 e8 9.d3 f8 10.f3 c6 [ 10...e4 11.dxe4 xe4 12.0-0 gives White a standard English Opening advantage, and Black's a5 serves no purpose. ] 11.e4 White's d4 is almost always met by ...e4, so he looks for an alternative plan. Now Ne3d5 is a possibility. b5 12.0-0 bxc4 13.bxc4 c5 14.d2 d6 15.b3 a7 Since Nxc5 wa s n ' t r e a l l y a t h r e a t , B l a c k c o u l d a l s o consider [ 15...a5 ] 16.c3 e7 17.e3 d7 18.d2 g6 19.fe1 f4 20.f1 g4 Neither side is doing much but at least Black has kingside ideas like ...Qg5/h4 and ...Re6-g6. Thus he should consider [ 20...6h5 ] 21.xg4 xg4 22.d4 c5?! [ 22...g5 ] 23.d5 d7 [ 23...g5 ] 24.c1 b6 [ 24...h4 Black now has a bad bishop on a7 and no attack. Still, it's hard for White to undertake anything. ] 25.d3 xd3 26.xd3 h4 27.g3 g4 28.f4 exf4 29.xf4 c7 30.ab1 ab8 31.b3 f6 32.a3 a5 33.b3 xb3 34.axb3 xf4 35.gxf4 b8 36.c2 f7 37.f2 g6 38.f3 This must have been a time forfeit, or the result was really a draw. 1-0 82
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 88 Larsen,Bent Andersson,Ulf Teeside (10) [Jonathan Rowson]
A01 2660 2535 1972
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 [ 4.c4!? is also perfectly playable. ] 4...d6 [ 4...d6!? now seems to be critical here, Black intends 0-0, Re8, Bf8 and d5 or ...e4 followed by Be5. Although there is now plenty of scope for creativity, no clear path to an advantage has been found for White. One idea that appealed to me was 5.a3 ( 5.e2 0-0 6.0-0 e8 7.g3 a6 8.xc6 dxc6 9.d3 is about level, but might appeal to certain players who like to play the Rossolimo anti-Sicilian or the exchange Ruy Lopez. Personally I would tend to prefer W hite in such positions, because I can look forward to playing f4 in the long term, while with Black I am less sure about what I should be trying to do, if anything.) 5...a5 I know, it's all a bit weird, but it has been seen several times before and does make some sense- it's all about the e5 pawn. 6.e2 a6 7.c4!? xc4 8.bxc4 e7 The structural change is not obviously bad for White, and Black's piece still look odd, so I feel White might have some chances to be b e t t e r h e r e . 9.a4?! looks too slow- white s o o n s u f f e r s f o r l a c k o f d e ve l o p m e n t . ( 9.h3!? 0-0 10.0-0 intending f4.; 9.f3 e4 10.d4 g6 11.g4!? food for thought.) 9...0-0 10.h3 c5 11.f4? xe3 12.xe5 a7 13.f2 d6 14.b2 e8 15.d4 g4 0-1 Sakaev, K (2540) -Sveshnikov, E (2525)/ Gausdal 1992 ] 5.f3 [ I include the following game to show another polished positional win with 1.b3. Once again, W hite gained no theoretical advantage, but he did gain some strategic imbalance, and this was enough to demonstrate his relative strength. 5.e2 g6 6.d4 g7 7.dxe5 d7 8.xc6 bxc6 9.f4 dxe5 10.0-0 0-0 11.g3 f5 12.d2 e7 13.e2 b6 14.f3 exf4 15.xg7 xg7 16.exf4 xe2 17.xe2 c5 18.c4 b7 19.e5 fd8 20.ad1 d6 21.c3 ad8
22.fe1 f6 23.f2 a6 24.g3 xd1 25.xd1 xd1 26.xd1 e6 27.e3 d7 28.xd7 xd7 29.f2 g2 30.d3 d6 31.e5 e4 32.d2 e6 33.h4 e7 34.c3 a5 35.b2 d6 36.f7+ e7 37.g5 h6 38.h3 c6 39.f2 d6 40.d3 e8 41.a3 d7 42.b2 e8 43.c3 d7 44.d2 e8 45.e3 c6 46.e5 e8 47.g4 fxg4 48.xg4 h5 49.e5 e6 50.e4 a4 51.bxa4 xa4 52.f5+ gxf5+ 53.f4 c2 54.f3 d6 55.d2 e6 56.f1 d6 57.e3 b1 58.a3 c6 59.xf5 b6 60.e3 a5 61.g5 a4 62.xh5 xa3 63.g5 h7 64.h5 b3 65.h6 e4 66.g7 c3 67.h6 d4 68.f1 c2 69.d2 e5 70.b3 d6 71.f6 h7 72.d2 1-0 Hodgson, J (2590)-Van der Sterren, P (2555)/Germany 1998 ] 5...d7 6.0-0 e7 7.e2!? A noteworthy idea. On the one hand this move simply loses a tempo, but because the bishop was on b5 Bla ck d e ve lo p ed h is p ie ce s t o re la t ive ly passive squares, so although the tempo was 'lost' it was not entirely 'wasted'. 0-0 8.c4 e8 9.c3 f8 10.d3 h6 11.a3 a5 12.d2 e7 13.de4 g6 14.xf6+ xf6 15.g4! I love the simplicity of Larsen's play. Now he has a pleasant initiative on the light squares. xg4 16.xg4 c6 17.ac1 ad8 18.fd1 e6 19.h3 e7 20.g3 d7 21.e4 e7 22.h1 f8 23.f1 h5? An unprovoked error? Well not exactly provoked, but some p l a ye r s f in d i t e xcr u c i a t i n g ly d if f i c u l t t o manoeuvre indefinitely. That said, I would not have though Ulf Andersson was one of them, so this move must simply have been based on an oversight. 24.xh5 h8 [ 24...f4 25.gxf4 h6 26.f5 My best guess is that Black missed this move when deciding to play ...h5. ] 25.g4! f5 26.exf5 h6 27.d1 xf5 28.xf5 xf5 29.g2 g6 30.e3 fh5 31.g4 h8 32.h1 f6 33.c3 b6 34.b4 axb4 35.axb4 f7 36.a1 b8 37.a7+ e7 38.e1 hh8 39.d4 a8 40.b7 hb8 41.xb8 xb8 42.dxe5 dxe5 43.xe5 a8 44.xf6 gxf6 45.h6+ 1-0
83
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 89 Larsen,Bent Cafferty,Bernard Teeside (14) [Jonathan Rowson]
A01 2660 2440 1972
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 d5 4.b5 d6 5.c4!? I like this move, but only when it is tied to the noteworthy follow-up. [ 5.f4!? would be the first choice of most players, but it would appear that after f6 White has no advantage and might even be in danger of being worse. Ilya Odessky seems to admit as much in his recent book. A) 6.fxe5 fxe5 7.xc6+ bxc6 8.xe5 h4+! 9.g3 e4; B) 6.f3 e4 ( 6...exf4!? ) 7.d4 ge7; C) 6.h5+ g6 7.h4 exf4 8.exf4 f7!? Black threatens ...Nce7-f5. 9.xc6 bxc6 10.e2 is just about playable, but White's play does not convince, for instance after t h e s i m p l e e7 intending Qe4, White's position does not add up.; D) 6.h3!? ge7 7.fxe5 fxe5 8.0-0 f5! is comfortable for Black. ] 5...dxc4 6.f3! A significant detail. White forces Black to slightly misplace his pieces before recapturing on c4. [ 6.xc4 f6 is easier for Black. ] [ 6.bxc4 is playable, but looks odd, partly because now that the queenside is open, Bxc6 doesn't feel like a positional threat. ] 6...ge7 [ 6...e7!? 7.xc6+ bxc6 8.c1!? f6 ( 8...a6 9.a3 seems to work.) 9.xc4 0-0 And I don't think White is actually better, but the position is strategically rich, and Black will have to play well to show the dynamic compensation for his damaged structure. ] 7.xc4! And now the knight on e7 is badly placed and W hite has chances of retaining some initiative. f5 8.c3 h4 9.g3 xf3+ 10.xf3 0-0 11.h4!? Larsen became famous f o r p u s h i n g h i s r o o k ' s p a wn s , o f t e n f o r mysterious reasons, but I noticed that very often they provoked anti-positional reactions, as was the case here. e6?! 12.xe6 fxe6 13.e2 f6 14.e4 f5 15.d3 White has control. ad8 16.g4 f7 17.a3 e7 18.0-0-0 d6 19.b1 e7 20.a2 a5
21.h5 d7 22.h6 g6 23.d4 exd4 24.xd4 e5 25.b2 b5 26.a1 b8 27.d5 e7 28.d3 e6 29.hd1 b6 30.g5 c8 31.f4 c6 32.g2 e7 33.fxe5 c5 34.d7 xe3 35.xe7 xg5 36.g7+ h8 37.e6 1-0
90 Larsen,Bent Eley,Brian Hastings [Nigel Davies]
A01
1972
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6?! B l a c k p l a ys a m o ve t h a t l o o k s s e n s i b l e enough but it proves to be rather too passive. [ B l a c k ' s b e s t l i n e i s p r o b a b l y 4...d6 which featured in a couple of games from last month's update. The treatment I most like d f o r W h it e wa s u se d in V a iss e r, A (2515) -Gozzoli, Y (2520)/Belfort FRA 2010, which went 5.e2 a6 6.xc6 dxc6 7.d3 e7 8.e4 d7 9.0-0 0-0 10.d2 c5 11.f4 g4 12.f5 with slightly the better game for White. ] 5.e2 d7 6.0-0 e7 7.f4! e4 [ 7...exf4 8.xf4 would also be far from pleasant for Black with White having such active pieces. ] 8.g3 0-0 9.xc6 bxc6 [ 9...xc6 10.f5 d7 11.xe7+ xe7 would also be very nice for White because of his powerful bishop on b2. Though this migh t h a ve b e e n b et t e r t h a n t h e ga m e because Black would at least have simplified the position a little. ] 10.c4 d5 11.c3 e8 12.c1 g4 13.ce2 d7 Clearly intending to challenge the bishop on b2 with 14...Bf6 but this bishop is also needed to defend Black's weaknesses on the c-file. [ 13...a5 looks like a better move, trying to generate some counterplay on the a- or bfiles. ] 14.h3 xe2 15.xe2 c5? After this White generates a dangerous kingside attack. [ 15...f6 would also have left Black in trouble after 16.xf6 xf6 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.f5 d7 19.d4 intending to double 84
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 4...e4 5.d4 c5 Black simply gets-on with his development. 6.xc6 dxc6! This is the most direct, the c8-bishop is freed. 7.e3 f5 Overprotection! 8.c2 e7 9.e2 0-0-0 The black rook goes straight to the open file. 10.f4? White wants to target the e4-pawn, by playing 11 Bxf6, and then Nc3, but [ 10.c3 and 0-0-0, is sounder. ] 10...g4! Avoiding the threat, Black is fully mobilised, and starts to attack. 11.g3 h5 Simple, and effective! 12.h3 Hoping to drive the annoying knight away. h4! But Black is h a v i n g n o n e o f i t ! 13.hxg4 hxg3 Black's piece sacrifice served to open up the hfile, and get at the white king, who is almost devoid of defenders. 14.g1 The only move, bu t it is t o o lat e . h1!! Black sacrifices a whole rook for one tempo! 91 A01 [ 14...h4 is also good, as 15.g2 xg4 is winning for Black, but the played move is Larsen,Bent far prettier. ] Spassky,Boris V Belgrade 1970 15.xh1 g2 16.f1 Hopeless, of course, but [ 16.g1 is no better: h4+ 17.d1 and [Tony Kosten] h1 is the point. ] 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 The most natural move 16...h4+ This forces mate. 17.d1 gxf1+ for defending the e5-pawn. 3.c4 White aims 0-1 for a reversed Sicilian position. f6 4.f3!? A risky move, played in the style of Alekhine's A01 Defence, Black invites the advance of the e5- 92 Liascovich,Lucas 2432 pawn, and consequent opening of the b2Tristan,Leonardo 2288 bishop's diagonal. ch-ARG s/f Buenos Aires ARG (3) 23.03.2006 [ 4.e3 is sounder. A) 4...e7 5.a3 0-0 6.d3 d5 7.cxd5 [Tony Kosten] xd5!? ( 7...xd5 is more normal.) 8.c3 d6 9.f3 f5 10.c2 also leads to a 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 d5 4.b5 d6 typical Sicilian-style position, with chances 5.f4 f6 A solid choice, and maybe strongest, I for both sides, Fischer,R-Tukmakov,V/ had only previously looked at [ 5...h4+ and ] Buenos Aires 1970.; [ 5...e7!? ] B) 4...d5 5.cxd5 xd5 playing these 'Sicilian' positions with Black is often the 6.fxe5 fxe5 7.xc6+ bxc6 8.f3! [ 8.xe5? is a blunder, h4+ ( 8...xe5? simplest way to equalise in these 9.h5+ ) 9.g3 e4 10.xg7 openings. 6.a3 d6 7.c2 to control e4. A) 10...g4 11.c3 ( 11.d3 g6 0-0 8.f3 e7 9.c3 ( 9.d3!? 12.xh8 xd1 13.xd1 should favour is interesting, h8 10.e4 and now, Black ) 11...g6 ( 11...xh1?! 12.xg4 rather than b6?! 11.xc6 bxc6 12.d3 xg1+ 13.e2 xa1 14.xd5 ) 12.xh8 with the superior structure, Petrosian,Txd1 13.xd1?! e7 and Black won in Balashov,Y/USSR 1978, 10...Be6 is fine.) Alexandrou, A-Hadjiyiannis, C/Cyprus 9...xc3 10.xc3 f5!? 11.b5 e4 1992.; 12.xc6 bxc6 13.e5 c5 threatening ... B) 10...xh1! 11.h5+ d8 ( 11...e7! Ba6, with unclear play, Larsen,B-Spassky, looks winning to me, 12.f1 f6 13.h4 B/Leiden 1970. ] rooks on the c-file. ] [ T h e b e s t w a s t h e r a d i c a l 15...g6 , taking away the f7 square from W hite's knight. ] 16.g4 g6 [ The knight on c5 is the problem after both 16...f6 17.xf6 xf6 18.cxd5 ] [ and 16...f8 17.xg7 xg7 18.cxd5 . ] 17.f5! d3 [ Or if 17...f8 there is 18.fxg6 hxg6 ( 18...fxg6 is met by 19.f5 f6 20.xf6 xf6 21.cxd5 ) 19.f5! d3 20.xe7+ xe7 21.f6 etc. ] 18.fxg6 hxg6 19.xf7! Tearing down the barricades... xf7 20.f1+ f6 21.xf6 1-0
85
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a6+ 14.c4 af8 etc. ) 12.f1 xg3 13.g5+?! e7 14.xh8? Romero Arraya, D-Godoy, J/Pan American 19 9 8 , a n d n o w xh2 was the simplest, winning on the spot. ] 8...e7!? A good move, although [ 8...g4 is not bad e ither: 9.h3 xf3 10.xf3 e7 11.c4 f6 12.c3 Koenig, B-Leddin, M/Greifswald 2004, 0-0 looks good, 13.cxd5?! e4! 14.f5 xd5 15.g4 ( 15.xe4?? g3+ 16.d1 xc3+ ) 15...e5 with advantage, as White's king must stay in the centre. ] 9.xe5 Well, this looks risky, but if White doesn't play this trick he is worse as Black has a strong centre and bishop pair. g5!? [ 9...h4+ is the theoretically approved move: 10.g3 h3 11.f3 ( 11.e2? f6 12.a3 g4 13.xg4 xg4 14.f1 h5 wi t h s t r o n g p l a y o n t h e l i g h t s q u a r e s) 11...f6 12.f1 ( 12.xc6 e4 13.f1 xg3+ 14.hxg3 xg3+ 15.d1 W olf, R-Kindl, P/Moeglingen 1989 g4+ 16.c1 g3 17.e1 e2+ draws ) 12...h5 13.e2?! g4 14.d4 0-0 and White was already losing in Blatny, PNyback, T/Dos Hermanas 2004. ] [ 9...xe5? 10.h5+ forks king and bishop. ] 10.f3 xg2!! This looks like a blunder, but is very strong! [ 10...h6 11.e2 f6 Krumpak, H-Furlan, A/ Slovenia 1992, 12.0-0 is balanced. ] 11.g1 h3 12.xg7 White wins the h8rook. xh2 13.f2?! Did he overlook Black's next? [ 13.xh8 xg1 14.xg1 is the best chance, although g3+ 15.f1 e7!? ( 15...h3+ 16.xh3 xh3+ draws ) 16.h5 a6+ 17.c4 f8+ with an attack. ] 13...f6! 14.xh8 [ 14.xf6? f8 wins. ] 14...e4+ Not bad, but [ 14...g4! is very strong, 15.f1 e4+ 16.e2 g3+ 17.d3 xf1 regains the material, and will soon add considerable interest. ] 15.e2 xg1 16.xg1 g4 The knight is pinned, and W hite can't defend it. 17.d1! The only try the king heads to relative safety on c1. 0-0-0 18.e5 f8 19.c1 xf3
B la ck h a s re ga in e d h is r o o k, a n d k e e p s control of the initiative. 20.b2 f1 21.h2 xh2 22.xh2 f2 23.e5 xd2 24.xd2 xd2 25.f1 Phew! White finally scrapes into a p la ya ble po sit io n with a pa wn les s bu t opposite coloured bishops. h5 26.f6 b7 27.e6? White goes active at the wrong time, he still had to passively defend by [ 27.h6 g6 28.h2 ] 27...g6 28.e7 xc2+ 29.a3 e2 30.xc7 b1 This is the problem, White has to jettison another pawn. 31.b4?! c5+! T h e m o ve h e m u s t h a ve m i s s e d . 32.c3 Now the king gets caught in a mating net, but [ 32.xc5 c2+ 33.d6 c6+ wins a piece. ] 32...c2+ 33.d3 xa2+ 34.c3 c6 35.b8 a5 36.c7+ b6 37.d7 c2+ 38.d3 g2+ 39.c3 e4 0-1
93
A01 Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar 2752 Bacrot,Etienne 2695 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (22) 22.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen] 1.b3 d5 2.b2 c5 3.e3 c6 4.b5 a6 To me this move seems awfully accommodating, Black plays a sort of Saemisch Nimzo-Indian with a tempo less... Hmm! 5.xc6+ bxc6 6.f4 f6 [ Black has also tried: A) 6...f5 7.f3 e6 8.0-0 ( 8.e5 c8 9.d3 f6 10.d2 d7?! 11.xd7 xd7 12.e2 Hofmann, K-Brieger, S/W ildflecken 1993) 8...f6 9.d3 e7 10.bd2 0-0 11.e1 Timman, J-Matute, M/Zuerich simul 1988 ] [ B) 6...h6!? 7.f3 f6 8.0-0 e6 9.d3 , Lopez, F-Gonzalez Perez, L/Stockholm 1994, and here d6 looks interesting ] [ C) 6...f6 7.h5+ ( 7.f3!? ) 7...g6 8.h4?! h6 9.f3 g7 10.c3 f5 with a pleasant game for Black, Essing, ASiemes, R/GER 1999 ] [ D) 6...d6 7.f3 f6 8.0-0 e6 9.e5 e7 10.d3 0-0 11.d2 e8 12.e1 , a n d W h i t e h a s a ve r y go o d r e v e r s e d Saemisch Variation, Kalajzic, I-Tomic, T/ Zadar 1998 ] 86
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7.f3 a5 [ Black has a number of alternatives at this ju n c t u re : A ) 7...f5 8.d3 e6 ( 8...c8 9.e2 e6 10.0-0 e7 was Nothnagel, MMagiera, R/Hessen 1999, and here 11.e5 0-0 12.d2 is White's best ) A) 9.e5 c7 10.d2 d7 11.df3 f6 12.xd7 xd7 13.0-0 ( 13.h4!? ) 13...g4 14.e1 Simon, P-Bauer, T/ Kettig 1994; B) 9.bd2 b6 10.e5 h5 11.e2 c4!? 12.dxc4 xc2 13.c1 f5 Drel, N-Benensonaite/Moscow 1972 ] [ B) 7...g6 8.0-0 ( 8.e5 c7 9.0-0 g7 10.c3 0-0 11.a4 c4 12.bxc4 b8 13.d4 e4 Dominguez Sanz, J-Ridameya T a t c h e , J / G r a n C a n a r i a 1 9 8 9 , 14.d3!? ) 8...g7 9.e1 0-0 10.e5 b6 11.c3 c4 12.a4 ( 12.a3!? ) 12...b5 , Vandenbruane, C-Tabak, S/Antwerp 2000, and now W hite can obtain an advantage with 13.d3! cxd3 14.cxd3 f5 15.d4 h5 ( 15...xd3?? 16.c3+- ) 16.c5 ] [ C) 7...g4 8.h3 ( 8.0-0 e6 9.e1 c7 10.e5 f5 11.d3 d6 12.d2 Amini, A-Noroozi, O/Tehran 2001) 8...xf3 9.xf3 e6 10.d3 A) 10...b6 A1) 11.0-0!? e7 ( 11...c4 12.dxc4 c5 13.e1 ) 12.c4; A2) 11.d2 e7 12.g4 0-0 13.g5 e8 14.h4 f5 15.h5 d6 16.c4 , and White dominates the entire board, Kalajzic, I-Bazaj Bockai, S/Pula 2001; B) 10...e7 11.0-0 0-0 12.d2 b8 13.g3 d4 14.e4 c7 15.c4 Raupp, K-Yahkind, A/Detroit 1992 ] [ D) 7...e6 8.0-0 d6 A) 9.d3 0-0 10.bd2 d7 11.e1 f6 12.c4 e5 13.h4 ( 13.f5!? ) 13...b6?! ( 13...exf4 14.exf4 e8 15.g3 f8 ) 14.fxe5 fxe5 15.g3 Slagter, R-Van Vliet, H/Hengelo 2005; B) 9.e5 c7 10.d3 0-0 11.d2 d7 12.h5 f6 13.ef3 Reales Murto, MCosta Costa, E/Lorca 2005 ] 8.a4 [ Nimzowitsch would probably approve of this move, but also 8.e5!? looks pleasant for White. ] 8...g6 9.0-0 g7 10.d3 0-0 11.e1 c4
12.e5 [ I think White with advantage could have interpolated an exchange on c4 with 12.bxc4 dxc4 , a n d o n l y t h e n p l a y 13.e5 , leaving W hite, in my opinion, with the preferable game. ] 12...cxb3 13.cxb3 b6 14.d2 g4 15.d4 c5 [ 15...xe5!? looks like an attractive alternative, for instance 16.fxe5 a6 17.f2 f6 , and I prefer Black ] 16.c1 c4 17.a3 cxb3 18.b1 xe5 19.fxe5 e6 [ 19...f5 20.xb3 ( 20.xf5 looks attractive, bu t is p ro b a b ly n ot t h a t go o d , e . g. gxf5 21.xe7 fe8 22.xb3 c6 ) 20...c7 , and Black shouldn't be worse. ] 20.xb3 f6 21.c5 c6 22.h4 a7 23.exf6 xf6 24.g3 a6 25.f4 c4 26.h4 aa8 [ B l a c k c a n a l s o c o n s i d e r 26...e8 intending ... .e7-e5 to open up the game for Black's bishop pair. ] 27.h5 g5 28.h6 [ 28.f5!? ] 28...d6 [ 28...fb8!? ] 29.g4? [ This loses an exchange without further ado. A better choice is 29.h2!? intending Rf5 with a pleasant game for White ] 29...e2! 30.xe2 gxf4 31.f1 h8 32.xf4 g5 33.e4 xh6 34.xg5 xg5 35.g4 f6 36.f4 g7 37.g4 f6 38.f4 e6 39.h4 g8 40.h5 g6 41.e5 [ 41.f3 ag8-+ ] 41...c6 [ 41...h3! settles everything immediately, e. g. 42.xe7 ag8 ] 42.f5 ag8 43.f2 e6 44.f3 f6 45.e2 e4 0-1
87
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A01 17.f2?! [ 17.g1!? ] Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar 2752 Kamsky,Gata 2714 17...g4 18.d5? [ 18.d5 xd5 19.xd5 xf2 20.c7+ World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (19) 21.11.2007 f7 21.xa8 e4 ] [Carsten Hansen] 18...xf2 19.xf2?-+ [ 19.g5 g8 20.xf2 b5 is clearly better 1.b3 c5 2.b2 b6 3.f3 b7 4.d4?! f6 f or Bla ck, bu t n eve rthe less b ett er tha n 5.c4 cxd4 6.xd4 With some effort from what happened in the game where Black is White, we have landed in something similar to now just winning ] a Hedgehog, but thanks to White's innocuous handling of the opening, one that is absolutely 19...h6 20.d3 0-0+ 21.g1 h7 22.e1 f6 23.c3 ad8 24.d1 g4 25.d5 harmless for Black. d6 7.c3 bd7 [ 7...e6 8.e3 a6 9.c1 bd7 10.f3 e7 f2 26.c2 xd1? [ Black has a mate in seven with 26...h3+ 11.e2 0-0 12.0-0= Casagrande, H27.g2 f2+ 28.h1 f1+ 29.g2 g1+ Elsness, F/Yerevan 1996 ] 30.xh3 c8+ 31.f5 xf5+ 32.h4 8.d2 g5# ] [ Two examples of the game heading to a normal Hedgehog are 8.f3 a6 9.e4 e6 27.xd1 b5 28.cxb5 axb5 29.f3 a7+ 10.e2 e7 11.0-0 0-0 12.d2 c7= 30.g2 xa2 31.c3 c8 32.d3 xb3? [ A dumb blunder in a winning position. Right Diapetis, A-Kyriakides, T/Patras 2002 ] is 32...a7 in order to be able to swing the [ and 8.c1 a6 9.f3 e6 10.e4 e7 11.e2 queen back to defend his majesty. ] 0-0 12.0-0 c8= Srba, M-Meduna , E/ Prague CZE 2006. In both cases Black 33.h4 xd5+ 34.xd5 xc3 35.xd6 doesn't have any problems, though much g8 36.d7+ g7 37.xb5 e4 38.d5 depends on which player understands the e3 [ 38...e3!? ] position better. ] 39.f2 a3 40.xe4 e3 41.d5 ge7 8...a6 9.g1?! [ A reminder that we are looking at blitz 42.b5 xe2+= games. Although g2-g4 being seen more ½-½ and more frequently in the English Opening, it is hardly what I call a critical line. Sadly A01 for White, Kamsky is less than impressed 95 by Mamedyarov's idea, and soon White is Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar 2752 just worse. Normal, but harmless is 9.e3 e6 Karpov,Anatoly 2670 10.f3 e7 11.e2 0-0 12.0-0 c7 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (24) 22.11.2007 with another equal position. ] [Carsten Hansen] 9...h5!? Stops White's g2-g4 dreams, which leaves the rook looking quite silly on g1. 10.g3 1.b3 d5 2.b2 f5 It is quite amazing, it [ 10.h3 c5 is better for Black ] don't find any mention of this move in either 10...e6 11.f4 ECO A (both 2nd and 4th editions), [ 11.g2 xg2 12.xg2 c8 13.f1 e7 ChessBase's Opening Encyclopaedia 2007 or 14.g1 is probably about equal, but the J a c o b s / T a i t ' s " N i m z o - L a r s e n A t t a c k " ! fianchettoed rook doesn't exactly impress. ] Nevertheless, it has been played more than 11...c7 12.f5 e5 13.c2 g6!? 250 times according to by database. Often it [ This appears to complicate the game Black transposes to other variations, including the can also play the fully adequate and good Reti (quite frequently) with 3 Nf3, 4 g3, 5 Bg2, 13...e7 , e.g. 14.e3 b5 15.g2 6 0-0, 7 d3 etc or other lines in the Nimzo( 15.cxb5 axb5 16.xb5? b6 17.c3 Larsen Attack (not as frequently). However, g4 wins for Black) 15...xg2 16.xg2 Mamedyarov's next move is new, though the bxc4 is also better for Black ] idea isn't new, but loses a tempo over the 2... 14.fxg6 fxg6 15.g2 xg2 16.xg2 b7 B g 4 va r i a t i o n , a n d t h e r e f o r e c a n n o t b e 94
88
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 p a r t i c u l a r l y g o o d . 3.h3?! e6 4.g4?! Bold, but hardly any good. g6 [ 4...e4!? looks very attractive as well, e.g. 5.f3 xf3 ( 5...h5 6.g2 c6!? ) 6.exf3 f6 7.f4 c6!? ] 5.f3 d7 6.d3 h5 7.g1 hxg4 8.hxg4 c6 9.bd2 h7?! [ This doesn't appear to make any immediate sense unless Black intends to develop his bishop shortly, but the bishop doesn't get developed until move 28!. The normal move is 9...c7!? , intending to castle queenside, e.g. 10.c4 0-0-0 followed by ...Ne7 and ... e5 with a better game for Black. ] 10.e4 c7 11.e2 f4 12.exd5 cxd5 13.e5 xe5 14.xe5 b4 15.f4?! [ 15.a3!? b6 16.e3 xe3+ 17.fxe3 f6 18.b2= ] 15...b6 16.f3 f6 [ 16...c5!? 17.d4 b4+ 18.d1 0-0-0 ] 17.d4 a6?! [ 17...c5!? 18.xc5 xc5 19.0-0-0 ( 19.xe6+ f8 20.0-0-0 e8 ) 19...d7 ] 18.f5 f7 19.g5 h5 20.fxe6 c8 [ 20...xf3 21.xf3 xe6+ 22.d2 0-0-0 23.e1 h2+ 24.g2 xg2+ 25.xg2 ] 21.h3 [ 21.c3!? ] 21...xf3 22.xf3 xc2 23.f5?! [ White appears to be winning after 23.d1! , for instance: c7 ( 23...xa2 24.c1 b4 25.c8+ e7 26.gxf6+ gxf6 27.c7+ d8 28.e7++- ) 24.f5 h2 25.gxf6 xf6 26.g3+- ] 23...a5+?! [ 23...hh2!? ] 24.f1 hh2 25.g3 [ 25.f4!? ] 25...e7?! [ 25...b4 26.b8+ e7 27.xa7 fxg5 28.a3 xb3 29.e1 ] 26.b8+ [ 26.gxf6! gxf6 27.g6+ ( 27.b8+ c8 28.g6+ e7 29.f4!? ) 27...d8 28.b8+ c8 29.f7 e7 30.f4 h6 31.c1 xc1+ 32.xc1+- ] 26...c8? [ T h i s i s a m i s t a k e b e t t e r i s 26...d8 27.g6+ ( 27.xd8+ xd8 28.gxf6 gxf6 29.g4 c6 30.xf6+ e8-+ ) 27...xg6
28.xd8+ xd8 29.gxf6 gxf6 30.xg6 h1+ 31.g1 xg1+ 32.xg1 with decent drawing chances for White ] 27.xb7?? [ 27.gxf6! gxf6 28.xb7 c7 29.b4 xb7 30.bxa5 d6 31.g4 b4 32.e3 a4 33.a3 ] 27...c7 28.b8?? [ A blunder that loses the game, but this position is almost impossible to play accurately in blitz. The correct move is 28.g6+ , a n d a f t e r d8 29.a8 d2 30.xd5+ d6 31.e4 , keeping the game alive: c1+ 32.xc1 xc1+ 33.e1 f4+ 34.f2 c5 ] 28...d6 29.gxf6 [ Or 29.g6+ d8-+ ] 29...d2 30.b5+ [ Or 30.g6+ d8 31.e7+ xe7 32.fxe7+ xe7 , and it is game over ] 30...d8 31.e7+ xe7 32.fxe7+ xe7 33.a5+ xa5 0-1
96
A01 Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar 2752 Kramnik,Vladimir 2785 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (20) 22.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen] 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 d6 4.f3 [ 4.b5 is considered the main line ] 4...g6 This isn't seen that often 4...Bd7 is the normal move. 5.d4 [ The normal mover here are 5.b5 and ] [ 5.c4 though the text move has been played at International Master/Grandmaster level a few times before. ] 5...g7 [ 5...f6 6.c4 g7 7.c3 h6 8.e2 0-0 9.a3 f7 10.b4 f5 11.d5 e7 12.e4 , and the play now resembles a King's Indian, th o u gh o n e wh e re B la ck' s kn igh t o n f 7 appears to be a bit in the way, Gonzalez, JGonzalez Velez, F/Castellar 1999 ] [ 5...exd4? 6.xd4 f6 7.b5 ( 7.xc6 bxc6 8.f3 g7 9.xc6+ d7 10.a6 is also better for White, but not as accurate, Bobanac, M-Bozanic, I/ Solin CRO 2007) 7...d7 8.xc6 bxc6 9.f3 g7 10.xc6 89
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xc6 11.xc6+ , and White is winning Jadoul, M-Geirnaert, S/Belgium BEL 2003 ] 6.b5 [ 6.dxe5 xe5 7.c3 ( For those playing for a draw as White 7.xe5 xe5 8.xe5 dxe5 9.xd8+ xd8 is possibly worth considering, though those of us who are eager to play a more interesting game, this is hardly worth our time. Nevertheless one continuation is 10.c4 e7 11.c3 f6 12.e2 c6 13.a4 f5 14.f3 h5 , and a d raw was a greed upo n 1/2-1/2 , Nielsen, P-Kjeldsen, J/DEN 1989 ) A) 7...xf3+ 8.xf3 h5?! ( 8...e7 ) 9.h3 ( 9.c4!? ) 9...h6 10.e4+ f8 11.0-0-0 f5 12.d3 a5 13.a4 with an obvious advantage f or W hite, Zurek, M-Blatny, P/CZE 2001; B) 7...e7 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 ( 9.d2!? has been suggested by Horn in CBM, but Black is fine after 7c6 ) 9...d5 10.b1 xf3+ 11.xf3 e6= Rogers, I-Solomon, S/Sydney 1991 ] [ 6.e2 ge7 7.d5 b8 8.c4 0-0 9.bd2 f5 10.c2 a5 11.h3 a6 12.a3 Wager, J-Maxwell, A/Leeds 1999 ] 6...ge7 [ 6...d7 7.d5 ( 7.xc6?! xc6 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.bd2 e7 10.e2 0-0-0 11.0-0 f5 , and Black has obviously no problems, Flu via P o ya t o s, J-Flu via P o ya t o s , J/ S t Cebria 1997; 7.bd2 ge7 8.dxe5 xe5 9.xd7+ xd7 10.xe5 dxe5 11.c4 e6= was Puranen, J-Molander, R/Finland FIN 2002 ) 7...ce7 8.xd7+ xd7 9.0-0 f6 10.c4 is in my opinion a pleasant King's Indian for White on account of the exchange of the light-squared bishops, Huebsch, HPesch, H/Nickenich 1998 ] 7.d5 a6 8.e2 b8 9.0-0 0-0 10.c4 a5 11.c3 a6 As in some of the sidelines covered in the notes above, we have reached a King's Indian type of position, where it is hard to assess who is better. My computer prefers W hite, and I slightly prefer Black, despite my dislike for the King's Indian as Black, because it seems like it is the easier position to play. Nevertheless, the game is probably about even. 12.a3 d7 13.d2 f5 14.f4 exf4 15.exf4 c6 16.h1 cxd5 17.cxd5
[ 17.f3!? seems like an interesting a l t e r n a t i v e , e . g . c7 ( 17...dxc4?! 18.xc4+ h8 19.d2 leaves White with amble compensation for the pawn) 18.d2 c6 19.cxd5 xd5 20.c4!? ( 20.xd5 exd5 21.c4 xb2 22.xb2 b5= ) 20...xc4 21.bxc4 ] 17...b5 18.f3 b6 19.g5 c7 [ 19...c5!? ] 20.d2 [ 20.e1!? b4 ( 20...ae8 21.f3 ) 21.axb4 axb4 22.a4 ] 20...h6 21.e6 xe6 22.dxe6 d5 23.a4 [ 23.fe1 fd8 ] 23...b4 24.b5 xb2 25.xb2 xe6 26.ae1 [ 26.e5 ad8 27.f3 d7 ] 26...c5 27.d4 ab8 28.c4!? e4 29.xd5+ xd5 30.xd5+ g7 [ 30...h7 31.d7+ h8 32.xe4! fxe4 33.d6 e3 34.f7+ xf7 35.xf7 c6 36.e1 b7 37.f8+ h7 38.f5! e4 ( 38...g5 39.f6 ) 39.fxg6+ xg6= ] 31.g4!? [ 31.e5+ h7 32.c7 b7 33.e6 ff7 ] 31...bd8 32.e5+ g8 33.gxf5 fe8?! [ , and here the game, probably by White forfeiting on time, though now having an acceptable position if he could get to play 34 Qc7. Instead on move 33, Black should have opted for 33...d2!? 34.e6+ xe6 35.fxe6 xf1 36.e7 d2 37.d1 f7 38.exf8+ xf8 with a better endgame for Black ] 0-1
97 McShane,Luke J Grischuk,Alexander Tal Memorial Blitz, Moscow blitz (6) [Richard Palliser]
A01 2706 2761 07.06.12
1.b3 f6 [ Following in Fischer's footsteps, Hikaru Nakamura is something of an occasional dabbler in Nimzowitsch-L arsen waters , especially in blitz games. He was the first to punt 1 b3 in this blitz tournament and after 1...c5 2.b2 c6 3.e4 ( 3.e3 would be 90
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2012. ] more normal, keeping play in independent waters ) 3...f6 play had transposed to a 3.g3 Very hypermodern, but not overly critical. l i n e o f t h e 2 b 3 S i c i l i a n i n N a k a m u r a - The alternatives: [ a) 3.xf6!? exf6 4.c4 g7 is the critical Grischuk (round 3). This is really outside line in my view: will Black's bishop-pair our remit here, but you never know - Sam compensate for his inferior structure? Who may give the line a bit of coverage at some to prefer here is really a matter of taste, point in the future! ] but Black must be prepared to manoeuvre 2.b2 g6!? for quite a while before obtaining any real [ Undeterred by the result of this game, the activity and counterplay. For some helpful plucky Englishman repeated his choice of coverage please see Jonathan Rowson's opening in round 8 where Tomashevsky notes to Hodgson-Hall, Harplinge 1998, preferred the solid 2...d5 . Play continued and especially Julio Alberto González's to 3.e3 c6 4.h3!? ( a rare move, but this Mellado Triviño-Vallejo Pons, Calvia 2005, prevents Black from developing normally which can both be found in the Archive. ] with ...Bg4 and now g2-g4 will be possible in [ b) 3.e4 is also quite tempting, although I've the event of ...Bf5 - full marks for creativity never been too certain about this mix of b3 t o L u k e ! a l t e r n a t i v e l y , 4.f4 is quite a n d e 4 . F o l lo wi n g g7 ( recent Sicilian thematic,; 4.f3 g4 5.e2 e6 6.0-0 practice suggests that Black can even get bd7 7.d3 xf3 8.xf3 d6 9.d2 h5!? away with 3...c5!? here - again keep an eye saw Black follow up his simple, classical on S am 's co lu m n) 4.g3 ( 4.e5 d5 development by boldly looking to attack in is a strange-looking Alekhine where White S a n c h e z - P a v l o v i c , G i b r a l t a r 2 0 1 2 ,; doesn't want to block his bishop with d4, but and in the high-level game Short-Almasi, in any case ...d6 will give Black decent Gibraltar 2012, 4.c4 f5 5.e2 e6 6.c3 counterplay) 4...0-0 5.g2 d5!? ( 5...d6 bd7 7.f3 h6 8.0-0 d6 9.cxd5 exd5 6.e2 followed by a double advance of the 10.d3 0-0 11.e4 g6 was fine too for c- o r e -p a wn m igh t well h ave b ee n t h e Black ) 4...bd7 (keeping it solid, but now choice of a Pirc practitioner) 6.exd5 xd5 Black's light-squared bishop won't be able to 7.xg7 xg7 8.d4 c5! 9.dxc5 a5+ t a k e t h e e a r l y a i r i t w a s a f t e r ) 5.f3 10.c3 f6?! ( 10...d8! was the correct ( in an earlier game 5.g4!? was tried, but follow-up to Black's fine, active start after after e5 6.g2 d6 7.d3 f8! 8.d2 h6 11.xd5 xc5 Qxc5 the pin down the d-file White's kingside expansion was likely more ensures he will regain his piece with ...e6) of a weakness than a strength in Bromann11.b4 c7 12.e2 Naka had stolen a Holst, Aarhus 2002,; bu t p e rh a p s 5.f4!? pawn, albeit not exactly for zero and only then d3 followed by g4 could be compensation, and went on to convert in tried, Bird style) 5...g6 6.c4 g7 7.cxd5 Nakamura-Altounian, Internet (blitz) 2011. ] cxd5 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 b8! (the knight [ c) 3.f3 g7 4.e3 0-0 5.c4 c5 6.e2 d5 would h ave achie ved little o n b 6 a nd a 7.cxd5 xd5 8.d3 c6 9.a3 d8 second fianchetto might well have left Black 10.bd2 g4! 11.xg7 xg7 12.0-0 b6 weak on the queenside, but even this fine 13.c2 ge5 14.fd1 b7 was all very regrouping isn't enough to fully equalise) thematic from Black and later led to a draw 10.c3 c6 11.c1 f5 12.b5! c8 in Finegold-Altounian, Las Vegas 2012. ] 13.a3 ( White wants to expand on the [ d ) F i n a l l y , I c a n r e m e m b e r 3.g4!? queenside, which is very logical besides, being mentioned in David Norwood's fine, Nbd4 ideas can be kept in reserve, although old work on the Modern, but I dare say this I can't help feeling Reti himself might well is rather too radical for us to be covering have gone 13.bd4 xd4 14.xd4 d7 on these hallowed theoretical pages! ] 15.xc8 xc8 16.a1 ) 13...b6 14.b4 a5 15.b3 axb4 16.axb4 and White was a 3...g7 4.g2 c5 [ It makes sense to me to seize space like little better, going on to triumph in this, but of course there are many set-ups McShane-Tomashevsky, Moscow (blitz) 91
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B l a c k c o u l d e m p l o y . A f t e r 4...d6 I doubt Luke would have pushed his d-pawn t wo s q u a r e s , b u t W h i t e d i d i n a b a t t l e between two young (and already 2600+ back in the day when that really mean t something) stars, where 5.d4 c5! 6.d5 0-0 7.h3! g4 8.f4 d7 9.c1 e5 10.dxe6 fxe6 had certain Trompowsky connotations and was ab out e qua l in Ad ams-S hirov, Hastings 1991/92. ] 5.e3 0-0 6.e2 [ New according to the database. I can see why W hite wouldn't want to obstruct his light-squared bishop and Luke did enjoy some success as Black in this event with the Hippo (d3 and Nd2 here would lead to a r e s e r v e d f o r m ) , b u t p e r h a p s 6.c4!? was a better try, comfortable though Black does look after d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.xg7 xg7 9.a3 c6 . ] 6...d5! Grischuk decides he might as well take the space that's on offer - and why not? 7.c4?! [ This seems to ask too much of White's position, but presumably Luke was no longer so certain about going down the Hippo route and conceding a big centre with 7.d3 c6 8.d2 e5 9.h3 . ] 7...d4 [ The reversed Benoni structure after this is at least OK for Black, but 7...dxc4!? 8.bxc4 f5 followed by ...Bf5 also looks quite attractive, since White is going to have to hurry with d4 and so be saddled with hanging pawns. ] 8.exd4 g4! Now if h3 the knight will come round to f 5 via h6 and all the time W hite needs to try and make sure Black lands up recapturing with a pawn on d4. 9.a3 c6 10.c2? [ This innocent-looking move concedes the initiative and quickly leaves W hite in hot w a t e r . A f t e r 10.0-0 cxd4 11.d3 e5 a n d o n ly t h e n 12.c2 a reserved Benoni position would have arisen, very much with chances f or both sides, even if I would prefer to move the knight from e2 to f3! ] 10...cxd4 11.d3 Pretty much essential, but this creates a new weakness on which Grischuk is quick to pounce. a5+! 12.f1 [ 12.d2 xd2+ 13.xd2 xf2 14.hf1 g4 would have cost White a pawn, ]
[ but perhaps he had to try 12.b4!? xb4 13.0-0 , hoping to at least obtain some Benko-like pressure for his pawn. ] 12...f5 It's all gone wrong already for White. Suddenly there's no time to thinking about picking of f d4 in view of the mate threat. 13.f4?! [ White soon loses a piece after this. That said, it was very hard to readjust and find a defence here in a blitz game, and even after the machine's suggestion 13.f4!? e5 14.e4 f6 15.h3 I rather doubt that White would have survived. ] 13...b4! Neat. The weakness of the e3square is going to cost White. 14.exd4 [ This doesn't help, but grovelling with 14.c1 xd3 15.xd3 xd3 16.h3 would have been most unpalatable too. ] 14...c5 15.a3 a5 [ Perhaps 15...xc2!? 16.xc5 ge3+ 17.e2 xd4 was also rather dangerous, but Grischuk keeps it simple. ] 16.h3? A final slip in a very tough position. xd4! 17.xd4 e3+ 18.e2 xd1 19.axd1 xd4 20.he1 d8 21.d2 e6 22.e2 xa2 0-1
98
A01 McShane,Luke J 2683 Jansa,Vlastimil 2513 12th ch-EUR Aix les Bains FRA (6) 27.03.2011 [Nigel Davies] 1.b3 d5 2.b2 g4 3.f3 f5 4.e3 e6 5.c3!? It's rare that you get a 'theoretical novelty' in on move 5, but this is one of the joys of playing Larsen's opening. W hite is angling for e3-e4 and might also prepare castling long with Qd1-e2. [ In earlier games White has played 5.f4 ] [ and 5.e2 . ] 5...f6 6.g4 [ 6.e2 is possible here, xc2 losing the bishop after 7.d3 . ] 6...g6 7.ce2 c6 [ 7...fd7! looks like a better idea when 8.h4 e7 seems good for Black. Of course none of this is easy to work out over the board. ] 8.h4 h5 This leads to a difficult position for 92
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Bla ck an d he th ink h e sho uld h ave b ee n looking to push the h-pawn one square rather than two. [ After 8...h6 9.f4 d6 10.b5 Black is under some pressure. ] [ So perhaps he should first play 8...b4!? after which 9.d3 h6 10.f4 h7 11.g5 g8 looks OK for him. ] 9.g5 d7 10.f4 e7 11.e2 c6 [ 11...xc2? 12.d3 wins the bishop. ] 12.xg6 xg6 13.f4 White is clearly better now because of his bishop pair and space. Could he have achieved this kind of opening advantage with something more standard? Probably not. a5 14.f3 c5 15.a3 e4 16.g1 0-0-0 17.h3 b8 18.b4 c7 19.c4 dxc4 20.xc4 d6 21.c2 d7 22.f2 I wouldn't be surprised if Jansa was running short of time at this stage. He often finds himself in time trouble and in a planless position like this it isn't easy to find decent moves for Black. f5 23.xf5 exf5 24.d4 g8 25.a4 a6 26.a5 d6 27.b6 c8 28.b5!? Prising open Black's queenside at the cost of a pawn. axb5 29.a4 c7 30.a7 [ 30.axb5 is good for White but McShane wants the queens on so he can play for mate. ] 30...b8 31.a5 d7 Heading for the hills! 32.b6 c8 33.axb5 c5 34.a2 e8 35.c4 f8 36.a7 e7 37.g6 1-0
that this was exactly terrible for Black after e6 11.h1 c5 ) 7.dxe4 xe4 is quite awkward, since 8.xg7? runs into b4+ 9.c3 xd1+ 10.xd1 g8 11.e1 d6 , as I pointed out in BUCO. ] [ Perhaps that's why Nakamura later switched to 5.e2 and after 0-0 ( 5...a6 6.xc6 dxc6 is, as usual, a sensible alternative and after 7.d3 e7 8.e4 I w o n d e r a b o u t h5!? ) 6.xc6 ( White should really go in for this exchange the dangers of not doing so were revealed in Cie za -Ne gi, Ca p p e l le la G ra n d e 2 0 1 2 , where 6.g3 e7! 7.c3 c6 8.e2 c7 9.d4 d5 didn't leave the white pieces overly well coordinated) 6...dxc6 7.d3 ( 7.bc3!? would transpose to our main game) 7...e6 8.e4 e7 9.0-0 d7 10.g3 g6 11.d2 a3 12.c1 xb2 13.xb2 a5 14.a4 f6 15.c3 c5 16.xc5 xc5 17.f4 exf4 18.xf4 White eventually ground out the win in Nakamura-Hovhannisyan, Internet (blitz) 2011, but Black didn't have to be so compliant and play for exchanges. ] [ F i n a l l y , I s h o u l d m e n t i o n t h a t 5.f3?! is rarely seen these days, probably because e4! 6.h4 e5 7.xe5 xe5 just looks a lit t le t o o cre a t ive f o r W h it e . No w h e i s supposed to castle, since 8.f4?! g6 9.f5 (T.W all-Palliser, York 2008) 0-0 10.0-0 ( 10.g4 d5 is even worse) 10...d5 11.g3 d4 can hardly be correct. ] 5...a6 [ Gawain, like many grandmasters, doesn't 99 A01 m i n d t h e e x c h a n g e o n c 6 . 5...0-0 is also possible, whereupon 6.g4? b4 McShane,Luke J 2671 7.g5 saw White entering into the spirit of Jones,Gawain C 2624 t h in gs, a lb e it ra t h e r u n wi se ly, a s xc3! German Bundesliga (10) 25.02.2012 8.dxc3 e4 9.h4 d5 10.f3 g3 11.h2 [Richard Palliser] e7 with advantage to Black demonstrated in J . K a r l s s o n - P e t i t c u n o t , C a p p e l l e l a 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 Grande 2009. ] 5.c3!? It may seem strange to block the bishop, but the knight is hardly great on a3 as 6.xc6 Consistent. dxc6 7.ge2 0-0 [ This position can also come about via a 5 we've seen. Moreover, from c3 it fights for the Ne 2 m o ve o r d e r, a s i t d id i n B i s c h o f f pivotal e4-square and may later come round S u t o v s k y , E s s e n 2 0 0 1 , w h e r e 7...e4!? to the kingside via e2. 8.g3 e7 9.e2 0-0 should have been [ Another route for the knight is 5.xc6 dxc6 met by 10.f3! exf3 11.gxf3 (Kosten). ] 6.d3 , but here e4! ( 6...0-0 7.d2 e8 8.e4 d7 9.e2 f8 10.0-0 gave White 8.0-0 e7 [ Again Gawain holds off 8...e4!? . After t h e s e t - u p h e wa s a f t e r i n N a k a m u r a 9.g3 g4 White might well go 10.ce2 Ponomariov, Saint Louis (rapid) 2011, not 93
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and only later f3. ] 9.f4!? A thematic advance, if quite risky here. Black may be about to lose a centre pawn, but his pieces are well centralised and will exert good pressure in return. g4 10.e1 ad8 11.fxe5 xe5 12.g3 Logical play from both sides and the position seems unbalanced but about level to me, although if pressed I'd take Black thanks to his actively placed pieces. fe8 13.a4 [ Black's bishop was too strong to leave on e 5 a n d , o f c o u r s e , it ' s f a r t o o e a r l y t o mobilise White's central majority, with 13.d4! shedding a pawn to xg3 14.xg3 xe3+ .] 13...b5! Likely to come under pressure on the kingside at some point (after Nf5), Gawain decides it's time to stake out some space and begin play on the other flank. 14.xe5 xe5 15.c3 c5 16.f2 h5!? [ Driving the knight back and fighting hard for the initiative. Another possibility was 16...b4 17.a4 c4 18.bxc4 d7 , when the knight is trapped, but White may be OK after 19.d4 xe3 20.xe3 xe3 21.c5 . ] 17.h3 e6 18.ad1 White is undoubtedly on the back foot, but Black must continue with some energy or else his pawn weaknesses will begin to cost him. b4 19.a4? [ Eyeing c5, but this may be too ambitious. A se ns ib le a pp ro ach wo uld ha ve b ee n t o finally use those centre pawns with 19.d4! , and after cxd4 20.exd4 g5 21.ce4 xe4 22.xe4 g6 23.g3 White's position doesn't seem too terrible, in view of the possibility of h4 24.f5 . ] 19...h4 20.h1 This retreat might have heralded good things for Nimzowitsch and Keene in a couple of famous games, but here I doubt Luke enjoyed having to play it. e4 [ Direct, although one can also make a good case for 20...g5!? 21.f4 g6 22.f2 d5 , hitting both g2 and c2. ] 21.xh4 xd2? [ White is able to grovel out after this. Instead 21...xd2 22.fe1 (there's nothing better) c4 would have kept pieces on and left White under continuing pressure. ] 22.xd2 xd2 23.d1 e4 24.f4! Offering a timely queen swap. f5 [ White also seems to be OK in the event of
24...h5 25.f3 xf3 26.gxf3 g5 27.xc5 . ] 25.xe5 xe5 26.f2 d6 27.d3 xd3 28.cxd3 [ 28.xd3? c4 had to be avoided, ] [ and after 28.cxd3 xe3 29.xc5 a5 30.f2 e5 the ending would have been pretty level. ] ½-½
100 Minasian,Artashes Adams,Michael EU-chT (Men) (9) [Jonathan Rowson]
A01 2545 2620 1992
1.b3 e5! 2.b2 c6! 3.e3 d6! My impression is that these three first moves poses the stiffest test to 1.b3 because White st ruggle s t o do be t te r t h a n get a n orm a l English kind of position where b3 looks a bit committal without really getting anything in return. [ 3...a6 As suggested in what follows, there is no need for this move because Bb5 is not really a threat. 4.c4 g6 5.c3 g7 6.g3 h5 7.g2 ( 7.h3!? ) 7...d6 ( Black should definitely take the chance to play 7...h4! because the pawn is a bit of a nuisance for White. ) 8.h3 h6 9.d3 0-0 10.d2 d7 11.ge2 White has a good reversed Closed Sicilian! b8 12.c1 White's position seems easier to play, though it is difficult to sa y wh y. I wo u l d a t t r i b u t e i t m a i n l y t o coordination, though that is easier felt than e x p l a i n e d . ( 12.0-0 h4 13.g4 f5 looks like too much trouble.) 12...f5 ( 12...b5 13.d5 ) 13.d5 ce7 14.0-0 c6 ( 14...xd5 15.cxd5 ) 15.dc3 ( 15.xe7+ xe7 16.e4 d4 17.xd4 exd4 18.f4 Ftachnik in CBM.) 15...e6 16.e4 d5 ( 16...f6 17.f4 ) 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.g5! ( 18.c5 c8 19.f4 b6 ) 18...c8 19.h4 c6 ( 19...f6 20.h3 e6 21.d4 ) 20.c5 d4 21.exd4 cxd4 ( 21...exd4 22.fc1 ) 22.xd4 xd4?! Perhaps failing to anticipate the pending fireworks. ( but 22...exd4 23.f4 also leaves White in command. ) 23.e1 ( 23.f4 exf4 24.xf4 g4 25.h2 ) 23...g4 ( 23...b6 24.d5 94
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c7 25.a3 g4 26.d6; 23...d6 24.d5 b6 25.a3 ) 24.exe5! A crushing exchange sacrifice, stemming from the power of the bishop on b2. The weaknesses on the a1-h8 diagonal soon prove to be decisive. xe5 25.xe5 c8 ( 25...f6?! 26.d5+ g7 27.xd4 fxe5 28.xe5++- Ftachnik.; 25...c6 26.d5 e7 27.e4 f6 28.h6 g7 29.xg7+ xg7 30.d6 Ftachnik.; 25...e6? 26.xe6! xe6 27.c3+- Another Elegant line- all given by Ftachnik in ChessBase magazine. ) 26.d5 e2+ ( 26...c2 27.xd8 e2+ 28.xe2 xe2 29.f6+- ) 27.h2 c7 28.e4 Black has no defenders in the relevant sector. f5 ( 28...f6 29.c5 d7 30.xc8 xc8 31.f3 xg3 32.xg3+- ) 29.h6! 1-0 Sasikiran, K (2573)-Shabalov, A (2601)/Istanbul 2001 And W hite's position is suddenly so good t h a t r e s ig n a t io n m u s t h a ve c o m e a s a slight disappointment. ] 4.b5?! This just doesn't make sense here, so the best approach to this early d6 system is to play a type of closed English, or else angle for an early d4 (but always in such a way that you can recapture with a knight. [ Odessky tries hard to find a novel way to play this position, including 4.f3 A) 4...g6! 5.d4 g7 looks rock solid to me. 6.b5 ( 6.dxe5 xe5 7.xe5 xe5 8.xe5 dxe5 9.xd8+ xd8 10.c3 c6 gives White nothing.) 6...ge7! 7.dxe5 ( 7.d5 a6 was Mamedyarov-Kramnik, W orld Blitz 2007, which Kramnik won.) 7...0-0!; B) 4...f5 5.d4 e4 6.d5!? but it doesn't seem very convincing. For more details see Odessky's book. ] [ 4.c4!? is probably best, with an unusual kind of closed English/ reversed Closed Sicilian. ] [ 4.d4 exd4 5.exd4 d5! has been known to be fine for Black for some time. ] 4...d7 [ 4...ge7 also looks comfortable. ] 5.e2 /\ f4 a6 6.xc6 xc6 7.0-0 g5! [ 7...f6 8.f4 ] 8.f3!? [ 8.g3?! h5 with a promising attack. ] 8...f6 9.c4 intending to plug the light
squares with e4 and Nc3-d5, but Black hits first. d5! 10.bc3? [ 10.f4!? exf4 11.xf4 dxc4 12.bxc4 d6 ] 10...0-0-0 11.a4? [ 11.cxd5 xd5 12.xd5 xd5 13.c3 d7 ] 11...dxc4!-+ 12.bxc4 c5 13.h1 xe3 14.c1 xd2 White is completely lost, and the following is just a desperate attempt to try to complicate. 15.b5 b8 16.ed4 xc1 17.xc6+ bxc6 18.b3 [ 18.xc1 xc1 19.axc1 cxb5 ] 18...cxb5 19.axb5 e3! [ 19...e3 20.bxa6+ b6 21.c5 ] 20.a4 b2 21.xa6 [ 21.a2!? ] 21...xa1 22.xa1 d1+ 23.xd1 a7 24.c6 b6-+ 25.c5 xc6 26.bxc6 e8 27.g4 h6 [ 27...e6? 28.d8+ a7 29.d1 ] 28.h4 g5 29.hxg5 hxg5 30.g2 c8 /\ Re6 0-1
101 Nielsen,Peter Heine Svidler,Peter Politiken Larsen Blitz b3 blitz (7) [Nigel Davies]
A01 2700 2734 04.08.2010
1.b3 d5 2.b2 g4 3.f3 h5 4.e4!? A fascinating gambit line that contains a nice trap for a blitz game. The critical line is of course for Black to take it. dxe4 5.e2 Threatening 6.Qb5+, picking up the bishop on h5. A lesser player than Svidler might have missed this given the time limit. c6 [ Black has also played 5...a6 here, for example 6.xe4 ( 6.c3!? exf3 7.xf3 would be the way to continue in gambit style ) 6...c6 7.d3 e6 8.c3 f6 9.e2 b4 10.0-0-0 e7 11.e4 xe4 12.dxe4 e5 was about equal at this stage in Medancic, R (2260)-Guido, F (2351)/Verona 2002. ] 6.c3!? [ I see this as being much more consistent than the wimpy 6.xe4 . ] 6...exf3 7.xf3 f6 [ A l t e r n a t i v e l y B l a c k c o u l d p l a y 7...d7 95
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 , for example 8.h3 gf6 9.0-0-0 e6 10.g4 g6 was Koganov, M-Handke, F (2496)/ICC INT 2009, and now one intriguing possibility is 11.h4!? , f o r e x a m p l e ( 11.g2 was played in the game) 11...xg4 12.h5 f5 13.d4 h6 14.xf5 xf5 15.e4 (Threatening 16.h6) h6 16.h3 d6 17.xe6 fxe6 18.xd6+ xd6 19.xg7 with a vitriolic attack. ] 8.0-0-0 e6 9.h3 xf3 Svidler understandably prevents g2-g4 ideas. [ In the game Ypma, P (2074)-Michalczak, T (2367)/ Dieren NED 2010 Black playe d 9...a5 10.b1 a3 after which 11.xa3 ( 11.a1 was played in the game) 11...xa3 ( 11...xf3 12.xf3 xa3 13.g4 is also very dangerous for Black) 12.g4 g6 13.h4 gives White a strong initiative. A sample line is xg4 14.h5 f5 15.d4 h6 16.g2 f8 17.cb5! with a strong initiative. ] 10.xf3 a5 11.b1 a3 12.a1 [ I think there's a good case here for 12.xa3 xa3 13.g4 , for example 0-0 ( 13...bd7 14.g5 d5 15.xd5 cxd5 16.h4 also gives White an ongoing initiative for the pawn ) 14.h4 a5 15.h5 bd7 16.h6 creates dangerous threats on the kingside. ] 12...bd7 13.g4 With Black's queen covering g5 this is much less threatening, so White's compensation starts to look a bit nebulous. 0-0-0 14.g2 h5 15.e4? Losing a second pawn. [ 15.e2 was a better chance, though I doubt White's compensation. ] 15...hxg4 16.hxg4 xh1 17.xh1 e5 18.e2 exg4 19.xf6 xf6 20.g2 f8 21.f2 c5 22.f3 e7 23.d3 h8 24.a4 h5 25.b2 f5 26.g3 g6 27.g1 g4 28.e1 d5 29.e4 b4 30.f1 c3+ Finishing off nicely. 31.xc3 xc3 32.f3 b4 0-1
102 Petrosian,Tigran L Naroditsky,Daniel Golden Sands Open (3.3) [Richard Palliser]
A01 2657 2479 06.06.2012
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6!? W hen this first became popular in the late nineties it looked provocative and trendy, but time has shown that the bishop move very much deserves consideration as one of the main lines of the Nimzowitsch-Larsen. 5.a3 [ Back in 2006 when I covered this line in BUCO ('Beating Unusual Chess Openings'), this was considered the main line. It's also received the most coverage of any 5th move on Ch essPu b a nd th is wa s P et ros ian 's second game of late with it against strong o p p o s i t i o n . H o w e v e r , n o wa d a y s 5.e2 and/or the exchange on c6 seems to be at least as popular - for those and some other ideas, see the notes to McShane-Jones. ] 5...a6 This solid move has been pretty popular of late, but is by no means obligatory: [ a) 5...e4!? is ambitious, but not necessarily bad and after A) 6.c4 e7 7.xc6 bxc6!? is probably OK for Black ( and in BromannJones, Icelandic League 2011, 7...dxc6 8.e2 e6 9.d3 b4+! also was ); B) 6.f4 a6 7.xc6 dxc6 8.c4 0-0 9.e2 a5! 10.a4 b4 11.h3 d7! 12.d4 b6 13.xb6 cxb6 14.0-0 h4 Black's fine handling of the queenside gave him rough equality in T.L.PetrosianKravtsiv, Dubai 2012. ] [ b) 5...a5!? was my main recommendation in BUCO , m ee ting on e stran ge -lo ok in g knight move with another. For some reason this has fallen from favour, although 6.e2 ( f o r H o d g s o n ' s 6.f3 a6 7.e2 please see Tony's notes to both HodgsonSpeelman, British League 1998, and Hodgson-Barsov, York 1999,; while 6.c4!? xc4 7.xc4 was considered by John Watson with Karayannis-Banikas, Salonica 2006 here I still feel that 0-0 8.e2 c6 9.g3 c7 is thematic and fine for Black) 6...a6 (wisely preventing any nasty notion of Nb5) 7.c4 0-0 ( again, ChessPub has been here before, with 7...c5 examined by Tony 96
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 in his notes to Berkes-Balogh, Budapest 2004,; and 7...c6 covered in KovacevicMarzolo, W arsaw 2005, this time by John Watson ) 8.c2 ( 8.f3 e8 9.0-0 f8 10.d3 c6 followed by ...d5 sees Black regrouping along classical lines, as examined in BUCO) 8...c5!? ( 8...e8 is a g a i n a n a t u r a l a lt e rn a t ive , b u t it i s tem pt in g to set u p a bind o n d4 b ef ore retreating the knight back to c6) 9.d4?! (an understandable bid for freedom, but as in McShane-Grischuk, the weakness of the e1-a5 diagonal will now help Black) exd4 10.exd4 c6 11.f3 ( 11.d5 a5+ 12.f1 e5! is similar) 11...a5+ 12.b4!? xb4 13.0-0 surely didn't give White more than some practical chances for his pawn in Calugar-Sambuev, Guelph 2011. ] 6.xc6 [ T h i s m u s t b e c r i t i c a l . A f t e r 6.e2?! ChessPub has considered a few moves, but not e4! , which worked out well after 7.d4 ( 7.c4 e7 8.d3 d5 9.e5 xe5 10.xe5 0-0 still leaves White with the problem of his knight on g1) 7...exd3 ( 7...d5!? 8.c4 g5 is a brave engine s u g g e s t i o n) 8.cxd3?! ( 8.xd3 c5 is rather pleasant for Black, but White had to try this ) 8...b4+! (a familiar motif) 9.f1 d5 10.c1 0-0 11.f3 d6 12.h3 b4! 13.d2 c5 and White never recovered in Filippov-Bacrot, Khanty-Mansiysk 2011. ] 6...dxc6 7.c4 e7 8.e2 0-0 The black position resembles the DERLD to some extent and as John Watson says: 'Fairly normal thus far. Black's space and activity might even give him a small advantage.' 9.0-0 [ W atson examined 9.g3 b5 10.xd6 cxd6 11.0-0 e8 in Barnaure-Grunberg, Predeal 2006, which is hardly inspiring for White. ] 9...e4?! [ An overambitious novelty. Black should prefer 9...b5! 10.xd6 cxd6 , as advocated by Tony. Now A) while both Bagirov and Lein tried 11.f4!? , which makes good sense, even if g4 12.e1 xe2 13.xe2 d7 14.f5 ( rather than this gung-ho approach, White might try to exert some positional pressure with 14.fxe5 dxe5 15.a4! ) 14...f6
did seem pretty solid for Black in LeinGruzmann, Grieskirchen 1998.; B) 11.g3 would transpose to our last note, ] 10.xd6 cxd6 11.g3 d5 [ 11...e8!? would have allowed Black the possibility of 12.f3 exf3 13.xf3 g4 , but this still looks bad for him after 14.h5! .] 12.f3! Thematically blasting open lines. exf3 13.xf3 e4! Good defence from the young American, showing that it won't be so easy just to roll Black over on the kingside. 14.h5!? The most ambitious, keeping the knights on and so hoping to drive Black back after Rad1 and d3. f6 [ The solid response, but White's kingside play gives him a definite edge after this. A ke y que stio n is co u ld Black h a ve go n e 14...g5!? , b ase d on th e lin e 15.xg7 ( 15.xg7 g4! is an important point, when White must avoid 16.f6+ xg7 17.xg4? h5 ) 15...xd2 16.f4 f6 . After 17.xg5 fxg5 18.xf8+ xf8 19.h5 White keeps up t h e initia tive, b u t t his m igh t we ll b e tenable for Black, not least with the opposite bishops lurking in preparation for any endgame. ] 15.ad1 f7 16.d3 g5 [ At least the knight gets in the way of White's attack here, unlike after 16...d6? 17.xf6+! gxf6 18.g3+ ] [ or 16...c5? 17.a3 b6 18.d4 . ] 17.e2 g6 18.h1 Petrosian is in no hurry. Realising that his opponent will have grasped the opening has not gone well for Black, he avoids any tricks down the g-file while giving Black the chance to lash out. d7 [ 18...c5? was just the sort of aggressivelooking move that Black might have played in a bid to fight for the initiative, but Naroditsky is too good for such things and no doubt spotted 19.f4! f5 20.a3 b6 21.d4 when White will win at least a pawn. ] 19.f4 e6! [ With 19...a5 s i m p l y m e t b y 20.a4 it's not easy to find any counterplay for Black, but Naroditsky begins preparations for a gradual advance in the centre to stymie the dark-squared bishop. ] 20.h4!? A dangerous manoeuvre, even if my 97
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 machine isn't so impressed. Now everything will b e a im e d a t t h e b la ck kin g on ce t h e queen's rook comes across to join the party. ae8 21.f1 h8 [ Black might have wanted to return the knight to keep the second rook out, but there was no time f o r 21...g5? on account of 22.f4 f7 23.a3 , netting the exchange. ] 22.f3 This was by no means obligatory, but was clearly very consistent. The battle is clearly heating up: will White manage to crash through on the kingside being the big question. c5 23.g3? [ Obvious, but this falls into a masterful positional trap. White should have begin with 23.f2 , a n d i f t h e n g5 ( and not 23...f7?? 24.xf6! gxf6 25.xf6 ) 24.f4 f7 25.g3 , maintaining a rough balance. ] 23...f7 Observe how the knight on e6 defends g7, while the king's rook has stayed on f8 to help shore up the defence of f6. I might have been unimpressed with Black's p l a y i n t h e o p e n in g , b u t N a r o d it s ky h a s regrouped impressively since then. 24.f2 [ In view of what happens, one might wonder about 24.d1? to keep the knight covered, but then d4! 25.exd4 g6 26.f4 g5 is rather awkward. ] 24...d4! 25.exd4 [ 25.e4?? g6 was definitely not the way to go. White's aggressively-posted pieces are actually in a slight pickle and so Petrosian has to keep the long diagonal open. ] 25...g5! [ After 25...g6 26.dxc5! gxh5 27.f3 White would have three pawns and ongoing pressure for the piece, rather unclear though this would have been. Naroditsky prefers to force matters. ] 26.d5 d4! [ White is being outplayed by his young adversary. Here Naroditsky rightly went for glory and so rejected 26...gxh4 27.xf6+ g7 28.xg7 xf6 29.xf6 xf6 30.xh7+ xh7 31.xh4+ g7 32.g5+ g6 ( 32...f7! , and if 33.h3 f1+ 34.h2 f5 , looks a better try) 33.d2 when White surely has enough pawns to be the only side able to win the resulting endgame. ] 27.xd4! Again, the only real chance for
White. cxd4 28.xf6!? [ The ending after 28.xg5 e5 29.xe5 fxe5 30.xf7 xf7 31.g1 g4 32.g3 c7 would have been pretty bad for White, so Petrosian goes all in. ] 28...xf6 29.f3 [ Trying to bluff, whereas even if Naroditsky was down to just a 30-second increment h e ' d s u r e l y s p o t t e d 29.xd4 e1+! 30.xe1 xd4 . ] 29...f4?? [ A strange move and a terrible blunder, which leads me to suspect Black was very low on time, or just panicked having missed the sacrifice on f6. He had to avoid both 29...g7?? 30.xd4 ] [ and 29...e7?? 30.xd4+ , ] [ while 29...f5 30.xf5 xf5 31.xd4+ f6 32.xf6+ xf6 33.xf6+ g8 34.g1 would have left a tricky ending. ] [ However, there was a clear win available wit h the calm 29...g8! , and if 30.xf6 xf6 31.g1 ef8 when there's nothing to be done about ...Rf1. ] 30.h3 The bluff has paid off! By creating some luft W hite leaves Black unable to save his qu e e n (go in g t o d 6 d ro p s d 4 t o a r a t h e r terrible check). h6 31.xf4 xf4 32.d2 Black does have two rooks for the queen, but h i s k i n g i s s i m p l y f a r t o o e x p o s e d . g8 33.b4 e2 34.d6! xc2 35.g6+ [ Either all the kingside pawns fall or it's mate after 35.g6+ f8 36.a3+ . ] 1-0
103 Rapport,Richard Golod,Vitali Riga Tech op 4th (5) [Kosten, Tony]
A01 2704 2574 20.08.2014
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 5.a3 e7 Quite trendy, the bishop retreats so that Black can play ...d6. [ 5...a6 is also considered this month in Rapport, R (2704)-Onischuk, A (2659)/ Tromso 2014. ] [ While 5...e4 is seen in Jobava, B (2713)Dukaczewski, P (2288)/Tromso 2014. ] [ We've previously considered Sveshnikov's 98
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 5...a5 a lot, see the Archive. ] 6.c4 [ 6.e2 0-0 7.c4 Jobava, B (2710) Bacrot, E (2702) Fujairah City UAE 2012, could transpose after d6 8.xc6 bxc6 ] 6...d6 7.xc6+ bxc6 8.e2 This is a SuperGM position (!), as so far only very strong p l a y e r s h a v e r e a c h e d i t . 0-0 9.0-0 Black has the bishop pair and more space, but typical 'Spanish' doubled c-pawns, which occurs a lot in Larsen's Variation. W hite is ready to play either f4 or d4 to open the a1-h8 diagonal and weaken Black's central control. e8 A logical novelty, Black figures that the rook will always be useful on the e-file at some point, and defers deciding where to put his pawns or minor pieces. [ 9...c5 Alex didn't like this move, 10.d4! ( 10.f4 e4 Ivanchuk, V-Le Quang, L.) 10...exd4 11.exd4 Jobava, B-Jakovenko, D both games are in the PGN Archive ] [ 9...e6 was mentioned by Alex, "to get rid of the knight", 10.f4!? exf4 ( 10...xc4 11.bxc4 b8 12.b1 is a little better for W hit e be cause of his sup erio r bishop .) 11.xf4 d7 12.f3 with the usual aggressive kingside stance, Aravindh, C (2467)-Rausis, I (2578)/ Riga 2014, 1-0 (63). ] 10.g3 White also keeps his options open. [ Both 10.f4 ] [ and 10.d4 were possible. ] 10...e6 11.d3 d7 12.d2 A strange idea, do es he ju st wa nt t o kee p p ie ces o n t h e board? [ 12.e4 must be a little better for White. ] 12...a5!? A double-edged move as this pawn was safer on a7. 13.a4 Fixing the a5-pawn on a dark square, White certainly shouldn't allow it to advance as then Black would be able to e x c h a n g e o n e o f h i s w e a k n e s s e s . d5 14.c4 Back again? Does this mean that he felt his 12th move was wrong, or that he has tricked Black into weakening his a-pawn? c5 W h e n y o u h a ve t h e p a i r o f b i s h o p s yo u should always put your pawns on the same colour as your opponent's remaining bishop. 15.d2 Looking at a5. b4 A good move, but maybe it was time to move over to the offensive: [ 15...f5!? 16.xf5 ( 16.xa5?! f4 17.exf4
exf4 18.e4 f3 would be rather unpleasant.; 16.f4 exf4 17.exf4 was best. ) 16...xf5 17.e4 f4 18.exf5 xf5 would oblige W hite to guard against sacrifices on g2 - Black can never be worse here. ] 16.f4! f6 Solid. [ 16...exf4 17.h5! f6 18.e4 with similar play to the game. ] 17.e4 f8?! If Black has to play this then maybe his ...Re8 wasn't so good after all? [ 17...exf4 18.xf4 d5 19.exd5 xd5 20.e4 was similar to the game except that his rook was still on the useful open e-file. ] 18.f2 Getting ready to double rooks. [ 18.ae1 is more natural, but leaves the apawn undefended, xc4 19.dxc4 c6 20.f5 d4 still, White is better here. ] 18...exf4 19.xf4 d5!? Active, but it leaves Black's queenside very weak. 20.exd5 xd5 [ 20...xd5 21.af1 is also good for White. ] 21.e4 Something has gone very wrong for Black, as W hite's knight is now very strong and he has strong pressure on the e-line. f7 22.xa5 A pawn is a pawn! f5 23.xe7! [ 23.ee1 was also playable, but less pretty: f4 24.e4 b4 25.c4 xc4 26.dxc4 xd2 27.xd2 and Black has a little compensation for the pawn, but not much. ] 23...xe7 24.b7 g6 [ 24...d5 25.xc5 c6 was an alternative. ] 25.e1?! An inaccuracy. [ 25.xc5 d6 26.c3 f7 27.e1 was simpler. ] 25...f4?! Black returns the favour. [ 25...d5! stops White from playing Qc3, and 26.xc5 d6 is not completely clear. ] 26.xc5 Now White is back on track. c6 [ 26...d6 27.c3 f7 28.ge4 is little better. ] 27.c3 Defending c5 with gain of tempo. f7 28.e6 d5 29.e5 c6 30.ge4 All White's pieces are on active squares, and he also has two pawn for the exchange. f3 31.gxf3 xe4?! Now Black goes down without a fight. [ 31...d5 can be met by the neat tactic 32.xd5!? ( 32.d4 xe4 33.xe4 also keeps a plus.) 32...xd5 33.xg7+ xg7 34.f6+ f7 35.xd5 which must be 99
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.f4 d7 9.bc3 d5 10.a4 d6 11.e1 e7 12.h1 f6 and there was certainly nothing wrong with Black's position, although 1-0 (46) Rapport, R (2701)-Petersen, T (2334) Helsingor 2014. ] 5.a3 a6 Grabbing the bishop pair. [ Sveshnikov's 5...a5 is the mainline. ] [ 5...e7 is Rapport, R (2704)-Golod, V (2574) Riga 2014 ] [ and 5...e4 is seen in Jobava, B (2713)Dukaczewski, P (2288)/ Tromso 2014, both this month. ] 6.xc6 dxc6 7.c4 e7 8.a4!? Rapport's new idea , which he'd already tried a f e w months before. White hinders ...b5, and plans both a5, to fix Black's weakened queenside, and also possibly Nxd6 followed by Ba3. [ In his first outing with 1 b3, Rapport, R (2691)-So, W (2719) Wijk aan Zee 2014, he h a d p l a y e d t h e ' a u t o m a t i c ' 8.e2 which had been met by A) 8...0-0 is normal, 9.0-0 is Petrosian, TNaroditsky, D ( and 9.g3 b5 is Barnaure, V-Grunberg, M, both in the PGN Archive. ); B) 8...b5 9.xd6+ cxd6 10.a4 b4 11.0-0 0-0 12.g3 d5 13.f4 f6 when Black had equalised, and went on to win. ] 8...0-0 [ 8...b5!? is still possible, when 9.axb5 ( 9.xd6+ cxd6 10.e2 would transpose to his game against So.) 9...cxb5 10.xd6+ cxd6 11.e2 still looks fine for Black. ] 9.a5 [ 9.e2 e4 10.xd6 xd6 ( 10...cxd6 ) 11.g3 ( 11.d4 w i t h a t h r e a t ! exd3 12.xd3 xd3 13.cxd3 with a structural 104 A01 advantage, but opposite colour bishops.) 11...e8 12.0-0 ( 12.f3! exf3 13.xf3 Rapport,Richard 2704 is stronger, White is better.) 12...g4 13.f3 Onischuk,Alexander 2659 exf3 14.gxf3 h3 15.f2 ad8 16.e2 Tromsoe ol (Men) 41st (8.3) 10.08.2014 d5 17.h1 h6 18.g1 [Kosten, Tony] 1/2-1/2 Grandadam, N (2306)-Antoli Royo, J (2443) Biel 2014. ] 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 This is slowly 9...g4!? Onischuk's new move. taking over mainline status from [ 9...d7 10.e2 b5 illustrates the [ 3...d5 , especially for the elite, although I advantage of having the a-pawn on a5: can see no obvious reason for this. ] ( 10...e4!? ) 11.axb6 cxb6 12.xd6 xd6 4.b5 d6 13.d4 exd4 14.xd4 xd4 15.xd4 e5 [ 4...d6 is the main alternative, 5.xc6+!? 16.f3 e8 17.f2 a7 18.hd1 ae7 ( 5.e2 is Larsen, B-Eley, B, in the Rapport, R (2687)-Stevic, H (2611) Austria Archive. ) 5...bxc6 6.e2 e7 7.0-0 0-0 better for W hite with his 4 pawns for two exchanges. Still, Black must have some chances here. ] 32.xe4 xc3 33.xc3 g6 34.c5 This ending is lost for Black, W hite has 3 pawns for the exchange and active pieces. af8 [ 34...xf3?! 35.xc7 hits g7, and after f7 36.xf7 xf7 37.a5 the 4 connected passed pawns will triumph. ] 35.g5 [ 35.a5 was more incisive. ] 35...f5 Taking advantage of the opportunity to exchange a pair of rooks - this is nearly always advisable when you are an exchange ahead. 36.xf5 xf5 37.e4 xf3 38.a5 f8 39.b4 White has a 4 to 1 majority on the queenside, but the black c-pawn does a useful job of holding the white pawns up. Can Black find a way to hinder White from playing c4, b5 a n d a 6 wh e n h is p a wn c h a i n wi l l b e t o o strong? e7 [ 39...f4 looks more active, 40.d2 e2+ 41.g2 but d4 42.c4 transposes below. ] 40.d2 c6 41.g2 f7 This looks slow, but [ 41...d4 42.c4 should also be enough. ] 42.b5 d4 43.c4 b3 44.b4 d8 45.a6 Now it's cle ar t hat W hit e is win ning. e6 46.f2 xd3 47.d6! d1 [ 47...cxd6 48.a7 queens. ] 48.xc7 d7 49.e5 c1 50.b6 c2+ 51.g3 The white pawns can no longer be stopped. 1-0
100
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2014, 1-0 (65), when 19.e2 followed by Rd6 assures W hite a considerable advantage - he can double rooks on the open d-file and maybe capture on e5 to avoid opposite bishops. ] 10.e2 d7 [ Or 10...e4 first. ] 11.0-0 e4 12.xd6 Ironing out Black's structure, and introducing opposite bishops, but making sure that the powerful b2-bishop has no counterpart. cxd6 13.f3!? Essentially White is swapping the g-pawn for the e-pawn, he gains the g-file and a central majority, but weakens his king position. [ 13.d3 is a good alternative. ] 13...exf3 14.gxf3 h3 15.f2 White will play Nf4 and Rg2 with a potentially strong attack on g7. How should Black react? e5 [ 15...fe8 16.f4 h4 17.xh3 xh3 18.g2 g6 19.f4 looks unpleasant for Black, sooner or later the white queen will get to the a1-h8 diagonal. ] [ 15...c5! 16.f4 ( 16.h1 f6 ) 16...f5 17.g2 g6 is a better way of blocking the g-file, Black has nothing to fear. ] 16.f4 [ 16.f4 also has it's points. ] 16...g6 [ 16...d7 17.g3 f6 18.e4 and Qf3 or Qh5 and the makings of a strong initiative. ] 17.f5 g5+ 18.g3 e5 19.a4!! This might not be the best move, but what a great way to bring your final piece into the game, and what a way to justify playing a4-5! [ 19.h5! is a l s o r a t h e r s t ro n g : xh5 20.xh5 menaces Ra4 to trap the bishop, g4 21.xe5 dxe5 22.g3 g6 23.a4 with advantage. ] 19...g4 [ 19...g6! 20.h1 f6 kept Black in the game, although he is still worse. ] 20.f1 f6?? Stopping White from advancing his f-pawn, but losing on the spot. [ 20...fe8 21.af4 d5 22.h3 is hardly any better. ] 21.xe5 [ 21.xe5 fxe5 22.c4+ wins the bishop. ] 1-0
105 Rasulov,Vugar Ural Oglu Mchedlishvili,Mikheil Baku op (5) [Fier, Alexandr]
A01 2488 2633 23.09.2013
White tries a solid double fianchetto, but 7... d5 changes the character of the position and it l o o ks l i k e B l a c k is f i n e . O n e p o s s i b l e improvement is 10... Bg4!? 1.b3 e5 2.b2 d6 Looking for a King's Indian setup 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.c4 e7 6.e3 0-0 7.e2 d5 Opening the position bef ore W hite has a chance to play d4, reaching a kind of structure similar to some Kan lines with ...g6. W hite needs to be careful about the white squares but, if nothing serious happens, he has a solid position. [ 7...bc6 if Black continues with the normal plan White can try to get some advantage with d4 8.0-0 f5 9.d4 and the knight on e7 is worse than on f6 ] 8.cxd5 xd5 9.0-0 [ 9.d4 c a n b e a b i t p r e m a t u r e c5!? forcing the center 10.dxc5 ( 10.dxe5 b4 11.f4 xd1+ 12.xd1 d8+ 13.c1 g5 and Black has the initiative. One possible continuation can be 14.a3 gxf4 15.axb4 fxe3 16.fxe3 cxb4 and Black has the better prospects ) 10...b4 11.0-0 ( 11.xd8 xd8 and White can't avoid both 12...Nc2 and 12...Nd3.) 11...xd1 12.xd1 c2 13.bc3 xa1 14.xa1 and White has compensation for the exchange but probably not more than enough. ] 9...c6 [ 9...b4?! does not work now since it's not possible to en te r in to d 3 10.d4 exd4 11.xd4 8c6 12.xg7 xg7 13.a3 and White has pressure on the queenside ] 10.a3 [ 10.d4 g4 is annoying ] 10...e6 [ 10...g4!? I like this move, and it can enter into an improved version of the position played in the game 11.h3 ( 11.bc3 xc3 12.xc3 d3 13.f3 e6 14.f4 g4 15.f2 ad8 and White is under pressure) 11...e6 12.d4 ( 12.c2 d7 now this move attacks the pawn on h3 13.h2 ad8 with some advantage to Black) 12...b6 101
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.dxe5 xd1 14.xd1 xb3 and White needs to work to equalize ] 11.c2 [ 11.d4 g4 again is possible and good ] 11...d7 12.d1 f5 [ 12...a5!? is more forcing, trying to put pressure on the queenside before W hite f in is h es his de velo pm e n t 13.b4 c4 14.xc4 ( 14.bc3 xb2 15.xb2 c6 ) 14...xe3 ( 14...f4 does not work 15.c2 xe2+ 16.f1 and the knight is trapped) 15.xe6 xe6 16.dxe3 b3 17.bc3 ad8 18.db1 with unclear consequences, d e s p i t e t h e c o m p u t e r' s p re f e r e n c e f o r Black. ] 13.bc3 Finally White's knight can get out a n d t h e p o s i t i o n i s c l o s e t o e q u a l . ad8 14.a4 [ 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5+ xd5 16.d4 would probably bring a drawish endgame ] 14...f7 15.c5 c8 16.f4!? This move is in te re s ting, b ut it 's risky f o r W hite to le t himself get cramped after ...e4. [ 16.b4 is a normal move, searching for counterplay before Black's attack begins f4!? 17.c3 ce7 18.ac1 xc3 ( 18...fxg3 19.fxg3 does not help Black) 19.xc3 d5 20.c4 c6 with a complex middlegame ] 16...d6 [ 16...b6 is natural and both escapes are possible 17.d3 looking at e5 ( 17.a4 i s m o r e n o r m a l b7 18.ac1 e4 but at some point W hite might have p r o b l e m s t o c o n t i n u e h i s co u n t e r p l a y) 17...a6! 18.fxe5 xd3 19.xd3 xe5 ( 19...f4 looks scary but the queen still has o n e s q u a r e 20.b5 xe2+ 21.xe2 xe5= ) 20.c2 c5 with a harmonious position for Black ] 17.c3 [ 17.fxe5 xe5 18.f4 is a nice way to combat Black's central control ] 17...xc3 [ 17...exf4! was tempting 18.xd5 ( 18.gxf4 d4! 19.exd4 xd4+ 20.h1 xc5 21.xd5 xd5 with a pawn up) 18...xb2 19.xb2 xd5 20.xd5 ( 20.b4 fxg3 21.hxg3 d6 ) 20...xd5 21.b4 fxg3 22.b3 ( 22.hxg3? f3-+ ) 22...gxh2+ 23.xh2 xb3 24.xb3 e5 and the position is not clear, but in the long
term Black's pawns can prove more important than the exchange. ] 18.xc3 e4 Closing the Bishop, but White still has the f1-a6 diagonal at his disposal. 19.f1 h8 20.b4 xc3 21.xc3+ g7 The weakness of the d-pawn is not enough for Black to try anything serious. Meanwhile White can try to use the c-file for his rooks. After all the position is about equal 22.f2 [ 22.ac1 xc3 23.xc3 fd8 24.b3 e7! 25.xc7? d5 and 26...Nxe3 is coming ] 22...fd8 23.e1 e7 24.ac1 xc3 25.xc3 d5 Now it's hard for anyone to make progress. 26.cc1 c6 27.b3 g7 28.a5 f6 29.c4 6d7 30.e5 d6 31.c4 b6 32.b5 cxb5 33.xb5 e6 34.c7 d5 35.cc1 e7 36.c4 ½-½
106 Rebel Century Nimzo 7.32 Cadaques Tournament (12) [Tony Kosten]
A01
28.01.2000
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 d5 4.b5 d6 5.f3 [ A rare alternative to 5.f4 or ] [ 5.c4 ] 5...e7 [ 5...f6 would be my preference, I think, firmly defending the e5-pawn. ] 6.c4 f6 7.c5 the point of White's opening, swapping the c-pawn for Black's e-pawn. xc5 8.xe5 0-0 9.xc6 bxc6 10.xc6 [ And why not? The 10.e2 d6 11.0-0?! e4 12.c3 f5 is fine for Black, Zwaig,APoulsson,E/Sandefjord 1975, but 11 d3 might offer White something. ] 10...b8 11.c3 [ This new move appears to be a sound idea, the knight can come to e2 if necessary, so that W hite can castle if the black bishop comes to a6. 11.f3 d6 12.a4 g4 13.g3 a6 14.f3 also seems good for White, as the white queen didn't prove too exposed, Wolf,W-Wrobel,F/Germany 1990/ GER-chT2. ] 11...e6 12.a4 One problem for White is 102
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the offside position of this piece. a6 13.e2 d6 14.f3 d7 The knight wants to come to c5, threatening intrusion on d3, and the bishop on a4. 15.xd7 Probably best, but now Black has the bishop pair, and the weak white light squares offer him some compensation for the pawn. xd7 16.0-0 fe8 17.e1 c5 18.c1 d8 19.f4 d4 A typical pawn thrust in such p o s i t i o n s , t h e h a n g i n g b l a c k p a wn s a r e s t a t i c a l ly we a k , b u t d yn a m i ca l ly st ro n g . 20.g3 a5 21.c2 b7 22.a1 a6 23.b2 c6 An odd position, both computers are lining-up on the opposing g-pawn, like two patzers. 24.d3 f6 25.e4 dxe3 26.c4 I n d i r e c t l y d e f e n d i n g t h e f - p a w n . bd8 27.xe3 xf4 Aiming for a drawn oppositec o l o u r b i s h o p e n d i n g . 28.xf6+ xf6 29.xe8+ xe8 30.xf6 gxf6 31.xf4 e1+ 32.f1 e2 Both sides are obliged to repeat moves. 33.f2 e1+ 34.f1 e2 35.f2 e1+ 36.f1 ½-½
success, his pieces are well-placed, and he is r e a d y t o e x p a n d w i t h . . . d 5 . 16.e4 Aiming for the weak g5-square, Black's sixth move has a cost! d5 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.g5 c8 19.h4 c6?! [ Perhaps 19...f6!? should be considered? ] 20.c5! Black's last move weakened his co nt rol of d 5 , a nd W h it e wa st es no tim e la t c h i n g o n t o i t . d4 21.exd4 cxd4 22.xd4 xd4 23.e1 g4? [ Black should certainly defend e5 more s e c u r e l y , a l t h o u g h 23...e8 24.f4 is favourable to White. ] 24.exe5! A powerful exchange sac, to deprive Black of his key dark-squared bishop. xe5 25.xe5 c8 [ This doesn't last long, but Black is probably l o s i n g a n y w a y , 25...b6 avoids White gaining a tempo with his rook, but even so, 26.e4 fd8 27.h6 threatening Ng5, is decisive, ] [ 25...c6 may be the best, as the knight is no longer a target, but 26.d5 e7 27.e4 f6 28.f4 f5 and now, 29.d6 107 A01 i s t h e s i m p l e s t , xe4 30.xe4 g7 31.xf6 winning. ] Sasikiran,Krishnan 2573 Shabalov,Alexander 2601 26.d5 e2+ 27.h2 c7 28.e4 f5 [ 28...f6 is only a slight improvement: 34th Olympiad (4) 31.10.2000 29.xf6+ xf6 30.xf6 ] [Tony Kosten] 29.h6 [ 29.h6 h7 30.xh7+ xh7 31.d7+ 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 a6!? forces mate. ] Clearly played to stop Bb5, but not especially useful. 4.c4 g6 5.c3 g7 6.g3 1-0 W hite brings play into a hybrid English Opening where the black ...a6-move seems 108 A01 out-of-pace. h5!? Spraggett,Kevin 2495 [ A typical, aggressive, move in such Dorfman,Josif D 2575 p o s i t i o n s , b u t a n e w m o v e h e r e , 6...d6 1991 7.g2 f5 8.ge2 f6 is more typical, with France chances for both sides, Degenhardt, H- [Tony Kosten] Berndt,M/Germany 1996. ] 1.b3 d5 2.b2 g4 Black decides to play in 7.g2!? d6 [ 7...h4 would justify his previous move, but the style of the Capablanca line against the Reti. 3.h3 Black has decided to keep the pawn on h5. ] [ 3.g3 Is also logical, when c5!? ( 3...c6 8.h3 h6 4.g2 d7 5.f3 Transposes directly into [ Now 8...h4 can be answered by 9.g4 ] a main line Reti, e.g. gf6 6.0-0 c7 7.d4 9.d3 0-0 10.d2 d7 11.ge2 White has a e6 8.bd2 d6 9.c4 Minasjan,A-Akopian, harmonious set-up, much employed by V/USSR 1991.) 4.g2 c6 5.f3 e6 Howard Staunton. b8 12.c1 f5 13.d5 Leads to a standard type of position, with ce7 14.0-0 c6 15.dc3 e6 the exception that the black light-squared Black's opening seems to be a reasonable 103
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 bishop is outside the pawn chain. 6.e5 xe5 7.xe5 f6 8.c4 e7 9.c3 0-0 offering a pawn sacrifice that W hite was loathe to accept, Tu Hoang ThongNogueiras,J/Yerevan (ol) 1996. ] 3...h5 4.f3!? Provocative, [ 4.g3!? would be safer, with a likely transposition to the Reti Opening. ] 4...xf3! 5.exf3 White gains the bishop pair, bu t his pa wn st ru ct ure lo ses som e of it s elasticity. [ Ca p tu rin g to ward t h e ce nt re, b y 5.gxf3 i s n o b e t t e r e6 6.e3 f6 7.f4 g6 Black places his pawns carefully on light squares. 8.f3 g7 is level, BucholzMakarychev, Mexico 1977 ] 5...f6 6.f4 e6 7.g3 g6! This is the same p l a n a s i n t h e n o t e t o m o ve f i v e . B l a c k constructs a light-squared blockade, and is particularly careful to stop White from playing f5, which would liquidate his doubled pawn. 8.e2 bd7 9.g2 c6 White was threatening to capture on d5. 10.0-0 g7 11.d4 The owner of the bishop pair often puts his pawns on the same colour squares as his opponent's remaining bishop, in order to inhibit it. 0-0 12.d1 a5 13.a4 The position is reasonably level, as with such a relatively static structu re, knigh ts are th e equ al o f bishops. b6 14.d2 a6 15.e1 A slight concession, but White doesn't want to play the endgame. fc8 16.f3 The knight is c o m i n g t o t h e s t r o n g o u t p o s t o n e 5 . b5 Black continues his light-squared campaign. 17.e5 b4 18.g4 Black is making headway on the queenside, so White decides to make a d e m o n s t ra t i o n o n t h e o t h e r wi n g . b7 19.e2 ab8 20.e1 e8! Careful defence f r o m B l a c k - W h i t e wa s l i n i n g - u p a N xf 7 sacrifice. 21.h4 h5 22.f3?! White is trying to maintain his pawn flexibility, but [ 22.g5!? is tempting, gaining considerable s p a c e o n t h e k i n g s i d e , h7 23.f3 and White can prepare a sacrifice on h5. ] 22...c5 Now that the white kingside is weaker, Black can afford to open the centre. 23.ac1 c7 24.h1 c4!? offering a pawn sacrifice that W hite is under pressure to accept, as Black's queenside pawns are threatening to swamp W hite's b2-bishop. 25.bxc4 dxc4 26.xc4 xc4 27.xc4 ec8 28.f1! b6
29.xb6 xb6 Not only has Black gained the d5-square for his knight, he has also lef t W h it e's b isho p s lo oking m isp la ce d . 30.f5 This is White's best chance, ridding himself of the doubled pawn. hxg4 31.fxg4 xg4 32.fxe6 xe6?! Keeping all the rooks on the board by [ 32...fxe6 was more accurate. ] 33.xe6 fxe6 34.a6?! [ 34.c4 had to be played. ] 34...c7 35.c4? f2+ 36.g2 d3 Black is winning material. 37.b1 xb2 38.xb2 xd4 39.b3 Without the rooks this would be a draw, because of the oppositecolour bishops, but with the rooks, it is a different matter, altogether. h7 40.g3 f6 41.c8 f7 42.e3 e5 43.c5 White is unable to hold his h-pawn, as [ 43.e4 is met by b3 forcing the rook to move off the fourth rank. ] 43...xh4+ 44.f3 e7! 45.xe5 h5! B l a c k h a s co rr e ct ly wo rk e d - o u t t h a t t h e b i s h o p e n d i n g i s n o w wi n n i n g, b e c a u s e Black's two passed pawns are too far apart. 46.xh5 gxh5 47.c6 d6 48.e4 f6 49.h3 c7 50.g2 e6 51.d4 d6 52.c4 h4 53.d4 b6+ 54.c4 e5 The king goes towards the h4-pawn, to help it queen. if the white king follows, then the bpawn will advance, to deflect it. Notice that the black a5-pawn is the right rook's pawn! 55.h3 c7 56.d7 e4 57.e6 e5 58.d7 f4 59.d3 g3 60.e2 h3 61.e6 g2 0-1
109 Svidler,Peter Nielsen,Peter Heine Politiken Larsen Blitz b3 blitz (6) [Nigel Davies]
A01 2734 2700 04.08.2010
1.b3 d5 2.b2 g4 A popular and supposedly solid method of defence, though there are things that White can try. 3.f3 h5 4.h3 Aiming to gain the bishop pair with Nh3f4. This looks like a reasonable plan for White, though he has to be careful about the opening of the h-file and his potential vulnerability along the b8-h2 diagonal. e6 Some strong 104
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 players have tried o ther m oves he re, f o r example: [ a) 4...f6 5.d4 e6 6.e4 b4+ 7.c3 d6 8.d3 c6 9.d2 e7 10.e2 e5!? 11.dxe5 xe5 12.g4 g6 13.f4 d6 14.0-0-0 gave White some initiative in Oral, T (2565)-Gyimesi, Z (2613)/Germany 2005. ] [ b) 4...c6 5.f4 g6 6.xg6?! (W hite could certainly have delayed this exchange) hxg6 7.d4?! ( 7.e3 was better W hite doesn't realise the danger to his kingside ) 7...e6 8.g3 d6 9.f4 g5! 10.e3 gxf4 11.exf4 g5 put White in serious trouble in Ask, J (2191)-Brynell, S (2471)/ Helsingor 2009. ] 5.f4 g6 6.e3 [ Another mode of development is with 6.g3 after which f6 7.xg6 hxg6 8.g2 d6 9.0-0 bd7 10.c4 e7 11.d4 was quite pleasant for W hite because of his bishop pair in Ibragimov, I (2485)-Novikov, I (2550)/ Moscow 1991/URS-ch. ] 6...f6 7.xg6 hxg6 8.f4 d6 [ T h e d a n g e r o u s l o o k i n g 8...e4 can be answered by 9.g4 . ] 9.f3 e7 10.c3 c6 11.e4 dxe4 12.xe4 a3 13.d4 bd7 14.g3?! Developing rather too slowly after which Black opens up the centre. [ 14.e2 would have been better. ] 14...e5 15.xf6+ gxf6 16.e3 exf4 17.xf4 c5 18.f2?! Leaving White's king in permanent danger. [ 18.0-0-0 was better. ] 18...xe3+ Perhaps the clock played a part in Black's willingness to enter and endgame. [ 18...h5! would have been much stronger because of the ongoing danger to White's king. ] 19.xe3 xe3+ 20.xe3 f5 21.g2?! [ 21.e2 followed by 22.h4 would have been better. ] 21...f6 22.f3 0-0-0 23.d3 de8+ [ 23...h3 was stronger. Now White should have been OK, but then again this is a blitz game. ] 24.d2 g4 25.h4 f6 26.ae1 xe1 27.xe1 d7 28.f2 d6 29.c3 a5 30.a4 d5?! 31.xd5 cxd5 32.e3 e5 33.d4+ f6 34.c4 e8+ 35.d3 e4 36.cxd5 g4 This looks like a win on time as White is on
top here. 0-1
110 Svidler,Peter Nielsen,Peter Heine Politiken Larsen Blitz b3 blitz (2) [Nigel Davies]
A01 2734 2700 04.08.2010
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 d5 Occupying the centre like this is a principled way to play the position, though the broad pawn centre also brings obligations in its wake. 4.b5 d6 5.f3 [ There are alternatives to this sensible move, for example 5.f4 ] [ and 5.e2 . ] 5...e7 [ 5...g4 is a solid alternative, see Valejo Pons - Gustafsson for details. ] 6.c4 a6 7.xc6+ [ After 7.a4 Black has an interesting possibility in b5!? 8.cxb5 b4 9.bxa6+ f8 with dangerous compensation for the pawn. ] 7...bxc6 8.c5! An excellent idea which takes out Black's important e5 pawn and leaves him with weaknesses along the c-file. W hite is b e t t e r n o w . xc5 9.xe5 b7 10.0-0 On the other hand this seems too automatic. [ 10.c2! looks much better, one of the p o i n t s b e i n g t h a t f6 can be met by ( 10...f6 is better ) 11.xc6! xc6 12.a3 , winning back the piece with a pawn as interest. ] 10...d6 11.f3 [ \/A wild gambler might well take a chance on 11.xc6!? xc6 12.c2 b7 13.xg7 e5 14.xh8 xh8 15.c3 , though Rybka likes White's position a lot more than I do. ] 11...f6 12.d3 c5 13.bd2 0-0 14.c2 fe8 [ The immediate 14...a5 would have been more incisive. Now the c5 pawn comes under fire and White gets an edge. ] 15.ac1 a5 16.a3 a6 Black is scrambling here. [ 16...d7 is strongly met by 17.d4 cxd4 18.xd6 cxd6 ( 18...xd6 19.xc7 is strong ) 19.xd4 with a clear advantage 105
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 for White because of his queenside pawn majority. ] 17.xc5 xc5 18.xc5 xd3 19.fe1 a4 Understandably trying to exchange off some pawns rather than get passively tied down to c7. [ After 19...xc5 20.xc5 e7 21.ec1 a7 22.d4 Black's position would be desperate. ] 20.xc7 axb3 21.xe7 xe7 22.axb3 g6 23.a1 ea7 24.xa7 xa7 25.h3 A bit slow. [ 25.e5 would have been much stronger. Now Black's rook takes up residence on the 7th rank. ] 25...a2 26.c1 b2 27.c3 e4 28.c8+ g7 29.c7 xf3 30.xf3 e4 31.e5 xf2 32.b4 g8 33.c6 [ 33.d7 would have been a slightly better try. ] 33...b2 34.e7+ g7 35.xd5 h5 36.c4? g3? [ Missing 36...b1+ 37.h2 d2 when W hite is face with the threats of ... Nxc4 and ...Nf1+ and goes a pawn down after 38.d4 f1+ 39.g1 xe3+ 40.f2 xd5 41.xd5 xb4 Admittedly he should drawn the rook and pawn endgame but it wouldn't be especially pleasant. ] 37.h4 f5 38.f4 d2 39.e4 d4 40.h2 b2 41.e5 c6 42.e4 d2 43.f4 d4 44.b5 xb5 45.e6 fxe6 46.xe6 d6 47.xd6 xd6 ½-½
fails to xd5 ] 8.fd2 e8 9.c4 f8 10.c3 d6 A logical move to which White responds with abandon. Somehow it seems to be a mistake! [ 10...d5 is more aggressive and keeps the bishop on b2 hemmed in. There could follow 11.cxd5 b4 12.0-0 bxd5 ] 11.a3 To stop ...Nb4, although this was probably unnecessary. Black responds with a loss of time, so it evens out. a6?! 12.g4! Why not? This is the reason for including this game. Remarkably, Black faces real troubles concerning g5 and Nxe4. The move g4 is being played in every kind of position these days! h8 [ 12...h6 13.h4 e7 ( 13...g5 14.hxg5 hxg5 15.c2 xg4 16.g1! leads to a powerful attack, e.g., xe2 17.xg5+ g7 18.xe2! h7 19.g2 f5 20.ag1 e7 21.d5 f7 22.f4 and Nh5 or a welltimed d5 wins. )] 13.h4! b5 Trying to divert White. There's nothing to be done about g5. 14.g5 g8 15.cxb5 axb5 16.xb5 [ 16.cxe4! is also very strong. ] 16...d7 17.dxe4 d5 18.g3 b8 19.d3 W hite is winning. A smooth attack follows. c8 20.c2 ce7 21.d3 g6 22.h5 g7 [ 22...f5 23.xf5 xf5 24.xf5 gxf5 25.d2 ] 23.hxg6 fxg6 24.0-0-0 c6 25.ce2 f5 26.f4 ge7 27.xg6+ xg6 28.xf5 xf5 29.xf5 e6 30.f7 1-0
111
112
Tumini,Juan Pedro Samur,Arturo IRT Eduardo Orosco (10) [John Watson]
A01 2142 2164 17.03.2005
In a game between two lower-rated players, Black shows another solid setup but then overextends. 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.d4 b4+ 5.c3 d6 Now we have a strange variant of Black's setup from the previous game. 6.f3 0-0 7.e2 e4!? Committal. [ 7...exd4 8.exd4 ( 8.cxd4 b4+ 9.c3 d5= ) 8...e8 9.0-0 f4!? with ...d5 next yie ld s s p a ce an d equ alit y, sin ce 10.d5?
Vaisser,Anatoli Flear,Glenn C FRA-chT poule haute (10) [Jonathan Rowson]
A01 2573 2489 10.05.2004
1.b3 d5 2.b2 g4 3.f3 [ 3.d3 An early b3 combined with d3 raises a tactical issue that I f irst learned f rom a game between Josh W aitzkin and Victor Kortchnoi: e6 4.d2 c6 5.gf3 f6 6.h3 xf3 7.xf3 a3! 8.xa3 a5+ and Black equalises. ] [ 3.f3 A simpler way to play, and if Black responds too automatically he runs into 106
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 some trouble: xf3 4.exf3 f6 5.g3 g6?! This is quite a standard way to try to neutralise the bishop on b2, but here there is a tactical problem. ( 5...e6 6.g2 g6! The move e6 is not entirely wasted, because it supports the centre, and Black has a very comfortable position here e.g. 7.0-0 g7 8.f4 0-0 9.d3 e8 10.xg7 xg7 11.d2 d7 12.f3 c6 ) 6.e2! Causing some annoying tactical problems. The reason I c h o s e t o s h a r e t h is ga m e is t h a t wh il e figuring out how Black could prevent the two threats- Bxf6 and Qb5+ I found a pleasing idea that is obviously bad, but is still somehow elegant: A) 6...d7!! 7.b5+ ( 7.h3+ e6 8.0-0 is presumably much better for White, but at le a s t B la ck d o e sn 't lo se m a t e ria l!) 7...c8; B) 6...bd7 7.xf6 xf6 8.b5+; C) 6...g7 7.b5+ bd7 8.xb7 0-0 9.h3 e6 10.0-0 c5 11.a6 Black never quite achieves adequate compensation. c7 12.e2 ab8 13.d3 e8 14.xg7 xg7 15.d2 d6 16.c4 fe8 17.f4 d4 18.f3 a5 19.e5 f6 20.xd7 xd7 21.fe1 f7 22.d2 b4 23.ab1 a4 24.bxa4 xa4 25.e2 f5 26.g2 e7 27.e1 d6 28.b5 a6 29.b1 ea7 30.h4 c7 31.f3 d6 32.b3 f6 33.eb2 a3 34.g2 xb3 35.axb3 a3 36.b4 cxb4 37.xb4 a5 38.b8 a2 39.a8 xa8 40.xa8 xa8 41.b6 1-0 Rogers, I (2570)-Stripunsky, A (2475)/ New York 1998. ] 3...h5 4.h3!? [ 4.e4!? is a curious Gambit idea examined in some detail by Odessky. c6! is simplest, with an obscure Caro-Kann where Black is fine, e.g. ( 4...dxe4 5.e2! intending Qb5+ to pick up the bishop on h5 is complexsee Odessky's book for details.) 5.e2 e6 6.exd5 cxd5 7.b5+ d7 8.h3 is mentioned by Odessky, but he readily admits that it is dangerous only for White if Black simply develops normally and heads for the ending. ] [ 4.g3!? intending Bg2 and perhaps f4 later. ] [ 4.e3 intending Ne2. ] 4...f6 [ 4...e6 also looks fine e.g. 5.f4 g6
6.h4!? The enjoyable thing about 1b3 is that it allows you to explore such obscure lines. d6 7.e3 ( 7.xg7 xf4 8.xh8 g3# ) 7...f6 8.g4 e5! ] 5.d4 d7 It's not clear that this was a knights before bishops moment. [ 5...e6 6.f4 f7 7.e4 b4+!? 8.c3 d6 was an idea tried by Hungarian GM Zoltan Gyimesi, and looks comfortable for Black. ] 6.c3 c6 7.e4 e6 8.e2 e7 9.0-0-0 White appears to have some initiative. 0-0-0 10.f4 f7 11.d3 h5 12.a4 h6 13.b1 e8 14.c4 b8 15.c5 g5 16.h4 gxh4 17.exd5 exd5 18.d2 g6 19.e1 f7 20.a5 e8 21.c1 a8 22.b2 f5 23.b6+ xb6 24.cxb6 a6 25.xe8+ xe8 26.f4 b8 27.xa6 bxa6 28.e1 c8 29.xg6 g8 30.f4 d6 31.e6 xf4 32.xf4+ b7 33.xf6 xg2+ 34.a3 d7 35.c5 e2 36.e5 xe5 37.dxe5 h3 38.e6 d6 39.f7+ b8 40.xd6+ xd6 41.h7 1-0
113 Vaisser,Anatoli Gozzoli,Yannick ch-FRA NatB Belfort FRA (3) [Nigel Davies]
A01 2515 2520 11.08.2010
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 An interesting plan that has found favour with some strong players. The d6 square isn't such a natural place for Black's bishop but it does the job of developing whilst protecting e5. 5.e2 a6 6.xc6 dxc6 7.d3 Sensibly posting his pawns on the opposite colour to the remaining bishop. [ After 7.bc3 B l a c k c a n t r y e4!? , f or exam ple 8.g3 e7 9.e2 0-0 10.0-0-0 a3 11.xa3 xa3+ 12.b1 e8 13.f3 exf3 14.gxf3 a5 suddenly gave Black a very dangerous attack in Bischoff, K (2533) -Sutovsky, E (2604)/Essen 2001. Vaisser seems to be very well aware of the possibility of ...e5-e4 so sets about preventing it. ] 7...e7 8.e4 [ Preventing ....Bd6-a3 with 8.a3 looks like a waste of time and after e4 9.d2 exd3 107
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.cxd3 e5 11.xe5 xe5 12.h3 c5 13.c1 b6 14.0-0 b7 Black had a very comfortable game in Sokolowski, R (2089)Malaniuk, V (2522)/ Koszalin 2007. ] [ On the other hand 8.d2 a3 also seems ve ry c o m f o rt a b le f o r B la ck a f t e r 9.xa3 xa3 10.0-0 g4 11.f3 e6 12.d4 exd4 13.xd4 0-0-0 14.e2 he8 , all of which was played in Vaisser, A (2542)-Maze, S (2553)/ Pau 2008. ] 8...d7 9.0-0 0-0 10.d2 The position now looks more like an Exchange Variation of the Spanish (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bxc6 dxc6) than a Larsen's Opening. And I prefer W hite here because of his nice pawn lever with f2-f4. c5 11.f4 g4 12.f5 f6 13.h3 xe2 14.xe2 a5 15.a3 b5 16.h1 d7 17.a4 fb8 18.a2 bxa4 19.xa4 b6 20.a2 a4 Black hurries to exchange off his queenside weaknesses, but he's always going to be worse. 21.bxa4 xa4 22.xa4 xa4 23.a1 b4 24.b1 f8 25.c4 c3 26.xc3 xc3 27.xb8 xb8 Despite the simplification the position is still very dangero us f or Bla ck b eca use of the wa y queen and knight cooperate well, especially against a weakened king. Black does pretty well to defend himself so easily. 28.d1 b4 29.g3 g6 30.fxg6 This could probably have waited. hxg6 31.g4 g7 32.h4 e1 33.h5 g3 34.g2 f4 35.f3 c3 36.b1 h6 37.hxg6 xg6 38.e2 d4 39.e1 g5 40.h1 g6 41.f3 c3 42.d1 g5 43.e3 xe3 44.xe3 g6 45.f3 ½-½
11.e2 f5 12.g4 f4 13.e4 exd5 14.c4 f6 15.f5 b5 was quite unclear in Rogers, I (2594)-Gormally, D (2472)/ Caleta 2005. ] 8.c3 This seems to be a theoretical novelty, not something that often happens on the 8th move of other openings. Alternatives are as follows: [ a) 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.d3 0-0 10.d2 a5 11.a4 e8 12.0-0 d7 13.e4 was slightly better for White in another game from the L a r se n 's O p e n in g t h e m e d b lit z m a t c h , Svidler, P (2734)-Nielsen, P (2700)/ Copenhagen DEN 2010 ] [ b) 8.c4 0-0 9.xc6 ( 9.cxd5 b4 will regain the pawn with some initiative for Black ) 9...bxc6 10.c5 xc5 11.xe5 is tempting but not really that great f o r White ] [ c) After 8.0-0 0-0 White should really capture on c6 because 9.d3?! b4 10.e2 c6 causes unexpected embarrassment to his bishop. ] 8...e4 [ 8...a6 looks better, just keeping his e- and d-pawns united. Now White gets an edge. ] 9.e2 a6 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.d3 exd3 12.cxd3 0-0 13.0-0 e8 14.a4 e6 15.ac1 d7 16.h1 [ Obviously White is not going to fall for 16.xc6 h2+ etc. ] 16...c5 17.d4 cxd4 18.xd4 h4 19.f3 g5 20.c5 xc5 21.xc5 c6 22.d4 a5 23.g4 xg4 24.hxg4 Black is worse in this endgame because of his inferior pawn structure and the fact he has to fight against White's bishop with his knight. Many moves of 114 A01 suffering result in defeat. a4 25.b4 b8 Vallejo Pons,Francisco 2703 26.a3 f8 27.h2 b6 28.xb6 xb6 Gustafsson,Jan 2640 29.c5 a6 30.fc1 e7 31.g3 h6 d6?! After White's reply Black 38th World Open (2) 30.06.2010 32.1c3 can't hold his d5 pawn. [Nigel Davies] [ 32...g6 would have been more tenacious. ] 1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 d5 4.b5 d6 33.b5 cxb5 34.xb5 e5 35.f4+ f6 5.f3 g4 [ This seems to be more solid than 5...e7 36.xd5 ac6 37.cd3 c2 38.f3 a2 g6 40.a5 b6 41.xa4 . White gets the bishop pair but will probably 39.f5+ After the fall of this second pawn it starts to be giving them back. ] look like a question of time. bb2 42.a6+ 6.h3 xf3 7.xf3 f6 [ 7...ge7 is and interesting alternative, for h7 43.g3 g2 44.g5 hxg5 45.fxg5 af2+ example 8.c4 0-0 9.cxd5 b4 10.a3 a6 46.g4 g1 47.a4 fg2 48.f5 h2 108
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 49.h4+ xh4 50.gxh4 f1+ 51.g4 52.f3 a1 53.h5 h1 54.d5 55.f2 h4 56.a5 f6 57.gxf6 58.g3 e4 59.f3 h4 60.e4 61.f5 h3+ 62.g4 xa3 63.xf6+ 64.e5 a1 65.h6+ h7 66.f5 67.e6 a6+ 68.f5 a2 69.e6 70.f7+ xh6 71.e7 f2+ 72.e6 73.d7 1-0
115 Williams,Simon Kim Ledger,David 2nd Big Slick GM (7) [Nigel Davies]
g1+ h3+ gxf6 h6 g7 a2 e2 e2+
A01 2520 2245 01.07.2011
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 d6 4.b5 d7 5.f3 e7 6.0-0 h5?! Not surprisingly this is a new move and it's kind of difficult to understand Black's motives. [ 6...f6 is the sensible move after which 7.d4 exd4 8.exd4 a6 would give Black a solid if slightly cramped game. ] 7.d4 f6? Another rather astonishing move which is testimony to the effectiveness of taking the right opponent 'out of book'. [ 7...e4 8.fd2 f6 has to be the sensible way to play this position, and Black can argue that the pawn on h5 might give him some attacking chances. ] 8.d3 h6 9.c4 f8 10.dxe5 fxe5 11.c3 e8 12.d5 d8 13.e4 ce7?! [ Officially I suppose this is a mistake and th a t I s h ou ld b e reco mm e nd in g 13...f6 . Unofficially it probably just saves Black from unnecessary suffering. ] 14.xe5! dxe5 15.f4 This Larsen's opening su d de n ly lo o ks mo re like a 1 9t h ce nt u ry K in g 's G a m b it . B la c k i s ge t t in g k ille d o f course... xd5 16.xd5 e6 17.fxe5+ e8 18.d4 c6 19.a3 b6 20.f8# 1-0
116 Williams,Simon Kim Mista,Aleksander TCh-Top 12 2011 (10) [Nigel Davies]
A01 2520 2569 04.06.2011
1.b3 e5 2.b2 c6 3.e3 f6 4.b5 d6 5.h3 Fifteen (!) different moves have been tried in this position, the text being one of the rarer choices. [ Even less frequent, but possibly of some appeal to Englishmen, is the hyperaggressive 5.g4!? for example a6 ( 5...0-0 6.c3 b4!? 7.g5 xc3 8.dxc3 e4 9.h4 d5 was rather good for Black in Arencibia Rodriguez, W (2534) -Efimov, I (2465)/ S a i n t V i n c e n t 2 0 0 1) 6.f1 ( 6.d3 strikes me as being 'logical', getting ready for Nc3, Qe2 and castling long) 6...h6 7.g2 e7 8.d3 d5 9.h3 e6 10.e2 d7 11.d2 0-0-0 12.a3 h5 13.g5 h7 14.h4 brought about a Hippo set up with an extended fianchetto on the kingside in Vitor, A (2365)-Oral, T (2535)/Ortigueira 2005. Perhaps this isn't a bad way to play if you like to improvise over the board. ] 5...a6 6.e2 e7 7.d4 [ The most thematic looking pawn lever here is 7.f4 but after d6 8.f2 exf4 9.exf4 0-0 White is left wishing his f-pawn was back on f2 and his knight was on f3. ] 7...exd4 8.exd4 d5 9.f4 d6 10.d3 The net result of the opening hasn't been very f avourable f or W h ite . B lack's p iec es are simply better placed for this kind of pawn struct ure . 0-0 11.0-0 e8 12.d2 e4 13.f3 a3 [ Black might also have tried delaying this with 13...f6 but after 14.c4 a3 15.c1 xb2 16.xb2 e6 17.f4 White is doing OK. ] 14.xa3 c3 15.d2 xe2+ 16.h1 exd4 Winning a pawn, but White is going to get some play for it but basically he's struggling to draw. 17.xd4 xd4 18.f4 b5 19.b2 g5 20.ad1 c6 21.c4 A tough decision. Whittling away Black's d5 pawn certainly gives White more play, but on the other hand there are now new weaknesses on c4 and a2. dxc4 22.bxc4 c7 23.d6 e7 24.d4 After this Black 109
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 seems to get White's initiative under raps. [ 24.h5!? looks critical after which xd6 25.xd6 g4 ( 25...f6 26.xf6 ) 26.xg7 e2 27.f6 may give White enough counterplay in the endgame. ] 24...f6 25.b6 f5 26.c3 e6 27.fe1 f7 Missing his chance. [ 27...c5 28.xc5 xc5 leaves Black well on top in the endgame. ] 28.e2 g5 29.g3 c2 30.xe8+ xe8 31.d8 h5 32.h4 e4 33.xe4 xe4 The disappearance of the knights makes the position very drawish. If rooks and queens also come off it will be a dead draw. 34.f3 g6 35.xe8+ xe8 36.xb7 ½-½
117 Antoshin,Vladimir S Panchenko,Alexander N USSR [Tony Kosten]
A02
1983
1.f4 e5 From's Gambit may be one reason that Bird's Opening is not that popular. 2.fxe5 White takes the 'bull by the horns', [ 2.d3 is an alternative which entails less risk, c6 ( 2...exf4 3.xf4 d5 4.f3 f6 5.d2 Hort-Bronstein, Amsterdam 1994, is also fine for Black.) 3.f3 d6 4.e4 W hite has engineered a sort of 'reversed Philidor Counter-Attack'. f6 5.e2 e7 6.0-0 Martinovsky,I-Downey,G/Vancouver BC CAN 1999, and now 0-0 seems level. ] [ 2.e4 refuses the pawn, and brings us to a King's Gambit, of course. ] 2...d6 Black sacrifices a pawn for development, and to exploit the weaknesses created around the white king by White's first move. 3.exd6 [ 3.f3 A) If 3...dxe5 t h e n , a s we l l a s 4.e4 transposing into a King's gambit, there is ( 4.xe5 which seems OK ); B) 3...g5!? Black tries to bring play back to the main line, expecting 4 exd6 Bxd6, with a transposition. 4.e4 but White has other ideas! g4 5.c4!? gxf3 6.xf3 W hite has sacrifice d a piece in the manner of the Muzio Gambit, but this
version is even better, as there is no black pawn on f4 to impede White's play along t h e f - f i l e . e6? this is not very good, ( 6...h6 7.0-0 e7 is suggested by Larsen, but even so, after 8.exd6 cxd6 9.c3 White's compensation for the piece is fully adequate.) 7.xe6 fxe6 8.0-0 e7? 9.exd6 cxd6 10.c3 and Black is in big trouble, Weis-Wirz/Zuerich 1966. ] 3...xd6 4.f3 g5 This pawn thrust is the standard continuation here, threatening to displace the f3-knight and make a deadly check on h4. [ Black has other, less direct, methods, too: 4...c6 5.d4 f6 6.c3 g4 with active piece play, Krause,C-Weinreich/corr 1969. ] [ 4...f6 5.e3 g4 with the crude threat of ca p t u rin g o n h 2 wit h t h e b i sh o p . 6.e2 t h i s m o v e i s u n wi e l d y, b u t f 2 m u s t b e defended. c6 7.c3 ce5 8.g3 h5 and the black kingside attack is well underway. 9.d4 xf3+ 10.xf3 h4 Malaniuk,V-Dyachkov,S/Russian Club Cup, Maikop RUS 1998 ] 5.g3 The best move, providing a square for the f3-knight (on h4), and stopping a later . .. Qh4+. [ 5.d4 g4 6.e5 c6!? more enterprising than ( 6...xe5 7.dxe5 xd1+ 8.xd1 c6 which leads to equality.) 7.f4 f6 8.d2 ge7 9.c3 xe5 10.dxe5 xe5 having recaptured the pawn, Black has equal chances, Djordjevic, R-Ljubojevic,L/ Yugoslavia 1969. ] 5...g4 6.h4 e7! This knight is coming to g6 to defy the h4-knight. 7.d4 g6 8.xg6 This falls in with Black's plan to open the h-file, the alternative is [ 8.g2 , but it is passive, h5? ( 8...c6 is better, menacing tactics on the d4-pawn, 9.c3 e7 stopping White from playing e4, and intending long castling, with good play for Black, Kanel-Krizsany, Saanen 1994.) 9.e4 c6 10.e5 c7 11.f4 White has o ve r c o m e h i s d e v e l o p m e n t p r o b l e m s , Kovacic,P-Marjanovic,S/Nova Gorica SLO 1999. ] 8...hxg6 Black lines-up two powerful threats: ... Rxh2, and ...Bxg3+. 9.d3 White defends g3, o f c o u r s e . c6 White gets no respite, the new menace is 10...Nxd4, as 11 Qxd4?? loses 110
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 t h e q u e e n t o 1 1 . . . B xg 3 + . 10.c3 f5 Black gives a lesson in the art of gambit play, constantly trying to keep White off-balance. 11.e4 e7 Pinning the e-pawn. 12.g2 0-0-0 Every single one of Black's pieces is developed, and well-placed. 13.0-0 e5! There is still no let-up for White. 14.d1 [ Panchenko prefers 14.e3 the point being t h a t , a f t e r f3+ 15.xf3 gxf3 16.exf5 a n e x c h a n g e o f qu e e n s is t h r e a t e n e d , xh2!? is still possible, with transposition to t h e g a m e a f t e r 1 7 Q x f 3 , b u t 17.xe7 only leads to a draw after g2+ 18.h1 h8+ 19.h4 a useful resource! xh4+ 20.gxh4 h2+ ] 14...f3+! Black sacrifices further material to open the white king position, and kill the d e f e n d e rs . 15.xf3 gxf3 16.exf5 xh2! 17.xf3 This is forced, for [ 17.xh2?? allows mate in three after h4+ ] 17...h3 18.f4 xf4 19.xf4 dh8 The end is nigh! 20.f3 g5 21.f2 h2+ 22.g1 h1+! [ 22...h1+ as 23.xh1 e3+ 24.g2 e4+ 25.f3 xh1 wins material ] 0-1
d6 10.xc6 bxc6 11.d3 e7 12.e4 Rogers, I-Parakrama, A/Buenos Aires 1978; B) 6...f6 7.e5 xe2 8.xe2 c7 9.d3 d7 10.xc6 xc6 11.d2 e6 12.0-0 Mohota, N-Foisor, C/Moscow 2001; C) 6...xf3 7.xf3 f6 8.0-0 e6 C1) 9.d3 d6 10.d2 c7 11.c1 e5 12.e1 0-0-0 13.fxe5 xe5 Carrera Perez, F-Corradine, J/Bogota 1991; C2) 9.f5 d6 10.fxe6 fxe6 11.xf6 gxf6 12.c4 e5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.c3 ( 14.h5+!? d7 15.c3 c7 16.f3 ) 14...d6 15.xd5 0-0-0 Gretarsson, H-Olafsson, H/Reykjavik 1995; C3) 9.c3 e7 10.e2 c8 11.h1 ( 11.c4!? ) 11...0-0 12.g4 ( 12.d3!? ) 12...d4! 13.exd4 cxd4= Abou el Zein, ETissir, M/Cairo 2002; C4) 9.c4!? d4 ( 9...e7!? ) 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.f3 d7 was played in Bahr, A-Meyer, J/SWH 1992, and now White sh o u ld h a ve o p t e d f o r 12.d3 e7 13.d2 ] [ We also have the forcing 6.h3 , which has been played by one of the finest specialists 118 A02 of the Bird these days, the Danish-Icelandic (wh o m h e i s r e p r e se n t in g t h e s e d a y s ) Bacrot,Etienne 2695 G r a n d m a s t e r H e n r i k D a n i e l s e n : xf3 Leko,Peter 2755 7.xf3 d6 ( 7...f6 8.a3 e6 9.g4 d4 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (29) 22.11.2007 10.g2 d5 Bergeron, M-Burke, M/IECG [Carsten Hansen] E m a i l 2 0 0 0 , a n d n o w 11.c4!? de7 12.f5 ) 8.g4 f6 9.g2 e6 10.d3 ge7 1.b3 c5 2.b2 c6 3.f4 d5 4.f3 g4 11.d2 0-0-0 12.0-0-0 c7 13.b1 a5 5.e3 a6 6.d3?! 14.h4 b8 15.g5 , White massive space [ This move is often seen in the Bird, but advantage along with the long-term usually not this soon, though exceptions are advantage of the bishop pair ensures White m a d e a ll t h e t im e . W h it e 's b e st o p t io n the upper hand, Danielsen, H-Wedberg, T/ p r o b a b l y c a n b e f o u n d i n 6.e2!? Munkebo 1998 ] , and then: 6...e6 A) 6...e6 [ Another try is 6...h6!? 7.e2 f5 8.d2 A1) 7.d3 f6 8.bd2 e7 9.0-0 c7 e6 9.e4 ( 9.0-0 d4 10.exd4 cxd4 ) 10.c1 0-0-0? ( 10...0-0 ) 11.e5 xe2 9...dxe4 10.dxe4 xf3 11.xf3 xd2+ 12.xe2 xe5 13.fxe5+- Sarasola, J12.xd2 fd4= ] Dominguez Sanz, J/ Cajas 1989; A2) 7.c4 f6 8.0-0 g6 9.h3 xf3 7.bd2 [ 7.e2 ge7 8.0-0 f5 9.c1 d4 10.xf3 g7 11.cxd5 exd5 10.exd4 cxd4 is rather pleasant for Black ] Rudolph, J-Herfurth, T/Leipzig 1997; A3) 7.0-0 f6 8.e5 xe2 9.xe2 7...f6 111
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 7...ge7!? ] 8.h3?! [ Now White is starting to make mistakes. A better choice is 8.e2 d4 9.e4 c7 ] 8...xf3 9.xf3 [ 9.xf3 d4 10.e4 b4! 11.d1 c7 12.g3 g5 ] 9...d4 10.e4 h5 11.d2 f6 12.g4?! [ 12.c1 g3 13.g1 e7 ] 12...xf4 13.gxh5 xf3 14.g2 xh5-+ White is down two pawn with absolutely no compensation in sight, so I will leave the rest of the game without any further comments. 15.0-0 d6 16.f3 0-0 17.af1 e5 18.3f2 g6 19.c1 h6 20.e5 xe5 21.xb7 a7 22.g2 g6 23.e1 g3 24.e4 xf2+ 25.xf2 e5 26.g4 e1+ 27.f1 h4 28.f3 e7 29.h5 h7 30.f3 f5 31.g3 f6 32.a4 c7 33.h1 e5 34.d5 f4 0-1
119 Basman,Michael J Tal,Mihail Hastings 7374 (11) [Nigel Davies]
A02
1973
A game which shows the potential for originality in chess. Basman's 1.f4 is met by Tal's 1...d6 and the players can construct their own patterns on the board. Curiously en ou gh a Ch rist ma s t re e is crea te d wit h W h i t e ' s 1 0 t h . T h e S a n t a s p i r i t ? 1.f4 These were the days when Mike Basman still played sensible openings, the Bird being positively mainstream compared to his later r e p e r t o i r e . d6!? And this is a somewhat offbeat reply by Tal, perhaps evincing a sense of humour more than anything else. 2.f3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 f6 5.c4!? [ White can of course opt for a more regular L e n i n g r a d D u t c h t y p e s e t u p w i t h 5.d3 and after 0-0 6.e4 c5 7.0-0 c6 8.c3 t h e g a m e m i gh t e ve n t r a n s p o se i n t o a Closed Sicilian. Of course such well trodden paths would not appeal to the man playing White. ] 5...0-0 6.c3 c6 [ 6...c5 is certainly worth considering here. ]
7.0-0 d5 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.e3 c6 10.e2 Completing a formation that looks curiously like a Christmas tree - at least more than the Sicilian Dragon looks like a Dragon. Actually there is some strategic urgency behind preventing ...d5-d4. d6 11.a4 d7 12.a3 b4 [ Playing against a lower rated player Tal avoids the exchange of Queens. Actually it wouldn't be half bad for W hite after 12...xa3 13.bxa3 e4 14.b1 . ] 13.ed4 a5 14.d3 g4 15.d2 e5 T h is m a k e s se n se st ra t e gica lly s o a s t o expose the weakness on e3. B ut Black's po sit io n is n o t t oo b e a ut if u l h e re eit h e r. 16.fxe5 xe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.b3 c6 19.b5 a4 20.xd5 [ 20.xd6 axb3 21.xf7 xb2 would be qu it e goo d f o r B la ck an d right u p T al's street. ] 20...e7?! Continuing to play 'for a win' but taking ever greater risks. [ 20...xd5 was objectively much better, though Black is struggling to draw. ] 21.c3 [ 21.d4! is better, for example e6 22.e4 c4 23.dxe5 xb5 24.fd1 is just good for White because of his bishop pair. ] 21...b4 22.xb7 ab8 23.a7 xd3 24.d5 e6 25.c3 b5 26.c7? Letting his illustrious opponent off the hook. [ 26.f6! would have been very strong, for example xf6 27.xf6+ h8 28.d5 c8 29.g4+ f6 30.xf6 with a mating attack. ] 26...xc7 27.xc7 a3? But now Tal goes astray! [ 27...xe3+ 28.h1 f2+ 29.xf2 xf2 looks risky for Black because of the weaknesses around his king, but 30.e5 f6 is solid enough. ] 28.xf7! [ And not 28.bxa3? xe3+ 29.h1 bc8 etc. ] 28...xf7 [ 28...xf7 29.d5 wins the Queen. ] 29.xb8+ e8 30.d4 [ And not 30.bxa3?? b e c a u s e o f xe3+ 31.h1 f2+ 32.g1 h3+ 33.h1 g1+ 34.xg1 f2# . ] 30...axb2 31.d1 f2? [ And here 31...d7 was better. ] 112
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 32.f1?! as 15.g5? , s a y , i s m e t b y xh2+! [ 32.b1! would have won. ] 16.xh2 g3+ 17.g2 xe1 32...d3 33.xf7! xf7 34.d5 winning material. ] [ And not 34.xb2?? f2+ 35.h1 e1+ 15.xh2 g3+ 16.g1 0-0-0 36.f1 xf1# . ] [ Presumably Black had missed that after 34...b1+ 35.xb1 xd5 36.xd3 xa2 16...xe1 17.xe1 xe3 he loses a piece 37.e4 b5 38.g4 c4 39.a8+ f7 to the e-file pin: 18.e2 ] 40.f3+ e8 41.a8+ d7 17.f2?! ½-½ [ 17.h3 ] 17...xh2+ 18.xh2 d6+ 19.g1 Black has no compensation for the piece. d4 120 A02 20.xd4 g3+? 21.g2 xd4 22.e2 Broutin,Philippe 2013 1-0 De Boer,Albert 2185 22nd Open Bethune FRA (2) 26.12.2001 121 A02 [Tony Kosten] Chernyshov,Konstantin 2570 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 xd6 4.f3 c6 Gorbunov,Igor 2242 [ An alternative to the more direct 4...g5 3rd Geller mem Open A (7) 14.09.2007 which I analysed some years back, see the [Nigel Davies] classic Antoshin,V - Panchenko,A/USSR, 1983. ] 3.e6 is another way to decline the From that I 5.g3 hadn't seen prior to preparing this update. I [ 5.d4 is also played, g4 6.e3?! e7 don't see much 'advantage' as such, but the 7.f2 0-0-0 and Black is already on top, position is totally original. Let's play chess! Albin,A-Tarrasch,S/Monte Carlo 1903. ] 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.e6 This method of 5...h5!? An innovation, Black heads straight declining the From has found favour amongst for the weakness on g3. some strong players. xe6 4.f3 f6 [ 5...f6 is more common, aiming to Amazingly we've reached a little explored but complete development: 6.g2 g4 7.0-0 interesting looking position after just four h5!? ( 7...e7 and ...0-0-0 is also feasible) moves! Some more examples feature quite 8.d4 d7 9.c3 0-0-0 10.g5! hindering ... strong players: h4, Reinderman,D-Van Beers,E/Antwerp [ a) 4...d5 5.d4 c5 6.e3 h6 7.xh6 1992. ] (This is all wonderfully bizarre!) gxh6 8.c3 6.d3 c6 9.e3 g8 10.d2 c4 11.e2 f5 [ 6.g2 is another possibility. ] 12.c3 d6 13.g3 e7 14.g2 0-0-0 6...h4! The logical follow-up. 7.gxh4 15.0-0 d3 16.e1 e4 17.f4 b8 [ This weakens the kingside, but 7.xh4?! was probably about equal at this stage is worse, g5 8.f3 xg3+ ] t h o u g h W h i t e l a t e r wo n i n G i r i n a t h , P 7...g4 8.g5 f6 9.e3 e7 10.d2 xf3 (2 4 3 0)-S ara va na , K (2 24 3 ), Ne w De lh i 11.exf3 d4!? Tempting, Black menaces to 2008. ] capture on f3, and also c2, but [ b) 4...c6 5.c3 d5 6.d4 f6 7.g5 [ 11...c5! 12.f2 0-0-0 leaves Black with e7 8.e3 e4 9.xe4 dxe4 10.xe7 more than enough compensation for the xe7 11.d2 g5 12.e2 g4 13.h4 pawn (assuming he captures on h4), . ..f5 g6 14.h5 f5 15.f2 b4 16.xf5 xf5 is coming next. ] 17.f2 was if anything slightly better for 12.f2 f5 13.c3 xh4 14.e1 W hite in Kozel, R (2387)-Dolzhikova, K The pressure along the e-file causes a slight (2339), Illichevsk 2008, though Black went h i c c o u g h i n t h e b l a c k a t t a c k . xh2+? on to win. ] The right combination, ... at the wrong time! 5.b3 And now a queenside fianchetto! [ The obvious 14...0-0-0 should be played, [ A similar way of introducing this idea is via 113
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 5.e3 , for example g6 6.b3 g7 7.b2 0-0 8.e2 bd7 9.0-0 c6 10.d4 c7 11.c3 ae8 12.xe6 gave White the bishop pair in Schmitt, O-Boulineau, F, France 1996, though obviously there are many other possibilities for both sides. ] 5...d5 6.b2 d6 7.e3 g4 8.e2 c6 9.g3 [ I don't actually see anything clear for Black after 9.xg7 g8 10.b2 . ] 9...h5 10.c3 a6 11.0-0-0 e7 12.b1 0-0-0 13.g2 he8 14.hf1 g6 What can one say about this position except that it's a rich looking chess game with only a pair of pawns having been exchanged. And after a few moves the better player starts to gain the ascendancy... 15.h1 ge5 16.f2 xf3 17.xf3 e5?! [ 17...a3 was better as now White gets to advance his centre pawns. ] 18.d4 h8 19.e4 dxe4 20.xe4 f5 21.fe1 b4 22.c3 b6 23.a1 Now it's clear that White is better as his knight wants to come to c5. And maybe Black should have exchanged it with 23...Bxe4 rather than let this happen, though that would present W h i t e w i t h a u s e f u l b i s h o p p a i r . e7?! 24.c5 de8 This loses a pawn, but I don't see a good move for him. 25.xe7 xe7 26.xh5! b8 [ 26...gxh5 27.xf5+ Overloading Decoy Deflection Discovered attack Double attack ] 27.f3 a7? Losing immediately, though the position is bad for Black in any case. 28.g4 c8 29.a4 [ After 29.a4 b5 30.d5+ Black loses a piece. ] 1-0
those variations that are probably disadvantageous for White - where Black can c a p t u r e o n f 4 . dxe5 This seems to be the preferred move nowadays, although Black has a wide choice: [ 3...g5 is the 'real' From move: 4.d4!? ( I looked at 4.e4 g4 5.c4!? in the notes to the classic Antoshin - Panchenko, gxf3 6.xf3 e6?! 7.xe6 fxe6 8.0-0 e7?! Zach,A-Schmid,G/ Germany 1996, when 9.exd6 cxd6 10.c3 is strong, hitting h8 and threatening a check on c8.; 4.exd6 xd6 brings us back to the main line) 4...g4 5.g5 e7 ( 5...d7 6.fd2 dxe5 7.dxe5 f5 8.h4 c6 is also playable, Bachler,RKiss,A/Graz 1993) 6.exd6 is interesting, cxd6?! ( 6...xd6 7.xe7 xe7 is better,) 7.xe7 xe7?! 8.fd2 d5 9.c4 gaining the centre, with advantage, Katulic, Z-Ciganovic,N/Velika Gorica CRO 2002. ] [ 3...g4!? is also possible: 4.e4 ( 4.d4 d7 5.f4 xf3!? 6.exf3 dxe5 7.dxe5 h4+ 8.g3 b4+ 9.d2 c5 10.e2!? 0-0-0 11.0-0-0 leaves Black with little for the pawn, Pawliko wski,J-Pu gh, L/P arsipa nny US A 2002 ) 4...dxe5 5.c3 f6 6.c4 c6 7.0-0?? Rasmussen,M-Brantzeg,P/ Copenhagen DEN 1999 when, inexplicably, B l a c k m i s s e d xf3 8.xf3 d4+ snaffling a piece for nothing! ] [ 3...c6 4.e4 ( 4.exd6 xd6 returns to main lines again, Rasmussen, M-Rosenberg, J/Copenhagen DEN 1999) 4...dxe5 5.b5 d7 6.d3 with a fairly level position, Sikorova,O-Koenigova,P/Tatranske Zruby SVK 2000. ] 4.c3!? An important move, threatening to capture the e-pawn, and therefore stopping Black from playing his optimum set-up. [ 4.e4 might transpose should White play 122 A02 Nc3, c5 ( 4...e6!? 5.b5+ c6 6.a4 f6 7.d3 c5 8.b3 xb3 9.axb3 Danielsen,Henrik 2526 is fairly level, Markovic,G-Randjelovic,D/ Hardarson,Robert 2315 Herceg Novi YUG 2001) 5.c3 this is sort of Jonsson Mem Open (2) 24.10.2001 t h e m a i n m o v e h e r e , a l t h o u g h ( 5.c3 [Tony Kosten] might lead to our main game) 5...c6 6.b4 d6 ( 6...b6 is better ) 7.a3 f6 8.c2 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.f3 What is the point of 0-0 9.e2 h5 10.d3 f5 11.0-0 this move? In fact, White is not bothering to with chances to both sides, Danielsen,Hd e f e n d h i s e x t r a p a wn a t a l l, b u t r a t h e r Lyell,M/Copenhagen DEN 1999. ] tra n s p o s e s in to a ra re lin e o f t h e K in g's [ 4.xe5 i s O K , b u t a f t e r d6 5.f3 Gambit with the advantage that he avoids 114
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 we reach the main line, with both sides having played an extra move, Deacon,FSteinitz,W/London 1863. ] 4...c6 [ 4...c5?! 5.xe5 is the point, when Black really doesn't have too much compensation. ] 5.e4 [ 5.e3!? is a bit timid, f6 6.c4 c5 7.0-0 0-0 and Black should be happy enough, Solano Cruz,A-Trejos,E/ch-CRC, San Jose CRC 2001. ] 5...c5 6.b5 This move, with the positional threat of capturing on c6, is only possible be c a u se B lac k h as p la ye d . .. Nc6 , wh ich explains the thinking behind W hite's fourth move. Incidentally, this position is most likely to arise from a Vienna Gambit, with 1 e4 e5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 f4 Bc5 4 fxe5 d6 5 Nf3 dxe5 6 Bb5, say, than from a King's Gambit with 1 e4 e5 2 f4 Bc5 3 Nf3 d6 4 fxe5 dxe5 5 Nc3 Nc6 6 Bb5, although the proper classification is undoubtedly [C30]. g4 Pinning the knight protects the e-pawn, but others are possible: [ 6...d7 7.xc6 ( 7.a4!? ) 7...xc6 8.d3 ( 8.xe5 d4 9.d3 b6 10.e2 is unclear.) 8...d6 9.e2 0-0-0 10.e3 is fairly level, Nabil,F-Bereolos,P/ Philadelphia USA 2001. ] [ 6...ge7 7.a4!? ( 7.xe5!? d4 8.d3 i s a g a i n p o s s i b l e) 7...d6 8.d4 Prins,L-Cuellar Gacharna,M/ Moscow 1956, when exd4 9.e5 b4+ 10.c3 is wild. ] [ 6...d4!? 7.e2 ge7?! Muris,P-Erwich,F/ H e n g e l o 1 9 9 5 , 8.c3 b6 9.xe5 wins a good pawn for nothing. ] 7.h3!? The first new move, and one that asks the question of the bishop. [ 7.xc6+ is also very logical, wrecking the black queenside: bxc6 8.d3 ( 8.e2 e7 9.h3 xf3 10.xf3 is better for White, his structure is rock-solid, Gunsberg,I-Mieses, J/Has tings 1 89 5) 8...d6 9.h3 d7 it makes sense to keep the bishop pair, but Black's ragged pawns give him a permanent headache, Yakovich,YShabanov,Y/Kursk 1987. ] 7...e6 [ 7...xf3 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.xf3 is similar to the Gunsberg game, in the note above. ] 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.d3 f6 Black has the bishop
pair, but White's pawn structure is 'fire-proof' and it is instructive to see how he goes about winning the game. 10.b3!? [ 10.e2 and Be3 is also possible. ] 10...e7 11.a4 b6 12.a3 0-0 13.d2 e8 Black frees the knight from the pin so that h e c a n s e t - o f f t o wa r d s f 4 o r d 4 . 14.0-0-0 And why not, Black can hardly attack on the queenside because of his immobile pawns. g6 15.c5 f7 16.he1 f8 17.c3 e6 Black play s sensibly, he refuses to capture on c5, but tries to bring his knight to d4, and hopes that W hite will take on b6. 18.d4! Just in time. exd4 19.xd4 xd4?! Capturing a second bishop, but bringing the knight to a powerful square. [ 19...e7 20.xc6!? xd4 21.xd4 e5 is a better way of doing things, with some compensation for the pawn as White must capture on b6. ] 20.xd4 d6 21.xc6 f4+ 22.b1?! This move appears to lose the extra pawn, [ 22.b2! is better, as then f2 ( 22...xe4 23.g3 xe1 24.gxf4 xd1 25.f3 wins an exchange) 23.f1 xe4?? 24.d2 wins a piece. ] 22...f2 23.e2 The point is that now [ 23.f1 xe4 24.d2?! achieves nothing: e1+ ] 23...g3?! Strange, why not take the pawn? [ 23...xe4 24.e7+ f8! 25.xf2 xf2 26.c6 le ad s no wh ere xe7 27.xa8+ e8 ] 24.c5! Now White is back on track. h8 [ 24...xe4?? loses, 25.e7+ h8 26.c6 ] 25.c3 h4 26.f1 g6?! [ 26...h5 27.d2 g6 is stronger. ] 27.d5 a6 28.e5! White liquidates his w e a k e s t p a w n . fxe5 29.xe5 h5 30.xg6+ hxg6?! 31.c6 f8 32.xf8+ xf8 33.xa6 e5 Hoping for some play on the dark squares, but it never materialises, and meanwhile White has two extra pawns. 34.b2 g5 35.c6 f1 36.b4 f4 37.a3 f6 38.b3 h7 39.d5 b1+ 40.a4 The king is safe here. f1 41.xf6+ gxf6 1-0
115
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 gets interesting. c6 35.b4 a4 36.xe7 d7 37.xd3!? b2 38.xg6 xd1 Danielsen,Henrik 39.d6 cxd3 40.xd3 b2 41.d4 Ismagambetov,Anuar White's a rook down, but has the attack and 37th Olympiad (10) five extra pawns! e8 42.xe8+ xe8 [John Watson] 43.xc7 xc7 44.f2 a4 45.c4 c3 In this game White plays the Leningrad Dutch 46.cxb5 xb5 47.d3 a7 48.g5 c6 Reversed. This can't be bad, although White's 49.b5 e7 50.g3 g6 51.d6 f8 52.f5 extra tempo isn't worth much (the Leningrad xe5 53.xe6 Four passed pawns should do is mostly reactive). 1.f4 c5 2.f3 g6 3.g3 the trick. g7 4.d3 c6 5.g2 e6 6.a4 This again! 1-0 Larsen liked this in the Leningrad. I'd be more tempted to play 0-0 and c3, or even Qe1. A02 ge7 7.c3 d6 8.a3 0-0 9.0-0 b8 10.e4 124 a6 Natural and not very exciting moves follow. Dimitrov,Pavel 2448 Perhaps Black could have played ...e5 earlier. Stojanovic,Andjelija 2310 11.e3 b5 12.axb5 axb5 13.c2 c7 25th Festival Open A (4) 25.02.2008 Neither side wants to make contact with the [Nigel Davies] other. 14.fe1 d7 15.f2 fc8 [ 15...f5 and ] Against the 4...Nf6 variation of the From there [ 15...e5 are the natural English/Closed doesn't seem to have been much experience Sicilian moves. ] with a solid construction based on d2-d4 and 16.f1!? An odd move, indirectly hitting b5 e2-e3. But I don't see why not as it looks and supporting c4 if a knight has to go there. rather good. 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 d8 17.b1 a5 18.bd2 e8 19.e5! xd6 4.f3 f6 Using pure piece play to try Finally! I like W hite. b7!? Good if White and generate compensation. 5.d4 White has plays e xd6 , b ut whe re will t his kn igh t go tried other moves here too, for example: otherwise? I think that he wanted to defend c5 [ a) 5.e3 g4 6.e2 0-0 ( 6...c6 7.c3 in advance of ...d5, but that's a little exotic. ce5 8.g3 h5 9.d4 xf3+ 10.xf3 h4 19...Nec6 or 19...Ra8 was more to the point, 11.b5+ c6 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.xc6+ challenging the file. Still, White stands better was good for White in Obukhov, A (2475)at this point. 20.g4!? Nikitin, A (2452), Alushta 2004) 7.g3 e8 [ or 20.d4 ] 8.g2 c6 9.0-0 h5 10.c3 h4 11.gxh4 20...d5?! The plans look mixed up if this were d4 12.xd4 xh2+ 13.h1 xh4 going to be played Black's last move doesn't 14.f3 h5 15.d1 was Rendle, T (2366)make much sense. 21.h4 c6 22.f6 Heinis, V (2156), Catalan Bay 2007 and now h6? This really is a mistake, inviting attack Black should have forced a draw with d6+ a n d l o s i n g t i m e . 23.g5! This is getting ( Rather than the 15...e6 o f t h e g a m e) dangerous. You can sense Ndf3, Qf2-h4. So 16.g1 h2+ etc. ] Black takes action, but in doing so cedes [ b) 5.g3 c6 6.g2 g4 7.d3 d7 8.c3 more squares. d4?! 0-0-0 9.g5 f5 10.d2 b4 11.h4 [ 23...g7 , to get ...h6 in quickly. ] c5 12.xf6 gxf6 13.a3 a5 24.de4 xe4 was Danielsen, H (2511)-Vea, O (2085), [ 24...g7 25.f5! ] C o p e n h a g e n 2 0 0 5 a n d n o w 14.b1!? 25.dxe4 Remember that knight on b7? Now would have been very annoying for Black as b5 is attacked. c4 26.f2 d3 27.h4 xg5 White is threatening b2-b4. ] 28.xg5 It's really over now there dark 5...f5 squares can't be protected. c7 29.e3! c5 [ 5...g4 has also been played but seems to Finally, 4 or 5 moves too late. 30.h3 f8 be well met by 6.c3 0-0 7.e3 . ] 31.xh7 e8 32.d1 c8 33.g7 d7 6.e3 A nice compact way to play it which 34.xf7 The rest isn't important, although it l e a v e s t h e o n u s f i r m l y o n B l a c k t o 123
A02 2520 2420 31.05.2006
116
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 demonstrate his 'compensation'. [ W h i t e u s u a l l y p l a y s 6.g5 here, for example h6 7.h4 g5 8.f2 g4 9.g3 f6 was Boerner, J-Heinrich, S, Eisenberg 1 9 9 3 , a n d n o w 10.c3 would have been good because xf2 11.xf2 g4 is met by 12.e4 . ] 6...e4 7.d3 d7 8.bd2 df6 9.0-0 e7 10.c4 [ 10.e5! would have been even stronger because xe5 11.xf5 leaves Black without a good move. ] 10...g4?! [ Here and over the next few moves Black gambles on a speculative attack. Of course he is a pawn down, but the calmer 10...0-0 would have been better. ] 11.xd6+ [ 11.fe5! would have been very strong because the bishop on f5 is hanging. For example after h4 12.h3 xe5 13.xe5 xe5 14.xf5 g6 15.f3 Black is in big trouble. ] 11...cxd6 12.h3 [ Even in this position 12.e5! is strong because of dxe5 13.xf5 g6 14.xg4 gxf5 15.xf5 d6 16.xe5 etc. Two bishops and three pawns are more than a match for a rook and knight. ] 12...h5?! [ Objectively speaking Black should play 12...gf6 , though he doesn't have much for his pawn. ] 13.e1 d5? Still overstraining to demonstrate his 'compensation'. [ 13...gf6 was better, though there's still the issue of him being down a pawn. ] 14.e5 g5 [ 14...xe5 15.xf5 c6 16.xd5 g6+- ] 15.b5+ f8 16.h4 [ 16.hxg4 hxg4 would be very dangerous for White because of the opening of the h-file. ] 16...f6 17.d7+ xd7 18.xf6 gxf6 19.b4+ e8 20.b3 a6 21.xd7+ xd7 [ Or 21...xd7 22.a3 d8 23.xb7 etc. ] 22.xb7+ e6 23.a3 he8 24.f1 ad8 25.c6+ d6 26.xd6 [ W hite is winning material after 26.xd6 xd6 27.xf6+ etc. ] 1-0
125 Grunberg,Mihai Kotronias,Vasilios 11th Open Kavala GRE (8) [Nigel Davies]
A02 2445 2578 16.08.2002
This game was of some theoretical importance with the superbly prepared Kotronias coming up with 11...h6 to stop any Bg5-f6 ideas. It seems to be a theoretical novelty, and a good one at that. 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 xd6 4.f3 g5 5.d4 This leads to an approximately even endgame. [ 5.g3 is more complex but has greater attendant risks, for example g4 6.h4 e7 7.d4 ( 7.d3 g6 8.g2 h5 9.e3 h4 10.gxh4 xh4 11.d2 1/2-1/2 was Pavlov, M (2451) -Derjabin, I (2391), Alushta 2004, which really poses more questions than it answers. ) 7...bc6 8.c3 g6 9.xg6 ( 9.g2 h5 10.d3 h4 11.f4 g5 12.g2 hxg3 13.hxg3 xh1+ 14.xh1 ce7 15.e4?! c6 16.e3 f5 was very good f or Black in Paichadze, L (2410) Isgandarova, K (2230), Tbilisi 2009) 9...hxg6 10.d3 f5 11.e4 e7 12.g2 0-0-0 13.e3 e6 was Rendle, T (2370) Kotronias, V (2585), Caleta 2005, and now maybe W hite should have forced a draw with 14.e5 xe5 15.xc6 d6 16.xb7+ xb7 17.b5+ c8 18.a6+ b8 19.b5+ etc. ] 5...g4 6.e5 xe5 7.dxe5 xd1+ 8.xd1 c6 9.c3 e6 10.f4 0-0-0+ 11.e1 h6 Up to here it had all been played before but this is new all Black is doing is stopping any Bf4-g5-f6 ideas which might be quite annoying. [ A century old precedent, Chigorin, MTarrasch, S, Vienna 1898, had gone 11...ge7 12.e3 g6 and now 13.g5 ( Instead of 13.d3 ) 13...de8 14.f6 hf8 15.b5 would have been unpleasant. ] 12.e3 ge7 13.d3 g6 14.xg6 fxg6 15.d1 g5 16.g3 h5 17.e4 dg8 18.c5 e8 19.e4 [ 19.xe6 xe6 20.e2 he8 is also fine for Black who will recover the e5 pawn via ... h5-h4 and have wonderfully active pieces. ] 19...h4 20.f2 117
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 6...c6?! 7.xc6 h4+ ( 7...bxc6 8.g3 h5 9.g2 h4 10.d3 the black initiative is insufficient, Tartakower,S-Spielmann,R/ Vienna 1913) 8.g3 xg3+ 9.hxg3 xh1 10.e5 h5 11.d3 with a clear white a d va n t a g e , L a u , R- M ic h a il o w, S / K a s s e l 1995. ] 7.dxe5 xd1+ 8.xd1 c6 9.c3 e6 10.f4!? White hangs-on to his extra pawn, often he prefers [ 10.g5 to st op Bla ck ca st lin g, xe5 ( 10...ge7!? allows Black to castle, but after 11.e4 0-0-0+ 12.d3 hg8 13.f6 W hite is better, Szlabey,G-Emodi,G/ Kobanya 1991) 11.b5 d7 12.e1 f6 13.d1+ c8 White's bishops are countered by Black's superior structure, Williams,S-Quinn,M/Witley 1996. ] 10...0-0-0+ Automatic, but maybe [ 10...ge7!? i s s t r o n g e r , 11.e3 g6 12.g5 (when Black has castled this gains a t e m p o o n t h e r o o k ) gxe5 13.e4 Berescu,A-Tomescu,V/Sovata 1998, when f5 looks good. ] 11.e1 So as not to block-in the a1-rook, but [ 11.c1 i s s i m i l a r , ge7 12.e3 g6 13.g5 de8 14.f6 hg8 15.d3 Grunberg, M-Cechalova,E/Stockerau 1993, cxe5 equal. ] 11...h6!? A novelty, Black wants to play the n o rm a l p la n , . . . Nge 7 -g6 xe 5 , b u t wit h o u t allowing Bg5 in reply, hitting the d8-rook. [ 11...ge7 is the habitual move, 12.e3 g6 ( 12...d5!? 13.xd5 xd5 14.g1 126 A02 1/2-1/2 Grunberg,M-Nisipeanu,L/ROM-chT 1992, is quite good) 13.g5 Caamano,JGrunberg,Mihai 2445 Ra va zzo li, O / V illa B a lle st e r 19 9 4 wh e n Kotronias,Vasilios 2578 ( 13.d3?! cxe5 14.xg6 xg6 15.f1 11th Open Kavala GRE (8) 16.08.2002 is nice for Black, Chigorin, M-Tarrasch,S/ [Tony Kosten] Vienna 1898 .) 13...de8 14.f6 hg8 15.d3 cxe5 16.xe5 xe5 17.xh7 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 Now both players go down h8 18.d3 seems logical, when Black has the mainline. 3.exd6 xd6 4.f3 g5 5.d4 almost enough for his pawn. ] Preparing a square for the knight, about to be 12.e3 ge7 13.d3 g6 14.xg6 hit by ...g4, we considered the alternative [ 5.g3 in the game Antoshin,V-Panchenko, Otherwise Black simply captures on e5. fxg6 15.d1 g5 16.g3 h5 Opposite-colour A. ] bishops are on the board, which makes it 5...g4 6.e5 [ 6.g5?! is worse, f5 and the knight is in fairly drawish, but Black's pawns are more mobile, and so, if anyone, it is he with the trouble. ] 6...xe5 Black concedes the bishop pair but better chances. 17.e4!? dg8!? [ 17...b4!? 18.xg5 xc2+ 19.f2 xa2 heads for a reasonable ending. [ And not 20.xe6? hxg3 etc. ] 20...g3 21.hxg3?! [ 21.e3 was better as now White loses the exchange. ] 21...g4 22.gxh4 [ 22.d5 hxg3 23.xh8 gxf2+ would cost a whole piece. ] 22...xd1 23.xd1 xe5 24.h5 g4 25.e2 b6 26.d3 xe4+ 27.f3 f6 [ 27...c4! was better. ] 28.h6 c5 29.e1 e6 30.c3 c4 31.e5 d5 32.g6? [ And here White should hang on to the g6 pawn with 32.g4 . ] 32...h7 33.f8 f7+ 34.g4 xf8 35.h7 xc3 36.h8 xh8 37.xh8+ b7 38.bxc3 e2 39.h2 xc2 40.xg5 xa2 41.h7+ c6 42.g4 a5 43.f4 f2+ 44.e3 g2 45.g7?! [ 45.f4 looks like a better try. ] 45...b5 46.g5 a4 47.f3 c2 48.g6 xc3+ 49.f2 d3 50.c7 b4 51.g7 d8 52.c6 b5 53.g6 a4 54.g8 xg8 55.xg8 a3 56.e3 c3 57.e4 a2 58.g3+ b2 59.g2+ b3 60.g3+ b2 61.g2+ b3 62.g1 c3 63.d3 b4 64.h1 c2 65.c1 b2? Falling at the final hurdle. [ 65...a3 66.xc2 b3+ 67.d2 b2 wins for Black. ] 66.xc2+ b1 67.h2 b3 68.c4 ½-½
118
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is also worth trying. ] 18.c5 e8 19.e4?! h4 20.f2 g3! 21.hxg3 g4 Both threatening the rook, and hxg3 which wins a piece. 22.gxh4 [ 22.d2?? hxg3 23.xh8 gxf2+ ] 22...xd1 23.xd1 xe5 24.h5 g4 25.e2 b6 W inning the e-pawn. 26.d3 xe4+ 27.f3 f6 28.h6 This pawn is White's only hope. c5 29.e1 e6 30.c3 c4 31.e5 d5 32.g6!? h7 33.f8 f7+!? A mistake, White wins a piece, but allows the h-pawn through. [ 33...exh6 34.xh6 xh6 should be winning. ] 34.g4 xf8!? [ 34...f4+! i s t h e m o ve , 35.xg5 xf8 36.g7 ( 36.h7 xc3 37.h8?? n o l o n g e r w o r k s b e c a u s e o f e4+ which actually leads to mate!) 36...g8 and whilst White has some chances, Black should win. ] 35.h7 xc3 36.h8 xh8 37.xh8+ b7 38.bxc3 e2 Black is much better, anyway, for although as we all know rook endings are fairly drawish, and here the white king is active, unfortunately all his queenside pawns will drop off. 39.h2 xc2 40.xg5 xa2 41.h7+ c6 42.g4 White decides to ditch his queenside and run his g-pawn, which is a standard plan. a5 43.f4 f2+ 44.e3 g2 45.g7 b5 46.g5 a4 47.f3 c2 48.g6 xc3+ 49.f2 d3 50.c7 b4 51.g7 d8 52.c6 b5 53.g6 a4!? This must win, but can White really stop the passed pawns after [ 53...g8 54.e2 b3 ] 54.g8 xg8 55.xg8 a3 56.e3 c3 57.e4 a2 58.g3+ b2 59.g2+ b3 60.g3+ b2 [ 60...c3 61.g1 b2 62.d3 c2 wins. ] 61.g2+ b3 62.g1 c3 63.d3 b4 64.h1 c2 65.c1 b2?? An appalling blunder [ 65...a3! 66.xc2 b3+ 67.d2 b2 wins easily, Black must have been in severe time trouble. ] 66.xc2+ b1 67.h2 b3 68.c4 ½-½
127 Karlsson,Lars Tairi,Faruk Swedish Team Ch [Carsten Hansen]
A02 2486 2275 2007
1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 c6 This is an interesting alternative to the traditional From Gambit. However, as you will see from the coverage below, the number of quality games between players of a decent level is painfully small. This is unf ortunately often the issue with these off-beat gambits. 3.f3 g5 4.d4 [ 4.h3!? looks like a rather obvious move, but one that has yet to be explored in detail. d6 5.d4! dxe5 6.d5 e4! 7.xg5 d6 8.xe4 f5! 9.f2 g3 10.e4 h4 11.d3 xf2+ 12.f1 d4! 13.e1 xe1+ 14.xe1 b4 15.exf5 xd3+ 16.cxd3 e7 17.f1 xd5 is one very long variation f rom Bucker, though this hardly constitutes model play from both sides. ] 4...g4 5.g5 d6 [ 5...d5!? was the subject of ReddmannLangrock, 2001, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] [ 5...h6 was mentioned in the notes to the Reddmann-Langrock game as a possible improvement, but I think White can get the better chances in this particular line: 6.e4 xc1 7.xc1 xd4 , and now 8.d2!? ( 8.c3?! c6 9.f4 e7 10.f6+ xf6 11.exf6 e5 was Tony's main line.) 8...c6 9.bc3 e7 10.h3!? ( 10.d5 xe5 11.g5 xe4 12.xc7+ f8 13.xa8 b4+ 14.c3 xb2 15.c1 d6 , and matters are totally unclear.) 10...gxh3 11.0-0-0 xe5 12.xh3 , and White has a lead in development and the initiative. ] 6.exd6 [ White has tried a number of other things at this juncture: A) 6.d3 A) 6...h6?! 7.e4! ( 7.xh7?! f5 8.f6+ xf6 9.exf6 xd3 10.exd3 xd4 11.d1 0-0-0 12.c3 e6 13.e2 K r o g e r , H - G e rs t e l , J/ G e r m a n y 1 9 8 8) 7...dxe5 8.g5 xd4 9.f6+ d8 10.g8+ e8 11.xh6 xb2 12.b3 , and White is winning; B) 6...h6 7.xf7? xf7 8.e6+ xe6 119
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.xh6 xh6? ( 9...h4+ 10.d1 xh6 11.d5 f5 12.e4 e5-+ ) 10.d5 f5 11.d2 f6 12.dxc6 xb2 13.cxb7 xa1 14.bxa8 xb1+ 15.f2 g3+! , and Black won shortly, Franke, CLeeners, H/corr ICCF 1986 ] [ B) 6.e6 fxe6 7.e4 f6 ( 7...h6 8.xe6 xe6 9.d5 e5 10.dxe6 h4+ 11.g3 f6 12.g2 e7 13.c3 0-0-0 , and Black has clearly solved his opening problems, Cvejn, J-Haba, Z/ Usti nad Orlici CZE 2006) 8.b5 h6 9.e5 hxg5 10.exf6 xf6 11.f1 g7 with a better game for Black, Wiest, L-Nissl, M/Augsburg 1995 ] [ C) 6.e4 A) 6...h6 7.xf7 xf7 8.c4+ g7 9.e6 f6 ( 9...h4+ 10.g3 h3 11.c3 f6 12.f1 e7 13.e3 with some compensation for the piece ) 10.0-0 A1) 10...e7 11.c3 g8 12.f5!? ( 12.d5?! e5 13.e2 e8 14.f5 g6 , and Black is beginning to stablize h i s p o s i t i o n .) 12...xe6 ( 12...h7 13.g5! ) 13.xe6 xe6 14.d5; A2) 10...a5?! 11.d3 xe6 ( 11...c5 12.d5 e7 13.e3 ) 12.d5 c6 13.dxe6 e5 14.c3+- Williams, SHowell, D/Halifax ENG 2004; B) 6...e7!? 7.xf7 xf7 8.e6+! e8 9.b5; C) 6...dxe5 7.c4! ( 7.d5 h6 8.xf7 xf7 9.dxc6 xd1+ 10.xd1 bxc6 11.c4+ e6 12.xe6+ xe6 13.e3 f6 14.d2 Cools, G-Henris, L/BEL 1997 ) 7...xd4 8.xf7+ e7 9.c3! C1) 9...xd1+! 10.xd1 f6 11.d5+ ( 11.f1 h6 12.c4 d8= ) 11...xd5 12.xd5 h6 13.f7 h7 14.f1; C2) 9...f6? 10.e2 h6 11.e3 hxg5?! ( 11...b4 12.0-0 hxg5 13.f2 wins for White - Correspondence Chess Yearbook ) 12.xd4 xd4 13.c4 c6 14.g6 xc2+ 15.d2 e6 16.c5+ Hayward, K-Johnson, R/corr 1990 ] [ C) 6.e4 dxe5 7.d5 ( 7.dxe5? f5 Volf, R-Wiesinger, J/ Wattens 1997) 7...b4 8.ec3 c5 9.a3 a6 10.e3 ] 6...xd6 [ Black has a wonderfully complicated alternative in 6...xd6 A) 7.d5 is played less frequently, but
should be. It appears that White has the better chances: A1) 7...b4 8.c3 ( 8.e4?! e5 9.bc3 f5 10.a3 xe4 11.axb4 xb4 Rost, H-Svendsen, T/corr 1987) 8...f6 9.e4 h6 10.a3 hxg5 11.axb4 with a good game for White.; A2) 7...ce7 8.c3 f6 9.ce4 xe4 10.xe4 e5 11.c3 d7 12.g3 ( 12.e4 0-0-0 13.g3!? followed by Bf4 looks good for W hite) 12...g6 13.d3 0-0-0 14.g2 c5 15.d2 f5 16.0-0-0 , and White has the better chances, already beginning to consolidate his position and extra pawn, Ressler, E-Koegler, K/corr BdF 1991; A3) 7...e5 8.c3 f5?! ( 8...g7 9.ge4 g6 10.e3 ) 9.f4 g7 10.e4 h6 11.b5+! ( 11.b5? c5 was already fine for Black in Bohn, TGallinnis, N/Germany 1997) 11...e7 ( 11...c6 12.xe5 xe5 13.dxc6 wins for White) 12.e6 xe6 13.dxe6 , and White is more or less winning; B) 7.c3 B1) 7...f5 8.b3 ( 8.d5!? e5 9.a3 looks like an improvement for W hite.) 8...e7 B1a) 9.h3 h6 10.h4 g7?! ( 10...f6! ) 11.xh7 xd4 12.g5? ( 12.cxd4! is simple and good. After W hite's 12th move, Black is clearly better. ) 12...e5 13.c4 ( Black has excellent compensation for the piece. In fact, my computer suggests 13.d1 as W hite's best move, though obviously Black is doing very well after d7 14.d2 g3 followed by ... 0-0-0 ) 13...f6 Albert, M-Ebbecke, S/ Landau 1988; B1b) 9.d5 e5 10.e6 xe6 11.dxe6 0-0-0 12.g3 c6?! ( 12...h6! not allowing White to consolidate looks like a better try.) 13.e3 h6 14.d4 d5 15.g2 b5 16.c2 xe6 17.0-0 Sehner, N-Buecker, P/Enger Spenge 1978; B2) 7...g6 B2a) 8.d5 e5 9.a4+ ( 9.f4 g7 10.d2 e7 11.b3 f5 , Birtz, C-Arroyo, A/IECG Email 1998, 120
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black. 11.e3 hxg5 ( 11...g7 12.ge4 12.e3!? xd5 13.b5+ c6 14.0-0 f5 13.b5+ f8 14.0-0-0 ) 12.exd4 xh1 xf4 15.exf4 0-0 16.e2 ) 9...d7 13.xg5 ] 10.e4 d6 11.f4 g7 , Fawbush, [ 10...d7 11.xf7 xf7 12.d1 b4 G-W heeler, K/ corr 1980, and now 13.xd7+ e8 14.xc7 f6 15.e5 f8 12.d2 f5 is also quite unclear; 16.e3 a6 17.h6 a5 18.d6 f7 B2b) 8.h3 f6 9.d5 d8 10.a4+ 19.xf6 xf6 20.e7+ d8 21.c7+ xc7 ( 10.e6? xe6 11.dxe6 gxh3! 22.xc7 xf1+ 23.xf1 xc7 , and White 12.xh3 xe6 is given as winning for has two pawns for the exchange, but Black Black by Buecker, but that is is probably still clearly better. ] exaggerating matters quite a bit Black is clearly bet ter af te r 13.d3 c6 11.d1 g7! [ 11...b6 12.xe6 xe6 13.b5 c8 , but not more than that) 10...d7 14.xc7+ xc7 15.xc7 xa2 16.h5 11.e4+ e7 12.xg6+ hxg6 f6 ] 13.e4 xd5 14.c4 , and White is 12.b5 c8 13.e3 a6 fine; [ 13...xa2!? picks up further material. B2c) 8.d3 f5 9.h3? ( 9.e3+!? However, the lower-rated player with Black e7 10.d5 d8 11.h3 f6 seems to almost panic while h aving a n 12.d4 ) 9...e7 10.e3 f6 opportunity to beat a grandmaster. ] Jendrian, M-Labahn, W/Bad Segeberg 14.d4 e7?? 1998 ] [ 14...xa2! is again perfectly viable ] 7.c3 [ A) 7.c3!? f5 8.e4 h6 9.e5 e7 10.h3 15.c4!? d8? [ Now Black ends up in a lost position. gxh3 11.h5+ f8 12.c4 e8 13.xh3 Instead, he could have developed another g6 14.0-0 , and despite only having two piece with 15...f6 , e. g. 16.gxe6 fxe6 pawns for the piece, W hite has obviously 17.xe6 g6 18.h6 e4 19.xc8 xc8 amble compensation, Rujzam, G-Goris, T/ 20.g5 f8 , and Black is still in the game, Budapest 1992 ] though White has the better chances after [ B) 7.e4?! h6 8.e5 hxg5 9.exd6 xd6 21.d2 ] 10.c3?! ( 10.c3 f5 11.b5 e7+ [ However, 15...g6 is ultimately Black's 12.e2 0-0-0 13.xe7 gxe7= ) 10...xh2 best option, e.g. 16.gxe6 fxe6 17.0-0 ( 10...f5 11.xg5 f6 12.e3 xh2 , and White has sufficient compensation for 13.xh2 xh2 ) 11.e2+ f8 12.xh2 the pawn. ] xh2 13.g3 xg3+ 14.f2 xf2+ 15.xf2 16.xe6 fxe6? f6 Philippin, O-Wege, J/Wuerzburg 1996 ] [ Or 16...xd4 17.xd4 fxe6 18.xc7 7...xd4 8.xd4? , and White wins, but the text move is even [ The Swedish grandmaster is clearly having worse. ] fun, but the queen sacrifice is in all fairness n o t a n y g o o d a n d l e a ve s B l a c k wi t h a 17.gxe6 g6 18.xd8 xd8 19.c6+ s ize a b le a d v a n t a ge . W h it e co u ld h a ve 1-0 claimed an advantage with the safer and saner 8.ge4 , for instance e5 9.g5 f6 A02 10.e3 fxg5 11.exd4 xd4 12.xd4 xd4 128 13.0-0-0 , and White is way ahead in Kogan,Artur 2518 development. ] Afek,Yochanan 2360 8...g3+ 9.hxg3 xd4 10.f4 e6! Pyramiden-Franken Cup (5) 25.08.1999 [ A long piece of analysis is given in the [Tony Kosten] S we d is h c h e ss m a ga zin e st a rt in g wit h 10...h6!? , and although the analysis is quite 1.f4 c5 2.f3 c6 Inviting White to play 3 flawed, it is also entertaining. Therefore I e4, with transposition to the Grand-Prix Attack, will give the line in its entirety, though the which he declines. 3.e3 g6 4.e2 g7 5.0-0 game continuation is likely the best play by e5?! An innovation already, Black hopes to 121
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 weaken the white kingside. be found in the archives. )] [ 5...d5 or ] [ 11...d7 is also commonly played. 12.d2 [ 5...f6 would be normal. ] (other moves are possible, but I believe this 6.fxe5 xe5 7.xe5 xe5 8.d4! is strongest) 0-0-0 ( 12...f5 13.c4 0-0-0 This is very awkward for Black. g7 After 14.xd6+ cxd6 can transpose.) 13.e4 [ 8...d6?! 9.e4 almost obliges Black to play h5!? ( M o r e p r o m i s i n g t h a n 13...f5 f6 ] 14.xd6+ cxd6 15.e3! f7?! 16.d5 e5 [ 8...cxd4? is even worse, for after 9.exd4 17.xa7 Taylor, T (2297)-Becerra Rivero, b o t h t h e e - f il e a n d c 1 -h 6 d ia go n a l a r e J (2552)/Minneapolis 2005.) 14.xd6+ cxd6 opened for White's benefit. ] Here I propose ( 14...xd6 15.f4 e7 9.dxc5 f6 Black decides to get on with his Ga rd ne r, R (2 25 7)-Rekhso n, V (20 00 )/ development, rather than waste more time Edmonton 2004. Now 16.0-0!? looks good, chasing after his lost pawn. 10.c3 0-0 intending to meet dh8 with 17.d5 xh2 11.e4 e7 12.d6 After this it is clear that 18.e3! when the endgame after xe3+ Black is lost- a pawn down with a bad position. 19.xe3 e5 20.d4 2h5 is pleasant for xd6 13.cxd6 h6 14.e5 e8 15.d5 W hite with the bishop pair and 4-3 xe5 16.xh6 g7 17.e7+ h7 18.f4! queenside majority.) 15.e3!? , which is A strong choice, returning a pawn to keep his just as useful as in the Taylor - Becerra powerful d6-pawn. game above. Black isn't thrilled about a [ 18.xg7 xg7 19.ad1 is simpler, but not queen trade, but has to beware of the d4-d5 nearly so effective. ] threat. ( 15.e3?! Dimitriadis, M-Kiss, A 18...xb2 19.ab1 d4+ 20.h1 g7 (2409)/ Oberwart 2003. f5 16.d2 e8 Allowing White a nice finish, 17.f2 e4 18.xe4 xe4 19.0-0-0 d5 )] [ but 20...b6 is little better after 21.f3 b8 12.d2! Clearly best - the knight is headed for 22.c6! dxc6 23.d7 c7 24.xc7 xd7 e4. Previously, White hadn't shown anything 25.xb8 xb8 26.bd1 and White wins. ] convincing: 21.b4! The point of White's play, the rook [ 12.e4?! White has to be judicious with this c o m e s t o c 4 . f6 22.c4 The bishop is p a w n p u s h . 0-0-0 13.e3? xh2! trapped, and so Black has little choice over In the 11...Bf5 12.e4 0-0-0 main line, 13.Be3 his next move. xe7 23.dxe7 h8 24.e5+ is fine because W hite would simply meet f6 25.xf6! The final nail in the coffin. xf6 13...Rxh2 with 14.Rxh2 Bxg3+ 15.Kf1 Bxh2 26.f4 e8 27.xf6+ 16.exf5. Here, Black's light-square bishop is 1-0 safe, so 13. Be3 is just a blunder. 14.0-0 c4! 15.d2 ( 15.xc4 xg2+ 16.xg2 xe4+ 17.f2 xg3+ 18.e2 e5! 129 A02 is totally crushing.) 15...xf1 16.xh2 h8+ 17.g1 xg2 18.xg2 h3 19.f2 Lie,Kjetil A 2560 g5 20.a3 xa3 21.bxa3 d2 22.e1 Sulskis,Sarunas 2577 e3+? 23.f1 d3+ 24.g1 xd4 18th European Teams (8.16) 10.11.2011 25.cxd4 xd4+ 0-1 Simonsen, O (2115)[John Bartholomew] Nolsoe, R (2150)/Faroe Islands 1997. ] [ 12.0-0 0-0-0 13.e4? Czarekk2-BornOfFire/ 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 xd6 4.f3 g5 playchess.com INT 2004. Again, this is 5.g3 g4 6.h4 e7 7.d4 g6 8.xg6 misguided: xh2! and White can't recapture hxg6 9.d3 c6 10.c3 e7 11.g2 because 14.xh2 h4+ 15.g1 xg3 e6!? Sulskis chooses a rare continuation. is decisive, e.g. 16.d1 e5! 17.e2 [ The main line is 11...f5 12.e4 0-0-0 h2+ 18.f1 c4+- ] and now either 13.e3 Rendle, T (2370)[ 12.e3 We've seen that this move can be Kot ron ias , V (258 5)/ Calet a 2 005 /[Joh n good, but with the bishop on e6 White isn't Watson]. ( or 13.0-0 e5 Antoshin, V threatening a queen trade. Also, d4-d5 isn't Panchenko, A /USSR 1983/[TonyK]. yet a threat. h5!? ( 12...0-0-0! is stronger Analysis of both of these continuations can 122
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 be c au s e o f 13.d5? c5 ) 13.d2 0-0-0 14.b3 dh8 Bachler, R (2226)-Steinbacher, T (2059)/Jenbach AUT 2009. ] [ Finally, only White can get in trouble with 12.d5?! , f o r i n s t a n c e e5 13.b5+? ( 13.d4 f5 ) 13...d7! 14.xb7 0-0-+ White is fatally underdeveloped and unable to ward off threats like 15...Nd3+, or 15... Rfb8 followed by 16...Bb5. ] 12...0-0-0 13.e4 h5!? A nice, multipurpose square for the rook in this line. Black def ends against the imminent threat of 14.Bg5 and prepares to double on the h-file. A future d4-d5 push is also discouraged. [ The forcing continuation 13...d5 14.g5 xe4 15.xe7 xd3 16.xd8 e8 17.0-0 xe2 18.g5 xf1 19.xf1 is quite similar to the note to Gardner-Rekhson (11...Bd7). The static advantages of the bishop pair and queenside majority give White a stable edge. ] [ 13...e5!? takes advantage of the d-file pin. An intriguing line runs 14.g5 ( 14.b5!? ) 14...f5 15.e3 f6 16.dxe5 fxg5 17.xc6! bxc6 18.xa7 e4 19.a6+ b8 ( 19...d7 20.f1 is dangerous for Black.) 20.e3! c5 ( 20...xh1?? 21.a7+ a8 22.c5++- ) 21.b5+ c8 22.f1 , when W hite has some advantage in a messy position. ] 14.xd6+! Simplification is best. [ We've seen that castling short isn't altogether unusual in the main-line From's, so 14.0-0!? is interesting to investigate. After dh8 15.f2! is a good response. Ho we v e r , t h e c o m p l i c a t i o n s a f t e r xh2 16.g5 f8 17.d5 e5 18.d4 f5 19.xd6+ xd6 seem fine for Black, e.g. ( 19...cxd6 20.xa7+- ) 20.f4 ( 20.xa7 f3+! 21.exf3 xg3 forces White to take a perpetual: 22.a8+ d7 23.a4+ c8 24.a8+= ) 20...f6 21.xa7 g5! 22.xe5 xe5 23.d6! e4 A) or 24.d7+ xd7 25.a4+ c6 26.xc6+ bxc6 27.xh2 xg3+ 28.g2 e3+ 29.f2 g3+= ( The rook ending after 29...g3 30.d4+ xd4 31.cxd4 gxf2+ 32.xf2 e6 is level. ); B) 24.a8+ d7 25.a4+ c6 26.xc6+ bxc6 27.xh2 ( 27.xg4+??
f5-+ ) 27...xg3+ 28.g2 e3+ 29.f2 g3+ ( 29...g3 30.g4+ d8 31.dxc7+ xc7 32.af1= ) 30.g2= ] 14...xd6?! [ Here 14...cxd6! is preferable. On 15.d5 e5 16.d4 , a7 is indeed hanging, but f5 A) 17.e3! is best, when dh8 18.0-0-0 xh2 19.xh2 xh2 20.h1! A1) 20...xg2?? 21.h8+ c7 ( or 21...d7 22.xa7+- ) 22.xa7+-; A2) 20...xh1+ 21.xh1 b6 is only a little better for White.; B) 17.xa7? i s n ' t a d v i s a b l e : d3+ 18.f1 e8 19.e3 (this or the equ iva len t 1 9. Qe3 - the re's n o o the r defense) xe3 20.xe3 xe3 21.exd3 xd3+ 22.g1 d7 ] 15.f4 d7 16.e4? This results in an opposite-color bishop scenario where Black has ample counterplay. [ 16.0-0! dh8 17.f2! is a familiar and effective motif. Black's counterplay stalls because of xh2?? 18.xc6+- ] 16...g5 17.e3 e5 18.c2 [ or 18.d1 f3+ 19.xf3 gxf3 20.xf3 g4 21.g2 b5! ] 18...f3+ 19.xf3 gxf3 20.d5 h3 21.0-0-0 e8 22.he1 g4 The game is balanced. 23.d4 f5! 24.g1 fxe4 [ 24...e5!? ] 25.dxe4 hh8 26.d6!? h5 27.e7 [ 27.xe8+ xe8 28.xe8+ xe8 ( 28...xe8 29.f5+?! ) 29.dxc7 e6! 30.d1 xc7 31.xf3 xa2 is just symbolically better for White. ] 27...cxd6 28.xe8+ xe8 29.xe8+ xe8 30.f5+ b8 31.xg5 g6 [ The most clear-cut is 31...e1+ 32.c2 e2+ ( 32...xg1?? 33.d8# ) 33.d2 g6+ 34.c1 e6 with sufficient lightsquare play to keep the balance ] 32.f2 [ 32.b3! ] 32...b6 33.f4 e2 34.xd6+ b7 35.d7+ b8 36.d2 Playing for the win. f1+ 37.e1 b7?! Unnecessary. [ 37...f2! was an immediate draw: 38.xf2 d3 and one side will give perpetual. ] 38.b3! Now White has an escape route for his king via b2-a3. f2 39.xf2 d3 40.b2 b1+ 41.a3 c1+ 42.b4? 123
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ White's king is in a precarious position after 42.a4 , but this is the only try for victory! For example, e8+ 43.b4 a5+ 44.c4 d1 45.d2! g4+ 46.d3 and White is escaping the checks. ] 42...a5+ 43.c4 d1! Now it should be drawn, but it is W hite who has to secure it! 44.d2?? There were two ways to ensure the half point: [ 44.g2+ a7 45.d2 is equal, but White has to endure a scary-ish king walk: g4+ 46.d5 ( 46.d4?? e2+-+ ) 46...d7+ ( 46...f5+; or 46...f3+ also result in perpetuals.) 47.e5 ( 47.c4?? c6+ 48.d4 e4# ) 47...f5+ 48.d6 c5+ 49.d7 f5+ 50.e8 c6+ 51.d8 f6+ 52.e8 e6+ A) 53.d8?? g8+ 54.e7 g7+! 55.e8 ( 55.d6 f6+ 56.c7 e7+ 57.c6 c5# ) 55...g6+ 56.d8 f8+ 57.c7 and now ( 57.d7 f5+ 58.c7 c8+ 59.d6 c5# ) 57...f5!! and White is helpless against either 58... Qc8+ or 58...Qb8+.; B) 53.f8! O n l y t h i s w a y ! f6+ ( A n a t t e m p t t o m a t e w i t h 53...g6 w o n ' t s u c c e e d , f o r e x a m p l e 54.g7 ) 54.e8 e6+= ] [ The simplest draw is 44.b4 , e.g. A) 44...d3+ 45.b3 b1+ 46.a3 axb4+ 47.cxb4 c1+ ( or 47...d3+ ) 48.b3 b1+=; B) 44...a4!? the trickiest, taking away the b3-square. W hite is fine, though, after 45.d2 g4+ 46.d5 d7+ 47.e5 e7+ 48.d5 e4+ 49.d6 c6+ 50.e5= ] 44...g4+ 45.d5 [ 45.d4 e2+ 46.d5 f7+ 47.d6 e6# ] 45...d7+ 46.e5 e7+ 47.f4 [ The difference compared to the 44.b4 a4!? variation is that 47.d5 now just loses to f7+ 48.d4 c5+ - no control of c5! ] 47...f6+ 48.e3 e5+ With 49...Qe4 next. 0-1
130
A02
Mailbox Mike Ridge Question From,Sigfred [John Watson] A question from reader Michael Ridge: 'I've noticed that a lot of club players play From's G a m b it wit h t h e t h e o re t ica l n o ve lt y (n o t covered in the scant literature on the gambit, including Taylor's new book) 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 xd6 4.f3 g4 . I wondered what you thought was the best line against this. I take it the idea is just to strand the king in the centre after ...Bxf3 and ...Qh4+. That makes me think 6 g3 might be the best way to cut across this, with Bg2, d4, and Qd3 all to follow. Thoughts on this sideline? No doubt its not a real threat to Bird's Opening or someone would have at least discussed it by now, but even in these sidelines it seems easy f o r Bla ck t o whip u p a da n ge ro u s at t a c k because of the activity of his pieces, so I wo n d e r e d wh a t t h e b e s t c o u n t e r t o t h i s particular set up might be...' [John Watson: Good Question! I checked Taylor's book and he does give a game in which 4...Nc6 5.d4 Bg4 occurred. Taylor as White played 6.e3. I'll throw out a few moves, including something similar to that: 5.e4!? This move is interesting because both main lines 4...Nf6 and 4...g5 prevent it, and 4...Bg4 doesn't, at least immediately. [ (a) The move you mention, and indeed the standard one in a majority of From's Gambits, is 5.g3?! . But it seems to fail (or at best draw) versus h5! threatening ...h4. This should give at least enough for a pawn, f o r e xa m p l e , 6.d4 h4 7.xh4 xh4! 8.gxh4 xh4+ 9.d2 A) 9...c6!? 10.c3 xh2 11.g2 g5+ 12.e1 ( 12.c2? f5+ ) 12...g3+ 13.f1 and White probably escapes; B) 9...g5+ draws after 10.e1 ( 10.d3 g6+ i s a t b e s t v e r y d a n g e r o u s) 10...h4+ 11.d2 g5+; C) 9...f6! 10.c3 ( 10.g2 f2! ) 10...h5!! ( 10...f2 is strong, but this is better ) 11.d3 c6 12.e3 e5+! 13.dxe5 d8! and White can resign, e.g., 14.d2 a3+! 15.c1 xb2+ 16.xb2 b4+ 17.c1 xc3 ] 124
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ (b) 5.e3 (a la Taylor) c5! (the idea is to gain spa ce and restrain W hite's centre ( 5...f6!? 6.e2 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.c3 0-0-0 . White stands pretty solidly and should be better) 6.c3 ( 6.b5+ c6 7.0-0 c7 8.h3 h5 9.c3 f6 ) 6...f6 7.e2 ( 7.d3 c6 8.e4 c7 ) 7...c6 8.0-0 a6 9.d4 c7 10.h3 ( 10.dxc5 xc5 unclear ) 10...cxd4 11.exd4 xf3 12.xf3 xd4 unclear ] 5...e7! This leaves open the possibility of ... f5. [ 5...f6 6.c3 e7 7.d3 c6 8.e2 0-0-0 9.0-0 h5!? , but the attack is hard to continue with. ] [ 5...f5!? is also worth thinking about. ] 6.c3 [ 6.d3 f5! 7.c3 f6 8.g5 bd7 9.e2 h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.d4 xh2!? wit h t he id e a 12.xh2 ( 12.xg4 xg4 13.xf5 g5 ) 12...e5 13.h1 xd4 ] [ 6.e2 f5 ( 6...xe4!? 7.c3 e6 8.0-0 f6 )] 6...f5 7.d3 f6 8.e2 c6 9.exf5 [ 9.g5 0-0-0 10.0-0-0 he8 with pressure and unclear compensation for the pawn. ] 9...e5! This threat ens ...Nd4 and in many cases ...Bxf3 will follow. White is tied up and Black can be happy. Conclusions: I think that 5.g3 is a mistake. 5.e3 is solid but at least 5... c5 prevents an easy buildup in the centre. Finally, Black should play some kind of ...f5 idea against 5.e4, because pieces alone won't break down White's structure. 4...Bg4 looks as good a try here as any, and perhaps the best one, especially since Taylor debunks some of Black's other continuations. That's just a surface-scratcher. Great question!
131 Mena Sanroma,A Canal Oliveras,Joan Catalunya-chT (4) [Nigel Davies]
A02 2020 2245 1999
1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.f3 [ 3.exd6 xd6 4.f3 f6 would reach the same po sition as the game bu t a move faster. ] 3...dxe5 4.xe5 d6 5.f3 f6 6.d3 g4
7.g5 f6 8.c1 c6 This makes perfect sense, lining up against h2. [ Black's main try in this position has been just to develop as quickly as possible with 8...c6 , though in this case I find his play le s s t h a n co n vi n c i n g b e c a u s e W h i t e ' s position is rather solid (two central pawns!) even if he is behind in development. After 9.c3 ( Perhaps it's better to start controlling some central squares with 9.c3!? when 0-0 10.g3 ce5 11.g2 e8 12.0-0 h5 13.h3 h6 14.xe5 xe5 15.e4 xd1 16.xd1 xg3 17.d4 saw White reach a slightly better endgame in Markovic, MS t a d l e r , T / B e l g r a d e 1 9 6 8) 9...c5 ( Black has tried other moves here but 9...f5 f a i l s t o c o n v i n c e a f t e r 10.g5 d7 11.d2; whilst 9...ce5 10.g3 0-0 11.g2 xf3+ 12.xf3 xh2 13.xh2 xg3+ 14.f2 f5 15.e3 was good for White in Bocharov, I-Khlichkova, T/Berdsk 2007.) 10.e3 xe3 11.xe3 ( 11.e2 is better af ter which e7 12.d5 f2+ 13.d1 xe2+ 14.xe2 b6 15.f1 0-0 is about equal) 11...xe3 12.e2 e7 13.d2 xf1+ 14.xf1 e6 and Black wa s b e t t e r i n F lo ri a n , J-K o ska , J / B rn o 1957. ] 9.c3 c7 10.e4 [ W h i t e h a s a n o t h e r p o ssi b i li t y i n 10.g3 after which xg3+ 11.hxg3 xg3+ 12.d2 f2 ( 12...f4+ 13.e1 g3+ is a draw ) 13.g1 xg1 14.xg1 xd1 15.xd1 produces a messy endgame. ] 10...xh2 11.xh2 xh2 12.g3 [ W h i t e h a s a l s o p l a y e d 12.d2 , for example 0-0 ( 12...xf1 13.xf1 a6 seems more precise when 14.f4 0-0 is equal ) 13.f4 xf4 14.xf4 g4 15.d6 and White has the better endgame in Ja n se , L -Lo gda h l, U/Ha llsta h am m a r 2001. ] 12...g4? After this White gets a strong initiative. [ 12...xf1 was better after which 13.xf1 ( 13.f4 e3! ) 13...0-0 14.f4 b6 is about equal. ] 13.f4 a5+ 14.c3 g5 15.d6+ d7 16.c4 c5 17.e3 d8 [ 17...gxf4 18.xg4+ wins a pawn and keeps a strong attack. ] 125
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.b4 e7 19.d6 e6 20.h3 b5 21.xg4 xg4 22.xg4 xg4 23.a5 White is also better in the endgame, at least for the time being. d7 24.c5 h5 25.f2 c7 26.e7?! [ 26.d4 was the right move, still with a slight edge. ] 26...d7 27.b3 he8 28.c5 e5 29.c1 a5 30.e4 [ 30.bxa5 xa5 31.e4 was better. ] 30...axb4 31.xb4 [ After 31.cxb4 Black has a3! . ] 31...d7 32.b3 b6 33.d4 Trying to stabilise his dark square control, even if it means losing a pawn. [ If 33.a4 there follows c5 34.a5+ c6 35.a3 e6 etc. ] 33...xe4 34.he1 xe1 35.xe1 e8+ 36.f2 e2+ 37.f1 f5 [ 37...b2 would have been more patient. ] 38.e1?! [ 38.a4 was a better try. ] 38...xa2 39.c5 h3+ 40.g1 f4?! [ 40...xc5 41.xc5+ a5 looks like it should win. ] 41.xd7+ xd7 42.gxf4 g4 43.e5? [ 43.e7 was the right move. ] 43...h4 44.g5 h3 45.c5+ a5 46.g7 h2+ 47.h1 g3 48.xg3 e6 49.c4 bxc4 [ 49...b4! was better. ] 50.a3+ xa3 51.xa3 a4 52.c1 b3 53.xh2 c2 54.a3 c3 55.g3 d1 56.f3 c2 57.e4 c1 58.xc1 xc1 59.e5 d5 60.d6 c2 61.f5 c3 62.c5 White will win the c6 pawn by distracting the bishop with his f-pawn. ½-½
compensation for the pawn. 6.g3 [ 6.e4 g4 7.e2 ( 7.g3 xh2 8.xh2 xg3+ 9.f2 xf2+ 10.xf2 c6 11.c3 e6 is a line that more enterprising might like to test!) 7...xh2 8.xh2 h4+ 9.d2 g5+ 10.e1 ( Or 10.c3 c5+ ) 10...h4+ 11.d2 g5+ is a draw by perpetual check. ] 6...g4 7.g2 c6 8.c3 0-0-0 9.f4 he8 10.d2 b4 11.a3 A slip which could have lost material. [ 11.g5 was the right move, pinning that knight on f6, though after h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.0-0 c5+ 14.h1 e3 Black has terrific compensation. ] 11...xc3 [ 11...e4! is very strong here. ] 12.bxc3 d5 13.h3 h5 14.e4 f5 15.d4 [ 15.g5 f6 is very good for Black. ] 15...fxe4 16.xc6 bxc6 17.0-0? [ 17.d4 should be played here after which e3 is met by 18.d3 , menacing a check on a6. ] [ After 17.0-0? Black can get what looks close to a winning position via e3 18.e1 g5! 19.c4 xf4 20.gxf4 e2 21.f2 gxf4 etc. ] ½-½
133 Reddmann,Hauke Langrock,Hannes IHEM Hamburg GER (7) [Tony Kosten]
A02 2337 2261 08.06.2001
1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 c6 A sensible alternative to the standard [ 2...d6 ] 132 A02 3.f3 Otherwise Black would simply recapture Pribyl,Josef 2376 t h e e - p a w n . g5! The tactical point, Hausner,Ivan 2412 threatening to drive the white knight away and Steinitz Memorial-A 1st (9) 03.01.2001 recapture the sacrificed pawn. [Nigel Davies] [ 3...d6 would return to 2...d6. ] 4.d4 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 xd6 4.f3 f6 [ 4.g3!? is a reasonable alternative, g4 5.d3 e7!? A novelty on move 5! Actually this 5.h4 xe5 6.g2 Kloster,O-Pedersen,L/ makes perfect sense as Black will bring his Oslo NOR 2002, W hite has returned the pawn to help his development, and can try pieces out to natural squares and castle long, arguing that his lead in development and the to exploit the f5-square. ] weaknesses in W hite's camp are good [ 4.h3?! justifies Black's play, d6 when the 126
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 p a wn c a n n o t b e t a ke n 5.exd6?! xd6 and the weakness of g3 is a problem. ] 4...g4 5.g5 [ 5.g1!? might be better, although d6 6.e4 dxe5 7.d5 ce7 8.g5 f6 9.h4 g6 gave Black reasonable play, Maroja,S-Zelic, M/Zadar CRO 2000. ] 5...d5!? Black threatens to win the knight, but as in the 'long whip' variation of the King's Gambit, the knight is happy to sacrifice itself. [ 5...h6! is the strongest, I think: 6.e4 ( 6.h4?! gxh3 7.f3 xc1 8.xc1 xd4! ) 6...xc1 7.xc1 xd4 8.c3 c6 ( 8...e6!? ) 9.f4 e7 10.f6+ xf6 11.exf6 e5 White's structure is looser than Black's, who has a small edge, Clausen,MSkaaning,K/Gausdal NOR 2000. ] [ 5...d6 6.a3?! ( 6.exd6 see the main line ) 6...dxe5 7.d5 ce7 8.c4 f6 9.c2 f5 is very pleasant for Black, Psathas,TVouldis,A/Kavala GRE 2001. ] 6.e4!? [ 6.exd6 might be the better choice objectively, although certainly not quite so much fun for White: xd6 7.c3 (there was a threat to d4) e7 with typical gambit play open lines and better development. ] 6...h6 7.xf7 xf7 8.e3 The black king is in the open, and White has a couple of pawns, but as White has no development advantage to speak of, I wonder if this is really enough. ge7 9.c3 g7?! [ 9...g7!? is a sensible move, removing the king from the open f-file, and the exposed a2-g8 diagonal. ] 10.exd5 xd5 11.c4 e6 12.0-0+ g8 13.xd5 xd5 14.xg4 Picking-up a third pawn. e7 15.xd5 xd5 16.f6! White could also try to advance his centre, by [ 16.b3 and c4. ] 16...h7 17.af1?! [ 17.e6! is almost winning: ae8 18.g5! and Black is in trouble as hxg5? 19.h5+ g8 20.xe8+ is catastrophic. ] 17...af8 The rook cannot be captured: [ 17...xf6?? 18.xf6 menaces mate on h6, g8 19.g6# ] 18.c4!? xc4 19.xh6 White forces a draw, but he could still continue the game by [ 19.e4+ g8 20.xf8+ xf8 21.xb7 ] 19...xh6 20.xh6+
[ 20.e4+ g8 21.g4+ is another way. ] 20...xh6 21.h4+ g6 22.g4+ h6 23.h4+ g6 ½-½
134 Rendle,Thomas Kotronias,Vasilios Gibraltar Masters (1) [John Watson]
A02 2370 2585 25.01.2005
1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 When's the last time you travelled through From's Gambit territory? I'll try to give you an update and inspiration! 3.exd6 [ Tony has thoroughly covered the options as shown in his e-book - the key games referred to there can be found on ChessPub. One suchdeviationis 3.f3 g5!? ] 3...xd6 4.f3 g5 He also discusses games with [ 4...c6 and ] [ 4...f6 ... ] 5.g3 [ ...as well as 5.d4 g4 6.e5 ! ] 5...g4 6.h4 e7 7.d4 bc6 This amounts to a transposition to the 'main lines', that is, those arising from [ 7...g6 8.xg6 ( 8.g2 is the other main line the interpolation of 7. .. Nbc6 8.c3 also transposes into the main line of that variation after c6 9.c3 e7 ) 8...hxg6 9.d3 c6 10.c3 etc. ] 8.c3 g6 9.xg6 hxg6 10.d3 f5 11.e4 e7 12.g2 0-0-0 13.e3 [ (a) 13.0-0 e5!? is a position known to all From Gambit lovers, but it's not clear that Black has enough: A correspondence game Poel-van Oirschot, corres 1986 went 14.e3! ( Tony analysed AntoshinPanchenko, USSR 1983, which went 14.d1 f3+ 15.xf3 gxf3 16.exf5 xh2 17.xf3 h3 18.f4 xf4 19.xf4 dh8 20.f3 g5 21.f2 h2+ 22.g1 h1+! 23.xh1 e3+ 24.g2 e4+ 25.f3 xh1 ) A) 14...f3+? 15.xf3 gxf3 16.exf5 xh2! was played in one brilliancy alas, after 17.f2! the attack falls short ( or 17.xf3 ); 127
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 14...d7 15.d2 ( 15.b4!? c4 16.e2 and c5 is covered and White seems to stand better after xh2! 17.e5 dh8 18.f2! xe5 19.dxe5 xe5 20.f4 2h5 21.d2 Blankenberg,BHenke,S email 2002) 15...f5 ( 15...b5 16.d1 ) 16.f2 ( 16.exf5 (Given '??' in ' H o w t o p l a y t h e F r o m G a m b i t ' ) f3+ 17.xf3 gxf3 18.xe7 xe7 19.xf3 xf5 20.e5 is slightly better for White) 16...df8 17.f1 ( 17.b4! ) 17...b5 18.exf5 xf5 drawn. White has good options throughout and stands better at the end, so what was Kotronias (who is so theoretically inclined) thinking? My guess is that he would have settled for 13... Be6 or 13...Bd7, with ideas similar to the game but a little better. ] [ (b) 13.f4 xf4 14.gxf4 has been played a lot over the years. Black seems to do fine in the line beginning with h3! ] [ (c) 13.d5? e5 14.c2 f3+ 15.xf3 gxf3 16.d2 xg3+ ] 13...e6!? A move that is seldom played here and may not be very good. Alternatives are: [ (a) 13...de8 has been tried in a couple of g a m e s , b u t 14.d2 f6 15.0-0-0 leaves White harmoniously placed, and 15. exf5 Qxe3+ 16. Qxe3 Rxe3+ 17. Kf2 also favours White ] [ (b) A wonderful correspondence game went 13...xh2 (I'd give this a '?!?') 14.xh2 xg3+ 15.e2? ( 15.d2 pretty much wins, but the game is astonishing:) 15...e5 16.g5! xd3 17.xe7 f4+ 18.f1 e8 19.exf5? ( 19.g5! ) 19...gxf5 (White is temporarily a rook and two pieces ahead!) 20.h6 ( 20.h7 xe7 21.a3 e2 22.h8+ ) 20...xe7 21.a3 e2 22.h8+ d7 23.xb7 f2+ 24.g1 h3+ 25.xh3 gxh3 ( Now due to ...c6 Black has a draw any times he wants if 26.Bd5, 26... c6 drives the bishop away) 26.b1 c6 27.d5 f4 28.xc6+ c7 29.c4 a6 30.a8 g2+ 31.h1 1/2-1/2 Arnold,G-Bennborn,J/ ICCF Email 2000/MegaCorr2 (31). ] [ (c) 13...d7! has scored quite well. The immediate idea is 14.e5? xe5 15.dxe5 xe5 16.e2 d3+! 17.f1 he8 with a winning game ] 14.f2 More choices:
[ (a) If White takes up the challenge by 14.e5 (u n t rie d ? ), t h e n I t h ink t h at B la ck ge t s surprising play following xe5 15.xc6 d6! ( 15...bxc6? 16.a6+ and dxe5 ) 16.g2 xh2! 17.xh2 xg3+ 18.d2 ( 18.f2 xh2 19.d1 f5 ) 18...xh2 19.a3 f5 with two pawns and attack for the piece ] [ (b) 14.d2? xh2! 15.xh2 xg3+ 16.d1 xh2 is clearly better for Black, e.g. , 17.e2 f5 18.f1 e5! 19.c2 f4 etc. ] [ 14.f4 xf4 15.gxf4 g5 16.e3 gxf4 17.xf4 h4 18.d2 g8 19.g3 f5 20.0-0 h3 21.f4 h4 1/2-1/2 Westerman,H-Markus,J/NED-ch20 corr 1990/Corr Nr. 1 (21). ] [ 14.d5 xh2! 15.xh2 xg3+ 16.e2 xh2 17.c2 f5! ] 14...f5 15.d2! [ This time Black meets 15.e5 with xe5 16.xc6 f6 17.g2 c4+ 18.e3 f7 ] 15...f7!? [ Keeping threats in the position, as opposed to 15...fxe4 16.xe4 ( or 16.xe4 df8 17.e2! ) 16...d5 17.0-0-0! xa2 18.e2 , attacking g4. Still, that wouldn't be so bad, whereas 15... Qf7?! is a big risk. ] 16.0-0-0!? [ Perhaps it was time to pull the trigger: 16.d5! fxe4 ( 16...e5 17.d4 ) 17.xe4 e5 18.d4 f5 19.0-0-0 b6 20.a4 b8 21.d4 with a nice advantage. ] 16...xa2?! More provocation! [ 16...fxe4 17.xe4 xa2 was a sounder course. ] 17.b5? [ White seems intent upon playing "safe" moves. Could Black really have survived 17.e5! ? Then the logical follow up would be xe5 18.xc6 f6 ( 18...d6 19.d5! ) 19.b3 , with Kb2 to follow in most cases. Not only does White miss this opportunity, but now Black gains full counterplay. ] 17...fxe4 18.xe4 he8 [ 18...h5 is another way to proceed, preventing White from reaching defensive squares on the kingside. ] 19.e3 xe4!? Kotronias is in a wild mood! This speculative sacrif ice gains the light squares and tries not to cede the initiative. It is a gamble that pays off, although 128
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 19...a6 was a sounder option. ] 20.xe4 c4 21.g5 e2 22.xd6+?! [ The natural move is 22.de1 but White didn't want Black to keep pieces on the board, e.g., e7 23.f4 c4 with the idea of ...Nb4 and ...Rd5-a5 in some cases. ] [ The best try for a serious edge was 22.d5! , f o r e xam ple , xd1 ( 22...e7 23.f4 xf4 24.xf4 xd1 25.xd1 ) 23.xd1 e5 24.xd6+ cxd6 25.xa7 ] 22...xd6 23.he1!? [ 23.de1 d5 ( 23...d3?! 24.xg4+ f5 25.hf1! and Rxf5 follows) 24.f4 f5 25.xe2!? ( 25.h6 f3 ) 25...xf4 26.xf4 g5! 27.e5 is unclear ] 23...d5 24.xe2? Right idea, poor timing. [ 24.f4! f5 25.xe2 xf4 26.xf4 improves for White over the last note. ] 24...xg5 25.xg5 f5 Now Black takes control of the light squares with tempo and stands better. 26.d2 b6 [ Perhaps enough to win, but Black also had t h e s t r o n g m o v e 26...a5! 27.b4 ( 27.e5?? b3#! ) 27...c4 with a wonderful outpost and domination of the light squares. Then 28.e7? can be met by a3 29.b2 c2+ 30.xa3 xd1 ] 27.de1 a5 28.e4! b5! 29.c2?! [ 29.b4 c4 30.1e2 was a better chance, with ideas like Be1 and d5. Black is still bet te r af te r a5! 31.e1 axb4 32.cxb4 d6! ] 29...b3+ 30.d3 [ 30.b1 c4 31.c1 a3+ 32.a1 c2+ 33.b1 xe1 34.xe1 a5 is convincing ] 30...xb2 31.e7 [ 31.e5 c6! illustrates the dominance of Blac k 's k n igh t ove r W h ite 's bisho p : ( or 31...b3 ) 32.e6 b5+ 33.c2 c4 34.b2 a5 etc. ] 31...b5+ 32.c2 b3+ 33.d3 c4+ 34.c2 c6! 35.7e4 b4+ 36.d1 d5 37.xg4? [ But 37.c2 b4+ 38.d1 d3 39.f1 b2+ 40.e1 b3! threatening ...Qd1+ decides after 41.f2 c2 42.e2 d1+ 43.g1 xc3 ] 37...d3! 0-1
135 Szlos,Leonardo Quinteros,Miguel Angel ARG-ch qual Mar del Plata [Nigel Davies]
A02
1967
1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 xd6 4.f3 f6 5.d3 g4 6.g5 f6 7.h4 [ 7.c1 is another idea, keeping control of e3. ] 7...0-0 A simple approach from the Argentinian GM. Black has tried other moves here, for example: [ a) 7...g5 8.f2 ( 8.g3 xg3+ 9.hxg3 d6 10.h3 e3 11.d2 xf1 12.xf1 xh3 won the exchange in Bermejo, EBartis, G/Buenos Aires 1966) 8...xf2 9.xf2 g4 ( 9...c6 10.e3 c7 11.bd2 g4 12.d4 h5 13.g3 h4 14.g2 hxg3+ 15.hxg3 xg3+ 16.e2 h4 17.f1 saw White assume the initiative in Nielsen, E-Eiholdt, B/Copenhagen 2003) 10.fd2 f5 11.g3 c5+ 12.e3 0-0 13.b3 d5 14.d4! d6 ( 14...xh1 15.c4+ ) 15.1d2 f7 16.c4 e6 17.xe6 xe6 18.e2 left Black short of compensation for the pa wn in B a ile y, G-Ra f t sho l, W / De tro it 1990. ] [ b) 7...e3 8.d2 f4 9.c3 c6 10.f2 g4 ( 10...d6 11.d2 drives the knight from e3 and leaves Black with only nebulous compensation) 11.bd2 e7 12.c4 xf3 13.gxf3 d4 was Saint Pierre, S-Caire, F/Quebec 2004, and now 14.xe3! xe3 15.d1! 0-0-0 16.xe3 xe3 17.d2 would have left Black struggling to find enough play for the pawn. ] 8.c3?! I don't like this because White's queen lacks escape squares. [ I think that White had better ways to play it, f o r e x a m p l e 8.d2!? g5!? 9.h3 f4 10.c3 e3 11.f2 ] [ or 8.c3 g5 9.b3+ g7 10.h3 e3 11.f2 . In either case I remain unconvinced about Black's compensation. ] 8...e3 9.d2? [ White's queen needs to get out of the way o f B l a c k ' s c o m i n g . . . B d 6 - f 4 wi t h 9.b1 t h o u g h a f t e r e8 his position is deeply disgusting though perhaps not lost. ] 9...f4! Leaving White with no way to save his 129
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 queen. 10.g3 xg2+ 11.xg2 xd2+ 12.xd2 c6 13.0-0-0 a5 14.b1 [ 14.c4 looks like a better try, at least having some activity for the lost material. Black would have to be careful. ] 14...e6 15.e4 a6 16.b3 xb3 17.axb3 c7 18.hf1 b5 19.xb5 xb5 20.f5 b4 White could still play on here but probably thought he had better things to do. 0-1
16...e6 17.c5 d7 18.d5 xc5 19.dxc6 simply winning a piece. And Black's compensation is non-existent. xc6 20.c3 b6 21.b4 d3 22.d4 e5 23.c2 xc1 24.axc1 fe8 25.xg6 xg6 26.f3 c6 27.cf1 f6 28.f5 h8 29.g3 f7 30.d6 1-0
137 136 Taylor,Timothy Aigner,Michael1 Masters Las Vegas USA (7) [Nigel Davies]
A02 2330 2245 13.06.2006
Another good example of White playing d2-d4 and e2-e3 against the 'piece play' versions of the From. And I don't see much compensation for Black. 1.f4 e5 2.fxe5 d6 3.exd6 xd6 4.f3 c6 This keeps open options of either piece play (...Ng8-f6) or a push with the gpawn (...g7-g5). 5.d4 g4 6.e3 Once again a conservative approach, putting the onus on Black to show that he has something. e7 7.e2 This simple developing move appears to be new. [ 7.c3 f5 8.e2 f6 9.d3 e4 10.bd2 0-0-0 gave Black a good game in Olszynski, K (2256)-Bjornsson, S (2329), Reykjavik 2007. But can 7.c3 really be the right move? ] 7...f6 8.c3 0-0 9.0-0 ae8 10.a3 Is it my imagination or does Black have very little for the pawn? The latter, I believe... d7 11.b5 d5 12.xd6 xd6 13.d3 h5 14.c4 [ Continuing his conservative ways with 14.d2! seems better. Now Black gets a brief opportunity for counterplay... ] 14...g6 15.b3 f4?! Missing the moment. [ He should have tried 15...a5!? when 16.b5 xe3 17.xa5 c2 18.d1 xa1 19.c3 is probably good for White because of Black's trapped knight, but at least it would have been a contest. ] 16.d1 [ And not 16.exf4? xd4! 17.xd4 xd4+ 18.h1 xe2 etc. ]
Bagirov,Vladimir Heemskerk,Fenny GMA op Moscow (2) [Nigel Davies]
A03 2460 2025 1989
1.b3 f6 2.b2 e6 3.e3 d5 4.f4 c5 5.f3 c6 6.b5 d7 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 As a waiting move this makes perfect sense and there's another one he can play with 9. Nbd2. Does Black have anything better than to force the bishop on b5 to declare its intentions with 8...a6? a6 [ Heemskerk doesn't think so or perhaps wondered what could be done after 8...0-0 9.bd2 . But playing devil's advocate for a moment I think it's reasonable for Black to play b4 10.xd7 xd7 , keeping the pieces needed to challenge White's control of e5. It's true that White wins a tempo on the b4 knight with 11.a3 but after c6 intending 12...Bf6 it doesn't look like anything special. ] 9.xc6 xc6 10.e5 b6 [ After 10...0-0 White should at least be able to claim a slight edge with 11.xc6 ( 11.f3 is the more violent interpretation) 11...bxc6 12.d2 because of Black's weakened pawn structure. ] 11.e2 0-0 12.f3 d4 Exaggerated urgency (or should I say panic?) seems to be par for the course in these positions for Black. But is it necessary at this stage? [ 12...d7 looks playable here, for example 13.h3 xe5 14.h5 h6 15.xe5 f6 seems fine for Black. ] 13.xc6 bxc6?! [ Black is understandably unwilling to jettison a pawn with 13...xc6 , but there seems to be some play for it after 14.exd4 cxd4 15.xd4 fd8 . For my money this seems 130
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 like a far better chance than the strategically gruesome capture with the pawn. ] 14.d2 fd8 15.c4 a7 16.h3 [ 16.f5 might have been even stronger. ] 16...h6 17.f1 h7? A blunder in a poor position, White's reply just forks the f7 and c6 pawns. 18.e5 f8 19.xc6 d7 20.xe7 xe7 21.exd4 d5 22.f5 exf5 23.xe7 xe7 24.a3 g6 25.xc5 fe8 26.c4 ac8 27.e3 c6 28.fe1 1-0
138 Balashov,Yuri S Sveshnikov,Evgeny RUS-ch m5-8 Elista (1.5) [Nigel Davies]
A03 2510 2560 21.05.1997
1.f4 Hoping no doubt to sidestep Sveshnikov's considerable theoretical knowledge. But even here it looks like the Russian Grandmaster knew exactly what he was doing. d5 2.f3 c5 3.e3 c6 4.b5 d7 5.b3 f6 6.b2 e6 7.0-0 e7 8.xc6 Simple and direct White tries to establish a knight on e5 and then build a kingside attack behind it. But in the light of Sveshnikov's precise defence in this game it is tempting to try and find improvements. [ With this in mind White might try 8.d3 ] [ or 8.a4 in his attempt to eke out an advantage. ] [ On the other hand it see ms tha t 8.e1 is well met by b4 . ] 8...xc6 9.e5 c8 A simple and logical defence, which when combined with Black's 11th move seems to solve his opening problems. [ Delving into the history books I found a game in which Black played 9...c7 10.d3 g8?! through concern against White's kingside pressure and possibly intending to strike back with ...g7-g5. But after 11.d2 d7? 12.h5 g6? 13.xh7 0-0-0 14.xf7 de8 15.xe6 Black found himself with inadequate compensation for the decimation of his pawns in Bird, H-Riemann, F/Hamburg 1885. ] 10.d3 0-0 11.d2 d7! The right way to
defend the position, immediately challenging White's knight on e5. 12.xc6 xc6 13.e4 f5! Once again a very instructive move from Black, preventing any further kingside expansion by White. It also places pawns on the opposite colour to Black's bishop, p ro d u cin g a kin d o f st ra t e gic 'h a rm o n y' . 14.e2 f6 15.xf6 xf6 16.ae1 dxe4 17.dxe4 d4+ 18.h1 xe4 Simplifying into a drawn rook endgame. 19.xe4 xe4 20.xe4 fxe4 21.xe4 d8 22.g1 d4 23.fe1 xe4 24.xe4 f7 25.f2 ½-½
139 Danielsen,Henrik Luther,Thomas Petermaennchen GM (2) [Tony Kosten]
A03 2512 2507 10.08.1999
1.f4 d5 2.f3 g4 Not a particularly popular move, but quite a logical one. However, after th is gam e it m igh t sim p ly b e co ns id e re d doubtful. 3.e3 d7 Black wants to play ...e5. 4.h3! This seems very strong, [ 4.e2 e6 5.0-0 was played in one of Larsen's games, against Barcza, Zurich 1959, but offers White little. ] 4...xf3 5.xf3 gf6 Necessary, to defend d5. 6.g4! A powerful move, intending to push Black off the board. Previously, W hite had played [ 6.c3 e6 and only then ( 6...c6 7.g4 e5 8.g5 g8 9.d3 also allows b4 10.d2 e7 11.a3 d6 which is similarly solid for Black, Vigus, J-Pert,N/Witley 1999.) 7.g4 b u t t h i s a l l o w s B l a c k t o p l a y b4 and following 8.g5 g8 9.d3 c6 10.d2 h6 Danielsen,H-Salmensuu,O/Open, Koge 1997, White was only slightly better. ] 6...e6 7.d3 b4+ 8.c3 The point, Black is not allowed to pin the white queen's knight. d6 9.e4! White plays concretely, forcing Black's developed pieces back, and gaining a la rge kin gsid e sp a ce a d va n t a g e , b e f o r e continuing his development. dxe4 10.dxe4 e5 11.g5 g8 12.f5 h6 13.h4 Keeping the kingside pawn-roller intact. e7 14.h5 b6 15.e3 Having achieved everything he wanted on the kingside, it is time to develop some 131
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 bits. d6 16.a3! c6 17.c4 xc4 game ) 12...b4 13.d2 would have been a 18.xc4 0-0-0 The f7-pawn couldn't be bit better for Black. ] d e f e n d e d , a n y w a y . 19.h2 Suddenly it 6.d3 h6 becomes clear that Black is quite lost. White [ Black can also bring the other knight out, intends Rd2, swapping Black's one, active, for example Danielsen, H (2520)-Ricardi, P rook, when the rest of Black's pieces remain (2515), Turin 2006 went 6...a6 7.e3 h6 trapped on the kingside. c7 20.xf7 hxg5? 8.0-0 f5 9.e2 h5!? 10.e5 e6 11.d4 De sp e ra t io n , b ut ot he r m o ve s we re also h4 12.g4 h3 13.h1 h4 14.d2 c7?! hopeless. 21.xh8 h6 22.xg7 g4 ( 14...0-0-0 is better ) 15.b3 a6 16.d3 23.f6 This is good, but b6 with a complex struggle ahead. ] [ 23.xa7 was even stronger, i.e. xh2 7.e4 dxe4 8.dxe4!? 24.e6+ ] [ 8.xe4 would have been easier to play, 1-0 but with little chance of being able to make life difficult for Black. ] 8...a6 9.e2 d7 10.a3 0-0-0 11.e5 g4 140 A03 12.e3 With a nice space advantage but an Davies,Nigel R 2457 uncastled king, White steers for an endgame. De Vassal,Thibault 2424 c5 13.0-0 f6 14.e4 b8 15.h1 f5 Attempting to set light to Black's Corres. FICGS (1) 01.07.2006 16.b4!? queenside. cxb4 17.axb4 xb4 [Nigel Davies] [ 17...xb4 18.b1 is very dangerous for Black. Here too there's an open b-file but I ' v e e x p e r i m e n t e d wi t h t h e B i r d a b i t i n at least he gains time on the knight on c3. ] correspondence chess, largely because I felt it would get my opponents 'out of their book'. 18.e1 c4 19.b1 b4 20.b5 d5 [ 20...a5 21.a3 would give White longUnfortunately it god me out of mine as well term compensation because of the and I didn't fare too well in these encounters, weakness of Black's queenside. ] though it would probably help if I understood the Leningrad Dutch a bit better. 1.f4 d5 21.f2 b6 22.e1 h5 23.d2 a4 24.xa7! xa7 2.f3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c6 [ White also has a powerful attack after [ Another Correspondence game of mine 24...xa7 25.c4 , for example c8 26.e6 went 4...f6 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 c5 7.e1 threatens 27.Bxd5 followed by 28.Nxb6+. ] ( 7.c3 is a better try here.) 7...c6 8.e4 d4 Bailing out into a worse but dxe4 9.dxe4 e5 10.c3 d4 11.d2 25.xd5 exf4 12.gxf4 g4 13.e5 e6 with Black tenable endgame. [ 25...xd5? 26.xb6+ leads to mate. ] having a nice game in Davies, N (2457)26.xd4 xd4 27.e4 fxe5 28.c3 e6 Weber, K (2343), Corr. 2006. ] 29.a1+ b8 30.a8+ c7 31.a7+ c8 5.c3 [ Attempting to improve on Davies, N (2457)- 32.c4 c5 33.g2 b8 34.xe7 f8 Zubac, M (2387), Corr. 2006, which went 35.f7 e6 36.xe5 xf7 37.xf7 d3 5.d3 h6 6.c3 ( 6.c3 is better.) 6...d7 38.f1 c5 39.c6 c7 40.xh8 xh8 7.e4 dxe4 8.dxe4 0-0 9.0-0 c5 10.d4 41.d5 h4 42.g2 hxg3 43.hxg3 xc1 g5 Breaking up White's kingside e5 11.fxe5 g4 with the better game for 44.xc1 Black. My ef f orts in this opening would pawns after which the draw becomes clear. p r o b a b l y b e h e l p e d b y p l a y i n g m o r e 45.f5 g4 46.a1 d6 47.e6 h5 48.a4 ½-½ Leningrad Dutches with Black. ] 5...b6 [ A high level game, Malaniuk, V (2600)Gelfand, B (2675), Elista 1998, went 5...d4 6.e4 f6 7.f2 c5 8.0-0 c6 9.e4 dxe3 10.dxe3 xd1 11.xd1 0-0 and now 12.e4 ( Rather than 12.c3 , as played in the 132
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 141 Dimitrijevic,Aleksandra Sebag,Marie Stork YM Hengelo NED (9) [Tony Kosten]
A03 2292 2414 14.08.2004
1.f4 d5 2.f3 g6 3.e3 g7 4.e2 f6 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 c5 7.e1 c6 8.c3 This stops ideas of ...Nd4 or ...Nb4. In the game Karlsson-Kindermann I looked at [ 8.d1?! and ] [ 8.h4 ] 8...d4! Black attacks immediately on the dark squares, rather than wait for W hite to play Q h 4 a n d t h e n p re p a re e 4 a t h is le isu re . 9.cxd4 A new try here. [ 9.e4 is met by the strong c4! 10.e5 ( 10.dxc4?! xe4 11.cxd4 xd4 is fantastic for Black) 10...cxd3 11.xd3 dxc3 12.xc3 ( 12.exf6?! xf6 attacks the bishop on d3, and threatens to capture on b 2 , r e g a i n i n g t h e p i e c e w i t h i n t e r e s t) 12...b6+ 13.h1 g4 14.e1 b4 15.e4 f5! Black has a powerful initiative, Parr,F-Mishra,N/ Eastbourne 1991. ] 9...cxd4 10.e4 g4 This is the point of Black's play, the knight aims for e3. 11.a3?! This looks wrong to me, White stops ...Nb4 and frees his queen, but [ 11.a3 is better, developing a piece and then playing Nc2 to cover e3. ] 11...b6 Black continues her play on the dark squares, ...Ne3 will soon become a serious threat. 12.b4 a5! White's queenside is starting to creak. 13.bxa5 xa5 14.h3? This is a tactical/ strategical mistake, allowing Black to exchange the one piece that controls e3. [ 14.b4 was the best bet, a6 15.a2 or ( 15.e5!? and White is still in the game. )] 14...b3 Of course! The young French player never misses a tactic. 15.a2 xc1 16.xc1 e3 17.b2? [ 17.f2 f6 is obviously very good for Black, with her enormous knight on e3, and bishop pair, but 18.c5 counter attacks d4, with some chances. ] 17...f6 Black attacks both f4 and the rook on f 1 , a n d win s a ke y p a wn . 18.f2 xf4 19.c5 xh3! Black continues to find the best moves. 20.g5?!
[ 20.gxh3? g3+ 21.h1 xf2 is disastrous. ] [ Objectively speaking 20.bd2 was best, but pretty hopeless, all the same. ] 20...g3! 21.xh3 e5 The only way to avoid mate on h2 is to capture on e5 and concede the queen, so White resigns. 0-1
142 Gardner,Robert Novikov,Igor A Canadian Open (7) [Tony Kosten]
A03 2221 2611 13.07.2000
1.f4 d5 2.g3 g6 3.f3 g7 4.g2 h6 5.0-0 f5 6.d4!? [ An odd idea, that isn't even popular with colours reversed. White decides to exploit the fact that Black has not yet played ...c5, and sets-up a 'Stonewall' structure. 6.c3!? is another try, c6 7.e4 dxe4 8.xe4 0-0 9.c3 d6 10.f2 d7 11.d4 Rechel,BAtalik,S/Groningen 1998 ] 6...h5!? Aggressive, but straightforward development is perhaps simpler. 7.h1! [ A u s e f u l p r o p h yl a c t i c m e a s u r e , 7.c3?! would allow h4 8.g4 h3 9.h1 h4 ] 7...c5 8.c3 d7 9.e5 cxd4 10.cxd4 b6 11.e3 xe5 [ Black was faced with a dilemma, and chooses a tactical solution, although this opens the f-file for W hite. Perhaps 11...e6 was better, followed by kingside castling, although Black may have bee n worrie d about the weakness he himself created on move six. ] 12.fxe5 h6 13.d3 e6?! [ A careless move, weakening the dark squares, 13...e6 14.c3 d8 kept the white position in check. ] 14.c3 d7?! [ 14...0-0 had to be played, for better, or worse. ] 15.xd5! Sacrificing a piece for two pawns to c a t c h t h e b l a c k k i n g i n t h e c e n t r e . exd5 16.xd5 d8 17.e4 The white attack develops apace. e7 18.f6+ f8 19.f3 [ Making Black regret opening the f-file, but for tactical reasons, 19.b3! is stronger, as 133
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 now h3 20.f2 xc1 21.xc1 xd4 22.d1 leaves the black queen without a retreat square. ] 19...h3 20.g4!? [ 20.d7+ e8 21.f6+ forces a perpetual check, but, despite the enormous grading difference, White clearly wants more. ] [ Now, the line 20.f2 xc1 21.xc1 xd4 22.d1 allows a4 i.e. 23.d7+ g7 24.xf7+ h6 and the d1-rook is en prise. ] 20...xf1 21.xh6+ xh6 Forced, other moves allow mate in one. 22.xh6 g7 [ 22...c4 23.d5 g7 also offers defensive chances. ] 23.xf7 xd4+ 24.h1 g2+! [ A u s e f u l reso u rce , if 24...c4? then 25.f6+ h7 26.g5+ h6 27.xe7 should win. ] 25.xg2 xb2+ So Black manages to play this with check, and pick-up the a1-rook. 26.h3 xa1 27.f6+ Despite being a rook down, White has all the chances. g8? [ 27...h7 is better, when 28.g5+ h6 29.e6 g8 will draw. ] 28.h8+ xf7 29.e6+ White wins the black queen. xe6 30.xa1 c8 31.d4 b6 Objectively Black is lost, 32.f2? [ A mistake, after 32.a4! Black is obliged to play c7 when White can progress with his king, 33.h4 ] 32...c5! Black sets-up a fortress, the white king can no longer pass the fifth rank. 33.d4 c6 34.g7 e7 35.d4 [ W hite decides to take the draw, 35.f8 a5 and Black can just keep his rook on the fifth rank, when everything is defended. ] 35...c6 36.g7 e7 37.d4 ½-½
143 Gelashvili,Tamaz Skembris,Spyridon Master Open Lausanne SUI (4) [Tony Kosten]
A03 2535 2450 24.05.2001
1.f4 d5 2.f3 [ 2.b3 c5 3.e3 a6 like a reversed 4.a3 Queen's Indian, 4.f3 c6 5.b2 g4!? 6.h3 xf3 7.xf3 d6 8.g4 f6 9.g2 e6 10.d3 ge7 11.d2 0-0-0 12.0-0-0 c7
13.b1 both sides have a flexible position, but White's two bishops give him the edge, Danielsen,H-W edberg,T/Munkebo DEN 1998. ] 2...f6 [ One problem with this particular move order is 2...g6 3.e3 g7 when White can't play b3. ] 3.e3 g4 [ A very typical 'solid line', Black lets his lightsquared bishop out before putting his pawns on light squares, just as in Capablanca's system versus the Reti. 3...g6 4.b3 g7 5.b2 0-0 was examined in Yin Hao-Zhang Zhong/Shenyang CHN 1999. ] 4.b3 bd7 5.b2 e6 6.h3 xf3 7.xf3 d6 8.c3 c6 9.g4 h6 10.h4 This type of kingside advance is quite justified here with a closed centre. h5!? 11.g5 g4 12.0-0-0 [ 12.h3 can be met by f5 ] 12...e7 13.e4!? [ White hits-out in the centre, but the prophylactic 13.b1 was worth considering, a3 14.a1 and White can retain his bishop. ] 13...d4 14.e2 e5 15.f5 Else Black may gain use of the e5-square. a3 16.h3 a5 Black plays for an attack along the a-file. It shouldn't force mate, but will certainly give W hite something to worry about. 17.xa3?! I always think twice before encouraging my opponent's queen to take up residence too close to my king! xa3+ 18.b1 a4 19.c1 axb3 [ The pretty interference 19...d3! is good, the knight and c2-pawn are both on defensive d u t i e s s o : 20.xg4 ( 20.xd3?! f2 ) 20...dxc2+ 21.xc2 hxg4 22.xg4 axb3+ 23.axb3 c5+ with a nasty attack. ] 20.cxb3 c5 21.xg4 hxg4 22.g3 The queen is needed on the third rank to d e f e n d b 3 . f6!? 23.gxf6 gxf6 24.xg4 d3! Trying for a deflection. 25.g6+ d8 26.xf6+ c7 27.c2 [ The only move, 27.xd3?? allows mate: xa2+ 28.c1 a1+ 29.c2 a2+ ] 27...b4+ [ 27...b2+ 28.xd3 b1+ 29.e2 xe4+ 30.f2 f4+ 31.e1 e4+ was another way of forcing a perpetual. ] 28.b1 he8!? Black eschews the perpetual, 134
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and plays for a win! 29.f7+ b6 30.dg1 xa2 31.c2 b4+ 32.d1 It seems that the white king is on its way to safety, but... xc1+! 33.xc1 a1+ 34.b2 a2+ [ 34...a2+ White has to allow a repetition, with 35.c1 ( as 35.b1?? ea8 actually forces mate! ) 35...a1+ ] ½-½
problem is the doubled e-pawn which leaves e 5 a s a we a k n e ss a n d W h i t e h a v i n g a n effective kingside pawn majority. 19.d2 d6 20.f1 [ T h i s i s b e t t e r f o r W h i t e b u t 20.g3 was even stronger. ] 20...xf1+ 21.xf1 f8+ 22.e2 f6 [ Black could have defended more economically with 22...e8 23.g3 g6 . ] 23.g3 g6 24.g5 e8 25.f3 f5 26.g3 144 A03 b5 27.e4 f4 28.d2 [ 28.e3! was better with more serious Giffard,Nicolas 2317 problems for Black. ] Moret,Vincent 2178 FRA-chT poule basse (9.8) 08.05.2003 28...e7 29.e3 d6 30.h3 c6 31.e3 c4?! Overreacting to White's pressure. [Nigel Davies] [ 31...g4 would have been more stubborn. ] 1.b3 d5 2.b2 e6 3.f4 c5 4.e3 c6 32.bxc4 bxc4 33.dxc4 d4+ 34.d3 f2 5.b5 d7 6.f3 f6 7.0-0 d6 8.xc6 35.g3 f6 36.g5 a5 37.a3 b7 38.c5+ xc5 39.xe5+ d6 40.c4+ e7 xc6 9.e5 c7 [ Now that White's f-pawn is on f4 already he 41.xa5 f2 42.a7 can meet 9...xe5 with 10.fxe5 d7 1-0 11.g4 with attacking chances on the kingside. ] 145 A03 10.d3 0-0 [ I think I might have been tempted to play Granda Zuniga,Julio E 2680 10...0-0-0!? for Black, though I'm not Semcesen,Daniel 2502 convinced that a respectable GM should Karpos Open 2014 (9.10) 05.04.2014 a d m i t t o t h is . C e r t a i n ly I wo u ld n 't f e e l [Fier, Alexandr] comfortable with the position Black has in the game and W hite's pieces taking pot This was the most exotic game of the month. shots at his king. ] W h i t e go e s f o r a ki n d o f r e ve r s e d c o l o r 11.f3 d7 12.h3!? I'm not surprised that Stonewall Dutch with the bishop out and the Giffard chose the spectacular line. queenside developed. Basically it is not so [ 12.xc6 xc6 would be insipid by easy to explain. Despite the result I don't think comparison. ] I can recommend this variation for White! 1.f4 12...xe5 13.fxe5 xe5 It's interesting to d5 2.f3 g6 3.d4 There are already a few see how facing an attack can foster great high level games in this position. Usually trepidation on the part of the defender. W hite goes for 3.g3 or 3.e3. g7 4.c3 [ I t s e e m s t h a t 13...e7 is OK here, for And now we are practically in new territory. example 14.h5 h6 15.g3 g5 16.h4 White's idea is quite rudimentary: develop the g6 17.g4 e7 is fine for Black as White is queenside pieces, castle long and push the not attacking with enough pieces. ] kingside pawns. Unfortunately, Black has 14.h5 f6?! Going for the deceptive 'safety' enough resources to defend against this preof an endgame, but one which turns out to be historic attack. f6 5.e3 worse for Black. [ 5.e3 was too normal for Granda ] [ 14...f5 was better, for example 15.xh7+ 5...0-0 6.d2 a6?! This move is mysterious. f7 16.h5+ e7 sees the king slip I f B l a c k w o u l d c o n t i n u e w i t h 7 . . . b 5 t h e away. ] position would still be quite nice, but it looks 15.xh7+ f7 16.h5+ e7 17.xe5 like he changed his mind in the middle of the xe5 18.xe5 fxe5 Although this looks safe road. f o r B l a c k h e i s s l i g h t l y wo r s e n o w. T h e [ 6...e4 was direct, and probably enough 135
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 for an advantage 7.xe4 dxe4 8.g5 ( 8.e5 is also not a heroic route for the knight f6 9.c4 e6 10.a3 ) 8...d5 and the knight will just be running around 9.g3 h6 10.h3 c5 with good central pressure ] 7.h3 e4 Mixing plans. [ 7...b5 this would be the logical continuation, and one more time enough for some advantage 8.g4 ( 8.a3 e4 9.xe4 dxe4 and Black has an improved version of the game, where he can start an attack more easily if W hite castles long, 10.e5 f6 11.g4 d5 with a weird position) 8...b4 9.d1 e4! energetic ( 9...a5 10.f2 e4 11.xe4 dxe4 12.g5 followed by 13.Bg2 is interesting for W hite) 10.xb4 c5 11.dxc5 c6 12.a3 d4 13.d2 b8 and Black is two pawns down, but there is no c o mp ariso n b et wee n t he W h it e a n d Black pieces ] 8.xe4 dxe4 9.e5 f6 10.g4 e6 The bishop is slightly exposed here, and White has an interesting pawn sacrifice. [ 10...d7 would also be logical and after 11.f5 ( 11.0-0-0 b6 White needs to take care of all the weak squares) 11...b6 12.fxg6 hxg6 13.h6 xg4 14.hxg4 d5 is the computer's idea, but the king will need to go to the center again 15.xg7 xg7 16.h6+ f7 17.h7+ e6 18.xg6 g8 with a double-edged position ] 11.g3 Giving some space to the bishop on f1. [ 11.f5!? w a s a l r e a d y p o s s i b l e xf5 12.h6+ xh6 13.xh6 e8 14.g4 e6 15.g2 with some compensation for the pawn ] 11...d7 12.g2 [ 12.f5 was interesting one more time A) 12...gxf5 is too dangerous 13.h6+ xh6 ( 13...h8 14.d5 ) 14.xh6 e8 15.g4 with a dangerous initiative; B) 12...xf5 13.h6+ xh6 14.xh6 e8 15.g4 reaching the same position as in the last move's analysis, but with a tempo less. Still, the position is not clear ] 12...b8? Ignoring White's idea. [ 12...f5 13.e5 c5 14.c3 and somehow White's position looks normal again! ] 13.d5 Now Black's position already looks less harmonious than White's.
[ 13.f5 is still on the pocket xf5 14.h6+ xh6 ( 14...h8 15.xf5 gxf5 ) 15.xh6 e8 16.0-0-0 with the usual 17.g4 idea ] 13...f7 14.f5 Finally. b6 15.h6+ h8?! After a series of strange Black moves the position is already delicate. After this move W hite has a material advantage and Black has no compensation. There were several ways for him to not be worse in the 15 moves after White's opening, but sometimes exotic play leads to exotic answers! [ 15...xh6 was necessary 16.xh6 e8 17.xe4 xd5 18.xd5+ xd5 19.xd5+ xd5 20.0-0-0 bd8 and White can be slightly better in the endgame, but compared to the position of the game, it's much better for Black. ] 16.xf7+ xf7 17.xb6 cxb6 18.xe4 Now W hite is much better. In the endgame the position was again far from clear, but as we are going to see, he had some ways to keep the advantage. d6 19.0-0-0 e5 20.d3 gxf5 21.xf5 b5 22.b1 h6 23.hf1 g7 24.f3 It's not only the difference in the number of pawns, but also the bishops. W hite's one is centralized and looking to both flanks. Black's bishop would be wonderful on e5, but there is no way to get there. b4 25.e4 A solid choice. [ 25.g4 would be one way to continue the attack. The advance of the pawns on the queenside is far less dangerous than on the kingside a5 26.h4 a4 27.e3 a3 28.d4 d6 29.g5 fxg5 30.e6 and White will bring the rooks to the attack with devastating effect. ] 25...xe4 26.xe4 gg8 27.f5 a5 28.d4 gd8 29.fd3 b5 30.h4 g7 31.dd4 h8 32.de4 b7 33.h5 [ 33.e3 wo u ld a vo id B la ck's id e a c7 34.h5 followed by 35.Rg4 wins ] 33...d2 34.g4+ f8 35.xh7 xh7 36.xh7 White wins a second pawn, but Black can finally liberate his pieces e6 37.g8+ f7 38.e4 White starts to lose control. [ 38.dxe6+ was still winning. For example: xe6 39.e4 e7 ( 39...c7 40.h4+- ) 40.c6! d6 41.xb5 defending the pawn on e2 ] 38...exd5 39.exd5 [ 39.d8 also loses a pawn e1 40.exd5 136
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg3 41.f5 with chances c7 and White's queenside is a problem at the moment, so Black has chances to hold ] 39...e7 40.c3 bxc3 41.bxc3 xc3 Now the endgame is not clear at all and Black even managed to recover the second pawn after some moves. 42.c8 e1+ 43.c2 e5 And with g3 and a2 weak, there is no way to keep any advantage. 44.d3 a1 45.xb5 xa2+ 46.d3 a3+ 47.e4 xg3 48.d7 a4 Somehow the pawn on h3 is more dangerous than the pawn on a4. The white rook controls the ...a3 advance well, but on the other hand Black's bishop is not able to help in the defence. Of course, the position is still drawn, but White has something to work with. [ 48...b3 with the idea of 49...Rb4+ should be sufficient to draw ] 49.e6+ e7 50.a8 a3 51.h4 b2? Black tries to liberate the rook to def end against the promotion, but now the d-pawn is also free. [ 51...d6 bringing the king up was quite logical 52.h5 g5 53.f7 f5+ this is the point 54.d3 g2 with a probable draw. ] 52.a7+ d6 53.a6+ e7 54.f5 e5 55.h5 b3 56.h6 b4+ 57.d3 d4+ 58.e2 h4 59.h7 h2+ 60.d3 a2 61.xa2 1-0
146 Jakubiec,Artur Gdanski,Jacek ch Warsaw POL (13) [Tony Kosten]
A03 2532 2529 07.05.2004
1.f4 d5 2.f3 g6 3.g3 c6!? Black plays an idea of Korchnoi's with reversed colours, a route is opened for the queen to the g1-a7 diagonal. 4.g2 b6 White is stopped from castling. 5.c3 [ 5.d4 is a less flexible alternative, g7 6.0-0 f6 7.e3 with a Stonewall-style position, Koc, P-Gleizerov,E/Koszalin 1998. ] 5...g7 6.e3 [ 6.e4!? is more ambitious, dxe4 7.xe4 f6 8.xf6+ ( 8.f2!? allows White to castle ) 8...xf6 9.a4 0-0 10.a5 b5
with reasonable play for Black, Adorjan,AVarga,Z/Budapest 1995. ] 6...h6 A novelty, although obvious, as Black continues using White's standard plan (with opposite colours): the knight will go to f5 to support ...h5-4. [ 6...d7 7.0-0 e5 8.fxe5 xe5 9.xe5 xe5 10.h1 g7 gave equal chances in Danielsen,H-Berg,K/Aalborg DEN 2000. ] 7.a4 a5 8.d4 [ 8.0-0 f5 threatens ...d4, and so after 9.d4 will probably transpose to the game. ] 8...a6 9.0-0 f5 10.e5 h5 Other moves are possible, but this is the key move here. 11.f3 The bishop moves to a 'safe' square, the point of White's previous move. If instead [ 11.e2 then the tactic h4 12.g4 h3 is possible, 13.h1 h4 with aggressive play. ] 11...e6 [ 11...d6 is also sensible, controlling c4 and e4, and preparing to bring the bishop to h3. ] 12.e1 d8 Black stops White from playing e4. 13.b3 As the white bishop is hemmed-in by the pawn structure in the centre, W hite prepares a route out to the a3-f8 diagonal. d6 [ 13...g5!? is a tactical alternative. ] 14.a3 f5 15.g2 b4 Black brings all his pieces to powerful posts before castling. 16.c1? A bad mistake, allowing a simple tactic. [ 16.d3 blocks the threat to the c-pawn, and keeps play balanced. ] 16...xc2! 17.xc2 xb3 This is the point, forking the rook and bishop and so recuperating the piece with two-pawns interest. 18.e4 [ 18.a2 xc3 19.b2 c2+ 20.xc2 xc2 21.c3 f5 22.xa5 regains one pawn, but is barely an improvement. ] 18...dxe4 19.xe4 xe4 20.xe4 xa3 Black has won two pawns, unless White finds some real compensation soon he can resign. 21.xg6!? Maybe the best chance. xe5 Simplest, [ 21...fxg6? 22.xg6 hits e7 (with mate) and the h8-rook. ] 22.fxe5 fxg6 23.exd6 xd6 The black queen returns and everything appears to be 137
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 u n d e r c o n t r o l . 24.ce2 The open e-file the variation from the game is also interesting. provides some counterplay for W hite. d5+ 1.b3 d5 2.b2 g4 3.f3 f5 25.g1 0-0! The best move, rather than [ 3...h5 4.e4 is a possible idea, and defend the e-pawn by against ...Bf5 it can be interesting too. Here [ 25...d7 when 26.e5 c4 27.xa5 there is a trick for blitz players and it was xd4+ 28.xd4 xd4 29.a7 d7 tried by Nielsen in his thematic blitz match 30.a8+ d8 31.a7 b8 32.a5 against Svidler. ( 4.h3 is more solid, trying gives White fair drawing chances as he will to catch the bishop pair and it was Svidler's win the b-pawn. ] choice when he had White e6 5.f4 g6 26.xe7 f7 Black certainly doesn't want to 6.e3 f6 7.xg6 hxg6 8.f4 with chances swap too many pawns by for both sides in Svidler, P (2734)-Nielsen, [ 26...xd4+ 27.xd4 xd4 28.xb7 f7 P (2700)/Politiken Larsen blitz b3 2010.) 29.b6 g7 30.xc6 xa4 ] 4...dxe4 5.e2 c6 smartly avoiding 6. 27.7e4 g7 Black has consolidated his Qb5+, Nielsen, P (2700)-Svidler, P (2734)/ position, and remains a pawn to the good. Politiken Larsen blitz b3 2010. ] 28.c2 d6 29.c3 h7 30.e3 df6 4.e3 31.e7 xe7 [ 4.e4 I can't say that this gambit is sound, [ 31...c4! is strong, threatening a deadly but still it's a way to use the 3.f3 move and check on f1, and the a4-pawn. ] bring the pieces into the game, dxe4 5.c3 32.xe7+ f7 33.e5 f3 The queen ( 5.fxe4 was never played but also possible, comes to menace the white king, but opening the center at once xe4 6.c3 [ 33...c4 is strong, again. ] g6 7.f3 f6 8.e5!? now the queen 34.e3?! White figures his best chance lies in has the f3-square to go to, and White will the rook endgame, but he would be better probably take the g6 bishop at some point. keeping the queens on the board, for better, The main issue with White's position is the or for worse. xe3+ 35.xe3 h6 36.h4 lack of control of the d4-square.) 5...f6 d7 37.e5 d5 38.e4 ( 5...exf3 6.xf3 c8 7.d5 threatening 8. [ 38.xd5? cxd5 leads to a lost king and Nxc7+ or bringing the knight to e3 followed pawn endgame. ] by 0-0-0; 5...e3 is supposed to be less 38...b5 Black gets his queenside pawns going. dangerous, but W hite recovers the pawn 39.axb5 cxb5 40.f2 b4 with an initiative, 6.dxe3 xd1+ 7.xd1 The two connected passed pawns are was seen in Bosboom, M (2455)-Van Veen, decisive. 41.e3 b3 42.d2 b5 43.c1 O (2 1 9 9 )/ V lis sin ge n HZ o p 1 4 t h 2 0 1 0 . a4 44.b1 b4 45.f4 c4 46.e4?! a3 xc2?? i s t o o g r e e d y : 8.c1 g6 0-1 9.d5+- ) A) 6.e2 exf3 7.xf3 ( 7.b5+ doesn't work at all d7 8.xb7 c6 147 A03 and White is already in trouble) 7...c6 8.0-0-0 e6 and it's not sure White has Jobava,Ba 2694 enough compensation for the pawn, it's Navara,D 2703 not easy to find where to put the pieces.; 29th ECC Open 2013 (3.5) 22.10.2013 B) 6.g4!? is another option g6 7.e2 [Fier, Alexandr] c6 8.0-0-0 d4 9.c4 with some counterplay ( 9.g2 with the idea of 10.h4 Jobava is a player with a lot of new ideas in is playable )] the openings and for more than one year he is playing 1.b3 with quite decent results. In 4...e6 5.f4 [ 5.c3 is kind of weird, but played by t h is g a m e h e t r a n sp o se s t o a B i rd s t yl e McShane and analyzed on ChessPublishing position and introduces 8.h3 instead of the in McShane, L (2683)-Jansa, V (2513)/12th normal plans with Be2. Navara tries to exploit ch-EUR Aix-les-Bains FRA 2011. ] it and the position was quite interesting. I would prefer 11.Rxf1 to castle queenside, but 5...f6 6.f3 e7 7.d3 138
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 7.e2 is the main line and it usually comes from Bird's. White spent a tempo playing f3f4, but Black also played ...Bg4-f5 h6 8.0-0 0-0 9.d3 Minasian, A (2530)-Boensch, U (2490)/Munich op 9293 1993. ] 7...c5 8.h3 h5 Trying to refute White's idea. But to use 4 tempi with the knight just to take the bishop on f1 is not so dangerous. After this move W hite has good chances to gain the advantage. [ 8...0-0 is possible, but there is no reason to give the bishop 9.g4 g6 10.e5 c6 with chances for both sides ] [ 8...h6 is the natural answer and maybe White would try the most direct approach with 9.g4 ( 9.e2 kind of transpose to the main lines, but there is no reason to play 8. h3 then ) 9...h7 10.g1 but it's hard to believe White's attack is strong enough with more than half of the pieces on the first rank c6 and with ...d4 afterwards, Black should be better. ] 9.g4 g3 10.g1 xf1 11.xf1 A concrete approach, but it's also risky. [ 11.xf1!? makes a lot of sense, since the kingside is not a safe place for the king. Jobava probably thought the rook would be more useful on g1, which is true, but the cost is high. f6 12.c3 with the king going to c1, it's better to keep the bishops, g6 13.d2 c6 14.0-0-0 and White has good attacking chances. ] 11...f6 Otherwise the pawn on g7 is hanging. 12.xf6!? Following a concrete idea. The main point is that White is able to play e4 by tactical means and with this the bishop on g6 is n o t go o d . B la ck n e e d s t o a n swe r in a precise way as well. xf6 13.a3 g6 14.b5 e7 15.e4 Probably this was the po sition J ob ava wa s aiming f or whe n h e played 11.Kxf1, White is going to expand on the kingside and there are chances for Black to stay in a passive position. White needs to take care not to overexpand, since if the position opens in a bad way the king will be in the wrong place. a6 16.c3 dxe4 17.dxe4 f6! Giving the d5-square to keep the bishop active. [ 17...h6 would be the option to keep the d5square under control, but it's hard to leave the bishop 'dead' on h7, 18.f5 h7 19.g2
0-0 20.d2 followed by 21. Rad1 gives White a stable advantage. ] 18.f5 f7 19.fxe6 xe6! The bishop is better on f7 than e6. [ 19...xe6 if Black exchanges the dangerous knight on d5, W hite creates a passed pawn and after some moves, when the position stabilizes, W hite is slightly better, 20.d5 xd5 ( 20...d6? 21.xf6+ that's the difference) 21.exd5 ( 21.xd5 is just bad, White can't avoid Black castling for too long, c6 22.g2 d8 23.c4 d4 24.ad1 b5 ) 21...d7 22.g2 0-0-0 23.e1 e5 24.c4 and White is positionally better. ] 20.d5 d6 Now White has some problems with the dark squares and his king is still not safe. White has enough resources to hold the balance, but for sure, not more than this. 21.e3 [ 21.g5 was a crazy idea, but probably it's working, fxg5 22.xg5 finally the 11.Kxf1 makes sense, 0-0 23.f5 necessary and threatening 24.Nxf6+ A) 23...d7 24.f6+ is embarrassing; B) 23...d8 24.xf7!? going all-in xf7 25.g5+ g8 26.h5 the attack looks quite dangerous since Black still needs to finish development, but there is enough resources for equality, f8+ ( 26...h6 also works 27.f7+ h8 28.e6 e5 def en ding g7 and a tt acking a 1 29.e1 c6 with dynamic balance) 27.g2 h6 ( 27...h6 falls to a beautiful trick 28.g6! xg6 29.e7+ h8 30.xg6+ g8 31.xf8 xf8 32.e6+ with a clear a d v a n t a g e .) 28.e7+ h8 29.f1 ( 29.f7+ xf7 30.xf7 c6 and Black is fine ) 29...c6 30.f7+ xf7 31.xh6 xf1 32.g5 f6 33.xc5 with an unclear position, but Black should be fine.; C) 23...g6 is more dangerous 24.e5! d8 25.xf8+ xf8 26.c7 e4 27.xa8 c6! forced since ( 27...xf3 28.d6 exchanges the queens) 28.e6 xf3 29.e7 xe7 30.d6 with a complex position. ] 21...f4 [ 21...xd1+?! without queens White doesn't need to worry about the king's safety 139
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 anymore 22.xd1 c6 23.f5 and White can fight for an advantage. ] 22.f5 The start of a wrong plan. [ 22.d5 repeating the position was White's best move, but nobody would be proud of this. xd5 is more ambitious, but again improves White's structure a lot, ( 22...d6 23.e3= ) 23.exd5 d7 24.e2+ e5 25.g2 0-0-0 26.xe5 de8 27.f2 xf2+ 28.xf2 xe5 will be drawn. ] 22...0-0 23.g5? Losing control, but the position is already not good for White. [ 23.g2 c6 24.e1 ad8 and Black is better. ] 23...xe4 Now the position is just lost. 24.d6 e6 25.xf7 xf7 26.g2 [ 26.g6 hxg6 doesn't really make a difference. ] 26...c6 The rest of the game is just a matter of time. 27.c3 f5 28.h2 e5 29.g3 xf3+ 30.xf3 xf3 31.xf3 fxg5 32.af1 af8 33.xf7 xf7 34.d1 f2+ 35.g3 xa2 36.d8+ f7 37.d7+ g6 38.xb7 c2 39.c4 h5 40.f3 h4 41.b4 xc4 42.bxc5 xc5 43.b6+ h5 44.xa6 c2 45.a3 h2 46.e4 g4 47.a7 g6 0-1
148 Johansen,Darryl Keith Budde,Vladimir 1986 Wuppertal [Paul Motwani]
A03
1986
B32: "The case of the gobbled galloping gpawn!" 1.b3 f6 [ 1...e5 starred in game B31. ] 2.b2 d5 3.e3 e6 4.f4 g6!? This move leaves Black's f6-knight temporarily with only one defender (namely the lady at d8), and th a t f a c t p ro voke s W h it e in t o (u n wise ly) lunging speedily forward towards the black steed. 5.g4?! g7 6.e2? [ 6.g5 h5 7.xg7 ( 7.c3 d4; 7.d4 h6 ) 7...xg7 is also unpleasant for White as Black threatens ...h6. Furthermore, the f5square is a powerful post ready for the g7knight, but at least the battle would continue longer than in the actual game... ] 6...xg4! GM Darryl Johansen resigned in
view of 7 Bxg7 (or 7 Bxg4 Bxb2) 7...Qh4+ 8 Kf1 Qf2, but perhaps he could have struggled on a bit with 7 Bb5+ c6 8 Bxg7 Qh4+ 9 Ke2, although Black should still win after 9...Rg8. 0-1
149 Kabanov,Nikolai Riazantsev,Alexander Polyarniy Krug (4) [John Watson]
A03 2521 2632 02.12.2006
Larsen's Opening seems to bring out the worst in people. Here a 2521 player loses with White in 23 moves! 1.b3 d5 2.b2 f6 3.e3 c5 This always seemed a little cooperative to me, since it gives White's light-squared bishop the typical Nimzo/Bogo b5 square. [ Something along the lines of 3...f5 ] [ or even 3...g6 (without playing ...c5 in the foreseeable future) makes strategic sense. ] 4.f4!? This move is often held to be consistent with the move b3 or b4 but that's not so clear, because White's e3 square can be weakened and subject to moves such as ...d4 and ...Nd5/ g4. Still, the plan of Nf3-e5 can't be too bad. [ 4.f3 is a Queen's Indian Defence a tempo up. That may be only equal if Black p l a y s s l o w l y , f o r e x a m p l e , b y c6 ( or even more safely, 4...e6 ) 5.b5 d7 ] 4...g6 5.f3 g7 6.b5+ [ 6.e2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.e5 c7 is comf ortable f or Black. Then perhaps 9.xc6 xc6 10.f3 f5 could follow. ] 6...d7 [ 6...bd7!? 7.0-0 a6 8.e2 leaves Black's knight slightly misplaced on d7, but that is still no great achievement for White, who in fact will probably play Ne5 and Bf3 anyway, si n c e t h e m o ve d 3 c a n we a k e n h i s e 3 square in a number of lines. ] 7.xd7+ xd7!? Good enough, and [ 7...bxd7 is safe and equal. ] 8.e5 c7 9.0-0 0-0 10.d3 [ 10.c4 is a natural move, or perhaps ] [ 10.a3 c6 11.c4 ] 10...fd7 11.d4 cxd4 12.exd4 c6 13.d2? It's so easy to go wrong when you think that nothing's happening! [ 13.h1 is one improvement, again about 140
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 equal. ] 13...dxe5! 14.fxe5 [ 14.dxe5 b4! and White can't defend c2 in view of 15.c3? d3 16.c2 c5+ ] 14...b6 Winning a pawn. 15.h1 [ 15.f3 xe5 16.xe5 xe5 offers even less counterplay. ] 15...xd4 16.c4!? [ W hite gets nothing from 16.c4 dxc4 17.xd4 e6 ] 16...f5! 17.f3 e3 [ 17...h6! is another good move. White is suffering. ] 18.xe3 xe3 19.f3 d4 20.e4 g4 [ Or 20...ad8 with the idea 21.xd4? c2 ] 21.xd4 xe5 22.d3 ad8 23.ad1 f5 The simple point is that after White's knight moves, .... Bxd4 followed by ...Nf2+ wins. 0-1
Moldova 1979, and here Black should opt for a5 16.f4 d5 with approximately even chances. ) 11...e7 12.f4 0-0 A) 13.e5?! g4 ( 13...c4!? looks like an excellen t altern ative f o r Black ) 14.xd6 xd6 15.e4 h6 16.h3 e3+ 17.xe3 xe3 18.f2 f6 19.e5 g5 with a small plus for Black thanks to White's central pawns being fixed on dark, the colour of Black's bishop, Putjatina, NKorneev, O/Karvina 1992; B) 13.ae1!? d7 14.xd6 xd6 15.e4 dxe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.xe4 f6 18.e3 ac8! 19.c3 c5 20.dxc5 xc5 21.xc5 xc5 22.d1 c7 , and although W hite has the initiative thanks to his control over the central files and his pawn majority on the queenside, Black should be able to hold the balance, Gurevich, M-Kuijf, M/Wijk aan Zee 1990 ] [ B) 6.d3 f6 7.c3 ( 7.fxe5 xe5 8.g2 150 A03 c6 9.e3 d6 10.e2 e7 is very pleasant for Black, Sanz Sixto, J-Korneev, O/Corunha Karlsson,Lars 2475 2000 ) 7...c5 8.g2 d4 9.e3 b6 Hector,Jonny 2532 10.fxe5 xe5 , Ricca, R-Korneev, O/Asti ch-SWE Vaxjo SWE (9) 07.07.2008 1997, and now 11.d4 g6 12.d3 0-0 [Carsten Hansen] leaves the game more or less balanced. ] [ C) 6.e3?! e4 7.g2 f6 8.c3 b4 1.g3 d5 2.f4 c6 This position isn't even 9.0-0 d7 is comfortable for Black, mentioned in the ECO, that's how quickly we Vaatainen, T-Halmeenmaki, T/ FIN 1997 ] have exited mainstream theory. To add a fun little side note, my computer at this point, 6...dxc4 [ Black can also try the pawn sacrifice claims a clear advantage for Black! Not so fast, 6...d4!? 7.fxe5 xf3+ 8.exf3 dxc4 my little digital friend. 3.f3 g4 4.g2 xf3 9.a4+ d7 10.xc4 e7 11.0-0 5.xf3 e5 This is the point behind Black's 2nd ( White achieves nothing by delaying d2-d4 and 3rd moves, but White has a somewhat and giving up on his extra pawn. Therefore surprising and quite strong answer up his White should go for 11.d4!? 0-0-0 12.c3 sleeve. 6.c4! xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.e3 d8 [ White has a few alternatives available at , and W hite has a little more space, but this juncture. A) 6.fxe5 is the most obvious objectively the chances are about even.) and also the best of W hite's alternatives 11...c6 12.c3 0-0-0 13.d4 xd4+ xe5 7.g2 f6 8.0-0 ( 8.d4 g6 9.c3 14.xd4 xd4 15.f4 b4 16.d1 hd8 c6 10.d3 b4 11.g5 h6 12.d2 xc3 , and Black has already taken full control 13.xc3 0-0 , and here a draw was agreed over the game, Lutikov, A-Petrosian, A/ upon, 1/2-1/2, in Grunberg, M-Popa, V/ROM Leipzig 1977 ] 1993, though Black is already quite co m f o rt a b le a n d p ro b ab ly sh o u ld h a ve 7.a4 d7?! [ I don't like this move which leaves White played on. W hite's pair of bishops aren't with the better pawn structure and overall exactly a scary bunch.) 8...c6 9.d4 c4 advantage. Instead I think Black should 10.d3 d6 11.c3!? ( 11.g5 e7 have given consideration to 7...ge7 , e.g. 12.d2 0-0 13.c4 xc4 14.xc4 dxc4 8.xc4 d4 9.b3 0-0-0 10.e3 b6 15.xc4 , Gershtein-Chebanenko, V/ 141
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.xf7 exf4 12.xf4 b4 13.e4 a6 , and Black has compensation for the pawn ] 8.xc6 bxc6 9.fxe5 f6 10.xc4 fxe5 11.f1 f6 12.c3 b8 13.a3 e7 14.d3 f8 15.b4 White has a clear positional advantage, but the position is the kind of muddy water Grandmaster Hector enjoys operating in. g4 [ 15...c5 16.b5 d4 17.e3 xc4 18.dxc4 ] 16.xf8+ xf8 17.e4 [ 17.h3 f6 18.g4 ] 17...xh2 18.e3 a5 19.c5 h3 20.d2 [ White can do better with 20.c1!? because xg3+ i s n ' t a t h r e a t d u e t o 21.d2 , and Black can't do anything against the numerous threats with the knight and on the light squares in general. ] 20...axb4 21.h1? [ 21.g4!? g2 22.e6+ e8 23.xg7+ f8 24.e6+ e8 25.xc7+ d8 26.f7 f3+ 27.xf3 xf3 28.exf3 xc7 29.axb4 xb4+ 30.e2 , and White has the better chances in the endgame ] 21...f3+ 22.c2 xh1 23.d7+ e8 24.xb8 e1+ 25.d2?! [ 25.b3! xd3 ( 25...d5 26.d2 xc4+ 27.dxc4 g2 28.a4 gives White excellent winning chances) 26.exd3 d1+ 27.c2 xc2+ 28.xc2 bxa3 29.b3 h5 30.xc6 d6 31.f2 d7 32.a5 e6 , and it is highly doubtful White can win ] 25...d5 26.xe1 bxa3 27.c1? [ This loses. Instead White should have played 27.a6 , which more or less holds the balance. a2 28.f2 c5 29.c6 f6 30.a8+ f7 31.xe5+ xe5 32.xa2+ , and White is only a pawn down and should be able to draw without too much trouble. ] 27...a2? [ Here Black misses an easy win: 27...xc4 28.dxc4 e4! (this is probably the move Black o v e r l o o k e d ) 29.d2 a2 30.b2 f6 31.c2 a1 32.xa1 xa1 33.xc6 d7 34.a5 e5 , and Black should win without too much trouble ] 28.xd5 cxd5 29.b2 a3 30.xe5 c5? [ Black can play more accurately with 30...d6 31.a1 xg3+ 32.f1 c5 33.c6 f4 , and Black should win ] 31.a1 b4+ 32.d1 d4 33.c2 c3
34.b2 e7 [ Or 34...h5 35.a6 g5 36.xc5 h4 37.gxh4 gxh4 38.e4 h3 39.f2 h2 40.b3 a1 41.xa1 xa1 42.c4 , and a draw is around the corner ] 35.c6+ d6 36.d8 a1 37.xa1 xa1 It is pretty astounding that White manages to save a draw in this endgame which looks rather easily won for Black due to his capacity to create a passed pawn on the kingside at will. 38.b7+ d5 39.a5 c3? [ 39...h5! seems to win in a rather straightforward fashion, but Black's mistake indicates that the players undoubtedly were in time trouble at this stage. 40.b3 g5! 41.d2 h4 42.gxh4 gxh4 43.f3 h3 44.d1 c3 45.h2 e5 ] 40.e4+! Now White can at least get his king to the kingside to participate in the defence of a g a i n s t a p o s s i b l e p a s s e d p a w n . e6 41.b7 b4 42.d8+ e7 43.c6+ d6 44.d8 e1 [ 44...h5!? 45.d1 c4! 46.dxc4 d7 47.f7 d6 48.e5 c7 , and Black should win ] 45.g4 e5 46.d1 b4 47.c6+ d6 [ 47...f4 48.e5 g5 49.e2 g6 50.f3 f7 51.e4 is perfectly acceptable for White. ] 48.d8 h6 49.e2 a3 50.b7+ c6 51.a5+ b5 52.c4 Finally the game is completely in balance. c1 53.f3?! [ White has a much simpler path to a draw with 53.d6+ c6 54.f5 g6 55.e7+ b5 56.xg6 ] 53...c6 54.a5+ d7 55.e5 d2 56.c4 e1 57.e4 e6 58.d6 a5 [ 58...g6 59.b7 b4 60.d8+ d7 61.f7 h5 62.gxh5 gxh5 63.d5 h4 64.g5 , and White holds on ] 59.f5 g6 60.xh6 [ The text move can hardly be constituted as a way to play for a win, and therefore White sh o u ld p ro b a b ly h a ve lo o ke d a t 60.h4 as a safer path to reach a draw: f7 ( or 60...h5 61.gxh5 gxh5 62.f5 f7 63.d5 d8 64.xc5 e6 65.g7+ xe5 66.xh5 h4 67.f4 xf4 68.xd4= ) 61.d5 d8 62.g2 ( 62.e6+ f6 63.xc5 xe6 64.xg6 f6 65.f4+ e5 66.g6+= ) 62...e7 63.f4 f8 142
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 64.e4 ( 64.e6?? c4!-+ ) 64...e7 65.d5 f8 , and neither side can make progress. ] 60...c7 61.f5! xe5 [ After this move, all White needs to do is to place his knight on c4 and keep his king strategica lly in th e middle b etween th e pawns on d3 and g4 and a draw is result. Obviously we need to examine, what happens if Black takes the knight: 61...gxf5+ 62.gxf5+ f7 63.d5 e7 64.e4 a5 65.d5 b4 66.e4 f7 67.d5 g7 68.e4 h6 69.d5 g5 70.e6 f6 71.c4 , and neither side can win ] 62.h4 g5 63.f3 f4 64.e1 d6 65.c2 c1 66.a1 c6 67.b3 f4 68.a5+ b5 69.c4 c7 70.f3 b4 71.e2 c3 72.d2 f4 73.c4 ½-½
151 Karlsson,Lars Kindermann,Stefan Gausdal [Tony Kosten]
A03 2520 2535 1994
1.f4 d5 2.f3 g6 3.e3 White adopts a traditional 'Dutch' approach. g7 4.e2 [ 4.d4 Introduces a Stonewall Attack, and whilst this can be very effective against computers, is less so against humans, with their better positional sense. f6 5.d3 c5 6.c3 b6 7.0-0 0-0 8.e2 b7 One advantage for W hite, compared with the Dutch, is that he has managed to avoid the immediate exchange of light-squared bishops by ...Ba6. 9.d2 c8 10.e1 Somewhat laboriously, the white queen's b i s h o p f i n d s t h e l i g h t o f d a y . a6 so, Black has managed to effect this move, anyway. 11.bd2 xd3 12.xd3 a6 with equality, Bellin,R-Tiviakov,S/Kilkenny IRL 1998. ] 4...f6 5.0-0 0-0 6.e1 White plays a Classical Dutch with an extra tempo. c5 7.d3 c6 8.d1?! A standard move, White prepares e4, but [ 8.h4 may be better. b6 9.bd2 a6 10.f2?! ( 10.e5 xe5 11.fxe5 d7 12.e6!? is unclear, Larsen-Benko, Portoroz
IZ 1958. ) 10...e8 Black prepares ...e5. 11.c3 e5 12.xd8 xd8 Black has an edge in t h e e n d ga m e , L a rse n , B -S ch m id t , W / Aarhus 1971. ] 8...e8! Black plays as if he were White (in a Dutch) and attempts to expose the e3-pawn after the break ...e5. 9.g3 e5 The point of Black's p reviou s m ove . 10.xe5 xe5 11.fxe5 xe5 Black is at least equal. 12.e4?! [ Note that 12.xe5? is impossible, because of h5 , but 12 Nc3 is slightly superior. ] 12...e8 13.exd5 xd5 14.f3? f5 Black has a large lead in development, and, on top of that, it is not evident just how White will manage to complete his development. 15.c3 f6! The d3-pawn has nowhere to hide. 16.c2 c4 17.xb7 cxd3 The d3-pawn has magically changed colour! 18.b3 e7 19.b4 e2 20.d1 b8 21.c5 e4 White is lost, which is hardly surprising when the only white piece not on the back rank is the queen! 22.xa7 a8 23.b7 d4+! A nice finish. [ 23...d4+ after 24.cxd4 xd4+ there is the standard suffocation of the white king: 25.h1 f2+ 26.g1 h3+ 27.h1 g1+ 28.xg1 f2# ] 0-1
152 Karlsson,Lars Seirawan,Yasser Haninge [Tony Kosten]
A03
1990
1.f4 d5 Thus we reach a pure reversed Dutch Defence position. Obviously, the same plans that are available to Black in the Dutch, are also available to W hite, here, but with an extra tempo. 2.f3 g6 3.g3 White decides to play a 'reversed Leningrad'. g7 [ 3...f6 is similar, and can transpose. 4.g2 g7 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 c5 Both players mimic the Leningrad Dutch main line, will White's extra move change anything? A) 7.e1 is another 'Leningrad move', d4 8.e4 ( 8.a3 c6 9.c3 b8 10.d2 b6 equal, Rebers, E-Polgar,S/Breda NED 1999. ) 8...dxe3 9.e5 White puts the e5 outpost to good use, so he does manage 143
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to exploit the fact that Black has not yet played . ..Nc6, after all. fd7 10.c4 b6 An unusual 'knight chase'. 11.ba3 d5 12.b1 e6 White's extra move hasn't changed the impression that Black's superior pawn structure is more important, Blatny,P-Babula,V/Zlin 1998.; B) 7.c3 d4 8.e4 c7!? Black avoids the sharp line ( 8...xe4 9.dxe4 ) 9.h3 d5 This is a great square for the knight, c o ve r in g e 3 . 10.h4 f5 11.c4 f6 12.g5 c6 with unclear play, Movsziszian,K-Arencibia,W/Open, Ubeda ESP 1998. ] 4.g2 c5 Normal, Black takes space in the centre, but [ 4...c6 is solid, and quite playable. 5.c3!? d4 6.e4 f6 7.f2 c5 8.0-0 c6 9.e4 W hite would like to continue with d3, but dxe3 fortunately for Black, there is the en passant rule! 10.dxe3 xd1 11.xd1 0-0 12.c3 e5!? 13.g5 c4 the passive c1-bishop is a long-term problem for White, Malaniuk,V-Gelfand,B/ Elista 1998. ] 5.0-0 h6!? Obviously, 5...Nf6 would be standard, and would transpose into the note to move three. With the text, Black intends to play his knight to f5, to control the e3-square. 6.c3!? c6 7.d3 0-0 And not [ 7...d4?! 8.a4 when the c5-pawn is difficult to defend. ] 8.d2?! White should play [ 8.e4! dxe4 9.dxe4 with a good position. ] 8...f5 9.h1 [ 9.e4 is still possible, although now dxe4 10.dxe4 allows fd4 when the knight is much more active. ] 9...d4 Black fixes the weakness on e3. 10.a4 b6 11.g4 White tries to evict the knight. Attempts to exploit the open h1-a8 diagonal rebound: [ 11.e5? xe5 12.xa8 g4! and Black will regain the exchange by ...Ne3, with advantage. ] 11...d6 12.h3 b7 The white position is looking a bit loose. 13.e4 dxe3 14.xe3 d7 Black completes his development, all his pieces are on near-optimum squares. 15.c3 f5! 16.g5 f7! White can do nothing about the coming ...e5 break, which will expose the white underbelly. 17.d2 ae8 18.ae1 e5
19.fxe5 fxe5! 20.xe5 xe5! This type of structure can arise from other openings, for instance the Closed Sicilian, and is very good f o r B l a c k . 21.f4 xe1 22.xe1 d4! For one thing, he has control of the important d 4 - s q u a r e . 23.xb7?! xb7+ 24.g2 xg2+ 25.xg2 xc2 Black's play begins to bear fruit. 26.e7 f7 27.e6 White can illafford to change pieces. f8 28.e7 d8! Attack is the best form of defence! 29.xa7 e1+! 30.f1 xd3 31.c7 d7 32.a4? White was in time-trouble, and this mistake accelerates matters, but, anyway, Black's e xt r a p r o t e c t e d p a s s e d f 5 - p a wn s h o u l d decide. b5 33.b6 d4 34.a8+ f7 35.a7 e6 As is often the case, time-trouble checks have only succeeded in driving the king to a better square. 36.a6 b4 37.a5 d1+ 38.e2 b1 39.xb5 xb2+ 40.f3 d4 41.a4 a2 42.a5 d3 43.a8 f2+ 44.g3 Suddenly, the white king is looking extremely uncomfortable. c1! 45.e8+ f7 46.d8 e2+ as it is mate in four, [ 46...e2+ i.e. 47.h4 f4+! 48.xf4 f2+ 49.g3 xg3# ] 0-1
153 Kharlov,Andrei Raetsky,Alexander RUS-chT St . Petersburg (5) [Nigel Davies]
A03 2600 2453 20.05.1999
1.f3 d5 2.b3 c5 3.e3 c6 4.b5 d7 5.b2 e6 6.0-0 f6 7.d3 e7 8.xc6 xc6 9.e5 c8 [ Black can also let White give him doubled cp a w n s w i t h 9...0-0 though White was certainly on the positive side of the position after 10.xc6 bxc6 11.e2 d7 12.e4 c7 13.f4 ae8 14.c4 in Psakhis, L (2480) -Moehring, G (2400)/Sochi 1979. ] 10.f4 This has to be the challenging way to play it. [ 10.d2 0-0 11.xc6 xc6 12.e2 c8 13.e4 c7 14.a4 dxe4 15.dxe4 f4 16.g3 g4 17.xg4 xg4 soon led to a draw in Hort, V (2605)-Parma, B (2530)/ Moscow 1971. ] 10...0-0 11.d2 b5 I don't particularly like 144
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 this move as it presents another potential target on the queenside. [ The immediate 11...d7 looks much more to the point. ] 12.f3 d7 13.h3 This looks dangerous but Black can defend. [ I think there's a good case for playing it positionally with 13.xc6 xc6 14.a4 b4 15.e4 , when Black's pawns are moving on to the same colour as his bishop. ] 13...xe5 14.h5 h6 15.xe5 f6 16.b2 d4 [ There was an interesting alternative in 16...e8 intending 17.g4 c4!? with counterplay. ] 17.g3 dxe3 18.f1 [ After 18.xh6 Black defends comfortably with f7 19.f3 xf3 20.gxf3 d6 etc. ] 18...h8 19.g6 g8 20.h3 f8 21.xe3 e8 22.g3 c4!? Sacrificing a pawn to get some counterplay. Had Black chosen a better 24th move it would have given him equality. 23.bxc4 bxc4 24.xc4 d5 [ Black should first play 24...c5+ 25.h1 ( 25.d4 e7 gives Black more than enough for the pawn because of the weaknesses along the c-file.) 25...d5 when 26.e3? is bad because of xe3 27.xe3? xc2 etc. ] 25.e3 b5 26.d4 a8 27.g6 e8 28.g4 d7 29.c3 c5 30.xc5 xc5 31.d1 b8 32.e3 b6 33.d4 cb5 34.e1 b1 35.xb1 xb1 36.e2 d5 37.f1 a1 38.e3 xa2?! This looks like a mistake as the endgame isn't easy for Black. [ H e s h o u l d h a v e p l a y e d 38...xe1+ 39.xe1 e4 , for example 40.g3 h1+ 41.f1 g2 42.h4 h3 keeps White tied up and unable to use his extra pawn. ] 39.xa2 xa2 40.e2 a1+ 41.f2 e4 42.c4 a5? [ Black should have brought his king across with 42...g8! a f t e r wh ic h 43.d5 exd5 44.cxd5 f7 gets to the d-pawn in time. In the game Black is too late. ] 43.d5 exd5 44.cxd5 c1 [ 44...a4 45.d6 c6 46.c2 b5 47.b2! c6 48.b6 would also be very good for White. ] 45.d2 c8 46.d6 d8 47.c4 a4 48.e3 c6 49.d4 g8 50.c5 e8 51.b6
f8 52.f5 g6 53.fxg6 xg6 54.c6 a3 55.c7 b1 56.xd8 a2 57.xa2 xa2 58.d7 1-0
154 Larsen,Bent Keene,Raymond Teeside (3) [Jonathan Rowson]
A03 2660 2465 1972
1.b3 d5 2.b2 f6 3.e3 g6 4.f4 [ 4.xf6!? exf6 5.d4 Would be a strange kind of Trompovsky, where b3 may prove to be useful, but could also be a liability. If Black plays quietly with ...Bg7, ...0-0 and ... f5, White will have time to play g3, Bg2, Ne2, and c4 with a pleasant position, so Black should probably try to make something happen more quickly e.g. c5 6.c3 cxd4!? 7.exd4 ( 7.cxd4 b4+ 8.d2 a5 ) 7...d6 And Black has a position reminiscent of a line in the Caro-Kann (e4 c6 d4 d5 Nd2 de Nxe4 Nf6 Nxf6 ef!?) but it doesn't look like a bad version because the unopposed bishop on d6 looks very strong. ] 4...g7 5.f3 0-0 6.e2 a5!? 7.a4 g4 8.0-0 bd7 9.g5!? xe2 10.xe2 e8 11.xg7 xg7 12.c3 c6 13.g4 h6 14.f3 f6 It would appear that White has achieved approximately nothing out of the opening and that Black is very comfortable. Even so, I included this game because it shows that when there are a full set of pawns, there is plenty of scope to outplay people from equal positions, especially if you are enjoying yourself, and not dispirited by the lack of a theoretical advantage. 15.h3 h5 16.e2 d7 17.h4 f5 18.e1 c7 19.g3 e6 20.xf5 exf5 21.h4 e7 22.c4!? ad8 [ 22...g7!? ] 23.c5!? fe8 24.fc1 g7 25.d4 d7 26.xe7 xe7 27.ab1 a8 28.b4 axb4 29.xb4 a7 30.f2 b8 31.b3 e4 32.d4 e7 33.f3 a6 34.b6 b8 35.a1 d7 36.a5 b8 37.c1 d7 38.b3 f6 39.a2 e8 40.g3 e4 41.ba3 h4 42.g4 fxg4+ 43.xg4 f5+ 145
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 44.f3 g5 45.fxg5 xg5+ 46.f2 e4+ 47.g2 h6 48.e2 g8+ 49.f1 f6 50.f4 g4 51.g2 aa8 52.e2 f6 53.xg8 xg8 54.a1 f6 55.d3 g4 56.h3 f6 57.e5 e4 58.a6 bxa6 Perhaps a premature resignation, but after taking on c6 white follows up with Ne7 and threatens the d and f pawns at the same time as preparing the c-pawn coronation. 1-0
15.bxc4 dxc4 16.xc4 a5 17.e4 xe4 18.xe4! [ Maybe Black only saw 18.xe4 xd2 , but after the text taking on d2 loses the queen to 19.Bc3. ] 18...f5 19.c3 Black is a pawn down with a completely rotten position, though resignation at this stage could hardly have been very cheering for his team mates. 1-0
155
156
Ljubojevic,Ljubomir Zuidema,Coenraad Skopje ol (Men) fin-A (4) [Nigel Davies]
A03 2550 30.09.1972
1.f4 d5 2.f3 f6 3.e3 c5 4.b3 c6 5.b5 d7 6.b2 e6 7.0-0 e7 8.a4 This kind of waiting move is often seen in analogous positions in the Queen's Indian Defence. Here there's the interesting point that White can play Nf3-e5 on his next move without first exchanging his b5 bishop for the knight on c6. 0-0 [ After 8...a6 9.xc6 xc6 10.e5 White would be better off than after 8.Bxc6 Bxc6 9.Ne5 because of the additional possibility of blockading Black's queenside pawns with a4-a5. ] 9.e5 xe5 10.fxe5 e8 [ And not 10...xb5? 11.exf6 xf1 12.fxe7 xe7 13.xf1 when the two minor pieces are stronger than Black's rook and pawn. ] 11.d3!? c6 [ B l a c k s h o u l d h a v e p l a y e d 11...f5 but he has to be careful. For example after 12.exf6 xf6 White has an interesting s a c r i f i c i a l p o s s i b i l i t y i n ( 12...xf6 is much better when it doesn't look like W hite has much) 13.h5! g6 14.xg6 hxg6 15.xg6+ g7 16.xf8+ xf8 17.xg7+ xg7 18.c3 e7 19.h7 , with two pawns and ongoing pressure for the sacrificed piece. ] 12.g4 g6 13.c3 g7 14.f4 c4? W ith Ljubojevic feeding pieces over to the kingside Black panics. [ 14...f5 would have been a much tougher nut to crack. ]
Malaniuk,Vladimir P Thorfinnsson,Bjorn Quebec Open Montreal CAN (9) [Nigel Davies]
A03 2563 2395 25.07.2009
The Bird is a good opening for player with experience in the Dutch - you get the same position but with colours reversed. Malaniuk certainly fits the bill - he's a great expert in the Leningrad Variation. 1.f4 d5 2.f3 e6 At first sight this looks like a rather stately approach by Black though as we'll soon see he has some aggressive ideas in mind. 3.d3 b6 4.g3 e7 5.g2 h5!? Well that's interesting, Black wants to play ... h5-h4. Unfortunately for him this plan is foiled in typical Leningrad Dutch fashion. 6.h3! b7 7.0-0 d7 8.e1 Malaniuk's favourite move in the Leningrad. White is preparing to play e2e4 and vacates the d-file. c5 9.e4 c7 10.c3 a6 11.d2 dxe4 I tend to see this exchange as a bad thing for Black as now when White plays e4-e5 he can gain access to the e4 square. 12.dxe4 0-0-0 13.e2 gf6 14.g5 hf8 15.e5 e8 16.xb7+ xb7 17.ce4 Black's early play has been rather unsuccessful. W hite has a nice space advantage and Black's king looks weak on the queenside. h4 18.g4 c7 19.f3 f5 20.eg5 [ 20.gxf5! is much stronger as after xf5 W h i t e c a n p l a y ( 20...exf5 21.eg5 is ve ry u n p le a s a n t) 21.xh4! xh4 22.d6+ etc. ] 20...c4? Slipping up on the verge of equality. [ 20...fxg4 21.hxg4 b8 intending ...Nc6 wo u ld h a ve p u t Bla ck righ t b a ck in t h e game. ] 146
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.gxf5 xg5 22.xg5 xf5 [ 22...exf5 23.e6 would be a complete killer. ] 23.e4 Threatening the most horrible fork on d 6 . B l a c k ' s p o s i t i o n i s c o l l a p s i n g . e8 24.xc4+ b8 25.ae1 d5 Losing, but then what else? 26.xd5 exd5 27.g5 c7 28.c3 f8 29.e6 g6? [ 29...e8 30.f2 would protect the e6 pawn because of fxe6 31.fe2 etc. ] 30.f7 g8 31.d6 xf4 32.xf4 [ 32.e7 would have been even better, for example xf1+ 33.xf1 e8 34.xe8 xe8 35.e6 xe7 36.b4 is a killer. ] 32...xf4 33.e7 xh3+ 34.h2 g5 35.e8+ So White goes a piece up and the rest should be a 'matter of technique'. As one might expect, Malaniuk does a very prof essional job. xe8 36.xe8+ xe8 37.xe8 d4 38.b4 a5 39.d6+ c8 40.xg7 f3+ 41.h3 e1 42.f5 d3 43.c3 d2 44.e3 d3 45.d1 d7 46.h2 c6 47.g1 c1 48.xh4 xa2 49.g4 b5 50.f3 d5 51.e2 c4 52.xd2 b3 53.c5 a4 54.a3 b4 55.cxb4 xb4 56.e3 c6 57.f5 e5 58.d4+ c4 59.e2 f3+ 60.e3 e1 61.c1 c2+ 62.d2 d4 63.f8 e6 64.e7 d4 65.a3 1-0
157 Marin,Mihail Brunello,Sabino Edinburgh rap 1st rapid (2.6) [Nigel Davies]
A03 2549 2468 11.03.2007
1.b3 d5 2.b2 f6 3.e3 c5 4.f4 c6 5.b5 d7 6.f3 e6 7.0-0 e7 8.e1 [ White wants to wait before adopting the standard plan of taking on c6 and plonking his knight on e5, but this is not the best way to do it as we shall see. Instead of this he should probably play 8.d3 0-0 9.bd2 b4 10.xd7 xd7 11.a3 c6 12.e4 will give him a somewhat freer gaem. ] 8...0-0 [ Black could also play the immediate 8...b4! , f o r e x a m p l e 9.xd7+ xd7 10.d1 ( 10.a3 defends c2 whilst
developing a piece but leaves the knight on a3 just horribly placed) 10...0-0 11.a3 c6 12.d3 f6 13.xf6 xf6 14.bd2 ae8 ( 14...c3 is another good move here) 15.h1 e5 gave Black a nice game in Deuter, L (2041)-Mueller, M (2415)/Germany 2002. ] 9.d3 [ White was successful with the nonchalant 9.h1 in one game but only because his o p p o n e n t p l a y e d t h e w e i r d e4?! a f t e r w h i c h ( 9...b4 10.xd7 xd7 is fine for Black) 10.xc6 xc6 11.d3 f6 12.e5 got the knight to e5 with the associated attacking chances in Gonzalez Menendez, I (2276)-Trujillo Delgado, D (2118)/Aviles 2003. ] 9...b4 10.xd7 xd7 11.f2 With 9.d3 having been played this more rational defence of c2 becomes possible, but it still doesn't give White anything special because he can't get a knight established on e5. c6 12.bd2 f6 13.xf6 xf6 14.ac1 b4 [ 14...b2 looks quite annoying for White here, though it's often best not to get into such tricky lines in a rapidplay game. ] 15.a3 a2 16.ce1 c3 17.g3 [ The knight on c3 is likely to become a thorn in W hite's side so he should take the opportunity to exchange it with 17.b1 . ] 17...e5 18.fxe5 xe5 19.xe5 xe5 20.f4 ae8 21.a4 a2 22.xe5 xe5 23.f3 e7 24.f2?! [ 24.e4 was better. ] 24...fe8 25.d4 [ I wonder if W hite missed 25.fe2 c3 when he played 24.Rf2. Possibly, this was rapidplay. ] 25...cxd4 26.xd4 xe3 27.xe3 xe3 28.f5 b4 29.f2 c3 30.e5 f8 31.e2 c6 32.xd5 xd4+ 33.xd4 xc2+ 34.d3 c7 35.d8+ e7 36.a8 a6 37.d4 d6 38.h8 h6 39.h7 f6 40.h8 d7 41.g8 e6+ 42.c5 f5 The pawn majority starts trundling forward. 43.b4 f6 44.b5 axb5 45.axb5 g5 46.h8 g7 47.c8 f4 48.gxf4 gxf4 49.b6 f3 50.c2 f7 51.f2 g6 52.c5 g5 53.d4 g4 54.e3 e7+ 55.d2 h5 56.d3 h4 0-1 147
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.xe5?? allows c5+ forking king and bishop. ] Moreno Carnero,Javier 24.xc3 xe2 25.f3 e3 26.xe5 xe4 Bhat,Vinay S 27.xg7 xg7 28.ae1 xe1 29.xe1 Qualifier Internet ICC (1.2) d6?! [Tony Kosten] [ Missi n g t h e t a ct i c 29...d2!? 30.f2 ( 30.d5?? xd5 31.cxd5 f3+ ) 30...gxf5 1.g3 d5 2.g2 f6 3.f4 White transposes 31.gxf5 d4 with a trivial win. ] into Bird's Opening, and achieves a reversed Leningrad position, without permitting Black to 30.e7 gxf5 31.g5?! [ Better 31.xc7!? fxg4 32.xg4 play 1...e5. g6 4.f3 g7 5.0-0 b6 6.d3 with some drawing chances. ] b7 7.e1 0-0 8.e4!? [ White exploits a typical tactical motif, the 31...hxg5 32.hxg5 xc4 [ 32...c8 33.h5 f8 is simpler. ] p in a lo n g t h e h 1 -a 8 d i a g o n a l, t o f o rc e through this advance. 8.h3 c5 9.g4 c6 33.xc7 d3?? [ A quick-play blunder which throws away a 10.h4 is a less confrontational method, n i c e p o s i t i o n , 33...e5 34.h5 d7 Teran Alvarez,I-Izeta Txabarri,F/Palencia does the trick. ] 1999. ] 8...dxe4 9.g5 The point, recuperating the 34.h5?? [ Missing the obvious 34.e2 a3 35.xc4 pawn. a6! turning the tables. ] [ A n im p ro v e m e n t o n t h e m o ve 9...bd7 although play is similar on 10.xe4 xe4 34...e5 35.f2? a3 36.e7 [ 36.c2 f4 ] 11.dxe4 c5 12.c3 xc3! 13.bxc3 f5 14.exf5 xg2 15.xg2 gxf5 and the black 36...g6 37.e2?? xa2 38.e3 [ 38.d7 doesn't change anything: f4 ] knight comes to e4, Houska, M-Shaw,J/ 38...f4+ 39.f3 xe7 Rotherham 1997, 0-1 (45). ] 0-1 10.dxe4 [ Perhaps 10.xe4 is superior, as in the previous note. ] 159 A03 10...h6 11.h3 e5 12.f5 [ Now White gets more space on the kingside, Novikov,Maxim 2524 but 12.c3 b4 13.f2 exf4 14.xf4 e8 Selin,Oleg 2400 was superior, although Black is fine. ] Ch Tula RUS (3) 05.08.2007 12...d4+ Black gets strong play along the [Nigel Davies] open d-file after this, and pressure on e4. 13.f2 ad8 14.c3 Else ... Nb4 may prove 1.b3 d5 2.e3 A way of avoiding 2...Bg4 I awkward. a4 15.g4?! guess. f6 3.b2 c5 4.f4 Transposing into [ White finds himself in more trouble after a Bird's Opening, but having avoided some of this, 15.b3 d7 16.e2 is safer. ] Black's independent tries there (such as the 15...c5 Now White is obliged to defend e4 From Gambit with 1.f4 e5). passively, and his position goes downhill. [ W h i t e c o u l d a l s o h a v e p l a y e d 4.f3 16.d2 d3 with a reversed Queen's Indian Defence, [ 16...a6 is not bad either. ] an d th is wo uld p ro ba b ly h ave b ee n m y 17.xd3 xd3 18.e2 fd8 19.h4?! choice. ] Difficult to suggest a satisfactory move here, 4...g4 Aiming for an exchange of pieces but b u t t h is d o e s n o t h in g t o co n t e st B la ck' s this helps to speed White's development. control of the centre. a6 20.b3 [ A high level game Morozevich, A (2765)[ 20.c4!? was slightly better, although c2 Kramnik, V (2799)/Nice 2008 went 4...g6 21.f2 gxf5 22.gxf5 f8 wins material. ] 5.b5+ d7 6.xd7+ bxd7 7.c4 dxc4 20...a5 21.c4 xc4 22.bxc4 xc3 8.bxc4 g7 9.f3 0-0 10.0-0 a6 11.a4 23.b2 d2 b8 12.c3 c6 13.b1 d3 14.a3 [ N o t b a d , b u t 23...b4! is excellent, as xc4 15.xb7 d5 16.e2 xe2 158
A03 2506 2398 18.03.2000
148
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.xe2 a5 18.d7 fd8 19.xd8+ with an eventual draw. ] 5.e2 xe2 6.xe2 c6 7.f3 e6 8.e5 c7 Probably Black was already envisaging castling long at this point, though it's not clear that this is such a great idea. [ 8...xe5 9.fxe5 d7 intending ...Be7, castling short and a quick ...f7-f5 seems more solid. ] 9.0-0 d6 10.xc6 xc6 11.d3 0-0-0 Needless to say Black's king is going to be far from safe over here because of the ease with which White can open files on the queenside with c2-c4. Can he create play on the other flank, where White has more space? Well this is what I don't like about his strategy. 12.d2 c7 13.f3 h5 14.e5 d7 Perhaps by this stage Black was agreeing with me about his kingside prospects, so he gives up his gpawn for what looks like nebulous compensation. 15.xg7 hg8 16.b2 f6 17.c4 dxc4 18.dxc4 g4 19.f2?! This could probably have waited until Black plays ...Rdg8. Now Black switches his plan and gets some play. e5! 20.fxe5 xe5 21.xe5 xe5 22.xe5 xe5 23.af1 dg8 24.h1 h4 25.f3 c7 26.d2 b6 27.fd1 4g7 28.d5 b2 29.f4+ b7 30.5d2 e5 31.f3+ a6 32.c6 c7 33.d5 xd5?! [ 33...e8 would have been better with some prospects for survival. ] 34.xd5 cg7 35.1d2 h3 36.g3 h7 37.g1 e8 38.f2 1-0
[ 9.h4 e6 10.g4!? was played by the great endgame composer, Kasparian,G-Ebralidze, A/Tbilisi 1937. ] 9...b7 Natural, but the bishop may prove better on a6, so perhaps Black should prefer [ 9...e8 10.g3 when ( 10.e4?! dxe4 11.dxe4 e5 ) 10...e6 is Johannessen,SKeene,R/ Siegen 1970, but Black might prefer the trick ( 10...e5!? although there is a twist, 11.fxe5 xe5 12.xe5 xe5 13.xe5 h5 and the queen is trapped, but with the pawn on b6 W hite has the tactic 14.xd5 xd5 15.f3 however, after d6 16.xa8 e5 White finds himself behind in development, 17.g3 xg3! 18.hxg3 xg3+ 19.h1 h3 20.d2 xf1 21.xf1 e1 22.g2 e2+ 23.g1 xc2 and White's position is very loose. )] 10.c3 e8 11.g3 a6 Picking out the weakness on d3. [ 11...e5 is again thematic, but after 12.fxe5 xe5 13.xe5 xe5 14.e4 ( 14.xe5 h5 traps the queen) 14...h5 15.f2 White attacks f7. ] 12.e2?! Why play the bishop to d1, to follow up with this? [ 12.c2 looks right. ] 12...e5 Now the d-pawn is pinned Black could also consider [ 12...e4!? 13.e1 d6 and ...e5 next move, with an edge. ] 13.xe5 xe5 14.fxe5 d7! [ 14...xe5 is again possible, but Black wants to put more pressure on d3. ] 15.a3 xe5 16.b5 b7 17.d4? Positionally this looks wrong, although White drives the knight from a strong post, e4 will 160 A03 stay permanently weak. a6 18.a3 [ 18.dxe5 axb5 19.xb5 xe5 Rasidovic,Sead 2303 favours Black. ] Fressinet,Laurent 2640 20th ECC Izmir TUR (3) 05.10.2004 18...d7 19.h4?! f6 The knight heads straight for e4. 20.b1 e7 Black stops [Tony Kosten] White from playing Nd2. 21.f3 c8 22.e1 Black controls e4 four times with his 1.f4 d5 2.e3 g6 3.f3 f6 4.e2 g7 f5 5.0-0 0-0 6.e1 c5 7.d3 c6 8.d1 pieces, much more than W hite could ever White defends c2 and prepares e4, but I am hope to. 23.d2 ac8 24.e2 c4 25.f1 e4 26.h2 f6 White is completely lost. not too keen on this move myself. b6 h4 28.g3 g5 29.f3 c6 [ 8...e8 planning ...e5, worked well for 27.h5 Black in Karlsson,L-Kindermann,S/ Gausdal The black pieces gravitate to the kingside. 30.g4 d7 31.e2 f6 32.g2 gxh5! 1994. ] With two of White's pieces out of play on the 9.a4 149
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 queenside Black opens the g-file to decide matters. 33.gxh5 h8 34.xe4 dxe4 35.h2 [ 35.xg5?? xf1+ and the queen is lost. ] 35...g8 36.g2 f3 37.d2 h3 38.g3 xf1 39.h1 This is obviously hopeless, but [ 39.xf1 xe3+ 40.xe3 gxg3+ wins everything. ] 39...xg3 40.xg3 h6 Sufficient to win, Black is a piece up for nothing, but [ 40...xe3! i s e v e n s t r o n g e r , 41.xe3 h4+ ] 0-1
161 Ricardi,Pablo Dominguez Perez,Leinier Olympiad Bled SLO (6) [Tony Kosten]
A03 2544 2608 31.10.2002
1.g3 d5 2.g2 f6 3.f4 g6 4.f3 g7 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 c5 7.c3!? Well, why not? White is a tempo up on a playable line in the Leningrad Dutch. d4 8.e4 xe4 9.dxe4 c6 10.e3 This is the extra move that White enjoys, he can attack the d4-pawn and try to exchange his doubled e-pawn. e5 Ambitious, and played as with colours reversed, but [ 10...dxe3 is also possible, 11.c3 xd1 12.xd1 e2 ( 12...a5 13.xe3 c4 14.c1 and White has a little extra space in this endgame) 13.e1 e5 14.xe2 e6 15.e3 b6 was fine for Black in Knezevic,MDely,P/Skopje 1967. ] 11.f5!? This is a perfectly normal move in a Dutch. [ 11.fxe5 xe5 12.exd4 cxd4 13.xe5 ( 13.xd4?? g4 ) 13...xe5 14.f4 offers nothing, Pimenov,S-Ilivitzki,G/Yerevan 1955. ] 11...gxf5! Before annotating this I had a quick look at the Leningrad Dutch eBook, and this move (which is actually an innovation here) is given an exclamation mark, in an almost identical position. [ 11...b5?! is probably doubtful, as White can continue 12.g4 with a powerful kingside attack brewing, Laine,H-Kauko,J/ Tampere 1996. ] 12.exf5
[ 12.h4?! fxe4 13.xe4 e7 14.d3 f5 15.xf5 xf5 16.xf5 xf5 17.xf5 xf5 18.xf5 d5 ( 18...a5 might be even s t r o n g e r h e r e) 19.e4 c4 actually t ra n s p o se s d i re ct ly i n t o t h e L e n i n gra d Mainline discussed by Neil McDonald (if you change the board around)! ] 12...xf5!? Black decides to liquidate the annoying f-pawn, although other moves, such as [ 12...e4 were also possible. ] 13.xe5 Discovering an attack on f5. e7 14.exd4 cxd4 15.d3 A nice blockading s q u a r e f o r a k n i g h t . g6!? 16.g5 W h it e pref ers no t to gra b th e pa wn , an d relinquish the initiative, by [ 16.xb7 b8 17.g2 d5 ] 16...c7 17.f4 b6 18.a4 White's pieces are harmoniously placed, and he enjoys the better pawn structure. f5 But Black can land his knight on the e3-square, and this gives h i m u s e f u l p l a y . 19.a5 b5 20.f3 Not bad, but [ 20.a6!? is tempting, e3 21.xe3 dxe3 22.axb7 ad8 Black has some play for the pawn, but not enough. ] 20...c4 21.f2 e3 22.e5 e6 23.xg6 hxg6 24.xb7 White as won a pawn, for not too much. xg2 25.xg2 Simplest, as if [ 25.xg2 then d3! is p o ss i b l e , 26.c3 ( 26.cxd3? d4 ) 26...ad8 and the d-pawn is potentially dangerous. ] 25...ac8 26.f3 c4 Black must press the backward c2-pawn, and try to tie White to its defence. 27.af1?! A waste of time, [ 27.d1 fc8 28.dd2 was better, although f5 gives Black fair comp. ] 27...fc8 28.c1 a6 29.h4 4c5 Black has picked-off the a-pawn, so W hite sues for peace. 30.c3 dxc3 31.bxc3 xc3 32.e2! xf3 33.xe6 xc1 34.e8+ h7 35.xf3 c5 36.e7 g8 37.e8+ h7 38.e7 g8 39.e8+ ½-½
150
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 162 Schnelzer,R Andersson,U 16th OIBM 2012 (8.14) [John Bartholomew]
A03 2230 2556 03.11.2012
Ulf Andersson meets 1.f4 in his usual fine intuitive style. 1.f4 f6 [ If Black intends to enter a reversed Dutch, then 1...d5 may be the most flexible move. One high-scoring possibility is 2.f3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c5 5.0-0 h6!? , wherein Black transfers the knight to f5 and aims to exploit the e3 square after a subsequent d2-d3. See Karlsson, L (2520)Seirawan, Y (2595)/Haninge 1990/[TonyK] ( 5...f6 would tranpose to the text game) 6.g4 ] 2.f3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 d5 5.0-0 0-0 [ Another good option is the doublefianchetto with 5...b6 , i.e. 6.d3 b7 7.e1 0-0 8.e4!? dxe4 9.g5 a6! Moreno Carnero, J (2506)-Bhat, V (2398)/ Internet ICC 2000/ [TonyK]. ] 6.d3 c5 We now have a main-line Leningrad Dutch with colors reversed. The only difference is that Black has yet to play ...Nb8c6, so he's effectively a tempo behind. Funnily, this hasn't helped W hite much in practice (Black even scores fractionally better in this tempo-down version). Hence, when asked why he doesn't play 1.f4, the noted Leningrad Dutch expert GM Vladimir Malaniuk responded by saying "that extra move's gonna hurt me"! 7.e1 Black's most popular move in the Leningrad (by a fairly wide margin) is 7. .. Qe8, so no surprise here. [ In t ere st ingly, 7.c3!? is played slightly more o f ten here, proba bly b ecause it's amb itious in t he normal L eningrad an d easier to justify with an extra tempo. Nevertheless, after d4 8.e4 xe4 9.dxe4 c6 10.e3 e5 Black held his own in sharp hand-to-hand combat in Ricardi, P (2550)-Dominguez, L (2608)/Bled 2002/ [TonyK]. ] 7...d4 [ I like this a bit better than 7...c6 , allowing 8.e4 , but even then dxe4 9.dxe4 e5! gives Black plenty of counterplay. ] 8.c3
[ Also frequently seen is 8.a3 c6 9.d2 ( 9.c3 transposes to the game) 9...d5 10.c3 . Black has several good responses, i. e. b8!? ( 10...e6 11.c2 dxc3 12.bxc3 b6 13.d1 b7 14.e4 de7 15.e3 c7= Dietz, J (2185)-Mirzoev, A (2565)/ Calvi FRA 2010; I would personally avoid the sharp 10...e5!? , though it's fine too) 11.b1 b6 12.c2 dxc3 13.bxc3 b7 14.g4 e5 15.fxe5 xe5 16.xe5 xe5 Boric, E (2292)-Gabrielian, A (2532)/Aix-les-Bains FRA 2011. 17.e4 c7 18.d4 cxd4 19.cxd4 xd4+ 20.xd4 xd4+ 21.e3 d7 22.h6 fd8 23.g3 e6 0-1 Boric, E (2292)-Gabrielian, A (2532)/Aix-les-Bains FRA 2011 ] 8...c6 9.a3 b8!? Useful. Black prepares ...b7-b5 and reveals little else about his setup. [ In 2010, 9...d5 was played against... Vladimir Malaniuk! Yes, the originator of the famous 1.f4 quote actually DOES play the Bird f rom time to time (28 of his 1400+ W hite games in MegaBase). 10.d2 e5 ( again, I would shy away from this instead, 10...b8!? transposes to Boric - Gabrielian above ) 11.fxe5 xe5 12.xe5 xe5 13.c2 g7?! ( 13...a5!? ) 14.c4 f6 15.b4! cxb4 16.xb4 g4 17.d5 d7 and W hite went on to win in Malaniuk, V (2573)-Bindrich, F (2512)/Dresden GER 2010. ] [ T h e c o m p u t e r i s f o n d o f 9...e6!? , both here and on the next couple moves. On e e xa mp le : 10.c2 b6 11.c4 a5 12.h3 d7 13.f2 b4 14.a3?! Tzambazis, G-Parligras, M (2564)/Agios Kirykos 2004. Here e8!? 15.d2 d6 is pleasant for Black. ] 10.d2 b5 11.c1 It's not clear what White should do here. [ 11.c2 b6 12.h1?! e6 13.h3 fd8 14.cxd4 cxd4 15.b4 xb4 16.xb4 dc8 Beim, V (2544)-Karpov, A (2355)/ Pardubice 2003 ] [ 11.h1 a6 ( 11...e6 ) 12.c1 b7 13.c2 d7 14.h3 e5 15.cxd4 exd4 Hickl, J (2570)-Zueger, B (2470)/Altensteig 1995 ] 11...dxc3 12.xc3 b4! [ Worse is 12...d4?! 13.xd4 cxd4 14.a5 d7 15.c7 , as in Kislinsky, A 151
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 (2384)-Solomaha, A (2379)/Kiev 2006. ] 13.xf6 xf6 14.c4 e6 15.b3?! Weakening. [ It looks better to play 15.f2 c8 16.fd2 with roughly equality, though I'd take Black and the bishop pair. ] 15...c3 16.d1 xc4!? 17.dxc4 a5 18.c2 d4! Black opts to play the middlegame with bishops of opposite color. Th is is a s m a rt de cision , as he en joys a slightly better structure and a bishop with a tad more potential. In other words, Andersson's preferred type of game! 19.xd4 xd4+ 20.h1 b6 21.f5?! Creating more weaknesses. g7 22.e4 e6?! As always, Andersson searches f or complete saf et y before undertaking any active operations. [ Black has nothing to fear: 22...xa2! ] 23.fxg6 hxg6 24.c2?! c3 25.f4 bb8 26.f3 d8!? 27.cc1 b6! Andersson hits on a neat way to coordinate his heavy pieces. 28.cd1 d6 29.d3 xd3 30.exd3 e7 31.e2 h8 32.f3 d8 33.g2 d6 34.h1 d8 35.d1 d7 36.c2 d4 37.e2 a5! Continuing to soften White up. 38.h4 a4 39.d2 e7 40.g2 a6 41.h5 g5 42.h6+? White has a thankless defensive task on his hands, but there's no reason to pitch this pawn. xh6 43.h1+ g7 44.h5 f6-+ 45.h3 axb3 46.axb3 a3 47.d1 d8 48.e3 d4 49.f3 a2 50.e2 e5 51.d1 d2 52.a8 f5+ White resigned. A patient exploitation of positional trumps in classic Ulf Andersson style. I like Black's play quite a lot, especially the semi-waiting approach with 11... Rb8!?. I see no advantage for White in the reversed Leningrad Dutch. 0-1
too bad. 3.b3 Other moves: [ 3.g3 g4 4.g2 xf3!? 5.xf3 e5 6.d3 f6 and at the cost of the bishop pair Black has achieved good development, and a b e t t e r c e n t r e , R icca , R-K o rn e e v, O / A s t i 1997. ] [ 3.e3 is possibly the most logical, g4 4.b5 d7 otherwise White could simply double the black c-pawns, Reinderman,DBerelovich,A/Hoogeveen NED 1999, when i think I would play 5.h3 xf3 6.xf3 ] 3...e5!? This move is very sharp, but Black can also consider [ 3...g4 4.b2 f6!? 5.g3 d7 6.g2 0-0-0 with mutual chances, Stipic,M-Klaric,Z/ Zadar 1997. ] 4.fxe5 [ 4.xe5?? allows xe5 5.fxe5 h4+ 6.g3 e4 7.g1 and now Black wins a rook with the surprising fork d4 ] 4...g5!? A new move borrowed from From's Gambit, Black wants to displace the white king's knight, and attack on the kingside - he can always bring his king to safety on the queenside. Alternatives: [ 4...xe5!? 5.b2 ( 5.xe5 h4+ 6.g3 d4 regains the piece) 5...xf3+ 6.exf3 f6 7.d4 f5 with a good game, Lammi,JMaki Uuro,M/Tampere 1993. ] [ 4...g4 5.b2 xf3?! ( 5...e7!? ) 6.exf3 g5 7.g3 c5 8.f4 e7 9.d4 with a large white advantage, Auer,H-Oden,E/Pirmasens 1992. ] 5.g3?! White had a number of choices here, but this is probably not the best, [ 5.b2 g7 is possible ( 5...g4!? 6.e6! )] [ 5.e6!? as well, with the point xe6?! 6.b2 f6 7.xg5 ] 5...g4 6.h4 e7 7.g2 xe5 The opening has been a success for Black 163 A03 who is ahead on development, and has more control of the centre. 8.d4 g6 9.d3 f6 Strain,Hugh M Shulman,Yuri 2591 10.d2 d6 11.b2 e7 12.0-0-0 d7 0-0-0 14.b1? White is already 21st NAO Las Vegas USA (1) 30.08.2002 13.e1 behind in development, and certainly cannot [Tony Kosten] afford any unnecessary moves, [ 14.e4 was indicated: dxe4 15.xe4 xe4 1.f4 d5 2.f3 c6!? Over the years I have 16.xe4 g5+ 17.d2 although Black is considered a number of moves in this position, still better. ] but this one is definitely new to me. Still, this Black immediately takes control of is very similar to the 2 Nc3 line against the 14...de8 Dutch, which has a fair reputation, so can't be e4. 15.e3 h5 16.e2 h4 Although the white 152
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 king has escaped to the queenside Black is still stronger on the kingside, and should attack there. 17.d1?! [ 17.c4 was the only chance. ] 17...hxg3 18.hxg3 xg3 19.ef1 h3 Black is a pawn up with the better position. 20.a4 eh8 21.hg1 h2 22.h1 h5 23.a2 g3 24.a3 e8 25.f4? xf4 26.xf4 [ 26.exf4 xh1 attacks the queen and wins a whole rook. ] 26...xh1 27.xg4 xg4?! Possibly this last move should be [ 27...xf4 ] 0-1
164 Tartakower,Saviely Alapin,Simon Karlsbad Karlstad (19) [Nigel Davies]
A03
15.09.1911
1.f4 d5 2.f3 c5 3.e3 c6 4.b5 d7 5.0-0 e6 6.b3 f6 7.b2 e7 8.d3 [ It's interesting to note that two rounds e a r l i e r T a r t a k o w e r h a d p l a y e d 8.e2 but after c8 9.d3 b6 10.c4 a6 11.xc6 xc6 12.bd2 0-0 13.e5 e8 14.f2 d7 15.xd7 xd7 16.g4 d4 didn't really achieve very much in Tartakower, S-Suechting, H/Karlsbad 1911. And it's entirely possible that a theoretician such as Alapin had prepared an improvement for Black. ] 8...c7 9.e2 0-0 10.bd2 a6 11.xc6 xc6 12.e5 fe8?! [ Black should try and tackle that knight on e5 before the rest of White's army lines up behind it. So repositioning the knight on f6 looks like the thing to do and the best way to do it seems to be 12...d7 . ] [ Another possibility is 12...e8 but then 13.e4 f6 14.xc6 xc6 15.exd5 xd5 16.ae1 c7 17.f5 e5 18.e4 looks very nice for White. ] 13.f3 d4 [ It seems to late for 13...d7 now because of 14.h3 xe5 15.h5 . After h6 16.xe5 d6 17.xg7 Black's king position gets ripped limb from limb. ]
14.h3 ad8 15.f1 This massive gathering of force on the kingside is looking very ominous for Black. g6 16.e4 f8 17.df3 g7 Losing, but it's not easy to find a move for Black here. [ The disgraced Rybka 4 program wants to recommend 17...h5 here, but then 18.xh5 ( Or maybe 18.c1 f5 19.xh5 gxh5 20.g5 ) 18...gxh5 19.xc6 xc6 ( 19...bxc6 20.d2 h4 21.g4+ h8 22.xh4 gives more than enough for the exchange ) 20.e5 c7 21.xh5 f6 22.g4 g7 23.f5 provides ample demonstration of the superiority of nonmaterialist organic GM thinking. At least I think it does. ] 18.g5 e7 19.xc6 xc6 20.e5 d5 21.xh7 That's just about it. This is an important pawn and White has snaffled it for free. f5 22.exf6 xf6 23.xf6+ xf6 24.c3 h7 25.e5 f7 26.xh7+ xh7 27.cxd4 d5 28.h8 f8 29.dxc5 xc5+ 30.h1 xd3 31.h3 d5 32.g7+ e8 33.a3 1-0
165 Taylor,Timothy Fontaine,Robert Masters Las Vegas USA (1) [John Watson]
A03 2330 2521 10.06.2006
This one was similar but White gets c3 in early, which has to be right (cutting down on the g7 bishop's range, opening a square for the knight on c2, freeing the queen - very flexible). Although it still doesn't work out, the opening was fine and may even have favoured White. 1.f4 d5 2.f3 g6 3.e3 g7 4.e2 f6 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 c5 7.a4 c6 8.a3 g4 9.c3 c8 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 d4?! This seems to help White's pawn structure. 12.cxd4 cxd4 13.e4 d7 14.d2 h6 15.g3?! [ 15.e5!? activates White's pieces and readies b4-b5. I like White. ] 15...c5 16.g4 [ 16.e1 would intend b4. ] 16...e6 17.f5?! e3+ [ 17...xd2! 18.xd2 e5 takes over a great outpost and makes W hite's bishop 153
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 look a little funny out there. ] 18.xe3 dxe3 19.c1!? This hits c5 and plays for tactics but the centre can collapse.. This is a bad sign unless it wins outright. exf5 [ 19...b3 20.xe3 xa1 21.fxe6 ( 21.f6 h8 ) 21...f5! 22.exf5 b3 is wild after 23.f6 xf6 24.e7 xf1+ 25.xf1 xe7 26.e6+ f8 , but White has to take time to recover his material and his knight on a3 is a re al prob lem . 27.f4+ f5 28.xc8 xc8 29.g4 c5! 30.gxf5 xf5! with a pawn-up ending. ] 20.exf5 e2! 21.xe2 d4+?! A strange move. [ 21...d4 is obvious and pretty much killing. It's not clear what Black was thinking. ] 22.h1 ce8 23.b5 d5+ 24.f3 xf5 25.g2 e5 26.c4! a6 27.c3 d6 28.b4!? [ 28.ad1 ] 28...d7 29.f4?! [ 29.xc6! bxc6 ( 29...xc6+ 30.xc6 bxc6 31.ae1= ) 30.e4 d5 31.ac1 ] 29...e3! 30.af1 ce5 31.d4 xd4 32.xd4 xg3 With a clear pawn up. Again, the opening was reasonable. 33.d1 c8 34.e4 e3 35.d6 c2 36.c4 ee2 37.xb7 h2+ 38.g1 xh3 39.b5 axb5 40.axb5 g3+ 41.f1 Now instead of g4!? [ 41...h5 ] [ or 41...f3 was very strong. Black went on to win, less convincingly: ] 42.d2 c1+ 43.e2 de5 44.b2 gg1 45.xe5 xe5 46.b6 b1 47.xb1 xb1 48.d6 f8 49.a8 e7 50.d5 b2+ 51.d1 d7 52.b7 h5 53.c1 b6 54.d2 f6 55.e3 g5 56.f3 h4 57.g4 e6 58.a5 b4+ 59.f3 b3 60.e4 f5+ 61.d4 b6 62.a1 h3 63.e1+ d6 64.e8 g4 65.h8 b1 66.e3 e6 67.h6+ e7 68.f4 b5 69.h5 d6 70.h6+ c7 71.c6+ b8 72.c8+ a7 73.h8 b8 74.h6 d5 75.d4 xd4+ 76.xf5 a4 77.h8 b4 78.h7 a4 79.h8 c6 80.h7 b6 81.h6 a7 82.xc6 g3 0-1
166 Taylor,Timothy Golod,Vitali National Open (6) [John Watson]
A03 2330 2571 18.06.2006
Tim Taylor plays as he preaches. Tim wrote a book on Bird's Opening and put it to the test four times in the latest batch of TWICs. The 1-3 result probably doesn't condemn the opening however, and I hope we see some more of it as time goes by. He faced two very high-rated opponents, for one thing. And he was asleep for this game: 1.f4 d5 2.f3 g6 3.e3 [ 3.g3 , for the Leningrad Reversed, was of course possible. See DanielsinIsmagametov. ] 3...g7 4.e2 c5 Black accedes to a Classical Dutch Reversed. He can also just develop. 5.0-0 c6 6.d3 f6 7.a4!? An interesting move: very Larsen-like, although I'm not sure what the idea is (where's my copy of that book?). Taylor intends Ne5 and Bf3. I would think that one plan of the reversed position, Qe1-h4, could be prepared (W hite should wait for Black to castle, so perhaps [ 7.h1 0-0 8.e1 was a shot. Also, something like the 'Antoshin System Reversed' could come up after ] [ 7.c3 0-0 8.c2 ] 7...0-0 8.a3 a6 9.e5 Back to the original Alekhine plan for this Dutch. c7 10.xc6 bxc6!? This fights for the initiative. [ On 10...xc6 , 11.a5 might be tried, ( or 11.c4 )] 11.f3 In a few moves White lands in trouble but I'm not sure why. The problem seems to be a lack of direction. On bold idea would be [ 11.c3 (in any case this prepares to cover e3 by Nc2) with the idea e5 (unfortunately, ( 11...e8 may be better.) 12.fxe5 xe5 13.e4! dxe4 14.c4 , emphasizing the weak c-pawns. Bf4, Nb6, or Be3 will follow, depending upon Black's decision. e6 ] 11...e5 12.d2?! Is that the best White can do? e8 13.e1 This is beginning to look like Amateur vs Master. Taylor is a strong and experienced player, which makes you wonder about his position approach to this game. As I 154
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 know and many others have stated, once you write about something you start to have bad results with it. Probably something to do with over thinking. e4 14.e2 b8 15.b1 h5! 16.f1 Oh no. Better to stay on the e-pawn or protect the b-pawn, but what move to make? Black may already be winning regardless. g4 17.c3? exd3 18.xd3 c4 19.c2 xe3 20.xe3 xe3 21.f5 e5!? [ 21...e5 ] 22.fxg6 fxg6 23.xg6 g4 24.c1 e2 25.c2 h3! 26.e1 f8 27.f3 Utter despair. xg2+ 28.h1 xf3 0-1
[ 11...d7 12.e3 h6 is not so clear. ] 12.d2!? [ 12.h3 h6 13.f4 gxe5 14.fxd4 has its points, as White has won a pawn for very little compensation. ] 12...h6! [ 12...gxe5? 13.fxd4 wins a pawn. ] 13.f6 xf6 14.exf6 xf6 15.xh6 xe2 Black would probably have been happy with this position, material is equal and he has the bishop pair, but W hite has something u n p l e a s a n t i n m i n d ! 16.ae1!? Very ima ginative . xc2 17.g5 xg5 18.xg5 Having forced the black queen away from the defence of the kingside W hite menaces Bd5, and Rxf7, so Black has to find 167 A03 a p r e c i s e d e f e n c e i m m e d i a t e l y . b4? Vasiukov,Evgeni 2537 But this is not it! Black had two good lines, Bykhovsky,Anatoly A 2378 against which I can see no clear win: [ 18...e6 19.f6!? ( 19.xe6 xd3! Botvinnik Mem A (1) 17.08.2002 defends g6) 19...fe8 20.e4 keeps the [Tony Kosten] a t t a c k g o i n g , b u t e5! ( 20...e7? 21.xe6! fxe6 22.xg6 wins ) 21.xe5 1.f4 d5 2.f3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c6!? d2 22.ef1 e3+ 23.1f2 ( 23.h1 Black aims to play a quick ...e5, we have f5! ) 23...e1+ 24.f1 draws ] already considered several other moves here, [ 18...d8 i s e v e n s i m p l e r , 19.xf7 [ 4...c5 is the mainline. ] ( 19.d5? a6! ) 19...xf7 ( 19...xf7? 5.c4!? As far as I can see, this flanking blow is 20.xg6+ f8 21.h6+ g7 22.h8+ a new idea in this position. wins ) 20.xg6+ h8 and now White might [ 5.d4 h5!? 6.e3 h6 7.c3 g4 be forced to take a perpetual, as 21.e4? equalised for Black in King, D-Langner,L/ allows f2+!! 22.xf2 e5+ ] Espoo 1991. ] Destroying the black defences. 5...d4 Black goes for space, but he might also 19.xf7!! xd3 have considered [ 19...xf7 20.xg6+ f8 21.h6+ g7 [ 5...dxc4!? e.g. 6.a4 d5 7.c3 xc3 22.f6+ g8 23.e8+ h7 24.e4+ 8.dxc3 d7 ] mates. ] 6.d3 White has a typical Leningrad position with colours reversed, except that Black's c- 20.xf8+ [ 20.xf8+ xf8 21.f6+ g8 22.e8+ pawn is not on c5. h6 The knight aims for f5, h7 23.h8# ] t o c o v e r t h e w e a k e 3 - s q u a r e . 7.a3 Touche! White brings his queen's knight to c2 1-0 to cover the e3-square. 0-0 8.c2 a5 9.0-0 e5?! This move backfires, Black had plenty of 168 A03 good choices here, Williams,Stephen M 2421 [ 9...f5 for instance. ] 10.fxe5 g4 It seems Black will recapture on Zhao,Zong Yuan 28.09.1999 e5, opening the e-file against the weak e2- WJun Yerevan ARM (11) [Tony Kosten] pawn, but it is White's turn to move: 11.g5 [ 11.e3!? dxe3 12.d4 is also possible, and 1.f4 d5 2.f3 g6 3.e3 g7 4.e2 c5 may even be stronger. ] 11...e8?! The queen should stay on the d- 5.0-0 c6 6.d3 f6 7.a4 Prophylaxis, White shows that he is prepared to keep an file to guard the d4-pawn. 155
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e y e o n t h e q u e e n s i d e . 0-0 8.h1!? A Simon W illiams' speciality, removing the k in g f ro m t h e g 1 -a 7 d ia go n a l wh ic h ca n become sensitive, should W hite play e4, or Black ... d4. [ 8.e1 is more usual, ready to bring the queen straight to the kingside, b6 9.a3 b7 10.c3 e6 11.b1 a5 with equal chances, Bellin,R-Kotronias,V/Gausdal 1992. ] 8...c7 The question is: how should Black best employ the free move? [ 8...e8 is also possible, likewise intending t o p l a y . . . e 5 : 9.e5 ( s t o p p i n g i t ) c7 10.c3!? a6!? ( (if 10...xe5 then 11.b5 b8 12.fxe5 xe5 13.e4 with the menace of Bf 4 , b ut pe rha p s g5 i s p o s s i b l e )) 11.xc6 xc6 12.f3 b6 13.e4 e6 14.g4 b7 15.g5 dxe4 16.dxe4 h5?! 17.e5 c7 18.e3 with an edge, Williams,SFerguson,M/8th S&W Masters, Witley ENG 1998. ] [ 8...b6 seems the most logical, continuing to develop, 9.e5 b7 10.f3 c7 11.xc6 xc6 12.c3 e5 with a good position to Black, Williams,S-Haslinger,S/Witley ENG 1999. ] 9.c3 a6 10.e4 dxe4!? It is amazing how quickly Black's position disintegrates after this, perhaps [ 10...d4 is better, with the possible c o n t i n u a t i o n : 11.b1 g4!? 12.c3 unclear. ] 11.dxe4 d8 12.e1 d4 Black must have been feeling pretty happy with himself after this move, however, a shock was in store! 13.c4!! A fantastic move! White jettisons a rook for an obscure attack. [ Following 13.d1 e6 Black would be better. ] 13...xc2 My computer considers this position to be completely winning for Black, but this just shows how lacking in imagination they are. 14.h4 xa1 [ Obvious, and no doubt Black felt that he would be able to defend against the white attack, and then make his extra rook count. If instead 14...d4 then 15.a2! ( following 15.xd4? cxd4 three white pieces are threatened, and the dangerous f3-knight is removed from the board.) 15...xa1 16.e5
g4 17.xd4 cxd4 18.d5 White has a powerful attack, which should be sufficient compensation. ] 15.f5 A whole rook down, but with the strong threat of Ng5, ganging-up on f7, and h7. b5? [ A natural reply, by opening the a-file Black assures the defence of his a1-knight. However, it seems to lose, and therefore we must search for an improvement hereabouts: 15...d4!! was his best chance, attempting to pester the powerful c4-bishop. After 16.f4 d8 17.xd4 ( 17.a2 c2 18.g5 can now be met by c4 cutting-off the a2-bishop's diagonal.) 17...cxd4 18.fxg6 hxg6 19.d5! the attack continues, e.g. c2 20.e5 xd5 21.xd5 which should be good enough for a draw, at least. ] 16.axb5 axb5 [ 16...b7 seems little better, 17.g5 gxf5 ( 17...f8? 18.fxg6 and win s, e.g. hxg6 19.xf6 and mate) ) 18.xf7+ h8 19.xh7 xh7 20.g6 h6 21.xh7 e6 22.xf5 exf5 23.xh6 and White recuperates his material whilst maintaining the attack. ] 17.xb5 b7 18.g5 e6 The only try, attempting to block the a2-g8 diagonal, if [ 18...f8 19.xf7 e8 20.fxg6 hxg6 21.e5 d8 22.h7! and its all over. ] 19.xh7! xh7 20.xd8+ f8 21.h4 Preparing f6. The immediate [ 21.f6 leaves the white queen too far from the black king. ] 21...f6 What else? [ 21...gxf5 22.exf5 c6 is met by 23.g3! exf5 24.d6 e6 25.h6 and the game is finished. ] 22.e5! White insists. g5 Forced, for if [ 22...fxe5 23.f6 wins the bishop. ] 23.g4 e7 24.xg5 There were several good paths now, for instance [ 24.exf6 xf6 25.xg5 xg5 26.f6 is also winning. ] 24...fxg5 25.f6 f7 26.d3 Again, [ 26.d6 g6 27.xc8 is also decisive. ] 26...xf6 [ 26...a6 27.xg5 is also quite hopeless. ] 27.exf6 h7 28.d6 Possibly [ 28.xh7+ xh7 29.f7+ is even simpler, as after f8 30.xg5 forces mate. ] 28...d7 [ 28...xf6 i s n o b e t t e r , 29.f3 b7 156
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 30.xb7 ] 29.f7+ f8 30.xh7 [ 30.xh7 Black, still reeling from the blows, g i v e s u p . A f t e r xd6 31.xg5 b7 32.g8+ e7 33.f8+ his remaining pieces drop off the board. ] 1-0
169 Yin Hao Zhang Zhong Asian Team Ch. (1) [Tony Kosten]
A03 2401 2541 10.10.1999
1.f4 d5 2.f3 f6 3.e3 g6 4.b3 Th is de ve lop m en t o f t he qu ee n 's b ish o p certainly makes positional sense now that W h it e ' s k i n g s id e p a wn s a r e s e t o n d a r k squares. g7 5.b2 0-0 6.c4!? [ An ambitious move, attacking Black's central pawn. 6.e2 is more normal. ] 6...c5! [ The best reply, preparing ...Nc6, and ...d4. 6...c6 whilst solid, is passive, and tends to justify White's move. 7.e2 g4 8.0-0 e6 9.d3 with a slight plus, Alexandre,J-Pereira,J/ Lisbon 1994. ] 7.c1?! [ Defending the b2-bishop against various tactical operations, for if 7.e2 for instance, then d4 8.exd4 h5 is possible. ] [ Normally 7.cxd5 is preferred, though, with level play after xd5 8.c4 h5 9.c3 c6 10.a3 g4 11.e2 fe8 intending ... e5, W oe st ma nn ,U-K ro eger,F/Mue nste r 1993. ] 7...c6 8.d3?! d4! The positional refutation o f W h i t e ' s p l a y, B l a c k cl o s e s t h e a 1 - h 8 dia go n a l, a f t er wh ich W h it e will f e e l t h e absence of his dark-squared bishop from the c1-h6 diagonal. 9.e4 [ 9.exd4 cxd4 10.e2 h6 menacing ...e5, is equally unpleasant. ] 9...e5 10.e2?! [ It is difficult to know what to do with White's position. After this move his f-pawn drops off the board, but even after 10.fxe5 the move g4 is very difficult to meet, with threats of ... Ne3, and ...Bh6, not to mention the simple ... N(either) xe5. ]
10...h6 Winning a pawn, the b2-bishop doesn't appear so well-placed now! 11.g3 exf4 12.0-0 [ Hoping to profit from the pin on f4, 12.gxf4 h5 is disastrous. ] 12...g4 13.gxf4 e3 14.f2 xf4 All of White's kingside dark squares, which seemed so strong after the first few moves, are no w f irmly in B la ck's ha nd s. 15.bd2 h3 16.f1 f5 Bringing further bits over to t h e s c e n e o f t h e a c t i o n . 17.e5 xe5 18.xe5 g5+ 19.g4 [ Otherwise, if 19.h1 g2+ ] 19...fxg4 20.g3 xg3 The simplest, exchanging off the king's defenders. 21.hxg3 xf2 22.xf2 f8+ 23.g1 [ 23.e1 e5 is also hopeless. ] 23...e5 0-1
170 Ansell,Simon Nunn,John DM 4NCL Birmingham ENG (9) [Neil McDonald]
A04 2383 2601 29.04.2000
1.e4 c5 2.f3 e6 3.d3 c6 4.g3 ge7 5.g2 g6 6.0-0 g7 7.e1 d6 The same old story, as in Malisov-Psakhis. Black stops any white expansion in the centre with e5, then next move he hinders d4. So White has to look to the queenside to gain space, but it is all pretty harmless. 8.c3 e5 9.a3 0-0 10.b4 a6 Nunn is trying to turn the position into a weird form of a Ruy Lopez! 11.bd2 h6 12.b1 b8 13.b3 This isn't the best way to engineer the advance d4. It was better to develop with [ 13.b2 though Be6 then looks OK for Black- or was Nunn intending b6 and Bb7, a 'Spanish' deployment of the bishop? In either case, White should be able to force through d4 at some point. However, this wo u ld re su l t in a liq u i d a t io n o n t h e d 4 square combined with a .. .d5 thrust by Black, which should lead to equality. ] 13...b6 14.d4?! This is consistent but bad. He could still play [ 14.b2! ] 14...c4! 15.d5 157
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Instead 15.bd2 exd4 16.cxd4 d5! wo u ld b e ve ry n ice f o r Bla ck- if 17.exd5 xd5 18.xc4? c3 etc. wins. ] 15...cxb3 16.dxc6 e6 17.e3? He had to bail out with [ 17.d2 when c8!? 18.xb3 xc6 is slightly better for Black. ] 17...c7 18.c1 h7 19.c4 The method White uses to regain his pawn leaves c4 weak and a serious hole on d4. xc6 20.xb3 d4 21.c3 fc8 22.d2 b5! 23.c5 This leads to the creation of a black passed pawn which, as it is supported by all the black pieces, proves unstoppable. The only hope was to stand his ground with [ 23.f1 which at least brings the king's bishop into the fight. ] 23...d7 24.f3 dxc5 25.bxc5 a5 26.d2 xf3+ 27.xf3 xd2 28.xd2 b4 29.axb4 axb4 30.cc1 b3 31.e2 b2 32.cd1 b3 Nunn wrapped things up very nicely. 0-1
Fernandez Aguado,J-Vallejo Pons,F/Linares 1994, 1-0 (18). ] 10.g5 xf2?! [ I can't really believe this combination, as it doesn't really do anything about the e6pawn. 10...f6 i s b e t t e r , b u t 11.c3 and the e6-pawn is a thorn in Black's side, h6? i s i m p o s s i b l e : 12.f7 winning material. ] 11.xf2 d4 12.f4 xf2+?! [ At least 12...xb2 13.d2 d4 wins another pawn, although the two white pieces are better than the black rook and pawns, anyway. ] 13.xf2 f6 14.c3! h6 [ Black's thirteenth move threatened nothing, 14...xe6? 15.xe6 xe6 16.d5 wins the rook. ] 15.ge4 [ 15.f7 Seems even simpler. ] 15...xf4+ [ Losing more material, but 15...f8 16.g1 g5 17.h5 wins anyway. ] 16.gxf4 xe6 Black's two pawns are 171 A04 in su f f icie n t co m p e n sa t io n f o r t h e p ie c e . Aronian,Levon 2518 17.d2 f8 18.e1 f7 19.g1 g7 Jorge Bort,Emilio 2233 20.d5 xd5 21.xd5+ h7 22.b3 VII Anibal Open (1) 07.01.2000 f8?! 23.xb7 d4 24.c3 e6 25.g5+ Exchanging Black's last minor piece. xg5 [Tony Kosten] 26.fxg5 e5 27.xa7 hxg5 28.a4 1.f3 f5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 g6 4.0-0 g7 Black could have resigned before. f4 29.a5 5.d3 0-0 6.e4 This is one of the problems f6 30.a6 h6 31.b8 f2 32.a7 d2 with playing the Dutch against a Reti set-up, Black's one threat of the game! 33.f1 1-0 White can oppose the f5-pawn directly. fxe4 [ 6...d6 might be preferable, 7.exf5 gxf5 ( 7...xf5 8.h4 c8 ) 8.d4 e6 9.c4 A04 with th e supe rior p awn structure , Frie s 172 Bellin,Robert 2388 Nie ls e n , J -P la ske t t , J/ G ro n in ge n 1 9 7 9 , although 0-1 (49). ] Williams,Simon Kim 2550 London Classic FIDE Open (4) 11.12.2009 7.dxe4 d6 [ Of course not 7...xe4?? 8.d5+ e6 [Nigel Davies] 9.xe4 1-0 Moreno,A-Figari,E/Bariloche 1.f3 f5 2.d3 d6 3.e4 e5 4.c3 c5!? 1991. ] 8.e5! T h e s h a r p e s t re p ly. g4 9.e6! An interesting and ambitious approach from The point, W hite tries to retard the black Williams. Black rules out d3-d4 by White and argues that without this he will be unable to development. c6 [ A new idea, with a tactical point. 9...c6 e x p l o i t h i s l e a d i n d e v e l o p m e n t . 5.g3 10.g5 f6 11.c3 a6 12.h4! This looks sensible but I suspect that White is similar to the game, Black cannot get rid should be playing more directly for a pawn of the e6-pawn, or the g5-knight. d5 13.e2 lever. To this ef f ect I suggest one of the c7 14.f4 h6? 15.f7 winning a pawn, following possibilities: 158
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ a) 5.a3 c6 6.b4!? is an interesting gambit line, for example cxb4 7.axb4 xb4 8.a3 c6 9.e2 f6 10.0-0 e7 11.b1 0-0 12.b3+ h8 13.exf5 xf5 14.xb7 recovers White's pawn with some pressure. ] [ b) 5.d2!? c6 6.c4 f6 7.f4!? is an interesting and thematic plan in which the knight on c4 becomes very well placed, for example exf4 8.xf4 e7 9.e2 0-0 10.0-0 fxe4 11.dxe4 d4 12.e3 xe2+ 13.xe2 intends 14.Rad1 with pressure. ] 5...e7!? An interesting new move from Williams. [ After 5...c6 W h i t e c a n t r y 6.h4!? , f or example fxe4 ( 6...f4 7.g2 f6 8.gxf4 is good for White) 7.dxe4 f6 8.c4 g4 9.f3 h3 10.g5 was nice for White in Mozharov, M (2424)-Potapov, P (2386)/ Sibenik 2007. ] 6.h3 g6 [ 6...fxe4 7.xc8 xc8 8.dxe4 is just good for White because of the hole on d5. ] 7.exf5 h5!? This truly amazing move is probably the best! [ After 7...xf5 8.xf5 gxf5 White can play 9.h4 xh4 10.h5+ f8 11.gxh4 when Black is in serious difficulties. ] 8.g2 Faced by his opponent's ingenious play Bellin reacts passively. [ He should play 8.h4! , for example xh4 9.gxh4 xf5 ( Or 9...xh4 10.f3 ) 10.xf5 gxf5 11.g5 is good for White. ] 8...gxf5 9.d2?! Pointless. [ A more logical plan would be to play 9.d2 c6 10.c4 with ideas such as f2-f4. ] 9...c6 10.e2 e6 11.h4?! Another pointless looking move. [ 11.0-0-0 makes more sense. ] 11...f6 12.g5 g8 13.f4? After Black's reply White is in all sorts of trouble. [ He should have tried 13.xc6+ bxc6 14.f4 to try and break up Black's pawns. ] 13...d4 14.d1 g4 15.d5 e4 16.dxe4 xg5 17.hxg5 xd5 18.exd5 b6 19.c3 0-0-0!! A fantastic sacrifice which White should have rejected. 20.cxd4? [ 20.0-0 was better when there's still everything to play for. ] 20...de8+ 21.f1 b5+ 22.g1 xb2 23.e1 e2 24.f3 h2 White has no good
defence to the threat of 25...Rxh1+ and 26... Qh2+. 0-1
173 Bindrich,Falko Werle,Jan IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (10) [Carsten Hansen]
A04 2513 2581 01.05.2008
1.f3 f5 2.d3 d6 3.e4 g6?! [ This is at best dubious. Black's best is u n d o u b t e d l y 3...e5 which is the subject of Skoberne, J-Milchev, N/Plovdiv BUL 2008, also to be found in this update. ] 4.exf5 [ This is White's most direct continuation. Other tries include: 4.g3 ] [ 4.h4 ] [ 4.c3 ] [ and 4.c3 ] 4...xf5 5.d4 This position looks like Balogh's Defence, which arises after 1 e4 d6 2 d4 f5 3 exf5 Bxf5. What we have in the game should be an improved version for Black because White has spent two moves to play the pawn to d4. Nevertheless, W hite has a small but clear advantage. g7 [ Black has also tried 5...f6 6.d3 g4 7.bd2 h6 8.h3 xd2+ 9.xd2 xf3 10.xf3 c6 11.b5 ( 11.0-0-0 d7 12.he1 0-0-0 13.c3 ) 11...d5 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.h6 Zysk, R-Feldbacher, H/Bad Wiessee GER 2006 ] 6.d3 [ Or 6.c3!? e5?! ( 6...f6 is better ) 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.b3 d7 9.c4 , Black's position is a toilet, Weindl, A-Gengler, P/Kemer TUR 2007 ] 6...d7 [ 6...xd3 leaves Black with terrible weaknesses on the light squares: 7.xd3 d7 8.0-0 c6 9.e3 ( 9.d5 e5 10.xe5 xe5 11.e1 0-0-0 12.f4 f6 13.e6 h6 14.c4 ) 9...f6 10.bd2 e6 11.ab1 a5 Saheli, N-Gomes, M/Bikaner IND 2004 12.fe1 ] 7.0-0 c6 [ In an early game in this variation, Black tried 7...f6 8.c3 0-0 9.xf5 xf5 159
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.d5 e5 11.g5 h8 12.f3 d7 13.e3 , a n d B l a c k 's p o s it i o n is a l r e a d y q u i t e depressing, Keene, R-Platzack, S/ Barcelona 1965 ] 8.c3 [ A m o re lo gica l co n t in u a t io n is 8.xf5!? xf5 9.c4 e5 10.d5 d8 11.c3 with an absolutely horrendous King's Indianlike position for Black the conclusion of the gamewas f6 12.e2 ( 12.g5!? ) 12...0-0 13.g5 h5?? ( 13...c6 14.f3 ) 14.g4 d7 15.gxh5 h6 16.ge4 1-0 Strikovic, APena Dieguez, M/Seville ESP 2004 ] 8...e5 [ 8...f6!? ] 9.dxe5 [ 9.b5 can also be considered, e.g. e4 A) 10.h4!? d5 11.xf5 A1) 11...xf5 12.xc6+ ( 12.f3!? ) 12...bxc6 13.f3 is even worse for Black; A2) 11...gxf5 12.h5+ f7 13.xf7+ xf7 14.f3 e6 15.g4 gives White some initiative; B) 10.d5?! exf3 11.dxc6 bxc6 12.xf3 ( 12.e1+ is probably better, but still nothing for W hite f7 13.xf3 e8 14.e2 f6 ) 12...e7 13.d3 0-0 14.xf5 xf5 15.d3 ab8 with a very comfortable game for Black, Braun, SRuettinger, J/Bayern 2002 ] 9...dxe5 10.b5 [ 10.xf5 gxf5 11.xd7+ xd7 doesn't accomplish anything for White after 12.d1+ e6 13.a3 a6 14.g5+ f6 with a satisfactory game for Black ] 10...0-0-0 11.a4!? d3 [ 11...ge7 12.g5 d3 13.xd3 xd3 14.xe7 xe7 15.xa7 ] 12.xc6 xc6 13.xc6 bxc6 14.e1 f6 15.e3?! [ Over the next few moves White simply plays too passively, and Black gain counterplay to outweigh the deficiencies in the pawn structure. 15.xe5! he8 16.g5 leaves White with a solid advantage, and of course now d5? loses to 17.xf6 xf6 18.xd3 xe1+ 19.xe1 d1 20.f1 g5 21.e2 c1 22.g3 , and then Black's rook will be trapped on c1. ] 15...d5! 16.bd2 e8 17.h3?! [ 17.b3 e4 18.fd2 d7 19.f3 ( 19.d4
h6 ) 19...exf3 20.xf3 c5 21.f4 with at best a tiny edge for W hite, though Black's pair of bishops and generally active pieces provide excellent counterplay. ] [ 17.c4!? dd8 18.xa7 e4 19.d4 b7 20.c5 d7 21.2b3 a8 22.a3 xc4 with another complicated queenless m i d d l e g a m e i n wh i c h b o t h s i d e s h a v e chances, but I prefer Black ] 17...e4 18.d4 c5 19.c6 b7 20.a5+ a6 Black's king is actually rather well-placed on this square. 21.ac4 [ 21.c4!? f5 22.g4 fe5 23.b4 cxb4 24.c6 5e6 ( 24...d7 25.xb4+ b7 26.d4 h6 27.b3 xc4 28.xe5 xe5 29.ad1 ) 25.xb4+ b7 with a complicated game and chances to bot h sid es. T his is p ro bab ly W h it e las t active option before drifting into a difficult passive position. ] 21...d7 22.f4 b6 23.e3 d7 24.a4 c6 25.b3 f8 26.g4 c4 27.f6 [ White wins the exchange, but that's about it. The 'problem' with rooks is that they need to be on open files to be really effective, and White doesn't have any open files for either of the rooks. Therefore in this case, Black with his active pieces has adequate compensation for the exchange. The a l t e r n a t i ve 27.d4 d5 28.g3 d6 29.xd6 xd6 is also pleasant for Black. ] 27...cxb3 28.xe8 d5 29.g5?! [ White throws a couple of tempi away with this move. Nevertheless even af ter th e superior 29.g3 Black is doing quite well: c5 30.ad1 a5 31.d2 xa4 , and I prefer Black's chances White has a nominal material advantage, but Black's pieces are far better placed, and W hite's rooks are quite useless. ] 29...f7! 30.h4 [ 30.c4?! is met by b4 , and Black is clearly better ] 30...c5 31.g3 e3! 32.fxe3 xe3?? [ Oh no! Black should play 32...e7! , e.g. 33.d6 xc3! 34.c8 ( 34.ac1 c2!; 34.h4? xd6 35.xe7 xe7 36.bxc3 b2 37.ad1 c2 38.b1 xb1 39.xb1 a3 wins for Black; 34.bxc3? xe3! 35.h2 b2 , and Black is probably winning) 34...e6 35.bxc3 b2 36.ab1 xe3 37.f2 xe1+ 160
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 38.xe1 xf2+ 39.xf2 b1 40.xb1 xb1 41.e3 c2 42.d4 xa4 43.c5 b7 , and Black has excellent winning chances ] 33.f2?! [ White can end the game more effectively with 33.d6! xd6 ( 33...b6 34.a5 c2+ 35.axb6+ xb6 36.ed1 , and White will end up with an extra piece.) 34.xd6 e7 35.f2 d5 36.xe7 xe7 37.e3 c2 38.d4 ] 33...xf2 34.xf2 c2+ 35.f3 xa1? [ This loses without further ado. Black should have tried 35...xe1+ 36.xe1 , and now a3! 37.e3 c2 38.c7+ b6 39.bxa3 b2 40.e6 b1 41.xb1+ xb1 , and White has excellent winning chances thanks to active king after 42.d4 f5 43.d8 ] 36.xa1 a5 37.f6 h5 38.d7 1-0
weak. ] 14.exd5 xd5 15.c4 a6 16.e2 e8 17.e3 f8 18.d2 f6 A concession but the pressure was getting intolerable. 19.f4! f7 [ If 19...exf4 20.xd5 xd5 21.c7 wins at once. ] 20.f2 d7 [ If 20...exf4 21.xe8 xe8 22.xd5+ xd5 23.c7 xd3 24.xa6 winning the exchange. ] 21.ad1 White has no need to hurry. In fact by showing some patience he gives Black the chance to self destruct. b6 [ He had to try to muddy the waters with 21...exf4 ] 22.xb6 xb6 23.e3! b3 24.xc5 xd1 25.xb6 xa4 26.c7 e7 27.d5 Black resigned for if f7 28.fxe5 fxe5 29.f6+ wins the exchange. A fine game by Bologan to exploit Black's opening errors. 1-0
174
175
Bologan,Viktor Firman,Nazar Aeroflot Open (4) [Neil McDonald]
A04 2651 2485 07.02.2002
1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.f3 c6 4.c3 ge7 5.g3 g6 6.g2 g7 7.0-0 0-0 8.e1 e5 9.a3 a5? [ We have already seen the solid approach 9...d6 10.b4 a6 in Ansell-Nunn. ( Here 10...h6 intending Be6 etc. is also sufficient. )] 10.a4! White fixes the b5 square for his knight. d6? Soon after is Black realises that the plan of Be6, h7-h6 and f7-f5 isn't promising and decides he wants to break in the centre with d6-d5. So he should save time with [ 10...d5 ] 11.a3 h6 12.d2! The other knight has also spied a fine square on c4. Note that 9.. a5 hasn't only given away the b5 square- it has also prevented Black from challenging for the c4 square with b7-b5 as was possible after a7-a6 in the Ansell game. e6 13.b5 d5 [ After 13...f5 White has attractive lines b a s e d o n d 3 - d 4 , b u t p e r h a p s 14.c4!? is th e strongest response - xc4 ( or 14...fxe4 15.cxd6 ) 15.dxc4 and d6 is
Cacho Reigadas,Sergio Khamrakulov,Ibragim S Spanish Team Ch Gp2 (1) [Carsten Hansen]
A04 2470 2545 27.06.2007
1.f3 c5 2.g3 b6 3.g2 b7 4.0-0 f6 5.d3 d5 6.bd2 g6?! (This double fianchetto looks perfectly normal and even logical, but will usually lead to major headaches for Black as demonstrated in both our main game and the supporting analysis. Black's best is 6...e6 leading to a balanced game with chances to both sides) 7.e4 dxe4 [ This is very likely a bad move that immediately puts Black on his heels. The alternatives should therefore be considered carefully, although they don't exactly promise Black an easy game either. A) 7...g7 A) 8.e5 fd7 9.e6 fxe6 10.g5 f8 11.g4 c8 , A.Giesenberg-W.Stroka, Dortmund 2001, and here 12.f4 f6 13.c4 leads to favourable complications for White, e.g. c6 ( 13...h6 14.ge4 c6 15.cxd5 d4 16.xf6+ exf6 17.e1 ) 14.cxd5 d4 15.e1 xg5 16.xg5 b7 17.b4 c2 18.b2; 161
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.e1 g7 13.c4 0-0 14.f4 ) B) 8.e2 e6 ( 8...0-0 9.e5 fd7 10.e6 11...c7 12.e1 d4 13.xd4 xg2 f6 11.g5 c6 12.exf7+ h8 13.e6 14.xg2 ( 14.c3 cxd4 15.xg2 d5+ d6 14.f3! xf7 15.fg5 ff8 16.f3 ) 14...xd4 15.c4 ( 15.f3 d5 ) 16.f4+P.Scheeren-T.De Jong, 15...0-0-0 16.a4 b7 17.f3 d6 Rotterdam 1974) 9.e1 0-0 10.c3 c6 18.f4 c6 19.xc6+ xc6 20.h5 11.f1 dxe4 12.dxe4 c7 13.e5 d5 , a nd W hit e h a s a sm a ll, bu t cle a r a n d 14.h4 ad8 15.1h2 a6 16.g4 enduring advantage, V.Mikenas-V. V.Karlik-J.Hlavnicka, Znojmo 2005 ] Alatortsev, USSR Ch (Moscow) 1950 ] [ B) 7...e6 8.e1 g7 9.c3 dxe4 10.dxe4 [ 8...c8 9.e5 h5 10.e1 g7 ( 10...g7 0-0 11.e5 fd7 12.c4 c6 13.d6 c7 11.e6!? f5 12.c4 0-0 13.g5 c7 14.a4 , and White is already clearly better 14.c3 ) 11.e4 h6 12.b4!? ( 12.d3 c6 Black has problems on both the h2-b7 and 13.b3 e6 14.b2 ) 12...cxb4 13.b2 the a4-d7 diagonals, S.Martinovic-J. e6 14.d4 a6 15.xe6 fxe6 16.g4 Vanheste, Dieren 1984 ] f7 , so far, P.Biyiasas-M. Suba, Hastings [ C) 7...c6 1978, and here could have nailed Black's A) 8.e5!? h5 9.e6!? fxe6 10.g5 c8 coffin shut with 17.d6+ exd6 18.xb7 ( 10...d6 11.e1 d8 12.g4 f6 xb7 19.exd6 , and White wins material 13.e2 with a small advantage for White) while continuing the attack ] 11.c4! , and White has excellent 9.e5 g4 compensation for the pawn; [ 9...h5? is an incredibly poor move that B) 8.c3 dxe4 9.dxe4 g7 , so far H. places the knight on the verge of being lost Suradiradja-Hsu Li Yang, Singapore 1997, t o a we ll -t i m e d g3 - g4 p a wn p u s h , e . g . and now 10.e5 d5 11.e6 fxe6 12.g5 10.c4 c8 11.h3 ( White can do even , and Black will have a long uphill battle to b e t t e r w i t h 11.g5! (White is threatening get his position to work for him ] Bxe7 followed by Nd6) c6 12.e1 a6 8.dxe4! 13.c3 , and Black literally has no decent [ Weaker is 8.g5?! , but for the sake of moves, the fact that my computer favours completeness, we will cover it: g7 13...Kf8 speaks volumes) 11...f5 12.exf6 A) or 9.dxe4 0-0 10.e1 h6 11.h3 xf6 13.e1 f8 14.e2 d5 15.g5 fd7 ( 11...e5!? looks positionally wrong (this is getting very embarrassing for Black by blocking the scope of the g7-bishop only the fact that this was played in the and permanently weakening the d5-square, Olympiad can justify Black struggling on a but the knight on h3 is all of a sudden f e w m o r e m o ve s ) f6 16.e4! d7 exceptionally poorly placed, and Black 17.h6+ g7 18.ed6 exd6 19.xd5 gains both space and the initiative, e.g. xh6 20.e7# 1-0 P.Hohler- P.Griffiths, 12.c3 c6 13.f3 c8 14.f2 d8 Siegen OL 1970. Black's team mates can't 15.c2 e6 ) 12.f4 c7 13.e5 xg2 have been particularly pleased by this effort 14.xg2 c6 with chances to both sides, by the well-known author of several L. Niko laiczu k-D. P olajze r, Sch oe ne ck excellent biographies. ] 1988; [ 9...d5 10.g5!? ( 10.e6! is a thematic B) 9.gxe4 xe4 10.dxe4 0-0 11.c3 punch that Black should keep in mind when d3 12.e1 d8 13.f1 d7 14.c2 playing this line. W ith Black's bishop c6 15.f3 e5 , and a draw was already occupied in the long h1-a8 diagonal, agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, A.Lein-M.Suba, Black's pawn structure will now be disrupted: Hastings 1978 ] f6 11.e2 White follows up with moves 8...g7?! like Nc4, Rd1, c3 and a4 with an [ 8...c6 is Black's best move at this point, unpleasant defensive task for Black ahead though White obtains a clear advantage in of him ) 10...h6 11.xf7! (the idea behind multiple ways: 9.e5 d5 ( 9...g4 10.e6! the previous move) xf7 12.f3+ ( 12.c4!? h6 11.e5!+- ) 10.e6 f6 11.h4 e6 13.e1 a6 14.e4 f8 15.f3+ ( 11.e2!? slightly improves, e.g. c7 162
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g8 16.g4; 12.e6+?! xe6 13.c4 f7 14.cxd5 xd5 15.e4 d4 is fully playable for Black ) 12...g8 13.c4 d7 14.cxd5? ( 14.e6! 7f6 15.e4! xe4 16.xe4 h7 17.cxd5 is pretty horrible for Black) 14...xe5 15.b3 h7 , and Black is back in the game and in fact soon took over the initiative, V.Loginov-T.Tolnai, Budapest 1993 ] 10.e2 [ Here 10.e6!? looks very good for White, e. g. f5 ( 10...fxe6 11.e2 d7 12.g5 xg2 13.xg2 c6+ 14.g1 e5 15.f4 ) 11.c3 0-0 M.Geveke-C.Pritchett, German 2.Bundesliga 1995 12.e2 a6 ( 12...a6 13.c4 c6 14.f4 ) 13.c4 c7 14.f4 c6 15.h4 c8 16.fd1 ] 10...0-0 11.h3 [ 11.e6!? ] 11...h6 12.d1 c8 [ 12...c7 looks normal, but the queen will often end up becoming a target when White follows up with the natural Bf4, e.g. 13.e4 f5 14.f4 , and the queen will have to move again. ] [ 12...c6 13.c4 c8 transposes to the game continuation ] 13.c4 c6 14.f4 [ While the text move is perfectly logical, W hite can possibly consider saving it for later as Black, as we will see in the note to Black's next move, can with advantage attack with the gain of a tempo. So how should White improve his position. A crucial square in this type of pawn structure is the d 4 - s q u a r e , a n d t h e r e f o r e 14.c3!? makes perfect sense, and now a possible continuation is d8 ( or 14...a6 15.f4 e6 16.g5 xc4 17.xc4 xc4 18.xc6 ad8 19.b3 d3 20.d2 ) 15.e3 e6 16.g5 xe5 17.xd8 axd8 18.xb7 f5 ( 18...xg5 19.g4+- ) 19.g2 ] 14...f5?! [ This just turns out to be a waste of time after White's 15th and 16th moves, which, by the way, are incredibly simple and should have been predicted by the 2500+ rated player behind the black pieces. Instead Bla c k c a n t ry 14...d8!? 15.g4 ( 15.c3 e6 16.e3 c7 17.g4 ad8 18.a4 )
15...e6 16.h2 d8 17.xd8+ xd8 18.d1 c7 19.c3 , and while White has the better chances, Black is still well in the game, whereas Black in the game loses two tempi for no apparent reason. ] 15.c3 d8 16.g4! e6 17.h2 h6 18.e3 h8?! [ 18...f5!? 19.exf6 exf6 20.d5 ( 20.c4 f7 ) 20...e8 21.c4 f7 22.d2 ] 19.d5 (Black's position is a real toilet if the previous move didn't give it away, Black's next move will) g8 20.d2 [ 20.c4!? looks very good too, e.g. h6 ( 20...f5?! 21.g5+- ) 21.a4 f5 22.exf6 exf6 23.a5+- ] 20...f5?? [ This is a very bad move that I struggle to see the point behind. Though Black's position by no means is great, Black has several other moves that can be considered: A) 20...c7 21.xc7 ( 21.c4 xd5 22.cxd5 f5 23.c4 also looks amazing for White ) 21...xc7 22.e6 c8 23.xb7 xb7 24.f3 h6 ( 24...fxe6 25.g5+- ) 25.exf7 xf7 26.h4 c6 27.c2 f6 28.f4 ] [ B) 20...c6 21.f3 ( 21.f1 b7 22.fe3 ad8 23.f4 ) 21...b7 22.c4 ] 21.exf6 exf6 22.c4 (Now Black is toast at lightning speed White creates more threats than Black is capable of dealing with) a6 23.dxb6! axb6 24.xa8 e8 [ 24...f5 is 'sort of' Black's last chance, although White still wins comfortably after 25.g2 fxg4 26.hxg4 f4 27.xf4 xf4 28.xb6 xe2 29.xc8 xd1 30.xd1 xg4 31.b6+- ] 25.d6 (This is where the game should have ended, the rest is just a waste of everybody's time) h6 26.xc8 xe2 27.xb6 [ 27.e1 xc8 28.xe2 is even simpler ] 27...xd1 28.xd1 f5 29.c6 f8 30.f3 f7 31.e1 fd8 32.d5 1-0
163
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 25...c8 so as to activate his rook as quickly A04 as possible. ] Carlhammar,Magnus 2350 Marin,Mihail 2556 26.c6 bxc6 27.xc6 c8 28.xe4 c4 Open Reykjavik ISL (3) 26.03.2009 29.xh7 d7 30.f5+ xd6 Although White has three pawns for the piece and an [Nigel Davies] exposed enemy king his position is the worst 1.f3 f5 2.d3 d6 3.e4 e5 4.c3 f6 it has been in some time. The problem for him is that Black's pieces are finally getting active. 5.exf5 xf5 6.d4 e4 7.h4 g4 [ Carsten Hansen previously examined 31.d1+ c7 32.d5 c1+ 33.g2 c6 7...c8 (plus various alternatives) in the 34.g1 b8 35.h4 a8 36.b4 b7 game Skoberne, J (2492)-Milchev, N (2415)/ 37.d1 c3 38.b5 c8 39.h2 e8 40.a4 Plo vd iv B UL 2 0 08 . Ma rin 's m o ve lo o ks e4?? It looks like there was a time scramble. This should have lost to 41.Rd8+. After the critical but is it good enough? ] 8.e2 xe2 9.xe2 d5 10.g5 c6 exchange of queens Black is better because It's not quite clear to me whether this was of his powerful bishop and the weakness of inspiration or perspiration but I suspect the W hite's pawns. 41.xe4+?? xe4 42.a5 latter. After other moves White has done very e5 43.b1 e2 44.b6 xf2+ 45.h3 a6 46.b7+ b8 47.b6 e5 48.xa6 f3 well, for example: [ a) 10...b4 11.b5+ c6 12.xb7 xd4 49.g6 xb7 50.h5 c7 51.a6 d7 52.a7 13.0-0-0 xc3 14.bxc3 b8 15.xf6 gxf6 a3 53.h6 gxh6 54.a8 xa8 55.xh6 16.xa7 b5 17.c5 d6 18.xd5 g8 56.g4 e7 57.h5 e6 58.h6+ f6 was good for White in Dizdar, G-Grunberg, 59.h5 g5 60.g3 f6 61.h1 a8 62.f1+ g6 63.f3 f6 64.b3 e5+ S/Triesen LIE 2005. ] [ b) 10...c6? 11.f3 h6 12.g6 hxg5 65.f3 a4 66.b6+ f7 67.g5 f4+ 13.xh8 b4 14.0-0 was winning in 68.e2 g4 69.g6+ g7 70.b5 f6 Zacurdajev, M-Romcovici, V/Peterhof RUS 71.f3 a4 72.d5 xg6 73.b5 a1 74.e3 f6 75.d3 e5 76.b7 d4+ 2007 ] 11.xf6 xf6 12.xd5 xh4 13.xc7+ 77.e3 h4 78.d3 f5 79.b1 h3+ d7 14.xa8 Fritz 12 still likes White's 80.c4 c3+ 81.d5 c8 82.f1+ f4 position because even with the loss of the 83.e1 d8+ 84.c4 e5 85.h1 d4+ knight on a8 it figure that it will have a rook 86.c5 d2 87.h5+ e4 88.h4+ f4 and two pawns for two minor pieces. I kind of 89.c6 c2+ 90.b5 c8 91.b4 e5 agree, but it's not easy. d6 15.g3 g5 92.h1 d2+ 93.b5 c3 94.h5+ d6 95.a4 e5 96.b5 d5 97.b4 b8+ 16.0-0 g6 17.ad1 98.a5 b1 99.a4 c4 100.a5 d4 [ 17.b5!? was also worth considering. ] 17...xa8 18.c4 e7 19.c5 f6 20.b5 101.a6 b6+ 102.a5 e6 103.h4 g6 104.f4 g2 c8 21.d5 [ T h e r e w a s a n o t h e r m o v e i n 21.c4 0-1 , for example d7 ( 21...c7 22.d5 e5 23.d6+ d8 24.d5 would leave Black's A04 rook out of play) 22.a4 c7 23.d5 e5 177 24.c6 and White's attack looks the Carlsen,Magnus 2484 stronger. ] Dolmatov,Sergey 2591 21...d4? This should lose. Aeroflot Open (3) 19.02.2004 [ 21...a6 should have been tried. ] [Tony Kosten] 22.xd4 xd4 23.a4? [ T h e w i n n i n g m o v e w a s 23.d1! 1.f3 f5 2.d3!? An interesting anti-Dutch , f o r e xa m p l e f6 24.c6 gives White a s y s t e m , W h i t e f o r c e s e 4 t o e x p l o i t t h e winning attack. ] weaknesses caused to the black kingside by ... 23...f6 24.d6 d8 25.b5 f7 f5. d6 The most sensible, defending f5. [ And here Black should have played [ 2...f6 tries to stop e4, 3.bd2 ( 3.g5!? 176
164
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c6 4.xf6 exf6 5.d4!? led to a sort of Du t c h , S p e e lm a n , J-G a rci a I lu n d a i n , D / Pamplona 1996; 3.e4!? is also possible, fxe4 4.dxe4 xe4 5.d3 with some initiative, Ef imov,I-Corvi,M/Montecatini Terme 199 7) 3...d5 4.e4 dxe4 5.dxe4 xe4 6.c4 c6 7.0-0 with good compensation for the pawn, it will be difficult for Black to castle, Gulko,BShmulevich,M/St Martin 1992. ] 3.e4 e5 4.c3 This position resembles a Latvian Gambit, and can transpose from it, except that White rarely plays d3 in that line. c6 [ 4...f6 5.exf5 xf5 6.d4 e4 7.h4 d7 8.e2 e7!? 9.xe4 0-0 10.f3 left White a pawn up in Benjamin,J-Gurevich, D/St Martin 1992, although Black has some compensation. ] 5.exf5 xf5 6.d4 xd4 [ 6...b4!? seems worse, 7.b5+ c6 8.a4 e4 9.g5 d5 ( 9...f6!? ) 10.f3 exf3 11.0-0! and Black was facing a strong attack on the f-file, Krasenkow,M-Kindermann,S/ Panormo GRE 2001. ] 7.xd4 exd4 8.xd4 f6 [ 8...xc2!? is legal, but very greedy. ] 9.c4! A strong novelty. [ 9.d3 xd3 10.xd3 gives little, Black can play ...c6 and ...d5 with a strong central presence, c6 11.0-0 e7 12.e2 ( 12.e4 xe4 13.xe4 0-0 led to a very quick draw in Romanishin,O-Malaniuk,V/ Tallinn 1987) 12...d5 13.d4 d7 14.g5 0-0 15.ae1 d6 Black is fine, Lerner,KBareev,E/Kiev 1986. ] 9...c6 10.g5 Black prepares to castle long and harass the black king. b5?! Not a good idea, Black would like to play [ 10...d5 to block the a2-g8 diagonal, as it will be impossible to castle otherwise, but then 11.0-0-0 e7 ( 11...dxc4? 12.e5+ e7 13.xf5 is crushing) 12.he1 0-0 13.e5 forks e7 and f5, forcing c8 when 14.xd5+ cxd5 15.xe7 should win. ] [ 10...xc2!? stops queenside castling, and may be the best bet, although after 11.0-0 d5 12.fe1+ f7 13.xf6 gxf6 White has strong compensation for the pawn. ( 13...xf6? 14.xd5+ cxd5 15.xd5+ g6 16.e6 )]
11.b3 e7 12.0-0-0 d7 13.he1 Now it is difficult to find an acceptable reply for Black. d8?! [ 13...0-0-0 might hold on longer. ] 14.xe7! A neat solution. xe7 Forced, [ 14...xe7 loses on the spot to 15.xf6+ gxf6 16.e1+ d8 17.xf6+ ] 15.f4 Forking f5 and d6. d7 16.e4 d5 17.xf6 Black can resign. h6 18.h4 g5 19.d4! [ 19.d4! gxh4?! 20.xd5 cxd5 21.xh8+ e8 22.xh6 leaves White two pawns ahead with a dominating position. ] 1-0
178 Cheparinov,I Jones,G 45th Italian Teams 2013 (4) [Danny Gormally]
A04 2702 2654 29.04.2013
1.f3 c5 2.b3 d6 3.e3 e5! If Black is offered the center, he should take it. 4.b5+ c6 5.0-0 f6 6.b2 This line is very rare wit h ve ry f e w ga m e s i n t h e d a t a b a s e . I t seem s stran ge to me t hat Ch erap ino v, a player who ha s worked very close ly wit h Topalov, should be prepared to leave the normal paths of opening theory so quickly. e7 7.d3 White continues his ultra quiet strategy, but you could argue he's already worse if he is not able to put any real pressure on the impressive black center. [ 7.d4?! was a tempting way to try and sharpen up the game, but it just turns out to be bad: e4! ( 7...cxd4? 8.exd4 e4 9.d5! a6 10.dxc6 axb5 11.cxb7 xb7 12.d4 looks good for W hite, who is threatening both Nf5 and Nb5) 8.d5 a6 9.dxc6 axb5 10.cxb7 xb7 and White has not solved his problems. ] 7...0-0 8.bd2?! [ In light of what happens, the unambitious 8.xc6 bxc6 9.bd2 may have been preferable. ] 8...a5! Jones is very tactically aware and already notices the problem with White's setup- the white bishop marooned in enemy t e r r i t o r y . 9.c4? White intends to sacrifice a pawn to reactivate the bishop, but Jones 165
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 clearly demonstrates the drawbacks of this strategy. [ 9.d4 cxd4 10.exd4 e4 11.e1 d5 is also slightly unpleasant- albeit probably necessary - Black will have a ready-made kingside attack after a subsequent ...Bd6. ] 9...a6 10.a4 b8! 11.b4 cxb4 12.c2 What is White intending to play? He wants to play d4 of course. In light of this Jones takes a prophylactic measure - he intends to put the Knight on c4. b5! 13.cxb5 axb5 14.d4 c4 15.b1 b7 Returning the pawn, but gaining an impressive clump of queenside pawns in return. 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.xc4 [ 17.d1 xf3 18.xf3 c7 doesn't help much. ] 17...bxc4 18.xe5 a8 19.d1 a5 20.d4 h5 21.e4 fd8 22.h3 c5 23.xf6 [ 23.b2 xe4-+ ] 23...gxf6 24.xd8+ xd8 Black is just winning here- W hite can do little about the cramping pawns on c4 and b4, not to mention the raking black bishops. 25.f1 c8 26.d1 f5 27.e1 c3 28.e2 fxe4 29.xe4 xe4 30.xe4 g6 Black played a very good game! 0-1
11.c3 b6 12.a4 c7 13.f4 b5 14.c3 b6 15.e2 f6 16.c1 cxd4!? This temporary sacrifice destroys W hite's centre and so ensures Black complete equality. But more fighting was perhaps 16... Ba 6 p la nn ing 17 .. . b 4 . 17.fxd4 xd4 18.xd4 fxe5 19.xc8! This counter sacrifice allows W hite to stay alive. axc8 20.xe6! exf4 21.xf8 xf8 22.xd5+ h8 23.b4 fxg3 24.hxg3 d4 Here 24...a6 or 24.. .Rf5 was more solid. It was too late to begin playing for a win. 25.f3 a6 26.g2 g7 27.e1 f5?? 27...Rf7 was necessary. 28.e7+ f8 29.d7 b8 30.c6 White gets in first with Re8. 1-0
180 Greenfeld,Alon Rodi,Luis Ernesto VI Magistral Hebraica (4) [Nigel Davies]
A04 2541 2357 23.04.2009
1.f3 f5 2.d3 d6 [ If Black intends to put his knight on c6 then usually he does it now. The advantage in playing 2...c6 is that Black does not need to play ...d7-d6 in order to prepare ...e7-e5. ] 3.e4 c6 179 A04 [ A n d h e r e B l a c k u s u a l l y p l a y s 3...e5 Datu,Idelfonso 2335 without first bringing his knight to c6. ] Watson,John L 2365 4.exf5 White tries to expose the drawbacks in Saitek US Masters (5) 1998 Black's unusual move order. [Neil McDonald] [ 4.c3 e5 would transpose into normal lines, but perhaps Black would have tried 4... 1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 g6 Nf6!?. ] 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 ge7 7.c3 0-0 8.d4 4...xf5 5.d4 e5 I couldn't find any other cxd4 9.cxd4 d5 10.e5 f5! games in this line which is quite strange given [ Instead 10...f6!? 11.e1 f5 12.c3 d7 the fact that both players have played fairly 13.g4 draw agreed was Glek-Sakaev, St. natural looking moves. 6.b5 exd4 7.xd4 Petersburg 1998, while with a slight [ Perhaps White should try delaying this transposition ] move with 7.0-0!? when f6 8.e1+ e7 [ 10...b6 11.a3 f6 12.e1 d7 13.b1 9.xd4 d7 10.xc6 bxc6 11.e2 ac8 14.f4 fxe5 15.dxe5 xf4!? 16.gxf4 prevents Black from castling. ] b4 led to a wild struggle which Black won 7...d7 8.0-0 xd4 9.xd7+ Greenfeld is in the rapidplay game Bologan-Ivanchuk, playing for a slight, risk free space advantage. Moscow 1996. Since Black is also fine in [ Here too White had an interesting th e p re se n t ga m e, we h a ve t o give t h e alternative in 9.e1+!? a f t e r wh i c h e7 thumbs down to W hite's plan of seizing 10.xd4 f6 11.c4!? would temporarily space with d4 and e5. ] stop Black from castling. ] 166
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...xd7 10.xd4 f6 11.c4 e7 12.c3 0-0 13.b3 White is slightly better here because of his extra space and better bishop. But with the position becoming simplified it will prove difficult to win. f7 14.b2 g4 15.xg4 xg4 16.d5 f6 17.xf6+ xf6 18.fe1 This endgame is also better for White what with the asymmetrical pawn structure and a bishop against a knight. f8 19.f3 e8 20.f1 g6 21.xe8+ xe8 22.e1+ d7 23.b4?! This looks like the wrong plan. [ White should be looking to advance his kingside pawns with the support of his king and to this end 23.f2 looks like the right move. I think Black has some problems here. ] 23...e8 24.d1 f5 25.f2 b6 26.e3 a6 27.g4 f7 28.c5 bxc5 29.bxc5 c6 30.cxd6 xd6 31.d4 e7+ 32.d3 b5 33.c1+ b7 34.c5 e6 35.f4 c8 36.a4 d6 37.d4 d7 38.h4 e4 39.f1 e6 40.d1 d7 41.f1 e6 ½-½
is already developed? [ 7...e4?! is a mistake, 8.g5 e7 9.f7+ d8 Speelman,J-Bartel,M/playchess.com I NT 2 0 0 4 , a n d n o w 10.d5! looks very strong, xd5 11.xd5 winning a pawn after g6 12.xb7 ] [ 7...b6!? is interesting, 8.b3 and now, as the bishop cannot return to e2 e4 9.h4 ( 9.g5 d5 ) 9...g4 looks reasonable. ] 8.e3!? e4 Critical, but [ 8...c6 9.e2 e4 is also worth consideration. ] 9.h3 exf3 Black has a wide choice here: [ 9...b6 10.b3 h5 11.g4 g6 12.h4 or ] [ 9...h5 10.g4 exf3 11.gxh5 c6 12.xf3 d5 which both seem reasonable. ] 10.hxg4 fxg2 11.g1 Once White recaptures on g2 his bishop pair will give him an edge. b6 12.d3 fd5 Black aims for oppositecolour bishops. 13.f3?! I am not at all sure about this, [ 13.xd5 xd5 14.d2 keeps the bishops, and a clear edge. ] 13...xe3 181 A04 [ 13...xc3 14.bxc3 d5 seems like a good solution to Black's problems, 15.xg2 d6 Halkias,Stelios 2533 followed by long castles. ] Grunberg,Mihai 2403 Open Olomouc CZE (9) 12.07.2004 14.fxe3 h4+ 15.e2 0-0-0 A curious position, the white king is stuck in the centre, [Tony Kosten] but it is well protected by the white centre. [ 15...d5!? 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 xg4+ 1.f3 f5 2.d3 d6 3.e4 e5 4.c3 f6 18.d2 c6 19.xg2 looks a bit better for [ 4...c6 has suffered recently, see Carlsen, White, but the opposite-colour bishops make M-Dolmatov,S, for example. ] a draw likely. ] 5.exf5 xf5 6.d4 bd7! I think this is best, 16.a4! Menacing to push the a-pawn to a6. defending e5. [ 6...e4 7.h4 d7 8.e2 e7 ( 8...c6!? h5?! [ 16...d7 is more circumspect, 17.a5 a6 ] 9.d5 xd5 10.h5+ g6 11.xg6 f6 12.h4 looks good for W hite) 9.xe4 17.a5 d7 18.a6 xg4 The pin avoids mate, wi n s a p a w n f o r s o m e c o m p e n s a t i o n , but Black finds himself in a worse ending. 19.axb7+ b8 20.xg4 hxg4 21.e4 Benjamin,J-Gurevich,D/St Martin 1992. ] An appalling move, allowing White to 7.c4 White will try to control the a2-g8 h1? keep the monster on b7. diagonal to stop Black from castling. [ 21...b6! threatens to play ...d5 and take [ 7.e2 is less ambitious, e7 8.0-0 0-0 the b-pawn, 22.xa7!? ( 22.a5 ) 22...d5 9.dxe5 xe5 and Black is OK, Renet,O( 22...xa7? 23.a1+ a4 24.xa4+ b6 Koch, J/Strasbourg 1992. ] 25.xg2 is excellent for W hite) 23.a8+ [ 7.dxe5 dxe5 gives Black an isolated king's xa8 24.bxa8+ xa8 25.xd5 b8 pawn, but allows his dark-squared bishop 26.xg2 White is on top, but Black also has to develop to an active square. ] his chances. ] 7...g4!? A new idea, but can it be right to use another developing move to move a piece that 22.xh1 gxh1 23.xh1 c5?! 24.b5 167
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Winning a7 when Black will do well to avoid being mated! 1-0
182 Janssen,Ruud Wiersma,Eelke TCh-NED 2008-9 (2) [Nigel Davies]
A04 2503 2419 01.11.2008
1.f3 f5 2.d3 d6 3.e4 e5 4.c3 f6 5.exf5 xf5 6.d4 bd7 Supposedly a solid line for Black but W hite's reply sets some interesting new challenges. [ 6...e4 is examined in the game Carlhammar - Marin. ] 7.g5!? An interesting new try, aiming at queenside castling. [ For 7.c4 see Halkias, S (2533)-Grunberg, M (2403)/Olomouc CZE 2004 which was presented early by Tony Kosten. ] 7...e7 8.dxe5 xe5 [ After 8...dxe5 W h i t e c a n p l a y 9.e2 threatening e5 and preparing to castle long, for example g4!? 10.d2!? c5 11.0-0-0! xf2 12.g5 c8 13.xd7! xd7 14.xe5 e6 ( 14...d6 15.b5 leaves Black with no good square for his queen ) 15.b5+ c6 16.xc5 xh1 17.b5 cxb5 18.xb5+ followed by mate. Not all of this is f orced of course but it does look very promising for White. ] 9.xe5 dxe5 10.f3 xc2 11.xb7?! Not the best. [ White should first play 11.c1 , for example g6 ( 11...e4 12.e3 d3 13.xf6 xf6 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4+ forces either the wi n o f a p a wn o r f8 ) 12.xb7 0-0 13.c4+ h8 14.0-0 h6 15.xf6 xf6 16.b3 and Black's pair of bishops does not fully compensate him for his ragged pawn structure. ] 11...0-0 12.c4+ h8 13.0-0 b8 14.xa7 xb2 Now Black's active pieces give him excellent counterplay. 15.d1 b4 16.e3 a4 [ There was a good case for the immediate 16...h6 . ] 17.b7 e4 18.b5 a8 19.xe5 d6 20.e6 a5 21.h4 h6 22.xf6 xf6
23.h3 g6 24.ad1 c5 25.d4 e5 26.fd1 f3 27.1d2 [ 27.f7 might have been better intending f6 28.d5 . ] 27...c6 28.d5 xd5 29.xd5 xd5 30.xd5 e8 31.e3 e5 32.g3 f6 33.c8+ f8 34.g4 c5 35.d5 c3 36.f5 xf5 37.xf5 xe3 38.f8+ h7 39.f5+ h8 40.c8+ h7 41.f5+ h8 42.f8+ h7 43.f5+ ½-½
183 Lalic,Bogdan Rendle,Thomas Bunratty Masters (6) [Lalic, Bogdan]
A04 2489 2389 09.02.2014
1.f3 f5 2.d3 d6 3.e4 e5 4.c3 c5 Black stops White opening the position with d4. [ 4...c6 5.exf5 xf5 6.d4!? exd4 7.xd4 xd4 8.xd4 f6 9.c4 c6 10.g5 (seen in this month's update) b5 11.b3 e7+ 12.f1 ] 5.g3 c6 [ 5...e7 6.h3! fxe4 ( 6...g6 7.exf5 h5!? was Bellin, R-W illiams, S, see the PGN Archive. ) 7.xc8 xc8 8.dxe4 f6 9.g5 Fre ssin e t , L (2 6 9 3 )-V a isse r, A (2 5 4 8 )/ Haguenau 2013, 1/2-1/2 (69). ] 6.h4! fxe4 [ 6...d4? 7.d5! Le Roux, J (2571)Rendle, T (2384)/England 2013, 1-0 (18). ] [ 6...f4 7.g2 f6 8.gxf4 Flores, D (2514)Ravi, L (2390)/Andorra 2006, 0-1 (26). ] 7.dxe4 f6 8.c4 g4 9.f3 h3 10.g5 The position already looks unpleasant for Black, whose light squares are weak. d7?N [ 10...e7 11.f5 ( 11.d5?! xd5 12.xd5 f8 13.xe7 xe7 solves Black's problems, 14.b5 c7 15.0-0-0 0-0-0 16.xc6 bxc6 ) 11...xf5 12.exf5 d4 13.xf6 xf6 14.d5 ( 14.e6?! g6 Mozharov, M (2424)-Potapov, P (2386)/ Sibenik 2007, 1-0 (54).) 14...xf5 15.f4 d7 16.g4 g6 17.0-0-0 ] 11.xf6 [ 11.g4!? d4 12.xf6 gxf6 13.d5 ] 11...gxf6 12.d5 g7 13.f4!? g4? 168
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 13...0-0-0 14.f5 b8 15.g4! weak Bh3. ] [ 13...exf4 14.gxf4 ( 14.h5+?! d8! weak Qh5.; 14.xf4 0-0-0 15.xh3 xh3 16.h5 e5 17.d5 ) 14...0-0-0 15.d3 e6 16.0-0-0 h6 ] 14.e2 Obviously the exchange of light square bishops favours White. xe2 15.xe2 d4? [ 15...0-0-0 ] 16.h5+ f7 [ 16...d8 17.c1 ( 17.0-0-0 a4; 17.0-0 xc2 18.fxe5 dxe5 ) 17...exf4 18.c3 e6 19.gxf4 ] 17.xf7+? [ T h e s im p l e 17.c7+ e7 18.xf7+ xf7 19.xa8 w i n s e a s i l y , a s xa8 ( 19...xc2+ 20.d2 xa1 21.c7+- ) 20.0-0-0+- ] 17...xf7 18.0-0-0 exf4 19.gxf4 ae8 [ 19...h6 20.c3 e2+ 21.c2 xf4 22.f5 xd5 23.xh6+ g6 24.f5 f4 25.hg1+ h5 26.xd6 hg8 27.g7+ h4 28.xf6+- ] 20.he1 [ 20.c3!? e2+ 21.c2 xe4 22.f5 f8 23.d3 e6 24.fe3 traps the knight, xf4+ 25.xf4 e5 26.c4+- ] 20...hg8 21.c3 e6 22.f5 White has achieved a clear positional advantage with strong knights on advanced light squares, while Black has a poor dark square bishop. f8 23.d3! [ 23.e5?! fxe5 24.fxe5 dxe5 25.f1 f4 26.xf4 exf4 27.xf4 e6 ] 23...g4 24.g3 xg3 [ 24...xf4 25.xf4 xf4 26.c4+- ] 25.hxg3 c4? [ 25...h5 ] 26.h1+- c5 [ 26...g6 27.xh7! xh7 28.xf6+ g6 29.xe8 d5 30.fd6+- ] 27.xh7+ g6 28.c7! xe4 29.g4 The black king is in a mating net, the immediate threat is Nde3, Nh4+ and Nef5 mate. b5 30.xa7 e6 31.c7 1-0
184 Lazzaro,Mark Barletta,Antonio Estensi Open, 2001 [Paul Motwani]
A04
2001
W48: "Qh5+: rarely subtle, but almost always strong!" 1.f3 e6 2.g3 b6 3.g2 b7 4.0-0 f5 5.d3 f6 6.bd2 e7 7.e4! An excellent exhibition of energy emanating f ro m t h e e -p a wn ! fxe4 8.dxe4 xe4? Black should have been more suspicious than that about quickly accepting White's 'gift', and now he will have to pay a very high price... 9.e5! Suddenly Black is in deadly double trouble, f acing threats at e4 and h5. d6 10.xb7 xb7 11.h5+ Ouch! g6 [ In the actual game, Black prefers to reach a slightly more respectable move-count in st e a d o f le t t in g th in gs b e t e rm in a t e d immediately by 11...f8 12.f7# ] 12.xg6 hxg6 13.xh8+ f8 14.e4 e7 15.f6+ d8 16.h6 But now it really is time to 'call it a day'! 1-0
185 Leko,Peter FRITZ on Primergy K800 FSC Computer Match (8) [Neil McDonald]
A04 2725 18.06.2000
1.e4 c5 2.f3 e6 3.d3 c6 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 ge7 7.e1 d6 8.c3 e5 9.a3 0-0 10.b4 h6 The computer adopts the routine plan of ...h6 and ...Be6, but Leko's subtle play seems to render this dubious. In Ansell-Nunn, Black preferred the less committal [ 10...a6 ] 11.bd2 e6 12.c4! b5 The positi on is crying out for the advance f7-f5 which is the logical culmination of Black's play so far. However, W hite then appears to gain the advantage, for example [ 12...f5 13.exf5 gxf5 14.bxc5 xc4 15.cxd6! xd6 16.dxc4 xd1 ( A better try is 16...f6!? ) 17.xd1 e4 18.d4 an d it is d if f icu lt t o see h o w B la ck c a n regain his pawn, e.g. xd4 19.cxd4 fd8 169
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.b1 xd4 21.xh6 ] 13.e3 a5 [ Here also 13...f5 should be seriously considered. ] 14.bxc5 dxc5 15.c4! b4 16.d5 A nice position to have against a computer. White can quietly manoeuvre and prepare the f4 advance at his leisure. d6 17.b2 fb8 18.a4 g4 19.h3 e6 The white knight will be an excellent blockader on b3, so [ 19...xf3 20.xf3 d4 was more logical. Of course, Fritz cannot comprehend the superiority of the knight to the bishop. ] 20.d2 d4 21.xd4 Of course the human player doesn't hesitate to exchange a bishop for a knight in such a position! cxd4 22.b3 a7 23.d2 h7 24.e2 c8 Fritz cannot f in d a p la n . 25.f4 At last it is the moment to strike. c6?! 26.f5! gxf5 27.exf5 xd5 28.xd5 f6 29.f2 f8 30.g2 W h it e ' s p l a n i s t o a d va n c e t h e ki n g si d e pawns. b6 31.e4 d7 32.e1 c5 33.a2 g8 34.f3 d6 35.h4 c7 36.h3 h7 37.xc5! White relinquishes his blockade on the queenside as he judges that his kingside attack will become decisive before Black can utilise his passed b pawn. This was a brave decision which shows the excellence of human intuition. After all, this was a 25 minute game and deep calculation was not possible. xc5 38.g4 b3 39.g2 h8 40.g5 d6 41.g4 d7 42.h5 f8 43.g3 d6 44.eg1 b2 45.c5! White deflects the black rook from the second ra n k wh i c h m a ke s p o ssib le t h e d e cisive combination. xc5 46.gxh6 xh6 47.g6! The winning breakthrough comes just in time. xg6 48.fxg6 g7 49.gxf7+ Leko succeeded in completely outwitting the com put er in the st ra tegica l stru ggle t ha t preceded the violent denouement. 1-0
186 Malakhov,Vladimir Andreikin,Dmitry Siberian Bank Cup (8) [John Bartholomew]
A04 2709 2723 18.11.2012
Rapid chess is prime proving ground for lines like 1.Nf3 b5!?. The b-pawn spike is given the occasional punt by strong players and in fact seems quite playable at master level. 1.f3 b5!? 2.e4 The supposed antidote to Black's first move. White will not hesitate to exchange e-pawn for b-pawn. [ The most popular reply is 2.g3 , but Black scores well in the "extended fianchetto" after b7 3.g2 , where lots of approaches are viable (3...Nf6, 3...e6, 3...c5, 3...g6, etc.). ] 2...b7 3.xb5 xe4 4.0-0 f6 [ 4...c6!? 5.c3 xf3 6.xf3 f6 7.d4 d5 is a similar co ncep t t o t he ga me . A f t e r 8.d3?! ( 8.e2! e6 9.g3 g6 10.f4 ) 8...e6 9.h3 bd7 10.f4?! g6 11.xg6 (sort of desperate-looking, but White was not looking forward to facing a wall of pawns in the middlegame) fxg6 12.xe6+ e7 13.f5 g7 14.g5 gxf5 15.xc6 0-0 Black's unorthodox opening strategy had succeeded in Cordova, E (2566)-Pardo Simon, D (2421) Montcada 2012, and he went on to win. ] 5.e1 [ Critical is 5.d4 e6 6.c4 e7 7.c3 b7 ( 7...xf3?! makes less sense here, e.g. 8.xf3 c6 9.a4 0-0 10.f4 d5 11.c5 ) 8.d5! , as played by Vladimir Kramnik. The d5-pawn is a serious hindrance to Black's development, and W hite dominates the center (despite having one less central pawn). After 0-0 9.f4 a6 ( 9...d6!? Velikanov, I (2273)-Gubanov, O (2326) Kolo mna 201 2 10.xd6 cxd6 11.d4; 9...e8 10.e1 f8 Mackle, D (2065)-Arkell, K (2 4 09 ) P aign t on 2 0 1 1 11.g5!? c6 12.a4! cxd5 13.cxd5; Houdini's suggestion of 9...a5!? followed by 10...Na6 is intriguing) 10.e1 c8 11.d4 b4 12.g5 e8? ( 12...e7 13.e4 ) 13.e3 Black was struggling in Kramnik, V (2791)-Carlsen, M (2823) Moscow 2011. ( 13.a4! is e ve n st r o n ge r, e . g . xc3 14.xd7 c5 15.xc8 xa4 16.xb7 170
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 b8 17.bxc3 xb7 18.e7 )] 5...e6 6.d4 e7 7.d3?! [ It wasn't too late for 7.c4 . Play could transpose to 5.d4 after 0-0 8.c3 b7 9.d5! . ] 7...xf3! A strong and unexpected positional decision. 8.xf3 d5 Good fundamentals: Black exchanges his light-square bishop, then immediately goes about arranging his pawns on light squares, thereby restricting his White counterpart. 9.d2 0-0 10.b3 c6 11.d2 a5! Black has absolutely no problems. The advantage of the bishop pair often hinges upon the possibility of pawn breaks, and here White has none. With no meaningful way to alter the structure and open the position, I d o n ' t t h in k W h it e c a n p o s s ib l y c la i m a n advantage (though the computer does just that!). 12.a4 [ 12.c4?! dxc4 13.xc4 a4 14.c1 xd4 ] 12...bd7 13.g3 g6 Andreikin furthers the strategy he undertook on move seven. 14.h6 [ 14.c4?! is still bad in view of b6 . ] 14...e8 15.d2 b8 16.xb8 Uninspired, but there wasn't much else. exb8 17.b3 c5 18.dxc5 xc5 19.xc5 xc5 20.f4?! [ 20.c1! ought to keep things level. ] 20...g4! 21.e2 xb2 22.h3 b4 23.d2 f6! 24.xb4 xb4 Black's structure is perfect, and his compensation is obvious. His position is easier to play - especially in a rapid game. 25.c4?! d4 26.d1 c8 27.g4 d7 28.f4 c5 29.f5? [ It wasn't pretty, but 29.a2 offered far better chances to defend. xd3 30.xd3 xc4 ] 29...exf5 30.gxf5 xa4 31.fxg6 hxg6 32.e5?? Blundering in a dismal position. b2 White resigned. Andreikin's conception with 7...Bxf3! is straightforward and convincing. White needs to play accurately even against a line like 1...b5 thus, you should follow Kramnik's example with 5.d4 e6 6.c4 Be7 7. Nc3 Bb7 8. d5!. 0-1
187 Malisov,Boris Psakhis,Lev Israeli League (5) [Neil McDonald]
A04 2320 2599 10.03.2000
1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 ge7 5.g2 g6 6.0-0 g7 7.bd2 0-0 8.e1 d6! Not allowing 9 e5. 9.a4 b6 10.c4 h6 11.c3 e5! As always in this line, Black must respond to any threat to gain space with d4 by moving his e pawn a second time. 12.b1 a6! This is the third accurate pawn move from Black which I have awarded an exclamation ma rk f or em ph asis. Here h e pre pa re s t o neutralise White's plan of expansion on the q u e e n s i d e . 13.b4 cxb4 14.cxb4 b5 15.axb5 axb5 16.a3 b8 17.d4? After his lacklustre opening White suddenly gets ambitious, but this simply drops a pawn. Instead [ Black would be slightly better after 17.e3 f5 or ] [ 17.c2 d5 ] 17...exd4 18.c2 d5! 19.fxd4 xd4 20.xd4 dxe4 21.b2 White cannot regain his pawn as if [ 21.xe4 f5 wins. ] 21...f5 22.f1 d5 Now Psakhis gradually wears down W hite's defensive resources. 23.c2 xb2 24.xb2 e5 25.d4 c6 26.xe5 xe5 27.d1 e6 28.a3 c4 29.xc4 bxc4 30.b5 d3 31.c2 fc8 32.g2 f7 33.b6 e6 34.b7 xb7 35.f3 cc7 36.a2 d5 37.fxe4+ fxe4 38.h3 d4 39.g2 e7 40.da1 b2 0-1
188 Miles,Anthony J Andersson,Ulf Las Palmas [Tony Kosten]
A04
1980
Rare are the players who could so comprehensively outplay Ulf Andersson, one of the strongest positional players of all time. 1.g3 c5 2.g2 c6 3.f3 g6 4.c3!? An interesting idea, White wants to transpose into a KID formation. g7 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 171
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d5 7.c3 e6!? [ N o r m a l w o u l d n o w b e 7...f6 when a symmetric King's Indian is reached, with a small plus for White, but Black prefers to avoid this by keeping a hold on e5. ] 8.f4 ge7 9.d2! White defers castling, and instead aims to exchange Black's one active bishop. 0-0 10.h6 xh6 11.xh6 f5 Forcing the queen to return. 12.d2 b6 The black bishop will come to the active f1-a6 diagonal, when a rook can occupy the c-file and his development will be complete. 13.d1! White carefully overprotects the d4pawn, and guards against any central counterplay by ...e5. a6 14.h4! The reason behind White's delayed castling is revealed, he wants to open the h-file and attack the black king. a5? A mistake. Black is relying on a tactical operation involving this piece, but the loose bishop on a6 is a problem. 15.g4! d6 [ A f t e r B l a c k ' s p r o j e c t e d 15...c4!? M i l e s i n t e n d e d 16.d3?! ( Although 16.c1! followed by b3, and h5 seems somewhat simpler, and good f or W hite) 16...ce3 17.xa6 xg2+ 18.f1 fxh4 19.h2 when the knights are a bit tangled, but f5! 20.g1 f4 favours Black. ] 16.h5 f6 At first sight Black seems OK here. 17.hxg6 fxg6 [ A n t i - p o s i t i o n a l , b u t f o r c e d : 17...hxg6? 18.g5 g7 ( or if 18...e7 19.f4 intends Qh2, g7 20.e5+ f6 21.gxf6+ xf6 22.xd5! wins ) 19.f4 and Ne5-g4-f6 is catastrophic. ] 18.h6 f7 19.g5 Black's kingside dark squares are horribly weak. g7 20.e5 xh6 21.xh6 ff8 [ 21...e7? 22.xd5 exd5 23.xd5+ wins the a8-rook. ] 22.d7 f7 23.f6+ h8 24.h3 c8 [ P a s s i v e , b u t 24...f5 25.xf5 gxf5 26.d2! and Rdh1 wins quickly. ] 25.d2 g7 26.f4 b8 Black is reduced to complete passivity. 27.h1 ac4+ 28.d3 bb7 [ T h e b - p a wn wa s p o i s o n e d : 28...xb2+ 29.c2 bc4 30.xe6! xe6 31.xh7+ mates. ] 29.b3 a3 30.e4! dxe4+ 31.cxe4 xe4 32.xe4 b5 33.e5 Total dark-squared
d o m i n a t i o n ! be7 defence to Bd3xg6. 1-0
34.f1!
189 Morozevich,Alexander McDonald,Neil R 4NCL Birmingham ENG (10) [Neil McDonald]
There is no
A04 2742 2398 05.05.2002
1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 ge7 5.g2 g6 6.0-0 g7 7.c3 0-0 [ An alternative method was to prevent White's next move with 7...e5 when if 8.e3 d6 9.d4? exd4! 10.cxd4 g4 is awkward for White. ] [ Also 7...d5 was an option. ] 8.d4 cxd4 [ I n t e r e s t i n g i s I v a n c h u k ' s i d e a 8...d5!? By delaying the exchange on d4 he doesn't give White the chance to go Nc3. Then 9.e5 ( I assume that if 9.exd5 xd5 10.dxc5 e7 regains the pawn with a good position f o r B l a c k .) 9...b6 10.a3 cxd4! Only now when White's knight cannot go to c3. 11.cxd4 f6 12.e1 d7 13.b1 ac8 14.f4 fxe5 15.dxe5 xf4! A splendid exchange sacrifice to free Black's game. 16.gxf4 b4 17.b3 f8 18.bc1 xb3 19.axb3 xf4 20.c2 f5 21.e2 h6 22.ce1 g5 23.d3 e4 24.ee1 g4 25.d2 d4 26.c5 xd2 27.xd7 fd4 28.c5 xe5 and Black won after a hard struggle in Bologan,V-Ivanchuk,V/Moscow 1996. ] 9.cxd4 d5 10.e5 f5 11.c3 f6 [ Black emerged with equality after 11...b6 12.a4 c7 13.f4 b5 14.c3 b6 15.e2 f6 16.c1 cxd4 17.fxd4 xd4 18.xd4 fxe5 19.xc8 axc8 20.xe6 exf4 21.xf8 xf8 22.xd5+ h8 in Datu, I-Watson,J/Hawaii 1998. ] 12.e1 fxe5?! [ Black broke free after 12...h8!? 13.h4 d7 14.f4 fxe5 15.dxe5 xh4! 16.xh4 g5 17.g4 gxh4 in Van der Weide,K-Glek,I/ Germany 1998. ] 13.dxe5 h6 [ Here 13...h8 14.f4 d7 as in the Glek game of the previous note, is less effective 172
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 for Black because he has already exchanged pawns on e5. If he still had a pawn on f6, then White would have to worry about g6-g5 chasing his bishop back. Here, however, he has no need to worry about g6g5 unless Black plays h7-h6. I tried this move straightaway and the response was predictable. ] 14.h4! An important move to prevent Black from gaining counterplay with g6-g5. W hite therefore safely maintains the pawn on e5. Black is solid and has no real weaknesses and can develop all his pieces, but he remains somewhat boxed in. d7 15.f4 e8 16.d2 c8 17.ac1 c7 18.h2 cf7 19.g4 h7 If [ 19...xh4 trying to undermine the bishop o n f 4 t h e n 20.xh6!? looks very strong for White. ] 20.b3? A surprising oversight. [ 20.e2! leaves Black bottled up: he cannot break through on the f file or play g6-g5, so all he can do is wait and see if W hite can strengthen his position. ] 20...xh4! I half expected that there was a trap waiting for me when I played this, but when Morozevich slumped into a long think I s t a r t e d t o t h i n k t h a t I m ig h t b e win n in g ! 21.e2 [ If 21.xh6 xf4! 22.gxf4 xh6 wins. The key variation is ] [ 21.xh6 xf2! 22.xf2 ( or here 22.e2? xg2+! 23.xg2 f3+ ) 22...xh6 when Black will regain all his material with a couple of pawns as a bonus by taking on g2 and c1. ] 21...f5 22.e3 A good defensive move l o o k i n g f o r c o u n t e r p l a y w i t h N f 4 . d4!? Objectively the best move though it lets White complicate the position. Perhaps safest was to grab another pawn with [ 22...xe3 23.xe3 h5 24.f6+ xf6 25.exf6 xf6 ] 23.xc6 xc6? An automatic recapture but much stronger was [ 23...bxc6! After the game Morozevich s h o w e d m e t h e v a r i a t i o n 24.xd4 ( 24.xd4 d7 i s s i m i l a r .) 24...d7 25.ed1 h5 26.e3 xd4 27.xd4 xe5 28.xe6 ( 28.ec2 c5 ) 28...xd2 29.xd8 fxf2 when Black is a pawn up with a
crushing position. ] 24.xd4 d5 25.xf5 gxf5!? If [ 25...xf5 26.f4 Black's problem is that while one of his bishops is great on d5, the other one is shut in on g7. Meanwhile White has the c file for counterplay. ] 26.h2 [ If 26.xh6 d7!? leaves the knight stranded on h6. ] 26...b6 27.f4 b7 28.f1 d7 29.c2 e8 30.e2 a8 31.c3 c8 32.ec1 xc3 33.xc3 d8 34.c1 d3 35.e3 d2 36.c4 e8? The losing blunder in time trouble. Instead [ 36...d7 keeps the advantage. ] 37.xf5! Uncovering an attack on Black's rook. d5 There's nothing to be done as if [ 37...h5 38.h4 ] 38.f1? [ Much simpler was 38.xg7 xg7 39.c7+ White was also in bad time pressure. ] 38...exf5 39.xd2 h5 40.f3 xf3 41.f4 e4 42.c7 h1+ 43.f2 h2+ 44.e3 xa2 45.d1! The killer move, defending b3 and threatening 46.e6. a5 46.e6 g6 47.e7 b5 48.c8! 1-0
190 Petkov,Vladimir Gretarsson,Hjorvar Steinn ETCC (Open) Warsaw POL (7.51) [Fier, Alexandr]
A04 2570 2511 15.11.2013
4.c3 is a good way to avoid the Symmetrical English, Black can transpose to the Fianchetto Grünfeld, but it's not to everyone's taste. In this game Black tried an ambitious app ro ach an d th e posit io n so on b ec am e chaotic where Gretarsson lost track in a better position. 1.f3 c5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 e5 The most ambitious way, trying to punish the lack of white pawns in the center [ 4...g7 is supposed to transpose to the Fianchetto Grünfeld 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 d5 ( 6...b6 7.e3 is also possible )] 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 e4 7.e5 d5 Here White has tried several different moves and it's not clear if any one is better than the others. 8.0-0 [ 8.c3 e6 9.0-0 g7 10.xc6 bxc6 173
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.b3 trying to use the c5 square with Na4 and Ba3 was the choice of the World Cup finalist in Andreikin, D (2700)-Kotsur, P (2548)/Wch Blitz Astana blitz 2012. ] [ 8.a4 is another idea, to lure Black's queen to the defence of c6, g7 9.xc6 d7 10.c3 bxc6 11.b3 ( 11.h3 f5 12.f4 was draw in a complex position in Georgiev, K (2671)-Ivanisevic, I (2645)/ Skopje Karposh op 2012.) 11...e7 12.a3 with a different version of the 8.Nc3 line. ] 8...g7 9.xc6 bxc6 10.d2 This idea seems a bit strange to me. I don't know if the knight is better on b3, compared to a4, and the bishop is now going to the kingside. Still, it's kind of provocative, since the d4-pawn is now hanging. [ 10.c3 was still possible and probably transposed to 8.Nc3. ] 10...h5!? With the exchange of the knights White's kingside is not so well defended. And it's possible to start an attack without hesitation. [ 10...xd4 was playable, but with the king in the center, W hite can try to make a quick attack: 11.a4 b6 12.xe4! using the fact that Black's position is not so stable, dxe4 ( 12...e7 is more prudent, but White's position has improved without the central pawns. 13.b3 g7 14.g2 0-0 with a double-edged position. White will play e4 at some point and try to take advantage of the better structure, on the other hand Black will have active pieces.) 13.c4 c5 14.f4 and all the white pieces have a a huge potential - the rooks are going to the open files and the d6-square is going to be used by the knight, f6 15.d6+ f8 16.ac1 d5 17.fd1 c5 18.xc8 and W hite recovers the piece with advantage. ] [ 10...e7 followed by 11...0-0 would be normal. ] 11.a4 e7 12.b3 White continues his counterplay on the queenside without worrying about the attack on the other flank. Soon the position will be really dangerous for both players. h4 13.g5 Coming for the c6pawn, now Black needs to make a highly c o m m i t t a l m o v e . f6!? 14.f4 h6 This move is quite logical because the bishop
on f4 is much better than the bishop on g7. W ith only the queen and knight on the queenside it's not clear that anything will happen. 15.xh6 xh6 16.f3?! A brave move, but not the best. Now the position enters such a level of complications that it's hard to make, and even to know the best moves. [ 16.ac1 would be the natural idea and Black will continue his attack, obtaining a complex middlegame with an exchange for some pawns, f7 17.c3 h8 18.xc6! not losing time, 18...hxg3 and 19...Bh3 would be dangerous, d7 19.xf6+ xf6 20.xd7 f5 21.d6 and now A) 21...ah8 amazingly in this position B l a c k i s u n d e r a t t a c k ! 22.g4! f6 ( 22...xg4 23.f3 and White opens the file, just winning, exf3 24.xf3+ e8 25.e3 6h7 26.h3 d7 27.f6 with a dominating position) 23.xf6+ xf6 24.f3 e3 25.f4 6h7 26.c1 with advantage.; B) 21...c8 22.c5 and White's position is slightly preferable. ] 16...hxg3 17.fxe4 This is the idea. [ 17.hxg3 d6 18.f4 e6 and with ...Qg4 and ...Nf5 Black will be just winning. ] 17...xh2 [ 17...d6 was crit ica l 18.c5 ( 18.exd5 h3 without the bishops the position becomes much more dangerous for White 19.xh3 xh3 20.f3 gxh2+ 21.h1 xf3 22.exf3 xd5 and Black has the better queen and safer king) 18...h3 19.xh3 xh3 20.f3 xh2 and White needs to be really careful to not get mated. ] 18.c5 [ 18.f3!? activating the rooks immediately is also interesting, h3 ( 18...d6 19.af1 and there is no good way to def end f 6 , xg2+ 20.xg2 e6 21.h1 and White can start to attack now.) 19.xg3 xg2+ 20.xg2 xg2 21.xg2 dxe4 22.h1 with compensation for the pawn. ] 18...d6 19.exd5 xd5 [ 19...b8 is the computer move, as usual not easy for humans to find, 20.ab1 b5 with the idea of taking on c5 ] 20.b3 [ 20.e4! it's important for White to take the 174
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g3-pawn, e6 21.xg3 h4 22.e4 f4 and both kings are in danger. I think the position has a dynamic equilibrium. ] 20...f5 Avoiding Ne4. [ 20...h3 was once more the option 21.xh3 xh3 22.f3 c7 heading for the h-file, probably White is forced to exchange queens, 23.b7 ( 23.xf6 fails in a b e a u t i f u l w a y h1+! 24.xh1 h7+ 25.g2 h2+ 26.f3 f2+ 27.g4 xf6+ 28.g5 f5+ 29.h6 g2 and the pawn on g2 will make the d i f f e r e n c e .) 23...xb7 24.xb7 h4 25.xg3 xd4 26.xg6 f7 27.g3 d2 with advantage for Black. ] 21.xd5 cxd5 22.e3+ f8 23.f3 g7 [ 23...g2 24.f2! ( 24.h3?? f4 wins ) 24...f6 25.f4 h1 26.g1 and everything is under control. ] 24.d3 a6 25.xg3? Now White is lost. [ 25.f4! xf4 26.xf4 ah8 27.xg3 was possible, trying to sacrifice the exchange with chances to defend. ] 25...xd3! 26.xh2 e4 In the last 3 moves the bishop went from c8 to e4 and with all the piec es c om in g, th e at ta ck is irresistible . 27.g1 f4?! Right idea, wrong order. [ 27...h8 wins immediately 28.h3 f4 now it works better 29.c3 ( 29.a3 xa3 30.xa3 h1+ 31.f2 xa1-+ ) 29...f3 30.xh8 g3+ with mate. ] 28.a3 The position is really hard to defend for White, even more so in time trouble. e6 29.b3 Now there is a square for the rook! g4+ 30.f2 h4+ 31.f1 h1+ 32.f2 h4+ 33.f1 e8 [ 33...h8 bringing one more piece to the hfile was the best. It's also not easy to see, since the king will be in the way, 34.xa7+ A) 34...f6 this is draw, since White can e xc h a n ge t h e qu e e n s 35.b6+ g5 36.e7+ g4 37.xh4+ xh4 38.e1! only move g3 ( 38...h1+ 39.f2 h2+ ) 39.b3+ f3 40.g1! h2 41.exf3 g2+ 42.h1 h2+=; B) 34...h6!! 35.a3 f5! 36.g1 h5 and the king will be safe on g4! now there is no defence for White, 37.d6 g4-+ ] 34.h3 g5 [ 34...g4 35.xa7+ f6 36.h2 f3 37.a6+ g5 38.a3 is defending
somehow ] 35.h2 f3 36.exf3 f4 And suddenly Black is now lost. [ 36...f5 was necessary and after 37.f2 and W hite coordinates the pieces d2+ 38.g3 g5+= ] 37.xa7+ f6 38.h7! Probably this is the move Black overlooked. d3+ [ 38...xf3 39.h4++- ] 39.g1 e3+ [ 39...xd4+ White also stabilizes here, 40.h1 e3 41.h4+ g7 42.g3+- ] 40.f2 g5+ 41.h1 f4 42.h2 xd4 43.d6+ g7 44.g2 A sad end for Black, no w it 's ju st o ve r. e5 45.d7+ f8 46.d8+ e8 47.d6+ g7 48.h1 f5 49.c7+ f6 50.h7 e3 51.f7+ 1-0
191 Radlovacki,Jovan Micic,Cedomir It Pancevo YUG (10) [Tony Kosten]
A04 2411 2408 29.06.2003
1.e4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d3 g6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 e5 Heading directly for a Botvinnik position. 6.0-0 ge7 7.e1 As White avoids playing Nc3 this position is not a Closed Sicilian, but a Reti, KIA. However, [ 7.c3 is more normal. ] 7...0-0 8.e3!? Presumably played to deter ... d5, but this doesn't seem to fit-in with Re1. d6 9.bd2 This actually appears to be a novelty in this position, [ 9.c1 f5 10.c3 b8 was played in Stratil, L-Ulibin,M/Oakham 1990, but now W hite made an instructive mistake: 11.h6?! f4! 12.xg7 xg7 with advantage to Black has he has exchanged his lesser bishop, and can advance his kingside pawns. ] 9...b6!? Very thoughtful, as normally Black brings his bishop to e6, but here he decides that a6 is the right square. 10.c3 a6 11.c2 d7 12.h3 White's moves are lacking in purpose, why not play [ 12.a4 and then Nc4, say? ] 12...ac8 13.ad1 h6 14.f1 d5 Black plays this move now that the white knight cannot hop to c4, but even now 175
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 14...d4 15.cxd4 cxd4 is possible. ] 15.c1 White continues on his way, and prepares to play Ne3, but Black immediately s t o p s t h a t . d4! 16.g4? Obviously White wants to play Ng3,but he is oblivious to the problems he will soon have. [ I would prefer to close the position with 16.c4 ] 16...dxc3 17.bxc3 fd8 Suddenly the d3pawn is under heavy fire, and the bishop is u n a b l e t o d e f e n d i t f r o m f 1 . 18.e3 What else? d4! 19.b1 a4!? The simple [ 19...e6 20.g3 f4 is better as White is in big trouble. ] 20.ee1?? White misses a simple tactic, [ 20.b2 is better, although e6 21.g3 f4 is still rather good. ] 20...e2+! [ 20...e2+ White loses an exchange and pawn af ter both 21.xe2 ( and 21.h2 xc3 ) 21...xd1 ] 0-1
192 Sandner,Gunter Rechel,Bernd Bundesliga 2003-4 (13) [Tony Kosten]
A04 2311 2420 28.03.2004
1.f3 f5 2.d3 This line is obviously set to gain in popularity after last month's win by Carlsen! d6 3.e4 e5 4.c3 c6 5.exf5 xf5 6.d4 xd4 7.xd4 exd4 8.xd4 c6 Black avoids the [ 8...f6 of Carlsen,M-Dolmatov,S/Moscow RUS 2004, which we analysed last month. ] 9.f4! White aims for swift queenside castling, and this move certainly seems to score very well - Black hasn't yet made it to move twenty in this line! [ 9.d3 is less effective, xd3 10.xd3 f6 11.0-0 e7 12.e2 d5 13.d4 d7 controlling e6, Black is doing well with his extra central pawn, Lerner, K-Bareev,E/Kiev 1986/URS-ch. ] 9...b6!? An attempt at improving on [ 9...xc2!? when 10.d2!? g6 ( maybe 10...f5!? is preferable, so that after 11.e1+ f7 is possible) 11.e1+ d7 ( now 11...f7?? loses immediately to
12.c4+ d5 13.xd5 as the g6-bishop is si t t i n g i n t h e b l a c k k in g 's o n l y e s c a p e square ) 12.g3 b6?! an inaccuracy in an awkward position ( 12...f6 13.h3+ c7 14.e6 is unclear) 13.h3+ d8?! ( better 13...c7 although after 14.xd6+! xd6 15.xg7+ b8 16.c1! xf2 17.e4 (mate on c2 was threatened!) f7 18.xf7 xf7 19.xd6 White is winning) 14.g5+ c7 15.d5+! 1-0 Seel, C-Horstmann,O/ Bad Wiessee GER 2003, as after the forced cxd5 16.c1+ Black loses his queen. ] 10.d2! The critical reply. d5 Black could also consider [ 10...xb2!? 11.b1 xc2 12.e3+ e7 13.xb7 but White is better - Black will have problems finishing his development, and the rook on b7 is annoying. ] 11.0-0-0 0-0-0 12.d3 Simple chess, White exchanges Black's most active piece. xd3 13.xd3 h6?? It is difficult to understand the reasoning behind this move, why not play the natural [ 13...f6 when 14.f5+ d7 15.e5 e7 is a little better for W hite, who has more mobility, but there is everything to play for still? ] 14.h3+ d7 15.xd5! d8 [ 15...cxd5 16.xd5 c6 17.hd1 wins the hapless pinned d7-rook, and forces a quick mate. ] 16.xh6 cxd5 [ 16...gxh6 17.f6 xf6 18.xd7+ is equally unappetising! ] 17.xd5 c7 [ 17...gxh6 18.hd1 as before. ] 18.f4+ [ 18.f4+ d6 19.xd6 xd6 20.d1 is decisive. ] 1-0
193 Schandorff,Lars Bartel,Mateusz 17th TCh-Eur (6) [Nigel Davies]
A04 2501 2609 27.10.2009
1.f3 f5 2.d3 g6 3.e4 d6 4.exf5 xf5 5.d4 g7 6.d3 d7 7.0-0 f6 [ I think this is more flexible than 7...c6 176
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 which Carsten Hansen presented in the game Bindrich, F (2513)-W erle, J (2581)/ Plovdiv BUL 2008. ] 8.xf5 [ In the game Keene, R-Platzack, S/ Barcelona 1965 White played 8.c3 0-0 9.xf5 xf5 10.d5 and now rather than 10... e5 (a mistake similar to that made in the game Roiz - Belyavsky in the note to White's 9th) Black should consider fd7!? . After 11.d4?! xd4 12.xd4 xc2 13.h6 f7 14.ac1 f5 White is struggling to find enough compensation for his pawn in view of Black's rock solid position. ] 8...xf5 9.c4 [ In the game Roiz, M (2658) -Beliavsky, A (2662)/Natanya ISR 2009 W hite played 9.c3 which also seems quite interesting. In the game there followed d5 ( 9...c6!? intending 10.d5 b4 11.d4 h5 is interesting) 10.e2 0-0 11.c4 b6 12.b3 c6 13.e3 e5?! ( Continuing to wait with, say, 13...ae8 would have been better ) 14.g3 d7 15.d5 d8 16.g5 a n d n o w W h it e h a d a cl e a r a d va n t a g e because of his grip on the e4 square. ] 9...0-0 10.c3 bd7 11.e3 c6 12.e2 ae8 13.ad1 d5! Good strategy, fixing the pawns on the opposite colour to his bishop. 14.h3 dxc4 15.xc4+ d5 16.b3 7b6 17.a4 h8 18.fe1?! Missing some fine print. [ W hite should play the immediate 18.a5 a f t e r w h i c h xe3 ( 18...xc3 19.bxc3 xa5 20.a1 d5 is better with approximate equality) 19.fxe3 xa5 20.a1 h5 21.xa7 is now better for White because he doesn't have to worry about an exchange sacrifice on f3. In the game this becomes a major issue. ] 18...e6 19.a5 xe3 20.xe3 [ Perhaps it was only now that White realised t h a t a f t e r 20.fxe3 xa5 21.a1 h5 22.xa7 xf3 23.gxf3 xf3 24.xb6 g3+ 25.f1 f3+ 26.g1 Black can play for more than a draw with f8! 27.e4 h6 . Because of this he has to go into a position in which Black has a strong bishop and the better pawn structure. ] 20...xa5 21.xe6 xe6 22.xe6 f5 23.e7 f7 24.e1 g8 25.e2 d5
26.g5 f5 27.f3? [ 27.xd5 was better. After Black's reply he loses a pawn. ] 27...f4 28.c4+ h8 29.e3 h6! Renewing the threat of 30...Nxh3+. 30.e5 xh3+ 31.f1 c2 32.e2 c1+ 33.e1 xe1+ 34.xe1 g5 35.e5 g7 Black is a good pawn up now and handles the technical phase without much difficulty. 36.d5 cxd5 37.xd5 f5 38.f4 xe5 39.g4 [ Deciding that this would give him better swindling chances than 39.xe5 but it looks a bit desperate to me. ] 39...xf4+ 40.xf4 xf4 41.e7 d6 42.xb7 c5 43.g2 h6 44.c7 b6 45.d7 g8 46.e7 f8 47.b7 f7 48.g3 g7 49.f4 f6 50.d7 e6 51.d1 c7+ 52.e4 g5+ 53.e3 e5 54.h1 b6+ 55.e2 f7 56.f1 e6 57.h1 f6 58.f1+ g7 59.f4 e5 60.d2 g5 61.e4 f6 62.e2 e6 63.a4 d5 0-1
194 Skoberne,Jure Milchev,Nikolay IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (7) [Carsten Hansen]
A04 2492 2415 27.04.2008
1.f3 f5 2.d3 d6 3.e4 e5 4.c3 f6 [ 4...c6 was discussed in CarlsenDolmatov, Moscow 2004 - see the PGN archives ] 5.exf5 xf5 6.d4 e4 [ A) 6...bd7 7.c4 ( 7.h4 e6 8.d5 f7 9.g3 c6 10.dxc6 bxc6 11.g2 d5 12.0-0 e7 13.f5 0-0 didn't achieve anything for White in Kosten, A-Alonso Moyano, J/Pobla d e L i l l e t 2 0 0 5) 7...g4 ( 7...e4?! is discussed in the notes to HalkiasGrunberg, Olomuoc 2004 in the PGN archives ) 8.e3 b6 ( 8...e4 is the topic of Halkias-Grunberg, Olomuoc 2004, which can be f ound n the PGN archives, and; 8...c6!? was suggested in the notes to the same game by our webmaster) 9.d3 e7 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.h3 h5 12.g4 ( 12.e2!? e4 13.xe4 xe4 14.xe4 xe4? 15.b5++- ) 12...f7 ( 12...e4!? ) 177
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.g5 Varga, Z-Galyas, M/Budapest 2000 ] [ B) 6...c6 7.b5 exd4 ( 7...d7 8.e2 e7 9.dxe5 xe5 10.xe5 xe5 11.xd7+ xd7 12.e3 0-0-0 13.0-0-0 e7 14.d5 e6 15.a5 Flores, DBeltran, J/Balaguer ESP 2007; 7...a6 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.xd8+ xd8 11.xe5 xc2 12.0-0 Lalic, BLedger, D/Hastings ENG 2005) 8.xd4 d7 9.0-0 e7 10.c4 ( 10.e1!? looks very pleasant for Black) 10...xd4 11.xd4 c6 12.g5 d5 13.xf6 xf6 14.fe1+ f8 15.c5+ e7 16.e3 g5 ( 16...d6 17.ad1 f6 18.xd5! cxd5 19.xd5 e8 20.e4 g6 21.e2! , and W hite wins) 17.g3?! h4 18.d6+ e7 19.f4+ f6 20.ad1 ( 20.xd5!? cxd5 21.d6+ e7 22.xd5 e8 23.xb7 b8 24.xa7 is pretty disgusting for Black) 20...b8 21.f3 d6 22.e4 e7 , Cyborowski, LGormally, D/Cappelle la Grande FRA 2005, and now 23.xf6 xf6 24.b3 b8 25.a4 , and with the dual threat of Bxd5 and Qxa7, White wins material and keeps the initiative. ] 7.h4 c8 [ Black has a number of alternatives at this ju n c t u re : A ) 7...d7 was discussed in the notes to Halkias-Grunberg as mentioned above. ] [ B) 7...g4 8.e2 xe2 9.xe2 d5 ( 9...e7 10.xe4 xe4 11.xe4 0-0 12.f5 Deglmann, L-Hoennekes, K/Bad W iessee GER 2005) 10.g5 ( 10.b5+ c6 11.g5 d7 12.xf6 gxf6 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 0-0-0 , and Black has nothing to worry about, Roos, M-Graf, A/ Dresden GER 2007) 10...b4 ( 10...c6? 11.f3 h6 12.g6 hxg5 13.xh8 b4 14.0-0 , and White is winning, Zacurdajev, MRomcovici, V/ Peterhof RUS 2007) 11.b5+ c6 12.xb7 xd4 13.0-0-0 xc3 14.bxc3 b8 15.xf6 gxf6 16.xa7 b5 17.c5 d6 18.xd5 and White is winning, Dizdar, G-Grunberg, S/Triesen LIE 2005 ] [ C) 7...e6 8.d5 A) 8...d7 9.g3 ( 9.e2!? ) 9...e7 10.g2 0-0 1/2-1/2 Shavtvaladze, NBronznik, V/Corfu GRE 2007; B) 8...f7 9.f5 ( 9.g3 c6 10.g5 cxd5
11.b5+ c6 12.xf6 gxf6 13.0-0 with excellent compensation for the pawn, Laznicka, V-Potapov, A/Olomouc 2005) 9...c6 ( 9...g6? 10.d4 c6 11.g5 e7 12.e6+- d7 13.c4 xd5 14.xd5 cxd5 15.xg7+ f8 16.xd5 xg5 17.e6+ e8 18.xg5 c6 19.f6 1-0 Odendahl, R-Van der Elburg, F/ Amsterdam 2002) 10.g5!? ( 10.dxc6 bxc6 11.f4 d5 12.d4 bd7 13.a6 c5 14.d6+ e7 15.f5+ e8 16.d6! b6 17.xc5 xc5 18.b7 xd4 19.xd4 b8 20.xc6 xb2 21.b5 a6 22.xa6 b6 23.b5 e7 24.a4 d6 25.a5 bb8 26.a6 c5 27.b3+ b6 28.a7 a8 29.b1 b7 30.a5+ c7 31.c6 c5 32.b5+ 1-0 Naumann, A-Genocchio, D/Baden 1999 ) 10...a5? ( 10...h6 11.h4 cxd5 12.xf6 xf6 13.e3 ) 11.xf6 gxf6 12.d4 xd5 13.xf6 , and White is winning, Kosten, A-Lapeyre, P/Sautron FRA 2005 ] [ D) 7...d7 A) 8.g5 e7 9.c4 e6 10.xf6 xf6 11.h5+ g6?! ( Here Black should give preference to 11...f7! 12.xf7+ xf7 13.xe6+ xe6 14.d5+ e5 with a decent game for Black) 12.xe4! xd4 13.e2 0-0?! ( 13...xb2!? ) 14.0-0-0 c6?! 15.g5 xc4 16.xc4+ , and W hite is winning, Taleb Moussa (UAE)-Jasim A R Saleh (UAE)/Abudhabi (United Arab Emirate 2004; B) 8.e2 B1) 8...e7 9.0-0 ( 9.xf5 xf5 10.0-0 is simple and effective, e.g. d5 11.f3 d7 12.fxe4 dxe4 13.b5 c6 14.c4 is much better for White) 9...e6 , Kuehn, P-Hisler, T/Saint Vincent ITA 2005, and now 10.d5! f7 ( 10...xd5 11.h5+ d8 12.xd5 xh4 13.g3 e7 14.xe7 xe7 15.e1 gives White the better chances as well.) 11.f3 xd5 12.xd5 xh4 13.fxe4 0-0 14.f4 with a better game for White; B2) 8...c6 9.0-0 d5 10.xf5 xf5 11.f3 g6 12.fxe4 dxe4 13.d5 0-0-0 14.xf6 xd4 15.g4+ d8 16.e2 gxf6 17.f5 e8 18.e3 d5 19.c4 e5 20.xe4 , and Black doesn't even 178
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 have a pawn in return for his suffering, Kapnisis, S-Klokas, K/Litohoro GRE 2006; C) 8.d5!? e7 9.e2 c6 10.f3 cxd5 11.xf5 xf5 12.0-0 e6 13.b5 , and Black is already in serious trouble, Mikac, M-Zorko, J/Bled 2001; D) 8.f3 e7 9.xf5 xf5 10.e2 exf3 11.xf3 c6 12.0-0 d7 13.d5 0-0 14.c3 xd5 15.xd5+ with a small, but clear advantage for W hite, Seeman, TBerg, E/ Stockholm SWE 2003 ] 8.g5 [ Now the following sequence is more or less forced. In another recent game, White tried 8.e2 e7 9.g4 xg4? ( 9...c6 10.g5 d5 11.xe4 0-0 offers Black excellent compensation for the pawn; or 9...e6 10.g5 d5 11.xe4 0-0 12.0-0 f4 13.g4 xg4 14.xg4 d7!? with some compensation for the pawn) 10.xg4 xh4 11.xc8 (now White is already winning) c6 12.g4 xf2+ 13.xf2 h4+ 14.g2 0-0 15.xe4 h6 16.g3 ae8 17.c3 e7 18.e6+ h8 19.g4 1-0 Sulava, N-Zelic, M/Sibenik CRO 2006 ] 8...e7 9.xf6 xf6 10.h5+ g6 11.xg6 hxg6 12.xg6+ d7 13.d5! f8? [ This is definitely wrong and more or less loses on the spot! Instead Black should try the less obvious (thank you, computer) 13...e7! 14.g4+ ( 14.f5+ e8 15.g6+ d7 doesn't accomplish anything ) 14...e8 15.g7 f8 16.g6+ d7 17.e2 e8 18.xe4 f7 19.0-0 with an ongoing initiative and three pawns for the piece ] 14.e2 c5 [ 14...c6 15.xe4 a6 16.0-0-0 e8 17.d3 e6 18.xf6 xf6 19.d5+ xd5 20.xd5+ b6 21.f3 isn't really desirable for Black either ] 15.dxc5 e5 [ In an earlier gam e Black trie d 15...c6 , but after 16.xe4 e8 17.f3 ( 17.a4+ xd5 18.0-0-0+ e6 19.xd6+ wins, if anything, faster) 17...xb2 18.d1 a6 19.f6+ d5 20.xe8 a5+ 21.f1 e6 22.f4 xc5 23.a4+ b6 24.b1 1-0 Zacurdajev, M-Melnikov, D/St Petersburg RUS 2007 ]
16.0-0-0 e8 17.g4+ c6 18.xe8+ xe8 19.xc8 a6 20.f5 and being two pawns down, Black is obviously lost, and it means we shouldn't spend too much time on the remaining moves. xc5 21.b4 a4 22.he1 f8 23.xe4 b5 24.f4 b2+ 25.b1 ae8 26.e6 e5 27.g4 b2 28.d2 c4 29.xc4+ bxc4 30.fxe5 dxe5 31.c3 b8 32.f3+ c7 33.a3 a5 34.b5 b6 35.b2 bd8 36.e2 f5 37.e4 c5 38.e2 d4 39.g4 f2 40.xe5+ b6 41.h4 h2 42.h5 h3 43.g5 g3 44.e6+ c7 45.g6 h4 46.f6 d7 47.b6 1-0
195 Speelman,Jonathan S Ward,Christopher MSO Masters London ENG (4) [Tony Kosten]
A04 2597 2473 24.08.1999
1.f3 c5 2.b3 By playing this move now, White manages to avoid the main 1. b3 lines where Black can play an immediate 1...e5. d6 3.e3! Probably the most flexible move, for as Black will block the a1-h8 diagonal with ...e5 it makes sense not to develop the c1-bishop straight-away. [ 3.b2 e5 4.d3 f5 5.g3 c6 6.g2 f6 7.bd2 is the type of position White should avoid , An tosh in,V -Gurgenid ze,B /USS R 1974. ] 3...e5 4.b5+ Already at move 4 the players have reached a very unusual position. White wishes to exchange light-squared bishops, then, by placing his pawns on light squares he can inhibit Black's remaining bishop. [ 4.d4?! e4 5.fd2 cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.b2 offers White nothing, Roeder,M-Rytshagov, M/Groningen 1997. ] 4...d7 Alternatively: [ 4...c6 m i g h t b e b e t t e r , 5.0-0!? E n c o u r a g i n g B l a c k f o r wa r d . ( 5.xc6+!? bxc6 6.e4 is worth a try.) 5...e4 6.e1 f5 7.b2 f6 8.d3 e7 9.c3 e6 10.f3 b6!? 11.fxe4 fxe4 12.xc6+ xc6 13.xe4 xe4 14.dxe4 xe4 15.xg7 g8 gave Black reasonable compensation f o r t h e p a wn . M a n t o va n i, R - S e rm e k , D / Montecatini Terme 1999. ] 179
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 4...d7?! 5.xd7+ xd7 6.e4 would fall in with White's designs. ] 5.0-0 f5 6.d4 cxd4? Opening the c1-h6 diagonal for White's dark-squared bishop. [ 6...e4 first, has to be stronger, as White is thereby denied the use of the g5-square. ] 7.exd4 e4 8.g5 Following Black's fourth move, e6 is no longer covered by his bishop. gf6 9.e6 b6 10.d5! The b5-bishop is indirectly protected by the possibility of a knight fork on c7. f7 11.a4! This move contains a vicious threat. e5? A natural reply, but it loses the queen! [ 11...a6 would avoid the worst, but Black is still in a bad way, e.g. 12.e3 c5 13.a5 a7 14.c4 ] 12.e3 a5 13.b4 xb4 14.d2 b2 15.c3 Staggering! The trap closes on the unlucky monarch. xa1 16.xa1 xe6 Black could resign, but presumably wanted to reach move twenty! 17.dxe6+ xe6 18.xe5 xe5 19.d2 e7 20.a1+ f4 21.c3 1-0
[ Correct was 15...a6! ] 16.xd6+ cxd6 17.e2 Now White has positional pressure for his pawn. He proceeds to outplay his opponent but doesn't quite succeed in clinching the win. b6 18.g4 0-0 19.f1 d7 20.d2 ac8 21.f5 c6 22.f3 d4 23.g1 fe8 24.h3 f8 25.d5 e5 26.xc6 xc6 27.xd4 e4 28.c3 ce8 29.f2 d5 30.b4 e1 31.c4 f7 32.a4 1e7? 33.xg7+ g8 34.f6 c7 35.g5 xc4 36.g6 f8 37.gxh7+ xh7 38.d4 fc8 39.f4 g8 40.h4 f8 41.a3 g8 42.g3 h7 43.hg4 xa2 44.f6 f7 45.a3 c7 46.g7 xg7 47.fxg7+ g8 48.h4 c4 49.d3 a5 50.xb6 ½-½
197 Stohl,Igor Heidrich,Manfred Czech Open A (2) [Nigel Davies]
A04 2549 2368 25.07.2009
1.f3 f5 2.d3 d6 3.e4 e5 4.c3 c6 Stocek,Jiri 5.exf5 xf5 6.d4 xd4 Trying to avoid any Trang,Hoang damage to his pawn structure but with the FSGM Aug Budapeste (10) p o si t io n o p e n in g u p B l a ck 's k in g wil l b e [John Watson] temporarily vulnerable. 7.xd4 exd4 8.xd4 c6 1.f3 f5 2.e4!? fxe4 3.g5 e5! [ 8...f6 was played in Carlsen, M-Dolmatov, This is the simplest way to draw the fangs of S/Moscow RUS 2004, a game presented White's Gambit. 4.d3 e3! earlier by Tony Kosten. The text may also [ Instead 4...exd3 5.xd3 looks risky, so be promising for W hite but not after the Bla ck re t urn s t h e p awn in a way wh ich move he plays. ] hampers White's attempt to open lines in the [ 8...xc2!? is legal, but very greedy. ] centre. ] 9.d3 Fritz 12 likes this move at first but then [ Note that much less good is 4...f6 5.dxe4 changes its mind after a few moves. when W hite is ready to play Bc4 [ W h i t e s h o u l d p r o b a b l y o p t f o r 9.f4! immediately. ] wh ich was p re viou sly co ve re d b y T o n y 5.xe3 e7 6.f3 c6 7.d4 exd4 8.xd4 Kosten in the game Sandner, G (2311)xd4 9.xd4 f6! 10.e4+ e7 Rechel, B (2420)/Plauen GER 2004. ] So far Black has played the opening perfectly 9...xd3 10.xd3 f6 11.0-0 and here simply [ White could also try to play more [ 10...e7 planning 11...d5 looks at least aggressively with 11.g5 e7 12.0-0-0 OK. ] but after 0-0 13.he1 d5 Black's position is 11.xe7+ xe7 12.c3 d5 13.b5 way too solid for White's temporary activity White finds a way after all to gambit a pawn to have much effect. ] for positional pressure. xb2 14.b1 e5 11...e7 12.e2 d7 13.d4 0-0 14.f5 15.f4 d6? ae8 15.d2 d5 16.xe7+ xe7 17.ae1 196
A04 2460 2360 1996
180
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White doesn't have anything here, his bishop 14.b1! Aiming for a1 with powerful pressure being compensated for by Black's greater on the black king's diagonal. c5 15.a1 control of terrain. d7 18.f3 xe1 19.xe1 bd7 Black could also try e8 20.xe8+ xe8 21.e3 xe3+ [ 15...f4!? in order to play ...Bh3, but then 22.xe3 b6 23.c3 f7 24.f2 e6 16.g5 g4 17.h3 is good, h6 18.hxg4 25.e2 d7 26.f4 e5 27.xe5 hxg5 19.f3 fxg3 20.fxg3 and White will ½-½ continue with Kg2 and use the h-file. ] 16.e4!? White decides that his pieces are all ideally placed and so it is time to break in the 198 A04 centre, but moves like [ 16.fd1 were also fine, of course. ] Tkachiev,Vladislav 2654 Clarke,Thomas 2128 16...fxe4 17.g5 f5 18.xe4 This is the ECC Rethymnon GRE (3) 30.09.2003 point, the f6-knight is pinned so W hite has brought his knight to the powerful e4-square, [Tony Kosten] and opened the e-file. c7 19.fe1 e5 1.f3 f5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 g6 4.b4!? Black blocks the long diagonal, and unpins the W e have examined this theme against the f6-knight, but now e5 will be a target. 20.c2 Dutch set-up in several games, although Time to return the offside knight to the game.. previously W hite had played c4 before b4. xe4 21.xe4 ae8 22.g2 b6 23.e3 Black's first real mistake in the game, g7 5.b2 a5!? Black tries to disrupt White d3? on the queenside immediately. Other moves his bishop goes to the 'active' square on d3, but will not be able to stay there, he should are more popular, e.g. [ 5...d6 6.c4 0-0 7.0-0 e5 8.d3 with typical have preferred keeping d5 covered by [ 23...e6! which also attacks c4, and Closed English play, Vaganian,R-Ehlvest,J/ restricts White's possibilities. ] Horgen 1995. ] 6.b5 This pawn gains lots of queenside space 24.d5! xd5 25.xd5 Black pays the price for W hite, and stops the black knight from f o r ign o rin g t h e d 5 -squ a re , a s t h e wh it e using the c6-square. a4!? A novelty, Black's a- bishop cuts through his position like a knife! b6 Removing the pawn from the bishop's gaze, pawn continues its progression. [ 6...0-0 was played in Meenakshi,S- as [ 25...e4? loses a pawn immediately to: Lagvilava,G/Istanbul TUR 2000, when 7.c4 26.xg7+ xg7 27.xg7+ xg7 28.xb7 ] seems most appropriate. ] The winning plan: White fixes the e7.c4 c6 8.a3! Not the ideal square for a 26.f3! knight, but from here it both keeps an eye on pawn on e5, and can double his rooks on the 27.e3 c4 and b5, and at the same time stops the e-file when the pawn will drop. g5 So, the bishop didn't manage to stay on black a-pawn from advancing even further. 0-0 f5 White's position 9.0-0 d5?! Black continues to harass the d3 for very long! 28.ce1 white queenside, but this leaves no pawns to reaches its zenith. h3 29.xe5! The neatest capture. xe5 30.xe5 Obviously winning, control e5. I prefer [ 9...d6 planning ...e5, and putting the although [ 30.xe5! is m o re e le g a n t , h6 31.g4 queen's knight on c5, but apart from 10.d4 with the decisive threat of Re6xh6+. ] leading to a Dutch, W hite could also [ After 30.xe5 Black resigned because consider playing 10 d3, English Opening xe5 31.xe5+ xe5 32.xe5 h6 33.g4 style. ] leaves him a pawn down with a trapped 10.c1 h8 11.d3 Obviously White doesn't bishop. ] want to block the a1-h8 diagonal with a pawn now that he has full piece control of e5. e6 1-0 I have to say that Black is single-minded, he puts pressure on the white queenside whenever he can, but then why play ...f5 in the opening? 12.c2 dxc4 13.dxc4 c8 181
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.e5 dxc4 15.xc4+ g6 16.xc2+ A04 f7 17.b3+ g6 18.d1 with a crushing Vachier Lagrave,Maxime 2758 attack. ] Vaisser,Anatoli 2531 d5 This is certainly the move that FRA-chT Top 12 (4.1) 27.05.2014 11.h4 Black would like to play, gaining space in the [Kosten, Tony] centre and closing the a2-g8 diagonal, but afterwards he has to be very careful to stop 1.f3 f5 2.d3 d6 3.e4 e5 4.c3 c6 [ 4...c5!? is seen in Bellin, R-Williams, S, White sacrificing on d5. [ 11...b5!? is interesting here, and this month's Lalic, B-Rendle, T. ] A) 12.b3 c a n b e m e t b y e7+! 5.exf5 xf5 6.d4 exd4 7.xd4 xd4 wh ich f orces W h it e t o mo ve his k in g, 8.xd4 f6 13.f1 ( 13.e2!? is risky, g5 14.g3 c5 [ 8...c6 9.f4! is Sandner-Rechel, in the a n d . . . c 4 .; 13.d2 transposes to De PGN Archive. ] Verdier, M (234 5)-Kalinins, V (2204)/ 9.c4! Carlsen's novelty. c6 10.g5 h6!? B u n r a t t y 2 0 1 4 , 0-0-0 14.ae1 d7 A new move, but does it help? 15.xf6 gxf6 16.xf6?! d5 17.e5?! [ 10...b5 11.b3 e4 draw, but White is actually in some A) 11...h6 12.e3+! ( 12.h4 e7+! troub le h ere a s .. .Bg7 is t hreat ened .) see below.) 12...d7 ( 12...e7 13.xf6 13...0-0-0 with unclear play where neither gxf6 14.0-0 xe3 15.fxe3 d7 16.e4 king is particularly happy, 14.a4 b4! wins a pawn.) 13.xf6 xf6 14.0-0-0 15.xb4 d5; looks dangerous for Black.; B) 12.g4!? is a favourite with Stockfish 5, B) However, 11...e7+!? is actually quite d7 13.d3 f7 a bit wild.; annoying for White, 12.f1 ( 12.e3 d5 C) 12.d3 xd3 13.xd3 e7+ 14.e2 13.0-0-0 d7 14.he1 e7 Black wins e4! getting the queens off, with near an important tempo, and can now castle.; equality. ] 12.d2 0-0-0 13.he1 d7 14.ad1 c5 [ 11...xc2?! 12.d2! f5 13.ae1+ d7 15.f4 c4 16.xb5 cxb3 17.xa7+ ( 13...e7 14.xf6 gxf6 15.g4 h7 is unclear.) 12...0-0-0 13.a4 b4! 14.xb4 16.xf6 ) 14.g4! and Black is in trouble, as d5 15.xe7 xe7 Black has some h7 15.e6+ c7 16.d5+! cxd5 compensation for the pawn as W hite's 17.c1+ b8 18.xf6 gxf6? 19.c8+ king is awkwardly placed.; wins. ] C) 11...e7? 12.0-0-0 a5?! This is the problem, White doesn't ( Back in 2004 I remember annotating the 12.0-0-0 impressive game Carlsen-Dolmatov, which even have to move his bishop, and meanwhile continued 12...d7?! 13.he1 Qe5+ is a massive threat. e7?! Very human, and W hite caused an upset.) 13.he1 but probably not very good. [ 12...f7 had to b e tried , 13.he1 g5 Black is already lost, f8 Karavade, E 14.g3 g7 and Black develops while (2307)-Navabi, S (2107)/Beirut 2004 , finally threatening the bishop on c4, and 14.f4! g6 15.xf6 gxf6 ( 15...xf6 maybe something along the a1-h8 diagonal. 16.xd6 c7 17.xf6+ gxf6 18.xf6+ ) I think I would prefer to have White anyway, 16.h6+ e8 17.e4 ] but this certainly seems playable for Black. ] [ 10...d5 11.0-0-0 is similar to the main game, e7?! ( 11...f7 ) 12.e5 ( 12.he1 13.he1 Natural and strong. [ Still, 13.e5 i s j u s t a s g o o d , c8 0-0 13.e5 forks e7 and f5, forcing c8 ( 13...g6 14.xd5! cxd5 15.xd5 when 14.xe7 dxc4 as below. ) 12...d7? i s w i n n i n g , f8 16.xf6 c8 17.c3; Lock, G (2212) -Rendle, T (2397)/Hastings 13...g4 14.f3 d6 15.xd6 xd6 2008, ( 12...g6 ) 13.xd5! xd5 14.xd5 16.xf6 gxf6 17.xd5 cxd5 18.fxg4 cxd5 15.b5 winning the queen. ] will leave White two pawns up.) 14.he1 [ I had thought 10...xc2? might be playable, 0-0 15.xe7 dxc4 16.f3 with a clear ten years ago, but now I think it is losing: advantage, f or instance g6 ( 16...b5 11.0-0 d5 12.fe1+ f7 13.xd5! cxd5 199
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.d6 f7 18.g4 h7 19.e6 ) 17.c5 f5 (threatening mate!) 18.xc4+ h8 19.d2 ] 13...0-0 14.e5 g4? [ 14...c8 was the best try, 15.xe7 dxc4 as above. ] 15.f3 Strong, but the flashy [ 15.xd5! cxd5 16.xd5! xd5 17.xe7 b6 18.xf8 xf8 19.xd5+ is also totally crushing. ] 15...d6 Presumably the point, but MVL has seen further. Black has nothing better anyway a s t w o p i e c e s w e r e h a n g i n g . 16.xd5! Beautiful! cxd5 [ 16...xe5 17.xf6+ (double check!) h8 18.xd8 axd8 19.xg4 ] 17.xd5 xe5 18.xd8+ h7 19.d3+ g6?! Weakening the 7th rank doesn't help. [ 19...g8 20.xf8+ xf8 21.xe5 with an extra two pawns and the bishop pair to boot. ] 20.xa8 f4+ [ 20...xa8 21.xe5 both black minor pieces are hanging. ] 21.b1 xa8 22.xf6 Anyway, the answer to the question at move 10 is that yes, 10... h6 is useful if Black follows up with 11...b5. [ 22.xf6 f5 23.e7+ g8 24.c4+ f8 25.g7 forces e8 26.g8+ d7 when 27.xa8 wins a rook to add to the pawns. ] 1-0
200 Van Mil,Johannes AJ Gurevich,Mikhail Bundesliga 2001-2 (3) [Neil McDonald]
A04 2416 2605 24.11.2001
1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 ge7 5.g2 g6 6.0-0 g7 7.e1 [ More flexible was 7.c3 f o r e x a m p l e d6 8.a3 e5 ] 7...d6! [ After 7...d5 8.e5 the rook on e1 performs a useful function in defending the pawn on e5. So Gurevich heads for a dif ferent pawn structure with the aim of making 7. Re1 an irrelevant move. ] 8.c3 e5 9.a3 [ Perhaps 9.a4 followed by Na3 and Nc4
was the safer plan. ] 9...0-0 10.e3 White prepares d3-d4, but Black's piece deployment is very efficient and not surprisingly he benefits the most from the opening of the centre. h6 Preparing Be6 without being disturbed by Ng5. 11.d2 h7 12.d4 exd4! This capture rather than c5xd4 is often the best idea for Black in this pawn centre- Black activates his bishop straightaway. 13.cxd4 d5! 14.exd5 [ After 14.e5 Black has many promising continuations, e.g. f5!? 15.dxc5 d4 16.f4 g5 17.g4 fe7! 18.g3 xg4 ] [ Meanwhile if 14.dxc5? dxe4 White is in trouble as b2 will drop. ] 14...xd5 15.dxc5 xe3 16.xe3 e6! Gurevich is in no hurry to recapture the pawn. He develops and takes away the c4 square from W hite's knight, so that it can't be activated as occurs after say [ 16...xb2 17.ad1 f6 18.c4 ] 17.b5 [ After either 17.ad1 or ] [ 17.e2 Black can play a5 when sooner or later he will regain the pawn thanks to the bishop pair bearing down on W hite's queenside. So Van Mil brings his knight back to the centre while he still has the chance. ] 17...xb2 18.ab1 g7 19.ed1? This merely chases the black queen to a good square. He had to play [ 19.d6 with counterplay. ] 19...a5 20.bd4? White collapses. Now [ 20.d6 was imperative. ] 20...xa2 21.xb7 ad8 The pin is fatal. 22.b2 xd4! 23.xd4 fe8 24.xe8 xe8 25.xc6? [ 25.xc6 was the only way to fight on. ] 25...e1+ 26.xe1 xe1+ 27.g2 c4 However W hite plays, either Qc3 or Qf1+ followed by either Qh1+ or Qd3+ will win for Black. 0-1
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A04 Nb6. [ 7...xd7 was played before, trying to bring Venkatesh,Marani Rajendran 2515 the knight to c6 instead of d7 8.e2 f5 Vallejo Pons,Francisco 2693 9.0-0 e7 10.e1 f6 Vidonyak, R (2452)Bangkok op 14th (4) 14.04.2014 Cvitan, O (2562)/ Zuerich op 26th 2002. ] [Fier, Alexandr] 8.e2 d5 9.c4 gf6 10.cxd5? B l a c k u s e s a g o o d s e t u p a g a i n s t t h e A big imprecision. Now Black has easy play queenside fianchetto, he closes the diagonal, against the isolated pawn. [ 10.0-0 was better and White has a nice controls the center and gains some space. p l a n a t h i s d i s p o s a l d6 ( 10...b4 This same plan was suggested before on is not so different 11.h4 0-0 12.f5 ) Chess Publishing against a similar setup and 11.h4!? the knight will be much better on one more time it proves effective. 10.cxd5 was f5 or e3, where it is a strong blockader a bad idea, I think the position is quite A) 11...g6 avoids White's idea but interesting after 10.0-0. 1.f3 c5 2.b3 d6 weakens the kingside 12.h6 ( 12.g3 3.e3 e5 4.d4 Immediately acting in the is another possibility, to bring the knight center. via g2 0-0 13.g2 c8 14.e3 [ 4.b5+ is thematic and was played on with a level position) 12...f8 13.xf8 s e v e r a l o c c a s i o n s c6 ( 4...d7 xf8 ( 13...xf8 14.cxd5 xd5 15.c3 is also possible, but the knight is in the way xd4 16.b5 b6 17.fd1 ) 14.c3 on d7 5.0-0 f5 6.d4 cxd4 7.exd4 g7 and the exchange of the dark and White was already better, as analysed squared bishops favours W hite, though in Speelman, J (2597)-Ward, C (2473)/MSO the position is double edged; Masters London ENG 1999.) 5.0-0 f6 B) 11...0-0 12.f5 b8 13.c3 ( 5...e4 ambitious, but White can strike in the and compared to the game this is a much center before Black has time to finish his better version for White. ] development 6.e1 f5 7.b2 f6 8.f3 d5 Black doesn't waste any time and 9.c4 with dangerous activity for W hite) 10...b4+ 6.b2 e7 7.d3 0-0 and Black is activates his pieces. 11.d2 0-0!? [ 11...xd2+ was also ok, but Black prefers supposed to be fine, as analysed in to keep the bishops on, 12.fxd2 0-0 Cheparinov, I (2702)-Jones, G (2654)/45th 13.c3 b6 14.0-0 e8 with a small Italian Teams 2013. ] advantage for Black ] 4...cxd4 [ 4...e4 is also interesting, since after 5.fd2 12.e5 [ 12.xb4 is too dangerous, now the king will cxd4 6.xe4 ( 6.exd4 d5 7.c4 f6 be exposed for a long time exf3 13.xf3 is ok for Black) 6...d5 7.g3 dxe3 8.xe3 b6 ( 13...e8+ 14.f1 a5 15.d2 b6 c6 and the White pieces would be much is also possible with full compensation) better if the bishop was on b2 and the knight 14.c3 b5 15.d2 ae8+ 16.e3 on f3 ] ( 16.d1 is better, but also not pleasant for 5.exd4 e4 6.b5+ White tries to get rid of the White ) 16...xd5 with the idea of ...f5-f4 ] bishop, winning a tempo to finish his d e v e l o p m e n t . d7 Black doesn't mind 12...d6 Keeping the pieces on. [ 12...xd5 White has more chances to dry exchanging his 'bad' bishop. the position here [ 6...c6 gives White a nice opportunity A) 13.xe4 7f6 14.f3 ( 14.d3 f4! 7.e2 f6 8.d5!? xd5 9.xe4+ e7 wins ) 14...b6 15.0-0 xd4 16.xb4 10.xe7+ xe7 11.b2 and Black is still xb4 ( 16...xb4 17.c3 ) 17.d7! fine, but I don't think it's the kind of xd7 18.xd5 fd8 and Black has some position he was aiming for ] pressure, but with precise play W hite 7.xd7+ xd7 This is not a bad square for should hold; the knight if you stop to think. Black will push B) 13.0-0 xd2 14.xd2 f5 15.dc4 ...d5 when it's possible and with the knight on xe5 16.dxe5 e7 is also not so d7 he can answer any c4 and cxd5 idea with ... 201
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 interesting for Black, even if he has a small advantage ] 13.c4 [ 13.xd7 xd7 14.c3 ac8 15.0-0 fe8 is also good for Black, the d5-pawn will soon fall and White has no clear plan. ] 13...b6 14.c3 bxd5 15.xd5 xd5 16.0-0 e8 17.ad1 White tries to bring the knight back to e5, but it can easily be attacked. [ 17.ac1 at least brings the rook to an open file A) 17...c8? 18.xd6 xc1 ( 18...xd6 19.xc8 xc8 20.xe4 wins a pawn) 19.xc1 xd6 20.b5 and White activates; B) 17...c7 18.g4 g6 19.g3 and the position is still unpleasant for White ] 17...c7 18.e5 f6 19.c4 d7 Black improves his position and soon he is ready to attack 20.e3? This is too early to be desperate. White just allows Black's knight to enter his position, with serious consequences. [ 20.g3 b5 21.e3 b6 22.xd5 xd5 23.e3 ad8 24.d2 would be better for Black, but White's position is not so easy to break ] 20...f4 21.c4+ h8 22.c5 Apparently White's pieces are more active than before and he's managed to unblock the d-pawn. But this is too superficial and is soon punished. ad8 23.h1 d3 24.xa7 xh2! Nice idea! Now the queen defends b7 and White's queen is kind of trapped. 25.xh2 [ 25.b6 was possible, but without the hpa wn B la ck will at t a ck m ore ea sily b8 26.a4 f7 27.g1 d6 and it's hard to believe White can survive ] 25...a8 26.b6 a6 27.xa6 bxa6 28.d5 f5 [ 28...e5 was more direct 29.g1 h5 30.c1 ( 30.c3 c7-+ ) 30...d6 31.g3 d7 and it's time to resign ] 29.f4 c8 Going to the wrong place, but the position is still winning. 30.c4 xd5?! I see no reason for this plan. The rook would do a good job on the kingside. [ 30...f8 was still possible 31.d6 f6 with the idea of 32. ..Rh6 and 33...Qe8 ]
31.b6 b7 32.xc8 xc8 33.e3 h6 34.c1? And I see no reason to give back the exchange. [ 34.d2 was better, trying to hold the position together after c3 35.e2 ] 34...xc1 35.xc1 There is no time and insuf f icient material f or W hite to setup a fortress, and now Black finishes the game in a precise way. d8 36.g3 a5 37.c2 e1+ 38.f2 d1 39.c3 g4+ 40.h2 xf4+ 41.g3 g4 42.e5 f4 0-1
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A05 Amin,Bassem 2544 Leitao,Rafael 2620 7th World Team Championship (2) 06.01.2010 [David Vigorito] T h is ga m e is n o t ve ry t h e o re t ic a l, b u t i t provides a nice example of how to meet the King's Indian Attack. Leitao plays a simple, but steady game, and gradually takes over. He beats a 2550 player with Black and makes it looks very easy. 1.e4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 f6!? [ An interesting move order. Black wants White to protect the e4-pawn immediately. Also good is 4...g7 5.0-0 e5 when Black will often end up a tempo up on the KIA vs French line: 1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.g3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.0-0 Nge7 7.c3 e5 because he has played ...e5 in one move. Still, the tempo is not so important here and the position is still equal. ] 5.d3 d6 6.0-0 g7 7.c3 [ 7.c3 would transpose to a fairly harmless line of the Closed Sicilian with an early Nf3. This position more of ten results with colours reversed in the English Opening. ] 7...0-0 8.e1 e5! This looks like a mix of sys t e m s , b u t t h i s i s a g o o d p l a n . I n t h e Botvinnik setup, the e7-knight sometimes has trouble finding an active role. The f6-square is very flexible - the knight may go to e8, d7, or even h5 or g4. 9.a3 [ A slow move typical of this system. 9.bd2 still looks better to me. ] [ N o t e t h a t ' p u n i s h i n g ' B l a c k w i t h 9.d4 runs into the typical King's Indian idea cxd4 185
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.cxd4 exd4 11.xd4 g4! when Black is ahead in development and has pressure against d4 and f2 (with ...Qb6 coming too). ] 9...b5! 10.h3 [ 10.b4 a5! forces a favourable (to Black) resolution on the queenside. ] 10...b7 11.bd2 c7 12.f1 d5 W hy not? It is as if Black is playing W hite here. 13.g5?! [ 13.exd5 xd5 14.e3 was still pretty safe for White, although I do like Black's space advantage. ] 13...d4! Seizing more space. Now the g5bishop and f1-knight look rather odd. 14.cxd4 cxd4 15.d2 White tries to justify the odd placement of the bishop on g5, but considering W hite does not really want to exchange dark-squared bishops (which would leave him with his own bad bishop), this does not help much. a5 16.ac1 d6 17.g4?! This creates a (useless) square for the f1-knight. White is playing the position like a Closed Spanish, but Black has too much play on the queenside for this to succeed. d7! 18.g3 f6 19.h6 xh6 20.xh6 c5 21.h4 White's obvious threats are easily repelled. e7 22.ed1 e6! Highlighting the weakness created by White's 17th move. 23.h2 f4 24.g5 White opens lines for Black's pieces. h8 25.gxf6 xf6 26.g5 af8 27.d2? This takes away White's queen's only retreat square. e6 28.g4 [ 28.h6 g8 ] 28...f4 0-1
th e p o sit io n m u ch . I t wa s a n a lyze d f o r Chess Publishing in Roiz, M (2659)Aleksandrov, A (2582)/IX EICC Plovdiv BUL 2008. ] 6.e4 d6 7.d4!? An exotic idea, taking advantage of the undefended pawn on b5 and also the diagonal. It's only possible with the bishop on e7. [ 7.a3!? this move is quite interesting and it's a way to try to exploit the early ...b5 a6 8.c4 c6 now the bishop is not well placed on b7, ( 8...bxc4 9.xc4 and White has a b e t t e r s t r u c t u r e) 9.e1 with a slight advantage for White Romanishin, O (2515)Morawietz, D (2449)/Kerkyra op 2009. ] [ 7.a4 is another logical move, b4 8.bd2 0-0 9.c4 and both players had chances in Kuzubov, Y (2628) -Kulaots, K (2592)/ISLchT 1011 2010 (1.1). ] 7...a6 [ 7...d7 was a move played in Correspondence. It looks a bit weird to defend the pawn like this, but it avoids the pla n p layed in th e gam e 8.f4 ( 8.b3 could be a coherent sequence c5 9.a5 c6 10.xb7 xb7 and White took the bishop pair, but Black is well developed and already started the queenside expansion.; 8.e5 doesn't work now xg2 9.exf6 xf6 and the knight is hanging) 8...c5 9.b3 c6 and the position is balanced Simon, B (2305)-Glauser, P (2165)/WSTT/1/ 11/2 ICCF 2011. ] 8.b3 Putting the knight away from d4 and threatening Na5. [ 8.e5 still doesn't work properly xg2 9.exf6 xf6 10.xe6 fxe6 11.xg2 0-0 203 A05 and Black has not much to worry about. ] Aronian,Levon 2801 8...c5 And Black accepts the challenge. Not a Ipatov,Alexander 2630 b a d c h o i c e , s i n c e t h e a l t e r n a t i v e i s World Teams 2013 (7.3) 03.12.2013 unpleasant. [ 8...c6 without ...c5 this move is not so [Fier, Alexandr] harmonious 9.a4 0-0 10.d4 and White has good central control. ] Ipatov plays 2...b5 to enter less theoretical Finally this move is possible. xg2 positions and Aronian also plays an exotic 9.e5 xf1 11.fxe7 xe7 12.xf1 idea. Soon they exchange two pieces for a 10.exf6 rook and pawn, and because of the lack of After the exchanges White has a bishop and o p e n f i l e s I t h i n k W h i t e h a s a s m a l l a kn igh t aga in st ro ok a nd p a wn . B la c k 's advantage. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 b5 3.g2 b7 position has no weaknesses, so the position is quite hard to play, since W hite has no 4.0-0 e6 5.d3 e7 [ 5...d6 is another idea, but doesn't change advanced post for any of his pieces. Still, 186
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 there are no open files which makes the rooks less useful in the position. It's not possible to say for sure that someone is better here, but my preference would be White. c6 13.e3 White's basic idea is to finish development and use the e-file to create a weak point in Black's position. 0-0 14.c3 f5 Black, on the o t h e r h a n d , s h o u ld t ry t o e xp a n d o n t h e queenside and open some files for the rooks. 15.g2 [ 15.a4 this move is thematic in this kind of position where Black has a6 and b5, but it's always dangerous to exchange the last white rook. e5 ( 15...b4 16.e2 e5 17.d2 and W hite controls c4) 16.axb5 ( 16.g2 b4 17.e2 c4 and Black can make good use of the c-file) 16...axb5 17.xa8 xa8 18.g2 b8 19.d4 cxd4 20.xd4 d7 with an unclear position. ] 15...ac8 16.a3 Not forced, but a good move to control the b4 square. f6 [ 16...b4 is not so interesting anymore, now the a-file will be more useful for White than the f ile t hat will open f or B lack, 17.axb4 xb4 ( 17...cxb4 18.a4 e5 19.f4 d7 20.a5 and White's knights are much more active than before) 18.f4 and the knight can go to a5-c4 later ] 17.d1 With the idea of 18.d4. d4 18.f4!? White is not afraid to damage the structure because after 18...Nxb3, W hite is going to create a block on the dark squares and the bishop and knight have no opposition. fe8 [ 18...xb3 19.cxb3 d5 20.d4 c4 21.b4 and White can play a4 in good conditions or to make some pressure on the e-file, Black on the other hand can just wait ] 19.xd4 A forcing move, giving the bishop and putting the knight on a strange square to s h a k e B l a c k ' s c e n t e r . cxd4 20.a2 The knight is going to b4 Where it defends c2, attacks a6 and looks to d5. d8 To meet 21. Nb4 with a5. [ 20...e5 21.b4 with a clear advantage ] 21.f1 A smart idea, now White is threatening to take on d4 because if Black comes with ... Qb6 and ...e5, White can take on f2 with his rook, defending the pawn on c2. [ 21.xd4?! is not good, since Black recover t h e p a w n w i t h a n a c t i v e p o s i t i o n b6 22.f2 e5 23.xf5 xf2+ 24.xf2 xc2+
25.f3 exf4 26.gxf4 xb2 and Black is not worse ] 21...b6 22.f2 e5 23.c3?! Not so necessary. [ 23.fxe5 White could play this move and j u s t t a k e o n f 5 dxe5 24.xf5 h8 ( 24...e6 25.xe6+ xe6 26.b4+- ) 25.f2 with a clear advantage ] 23...b7 [ 23...a5!? this move can complicate matters, since if White takes any of the pawns, Black can activate his position 24.fxe5 ( 24.cxd4 exf4 25.xf4 c2 26.xf5 b7 27.d5 xb2 and the knights are in an awkward position, but still the position is unclear) 24...dxe5 25.cxd4 e6 again using the strange position of the knights 26.ac1 f4 with interesting compensation ] 24.cxd4 Again Black has a chance to complicate. [ 24.fxe5!? to avoid ...exf4 dxe5 25.cxd4 d5 26.ac1 and White is better ] 24...exf4 [ 24...d5!? was possible A) 25.ac1 doesn't work so well now, exf4 26.gxf4 ( 26.xf4 c2 and Black is better ) 26...e6 with a dangerous position for White; B) 25.bc1 xd4 ( 25...exf4 26.c3 that's the dif f erence with bringing the other knight to c1 fxg3 27.hxg3 e6 28.xf5 and W hite is better) 26.xd4 exd4 27.g2 c2+ 28.f2 ec8 29.e2 xb2 30.xd4 xf2+ 31.xf2 g6 and the endgame is double edged ] 25.c3 [ 25.xf4 would be good if possible, but loses immediately e2 26.f2 e1+ 27.f1 c2 and W hite is in big trouble 28.d2 xf1+ 29.xf1 h1+-+ ] [ 25.b4 it's hard to understand if the knight is better on c3 or b4, from here it can go to c6 at some point, but from c3 it controls the invasions on e2 and c2 fxg3 26.hxg3 f4 this is an important source of counterplay 27.gxf4 f7 28.d5 g6+ 29.g2 f6 30.c6 e3 and the position is one more time unclear ] 25...fxg3 26.hxg3 f8 A bit slow. [ 26...f4!? I like this try again, opening W hite's king by force 27.gxf4 ( 27.xf4 187
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is also playable, but Black's counterplay is quick f8 28.c1 b4 29.axb4 xb4 30.c2 xf1+ 31.xf1 f8+ 32.e2 b8 and Black is fine) 27...f7 threatening ...b3 28.c1 ( 28.d5 g6+ 29.g2 xd3 ) 28...f5 29.d5 and White can be better, but he needs to be extremely careful. ] 27.d5 f6 [ 27...f4 now this loses power 28.gxf4 f7 29.f5 This move is possible because the knight on b3 is not attacked in this variation. ] 28.d4 With this knight in the game, White is much better. b4 29.axb4 xb4 30.c6! [ 30.e6 is not so effective, since Black's queen is free to go to the kingside g4 ] 30...b7 31.e1 h8 32.e7 b3 33.d7 Now it's impossible to stop White's initiative e8 34.d4 b4 35.e6 g6 36.f7 g4 37.e2 f6 38.xg7 b4 39.xh7+ [ 39.xh7+ xh7 40.a7+ 5 with mate in ] 1-0
204 Artemiev,Vladislav Khismatullin,Denis 15th ch-EUR Indiv 2014 (3.1) [Fier, Alexandr]
A05 2621 2714 05.03.2014
Artemiev goes for an interesting idea with 7. c4 and easily gets a better position. 13.Bc6 was good for an advantage and again I think that this is a nice setup for White against 2... b5. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 b5 3.g2 b7 4.0-0 e6 5.d3 e7 6.e4 0-0 A provocative move. [ 6...d6 avoids 7.e5 and after 7.d4!? a6 8.b3 c5 9.e5 was analyzed by me some months ago in Aronian, L (2801)- Ipatov, A (2630)/WchT 9th Antalya 2013. ] 7.c4!? This can transpose to 7. e5, but gives Black the alternative of not taking on c4, where I believe White has good play. [ 7.e5 d5 8.c4 bxc4 9.dxc4 b6 10.c2 ( 10.e2!? maybe the queen is better here, to bring the knight to c3 at some point d5 11.exd6 cxd6 12.d1 8d7 13.c3 ) 10...c6 and White's position is slightly better, but both players have chances in Libeau, R (2420)-Emunds, H (2315)/ Muenster 1992. ]
[ 7.d4 was the same idea as in Aronian's game, but 28 years before! a6 8.b3 c6 9.e5 d5 10.e1 with an unclear position, since White still needs some time to develop his queenside Bilek, I (2400)-Portisch, L (2635)/Hungary 1985. ] 7...b4 I'm not convinced about this move. Now White has a tangible space advantage and in a few moves Black has a strange position. [ 7...bxc4 8.e5 d5 9.dxc4 b6 would transpose to 7.e5 ] 8.e5 e8 9.d4 d6 [ 9...c5 was another idea, since 10.d5 is not so scary 10.dxc5 ( 10.d5 exd5 11.cxd5 d6 with a level position) 10...f6!? 11.e3 c7 12.a3 a5 with a messy position ] 10.c2 d7 11.g5! A known theme in a diff erent position. xg5 12.xb7 b8 13.xg5 Missing a strong idea. Now Black has chances to equalize. [ 13.c6! a hard move to make, but here W hite has good chances to create some strong pressure. Black's pieces are poorly placed and Black has no way to win the pawn on e5 xc1 14.xc1 dxe5 15.d1! the key move and now Black's position is not so comfortable A) 15...exd4 loses a piece 16.xd4 ef6 ( 16...d6 17.c5 ) 17.d1 and Black has no way to defend the knight; B) 15...b6 16.a4 b8 17.dxe5 e7 18.g2 and Black's knights are on terrible squares ] 13...xg5 14.c6 d8 15.f4 e7 16.g2?! With this move Black can more or less free his position. White runs from the check on c5, but development was more important. [ 16.d2 was interesting and Black should play precisely to avoid getting into trouble dxe5 17.fxe5 b8 ( 17...xe5 is insufficient 18.xe8 xd4 19.b5 c6 20.b3 and White is better) 18.e4 f5 ( 18...xd4 19.f3 d8 20.xh7+ h8 21.g2 and Black's position is precarious, for example: g6? 22.xg6 fxg6 23.h4 and Black loses material) 19.exf6 xf6 20.f3 c5 and I still prefer White's chances, but the position is not so clear ] 16...dxe5 17.dxe5 [ 17.fxe5 b8 18.e4 now is not so nice, si n ce a f t e r ( 18.f3 xd4 19.d2 c5 188
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and W hite has compensation, but Black s h o u l d b e o k) 18...f5 19.exf6 xf6 White has no 20. Nf3 to defend the pawn ] 17...f6 18.exf6 exf6 And Black is fine. 19.d2 g4 Now Black goes into a long variation that leads to an equal position where he needs to make a difficult choice. [ 19...e5 it was possible to keep the game a l i v e w i t h 20.e4 ( 20.fxe5 xe5 and the bishop has no good squares 21.e4 fg4 and W hite is almost lost already) 20...e6 21.xd7 xd7 22.g5 c6+ 23.g1 g6 with a level and complicated position ] 20.ae1 c5 21.e4 de5 Exchanging a lot of pieces and entering a delicate endgame. 22.b3 xc6 23.fxe5 xe5 24.xc6 xc6 25.xe6 d4?! This doesn't change t h e c o m p u t e r ' s e va l u a t i o n , b u t n o w t h e position is harder to play for Black. [ 25...xf1 was the best way to go, avoiding White's idea 26.xf1 d4 27.xd4 xd4 28.b3 d2 and Black is fine ] 26.xf8+ xf8 27.c5 c6 During the game this is a hard decision to make. One misevaluation and the game can be over if Black exchanges the rooks and knights. With some pieces on the board it's still possible to fight if something goes wrong. In this case, the exchange was good and after the move of the game White is slightly better. [ 27...xe6! 28.xe6+ e7 29.xd8 xd8 30.f3 d7 31.e4 d6 a n d W h i t e c a n n o t p a s s, h e r e I sh o w a possible continuation: 32.f5 c5 33.b3 d6 34.h4 d7 35.h5 e7 36.g4 c6 37.g5 d6 38.h6 gxh6 39.gxh6 e7 40.e5 a6 ( 40...a5?? 41.c5+- ) 41.c5 a5 with draw ] 28.e4 f7 29.f2 With a better knight and rook, White has good practical chances in the endgame. g5 30.h4 h6 31.hxg5 hxg5 32.g4! The knight on d4 is centralized, but it's not doing much in the position and it's also not stable. d6 33.e5 f6? This is a bad plan. W hite's rook is going to a8 and the position is close to lost for Black. [ 33...f6+ was the right way to defend the pawn 34.e3 f3 35.e4 h2 and Black is just slightly worse ] 34.e8 f7 35.a8 f6+
[ 35...e6 was a better practical chance 36.xa7+ A) 36...g6 37.d7! and the extra pawn in the knight endgame is enough for the win; B) 36...f8 37.xe6+ ( 37.d7? xc5 38.xd6 i s n o t c h e c k n o w e4+-+ ) 37...xe6 38.a4 c5 39.a5 e5 40.f3 and White is probably winning; C) 36...e8 37.xe6 xe6 38.a4 e4 39.xb4 xg4 40.b3 and Black has some chances to survive ] 36.e3 e6 37.xa7+ g6 38.d3 f4 [ 38...c5 39.e5+ h6 40.f7 wins ] 39.e5+ h6 40.a6 g2+ 41.e2 f4 42.xc6+ h7 43.c5 1-0
205 Bacrot,Etienne Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A05 2695 2752 21.11.2007
1.f3 f6 2.g3 g6 3.b4 g7 4.b2 d6 5.g2 c5!? [ 5...0-0 is the normal move in this position. ] 6.bxc5 dxc5 7.c4 0-0 8.0-0 c6 9.d3 g4 10.e5?! [ The first new move, but not a very good one. W hite has done reasonably well with 10.bd2 , though the test games have mostly been online games between GMs: A) 10...d7 11.b1 ( 11.e1 ad8 12.a4 e5 13.a3 d6 14.g5 b6!? 15.xc6 xc6 16.xe5 fe8 17.gf3 h6 18.b2 d7 19.c3 xd2 20.xd2 xf3 21.exf3 xf3 22.xe8+ xe8 23.e1 xe1+ 24.xe1 f8 25.e4 d1+ 26.g2 c2 27.a8+ e7 28.e4+ d8 1/2-1/2 DumpsterW i s e g u y / w w w . p l a y c h e s s . d e 2 0 0 2) 11...ad8 12.e1 b6 13.e5 xe5 14.xe5 h3 15.f3 xg2 16.xg2 f5= Dumpster-GM Miles/www.playchess. de 2002; B) 10...c7 11.b1 ad8 ( 11...b6 12.h3 d7 13.a3 ad8 14.c2 h6 15.bd1 c8 16.e3 b7 17.b1 a6 18.e5 d7 19.xd7 xd7 20.c3 189
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Corovic, D-Dizdar, G/Makarska 1993) Roiz, M (265 9)-Aleksand ro v, A (258 2)/ 12.e1 h6 13.c3 e5 14.b3 c8 Plovdiv 2008/[Carsten Hansen] ] 15.b2 h5 16.f1! f5 17.e3 de8 4...b4 This gives White a hook with a2-a3, so 18.d2 h7 19.d5 Dobrzynski, W- Black ought to consider his choice carefully. Lipski, T/Krakow 1978 ] [ 4...a6 is more logical, restricting the knight. [ Another move is 10.h3 f5 ( 10...xf3 5.c4 11.xf3 d7 12.g2 ac8 13.c3 h5 A) 5...e5!? might be the way to go. 6.cxb5 14.b1 b6= Majer, D-Schneider, H/Hessen ( Simply 6.0-0 looks better.) 6...xa3 2000; 10...d7 11.b3 c8 12.h2 b6 7.bxa3 axb5 has been played a few times. 13.c3 a5 14.c2 c6 15.e4 Now the course of Karasev, V (2465) D'Amore, C-Lilly, R/Mount Buller AUS 2004) Razuvaev, Y (2540)/Elista 2002 took an 11.bd2 c7 12.c3 ad8 13.b3 e8 amusing turn: 8.b1 0-0 9.xb5 c6 14.fe1 c8= Weindl, A-Zelic, B/Baden 10.xe5?? ( 10.b4 ) 10...a4-+ 1996 ] and White's queen was rather 10...xe5?! embarrassed.; [ Here Black had 10...b6!? available, e.g. B) 5...b4 6.c2 Naturally, theory is 11.c3 xe5 12.xe5 e6 13.f4 h3 ] ch a o t i c h e r e . e6 ( 6...c5 7.0-0 e6 11.xe5 b6?! could transpose. ) 7.0-0 [ 11...d7!? ] B1) 7...e7 8.d4 is a kind of bizarre 12.c3 d7 13.xa8 xa8 14.d4 d8 Queen's Indian. ( 8.a3!? ); [ 14...h3 15.e1 cxd4 16.xd4 xd4 B2) 7...c5 8.d4! 17.xd4 ] B2a) 8...b6 9.g5 cxd4 10.cxd4 15.dxc5 c8 16.a4 xc5 17.xf6 exf6 ( 10.xf6 gxf6 11.xd4 xd4 18.fd1 c8 19.xa7 f5 20.ac1 d4 12.fxd4 xg2 13.xg2 f5 14.a3 21.f1 bxa3 15.b4! Veingold, A (2465)[ 21.d7! xf2+ 22.g2 e3 23.d5 g5 Illescas Cordoba, M (2545)/Linares 24.c2+- ] 1991. ) 10...e4 11.e3 Lingnau, C 21...xc4 22.b5?? (2395)-Grosar, A (2470)/Biel 1993.; [ 22.h3! ] B2b) 8...cxd4 9.cxd4 e7 10.f4 22...xf2+! 23.xf2 xe2+ 24.g1 e3+ ( White has played other moves here, 25.g2 xc1 26.xc1 d2+ e.g. 10.a3!? bxa3 11.b3 0-0 0-1 12.xa3 Andersson, U (2655)Chiburdanidze, M (2535)/Kalev 1997.; 10.b3 ) 10...0-0 11.c1 b6 12.b3 206 A05 c8 13.c5! d8 14.d6 Vaganian, R (2590)-Popovic, P (2540)/Sarajevo Berkes,Ferenc 2706 1987. ] Fedorchuk,Sergey A 2635 Schachbundesliga 2011-12 (3) 16.10.2011 5.c4 e6 Safest. [ 5...c5 6.a3!? ( This looks more testing than [John Bartholomew] 6.0-0 which has also been played.) 6...d5?! 7.ce5 bxa3 8.g5! Drasko, M (2508)1.f3 f6 2.g3 b5 The "Extended Heberla, B (2510)/Banja Luka 2008. ] Fianchetto" is an attractive and high-scoring [ 5...a5 rules out Nc4-a5, but leaves Black a reply to 1.Nf3 and 2.g3. Black grabs as much little overextended. One example: 6.0-0 ( or queenside space as possible and prevents 6.a3 like 5...c5 6.a3 above.) 6...e6 7.a3 d5 transpositions to many problematic c2-c4 8.ce5 bd7 9.d4 e7 10.axb4 axb4 systems. 3.g2 b7 4.a3!? This move 11.d2 c5?! ( 11...e4 ) 12.dxc5 xc5 caught my eye awhile back, as some quick 13.d3 Loginov, V (2530)-Timoshenko, G research found White scoring >60% with it. (2475)/Budapest 1991. ] Clearly 2700s like Berkes pay attention to the [ Finally, I can't resist mentioning a possible statistics too! "Double Extended Fianchetto" with 5...g5!?N [ For lines associated with 4.0-0 e6 5.d3 190
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 The idea isn't completely stupid! ] 6.0-0 e7 7.a3 By now we're well-familiar with this prod. [ Despite the "knight on the rim, " 7.a5!? also isn't bad. ] 7...a5 8.d3 d5 9.ce5 bd7 [ 9...0-0 10.axb4 axb4 11.xa8 xa8 Benidze, D (2491)-Arutinian, D (2566)/Tbilisi G E O 2 0 1 0 , a n d n o w 12.c4! would be similar to the game. ] 10.c4 0-0 11.cxd5 xd5 12.c4 [ or 12.e4 b7 13.e3 ] 12...b6 13.axb4 [ 13.e3!? ] 13...xc4 14.dxc4 axb4! 15.xa8 xa8 16.e3 e4 17.xd8 xd8 18.e5 a8! Black has essentially equalized, but W hite can hope to maintain a slim endgame edge due to his better pawn structure. A similar situation occurs in some Catalan endgames. 19.d1 h6 20.h4! a2?! Giving White a window of opportunity. [ 20...d6 is safer. ] 21.xe4 xe4 22.d7 f6 23.d3 c5! Black defends accurately. [ After 23...b3 24.xc7 xb2 25.b7 f6 26.b8+ h7 27.xb3 xe2 28.c5 Black must endure an unpleasant defense. ] 24.b3 xe2 25.g2! c2 26.f3 d2+ 27.xd2 xd2 28.xc5 b2 29.h5 f8 30.d3 c3! Now the position is equal. 31.d7+ e8 32.c5?! The remainder of the game seems like time trouble. [ 32.c5= ] 32...c2?! [ Missing a chance to turn the tables with 32...e1! 33.c6 xf2+ 34.g4 c2 and White is the one who has to think about drawing. ] 33.b6 e1? [ After 33...e5! Black will be able to play ... Bc3-d4, e.g. 34.d5 d4 35.c4 c3+ 36.e4 xb3 and Black should hold. ] 34.c4 xf2+? [ The endgame following 34...c3 35.xc3 xc3 ( 35...bxc3 36.e3+- ) 36.e4 is likely losing, it will at least tax W hite's technique. ] 35.g4+- The c-pawn is unstoppable. e7 [ 35...a2 36.c6 f2 37.d6+ d8 38.b5+ c8 39.c7+- ]
36.c6 f5 37.d7+ f6 38.c7 g5+ 39.f3 c5 40.d6 c3+ 41.e2 xg3 42.e4+ 1-0
207 Davies,Nigel R Fishbein,Alexander Tel Aviv (7) [Nigel Davies]
A05 2460 2495 1992
The play of ...c6 and ...a5 is quite a challenge for White's system because the attack on the b4 pawn encourages the self-blocking c2-c3. But in this game I try a different approach of just taking on a5. White's pawn island gets split but there's compensation too. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 g6 3.b4 g7 4.b2 0-0 5.d3 c6 6.bd2 a5 7.bxa5!? Although this splits White's queenside pawns he has the open bf i l e a n d s o m e d a r k s q u a r e we a k n e s s e s (notably b6) to aim at. [ I didn't think that 7.a3 was anything for White because after axb4 8.axb4 xa1 9.xa1 a6 the best seems to be to block the a1-h8 diagonal with 10.c3 . ] 7...xa5 8.g2 b6 9.c4 c7 10.0-0 d5 11.cd2 bd7 12.c4 e6 13.c2 e8 14.fc1 d8 15.a4 h5 16.xg7 xg7 17.b3 [ I t w a s a l s o w o r t h c o n s i d e r i n g 17.e4 , trying to open things up in order to exploit Black's dark square weaknesses. ] 17...dxc4?! giving up the central pawn voluntarily feels like a concession. 18.xc4 b6 19.b4 d5 20.d2 [ 20.c5 might be better, but I was staring longingly at the h6 square. ] 20...e5 21.b2 [ Again White could change pace with 21.e4 c7 22.c3 f6 23.d4 . One of the difficult things about playing this kind of game is in knowing when to change pace from purely positional play to something more direct. ] 21...f6 22.fd2 e6 23.e4 e7 24.a5 Threatening to push on to a6. dc7 25.ec5 a6 26.a4 b8 27.e3 d8 28.d1 ec7 29.ac1?! After Black's reply White is no longer better. [ This was definitely the time to initiate play 191
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 W h i t e a f t e r 12.d3 e6 13.b2 h6 14.a3 , for example. ] 12.f4 d7 13.xg7 xg7 14.c3 b6 15.d3 e3+ 16.h1 d7 This leaves Black with insufficient compensation but what else should he play? [ After 16...b8 17.a4 Black's position is truly horrific. ] 17.xb7 ab8 18.f3 h5 19.a3 g4 [ Perhaps 19...h4 was a better try, but White h a s a l a r g e p l u s a f t e r 20.gxh4 xf4 21.xc5 . ] 208 A05 20.c1 d4 21.b5 d7 22.c3 h4 [ Had Black repeated the position with Davies,Nigel R 2518 22...d4 I would probably have opted for Gormally,Daniel 2476 23.xg4 hxg4 24.f5 . But with Black BCF-ch 86th Scarborough (11) 12.08.1999 needing a win at any cost I didn't think this [Nigel Davies] was likely. ] This was a big game in which my opponent 23.e3 xf3+ 24.xf3 hxg3 25.xg3 had to win so part of my job was to frustrate c6+ 26.f3 f6 27.c1 h8 28.e4 him and get him to take risks. Even without h4 29.h3 d7 30.cg1 In addition to the this the position looks nice for White after 9. extra pawn White has strong pressure on the Ne5, and I like Dizdarevic's treatment with 11. kingside. b2?! 31.g5! Closing in for the Nc3. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 g6 3.b4 g7 4.b2 kill. f8 32.a4 b6 33.e3 e8 34.f5! f8 d6 5.g2 c5 6.bxc5 dxc5 7.0-0 0-0 8.c4 35.xc5 f6 36.f3 h5 37.a5 b2 38.c6 c6 9.e5 White has played other moves 1-0 here but it makes sense to open the h1-a8 diagonal. The bishop on g2 exerts a lot of 209 A05 pressure. xe5 Erdos,Viktor 2637 [ There's a case for Black avoiding this Khenkin,Igor 2655 e x c h a n g e w i t h 9...a5 , for example 17.03.2013 10.c2 d7 ( 10...f5 11.d3 d7 Bundesliga 1213 (12.1) 12.xd7 xb2 13.xb2 xd7 14.a3 [Danny Gormally] was slightly better for W hite in Simic, R (2495)-Cosma, I (2435), Belgrade 1994) 1.f3 [ When I looked at the game we are 11.xd7 xb2 12.xb2 xd7 13.d3 c8 currently discussing, I was immediately 14.c3 c6 15.h4 e6 restricted White to reminded of the following game: 1.c4 c5 j u s t a s m a l l p l u s i n D i zd a r , G ( 2 4 6 5 ) 2.b3 f6 3.b2 g6 4.xf6! Diagram An Velimirovic, D (2575), Sarajevo 1986. ] excellent decision, wrecking the structure. 10.xe5 b6 11.b3 With my opponent Perhaps one of the most outstanding facets needing a win for a GM norm I wasn't of the current world champion challenger concerned about an excess of solidity. Magnus Carlsen is his photographic recall. I [ In Dizdarevic, E (2515)-Licina, A (2125), was stunned when during the course of a Bled 1994 W hite offered a pawn sacrifice press co nf eren ce a t last ye ars Lo nd o n with 11.c3 e6 12.f4 after which xc4 chess classic, the young Norwegian 13.b1 a6 14.a4 e6 15.a3 d8 superstar mentioned this game in passing 16.xb7 xb7 17.xb7 c4 18.b1 g4 (along with a number of other obscure old 19.xg7 xg7 20.xa8 xa8 21.b7 games that have mostly been forgotten.) gave him a clear advantage. ] How, I thought, can someone so young 11...e6 kn o w a b o u t so m a n y g a m e s t h a t we r e [ Maybe 11...d8 was better but I still prefer in the centre with 29.d4 . ] 29...b4 30.bc5 xb2 [ 30...xa5 31.d4 would be very dangerous for Black with his queen so far out of play. ] 31.xb2 xc5 32.xc5 e6 33.a1 a8 34.f1 d5 35.xd5+ xd5 36.xd5 cxd5 37.e4 dxe4 [ It's dead equal after 37...dxe4 38.dxe4 b6 39.c4 bxa5 40.xa5 xa5 41.xa5 . ] ½-½
192
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 played before he was even born? This not only shows his remarkable memory, but also demonstrates a classical training that goes far beyond the usual computer clones. exf6 5.c3 g7 6.g3 c6 7.g2 f5 8.e3 0-0 9.ge2 a6 10.c1 b5 11.d3 b7 12.0-0 d6 13.d2 a5 14.fd1 ab8 15.d5 xd2 16.xd2 Karpov, A (2630)Browne, W (2530)/San Antonio 1972. ] 1...c5 2.b3 b6 3.b2 b7 4.g3 f6 5.g2 g6 6.xf6! A strong strategic decision, similar to the Karpov game. W hite exchanges the bishop for the knight on f6 like he does in the Trompovsky, but here he already has a n important concession- the enduring weakness of the d5 square. [ Nevertheless the straightforward approach wasn't bad either- 6.c4 g7 7.0-0 0-0 8.c3 a6 9.d4 d5 10.e5 e6 11.dxc5 bxc5 12.cxd5 exd5 13.d3 e7 14.a4 ac8 15.c1 White has strong play against the hanging pawns, Andersson, U (2585)Miles, A (2510)/La Valetta 1980. ] 6...exf6 7.c4 f5 8.c3 g7 9.c1 c6 10.0-0 0-0 11.e1 a6 12.d3 b8 13.f4 d6 14.e3 White has an obvious long-term strategic edge, and more importantly it is not so easy to suggest improvements for Black, who is devoid of any aggressive or creative ideas due to the clamp White has on the d5 square. e8 15.fd5 a8 16.a4 d7 17.c2 e5 18.b1 c6 19.f4! To use one of those clichés us chess writers are all too familiar with, "White's game plays itself". xd5 [ 19...g4 20.h3 f6 21.xf6+ xf6 22.xc6 xc6 23.d5 would be a dream position for White- devotees of the Najdorf are all too aware of the dangers of allowing a dominant knight to reach the d5 square. ] 20.xd5 c6 21.b4! e7 22.bxc5 bxc5 23.b6 c7 24.a5 f6 25.a4 bd8 26.d5 xd5 27.xd5 e7 [ 27...b8 28.b7! is one of those happy tactics that tend to happen when you have such overwhelming strategic advantages. ] 28.b6+- h5 29.fb1 c8 30.c6 d7 31.bb6 h4 32.b3 g7 33.xa6 g5 34.ab6 hxg3 35.hxg3 gxf4 36.gxf4 e8 37.xd6 xd6 38.xd6 d4 39.f3 h8 40.d1 h4 41.g2 xe3 42.dxe3 xe3 43.a1+ g8 44.h1 f2+ 45.h3 xf4
46.d8+ h7 47.g2 1-0
210 Miroshnichenko,Evgenij Krasenkow,Michal 5th IECC Antalya TUR (10) [Tony Kosten]
A05 2599 2609 25.05.2004
1.f3 c5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.0-0 g7 5.d3 f6 6.c3 I prefer to push this pawn an e x t r a s q u a r e m y s e l f ! 0-0 7.a3 e5 An innovation, Black wants to counter White's threatened b4 tactically. [ 7...d6 8.b4 e5 9.bd2 is more normal, Utasi,T-Stohl,I/Stary Smokovec 1984. ] 8.b4 e4!? Blowing the diagonal open, [ 8...d6 is more solid. ] 9.dxe4 xe4 10.d5!! White shows he is also ready to play tactically, this move sacs the c-pawn to stop Black from playing ...d5 a n d f i n i s h i n g h i s d e v e l o p m e n t . xc3 11.xc3 xc3 12.g5 The point, the f-pawn is pinned so the black queen must move. e8 13.xc5! White offers the exchange for control of the dark squares. xa1 Black has to capture, otherwise he is positionally worse f o r n o t h i n g . 14.xa1 e6 15.d1 White has to stop Black from freeing himself by ...d6. e8 16.d6! Brilliant! The game will be decided without the participation of Black's qu e e n si d e p i e ce s . xe2 17.f6 e6 I think that Black should stop White's next by [ 17...b5! e.g. 18.g5 e6 19.h6 xf6 20.xf6 b2 21.f4 g7 22.xg7+ xg7 23.e5 with the advantage, but Black is still on the board. ] 18.b5 xd6? The decisive mistake, I don't see any clear win after [ 18...xf6 19.xf6 b2 20.d6 d8 ] 19.xd6 xb5?! Black had to take his chances with [ 19...e6 20.f4! ( 20.xe6 fxe6 21.bxc6 bxc6 is not too bad for Black) 20...e7 21.g5 e1+ 22.f1 f5 23.g4 but he is in big trouble. ] 20.g5 W hite's attack is decisive. b1+ 21.f1 e1 22.xh7! e8 [ 22...xh7 23.f8 forces mate. ]
193
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.f4! e7 24.c3 1-0
211 Narciso Dublan,Marc Pedersen,Jan Open Andorra AND (6) [Tony Kosten]
A05 2544 2339 05.07.2001
1.f3 f6 2.g3 g6 3.b4!? This is favoured by Angus Dunnington in his book on the Reti. W hite gains space on the queenside, and prepares to counter the pressure of the g7bishop along the a1-h8 diagonal. g7 4.b2 0-0 5.g2 d5 [ A n g u s g i v e s m o s t a t t e n t i o n t o 5...d6 and ...e5, with more typical KI play, and considers this line via the alternative moveorder ] [ 5...c6 6.0-0 a5 7.a3 axb4 8.axb4 xa1 9.xa1 b6 10.c3 d5 ] 6.0-0 c6 7.d3 a5 8.a3 axb4 [ 8...b6 9.c3 ] 9.axb4 xa1 10.xa1 b6 11.c3 White has a flexible position, but I don't think Black would be too concerned about that. The position is level, but there is lots of play for both sides. g4 [ More active than 11...bd7 12.bd2 c7 13.c4 e5 14.c2 with a small edge, Polugaevsky-Kortschnoi, Moscow 1966. ] 12.bd2 fd7!? Unusual, [ 12...bd7 is more common, 13.a4 e5!? the most forthright move, ( 13...c7 14.c4 dxc4 15.dxc4 c5 16.b5 b6 17.b3 a8 is equal, Smyslov,V-Bronstein,D/Amsterdam 1964/IZT. ) 14.h3 garnering the bishops, ( 14.e4 c7 15.c4 dxe4 16.dxe4 led to a quick draw in Balashov,Y-Khalifman, A / L v o v 1 9 9 0) 14...xf3 15.xf3 h6 16.a2 Angus' f avoured line, ( 16.b3 allowed e4 17.g2 c7 18.a7 h5! 19.dxe4 dxe4 Chechelian - Baikov, Moskauch 1974 when the threat of ...e3 is difficult to counter, e.g. 20.e3 xg3 21.fxg3 xg3 22.h1 e5 winning quickly.) 16...d8 ( 16...b8!? 17.b1 d8 would allow Black t o ga in c o n t r o l o f t h e a -f ile , b y . . . Ra 8) 17.b1 planning e4, with a small plus due to the bishop pair, Poley,V-Fries Nielsen,J/
Rimavska Sobota 1991. ] 13.h3 A new, but very obvious, continuation. [ 13.b3 a6 14.b2 a8 15.a1 is roughly level, Popovic,P-Banas,J/Trnava 1980. ] 13...xf3 14.xf3!? White wants to keep good control of e4, should Black try ...e5. a6 15.c2 e6 The solid line, Black asks how W hite will break him down . 16.e3 a8 17.b2 c5!? With all his pieces in action Black passes onto the offensive. 18.d4!? [ 18.bxc5 axc5 19.a1? xa1+ 20.xa1 a6 loses a pawn. ] 18...cxb4?! [ 18...cxd4! 19.exd4 c7 is strong, how does White rid himself of the c3-pawn? ] 19.c4! White frees his position at the cost of a doubled pawn. c7 20.b3 f6 21.b1 f8 22.c3 If White an successfully recapture the pinned b-pawn he will have an undeniable positional edge. dxc4 23.xc4 b5 24.xb4 xb4 25.xb4 xb4 26.xb4 a1+ 27.g2 b5 28.e5 [ 28.d6! is much more to the point. ] 28...a2 29.b3 c2 30.g4 fd5 31.e4 a2 32.b1 [ 32.g5 looks good, fixing the black kingside. ] 32...a7 33.h4 h6 [ 33...f6!? ] 34.g3 b7 35.e4 e7 36.g5 White is completely outplaying his opponent, advancing his kingside pawns while Black is obliged to passively defend his b-pawn. hxg5 37.hxg5 g7? [ 37...c8 is much better, the knight can defend both f7 and b5 from the d6-square. ] 38.f3 e8 39.xf7+ g8 40.f4? [ Time trouble, I suppose, White allows the bpawn to advance, 40.a2 wins quickly. ] 40...b4 41.g4 g7 42.f6 d6 43.h4 b3 44.h7+ f8 45.h8+ f7 46.d5?! A peculiar move, without this W hite is still better. exd5 47.exd5 ef5+ Black finds a square! 48.g2 b2 49.h7+ f8 50.xb7 xb7 51.d7+ g7 52.e5 bd6 Black's b-pawn saves the day, W hite can hardly win it without allowing Black into his kingside. 53.f1?! e7 54.e2 [ If 54.d3 xd5 55.xb2 f7 draws. ] 54...xd5 55.d2 f4 56.c3 f7 194
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 57.xf7 xf7 ½-½
212 Roiz,Michael Aleksandrov,Aleksej IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (9) [Carsten Hansen]
A05 2659 2582 30.04.2008
1.f3 f6 2.g3 b5 3.g2 b7 4.0-0 e6 5.d3 d6 6.c3 [ White has tried a few other things at this early stage: A) 6.c4 bxc4 7.dxc4 A) 7...c5 8.c3 e7 9.c2 0-0 ( 9...c6 10.d1 0-0 11.a3 h6 12.b1 c7 13.h3 fd8 14.e4 d7 15.e2 ac8 16.e3 e5= Motwani, P-Guidarelli, L/Port Barcares FRA 2005) 10.d1 b6 11.a3 bd7 12.f4 fd8 13.b4 cxb4 14.axb4 a6 15.a4 c7 16.b3 ac8 17.ac1 Akopian, V-Pogorelov, R/Ubeda 1996; B) 7...e7 8.c3 0-0 9.e1 c5 10.b3 c6 11.b2 a6 12.d2 c7 13.ad1 ad8 14.c1 d7 15.e4 fd8 Anand, V-Kortschnoj, V/Roquebrune 1992 16.f4!? ] [ B) 6.e4 (this is White's most popular choice) A) 6...c5 7.a4 a6 8.axb5 axb5 9.xa8 xa8 10.a3 c6 11.e5 fd7 12.exd6 xd6 13.g5 b4 ( 13...b6!? ) 14.c4 f6 15.e2 xg2 16.xg2 e7 17.e3 0-0= Vukic, M-Karpov, A/Bugojno 1978; B) 6...e7 7.e1 0-0 8.e5 xg2 9.exf6 xf1 10.fxe7 xe7 11.xf1 d7 12.e2 c6 13.f3 Quinteros, M-Minev, N/Cienfuegos 1972; C) 6...bd7 C1) 7.e1 b8 8.a4 b4 9.bd2 e7 10.c4 0-0 11.c3 a8 12.c2 d5 13.exd5 xd5 14.fe5 f6 15.d4 c5 , Kirov, N-Anastasian, A/Aegina 1993, and here W hite would do best to play 16.e4 g6 17.h6 xe5 18.dxe5; C2) 7.c3!? b4 8.e2 c5 9.h3 e7 10.g4 h6 11.a3 a5 12.g3 c7 13.e2 e5 14.xe5 dxe5 15.f4 , Conquest, S-Krasenkow, M/Dhaka 1995, bxa3 16.b3 ( 16.bxa3 c4 )
16...c4!? 17.bxc4 b4 ( 17...c5+ 18.h1 exf4 19.xf4 e5 20.e3 ) 18.f5 ( 18.fxe5 c3 19.xa3 xe5 ) 18...d6 19.fxe6 fxe6 20.h2 0-0; C3) 7.h4 d5 8.e2 dxe4 9.dxe4 C3a) 9...d6 10.f3 0-0 ( 10...e5 11.xb5 b8 12.bd2 0-0 13.e2 c5 14.d1 ) 11.e5 xf3 12.xf3 xe5 13.xa8 xa8 14.xa8 xa8; C3b) 9...c8?! 10.d1 b8 11.d2 c6 12.b3 c5 13.e5 xg2 14.xc5 ( 14.exf6!? xb3 15.axb3 c6 16.e5 g8 17.fxg7 xg7 18.c5 d5 19.e1 d8 20.c4 b7 21.h5 , and Black is in serious trouble ) 14...a8 15.exf6 xc5 16.fxg7 g8 17.e3 b7 18.f3 b6 19.xc5 ( 19.f5 xe3+ 20.xe3 xg7 21.a4 b4 22.d3 ) 19...xc5+ 20.f2 xf2+ 21.xf2 xg7 , and Black is over the worst, Soppe, G-Dorin, M/Pena City 1996; C4) 7.bd2 (this is the most frequently seen move, and also the normal continuation against other set-ups from Black, but other moves are not without merit either) C4a) 7...c5 is a solid alternative, e.g. C4a1) 8.e2 c7 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 a6 11.c4 b6 12.2b3 bxc4 13.xc4 e5 14.f5 b5 15.c7 c6 16.xc6 xc6 17.d1 ( 17.e1!? ) 17...xe4 18.xd6+ xd6 19.xd6 xg2 20.xg2 e7= Vladimirov, E-Novopashin, A/ Volgodonsk 1981; C4a2) 8.e1 c7 9.f1 e7 10.h3 0-0 11.g4 h8 12.g3 ac8 13.g5 d5 14.exd5 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/ 2, in Nikolic, Z-Mackic, Z/Niksic 1997, even if Black is doing rather well after xd5; C4a3) 8.a4 a6 9.g5 b8 10.f4 h6 11.h3 e5 12.axb5 axb5 13.c4 c6 14.b3 e7 15.h1 0-0= Vasiukov, E-Donchenko, A/Arvier ITA 2006; C4b) 7...e7 8.e2 ( 8.e1 e5 9.a4 a6 10.b3 c5 11.d2 b4 12.c1 c4 195
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.dxc4 xe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.d3 Fiorito, F-Dorin, M/ARG 1995 ) 8...c5 9.a4 a6 10.b3 0-0 11.b2 b6 12.e5 dxe5 13.xe5 xe5 14.xe5 xg2 15.xg2 fd8= Huebner, R-Aleksandrov, A/Batumi 1999 ] [ C) 6.a4 b4 A) 7.e4 e7 8.e1 bd7 9.f4 b8 10.e3 1/2-1/2 was Quinteros, M-Panno, O/Buenos Aires 1975 c5 11.g4 h6 is unclear; B) 7.a5 c5 8.c3 ( 8.e4 a6 9.bd2 c6 10.c4 e7 11.e1 1/2-1/2 Maletin, PGeller, J/Nishnij Tagil RUS 2005) 8...bxc3 9.xc3 e7 10.a6 c6 11.d4 cxd4 12.xd4 xg2 13.a4+ d7 14.xg2 xa4 15.xa4 fd7 16.e3 c5 Lysyj, I-Geller, J/Nishnij Tagil RUS 2005 17.a3; C) 7.bd2 (this is, again, probably the best move for White) bd7 8.c4 a5 9.e4 e7 10.c3 d5 11.exd5 xd5 12.d2 c5 13.e2 0-0 14.fd1 c7 15.ce5 xe5 16.xe5 f6 17.g4 e7 18.c4 b6 19.f4 Todorcevic, MMackic, Z/Tivat 1995 ] [ D) 6.a3!? b4 7.c4 c5 8.e4 e7 9.a3 d5 10.exd5 exd5 11.ce5 , and White has the initiative, Sergeev, V-Manik, M/Czech Rep CZE 2004 ] 6...bd7 7.a4 [ A) 7.b3!? aims to take advantage of the loose b5-pawn and the unprotected bishop placed behind it. b8 8.a4 d5 9.c2 b4 10.c4 ( 10.e4!? b3 11.e2 looks clearly better for White.) 10...a8 11.bd2 g6 12.b3 c5 13.h3 ( 13.e4!? g7 14.g5 leaves White with a slight initiative to build on, whereas Black's queenside operations are at a standstill for now.) 13...g7 14.e3 0-0 15.d2 b6 ( 15...c7 16.h6 d5 17.cxd5 xd5!? ) 16.h6 xf3 17.xf3 d5 with chances for both players, Oztan, DMach, P/Rimavska Sobota 1996 ] [ B) 7.bd2 c5 8.e4 e7 9.e1 0-0 10.e2 b6 11.a4 a6 12.h3 c6 with a comfortable game for Black, Lenic, L-Barnaure, V/Balatonlelle HUN 2003 ] 7...a6 8.a3 [ This is a novelty over 8.axb5 axb5 9.a3
d5 10.b4 c6 11.f4 b6 12.b3 e7 13.e4!? 0-0 14.e5 fd7 15.h4 ( 15.d4!? obviously deserves attention with the bishop being buried on b7 for some time to come. Black will likely continue with g5 16.e3 f6 , claiming some counterplay, though White's chances still seem preferable. With the text move, White aims to prevent Black's p a w n a d v a n c e .) 15...a4 16.c2 ( White should give consideration to 16.d4 a8 17.a2 a7 18.fa1 a8 19.d2 f6 20.h3 f5 21.d1; 16.a2 a8 17.fa1 a7 18.h5 h6 19.d4 a8 20.d2 ) 16...c5 17.d4 cxb4 18.xb4 c7 , and Black is now fully in the game, Smyslov, V-Savon, V/Odessa 1974 ] 8...c6 9.d2 [ 9.axb5!? axb5 10.d4 d5 11.e4!? b4 is complicated, but not necessarily any better for White despite his lead in development ] 9...d5 10.b4 [ This looks like the normal move, but White can do better with the more aggressive 10.f4!? , and after e7 , then White strikes with 11.e4! with the initiative in White's hands, e. g. dxe4 12.dxe4 xe4 13.e5! xe5 14.xe5 xd1 15.fxd1 f6 16.axb5 axb5 17.xb5 ] 10...e7 11.d4 bxa4 [ 11...0-0!? can also be considered. The ga m e m o ve sh o u ld le a d t o a b a l a n c e d game ] 12.xa4 a5 13.b5?! [ White sharpens the battle, probably with Black's uncastled king in mind. But Black's position is solid and the king's situation is only a matter of temporary concern. Solid and leading to equality is 13.bxa5 xa5 14.b3 c5= ] 13...c5! And Black has taken over the initiative... 14.c2 cxb5 15.axb5 0-0 16.fb1 a4!? [ 16...g4!? 17.b3 ( 17.c4?! dxc4 18.dxc4 xg2 19.xg2 f6 20.e3 e5 is better for Black) 17...c6 18.xc5 xc5 19.d4 b6 20.h3 f6 21.c4 , and White has the initiative ] 17.c4 d7 18.b4 fc8 19.a2? [ This is a mistake of serious proportions. Instead W hite should play 19.c3! b3 196
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 19...dxc4 is probably better, though these lines are quite complicated, e.g. 20.xc5 xg2 21.xe7 xd4 22.xg2 cxd3 23.xd3 xd3 24.exd3 xc3 25.xa4 cc8 , and the players can get ready to shake hands.) 20.xb3 xb4 21.d2 xc3 22.xc3 d4 23.a3 xg2 24.xg2 a5 with a Benko Gambit-like position with the colours reversed. White is at least equal, bu t b e ing a 'B e nko 'it e ' m yself , I p re f e r White. ] 19...dxc4? [ 19...e5! 20.f3 dxc4 , and White's position falls apart with a thud. ] 20.dxc4 xg2 21.xg2 fe4 22.d1 e5 23.f3 e6 24.d5 f6 25.e1 ab8 26.xc5 xc5 27.e4 h5 28.h4 a8 29.c3 a6 [ Black should consider the promising 29...a3!? 30.b5 d7 31.b3 b6 32.xa3 xa3 33.xa3 xa3 34.xa3 xd5 35.cxd5 d7 , and Black has some winning chances, though the weakened kingside pawn structure is a concern for Black. ] 30.e2 g6 31.d1 f8 [ Or 31...f7 32.d3 b6 33.xc5 xc5 34.xa4 xc4 35.xc4+ xc4 36.b6 xa2 37.xc4= ] 32.c2 e6 [ 32...ab8 33.e3 c6 ] 33.e3 a6 [ Black has other moves available as well, though none of them promise any particular a d v a n t a g e : 33...c6!? 34.ed5 b3 35.b1 cb8 ] [ or 33...h6!? ] 34.ed5 f7 35.da1 ca8 36.b5 c8 37.bc3 ca8 38.b1 b3? [ 38...a3! is perfectly fine for Black, but time trouble likely played a serious role in the events on the board. ] 39.xa4! xa4 40.xa4 d4 41.d1 f5 [ 41...c8 42.ab6 c6 43.a4 ] 42.b6 e6 43.exf5 gxf5 44.c6 h7 [ 44...f4!? ] 45.ab6 e8?? 46.f6+! when Black takes the knight, then follows Qd1xh5+xe8. 1-0
213 Smyslov,Vassily Petrelli,Mark Los Polvorines op [Nigel Davies]
A05 2550 2200 1980
This game is a bit of a mismatch but provides an interesting illustration of some strategic themes. W hite takes space with 11.e4 and then more and more of it as the game progresses. Eventually Black is strangled without ever having played an active move. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 g6 3.b4 d5 4.b2 g7 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 b6 Black's moves look sensible enough but they don't fit together that well a double fianchetto defence would be better without ...d7-d5 for example. [ A much better idea is 6...d6 though there to o W hit e h as ch an ces of a n e d ge , f o r example 7.a3 a5 8.e5 b6 9.c3 c6 10.a4 b5 11.c5!? fd7 12.xg7 xg7 13.d3 e8 was Davies, N (2505)Lane, G (2420), W rexham 1997 and now 14.b1 intending 15.Qb2+ would have given me more of a pull. ] 7.d3 b7 8.bd2 bd7 9.c4 e6 10.c2 [ I think there's also a good case for m u n c h in g a wa y o n e o f B la c k' s c e n t r a l p a w n s wi t h 10.cxd5 , f or example xd5 11.xg7 xg7 12.c2 e5 ( 12...xb4?? 13.c3+ ) 13.a3 would put Black under longterm positional pressure. ] 10...c6 11.e4 e7 12.a4 fc8 13.a5 a6? Overawed by the occasion (it's not every day that one plays against a former W orld Champion) and the problems of the position, Black commits strategic suicide. [ He had to try 13...bxa5 when 14.xa5 xb4 15.c3 e7 16.b1 c7 is unpleasant for Black but he's definitely on the board. After the text he finds himself in a vice like grip. ] 14.axb6 xb6 15.c5 bd7 16.b3 b8 17.a5 a7 18.e5 e8 19.d4 c7 20.h4 Aiming to open a second front on the kingside. b5 21.d3 d7 22.fe1 [ White could win a pawn with 22.xb7 xb7 23.xa6 , but Smyslov probably figured this would give his opponent some undeserved freedom. ] 22...f8 23.c1 d7 24.g5 e8 25.e3 197
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f8 26.h3 b8 27.h2 e8 28.g4 c8 There's no defending those kingside dark squares. [ After 28...d7 29.f6+ xf6 ( 29...xf6 30.exf6 ) 30.exf6 h8 31.h6 Black even loses his queen. ] 29.f6+ xf6 30.exf6 d8 31.h6 e8 32.f4 h8 33.xb8 1-0
214 Stein,Leonid Rodriguez Gonzales,Jesus Capablanca mem [Nigel Davies]
A05
1968
T h is ga m e is a n e xce lle n t i llu st ra t io n o f White's strategic aims with 3.b4. He manages to nibble away Black centre pawns with 13. bxc6 and 14.c5 and then eventually takes control of the centre with his own. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 g6 3.b4 Stein liked this move, as did Smyslov. And as these are two of my favourite players I started using it myself. g7 4.b2 0-0 5.g2 d6 6.d3 bd7 7.bd2 e5 8.0-0 a5 It's not clear that Black should seek conflict on the side of the board on which he has less space. In subsequent encounters other moves have been tried, for example: [ a) 8...e8 9.c4 a5 10.a3 c6?! (Weakening the central dark squares, kind of like Rodriguez does) 11.c2 e7 12.e4 (An instructive switch to central play) f8 13.h3 h5 14.c5! dxc5 was Poley, V (2395)Hausner, I (2415), Manhems 1998, and now 15.bxa5 was probably the simplest. White is better here because it's so difficult for Black to defend his important e5 pawn. ] [ b) 8...h5 is interesting because it threatens 9. ..e4. Camara, H (2340)-Braga, C, Caxias do Sul 1975 went 9.d4 ( 9.e4!? is interesting because f5 can be met by 10.exf5 gxf5 11.xe5! ) 9...e8 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.e4 b6 and now 12.c4 was probably best, meeting a4 with 13.a3 . ] 9.a3 b6?! The knight is all wrong here, not least because of its vulnerability to the idea of c2-c4-c5. 10.c4 d7 11.b5 a4 12.c1 c5? And this is very helpful to White because it
significantly weakens Black's central pawn formation. [ 12...e7 wa s b e s t w h e n 13.c5 dxc5 ( 13...bd5 14.e4 wins a piece) 14.xe5 still gives White an excellent game because of his cen tral pawn majority and active bishops on g2 and b2. After xb5 15.xb7 ab8 16.c6 xc6 17.xc6 Black's position is unpleasant. ] 13.bxc6 xc6 [ 13...bxc6 14.c5! is very strong. ] 14.c5! dxc5 15.xc5 fd7 16.c2 e7 17.a1! Very picturesque, and something like a White ideal in the Reti Opening. Although White's pieces are posted at a distance they exert tremendous pressure. fe8 18.fc1 d5 19.e4 c7 20.d4 Finally White's central pawns push forward, and in doing so leave Black with a miserable position in which his minor pieces have difficulty finding decent squares. exd4 21.xd4 xd4 Black really wouldn't have wanted to do this, but with the bishop on c6 about to be taken he had little choice. 22.xd4 b5 23.b2 e5 24.c4 xc4 [ On 24...d3 White has 25.f6 . ] 25.xc4 d6 26.b4 ec8 27.c5 e8 28.c1 d7 29.bc4 xc5 30.xc5 c6 31.c3 f6 32.e5 After the exchange of light square bishops Black will find it difficult to defend his queenside. xg2 33.xg2 b6 34.c6 d8 35.xb6 fxe5 36.b4 d4 37.xd4 exd4 38.xd4 A clear pawn up and with ongoing pressure this is totally won for White. b7+ 39.g1 f7 40.h8 e4 41.xh7+ e6 42.h3+ d6 43.f1 c7 44.d1+ d5 45.h4 e6 46.d4 f5 47.xa4 1-0
215 Bagirov,Vladimir Polgar,Sofia Brno Morava-B (1) [Nigel Davies] 1.b3 c5 2.b2 d5 5.b5 d7 6.0-0 e6 [ This looks like an when White can try
A06 2485 2430 1991 3.e3 f6 4.f3 c6 7.d3 d6! improvement on 7...e7 to set up some pressure 198
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with 8.xc6 xc6 9.e5 . ] 8.e4 [ With the bishop on d6 Black can meet 8.xc6 xc6 9.e5 with xe5 ( 9...c8 10.f4 would make it harder for Black to defend ) 10.xe5 after which I wonder if B l a c k c a n s a c r i f i c e a p a wn wi t h d7!? ( Of course 10...0-0 is also quite playable when 11.f4 e7 12.d2 d7 13.f3 d4 14.exd4 xf3 15.xf3 f6 16.c7 cxd4 was at least equal for Black in W ettstein, M-Postler, R/Ybbs 1968) 11.xg7 g8 12.b2 h4 13.e2 0-0-0 . White's king is certainly under pressure with the g-f ile being open and Black's bishop on c6 shadowing the g2 square. ] 8...d4! [ After 8...dxe4 9.dxe4 xe4 10.e1 W hite gets more than enough for the sacrificed pawn, for example f5 11.bd2 xd2 12.xd2N e7 13.ad1 c7 14.g5 creates very strong pressure. ] 9.bd2 [ One of the points behind Black's play is that 9.xc6 xc6 10.e5 can be answered by xf3 11.xf3 xe5 12.xb7 0-0 with a very comfortable game for Black. ] 9...e5 10.c4 e7 11.c3 0-0 12.xc6 xc6 13.cxd4 cxd4 14.a4 Trying to get a slight initiative with Nxd6 followed by Bb2-a3, but this shouldn't worry Black too much. fc8 [ 14...e8 looks fine for Black here, for example 15.xd6 xd6 16.a3 f5 brings some kingside counterplay. ] 15.h4 d7 16.f3 [ Black can meet 16.f5 with xf5 17.exf5 b4 , preventing White's rook from coming to e1 and at the same time targeting the c3 square. ] 16...g6 17.c1 e8 18.g3 c7 19.e2 g7 20.g2 White wants to play f2-f4 at a moment when he will hopef ully get some initiative on the kingside. But it's not easy to get this in without Black hitting back with ...f7f5. c6 21.a3 d7 22.d2 [ After 22.f4 Black can play exf4 23.gxf4 f5 with an excellent game. ] 22...e8 23.ae1 b6 24.c1 [ Here too 24.f4 is met by exf4 25.gxf4 f5 .] 24...b7 25.c2 a6 26.fc1 e6 27.h4
d8 28.h6 c8 [ 28...b5 29.d2 a5 would have been quite good for Black. ] 29.d2 f6 30.e1 b8 31.xc8 xc8 32.xc8+ xc8 33.c4 g7?! [ 33...d8 would have been safer. Now W hite gets the better endgame and it requires good defence for Black to hold the draw. ] 34.g5! [ 34.d2 d8 35.b4 c7 fails to make an impression on Black's solid position. ] 34...xg5 35.hxg5 b5 36.axb5 axb5 37.d6 e6 38.f3 xb3 39.xe5 e8! Aiming for an opposite colour bishop endgame. 40.xe8 xe5 41.f4 b4! 42.xb4 a4 43.fxe5 xe8 44.f2 [ 44.c5? b5 45.xd4 xd3 is also nothing. ] 44...b5 45.e2 a6 46.c5 b5 47.xd4 f8 48.c5+ e8 Despite the two extra pawns White will not be able to break through. ½-½
216 Blatny,Pavel Narciso Dublan,Marc FSGM October (5) [Tony Kosten]
A06 2476 2447 06.10.1999
1.f3 f6 2.b3 d5 3.b2 g4 4.h4!? [ This must have come as something of a surprise f or B lack! 4.e3 is the standard move here, whilst ] [ 4.e5 is sometimes played. ] 4...c6 5.h3 h5 [ In some ways this justifies Whites outlandish knight move, perhaps 5...d7 could be tried. ] 6.g4 g6 7.g2 e5 8.xg6 hxg6 Black has a solid position, with good development, but White is probably happy as he has two well-placed bishops. 9.c4 c5 10.c1 d4 11.d3 The players have reached a Benoni-type position where W hite's g2bishop is unopposed. e4!? [ Ra t h e r s p e c u la t i ve , t h e s im p l e 11...a5 was fine. ] 12.dxe4 xg4 The idea behind Black's previous move, but it might not be completely 199
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 sound. 13.hxg4 xh1+ 14.xh1 h4 Hitting the h1-bishop and threatening ...d3, with an attack on f2. 15.g2 [ 15.f3 h2 16.f1 e5 is worse. ] 15...xg4 16.f1 0-0-0 17.d2 d3 18.exd3?! [ This brings the black rook too close for comfort, 18.d1 might be more circumspect, defending the e2-pawn. ] 18...xd3 19.e5 [ Freeing the e4-square and h1-a8 diagonal. 19.e1 wa s a lso p o ssib le , wh e n f4 20.c1 e3 21.d1 d3 leads to a draw. ] 19...d4 20.e1? [ To control e2, but it almost loses. 20.xd4 xd4 21.e4 is forced, although Black has no problems after a3 ] 20...e6? Missing a great chance. [ Clearly White's idea is to answer 20...c2? with 21.e4! xe4 22.xe4 xa1 23.xc5 winning, ] [ but Black has far stronger, 20...g3!! with: 21.e4! ( 21.xb7+ is answered by b8! 22.fxg3 h3+ 23.g2 f5+ 24.f3 xf3 25.d1 g1+!; whilst 21.fxg3? loses to f5+ 22.f3 xf3 ) 21...xg2 22.xg2 e2+ 23.g1 xd2 24.xd4 xd4 when Black is slightly better, because of his activity and pressure on f2, but White may be able to hold. ] 21.e4! After this, White consolidates easily. f4 22.xb7+ d8 23.b8+ e7 [ Black's position goes from bad to worse. He can't play the normal 23...d7? because of 24.c6+! xc6 25.b5# ] 24.xc7+ f8 25.xc5+ g8 26.c6 Just in time to stop the mate on g2. xd2 27.f3 White can afford this simplification because of his extra queenside pawns. xf3 28.xf3 xb2 29.d1?! [ Missing the thematic 29.c5! as we all know that 'passed pawns must be pushed'! For example: d3 30.c6! xf2+ 31.g1 c2 ( following 31...xf3?? 32.c7 the pawn queens. ) 32.e4 c3 33.xd3 xd3 34.c1 winning at a canter. ] 29...xa2 30.d8+ h7 31.e1 b2 32.d1 a5 Black has actually managed to regain material equality. 33.d7 g8 34.c5 The problem, this pawn is very difficult to stop. b1 35.d2 b2+ 36.c2 a4 37.bxa4
e6 38.c6 b8 39.c7! The simplest, this pawn sells itself dearly. c8 40.b3 xc7 [ 40...xc7? loses a piece to 41.xe6 ] 41.xf7+ f8 42.e6 g5 43.e3 Black can hardly move. 1-0
217 Carlsen,Magnus Anand,Viswanathan Zurich Chess Challenge Blitz blitz (4) [Fier, Alexandr]
A06 2872 2773 29.1.14
This was a blitz game between two W orld Champions in what we can describe as a 'blitz' variation. Actually Carlsen's idea is not that bad, so we can take a look. 1.f3 d5 2.b3 c5 3.e4!? In my database this is called the Rieger/Simon gambit, but we can think of it as a Budapest with reversed colors. White has the extra move b3, and this can bring some funny implications. dxe4 Critical, of course. [ 3...e6 would transpose to a Sicilian, coming from the moves 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.b3 d5 4.exd5 exd5 5.b5+ and White can try to get a small edge, but this is a diff erent story ] 4.g5 Apparently this is already a novelty! White usually tries to bring the knight to e5 because of the well known trick. [ 4.e5?! is the most played move and analyzed by Rieger in an old ChessBase article. It looks like White is losing a piece, but it turns out that it's not that simple. d4? after this attractive move, White is just better ( 4...a6 this is a normal move in the Budapest and I don't see any problem with playing it here 5.b2 f6 and I don't think W hite has enough for the pawn in Ma gh so o d lo o , P ( 2 0 3 0 ) -K o wsa ri n i a , A (2289)/IRI-ch Zahedan 2012.; 4...f6 is another natural alternative and better than the text 5.b2 bd7 6.c4 b5 7.e3 a6 an d t he kn igh t is n o t d oin g well o n e 3 , Bisguier, A (2370)- Krush, I (2260)/ Parsippany m 1998.) 5.b2! and now the queen will have huge problems coming back home xb2 accepting the challenge ( 5...d6 would be the last chance to come 200
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 back, but then 4...Qd4 makes no sense) 6.c3 White threatens simply 7.Nc4 e6 ( 6...a3 7.b5+ d7 8.c4 b4 9.a3 wins the queen) 7.b5+ is given as the main line by Rieger ( 7.a3 this would be simpler, since c6 8.xc6 g4 9.e2 xe2 10.xe2 doesn't change the evaluation) 7...c6 8.xc6 a6 9.d4+ ( 9.a4 is the move analyzed and things here are not that clear b5 10.xb5 axb5 11.b1 a3 12.xb5 xa2 with some c h a o s a h e a d) 9...axb5 10.dxb5 and the queen is still trapped g4 11.f3 exf3 12.gxf3 xf3 13.xf3 xa1+ 14.e2 and Black's king will have some problems, nothing is developed ] 4...f6 [ 4...f5 would also be possible, and probably would transpose to the note to the next move after 5.c3 f6 6.b5+ c6 7.e2 ] 5.c3 [ 5.c4 I would prefer this move first, forcing 5...e6 and going for the pawn, transposing to the game e6 6.c3 c6 ] 5...c6 Anand gives back the pawn without a fight. This line is also playable with reversed colors, but for me it looks like b3 can be more useful now. [ 5...f5! is critical and it's not clear if White can have enough for the pawn 6.b5+ c6 7.e2 ( 7.xc6+ is another option and again we are following in the steps of the Budapest bxc6 8.e2 d4 9.b2 using the extra move to develop the bishop h6 10.d1 d6 11.e3 e6 12.xf5 exf5 and again White has compensation, but I'm not sure if it's enough to hold the balance) 7...h6! Black can use b3 in his own favor ( 7...d4 would be the normal answer, but here I like White's position 8.f3 exf3 9.xf3 d6 10.b2 with nice play, since Black c a n ' t p l a y xc2 b e c a u s e o f 11.d3 winning the piece) 8.gxe4 xe4 9.xe4 d4 10.c3 xc2 and Black has time to get out with the bishop before d3 comes 11.b2 g6 12.c1 e6 13.0-0 and White has some compensation, but Black is fine. Playing 5.Bc4 would avoid all this, and Black playing 4...Bf5 could bring play back to this line ]
6.c4 e6 7.b2 The next few moves are normal. e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.cxe4 xe4 10.xe4 e5? And here Black probably underestimated White's response. The attack will become really dangerous, really fast. [ 10...b6 is much better than the text and the position offers chances to both sides 11.g4 tries to bring more pieces to the kingside ( 11.e1 is ok, but afterwards White doesn't ha ve a cle ar p la n b7 12.h5 d4 13.ac1 c8 and maybe White can come with c3-d4 at some point) 11...d4 12.c3 f5!? ( 12...f5 13.d4 cxd4 14.cxd4 g6 15.ad1 is interesting for White) 13.h3 c6 14.g3 and even if White manages to take on f5, Black's pieces are better placed A) 14...xd2 can be dangerous 15.ab1 ( 15.xf5 is also possible, but White will lose an exchange in the complications xb2 16.f3! d7 17.ad1 h8 18.xd7 e5 19.e3 xd7 20.xe7 ae8 21.xe6 d2 and Black is slightly better ) 15...h8 16.b5!? Black can d e f e n d t h e k n ig h t i n a g o o d wa y e5 ( 16...b7 17.fd1 and the rook will enter the 7th rank g5 18.d7 a6 19.f4! xf4 20.xc6 xc6 21.xe7 and White is a bit better, but the position is still unclear; 16...d6 17.bd1 c7 18.fe1 e5 19.h5 with compensation) 17.h5 and White can come with 18.Rfd1 and the position is far from clear; B) 14...e5 15.xf5 f6 16.e3 xc4 17.xc4 b5 with compensation for the pawn ] 11.f4! Suddenly the position is quite d a n g e r o u s f o r B l a c k . exf4 12.h5?! One more time I think that the idea was right, but the move order not best. [ 12.xf4! d4 13.h5 g6 14.e5 would transpose to the game, avoiding 12... Be6 ] 12...d4 Now Black is already lost. It's interesting to see how the position went so wrong in 12 moves. [ 12...e6 was necessary and things are not so clear 13.xe6 other moves are not good ( 13.xf4 xc4 14.bxc4 d4 is fine for Black; 13.d3 f5 14.ae1 g6 15.h6 d4 and the attack is under control, so Black is better) 13...fxe6 14.g4 d4 201
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.c3 f5 16.xf4 c4! closing the long the natural development of the bishop to diagonal, with a double-edged position ] g4 saves one tempo! 7.g2 ( 7.xf6 exf6 13.xf4 g6 14.e5 b6 8.e2+ e7 9.g2 0-0! 10.cxd5? e8 ) [ 14...e6 was the last chance to play this 7...g7 8.0-0! 0-0! 9.f4 e8! 10.xg7 move, but White already has a clear edge xg7 11.d3 e6 12.d2 d7 13.f3 after 15.xe6 fxe6 16.xf8+ xf8 b6 Black squared strategy while the 17.xc5 xc5 18.xc5 c6 White has an opposing bishop hits a granite wall of extra pawn and the bishop is quite strong ] pawns on his own colour. 14.c2 fd8 15.af1 All White's pieces are centralized and 15.c3 a5 16.fd1 b4 17.b2 a4 look ing at Black's kin g. The re is alread y 18.e1 axb3 19.c2 b6 20.axb3 nothing to do and the computer gives at least xa1 21.xa1 c5 22.c3 dxc4 +10! f5 16.g4 23.bxc4 f5 24.c2 b3 25.xb3 [ 16.xf5 gxf5 17.xf5 c8 18.g5 d6 xb3 26.f1 a8 27.g4 h4! 28.d4 19.xf7 xe5 20.xe7+ e6 21.xe6 a2 29.e3 d2+ 30.g1 xg2 could be another way to finish the game ] 31.xg2 e4 32.f1 d2 33.f5 exf5 16...e6 17.xe6 fxe6 18.xf8+ xf8 34.gxf5 xd4 35.b1 d7 36.e1 g7 19.f6+ h8 20.c3 37.f3 c5 38.e2 h5 39.fxg6 fxg6 [ 20.e8+ was quicker, with a beautiful mate 40.a2 f7+ 41.g2 d3 42.c2? that Carlsen sees on the next move g8 e1+ 0-1 Brunelliere, P (2294) - Prie, E 21.h8+ xh8 22.xf8# ] (2489) Nantes op 2002 Clear, wasn't it?! ] 20...c6 21.e8+ 2...f5 3.b2 e6 4.f3 So the London 1-0 approach also works with reversed colours, with the slight difference that W hite could have played 218 A06 [ 4.f4 here under reasonable conditions. ] Chaplin,Erik 2140 4...d7 5.e2 c6 6.0-0 gf6 7.d3 d6 Prie,Eric 2516 8.bd2 e7 Actually, it is exactly the same Ouest Toulousain 2007 (3.1) 20.02.2007 position as against Karpatchev and the reason why I materialize it as a bonus game in this [Eric Prié] update... with the one difference that Black has spared the h-pawn move! 9.a3 1.b3 d5 2.e3 [ 9.h4 g6 Indeed, the fact that White has [ 2.f4 g4! ] already castled kingside provides Black with [ 2.b2 g4 the clear plan of action of castling queenside A) 3.f3 xf3 ( 3...d7 4.c4 c6 and himself creating attacking opportunities, Of course is also playable but it is thanks to the open h-file, when White will instructive for the d-Pawn Specials' World have taken the bishop. That is the problem to note that this idea of giving deliberately with playing defensive set-ups as the first up the queen's bishop against the Nf3 may player: Black systematically finds a way to be promising only in the case of an adapt... ] opposite queenside fianchetto like 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 b6 3.Bxf6 and the same plan 9...e5 10.h4 e6 11.hf3 [ 11.e4!? xe4 ( 11...0-0 ) 12.xe4 dxe4 of annihilating the potential of the 13.dxe4 c5! ( 13...xh4 14.xd6 xe4 opposing pair of bishops precisely on the 15.d3 d5 16.c7 ) 14.f5 xf5 long diagonal. ); 15.exf5 0-0-0 16.d2 f6 ( 16...e4 B) 3.c4 c6 4.f3 xf3 5.exf3 f6 6.g3 17.e3 e5 18.xe5 xe5 19.b4 a4 g6! So if White takes on f6 to inflict his 20.xa7 c3 21.c4 ) 17.a5 b8 opponent a symmetrically defective 18.ad1 ] structure, he will still have to deal with some annoying dark-squared weaknesses 11...h6 12.b4 [ 12.e4! ] because of the move b2-b3. A concern [ 12.c4 f5? 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.e4! dxe4 that is not symmetric, itself, because of 202
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.dxe4 xe4 16.c4 0-0 17.d3 dc5 18.xe4 xe4 19.xd6 ] 12...f5! 13.b3 [ 13.e4 dxe4 ( 13...h7 14.e1 ) 14.dxe4 xe4 15.c4 0-0-0 16.d3 e6 17.xd6+ xd6 18.xe5 xe5 19.xe5 ] 13...0-0 14.fd2 fe8 15.d4 exd4 16.xd4 g6 17.c4 a5 18.bxa5 xa5 19.a4 e5 20.2b3 [ 20.cxd5 xd5 ] 20...aa8 21.cxd5 xd5 22.a5 ad8 Y e s , I a m a c e n t r a l p l a y e r ! 23.a6? time trouble already. bxa6 24.xa6? b4-+ 25.a4 c5 26.b5 c2 27.a1 xb3 28.a7 e6 29.xd6 xd6 0-1
219 Francsics,Endre Eperjesi,Laszlo FSIMA Nov, Budapest HUN (3) [Tony Kosten]
A06 2245 2340 1997
1.d3 d5 2.f3 f6 3.f4 One of the few lines that leads to truly original positions. It is a speciality of Francsics, and, in actual fact, he is th e only p layer who seems to have played it. It is reminiscent of a known line for Black against 1 d4. c5 The most ambitious reply [ 3...c6 is a solid alternative 4.c3 ( 4.bd2 b6! 5.b3 g6 6.c3 g7 exploiting the a1-h8 diagonal 7.c2 h5 8.g3 d7 and black already has an edge, Francsics, EMas,H/Budapest 1997.) 4...g4 ( Now, 4...b6 achieves nothing af ter 5.c2 ) 5.bd2 bd7 6.h3 h5 7.a4 e6 is level, Francsics,E-Szeberenyi,A/ Budapest 1997 ] 4.c3 [ 4.bd2 g4 ( 4...b6 causes more problems ) 5.e4 e6 6.h3 h5 7.c3 c6 8.b3 b6 is fairly equal, Francsics,ELehmann,Z/ Budapest 1997 ] 4...c6 5.bd2 h5! Black forces the exchange of White's active bishop, and gains the bishop pair. [ 5...g6 is simpler, but allows White to maintain his dark-squared bishop on the h2b8 diagonal, 6.h3 g7 7.g4!? h5 8.g5
h7 9.g1 e5 10.h2 reaching an original position, but one that should be a bit better for Black Francsics,E-Eperjesi,L/ Budapest1997 ] 6.g3 g6 Black does not rush to capture the bishop, as it is not going to run away! 7.e4 [ 7.h4 h6 and ...g5, forces the retreat of the white bishop to g3, anyway ] 7...g7 8.b3 d4 Black gains space in the centre. 9.c1 xg3 10.hxg3 0-0 11.d5?! An original idea, but not particularly effective. dxc3 12.bxc3 xd5 Black is happy with a promising endgame, but [ 12...a5! was even better, Black can certainly play for the attack with a lead in development, and with the white king stuck in the centre 13.b3 e6 , black enjoys a strong initiative. ] 13.exd5 b8 14.d4 d7 15.b3 cxd4 16.fxd4 White has managed to obtain some sort of position, but his hanging pawns, and Black's bishop pair, are likely to tell against him in th e lo n g ru n . b6 17.c4 d7 18.h4!? Another original move from White, developing his out-of-play king's rook. fc8 19.e4 f6 20.g4 a5! 21.c2 a4 22.cd4 b6 23.c2 h5! After a little repetition, Black finds a better plan. 24.f3 Unfortunately, [ 24.gxh5 loses rapidly, to f5 25.e2 xc4 when the white position falls apart. ] 24...hxg4 25.fxg4 g5 26.d2 a4 Black is winning material. 27.d4 c5 28.e5 f6 29.2f3 xe5 30.xe5 g7 31.b1 a4 Black's extra exchange is more than sufficient to win. 32.b6 a6 33.b2 e6 34.d3 exd5 35.cxd5 0-1
220 Hodgson,Julian M Speelman,Jonathan S ch Millfield ENG (2) [Tony Kosten]
A06 2640 2623 01.08.2000
B y wh a t a b e rr a t io n o f t h e S wis s p a ir in g sys t e m t h e t wo st ro n ge st p la ye rs i n t h e tournament were facing each other as early as round two, I don't know! 1.b3 d5 2.f3 f6 3.b2 g4 4.xf6!? 203
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Well, according to my databases this is already a novelty. 4.e5 is usual, when f5 5.d3 bd7 is level, Grigorian,K-Lein,A/Baku 1972. White is trying to play 'Trompowskystyle' with a tempo less. ] 4...gxf6 5.e3 g7 6.h3 xf3!? Another surprising move, Black voluntarily concedes one of his bishops. 7.xf3 f5 8.d4 c5 Logical play, Black is softening the white queenside dark squares, weakened by White's first move, and left without a defender by his fourth. 9.c3 c6 10.b5 a5 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.0-0 [ Presumably, White is happy with his position, else he would have played 12.xf5 w h i c h l e a d s t o a d r a w , b y f o r c e : cxd4 13.exd4 xd4! 14.b4 b6 15.cxd4 xd4 (this seems to win the rook, but) 16.c2! xa1 17.xc6+ f8 18.xa8+ g7 19.xd5 (forced) xb1+ 20.e2 xh1 21.g5+ f8 22.h6+ with a perpetual check. Still, when analysing lines as long as this there is always the fear that something will be missed! ] 12...e6 13.a3?! [ Careless, White wishes to achieve the positionally desirable advance of his b-pawn, b u t t h e r e i s a s n a g . 13.c1 is better, relieving the knight of the defence of c3, 0-0 14.a3 ab8 15.d2 cxd4 16.b4 c7 17.cxd4 when Nb3 is coming, so Black must react with a5! and equality. ] 13...b8! 14.b4?! [ This loses a sound pawn, and the game. W hite had to try 14.d1 0-0 ( 14...f4!? ) 15.d2! xc3 16.c1 b2 17.xc5 level. ] 14...cxb4 15.cxb4 xb4 The point, the apawn is pinned. 16.axb4 xa1 17.g3 0-0 18.c7 b2 Keeping the knight under control. 19.xa7 f4! White's dark squares a re c re a k in g u n d e r t h e p re ssu re . 20.exf4 xb4 21.d1 b3 22.c1 b2 Now Black is really on top. 23.a3 b8 24.f5 xa3 25.xa3 b3 26.b1 [ B a c k t o b a se , 26.c2? loses to c3 , 'pinning and winning'. ] 26...xd4 27.fxe6 fxe6 28.d2 b2 29.f3 Losing the f-pawn with check, although t h e r e wa s n o t h i n g t o b e d o n e , a n yw a y . Despite this early setback, the defending
champion, Julian Hodgson, went on to an emphatic victory. 0-1
221 Kortschnoj,Viktor Vallejo Pons,Francisco Match g/1h+25s (4) [Tony Kosten]
A06 2568 2679 10.07.2004
1.f3 d5 2.b3 This is the best way of playing Larsen's Opening, in my opinion, with his first move W hite stops Black from playing ...e5, and blocking the a1-h8 diagonal. The one disadvantage is that White can no longer play 'Bird's style' lines involving an early f4. g4 3.e3 White stops the doubling of the pawns, [ 3.b2 xf3 4.exf3 was analysed in Taimanov, M-Volzhin,A. ] 3...d7 4.b2 gf6 5.h3 xf3 Black aims for a solid structure, and quick development. [ 5...h5 is more ambitious, but Black has to beware W hite playing an appropriate g4, followed by g5 or h4. ] 6.xf3 c6 7.g4! With the bishop pair White can afford to advance his pawns more easily, here he intends to embarrass the knight on f6, and soften the long diagonal. e5 The most ambitious move, although the solid [ 7...e6 is a popular alternative, 8.c3 ( 8.h4!? h6 9.d3?! a5+! and White had some problems, Garcia Palermo,C-Godena, M/ R e g g i o E m i l i a 1 9 9 4 , b e ca u s e 10.c3? i s i m p o s s i b l e , e5 win s t he g-p awn .) 8...d6 9.g5 g8 10.h4 e7 with sharp p l a y, B a s a gi c , Z -M i ka c, M / M a ri b o r S L O 2004. ] 8.g5!? In the same match, Korchnoi also tried [ 8.c3 here: g6 ( 8...c5 9.e2!? d6 10.g3 g6 Grivas,E-Gavrilakis,N/Athens 1996 ) 9.h4 d6 10.h5 (single-minded!) e7 11.0-0-0 0-0-0 12.b1 c5 13.hxg6 hxg6 14.g2 e6 and Black is at least equal, Korchnoi,V-Vallejo Pons,F/Vera ESP 2004. ] 8...e4 9.h4 d6 [ 9...b4!? 10.h3 e7 11.xd7+ xd7 12.xe5 ( 12.a3 d6 13.b4 is interesting, threatening to win the e4-knight) 12...0-0 13.a3 a5 14.b4 c7 15.xc7 xc7 204
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with some compensation for the pawn in Taimanov,M-Davies,N/Gausdal 1992. ] 10.h3 e7 11.d3 ec5 12.d2 Play is balanced, White has the bishop pair and his kingside spearhead, whilst Black has a better central presence. a5!? Black tries to dissuade White from castling long. Previously, Black had bravely played [ 12...0-0!? when 13.0-0-0?! ( 13.f5!? plans Qg2 and h5, the white king looks reasonably safe in the centre; 13.e4 d4 14.c4 immediately is also possible) 13...a5 14.e4 d4 15.g4 a4 16.c4 axb3 17.axb3 c7 looked rather good for Black who threatens ...b5 and ... Ra2, Barle, JZelcic,R/Balatonbereny 1994. ] 13.e4 d4 14.c4 c7 15.a3!? An annoying pin, White threatens to capture on d7. f8 16.c3! A clever tactic. d8 [ 16...dxc3?! is met by 17.e3 b6 18.c1 when W hite will regain the c3-pawn and then shatter the black structure by capturing on c5. ] 17.b4!? Korchnoi continues to play sharply. axb4 18.cxb4 b5! Black is up to the task, [ 18...a6?! allows the forcing line 19.b5 b4 20.d1 cxb5 21.b1 bxc4 22.a4+ d7 23.xb4 with advantage. ] 19.xe5 xe5 20.bxc5 g6 21.f5 A f t e r a ll t h e t a ct ica l p la y t h e p o sit io n i s approximately level, White has an extra pawn but his structure is worse. f4 22.c1 g6 23.g4 a8 24.xf4 White heads for the opposite-colour bishop ending, which should be drawn, but otherwise the knight on f4 was to o s t ro n g. xf4 25.xf4 xf4 26.d1 The bisho p is ide ally p laced on b3 , b ot h defending a2 and attacking f7. h6 27.g1 hxg5 28.hxg5 a3! 29.b3 h5 This is OK, but Black must have been very short of time as h e co uld simply ca pture immediately: [ 29...xg5 the bishop cannot be captured because of ...Rh1+ winning the a1-rook. ] 30.e2 xg5 31.h1 e7 32.xh5 gxh5 33.g1 f8 34.g3 a7 35.f3 White finally manages to attack f7, but Black is prepared for its defence. xc5 36.f5 a3 37.xh5 c5? A very bad move, almost anything else drew easily, e.g. [ 37...g7 38.f4 c7 intending...c5-c4. ]
38.h8+ e7 There was no way to avoid losing a pawn, [ 38...g7 39.b8 b4 40.c8 and the cpawn drops. ] 39.xf7 T h e p o i n t . c4? 40.xc4 Another pawn drops, Rh7+ is still threatened, so the bishop is still safe from capture. 1-0
222 Nogueiras Santiago,Jesus David,Vincent Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (7) [Tony Kosten]
A06 2528 2356 27.02.2003
A friend of mine has just taken up 1 e4, and was telling me how much shorter his games seemed to be. Perhaps I should show him this miniature, where Black makes no obvious blunder and gets completely flattened by 1 Nf3! 1.f3 d5 2.e3!? An interesting moveord er, p erhap s W hite wa s worried ab ou t Black trying to hang on to the pawn after [ 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 which is the normal way this position arises. ] 2...f6 3.c4 dxc4 4.a3!? Unusual, but perfectly logical, W hite brings the queen's knight to the useful c4-square, rather than play the obvious [ 4.xc4 as in Zvjaginsev,V-Svetushkin,D/ Linares ESP 2000. ] 4...e6 [ 4...g6 5.xc4 g7 6.b3 0-0 7.b2 c5 8.e2 is fairly level, Froehlich,P-Hjelm,N/ Budapest HUN 2000, but there is a lot of play in the position, of course. ] 5.xc4 a6 A new move, but hardly surprising in a position that has hardly ever been played! [ 5...c5 6.b3 e7 7.b2 0-0 8.e2 c6 9.0-0 b6 10.b1!? b7 11.d1 was seen in Suba,M-De la Villa Garcia,J/ Sevilla 1993. ] 6.b3 e7 7.b2 b6 8.ce5!? White's play is original, and aggressive, [ 8.e2 would be similar to the Suba game. ] 8...b7 9.g5 The first point, White forces Black to castle to prot ect the f -pawn . 0-0 10.c4 With nasty threats to f7 and e6. d5 Of course, no human would seriously consider capturing the g-pawn: 205
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 10...xg2? 11.g1 ( 11.exf7!? xf7 12.xe6 xh1 13.xf7+ h8 14.c2 is also rather strong) 11...d5 12.c2 xc4 13.bxc4 and Black is lost, as h6 ( 13...bd7 14.xd7 xd7 15.xf6 a t t a c k s h 7) 14.xe6! fxe6 15.xg7+! xg7 16.g6+ h8 17.0-0-0 forces a quick mate. ] [ 10...d5 might be a better try. ] 11.h4 xg5 Black must have been reluctant to open the h-file, but [ 11...h6 12.f4 looks very uncomfortable. ] 12.hxg5 xg5 13.f3 The immediate threat is Rh5, followed by a concerted attack on h7. f5?! The black position is very difficult, but this doesn't seem to help too much, [ 13...a7 14.h5 e7 15.h3 f6 16.g5 might resist longer, but I know which side I would like to be on! ] 14.0-0-0 b5 15.h5 This just wins! xh5 Desperation, but [ 15...f6 16.dh1 h6 17.g3 h7 18.g4! fxg4 19.xf6 is crushing. ] 16.xh5 bxc4 17.bxc4 Black has little compensation for the queen, and the white attack continues anyway. 1-0
223 Short,Nigel D Wells,Peter K 98th ch Sheffield ENG (10.2) [Nigel Davies]
A06 2687 2489 04.08.2011
1.b3 d5 2.b2 c5 3.e3 a6 There is some logic behind this move in that it prevents W hite f rom playing h is bish op ou t t o b5 , indeed this motivates the Petrosian System of the Queen's Indian Defence (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3) . But is it really worth doing this when you're Black? 4.f3 c6 5.d4 [ I w o u l d b e s e r i o u s l y t e m p t e d b y 5.c4 at this point, arguing that 'active play' is more likely to exploit Black's slow development. Here is Viktor Korchnoi's interpretation: d4 6.exd4 cxd4 7.d3!? g6 8.0-0 g7 9.e1 h6 10.e4 0-0 11.d3 e8 12.e2 a5 13.xc6 bxc6 14.bd2 f5 15.e4 h5 16.a3 e5 17.c5 f8 18.xf8 xf8 19.a3 and at this point White wa s d o i n g q u i t e we l l i n K o r t s c h n o j , V
(2659)-Rabinovich, A (2406)/Ramat Aviv 2000, though he later went on to lose. ] 5...g4 6.e2 e6 7.0-0 f6 8.bd2 c8 Another slow move after which W hite manages to trouble his opponent by opening things up. Other moves have done better here: [ a) 8...e7 9.c4 0-0 10.h3 f5 11.h4 e4 12.hf3 g6 13.h4 cxd4 14.xg6 hxg6 15.exd4 c7 16.cxd5 xd5 and Black stood quite nicely in Rodriguez, A-Bronstein, D (2455)/Ubeda 1996. ] [ b) 8...a5!? 9.e5 xe2 10.xe2 cxd4 11.xc6 bxc6 12.xd4 b4 13.f3 c3 14.xc3 xc3 15.d3 e4 and White's position was far from comfortable in Pohla, H (2340)-Khenkin, I (2530)/Cappelle la Grande 1992. ] 9.c4 cxd4 10.xd4 xe2 11.xe2 xd4 [ Another possibility is 11...e7 , but there too Black's position is far from comfortable. After 12.cxd5 xd4 13.xd4 xd5 14.c4 b5 15.xf6 gxf6 16.g4 f8 17.ad1 Black's difficulty in getting his h8 rook into play left him worse in Vassallo Barroche, M (2290)-Eslon, J (2420)/Valencia 1992. ] 12.xd4 c5 13.xf6 xf6 14.cxd5 exd5 15.f3 0-0 16.ad1 fd8 17.d3 d4?! This seems like an overreaction to W hite's slight pressure af ter which Black loses a pawn. [ 17...e6 18.fd1 e4 is better, when Black's position seems quite playable. ] 18.exd4 xd4 19.e4 b6 20.xd8+ xd8 21.xb7 g6 Maybe Black thought that the vulnerability of White's f2 square would give him adequate counterplay here. But his forces now get distracted by the possibility of a W hite passed pawn emerging on the queenside. 22.b4 d3 23.a4 d6 24.a5 c7 25.g3 b3 26.c1 d8 27.e1 f6 28.e4 d1+ 29.e1 g7 30.g2 b2? A blunder after which it's easy for White. [ 30...b1 would have made it a lot harder for White. ] 31.xa6 c3 32.c4 d2 Losing on the spot. [ 32...xe1 33.xe1 d2 34.c5 xb4 was the way to continue fighting, though after 35.e5+ g8 36.e4 the combined 206
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 problems of the threats against Black's king and the passed a-pawn would be too much. ] 33.d3 c2 34.e7 1-0
224 Speelman,Jonathan S Cooper,John Grantley 4NCL West Bromwich ENG (1) [Tony Kosten]
A06 2583 2318 23.11.2002
1.f3 d5 2.b3 c5 3.e3 c6 Quite normal, although it does give White a tempo over a Nimzo position. We have already looked at [ 3...a6 as in Speelman,J-Nikolic,P/Solingen GER 2001. ] 4.b5 g4 5.h3 [ 5.b2 c8 6.c4 e6 7.cxd5 exd5 8.0-0 f6 was fairly level in Timman,J-Sokolov,I/ Wijk aan Zee NED 1999. ] 5...h5 6.a3!? Typical Speelman originality, and an innovation of course! [ 6.g4 g6 7.e5 d6 8.b2 would be a 'Nimzo' method of continuing, except that, wi t h t h e b la ck ki n g ' s kn i gh t s t i ll o n i t s original square, f6!? is possible, 9.xc6+ ( 9.xg6 hxg6 10.d3!? can be met by 0-0-0!? 11.xg6 e5 12.f5+ e6 wit h go o d c o m p e n s a t io n f o r t h e p a wn) 9...bxc6 10.xg6 hxg6 11.d4?! cxd4 12.xd4 e5 and Black had built a handylooking centre, Pinterne Kovacs,M-Berecz,A/ HUN 1995. ] 6...e6 7.c4 d6 [ 7...c8 would avoid the immediate doubling of the c-pawns. ] 8.cxd5 exd5 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.c3 It is clear that White plans a full assault on the c5-pawn, in classic Nimzovitch style. f6 11.c1 0-0 12.a4 c4!? [ 12...xf3! 13.xf3 e4 is an alternative, as t h e c 5 -p a wn is in d ire ct ly d e f e n d e d : 14.xc5? a5 15.xe4 dxe4 and the double attack wins a piece. ] 13.xd6 xd6 14.bxc4 d4!? [ 14...xf3 15.xf3 b4 16.d1 d4 ( or 16...dxc4!? ) 17.0-0 fd8 seems to offer ample compensation for the pawn. ] 15.g4 xg4!? This is fun, but
[ 15...dxe3! wa s s t r o n g e r , e . g . 16.gxh5 ( 16.dxe3 b4+ 17.c3 g6 18.a4 is safer, but White's light squares are weak) 16...exf2+ 17.xf2 e4+ 18.f1 f4!? threatening ...Nxd2+, ( 18...g3+ 19.g2 xh1 20.xh1 is not so clear, but I prefer the two knights over the rook) 19.d4! ( 19.h2 ad8 20.d3 fe8 might favour Black ) 19...ad8 20.g1 g3+ 21.g2 fe8 22.c2 f5 with a strong attack. ] 16.hxg4 xg4 17.g1 xf3?! This is too acquiescent, [ 17...h5?! didn't keep the pin, because of 18.g5 but ] [ 17...f5! was reasonable, 18.c5!? d5 19.g3 xa2 with play for the piece, although White is on top. ] 18.xf3 a3 19.d1 Forced (as the knight has no squares), but good. ab8 20.g3 fe8 21.f1 dxe3 22.xe3 White consolidates. d6 23.c3 1-0
225 Speelman,Jonathan S Nikolic,Predrag Bundesliga 2000-1 (9) [Tony Kosten]
A06 2623 2657 18.02.2001
1.f3 d5 2.b3 c5 3.e3 [ White has to be careful, the natural 3.b2?! allows f6! and Black might already be better, th e f a mo u s P et rosian , T -Fisch e r, R 6 t h ma t ch ga m e , f ro m Bu e no s A ires 19 7 1 , continuing 4.c4 d4 5.d3 e5 6.e3 e7 7.e2 ec6 8.bd2 e7 9.0-0 0-0 10.e4 a6 ] 3...a6!? Why not? Black plays a reverse 4 a3 Queen's Indian will the extra tempo change anything? 4.b2 c6 5.d4 cxd4 6.xd4 f6 7.c4 [ So there is some advantage to be had from the extra move. With colours reversed this would allows an annoying bishop check, but here Black's e-pawn is still unmoved. 7.d2 White plays exactly as if he had Black! e6 8.e2 d6 9.c4 0-0! 10.cxd5 exd5 gave Black a very comfortable IQP game in Andersson,U-Spassky,B/ Gothenburg 1971. ] 207
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...e6 8.cxd5!? [ Actually a novelty, if very logical. 8.d2 xd4 9.xd4 e7 10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 d7 12.cxd5 xd5 13.f3 b5 is level, Hodgson,J-Rogers,I/Breda 1999. ] 8...xd4 [ Black plays for equality in the coming e n d g a m e , b u t 8...b4+ 9.c3 a5 is an interesting alternative. ] 9.xd4 xd5 10.d2 d7 11.a3 c8 Black is first to reach the open c-file. 12.c4 xd4 13.xd4 b5 14.e2 [ 14.b6?! c6 15.xb5?! axb5 traps the white knight. ] 14...c5 15.xf6!? gxf6 Black is not too worried about the doubled pawns, his bishop pair provides sufficient compensation. 16.f3 c7 17.0-0 e7 [ Black obviously likes his position, 17...xc4 18.bxc4 leads to an immediate draw. ] 18.fc1 hc8 19.g3 d7 20.b2 f5 21.d1 e8 22.a4 b6 23.e2 b5 24.axb5 axb5 25.d3 d6 26.b4 c3 27.f1 White is on the defensive, but his position is solid. 8c7 28.a6 c6 29.b6 b3 [ The game peters-out after this, 29...e5!? s e e m s s t r o n g , b u t t h e n 30.e1 ( rather than 30.c5 xc5 31.bxc5 xc5 32.b1 e4 33.1xb5 xb5 34.xb5 c1 and W hite can def end by 35.b3 f3 36.b2 . Still, this is not a very pleasant proposition as W hite can only move his rook! ) 30...xb4 31.xb5 ] 30.c5 xc5 31.bxc5 f3 32.c1 b4 33.g2 xg2 34.xg2 c3 35.b1 3xc5 ½-½
226 Speelman,Jonathan S Sermek,Drazen EuTCh Leon ESP (9) [Tony Kosten]
A06 2596 2577 15.11.2001
The part played by White's backward c2-pawn in this game seems incredible, although it never quite made it to the queening square. 1.f3 c5 2.b3 d5 3.e3 g6 4.b2 f6 5.b5+ [ Normal, although Kramnik preferred 5.c4 when he had this position. ]
5...d7 [ 5...c6?! allows White to double the cpawns, 6.0-0 g7 7.xc6+ bxc6 8.d3 White has a promising Nimzo-style position, Hansson,D-Thorhallsson,T/Grundarfjordur 1986. ] 6.xf6!? [ Played in Trompovsky style, and reminiscent of Hodgson, J-Speelman,J, also t o b e f o u n d u n d e r [ A 0 6 ] . 6.e2 is 'standard', g7 7.xd7+ bxd7 8.c4 seems fairly level, Larsen,B-Donner,J/Palma de Mallorca 1971. ] 6...exf6 7.xd7+ xd7 8.0-0 g7 9.d4 White hastens to close the a1-h8 diagonal. f5 Black frees his bishop, and gains control of e4, the position closely resembles the Trompovsky with 3...d5 now, except that White would keep his b-pawn on b2 there, of course. 10.c3 [ Perhaps surprisingly, this exact position is not new, as in Savoya,A-Olivier,J/Metz 1994, W hite continued 10.c4!? dxc4 11.bxc4 c6 12.c3 0-0 with absolutely no problems for Black. ] 10...0-0 11.e2 The idea behind White's plan, t h e kn ig h t c o n t r o ls b o t h f 4 a n d d 4 . cxd4 12.fxd4 d6 13.c1 d8 14.d2 d7 B l a c k d e ve l o p s s e n s i b l y , h i s d - p a w n i s 'nothing to write home about', but the backward white c2-pawn is no better. 15.fd1 f6 e4 is a fine square for the black knight in such positions, as chasing it by f3 will weaken the white dark squares. 16.a5! a6 17.c4 Watch this pawn! White opens the game to take advantage of his slightly superior development, and anyway, he couldn't realistically achieve anything with his c-pawn stuck on c2 anyway. dxc4 18.bxc4!? [ More double-edged than 18.xc4 ] 18...ac8 19.c5 [ This move fixes the black b-pawn and prepares to attack this on the b-line. Note that there are no tactics for White along the d - f i l e , a s 19.xf5?? loses to the backranker xd1+ ] 19...e5 20.b6 g4 21.h3?! [ It is difficult to know what to say about such a m o ve ! I c a n o n l y a s su m e t h a t W h it e decided to pursue a win at all costs, as the 'forced' 21.f3 xd1+ 22.xd1 xc5 208
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.xb7 appears quite level. ] 21...h2+ 22.f1 h1+ 23.g1 h2+ 24.e2 xd4! [ This appears winning, whilst 24...xg2? allows the riposte 25.xf5! xd1 26.e7+ with fair chances. ] 25.xb7! [ White hopes to gain some swindling chances with his passed c-pawn, 25.xd4?! xd4 26.exd4 e8+ 27.d3 xg2 is the ugly point, mate is unlikely to be far off. ] 25...b8 [ 25...g7 26.c6 e8 ( 26...xg2? 27.xd8+ xd8 28.c7 xb7 29.cxd8+ ) 27.c7 is far from clear, the black queen and knight are stuck out of play. ] 26.c6! Forced, the black rook cannot be allowed to the second rank. xg2 [ Taking the chance to extract his queen, whilst pinning the c-pawn. However, 26...e8! 27.xd4 xb7 28.cxb7 xg2 seems crushing, as 29.b4 g7 30.b8 xb8 31.xb8 and now f4! starts a dangerous attack. ] 27.xd4 dc8?! [ 27...xb7 28.xd8+ g7 29.cxb7 xb7 30.d2 is better than the previous variation, but should still offer more fun to Black. ] 28.d7 [ White decides that it is time to keep his queen on the board, as 28.xb8 xb8 29.c7 c a n b e m e t b y t h e f o rce d a8 30.cxb8+ xb8 ] 28...b2+ 29.d2 [ White finds himself in a mating net following 29.d3? f8 30.c7 xf2 ] 29...xd2+ 30.xd2! [ The white queen is required to support the c-pawn, 30.xd2 xc6 31.d8+ g7 32.d4+ f6 favours Black. ] 30...xf2+ 31.d3 f8 32.c7 f1! W i t h o u t t h i s m o v e B l a c k wo u l d b e l o s t ! 33.c3! [ Not 33.c8?? d2+ 34.c4 xc1+ 35.b4 xc8 ] 33...xe3+ 34.b2 b6+ [ It is understandable that Black didn't want t o r i s k t h e e x c h a n g e s a c 34...xg1!? 35.c8 xc8 36.xc8+ g7 37.c7 but it was his last winning try. ]
35.a1 f6+ 36.b1 b6+ 37.a1 ½-½
227 Taimanov,Mark E Volzhin,Alexander Petrov mem, St Petersburg RUS (4) [Tony Kosten]
A06 2490 2510 1998
1.f3 d5 2.b3 This is might seem the best time to play this move, after having controlled e5, so that Black cannot reply ...e5 and close the a1-h8 diagonal. However, there is also a disadvantage. g4 The best reply. 3.b2 If instead [ 3.e3 then e5! ] 3...xf3 4.exf3 [ 4.gxf3 e6 5.e3 f6 6.f4 is also possible, with complicated play. ] 4...e6 5.d4 [ 5.f4 first, may well prove to be a better move order. ] 5...g6! A strong new move, Black intends to change the dark-squared bishops, before exploiting his structural plus. 6.d2 g7 7.f4 White takes a firm grip of e5. c5!? 8.b5+ c6 9.0-0 ge7 10.f3 0-0 Black has completed his development, and can now turn his attention to the attack on d4. 11.b1?! White unpins the d4-pawn, by defending b2, but [ 11.c3 was better, as after cxd4 12.cxd4 b6 White will be able to play a later Ne5, to mask the d4-weakness. ] 11...cxd4 Not bad, but [ 11...xd4! 12.xd4 b6 seems to win a pawn. ] 12.xc6?! After this move, Black gains a clear positional advantage, but even [ 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 is better for Black after a5 as c2, and c3, are weak, and Black can simply double rooks on the c-file. ] 12...xc6 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 xd4 15.xd4 a5 The dust has cleared, and all the minor pieces have been exchanged. It is clear that Black has a structural plus, f4, and a2, are weak, but it is the white weakness along the open c-file that is the most telling. 16.fc1 ac8 17.h4 h5 There is no point 209
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black allowing his opponent any counterplay on the kingside. 18.a4 c6 The worst thing about this position for W hite, is that Black doesn't even have to do anything clever to win. First, he doubles his rooks on the only open file. 19.g3 fc8 20.b4 Desperation, but passive defence by [ 20.d1 c3 21.g2 c5 22.b2 is completely hopeless, anyway. ] 20...xa4 21.a1 b5 22.xa7 c4 23.c3 d4 An elementary conversion of positional advantage into material advantage. 24.a5 c6 25.e5 dxc3 26.b5 d7 27.e3 c2 There is a certain poetic justice in the fact that W hite's weaknesses on the c-file have disappeared, but been replaced by an e n o r m o u s b la ck c -p a wn ! 28.h2 d6 29.e2 d4 30.f3 d2 31.e3 W hite could easily have resigned here, he has absolutely no counterplay. d4 32.e1 xc1! 33.xc1 d1 0-1
Typical Shirov, this may not be best, but in a rapid game it will certainly set some problems. 17.xc5?! [ 17.g5!? is int e re st in g: fd7 18.xc5 xc5 19.xc5 ( 19.b4!? d3 20.xe4 xb4 21.xb7 is wild, but may favour White ) 19...xc5 20.xe4 g3+ 21.g2 xg5 22.d5 looks fairly drawish. ] 17...xc5 18.xc5 xc5 From here the queen surveys g5, so W hite can no longer kick the knight from the defence of e4. 19.e2 fe8 20.ac1 ad8 Black is a little better, he has more space and a useful e-pawn. 21.c3?! An odd move, why not contest the dfile by [ 21.cd1 ? ] 21...d4 22.e3 ed8 Black controls all the dark squares. 23.e1 b4? [ Allowing a stupid tactic, the positional 23...g5 keeps White 'under the cosh'. ] 24.g5 Winning the key e4-pawn. d3?! [ 24...h7 25.xe4 xb2 is not too clear. ] 25.c1 [ 25.xd3! xd3 26.c1 h5 27.xe4 228 A07 is very good for White. ] Azmaiparashvili,Zurab 2676 25...h5?! [ 25...h7 26.xe4 xc3 27.bxc3 xc4 Shirov,Alexei 2715 is a better chance. ] FIDE GP Dubai UAE (3.3) 05.04.2002 26.xe4 d2 27.d5 8xd5 This looks nice, [Tony Kosten] but has an enormous flaw! 28.cxd5 f4 1.g3 d5 2.g2 f6 3.d3 c6 4.d2 g4 29.f3?? Terrible, White misses [ 29.xd2!! (or White can play a check first) 5.h3 h5 6.gf3 bd7 7.0-0 e5 8.e4 d6 xd2 30.c8+ h7 31.ee8 xg5+ 9.exd5 cxd5 10.g4!? A novelty in this well32.f1 when Black has no sensible way to known position. stop Rh8 mate. ] [ The speciality of Vaganian 10.c4 0-0 11.cxd5 xd5 is standard, and I have 29...xf3 30.xd2 f4 Now White has only c o n s i d e r e d t h i s i n t h e g a m e B r i c a r d - one way to avoid mate on g2, what a turnaround! 31.xf4 xf4 32.d1 xg5+ Kosten. ] 10...g6 11.h4 White takes the two bishops 33.f1 f8 but loosens his kingside. 0-0 12.xg6 hxg6 0-1 13.c4 Softening-up the long diagonal. [ 13.g5!? is best met by h7 ( rather than A07 13...h5 14.xd5 xg5+ 15.g4 ) 229 Berkes,F 2679 14.xd5 xg5 when the white kingside is weak. ] Spoelman,W 2541 13...c5! 14.b3 dxc4 15.dxc4 c7 Bundesliga 2012-13 (7) 02.02.2013 Black must avoid the exchange of queens, [John Bartholomew] the endgame would be very unpleasant for him because of W hite's bishops, but in the The Réti line featured in this contest tends to middlegame White's weakened kingside will produce finely nuanced middlegames. 1.f3 o f f e r c o m p e n s a t i o n . 16.e3 e4!? d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 g4 5.d3 210
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 bd7 6.e1 Eschewing the usual Nb1-d2 for now. [ Refer to the archives for extensive coverage of 6.bd2 , which is more popular by a factor of six. Play could easily transpose of course, and the position after move nine in this game is in fact most frequently seen via the 6.Nbd2 move order. ] [ A different path altogether is 6.c4 , i.e. e6 7.cxd5! as we saw last month in Carlsen, M (2861)-Karjakin, S (2780) W ijk aan Zee 2013/[John Bartholomew]. ] 6...e5 [ Nikita Vitiugov (recent winner of the Gibraltar Open) headed for a standard setup against 6...e6 in the following game but failed to achieve much: 7.bd2 d6 8.h3 h5 9.e4 c7 10.b3 0-0 11.b2 e5 12.h4 fe8 13.f5 c5 14.h1 a5 15.a3 ad8= Vitiugov, N (2703)-Frolyanov, D (2564) Tyumen 2012. Here White struck boldly with 16.f4!? , but exf4!? ( 16...dxe4 17.xe4 xe4 18.dxe4 g6 19.h4 exf4 20.gxf4 f8 21.e2 e7 22.g4 was the game continuation) 17.xf4 g6! would have been exceedingly sturdy for Black. He's threatening ...Nf6-h5 and one gets the impression that W hite is overextended. ] 7.e4 dxe4 8.dxe4 An important position. c5 This natural bishop development is chosen more than half the time at this juncture. [ 8...e7 is probably the most solid choice. Following 9.bd2 0-0 10.h3 h5 11.h4 e8 12.c4 f8 13.g5 c7 14.a4 Blac k 's po s it io n h a s b ee n sho wn t o b e reliable enough, e.g. a5 15.h2 e6 16.d2 b6 17.e3 c5 18.f3 d8 19.c3 ee8 20.f2 e6 21.d1 c5 Aronian, L (2825)-Tomashevsky, E (2738) Moscow 2012. ] [ Also worthy of consideration is 8...d6!? , intending to retreat the bishop to c7 when harassed. White has been unable to show much against this unusual approach, i.e. 9.a4 0-0 10.bd2 e8 11.h3 h5 12.h4 c7 13.c4 c5 14.f5 g6 15.d2 b5 Vaganian, R (2590)-Gelfand, B (2719) Almaty 2008. ] [ Dreev's 8...a5!? is intriguing as well, staking out space on the queenside. 9.bd2
a4 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 c5 12.h4 0-0 13.f5 e8 14.e2 b6 15.c3 f8 16.f3 e6 17.h4 e8 18.h5 Zh a n g Zh o n g ( 2 6 0 3 ) - Dr e e v, A ( 2 6 9 0 ) Taiyuan 2004 ] 9.bd2 0-0 10.h3 h5 11.c4 e8 12.a4 My database finds 66 games from this position. b6 Challenging White's knight before committing to anything else. [ Also common is the immediate 12...c7 . T h e n a f t e r 13.h4 f8 play has transposed to the solid line considered a b o ve ( 8 . . . B e 7 ) . ( For what it's worth Black h a s p l a ye d s e ve ra l o t h e r m o ve s h e r e , including 13...b5!? . The position after 14.a5 b6 was seen in Aronian, L (2783)Kramnik, V (2780) Shanghai 2010 and led to tangled play: 15.b3 a6 16.g5 c5 17.a5 a7 18.c4 ab8 19.d2 h6 20.e3 f8 . )] [ I t h i n k t h e c o n s e n s u s i s t h a t 12...a5 is premature and/or unnecessary, though this is likely playable too, e.g. 13.d2 b6 14.h4 c7 15.g5 b4 16.c3 f8 17.d2 e6 18.c2 c5 19.g4 g6 20.f5 fd7 21.fd1 ee8 22.e3 Dzagnidze, N (2535)-Stefanova, A (2523) Tbilisi 2012. ] [ 12...b5 could transpose to Aronian-Kramnik above after 13.a5 c7 14.h4 b6 . ] 13.a5 A fine square for the knight. White's dream of a4-a5 will be inhibited, but he gets t o e xe rt p re ssu re o n b 7 / c6 a n d lim it t h e movement of his rival on b6. [ 13.cd2!? was Akopian, V (2703)Dimukhametov, A (2347) St Petersburg 2012. W hite intends to chase the knight from b6 with a4-a5, probably followed by Bc1-d2. Thus, a5 14.b3 b4 is a normal continuation where I can't see much for W h i t e , e . g . 15.c3 f8 16.e2 fd7 17.e3 c7 with balanced play. ] [ 13.fxe5?! misfires after xc4 14.xc4 xe4! 15.xe4 f5 , ] [ and 13.cxe5? xf3 14.xf3 xe4 is even worse. ] 13...c7 [ Nobody has tried the computer's suggestion of 13...e7!? , so it's safe to say that h u m a n s f in d t h e c7 squ a re t o b e m o r e natural! ] 211
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.h4 f8 Again, Black has more than once acceptable move here. [ Amazingly, the Hungarian Grandmaster Zoltan Gyimesi has defended this position f i v e t i m e s a s B l a c k , c h o o s i n g 14...fd7 on eve ry oc ca sio n! His gam es are well worth examining: 15.b4 ( 15.b3 f8 16.c3 a5 17.g4 g6 18.xg6 hxg6 19.g5 b4 20.g3 c5 21.xc5 xc5 22.h4 d7 23.b3 d4 24.a2 f8 25.h3 ad8 Laznicka, V (2702)-Ter Sahakyan, S (2578) Plovdiv 2012) 15...f8 ( improving on the 15...e7 of Movsesian, S (2716)-Gyimesi, Z (2591) Mainz 2009, which led to an initiative for W hite after 16.f5 f8 17.f4! ) A) 16.f5 f6 (solidifying Black's structure and preparing a retreat square for the bishop) 17.e3 ( 17.c3 f7 18.d1 Kosic, D (2481)-Gyimesi, Z (2595) Hu n ga ry 2 0 1 0 ad8= ) 17...f7 18.c3 c8! (a standard maneuver for this line the knight angles for greener pastures on d6) 19.e2 d6 20.d2 a6 21.fc1 b6 22.ac4 xc4 23.xc4 b5 24.b2 b6 25.f1 c4 26.xc4 xc4 27.e1 f7 1/2-1/2 (27) Werle, J (2574)-Gyimesi, Z (2595) Germany 2010; B) 16.c4!? c5 17.b5 a6 (it doesn't appear that this move is necessary, but G y i m e s i h a s p l a y e d i t t w i c e ) 18.d2 ( 18.b2 axb5 19.axb5 Movsesian, S (2661)-Gyimesi, Z (2571) Ohrid 2001 f6!? ) 18...axb5 19.axb5 e7 ( 19...f6!? looks better) 20.f5 f8 21.f4 f6 22.g4 g6 23.g5 Malakhov, V (2690)Gyimesi, Z (2610) Sibenik 2007. ] 15.f5 fd7 16.b3 [ 16.e3 c5 17.b3 e6 18.c3 f6 19.f4?! Marin, M (2530) -Galego, L (2435) Benasque 1996. Here it would have been strong for Black to play g6 20.h4 exf4 21.gxf4 d6 22.d2 ad8 with a shaky position for White. ] 16...f6 This was Gyimesi's preferred procedure as well. The bishop is bound for f7. 17.c3 f7 18.d1 ad8 [ Interesting is 18...c4!? , intending 19.f1 b5 . ] 19.a5 c4?! [ It looks stronger to keep this knight closer
t o h o m e w i t h 19...c8! . After 20.f1 h8!? (preparing to kick the knight with ...g7g6 Black doesn't want Nf5-h6 to come with check) 21.c4 xc4 22.xc4 b8 Black has slightly less space but an otherwise completely viable position. ] 20.f1 b5 21.axb6 dxb6 22.xd8 xd8 23.e2 Berkes enjoys a tiny advantage thanks to his superior structure. c5 24.e3 d6!? Spoelman searches for counterplay by way of a pawn sacrifice. 25.xc5 c8 26.b4 d7 27.a5 b6? A big mistake. [ Black could come close to equality with 27...b7! 28.xa7 dxc5 29.bxc5 b8 , e.g. 30.a1!? xc5 31.a6 d6 . W hite's extra pawn isn't significant, and Black's minor pieces make a good impression. ] 28.xd7 [ 28.a3! may be even stronger. ] 28...xc3 29.xb6 axb6 30.a6 b5 31.a8 g6? [ Black was understandably hesitant to bite the bullet wit h 31...c8 32.xc8 xc8 33.d2 , but this pawn-down ending was his best shot. ] 32.g4! Now Black should lose immediately. xc2 33.h6 e8 34.d1?! Time trouble? [ W hite missed a clean win with 34.xf6+ f7 35.xf8 , e.g. c6 ( 35...xf8 36.xe8 xe8 37.xb5+- ) 36.d8+and White will emerge with an extra piece. ] 34...c8 [ 34...b2! offered more chances to resist because W hite is unable to get his light square bishop into the fray after 35.xf6+ f7 36.xf8 xf8 (no Nf6xe8 and Be2xb5!) ] 35.b3+ f7 36.xf6+ h8 37.xc8 xc8 38.xf8 xb3 39.c5 e6 40.g2 This endgame should be lost for Black. h5 41.h4 g7 42.d5 f7 43.f3 d7 44.e3 c6 45.f4 e6 46.c3 d6 47.xd6! A winning simplification. xd6 48.e2 e8 49.g1 exf4+ This would have been forced anyways after Ng1-f3. 50.gxf4 f7 51.f3 e8 52.d3 e6 53.d4 d6 54.e5 e6 55.c5 g5 56.hxg5 h4 57.f3 h3 58.f5+ e7 59.g6 f6 60.d6 g7 Black resigned. Precise theoretical recommendations for Black against the line at 212
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 issue here are a little unnecessary, as he can o b t a i n a f i n e g a m e b y wa y o f n u m e r o u s c o n t in u a t io n s . T h e i m p o rt a n t t h in g is t o familiarize yourself with the typical middlegames (i.e. studying Gyimesi's games with 14...Nfd7 would be a good idea) . Same goes for White! 1-0
230 Bosboom,Manuel Giri,Anish Corus C Wijk aan Zee NED (4) [Jonathan Rowson]
A07 2418 2469 20.01.2009
1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d3 g4 5.bd2 bd7 6.0-0 e5 7.h3 h5 8.h4!? This has been seen before, but it was a new concept for me. c5 9.c4! This also looks critical. [ 9.e1 intending e4, looks less dangerous for Black. ] 9...0-0 10.cxd5!? [ 10.b3 b6 11.g4 dxc4 was UbilavaSturua 1993 where Black emerged quite comfortable- playing g4 only really makes sense when there is a target on d5. ] 10...xd5 The safe option, but obviously some sort of concession. I am not sure if White is better in what follows, but I think I would prefer to have his position [ 10...cxd5 11.g4 ( 11.b3!? given that g4 m i g h t h a p p e n , t h e r e i s s o m e va l u e i n keeping the knight closer to the kingside. b6 12.g4? xg4 13.hxg4 xh4 14.gxh5 f6 gives Black a raging attack. ) A) 11...xg4 12.hxg4 xh4 13.gxh5 f6 14.f3 xh5 15.d4! exd4 16.f4 and White has some sort of control.; B) 11...xg4 12.hxg4 xg4 13.hf3 Black has lots of moves here, but I think White will feel more comfortable after d4 s o I w o u l d c o n s i d e r ( 13.df3 e4 ) 13...b6!? and now Rybka seems to think W h it e is b e t t e r a f t e r e 4 , b u t t h is is a tricky position to play, and clearly a line that needs to be checked.; C) 11...g6 12.b3 b6 ( 12...c8!? ) 13.xg6 hxg6 14.g5 h5 15.xd5 and even here, when W hite gets
everything, the position is still not totally clear. c5 16.xc5 ( 16.f3 e6 17.h4 g3 18.e1 f5 ) 16...xd5 17.e4 does look relatively safe though. ] 11.e4 b6 12.f5 c5 13.c3 In general exchanges favour White in such structures, so I am not too impressed by W h it e's m an o e uve ring a ro u n d h e re . e7 14.e3 e6 15.c4 c7 16.b4 d7 17.b1 b5 18.d2 a5 19.a3 f5 Now Black is very comfortable. 20.f3 d4 21.g5 axb4 22.axb4 a3 23.c1 xf3 24.exf3 xc3 25.xc3 d5 26.d2 xc3 27.xc3 f4 28.e1 fxg3 29.fxg3 f5 30.h2 f7 31.e4 g6 32.e1 h6 33.xe5 xe5 34.xe5 xd3 ½-½
231 Bricard,Emmanuel Kosten,Anthony C Toulon (5) [Tony Kosten]
A07 2506 2515 02.11.1999
1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 g4 5.d3 bd7 6.bd2 e5 7.e4 d6 Capturing on e4 is common, see the archives, but is less ambitious, as it concedes the c4square to White. 8.h3 h5 9.exd5 [ This active move is the current preference, alt e rn a t ive ly 9.b3?! 0-0 10.b2 e8 11.e1 a5 12.a3 b5!? 13.f1 dxe4 14.dxe4 c5 with a plus to Black, Sturua,ZKramnik,V/ Moscow (open) 1992. ] [ 9.e1 is also common. ] 9...cxd5 10.c4 Trying to break the black centre. 0-0 [ Simplest, trying to complete development. 10...d4 11.e2 0-0 12.g4 g6 13.h4 was pleasant for White in King,D-Norwood,D/ BL9394 1994. ] 11.cxd5 xd5 12.c4!? [ White is returning to this move after 12.b3 lost its charm, but I'm not sure why, 5f6!? Adams' move, ( 12...5b6!? is considered worse, but it is not sure that this is the case, 13.e4 e7 14.a4 h8! 15.a5 f5 with unclear play, Vaganian,R-Khalifman,A/ Eupen 1994.) 13.c4! c5 14.a3 xf3 15.xf3 e7 16.xe5 with advantage to 213
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White, Vaganian,R-Kaidanov,G/Glendale/ 1994. ] 12...c7 13.b3 Hitting d5 and b7, and emphasising the absence of Black's lightsqu a re d b is h o p f ro m t h e qu e e n sid e a n d centre, but Black has sufficient resources. c5! [ A s t r o n g i n n o v a t i o n a f t e r 13...5b6 White has 14.g5! e8 15.ac1 xc4 16.xc4 c8 17.h4 with active play, Hodgson,J-De la Villa Garcia,J/Dos Hermanas 1992. ] 14.a3?! [ Perhaps a bit doubtful, but 14.b5 xd3 forces 15.fxe5 xe5 16.xe5 xe5 17.xd5 e8 with equality. ] 14...xf3! [ 14...d7 is probably fine, but the text is stronger, Black concedes one of his bishops to control d4. ] 15.xf3 e6 16.g2 a5! [ A good move, threatening ...Nb4, if 16...d4 then 17.c5 ] 17.b3! [ I f t h e n a t u r a l 17.e1? then d4 wins the exchange. ] [ I h a d e xp e ct e d 17.d2 but then b5! 18.e3 xe3 19.xe3 a6 followed by ... Rd6, and then ...Bb6 and Black's hold on d4 confers him the advantage. ] 17...b4 18.e3 b8 19.a7 a8 20.e3 [ 20.e3 Instead of the repetition, there is: xd3 ( 20...b5!? was the move I wanted to play, although after 21.a3 b8 White has 22.a7 and Black has to sacrifice the exchange, although after the further d4!? 23.d1 b6 24.xb8 xb8 Black has great dark square control, and White has problems developing, still, this is not without risk for Black. 25.d2 f5 ) 21.xd3 xd3 22.xb7 ab8 23.d5 xb2 24.xe6 fxe6 25.fc1 Black's extra pawn is useless. ] ½-½
232
A07 Carlsen,Magnus 2714 Gelfand,Boris 2736 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (30) 22.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen] 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 e7 7.d3 0-0 8.a3 a5 9.b3 e6 [ L i k e i n t h e S i c i l i a n D r a g o n , 9...e8!? is a perfectly good move, and so it is in this line: 10.b2 f8 11.bd2 g4 12.c1 ( 12.c4!? ) 12...d7 13.c2 d4 14.xd4 exd4 15.e4 f5 16.g5?! ( 16.c5 f7 17.xd4 b6 18.a4 ad8 ) 16...h6 17.f3 c5 Czebe, ACebalo, M/Baden 2000 ] 10.b2 f6 11.bd2 [ German International Master Sehner has tried 11.c2 a cou ple of t im es : e8 ( 11...d7 is less accurate, e.g. 12.d1 fd8 13.bd2 b6 14.c4 a4 15.xb6 cxb6 16.bxa4 a5 17.d2 dc8 18.c3 Sehner, N-Thormann, W/Nuremberg 1988) 12.bd2 f7 13.d4 exd4 14.xd4 fd8 15.c5 b6 16.xe7 xe7 17.e3= Sehner, N-Aseev, K/Berlin 1992 ] 11...d7 [ An alternative is 11...h8 , though the king move is hardly necessary: 12.e3 e8 13.d4 exd4 14.xd4 xd4 15.xd4 c5 16.b2 d8 17.c2 b5 Keeling, K-Evans Quek, D/Birmingham 2002 ] 12.c2 h8 [ 12...b6 13.fd1 ab8 14.ac1 ( 14.c4!? ) 14...fc8 15.e3 e8 16.c4 Panno, O-Maller, M/ Buenos Aires 1992 ( 16.h4!? g5 17.hf3 g6 18.e4 )] [ 12...ad8!? ] 13.fd1 b6 [ 13...h3 14.xh3 xh3 15.e4 b6 16.d4 exd4 17.xd4 xd4 18.xd4 c5 19.e3 ] 14.ac1 fd8 15.e4 e8 [ 15...a4!? ] 16.fd2 d5 17.c5 xc5 18.xc5 de7 19.c2 [ 19.b5!? ] 19...h5 20.e1 f7 21.c3 d5 22.a1 de7 23.b1 d5 24.e4 f5 25.e3 d6 26.h4 214
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 26.f4!? ] 26...xe4 27.dxe4 e6 28.c3 d7 29.ed1 ad8 30.xd7 xd7 31.b4 axb4 32.axb4 a7 33.f4 b5 [ 33...c4!? ] 34.b2 d2 [ 34...exf4 35.exf4 g4 36.h2 c6 ] 35.xd2 xd2 36.a1 a3 37.c1 c4 38.c3 d7 [ 38...e2! ] 39.f2 d6 [ 39...c6!? ] 40.f1 c6 41.g4 exf4 42.exf4 d2 43.e5 fxe5 44.xe5 d7 45.e2 g8 46.a1 [ 46.e3 b3 47.c2 d5 48.c3 ] 46...c4 47.f5 d5 48.c3 d8 49.a7 d6 50.e5 e4+ 51.e3 e8 52.f4 c5 [ 52...f6!? ] 53.f3 f6 54.xf6 xf3 55.xg7!? [ 55.xf3!? gxf6 56.bxc5 e5 57.a8+ g7 58.c8+- ] 55...c6 [ 55...d5 56.e5 cxb4 57.g5+- ] 56.f6 [ 56.e5! cxb4 57.g5 d5 58.g6 f3 59.a5 e2 60.c5 hxg6 61.fxg6 f8+ 62.g5 d3 63.h5+- ] 56...cxb4 [ 56...e4+ 57.g5 cxb4 58.a8+ e8 ] 57.g5 [ 57.e5!? b3 58.g5 ] 57...b3 58.a3 d5 59.a1 f7 60.c3 e4 61.d1 c6 62.d6 c4 63.h8 [ 63.f6+!? e8 64.e6+ f7 65.e3 d5 ( 65...h6+ 66.xh6 xg4 67.h5 g2 ) 66.e5 e4 67.xe4 xe4 68.f4 A) Attacking White's pawns from behind is the only way to defend against W hite's pawn majority on the kingside. An example, a very long one though, illustrates why: 68...d5 69.g5 c4 70.h5 d3 71.g6+ hxg6 72.hxg6+ f8 73.g5 e4 74.f6 d5 75.f5 c4 76.b2 b5 77.d4 b4! 78.e4 ( 78.a1 d3+ 79.g5 c4 80.d4 ) 78...e6 79.e5 g8 80.b2 f8 81.c1 c4 82.d4 e6 83.c5 e8 84.xb4 The many moves invested in picking up this apparently irrelevant move becomes obvious in another half d o ze n m o ve s d5 ( 84...d7 85.c5 g8 86.a3 e6 87.b2 d7 88.d4
e6 89.e3 d7 90.f4+- ) 85.c3 ( 85.c5? b2! 86.xb2 e4 87.g7 f7= ) 85...g8 86.d2 e6 87.e3 d5 88.f4 c4 89.g5 f8 90.a3+ T h e a c ce s s i b il i t y t o t h i s m o ve i s t h e reason why the b4-pawn had to be r e m o ve d b y W h i t e ' s k i n g e a r l i e r g8 ( 90...e8 91.h6+- ) 91.f4 , and the marches down to e7 and forces f6-f7-f8 through.; B) 68...c2! 69.h5 d1 70.h6 c2 71.g5 g8 72.g6 hxg6 73.f6 g5+ 74.xg5 f7= ] 63...f3 64.d7+ [ 64.d4!? b4 65.f6+ e8 66.e6+ d7 67.e3 xd4 68.xf3 b4 69.f1 e7 70.b1 b6= ] 64...e8 65.xh7?? [ Here White should have played the simple 65.d3! xg4+ 66.f6 b4 67.g5 e4 68.d4 xd4 69.xd4 , and White should draw without too much effort. ] 65...xg4+ 66.h6 xh4+ 67.g6 g4+ 68.h6 h4+ [ 68...g2! 69.e5 b2-+ ] 69.g6 xh7?? [ With this move, Black throws his last winning chance over board. The correct way t o p r o c e e d i s 69...g4+ 70.h6 g2 71.e5 b2 72.h8+ ( 72.xb2 xb2 73.g5 b5-+ ) 72...d7 73.xb2 xb2 74.g5 d5-+ ] 70.xh7 d7 71.g6 c6 72.g5 b5 73.f4 d5 74.e3 c4 75.b2 ½-½
233 Christiansen,Larry Mark Kortschnoj,Viktor Lone Pine [Tony Kosten]
A07
1981
1.g3 d5 2.g2 e5 3.d3 The standard 'Mo d e rn De f e n ce' m o ve , b u t L ars e n h a s experimented with a sort of 'reversed Alekhine's Defence': [ 3.f3!? e4 4.d4 c5 one of many possibilities, that assures Black good chances, if he is more ambitious he might try ( 4...c5 5.b3 c4 6.d4 c5 7.c3 f6 215
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.0-0 0-0 as in Poutiainen,P-Polugaevsky,L/ Budapest 1975) 5.b3 b6 6.0-0 f6 7.d3 exd3 8.cxd3 0-0 9.c3 c6 wh i c h i s l e v e l , L a r s e n , B - B r o n s t e i n , D / Vinkovci 1970. ] 3...c6 Black immediately supports his d5 bulwark with a pawn, if [ 3...f6 4.f3 d6 then White can play the f lan kin g b lo w 5.c4 more easily, as if Black replies 5...dxc4 there is now 6 Qa4+ and 7 Qxc4. c6 6.0-0 h6!? 7.b3 0-0 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.c3 d4 10.d5 xd5 11.xd5 which is level, Hickl, J-Kindermann, S/Nussloch 1996 ] 4.f3 The normal move, [ 4.d2 tends to restrict White's options, and following f6 5.e4 c5 6.gf3 0-0 7.0-0 e8 8.h3 bd7 Black could be happy with his opening, Bilek,I-Geller,E/ Havana 1971 ] 4...d7 5.0-0 d6 6.c3 This way White c a n p re p a re e 4 , a n d ye t k e e p t h e c1 -h 6 diagonal open for his queen's bishop. e7 This move keeps the f6-square free for the d7knight, and allows the black f -pawn to advance. [ 6...gf6 is perfectly logical, if rarely played. ] 7.e4 d4 8.e2 h6 9.d2 b6 10.f4 f6 A reversed KI structure has been reached. 11.fxe5!? Many players would prefer the standard kingside onslaught with [ 11.f5 here, intending g4, h4, etc., although Black is by no means obliged to put his king in the way, and will certainly castle queenside. ] 11...fxe5 12.c3 dxc3 13.bxc3 e6 14.f3 0-0 15.e3 f6 16.a4 c7 17.a5 d7 18.d4 White has ad vantage, and after driving the black knight from its post, proceeds to expand in the centre. d8 19.a4 b8 20.dxe5!? This seems like a strange decision, handing permanent control of the e5-square to Black, but, in fact, White prefers activity, freeing the d4, and f4-squares for use by his knights. xe5 21.xe5 xe5 22.d4 f7 23.b4 d6 24.b2 xf1+ 25.xf1 c5 Black would like to bring his knight to e5, but he needs to keep the f5-square guarded, as otherwise White would play Nf5, with threats against the black king. 26.h1 b6 27.axb6 axb6 28.f4 c8 29.b3 d6 30.xd6
xd6 31.d4 White menaces the move e5, liberating his bishop. g6 32.f5 xf5 33.exf5 f6 34.xb6 xf5 35.xf5 ½-½
234 Cornette,Matthieu Payen,Arnaud National I Sautron FRA (1) [Tony Kosten]
A07 2329 2359 31.01.2003
1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 f5 5.d3 h6 6.fd2!? I have often wondered about the merits of this move, forcing through e4, and freeing the f-pawn, for White, as I like to play this with a tempo less when I have the black pieces and I have played the King's Indian against my opponent's London System. e6 Solid, and typical of Lasker's set-up, but [ 6...e5 is more ambitious, and makes sense now that White's knight no longer covers the square: 7.e4 dxe4 8.dxe4 e6 ( 8...g4 9.f3 h3 10.e1 c5 also seems fine, Lupu,M-Serafimov,T/Paris FRA 2002) 9.e2 c7 10.f4!? Badea,B-Neumann,A/ Giessen 1995, and now I think I would prefer c5+ 11.h1 g4 ] 7.e4 dxe4 Actually new in this position, otherwise Black can keep his central pawn, and simply retreat his bishop: [ 7...g6 8.c3 a5 9.h3 c5 10.h2 h5!? to dissuade White from f4, which would lose to ...Ng4+, Istrate, B-Manole,V/Baile Tusnad 1999, but where will the black king go? ] [ 7...h7 8.c3 e7 9.e2 0-0 10.f4 is the attacking set-up White is aiming for, he can even consider continuing with g4, Calotescu,C-Barasiant,M/Bucharest 1999. ] 8.dxe4 h7 9.e5!? With the d-file open the young French player decides to refrain from the normal plan of [ 9.c3 followed by Qe2, and then f4, g4, etc. and finds an original idea. ] 9...d5 10.e4 xe4!? To stop the knight going to d6, but this is hardly forced, [ 10...d7!? 11.d6+ ( 11.c4?! d ro p s a p a wn , xe4! 12.xe4 5b6 ) 11...xd6 12.exd6 and is the d6-pawn a weakness, or a strength? ] 11.xe4 d7 12.e1 Indirectly defending 216
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the advanced e-pawn. c7 13.h5 g6!? Whilst no doubt playable, this is still very risky, rather than defend I would go for [ 13...c5 and keep the threat of ...g6 in reserve, myself. ] 14.xg6 Practically forced, [ 14.e2 xe5 15.c4 5b6 16.f4 f6 and Black is very solid. ] 14...fxg6 15.xg6+ d8? I don't like this move, as it allows W hite to re-establish a rough material equality. [ 15...e7 had to be tried, it looks ugly, but e ve r yt h i n g is d e f e n d e d , 16.c4 5b6 and now 17.d2 ( 17.b3?! xe5 18.e4 g7 ) 17...xe5!? 18.e4 g7 19.f4 f7 20.xe6+ d8 and ...Qd7, with unclear play. ] 16.c4 5b6 17.xe6 Garnering a third pawn for the piece, and the black king remains m i s p l a c e d . b4 18.c3 e8 19.xh6 xe5 20.g5+ e7? This move loses immediately, Black didn't want to leave the defence of his e8-rook, when the e5-knight would be pinned on the e-file, but nevertheless, [ 20...c8 21.g2! (to stop ...Nf3+) xc3 ( 21...f7!? 22.f6 xf6 23.xf6 bd7 24.xe5 xe5 25.xe5 xe5 26.e1 f7 27.e8+ d8 28.e4 is better for White, b u t B l a c k m i g h t h a v e s o m e c h a n c e s) 22.bxc3 bxc4 ( 22...f7 23.f6! xf6 24.xf6 bd7 25.xe5! xe5 26.xe5 xe5 27.e1 f7 28.e7 leaves Black helpless against the armada of white kingside pawns) 23.f4 f7 24.fxe5 xe5 25.d6 f3+ 26.g1 d5 27.xd5 cxd5 28.g2 should win easily. ] 21.ad1+ bd7 22.f4 A second horrible pin. f8 [ 22...f3+ d o e s n ' t h e l p : 23.h1 c8 24.e3 ] 23.xe5! The most precise. xe5 [ 23...xh6 24.f6+! e7 25.xe7 is a catastrophe for Black. ] 24.h4+ e7 25.xd7+! [ 25.xd7+ xd7 26.g4+ d6 27.b5+! ( 27.xe5 is also good, of course) 27...cxb5 28.d1+ e6 29.d5+ wins queen for rook and bishop whilst maintaining a crushing attack. ] 1-0
235 Davies,Nigel R Chandler,Murray G BCF-ch Southport (5) [Nigel Davies]
A07 2375 2485 1983
1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d3 g4 5.h3 h5 6.g4 g6 7.h4 e5 8.e3 d6 [ Another interesting possibility is 8...b4+ which aims at preve nting W hite's quit e favourable set up with Nc3 and Bd2. After 9.d2 ( 9.f1!? looks interesting to me as I'm not convinced W hite needs castling rights ) 9...a6 10.e2 d7 11.xg6 hxg6 12.a3 d6 13.c4 c7 14.b3 e7 15.b2 a5 16.f3 c5 Black was doing just fine in Danielsen, H (2415)-Berg, K (2405)/ Espergarde 1992. ] 9.c3 a6 Leaving d7 for the other knight which will force the knight on h4 to declare its intentions. [ Another interesting game of mine varied at this point with 9...bd7 after which 10.e2 e7 11.d2 b5 12.a3 0-0 13.xg6 fxg6!? 14.h4 a5 15.g5 h5 16.g4 h8 17.e2 c5 18.0-0 e4 19.d4 a4 gave Black good play in Davies, N (2375)De Boer, G (2330)/ Copenhagen 1983. ] 10.e2 d7 11.xg6 hxg6 12.d2 e7 13.0-0-0 f5 14.f4 e4 15.dxe4 dxe4 16.h4 0-0-0 17.h5 White has an edge here thanks to the potential of his light squared bishop. gxh5 18.gxf5 f6 19.c4 c5 20.e1 [ 20.a4 was worth considering here so as to prevent ...b7-b5. ] 20...b5! 21.e2 c7 22.d4 xd4 23.exd4 xf4+ 24.b1 b7 25.h4 [ Here too 25.a4 would have been promising. ] 25...d6 26.f1 h6 27.xf6 gxf6 28.xe4 xe4 29.xe4 White is better here and should have continued. ½-½
217
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 not active. 12.e5 fxg3 13.exd6 0-0 14.c3 A07 and I prefer White ] Dubov,Daniil 2629 Shirov,Alexei 2695 12.f3 [ 12.fxe5 was another variation heading for Moscow Generations m (4) 06.12.2013 positions hard to assess [Fier, Alexandr] A) 12...xe5 13.dxe5 c5+ ( 13...xe5 is also playable 14.f3 xg3 15.a4+ Shirov tries the setup with a quick 5...e5 one c6 16.xc4 0-0 17.c3 e8 and White more time. And one more time complications has problems to defend e4, so the position arrive quickly in this game. 1.f3 d5 2.g3 remains unclear) 14.h2 xd1 15.xd1 g4 3.g2 d7 4.0-0 gf6 5.d3 e5 6.h3 g4+! necessary and good ( 15...hxg5 e6 Trying to support the center. The 16.exf6 is just winning for White) 16.hxg4 drawback is that sometimes Black needs to hxg5+ 17.h3 xe4 and White needs to worry about Ng5. take care of 18...Bf3 and 19...Bxg4 ideas, [ 6...h5 7.g4 g6 Dubov, D (2629)-Shirov, to there is good compensation.; A (2695)/Moscow Generations m blitz 2013, B) 12...hxg5 this is less interesting, and was also analyzed this month in the other probably White is better after 13.exd6 g4 game between the same players. ] ( 13...cxd6 14.xg5 with advantage to 7.c4!? Sacrificing a pawn in order to open the White ) 14.e5 gxh3 15.exf6 is possible center immediately. I'm not sure if it's the best because of the bad position of Black's king move, but it's a forcing one. dxc4 8.d4 ( 15.xb7 is also good) 15...hxg2 16.fxg7 [ 8.g5 does not combine with 8.c4 f5 gxf1+ 17.xf1 g8 18.e1+! 9.xb7 ( 9.dxc4 h6 does not make much t h a t ' s t h e d e t a i l e5 19.xe5+ sense for W hite) 9...b8 10.g2 cxd3 and White is better ] 11.exd3 h6 with both structures damaged, 12...xe4 Now Black is not forced to give the Black has no reason to be afraid. ] 8...d6 It's important for Black to quickly finish piece anymore. He has the choice to give his development, but with the knight on f6 and nothing and try to defend against W hite's the bishop on d6 W hite has an important initiative or give a full rook and liberate his pieces. Shirov prefers the second option! resource. [ 8...e4 Black can't really hold this pawn 13.e1 Defending g3 and threatening 14.Nh4. 9.g5 f5 10.c3 e7 11.d2!? g6 exf4 [ 13...e7 now the bishop won't be attacked 12.f4 and White takes the pawn back by and there is no 14.Nh4 14.xe5 xe5 force, with some advantage ] 15.dxe5 but White's pawns are really 9.g5 f5 10.e4 g6 11.f4 Probably this is dangerous d3!? against 16.f5 ( 15...c5 the position White aimed for when he played 7. 16.f5 d3 17.e4 h7 18.e3 c4!?. White's pawns are threatening to win a is not funny for Black) 16.f5 ( 16.h2 c5 piece and probably he will succeed. On other a n d B la ck is f in e) 16...xg3 17.f3! hand, the pawns are unstable and Black can ( 17.fxg6 c5+ 18.h2 xf1+ 19.xf1 find good counterplay. During the next few xg6 and White's king is just too exposed) moves both players have options and it's hard 17...d4+ 18.e3 only forced moves xb2 to evaluate if one is better than another. h6 19.fxg6 e2+ keeping the knight The most testing move. ( 19...xa1 20.gxf7+ f8 21.xg3 xe5 [ 11...0-0 was a solid option with some is also possible and also unclear, but I feel compensation for the piece 12.fxe5 xe5 that White is better) 20.h1 xa1 21.xf7 13.dxe5 xe5 and White has no time to ( 21.gxf7+ f8 22.f1 b2 and Black is play 14.Bf4 because of the pawn on b2. Still, better ) 21...f8 22.xb7 g3+ 23.g1 even if Black manages to take on g3, the ( 23.h2 b2+ 24.g2 e4 ) 23...e2+ pieces are not so well located, so it's not 24.f1 g3+ is a possible draw ] sure if the compensation is enough ] [ 11...exf4 was another way to sacrifice the 14.h4 0-0 Going for the rook sacrifice. [ 14...df6 it looks like this move makes no piece, but one more time Black's pieces are 236
218
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 sense, but there is a nice intermezzo on the way A) 15.c3 b4 16.xf4 ( 16.xg6 xd4+ 17.h1 fxg6 18.xe4 0-0 with chances for both players) 16...xd4+ 17.e3 xe3+ 18.xe3 c5 and even with the knight attacked 4 times, this still works! 19.e1 0-0-0 20.xg6 fxg6 21.xe4 xe3+ 22.xe3 he8 23.e2 but because of the pawn structure the compensation is not enough; B) 15.xg6 b4! anyway! ( 15...fxg6 16.xe4 0-0 17.xg6 is bad for Black) 16.xb4 ( 16.c3 xd4+ 17.h1 fxg6 18.xe4 0-0 t r a n s p o s e s) 16...xd4+ 17.h2 fxg3+ 18.h1 fxg6 and with the pawn on g3 the e4-knight becomes more powerful (also there are 5(!) pawns for the piece), so Black has full compensation ] 15.xg6 xg3 16.xf8 xf8 [ It is important for Black to leave the queen o n d 8 , k e e p i n g a n e ye o n d 4 : 16...xf8 17.xf4! and the bishops are huge xf4 18.xf4 with advantage to White ] 17.f2 Other moves bring nothing for White. [ 17.xf4 xf1 18.xf1 xf4 19.xf4 e6 and Black is out of danger ] [ 17.xf4 now this move does not work xf4 18.xf4 xd4+ and the queen proves to be useful on d8 ] 17...e6 [ 17...d7!? trying to develop the rook as soon as possible. But during a game it's hard to give the f4-pawn so easily 18.xf4 e8 19.e5 ( 19.d2 xf4 with 20...Ne2+ c o m i n g n e x t) 19...g6 ( 19...f6? is refuted in a nice way 20.xf6! gxf6 21.xg3+ g7 22.xd6 cxd6 23.xg7+ xg7 24.a3 and all Black's pawns are weak ) 20.c3 xe5 21.dxe5 xe5 22.d2 with a hard position to understand, but with this opposite color bishop, White's king will never be safe. ] 18.c3 h4 19.e4 Right plan, wrong execution. White tries to take care of the d6bishop, buy maybe he overlooked Black's 21st move. [ 19.b5 was another option, defending d4 instead of the g5-square and using the same i d e a o f e x c h a n g i n g t h e b i s h o p g5 quite active, but not enough to hold the
balance 20.xd6 xh3+ 21.xh3 xh3 22.h2 g4 23.g2 cxd6 24.xf4 xf4 25.xg3 xd4+ 26.h2 and there are good chances for the rook to prevail ] 19...xd4 [ 19...xe4 20.xe4 c6 21.d2 and White will finally finish his development, with a good advantage ] 20.xd6 cxd6 21.d2?! Trying to bring the rest of the pieces into the game, but after Black's answer W hite's position is easy to misplay. [ 21.xf4! giving some material back was the right way to go ge2+ 22.xe2 xe2+ 23.xe2 xf4 24.f1 h4 ( 24...d4+ I would prefer to keep the queens on the board 25.f2 xf2+ 26.xf2 and White is bet te r du e t o th e stron g square f o r th e bishop on d5) 25.e3 and without pieces to attack, some of Black pawns are going to fall ] 21...f3! After this move White's rook can't go to f4 anymore, so Black can breathe more easily. 22.xf3 [ 22.xf3 was another option xf3+ 23.xf3 xh3 24.f2 e8 and if Black manages to change the knight he will be better. Since it 's n o t s o e a s y a n d t h e b i sh o p p a i r i s a lwa ys d a n g e r o u s, t h e p o si t i o n i s s t il l unclear ] 22...c2 23.g5 Keeping the light-squared bishop, but after this move it will take some time to catch the knight. [ 23.b1 xa1 24.xa1 e4 25.xe4 xe4 and Black exchanges White's most dangerous piece. ] 23...e2+ 24.xe2 xg5+ 25.g2 xa1 26.e1 After this move, Black starts to advance the pawns and he is already better. There was still one chance for White to keep the position unclear, but it's difficult to understand why he should go for the pawns and leave the knight alive. [ 26.xc4 d5 27.xd5 ( 27.c7 keeping one eye on c1 is also possible) 27...xd5 28.xd5 and one more pawn will fall, so the better pieces can compensate the pawn down ] 26...d5 27.xa1 d4 28.f1 d3! Black doesn't care about all the pawns, just the most important ones. 29.xf7 d8 30.f5 219
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e3+ 31.h2 d4 32.f3 xb2+ 2013. ] And with two united passed pawns, there is no 7...g6 8.h4 xg4!? Why refuse such a way White can create enough counterplay. So chance in a blitz game? Black is winning. 33.h1 d4 34.g2 d2 [ 8...c6 Black could, of course, play this 35.d1 e8 36.f1 e1 37.f3 e4 move again, going to positions alread y 38.xe4 xe4 39.g2 e1 40.f2 xd1 played 9.d2 d6 10.e3 and this kind of 0-1 position is also possible with reversed colors, Ehlvest, J (2603)-Javanbakht, N (2406)/Al Ain op 2012. ] 237 A07 9.xg6 hxg6 10.hxg4 h4 Black threatens Dubov,Daniil 2629 mate in one and after W hite defends both Shirov,Alexei 2695 players still need to develop their pieces. Moscow Generations m blitz (1.1) 02.12.2013 Whether the sacrifice is really sound or not is another question, but it certainly forces White [Fier, Alexandr] to solve some problems. 11.e1 Natural. [ 11.f3?! is ugly and should not work, but This was a blitz game, so with a few seconds d e f e n d s t h e p a w n 0-0-0 ( 11...h2+ on the clock both players missed some moves Black can already make a draw if he wants in the middlegame complications, but the 12.f2 h4+ ) 12.e3 d6 and soon White opening is still quite sharp since Shirov tries will have some real problems on the dark to immediately punish Dubov's thematic 7.g4 squares ] and 8.Nh4. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 g4 4.0-0 bd7 5.d3 e5 This move takes the 11...f6 Black won't mate with only two pieces c e n t e r wit h o u t lo si n g a n y t im e . I n s o m e so he brings the knight to help with the attack. variations it can transpose to a line with ...c6, White also needs to bring some pieces to the but in both games that were played in this defence. 12.e3 Trying to bring the queen via match the pawn stayed on c7 for a long time. f3-g3. e4 And Black avoids it, opening the d6h2 diagonal at the same time. 6.h3 [ 12...xg4 is less scary 13.f3 f5 14.g3 [ 6.c4 can transpose to a recent game and xg3 15.fxg3 e4 16.c3 c6 blunting the another variation bishop on g2, and with the f8-bishop soon A) 6...dxc4 7.dxc4 c5 ( 7...c6 coming to attack g3 Black has some again could transpose) 8.c3 c6 compensation. ] one day or another Black needs to play this to control d5 and the long diagonal 13.dxe4 dxe4 And here White's position is 9.c2 0-0 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 e7 already not easy to defend! There are plenty was a game between two elite players of options, of course, but some of the natural some decades ago, Petrosian, T (2645)- moves already lose by force. 14.e2?! [ 14.c3 this was possibly the best move, Portisch, L (2635)/Milan 1975.; and Black has an interesting move as an B) 6...c6 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.d4 this is a option b4!? ( 14...xg4 15.xe4 f5 thematic answer e4 9.e5 e6 10.xd7 16.g3 d6 17.f3 looks ok for White ) xd7 with a normal position, as seen in A) 15.d4 still looking at the e4-pawn Van Delft, M (2424)-Pijpers, A (2366)/ xc3 16.bxc3 ( 16.xc3 xg4 17.e2 Wijk Cultural Village rapid 2013. ] 0-0-0 18.d2 and White's pieces are 6...h5 7.g4 Basically this move is already a certainly not on the best squares to defend novelty! We still have chances to enter into the king. h2 followed by 19...Nf3+ with more common positions by transposition, but mate ) 16...h2+ 17.f1 h4 and 18... with White's idea we are going to play chess Rxg4 is really hard to meet, so W hite is from move 7. already lost.; [ 7.e1 c6 8.e4 would again transpose, B) 15.e2 and here one possible and this time there is quite a recent game in con tinu at ion wou ld b e 0-0-0 16.d2 this position Kramnik, V (2793)-Rowson, J h2+ 17.f1 h4 again this strong move, (2 5 6 9 )/ L o n d o n Cl a ssi c G p -B 5 t h r a p i d 220
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 but now W hite has resources to defend 18.ed1! opening some space for the bishop on d2 xg4 19.f3 h5 20.e1 this is the point xd1 21.xd1 f4!? the attack continues anyway, 22.d8+! to move the queen by winning an important tempo ( 22.exf4 c5! 23.d8+ xd8 24.d2+ c8 25.fxg4 g1+ 26.e2 xg2+ 27.d1 xg4+ 28.e2 e6 a n d B l a c k i s f i n e) 22...xd8 23.d2+ c8 24.fxg4 xc3 25.bxc3 xg2 26.xg2 e5 and White is better, but there is still a lot of play for a blitz game. ] 14...xg4 15.xe4 Trying to release the pressure at the cost of the most important defender. [ 15.d2 this move lets Black attack without any counterplay f5 16.f1 d6 17.d2 0-0-0 and it's hard to believe White can survive. ] [ 15.d1 is m o re o r le ss t h e sa m e f5 and White is not happy. ] 15...xf2 This move is logical and Black maintains the initiative, but I think 15...Bd6 was already winning by force, because of a beautiful idea. [ 15...d6! A) 16.c3 g3! this is the move 17.fxg3 ( 17.d1 d8 18.d2 xf2 19.xf2 xf2+ 20.xf2 xe4 and the position is hopeless ) 17...xg3+ 18.g2 ( 18.g2 h1+ 19.xh1 h2# is a classical mate ) 18...xe1+ 19.f1 h4 still with a strong attack and now with almost no material less; B) 16.g2 g3! anyway ( 16...xf2 17.xf2 g3 18.e2 xe1 is less clear) 17.fxg3 xg3 18.f1 ( 18.c3 h1+ 19.xh1 h2# ) 18...h5 19.e4 0-0-0 20.e3 d6 ] 16.xf2 [ 16.xb7 is a nice way to keep in the game, the point is not to take one more pawn, but to open the c6-square for the bishop, disrupting the harmony in Black's position h3+ ( 16...e4 17.xe4 xe4 18.g2 and because of the missing pawn on b7 the rook is hanging.) 17.f1 d8 18.c6+ ( 18.d2 e7 is less problematic) 18...e7 and with the king in the way of the bishop on
f8, White increases his chance of defending. Still, the position is not clear, Black will come with both rooks to d6 and h5. ] 16...xe4 17.g2 h4 A lot of things are happening on the kingside and both players still had no time to develop. But when the pieces come into the game, Black's ones have much more potential. 18.d1 h5 19.e4 c5+ [ 19...d8! another hard move to play in a blitz game, trying to exchange one of W hite's f ew developed pieces. 20.xd8+ xd8 21.d2 c5+ 22.f1 f6+ 23.e2 xb2 with a decisive advantage ] 20.f1 e7 [ 20...d8 is still possible, but now less strong, 21.xd8+ xd8 ( 21...xd8 22.c3 is another idea) 22.e2 and White found a good square for the king, so both players have chances ] 21.c3 c6 22.e2 ah8 23.e3 Missing the chance to exchange some pieces, but I imagine both players already have few seconds on the clock. [ 23.h1! wa s t h e t rick xh1 ( 23...f6 24.xh5 xh5 25.e3 is better compared to the game) 24.g5+ f6 25.xh1 xh1 26.f4 g5 27.c7 ( 27.g3 g4! controls important squares in W hite's position ) 27...d7 28.b8!? and White can keep a material advantage ] 23...xe3 24.xe3 f6 Liberating space for the rooks. [ 24...g5 was more brutal 25.f1 h2 26.e2 h3+ 27.d2 g2 28.e1 f2 29.g1 f4+ 30.d1 e3 and White is dominated ] 25.f1 [ 25.h1 was again necessary, exchanging one of the rooks. ] 25...h3+ 26.e2 [ 26.f3 was possible, but not human xf3+ 27.xf3 g5+ 28.d3 d8+ 29.c4 b5+ 30.b3 c5 31.f1 0.00 and the computer gives the usual ] 26...e5 27.f2 h2 [ 27...h5+ comes with a nice trick, with more or less the same idea as in the game 28.e1 ( 28.d2 h6+ 29.e1 e3+ 30.e2 h1+-+ ) 28...e3+! 29.e2 xe2+! ( 29...h1+ 30.xh1 xh1+ 221
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 31.f1 h2 32.f2 is just drawn) 30.xe2 8.c2 a4!? 9.e4 d4 10.c4 d7 11.h3 h1+ 31.d2 xa1 and Black is winning ] f6 unclear, Hickl,J-Romanishin,O/Polanica 28.g1 xf2+ 29.xf2 h2+ 30.e1 h5 Zdroj 1993. ] Winning the rook, but now White has time to 7.c2 at least activate one piece, and somehow this [ 7.bd2 e8 8.c2 is quite likely to was enough in the game. t r a n s p o s e , e6 9.b4 this is why Black [ 30...xc2 keeps up the pressure 31.d1 might pref er 6...a5. d7 10.b5 a5 xb2 32.d3 but there is still a game ] 11.b3 c5 12.xa5 xa5 13.c4 31.g3 h1+ 32.d2 xa1 33.c7+ Softening-up the long diagonal, Now the king can't go away. e6 34.c8+ Dzind zich ashvili, R-Ko rt ch no i, V/ Tilb urg e7 1985. ] [ 34...e5 is still possible 35.c7+ d4 [ 7.b4!? Might be playable immediately, too, bu t t h is is ju st su icid e 36.d6+ c4 although: e4! 8.e1 f5 9.d4?! h6 37.b3# ] 10.c2 d7 11.e3 h3 12.f4 exf3 35.c7+ f6 36.d8+ e6 13.exf3 fe8 favours Black, if anyone, Barle, ½-½ J-Tukmakov,V/Geneva 1996. ] 7...f5 8.bd2 All according to plan. d7 9.e4 h3 10.e1 xg2 11.xg2 fe8 238 A07 12.b4 a6 13.b3 ad8 Black has Dzindzichashvili,Roman 2570 centralised all his pieces while W hite has Ljubojevic,Ljubomir 2615 been playing on the flank, who is better? Tilburg (1) 1985 14.g5! h6 15.xf6 xf6 16.a4 b6 17.a5! W hite's queenside attack is being to show [Tony Kosten] results, he threatens to win a pawn, and if 1.g3 e5 2.d3 d5 3.f3 c6 4.g2 f6 Black replies 17...b5, then 18 Nc5 is strong. c8 18.a2 White renews the threat. dxe4 5.0-0 d3 Black counters by classically [ The immediate 5.c3 a5 and then 6.0-0 19.dxe4 is more committal, and Black can change infiltrating the centre. 20.c2 dd8?! [ The obvious move 20...ed8!? loses the plans accordingly, and play more exchange after 21.bd4 , of course, but it a m b i t i o u s l y : h6 (instead of 6...Be7, might be playable anyway, as Black will transposing) 7.bd2 e6 8.a4 d6 9.e4 certainly get some compensation. ] dxe4 10.dxe4 0-0 11.h4 b8!? Full points for imagination! The queen is 21.ed1 xd1 22.xd1 White is quite happy co m in g to a 7 t o h e lp con t ro l th e g1 -a 7 to exchange pieces, as he is looking-forward diagonal. 12.f5 c5 13.b5 a7 to an ending where the f6-bishop is inhibited Black has a plus, Kogan,A-Marciano,D/ by Black's own pawns. d8 23.xd8+ xd8 24.d3 bxa5 25.d5! e6 26.xe6 fxe6 Serbian Chess Fed, Sabac YUG 1998. ] 5...e7 6.c3 This is another Pirc plan 27.bxa5 So, White has reached the endgame 'hijacked' by White. This time he will prepare that he wanted, the black pawns are very the e4-move with Qc2, and Nbd2, but b4 is weak. e7 28.e1 f7 29.f3 d6 30.e3 d8 31.d3 It is important to make also on the cards. 0-0 [ Personally speaking, if I had the black good use of the king in the final phase. g5 p i e c e s h e r e , I w o u l d p r e f e r 6...a5! 32.c4 g4 33.d3 c6 34.b4! b8 wh ic h c o n s t ra in s t he wh it e qu e e n sid e . 35.c5 xc5 36.xc5 g6 37.xa6 [ 37.xa6 xa6+ 38.b5 b8 39.a6 Although White may not be intending to gain leads to a winning king and pawn space on the queenside immediately, with endgame. ] b4, he will want to play this move at some time, so it makes sense to stop him. 7.bd2 1-0 ( If 7.a4 0-0 8.c2 c5 9.e4 dxe4 10.dxe4 then Black can play b6 intending ... Ba6, Sax,G-Farago,I/Budapest 1976) 7...0-0 222
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A07 bishop: [ 21.f4 xf4 22.xf4 xg2+ 23.xg2 Fridman,Daniel 2621 and Black still controls the e-file, but the Godena,Michele 2527 white position is fairly solid. ] 4th IECC Istanbul TUR (8) 07.06.2003 21...xe4 22.c1 Played to defend b2, as [Tony Kosten] now [ 22.f4 xf4 23.xf4 a5 and ...Nc4 is 1.f3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 e5 4.d3 very awkward. ] It is quite a while since we had a look at a Reversed Pirc. f6 5.0-0 e7 6.c3 0-0 22...a5 23.g2 c4 This game resembles 7.c2 On the strength of this game, there one of those old Master vs Amateur games, except that here the playing getting might be a case made for the move overwhelmed positionally has 100 extra ELO [ 7.bd2 ] 7...f5 8.bd2 e4! This seems to be a very points!! 24.d3 b5 25.h3 a5 26.g4 a4 effective idea. I examined Dzindzichashvili, R- Black places his pawns caref ully on light Ljubojevic,L/Tilburg 1985 some years ago, squares. 27.hf3 c6 28.e1 f8 29.e2?! This appears to lose, but it is difficult to know when White won nicely after [ 8...d7 9.e4 h3 10.e1 xg2 11.xg2 what to suggest in such a position, perhaps [ 29.b3 but after axb3 30.axb3 a5 31.b4 fe8 12.b4 but the text puts paid to any c4 and White hasn't improved his thoughts of White playing e4. ] position. ] 9.h4 exd3 10.exd3 e6 Simplest, 29...c5! A powerful and surprising blow. although [ 10...g4 11.d4 d7 12.e1 ae8 30.dd2?! This is hopeless, but after [ 30.dxc5 Black wins by xe2+ 31.xe2 13.f1 d8 14.g5 h6 15.xf6 xf6 xe2+ 32.f1 c2 33.cxd6 xc1+ and ] 16.f3 f5 is also reasonable, Odendahl,R[ 30.xe7 is n o b e t t e r , xd3 31.xe8+ Gurevich,V/Germany 1998. ] xe8 and the b-pawn is lost. ] 11.d4!? A new move here, as previously 30...xd2 31.xd2 e4 32.c2 c7 White had preferred [ 11.b3 to keep the d4-square free, and e4- Black is an exchange up, and he still has his square covered, d7 12.e3 ( 12.g5 b6 positional advantages (better bishop, more 13.f3 h6 14.f4 f5 15.bd4 xd4 space, e4 outpost). In fact I imagine W hite 16.xd4 h7 17.fe1 fe8 18.d2 c5 would normally resign here, but as Michele is and Black has more space, Gretarsson,H- always in time-trouble, his opponents often Haub,T/Pardubice 1999) 12...h3 13.c5 ge t e xcit e d a n d p la y o n t o o lo n g! 33.e2 Another shot, this time to exchange a xg2 14.xg2 b6 15.xe7 xe7 16.ae1 d2! ae8 with an edge to Black, Roos,D-Moreno piece. 34.eg1 xf3 35.xf3 e1 36.f2 g3+! 37.g2 Carnero,J/Mulhouse FRA 2001. ] [ 37.xg3 xg1+ ] 11...d7 12.f4!? A very aggressive plan aimed at grabbing space on the kingside, but 37...h4 38.f4 g5 39.d6+ g8 40.h2 the downside is the weakening of e4. h3 a1 41.h4 c1 42.xc1 xc1 43.b3 e3 B l a c k d i d n ' t w a n t t o l o s e a p i e c e t o f 5 . 44.bxa4 bxa4 45.d6 xc3 46.e2 c2 13.xh3 xh3 14.f5 fe8 15.df3 d6 47.f1 xa2!? Is this a blunder? It still wins, It is important to play this before White can but that might be a stroke of chance. Having play Bf4. 16.g2 g4! 17.d2 h6 18.h1 played with the new FIDE time-control, and e7 Simple chess from Black (who was being once down to 30 seconds a move, I can p r o b a b l y a l r e a d y s h o r t o f t i m e k n o wi n g vouch for the difficulty of playing good moves Michele!) 19.g1 White is getting his pieces at that speed! [ 47...b2 would have been best, I feel. ] in a twist trying to repel the black queen. e4 White was worried about Bf4, as the f4-square 48.xc1 a1 49.f4 a3 50.e2 a2 is now defended by the white rook. 20.ad1 T h e a - p a w n r e g a i n s t h e p i e c e . 51.xa2 ae8 21.xe4?! I think that White should xa2+ h a ve t a k e n t h i s c h a n ce t o e l i m i n a t e h i s 0-1 239
223
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11...a5 12.b3 Opening the second rank for a rook transfer. e8 A thematic and good plan. Grachev,Boris Black tries to bring the knight to d6, where it Shirov,Alexei controls e4 and also looks at f5. At the same 21st TCh-RUS 2014 (2.4) time it makes room for the other knight on f6. [Fier, Alexandr] 13.g2 d6 14.a2 [ 14.c2 e8 15.b2 again is an important W hite tried t o pla y a slow game , withou t alternative, the rook can go to the e-file by committing to e4. For me it's too passive and normal means ] after 20 moves White needed to take care to avoid being clearly worse. 1.f3 d5 2.g3 14...e8 15.e2 White follows his plan, but g4 3.g2 d7 4.c4 e6 5.cxd5 exd5 Black is ready to triple on the e-file and when 6.h3 White immediately attacks the bishop. In this happens it will be hard to make progress. this line the move orders are not so important, e6 16.b2 e7 17.fe1 e8 18.d2 b6 19.c3 f5 Finally White has finished his so there are a lot of transpositions. [ 6.0-0 c6 ( 6...gf6 will be similar to the development, but all Black's pieces are more game 7.c3 c6 8.d3 c5 9.h3 xf3 active. The position is quite solid for White, 10.xf3 was seen on ChessPublishing in b u t a t t h e s a m e t i m e p a s s i v e . 20.d4 Shirov, A (2726)-Short, N (2697)/SuperGM A committal move, but otherwise, what to do? It Sarajevo BIH 1999.) 7.d3 d6 8.c3 Black is threatening 20...Nxg3, picking up a e7 9.h3 h5 is a different setup, and also lot of pawns. It's not that the position is worse p la ya b le , a s a n a lyze d in Ma rko wski, T for White, but he still needs to play something (2531)-Aleksandrov, A (2606)/1st ch-Europe connected with e4 to activate his position and after d4 it loses a bit of it's strength. 2000. ] [ 20.e4?? xg3-+ ] 6...xf3 [ 20.f3? xg3 21.fxg3 xe3+ 22.xe3 [ 6...h5 is also possible 7.0-0 c6 8.d3 xe3 23.xe3 xe3+ 24.xe3 xe3 gf6 9.c3 e7 ( 9...c5 is again 25.f2 xd3 and Black has too many possible ) 10.e4 dxe4 11.dxe4 c5 pawns ] with an interesting game in Jasim, A [ 20.h2 defends g3, but Black has another (2300)-Mchedlishvili, M (2560)/Dubai op 5th idea xe3!? ( 20...g5 increasing the 2003. ] pressure is probably better 21.d4 xg3 7.xf3 gf6 8.0-0 c6 9.d3 c5 10.e3 22.fxg3 c7 23.g1 xg3 with more than White wants to first improve his pieces and enough for the piece) 21.fxe3 d6 22.f2 only after to play some committal pawn moves xg3+ 23.h1 xe3 with compensation ] in the center. It's probably no worse than the main lines, but now Black will have time to 20...h5 Black follows his plan of attack. [ 20...g5 would be another way to continue prepare against the e4 break. and one possible idea for White would be to [ 10.c3 is a more played move order where play e4 to force a queen exchange 21.a4 W hite's plan is based on a quick e4, and c7 22.e4!? xd2 23.xd2 dxe4 24.d5 would probably transpose to Shirov - Short and White can activate all his pieces. One in the note to move 6. ] possible continuation would be e3 25.fxe3 10...0-0 11.a3 cxd5 26.xd5 xe3 27.xe3 xe3 [ 11.g2 e8 12.c2 was successfully 28.xf7+ xf7 29.xd7+ e7 30.xe7+ employed by Roiz a5 ( 12...b6 13.h1 xe7 with a draw ] c7 14.e1 was a more suspicious plan, despite the good result for W hite in Roiz, 21.a4 c7 22.e4 dxe4 [ 22...xg3 i s a l s o i n t e r e s t i n g 23.fxg3 M (2600)-Warakomski, T (2396)/Zurich op-A ( 23.c3 will leave White with just a pawn 29 t h 2 00 5 .) 13.d2 b6 14.f3 b4 less dxe4 24.xe4 b8 ) 23...xg3 15.a3 d6 16.d2 and White managed to 24.e3 xe4 25.xe4 xe4 26.xe4 slo wly out play his op pon en t in Ro iz, M dxe4 27.f4 and the king is open, but (2 5 9 0 )-L a n d a , K (26 0 0 )/ RUS -ch T 1 3 t h W hite has good control over the dark 2006. ] 240
A07 2659 2702 08.04.2014
224
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 squares so the position remains unclear ] 23.xe4 d6 24.g5?! [ 24.xe6 was probably a better way to go fxe6!? trying to avoid 25.d5 ( 24...xe6 25.xe6 xe6 26.d5 is good for White) 25.d5!? ( 25.c3 f6 and Black's position is more comfortable) 25...h4! White is not threatening to take anything 26.e4 f8 27.xf5 xf5 28.xe6 xd5 29.xd5 xd5 30.gxh4 and White is slightly worse ] 24...xe4 25.xe4 xe4 26.xe4 xd4 Now the position is opened and White needs to be careful of some tricks, since his king position is still not that safe. 27.xh5 f6 28.h4 e2+ 29.g2 xg3! A nice shot, taking advantage of the f act that W hite's queen has no squares. 30.xf6? Now it's basically over, Black wins a couple of pawns. [ 30.fxg3 was necessary d2+ A) 31.f1 d1+ 32.f2 ( 32.g2 e2+-+ ) 32...xg3+ 33.xg3 e1+ wins; B) 31.f3 g5! 32.h7+ xh7 33.d4 g4+!? ( 33...xd4 34.xd4 b5 35.c5 should be holdable for White) 34.xg4 ( 34.xg4+ g5+ wi n s t h e q u e e n) 34...e2+ 35.h4 e7+ 36.g4 g5+ 37.f3 xg3+ 38.e2 f6 and White will suffer with a pawn down in this complicated endgame. ] 30...xe4 31.xe4 h2+ 32.f1 xh3+ 33.e2 gxf6 The position is clear and White has no chances. 34.b4 axb4 35.axb4 d6 36.d4 e6+ 37.f1 b5 38.c3 e5 39.d3 b3 40.d8+ g7 41.d1 xb4 42.e3 b1+ 43.e2 f4 0-1
kn igh t wit h o u t ga in in g so m e t h in g(e . g. several tempi or structure) in return. 6.xf3 e5 7.d2 gf6 8.e4 dxe4 9.dxe4 c5 10.0-0 e7 11.c3 0-0 12.b4 b6 13.a4 fd8 14.c2 ac8 15.e2 c5?? 16.b5 e8 17.c4 d6 18.g5! f6 19.e3 xc4 20.xc4+ h8 21.a5 c7 22.fd1 f8 23.a2 xd1+ 24.xd1 d8 25.xd8 xd8 26.a6 b6 27.g2 d7 28.e2 g6 29.b3 e7 30.c4 h6 31.f7 h7 32.c4 d6 33.h4 d1 34.e8 f5 35.exf5 xf5 36.g8+ h8 1-0 Botvinnik, M-Szilagyi, G/Amsterdam 1966/MCL ] 5.h3 xf3?! 6.xf3 e6 [ 6...e5 is likely to transpose to the Botvinnik example above, though Black does not have to invite b2-b4 by putting his bishop on c5. ] 7.0-0 bd7 8.c3 c5 [ 8...h5!? is the sort of hopeful lunge that I might venture when I am out of form. White can deal with it in numerous ways, and in most cases Black will regret weakening his position. More generally, Black could consider castling queenside because with the knight on c3 it will take W hite quite a while to open lines against Black's king. ] 9.e4 dxe4 10.xe4! If White takes with the pawn, Black might make good use of the e5 square. xe4 11.xe4 f6 12.f3 0-0 Whatever advantage White has, it obviously isn't much, but I included this game to show how the two bishops, which currently appear to be an unimportant feature of the position, can gradually show their strength in such quiet positions. 13.g2 a5 14.c3 e5?! Perhaps not a mistake as such, but certainly positionally questionable because it weakens light squares, and the absence of the light squared bishop is therefore more keenly felt. 241 A07 [ 14...a4 15.d4 e7 followed by putting the queen on a5, a rook on d8 and sitting tight Granda Zuniga,Julio E 2610 while mulling over possible pawn breaks, Cramling,Pia 2528 looks better. ] III Ruy Lopez (7) 19.06.2009 15.e2 e8 16.d2 b6 17.g5 d5 [Jonathan Rowson] 18.ae1 h6 19.c1 f6 20.c2 Not much seems to have changed, but White 1.f3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g4 4.d3 f6 [ The following old classic is worth knowing has an easy plan of doubling on the e-file and about, if only because it highlights the issue slowly a dvan cin g on t he qu ee nsid e, a n d o f w e a k c o l o u r c o m p l e x e s s o c l e a r l y . Cramling didn't find anything to counter this 4...d7 5.h3 xf3 You will find very few idea. ad8 21.e2 a6 22.fe1 d6 23.a3 Grandmasters who will give a bishop for a c7 225
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 23...a4 feels like a reflex to me, but there here: 6...d4!? 7.b4! The point, b5 is are m any s cenarios when such a pawn t h r e a t e n e d , wi n n i n g t h e e 5 - p a wn , d7 could become a liability. ] ( 7...xb4?! i s a n e r r o r , 8.xe5! xe5 24.c4 d6 25.d2 f8 26.c3 d7 27.b4 9.a4+ c6 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.xb4 a7 28.c5 c7 29.d4 axb4 30.axb4 exd4 is much better for White.) 8.a3 0-0 9.e3 31.xd4 Now White is obviously clearly better, f6 10.a2 a5 11.b5 e7 12.exd4 exd4 and could probably have converted his 13.a4 White has an ideal position, Huzman, advantage earlier than he did. b8 32.c3 A-Mikhalevski,A/Beer Sheva 1993. ] f6 33.h5 e5 34.c4+ h8 35.e3! [ but 6...0-0 7.cxd5 xd5 transposes to the K e e p i n g t h e b i s h o p p a i r . f5 Avoiding English, Reversed Dragon, and is by far the suffocation, but the pawn soon drops off and most popular method of treating this after that the result was never in doubt. 36.f4 position. ] f6 37.g6 a8 38.a2 b8 39.f2 c7 7.dxc4 The best move, 40.e6 b8 41.xf5 f7 42.ae2 a6 [ t h e t y p i c a l P i r c m o v e , 7.a4 43.b1 c7 44.c2 g8 45.d6 b5 is less successful here, cxd3! 8.xe5 dxe2 46.a2 h7 47.xd8 xd8 48.d1 g6 this is the problem for White, the e2-pawn 49.b1 f7 50.d2 xd2 51.xd2 c3 menaces the rook with check, and Black 52.f5 b5 53.d7 xd7 54.xd7 c3 g a i n s a m o ve . T h e e xt r a t e m p o wo r k s 55.c8 xb4 56.xb7 a7 57.f3 g8 against W hite, strangely, for, if his king 58.e4 f7 59.a6 g6 60.g4 e7 61.e3 were still on e1 he would be able to capture h5 62.gxh5 gxh5 63.f5 b5 64.g6 on c6! 9.e1 0-0 10.xc6 bxc6 11.c3 c3 65.f5 d5 66.f6+ xf6 67.g5 c3 g4 12.h3 e6 13.xc6 b8 Black has 68.c4 d4 69.h4 c3 70.f5 d4 active play, Rajkovic,D-Vaganian,R/ 71.b3 c3 72.a4 d4 73.xc6 f7 Kragujevac 1974 ] 74.f3 g8 75.d5+ f8 76.xg8 xc5 7...xd1 77.d5 g7 78.f3 d4 79.xh5 c3 [ 7...0-0 Is also playable, 8.c3 e6!? 80.g6 b2 81.h5 9.b3 but now a5!? is very risky, better to 1-0 play ( 9...b8 perhaps, as in the Short game. ) 10.c2 xc4 11.g5! d6 12.xe6 fxe6 13.b3 c8 14.h3 f7 242 A07 Black is hanging -on to his e6-pawn like grim death, but Julian Hodgson is at his best Hennigan,Michael 2430 wh e n h e h a s s a c r i f i c e d m a t e r i a l f o r a Chandler,Murray G 2520 positional plus. 15.f4! exf4 16.xf4 b5?! 4NCL Birmingham ENG (7) 20.03.1999 17.e4 b4 18.d5! dxe4 19.xc7 [Tony Kosten] W hite is winning, Hodgson-Naumkin, London 1990 ] 1.g3 d5 2.g2 f6 3.d3 e5 If White e6 9.b3 The position appears doesn't want to put his pawns in the middle of 8.xd1 the board, Black will! 4.f3 c6 5.0-0 equal. 0-0 10.b2 d7 Passive, [ 10...fd8 is simpler, contesting the d-file. ] White has a classical Pirc position, with an e x t r a t e m p o . e7 This is the most natural 11.c3 f6 12.d5 d6 Despite White's advanced d5-knight, Black seems OK, his move, but [ 5...h6 is also possible, amongst others, to position is very solid. 13.e1! fd8 14.c2 stop Bg5, 6.c4 dxc4 7.dxc4 e6!? 8.b3 a5? [ 14...b6! would have avoided what b8 9.d1 d6 10.c3 a6 with equal follows. ] chances, Mack-Short, BL 1987 ] 6.c4 The traditional flanking blow, White has 15.a3! White has cleverly found a weakness only allowed Black to set-up a centre, so that in t h e b la ck p o s it io n , t h e c 7 - p a wn . ac8 he can attack it. dxc4 A sensible, if not overly This allows White to give Black a backward pawn on the d-file, but ambitious reply. [ 15...xa3? would have lost material after [ Aiming for a Benoni-style position is risky 226
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.xc7! ] 16.xd6 cxd6 17.a3 It is all too easy for W hite, now- the knight will come to b5 to attack the d6-pawn. g4 18.d2 c5 19.b5 f8 20.ad1 The white pieces find t h e i r i d e a l s q u a r e s . e6 21.dc3 the d6-pawn is lost. a4 22.xd6 axb3 23.xc8 xc8 24.d5! d4 25.e3 c6 26.xe6 xe6 27.axb3 The game is all over, bar the shouting. c5 28.b1 f5 29.b4 e6 30.c5 e4 31.d5 g6 32.h4 e7 33.d6 e5 34.d5+ f7 35.a1 g5 36.a7 b8 37.c6 f3+ 38.g2 1-0
243 Hickl,Joerg Hort,Vlastimil A Dortmund [Tony Kosten]
A07 2500 2580 1989
1.g3 e5 2.g2 d5 3.d3 c6 4.f3 f6 5.0-0 e7 This is not the only move, [ 5...d6 and Short's 5...h6, are reasonable. 6.g5 h6 7.xf6 xf6 8.c3 e6 9.d2 e7 10.b5!? fairly equal, Fries Nielsen,NThorhallsson,T/5th Nordic GP, Torshavn FAI 1997. ] 6.g5 White follows a plan used by Black, with colours reversed. He hopes to play a favourable e4. [ 6.c3 is also possible, with similar ideas, although this does allow Black the option of playing: d4 7.b1 0-0 8.c3 e8 9.g5 a5 10.a4 d7 11.cxd4 xd4 12.d1 xf3+ 13.xf3 c6 and the players have reached a Sicilian-type position, Urban,KBrodsky,M/Cappelle la Grande FRA 1999 ] 6...e6 Black over-protects his centre, which is often a useful precaution. [ 6...0-0 Is obviously fine, too. 7.c3 h6 ( 7...e6 transposes to 6...Be6.) 8.xf6 xf6 9.e4 d4 10.d5 e6 11.e1 e8 12.c3 Black's advantage is minimal, Hickl,JKindermann,S/ Dortmund 1989. ] 7.c3 0-0 8.e4 White invites the reply ...d4 when a closed KI position is reached. [ 8.d2 allows d7 9.xe7 ( 9.e4!? ) 9...xe7 10.e4 d4 11.e2 f6 12.f4 c5 When Black has a favourable 'Samisch KI'
set-up, Hulak,K-Quinteros,M/ Amsterdam 1977. ] 8...d4 9.e2 h6 [ 9...d7 Is met by 10.d2! a5 11.c3 dxc3?! ( 11...c5 is an improvement, when 12.cxd4 exd4 13.f4 g4 is fine for Black. ) 12.xc3 b4 13.d4 exd4 14.fxd4 White has exploded the black centre. xd4 15.xd4 xc3 16.xc3 with an edge to W hite, Gufeld,EYermolinsky,A/Lloyds Bank op 1994. ] 10.d2 d6 11.e1 White prepares the standard f4-blow. d7 12.f4 f5 Black wishes to avoid the white kingside pawn avalanche. 13.h3 fxe4 14.dxe4 a5 15.d3 The white knight finds a good blockading square. c4 16.b3 f7 17.h1 f6 18.e1 c5 19.ec1 White has no desire to lose the d3knight , and gets read y t o rep la ce it . d7 20.e2 c5 Neither side wishes to force the issue. ½-½
244 Hillarp Persson,Tiger Smith,Axel XVI Sigeman & Co (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A07 2491 2428 25.04.2008
1.g3 f6 2.g2 d5 3.d3 e5 4.f3 c6 5.0-0 e7 6.a3 a5 7.c3 [ White is heading for a sort of reversed Pirc, not quite like the one he plays as Black, but a more normal and less hazardous one. I don't know much about the guy playing Bla ck in t h is ga m e , b u t h e st a rt e d t h is t o u rn a m e n t su rp ri si n g ly we l l, s o T i ge r probably wanted to slow Black down and ju s t g r a d u a l l y o u t p l a y h i m r a t h e r t h a n heading into the typical kind of complications Tiger used to favour playing. W hite has also tried other moves in this position, the main one being 7.b3 A) 7...e6 8.b2 ( 8.c4 dxc4 9.bxc4 d7 10.c3 c5 11.a4 0-0 with chances to both players, Skalkotas, N-Lirindzakis, T/Athens 1988) 8...d4 ( 8...d7 9.bd2 0-0 10.e4 dxe4 11.dxe4 f6 12.e2 b6 with a typical position of this structure. My computer 227
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 calls this equal, but I have always favoured White, finding White's game easier to play: put a rook on d-file, play Nd2-f1-e3, the other knight to via h4 to f5 and then the p a wn s c a n b e a d va n c e d . S c h e i n , K Aschenbrenner, R/AUT 2002) 9.c3 0-0 10.bd2 ( 10.cxd4 exd4 11.bd2 d7 12.c1 fd8 13.c2 h3 14.a1 xg2 15.xg2 b6 16.c1 c5 , and Black has the better chances, Andersson, M-Sanden, S/SW E 1993) 10...dxc3 11.xc3 d7 12.c4 f6 13.fd2 db8 14.b1 a7= Moldovan, D-Ionescu, C/Baile Tusnad 1999; B) 7...0-0 B1) The alternatives are less imposing: 8.bd2? e4 9.e1 c5 10.b1 e7 11.c3 h6 , and Black is clearly better, Mandl, R-Ostermeyer, P/Germany 1986; B2) 8.e3 B2a) 8...e4!? 9.dxe4 xe4 10.d4 ( 10.b2 g4 ) 10...f6 11.b2 e8 12.d2 xd4 13.exd4 f5 , and Black has the upper hand, Tarmak, M-Kaczorowski, P/ICCF Email 1999; B2b) 8...c5 9.bd2 e7 10.b2 d8 11.b1 h6 12.c4 d4 13.exd4 exd4 14.e1 d6 15.h3 f5 16.h4 h7 17.e4 xe4 18.xe4 xe4 19.xe4 d7 20.f1 e8 with the chances to both sides, Gausel, E-Sammalvuo, T/Reykjavik 1995; B3) 8.b2 B3a) 8...d4 B3a1) 9.c4 h6 10.bd2 f5 11.c2 e8 12.ad1 h7 13.fe1 f8 14.e4 d7 Velez, N-Sariego, W/Holguin 1991, 15.e3 f5 16.ed2 dxe3 17.xe3 c5 18.e2 , and White has decent chances for a lasting plus.; B3a2) 9.c3 e8 ( 9...a6 10.bd2 e8 11.c1 f8 12.c2 dxc3 13.xc3= Roth, J-Dausch, R/ Wuerttemberg 1999) 10.cxd4 exd4 11.bd2 f8 ( 11...f5 12.c1 d7 13.xc6 xc6 14.xd4 c5 15.xf5 xf5 16.xb7 Gelman, AZakharov, A/Moscow 1998) 12.c1
e6 ( 12...d5 13.c4 b6 14.xc6 bxc6 15.xd4 b7 16.xc6 c8 17.e3 Welling, GP u l kk in e n , K / K e m e r T UR 2 0 0 7 ); 12...a6 13.e1 b6 14.c4 b5 15.a4 h5 16.cd2 h3 17.xh3 xh3 18.c4 Abeln, M-Zaragatski, I/ Netherlands NED 2007) 13.c2 d5 14.e1 d7 15.a1 ad8 16.c4 g4 17.h3 h6 18.c1 f5 , and Black has the upper hand, Andersson, M-Hartman, C/ Sweden 1993; B3a3) 9.bd2 d5 ( 9...e8 10.c4 f8 11.a4 g4 12.h3 f5 13.e4 c8 14.fd2 d7 15.f4 f6 16.f3 b4 , Hennigan, M-Apicella, M/Oakham 1990, and now W hite should have opted for 17.fxe5 xe5 18.fxe5 fxe5 19.f2 with the better chances) 10.c4 f6 11.a4 e8 12.d2 e6 13.ac1 e7 14.a3 xa3 15.xa3 f6 16.e3 , and a draw was rather prematurely agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, Ujtelky, M-Filip, M/Prague 1963; B3b) 8...e4!? 9.dxe4 ( 9.fd2?! e3 10.fxe3 g4 11.f3 ce5 12.f1 xf3+ 13.exf3 f6 14.c3 c6 ) 9...dxe4 ( 9...xe4!? ) 10.d4 xd4 11.xd4 c5 12.b2 a4 13.bxa4 b6 14.c1 xa4 15.c3 c4 16.h3 e6 , and Black has the better chances, Popovic, P-Deze, A/ Novi Sad 1979; B3c) 8...d6 9.bd2 ( 9.c4 d4 10.bd2 e8 11.c2 e6 12.e3 b8 13.fe1 e7 14.exd4 exd4 , Scrimgour, A-Bonner, G/Ayr 1974, 15.e4; 9.c3 e8 10.e4 d4 11.e2 a4 12.b4 e6 13.g5 d7 14.c3 dxc3 15.xc3 h6 16.f3 Mayer, S-Schmidt, T/Toronto 1983) 9...e7 ( 9...e8 10.e4 dxe4 11.dxe4 g4 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 c5 14.g2 e7 15.c3 ad8 16.b4 a7 17.c2 d7 18.fd1 Lima, D-Cuartas, C/Cali 2001) 10.c4 d4 11.c2 d8 12.e3 c5 13.ae1 c7 14.exd4 exd4 15.b4 Ujtelky, M-Fichtl, J/Podebrady 1956 ] 228
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...0-0 8.e3 [ A worthwhile alternative is 8.g5 e6 ( 8...d4 9.xf6 xf6 10.e4 e7 11.c4 f5 12.ed2 a6 with chances to both sides, Nicholson, J-Solomon, S/Melbourne 1997) 9.e4 d4 10.e2 d7 ( 10...d7 11.xe7 xe7 12.d2 c5 13.f4 f6 14.f5 f7 15.a4 b5 16.axb5 b6 , Jurkovic, A-Tian Tian/ Budapest 2001, and now White should h a v e t r i e d 17.c4 dxc3 18.c4 xb5 19.xc3 ) 11.d2 ( 11.b1 a4 12.d2 g4 13.xe7 xe7 14.f3 f6 15.h3 h6 16.h2 c5 , and Black has the better chances, Szilardfy, G-Lengyel, B/ Budapest 1995 ) 11...g4 12.h4 e8 13.f3 e6 14.f4 xh4 15.gxh4 exf4 16.xf4 f6 17.e1 e5 18.h5 , and White has the upper hand, O rtega, L-Vezzosi, P/Forli 1991 ] [ Less convincing is 8.e4 dxe4 9.dxe4 g4 10.e3 c8 11.b1 d8 12.g5 xf3 13.xf3 d4 14.g2 c6 , and Black has a pleasant game, Shchekachev, A-Boidman, Y/Metz FRA 2007 ] 8...e8 9.b3 f5 10.h3 h6 11.b2 d7 [ 11...d4!? 12.exd4 exd4 13.b5 c5 14.d2 d7 , and chances to both sides ] 12.h2 ad8 13.e2 d6 14.d2 e7 15.b1 g6 16.a2! White is playing in an almost mocking fashion, but it is amazing how passively Black sits by, almost clueless to White's teasing symmetrical play. b8?! [ 16...h5!? ] 17.ae1 bd7 18.a1 c6 19.f4 c7 20.c1 d6 [ Some alternatives are 20...h7 21.f5 b5 22.e4 d6 ] [ and 20...e4 21.f5 h7 with a good for Black ] 21.a4 [ 21.fxe5 xe5 22.f4 a4!? ] 21...b8 [ Here 21...exf4 22.exf4 b6 looks pleasant for Black, whereas ] [ 21...e4 22.a3 c5 23.d4 c8 24.c4 b6 is about equal ] 22.a3 c7 23.f5 h5 24.e4 dxe4 [ 24...a7!? invites White to trap Black's b i s h o p o n h 5 w i t h 25.g4 ( 25.c3!? ) 25...xg4 26.hxg4 xg4+ 27.h3 df6 , but this is hardly particularly promising for
W h i t e , e . g . 28.f3 e3 29.h1 h7 , and I prefer Black. ] 25.dxe4 [ 25.xe4 xe4 26.dxe4 xe2 27.xe2 a7 leads to approximately equal chances ] 25...xe2 26.xe2 a7 27.g4 [ Or 27.c4 b6 28.b2 c8 29.c3 b5 with a complicated game and chances to both sides ] 27...c5 28.f3 d6 [ 28...h7!? ] 29.c4 e7 30.b2 [ Here I like 30.xc5 xc5 31.g5 , e.g. hxg5 32.xg5 h7 33.g3 e7 34.d1 , and W hite has the better chances it is difficult for Black to get active counterplay. Ho we ve r , T i g e r i s t a k i n g i s ve r y s l o w, continuing to massage Black into submission. ] 30...a8 31.e1 [ Also 31.g5 hxg5 32.xg5 b5 33.g2 f8 34.d2 is clearly better for White ] 31...b4 32.c3 c5 33.c1 b6?! [ Black refuses to play actively. Last chance is 33...b5 34.b2 a3 ] 34.xb6 xb6 35.g2 h7 36.h4 f6?! [ 36...c5 37.g5 hxg5 38.hxg5 looks outright scary for Black on the kingside ] 37.e2 c5? 38.c4+ [ 38.g5 hxg5 39.hxg5 fxg5 40.c4+ f8 41.g3+- ] 38...h8 [ 38...f8 39.g5 fxg5 40.hxg5 xg5 41.xg5 hxg5 42.f6 gxf6 43.h4! ] 39.g5 fxg5 [ 39...b5 40.axb5 fxg5 41.hxg5 cxb5 42.xb5 eb8 43.f6 gxf6 44.gxf6 xf6 45.c4+- ] 40.hxg5 hxg5 41.f3 f6 42.h3 e7 43.h1! and on account of the threat of Qg1-h2, Black decided he had seen enough and resigned. A beautiful effort on White's part, and a demonstration how small means are often adequate when having to beat weaker opponents. 1-0
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 245 Hodgson,Julian M Short,Nigel D Brighton (2) [Nigel Davies]
A07 2385 2475 1983
1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.d3 g4 5.h3 h5 6.g4 g6 7.h4 e5 8.c3 [ This move is more or less interchangeable with 8.e3 . Black will be loathe to play ...d5d4 with his light square bishop about to disappear from the board. ] 8...e7 [ 8...b4 is interesting. ] 9.e3 0-0?! This looks natural enough but it is incredibly dangerous for Black to commit his king here. And the fact that a player of Nigel Short's considerable abilities does so here shows that it's an easy mistake to make. [ 9...bd7 was a much better idea. ] 10.xg6 hxg6 11.g5 e8 [ After 11...h5 12.h4 f5 (Otherwise White will play Bf3 and then capture on h5) 13.gxf6 xf6 14.e2 White will be castling long and then attack Black's doubled g-pawns (and then his king) along the open g-file. ] 12.h4 b5 Seeing the potential danger to his king, Short hurries to get counterplay. 13.a3 a5 14.g4 c7 15.e4 d4 16.e2 d7 17.g3 With h4-h5 coming White clearly doesn't want a queen swap. e8 18.h3 d8 19.h5 d6 20.hxg6 fxg6 21.f4 exf4 [ 21...ba6 22.h4 f7 ] 22.xf4 xf4 23.xf4 d6 24.0-0-0 W h it e's at ta ck is wa y to o st ro ng n ow. b4 25.df1 bxa3 26.h4 axb2+ 27.b1 a3 28.h7+! [ B l a c k i s m a t e d a f t e r 28.h7+ f8 ( 28...f7 29.xg6#; 28...xh7 29.e6# ) 29.xg6# ] 1-0
246 Hodgson,Julian M Sofrigin,Alexej Bern Cup Berna (4) [Nigel Davies]
A07 2615 2285 1996
1.g3 f6 2.g2 d5 3.d3 c6 4.f3 g4 5.h3 xf3 6.exf3 e6 7.f4
[ Here's another example of this set-up: 7.0-0 d6 8.f4 c7 9.d2 bd7 10.f3 0-0 11.e1 fe8 12.d4 (Preventing ...e6-e5 perhaps through concern that this would get drawish, but now Black gets another good lever) c5! 13.e3 ac8 14.c3 b5 15.e5 b6 16.d3 c4 17.e5 e4 18.h2 f6 19.f3 b4 and Black had sufficient counterplay in Stanec, N (2566)-Freitag, M (2396)/Austria 2005. ] 7...c5 [ I think it makes more sense to fianchetto this bishop with 7...g6 , one of the points being that it inhibits a later f4-f5 by White. ] [ Black has also tried 7...d6 which doesn't look quite right either, for example 8.d2 0-0 9.f3 bd7 10.0-0 e8 11.e1 e5 12.fxe5 xe5 13.d4 c7 14.g5 h6 15.e3 was slightly better for White in Hergott, D (2510) -O'Donnell, T (2425)/ Calgary 1996. ] 8.d4 This will only be worth doing if it gains a tempo, and personally I might have resisted the temptation even now. e7 9.d2 0-0 10.0-0 bd7 11.f3 b6 12.c3 ac8 13.e2 b5 14.e3 fe8 [ 14...c5 is Black's logical pawn lever, which is the reason I'd have preferred to keep White's d-pawn back. It's only Black's refusal to use this idea that eventually lands him in a passive position. ] 15.a4 b6 16.a5 c7 17.b4 b6 18.e5 xe5?! [ 18...c5 is still the right idea. ] 19.fxe5 d7 20.f4?! A slip which might have been inspired by Black's passive play. [ 20.d2 was better. ] 20...f5?! [ Missing a chance of counterplay with 20...bxa5 21.xa5 c5! , the point being that 22.dxc5 xa5! wins material. ] 21.g4 g6 22.h4!? b5? With White charging down the kingside it was vital to get some counterplay. [ 22...bxa5! 23.xa5 fxg4 24.h5 b6 was a better try, keeping some activity. ] 23.h5 f8 24.h3 Now White's attack is the only show in town. d8 25.f3 e7 26.a2 g7 27.h1 e7 28.h2 f7 Rightly heading for the hills. 29.d2 e8 30.e1 d7 31.g1 c7 32.g2 f7 230
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 later, Ne3-f5. b4 Hoping to encourage White to play c3, perhaps, a more natural alternative is [ 14...c5 15.f1 f8 16.g4!? A doubleedged advance, White must be sure that he can stop Black from playing a knight to the f4-square that he has just weakened. g6 17.g3 White builds-up on the kingside. 6d7 menacing ...Ne6-f4. 18.h4 f6 19.g5 f7 20.h5 e6 Finally Black is able to play this, but events are about to overtake him. 21.gxf6 gxf6 22.h4 h8 23.f3 f4 24.hf5 e6 25.h1 White has a violent kingside attack, Istratescu,A-Acs,P/Krynica POL 1998. ] 15.c4 xf3 Conceding the bishop pair, but this is a common theme in this variation, and Black wants to reduce the pressure on e5, for instance, 247 A07 [ 15...ad8?! allows 16.g4 g6 17.fxe5 xe5 18.xd8 and White wins the e-pawn. ] Istratescu,Andrei 2540 Torre,Eugenio 2545 16.xf3 f8 All part of the plan, the knight is White sets a light ol (men) Elista RUS (9) 07.10.1998 c o m i n g t o e 6 . 17.h4! square attack in motion, now that Black has [Tony Kosten] given his main light-squared defender. 6d7 1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 This is the most common 18.g4 f6!? A difficult move to have to make, move order for reaching this position, Black his e5-pawn needed more defence, but this w a i t s b e f o r e W h i t e p l a y s g 3 b e f o r e further weakens the light squares. 19.e3 committing himself to ...d5. 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 e6 20.c4 df8 21.g2 h8 22.h5 g4 Capablanca's System, play should be Threatening to play h6, and then f4, exposing similar to a reversed Torre Attack. 5.d3 bd7 the a1-h8 diagonal. h6 White's strategy has 6.bd2 e5 As White has not made any effort triumphed, the kingside light squares belong to attack the black centre, with c4, Black to his pieces, but Black could barely avoid this move anyway. 23.f5 ad8 24.xd8 xd8 boldly constructs a full centre. [ 6...e6 is normal, although less ambitious, 25.d1 c7 26.c3 White only plays this B l a c k s e t s - u p a l i g h t - s q u a r e d w a l l o f move now that he can af ford to close the a1-h8 diagonal, the b2-bishop has achieved pawns. ] 7.h3 h5 8.e4 dxe4 9.dxe4 e7 its objectives here, and now moves to the A solid choice, leaving the c5-square open for c1-h6 diagonal. c5 27.h4 b6 28.c1 the later manoeuvre ...Nc5-e6, controlling the f7 29.g6+ g8 [ 29...xg6?! 30.hxg6 forces the passive d4-square. Personally, I prefer move g8 ] [ 9...c5 placing the king's bishop on an 30.f5 d8 Black seeks salvation in the active diagonal. ] 10.a4! A useful precaution, White hopes to put endgame, but White's control of the d-file will xf7 paid to any possibility of Black playing a later b e t h e d e cisive f a ct o r. 31.xf7+ A surprising move, White need to ...b5, the c4-square will provide a good post 32.e3! for a white knight. a5 11.e2 0-0 12.b3 e8 exchange the c5-bishop, even if it means 13.b2 By pressurising the e5-pawn he a l l o wi n g t h e d o u b l i n g o f h i s p a wn s . d8 makes it difficult for Black to bring a knight to This is easy for White, but even after [ 32...xe3 33.fxe3 Black cannot move any e6. c7 14.fd1 White has the slightly more of his pieces without allowing the white active position, he can continue with Nc4, and 33.gxf5 exf5 34.c4! Opening up Black's new residence for his king. bxc4 35.b5 e6?! [ 35...b8 was a much better try. ] 36.bxc6 gxh5 37.xh5? Hurrying a time troubled opponent? [ 37.d2 was strong here. ] 37...xg2? [ 37...g8! would have helped Black get right back in the game. ] 38.xf7 xh2+ 39.xh2 xf4 40.g3? Another slip from Hodgson which strongly suggests a time scramble. [ 40.g7 was better. ] 40...xc6 41.e8+ [ Presumably this was on time as after 41.e8+ b7 Black is much better. ] 1-0
231
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pieces to infiltrate his position, e.g. e6 34.b4 d8 35.xd8+ exd8 36.e7+ f8 37.c8 ] 33.xc5 bxc5 [ 33...xd1 34.xf8 ] 34.e7+ h8 35.xd8 xd8 36.f3 Black is in zugzwang. c4 The only other move is [ 36...h7 but 37.e3 g5 38.d7 wins easily. ] 37.b4 Creating a distant passed pawn. axb4 38.cxb4 c5 39.bxc5 fe6 40.xe6 xe6 41.c6 The black king is still cut-off from the game, and W hite can queen one of his queenside pawns however he wants. 1-0
16.b3+ h7 17.c2 [ Why didn't Ivanchuk play the natural 17.xh8 xh8 18.xb7 ? Presumably he was concerned about Black's play on the light squa res, but is it really enough t o compensate for the material deficit? I don't think so. ] 17...e8 18.e1 Ivanchuk continues to reject ways of cashing in and gradually runs short of compensation. [ 18.f4 g8 19.xc7 was probably the way to go here. ] 18...g8 19.b3+ e6 20.xe6 xe6 21.xe6+ h7 22.f5 e8 23.e5+ g8 24.f4 xe5 25.xe5 [ 25.dxe5 d5 would also favour Black. ] 25...d7 26.xd7 xd7 27.xc7 c8 28.a5 c2 248 A07 [ Black could also have played 28...xd4 because 29.d1 can be answered by e5! Ivanchuk,Vassily 2764 .] Navara,David 2708 53rd Masters (7) 04.01.2011 29.c3 b6 30.e1 f7 31.f1 a4 32.e2 c1+ 33.e1 xe1+ 34.xe1 xc3 [Nigel Davies] 35.bxc3 e6 36.d2 d5 37.d3 b5 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 d5 38.f4 a5 39.g4 f6 40.e3 a4 41.d3 5.0-0 dxc4 6.a3 e6 7.g5!? d8 42.h3 e7 This appears to be a novelty, and a very 0-1 interesting one at that. In playing this way White almost certainly had in mind the knight A07 sacrifice on move 10, which makes the whole 249 Kamsky,Gata 2720 concept very deep and fascinating. Aronian,Levon 2754 [ T h e t ra d it i o n a l 7.c2 seems far more c o m f o r t a b l e f o r B l a c k, f o r e xa m p l e 0-0 4th FIDE GP Nalchik RUS (12) 28.04.2009 8.xc4 c5 ( 8...c6 9.d3 d5 10.e4 [Jonathan Rowson] was Markowski, T (2603)-Romanishin, O ( 2 5 3 7 ) / M o s c o w 2 0 0 4 a n d n o w e6 1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 It is not clear was best ) 9.d3 c6 10.e3 b6 11.fc1 that Black is obliged to play this move, but I d5 was fine for Black in Nanu, C (2418)- have noticed that most Slav players do it as a matter of course, perhaps thinking that with Lupulescu, C (2348)/Baile Tusnad 2001. ] 7...d5 8.e4 c6 9.xc4 h6 10.xf7! their pawns on c6 and d5, nothing can harm 4.0-0 f5 5.d3 e6 6.fd2!? W hite really had to have had this in mind them. when playing his 7.Ng5 which makes the Not a new idea, but probably W hite's best entire concept very interesting. And the result chance to generate a serious initiative in this of this game is not a f air indication. xf7 line. The point is to free the f-pawn as early as possible and force through e4 and f4 and 11.e5+ g8 12.xg6 bd7 [ B l a c k c o u l d a l s o c o n s i d e r 12...xe4 possib ly also g4 a nd/ or f 5 dep end ing o n , for example 13.e1 h7 14.xh8 d6 context. White can also play Nbd2, Qe1 and 15.d4 xg2 16.xg2 xh8 17.d5 e4, or Nbd2, e3, Qe2 and e4, but in most of looks slightly more comfortable for White but these cases White moves his f3 knight sooner or later anyway, often to a not particularly is far from clear. ] 13.d4 xe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.d3 ef6 natural square like h4 or e1, so Nfd2 has a lot 232
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 going for it. h6 [ 6...g6!? 7.e4 h5!? was tried by Sveshnikov here in a rapid game, but looks a bit suspect to my mind. ] [ 6...e5!? might be simplest. A) 7.c4 is probably more challenging, but there doesn't seem to be much wrong with B la c k 's p o sit i o n . T h a t s a id , a f t e r t h e natural e7 ( 7...d4!? ) 8.c3 0-0 9.b3 is already uncomfortable.; B) 7.e4 dxe4 8.dxe4 e6 Now White's creative knight manoeuvre looks q u e s t i o n a b l e . 9.e2 1/2-1/2 Badea, B (2520)-Malakhov, V (2535)/Tucepi 199698 ] 7.e4 h7 8.c3 bd7 Perhaps not a mistake, but I would have given preference to kingside development, retaining the option of Na6 and/or c5 and Nc6. 9.e2 b6 10.a4 a5 11.f4 b4 12.f5 e7 13.b3 dxe4 14.xe4 xf5 [ 14...xe4 15.dxe4 exf5 16.f2 d7 17.exf5 ] 15.xf6+ gxf6 16.xf5! exf5 17.f2 White has more than enough compensation and Black does well to survive. d7 18.f4 [ 18.xf5!? ] 18...e5 19.d4 g6 20.c3 xf4 21.gxf4 In some ways it is a pity to close the f-file, but fixing 1v3 on one file is not such a bad thing, and more importantly, White threatens Re1, w i n n i n g t h e q u e e n . 0-0-0 22.cxb4 There was something to be said for delaying this move. [ 22.e1 d6 23.e3 looks at least as strong. ] 22...xb4 23.c2 he8 24.f2 e7 25.d1 de8 26.d2 xa4 27.xf5+ b8 28.c5 c4 29.c2 xc2 30.xc2 d8 31.d2 c7 32.e4 ed7 33.e3 e7 34.f2 ed7 35.e3 e7 36.d3 d5 37.c3 d8 38.e4 d5 39.c3 d8 40.e4 ½-½
250 Kamsky,Gata Robson,Ray ch-USA Saint Louis USA (1) [Nigel Davies]
A07 2702 2569 14.05.2010
1.f3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g4 4.0-0 d7 5.d3 gf6 6.h3 h5 7.bd2 e5 8.e4 d6 9.c3 Kamsky places more trust in his ability to grind than any particular knowledge of theory. [ The most challenging line is 9.exd5 cxd5 10.c4 with interesting play. ] 9...a5 [ There are other move orders here, for example 9...0-0 10.c2 e8 11.e1 a5 12.a4 would transpose into the game. ] 10.a4 0-0 11.c2 e8 12.e1 c5 I must admit to finding White's position totally unappealing after both this and other moves. [ 12...c7 13.h4 ad8 14.b3 e7 15.f5 f8 16.e3 h6 was also nothing for W hite in Savon, V (2485)-Andrianov, N (2435)/Severodonetsk 1982. ] 13.h4 dxe4 [ Black could also keep the tension with 13...f8 , for example 14.f1 b6 15.g2 ad8 16.b1 c7 17.f3 d7 18.e2 g6 19.f1 e7 20.h2 h5 21.g2 e6 was very good for Black at this stage in Vrana, F (2259)-Meduna, E (2483)/ Kunzak 2001. ] [ Another possibility is 13...b6 when 14.g4 g6 15.g5 h5 16.xg6 hxg6 17.exd5 cxd5 18.xd5 d8 gave Black compensation for the sacrificed pawn in Cabrilo, G (2490)-Horvath, C (2460)/Niksic 1991. ] 14.dxe4 c7 15.f1 Given the way this turns out W hite wou ld be well ad vised to see k alternatives here. [ One possibility is 15.g4 af t er wh ic h d3 16.xd3 xd3 17.e3 xc1 18.xc1 g6 19.ee1 ed8 would be very comfortable for Black but maybe not better for him. Of course this is much better than the game. ] 15...d7 16.b3 cxe4! It must be great to be so young, talented and fearless! This sacrifice is new and looks rather good, but against a great defender like Kamsky it's a risky way to play. [ Older and less gifted players would be well 233
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a d v i s e d t o t r y t h e m u n d a n e 16...e6 here instead, for example 17.e3 ed8 18.c5 ( 18.f5 seems slightly better for White as f3 is met by 19.d2 . ) 18...xc5 19.xc5 e6 20.f5 d7 21.b3 ad8 a n d B la c k wa s d o in g f in e in I va n o v, M (2489)-Juhasz, K (2175)/Feffernitz 2008. ] 17.g4 xg4 18.hxg4 xg4+ 19.g2 ad8 [ Perhaps Black should have chosen 19...g5!? , f o r e xa m p l e 20.e2 f3+ 21.xf3 xf3 22.d2 h5 leaves him with three pawns and ongoing attacking chances for the piece. ] 20.e2 e6 21.c4 f5 22.e3 h3 [ And here 22...d6 23.e2 g6 might have been a better way. ] 23.e2 g4? Allowing White to simplify into an endgame in which he has all the chances. [ 23...g5!? would have been much better. ] 24.xg4! xg4 25.d2 f6 26.xg4 xg4 27.c4 xe3 28.gxe3 h5 29.ab1 d3 30.ed1 ed8?! A stereotyped move after which White gets a clear edge. [ 30...e4! was much better when the situation remains far from clear. ] 31.xd3 xd3 32.b4! Despite the reduction in material W hite has managed to take the initiative on the queenside. axb4 33.xb4 b5 [ 33...b6 34.xb6 xc3 was a better try. After the text Black may already be lost. ] 34.axb5 cxb5 35.xb5 xc3 36.b7 d8 37.b8 d3 38.xe5 Going a piece for two pawns up. The rest of the game represents very little other than suffering for Black, with a f a r f r o m h a p p y o u t c o m e a t t h e e n d . d6 39.g2 g6 40.b7 f6 41.3c4 f4 42.d6 h4 43.f3 g5 44.dxf7 f6 45.b8+ g7 46.h8 f5 47.xh5 e1 48.xg5+ xg5+ 49.xg5 f6 50.d3 a5 51.e4+ f5 52.f2 c7 53.e3 b6+ 54.ec5 c7 55.b3 d6 56.d4+ f6 57.e4 g3 58.f4 h2 59.de2 e7 60.f5 d6 61.g4 e5 62.h5 1-0
251 Kasimdzhanov,Rustam Morozevich,Alexander World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A07 2690 2755 21.11.2007
1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 g4 5.d3 bd7 6.bd2 e6 7.e1 e7 8.e4 0-0 9.h3 h5 10.e5 [ This doesn't accomplish anything for White, and actually promises Black an easy game. Similarly 10.h2?! e5 11.f4 exf4 12.gxf4 dxe4 13.dxe4 c5 is very nice for Black one game went 14.h1 e8 15.e5 d5 16.df3 f5 17.c4 c7 18.e3 7e6 19.d1 c7 20.g1 ad8 21.f1 d3 , and White resigned, 0-1 Horvath, G-Leko, P/HUN 1998 ] [ 10.h1 is the normal move in this position. ] 10...e8 11.h2 [ 11.g4 g6 12.h2 c7 13.f4 f6 14.f5 c5+ 15.h1 f7 with a comfortable game for Black, Leskowsky, Z-Eisen, D/corr ICCF 1993 ] 11...c7 [ Black has done well with two other moves at this juncture: A) 11...b6 12.h1 c7 13.f4 f6 14.g4 g6 15.exf6 xf6 16.b3 ae8 Lebredo, G-Savon, V/Lublin 1977 ] [ B) 11...a5 12.f4 b6+ 13.h1 g6 14.df3 c7 Skeels, J-Hage, H/ICCF Email 2000 ] 12.h1?! [ This amounts to waste of time and hands Black the better chances without a fight. Instead White should try 12.f4 A) 12...f6!? 13.df3 fxe5 14.fxe5 a6 15.a3 b6+ 16.h1 c5 17.h4 xf3 ( 17...ac8!? ) 18.xf3 f7 19.e2 af8 20.c3 with a bet ter game for White, Haub, T-Reefschlaeger, H/ Schoeneck 1996, although Black can easily improve on his play in this game; B) 12...f5 13.exf6 xf6 14.g4 ( 14.df3!? ) 14...xg4 15.hxg4 e5 16.g5 e7 17.f3 c5+ 18.h1 e8 19.h3 e4 20.h4 Tringov, G-Lukacs, P/Sombor 1980, and now d8!? looks very good for Black ] 12...f6 13.df3 f5 14.d2 c5 15.c4 b8 234
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.a5 b6 17.c3 c6 18.b3 d7 19.c1 ad8 20.g1 b5 [ 20...f4!? ] 21.e2 bxc4 22.f4 f7 23.bxc4 d4 24.a5 b8 25.h4 b2 26.f3 xa2 27.a1 xa1 28.xa1 b8 29.e1 a6 30.g5 xg5 31.hxg5 ab4 32.xb4 cxb4 [ 32...xb4!? ] 33.c5?! b3 34.a6 xe5 35.xe5 b2 36.e1 b1 37.xb1 xb1+ 38.h2 g6 39.c6 c7? [ 39...e7-+ ] 40.c4 b8 41.xe6 d6?! [ 41...e5 42.d5 c8 43.a6 b8 44.f4 ] 42.d5 c8 43.c7? [ 43.f4 ] 43...a5 44.f4 a4 45.h3 and White likely lost on time here 0-1
252 Kramnik,V Vitiugov,N Alekhine Mem (1) [Danny Gormally]
A07 2801 2712 21.04.2013
1.f3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g4 4.0-0 d7 5.d3 gf6 6.e1 e5 7.e4 dxe4 8.dxe4 d6?! Black has a wide choice where to put th e b is h o p , o n e 7 , d 6 o r c5. P la cin g t h e bishop here will inevitably run into a later Nd2c4, which may be why the development to c5 is much more common. [ Kramnik himself has experience of this variation, and in an earlier game against Aronian, adopted the more common and arguably more active development of the bishop on c5: 8...c5! 9.bd2 0-0 10.h3 h5 11.c4 e8 12.h4 b5 13.a5 c7 14.a4 b6 15.b3 a6 16.g5 c5? Pseudo-activity, which runs into a strong rejoinder. 17.a5 a7 18.c4! ab8 19.d2 h6 20.e3! White enjoys a large strategic advantage as the bishop on a7 is buried out of the game, and went on to win in Aronian, L - Kramnik, V/Shanghai 2010 ] 9.bd2 0-0 10.h3 h5 11.c4 c7 12.a4 e8 13.h4 c5 14.f5 By playing such a
way, White is aiming for strategic strangulation, as it is far from easy for Black to generate active play in such positions. But in order to make serious headway, he will probably need to advance on the kingside at some point, which will give Black a certain amount of counterplay. e6 15.e3 f4 Vitiugov is desperate to try and mix things up, but Kramnik just ignores him. The problem is this knight lunge does not change matters on the board too much, as White is reasonably happy to part with this bishop on g2 anyway. [ 15...d4?! was certainly worthy of consideration, but this entails a certain amount of risk, as after the exchange on d4 White's kingside pawns become a formidable force. 16.xd4 exd4 17.e5! And although White isn't threatening to take on f6 directly because of the pin on the e-file, with moves like Qb4 and Nf5-d6 threatened, Black is in some trouble. ] 16.f3! [ I very much doubt Kramnik even considered 16.gxf4? which runs into trouble after exf4 17.d4 f3! ] 16...xg2 17.xg2 g6 18.d1 d5! [ B l a c k r e m a i n s p a s s i v e a f t e r 18...b8 19.h4 b5? 20.axb5 cxb5 21.d2! As the knight on d2 will quickly manoeuvre around to the holes left on the queenside. ] 19.h4 xe3+ 20.xe3 e7 Vitiugov is happy to adopt a passive, defensive strategy, but Kramnik aptly demonstrates that such an approach can only guarantee a prolonged torture against players of the highest class. 21.b3! ab8 22.f2 ed8 23.xd8+ xd8 24.d2 c7 25.d3 e6 26.b4! A "creeping" move, as Spassky used to call them. This move prepares the re-location of t h e q u e e n t o d 2 , wh i c h d i s c o u r a g e a n y exchanges on that file, thus dooming Black to ye t m o re p assivit y. I t's o f t e n th e s e lit t le positional gems that set players like Kramnik apart, ensuring that he can turn positions that are only slightly better into victory, and also ensuring that he will be writing 1-0 in the scoresheet at the end when lesser mortals like ourselves will only manage a desultory half-half. b6 [ Again, it is very hard for Black to create a n yt h i n g . T h e b i s h o p o n g 6 i s a m e r e 235
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 spectator, which in any case W hite can exchange off at any moment if he so wishes. I f h e t r i e s t o b r e a k o u t w i t h 26...b5 He merely creates more problems af ter 27.axb5 cxb5 28.e3! So with ..b6 Black slowly prepares the idea of playing ..b5 but being able to capture back on b5 with the apawn, an admirable positional ideal, but the problem is it's so slow W hite can generate serious play in the meantime. ] 27.b3 a6 28.d2 b5 29.d7! bxc4 30.xc7 cxb3 31.b7! Kramnik is like a great composer, the symphony plays only for him. This little tactical sequence has greatly increased his advantage - Black is left with ho rrib ly we a k qu e e n sid e p a wn s t h a t a re almost impossible to defend in the long run. c8 32.xb3 xb3 33.cxb3 f6 34.d6 f7 [ Black's only faint chances of making a draw consist of somehow gaining a perpetual check against the white king. To this end, 34...a5 was worth a try, with the idea of ..Qa6-e2. However even here White h a s a n e f f e c t i ve a n s we r 35.g4! a6 36.g3 e2 37.g2 preventing any hopes of a perpetual, while Black's queenside pawns will inevitably drop off. ] 35.g4 e8 36.g3 b7 37.b4 c8 38.a5 f7 39.g2! With this move, White makes clear that it is not possible for Black to hold the position with passive play alone, as the knight is going to be funnelled around to the queenside to breakdown any passive defence. Essentially Black is now helpless. h5 40.e3 hxg4 41.hxg4 e6 42.d3 c8 43.c4+ f8 44.c5+ [ In such positions, there is often a pleasant c h o i c e b e t w e e n w i n s , a n d 44.g5! Is also very strong. b7 45.gxf6 gxf6 46.e6 g7 47.g4+- ] 44...g8 45.b5! axb5 46.b6 f8 47.a6 b4 48.a7 e1+ 49.g2 d2+ 50.g1 Nf 1 will cover any future checks. A good demonstration of how difficult it can be to get a result with Black against someone like Kramnik - it is difficult to indicate exactly where Vitiugov went wrong. 1-0
253 Littlewood,John Eric Davies,Nigel R Chorley (3) [Nigel Davies]
A07 2350 1977
1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 g4 5.h3 xf3 6.exf3 g6 This feels like the right way to develop the bishop the pawn on g6 inhibits a White f4-f5 and the bishop will bear down on W hite's queenside. An analogous plan to this is thought to be best for White in the Trompovsky line with 1.d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 g6 3. Bxf6 exf6 4.c4 followed by a later g2-g3. 7.e1 g7 8.e2 e6 9.d3 0-0 10.f4 c5 11.d2 c6 12.c3 c8 [ Up to this point I had unwittingly followed t h e p l a y o f t h e g re a t Yu go s la v p la ye r , Borislav Ivkov. He played the immediate 12...b5 af ter which 13.f3 c8 14.e5 d7 15.f3 b4 16.c4 dxc4 17.dxc4 d4 18.d3 c7 gave him excellent counterplay in Ianov, V (2386) -Ivkov, B (2425)/Bijeljina 2001. ] 13.f3 d7 14.h4 True to his style John L i t t l e wo o d t r i e s t o d r u m u p p l a y o n t h e kingside. b5 15.h3 b4 16.d2 e8 17.h5 a5 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.cxb4 cxb4 [ Another possibility was 19...a6!? 20.bxc5 xb2 21.ab1 d4 22.xd4 xd4 ] 20.a3 b5 21.axb4 xb2 22.ab1 g7 23.ec1 d4 24.xd4 xd4 25.g2 b7 26.g4 g7 27.f3 b6 ½-½
254 Markos,Jan Kjartansson,Gudmundur Scottish Open, Edinburgh (5) [Jonathan Rowson]
A07
2009
1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 g4 5.d3 bd7 6.h3 h5 7.e1 [ 7.bd2 is the most standard move, but another interesting wrinkle was seen in Markos-Shaw: ] [ 7.c3!? e5 8.c2 e7 9.e4 dxe4 10.dxe4 0-0 11.bd2 b5?! This looks wrong to me, but may not actually do any harm. ( 11...e8 intending f6 and (at some point) Bf7 looks 236
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 more reliable- an approach made popular by the young(er) Kramnik.) 12.b3 c7 13.h4 fd8 14.f5 f8 15.g5 h6 16.e3 It feels like White is a bit better now because his pieces are more harmoniously placed. e8 17.c4! f6 18.cxb5 Probably a m is t a k e - W h it e d o e s n o t se e m t o ga i n an yt hing s ignif ica n t f rom relea sing t h e tension. cxb5 19.d3 c5! 20.xb5 db8 21.c4+ f7 22.e2 xb3 23.axb3 xb3 24.fc1 b7 It feels like Black should be ok now, but John seemed to be a bit impatient t o r e s o l v e t h e t e n s i o n . 25.c2 h7 ( 25...a5!? ) 26.d1 g6 In general the knight did not look so scary on f5 while the weakness on the seventh rank proved to be fatal. 27.c1! c8 28.e3 c5 29.h4 h5 30.h2 d4 31.h3 d8 32.g2 b5 33.f3 e6?! ( 33...a5 ) 34.h3 xh3 35.xh3 c8 36.xc8 d7+ 37.h2 xc8 38.e2 xe3 39.xe3 b7 40.d8 xb2 ( 40...e7 41.d2 b7 42.d5 c7 might hold on a good day.) 41.c4 e7 42.c8 1-0 ] 7...e5 8.e4 dxe4 9.dxe4 xf3?! [ 9...c5 10.b4!? ] [ 9...e7 10.h4 0-0 11.f5 ] 10.xf3 c5 11.a4!? [ 11.b4 e7 is probably playable for Both sides- White gains space but his queenside is a bit vulnerable. ] 11...a6?! This looks wrong to me, giving White a long term structural and space advantage on the queenside. [ 11...a5 ] 12.a5 0-0 13.a3 c7 14.c4 fd8 15.e2 e8 16.g5 df6 17.g2 h6 18.d2 [ 18.e3!? xe3 19.xe3 d4! ] 18...e7 19.h2 d6 20.c3 xc4?! The W hite queen is very strong on c4, so Black should not allow it to get there without a fight. [ 20...d7!? 21.b4 b5 ] 21.xc4 d7 22.ae1 ad8 [ 22...d4 23.b4 e6 24.xe6 fxe6 looks superficially plausible, but Black's activity doesn't amount to much and the epawns will soon become weak. ] 23.f4 exf4?! [ 23...d6! is most solid and keeps the
position tense, but Kjartansson had just won two brilliant games against Indian Grandmasters and seems to try a bit too hard here to generate tactics. ] [ 23...d4 24.b4 e6 ( 24...e8!? ) 25.xe6 fxe6 26.c3 a7 27.fxe5 ] 24.gxf4 g4+?! A hopeful lunge, I think in some time pressure. [ 24...d4 25.b4 e6 26.xe6 fxe6 27.c3 a7 ] 25.hxg4 h4+ 26.h3 f2 27.xf2 xf2+ 28.g2 xf4+ 29.h3! Superficially Black seems to have chances, but two bishops are usually worth considerably more than a rook, and here Black's initiative is about to run out. g5 [ 29...d5 30.e2 ] 30.e2 f6 31.f3 h8 32.e5 fxe5 33.xe5 g6 34.e3 f8 35.e4 f7 36.f5 e8 37.xh6+ g8 38.g5 1-0
255 Markowski,Tomasz Burmakin,Vladimir XXII Open Benidorm ESP (5) [Jonathan Rowson]
A07 2610 2605 28.04.2009
1.g3 d5 2.f3 c6 3.g2 f6 4.0-0 h6 5.d3 f5 6.c4 dxc4 [ 6...e6 is the main line... 7.cxd5 ( 7.e3!? intending Qb3, but now it seems that dxc4 8.dxc4 xd1 9.xd1 equalises for Black if he plays carefully. ) A) 7...cxd5 is very solid, but White has a few ways to press for some advantage. 8.b3 ( 8.c3 c6 9.a4 intending e4, is also possible.; 8.d4!? ) 8...b6 and now taking on b6 before or after Nd4 gives some sort of symbolic advantage, but W hite rarely gets anywhere in the selected games.; B) 7...exd5 In general White now aims to achieve a 4-3 majority on the kingside, and there are various ways of doing this. 8.c3 ( 8.d4 g6 9.e4!?; 8.b3 b6 9.c2 ) 8...e7 9.d4 g6 10.e4 0-0 11.b3 dxe4 12.dxe4 The following grind is a good example of what White is aiming for in these lines. a6 13.e3 b4 14.f3 237
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e7 15.f2 fd8 16.c2 c5 17.d4 e6 18.ce2 c5 19.ad1 xd4 20.xd4 b6 21.b3 xf2+ 22.xf2 c7 23.fe1 b6 24.xd8+ xd8 25.d1 c5 26.xd8+ xd8 27.d2 equal, but White went on to win, Nikolic, P (2623)Ferguson, M (2404)/ Budva MNE 2009. ] 7.e5!? Not new, but new to me, and a nice w a y t o c r e a t e s o m e i m b a l a n c e s . e6 Together with the follow up this looks very strange at first, but it is important to grasp that in the pawn structure with e2/d3 and the c-pawn swapped for the d-pawn, the bishop has nothing to do on the h7-b1 diagonal. The equivalent would be White playing against a Sicilian dragon, removing his knight from d4, playing h3 and Bf4. W ith this bishop out of play, the queenside minority attack becomes quite strong, which is why this line has some venom. [ 7...bd7 8.xc4 e6 9.d2 ( 9.f4 Rukavina ) 9...e7 10.b4 0-0 11.a3 b6 12.a5 d7 13.c3 e5 14.e1 h3 15.f3 And White was somewhat better in Damljanovic, B (2515)-Anand, V (2610)/ Manila 19909/ ] [ 7...cxd3? 8.b3 ] [ 7...c8?! 8.xc4 h3 9.b3 xg2 10.xg2 e6 11.f4 e7 12.d6 Rukavina-Nikolic, Vrnjacka Banja 1986 ] 8.xc4 xc4 This looks a bit submissive, but in the resulting structures it is really hard for W h it e to ma ke a n yt hing a t a ll o f t he t wo bishops, although in the game White comes very close. 9.dxc4 xd1 10.xd1 e5 11.b3 bd7 12.b2 c5 13.d2 0-0-0 14.e3 he8 15.a3 f8 16.b4 b6 17.ac1 a4 18.a1 c5 19.f3 d7 20.e1 f6 21.d3 c7 22.e4 db6 23.f1 e7 24.e2 f8 25.g4 c8 26.b1 cb6 27.dc1 b8 28.h3 White still has a slight plus. c8 29.b5 cd8 30.e1 c8 31.f3 d6 32.g6 e7 33.c2 b6 34.bc1 ed7 35.h4 e7 36.d2 f8 37.b3 a4 38.d2 c7 39.h5 c8 40.xd7+ xd7 41.d2 d6 42.c2 b6 43.b3 e4 44.a4 e7 45.b1 e8 46.c3 c8 47.a5?! bxc4 48.a4 xa5 49.xc5+ b8 50.a2 b6 51.d5 ac4 52.xc4 ½-½
256 Martin,Andrew D Weller,Jean Luc 4NCL 2010-11 [Nigel Davies]
A07
20.02.2011
1.g3 f6 2.g2 d5 3.f3 Going into standard King's Indian Attack territory. [ 3.f4 would probably lead to some kind of reversed Leningrad Dutch. ] 3...c6 4.0-0 g4 5.h3 h5 [ After 5...xf3 White has an interesting approach in 6.exf3!? , trying to use the half open e-file. ] [ Of course usually White will meet 5...xf3 with 6.xf3 , for example e5 7.d3 bd7 8.e4 dxe4 9.dxe4 e7 10.e2 0-0 11.d2 c7 12.g2 c5 13.b3 a5 14.b2 a4 15.c4 was a bit better for White in Morozevich, A (2741)-Gelfand, B (2733)/ Monte Carlo 2007. ] 6.d3 bd7 7.bd2 e5 8.e4 dxe4 9.dxe4 e7 10.a4 c7 This position has been reached quite often but one can hardly expect fireworks here. For example: [ a) 10...0-0 11.c3 ( I think White should avoid this move, for example via 11.e1!? ) 11...a5 12.c2 c7 13.c4 fe8 14.e3 c5 15.h4 xe3 16.xe3 c5 was fine for Black at this stage in Nureev, G (2456) -Kolev, A (2318)/Dos Hermanas 2003. ] [ b) 10...a5 11.e2 0-0 12.b3 e8 13.b2 c7 14.fd1 b4 15.c4 xf3 16.xf3 f8 17.h4 gave White a comfortable edge in Istratescu, A (2540)-Torre, E (2545)/Elista 1998. ] 11.e1 U n p i n n i n g . 0-0 12.h4 e8?! Starting down the wrong path. [ B l a c k s h o u l d p r o b a b l y p l a y 12...fe8 , f o r e x a m p l e 13.c4 ( 13.f5 f8 leaves the rook on e8 opposite W hite's queen so as to discourage f2-f4) 13...c5 14.d2 fd7 15.f5 f8 16.b3 f6 17.e3 e6 gave him an OK position at this point in Damljanovic, B (2585)-Komljenovic, D (2495)/Oviedo 1992. ] 13.f5 d8 The bishop is wrong here and the attempt to block the a3-f8 diagonal leads to further weakening. [ 13...c5 was better. ] 238
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.c4 g6 15.d2! Threatening to put the bishop on b4, forcing ...c6-c5. a5 16.b4!? axb4 17.xb4 c5 18.c3 White has a clear advantage now because of the weaknesses on d5 and b5 plus the possibility of using the open b- and d- files. f6 19.b1! A nice way to get the queen in play. f7 20.b5 e6 21.fd1 g6 [ 21...b6 would be an attempt to simplify the position with exchanges but then 22.xb6 xb6 23.xb6 xb6 24.db1 a6 25.a5 wins a pawn. ] 22.fe3 a6 23.ab1 f7 24.f1 f8 [ 24...a7 would have been more tenacious, but hardly pleasant for Black. ] 25.a5 b8 26.b6 d6 27.d3 e7 28.ed5 c6 29.e3 Now preparing f2-f4 with direct play against Black's king. a7 30.d2 g7 31.f4! exf4 32.xf4 xd5 [ After 32...d8 the move 33.e5! is devastating. ] 33.xd5 d8 34.e5 fxe5 35.xe5+ h6 [ Or 35...f8 36.h8# mate. ] 36.e3 g5 37.h4! [ Black gets mated after 37.h4 xe3+ 38.xe3+ h5 39.g5# mate. ] 1-0
257 Minasian,Artashes Sulskis,Sarunas US Open Los Angeles USA (10) [Tony Kosten]
A07 2571 2578 13.08.2003
An instructive pawn sac from W hite, and a nicely judged follow-up, but Black manages to scrape a draw with a tactic in time-trouble. 1.g3 d5 2.f3 c6 3.g2 f6 4.0-0 f5 5.b3 White continues his development and eschews c4 for the moment. e6 6.b2 d6 7.d3 0-0 [ Instead, Sveshnikov recommends 7...e7 immediately, to play ...Ba3. ] 8.bd2 e7 9.e4! White strikes immediately, as preparation by [ 9.e1 , say, allows a3 10.xa3 xa3 an d B la c k is f in e , P a n o v, V -K rzisn ik, R/ Vrnjacka Banja 1962. ] 9...dxe4 10.dxe4 xe4 Quite forced, as both [ 10...xe4? 11.xf6 and ]
[ 10...g4? 11.e5 lose a piece. ] 11.h4!? Strictly speaking, this is a novelty, but the game will later transpose to the original [ 11.d4 by xd2 ( 11...f6?! is worse, 12.xf5 exf5 13.e1 d8 14.c4 with advantage ) 12.xf5 exf5 etc. ] [ There is another possibility, though: 11.xe4!? xe4 12.xg7! xg7 ( 12...d8!? 13.d4 ) 13.d4+ e5 14.xe4 f5 with unclear play, although I think I would prefer to have W hite's sounder pawn structure. ] 11...xd2 This is better than [ 11...c5 12.e1! ( 12.xf5 exf5 13.e1 e6 is probably OK for Black) 12...g6 13.c4 c7 14.d4 f6 15.a3 when Black is under considerable pressure. ] 12.xf5 exf5 13.xd2 e5! Black hastens to block the long a1-h8 diagonal. 14.fe1! The second novelty! For in the stem game, Pigusov,E-Sveshnikov,E/St Petersburg 1993, (which occurred after 11 Nd4 instead of 11 Nh4) White preferred [ 14.xe5 xe5 15.fe1 c5 16.b4 b6 17.ab1 a5 ( 17...a6! 18.c4 ad8 is about equal) 18.bxa5 xa5 19.xa5 xa5 20.xb7 xa2 21.f1! Black had problems developing his knight. ] 14...f6 Black can also handle the annoying pin on the e-file by [ 14...d6 but then 15.xd6 xd6 16.ad1 c5 17.e5 a6 18.f1 allows White to capture on f5 with a plus. ] 15.ad1 For the pawn sacrificed White has a powerful bishop pair, control of the central files, and a promising lead in development. Even so, there was much to be said for the surprising [ 15.f4!? regaining the f-pawn immediately, as xf4 16.xe7 e5 17.xe5 fxe5 18.d1 leaves Black in some trouble. ] 15...a6 16.f4! This is still good. Note that [ 16.f4? is a mistake, as Black simply unpins with check: c5+ ] 16...c5 17.xe5 fxe5 18.xe5!? White aims to keep hold of the initiative, but the simple [ 18.xe5 xe5 19.xe5 leaves him with a g o o d e n d g a m e : ad8 20.xd8 xd8 21.a5! d1+ 22.f1 and following Kg2 the 239
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 black queenside will be destroyed. ] 18...xc2 19.de1 ad8 20.f1!? Threatening both Bc4+ and, maybe capturing the knight. [ 20.e7 h8 ( 20...f7? 21.xf7 xf7 22.g5 wins ) 21.g5 c3 22.f1 is also dangerous for Black. ] 20...h8 [ 20...xa2 21.e7 b2 might offer better chances. ] 21.e7 White's initiative is reaching worrying proportions, both Qg5 and Rxb7 are menaced. c3 g 7 m u s t b e d e f e n d e d . 22.1e5 White cuts the a1-h8 diagonal, but [ 22.g5! is strong, as h6 23.g6 f6 ( 23...c5? 24.c1! ) 24.xf6 xf6 25.xb7 c5 26.xa7 is crushing. ] 22...h6? Black stops Qg5, but the cure is worse than the illness, [ 22...c5 23.g5 g8 kept Black alive. ] 23.xb7 Now White is materially equal with a winning position as the black structure falls apart. c5 24.xa7 d1?! 25.ee7 [ 25.xf5! wi n s i m m e d i a t e l y, a s xf1+ 26.g2! ( 26.xf1? d3+ ) 26...g8 ( 26...xf5? is impossible, 27.a8+ h7 28.xf5+ g6 29.a7+ ) 27.f8! ( or 27.xf1 ) 27...xf2+ 28.xf2 and wins. ] 25...d3 [ 25...d3?? would allow a nice mate by 26.xh6+ gxh6 27.h7+ g8 28.ag7# ] 26.f3 a1 Black has some initiative, but once this peters-out he will be lost. 27.e2 d8 28.xg7? An obvious move to play, especially in time trouble, but it allows Black to draw! [ 28.ad7! xd7 29.xd7 wins easily. ] 28...e1! Now White has to force a draw, as otherwise he loses the bishop on f1 with check, and the game! 29.h7+ g8 30.hg7+ h8 31.h7+ g8 32.ag7+ f8 33.f7+ g8 34.hg7+ h8 35.h7+ g8 36.fg7+ f8 37.f7+ g8 38.hg7+ h8 39.h7+ g8 40.fg7+ f8 41.f7+ g8 Surely both players were in severe time trouble as the same position has been repeated numerous times! ½-½
258 Minasian,Artashes Tomashevsky,Evgeny 10th EICC Budva MNE (2) [Nigel Davies]
A07 2557 2664 07.03.2009
1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.d3 g4 5.h3 h5 6.0-0 bd7 7.bd2 e5 8.e4 d6 9.exd5 Trying to use his slight lead in development to break up Black's pawn centre. The idea is logical enough and has been used in several games by Rafael Vaganian. But can W hite count on achieving any advantage? cxd5 10.c4 The logical follow up. If Black advances with ...d5-d4 then a kind of reversed Modern Benoni would appear. 0-0 11.cxd5 xd5 12.b3 5f6 [ T h i s i s p r o b a b l y b e t t e r t h a n 12...5b6 when 13.e4 e7 ( 13...c7 is also well met by 14.a4 ) 14.a4 h8 15.a5 f5 16.eg5 gave White a dangerous initiative in Vaganian, R (2625)-Khalifman, A (2660)/ Eupen 1994. ] 13.c4 c5 [ Black's position is also difficult after 13...c7 14.e3 b6 15.fe1 c8 16.d4 xf3 17.xf3 e4 18.g2 which was Vaganian, R (2645)-Torre, E (2535)/Moscow 1994. ] 14.a3 xf3 [ B l a c k h a s a l s o t r i e d 14...c8 when 15.xd6 ( 15.g4 g6 16.fxe5 is pro ba bly even st ron ge r) 15...xd6 16.e3 b6?! 17.xe5! d5 18.d4 xe3 19.fxe3 was good for White in Vaganian, R (2615)-Epishin, V (2645)/ Moscow 1996. ] 15.xf3 e7 16.xe5 Black seems to get enough for his pawn after this. [ Accordingly I think it may be worth exploring the line 16.d1!? e6 17.a5 which seems to offer some initiative. ] 16...cd7 17.c3 c8 18.e1 e8 [ 18...c5 19.xd7 xd7 gave White a slight edge in Vaganian-Kaidanov/Glendale/ 1994. ] 19.d4 c5 20.xb7?? A 'new move', but one which loses material and the game. W hite has reached this position in a couple of earlier games but without much joy, for example: [ a) 20.d1 xd4 21.xd7 xd7 22.g5 1/2-1/2 Collutiis, D (2429)-Maiorov, N (2511)/ 240
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 St Eufemia d'Aspromonte 2010. ] [ b) 20.dxc5 xe5 21.d1 xc5!? ( 21...xf3+ 22.xf3 d5 is equal but maybe too drawish for Lobron facing a lower r a t e d o p p o n e n t) 22.xb7 d5?! ( R e a l l y c h a n c i n g h i s a r m - 22...c7 would have been better) 23.b3 d7 24.d1 c4 25.xd5 xd5 26.f4 and White was a good pawn up in Weber, U (2322)-Lobron, E (2524)/Bad Wiessee 2001, though he later lost the game. ] [ c) Perhaps W hite's best here is 20.e3 , for example xe5 21.dxe5 xe5 22.c3 e8 23.xc5 exc5 24.a3 leaves him with the better minor piece. But the has not been tried in practice. ] 20...xd4 21.xc8 xe5 22.b7 [ I'm not sure what White missed when he capture on b7, but 22.d1 xc8 23.xd4 f3+ wins the queen. ] 22...b6 23.f4 xb7 24.xe5 xe5 25.d2 b6 Black's minor pieces far outweigh the rook and pawn here because of the weakness of W hite's kingside. 26.ae1 f5 27.h2 f3 28.e3 This trick doesn't particularly help White's chances because it leads to the creation of new weaknesses. [ 28.c2 would have been more stubborn. ] 28...xe3 [ And not 28...xe3?? 29.d8+ etc. ] 29.fxe3 h5 30.g2 b8 31.f3 e5 32.f2 h4 33.c2 c7 34.g2 hxg3 35.d2 a5 36.b3 g6 37.d4 g7 38.h4 b6 39.d2 xe3 40.e2 d5 41.xg3 e4+ 0-1
weakening the kingside. 5.d3 c6 6.0-0 e5 7.bd2 d6 8.b3 e7 9.b2 0-0 10.e4 a5 11.a4 c7 12.e1 f6 13.c1 fe8 14.h4 ad8 15.h1 c5 16.b1 dxe4 17.dxe4 b5! 18.axb5 cxb5 19.c3 b7 20.a1 b4! 21.b1 b5 And Black had more than equalised, due to his strong grip on the center and queenside, and went on to win in the game Vijayalakshmi, S Korneev, O Port Erin 2006 ] 5.xf3 The higher up the levels you go, the more the bishop pair is cherished. I recently suggested to a friend of mine, who is writing a book on the Trompovsky, that the opening is bad because White is simply handing Black the bishop pair. It is widely agreed at supergrandmaster level (not that I'm at that level of course, as much as I'd like to dream that I am, more th at I'm going on wha t I've see n in interviews and so on) that a bishop is worth more than a knight, but perhaps Kazim was playing on Moro's well-known prejudice for playing with knight's over bishops. gf6 6.d3! Slow and steady wins the races. [ 6.c4? would be somewhat rash and is met with e5! ] 6...c6 7.d2 g6!? [ I think personally speaking I would have d e ve l o p e d t h e b i s h o p o n d 6 h e r e - f o r example 7...e6 8.0-0 d6 9.e4 h5! with some reasonable counterplay- Black is threatening ..h4, and if g4 he controls the f4 square. ] 8.e4 g7 9.e2 c7 10.g2 0-0 11.0-0 e5 Of course it is vital to prevent f4, when Black would be in danger of being overrun. Nonetheless, W hite has a wide-variety of plans in this position. 12.b3 fe8 13.b2 259 A07 ad8 14.fe1 d4? But this is a real Morozevich,A 2758 concession, as it takes all the tension out of Kasimdzhanov,R 2709 the center, thus giving White something of a Renova FIDE GP Zug (1.1) 18.04.2013 freehand on the kingside. Kasim intends a slow advance on the queenside, but this is [Danny Gormally] just what it is - too slow. [ 14...dxe4 15.dxe4 c5 16.ad1 ( 16.a4?! 1.g3 d5 2.f3 g4 3.g2 d7 4.h3 e6 17.c3 trying to keep control over xf3?! Something of a strategic capitulation. everything, runs into c5! with the threat of Why give up the bishops for so little? taking on d2) 16...e6! would have kept [ Correct, and much more popular, is 4...h5 any disadvantage to a minimum. ] If White would then want to exchange this b i s h o p , t h i s w o u l d i n v o l ve a s t r a t e g i c 15.h4 c5 16.h3 b5 17.f3 a5 18.c1 c o n c e s s i o n h i m s e l f , b y p l a y i n g g 4 , a4 19.d2 a8 20.b4 e6 21.ac1! 241
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Intending c3, breaking open the c-file and exposing Black's queenside weaknesses. It is very clear now who has won the opening battle. ad8 22.g5! f8 23.c4 dxc3 24.xc3 6d7 25.ec1 b8 26.a3! You know when your opponent has time for such little "indulgences" that something has gone seriously wrong. h6 27.f3 e6 28.e3 d6 29.d2 h7 30.g2 ed8 31.h1 h5 is now in the air. e7 32.b6 e8 33.hc1 b7 34.e3 e7 35.a2 h8 36.c2 g8 37.e2 h8 38.h2 g8 39.h5! Finally. Just at the right moment, Moro forces the concession of the f5 square. g5 A grim decision to take, as not only does this permanently give away the light squares, but the threat of the white knight landing on f5 hangs permanently over Black's head. It would not be an exaggeration at this point to say that W hite is strategically winning. 40.e1 h8 41.g2 g8 [ One of the problems that Black has is that 41...d4 does not solve his problems42.xd4 exd4 43.c5 and f4 is a serious threat. ] 42.c5! xc5 43.xc5 ed8 44.e3 a7 [ 44...xd3 45.d5+- ] 45.5c3 f6 46.f5 e8 47.e3 xe3 48.fxe3 f8 49.g2 ee6 50.d4! exd4 51.exd4 g4 52.f1 d7 53.f4 It is not often your opponent will resign when there is complete material equality on the board! The best games are the most simple. 1-0
7.b2 followed by Nbd2, c2-c4 or e2-e4) 5...xf3 6.xf3 bd7 7.g2 e6 8.0-0 A) 8...c7 9.c4 ( 9.e4!? ) 9...dxc4 10.dxc4 e7 11.c3 0-0 12.c2 fd8 13.a4 c5 14.e3 a5 15.c3 b4 16.b3 e5 was equal in KortchnoiPetrosian, USSR 1971; B) 8...d6 B1) Here I would prefer 9.d2!? 0-0 10.e4 c7 11.f4 dxe4 ( or 11...e5 12.f5 c5+ 13.h1 dxe4 14.dxe4 e3 15.e2 h6 16.h4 Karasev-Klovans, USSR 1975 ) 12.dxe4 e5 13.f5 h6 14.e2 e7 15.a4 a5 16.c4 e8 17.h4 ( 17.e3!? b6 18.fd1 ef6 19.h2 looks plea sant f or W hit e) 17...d6 18.e3 xc4 19.xc4 f6 20.f3 h5 21.g2 ( 21.e2!? ) 21...ad8 22.ad1 xd1 23.xd1 d8 24.c3 xd1 25.xd1 d7 26.b3 d8 27.f3 b5 28.f1 g4 , and with Black having equa lised, the players agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2 J.PlachetkaP.Benko, Sombor 1976; B2) 9.e4 c7 10.e2 having already played e2-e4 and Black not having any threats against the pawn, White should in my opinion rest the queen for a little while on d1 until he knows which square is the optimal one for the queen. ( 10.d2!? transposes to 9.Nd2 given above and should be given preference.) 10...0-0-0!? Quite a surprise, normally Black castles kingside in the Reti. 11.d2 b8 12.a4 g5 13.d4 dxe4 14.a5 a6 15.c4?! ( Here Morozevich 260 A07 lets go and starts getting a little too fancy for his own good. Simple and good is Morozevich,Alexander 2741 15.xe4 xe4 16.xe4 dg8 17.f3 Anand,Viswanathan 2779 wi t h t h e b e t t e r c h a n c e s f o r W h i t e) Amber Blindfold (1) 17.03.2007 15...h6 16.xd6 xd6 17.d1 e5 [Carsten Hansen] 18.dxe5 ( 18.e3!? ) 18...xe5 19.e3 he8 and White has insufficient 1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.d3 g6 compensation for the pawn and later lost, [ In a later round, Kramnik had success using A. Morozevich-V.Kramnik, Monte a different set-up against the Reti, but then Carlo2007 ] aga in , in t h is t o u rn a m e n t K ra m nik h a d success against nearly everybody in the 5.0-0 g7 6.bd2 0-0 7.e4 g4 8.h3 blindfold event. 4...g4 5.h3 this move has xf3 9.xf3 dxe4 [ 9...bd7 10.e2 ( 10.e1 e6 11.e2 a5 never appealed much to me. I think White 12.e5 e8 13.f3 c7 14.h4 h6 15.f4 has a decent chance of obtaining an Lazic, M-Dragovic, M/Vrbas 1993; 10.d4 advantage after ( 5.0-0 bd7 6.b3 e6 242
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.xe4 e7 14.g5 c5 15.e3 xe4 11.xe4 dxe4 12.xe4 f6 cd7 16.h4 ( 16.d4!? ) 16...fe8 13.d3 d7 14.b3 fd8 15.c3 17.fe1 f8 18.e2 1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk, with a spatial plus and the bishop pair, V-Chernin, A/Lvov 1987; W hite has a slight advantage, Koshy, VB3) 10...a6 11.e5 ( 11.b3 d7 Murugan, K/ India 1994 ) 10...e6 12.h4 h5 13.g5 e8 14.ae1 dxe4 A) 11.f3 c5 12.e5 fd7 13.h4 15.dxe4 xb2 16.b1 f6 17.h6 ( 13.f4!? ) 13...f6 14.exf6 xf6 15.d4 g7 18.xg7 xg7 19.a5 ac5 e4 16.g5 xg5 17.xg5 xd4?! 20.xb7 xb7 21.xb7 ( 17...f5!? ) 18.xe6+ f7 19.c3 e5 1/2-1/2 Flesch, J-Karaklajic, N/Belgrade 20.ae1 Akopian, V-Delchev, A/Rio 1965 (30) ) 11...d7 12.f4 b6+ Gallegos 1986; 13.h2 ae8 14.f3 f6 15.c3 ab8 B) 11.e5 16.d4 Mischustov, M-Reich, T/Bayern B1) 11...h5 12.f3 f5 13.d4 c5 2000 ] 14.c3 c4 15.e1 ( 15.g5!? ) 15...b8 [ 9...e5 10.e2 ( 10.b3!? ) 10...bd7 ( 15...h8!? 16.f3 g7 ) 16.f3 e8 11.f3 dxe4 12.dxe4 c7 13.b4 fe8 17.g2 h8 18.xh5 gxh5 19.h4 ( 13...a5!?= ) 14.a3 ( 14.d2!? ) 14...a6 Kasparov, G-Zarnicki, P/Internet ICC 15.d2 b5 16.c4 Gundelfinger, K-Liepert, L/ 1998; A n s b a c h 1 9 8 5 b6!? 17.c5 a4 B2) 11...e8 12.f3 f5 13.exf6 xf6 18.b3 ] 14.g5 B2a) 14...f5 15.e7 f7 16.h4 10.dxe4 bd7 11.e2 e5 [ Finally Anand plays a new move, but hardly f8 ( 16...xb2 17.ab1 f6 18.g4 one that changes the evaluation as this f4 19.g3 a4 20.xb7 ) 17.c3 being better for W hite. 11...c7 12.a4 h5? 18.g5 d7 19.f4 f6 20.f3 ad8 13.b3 b6 14.e3 c5 15.a5 e5? 6h7 21.e5 1-0 Mrva, M-Betko, L/ this is a truly ugly move which clearly shows Slovakia 2000; that Black has no idea what he is doing. The B2b) 14...f7 15.f4 h6 16.h4 ef6 black bishop is now buried behind his own 17.h3 fe8 18.ae1 Averbakh, Ypawns with very little hope of ever Bagirov, V/USSR Ch (Baku) 1961 ] b e c o m i n g a c t i ve a g a i n . W h i t e ' s l i g h t [ 9...e6 squared bishop, on the other hand, can be A) 10.e1 a6 11.c3 b6 12.b3 activated via f1 and enjoy the full range of fe8 ( 12...d7!? 13.exd5 cxd5 14.d4 ) Black's hopelessly weakened light squares. 13.g5 d7 14.d4 c7 15.e5 a5 16.d2! White will route his knight via b1 to 16.e3 a4 17.d2 Jansa, V-Kupka, S/ c3 where it grabs hold on the b5 and d5Trinec 1972; squares and protects the e4-pawn, B) 10.e2 t h e re f o re r e li e vi n g t h e b ish o p f r o m it s B1) 10...fd7 11.c3 f5 12.f3 f6 defensive duties regarding the e4-pawn, ( 12...fxe4 13.dxe4 e8 ) 13.exf5 exf5 allowing it to become active. e8!? 17.axb6 14.e6+ h8 15.g5 ( 15.f4!? ) axb6 18.b1 b7 19.c3 c7 20.b5!? 15...d7 16.xd7 bxd7 17.e6 f7 exchanging Black's defender of the light 18.e3 e7 19.xg7 xg7 20.fd1 squares, thus making the penetration f7 21.c4 f8 22.b4 ( 22.d4!? ) simpler. c6 21.xc7 xc7 22.b5 22...e6 23.a4 d7 24.ab1 f4 ( 22.c4!? ) 22...a8 23.c3 xa1 24.xa1 25.gxf4 h5 26.b5 ( 26.f5 gxf5 b8 25.a6 f8 26.f1 g7 27.a4 b7 27.cxd5 cxd5 28.h2 and White is 28.b5 b8 29.a8 d6 30.d1 c6 better thanks to the bishops superiority 31.d2 h5 32.h6+ h7 33.g5 b8 over the knights in an open position such 34.xb8 xb8 35.f6 c6 36.d5 a7 as this ) 26...hxf4= 37.e8 g8 38.xf7+ xf7 39.xd6 1/2-1/2 Polugaevsky, L-Nei, I/Moscow 1-0 Fischer, R-Ibrahimoglu, I/Siegen 1964; 197002 ] B2) 10...a5 11.a4 a6 12.c3 dxe4 243
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.a4 This along with the next couple of moves are s tan dard in this t yp e o f p awn structure which occurs very often in the Reti and King's Indian Attack. c7 13.c4 fd8 14.e3 [ Here 14.a5 looks logical to prevent Black's n e xt m o v e , b u t i n t h a t c a s e B l a c k c a n consider both 14...b5 and 14...Nc5, intending 15...Ne6 and then ...Nd4. ] 14...b6 [ Or 14...b5 15.axb5 cxb5 16.a5 a6 17.c4 bxc4 ( 17...b4 18.c5 ) 18.xc4 xc4 19.xc4 ] 15.d2!? [ Morozevich prefers to keep the knights on the board this decision makes a lot of sense as Black's position is a bit more cramped and thus will helped in his defence through exchanges. However, my silicon friends pref er the exchange over Morozevich's retreat, why can that be? Their reasoning is undoubtedly that Black will end up with a doubled pawn where the front pawn is fixed on a dark square and immediately attacked by White's dark-squared bishop and Black will therefore have to tend to it. One line runs: 15.xb6 axb6 16.b3 ( 16.b4!? ) 16...d7 17.fd1 ad8 18.xd7 xd7 and While Black's defensive task may well be both boring and somewhat painful, he should be able to hold on. ] 15...e8 16.c3 [ W hite can also consider 16.a5!? c8 17.a6 b6 18.ad1 with better chances for White ] 16...d7 17.f4!? exf4 [ 17...d6 18.f5 gxf5 19.exf5 f6 20.f2 ] 18.gxf4 d6 19.f2 e8 20.a5 b6 21.axb6 axb6 22.f3 xa1 23.xa1 f8 24.f2 c5 25.h4! d8 26.d1 [ 26.h5!? ] 26...e7 27.e1 [ 27.h5!? ] 27...d8 [ 27...e6 28.g3 d8 29.e2 ] 28.e2 [ 28.h5!? ] 28...h6 29.h3 b7 [ Here 29...e6!? 30.g3 a8 is met by 31.f5 d8 32.f1 and White has a strong initiative with his mobile pawns and bishop
pair ] 30.h5! e8 31.g2 f5 This is a classic ploy to somewhat close the position, block the passed pawn (when it moves to e5) with a knight and then prepare a pawn break with ... g6-g5 32.d3 c7 [ 32...e7!? 33.g3 fxe4 34.xe4 h8 is messy, but may be a better chance for Black than the game continuation, although a continuation like 35.hxg6 xg6 36.e1 xe4 37.xe4 d8 38.f3 f7 39.f5 f8 40.e5+ looks unappetizing for Black ] 33.e5 f7 34.d5 [ Or 34.g3 e6 35.hxg6 hxg6 36.f3 followed by Nc4-(or Nf1-)e3-d5 also looks very good for White ] 34...e6 Knights are excellent for blockading purposes, so White now has to rid himself of one of the components in his bishop pair in order to make progress. 35.xe6! xe6 36.g3 c6 37.c4! e7 Black tried to regroup his pieces and then push the ...gpawn forward to destroy the harmonious flow to W hite's game. 38.d5 e6 39.hxg6 hxg6 40.f3 g5!? A pawn break to open up the position rather than suffocating in silence. W hile it shouldn't work, it does, yet Black doesn't take advantage of White's faulty reply. 41.g2?! [ This loses a tempo White can do better with 41.f1!? e.g. h7 42.fxg5 xg5 43.xg5+ xg5 44.f4 d7 45.h1+ g6 46.g2 d1+ 47.f2 e7 48.e6 and Black is completely tied up ] 41...f8? [ Now it ends rather rapidly. Almost any other move with the king would have been better: 41...h7 A) 42.fxg5 xg5 43.xg5+ xg5 44.f3 g7 45.b3 h6 46.h2 ( 46.f2 d7 ) 46...a7 47.f2 g6 with a com plicate d stru ggle , t hou gh I prefer W hite due to his somewhat safer king; B) 42.h2 g7 B1) 43.f1 e8 ( 43...gxf4 44.h4 e8 45.f6++- ) 44.fxg5 xg5 45.f4!? this is why the king had to move to f1, so that ...Nxf3 wouldn't be a check. xd5 46.cxd5 xf3 47.xh6 xe5 48.xb6 d3 49.d2 d8 and Black can 244
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 defend; cxd5 28.c6+ c7 29.xe6 f7 30.xf7+ B2) 43.fxg5! xg5 ( 43...xg5 xf7 31.d4 a6 32.e8 with excellent 44.f1+- ) 44.xg5 xg5 45.g2 f7 winning chances for White - though this is 46.f3 f8 47.b3 and White has the a f a ir l y l o n g va ri a t i o n a n d l ik e l y s o m e initiative ] errors have found their way in ] [ 41...h8?! 42.fxg5 xg5 43.xg5 xg5 25.d5 cxd5 26.cxd5 c7? 44.f2! f4 45.h4! xd5 46.cxd5 xe5 [ Now Black is losing. Instead Black should 47.f6+ h7 48.xe5 xe5 49.e2+- ] opt for 26...e5 27.d3 f7 28.g6 f5 42.fxg5 xg5 29.b5+ e7 30.d4 xg6 31.c6+ f8 [ Or 42...g7 43.d2 xe5 44.xe5 xe5 32.xe5 xe5 33.xe5 d6 34.c6 45.xe6 xe6 46.e2+- ] with better chances for W hite, but Black 43.xg5 xg5 44.d8+ f7 45.f4 has counterplay on account of his active Now Black decisively loses material f3+ queen and rook along with W hite's open 46.f2 e8 47.c7+ e7 48.b8 king ] 1-0 27.dxe6+ xe6 28.e4? [ 28.d4! f4 29.xf4 c5+ 30.b1 xb2+ 31.a1 ( 31.xb2? xd4+= ) 261 A07 31...xa2+ 32.xa2 a5+ 33.b2 b4+ 34.c2 c4+ 35.d1 xd4+ 36.d2 Morozevich,Alexander 2755 a4+ 37.c2 a1+ 38.c1 , and Black is Bacrot,Etienne 2695 out of good checks and is now a rook down. World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (8) 21.11.2007 The rest of the game is a rollercoaster up [Carsten Hansen] and down regarding the size of W hite's advantage, and therefore I will only give a 1.f3 d5 2.g3 g4 3.g2 c6 4.d3 e6 few moves here and there, the narrative 5.h3 h5 6.g4 g6 7.e5 d7 8.xg6 doesn't make much sense given that this is hxg6 9.e3 d6 10.e2 f5 a blitz game, and the players evidently had [ 10...e7 is Morozevich-Rublevsky, also more or less no time left. ] from this update. ] 28...f7 29.g6 f5 30.a4+ d8? 11.d2 gf6 12.e4 e7 13.b3 0-0-0 [ 30...b5! 31.xa7+ c7 ] [ 13...a5 14.exf5 gxf5 15.gxf5 e5 16.a4 ] 31.xa7?! 14.d2 [ 31.c6! e5 32.d5+ c7 33.xe5+ [ 14.g5 e5 15.0-0-0 f7 16.e3 ] xe5 34.xe5+- ] 14...fxg4 [ 14...dxe4 15.dxe4 xe4 16.xe4 fxe4 31...c7 32.a8+ d7 33.a4+?! [ 33.d1 d3 34.a4+ c8 35.c6!? ] 17.xe4 ] 15.hxg4 xh1+ 16.xh1 h8 17.0-0-0 h2 33...d8?? [ 33...b5! 34.a8 f1 ] 18.d4 [ Morozevich decides to unbalance the game, 34.c4?! [ 34.d4 c5+ 35.c3! g5+ 36.b1 though 18.g1!? f7 19.g2 xg6+ 37.a1+- ] is a perfectly good option ] 18...xe4 19.xe4 dxe4 20.xe4 xf2 34...d7?! 35.a4?! [ 35.xe6! xe6 36.d4+ c8 37.xf2+- ] 21.xg6 f6 35...xg6?! [ 21...f7= ] [ 35...f4!? ] 22.e1 d7?! 36.d5+ e7?! [ 22...g3 23.d3 d6 24.h1 f4= ] [ 36...d6 37.b5+ c7 38.a5+- ] 23.c4! b6 24.g5 37.d4 xd2 [ 24.b1!? ] [ 37...f6 38.b4+ f7 39.xe6 xe6 24...e8 40.d7++- ] [ 24...g4 25.e4!? ( 25.d3 f7 26.c5 c7 27.a6 f5 28.xa7 b5; 25.h5 38.xe6+ h2 26.d5 ) 25...h2 26.c5 g3 27.d5! 1-0 245
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 262
A07 Morozevich,Alexander 2755 Gelfand,Boris 2736 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (12) 21.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen]
1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.d3 g4 5.bd2 bd7 6.h3 [ The normal move is 6.0-0 , but Morozevich is angling for the game to enter the lines we saw him play against Rublevsky and Bacrot. However, Gelfand isn't as accommodating. ] 6...xf3 7.xf3 e5 8.0-0 e7 [ This line isn't seen particularly often and White has previously succeeded in obtaining the better chances against it. With that in mind, it is somewhat surprising that Gelfand doesn't opt for the standard prescription for Black in this line, which is 8...c5 A) 9.xe5 xe5 10.d4 d6 11.dxe5 xe5 12.d3 0-0= Polugaevsky, L-Geller, E/Moscow 1969/URS-ch; B) 9.c4 dxc4 10.dxc4 e7 11.c2 0-0 12.e3 a5 13.b3 a4 14.b2 fe8 15.c3 b4= Quinteros, M-Milos, G/Moron 1982; C) 9.b1 e7 10.a3 e4 11.dxe4 xe4 12.e3 0-0 13.c3 fe8 14.c2 b6 15.a4 a5 , and Black has a comfortable game, Ljubojevic, L-Boersma, P/Antwerp 1997; D) 9.h4!? 0-0 10.e4 e8 ( 10...dxe4 11.dxe4 ) 11.e2 b6 12.c3 a5 Moser, E-Madl, I/Istanbul 2000, and now 13.f5 is pleasant for White; E) 9.c3 White has tried several other things at this juncture: 0-0 10.c2 ( 10.b4 b6 11.a4 a6 12.d2 e8 13.e4 f8 14.e2 d7 15.a5 a7 16.e1 ad8= Petran, P-Westerinen, H/Cappelle 1988) 10...e8 11.e4 dxe4 12.dxe4 a5 13.a4 ( 13.b3!? c7 14.a3 f8 15.b2 c5 16.fe1 a4 17.b4 Barcza, G-Bajec, I/ Ljubljana 1969) 13...f8 14.g5 h6 15.ad1 e7 16.c1 ad8 17.h4 c7 18.f5 g6 Cebalo, M-Arun Prasad, S/ Biel SUI 2007, and now 19.d2!? ] [ 8...d6 9.h4 0-0 10.f5 Krojanski, HLangschmidt, D/Dortmund 1993 ] 9.h4!? [ White has two perfectly acceptable alternatives in: A) 9.c4 dxc4 10.dxc4 0-0
11.c2 e8 12.b3 c7 13.b2 f8 14.ad1 ( 14.fd1!? ) 14...a5 15.a3 c5 16.e3 f8 17.h4 c5 18.f5 , and White is in charge of the game, Todorcevic, MCampora, D/Sevilla 1992 ] [ B) 9.b3 0-0 10.c4 c7 11.c2 d4 12.b1 a5 13.a3 a7 14.e1 A) 14...c5 15.e4 ( 15.e3?! e4! ); B) 14...b5?! 15.e3 dxe3 16.xe3 1-0 Maksimovic, S-Batkovic, R/Novi Sad 1996 (32) ] 9...0-0 10.f5 e8 11.xe7+ xe7 12.e4 dxe4 13.dxe4 c5 14.e2 ad8 15.e3 [ 15.b3 e6 16.c3 c5 17.d2= ] 15...cxe4 16.xa7 c5 [ 16...b4!? ] 17.b6 a8 18.b3 a6 19.xc5 xc5 20.c4 a3 21.ad1 e4 22.fe1 h6 23.d2 a5 24.ed1 g6 [ 24...h5!? ] 25.c2 g7 26.dd2 [ 26.d2!? ] 26...e5 27.e3 ea8 28.b6 a1+ 29.f1?! [ 29.h2 h5 30.c5 3a5 31.e3 e5 is uncomfortable for W hite, but playable. After the text move, Black is clearly better ] 29...xa2 30.xa2 xa2 31.xa2 xa2 32.xb7? [ 32.b4 d2 33.g2 d1+ 34.f1 d2 35.b5 cxb5 36.cxb5 d7 ] 32...e3 33.fxe3 e4 34.g2 f2+ 35.h1? [ 35.h2 xg3+ 36.g1 xe3+ 37.h2 c3 is also pretty disgusting, but it's better than allowing mate ] 35...e1+? [ 35...xg3+ 36.h2 e2 mates ] 36.h2 xg3+ 37.g1 xe3+ 38.h2 c5 [ 38...c3! 39.a6 ( 39.xc6?? e2!-+ ) 39...e2 40.a1+ h7 41.b1 c5 42.h1 c1 , and Black is winning ] 39.b6 e5+ 40.g1 d3?! [ 40...g5!? 41.b4 d4+ 42.h2 f4+ 43.h1 d3 leaves Black with good winning chances ] 41.xc6 e3+ 42.h2 f4+ 43.g1 d4+ [ 43...e3+!? ] 44.h2 e5+ 45.g1 c5 [ 45...e3+!? ]
246
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 46.b6 e1+ 47.h2 e5+ 48.g1 e1+ ½-½
263 Morozevich,Alexander Harikrishna,Penteala World Cup ACP 1st rapid (1.3) [Nigel Davies]
A07 2741 2673 06.01.2007
1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.d3 g4 5.h3 h5 6.g4 g6 7.e5 [ Although this looks more 'aggressive' than 7.h4 it loses the option of a delayed capture on g6 when Black attacks the knight with 7...Nbd7. This in turn opens the h-file early for Black and makes it easier for him to know where to put the rest of his pieces. ] 7...bd7 8.xg6 hxg6 9.e3 e6 10.d2 It's not incredibly easy to develop the rest of White's pieces after this. [ So I prefer the development with 10.c3 followed by Bc1-d2 and Qd1-e2. ] 10...d6 11.e2 [ 11.b3 is another means of developing that is worth thinking about. ] 11...a5 12.a3 a4 13.f4?! It looks logical to take space like this though there are issues about the safety of White's king. [ Accordingly it might have been better to play 13.f3 a f t e r w h i c h e5 14.d2 ( 14.d2 b5 15.g5 g8 16.h4 e7 was quite comfortable for Black at this stage in Labuckas, A (2317)-Butnorius, A (2402)/ Siauliai 2007 )] 13...e7 14.0-0 e5 15.f5 gxf5 16.xf5 g6 17.f2 e4?! [ 17...h7 was probably a better idea, getting ready to bring the knight to g5. ] 18.dxe4 xe4 19.xe4 dxe4 20.c4 f5!? If followed up correctly this would have been very strong. 21.gxf5 gxf5?! [ 21...g3! is correct here as after 22.f1 gxf5 23.xf5 e5 24.xe4 0-0-0 Black's bishop is not blocking the d-file so he's ready to play ... Rd1+. ] 22.xf5 0-0-0 23.xe4 e5 24.d2 xh3?? A blunder, probably induced by the time limit in this game. 25.xe5! [ And not 25.xh3 because of h2+ . ] 25...xe5 26.xh3+ b8 27.c3 g5+
28.g2 Black is a piece down for zero co m p e n sa t io n so t h e re st re qu ir e s li t t l e comment. g6 29.f1 h5 30.f3 h6 31.g3+ a8 32.d4 h4 33.f2 xg2 34.xg2 e6 35.g5 e8 36.a5+ b8 37.a7+ c7 38.xa4 f5 39.g7+ d6 40.b4+ e6 41.xb7 d5 42.f7+ 1-0
264
A07 Morozevich,Alexander 2755 Karpov,Anatoly 2670 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (10) 21.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen]
1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.d3 f5 5.bd2 h6 6.0-0 e6 7.e1 h7 8.e4 e7 9.e5 [ The alternatives are 9.e2 ] [ and 9.b3 ] 9...a6 [ A new move in this position! The usual continuation is 9...bd7 10.xd7 xd7 11.f4 A) 11...dxe4 12.dxe4 0-0 ( 12...c5 13.b3 0-0 14.e2 xb3 15.axb3 d4+= Gasthofer, A-Scherer, H/GER 2002 ) A1) 13.b3 a5 A1a) 14.a4 b4 ( 14...c5!? ) 15.c3 c5+ 16.xc5 xc5 17.e3 d7 18.d1 Branca, R-Roldan, A/IECG Email 1999; A1b) 14.e3 a4 15.d2 c5 16.d1 e7 17.f2 xe3 18.xe3 b4 19.b3 axb3 20.axb3 c5 21.c4 xe3+ 22.xe3 Anastasian, A-Shen Yang/Beer Sheva 2005; A2) 13.h1 A2a) 13...a5 14.g4 f5?! ( 14...a4!? ) 15.gxf5 exf5 16.e5 c5 17.f3 e6 18.e3 e8 19.g1 Aronian, LDelgado Crespo, M/Linares 2000; A2b) 13...e8 14.g4 e5 ( 14...c7 15.b3 ad8 16.d2 b6 17.a5 B u e s e , R - P o p o vi c , A / I E C C E m a i l 2000 ) 15.f5 g5 16.f3 xc1 17.xc1 h8 18.h4 f6 19.g5 with a good initiative for W hite, Bakhtiari, K-Vahidi, M/Mashad IRI 247
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2003; A2c) 13...c5 14.e3 ( 14.g4!?; 14.e2 a5 15.c4 b5 16.e5 c7 17.d3 xd3 18.cxd3 c5 19.e3 ac8= Vaganian, R-Karpov, A/Moscow 1993 ) 14...d7 15.a4 fd8 16.b3 xb3 17.xb3 c5 18.g4 e7 19.f5 Vaganian, R-Dominguez, L/ Poikovsky RUS 2005; B) 11...a5 12.h1 0-0 13.e2 ae8 14.g4 dxe4 15.dxe4 h8 16.b3 b5 17.c4 , and White has the game under control, Zhang Zhong-Yutuc, R/Manila PHI 2006; C) 11...0-0 12.h1 ( 12.e2 a5 13.h1 a4! 14.f5 dxe4 15.dxe4 exf5 16.exf5 e8 seems very pleasant for Black, Nasir Ali, S-Hartston, W/Delhi 1982 ) C1) 12...c5 13.g4 a5 14.a4 e8 15.g3 dxe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.xe4 f6 18.g2 Vaganian, R-Short, N/ Luzern 1985; C2) 12...e8 13.g4 ( 13.e2 a5 14.a4!? c7 15.b3 b5 16.b2 b6 17.g4 with an unpleasant attack, S c h u l z e , U - L a m b e r t , A / c o r r 1 9 9 8) 13...a5 14.a4 dxe4 15.xe4 ( 15.dxe4 b4 16.e2 h4 17.c4 f6 looks better for Black, Dunhaupt, HVukcevic, B/corr 1988) 15...f5 16.g3 c5 17.d1 f6 18.g5 g4 19.f3 hxg5 20.fxg5 e5 21.f4 , and here a d r a w wa s a g r e e d u p o n , 1 / 2 - 1 / 2 , i n Markowski, T-Haba, P/Germany 2002, though obviously there is plenty of play l e f t i n t h e p o s i t i o n , e . g . w i t h d6!? followed by ...Ng4; C3) 12...h8 13.g4 dxe4 14.xe4 f5 15.g3 g8 16.e2 fxg4 17.xg4 f6 18.h3 d5 19.d2 d6 20.h5 , and W hite has the upper hand, Vaganian, R-Thorhallsson, T/New York 1997; C4) 12...a5 13.g4 ( 13.f5!? is an old suggestion by Vaganian, but it has yet to tried. ) 13...a4?! ( 13...b5!? has also been suggested by Vaganian ) C4a) 14.a3 h8 ( 14...h4 15.e2 dxe4?! 16.dxe4 c5 17.c4 b5 18.e5 c7 19.g5 , and White's attack on the kingside is gaining
momentum, Vaganian, R-Comp Centaur/The Hague1996; 14...dxe4 15.dxe4 c5 16.e3 f5 17.gxf5 exf5 18.e5 Junge, K-Buhr, C/ Germany 1993) 15.f5 exf5 16.gxf5 dxe4 17.xe4 f6 18.d2 xe4 19.xe4 f6 20.c3 e8 21.g3 xc3 22.bxc3 , and White has somewhat the b ette r cha nces , bu t Black's position is solid and with only few weaknesses, Vaganian, RRiazantsev, A/Canada de Calatrava ESP 2006; C4b) 14.f5 a3 15.b3 e8 16.b1 exf5 17.gxf5 a5 18.exd5 cxd5 19.g3 b4 20.f3 Vaganian, RSveshnikov, E/ Sochi 1980 ] [ Then there is 9...0-0 10.f4 a6 11.h1 e8 12.g4 d7 13.xd7 xd7 14.f3 c5 15.g5 hxg5 16.fxg5 d6 17.h4 b4 18.d1 e5 19.d2 ( 19.c3! c6 20.exd5 exd5 21.g6! fxg6 22.g5! ) A) 19...dxe4! 20.d4! c7 21.dxc5 d5 ( 21...a6 22.e3 d5 23.g4 ) 22.h5 ( 22.xb4?? e5-+ ); B) 19...c6 20.exd5 exd5 21.h5 ad8 22.xf7 xf7 23.g6 xg6 24.xg6 e6 25.g5 d6 26.f1 xg6 27.xd5+ xd5 28.xg6 dd8 29.f7+ h8 30.f3 1-0 Vaganian, R-Van der Vorm, T/ Holland 1996 ] [ Yet another alternative is 9...c5 10.f4 c6 11.xc6 bxc6 12.h1 a5 13.e2 a4 14.a3 c7 15.g4 with a complicated game where White has the better chances thanks to his kingside potential and Black's somewhat rigid pawn structure, Aronian, LPlaskett, J/Hastings 2001 ] 10.e2 b4?! [ What is this? Karpov must not have thought t h i s i d e a t h r o u g h . N o r m a l i s 10...0-0 with chances to both sides. ] 11.c3 a6 Hmmm... 12.d4 0-0 13.xc6 bxc6 14.xa6 dxe4 15.xc6 d5 16.a6 e5 17.b3 exd4 18.xd4 c5 19.e3 [ 19.d1!? ] 19...g4 20.ad1 h5 21.h3 xe3 22.fxe3 g5 23.f4? [ After this move, Black is back in the game a g a i n . I n s t e a d 23.h2 b6 24.f4 248
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is clearly better for White ] 23...xg3 24.e2 ad8 25.g4 e5 26.f1 d6 [ 26...f5 27.c6 d5 28.xd8 fxg4 29.d1 g5 ] 27.c4?! [ 27.b4 b6 28.f2 g6 is messy and the label 'unclear' fits well here ] 27...b6?! [ 27...d7!? 28.ff4 h5 ] 28.gf4 g6 [ 28...d7!? ] 29.h1 g5 [ 29...h8!? ] 30.f5 d2 31.g4 h5?? [ 31...xf5! 32.xf5 xf5 33.g3 e6 , and Blac k is by no means worse. In the game, however, Black dies promptly after this blunder ] 32.e7+ h7 33.xg6 1-0
265 Morozevich,Alexander Kramnik,Vladimir World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (6) [Carsten Hansen]
A07 2755 2785 21.11.2007
1.f3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g4 4.d3 d7 5.bd2 gf6 6.h3 h5 7.g4 g6 8.h4 e6 [ Black has a serious alternative in 8...e5 , and now: A) 9.xg6 is harmless for Black, even if in accordance with White's game plan: hxg6 10.e3 ( 10.e4?! dxe4 11.xe4 xe4 12.dxe4 c5 13.e2 b6 14.c3 a5 , and Black has the more comf ortable game, Knudsen, J-Nilsson, N/Copenhagen 1987; 10.c4 a5 11.f1 dxc4 12.xc4 c7 13.d2 c5 14.b4 e7 15.c1 0-0 16.b3 ad8 Labuckas, ARapoport, I/Polanica Zdroj 1996 ) 10...d6 A1) 11.b3 e7! ( 11...c5?! 12.b2 e7 13.e2 0-0 14.h4 e6 15.g5 Brkljaca, A-Jakovljevic, V/Niska Banja 1996 ) 12.a3?! ( 12.b2!? ) 12...0-0-0 13.e2 b8 14.b2 g5 15.c4 dxc4 16.xc4 c5 Bonin, J-Yudasin, L/ New York USA 2004;
A2) 11.e2 e7 12.c4 b6 13.a3 dxc4 14.dxc4 d8 15.g5 fd7 16.h4 a5= Fuller, M-Greenfeld, A/London 1984; B) 9.c4 also fails to frighten, e.g. c5 ( 9...d4 10.a3 a5 11.b3 d6 12.f1 g8 13.xg6 hxg6 14.g3 gf6= Likavsky, T-Hracek, Z/Trencianske Teplice 2002 ) 10.xg6 hxg6 11.e3 0-0 12.0-0 d4 13.exd4 xd4 14.f3 b6= Bradford, J-Georgiev, K/ Catalan Bay ENG 2007; C) 9.e3 C1) 9...c5 C1a) 10.a3 a5 11.b3 ( 11.xg6 hxg6 12.g5 h7 13.h4 hf8 14.c4 d4 15.e4 e6 Garcia Luque, AK o n o n e n k o , T / S e v i l l a E S P 2 0 0 6) 11...f8 12.xg6 hxg6 13.b2 e7 14.g5 6d7 15.h4 e6 16.g4 d6= Michalek, J-Pokorna, R/Czech Rep CZE 2003; C1b) 10.e2 f8 11.xg6 hxg6 12.f3 e4 13.dxe4 xe4 14.d2 f6 15.b3 b4+ 16.c3 d6 17.d2 e6 18.c4 Abramovic, BKarpman, V/Belgrade 1992; C2) 9...g8 10.xg6 hxg6 11.0-0 gf6 12.c4 dxc4 13.xc4 e7 14.e2 c7 15.d2 0-0 Giffard, NLacrosse, M/Paris 1993, and here White's best is 16.ac1; C3) 9...d6 C3a) 10.0-0 g8 ( 10...0-0 11.b3 c7 12.b2 ad8 13.e2 c5 Quinteros, M-Servat, R/Villa Martelli 1997 ) 11.xg6 ( 11.f5 xf5 12.gxf5 e7 13.e4 g6 14.fxg6 was played in Thiede, L-Houska, J/ Kreuzberg GER 2004, and now Black should have opted for hxg6!? 15.exd5 cxd5 16.c4 b6 ) 11...hxg6 12.c4 e7 13.b3 c5 14.d4 exd4 15.exd4 e6 16.f3 f4 17.xf4 xf4 18.e1 0-0 , Hickl, J-Blauert, J/Bad Neuenahr 1989, 19.d3 g5=; C3b) 10.b3 e7 11.b2 0-0 12.a3 h6 13.e4 c5 14.f5 c7 15.xd6 xd6= Bukhman, E-Arbakov, V/ Warsaw 1992; C3c) 10.e2 e7 ( 10...g8 11.f5 249
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xf5 12.gxf5 f6 13.e4 d4 D'Amore, C-Uribe, M/Bled 2002, and now 14.c3!? promises White a good game ) 11.a3 c5 ( 11...b6!? 12.c4 0-0-0 13.b3 dxc4 14.dxc4 c7 15.xg6 hxg6 16.b2 fd7 Kritz, L-E rdos, V/Dif f e rdange LUX 2007 ) 12.b3 fd7 13.xg6 hxg6 14.b2 f5 15.g1 0-0-0 16.gxf5 gxf5 17.f1 e6 Bilek, I-Varga, P/ Budapest 1995; C3d) 10.f1 g8 11.xg6 hxg6 12.b3 a5 13.a3 gf6 14.b2 e7 15.e2 0-0= Arencibia, W-Pigusov, E/ Havana 1985 ] 9.e3 [ The alternatives are: A) 9.df3 d6 10.xg6 hxg6 11.e3 c7 12.e2 e5 13.g5 ed7 14.d2 b6 15.c3 b4= Roselli, B-Donatti, A/URU 1994 ] [ B) 9.xg6 hxg6 10.e4 c5 11.e2 c7 12.b3 dxe4 13.dxe4 d6 14.e3 f4 15.0-0-0 g5 16.b1 xe3 17.xe3 f4 18.xf4 gxf4 , Aijala, J-Maidla, V/Lahti 1998, 19.g5 h7 20.h4= ] [ C) 9.e4?! e7 10.xg6 hxg6 11.e2 c7 12.c3?! ( 12.b3= ) 12...0-0-0 Brudzinski, M-Przybyla, K/Grodzisk Mazowiecki POL 2007, 13.d4 e5 ] 9...d6 [ The alternatives are: A) 9...g8!? 10.xg6 hxg6 11.e2 d6 12.b3 f6 13.d4 g5 14.b2 e7 15.0-0-0 ( 15.e4 f4 ) 15...g6 16.f3 e7= Quinteros, MGiorgadze, T/Hannover 1983 ] [ B) 9...e7 10.e2 c7 11.df3 0-0-0 12.d2 c5 13.0-0-0 b6 14.xg6 hxg6 15.e1 a6 16.b1 Panno, O-Letelier Martner, R/Casilda 1984 ] 10.e2 c7!? [ 10...e7 11.df3 0-0 12.d2 fe8 13.xg6 hxg6 14.g5 c5 15.h4 fd7 16.e4 f6 Panno, O-Ricardi, P/Buenos Aires 1985, and now 17.c3 leaves White with a comfortable edge ] 11.0-0 [ 11.b3 f8 12.b2 e5 13.0-0-0 0-0-0 14.g5 6d7 15.f4 exf4 16.xg7 g8 17.b2 e6 18.xg6 fxg6 Hemming, CMalbon, P/ corr 1999 ] 11...0-0-0 12.f4 h6 13.xg6 fxg6 14.f3?!
[ After this Black takes control over the game and doesn't ever really let go of it again. I n st e a d W h it e sh o u ld t r y 14.c4!? g5 15.b3 h5 16.d4 f8 17.cxd5 xd5 18.fxg5 hxg4 19.xg4 ] 14...e5 15.h4 exf4 16.exf4 he8 [ 16...c5+!? ] 17.f2 c5 18.d4 b6 19.b4 [ 19.xg6 e4 20.xe4 xe4 21.e3 de8 22.fe1 d6 23.e5 g5 ] 19...e4 20.xe4 xe4 21.c3 de8 22.xg6 c5!? [ 22...e2!? 23.f3 c2 24.a4 d6 25.e5 xe5 26.fxe5 xe5 27.f4 f6 ] 23.bxc5 xc5 24.f3 a4 25.d2 xc3 26.xc3?! [ 26.h1 xd4 27.ac1 e3 ] 26...e3 27.xd5 xc3 28.ae1 [ 28.ad1!? ] 28...d8 29.f5+ [ 29.g2 xd4+ 30.h2 e3 31.e4 d2+ 32.h1 c5 is also pretty devastating ] 29...b8 30.h2 xd4 [ Black can probably do better with 30...c2+ 31.h1 c3 32.e5+ a8 33.e3 b2 , and W hite's position doesn't inspire confidence of a successful defence. ] 31.e2 a6 32.fe1 a7 33.e4 b6 34.e5? [ 34.g2 is relatively best though after dd3 White's position is in shambles ] 34...d4 35.f5 g5 36.fxg5 dd3 37.g2 g3+ 38.f1 g1# 0-1
266
A07 Morozevich,Alexander 2755 Rublevsky,Sergei 2676 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (26) 22.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen] 1.f3 d5 2.g3 g4 3.g2 [ 3.e5!? is discussed in RomanishinSulypa, Lvov 2001, which can be found in the PGN archives ] 3...d7 4.d3 [ Here White also has alternatives to choose b e t w e e n . F i r s t 4.c4 which has bee n discussed in Pigusov-Zhang Pengxiang, 250
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Moscow 2001 and Markowski-Aleksandrov, Saint Vincent 2000, and ] [ 4.0-0 which was recently covered in Movsesian-Komarov, Clichy 2007 - all of the just mentioned games can be located in PGN archives. The text move looks less ambitiou s an d ha s no t previo usly bee n covered here at Chesspublishing.com, but Morozevich soon lights a fire... ] 4...c6 5.h3 h5 [ 5...xf3 can also be considered ] 6.g4!? This was Morozevich's idea: to eliminate Black's light-squared bishop. g6 7.h4 e6 [ 7...e5 8.xg6 hxg6 A) 9.c3 d6 10.e4 d4 11.e2 c5 12.d2 f8 13.c3 e6 14.a4+ d7 15.xd7+ xd7= Arce Balluerca, JIruzubieta Villaluenga, J/Euskadi 1999; B) 9.c4 dxc4 10.dxc4 f5 ( 10...c5 11.c3 b6 12.e3 ) 11.c3 h6 12.e3 c5 13.d2 f7 14.0-0-0 xe3 15.xe3 e7 , Socko, B-Yagupov, I/ Moscow 2002, and now 16.b1; C) 9.e3 d6 10.b3 e7 11.b2 g5 12.c4 g6 ( 12...a5+ 13.d2 g6!? ) 13.cxd5 h4 14.0-0 xg2 15.xg2 cxd5 16.f3 b6 17.c3 Hodgson, JLputian, S/Yerevan 1986 ] 8.xg6 hxg6 9.e3 [ A novelty. White has a few alternatives, though none are particularly frightening for Black: A) 9.c4 A) 9...c5 10.cxd5 ( 10.d4!? b4+ 11.d2 b6 ) 10...cxd5 11.a3 e7 12.d4 b6 13.c3 c6 14.e3 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Jasnikowski, Z-Kuczynski, R/ Czest ocho wa 1 992, tho ugh of c ourse the re is st ill plen ty o f play lef t in t his position. Objectively speaking, however, the chances are probably fairly level.; B) 9...b6!? 10.c3 d6 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.e4?! ( 12.d2= ) 12...d4 13.e2 b4+ 14.f1?! e7 15.f4 e5 16.f5 a6 , and although White's position is a bit of toilet at this stage, he still managed to pull a win out of the hat in Socko, B-Quinn, M/ Cork IRL 2005 ] [ B) 9.f4 b6 10.c1 c5 11.e3 a5 12.0-0 e5 13.g3 f5 14.d4!? exd4
15.exd4 xd4 , Dannevig, O-Haugli, P/ Norway 1993 16.e1+ ] [ C) 9.c3 d6 10.d2 e7 ( 10...gf6 11.f3 e7 12.g5 e5 13.e3 0-0-0 14.c2 c5 , Rety, J-Crouch, C/Newport 2001, and no w 15.0-0-0 is about equal) 11.f3 c7 12.c2 0-0-0 13.d2 f6 14.0-0-0 e5= Bognar, C-Rabovszky, G/ Aggtelek 1995 ] 9...d6 10.e2 e7 [ 10...f5 was played in Morozevich-Bacrot, also covered in this update. ] 11.d2 g5 [ Computer suggestions in this type of position are often rather peculiar moves, but here I think my computer may actually be on to something with its suggestion of 11...a5!? , which prevents White's continuation in the game, so White may be forced to go other ways, e.g. 12.a3 ( 12.b3? c3-+; 12.c3 c5 ) 12...0-0-0 13.b1 b8 14.b4 a4 15.c4 with chances to both sides ] 12.f3 g6 13.d2 de5 14.0-0-0 [ Or 14.xe5 xe5 15.0-0-0 f6 16.d4 c7 ] 14...f6 [ Here 14...xf3!? 15.xf3 f6 16.c3 e5 is fine for Black ] 15.c3 [ 15.xg5 xg5 16.f4 e7 17.fxe5 xe5 18.e4 d4 , and Black is doing fine ] 15...xf3?? [ A scary blunder, probably still registering the white king on e1. Black's perfectly good a l t e r n a t i ve i s 15...0-0-0 16.hf1 b8 17.d4 ( 17.xe5 xe5 18.d4 c7 19.b4 h4 is pleasant for Black) 17...e7 18.d2 d7 19.f4 ] 16.xf6 1-0
267 Movsesian,Sergei Acs,Peter FIDE WCh KO Tripoli LBA (2.5) [Tony Kosten]
A07 2647 2548 22.06.2004
1.g3 d5 2.f3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 g4 5.d3 e6 6.bd2 e7 7.h3 h5 8.e4 251
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 This Reti has taken on the contours of a King's Indian Attack (which often happens when W hite refrains from an early c4), and the question is whether it is an advantage for Black to have his light-squared bishop outside his pawn chain, or whether this piece will become a target. 0-0 9.e1 White normally prefers [ 9.e2 keeping the rook on the f-file to aid a later f4. ] 9...bd7 10.e5 Immediately gaining space, [ 10.c3 a5 11.g4 g6 12.h4 keeps this option for later, and plans f4-f5, Belenov,DMelkonyan,L/Voronezh RUS 2001. ] 10...e8 11.f1 A typical move in these positions, the knight heads for the kingside, and opens the c1-bishop's diagonal so that the e-pawn can be protected by Bf4. c5!? Quite logical now that there is no pressure on d5, in their previous game Acs preferred [ 11...c7 12.f4 f6!? ( 12...g5!? 13.d2 f6 14.g4 g6 is a bit risky, Junge,K-Orso,M/ Eger 1987; but 12...xf3!? 13.xf3 g5 is wo rt h t ryin g) 13.exf6 xf6 14.d4 fixing the e6-weakness, e5!? or does it? 15.dxe5 e7 16.d2 e6 with some compensation for the pawn, but not quite enough, Movsesian,S-Acs,P/ Tripoli LBA 2004. ] 12.f4 [ 12.1h2 c8 13.d2 c7 14.c1 b5 15.g5 was nothing for White in Prosch,CBaer,A/Hamburg 1999. ] 12...b5 13.g4 g6 14.d2 c4 Black's queenside counterplay is very quick. 15.g3 cxd3 16.cxd3 c5 Forcing White to defend the d-pawn. 17.f1 d4!? A doubleedged move fixing the d3-pawn, but opening the long diagonal. [ 17...a5 was another option, continuing to advance in the sector where Black is strongest. ] 18.h4 White also attacks where he has the m a j o r i t y o f h i s p i e c e s , o f c o u r s e . h6!? This weakens the kingside, but [ 18...xh4!? 19.xh4 xh4 20.g5 cuts th e quee n o f f f rom he r b ase , xg4 21.e2 h3 22.e7 d7 23.f4 and Black is in some difficulty. ] [ 18...d5! might be best, 19.h2 xh4 20.ac1 ( 20.g2? d8 21.xa8 xa8
is clearly better for Black) 20...e7 21.g2 d8 22.xa8 xa8 23.e4 xe4 24.dxe4 xe4 with good comp. ] 19.h5 h7 20.ac1 c7 The knight heads for d5. 21.g5 White's kingside initiative is becoming serious. d5? [ 21...hxg5 22.xg5 threatens to take on c5, but Black might be able to play f6!? ] 22.g2! xa2 23.xc5? Fancy, but [ 23.xd4! looks strong, e.g. xd3 24.g6 winning material. ] 23...xc5 24.gxh6 d5 25.hxg7 W hite has completely destroyed the black kingside. fc8 26.h6?! b4 Perhaps White hadn't noticed that he would be forced to concede a second exchange. 27.g5 xe1 28.xe1 b1 Black should be winning here, but in rapid chess anything can happen... 29.d2 The knight had to be defended. a5 [ 29...xd3! ] 30.h2 a4 31.e4 a3 Black is still attacking on the queenside! Normally he would try to kill the attacking pieces by [ 31...xe4! 32.xe4 but after a3 33.bxa3 xa3 34.f3 a2 he probably saw that the shot 35.g5 was possible, threatening mate on h7, however, after the forced f5 36.exf6 xf6 37.f4 xf2+! 38.xf2 c2 Black wins easily. ] 32.bxa3 xa3 33.d6 Now White has serious chances again. c1?? A horrific blunder, undoubtedly due to time pressure, [ 33...a2! 34.g5 ca8 35.xd5 looks nasty f or Black, but there is xf2+ ( 35...exd5? 36.e7 threatens mate on f7 and f8, and wins) 36.h3 f5+ 37.xf5 xf5 and Black seems to be on top. This line is n o t e a s y t o s e e in a q u i c k g a m e , o f course. ] 34.xc1 xc1 35.xc1 a1 36.d2 d1 37.a5 [ 37.h6!! xd2 38.xd5 exd5 39.c8 would be the neat way to finish the game. ] 37...b4 38.xd5 xe1 39.c4? [ 39.f3 protects the h-pawn. ] 39...xe5 40.xb4 xh5+ 41.g2 xg7 Black almost has some chances to save the game with rook and pawn against two pieces. 42.b5 e5 43.d6 g5+ 44.f1 g6 45.e8+ h7 46.e7 f5 47.d5 e4? 252
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 The last mistake. 18.d3 c7 19.c3 ) 16...xa5 17.xa5 [ 47...f4 hits d3, when White's winning xa5 18.e3 e6 19.d2! 0-0 20.b3 ] c h a n c e s a r e s e ve r e l y r e d u c e d : 48.e2 16.xb4 c5?! h5+ 49.f3 g6 50.c7 f6 and everything [ I'm not sure I understand what Black is defended. ] missed when playing this move because he 48.dxe4 e5 Black skewers the two minor loses a pawn without too much calculation. pieces, but there is a simple defence. 49.f6+ The alternative is also better for White, but g7 50.d8 d3 51.f4 The rook has no it is u nd o u b t e dly b e t t er t h a n t h e ga m e squares. d2 52.e2 xe4 53.fxe5 continuation: 16...c8 17.a5 a7 18.h4 1-0 e6 19.f5 f7 20.b1 b5 21.axb6 xb6 22.xb6 xb6 23.e3 xb4 24.xb4 d8 25.b7 g6 26.h6+ e7 268 A07 27.c7 , and White is slowly but surely snaking his way into Black's position, and Movsesian,Sergei 2642 W hite's con stricting p ieces are makin g Komarov,Dimitri 2539 their presence felt right about now. ] French Team Ch (8) 31.05.2007 17.xd7 xb4 18.xc7 xc4 19.xb7 c5?! [Carsten Hansen] [ 19...c5!? is a better choice, e.g. 20.f1 e6 21.a3 xa3 22.xa3 f7 23.a5 ] 1.f3 d5 2.g3 g4 3.g2 d7 4.0-0 c6 5.d3 e5 6.h3 h5 7.e4 dxe4 8.dxe4 c5 20.f1! xf1 [ While the exchange of bishops isn't exactly 9.bd2 e7 what Black needs when considering [ Or 9...f6 10.c3 f7 11.h4 e7 12.f5 potential counterplay, but avoiding it creates xf5 13.exf5 e7 14.e4 c5 15.g4 o t h e r p ro b l e m s , e . g . 20...e6 21.d2 R.Dzindzichashvili-Qi Jingxuan, Thessaloniki ( 21.a3!? c8 22.b6 xa3 23.xa3 OL 1984 ] sh o u ld win f or W hit e wit ho u t t o o m u c h 10.c4 c7 11.e1 effort ) 21...c8 22.b6 xd2 23.xd2 [ Also 11.d2 is interesting, e.g. f6 12.b4 d7 24.b5 , and White is winning ] b6 13.a4 a6 14.a5 a7 15.e3 xe3 16.d6+ f8 17.fxe3 xf3 18.xf3 d8 21.xf1 f7 22.e3 [ 22.d2!? ] 19.f2 A.Minasian-J.Smeets, Antalya 22...hb8 23.xb8 xb8 24.b1 2004 ] [ This is the simplest way to proceed: White 11...f6 12.b4 b6 13.a4 f7 activates his pieces and starts his attack on [ Or 13...a6 14.xb6 ( 14.d2 0-0 15.a5 Black's king and kingside. The alternative is a7 16.b2 ) 14...xb6 15.a5 d7 24.a5 although the win will undoubtedly 16.e3 0-0 17.c3 ] b e c o m e m u c h m o r e p r o b l e m a t i c . c8 14.c3 a5!? 15.d1!? axb4?! 25.d2 xd2 26.xd2 b2 27.a6 a7 [ The text move just hands over the initiative 28.b1 xb1+ 29.xb1 e7 30.c4 d6 and the better chances to White without a 31.c3 c7 32.a4 c6 33.e2 real struggle. Also not too impressive is the , and White will win in the long run ] move that has been previously tried by Black 25.c3! xc3 26.xc5 c6 in this position: 15...xc4?! 16.xc4 axb4 24...a8 17.xb4 a5 18.b3 0-0-0?! ( 18...b6 27.b7+ e6? [ This move looks active, but lets the king 19.b1 a7 20.a3 c5 21.xc5 xc5 walk into a mating trap just waiting to be 22.xb7 xb7 23.xb7 ) 19.e3+- g6 sprung. However, the alternative isn't all 20.ab1 he8 21.c3! gf8 ( 21...df8 h a p p y d a y s e i t h e r : 27...g8 28.c7 22.d2 e7 23.f3 b8 24.g4 d3 ( 28.b3 a5 29.e2 d8 30.a3 ) 25.c4 xc3 26.a2+- ) 22.d2 e6 28...a6 29.e2 b4 30.e3 g6 31.g4 23.c4 dc5 24.a3 d3 25.f1 a5 32.c8+ f7 33.d3 e7 34.b8 1-0 Stefanova, A-Sedina, E/Leon 200102 ] c6 35.g5+- ] [ P o s s i b l y b e s t i s t h e u n t r i e d 15...c8!? 16.bxa5 ( 16.f1!? g6 17.xb6 xb6 28.c7 a6 29.h4 d4 30.f8 g6 31.g4! 253
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 The final nail in Black's coffin by adding the last element in the mating net White has been weaving over the last few moves. White wants to play 32 Nf5, since 32...gxf5 33 gxf5+ is also mate, and if Black doesn't take the knight, then 33 Ng7 will be mate! f5 32.xf5! gxf5 33.gxf5+ f6 34.h4! Next follows Bg7 mate, unless Black gives up knight and with ends up no less than three pawns down. Therefore, Black's choice is obvious... 1-0
269 Nakamura,Hikaru Solak,Dragan 40th Olympiad Open (7.7) [John Bartholomew]
A07 2778 2599 04.09.2012
A sleepy King's Indian Attack is a deadly weapon in Hikaru Nakamura's hands! 1.g3 On us ch es s.o rg, Na kam ura is qu ot ed a s saying "I felt like my opponent played just about everything under the sun. I just wanted a slow position. I didn't feel like spending six or s eve n ho u rs lo o kin g a t e ve ryt h ing. I n general I try never to study [that long]. It's very counterproductive." Indeed, the Réti is a go o d c h o ic e f o r a p la ye r o f Na k a m u r a ' s temperament and versatility. White aims for less theoretical positions where a superior feel for the position is often the biggest factor. d5 2.f3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d3 f5 5.0-0 e6 Though this is the most popular move, it does give White the opportunity to hunt down the bishop pair. [ 5...h6 would be my personal choice. Fairly s t a n d a r d i s 6.bd2 ( White tried to spice things up a bit with 6.c4 dxc4 7.e5!? in Markowski, T (2610)-Burmakin, V (2605)/ Benidorm ESP 2009/[JR].) 6...h7 7.e1 e6 8.e4 e7 . See Morozevich, A (2755) K a rp o v , A (2 6 7 0 ) / Mo sc o w R US 2 0 0 7 / [Hansen, Carsten]. ] 6.h4 [ An alternative is 6.fd2!? , trying for both e2 -e 4 a nd f 2 -f 4 . Ch e ck o u t Ka m sky, G (2720) -Aronian, L (2754)/Nalchik RUS 2009/ [JR]. ] 6...g6 I think White can count on a slightly more pleasant position after this retreat.
[ More combative is 6...g4!? , forcing White to work harder for the bishop. For example, 7.h3 h5 A) On 8.g4 , fd7! is a timely retreat worth remembering, e.g. 9.f3 g6 10.f4 ( 10.c3 d6 11.e4 0-0 12.e2 c7 13.h4 dxe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4 c5 16.g2 h2+ 17.h1 f4 1/2-1/2 Nikolic, Z (2485)-Todorovic, G (2455)/Becici 1994.) 10...e7 ( 10...f6?! 11.c1 e5 12.g3 c5 13.c4! Socko, B (2497)-Midoux, S (2225)/ Cappelle la Grande 1999.) 11.bd2 0-0 12.c4 a5 13.e1 a6 14.c1 b6 15.c2 fe8= Nguyen Duc Hoa (2452) Barbosa, O (2514)/Kuala Lumpur MAS 2011.; B) 8.e1 e7 9.e4 ( 9.f4!? a6 10.e4 d7 11.exd5 cxd5 12.f5 Karasev, V (2347)-Tunik, G (2442)/St Petersburg 2000. ) 9...fd7 10.f3 0-0 11.c3 e8 12.g4 g6 13.f4 a5 14.a3 a6 15.e2 ac5 16.h1 a4 Movsziszian, K ( 2 4 9 3 ) - C r u z, F ( 2 4 0 6 ) / S i t g e s E S P 2011. ] 7.xg6 hxg6 8.d2 bd7 9.e4 [ Leading with the c-pawn is possible, too: 9.c4 e7 10.b3 0-0 11.b2 a5 12.a3 b5 13.c2 b6 14.fc1 Dizdarevic, E (2481)Radovic, V (2147)/Zupanja CRO 2011. A characteristic Réti position where White's bish o ps will be o f va lu e u po n e ve n tu a l pawn exchanges. ] 9...dxe4 [ 9...d6 10.c3 0-0 11.e2 c7 12.f4!? dxe4 13.dxe4 e5 14.f5 gxf5 15.xf5 fe8 16.c4 f8 17.g5 h7 18.d2 b5 19.e3 ad8 20.af1 Ivanov, M (2443)Semcesen, D (2195)/Skovlunde 2006. ] 10.dxe4 [ 10.xe4 is also good for an edge, i.e. xe4 11.xe4 d6 12.g2 , Markowski, T (2549) -Langheinrich, F (2363)/Germany 2002. I find Nakamura's recapture to be more promising, especially in view of the coming plan with h3-h4 and Bg2-h3, seeking a new horizon for the bishop. ] 10...e5 11.e2 c5 12.f3 c7 13.h4 0-0 14.h3 fe8 15.g2 f8 16.g5 ad8 Outwardly, Black's position is fine. He is wellcentralized and White's bishop pair hasn't yet 254
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 made an impact. The problem is that Solak has virtually no targets to attack, and Nakamura has the luxury of probing on either flank. Notice that W hite has even refrained from the typical move c2-c3, which might allow Black a chance to infiltrate on the d3 square. 17.a3 e7 18.d2 8h7 19.ae1 xg5 20.xg5 c7? This gets Black into trouble. [ Better is 20...d6! , overprotecting f6 and slowing down White's kingside initiative. ] 21.h5! gxh5 22.xf6 gxf6 23.f5 f8 24.h1 e7 25.xh5 h8 26.g4! [ Most players would probably choose 26.eh1 here, but Nakamura isn't like most players (or ANY player, for that matter)! ] 26...dg8?! This doesn't accomplish much. [ Black should probably attempt something on the queenside, e.g. 26...b5!? . ] [ Not 26...xh5?! 27.gxh5 . ] 27.f3! The king feels perfectly safe here. d8 28.eh1 hf8 Black cedes the h-file, and punishment is swiftly forthcoming. 29.h7 a5? [ Keeping the queen out of c4 with 29...b5 was now almost mandatory. ] 30.c4+- b5 Overlooking White's threat, but Black is lost anyways. [ 30...d6 31.g6 d8 32.xf7 xf7 33.xf7+- ] 31.e6# A tidy Epaulette mate to end things! W hite's play in this game was remarkably easy after he secured the bishop pair. My belief is that Black should either play 6.... Bg4!? or avoid Nh4xg6 altogether with 5...h6. 1-0
270 Romanishin,Oleg M Sulypa,Alexandre It Lvov UKR (8) [Tony Kosten]
A07 2575 2513 25.12.2001
1.f3 d5 2.g3 g4 3.e5!? I suppose this must be the critical test of an early ...Bg4. [ We have considered 3.g2 in the games Shirov - Short, and Pigusov - Zhang Pengxiang. ] 3...f5 4.g2 f6!? Very ambitious, planning to set-up a strong centre whilst gaining time
on the knight. [ The simple 4...d7 is normally preferred, a i m i n g f o r q u i c k d e v e l o p m e n t , 5.xd7 ( 5.xf7?! is too optimistic, three pawns are rarely worth a piece in the opening: xf7 6.xd5+ e6 7.xb7 b8 8.g2 gf6 Black has a lead in development, although it is true that the white pawn structure has a pristine look about it, Vebic,K-Kharlov,A/ Pula 1990 ) 5...xd7 6.c4 e6 7.b3 c6 and having solidly defended his light squares, Black has every reason to feel happy with his position, Poley,V-Rublevsky, S/Aalborg 1993. ] 5.f3 c6!? A novelty, that allows Black to answer White's thematic c4-move with ...d4, as the b7-pawn is no longer exposed to attack from g2. [ 5...e5 is quite playable, nonetheless, 6.c4 A) 6...d4!? might still be playable, 7.b3 ( or 7.h4 c8 ) 7...e4; B) 6...c6 7.b3 d7 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.c3 e6 10.d4 e4 and a reversed French-style structure is reached, where Black's space seems to give him the upper hand, Szakall,F-Urbanec,M/Prague 1964. ] 6.c4 d4 7.h4 g4 Now the bishop can stay active, and doesn't have to return to c8 to defend the b-pawn. 8.h3 d7 9.e4 W hite decides to close the position, which implies that the position is equal- he simply hopes to outplay his opponent later-on. g6 Black had to contend with the threat of Qh5+. 10.d3 e5 11.0-0 h6 The knight heads for f7 which is a good square f or the knight, although it is far from c5, where it would really like to be. 12.a3 f7 13.c2 a5 14.d2 e7 15.f3 [ The knight is too exposed to play the immediate 15.f4?! exf4 16.gxf4 f5 17.f3 fxe4 18.dxe4 e6 the white position is too loose. ] 15...0-0 16.h2 White prepares the standard flanking blow f2-f4. g7 [ Black can cut across White's plans with the annoying 16...g5! 17.h4 e6 when not only has the knight found its way towards c5, but he has also inhibited White from playing f4, as his kingside is that much weaker, i.e. 18.f4 exf4 19.gxf4 f5 20.h5 c5 with pressure on the white centre. ] 255
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.f4 c8 18.h4 b8 [ Now 18...exf4 19.gxf4 f5 is less effective, 20.e5 xh4 21.f3 attacks h4 and d4. ] 19.a4 White stops Black from playing the thematic . ..b5, and puts all his 'eggs' in the kingside 'basket'. a8 20.b3 cd8 21.e1 a6 22.a2 Both players strengthen their positions. f5!? [ 22...exf4 23.gxf4 f5 is another possibility to generate play in the centre, but I don't know why Black didn't wait a few moves, and bring his d8-knight to c5 first, say. ] 23.fxe5 xe5 24.f4 ef7 25.af2 The white pieces are nicely bunched on the kingside. fxe4 26.xe4 e6 [ There is something to be said for 26...f6! first, so as to exchange a further pair of rooks. ] 27.c1 d6 28.xf8 xf8 29.d5 Black is OK, but I feel his position would be even better had he exchanged his offside rook for one of the white ones, see move 26. f5?! [ This is inappropriate, 29...c6 puts the question to the white bishop. ] 30.f3 e8?! [ A further mistake, 30...c6 is still possible. ] 31.g4 xh4? This just loses a piece to a queen fork. [ 31...e7?! may also lose, but more prettily: 32.h6+!! ( r a t h e r t h a n 32.xb7 b6 33.h6+ g8 ) 32...xh6 33.xb7 b6? ( 33...g7 34.xa6 c5 gives a little compensation, but probably not enough) 34.f6 and g5+ is a killer. ] [ 31...e3! is Black's best chance, 32.xe3 dxe3 33.g5 intending Ng4, but Black has some chances. ] 32.f6+ 1-0
o p t i o n s o p e n . e6 The most solid, we considered [ 6...e5 in Azmaiparashvili,Z-Shirov,A and Bricard,E-Kosten,A. ] 7.b3 c5 8.b2 0-0 9.a3 a5 10.e4 b5 This move, gaining space on the queenside, is often seen in such positions, the weakening o f c 6 i s t h e o n l y d r a w b a c k . 11.e1 To the uninitiated this move seems less logical than [ 11.e2 but it is important that White breaks the pin on his f3-knight. c7 12.h3 h5 13.e5 xf3 14.xf3 e8 15.h4 g6 16.h2 g7 1/2-1/2 Szabo,L-Keres,P/ Budapest 1970/MCD (16) ] 11...e8 Black takes the force out of White's e5-move, and brings the king's knight to c7 to help-out on the queenside, and to support e6 should Black need to use his f-pawn. [ 11...b6 12.h3 h5 13.h2 e8 is also possible, D'Amore,C-Tatai,S/Andorra 1987. ] 12.h3 h5 13.h1 Again, White is in no rush as in such a closed position, where the forces have yet to come into real contact, tempi are not too important so both sides try to place their pieces on optimum squares ready for the moment when things liven-up. By unpinning the f-pawn W hite prepares to push on the kingside. c7 14.c4!? Just when White se e m e d t o b e re a d y o n t h e kin gs id e , h e strikes-out on the queenside! This innovation is possibly no better than the previous try but leads to a more tense position. [ 14.e5 b6 15.h2 c5 16.g4 g6 17.f4 is more typical of play here, White advances on the kingside, Black on the queenside, f5! 18.exf6 xf6 with chances to both sides, Bezold,M-Kipper,J/ Muenster 1996. ] 14...dxc4!? Perhaps Black should have kept the central tension with 271 A07 [ 14...b8 , say. ] This is the point, White gains time on Sasikiran,Krishnan 2670 15.d4! Anand,Viswanathan 2755 t h e b i s h o p t o e xp a n d i n t h e c e n t r e . e7 b4 17.e3 I suppose from an FIDE World Cup Gp C (2) 11.10.2002 16.bxc4 aesthetic viewpoint W hite must have been [Tony Kosten] feeling quite pleased with himself - he 1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 g4 retarded his central pawn thrusts till after 5.d3 bd7 6.bd2 White adopts a KIA set- completing the development of this pieces, up, and plays for e4 rather than c4, but first and a few moves later has removed the black he develops his pieces, thus keeping his pawn centre and constructed an impressive 256
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 one of his own. Richard Reti would have been pleased! a6 18.fc1 e5!? Black decides on a temporary pawn sacrifice to break-up the impressive white pawns. 19.g4 g6 20.dxe5 e8!? [ 20...c5 21.d4 xd4 22.xd4 e8 might be simpler, as Black will soon recuperate the e5-pawn, the problem is that he has to do it without allowing White to play f4-f5, trapping the bishop, at the end. ] 21.b3! The knight comes to d4 to attack c6, and possibly hop into f5, whilst at the same time stopping ... Bc5. ac5 [ 21...a4 is critical, 22.bd4 c5 23.d1!? a n d n o w i f b3?! ( 23...b6 is stron ge r) 24.e6! fxe6 25.c3 leaves Black facing nasty threats to g7 and c6. ] 22.axb4 xb3 23.xb3 xb4 24.e3 h5!? 25.g5 c5 26.d4 e7 27.d1 a4? Black can regain his e-pawn immediately by [ 27...xd4 28.xd4 xe5 29.xe5 xe5 but the problem is that after 30.f4 c5 31.c3 ( 31.f5?? xf5 ) 31...h4 32.f3 White threatens to bury the black bishop by f 5, s till t his is prob ab ly be tt er t ha n th e game. ] 28.e6! A neat tactic that Black had probably missed, W hite returns the pawn but on his terms. xd4 [ 28...fxe6 29.xc5 xc5 30.e5 is the other point, forcing h7 ( 30...h7?? 31.g6 ) 31.xc6 with a big advantage. ] 29.xd4 f8!? [ 29...fxe6 30.e5! frees the dormant white bishop which will capture on c6 with only its second move of the game. ] 30.f4 This is positionally strong, as the black bishop will be blotted out of the game, but [ 30.e5! xe6 31.xc6 wins a solid exchange for zero compensation. ] 30...xe6 31.f5 xd4 32.xd4 h7 33.h4 This is the sort of position a computer can never understand, material is equal but in reality the h7-bishop is only worth a pawn, as it m a y ne ver b e a ble t o e scap e f ro m t h e kingside. ed8?! A tactical error to compound matters, [ 33...c5 avoided losing Black's only trump the a-pawn. ] 34.xa4! A back-rank trick! ab8 [ 34...xd4?? 35.xa8+ ]
35.a1 xd1+ 36.xd1 e5 37.b4 And again, not only does the h7-bishop have no squares, it also stops the black king from escaping to h7. a8 38.a4 b8 39.a3!? f4 40.e1 g6? This is pretty desperate, Black obviously hopes to set-up some sort of stalemate trick, [ 40...h8 m u st b e b e st , 41.g3 xg3 42.xg3 f6 43.d3 ( 43.g6!? g8 44.f1 is also an effective plan, the black bishop still has no moves.) 43...c5 44.gxf6 gxf6 45.d6 g7 46.c6 winning a second pawn, and the game. ] 41.f6 h8 42.g3 c1+ 43.h2 b1 This counterplay leads nowhere, the white kin g will be pe rf e ctly saf e on h3 . 44.d6! Threatening mate in two. g8 45.h3 b8 Black beats a hasty retreat, as Qf8 was once again the threat. 46.g3 b2 47.c5 b3 48.xb3 According to Fritz, [ 48.f8 leads to a forced mate, xg3+ 49.xg3 e5+ 50.f3 c3+ 51.f4 c1+ 52.e5 and the king escapes to d6, but the text is also good. ] 48...xb3+ 49.h2 e3 50.f8 f4+ 51.g1 e3+ 52.f1 d3+ 53.f2 As in the previous variation the white king will escape to d6, and c7 when the checks will expire and Black will have no way to counter the threat of mate on g7. 1-0
272 Stein,Leonid Averbakh,Yuri L USSR (ch) [Nigel Davies]
A07
1970
1.g3 d5 2.g2 e5 3.d3 c6 4.f3 Reaching a reversed Pirc Defence, which is quite common when you open 1.g3 as White. g6 5.c4 [ It's now or never with this lever as after 5.0-0 g7 6.c4 dxc4 7.a4 Black can play cxd3 because e5 is protected by his bishop on g7. Of course White could also play for e2-e4 as Black usually does in a g3 Pirc, but this would most likely lead to simplification via ...dxe4. ] 5...dxc4 6.a4 g7 257
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ In this position 6...cxd3 is strongly met by 7.xe5 attacking the pinned knight on c6. ] 7.xc4 ge7 8.0-0 0-0 9.c3 e6 [ In a later game Black took action against the possibility of W hite playing Qh4 with 9...h6 but after 10.e3 ( 10.h4 can be met by g5 ) 10...e6 11.a4 d4 12.ac1 c5 13.d2 d5?! 14.xd4 exd4 15.xd5 xd5 16.xc5 xg2 17.xg2 found himself a pawn down for inadequate compensation in Bezold, M (2495)-Raetsky, A (2455)/Werfen 1996. ] 10.h4 f5 The endgame specialist Averbakh is not worried about the exchange of queens, but maybe he should have been less nonchalant about it. [ 10...f6 was playable. ] 11.xd8 fxd8? This looks like a serious mis tak e b ec ause B la ck will b e una ble t o support a later ...f7-f6. [ After 11...axd8 the line 12.g5 ( 12.b5 d7 13.g5 fd4 gives White nothing) 12...d7 13.ge4 b6 14.g5 is harmless because of f6 . ] 12.g5 d7 13.ge4 fe7 [ In this position 13...b6 is strongly met by 14.g5 . ] 14.g5! A p owerf ul m ove h ere t oo . h6 15.f6+ h8 [ 15...f8 was worth considering, but White has a useful pair of bishops after 16.xd7+ xd7 17.e3 . ] 16.xd7 xd7 17.e3 [ S t e i n l a t e r t h o u g h t t h a t 17.xe7! was even stronger, intending no doubt to meet xe7 ( 17...xe7 18.xc6 bxc6 19.ac1 leaves Black with very weak cpawns ) 18.xb7 b8 19.f3 xb2 20.a4 b4 21.c5 d6 22.ac1 with an edge for White because of Black's weak pawns and inactive dark squared bishop. ] 17...b8 18.fc1 d4 19.f1 c5 20.ab1 b6 21.b4 Starting to open the position for his two bishops. cxb4 22.xb4 c8 23.bb1 dc7 24.d2 ef5 [ S t e i n f e l t t h a t 24...f8! was a better def e nce , b ut W hit e is be tte r a f te r 25.e3 e6 26.b5 . ] 25.e3 e6 26.b5 xc1+ 27.xc1 xc1+ 28.xc1 a6 29.c3 c5 30.e2 g8? [ 30...h5 was better to stop White's next
move. ] 31.g4! d6 32.c6 f8 33.d5 f5 [ 33...b5 is strongly met by 34.b2 . ] 34.gxf5 gxf5 35.xb6 e4 36.d4 37.d2 b5 38.b7 b4 39.a4 40.a8 a5 41.xb4 axb4 42.a5 1-0
d3 d6
273
A07
Stein,Leonid Portisch,Lajos Moscow (8) [Nigel Davies]
1967
Another game in which Black plays 'sensibly' but imprecisely and presents White with a nice edge. 1.e4 c6 2.d3 d5 3.d2 g6 4.gf3 g7 5.g3 f6 A rather unsophisticated move which leaves Black passively placed. [ Better is 5...e5 intending to develop the g8 knight on e7. ] 6.g2 dxe4 7.dxe4 0-0 8.0-0 a6 9.e5 d5 10.b3 g4 11.e2 c8 12.e1 ac7 13.d2 f6 An attempt to free Black's cramped position, but one which leaves him with a weak e-pawn. 14.exf6 xf6 [ 14...exf6 15.c4 e8 16.d3 e7 17.b4 gives White a powerful initiative. ] 15.c3 f7 16.e4 f5 17.c4 b6 18.f1 a4 19.c1 d7 20.e5 Gaining the two bish op s an d lea ving th e da rk squa re s in Black's camp very weak. xe5 21.xe5 b5 22.f4 d8 23.c5 xc5 24.xc5 c7 25.e5 e6 26.h6 d6 27.e2 g7 28.e1 d3 29.g4 f5 30.c4 xe5 Probably overlooking White's 33rd move, but his position is dire in any case. 31.xe5 d1+ 32.f1 h3 33.xe7 xf1+ 34.xf1 xf1 35.xf7 xf7 36.xf1 f5 37.e3 a6 38.e2 h5 39.d3 b5 40.e4 e6 41.h3 a5 42.c5 a4 43.f8 1-0
258
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 20.g4? b5 21.e3 d6 winning quickly. ] A07 Ubilava,Elizbar 2540 20...ad8 21.g2?! Allowing a further shot. Van der Wiel,John TH 2520 f3+! 22.xf3 exf3+ 23.xf3 e5 24.g2 It Elgoibar ESP (6) 26.11.1998 e4+ 25.h2?! After this, the attack gathers even more momentum, [Tony Kosten] [ 25.g1 was best, although the rook and pawn ending arising after xg3 26.fxg3 1.f3 d5 Obviously this reply is fine if you xe3+ 27.xe3 xe3 is very favourable to have some variation of the Queen's Gambit in Black. ] your repertoire. If you don't it is a bit risky, 26.c1 h5 The threat is ... h4, as one of my opponents replied with 2 d4 here, 25...f3! many years ago, and I found myself playing White is quite lost. 27.h4 d4 28.g1 xh4 [ 28...xh4 29.gxh4 h3 is too catastrophic something I didn't know! 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g4 to bear. ] By playing this before the habitual ...Nf6, Black gives himself several extra options. 4.d3 0-1 d7 5.bd2 e6 Solid, and good. 6.0-0 d6 7.e4 e7 This is the extra option I mentioned, A07 rather than play 7...Nf6, and have to worry 275 about an eventual Pe5, forking two pieces. Wunder,Stefan 2180 8.e1 h5!? Normally Black only plays this in Bunzmann,Dimitrij 2544 reaction to White's h3. Now, 9 h3 0-0 would 8th OIBM Bad Wiessee GER (2) 30.10.2004 t r a n s p o s e i n t o k n o w n l i n e s , b u t n o t [John Watson] surprisingly, White tries to make-do without h3 for a while. 9.a3 0-0 10.b3 Sensible This game shows how subtly powerful the Reti development. An example of the advantages c a n b e e v e n w h e n t h e r e ' s a 4 0 0 - p o i n t of having the black knight on e7 is shown by difference between opponents. 1.f3 f6 the line 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f5 4.d3 e6 5.0-0 h6 6.c4 [ 10.e5?! which is simply answered by c7 bd7 7.cxd5! exd5 8.c3 The seemingly and now the pressure on d5 is diminished, minor threat of Nd4 followed by Nxd5 in some Black can continue with ...c5, and Nc6, cases causes Black quite an inconvenience! and possibly win the e5-pawn. ] c5 10...e8 11.b2 e5 Black is well developed, [ 8...c6 9.e4 is also not easy for Black, for and decides to take some central space. example, dxe4 10.dxe4 h7 11.e5 g4 12.h3!? g6 13.f5 f6 14.h3?! 12.e2 e7 13.e1 c5 14.d1 This is not the right time for this move, White with advantage. ] wants to threaten g4, but only succeeds in [ 8...c5 9.e4!? e6 10.exd5 xd5 compromising his kingside. e7! It seems the 11.xd5 xd5 12.e1+ e7 13.d4! f5-bishop is in trouble. 15.h2 is quite interesting: xg2 14.f5 d5 [ 15.g4?! fails to xf5! 16.exf5 xg4 15.g4!! and White is winning. ] 17.hxg4 xg4 and Black gets three pawns 9.d4 g6 10.b4 cd7 11.b3 c6 12.e4! a n d a c ru s h in g a t t a ck in re t u r n f o r h i s Already White is better developed and taking piece. ] over the center. So simple! e7?! [ and if 15.xe5? then xf5 16.exf5 d7 [ 12...dxe4 13.dxe4 e7 14.d1 ] wins. ] 13.exd5 b6 14.dxc6! xd4 15.b5! 15...xf5 16.exf5 e4 Black takes full White launches a powerful attack. Moves like advantage of the awkward placing of the 16. cxb7 and Bf4 are in the air, but Black white queen, opposite his rook. 17.xf6 xf6 mustn't take the rook. e5 18.dxe4 dxe4 19.c4 c7 White tries hard [ 15...xa1 16.f4 xf1+ 17.xf1 but his two knights are no match for the black followed by cxb7. ] bishops. 20.e3 Note that White cannot win 16.cxb7 d8 17.c6+ fd7 18.f4 the h5-bishop because of the resulting [ Effectively winning would have been weakening of the h2-b8 diagonal: 18.b2! b8 19.xg7 h7 20.d4 274
259
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 wit h 4 p awns f o r t he piece a nd Black's position a shambles. ] 18...f6 19.xa7 0-0 20.d4?! [ 20.c7! picks up more material, eg, b8 ( 20...e5 21.ae1 xc6 22.xd8 xd8 23.xc6 xc6 24.xe7 ) 21.xd8 xd8 22.e4 xe4 23.dxe4 d7 24.ac1 xb7 25.c8 and White has too many powerful extra pawns. Compare the game. ] 20...d6 21.e3? Passive. White should just exchange by [ 21.xd6 xd6 22.g2 keeping the powerful b-pawn with ideas like a4-a5. After t h is W h i t e ' s g a m e g o e s d o wn h i ll . O n e le ss on o f th e o pe ning sho u ld b e clea r, however: top players can feel very uncomfortable against the Reti. ] 21...b8! 22.c8 f5 23.g2 xc8 24.bxc8 xc8 Black's pieces have become very active and he has won back the b-pawn a s we l l . F o r a l l t h a t W h i t e h a s d yn a m i c chances based upon his passed queenside pawns. 25.fc1 a7 26.d1 d6 27.b5 f6 28.a4? [ 28.a4 is the best move - the queenside pawns are White's main strength. ] 28...b6 29.c6 xc6 30.bxc6 d5 31.b5? xe3 32.fxe3 Things are collapsing now. [ 32.xb6 xg2 33.xg2 e4+ 34.g1 c8 wins the light squares and another pawn. ] 32...xd4! 33.e1 c3 34.c1 d2 35.a1 xe3+ Now it's a slaughter. 36.h1 d4 37.e1 d2 38.e5 c4 39.f1 e6 40.a3 c8 41.d6 a5 42.e5 c7 43.e4 c5 44.b4 h5 45.c3 d8 46.e1 d1 0-1
276 Fedorov,Alexei Dolmatov,Sergey Calcutta [Neil McDonald]
A08
1999
1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.f3 c6 4.c3 d5 For a discussion of the opening moves, see the archives 5.e2 ge7 6.g3 g6 7.g2 g7 8.0-0 b6 9.a3 a6 10.e5 h6 11.h4 c7 12.e1 b5 In Morozevich - Gleizerov
Black tried to attack on the kingside with 12... g5?. Here he goes for a pawn attack on the queenside. Best, though not very promising is p r o b a b ly 1 2 . . . 0 -0 - 0 - s e e m y co m m e n t i n Morozevich - Gleizerov. 13.c2 b4 14.cxb4 cxb4 15.f4 b6 16.d2! h5? It is very easy to criticise this move. Indeed it makes a very bad impression as it gives away the g5 square and so opens up the dark squares on the kingside to White's bishop. But what else could Black do? He would like to develop his game by castling and bringing his rook on h8 into the game. But having pushed his pawns on the queenside, he doesn't want to castle there if he plays 16...0-0? then 17 Bxh6 wins. Therefore Black doesn't have a convincing continuation here, for which we must blame his opening strategy. Nevertheless, 16...h5 ce rt a in ly ma kes t h in gs ea sie r f or W h it e . Probably best was the redeployment 16...Bc8 a n d 1 7 . . . B d 7 f o llo we d b y . . . a 5 e t c . T h i s wouldn't solve the problem of what to do with the king, but it would make it harder for White to devise a plan to break through Black's solid position. 17.d4 f5 18.h3 c8 Black is in disarray. First of all he played ...h6 and then changed his mind with ...h5 now he decides the bishop belongs on d7, not a6. 19.b3 d7 20.ac1 a5 21.xf5! In some positions knights are worth more than bishops. This exchange clears the way for W hite to seize control of the dark squares. gxf5 As a general rule, the recapture away from the centre with ...exf5 is the correct response in such positions, in order to keep the kingside intact. Then the d pawn can be supported if necessary by moves such as ...Be6. However, in this instance 21...exf5 would hardly help Black as he would be in a stranglehold after 22 Ne3 Be6 23 Rc5! Rd8 24 Bg5 Ne7 25 Rec1, as given by Kavalek. 22.g5! a7 23.f6! xf6 24.exf6 b5 25.g5! This threaten s simply 26 Qxf5. Now the best chance to survive looks like 25... Nc3 0-0-0 26.xb4+ b7 27.d3! xd4 28.xd4 xd4 29.ed1! b6 30.c5 e5 31.g7! The queen finds an unexpected way to join in the attack. c6 32.xf7 d4 33.a4+ xa4 34.bxa4 d6 35.b1+ c5 36.b7 1-0
260
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 277 Kaidanov,Gregory S Benjamin,Joel [ch United States [Neil McDonald]
A08 2625 2595 1998
1.e4 e6 2.f3 c5 3.d3 c6 4.g3 d5 [ It would be a bad idea to combine ... Nf6 wi t h a f i a n c h e t t o . F o r e xa m p l e , 4...f6 5.g2 d5 6.e2 g6?! -standard is 6...Be7worked out badly in Glek-Saltaev, Cappelle la Grande 1998: 7.0-0 g7 8.g5 dxe4 9.dxe4 c7 10.c3 0-0 11.ad1 a6 12.fe1 and in this unpleasant position B l a c k i m m e d i a t e l y b l u n d e r e d w i t h h6? allowing 13.xf6 xf6 14.e3! attacking both c5 and h6. ] 5.bd2 [ 5.e2 ge7 6.h4?! wo u l d a l l o w e5! Now if 7.exd5?! xd5 8.xe5? d4 when White is in big trouble. Therefore in Certic-J.Horvath, Yuoslavia 1997, he bailed out with 7 Nbd2 f 6 8 c3 Bg4 9 Bh3 an d achieved a draw. ] 5...g6 6.g2 g7 7.0-0 ge7 [ Black could also relinquish the tension in the centre with 7...d4!? e.g. 8.a4 e5 9.c4 f6 10.e1 h6 followed by ...Nf7 was unclear in Chernov-Sakaev, Chisinau 1998. ] 8.e1 b6 9.c3 b7 [ A critical alternative is 9...a6 10.exd5 ( 10.d4; 10.a4 are alternatives) 10...xd5 11.a4 b7 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 d7 turned out OK for Black in MeszarosTibensky, Ceske Budejovice 1994. ] 10.e2 [ After 10.h4 h6 11.f1 d4 12.c4 e5 13.h5 g5 14.a3 White had some advantage in Van Mil-Van Wely, Leueuwarden 1997. ] 10...d7 11.f1 Because Black has avoided putting pressure on d3 with ... Ba6 there is no threat of ...dxe4 winning the d3 pawn. The re f o re , th ere is no n ee d f or W hite t o commit himself straightaway to the e5 advance. Instead he maintains the tension in the centre. h6 12.h4 dxe4 [ It was better to close the centre with 12...d4! with similar play to the note at move 10 above after the reply 13 c4. In the game White's knight reaches the excellent c4 square, from which Black can only evict it
by weakening his pawns with ...b5. ] 13.dxe4 0-0-0 14.e3 d3 Black is solid but he has no obvious plan. Meanwhile White has many moves with which he can strengthen his position, such as Nc4 followed by Bf4 and Rad1. Therefore Black seeks to relieve the pressure by simplification. 15.xd3 xd3 16.f1 d7 17.c4 b5 If left alone W hite would play a4 and a5, answering a subsequent ...b5 with a6! attacking the bishop on b7 rather than moving his knight from c4. This would prevent Black consolidating his pawns with ...a6. 18.cd2!! This begins an excellent manoeuvre to exploit the weakness of Black's queenside pawns. c4 19.a4 a6 20.axb5 axb5 21.b1! b8 22.a3! This ties Black down to the defence of b5. c6 23.f4! The next step in White's plan is to acquire the two bishops which will open the way for b3! to unpeel the black queenside and menace the black king. hd8 24.e5 xe5 25.xe5 a7 26.f4 h5 27.f3 b7 28.b3! cxb3 29.eb1! d7 30.xb5 xa1 31.xa1 xb5 32.xb5 c5 33.e3 c8 34.b1 Now the b pawn is doomed. Black makes a great effort to achieve counterplay, but ultimately it is hopeless. f5 35.c4! One of the golden rules in the endgame is 'do not hurry!' The b3 pawn won't run away so W hite targets the e6 pawn. fxe4 36.fxe4 c6 37.xc5 xc5 38.xe6 d8 39.xb3 d3 40.f2 c6 41.a3 e5 42.h3?! According to Kaidanov he should have played [ 42.a5+ d6 43.h3 as Black could now put up a tough resistance with 42.. .Kb6! This would deny the white rook a way to activate itself with check and so tie it down to the defence of the c3 pawn. ] 42...d2+? Black misses his chance. It often happens that a player becomes depressed at having to defend a miserable position such as this and fails to put up much of a fight. That is probably the main difference between humans and computers the latter never give up hope because they had none to start with! 43.f1 c4 44.a5 Black will succeed in winning the c pawn but meanwhile the e pawn will be f o r c e d t h r o u g h wi t h d e c i s i ve e f f e c t . f3 45.g2 h2+ 46.g1 g4 47.f3 f2 48.f1 xc3 49.e5 d3 50.e2 b4 51.c5+ b2 52.e6 d5 53.e1 d4 261
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 54.c4! xc4 55.xc4 e7 56.d2 f5 57.d3 e7 58.c2 1-0
278 Klenburg,Mikhail Bykhovsky,Avigdor It Tel Aviv ISR (9) [Neil McDonald]
A08 2376 2455 17.08.2002
than capturing on d4. 17.b3 c8 18.e2 b5 19.d2 c4 20.d1 h6 Winning the exchange. 21.b3 xd2 22.xd2 a6 23.f4 e8 24.f1 xf1 25.xf1 f6 26.h4 d7 27.g2 f5 28.b5 d3 White resigned, for if 29.e3 xe3 30.fxe3 c2+ 31.g1 xf3 wins. 0-1
279 1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.d2 [ Long term subscribers will be aware I prefer 3.e2 to keep the option of Na3! if Black adopts the set up he chooses in this game. ] 3...c5 4.g3 g6 5.g2 e7 6.gf3 [ In the same tournament Bykhovsky had to face 6.h3 and succeeded in making the knight on the edge irrelevant: g7 7.0-0 bc6 8.f4 b6 9.e5?! h5! Fixing the f5 square for his knight. 10.c3 a5 11.f3 f5 12.d2 a6 13.e2 d7 14.fd1 0-0-0 15.b3 b8 16.a3 a7 17.b4 c4! and Black won in Livshits,G-Bykhovsky,A/ T e l A viv I S R 2 0 0 2 b e ca u se W h it e wa s unwilling to block the position up with 18.d4 ] 6...g7 7.0-0 bc6 8.e1 b6 9.c3 a5! [ Instead 9...b7 10.e2 transposes to Kaidan ov-Ben jamin on Ch essPub , wit h some edge for White. Note that if White had played the 3.Qe2 line, then in answer to 9... a5 he would have 10.Na3 followed by Nc2, e4-e5 and an eventual b2-b4. ] 10.a4?! By delaying the development of his queen's bishop Bykhovsky has given himself the chance of answering [ 10.e2 with a6 threatening to win a p a w n w i t h d 5 x e 4 . T h e n a f t e r 11.e5 White no longer has any direct pressure on t h e c e n t re a n d f5 looks solid for Black. Still White should have preferred this to the game move which begins a losing plan. ] 10...0-0 11.exd5 [ If 11.e5 a6 is awkward. ] [ Perhaps best was the embarrassing retreat 11.c2 ] 11...exd5 12.d4? This leads to the loss of material as Black's pieces are much better positioned to take advantage of the opening of the c f ile. cxd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.cxd4 d7 15.a3 c6 16.f3 b4! Much better
Morozevich,Alexander Gleizerov,Evgeny Tomsk [Neil McDonald]
A08
1998
1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.f3 c6 4.c3 Since W hite plans a quick Qe2, it makes sense to rule out any possible ...Nd4 rather than rush to fianchetto with g3. d5 [ This is a very natural move but rather inflexible. I'm sure that Black should be OK in the game continuation, but I would advise you to avoid it until a good answer has been found to the system developed by Morozevich and others. Wait until Bareev or Dreev show us how to handle the black pieces! Therefore I would suggest 4...ge7 which keeps open the option of pushing the d pawn one or two squares. Have a look at the lines given on the Black's solid system with ...e5 sub page. ] 5.e2 Now Black is committed to the kingside fianchetto, as 5...Bd6? 6 exd5 loses a pawn, 5...Be7 6 e5!? leaves the knight on g8 with no good way out [though 6...f6 might be in t e re st in g h e re ] a n d 5 . . . d xe 4 is a n a n t i positional exchange in this type of position, especially when White can change his mind about g3 and play Qc2 planning Bb5. ge7 6.g3 g6 7.g2 g7 8.0-0 b6 9.a3! This move undoubtedly sets the most problems f or Black. W hite has avoided a routine Nbd2 development and instead found a far more promising square for the knight. Sometimes Nb5, in combination with e4-e5 will be strong, threatening to invade on d6 or perhaps, after ...0-0-0, the alternative Nc2 and b2-b4 will begin an attack on Black's king. And as the d2 square isn't blocked by the knight, the bishop on c1 has an easy 262
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 development. a6 An attempt to play actively. Instead [ 9...b7 allows White to consolidate a space advantage in the centre. For example 10.e5 0-0 ( 10...d4?! 11.c4 ) 11.f4 and White can start an attack with h4 etc. Black will find it hard to achieve counterplay with ...f6 because of the weakness of e6. ] 10.e5 h6 11.h4! This seems to prevent ...g5, but Black isn't deterred. c7 12.e1 g5? This begins a faulty combination. In a previous game Black tried 12...b5?! which also worked out badly. Perhaps he should try [ 12...0-0-0 though 13.c2 planning b4 would give White good attacking chances against the enemy king. ] 13.hxg5 hxg5 14.xg5 g6 It looks as though White has nothing better than 15 Bf6, when 15...Bxf6 16 exf6 0-0-0 leaves Black fully mobilised with a solid centre and attacking chances on the kingside. The extra pawn on f6 wouldn't mean much. Instead, White found a way to completely destroy his opponent. 15.d1! An insidious little move which exploits the loose position of the bishop on a6, as will be seen. White breaks the pin on the d3 pawn and so threatens 16 d4, when he would be a centre pawn up for nothing. Be side s, th e bisho p on g5 wou ld st ill b e preventing Black castling queenside. Therefore, Black is compelled to take the pawn and face the storm. gxe5 16.xe5 xe5 The first problem: he cannot play 16... Nxe5 because of 17 Qa4+ winning the bishop on a6. 17.a4! b7 ...and now he has to concede b5 to the white knight as 17...Bxd3 18 Rad1 c4 19 Rxe5! or 17...Qb7 18 Rxe5 b5 1 9 Q f 4 ! w i n s f o r W h i t e . 18.b5 b8 Perhaps the best chance was to head for the ending with 18...Qd7 19 Rxe5! Nxe5 20 Nd6+ Kf8 21 Qxd7 Nxd7 22 Nxb7, but as he cannot trap the wayward white knight Black faces defeat. 19.xe5! xe5 20.f4 e2 21.d6+ d7 22.xb7 xb2 23.c1! A temporarily passive role for the rook, but it deprives Black of any counterplay involving ... Q x c 3 a n d t h e n . . . N d 4 . ab8 24.d6 Not of course 24 Bxb8?? Qxc1+. b5 25.d1! The queen has enjoyed all its visits home! h7 26.c2 a3 27.xd5! The light squared
bishop has the final word. Black resigned as 27...exd5 28 Qg4+ Ke7 29 Nf5+ Kf8 30 Bd6+ Ke8 31 Re2+ is a complete wipe-out. 1-0
280 Morozevich,Alexander Lastin,Alexander Lightning Moscow RUS [Neil McDonald]
A08 2749 2628 02.09.2001
1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.g3 c6 4.g2 g6 5.f3 g7 6.0-0 ge7 7.c3 d5 8.e2 b6 There is a big cloud over this set up for Black t h a n k s t o W h i t e ' s n e x t m o v e . 9.a3! Players who have studied previous games in this line will be familiar with the development of the knight to a3 rather than d2. It revitalises the system for W hite: the knight is not only ready to swoop into b5 if Black plays Qc7 but also planning to support a queenside attack by retreating to c2. a6 10.e5 h6 11.h4 c7 12.e1 0-0-0 [ Neither did 12...b5 turn out well in FedorovDolmatov. ] 13.b1 g5 This gambit also failed a move earlier in the game Morozevich-Gleizerov, but t h e re i s n o wa y e ls e f o r B la ck t o c re a t e counterplay before White starts an attack with b2-b4. 14.hxg5 g6 15.gxh6 xe5 [ A w i l d v a r i a t i o n w o u l d b e 15...xh6 16.xh6 xh6 17.b4 dh8!? 18.b5 f5 19.exf6 ( If 19.bxc6? h7 and Black has a lethal attack) 19...h7 20.xe6+ b8 21.d6+ a8 22.xc6+ b7 23.e8+ xe8 24.xe8+ and White mates. ] 16.b4! xc3 A forced move as otherwise 17. b5 just wins a piece. 17.b5 xe1 18.xe1 b7 19.bxc6 xc6 Materially speaking it isn't too bad for Black. What will kill him is the g i g a n t i c p a s s e d p a w n o n h 6 . 20.d4 Stopping Black mobilising a big pawn centre with e6-e5. c4 21.b5 xb5 22.xb5 c6 23.b1 b7 24.e5 xe5 25.xe5 The shrewd exchange of the minor pieces has cleared the way for the advance of the h pawn. a4 26.g5 xa2 27.e1 c8 28.g7 hf8 29.xe6 c3 30.e7+ a8 31.xf7 fe8 32.xd5+! A nice finish. Black resigned as if xd5 33.xa7+ b8 34.f4+ 263
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 all drop something. [ After 12...e6 13.xb7 c8 14.fd2 Black's compensation is a long way short of enough. ] [ 12...h8 13.cxe5! xe5 ( 13...fxe5? 281 A08 14.g5 is a huge point) 14.xe5 e6 Movsesian,Sergei 2747 15.c4 ( 15.c4!? looks to me like a pawn up Likavsky,Tomas 2487 f o r n o t a lo t) 15...b6 16.c2 xc4 Hustopece op rapid (5) 06.06.2009 17.dxc4 xc4 18.f4 White eventually [John Shaw] won in Movsesian-Gelfand, Moscow (blitz) 2008. A great player like Gelfand rarely falls 1.e4 c5 2.d3 c6 for such tricks, but of course it was just a [ Another move order is 2...d5 3.d2 c6 blitz game. ] 4.g3 f6 5.g2 e5 ] 13.a4 With sufficient care Black might avoid 3.g3 f6 4.g2 d5 5.d2 [ Another option is 5.exd5 xd5 6.c3 losing material, but White should gain an edge xc3 7.bxc3 g6 8.e2 with an interesting due to the contortions his opponent must endure. h8 almost unexplored position. ] [ Instead 13...g6 14.h3 was Renner -Hort, 5...e5 6.gf3 If you play a King's Indian with Germany 2000, but ( 14.fd2!? was more black, you may be happy to play the same to the point. White has ideas of Ne4 and/or thing with an extra tempo. If not, then White f 2-f 4. Fo r example : g7 15.f4 b6 can avoid this by choosing one of the various 16.fxe5 xc4 17.xc4 xe5 18.xe5 e x d 5 l i n e s . e7 Black has many options of xe5 19.xe5 fxe5 20.e3!? The idea is course. It would be tough for me to cover that White's initiative lasts all the way into every anti-KID line, so just a quick tour to the endgame. xd3 21.g5 c4 22.b5 point at some lines. d6 23.f1 c5+ 24.h1 xb5 25.axb5 [ 6...d4 You need to know the KID to play And Black must start shedding material. Just this particular line (with either side). For a an illustrative line rather than f orced or non-KID player, a few minutes of necessarily best play, but it does give a preparation will do no good. ] good idea of what can happen if White plays [ 6...dxe4 7.dxe4 e7 ] with enough force. )] [ 6...g6 7.0-0 g7 8.c3 0-0 9.b3 d4 [ 13...c7 is worth a look, although 14.h4 ( 9...dxe4 10.dxe4 h6 11.e1 c7 12.f1 is pleasant. ] e6 13.c2 fd8 ) 10.c4 e7 11.cxd4 14.a5 cxd4 12.d2 ] [ 14.cxe5! was working right now. ] 7.0-0 0-0 8.c3 e8 14...b8? [ 8...d4 ] [ 14...c7 ] 9.e1 Giving Black one more chance to play ... Okay, just a rapid game, and d 5 - d 4 . P e r h a p s m o r e a c c u r a t e i s t h e 15.cxe5! maybe it continued on from here. Anyway, it immediate [ 9.exd5 xd5 10.c4 f8 11.e1 makes a useful structure for looking at the line. KID players will be feeling happy here. as Movsesian had played previously. ] 1-0 9...f8 [ 9...d4 ] 10.exd5 xd5 11.c4 White's extra tempo means that standard KID tricks arrive quickly enough to catch out even very classy players. f6 [ 11...c7 allows 12.g5 when White had fun play in Planinec-Rubinetti, Nice 1974. ] 12.b3 e6 An awkward-looking move, but played for good reason, as the natural moves mates. 1-0
264
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 282 Shirov,Alexei Hernandez,G Yucatan [Neil McDonald]
A08 283
2000
1.e4 e6 2.d3 c5 3.g3 The most flexible move here is [ 3.f3 ] 3...c6 4.g2 This commits White to the development of his queen's knight to d2. Instead [ 4.c3 d5 5.e2 would preserve the option of the alternative deployment to a3, for example ge7 6.f3 g6 7.g2 g7 8.0-0 b6 9.a3! is Morozevich-Gleizerov. ] 4...d5 5.d2 There is little choice, as [ 5.e2 d4 is annoying. Thus with his move order White has deprived himself of t h e d a n ge ro u s kn ig h t m o ve t o a 3 . T h e alte rnat ive pla n he ado pts in the gam e proves unsatisfactory. ] 5...g6 6.gf3 g7 7.0-0 ge7 8.h4 h6 9.e1 b6 10.exd5?! Shirov isn't satisfied with the modest [ 10.c3 and so prepares a pawn sacrifice to set Black problems. ] 10...exd5 11.d4?! cxd4 12.b3 g4 Now W hite is unable to regain the pawn, though he does gain considerable pressure on Black's centre. 13.f4 0-0 14.d2 xf3 15.xf3 h7 16.e2 d7 17.ae1 fe8 18.g2 a5! 19.a3 [ A better try might have been 19.a4!? ] 19...ad8 20.d3 a4 21.d2 a5! 22.h2 b7! Black prepares to return the pawn to seize the initiative. 23.h3 f5 24.a6 c5 25.xb6 d3! 26.e5 Shirov makes a de s p e ra t e co m b ina t io n in vo lvin g a h u ge sacrifice of material as [ 26.cxd3 xd3 would be just horrible for White. ] 26...xe5 27.xe5 dxc2 28.h5 c1 29.f6 c6 30.xg6+ h8 31.xe8+ xe8 32.xh6+ g8 33.g6+ h8 34.h6+ h7 Of course. Now White's attack has been refuted. 35.f6+ g8 36.xc6 xh5 37.f3 c2 0-1
Stein,Leonid Zinn,Lothar WchT U26 08th (5.1) [Nigel Davies]
A08
21.07.1961
This game was one of the ones that 'proved' Black shouldn't take on e4 in such positions. In fact it was his later moves that lost him the game but such details tend to get lost in the wash. 1.f3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 e5 5.d3 e7 6.bd2 f6 7.e4 g4 If Black really wants to exchange in the centre this is probably as good a time as any to do it. Giving White 8.h3 for free doesn't help him. 8.h3 e6 9.e2 dxe4 Black probably felt obliged to do this because of White's growing pressure against the e5 pawn. 10.dxe4 0-0 11.c3 d7?! Taking his eye off d5 like this is the start of the wrong plan. [ I think that Korchnoi would have chosen from 11...c7 ] [ 11...h6 ] [ and 11...a6 , all of which look quite playable. ] 12.c4 b5 13.e3 c4 14.d1 c7?! Black seems curiously determined to plant his chin on White's fist. [ 14...b8 would have taken at least some of the sting out of 15.Nd5. ] 15.d5 xd5?! [ 15...b7 would have been much more stubborn. ] 16.exd5 a5 17.d4! exd4 18.xe7 ae8 [ On 18...d3 there would follow 19.d6 c8 20.xa8 e8 21.g5 xa8 22.f4 followed by 23.Re1. ] 19.f4! xf4 [ Or 19...xe7 20.xc7 b7 21.d6 etc. ] 20.xd7 f6 21.xd4 Emerging a good pawn up. The rest is fairly easy. e2 22.f4 b6 23.b4 b7 [ 23...cxb3 24.axb3 xb3 25.xa7 would even threaten 26.Qxf7+ Rxf7 27.Ra8+ leading to mate. ] 24.a4 d6 25.axb5 xb5 26.c6 c2 27.xb6 axb6 28.xc4 xc3 29.c6 f5 30.f1 xc6 31.dxc6 d6 32.d1 c8 33.c4+ h8 34.c7 g6 35.d8 g7 36.e6 A convincing looking game by Stein which probably did a lot to discredit ...dxe4 265
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ideas by Black. 1-0
284 Anand,Viswanathan Salem,AR Saleh Wch Blitz Dubai blitz (4) [Kosten, Tony]
A09 2785 2581 19.06.2014
1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.g3 c6 4.g2 e5 5.0-0 f6 6.d3 h6!? Stopping Bg5, this move is not so popular, but makes a lot of sense. [ 6...e7 is very common, but also allows 7.b4!? xb4! 8.xe5 0-0 9.a3 a6 10.d2 when d6 11.ef3 is similar to this game, except that Black has moved his dark square bishop twice, see Odendahl, RKasimdzhanov, R in the PGN Archive. ] [ 6...a5 may be best, stopping b4 for a long time, and is the most popular, see Speelman, J-Koneru, H, again in the PGN Archive. ] 7.b4 Standard. xb4! Probably best. [ 7...xb4 8.xe5 xe5 9.a4+ c6 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.xb4 White has conceded his powerful bishop, but wrecked the black structure and stops Black from castling. d7! ( 11...h3 is worse, 12.e1 and now e3 is a threat, so d6 13.a3! and Black is in trouble, Mitter, G (2185) Pacher, S (1850) Feffernitz 2007, 1-0 (25), as xb4 14.xb4 d7 15.d2 c5 16.a3 and Nb3, winning the c5-pawn.) 12.e1 ( 12.d2 c5 13.a5 0-0 14.e4 is stronger, winning a pawn.) 12...a5 13.a4 c5 and Black was close to equality in Djuric, S (2485)-Pyhala, A (2350) Jarvenpaa 1985, 1-0 (40). ] 8.xe5 d6 This way it appears Black has gained a move (...h6) over the 6...Be7 line in the note above, but there is a slight flaw. 9.a3 [ 9.a4+! is the way to exploit Black's 6th move, as he has not yet castled compared to the 6... Be7 line. d7 10.f4 ( 10.a3! a6 11.f3 leaves Black's minor pieces m i s p l a c e d .) 10...a6 11.xd7 xd7 12.xd7+ xd7 13.xd6 xd6 should be a bit better for W hite, Delchev, A (2587)-Mellado Trivino, J (2460) France 2001, 1/2-1/2 (37). ]
9...a6 Often Black would be happy to put his knight here, as it might then go to c5, but in this exact position the d4-pawn will need defence so Black might have to play his pawn to c5 instead. [ 9...xe5?! 10.axb4 ] 10.f3 c5 Black should delay this as long as possible. [ 10...0-0 is best, 11.bd2 ( 11.b2 c5 12.e3 dxe3 13.fxe3 would aim to play as in the game, but with the bishop already on b2 Black has extra possibilities, such as g4! 14.e1 e8 ) 11...c5 12.b1 b8 13.b3 c7 14.e3 dxe3 15.xe3 g4 16.d2 c6 17.d4!? cxd4 18.c5 e7 19.f4 d8 20.h3 f6 21.e5 d5 22.xc6 bxc6 23.xd4 Gurevich, M (2315)-Tseitlin, M (2455) Severodonetsk 1982, 1-0 (38), when d7 was not too bad for Black. ] 11.e3! dxe3 12.fxe3!? [ 12.xe3 0-0 13.c3 is nice and active. ] 12...0-0 13.c3 b8?! Heading for the natural c6-square, but in the light of what follows Black should prefer something else here, such as [ 13...c7 keeping better control of d5. ] 14.b2 c6 15.d5! Suddenly Black is in trouble, first he has to solve the problem of the capture on f6. e7?! [ 15...g4 is the best bet, but not easy to find in a blitz game, 16.d2 f5 17.h3 ge5 but White is better anyway. ] [ 15...xd5 16.cxd5 e7 17.d2 f5 18.e2 is very good for White, he has a nice centre and very active minor pieces, i.e. f6 19.e4 e7 20.f2 and Raf1. ] 16.h4 h7 [ 16...xd5 17.cxd5 a5 18.f5 xf5 19.xf5 is a slight improvement, but clearly better for W hite with his centre and bishops. ] 17.f5 xf5 18.xf5 With his powerful minor pieces White is already winning. g5 [ 18...d6 19.g4 f6 20.af1 e5 21.xe5 xe5 22.h5 h8 23.e4 will soon be mate, Black is too weak on the light squares. ] 19.h4 e6 20.g4 g6 21.af1 Rxf7 is the immediate threat. g7 22.f6! Other moves were winning, too, but this is pretty and a thematic way to exploit Black's weakened 266
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.a6 c8 Now White sacrifices an exchange to decimate the black structure. 20.xc7! xc7 21.xd6 a7 22.xe5! [ 22.xf8 is good, but why swap this bishop for a mere rook? ] 22...fxg3 23.hxg3 g4 24.xg7 xg7 25.a1 Now it is the turn of the d4-pawn to c8 26.xd4 f6 27.c6 285 A09 fall. Anand,Viswanathan 2784 The endgame is a breeze f or W hite, who Svidler,Peter 2713 maintains a dominating position with extra xa1 28.xa1 af7 29.f4 Hoogovens Blitz blitz (12) 18.01.1999 material. Removing Black's only target. e3 30.f3 h6 [Tony Kosten] 31.ab4 g5 32.d5 White's light-squared 1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 Black plays this natural c a m p a i g n c o n t i n u e s t o b e a r f r u i t s . gxf4 f5 34.h5+ h8 35.e5 advance, and forces W hite into a reversed 33.xf4 B e n o n i , o r B e n k o s t r u c t u r e . 3.g3 W in ning b ack th e excha nge, a nd e nd in g Black's resistance. The immediate [ 3.b4 is also a good choice, obtaining a 1-0 Benko Gambit-style position, without losing a pawn! ] A09 3...g6 4.d3 g7 Fianchettoing the king's 286 bishop has a good theoretical reputation, but Anastasian,Ashot 2545 Black often suffers because of his lack of Ponomariov,Ruslan 2616 control over the a3-f8 diagonal. 5.g2 e5 Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (8) 07.12.1999 6.b4 Here is the advantage of that extra [Tony Kosten] tempo. To achieve the related advance, ...b5, as Black, in the Benoni, can often be difficult 1.c4 c5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.f3 c6 or well-nigh impossible. d7!? A novelty, 5.0-0 d4 6.e3 e5 7.exd4 exd4 normally Black completes his kingside [ The invariable choice in this position. The development thus: more ambitious 7...cxd4 is always avoided, [ 6...e7 7.0-0 0-0 ] although I don't know why. Perhaps Black 7.bd2 h6!? Another original development. players are concerned about the possibility 8.0-0 f6 9.b5 White has a very simple, and of White exploiting his extra tempo to good effective, plan in these positions: advance on effect, but no immediate problem is evident. t h e q u e e n s id e . 0-0 10.a4 f7 11.a5 For instance, 8.e1 ( 8.d3 would lead to a The immediate threat is a6, levering open the reversed Benoni position) 8...d6 9.xe5 h 1 -a 8 d ia go n a l . b8 12.e1! A typical xe5 10.f4 but Black can counter with d3! 'English' plan, the knight is heading for b4 to 11.fxe5 c5+ 12.h1 g4 with at least a complete W hite's domination of the critical draw. ] l i g h t s q u a r e s , d 5 , c 6 , a n d a 6 . f5 8.d3 e7 9.f4 An important part of White's B l a c k ' s q u e e n s i d e s i t u a t i o n i s s e ve r e l y plan. he needs to exchange a piece, as he compromised, and he must look for play on has less space, and at the same time, open the other side of the board. 13.c2 f6 the h1-a8 diagonal. 0-0 10.e5 xe5 14.b4 d7 15.b3 Black has to stop this 11.xe5 e8!? knight from going to c5. b6 16.axb6 [ A new plan. Previously, other moves were [ 16.a6 c8 17.b7 wins the exchange, t r i e d h e r e e . g . 11...g4 12.f4 d6 but the text is much clearer. ] 13.xd6 xd6 14.d2 b6?! 15.e1 d7 16...axb6 17.a7 f4 Black's counterplay is 16.h3 f6 17.b3 with an edge, Kasparov, much too slow, White has already infiltrated G-Pinter,J/Skara 1980, or ] the queenside. 18.a3 White's pieces seem [ 11...d7 or ] to flow naturally to powerful squares. d6 [ 11...g4 ] dark squares. h5 [ 22...xf6 23.xf6+ h8 24.xc6 bxc6 25.f4 f5 26.g4 is overwhelming. ] 23.g5 d7 24.h6 1-0
267
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.xf6! White shows a good understanding of the position. His dark-squared bishop is not particularly useful with this fixed structure. xf6 13.d2 e7 So as to eject the white knight with ...f5 should it come to e4. 14.d5! Both pinning the f7-pawn, and establishing the bishop on a powerful central square. b8 15.f3 f8 16.fe1 b6 17.e2 The white pieces come easily to strong squares. d6 18.ae1 d7 19.e4 c7 20.h5 W hite menaces Ng5 which would lead to a quick mate. h6 21.h4 Repeating the threat. e6 [ Positionally ugly, but tactically forced. Black had to do something about the strong t h re a t s t o h is k in g, f o r m o ve s s u c h a s 21...a6? lose immediately to 22.g5! i.e. hxg5 23.e7 ( 23.e4 is also effective) 23...e6 24.1xe6! d6 25.e4 f5 26.h6 with mate in two. ] 22.xe6 fxe6 23.f4 Fixing the frail e6-pawn. With this weakness on the open e-file, and possessing the superior minor piece, White has a consequent advantage. d7 24.d2 f6 Black is obliged to defend grimly, but this leads to passiveness, of course. 25.g4?! e8 26.f3 f7 Black manages a threat of his own: ...Bxf4! 27.e5 xe5 28.xe5 f5 [ This looks like a misjudgement to me. After a s e n s i b l e a l t e r n a t i v e l i k e 28...h7 Black is worse, but may be able to hold on. ] 29.xf5! The two rooks should comfortably out-gun the lone queen. exf5 30.xe8+ h7 31.8e7 g6 32.f2 b5!? An attempt to confuse White. 33.7e6 [ 33.1e6 g4 34.cxb5 h3 35.xa7 looks strong, menacing Ree7, but af ter h2+ the white king proves to be too exposed. ] 33...f7 34.cxb5 d7 35.c6 [ 35.a4 may be more effective, as after d5 36.e7 b3 37.xa7 xd3 Black has some counterplay, but not nearly enough. ] 35...c4! 36.xc4 [ Not 36.dxc4? as after d3 37.b3 d4+ 38.f3 c3 Black has mustered serious chances, with his active queen and dangerous passed pawn. ] 36...xb5 37.b3 a5 38.c2?! [ T h e s i m p l e 38.e2 s h o u l d w i n , d5 39.c7 h1 40.ee7 and when Back's
checks run out W hite will play Rxg7+. Of course, White may have been short of time, and worried about a possible perpetual check. ] 38...a6 39.d2 g6 40.e7 c6 41.h5+!? A double-edged move, which wins material, but allows the black king to become active. xh5 42.xg7 f6 43.xa7 g4 44.g2 c6+ 45.h2 f3 [ 45...f3 It is true that the position is far messier than it was, but even so W hite should continue, e. g.: 46.e7 g6 47.g2 h5 48.g1 f6 49.ge1 h4?? 50.h3! with a mating net. ] ½-½
287 Bezold,Michael Svidler,Peter Bundesliga 2008-9 (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A09 2513 2727 25.10.2008
This game is of a length that will normally disqualify it from being included in our updates. Nevertheless, I find it to be of some interest, I trust you will agree. 1.g3 d5 2.g2 f6 3.c4 d4 4.d3 e5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 e7 [ This natural move is actually considered an inaccuracy on account of W hite's f airly obvious response in the game. It is a bit surprising that Svidler willingly goes into this line. The alternative, 6...a5 is the topic of Speelman-Koneru, Torquay 2002, where W hite continued with 7.e3 , and Koneru opted for the main line move 7...Be7 - see the PGN archives, The alternative is dxe3 8.xe3 e7 A) 9.c3 0-0 10.h3 ( 10.e1 g4!? ) 10...f5 11.d4 exd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 c6 15.fe1 e6 16.b3 fd8 , and Black has equalized, T o m a s h e vs k y , E - W a n g H a o / N i z h n i y Novgorod RUS 2007; B) 9.d4 exd4 10.xd4 xd4 11.xd4 0-0 12.c3 c6 13.a4 xd4 14.xd4 e6 15.b3 d7 , and Black has solved opening problems successfully, Vallejo Pons, F-Gelf and, B/Monte Carlo MNC 2005. ] 7.b4! xb4 268
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c a n b e f o u n d i n t h e P G N a r c h i v e s .) [ The only truly playable move for Black in 11.b2 ( 11.b3 was played in Blatny, Pthis position. Other tries include: A) 7...d7 Ricaurte Lopez, J/Salinas ECU 2005, 8.b5 cb8 9.e3 ( 9.a4 a5 10.e3 c5 11.e4 which can be found in the PGN archives.) 0-0 12.e1 f6 13.f4 g4 14.h3 e3 11...g4 12.ef3 f6 13.a4 e8 15.xe3 dxe3 16.c3 exf4 17.gxf4 ( 13...e6 14.a5 b8 15.h3 h6 with an unclear position and chances to both 16.a3 c5 17.c1 e7 18.b3 f5 sides, Kantans, T-Plat, P/Mlada Boleslav with a comfortable game for Black, Roeder, 2008) ) 9...0-0 10.exd4 exd4 11.b2 c5 M-Bukal, V/ Porto San Giorgio ITA 2004) 12.bxc6 xc6 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 14.a3 e7 15.b1 c6 16.h3 f6 c5 15.c3 ( 15.d5!? ) 15...xd3 17.xc5 xc5 18.b3 d6 19.xc5 16.xd3 xd3 17.d2 b8 xc5 , and the chances are about even, with a comfortable game for Black, Nguyen Bauer, C-Mirzoev, A/ Elgoibar ESP 2005 ] Huynh Minh Huy-Varga, C/ Zalakarosi HUN [ B) 9.d2 promises White less: 2008. ] A) Black's best option is probably 9...e8 [ B) 7...xb4 8.xe5 xe5 9.a4+ fd7 10.b3 ( 10.a3 a6 11.b2 ( 9...c6 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.xb4 is an alternative) 10...f8 11.f3 c5 leaves W hite with a pleasant advantage, 12.a3 c6 13.e3 dxe3 14.xe3 f5 Z o n t a k h , A - M a r i c , D / B e l g r a d e 1 9 9 8) 15.e1 c8 16.xc5 , Vukic, M-Pajkovic, 10.xb4 c5 11.a3 0-0 12.d2 c7 /Niksic 1996, and now Black could gain a ( 12...a6 13.b1 a7 14.e3 dxe3 15.fxe3 simple advantage with xc5 17.xc5 b6 , and White is comfortably better, 18.a4 e5; Radziewicz, I-Stef anova, A/ Bled 2002) B) 9...d6 10.a3 a6 11.ef3 c5 13.e4 a6 14.e3 dxe3 15.xe3 12.b1 e8 13.g5 Bischoff, K-Kitte, S/Germany 1998 ] B1) 13...g4 14.e1 d7 15.de4 8.xe5 0-0 9.b2 e7 16.h3 f5 17.xb7 b6 18.f4 [ This isn't the most common move in this c8 was played in Odendahl, R-Rothuis, position. White's two main alternatives are: V/Dieren NED 2008, and now W hite A) 9.a3 a6 could have gained a decisive advantage A) 10.e4 c5 11.b2 e8 12.h3 with ( 18...d7 ) 19.xf7 xf7 ( 12.a4!?= ) 12...fd7!? 13.f3 f6 20.d6+ g8 21.xe8 xb7 22.xb7 14.e1?! ( 14.e1 e5 15.xe5 xe8 23.e3; xe5 ) 14...b6 15.f4 ba4 16.c1 a5 B2) 13...h6 14.ge4 xe4 15.xe4 (At first I must admit I didn't see Black's f8 16.f4 b8 17.f5 c6 18.g4 intended idea with this move. By the way, leaves White with a kingside initiative, Black is doing very well already.) 17.a2 Danielsen, H-Fries Nielsen, N/ a6! 18.af2 b6 19.c2 b3 20.d2 Espergarde 1992 ] c3 Aha, this was the thinking behind 16... a5!. Black is clearly better, Elorta, D- 9...d6!? [ As far as I can see, this move is new, and is Nguyen Anh Dung/Manila PHI 2008; also approved by my computer which claims B) 10.b2 (This move was recommended an edge for Black. Previously Black has tried by Watson in his notes to Blatny-Ricaurte a few other things: A) 9...e8 10.a3 a6 Lopez, Salinas 2005) g4!? ( 10...c5 11.e1 f8 12.f3 c5 13.e3 dxe3 11.f3 e6 12.bd2 c5 13.c2 e8 14.fxe3 , and I prefer White's chances, 14.e3 with a slight plus for White is Franke, R-Teschner, R/Germany 1980 ] Watson's line.) 11.xg4 xg4 12.d2 [ B) 9...g4 10.xg4 ( 10.f3 c5 11.bd2 c6 13.e1 c5 14.c2 f6 15.a4 e8 c7 12.b3 f5 13.d2 ad8 14.g5 with chances to both sides, Makarov, Me3 15.fxe3 xg5 16.xd4 cxd4 Ibragimov, I/Maikop 1998; 17.xb4 xe3+ 18.h1 g4 , and Black C) 10.d2 c5 ( 10...d6 has the more comfortable game, Plachetka, was the subject of OdendahlJ-Dobrovolsky, L/Frenstat 1982) 10...xg4 Kasimdzhanov, Vlissingen 2004, which 269
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.xb7 b8 12.e4 xd3 ( 12...f5!? ) 13.xh7+ h8 14.xd3 xb2 with an unclear position and chances to both sides, Kaidanov, G-Khmelnitsky, I/ Philadelphia 1993 ] 10.f4!? [ 10.f3 c5 11.bd2 d7 is of course also playable, but doesn't represent any problems for Black whatsoever. ] 10...c6?! [ 10...g4!? 11.xg4 xg4 12.d2 c6 13.a3 , and despite my computer's claim to the contrary, both sides have their share of the chances. ] 11.c5! Now White gains the initiative. Of course the pawn cannot be taken on account of 12 Nxc6 bxc6 13 Ba3, winning a piece. e6 12.xc6!? [ I think White is over-careful at this juncture. In my opinion, W hite should have trie d 12.xc6! e3+ ( 12...bxc6 13.xd4 is clearly better for White) 13.h1 bxc6 14.a3 xc5 15.c2 e7 16.xd4 with a very nice game for White. ] 12...bxc6 13.xd4 d7?! [ 13...d5 seems like the better choice, e.g. 14.e3 xc5 15.c3 d6 16.xc5 xc5 17.d2 ] 14.xd7 xd7 15.e3 And here the players agreed upon a draw, much too soon. W hite has a clear advantage, including an extra pawn. ½-½
and Qa4+, whereas a5 might be met by 7.a3 ( 7.0-0 f6 8.a3 xd2 9.xd2 0-0 10.c2 ) 7...f6 8.c2 xd2+ 9.xd2 ( or 9.xd2 )] 6.0-0 e7!? Surprisingly this makes things difficult for Black. Better was [ 6...a5 with the possible line 7.e3 A) 7...e7 8.exd4 exd4 9.f4 ( 9.a3!? 0-0 10.b5 e6 11.f4 c8 12.e1 unclear ) 9...0-0 10.e5 xe5 11.xe5 e8 12.e1 with a position that has been re a ch e d b e f o re a n d is a p p ro xim a t e ly equal.; B) 7...c5 ] 7.b4! Tony has already discussed this line in the game R Odendahl-Kasimdzhanov, Vlissingen 2004. I think that W hite is doing rather better than that game shows if he plays accurately. xb4! [ 7...xb4?! 8.xe5! xe5 9.a4+ c6 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.xb4 and White's pawn structure gives him a nice edge. ] [ 7...e4?! 8.dxe4 xb4 9.e5 ( or 9.b2 ) 9...e4 10.b2 c3 11.xc3 dxc3 12.b3 ] 8.xe5 0-0 9.a3 [ 9.d2 e8 10.b3 is also worth a thought. ] 9...a6 10.d2 [ Possibly 10.b2! is a better order, e.g., c5 ( Now 10...d6 loses a pawn to 11.xd4 ) 11.f3 e6 12.bd2 c5 13.c2 b8 14.e3 But White seems to have a small advantage after 10.Nd2 anyway. ] 288 A09 10...c5 [ Kasimdzhanov played 10...d6 11.ef3 Blatny,Pavel 2456 e8 and Odendahl responded with 12. Nb3 Ricaurte Lopez,Juan Carlos 2333 c5 13.a4?! Bg4 and got the worse game. III Festival Olimpico (6) 20.02.2005 Instead the normal idea of 13.Rb1 followed [John Watson] by e3 was critical. But I also t hin k t ha t Black's oddly-placed pieces can be better 1.g3 e x p l o i t e d b y 12.b1! (threatening Nxd4, [ This game could also have arisen by the since ...Be5 no longer pins the knight) c5 more common move order 1.f3 d5 2.c4 A) T h e s t a n d a r d p l a n o f 13.g5 d4 3.d3 c6 4.g3 e5 ] is also interesting because it hits b7 and [ See also how White ends up a tempo prepares the e3 idea in another way, for ahead of the reversed variation 1.d4 f6 example, b8 14.de4 xe4 15.xe4 2.f3 c5 3.d5 d6 4.c3 g6 5.e4 ] c7 ( 15...f8 16.f4 ) 16.e3! f5 17.d2 1...e5 2.g2 d5 3.c4 d4 4.d3 c6 5.f3 dxe3 18.fxe3 when 18...Qxd3?? 19.Bd5+ f6 and Rb3 is not advised, nor 18...Rxe3 19. [ 5...b4+ 6.d2 has the threat of 7. Bxb4 270
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Bd5+ and in most cases Ne4. Otherwise more like White's best try. Alex covered the W hite plays Bd5+ anyway and stands alternatives in January, but there have been a better. But this isn't as straightforward as few games since then: 13.e3; [ Delchev's recommendation 6.b5+?! c6 B) 13.e3 dxe3 14.fxe3 h6 (stopping Ng5 7.c4 has been seen a couple of times ( 14...b8 15.g5 h6 16.ge4 xe4 recently, axb4! 8.xe5 fxe5 9.h5+ g6! 17.xe4 or 17.Bxe4; 14...g4 15.e4 10.xe5+ e7 11.xh8 f6 c7 16.e2 and White has many ideas A) 12.b2 e6 13.xe6 ( 13.xd4 such as Nfg5, Nh4, and Nc3-d5, for bd7 14.xe6 xe6 and ...0-0-0 example, f5 --to stop Nc3-- 17.fg5 Thiele. ) 13...xe6 14.g4?! bd7 15.g5 xe4 18.xe4 e5 19.c3 ) 15.h4 e4 16.xd4 0-0-0 17.f3 xg5 18.0-0 b8 16.f5! e5 17.e4 with a small h6 0-1 Stella, A (2463)-Bertagnolli, A but distinct advantage. ] (2329) Ortisei 2013.; 11.b3 B) 12.d3 e6 13.d2 bd7 14.0-0 [ 11.b2 g4 12.ef3 f6 13.b3 xb3 0-0-0 15.exd4 might be the best bet, but 14.xb3 is unclear but I'd rather play h6 16.xd8+ xd8 17.e1 d5 White. ] f a vo u rs B lack (aga in t h is is Rein ho ld 11...a5?! Thiele's analysis).; [ B e t t e r s e e m s t h e n a t u r a l 11...xb3 C) 12.0-0 e6 13.d3? ( 13.xe6 12.xb3 c5 ( 12...g4?! 13.xg4 xg4 is better, but xe6 14.exd4 bd7 15.d3 14.xb7 ) 13.f3 e8 14.e1 b8 15.f4 0-0-0 -Thiele. ) 13...xc4 14.dxc4 d7 ( 15.d2!? ) 15...d7 16.e5 h5 15.d1 g7 16.xd4+ c7 and White 17.xd7 xd7 18.d2 c6 when Black h a d t o p l a y 17.d8+ xd8 18.xd8 stands solidly. ] t o a v o i d l o s i n g h i s q u e e n , b u t xd8 [ But 11...a4? 12.f3 c3 13.c2 c5 19.b2 bd7 is hopeless, Davis, T 14.e3 leaves the first player well on top. ] (1945)-Zelesco, K (2143) Cammeray 2013 12.f3 e6 13.a4 0-1 (24). ] [ Or 13.b2 c5 14.e3 a4 15.c1 dxe3 [ 6.c4?! axb4! 7.b3 ( 7.exd4 e4! ) 16.fxe3 . The extra centre pawn tend to be 7...h6 8.exd4?! ( 8.0-0 ) 8...e4 9.e3 a n a d v a n t a g e i n t h e s e p o s i t i o n s e ve n e7 10.h4 g5 ( 10...f5 11.g3 g5 though they are initially backward-looking. ] 12.g2 c6 is also strong.) 11.d3 ( 11.f3?! 13...a6 14.d2!? gxh4 12.fxe4 e6 should have been [ 14.b2! c5 15.e3 d6! 16.exd4 cxd4 winning for Black in Bosiocic, M (2542)17.h3!? , or less greedily, ( 17.e1 )] Kadric, D (2471) Zadar 2013, but 1/2-1/2 14...b4 15.h3 c5? (26). ) 11...gxh4 12.dxe4 c6 13.0-0?! [ Black can come close to equality by 15...c5! g4 14.d3 h3 ( 14...ce5! ) 15.xh3 16.xb4 cxb4 17.d2 d6 ] xe4 ( 15...xd4 ) 16.b2 d7 and Black 16.xb4! axb4 17.xc8 xb3 18.xb7 went on to convert his material advantage, b6 19.xb3 xb7 20.c5! e7 21.c6 b6 although it got a bit messy, Hakobyan, A 22.xd4 g4 23.a5 (2103) -Chibukhchian, A (2446) Yerevan 1-0 2014 0-1 (40). ] [ 6.exd4?! e4 7.e2 e7 8.g1 c6 ] [ 6.xe5?! is Van Wely, L-Kramnik, V in the 289 A09 PGN Archive. ] Demuth,Adrien 2476 6...d7 [ 6...d7 7.b5 c6 8.c4 was the sharp Duda,Jan Krzysztof 2587 game Hillarp Persson, T-Hector, J, analysed Mitropa Cup Ruzomberok (7.1) 29.05.2014 by Alex. ] [Kosten, Tony] 7.b5 xc5 8.c4 e7 9.exd4 exd4 1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 f6 4.e3 e5 5.c5 a5 10.a3 a6 'White has good compensation, 6.a4+ This is beginning to look more and since Black's king will never be safe' - Alex. 271
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.0-0 b4 12.d3 f5 The first new move, and it's a good one. Black wants to play ...b6, move his queen and then castle long, trying to keep the queenside closed. [ 12...c6 13.bd2 b6 is also quite playable, 14.bxc6 xc6 ( 14...xc6 15.d1 0-0-0 is also unclear.) 15.b3 b5!? ( 15...a4 ) 16.f7+ f8 17.ac1 b6 18.e4 c8 19.fe1 Bukavshin, I (2539) Shukh, N (2421) Saratov 2013 1-0 (33), when a6! 20.xc5 ( 20.e6 is a Houdini move, a4 21.xc5 xc5 22.d1 xc1 23.xe7+ xe7 24.xd7+ xd7 25.xc1 c7 ) 20...xc5 might be OK. ] 13.c1 [ 13.e1 xd3 14.xd3 xd3 15.xc5 xc5 16.c4 d6 17.bd2 is actually fairly equal, White will play Ne4 and regain the d-pawn, and retain sufficient play for the other sacrificed pawn. ] 13...b6 14.b3 d6 15.bd2 [ 15.f7+ d8 16.c4 g6 17.bd2 f4 18.e1 is unclear. ] 15...0-0-0 So, Black has found a reasonable square for his king, can he exploit his extra pawn? 16.h4 g6 17.e1 ed5 18.df3 [ 18.xg6 hxg6 19.h3 can be met by the tactic c2!? 20.xc5 xa1 21.xd6 xb3 22.xd5 c5 ( 22...xd2?! 23.e6+ b8 24.f4 ) 23.xc5 xd5 24.a3 xb5 when I suppose Black has any chances going. ] 18...f4 [ 18...b7 ] 19.xg6 hxg6 20.c1 bd5 21.e4 de8?! [ 21...g5 must be a little better for Black, and if he wants to put a rook on the e-file it should be the h-rook ] 22.g3!? [ 22.xf4 xf4 23.ae1 xe4 24.xe4 is a simple alternative, d8 25.g3 d5 26.xd4 with equal material and opposite colour bishops. ] 22...h3+ 23.g2 xf2? [ 23...c3 24.xe8+ xe8 forces 25.f7 ( 25.xh3? a4 26.c2 e2 27.d2 xf2 when the white king is in trouble.) 25...e7 26.xg6 d7 when my computer tells me it's equal! ] 24.xd5
[ After 24.xe8+! xe8 25.xd5 White was possible worried about xd3 26.c6 xc1 27.xc1 e2+ 28.f1 d3 but 29.g8+ forces the queens off, with advantage as the 3 black pawns are not worth a piece.. ] 24...xe4 25.dxe4 Reaching an interesting material imbalance. d7 26.h4?! [ 26.a3! i s t h e r i g h t m o ve , a s h3+ 27.g1 and White doesn't have to worry about ...d3+, xa3 28.xa3 with advantage, as the black rooks have little scope and the c7 and d4-pawns are weak. ] 26...g4 [ 26...g5! would turn the tables, and now White should probably play 27.a3 gxh4 28.gxh4 although g4+ 29.f2 xa3 30.xa3 g5 looks unpleasant. ] 27.d3?! [ 27.a3 should again be played, the c5bishop is too strong. ] 27...g5! Now White must be very careful. 28.h2 h5 29.f3 gxh4!? Offering the exchange for some winning chances. [ If Black tries to keep the queens on by 29...h7 then 30.g4+ b8 31.f3 gxh4 32.gxh4 g5 (those g-pawns!) 33.h5 d8 34.e6 and Black doesn't have anything better than xh5 35.xh5 xh5 36.g4 fairly level. ] 30.xh5 xh5 31.f7 hh8 32.xe8 xe8 33.gxh4 xe4 34.f3 With more activity and 3 pawns for a piece, Black has most of the chances going, although White should be able to hold a draw. d7 35.d2 c6 [ 35...e6 36.e1 d5 can be met by 37.h5 ] 36.e1! xe1 37.bxc6+ xc6 38.xe1 d5 39.f3 c4 40.h5 Fixing the g-pawn on a dark square. a4 41.e2?! White wants to bring his knight to the nice central square on d3, but this is passive. [ 41.e4 is more active, and natural, and b5 can be countered by 42.f3 ( 42.d3?? f5+ ) 42...b4 43.c1 c3 ( 43...b3 44.axb3+ axb3 45.b2 ) 44.d5! a3 45.d2! ( 45.xc5 is possible, but White would need to find lots of only moves: b3 46.xa3 bxa2 47.b4+ d3 48.e1+ e4 49.c2 f5 50.c4 f4 51.b3 f3 52.e1 d3 53.xa2 dxc2 54.b2 ) 45...b6 46.b3 and only White can win 272
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 this, d3 47.e4 c2 48.d2 but c5! and White is not worse.) 9...h4 10.g1 Draw. ] d6! A strong move. White has problems 41...b5 42.d3 d e f e n d i n g h i s n u m e r o u s we a k n e s s e s . [ 42.c1 ] 11.f4?! White has misdirected the Black 42...a3! 43.f4 c3 44.c7 f8 45.a5+ knight, but at the cost of falling behind in c2 46.b6 b1 47.xd4 xa2 d e ve lo p m e n t . ( 11.g3?! h5!; 11.e3!? Black has made real progress, his king and xh2 12.d2 is suggested by Marin, who bishop support his two passed pawns, and thinks White might have some White must be precise. 48.d2 b4 compensation in view of his slightly better [ 48...a3! keeps more chances, 49.c3 development and his strong centre. Perhaps b1 50.g1 d6 51.e3 a3 52.b4 a2 so, but most strong players would certainly but ( 52...xb4+ 53.xb4 a2 54.d4 a1 take Black here.) 11...e5! 12.f5 h5! 13.h3 55.xa1 xa1 56.xb5 b2 is a draw.) d4! 14.g3 hxg4 15.hxg4 g6! 53.c2! a1+ 54.xa1 xa1 55.b3 Vallejo's vigorous p lay ma kes a stron g b1 56.d2 traps the king and draws! impression- White is not given any time to Fantastic! ] settle down. 16.fxg6 xg6 17.e3 d8 49.c5! The only move not to lose. xc5 18.d2 e6 19.a4 f4 0-1 (29) Rausis, 50.xc5 a3 51.c2 b3+ 52.b1 f5 I (2506)-Vallejo Pons, F (2677)/Port 53.d3 Zugzwang! b2 54.xb2 b3 Barcares 2005 White has no compensation 55.xa4! The simplest. xa4 56.c2 b4 for his exposed king and for the weaknesses 57.d3 c5 58.e3 d5 59.f4 e6 on dark squares. ] 60.g5 e5 8...d8 I suspect this might be better than [ 60...e5 61.g6 f4 62.xg7 f3 63.h6 going to d6, where White tends to gain time f2 64.h7 f1 65.h8 ] with c4-c5. ½-½ [ 8...d6 9.d4 f5 10.d2 g6 11.c5 d8 12.c4 g7 13.d1 0-0 14.0-0 looked quite comfortable for W hite in 290 A09 Fontaine, R -Markowski, T Dresden 2004. ] Devereaux,Maxim 2415 9.d4 f5 10.d2 g6 11.d1 g7 12.e2 Rowson,Jonathan 2582 0-0 13.0-0 a5 14.c1 d8 15.d5 cxd5? 4ncl 03.05.2008 Too much too soon. While this more or less wins a pawn by force, it also gives White a lot [Jonathan Rowson] of activity so I would have been better of keeping the tension. 1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.e3 [ 15...d7! simply intending Rac8 and [ 3.b4 feels critical to me, and we can revisit keeping options open, was best. ] this line another time. ] [ 15...xc3!? 16.xc3 ( 16.bxc3 cxd5 [ 3.a3!? Suba, is not as silly as it looks. ] 17.cxd5 xd5 ) 16...xc3 17.bxc3 d7 [ 3.g3 is of course fine, though it seems 18.f4 ac8 19.g4 And White just about Black can equalise quite easily. ] keeps the balance. ] 3...c6 4.exd4?! I now think this is probably just a mistake. xd4 5.xd4 xd4 6.c3 16.xd5 [ 16.b4 xb4 17.xd5 a5 18.b6 axb6 c6 7.d3 h6! 8.e3 19.xe7+ f8 wins for Black, but I must [ 8.e2!? was recommended by Zviagintsev, admit I was a little taken aback when I first but I am not sure how carefully he noticed this possibility. ] considered it. f5 9.g4?! This pseudoactive move was thought to be the best 16...e6 17.b4 xa2 18.d2 a4 [ 18...b3 19.d1 ] a n t i d o t e t o B l a c k ' s u n u s u a l s ys t e m o f development, but it appears to be unsound. 19.c7 xe3 [ 19...ac8 20.xe6 fxe6 21.fd1 f8 ( 9.0-0!? The d4 square isn't everything, so 22.b1 ] W hite should consider playing around it. d8 10.g4 g6 11.e1 g7 12.g5 20.xd8+ xd8 21.xe6 xf1 273
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 21...fxe6 22.xe3 xb4 23.xa7 d4 24.a2 c5 25.c2 f8 26.d3 e5 27.g3 b6 28.e2 I didn't think I could make progress here. ] [ 21...c6 22.xe3 ] [ 21...d6 22.c5 xb4 23.xe3 d4 24.d3 xc4 25.xe7 e6 26.d8+ g7 27.f4 ] 22.xd8 d7 23.xf7 [ 23.d1 xd1 24.xd1 d2 25.e2 b6 26.c6 f8 27.xa7 c3 keeps the game alive. ] 23...d2 24.g5 h6 25.h4 d4 26.d1! W hite has def ended well and Black is no longer better. xg5 27.hxg5 e5 [ 27...f4 ] 28.f3 xf3+ 29.xf3 xc4 30.xb7 c1+ 31.h2 f4+ 32.g1 c1+ 33.h2 f4+ ½-½
[ 5...a5 had been played, allowing the bishop t o e s c a p e : 6.c4 h6 7.0-0 e7 Namgilov,S-Dao,T/Budapest 1996, with unclear play. ] 6.b3 This does not work-out too well, perhaps White should attempt to stop Black from defending the d3-pawn, by [ 6.c3 ] 6...e4 7.d4 a5 8.c3 f5 An unusual position, W hite is a long way ahead in d e ve lo p m e n t - B la ck h a s o n ly m o ve d h i s pawns- but can he do anything with his lead? 9.e6 e7 10.xf8 xf8! Black needed to keep his light-squared bishop. 11.b5 e6 12.a4 d7 13.a3 The threats along the a3-f8 diagonal are worrying, but Black has sufficient resources. [ The move 13.c6 is no better, bxc6 14.bxc6 b6 and Black has time to remove his pieces from the c1-bishop's diagonal-to-be. ] 13...xc5 14.d4 b6 15.a4 f7 The king had to get out of the way. 16.xc5 291 A09 bxc5 17.xc5 g5 White is winning the Gabriel,Christian 2578 battle on the queenside, but it is a temporary Kortschnoj,Viktor 2676 victory. Next move Black will be able to bring Ehrat mem (SUI vs GER match) (4) 16.08.99 his knight out, and then his king's rook, when h i s e x t r a p i e c e s w i l l t r i u m p h . 18.g4!? [Tony Kosten] White attempts to bring his h1-rook into play 1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 f6 4.e3 e5 5.c5 at any cost. xg4 [ 18...fxg4?! allows White to develop his Termed 'the modern approach' by Dunnington, f1-bishop: 19.g2 f6 20.0-0 ] in his book on the Reti, White opens the a2g 8 d i a g o n a l a n d g a i n s s p a c e o n t h e 19.e5 c8 20.h3 g5 21.d4 f6 queenside. However, in the light of this game, Black has solved his development problems and now the 'writing is on the wall' for White. it might simply be a mistake! [ Alternatively, there is 5.b3 a5 6.c5 22.h2 hd8 23.g1 h4 24.c1 e8 with similar ideas, whilst avoiding the game 25.c5 g6 26.a4 d5 27.c6 d8 28.c3 continuation. axb4 7.c4 h6 8.0-0 xc5 d6 29.h4 Hoping to lever open the g-file for 30.h5 g5 31.h6 9.exd4 xd4 10.xd4 xd4 11.b2 d6 t h e g 1 - r o o k . d7 12.d4 White has a strong initiative, Ilinsky, V- This loses, but so does [ 31.a6 , albeit more prettily: h6 and if Lev,R/Gausdal 1991. ] 32.xa5 f6! ( 32...a8 33.xd6! [ 5.exd4?! is less good, however, as after e4 is less clear.) 33.c3 c5! profiting from 6.h4 ( 6.e2 e7 7.h4 allows g5 the back-rank mate. 34.f3 xc3 35.dxc3 although W hite will certainly obtain some xc3+ 36.d2 a3 when the threat of ... compensation for his piece.) 6...xd4 Nc4 wins, e. g. 37.fxe4 xe4 38.xd3 is already favourable for Black, because of c1+ 39.e2 b2+ 40.e1 f2+ White's awkward h4-knight, Liberzon,V-Ree, 41.d1 d8 and White must resign. ] H/Amsterdam 1977. ] 5...d3!! A stunning ! If Black can get away with 31...xc6 32.h5+ e6 [ 32...e6 33.bxc6 b8 is crushing. ] this provocative move, then he will probably be winning- the white kingside pieces will be 0-1 to escape the trap. Previously, 274
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 292 Granda Zuniga,Julio E Lima,Darcy zt 2.4 Sao Paulo BRA (8) [Tony Kosten]
A09 2641 2519 26.09.2003
1.f3 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 [ 3.e4 is also possible, see Krasenkow,MVolzhin,A. ] 3...f6 4.xc4 e6 5.e2!? A novelty! Of course this may transpose to something else, but here White has a special idea in mind. [ 5.0-0 which we looked at in Zvjaginsev,VSvetushkin,D/Linares ESP 2000, is typical, whilst ] [ 5.d4 is a QGA, of course. ] 5...c5 6.e4!? This is the new plan, reminiscent of Krasenkov's 3 e4!?, but isn't W h it e a t e m p o d o wn h e re ? c6 7.e5 White hopes to use this space-gaining pawn move to mount a kingside attack. d5 8.0-0 e7 9.c3 0-0 10.e4 White forces the knight to retreat. b6 [ 10...xc3?! is an error, as after 11.dxc3 White has evened-out his pawn structure, with advantage. ] 11.d3 g6 12.b3 d4!? Black decides that it will be difficult to exploit the d4-square by gaining piece control, and so hopes to gain an a d va n c e d p a wn t h e re in st e a d . 13.b2 W hite decides to keep the structural imbalance, as [ 13.xd4 is met by xd4 14.xd4 cxd4 when 15.e2 ( 15.b5 a6! is the tactical j u s t i f i c a t i o n , a s 16.xd4? d8 w i n s a p i e c e) 15...f6 16.exf6 xf6 with good chances. ] 13...f5 White doesn't get a second chance to capture this piece, which moves to a strong kingside square. 14.ad1 [ 14.ac1!? is an idea, hoping to press on c5 before Black can play ...b6, d5 ( 14...b8 is less effective now, 15.e2 d7 16.e4 c8 17.f6+ with an attack) 15.c4 b6 16.e2 d5 17.d4 cxd4 18.xd4 with advantage, as Black hasn't managed to develop his queenside. ] 14...b8 Black defends the b-pawn to free his queen's bishop. 15.b1 Freeing the d-pawn. d7 16.g4?! This isn't the best square, [ 16.f4! means that after c6 White can
continue 17.xf5! exf5 18.d4 opening the d-file, and if xf3 19.xf3 cxd4 20.b5 regains the d-pawn with an edge. ] 16...c6 17.e4 Aiming for f6, but Black can easily parry this. The problem is that [ 17.d4?! loses a pawn to xf3 18.xf3 xd4 and ] [ 17.xf5 exf5 now gains a tempo, and permits Black to stop d4 by 18.f4 d3 ] 17...d5 Black has completed his development, and has two great light squares f or his knights. 18.g3 h5 19.h3 b5 20.d3?! White wants to reroute his darksqua red bish o p t o t he c1 -h 6 d ia gon a l t o e xp lo i t B l a c k 's we a k e n e d k in g s id e d a r k squares, but there is a tactical flaw. [ 20.c1 is one of several superior moves, e. g. b4 21.d4 c4 22.fe1 d5 which looks very nice for Black, but White is still in the game. ] 20...c8 21.c1? This is obviously White's intention, but he has missed a tactic. c3! 22.de1? This loses immediately, but even after the forced [ 22.xc3 xf3 White is in a bad way: 23.de1 ( 23.xb5 a5 24.a4 a6 and Black can capture on d1 or play the even stronger ...Nd4 (when mate is t h r e a t e n e d b y . . . N e 2 )) 23...d4 the b1-bishop is hopelessly offside, and can do nothing to contest the h1-a8 diagonal, 24.e3 g4 25.g2 f3+ winning an e xch a n ge wh ile m a i n t a in in g p o s it io n a l advantages. ] 22...xb1 0-1
293 Hillarp Persson,Tiger Hector,Jonny DEN-chT 1314 52nd (5.1) [Fier, Alexandr]
A09 2547 2503 12.01.2014
Of all the games from this month, this is the one which most impressed me. Black tries the most ambitious setup one more time and White comes with a really strong idea. I have no idea quite how much of this was home preparation. 8...dxe3 and 10...exf3 are the alternatives. 1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 f6 275
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 I confess I was always curious about this position, but never really understood what is going on here. Black is building a strong center, that can bring him an advantage if he finishes his development. On other hand, the a2-g8 diagonal is really weakened and there is a chance Black simply won't get out of the opening alive. And that's what happened in this game. 4.e3 e5 5.c5 a5 [ 5...d3 if this move works it's the best. Different evaluations of this position were given and until now it's not clear if the idea is good or not for Black A) 6.a4+ A1) 6...d7 7.b5 ( 7.b3 e4 8.d4 c6 9.b2 f5 10.e6 xe6 11.xe6+ e7 12.xf5 xb4 and White's position is quite strange) 7...e6 8.c6 bxc6 9.c3 h6 with chances for both players; A2) 6...c6 7.b3 there is some small difference in the positions with the pawn on c6 instead of c7. One of the important ones is that the knight cannot go to c6 any more. e4 8.d4 a5 9.c3 f5 10.b5 xc5 11.e6 e7 12.xc5 xc5 13.g4!? and White has good compensation fxg4 ( 13...b4 14.gxf5 xf5 15.g1 xb3 16.axb3 f7 17.f3 exf3 18.g3 with a slight advantage for White ) 14.xe4! e5 15.xd3 xa1 16.d6+ d7 17.0-0 and the attack is really strong f6 18.e4 f8 19.a3 e7 20.c4 c7 21.d3 d7 22.c5 cxb5 23.xb5 and White is winning; B) 6.b3 this was played in some games, and apparently Black is ok here e4 7.d4 a5 8.c3 f5 9.e6 e7 10.a4+ ( 10.xf8 was Korchnoi's game, analyzed by Tony in Chess Publishing xf8 11.b5 e6 12.a4 d7 and Black was fine in Gabriel, C (2578)-Korchnoi, V (2676)/ Ehrat mem (SUI vs GER match) 1999.) 10...f7 11.xf8 f6 12.xh7 xh7 13.a3 e5 and White is cut in half because of this pawn on d3 ] 6.a4+ [ 6.xe5?! is not dangerous, and Black can draw immediately if he wants fxe5 7.h5+ d7 8.f5+ e8 9.h5+ d7 10.f5+ e7 trying to keep the game alive
( 10...e8 11.h5+= ) 11.xe5+ e6 12.c4 d7 13.b5 c6 maybe this is not so necessary ( 13...f6!? 14.exd4 f7 is also possible and probably W hite does not have enough for the piece) 14.a3 f6 and Black should be ok in this complex position. It was analyzed for Chess Publishing in Van Wely, L (2681)-Kramnik, V (2799)/Amber-rapid 17th 2008. ] [ 6.c4 axb4 7.b3 h6 A) 8.0-0 xc5 9.exd4 xd4 10.xd4 xd4 11.b2 A1) 11...d6 was played and after 12.d4 e4 13.d2 f5 ( 13...f5 was necessary, but White has good play after 14.f3 ) 14.xe4 and Black was in trouble in Ilinsky, V (2350)-Lev, R (2425)/ Gausdal Int 1991.; A2) 11...b6!? is probably better 12.d4 c6 13.dxe5 a5 14.c2 xc4 15.xc4 e6 16.e2 f5 and White has insufficient compensation; B) 8.exd4 e4 9.e3 e7 and Black is already better, Bosiocic, M (2542)-Kadric, D (2471)/Zadar op-A 20th 2013. ] [ 6.b5+ it's still not clear if it's good or not to provoke Black to play ...c6 c6 7.c4 axb4 this looks like the most testing move, 8.xe5 h6 ( 8...fxe5? 9.h5+ d7 10.f5+ c7 11.xe5+ d7 12.e6+ e8 13.xc8+ with a decisive advantage) 9.d3 f5 White's pieces are not so active this time 10.0-0 dxe3 11.dxe3 xd3 12.xd3 a6 and Black is fine, as seen in Aranaz Murillo, A (2244)-Klek, H (2244)/Wch U18 Girls 2012 ] 6...d7 [ 6...d7 this is another reasonable option 7.b5 xc5 8.c4 e7 9.exd4 exd4 10.a3 a6 was seen some months ago and White has good compensation, since Black's king will never be safe Bukavshin, I (2539)-Shukh, N (2421)/RUS-ch U26 Saratov 2013. ] 7.b5 c6 8.c4 a6 It's almost impossible to see it here, but it looks like Black already has issues to solve after this move. [ 8...dxe3 was played in a correspondence game, clearing the center before the complications 9.fxe3 A) 9...a6 10.d4 axb4 11.0-0 e4 276
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 11...e7 Black needs to take care since 12.f7+! and Black can't take on f7 d8 13.dxe5 and the position should be better for White ) 12.fd2 f5 13.xg8 xg8 14.c4 c7 15.xb4 d5 16.b3 and White's position is more comfortable, since he will exchange the strong knight on d5, as seen in Voll, A (2555)Mannermaa, J (2493)/W-ch30 q03 email 2010.; B) 9...g4!? this is also dangerous, but Black take some pawns 10.b5 e4 11.d4 xg2 12.f1 xc5 13.a3!? xa3 ( 13...xd4 14.exd4 xh2 15.c3 a n d t h e b i s h o p s a r e j u s t t o o s t r o n g) 14.xa3 xh2 15.c3 and Black is material up, but it's not so clear he will survive with no development at all. So it's time to give some of the pawns back c5!? 16.xc5 d7 17.d5 e5 18.xe4 e7 and Black is surviving according to my computer ] 9.exd4 e4 [ 9...exd4 usually this move is not good, with the e-file open W hite has an advantage 10.0-0 axb4 11.e1+ d8 ( 11...e7 12.b2 also gives White good play) 12.a3 ( 12.e6 there is no need for this move xc5 13.xa8 xe6 with an unclear position ) 12...c7 13.xb4 e7 14.b2 and White is better ] 10.b5 b4 Makes sense with the plan, but now White is already better. [ 10...exf3 this was probably the best chance, going into some chaotic position 11.bxa6 A) 11...fxg2 12.g1 e7 13.c3 looks good for White; B) 11...e7+ 12.f1 ( 12.d1 fxg2 13.g1 e4 ) 12...e4 13.g4! xg4 ( 13...xg4 14.h3 ) 14.g1 h3+ 15.e1 xh2 16.f1 and now the situation on the queenside is delicate; C) 11...b5!? to change the strong bishop on c4 12.cxb6 fxg2 13.g1 xa6 and the position is unclear ] [ 10...xc5 takes one pawn, but loses a tempo 11.dxc5 exf3 12.0-0 xc5 13.e1+ e7 14.a3 and Black has no time to stabilize d6 ( 14...xa3 15.xa3 d8 16.e3 d5 17.xd5 cxd5 18.c3 d4 19.d3 c7 20.c5+ b8 21.d5
with a winning position) 15.xc5 xc5 16.bxc6 bxc6 17.d4 d6 18.c3 and Black won't survive ] [ 10...b8 11.g1 a funny answer, but now W hite is a pawn up with a better position g4 ( 11...xd4?? 12.f7++- ) 12.g3 e7 13.c3 and our famous magician gives almost +3 for White ] 11.a3 [ 11.bxc6 gives time to reorganize the pieces xc6 12.d5 exf3 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.0-0 xc5 15.e1+ e7 and the position is playable for Black ] 11...exf3 12.axb4 xd4 13.d3 e5+ [ 13...fxg2 14.g1 e7 ( 14...e5+ 15.e3 xh2 transposes to the game) 15.xg2 d7 16.e3 b2 17.d2 and it's still not clear what Black is going to do wit h h is p ie ce s, so W h it e h a s a b ig advantage ] 14.e3 fxg2 15.g1 xh2 It looks like Black h a s e n o u g h t im e t o t a ke t h e p a wn s a n d control the position with 16...Ne7. However, [ 15...e7 was necessary and would transpose to the 13...fxg2 note ] 16.bxc6!! White does not care about what is happening on the kingside and just opens files near Black's king! [ 16.f4 e7 and Black has a quite decent position ] 16...xg1+ 17.d2 Black is a rook up and can make a second queen, but because of his lack of development and exposed king, the position is already gone. b5 [ 17...d8 is also not enough to survive 18.c3 h2 ( 18...xa1 it's hard for Black to have any chance without extra material 19.c7+ xc7 20.d5+ d8 21.xa1 and the attack will continue, the queen can come back to the game via d4.) 19.d5 Threatening 20.c7+ g1 20.xg1 bxc6 21.xc6 b8 22.f4 xf2+ 23.c3 axb4+ 24.b3 the checks are over and when White's checks start it will be mate in a few moves ] [ 17...d7 is ingenious, but doesn't work 18.cxd7+ d8 19.c6 d6 20.cxb7 b8 21.b6+ e7 22.c3 h2 23.e1+ with mate ] 18.cxb6 xb4+ 19.c3 And now Black can't stop W hite's pawns, so the position with a 277
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 rook and pawn up is just lost! h2 20.b7 b8 21.c7+ f8 22.cxb8 xb8 23.bxc8+ xc8 24.g1 With a piece up everything is much easier. h5 25.xg2 h4 26.b5 e7 27.c2 h3 28.h2 c7 29.d5 xd5 30.xd5 g5 31.xh3 xh3 32.g8+ e7 33.e6+ 1-0
294 Huzman,Alexander Maryasin,Boris TCh ISR (2) [Tony Kosten]
A09 2580 2398 18.01.2002
1.f3 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 [ We have also considered the aggressive 3.e4!? , see Krasenkow,M-Volzhin,A/MK Cafe Cup, Koszalin POL 1998. ] 3...c6 [ Perfectly reasonable, Black wants to play ... e5 with a Sicilian-type position with colours reversed. 3...c5 would aim for a QGA: 4.xc4 e6 5.0-0 f6 6.e2 have a look at Zvjaginsev,V-Svetushkin,D/Linares ESP 2000. ( 6.d4 a6 transposes directly into a QGA, as in Espig,L-Keres,P/Tallinn 1975 for example. )] [ 3...f6 4.xc4 e6 5.d4 is a QGA, of course. ] 4.xc4 e5 5.c2!? [ A new move in a relatively rare position, 5.c3 is one of several other moves here, to stop ...e4, d6 6.0-0 f6 7.d4 0-0 8.h3 seems fairly equal, Vladimirov,E-Gleizerov, E/Podolsk 1992. ] 5...d6 6.a3 As in many other King's English lines White aims for a Paulsen-type schema reversed where he has extra moves (the black g8-knight would normally be on d5 quite early. ) f6?! [ This is aggressive, the queen heads for the kingside, but it is not particularly natural, 6...f6 7.g5!? 0-0 8.c3 h6 9.h4 looks dangerous, but maybe Black can play e7 and ...Bf5. ] 7.c3 f5 8.d3 ge7 9.e4 xe4 [ Unfortunately Black has to part with his important light-squared bishop, as 9...g6?! 10.h4 is not too nice, and ]
[ 9...h6? 10.eg5 (threatening e4) g6 11.e4 h5 12.h3 leaves Black in big, big trouble. ] 10.dxe4 g5!? Black certainly gets the prize for imaginative play! He advances on the kingside, but White hasn't castled there yet. 11.b4 g4 12.d2 a5?! I don't really understand this, as now Black can hardly castle long as his queenside is too exposed. 13.b5 d8 14.e2 h5 15.b2 g6 16.c4 The knight finds a lovely square and can't be touched by the black pawns. 0-0?! The king position is too insecure for this. 17.h3 Of course, White opens the h-file as he can still castle queenside. g5 [ 17...g3 18.f4 h4 19.0-0 Puts intolerable pressure on the e-pawn and long diagonal. ] 18.hxg4 hxg4 19.0-0-0 [ A simple, and very human, move but most computers would play 19.d1! winning the g - p a w n , a s g3? 20.f4! exf4 21.d4 menaces mate on h8 and wins a piece. ] 19...e6 20.d5 fd8 21.b1 This is almost always a useful prophylactic move when W hite castles queenside. g7 22.d1 [ 22.f4 i s a l s o s t r o n g : gxf3 23.gxf3 when f4 is on the cards again, and W hite can also use the g-file. ] 22...e7? [ 22...f6 23.f4 gxf3 24.gxf3 is also good for White, but this should lose. ] 23.d2?! [ White misses an immediate win: 23.xe5! xd5 24.h8+! xh8 25.xf7+ ] 23...g3?! 24.xe5! gxf2 25.h8+! Now White sees it! xh8 26.xf7+ 1-0
295
A09 Korotylev,Alexey 2600 Kramnik,Vladimir 2785 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (22) 22.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen] 1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 f6 (This line is recommended in Palliser's excellent "Beating Unusual Chess Openings") 4.e3 dxe3 [ Palliser only discusses 4...e5 , and on 5.c5 d3!? - see for example Gabriel-Korchnoi, 278
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Zurich 1999, in the PGN archives we will return to this line in a future update ] 5.fxe3 e5 And rather amazingly we are now out of all the books I have access to on the Reti, even if this position has been played several times before 6.c5! [ This is in my opinion sharper and better than the alternatives: A) 6.a3 A) 6...a5!? 7.b5 e4 8.d4 f5 9.b2 ( 9.e2!? ) 9...d6 A1) 10.g3 looks ugly but is probably necessary to survive, e.g. f6 11.e2 0-0 12.0-0 f4!? 13.c5!? ( 13.gxf4 h3 14.f2 bd7 15.c3 c5 , and Black has a dequa te co mpe nsation f o r th e pawn ) 13...xc5 14.xf4 d6; A2) 10.e2?! f6 11.c2 bd7 12.bc3 c5 , and Black is much better, Mazel, I-Alatortsev, V/ Leningrad 1934/ URS-ch; B) 6...e6?! B1) 7.e2 h6 ( 7...a5 8.b5 d6 9.0-0 h6 10.c3 0-0 11.d4 looks very nice for White) 8.0-0 e7 9.c3 f5 10.d4 exd4 11.exd4 Leskowsky, Z-Soto, J/corr 1975; B2) 7.b2 a5 8.b5 d7 9.d4 e4 10.fd2 f5 11.c3 h4+ 12.g3 h6 13.e2 d6 14.g2 gf6 with an unclear position and chances to both sides, but I must admit that I favour White thanks to his avalanche of pawns on the queenside, Kavnatsky, VThompson, D/Jackson 1988; C) 6...h6?! 7.c3 e7 8.d4 0-0 9.d3 g4 10.0-0 a5 11.b5 exd4 12.exd4 f5 13.d5 Bertholee, R-Van Riemsdijk, H/ Dieren 1989; D) 6...c5!? 7.bxc5 ( 7.b5 g4 8.e2 d6 9.b2 e7 10.c3 0-0 11.e4 g6 12.0-0 Schneider, F-Beyer, H/ Hassloch 1999 ) 7...e4 8.d4 f5 D1) 9.b3 c6 10.b2 ( 10.xc6 bxc6 11.b2 f6 ) 10...f6 11.e2 xc5 12.b5 xd4 13.exd4 d7 0-1 Xu Hanbing-Zhang Pengxiang/Wuxi CHN 2005 ( 13...0-0!? 14.d5 a6 15.b3 a5 16.c3 b5 17.c5 f7 18.d6 e6 looks better for Black) 14.c5!? a5 15.d6!? b6 16.c3;
D2) 9.b2 f6 10.e2 xc5 11.0-0 xd4 12.xd4 0-0 13.c2 c6 14.b2 e6 15.c3 c8 with a doubleedged position and chances for both sides, Nutu Gajic, D-Feustel, P/ Thessaloniki1984 ] [ B) 6.b3 A) 6...c5 7.bxc5 xc5 ( 7...c6!? ) 8.d4 exd4 9.b5+ d7 10.exd4 e7+ 11.f2 a6 12.b3 a7 13.c5 Lisitsin, G-Ravinsky, G/Leningrad 1955; B) 6...e6 7.d4 e4 8.fd2 f5 9.g3 g5 10.a3 a6 11.c2 is messy with a bunch of positional factors counting for and detracting from the overall evaluation on both sides, but I still believe White is better in this line too, Gjokaj, G-Meschke, A/Bad Wiessee 1998; C) 6...a5 7.b5 e4 ( 7...c5 8.d3 g6 9.b2 a4 10.c2 e7 Gajarsky, J-Feco, J/CCASR Email 2002 11.a3 0-0 12.c3 , and I prefer White) 8.d4 f5 9.a3 h6 10.c3 c5 11.bxc6 xc6 12.db5 xa3 13.xa3 0-0 14.e2 e6 15.d5 b8 16.0-0 e7 17.f4 Lisitsin, GRabinovich, I/Tbilisi 1937 ] 6...e6 [ Black's alternatives are: A) 6...g4 7.b3 a5 8.c4 h6 9.0-0 axb4 10.d4 Halmeenmaki, T-Terho, J/ Tampere 1990 ] [ B) 6...e4 7.d4 A) 7...a5 8.b5 d5 ( 8...xc5? 9.h5++- ) 9.a3 xc5 10.c3 e5 11.xc5 xc5 12.xe4 e5 13.d3 with a large advantage for White; B) 7...c6?! 8.xc6 bxc6 9.c4 h6 10.0-0 with a close to winning positional advantage for W hite, Benjamin, JBrookshear, T/USA 1990 ] 7.b5+ [ A perfectly good alternative is 7.d4 e4 ( 7...a5 8.b5 ) 8.fd2 f5 9.c4 Neckar, L-Gorla, L/Bern 1990 ] 7...c6 8.a4 h6 [ 8...a5 9.b3 ( 9.d4!? axb4 10.0-0 ) 9...xb3 10.axb3 d7 11.0-0 axb4 12.xa8 xa8 13.d4 Pastushkov, MPechenov, V/Tula 2001 ] 9.0-0 [ 9.d4 suggests itself, e.g. e4 10.fd2 f5 11.b3 with a complicated and fascinating 279
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 struggle ahead ] 9...e7 [ I'm sure some players will be attracted to t h e o b v i o u s 9...c4 10.e1 d3 , trying to restrain White centre ambitions, but I nonetheless still like White's chances after 11.c3 e7 12.a3 ] 10.b3 d7 11.c3 a6 12.a3 [ 12.d4!? xb4 13.xe6 xe6 14.b1 a5 15.a3 a6 16.xb7 is also quite pleasant for White ] 12...c7 13.d4 0-0-0 14.dxe5 xd1?! [ 14...g4 15.xe6 xe6 16.e2 xe5 17.xe5 fxe5 18.d1 c7 19.b2 ] 15.xe6+ xe6 16.xd1 fxe5 17.c3 [ 17.xe5 hf8 ( 17...f6 amounts to nothing 18.b2 d2 19.c4 , and White is much better) 18.xf8 xf8 19.b2 f5 20.c4 ] 17...d3 [ Black tries activity, hoping it will create sufficient counterplay to balance out the weak e5-pawn. Another continuation is 17...hf8 , though White looks comfortably be t t e r a f t e r 18.a2 f7 19.af2 d3 20.e4 ] 18.e4 g4 19.e1 hd8 20.h3 f6 21.f2 b3 22.xe5 d5 23.c4 c3? [ 23...f6!? is better for the reason pointed out in the note to White's next move 24.a2 b8 25.e4 c3 26.xc3 xc3 27.d6 , and White has an extra pawn and a nice k n i gh t o n d 6 , t h o u gh t h e la t t e r c a n b e dislodged at no great effort and expense and Black's pieces are rather active and will be able to generate some amount of counterplay. ] 24.a5? [ Trapping the rook with 24.d2 looks better, e.g. xd2 25.xd2 b5 26.a4 a3 27.ac1 , and I don't see any reason why White wouldn't win. ] 24...b1 25.xb1 xb1 26.c4 c3 27.b2 b5 28.d1 xd1+ 29.xd1 g6 30.f2 d7 31.e2 d8 32.f2 b6 33.cxb6 axb6 34.d3 d6 35.de5+ c7 36.xd6 xd6 37.f7+ d5 38.d3 c5 39.e4+ c6 and a draw was agreed upon, but of course W hite still had some winning chances, but was probably deterred due to a
lack of time left on the clock. ½-½
296 Kosten,Anthony C Brochet,Philippe Le Mans [John Watson]
A09 2519 2388 2004
1.f3 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 [ Tony gives a game Krasenkov-Volzhin, Koszalin POL 1998 beginning with 3.e4!? c5 4.xc4 c6 5.0-0 . Then a straightforward approach is f6 6.c3 e6 7.e5 ( 7.d3 e7 ) 7...d5 when both sides have play but I don't think that Black is in any trouble. ] 3...e6!? An unusual defence that Tony treats very rudely. But it's definitely worth looking into. 4.g5!? Going for it. The assessment depends in part upon Black's 5th-move option. [ 4.a3 with the idea of Nxc4 is more common, but Black usually comes close to or achieves full equality. ] 4...d5 5.e4 Here we've arrived at a position that strong players have entered into a few times but has no serious theory. 3. ..Be6 is probably playable but Tony shows that Black has to be careful. c6 [ A strange-looking but crucial and promising alternative is 5...e6 Panchenko-Rozentalis, Lvov 1987 continued A) Perhaps White should try 6.d4 c6 7.c3 ( 7.xc4!? e7 8.h4 h6 9.xf7!? xf7 10.h5+ f8 11.xe6 e8! ) 7...e7 ( 7...b4 8.xc4 h6 9.f3 xe4 10.0-0 xc3 11.bxc3 with full compensation) 8.h4 h6 9.f3 b5 10.d5 exd5 11.exd5; B) 6.exd5 xg5 7.dxe6 e5+ 8.e2 ( 8.e2 fxe6 9.0-0 d6 10.g3 c6 11.xc4 d4! ) 8...c6 9.exf7+ ( 9.f4 xe2+ 10.xe2 fxe6 11.xc4 d4 ) 9...xf7 10.d1!? xe2+ 11.xe2 e5 12.a3 xa3 ( or 12...d3 13.xd3 cxd3 14.c4 d8 ) 13.bxa3 f6 14.b2 d3 15.xf6 and while 15...gxf6 was good, xf6! would have left Black a clear advantage ] 6.xc4 e6 7.d3 280
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Too speculative is 7.d4 h6 8.xe6? b4+ 9.c3 fxe6 10.h5+ f8 11.xe6 f6 and White's initiative is dying. ] 7...e7 This position has arisen a few times and White's piece setup has proven hard to handle: [ (a) 7...f6 8.0-0 h6 9.f3 e7 10.c3 0-0 11.e2 a6 12.a4 a5 13.d4 a6 14.d3 b4 15.b1 b6 16.d1 b7 17.e5 h8 18.a3!? Van der SterrenFlear, W ijk aan Zee 1987, with attacking chances ] [ (b) 7...h6 8.f3 f6 9.c3 a6 10.a4 b4 11.0-0 0-0 12.f4 e7 Szekely-Khenkin, Kecskemet 1990, and White has a small edge, e.g., 13.e5 d8 14.f3 ] 8.h5! This direct attack appears to be new. Two mini-games by Szekely had gone [ 8.f3 f6 9.0-0 ( 9.c3 a6 10.a4 bd7 11.0-0 0-0 12.e1 1/2-1/2 Szekely,PKishnev, Netherlands 1993) 9...0-0 10.c3 a6 11.e3 bd7 12.d4 1/2-1/2 Szekely, P-Lputian, Lvov 1986 ] 8...g6 What else? White was threatening Nxe6 and Bxe6, whereas [ 8...xg5 9.xg5!? ( or 9.xg5 ) 9...xg5 10.xg5 gives White a favourable twobishops position for free. ] 9.g4 b5?? This ends up being a blunder. Perhaps Black had foreseen White's next and underestimated it. [ 9...f6 10.h3! keeps the pressure on e6 and makes Black's development somewhat awkward. It's fair to say that W hite has a practical and perhaps theoretical advantage. ] 10.xf7! d4 [ 10...xf7 11.xe6+ e8 12.f7+ d7 13.e6+ d6 14.d4 or 4.Nc3, and Black's king will only escape at great cost. ] 11.xe6 f6 12.e2 f8 13.g5 b4+ 14.d2 e5 15.e3! c5 16.df3! xe3 17.xe5 xf2+ 18.xf2 g4+ 19.e2 xe5 20.d4 The rest is straightforward: h6 21.dxe5 hxg5 22.xg5 xe4 23.ad1 c6 24.d7+ f7 25.hf1+ g8 26.e6+ h8 27.xf8+ xf8 28.f6+ 1-0
297 Kramnik,Vladimir Topalov,Veselin 20th Amber Blindfold (3) [Nigel Davies]
A09 2785 2775 14.03.2011
1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.g3 c6 4.g2 e5 5.0-0 f6 6.d3 e7 Allowing White to play a known blow on the flank. [ I don't think there's much wrong with 6...a5 , though some Black players might be wary about giving away the b5 square. ] 7.b4!? xb4 [ Another possibility is 7...xb4 8.xe5 xe5 9.a4+ fd7 10.xb4 c5 , though White's bishops seem to give him an edge there, for example 11.a3 0-0 12.d2 a6 13.b1 a7 14.e3 dxe3 15.fxe3 c7 was Rajlich, I-Stefanova, A/ Bled 2002 and now 16.b2 looks better for White. ] 8.xe5 0-0 9.d2 [ White has also tried 9.b2 , for example c5 10.a3 a6 11.e3 dxe3 12.fxe3 c7 13.d2 d7 14.ef3 b8 15.c2 was slightly better for White at this stage in Gelfand, B-Ponomariov, R/Moscow 2010. ] 9...d6 10.a3 a6 11.f4!? Holding the knight in the centre like this appears to be new, and also quite good. [ In an earlier game W hite played 11.ef3 but after c5 12.b1 e8 13.g5 h6 14.ge4 xe4 15.xe4 f8 Black was solidly placed in Danielsen, H-Fries Nielsen, N/Espergarde 1992. ] 11...c6 12.b1 e7 13.df3 g4 Fishing in troubled waters. [ 13...c5 was probably better, simply protecting the d4 pawn. ] 14.xd4 xe5 15.fxe5 xe5 16.e3 g6 17.b3 g7 18.d4 b8?! Mistakenly allowing White to build a broad pawn centre. [ 18...f5 was better, though White can then s p e c u l a t e w i t h 19.xf5 gxf5 20.h5 and have good compensation for the exchange. ] 19.e4 b6 20.f4 b7 21.e5 e8 22.d2 f5 23.a4 b8 24.be1 White already has a dominating position and it's about to get a lot worse for Black. d7 25.d5 cxd5 26.xd7 xd7 27.xd5 bb8 28.e6 fxe6 281
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 29.xe6+ xe6 30.xb8 Winning the exchange for nothing. f5 31.d6 c8 32.f3 d3 33.f2 xc4 34.c2 b5 35.e7 c5 36.xa7 e4 37.e5 f8 38.d4 d8 39.c7 g5 40.g4 1-0
Preparing a 'luft' for the c4-bishop. b5 12.a2 b7 13.e4 White begins to mass his pieces on the kingside, ready for an eventual attack. d4!? If one of the first rules to engage a successful attack on the king, is to exchange the king's defenders, then a good rule for defending is to exchange the attacking forces. Black sets about this in consistent fashion cxd4 15.g4 xe4! 298 A09 14.xd4 Black eliminates the second white knight as Krasenkow,Michal 2660 Volzhin,Alexander 2510 well, otherwise, if [ 15...h8 16.d6 xd6 17.exd6 e5 MK Cafe Cup Koszalin (5) 1998 18.xe5 xe5 19.xe5 xd6 20.ae1 [Tony Kosten] and White 's control of the e-file gives him the advantage. ] 1.f3 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4!? An aggressive move that I hadn't known, before seeing this 16.xe4 h8! Both countering the threat of Bh6, and introducing a more disguised threat game, [ 3.e3 is likely to transpose to a Queen's of his own: 17...f5 18 exf6 Nxf6 winning the exchange. 17.e2 Gambit Accepted, but both ] [ 17.xd4? wou ld b e silly, c5 18.e4 [ 3.a3 and ] a n d B l a c k c a n p l a y t h e s a m e t r i c k : f5 [ 3.a4+ are more common methods of 19.exf6 xf6 with material advantage. ] recapturing the c4-pawn. ] 3...c5 Black immediately takes control of the 17...c8 18.g3 c5 19.d1 Neither of d4 square, weakened by White's third move. White's bishops have much perspective at the moment. d7 4.xc4 c6 [ 19...xd3? seems strong, as the knight is [ 4...f6 5.c3 e6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 untouchable, but 20.ed2 c5 21.xd4 leads to a line of the QGA, with a slight plus turns the tables. ] to W hite, Sebenik,M-Lekic,D/ Bled SLO 20.f4 c7 21.f3 g6 Black is on his toes, 1999. ] 5.0-0 The most logical move, although in the White was planning to open the position for earliest game I could find in this line, White his bishops by f5. 22.f2 a5! Black looks for his counterplay on the queenside, where he played And White [ 5.b4!? e6?! 6.b5 ce7 7.c3 f6 8.0-0 h a s t h e a d v a n t a g e . 23.g4 and had gained the advantage, Kramer-Fine, advances where he is strongest. a4 24.h4!? Planning to go all the way to h6 with this New York 1948/9. ] 5...e6 6.c3 a6 7.d3 Naturally, White has to pawn. b3 25.xb3 axb3 26.h5 c2 Not a tactical move, a positional move, be content with a slightly more restrained 27.h6 c e n t r e t h a n i n t h e Q G A , b u t t h e c l o s e d as trapping the black king on the back rank position will make it more difficult for Black to allows W hite to consider various endgame find counterplay. f6!? In the game Neverov, possibilities. fc8 28.de1 b4 Short of time, V - I b r a g i m o v , I / M o s c o w 1 9 9 1 , B l a c k h a d Black overlooks White's next. 29.a4! xa4 30.xd4 c6 31.xc6 8xc6 32.g5 preferred [ 7...ge7 and after 8.e3 d4 9.xd4 What's this, another pawn on a dark square? cxd4 10.e2 c6 had a good position, but It might seem odd, but it is all part of White's there are no doubt many improvements on p l a n t o e m b a r r a s s t h e b l a c k k i n g . g8 33.f2 f8 Black hastens his king out of the White's eighth move. ] 8.e5 White does not need to be asked twice, trap. 34.a1 c5 35.a8+ e7 36.xc5+ 37.b8 It seems that White has but immediately grabs more space in the 6xc5 centre. The e5-pawn will be used to attack gained a clear ascendance, but Black still has Flash, but it the black kingside. d7 9.e1 e7 10.f4 su f f ic ie n t re so u r ce s . xb2 Nimzovich would like this move. 0-0 11.a3! amounts to the same as 282
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 37...xe2+ 38.xe2 c2+ 39.e3 xb2 ] 38.xb2 c2+ 39.e3 [ 39.xc2!? bxc2 is also drawn, as 40.b7+ d8 41.b8+ forces a perpetual, as c7 loses to 42.xb4 c1 43.c4+ ] 39...xb2 40.xb4 White is slightly better, because of his extra space, but the nature of this position means that a draw is certain. d7 41.d4 f2 42.xb3 xf4+ 43.c5 a4! Greed could still cost Black his half-point, [ 43...g4?! 44.b7+ e8 45.d4 xg5? 46.d6 and wins ] 44.b7+ e8 45.b8+ e7 46.h8 A little trick, a5+ [ 46...g4 would be answered by 47.a8! and Black cannot get back to check from the side. ] 47.d4 a4+ ½-½
299 Labollita,Martin Leitao,Rafael American Continental (7) [John Watson]
A09 2383 2598 12.08.2005
Here's a whacky opening that just won't go a wa y. I n t h i s g a m e it s u f f i c e s t o b e a t a 2600-level player! Perhaps the whole idea of this line was inspired by Stephan Buecker's advocacy of a similar line by Black. 1.f3 [ 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 c4!? is Buecker's order, a system he calls HABICHD ("Gotcha!"), also known as the Hawk. In that case 4.c3 a5 follows our f e a t u re d ga m e b u t W h i t e h a s a n e xt r a tempo. ( incidentally, 4...b5 5.xb5 a5+ 6.c3 b7 is another Buecker idea, but it falls badly short after 7.d2 xd5 8.e4 )] 1...d5 2.c4 d4 3.c5 This is the point! White prevents ...c5 and would like to play 4.Qa4+ Nc6 5.b4!, when Black's d-pawn is in trouble. Of course Black gets a move first. [ 3.e3 c6 4.c5?! is another variant on the theme, but this time dxe3 5.fxe3 e5 is fairly simple. White can try 6.b5 xc5 7.xc6+ bxc6 8.xe5 h4+ 9.g3 e4 10.0-0 xe5 11.d4 d6 12.dxc5 xc5 but Black must be better ] 3...c6
[ 3...e5!? 4.xe5 xc5 hasn't been played, to my knowledge , pre sumab ly be caus e White gets two center pawns. On the other hand, Black has space and open lines . There are so many different move orders and ideas in that position that I'd hate to even guess what's going on. ] 4.a4 [ 4.b4 xb4 5.a4+ c6 6.b2 d7 7.xd4 e5! is insufficient, even a tempo ahead of Buecker's line above. ] 4...d5 5.b4 e5 6.e3 d7 These are all mo re o r less n a t u ral m o ve s an d in d e e d , they've occurred before in Gruenberg-Rahman, C a i r o 2 0 0 0 . 7.a3 TN! Probably not objectively a good one. Gruenberg played the natural [ 7.b5 d8? ( 7...xc5 8.a3! b4 9.b2 was another Gruenberg game) 8.c4 e4 9.c3! f5 ( 9...dxc3?? 10.xf7+ ) 10.d5 e6 11.c6 bxc6 12.bxc6 c8 13.0-0 with a huge advantage. ] 7...e4 The obvious refutation. [ White has the better practical chances although objectively it's nothing impressive after 7...d3 8.b5 ( 8.b5 c8 9.c3 c4! ) 8...d8 9.e4! xc5 10.b2 f6 11.xd3 ] 8.b5 c8! [ Tempting but inferior is 8...0-0-0? A) or even 9.fxd4 xd4 10.exd4 xb5 11.xb5! c6 ( 11...xd4 12.c6! ) 12.c4 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.a3 with two strong bishops.; B) 9.xa7+! b8 10.xc6+ xc6 11.b5 exf3 ( 11...dxe3 12.bxc6 ) 12.bxc6 fxg2?? ( 12...xc6 13.xc6 bxc6 14.a3 l e a v e s B l a c k a t a l o s s) 13.b1 and White's attack is decisive. ] 9.fxd4 xd4 10.exd4 a6 11.c3 xd4 Uh-oh. Although Black had to make some accurate moves it appears that 7. b5 was better than 7.Na3. Now Black stands somewhat better, although not disastrously so. 12.b3?! A waste of time. [ 12.c2! was more accurate and rather unclear: f6 13.a3! c6 ( 13...e7 14.b2 0-0 15.e2; The softening move 13...a5! may be best 14.b1 axb4 15.axb4 e7 and now 16.b2 0-0 17.e2? runs into xb4 ) 14.b2 d8 15.d1! 283
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Hoping for d3 at some point. e7 16.e2 0-0 17.0-0 with d3 or Nb5-d4 to follow. ] 12...e6 13.c2?! [ 13.a4+ c6 14.b2 may be better, planning 0-0-0 in some lines: d8 15.c2! f5 16.a3 f6 17.b5 d7 18.d4 e7 19.xf5 xf5 20.c4 ] 13...f6 14.b1 e7 15.d1 0-0 16.e3 W hite's blockade can hardly make up for Black's bind. cd8 17.b2 d7 18.d1 d5!? [ 18...g4 is a good option. ] 19.a3 f5 20.c6!? Not a great idea but it shakes things up. Otherwise there may occur something like [ 20.c4 c6 21.0-0 f4! etc. ] 20...bxc6 [ Or 20...xe3!? 21.dxe3 ( 21.fxe3 d6 threatens ...Bh4+) 21...xd1+ 22.xd1 xd1+ 23.xd1 d8+ 24.c2 b5 25.e2 ( 25.e5 d6 26.b2 d5 ) 25...d6 wins the c-pawn. ] 21.xa6 f4 22.c4! c5! 23.e5 [ 23.xe4 f5 ] 23...d6 24.c4 White is putting up maximum resistance. cxb4 25.axb4 f5?! Too fancy. Better was [ 25...f5 26.0-0 f3! is strong. ] 26.xe4 f6 27.d4 xb4+ 28.d2 Amazingly, everything has held and W hite has turned the corner. d6 You'd think that some capture on e5 would expose d2 but the pin along the a2-g8 diagonal prevents this. [ 28...xe5 29.dxe5 a5 30.d3! and 0-0. ] 29.h4?! [ 29.d3! ] 29...f3!? [ 29...xe5 30.dxe5 xd2+! 31.xd2 f6+ 32.d4 ( 32.exd6?? xe4+ 33.d3 xf2+ ) 32...xd4+ 33.xd4 xc4 34.exf6 c5 leaves some advantage but not enough to win. ] 30.g3 h5 31.d3 f8?? [ 31...b6 32.c6 b3 33.e5 b4 is a draw. ] 32.c4! e7?? A blunder, although Black is in trouble: [ 32...a6 33.0-0 threatens Ba3, but Black cannot defend adequately: d7 ( 33...f7 34.c2! and Ne5+ ) 34.b1! ]
33.a3 c3 34.xd6 c1+ 35.d1 c3+ 36.f1 cxd6 37.xe6 b5 38.xd6 1-0
300 Laznicka,Viktor Rombaldoni,Denis Czech Open A (6) [Jonathan Rowson]
A09 2617 2465 29.07.2009
1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 g4!? Favoured by Nigel Short. [ 3...g6 ] [ 3...c5 ] [ 3...f6 ] 4.b2 [ 4.e5 f5 doesn't seem to lead anywhere special for White. ] [ 4.b3 xf3 5.xf3 c6 6.e3 e5 7.g3 d7 8.b2 h6 9.d3 f6 10.c5 a5 11.a3 e7 12.0-0 0-0 13.f4 fd8 14.exd4 exd4 15.c3 xc5 16.bxc5 dxc3 17.xc3 xc5+ 18.h1 d4 19.ab1 b5 winning for Black in Ghaem Maghami, E Short, N Teheran 2003 ] 4...xf3 5.exf3 [ 5.gxf3?! looks a bit suspect to me. e5 6.g2 c6 with Ne7-g6 or f5 to follow. ] 5...c5 6.bxc5 c6 7.b3 b8 8.d3 e6 9.0-0 f6 Playable, but if I were Black here, my inclination would be to play [ 9...xc5 10.e4 ge7 followed by castling and f5 if possible, and meeting Ba3 with ...b6 to keep the knight on b1 inactive for as long as possible. ] 10.e4 d7 11.d3 xc5 [ 11...xc5 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.xd4 d3 ( 13...b4!? ) 14.c3 d7! gives Black excellent compensation. ] 12.f4 f6 [ 12...b6 13.a3 f5 14.xc6 bxc6 15.e1 f7 16.xc5 xc5 17.a3 d6 18.c2 c5 also looks better for Black. ] 13.f3 0-0 14.a3 b4?! off target. [ 14...e8 intending e5 was still comfortable for Black. ] 15.b3 a6 16.ab1 d6 17.g3 d7 18.d3 h6 [ 18...e5 19.c1! ] 19.c1 fc8 20.e1 c6 21.e2 284
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 21.c2? b5! 22.d2 looks ok until you spot bxc4 23.xc4 xb1 24.xb1 ce5! winning for Black. ] 21...b4! 22.g2 c5 23.d1 c3 24.c2 b5 25.cxb5 axb5 26.h4 b4 27.h2 b6 [ 27...e7!? With the idea of Qa6 hitting d3 looks very strong. 28.f5 e5 29.g4 f6 30.f4 e4! doesn't help. ] 28.a1 a5 29.e5 c6 30.e2 a6 31.b3 ca8 32.xc5 xc5 33.b3 8a7 34.g4!? A good practical try to change the nature of the position, but Black should still be a bit better. b5 35.e4 e7 36.a3 h8 [ 36...h5! seems to oblige White to play g5 sooner or later, and therefore takes away any fear on the kingside. ] 37.d1 b8 38.h3 b6 39.axb4 xb4 40.xb4 xb4 41.f5 exf5 42.gxf5 b5 [ 42...b6 ] 43.f6 g6? Black's first major error, but now White has a slight initiative. [ 43...d7+ 44.g3 d6+ 45.g2 xf6 46.b3 g8 47.a2 xa2 48.xa2 g6 ] 44.g1 h7 45.g4 h5 46.f3 gxf6 47.xf6 d7+ 48.h2 b4 49.f4 a5 50.b2 e7 51.xg6+ fxg6 52.xe7+ xe7 53.b7 1-0
W hite, but it does little to change the asse ssm e nt of t h e p osition , S a ba o , RSzmetan,J/Caseros 1974, 1/2-1/2 (21). ] 9...xb4 [ This is certainly the acid test of White's play, but 9...xb4 is perfectly playable, too: 10.xe5 0-0 11.e1 d6 12.a3 a6 13.d2 e8 14.ef3 c5 with equality, Vujadinovic,G-Ivanovic,B/Kladovo 1992, 0-1 (53). ] [ 9...d7?! is worse, 10.b5 cb8 11.e1 c7? ( 11...f6 ) 12.e2 and White wins an important central pawn, Freisler,P-Kiselev, S/Marianske Lazne 1989, 1-0 (40). ] 10.xe5 xe5 11.a4+ The point of White's combination, recovering material. fd7! [ 11...c6?! is a positional mistake, 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.xb4 stopping Black from castling kingside, b6 14.a3 xb4 15.xb4 e6 16.d2 0-0-0 17.b3 f5 18.ad1 d7 19.c5 and the d4-pawn is weak, Norwood,D-Ivanchuk,V/Baguio 1987, 1-0 (48). ] 12.xb4 xd3 13.b5 a6 14.h5 0-0 15.a3 In this open position, White's two bishops provide compensation for the pawn. e8 16.d2 7e5 Black tries to show that h is kn i gh t s ca n b e s t ro n g, t o o , b u t t h e i r central posts are far from stable. 17.e4 g6 18.e2 a5 19.d6 This cluster of knights 301 A09 and bishops in the central files is certainly an Lima,Darcy 2514 unusual sight! h3 [ Black decides to force a draw, he could try Vescovi,Giovanni P 2511 for more with 19...c5!? although 20.b3 BCX Open Brasilia BRA (6) 30.01.2000 xb3 21.axb3 c3 is unclear. ] [Tony Kosten] 20.f4! [ 20.xd3? xd2! 21.xd2 f3+ 1.g3 e5 2.g2 d5 3.c4 d4 is good for Black. ] [ The most ambitious reply, forming a pawn w e d g e i n t h e c e n t r e , a l t h o u g h 3...f6 20...g4 [ If 20...xf1?! 21.xf1 and one of the 4.cxd5 xd5 is more common, with a knights is lost. ] Reversed Dragon. ] 4.d3 c5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 f6 7.e3 e7 21.g2 Forced. h3! 22.e2 [ White cannot afford to avoid the perpetual 8.exd4 cxd4 attack, f or if 22.xh3?! xd2 23.fxe5? [ As I mentioned in the archives (in a slightly Black wins by e3+ 24.h1 xe4+ ] different position), there is nothing obviously wrong with this optimistic recapture. 8...exd4 22...g4 23.g2 h3 24.e2 ½-½ 9.f4 would transpose to this game. ] 9.b4!? [ Clearly critical. 9.e1 d7 10.a3 a5 11.bd2 0-0 12.e4 c7 13.g4 is a Benoni position with a tempo more for 285
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.a7 b3 21.b1 e7 22.xc8 xc8 23.b7 a4 24.b4 b6 25.d2 xd2 Mac 26.xd2 c8 27.e2 f7 28.hc1 f5 Dergatschova Daus,Anna 29.exf5 h6+ 30.d1 xh2 31.g4 h1+ MM SVR RL Ruhrgebiet (8) 32.c2 h6 33.h5+ xh5 34.xh5+ g6 [John Watson] 35.fxg6+ hxg6 36.f3 e7 37.d2 d6 Another question from Mr. Naundorf: 1.f3 38.b8 c8 39.c5 d7 40.b6 h4 d5 2.c4 d4 3.c5!? "What do you think of this 41.d5 xc7 42.dxd6 move? I think it was a recommendation of BÃ1/ 1-0 4cker a long time ago. GM Grunberg used to play it too as you pointed out in one of your A09 great books on the middlegame." c6 4.a4 303 d5 5.b4 e5 6.a3 This would be my first Matamoros Franco,Carlos S 2472 instinct since it covers c1 and thus eliminates Vallejo Pons,Francisco 2645 ...Qxc5 after b5. TCh Lanzarote ESP (2) 07.05.2003 [ N a u n d o r f g i v e s 6.e3 , which is quite [Tony Kosten] reasonable and may well be best. I'm not sure what comes next. Natural is d7 ( or 1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.g3 c6 A perfectly 6...g4!? 7.e2 xf3 8.xf3 e4 9.e2 d3 re s p e c t a b l e m o ve , a i m i n g f o r a S c h m i d 10.c3 e5 11.d1 unclear ) 7.b5 ( 7.b5 Benoni reversed, although xc5; 7.e2 e4! ) 7...f6 8.0-0 e4 9.xd4 [ 3...c5 is more ambitious. ] xd4 10.xd7+ xd7 11.xd7+ xd7 4.g2 e5 5.0-0 White aims to defer playing 12.exd4 This looks awful at first sight, but d3, which offers some extra possibilities, after Nc3 and Re1 W hite seems to stand [ 5.d3 f6 6.0-0 was seen in Speelman,Jwell. ] Koneru,H/Torquay ENG 2002. ] [ After 6.b5 , my computer engine finds 5...f6 6.b4!? This sharp flank blow is the xc5 7.a3 b4! Ouch! ] possibility alluded to earlier, White still had 6...e7 time for [ 6...d7! is the move I'd worry about. Then [ 6.d3 transposing to the previous note. ] 7.e3 ( 7.b5 d8; 7.b5!? d8 8.e3 a6 ) 6...e4 The strongest move, 7...d3 8.b5 c8! 9.c3 c4! 10.a3!? [ 6...xb4 is met by the standard 7.xe5 e4 11.g5 a5 12.b5 xa4 13.xa4 b4 xe5 8.a4+ c6 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.xb4 14.xb4 axb4 15.xe4 xb5 16.b2 d8 with advantage. ] 17.f3 is messy but hard to trust. So maybe 6. 7.g5 xb4 8.xe4 xe4 9.xe4 h3 e3 was best. ] [ 9...0-0 is an alternative, 10.a3 e7 11.d3 7.e3 e5 12.d2 c6 13.b1 with chances to [ 7.b5 is supposed to be the point of this both sides, Plaskett,J-Balashov,Y/Hastings line: d8 8.b6+ f8 ( 8...d7 9.c4 1985. ] xc4 10.xc4 ) 9.c4 e6 10.c6!? 10.a4?! An amazing novelty, White avoids (Fritz of course) bxc6 ( 10...xc6 11.xc6 the obvious bxc6 12.bxa7 e4 13.b1! ) 11.cxe5 cxb6 [ 10.e1 f6 11.a4 0-0-0 12.xc6 12.xc6 unclear. ] when Black played the surprising piece sac 7...dxe3 8.fxe3 bxc6 ( 12...xc6 is fine, though, menacing [ 8.dxe3!? ] mate on g2, 13.xc6 bxc6 with the bishop 8...e4 9.c4 b5 10.cxb6 d7 11.d3 d5 pair ) 13.xb4 he8 (menace ...Rxe2! and 12.e4 xb4 ...Qf3) 14.f4 d3 with sharp play ending in a [ 12...e6? 13.b5 ] draw by perpetual, Psakhis,L-Zhuravliov,V/ 13.b3 e6 14.bxc7 f6 15.e3 USSR 1979. ] [ 15.a3 c6 16.b7 c8 17.e3 ] 10...xf1 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.xc6+ f8 15...a5? 16.a3 a6 17.b7 The game is 13.xf1 After the excitement White has taken over. c8 18.b6 c5 19.xc5 xc5 a pawn and displaced the black king in return 302
A09 2075 2237 06.03.2005
286
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.0-0 g7 9.a3 0-0 10.f4 . White doesn't get this chance again. ] 5...g7 6.0-0 [ Now 6.e3 is at best ill-timed after dxe3 7.fxe3 ( 7.xe3? e4 ) 7...e4! ( 7...c6= ) 8.dxe4 xd1+ 9.xd1 e6 with pressure. ] 6...c6 7.a3 [ The plan to enforce b4 might also have b e e n st a rt e d b y 7.a3 , and by analogy with the game h6 ( 7...ge7 8.c2 a5 9.b3 0-0 ) 8.c2 a5 9.b1 0-0 10.b3 e8 11.a3 ] [ This time 7.e3 dxe3 8.fxe3 ( 8.xe3 e4 ) 8...ge7 ( 8...e4!? 9.dxe4 xd1 10.xd1 e6 11.a3 a6 ) 9.c3 0-0 looks equal. ] 7...a5 8.b3 h6!? The knight isn't particularly useful here. [ 8...f5 looks a bit loosening but may in fact be effective, having in mind the simple . .. Nf6, ...0-0, ...Qe7 and ...e4. ] 9.bd2 f5 10.b1 e7 11.e1 This stops . ..e4. White hopes to play Nc2 and b4, which is a good enough idea but slow. f7 [ 11...0-0 12.c2 e6 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 g4!? 15.a3 d8 16.a1 e8 17.b3 has the idea of Nc5. Then something along the lines of c6 18.h3 f6 19.b5 c7 20.bxc6 xc6 retains the balance. ] 304 A09 12.c2 0-0 13.b4 cd8 [ 13...axb4 14.axb4 cd8 15.a3 d7 Minasian,Artashes 2584 has the idea of Ra1 and b5, although that Zvjaginsev,Vadim 2650 isn't much to fear. ] Petrosian Mem Internet (4) 21.12.2004 14.b5 a4 Played versus a4 and Ba3. 15.e3 [John Watson] [ 15.b4 e6 ] This game between two high-powered players 15...dxe3 16.xe3 [ More interesting is 16.fxe3 e6 17.b2 shows just h ow dif f icult it is f or W hite t o d8 18.b4 ] progress in a Reti/Benoni Reversed situation when Black has played ... e5 and ...d5-d4, 16...c6 [ Or 16...e6 17.b2 d6 ] and then played ...Nc6 without ...c5. Versus the apparently tepid setup involving ...g6, 17.bxc6 bxc6 18.e1 d6 19.b4 xd3 White has two possible ideas: e3, to break up 20.xa4 xa4 21.xa4 e4! 22.d1 c3?! [ 22...e2! leaves Black with the more active the centre, and/or trying to enforce b4. With position, intending ...Ne5. ] t h e f i rs t p l a n p r o m is in g a lm o s t n o t h in g , Z v j a g i n s e v s t r u g g l e s t o e x p a n d o n t h e 23.b3 e5 [ In view of 23...e5 24.d2 b2 25.b4 queenside and accomplishes little there. 1.g3 e8 26.d2 b1+ 27.d1 b2 28.d2 e5 2.g2 d5 3.d3 A Modern Defence etc. A well-played snippet it looks as Reversed, this soon turns into an obscure though W hite has to play an early e3 in form of the Reti. g6 4.c4 d4 5.f3 these lines in order to try for the [ 5.e3!? may be the best way to mix things up, e.g., c6 6.e2 ge7 7.exd4 exd4
f o r t h e e x c h a n g e . d3! Black cuts across White's natural development, and weakens the light squares. 14.e3?! I don't know if this is a good idea, leaving the advanced d-pawn which cuts across the white position. b8 15.a3 f6!? Black fancies his chances in the endgame, but [ 15...h5! is stronger, threatening both ...h4 and ...Rh6, when Black is just winning. ] 16.xc7? This move leads to a quick disaster, [ 16.xf6 was far better, ruining the black s t r u c t u r e , gxf6 17.b5 a6 18.d4 with fair chances, although Black is favourite. ] 16...d6 17.c6 e5 This is the problem, White is forced to exchange into a hopeless endgame. 18.xf6 xf6 19.b1 xb1 20.xb1 e7 The black rook enters the g a m e w i t h g r e a t e f f e c t . 21.e1 b8 The resignation might seem premature, but after [ 21...b8 22.c3 xc3 23.dxc3 b1 24.d2 a1 25.a3+ e6 26.xd3 xa2 27.c5 a5 White has to give his bishop to stop the a-pawn. ] 0-1
287
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 13...g4!? 14.d5! xe3 15.xe3 e4 16.xe4 f5 17.e1 xa1 18.dxc6 bxc6 19.xa1 cxb5 20.d4 with more than enough for the exchange. ] 305 A09 14.f4!? [ 14.fxd4 d8 15.f3 is also possible with Morozevich,Alexander 2758 some advantage ] Svidler,Peter 2735 57th ch Moscow RUS (4) 18.11.2004 14...e8 15.d2?! [ A little fancy. It was probably time for [John Watson] 15.fxd4! xd4 16.xd4 with the more active pieces. ] The Reti is made for original positions. Here 16.ad1 g4 White's having W h ite p ut s re a l p re ssure o n Bla ck b ut it 15...d7 dissipates after inaccurate play. 1.g3 d5 trouble regaining his pawn, so he rids the d8 2.g2 f6 3.f3 g6 4.c4 d4 A somewhat board of its defender on g7: 17.h6 unusual formation. Usually Black plays ...d4/... 18.f4 [ 18.xg7 xg7 19.bxd4! xd4 20.xd4 g6/...Bg7 in conjunction with ...e5 and ...Ne7. xd4 21.xd4 xd4 22.xd4 d8 5.d3 is roughly equal. ] [ 5.b4 is one drawback to Black's move order, putting pressure on the center by 18...a4 19.h3 xf3 20.xf3 axb3 21.axb3 xh6 22.xh6 g7 23.e4!? discouraging ...c5. ] [ 23.xc6 xc6 24.xd4 f6 favors Black 5...a5!? slightly. ] [ This prevents White's space grab after, e.g. , 5...g7 6.b4 ( or 6.0-0 0-0 7.b4! ) 6...0-0 23...f5 The natural [ 23...e6? runs into 24.h4 f6 25.d5 f7 7.bd2 of Reti-Rubinstein, Karlsbad 1923, 26.xc7! ] where White stood better. But 5...a5 also 24.f4 d6 to protect c7 and simplify. wastes time. ] The game was drawn here. There 6.a3 White's usual idea here is Na3-c2 25.xd6 followed by aiming for b4 and or e3. As we could f ollo w xd6 26.h6 f6 27.h4 h8! and Black's pawn makes up for White's will see, Black faces an additional problem. [ 6.f4 does little and may make White's activity. The moves ...Ne5 and ...c5 might central break e3 more difficult: g7 7.bd2 follow. 0-0 8.0-0 h5 9.e5 xe5 10.xe5 f6 ½-½ 11.ef3 c6= ] [ The natural 6.0-0 g7 7.e3 is worth A09 considering, for example, c6 8.exd4 306 xd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.c3 and White Neverov,Valeriy 2508 has a potentially powerful center, e.g., 0-0 Balogh,Csaba 2651 ( 10...g4 11.d5! ) 11.e3 d6 12.h3 15th ch-EUR Indiv 2014 (5.39) 07.03.2014 f5 13.d4 with freer play ] [Fier, Alexandr] 6...c6 To enforce ...e5. The natural [ 6...g7 runs into 7.b5! with the ideas A g a m e wi t h p le n t y o f c h a n c e s f o r b o t h Nbxd4 and Bf4. ] players, and probably decided in time trouble. 7.b5! An interesting move in place of the White's way to play is logical and the position usual Nc2. White threatens Bf4. e5 8.0-0 will always be full of life. Black can try to g7 9.e3 This is White's only logical idea. avoid the 10.g4 idea with 9...Qd7. 1.f3 d5 dxe3 10.xe3 0-0 Else Bc5 might be a 2.c4 d4 3.e3 c6 4.exd4 xd4 5.xd4 problem. 11.e1 xd4 6.c3 c6 This move has become the [ 11.d4 is an alternative but White may have main variation against this setup. Compared to feared g4 ] t h e s a m e p o s it io n wit h re ve rse d c o lo rs , 11...e6 12.b3 c8!? Clearing the d-file for coming from 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 ...Rd8. 13.d4 exd4 exd5 5.Nxd5 Nxd5 6.Qxd5 d6, White already advantage. ] ½-½
288
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 has the knight on f3. This is not necessarily good for White, since the knight is far from d5. In this position Black uses the tempo down to bring the knight to f5 via h6 or e7. [ 6...f6 7.d3 g4 is considered dubious and was analyzed for Chess Publishing in Tihonov, J (2503)-Smirnov, A (2249)/ Minsk Open 2005. ] [ 6...e5 is another possible way, now the knight can come to f5 from e7, 7.d3 e7 8.e3 d8 was seen in Karlsson, L (2506) Ernst, T (2456)/SWE-ch Gothenburg 2006. ] 7.d3 h6 8.e2 White does not hurry to attack the queen. Sometimes the bishop is slightly exposed on e3, so he prefers to make some useful moves first. [ 8.e3 d8 9.d4 ( 9.xh6?! doesn't make much sense, W hite's weaknesses on the d a r k s q u a re s a re m o r e im p o r t a n t t h a n Black's pawn structure) 9...f5 10.d2 g6 11.d1 g7 see M Devereaux (2415)-J Rowson (2582)/4ncl 2008. ] 8...g6 [ 8...f5 9.0-0 d8 is also possible, but in this variation its good that the bishop is still on c1 10.e1 g6 11.g5 is interesting ] 9.e3 d8 [ 9...d7 looks exotic, but avoids White's idea in the game. Later, with the knight on f5, Black can put the queen on a more reasonable square. 10.d4 f5 11.g4 g7 12.0-0 0-0 with chances for both sides 13.d2 Fridman, D (2526)-Short, N (2675)/ FIDE-Wch k.o. 1999 (2.2). ] 10.g4!? I think if Black allows this move then it should be played. Now ...f5 is forced, sooner or later, to bring the knight back into the game and the position becomes double-edged. g7 [ 10...f5 Black has to play this move at some point to bring the knight back 11.h3 e5!? looks a bit too ambitious, but I couldn't find any way to refute it. For example 12.c2!? fxg4 13.d2 now there is no 13...f4 anymore f5 14.hxg4 xe3 15.fxe3 a5 with a hard to assess position. ] 11.h3 `Threatening 12. Qd2. f5 12.d2 f7 13.0-0-0 0-0 14.d4 b5 It's quite an in t e r e s t i n g p o s i t io n . W i t h o p p o se d s i d e castling and contact points for both players it's natural that big complications soon arrive. Apparently Black is quicker to attack, since
gxf5 is not so dangerous for the moment. Still, it's not so clear how he is going to follow up to create something concrete. Resuming, the position has a dynamic balance. 15.f4 a5 16.a3 [ 16.cxb5 can be played, however it's not good for White to open the queenside cxb5 17.f3 ( 17.d5 shows the danger of the position xa2 18.xe7+ h8 19.f3 e6! and the attack is decisive 20.xa8 a1+ 21.c2 b3+! 22.xb3 a4+ 23.c3 c4# ) 17...b8 18.b1 b7 and even if W hite changes the queens, Black is ok ] 16...b8 [ 16...bxc4!? is another way to handle the position, and I prefer this compared to the game 17.xc4 h8 and Black can use the b-file in exchange for the active bishop on c4 ] [ 16...b4 17.a2 is White's point ] 17.c5 d8 18.b1 e6 19.a2 c7? With the queens on the board and a strong knight on b4, White has a big advantage. [ 19...xd2 was called for, and after 20.xd2 a5 21.f3 b4!? 22.axb4 axb4 23.xc6 fxg4 24.hxg4 xg4 will bring an endgame with chances for both players ] 20.b4 b3? Now White is winning. [ 20...bc8 is not so nice to make, but was necessary according to my computer 21.f3 d7 and clearly Black's idea went wrong, but the position is not lost, at least ] 21.a6 The position is still winning for White with this move, but W hite could play something more immediate: [ 21.gxf5! was the best, the knight on b4 is much stronger than the rook on b8 for the moment, xd1 ( 21...gxf5 22.dg1 is also sad for Black) 22.xd1 gxf5 23.d5 a n d B la ck ' s p o s it io n i s c o l la p si n g cxd5 24.xd5 xd5 ( 24...b7 25.c6! wins ) 25.xd5 d8 26.e6 with a decisive advantage ] 21...d7 22.xb8 xb8 23.f3!? [ 23.de1 was also possible, but Black can b u i l d s o m e k i n d o f f o r t r e s s w i t h d5 24.hg1 h6 and it's not so easy for White to break through ] 23...xd1 24.xd1 fxg4 25.hxg4 e6 Black has we ak pawns and badly place d 289
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pieces. White was not supposed to allow any counterplay, but probably he missed some lines in time trouble. 26.g2 d8 27.b3?! This is a mysterious move. [ 27.f5! was good, Black is too uncoordinated to defend the position exf5 ( 27...b4 28.f4 b7 29.fxe6 xe6 30.d5 also wins ) 28.d5 e8 29.f4 c8 30.dxc6 xc6 31.d5+ h8 32.h1 and White's attack is enough for the full point ] 27...b7 28.e4 e8 29.h1 e7 Now Black is at least not losing. 30.h3 f6 31.c2 a5 32.e4 d7 33.g5 h8 Black can't take on d4 because the rook is tied to h7. 34.c2? This allows Black to create some chaos and counterplay. [ 34.c2 f7 35.d1 would keep the advantage ] 34...f7! T h r e a t e n i n g d 4 . 35.d1 a4 36.bxa4 e5! Opening the position at any cost. 37.d5 [ 37.fxe5 leads to an immediate draw a2+ 38.c1 xa3+ 39.c2 ( 39.d2? xd4+ can only be good for Black) 39...a2+ with a perpetual ] 37...cxd5?! The pawns on the queenside are more dangerous than the central ones. [ 37...exf4 would be enough for Black to hold the position 38.d4 xd4 39.xd4 cxd5 40.axb5 e6 41.xd5 d4+ 42.d3 xd5 43.xd5 xd5 44.c8+ f7 45.c7+ e6 46.c8+ with a perpetual ] 38.axb5 d4 39.d3 White tries to create a shield for the king to run away, but there was no need for this. [ 39.f2! was precise since Black can't really take the bishop a2+ 40.c1 a7 41.c6! a n d e v e r y t h i n g i s u n d e r c o n t r o l xa3 ( 41...a1+ 42.d2 b2+ 43.e1+- ) 42.d5+ xd5 43.xa3 and the c6-pawn decides xb5 44.a2+ f7 45.c7 c5+ 46.c2 xc2+ 47.xc2 d6 48.fxe5 xe5 49.xd4 wins ] 39...c4+ 40.d1 xb5 It's a really hard position to control, so now W hite has the advantage again. [ 40...e6!? this is the computer move and here I show a computer variation 41.c6 f7 42.b6 dxe3 43.b7 e2+! 44.xe2 xe4+ 45.d1 a4+ with a draw ] 41.d2
[ 41.c6 c7 42.d2 and the c-pawn will be decisive ] 41...a4+ 42.e2 exf4 43.f2 At least now White's king is safe and Black's pieces are still not playing together. e5 44.c6 e7 45.d5+ h8 46.b4 [ 46.b3! would be good, but again the machine finds a resource to try to keep the g a m e a l i v e h5! opening some air for the king A) 47.gxh6 d3 liberating the important d4 square 48.xd3? ( 48.g2 is better, but not clear ) 48...d4+ 49.f3 b5 50.xd4 e2+ 51.xf4 e5+; B) 47.b4! Now this move is good, Black's queen is out of play c7 48.d3 h7 49.e4 f7 50.h3 and the position will collapse soon ] 46...c7 47.d2 b5 48.f3 f7 49.e4 g7 50.c2 [ 50.b2! was winning on the spot, threatening a check on f8, and the queen also needs to defend the bishop on e5 in case of Bxf7 b8 ( 50...d6 51.e6 xb4 52.xb4 c5 53.f6+ g8 54.b8++- ) 51.xf7 xf7 52.f8+! this is possible to overlook xf8 53.xe5+ g8 54.b8 and Black is lost. ] 50...f3 51.c5 e2+ 52.xe2 fxe2 53.xe2 xg5 54.b5? Now Black can finally equalize. [ 54.a5! w a s d i r e c t a n d b e t t e r e7 ( 54...c8 55.c7 followed by 56.Bb7) 55.d3 c7 56.xc7 xc7 57.xd4 and the c6-pawn is going to decide the game ] 54...f6 55.b7 e6 56.a4?? A sad end to a tense game. [ 56.e4 was the move and the position is still complex ] 56...f4+ 0-1
290
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 307 Nisipeanu,Liviu Dieter Sasikiran,Krishnan MTel Sofia BUL (5) [Carsten Hansen]
A09 2693 2690 14.05.2007
1.f3 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.a3 a6 (This move and the plan Black follows in this game is easily the surest way to obtain even chances against White's 3rd move) 4.xc4 b5 5.e3 b7 6.g3 [ White has an important alternative in 6.a4 d7 A) 7.axb5 axb5 8.xa8 xa8 9.b3 a1 10.c3 c5 11.g3 gf6 12.g2 e6 13.0-0 e7= G.Sperber-M.Acosta, Dresden 1969; B) 7.d4 e6 8.c2!? ( or 8.g3 gf6 9.g2 d6 10.b3 b8 11.axb5 axb5 12.0-0 0-0 13.d1 c5 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in G.Tunik-V. Kuporosov, Gorky 1989) 8...c5 9.e3 b6 10.e2 gf6 11.0-0 d8 12.axb5 axb5 13.d2 Chan Peng Kong-Yeo Min Yang, Ho Chi Minh City 2003; C) 7.c2!? e5 8.axb5 axb5 9.xa8 xa8 10.e3 a4 11.e2 gf6 12.0-0 d5 13.a3 b3 14.e1 c6 15.d4 e4 16.d2 b4 17.f3 0-0 18.h4 xd2 19.xd2 d5 , so far J.Fedorowicz-J. Waitzkin, New York 1994, and now White can try 20.fxe4 xe4 21.d1 a6 22.c2 f5 23.b4; D) 7.g3 e6 8.g2 gf6 9.0-0 ( or 9.axb5 axb5 10.xa8 xa8 11.b3 a6 12.0-0 c5 13.c3 e7 14.b3 0-0 15.b2 c6= E.Tomashevsky-S. R u b l e v s k y , M o s c o w 2 0 0 6) 9...e7 10.axb5 axb5 11.xa8 xa8 12.b3 a6 13.d4 xg2 14.xg2 c6 15.d3 0-0 16.g5 h6 17.d2 b6 18.c2 a8 19.e3 c5 20.xc5 xc5 21.d4 b6 22.f4 c5 23.dxc5 xc5= A.Yermolinsky-Y. Yakovich, Kujbyshev 1986 ] [ 6.c2!? c5 7.b3 f6 8.e3 e6 9.a4 b4 10.e5 c6 11.b2 a5 12.b1 xb3 13.xb4 xd2+ 14.xd2 xd2 15.xa6 xa6 16.xd2 e4+ 17.c2 , and the players agreed upon a draw in E.Pigusov-V. Chekhov, Kharkov 1985, but why doesn't
Black continue in the final position? One possibility is f6 18.xa6 xa6 19.f3 d6 20.d3 xa4 21.a1 xa1 22.xa1 c4 23.a8+ f7 , and it isn't entirely clear how long W hite's limited initiative will provide White some compensation for the pawn, but it can't be long. ] [ 6.d4 e6 7.a3 f6 8.g3 bd7 9.g2 c5 10.0-0 e7 11.b3 0-0 12.b2 b6= L.Vadasz-V.Kuporosov, Budapest 1990 ] 6...f6 [ Black has several other options available at this juncture: 6...xf3?! 7.exf3 f6 8.g2 ( 8.a4 b4 9.d4 e6 10.c4 ) 8...d3 9.f1 d8 10.d4 c6 11.d5 b4 , M. KebrdleM.Stefanski, Lansing 1988, and now 12.a4 b8 13.axb5 axb5 14.b3 d6 15.d2 ] [ 6...e5?! 7.g2 e4 8.h4 f6 9.b3 ( 9.0-0 c6 10.b3 d4 11.b2 c5 12.d3 a7 13.dxe4 xe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.d3 g5 16.ef5 C. Adelman-A. Bisguier, Chicago 1996) 9...bd7 10.b2 c5 11.0-0 0-0 12.c2 d6 13.hf5 e5 14.xe5 xe5 15.ac1 c8 16.b2 e8 17.d3 V. Neverov-T.Thorhallsson, Reykjavik 2002 ] [ 6...d7!? 7.g2 c5 8.d4 cxd4 9.xd4 xg2 10.xg2 e5 11.b3 b4+ 12.d2 xd2+ 13.xd2 gf6 14.0-0 0-0 15.fd1 e7 16.d6 xd6 17.xd6= V.Topalov-N. Sulava, French League 2004 ] 7.g2 bd7 8.0-0 e6 9.b3 [ 9.d3 d6 10.d2 0-0 11.a4 c5 12.b1 ( 12.b3 soon led to a very double-edged position, which can appear attractive for either player, e.g. b6 13.c3 d5 14.xd5 exd5 15.d4 c4 16.c2 b4 17.a5 b5 18.d2 fe8 19.f4 b3 20.d1 xf4 21.gxf4 c3 22.bxc3 b2 23.b1 xe2 24.e5 xe5 25.fxe5 c8 26.f3 e4 27.xe4 dxe4 28.d2 d7 29.e3 g4+ 30.h1 xc3 31.xc3 e3+ 32.f3 xf3+ 33.xf3 xf3+ 34.g1 g4+ 35.f1 f3+ 36.g1 f2+ 37.h1 1/2-1/2 M. T a i m a n o v - S . L p u t i a n , Y e r e v a n 1 9 9 4) 12...e7 13.c1 fb8 14.axb5 axb5 15.xa8 xa8 16.b4 cxb4 17.d4 xg2 18.xg2 e5 19.g1 c5 20.b2 fg4 21.h3 xd4 22.xd4 f6 23.f4 xe3 24.xe3 g6 1/2-1/2 J.Stocek-Y.Yakovich, Port Erin 2001 ] 291
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...c5 [ B l a c k a l s o h a s 9...d6 available, e.g. 10.b2 0-0 11.c1 c5 12.d4 c8 13.dxc5 xc5 14.d4 a5 15.xc5 xc5 16.d4 fd8 17.b2 b6 18.fd1= T.Nyback-M. Rytshagov, Jyvaskyla 2001 ] 10.b2 e7 11.c2 [ 11.d4 0-0 12.c1 c8 13.c2 ( 13.d2 b6 14.dxc5 xc5 15.d4 fe4 16.b2 f6 17.xf6 1/2-1/2 A.Kveinys-T. W a r a k o m s k i , W a r s a w 2 0 0 6) 13...c4 ( 13...a5!? 14.a3 d5 15.e3 c4 16.xd5 exd5 17.e5 c7 18.h3 d6 19.xd7 xd7 20.bxc4 dxc4 21.e4 ) 14.bxc4 xc4 15.d2 xg2 16.xg2 a8+ 17.f3 a4 18.a1 c8 19.e4 b6 , and Black has no reason to complain about the outcome of the opening, A.Filipowicz-S. Kostyra, Lubniewice 1981 ] [ 11.c1 0-0 12.c2 ( 12.d3 d5 13.xd5 xd5 14.c2 a5 15.e4 b7 16.e1 a4 17.d4 axb3 18.axb3 c8 19.d5 exd5 20.exd5 f6 21.xf6 xf6 22.d3 1/2-1/2 M.Sher-D.Kumaran, Copenhagen 1996 ) 12...c8 13.a1 b6 14.fc1 a7 ( 14...fd8 15.d3 f8 16.h4 a7 17.e5 xg2 18.xd7 xd7 19.xg2 b7+ 20.g1 d5 , and Black has equalised, T. Nalbandian-A. Volzhin, Moscow 1999) 15.d3 fd8 16.h3 h6 17.g4 xg4 18.hxg4 f6 19.g5 hxg5 20.xg5 xg2 21.xg2 b7+ 22.f3 e8?! ( The beginning of a timeconsu ming and inf erior p lan, corre ct is 22...d5!? 23.h1 h5 24.cc1 d5= ) 23.h1 f6 24.xf6 xf6 25.h4 f8 ( or 25...d5 26.h1 f8 27.c1 ) 26.c1 d5 27.d4!? ( 27.b4!? ) 27...cxd4 28.xc8 e7 29.xd8 xd8 30.f4 , and W hite wins a pawn, S.Danailov-R. Bernard, Warsaw 1990 ] 11...0-0 12.fd1 b6 13.ac1 ac8 14.b1 [ Previously White has only tried 14.d3 fd8 15.b1 d5 16.g4 5f6 17.e3 d5 18.f1 f6 19.1d2 h6 20.a3 e8= J.Gonzalez Zamora-J.Estrada Nieto, Merida 2003 ] 14...fd8 15.a1 e8 16.d4 df6 17.a3 e4!? 18.dxc5 xc5 19.b2 f6 20.e1 [ 20.g4?! xb2 21.xb2 e4 22.xd8 xd8 23.e3 ( 23.e3 f6 ) 23...8f6 ]
[ 20.xf6!? is more ambitious, but Black can nonetheless still keep the balance without too many headaches: xf6 21.xd8+ xd8 22.e5 cd7 23.d4 xd4 24.xd4 xg2 25.xg2 f8 26.c6 d2 27.e7+ h8 28.c8 6d7 29.c2 xc2 30.xc2= ] 20...xg2 21.xg2 h6 22.f3 e4 23.xc8 xc8 24.c1 d8 25.d1 c8 26.c1 d8 [ 26...xc1 27.xc1 xb2 28.xb2 8f6= ] 27.d1 ½-½
308 Odendahl,Reiner Kasimdzhanov,Rustam HZ Open Vlissingen NED (4) [Tony Kosten]
A09 2377 2640 09.08.2004
1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.g3 c6 4.g2 e5 5.0-0 f6 6.d3 e7!? Black normally prefers the prophylactic [ 6...a5 to stop White's next, see my analysis of Speelman,J-Koneru,H. ] 7.b4 xb4! [ 7...xb4 8.xe5 xe5 9.a4+ c6 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.xb4 is thought to favour White, mainly because of the doubled c-pawns, and the fact that Black cannot c a s t l e , f o r e x a m p l e h3 ( 11...d6!? 12.a3 xb4 13.xb4 is also promising for W hite, Pytel,K-Mancini,M/Orange 1990) 12.e1 d7?! Pilz,D-Muendle,K/Triesen LIE 2004, when 13.e3 looks nasty. ] 8.xe5 0-0 9.a3 a6 10.d2 d6 11.ef3 e8 New, and pointing to Black's plan in this line: pressure on the backward e2pawn. [ 11...c5 12.g5!? h6 13.ge4 xe4 14.xe4 e7 15.b1 c7 16.d2 b8 17.f3 d6 Schirm, F-Pohlers,J/Binz 1995, when I think I would play 18.e3 dxe3 19.xe3 b6 20.d4 with plenty of activity, although Black is solid. ] 12.b3 The a6-knight would like to come to the c5-square, so W hite f orces the FIDE World Champion to defend d4. c5 13.a4?! g4 14.a3 d7 Black has a good position 292
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with more space and good squares for his pieces. 15.e1 e7 Black's position appears to play itself, however, in retrospect [ 15...ad8 may be somewhat superior. ] 16.fxd4! This somewhat surprising tactic really comes 'out of the blue' - I certainly didn't see it coming, and neither did Fritz! e5 Pinning the knight. [ 16...cxd4 17.c5 is the point, when e5 18.f4 b8 ( 18...xf4!? ) 19.c6 bxc6 20.xe7 xe7 21.xc6 wins the rook on a8. If we continue this a bit further: e3+ 22.h1 c7 23.c1 White threatens to swap queens and play a superior endgame as the black pieces are not very well coordinated. ] 17.b5!? White could have continued 'the joke' by [ 17.b1! cxd4 18.xe7 xe7 19.a5 with excellent play, as the b7-pawn is sure to drop. ] 17...xa1 18.xa1 ae8 Black has extra material and strong pressure on e2, however the white position is surprisingly solid. 19.f3 h3 20.c2! [ 20.xh3 xh3 21.xa7 is a bit greedy, as h5! 22.c2?! h4 23.g4 xg4! 24.fxg4 xg4+ 25.h1 xe2 wins. ] 20...xg2 21.xg2 e6 22.d2 b6 23.b2 b8 The knight was completely out of the game. 24.xf6!? The bishop seemed strong, but White wants the d5-square for his knight. xf6 25.e3 c6 26.d5 g6 27.f4 W hite's solid structure and the lack of completely open files make Black's task very d i f f i c u l t . b4!? The d5-knight had to be e x c h a n g e d . 28.xb4 cxb4 29.c7! The only move, .. .a6 was threatened and the point is that the knight had nowhere to go: [ 29.d4? d6 30.b3 xd3 as the epawn is pinned. ] 29...e6 30.f4?! [ 30.xa7! not only wins a pawn, but also stops Black from attacking the knight with ... a6! ] 30...f6 31.d2 e7 32.b2 a6 33.d4 e3 So that if the knight moves ...Rxf3 will win. 34.g4 h5 [ 34...e5! i s ve r y s t r o n g , 35.e3 f4! menacing ... Rxd4, so 36.f1 ( 36.f2 b3! and ...Rxd4 wins) 36...xe3 37.f5 xf5
38.gxf5 g5+ 39.h1 xf5 which should win. ] 35.h3 h4?! [ 35...hxg4 36.hxg4 e5 is winning again. ] 36.f5 Forced. xf5 This looks good, although [ 36...g5 may be even better, 37.h1 xf5 38.gxf5 g3 etc. ] 37.gxf5 g5+ 38.f1 xf5 39.f2 xh3 Now Black is a pawn up with attacking chances. Surely the result is a formality? 40.g1 g6? [ 40...h2+ 41.g2 e5 looks simple enough, as after 42.xe5 xe5 43.e4 a5 Bla ck will have a lot of out side pas se d pawns. ] 41.e4 d8 42.e3! The king is well defended by the pawn phalanx, and will prove a boon should White reach an endgame. d7 43.d4 xa4 44.a1 c6 45.xb4 f6 46.b2 g5+ 47.d3 g3 48.e3 h3 49.h1 c8 50.h2! White will have good chances in the rook and pawn ending. xh2 51.xh2 xc4 52.xh3 b5 53.d5 f6 54.d3 g5 55.h1 a4 56.c1 f7 57.c7+ e8 58.b7 a3+ 59.d4! Activity! xf3 60.d6 g4 61.d5 If White can play Ke6 he will win! e3 The only defence. 62.c6 White is happy with half a point, but [ 62.e5! is worth a punt: xe5+ ( 62...fxe5? 63.e6 shows the importance of activity against material in rook endings, f8 64.d7 d3 65.b6 xd7 66.xd7 and wins. ) 63.c6 e1 64.b8+ f7 65.d7 d1 66.d8 xd8 67.xd8 although Black should draw by e6! ] 62...c3+ 63.d5 e3 64.c6 c3+ 65.d5 e3 White can still play for the win, but anyway this was an excellent performance. ½-½
309 Panjwani,Raja So,Wesley Edmonton 9th (3) [Kosten, Tony]
A09 2440 2744 23.06.2014
1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 f6 4.e3 e5 5.c5 a5 6.b5+?! This was played just a day after I 293
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 posted my last Flank update, where I'd stated that: "Delchev's 6 Bb5+ is definitely dubious"! [ 6.a4+ is White's best try, see Demuth, ADuda, J, from the June 2014 update. ] [ 6.xe5?! is Van Wely, L-Kramnik, V/Nice FRA 2008, in the Archive. ] 6...c6 7.c4 axb4 8.xe5 fxe5 9.h5+ g6 10.xe5+ e7 11.xh8 f6 12.d3! I think this is White's best chance. [ 12.b2 e6 Stella, A (2463)-Bertagnolli, A (2329), and ] [ 12.0-0 e6 Davis, T (1945) -Zelesco, K, were both considered in the notes to Demuth-Duda. ] 12...e6 13.d2 [ 13.xe6 xe6 14.0-0 bd7 15.exd4 0-0-0 16.g5 f7 is Reinhold Thiele's original analysis, ...Be7 will win the white queen. ] 13...bd7 14.a3!? Trying to dissuade Black from castling long. [ I t h o u gh t t h a t 14.0-0 0-0-0 15.exd4 might be the best bet, but h6 16.xd8+ xd8 17.e1 d5 favours Black (again this is Reinhold Thiele's analysis). ] 14...dxe3 15.fxe3?! White misses his one chance. [ he had to try the surprising 15.0-0! as exd2 ( 15...b3 16.e1!?; 15...0-0-0 16.axb4 g8!? 17.xg8 g7 18.xg7 xg7 19.e6 exd2 20.xd2 i s a w k w a r d .) 16.xd2 xc4 17.dxc4 looks messy, Re1 is a big threat. ] 15...b3! Quite forced, Black can't allow White to o p e n t h e a -f ile wh e n h e ca st le s lo n g. 16.e4?! Desperately trying to free the queen, but this exposes White to a strong attack. [ 16.0-0 0-0-0 17.b2 is met by f5! 18.e4 h6 and Black wins material. ] 16...xe4 Black changes strategy, and instead of going for the white queen ... he goes for the white king! [ 16...0-0-0 is also winning. ] 17.xe6 h4+! 18.g3 xg3 19.g1?! [ 19.xd7+ xd7 20.f1 xf1+ 21.xf1 xh2 is better, but still winning for Black. ] 19...e4+ 20.d1 dxc5 Black's pieces pour into the attack. 21.e5 [ 21.dxe4 xh2 and ...Rd8+. ] 21...f2+ [ 21...xd3! ]
22.e2 fxd3 23.d4? [ 23.g3 f6 24.d2 is overwhelming. ] 23...f2+ [ 23...f2+ 24.d1 c2# ] 0-1
310 Ragger,Markus Postny,Evgeny TCh-FRA Top 12 2012 (4.3) [Tony Kosten]
xe6
A09 2670 2651 03.06.2012
1.f3 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 f6 [ In his 'Modern Reti' book Delchev devotes most of his analysis to 3...c5 but, this can transpose at almost any point. ] 4.xc4 e6 5.0-0 a6 6.e2 White follows Delchev's basic scheme: he delays d4 hoping to be able to play other useful moves longer than Black can, in particular he will react to ... b5 by playing a n im media te a4 to c reat e queenside weaknesses. b5 This obvious move appears to be a novelty. [ 6...c5 7.d1 Marin's idea, b5 8.b3 b7 9.a4 "the cunning idea behind 7.Rd1" Delchev. ( 9.d4 reaches a mainline QGA.) 9...b4 10.d3! Now that c4 is weakened White can change plans and play d3 and e4 to blunt the h1-a8 diagonal. A) 10...c6 Delchev's mainline, 11.bd2 A1) 11...a5 12.c2 e7 13.e4 c7 14.b3 xb3 15.xb3 h6 16.e3 ( 16.d2 "with good prospects" Delchev. ) 16...g4 17.ac1 xe3 18.xe3 0-0 19.d4 ac8 20.e5 Sundararajan, K (2506)-Shumiakina, T ( 2 3 3 4 ) / B a d a l o n a 2 0 0 9 , d6 with no particular problems.; A2) 11...c7 12.c4 g4?! ( 12...e7 ) 13.g3! ge5 14.fxe5 xe5 15.xe5 xe5 16.e4 c8 17.c4 e7 18.f4! c7 19.f1 f6 20.f5 e5 21.e3 e7 22.h4 0-0 23.f2 h8 24.af1 fd8 25.g2 threatening g4-5, Black has no c o u n t e r p l a y . d4 26.xd4 exd4 27.h5 f8 28.g4 g6 29.h6 g5 30.hxg5 1-0 Tomashevsky, E (2624)Ganguly, S (2571)/Moscow 2007, as 294
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg5 31.f6; B) 10...e7 11.bd2 0-0 B1) 12.a5 fixing the a6-pawn, but conceding the b5-square, which Black exploits by c6! 13.d4!? ( 13.e4 b5 14.c4 c6 ) 13...bd7 14.e4 b8 15.e5 d5 16.c4 b5 17.e4 cxd4 18.xd4 c5 19.g4 xb3 20.h6 g6 21.xb3 c8 22.d6 xd6 23.exd6 xd6 24.d4 f6 slightly better for Black, Kramnik, V (2791)-Karjakin, S (2760)/Moscow 2010.; B2) 12.c4 a5 13.e4 c7 14.h3 ( 14.g3 c6 15.f4 is given as advantage White by Delchev.) 14...c6 15.e3 ad8 16.ac1 a6 Safin, S (2490)-Egin, V (2437)/Tashkent 2007. ] 7.b3 bd7! [ 7...b7 8.a4 ] 8.d1 b7 Black's move order is very clever, he delays ...c5 until W hite plays d4. 9.a4!? The only way to continue according to the 'Delchev recipe'. At the time I was looking across from my board and wondered if Marcus had simply overlooked Black's next, but I shouldn't have worried. [ 9.d4 c5 reaches a mainline QGA [D29]. ] 9...c5 The problem, with no black pawn on c5 Black can put his knight t here ! 10.c2 xa4 11.xa4 bxa4 12.d4 White has conceded the bishop pair, but has a slight lead in development. c5!? Black doesn't have to play this, but then he would have to worry ab ou t W h it e playin g e 4 an d also t he c5 square. [ However, it is difficult to believe White has anything much after, say, 12...e7 13.c3 0-0 ] 13.c3 c7 14.xa4 The position looks fairly innocuous for Black, but he soon gets into trouble. cxd4?! Black might have missed White's, far from obvious, next two moves. [ 14...e7 15.dxc5 xc5 16.e4 c8 and ...0-0 looks solid enough, W hite can play e5 and swing his rook to the kingside but Black should be able to defend. ] 15.c4! b8 16.c2! Very nice! d6 Best. [ 16...dxc3?? loses to 17.a4+ e7 18.e5 ] [ 16...xf3? 17.a4+ d7 18.cxd4! b7 19.xd7!? ( 19.gxf3 is simpler, d8 20.b3
with a big advantage as the black king is stuck. ) 19...xd1 hits the queen on a4, and so 20.xd1+ e7 21.b3 White has a st ro ng a tt ack f o r th e exch an ge , e. g. h6 22.a3+ ( 22.b2 ) 22...f6 23.d7 xd7 24.xd7 xa3 25.h4! hd8 26.e4+ g6 27.h5+ ] 17.a4+ e7 [ 17...f8!? 18.cxd4 xf3 19.gxf3 xh2+ 20.g2 c7 21.e4 is also unpleasant for Black. ] 18.cxd4 xf3 19.gxf3 d8 [ 19...xh2+? 20.g2 c7 loses to 21.e4 h6 22.a3+ e8 23.e3 the black king's demise is just a question of time. ] 20.g2 White just needs to play b3 and Ba3 t o e xch a n ge h is o n e in a ct ive p ie c e . b6 21.b3 T h re a t e n in g Rxd 6 ! c5 22.a3 xa3?! [ 22...a5! to stop a later b4, and Black is still in the game, 23.c4 xa3 24.xa3+ e8 ] 23.xa3+ e8 24.a4+ e7 25.a3+ e8 26.xd8+ xd8 27.xd8+ xd8 [ 27...xd8 28.xa6 also wins material. ] 28.f8+ e8 29.xf7 xb3 Black pins his hopes on the passed a-pawn. [ 29...c7 30.xc7+ xc7 is possible, W hite's extra pawn is doubled and meanwhile the black king is close to the white b-pawn. ] 30.e2! The knight heads for d4 or f4. b1 31.f4 c7 32.f8+ d7 33.xg7+ c6 34.e4 a5 35.c3+ b6 36.d4+ b7 37.xe6! xe6 38.d5+ c7 39.xe6 b6 40.e7+ c8 41.f4 c7 42.e6+ d7 43.a6+ b7 The white king is outside the square, so Black can afford to offer the queen swap. 44.e2 [ After 44.xa5 xe4+ 45.g3 Ma rc u s wa s wo r r ie d a b o u t b1 but 46.c5+ d7 47.f5 g1+ 48.h3 f1+ 49.h4 will probably win. ] 44...c6 45.f5 a4 46.g4 b7 47.f3 Sto pp in g th e a -p awn an d sup po rt in g th e advance of the white f-pawn. f6 [ 47...a3? 48.xa3 xe4+ is met by 49.f3 ] 48.e5+ c6 49.f6 xf3+ 50.xf3 a3 51.f7 a2 52.f8 a1 Both sides queen but now W h i t e h a s a cl e a r t wo p a wn a d va n t a ge . 53.g7+ c6 54.f6+ b7 55.g2 d4 295
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Threatening a perpetual. 56.f3+ c7 57.e6 d6 58.e7! xe7 59.e3+ xe3 60.fxe3 T h e p a wn e n d i n g is lo s t , o f co u rse . e6 61.f3 f5 62.e4+ e5 63.e3 e6 64.f4 f6 65.h3 e6 66.h4 f6 67.h5 1-0
311 Reti,Richard Rubinstein,Akiba Karlsbad Karlstad (5) [Nigel Davies]
A09
04.05.1923
Rubinstein's 4...d4 is not a move that many modern players would venture. But at the time this game was played Benoni type positions were thought to confer a huge advantage on the player taking the space. 1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 g6 4.c4 d4 [ In my own games I've noticed that 4...c6 tends to be the most popular reply when I've played either 5.b3 or 5.Qa4. ] 5.d3 g7 6.b4 0-0 7.bd2 I've always liked the smooth harmony that you find in Reti's games by delaying the development of his qu e e n ' s b is h o p W h it e h a s e xt ra o p t io n s available, such as the a3 square. [ After the more forceful 7.b2 Black can play a5 , for example ( 7...c5 8.bxc5 c6 9.bd2 d7 10.b3 xc5 11.xc5 a5+ 12.d2 xc5 13.0-0 h5 14.e1 h3 15.h1 ab8 16.b1 was very pleasant for White in Geller, E-Novopashin, A, Kiev 1963.) 8.b5 c5 9.bxc6 xc6 10.a3 e5 11.b5 e8 12.0-0 f8 13.d2 f5 14.c1 d7 15.c5 h3 was not bad for Black in Larsen, B (2625)Pfleger, H (2540), Manila 1975. ] 7...c5 8.b3 [ 8.bxc5 is also better for White, for example fd7 9.b3 xc5 10.xc5 a5+ 11.d2 xc5 12.b1 gives definite pressure. But R e t i m a y h a ve p r e f e r r e d t o a vo i d t h i s because of the resultant simplification. ] 8...cxb4 9.b2 c6 10.bxd4 Gaining a central pawn for a flank one is one of the major themes of the Reti Opening. Now it will be W hite who gains a major share of the centre, despite the fact that he did not stake an early claim to this part of the board. xd4
11.xd4 b6 Contesting the h1-a8 diagonal. 12.a3 Getting rid of the annoying b4 pawn and setting up a position in which W hite has a single pawn island (c4 to h2) against Black's two. [ Note that 12.d2? is bad because of xd4 13.xa8 g4 14.0-0 xf2! etc. ] 12...b7 Threatening 13...Bxf3. 13.b2 bxa3 14.xa3 c7 15.a1! These days there is nothing strange about this development of the queen. But in Reti's time it was highly original and raised more than a few eyebrows. e8 16.xg7 xg7 17.0-0 e6 18.b1 [ And not 18.xa7?? xa7 19.xa7 a8 , winning the queen. ] 18...c6 19.d4 So now it is White who gains control of the centre. And this spatial control will a llo w W h it e t o pu t h is p ie ce s o n b ig squares. e4 20.d1 a5 [ And not 20...xc4? because of 21.d2 . ] 21.d5 c5 22.d4 xg2 23.xg2 fd8 24.c6 d6 25.e3 e8 26.e5 f6 [ On 26...d7 t h e r e f o l l o w s 27.xe7+ exe7 28.xc7 xc7 29.d6 as after xe3 30.dxc7 e8 31.d8 the passed c-pawn will promote. ] 27.b2 With the mission accomplished (creation of further weaknesses in Black's camp) the queen latches on to a new target, the weak pawn on b6. [ 27.xe7+? i s b a d b e c a u s e o f f7 by the way. ] 27...e5 28.b5 f7 29.b1 d7 30.f3 c8 31.d3 e4 With his position held in a vice like grip, Rubinstein makes a desperate bid for some counterplay. 32.fxe4 e5 33.xb6 xc6 [ 33...xd3 34.exd3 would be hopeless for Black because of White powerful clump of pawns. ] 34.c5 d7 35.dxc6 xd3 36.xc7+ xc7 37.exd3 xc6 38.b7+ e8 39.d4 a6 Getting his rook behind the passed pawn. But this rook endgame proves to be too much for even Rubinstein. 40.b6 [ And not 40.xh7?! because of a4 . ] 40...a8 41.xf6 a4 42.f2 a3 43.a2 d7 44.d5 g5 45.f3 a4 46.e3 h5 47.h4 gxh4 48.gxh4 e7 49.f4 d7 50.f5 1-0
296
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 312 Sadorra,J Kacheishvili,Giorgi UTD GM Invitational (4) [John Bartholomew]
A09 2525 2612 12.03.2012
1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 Despite the prevalence of 2...c6 and 2...c6, Delchev calls 2...d4 "the m o s t u n p l e a s a n t r e t o r t t o 2 . c 4 " . 3.b4 Probably the most ambitious reply. [ Delchev's thesis is that White does not stand to gain an advantage against the Reversed Benoni with slower plans. Thus, he says, the first player should be keen to use his tempo to immediately destroy Black's center. His analysis suggests that Black has an easier time in the lines 3.g3 c6 ] [ and 3.e3 c6 , and I am inclined to agree. ] 3...c5 [ Delchev believes that the main line 3...f6 is best, with 4...e5 to come. W e also scru tin ize d t his in Van W e ly, L (26 81)Kra mnik, V (279 9)/ Nice 2 008 /[Hansen , Carsten]. Delchev presents a lot of ent erta in in g and o rigina l ana lysis, so I recommend that you check these lines in his book. ] [ For the interesting 3...g4!? see Laznicka, V (2617)-Rombaldoni, D (2465)/[Rowson]. ] [ For 3...g6 I again refer you to "The Modern Reti: An Anti-Slav Repertoire". ] 4.e3 [ 4.bxc5 totally backfired on White after c6 5.e3 ( White should choose 5.d3 e5 6.g3 xc5 7.g2 with a type Reversed Benoni play. ) 5...e5 6.exd4? e4! in Schaeffer, VBronznik, V (2410)/Elancourt 2004/ [TonyK]. ] 4...dxe3 A strange omission from "The Modern Reti", as accepting the pawn must be critical. Moreover, 4...dxe3 is approximately three times more popular than any othe r continuation here. [ Delchev's only gives 4...f6 , with a likely transposition to 3...f6. ] 5.fxe3 cxb4 6.a3!? Benko-style! This is certainly consistent with 3.b4, and I find this direct approach rather tempting. [ "Official" theory is pretty sketchy here
(Black has yet to commit a piece yet, so he especially has a ton of flexibility), but in 71 o f 8 6 g a m e s W h i t e h a s c h o s e n 6.d4 , occupying the center. For example, A) a recent game saw 6...e6 7.d3 ( 7.a3 would transpose to Sulskis-Skytte (see the note to 7.a3); 7.c5!? deserves attention) 7...e7 8.0-0 f6 9.b2 bd7 10.e2 0-0 11.bd2 ( 11.a3!? ) 11...b6 12.ad1 c7 13.e5 xe5 ( after 13...b7! White's compensation appears insuf f icien t) 14.dxe5 d7 15.xh7+ ( t h i s l e a d s t o a d r a w b y f o r c e ) xh7 16.h5+ g8 17.f3 f5 18.h3 xe5 19.e4 d7 20.xe5 xe5 21.xd7 a1+ 22.d1 e5 23.h7+ f7 24.h5+ g8 25.h7+ f7 26.h5+ 1 / 2 -1 / 2 T u rn e r, M ( 2 5 1 7 ) -H a m m e r , J (2647)/Hinkley Island ENG 2011; B) 6...g6 (first employed by Predrag Nikolic in the late 1980s) 7.d3 ( 7.a3!? m a ke s s e n se wi t h B la c k in t e n d in g t o fianchetto) 7...g7 8.0-0 h6 9.bd2 0-0 10.b2 ( 10.e2 f5 11.e4 c6 12.b2 c7 13.h3 e5! Seirawan, Y (2595)-Nikolic, P (2600)/Sarajevo 1987.) 10...e5!? 11.b3 g4 12.xe5?! ( 12.ae1 ) 12...xe5 13.dxe5 c6 14.f3 e7 15.a3 xe5 16.xe5 xe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.axb4 xe3+ 19.h1 e6 Baramidze, D (2528) -Meister, P (2407)/Bad Liebenzell GER 2010. ] 6...bxa3 [ 6...e6 7.d4 f6 Sulskis, S (2497)-Skytte, R (2323)/Lisbon 2000. Here I think 8.c5!? is worth consideration. ( 8.d3 c6 9.0-0 wa s t h e g a m e , w h e n B l a c k g e n e r a t e d counterplay with the unexpected e5!? )] [ T h e a c t i v e 6...e5!?N is Houdini's first choice. Then 7.axb4 ( 7.xe5 h4+ 8.g3 e4 9.f3 c6 ) 7...e4 ( 7...xb4 8.b2!? ) 8.d4 d6 9.g3 f6 10.g2 ( 10.c5!? ) 10...0-0 11.0-0 ] 7.xa3 A natural novelty. [ 7.xa3!? f6 8.b5 c6 9.d4 e6 10.d3 b4+ 11.d2 0-0 12.0-0 xd2 13.xd2 e5 14.c2 exd4 15.exd4 g4 Bandza, A-Chekhov, V (2495)/Tbilisi 1985. Here 16.c5! would leave no doubt about White's compensation. ] [ 7.e2 g6 8.xa3 g7 9.b1 is similar, e. 297
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g. f6 10.0-0 0-0 11.d4 Erlich, V-Drexel, C (2227)/ Augsburg 2001. At this moment it l o o k s n a t u r a l f o r B l a c k t o p l a y b6 as in our game. ] 7...f6 8.c3 g6 9.e2 [ White would like to play 9.d4 and put the bishop on d3, but maybe he didn't like h6!? . However, White can go ahead and sac a pawn he re wit h 10.d3! , as accepting is dangerous for Black: xe3?! ( 10...g4 11.d5! defends e3 and hits e7, i.e. xe3 12.e2 xd5 13.cxd5; 10...0-0 is s af es t, b ut a f te r 11.e2 followed by castling White has an improved version of the game. ) 11.e2 f4 ( 11...xd4?? 12.xd4 xd4 13.xe7# ) 12.0-0 with a fully mobilized position and quite obvious compensation. ] 9...g7 10.0-0 0-0 11.b1 c6 12.d4 b6 Both sides have proceeded logically. White enjoys definite compensation for the missing pawn with his slightly better pieces and strong centralization. At the same time, Black's margin of safety is reasonably high and he suffers from no positional defects. The chances are balanced. 13.h1 White plays a useful move, waiting for Black to show his hand. [ 13.d3 was more constructive. ] 13...f5 14.b5?! Borrowing an idea of Delchev's (see p. 39)!? White hopes that the rook will inf luence matters on b5, but it's o c c u p yin g a ra t h e r u n st a b le p o st in t h is position. c8 15.e5?! This compounds the previous error. e4 [ Even better is 15...xe5 16.xe5 e6! targeting the c4-pawn, i.e. 17.b3 ( 17.d5 d7 ) 17...e8! when another piece will be brought to bear down on the pawn after 18... Nd6. ] 16.xe4 xe4 17.f3 a5 18.c5 h6 [ 18...d5! would have put Black firmly in the driver's seat. ] 19.cxb6 axb6 20.e5 c2 21.e1?! c6 22.b5 a4?! [ Strike while the iron is hot: Black should have snatched the pawn immediately with 22...xe3 . It's possible he thought the double-attack 23.c3 worked for White, but xd4 24.xe3 xe2! leaves Black clearly bet te r, i.e . 25.h6?! ( 25.xe2? d3-+
is the idea; 25.xe7? d3-+ is also very b a d f o r W h i t e) 25...f6! leaving White floundering. ] 23.b2 xe3? Now this is poorly timed. [ 23...d5= ] 24.a6 xd4 [ Black has to enter complications, as 24...a8? 25.b7 is downright terrible. ] 25.d2!? [ A f t e r t h e f o r ce d l i n e 25.xc8 xb2 26.xb2 xc8 27.c3 e5 ( 27...f6? 28.c4+ picks up the bishop) 28.xe5 xe5 29.xe5 f6 30.xf6 d7! (the only move) we are faced with a peculiar opposite-color bishop ending where the weakness of the Black king is more significant than Black's extra pawn. After, for instance, Black will still have to show some accuracy. 31.h4!? ( 31.xf8+ xf8 32.h8+ e7 33.xh7+ d8= )] 25...c7 26.xd4 xd4 27.b2? [ 27.e5! was called for, hitting the rook on c7 as well. a8! 28.xc7 xa6 29.g1 ] 27...a8! 28.xd4 xa6?? [ With 28...c2! Black threatens mate on g2 and completely turns the tables, i.e. 29.e2 xb2 ( 29...c6!? ) 30.f3 a6 ] 29.xa4! xa4 30.e5 Oops, that wins the rook. f6 31.xc7 b5 32.c1 White has prevailed in the tactical tug-of-war, and now he o n ly ha s t o n ego tiat e so me t e ch n ic a l problems. c5?! 33.d2 [ 33.a3! would immediately force the queens off. ] 33...c8 34.h3 b5 35.c1 f5 36.xc8+ xc8 37.d5+ g7 38.xb5 e6 39.c5 f7 40.c3 h5 41.g1 h4 42.d4 g5 43.d3 g7 44.f2 c6 45.f3 c5+ 46.e3 f5+ 47.f3 c5+ 48.e2 f7 49.d2 d6+ 50.c2 c5 51.e4 f2+ 52.b3 g3 53.d5+ f8 54.c4 g4!? Kacheishvili is defending tenaciously. 55.b4! c7+ 56.c5 f4+? Only this loses. [ After 56...d7! Black can continue fighting. ] 57.b3! g3+ [ Black is losing either e7 or g4, i.e. 57...e4 58.c8+ f7 59.xg4 d3+ 60.b2+- ] 58.a4 gxh3 59.xe7+ g8 60.e8+ h7 61.f7+ g7 [ or 61...h8 62.xf6+ h7 63.f7+ h6 298
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 63...h8 64.c3+ ) 64.d2++- ] 62.xg7+ xg7 63.gxh3 g6 64.e1 g5 65.b4 White has the right color bishop, so Black resigned. Alexander Delchev believes that the ambitious 3.b4 will be increasingly debated at Grandmaster level - especially (in his opinion) the lines with 3...f6. The gambitaccepted line 3...c5 4.e3 dxe3 5.fxe3 cxb4 warranted inclusion in "The Modern Reti: An Anti-Slav", but fortunately W hite has reasonable compensation with 6.a3!? or the usual 6.d4. 1-0
the extraordinary white pawn formation is almost worth a piece! ] 10...f5! Black stops d4, and leaves the c5pawn short of protection. 11.b5 xc5! Black goes for gold. [ 11...d8 would avoid losing a rook, although 12.d6 would leave Black with problems completing his development. ] 12.c7+ d8 13.xa8 d4 14.b2 f6 15.gxf3 [ 15.0-0-0 would avoid problems along the ef i l e , b u t a f t e r f5 16.e1 d7 Black recuperates the knight on a8 with advantage. ] 15...e8+ 16.d1 g4!! There must have 313 A09 been a brilliancy prize in this tournament! [ T h e p r o s a i c 16...f5 17.d3 d7 Schaeffer,Vincent again wins the trapped knight, with Bronznik,Valerij 2410 advantage. ] 7th Open Elancourt FRA (3) 20.04.2004 17.fxg4 [Tony Kosten] [ 17.xd4 is no improvement, xd4 18.fxg4 xg4+ 19.c2 xa1 20.d3 e5 21.b1 1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 c5 Black is happy b6 and the knight will be lost once again, with a reversed Benko Gambit. 4.bxc5 when the two black bishops will make short [ 4.e3 is more usual, but clearly White didn't work of White's straggling pawns. ] want to play with a pawn less after dxe3 17...xg4+ 18.e2 Forced, 5.fxe3 cxb4 ] [ 18.c1?? e1# ] [ whilst 4.g3 is probably the most natural, pla yin g a B e nko p o sit io n wit h an e xt ra 18...xe2+ 19.c1 xc4 The black minor pieces completely dominate here. 20.xd4 tempo. ] [ 20.d6 is the best chance, trying to extract 4...c6 5.e3 As it is too late to take on d4 t h e kn igh t , d5 21.f1 e2+ 22.d1 [ 5.g3 e5 6.d3 would be my preference. ] xd6 and ...b6 to capture the unhappy 5...e5 6.exd4? This 'obvious' move nearly knight. ] loses outright! 21.b1 xd5 What a pair of [ 6.d3 is safer, xc5 7.e4 ( 7.e2 ge7 20...xd4 bishops! 22.g1 d7 23.b4? The position 8.0-0 0-0 is also pleasant for Black, Varadi, A-Balogh,L/Gyongyos 1999) 7...ge7 was hopeless, anyway. c8+! Forcing mate. [ 23...c8+ 24.d1 ( 24.b1 e4+ ) 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 g6 10.e1 f5 11.exf5 24...f3+ 25.e1 c1# ] xf5 Black has more space, and a clear plus, 0-1 Menchik,V-Sergeant,E/Scarborough 1930. ] 6...e4! Very unpleasant for White, his central pawns look very nice but they will cost a piece. 314 A09 7.e2 Pinning the pawn is best, Speelman,Jonathan S 2583 [ 7.g1?! xd4 8.c3 xc5 is a dream for Koneru,Humpy 2473 Black. ] 7...e7 8.d5 White decides his best chances ch Torquay ENG (9) 07.08.2002 [Tony Kosten] lie with this piece sac. [ 8.g1 xd4 9.d1 e5 10.b2 xc5 is positionally crushing. ] 1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.g3 c6 4.g2 e5 8...exf3 9.xe7+ cxe7 10.c3?! 5.d3 f6 6.0-0 Play has wandered into a reversed Schmidt System, where Black has Hoping for tactical chances based on Nb5, but [ 10.d4 f5 11.e3 is worth consideration, preferred to keep the a3-f8 diagonal open 299
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 r a t h e r t h a n p l a y . . . c 5 . a5 Generally considered best, Black takes prophylactic action against White queenside expansion. [ 6...e7 allows 7.b4! xb4 8.xe5 xe5 9.a4+ regaining the piece with an edge. ] 7.e3 To my mind this is logical, as Black hasn't bolstered d4 with his c-pawn it makes sense to attack it. [ 7.a3 c5 8.c2 is an alternative way of playing. ] 7...e7 [ 7...dxe3 is a good alternative, refusing to bother defending the d-pawn, 8.xe3 e7 9.c3 0-0 10.h3!? (else Black plays ... Ng4) f5 11.b3!? c8 hitting d3 and h3 ( 11...d4!? 12.xd4 exd4 is also interesting) 12.d5 xd5 13.cxd5 b4 14.xe5 xh3 15.a3 a4 16.c4 was messy in Makarov,M-Muse,M/Berlin 1996. ] 8.exd4 exd4 9.a3 0-0 Black rarely captures on a3 to double the pawns, as it gives White the bishop pair and open b-file, and especially when it involves a waste of t e m p o ( . . . B e 7 x a 3 ) . 10.b5 This is the problem with Black's sixth move, the we ak ne s s of b5 - it is d if f icult f or him t o arrange to play ...c6 to drive the knight away. e8 Black defends c7 against the possibility of Bf4, and prepares to play ...Bf6 and ...Nd6, or ...Na7 to exchange the b5-knight. [ 10...f5?! 11.f4 1/2-1/2 Szekely,P-Tal,M/ Porz 1991, although White is better here, after e8 12.e5 ] 11.e1 e6 A new move, although it doesn't change too much compared with [ 11...f6 12.f4 e6 13.h3 a7 14.xa7 xa7 15.d2 when White has slightly the mo re p le a sa n t p ositio n, Na lba n dia n, T Minasian,A/Yerevan 1996. ] 12.b3! As c7 is well covered White decides to find another diagonal for his dark-squared bishop. [ 12.f4 is similar to the above note. ] 12...f6 13.b2 g6?! With the white bishop on b2 Black can no longer exchange the b5knight without losing his d-pawn, but this na tu ra l mo ve h as severe re pe rcussion s. 14.d2 White threatens to play Qf4 and attack the d-pawn a fourth time. f5?! 15.h3 h5 16.a3! Suddenly, almost 'out-of-the-blue',
Black is in trouble. b4 [ 16...d6 17.c5 and the d-pawn drops. ] 17.bxd4!! This must have been a shock for Black. xd4 18.xd4 xd4 19.b2 The point, the bishop returns to b2 having eliminated its opposite number (at the cost of a piece). d6 20.h6 Threatening mate on h8. f6?! [ 20...f6 21.a3 xd3 22.d5+ f7 23.g4 also gives White a powerful attack, e.g. hxg4 24.hxg4 xe1? ( 24...f8 25.h3 xe1 26.gxf5 c6 keeps Black in the game) 25.gxf5 f8 26.xg6+ g7 27.xe1 and wins. ] 21.c5 d8 22.e5! Threatening to capture on f5. d7?! Losing immediately, but [ 22...xd3 23.d1 pins and wins. ] 23.e4 This is good enough, but how did 'Spec' miss the simple [ 23.e8!! axe8 24.xf6 with immediate mate? ] 23...a6 24.xf5 gxf5 25.g5+ h8 26.xf5 There is no defence to Qh6+ and Bxf6 followed by Qh7 mate. 1-0
315 Tihonov,Jurij Smirnov,Aleksander inAUTOmarket Open (3) [John Watson]
A09 2503 2249 12.07.2005
1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.e3 Many players prefer 3.g3 here. c6 4.exd4 xd4 5.xd4 xd4 6.c3 White is a tempo up on the FrancoBenoni line 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.Nxd5 Nxd5 6.Qxd5 Nc6, but that still makes it difficult to drive the queen away and e s t a b l i s h a c e n t r a l a d v a n t a g e . f6 Nothing clearly neutralises the play here: [ (a) The slow move 6...c6 has scored well over the years. At first I didn't understand this move. White's options of Nb5 and Nd5 are prevented, of course, but that wasn't much of a threat after most moves anyway. The real point is that without Nb5, Black is prepared for d3 followed by Be3 because he can play something like ... Nh6-f5 or ,,,e5 and ...Ne7-f5. Whereas ...c6 is also a useful move if White tries to play d4, for example, 300
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7.d3 h6!? 8.e3 d8 9.xh6? W hite pays too high a price to create weaknesses that probably wouldn't have any deleterious effect on Black's game until t h e e n d g a m e . ( On the other hand, 9.d4! f5 10.d2 xe3 11.xe3 trades the bishop pair for development and central control. This results in mutual chances although I'd rather be W hite.) 9...gxh6 10.e2 g7 11.0-0 0-0 12.f3 the pro blem is th at W hit e h as n o d arksquared counterpart to the g7 bishop so d4 is almost permanently stopped. f5 13.e4 g6 ( 13...e6! followed by a queen move and rook to d8 should favour Black.) 14.e1 e6!? 15.c2 c7 16.ab1 ad8 17.b4 b6 18.e2 c5 19.bxc5 xc5 20.f4 c7 21.g3 e5 22.xg6 hxg6 23.a4 d4 24.a5 h5 25.a6 g7 26.g2 d6 27.b5 h4 28.f3 h8 and Black maintained real pressure in Rashkovsky-Giorgadze, Ubeda 1999. ] [ (b) 6...e5 has always been considered the easiest equaliser, but that doesn't mean hands must be shaken. The idea is 7.d3 ( 7.b5 d8 8.h5!? e7 and ..Nf6 ) 7...e7 8.e3 ( 8.e2 is possible, perhaps intending Nd5 in cases where the e7 knight moves to c6 or f5. f5 ) 8...d8 and ...Nf5 can follow, so 9.d4! exd4 10.xd4 xd4 11.xd4 c6 12.e3 d7 13.0-0-0 0-0-0 14.e2 , but it's not much ] 7.d3 g4 Not very impressive, although playable. Of the options, 7...e5 looks best. [ (a) Alekhine-Euwe, Netherlands 1937 showed what can happen if Black is a little too conservative and foregoes both ...e5 and . . . Ne 7 - f 5 : 7...c6 8.e3 d7 9.d4 g6 10.e2 g7 11.h3 Preventing ...Ng4. ( 11.0-0 0-0 12.e1 must be somewhat better for White in view of his better centre. g4 13.xg4 xg4 14.f3 h5 15.d5!? ) 11...0-0 12.0-0 b6 13.f3 b7 14.a4 ad8 15.a5 c7 16.b3 d7 17.axb6 axb6 18.a7 a8 19.fa1 e6 20.xa8 xa8 ( 20...xa8 21.xa8+ xa8 22.a3 b7 23.b4!? ) 21.d5 cxd5 22.cxd5 c5?! ( 22...xc3? 23.d6! xd6 24.xc3 xf3 25.h6; 22...exd5! ) 23.c4 exd5 24.xd5 xd5 25.xd5 and White stood better. ] [ (b) Arguably 6...e5 is better than 6...Nf6 and
7...e5, but it's still a good move here. 7...e5 8.e3 d8 9.d4 ( 9.e2 e7 10.d4 exd4 11.xd4 xd4 12.xd4 c6 13.0-0 0-0 14.ad1 e6 15.h3 fe8 ) 9...g4 10.dxe5 xd1+ 11.xd1 xe3 12.fxe3 should be okay for Black after b4 ] 8.f3! [ 8.d2 has also been played, when h3 follows. ] 8...c6 [ 8...e5!? 9.h3 b4 10.d2 f6 11.a3 c5 12.b4 d6 13.c1 c6 is probably better for White, but not much. ] 9.e2 e5 10.h3 h5!? [ 10...f6 ] 11.0-0 h6? 12.e3!? [ 12.xh5! is also safe and sound, winning a clear pawn. ] 12...d6? Black's last chance to get some counterplay was [ 12...h4 , for example, 13.e4 ( 13.e4 ) 13...e7 14.xh5?! xh5 15.xh5 f5 16.e2 , when at least Black is in the game, a l t h o u g h o b v i o u s l y w o r s e , a f t e r xe3 17.fxe3 f5 and ..Bc5. ] 13.e4 c7 14.xh5 and White had a winning advantage. The score goes oddly: f5 15.f4 0-0-0 16.f3 g6 17.fxe5 xe5 18.f4?! [ 18.xa7! ] 18...xf4 19.xf4 f5 20.f2 c5 21.fe1?! f7 22.f1 d4 23.f3 he8 24.xe8 xe8 25.b1 e5 26.e2 f7 27.b4 d8 28.b5 cxb5 29.xe5 Did Black really resign here? Probably the scoresheet's wrong: [ 29.xe5 xe5 30.xb5 e8 with only a pawn versus the bishop pair. ] 1-0
316 Tomashevsky,Evgeny Ganguly,Surya Shekhar Aeroflot Open (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A09 2624 2571 16.02.2007
1.f3 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 f6 4.xc4 e6 5.0-0 a6 6.e2 c5 7.d1 b5 8.b3 b7 9.a4 [ 9.d4!? takes our game into a Queen's Gambit Accepted, which of course isn't 301
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 covered under Flank Openings. bd7 10.a4 b4 11.a5 c7 12.bd2 e7 13.c4 0-0= Vijayalakshmi-Suvrajit, Calcutta 2000 ] 9...b4 [ 9...b6 10.d4 this could be interpreted as a Queen's Gambit Accepted, but very few players would choose the moves for Black that he has picked in this game... bd7 11.c3 b4 12.a5 c7 13.a4 cxd4 14.exd4 d5 15.xd5 xd5 16.g5 d6 17.dc1 b8 ( 17...xa5 18.c3 xc3 19.bxc3 b6 20.d5 ) 18.c5 xc5 19.dxc5 f4 20.c4 1-0 Marin, M-Kaeding, R/Sitges 1997 (39) ] [ 9...bd7 10.axb5 axb5 11.xa8 xa8 12.a3 xf3 13.gxf3 b4 14.b5 b8 15.d4 1-0 Nikcevic, N-Adla, D/Mondariz 1998 ] [ 9...c4 10.c2 b6 11.axb5 axb5 12.xa8 xa8 13.d3 cxd3 14.xd3 b4? ( 14...b4 15.bd2 bd7 16.c4 c7 17.b3 c5 18.b2 ) 15.e5? ( 15.xb5+ c6 16.d4 ) 15...e7? 16.xb5+ c6?? ( 16...f8 ) 17.c4+c5 18.d2 ( 18.b4+- ) 18...0-0 19.xc6 xc6 20.xc6 xc6 21.c1 d7 22.b4?? ( 22.b4+- ) 22...d8 23.d2 h6?? ( 23...a8! 24.xc5 xc5 25.xc5 xd2 26.c8+ d8 27.xa8 xa8 ) 24.b3+- a4 25.xc5 xc5 26.xc5 1-0 Vujic Katanic, B-Savic, M/Vrnjacka Banja 199900 ( 26.xc5 d1+ 27.e1!+- )] 10.d3 c6 11.bd2 c7 12.c4 g4 [ 12...e7 13.a5 0-0 14.e4 ] 13.g3 [ 13.d2 e7 14.h3 ge5 15.cxe5 xe5 is fine for Black ] 13...ge5 14.fxe5 xe5 15.xe5 xe5 16.e4!? c8 17.c4 e7 18.f4 c7 19.f1 through very simple means White has gained a position of strength f ro m which he ca n conduct a kingside attack, while Black currently has nothing that can match it on the queenside or in the centre. The bishop on c4 is ideally placed to support White's activities on the kingside by applying pressure on the a2-g8 diagonal. f6 20.f5 e5 21.e3 e7 22.h4 0-0 23.f2 h8 24.af1 fd8 25.g2 d4? This is quite desperate and also unnecessary. W hite is winning now without any f urther ado. 26.xd4 exd4 27.h5
Maybe Black had missed this simple move, threatening f7 and supporting the g3-g4 pawn advance? It is a little hard to believe that this is the explanation, but any better reason is difficult to come up with. f8 28.g4 g6 29.h6 g5 [ Or 29...g7 30.f4 e5 31.f6 e8 32.g5 d6 33.b3 and White will prepare t o b re a k o n t h e h -f ile wit h d e va s t a t in g effect ] 30.hxg5 1-0
317 Tomashevsky,Evgeny Morozevich,Alexander 60th ch-Superfinal (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A09 2646 2755 20.12.2007
1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.g3 c5 4.e3 c6 5.exd4 cxd4 6.g2 e5 7.0-0 f6!? [ This is a relatively rare bird in this variation. Black normally plays 7...f6 ] 8.d3 [ After 8.e1 g4?? White, a strong Californian International Master, several times missed out on the fairly simple ( 8...d6!? ) A) 9.d3 d6 10.a3 ( 10.xe5!+- ) 10...a5 11.bd2 ( 11.xe5!+- ) 11...ge7 (and now it's too late...) 12.b1 0-0 13.e4 a4 14.b4 axb3 15.xb3 a5 16.b2 , and White has the better chances, thanks to his superior minor pie ce s a n d p re ssu re d o wn t h e b -f ile , Altounian, L-Akopyan, H/San Francisco 2000; B) 9.xe5! xe5 ( 9...xd1 10.xc6++- ) 10.xg4+- ] 8...ge7 [ A novelty previously Black had tried 8...e6 on a couple of occasions: 9.e1!? ( 9.bd2 h6 10.a4 d7 11.a3 f7 12.e1 e7 13.b4 0-0 14.b5 cd8 15.d1 e8 16.b1 h3 17.h1 e6 with chances for both sides, Zvjaginsev, V-Hauchard, A/ Belfort 1999) 9...d7 10.a3 a5 11.a4 ( 11.bd2 h6 12.e4 f7 is similar to the Zvjaginsev game and is fine for Black) 11...a6 12.bd2 ge7 13.e4 c8 302
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.fd2 b6 15.c2 c7 16.f4! , and W hite is in control of the game, Polugaevsky, L-Gerusel, M/Buesum 1969 ] 9.a3 a5 10.bd2 g6 11.h4 e7 12.e1 0-0 13.h5 h8 14.h4 [ 14.h6 g5 15.h2 f7 is better for Black ] 14...g5 [ 14...e6!? 15.d5 ( 15.f4!? d7 16.f3 f5! 17.fxe5 f7 ) 15...xd5 16.cxd5 xd5 17.g4 A) 17...f7 18.f5 g5 19.e4 ac8 20.f4 exf4 ( 20...e6? 21.fxe5 fxe5 22.xg7! xg7 23.h6 ) 21.xe7+ xe7 22.xg5 fxg5 23.xe7 c2 24.gxf4; B) 17...ad8 18.f5 ( 18.c4 ) 18...g6 19.e4 d7 , and White doesn't have enough for the pawn ] 15.hxg6 hxg6 16.e4! [ 16.f4!? exf4 17.gxf4 ] 16...f5 17.xc6! bxc6 18.hf3 f7 [ 18...e4!? 19.dxe4 d3 20.e5 f6 21.df3 fxe4 22.xe4 f7 23.xd3 xe5 24.xe5 xd3 25.xd3 f5 26.e3 ae8 27.f4 d4 , and Black has decent compensation for the two pawns he has sacrificed ] 19.xe5 xe5 20.xe5 d6 21.e1 c5 22.f3 [ 22.f3 b8 ] 22...g7 [ 22...f4!? 23.e5 fxg3 24.fxg3 a6 25.f4 f6 ( 25...g5 26.h5! )] 23.g5 [ 23.b4 axb4 24.g5 b6 25.axb4 xa1 26.xa1 b7 27.bxc5 xc5 28.h4 a8 29.c1 f7 ] 23...c7 24.h4 [ 24.b4!? ] 24...f7 25.e2 [ 25.f4!? ] 25...d7 26.f4 [ 26.g2 b7 27.d2 h8 28.f4 xf4 29.xf4 h3 30.f3 c6 31.b4 xf3 32.e5+ h7 33.f4 h1+ ( 33...xg3+ 34.f2 g5 35.e6 ) 34.f2 h2+ 35.g1 ] 26...h8! 27.f2 [ 27.ab1 h5 28.f3 f8 ( 28...b7?! 29.h4 f8 30.e5 e8 31.f3! ) 29.e7 e8 30.xd6 xd6 31.d2 eh8
32.e2 h3 33.e7+ xe7 34.xe7+ f8 35.ee1 xg3+ ( 35...g5 36.fxg5 f4 37.f2 fxg3+ 38.g2 c6 39.f1 g7 40.be1 h2+ 41.xg3 2h3+ 42.g2 h2+= ) 36.f2 g4 37.e5 h2+ 38.f1 h1+ 39.f2 h2+= ] [ 27.f2 h5 ( 27...a4 28.e2 c6 29.ae1 ) 28.f3 c6 ( 28...a4 29.h4 f8 30.ab1 b8 31.e5 c6 32.xc6 xc6 33.e6 b3 34.e2 ) 29.e6 d7 30.e2 h3 31.g2 h5 32.f1 ( 32.f2 h3 33.g2 h5= ) 32...a8 33.ae1 b7 ] [ 27.g2!? ] 27...b7?! [ 27...h5! 28.f3 f8 29.h4 e8 30.d2 eh8 31.e2 g5! 32.xg5 xg5! 33.fxg5 xg3+ 34.xg3 h2+ 35.xh2 xh2+ 36.f1 h1+ 37.f2 h2+= ] 28.ab1 h5!? [ 28...a4 29.d1 ( 29.f3 c6 30.d1 c8 31.b4 axb3 32.xb3 h5!! 33.e2 xg5 34.fxg5 f4-+ ) 29...a8 30.b4 axb3 31.xb3 b8 ( 31...h5? 32.b6 f8 33.d8+- ) 32.a2 xb1 33.xb1 f8 ( 33...c7 34.e7 a7 35.f3+- ) 34.e7 b8 35.c1 c6 36.d1 ] 29.f3? [ 29.b4! axb4 30.axb4 cxb4 31.c5 c7 32.e7! ( 32.b2? d5 33.xb4 xh4!! 34.xh4 c6 35.e2 xf4! 36.gxf4 b7 37.xb7+ xb7 38.d1 c6 ) 32...d5 33.d6 xd6 34.cxd6 xd6 35.e5+ ] 29...c6 30.g1?-+ [ 30.h4!? xf4 31.gxf4 xf3 32.e7 c6 33.e5+ h7 34.e6 xe6 35.xe6 xh4 36.xf3 h3+ 37.g2 xd3 38.c6 d2+ ] 30...f8! 31.h4 [ 31.h4 e8 32.e5 xe5 33.fxe5 f4 34.g4 d7 35.d1 fxg3+ 36.xg3 f8+ 37.e1 f3!-+ ] 31...xg5! 32.fxg5 f4 33.g4 e8 34.d2 e3!? [ 34...h8! 35.f1 xh4 36.b4 axb4 37.axb4 h3!-+ ] 35.b4 e7 36.bxc5 xg5 37.h1 [ 37.f5+ gxf5 38.gxf5 g3-+ ] 37...xh1 [ 37...e7! 38.h2 xg4 39.g2 f3 40.bh1 g3+ 41.f1 e2+ 42.g1 f3-+ 303
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 isn 't th is a b ea utif ul p ositio n? W h ite is completely tied up. ] 38.xh1 xc5 39.d1 e7 [ 39...d6! 40.f3 xg4 41.g1 h3 42.g2 e7!-+ ] 40.a4 [ 40.g2!? g3 41.e1 d6 42.b1! c7 43.e4 g5 44.e1 xg4 45.f3 g3 46.b5 ] 40...g3 41.g2 b4 42.h2 e5 43.c5 [ 43.h1 f3 44.h7+ g8-+ ] 43...f3 44.h4 f4 0-1
318 Van Wely,Loek Kramnik,Vladimir Amber Rapid Nice FRA rapid (7) [Carsten Hansen]
A09 2681 2799 22.03.2008
1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 f6 4.e3 e5 [ In our December 2007 update we saw Korotylev-Kramnik continue with 4...dxe3 5.fxe3 e5 6.c5! with a better game for White - this game can obviously be found in the PGN archives ] 5.c5!? [ 5.b3!? can also be considered ] [ 5.b2 dxe3 6.fxe3 xb4 7.e2 is possibly also playable for White ] 5...a5!? [ This is Kortchnoi's recommendation, but the alternative also deserve serious consideration: A) 5...d3!? It is interesting how different this move has been evaluated. Tony in his annotations to the game (see PGN archives) gave this move '!!' and called it stunning. Kortchnoi, meanwhile, wrote 'This move is a bit too optimistic - Black is pushing his pawns too far, without appropriate support of his pieces. Correct was 5...a5, exploiting premature white's activity on the queen side.'. Palliser in his book, "Beating Unusual Chess Openings" also recommends 5...d3 for Black. A) 6.b2 e6 ( 6...e4 7.d4 ) 7.a4+ c6 8.c3 d7 ( 8...a5!? (Horn) deserves consideration, though 9.a3 a6 10.b5 is fully acceptable for White) 9.a3 a6 10.c1 d8 , and Black appears to have
the better chances, Bernstein, SMoskowitz, J/New York 1941; B) 6.b3 6.Bb2!? had been played before, the move which would prevent the white phalange on the queen side to get destroyed. e4 7.d4 B1) H e r e B l a c k h a s t r i e d 7...c6 on a couple of occasions, but W hite appear to have the better chances, e.g. 8.b2 ge7 ( or 8...a5 9.a3 xd4 10.xd4 e7 11.g3 c6 12.b2 e7 13.g2 f5 14.f3 e6 15.c3 d5 16.0-0 , and White has grabbed the initiative, Peralta, F-Palo, D/Copenhagen 2002 ) 9.xc6 bxc6 10.c3 f5 11.f3 exf3 12.gxf3 b8 , Wells, P-Timman, J/ London ENG 2007, and now W hite should have played 13.a3 a6 14.g2 , and White is clearly enjoying the better chances thanks to a better pawn structure and better development.; B2) 7...a5 8.c3 f5 9.e6 B2a) 9...xe6 10.xe6+ e7 11.b5 d7 12.a3; B2b) 9...a4 10.c4 e7 11.xf8 ( 11.f4 f6 12.a3 ) 11...xf8 is given as better for Black in Palliser's book, basing it on a recommendation by H.Williamson, but this isn't entirely clear, e.g. 12.b5!? f6 13.a3 e6 14.b4 c6 15.g3 f7 16.g2 followed by f2-f3 and I believe White has the better chances; B2c) 9...e7 10.a4+ ( In the game Gabriel-Kortchnoi, Zurich 1999, White continued with 10.xf8? xf8 11.b5 e6 12.a4 d7 13.a3 xc5 14.d4 b6 , and Black has the better chances. ) 10...f7 ( 10...c6? 11.d5+-; 10...d7 11.xc7+ d8 12.b5+- ) 11.xf8 B2c1) This is suggested by Kosten as Bla ck' s b est a n d rep e at e d b y Palliser in his abovementioned book K o r c h n o i o n l y g i v e s 11...xf8 12.a3 ( 12.b5!? Horn ) 12...f6 13.f3 f7 14.fxe4 fxe4 15.g3 e5 16.b5 e8 17.g2 g8 18.0-0 f5 19.c4+ h8 20.xf5! xf5 21.f1 after which Kortchnoi claims a clear advantage for White; 304
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B2c2) 11...xf8 B2c21) 12.d5?! d7 13.a3 ( 13.d1!? ) 13...a6 14.xa5 e7 15.xc7 ( 15.xe7 xe7 16.b2 he8 17.g3 b6 18.a3 bxc5 19.bxc5 xc5 20.c3 g8 i s b e t t e r f o r B l a c k) 15...c6 16.b6 xc7 17.xc7 c8 wi t h a b e t t e r g a m e f o r B l a c k Kosten; B2c22) 12.a3 axb4 13.xa8 a6 B2c221) This is the only given by Kosten and Palliser, but W hite can easily improve on this, e.g. 14.c6! b6 15.xe4 fxe4 16.b2 e7 17.g3 c5 18.g2 and with W hite being ready to break with f2-f3 followed by 0-0, he is clearly better; B2c222) 14.xe4 fxe4 15.b2 f6 ( 15...xc5 16.a5 b6 17.xb4 f6 18.d4 and W hite has all the winning chances ) 16.c6 b6 17.g3 c5 18.g2 with the better chances for White; B2c223) 14.xb4? xb4 15.b1 c2+ 16.d1 f6 is promising for Black according to Kosten ] [ B) 5...g4 6.c4 ( 6.e2?! d3 7.a4+? d7-+ 8.c6 xc6 9.b5 dxe2 10.bxc6 xc6 11.xe2 d7 12.d1 d4+ 0-1 Kureza, S-Mezheritsky, Y/Kiev 2002; 6.h3!? xf3 7.xf3 c6 8.a3 d7 9.c4 ) 6...a5 7.b3 h6 8.d3 axb4 9.bd2 dxe3 10.fxe3 xc5 11.e4 e7 12.0-0 c6 Vodicka, V-Jirka, J/CZE 2001 ] [ C) 5...e7 6.c4 d5 7.xe5 e6 8.f3 xe3 9.dxe3 xc4 10.xd4 a5 , Bae, T-Westerinen, H/Gausdal 2000, and now 11.d2 d5 12.e4 f7 13.b2 axb4 14.2b3 ] 6.xe5 [ Hello! This is a novelty. Previously White has tried the following moves: A) 6.b5+!? A) 6...c6?! 7.exd4 A1) 7...e4 8.d5 xd5 9.c3 h5 10.xe4 ( 10.xc6+!? bxc6 11.a4 exf3 12.xc6+ d8 13.xa8 axb4
14.d5+ xd5 15.xd5 fxg2 16.g1 xc5 17.e3 ) 10...axb4 11.0-0 g4 12.d4 xf3 13.gxf3 ge7 ( 13...0-0-0 14.xc6 g6+ 15.h1 bxc6 16.a3+- ) 14.a3 d5 15.b2; A2) 7...exd4 8.0-0 d7 ( 8...axb4 9.e1+ e7 10.b3 g4 11.b2 ) 9.e1+ e7 10.d3 xb4 ( 10...axb4 11.b3 ) 11.xd4 c6?! ( 11...xb5 12.xb5 xd3 13.xc7+ xc7 14.xd3 ) 12.c4 , and Black is completely busted, Peralta, F-Bromann, T/Aarhus 2002; B) 6...c6 7.c4 g4 ( 7...axb4!? (Horn) 8.xe5 dxe3 9.fxe3 h6 10.f3 xc5 11.0-0 , and with his d- and e-pawns ready to advance in addition to the control over the a2-g8 diagonal, W hite has excellent compensation for the sacrificed pawn; 7...dxe3 8.fxe3 g4 9.0-0 h6 10.e1 e4 11.d4 axb4 was Peralta, F-Cafolla, P/Port Erin 2002, and now White should h a ve t rie d 12.f4 e7 13.g3 d7 14.b2 with a very sharp position and probably better chances for White ) B1) 8.b3!? B1a) 8...a4 9.c2 e7 10.b2 d5 11.exd4 ( 11.a3 ) 11...xb4 12.e4 xf3 13.gxf3 d7 14.0-0; B1b) 8...h6 B1b1) 9.exd4?! xf3 10.gxf3 ( 10.xf3? xd4 11.c3 e4+ 12.f1 axb4 13.xb4 d4 14.b2 xc5-+ Horn ) B1b11) Horn only offers 10...xd4 11.b2 f4 12.a3 ( 12.d4?! exd4 13.0-0 axb4 14.e1+ d8 15.xd4 xc5 16.xc5 g5+ 17.h1 xc5 18.a3 ) 12...axb4 13.axb4 xa1 14.xa1; B1b12) 10...axb4! 11.0-0 ( 11.b2?! exd4 12.xb4 b5!-+ ) 11...xd4 12.b2 h4 13.d4 d7 14.e1 ( 14.a3?! exd4 15.axb4 xa1 16.xa1 e5 ) 14...e7 , and White's initiative is rapidly running out, leaving Black t o c o n s o l i d a t e 15.e6 f8 16.dxe5 xc5 17.f7+ ( 17.e2 g6 18.exf6 gxf6 ) 17...xf7 18.exf6+ d8 19.d1+ c8 305
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.h1 gxf6 21.xf7 g6 22.d7+ b8 23.d2 b6-+; B1b2) 9.bxa5!? xf3 10.gxf3 xc5 11.a3 xa5 12.xb7 a7 13.b2 xa3 14.xa3; B2) 8.exd4 e4 9.e2 e7 10.h3 exf3 11.xe7+ xe7 12.hxg4 fxg2 13.g1 h5! ( 13...axb4 14.xg2 h5 (Horn) 15.h2 ) 14.bxa5?! ( 14.gxh5 xh5 15.xg2 h1+ 16.f1 axb4 17.b2 (Horn) d5 18.g3 a6 ) 14...hxg4 15.xg2 h1+ 16.f1 f5 , and Black has the initiative, Nikolaevsky, YSavchenko, S/Kiev 1995 ] [ B) 6.b3 axb4 7.c4 h6 8.0-0 xc5 9.exd4 xd4 ( 9...exd4 10.e1+ f8 11.b2 c6 ) 10.xd4 xd4 11.b2 d6 12.d4 with an unclear position, Ilinsky-Lev/ Gausdal/1991 ] [ C) 6.exd4 e4 Kortchnoi 7.e2 e7 8.g1 c6 Horn (CBM) ] 6...fxe5 7.h5+ d7 8.f5+ e8 9.h5+ d7 10.f5+ e7 [ 10...e8 11.h5+ d7 12.f5+ wo u l d h a v e b e e n a d r a w, b u t K r a m n i k evidently felt like a fight after all ] 11.xe5+ e6 12.c4 d7 13.b5 [ 13.xe6 xe6 14.xc7+ d7 15.0-0 f7 16.exd4 c6 17.g3 gf6 is given as much better for W hite by my computer, but I'm not so sure. ] 13...c6 [ 13...f6 14.b2 dxe3 15.fxe3 f7 16.xe6+ xe6 17.xc7+ ] 14.a3 f6 15.b2 [ 15.exd4 f7 16.0-0 d5 doesn't look as dynamic for White as the game continuation, but is possibly just as good... ] 15...f7 [ This posit ion is almost impossible to evaluate W hite obviously has some if not full compensation for the piece. 15...d3!? ] 16.xd4 cxb5 [ Also 16...e7 17.b1 d5 18.0-0 d8 should be given some thought, though it is extremely difficult to evaluate ] 17.xe6+ xe6 18.xe6+ xe6 19.xb5 a6 [ 19...e8!? 20.e2 a6!? ] 20.xf6!? gxf6 21.d4 The smoke as cleared somewhat, and only somewhat because the
NQE (Not Quite Endgame, thanks Flear) is ve ry co m p lic a t e d t h a n ks t o t h e m a t e ria l imbalance and the two rooks on either side of the table. A hard assessment of the position is very difficult to give. I would prefer to play Black (thanks to my somewhat materialistic attitude to chess), but objectively speaking I think White has very good winning chances. b6!? 22.cxb6 [ Here White can consider keeping the cpawn on the table with 22.c6!? c8 23.e4 f5 24.f3 , but putting all the pawns on light squares will make it easier f or Black to blockade them, which is probably the reason why White took on b6 instead. ] 22...b8 23.c1 xb6 24.a4 d7 [ 24...b4 25.e2 d6!? ] 25.e2 d6 26.f3 b8 27.h4 c7 28.c3 [ Also 28.a3!? b4 29.c4 a7 30.xa5 xa4 31.a1 xa1 32.xa1 deserve consideration ] 28...f5 29.e2 e6?! [ 29...a6!? 30.g3 d6 is an interesting alternative, because White doesn't have the same opportunities as in the game continuation ] 30.d5 d8 31.d4 f7 32.b1 e5+ 33.e2 b4 34.xf5!? [ 34.xb4!? axb4 35.b1 a7 36.xf5 c5 37.e4 ( 37.c1 c8 38.f4 g4 39.e4 f6 40.d3 b3 41.b1 b8 isn't easy to assess, but advancing the pawns is becoming quite difficult.) 37...a8 38.f4 g6 39.g3 xa4 40.e5 e7 41.xe7 xe7 42.g4 looks tempting the pawn chain looks very imposing and White should have very decent winning chances ] 34...c8 [ Kramnik didn't like 34...xa4 35.b7+ c7 36.c1 ( 36.d6?? a2+-+ ) 36...c4 37.xc4 xc4 38.f4 after which only White seems to have winning chances, e.g. f8 39.e4 xf5 40.exf5 d6 41.a7 xf5 42.g4 xh4 43.f5 ] 35.xb4 axb4 36.d4 [ Also 36.b1!? c2+ 37.d1 xf2 38.xb4 xf5 39.xb8 offers White winning chances, but Van Wely undoubtedly wanted to keep the pawns together to make them more powerful. ] 306
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 36...a7 37.b1 c4 38.f3? [ This is a straight-forward error White will have a hard time making the pawns count after doubling two of them on the f -file. Instead White should have given preference to 38.b5!? c5 39.f4 g4 40.d3 xe3 41.a5 , and White has all the chances to win, but Black still has decent chances of obtaining a draw, but at the moment his pieces are tied up defending each other. ] 38...xf3 39.gxf3 d6 40.e4 c5 41.b3 e5 42.h5?! [ Or 42.d2 xf2 43.h5 c5 44.a5 f4 45.a6 d6 46.b1 c7 , and Black has decent winning chances ] 42...c2+ 43.d3 xf2 [ 43...c1! is likely much stronger, even if it doesn't appear to be anything particularly clever. W hite's problem is that with the material he has left, his pieces are ideally placed, and any change to that will change that status. Therefore it is a kind of zu gzwa n g h e is in a f t e r 4 3 .. . Rc1 . , e . g. 44.b2 ( 44.d2 a1 45.b2 xa4; 44.a5 a1 45.c4 xa5 46.b2 ) 44...c3+ 45.e2 b3 46.a5 f4 47.b1 xf3 with excellent winning chances for Black ] 44.c4 c2+ 45.b5 d6 [ Th e im me d ia t e 45...c3 is also worth a look, e.g. 46.b1 b3 47.a5 d4 48.a4 xf3 49.xb3 f7 50.a6! xe4 51.b7 xb7 52.axb7 e5 , and now a draw becomes obvious because Black cannot k e e p W h i t e ' s k i n g a wa y f r o m h 1 wh i l e picking up the d- and h-pawns... 53.b3 d3 54.b4 d4 55.b3 xd5 56.c2 e4 57.d2 f3 58.e1 g2 59.e2 with a draw ] 46.a5 c3 47.a4 d4 48.a6 c5 49.d6? [ 49.xb4+? xb4 50.xb4 xf3 51.a7 f8-+ ] [ 49.a7! c1 50.b5 xa7 51.xb4+ , and White shouldn't lose. ] 49...xd6 [ Black could have considered 49...c1!? , e. g. 50.b5 xd6 51.a7 a1 52.c6 c5 with excellent winning chances for Black. After the text move, the game quickly settles in a draw. ] 50.xc3 bxc3 51.a7 c2 52.a8 c1 53.d5+ e3 54.xd6 xf3 55.e5 f4+
56.b5 e4 57.c6+ xe5 58.c7+ e4 59.xh7+ f5+ 60.xf5+ xf5 ½-½
319 Van der Werf,Mark Burg,Twan Tata Steel Chess 2013 (3.1) [John Bartholomew]
A09 2450 2492 14.01.2013
T h e r e h a s b e e n s o m e d is c u s si o n in t h e forums about the theoretical status of the pawn advance 2...d4 against the Réti, which, in practice is dwarfed in popularity by 2...c6 and 2...e6. As the saying goes, however, "numbers don't lie", and indeed, Black scores significantly better with 2...d4 than any other choice at that juncture. GM Alexander Delchev, author of "The Modern Reti: An Anti-Slav Repertoire", even calls it "the most unpleasant retort to 2.c4". 1.f3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.b4 Delchev's principle recommendation for White. [ Other options include 3.g3 ] [ 3.e3 ] [ and 3.c5!? . Refer to the "Réti 2 c4 - 2. .. d4" guide in the archives. ] 3...f6 '!' - Delchev. Black prepares reliable support for his d-pawn with ...e7-e5. [ 3...c5 can lead to a Benko-style position i. e. 4.e3 dxe3 5.fxe3 cxb4 6.a3!? , which was successful in Sadorra, J (2525)-Kacheishvili, G (2612) Richardson 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] [ A n o t h e r p o s s i b i l i t y i s 3...g4!? . See Laznicka, V (2617)-Rombaldoni, D (2465) Pardubice 2009/[Rowson]. ] 4.d3 A calm choice, as played by Radjabov and Ivanchuk. [ Delchev endorses 4.e3 , with much of his analysis centering around the line e5 5.c5 a5 6.b5+!? c6 7.c4 . However, shortly after the publication of "The Modern Reti" the publisher, Chess Stars, published a letter from a reader, Reinhold Thiele. Mr. Thiele queries Delchev's sharp line axb4 8.xe5 and proposes an improvement for Black: fxe5 ( Delchev only examines 8...h6!? ) 9.h5+ g6!? 10.xe5+ e7 11.xh8 f6 "when Black continues Be6, ... 307
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Nbd7 ...0-0-0" (Thiele). In many of the lines W hite's queen is hopelessly marooned. Thiele's improvement is corroborated by d e e p H o u d in i a n a lysis , a n d in t e re st e d readers should investigate his variations here: http://www.chess-stars.com/Reti letter. html . As far as I know Delchev has yet to offer any counter-analysis, so his line with 4. e3 can rightly be called into question at present. Interestingly, one game did reach this position in the past month, and the result was favorable for Black: 12.0-0 e6 13.d3? xc4 14.dxc4 d7! 15.d1 g7 16.xd4+ c7 (Her Majesty is trapped) 17.d8+ xd8 18.xd8 xd8-+ and Black soon won in Davis, T (1945)Zelesco, K (2143) Cammeray 2013. ] 4...e5 5.a3 [ I v a n c h u k t r i e d t h e c r e a t i v e 5.a3!? in a blitz game against Wang Hao. It proved s u c c e s s f u l a f t e r e6 ( Black has many v i a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e s h e r e , i . e . 5...a5; 5...g4!?; 5...c5 , etc. ) 6.g3 c6 7.g2 a5 8.b5 , when c5? ( 8...xa3 9.xa3 e7 looks more flexible) 9.0-0 d6 10.e3 dxe3 11.fxe3 e7 12.c3 d7 13.d2 c8 14.de4 b8 15.a4 b6 16.exc5 bxc5 17.xa8+was disastrous for Black. Ivanchuk, V (2766)-W ang Hao (2737) Beijing CHN 2012. ] [ Radjabov played 5.b5 without success: a6! (a good reaction) 6.bxa6 xa6 7.g3 b4+ 8.d2 e7 9.g2 0-0 10.0-0 d7 11.xb4 xb4 12.b3 ec6 13.bd2 e7 14.b2 a7 15.b3 fa8 Radjabov, T (2781) -Naiditsch, A (2712) Porto Carras 2011. ] 5...a5 [ B l a c k c a n a l s o t h i n k a b o u t 5...c5 , a move that brought down Korchnoi twice i n t h e 1 9 8 0 s . 6.b3 ( 6.g3 cxb4 (play takes on a Reversed Benko character) 7.g2 c6 8.0-0 a5 9.e3 g4 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 c5 12.d5 ge7 13.e4 xd5 14.cxd5 e7 15.a4+? d7 16.b3 a4 17.c4 d6 18.axb4 b5 19.a2 xh3-+ Kortschnoj, V (2635) Seirawan, Y (2525) London 1984) 6...a5 7.b5 d6 8.g3 f5! 9.g2 f6 10.0-0 0-0 11.g5 bd7 and Black could be more than satisfied with the opening in Kortschnoj,
V (2625)-Short, N (2615) Brussels 1987. ] 6.b5 e7 Black has tried 10(!) different moves at this point in only 14 total games (going back to 1972). Results have been favorable for the second player: he scores +5, =4, -4. Some Flank devotees may identify with W hite's characteristic Réti setup, but personally I find Black's position easier to handle. He dominates the center and has made very logical moves thus far. 7.g3 d7 The c5-square is a natural home f or this knight. 8.g2 c5 9.a4 g6 10.a3 e6 11.fd2 c8 12.h4!? d6 13.h5 [ I think 13.b3! is preferable. After xb3 14.xb3 e7!? 15.d2 0-0 16.e4 d7 17.c5 xc5 18.xc5 ab8 White possesses the bishop pair while Black retains a solid position. ] 13...f8! 14.b3 xb3 15.xb3 d7 Black's knight replaces his fallen comrade on c5. 16.d2 c5 17.c2 0-0 18.b3 xb3 19.xb3 f5 20.c2 xa3 21.xa3 f6 22.a1 f4 23.d2?! [ 23.gxf4 xf4 24.h6!? g6= ] 23...fxg3 24.fxg3 f2 25.f3 g4 26.hf1 h2!? 27.c5 h8 28.c4 f5 29.d5 g5+ 30.c2 c6?! [ B e t t e r w a s 30...xf3! 31.xf3 e7 , winning the c-pawn. ] 31.bxc6 bxc6 32.f7? An error. [ W h i t e p r o b a b l y r e j e c t e d 32.xc6 because of c8 , but 33.d6 xf3 34.xf3 xe2+ 35.b3 is actually fairly safe for him. Black would have to secure his own king with h6 , b u t a f t e r 36.af1 White has sufficient counterplay. ] 32...h6 33.ab1?! e4! A decisive lineopening blow. 34.xg4 [ 34.dxe4 xc5+ ( or 34...d3+ ) 35.d1 d3! crashes through. ] 34...exd3+ 35.xd3 e3+ 36.c2 d3+! 37.b2 dxe2 38.fe1 d4+ 39.a3 xg4-+ White's king is far too exposed and he can scarcely cope with the advanced passed e-pawn. 40.b3 d8 41.c7 d1 42.f7 h7 White resigned. Black's play in this game was natural and strong. My view is that 3.b4 f6 is a very reliable continuation for Black (no surprise here), so W hite players ought to think hard about what they're going to play
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 gain anything by passive play. [ 14.b4!? would upset the equilibrium, e.g., xb4 15.b1 a5 ( 15...xd2 16.xd2 b8 17.e4 ) 16.a3! xa3 17.xd4! exd4 ( 17...xd4 18.a4+ d7 19.xa3 ) 320 A09 18.xb7 d6 19.a4+ d8 ( 19...f8? Vukic,Milan 2474 20.e4 ) 20.a1 and Black's bishop can't Kovacevic,Aleksandar 2556 escape due to b4 21.xb4 ] Open Banja Luka BIH (5) 08.12.2004 14...0-0!? [John Watson] [ Or 14...a5 with at least equality. White has to move quickly to compensate for Black's This game tests the idea of playing a two bishops. ] Saemisch variation/Bg5 Benoni with reversed colours, and how White might address that in 15.e2 [ 15.b4 should be tried. ] order to try for an advantage. 1.f3 d5 2.g3 15...a5 16.e1 ab8 Preparing ...b5. 17.a4 c5 3.g2 c6 4.c4 d4 5.d3 e5 6.0-0 Going backwards. With White lacking [ 6.b4!? cxb4 7.a3 is not really a genuine f7?! reversed Benko Gambit because Black has queenside play Black should be able to build will have little trouble castling. Many times up an attack at his leisure. [ I t h i n k t h a t 17...h8! was preferable to ann ot at ors ta lk a bou t re ve rsed " Be nko prevent any tricks based upon the e-file and Gambits" with an extra tempo (which indeed Bd5. ] helps White) even though Black pays less of [ , or 17...be8 18.c2 f5 ] a price for accepting the pawn in terms of king position. Here a possible sequence 18.c2! d8?! [ 18...be8! would meet 19.f4 by d6 ] might be bxa3 8.0-0 ( 8.a4 b4+ 9.d2 xd2+ 10.bxd2 f6 11.xa3 ge7; 19.f4! exf4? 20.xf4 Suddenly the d-pawn is 8.xa3 xa3 9.xa3 f6 ) 8...d6 9.a4 under fire and White's pieces are active. d6 [ 20...c5 21.b3! ] ge7 10.xa3 0-0 . White has some compensation, but I doubt that it's as much 21.xd4 c7 22.f1 e5 23.e4 f5 24.d4! xe4 25.xe4 d6 26.c5 e7 as Black in the original Gambit. ] 6...f6 The Saemisch reversed, soon to 27.ce3 [ Or 27.e1! e8 28.fe3 would threaten become a Benoni. 7.e3 g4 8.exd4 xd4 Nd5 and give White a clear advantage. d7 [ 8...cxd4 gives White a choice between 29.d5+ xd5 30.xd5 f7 31.c7 h8 several Benoni setups with an extra tempo. 32.e3 with Nc4 to come. ] Whether this suffices for an advantage is 27...d7? unclear, but Kovacevic avoids it. ] [ 27...e8 28.e1 d7 29.d5+ xd5 9.e3 d7 10.xd4 30.xd5 c6! is better than the last note. ] [ 10.c3 is also possible, when ] 28.d5+ xd5 29.xd5+ f7 30.f5 10...cxd4 11.bd2 h6 [ Or 30.c4! fd8 31.fe3 but White has a [ 11...e7 invites 12.b4 ] nice grip on the position regardless. ] 12.h3 [ A more dynamic idea was 12.a3 a5 30...fe8 31.1e3 f8 32.c4! d8 13.b4!? axb4 14.axb4 xa1 15.xa1 33.g2 e2+ 34.f1 c2 35.fe3 h2 with pressure on the b-pawn and moves like 36.g2 Black has been just flailing about, and now loses the exchange back. c7 37.g4 c5 and Nc4 in the air. ] xg2 38.xg2 d8 39.d1 g5 40.d5 12...e6 e8 41.f2 e2 42.d2 e1 43.h4 f7 [ 12...xh3?! 13.xe5 fxe5 14.h5+ ] [ 12...f5 13.e2 e7 14.h2 0-0 44.d3 e4 45.b3 f5 46.f2 e1 47.d1 15.h4 e6 16.f4 exf4 17.xf4 g5 Perhaps White should quit messing around 18.e4 gxh4 19.xe6 hxg3+ 20.g1 and win the game by [ 47.d6! d8 48.d5 and Nd3. ] intending Bd5. ] 13.h2 e7 14.a3 White cannot hope to 47...e8 48.c3 against the unjustly unpopular 2...d4. 0-1
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Or 48.d6! ] 48...d7 At least Black has prevented progress for a while. Now White settles for a rook-and-pawn ending that should be winning but is not easy. 49.b5 e5 50.xe5+ xe5 51.c2 c7 52.c6+?! [ 52.xc7 xc7 53.f3 d1 54.d6+ c6 55.f4 g6 56.c3 intending Kg5 looks good. ] 52...bxc6 53.xc7 xc7 54.xc6+ d7 55.a6 e3 56.xa5 xb3 57.a7+ d6 58.xg7 a3 59.f7? [ 59.xh7! xa4 60.f7 e5 61.h5! a5 62.h6 a2+ 63.h3 a6 64.h7 h6+ 65.g2 xd5 66.a7 ] 59...e5 60.d6 xa4 [ Poor is 60...xd6 61.xf5 xa4 62.f7 h5 63.f5 ] 61.d7 d4 62.xh7 f6 63.h5 d3 64.f2 d2+ 65.e3 d1 Suddenly White can't make progress! 66.g4!? fxg4 67.e4 [ 67.f4 d4+ 68.g3 g5 ] 67...d2 68.h6 g6 [ Or 68...g3 ] 69.e7 xh6 70.e5 g3 71.e6+ g7 [ 71...g7 72.d6 xd6 73.xd6 g2 d r a ws . A d i s a s t e r f o r W h i t e , w h o wa s winning at many junctures. ] ½-½
321 Vukic,Milan Stojanovic,Dalibor TCh-BIH Prem (6) [John Watson]
A09 2468 2452 09.06.2005
1.f3 d5 2.g3 c5 3.g2 c6 4.c4 d4 5.d3 e5 6.0-0 f6 7.e3 e7 8.exd4 exd4 9.f4 This position an arise in a number of ways. It is exactly a variation of a Benoni in reverse, but here White gets time to play the critical Ne5. W het her that give s him an y advantage is unclear, but in these two recent games Black followed a line that was supposed to be equal but left him clearly worse. 0-0 10.e5 xe5 11.xe5 g4 T h i s i s t h e m a i n l i n e i n E C O , wi t h a l l 3 alte rn at ive s th ey give lea ding to a sma ll advantage for White, i.e., [ 11...g4 12.b3 d7 ( 12...d7 13.d2
ae8= ) 13.f4 b6 14.e1 fe8 15.a3 - Minev ] [ 11...d7 12.f4 -Korchnoi ] [ 11...d6 12.xf6 xf6 13.d2 - Bagirov. The idea is that a knight is better than a bishop in this position, but that's not clear. Play might continue f5 14.e4 d7 15.xb7 ab8 16.g2 xb2 17.b3 ] 12.e1! [ 12.f4 d6 13.xd6 xd6 14.d2 Kasparov-Pinter, Skara 1980 and Kasparov suggests e5 15.h3 ( 15.e4 c7 16.h3 f5= ) 15...f5 16.e4 c7 17.f4 d7 18.g4 xe4 19.xe4 f6 20.g2 ] 12...d6!? [ T h e o b v i o u s 12...xe5 13.xe5 resembles the reversed Benoni mentioned. The position is slightly deceptive because W h it e ha s act ivit y an d th e p owerf u l g2 bishop. Nevertheless, Black has the bishop pair and no weaknesses, so he shouldn't stand much worse if at all. ] 13.xd6 xd6 14.h3 f6 15.d2! d7?! 16.xb7 ab8 17.g2 a5 [ In he same tournament Vukic had it easy after 17...c6 18.xc6 xc6 19.b3 a5 20.f3 d7 21.g2 a4 22.e5! a7 23.ae1 axb3 24.xb3 xa2 25.xc5 h6 26.e7 a3 27.d7 xd7 28.xd7 1-0 Vukic-Ribic, Neum BIH 2005. ] [ 17...xb2 18.b3 almost traps the rook and forces concessions: e8 ( 18...c6? 19.xc6 xc6 20.c1 ) 19.xe8+ xe8 20.c1 e2 21.a3! d7 22.xa7 ] 18.b3 b6 19.f3 a4 20.b1 axb3 21.axb3 [ or 21.xb3 a6 22.xb8 xb8 23.e2 ] 21...d6 22.a1 b6 23.a5!? fb8 24.d2 Vukic-Stojanovic, Neum 2005. White went on to lose, but here he is a clear pawn up with nicely-placed pieces. 0-1
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A09 19...dg8! 20.f4 [ 20.xf6? xh3! would actually lose! ] Zvjaginsev,Vadim 2652 Svetushkin,Dmitry 2486 20...d6 21.f3 g4 22.h1 So, White has VII Anibal Open (3) 09.01.2000 erected a solid defence, with so many pieces around his king, but exploiting his extra pawn [Tony Kosten] won't be easy. b8?! [ Can Black really afford to use two moves to 1.f3 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e3 f6 4.xc4 e6 bring his king to a safer square like this? 5.0-0 One advantage of playing a Reti move22...g6 is more in keeping with his previous orde r a gain st Q u ee n 's Ga mb it A cce pt e d gung-ho play. ] players, is that you can delay d4, to keep 23.ae1?! them guessing. c5 6.e2 a6 [ Safety-first play, but 23.ac1 is better, [ 6...c6 7.d1 e7 and now White counter-attacking the c5-pawn. ] transposed into a QGA: 8.d4 cxd4 9.exd4 Kortschnoj,V-Huebner,R/Brussels 1987, 0-1 23...a8 24.b3?! g6 25.d1 The bishop is brought over to help, too, but why use two (55). ] moves to bring the piece to an inferior square? 7.b3 [ 7.d1 is similar: b5 8.b3 b7 9.a4 c4 f5 Softening-up the long diagonal. 26.xd6 10.c2 b6 11.axb5 axb5 12.xa8 xa8 xd6 27.f4 d4! 28.b3 a7?! [ Another wasted move, 28...e5 29.f2 13.d3 cxd3 14.xd3 with the initiative, Vujic gh6 30.h3 xd3 and Black has regained Katanic,B-Savic,M/Vrnjacka Banja YUG his pawn, and continues to attack. ] 1999, 1-0 (26). ] 29.a5 e5 30.f2 gh6 31.h3 xd3 7...b5!? [ Clearly, Black doesn't wish to play 7...c6 32.xd3 xd3 33.e3 [ 33.f3? fxe4 34.xe4 xe4 35.xe4 as perhaps this line isn't in his repertoire: xh3+ and the black attack breaks through. ] 8.d1 e7 9.d4 cxd4 10.exd4 0-0 11.c3 back to a QGA again, Zvjaginsev,V- 33...d2 34.e2 h4 35.f2 fxe4 36.g1 f8 37.f3? Magem Badals,J/Pamplona 1996, 1-0 (28). ] [ Time-trouble, perhaps, 37.d1 holds on. ] 8.a4 b4 [ This concedes the c4-square, but 8...c4 37...c8?? [ The obviou s 37...xf3 38.xc5+ a8 9.c2 b7 10.d3 cxd3 11.xd3 39.gxf3 f4 should win. ] is also awkward. ] 9.d3! So White is not going to play d4 after all! 38.f7 d4? 39.d1 On time, probably, Now that Black has shown his hand, W hite although now White is clearly better. prefers to play a set-up with pawns on d3, and 1-0 e4, keeping the c5-pawn backward on the o p e n c - f i l e . c6 10.bd2 This knight is A10 heading for the important c4-square. a5 323 11.a2 b7 12.e4 This pawn acts as a Agrest,Evgenij 2607 barrier to the b7-bishop, thus negating Black's Atalik,Suat 2575 habitual counterplay on the h1-a8 diagonal, in Olympiad Bled SLO (13) 08.11.2002 the QGA. e7 13.c4 xc4 14.xc4 c7 [Tony Kosten] 15.g5!? Having fixed the queenside, White will now use his extra space on the kingside 1.c4 e6 2.c3 b6 It is time to have another to a t t ac k with f 4 -5 . h6 16.h3 g5!? look at the English Defence. 3.e4 b7 4.f3 Black decides that his king is safer on the b4 5.d3 e7 6.e2 g6! Lalic's move. queenside, and tries to attack on the kingside 7.c2!? A new idea. Before we had himself. 17.f4 0-0-0?! This pawn sacrifice considered may offer practical chances, but it is difficult [ 7.0-0 and ] to believe that it is correct. 18.fxg5 hxg5 [ 7.a3 d6 8.c2 when f5! led to sharp 19.xg5?! play, Marjanovic,S-Ivanisevic,I. ] [ 19.e5! d5 20.xf7 is critical. ] 7...h4 322
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 7...f5!? should also be possible here, 8.exf5 h4 9.xh4 xh4 but with the black dark-squared bishop on b4, instead of d6, W hite can play 10.0-0 as there is no mate threat on h2. ] 8.a3 White is not scared of the capture on f3, which strengthens his e-pawn. d6 9.xh4 xh4 10.g3 c6 The thematic [ 10...f5!? must also have been considered, 11.d4 ( 11.exf5 xg2 12.g1 xh2 13.h5+ xh5 14.xh5 f3 15.xg7+ f7 favours Black as the knight is misplaced on g7 ) 11...fxe4 12.e2 with complicated play. ] 11.d4 0-0 12.e3 It is a good idea to defend d4, as after the natural [ 12.0-0 f5 13.e5 e7 it looks like White c a n s t r e n g t h e n h i s c e n t r e w i t h 14.f4? b u t t h e n c o m e s xd4! and the knight is untouchable. ] 12...a5 13.d3 [ 13.e2 is slightly superior. ] 13...f5! Black must strike before White completes his development. 14.exf5 [ 14.b4 allows xc4 15.xc4 f4 ] 14...xg2 15.g1 f3 If White had played his queen to e2 this move, which stops White castling, would not be possible. [ 15...xh2?! 16.0-0-0 is very risky for Black, who has opened files against his own king. ] 16.b3 xh2 17.d2 xg3!? [ 17...xa3!? is very dangerous: 18.c3! ( 18.h1?? b4+; 18.xa3? xg1 19.fxe6 g6 and W hite has no attack.) 18...c6 19.fxe6 b4+ 20.b2 g6 (else Rh1) as I wouldn't like to be in Black's shoes here after 21.h1! (anyway!) xh1 22.xh1 g2 23.xh7! ] 18.xg3 xf5 19.ag1 g6 20.d5 White has a useful initiative for his pawn. h5 [ 20...exd5?? allows a quick mate after 21.xg6+ ( 21.xf5 is also winning, of course ) 21...hxg6 22.xg6+ h8 23.xf5 ] 21.c1 h4 Black hastens his bits back for the defence. 22.dxe6 dxe6 23.d7?! [ 23.g5 seems strong: h2 24.f4 f2 25.e4 with nasty threats. ] 23...f6! 24.xf5 White must take the rook and concede a perpetual. c3+ 25.b1 xb3+ 26.a1 xa3+ 27.b1 b3+ 28.a1 c3+
[ 28...exf5?? is not advisable: 29.e6+ g7 30.d4+ h6 31.e7 which defends a3 and forces mate. ] 29.b1 b4+ 30.a1 a3+ ½-½
324 Agrest,Evgenij Ehlvest,Jaan TCh Lunds SWE (11) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2531 2638 18.03.2001
1.c4 e6 2.c3 b6 3.e4 b7 4.f3 b4 5.d3 e7 6.e2 Menacing to trap the b4bishop. bc6!? [ An innovation, we have seen 6...f5 and, ] [ 6...g6 before. ] 7.a3 d6 8.c2 f5 9.d4 fxe4 10.xe4 0-0!? So far this all seems very natural. 11.c2 f5 12.d5 This seems strong, Black is forced to weaken his structure, but relies on his full development. e5 13.xe5 xe5 14.dxe6 xe4 15.xe4 d6 16.g3 [ Who would like to be White following 16.exd7?! xd7 17.0-0 ae8 ? ] 16...dxe6 17.0-0! [ The correct approach, 17.xe6+?! h8 18.0-0 h4 can only favour Black. ] 17...f6 18.e2 Black's activity compensates his potentially weak e6-pawn. ½-½
325 Agrest,Evgenij Kanep,Meelis EuTCh Plovdiv BUL (9) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2605 2452 20.10.2003
1.c4 e6 2.c3 b6 3.e4 b7 4.f3 b4 5.d3 e7 6.e2 bc6!? [ 6...g6 might be the best - see the eBook. ] 7.a3 d6 8.c2 f5 9.d4 fxe4 10.xe4 0-0 11.c2 f5 12.h4! A brave innovation, by controlling h4 with the rook as well as the f3knight W hite threatens g4 to drive the f5knight back, and expose the h7-pawn. W e had previously looked at [ 12.d5 which Agrest had played against 312
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Ehlvest. ] 12...h5?! A bad reaction, weakening the g5square. Black probably rejected [ 12...h6 b e c a u s e o f 13.g4?! but then he h a s a f a n t a s t i c r e s o u r c e : ( 13.d2 f o l l o we d b y l o n g c a s t le s a n d g 4 l o o k s better ) 13...b4+!! ( 13...fe7 loses the exchange to 14.c5 bxc5 15.dxc5 xc5! 16.xc5 d5 (so that the bishop can't defend f3) 17.fd4 dxe4 18.xe6 although Black h a s s o m e c o m p e n s a t i o n a f t e r d5 ) 14.axb4? ( 14.d1 is unclear) 14...xb4 15.b1 xe4 16.xe4 d6 and Black wins as the white queen cannot f3. ] 13.g5 The bishop doesn't need a written invitation to come to g5! e8 14.0-0-0 b8 15.he1 As g4 is under control White turns his attention to the centre, and the semi-open ef i l e , p o i n t i n g a t t h e b l a c k q u e e n . a5?! The knight turns out being misplaced here, a n d l i k e l y t o b e h i t b y a l a t e r b 4 . 16.d5! W hite has no reason to exchange pieces. a6! Black looks for counterplay by attacking the c-pawn, but White's central possibilities a r e m o r e s i g n i f i c a n t . 17.ed4! xd4 18.xd4 The rook defends c4, but can it be deflected? e5!? [ 18...c5 is the alternative, but then 19.dxe6! dxe6 ( 19...xd4 20.xd4 dxe6 21.xe6! is crushing.) 20.d5! exploits the e-file pin, exd5 21.xe8 bxe8 22.xd5 xc4 23.d3! xd3 24.xd3 xf2 25.b4 winning the knight. ] 19.d3 The e-pawn is pinned, of course, and m e a n w h i l e b 4 i s a s t r o n g t h r e a t . b5! The only chance. 20.c5! Deflecting the bishop from its defence of e5. xc5 The point. 21.xe5 Now White is clearly winning. [ 21.xc5?? b3+ ] 21...xe5?! This loses, but after [ 21...c8 22.h7+ h8 23.g6 is decisive. ] 22.xe5 xd4 23.h7+ Black's weakened kingside allows White to wrap-up quickly. h8 24.g6+ xh7 25.e7+! h8 26.g6 b3+ 27.b1 There is no way to avoid Qxh5 mate. 1-0
326 Avrukh,Boris Shachar,Ehud ch Tel Aviv ISR (9) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2595 2374 03.12.2002
1.f3 e6 2.c4 f5 3.g3 f6 4.g2 d5 5.0-0 c6 6.d3! As I pointed-out in my book, the Stonewall Dutch doesn't work too well against an English set-up, as White can organise e4 quite easily. [ 6.d4 would lead to a mainline Dutch. ] 6...c5 This move has its drawbacks, but then so does [ 6...d6 which can be countered by 7.c3 0-0 8.e4 so perhaps Black should be happy with the more passive ] [ 6...e7 ] 7.c2! This is strong, threatening a discovered attack on the c5-bishop. bd7 Perhaps the other method of defending the bishop, [ 7...e7 is best, 8.g5 ( 8.f4! bd7 9.d4 d6 10.xd6 xd6 11.cxd5 is good ) 8...0-0 9.bd2 d4 Ovod,E-Zaitseva,L/ Moscow 1999, when 10.b3 leaves White on top. ] 8.cxd5 cxd5 This is the point, Black is forced to make an anti-positional recapture. [ 8...exd5?! 9.d4 d6 10.xf5 e5 11.c2 xf3+ 12.xf3 0-0 13.c3 leaves W hite a pawn up for nothing, Makarov,M-Stock,J/Berlin 1996. ] 9.f4!? An innovation, White intends to bring his knight to d2 instead of c3 in order to utilise the c-file more quickly. [ 9.c3 0-0 10.f4 is also better for White, though, e7 11.a4 d6 12.xd6 xd6 13.fc1 f4 14.c7 with a significant advantage, Makarov,M-Arnold,L/Cappelle la Grande 1996. ] 9...0-0 10.bd2 [ 10.c3 would transpose into the last note. ] 10...b6 [ 10...h5!? ] 11.ac1 g4!? 12.e3 h6 Planning to trap th e f 4 -bish op wit h . . . g5 , bu t t h e re is n o t enough time, [ 12...e5? loses material: 13.xe5 dxe5 14.xd5+ h8 15.xe5 xe5 16.xc5 ] 313
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.b3 d6 [ 13...e7 avoids the exchange of bishops, but can hardly have tempted Black. ] 14.xd6 xd6 15.fd4 a6 16.c7 Just as in the Makarov game, White uses the c-file to bring a rook to the seventh. xc7 17.xc7 b6 Hoping to play ...e5. 18.h3 f6 19.f4! Fixing the black central pawns on light squares, positionally White is already winning. f7 20.c2 e7 21.f3 The dark squares on d4 and e5 beckon to the white knights. b8 22.bd4 d7 23.e5 e8 24.fc1 The white position is a picture, reminiscent of one of those Master v Amateur games from the nineteenth century! f7 25.g4 g6 26.c7 be8 27.g5 hxg5 28.fxg5 h7 29.h4 f8 30.e4 Time to bring White's one inactive piece into the fray. dxe4 31.dxe4 fxe4 32.xe4 d5 33.xe7 xe7 34.c8 g7 35.h5! Black has had enough punishment. [ 35.h5 gxh5? 36.xd5 exd5? 37.f5+ ] 1-0
10...g4 11.e5 xf3+ 12.xf3 xe5 13.g3 xg3 14.hxg3 d8 Black's pressure continues into the endgame. 15.a4 f5 16.a5 d3 17.xd3 xd3 18.a4 f5 19.f4 g6 20.e1 ad8 21.f1 d6 22.a4 a6 [ Black could also play 22...xf2 23.xf2 xg3+ 24.e2 xe1 when he has all the chances. ] 23.e2 e5 24.e1 c6 25.e3 b4 26.d1 c5 27.e2 3d7 28.g4 d3 29.gxf5 gxf5 30.c2?! [ 30.f3 was better. ] 30...xf2 31.g4? [ And here White should play 31.b3 . ] 31...f4 32.ae4?! [ 32.xf4 xf4 33.xf2 would have allowed White to fight on. ] 32...f3 33.e8+ xe8 34.xe8+ f7 35.e4 a7 36.d1 f2 37.xf2 xf2 38.f4+ g6 39.d4 c7+ 0-1
327
328
Claesen,Pieter Hovhanisian,Mher BEL-ch Westerlo (5) [Nigel Davies]
A10 2392 2294 07.07.2004
1.c4 d5!? Shock tactics! [ A more respectable move order would be 1...c6 2.e4 d5 3.cxd5 f6 . ] 2.cxd5 f6 3.e4 Evidently deciding to punish his opponent for his presumptuousness. [ 3.f3 xd5 4.d4 transposes into an unusual Queen's Gambit line which is not thought to be great for Black. ] 3...c6 4.dxc6 xc6 5.c3 e5 6.b5 c5 7.f3 [ Better than 7.ge2 as played in Dezelak, B (2160)-Galeev, S (2275)/Bled 1996. ] 7...0-0 8.0-0 d4 9.xe5 [ In an earlier game W hite played 9.xd4 exd4 10.e5 , with Black getting a good g a m e a f t e r g4 11.e4 d5 12.c2 xe5 13.f4 h5 14.h3 b6 in Henneberg, I-Serdjuk, I/Ronneburg 1996. ] 9...d6 10.f3 [ Another possibility was 10.c4 e7 11.e3 xb5 12.xb5 xe4 ]
Damljanovic,Branko Kindermann,Stefan ECC Halkidiki GRE (2) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2535 2519 23.09.2002
1.c4 f5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.d3 d6 6.e4 fxe4 7.dxe4 0-0 8.ge2 c5 Botvinnik fans should know that they can use the plan of this game to treat almost all these Dutch positions where Black tries to post a knight on d4, for instance, [ 8...e5 9.0-0 c5!? ( 9...e6!? is covered in Kharlov, A-Minasian,A/Batumi GEO 2002.) 10.h3 e6 11.b3 c6 as in my game against Santo Roman,M/France N1 2002, as now I could play 12.f4 and if d4 13.f5! ] 9.h3 [ 9.0-0 c6 10.f4 e6 11.b3 d7 is an alternative method of treating this position, Smejkal,J-Kindermann,S/ Germany 1998. ] 9...c6 10.0-0 e5 11.f4!? A strong new idea, Black is loathe to capture on f4 as it weakens h i s b a s e o n d 4 a n d t h e re f o r e le a ve s d 6 exposed. [ 11.g5 i s we a k e r , e6 12.d5 d7 314
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.h2 f7 ( 13...d4 14.xd4 cxd4 wa s n o t h i n g s p e c i a l f o r W h i t e e i t h e r , Psakhis,L-Grinshpun,E/Israel 1999.) 14.d2 af8 Danailov, S-Avshalumov,A/Cannes 1990. ] 11...d4 Perfectly logical, this is the whole idea behind Black's plan, nevertheless he should prefer [ 11...exf4!? perhaps, A) 12.gxf4!? is preferred by Damljanovic, who continues h5 13.e3 ( 13.d5+!? h8 14.b5 has its points) 13...d4! 14.xd4 cxd4 15.xd4 xd4+ 16.xd4 xf4 unclear.; B) 12.xf4!? e8 ( 12...e5! is best, 13.b5 e6! 14.xd6 h5 15.xb7 b6 is a complete mess) 13.d5+ h8 14.ad1 w i n s a p a w n , e . g . d4? ( 14...b6 i s b e t t e r , b u t 15.b5 certainly favours White) 15.xd4 xd4+ 16.xd4! cxd4 17.xd4+ f6 18.e5! dxe5 19.xf6 exd4 20.xf8+ g7 21.xe8 dxc3 22.bxc3 and Black can resign. ] 12.f5! gxf5 Positionally, acceptance of the pawn seems f orced, otherwise W hite will continue with g4, reinforcing his kingside phalanx. However, [ 12...d5!? is also possible, so that White c a n n o t u s e t h e d 5 - s qu a r e f o r a p i e c e , 13.fxg6 dxc4 14.gxh7+ xh7 is not too clear, although I would prefer White after 15.g4 followed by Ng3 and either Nf5 or g5, Qh5. ] 13.exf5 xf5 [ 13...xf5 14.xd4 cxd4 15.xf5 dxc3 16.bxc3 favours White because of his bishop pair and light-squared control. ] 14.d3! What has White achieved with his p a wn s a c ? B a sica lly h e h a s o p e n e d t h e h1-a8 diagonal for his g2-bishop, and freed the e4 and d5 squares for his knights. d4 15.g5 This pin further accentuates White's control over the central light squares, which are no longer defended by the knight, in effect. e6? This gets Black into real problems, he should unpin the knight immediately: [ 15...e8 when 16.xd4 exd4 ( 16...cxd4 17.b5 d8 18.a3 regains the pawn with advantage.) 17.ae1 h5 18.xf6 xf6 ( 18...xf6 19.g4 xf1+ 20.xf1 xg4
(forced) 21.hxg4 xg4 22.d5 is good for White ) 19.d5 e5 20.c7 ( 20.e7+!? g7 21.xf8 xf8 22.xc8 xc8 23.g4 g6 24.e4 g5 is equal ) 20...b8 21.d5+ g7 22.xf8 xf8 23.f1+ e7 24.g4 is dangerous for Black. ] 16.e4 Now the pressure on the f6-knight forces the black queen to stay where she is, while White can bring another piece to bear. c8 17.2c3 c7 18.h4? Played to protect the bishop, but [ 18.xf6+ xf6 19.xf6! xf6 20.e4 was rat he r go od , winn in g an e xc ha nge immediately. ] 18...f5 19.d5 cf7 20.xf5? To unpin the e4-knight, and win two pieces for a rook, but there is a problem. xf5 21.exf6+ xf6 22.xf5 xh4 23.g4+ g7? [ 23...g5! 24.h4 g7 25.hxg5 xg5 26.e6+ ( 26.xg5 xg5 27.f1 xf1+ 28.xf1 xg3 is a better bet, although Black has all the chances.) 26...h8 27.xd6 A) 27...f2!? is also quite good: 28.b8+ ( 28.xf2?? xg3+ 29.e2 xg2+ f o r c e s m a t e) 28...g8 and now White must give his queen by 29.xg8+ xg8 30.xf2 d2+ 31.f1 xb2 which is unclear; B) 27...f5! and White has difficulty defending against the g-file pressure. ] 24.xh4 xh4 25.gxh4 Now White has two extra pawns when compared with the similar ending considered in the last note, and this added to his light-squared control makes all the difference. f3 26.f1 xf1+ [ 26...xh3? 27.e7+ xe7 28.xh3 ] 27.xf1 f8 28.e3 f7+ 29.e2 b6 30.e4 e7 31.h5 d7 32.h6 Fixing the h7pawn on a light square, Black's extra central pawns have no future. d8 33.b3 d7 34.h4 d8 35.f5 [ 35.d5 followed by h5 and Bg6! was a neater winning method. ] 35...f6 36.h5 b5! 37.f3 [ 37.cxb5? d5 would turn the tables. ] 37...bxc4 38.bxc4 d5 Desperation, but after [ 38...d7 White would win by advancing his king. ] 39.cxd5 a6 40.e3 xh6 41.g4 a6 42.xh7 xa2 43.c2 a1 44.h6 h1 315
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 45.h7 a5 46.g2 One of many winning 330 moves, Black will have to concede his rook for Edouard,Romain the h-pawn. Rapport,Richard 1-0 Gibraltar Masters 12th (5) [Fier, Alexandr] 329 Dezelak,Brane Galeev,Shamil Bled op-B (9) [Nigel Davies]
A10 2160 2275 1996
1.c4 d5!? Black probably took a certain delight in playing this unsettling move. [ A more 'standard' way of getting into this gambit would have been 1...c6 2.e4 d5 3.cxd5 f6 . ] 2.cxd5 f6 3.e4 c6 4.dxc6 Refuting the gambit by accepting? [ It certainly doesn't turn out this way in the pres ent enc ount er, wit hin a f ew m ove s White was probably wishing he had played 4.c3 cxd5 5.e5 . ] 4...xc6 5.c3 e5 6.b5 c5 7.ge2 [ 7.f3 looks like a more natural move as in Claesen, P (2392)-Hovhanisian, M (2294)/ Westerlo 2004. ] 7...0-0 [ Black could already play 7...g4 when 8.d4 ( 8.0-0? h4! ) 8...exd4 9.d5 d3 10.xd3 xf2+ 11.f1 0-0 is very good for Black. ] 8.xc6 [ 8.0-0 would have been better. ] 8...bxc6 9.0-0 d3 [ 9...a6 was also very good it's difficult to see how White can develop. ] 10.g3 g4 11.a4 h5 12.h4?? A horrible blunder under pressure. [ W hite should play 12.e1 , which is far from pleasant but not necessarily lost. ] 12...xg3 13.d4 xd4 14.g5 [ 14.xd4 exd4 15.fxg3 dxc3 leaves White a piece down. ] 14...f3 0-1
A10 2658 2691 01.02.2014
They often say that the Dutch is not so good against 1.Nf3 because White can play d3 and e4 in some variations. Here Black goes for an exotic Stonewall setup with a knight on c6. 1.f3 e6 2.c4 f5 3.g3 f6 4.g2 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.d3 [ 6.d4 would transpose to normal Dutch lines. ] 6...d5 The position after 6.d3 d5 is a bit funny. Apparently nobody cares about the e5-square for the moment. [ 6...d6 is the normal setup in this position, and here W hite can use the fact that the pawn is not on d4 7.c3 e8 8.e4!? and Black cannot attack so easily after this move fxe4 9.dxe4 e5 10.c5 and White's chances are slightly preferable, but the position is full of life Edouard, R (2657)Narciso Dublan, M (2521)/Barcelona Casino 18th 2013. ] 7.c2 This is one of the many ways to handle this position. White makes a useful move and awaits developments. [ 7.c3 is more direct and aims to enter into some kind of reversed Benoni d4 8.b5 c5 9.e3 c6 10.exd4 cxd4 at first sight it looks like W hite is better because of the strange pawn on f5, compared to the normal Benoni. However, W hite's knight is only stable on b5 when Black's pawn is already on a5. 11.e1 a6 12.a3 d6 and the position remains thematic, both sides playing normal Benoni plans, Dobrov, V (2537) -Pelletier, Y (2604)/Nancy Meurthe KO 11th rapid 2013 (2.2). ] [ 7.bd2 is a bit strange, but was also played before c6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.b3 and W hite wants to bring the knight to c5 after some moves a5 10.a4 and against 10...b6 W hite has good play on the c-file and also a good square for the knight on d4, Ibragimov, I (2546)-Ponfilenok, V (2392)/ Nezhmetdinov Memorial 34th 2012. ] 7...c6 To me this looks like a strange move, even though it doesn't contravene any chess 316
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 rules. W ith the pawn on d3 instead of d4, Black can play without ...c5 ideas, and this square is not in the way of the c8-bishop. Also the knight controls any queenside expansion at the moment. [ 7...c6 would be normal and White still has many ways to continue. One of them is p l a y i n g w i t h 8.c3 again trying to go for some Benoni-style position d4 9.a4 but the knight is also not ideally placed here c5 10.e3 c6 11.exd4 xd4 12.xd4 cxd4 with chances for both sides ] 8.a3 Forcing Black to make a choice: either he allows queenside expansion when the knight will soon have to leave c6, or he plays ...a5 and gives White's knight a good square on b5. Black chooses the second option. [ 8.cxd5 was also played and later White changed the position by playing 10.d4 exd5 9.c3 h8 10.d4 e4 11.f4 g5!? n o t l o s i n g a n y t i m e 12.e5+ xe5 13.xe5 c6 and the position was balanced in Dudukin, I (2401)-Ponfilenok, V (2445)/ Nabereznye Chelny op 8th 2010. ] 8...a5 9.cxd5 Now that White can create pressure on the c-file and c7, it makes more sense to exchange the pawns. exd5 10.c3 h8 11.b5 d7 12.f4 c8 For a computer the position is better for White, but wit hout a clear plan th e posit ion ca n become dangerous really fast. During the game Edouard was unable to find the best continuation and soon got into trouble. 13.ab1?! The b2-b4 advance is not that dangerous, and the whole idea is slow. On the other hand Black has a clear plan. [ 13.ac1 is also not much to the point and after h5 14.d2 f4 Black is fighting ] [ 13.b3! this looks like the best move to me. Usually it's not advisable to move the queen one more time and go away from the c-file, but with the bishop on d7 and the rook on c8, the pawns on d5 and b7 are targets h5 it's hard to suggest another plan 14.d2 now Black needs to do something about d5, b e f o r e h e c a n p l a y . . . f 4 ( 14.xd5 is ok, but Black will have some compensation xf4 15.gxf4 f6 16.d4 g6 17.c3 e8 and the position is not so clear ) 14...e8 15.bd4 and both the b7 pawn and the fork on e6 are threatened, so
White has an edge ] 13...h5 14.d2 f4 Now the bishop on d7 ha s a mu ch be tt er squ a re t o go t o . 15.b4 Following with his plan, finally it went nowhere. axb4 16.axb4 fxg3 17.hxg3 g4 White is still not in trouble, and even not worse, but compared to some moves ago I think Black's position improved more than White's. 18.c3 [ 18.h2 was exotic, and it's hard to believe that it is going to work d7 19.h1 a8 20.g1 but at least the king is safe and the rook is active ] 18...d7 19.bd4 xd4 20.xd4 d6 [ 20...h3 was a good idea. Black didn't want to let White's knight get to e5, but it's not so dangerous 21.e5 e6 22.h2 ( 22.c3 f6 23.e4 dxe4 24.xh3 xh3 25.dxe4 cd8 is another interesting position ) 22...xg2 23.xg2 f6 ( 23...f5 will probably lead to a draw 24.f4 h4!? 25.gxh4 xe5 26.xe5 g4+ with a perpetual) 24.f4 g5! and both kings are in danger, but the position is slightly easier to play for Black ] 21.c5? More important things are happening, there was no time for this. Now Black has a st ro ng init iat ive a n d is b a sica lly a lre a d y winning! [ 21.e5 was better and makes a lot of sense xe5 22.xe5 h3 23.f3!? creating some space for the defence f5 24.b2 fe8 25.e4 and White will change some pieces, the pawn on g3 is not hanging since the rook is still on c8 xe5 26.xe5 xe5 27.xh3 f8 28.h2 and White is ok ] 21...h3 22.xd6 cxd6 23.d1 [ 23.d2 f6 would be more or less similar to the game. Note that W hite's rooks are doing nothing and ...Nf4 is still a big threat ] 23...f6 The key move. White has no good way to avoid ...Nf4 24.h2 [ 24.h4 also doesn't help xg2 25.xg2 f4+ 26.g1 g4 27.e3 e2+ 28.g2 cf8 with a winning attack ] 24...xg2 25.xg2 f4+! 26.gxf4 h6 White has no way to defend the knight and stop the mate threats. 27.f5 xf5 28.f4 g6+ 29.f2 xh2+ 30.e1 g3+ 31.d2 d4 32.e1 e3+ 33.d1 e8 34.b2 a8 317
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 35.b1 a2 36.c1 e8 0-1
331 Franciskovic,Borka Sargac,Rajna Mediterranean Flower WGM (5) [John Watson]
A10 2193 2208 09.03.2005
1.c4 b6 This is the right move order if one wants to prevent or at least discourage g3. More specifically, there are many players who open with 1.c4 and play g3/Bg2/Nc3/e4/0-0 against nearly every setup. That is not possible now. 2.f3 [ Or 2.g3 b7 3.f3 ] 2...b7 3.g3 xf3! The point. Black cripples White's pawn structure in order to achieve an unbalanced game. In return White gets the two bishops. 4.exf3 e6!? [ Daniel King's English Defence book deals only with 4...c5, which is by far Black's most popular move. Generally there follows 4...c5 5.d4 cxd4 ( 5...c6!? 6.d5 d4 7.e3 f5 8.d2 g6! of Knott-A Summerscale, Millfield 2000, as examined by Tony) 6.xd4 c6 and depending upon White's reply Black has various plans. Among others he can build up by ...e6, ...Nge7, and/or ...g6 or he can play ...e6 and ..Bb4, with ...Rc8 and perhaps ...Na5. The ...e6 idea may be underrated, however. ] 5.g2 [ A wonderful miniature that used to be published from time to time went 5.d4 d5 6.c3 dxc4!? 7.xc4 c6 8.d5! exd5 9.xd5 e7 10.f6+!? ( 10.xe7 xd1+ 11.xd1 xe7 12.e1 d7 13.f4 ) 10...gxf6 11.xf7+ xf7 12.xd8 d5 and White's queen is trapped! With ...Bb4+ threatened, the game (Bilek-Schuessler, Helsinki 1978) was drawn on the spot in view of 13.f1 g7 14.d6 f8 15.d8 g7= ] 5...c6 6.0-0 [ 6.d4 d5 7.0-0 f6 transposes into a position that has been reached several times. White may have some advantage, but it's hard to break through. ] 6...e7!? 7.d4 d5 8.e2
[ 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.c3 f6 is about equal. ] 8...f6 9.f4 e7 [ 9...xd4 10.d1 is very risky. ] 10.d1 0-0 11.c3 d7 [ 11...f5! would force a concession from W h i t e , e . g . , 12.e5?! ( 12.e3 a5!? 13.h3 d6 14.b3 a6 ) 12...d7 13.f4 e7! ] 12.e5 g6!? [ Or 12...dxc4 13.f4 c8 14.xc4 d5 ] 13.xf6? [ White might try 13.f4 e7 14.h4 ] 13...xf6 14.f4 d7 15.f3 ac8 [ A go o d lin e is 15...e7 16.b3 ac8 17.ac1 dxc4 18.bxc4 fd8 ] 16.f5 e7 17.fxe6 fxe6 18.e2 f5 [ 18...dxc4!? 19.xc4 fd5 deserves a look. All these positions look awkward for White. ] 19.h3 ce8 20.d2 d6 [ Or 20...dxc4 21.xc4 d6 22.e2 d5 ] 21.cxd5 cxd5 22.c2 f5 [ 22...fe4!? 23.xe4 xe4 24.f4 g5 is very unclear. ] 23.d1 c8 24.d3 e8! Heading for d6. 25.e2 xc2 26.xc2 ed6 27.f4 e4!? [ 27...g5! 28.h5 f7 29.e2 e4 is Black's best chance to retain the advantage, but White can respond 30.g2! with equal chances. ] 28.g2 fd6 29.f3 One prefers White slightly now. It's not much, and the game is e ve n l y m a t c h e d a f t e r a f e w m o ve s . g5 30.h4 gf7 31.h3 d8 32.e2 f5 33.xf5 xf5 34.b3 f6 35.g2 c6 As so often in these positions, the weaknesses on d4 and e6 are of roughly the same importance. 36.b5 d6 37.a6 f8 38.e2 e8 39.e3 b4 40.a4 c6 41.d2 e7 42.e1 c6 43.d1 a5 44.e3 a3 45.xd5 xb3 46.xb3 xb3 47.c3 d8 48.d5 exd5 49.xd5 xd5 50.xd5 c5 51.c3 f7 52.f2 e6 53.e3 e5 54.g4 g6 55.f4+ e6 56.f3 h5 57.g3 f6 58.d5+ e6 59.c3 f6 60.d5+ e6 A well-played game. ½-½
318
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A10 17.0-0 0-0 18.d1 xf3?! Black is also in Fridman,Daniel 2577 serious trouble after [ 18...c5 19.e3 c2 20.d7 although Mainka,Gregor 2319 a6! 21.xc2 xc2 22.d3 xb2 23.xe7 13th Summer Open (7) 23.08.2002 b5 might offer some chances. ] [Tony Kosten] 19.d3! e2 20.d7 White attacks e7, c6 1.f3 b6 2.c4 b7 3.c3 We have already and the queen on e2! e1+ 21.g2 fc8? This poor move allows a back-rank trick. On considered the similar line [ 21...c5 22.xe7 d5 23.xa7!? [ 3.g3 xf3 4.exf3 c5 in Knott,Sthe white bishops are certainly far superior Summerscale,A/Millfield ENG 2000. ] to the rook, but Black can continue a while: 3...e6 4.g3 Only now. The fact that White has d1 24.e3 h1+ 25.h3 d5 played Nc3, and Black ...e6 makes this more w i t h a f e w t h r e a t s , a l t h o u g h 26.e2! interesting for White than in the previous note. seems to put paid to most of them. ] xf3!? The same idea, conceding a bishop to 22.xc6 gain more control over d4. [ 22.xc6 xc6 23.xc6 xc6 24.d8# ] [ 4...f6 5.g2 would transpose into one of 1-0 the Hedgehog lines on c5 see [A30]. ] [ 4...g5!? is a wild idea of Tony Miles. ] 5.exf3 c5 6.d4 Obviously forced, as Black A10 c a n ' t a f f o r d t o wa i t f o r . . . Nc 6 , a n d . . . g 6 333 followed by ...Bg7, when Black lords it over d4. From-like Gambit 1.c4 f5 2.e cxd4 N,Archana [ 6...c6?! is worse here, 7.d5 d4 8.e3 [John Watson] f5 9.h3! gh6 10.a4 and White is better, as he can break through the d-file by Ryan from California asks a question that I a timely dxe6, which is why Black's ...e6 think many readers will be interested in, so move changes so much, Davies, N-Plaskett, I've put it in this main section instead of the J/WFW1991 1991. ] mailbag: Do you know of any chess literature 7.xd4 c6 8.d1 c8 9.f4!? at all that discusses a reversed From's Gambit A curious, and apparently anti-positional out of the English (1 c4 f5 2 e4 fxe4 3 d3 exd3 no ve lty, b ut it co n t ain s va rio us p o ssib le 4 Bxd3 Nf6 5 g4, followed by g5 and Qc2)? Is threats on the dark squares. this sound? Maybe I'm blind, but I've looked in [ 9.f4 appears more logical, but after f6 5 E n g li s h b o o k s & M C O , B C O , e t c . a n d 10.a3 a5 11.a4 c7 White had real cannot find anything on it. I've played it vs problems defending his c-pawn, Gelashvili,T- people at my level with lots of success, but I David, A/Nagykanizsa 1993. ] know that this means nothing at all regarding 9...b4 10.c1 ge7 So far Black's moves its theoretical soundness. jw: A great question. appear very sensible. 11.a3 White breaks the This is a fun idea and a fairly natural one pin, and obliges Black to give another bishop. (From's Gambit Reversed with c4 in) , but I xc3+ 12.xc3 d5 The simplest, although see a couple of problems here, mostly due to [ 12...0-0!? 13.d6 e8 is also possible, as t h e f a c t t h a t c 4 s e e m s t o h u r t W h i t e i n Black threatens ...Nf5. ] comparison with a Bird's Opening. First, on a 13.cxd5 xd5 This is stronger than less important level, 1. c4 f5 2.e4 e5!? looks [ 13...xd5?! when you have to prefer the playable since a bishop can't get to c4. I've white bishops after 14.a6 xd1+ 15.xd1 looked at the normal solutions to the King's d8+ 16.c1 0-0 although Black should be Gambit and see nothing too attractive - Black able to make good use of the d5-square. ] even has the advantage in most lines. Best 14.xc6! Forced, but not bad. xc6 15.b5 looks 3.exf5 [see my analysis in the game]. e7 16.a4 d5?! Black's first slip-up, The main problem I see is 2...fxe4 3.d3 exd3 [ 16...d7 17.0-0 0-0 18.d1 b7 4.Bxd3 Nf6 5.g4 d5! [again, see my analysis is equal. ] below]. You might look into 5.Nc3. 1.c4 f5 332
319
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2.e4 fxe4 [ 2...e5 3.exf5 ( 3.f3 fxe4; 3.d4!? exd4 4.e5 c6 5.f3 b4+; 3.c3 f6 4.exf5; 3.h5+ g6 4.e2 fxe4 ) A) 3...c5 is also interesting, with a Bishop's Gambit reversed: 4.h5+ ( 4.d4 xd4 5.f3 c6 ) 4...f8 5.c3 ( 5.f3 f6 6.h4 d5 7.cxd5 xf5 ) 5...f6 6.h4 d6 7.g4 c6 8.g5 g8; B) 3...f6 B1) 4.f3 c5 ( 4...c6 5.c3 c5 ) 5.xe5 d6 6.d4 b4+ 7.d2 xd2+ 8.xd2 dxe5 9.dxe5 0-0 10.exf6 xf6; B2) 4.g4 c5 5.g5 and now 5...Ne4 6. Qh5+ Kf8 is a mess (at least White has many options), while 0-0! 6.gxf6 xf6 7.f3 d6 is a messy Muzio. c4 helps make ...d5 less good (at least without ... c6) but also weakens d4 in the ..d6/... Nc6-d4 and/or ... Bxf 5 lines. I'd sa y Bla c k h a s ga in e d m o re t h an W h it e , enough that I'd rather be Black. Maybe one of the odd lines (3.Qh5+) is worth looking into? ] 3.d3 The main problem, probably more serious than 2...e5, is exd3! [ 3...f6 4.g4! ( 4.dxe4 e5 ) 4...d5 5.g5 g4 6.dxe4 is unclear ] 4.xd3 f6 5.g4? [ 5.c3!? is probably the best direction to look in. e5 6.f3 c5 ( 6...c6 7.g5!? ) 7.0-0 d6 ( 7...0-0 ) 8.g5 0-0 9.b1! h6 10.b4 b6 11.h4?! g5 12.g3 a5 ] 5...d5! I just can't seem to get around this one, where the extra move c4 definitely looks a negative: 6.g5 There are other tries, but g4 is attacked and ..dxc4 is a problem. [ 6.cxd5 xg4-+ ( 6...xd5-+ )] [ 6.c2 xg4 ( 6...dxc4 )] [ 6.d2 xg4 ] [ 6.h3 e5 ] 6...dxc4! 7.gxf6 [ 7.a4+ b5 8.xb5+ c6 9.xc4 a6 ] [ 7.xc4 xd1+ 8.xd1 e4 ] 7...xd3 seems way too strong: 8.h5+ [ 8.fxg7 xd1+ ( 8...xg7 9.h5+ g6 ) 9.xd1 xg7-+ ] [ 8.xd3 cxd3-+ ] 8...g6 9.e5 c6 10.f7+ xf7 11.xh8 g7 12.xh7 g4 and White should resign.
334 Gofshtein,Leonid D Williams,Simon Kim Hastings Masters 2006/07 (6) [Carsten Hansen]
A10 2509 2473 21.02.2007
1.c4 f5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 e6 4.b3 e7 5.b2 0-0 6.h3!? This position is almost unknown, neither the ECO nor MegaBase p ro vid e m u c h a ss is t a n ce in t h is m a t t e r , alth o ugh t he re a re so me tra nspo s it ion a l possibilities from this English set-up to a regular Classical Dutch. However. W hite's move order prevents a number of lines for B la c k, wh ile a ll o win g W h it e t o g o in t o a pleasant line of the Dutch when he so desires. It should also be added that W hite is also doing quite well after the normal 6 Nf3 followed by 7 0-0 and 8 d3. d6 7.d4 e8 8.f4 d8 9.d3!? [ With 9.0-0 White can allow a transposition into a line that is mentioned in the ECO u n d e r c o d e A 9 1 ( C l a s s i c a l D u t c h ) : e5 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.d5 Ulibin-Poluljahov, Budapest 1992. ] 9...bd7 10.d2 e5 11.e3 c6 12.c2 a5 [ I can picture that many less experienced players will be worried about 12...e4 13.f4 g5 bu t W h it e is b e t t e r a f t e r: 14.e2 and 15 h4. ] 13.a3 f7 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.c5 c7 [ Or 15...e4 16.f4 g5 17.e2 e7 18.d4 and thanks to Black's numerous structural weaknesses, White is comfortably better. ] 16.0-0 g5 17.f4! This effective counterpunch ends Black's hope of a kingside offensive while leaving Black with an open king (the a1-h8 diagonal and the soon to be opened gfile) and lacking development. gxf4 18.gxf4 e4 19.f2 d5 20.h1 h6?! Black wants the king to be able to crawl to h7 in case the threats against it become too severe. However, 20...N7f6!? is probably better. [ 20...xe3?? is of course taboo due to 21.c3 ] 21.g1 f8 [ U n f o r t u n a t e l y f o r B l a c k , 21...h7?! doesn't work on account of 22.xe4 xe3 23.c3 f6 24.xe3 xe4 25.fxe4 fxe4 26.d4 f8 27.xe4 and Black is toast ] 320
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.f1 e7 [ Before we move on, please note that 22...xe3? 23.c3 d5? ( 23...g4 24.xg4 fxg4 25.e1 f6 26.xe4 is also an unqualified disaster for Black runs into ) 24.g8+! ] 23.d4 h4 24.c4 7f6 25.g3 xf4?! This is a rather desperate measure to save the queen (W hite threatened 26 Rh3) and generate some counterplay in an otherwise extremely difficult position. [ 25...g4 is the normal move, but after 26.xg4 fxg4 27.e5 Black has a positionally completely lost position without the shadow of counterplay. ] 26.exf4 xf4 27.e5! After this practical move, Black's flimsy counterplay is completely diffused. xg3 [ 27...g4 28.xg4 xg3 29.xg3 xg4 30.d6+ ] 28.xg3 g5 29.h3?! [ 29.d6+ is even better: g7 30.b6 a7 31.c4 , and Black can resign. The rest of the game looks like it is played in heavy time trouble with numerous mistakes on both sides. ] 29...g7 30.d6+?! [T h e i m m e d i a t e 30.e5!? is more accurate. ] 30...g8 31.e5 f8?! [ 31...e7 is a better chance, e.g. 32.c3 xe5 33.xe5 d5 and Black is still playing, although White should win without too many headaches. ] 32.d6?! [ 32.b6!?+- ] 32...e7 33.d4 d5 34.c4 e6 35.xd5 xd5 36.f4 h7 37.g1 d8 38.h3 and with this little move, Black's tricks and hopes are over, and with 39 Nh5 looming, Black decided to call it a day. 1-0
335 Hertneck,Gerald King,Daniel J Bundesliga 1999-2000 (12) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2571 2514 12.03.2000
1.c4 b6 2.g3 b7 3.f3 xf3 4.exf3 c5 The point of Black's play, he tries to establish control of d4, which can no longer be controlled by either the e-pawn, which has moved to the f-file, or the f3-knight, which has disappeared from the board. 5.b3!? [ W hite can also play the immediate 5.d4 although Black is fine after cxd4 6.xd4 c6 ] 5...c6 6.g2 e6 7.f4 ge7 8.0-0 f5 9.b2 e7 10.a3 f6 Black has established complete control of d4. 11.c3 0-0 12.c2 g6 [ A perfectly logical novelty, and superior to 12...c8 13.e1 g6 14.c1 although play is equal, Hausner,I-Kalinitschew,S/Germany 1998. ] 13.e3 fd4 14.a3 a5 15.b1 g7!? [ Black is not worried about his rook on the g2-bishop's diagonal, but 15...b8 is safer. ] 16.b4 Possible because of the pin along the h1-a8 diagonal. axb4 17.axb4 cxb4 [ 17...a2!? 18.b5 e7 is worth consideration. ] 18.xd4 xd4!? [ The most exciting, although there is nothing wrong with 18...xd4 19.c2 f6 20.xb4 fc8 ] 19.c2 [ It is probably sensible to refrain from 19.xa8 when Black gains a powerful position for the exchange after xa8 20.f3 b3 ] 19...a5 20.xb4 c7 21.xd4 xd4 22.b3 The position seems drawish, because of the opposite-colour bishops, but the black bishop is rather the more useful of the two, and Black risks nothing by playing on. d6 23.a4 c5 24.a2 d4 Targeting f2, and tying a white piece to its defence. 25.c2 a1 Threatening mate by ...Qxf2+. 26.e3 xf1+ 27.xf1 a1 Black does not want to allow the exchange of queens. 28.c3 White insists. xc3 29.xc3 a8 30.c2 f8 31.g2 a3 32.e2 White is quite passive, but his 321
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 position seems sufficiently solid. e7 33.h4 h5 34.f3 d4 35.g4?! [ A questionable decision, White manages to exchange a couple of pawns like this but inflicts chronic weaknesses on his kingside s t r u c t u r e . 35.e4 d6 36.f1 c5 37.e2 keeps everything intact. ] 35...hxg4 36.xg4 c5 37.h5 f5 38.e2 gxh5 39.xh5 d3 Now Black will win the f4pawn by force. 40.e2 d4 41.f3 [ 41.f3 d6 ] 41...xf4 42.c1 d4 43.d3 d6 44.h1 e5 45.g3 d6 The rook finds its way back into the game. 46.h4 e3 47.f1 f4+ 48.g4 d4 Black has managed to retain many of his plusses, as well as the extra pawn. 49.h2 c3 50.a2 c6 51.a7 c8!? [ Black wants to win either the f, or d-pawns w i t h a t a c t i c a l o p e r a t i o n , b u t 51...d5 was quite acceptable. ] 52.xd7 g8+ 53.h4 g3 54.h3 e5 55.g4 d4 The point of Black's play, the bishop can no longer defend both pawns. 56.g5 xd3 57.c7 g1 Black will turn his attention to the c4-pawn. 58.f5?! [ This loses another pawn, but even after 58.c8 e4! ( 58...c1 59.e6 allows more re s is t a n c e) 59.xf4 e3 60.f5+ c3 61.e8 xc4 the two passed pawns will decide. ] 58...c1 59.e6 xc4 Black is happy to allow the exchange of rooks now, as his bpawn will cost White a piece in the resulting opposite-colour bishop ending. 60.f5+ c3 61.b7 d2 62.d5 c3 0-1
De f e n ce . W hite trie s a n u nu su a l bu t n o t unheard of solution. 4.g3 [ 4.ge2 f6 5.d3 ( 5.g3 c5 is easy to play. ) 5...d5!? ( 5...c5 is 'normal') 6.cxd5 exd5 7.e5 fd7 8.d4 c5 9.f4 c6! 10.dxc5 ( 10.xd5 cxd4 ) 10...xc5 11.xd5 0-0 and Black will regain his pawn with a clear advantage. ] 4...f5 5.g2 f6 6.f3 I believe that this was suggested by Speelman. White unpins the epawn and threatens e5 but also gives Black time to get established in the centre. The alternatives haven't been so great, for example, [ 6.d3 fxe4 ( 6...b4 7.ge2 fxe4 8.0-0 0-0 9.dxe4 c6 10.h3 e5!? Smejkal-Kavalek, Rapids 1997) 7.ge2 c6! 8.dxe4 e5 9.b3 c5 10.h3 e7 11.f4 f7 and Black was already better in Heinbuch-Kengis, Bonn 1995. ] [ 6.c2 a6!? 7.ge2?! b4 8.b1 fxe4 9.xe4 xe4 10.xe4 d5 ( or 10...xe4 11.xe4 d5 12.xe6+ e7 ) 11.cxd5 xe4 12.xe4 xd5 13.xd5 exd5 14.d1 d3 and Black was clearly better, Greenis-J Watson, Las Vegas 2004 ] 6...fxe4 [ 6...c6 stopping e5 is worth considering in view of 7.ge2?! ( 7.exf5 d4!?; 7.d4! fxe4 8.fxe4 e5 9.d5 d4 10.f3 looks about equal ) 7...fxe4 8.fxe4 e5 ] 7.fxe4 b4!? [ Here too the change of pawn structure by 7...e5 comes into consideration, e.g., 8.f3 c6 9.d5 c5 etc. ] 8.ge2 0-0 9.0-0 a6!? [ Or 9...e5 ] 10.h3 c5!? [ Again possible is 10...e5 11.a3 c5+ 336 A10 . This idea obviously d oesn't a ppeal t o Black. ] Janz,Frerik 2376 11.d3 e5 12.a3 xc3 13.xc3 e6 Boyle,Bernard [ 13...a5!? ] ch-EU Cork IRL (1) 22.03.2005 14.e3 d6 15.b4 c5 Without this move [John Watson] Black has nothing to show for the bishops. The slow variations of the English Defence Now at least he has control of d4 and his ca n b e c la s s if ie d in o u r Fla n k O p e n in gs pawns are on the right colour. 16.e2 e7 section. In lower-level practice, a 'Botvinnik 17.d2 f7 18.f5 af8 These moves are a setup" with g3, Bg2, e3, d3, Nge2 is popular. bit strange but the game seems balanced However, Black has several effective answers. overall. 19.a4 c8 20.af1 e8 21.d1 [ 21.xe8 xe8 22.b5 is the other idea only 1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.e4 e6 The English 322
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White can be better. ] 21...d8 22.5f2 e6 [ 22...e6 ] 23.g4 d7 24.g3 c6 25.f5 h8 26.a4 g8 27.g5 b8? [ 27...c7 28.b5 d4!? ] 28.xd7! xd7 29.e7? [ 29.b5! Black is tied up and passive whereas White can expand upon either side of the board. ] 29...xf2 30.xf2 cxb4? [ 30...xe7! 31.f8+ g8 32.xb8 cxb4 33.axb4 c6 and ...Nxb4. ] 31.xg8 xg8 32.axb4 c6 33.b2 d4!? [ 33...b5! 34.cxb5 d4 ] 34.e3 c6 35.f2 f7 36.e2 e8 37.d2 f7 38.c3 d7 39.a2 c8 40.g5 g6 41.b5 a5 42.f2 xf2 43.xf2 The bishops should eventually get out and create good winning chances. b7 44.f1 a6 45.d4 axb5 46.cxb5 exd4+ 47.xd4 b3 48.c4! xc4 49.xc4 c5 50.d5 [ Or 50.e5! ] 50...c7 51.e5 dxe5 52.xc5 bxc5 53.xc5 e4 54.d4 b6 55.xe4 xb5 56.e5 c4 57.f6 d4 58.g7 1-0
to keep his c-pawn well-covered. Similar play was seen after 8.a4 bc6 9.d3 a5 10.e4 in Pigusov,E-Ehlvest,J/Novosibirsk 1993. ] 8...d6 9.e4 d7 10.e1?! e5 Black has waited for White to move his rook to the e-file before playing this, so that White cannot play f4 too easily. 11.a4 a5 Black his happy with a static structure, without pawn mobility, as he wishes to inhibit the white bishop pair. 12.d4!? [ A normal plan in such a position would be 12.d2 i n t e n d i n g N f 1 - e 3 - d 5 , b u t f5 is an effective response. ] 12...g6 13.a3 The bishop is normally considered to be misplaced on a3 in such positions, as it is 'hitting on granite'. e8 14.c2 f6 15.d2 White refrains from d5, which hands the c5-square to Black, and tries to keep as much central tension as possible. d7 16.f3 a6 This is the downside of W hite's twelfth move, the c4-pawn needs piece defence. 17.f1 h6 18.d3 h7! Play is very similar to various Nimzo-Indian lines with both sides playing on their strengths. 19.f1 At last, the knight heads for d5, to try to induce a weakening ...c6 move from Black, bu t B la ck is no t go in g t o sta n d st ill, a n d initiates counterplay. g5 20.d1? [ T h i s a l lo ws a wo n d e rf u l t a ct ic , 20.e3 was a better method of defending f3. ] 337 A10 20...exd4 [ It is understandable that, in a quick game, Kasparov,Garry 2838 Black should miss the powerful move Kramnik,Vladimir 2809 20...d5!! as it appears to be doubly en prise, Botvinnik Mem Rapid Match rapid (4) 8.12.01 b u t it le a ve s W h it e i n se r io u s t r o u b l e : [Tony Kosten] 21.exd5 ( 21.cxd5? lo se s a piec e xd3 22.xd3? o r a q u e e n , h3+ 23.g2 1.c4 e6 2.c3 b6 It says something for the gf4+ ) 21...exd4 22.xe8+ xe8 current reputation of the English Defence 23.cxd4?! e1 24.xe1 xf3+ ] when it features in a match between the two best players on the planet. 3.f3 b7 4.g3!? 21.cxd4 f5 [ 21...d5! is again possible, with the same b4 ideas of the previous note. ] [ 4...xf3!? 5.exf3 c5 resembles the game Hertneck,G-King,D/Godesberg GER 2000, 22.h4?! [ It was time to return the dark-squared which resulted in a nice win for Black. ] bishop to the fray, 22.c1 fxe4 23.fxe4 5.g2 xc3 Kramnik decides to force is fine for White. ] doubled pawns on the queenside, instead. 6.bxc3 e7 This is better than playing this 22...fxe4! 23.hxg5?! [ U n d e r s t a n d a b l y W h i t e a v o i d s 23.fxe4 piece to f6, as the thrust ...f5 can be useful. h3+ 24.g2 f8 25.a2 (the only move) 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 ae8 as his king is at risk, but there is no [ White avoids pushing his d-pawn two obvious win for Black. ] squares with a Nimzo position, and prefers 323
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23...exd3 24.xd3 f7 Both defending g6, and hitting W hite's Achilles' Heal- the c4pawn. 25.gxh6!? xc4 26.c3 xf1!? Black decides to remove the opposite-colour bishops. 27.xf1 e2 28.f2 ae8 29.af1 [ 29.hxg7?! allows Black a violent attack: 8e3 30.c6 f4!? 31.gxf4 xg7+ 32.f1 xf2+ 33.xf2 xd4 34.g1+ f8 ] 29...8e3 [ 29...2e3 30.a1 gxh6 31.c1 is not so clear either. ] 30.c1 xf2 31.xe3 c2 [ 31...xf1+ 32.xf1 c4+ 33.e1 is m e s s y, t h e b la ck kin g is a s o p e n a s White's. ] 32.c1?! [ This was the wrong moment to bring the bishop back, it was time to capture on g7, 32.hxg7 ] 32...a2 Threatening mate. 33.f2 xf2 34.xf2 xa4 35.e3 d1+? [ The queen was well-placed where she stood, 35...gxh6 36.e6+ g7 should triumph easily, Black has two extra pawns. ] 36.f2 c2+ 37.e1 h2 38.g5! Gaining serious counterplay. h1+ 39.f2 h2+ 40.e1 h1+ 41.f2 h2+ [ Black decides to take the draw, thinking that 41...h7 42.hxg7 xg7 is too risky. ] 42.e1 ½-½
d4. ] [ 9...c5!? is a similar idea: 10.h3 e6 11.b3 c6 12.g4!? d4 13.g3 d7 14.d5 b6 15.e3 with interesting play, Kosten,ASanto Roman,M/France N1 2002. ] 10.b3 d7 11.f4!? A new idea, that may stop Black from realising his main plan. [ 11.d5 c5 12.g5 c6 13.d2 le d t o a qu ick d ra w in B rica rd , E -S a n t o Roman,M/Montpellier 1991, whilst ] [ 11.b2 a6!? ( 11...c5 and ...Nc6 is more appropriate,) 12.d2 c5 13.ad1 a5 14.c2 ae8 15.b5 Kupreichik,V-Solonar, S/Wiesbaden 1998, there is not a lot that Black can do, but White can always prepare an f4 break. ] 11...c6 [ 11...c5?! can now be countered by 12.f5! gxf5 13.exf5 xf5 14.xf5! xf5 15.xb7 g4 16.e4! f2 17.xd6! when the complications favour White. ] 12.d3!? [ 12.b2 would avoid Black's next. ] 12...d4!? 13.a3!? [ A strange move, 13.xd4 exd4 14.b5 is met by h3! 15.xd4 xg2 16.xg2 ae8 17.e1 c5 18.c2 c6 regaining the pawn, but after 19.b2 xe4 20.xg7 Black has no dangerous discovered check and White retains a structural plus. g5+?? 21.d5+ ] 13...c5!? White had hoped to stop this move, but Black offers a pawn to free his pieces. 14.fxe5 g4! 15.xd4 [ After 15.exd6 xd6 16.f4 e5 338 A10 the black knights have excellent central squares. ] Kharlov,Andrei 2633 Minasian,Ara 2473 15...cxd4 16.d5 [ 16.xd4? allows Black to mount a deadly 3rd IECC Batumi GEO (11) 23.06.2002 attack: xe5 17.d3 g7 18.b2 d4+ [Tony Kosten] 19.h1 xh2! and wins ] 17.d2 The d-pawn is still 1.c4 f5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 16...xe5 18.b2 d3 19.f4 5.d3 0-0 6.e4 Taking play from a Dutch u n t o u c h a b l e . g4 D e f e n c e i n t o a B o t v i n n i k S y s t e m s t y l e White is trying to win the d-pawn, but even if position. fxe4 7.dxe4 e5 8.ge2 d6 9.0-0 he does Black's activity will be suf f icient compensation. b5?! e6!? [ Hardly necessary, 19...c7 was among [ 9...c6 would be more like a true Botvinnik, several moves that kept the d-pawn safe, as although Black has captured on e4 too soon. 20.xd3? xd3 21.xg7 c5+ 22.h1 As played Black tries to stop W hite from f2+ wins the exchange. ] playing h3 and g4, and then plants his knight on d4 by way of first ...c5 and then ...Nc6- 20.xd3 bxc4 21.xe5 dxe5 22.xf8+ 324
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xf8 23.xd7 xd7 24.bxc4 White has won a pawn, but Black has some play for it. c8 25.f1 c6 26.e1?! d8 27.c3 f8 28.g2 c5+ 29.h1 d3! Activity! 30.xe5 d2 31.a4 xa4 32.f4 d1 33.xd1 xd1 34.e5 a5 35.d5+ f8 36.g2 a4 The passed a-pawn is by far the most dangerous pawn on the board. 37.c1 a3 38.f1 g4 39.e1 b4+ 40.f2 c5+ 41.e1 e7!? ½-½
339 Knott,Simon JB Hodgson,Julian M ch Millfield ENG (7) [Neil McDonald]
A10 2381 2640 07.08.2000
1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.e4 e6 4.f3 b4 It's a battle between the white knights and black bishops! 5.b3 a6 6.e2 e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 g6! Simon Knott reached this position three times at the British Championship. In the first round his opponent played the inferior [ 8...d5?! and was in trouble after 9.exd5 exd5 10.d4! xc3 11.bxc3 c5 12.cxd5 cxd4 13.c4 c5 14.d1! as the d pawn wa s in d e f e n sib le -K n o t t -B a r t o n , B r Ch . 2000. ] 9.a3 c5! 10.c2 Naturally [ 10.xb4?? a5 wins the queen. ] 10...xc3 11.xc3 a5! As usual in this type of centre, Black is keen to cement the position of his knigh t on t he excellen t c5 square . 12.e3 a4 13.d2 Two rounds earlier Knott had tried [ 13.d4 but this had turned out unsuccessfully after f5! 14.f3 f4 15.f2 e5 16.f5 b3 17.ae1 c5! This prevents the freeing d3-d4, which ensures that White's light squared bishop is a useless piece. 18.g4 fxg3 19.hxg3 d6 20.d1 d4 21.xd4 cxd4 22.c1 h5! and Black went on to win in Knott-Ward, Br Ch. 2000. ] 13...f5 The same move as in the Ward extract a b o ve . N o w K n o t t w a n t s t o a vo i d b e i n g paralysed again after 14 f3 f4, but his d e c is io n t o o p e n t h e p o sit io n le a d s t o a fearsome Hodgson attack. 14.exf5 h4!
Attacking g2. 15.f3 xf5 16.d4 f6! 17.f2 a6 18.e4 h6 19.d5 d6 20.dxe6 ae8 21.d3 xe6 The position is now akin to lines in t h e B u d a p e st wh e re B la ck swin gs h is queen's rook over to join the queen in a direct attack on the white king. 22.c1 h5 23.g4 This looks suicidal, though it is understandable that W hite has become frustrated at his inability to generate any counterplay. g6 24.g3 xg3 25.hxg3 [ A slower way to lose was 25.gxh5 e2+ 26.h1 xc1 27.axc1 h6 ] 25...h3 26.c2 c5 27.xc5 xg4! 28.xh7+ h8 White resigned. A possible finish is 29.f2 [ 29.fxg4 h1# ] 29...xg3+ 30.g2 xf3 31.xg3 xg3+ 32.f1 e2+! 33.xe2 f2+ 34.d1 g1# 0-1
340 Knott,Simon JB Hodgson,Julian M ch Millfield ENG (7) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2381 2640 07.08.2000
1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.e4 e6 4.f3 b4 5.b3?! [ I think that this is unnecessary here, 5.d3 is the best move, and is considered in the other games in this line. ] 5...a6! Both protecting the bishop, and planning a neat tactic, reminiscent of the 4 Qb3 Nimzo-Indian. 6.e2 [ Avoiding the trap 6.a3?! c5! 7.c2 ( and not 7.xb4?? a5 8.b5 c6 ) 7...xc3 8.xc3 xe4 9.xg7 f6 with equality. ] 6...e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 g6!? [ More risky, but also more in line with Black's game-plan, than 8...d5 which seems to come close to equalising, 9.exd5 exd5 10.d4 dxc4 11.xc4 xf3 12.xa6 xc3 13.bxc3 c6 14.d3 d7 15.c2?! xg2! 1/2-1/2 Knott,S-W ard,C/ GBR 1999, as Black forces a perpetual check after 16.xg2 g4+ ] 9.a3 [ Stronger than 9.d2 d6 10.a3 c5! 11.c2 xc3 12.xc3 f5! 13.exf5 xf5 325
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and Black's f-file attack is on its way, Serper, G-Yermolinsky,A/Lucerne 1993. ] 9...c5! [ This theme should be familiar by now, 9...d6 10.d4 c5 11.d1 b8 12.d5 a ll o ws W h i t e a n ic e sp a ce a d va n t a ge , Uhlmann,W -Bagirov,V/ Gladenbach GER 1999. ] 10.c2 [ Once again, 10.xb4?? a5 11.b5 c6 wins the white queen. ] 10...xc3 11.xc3 a5 Necessary to protect the c5-knight from being driven away with b4. 12.e3 a4 13.d2! [ A novelty, White improves over his previous effort from the same event: 13.d4 f5 14.f3?! ( 14.exf5 h4 ) 14...f4! 15.f2 e5 16.f5 b3 17.ae1 c5 18.g4 fxg3 19.hxg3 d6 20.d1 d4 reaching a closed position that favours the black knights, Knott, S-Ward,C/Millfield ENG 2000. ] 13...f5 14.exf5 h4 15.f3 xf5 16.d4 [ The point of White's thirteenth move, the dpawn is free to stake its claim in the centre, but 16.f2 might be even better, as d4 can hardly be stopped. ] 16...f6!? [ Obviously, because of the respective ELOs, Black keeps the tension, but, objectively, 16...xe3 17.xe3 a6 may be superior. ] 17.f2 a6 18.e4 Now White has some advantage, he has two powerful bishops, and the a6-knight is 'dim'. h6 19.d5?! [ Simply 19.ae1 looks good. ] 19...d6 20.dxe6 ae8 21.d3 xe6 Black's prospect s have improved, all his pieces have joined the fray except for the knight, but this will return via c5, thanks to White's nineteenth move. 22.c1!? [ Part of a faulty plan, once again 22.ae1 was indicated. ] 22...h5 23.g4?! [ Difficult to justify such a weakening move u n l e s s i t w i n s o u t r i g h t , 23.g5 is more prudent. ] 23...g6 24.g3? [ This loses quickly, 24.c5! is an important resource, xc5 ( 24...bxc5 25.g3 xg3 26.c4+ d5 27.gxh5 e2+ 28.h1 xc1 29.hxg6 is similar) 25.xc5 bxc5 26.g3 xg3! 27.gxh5 e2+ 28.h1 xc1
29.c4+ d5 30.hxg6 b3 31.xb3 axb3 offers Black reasonable compensation for the exchange. ] 24...xg3! Of course. 25.hxg3 [ This time 25.gxh5 fails to e2+ 26.h1 xc1 and the d3-bishop is attacked. ] 25...h3 26.c2 c5! This attacks the d3bishop, and thus threatens ...Rh6, which would otherwise be answered by Qg2. 27.xc5 [ 27.ae1 h6 28.f2 xe4+ 29.xe4 xg4 menaces ...Rh2+, and wins. ] 27...xg4! The point. 28.xh7+ [ 28.fxg4 h1# ] 28...h8 0-1
341 Knott,Simon JB Summerscale,Aaron ch Millfield ENG (10) [Neil McDonald]
A10 2381 2459 10.08.2000
1.c4 b6 2.f3 b7 3.g3 xf3 4.exf3 c5 Black decides to fight aggressively for control of the d4 square. In a similar position, Speelman adopted a milder course which aimed at restricting W hite's light squared bishop by setting up a triangle of pawns on c6, d5 and e6- you can see the game Yermolinsky-Speelman. 5.d4 c6 6.d5 White seizes space, but on the other hand the pawn on d5 will curb the action of his light squared bishop. d4 7.e3 f5 8.d2 g6! Black isn't afraid to exchange dark squared bishops as it will increase his control over d4. The wekness created in his kingside proves neglible as White's pieces are hardly poised for an attack. 9.c3 g7 10.xg7 xg7 11.h3 h6! This is much better than the routine [ 11...f6?! The knight heads for the d4 square. ] 12.0-0 hf5 13.a3 d4 14.c2 gf5 15.e3 d6 16.f4 0-0 17.b4 c7 18.a4 f5! White has clearly lost the opening struggle as the black knights are well entrenched in the centre while the bishop on h3 is the worst piece on the board. 19.a3 e4 20.d3 e5! Black uses his pawns admirably to strengthen 326
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 his bind on the centre. 21.fxe5 xe5 22.g2 A) 12.c1 c7 ( 12...hxg4 13.fxg4 f5 ae8 23.bxc5 bxc5 24.f4 b8 25.h1 i s u n c l e a r) 13.h3 was not so good, b2! Threatening a knight check on f2. Claesen, P (2430) -Groffen, H (2220)/ 26.xe4 xe4 27.d6 f7 28.g4 fe8 Antwerp 1998, as White has nowhere to 29.d2 b4 30.xf5 A desperate sacrifice, put his king.; but in any case the pressure was too much to B) 12.h3 g8 13.d2 followed by long withstand. gxf5 31.gxf5 e2 A great display castles with good prospects in McNab, Cby a Daring Defender! Martin, A/Edinburgh 1988. ] 0-1 8.g2 The critical move I suppose, but it does leave the c-pawn undefended. [ 8.c3 c8 9.e2 b4 10.0-0 xc3 342 A10 11.bxc3 f6 led to a battle of bishops v knights and better structure in Kosten, A Kosten,Anthony C 2493 (2510)-Bauer, C (2592)/ Cap d'Agde 2008. ] Paci,C 2379 TCh-FRA Top 12 2012 (7.4) 06.06.2012 8...a5!? [ 8...c8 first is more natural, [Tony Kosten] A) 9.0-0!? a5 10.b3 b5! ( 10...f6 11.c2 xa1 12.c3 favours White, 1.c4 b6 2.f3 b7 3.g3 I've played this a c6 13.e3 xf1+ 14.xf1 f6 few times, but may avoid it in the future. b u t B l a c k h a s r e a s o n a b l e c h a n c e s .) [ 3.c3 e6 4.g3 is also possible, and 11.d2 bxc4 12.xc4 xc4 13.bxc4 reduces Black's options as after xf3 5.exf3 xc4 14.e3 looks fairly level to me, lin es wit h .. .g6 a re n o lo nge r po ssib le . Gurevich, M (2643)-Bunzmann, D (2596)/ However, I think these lines are worse than Polanica Zdroj 1999.; those with ...e6 so I was happy to allow the B) 9.d2 this was my intention, e5!? possibility. ] ( 9...b4 10.a3 c5 11.0-0 f6 12.b4 3...xf3 d4 13.a2 is good for White.; 9...a5 [ 3...f5 4.g2 f6 5.0-0 g6 6.d3 g7 transposes to the game.) 10.e2 c7 7.c3 0-0 8.e1 a6 9.e4 fxe4 10.dxe4 11.b3 d3+ 12.xd3! ( 12.f1 xc1 c5 11.e5 was Kosten, A (2524)-Bauer, C 13.xc1 b5 Van der Valk, N (2088)-Bock, (2630)/ Switzerland 2006. ] J (226 1)/ Ne tte tal 20 10 .) 12...e5+ 4.exf3 c5 5.d4 cxd4 By far the most 13.e4 xa1 I had been busily analysing common move here. t h i s m o ve t h e m o r n i n g o f t h e g a m e , [ Black can also play for long-term control of ( 13...b4+? 14.e2 xa1 15.c2 e5 d4 by 5...c6 but then I was happy to 16.b2 f5 17.xg7 is winning, Riblicontinue 6.dxc5 bxc5 7.h3 Gutman BL 1987/88.) 14.0-0 xa2 as in Matamoros Franco, C (2510) -Pavlovic, ( 14...e5 15.f4 a5 16.d1 d6 M (2494)/Reykjavik 2006 - see the PGN 17.d2 is crushing.) 15.f4 and I felt that Archive. ] White's attack was more than sufficient 6.xd4 c6 7.d1 compensation for the material, e.g. d8 [ 7.d2 is possible: e6 8.c3 c8 9.b3 16.c7 f5 17.xd8 fxe4 18.fxe4 xd8 f6 10.f4 ( 10.g2 ) 10...d5 11.b2 d4 19.d1 d6 20.e5 a6 21.f3 h6 can be met by 12.0-0-0 ( 12.e4 g6 22.exd6 c8 23.e4 f5 24.d7 b8 Titz, H-Kengis, E Wien op 1990.) 12...b4 25.xe6 d6 26.e1 c7 27.b4 13.d3 as the d-pawn is pinned. ] winning. ] 7...e6 [ 8...b4+ should be answered by 9.d2 [ 7...g6 is equally popular, but allows White in my opinion, f6 10.0-0 d5 11.f4 c8 to develop easily, 8.c3 g7 9.e3 h5!? 12.cxd5 ( 12.f5!? ) 12...xd5 13.a3 e7 ( 9...c8 10.c1 f6 11.g2 0-0 12.0-0 Vincent, T-Mu Yuchen/ W innipeg 2002, d6 is pleasant for White, Nugel, K-Fegebank, 14.f5 ] F/ Germany 1989.) 10.e2!? h6 11.g4 9.d2 c8 10.b3 I had a long think about c8 327
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 this move. [ After 10.e2 c7 11.b3 I was a bit worried about d5 ( 11...e7 12.0-0 f6 13.b2 favours White, Renaud, O (2096)Picard, R (2229) /France 2003.) 12.0-0 ( 12.cxd5?? xc1+ ) 12...dxc4 although 13.b2 would give White good play, as c3?! ( 13...cxb3?! 14.axb3 f6 15.f4 e7 16.ac1 d7 17.xc8+ xc8 18.b4! xb4 19.b5+ wins a piece.; 13...f6 14.fc1 b5 i s s a f e s t .) 14.ac1 b4 15.e4 e7 16.xc3 with advantage. ] [ 10.a4 was also tempting, as c7 11.0-0! xc4 12.xc4 xc4 13.xa7 c6 ( 13...c5 ) 14.a6 and the queen escapes. ] 10...f6 Best. I was concerned by [ 10...f6 11.b1 e5+ but then realised that 12.e4! was strong: f5?? 13.f4 ] 11.0-0 e7 12.b2 0-0 13.e2 d5 14.fd1 e8! The best way to unpin. [ 14...dxc4 15.xc4 d5 16.ac1 c6 17.f4 f6 18.e3 with strong pressure on d5. ] 15.cxd5 c2!? 16.e5 [ I completely missed 16.xf6! xf6 17.dxe6 h e r e , w h e n a f t e r xa1 18.e7 xa2 19.exf8+ xf8 20.a6 h6 21.e4 Black is in some trouble. ] 16...xd5 Now play is equal. 17.f4 c6 [ 17...c3? fails to 18.d3 when xd1 19.xc2 traps the knight. ] 18.e4 [ 18.e4 was the alternative, c5 19.b2 f6 20.xf6 xf6 21.a4 but b5 is almost equal. ] 18...c5 My opponent thought a long time about this move, which struck me as odd ... as the move is forced! [ 18...c3? 19.xh7+ xh7 20.d3+ ] 19.b2 f6 [ 19...c3?! is still not very good, 20.xh7+ xh7 21.d3+ g8 22.xc3 ] 20.c4 xb2 [ 20...c3? 21.xc3 xc3 22.ac1!? ( 22.xh7+ xh7 23.c2+ g8 24.xc3 is also good, as b5? 25.e3 ) 22...f6 23.d6 d7 24.xc5 bxc5 25.h5 g6 26.xc5 with an extra pawn. ] 21.xb2 b5?! This move leaves the rook loose and short of squares. 22.xd5 exd5?
[ 22...xd5 23.xd5 exd5 24.d6 d7 25.xb5 l o s e s a p a w n , b u t a f t e r d4 Black has some compensation. ] 23.d6! b8 [ My opponent had probably intended 23...d7 'trapping' the knight, but then realised that 24.e4 wins the rook as the dpawn is pinned. ] [ 23...e7 is no better: 24.f5 f6 25.xf6 gxf6 26.ac1 xc1 27.xc1 wins material. ] 24.f5? Sloppy. I was so happy to win a pawn with no risk of losing, that I missed [ 24.b4! xb4 25.f5! d4 26.e7+ h8 27.xb4 ] 24...d4 [ 24...f6 25.ac1 xc1 26.xc1 is crushing. ] 25.xd4 xd4 26.xd4 b4 27.ad1 a5 28.e2 h6 29.e7 White's extra pawn is the doubled f-pawn, but this is still useful as the white king is better protected and the front fpawn can be advanced without risk. Meanwhile the d-file control is a plus. c7 30.d7 c6 31.7d6 [ I t h o u g h t a w h i l e a b o u t 31.e1!? threatening Qxf8+ and Rd8+ mating, but couldn't bring myself to play such a crude move! g6 defends, of course. ] 31...e8 32.a7 There is no need to exchange queens just yet. c8 33.h4 f5 [ I had expected 33...c7 and planned to play 34.xc7 xc7 35.a6 c5 36.d7 with some pressure. ] 34.6d2 A bit of safety-first as the time control approached. fc8 35.b7 h7 36.d7 g8 37.g2 h5?! 38.f3 [ 38.e1 f8 39.ee7 was stronger. ] 38...g6 39.7d5 [ 39.1d5 was much stronger, f6 40.f5! ] 39...f6 40.e4 g7? The last move before the time control. 41.d6 b2?? However, now we were no longer in time trouble, so it is not easy to explain this mistake. [ 41...f5 42.d4+ g8 43.e1 c2 keeps the game alive, although 44.e7 c3 45.e4 is still unpleasant for Black. ] 42.xg6+! f8 [ 42...fxg6 43.d7+ h6 ( 43...f6 44.e7+ f5 45.f7+ f6 46.d5+ xd5 47.xd5+ g4 48.f3# ) 44.e7 h8 328
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and now we see the value of the f4-pawn: 45.g5+! xg5 46.fxg5# ] 43.d7 1-0
343 Kosten,Anthony C Popchev,Milko Clermont Ferrand (5) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2507 2481 21.02.2004
1.c4 f5 2.f3 f6 3.g3 e6 4.g2 d5 5.0-0 d6 [ 5...c6 6.d3 c5 i s s i m i l a r ( 6...d6 transposes) 7.c2! see Avrukh,B-Shachar, E/Tel Aviv ISR 2002. ] 6.c3 0-0 [ 6...dxc4?! 7.a4+ d7 8.xc4 e5 leads to an inferior Sicilian-style position. ] 7.d3 [ 7.d4 c6 leads to a mainline Stonewall Dutch. ] 7...c6 8.e4!? I had difficulty making-up my mind at this juncture, as I have also played [ 8.cxd5 exd5 9.e4 with some success, dxe4 ( 9...fxe4 10.dxe4 dxe4 11.g5 e7 12.cxe4 xe4 13.xe4 f5 14.e1 d7 15.b3+ h8 16.d1 led to a quick W hite win in Blatny,P-Salai,L/Stary Smokovec 1990; 9...d4!? 10.e2!? fxe4 11.dxe4 xe4 12.exd4 looks fairly equal, K o c h y e v , A - P i n n e l , P / D o r t m u n d 1 9 9 3) 10.dxe4 c5 11.b3+ h8 12.e5 e8 13.g5 with a big plus, Kosten,A-Williams,S/ 4NCL, Kenilworth ENG 1997. ] 8...dxe4 9.dxe4 b4! The best chance. 10.exf5 White has to do something about the threat to capture on c3, then e4. [ 10.xd8 xd8 11.g5 is an alternative, xc3 12.bxc3 fxe4 13.e5 h6 14.fd1! f8 ( 14...xd1+ 15.xd1 hxg5? 16.d8+ h7 17.xc8 is crushing) 15.e3 bd7 16.xd7 xd7 17.xe4 xe4 18.xd7 b6 which is about equal, Gasimov,R-Radjabov, T/ Baku 1998. ] 10...xd1 White was threatening to play Qb3, ga in in g a te mp o on th e b4 -b isho p wh ilst defending the knight on c3, but [ 10...xc3 11.bxc3 exf5 was possible, 12.a3 xd1 13.axd1 e8 14.fe1
xe1+ 15.xe1 bd7 but White's bishops and act ivity outweigh the inf erior pawn structure. ] 11.xd1! The most ambitious, [ 11.xd1 exf5 12.a3 d6 13.c3 wastes two tempi, Horvath,C-Radjabov,T/ Budapest 1999. ] 11...exf5 [ 11...xc3 transposes to the note to move ten. ] 12.a4! getting a grip on c5, and threatening to embarrass the dark-squared bishop. a6!? Apparently a new move, [ 12...e4 also covers the c5-square, 13.d4! ( 13.e3 d7 14.a3 e7 15.ac1 e8 doesn't give much, K r a s e n k o w, M - M e n c i n g e r , V / P t u j 1 9 8 9) 13...a6 14.e3 e8 15.a3 f8 16.ac1 g6 Malaniuk,V-Gleizerov,E/Barlinek POL 2 0 0 2 , a n d n o w I w o u l d p r e f e r 17.b4 with queenside possibilities. ] 13.a3 e7 14.f4 To keep the knight on a6. e4 15.b4 White's advantage is dependent upon his extra space on the queenside, c5 and Bf1 is one possibility. e6 Attacking c4 gives Black time to develop his queen's rook. 16.ac1 [ 16.d4? is tempting, but throws away the advantage: xc4 17.xf5 xf5 18.xe4 as Black has the tactic xf4! 19.gxf4 b3 ] 16...ad8 17.d4 c8 18.f3 Driving Black's one active piece back. [ 18.e5 looks like a nice square, but Black has c5 ] 18...f6 19.b3! Aiming for a5. [ 19.c5!? was tempting, d5 20.e5 fe8 21.f4 e3 22.e1 xg2 23.xg2 with a nice bind, and N-b2-c4-d6 coming, but I didn't want to concede the d5-square prematurely. ] 19...xd1+ 20.xd1 e6? A 'morning round' error, [ 20...e8 kept White's advantage to a m i n i m u m , a s t h e n 21.b5 ( 21.f2! followed by bringing the a4-knight to b2-d3 with a plus) 21...cxb5 22.cxb5 is met by e6! 23.d4 c5 24.xe6 xe6 25.c1 c8 with counterplay. ] 21.a5 b8? Trying to bring the knight back in t o t h e ga m e , b u t th is lo se s a p a wn f o r no th in g. B la ck sho uld ha ve a dm it te d his 329
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 mistake by [ 21...c8 although 22.e3 d8 23.xd8+ xd8 24.xa7 is very good for White. ] [ 21...h5 22.e5 c8 23.c5 leaves Black tied-up. ] 22.e1! f7 23.xb7 xc4? But otherwise Blac k ha s a lost a key pa wn f or noth ing. 24.d6! [ 24.d6 d5 25.xe7 xe7 26.d6+ wins a piece. ] 1-0
344 Krasenkow,Michal Rozentalis,Eduardas Jersey op St Clement Bay (5) [Danny Gormally]
A10 2643 2616 08.03.2013
1.f3 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c3 b4 5.d3 e7 6.0-0 0-0 7.e2?! White cannot hope to gain an advantage after this. In fact, if anything he ends up struggling for equality. This has turned out to be a wise opening choice by Rozentalis- Kransenkow, a wellknown theoretician, is not so comfortable in these unusual systems. [ 7.c2! Was a more resolute examination of this irregular opening. f5 8.exf5? ( 8.d3! keeping the tension, was to be preferred. Although this is not a normal system, so mistakes are less surprising. It is funny how often players go wrong when they are faced with unusual problems in the opening. ) 8...xf3 ( 8...xf5! With beautiful co-ordination between the black army, would have been a kind of dream Nimzo) 9.xf3 bc6 10.e2 c5 11.f6 g6 12.e4 xf6 13.h3 f8 14.d4 xd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.xa8? xf2 17.e3 f4 18.g4 xf1+ 19.xf1 xe3 Black has beautiful compensation for the exchange, Smirin, I (2691)-Atalik, S (2537)/ Sarajevo 2001. ] [ 7.e1 f5 8.e5 g6 9.f1? Heubner is rattled. It was games like this that brought this ..b6 line a huge following against the English xf3! Miles loved to play with knights against bishops, and here he wins a clear pawn to boot. 10.xf3 c6 11.d4 xd4 12.d3 c6 13.f4 d6 14.exd6 xd6 15.xd6 cxd6 16.d1 ( 16.xe6
d4 17.e1 c2-+ ) 16...ad8 Huebner, R (2600)-Miles, A (2555)/Bad La uterberg 1977. ] 7...f5! Classic strategy- exchange a wing pawn for a center one. 8.c2 a5 9.fd4 fxe4 10.xe4 xe4 11.xe4 bc6 Black has comfortably equalised, and can look forward to the future with confidence. 12.xc6 xc6 13.d4 f6! 14.e3 d6 15.f4 f5! 16.g3 xe4 17.xe4 b4 18.ad1 e7 19.a3 c2 Many players would be reluctant to "bury" their knight in such a fashion but Rozentalis has seen further- while this piece is in danger, the time White will expend trying to capture it will allow Black to build up a strong initiative. 20.c1 d5! Freezing the weakness on d4. 21.cxd5 exd5 22.c3 c6 23.d2 a1! It's always a pleasure to play such moves. Now Black has a clear strategical plan- to build up on the d-pawn- while for White it is not so clear what he should do. 24.d3 a4 25.e3 c2 26.f2 b5! 27.c1 xa3! 28.e1 [ 28.bxa3 xa3 29.c2 e7 Would be a horror to defend for White- the armada of black pawns on the queenside represent a formidable threat. ] 28...c4 29.xe7 b4 [ 29...xb2 30.g3 f7 was also possibleagain the queenside pawns look extremely scary. ] 30.xa4 xa4 31.b3 a1+ 32.e1 fa8 33.bxc4 dxc4 34.dd1 xd1 35.xd1 b3 36.e1 a2 37.b4? Having been forced to play only move after only move for some time now, Krasenkow finally cracks. [ 37.c1 b2 38.b1 a1 39.xb2 xe1+ 40.f2 e4= Would still have held the draw. ] 37...c2! Now it's all over. 38.g4 b2 39.a3 c3 40.f5 h6 41.h4 d2 42.e1 xd4 43.g5 hxg5 44.hxg5 e4 45.d1 f7 46.f2 f4+ 47.e3 xf5 48.g1 a5 49.g6+ e6 An excellent creative achievement by Rozentalis. 0-1
330
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 345 Krasenkow,Michal Speelman,Jonathan S Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (7) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2647 2597 06.12.1999
1.c4 e6 2.c3 b6 3.e4 [ My personal preference, shutting the h1-a8 diagonal, and leaving Black's light-squared bishop 'biting on granite'. 3.d4 would lead to 'more normal' 1 d4 lines. ] 3...b7 4.f3 b4 5.d3 e7 6.e2!? A recently popular idea, hoping to embarrass the b4-bishop. [ 6.0-0 is more common, 0-0 7.c2 ( 7.e1 f5 8.e5 g6 9.f1?! xf3 10.xf3 c6 worked out well for Black in Huebner,RMiles,A/Bad Lauterberg 1977) 7...f5 8.d4 xc3 9.bxc3 xe4 10.xe4 fxe4 11.g5 although Black is fine, Rahman, Z-Speelman, J/Calcutta 1996. ] 6...f5 [ B l a c k m u s t t a k e c a r e , 6...0-0? drops a piece after 7.a3 d6 8.e5 xf3 9.exd6 xe2 10.dxe7 ] 7.c2 [ White reintroduces an older line. 7.g3!? has recently been the preferred method of defending e4, g6 ( 7...0-0 may be better, 8.0-0 d6 9.exf5 xf5 10.xf5 exf5 11.e1 f6 12.d4 xf3 13.xf3 c6 14.d5 e5 15.c3 f4 16.e4 h4 17.f3? and now b4! 18.xb4 d3 led to a brilliant victory for Black in Hanley, C-Plaskett,J/Port Erin IOM 1998) 8.0-0 f4 ( 8...0-0!? Speelman ) 9.e2 0-0 10.b1 h4 11.xh4 xh4 12.f3 shutting out the b7-bishop, and preparing d4, with a plus, Chernin, A-Speelman,J/Slough 1997. ] 7...bc6!? [ Speelman's improvement on 7...d6 8.a3 ( t h r e a t e n i n g e 5 ) g6?! 9.exf5 h4 10.e4! c6 11.fxe6 0-0 12.d4 xg2+ 13.f1 with a winning material advantage, Mitenkov,A-Ivanov,V/Moscow 1994. ] 8.exf5 xf5 9.xf5 White takes the offered pawn. exf5 10.xf5 e7 Black threatens to castle long, and then attack along the open e a n d f f i l e s , a n d h 1 - a 8 d i a g o n a l . 11.0-0 xe2?! [ A typical Speelman queen sacrifice, which
may offer better practical chances than 11...g6 , say, 12.c2 0-0 13.d4 intending Nf4-d5, or simply d5, but ] [ 11...f8 12.g4 0-0-0 13.g3 a5 was worthy of consideration. ] 12.e1 xe1+ 13.xe1 0-0-0 14.b3! hf8 15.h3 [ There is little point grabbing further material by 15.xh7 which opens lines against the king. ] 15...c5 16.d3 [ Without this funny move White would be in trouble. If 16.f3? then d4 with more than sufficient compensation. ] 16...d4 17.b2 e2+ [ The tactics don't quite seem to work for Black, if 17...e4 then 18.xc5 e2+ 19.f1 f4 20.e3 xg2+ 21.g1 de8 22.a4 xe3 23.fxe3 and White plays an endgame a piece to the good. ] 18.f1 f4 19.xf4 xf4 20.d4 Of course, White is happy to provoke further exchanges, even at the temporary cost of a pawn. df8 [ 20...xd4 21.xd4 xd4 22.xh7 wins comfortably. ] 21.e3 e7 22.e1 [ There is nothing wrong with 22.xe7 xf2+ 23.e1 but why bother to calculate it? ] 22...h4 23.g3 f3 24.e2 d8 25.d5 W h a t e ve r c h a n ce s B l a ck m a y h a v e h a d d i sa p p e a r wi t h t h e c lo su re o f t h e h 1 -a 8 diagonal. 3f7 26.a3 d6 27.b2 b8 28.d4 c8 Objectively, Black is quite lost, but tries to generate a little play. 29.g2 g6 30.h3 h5 31.d2 g5 32.e2 Ca lm co n solid a t io n . a5 33.e1 d7 34.e4?! [ An error, losing the exchange, 34.b4 axb4 35.xb4 is simplest, followed by a4-5, opening the black king position. ] 34...c5! 35.e3! [ The best decision, maintaining a safe edge. 35.c3 i s l e s s c l e a r , xh3+ 36.g1 ( 36.xh3? xf2 with a threat of ...g4) 36...h4 with play. ] 35...f5 36.e6 xe6 37.dxe6 f6 38.d1! xe6 39.xh5 After this, and despite the equal m ateria l, W hit e has a stron g plan : prepare f4, exchanging the g5-pawn, and then advance the passed kingside pawns. 331
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ef6 [ 39...e5 might be a better chance, for if 40.d1 c7 41.d2 Black can play fe8 holding-up the f4-plan. ] 40.d1 c7 41.d2 6f7 42.f4! gxf4 43.xf4 d7 44.h4 f6 45.h5 White's position is easy to play. e5! 46.xe5 dxe5 47.e3 e8 Black has created a passed pawn of his own, but it is not quick enough. 48.h6 e4 49.g4 f7 50.g5 f3 Both sides advance their pawns as fast as possible. 51.e1 f5 52.g3+ b7 53.h7 e3 54.g6 e2 This pawn will queen, but it is a move too late. 55.g7! g5! [ Resourceful play, after the obvious 55...e1 W h it e wi n s b y 56.xe1 xe1 57.g8 when Black cannot stop the h-pawn from promoting, as well. ] 56.xg5 e1 57.g8 [ Care is still needed, if 57.d5+ a6 58.g8 e2+ 59.h3 e3+ the position is not clear. ] 57...e2+ 58.h3 [ And not 58.f3?? when f2+ 59.g4 d1+ leads to mate! ] 58...h1+ [ Now, 58...e3+? 59.h2 e2+ fails to 60.g2+ which is check. ] 59.g4 g2+ 60.f5 f2+ [ Eventually, Black's checks peter out. Neither 60...xg5+ 61.xg5 g1+ when the white king will find refuge on the eighth rank (answering a check by in t e rp o s in g t h e wh it e q u e e n , a lso wit h check), e.g. 62.f5 f2+ 63.e6 e3+ 64.d7 etc. ] [ Nor 60...b1+ saves him, A) and not 61.e6?? when xg5 62.f7+ ( 62.xg5 xh7 ) 62...a6 63.h8 e4+ 64.d7 b7+ draws; B) 61.f6 xg5 62.f7+ a6 63.xg5 should win easily. ] 61.g6 e4+ 62.h6 h2+ 63.g7 d4+ 64.f8 f2+ 65.f7+ xf7+ 66.xf7 a6 67.g8 1-0
346 Lautier,Joel Taddei,Benoit TCh-Nat1 GpA (7) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2676 2340 04.04.2004
1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.e4 e5 4.f3 g7 Forced if Black wants to play a King's Indian Defence, [ 4...d6 5.d4 exd4 6.xd4 g7 obliges Black to play a line he probably doesn't like. ] 5.d4 Heading for typical KID play, [ 5.xe5 is examined in Ibragimov-Odeev. ] 5...exd4 6.xd4 0-0 7.e2 e8 8.f3 c6 Black could always play [ 8...d6 which leads to a KID, but he hopes to gain advantage from delaying this move. ] 9.g5 Hoping to hinder the ...d5 break. d5!? A novelty, and exactly the move White tried to stop. [ 9...h6 is more normal, ready to break the pin on the h4-d8 diagonal, 10.h4 d5 11.exd5 ( 11.cxd5!? is not very popular, although wins a pawn after g5 12.g3 cxd5 13.db5 a6 14.exd5 Gurevich,M-Jansa, V/Forchheim GER 2000) 11...cxd5 12.0-0 c6 13.cxd5?! ( 13.xc6 bxc6 14.f2 was quickly agreed drawn in Petursson,MSax,G /Bu en os Aires 1 97 8) 13...xd4 14.xd4 xd5! and Black is better, Svirin,OKhasin,A/Podolsk 1990. ] 10.cxd5 b6?! This is Black's idea, although [ 10...h6!? has its points: 11.xf6!? ( 11.h4 transposes to the last note) 11...xf6 12.c2 cxd5 13.xd5 c6 with more than adequate compensation. ] 11.b3 [ 11.dxc6! bxc6 12.b3 should transpose. ] 11...a5?! Giving White a second chance to capture on c6, [ 11...cxd5! 12.exd5 a6 is better, e.g. 13.h4 (to play Bf 2) b4 14.f2 d8 15.d6 e6 16.0-0 fd5 and Black will regain a pawn. ] 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.c1! White has to regain control of the g1-a7 diagonal before he can castle. a4 14.e3 b4 15.c5 a3 It looks like Black has succeeded in undermining White's defence of the c3-knight. 16.d3 Forced, but strong. b7 332
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 16...axb2 17.xb4 bxc1+ 18.xc1 leaves White a solid pawn up in the ending. ] [ 16...e7!? ] 17.b1 bd7?! 18.0-0 White has castled and managed to easily consolidate his extra pawn, so Black is effectively lost. a5 19.b4 a8 20.b5!? This opens the b-file and gains cont rol of d5 , altho ugh at the sa me tim e exchanges a good pawn for a rather weaker one. a5 21.bxc6 xc6 22.b5 White virtually forces the exchange of queens, although he could also go for [ 22.b4 b7 23.cd5 xd5 24.xd5 with a fine knight established on d5. ] 22...xc1 23.fxc1 a6 24.d6 e6 25.c4 xc4 Every exchange brings Black closer to resignation, but he has little alternative as [ 25...a4 is met by 26.b4 xb4 27.xb4 xc4 28.xc4 ] 26.xc4 h5 27.b7 f8 28.cc7 d5!? A desperate last fling of the dice, but there is little better, e.g. [ 28...e5 29.xe5 axe5 30.d4 a5 31.c4 and the position explodes. ] 29.d2! Even stronger than [ 29.xd7 xe3 30.xf7 ] 29...xc7 30.xa5 As Black drops a piece one of the two knights on the 7th rank. 1-0
347 Marjanovic,Slavoljub Ivanisevic,Ivan 55th ch Subotica YUG (3) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2524 2460 18.03.2000
1.c4 b6 2.e4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.f3 b4 5.d3 e7 6.e2 g6!? [ Bogdan Lalic's improvement, 6...f5 7.c2 is all the rage. ] 7.a3 [ Im m e d ia t e ly ch a sin g t h e b ish o p , 7.0-0 offered little before. ] 7...d6 8.c2 f5! 9.c3 [ 9.exf5?! h4 10.xh4 xh4 11.fxe6 dxe6 leads to a typical black initiative. ] 9...h4 10.d4 xf3+ [ Sidestepping 10...xg2+?! 11.f1 h4 when 12.g5 e7 13.xh4 xg5
14.h5+ is awkward. ] 11.xf3 h4 This move makes it difficult for White to castle kingside. 12.g3 h3 13.f4 c6 14.0-0-0?! [ In view of White's coming difficulties, 14.b5! 0-0 15.xd6 cxd6 16.e3 is better, when White can claim a plus. ] 14...fxe4 15.xe4 0-0 16.xd6 cxd6 17.c3 a5 Suddenly the c4-pawn appears exposed on the newly-opened c-file. 18.he1?! [ Better to go for the complications of 18.xd6!? fc8 ( or 18...f3 19.d3 xc4! 20.xc4 c8 21.c7 xd3 which is also good f or Black) 19.c5 xh1 20.xh1 with some compensation for the exchange. ] 18...ac8 19.c5 [ W h a t e l s e ? 19.b3?? allows xf4 as the g-pawn is now pinned. ] 19...dxc5 20.b1 d5 21.d6 [ 21.dxc5 xc5 22.d3 c4 is also very good for Black. ] 21...f3 [ Or 21...xf2!? 22.dxc5 c4 menacing ... Nxd6, and the desperate 23.xd5 exd5 24.e7 fails to f1+ 25.a2 f6 ] 22.d3 xf2 Black has obtained a deadly initiative. 23.dxc5 [ 23.g4 is tricky, but following xg4 24.g3 xd4 25.e5 xc3 26.xg7+ f8 27.xc3 Black has a winning material advantage. ] 23...c4 24.xd5 Desperation. exd5 25.e7 Threat ening mat e, bu t B lack can def en d easily. f1+ [ 25...f6! ] 26.a2 f7 27.d4? [ This loses more material, White had one last chance: 27.d3 f2 and now 28.xc4 ( 28.xc4!? is also feasible! dxc4 29.xc4 bxc5 30.xd7 and Black should win, of course, but it is difficult to avoid losing the f7-rook on the way.) 28...xe7 29.xd5+ f7 30.cxb6! xc3 31.b7 b6 32.b8+ xb8 33.xb8 c2 34.xa7 xh2 35.a4 and the queenside pawns offer a certain amount of counterplay. ] 27...xd6 28.b3 [ 28.cxd6 is quite h o pe le ss, to o , xc2 29.xd5 c4+ 30.xc4 xc4 ]
333
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28...xe7 0-1
348
A10 Matamoros Franco,Carlos S 2510 Pavlovic,Milos 2494 XXII Open Reykjavik ISL (9) 14.03.2006 [John Watson]
W hite's active move in an old line brings results, even if Black slips out against poor technique. 1.c4 b6 2.f3 b7 3.g3 xf3 4.exf3 c5 5.d4 c6 6.dxc5 bxc5 7.h3! A subtle move that serves as prophylactic in two different ways. One is simply that Black has to protect d7 before he castles or c o u n t e r a t t a c k s w i t h h i s q u e e n . g6?! Surprisingly, this standard move targeting the d4 outpost is probably a mistake! [ Black should play something like 7...f6 8.c3 e6 in order to protect his centre. ] 8.0-0 g7 9.c3 [ 9.d2 f6 10.b3 d6= ] 9...f6 The other is that d7 and c8 are covered after 9...d6? 10.Qa4. [ F u r t h e r m o r e , 9...xc3?! 10.bxc3 takes d4 away from Black. In spite of the pair of doubled pawns, White's bishops give him the advantage, e.g., f6 ( 10...h5 11.e1 h6 12.d5! ) 11.h6 ( or 11.g5 0-0 12.xf6 exf6 13.d6 ) 11...e6 12.d2 d6 13.fd1 e5 14.e2 ] 10.e3 Uh-oh. The pawn on c5 is indefensible. a5 [ 10...d6? 11.a4 ] [ 10...b8 11.b1 a5 12.e4! ] 11.e4 0-0 [ 11...xe4?? 12.xd7+ ] 12.xc5 [ 12.xf6+ xf6 13.xd7 d4 gives Black plenty of compensation, e.g., 14.xd4 xd4 15.xe7 ab8 16.b3 xa1 17.xa1 xb3! ] 12...d6 13.d3 d5 14.b4 d8 15.c1 [ 15.c2 is also good. ] 15...e6 16.cxd5 xd5 17.c5 d7 18.b5 e7 19.e5 b7 20.f4 [ 20.e2! and Rfc1 would cement White's advantage. His two bishops and forthcoming passed pawn on the queenside will decide. ]
20...fd5 21.f3 [ W h i t e i s s t a r t i n g t o s l i p . 21.g2! would leave him a clear pawn up. ] 21...a6 22.b6?! [ Missing a tactic. 22.a4! axb5 23.axb5 keeps Black's knights restricted. ] 22...xe5! 23.fxe5 xb6! 24.xd5 [ 24.fc1! xe3 25.xe3 d5 26.e2 Even without the extra pawn White keeps Black a little tied down, although it's probably not much. ] 24...b7 25.h6 Threatening Rd3. [ 25.c5 xd5 26.xf8 transposes to the next note. ] 25...xd5 26.d1!? [ 26.xf8 xf8 27.a3= ] 26...e7 [ It's e asiest to f o rce th ings b y 26...fc8! 27.xd5 xd5 28.f6 c1+ 29.f1 xf1+ 30.xf1 h1+ 31.e2 e4+= ] 27.xf8 xf8 28.f1 c7 29.xa6 a8 30.f1 xa2 31.e1 h5 32.h4 c5 33.d1 a3 34.d3 a1 35.d1 xd1 Black plays for a win. It doesn't hurt to try. The remaining moves require no n otes: 36.xd1 c3 37.e2 g7 38.h2 d4 39.g2 b6 40.f1 d7 41.f4 b6 42.g2 c4 43.f3 e3 44.h3 c3 45.h2 c1 46.f2 c5 47.e2 d4 48.h3 c3 49.h2 f5 50.f2 d3 51.g2 e3 52.f3 d4 53.e2 f5 54.e4 e3 55.f3 f8 56.h3 f5 57.e4 h6 58.f3 c3 59.h2 e7 60.f2 f5 61.a7+ f8 62.f2 e3 63.h3 d4 64.e2 e7 65.a6 c5 66.c6 d4 67.a8 d5 68.xd5 exd5 69.a3+ e8 70.a8+ e7 71.a3+ e8 72.a8+ e7 73.a3+ ½-½
349 Miezis,Normunds Svidler,Peter Keres Mem Rapid rapid (6) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2518 2689 07.01.2001
1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.e4 e6 4.ge2 I like this move, and duly recommend it in my book on the English Opening. f6 [ Standard, 4...f5!? 5.exf5 exf5 6.d4 f6 7.d3 e4 Miezis,N-Ward,C/Port Erin 1998, 334
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 when 8.e3 has its points. ] 5.g3!? [ But I'm not so keen on this, the knight is not optimally placed on the wing. I prefer 5.d3 c5 6.g3 c6 7.g2 d6 8.0-0 as in McNab, C-Plaskett,J/Southend 1999. ] 5...c5 6.d3!? [ Miezis is trying to improve on his 6.e5 g8 7.d3?! d6 8.exd6 xd6 9.e3 c6 10.e2 ge7 11.f3 e5 12.d2 0-0 13.0-0-0 d7 when Black is quite a lot b e t t e r , b e c a u se o f h i s h o l d o n d 4 , b u t blundered, and lost, Miezis, N-Ehlvest,J, from the same tournament. ] 6...c6 7.f4 h5! This move is often effective against knights on g3. 8.e5 h4! 9.ge4 xe4 10.xe4 d6 11.exd6 xd6 12.e3 e7 13.a4 0-0 14.0-0-0 d4 Black seems to have built-up a similar advantage to the E h l ve s t ga m e . 15.d2 f5 16.c3 a6 17.d1 b5 Black is attacking all over the board. 18.e1 b6 19.f2 h3 20.h4 d6 21.g3 a5 22.g1 [ White cannot defend his a-pawn, 22.b1?? b4 23.e2 b3 ] 22...b4 23.gxh3?! f7 24.b1 f3 White's pieces seem to have found comical squares, and it is no surprise that Black wins mo re th a n an e xch a n ge . 25.dg2 c7 26.f2 xf4+ 27.d1 xg1 28.xg1 e5 29.g6 h7 30.g3 xg3 [ T h e r e i s n o t h i n g w r o n g w i t h 30...xg6 31.xf4 f6 , either. ] 31.xg3 f4 32.g4 e3 33.h4+ g8 34.d2 f3+ 35.xf3 xf3+ 36.e1 f5 37.e2 e5 The rest is a massacre, but in rapid chess there is always the chance that yo ur o p po ne n t blu nd ers. 38.f2 xd3 39.f1 xh3+ 40.g1 e3 41.xf4 xe2 0-1
bad idea. For White I would take a look at 11. Ne4!? 1.c4 g6 2.e4 e5 3.d4 f6!? 4.f3 [ 4.dxe5 xe4 5.d5 was fashionable in the 70's and here Black can choose between f5 ( or 5...b4+ 6.d2 xd2+ 7.xd2 xd2 8.xd2 c6 ) 6.exf6 xf6 Najdorf, M (2540)-Ribli, Z (2505)/Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee 1973 ] 4...exd4 [ 4...b4+ was played sometimes, but I'm not a fan of trading the fianchettoed bishop so qu ickl y 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 xe4 ( 6...e7 7.dxe5 xe4 8.e3 b4+ 9.bd2 was Poluljahov, A (2554)-Sutovsky, E (2587)/MK Cafe Cup-A 1999.) 7.e3 d5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.xe5 0-0 10.c4 a5+ 11.c3 and this g7-bishop will be missing at some point. ] 5.e5 e4 [ 5...b4+ now it makes more sense 6.d2 e7 7.xb4 xb4+ 8.d2 xd2+ 9.bxd2 h5 10.xd4 c6 11.xc6 dxc6 with some strange kind of Berlin, but since Black can castle I assume that the position is ok. ] 6.xd4 b4+ 7.bd2 [ 7.c3 was seen in a recent game and is an ambitious try xc3 8.bxc3 c6 9.d3 e7 10.h6 with an interesting position in Cmilyte, V (2524)-Lahno, K (2553)/Beijing Sportaccord (Women) blitz 2012 ] 7...g5 This doesn't look so natural, but with 8...Nc6 ideas it's a good way to check White's setup. 8.a3 A novelty, but I'm not sure if it's a good one. The idea is to clarify the tension and to try to build a center with f4 later. [ 8.e2 was the move played before and I think Black is fine after c6 9.e3 xf3+ 10.xf3 0-0 11.0-0 e8 12.xc6 dxc6 13.f3 g4 Vitiugov, N (2726)-Volokitin, A (2686)/ Bundesliga 1112 2011 (11.1)/0-1 ] 8...xf3+ 9.gxf3 c6 10.e3 f8 350 A10 Coming back and going to the ideal square on Nakamura,Hikaru 2775 g7 11.b4 [ 11.e4!? I like this move, it makes Black Svidler,Peter 2769 less comfortable and tries to pose some Thessaloniki FIDE GP (11) 03.06.2013 problems from the start g7 12.f6+ f8 [Fier, Alexandr] 13.f4 and here Black has two continuations xf6 ( 13...d6 14.d2 h6 15.d5 dxe5 A really interesting fight! Black is probably 16.0-0-0 with good compensation) 14.exf6 better after the opening but it's not easy to xf6 15.d2 e7 16.0-0-0 xe3 17.fxe3 prove it. I think exchanging the queens was a 335
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with an unclear endgame ] 11...g7 12.b2 0-0 13.f4 Now if White can hold the pawns in the center and queenside then everything is fine, but his position is overextended. The computer assesses it as good for Black, but to find a improvement over the game is not an easy task d6 14.0-0-0 dxe5 15.fxe5 h4 16.b5 e7 17.g3 h5 [ 17...f5 is one of the possibilities, but why change queens when White's king is much more open than Black's? 18.xh4 xh4 19.d3 e8 20.c2 a6! can give an edge, but nothing concrete ] 18.f4 [ 18.e4 g4 19.d2 ad8 20.g1 xd2 21.xd2 e6 22.f4 looks like the same kind of position as in the game, but with one defender less for White ] 18...a6 19.a4 axb5 20.axb5 g4 [ 20...c6 here or on the next move this can be played, trying to open the position even more. 21.bxc6 ( 21.b6 now the endgames are more interesting for Black, the b6-pawn can fall at any moment d8 22.e1 f5 23.f2 h4 ) 21...bxc6 22.e4 is logical and now g4 23.d2 f5 24.e1 fb8 can give Black good prospects even if the position is still not clear ] 21.e1 fd8 [ 21...c6 22.bxc6 bxc6 23.h3 ( 23.g1 e6 24.e2 h6 looks like this is the square for the queen and after 25...Rfb8 Black is much better) 23...e6 24.e4 fb8 ] 22.g1 e6 23.e2 f5 [ 23...h6 again Black can try to put the queen on this weird square and keep the initiative. Compared to the positions with ... c6, it looks like the rook is more active on the b-file than the d-file, so 23. ..Qf5 is consistent with Black's plan, but still the idea of 24...Nf5 followed by 25... Qh3 looks tempting 24.e4 f5 25.f2 h3 ] 24.g4 xg4 25.xg4 xg4 26.xg4 f5 Now Black has an excellent post on f5 and better rooks, but all the pawns and pieces are defended, so the task is not easy. 27.g2 d3 28.e4 Regrouping. a4 29.c2 e3 [ 29...b4 30.c3! sacrificing the pawn to activate d4!? ( 30...xc3+ 31.xc3 xc4 32.c2 a4 33.b3 a8 34.d1
is not what Black was dreaming of.) 31.c2 dxc4 32.f6+ h8 ( 32...xf6 33.exf6 looks dangerous) 33.ee2 and things are again not clear. ] 30.d1 d3+ 31.c1 [ 31.d2 was an interesting option xd2+ ( 31...e3+ leads to a draw after 32.xe3 xe3 33.d8+ f8 34.f6+ g7 35.e8+ h6 36.f6= ) 32.xd2 xc4 33.f6+ xf6 34.exf6 h5 35.e8+ h7 36.e7! and Black needs to take care to not be worse. ] 31...e3 Now I think Black's winning chances are not very good any more. 32.c5 xc2 33.xc2 xc4+ 34.xd3 xc5 35.a1 [ 35.b6 was also playable but the text move is more active cxb6 36.d4 c6 37.b1 with good drawing chances. ] 35...xb5 36.a8+ f8 37.d4 h6 Gaining some space while getting close to move 40. 38.c8 c6 39.c3 d5+ W ith just rooks and pawns it's hard to get anything. 40.e4 c5 41.d3 b5 42.h4 h5 43.d2 d5+ 44.c2 c5+ 45.d3 d5+ 46.c2 g5 Pushing too hard. 47.f5 gxh4 48.c3 g7 49.e6+ f6 50.c7+ g8 51.c8 g7 52.c7+ g8 53.xf6 xf5?? [ 53...c5+ A) 54.c3 xf5 55.e7 xe7 is a draw; B) 54.b3 b5+ 55.a4 b4+ 56.a5 h3 ( 56...b5+ is a draw ) 57.c8 e4 58.e7 leads to huge complications h2 59.xf8+ ( 59.xf8 i s s i m p l e r h1 60.b4+ g7 61.c3+ h6 62.d2+ h7 63.c7+ g8 64.c8+ g7 65.c3+= ) 59...g7 60.f6+ h7 61.f7 f4 62.f6 xf6 63.e7 h1 64.h8+ g6 65.g8+ f5 66.f8 with probably some perpetual around; C) 54.d3 d5+ and the king can never go to the e-file C1) 55.e3 xf5 now Black can take on f5 56.c8 ( 56.e7 xe7 57.xe7= ) 56...xf6 57.e7 e6+ this is the point; C2) 55.e4 h3! 56.xb7 ( 56.c8 h2 and the queen promotes with check) 56...h2 57.b1 d6 ] 54.c8 f2+ 55.d3 f3+ 56.d4 And Black cannot avoid e7. 1-0
336
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 open the f-file: 20.xf7?! hf8 21.b3 xd3 and f2 is a serious problem. ] Rasmussen 20...a6 21.ad1 xb2 Time to cash-in. Speelman,Jonathan S 22.d5 Politiken Cup (4) [ White pins his hopes on some attacking [Tony Kosten] possibilities on the h1-a8 diagonal, but it p r o v e s t o b e i l l u s o r y , 22.xf7 hf8 1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.e4 e6 4.ge2 d5!? and again f2 will soon be lost. ] [ A move typical of 'Spec'- an innovation at move four! I looked at 4...f6 previously, 22...d4 23.f3 g6 24.g5 he8 25.h6 when if 5.d3 d5 is a sensible possibility, f5!? 26.xh7! f6 27.h6? [ This hastens the end, the only chance was that I analysed once. However, the 27.fe1 as now h8 28.e7 and White is possibility of playing this central thrust one still fighting. ] move before, hadn't even occurred to me! ] 27...h8 28.c1 Black to play and win? 5.exd5 [ 5.cxd5 exd5 6.xd5 f6 is the alternate xh2! 29.c6 [ The queen finally gets to the h1-a8 diagonal, pawn sac, when one possible continuation is but only to swap queens. 29.xh2 h8+ 7.a4+!? c6 8.xf6+ xf6 9.c4 d7 30.g1 h4 forces mate. ] when Black has some comp for a pawn, but 29...xc6 30.xc6 dh8 31.g3 g5 maybe not quite enough. ] 5...exd5 6.xd5 Expecting to gain the two The black attack continues in the endgame. 32.de1 2h6 33.g2 g4 34.b1 f4 bishops, no doubt. f6!? [ Offering a pawn for the initiative. 6...xd5 35.gxf4 g3 36.e4 h2 The f2-pawn is 7.cxd5 xd5 8.c3 e5+ 9.e2 finally, and irrevocably, lost. leaves Black weak on the queenside light 0-1 squares. ] 7.ec3?! A10 [ White prefers the bishops to the pawn. 352 7.xf6+ xf6 8.d4 c6 followed by long Ribli,Zoltan 2588 castles certainly provides good Muranyi,Karl Jasmin 2357 compensation for the pawn, but at least Bundesliga 2006/07 (9) 21.02.2007 White has something for his trouble. ] [Carsten Hansen] 7...xd5 8.xd5 xd5 9.cxd5 xd5 10.e2 c6 1.c4 f5 2.f3 f6 3.g3 e6 4.g2 e7 [ Black's control of d4, and open central files 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 d6 7.c3 bd7?! more than make-up for his lack of light- It looks like Black puts the knight on a wrong s q u a r e d b i s h o p . N o t e t h a t 10...xg2?? s q u a r e , b u t i t i l l u s t r a t e s h o w W h i t e b y loses: 11.f3 ] choosing an English Opening move order can 11.0-0 d4 12.e1?! mess with Dutch players, who are used to [ P e r h a p s W h i t e s h o u l d c h o o s e 12.a6 respond to a set-up that includes d2-d4. Black (stopping castling) e7 13.e1 d7 14.b3 should probably opt for 0-0 15.b2 f6 with good drawing [ 7...a5 , angling for a transposition to the chances. ] Dutch if Black can only get White to agree to 12...0-0-0 13.a6+ b8 14.d3 b4 15.c4 play d2-d4. ] d7 16.f1 8.b2 a6 9.g5!? e5?! [ The rook must give way, 16.d2?! xd2 [ 9...b6 10.d4 g4 11.h3 e5 12.d2 ] 17.xd2 he8 and the knight will dominate 10.d4 Now when it's convenient for White, he the bishop. ] ha s n ot h in g a gain st p u sh ing th e d -pa wn 16...b5 17.b3 c5 18.e3 b6 19.xd4!? forward. f7 11.xf7 xf7 The resulting White seeks salvation in the opposite-colour position looks like a Classical Dutch, albeit a bishop position. xd4 20.h5 very clumsy one by Black. 12.e4 [ White is loathe to touch the f7-pawn, and [ W h i t e c a n a l s o c o n s i d e r 12.d3!? 351
A10 2281 2603 19.07.2001
337
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 after which Black probably does best to enter a Stonewall set-up with d5 ] 12...fxe4 13.xe4 xe4 14.xe4 d5 15.g2 [ Here 15.c2!? looks like an attractive alternative the idea is to follow up with 16 Qd3 and then on ...g6 by Black, White will throw either the f- or h-pawn forward. ] 15...f6 16.d2?! [ 16.e2!? appeals more to me, as Black c a n ' t p l a y dxc4 (as in the game) with the same effect due to White taking back with the queen: 17.xc4 c6 18.f4 and White dominates the board. ] 16...dxc4 17.bxc4 c5 18.d5 exd5 19.cxd5 d6 20.a4 d7 21.a5 af8 22.f4 Here my chess engine and I have a difference of opinion. It likes Black's position more, whereas I pref er W hite. However, it isn't entirely clear. b5 23.axb6 xb6 24.xf6 xf6 25.h4!? This prevents Black from playing ...g7-g5, which can be inconvenient for White in some lines and gives the White king an extra square. f5 26.fe1 c4+ 27.h2 d3 [ 27...c8!? ] 28.e4 d6?! [ This move is the beginning of trouble for Bla ck. I nst ea d 28...xe4 29.xe4 c8 30.c1 c3 31.xc3 xc3 32.xc3 f2+ leads to a draw. ] 29.xd3 cxd3 30.xd3 fd8 31.ab1 [ 31.e5 b2+ 32.e2 xe2+ 33.xe2 xd5 34.xa6 leads to an endgame Black should draw. ] 31...f2+ 32.h3 xd5? [ 32...c5! keeps the balance. ] 33.xa6 h6? [ 33...d3! 34.e6+ f8 35.f5+ g8 36.e8+ xe8 37.xd3 is still rather uncomfortable for Black, but Black should be able to defend. ] 34.e7 8d6? [ 34...5d6 35.c4+ h8 36.e4 d4 37.xd4 xd4 38.bb7 g8 39.f5 should win for White. ] 35.c8+ h7 36.xg7+ xg7 37.b7+ g6 38.e8+ f6 1-0
353 Rotstein,Arkadij Conquest,Stuart N1 France [Tony Kosten]
A10 2553 2582 03.05.2002
1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.e4 e5!? [ We have considered 3...e6 in great detail. ] 4.f3 c6 5.e2!? [ A new move in this rare position, White avoids the no rma l 5.d4 as after exd4 6.xd4 b4 Black has reasonable play, 7.e3 ( 7.xc6 xc6 8.d3 xc3+ 9.bxc3 f6!? White's weak pawns give Black compensation for the bishop pair, De ub e lb e iss, R-Ho rn ,P / SW Z-chT 19 9 3) 7...f6 8.f3 0-0 ( 8...xc3+!? ) 9.c2 e8 10.0-0-0 White has a useful space advantage, Sjoestroem,O-Hof f mann,M/ Fuerth 1999. ] 5...ge7?! [ 5...c5 seems critical, taking a firm hold of d4, 6.xe5!? xe5 7.d4 b4 ( 7...d6 8.dxe5 xe5 is also f easible, 9.d5 ) 8.dxe5 xc3+ 9.bxc3 with chances to both sides in this imbalanced position. ] 6.0-0 g6 7.d4 Now White can make this ke y m o ve wit h o u t h a vin g t o wo rry a b o u t do ub le d c-pa wn s. exd4 8.xd4 xd4 9.xd4 h4 10.d5 0-0-0 Black plays sharply, but White has extra space, and his knight is strong. 11.e3 e8 12.f4!? c5 13.d3 xe3+ [ Perhaps Black should accept the pawn: 13...xd5!? 14.cxd5 xf4 when White planned to attack the king: 15.a6+ b8 16.xc5 bxc5 17.f3 when Black's position is quite unpleasant to play. ] 14.xe3 f5!? 15.e5 h6 Black is de spe ra te ly lo oking f or co u n te rpla y, t h e immediate threat is to capture on d5, then on e5, as the f-pawn would be pinned, but White keeps firm control. 16.f2 e7! 17.ad1 xd5 18.cxd5 g5 19.d4 Centralisation! hg8 20.c1 Which will be more important: B la ck' s o p e n in g o f t h e g-f ile , o r W h it e ' s control of the c-file? b8 21.f3 gxf4 22.fe1 White is not too concerned about the f4-pawn, his mobile e and d pawns supported by his pieces, give him some advantage. g6 23.c2?! 338
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Too casual, 23.a4!? hitting d7 , eg8!? 24.c2 ( a t t a c k i n g c 7 a n d f 5 ) ( not 24.xd7?? when h3 wins! ) 24...h4!? so that 25.xf5 xg2+! 26.xg2 xd5 forcing 27.e4 g5 28.xg5 xg5 29.f2 xg2+ 30.xg2 xe4+ is not too clear, ] [ but 23.e2! is best, as then g2 is solidly defended, and ...Qh4 won't hit the rook on e1. ] 23...h4 24.ec1? [ 24.f2 keeps a plus, but both players were ge t t in g s h o rt o f t im e , a n d in p a rt icu la r Black. ] 24...c8?! [ 24...h6 25.h3 comes to nothing, but ] [ 24...c5! was strong, closing the c-file, 25.c3 ( 25.dxc6 dxc6 and White is unable to capture thrice on c6 because of ...Qe1 mate. ) 25...h6 26.h3 g3 27.h1 d6! 28.e6? ( 28.exd6 xd6 is also good for Black ) 28...exe6! 29.dxe6 xh3+ 30.g1 xf3 and Black wins! ] 25.c4! c6?! 26.xf4? [ A s A r k a d i j p o i n t e d o u t , 26.e6! i s e v e n s t r o n g e r , c5 27.exd7! d8 28.e5+ winning quickly. ] 26...xf4 27.xf4 cxd5 28.xc8+ xc8 29.xf5 White's better structure gives him a c l e a r a d v a n t a g e . d4 30.xb7+ xb7 31.f4! g5 32.xd4 c6 33.d6+ c7 34.h6 xe5 35.xh7 e2 36.h4 The point, whilst Black captures some queenside pawns the white kingside strides towards the queening square. xb2 37.h5 xa2 38.h6 a4 [ 38...e2 39.g7 ( 39.g4 a5 40.g7 ) 39...e1+ 40.h2 e6 ] 39.g3 g4? [ This simplifies matters although 39...e4 40.f7! a5 41.h7 e8 42.g4 is also convincing. ] 40.g7 [ My computer likes 40.xd7+?! xd7 41.h7 xg3+ 42.h2 when Black cannot stop the h-pawn, but might have time to set-up a fortress. ] 40...e4 41.h7 e1+ 42.g2 e2+ 43.h3 e1 44.g2 e2+ 45.f1 h2 46.g1 h6 47.g4 a5 48.g5 h5 49.g6 a4 50.g8 1-0
354
A10 Savchenko,Boris 2583 Bacrot,Etienne 2695 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (34) 22.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen] 1.c4 b6 2.f3 b7 3.g3 e6 [ The continuation chosen by Black on this and the next move hasn't previously been covered here, whereas 3...xf3 has been discussed at length in earlier updates, check the PDF e-books for the game references. ] 4.g2 f5 5.0-0 f6 6.d3 [ Two other options are 6.b3!? ] [ and 6.d4 , of which the latter takes the game to a Classical Dutch ] 6...e7 [ This move looks so obvious, it is almost curious how many other tries Black has made in this position: A) 6...g6 A) 7.g5 g7 8.d2 0-0 9.c3 d6 10.e4 1-0 Rygaard, M-Torngarn, T/ Stockholm 1994; B) 7.e4 fxe4 8.g5 c6 ( 8...g7 9.dxe4 h6 10.e5 xg2 11.xg2 hxg5 12.xg5 c6 Mozny, M-Forman, S/ Czech Rep CZE 2003) 9.xe4 xe4 10.xe4 g7 11.c3 f6 Pedersen, CSedlak, N/Esbjerg DEN 2004, 12.e3!? 0-0-0 13.c5 , and White has the better chances, as his pawns a likely to crash in around Black's king before Black's pawn reaches their target. Nevertheless, this is a complicated position.; C) 7.c3 g7 C1) 8.e4 fxe4 9.g5 0-0 10.dxe4 c6 ( 10...h6 11.h3 e5 12.f4 c6 13.f5 gxf5 14.exf5 Bilek, I-Jamrich, G/ HUN 1999 ) 11.e5 e8 12.f4 e7 13.ce4 d8 14.e3 Richter, EKottnauer, C/Prague 1931; C2) 8.e1 0-0 9.e4 fxe4 10.dxe4 c6 C2a) 11.h3!? h8 ( 11...e5!? ) 12.e5 g8 13.f4 f7 14.d2 Kelly, BCarrasco Martinez, J/Zagan 1997; C2b) 11.e5 g4 12.f4 a5 13.e2 e7 14.h3 h6 15.ad1 Lukov, V-Droulers, D/ Paris 1998 ] [ B) 6...d6? 7.c3 ( 7.e4!? fxe4 8.g5 ) 7...bd7 8.d4 xg2 9.xg2 f7 , Villegas, B-Letelier Martner, R/Mar del 339
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g4 12.d2 ge5 13.xe5 xe5 P l a t a 1 9 3 6 , 10.e4! , and needless to say, with a pleasant game for Black, Sabaev, EBlack is in serious trouble ] Janturin, A/ Pardubice 1998 ] [ C) 6...c6 7.c3 ( 7.bd2 e7 8.b3 0-0 9.b2 e8 10.e3 h5= 1-0 Reschke, S- 8...fxe4 9.g5 c6!? [ Black has tried several other things at this Just, W /Baunatal 2001) 7...b4 8.c2 juncture, but I don't think any of the ( 8.d2 0-0 9.a3 xc3 10.xc3 e8 alternatives are as good as Bacrot's choice: 11.b4 h5 12.e3 e7 13.a4 a6 14.a5 A) 9...b4 10.cxe4 xe4 11.dxe4 g5 15.xf6 xf6 16.e5 , and White is ( 11.xe4!? c6 12.d4 ) 11...e5 12.h5 win n in g, L e s k i , M-L a m b , H/ N ic e 2 0 0 0) h6 13.f3 xe4 14.xh6 f6 15.d2 8...0-0 9.a3 d6 10.b3 a6 11.b2 e8 ( 15.f4!? exf4 16.g5 f3 17.xe4 f5 12.a4 d8 13.c5! bxc5 14.xc5 c6 18.xf5 xf5 19.h3 e5 20.c3 xc3 15.ac1 ( 15.b4!? ) 15...a5 16.e4 21.bxc3 ) 15...xf3 16.xf3 xf3 17.xf3 , and W hite has slightly better game, xf3 18.xb4= Johansson, L-Svenn, G/ Buhmann, R-Bunzmann, D/Heringsdorf Stockholm 1991 ] 2000 ] [ B) 9...a6 10.gxe4 b8 11.f4 xe4 [ D) 6...c8 7.g5 e7 8.c3 h6 9.d2 12.dxe4 d6 13.e2 e5 14.e3 c5 0-0 10.e1 b4 11.e4 1/2-1/2 Trygstad, 1/2-1/2 Greiner, H-Doll, S/Baden 1993/GER K-Johannessen, S/Oslo NOR 2003 ] (27) 15.d5 ] [ E) 6...d6 7.c3 0-0 8.g5 h6 9.xf6 [ C) 9...c8?! 10.gxe4 c6 11.d4 b8 xf6 Borg, A-Yagiz, Y/Antalya TUR 2006 ( 11...xe4 12.xe4 a5 13.c2 Ribli ) 10.e3 ] 12.d5! exd5 ( 12...e5 13.b3 exd5 7.c3 White has also tried several other 14.xf6+ xf6 15.xd5 f3+?? 16.xf3 moves here, but they are all of little xa1 17.e7++- Ribli ) 13.cxd5 e5 consequence and do not challenge Black. 0-0 14.f4 f7 ( 14...d6 15.g5 Ribli ) [ 7...c8 8.c2 0-0 9.e4 fxe4 10.dxe4 15.c1! a6 ( 15...d6 16.xf6+ xf6 c6 11.a3 g4 12.f4 f6= Ivanov, M17.b5 Ribli ) 16.e1 d6 17.b4 f5 Gervasio, R/Le Touquet 1996 ] 18.b5 c8 19.e2! [ 7...b4 8.d2 0-0 9.e1 e8 10.a3 A) 19...xd5 20.xd6!? ( 20.d4 g6 xc3 11.xc3 d6 Romanov, V-Merzliakov, 21.c6 e6 22.xb8 xb8 ) 20...xd6 E/ St-Petersburg RUS 2006, and now 21.xd6 xd6 22.xd5+ h8 23.xf5 12.d2 e5 13.b4 ] xf5 24.d4 Ribli; 8.e4 B) 19...xe4 20.d4 f6 ( 20...xd5 [ A) 8.b1 21.xe4 xa2 22.c6+- ) 21.xe4 g5 A) 8...a5 9.a3 a6 10.e4 ( 10.b3?! e8 22.g2 b7 ( 22...h3+ 23.xh3 xh3 11.c2 h5 12.a2 g4 13.h3 h6 24.xc7+- ) 23.h4+- Jacobsen, B-Fenn, P/ 14.xh6 xh6 15.b4 axb4 16.axb4 f4 E u p e n 1 9 9 4 ( The alternatives are also Nemeth, Z-Jamrich, G/Budapest 2001) very good for White, e.g. 23.c6+-; and 10...fxe4 11.g5 e8 12.gxe4 xe4 23.e6!?+- )] 13.xe4 g6 ( 13...c5!?= ) 14.f6+ [ D) 9...c6 10.dxe4 h6 11.h3 e5 xf6 15.xb7 a7 16.g2 Michalek, C12.d5 c5 13.h1 xd5 14.cxd5 d6 Kleinegger, F/Ruhrgebiet 1999; 15.b1 a5 , Abbasov, F-Hasanov, R/Tehran B) 8...e8 9.b4 d6 10.d4?! ( 10.e4!? IRI 2005, and now 16.f4!? ] fxe4 11.g5 d8 12.cxe4 xe4 13.xe4 d5 14.c3 f6 15.b2 ) 10.cxe4 [ 10.d4 a5 11.b3 h6 ( 11...e8!? ) 10...bd7 11.d5 e5 12.g5 0-1 Mellen, 12.gxe4 xe4 13.xe4 d5 14.cxd5 S-Everett, M/ Detroit 1991 g6 13.c5! exd5 15.c3 f6 16.e3 , and on account bxc5 14.e6 c4 15.xf8 xf8 16.b5 ] of the weak light squares around Black's [ B) 8.c2 a6 ( 8...e8 9.e4 h5 10.e2 king, White has the better chances, Espig, fxe4 11.dxe4 b4 12.b5 a6 L-Mischustov, M/ Germany 1998 ] Kruse, H-Carton, P/Germany 1993/GERchT2 ) 9.e4 fxe4 10.dxe4 c6 11.f4 10...xe4 11.xe4 last book move d5!? 340
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Rather amazingly only now do we leave exis t in g t h eo ry. Th e ste m ga me in th is variation, played some 80 years ago saw B l a c k e q u a l i z e f a i r l y e a s i l y : 11...e8!? 12.d4?! ( 12.f4!? ) 12...a5 13.e2 g6 14.e1 b4 , and here Black is already is very good shape: 15.d2 xd2 Ribli calls this position equal, but at the very least Black has the initiative, yet he probably b e t t e r a t t h i s s t a g e . 16.xd2 xg2 17.xg2 A) 17...f4!? 18.d5 ( 18.e5? af8 is almost winning for Black) 18...af8 19.f3 exd5 20.cxd5 d4 21.ac1 c5 22.dxc6 xc6 , and Black has the better chances; B) 17...c2 18.b3 c6 19.e3 f7 20.f3 af8 21.e2 f5 22.e5 xe5 23.dxe5= h5 24.d3 g5 25.d1 g4 26.e4 g5 27.d4 h5 28.d3 g7 29.d2 xe5 30.xd7 xd7 31.xd7 e4+ 32.g1 h4 33.gxh4 e1+ 34.g2 e4+ 35.g1 e1+ 1/2-1/2 Reti, RTartakower, S/Giessen 1928 ] 12.c3 dxc4 [ 12...d4 13.g4 c5 14.f4 f5 15.ae1 f8 16.e2 c6 17.c3 d4 18.e2 c6 19.c3 d4 ] 13.dxc4 xd1 14.xd1 ad8 [ 14...f6 15.f4 ] 15.f4 e5 16.xe5 xe5 17.xb7 c6 18.b3 [ 18.a6 g5 19.xd8 xd8 20.d1 xd1+ 21.xd1 g4 22.g2 f7 23.h3 h5 24.hxg4 hxg4 25.c8 f6 26.e3 ] 18...c5 [ 18...b8 19.a6 a3 gives Black adequate positional compensation for the pawn. ] 19.e4 [ To me it looks like White should have tried 19.xd8 xd8 20.d1 to eliminate some of Black's counterplay. ] 19...d4 20.ac1 f7 21.a6 c5 W h i t e h a s a n e x t r a p a wn , b u t h i s l i g h t squared bishop is decidedly out of play at the moment and bringing it back will take some time. Black's activity and reasonably wellcoordinated pieces offer him adequate compensation for the pawn. 22.h3 e7 23.g2 c6 24.c3 b4 25.b5 f8
26.d2 a6 27.a4 xf2+ 28.xf2 xf2 29.a3 d3 30.d1 e3 31.e4 xe4 32.xd3 d4 33.f3 e1 34.c6 f8 35.b4 e7 36.b7 f1+ 37.e4 d6? [ Black's idea is undoubtedly to let White grab the pawn on a6 and with that misplace the light-squared bishop, all the while Black a c t i va t e s h is p i e c e s. Y e t I t h in k B la c k should instead have played the obvious and simple 37...e1+ 38.f4 a5 39.bxc5 bxc5 , and Black isn't worse ] 38.xa6 e1+ 39.f3 f1+ 40.g4 g6?? [ A blunder that allows White an immediate win instead Black should have given pre f ere n ce t o 40...c1 41.bxc5+ xc5 42.f5 h1 43.g4 e1 44.b3 g6+ 45.g5 e5+ 46.h6 e7 , and White has some winning chances, but Black should hold the draw without too many difficulties ] 41.b7?? [ White could have won immediately with a petite combination: 41.xd4+ cxd4 42.c5+ bxc5 43.xf1 ] 41...e5 42.f3?! [ Or 42.bxc5 xc5 43.d7 h6 44.a4 c1 45.d5 h5+ 46.h4 g1 47.g7 f6 48.f7+ e5 49.g4 hxg4 50.hxg4 e3 , and Black shouldn't lose ] 42...f6?! [ Black should have played 42...c1! , e.g. 43.d5 cxb4 44.axb4 b5! , and Black actually has the marginally better chances ] 43.f4 e1 44.h4 h5 45.d5 f1+ 46.e4 e1+ 47.f3 c1 48.a4 c3 [ Bacrot seeks refuge in an oppositecoloured bishop endgame, which in the case is drawn. A perfectly acceptable alternative is 48...g5!? 49.hxg5+ xg5 , and White will have a hard time making progress, but can of course try. ] 49.xc3 xc3 50.bxc5 bxc5 51.c6 e1 52.e8 g5?? [ This is massive blunder, undoubtedly played with next to no time left on the clock. Black should draw after 52...f5 53.d7+ e5 54.c8 d4 55.a6 e5 56.b7 d4 57.d5 e5 , and White has will not be able to make any progress ] 53.xh5 gxh4 54.gxh4 xh4 [ T h i s l o s e s i m m e d i a t e l y , b u t 54...e7 55.g4 f6 56.e8 will lead to the same 341
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 result, but take longer ] 55.a5 1-0
t h e d - f i l e . T h e p r o b l e m w i t h 8.dxe4 is that, after e5 9.b3 c5 Black's darksquared bishop takes a strong post, aiming at the f2-square, 10.h3 e7 11.f4 f7 12.a3 a5 13.d3 0-0 with good play for Black, who won in double-quick time, in 355 A10 Heinbuch,D-Kengis,E/Bonn 1995. ] Schmit,Aaron 8...xe4 Pribyl,Josef [ A novelty, although it doesn't change too 1990 Altensteig 1990 much when compared with the move [Paul Motwani] 8...b4+ e. g. 9.d2 xd2+ 10.xd2 0-0 11.0-0 with slightly more space for White, W43: "Czech checked by a cheeky check!!" Smejkal,J-Speelman,J/Germany 1999. ] 1.f3 d6 2.c4 [ 2.d4 g4 is the Wade System, but in the 9.xe4 b4+ 10.d2 xd2+ 11.xd2 0-0 actual game W hite has a sneaky idea in 12.0-0 f6 Exerts pressure on the backward mind involving getting his queen out to b3 pawn 13.ad1 ad8 14.c3 a5 15.xb7 af t e r p la yin g 2 c4 . Ju st wa t ch a n d se e xb7 16.xf6 xf6 17.d4 [ 17.f4 might be more accurate. ] what happens next... ] 17...d6 18.b3 f3 19.g2 df8 20.f4 2...g4 c3 White is forced to exchange this rook, lest [ Of course 2...e5 was also possible. ] 3.b3 c8 4.h3 h5?? Black probably it becomes too active. 21.c1 xc1 22.xc1 played this routine-looking move very quickly, f5 23.e2 but in this instance there's a fatal tactical ½-½ flaw... 5.b5+ Oops. That's bye-bye black bishop! Reader's Challenge Puzzle W43P1: A10 Can you think of a similar situation in the 357 Trompovsky Attack where several masterSorokin,Maxim 2570 level players have made a losing move, as Lalic,Bogdan 2545 White on move 3, allowing Black to respond Goodricke Open (10) 2000 with a winning queen-check!? Look out...here [Tony Kosten] comes the answer! Solution to puzzle W43P1:1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 c6 3 e3?? Qa5+. 1.c4 b6 Something of a surprise from Bogdan 1-0 La lic, b u t a s h is p rep a ra t io n is n o rm a lly excellent, we can expect him to have a few tricks up his sleeve. 2.c3 b7 3.e4 e6 356 A10 4.f3 b4 5.d3 e7 6.e2 This move, Smejkal,Jan 2526 avoiding ...Bxc3, and threatening to trap the Kengis,Edvins 2574 b4-bishop, is very much 'a la mode'. g6! Bundesliga 1999-2000 (12) 12.03.2000 [ And here it is, Black's improvement over [Tony Kosten] 6...f5 which left Black worse in previously. ] 7.0-0 0-0 8.c2 A natural move, intending 1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.e4 e6 4.g3 d4. f5! 9.d4 [ In my book, The Dynamic English, I [ P r o b a b l y b e s t , t h e c a p t u r e 9.exf5? recommend 4.ge2 as more flexible, as is strongly met by xf3 10.fxg6? ( 10.gxf3 this takes the sting out of any ... f5-move. ] i s s u p e r i o r , b u t h4 and Black has the 4...f5 Naturally, the e4-pawn is pinned along upper hand because of White's shattered the h1-a8 diagonal. 5.g2 f6 6.d3 fxe4 kingside ) 10...g5 11.gxh7+ h8 12.g3 7.ge2 Now it is Black's e4-pawn that is g4 and White must jettison lots of material p i n n e d a l o n g t h i s s a m e d i a g o n a l . c6 to avoid getting mated on g2. ] 8.xe4 9...xe4 10.xe4 fxe4 11.g5 e7 [ Probably strongest, keeping the d3-pawn on 12.xe4 d5 Now that Black has exchanged 342
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 his light-squared bishop, he hastens to place his pawns on this colour complex. 13.4c3 dxc4 14.a4 d7 15.xc4 c6 16.e3 a5 17.d3 c6 Black's e6-pawn is isolated, but so is White's d4-pawn, and this last stands on a dark square. Black has no problems, his opening has been a success. 18.ac1 ½-½
358 Troyke,Christian Krasenkow,Michal 16th Monarch Assurance (7) [Carsten Hansen]
A10 2386 2660 28.09.2007
1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.e4 e6 4.ge2 This move isn't mentioned in the ECO, but is briefly covered in Daniel King's book on the English Def ence f rom 1999, where his coverage focuses on the move 4...Nf6 by Black as played in game between Kortchnoi and King himself. c5 [ Black players should take a further look at 4...f6 , and now White's main moves are 5.g3 ( and 5.d3 )] 5.g3 h5 [ This move is extremely rare, but carries som e p unc h, alt hou gh W hite can ge t a perfectly fine position in a number of ways. White's chosen set-up is extremely solid and can be difficult to break down. As the higher rated player, you may be inspired to try s h e n a n i ga n s s u ch a s t h e t e xt m o ve t o change the pace a little. Black alternatives are as follows: A) 5...d6 6.d4 e7 7.g2 d7 8.0-0 h5 9.f4 h4 10.g4 h3 11.f3 a6 12.e3 1-0 Czaya, R-Hoenlinger, B/ Bad Nauheim 1948 ] [ B) 5...c6 6.g2 f6 ( 6...ge7 7.0-0 d4 8.xd4 cxd4 9.e2 c6 10.d3 e7 11.f4 0-0 12.a3 d6 13.b4 e5 14.g4 h4 15.f3 c8 16.f5 , and although this is evaluated as about even, I clearly prefer W hite's chances, thanks to her space advantage and attacking potential on the k i n g s i d e , wh i l e B l a c k ' s c o u n t e r p l a y i s rather limited, Ptacnikova, L-Vyskocil, N/ Olomouc CZE 2003; 6...e5 7.d5 f6 8.0-0 e7 9.d3 0-0 10.e3 ) 7.0-0 h6 8.d4 cxd4 9.xd4 f7 10.e3 e7
11.e2 0-0 12.fd1 c8 13.ac1 xd4 14.xd4 b8 15.c2 , and White has the cl e a rl y b e t t e r c h a n c e s , B la ck s t o c k , L Basman, M/London 1974 ] [ C) 5...b5? is a not very good idea. executed in a manifestly stupid fashion: 6.cxb5 d5?! ( 6...a6!? 7.bxa6 xa6 8.g2 b4 9.d3 a6 ) 7.exd5 xd5? 8.xd5 xd5 9.g1+Norwood, D-Savva, A/ Groningen 1984 ] [ D) Black's main line move is 5...f6 6.g2 A) 6...a6 7.d3 c7 8.0-0 e7 9.h3 h5 ( 9...c6 10.f4 h5 11.e3 d6 12.a3 d8 13.b1 b8 14.f5 e5 15.b4 L e zca n o Ja e n , P -G o n za l e z V e l e z, F / Barcelona 2000) 10.f4 d6 11.e3 bd7 12.c1 c8 13.a3 b8 14.b4 a8 15.b1 c6 16.b5?! ( 16.f5! e5 17.bxc5 dxc5 18.d5 d8 19.ec3 looks downright ugly for Black) 16...axb5 17.xb5 h4 18.g4 d5 19.e5 ( 19.exd5!? exd5 20.g5 h5 21.f2 d4 22.xc6 xc6 23.xh4 ) 19...xg4 20.hxg4 h3 21.f3 d4 ( 21...h2+! 22.f2 d4 23.exd4 cxd4 24.xd4 xf3 25.xf3 c5 is complicated but probably better for White ) 22.exd4 cxd4 23.xd4 xf3 24.xf3 xa3 25.b5 a2 1/2-1/2 Hauchard, A-Rocha, S/ Porto 2000, and here White should have tried 26.d4 , and Black is facing serious problems given the wave of counterplay appears to b e o ve r a n d n o w W h i t e ' s p i e c e s a r e frothing at their mouths to have a go at Black's monarch.; B) 6...d6 7.0-0 a6 B1) 8.f4 c7 9.d3 e7 10.f5 e5 11.f3 h5 12.h4 bd7 13.a4 0-0-0 14.a5 dg8 15.axb6 ( White can also consider another approach, e.g. 15.g2 g6 16.fxg6 xg6 17.g5 bxa5 18.h3 with a solid plus for White, who's pieces are b e t t e r co o rd in a t e d) 15...xb6 16.d2 g6 17.a4 bd7 18.e1 ( 18.g2 gxf5 19.xf5 ) 18...d8 19.ec3 gxf5 20.exf5 Schwierskott, MKniest, O/Leverkusen 2001, and now h7 21.g5 hg7 with a complicated position, where I would be afraid to pick one side over the other, but I would probably pick Black if I were to pick one 343
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 side to play.; B2) 8.d3 c7 B2a) 9.a3 e7 10.b4 0-0 11.b1 c6 12.b5!? axb5 ( 12...e5 13.f4 ed7 14.bxa6 xa6 15.b5 c8 16.ec3 ) 13.xb5 d8 14.f4 d5 15.cxd5 exd5 16.e5 e8 17.ec3 d4 18.e4 h8 1-0 Miezis, NKulaots, K/Biel 1995; B2b) 9.h3 bd7 B2b1) There is no reason to rush things with 10.f4 g6 11.a3 ( 11.e5 xg2 12.xg2 c6+ 13.h2 h5 ) 11...g7 12.e3 0-0 13.g4 d5 14.f2 ( 14.cxd5 exd5 15.exd5 ae8 16.d2 d6 17.e4 b8 18.2c3= ) 14...d4 15.b1 e8 , planning ...f7-f5 leaves Black with a pleasant position, Werner, B-Lyrberg, P/ Copenhagen; B2b2) 10.e3 e7 11.f4 0-0-0 ( 11...d5?! 12.cxd5 exd5 13.e5 d4 14.xb7 xb7 15.exf6 xf6 16.xd4 cxd4 17.xd4 d7 18.xf6 xf6 19.e2+ , and White is a pawn for insufficient compensation, Baekgaard, M-Reefat, B/ Gausdal 2001) 12.a3 b8 13.b4 d5? 14.cxd5 exd5 15.bxc5 bxc5 16.e5 e4? ( 16...d4 17.xb7+ xb7 18.b1 a7 19.exf6 xf6 20.a4 dxe3 21.b3+- ) 17.dxe4 d4 18.xd4 cxd4 19.d5 xd5 20.exd5 c5 21.d3 a7 22.h2 1-0 Hebesberger, T-Aschenbrenner, R/AUT 2001 ] [ E) 5...f5 6.g2 f6 7.d3 e7 8.0-0 A) 8...fxe4 9.dxe4 0-0 10.e5 ( 10.f4!? ) 10...xg2 11.exf6 xf1 12.fxe7 xe7 13.xf1 c6 1-0 Taylor, P-Berry, S/Rd07T e l f o r d 2 0 0 3 ( 4 4 ) 14.g2!? d4 15.e3; B) 8...c8 9.b3 ( 9.g5!? ) 9...0-0 10.b2 g6 11.d2 ( 11.exf5 xg2 12.xg2 g4 13.f4 gxf5 14.d2 ) 11...f7 12.fe1 c6 13.exf5 gxf5 14.d4 xd4 15.xd4 cxd4 16.xd4 1-0 Reiss, A-Peredy, F/Veszprem 2000 ] 6.h3 h4 [ The novelty. In a previous game, Black tried 6...c6 7.g2 d4 8.d3 g5 9.xd4
( 9.f4! e7 10.fxg5 xg5 11.xd4 cxd4 12.b5 b8 13.0-0 ) 9...cxd4 10.e2 e5 11.g1 ( 11.0-0!? g4 12.f4 gxf3 13.xf3 is very pleasant for White) 11...e7 12.f3 f6 13.d2 e6 14.g1 For all of White's moving around with the knight, Black compensates for it by moving his queen and pawns rather than getting some real d e v e l o p m e n t i n . e7 15.e2 h4 ( 15...c6 16.a3 e7 with a complicated struggle ahead) 16.f3 hxg3 17.fxg3 c6 18.a3 e7 Compagnie, L-Orso, M/Budapest 2002, and despite all of W hite's clowning around with his knight, he can still obtain a good position with 19.h4 , and now g4? 20.0-0-0! is very problematic for Black, e.g. gxh4 21.gxh4 h5 22.h3 and White is obviously much better. ] 7.g2 [ There is nothing wrong with 7.g4!? , e.g. c6 8.g2 e5 9.0-0 and White has a comfortable game. The text, however, is more ambitious. ] 7...hxg3 8.fxg3 c6 [ 8...f6 9.d3 d6 10.e3 h5 11.b5 e7 ( 11...xg3+? 12.xg3 xg3 13.d6+ e7 14.f4+- ) 12.d2 a6 13.bc3 ] 9.d3 ge7 [ 9...d6!? 10.e3 ge7 11.d2 a6 12.0-0-0 looks better for White, e.g. c7 13.b1 xg3 ( 13...e5 14.hf1 f6 15.b3 ) 14.xg3 xg3 15.f4 g6 16.c7 ] 10.g5!? [ The immediate 10.e3!? is also perfectly playable ] 10...f6 11.e3 g6 12.f4?! [ This doesn't make too much sense, as this move simply encourages Black to place his g6-knight on a better square. Other ideas are 12.d2!? ] [ and 12.a3!? ] 12...ge5 13.a3 [ 13.h4 a6 14.h5!? d4 15.a4 A) 15...f5?! 16.exf5 ( 16.0-0? g5! ) 16...xg2 17.xg2 df3+ 18.e2 d6 19.fxe6 dxe6 20.f4 and White has the better chances; B) 15...c7 16.f1 e7 , and I prefer Black's chances somewhat ] 344
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13...a6 14.h4 d6 15.b3? [ 15.h5!? d4 ( 15...e7 16.b3 d4 17.xd4 cxd4 18.ce2 c5 19.0-0-0 ) 16.0-0 f5! , and Blacks pieces are better coordinated, but this is clearly to be preferred over the game continuation, which is just horrible for White. ] [ 15.f1 e7 16.h5 c7 ] 15...g5 16.hxg5 xh1+ 17.xh1 fxg5 18.d1 [ 18.h5!? xd3+ ( 18...e7!? ) 19.e2 de5 20.f1 A) 20...d4+ 21.xd4 cxd4 22.d5 xd5 ( 22...exd5?? 23.g7+ e7 24.f5++- ) 23.exd5 d3+ 24.d2 c7 25.f6+ d8 26.dxe6 c5 with messy complications in which no one can be 100% sure to be better; B) 20...e7!? 21.f6+ d8 22.xb6+ c8 23.fd5! Best, because everything else pretty much sucks exd5 24.xd5 d8 25.xd8+ xd8 26.xg5+ e8 27.f6+ f7 28.xd7+ e6 29.b6 f8 30.xf8 xf8 31.f4 and Black has finally stabilized the game, but at least White in this variation has three pawns for the piece. Neverth eless Black should probably win this position. ] 18...gxf4 19.h5+ f7 20.gxf4 e7 21.e5 c7 22.f2 [ 22.e4 0-0-0 23.0-0-0 h8 obviously doesn't provide W hite any decent counterchances either ] 22...f8! 23.h4 h6 24.xh6 [ Nor does 24.g4 help the situation: d8 25.g8+ f8 26.h7 h8 and the queens once again depart the part, leaving Black a piece up for minimal compensation. White could just as well have resigned at this point, but decided to go on for a little while. ] 24...xh6 25.f3 d8 26.h5+ f8 27.xd8 xd8 28.a4 d4 And White resigned as he doesn't even win the b-pawn, e. g. 29 0-0-0 Bc6 30 Nxb6? Rb8, and another piece bites the dust. 0-1
359 Vaganian,Rafael A Heidrich,Manfred Bundesliga 2002-3 (4) [Tony Kosten]
A10 2667 2415 17.11.2002
1.f3 f5 2.g3 f6 3.c4 g6 4.b4!? g7 5.b2 d6 6.d3 e5 7.bd2!? This move is something of a favourite of Vaganian, and the position closely resembles that of his game against Kuczynski, which we examined a short time ago, except that there he played Bg2 and castled quickly, here he prefers to accelerate his queenside play. c6 8.b5 e7 9.g2 0-0 10.b3 This is a good time to play this move, as then Black has to play ... K h 8 i f h e wa n t s t o m o ve a wa y f r o m t h e threatened discovered attack, whereas if he gets time to play ...h6 the king will be able to go to the more comfortable square on h7. h6 Black prefers to allow W hite's next. 11.c5+ h7 12.c1 f4 Black starts his kingside pawns going, but weakens e4. This might not be too serious, but as White hasn't yet castled, Black would not have liked [ 12...g5?! b e c a u s e o f 13.h4! and if g4 14.g5+! ] 13.a4 b8 14.a3 The bishop seemed wellplaced on b2, but was stymied by the e5-pawn, wh e re a s d 6 is m u ch m o r e se n sit ive . f5 15.cxd6 cxd6 16.e4! e7 [ 16...xe4?! i s d o u b t f u l , 17.dxe4 d4 ( 17...e7? 18.d1 ) 18.xd4 exd4 leaves the black pawns shattered. ] 17.0-0 Now is a good time to castle as Black is too concerned with defending d6, and against a c-file invasion, to be able to completely concentrate on his kingside advance. d8 18.fe1 g5?! 19.c2 Aiming along the b1-h7 diagonal, and also the c-file, but White also had a sharp shot here: [ 19.g4!? xg4 20.h3 h5 ( and not 20...f6? 21.xc8 bxc8 22.xf5+ ) 21.fxg5+ with pressure. ] 19...g4 20.fd2 e8 21.d4! Further freeing the diagonal to Black's king, weakened by his reckless eighteenth move. exd4?! 22.gxf4 h8 23.g3 f7 24.b2 The bishop returns! h4 25.b3!? White does not bother avoiding the exchange of his lightsquared bishop, but aims to blast through the 345
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a1-h8 diagonal as quickly as possible. xg2 26.xg2 d5+?! This fails to defend d4, [ 26...xf4?! was no improvement, 27.h5 f7 28.xg7 xg7 29.xd4 and the black king is in the line of fire. ] [ however, 26...d3 was a reasonable chance: 27.exd3 e6 when White's extra pawn looks pretty ragged. ] 27.g1 b6?! 28.xd4! [ 28.xd4 xd4 29.ed1 wins easily, the attack along the long diagonal after Rxd4 will be too strong. ] 1-0
on such a square, as it has no way to return! d4?! Black only succeeds in opening the f-file for W hite with this move. 22.d2 d5 23.c4 dxe3 24.fxe3 e7 25.cf2 g6 26.h5 Suddenly White has powerful pressure on the kingside while his silly knight keeps two major pieces from returning to help. e7 27.h3 a6 28.a3 axb5 29.axb5 a8 [ B l a c k i s i n r e a l t r o u b l e a f t e r 29...e4? which is met by 30.xe4! fxe4 31.xf7 xf7 32.xf7+ h8 33.g4! (to stop ... Qxh3) with a decisive attack. ] 30.xe7 xe7 31.g4?! Trying to break through on the f-file, but leaving the queen short of squares. f4! 360 A10 [ 31...fxg4 32.hxg4 xg4 33.g6 e6 34.e4 is very strong. ] Vaganian,Rafael A 2662 h8! With a nasty threat of ...Bf7, Kuczynski,Robert 2497 32.e4 Bundesliga 2001-2 (11) 17.03.2002 trapping the queen, but White has something prepared: 33.xe5? However, this should [Tony Kosten] lose. [ 33.bd6!? is a better try, perhaps, cxd6 1.f3 d6 2.g3 f5 3.g2 f6 4.c4 g6 34.xb6 ] 5.b4!? And why not? This is just like the 'b4 against the KI' line we have examined. g7 33...xe5 [ 33...fxe3! is simple and effective, 34.e2 How can such an obvious move be a novelty? xe5 35.xh6 f4 is winning. ] And yet it is, as previously Black had preferred [ 5...e5 6.c3 g7 7.0-0 0-0 Nikcevic,N- 34.xh6 f8!? [ 34...g7 35.exf4 gxf4 keeps the f-file Troffiguer,O/Paris FRA 2001, and ] closed. ] [ 5...a5 6.b5 g7 7.b2 Pihlajasalo,A35.h7+!? Paasikangas,J/FIN 1995. ] [ 35.xg5+ g7 forces the exchange of 6.b2 0-0 7.0-0 e5 This can be compared queens. ] with the games Hoffmann - Wemmers, and Na rcis o Du blan - P ed erse n in [ A0 5] , th e 35...xh7 36.xe6+ f7 Black has an extra h6? major difference being the black f-pawn which piece, and should still win. 37.d4 A comedy of time-trouble errors! is on f5, not f7. 8.d3 h6 9.bd2!? [ 37...g7 seems simple enough, when [ 9.c3 would lead to a typical Closed W h i t e c a n n o t c a p t u r e o n f 4 , a s 38.exf4 English position, but White wants to keep xd4 wins a further exchange. ] the diagonal open. ] [ However, 37...fxe3! is the most 9...g5 10.c5! e7 11.c4 The point of appropriate, 38.xf7 xf7 39.dxe5 g7 White's play is revealed: the knight goes to c4 forces the exchange of the last two where it defends the b2-bishop, and adds remaining white major pieces, and certain pressure to d6 and e5. e6 12.fd2 c6 resignation. ] 13.b5 d8 14.a4 White has a serious space advantage on the queenside. b8 15.c1 38.d5 g7?! [ Now 38...d6 is better, although I can f7 16.a5!? By taking the pressure off e5 imagine that Black didn't want to allow the White allows Black to play ...d5. d5 17.e3 b7-knight an honest move. ] fe8 Now the position is completely [ 17...g4!? and a later ...Ng5 is more 39.exf4 unclear. f6? aggressive. ] [ Black had to find 39...a3!! 40.fxg5 g3+ 18.c2 d8 19.db3 c8 20.c6 b6 41.g2 e3+ which gives him at least a 21.b7!? I would never dare putting a knight 346
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 draw, and maybe more. ] 8.b3 cxb3 9.axb3 , which I examined in 40.fxg5 Finally opening the f-file, and winning. the December 2012 update. See xf2 41.xf2 b4?! There was no defence Bartholomew, J (2427)-Kojima, S (2340) to g6: London ENG 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] [ 41...a4 42.g6 xd4 43.d8!? 8.b3 White offers a pawn in order to speed ( t h e k n i g h t r e t u r n s ! ) xf2+ 44.xf2 his d evelo pment . He can expect at leas t should win easily enough. ] adequate compensation in the middlegame. 42.xf7+ h8 43.h5+ g8 44.g6 e1+ [ T h e t e xt h a s b e gu n t o su p p l a n t 8.e1 45.g2 e4+ 46.h2 White was very lucky! in t heoretical reput e, but still trails th e 1-0 knight retreat in overall popularity. ] 8...cxb3 [ Worse is 8...f5?! 9.b2 cxb3 10.axb3 361 A10 d8 11.c4 g6 , as in Mikhalevski, V (2525)-Matinian, N (2438) Moscow 2012/ Van der Elburg,Freddie 2348 [ J o h n B a r t h o l o m e w ] . H e r e 12.e4! Spoelman,Wouter 2461 is quite powerful for White. ] 3rd ACT Amsterdam NED (9) 23.07.2006 9.axb3 g6 [John Watson] [ Black hasn't been eager to repeat 9...e6 since the blistering game Timman, J (2571)The system that W hite uses is played a lot Ernst, S (2606) W ijk aan Zee 2012/[John against the English Defence because it looks Bartholomew]: 10.b4! b3 11.xb3 xb3 safe, but it always seems to lose! Essentially, 12.b5 c5 13.d3 fd7 14.d2 d5 15.e4 W hite grants Black a central majority and e6 16.f4 and the Dutchman crashed activity. 1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.e4 e6 4.g3 through in 33 moves. ] f5 5.g2 f6 6.c2 fxe4 7.xe4 xe4 8.xe4 xe4 9.xe4 c6 10.e2 f6 10.c4 xc4 Simplifying a bit, but repairing White's structure in the process. In fact it's 11.d4 not altogether clear how much White benefits [ 11.0-0 c5! 12.d3 0-0 with control of d4. ] from b3xc4, as there were certain advantages 11...b4+ 12.f1 [ 12.d2 0-0 13.f4 ad8 14.0-0-0 d5 to keeping the pawn on b3 (restricts Black's entire queenside structure allows White to use gives Black the better game. ] the c-file c4 as a useful transfer point). 12...0-0 13.e3 h8 [ R e t u r n i n g t o b a s e w i t h 10...d8 [ Or 13...e7! 14.g2 d5 ] should probably be preferred. Following 14.g2 d5!? 15.cxd5 exd5 16.g4? 11.fe5!? ( White can also keep it simple [ 16.xd5 e7 , but this isn't so clear. ] with 11.e4 g7 12.b2 0-0 13.d4 16...ae8 17.hf1 e4 18.h5 g6 19.xd5 , as in Matamoros Franco, C (2548)f3+ 20.g1 xe3 Winning a piece. Gonzalez, B (2427) Quito 2012) 11...bd5 21.xf3 exf3 22.ac1 3f6 23.a3 d2 12.e4 c7 13.d4 and now: Best is 0-1 A) The pawn is poisoned, of course: 13...xd4?? 14.e3 ( or the difficult to find 14.b2 c5 15.a5 b5 16.b4!! 362 A11 xb4 17.d3+- ) 14...d8 15.ad1 d7 Adams,Mi 2725 16.xd7 xd7 17.e5+-; Kanep,M 2512 B) 13...g7 14.b2 0-0 and now: 11th Gibraltar Masters (3.1) 24.01.2013 B1) 15.h3 b5 16.ad1 c7 17.g4!? [John Bartholomew] Pantsulaia, L (2595) -Alavi Moghaddam, S (2443) Rasht 2012 here Black should Michael Adams tries his hand at the Anti-Slav play d7 18.f3 ( 18.f4 c5! ) gambit. He obtains no serious edge but wins 18...d8 19.fe1; anyway! 1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.g2 d5 4.f3 B2) 15.fd1!?N; dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.a3 b6 7.c2 d5 B3) 15.f4!? e6 16.h3 b5 17.ad1 [ The line in question is similar to 7...e6 347
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c7 18.g4 ad8 (White is fully mobilized, but Black is standing firm) 19.f5 c8 20.f2 d7 Pantsulaia, L (2596)-Wang Yue (2644) Yerevan 2006. Here 21.d3!? intending b6 22.ce5 looks best, though Black's defensive resources are considerable. ] 11.bxc4 h5 I think the queen is a little misplaced here. [ 11...d8 looks less logical now, but might b e b e t t e r, e . g . 12.e5!? ( 12.d3 g7 13.a2 0-0 14.e3 a6 15.b1 d7 16.d2 c7 17.c5! e5 18.f4 Azaladze, S (2433)-Feher, A (2260) Rijeka 2010; a game was played with 12.b2 righ t a s I wa s p re p a rin g t o su b m it t h i s update: g7 13.d4 a6 14.fb1 0-0 15.d3 g4 16.xg7 xg7 17.c5 f6 18.a4 c7 19.d2 e5 20.b3 f7 21.a5 Arun Prasad, S (2514) -Vorobiov, E (2584) Moscow RUS 2013) 12...g7 13.b2 0-0 14.d4 d7 15.d3 (as usual White has no interest in further exchanges) b6 16.c5!? d5 17.fd1 f5 18.b3 h8 , Trella, T (2234)-Ionov, S (2 5 2 2 ) Ca p p e l le l a G ra n d e 2 0 0 7 . No w 19.e3 ought to allow White to control the p a c e o f t h e ga m e q u it e n ice ly. He ca n target Black's queenside pawns in a number of ways and may also abruptly change the structure with Bg2xd5, possibly followed by Nd3-f4. ] 12.d3 Adams trusts the integrity of his position and chooses a positionally sound continuation. White has tried something different in each of the four games to have reached this position and scored a perfect 4-0, suggesting that he h a s a n u m b e r o f a c c e p t a b l e o f w a ys t o proceed: [ 12.e4 (straightforward and strong, so why not?) g7 13.e5 d7 14.d4 f5 ( 14...0-0 15.c5! ) 15.e2 c5? 16.f4 ( 16.a5!? ) 16...h5 17.h3! f8 18.g4 xg4 19.hxg4 xg4 20.g3+- and Black was soon swept off the board in Kuljasevic, D (2560)-Zufic, M (2409) Rijeka 2011. ] [ 12.c3!? g7 13.a5 (a neat idea) g4 14.d3 0-0 15.a3 a6 16.e5!? (creative use of the rook!) e8 17.xe7 xe7 18.xe7 e6 Hausrath, D (2527)Burg, T (2455) Netherlands 2010. Here
19.d8+ e8 20.a5 looks a little better for White. ] [ 12.d4 (also refusing to mess around) g7 13.e4 0-0 14.e5 d7 15.h3 ( 15.c5!? ) 15...f5 16.b3 c5 Schachinger, M (2360)Zimmermann, U (2128) Vienna 2011. 17.a5! ] 12...g7 13.a3 c5 14.b2 0-0 15.a3 [ 15.fb1!? ] 15...d7 16.fa1 a6 17.e5 ab8 18.h4 g4! Kanep defends resourcefully. 19.xd7 f5 ( T h e p o i n t ) 20.f3 xd7 21.xg7 xg7 22.b2+ g8 23.b3 b5 24.xa6 b4 25.a1 h5 The position now looks balanced, though I'd still favor Adams' coordinated long-range pieces just a smidgen. 26.b1 f5 27.a5 fc8 28.b5 d7 29.a5 b6 30.g2 f6 31.b2 d6 [ 31...f5!? ] 32.d4!? Seizing an opportunity to transform the pawn structure. cxd4 33.d5 c7 34.xd4 e5 35.xb4 xf3? Kanep dooms himself to passive defense in a pawn-down heavy piece endgame. [ A peace agreement would surely have been s i g n e d a f t e r 35...xf3! 36.exf3 c6 37.d2 xd4 38.xd4 xc4= . ] 36.exf3 Black should hold this with computerlike precision, but your chances are not good against a technician like Michael Adams. c6 37.c1 e6 38.d2 e5 39.e1 f6 40.d3 c5 41.ee4 8c7 42.d7 xd7 43.xd7 f5 44.d3 e7 45.d4 c5 46.d7 f6 47.b7 c8 48.e4 g7 49.d7 f5?! 50.e2?! [ Surprisingly strong was 50.d4+! e5 ( 50...f6? 51.xf7+! xf7 52.d7+ picks up the rook and wins; 50...h7 51.e7!!+- prevents ... e6-e5 and sees Black utterly helpless to stop g2-g4; White should w i n t h e q u e e n e n d i n g a f t e r 50...g8 51.d8+ xd8 52.xd8+ g7 53.d6+, as his king is extremely safe) 51.d6 , since xc4?? loses on the spot to 52.d8+- . ] 50...f6 51.d3 f5 52.c3+ [ 52.d4+! ] 52...f6 53.b4 f5 54.b3 f6 55.b7 e5 56.d3 f6 57.e4 g8 58.a7 g7 59.a8 c5 60.d3 c7 61.a5 c8 62.c5 Progress! e5 63.c4 d8 64.a3 348
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d5?! [ Missing a great chance to counterattack: 64...d2! 65.c3 ( 65.c6 e1 66.f1 xf1+ 67.xf1 c2 and Black has an ideal defensive position in the rook endgame) 65...xc3 66.xc3 f6 and I believe Black can draw due to the proximity of White's cpawn (if the White rook and pawn were on a3/a5 this would most certainly be lost for the second player in the same vein as the famous 34th game of the 1927 AlekhineCapablanca match). An illustrative line: 67.c6 d8 68.g4 e7 69.g3 d6 70.f4 f6! 71.g5 ( 71.d3+ c7 72.xd8 xd8 73.g5 e5+! 74.g3 fxg5 75.hxg5 c7 76.f4 exf4+ 77.xf4 xc6 78.e5 d7 79.f4 e7 80.f5= ) 71...e5+ 72.e3 fxg5 73.hxg5 c7 74.e4 f8 and Black will hold. ] 65.c3! d4 66.b3 e1 67.b2 e5? [ 67...h7! was Black's last chance. ] 68.c1 d2 [ Or 68...b4 69.xb4 xb4 70.c6 b8 71.c7 c8 72.f4! . Compared to 64...Rd2! here Black's king is too far away, e.g. exf4 ( 72...e4 73.f3 exf3+ 74.xf3 changes nothing) 73.gxf4 f6 74.f3 e6 75.e4 d6 76.f5+- and White forces his way into the kingside. ] 69.xe1 xb2 70.xe5 White still faces a couple minor technical obstacles, but Black cannot resist. c2 71.g4! f6 72.g5 e6 73.g3 c4 74.gxh5 gxh5 75.xh5 f6 76.f4 c3+ 77.g4 f7 78.d5 e6 79.d6+ e7 80.c6 Black resigned. I don't see any reason to doubt White's compensation in this line, though I'd personally follow Kuljasevic's or Schachinger's example on move 12 (Adams' 12.d3 looks a bit limp). From Black's perspective, 10...Qd8 looks safer. 1-0
363 Agrest,Evgenij Postny,Evgeny Politiken Cup (10) [Jonathan Rowson]
A11 2590 2647 26.07.2009
1.c4 c6 [ To show that these lines do not always favour Black, Agrest has also won with this line, albeit via a different move order. 1...f6 2.f3 c6 3.c2 It's hard to believe that such a fussy move can be a threat to Black. d5 4.e3 g6 5.b3 g7 ( 5...f5!? 6.d3 a6 probably doesn't lead anywhere good for Black because White can even play the simple 7.b2 ) 6.b2 0-0 7.e2 g4 8.d3 bd7 9.0-0 e8 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 c8 12.d2 e6 13.ac1 a6 14.fd1 e5 15.g3 h5 16.g2 f8 17.f3 d6 18.g5 No t t h e o n ly p la n . b8 19.f1 e7 20.cd1 bc8 21.b1 f8 22.fe1 b4 23.e2 ce8 24.h1 h4!? 25.gxh4 g7 26.c2 h8 27.cxd5 xh4? ( 27...cxd5 28.c7; 27...xd5!? ) 28.dxc6 bxc6 29.g1 eh8 30.c4! and White had control and went on to win in Agrest, E -Semcesen, D Helsingor DEN 2009. ] 2.f3 d5 3.e3 f6 4.c3 a6! One interesting point about this move order is that at this juncture Black either has to be willing to play a semi Slav or an a6 Slav or a Schlecter with ...g6, or else he has to make a slight concession because both . ..Bf5 and ... Bg4 run into slight problems with Qb3 related issues, as we have seen in previous updates. Now any Slav player worth his salt can play a system with a6, g6 or e6, but there are a few who much prefer to take White's pawn on c4. So if you are sure your opponent likes to play 1d4 d5 2c4 c6 3Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dc, then this move order can be quite tricky....But of course, don't' forget that when trying to lure your opponent into terra incognita, you ought to know something about it yourself! 5.c2 [ 5.d4!? is not a bad move either, but Bologan, a great expert on this line, told me that he can't find any advantage for White against the a6 Slav. ] 5...g6 6.b3 g7 7.b2 0-0 8.e2 e8 9.d4 Perhaps not plan A, but on the bright side the moves a6, g6 and Re8 are not a 349
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 particularly powerful trio. f5! 10.d1 [ 10.d3!? Odd though it seems, White probably has more chance of getting an edge by taking a tempo to exchange bishops. ] 10...e4 11.0-0 xc3 12.xc3 g4 13.c1 e6 Black is rock solid. 14.d2 d7 15.a5 b8 16.h3 xf3 17.xf3 f5! 18.a4 f6 W h it e i s n o t wo rse h e re , b u t a lr e a d y h e sho uld give so me th ought to ho lding th e balance because Black's position is more flexible, and the knight on f6 is generally slightly more useful than the bishop on f3. 19.c2 [ 19.b4!? half-hoping to swap queens with Qb6-c7, and more generally just fishing around, looks better. ] 19...d6 20.e2 f4!? 21.exf4 xf4 22.cd1 e4 Black now has a slight initiative, mainly because d4 is weak. 23.d3 d6 24.c7 ac8 25.g3 f8 26.b6 f5 27.e2 d6 28.d3 e5!? At first I felt this was anti-positional, but actually it is quite timely due to some well concealed tactical details based on the unprotected bishop on b6 and the weakness of W hite's kingside, particularly g3. 29.dxe5 xe5 30.cxd5? [ 30.f3! b4 31.a5 and White is not worse. ] 30...c5! White either missed this move, or failed to grasp that his bishop losing contact with e3 meant that his kingside would cave in. 31.a5 e3! 32.fxe3 xg3+ 33.h1 xh3+ 34.g1 g3+ 35.h1 e5 36.f4 xe3 37.e4 xf4 0-1
12.ad1 b5 13.e4 h7 gave Black a comfortable game in Yosilevich, D-Polaczek, R/Dos Hermanas 2004. ] 6...cxd5 7.b3 b5 This seems like the logical follow up to 4...a6 but White can break open the queenside now. [ 7...c8 is worth a thought despite its retrograde appearance. ] 8.a4! Breaking up the left flank before Black has time to support it with developed pieces. bxa4 9.xa4+ d7 10.c3 c6 [ White also has the initiative after 10...xa4 11.xa4 e6 12.b5 . ] 11.d3 e5 With White about to explode the centre with e2-e4 Black should keep things as tight as possible there. [ 11...e6 was much more solid though White still has a lot of pressure, for example 12.e4 g4 13.exd5 exd5 14.d4 xd4 15.xd4 e6 16.a5 e7 17.e3 0-0 18.fa1 is unpleasant for Black. ] 12.e4 [ It's possible that 12.d4 was even stronger, for example e4 ( 12...exd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 is also very good for White, for example e6 15.d1 e7 16.g5 0-0 17.e4! etc. ) 13.e5 xe5 14.dxe5 xa4 15.xa4 d7 16.xd5 wins a pawn. ] 12...e6 Losing a pawn to a neat combination. [ 12...dxe4 13.dxe4 g4 was relatively best though it's still nice for White after 14.d5 .] 13.exd5 xd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.xe5 xe5 16.xd7+ xd7 17.xd5 White has won a pawn and has two mighty bishops as well. He makes rather heavy weather of the endgame but gets there finally. c6 18.xf7 a5 19.e3 b8 20.d5 b4 21.xc6+ 364 A11 Snatching at the point a bit. [ 21.fc1! was much better, keeping his Alexander,Christian bishop pair. ] Boekhoff,Andrew 2299 Philadelphia National op 37th (2) 24.11.2006 21...xc6 22.fc1+ d7 23.c5 hc8 24.xb4 xc1+ 25.xc1 xb4 26.c2 d6 [Nigel Davies] [ The immediate 26...b3 would have made it harder for White. ] 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 a6 5.0-0 f5 6.cxd5 This simple move looks 27.f1 b3 28.e2 g5 29.e3 g4 30.f4 h5 31.g5 b5+ 32.g6 d7 33.d4 d6 quite good to me. [ After 6.b3 the move 4...a6 looks quite 34.c5 xb2 35.xa5 xf2 36.xh5 d2 useful as Black might later expand with ...b7- 37.d5 d4 38.f5 xd5 39.h4 d2 b5. For example h6 7.b2 e6 8.d3 e7 40.xg4 e6 41.h5 f7 42.f4+ g7 9.bd2 0-0 10.c2 bd7 11.a3 c8 43.h4 d5+ 44.g4 g6 45.h5+ h6 350
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 46.f6+ g7 47.f5 d3 48.h4 a3 when e4 14.d4 xe2 15.xe2 b4 49.g4 a1 50.g5 a7 51.c5 f7 52.h6+ is promising. ] h7 53.h5 f1 54.c7+ h8 55.g5 g1 11...b4 56.c8+ [ 11...e4 12.e5 b4 transposes. ] 1-0 12.d1 e4 13.e5 e8! The only move that causes White any problems, he will chase the strong knight away from e5. 14.a3 a6 365 A11 Automatic, but [ 14...f6!? is p o ss ib le , 15.h3 ( 15.axb4? Anastasian,Ashot 2602 xb4+ 16.d2 xd2+ 17.xd2 fxe5 Sakaev,Konstantin 2649 wins a pawn as f2 is hanging) 15...fxe5 7th ch-Euro Kusadasi TUR (2) 05.04.2006 16.dxe5 e7 17.axb4 xb4+ 18.e2 [Tony Kosten] looks a bit awkward for White, but may be OK. ] 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 5.b3 d6 6.b2 0-0 7.c2 I have had a few goes 15.h3 The knight needs a retreat square. f6 with Gurevich's setup myself, but lost one 16.g4 f7 17.e2 c7 18.0-0 White has very bad game in the Bundesliga, and so gave m a n a g e d t o c o m p l e t e h i s k i n g s i d e up! e5!? Sharp and to the point! If Black can development without major concessions. His p l a y t h i s m o v e i m m e d i a t e l y w i t h o u t plan now is to bring his dark-squared bishop punishment then White's opening will prove to the a3-f8 diagonal, and then break the black centre with f3. d7 19.a4 ac8 doubtful. [ 19...b4 20.a3 a5 is possible, to bring [ 7...e7 was Van Wely, L-Sveshnikov, E, in the knight to an active and well supported the archives, while ] square, 21.d2 ac8 22.ac1 equal. ] [ 7...bd7 is the normal move, and I've 20.a3 e6!? I don't understand why Black looked at this many times in the past. ] 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.b5 This is the reason Black allows W hite to control the dark squares avoided playing ...e5 in the past, as he is without a fight. [ 20...b4 is still good : 21.a5 ( 21.d2 forced to part with his dark-squared bishop. c2; 21.e1 a5 ) 21...b6 22.axb6 xb6 Still, in return he gets a centre, and easy 23.d2 a5 with a level game. ] development. c6 10.xd6 xd6 11.d4!? An attempted improvement, although it seems 21.f3 Now White begins to assume control. He a n t i - p o s i t i o n a l t o s h u t t h e b 2 - b i s h o p ' s plays on the kingside, and ignores the c-file. diagonal like this, W hite sees that he must d6 Now White solves all his problems with a grab his share of the centre, but does he couple of exchanges. 22.xd6 xd6 23.fxe4 dxe4 24.c4+ Shutting the c-file with gain of have time? The most obvious other retort is h8 25.f4 e8 26.e2? [ 11.b5?! , to pressure the e5-pawn, but tempo. then b4 12.c1 ( 12.b1? c5 A waste of a move, which only drives the wins an exchange, Ramirez Pereales, J- black knight to a better square. [ 26.f2 f5 27.h5 keeps the initiative. ] R o m e r o C a l d e r o n , C / B a r c e l o n a 1 9 9 6) 12...d7!? ( 12...e4! 13.d4 d7 26...b4 27.f2 f5 28.f1!? Tempting is nice for Black) 13.xe5 b6 14.a3 ac8 B l a c k i n t o t h e w i n o f a p i e c e . g5!? 15.c3 xb5 16.axb4 Fioramonti, H- This is probably OK, but very risky. [ 28...d5! 29.xd5 ( 29.h4 f6 Sherwin, J/Switzerland 1996, when e4 leaves the white pieces very awkwardly favours Black as White's light squares are placed ) 29...xd5 30.h5 g8! severely compromised. ] defends e8 and after a couple of prophylaxis [ 11.e2 g4 12.d1 xf3!? 13.xf3 e4 moves Black will take the pawn on b3, and 14.e2 d4 15.0-0 fd8 is very comfortable maybe e3 too. ] for Black, Balashov, Y-Kallai, G/Soviet Union 29.xe4 Forced. g6! 1991. ] [ 29...xe4 30.xe4 fxe4 31.h5 [ 11.c1 g4 12.b1!? a6 13.e2 is very dangerous for Black, the immediate Jonasson, B-Gretarsson, H/Reykjavik 1995, 351
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 threats are Qxg5-g8 and Rf7. ] A) 9.g4 xg4 10.g1 de5 ( 10...ge5 [ 29...fxe4? 30.f6 e6 31.h5 wins, ce7 11.g5!? ) 11.xe5 xe5 12.0-0-0 32.xe6 xe6 33.xe8+ xe8 34.xd6 ] with typical compensation.; 30.xg5 xg5 31.e4 White has given a B) 9.0-0 The great thing about playing this piece for two pawns, but in return he has line as White is that if you are not in the significantly improved the harmony of his mood to hack the opponent's kingside, you pieces, and has a strong centre. In short, he can still play positionally. For instance, the has obtained excellent practical chances. g7 f o l lo wi n g g a m e o f Mo s k a l e n k o ' s i s a [ 31...fxe4?? loses to 32.f8+ g7 strategic gem, showing why the two ( 32...xf8 33.xf8+ g7 34.g8+ ) bishops is, as Tony Miles once put it, "an 33.1f7+ h6 34.xe8 xe8 35.xc7 ] advantage you can win with". b6 10.cxd5 32.e5 c6? Time trouble, no doubt, as Black cxd5 ( 10...exd5 11.d4 e5 12.f4 ) simply drops the f-pawn which was stopping 11.b5 b7 12.xd6 xd6 13.ac1 the white rooks on the f-file. 33.xf5 d5 ac8 14.b1 a6 15.a1 fd8 16.h3 h6 With a nasty threat of ...Ne3 (because of the 17.e5 Moskalenko, V (2569)-Alsina Leal, p r e s s u re o n g2 ), b u t t h i s is e a s il y si d e D (2517)/ Barcelona ESP 2008. ] stepped. 34.1f2 g8 35.h2 g7 36.g4! 9.g4 Critical. White can also play Rg1, h4, White wants to avoid problems on g2, as castle or take on d5. [ 36.h5 s a y , a l l o w s f4! 37.xe8! [ 9.cxd5!? cxd5 ( 9...exd5 10.d4 b7 ( 37.xg8 exg8 forces 38.g4 xg4 11.f5 Kasparov once remarked that a 39.hxg4 e6 and Black is fine) 37...xe8 knight on f5 was almost always worth a 38.5xf4 g8 which is far from clear. ] pawn, and here W hite hasn't even 36...ge7 There was no time to shore up the sacrificed anything.) 10.b5 c5 11.a3 a6 d5-square, 12.bd4 b7 13.b4 d6 14.c1 c8 [ 36...d7?! 37.5f3 e6 38.f1! 15.b1 xc1+ 16.xc1 b8 17.a1 c8 and Rf8 wins. ] 18.0-0 Hard to believe White has anything 37.d2 e6 38.2f3! preparing the decisive here, but I thought it was worth showing how tripling! a6? such positions can be won. c7 19.g3 e5 [ 38...6e7! 39.f2 g6 keeps the game ( 19...c8!? ) 20.xe5 xe5 21.f4! d6 alive a little longer: 40.f8+ g7 41.8f6!? 22.f3 e8 23.d4 b5 24.g4! f6 25.g5 ( 41.d3 xf8 42.xg6 xf3 43.xf3 f7 26.f2 d8 27.h4 e7 28.d3 e5? hxg6 is not that easy) 41...xf6 42.xf6 Black was under pressure, but there was no g5 43.h4 xg4 44.xc6! looks winning ] reason to buckle in this way. 29.fxe5 fxe5 39.f2 There is no defence to the threat of 30.xe5 xf2 31.xf2 xe5 32.xe5 Rf8. g6 40.f8+ xf8 41.xf8+ g7 win ning, B an ikas, H (256 7)-P avlid is , A 42.d3! The bishop deflects the queen from (2175)/Athens GRE 2007. ] the defence of f7. 9...xg4 10.g1 f5 1-0 [ 10...de5 11.xe5 xe5 12.0-0-0 Ryb ka is n o t t o o co n vin ced b y W h it e 's compensation, but I imagine most 366 A11 grandmasters would pref er W hite here, because his position is so much easier to Andreikin,Dmitry 2580 play. dxc4 13.bxc4 g6 14.f4 f5 15.h5 Kaplan,Sasha 2428 and Black has plenty of defensive resources, IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (3) 23.04.2008 but the initiative endures. ] [Jonathan Rowson] 11.h3 gf6?! This seems to make things rather straightforward for White. 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 [ 11...ge5 is probably better, when White [ 4...g4 ] h a s o p t i o n s . 12.d4 ( 12.xe5 xe5 5.b3 d6 6.b2 0-0 7.c2 bd7 8.e2 contesting the diagonal, seems to ease b6 Black's position.) 12...c5 ( 12...b8!? [ 8...e7 352
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is mentioned by Kosten, but seems encouraging from W hite's point of view.) 13.f4!? ( 13.0-0-0 f4 Seems to allow Black to keep more control.) 13...h4+ 14.d1 This might look like madness, but strange positions often call for strange solutions. g6 15.b4!? The main point of this move is that sooner or later White's queen will need to make way for the king on c2. ( 15.xc6 b7 16.cxd5 exd5 17.d4 xh3 s e e m s b e t t e r f o r B l a c k .) 15...a6 ( 15...e4 16.xe4 dxe4 17.c5 bxc5 18.bxc5 c7 19.c4 looks promising for White. ) 16.xc6 And this is a good starting point for analysis. My computer is initially quite happy with white's position, but it is too sharp to say anything definitive without giving the position a few hours of work. ] 12.d4 e8? [ 12...c5 13.xc6 d7 14.cxd5! exd5 15.xd5! ] [ 12...b8 is meek, but probably necessary. ] 13.cxd5!? [ 13.xc6 dxc4 is less clear cut. ] 13...cxd5 14.cb5 e5 15.c7 xc7 16.xc7 As is often the case in this line, White has complete dark square domination. b8 [ 16...f7 17.c6 ] 17.d6! White's play is remarkably simple. The knight on d7 can't move because the rook on b8 is en prise. f7 18.xe6 Resigns is just about the only move that doesn't lose material. 1-0
Aronian lost control in a winning position and went into a drawn endgame. 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 dxc4 4.g2 d7 5.0-0 gf6 I think this line is sound and I even play this position myself sometimes. However, White has a dangerous initiative and Black needs to watch every step he makes very carefully. 6.c2 b6 7.a3 [ 7.a4 there are some differences in this p o s i t i o n wi t h 7 . a 4 a 5 i n c l u d e d . I n t h e chaotic lines it can be in White's favour, but now Black can also play in a solid way a5 8.a3 e6 9.e5 d4 ( 9...g6!? is ok and now we see the pawn moves are in Black's favour 10.axc4 xc4 11.xc4 g7 Zaragatski, I (2474)-Michiels, B (2502)/ NED-chT 1112 2011 (7.4).) 10.xc6 bxc6 11.xc6+ fd7 now White can't play a5, but the knight on b5 will be defended, so the attack is more dangerous than usual, as can be seen in Tikkanen, H (2591) -Hultin, J (2307)/SWE-chT 1112 2011 (4). ] 7...e6 8.e5 d4 9.xc6 bxc6 10.xc6+ d8 11.b5 [ 11.xa8?! was another try, but it is less critical xa8 12.d3 cxd3 13.d1 dxc2 14.xd4+ d7 and Black was fine in a game with a big material imbalance, Kaidanov, G (2593)-Holt, C (2513)/USA- ch Saint Louis 2013 (2). ] 11...c5 12.xa8 xb5 [ 12...f5 is a possible intermezzo and was tried by Holt 13.c3 ( 13.e4!? I like this move, Black wins a piece, but White has all his pieces ready for the attack h3 14.a4 xf1 15.xf1 xa8 16.d3 with a dangerous attack) 13...xb5 14.a4 d7 15.g2 c7 and Black made too 367 A11 m a n y q u e e n m o ve s , s o W h i t e h a s t h e initiative, Sadorra, J (2577) -Holt, C (2534)/ Aronian,Levon 2830 Houston op 2013 (4). ] Andreikin,Dmitry 2709 d7 A novelty. Black develops the FIDE Candidates 2014 (6.4) 19.03.2014 13.g2 bishop and now the king is less exposed. I [Fier, Alexandr] think Andreikin was already out of his theory, This was one of the decisive games in the and with this he at least made Aronian start to f irs t h a lf o f t h e Ca n d id a t e s t o u rn a m e n t . think as well. [ 13...h5 was played before, but I think White Aronian was trying to catch Anand and he has good chances to get an advantage played a good line to put his opponent under 14.h4 ( 14.d3 will exchange some pieces pressure. After some good moves Andreikin cxd3 15.d1 f5 16.e4 xe4 17.xd3+ could not resist and made a few inaccuracies. xd3 18.xd3+ d6 and Black was fine in A n d t h e n s o m e t h i n g s t ra n g e h a p p e n e d , 353
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Pantsulaia, L (2575) -Smeets, J (2608)/ Istanbul ol (Men) 40th 2012 (3.3).) 14...f5 15.e4 d7 16.a4 xa4 17.e5 and White was really active in Timman, J-Smeets, J see the PGN Archive. ] 14.b3 White needs to open the position before Black brings his pieces into the game, so this move makes a lot of sense. [ 14.d1 would be nice if Black could not e x c h a n g e t h e q u e e n s b y f o r c e a4 15.xa4 xa4 16.b3 cxb3 17.axb3 xb3 18.f1 a4 White has a nice center and Black still needs to consolidate his position, so there is enough compensation for the material ] 14...e5 15.b1 cxb3 16.xb3 xe2 17.a3 W hite exchanges the bishop and with this Black's king is safer on the black squares. On the other hand White is attacking the pawn on a7 and he is ready for an invasion on the seventh rank. [ 17.b2 was also interesting, keeping the pieces on a4 18.d3+ fd7 19.b1 h5 ( 19...c5 20.f3 is embarrassing) 20.c1 f5 21.e4 e6 again with a dangerous initiative for White ] 17...xa3 18.xa3 c4 19.b1 [ 19.xc4 is not what White is looking for xc4 20.xa7 e8 and the position is level ] 19...e7 20.xa7 d4 21.b7 a4 22.c1 [ 22.b4 can get the knights back immediately, but Black is out of danger then xd2 23.d1 c3 24.xd7+ xd7 25.xa4 b8 26.xh7 b2 with compensation ] 22...d8 23.h3 f8 Black is finally going to put his king in a safe place. Somehow it's funny, but the king will have problems with the back rank when it reaches g8. [ 23...c5 was possible here or on the next move, but here White can open the position with 24.b4 d6 25.d4!? ( 25.b6 d4 j u s t r e p e a t s) 25...e6 ( 25...exd4 now the pawn is on the square where the queen was supposed to be 26.b6 c7 27.b4 c8 28.b7 winning ) 26.dxe5 xe5 27.b7 d4 and White still has some pressure, but the position is ok for Black ] 24.b3 e4? This pawn will be lost by force. [ 24...c5 looks losing because of the pin,
but Black survives by tactical means 25.a3 c8 26.b4 d6 27.bc4 e8! 28.xc5 d7 and the rook on c1 is the big problem ] [ 24...e4 was also ok, and after 25.xe4 xe4 26.d3 ( 26.b4 a8 27.c7 will pro bably le ad to a n equal positio n) 26...d4 27.a3+ g8 28.e7 e8 Black's position is under control ] 25.c4 d5 26.b4+ g8 27.d4 [ 27.xe4! this was possible on this move, or the next, and the point is that White can use the last rank after the knight is on e4 xe4 28.b8! is probably what White overlooked e8 29.xd8 xd8 30.xe4 and White should be close to winning ] 27...c6 28.bxd7? The position is still good for White, but he again misses the best move. [ 28.xe4! this was still possible and now the p o s i t i o n i s w i n n i n g xe4 ( 28...e6 would be the best, but now White can play the same with a pawn up 29.bxd7 xd7 30.b8+ e8 31.xa4 and Black is lost) 29.dxd7 wins ] 28...xd7 29.xa4 [ 29.e7!? f6 ( 29...c8 30.xa4 is also good for W hite) 30.xf6 gxf6 31.xa4 and compared to the game Black's structure is slightly worse c5 32.c4 e6 33.xe4 xd2 34.a4 now some rook endgames are lost for Black. ] 29...xa4 30.xa4 f8 31.xe4?! I think Aronian didn't want to stay with his rook in front of the pawn, but with this move White's advance is much slower. [ 31.xe4 was better, but White can't just go with the pawn, Black has enough resources t o s t o p i t xd2 32.a8 ( 32.a7!? White also targets f7 g6 33.a4 e6 34.a5 d1+ 35.g2 a1 36.d5 ) 32...g6 33.a4 this looks good, but Black arrives just in time g7 34.a5 e6 35.a6 d6 36.b7 ( 36.a7 a6 and there is no way to make progress ) 36...c7 ( 36...c5 does not work 37.g2 f6 38.a7 xb7 39.b8 a6 40.a8 xa8 41.xa8+- ) 37.a7 b5 leads to a draw ] 31...xd2 32.a4 [ 32.a4 was probably better, but basically no human would play this. ] 32...a2 Now it's hard to make progress. Still W hite can try to put the bishop on b5 and 354
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 improve his pieces slowly. He tried to xe2 10.e5 ( my opponent faced exchange the bishop, but this endgame is 10.xb6?! earlier in the tournament: axb6 easy to handle for Black. 33.f3 g6 34.g2 11.e1 h5 12.e4 d5 13.b3 e6 e6 35.c4 g7 36.d5 f6 37.e4 a3 14.b2 Tozer, P (2176) -Kojima, S (2340) 38.xe6 L o n d o n E N G 2 0 1 2 h e r e b4 15.c4 [ 38.c6 was still possible, waiting for the d3 would have led to a large advantage end of time trouble ] f o r B l a c k .) 10...h5 11.e1 has been 38...fxe6 39.f4+ e7 40.h4 h5 And finally subjected to extensive testing and analysis. we are out of time trouble and the resulting Recently h6! solved all of Black's problems position is an easy draw for Black. W hite's in Dubov, D (2594) -Potkin, V (2651) rook can't stay on the f-file and the pawn on Moscow 2012/[John Bartholomew]. a4 is too far from promotion for White to give Interested readers may also want to check one of the pawns on the kingside. Apparently out GM Viktor Erdos's "CI Lab" survey of this the pawn is better on e6 than f7. 41.e4 f7 line in Informant 115. ] 42.f1 a2 43.e1 f6 44.d1 e7 8...cxb3 9.axb3 g6 45.f4 The last try. a3 [ A c o u p l e p l a y e r s h a v e t r i e d 9...d5!? [ 45...g2 46.a5 xg3 ( 46...a2 47.e5 , intending to offload the clumsy bishop on and W hite improved the position a lot.) f3. W hite may want to react with 10.c4 47.a4 was one trick ] , i.e. ( 10.d3 xf3 11.xf3 e6 12.c4 46.c2 xg3 47.d4 e3 48.b2 e5 bd5 Thorfinnsson, B (2402)-Illescas ½-½ Co rd o ba , M (2 6 09 ) P ort o Carras 20 1 1; 10.b2 ) 10...e6 ( 10...g6 11.a5 ) 11.a5 c7 12.d3 xf3 13.xf3 bd5 14.d2 368 A11 e7 15.b2 , angling for b3-b4. ] Bartholomew,John 2427 10.c4 g7 11.a5 The best place for the Kojima,S 2340 knight. Black will have to monitor b7 for quite 4th London Classic Open (6.12) 06.12.2012 so m e t i m e , a n d t h e r e ' s c e r t a in v a l u e i n restricting Black's three-on-one queenside [John Bartholomew] pawn majority. [ 11.b2 bd5 ( 11...0-0 looks more One of the unique selling points of the 3.g3 flexible ) 12.g5!? c8 13.e4 b4 14.c3 Anti-Slav Gambit is that White often just plays d3?! ( 14...a5! ) 15.xf7! xf7 16.xd3 b 2 - b 3 in t h e c r i t ic a l l in e s , n o t f e a r in g a xd3 17.e5+ e8 18.xd3 Hausrath, middlegame a pawn down. The present game D (2507) -Michalczak, T (2340) Oberhausen is one such example. 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 2008 ] 3.g3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.c2 11...c8 A novelty. b6 7.a3 e6 [ It seems slightly weaker to play 11...c8 [ The text has been gaining momentum over . After 12.b2 0-0 13.e4 e8 (a common 7...d5 primarily because Black has failed maneuver - Black intends to transfer the to demonstrate a convincing solution to the knight to d6) 14.xg7 xg7 15.c3+ g8 g a m b i t l i n e 8.b3!? cxb3 9.axb3 e6 16.h4!? White had interesting play with h410.b4! , as played in Timman, J (2571)h5 looming: f6 ( 16...d6 17.fe1 c7 Ernst, S (2606) W ijk aan Zee 2012/[John 18.h5 ) 17.fe1 c7 18.d4 d7 19.d5 Bartholomew]. ] Ha u sr a t h , D (2 5 3 7 )-B ru n n e r, N (2 4 6 2 ) 8.b3!? In the August 2012 update I suggested Germany 2010 ] that White players ought to have a look at this [ 11...c7 suggests itself. On c7 the queen typical pawn sacrifice, and the present game won't prevent the rooks from communicating was a good chance to test this with each other, but the queen is also a bit recommendation. Don't you like it when we more exposed. For instance, e2-e4 and d4ChessPub authors stick our necks out d5 could be a bother, or perhaps even Bb2there!?:) e5. A possible continuation is 12.b2 0-0 [ The continuation 8.g5 g4 9.xc4! 355
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.e4 A) 13...fd8 14.fe1 e8 15.xg7 xg7 16.c3+ g8 17.d4; B) 13...e8 14.xg7 xg7 15.d4 ( or perhaps 15.c3+ g8 16.h4!? ); C) 13...ad8 14.d4 ( 14.fe1!? ) 14...e8 15.fc1 h6 16.d1 g7 17.c4 xc4 18.bxc4 ] 12.b2 [ It occurred to me that 12.a3 also makes sense against 11...Qc8. However, after c7 I feel the bishop's long-term prospects are limited on the a3-f8 diagonal. The fact that this piece now interferes with the defense of the knight on a5 may also prove to be nont r i v i a l . W h i t e ' s b e s t m a y b e 13.b2 with a direct transposition to 11...Qc7. ] 12...0-0 13.e4 d8 14.fe1!? I liked White's play in Hausrath-Brunner, so here I'm borrowing a key idea. [ The point of this semi-waiting move is to de la y d 2 -d4 u n t il W h it e ca n e n su re a n exchange of dark square bishops. White will find it easier to create threats against the Black king when its primary defender has been eliminated. For what it's worth, I think White also enjoys decent compensation with th e s t ra igh t f o rwa rd 14.d4 , but the text seems more attractive to me. ] 14...e8 Black could try to delay or omit this move altogether, but it is the logical continuation of his plan. 15.xg7 xg7 This surprised me, as I thought the knight was fairly useless on this square. [ On 15...xg7 I probably would have played 16.c3+ g8 17.h4!? ala HausrathBrunner. ] 16.d4 b8?! 17.d2! I'm fond of this move. The queen has potential to influence matters on either side of the board. f6 Discouraging Qd2-h6 and Nf3-g5, but... 18.b4 f7?! It's hard to believe that any good will come from having the king staring down the barrel of a d4-d5 push. [ 18...d7 should have been tried, though I'm p lea s ed wit h W h it e 's po sit ion af t e r 19.c4 xc4 20.bxc4 . ] 19.ac1 Natural and strong. d4-d5 is on the cards. d7 20.c4! xc4 [ B e g r u d g i n g l y p l a y e d , b u t 20...c8?? 21.fe5+ is far worse. ]
21.bxc4 g4 [ 21...g8!? 22.d5 f7 ] 22.d5 White has a serious initiative. xf3 23.xf3 e5!? A good defensive try. 24.c5! [ D e f i n i t e l y n o t 24.dxe6+ xe6 , when Black's knight springs to life. ] 24...b6?! Time was becoming a factor for both players around this point. 25.ed1 [ The immediate 25.a4! was stronger. ] 25...e8 26.a4 bxc5? Opening the position is nearly fatal. [ Black had far better chances to hold out with 26...cxd5! , i.e. 27.c6 c7 28.exd5 a5! . White's passers are blockaded and it's not at all clear how I can break through. ] 27.dxc6 e7 28.g4! Aiming for the d7 square. g7? Black cracks. [ Ne c e s s a r y wa s 28...d4 , though after 29.xd4 exd4 30.d7 Black has a very difficult (and possibly hopeless) defensive task. ] 29.d7 xd7 30.xd7+- The threats of c6-c7 and Qa4xa7 are too much. e6 31.xe6+! Simplest. xe6 [ Or 31...xe6 32.xa7+ , picking up the rook. ] 32.c4+ d6 33.xc5+ e6 34.d5# W hite has rich compensation after 8.b3!?, though Black is not without his resources. A strong player could give this line a go with either color. 1-0
369 Bartholomew,John Ostrovskiy,Aleksandr SPICE Cup Open (7) [John Bartholomew]
A11 2446 2377 18.10.2012
Lasker's System (4...Bf5) is a solid option for Black. White normally obtains a slight edge after 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.Qb3, but here my op p o ne n t su rp rise s m e wit h me with t h e enterprising pawn sacrifice 6...Nc6!?, an idea that injects new life into this variation. 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 f6 4.g2 f5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.b3 c6!? Pitching the b-pawn for the sake of speedy development and central dominance. In the post-mortem my opponent said he had specifically prepared this pawn 356
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 sacrifice and that the engines rate it highly (something my Houdini confirms!). Somehow this idea has yet to attract much attention, though it has been tried 11 times since 2003. [ Black usually plays 6...b6 , when the q u e e n l e s s m i d d l e g a m e a f t e r 7.xb6 is pleasant for W hite , i.e. ( or 7.c3!? Georgiev, K (2649)-Kasimdzhanov, R (2690)/ Khanty Mansiysk 2007/ [Hansen, Carsten]) 7...axb6 8.c3 c6 9.d3 e6 10.b5 b4+ 11.d2 e7 12.fd4 xd2+ 13.xd2 g6 14.f4! Stefanova, A (2503)Zhukova, N (2439)/Krasnoturinsk 2003/ [TonyK]. ] [ 6...c8 is also popular. 7.c3 e6 8.0-0 e7 9.d3 c6 10.f4 0-0 11.ac1 Kosten, A (2542)-Bunzmann, D (2509) / Montpellier 2001/[TonyK] ] 7.xb7 White is obligated to accept. d7! Best. White must waste time retreating, as 8... Rb8 and 9...Nb4 are now threatened. [ Less accurate is 7...c8 8.0-0 e5 9.d4!? exd4 10.f4 d6 11.c1 d7?! , Tarlev, K (2384)-Alexikov, A (2353)/Alushta 2 0 0 5 . H e r e 12.xd7+ xd7 13.xd6 xd6 14.a3 is much better for White. ] 8.b3 e5 The powerful pawn duo is the crux of Black's compensation. 9.0-0 [ One game from this year went 9.d3 b8 10.d1 b4+!? (a common sortie Black tries to wrong-foot White's pieces) 11.fd2! h5 ( I think the simple 11...0-0 is better ) 12.c3 e7 13.0-0 h4 14.a3 d6 ( maybe 14...xc3!? 15.bxc3 hxg3 16.hxg3 c8 hitting c3 and intending ...Bd7h3 promised more) 15.e4! hxg3 16.hxg3 g4 17.f3 h3 18.e1 d4 19.d5 e6 20.c4 f8 21.g5 fg8 22.c1 and Black was in a very bad way Cox, J (2423)-Thorfinnsson, B (2402)/Hinckley ENG 2012. ] 9...b8 [ Another example: 9...d6 10.c3 b8 11.d1 d4?! Strangely, this natural move isn't as ef f ective here ( 11...0-0 12.d3 would transpose to our main game) 12.a4 h6 13.d3 e7 14.d2 b4 15.b3 xa4 16.bxa4 b8 17.c4 ed5 18.d2 0-0 19.b1 d7 20.b5! Griffiths, R (2301)Lalic, P (1978)/Sheffield ENG 2011. ] 10.d1 d6 Completing development and
maintaining a fluid pawn structure. [ I think 10...e4 , as in Mueller, J (2162)Reinhart, E (2347)/Pardubice CZE 2012, is weaker only if Black refrains from following up aggressively. This becomes apparent after 11.e1 c5 when White can use the e4 hook to begin chipping away at Black's central foundation with ( on the other hand, 11...h5!? deserves serious consideration compare to Cox - Thorfinnsson [see note to 9.0-0] ) 12.d3 . ( 12.c3 e7 13.a4 0-0 14.c2 d6 15.b3 fc8 was the game )] [ Black needs to avoid 10...c5?! 11.xe5! .] 11.d3 [ I was hesitant to play 11.d4 in view o f e4 12.fd2 h5! , with easy play for Black. ( 12...0-0 )] 11...0-0 12.c3 [ 12.fd2 was agreed drawn in Jacobsen, Bo (2302)-Skytte, R (2401)/Chess House IM 2012. A pity! Black has a number of ways to proceed, i.e. e7 ( or 12...e8; 12...h6; or even 12...a5!? )] [ I strongly considered 12.b3 , but it seems premature. The c3-square is chronically weakened, and White also has to watch out for ... e5-e4, opening the a1-h8 diagonal. e7 ( definitely not the immediate 12...e4?? 13.dxe4 dxe4 14.xd6+- )] 12...d4 Forcing White to a decision. 13.e4?! In retrospect, this is questionable. [ I didn't like 13.a4 on a ccou n t o f a5 ( Black should perhaps prefer the patient 13...h6 ) 14.d2 b4 , but actually 15.b3 seems fine for W hite, in spite of the possibility of ...Nb(f)d5-c3. For instance, xa4 16.bxa4 bd5 17.c4 c7 18.a3 c3 19.c2 fc8 20.b2 and White is doing well. ] [ Actually, it appears that the retreat 13.b1! is best. White isn't winning any development awards, but he is also refusing to create any weaknesses. The first player has slightly better chances here, and one (ideal!) way to continue would be Nb1-d2-c4, a2-a3, b2-b4, and Bb2(d2). ] 13...xe4 14.dxe4 e7 White remains a p a wn u p , t h o u g h I w i l l h a v e d i f f i c u l t i e s activating my queenside majority and making the g2-bishop relevant. Black has a totally 357
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c o h e r e n t p o s it io n wi t h t h e p o ssi b i li t y o f playing on either wing. All in all, a roughly b a l a n c e d g a m e . 15.b3 c5 16.e1!? Transferring the knight to a superior square. bc8?! [ 16...fc8! ] 17.d3 b6 18.d2 a5 19.f4!? f6 20.fxe5 fxe5?! [ A f t e r w a r d s w e a g r e e d t h a t 20...xe5! was the superior recapture. ] 21.xf8+ xf8 22.a3 The rook exchange has improved my prospects. Now I can start crawling forward on the queenside. [ 22.c2!? is perhaps more flexible. ] 22...b8 23.c2 a7! The possibility of ... Na7-b5 is very bothersome to W hite. 24.b4 a4 25.c5?! Parting with my best piece! [ Simply 25.c1 was better. ] 25...xc5 26.bxc5 e6! ... Qe6-b3 is on the table. 27.e3! I have to hurry. The idea is Bg2f1-c4. dxe3 [ I was expecting the immediate 27...b3 , i.e. 28.xb3+ ( 28.c1 c6 29.f1 e6 ) 28...axb3 29.exd4 exd4 30.b1 e6 ] 28.xe3 [ I thought briefly about 28.f1 , but then I saw h6! . ] 28...b3 29.d2 e6 30.f2 b2! An excellent defensive resource that totally escaped my attention. Black parries the threat of Qd2-d6 by forcing a queen trade. 31.xb2 xb2 Despite the bishop pair and a pawn advantage, it's not easy for W hite! Black's minor pieces are clearly superior, and the a3 pawn is feeling the heat. The computer says I'm not in much danger, but in mutual time pressure I couldn't figure things out. 32.d1 f7 33.f1 a2 34.d6?! [ I should sit tight with 34.d3= . ] 34...xa3 35.c6 c8 36.d7+ f6 37.a6? S t i l l e r r o n e o u s l y p u s h i n g f o r w a r d . e7 38.d6 c3! Addressing the threat of Ba6-c4 and putting the breaks on the c-pawn once and for all. Amazingly, White is now dead lost. 39.e1 c1 40.f2 a3 I can't stop this pawn! 41.c7 a2 42.c8 xc8 43.xc8 a1 White resigned. A nice game by Aleksandr (who said he reads ChessPublishing.com!). The computerendorsed pawn sacrifice with 6... Nc6!? looks
completely playable, and I wouldn't be the le a st bit su rp rise d if it b eco me th e m a in continuation very soon. 0-1
370 Bruzon Batista,Lazaro Nielsen,Peter Heine 18th North Sea Cup (2) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2610 2625 05.06.2003
This is an elegant game, where White gains the advantage in pure 'Reti' style. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 g6 A perfectly logical move, Black posts the king's bishop on the long diagonal, whilst keeping the h3-c8 diagonal open for the other bishop. 5.b3 g7 6.b2 0-0 7.c4 The advantage of delaying c4 like this, is that White doesn't have to worry about lines where Black captures on c4, as now W hite can simply recapture with the bpawn and gain a big centre. a5!? [ 7...g4 is more common, but Black tries to soften-up the long diagonal first. ] 8.d3 a4 T h e p a w n g o e s o n . 9.a3! Both stopping its further advance, and keeping the a-file closed. a6 10.c2 And now the k n i g h t r e t u r n s t o c o n t r o l b 4 . g4!? This perfectly normal move seems to be an innovation, as previously Black had preferred [ 10...e8 when 11.c1 b6 ( 11...g4 12.b4 c8 13.b1 h3 14.b5 cxb5 15.cxb5 c5 16.xh3 xh3 17.xf6 left Black with an awkward decision, as White continues with Ne3, hitting c5 and d5, Dizdar,G-Michaelsen,N/Bad W oerishofen 1992 ) 12.d4 c5 13.e5 axb3 14.axb3 d8 ( 14...xb3!? 15.d2 b6 16.cxd5 should favour White) 15.b2 leaves White with a plus, because of his harmonious pieces, Dizdar,G-Pfleger,H/Germany 1992. ] 11.b1 This guards against tricks along the diagonal, and may threaten to capture on a4 and use the open b-file that ensues. xf3 A radical solution, but the bishop isn't very important in Black's plans. 12.xf3 axb3 13.axb3 e6 Black sets up a solid lightsquared pawn barrier. 14.b4 b5 15.a5! W hite starts to take control, he first pressurises the b-pawn. b6 358
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 15...bxc4 16.dxc4 dxc4? 17.xc6 a7 18.b5 is very strong. ] 16.d4 b7 17.cxb5 cxb5 18.b2 A quick look at the position reveals that White is threatening to double rooks on the a-file, attacks the b-pawn, and controls the a1-h8 diagonal. e8 Best. 19.e4! White brings his other bishop into the fray. ac7 20.fa1 c8 A concession, but Black could hardly capture on a5 and allow W hite a passed a-pawn. 21.exd5 exd5 22.e3 Reti players look and learn! With simple, yet powerful moves, all of W hite's pieces participate in the fray, and B l a c k i s b e s e t f r o m a l l a n g l e s . h5 Hardly relevant, but it was difficult to suggest improvements. 23.g2 c6 24.a7 d6 25.h4 White is in no rush and simply improves h i s p o s i t i o n - r e a l G M t e c h n i q u e . xd4 26.xd4 e6?! [ 26...g7 was the best chance, e.g. 27.xd5 xd5 28.xd5 xb4 and Black is still fighting. ] 27.xd5 xb4 28.xf7! Suddenly White turns to a tactical solution, and kills the pawn that holds Black's light squares together. xf7? [ 28...xf7 was hardly appetising, and yet after 29.d7+ e7 30.xc8 8c7 31.b7 Black is 'only' a pawn down. ] 29.xe6 Forking c8 and g6. d6 30.xg6+ [ 30.xg6+ f8 31.h6+ g8 32.d5 is completely crushing. ] 1-0
one against Caruana. He didn't get much out of the opening in that one, though: 1.c4 g6 2.e4 e5 3.c3 g7 4.g3 d6 5.ge2 c5 6.d3 c6 7.g2 ge7 8.a3 d4 9.b4 g4 10.h3 xe2 11.xe2 xe2 12.xe2 c6= and Black equalized in Carlsen, MCaruana, F W ijk aan Zee 2013. Carlsen opened with 1 .e4 in all his other W hit e games. ] 1...f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 Flexible. [ We recently examined 4.d3 f5 5.0-0 e6 ( 5...h6 would be my choice) 6.h4 g6 7.xg6 hxg6 in Nakamura, H (2778) -Solak, D (2599) Istanbul 2012/[John Bartholomew]. White grabbed the bishop pair and cruised to victory rather effortlessly. ] 4...g4 5.c4 White more often prefaces this advance with d2-d3, but perhaps it's unnecessary. [ In that case 5.d3 bd7 6.c4 xf3! is an interesting response, i.e. 7.xf3 e5!? 8.g2 dxc4 9.d4 ed7 10.c2 b6 11.d1 e6 12.e4 e7 13.a4 a5 . See Nikolic, P (2671)-Strating, S (2307) Amsterdam 2004/[TonyK]. ] 5...e6 6.d3 bd7 7.cxd5! Judging by the n u m b e r o f h i g h r a t e d p l a ye r s wh o h a v e chosen this move recently (and their corresponding winning percentage!), it's fairly clear that this is considered to be the best path for White. Germany's GM Georg Meier is particularly fond of this capture, having played it on several occasions. [ 7.e3 is more innocuous. For example, d6 8.b3 b8 9.cxd5 exd5 10.c3 0-0 371 A11 11.fe1 e8 Frois, A (2346)-Dominguez Perez, L (2534) Lisbon 2000. ] Carlsen,Magnus 2861 Karjakin,Sergey 2780 7...exd5 [ T h e s y m m e t r i c a l r e s p o n s e 7...cxd5 Tata Steel Chess 2013 (8.4) 20.01.2013 can be met in many dif ferent ways, i.e. [John Bartholomew] 8.b3 (Meier's preference) ( 8.a4 d6 9.c3 0-0 10.g5 h6 11.xg4 xg4 I could hardly submit this update in good 12.xd8 fxd8= 1-0 (86) Laznicka, V conscience without commenting on at least (2674) -Jirovsky, M (2453); common is 8.c3 one of Magnus Carlsen's games! He is simply e7 9.h3 when xf3 10.xf3 0-0 11.e4 on a roll as of late, and in W ijk aan Zee he d4 12.b1 b6 13.d2 a6 14.e2 impressed everybody with his sheer tenacity ac8 15.f4 fd8 was balanced in and willingness to fight every game until bare Zaragatski, I (2474)-Van Wessel, R (2375) kings (usually his opponents resigned before Netherlands 2012) 8...b6 9.xb6 xb6 then!) This was one such game. 1.f3 10.c3 xf3 11.xf3 c5 12.b3 e7 [ Magnus only had one other pure Flank 13.b2 ac8 14.ac1 Meier, G (2642)game with White in the tournament: in round 359
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Kleiman, J (2371) Saint Louis USA 2012. ] 8.c2 [ 8.c3 could transpose, though c5!? is intriguing, as Karjakin had played previously: 9.h3 ( 9.b3 c8 10.f4 0-0 11.ac1 e8 12.h3 h5 13.g4 g6 14.d4 Malakhov, V (2709)-Rublevsky, S (2688) Novosibirsk RUS 2012) 9...xf3 10.xf3 0-0 11.c2 d4 12.b1 e7 13.d2 e5 14.g2 fe8 with play similar to the game. Svidler, P (2739)-Karjakin, S (2788) Moscow 2011. ] 8...e7 [ Again, it's entirely possible for Black to place this bishop elsewhere, e.g. 8...d6 ] [ or 8...c5!? . ] 9.c3 xf3 Parting with the bishop in order to clarify the position. [ Critical is 9...0-0 10.e4 dxe4 11.dxe4 . W hite has scored fantastically from this position (+13, =9, -2) despite the engine's proclamation of near equality. One illustrative game went c5 12.d1 c8 13.e3 e8 14.e1 h3 15.ad1 h6 16.d4 xg2 17.xg2 with an ideal position for White in Ehlvest, J (2591)-Bhat, V (2547) Saint Louis 2010. Karjakin must have also felt that Black has some problems to solve in this variation. ] 10.xf3 d4 11.e4 0-0 12.xf6+ xf6 [ 12...xf6 allows 13.b4! , jump-starting White's queenside play. b6 14.b1 d7 15.b5 ac8 16.bxc6 bxc6 17.d2 fe8 18.fc1 Loginov, V (2507)-Tunik, G (2451) Togliatti 2001 ] 13.d2 a5 14.a3 d5 15.ab1 d7 16.fc1 fe8 The opening phase has concluded. White cannot claim a theoretical advantage, but he has succeeded in obtaining a position fully suited to his style: no weaknesses, a pair of bishops, and the ability to play for another 75 moves! 17.c4 c7 18.h4 a4 19.b4 b5 20.g2 h6 21.c5 g6 22.b4 f6 23.d2 g7 24.c4 a6 25.d1 b6 26.b4 c5 27.d2 c7 28.cc1 d5 29.h1! Carlsen finds a neat way to generate pressure. e7 30.g1 d8 31.c2 e6 32.g2 a7 33.e1 ad7 34.h2 c8 35.h3 xh3+ 36.xh3 The evaluation doesn't change much following the queen trade. h5 37.b1 a8 38.g2
a6 39.b3 Magnus gets down to business. axb3 40.xb3 f6 41.c4 d6 42.f1 f8 43.a4 c3?! A nearly imperceptible error that Carlsen is quick to exploit. [ Black should stand still, i.e. 43...g7 . ] 44.f4 e6 45.e3! xa4 [ Not 45...xa4?? 46.bxc3+- . ] 46.d5 e7 47.d6 b5?! [ 47...c3! presents White with more problems. ] 48.xe7+ xe7 49.xb5 b6 50.e4 xc4 51.b8+ g7 52.xc4 Karjakin has won back the exchange, but he's a long way from surviving the Carlsen Inquisition! Black's f7 pawn is a clear target. a7 53.f4 d6 54.e8 b7 55.a8 e7 56.g2 b1 57.e5 e1 58.f2 b1 59.e8 f8 60.c8 e7 61.a8 b2+ 62.f3 b1 63.d5 e1 64.f2 d1 65.e8 f8 66.c4 b1 67.g4 Going for it! hxg4 68.h5 h1? Karjakin falters in a complex position. [ The computers indicate he could have held with 68...gxh5! 69.f5 h4 70.f6+ g6 71.xf8 f5! , which is a fairly non-human line. ] 69.hxg6 fxg6 70.e6! Target acquired (g6). h6 71.d5 h2+?! [ 71...a1 72.g3 c4! offered more resistance, but it's already very difficult for Black. ] 72.g3 h3+ 73.xg4 xd3 74.f5 e3 75.xg6+ h7 76.g8+ h8 77.f4 Carlsen's technique is flawless. c3 78.f6 d3 79.e3 c4 80.e6! h7 81.f5 c2 82.g2+ h6 83.xc2 dxc2 84.xc2+Despite the presence of opposite color bishops, Black cannot hold. g5 85.d4 a3 86.xc4 b2 87.d5 f4 88.f7 a3 89.e6 g5 90.c6 f6 91.d7 g7 92.e7 Black resigned. A brilliant effort Karjakin was equal, but never drawing against the 2013 Tata Steel champion. I think Magnus's 7.cxd5 is the best way for White to play, and it's yielding plenty of interesting games at present. 1-0
360
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 control and W hite can also play f3 A11 s o m e t i m e s .) 17.e1 ( 17.d1 c2 ) Clery,Nicolas 2390 17...xe2+ 18.xe2 e4 19.e5 ac8 Savchenko,Stanislav 2558 looks fine for Black ] XXIV Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (7) 21.2.08 16...ac8 17.d2 c3 18.exd4 exd4 [Jonathan Rowson] 19.fc1 xe2+ 20.xe2 g4 21.e5 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 xe5 22.xe5 e6 23.b4 d5 24.xd4 f6 5.c2 d6 It is important to note that Black 25.f3 Black will win back the pawn after Nf4. does not have to play Nbd7 and as Sakeev ½-½ showed in a previous update(see AnastasianSakeev), if White is not going to play d4 there A11 is a lot to be said for playing e5 as quickly as 373 possible 6.b3 0-0 7.b2 Davies,Nigel R 2475 [ 7.e2!? Might be a useful alternative move Adams,Michael 2555 order, if only to keep b2 available for the Blackpool zt 1990 queen. e5 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.b5 c6 [Nigel Davies] 10.xd6 xd6 11.b2!? However, after Bg4 or Re8, Black seems to have his full 1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.c4 dxc4 share of the chances. ] 5.0-0 bd7 6.a3 b6 7.c2 d5 8.h4 7...e5!? e6 [ 7...a6!? is also possible in this move [ L a t e r o n N i c k P e r t w o u l d p l a y 8...d4 order. ] against me after which me liking of this 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.b5 c6 10.xd6 xd6 variation started to diminish. The game 11.b5 continued 9.d1 ( 9.e1 g6 10.f3 d5 [ 11.d4 b4 12.d1 e4 13.e5 11.h4 d4 12.f3 d5 13.e4!? It is not clear that White is better in this line, played 'for the win' in Ostrowski, L (2385)but in general I would prefer White in such Bernard, R (2335), Poznan 1987, but after situations, because the bishops give d3 14.xd3 cxd3 15.e5 g7 16.xd3 chances in the long term, and although he is 0-0 17.c5 fd7 18.xd7 xd7 quiet at the moment, the pawn structure W h i t e w a s p r o b a b l y a l r e a d y w o r s e .; means that the dark squared bishop could On the other hand 9.f3 e4 10.d3 cxd3 eventually be very powerful. e8 14.a3 11.exd3 a4 12.b3 a6 13.c4 g4 a6 15.h3 f6 16.g4 f7 17.e2 c7 14.fe5 was rather promising for White 18.0-0 d7 19.a4 Perhaps this is too early. when he agreed a draw (1/2-1/2) in Legahn, ac8 20.a3 e6? ( 20...b4 D (2250)-Luther, T (2480), Hamburg 1993, Black should contest the important a3-f8 though note that with 9...Qd5 Black could diagonal. 21.a5 b6 22.axb6 xb6 repeat the position) 9...g4 10.e3 d3 as indicated in a previous update.) 21.f3 11.xd3 cxd3 12.f1 e5 13.f4 g5 d6 22.xd6 xd6 23.fxe4 dxe4 24.c4+ 14.fxe5 gxh4 15.b3 f5 16.b2 g8 see Anastasian, A (2602)-Sakaev, K (2649)/ 17.f2 e6 18.g2 0-0-0 and the position Kusadasi 2006, in the PGN Archive. ] wa s t h o r o u g h ly m is e ra b le f o r W h it e i n 11...b4 Davies, N (2491)-Pert, N (2488), Halifax [ 11...e4 12.d4 b4 13.c1 probably (British Open Quickplay Championship) with Bc3 and Qb2 (or Qa3) to follow, should 2003 , t hough I man age d to scramb le a be better for White ] draw. ] 12.c1 d4 13.0-0 a6 14.a3 9.e4 g6 10.b3 [ 14.e2 g4 15.exd4 e4 ] [ In Salov, V (2550) -Torre, E (2540), 14...bd5 15.e2 f5 16.d3 Leningrad 1987 W hite prepared this with [ 16.exd4!? f4 ( 16...e4 17.e5 f4 10.e1 fd7 a n d t h e n p l a ye d 11.b3 18.d1 is not totally convincing for Black, but there seems to be little need for this. because Ne5-c4-e3 can wrestle back some After g7 12.b2 xb2 13.xb2 0-0 372
361
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.bxc4 e5 15.d4 exc4 16.xc4 xc4 17.c3 White had compensation, but I think Black finds it easier in such positions when t h e r e a r e f e we r m i n o r p i e c e s t o wo r r y about. ] 10...cxb3 11.axb3 g7 12.d4 0-0 13.b2 d7 14.ad1 One of several moves to have been played here though I don't think it makes a huge difference: [ a) 14.f3 c7 15.fe1 e8 16.e5 d7 17.f4 xe5 18.dxe5 f6 19.c4 fxe5 20.xe5 e6 21.b4 d6 22.h1 a6 23.d3 xb2 24.xb2 ad8 25.c5 gave White ongoing pressure for the pawn in Salov, V (2550)-Beliavsky, A (2630), Minsk 1987/URS-ch. ] [ b) 14.c4 d8 15.ad1?! g4 16.f3 d7 17.f4 a5 18.f5 a4 19.xb6 xb6 20.bxa4 g4 21.d3 c5! gave Black e x c e l l e n t c o m p e n s a t i o n i n P i g u s o v, E (2570)-Georgiev, K (2615), Moscow 1994. ] 14...e6 15.fe1 a5 16.f3 e7 17.c4 xc4 18.bxc4 I was pleased to get this mass of central pawns, notwithstanding Black's passed a-pawn. If Black isn't very careful here his position will be crippled by c4-c5 and Nf3d2-c4. d8 19.d2 [ In retrospect I should have played 19.c5! here, p re ve nt in g .. .e 6-e5 b y Black an d leaving the knight on f3 two routes to c4 (d2 or e5). ] 19...e5 20.d5 cxd5 [ 20...a4 might have been better because now I get to target the e5 pawn along the efile. ] 21.exd5 f5 22.c1 e4 [ 22...d7!? 23.a3 c5 was worth considering as af ter 24.d6?! Black can sacrifice his queen with xd6 25.e4 xd1 26.xd1 xe4 etc. ] 23.h3 h5 24.a1! This would have gladdened Reti's heart. Adams now makes a mistake: e8? 25.xg7 xg7 26.xe4 d6 27.xf5 gxf5! Very astute play by Adams, depriving me of the e4 square. Of course White is better here but I don't make the most of it. 28.d4 b6 29.f3 e8 30.b1 [ A much more testing line is 30.xe8+ xe8 31.b1 when e4 32.xb6 xb6 33.xb6 xc4 34.g2 leaves Black with ongoing
problems in the endgame because of all the weak pawns. ] 30...xe1+ 31.xe1 a6 32.d3 a4 33.b4 a8 34.c2 a6 35.b4 [ And here W hite's winning try is 35.b5!? a3 36.b4 a8 37.xb6 , though admittedly Black has counterplay after e7 . Instead of this I wimp out with a draw. ] 35...a8 36.c2 a6 ½-½
374 Davies,Nigel R Haslinger,Stewart 93rd ch-GBR Swansea WLS (5) [Nigel Davies]
A11 2512 2423 11.08.2006
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.a3 b6 7.c2 d5 8.b3 f5!? A sharp move which attempts to refute White's scheme. 9.bxc4 [ I felt this had to be critical because after 9.b2 cxb3 10.axb3 e6 White's queen is blocking the square he'd like his bishop on. Mihajlovic, M (2243) -Kuzmanovic, R (1996), Belgrade 2007, continued 11.d3 d8 12.c4 e7 13.xb6 axb6 14.xa8 xa8 15.e3 d8 16.d4 g6 17.a1 c8 18.a3 d5 19.xd5 exd5 20.d6 e7 21.e5 f6 22.e6 xe6 23.xe6 f7 24.f4 f5 25.xb6 g5 and although W hite had recovered his pawn he stood worse in the endgame because of Black's powerful bishops. ] 9...xf3 10.xf3 xc2 11.xc2 xc4 12.d3 b6 13.a4 Looking to undermine the c6 pawn with a4-a5-a6. e5?! [ I think that 13...e6 makes more sense here because it would supply more cover to the light squares and take on fewer obligations (eg the need to defend the e5 pawn). ] 14.a5 bd5 15.b2 d6 16.a6?! Not the best. [ White can cause problems here with 16.e4! , for example e7 17.e3 (intending 18. Nc4) g6 18.f5 0-0-0 19.fd1 ( 19.xg7 f8 would win back d3) 19...f8 20.d4 and White would have a powerful initiative that provides more than enough compensation. ] 362
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16...b6 17.g2 [ 17.e4 was still the right way to go, White has to deprive Black's knights of the d5 square and there's no need to retreat the bishop before doing this. ] 17...0-0-0 18.e4 Finally, though by now Black is well developed enough to cope. c7 19.d4 he8 [ 19...d7 was better in fact. Now I had a chance which unfortunately was missed. ] 20.fc1?! [ 20.h3+! was strong, for example d7 ( 20...b8 21.dxe5 xe5 22.xe5 xe5 23.b4 c5 24.fc1 is very unpleasant for Black ) 21.dxe5 xe5 22.xe5 xe5 23.b4 c5 24.fc1 and suddenly Black is in all sorts of trouble. ] 20...d7 21.e3 exd4 22.f5? A poor move. [ 22.xd4 was better, hitting the pawns on c6 and g7. ] 22...c5 23.xg7 f8 24.f5 e5 The d4 pawn is well supported now and that keeps both the bishop on b2 and the knight on f5 out of play. I don't have much to say about my death agonies. 25.f1 f3+ 26.g2 d2 27.e1 xf1 28.xf1 fe8 29.f3 e6 30.fd1 c7 31.f2 d7 32.e2 b5 33.h6 f8 34.g4 g7 35.f2 d3+! 36.xd3 xd3 37.xg7 xd1 38.e5+ d6 39.d1 0-1
home preparation. [ 6...e4 7.d4 again leads to a game that would be properly categorized as a Grunfeld. ] [ 6...0-0 is certainly the most flexible move at t h i s j u n c t u r e , e . g . 7.b2 g4 (n e wly p op u lar, an d a lso qu it e lo gic a l) ( 7...bd7; 7...a5; 7...f5; and 7...e8 are all common alternatives) 8.d3 xf3 9.xf3 e6 ( 9...bd7 10.c2 e8 11.e3 e6 12.d2 h5!? 13.ac1 g4 14.d4 h6 15.b4 f6 16.a4 Ivanchuk, V (2771)Karpov, A (2616) Cap d'Agde 2012) 10.c3 bd7 11.g2 e7 12.c2 fd8 13.e3 a5 14.fe1 h5 15.h3 e8 16.ad1 with a typical microscopic edge for White in view of the bishop pair. The position is not dissimilar to many Slow Slav positions were Black willing parts with his light-square bishop. Radjabov, T (2788)-Le Quang, L (2693) Astana 2012. ] 7.bxc4 e4 Mamedyarov didn't capture on d4 only to proceed normally. [ With that said, it was possible to play 7...0-0 8.b2 c5 , arriving at a position that can be reached through several different move orders. In f act, Mamedyarov played the Black side of this position in a 2007 encounter with Etienne Bacrot. ] 8.d4 c5 9.c2 c6?! Whoa - Mamedyarov says "go ahead, take my knight"! Interestingly, the computer is totally unconvinced by this sacrifice (Houdini instantly gives an assessment that is clearly favorable to White). 375 A11 On the other hand, for the human manning the Dominguez Perez,Leinier 2726 White pieces against a well-prepared 2764, Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar 2764 the task of proving such an assessment is FIDE GP Tashkent (9.1) 02.12.2012 something quite different. Still, it seems pretty reckless to play like this, especially if [John Bartholomew] Dominguez had chosen 11.Qf4. [ 9...f5? is refuted by 10.g4! , i.e. g3 "Shak-and-Awe" Mamedyarov introduces a 11.gxf5 xf1 12.xf1 . ] daring (dare I say reckless!?) piece sacrifice [ 9...f5?! 10.b2 cxd4 11.xd4! on move 9 in a traditionally restrained line of also looks very promising for White, as xd4 the Réti. 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 g6 4.g2 12.d1 xf2+ 13.h1 c7 14.xh8 g7 5.0-0 f6 6.b3!? A trendy way of is definitely in favor of the first player. ] playing. W hite intends to occupy the a1-h8 [ Black could consider the simple retreat diagonal in good Réti style. 9...f6 , though 10.b2 0-0 11.bd2 [ Instead, 6.d4 leads straight into a is pleasant for White. ( 11.d5!? )] fianchetto Grunf eld, which is obviously 10.xe4 Dominguez cannot back down, even outside our scope. ] 6...dxc4!? A small novelty, hinting at some if he is sampling some home cooking. f5 363
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.e3 [ Houdini prefers 11.f4! xd4 12.c3 , and this does indeed look much better. After the nearly forced continuation xe2+ ( 12...c2? 13.d1 a5 14.d5!+- ) 13.xe2 xa1 , White has a couple of dangerous option, e.g. A) 14.h6!? f6 ( 14...d6 15.f4 0-0-0 16.d5 intending Bc1-f4) 15.g5 ( natural, though 15.d2! may be even stronger, for instance b8 16.e1! e6 17.b3 with oodles of threats) 15...e6 16.c3; B) 14.g4 c2 ( 14...c8!? 15.e3 g7 16.xc5 0-0 17.e1 ) 15.e3 f6 16.g5 g7 17.xc5 0-0 18.d4 . ] 11...xd4 12.e1 xe2+?! [ It looks better to play 12...g4! , a move that's tough to spot. The main idea is that Black frees up the f5 square for his knight f o r e x a m p l e , 13.c3 ( 13.h1!? xe2 14.g1 xc4 15.b2 b6 16.c3 0-0 ) 13...f5 14.xc5 xc3 15.b2! xb2 16.b5+ f8 17.xb2 d4! and Black should equalize. ] 13.xe2 xa1 14.xb7 [ 14.h6!? ] 14...b8 15.c6+ f8 16.d2 b2! 17.b3 xc1 18.xc1 d6 19.d5 g7 20.b3 hd8 21.e3 [ White had a good opportunity to solidify his advantage with 21.g4! : e6 ( 21...c8!? 22.d3 ) 22.f3 d3 23.xd3 xd3 24.e5+ g8 25.g2 . In the game, Mamedyarov manages to organize sufficient counterplay before W hite coordinates his pieces. ] 21...e6 22.f3 g8 23.g2 [ Or 23.xc5 d4! . ] 23...a6! Targeting White's weaknesses in timely fashion. 24.xc5 d3 25.e1 xc4 26.e3 xb3 27.axb3 xb3= Black has managed to equalize. 28.g2 b6 29.e7 dd3! 30.g4 d8 31.f6+ g7 32.e8+ g8 33.f6+ g7 34.e8+ Prudently, White issues a cease-fire. g8 Draw agreed. W h ile f a sc in a tin g, I se rio usly d ou bt th a t Mamedyarov's piece sacrifice is anything more than a one-off attempt. If Black wants to play 6...cxd4!?, then his best bet appears to be 7. bxc4 0-0 8.Bb2 c5, transposing to established
lines. ½-½
376 Dubov,Daniil Potkin,Vladimir 65th ch-RUS Moscow RUS (5) [John Bartholomew]
A11 2594 2651 07.08.2012
Black has been the victim of a few disasters in the pawn-snatching line featured here. Potkin, fortunately, is a great theoretician, so now we get to see how a well-prepared 2650 plays the complicated 7...Be6 variation. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 c6 4.c4 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.c2 b6 7.a3 [ The line in this game can also be reached with the inclusion of 7.a4 a5 , i.e. 8.a3 e6 9.g5 g4 10.xc4 xe2! 11.e5 h5 when 12.b4!? was a creative try in Radjabov, T (2761)-Smeets, J (2601)/Wijk aan Zee NED 2009/[Nigel Davies] . ] 7...e6 [ See the "Reti - 1 c4 c6 with g3" guide for 7...d5 . The queen move has received the lion's share of coverage on ChessPublishing. com, but the text is no less critical. ] 8.g5 This knight lunge is presumably the reason why 7...Be6 has yet to achieve mainline status. [ White does have a couple valid alternatives a t t h i s j u n c t u r e . F o r i n s t a n c e , 8.e5 invite s the contin uatio n d4! 9.xc6 (the only consistent follow-up to White's last move) bxc6 10.xc6+ , leading to doubleedged play. Potkin recently scored a win in the Black side of this line after d8!? 11.d3 ( 11.xa8 xa8 12.b5!? Pantsulaia, L (2557)-Keler, F (2238)/Konya TUR 2012. d7 ) 11...cxd3 12.d1 dxc2 13.xd4+ d7 14.xa8 xa8 15.xc2 b6 16.f4 e6 17.d6 xd6 18.xd6 e7 S h i m a n o v, A ( 2 6 0 0 ) - P o t k i n , V ( 2 6 4 2 ) / Tyumen RUS 2012. Black doesn't have anything to fear if the queens come off the board, so I'm curious to see whether White can demonstrate anything here (Pantsulaia would be the guy to keep an eye on, as h e ' s a l r e a d y ve n t u r e d 8 . N e 5 a c o u p l e times). ] 364
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ White players may want to investigate the typ ic a l p a wn sa c 8.b3!? cxb3 9.axb3 . Here g6 is a very reasonable response, i. e. 10.c4 g7 11.a5!? ( 11.b2 Hausrath, D (2507)-Michalczak, T (2340)/ Oberhausen 2008. 0-0 12.d3 ) 11...c8 ( 11...c7!? ) 12.b2 0-0 13.e4 e8 14.xg7 xg7 15.c3+ g8 16.h4 f6 17.fe1 c7 18.d4 Hausrath, D (2537)Brunner, N (2462)/Trier GER 2010. ] 8...g4 Forcing the pace. The coming sequence is best for both sides. [ 8...d7 9.b3 ( 9.e4!? Almasi, I (2420)Lukacs, P (2460)/Zalakaros 200002.) 9...f5 10.e4 cxb3 11.axb3 g6 12.d3 e6 13.c4 xc4 14.bxc4 c5 15.a3 xa3 16.xa3 0-0 17.fa1 a6 18.c5 Mikhalevski, V (2525) -Papp, P (2269)/ Moscow RUS 2012. ] 9.xc4! [ I t ' s d i f f i c u l t t o b e l i e v e t h a t 9.f3?! present Black with any sort of problems. After h5 10.xc4 Black has demonstrated many routes to a good game, e.g. e5!? 11.d3 xc4 12.xc4 e7 13.e4 d5 14.f2 f6 15.h1 b6 16.a3 d8 17.h4 g6 18.d1 f5 19.g5 xg5 20.xg5 0-0 McShane, L (2657)-Adams, M (2728)/Baden-Baden GER 2011. ] [ Likewise, 9.e1?! d4 isn't too hot. ] 9...xe2 10.e5 h5 11.e1 h6! This has been played twice in recent months. Black needs to evict the knight before completing development with ...e7-e6. [ B l a c k M U S T a v o i d 11...e6? 12.f3! , which is already winning for W hite. Two brutal examples: g6 ( 12...xf3 13.exf7 d5 14.e5 d7 15.xh8+- ) 13.xc6+ bxc6 14.xc6+ A) or 14...bd7 15.xg6 c8 ( 15...hxg6 16.xf7!+- . Crunch! ) 16.xe6 e7 17.xg7# 1-0 Mons, L (2345)-Kramer, J (2052)/ Oberhof GER 2012; B) 14...fd7 15.exf7 xf7 16.xf7 f6 17.xh8 e5 18.e4 g6 19.d4 xh8 20.dxe5 e7 21.h6+- Grandelius, N (2541)-Perunovic, M (2578)/ Sarajevo BIH 2011. ] [ I n a d d i t i o n t o t h e t e x t , 11...bd7!? looks acceptable: 12.d4 e6 ( 12...h6!? )
13.f3! xe5 14.xh5 g6 15.xg6 hxg6 16.xe6+ (looks scary, but Black is fine) e7! 17.e2 0-0 18.f3 e8 19.g5 d5 Shengelia, D (2551)-Cvek, R (2563)/ Sibenik CRO 2012. ] 12.e4 [ On 12.h3!? Black can consider g5!? to sideline the knight. A possible continuation is 13.b4 g7 14.b2 0-0 15.f4! with an interesting game ahead. ] 12...e6 13.xf6+ gxf6 14.xc6 This leads to a draw with accurate play from both sides. [ After 14.xc6+ bxc6 15.xc6+ e7 W hite should take a repetition: 16.b7+ e8 17.c6+= . ] [ 14.e4!? was played in Lizak, P (2438)Higatsberger, M (2152)/Oberwart AUT 2012, which proceeded our main game by a few weeks. The most effective counter appears to be d6! , i.e. ( the game went 14...f5 15.c2 c8 16.b3 e7 17.b2 g8 ) 15.h4 fxe5 16.xh5 f6 , planning to castle queenside. Black is for choice. ] 14...bxc6 15.xc6+ d7 16.f5 [ 16.xa8? xa8 17.d4 f3 ] 16...g6 17.xe6+! Spectacular fireworks, but only good enough for a half point! e7! [ Not 17...fxe6?! 18.xg6+ e7 19.b3! when W hite has a raging initiative for the rook. ] 18.xf6 g8 19.e1 [ 19.xd7+? is refuted by xd7!-+ . ] 19...f8 20.f4 c8 The final accurate move. 21.xh6+ g7 22.h8+ g8 23.h6+ g7 24.h8+ Dubov wisely opts for a perpetual. [ White has plenty of pawns for the piece, but he's sorely underdeveloped. Playing on is risky, i.e. 24.d4 g8 . ] 24...g8 A short but theoretically important game. It would be unsurprising if one or both players already had this line worked out to equality. Black looks to be faring well in the complications following 7...Be6 8.Ng5 Bg4 9. Nxc4 Bxe2, so White should have a look at 8. b3!?. ½-½
365
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 377 Dziuba,M Bartholomew,J Reykjavik Open 2013 (5.15) [John Bartholomew]
A11 2602 2435 22.02.2013
In the January update I showed a win I had on the W hite side of the Anti-Slav, so I was probably due for some suffering with the other color:). 1.c4 c6 2.g3 d5 3.f3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 5.0-0 f5!? My opponent caught me by surprise with his opening choice, so I decided to try a line I had analyzed in the August 2012 update. [ 5...bd7 is far more common see the archives for extensive analysis. ] 6.a4 Logical. Black isn't necessarily thinking about .. .b7-b5, but a2-a4 is still a useful thrust, further isolating the c4 pawn. [ 6.a3 invites e5!? 7.xc4 ( not 7.xe5?? xa3 8.bxa3 d4 ) 7...e4 8.g5!? ( alternatives are 8.e1; and 8.fe5!? ) 8...h6 9.xf7 xf7 10.b3 with complications in Pantsulaia, L (2557)Gunina, V (2533) Konya 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] 6...e6 7.a3 d5?! Forgetting my own analysis! ...Qd8-d5 is valid in many lines of the Anti-Slav, but in view of White's next move it cannot be recommended here. [ In the notes to Pantsulaia - Gunina I wrote that the simple 7...xa3 looked better, i.e. 8.xa3 0-0 9.b3 cxb3 10.xb3 c7 11.b2 bd7 12.c1 Vuorisalo, V (2101)Sammalvuo, T (2425) Lahti 2005. Looking at this position again I'd probably take White, as his side just seems so easy to handle. If this is the be st Black has af ter 5...Bf 5 , perhaps it's best to look elsewhere. ] 8.b3! Oops, forgot about that one. cxb3 [ I thought briefly about 8...c3!? , which in fact might be the best practical decision. Following 9.dxc3 xd1 10.xd1 bd7 11.d4 g6 12.c4 White is for choice in the queenless middlegame, though Black retains a reasonably solid position. ] 9.d3 Highlighting the error of Black's ways. Now I lose valuable time in view of the e2-e4 threat. g4? This proved unsuccessful, but I'm already quite pessimistic about Black's position.
[ Likewise, 9...a6 led to a smashing victory for White in Mikhalevski, V (2525)-Arslanov, S (2424) Moscow 2012: 10.c4 d8?! ( 10...c5!? ) 11.xb3 c5 12.b2 e7 13.e3 fd7? 14.xg7 f6 15.d6+ e7 16.xf5+ exf5 17.h6 xa1 18.xa1+and Black succumbed on move 25. ] [ Houdini actually recommends punting the piece with 9...a5!? 10.e4 ( 10.c4!? d8 11.xb3 b4 12.e1!? with the idea of Ne1-c2 ) 10...xe4 11.dxe4 xe4 . After 12.xd5 xd5 13.d2 b4 14.xd5 exd5 15.xb3 an unusual position has arisen where White is surely better. ] [ An analogous line is 9...b4!? and now: A) 10.e4?! xe4 11.dxe4 xe4 is more acceptable for Black in view of 12.xd5 ( 12.b2 ) 12...exd5 13.d2? xg2 14.xg2 b2 15.xb2 xd2; B) 10.b2!? d8 11.xb3 ( 11.a5!? )] 10.c4 a6 11.fe5 d8 12.xb3 W hite's initiative develops naturally, and Black's game is perhaps already behind hope. b4? Allowing a nice tactic, which Dziuba spotted immediately. [ My original intention was to play 12...c5 , b u t a f t e r 13.b2 I can nearly resign. In addition to the threat of d2-d4 (driving the knight away and winning b7), Black can't e v e n c o m p l e t e d e v e l o p m e n t w i t h e7 because of 14.xg4 xg4 15.xg7 f6 16.xg4 xa1 17.e3+- . ] 13.xf7! xf7 14.e5+ e8 15.xg4+Material is equal, but Black is completely busted. c8 16.e5 d6 17.c4 e7 18.b1 d8 19.a5 Refusing to allow Black even a hint of stability with ...a7-a5. fd5 20.d2 c5 21.d4! Dziuba finishes the job cleanly by way of this temporary pawn sacrifice. cxd4 22.e4 dxe3 23.fxe3 c6 24.xb7 c8 25.b2 g8 26.c2 g6 27.e4 db4 28.xb4 xb4 29.a4+ d7 30.xb4 xb4 31.xb4 d8 32.e5 d4+ 33.h1 Black resigned. Hardly my best day, but a very professional effort by Marcin Dziuba. I'm not sure I'd venture 5...Bf5 again, though I suspect a well-prepared Black player could find a tenable path in the line with 6.a4 (this lo o ks m o re p r o m isin g t h a n t h e 6 . Na 3 o f
366
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Pantsulaia - Gunina). 1-0
378 Fernandez Murga,Roberto Ginzburg,Maximiliano Najdorf mem Open (9) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2241 2406 30.09.1999
1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 g4 4.c4 c6 5.cxd5 It is a question of taste, I suppose, but [ 5.e5 first, might be more accurate. ] 5...cxd5!? A little risky, [ 5...xf3 6.xf3 cxd5 is a more solid way of proceeding. ] 6.e5 f5 7.c3 e6 [ 7...bd7! 8.a4 e6 9.g4 transposes, but avoids White's option at move 9. ] 8.g4 g6 9.a4+ [ 9.h4! is more accurate here. ] 9...bd7 10.h4 a6! A strong reply, threatening to break the pin by ...b5. Other moves lead to a clear White advantage: [ 10...d6 11.d4 h6 (Kaidanov, G-Hubner,R/ Groningen 1993) and now 12.xg6 fxg6 13.g5 with a significant plus. ] [ 10...c2 11.xf7! xa4 12.xd8 xd8 13.xa4 xg4 14.h3 likewise, Romanishin,O-Suba,M/Moscow 1986, and, finally, ] [ 10...h6 11.xg6 fxg6 12.g5 hxg5 13.hxg5 xh1+ 14.xh1 h7 15.g4 xg5 16.xe6+ winning rapidly, Kourkounakis,I-Engqvist,T/Gausdal 1990. ] 11.xd7 xd7 A rather obvious improvement on the previously played [ 11...xd7? which loses material after 12.h5 b5 13.d1 Rosen,B-Straeter,T/ Germany 1997. ] 12.xd7+ xd7 13.h5 c2 Black has just o n e s q u a r e f o r t h i s p i e c e , b u t i t p r o ve s s u f f i c i e n t ! 14.d3 Still trying to trap the poor bishop. [ 14.d4 h6 15.f4 f6 offers White little. ] 14...d4 15.e4?! This is nothing special, better [ 15.d2! gaining the pair of bishops: xd3! 16.exd3 dxc3+ 17.bxc3 0-0-0 18.b1 wi t h a r e a l p lu s , d e s p it e t h e d a m a g e d pawn structure. ]
15...a4 16.h6 g6 17.g5 e7 18.xe7 xe7 19.g5 ac8 20.b3 c6 Now that the bishop is back on home ground, Black has no problems. 21.d2 [ 21.g1 f5 amounts to pretty much the same. ] 21...f5! 22.gxf6+ xf6 23.xf6 xg2 24.hg1 xf6 25.xg2 c5 Black's position is now preferable. 26.c1 xc1 27.xc1 c8+ 28.d2 c5! 29.g4 e5 Black has a sure advantage, he can play ...g5 and Kg6 and pick-off the h6-pawn. 30.e3 f5 31.e4 dxe3+ 32.xe3 g5?! [ 32...b5 might be more accurate, keeping t h e wh i t e r o o k f r o m c 4 : 33.f4! exf4+ 34.xf4+ g5 35.f7 xh6 36.a7 c6 37.d4 which should be good for Black, although White's d-pawn will certainly give him some counterplay. ] 33.c4! As Black cannot play the pawn endgame. b5 34.c7 g6 35.g7+? Rather exotic, cutting the black king off with the rook, but [ 35.e4 xh6 36.f5 is simpler, with more than sufficient activity for the pawn. ] 35...xh6 36.g8 h5 Black is back on track, and should win handily. 37.e4 g4 38.h8 h5 39.f3+ h4 40.h7 b6 41.h6 a5 42.h8 g4? Very sloppy, [ 42...b4+! 43.xe5 f4 44.d4 xf3 wins at a canter. ] 43.fxg4 xg4 44.g8+ h3 45.g5 R e s t o r i n g m a t e r i a l e q u a l i t y . h4?? Another careless move. What is the point of playing the opening, and middlegame, well, if you then mess-up the endgame? [ 45...b4+ w a s n e c e s s a r y , 46.e3 ( (and not 46.xe5?? as after the pawn race: b5+ 47.f6 xg5 48.xg5 h4 49.d4 g3 50.d5 h3 51.d6 h2 52.d7 h1 53.d8 Black has the move h4+ winning! ) 46...h4 47.xe5 g4 48.d4 h3 49.e4+ g3 50.e8 with a likely draw. ] 46.d4! This way White manages to capture the pawn whilst maintaining the confinement of the black king. b4 [ 46...a4 47.bxa4 a5 48.dxe5 xa4+ 49.f5 xa2 50.e6 also seems hopeless. ] 47.xe5 h2 48.d5 a4 49.d6 axb3 50.axb3 xb3 51.d7 This pawn costs Black his rook, and meanwhile the black king is 367
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 unable to get out of the way of his h-pawn. d3 52.e6 h3 53.d5 xd5 54.xd5 g2 55.d8 h2 56.g5+ 1-0
379 Flores,Diego Peralta,Fernando ARG-ch 88th playoff rapid (1) [Fier, Alexandr]
A11 2578 2600 07.09.2013
Two of the best Argentinean players go for a thematic duel in a rare and interesting line. Despite the 3-0 score for Flores in the games, the position is far from clear 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.e3 g4!? I found really few games with this logical move 4.b3 [ 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.b3 c7 an important resource, attacking the bishop on c1 6.b5+ d7 7.c3 xf3 8.gxf3 e6 is quite playable for Black and was seen in Kramnik, V (2791)-Eljanov, P (2742)/W ch Blitz 5th blitz 2010. ] 4...c7 5.e5 e6 [ 5...xe5? is obviously not playable due to 6.xb7 f6 7.d4 ( 7.xa8 c7 is not enough for Black either) 7...d6 8.c5 d7 9.xa8 c7 10.a4 and the queen is far from being trapped ] 6.d4 d7 7.f4 A new idea played in the playoff for the Argentinean championship. The same players went for the same line in ARGch in 2008! [ 7.c3 dxc4 ( 7...xe5? 8.cxd5 this is the point cxd5 9.dxe5 a6 10.d2 and Black's kingside is locked by the e5pawn. W hite, on the other hand, has free play on the other flank) 8.xc4 xc4 9.xc4 gf6 is less ambitious, entering into so m e k in d o f Sla v in Flore s, D (25 4 8 )Peralta, F (2546)/ARG-ch 82nd Mendoza 2008. ] 7...gf6 [ 7...xe5 is another alternative A) 8.fxe5 f6 ( 8...dxc4 9.xc4 xc4 10.xc4 e6 11.0-0 is better for White. Compared to the game, the d-file is closed and a good f-line is already open for the rook ) 9.c3 ( 9.exf6?! xf6 10.c3 dxc4 11.xc4 xc4 12.xc4 0-0-0
and suddenly Black is ahead in development. At some point ... c5 or ...e5 are coming and Black is certa inly no t worse anymore) 9...dxc4 10.xc4 xc4 11.xc4 fxe5 12.0-0 f6 13.d2 gives White activity for the pawn; B) 8.dxe5 dxc4 9.xc4 xc4 10.xc4 is more or less similar to the game e6 11.0-0 d8 12.c3 h6 13.e4 g4! wi t h q u ic k co u n t e r p l a y. F o r e x a m p l e 14.e2 c5+ 15.h1 h5 16.h3 g5! with chances for both sides ] 8.c3 dxc4 9.xc4 xc4 10.xc4 e6 11.0-0 e7 [ 11...c5 is premature 12.b4! b6 13.b1 and Black is already in trouble e7 14.b5 c8 15.f5 a6 16.xf7 xf7 17.d6+ xd6 18.xe6+ f8 19.xd6+ e8 20.bxc5+- ] 12.e4 0-0 13.e3 After a sequence of logical moves, both players have finished development and now the question is if it's possible for Black to liberate some space for his p ie ce s. I n bo t h ga m es o f t h e p la yo f f Peralta went for ...Nxe5 sooner or later. I believe the position can be a bit harder for Black to play, but with some correct moves everything should be under control. ad8 This was his first choice [ 13...xe5 after having some problems in the first game Peralta went for this direct approach 14.dxe5 g4 15.d4 fd8 ( 15...c5 I like this move, Black's knight is probably going to h6 after h3 or Qe2. With this move, Black can expand on the queenside in exchange 16.h1 a6 17.g1 b5 18.e2 h6 19.g4 h8 and the key point of the defence is that f5 is still not possible since the e5-pawn is hanging. The knight goes to g8, rooks to the d-file and a queenside advance. Maybe White is still a bit better, but it's necessary to find a concrete plan) 16.h1 a5?! ( 16...c5 was still possible) 17.h3 b4 18.xb4 xb4 19.ad1 h6 20.g4 was the same kind of position as after ...c5 but without t h e q u e e n s i d e c o u n t e r p l a y, F l o r e s , D (2 5 7 8 ) -P e ra l t a , F (2 6 0 0 ) / A R G -c h 8 8 t h playoff rapid 2013. ] 14.h3 Avoiding ... Ng4 ideas xe5 15.dxe5 d7 16.b5 White goes with the knight to d6 368
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and everything will depend on whether it's going to stay there or not a5 [ 16...b6 w a s a t r i c k y i d e a 17.c3! kee ping on e e ye on e 5 ( 17.c2 b8 18.d6 c8 19.c4 c7 followed by 20... Nb6 looks ok for Black) 17...b8 18.d6 c8 19.c4 c7 20.a4 b6 21.xb6 axb6 22.f5 exf5 23.exf5 fe8 looks a bit dangerous for Black, but not so clear ] 17.d6 b6 18.c5 [ 18.c2 d7 19.ad1 fd8 20.c5 c8 21.b4 c7 forces the knight to leave the c r i t i c a l s q u a r e 22.c4 b6 is quite acceptable ] 18...a6?! The queen is not doing much on a6. [ 18...xc5 19.xc5 d7 and without the queens there is less chances for White to attack. Now the plan is to concentrate all the pieces on d6 20.ad1 fd8 21.d4 c8 22.fd1 b6 23.a3 f8 and White has to bring the knight back because of 24... c5 ] 19.fd1 d7 [ 19...f5! is another idea to free the pieces, but is a committal move to play in a rapid game. The main goal of this move is to free t h e d 5 - s q u a r e f o r t h e k n i g h t 20.exf5 ( 20.exf6 xf6 21.e5 g6 22.d2 d5 ) 20...xf5 21.c2 ff8 22.f5 ( 22.g3 d5 is comfortable for Black) 22...d5 23.e4!? ( 23.f2 xd6 24.exd6 exf5 a n d t h e c o m p e n s a t i o n i s n o t e n o u g h) 23...xd6 24.exd6 exf5 25.e6+ h8 26.d4 f4 ] 20.b3 fd8 This plan is not really effective, so Black is in trouble already. [ 20...f5 now this doesn't work as on the last move 21.exf5 xf5 22.c2 f8 23.f5 d5 24.f2 xd6 25.fxe6! and now the rook is in prise. ] 21.d2 f6 [ 21...c8 22.ad1 is not going anywhere, White has enough pieces to control d6 ] 22.ad1 f8 [ 22...c8 23.h2 ] 23.a4 [ 23.exf6! was more precise, but it's hard to change plans when you have control of the position. The basic idea is to find a better place for the queen, either on the last rank
or on e5 A) 23...xf6 24.h5! not easy to see! f8 ( 24...g6 25.e5 a3 26.e8 xd2 27.xf6+ xf6 28.xe6+ g7 29.xd2 ) 25.e8; B) 23...xf6 24.a4 e7 25.e5+- ] 23...dd8 24.h2 c8 25.c4?! The white queen is much better than Black's one [ 25.c3 fxe5 maybe was what White was afraid of, but after 26.xc8 xc8 27.d7 f6 28.fxe5 h4 29.d2 the computer gives +6(!) for White because of Bg5 or Bh6 ideas ] 25...xc4 26.bxc4 fxe5 27.fxe5 b6 [ 27...b6 with the idea of 28...c5 would be a better try, but White is still better, 28.a5 c5 29.xc8 xc8 30.d7 fd8 31.a6 followed by 32.R1d2 with pressure. ] 28.a5 xd6 29.xd6 xd6 30.exd6 xc4 Probably played in the last seconds, now White wins material [ 30...d7 31.xa7 a8 32.b6 f7 and the game goes on, White is winning but there are practical chances ] 31.g5 [ 31.d7 xe3 32.d8 is also convincing ] 31...e5 32.d7 1-0
380 Frois,Antonio Dominguez Perez,Leinier Open, 2000 Lisboa [Paul Motwani]
A11
2000
Quick Tricks and Traps 1) B21: "White plays the Reti Black crushes like a yeti!" 1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 g4 5.d3 bd7 6.c4 [ A n o t h e r c o m m o n c h o i c e i s 6.bd2 followed by e2-e4. ] 6...e6 7.e3 White wants to next play Qb3 without allowing ...Qb6. d6 8.b3 b8 9.cxd5 I would prefer to maintain the tension in the centre by not exchanging pawns there. exd5 After Black castles shortly, his king's rook will soon move to e8, from where it will enjoy operating on the freshly-opened e-file. 10.c3 0-0 11.fe1 e8 12.ac1 h6 369
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.a4? Missing Black's forthcoming stunning [ 9...e5 initially looks pleasant for Black, e.g. tactical sequence. .. xg3!! 14.hxg3 xe3 10.g5 e6 11.0-0 e7 12.d2 g8 15.fxe3 xg3 With the simple yet deadly 13.xe7 gxe7 14.f4 f6 15.fxe5 fxe5 threat of . ..Bh3 followed by ...Ng4. 16.f1 was Libov, G-Miroshnichenko, E/Polanica [ If 16.h1 h3 17.g1 g4 then White Zd ro j 2 0 0 1 , b u t a f t e r 16.f3 White is does not have the required move Nd1 to actually doing quite well, for instance d4 defend the squares e3 and f2 17.g5 g4 18.b5 d7 19.f7 hf8 simultaneously. ] 20.xa7! ] 16...h3 17.h4 10.e3 [ 17.f2 g4 18.cf1 xe3 is another [ A main alternative is 10.0-0 e7 11.e3 "dead end" for White. ] A) White reaches a better game after 17...g4 White resigned in view of 18 Rf3 11...0-0 12.d4 xd4 13.xd4 a6 Qh2+ 19 Kf1 Qh1. 14.e4 0-1 A1) 14...dxe4 15.dxe4 g6 16.fd1 ( 16.e5!? ) 16...d7 17.xg7 fd8 18.h6 c5 19.b4 d3 20.b5 381 A11 Velickovic, Z-Wiedermann, F/ Finkenstein 1994; Georgiev,Kiril 2649 A2) 14...g6 15.f4 ( 15.exd5 xd5 Kasimdzhanov,Rustam 2690 16.xd5 exd5 17.fe1 b4 18.c3 World Cup Khanty Mansiysk RUS (2.7) xc3 19.bxc3 ac8 20.c4 [Carsten Hansen] K i r . G e o r g i e v - S u b a , L u g a n o 1 9 8 7) 15...dxe4 16.dxe4 ad8 17.b6 d2 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 f5 A2a) 18.f5 exf5 19.exf5 h5 20.h3 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.b3 b6 7.c3!? d7 21.f2 ( 21.e3 d3 22.f2 [ Interesting, White allows Black to give him f3 ) 21...f6 ( 21...e2 22.fe1+- ) doubled b-pawns 7.xb6 axb6 8.c3 22.xb7; is much more common ] A2b) 18.f2 xf2 19.xf2 d7 7...xb3 8.axb3 c6 20.e3 c5 21.d1 a5 22.g4 [ B l a c k c a n a l s o c o n s i d e r 8...d7!? Matychenkov, V-Kandyba, L/Smolensk which is quite normal in this type of position 1991; (for inspiration check out the classical game B) 11...g4 12.f4 0-0 13.e4 ( 13.h3 Janowski-Capablanca, New York 1916) f6 14.h4 g6 15.xg6 hxg6 16.fd1 9.d4 e6 10.db5 xb5 11.xb5 d7 d4 17.e3 xb3 18.xa7 xa7 ( 11...a6 12.0-0 d7 13.d4 e7 14.f4 19.xa7 d7= Van Mechelen, L-Den hc8 15.fc1 xc1+ 16.xc1 Zhidkov, VHeijer, N/corr 1990) 13...dxe4 14.dxe4 Glo t o v, M/ S erp u kh o v 2 0 0 2) 12.0-0?! g6 15.e5 d3 16.fd1 c2 17.dc1 ( White can do better with 12.xa7 xa7 xb3 18.h3 g5 with equality in Fischer, R13.xa7 c5 14.b5 c6 15.d3 ) Polugaevsky, L/Palma de Mallorca 1970 ] 12...c6 13.d3 a6 14.e4 c5 15.c3 d4 [ Again 10.b5 fails to provide White with 16.e2 ac8 17.f4 b6 , and Black has anything of substance, e.g. d7 11.bd4 th e in it ia t ive, Fe le gyh a zi, L -S o m la i, L / xd4 12.xd4 g6 13.f4 c5 14.e3 Sarospatak 1994 ] hc8 15.h3 e8 16.g4 d6 17.f2 f6= 9.d3 Pigusov, E-Gradalski, P/Swidnica 1997 ] [ 9.b5?! looks tempting, but proves rather p o i n t l e s s a f t e r c8 10.bd4 xd4 10...a6 11.d4 xd4 12.xd4 d7 [ 12...b4!? 13.0-0 d8 14.a4 e7 11.xd4 d7 12.0-0 e6 13.d3 c5 15.b4 ] 14.f3 e7 is better for Black on account of White's doubled pawn and no active play 13.e4!? dxe4 14.dxe4 g6 15.0-0 c5?! [ This is a strange decision, Black sacrifices to compensate for it, Tylor, T-W ade, R/ a pawn to develop his bishop, but other Hastings 1948 ] benefits don't seem obvious. Instead the 9...e6 370
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 s o l i d a n d n o r m a l 15...c5!? is fully ad e qu a te , e . g. 16.xc5 xc5 17.fd1 e7= ] 16.xg7 g8 17.h6 e5 18.a4 a7 [ 18...d4!? 19.fd1 c6 is an alternative ] 19.h3 [ White can claim an advantage in several ways. Also 19.f4!? looks good, e. g. d3 20.c7 c8 21.b6 xb6 22.xb6 c2 23.ad1 f4 ( 23...xb2? 24.d7+- ) 24.fe1 xg2 25.xg2 xb2 26.e3 ] 19...d3 20.ad1 0-0-0 [ Wanting to connect the rooks and allow the rook on g8 to join the game, Black makes an inaccuracy. I think 20...d8!? intending ... Ke7 is a better move. ] 21.d2 d7 [ Black has troubles emerging, White's pieces are slowly beginning to work together, and while Black's counterparts look quite active, the reality is somewhat different. 21...f5 22.exf5 xf5 23.g4 g6 24.fd1 ] [ 21...b5 22.c3 b4 23.e2 f6 24.c2+ ] 22.h2 [ Or 22.fd1!? e5 23.xd7 xd7 24.b4!+, and White has the pawn and the compensation to paraphrase Dzindzichashvili ] 22...b5 23.c3 c5?! [ 23...b4 Black should play 24.a4 e5 25.f3 Now on the other hand, Black gets in deeper trouble. ] 24.xd7 xd7 25.f4 f6 26.a1! b8 27.xb5?! [ Here White misses a chance to blow Black away with 27.f5! exf5 28.exf5 xf5 29.xb5 axb5 30.xa7+- ] 27...b6?! [ 27...f2! is Black's last chance. 28.d6+ d7 29.e5 fxe5 30.fxe5 xg3+ 31.xg3 e4+ 32.f4 xg2 33.h4 ] 28.d6++- c7 29.e5 fxe5 30.fxe5 d4 31.c1+ d7 32.d1 1-0
382 Goodwin,Ed Fowler,S Open Coventry ENG (2) [John Watson]
A11 2116 25.03.2005
Black plays an extremely common move order with ..Bg4 versus the Reti and gets a good game versus routine play. But Reti players should know that he can end up in serious trouble if White plays aggressively. In fact, the simplicity of White's correct plan may inspire players of W hite who hate meeting ...Bg4 systems. 1.c4 c6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 g4 [ Absolutely normal-looking. Nevertheless, it runs into trouble and gives a clue as to why so many players prefer 4...dxc4 ] 5.cxd5 [ The correct move order is held to be 5.e5! , when 5...Bf5 6.cxd5 cxd5 is the game, so B la ck m a y p re f e r e6! , as in GoodwinMansson. Thus the right choice of move orders leaves the variation up for grabs. ] 5...cxd5?! [ 5...xf3! 6.xf3 cxd5 has led to equality in many games. Black develops simply by ...e6, ...Be7, and ...0-0. Hence the order with 5. Ne5. ] 6.e5! f5 7.c3 e6 Tony discussed this va riat io n in Fe rn a nd e z Mu rga-G in zb u rg, Buenos Aires 1999. It's worth repeating that with some details, since W hite could use a simple plan versus this kind of Slav setup. It's odd that Black's natural alternatives also have drawbacks: [ (a) 7...d4?? 8.b3 ] [ (b) 7...bd7 8.g4! ( 8.a4 e6 9.g4 g6 10.g5 h5 11.d4 d6 12.e4 xe5 13.dxe5 0-0= ) 8...e6 ( 8...xe5 9.gxf5 d7 10.d4 c6 11.g5 xf5 12.xf6 exf6 13.xd5 d6 14.e4 g6 15.0-0 ) 9.a4 a6 10.g5 b5 11.d4 xe5 12.xe5 d7 13.f4 b6 14.d3 ] 8.a4+ [ I don't think that Black can equalise after the theoretical 8.g4! g6 ( 8...xg4?? 9.xg4 xg4 10.a4+; 8...e4 9.a4+ bd7 10.xe4 xe4 11.xe4 dxe4 12.xd7 xd7 13.xe4 ) 9.a4+ bd7 10.h4 d6 ( 10...a6 11.xd7 xd7 371
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.xd7+ xd7 13.h5 is the Fernandez Murga-Ginzburg game, when "best" play is probably e4 14.f3 c2 15.g5 e8 16.d3 d4 17.d2 dxc3+ 18.xc2 cxb2 19.xb2; A well-known line is 10...c2 11.xf7! xa4 12.xd8 xd8 13.xa4 xg4 14.h3 df6 15.g1! ) 11.d4 h6 ( 11...a6?? 12.xd7 xd7 13.xd7+ xd7 14.h5+- ) 12.xg6 fxg6 13.g5 hxg5 14.hxg5 xh1+ 15.xh1 h5 16.c2 f8 17.e4! ] 8...bd7 9.d4?! [ A g a i n , W h i t e h a s 9.g4! , normally transposing into the last note. After the text, Black may actually stand better. ] 9...e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.xd7 xd7 12.b3 f6 13.e3 b6 14.ad1 d7 15.b5 e7 16.c1 Floundering. The idea is to get e4 or e3 in. fd8 17.h3? [ 17.e3 c4 ] 17...ac8 18.a3 c4 White has little to do and Black goes on to win easily. 19.e3 dc8 20.d2? [ 20.g4 g6 21.b3 h6 ] 20...4c6! 21.dd1 c4 22.c1? [ White is lost in any case: 22.b3? b6 ] [ 22.c1 xe3 23.fxe3 g5 24.f2 f6 and Black wins. ] 22...c2! White's queen is trapped and ...Rb6 t h r e a t e n s . 23.b4 d7 24.a2 b6 25.e1 xd1 26.xd1 xb2 27.xb2 xb2 28.b4 b5 29.e4 a5 30.d3 b3 31.c5 xa3 32.exd5 exd5 33.xd5 d8 34.h5 e8 35.e4 e7 36.xf6+ xf6 37.c1 g6 0-1
Alternatives: [ (a) 6.b3 c7 7.d3 bd7 ( 7...g6 8.f4 g5 9.e3 g7 10.c3 ) 8.xd7 xd7 9.0-0 e6 10.d4= ] [ (b) 6.a3 dxc4 7.axc4 d5 8.f3 e6 9.d4 xc4 10.xc4 b4+ 11.f2 bd7 12.b3 b6! 13.d1 e7= ] [ (c) 6.cxd5 xd5 ( 6...cxd5 7.c3 bd7 8.d4 ) 7.f3 c5 ( 7...e5 8.c3 e4 9.h4!? ) 8.c3 c6 9.0-0 bd7= this has been played in some grandmasterlevel games. ] 6...dxc4 7.e4 Not bad, but too slow to be convincing. [ The more forcing 7.a3!? d5 8.f3 b5 9.e4 e6 10.f4 c8 11.0-0 gives White space and some development for the pawn this deserves to be looked at. ] 7...bd7 8.f4 xe5 9.fxe5 g4 10.d2 d7 11.g5?! [ W h it e sh o u ld f o r ge a h e a d wit h 11.0-0! Then it's not so clear, e.g., e6 12.f4 h5 13.e3 e7 14.d2 ] 11...e6! 12.d5!? [ White could play simply 12.0-0 although f6 13.exf6 exf6 still favours the second player. ] 12...f6 13.e3 g8?! [ 13...g4! 14.e6 e5 15.0-0 g5! 16.d2 g7 is very solid and holds onto the extra pawn, whereas ] [ 13...cxd5 14.exd5 f5 is also playable. ] 14.e6 e5 15.0-0 b6 Black reasons that the wedge created by White's pawn on e6 will mean less with the queens off. 16.xb6 axb6 17.e3 b5 18.d4!? A fascinating position because of Black's long-term problem with the p a wn o n e 6 . P e r h a p s W h i t e s h o u ld ju s t 383 A11 transfer his knight to d4 via d2 and f3. g6 [ 18...d3!? threatens ...c5 and virtually Goodwin,Ed forces 19.a3 ] Mansson,James 2093 Open Coventry ENG (4) 26.03.2005 19.d2 g7 20.b3 c5? [ 20...h6! looks great in view of 21.fd1 [John Watson] g4 ( 21...d8 22.bxc4 xd2 23.xd2 xc4 24.dd1 is still not easy. )] 1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.g2 d5 4.f3 g4 5.e5 The more accurate order according to 21.xe5! fxe5 22.bxc4!? [ L o g i c a l , b u t W h i t e s h o u l d p l a y 22.a4! theory, since 5.cxd5 allows 5...Bxf3! 6.Bxf3 w i t h t h e i d e a 2 2 . . . c 3 2 3 . a x b 5 ! o r cxb3 cxd5. e6! Quite possibly Black's best here, 23.axb5 d8 24.c4 ] as opposed to 5...Bf5 6.cxd5 cxd5,transposing to Goodwin-Fowler, which seems to favour 22...h6!? 23.f3 b4? [ Black should enter the complexities of White. 6.d4!? An extremely interesting gambit. 372
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23...bxc4 24.xe5 c3 ( 24...e3+ 25.h1 d4 26.d7! threatening Rf8 mate.) 25.d7 c2 26.a4 b5! 27.ac1 e3+ 28.h1 xe6! 29.dxe6 xc1 30.xc1 xa4 31.f1 c4 32.xc2 d8 ] 24.xe5 e3+ 25.h1 d4 26.d7 xe6 27.dxe6 xa1 28.xa1 Compare the last note: W hite is winning but makes several errors and then blunders terribly to lose the game. a5 [ 28...b3 29.e5! b2 30.b1 xa2 31.xb7 a1 32.e4 ] 29.e5 d8 30.d1 [ 30.xb7! b3 31.a3 ] 30...c7 31.e4 d8 32.d2 a3 33.d5? [ 33.f2! e3 34.xc5 ] 33...da8 34.f2 [ 34.xc5 xa2 35.d1 a1 36.xa1 xa1+ 37.g2 b6 ] 34...xa2 35.xa2 xa2 36.xc5 e2 37.d3?? b3 38.h4 e3 0-1
384 Grandelius,Nils Kuipers,Stefan Corus C Wijk aan Zee NED (2) [Nigel Davies]
A11 2515 2340 17.01.2010
1.c4 c6 2.f3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.c2 b6 7.a3 d5 8.b3 cxb3 9.axb3 e6 Black has tried other approaches in this position though it seems that White has compensation in any case. For example: [ a) 9...g6 10.c4 d8 ( 10...xc4 11.bxc4 d8 12.e5 g7 13.b2 0-0 14.d4 d7 15.d3 b6 16.c5 d5 17.fd1 f5 18.b3 gave White strong pressure for the pawn in Trella, T (2234)Ionov, S (2522), Cappelle la Grande FRA 2 0 0 7 , t h o u gh h e e ve n t u a l ly l o s t t o h i s higher rated opponent.) 11.fe5 bd5 12.e4 c7 13.d4 g7 14.b2 0-0 15.f4 e6 16.h3 b5 17.ad1 c7 18.g4 and at this stage W hite had pretty good compensation for the pawn in Pantsulaia, L (2596)-Wang Yue (2644), Yerevan 2006. ] [ b) 9...e6 10.b2 d8 11.e4 e7 12.d4 0-0 13.fd1 e8 14.c4 c7 15.a5
b5 16.e5 d6 17.ec4 and White had excellent compensation in Tukmakov, VKlovans, J, Kishinev 1975. ] 10.b1 g6 11.d3 [ White can also play 11.b2 as the b3 pawn would be indirectly protected, for example g7 ( 11...xb3? 12.xb3 xb3 13.xf6 wins on the spot) 12.d4 d7 13.xe6 xe6 14.e4 0-0 15.d4 ad8 16.fe1 e8 17.bd1 c8 18.c4 c7 19.e5 o n c e a g a i n wi t h i m p r e s s i ve p o s i t i o n a l compensation in Komarov, D (2475)-Sorokin, M (2500), Kherson 1991. ] 11...d8 [ The immediate 11...g7 might have been better. Black is trying to escape tricks along the a-file but there's also a case for defending the a7 pawn. ] 12.c4 g7 13.fe5 b5 14.a1 xc4 15.xc4 0-0 16.d2 [ 16.a5!? wins Black's queen, though the position that arises after xc4 17.xb5 xb5 18.b2 might be a difficult one to win. ] 16...h5 17.fe1 h3?! [ 17...g4!? was interesting, the idea being t h a t a f t e r 18.h3 xa1 19.hxg4 xg4 20.xa1 xe2 Black gets to break up W hite's pawn structure. He probably rejected this line because of the danger three minor pieces might represent to his king position, but objectively speaking this might have been the best. ] 18.a5 g4 19.f3 c8 20.xa7 After regaining the pawn it looks like White should be better, though it proves difficult to break through Black's defences. Eventually frustration kicks in and he blunders. d5 21.a2 d7 22.b4 e6 23.a5 c7 24.b6 d4 25.a4 b5 26.c5 c8 27.b3 d6 28.a4 e6 29.f4 xb3 30.xb3 e5 31.e3 fe8 32.g2 a8 33.c5 c7 34.ea1 ad8 35.e4 h8 36.c1 a8 37.e3 d7 38.a2?? Just as the game was heading serenely along towards a likely draw, White blunders. [ Just 38.g1 would leave the bishop on e4 a retreat path and be about equal. ] 38...xa4 39.xa4 f5 40.f3 e4 41.dxe4 fxe4 42.xe4 xe4 43.d1 c8 44.b3 c3 45.d6 d5 46.g5 f8 47.d7 h6 373
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 48.d3 d4 49.xg6 e3+ 0-1
win. ] 13.a3 a5 14.d4 g6 15.d3 exd4 16.xd4 g4 17.f5 f6 18.f3 h5 19.ae1 f8 20.xh5 xh5 21.f4 b6 385 A11 22.g4 [ 22.d3 looks like a more promising way of Grischuk,Alexander 2773 trying to keep a slight edge because f6 Kramnik,Vladimir 2784 may still be the best reply. ] 73rd Tata Steel (4) 18.01.2011 22...f6 23.f3 d5 This threat against e3 [Nigel Davies] encourages W hite to exchange off his light 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 bd7 square bishop after which he really can't hope for any kind of advantage. 24.xd5 xd5 5.c2 e6 6.b3 d6 7.b2 0-0 8.e2 25.f5 f6 26.d1 e4 Kramnik is not one to [ 8.h3!? is an interesting alternative here. ] mind the queens coming off. 27.xe4 xe4 8...e8 9.0-0 [ It's not too late to play for a king side attack 28.f3 g6 29.h6+ g7 30.g4 f7 with 9.g4!? , for example e5N ( 9...xg4 31.h6+ g7 32.g4 f7 33.h6+ e7 10.g1 gf6 11.0-0-0 gives White 34.g8+ f7 dangerous attacking chances for the pawn) ½-½ 10.xe5 xe5 11.g5 d7 ( 11...e4!? ) 12.f4 d6 13.h4 e7 14.0-0-0!? a3 A11 15.d4! gave White the more promising 386 prospects because of his space in Gurevich, Gurevich,Mikhail 2634 M (2643)-Savchenko, S (2583)/Vlissingen/ Bareev,Evgeny 2737 1999. ] QF Cap d'Agde FRA (2) 27.10.2002 9...e5 [Tony Kosten] [ After 9...a6 10.d4 would be a standard Semi-Slav type position in which Black's ... 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c2 a7-a6 is a questionable use of time. ] This move was certainly all the fashion at Cap 10.cxd5 xd5 11.e4 c7 12.g3 D ' A g d e , a s I s t a t e d i n t h e e B o o k , t h e In this quiet reversed Hedgehog type position advantage is that W hite stops ... Bf5, and some great players have tried other moves deters ...Bg4, as the knight on f3 is no longer here, for example: pinned, and can hop to e5. a6 A sensible Slav [ a) 12.a3 a5 13.c4 f8 14.g3 g4 move, stopping a white piece going to b5, and 15.e1 g6 16.h3 e6 17.f3 f6?! possibly preparing a later ...b5. Two other ( 17...e7 was better and equal) 18.xe6 tries at Cap D'Agde: xe6 19.ad1 e8 20.e4! intending d2-d4 [ 4...g6 5.b3 g7 6.b2 0-0 7.e2 a6!? was better for White in Tal, M-Bagirov, V/ 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.xa6 bxa6 10.d3 g4 Riga 1981. ] 11.bd2 c8 12.b1 and now Black [ b) 12.ad1 f8 13.d3 ( 13.d4 was worth started an interesting attack with xf3!? considering) 13...e7 14.a3 a5 15.fe1 13.xf3 a5+ 14.e2 d4!? 15.xd4 d5 f5 16.g3 g6 17.c4 b6 18.g4 although White won, Karpov,A-Dreev,A/Cap d7 was equal in Polugaevsky, L (2595)d'Agde FRA 2002. ] Piket, J (2605)/Aruba 1994. ] [ 4...bd7 5.c3 e6 6.b3 b6!? 7.cxd5 12...f8 exd5 8.d4 b7 9.e2 d6 with a Slave[ The only other game I could find with 12. like p ositio n , G ure vich, M-Dre ev, A/ Ca p Ng3 went 12...7f6 13.d3 e7 14.a3 c5 d'Agde FRA 2002. ] 15.ac1 b6 16.fe1 b7 17.b1 ad8 5.h3!? I don't really know what to make of this 18.f1 b8 19.a1 d7 20.d2 g5 move, a speciality of Mikhael Gurevich, is it 21.cd1 with a rather fishy looking position really so important to stop ...Bg4 ? Perhaps, for White in Kipper, J (2307) -Nazarenus, M as (2124)/Bad Zwesten 2003. Black went on to [ 5.b3 g4 6.e5 h5 7.d4 e6 8.d3 374
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 bd7 seemed to allow Black a quick equality in Azmaiparashvili,Z-Burmakin,V/ Ohrid MKD 2001. ] 5...g6 Strictly speaking, only this move is a novelty, as in the game Gurevich,M-Volkov,S/ Batumi GEO 2002, Black continued [ 5...e6 6.b3 d6 7.b2 bd7 8.d4 and again, a sort of Slav position is reached. ] 6.b3 g7 7.b2 0-0 8.e2 b5!? Black gains space on the queenside. 9.0-0 b6!? This really encourages White's next move. 10.c5 c7 11.a4 a7 12.e5 b7 13.b4 White has more space, a strong grip on the dark squares, and can open the a-file at his leisure, but the black position is a solid one. e8 14.c3 bd7 Black must be ready to counter the pressure on the a-file by doubling his rooks, for if [ 14...f5 then 15.a2 is awkward, threatening to exploit the pin on the a-file to win the b5-pawn. ] 15.h2 The bishop finds a more important diagonal. With the white pawns still on d2 and e3 it is u nu s ua l to see t h e da rk-squ are d bishop on the h2-b8 diagonal! e4 16.d4 df6 17.a3 White's plan is simple, he will pile-up on the a-file. f5 18.b3 xc3 19.xc3 e4 20.b3 ea8 21.fa1 d7 22.a2?! So the critical point is reached, White menaces the capture on b5 when Black would be obliged to recapture with the c-pawn, which is positionally undesirable as the a6pawn would then be backward on an open file, and the white c5-pawn would be passed. However, Black has some tactical points that are in his favour, and in a non-rapid game I am sure White would have preferred [ 22.d3 with a plus. ] 22...bxa4 [ 22...a5!? is interesting, 23.axb5 c3! this is the sneaky point, 24.d2 ( 24.xc3? axb4 ) 24...axb4 25.xa7 xa7 26.xa7 xa7 27.b6 a1+ 28.f1 c8 and although W hite has a powerful p r o t e c t e d p a wn o n b 6 , B l a c k h a s r e a l counterplay. ] 23.d2!? Played to eliminate the e4-knight before recapturing the a-pawn, but this allows Black time to play ...a5. [ 23.xa4? c3 forks queen and rook, but ]
[ 23.b1 might be best, to dissuade ...a5, and with the intention of regaining the a4pawn later-on. ] 23...a5! 24.bxa5 xd2 25.xd2 [ 25.a6 b4 26.xa4 c3 27.a3 ( 27.d1? b3 28.a3 c1! ) 27...b4 draws. ] 25...xa5 So, Black has seemingly emerged well from the previous play, but W hite will recuperate the a-pawn and maintain a slight spatial plus. 26.d1 b4? Black misses a tactic, [ 26...a7 is the way to hold onto the pawn, 27.d3 e5 28.c2 exd4 29.exd4 b7 30.f4! to defend the d4-pawn, and play is level. ] 27.c7 Ouch! b5 The only chance, [ 27...5a7? 28.b6 b7 29.xa4 xa4 30.xa4 b2 31.a8+ f8 32.a6 wins the exchange even more favourably. ] 28.xa4! [ 28.xb5?! cxb5 is far from clear. ] 28...xa4 29.xa4 b1 30.a8+ f8 31.h2 f6 [ 31...xd1 32.xd1 f6 is a better chance. ] 32.a4! b2 33.f4! After this Black is lost. xe2 [ 33...g5 34.a7 xe2 35.xd7 is also hopeless, gxf4 36.xe7 and mate. ] 34.a5! This is far stronger than [ 34.h6 when the black king escapes: f7 35.xf8+ e6 36.a7 a2 37.c7 xf2 which is wild. ] 34...f7 35.d8 xf2?! [ 35...e6 is better, 36.xf8 xf2 37.d6! exd6 38.xd6+ f5 39.xd7+ e4 40.xc6 White is clearly better, but the game continues. ] 36.xd7 As 37 Qe8+ is decisive. 1-0
387 Gurevich,Mikhail Dreev,Alexey 6th Masters Bastia FRA (2.2) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2634 2673 02.11.2002
Craig Hall writes: "Because of your column, I have recently begun playing the Gurevich system with 1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 Nf6 4.Qc2 375
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Could we see some games where Black plays 3...Bg4 or 3.Bf5 ? Also, a game where Black employs a kingside fianchetto? Who better to follow then, than the master himself! 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.e3 f6 This is the normal move here, or course, but after W hite's 4th move B la c k wi ll h a ve d i f f icu lt y d e ve lo p i n g h i s queen's bishop actively, which is why Black sometimes develops this piece immediately: [ 3...f5!? 4.b3 (seems the most appropriate, as the b7-pawn is no longer defended) c7 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.c3 ( 6.xd5?? xc1+ ) 6...e6 7.b5+ this is one way to exploit the absence of the black bishop, the other is ( 7.a4+!? d7 8.d3 e7 9.e4 (this shows the disadvantage of playing ...Bf5 when White defers d4) g6 10.e3 dxe4 11.dxe4 c6 12.c1 b4 13.a3 with an edge to White, Milov,V-Summerscale,A/FrTCh, Mulhouse FRA 1998. ) 7...c6 8.d4 g6 9.a4 ge7 10.b3 a6 11.a3 but after c8 12.c1! axb5 13.cxb5 b6 14.c5 d8 15.d6+ d7 Garcia Palermo,C-Meduna,E/ Germany 1990/GER-chT, W hite should have played 16.xb7 c7 17.d6 b8 18.xf7! xf7 19.xe7 xe7 20.xc6+ with a fantastic attack. ] [ 3...g4 A) 4.b3 c7 5.e5! e6 6.d4 d7 7.xd7 dxc4 8.c2!? xd7 9.d2 f6 10.xc4 with an edge because of the central pawns, Jakubiec,A-Zawadzki,S/ Cappelle la Grande FRA 2003, and; B) 4.cxd5 xf3 ( 4...xd5 5.c3 a5?! 6.b4! c7 7.b2 e6 8.c1 is pleasant for White, Dizdarevic,E-Kos,T/Pula 1996) 5.gxf3!? ( 5.xf3 ) 5...cxd5 6.b3 d7 7.c3 e6 8.d4 c6 9.d2 d6 10.0-0-0 ge7 11.b1 0-0 and Black's better structure was equivalent to the white bishops, Gelfand, B-Hertneck,G/ Munich 1992.; C) 4.h3 I think that this is the simplest, W hite simply takes the long-term advantage of the bishop pair, but there are two other interesting possibilities: xf3 5.xf3 e6 6.d4 d6 7.c3 d7 8.d3 gf6 9.d2 e7 10.cxd5!? the introduction to a sharp plan, but White is a ls o b e t t e r a f t e r t h e sim p l e ( 10.0-0
because of his light-squared bishop e.g. dxc4 11.xc4 e5 12.b3 ) 10...exd5 11.g4! h6 12.h4 f8 13.0-0-0 0-0-0 14.g5 with more space and the initiative, Smejkal,J-Bohm,H/Amsterdam 1975. ] 4.c2 g6!? Black will fianchetto his king's bishop, and can also play ...Bf5 in some lines. We have mostly considered [ 4...e6 and also ] [ 4...a6 ] 5.b3 I once tried [ 5.b4 with success. ] 5...g7 6.b2 0-0 7.e2 a6 This is the best development for the knight, as it threatens to come to c5, or b4, whilst leaving the h3-c8 diagonal open. [ 7...f5 8.d3 bd7 is not particularly useful, as now the bishop becomes the 'attacked' r a t h e r t h a n t h e ' a t t a c k e r ' : ( 8...a6 transposes) 9.d4 dxc4?! ( 9...g4 10.f3 e5 11.fxg4 exd4 12.xd4 is not so clear) 10.bxc4 e8 11.xf5 ( 11.0-0!? is also effective, g4 12.f3 e5 13.fxg4 exd4 14.g5 with a big plus) 11...a5+ 12.d2 xf5 13.e4 e6 14.d4 and White made his big centre and pair of bishops count, Gurevich,M-Tischendorf,M/ Ordix Open, Frankfurt GER 2000. ] 8.d3 This seems more effective than [ 8.cxd5!? cxd5 9.xa6 bxa6 10.d3 g4 11.bd2 when c8 12.b1 xf3! 13.xf3 a5+ 14.e2 was a bit uncomfortable for White, Karpov,A-Dreev,A/Cap d'Agde FRA 2002. ] 8...f5 [ 8...e8 is similar, 9.bd2 f5 10.a3 c8 11.d1 b5 12.e4 with a plus, Horvath,CAcs,P/ Balatonlelle HUN 2002. ] 9.0-0 c8 10.a3 Controlling b4, and preparing queenside expansion, this is better than [ 10.d1 b6!? 11.c3 c5 12.ab1 fd8 13.b4!? Fradkin,B-Kashin,Y/Omsk/ Perm 1998, when Black might have tried xb4 14.xd5 cxd5 15.xf6 a4 ] 10...dxc4!? Best to play this now, and pressurise the d-pawn, rather than wait for White to play Nbd2 when he can recapture with the knight on c4. 11.bxc4 c5 12.d1 b5 13.e4 White had to reduce the pressure on d3. g4 14.bd2 a4?! This loses 376
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 control of c5, which has serious consequences. 15.e5 a5 16.b3 a6 17.c5! Now White is clearly on top, he can advance his d-pawn with a powerful centre. fd8 18.h3 xf3 19.xf3 e8 20.xg7 xg7 21.d4 e6 Black has a fairly solid position, but can only wait until W hite engineers a central breakthrough. 22.d3 b7 23.ad1 c7 24.g3 b8 Black's 14th move is still causing him problems, as the knight is stuck 'out on a limb', and so he prepares ...a5 and ...b4, followed by ...Nc3. 25.d2! Stopping ...a5. e5?! Black seizes his chance for counterplay, but it rebounds (as it should, I suppose). 26.d5! [ 26.dxe5 xd3 27.xd3 xe5 ( 27...b2 28.d6 ) 28.d6 is also promising. ] 26...cxd5 27.xd5?! A slip, but bear in mind that this was a rapid game. [ 27.exd5! xc5 28.d6 b6 29.xc5 xc5 30.c3 was the right way. ] 27...xd5? This returns the game to its 'rightful' path. [ 27...e6! is equal. ] 28.exd5 xc5 29.d6 b6 30.xc5 xc5 31.c1 b6 [ 31...xa3 32.d7 d8 33.c8 f8 34.g4 wins very much as in the game. ] 32.d7 This pawn wins the game. d8 33.c6 b8 34.g4 h5 After [ 34...f5 35.d5+ h8 the move 36.c5 wins, as there is no way to stop Rc8. ] 35.c8 b6 36.g5?! Deflection time! [ 36.e3! wins immediately, as now a5 37.g5 and Black can no longer play ...f6. ] 36...f6 37.e3 a5 38.b3+ White is still winning, of course. h7 [ 38...f8 might have given White more problems, although 39.c6! e7 40.d5 and Qd6+ wins. ] 39.b4! b6 40.e7 1-0
388 Gurevich,Mikhail Savchenko,Stanislav HZ Open Vlissingen NED (4) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2643 2583 12.08.1999
1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 5.b3 Of course, White can play [ 5.d4 here, or later, with a transposition into a main line Slav, but can he do better? ] 5...bd7 6.c2 An important idea, for if the immediate [ 6.b2?! then e5! is possible, 7.d4 e4 8.d2 e7 9.a3 0-0 10.b4 e8 with mutual chances, Kortchnoi,V-Petrosian, T/Velden 1980. ] 6...d6 Now, the move [ 6...e5?! is countered by 7.cxd5 forcing xd5 with a good 'Sicilian-style' position for White, as ( 7...cxd5? allows 8.b5 i.e. c5 9.xe5! winning a pawn. )] 7.b2 0-0 8.e2 e8 9.g4!? A Gurevich invention. Of course, we are used to seeing this move in the Slav these days, although normally when the g7-pawn is undefended. [ 9.0-0 is the normal move here, of course, e5!? 10.cxd5 xd5 11.e4 c7 12.ad1 Polugaevsky, L-Piket,J/Aruba (m/7) 1994, with a slight edge to White. ] [ 9.h3 is a similar idea which, although slower, doesn't lose a pawn. a6?! 10.g4 dxc4 11.bxc4 f8 12.g5 6d7 13.e4 with good chances to W hite, Burnett, RPalsson,H/North Bay CAN 1999. ] 9...e5 Black makes a space for the f6-knight on d7. [ 9...xg4 Must be the critical test of this line, Gurevich's previous game in this line against Pavasovic, at Bern 1995, went: 10.g1 gf6 11.g5!? with many threats, f8! 12.f4 e5 13.fxe5 xe5 14.f3 g6 15.xe5 xe5 16.0-0-0!? entering into the complications, but ( 16.cxd5 first, might be better. ) 16...dxc4! 17.xc4 g4 18.df1 b5!? 19.e4! xe4 20.xf7+ xf7 21.xg4 fg5 when White never quite managed to get enough for his sacrifice, and lost. What exactly had Gurevich prepared as an improvement? ] 10.xe5 xe5 11.g5 d7 12.f4 W hite gains control of the a1-h8 diagonal. 377
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d6 13.h4 e7 14.0-0-0 a3 The b2-bishop was too dangerous to be left on the board, but now Black's remaining bishop is limited by his pawn chain. 15.d4 xb2+ 16.xb2 b6 17.d3 f8 18.e4 White gains e ve n m o re s p a ce . b7 19.he1 ac8 20.f2 dxc4 21.xc4 b5 22.d3 a6 23.f5! W hite is ready to start his attack, f6 is menaced. e5 [ 23...d7 doesn't help, as 24.f6! anyway! gxf6 25.gxf6 xf6 26.xf6 xf6 27.g1+ f8 28.e5 d5 29.xd5 exd5 30.xh7 with a huge positional advantage. ] 24.f6 d6 25.fxg7 e6 26.dxe5 [ 26.f6 c7 27.d5 xg7 28.d6 is also strong. ] 26...xe5 27.f6 xg7 28.c2 b4 29.xe5 xe5 30.a4 The endgame is very pleasant for W hite, firstly he threatens to b r i n g a r o o k t o t h e s e v e n t h r a n k . ce8 31.b6 Now, Nd7-f6 will be unpleasant for Black. h5 Covering the f6-square, but after the exchange of knights, the pawn that arrives on f6 will allow W hite to finish the game. 32.d7 5e7 33.e5 c8 34.f6+ xf6 35.gxf6 d7 What else? [ 35...xe5? allo ws m ate : 36.xe5 xe5 37.d8+ ] 36.g1+ h8 [ 36...f8 37.xh7 and Rg8 mate is unstoppable. ] 37.xd7 xd7 38.g7 White wins a pawn, b u t m a i n t a i n s a l l t h e a d va n t a g e s o f h i s position. e6 Black's position is hopeless, e. g. [ 38...e6 39.xh7+ g8 40.h5 c5 41.h7+ h8 42.d3+ g8 43.g5+ h8 44.xa6 picking-up a second pawn, for nothing. ] 1-0
that he may keep a hold on the e5-square, and also stops ...Bf5, or ...Bg4 (because of the reply Ne5). e6 [ 4...g6 is also a reasonable reply. ] 5.b3 e7 [ Not the most aggressive square for this piece, 5...bd7 6.c3 would transpose into another Gurevich game, see the archives. ] 6.b2 0-0 7.g1!? [ In this last game it wasn't clear whether the g4-pawn could have been taken, so here W hite simply prepares the move g4 with this stunning innovation. 7.e2 is a more mundane try, bd7 8.0-0 c7 9.d3 e8 10.bd2 a5 11.a3 b6 12.e4 dxe4 13.dxe4 e5 with equality, Lauvsnes,AHarestad,H/NOR 1994. ] 7...bd7 8.g4 e4 9.c3 [ 9.d3?! allows b4+ , of course. ] 9...xc3 10.xc3 e8 11.d3 g6!? [ This creates weaknesses around the black king, 11...f8 might be more prudent. ] 12.h4! As Black has no real central counterplay (a result of his fifth move) White continues his kingside onslaught. f6 13.h5 xc3 14.dxc3 f6 [ Black brings a piece to the aid of his king, but 14...e5 was also worth consideration as 15.hxg6 hxg6 16.xg6? is met by the riposte ( 16.e4 ) 16...e4! ] 15.g3 c5 [ Again, 15...e5 is possible, although White has the edge after 16.g5 d6 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.e4 ] 16.hxg6 hxg6 17.g5 g7 Black must maintain control over the e5-square, lest he rema in with a ba d bishop . 18.0-0-0 e5 Finally! 19.e4 dxe4 [ 19...e6 keeps the central tension, and may be superior. ] 20.xe4 a5 21.d2 e6 22.h1 389 A11 White prepares to exploit the open h-file. ed8 Gurevich,Mikhail 2667 23.h6 Menacing a deadly demolition sacrifice Wegerle,Joerg 2296 on g6. f5? [ The resultant queen versus two rooks KB Czech Open (1) 21.07.2000 position favours White, because of the open [Tony Kosten] black king, better 23...f8 as on 24.f3? Black really can play f5! ] 1.c4 c6 2.f3 f6 3.e3 d5 4.c2!? If White wishes to play this way, then this is 24.gxf6! xh6 25.xg6+ xg6 26.xg6 an interesting move order, he defers Nc3 so f7 27.f3 e4 28.xe4 d6 Thus Black 378
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 attempts to eliminate the dangerous f6-pawn. 10...b8? leaves him in trouble following 29.g5! 11.a3! threatening both rooks, one directly [ Much simpler than 29.h7+ when f8 and one via Qc6. ( and not 11.c6? c5 30.e5 ad8! 31.xf7 d1+ 32.xd1 12.xa8 b7 )] xd1+ 33.xd1 xf7 allows Black to [ However, 10...c5! may be best, holding continue a little. ] both the c-file and a3-f8 diagonals: 11.c1 29...xf6 30.d2 ( 11.d4 b4+ 12.c3 e7 leaves White's [ Grabbing the a8-rook by 30.d5 cxd5 pieces on the wrong squares) 11...b7 31.h7+ f8 32.h8+ e7 33.xa8 12.0-0 a6 13.bd4 c8 14.b1 e7 seems even more convincing. ] and Black is not worse, Bistric,F-Szuhanek, 30...xe4 31.xe4 e6 32.g5+ g6? R/Rijeka CRO 2001. ] [ This further aggravates Black's problems, 11.c1 a6!? 32...f8 held on better. ] [ A new move, immediately putting the 33.c5 d6 34.xb7 e6 35.d8 d6 question to the knight, although after 36.xc6 e8 37.e5 g7 38.c5 de6 11...b7 12.c7 a6! 13.bd4 c5 39.f4 Black had equalised in Eliseev,A-Yevseev, 1-0 D/St Petersburg 2001. ] 12.c7 The knight goes into the hole, but how will it come out? b8?! 390 A11 [ I am doubtful about this pawn sac, better 12...a7 when White had clearly planned Gurevich,Mikhail 2641 the following combination: 13.g5 b7 Yagupov,Igor 2474 14.gxe6 fxe6 15.xe6 e8 16.xf8 3rd IECC Batumi GEO (5) 16.06.2002 xf8 when White's rook and two pawns are [Tony Kosten] probably better than Black's two knights. ] 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.e3 Mikhail Gurevich's 13.xa6 [ 13.g5 is still possible, but White prefers favourite 'anti-Slav' system, he avoids playing to grab a pawn. ] d4 t o k eep th e a 1-h 8 d iagona l o pen . f6 4.c2 e6 5.b3 bd7 6.b2 d6 7.c3 13...a8?! [ Black is hoping that the bishop pair will 0-0 8.e2 b6 provide comp for the pawn, but 13...xa6 [ A perfectly natural move, instead of playing 14.xa6 a8 15.xf6 xf6 16.b5 a3 8...e8 aiming for ...e5, see Gurevich,Mis a better choice, as Black will gain control Savchenko,S/Vlissingen NED 1999, Black of the c-file. ] prefers to develop his queenside. ] 14.xf6 This is necessary, otherwise the a9.cxd5 [ White decides to attack on the c-file. pawn wou ld be en prise when th e knigh t Actually, Gurevich's kingside attacking plan moves from a7. xf6 15.c7 a5 16.b5 17.a4 Frankly, White is a pawn up for is playable in this position, too: 9.g1!? b7 d7 10.g4 c5 11.g5 e4 12.cxd5 exd5 nothing. b8 18.c7 Extra material is most 13.xe4 dxe4 14.c3 (well, why not?) f6 easily exploited in an endgame! b4 19.xb8 15.gxf6 xf6 16.g5 with a powerful attack, xb8 20.e5 xb5 21.xb5 e4 22.e2! [ 22.e2 xd2?! 23.c2 c3 24.hc1 e. g. e5 Rotstein,A-Schmitz,A/Lido Estensi wins immediately, the bishop cannot move ITA 2002, and now 17.c4+!? h8 18.d4 because of the back-rank mate, and Nc6 cxd4 19.exd4 f4 20.e6 wins the and f3 are both menaced. ] exchange. ] 1-0 9...cxd5 [ 9...exd5!? might be possible, although 10.d4 b7 11.f5 is pleasant for White whose f5-knight is extremely well-placed. ] 10.b5 e7 [ Black allows an invasion on c7, as 379
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xd1+ 32.xd1 Where White's extra pawn A11 is meaningless and the game is dead drawnHarikrishna,P 2705 but this would be rather wet. ] Quesada Perez,Yu 2608 48th Capablanca Mem Elite (6.2) 27.04.2013 27...d7 28.e5 f8 29.d2? A tactical error, which his eagle-eyed opponent is quick [Danny Gormally] to seize upon. d6! 30.d4? [ 30.b2 c7! followed by ..Be5 is no bed 1.g3 f6 2.g2 d5 3.f3 c6 Probably a of roses either, but the move played in the more flexible choice than the immediate ... game runs into a neat shot. ] Bg4. 4.c4 g4 5.e5 e6! Taking the sting 31.xg7 Desperation, but pretty out of White's previous move. 6.cxd5 xd5 30...f4! 7.f3 c5 8.0-0 e6 9.c3 c6 10.d3 e7 much forced from a practical point of view, as the alternatives were unpalatable. 11.e4 0-0! The most flexible continuation. [ 31.xf4 xd4 Is beyond horrible. ] [ 11...bd7 12.e2! e5?! This just gives White a target- the kingside 13.h4 0-0 31...xd2 32.f6 e5! 33.d1 h6 34.h5 14.f5 e8 15.g5 f8 16.f4! With a very g7 35.xd3! The typically inventive Indian serious attack on the kingside, and W hite player finds his only remaining chance, but we n t o n t o win i n I va n is e vic , I (2 6 4 5 ) - Black is happy to depart with the queen, as he gains oceans of material in return. xf6! Vuckovic, B (2604) Valjevo 2012 ] [ 35...xd3?? 36.g5 ] 12.e2 [ 12.a4 d7!? 13.e5 d5 14.e4 36.xd7 xd7-+ 37.h3 g7 38.g5 h6 ( 14.xd5 exd5 15.d4 may have been 39.d2 [ 39.e7 f8-+ ] p r e f e r a b l e) 14...c6 15.g5?! xg5 16.exg5 e7 17.e1 fd8 18.c1 e8 39...b8 40.d5 f6 41.c6 d3 42.c5 19.c4 h6 20.h3 db4! Where Black is xb3 43.c7 f8 44.f5 c3 45.xa7 very solid with no weaknesses- by contrast d8 46.b6 d2 47.a5 b3 48.a6 b2 49.a7 all of White's pawns on a4, d3 and e5 are a3 50.g2 xa7 51.c6 c7! 52.xc7 po t e n t ia l t a rge t s. He we n t o n t o win in b1 53.a7 e8 54.a8 b2 55.xe8+ Petrosian, T (2663)-Michalik, P (2535) Dubai f8 56.g6 xf2+ 57.h3 h2+ 58.g4 e2+ 59.f5 f2+ 2013 ] 12...b5! The position is very Catalan like in 0-1 character. With his next move, White tries to create long-term weakness on c5, but the A11 downside is he loses further time with his 392 Knight. 13.a4 b4 14.b1 b7 15.bd2 Jaracz,Pawel 2539 c6 16.c4 d7 17.d1?! A novelty, but Breder,Dennis 2435 probably not a very fortunate one. previously ZMD Open Dresden GER (7) 31.07.2009 17 Be3 had been played. [Jonathan Rowson] [ 17.e3 c7 ] 17...d4! Black takes the opportunity to 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 5.b3 relieve himself of any lingering problems. d6 6.c2 e5! This very direct approach 18.xd4 cxd4 19.b3 It is not so easy for seems to work well against this particular White to formulate a useful plan, any advance m o v e o r d e r , wh i c h s u g g e s t s t o m e t h a t on the kingside seems a bit vague, while Black W h i t e ' s c o m b i n a t i o n o f Q c 2 a n d N c 3 i s has easy play by contrast, with ..Nc5, ..Ba6 inaccurate when Black begins with ...e6 and ... etc c5 20.b1 a6 21.f4 c8 22.h4 Bd6. 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.b5 This is the xc4! Acquiring a very useful passer. 23.dxc4 positional trap that White hoped would deter d3 24.f3 d7 25.f1 fd8 26.e3 c7 Black from early central expansion, but it 27.f4?! appears that black's control of the centre and [ Harikrishna should arguably just bail out to gain in development is more important than a draw here with 27.xc5 xc5 28.xd3 White's increased control of the dark squares. xd3 29.xd3 d8 30.d1 e5 31.e2 c6 9.xd6+ xd6 10.b5 0-0 11.xc6 391
380
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 bxc6 12.b2 t a k e s t h e p a w n . 10...fd7 [ 12.a4 feels too weakening to be good. c5 Was an alternative, but this has gradually 13.a3 d7 followed by Ba6 looks better be e n re p lace d b y t he kin g m ove , a s in for Black. ] some variations the knight may become 12...d7 13.0-0 a6 14.fc1 fc8 15.d4 u s e f u l o n f 6 . 11.b5 ( 11.xa8 xa8 [ 15.f5!? f6 16.a3!? xa3 17.xd7 12.d3! may be preferable, as taking the b5 18.d4 e4 19.h4 looks like some sort pawn on d3 allows an instant mate, and h3 of initiative, but it is hard to see how the 13.d1 d5 14.f3 looks quite promising for ro o k s wi ll give b a ck u p b e ca u se B la c k White ) 11...e5 12.d4 cxd3 13.xd3 c8 controls f1. g6 20.e6+ g7 21.c5 f8 14.xa7 xc6 15.xc6 c5 16.d4 c4 and both sides seem to be short of 17.d1 e5 18.f5 g6 19.e3 a6 constructive ideas so some sort of And Black is to be preferred as White has repetition seems likely. ] no attacking chances, and the two minor 15...e4 16.e5 b8! The knight on e5 will pieces are superior to a rook and pawns in now be pushed back and will take a long time the middle game, Black later won in to f ind any meaningf ul work. 17.h3 f6 Pa n tsu la ia, L (25 9 9 )-Mage m B ad a ls , J 18.g4 d7 19.d2 A well-timed draw offer, (2589)/Khanty-Mansiysk 2010 ] because Black is slightly better and can look 11.xa8 forward to a timely kingside advance. [ White can also try to retain the light½-½ squared bishop 11.b5!? c5 12.xa8 xb5 ( 12...xa8!? 13.a4 a6 14.d4 h5 15.c3 is also extremely murky) 13.g2 h5 393 A11 14.h4 f5 15.e4 d7 ( 15...g6!? ) 16.a4! xa4 17.e5 e8 18.e1 e6 19.f1 c5 Kaidanov,G 2593 20.d3 b3 21.xc4 xc4 22.dxc4 c7 Holt,C 2513 23.d1! c8 24.xd7 xd7 25.xa4 ch-USA 2013 Saint Louis USA (2) 04.05.2013 White was a pawn up and went on to win in [Danny Gormally] the game Timman, J (2566) -Smeets, J (2615)/Wijk aan Zee 2013 ] 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.a3 b6 7.c2 e6 8.e5 11...xa8 12.d3 cxd3 13.d1 [ 13.exd3? h3 14.e1 d5 Is just bad ] d4 Black is pretty much committed to playing this way, as if W hite recaptures on c4 then 13...dxc2 14.xd4+ d7 I think this ending is putting the bishop on e6 and the knight on b6 ve ry close t o equ al. W h ite n e ed s t o f in d will just look silly. However this provokes improvements earlier if he is to genuinely some very sharp complications, and this line threaten Black in this variation, perhaps with has become very topical lately. 9.xc6! bxc6 Timman's Nb5!? although I feel that Black should have good chances there as well. 10.xc6+ d8 [ You can pretty much guarantee that if your 15.xc2 e5! 16.d1 b6 17.e3 c7 opponent is willing to play either side of this 18.e1 fd5 19.ac1+ b7 20.c5 xc5 variation, then he has spent a minimum of 21.xc5 e6 22.d3 e4 23.e5 e7 10,000 hours analysing this position with 24.d4 f6 25.xe4 d5 26.g4 fxe5?! Houdini three, or whatever program passes Giving up on any hopes of winning. [ 26...g5 27.d3 c6 28.b4 f5 29.xd5 as the best in the market these days, thus fxg4 30.f6 h6 31.xg4 May well be rendering hopeless any prospect of a social drawn as well, but White would have to fight life. It's the sort of murky, tactical position for it... ] that computers revel in. To be honest, I would be fearful of playing such a position 27.xg7 e8 28.e4 g8 29.xe5 bc8 with Black, as I do not like having my king 30.b3 c7 31.f4 d6 32.f2 f8 33.e3 safety threatened at such an early stage of c6 34.h5 8e7 35.h4 e6 36.g4 f6 the game, but as I stated earlier, Black is 37.gg5 d8 38.c5 g7 39.c3?! d1 pretty much obliged to play this way once he 40.g5+ f8 41.f5 d6 42.c5 h6 43.e5 381
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d5 44.xg8+ xg8 45.xd5 xd5+ 46.f3 c3 47.e6 xa2 48.g5 hxg5 49.hxg5 c3 50.e3 f8 [ 50...b5! 51.e4 c7 Forms an effective barrier to the white king, but is it enough to win? 52.d3 f8 53.c4 a5+ 54.b4 b7 55.f6 g8 56.g6 a6 57.c4 xe6 58.d5 bd8 And Black retains winning chances. Incidentally I should point out that this entire line was prompted by the engine, I wouldn't have a clue how to win this ending, and I think most other silicon based lifeforms would struggle to exhibit the sort of superhuman accuracy needed to do so, so a draw seems a fair result. ] 51.d3 d5 52.c4 c7 53.c5 b8 54.d6 e8+ 55.d5 c7+ 56.d6 b5+ 57.c5 c3 58.d6 b5+ 59.c5 c3 60.d6 b5+ ½-½
White plays 6. d4 it is a direct transposition. I remember Eric Prie suggested that this position was fine for Black, which might be true, but that doesn't mean it is not also somewhat better for White. ] 6.xf3 cxd5 7.g3!? Now I am reminded of another line, namely 1Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 Bg4 4.c4 c6 5.cd Bxf 3(otherwise Qb3/a 4 things can be tricky) 6 Bxf3 cd and I believe this line is considered both ok for Black and possibly a bit better for W hite- it's one of those... White has two bishops for not very much in return, but that is all he really has, and the position is relatively closed so White has to be very patient to make any headway at all. In that line White sometimes aims for d3 and e4, but has to be careful because d4 is then weak. In this case, playing e4 early looks unworkable because of the awkward placement of the queen on f3, so White has to be more patient, and perhaps exchange a few pieces before opening the position. 394 A11 [ While we are at it, 7.g4!? i s a m o v e . e6 8.g5 fd7 9.h4 This is the sort of way Kempinski,Robert 2590 Simon Williams would play, and would no Sorm,Daniel 2330 doubt enjoy it. It does not seem terrifying 1st Pfalz Open (4) 18.02.2008 for Black, who is very solid, but at least the [Jonathan Rowson] kingside expansion gives White something to work with. ] 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.e3 f6 4.c3 g4 5.cxd5 One of two main attempts to give this 7...c6 [ 7...e5 8.g2 e4 9.e2 c6 10.d3 move order some independent significance. appears to be a bit better for W hite, for The other one is to play the immediate Qb3. instance after b4 11.d2 0-0 12.0-0 e7 White can also try to play some combination 13.a3 d6 14.fc1 ] o f b 3 a n d h 3 a n d t h e n t r y t o p la y f o r g 4 8.g2 e6 9.0-0 e7 without playing d4, but I can't see a [ 9...d6!? would be my choice, and later I convincing move order to make it work. would put the queen on e7. ] [ 5.d4 e6 6.b3 b6 7.h4 is currently 0-0 11.b2 c8 12.ac1?! the main try for an advantage in the Slav, 10.b3 but White has to work very hard to get even S l o p p y . W h i t e ' s p r o s p e c t s a r e o n t h e queenside, so a tiny edge. ] [ 12.fc1 is almost certainly better. Then we 5...xf3 This looks compliant, but it would have a position where I hesitate to say that appear that after W h i t e h a s t h e a d va n t a g e , b u t I wo u l d [ 5...cxd5 6.b3 is very awkward and certainly prefer to be W hite, because B l a c k ' s b e s t m o v e i s p r o b a b l y c8 somehow the future belongs to the bishops. which is not as bad as it looks, because That said, as I have written elsewhere, the white's queen is not great on b3 and the advantage of the two bishops is very subtle, exchange on d5 removes white's spatial and is all but meaningless below about 2300, advantage, but even so, White should have so this modest approach may not be decent chances of being better here. The everybody's cup of tea. ] line is very similar to 1 d4 d5 2 c4 c6 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 e3 Bf5!? 5 cd cd 6 Qb3 Bc8, indeed if 12...a5 13.b1 b5?! This leaves black's 382
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 queenside full of light squared weaknesses. [ 13...a3 14.a1 c7 15.e2 a6 looks comfortable for Black. ] 14.e2 b4 15.a4 d7 16.fc1 b6 17.f1! xa4 18.bxa4 b6 [ 18...xa4 19.a6 xa6 20.xa6 c7 21.e5 ] 19.a6 c5 20.a1 c7 21.a3 b8 [ 21...b3 just giving the pawn up, was the less evil here, when White would still have a lot of work to do. ] 22.xb6 xb6 23.b5 e7 24.axb4 Now it's completely winning. a5 25.e5 xc1+ 26.xc1 c8 27.xc8+ xc8 28.c3 axb4 29.xb4 a7 30.d7 g5 31.d4 c7 32.c5 b8 33.g4 g7 34.h3 f6 35.f1 e5 36.e2 exd4 37.exd4 g6 38.d3 h5 39.c3 hxg4 40.hxg4 f6 1-0
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A11 Korotylev,Alexey 2600 Dreev,Alexey 2607 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (35) 22.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen]
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 5.c2 bd7 6.e2 d6 7.b3 0-0 8.b2 e8 9.h3 dxc4!? [ This is probably Black's best move. Other tries have offered White excellent chances f o r a n e d g e : A ) 9...e5 10.cxd5 xd5 11.e4 A) 11...c7 12.a3 ( 12.g4 f8 13.a3 a5 14.d3 g6 15.g5 f8 16.h4 Banikas, HMastrovasilis, D/Athens 2002 g4 17.h5 e7 ) 12...7f6 13.d3 xe4 14.dxe4 f6 15.0-0 e7 16.fd1 e6 17.g5 ad8 18.a4 h6 19.xe6 xe6 20.b4 Zvja g in s e v , V - Mo r o vic Fe r n a n d e z, I / Poikovsky 2001; B) 11...f8 12.a3 a5 13.0-0 e7 14.fe1 g6 15.f1 g7 16.d3 h6 17.ed2 h7 18.g3 c7 1/2 -1/ 2 Rasten is, G -Grablia uskas, V / Vilnius 1999 ] [ B) 9...a6 10.g4 dxc4 ( 10...e5!? 11.g5 e4 12.xe4 dxe4 13.xe4 c5 14.h4 f5 ) 11.bxc4 f8 12.g5 6d7 13.e4 c7 14.h4 e5 15.h5 f5 16.gxf6 xf6
Burnett, R-Palsson, H/ North Bay 1999 17.c5 ( 17.h6 g6 18.fg5 xe4 19.xe4 ) 17...xe4 18.xe4 e7 19.c4+ e6 20.g1 xc4 21.xc4+ e6 22.c1 ] [ C) 9...b6!? of Black's 9th move alternatives, this is Black's best 10.g4 A) 10...e5 11.xe5 xe5 12.f4 ( 12.d4!? ) 12...xc3 13.xc3 e5! Giardelli, S-Morovic Fernandez, I/Buenos Aires 2003; B) 10...e5 11.g5 e4 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.xe4 ( 13.xd5!? ) 13...dxe4 14.xe4 b8 15.d4 b7 16.g4 exd4 17.xd4 e5 Prokopchuk, E-Skatchkov, P/ Nefteyugansk 2002 ] 10.bxc4 [ 10.xc4 b5 11.e2 b7 12.0-0 a6 13.g5 c5 14.a4 b4 15.ce4 xe4 16.xe4 e7 Banikas, H-Kharitonov, A/ Ermioni 2006 ] 10...e5 11.d3 c5 12.d1 e7 13.0-0 h6 [ 13...f5!? ] 14.fe1?! [ 14.d4 exd4 15.exd4 e6 16.fe1 g5 17.xg5 hxg5 18.f1 c7 19.f3 d7= ] 14...f5 15.c1 e4 16.dxe4 fxe4 17.xe4 xe4 18.d3 ad8 19.a1 b4 20.xe4 xe4 21.xd8 xd8 22.d1 xd1+ 23.xd1 d6 24.d4 c5 25.g4 g6 The endgame of two bishops vs knight and b isho p is clea rly b et te r f or B la ck o n account of W hite's weak queenside pawns 26.b5 xg4 27.hxg4 d3 28.d6 f6 29.f3 b6 30.f2 d2 31.g3 a6 32.e4 b5 33.cxb5 axb5 34.e5 fxe5 35.xe5 b4 36.e4 xe4 37.fxe4 c4 38.e2 c1 39.d1 [ 39.d6!? ] 39...e3 40.d6 b3 41.axb3 cxb3 42.e5 f7 43.e2 g5 44.d3 f6 45.f4 e6 46.d2 e5 47.d3 g5 [ 47...xf4!? 48.gxf4 e7! 49.c3 g6 50.f5 h5 wins for Black ] 48.d2 xg3 49.e3 e5 50.d2 b2 51.c2 d6 [ 51...d4 followed by ...Ke5 looks like an easier win ] 52.b4+ e6 53.f8 h5 54.gxh5 g4 55.c5 g3 56.h6 f7 57.e3 g6 58.b1 g2 59.c2 f4 60.g1 c1 383
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ This isn't the best move, though White 19.xf3 xe5 20.xe5 xe5 21.e3 responded by either exceeding the time limit a5 22.c5= ) 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.fc1 b8 or resigning at this point, because the game 14.a4 b4 15.e2 e4 16.c2 b7 concluded in Black's favour at this juncture. 17.ac1 ac8 18.f4 e6= Gurevich, MBlack should instead have given preference Conquest, S/Clichy 2001 ] to 60...e5! , and now Black wins after 8...e8 61.e3 c3 62.b1 f6 63.g1 e5 [ Black has tried two other moves: A) 8...c7 64.c2 xe4 65.f2 f3 66.g1 e5 9.c1 f5 10.d3 dxc4 11.bxc4 e5 12.0-0 67.b1 e2 68.c2 f1 69.b6 g1 bd7 13.fd1 ( 13.e4!? ad8 14.fd1 70.xg1 xg1 . Now White should have xe4 15.dxe4 g4 16.h3 xf3 17.xf3 played ] b6 18.a3 c5 19.a4 ) 13...fe8 14.h4 61.e5 xh6 e6 15.d2 h6 16.f3 ad8 [ 61...xh6 62.c5 g5 63.e6 f6 64.e7 Kempinski, R-Schneider, S/Izmir 2004 ] f7 ] [ B) 8...b5!? 9.d1 ( 9.0-0!? f5 10.d3 62.xb2 f5 63.e6 xe6 64.c2 e5 bxc4 11.bxc4 dxc4 12.e4 cxd3 65.d3 f4 66.e2 g3 67.a7 13.xd3 ) 9...f5 10.d3 a5 11.d2 [ 67.e1 f3 68.h2 e3 69.d1 f2 ] bd7 12.0-0 ab8 13.e4 e6 14.a3 b6 67...h2 68.f3 d2 69.e2 a5 70.f3 15.a1 1/2-1/2 Paterek, M-Bombek, P/ h1 71.c5 c7 72.g4 h2 73.h3 Pardubice 2005 ] g1 74.d6 e3 75.h2 d4-+ 9.0-0 e5 10.d3 bd7 11.fd1 f8 12.cxd5 0-1 [ White can also consider 12.a4!? c7 ( 12...6d7 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.ac1 e6 15.d4 e4 16.e5 b5 17.xd7 xd7 396 A11 18.c5 ) 13.cxd5 xd5 14.ac1 a5 15.a3 e6 16.c3!? ] Korotylev,Alexey 2600 Ponomariov,Ruslan 2705 12...cxd5 13.a4 b5 [ 13...g4 14.ac1 c8 15.d2 e4 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (6) 21.11.2007 16.xc8 xc8 17.c1 f5 18.d4 ] [Carsten Hansen] 14.c5 d6 15.b4 h5?! [ 15...g4 16.a4 ( 16.d4!? e4 17.e5 ) 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c6 3.c3 d5 4.e3 a6 16...6d7 17.axb5 axb5 18.h3 xf3 5.c2 g6 6.b3 g7 7.b2 0-0 19.xf3 xa1 20.xa1 xc5 21.bxc5 c6 [ 7...f5 8.d3 dxc4 9.bxc4 0-0 10.e2 b5 22.d4 ] 11.d4 ( 11.cxb5 cxb5 12.0-0 c6 ) 11...g4 12.0-0 xe2 13.xe2 16.a4 b8 [ 16...bxa4 17.xa4 d7 ( 17...g4 ( 13.cxe2!? ) 13...e5 14.b3 bd7 18.a5 ) 18.a5 d4 19.d2 b5 20.f3 15.ac1 b6 ( 15...b4 16.a4 e8 a7 21.c4 b8 22.a3 ] 17.fd1 ) 16.e4 xe4 17.dxe4 a5 18.cxb5 cxb5 19.fd1 Glicenstein, A- 17.axb5 axb5 18.h3 8h7 [ 18...6d7 19.a7 ] Gregoire, S/Hyeres 2002 ] 19.a7 g5?!+8.e2 [ 19...d7 20.c1 hf6 21.b3 ] [ Two alternatives are: A) 8.c1 g4 9.e2 e4 21.e5 White is completely xf3 10.xf3 e5 11.d3 e8 12.0-0 d6 20.d4 13.a4 bd7 14.cxd5 xd5 15.a3 ad8 winning f8 22.da1 g4 23.h4 g3 24.fxg3 16.fd1 Sammalvuo, T-Tuominen, R/Salo h6 25.1a3 g4 26.xg4 xg4 27.f2 f6 28.3a6 b6 29.xb6 xb6 30.a6 1998 ] [ B) 8.d4 f5 9.d3 xd3 (1/2-1/2 Ribli, Z- 1-0 Tukmakov, V/Porec 1998) 10.xd3 bd7 11.0-0 b5 ( 11...e6 12.a3 e8 13.d6 h6 14.h3 h7 15.e4 dxc4 16.bxc4 e5 17.dxe5 g5 Flores, D-Wang Yue/Turin I T A 2 0 0 6 , a n d n o w 18.ad1 xf3+ 384
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g4 14.a2 d8 15.b4 is similar, and A11 fairly level, Dizdar,G-Vera,R/Portoroz 1987. ] Kosten,Anthony C 2542 Bunzmann,Dimitrij 2505 13...g4! 14.e4!? [ This seemed strong when I played it, but, Masters Montpellier (6) 09.07.2001 in retrospect, 14.h3 might be better, xf3 [Tony Kosten] 15.xf3 d8 16.b4 c8 17.g2 with the bishop pair, and a small edge. ] 1.g3 My opponent only played this, ... [ Played to avoid the English Defence, 1.c4 14...d4! because he hadn't seen my reply until he had b6 , a favourite of my opponent. ] 1...d5 2.f3 f5 3.g2 f6 4.c4 c6 t a k e n h i s h a n d o f f t h e p a w n ! 15.d5! 5.cxd5 I like this line, and recommended it in The point. d8! [ This simple move maintains the equilibrium, my book The Dynamic English. cxd5 6.b3 15...exd5?! 16.exd5 f6 17.dxc6 bxc6 c8 18.b4 leaves the black pawn structure in [ More accurate than 6...c7 7.c3 e6 tatters, and ] 8.d3 as now Bf4 will gain a tempo. ] [ 15...c5!? 16.c7!? b8 17.b4 xf3 7.c3 e6 8.0-0 e7 9.d3 c6 10.f4 0-0 18.xf3 ce5 19.xe5 xe5 20.e2 11.ac1 d7!? xc7 21.xc5 also favours White. ] [ A s u r p r i s e . I h a d e x p e c t e d 11...d7 which removes the queen from the c-file pin, 16.c7?! [ 16.xe7+ xe7 17.b3 didn't offer much, 12.e4 ( Aronian prefers 12.h3 h6 13.fd1 but was clearly better. ] h7 14.e4 a5 15.c2 fc8 16.e5 d8 17.e2 White has a small edge, 16...e8 17.xe7+ [ 17.fe1 leads nowhere, c8 18.xe7+ A ro n ia n , L -S ve t u s h k in , D/ Ye r e va n A R M xe7 19.f4 which is like the game. ] 2000. ) 12...g6!? ( 12...dxe4 13.dxe4 xe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.e5 xe5 17...xe7 18.b4 [ After an enormous think! 18.h3 xf3 16.xe4 favours White, Barcza,G-Smyslov, 19.xf3 c5 is awkward for White, and ] V/Moscow 1956) 13.exd5 exd5 14.fd1 [ 18.e5? loses to xf3 19.d6 xg2! ( and a5 15.c2 d6? 16.g5 and the d519...d8 20.xf3 dxe5 isn't bad either.) pawn is lost, Forintos,G-Sallay,R/Budapest 20.xe7 d5 21.b3 xe7 ] 1958. ] [ However, I spent most of my time analysing [ 11...g6 was the preference of Karpov, the exchange sac 18.xc6!? bxc6 19.e5 against Korchnoi, 12.e5 d7 13.xg6 ( 19.xd4?! fc8 20.a5 c5 ) 19...xf3 hxg6 14.h4! with an edge to White. ] 20.xf3 which seems quite dangerous: 12.a3 A) 20...g5 21.e4! d2 ( 21...a7?! [ Played to provide a luft for the white queen 22.f4 g4 23.d6 c8 24.f5 o n a 2 , a n d p r e p a r e b 4 . 12.e4 favours W hite) 22.c4! fc8 23.xc6 l e a d s n o w h e r e : c5 13.c2 g6 a7 24.xd7 axc7 25.xd4 and d3 is a problem. ( 13...b4?! 14.b1 with fair compensation.; g6 15.e5 )] B) 20...fc8! 21.d6 g5 22.e4 d2 [ 12.b5 c5 13.d1 d7 14.bd4 23.f4 a7 ( the problem is 23...b6! xd4 15.xd4 g4 is equal, Petrosian,A24.f5 d5 25.fxe6 fxe6 and White's Meduna,E/ Lvov 1981. ] comp is probably insufficient) 24.f5 b7? 12...a6 25.fxe6! xb2 26.xb2! xb2 27.exf7+ [ A s i n d i c a t e d b y B u n z m a n n , 12...c5 h8 28.e6 and despite his extra queen is c o u n t e r e d b y 13.d1! a5 ( 13...d4 for piece, Black can resign! I just couldn't 14.a4 xa4 15.xa4 d7 16.c4 believe that Black could be OK, and so also offers an edge to White) 14.b4! axb4 kept searching for a non-existent 'win' for 15.axb4 xb4 16.d4 ca6 17.xd5 White, and left myself too short of time! ] with advantage. ] 18...ac8 19.f4 f6! Ouch! It hadn't 13.a2!? [ Apparently this move is a novelty, 13.fd1 occurred to me that W hite could have any 397
385
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 11...d7 12.f4 d6 13.h4 e7 14.0-0-0 when W hite's space advantage was too great, Gurevich,M-Savchenko,S/ Vlissingen NED 1999. ] 12.xe4 [ 12.d4 xc3 13.xc3 d6 14.f4 is also possible, but c5! is a bit annoying. ] 12...xb2 13.xb2 dxe4 14.e5! Keeping control of the dark squares. [ 14.h4?! e5 15.0-0-0 f5 is nice for Black, and ] [ 14.0-0-0!? xg5 15.hg1 h6 16.e5 f5 is not too clear. ] 14...f5 [ 14...d7 15.h4 c5 and ...Bc6 might be a better line. ] 15.h4 [ 15.gxf6 xf6 16.xf6 gxf6 17.g1+ h8 18.0-0-0 e5 19.d3 is a little better for White, but I wanted more. ] 15...d7 Black hopes to contest control of the e5 square by ...Qb8, but White is alert to this. 16.f3!? [ 16.0-0-0 was tempting, b8 17.d4 exd3 18.xb8 axb8 19.xd3 e7 20.hd1 with solid control of the d-file, but the black position is devoid of serious weaknesses. ] 16...exf3 17.xf3 b8 18.d4! a5 [ 18...xe5 19.dxe5 doubles the white pawns, but keeps the black pawns fixed on light squares, and allows White to establish 398 A11 a rook on d6. ] Kosten,Anthony C 2514 19.f2 b6 20.hd1 a7 21.h5 Hoping that Olarasu,Gabriela 2305 the threat of h6 will oblige Black to capture on Open Montpellier FRA (7) 13.07.2003 e5. c5 22.h6!? Continuing the plan, but [ 22.xb8 xb8 23.d2 is also possible, as [Tony Kosten] here White can open the d-file at will. ] Dark-squared battle! 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 22...xe5 23.dxe5 a4! Black seizes her f6 4.c2 I have had several previous goes chance, the threat to capture on b3 stops The king at playing Gurevich's sharp line, but each time W hite from playing Rd6. 24.g3 I was unable to play the g4-pawn sac. e6 5.b3 heads f or f4, when e4 will 'undouble' the d6 6.b2 0-0 7.c3 bd7 8.e2 e8 pawns. f8 25.ac1 e7?! [ 25...gxh6?! 26.gxh6 e7 is weaker, Black's development is the most forthright, 27.f4 axb3 28.axb3 g8 29.g1 aiming for ...e5. The immediate and W hite gains control of the g-file and [ 8...e5 is met by 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.b5 b8 wins. ] 11.c1 and White is better because of his c[ 25...g6 is probably best, and will file control. ] transpose. ] 9.g4!? e5 26.f4!? I had seen the game continuation, [ 9...xg4 is the critical test. ] 10.xe5 xe5 11.g5 e4! An improvement and thinking it was winning headed directly for it, but as Mark Hebden pointed-out after the on problems, but this move carries a very nasty threat of winning a piece, and I hadn't much time left! 20.g5?! [ Not best, 20.e5! f5 21.g5 looked tempting, Be4 is threatened, but then I noticed g6 , which leaves d3 and e5 weak, and, unfortunately, I hadn't seen the follow-up 22.h3! f5 23.f3! when with Nh4 to come, White is fine. ] [ 20.d2? loses to xf3 21.g5 ( 21.xf3 e5 22.g4 exf4 23.xd7 e5 wins ) 21...xg2! 22.xf6 xf1 ] 20...g6 21.d2?! [ 21.d2 f6 22.f4 e5 23.a2+ h8 24.h4 might hang-on for a bit, but the white pieces are far from ideally-placed! ] 21...h5 22.h4 [ 22.e1 e2 wins the exchange. ] 22...e2 23.fe1 ce5 The d3-pawn goes, and with it White's position. I should probably have resigned in the next few moves, but didn't have enough time left to think about this 24.f4?! xd3 25.xc8 xe1! 26.xf8+ xf8 27.d6?! xg2 28.xg2 d3! Threatening mate with ...Qe1+. 29.d2 xe4 30.e1 d5 31.c5 e5 32.c1 e6 33.a7 h6 34.c8+ h7 35.e8 d3 Enough is enough! 0-1
386
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 game [ 26.hxg7 is sim p le r, g8 27.f4 axb3 28.axb3 xg7 29.d6 then Rcd1 or Rh1, and Black is completely tied-up. ] 26...g6 27.d6 The point of White's previous play, the rook enters the heart of Black's position. b8 28.cd1 axb3 29.axb3 e8 [ 29...b5 is better, but even then 30.c6! xc6 31.xc6 bxc4 32.bxc4 b2 ( 32...d7 33.a1! with twin threats of R1a6 and Rxc5 ) 33.dd6 f2+ 34.g3 aa2 White wins by 35.xe6+ f7 36.f6+ e8 37.e6 when the king escapes the checks via f4 and e5. ] 30.c6! The surprising move that exchanges Black's 'bad' bishop, after which her light squares disintegrate. xc6 [ 30...f7 31.e4 c7 32.b5 leaves Black boxed-in. ] 31.xc6 The threat is R1d6 winning the e and b pawns. d7 32.dd6! Anyway! xd6 33.exd6+ d7 34.c7+ xd6 35.xh7 This is why I didn't want to exchange the hpawn. b5 36.g7 [ 36.a7! may be even better, White threatens Ra6+ and Ke5, so e5+ 37.f3 bxc4 38.bxc4 b4 39.h7 b8 40.g7 h8 41.xg6+ e7 42.g7+ and wins. ] 36...bxc4 37.bxc4 b4 38.xg6 [ 38.h7 xc4+ 39.g3 g4+ 40.h3 g1 41.h2 xg5 42.h8 h5+ 43.xh5 gxh5 44.g3 also wins easily enough. ] 38...xc4+ 39.f3 h4 40.g7 The two passed pawns are unstoppable, so does Black have time to do something with her own passed c-pawn? c4 41.h7 c3 42.e2! W ell in time! h2+ 43.d1 c5 44.g6 c4 45.g8 h1+ [ 45...c2+ 46.c1 d3 fails to many moves, b u t m o s t s i m p l y 47.h8 and h1 is covered. ] 46.e2 c2 47.c8+ [ 47.h8 is also winning, but why bother to analyse e1+ ( 47...xh8 48.xh8 c1 49.c8+ ) 48.f2 f1+ 49.g3 g1+ 50.f4 etc.? ] 47...b3 48.g7 1-0
399 Kozul,Zdenko Jakic,Ivan 17th Open A Zadar CRO (6.10) [Nigel Davies]
A11 2595 2399 15.12.2010
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 5.c2 bd7 6.b3 d6 7.b2 0-0 8.h3 This de ce ptive ly quie t lo oking m ove ha s distinctly aggressive intentions. White wants to play g2-g4 and castle queenside. [ The 'sensible' move is 8.e2 with the apparent intention of castling short on the next move. But White still might still consider g2-g4 on his next move anyway. ] 8...e5 This can be OK but when White takes on d5 it's no t go od f o r Black to kee p his central pawns intact by recapturing with the cpawn. Accordingly he should prepare ... e6-e5 if that's the way he wants a central pawn duo, but this is not an easy plan to realise. For example: [ a) 8...e8 9.g4 f8 10.g5 6d7 11.h4 b5 12.cxd5 exd5 13.d4 gave White the better game in Kozul, Z (2605)-Antunes, A (2540)/ Yerevan 1996. ] [ b) 8...e7 9.g4 e5 ( 9...a3 10.xa3 xa3 11.g5 h5 12.e2 g6 13.h2 g7 14.g4 was nice for White in Kozul, Z (2590) -Zaja, I (2440)/Kastel Stari 1997.; as was 9...a6 10.g5 e8 11.h4 c7 12.d3 f5 13.gxf6 xf6 14.g5 in Kozul, Z (2604)-Hillarp Persson, T (2517)/ Khanty Mansiysk 2010) 10.xe5 xe5 11.d3 h6 12.g1 d7 13.0-0-0 gave White dangerous attacking chances on the kingside in Bezold, M (2490)-Gerstner, W (2370)/Germany 1996/GER-chT2. ] 9.cxd5 cxd5?! [ Black could and should have taken with the knight here rather than allow what happens i n t h e g a m e . A f t e r 9...xd5!? 10.e4 ( 10.d3 h6 11.a3 xc3 12.xc3 e8 13.e2 c5 was Ok for Black in Flores, D (2607)-Dreev, A (2662)/Montcada 2009) 10...e7 ( 10...b4 a l s o s e e m s O K) 11.xd6 xd6 12.a3 e8 was OK for Bla ck in Ngu ye n , N (2 5 6 7 )-K a rja k in , S (2730)/Al Ain 2008. ] 10.b5 b8 11.c1 e4 [ Black cannot prevent the incursion on c7 so 387
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 he needs to think how he'll defend himself after that. My own preference would have been to try and avoid any weakening of the dark squares with 11...a6 12.c7 xc7 13.xc7 xc7 14.xc7 e8 15.c2 f6 , which is still going to be better for White (two bishops) but gets pawn power on the opposite colour to Black's remaining bishop. ] 12.fd4 a6 [ 12...e5 13.c7 is also very good for White, for example d3+ 14.xd3 exd3 15.c5 xc7 16.xc7 etc. ] 13.c7 xc7 14.xc7 xc7 15.xc7 This is a really horrid endgame for Black and he does remarkably well to save himself. This, however, should not be seen as an advert for Black's prospects. e5 16.e2 b8 17.0-0 d7 18.fc1 fd8 19.g4 g6 20.h2 e8 21.7c5 e6 22.g3 e7 23.xe6 fxe6 24.d3 exd3 25.xd3 bc8 26.f4 xc5 27.xc5 g6 28.e4 f7 29.f3 d7 30.e3 d6 31.e5 dc8 32.c1 a7 33.a3 ac6 34.d6 a7 35.a4 ac8 36.c5 c7 37.a5 e8 38.d2 c6 39.b4 f7 40.b5?! This attempted breakthrough doesn't quite come off. [ He should have continued to build with 40.e3 . ] 40...xa5 41.b1?! [ Here too 41.e3 was better. ] 41...axb5 [ B l a c k c o u l d a l s o p l a y 41...xf4 , for example 42.bxa6 bxa6 43.b8 d7 44.xa6 e7 is OK. ] 42.f5?! White is taking huge risks here. [ 42.xb5+ d8 43.e3 would have been equal. ] 42...gxf5 43.gxf5 c4+ 44.xc4 bxc4 45.fxe6 [ 45.f6 was the right move with a likely draw. After the move chosen Black is better. ] 45...c7 46.b4 c6 47.c3 xe6 48.d4 b6 [ 48...h6! was the right move when White is struggling to draw. ] 49.d6 c8 50.xd5 h6 51.xb7 xh3?? Presenting White with an unexpected opportunity. [ 51...xd6 52.exd6 c3 would be drawn. ] 52.b4??
[ Missing a win with 52.b8 d8 ( t h r e a t e n i n g 5 4 . B c 7 + ) h6 , winning the knight and the game. ] 52...c3 53.c7 b6+ 54.c6 Black is holding now. 55.d6 c4 xd6 57.exd6 h3 58.c4 d7 d8 60.c4 d7 61.c7+ d8 d7 63.c7+ d8 64.c4 ½-½
400 Kramnik,Vladimir Li,Chao b World Teams 2013 (3.4) [Fier, Alexandr]
53.c6 54.b7 h6+ 56.d5 59.c7+ 62.c4
A11 2793 2679 28.11.2013
Li Chao tries a pawn sacrifice that looks a bit like a b lu n d e r. Fo r t h e m o st p a rt I d o n ' t believe in Black's idea so much, but to my surprise the position was repeated a few days later in the same tournament. Again White got some advantage in my opinion, so I don't believe people will continue giving the a5pawn. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 g6 3.b3 g7 4.b2 0-0 5.g2 d5 6.c4 c6 7.d3 a5 8.bd2 [ 8.0-0 is a more common move order and also played by Kramnik this year in a blitz game a6 ( 8...g4 to bring the knight to d7 instead is another option 9.bd2 bd7 and it was analyzed for Chess Publishing in Timman, J (2561)-Glek, I (2546)/TCh-FRA Top 16 GpA 2008.) 9.a3 g4 10.bd2 Kramnik, V (2803)-Mamedyarov, S (2753)/ Moscow Tal Memorial 8th Blitz 2013 (1). ] 8...a6 9.a3 g4 10.0-0 All these 0-0, d3, Nbd2, a3 moves are played in various orders and here Black has a lot of options too. Black chooses a solid one here, exchanging the bishop and creating a wall with the pawns. xf3 [ 10...c8 sometimes leads Black to a passive position 11.c1 c7 12.c2 h3 13.cxd5 fxd5 14.xg7 xg7 15.e4 xg2 16.xg2 f6 17.d4 as seen in Granda Zuniga, J (2614)-Hertneck, G (2552)/Bahia Feliz 2011 (6). ] [ 10...c8 is a more active plan 11.c2 b5 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 c5 with an interesting position in Novikov, S (2498)-Bagirov, R (2494)/Moscow 2003 (6). ] 388
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.xf3 e6 12.c2 e7 [ 12...d7 this move makes more sense to me with the queen on d8, and it was tried before 13.d4 f5 and Black's position is really solid Panno, O (2465)-Szmetan, J (2420)/Mar del Plata op 1998 (5). ] 13.c3!? This is a typical multi-purpose move, a t t a c k i n g a 5 a n d p l a n n i n g 1 4 . Q b 2 . d7 This is kind of pawn sacrifice, even if Black recovers it afterwards, the resulting position is not so nice for Black. [ 13...c5 is not so good, since 14.b4 axb4 15.xb4 is annoying ] [ 13...c7 14.b2 fe8 15.e4 and the knight would be better on d7 than e8 ] 14.xg7 [ 14.d4 is also possible, expanding in the center c7 15.e4 dxe4 16.xe4 fd8 and Black's position remains solid ] 14...xg7 15.c3+ f6 16.xa5 [ 16.d4 now this is not so interesting anymore c7 17.e4 dxe4 18.d2 e7 ] 16...ac5 Now we enter a more or less forced sequence. [ 16...dxc4 this could be a real pawn sacrifice, in order to activate the pieces 17.bxc4 ac5 18.b4 a4 19.b1 e5 and it's sure that Black has compensation wit h t h e p ie c e s we ll lo c a t e d , b u t if it ' s enough for the pawn or not is not so clear ] 17.b4 a6 18.d4 b6 19.c3 xb3 [ 19...xb3 gives not enough for the exchange 20.c2 xf3 21.xf3 xd4 22.cxd5 exd5 23.fd1 and White is better ] 20.ab1 dxc4 21.xc4 a5 22.c3 xb1 23.xb1 b6 Black has some weak pawns and a passive position for the moment. It's not clear if White has something concrete, since Black will try to exchange some pawns with ... c5 or ...e5, but I think White has good chances of an advantage. [ 23...a8 is not so different than the game 24.d2 e5 25.d5 d6 26.dxc6 bxc6 27.e4 and White is slightly better ] 24.d2 Trying to go to e4. e5 Now White has a clear path to an advantage. [ 24...g8 amazingly this move was played in the same tournament, some days later! Quickly it went wrong for Black 25.e4 e7 26.h4!? trying to create some tactics on the
kingside, since Black's position is a bit passive, b8 27.h5 gxh5 28.f3 f5 29.c5 f6 ( 29...bxc5 was necessary, but W hite is already better 30.xb8+ xb8 31.xa5 cxd4 32.e5 d7 33.c7 and White is going to recover a pawn and this soldier on the a-file is really dangerous) 30.xa5 1-0 Petrosian, T (2660)-L'Ami, E (2648) Antalya TUR 2013. ] [ 24...c5 exchanges one of the weak pawns, but it's not advisable to give White a strong p a sse d p a wn 25.e3 cxd4 26.exd4 e5 27.d5 d6 28.a4 and probably Black is going to suffer in the endgame ] 25.d5 The most solid option, but I would prefer 25.Ne4!?. [ 25.e4!? was also possible and interesting exd4 26.b2 e5 27.f4 e7 28.xd4+ f6 29.d1 with an initiative ] [ 25.dxe5 wins a pawn. Black has some compensation, but I still think White is better xe5 26.xe5+ xe5 27.xb6 d8 28.f1 d1 29.a6 ac4 ] 25...cxd5 26.xd5 d6 27.b5 White tries to keep flexibility. [ 27.e4 b8 trying to bring the a5-knight into the game ( 27...f5 doesn't help 28.f3 ) 28.b5 b7 29.c4 c7 30.xf7!? enters into some fireworks ( 30.b4 bc5 31.a4 a7 and Black is defending) 30...d6 31.xe5 xf7 ( 31...xe5 32.xe5+ xf7 33.xd6+ ) 32.xd6+ xd6 33.c4+ f8 34.d5 e7 35.d4 with an unclear position. Probably W hite has enough compensation for the piece, but not more than that. ] 27...c5 28.f3 d8 A natural move, but not the only one. [ 28...f5!? Avoiding 29.Ne4 and planning to play ...e4 at some point A) 29.e3 d8 30.f1 ( 30.c4 xc4 31.xc4 e4= ) 30...h5 31.b4 d3 and W hite has nothing better than repeating the position; B) 29.f1 f6 unpinning 30.e3 e4 31.g2 c6 32.b1 a4 and Black is fine ] 29.f1 Trying to keep the pieces on, but now Black has a strong resource. [ 29.e4!? w a s a n o t h e r o p t i o n xe4 30.xe4 d4 ( 30...d1+ 31.g2 xe2 389
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 32.xe5+ g8 33.d5 with a slight advantage ) 31.xd4 xd4 32.d5 and with a stronger bishop than the knight, White has some chances ] 29...d4! Black correctly sacrifices a pawn in order to improve his piece position. After all, the a3 pawn is not so dangerous. 30.xd4 xd4 31.xb6 e4 32.g2 d1 Immobilizing White's pieces. 33.h4 a1 34.b5 ab3 35.g4 Black hasn't any real problems in the position and Kramnik somehow creates an amazing theme against Black's king in some moves, unf ortunately he miss his chance a f t e r wa r d s . f5? Now strange things start to happen. [ 35...xa3 was simple and good 36.g3 a1+ To move the king far from the f2-pawn. 37.h2 a4 and it's a draw ] 36.gxf5 gxf5 37.e3 f6 Black already has some problems to take the pawn on a3. [ 37...xa3 doesn't work anymore 38.g3 f6 39.h3 and the f-pawn falls ] 38.h3 e5 [ 38...xa3 39.g3 is the same ] 39.g2 f4 [ 39...xa3 40.b8!? ( 40.d2 wins a pawn, but it's not enough d5 41.xb3 xb3 42.xb3 xb3 43.xf5 h6 should be drawn ) 40...d3 41.g3 e1+ 42.f1 f3 43.b5+ d6 44.xf5 c6 45.xb3 d2+ 46.e2 xb3 47.xe4+ d7 48.xh7 with some chances in the endgame ] 40.exf4+ xf4 41.e3 xa3 And somehow after all the exchanges Black is almost getting mated! It's amazing how White's pieces could coordinate and dominate the position. 42.g4? [ 42.b8! it was hard to understand when I first looked at the position, but Black has some real problems with his king. 42...Ke5 is not possible because of the poor position of B l a c k ' s r o o k a7 43.e8 now 44.Nd5 w o u l d b e j u s t m a t e g7+ 44.f1 45.Ng2+ is also coming d7 45.g2+ f3 46.c8 and 47.Rc3! d2+ 47.e1 b1 48.c7 and Black is in trouble ] 42...a5 43.b8 a7 44.f8+? White tries to push the king far away from the kingside. [ 44.e8 Is possible again and probably the last clear chance in the game, now with the
idea of 45.Kh3!. h5 ( 44...d3 45.c8! o n e m o r e t i m e t h r e a t e n i n g m a t e b4 46.g4 now 47.Rf8 is coming f7 47.e6 winning ) 45.f8+ e5 46.xh5 getting the pawn, with good winning chances ] 44...e5 45.f5+ d4 46.d5+ c3 47.d1+ b4 48.g3 Now White's advantage has almost vanished and Black defends well in order to achieve the draw. c1 49.d4+ b3 50.e3 g7 51.d5 1d3 52.g5 a7 53.h5 c3 54.h6 a6 55.h5 g6 Black is completely fine, but Kramnik keeps trying. 56.d5+ d4 57.e7 f6 58.f5+ c3 59.e3 g6 60.d5+ d4 61.e7 f6 62.f5 e5!? [ 62...f7 there was nothing wrong with this, d e f e n d i n g t h e p a w n 63.c6+ c3 64.g4= ] 63.xh7 f3+ 64.g2 cd3 65.f5 f4+ 66.xf4 [ 66.g1 doesn't lead anywhere ed3 67.d5 e2+ 68.g2 df4+ 69.xf4 xf4+ 70.g1 e2+ with a draw ] 66...xf4 67.f5+ d3 68.g3 f7 69.xe4+ xe4 70.xe4 ½-½
401 Larsen,Bent Kortschnoj,Viktor Palma de Mallorca [Nigel Davies]
A11
1969
1.g3 d5 2.g2 c6 3.c4 g6 4.a4!? A creative and original idea which spices up an often dull opening system. White wants to take on d5 without Black being able to recapture with his c6 pawn. [ 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.d4 is the usual way to play it with a dour position al struggle in th e offing. ] 4...d4 Taking space, but also accepting some strategic responsibilities. The position soon resembles a kind of reversed Benoni but one in which White's pieces are much more active than Black's would be in a Benoni proper. 5.f3 g7 6.0-0 e5 7.d3 e7 8.bd2 0-0 9.b4 Gaining space on the queenside. This is never so easy to get in when you're Black. d7 10.b1 a5 11.b5 c5 12.e3 dxe3 390
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Of course Black would like to be able to keep this pawn where it is but he was evidently concerned about how to do that whilst continuing his development. [ For example after 12...a7 (intending 13... b6) White can play 13.exd4 exd4 14.e1 b6 15.e4 b7 16.f4 followed by doubling rooks on the e-file. ] 13.fxe3 a7 14.c2 b6 15.e4 Intending to follow up with Ne4-c3, e3-e4 and Nc3-d5. f6 16.xf6+ [ Korchnoi was ready to meet 16.c3 with h5 followed by ...f7-f5, but maybe White should play like this anyway. ] 16...xf6 17.b2 f5 18.be1 e8 19.e4 g7!? Fighting play from Korchnoi, keeping pieces on the board. [ 19...d4 20.xd4 exd4 would have been fairly equal. ] 20.d2 h5! Looking for counterplay on the kingside. [ 20...d7?! would not have been good b e c a u s e o f 21.b1 intending Nb1-c3-d5, and after g5 ( and not 21...xd3? 22.xf6! ) 22.c3 xd3 23.d5 White would win the exchange. ] 21.b1 h4 22.c3 hxg3 23.hxg3 h5 24.d5 g5 25.f2 f6 26.c1 xc1 27.xc1 f5!? Again playing with admirable drive and ambition. [ 27...f7 would have been the solid move. ] 28.e3 h7 29.ce1 h8 30.exf5!? gxf5 31.g4! f6 [ 31...g7 was probably better. ] 32.xf6 [ Korchnoi probably intended to meet 32.gxf5 with g4 33.g3 g8 but then Rybka likes 34.f6! xf6 35.xe5 . ] 32...xf6 33.gxf5 xf5?! It could well be that Korchnoi's habitual time trouble was intervening at this point, especially since Larsen had him thinking from the outset! [ 33...h5 would have been safer. ] 34.f3 f7? And this is losing. [ Black should have played 34...f8 . ] 35.h5+ g7 36.d5 ff8 37.f2! g6 38.xf6 xh5 39.xb6 A key pawn, not least because it defends its colleagues on a5 and c5. f3 40.d6 f4 41.xf3 xf3 42.d5 f6 43.g2 f5 44.e3 c8 45.f3 a4 46.xf5+ xf5 47.f3 a3 48.e3 h8
49.xc5 h2 50.b6 xa2 51.d4 e6 52.xe5+ d7 53.a5 c6 54.c5 h2 55.e4 1-0
402 Loginov,Valery A Grischuk,Alexander TCh Tomsk RUS (6) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2499 2667 19.05.2001
1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 g4 5.c4 e6 6.d3 e7 7.e3 xf3! [ This certainly seems to be the critical test of this system. Loginov should have been prepared for this, as he has quite a bit of experience in this variation, e.g. 7...bd7 8.b3 c8 9.c3 0-0 10.cxd5 exd5 11.ac1 e8 12.d4 with an edge, Loginov, V-Lukacs,P/Budapest 1993. ] 8.xf3 d4 9.f4?! [ I don't really see the point of this, as B l a c k ' s . . . e 5 w i l l g a i n a t e m p o , 9.d2 was examined in the archives. ] 9...bd7 10.e4?! As in the previous game, but this closed position f avours Black. e5 11.c1 h5! Again! 12.d2 h4 13.e2 c5 14.b4 e6 15.c5?! hxg3 16.fxg3 a5 17.c4 White is relying on the tactics, but they are insufficient. axb4 18.xe5 c7 19.xf7?! Doubtful, but other moves are also good for Black. xf7 20.b3 xc5 21.g4 ae8 22.f4 d7 23.g5 g6 Black defends easily. 24.xf6 gxf6 25.e5 fxe5 26.c2 d5 27.f3 e4! 28.xe4+ xe4 29.ae1 [ 29.dxe4 d3+ recuperates the queen. ] 29...d5 White is badly in need of a new idea in this c4, and Be3 line! 0-1
403 Lputian,Smbat G Ivanchuk,Vassily GM Montecatini Terme ITA (2) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2598 2719 29.07.2000
1.f3 d5 2.g3 g6 A rare, if quite interesting, line. 3.c4 391
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ White attacks the black centre immediately, if instead 3.g2 g7 4.0-0 then the point o f B l a c k ' s o p e n i n g i s r e v e a l e d : e5 with equality. ] 3...c6 4.a4!? [ Interesting, White both protects c4, and pins the c6-pawn. 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.g2 g7 6.d4 leads into a variation of the King's Indian Defence. ] 4...d4! [ This is the most ambitious reply, otherwise 4...dxc4 5.xc4 g7 6.g2 e5 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 e6 9.c2 leads to a reversed Sicilian po s it io n , f a vo u ra b le t o W h it e , P ive n , I Kuporosov,V/Seefeld 1996, and ] [ 4...e6 is more passive, 5.g2 d7 6.d3 g7 7.0-0 gf6 8.a3!? e7 9.xe7+ xe7 10.c3 d8 11.f4 again with a plus, Hickl,J-Keitlinghaus,L/Reykjavik 1997. ] 5.b4 [ White also responds aggressively, and gains qu een side sp ace , b ut th e sim ple 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 e5 7.e3 dxe3?! 8.dxe3 d7 9.d1 might favour White, Gutman,LBoehm,J/ Dortmund 1985. ] 5...d7!? [ A new idea at move five! 5...g7 6.d3 e5 7.bd2 e7 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 brings play to a typical reversed Benoni position, with chances to both sides, Nikolaidis,I-Kapnisis, S/Korinthos GRE 1999. ] 6.b2 e5 7.e3 g7! Black is not prepared to concede the centre. 8.g2 [ 8.exd4 e4 9.h4 h6 is similar to the game. ] 8...h6! 9.0-0 0-0 10.a3 [ White threatens to play c5, and Nc4-d6. 10.exd4 b6 11.b3 exd4 is level ( or 11...e4!? )] 10...a5! Black targets the white pieces on the a-file. 11.exd4 e4!? Black initiates a long combinatory series of moves. 12.e1 b6 13.b3 axb4 14.xb4 a4 Menacing to win a whole rook, by ...Nxb2, and .. .Bxd4, so White's next is forced. 15.c3 [ 15.ac2? xb2 16.xb2 f5 is terrible for White. ] 15...e3!! [ A fantastically imaginative, and surprising blow! Most players would be happy with the simple 15...f5 16.ec2 xd4
but Ivanchuk has planned something else. ] 16.fxe3 [ 16.ec2 exd2 17.xd2 f5 might be a safer course, and seems fairly level. ] 16...c5! The key follow-up. 17.dxc5 [ T h e o n l y o t h e r p o s s i b i l i t y i s 17.b3 but then cxd4 18.b4?! ( 18.exd4 xd4+ 19.h1 g4 20.xd4 xd4 will win the exchange with a knight check on f2, but W hite will enjoy a certain amount of compensation) 18...dxe3! 19.xf8 xf8 and White loses material. ] 17...xc3 18.dxc3 d2 The end of Black's tactical line, White temporarily has three extra pa wn s, b u t t h e y a re a ll in cre d ib ly we a k . 19.b5?! [ 19.c6!? is stronger, freeing the c5-square for the white queen, xc3 20.cxb7!? b8 21.bxc8 fxc8 22.e7 xa1 23.d5 with counterplay. ] 19...g4 20.f3 [ this loses the exchange, but neither 20.f3?! h6 21.h3 xe3+ 22.h1 xa2! 23.xa2 xe1+ nor ] [ 20.h3?! when xe3+ 21.h1 f2+ 22.h2 e5 wins quickly, offer any hope. ] 20...xe3+ 21.h1 f2+ 22.xf2 xf2 23.a4 d7 24.c7? [ White wants to bring his knight to d5, but this loses to another brilliant tactic, better 24.bd4 although Black is clearly on top. ] 24...xa4!! [ An o t h er sh o t o u t o f t h e b lu e ! 24...xa4 25.xa4 h3! 26.xh3 xf3+ 27.g1 xc3 and White must give his queen to avoid ...Bd4+, and mate. ] 0-1
404
A11
Mac N,Archana [Gurev, Watson & Kosten] Reader Maik Naundorf (alias mickeymouse) sends a lengthy analysis of " the GurevichQc2, Bg4-Varation", which he says "gives me quite a headache getting a advantage after 5 Ne5 Bh5.". Here is some of his analysis, which I've shortened considerably : 1.f3! d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3!? f6 4.c2!? g4!? 392
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 "This move really scares me while playing this variation in rapidchess. Why do the elite play .. a6 before moving the bishop to g4 I really don't know exactly. Below my analysis which does not solve the problem." 5.e5!? [ 5.b3!? xf3 6.gxf3 e5 ( Or 6...g6; or 6...bd7 ) 7.g1 bd7 8.b2 g6 9.c3 "unclear". This analysis looks sound. ] [ 5.cxd5 cxd5 ( or 5...xf3 6.gxf3 xd5 7.e2 bd7 ) 6.e5 h5 7.b5+ bd7 8.c3 e6 ] 5...h5 (f) 6.cxd5 [ Or: (a) 6.f4!? bd7 7.b3 ] [ (b) 6.b3 b6 7.xb6 axb6= ] [ (c) 6.e2 xe2 7.xe2 bd7 8.xd7 xd7 9.f3 with Black clearly better. ] [ (d) 6.d4 bd7 7.c3 e6 8.f4 g6 9.b3 ( 9.xg6 hxg6 10.d3 g4= ) 9...b6 10.xb6 ( 10.c5 xb3 11.axb3 xe5 12.fxe5 e4= ) 10...axb6 11.xg6 hxg6= ] [ (e) 6.d3 bd7 7.f4 xe5 8.fxe5 d7 9.e6 e5! ] [ 6.b3! bd7 7.f4!? ( 7.d4?! xe5 8.dxe5 d7; 7.b2?! xe5 8.xe5 d7 ) 7...xe5 8.fxe5 d7 ( 8...g6 9.d3 xd3 10.xd3 e4 11.0-0 e6 12.c2 g5 13.d3 c5= ) 9.e6!? fxe6 10.d3 e5! 11.f5 ( 11.xh7?? e4!-+ 12.f5 e6 13.h3 h4+ 14.f1 b4-+ ) 11...f7 ( or 11...e4 12.e6 c5 ) 12.0-0 e6 13.h3 e4 14.b2 c5 ] 6...cxd5 7.c3 [ A cute line is he gives is 7.g4? xg4 8.xg4 xg4 9.a4+ d7 10.b5 c6 11.xc6 xc6 12.xg4 xc1+ 13.d1 xd1+ 14.xd1 ] [ 7.b5+! (TonyK) looks obvious, bd7 8.f5 ( 8.xd7 xd7 9.f5 g6 10.xd5 is the same ) A) 8...e6? 9.xd7! ( or 9.xd7+ xd7 10.xh5 g6 11.xg6 fxg6 12.h3 with a solid extra pawn) 9...exf5 10.xf6+ e7 11.xh5 with 3 pieces and a superior pawn structure for the queen White is winning (TonyK).; B) 8...g6! 9.xd7 xd7 ( 9...xf5?? 10.xf6# ) 10.xd5 with a pawn more for negligible compensation (TonyK). ] 7...e6 8.d4 [ 8.b5 a6 9.a4 c5 10.c7+ e7 11.a5 b6 12.c6+ d7 13.xd8 bxa5
14.xa8 xd8 15.d4 ce4 ] [ 8.a4+! ha s it s p oint s (To nyK ) fd7 ( 8...bd7? 9.g4 g6 10.g5 wins a piece!) 9.g4 g6 10.h4 and Black is in big trouble. ] 8...d6 9.f4 [jw: I doubt that White will like the weaknesses on e4 and e3 which this move creates]
405 Mac Van Beek,Alexander MM SVR RL Ruhrgebiet (5) [John Watson]
A11 2087 2305 16.01.2005
Maik Naundorf sends us the following game. His questions and comments are in quotes, the rest is mine. 1.c4 c6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 dxc4 5.c2 The other way to approach this would be [ 5.0-0 b5 ( 5...e6 is ) 6.a4 Personally I suspect that this is a more effective order. With the threat of 7. axb5 White encourages Black to play ...Bb7, when after b3 and .... cxb3, White can capture with the queen. I think that in most positions this gives him more compensation than the lines in which he plays Qc2, b3, and axb3. b7 ( 6...a6 7.axb5 cxb5 8.d4! with the idea a7 9.xb5; 6...e6 7.axb5 cxb5 8.e5 d5 9.d3! ) 7.b3 cxb3 8.xb3 a6 9.d4 ( or 9.a3!? d5 10.b2 ) 9...e6 10.a3 xa3 11.xa3 e7 12.xe7+ xe7 13.bd2 followed by Rfc1 and Nb3 with a tremendous bind for the pawn. ] 5...b5 6.b3 [ 6.a4 Naundorf: "Svidler once played this move. Is it really better than b3?" Then one p r o b l e m i s a6 ( 6...b7 7.b3 cxb3 8.xb3 is a tempo down on the note above) 7.axb5 cxb5 8.d4 ] 6...cxb3 7.axb3 b7 [ 7...e6 allows Black to castle after 8.Ba3 Bxa3, so White might continue 8.0-0 b7 9.d4 , f o r e x a m p l e , e7 10.a3 ( o r p e rh a p s 10.b2 0-0 11.e5 a5 12.c1 d6 13.d3 ) 10...xa3 11.xa3 0-0 12.d1 with ideas like Ne5-d3 or a welltimed b4. ] 8.a3 bd7 393
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 8...g6 9.d4 g7 10.bd2 0-0 11.e4 a5 12.e5 d5 13.e4 , following the game Djindjihashvili-Bagirov, USSR Ch 1972. I like White's game: look at that c5 square! ] 9.d4 a5!? What do you think of this idea and w h e r e m i g h t i i m p r o v e ? 10.bd2 b4 I don't like this move. To me the idea of ...a5 is t o p r e ve n t t h e m o ve b 4 a n d c o n t i n u e holding c4. Now W hite's knight has a wonderful outpost on c4. 11.b2 e6 12.0-0 W hite doesn't have to allow ... c5. A good move is [ 12.e5! when Black's awkwardly placed, e. g., c7 ( 12...d6 13.dc4; 12...e7 13.0-0 0-0 14.xc6 c8 15.xe7+ xe7 16.c4 ) 13.0-0 c5 14.xb7 xb7 15.xd7 xd7 16.c4 , hitting the apawn. ] 12...c5! Now it's not as easy, but Black is still underdeveloped. 13.c4!? [ Better 13.fd1! cxd4 14.xd4 xg2 15.xg2 with chances due to the c6 square and queenside files. ] 13...e7 14.a2 e4! 15.d2 b6 16.fe5 White's play disappears as the bishops go off, but I don't see what to try anyway. Allowing ...c5 was only possible if you had an immediate plan for compensation. [ 16.xb6 xb6 17.dxc5 xc5 18.c1 d5 ] 16...xc4 17.xc4 xg2 18.xg2 a4!? 19.dxc5 xd2 20.xd2 a3 21.c1 0-0 [ Or 21...c8! 22.d4 0-0 The rest of the ga m e is o u t sid e o f t h e p ro vin c e o f t h e question. ] 22.d4 fd8 23.f3 d5 24.c4 f6 25.e5 c7 26.c6 xd4 27.xd4 d5 28.c6 c3 29.xc3 bxc3 30.xd8 c2 31.xc2 a2 32.xa2 xa2 33.b4 f8 34.f3 e8 35.c6 b2 36.e3 f6 37.d3 d7 38.d4 xb4 39.f4 e5 40.fxe5 fxe5 41.c2 b3+ 42.c4 b2 43.c3 b1 44.d3 h1 45.e3 xh2 46.g4 g2 47.xe5+ e6 48.d4 xg3 49.e4 e3+ 50.xe3 xe5 51.c6 d6 52.f4 xc6 53.f5 d6 54.e4 e7 55.e5 h5 56.f5 h4 0-1
406 Maherramzade,Javad Vladimirov,Evgeny ADCF Masters (8) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2476 2612 02.09.2001
1.f3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g4 4.c4 dxc4!? This is an odd time to capture on c4, normally Black does this with his knight on f6, instead. 5.a3! [ Curiously, after 5.e5 e6 it seems that Black has gained by losing a tempo, as with his knight on f 3 instead W hite can play Ng5! ] 5...d5 [ Not 5...b5? 6.e5 - the weakness of the h1-a8 diagonal changes everything. ] 6.c2 [ White can also aim for long-term positional pressure with 6.0-0 d7 7.c2 b6 8.b3 cxb3 9.axb3 e5 10.b2 Dizdar,G-Videki,S/ Makarska 1993, his open files on the queenside, and development advantage, are worth at least one pawn. ] 6...e6 [ Putting an end to White's idea of playing b3. I don't like 6...b5?! very much, as after 7.b3! cxb3 8.axb3 the position is similar to the previous note, except that Black's queenside is loose. ] 7.0-0 [ Loginov prefers 7.e4 e.g. d3 8.xd3 cxd3 9.e5 a6 10.xd3 d8 11.e2 g6 12.b3 g7 13.b2 xb2 14.xb2 White has an extra central pawn, and a bit more space, Loginov,V-Videki,S/Kecskemet 1993. ] 7...d7 8.c3! [ This is a strong, and far from obvious, innovation, White simply controls the a1-h8 diagonal to play Nd4 (or Ne5). Previously White had sacrificed the d-pawn by 8.d1!? gf6 9.d3 cxd3 10.xd3 c5 11.c3 f5 12.d1 e4 13.e3 but White's compe nsat ion seem s ina dequ ate here , Fancsy,I-Videki,S/ HUN-chT2 9394 1994. ] 8...b6 [ Further defending c4. 8...gf6 9.d4 d6 10.xe6 xe6 11.xc4 also clearly favours White, who enjoys an extra central pawn, and the bishop pair. ] 394
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.e5 d8 10.axc4 White has recaptured his c-pawn, and Black is far from finishing his development. xc4 11.xc4 f6 12.b3 e6 13.b2 bd5 14.c2 e7 15.d4 0-0 16.e4 b6 White has won the opening discussion: Black's position is solid but White has all the trumps. 17.e3!? c8 18.ac1 d7 19.h3 fd8 20.h1 e8 21.f4 White decides on a kingside attack, but other players would have handled this differently, no doubt. fd7 22.f5 g5 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.ce1 xe3 25.xe3 e7 26.c1 [ Being the proud possessor of two massive bishops, White should be trying to squeeze Black on both sides of the board, and so the move 26.a4! certainly seems to the point, a5 is threatened, driving the b6-knight to who knows where, and c5 is met by 27.a3 cxd4? 28.xe7 xc2 29.xd8 dxe3 30.xe6+ ] 26...f8 27.ee1 xf1+ 28.xf1 f8 Black does what he can, the fact that he is much stronger than his opponent obviously helps his chances! 29.xf8+ xf8 30.a3 f6 31.f4 bd7 32.xf6 gxf6 White may not have made the most of his position, but even this ending should certainly be winning. 33.g2 f7 34.f2 b6 35.d6 c5 36.e3!? [ 36.d5 must be good. ] 36...cxd4+ 37.xd4 g6 Now Black has the e5-square for one of his knights, but unfortunately he has two knights for only one square! 38.c4 a6 39.f1 ge5+ 40.c3 a5 41.c7 e7 42.b5 c5 43.xb6? [ 43.d4 cd7 44.xd7! xd7 45.c4 a n d K b 5 s e e m s t o win b o t h qu e e n sid e pawns. ] 43...xe4+ 44.d4 d6 The black knights p e rf o rm m ir a c l e s t o d e f e n d t h e a -p a wn . 45.e2 [ 45.a4 b7 ] 45...d7 46.e3 [ 46.xa5? c6+ is a nasty fork. ] 46...a4! 47.g4 axb3 48.axb3 f5 Having managed to change his sick a-pawn f o r W h it e 's h e a lt h y o n e , B la ck t u rn s h i s attention to liquidating the other pawns. 49.h3 c6 50.d8 d5 51.f6 g6 52.gxf5 xf5+ 53.f2 f4 54.f1 e5 55.b4 e4 56.b5 White has had enough, he has been
completely outplayed in the ending! ½-½
407 Malakhatko,Vadim Hoffmann,Michael 2nd Pfalz Open (8) [Jonathan Rowson]
A11 2610 2474 21.02.2009
1.c4 c6 2.f3 f6 3.c3 d5 4.e3 e6 5.c2 bd7 6.b3 b6!? [ 6...d6 7.b2 ( 7.g4?! This move has not yet been ventured, but for good reason. White has b3 instead of d4 in the Shirov/ Shabalov line of the Semi-Slav and it seems that this favours Black: xg4 8.g1 de5! The problem, highlighting the lack of a pawn on d4. 9.xe5 xe5 10.xg7 f3+ And white's creative play begins to look f o o lha rd y.) 7...0-0 8.e2 is now a fairly major sub-line, analysed by Tony Kosten in Dangerous W eapons: The Flank Openings. Black's main replies are a6, b6 and Re8 and W hite can try g4 with or without Rg1 against all of them. ( 8.g4?! xg4 9.g1 de5! 10.xe5 xe5 11.e2 h4 doesn't look too impressive for White. )] 7.cxd5!? Keeping things distinct. [ 7.b2 b7 8.cxd5 cxd5! 9.b5 c8 ] 7...exd5 [ 7...cxd5 8.b5 is just good for White. ] 8.b2 b7 9.e2!? It is hard to know how to describe this move, but its merits include f re e in g t h e b 2 -h 8 d ia g o n a l a n d h e a d in g towards the tender f5 square. c5 10.c1 This one is curious and not obviously necessary, but it is basically a waiting move, and quite a useful one. Black needs to develop his f8 bishop, and he is likely to play g6 to attempt to neutralise the bishop on b2, so White simply waits to have a target for his h-pawn. g6 11.h4! d6 [ 11...g7 12.h5 0-0 gives White plenty of p r o m i si n g wa ys t o c o n t i n u e . ( 12...xh5 13.xh5 ) 13.hxg6 fxg6 14.g5 being the most direct, and seemingly quite effective. e7 15.f4 ] 12.h5 e7 [ 12...g8!? 13.hxg6 hxg6 preserving the 395
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 integrity of the pawn structure and aiming to play Qe7 and 0-0-0 is another way to playboth side s will h ave sub-o ptim al king's positions, but Black will probably be the one to eventually get the h-file. ] 13.hxg6 fxg6 14.d4!? Trying to take some positional control in the centre. Otherwise Black might muddy the waters by playing d4 himself. However, although I admire White's play, I am not sure how good it really is. Black probably has his full share of the chances here, but at least he has been forced to think for himself. [ 14.h4!? this multi-purpose move(not least taking control of g4) might be objectively better. A) 14...0-0-0 15.c3 b8 ( 15...d4 16.xd4 cxd4 17.d5+ ) 16.b5 with some initiative for White.; B) 14...0-0 15.f4 ] 14...0-0 15.c3? This works out fine, but is probably bad. [ 15.g5!? ] [ 15.h4!? ] [ 15.g3!? ] 15...ac8 Generally useful, but relatively useless in the critical lines that follow. [ 15...cxd4 16.xd4 g4! looks good for Black e.g. 17.f3 de5 18.e2 xf2! ] 16.d3 cxd4 17.xd4 g4 [ 17...e5! is at least ok for Black, and indeed, without a clear attacking follow up white's play is called into question. ] 18.xg6! xf2 19.xh7+ f8 20.xf2+ xf2 21.xf2 White has only a rook, a piece and a pawn for the queen, but in such situations the initiative is all important, and Black's king's lack of pawn shield, and the queen's lack of targets means that White has the upper hand. e5 22.h3 xd4 23.exd4 f6 24.f5 e8 25.f3 f7 26.h1 f8 27.b1!? intending Ba3 b4 28.h4 e8 29.c3 d6 30.d2 a6 31.c3 f8 32.g5 e8 33.h6 Black is outnumbered. S o m e t i m e s q u a n t i t y b e a t s q u a l i t y . b4 34.xf6 xf6 35.xf6 a3 36.xd5 xa2+ 37.g3 b7 38.e6 c2 39.e3 f8 40.g5 g6 41.f4 The final humiliation. Not content to attack with four pieces, White decides to use his king too. Mate is not far
away, and Black didn't want to see it. 1-0
408 Marin,Mihail Laznicka,Viktor XXIX Open Benasque ESP (10) [Nigel Davies]
A11 2583 2617 11.07.2009
1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.g2 d5 4.f3 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.a3 b6 7.c2 d5 8.e1 e6 [ Another way to hit White's e2 pawn is with 8...h5 , but this is an empty threat because o f t h e l i n e 9.xc4 xe2 ( 9...bd5 is better, but then W hite just plays 10.d4 with a clear advantage) 10.xb6 axb6 11.xc6+! d7 12.f3 , winning back the pawn with a clear advantage. ] 9.d3 [ Another possibility is 9.e4!? , for example g6 10.b3 g7 11.b2 cxb3 12.axb3 0-0 13.d4 d7 14.d3 d8 15.fd1 g4 16.h3 h6 17.f4 e6 18.c4 xc4 19.bxc4 gave White excellent compensation for the pawn in Preiss, M (2287) -Pinter, J (2532), Germany 2007. ] 9...cxd3 10.xd3 g6 [ In Pantsulaia, L (2584)-Panarin, M (2502), p la ych e ss. co m I NT 2 0 0 6 B la ck p la ye d 10...f5 but this seems to be strongly met by 11.e4! because ( Rather than 11.e1 a s i n t h e g a m e) 11...xe4? 12.g4! leaves Black without a good way to protect the knight on e4. ] 11.e4! I'm sure this is the best idea for White. [ In Serafimov, T (2404)-Chuchelov, V (2534), F r a n c e 2 0 0 6 W h i t e p l a y e d 11.e3 but piece play alone feels less effective than using the e-pawn as a battering ram. The game continued g7 12.c5 fd7 13.b4 0-0 14.e4 c5! 15.d2 c4 and Black was getting some play whilst maintaining his extra pawn. ] 11...g7 12.f4 [ The fact that the players now agreed to a draw raises some fascinating questions. A f t e r Ma rin ' s 12.f4 Black's best may be fd7 and now ( 12...0-0? 13.c5 g4 14.h3 h5 15.g4 h4 16.d2! 396
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 p u t s B l a c k ' s qu e e n i n t e r r i b l e t ro u b l e) 13.fd1 0-0 14.d2 keeps improving W hite's position whilst it's difficult to see moves for his opponent. At this point I think I'll cop out and suggest that 'further tests' are required. ] ½-½
409 Marin,Mihail Ris,Robert Open Reykjavik ISL (4) [Nigel Davies]
A11 2556 2436 27.03.2009
1.c4 c6 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.f3 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.a3 b6 7.c2 d5 8.e1!? Paradoxically this retreat looks like W hite's most promising option. Taken by surprise Black does not respond in the most cold blooded way. f5?! Trying to gain time f o r d e v e l o p m e n t b u t Ma ri n j u m p s a t t h e chance to get the better pawn structure in the endgame. 9.xd5 xc2 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.exc2 e6 12.b3 Although this c4 pawn is doubled and isolated it also has a cramping effect. So W hite exchanges it off so as to t a r g e t i t s c o m r a d e s o n c 6 a n d a 7 . cxb3 13.axb3 a5 Looking to exchange off his weak a-pawn at least, though within a few moves this pawn will be lost. Frankly I think that Black will suffer whatever he plays because of his weakened pawn structure. 14.b2 d7 15.e3 xa3?! Black was no doubt hoping to force through ...a5-a4 without suffering any ill effects. But this doesn't turn out to be the case and in fact he's just helping W hite to double rooks on the a-file. [ 15...b4 would have been a more stubborn choice, though W hite is still much better after 16.ac4 xc4 17.xc4 e7 18.fc1 . ] 16.xa3 a6 17.d4 ha8 18.fa1 e8?! Losing a pawn. [ 18...c7 would have been more stubborn, though this position is far from pleasant for Black. ] 19.b4 a4 20.xb6 xb6 21.xa4 xa4 22.xa4 f6 23.c4 b5 24.d4 c7 25.b2 e5 26.dxe5 xe5 27.f1 b5 28.d3 d6 29.h4 With a good pawn up
Marin trundles forward his kingside pawns. g5 30.hxg5 fxg5 31.e4 g4 32.e2 h5 33.e3 e6 34.a6 b8 35.a5 f8 36.f5 xf5 37.exf5 g5 38.f4 h3+ 39.e4 g5+ 40.d4 f3+ 41.c4 d2+ 42.c3 f3 43.f6! The winning move, distracting Black's king from the defence of c6. e6 44.c4 xf6 45.c5 f5 46.xc6 e4 47.c5+ d4 48.e6+ e5 49.f4 h4 [ 49...d4+ 50.c5 b3+ 51.b5 d4+ 52.a6 is hardly any better. ] 50.g6+ e4 51.gxh4 d3 52.h5 e2 53.h6 xf2 54.h7 g3 55.h8 g2 56.f4 1-0
410 Markowski,Tomasz Aleksandrov,Aleksej 1st ch-Europe (10) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2531 2606 13.07.2000
1.g3 d5 2.f3 g4 3.g2 d7 Possibly threatening ...e5. 4.c4 e6 5.cxd5 exd5 6.0-0 c6 [ Perhaps Black can consider delaying this move even further, with 6...d6 , say. ] 7.d3 d6 8.c3 e7 [ Although 8...gf6 seems more natural, I prefer the text, as it avoids problems with a later White e4-5. ] 9.h3 h5 10.e4 This position is a speciality of Markowski, and he has scored very well here. e5!? [ An interesting innovation offering a pawn sacrifice for good play previously 10...dxe4 11.dxe4 e5 12.g4 xf3+ 13.xf3 g6 14.f4 xf4 15.xf4 0-0 16.fd1 h a d p r o ve d ve ry p l e a sa n t f o r W h it e i n Dizdarevic,E-Soln,P/Dresden 1998, and ] [ 10...0-0 11.c2 c8 12.d4!? b6 13.e3 a6 14.g4 g6 15.f5 may also slightly favour White, Seeman, TIonov,S/Paide 1999. ] 11.exd5 [ 11.g4 g6 12.xe5 ( 12.exd5 allows xd3 ) 12...xe5 13.exd5 0-0 transposes. ] 11...0-0! 12.g4 g6 13.xe5 xe5 14.d4 c7 15.dxc6 d6 16.f4 bxc6 17.e3 [ A critical position, Black has sacrificed a pawn for an active position, some open lines, 397
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and a slightly over-extended White kingside. He decides to complete his development, but giving his kin g a squa re on f 1, an d thereby threatening to play f5, was also possible: 17.e1!? f5 18.b3+ f7 19.a3!? trying to swap queens, although t h e e n d g a m e a f t e r xa3 ( 19...xd4+ 20.e3 d8 21.c5 b6 22.h2 xc5 23.xc5 d5 is also OK) 20.bxa3 d5 is perfectly reasonable for Black. ] 17...fe8 18.f3 ab8 Black brings his pieces to aggressive squares, and stops any thought of W hite playing f 5. 19.f2 f5 W hite's previous move created an escape square for his king on f1, so that trapping the g6-bishop with f5 really was on the cards. 20.d5! Before Black had time to bring his bishop to f7, and establish a piece on d5. c5 21.d1 f7 22.f1 a6 23.c4 g6 24.g5 [ 24.a4 seems more to the point, attacking c 5 , b u t t h e n B l a c k h a s t h e in t e r e s t i n g e x c h a n g e s a c , fxg4 25.hxg4 xe3! 26.xe3 d7 forking a4, and g4, 27.c3 xg4+ 28.g2 d7 with serious threats to f4, and the denuded white king. ] 24...h6!? Black opens the g-line, to exploit his safer king position. 25.gxh6 gxh6 26.c1 [ 26.a4!? i s n o w a n s w e r e d b y h7 27.xc5 h4 28.e2 g6+ 29.h1 g3! with a strong attack. ] 26...h7 27.h1 h4 28.d3 h5 29.g1 g8 Both sides proceed in a logical fashion, W hite tries to counter Black's kingside pressure. 30.g3 g6 31.xg6 xg6 32.d6?! [ Simply returning his extra pawn, perhaps he w a s w o r r i e d a b o u t . . . R g 8 , b u t 32.f1 was better, when Black still has to prove that he has enough compensation for the pawn. ] 32...xd6 33.h2?! [ 33.d5 would at least give some point to his previous move. ] 33...f3 [ 33...xb2!? appears tempting, as after 34.xb2 xf4+ 35.h1 f3+ White has to concede his queen to avoid mate, 36.xf3 xf3 37.xf3 but he gains sufficient material as compensation. ] 34.d5?! b7! With a decisive threat of ... Rg7. 35.f6+ [ Forced, 35.b3? g7 threatens mate on
both g1, and g3. ] 35...xf6 36.xf3 xf3+ 37.xf3 g7 38.d3 d4 39.xf5+ [ 39.f1 is objectively better, although c4! 40.xf5+ h8 is winning anyway, Black will play ...Rf7, and then take the f-pawn. ] 39...h8 40.g4 h5 The bishop is pinned. 41.e2 0-1
411 Markus,Robert Ansell,Simon Open Kavala GRE (2) [Nigel Davies]
A11 2587 2394 01.08.2009
1.c4 f6 2.f3 c6 3.c3 d5 4.e3 g4 5.cxd5 xf3 [ Black needs to interpose this move as after 5...cxd5 6.b3 b6 ( 6...c8 is n e ce s sa r y) 7.xd5 xb3 8.xf6+ White wins a pawn. ] 6.xf3 [ Capturing with the pawn achieves nothing after 6.gxf3 cxd5 7.b3 d7 . ] 6...cxd5 7.b5+ Quite a few different moves have been played for W hite here but this looks like one of the most interesting. The others that intrigue me are as follows: [ a) 7.g3 c6 8.g2 e6 9.0-0 e7 10.b3 0-0 11.b2 c8 12.ac1 a5 13.b1 b5 14.e2 b4 15.a4 d7 16.fc1 b6 17.f1 started to look a bit better for White in Kempinski, R (2590)-Sorm, D (2330)/ Neustadt an den W einstrasse 2008, the point being that after xa4 18.bxa4 xa4 19.a6 xa6 20.xa6 c7 21.e5 White wins the exchange. ] [ b) 7.g4!? is more aggressive, though it's not clear it makes much headway after e6 8.b3 ( 8.g5 fd7 9.h4 c6 10.d4 c8 11.d2 a6 12.c1 b6 13.d1 was Bauer, C (2582)-Dautov, R (2611)/ France 88 and now d6 might have been the best with a perfectly sound position for Black ) 8...c6 9.b2 a6! 10.e2 d6 11.g2! 0-0? 12.g5! e4?! ( 12...d7 was better, but Black is scared of the attack White might develop after 13.h4 ) 13.xe4 dxe4 14.xe4 xg5 15.h4! g6 16.xg6 398
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 hxg6 17.f4 fd8 18.h5! was promising for W h it e in Ha lk ia s, S (2 5 4 6 ) -V e lic ka , P (2445)/Cappelle la Grande 84. ] 7...c6 8.xc6+ [ 8.0-0 c8 prevents the unbalancing of the pawn structure and starts to look very equal, for example 9.b3 e6 10.b2 a6 11.xc6+ xc6 12.ac1 e7 13.a4 xc1 14.xc1 0-0 15.f4 e8 16.c5 xc5 17.xc5 f6 18.g4 d7 was rather equal in Gurevich, M (2630)-Bagirov, V (2465)/Nabereznye Chelny 1988. ] 8...bxc6 9.0-0 e6 10.b3 e7 [ Black has also tried 10...b4 but after 11.b2 0-0 12.ac1 e7 13.c2 d7 14.a4 ac8 15.fc1 White had the kind of pressure that typifies this line in Vavrak, P (2 4 72 )-Me du n a , E (2 4 31 )/ Ma ria n ske Lazne 2008. ] 11.b2 0-0 12.fc1 [ White can also play the other rook to c1, for example 12.ac1 a5 13.c2 fc8 ( 13...c5 14.fc1 a6 15.e2 xe2 16.xe2 was also better for White in Jirovsky, M (2482)-Velicka, P (2506)/ Havlickuv Brod 2008) 14.a4 c5 15.fc1 d7 16.e2 a6 17.d3 b5 18.g3 f5?! 19.e4! gave White a promising game in Bischoff, K (2545)-Bagirov, V (2460)/ Netherlands 1998. ] 12...a5 13.c2 d7 [ 13...c5 14.d3 ac8 15.a4 was slightly better for White in Kruppa, Y (2570)-Milov, L (2490)/Donetsk 1998. ] 14.a4 ac8 15.ac1 a6 16.h4 A prepared novelty? Yes probably, because Simon Ansell had played all this with Black before: [ 16.d1 fe8 17.f1 b7 18.h3 f8 19.d3 g6 20.e2 e5 21.e4 h6 wa s n ' t m u c h f o r W h i t e a t t h i s p o i n t i n Tomashevsky, E (2646)-Ansell, S (2410)/ Kallithea 2008. ] 16...fe8 [ The h-pawn can't be taken as after 16...xh4? 17.g4 f6 18.c5 xc5 19.xf6 g6 20.xc5 White wins a piece. ] 17.h5 h6 18.e4 f8 19.d3 ed8 20.d4 d6 21.e3 e5 22.b2 b7 23.f3 f6 24.c3 e8 25.d2 a3 26.e1 e7 27.c3 d6 28.g3 e6 29.g2 h7
30.d2 f5? Simon Ansell often runs short of time and maybe this was the case here. [ Just 30...f6 looks OK for Black. ] 31.xf5 xf5 32.exf5 f6 33.h1 c5 34.hc1 xh5 35.xc5 f6 36.e6 xc2 37.xc2 b8 38.c6 f7 39.c5 e4 40.d4 g8 41.a6 e7 42.xb8 xb8 43.c7 f6 44.f4 [ After 44.f4 e8 45.g4 it's quite hopeless for Black. ] 1-0
412
A11 Matamoros Franco,Carlos S 2460 Xu Jun 2626 XXVIII Sevilla ESP (9) 18.01.2003 [Tony Kosten]
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 Black captures the c-pawn. Whilst this is not as popular as [ 4...g4 Capablanca's Variation, or ] [ 4...f5 Lasker's Variation, it is perfectly viable. ] 5.0-0 Alternatively, White can play the immediate [ 5.c2 ] 5...bd7 The knight heads for b6 to defend t h e e x t r a c - p a w n . 6.c2 b6 7.a4 It is a moot point whether White should play this or first [ 7.a3 which is less aggressive, but doesn't concede the b4-square. ] 7...a5 8.a3 e6 [ 8...d5 is the other attempt at holding on to t he p awn : 9.e1 e6 10.d3! cxd3 ( 10...fd5 11.dxc4 b4 12.b3 f6 13.d3 e5 14.d2 xd3 15.exd3 c5 is fairly level, Kirov,N-Huebner,R/ Solingen 1987 ) 11.xd3 fd5 ( 11...g6 12.f4 e5 13.d2 g7?! 14.xc6+! bxc6 15.xc6+ d7 16.xb6 is good for White, Hausrath,D-Chuchelov,V/Breda NED 2000) 12.d1 White has sacrificed a pawn, hoping that his lead in development will compensate fully, f6?! ( 12...f6! ) 13.f4 xf4 14.xf4 g5 15.c7 d7?! 16.c4 g7 17.e4 g8 18.b6! 1-0 Kirov,N-Ruf, M/Cannes 1990, as xb6 19.g6+ hxg6 20.xg6+ f7 21.d8# ] 399
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.g5 White must guard the initiative. g4 [ 9...d5?! is met by 10.e4 h6 11.exd5 hxg5 12.dxc6 ] 10.xc4! xc4!? As far as I can see this natural recapture is a novelty, as previously capturing the pawn with [ 10...xe2! had been preferred, play c o n t i n u i n g 11.xb6 ( 11.e5!? h5 12.b4!? is incredibly aggressive, and may be stronger, bd5?! 13.b5 cxb5 14.d3 b6?! 15.xd5 d8 16.xf7+ xf7 17.xb5+ xb5 18.axb5 d5 19.xa5 White has an extra pawn, Stocek, J-Boric,M/ Pula CRO 2000.) 11...xb6 12.e1 h5 13.b4!? White strikes while the black king is s t i l l i n t h e c e n t r e , g6 ( 13...axb4!? Schirm, F-Lingnau,C/Germany 1991) 14.d3 axb4 15.e3 a6 16.e4 e6 White's compensation appears insufficient, Kirov,NLuther,T/Leningrad 1989. ] 11.xc4 e6 12.e4 White takes the centre, wit h a n as t y t h rea t of e 5, d islo dgin g t h e b i s h o p ' s d e f e n d e r . h5 13.d4 h6 Th is m o ve c h ase s t h e kn ight t o a b e t t e r square, maybe simple development by [ 13...e7 should be preferred. ] 14.h3 g6 15.f4! xe4!? Black takes the bull by the horns, [ 15...h7 was possible, but White is better. ] 16.xe4 xe4 17.xe6! The point. d7 [ 17...fxe6?! 18.xe6+ e7 19.g6+ d7 20.e1 e8 21.f3 regains the piece with interest. ] 18.c5 xc5? This move is risky, Black should play [ 18...xc5! 19.dxc5 d5 when 20.xd5 cxd5 21.e3 d7! 22.fd1 c6 is fine. ] 19.dxc5 e7 20.e1 This is the problem. f8 [ 20...0-0 allows a tactic, although it may be the best chance anyway: 21.xh6! gxh6 ( 21...b5!? 22.axb5 cxb5 23.e4 ) 22.ad1 c7 23.g4+ g5 ( e l s e R d 7 ) 24.h4 regains the material with interest, but f5 25.c4+ f7 and Black enters an endgame wh e re h e is wo rse , b u t m ay b e a b le t o draw. ] 21.f4 f6? [ 21...d5!? ] 22.ad1 c8 23.e5 xe5 24.xe5 Black is already losing, he can hardly hope to
defend against the white major pieces with his king uncastled and his rooks unconnected. h5 25.d6 h4 26.d3 hxg3 27.hxg3 g8 [ 27...h3?? is impossible, of course, 28.d8+ ] 28.d7 h6 29.ee7 The white rooks make the seventh rank their own. f6 30.b3 f8 31.xb7 e8 32.c7 xe7 33.xe7 g6 34.e5 White aims to win a second pawn, the o n e o n a 5 . a8 35.d7 g7? This accelerates matters, [ 35...f8 held on a little longer. ] 36.e8 a6 37.h3 The queen aims for h8, and Black is mated. [ 37.h3 g5 38.h8+ g6 39.g4 and Rg8. ] 1-0
413 Mikhalevski,Victor Matinian,N 11th Aeroflot Open B (9) [John Bartholomew]
A11 2525 2438 15.02.2012
1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.f3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.a3 b6 7.c2 d5 8.b3 This is very much the "move of the moment" in view of Timman's sparkling victory over Ernst. f5?! I judged this response to be unconvincing in the notes to Timman-Ernst. [ Instead, 8...cxb3 9.axb3 e6 10.b4! posed Black fresh problems in Timman, J (2571)-Ernst, S (2606)/Wijk aan Zee NED 2012/ [John Bartholomew]. ] 9.b2 [ Definitely better than 9.bxc4 xf3 10.xf3 xc2 11.xc2 xc4= Davies, N (2512)Haslinger, S (2423)/Swansea 2006/ [Nigel Davies]. ] [ 9.c3!? is possible. ] 9...cxb3 10.axb3 d8 [ The only previous game in this line went 10...e6 11.d3 d8 12.c4 e7 , a nd n ow I p ro po se d th e im provem en t 13.a5!? ( 13.xb6 axb6 14.xa8 xa8 was ok for Black in Mihajlovic, M (2243)Kuzma novic, R (1996)/Belgrade 2007 .) 13...c8 14.b4! 0-0 15.b5 ] 11.c4 g6 Fianchettoing makes sense because of the Qb2/Ra1. 12.a5 400
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ This provides adequate compensation, but White had a powerful alternative in 12.e4! , i.e. A) White's game has massive potential in other lines: 12...g4 13.e5 ( 13.fe5!?; 13.d4!? ) 13...fd5 14.e6 f6 15.g5!; B) 12...e6 13.g5 is very dangerous for Black, e.g. xc4 14.bxc4 xc4 15.d3! b5 16.e5 g7 17.exf6 xf6 18.b3 0-0 19.a3; C) 12...c8 13.e5 fd5 14.e6 f6 15.g5; D) 12...xe4 13.e1! g8 ( forced, since 13...xf3 14.xf6! is brutal ) 14.g5!? xg2 15.xf6 d5 16.xf7! g7 ( 16...xf7? 17.d6+ ) 17.f4! ( 17.xg7 xg7 18.xd8 xd8 19.xa7 xc4 20.bxc4 xc4 21.xb7= ) 17...xf7 18.d6+ d7 19.xf7 f8 20.a5!? when Black's position is quite precarious. The f ac t t hat normal play can lea d t o such consequences serves to emphasize the problems Black currently faces in the line beginning with 8.b3. ] 12...c8 13.e5 g7 14.axc6?! Difficult to resist, but incorrect. [ White should aim for positional compensation with 14.d4 0-0 15.e4 . ] 14...bxc6 15.xc6+ d7?! This results in rough equality. [ Best was 15...fd7! , when Mikhalevski m a y h a v e h a d t h e qu e e n sa c 16.xd7!? in mind. However, after xb2 17.xb6+ f8 18.xb2 b8 19.xc8 xc8 Black will emerge with an edge, e.g. 20.b7 b8 21.xh8 xb7 22.c3 f6 ] 16.xd7 bxd7 17.xa8 xa8 18.d4 a6 19.c4 0-0 20.xa6 The game is balanced. b8 [ Why not 20...b7= ? ] 21.a3 e5 22.c5 [ 22.a4!? ] 22...e4 23.e3 [ 23.d5 f6 24.a5 looks superior. ] 23...b5 24.xe7?! e8 25.fa1 xf2! Initiating favorable complications. 26.1a5 h3+ 27.g2 b7+ 28.xh3 xe7?! [ Here 28...c6! wins the bishop back with an initiative because 29.xc6? ( 29.a4 xe7 30.a8+ f8 ) 29...xc6 is out of the question, i. e. 30.a7 ( 30.c5
e6+ ) 30...d5! 31.c7 (31...Bd4 was the threat) e5! 32.a7 d4-+ ] 29.e4 d7+ 30.g2 c6 [ 30...f8= ] 31.a8 b8? Losing his way. [ 31...xa8 32.xa8+ f8 is equal-ish. ] 32.5a7! All of a sudden Black is in serious trouble. d8 [ 32...xe4 is a better chance, but after 33.xd7 xe2+ 34.f3 e8 35.b7 e5 36.d4! d6 37.b4 Black will be hardpressed to hold the ending. ] 33.c4 f6 [ The last chance was 33...f8 , but after 34.b7 e5 35.d4! d6 36.d5 I think Black's def enses begin to break down. ] 34.b7 e5 35.xf7+ h8 36.xe8+ 1-0
414 Miroshnichenko,Evgenij Burmakin,Vladimir RUS-Cup 300 years (4) [Nigel Davies]
A11 2571 2590 21.10.2003
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 a6 5.0-0 [ 5.cxd5 cxd5 will be harmless for Black at this point. ] 5...dxc4 6.a4 h6 Interesting. Black is willing to spend a tempo making sure that after 7... Be 6 he won 't get h assled wit h 8. Ng5 . A couple of other moves have been tried here, the first of which is just downright bad: [ a) 6...b5? 7.axb5 cxb5 8.d4 a7 9.xb5 won the pawn back with a clear advantage in Kirov, N-Pytel, K/Metz 1991. ] [ b) 6...bd7 should probably be met by 7. Na3 followed by just recapturing on c4 as after 7.c2 e5 8.xc4 c5 9.g5 c7 White's queen was exposed to harassment by Black's minor pieces in Reinderman, DErnst, S/Eindhoven 2010. ] 7.c2 This looks a bit routine to me. [ White has some interesting alternatives here such as 7.a5 followed by 8.Qa4 or ] [ 7.b3!? cxb3 8.xb3 . I've played these sorts of pawn sacrif ices quite a bit and wo u ld est im a te th a t W h it e h a s e no u gh 401
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 compensation. But not more than that. ] 7...e6 8.a3 b5 9.e5 d5 10.e4 e6 11.d4 [ 11.d3 i s m e t b y t h e a w k w a r d d4 with W hite's compensation disappearing down the drain. ] [ His best seems to be 11.d1 d4 12.c3! xc3 13.dxc3 with some compensating initiative in the endgame. But it's not easy to play this way when you've sacrificed a pawn early on. ] 11...xd4 12.f4 g5 13.fd1 b6 14.e3 b7 15.d2 fd7 I don't really see much c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r W h i t e . 16.f4 g7?! A bit tentative. [ 16...gxf4! 17.xf4 g7 is a lot stronger. ] 17.xd7 xd7 18.e5 0-0?! Maybe it's just me but Black's king doesn't look too safe on the kingside right now. [ It would have been better to delay this, say with 18...c8 . ] 19.fxg5 xe5 20.e4? [ Was 20.gxh6 too obvious? ] 20...g4 21.e1 d7 22.f2 hxg5 23.xg5 d4 Putting a huge spanner in the works. In order to avoid the exchange of queens White has to put his pieces on very awkward squares. 24.e3 c5 25.c2 d7 26.f5 xf5 27.xf5 g7?! [ T h e c o l d b l o o d e d 27...xb2 28.xd7 xg5 was much stronger but White is probably lost in any case. ] 28.xc5 xc5 29.xe7 xa4 30.xf8 xf8 31.xa4 Desperately trying to stop Black setting up a massive flotilla of qu e e n s id e p a wn s. bxa4 32.e4 xb2 33.xc4 a3 34.a4 d8 35.f1 d2 36.xa3 d1+ 37.e2 a1 38.xa6 c5 39.a8+ g7 40.a5 xa3 41.d3 g6 0-1
415 Miroshnichenko,Evgenij Kuzmin,Alexey 6th Open Dubai UAE (8) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2599 2567 27.04.2004
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4 e6 6.0-0 White keeps his queenside options open, Black was doing well after
[ 6.a3 d5 7.c2 c5 8.xc4 c6 i n t h e R a d j a b o v, T - S vi d l e r , P g a m e w e examined a while ago. ] 6...d5 The bishop comes to a strong central square to avoid Ng5 and e4 tactics, and also to be able to play ...e6 to complete development. 7.c3 This knight often goes to a3 in these lines, to pressure the c4-pawn, but here W hite prefers to play against the black light-squared bishop. a6 This is a new move, and looks to be a good alternative to [ 7...e6 when 8.c2 (menacing e4) xf3 9.xf3 bd7 10.a5 a6 11.a4 d6 12.g2 was Romanishin,O-Dorfman, J/Lvov 19 7 8 , wh e n c7 is interesting, tying White to the a5-pawn. ] 8.b3!? A standard device, the c4-pawn must be eliminated. cxb3 9.d3 White intends to recuperate the pawn by playing e4 and Ng5. xf3 The simplest solution, but [ 9...c5 is also interesting, hindering e4, 10.d4 ce4 11.xd5 xd5 12.a3 t o t a k e t h e b 3 - p a w n , o r ( 12.d3!? with unclear play. )] 10.xf3 e6 11.xb3 b8?! [ 11...c5 12.c2 e7 seems easier. ] 12.b1 b4 Black hopes to have time to play ...a5 which will establish a piece on b4 and stop the white pressure on the b-line. [ White's previous move was played to stop 12...c5? which loses a pawn to 13.xc6+ ] 13.f4 White plays this when ...Bd6 is impossible as the black bishop is required to protect the knight on b4. c8 [ 13...a8 would avoid what follows, but it was difficult to see that the a-pawn needed defence. ] 14.a5! Beautifully played! White realises that he must stop Black from defending his knight w i t h . . . a 5 . xa5 15.a1 b6 16.e3 White regains one pawn. c7 [ 16...c5 is met by 17.a4+ d7 18.xa7 xa7 19.xa7 regaining the pawn, anyway, b6 20.b5 with a active pieces and a strong initiative. ] 17.xa7 e7?! Perhaps Black should prefer [ 17...b8 to defend the b-pawn. ] 18.a2! Of course, this undermining of the knight and exposure of the b7-pawn has been White's intention from the start. fd5 [ 18...xa2 19.xb7 ] 402
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.xb4 xb4 20.b1 0-0 21.c4 After this White regains his other pawn and remains with a positional plus. c5 [ 21...d6 22.xb7 d5 is better, but White has all the chances. ] 22.xb7 d6 23.f4! [ 23.xc5?! xc5 24.7xb4 wins a pawn, bu t a llo ws B la ck rea l d rawin g ch a n ce s because of the opposite-colour bishops. ] 23...e5 Black loses control over important light squares after this. 24.e3 h6 25.g4 c6 26.d7 f6 27.f3 cc8 28.b7! The white light-squared bishop is king of the l i g h t s q u a r e s ! cd8?! 29.xd8 xd8 30.xc5 xc5 31.xc5 [ 31.xc5 a6 32.xa6 xa6 33.xe5 leaves W hite with two extra pawns and a simple win. ] 1-0
416 Miroshnichenko,Evgenij Mammadov,Ayaz President's Cup (1) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2608 2163 04.05.2006
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 g4 5.e5 h5 [ 5...e6 might be better, see Goodwin, EMansson, J in the archives. ] 6.cxd5 cxd5?! This is probably a mistake, [ 6...xd5 is the only move that keeps things on a level keel. ] 7.a4+! [ 7.c3 is slightly less accurate, because after c6! ( 7...e6 8.g4 g6 9.a4+ bd7 10.h4 transposes to the main game) 8.a4 d6 9.d4 b4 10.xc6 xa4 11.xa4 bxc6 12.d2 and White has only a minimal advantage, Kosten, A-Shirazi, K/ Sautron FRA 2005. ] 7...bd7 8.c3 e6 9.g4 g6 10.h4 c7!? A novelty, but it doesn't seem to change the assessment of the position. Still it is instructive to see quite how White refutes it. W e have examined the other moves in the past: [ 10...c2 11.xf7! Romanishin, O-Suba, M/ Moscow 1986. ] [ 10...h6 11.xg6 fxg6 12.g5 hxg5
13.hxg5 xh1+ 14.xh1 h7 15.g4! Kourkonakis, I-Engquist, T, Gausdal 1990 ] [ 10...d6 11.d4 ] [ 10...a6! might be the best chance, see my analysis of Fernandez Murga, R-Ginzburg, M/ Buenos Aires ARG 1999. ] 11.d4 h5?! [ 11...h6 12.f4 c o u l d l e a d t o : b6 13.xg6 fxg6 14.c2 f7 15.g5 with a clear advantage because of the poor black pawn structure. ] 12.f4 b6 13.g5! This wins. [ 13.xg6 fxg6 14.c2 would be most player's choice, defending b2 and attacking g6 at the same time. ] 13...xb2 Obviously the knight can't move as that would allow mate on d7. 14.c1 b4 Black was doubtless relying on this resource, but W hite has seen further! 15.0-0! xc3 16.gxf6 Now the knight on d7 is attacked by queen and knight, so... d8 Objectively Black should prefer [ 16...0-0 but 17.xg6 fxg6?! 18.xd7 wins a piece for nothing with more to come. ] 17.xd7 White aims for the brilliancy prize, although [ 17.fxg7 g8 18.g5 was also very con vin cin g, i.e . b4 19.xd7!! xa4 ( 19...xd7? 20.xb4 xb4 21.c8+ mates. ) 20.f6+ e7 21.xg8+ d7 22.f6+ d6 23.xc3 with lots of pieces for the queen, plus a g-pawn that will cost Black a further rook! ] 17...xd7 18.xc3! xc3 19.c1 xc1+?! The queen cannot move because of Rc8 mate, but this move is not much better. The only chance was [ 19...b5 20.xb5 c2 although this only ho ld s of f th e in evit ab le : 21.fxg7 g8 22.g5 f6 23.xf6 with a crushing attack at no material cost. ] 20.xc1 gxf6 21.a3 This stops the king from ever castling. a6 22.a5 g8 23.c5 e4 24.f3 b1? 25.c8+ d8 26.xb7 xa2? Allowing mate on e7. [ 26...d7 27.xb1 ] 1-0
403
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 417 Mista,A Hnydiuk,A 6th Gora Sw Anny OpA (3.2) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2558 2416 27.01.2013
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 dxc4 4.g2 f6 5.0-0 e6 Defending the pawn this way scores very well for Black. 6.g5 d5 7.e4 h6 8.exd5 hxg5 9.dxc6 xc6 10.a3 After the forcing play an interesting position has arisen, White has the bishop pair, but d4 and d3 are weak and Black may be able to make use of the open h-file. e6 The most natural move, trying to complete kingside development, and the most popular. [ 10...d3!? is ambitious, 11.a4 0-0-0!? ( 11...c8 12.e1 e6 13.xc4 c5 14.e5 d4 was quickly drawn in Talla, V (2395)-Langner, L (2366)/Tatranske Zruby 2012. ) 12.xc6 bxc6 13.xc6+ b8 14.b5+ a8 15.c6+ b8 16.b5+ a8 17.c6+ 1/2-1/2 Marin, M (2583)Postny, E (2647)/Barbera del Valles 2009. ] [ 10...d4 11.a4 c8 12.d3 e6 13.b5 with advantage, Kirov, N (2422)-Stojanov, S (2326)/Pamporovo 2001. ] [ 10...c8 11.xc4 e6 transposes below. ] 11.xc4 e7 [ 11...c8 12.d3 ( maybe White should try 12.d4!? a n y wa y, e . g . xd4 13.b3 g4 14.b2 with good compensation for the pawn. ) 12...d5 13.d4 e7 gains a whole tempo on the main game, 14.e3 0-0 15.xd5 exd5 16.e3 f6 ( 16...d7 17.h5 g6 18.h3 d6 Loew, G (2251)-El De b s , F (2 4 9 7 )/ C a le t a 2 0 1 2 , 19.d1!? ) 17.g4 ( 17.h3 b8 18.d2 is also a bit better for W hite, Pigusov, E (2520)Tukmakov, V (2580)/Sochi 1987.) 17...c7 18.fd1 e8 19.ac1 d7 20.c3 d6 21.a3 with the bishop pair and a long-term ed ge , Dizd ar, G (24 9 0)-S h am ko vich, L (2435)/Saint John 1988. ] [ 11...c5 12.d3 ( 12.d4! xd4 13.xg5 with the bishops in an open position.) 12...g4 13.g5 h5 14.h4 gxh3?! Maletin, P (2543)-Landa, K (2584)/Tomsk 2006, when 15.xc6+ bxc6 16.xh5 xh5 17.xd8 xd8 18.h2 xd3 19.xh3 leaves White with an exchange for a pawn. ]
12.d4! d5 T o p r o t e c t g 5 . 13.e3 The key idea in this line, White pressures the d 5 - s q u a r e . d7 Necessary, to play ...Rd8 and defend d5. [ 13...0-0?! w o u l d a l l o w 14.xd5 exd5 15.g4 ( 15.e3 d7 would transpose below. )] 14.xd5 (1/2-1/2 Jansa, V (2485)-Agzamov, G ( 2 5 4 5 ) / K o l k a t a 1 9 8 6 ) exd5 15.f4!? A totally new idea here. [ 15.e3 is normal, but A) 15...0-0-0 16.b4!? xb4?! ( 16...b8! a n d p l a y a s i n t h e S h e n g e l i a g a m e .) 17.b1 b8 Vaulin, A (2515)-Fogarasi, T (2435)/Zalaegerszeg 1992, 18.d2 c6 19.b5 e6 20.fb1 with advantage.; B) 15...0-0 16.h5 f5 17.ad1 ad8 is Black's most solid, Kochyev, A (2450)Comp Mephisto Portorose/Dortmund 1990, but White has a small plus.; C) 15...f5!? 16.c1 0-0-0 why not try to make use of the open h-file? 17.b4 b8 18.a3 f4 Cebalo, M (2495)-Shengelia, D (2578)/Zadar 2010, when W hite should probably play 19.d2 ] 15...gxf4 16.xf4 White has further opened the position for his bishops, and can also exploit the f-file, but his d4-pawn is a target and his king is a bit open. 0-0 17.h5 f6 18.e3 fe8 19.xf6! xe3?? [ 19...gxf6 is completely forced. 20.d2!? ( 20.h3 e7 21.e1 b4! ) 20...e7 (to defend d5 and help cover the kingside as Bh3-f5 was threatened). 21.f1 e6 22.f4 White has a strong initiative, but Black has plenty of resources and can defend his king with ...Ng6. ] 20.f4 g6 [ 20...d8 21.h4 f6 22.f1 d6 23.f3 t h re a t e n s Q h 8 + f o l lo we d b y B h 5 + a n d basically forces xf3 24.xf3 with an easy win. ] [ 20...e6 21.xd5 also wins. ] 21.h6 The threat of Rh4 is decisive. e6 [ 21...d8 allows the neat 22.xf7 xf7 23.f1+ e8 24.f8+ d7 25.xd8+ xd8 26.xe3 ] [ 21...e4 is the only chance, but 22.af1! will win. ] 22.h4 e1+ [ 22...f6 defends h8 but leaves e3 404
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 hanging. ] 23.xe1 xe1+ 24.f1 1-0
418 Mohr,Georg Mencinger,Vojko SLO-ch Grize [Nigel Davies]
A11 2510 2390 1996
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 5.c2 bd7 6.b3 d6 7.b2 0-0 8.h3 a6 Preparing ...b7-b5 with the idea of gaining counterplay on the queenside. [ There are various options which aim for c e n t ra l p la y (8 . . . Re 8 , 8 . . . Q e 7 a n d t h e arguably premature 8...e5), another move which does not is 8...b6 , which looks very reasonable if a little laid back for many peoples' taste. Still it received the patronage of Vladimir Kramnik and after 9.g4 b7 10.g5 e8 11.h4 f5 12.d4 e7 13.g2 c8 14.f4 c5 Black had a very satisfactory game in Tomashevsky, E (2564)-Kramnik, V (2739)/Moscow 2005. ] 9.g4 [ D a n i e l F r i d m a n h a s p l a y e d 9.d4 here a couple of times, for example e7 ( 9...b5 10.d3 e5 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.dxe5 xe5 13.xe5 xe5 14.e2 a5+ 15.c3 xc3+ 16.xc3 xc3+ 17.xc3 gave W hite a nice endgame edge in Fridman, D (2572)-Braun, V (2195)/Senden 2002 ) 10.g4 dxc4 11.bxc4 e5 12.0-0-0 e8 13.g5 h5 14.e2 g6 15.e4 a3 16.dxe5 xb2+ 17.xb2 c5 18.d6 f8 19.d2 and White was well on top in Fridman, D (2515)-Woller, R (2210)/Senden 1998. ] 9...b5 [ After 9...e5?! W hite can play 10.g5 d4 ( 10...h5 11.cxd5 wins the d5 pawn) 11.gxf6 xf6 12.xd4 exd4 13.e4 g6 14.0-0-0 with dangerous attacking chances along the g-file. ] [ Another possibility is 9...e5 but then 10.xe5 xe5 11.g5 d7 12.d4 d6 13.h4 was nice for White in Damljanovic, B ( 2 5 9 0 ) - B o g o s a vl j e vi c , B ( 2 4 7 0 ) / V r s a c 2007. ]
10.g5 e8 11.h4 This seems to be new in this particular position, though the idea of charging down the king's wing isn't exactly astonishing. [ Another possibility is 11.d4 but then bxc4 12.bxc4 b8 gave Black counterplay on the b-file in Makarov, M (2480)-Shabanov, Y (2375)/Kuibyshev 1990. ] 11...b4?! I don't like this much as Black is reducing his chances of queenside counterplay by closing it up over there. [ 11...b7 ] [ and 11...bxc4 look better to me. ] 12.a4 e5 13.c5 b8 14.e4 d4?! And this gives White the c4 square. [ 14...c7 looks better. ] 15.c4 h8 16.0-0-0 e7 17.dg1 a7 18.h5 xc5 19.xc5 xc5 20.h4 d6 21.d3?! [ Missin g a m u ch st ro n ge r lin e i n 21.g6! after which a7 22.gxf7 fxf7 23.g6+! g8 24.g5! is very strong. ] 21...c7? [ 21...e6 was much better, which good chances to defend. ] 22.g3 e6 23.f5? A serious mistake which leads to White's attack being stopped in its tracks. [ 23.g6! was the right way after which h6 24.gxf7 xf7 25.g6+ followed by 26.Nxe5 is just good for White. ] 23...xf5 24.exf5 d5 25.g6 [ 25.f6! was the way to keep some kingside prospects alive Black dare not play gxf6? because of 26.g6! . ] 25...h6 26.h4 f6 27.e4 a5 28.c2 a4 29.c1 b6 30.e6 axb3+ [ 30...d5! looks stronger as the knight can shield h6 by coming to f4. ] 31.xb3 d5 [ Another good line was 31...d3+ 32.xd3 xd3+ 33.xd3 xf2 , again with the better game for Black. ] 32.d3 fb8? Allowing the following sacrifice. [ 32...e7 was much better so as to meet 33.xh6 with xf5! 34.xg7+ xg7 etc. ] 33.xh6 a7?! Going out with a whimper rather than a bang. [ Black should have tried 33...gxh6 34.g7+ g8 35.g6 d7 when White has to find 36.f4! ( 36.xh6? xf5 37.h8+ f7 405
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is good for Black) 36...exf4 37.xh6 xf5 38.g6! with a winning attack. ] 34.d2? [ Missing an immediate win with 34.xg7+ xg7 35.h6 a7 36.g7+ g8 37.h7+ etc. ] 34...ba8 35.a1 d8 [ Black's best chance here is to head for the hills with 35...g8 . ] 36.h6 [ 36.h6 gxh6 37.h3 would be rather horrific for Black. ] 1-0
420 Morozevich,Alexander Tkachiev,Vladislav ETCC Crete GRE (7) [Carsten Hansen]
A11 2755 2661 04.11.2007
1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 g6 4.c4 c6 5.b3 g7 6.b2 0-0 7.0-0 dxc4 This is a rather rare cont in uat ion . Much m ore f requen tly played lines are 7... Nbd7, 7...Bg4, 7...a5, 7... Bf5, and 7...Re8 8.bxc4 c5 With move Black enters a variation with a tempo less than usual. There is a previous game by Svidler and a few by Shamkovich, but otherwise nothing. 9.c3 [ In the earlier games by Shamkovich, White 419 A11 each time chose a different path: A) 9.d3 c6 10.e5 xe5 11.xe5 e8 12.xg7 Mohr,Georg 2485 xg7 13.c3 f5 14.b1 b8 15.a4 Orel,Sz 2035 Stein, L-Shamkovich, L/Leningrad 1971 ] 11th Open Ljubljana 2000 [ B) 9.c2 c6 10.d3 g4 11.bd2 d7 [John Watson] 12.b3 b6 13.fd1 ac8 14.c3 e8 15.xg7 xg7 and Black has equalized 1.f3 c6 2.c4 f5 3.d4 e6?? Black wants to rather effortlessly, Tal-Shamkovich, USSR play the Stonewall but he is confused by 1968 ] W hite's move order. 4.d5! Of course. Note This position is well-known with an however that if White had played g3 rather 9...c6 than Nf3 then Black's move order might have extra tempo for Black, not having lost a tempo been reasonable: he could have answered 4 through... c7-c6-c5. For example the game d5 with cxd5 followed the bypassing e5 and Psakhis-Kirov, Sochi 1979:1 Nf3 Nf6 2 g3 d5 3 so avoided serious damage to his centre. Bg2 g6 4 b3 Bg7 5 Bb2 0-0 6 0-0 c5 7 c4 dxc4 cxd5 5.cxd5 a5+? This aggressive play 8 bxc4 Nc6 9 Nc3.The present position has just makes things worse though even after a only been played in one game I could locate. sensible move like 5...Nf6 Black was going to 10.d3 [ In the "stem" game of this line, White be left with a weak pawn on e6 and a hole on proceeded with 10.a4 d6 11.a3 d7 e5. 6.c3 b4 7.d2 f6 8.dxe6 dxe6 12.b1 b8 13.e3 b6 ( If 13...e5 9.a3 e7 10.e3 d7 11.c4 b6 12.b4 to discourage W hite from playing d2-d4, c6 13.b3 e5 If White has 14.g5 intending Ng5-e4-c3-d5 [ 13...d8 14.e5 is horrible, but the game as pointed out by Horn in ChessBase move leads to a swift collapse. ] Magazine ) 14.d4 a6 15.dxc5 14.g5 d8 15.0-0 h6 16.f3 e4 17.e5 ( My computer likes 15.e2!? a5 16.d2 e6 18.a4+ d7 19.xd7 xd7 20.d5 , a n d a f t e r fd8 17.c3 White is d6 21.fd1 c6 22.c3 g6 23.c7+ threatening Nb5, forcing Black to let go of 1-0 his light-squared bishop.) 15...bxc5 16.c2 ( For obvious reasons White abstains from 16.xd6? exd6 as White's pawn on c4 now is considerably weaker than Black's on d6 and furthermore, W hite's set-up with Na4 and Ba3 is entirely pointless.) 16...b4 17.xb4 xb4 18.xb4 cxb4 19.d1 ( Unsatisfactory is 19.c5 d3 20.xd3 xd3 , and the extent of White's troubles are 406
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 richly illustrated in the following continuation: 21.c1 b5 22.c6 c8 23.c5 xc6 24.b3 xc1+ 25.xc1 c5 , and Black should win without too many headaches) 19...c7 20.d2 b6 21.xb4 xc4 22.xc4 xc4 23.xb6 axb6 and with this liqu i d a t i o n , t h e d ra w b e co m e s e vid e n t shortly 24.b1 d8 25.h4 d6 26.a3 a2 27.c1 f6 28.e4 e5 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, Gelfand, B-Svidler, P/ Biel 2001 ] 10...b8 11.d2 d4?! [ This looks rather peculiar, as it allows White to push Black backwards and grab some space in the process. Maybe Black was hoping to be able to target some of softer spots left behind with White's advances, but if so, his intentions failed rather spectacularly. A solid alternative is 11...d7 , though W hite also has a pleasant game after 12.b1 ] 12.e3 e6 13.e2 b6 [ Black's position is already quite u n c o m f o r t a b le . A ls o 13...g5 14.d5 ( 14.f4?! g4!? 15.f3 xf3 16.xf3 xf3+ 17.xf3 d7= ) 14...f5 ( 14...e8?! 15.ab1 xd5 16.cxd5 xb2 17.xb2 ) 15.e4 g4 16.f3 leaves Black with an entirely unpleasant position with almost no counterplay ] 14.f4!? [ White has several good continuations at his disposal also 14.de4!? xe4 15.dxe4 intending Rad1 and f2-f4 leaves Black with an uncomfortable game ] 14...c7 15.f3 g4 16.a4 fe8?! [ Black plays very passively an alternative is 16...d7!? , e.g. 17.d2 ( 17.fd1!? ) 17...xf3 18.xf3 fd8 19.fd1 g4 is playable for Black ] 17.a3 d6 18.b5 a6 19.xg7 xg7 20.a7 d7?! [ 20...e8 21.b2+ f6 looks solid, but White has the spectacular 22.e5!! fxe5 23.c6 (thanks Shredder) with a better game for White ] 21.e5! This is undoubtedly what Tkachiev had overlooked. Now White's advantage take on greater proportions. xe2 22.xd7 xf1 23.xf1 fd8 [ Or 23...b5 24.cxb5 axb5 25.xb8 b4
26.a1 xb8 27.c6 e8 28.e2 , and White's a-pawn, accompanied by the long-ranging bishop on g2, secures White a significant advantage, yet this is likely better than the continuation chosen by Black in the game. ] 24.xb8 xb8 25.b3 With this simple move, Black is losing the threat of Nc6 will win W hite at least a pawn along with White penetrating on the queenside. b5 [ 25...e6 26.c6 b7 27.e5 b8 28.c6 threatening Nd7, securing the breakthrough ] 26.axb5 axb5 27.cxb5 cxb5 28.f2 [ 28.e1 h6 29.h4 e6 30.f1+- ] 28...b6? [ Black can prevent White's decisive next move with 28...e6 but White nonetheless still wins af ter 29.e1 h6 30.f1 f5 31.xb5 xb5 32.xb5 xb5 33.d4 xd4 34.exd4 cxd4 35.d2+- ] 29.d5 1-0
421 Movsesian,Sergei Dubov,Daniil Tata Steel Chess 2013 (10.11) [John Bartholomew]
A11 2688 2600 23.01.2013
An important test of the Gurevich Anti-Slav. 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 5.c2 d6 6.b3 0-0 7.b2 e5! Previously this move was accompanied by the '!?' mark, but I feel it's proven enough to warrant a stand-alone exclam. [ That's not to say that Black's alternatives like 7...bd7 ] [ and 7...e7 aren't valid, but the text seems like th e m ost clea r-cut ro u te t o a go o d game. ] 8.d4!? [ Unusual, but I suspect Movsesian was aware of White's shortcomings after 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.b5 , attempting to capitalize on Black's move order. Following c6 10.xd6 xd6 11.d4!? ( 11.b5?! b4 12.c1 Clery, N (2390)-Savchenko, S (2558) Cappelle la Grande 2008/[Rowson] here T o n y l i k e s e4 13.d4 d7 ) 11...b4 407
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.d1 e4 13.e5 e8! Black had quite a reasonable position in Anastasian, A (2602)Sakaev, K (2649) Kusadasi 2006/ [TonyK]. Now on 14.a3 Tony mentions the possibility of f6!? 15.h3 ( 15.axb4? xb4+ 16.d2 xd2+ 17.xd2 fxe5 wins a pawn for Black because f2 is hanging) 15...fxe5 16.dxe5 e7 17.axb4 xb4+ 18.e2 with mutual chances. ] 8...e4! A smart choice, and a novelty, too. [ Previously Black had played 8...exd4 , e.g. 9.xd4 a6 ( 9...c5 10.db5 d4 11.0-0-0 c6 12.xd6 xd6 13.exd4 xd4 Rychagov, A (2542)-Kreisl, R (2406) M o s c o w 2 0 1 2 14.b5! f4+ 15.d2 xd2+ 16.xd2 ) 10.d1 g4 11.e2 xe2 12.dxe2 ( 12.xe2 ) 12...a5 13.0-0 c7 Radjabov, T (2757)-Ragger, M (2561) Novi Sad 2009. Here 14.cxd5 xh2+ 15.h1 d6 16.e4! is quite promising for White. ] 9.d2 e6 [ 9...a6!? ] 10.c5?! Releasing the tension central tension doesn't seem favorable. [ 10.e2 i s m o r e n o r m a l , i . e . bd7 ( 10...h5!? ) 11.0-0 e7= with a level game. ] 10...c7 11.f3 f5!? [ Developing with 11...bd7 is also possible because 12.fxe4 is strongly met by g4! , i.e. 13.f3 dxe4 14.xe4 ( 14.xe4 d5 15.eg5 f5 ) 14...df6 15.d3 e8 with a huge attack for a modest material expenditure. ] 12.0-0-0 g6 Forcing White to address the threat of ...exf3. 13.f4 [ Or 13.fxe4 g4 14.e1 f2 . ] 13...g4! 14.e1 f2 15.g1 h4 The opening has clearly not been favorable to White. He's fortunate to escape with a draw hereafter. 16.e2 [ 16.h3? g3! would have bound White up completely. ] 16...xh2 [ 16...a6!? ] 17.d1 xd1 [ It looks stronger to play 17...d3+ 18.xd3 exd3 19.c3 g3 . ] 18.xd1?! g3 19.c3 f5 20.f1 f2 21.d2 g3 22.f1 f2 23.d2 g3
Draw agreed. Black could play on, but he must have been satisfied with the results of the opening. If you have a good novelty prepared against 7...e5! please stand up! Black is looking incredibly comfortable at present. ½-½
422 Nakamura,Hikaru Friedel,Joshua E Championship 2006 (1) [John Watson]
A11 2774 2513 02.03.2006
They say that Hikaru Nakamura plays everything, and that includes English/ Reti complexes. His plan in this game works out well even if he loses his way in the complications and is victim of a surprising upset. Once again the bishop pair plays a role. [notes based upon my own in the bulletin] 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 e6 4.c2 d6 Flexible. Friedel plays the Dutch and is still angling for one. 5.c3 f5 6.h3!? One of the better anti-Dutch systems. W hite plans to either open the g-file or loosen Black's grip on e4. f6 7.g4 0-0 [ 7...fxg4? 8.hxg4 xg4? 9.xh7 ] 8.gxf5 exf5 9.b3! e7 10.b2 a6 11.g1 Whether it is objectively better or not, I like White's position here. The bishop on the long diagonal coordinates with the rook on th e o p en g-f ile , a nd W h ite ha s a ce n tra l majority. [ Another approach is 11.cxd5 b4 12.b1 bxd5 13.xd5 ( 13.g1!? ) 13...xd5 ( 13...cxd5!? ) 14.g1 g6 15.h4! ] 11...d7 [ 11...f4 is an aggressive option. The play is very flexible in these positions. ] 12.cxd5 b4 13.b1 cxd5 14.a3 c6 In this position Nakamura uncorked 15.xd5! , which seems obvious enough but always leaves the risk that Black might retain too much material for his queen: xd5 16.c4!? [ The other route (perhaps clearer) was 16.xg7 xg7 17.xg7+ xg7 18.d3! , for example, ce7 ( 18...e6 19.d4 c8 20.g2 ) 19.d4+ f7 20.c4 c6 21.h4! e8 22.h6 d8 23.d4 and Black has weaknesses all over. ] 408
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16...e6 17.xg7+ xg7 18.xg7 xg7 19.b2+ [ Again, 19.d3 was worthy of consideration. ] 19...f6 [ Black is too exposed after 19...h6 20.d3 ( 20.h4!? ae8 21.g5 g8 22.d1 e7 23.d4 ) 20...ad8 21.d1 ] 20.0-0-0 h6 Because of White's initiative, it's easy to forget that Black has the bishop pair. In the game they becomes a factor, which helps to explain why W hite wants to undertake immediate action. 21.d3!? [ A safer path was 21.b1 f7 22.d4! g8 23.e5+ ] 21...f7! 22.e4!? Very ambitious, freeing Black's bishops. It seems to work out because of some very concrete reasons. fxe4 23.dxe4 xf3 24.exd5 f4+ 25.b1 f5+ 26.a2 e5! [ 26...a5 27.g1 g8 28.e2! with the dual threats Qxf3 and d6+. ] 27.d6+ g6 [ 27...xc4? 28.bxc4 d7 29.e2 c6 30.d5!! xd5 31.cxd5 c3 32.e7+ g6 33.d7 wins. ] 28.e2 [ 28.g1+ asks Black where he's going. The most natural line is f6 29.d4 c8 with unclear consequences. ] 28...xh3 29.d4 f8! 30.b5!? [ B l a c k s e e m s t o h o l d a f t e r 30.d7!? . For example, double-edged play follows xd7 31.g1+ g5 32.b5 f3! 33.xd7 c2! ( or 33...xf2+ 34.a1 c2 )] 30...e6 [ Or 30...c2 31.d7! xb3+ 32.b2 xd1 33.d6+ f6 34.xf6+ xf6 35.d8+ isn't clear but would be tough for Black to play with limited time. ] 31.e4+ [ 31.d7!? xb3+ 32.b2 may be more accurate. W hit e has the initiative in all these lines, but nothing leading to a clear advantage. ] 31...h5 32.e2+ h4? [ A finesse is 32...g5! 33.g1+ h4 ] 33.d7! xd7 34.xd7!? [ Still following a logical path, but White had b e t t e r : ( a ) 34.d4 was good but not immediately decisive: g5 (the threat was
Qxe5) 35.h7! intending Qe7+. Black has a lot of loose pieces, e.g., f5 ( 35...e8? 36.xd7 xd7 37.g7+ ) 36.e7+ f6 37.xf4! xf4 38.xf6 h2 39.d6! , although it's a tough position to convert. ] [ (b) It was hard to see over the board, but W h i t e c o u l d h a v e g o t t e n a ve r y l a r g e a d v a n t a g e b y m e a n s o f 34.d5! , for example, h2 35.xe5 xf2 36.h5+ g3 37.a1! and White threatens Qd3+, so g4 ( 37...c6 38.g6+ g5 39.xh6 ) 38.d3+ f3 39.g6+ g5 40.xg5+! hxg5 41.xg5+ h2 42.h6+ g3 43.g7+ h2 44.xf8 ] 34...xd7 35.e7+? This move virtually loses, whereas [ 35.e6! forces the return of some material. There should follow f6 36.e7 c3 37.xf8 c2+ 38.b1 xe2 39.xf6+ g4 40.g7+ g5 41.xb7 etc., although it's still not an easy task for W hite due to the passed h-pawn. ] 35...g5 36.xd7 f4! Now the king is protected and f2 is weak, while Black has a passed h-pawn to boot. White can do nothing an d t h e re st t u rn s o ut t o b e surp ris in gly simple: 37.f3 h2 38.d3 g3 39.b4 f2 40.b1 g2! 41.d1 h4 42.g6+ g3 43.c2 [ 43.xh6 loses to d4 44.c2 ( 44.b3 h4! and ...Rh1 ) 44...dd2 etc. ] 43...h5 44.xh5 c4 45.e4 d4 46.f4+ What else? Mate threatened. xe4 47.d5 fe2 48.xb7 g1 [ A sample line is 48...g1 49.f5 e5 50.xa7+ f2 and wins. ] 0-1
423 Navara,David Sokolov,Ivan 16th ORDIX Open rapid (7) [Jonathan Rowson]
A11 2687 2655 02.08.2009
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 a6 5.c2 g6 6.b3 [ 6.d4!? followed by Bd3 might be a better bet. ] 6...g7 7.b2 0-0 8.e2 b5! 9.0-0 f5 Note that Black plays b5 first so that now 409
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White cannot easily meet this move with d3 but instead feels obliged to waste time with his queen. 10.c1 [ 10.d3 dxc4 11.bxc4 bxc4 12.e4 is playable and possibly better for W hite, but Black would be quite happy to deal with relatively minor problems while being a pawn up. ] 10...e8 11.d4 d7 12.f4 [ 12.cxd5!? cxd5 13.f4 looks more attractive, but opening the c-file with the queen on c1 is less than ideal and Black plays b6 followed by a quick Rc8 and White is struggling to hold equality. ] 12...c5! 13.f3 bxc4 14.bxc4 e6 15.a3?! [ 15.b1!? actually looks quite comfortable for White, so it is possible that his opening play was quite good after all. c7 16.d1! ] 15...a5 16.cxd5 exd5 17.e5 e6 18.f3 a7 19.b1 c7 Until here Navara had played quite sensibly and the position remains balanced, but now he seems to get impatient for action and enters unfavourable complications. 20.e4?! dxe4 21.xe4 xe4 22.xe4 xa2! A pawn is a pawn, as they say, though exactly what they mean I don't know. 23.b2 e6 [ 23...xa3 24.xb8 a4 looks stronger. ] 24.c2 ec8 25.h1 c4?! More mistakes than normal from players of this level- but that is expected in a rapid game. [ 25...d7 keeps the compensation to a minimum. ] 26.d6 xe5 27.fxe5 d7 28.d4 [ 28.b2! simply attacking the knight. xd6 ( 28...c6? 29.xc6 xc6 30.b8+ d8 31.a3! wins. ) 29.exd6 e5 30.f3 xd6 31.c3 is possibly a fraction better for White beca use Black's pawns a re split, bu t it f e e ls d ra wis h , b e cau se th e mo st like ly scenario is that White will win the a and c pawns in return for the d-pawn and then have slight pressure that is not enough to win. ] 28...c6 29.xc6 xc6 30.b2 c8 [ 30...cxd6!? in some ways it is surprising that Sokolov didn't sacrifice the exchange while it was relatively simple to do so. ] 31.a1? [ 31.c5 it's important not to let the black cpawn have too power power. ]
31...xa1 32.xa1 f5 33.xa6? collapse. [ 33.c1 ] 33...c3 34.c6 dd8! 35.bb6 c2 36.a3 xc6 37.xc6 xd4 38.h3 a4 39.b2 a2 40.e6 xb2 0-1
424 Nikolic,Predrag Khenkin,Igor Bundesliga 2003-4 (15) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2648 2596 25.04.2004
1.f3 d5 2.g3 g4 A sort of reversed Tromp, but as there is no threat to capture on f3 and double the white pawns (as White's natural reply protects this piece) it is only played to reach a flexible Capablanca System position. In fact Black often plays a later ...Nf6 (as in this game) and we have a direct transposition. 3.g2 c6 4.0-0 White can also play the immediate [ 4.c4 to avoid having to prepare this move with d3, and I have mostly looked at this before. ] 4...d7 Black controls e5 to hinder White from p l a y i n g c 4 . 5.d3 gf6 6.c4 xf3! This little tactic equalises immediately. 7.xf3 [ 7.exf3?! keeps the bishop pair, but wrecks the white pawn structure. e6 8.c3 e7 9.e2 0-0 10.f4 a5 Artigas Isart,MAnglada,J/Zaragoza 1993. ] 7...e5!? As far as I can see this a new move, normally Black prefaces this with [ 7...dxc4 8.dxc4 and then e5 when 9.b3 ( 9.d2 xf3+ 10.xf3 xd1 11.xd1 e6 is quite dull, Kotsur,P-Arkhipov, S/Abu Dhabi UAE 2001.) 9...xf3+ 10.xf3 ( 10.exf3!? b6 11.e3 xb3 12.axb3 a6 is fine for Black, Dizdarevic,E-Psakhis,L/ New Delhi IND 2000) 10...e6 11.c3 e7 12.d1 c7 13.e3 0-0 the black position has no weaknesses, Mortazavi,A-McDonald, N/GBR 1999. ] 8.g2! This is the best try, obviously [ 8.b3?! is worse without the exchange of p a w n s o n c 4 : xf3+ 9.exf3 d7 and Black would be very happy, but ] [ 8.d2 is possible, when dxc4 9.dxc4 xf3+ 10.xf3 transposes to the Kotsur 410
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 game in the note to the previous move. ] 8...dxc4 9.d4 This is the tactical justification. ed7 10.c2 b6 [ 10...e5 is an alternative, rather than trying to hang-on to the c-pawn Black goes for quick development, 11.d1 ( 11.xc4?! b6 12.c2 xd4 ) 11...exd4 12.xd4 c5 13.xc4 b6 14.e3 0-0 White has the bishop pair, but Black has free play for his pieces. ] 11.d1 e6 12.e4 Typical Catalan-style play, White has constructed a strong centre which will give him the advantage should he successfully regain his c-pawn. b4 13.a3 e7 14.a4 Planning a5, of course, to drive the knight from its post. a5 15.a3 0-0!? This is a key moment, Black allows White to recuperate the c-pawn. He must have been tempted to play [ 15...xa3 16.xa3 0-0 when he has conceded another bishop but keeps a pawn ahead, 17.b3!? ( 17.f1 e7 18.g5 allows White to get the pawn back, but will necessitate returning the bishops) 17...cxb3 18.xb3 fd7 19.f4 White has a good position for a pawn. ] 16.xc4 xc4 17.xc4 b4 Black has a solid position, and use of the b4-square, but White's bishop pair and centre leave him on top. 18.h3 e7 19.e3 ad8 20.d3 Both sides will double their rooks on the d-file. d7 21.ad1 fd8 22.h2 Strong players are often happy to play such strengthening moves before attempting to make progress. h6 23.c2 e5 Black decides to liquidate the centre, he could also have kept the tension and wait for White to commit himself. 24.e2 e6 25.b3!? White resists the temptation to win a pawn by [ 25.dxe5 xe5 26.xd7 xd7 27.xd7 xd7 28.xh6 b u t t h e n c o m e s c5! ( 28...gxh6?! 29.g4+ f8 30.xd7 ) 29.f4 e6 30.c2 a2 and the a-pawn is lost. ] 25...e7 Both players are unwilling to change the contours of the position, but Black could try [ 25...exd4 26.xd4 e8 say, to pressure t h e e - p a w n , a n d a f t e r 27.e5 d5 the knight finds a useful square. ] 26.f3 d6?!
[ 26...b4 is better, keeping the a-pawn well defended. ] 27.dxe5 White chooses this moment to capture, feeling that the black pieces are no longer on their ideal squares. xe5 Forced, [ 27...xe5? 28.d4 e7 29.xf6 gxf6 ( 29...xf6 30.e5 ) 30.g4 winning at least a piece. ] 28.b6 This is the reason White has chosen this moment to capture on e5, he can fork d8 and a5. xd3 [ 28...a8?! is a bit too passive, if playable. 29.e1 xd3 30.xd3 h5!? planning ...h4 with some counterplay. ] 29.xd3 xd3 30.xd3 h5?! Black decides to go active, but I think that [ 30...d7! is best, 31.e3 ( 31.xd7 xd7 32.xa5 c5 regains the pawn) 31...c7 and the a-pawn is defended, although White still has an edge, after, say, 32.d4 ] 31.xa5 h4 32.d2 hxg3+ 33.fxg3 d7!? Aiming for c5 to pressure the white queenside, this seems at first glance to lose on the spot, but Black ha s a re source . 34.g4 f6 35.e3 Certainly not [ 35.xd7?? f2+ 36.h1 xg3 when White has to give his queen to avoid mate. ] 35...h4 This looks impressive, but is easily parried. 36.f2 f8 37.b4 f6 38.g2 Now that Black's temporary initiative has disappeared W hite has a winning position. d6 39.b5 cxb5 40.xb5 e7 41.e5!? A simple approach, White swaps the e-pawn for the black b-pawn to create a passed apawn. xe5 42.f3 g6 43.xb7 g5 Still hoping to generate some play against the w h i t e k i n g . 44.c8+ h7 45.e4 Pinning the knight puts paid to Black's hopes. d2 46.c4 1-0
411
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the position closed. ] A11 c5 By pinning the f-pawn Black Nikolic,Predrag 2671 22.dxe5 Strating,Sybolt 2307 makes sure the e5-pawn cannot be defended. ACT Open Amsterdam NED (1) 17.07.2004 23.h2 xe5 24.f4 g6? A mistake, although the refutation is far from obvious. [Tony Kosten] [ 24...ed7 is forced, adding support to the b6-knight. ] 1.f3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 f6 4.0-0 g4 5.d3 bd7 6.c4 xf3! 7.xf3 e5!? 25.b3! Threatening Bf2, winning the hapless I was surprised to see Khenkin's move played b6-knight. a6?! [ 25...ad8 is a be tt e r ch a nce , 26.xd8 again so soon after its first outing. ( 26.f2 e7 27.xb6 xd1 28.xd1 [ 7...dxc4 8.dxc4 e5 is more usual. ] xf4 is sim ila r) 26...xd8 27.f2 e7 8.g2 Nikolic is happy to repeat his previous 28.xb6 xf4 with two pawns and some play. dxc4 9.d4 ed7 10.c2 b6 11.d1 play for the piece. ] e6 12.e4 e7 This is Black's idea, he prefers [ 25...c8 26.xb7 avoids losing a piece, no t t o pro vok e a3 , alt h ou gh t h is d o esn 't but Black's structure disintegrates. ] change the contours of the position too much. [ 12...b4 13.a3 e7 14.a4 a5 15.a3 26.f2 cxb3 This is hopeless, but [ 26...e7 27.xb6 xb6 28.xb6 xf4 of Nikolic-Khenkin, reaches an identical 29.xc4 wins easily enough, and ] position to the game with both sides having [ 26...xf2 27.xf2 cxb3 28.f1 played an extra move. ] is also conclusive - the rook cannot move. ] 13.a4 a5 14.a3 xa3! As I suggested in xa4 28.a3 b5 29.e3 my notes to the Nikolic-Khenkin game, this 27.xc5 Rook and two pawns is completely insufficient move is critical. [ 14...0-0!? 15.xc4 xc4 16.xc4 b4 against a queen. left W hite on top in Nikolic, P-Khenkin,I/ 1-0 Koelln GER 2004. ] 15.xa3 0-0 16.h3!? This is White's plan, he A11 starts a cramping kingside pawn advance, 426 and leaves the knight stuck on b6 defending Noel Aldebol Question c4. Instead, in my annotations I had N,Archana considered [John Watson] [ 16.f1 to recapture the c-pawn, and ] [ 16.b3 to open queenside files. ] Noel Aldebol discusses the line 1.c4 c6 2.g3 16...fd7 17.g4 c7 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 dxc4 5.c2 d5 [ 17...e7 18.e3 f5!? is an interesting 6.c3 h5 7.d3 cxd3 possibility, fighting for control of the d5[ 7...f5 8.h3 cxd3 9.a4 bd7 ( 9...d7 square, I am sure that Chigorin (who liked 10.g4 c5 11.e3 d6 12.d1+- ) knights) would play like this. ] 10.g4+- ] 18.e3 fd8 Black develops his pieces, he 8.xd3 a6 Aldebol says: "TonyK, here you could also play wrote: Black seems to have a pawn more for [ 18...c5 19.d5 exd5 ( 19...e5!? to keep the very little. I prefer to play such moves as d3 p o s i t i o n c l o s e d) 20.exd5 d6 when Black has weakened his queenside by which reduces White's dynamic prospects. ] playing ...b5, myself , but it is interesting 19.g5 e8 20.h4 The bishop comes to nonetheless! But please reconsider. Black, in the h2-b8 diagonal from where it will be more m y o p i n i o n , h a s n o t s o l v e h i s o p e n i n g effective. d6 21.g3 e5!? I do not like this problems completely yet. For example:" 9.h3 m o v e t o o m u c h , a s i t a l l o w s t h e w h i t e f5 kingside pawns to advance, supported by the [ jw: Another consolidating idea is 9...b4 white bishops. 10.b1 bd5 ] [ 21...b4 is perfectly reasonable, tying 10.d4 d7 W hite to the defence of a4, and keeping [ Aldebol gives the line 10...c2 11.g5 h6 425
412
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.xf6 gxf6 13.d2 g6 14.c1 f5 15.h4 h7 16.xf5 xf5 17.d1 h5 18.0-0 h6 19.d4 0-0 20.d7 xd7 21.xd7 c5 22.xe7 fd8 23.e4 xe4 24.xe4 ] 11.g5 "Does Black really have a comfortable game here? I mean, it is not simple to determine how he completes his development while White enjoys such a wonderful space advantage, .piece placement and lead in d e v e l o p m e n t . " h6 jw: This loses, so the analysis should be questioned. Best seems [ 11...e6!? with the idea 12.0-0-0 d7! 13.e4 f6 14.e3 a5 and White has no targets. 11. .Qg6 is also possible but riskier. ] 12.g4+[ jw: This is correct in view of 12.g4 g6 13.e5 xg5 14.e4 c5 15.xf6+ exf6 16.xd7# ]
427
A11 Nogueiras Santiago,Jesus 2552 Ehlvest,Jaan 2627 FIDE WCh KO New Delhi IND (1.6) 29.11.2000 [Tony Kosten] 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.e3 f6 4.c3 a6 5.b3 [ 5.d4 would transpose into the . ..a6 Slav. ] 5...g4 6.b2 bd7 7.h3 xf3 [ The solid approach, 7...h5!? is risky, 8.cxd5 cxd5 ( 8...xd5!? ) 9.g4! g6 10.g5 e4 11.xd5 e6 12.f4 xg5 13.xg5 xg5 14.h4 a5 15.c3 with dynamic play, Dragomarezkij, E-Maiorov,O/Sochi 1996. ] 8.xf3 e6 9.g4!? Vaganian's aggressive idea, adding a space advantage to W hite's bishop pair. h6 10.e2? [ To keep the d3-square covered, but there is a s e ri o u s f l a w, 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.g2 was met by e5!? 12.e2 g6 13.0-0 h5 14.g5 d7 15.f4 h4 with good play in Vaganian,R-Backwinkel,P/Germany 1993. ] 10...dxc4! [ Showing the drawbacks of White's previous move, after this new move d3 is exposed. Previously, 10...b5 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.h4 c8 13.g5 hxg5 14.hxg5 e5 15.g2 xh1+ 16.xh1 fd7 17.f4 c6 was Black's solid choice in Bischoff,K-Stangl,
M/Brno 1994. ] 11.bxc4 e5 12.g3 d3+ 13.xd3 xd3 14.c7 White counterattacks in any case his c4-pawn was undefendable. d8 15.d1 xc4?! [ OK, but 15...d7! may be superior, 16.a1 ( 16.xb7 b8 wins the bishop) 16...c5 continuing with ...Qxc4, and then ...Nd3+, bringing the second knight to the d3-square, with decisive effect. ] 16.xb7 b4 Black plans to castle, when the uncastled white king, marooned in the centre, will become a serious problem. 17.e2?! [ The odd 17.b1! is the best chance, defending d2, and menacing the capture on f6. ] 17...0-0 18.d4?! [ This loses quickly, but even the elimination of this knight by 18.xf6 doesn't help: gxf6 19.d4 ( trying to mask the d-file, 19.f3 loses to the standard combo xd2! 20.xd2 d8 ) 19...c5 20.b3 a5 and ...a4, leaves d2 too exposed. ] 18...e4 19.xc6?! [ The d2-pawn can no longer be defended: 19.b3 allows xd2 20.xd2 xd2+ 21.xd2 xd2 22.xd2 d5+ and the h1-rook drops. ] 19...xd2+ 0-1
428 Pantsulaia,Levan Gunina,V Turkish Bank Chess League 2012 (4) [John Bartholomew]
A11 2557 2533 14.7.12
We've seen plenty of Anti-Slav games where Black snatches the c4-pawn and doggedly defends it with moves like ...b7-b5, ...Nb8-d7b6, ...Bc8-e6, and ... Qd8-d5. How about an example where Black simply off loads the pawn and focuses on development? 1.f3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.c4 dxc4 4.g2 f6 5.0-0 f5 A new move for this site. Black develops the bishop to its most natural square. [ 5...bd7 is the main line. Consult the "Reti 1 c4 c6 with g3" guide in the archives. ] 6.a3 Most common. [ Sometimes White prefers to discourage ... 413
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 b7-b5 with 6.a4 , i.e. e6 7.a3 A) Fellow ChessPublishing.com author an d re ce nt A n ti-S la v exp on en t Vict o r Mikhalevski had a pleasant experience against 7...d5?! : 8.b3! cxb3 9.d3 a6 10.c4 d8?! ( 10...c5! was more stubborn. 11.fd2 d7 12.xb3 ) 11.xb3 c5 12.b2 e7 13.e3 fd7? 14.xg7 f6 15.d6+ e7 16.xf5+ exf5 17.h6 xa1 18.xa1+. Black was already defenseless in Mikhalevski, V (2525)-Arslanov, S (2424)/ Moscow RUS 2012.; B) 7...xa3 (this looks best) 8.xa3 0-0 9.b3 cxb3 10.xb3 c7 11.b2 bd7 12.c1 Vuorisalo, V (2101)-Sammalvuo, T (2425)/Lahti 2005. W hite has definite compensation with the bishop pair and op e n f ile s , b u t B lack h a s a so lid a n d compact position. ] 6...e5!? Refusing to lose any sleep over the c4-pawn. [ B l a c k c a n r e t u r n t o 6...b5 , but the programmed 7.b3 promises White excellent compensation: cxb3 8.axb3!? ( 8.xb3 also offers good play) 8...e4?! ( 8...e5!? ) 9.d3 d5 10.b2 g6 11.e4 e6 12.d4 g7 13.xe6 fxe6 14.e5 d5 15.h4 Lysyj, I (2632)-Dimukhametov, A (2355)/ Izhevsk RUS 2012. ] 7.xc4 [ Definitely not 7.xe5?? xa3 8.bxa3 d4 .] 7...e4 Now White has an important decision to make. 8.g5!? This amounts to a piece sacrifice with unclear ramifications, so White ought to consider the alternatives below. [ 8.fe5!? offers more clear-cut chances for a small advantage: bd7 ( 8...c5 9.d3 bd7 10.e3 xe5 11.xc5 xc4 12.dxc4 xd1 13.fxd1 Loginov, V (2500)Biriukov, O (2390)/St Petersburg 1998.) 9.d4 exd3 10.xd3 e7 ( 10...e6 11.c2 e7 12.f4 xc4 13.xc4 0-0 14.d1 G e o rgie v, K (2 6 7 2 )-Hu e rga L e a ch e , M (2435)/Pamplona ESP 2009) 11.b3 b6 12.a5 c8 13.f4 ( 13.g5!? 0-0 14.e4! e6 15.c2 ) 13...0-0 14.e1 e8 15.e4 f8 16.f3 c5+ Karner, H-Polugaevsky, L/ Tallinn 1973. Here 17.h1 d7 18.d2 is more pleasant for White. ]
[ The retreat 8.e1 is also reasonable, e.g. a6 ( the simple 8...e7 might be better) 9.e3 e6 10.d3 exd3 11.xd3 c5 12.f4 xd1 13.xd1 d7 14.c4 e7 15.e5 g4 16.xd7 xd7 17.b4!? Galliamova, A (2492)-Ruan Lufei (2479)/ Rostov-on-Don RUS 2011. ] 8...h6 9.xf7 [ I suppose White could bail out with 9.e3 g6 10.h3= , but this is hardly in the spirit of 8. Ng5!?. ] [ 9.h3? is rightly punished after c8! 10.f4 g5 ] 9...xf7 10.b3 This position had been reached twice before. d5!? Gunina finds an active response, agreeing to pitch her a8 in an attempt to seize back the initiative. [ Instead, two king moves deserve attention, particularly 10.. .Kg6. The source game, Salov, V (2675)-Piket, J (2580)/Amsterdam 1 9 9 6 , w e n t 10...e8 11.xb7 bd7 12.xc6 ( 12.d3!? ) 12...c8 13.a4 . Here Black would do best to get his king closer to safety with f7 , i.e. ( 13...e6 14.b3 xc4 15.bxc4 b6 16.d3 was the game ) 14.b3 e7 15.b2 e8 ] [ A m o re rece n t e n cou n t e r sa w 10...g6 11.e5+ h7 12.xb7 bd7 ( also very i n t r i g u i n g i s 12...c5!? 13.xa8 c7 14.d4! xd4 15.f4 xe5 16.xe5 xe5 17.xa7 ) 13.f7 e8 14.xh8 xh8 15.xc6 c8 16.a4 h5! . Black is fully mobilized with a very safe king, so he gets the nod here. The game continued 17.d3 exd3 18.exd3 e5 19.d1 , Markos, J (2565)-Haba, P (2541)/Erfurt GER 2010. Now g4!? 20.f3 f5 looks best since 21.g4?! fxg4 22.f4 ( there are too many threats around W hite's king after 22.fxg4? xg4 23.d2 f3+ 24.xf3 xf3-+ ) 22...xh2! 23.xh2 xd3 gives Black a full-fledged attacking position. ] 11.xb7+ bd7 12.e3 Clarifying the position somewhat. [ Murkier is 12.xa8!? xc4 13.d3! exd3 14.exd3 xd3 15.e1 b4 16.xh8 xe1 17.e3 b4 with chances for both sides. ] 12...b8! 13.xb8 xb8 14.xd5 cxd5 An imbalanced yet roughly level position has arisen. I find Black's position (with her active minor pieces and strong center) a bit easier to 414
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 play, but logical play ought to result in equality. 15.d3?! There was no reason to rush this move. [ 15.b3= ] 15...exd3 16.exd3 c5 17.e3 d4 18.b4 dxe3 [ 18...b6! ] 19.bxc5 xd3 20.fc1 exf2+ 21.xf2 e8?! [ M o n i t o r i n g t h e c - p a w n w i t h 21...c8 is safer. ] 22.c6 e2+ 23.f3!? Great fighting spirit! The game now takes an unexpected turn. [ White wasn't satisfied with 23.g1 xg2+ 24.xg2 e4+ 25.g1 xc6 . Three minor pieces or two rooks, who ya got!?:) ] 23...xc6?! [ Not 23...xg2?? 24.c7+- ] [ A lovely perpetual could have resulted from the precise 23...e4!! : 24.c7 d7 25.c8 e5+ 26.f4 g6+ 27.f3 e5+= . ] 24.xc6 e4 25.d1? Just when White could have been rewarded for his boldness, he falters. [ 25.c7+ g6 26.g4! is the way to go. It transpires that Black has no good way to utilize her centralized forces. ] [ T h e im m e d ia t e 25.g4? allows g5+ 26.g3 xg2+ 27.xg2 e4+= . ] 25...d2+ 26.xd2 xd2 Now Black is the only one who can claim an advantage, but the g a m e s o o n p e t e r s o u t t o a d r a w . 27.h3 xh2 28.e6+ e7 29.b3 a6 30.e3 b5 31.c7+ f6 32.a4 b2 33.d1 e8 34.a7 b6 35.e2 xa4 36.xa6 xa6 37.xa6 g5 38.f2 d7 39.e2 Gunina's active approach with 5...Bf5 and 6... e5!? certainly has merit. After 7.Nxc4 e4 I think White should play either 8.Nfe5!? or 8. Ne1, as the piece sacrifice with 8.Ng5 h6 9. Nxf7 - while interesting - probably isn't fully sound. ½-½
429 Pantsulaia,Levan Sundararajan,Kidambi 11th Dubai Open (6) [Nigel Davies]
A11 2581 2487 02.05.2009
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.a3 b6 7.c2 d5 8.e1 f5 At first sight this seems like a solid option for Black but after W hite's reply he's losing valuable time. 9.e4 h5 10.xc4 xc4 11.xc4 e5 [ 11...h3 12.xh3 xh3 13.f3 e5 14.d3 ( 14.d4 exd4 15.xd4 d7 16.e3 is slightly better for W hite, but drawish.) 14...d6 15.b4 0-0 16.b2 ad8 17.c3 fe8 18.a4 e6 19.xe6 xe6 was about even in Ponkratov, P (2469) Romanov, E (2501), Chelyabinsk 2007. ] 12.d4 exd4? Inadvertently opening the flood gates. [ 12...d6 was the right move though it still looks promising for White after 13.f3 e6 14.a4 exd4 15.xd4 etc. ] 13.e5 d5 [ Black rightly took fright at the possibility of 13...xe5 14.xc6+ , though the text is not much better. ] 14.d3 e6 15.xd4 e7 16.xd5 xd5 17.f4 g4 18.h3 d7 19.xd5 cxd5 20.h6! [ 20.d1 was also quite good, but White is playing for the attack. Of course taking the bishop would lose on the spot to 21.e6!. ] 20...xh3 21.xg7 g8 22.e6 [ 22.f6 xg3+ would draw by perpetual check. ] 22...fxe6 23.ac1 d6 24.c3 f5 25.e1 f7 26.e5 [ 26.g2! threatening 27.Rf3 was much stronger. ] 26...g4 27.f4 ag8? This sacrifice just doesn't work. [ 27...e7 was the right move, when Black doesn't stand at all badly. ] 28.xd6 xg3+ 29.f1? White in turn misses his way. [ 29.f2! would have left Black without adequate compensation. ] 29...h3+ 30.e2 xc3 31.xc3 g2+ 32.d1 f5?? Time trouble? 415
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 32...xc3 33.bxc3 xa2 would have produced a drawish endgame. ] 33.c1 d4 34.c7+ g6 35.e5 h5 36.h1+ g4 37.g7+ f3 38.xb7+ g3 39.g7+ f3 40.f1+ 1-0
position is not resignable, but next move White will but his queen on c3 or b2 and there will be no adequate defence to the g7 pawn. 1-0
431 430 Payen,Arnaud Couche,Didier XXIV Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (5) [Jonathan Rowson]
A11 2403 2122
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 e6 4.b3 d7 5.e2 gf6 6.b2 d6 7.c3 0-0 8.c2 a6 9.h4!? A variation on a theme. Neither as weakening(for White) or threatening(for Black) as g4. The point seems to be to follow up with Ng5, and then hope for the best. e8 [ 9...e5 10.g5 e4 ( 10...h6 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.xd5 ) 11.0-0-0 ( 11.f4!? ) 11...h6 12.f4 e8 and I don't know exactly what is happening, but I would rather be White. ] 10.g5 f8 [ 10...e5? 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.xd5! ] [ 10...b5 looks better to me, because White is not yet threatening anything. 11.g4 b7 12.xf7 ( 12.h5!?; 12.0-0-0!? ) 12...xf7 13.g5 looks a bit desperate, but as these sacrifices go, it is a reasonably promising version- it just feels too crude somehow. e4 14.xe4 dxe4 15.xe4 g8 16.cxb5 axb5 17.xb5 and White almost gets the material back but Black is not in any danger. ] 11.d4!? The good thing about h4 instead of g4 is that it is less positionally committal, so White can still steer the game back to more conventional channels. b6 [ 11...e5!? 12.dxe5 xe5 13.0-0-0 looks promising for White. ] [ 11...b5 12.e4 is not a better version for Black. ] 12.e4 dxe4 13.cxe4 xe4 14.xe4 b4+ 15.f1 e7 16.h5 f5? And overreaction. [ 16...h6 17.d1 looks somewhat better for White, perhaps with Rh3-g3 to follow. ] 17.d2 c5 18.f3 b7 19.d1 c7 20.dxc5 bxc5 21.e5 At first blush the
Pigusov,Evgeny Zhang Pengxiang FIDE WCh KO Moscow RUS (2.2) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2613 2530 30.11.2001
1.f3 d5 2.g3 g4 3.g2 d7 4.c4 e6 5.d3 [ We have already considered 5.cxd5 ] 5...c6 6.0-0 White surely intended to play his favourite system, with Be3, but Black decides to 'put a spanner in the works'. xf3!? 7.xf3 d4 Black plays a similar plan to that successf ully applied by his compatriot in Pigusov,E-Zhang Zhong, and later in Loginov, V-Grischuk,A, but without gaining a tempo on the bishop (see [A11] for both these games). 8.e3! White won't repeat the error of the aforementioned game, and close the centre! e5 9.e2 Not natural, but d3 must be defended. h5!? [ Black goes 'all in'. 9...c5 10.f4 g6 11.e4 favours White. ] 10.exd4 xd4 11.c3 f6 12.e3 White evicts the queen from her proud post. d7 13.d4 eg4 This is why Black didn't play ...h4 earlier, the pawn provides a useful square for his knights. 14.g5 0-0-0 15.d5! Thematic! W hite has the bishop pair, and therefore opens the position. exd5?! [ I think I would prefer to keep the c-file c l o s e d , a n d p l a y 15...c5 answering 16.dxc6?! with xc6 ] 16.cxd5 f5 [ 16...cxd5? 17.b5 a6 18.c1+ b8 19.f4+ leads to a painful end for Black. ] 17.xf6 xf6 18.d3 h3? [ This move looks aggressive, but should lose, 18...d7 19.f3 b8 keeps Black in the game. ] 19.f3? [ This threatens Bf5+, but why doesn't White p l a y t h e o b vi o u s 19.dxc6 winning? For instance, bxc6 ( 19...g4? 20.f5+ c7 21.b5+ leads to a catastrophe) 20.a6+ 416
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c7 21.b5+! cxb5 22.c1+ and the end is nigh. ] 19...g4 20.h1 [ Ugly, but forced, 20.g2? xg2+ 21.xg2 cxd5 leaves Black a pawn up. ] 20...e5 21.e4 h4!? [ 21...c5 was a more positional alternative. ] 22.dxc6 c5 The point of Black's play, he is g o i n g a l l - o u t f o r m a t e . 23.g2?! W h y n o t c a p t ure o n b7 wit h ch e ck f irst ? g4!? [ 23...xg2+ 24.xg2 xc6 is completely equal. ] 24.h3!? [ I am not sure if this is a blunder, or delib erate ! 24.cxb7+ b8 25.ad1 f5! 26.xd8+ xd8 27.d5 is also uncomfortable for White. ] 24...xg3! Oops! 25.cxb7+ b8 26.a4 d4 27.ac1 f4 28.c5 With a mate-ino n e t h r e a t . d6 The position is a complete mess , with bot h kings wid e o pen . 29.d3 xd3 30.xd3 f5 31.c2 xb2?! I don't like this, Black's attacking chances depend greatly on the power of the oppositecolour bishops, as he can attack on the dark s q u a r e s wh i l e h i s o p p o n e n t ' s b i s h o p i s powerless to help. 32.xb2 xd3 33.c2 d4? I imagine both players were short of time now. 34.c8+? [ 34.c6! bypasses the threat of ...Rg3, and wins: g3+ (how else can Black stop Qc7, Qc8+, etc.) 35.h2 xh3+ 36.xh3 g4+ 37.h2 f4+ 38.h1 and the checks runout. ] 34...xc8 35.bxc8+ xc8 36.c1+ d8 [ 36...b8 37.b1+ c7 38.b7+ d6 39.g6+ f6 is also satisfactory. ] 37.g5+ d7?? [ 37...f6 38.xf6+ gxf6 39.c4 a3 gives Black the better chances in the rook endgame, but the move played just loses! ] 38.xf5+ d6 39.g6+ e7 40.e1+ d8 41.e8+ c7 42.e7+ [ 42.e7+ b8 43.e8+ d8 44.b5+ b6 45.xd3 ] 1-0
432 Pigusov,Evgeny Zhang Zhong Sufe Cup Shanghai CHN (12) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2610 2611 14.03.2000
1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 g4 4.c4 c6 5.0-0 e6 6.d3 e7 7.e3 Pigusov's f favourite, the bishop move controls b6, so that Black cannot answer Qb3 with ... Qb6. xf3!? [ An clever new idea, Black often has to concede the bishop pair at some point, and e xch a n gin g im m e d ia t e ly o f f e rs c e rt a i n benefits. Previously, various moves had been tried: 7...bd7 8.b3 c8 9.c3 with an edge, Kortschnoi,V-Spassky,B/ Linares 1985, or ] [ 7...dxc4 8.dxc4 xd1 9.xd1 bd7 10.c3 xf3 11.exf3! e5 12.h3 b6 13.b3 0-0 14.e4 and the advantage is with W hite, Loginov,V-Nikitin,A/Maikop 1998. ] 8.xf3 d4 Gaining space with tempo. 9.d2 a5 10.e4?! This would work well if White co u ld p la y a la t e r e 5, a n d f re e h is ligh t squared bishop, but he never managed it. bd7 11.g2 h5! Not played to attack, but rather to stop the white kingside from expanding. 12.e2 e5 13.a3 h4 14.c2 c5 A perfect square for the knight in such a position. 15.ab1 fd7 16.f4 Trying to unravel the pawn chain. [ 16.g4? is a positional error, of course, allowing g5 gaining control of the dark squares. ] 16...c7 17.f5? White gains space, but this is a positional error, further weakening his dark squares. d8! Profiting from White's last move to bring his bishop to the c1-h6 diagonal. 18.e1 White tries to avoid the exchange of bishops, as his remaining g2b i s h o p c o u l d b e c o m e v e r y b a d . hxg3 19.hxg3 g5 20.d1 a4 21.b1 f6 22.f2 dc5 23.h1 xh1 24.xh1 h6 W hite is positionally lost, his 'good' darksquared bishop is bereft of squares, and the other pieces are even worse. 25.g2 c1 26.b3? [ A tactical error, but even 26.b4 axb4 27.xb4 c3 28.xc3 dxc3 looks pretty 417
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 example, gf6 ( 6...b4!? ) 7.d4!? ( 7.c2! b4 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0= ) 7...b4 8.d2 0-0 9.e2 a5!? 10.c2 exd4 11.exd4 ( 11.xd4 g5 12.0-0 c5 ) 11...e8 and it's easier to play Black, since 12.0-0?! xc3 13.xc3 xe2! wins material.; C) 6.b2 gf6 7.g3? e4 8.g5 c5 9.g2 f5 and Black stands clearly better. ] 3...f6 4.g2 So White plays what has been a fairly promising gambit. dxc4 5.c2 d5! But this move, which I don't see having been played until recently, messes up White's plans. The c-pawn remains protected and ...Bf5 is threatened (positionally speaking). But oddly enough, attacking the queen doesn't help much: 6.c3 [ Nothing is gained from 6.0-0 f5 7.d1 due to e5! 8.h4 d7 9.xf5 xf5 ] 6...h5 7.h3 White really doesn't want to give up his bishop, e.g., 433 A11 [ 7.0-0 h3 ( or 7...a6 ) 8.e4 ( 8.xh3 xh3 9.g5 h5 10.ge4 bd7 ) Poldauf,Dirk 2417 8...xe4 9.xe4 xg2 10.xg2 d5! ] Saltaev,Mihail 2500 Bundesliga 2006-7 (1) 28.10.2006 7...bd7 [ 7...a6! is more flexible. Remarkably, [John Watson] White can't seem to get his pieces out. ] Can't White simply play a Reti position versus 8.g4 a5 9.d1 Finally attacking c4. b6 Black's moves 1...c6, 2...d5, and 3...Nf6? It 10.e4 [ 10.e3 e6 11.d4 d5 ] seems harder all the time to do so and get positions that really match your expectations 10...a4!? [ Black is also better after 10...e5 ] as White. Here we see a recent line for Black th at wa s a lre ad y d iscu sse d in a n ea rlie r 11.b1 e6 12.c3 a5 13.0-0 e7 14.b3 column. I found nothing wrong with it then 0-0 15.b2 fd7!? Black is aiming for d3. and don't now. 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 This keeps the advantage, but [ 15...d8 ] Okay, this is it. What move should we make? [ or 15...e5 is more natural. ] g3 leaves c4 hanging, so it must be treated 16.e2!? a6! 17.g3 c5 18.h5 f6 carefully. White's last four moves have a [ 3.b3 would be the traditional way of 19.e5 reaching a double fianchetto situation, but desperate air about them. f5 20.g5 d3 as I have pointed out in this column, the rare 21.c3 d5 Black has a killing position. I'll order dxc4 4.bxc4 e5! bothers me, with the leave the rest for you to contemplate. 22.a4 idea 5 Nxe5?? Qd4. The problem is Black's cxb3 23.xb3 c5 24.a2 e4 25.h4 26.dxc3 xc3 27.d2 d5 central control. Then some ideas are 5.c3 exc3 28.fc1 b4 29.d4 c5 30.b2 a5 d7 A) 6.d3 gf6 7.b2 d6 8.g3 31.b3 d7 32.f1 c6 33.c4 h8 looks solid, but I still prefer Black after c5 34.e1 d2 35.d1 c3 36.ab1 ab8 37.xd5 xd5 38.xd5 exd5 39.xd5 9.g2 0-0 10.0-0 f5; B) even 6.e3 forces White into a situation xa4 40.g2 e4 41.a2 xe5 42.e1 that he must play carefully un, for
hopeless for White. ] 26...b2! Decisively attacking the d3-pawn a second time. 27.xb2 xb2 28.d2 h7 29.f3 f6 30.e2 b6 31.g4 c3 W hite has eased his position with the exchange sacrifice, but Black's pieces are still superior. 32.c1 a6 33.f1 a4 34.bxa4 c5 35.d1 xa4 36.a3 a5 37.f3 [ 37.b1 allows the black queen in, h5 ] 37...h3+ [ 37...c3!? seems even better ] 38.g2 c3 [ 38...xg3? is a blunder, 39.h5+ d7 with a draw. 40.f7+ ] 39.xh3 [ 39.f3 h6 is also hopeless. ] 39...xd1 40.c1 c3 41.a3 b2 42.xb2 xb2 43.e2 d7 Preparing to bring the rook to the h-file. 0-1
418
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.e6!? fxe6 18.xh5 xh5 19.g6+ d7 20.xh5 with a strong attack for the sacrificed material. ] 17.f1 Missing what looks like a powerful 434 A11 sacrifice. [ After 17.xe6! fxe6 18.xe6+ f7 Radjabov,Teimour 2761 19.c4 Black is in deep trouble, for example Smeets,Jan 2601 g6 ( Or 19...d5 20.e5 g6 21.xd5+ Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (10) 28.01.2009 cxd5 22.xd5 etc ) 20.g4 xg4 21.xg4+ [Nigel Davies] f7 22.f5 with only a single pawn down and powerful pressure. ] 1.f3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 f6 4.c4 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.c2 b6 7.a4 a5 8.a3 17...g6 18.b3 d6?! [ 18...e7 might have been a safer choice. e6 9.g5 g4 10.xc4 xe2! Now the storm clouds break. ] The critical line. [ After 10...xc4 11.xc4 e6 12.e4 19.xe6 fxe6 20.xe6+ d7 21.xd6+! White was better in Matamoros Franco, C xd6 22.xb4+ c5 23.xb7 c6 24.b5 c7 25.b6+ e7 26.e1+? (2460)-Xu Jun (2626), Seville ESP 2003. ] [ Missing a clearer win with 26.e5! c8 11.e5!? White in turn plays the critical move, 27.b7+ e6 28.e1 when Black has no sacrificing the exchange to get to f7. good defence to the threats. ] [ After 11.xb6 xb6 12.e1 h5 13.b4!? g6 ( 13...axb4!? Schirm, F-Lingnau, C/ 26...f8? [ 26...f7 was better but then 27.e6+ f8 Germany 1991) 14.d3 axb4 15.e3 a6 28.e5 f7 29.a6 is good for White. ] 16.e4 e6 White did not have enough compensation appears insufficient in Kirov, 27.e5 c8 28.d6+? [ 28.b7! threatening 29.Bd6+ looks very N-Luther, T, Leningrad 1989. ] strong. ] 11...h5 But at this point discretion seems to 28...g8 29.e7 h6 30.c4+ h7 31.b7 be the better part of valour. [ After 11...xf1 12.xf1 the f7 pawn is f8 32.d7 b8 33.xf8 xb7 34.xb7 falling and Black's king would be in terrible xf8 35.d3 g4?! [ 35...d8 is better so as to meet 36.a6? trouble. ] with xd3 37.xd3+ xd3 38.a7 a3 . ] 12.b4!? bd7 This seems to be new. [ After 12...bd5?! 13.b5 cxb5 14.d3 36.a6 e5 37.d5 a8 38.a7 e8 39.e7 b6?! 15.xd5 d8 16.xf7+ xf7 Really a draw? This seems odd because 17.xb5+ xb5 18.axb5 d5 19.xa5 White is winning. White won a pawn in, Stocek, J-Boric, M, ½-½ Pula CRO 2000. ] [ Another possibility is 12...axb4 but after A11 13.b2 bd7 we would transpose back into 435 the game. ] Radjabov,Teimour 2644 13.b2 axb4 14.a5 a6 Rightly preventing Svidler,Peter 2713 the a-pawn's advance to a6. vs NAO Internet INT (3) 28.05.2003 [ At f irst Fritz 12 seems to like 14...xe5 [Tony Kosten] 15.xe5 d7 but after 16.a6 xe5 17.axb7 b8 18.d4 starts to change its 1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.g2 d5 4.f3 dxc4 mind. In fact it looks like W hite has very 5.a4!? A very committal move, White stops ... g o o d c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r t h e p i e c e , f o r b5, and isolates the c4-pawn, but creates a example d7 19.xc6 e6 20.a8 d6 long-term weakness on b4. 21.e4 c7 22.xb8+ xb8 23.a1 [ I loo ked a t 5.0-0 bd7 6.c2 b6 threatening 24.Ra8. ] and only now 7.a4 in Matamoros Franco,C15.fe1 xe5 16.xe5 e6 Xu Jun/Seville ESP 2003. ] [ Another interesting possibility was 16...h6 5...e6 6.a3 The threat is to play Ng5, or d4 43.e2 be8 0-1
419
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Ne5, and then recuperate the c-pawn. d5 Black pins the f3-knight. Other moves: [ 6...d5!? exposes the queen, but bolsters the c4-pawn, 7.0-0 a6 8.c2 ( 8.d3!? cxd3 9.g5 ) 8...c5 ( 8...b4?! is too early 9.c3 c5 10.d4 ) 9.c3 d5 Black seems to have consolidated, O'Cinneide,M-Stohl,I/Halkidiki GRE 2002. ] [ 6...a6 allows 7.e5 d4?! 8.xc6! c5 9.d4 cxd3 10.e3 with a powerful initiative, Padevsky, N-Sorensen,T/BerlinWest 1984. ] 7.c2 c5!? A new idea already, Black wants to finish his development in classical style with ...Nc6 and get a firm grip on b4 and d4. [ 7...g6 8.xc4 g7 9.b4!? 0-0 10.0-0 a6 11.a3 White has the sort of position he is looking for in the Reti, with unblemished centre, and queenside initiative, Bosboom,M-Haba, P/Germany 1995. ] [ 7...a6 8.xc4 b4 9.c3 a5 10.d3 Black has established the knight on b4, but White has recaptured the c-pawn and will soon complete development, Haroutjunian, G-Matveeva,S/Yerevan 1996. ] 8.xc4 c6 9.0-0 e6 10.b3 e7 11.b2 0-0 12.ad1!? White plays this rook here so tha t he c an d rop h is que en ba ck t o b1 if necessary, and then play Qa1 with pressure o n t h e a 1 - h 8 d i a g o n a l . c8 13.c3!? A really strange idea that smacks of planlessness, for if W hite wanted to do this why did he not play his king's rook to d1 and keep his queen's rook for the queenside? c7 The variation [ 13...d4!? 14.xd4 cxd4 15.xd4 xc4 16.bxc4 xd4 17.xd4 xc4 18.xa7 xa4 19.e3 b5 is interesting, as the passed b-pawn is quite a plus for Black. ] 14.fe1 This move is not to ply e4, as d4 will become too weak, but rather to defend e2 should Black play ...Nd4 as in the previous note. fd8 15.e3 White decides to gain the b is h o p p a ir , a s h e h a d n o u s e f u l wa y o f expanding in the centre. [ 15.e4 xc4 16.bxc4 d4 is fine for Black. ] 15...xf3 16.xf3 d4 [ 16...e8!? is a good alternative, to exchange bishops by ...Bf6: 17.g2 f6 18.c2 xb2 19.xb2 f6 and I prefer
Black because of the weakness of b4 and d4. ] 17.g2 d7 18.b1 If this move is the best that W hite can manage, then I suggest his previous moves were not optimum. f8 19.d3 d8 20.a1 g6 21.c4 g7 Black has chosen a different route to get his bishop onto the long diagonal. 22.d2 The queen was misplaced on c3, and quickly retreats from the exposed diagonal. d5 23.f1 b6 24.ec1 The white rooks have reached better squares, but it is very much Black who calls t h e s h o t s h e re . c6 Black exchanges the dark-squared bishops, although he could easily have done this much before - see the note to move 16. 25.xg7 xg7 26.h4 f6 27.a3 cd8 28.g1 d4 29.c4 Black holds all the aces here - good squares for his knights and pressure on the d-file, so W hite can only keep his position solid and wait-and-see. h5 30.b2 c6 31.d2 d4 32.b2 c6 33.d2 d4 Both sides seen happy to draw, but I am surprised that Black didn't want to play on, he has nothing to lose. ½-½
436
A11
Reti 4...Nbd7 [Tony Kosten] I received the following question from Theodor Seiz: "Hello, I am just starting to play the repertoire suggested in you book 'The Dynamic English'. One line is played a lot against me in blitz and I don't find anything against it that I like: 1.c4 Nf6 2.g3 c6 3.Bg2 d5 4.Nf3 Nbd7!? Black will try to play - ...e5 and get the center with easy development. ECO does not mention the line either. Playing a Catalan style position with d4 appears normal, but is out of question for me. Regards, Theodor" So, I've decided to have an in-depth look at this almost unknown variation. 1.f3 [ 1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.g2 d5 4.f3 bd7 will tran spo se , bu t I t hink t hat t he Ret i move-order is more likely. ] 1...d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 bd7 4.c4 c6 The black set-up, whilst rare, is quite sensiblehe wants to play ..e5 which would reach a 420
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 reversed 'Geller line vs the Pirc/Modern'. The question is: how should White react? 5.cxd5! Played to weaken the h1-a8 diagonal, this capture is no longer a concession when the black knight can no longer spring directly to its best square on c6. A real advantage of this move, though, is that White no longer needs to worry about defending hisc-pawn! [ 5.d4 leads to Slav-style lines, but allows dxc4! ( 5...e6 6.0-0 d6 7.c2 leads to a Catalan, with a white advantage, Velickovic,Z-Tomazin,M/Grize 1996. ) A) 6.c2 e5!? ( Black can also try to hang-on to the pawn more directly: 6...b6 7.a3 d5 ) 7.0-0 ( 7.dxe5 xe5 8.xe5 a5+ is the point, equal) 7...exd4 8.xd4 e5 9.d1 which is unclear, Jurek,J-Ramseier,J/Bad Ragaz 1992.; B) 6.a4!? e5!? 7.dxe5 g4 8.e6 fxe6 9.0-0 again unclear, Larsen,B-Simon,R/ Lugano 1989. ] [ 5.b3 e5!? ( 5...e5 6.b2 e4 7.d4 c5 8.c2 d4 9.d3 exd3 10.xd3 d6 11.0-0 e5 12.d2 g4 13.f4 c6 14.e4 dxe3 15.xe3 Novik,M-Petelin,A/St Petersburg 1992 )] [ 5.0-0 accepts transposition into a reversed Pirc, A) 5...dxc4 is also feasible, as above 6.a3 b6 7.c2 g6!? ( Black can also consider being greedy: 7...d5!? or; 7...e6!? 8.g5 d7 ) 8.xc4 xc4 9.xc4 g7 Pavlovic,M-Thorhallsson,T/ Copenhagen 1990.; B) 5...e5 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.b3 d6 Black has nothing to complain about, Kiss, A-Acs,P/Balatonbereny 1992. ] 5...cxd5 [ 5...xd5 allows White a central edge, 6.d4 7f6 7.e5!? f5 getting a firm grip of e4, Rabeler,G-Storm,R/Germany 1990. ] 6.c3!? Loginov's preference. [ 6.d4! is a good alternative, but this QG/ Slav type of position might not appeal to players of Flank Openings! e6 ( 6...g6 7.0-0 g7 8.c3 0-0 9.e5 gives White a superior version of a KI Fianchetto line (the black queen's knight normally goes to c6), Trauth,M-Frischknecht,H/ Zurich 1997.) 7.0-0 d6 8.c3 a6 9.f4 ( 9.e4!?
is interesting: xe4 10.xe4 dxe4 11.g5 f6 12.xe4 xe4 13.xe4 0-0 White enjoys a little more space, Filipowicz, A-Tassi,O/ Rome 1981.) 9...xf4 10.gxf4 0-0 11.e3 Black's position is solid, but White's superior bishop gives him a plus, Pavlovic,M-Nikolic,B/JUG-ch/1991. ] 6...e6 This solid choice is almost universally played. [ However, there is nothing wrong with the ambitious 6...e5!? 7.a4!? ( 7.d4 e4 8.e5 should be best, White can continue Qb3, Bg5, and possibly f3, to pressurise the black centre.) 7...c7?! ( why not 7...d6 as 8.b5 b8 9.a3 b6 leads nowhere) 8.d4 e4 9.e5 e7 10.f4 White has some pressure, Hoshino, IHoyt,W/Siegen 1970. ] 7.0-0 a6!? This move plans a quick expansion on the queenside, but many other tries are possible: [ 7...d6 8.d3 b6 9.b5!? b8 10.d2 a6 11.bd4 is fairly equal, Kirov,N-Ziatdinov,R/ Belgrade 1990. ] [ 7...e7 8.d4 0-0 9.f4 a6 White has more space, Sanz-W esterinen/Alicante/ 1975. ] [ 7...b4 8.d3 0-0 9.f4 e8 is similar, Sale,S-Milunovic,V/ Portoroz 1994. ] [ 7...b6 as with the main move, this will allow Black to develop his 'problem piece', the c8bishop, 8.d3 b7 9.f4 a6 10.c1 c8 11.e1 e7 12.e4 this idea i s one reason why White would want to keep his d-pawn on d3, rather than d4, dxe4 13.dxe4 b5 14.d6 b4 15.xe7 xe7 16.d5! xc1 ( 16...exd5? 17.exd5 e4 18.xc8+ xc8 19.d6 e6 20.d4 wins ) 17.xf6+ xf6 18.xc1 0-0 19.e5 d5 20.g5 and after all the excitement, play is level, although White went on to win, Loginov,VYemelin,V/ St Petersburg 1995. ] 8.d3 [ 8.d4 is, once again, a good move. ] 8...b5 9.e4 White wants to weaken the sensitive h1-a8 diagonal. dxe4 10.dxe4 b7 11.e5 d5 12.e4 Aiming for d6. h6 13.e1 b6 14.e3 xe3 15.xe3 d8! Black skilf ully saf e gua rds his qu een sid e before completing his kingside development. 16.e2 e7 17.d1 0-0 18.ed3 d5 421
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Having closed the d-file, Black can turn his attention to the e5-pawn, and the exploitation o f h i s b i s h o p p a i r . 19.xd5!? This is interesting, but may not quite work. exd5 20.c3 e6 21.xd5 c5 This is the only move, as Nd4 was threatened. 22.b4 [ 22.b3?! b6 23.f4 xd1+ 24.xd1 e7 25.e6 fxe6 26.h3 ( 26.g6 fails to d8 27.c2 f6 28.xc5 xg6 ) 26...xf4!? 27.gxf4 d5 28.c1 Black is better, but the opposite-colour b i s h o p s o f f e r s o m e h o p e , L o g i n o v, V Shovunov,B/Elista 1996. ] 22...a7 23.f4?! [ 23.c7! f5 24.e6 fxe6 25.xe6+ f7 26.h3 is approximately level, White will get two pawns for the exchange. ] 23...c4! Black offers the exchange of queens, and has a real plus, Loginov, VYemelin,V/St Petersburg 1996. Therefore it seems that White should capture on d5, and then play d4 on either move six or eight, to have some advantage.
437 Roiz,M Postny,E 40 Yrs Beer Sheva CC (1) [Daniel Gormally]
A11 2617 2637 26.05.2013
1.f3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g4 4.c4 e6 5.0-0 d7 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.d3 gf6 8.h3 xf3 In my previous update I stated how it was a mistake in such positions to give up the bishop for the knight, however a lot depends on the make-up of the position. W hite has already exchanged on d5 so doesn't have such a wide range of plans as he did in that game. 9.xf3 c5 Played to provoke d4, which takes a lot of the flexibility out of the white position. [ In a previous game Black elected to reroute the knight to c6 9...e5!? 10.g2 e7 11.b3 0-0 12.b2 c6 13.c3 c8 14.a3 d7 15.e4 d4 16.e2 b6! W here Black had more than enough counterplay in the game Stryjecki, M (2424) -Chuchelov, V (2591) Kallithea 2002 ] 10.d4 White takes the bait, but the bishop on
c5 wasn't really creating any danger for White, so I think he could have delayed any central action. [ 10.c3 e5 11.g2 c6 12.d2 0-0 13.c1 and White can lay claim to a tiny edge. ] 10...d6 11.c3 0-0 12.d3 The problem now is that White's only central break is with e4, which creates a hole on d5, but what else can he do? He must open the position at some point, for better or for worse, otherwise his bishops will lack the mobility to be able to exercise their potential. h6 13.d2 a6 14.ac1 b6 15.e4 [ Restricting the mobility of the knight on b6 with 15.b3 Was an alternative. White could then adopt a slow, build-up strategy with moves like Kh1, Rg1, g4 etc. ] 15...dxe4 16.xe4 bd5! 17.b3 b8 18.xd6?! After this the knights start to take over. Isolated pawn positions can be quite deceptive an aren't always as bad as they look, but in this case W hite finds it very difficult generating any meaningful play after this exchange. Granted, he should be able to maintain the balance as his position remains very solid, but I struggle to see a way he can realistically improve his position. [ 18.c3! Not giving up the fight for d5 so easily, would surely have made more sense. e7 19.fd1 f5 20.e1 ] 18...xd6 19.c4 fc8 20.fc1 d7 21.c5 b6 22.5c4 a5 23.d3 xc4 24.xc4 c8 25.b3 e7 26.g2 f5 27.xc8+ xc8 28.f4 d7 29.e3 d5 30.d2 de7 31.c3 d5 32.a1? White has been drifting for the last few moves, but this blunder simply gives the game away. [ 32.d2 would still have been more or less equal. ] 32...h4+! 33.h2 b4 34.e4 xf3+ 35.xf3 xa2 36.a8+ h7 37.e4+ f5 38.e2 b4 39.c3 d5 A beautiful strategic situation for Black, the knight sits proudly on d5, surveying the battlefield from it's powerful central position. 40.d2 f6 41.a6 d5 42.e2 c6 43.g1 f6 44.d3 e4 45.c4 d5 46.h4 f3 47.c1 c3! 48.e3 d5 [ 48...e2+ 49.h2 xg3 50.fxg3 xe3 is immediately decisive ] 422
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 49.c1 d1+ 50.g2 b5 52.h5 f6 53.e3? g4 0-1
438 Rowson,Jonathan Thomson,Craig SM Scottish Open, Edinburgh (2) [Jonathan Rowson]
51.c6
e2
A11
2009
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c6 3.c3 d5 4.e3 a6 [ 4...f5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.b3 ] [ 4...g4 5.cxd5 xf3!? 6.xf3 cxd5 7.g4!? is completely unchartered territory. ] 5.b3!? f5 [ 5...b5 6.cxd5 ( 6.h3!? ) 6...cxd5 7.a4 b4 8.e2 The weaknesses on Black's queenside are more accessible when White hasn't played d4 so this position might be promising for White. ( 8.a2 c6 9.b2 e6 10.c1 d6 11.d3 e7 12.c1 d7 and Black starts having fun ) 8...g4 ] [ 5...g4 looks more solid, as does the game continuation, ideally with h6 thrown in to keep the light squared bishop. ] 6.e2 e6 [ 6...h6! I would also be inclined to give my opponent as little encouragement as possible. The two bishops may be no big deal in such structures, but it is still s o m e t h in g, a n d p ro b a b ly a n a vo id a b le concession from Black. ] 7.h4! g6 8.b2 bd7 9.0-0 [ 9.g4?! I managed to control myself just in time. ] 9...e4?! [ 9...d6 10.g3 0-0 11.xg6 hxg6 and White has a slight edge on a very good day. ] 10.xg6 hxg6 11.g3 d6 With the white pawn on d4, Shirov showed that this manoeuvre is a coherent and combative way to play. It is less clear whether it make sense when White can play e4 supported by his dpawn. 12.d3 g5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.e4 h6 15.h4 g5 16.h5?! [ 16.c1 f6 17.e5! I saw this idea during the game, but felt the game continuation was better. xe5 ( 17...xe5 18.d4 f5 19.g4 g6 20.xg5 e7 and Black
might be fine.) 18.xg5 f3+ ( 18...f5 19.d4 c6 20.g4 g6 21.a4 but Black's solid central structure gives him reason to face the future with confidence.) 19.xf3 xc3 20.c1 d4 21.c7 ] 16...d4 17.b1 e5? A fatal weakening of the light squares. Instead Black should fight for the dark squares in the centre. [ 17...g6! 18.xd4 g7 19.xg7 xg7 20.d4 xe4 ( 20...gxh5 21.c3 h4 and the position is highly unclear.) 21.f3 d6 22.hxg6 xg6 23.c3 g4 24.g2 0-0-0 ] 18.g2 e7 19.d2 0-0 20.g4 f6 21.c1 Black's position is worse that it looks. The queen on h6 is misplaced and W hite c o n t r o l s t h e c - f i l e . de8 22.h1?! A bit too fancy. [ 22.c4 xg4 23.xg4 f6 Here I felt f4 would be right, but I didn't really want to p l a y i t , s o I a vo i d e d t h e l i n e e n t i r e l y . However, in this position I can simply play 24.d7! and after b5 25.a5 I seem to be invading decisively. ] 22...b5 23.c6 d6 24.a3 fd8 25.c5 f8 26.b6 [ 26.b4!? ] 26...e8 27.c7 xg4 28.xg4 e6! 29.xe6 [ 29.xg5? e7 ] [ 29.h3 xe4 30.xe6 xe6 31.xe6 xf2+ 32.g2 xh1 33.b6 c8 ] [ 29.f3 f5 ] 29...xe6 30.f3 f6 31.hc1 f7 32.xd6 [ 32.a5!? ] 32...xd6 33.h3! f8 34.c7+ e7 35.7c6 e6 36.g4 a5 37.f5 xc6 38.xc6 e7 39.c7 a4 [ 39...b4 40.d2 a4 41.c4 axb3 42.axb3 a6 ] 40.b4 a3 41.e1! h8 42.g4 [ 42.g4 also probably wins, but I saw no reason to create a mating net for my own king. ] 42...e6 43.c2 b8 44.c6+ d6 45.a6 b7 46.xa3 d7 47.a5 c6 48.c2 b6 49.a4 [ 49.f5 xb4 ] 49...bxa4 50.xa4 c7 51.a3 e7 52.f5 1-0 423
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 439 Salman,Joel Fridman,Daniel Open Southampton BER (2) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2236 2572 08.02.2003
1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.g2 d5 4.b3 [ 4.f3 may be the best move, returning to a mainline, and controlling e5, but perhaps White didn't want to sac his c-pawn? ] 4...e5 Well, why not? 5.d3? In the Reti group of openings White can often play his first 10 to 15 moves almost without thinking, and this sometimes makes us lazy. In fact there are only a few tactics to be aware of, and this is one of them. [ 5.b2 d6 6.f3 e7 is more normal, but Black has already equalised, of course. ] 5...dxc4! Black is on the ball. [ 5...d6 6.e3 g4 7.e2 0-0 8.h3 e6 is nothing special, Sudar, B-Kuljasevic,D/ Pula CRO 2001. ] 6.bxc4?! [ 6.dxc4 is ugly, but a better try, xd1+ ( 6...b4+!? 7.d2 d4 8.xb4 xa1 9.c2 d4 10.f3 gains some compensation for the exchange) 7.xd1 c5 8.e3 f5 and although the white king position is a concern, White is still playing. ] 6...d4 The unpleasant point, winning the poor a1-rook, but this is not a new position, as I have 0-1 Kaissi,Y-Imbert,G/Paris 1994 in my database! 7.c2 Perhaps White relied on this, wh ic h will t ra p t h e qu e e n . xa1 8.e3 White had to control the d4-square, otherwise t h e q u e e n w o u l d e s c a p e . a6 9.a3 W hite tries his best, ...Nb4 was a serious problem. c5 10.e2 f5 11.e4 g4 12.ec3 Now, if only White could play Bb2, he would have a serious threat, but even this is not possible because of the tactic with Nxd3+, forking e1 and c1. [ 12.f3 is no improvement: d8! 13.0-0 xd3 14.fxg4 c5+ 15.h1 xg4 wh en B lac k h as e xt ra ma t eria l a nd t h e attack. ] 12...0-0-0 13.f1 White defends d3, and finally there is a real threat to play Bb2, and win the black queen, but the positional cost has been too great. f3!? Black decides to allow White to trap the queen, seeing that the
white position is now full of holes, but [ 13...e6! was also strong: 14.b2 d4 15.c1 f3+ 16.d1 xh2+ 17.c2 xa3! 18.xa3 f3 and the black queen can escape along the a-line if need be. ] 14.g1 e7?! Fun, but [ 14...e6!? 15.b2 d4 16.d2 xe4! seems convincing, as ...Nf3+ is a threat. ] 15.b2 xb2 16.xb2 xd3+ 17.xd3 xd3 So, White has managed to gain the black queen for a further piece, but his king is stuck in the centre, and his rook out-of-play. 18.d2 c5 19.xf3 xf3 20.d1 d4 21.e2 xa3 Another stock-take shows that Black has a nominal material advantage: rook, bishop and 2 pawns for a queen, but more importantly, the black pieces are well-placed, and the white ones completely passive. 22.g4 h6 23.g3 a1 24.d3 d8 25.f1 d7 26.g2?! Just when White almost had reason to play on, he makes an error! [ 26.f3 c5 27.d2 is better. ] 26...c5 27.d2 e6 Ouch! The menace of forking the queen and king by ...Nf4+ brings the game to a swift conclusion. 28.f3 f4+ 29.h1?! xf2! 30.xd8+ xd8 31.h3 [ 31.xf2 xd1+ doesn't bear consideration. ] 31...c5 32.h2 a2+ 33.h1 a3 As if the queen moves ...Rxh3+ is decisive. 0-1
440 Sambuev,Bator Keosidi,Konstantin 1st Russian Cup (1) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2496 2219 04.07.2003
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c6 3.e3 d5 4.c2 e6 5.b3 e7 This is not quite as aggressive as [ 5...d6 , but it is solid enough. ] 6.b2 0-0 7.g4!? We have seen this move many times before, for instance with the white knight on c3 and bishop still on c1 in Tukmakov - W asnetsky, but in this exact position it seems to be a novelty. [ First 7.g1!? bd7 8.g4 was examined in Gurevich - Wegerle. ] 7...c5?! [ 7...xg4 is clearly the critical try, 8.g1 f5 424
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.h3 f6 10.c3 followed by long castles, when White will have some fun down the gfile, but Black's resources should be sufficient. ] 8.g5 e4 9.h4 c6 10.c3 b4 11.b1 b6!? [ 11...f5!? is possible, to gain some space on the kingside, 12.d3 xc3 13.xc3 f4!? ] 12.a3 Naturally White is not at all interested in [ 12.xe4 dxe4 13.xe4 d7! ( 13...b8?? 14.e5 ) 14.xa8 b7 ] 12...xc3 13.xc3 c6?! After this natural reply Black may already be completely lost! [ 13...b7! is interesting, 14.g2 ( 14.axb4?! d4 favours Black) 14...c6 and White has less possibilities for developing his attack. ] 14.d3 g6 15.h5! Obvious but effective, W h i t e w i l l l e v e r t h e k i n g s i d e o p e n . d4 B la c k t ri e s t o sh u t o n e o f t h e d ia go n a l s p o i n t i n g a t h i s k i n g . 16.hxg6! dxc3 Other moves are worse: [ 16...hxg6?! 17.xg6 dxc3 18.e4 a n d W h i t e w i n s , a s b7? 19.xc6 and Qh7 mate. ] [ 16...fxg6?! 17.xg6 dxc3 18.xh7+ g7 19.g6+ h8 20.g8# ] 17.gxf7+ [ 17.g7 xg7 18.e4 is also strong, cxd2+ 19.xd2 h8 20.xc6 b8 21.b2+ with a continuing attack. ] 17...xf7?! This loses simply, [ 17...xf7 is stronger, but even here 18.e4 b7 19.xh7+ e8 20.xc6+ xc6 21.g6+ d7 22.e5+ c7 23.dxc3 is fairly convincing. ] 18.xh7+ f8 19.e4 cxd2+ 20.xd2 g7 [ 20...d7 21.xc6 xc6 22.h8+ g7 23.h7# ] 21.xc6 [ 21.xc6 b8 22.h8+ g8 23.h7 forces mate. ] 1-0
441 Shchekachev,Andrei Romanov,Evgeny ChInt Open Paris FRA (7) [Jonathan Rowson]
A11 2520 2547 04.07.2008
1.c4 c6 2.f3 f6 3.c3 d5 4.e3 g4 5.b3!? b6 6.e5 e6 7.d4 bd7 8.xd7 xd7 [ 8...xd7 A) 9.xb6!? axb6 ( 9...xb6 10.c5 d7 11.b4 also looks a bit better for White.) 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.d2 and White has a small pull.; B) 9.cxd5 B1) 9...cxd5 10.d2 ( 10.xd5 xb3 11.c7+ d8 12.xe6+ xe6! is an important detail that I confess I missed in my first round of calculation. ); B2) 9...xb3 ] 9.a4! xb3 [ 9...c7 10.c5 c8 11.cxd5 xd5 ( 11...cxd5 12.b5+ ) 12.e4 gives White an edge. f6 13.e5 d5 14.d2 with a position that looks more like a queen's gambit accepted with 3e4 or an advance Caro-Kann, but one where W hite seems somewhat better. ] 10.axb3 0-0-0 When I first saw this position I was looking for a tactical kill based around the idea of e4, Bf4 and Nb6+ followed by mate on a8. I didn't expect it to work, but thought it might highlight a more productive path to an advantage. For what it's worth, I feel White should have a way to be at least somewhat better in this ending, and perhaps more than one way, as the following indicates. That said, I also believe in Black's resources. 11.d3 [ 11.e4 xe4 12.b6+ axb6 13.a8+ c7 14.f4+ e5 15.xe5+ d6 ] [ 11.c3 b8 12.e4 dxe4 ( 12...xe4 13.f4+ a8 14.cxd5 xc3 15.bxc3 cxd5 16.d3 followed by Kd2 keeps the a-file initiative going.) 13.f4+ a8 14.a4 a6 15.c7 e8 16.e2 This ploy is perhaps enough to scare Black a little, but not more. ] [ 11.c5 feels like it should give White a slight pull, but probably nothing to really s c a r e a s e a s o n e d S l a v p l a y e r . b8 12.xd7+ xd7 13.d3 and again we have a position where W hite is slightly for 425
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 play d4, after his eighth move. 9.h3 xf3 The simplest move, [ 9...h5!? is possible, but leads to sharp play after 10.g4 g6 11.e4 ] 10.xf3 0-0 11.e4 White advances his extra central pawn, other, quieter, methods don't offer too much, either: [ 11.b1 Intending a minority attack with b45. e7 12.g2 ad8 13.d4 Transposing into a Queen 's Gambit E xchange pawn structure, but one that is very pleasant for Black. d6 14.g5 h6 15.xf6 xf6 16.e3 h5 Black's position is preferable, Lopushnoy,D-Dreev, A/Russian Club Cup, Maikop RUS 1998. ] 11...dxe4 12.dxe4 e5 Black is slightly ahe ad in develo pme nt, an d starts act ive operations against the white centre. 13.e2 If instead [ 13.g2?! then d3 is awkward. ] 13...e8 Eyeing the e-pawn. 14.g2 g6 15.c2 e7 By putting more pressure on e4, B l a c k f o r c e s t h e f o l l o wi n g m o ve , wh i c h weakens the white light squares. 16.f3 ad8 Black has a very harmonious development, but W hite has the bishop pair, and a potentially mobile kingside mass. 17.d2 d6 442 A11 18.ad1 h5 Black starts a concerted attack Shirov,Alexei 2726 o n W h i t e ' s k i n g s i d e d a r k s q u a r e s . 19.f4 Short,Nigel D 2697 Forced, not only is [ 19.g4?? positional capitulation, but also SuperGM It Sarajevo BIH (4) 20.05.1999 tactical, as White gets mated after h4 ] [Tony Kosten] 19...xg3! 20.xg3 g5+ 21.h2 xf4 1.f3 d5 2.g3 g4 A reversed Trompovsky! 22.xf4 xf4+ 23.h1 So far, this has been Actually, this may be the most flexible line of forced since the 19th move, Black only has all, as played like this Black may even be able two pawns for his piece, but the white king is to do without the move ...c6. This line is a wide open . g3 24.g4 h5 No let-up for 25.f2!? An interesting decision, speciality of Shirov himself, but with black! White. 3.g2 d7 Controlling e5, and putting paid to giving-up a pawn to stop the attack, but [ 25.g1 wa s a l s o a p o s s i b i l i t y , h4 any possibility of White playing Ne5. 4.c4 e6 26.d7! as xd7? loses to 27.g2 ] 5.cxd5 Delaying this capture is worse, [ 5.0-0 for instance, allowing the standard 25...hxg4 26.xf4 xh3+ 27.h2 e3 trick: xf3 6.xf3 e5 7.b3 xf3+ Black prefers to keep the queens on the board, 8.xf3 f6 and Black has solved all of his which is normal, considering the exposed g6 29.xg4 opening problems, Schulze, U-Campora,D/ w h i t e k i n g . 28.h5 W hite recaptures one pawn, but allows an Bern 1992. ] 30.xd1 5...exd5 6.0-0 gf6 7.c3 c6 Black finally i m m e d i a t e d r a w . xd1 plays ...c6, but only once White has shown his And certainly not [ 30.xd1?? e5 and the menace of ...Rh5+, hand. 8.d3 c5 Other developments of this and ...Rg5 wins for Black. ] bishop are also possible, but this is the most active, especially since White is unlikely to 30...h3+ 31.g1 g3+ 32.h1
preference, but Black has nothing in particular to fear. ] [ 11.c5!? f5 12.f3 e6 13.b4 a6 14.g4 g6 15.d2 and if the bishop on d2 reaches the h2-b8 diagonal, W hite will be in business, but I suspect Black can stop that from happening, for instance with Nd7, f6 and e5. ] 11...g4 12.f3 h5 13.d2 g6 14.xg6 [ 14.c5! b8 15.xg6 hxg6 16.d3 d7 17.f2 Still looks somewhat better for White. ] 14...hxg6 15.cxd5 xd5 16.c5 a6 17.d3 f6 White's play is a bit tentative in what follows and Black gradually gets a slight pull, but at this stage W hite is at least not worse. 18.e2 e6 19.h3 d6 20.hc1 c7 21.a5 h5 22.c5 e5 23.xc7 xc7 24.e6 d6 25.xc7 xc7 26.dxe5 xe5 27.d1 xd1 28.xd1 b5 29.d3 a5 30.d2 a4 31.c2 xb3 32.xb3 axb3+ 33.xb3 b5 34.b4 b6 35.e4 c5+ 36.c3 g5 37.g3 c6 38.h4 gxh4 39.gxh4 d6 40.f4 e6 ½-½
426
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 32.h1 now g7 34.f6+ ] ½-½
e5?? loses to
443 Socko,Bartosz Ejsmont,Krzysztof TCh-POL Extraliga (9) [John Watson]
33.d8+
A11 2621 2348 10.09.2006
A Reti with some excitement on the king's wing! It's remarkable how often White plays g4 these days. 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 5.b3 bd7 6.b2 d6 7.c2 This is the same popular anti-Slav system that we see in Kveinys-Ejmont. Black is able to develop smoothly b ut has no targets. 0-0 8.e2 b6 Perhaps a bit slow, although it can't be too bad. I like the looks of [ 8...a6 , because apart from ...b5, it has the idea of stopping Nb5 once Black plays ...e5 and White trades on d5. ] [ 8...e5 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.b5 b8 11.a3 e8 12.c1 is awkward. ] 9.g1!? Typical of modern chess! White doesn't merely want to attack, but also to gain space after g4-g5. [ 9.d4 is the normal idea. ] 9...b7 10.g4 e5 11.g5 Centre versus Flank! Objectively it's unclear but I like Flank's chances on a practical level. e8 12.0-0-0 c7 [ 12...e4 13.d4 c5 14.f5 c7 15.d3! keeps an initiative. ] 13.h4!? At this point Kb1 seems prudent. This works out, but perhaps h4 should be delayed until W hite doesn't need the move Nh4 in response to ...e4. e6 With the good idea of covering d4 after ...e4, but Black never uses it. [ 13...b5!? opens either the c- or b-file. ] 14.b1 e7 15.g2!? A surprising move that is not only slow but exposes the rook on the long diagonal. The point will become clear. Nevertheless [ I like 15.h5! intending e4 16.h4 ] 15...ae8? Extremely passive. Better moves were [ 15...b5 w i t h t h e i d e a 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.xb5 d4! , ] [ 15...ac8 with the same idea. ]
[ or simply 15...e4 16.h2 e5 ] 16.dg1?! [ 16.h5! ] 16...dc5 [ 16...e4 17.h2 e5 is unclear. ] 17.d1!? [ 17.h5! ] 17...e4 18.e1!? b5!? 19.b4 [ 19.f4! looks correct, threatening f5 and h4h5, when exf3 20.xf3 releases Black's grip on d3. ] 19...d7? A turning point. [ 19...a4! looks risky in view of 20.c5 c7 21.f6!? , but White has trouble adding fuel to the fire after ( 21.a1 a5! ) 21...d7 , when the a-file will prove a real problem for him. ] 20.c5 e5 21.f4 xb2 [ 21...exf3 22.xf3 xb2 23.xb2 has the idea h5/g6, and Black's bishop on b7 is a liability. ] 22.xb2 f5? This loses! [ 22...a5!? 23.f5 c7 is the best chance. ] 23.gxf6 xf6 24.g4! f7 [ 24...xb2+ 25.xb2 g6 26.f5 g7 27.fxg6 and things are falling apart. ] 25.f5! ef8 26.h5 xb2+ 27.xb2 ee7 [ 27...g6 28.fxg6 hxg6 29.xg6 xg6 30.xg6+ h7 31.6g5 f6 32.g2! , a n d Nf 4 wi ll c e m e n t W h it e ' s wi n n i n g advantage. ] 28.xf7+ xf7 29.c2 e5 30.d4 1-0
444 Stefanova,Antoaneta Sebag,M FIDE WCh Women World Cup (4.3) [John Bartholomew]
A11 2491 2521 22.11.12
Antoaneta Stefanova is essentially winning out of the opening in this 7.a4 Anti-Slav, blunders badly, then most certainly should have lost. As Tartakower once said, though: "The winner is the player who makes the second to last mistake"! 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.c2 b6 7.a4 [ 7.a3 is the hot move, but the text is no less popular. ] 7...a5 8.a3 e6 9.g5 This knight lunge is 427
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 demands a precise reply. I think Black usually the most direct counter to ...Bc8-e6. should counter with [ One drawback of 7.a4 is that the pawn A1) 14...xg4?! 15.exf7 xf7 sacrifice 9.b3 is no longer feasible. See A1a) and now 16.xe6! would have Bartholomew-Kojima for an example of this been hazardous for Black, i.e. in the 7.Na3 line, though. ] A1a1) 16...h4?! 17.f4 xe6 [ However, 9.e5!? still makes sense, just 18.xe6+ d8 19.g3! h5 as it does without the inclusion of a2-a4 and ( a cool line that illustrates the a7-a5. For example: dangers Black faces here is A) 9...d4 is most common here it leads 19...g5? 20.ae1 b4 and now to complications after 10.xc6 bxc6 21.xh7!!+- is a brutal surprise, e.g. 11.xc6+ , e.g. f8 22.h4 ) 20.f3; A1) 11...d7 12.xa8 xa8 13.xc4 A1a2) 16...xe6 17.xe6+ e7 d5 ( 13...b6 14.xa5 e5 15.d3 ( 17...f7 fails spectacularly to d6 16.d2 Heffalump (2464)18.g5!! (luring the Black queen out Rock doc (2 386 ) p layche ss. com INT o f h e r d e n ) xg5 19.b3+2006 ) 14.b3!? h3 15.b5+! xb5 when the various discoveries are 16.axb5 d5 17.xa5 ab6 18.xb6 immediately decisive) 18.g5 df6 xb6 19.d1 Valdes, L (2366)19.ae1 0-0 20.xe7; Beinoras, M (2346) Istanbul 2012; A1b) 16.xf7? xf7 17.e4 b4! A2) 11...fd7 (I think this is best) 18.xe6+ f8 19.f4 df6 20.h3 12.xa8 xa8 13.d3 h3 14.d1 e5?! xd4 21.hxg4 xf4-+ Carlstedt, J ( 14...d5!? 15.e4 h5 16.xc4; (2379)-Alonso Rosell, A (2521) 14...ab6!? ) 15.xc4 ab6 16.xd4 Figueres 2010; exd4 17.d2 xa4 18.b5 ab6 A2) 14...xe5!N , e.g. 15.dxe5 19.xa5 Tikkanen, H (2591)-Hultin, J ( B l a c k i s d o i n g we l l a f t e r 15.gxh5?! (2307) Malmo 2012; ed7 ) 15...g6! ( 15...xg4?? B) 9...g6 (simply developing) 10.axc4 16.xc6+ bxc6 17.xc6+ e7 xc4 11.xc4 g7 12.d3 d5 13.d2 18.xe6!+- ) 16.b3 d5 17.xb7 0-0 14.fc1 b6 15.e3 c5 16.xd5 c8; xd5 17.xd5 xd5= Zaragatski, I B) 14.f3 has been played a couple times, (2474)-Michiels, B (2502) Netherlands thou gh Bla ck is quit e solid a f te r xe5 2012 ] 15.xh5 g6 16.xe6+ e7! ( 16...fxe6? 9...g4 10.xc4 xe2! 17.xg6+ hxg6 18.xg6+ d7 19.f7 [ 10...xc4 11.xc4 e6 is less resolute. e8 20.xh8 ) 17.xg6 hxg6 e.g. Following 12.e4 h5 13.d4 h6 14.h3 18.e1 ( 18.e2 0-0 19.d2 d5 g6 15.f4! xe4 16.xe4 xe4 20.f3 f6 21.ae1 Maletin, P (2575)17.xe6! White unleashed a promising Panarin, M (2503) Samara 2011 d7= ) attack in Matamoros Franco, C (2460)-Xu 18...0-0 19.d2 d5 20.e4 e8 Jun (2626) Seville 2003/[TonyK]. ] 21.c5 c7 22.b3 b6= Valdes, L 11.e5 h5 12.b4!? Introduced by the (2366)-Michiels, B (2509) Istanbul 2012. ] Czech GM Jiri Stocek in 2000. Computers are initially skeptical of this pawn offering, but 12...e6 No funny business - just development. [ Instead, 12...bd7 led to major they often change their tune when left to stew complications in Radjabov, T (2761)-Smeets, in their own juices for a bit. The text has been J (2601) Wijk aan Zee 2009/[Nigel Davies]: p l a y e d b y s e v e r a l o t h e r s t r o n g p la ye r s , 13.b2 axb4 14.a5 a6 15.fe1 xe5 including Teimour Radjabov. 16.xe5 e6? and here White passed on the [ The alternative is 12.e1 bd7 ( not cr u s h i n g c o n t i n u a t i o n 17.xe6! fxe6 12...h6?! 13.e4 e6?! 14.xc6!; 18.xe6+ f7 ( 18...e7 19.ae1+- ) 12...bd5!? deserves attention) 13.d4 e6 19.c4+- ] and now: [ Nobody has dared to accept the pawn with A) 14.g4!? would be my choice, as it 428
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12...axb4 . After 13.b2 the game could transpose to Radjabov-Smeets. ( 13.e1!? )] 13.b5 [ This is better than 13.bxa5 xa5 14.d4 d6 15.d2 a7 16.a5 bd5 17.a6 0-0 18.axb7 which was immediately agreed drawn in Matamoros Franco, C (2542)-Stella, A ( 2 3 9 8 ) F o r n i d i S o p r a 2 0 1 1 . xb7 19.xc6 d7= ] 13...d6 14.b2 [ 14.d4 0-0!? (this is far more acceptable than in the game) 15.bxc6 bxc6 16.d2 bd5 17.xc6 c8 18.b5 b4 Rodriguez Guerrero, E (2464)-Dunis, A (2534) La Roche sur Yon 2006 ] 14...0-0? Clearly bad. One wonders whether Sebag was on her own at this point or whether she simply confused her lines. Black has at least two valid approaches here: [ 14...xe5 15.xe5 g6 is the most straightforward. After 16.a2 ( 16.b3 looks preferable for instance bd5 17.fc1 c8 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.xd5!? xd5 20.xd5 exd5 21.f3 c5 22.a3 with compensation, but no more) 16...bd5 17.bxc6 bxc6 18.ac1 0-0 Black was on top in Cebalo, M (2478)-Chatalbashev, B (2 5 6 6 ) T rie s t e 2 0 1 1 b e ca u s e 19.xc6?? runs into b4-+ . ] [ 14...c7 i s a l s o f i n e , e . g . 15.c4 ( 15.fe1!? ) 15...xc4 16.xc4 0-0 17.h4 g6 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.ac1 e7 ( 19...d8! ) 20.xc6 Maletin, P (2541)Pilavov, G (2550) Nizhnij Tagil 2006 ab8 .] 15.bxc6 [ E v e n s t r o n g e r w a s 15.xc6! d7 ( 15...bxc6?? 16.xf6 is the point. Black has to play g6 to avoid mate on h7, but 17.xd8 xc2 18.xb6+- leaves White a piece to the good.) 16.xf6 g6 17.e4 bxc6 18.d4! d5 19.bxc6 c7 20.c4 .] 15...c8 16.b1 [ Or simply 16.b3! . ] 16...xe5? Black is sinking fast, though this is only the beginning! [ P r e s u m a b l y s h e r e j e c t e d 16...bxc6 b e c a u s e o f 17.xc6 c7 18.xf6 , but the zwischenzug g6! keeps her alive. Things are still difficult after 19.b2 gxf6
20.e4! ( 20.xf6 d7 ) 20...xe4 21.xe4 f5 22.g2 , but there's still everything to play for. ] 17.cxb7?! Thus initiating a slew of mutual errors that persists until the end of the game. [ White had an easy win with 17.xe5 g6 ( 17...bxc6? 18.xf6+- ) 18.c7!+- . ] 17...c5 18.d4! g6? 19.e4?? A colossal mistake. The pendulum begins to swing... [ Black would be hard-pressed to survive after 19.dxc5! xb1 20.xe5+- . ] 19...c4! 20.d1?! [ 20.dxe5 xe4 21.xe4 xe4 was the lesser evil. ] 20...c7 21.a3 e8? Gulp. [ 21...xe4 w i n s , i . e . 22.xe4 xe4 23.xe4 ( 23.xf8 c3-+ ) 23...d6-+ ] 22.xf6+ gxf6 23.b5 c2 24.e1 xa4 25.h5 c6?! 26.g4+? [ 26.xc6! xc6 27.e4 ] 26...h8 27.xc6 xc6 28.ab1 d5 29.e2 c4 30.c5 d6?? [ Black is up a clean piece after 30...d2! 31.xd2 xc5 ] [ , or even just 30...d6 . ] 31.ec1 xc5? 32.b8? The evaluation is changing move-to-move at this point. [ 32.xc4+- ] 32...xb8 33.xb8+ g7?? Oh no! This is the final straw. [ 33...f8! was absolutely mandatory. Amazingly, it seems to lead to equality! For example: 34.xf8+ g7 35.b8 and now e5! 36.xc6 f3+ 37.f1 xh2+ 38.g1 f3+ 39.f1= ( 39.g2?? xd4+-+ )] 34.xc4 Now White is (take a deep breath!) winning. xd4 [ Black should try 34...b6 35.xd5 exd5 36.xb6 xb6 , though White's win should only be a matter of technique. ] 35.xc6 a2 36.f3 f5 37.bc8 a4 38.8c2 b3 39.xb3 Black resigns. One of the most blunder-filled contests I've seen from players of this caliber for quite some time, though we must remember that it was played in the ultra-nervy quarterfinal stage of the Women's World Championship. Black looks to be in good theoretical shape in this line, so long as he/she chooses a better continuation
429
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 on move 14 like 14...Be5 or 14... Qc7. 1-0
445 Stefanova,Antoaneta Zhukova,Natalia North Ural Cup (6) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2503 2439 14.08.2003
Th e e n d in g t h a t a rise s h e re se e m s ve ry pleasant for White, and this is the first time that Black actually manages to win a game. However, she needed a lot of help from her opponent! 1.c4 c6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 f5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.b3 I recommended this in my book as a simple method of playing against Lasker's System. b6 Black accepts doubled pawns to remove the pressure on b7, and will have the halfopen a-file in exchange. [ 6...c8 is the main alternative, see my game against Bunzmann from Montpellier 2001. ] 7.xb6 axb6 8.c3 c6 9.d3 e6 10.b5 This is the normal move here, b5 is a strong square for the knight, as there are no black pawns to chase it away, but no doubt other moves are possible. b4+ 11.d2 e7 12.fd4 xd2+ 13.xd2 Both kings stay in the centre as for the moment they are entirely safe in this endgame on dark squares whilst the centre is closed. g6 14.f4! An important move, restraining ...e5. a4 This active move appears to be the mo st logical, as Black attacks the d4-knight, and prepares to double rooks, or play ...Rb4. [ But there are others: 14...h6 15.a3 hc8 16.ac1 h7 17.h3 d7 18.c3 with a pleasant edge which White managed to transform, Portisch,L-Smyslov,V/Wijk aan Zee 1972. ] [ 14...a5 15.e3 e8 16.a3 xd4 17.xd4 d7 18.ac1 c5 Fra n c o O c a m p o s, Z-B ra vo B a rra n co , N/ B a r c e l o n a E S P 2 0 0 0 , a n d n o w 19.b4 looks very unpleasant, i.e. cc8 20.f5! xf5 21.xf5+ exf5 22.xd5 and the b7-pawn is in trouble. ] [ 14...hc8 15.h3 h5 16.hg1 g4 17.g2 h5?! 18.h3 f5 19.xf5+ exf5
Black's structure is weak, Nguyen Ngoc Truongson-Megaranto,S/Ho Chi Minh City VIE 2003. ] 15.e3 This new move seems very sensible, White defends her knight on d4 rather than retreat by [ 15.c2 although after ha8 16.a3 d7 17.b4! (stopping the knight from coming to c5, and leaving the rooks looking silly on the a-file) f6?! 18.hc1 f8 19.g4 White had a nice advantage in Kirov,N-Van der Sterren, P/ Baku 1983, the game continuing d8 20.f5! exf5 21.gxf5 xf5 22.c3 a7 23.xd5+ f7 24.xb6 winning easily. ] 15...h6 16.a3 h7 The bishop withdraws from g6 so that tricks with f5 have less effect, b u t i t s e e m s t i m e - c o n s u m i n g . 17.hf1!? White decides on a kingside demonstration, but [ 17.ac1 c8 18.h3 seems very pleasant for W hite, she can continue with moves such as b4, g4, Rc3, etc. with good perspectives. ] 17...aa8 18.h3 hc8 19.g4 d7 20.f5 This is the point of White's play, she attempts to undermine d5, but [ 20.b4 was a sensible alternative, controlling c5. ] 20...g8 21.h4!? [ 21.fxe6! fxe6 22.e4 is interesting, with the idea of opening the e-file and embarrassing the black king. ] 21...ce5 22.g5 [ 22.e4! dxe4 23.xe4 c5 24.ae1 gives White a strong attack on the king. ] 22...c5 Black counterattacks the d3-square, w h i c h s e e m s t o b e d e f e n c e l e s s . 23.b4! cxd3 24.ab1?! Apparently trapping the knight by controlling its only escape square, but [ 24.e4!? seems very strong, blowing open the centre and long diagonal, hxg5 25.hxg5 d8! the best chance ( 25...b2 26.exd5 bc4+ 27.e2 exd5 28.xd5 tears Black apart ) 26.exd5 exd5 27.f6+! ( 27.c7 ac8 28.xd5+ xd5! 29.xd5 d8 ) 27...gxf6 28.xf6 with powerful threats. ] 24...b2! Anyway! 25.xb2 c4+ 26.c3 xe3+ 27.d3 xf1 28.xf1 hxg5 29.hxg5 e5 Rook and two pawn are generally worth two piece s, especia lly h ere a s th e 430
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pawns are central pawns controlling important squares, but White has plenty of resources. 30.f6+?! White panics, and gives a further pawn. [ 30.e2 is s i m p le a n d g o o d , e . g . f6 31.d2! (saf er on a dark square) d7 32.e6! xe6 33.fxe6+ e7 ( 33...xe6? 34.h3+ f5 35.d4+! turns the tables) 34.h3 and the strong e6-pawn keeps White alive. ] 30...gxf6 31.gxf6+ xf6 32.f2+ e7 33.f5+ f8 34.e3 h7+ 35.d2 c6! [ 35...e4? 36.d3! xd3 37.xd3 d4 38.g4 e8 39.e2 wins the central pawns. ] 36.d3?! Drawing the pawns forward. [ 36.g4 e4 37.e3 gives chances of blocking the pawns on light squares. ] 36...e4 37.b1 d4! 38.xd4 What else? d8 39.ec2 xc2+! 40.xc2 xd4+ 41.e3 c4 Now Black is completely winning with two good pawns more. 42.b5?! c3+ 43.d4 xa3 44.e2 a2 45.e3 b2 46.h2 g6 47.h8+ g7 48.c8 xb5 49.e8 f5 50.e7+ f6 51.xb7 Regaining one pawn, but she could have resigned and saved herself the trouble. g5 52.d4 c5 53.a4 a5 54.c6 a3 55.xb6 d3+ 56.e5 e3 57.b1 h5 58.g1+ g4 59.f3 e2 60.xg4 [ 60.xe2 e3+ ] 60...fxg4 61.e1 e3+ 62.d4 f4 0-1
agree that W hite's best chances for an advantage are connected with this knight jump. [ Marin indicates that 5.cxd5 xf3! 6.xf3 cxd5 is less challenging to Black. The first player can try to squeeze something (and Marin presents a decent case for doing so in a later chapter), but W hite's bishops are d e va lu e d in t h is se m i- cl o se d p o s it i o n . S t a t ist ics co n f irm t h e ro b u st n a t u re o f Black's game. ] 5...e6 This is the most solid retreat. Black intends to recapture on d5 with his bishop while avoiding any unpleasantries associated with a tempo-gaining g3-g4. [ 5...h5?! is known to be risky for Black: 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.c3 e6 8.a4+ bd7 9.g4 g6 10.h4 ] [ Likewise 5...f5?! is begging for punishment: 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.c3 e6 8.g4!? ( 8.a4+ bd7 9.g4 g6 transposes to the line above. ) 8...g6 9.h4 ] 6.cxd5 xd5 7.f3 White must not permit B l a c k t o e x c h a n g e b i s h o p s f o r f r e e . c5 Securing the c6 square for the bishop is most popular. [ 7...e5 8.c3 e4 9.g5!? ( Marin's 9.h4 is safer ) 9...e3! A) 10.xd5 exf2+ 11.xf2 c5+?? ( 11...cxd5= ) 12.d4+Reinderman, D (2617)-Kleijn, C (2429)/PlayChess.com INT 2011.; B) 10.f3 exd2+ ( 10...h6!? ) 11.xd2 bd7 12.0-0 c5+ 13.h1 0-0 14.b3 h6?! 15.e4! xb3 16.axb3 hxg5 446 A11 17.xg5 d4 18.d2 c5 19.c2 b6 20.b1 e6= Hickl, J (2572) Sundararajan,Kidambi 2474 Charnushevich, A (2501)/ Switzerland SUI Sriram,Jha 2410 2010.; 49th ch-NatA (7) 15.10.2011 C) 10.dxe3 xg2 11.xd8+ xd8 [John Bartholomew] 12.g1 d5 13.xd5 cxd5 14.xf7+ e7 15.xh8 e6 An interesting 1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 f6 4.g2 g4 endgame is reached where W hite's h8 The Capablanca Variation. knight will soon perish, but Black will have [ T h e p r i n c i p l e d p a w n g r a b 4...dxc4 to cope with White's mass of pawns on the has been examined many times on this site. kingside. ] For an overview of this and other options [ 7...g6 is stodgy. 8.c3 ( 8.0-0 g7 9.c3 (such as the common 4...Bf5), see Nigel 0-0 10.d4 t r a n s p o s e s) 8...g7 9.0-0 Davies's "Reti - 1. c4 c6 with g3" guide in ( 9.xd5 cxd5 10.0-0 c6= Mogranzini, R the archives. ] (2387)-Epishin, V (2598)/Porto San Giorgio 5.e5 Marin gives this move a "!" in "GM ITA 2010. ) 9...0-0 10.d3 xf3!? 11.xf3 Repertoire 4 - The English Opening vol. 2". I 431
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a6 ( 11...bd7 ) 12.d2 d7 13.b1 d5 14.c2 ac8 15.fc1 fd8 16.a4 1/2-1/2 Kreisl, R (2394)-Postny, E (2585)/ Aix-les-Bains FRA 2011 (43) ] 8.c3 c6 9.0-0 e6 10.d3 Seeking to reduce the influence of Black's bishop with a subsequent e2-e4. [ White can take the game into Catalan territory with 10.d4 ] [ A few GMs have also experimented with 10.e1!? i.e. e7 ( 10...bd7 11.e4 e5?! 12.a4 e7 13.d3 0-0 14.d2 e8 15.c4 f8 16.f4 b6 17.g4!? Wang Hao (2722)-Ma Qun (2366)/ Hefei CHN 2010.) 11.e4 b6? ( 11...0-0 ) 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 b7 14.e5 d5 15.f5 exf5 16.xd5 c6 17.b3 c8 18.xe7 xe7 19.g5+ e8 20.ad1 1-0 Pantsulaia, L (2588)Coleman, J (2136)/Dubai UAE 2010. ] 10...e7 11.e4 0-0 12.e1 Probably an inaccuracy. [ 12.e2 is Marin's recommendation, keeping d1 as an option for White's rook. A r e c e n t g a m e c o n t i n u e d b5!? 13.a4 " ! " M a r i n . ( 13.a3 b4 14.axb4 cxb4 15.a4 b5 16.d1 c6 17.b3 Zygouris, H (2215)-Al Sayed, M (2490)/ Ca le t a E NG 2 0 1 1 . c8; 13.d1 b4 14.b1 Johannesson, I (2338)-Halldorsson, J (2195)/Egilsstadir ISL 2011. a4!? 15.b3 b5 and Black has successfully impeded White's intended Nb1-d2-c4 maneuver due to the pressure on d3.) 13...b4 14.b1 b7 15.e5?! ( 15.bd2 c6 16.c4 c8 17.f4 White has achieved his strategic goal of establishing his knight on c4. Black has a couple of weaknesses to cope with, though nothing is decided yet.) 15...fd7! 16.c4 c6 17.f4 b6 ( 17...g5!? 18.e3 de5 19.d1 a6 ) 18.bd2 d4 19.g4 f5 Astrup, K (2274)-Straeter, T (2325)/ Stockholm SWE 2011. ] 12...b5!? If 12...b5 is playable against 12. Qe2, I see no reason why it shouldn't be here. W hit e ha s t o f ine-t une his pla ns if B lack insists upon maximum queenside space. [ Marin dismisses 12.Re1 due to a game of his with 12...b6 : 13.e5 d8 14.a4 ( 14.e2!? ) 14...bd7 15.a5 ( Perhaps 15.c4 maintains a small edge.) 15...c7 16.xc6 bxc6 1/2-1/2 Marin, M (2583)-
Balogh, C (2595)/Arinsal AND 2009. ] 13.d4?! White shouldn't be worse after this, but an effective d3-d4 break (if it comes at all) requires further preparation. [ Better is 13.e5 i.e. A) 13...fd7 14.xc6 xc6 15.e5! ( 15.xb5?! de5 ); B) 13...e8 14.a4 b4 15.e2 c6 16.c4 d7= Moor, R (2362)-Sermier, G (2381)/Switzerland 200809. Black has organized effectively and enjoys excellent control over the critical d4 and e5 squares. ] 13...b4 14.a4 cxd4 [ 14...c4!? 15.e5 d5 ] 15.e5 fd7 16.xd4 xg2 17.xg2 xe5!? [ Black is totally fine after 17...b6 ] [ or 17...c7 but he prefers a tactical solution. ] 18.xe5 c6 19.e4 e5 20.xc6?? Flat-out collapsing. [ White failed to notice 20.g5 , when the tactical flurry d5! 21.xc6 xe4+ 22.f3 xc6 23.xe7 fc8!? results in rough dynamic equality, e.g. ( or 23...fe8 24.c1! b7 25.g5 e4 26.c5 exf3+ 27.f2 )] 20...xd1 21.xe7+ h8 Three pieces for the queen, but none of them coordinated! 22.b3 d7 23.xe5 fe8 24.g5 f6 0-1
447 Tikkanen,Hans Hector,Jonny ch-SWE 2012 Falun SWE (6.2) [John Bartholomew]
A11 2573 2530 12.07.2012
Jonny Hector is known for his aggressive brand of chess. In this game he chances a little-known idea in the Anti-Slav only to see it backfire from Hans Tikkanen's energetic play. 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 dxc4 4.g2 f6?! Defending the c4-pawn with ...Bc8-e6 is a normal occurrence in this line, but in turn Black often encounters the bothersome Nf3g5 thrust. W ith 4...f6 Hector takes the g5square under control and prepares the maneuver ... Bc8-e6-f7. Highly original, but can Black afford such extravagance? 432
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ The main line is 4...f6 . We have recently exam ined the gam bit cont inua tio n 5.0-0 bd7 6.a3 b6 7.c2 d5 8.b3 cxb3 ( 8...f5?! Mikhalevski, V (2525) -Matinian, N (2438)/Moscow RUS 2012/[John Bartholomew]) 9.axb3 e6 , when 10.b4! l e d t o a s p a r k l i n g vi c t o r y f o r W h i t e i n Timman, J (2571)-Ernst, S (2606)/Wijk aan Zee NED 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] 5.a3 [ 5.c2 e6 6.a3 would transpose. ] 5...e6 [ 5...e5!?N is inconsistent with Black's main idea, but in light of the game continuation it may be best. 6.xc4 e4 7.g1 ] 6.c2 b5 7.b3! The familiar Anti-Slav lever. Black is further behind in development than normal, thus W hite has the go-ahead to rip open the queenside. f7 [ Black accepted the pawn in the only two previous games with 4...f6: 7...cxb3 8.axb3 a6 ( 8...d7 9.0-0 h3? 10.xh3 xh3 11.xb5! d7 12.a3 a6 13.c4 a7 14.d4 g5 15.d1 g4 16.h4 h6 17.e4 xc1 18.axc1+Poettinger, H (2200)Kondrak, C (2176)/Salzburg AUT 2012. Black's scattered forces, numerous pawn weaknesses, and open king make this an e a s y c a l l .) 9.0-0 a7 10.d4 d7 Xiu, D (2521)-Deshmukh, A (2326)/Kuala Lumpur MAS 2010. Here 11.e4 is the most natural way to continue, i.e. e6 12.e3 when White's compensation is abundantly clear. ] 8.bxc4 b4 Desperately trying to contain White's growing initiative. 9.b1 e5 10.a3! Tikkanen is persistent! h6?! Black's position is highly unenviable, so it's tough to query any attempt at development. [ Still, 10...d7 offered better chances for survival. ] 11.0-0 g6 12.a4 [ 12.b2!? ] 12...bxa3 13.h4! h5 14.c3 f7 15.c5 g5 16.b3+ e8? [ For better or worse Black had to try 16...g7 17.b7+ d7 18.xc6 when xc5! keeps some hope alive. 19.xa3 ] 17.e4!? A difficult move to resist. [ Also strong is 17.b7 d7 18.xc6+- ] 17...d7
[ 17...gxh4 18.e6+ e7 19.xf6+ f8 20.xh5+- is the point. ] 18.e6+ e7 19.d4!+A final blow that su c c e e d s i n b r e a ki n g B l a c k ' s b a c k . g4 20.d6+ f8 21.hf5 xf5 22.xf5 xf5 23.xf5 Black cannot deal with the dual threats on c6 and g5. The bishops have a field day. c7 24.xg5 exd4 25.h6+ e8 26.g7 f7 27.xh8 xh8 28.fc1 e5 29.xa3 g7 30.f4 g6 31.ca1 This game had all the makings of an early rout. Black tempted fate with the time-consuming 4...f6?!, and White had plenty of bullets in the chamber to mete out the punishment (7.b3!, 10.a3!, and 19.d4!). Tikkanen went on to win the Swedish Championship in a f our-way playoff, so congratulations are in order to him! 1-0
448 Timman,Jan Ernst,Sipke 74th Tata Steel GMB (5) [John Bartholomew]
A11 2571 2606 19.01.2012
1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.c2 b6 7.a3 d5 8.b3 "Let's make it a true gambit, Alex." I believe this is the most promising option White has available, and Timman's sure handling makes 8.b3 all the more appealing. [ Mihail Marin gives 8.e1 an exclam in "Grandmaster Repertoire 4 - The English O p e n i n g vo l. 2 " . Ne ve rt h e le s s, li m it e d practical results have favored Back in the l i n e s w i t h d4 , For example, Marin's line ( 8...f5 Pantsulaia, L (2581)- Sundararajan, K (2487)/Dubai UAE 2009/[Nigel Davies],; and 8...e6 Marin, M (2583)-Laznicka, V (2617)/Benasque ESP 2009/[Nigel Davies],; but not 8...f5?! Marin, M (2556)-Ris, R (2436)/Reykjavik ISL 2009/[Nigel Davies].) 9.e3 g4 10.e4 has been improved upon a f e w t i m e s , i . e . e5 ( Other new moves include 10...g6 , Eichhorn, A (2294)-Roiz, M (2645) /Biel SUI 2010.; and 10...h5!? , Janssen, R (2512)-Spoelman, W (2564)/ Boxtel NED 2011.) 11.xc4 xc4 12.xc4 and now e6 ( See the archives for 12...d6 Zueger, B (2448)-Gagunashvili, M 433
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 (2580)/Istanbul 2003/ . This is the only move Marin considers.) 13.c2 e2!? ( 13...h5!? ) 14.b3 0-0-0 15.c3 b5 16.b2 c5! with interesting play. Tkachiev, V (2636) -Fressinet, L (2707)/Wijk aan Zee NED 2011. ] [ An alternative is 8.h4 , Davies, N (2475)Adams, M (2555)/Blackpool 1990/[Nigel Davies]. ] 8...cxb3 [ I'm not convinced by 8...f5?! , e.g. 9.b2 ( 9.bxc4 xf3 10.xf3 xc2 11.xc2 xc4= Davies, N (2512)-Haslinger, S (2423)/ Swansea 2006/[Nigel Davies].; 9.c3!? ) 9...cxb3 10.axb3 e6 11.c4 d8 12.d3 e7 13.a5!? ( Better than 13.xb6 axb6 14.xa8 xa8 , Mihajlovic, M (2243)Kuzmanovic, R (1996)/ Belgrade 2007.) 13...c8 14.b4! 0-0 15.b5 with excellent play. ] 9.axb3 e6 The main continuation. [ Black has also tried 9...g6 ] [ and 9...h5 see the notes to GrandeliusKuipers (below). ] 10.b4!? Surprisingly a novelty. [ 10.b1 was examined in Grandelius, N (2515)-Kuipers, S (2340)/ Wijk aan Zee NED 2010/[Nigel Davies]. ] [ White can also stoke the fire with 10.d3!? , i.e. xb3 11.d2 ( 11.e3 xc2 12.xc2 bd5 13.xa7 c3 14.e4 b3 15.c5?! xa1 16.xa1 a4! 17.e3 xc2 18.d4 xd3 19.xa4 xe4 Thorfinnsson, B (2419)-Friedel, J (2529)/ Reykjavik ISL 2011.) 11...d5 12.g5 d7 13.xe6 xe6 14.c4 ( 14.b2!? ) 14...xc4 15.dxc4 c8 16.e3 e6 17.xa7 e7 18.d2 0-0 19.b1 wit h c o m p e n sa t io n t h a t wa s o n ly go o d enough for a draw. Valdes, L (2391)Gonzalez, B (2416)/San Jose CRC 2011. ] 10...b3 This is definitely critical. [ White isn't opposed to a slower pace, e.g. 10...g6 , e.g. 11.b2 g7 12.e5 ] 11.xb3 [ W hite has full compensation after 11.b5 xc2 12.xc2 cxb5 (White has sacrificed his entire queenside structure!) 13.cd4 d7 14.e5 , but again - not much more. fd5 15.xd7 xd7 16.xb5 a6 17.d4 e6= ]
11...xb3 12.b5 c5? Understandable, but Black quickly runs into problems on the long diagonal. [ 12...a4! looks best. Now 13.e5!? ( or 13.bxc6 xc6 14.c2 ) 13...fd5 14.bxc6 bxc6 15.d3 e6 16.b2 f6 17.fc1 gives White certain compensation, though Black maintains a sound position. ] 13.d3 fd7 [ or 13...g6 14.d2 d5 15.e4 e6 16.e5 fd5 17.ac4 ] 14.d2 d5 15.e4 e6 16.f4 f6?! [ 16...g6!? ] 17.e5! Timman confidently develops his initiative. d5 [ 17...b8 was more resilient, although it's already tough. 18.ac4 ] 18.e6! xe6 19.xb7 b8 20.c6 g6 21.ac4 White completely dominated the opening discussion. The pawn deficit is really a moot point when Black cannot complete development, coordinate his pieces, or secure his king. Black's position is probably already be yo nd sa lvat io n . c8 22.e4 f7?! 23.e5+! An elegant blow. It's nice to see the Dutchman in his element! xe5 [ Steve Giddins provides the following line on ChessBase. com: 23...fxe5 24.g5+ f6 25.fxe5+ xe5 26.e1+ ( or 26.f4+ f6 27.xe6+- ) 26...f6 27.xe6+ g7 and now 28.xd7 continues the massacre. ] 24.fxe5 f5 25.xc5 Material equality has been restored, yet White's attack hasn't fizzled a bit. g7 26.d4 [ T h e i m m e d i a t e 26.xf5! was more efficient. ] 26...d8 27.xf5! gxf5 28.e6+ g6 29.d7 Black is helpless. d6 [ or 29...b6 30.xb6 axb6 31.a8 when xd4 32.xc8 d1+ 33.g2 xc1 loses to 34.e8++- ] 30.xb8 xb8 31.xa7 xb5 32.xe7 h6 33.e8+ Jan Timman made it look easy in this game. 8.b4!? is a natural decision that gives Black real problems. 1-0
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.c3?! xc3 10.dxc3 fd7 11.xd7 A11 xd7 , Christiansen, J (2062)-Bai, J (2288) Timman,Jan 2566 Maribor SLO 2012. ] Smeets,Jan 2615 Tata Steel Chess 2013 (6.10) 18.01.2013 9...bxc6 10.xc6+ d8 Black has three ways to escape the check, but it's not clear [John Bartholomew] which one is best. [ For example, 10...fd7 appears equally Jan Timman turned in a 2653 performance in playable, i.e. 11.xa8 xa8 12.d3 h3 the "B" group this year, ahead of many very ( 12...g6 13.d1 g7 14.xc4 0-0 15.e3 talented teenage Grandmasters. He is 61 d5 16.ac1 ab6 17.b3 was roughly years old and plays at least as well as any level in De Ramos, J (2362)-Yeoh, L (2264) ambitious young gun! 1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 Penang MAS 2012; 12...ab6 13.dxc4 h3 3.g2 c6 4.c4 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 6.c2 14.d1 c5?! 15.e4! e6 16.e3 c8 b6 7.a3 e6 This line remains critical. 17.c5! f5 18.f4 xc5 19.ac1 0-0 [ Timman won a brilliant game with his novel 20.xc5 xc5 21.e3 1-0 Prusikin, M 7...d5 8.b3 cxb3 9.axb3 e6 10.b4! (2541)-Pacher, M (2403) Merlimont 2011) almost exactly a year prior to the present 13.d1 d5 14.f3 ( 14.e4!? ) 14...e5 ga m e . S e e T im m a n , J (2 5 7 1 )- E rn st , S ( 14...d4+!? 15.e3 f6 16.xc4 ab6 (2606) Wijk aan Zee 2012/[John 17.f4 ) 15.dxc4 c5+ 16.h1 e6 Bartholomew]. ] with a messy, roughly balanced game in 8.e5!? Enterprising! White is willing to Vojinovic, J (2346) -Houska, J (2415) Porto sacrifice the knight on c6. The Dutch legend Carras 2011. ] is always spoiling for a fight in Wijk aan Zee. [ Black can also consider 10...d7 . 11.xa8 [ The usual continuation is 8.g5 g4 xa8 12.xc4 ( 12.xc4!? Trella, T (2395)9.xc4 , b u t a f t e r xe2 10.e5 h5 Russo, J (2097) Belgium 2010) 12...b6 11.e1 h6! Black drew with ease in Dubov, 13.xb6 xb6 14.d3 d5 15.e4 b4 D (2594)-Potkin, V (2651) Moscow 2012/ 16.c3 e6 17.e3 b7 18.a3 c6 [John Bartholomew]. ] B r u n e ll o , S ( 2 5 3 7 )- K o r n e e v, O ( 2 5 7 3 ) [ I ventured the thematic pawn sacrifice Otranto 2011 19.b4 ] 8.b3!? in Bartholomew, J (2427)-Kojima, S An important zwischenzug, (2340) London 2012/[John Bartholomew]. I 11.b5 obtained good compensation for the pawn inconveniencing Black's queen. [ I think less is promised by the immediate after cxb3 9.axb3 g6 10.c4 g7 11.a5 11.xa8 , as played twice by an expert in c8 12.b2 0-0 13.e4 d8 14.fe1!? t h is l in e , L e vo n P a n t s u la ia . A f t e r xa8 e8 15.xg7 xg7 16.d4 . See last 12.d3 ( 12.b5!? was played in Pantsulaia, month's update. ] L ( 2 5 5 7 ) - K e l e r , F ( 2 2 3 8 ) K o n ya 2 0 1 2 . 8...d4 Smeets takes up the gauntlet. Perhaps Black should react with d7 , i.e. [ 8...g6 is a calm alternative, i.e. 9.axc4 13.a4 a6 14.a3 d5 15.d1 h3 16.f3 xc4 10.xc4 g7 11.b3 d5 ( 11...0-0 d4+! 17.e3 d5 ) 12...cxd3 13.d1 12.b2 d7 13.e4 h3 14.d4 xg2 dxc2 14.xd4+ d7 Black has proven to be 15.xg2 ac8 16.ad1 fd8 17.fe1 q u i t e s a f e , i . e . 15.xc2 ( 15.c4 Fridman, D (2661)-Buhmann, R (2579) Bonn Pan tsu laia, L (261 7)-Co lovic, A (24 77 ) 2011 ) 12.b2 xg2 13.xg2 0-0 ( 13...c5 H e r a k l i o 2 0 0 7 e8!? 16.g5 c7 ) 14.fd1 0-0 15.d4 cxd4 16.xd4 c7 15...b6 16.f4 e6 17.d6?! xd6 17.ac1 Pantsulaia, L (2599)-Sargissian, G 18.xd6 e7 19.dd1 b8 Shimanov, A (2677) Khanty-Mansiysk 2010) 14.d3 (2600)-Potkin, V (2642) Tyumen 2012. ] ( perhaps 14.ad1!? intending d2-d4 [ 11.d3 ] prom is es m ore) 14...c5 15.ac1 c8 16.fd1 d5+ 17.g1 fd8= Pantsulaia, L 11...c5 12.xa8 xb5 [ Nobody has tried 12...xa8!?N . A possible (2510)-Palo, D (2519) Gothenburg 2005. ] continuation is 13.a4 a6 ( Black certainly 9.xc6 has other moves, i.e. 13...d5!? ) 14.d4! [ Nothing is to be gained from the cowardly 449
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 b6 15.c3 ( 15.a3!? ) 15...c7 16.e4 with complex play where I'd most definitely choose White. ] 13.g2 h5!? 14.h4!? Timman comes armed with a small novelty. [ Smeets already has this position at the Olympiad against the aforementioned GM Pantsulaia. That game went 14.d3 cxd3 15.d1 f5 16.e4 xe4 17.xd3+ xd3 18.xd3+ d6 and Black was not worse in the queenless middlegame. Pantsulaia, L (2575)-Smeets, J (2608) Istanbul 2012. ] 14...f5 [ 14...g6!? deserves attention. ] 15.e4 d7 16.a4!? xa4 [ 16...b3 17.xb3 cxb3 18.a5 c4 19.d1!? ] 17.e5! The point of White's last move. e8 [ On 17...g4 18.e4! is a dangerous response. ] 18.e1 e6 19.f1 c5? An error from which Black never recovers. 20.d3! b3 [ Black's pieces suffer from a serious lack of coordination after 20...cxd3 21.xd3 , i.e. b6 22.d1 c7 23.e4+- with decisive t h r e a t s ( R a 1 xa 4 , R d 1 xd 7 , b 2 - b 3 ) . c8 24.xd7 ] 21.xc4 xc4 22.dxc4 c7 23.d1 c8 24.xd7! xd7 25.xa4 White is a pawn to the good and possesses the bishop pair to boot. b8 26.e2 g6 27.d1 d4 28.b3 a6 29.f4 c3 30.a2 c6 31.f1 a5 32.d2! b4 33.xb4 axb4 34.f3+ b6 35.c5+!? Nearly forcing the game into a rook ending where Black will be hard pressed to hold. b5 [ Of course 35...xc5? 36.c2+ b6 37.c6+ b7 38.xe6+ c8 39.e7+is a disaster. ] 36.d2 d5 37.xd5 exd5 38.xd5 b7 39.e2 c6 40.d3 e7 41.f4 a7 [ 41...f6? 42.d6++- ] 42.f5! gxf5 43.f3 a1 44.f4 f1+?! [ More tenacious is 44...xc5 45.xf5 ( not 45.g5? c1! 46.xh5 c3 ) 45...e1 , with some chances to hold. ] 45.g5 xc5 46.xh5 c1 47.f3! c3 48.xf5 d5 [ 48...xg3 49.e6++- ] 49.g4 e6 50.f6+ e7 51.g5 xb3 52.e6! fxe6 53.g6+Power of the
connected passed pawns! h3 54.h5 b3 55.h6 Black resigned. 8.Ne5!? can lead to rather obscure play where both should know what's going on. Black is fine in theory, but he does have a smaller margin for error. A wellprepared White player can most certainly try to catch him unawares. 1-0
450 Timman,Jan H Glek,Igor V TCh-FRA Top 16 Gp A (6) [Carsten Hansen]
A11 2561 2546 12.04.2008
1.f3 f6 2.g3 g6 3.b3 g7 4.b2 0-0 5.g2 d5 6.c4 c6 7.0-0 a5 8.d3 g4 [ 8...a4 9.a3!? was discussed in BruzonNielsen, Esbjerg 2003 which can be found in the PGN archives ] 9.bd2 bd7 10.c1 [ White has tried a couple of other things in this position: A) 10.a3 e8 ( 10...e8 11.xg7 xg7 12.c2 , and a draw was prematurely agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, Damjanovic, M-Padevsky, N/ Bari 1972; 10...b8 11.c2 e6 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 e8 14.e4 dxe4 15.dxe4 e5 16.fe1 f8 17.c3 c7 18.b4 with a small but clear advantage, Dobrovolsky, L-Konopka, M/ K u n za k 2 0 0 1; 10...xf3 11.xf3 e6 12.c2 e7 13.e3 e8 14.fc1 xb2 15.xb2 ef6 16.b4 a4 17.d2 Lehmitz, G-Okrushnoy, I/corr 1990) 11.h3 ( 11.c2 e5 12.e4 dxe4 13.dxe4 c7 14.c5 f8 15.b4 xf3 16.xf3 axb4 17.axb4 xa1 18.xa1 b6 19.cxb6 xb6 20.c1 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/ 2, in Smejkal, J-Kholmov, R/Sochi 1973 there is very little to be played for in the final position.) 11...xf3 12.xf3 ( 12.xf3 e6 13.c2 h5 14.d4 hf6 15.d2 a4 16.b4 b5 , 1/2-1/2, Znamenacek, KDamjanovic, M/Prague 1987, but White can obviously play on with 17.c5 , and if e5 18.dxe5 xe5 , then 19.e4!? promises White the better chances) 12...e5 13.g2 b6 14.c1 ( In a later game, White tried to improve with 14.c2 d4 15.ab1 f8 16.h2 h5 17.c1 g7 18.b2 c5 436
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 completely winning at this stage, Black 19.e4 xe4 20.xe4 e6 rather miraculously managed to get a , and although Black has a fully satisfactory draw in this game, Psakhis, L-Paehtz, E/ game, the point at stake was halved at this playchess.com INT 2004; point, 1/2-1/2, Prokopchuk, E-Galkin, A/ D2) 11...fc8 12.fe1 xf3 13.xf3 e6 Krasnoiarsk 1998) 14...d4 15.c2 f8 14.e3 d8 15.b4 axb4 16.axb4 f8 16.ce1 h5 17.h2 f5 18.e3 dxe3 17.c5 e8 18.b3 c7 19.xg7 19.xe3 ad8 20.e2 c5 21.d4 exd4 xg7 20.d4 Bistric, F-Vucic, M/Rijeka 22.xe8 xe8 23.xd4 d8 24.f3 e4 2001; , and although I prefer White with his safer E) 10...xf3 11.xf3 b6 12.ac1 a4 king and pair of bishops, the position is more 13.d4 a6 14.b4 a3 15.c3 fc8 or even at this point, Prokopchuk, E-Galkin, 16.h3 e6 17.e5 h6 18.xd7 xd7 A/Kolontaevo 1997 ] 19.f4 dxc4 20.dxc4 McNab, C-Morris, P/ [ B) 10.c2 London 1990 ] A) 10...a4 11.b4 e8 12.h3 xf3 [ C) 10.b1 b8 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.d4 e5 13.xf3 a3 14.c3 e5 15.e4 d4 16.d2 13.b5 a6 14.h3 e6 15.e4 b6 h5 17.c5 Volkmann, F-Neubauer, M/ ( 15...c8!? ) 16.c3 dxe4 17.dxe4 c8 Aschach 1992; ( 17...c5 18.d5 xd5 19.exd5 f5 B) 10...c8 11.fc1 e8 12.h3 xf3 20.a3! c8 21.c1 ) 18.d5 xd5 13.xf3 e6 14.a3 c5 15.e3 b6 16.ab1 19.exd5 f5 20.c1 d3 21.e1 e7 17.cxd5 exd5 18.b4 axb4 19.axb4 Blatny, P-Mirumian, V/Pardubice 1996 ] c4 20.b5 , and White's position deserves [ D) 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 preference, Gyorkos, L-Balazs, T/Hungary A) 11...e6 12.c2 ( 12.e5 b6 1994; 13.xd7 xd7 14.xg7 xg7 15.d4 a4 C) 10...e5!? deserves serious attention, 16.d3 axb3 17.axb3= Plenkovic, Zf o r e x a m p l e 11.h3 ( 11.xe5 xe5 Navinsek, T/Zadar CRO 2004) 12...e8 12.xe5 e8 13.d4 xe2 14.fe1 g4 13.e4 dxe4 ( 13...e5 ) 14.dxe4 e5 is fairly harmless for Black) 11...xf3 15.ad1 c7 16.a3 ( 16.a3 ) 16...f8 12.xf3 e8 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.fc1 h6 17.c5 b8?! ( 17...c8!? is probably 15.e3 d4 16.exd4 xc1 17.xc1 c8 better to play ... b7-b5, although White is 18.h6 c2 19.b1 b6 , and here for still better after 18.e1 b5 19.d3 ) some reason Black offered a draw against 18.g4!? d8 19.d2 e7 20.fd1 his stronger opponent, which Radjabov, T-Ivanchuk, V/Dubai 2002; unsurprisingly was accepted, 1/2-1/2, in B) 11...b6 12.b1 fe8 13.cxd5 cxd5 Ernst, S-Willemze, J/Dieren 1999 Black of 14.e5 ( 14.d2 e5 15.fc1 course has the better chances.; is a suggestion by Horn, though it's D) 10...b6 11.a3 doubtful if White accomplishes much in D1) 11...ac8 12.e4 dxe4 13.dxe4 this variation either) 14...e6 ( 14...xe5 c5 ( 13...cd8 14.b4! axb4 15.xe5 e6 16.d4 b5 ) 15.xd7 15.axb4 ) 14.e5?! ( 14.d4!? xf3 xd7 16.xg7 xg7 17.d2 ec8 15.xf3 fxe4 16.xg7 xd2 18.fc1 g8 19.h4 b4 20.g5 g7 17.xd2 xg7 18.c3+ f6 19.b4 ( 20...a3= - Horn ) 21.f3 h6 22.e3= , and White has excellent compensation Gonzalez de la Torre, S-Paunovic, D/ f o r t h e p a w n; However, White's best Elgoibar 2002 ] move is the simple 14.e5! , e.g. e6 15.c3 cd7 16.xd7 xd7 17.b4 10...e8 11.cxd5 xd5 [ This move is new, but hardly a particularly , and White is clearly better) 14...f5 impressive novelty. I think W hite is just 15.d1 fe4! 16.d4 xd2?? comfortably better in the game continuation. ( 16...cd8! 17.e1 xd2 18.xd2 Previously Black had only tried 11...xf3 xb3 , and Black is better) 17.xd2 12.xf3 ( 12.xf3!? cxd5 13.e4!? dxe4 fd8 18.e3 xd4 19.xd4 d7 14.dxe4 xe4 15.xg7 xg7 16.d5 20.e2+, and while White is 437
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 df6 17.xb7 ) 12...xd5 13.xg7 xg7 14.c2 7f6 15.b2 e5 16.a3 e7 17.c2 g8 18.fc1 c7 19.c4 b5 20.e3 with a comfortable little edge for White, Votruba, P-Schlueter, W/Germany 1991 ] [ Finally, Black can also consider 11...cxd5 , but after 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 e5 14.e3 White's chances are preferable ] 12.xg7 xg7 13.c4 e5 14.d2!? [ 14.d4 promises less after e4 15.fe5 xe5 16.xe5 f5 17.e3 f6 18.c4 d7 with chances to both sides ] 14...xf3 15.xf3 7f6 16.fd1 c5?! This is a bizarre move, somehow hoping to setup a sort of Maroczy Bind structure. However, White is far better developed and coordinated than Black, leaving Black with a rather weak pawn structure. 17.a3 e6?! [ 17...a6!? ] 18.g2 b5? [ This move is an invitation to trouble. In situations such as this I always remember Razuvaev's comment regarding the Hedgehog: If W hite places four or more pawns on the fourth row, he will lose one of them. Indeed after the text move, he will have a very difficult time holding on to all four of his pawns, most of which are i n s u f f i c i e n t l y p r o t e c t e d . H o we ve r , t h e alternatives are pretty either, for instance 18...c7 runs into 19.e3! d8 20.b4 axb4 21.axb4 , and again Black is in trouble, e.g. b6 22.xd5 xd5 23.bxc5 ( 23.c4 c6 24.dc1 ) 23...bxc5 24.c2 , and White will likely end up winning the cpawn, though that by no means is a certain win. ] 19.e3! d6 20.c2! xe3 [ Now 20...c8 runs into 21.h3 ] 21.fxe3 a6 22.xc5 g4 This looks clever, but again W hite is on top on the situation. 23.h3! xc5 24.xc5 xe3 25.dc1 Black has won the pawn back, but this is only very temporary, because getting the knight back will cost at least a pawn. f5 26.xf5 gxf5 27.xb5 This endgame is of course hopelessly lost for Black, having to defend it against Timman who loves endgames doesn't make the task any more joyful. a4 28.b4 ad6 29.f2 g6 30.c4 h5 31.bc5 e4 32.d4 g5 33.h3!? Played to answer ...h5-
h4 with g3-g4 e3+ 34.f3 e4 This allows W hite to finish Black off with a little flurry. 35.xf5+! xf5 36.c5+ , and it's game over. W hat attracted me to this game is how seamlessly W hite's game went from being slightly better, to clearly better to won. A beautif ul, yet very simple game f rom the Dutch veteran. 1-0
451 Topalov,Veselin Anand,Viswanathan FIDE Candidates 2014 (2.2) [Fier, Alexandr]
A11 2785 2770 14.03.2014
We can always expect good opening ideas in the Candidates and this was no exception. Anand played an unusual idea against Topalov and he easily neutralized W hite's efforts to get an advantage with a correct pawn sacrifice. I think this is a good antidote a g a i n s t t h e l i n e s w i t h o u t d 4 . 1.f3 The game in itself was not that interesting, but it's Black's merit to use a new setup and equalize without any problems. d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 bd7 5.c2 [ 5.d4 e6 would transpose to the normal Meran ] [ 5.cxd5 can be a possible idea to 'punish' 4...Nbd7, but I think it can't be the refutation cxd5 ( 5...xd5 is a bit strange in this position and af ter 6.d4 g6 White can change the character of the position with 7.e4!? xc3 8.bxc3 and Black has a tempo more, but the pawn on c6 usually should goes to c5 anyway. Also the knight is often m o re a ct ive o n c 6 g7 9.c4 ) 6.d4 and the knight would be theoretically better o n c 6 , co m p a r e d t o d 7 . S t i ll, t h e i d e a l position for White would be with the bishop o n f 4 i n s t e a d o f c 1 e6 was seen in Tomashevsky, E (2641)-Romanov, E (2520)/ RUS-chT Sochi 2007 (1). ] 5...e5!? Black just takes the center [ 5...e6 would again transpose to the normal lines with 6.b3 ( or 6.d4 )] 6.cxd5 Now this makes a lot of sense, since Black cannot play 6...cxd5. xd5 Forced. [ 6...cxd5? 7.b5 and there is no good way 438
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to defend the check on c7 c5 8.b4 b6 9.d6+ and White is almost winning ] 7.d4 The critical answer, but some other options are also playable. [ 7.e2 is a solid option and was played in a blitz game between two famous seconds d6 8.0-0 0-0 9.b3 7f6 with a level ga m e in s o m e k i n d o f r e ve rs e d co l o r s Sicilian Fressinet, L (2693)-Kasimdzhanov, R (2687)/FRA-ch op blitz 2011 (5). ] [ 7.c4 also interesting, bringing the bishop to an active diagonal 5b6 8.b3 d6 ( 8...e7 9.0-0 0-0 10.e4 and White can also fight for an advantage here) 9.e4 e7 10.h4 with some attacking chances in Bauer, C (2550)-Kosteniuk, A (2459)/Biel MTO op 2002 (6). ( 10.0-0 0-0 11.d3 )] 7...d6! I like this move. Black now sacrifices a pawn in a position that requires some deep understanding. The main point of the sacrifice is that Black can freely develop his pieces and create strong pressure against the queenside pawns. [ 7...exd4 8.xd5 A) 8...a5+ doesn't isolate the d-pawn, but I believe W hite can have some advantage here 9.d2 xd5 10.c4 h5 ( 10...d3 11.c3 d6 12.xd3 is also pleasant f or W hite) 11.xd4 and W hite's position has potential, No g u e ir a s S a n t i a go , J (2 4 8 2 )- A b r e u Delgado, A (2459)/CUB-ch op Havana 2004 (3).; B) 8...cxd5 9.xd4 with a typical isolated pawn position ] [ 7...xc3 8.bxc3 d6 9.d3 h6 10.0-0 was slightly better for W hite, despite the ea rly d raw in T a l, M (2 6 25 )-Ba giro v, V (2470)/Jurmala 1987. ] 8.dxe5 Accepting the challenge, now the next moves are more or less forced. [ 8.e2 is still possible, and probably we can have another typical isolani position 0-0 9.0-0 exd4 10.xd5 ( 10.xd4 7f6 brings few problems for Black) 10...cxd5 11.xd4 f6 12.d2 with a balanced game ] 8...xe5 9.xe5 xe5 10.e4 e7 11.xd5 cxd5 12.b5+ With this move it looks like White's position should be better, but even with the king on f8, Black can bring
all his pieces to the game quicker than White. [ 12.xd5 is also insufficient for any advantage 0-0 13.e2 d8 14.b3 f5 15.0-0 ac8 and White has problems moving the bishop from c1 ] 12...f8 13.xd5 g6 14.d2!? The best chance. W hite returns the pawn to create some quick counterplay. [ 14.0-0 would be another try for advantage, but Black is doing well here g7 A) 15.f3 d8 16.e2 will transpose to 15.Qd2 ( 16.e4 e6 and the pressure on the queenside pawns fully compensates the pawn ); B) 15.d2 d8 16.e2 f5 ( 16...a6 17.c4 f5 is also possible) 17.e4!? xe4 ( 17...h4 is also possible 18.f4 d4+ 19.h1 g4 20.d3 g1!? 21.c3+ d4 22.b3 e6 and White is still fighting to finish his development) 18.e1 c5 19.a4 a6 20.xa6 bxa6 21.xe4 ab8 22.b1 d4 and Black is certainly not worse ] 14...g7 The most precise move. [ 14...xb2 is probably playable, but there is no reason to enter the complications 15.b1 ( 15.b3 e5 16.b4 d6 17.xd6 xd6 18.d1 f6 is probably ok for Black) 15...e6 16.e4 a3 and the bishop can be missing from the long diagonal ] 15.xe5+ Going into an endgame with an isolated pawn up, but Black's pieces are too active and there is no time to consolidate the position. [ 15.c3 is already worse for White xc3+ 16.bxc3 d8 17.b3 g5 and White would not like to make any of the possible moves ] 15...xe5 16.c3 xc3+ 17.bxc3 e6 18.e2 [ 18.0-0-0 won't bring anything and White needs to take care not to be worse xa2 19.d7 hc8 20.c2 ( 20.b2 e6 and the rook needs to go from the seventh rank, since 21.xb7 ab8 22.xb8 xb8 loses a piece for White) 20...c5 21.d3 ( 21.xb7? d5-+ ) 21...d5 and Black can already fight for an advantage ] 18...ac8 19.hc1 c5 20.a4 [ 20.d3 could be another try hc8 21.d2 d8 22.c2 dc8 23.b2 8c6 439
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and it's still not possible to consolidate ] 20...hc8 21.a3 a6 Now Black forces a theoretically drawn endgame. 22.d3 b5 23.axb5 axb5 24.b1 xc3 25.xc3 xc3 26.xb5 c4 27.xc4 xc4 28.f3 h5 29.h3 c2 30.b1 f6 31.e1 g5 32.a1 g6 33.a6+ f6 34.a4 h4 35.g3 hxg3 36.xg3 b2 37.e4 b1 38.f3 g1+ 39.f2 h1 40.g2 b1 41.a6 f7 42.a5 g6 43.a6 f7 44.a2 e6 45.g3 g1+ 46.g2 xg2+ 47.xg2 e5 48.f2 f4 49.g2 e5 50.g3 f5 51.exf5 xf5 52.h4 gxh4+ 53.xh4 f4 54.h3 xf3 A good opening idea and I believe this line can become one of Black's main answers to this Anti-Meran. ½-½
452 Tukmakov,Vladimir B Wasnetsky,Ursula 3rd Hilton Open (1) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2595 2059 01.01.2001
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c6 3.c3 d5 4.e3 e6 5.c2 bd7 6.b3 e7 [ More passive than the normal 6...d6 ] 7.g4?! [ A sharp new move, although the g4-thrust is common in these type of positions, as we know. 7.b2 i s n o r m a l , 0-0 8.d4 with a typical Slav position, Fridman,DHidding,M/Kleve 1999, and ] [ 7.d4 b6 8.g4 0-0 9.g5 h5 10.g1 is a m ix b e t we e n t h e t wo , G u re vich , DWaitzkin, J/Chicago 1997. ] 7...h6?! [ 7...xg4! is critical. What had White intended, as 8.g1 ge5 9.xe5 xe5 10.xg7?! loses an exchange after g6 ] 8.g1 c5?! [ Black's play is not very strong, 8...e5 ] 9.b2 The advantage of playing g4, without d4, is that this bishop's diagonal is open, and it can participate in the attack on g7. g8?! 10.g5 hxg5 11.xg5 e5?! 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.b5! a6 14.b4 axb5 15.bxc5 d7? [ Black can't hold both e5, and b5, but he should have preferred to keep the former, by 15...e4 ]
16.xe5 c8 17.d4 b6 18.c6 xc6 19.b2 c8 20.xb5 c2 21.b3 xb5 22.xb5+ d7? [ Following 22...c6 23.a4 White is a pawn ahead, but this is disastrous. ] 23.xd5 1-0
453 Vaganian,Rafael A Jussupow,Artur 34th Olympiad (10) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2623 2610 07.11.2000
1.f3 d5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g4 4.c4 e6 5.cxd5 exd5 6.b3 b6 7.c2 White withdraws his queen, he has no wish to play an equal endgame, and hopes to gain a tempo on the black queen later-on. f6 8.0-0 e7 9.d3 bd7 10.c3 xf3 [ Not actually a novelty, as it was already played in Filippov, V-Ibragimov,I/Sochi 1997, although they immediately agreed a draw. The idea is to hinder White's expansion in the centre, as otherwise, 10...0-0 11.e4 h5 12.h4 dxe4 13.dxe4 e5 14.f5 d8 15.h3 f3 16.e3 and White has a plus, Filippov,V-Barsov,A/Corsica 1997. ] 11.xf3 So, a new position! d4 12.b1!? [ 12.e4 xe4 13.xe4 0-0 is level. ] 12...h5! Very aggressive, White is behind in development so Black plays for the attack. 13.d2 e5 14.g2 h4 15.c4 xc4 16.xc4 g4! Putting further pressure on the white kingside. 17.b4!? [ 17.h3 is answered by e5 gaining a move on the white queen. ] 17...d8 18.d2 c7 19.b5 White is counterattacking strongly on the queenside. c5 20.b6? [ Logical, I suppose, but White finds himself quickly mated, perhaps 20.f4 is a better bet, d6 21.h3!? xf4 22.gxf4 f6 23.fe1 and White is still in the game. ] 20...axb6 21.b5+ f8 22.ab1?! [ 22.h3 is necessary. ] 22...hxg3 23.hxg3 e5 The queen comes to the h-file and W hite's days are numbered. 24.fe1 h2! 25.e4 h5 Mate is threatened with ...Rh1+!. 26.f1 xg2! 27.xg2 h2+ 440
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28.f3 e5+ [ 28...e5+ 29.e2 h5+ 30.f1 h1+ 31.e2 f3+ 32.f1 g4 gives mate. ] 0-1
454 Van Wely,Loek Sveshnikov,Evgeny Liepajas Rokade (2) [Tony Kosten]
A11 2680 2508 30.07.2004
1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.e3 f6 4.c3 e6 5.b3 d6 6.b2 I played a similar game last year: [ 6.c2 bd7 7.b2 0-0 8.g4 xg4 9.g1 f5 10.h3 and now Black preferred ge5 11.g5 f6 12.f4 g6 13.0-0-0 White had long-term attacking chances, and won easily, Kosten,A-Nguyen Van,S/ Cap d'Agde FRA 2003. ] 6...0-0 7.c2 e7 A slight change from the more common [ 7...bd7 which we have considered many times. ] 8.g4!? This looks like a good choice for a rapid game! However, White can also play [ 8.h3 bd7 and now 9.g4 b6 10.g5 e8 11.g1 as in Kozul,Z-Tukmakov,V/Portoroz 1996, although the h3-move looks useless now. ] [ 8.e2 bd7 and now 9.g4!? is also possible, as is ] [ 8.g1!? because e5 9.cxd5 e4 10.d4 cxd5 11.cb5 looks good for White. ] 8...xg4 This is obviously the critical reply, although opening the g-file against your king is not everyone's cup of tea! 9.g1 f5 This is played to allow a defence of g7 along the rank, and gain some kingside space. 10.h3 f6 11.cxd5!? One problem with this particular setup is that after [ 11.0-0-0 Black can play a3 to exchange the important dark-squared bishop, although ( 11...e5 might be even better. )] 11...cxd5 [ 11...exd5!? 12.d3 f4 looks very risky, 13.e2 fxe3 14.fxe3 with open files for the kingside attack. ] 12.b5 White exchanges Black's important dark-squared bishop. c6 13.xd6 xd6 14.b5 White's plan is to exchange the c6-
knight to gain complete control of e5 and the a1-h8 diagonal. d7 15.xc6 xc6 16.c3 W hite is lining-up on g7, a more positional method is [ 16.d4! (m e n acin g B c5 ) c7 17.c1 ac8 18.b2 and White's dark-squared control offers excellent comp for the pawn. ] 16...d4!? A drastic method to open the c6bishop's diagonal. 17.xd4 [ 17.xd4 allows h2 18.e2 xh3 ] 17...xd4 18.xd4 d5 19.f4 I prefer White in this endgame because of his strength on the dark squares, but the opposite-colour bishops make a draw likely. ac8 20.d3 a6 21.d2 [ 21.e4!? looks tempting, but probably only le a d s t o a d ra w: fxe4 22.dxe4 xe4 ( 22...xe4 23.xe6 f7 24.xf6 xf6 25.xg7+ h8 26.e7 ) 23.xe6 xe6 24.xg7+ h8 25.e7+ g8 26.g7+ etc. ( 26.xe6 xf4 )] 21...f7 22.ac1 fd8 23.a4 g6 24.b4 d7 25.e2 To stop ...e5. b6 26.a5 d7 27.d4 b8 28.b6 xc1 29.xc1 d7 30.c8 White is making good progress, he gets his rook into the black position. c6 31.c3 [ 31.c5! looks more accurate. ] 31...g7 [ 31...g2! 32.h4 e7 threatens the rook and ...Nd5+. ] 32.c5 f3 33.g3 Not the best square for the knight but W hite wishes to avoid exchanges. f7 34.h4 [ 34.e4!? ] 34...e5 35.f8+ g7 36.c8 exf4 37.exf4 I guess Whi te lost on time, as he is still everso-slightly better in the final position. 0-1
455 Wang Yue Zhou Jianchao TCh-CHN Beijing CHN (17) [Nigel Davies]
A11 2749 2650 03.11.2010
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 g4 5.b3 b6 6.e5 e6 Black has also tried other moves, for example: [ a) 6...xb3 7.axb3 e6 ( 7...e6 8.d4 441
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 bd7 9.xd7 xd7 10.d3 e6 11.c5 a6 12.b4 d8 13.h3 g6 14.d2 g7 15.0-0-0 g8 16.c2 e7 17.g4 f5 18.f3 was also a bit better for White because of his bishops in Kohlweyer, B (2405)-Sielecki, C (2366)/Germany 2008) 8.d4 bd7 9.xg4 xg4 10.f3 gf6 11.g4 h6 12.h4 a6 13.f2 g6 14.d2 g7 15.cxd5 exd5 16.h5 gxh5 17.gxh5 f8 18.e2 e6 19.g3 aiming at f5 was better for White in Goldin, A (2608)-Labollita, M (2454)/Buenos Aires 2003 ] [ b) 6...e6 looks like an attempt to be rock solid but it gives up the two bishops. After 7.xg4 xg4 8.e2 f6 9.d4 bd7 10.0-0 e7 11.d2 0-0 12.c2 dxc4 13.xc4 d8 14.fd1 White had a slight edge in Flores, D (2553) -Alonso, S (2437)/ La Plata 2008. ] [ c) 6...f5 7.xb6 ( 7.cxd5 xb3 8.axb3 xd5 9.c4 e6 10.e4 xc3 11.exf5 d5 12.fxe6 fxe6 13.0-0 d7 was about equal at this stage in Malakhatko, V (2543)-Drabke, L (2439)/W erther 2004) 7...axb6 8.cxd5 xd5 9.xd5 cxd5 10.b5+ d7 ( 10...d7 11.xd7 xd7 12.d4 e6 13.d2 d6 14.e2 was better for White in Brener, I (2382)-Bruchmann, S (2265)/ Berlin 2007) 11.f4 g6 12.d3 f6 13.f3 f7 14.e4 dxe4 15.dxe4 a5 16.a4 xb5 17.axb5 xe4 left Black with inadequate compensation for the exchange in Chatalbashev, B (2543)-Drabke, L (2453)/ Antalya 2004. ] 7.d4 This looks like White's most promising choice here. [ 7.c2 bd7 8.d4 g6 9.f4 f5 10.d3 e6 11.0-0 e7 12.c5 c7 13.b4 0-0 wa s a b o u t e q u a l i n S o ko l o v, I ( 2 5 7 0 ) Bagirov, V (2465)/Belgrade 1988. ] 7...bd7 [ White seems to keep a little something after o t h e r m o v e s t o o , f o r e x a m p l e 7...dxc4 8.xc4 xc4 9.xc4 e6 10.e4 a6 was Hort, V (2610)-Keres, P (2605)/ P e t r o p o l i s 1 9 7 3 / I Z T , a n d n o w 11.f4 looks like a small edge. ] [ Another possibility is 7...g6 after which 8.f4!? g7 9.e2 dxc4 10.xc4 xc4 11.xc4 0-0 12.0-0 bd7 13.b3 was more comfortable for White in Zlotnikov,
M (2355)-W essman, R (2440)/New York 1992. ] 8.xd7 xd7 [ Black has also tried 8...xd7 , for example 9.cxd5 xb3 10.axb3 xd5 11.xd5 cxd5 12.d2 e6 13.d3 d6 14.e2 e7 15.hc1 was marginally better for White because of his bishop pair in Cossin, S (2466)-Prie, E (2526)/Pau 2008. ] 9.cxd5 [ Another attempt to squeeze an edge out of th e po sition is 9.a4!? but after xb3 ( 9...c7 10.c5 c8 11.cxd5 xd5 12.e4 looked like an edge for White in Gurevich, M (2610)- Hauchard, A (2500)/ Belfort 1998) 10.axb3 0-0-0 11.d3 g4 12.f3 h5 13.d2 g6 14.xg6 hxg6 15.cxd5 xd5 16.c5 a6 17.d3 f6 and it was starting to look very equal in Shchekachev, A (2520)-Romanov, E (2547)/ Paris 2008. ] 9...xd5 10.c4 e6 11.e4 xb3 12.xb3 xc3 13.bxc3 c5 14.0-0 c8 15.d1 This doesn't look like much for White because his space advantage doesn't mean much with so many pieces exchanged. b6 16.d5 [ There's a case for waiting with this and playing, say, 16.f4 . White's position looks slightly the more comfortable. ] 16...c4 17.dxe6 fxe6 [ 17...xe6 18.a4+ e7 19.f4 ] 18.c2 c5 19.f1 h6 20.e2 e7 21.a4 hd8 22.e3 e5 23.f3 xe3 24.xe3 c5 [ 24...e8 looks dead equal to me but when both players want to fight that's what they'll probably get. ] 25.h4 [ 25.a5 seems more logical, stopping the apawn becoming a fixed target. ] 25...e8 26.db1 a5 27.b4 c8 [ 27...b5 looks like a more active way to play it. ] 28.g3 c6 29.g1 g5 30.hxg5 hxg5 31.h1 White is a bit better now thanks to Black's misplaced rooks. g6 32.h8 ac5 33.a8 c7 34.b1 f7 35.d1 f6 36.h8 g7 37.dh1 g6 38.d8 5c6 39.hd1 e7 40.1d2 e8 41.f4 gxf4+ 42.gxf4 exf4+ 43.xf4 f6+ 44.e3 b5?! [ 44...g6 was better. ] 45.g2+ f7 46.axb5 xb5 47.d1 e5 442
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 48.dg8 c6?! 49.2g7+ e6 50.f3 Suddenly Black's king position gives great cause for concern. The rescue operations l e a v e h i m a c o u p l e o f p a w n s d o w n . a5 51.c8 d6 52.d4 xf3 53.g6+ e6? 54.xe6+ xe6 55.xc6+ d7 56.a6 d3+ 57.xc4 d1 58.xa5 e6 59.h5 e1 60.d4 White intends e5 d1+ 61.c5 e1 62.e5! d1 63.c4 d8 64.b6 c8 65.c5 d5 66.b7 1-0
456 Zilberman,Yaacov Postny,Evgeny Channukah Closed (4.1) [Nigel Davies]
A11 2481 2604 05.12.2010
1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 f6 4.c3 a6 5.e2 b5 [ Black has also tried 5...g4 but then 6.b3 is quite unpleasant. After a7 ( 6...bd7 7.cxd5 c5 8.c4 cxd5 9.xc5 e5 10.b5+ untraps White's queen and wins a pawn ) 7.h3 xf3 8.xf3 e6 9.d4 b5 10.cxb5 axb5 11.0-0 e7 12.d2 0-0 13.fc1 White had a plus in Tomashevsky, E (2689)-Ni Hua (2701)/Sochi 2009. ] 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.b4 I like this move, trying to stake out dark squares but without losing access to the d4 square by occupying it with a pawn. e6 [ Black has also tried 7...c6 but then 8.a4 xb4 9.axb5 a5 10.a3 e6 11.0-0 was a bit better for W hite in Nikcevic, N (2540)-Marin, I (2261)/Sitges 1997. ] 8.a3 Quiet, sensible and apparently 'new', though this position hasn't been explored too much. The other possibilities are as follows: [ a) 8.b3 bd7 9.a4 bxa4 10.xa4 b8 11.a3 was Delchev, A (2548)-Voiska, M ( 2 3 6 4 ) / T e r a m o 1 9 9 9 , a n d n o w b7 was best with only a slight advantage for White. ] [ b) 8.a4 xb4 9.axb5 0-0 10.b3 e7 11.0-0 b7 12.a3 axb5 13.xe7 xe7 14.xa8 xa8 15.xb5 became very drawish in Kempinski, R (2608)-Movsesian, S (2629)/ Izmir 2004. ] 8...d6 9.b2 0-0 10.0-0 bd7 11.d4
b6 12.d3 c7 13.f4 White is a bit better here because of his nicely placed knight on d4 plus potential outpost on c5. d7 14.c1 a7 15.h1 e5 This meets with a strong and possibly unexpected reply. [ 15...ac8 was more sensible though White is still for choice after 16.e4! , trundling his central pawns forward. ] 16.f5! xf5 17.fxe5 d4 [ After 17...xe5 18.xf5 b8 White has a powerf ul con tinuat ion in 19.d4! xh2 20.xf6! gxf6 21.d3 followed by 22.Qh5. ] 18.exd4 fd5 19.xd5 xd5 20.d2 After this simple move everything becomes clear White is going to win his piece back and come out ahead on pawns. e6 21.exd6 ad8 22.c6 d7 23.c5 e6 24.f3 xd6 25.e1 White's extra doubled d-pawn may not look like much but it lends him great central control plus squares such as c5. d7 26.g5 d8 27.g3 f6 28.ec1 f7 29.c6 e7 30.h3 f8 31.1c5 f7 32.c1 xc6 33.xc6 c8 34.c5 d8 35.d2 e8 36.h6 f8 37.d2 e8 38.e4 h8 39.h4 g8 40.f3 d7 41.g3 e8 42.h2 f7 43.e4 g8 44.h1 There's no hurry, and White's patient play will wear down Black's psychological resistance. f7 45.f3 d7 46.e1 g8 47.g3 e6 48.f5 e8 49.e4 f8 50.c6 e7 Giving up the a-pawn in an attempt to maintain coordination. [ A f t e r e i t h e r 50...a8 51.e6 xe6 52.xe6 c3 53.c6 ] [ or 50...a5 51.bxa5 xa3 52.c7 xc7 53.xc7 d6 54.c6 White is making steady progress. ] 51.xa6 d5 52.g4 xf5 53.xf5 h6 54.c7 a8 55.b6 f7 56.g3 d8 57.xb5 g6 58.f4 g7 59.c5 e8 60.b5 g5 61.f5 f7 62.b6 e7 63.c7 e3 [ 63...e8 64.b7 is equally forlorn. ] 64.e5! 1-0
443
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Even so it isn't easy. 35.bxc5 xc5 36.d8+ f8 37.d3 b4! Creating a passed a-pawn. Zueger,Beat 'Opening the way to the a-pawn. ' 38.axb4 Gagunashvili,Merab xb4 39.e5 fxe5 40.d5 d4 41.xf7+ 4th IECC Istanbul TUR (1) xf7 42.f5+ e7 43.g5+ e6 44.g6+ [Nigel Davies] d5 45.f7+ c5 46.a2 e4 47.a3+ 1.g3 d5 2.f3 c6 3.g2 f6 4.c4 dxc4 b5 48.g2 d2 49.e7 e3! 50.b7+ 5.0-0 bd7 6.a3 b6 7.c2 d5 8.e1 c5 51.a7+ b4 52.b6+ c3 53.c6+ b3 54.b5+ a3 55.c5+ b2 56.b5+ d4 9.e3 [ Another possibility was to make a gambit of c1 57.f1+ d1 58.c4+ c2 59.f1+ it with 9.d3 , for example cxd3 10.xd3 d2 60.fxe3 xe3+ 61.h3 g6 62.f4+ f5 11.d1 e6 12.e3 a4 13.xa4 e2 63.e5+ f1 64.f4+ g1 65.d4+ xa4 14.c4 e7 15.ac1 d5 16.d4 f2 66.e3 [ 66.d1+ is bad because of f1+ ] leaves Black having to deal with awkward 66...a3 67.xa3 possibilities such as b2-b3 or e2-e4. ] [ Or 67.c1+ f1+ etc. ] 9...g4 10.e4 e5 11.xc4 xc4 12.xc4 So White recovers his pawn and has a central 67...h2# pawn majority but is behind in development. 0-1 My estimate is one of approximate equality. d6 13.b3 h5!? Declaring an intention to 458 A12 complicate and unbalance the game. [ 13...e6 followed by 14... 0-0-0 would have Kortschnoj,Viktor 2619 been another way to play it. ] Sutovsky,Emil 2665 14.h4 e6 15.c2 d7 16.f3 f6 III Marx Gyorgy (4) 15.06.2005 After White's reply I don't like Black's position [John Watson] b u t m a y b e s o m e t h i n g h a s a l re a d y go n e wrong. Two very high-level grandmasters duke it out [ After 16...0-0-0 17.g5 his queen would in the Reti Opening. The elder prevails. 1.c4 be in danger, for example c5 18.d4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.f3 d5 4.b3 ( 18.h2 e2 ) 18...xd4 19.h2 xa1 [ Korchnoi chooses the Reti. Over his career 20.f3 xg5 21.xg5 f6 22.xf6 gxf6 he must have filled 95% of the ECO codes! 23.xa1 wins it for inadequate But if you believe the next note, White might compensation. ] want to do without this move and play 4.g2 17.d4 0-0 18.b2 f7 19.ad1 e6 dxc4 . Then Tony has discussed several 20.d2 c7 21.dxe5 xe5 22.xe5 examples after 5.a4!? e6 , e.g., [ Against a lower rated opponent White might A) 6.a3 c a n b e a n s w e r e d b y d5 have played the sharper 22.d4!? when ( 6...d5!? ) 7.c2 c5 8.xc4 c6 9.0-0 g4 23.f4 ad8 24.c1 g6 25.h2 e6 10.b3 e7 11.b2 0-0 with an easy threatens 26.Bh3. ] game for Black, Radjabov-Svidler, Internet 22...xe5 23.xe5 xe5 24.b4 INT 2003.; Here too it looks like White is playing it safe B) 6.0-0 d5 7.c3 a6 8.b3!? cxb3 and he starts drifting into trouble. 9.d3 xf3 10.xf3 e6 11.xb3 [ 24.f4 was more dynamic. ] Miroshnichenko-Kuzmin, Dubai 2004. See 24...c7 25.d2 a5 26.c5 fd8 27.fd1 ChessPub. ] xd2 28.xd2 a4 29.a3 4...g4 [ After 29.b4 White's a2 pawn can become [ As discussed previously in the April Update, weak. ] most players still forego the chance for 29...b5 30.h2 b6 31.b4 d8 32.e3 4...dxc4 5.bxc4 e5! , when Black has c7 33.a3 xd2 34.xd2 c5! Now Black is scored very well and seems to have easy c le a r ly b e t t e r b e ca u se o f h is qu e e n sid e equality. It would have been fun to see majority and W hite's coming weak a-pawn. Korchnoi on the White side of this position. ] 457
A11 2448 2580 30.05.2003
444
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 5.e5 [ 5.g2 xf3 6.xf3 e5 is already considered equal. ] 5...f5 6.g2 bd7 7.d4 The position now takes on a Catalan flavour, It doesn't make sense to delay this, since [ 7.b2 e6 8.0-0 xe5 ( 8...d6 ) 9.xe5 d6 is very comfortable for Black. ] 7...e6 8.0-0 d6 An important decision, since n o w B la c k wo n 't b e a b le t o p la y . . . Nxe 5 because of an ensuing fork. The main options are: [ 8...e7 , e.g., 9.a3 ( 9.b2 0-0 10.d2 ) 9...xa3 10.xa3 0-0 11.c2 xe5 12.dxe5 g4 13.cxd5 exd5 14.d4 c8 15.e4 dxe4 16.xe4 xe5 17.xh7+ xh7 18.h5+ g8 19.xe5 e8 wit h a B lac k in itia tive, K ut yne c-K incyl, Moravian Ch 1995. ] [ and 8...xe5 9.dxe5 g4 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.d4 f6 12.exf6 xf6 13.f4 e7 14.d2 0-0 15.b4 ( 15.ac1 ) 15...d7 16.e4 f6 17.e5 e7 18.b3 b6 1/2-1/2 Eade-C Nakamura, Hawaii 1994. ] 9.b2 c7 10.d3 [ Mo re a m b it io u s t h a n 10.xd7 xd7 11.c3 0-0 12.e3 fe8 13.e2 ad8 14.ad1 e7 15.e4 dxe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.xe4 g5= Najer-Chuprov, St Petersburg 1994. White keeps the pieces on and launches a queenside attack, but he risks trouble on the kingside: ] 10...h5! 11.c5 e7 12.b4 h4 13.d2 g4 A bit sophisticated. [ Black could play for direct attack via 13...hxg3 14.hxg3 0-0-0 ] 14.h3 hxg3?! Sacrificing a piece for attack. There was no need for this. Black should simply retreat and keep his attack going by [ 14...gf6 , e.g., 15.g4 xg4! 16.hxg4 xg4 17.e5 dxe5 18.dxe5 h3 19.f3 xe5 ] 15.hxg4 gxf2+ 16.xf2 h2+!? [ 16...xg4 17.f3 g3 looks more ac cu ra te b ec au se W hite 's kin g is wellprotected on f1. ] 17.f1 xg4 18.f3 xf3? [ 18...g3 is necessary so as to keep the initiative, but White has enough defenders, e. g., 19.b5 ( 19.d2 g5! (stopping Qf4)) 19...cxb5 20.b3 a6 21.de5 ]
19.xf3 Black doesn't have enough pieces in t h e a t t a c k a n d s o s t a ys m a t e r i a l d o wn . Perhaps Sutovsky miscalculated something wh en h e m ad e t he piece sacrif ice. It 's a tribute to his tenacity that from now on he lasts so long in what looks like a mopping up operation. h3+ 20.g2 g3 21.f3 h2 22.f2 h5 23.c1 g5 24.h3 xh3 25.xh3 xc1 26.xc1 e5 27.g5 exd4 28.xg7 e5 29.xe5+ xe5 30.d1 a5 31.b5 d7 32.f4 xc5 33.bxc6 bxc6 34.c1 e6 35.xe6 fxe6 36.xc6 d7 37.b6 c8 38.h3 c1+ 39.f2 c2 40.xe6 c7 41.f5 xa2 42.d3 a1 43.f3 f1+ 44.g4 a4 45.a6 a3 46.xa3 d6 47.a8 e6 48.f5+ d6 49.a6+ e7 50.e6+ d7 51.g5 f2 52.g4 g2 53.e4+ d6 54.xd4 e5 55.d3 d4 56.h4 g1 57.h3 e4 58.f3+ e5 59.h2 g7 60.g2 g8 61.g1 f8 62.f3 f6 63.f2 a6 64.b3 a1 65.b5+ f4 66.b8 d1 67.e8 g5 68.e4 1-0
459 Kosten,Anthony C Doettling,Fabian Bundesliga 2000-1 (5) [Tony Kosten]
A12 2524 2473 07.01.2001
1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.e3 f6 4.b3 g4 5.b2 e6 6.h3 h5 7.e2 bd7 [ More flexible than the 7...d6 seen in the archives. ] 8.d3 [ 8.a3 avoids Black's next move, h6 9.d3 d6 10.bd2 e7 11.b4 a5 12.c5 c7 13.c2 g6 14.0-0 0-0 the black position is fine, Speelman,J-Conquest,S/Hastings ENG 2000/1 ] 8...b4+! [ 8...xf3 is a solid alternative, 9.xf3 d6 10.0-0 0-0 11.g3 e7 12.g2 fe8 13.a3 a5 14.c3 , Malaniuk,V-Ulak,S/Polanica Zdroj 1999, although White made his slight edge count. ] [ 8...d6?! is the move White is hoping for, though, 9.g4 g6 10.g5 h5 11.h4 leaving the knight offside, and exposed, 445
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Prze wozn ik,J-Lukasiewicz,G/ Augu sto w 1996. ] 9.c3!? [ Apparently, this is a novelty (although I wasn't aware of this when I played it), but I wa s n ' t t o o s u r e a b o u t 9.bd2 xf3! 10.gxf3 ( 10.xf3? dxc4 11.bxc4 c5 w i n s a p a w n) 10...e5 11.a3 d6 as Black seems to have a fine position, Zilberman,Y-Zifroni,D/Herzliya 1998. ] 9...xf3 [ 9...dxc4 10.bxc4 c5!? ( 10...xf3 11.xf3 transposes to a later note) 11.a3 a5 12.g4!? g6 13.e5 is another possibility, which offers chances to both sides. ] 10.xf3 e5 [ I was expecting 10...dxc4 11.bxc4 c5 12.e2! a move I felt he might miss, when White has a central majority and the bishop pair, e.g. ( 12.e2?! a5 13.c2 a4 looks to favour Black) 12...0-0 13.c2 e5 14.g4 e8 15.ad1 e7 16.g5 fd7 17.h4 and White controls e4, as well. ] 11.e2 d4! 12.exd4 xd4 13.c2 At this moment I felt I was better, f or the queen will have to leave d4, and I would then be able to play d4, and take the centre. f4! [ I had n't expe cted this, rathe r 13...0-0-0 14.0-0! d6 ( 14...xd3?? 15.ad1 ) 15.fd1 g6 16.d4 etc., although Black is not without chances. ] 14.d1 [ Unfortunately, the queen cannot be driven away, 14.g3? f3+ 15.f1 d4 gaining complete control of d4. ] 14...d8 [ I was hoping for 14...c5!? which threatens mate, and seems to further reinforce the weakness of d4, but I had prepared: 15.d4! xd4 16.xd4 xd4 17.d5 c5 18.c7+ e7 19.xa8 xa8 20.0-0 when W hite's two bishops provide more than enough compensation for the pawn. ] 15.0-0 d6 [ Once again I had prepared a trick after the logical 15...c5 : 16.d4! xd4 ( 16...xd4?! 17.d5 cxd5 18.xd4 g5 19.cxd5 xd5 20.b5+ is very unpleasant for Black ) 17.a4 xd1 18.xd1 e7 19.d4! xd4 20.xd4 d6 21.xa7
when W hite has the two bishops, and a queenside majority in this endgame. ] 16.g3 Almost forced, Black threatened ...Nf3+, and ...Qh2 mate> f3+ 17.xf3 [ 17.g2? d4 ] 17...xf3 18.e4 xe4 [ 18...e7 19.fe1 0-0 is slightly simpler. ] 19.dxe4 0-0 20.c3 xc3 21.xc3 c7 22.g2 xd1 23.xd1 d8 Forcing the exchange of rooks, and a draw. In f act, I would have agreed one immediately, if this were not a team match. 24.xd8+ xd8 25.g4 g6 26.e5 h5 27.b4 hxg4 28.hxg4 f5 29.exf6 xf6 30.c5 a6 31.f3 f7 32.e4 g7 33.a4 f6 34.f4 g7 35.d6 e8 36.e5 f8 37.f6 d6 38.d4 d7 39.e5 ½-½
460 Larsen,Bent Kortschnoj,Viktor 1987 Brussels [Paul Motwani]
A12
1987
B1: "Scorching victory by Viktor Korchnoi!" B. L a rse n -V . K o rc h n o i, B ru sse ls 1 9 8 7 . Re t i Opening. The opening of the following swift clash (which occurred in a tournament sponsored by a company called SWIFT!) is named after GM Richard Reti, who contributed a huge amount to chess during his short life from Tuesday 28 May 1889 to Thursday 6 June 1929. His brilliant battles were rich in deep ideas, and the Reti Opening troubled numerous opponents, but in the following game the black pieces are being moved by an exceptionally strong player... 1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 [ White's second move indicated a likely intention to fianchetto his king's bishop. Korchnoi's response to that is one of the most logical possible replies, designed to re d u c e t h e f u t u r e s c o p e o f t h e e n e m y bishop on the h1-a8 diagonal. He wants to be able to maintain a pawn on the d5 square, so he makes the preparatory move ...c6. Of course 2...e6 is a common and perfectly good move too, but one point in favour of Korchnoi's choice is that his queen's bishop 446
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 will h a ve lo t s o f f re e d o m o n t h e c 8 -h 3 diagonal once ...d5 has been played. ] 3.f3 [ Reader's Challenge B1P1 Changes in move order can sometimes make critical tactical differences. For instance, can you see why 3.g2 d5 4.b3?! is unsatisfactory for White? A solution appears after the game B1. ] 3...d5 4.b3 b6!? One key aspect of this interesting idea is that after 5 Bb2 dxc4, then 6 bxc4?? would leave the bishop on b2 en prise. Black is about to reveal another more disguised detail. 5.g2 [ 5.d4 merits consideration. Although it leaves White rather exposed on the e1-a5 and b1-h7 diagonals, the move does gain some space. ] 5...e5! 6.0-0 [ Suddenly Black has a spatial advantage, made possible by the tactical point 6.xe5? d4 Going back briefly to move four, another related and equally noteworthy possibility was 4...dxc4 5 bxc4 e5!. ] 6...e4 7.e1 [ A sad, but almost forced retreat, in view of 7.e5? d4 or ] [ 7.h4? g5 ] 7...h5! Grandmaster Dr Colin McNab faced this seven years later at the 1994 Moscow Olympiad. Like Larsen, Colin also found that White's position is already both cramped and insecure. Black's very direct assault on the hfile is not subtle, but is nevertheless highly effective! 8.c3 [ 8.h4 might have slowed down Black's attack, but it would relinquish almost all control of the g4 square, since the move h3 c o u l d n o l o n g e r b e p l a y e d . A l s o , d6 m e n a c in g 9 . . . B xg 3 , s h o ws u p a n o t h e r drawback of the advance h2-h4. ] 8...h4 9.d4 hxg3 10.fxg3 [ Purely from a structural point of view, capturing towards the centre with 10.hxg3 is preferable, since it keeps White's pawns more compact. However, Larsen was pro bab ly, a nd qu ite n atu ra lly, a f raid o f Korchnoi's queen quickly finding her way to h2 and announcing 'Checkmate'. ] 10...a5! 11.c2 [ 11.d2? e3! or ]
[ 11.b2 g4 pouncing on the weaknesses at e3 and h2. ] 11...b4 12.b2 e6! [ 12...g4 would be badly timed in this position because of 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.xd5! exploiting the unprotected situation of the bishop on c8. ] 13.cxd5 xd5 14.xd5 [ 14.xe4? e3 ] 14...cxd5 15.a3 d2! 16.d1? [ 16.b4 e3+ 17.h1 d8! 18.c3 g5 threatens ...Qxg3 or 19...Rxh2+! 20 Kxh2 Qh5+ 21 Bh3 Qxh3. Perhaps ] [ 16.h1 is relatively best. For example, A) A big improvement is 16...e3 17.c3 ( 17.b4? d8! transposes to a line already given) 17...xc3 18.xc3 d7! 19.c2 c8! 20.xe3 xc3 when White is vi r t u a l ly lo s t b e ca u se o f h is lo o s e structure and congested army.; B) 16...c6? 17.b4 c7 18.xd2 xg3 19.f4! xh2+ 20.g1 even puts Black in trouble ] 16...e3+ 17.h1 c7! The final position underlines how helpless W hite's king is to defend against the threat of 18... Qxg3. His other pieces, even those very nearby, cannot come to his aid, because they are so lacking in scope and space in which to move. Solution to B1P1 Black simply wins a pawn after 4... dxc4 5 bxc4 Qd4! because of the double attack against White's c4-pawn and a1-rook. 0-1
461 Larsen,Bent Petrosian,Tigran V (Clarin) Buenos Aires [Nigel Davies]
A12
1979
1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.f3 d5 4.b3 g4 5.g2 e6 6.0-0 bd7 7.b2 e7 8.d3 0-0 9.bd2 e8 10.a3 a5 11.e1!? A rare semiwaiting move of the kind that was quite typical of Larsen. [ T h e m o s t c o m m o n c h o i c e i s 11.c2 when a recent example went f8 12.h3 h5 13.fc1 h6 14.f1 g6 15.e5 xe5 16.xe5 d7 17.c3 a4 18.b4 axb3 19.xb3 b6 with a comfortable 447
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 game for Black at this stage in Sunye Neto, J (2488)-Arias, L (2372)/ Dresden 2008. ] 11...f8 [ After 11...d6 Larsen intended 12.e4! dxe4 13.xe4 xe4 14.xe4 , claiming a slight edge for W hite. I'm not sure this is really true after Rybka's suggestion of f5 15.e3 e5 but it does give an insight into Larsen's natural optimism. ] 12.e5 [ And not 12.e4? because of c5! . ] 12...xe5 13.xe5 d6?! Attempting to simplify and perhaps secure a draw, but now White is left with the better bishop. 14.xd6 xd6 15.d4 ed8 16.c5 c7 17.b4 e5 18.b3 axb4 19.axb4 e4 20.d2 W hite is slightly better here though can it really be enough to grind down Petrosian? For Larsen the game is just beginning he plays on and on and attempts to exploit the slightest inaccuracy. h6 21.xa8 xa8 22.a1 xa1+ 23.xa1 g5 Trying to set his king side pawn majority in motion but the downside is that it creates some new weak nes ses . 24.c2 g7 25.e3 e6 26.f3 b8 27.b2 g8 [ Having the king on same diagonal as W hite's queen can be dangerous, for example 27...a7 is bad because of 28.fxe4 dxe4 29.xe4! . ] 28.a1 d8 29.a5!? Taking the fight into the endgame. Black has little choice but to allow this exchange as otherwise W hite's queen could take up a dominating position. xa5 30.bxa5 f8 31.f2 e7 [ After 31...exf3 32.exf3 White could bring his bishop to d3 from where it bears down on the weakness on f5. This is one of the down sides of 23...g5. ] 32.fxe4 Aiming to target Black's e4 pawn. [ Another possibility was 32.c2 intending 33.Nb4 and a5-a6. ] 32...dxe4 33.h3 d8 34.f1 c7 35.e3 [ The immediate 35.g4 is answered by h5! .] 35...b8 36.d2 a7 37.f1 d5 38.e2 e6 39.g4 d5 40.f1 The knight is coming to g3 to prevent Black from liquidating some kingside pawns with ... h6-h5. e6 41.g3 d7 42.c4 e6 43.f1 d7 44.e1 e6 45.f2 b8
[ Rather than take the king back Larsen felt that 45...d7 was a better try intending 46.g2 a6 47.xe4 xa5 . But Black could still counterattack on his next move, so maybe this wasn't so bad. ] 46.g2 d5 [ Rather than going passive like this a better chance would have been 46...a7 47.xe4 a6 . Now White's knight comes in with very unpleasant consequences. ] 47.f5 g8 48.d6 f6 49.g3 a7 50.f1 Preventing Black's king from coming to a6. e6 51.f2 d5 52.e2 e6 53.e1 d5 54.d2 f6 55.c4! b8 56.xe6 fxe6 57.f7 g8 58.d8 a7 59.xe6 a6 60.d8 f6 61.f7 g8 62.c3 xa5 63.d6 f6 64.xb7+ a4 65.d8 [ After 65.d8 d5+ 66.d2 e7 White has 67.f7 g8 68.d5! etc. ] 1-0
462 Leko,Peter Kasparov,Garry Corus Wijk aan Zee NED (8) [Tony Kosten]
A12 2745 2849 22.01.2001
1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.b3 d5 4.b2 g4 5.g2 e6 6.f3 bd7 Play has transposed into a main line Reti, Capablanca System. 7.0-0 d6 8.d3 0-0 9.bd2 a5 10.a3 h5!? [ A n u n u s u a l p ro p h yl a ct ic m o ve . 10...e5 11.c2 e8 , Stummer,A-Luther,T/ Budapest 1992, is quite reasonable, and ] [ 10...e7 is very common. ] 11.c2 [ White plays for e4, 11.d4 b8 12.e1 b5 13.c5 e7 14.b4 gives White extra space, Pigusov,E-Wu Wenjin/Shenyang 1999, but Black is solid. ] 11...e5 [ Only this position is actually new, 11...e8 12.ae1?! e5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.e4 c8 favours Black, Lamb,H-Meister,P/York ENG 1999. ] 12.e4 dxe4 [ 12...d4 occurred in the game Kosten,AFarago,I/Hyeres 1992, except that the white h-pawn was on h3 ] 448
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.dxe4 e8 14.h4 c5 15.df3 b6 Ideally Black would like to play ...Nf8-e6-d4, but the white pressure on e5 ties the knight to d 7 , a n d s t o p s t h i s . 16.ad1 f8! Black changes plan, and menaces ...Nc5, hitting e4, and b3. 17.b1 [ Unpinning the f3-knight, and stopping the a f o r e m e n t i o n e d m a n o e u v r e , b u t 17.h3 is an alternative, so that if c5!? 18.g4 g6 19.xg6 hxg6 20.xe5 , but then xb3 21.xb3 xb3 22.g5 h5 and White's advantage is minimal. ] 17...c5! Black dives into the complications. 18.xe5 cxe4 19.d4 c5 20.xc5 xc5 21.b4 axb4 22.axb4 f8 [ 22...a7 is tempting, Black will play down the a-file. ] 23.fe1 ad8 24.h3 g5! 25.g4 [ Safest, the exchange sac 25.f5!? xf3 26.xf3 d2 27.c3 is very risky. ] 25...gxh4 26.gxh5 g7 27.bd1 g5 28.f5 ½-½
7...c5 8.e3 White keeps the pressure on e4, [ 8.cxe4?! loses the exchange to xe4 9.xe4 d4 10.xc5 xa1 ] 8...f5 9.g2 d3? This natural move loses a pawn for nothing. Black should have tried [ 9...e7! 10.c2 b4 11.cxe4! ( 11.gxe4? xc3 wins a piece.) 11...h6 leading to a long forcing line: 12.d6+ xd6 13.xf5 hxg5 14.c8+ d8 15.xb7 bd7 16.xc6 e5 White has three pawns for the piece, and now 17.d4!? c8 18.a6 seems to favour White as his three central pawns, supported by two bishops, are very powerful. Nevertheless, Black should certainly prefer this to the game continuation. ] 10.b3 bd7 11.cxe4! The point, Black loses his e-pawn for nothing. xb3 [ 11...xe4?! 12.xe4 is worse. ] 12.axb3 h6 13.xf6+ xf6 14.f3 c2 15.a3 xa3 16.xa3 Easily defending the bpawn, White remains a pawn to the good, with the superior structure. c5 17.e2 0-0-0!? 18.e1 e4 19.xa7 b8 20.a2 g6 21.b4! cxb4 22.b2 e4 23.xe4 463 A12 The simplest - every exchange brings White 24.f3 g6 Malakhov,Vladimir 2647 closer to the full point. xe4 Sutovsky,Emil 2656 25.e4 f5 26.d3 fxe4 27.fxe4 hf8 28.xb4 10th Open Valls d'Aosta ITA (8) 16.02.2002 f6 29.e3 df8 30.b2 h5 31.h3 Black's temporary initiative is easily repulsed. [Tony Kosten] f1 32.bh2 8f2 33.xf1 xh2 34.h4 1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.f3 d5 4.b3 dxc4!? e2+ 35.f4 d2 36.g4 e8 37.e3 d1 Anti-positional, but there is a tactical follow-up 38.e2 a4 39.f3 - this is the sort of line a computer plays if you 1-0 switch off its openings book! 5.bxc4 e5 The point, Black obtains free development A12 like this, but what about the positional cost of 464 Miles,Anthony J 2609 exchanging a d5-pawn for a b3-pawn? 6.c3 [ And not 6.xe5?? d4 ] Ledger,Andrew 2459 6...e4!? The most aggressive, as is to be 4NCL Birmingham ENG (8) 21.03.1999 expected from Sutovsky, although others are [Tony Kosten] possible: [ 6...b4 7.b3 a5?! 8.xe5! winning a 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c6 I am sure that one of the pawn, Kavalek,L-Lombard,A/Biel 1977, or ] reasons the Slav Defence is currently so [ 6...d6 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 e7 9.d3 bd7 popular, is that it can be played not only 10.a4 with an edge, because of the centre, against 1 d4, but also against 1 c4, and 1 Nf3. Spraggett,K-Hector,J/Palma de Mallorca 3.b3 d5 4.b2 g4 5.e3 This anti-Slav system is a speciality of Tony Miles, and 1989. ] 7.g5! New, and better than contains quite a lot more venom than you [ 7.g1?! c5 8.e3 0-0 with advantage, m i g h t e x p e c t . e6 6.e2 d6 7.h3 The position resembles a main line Reti, Letreguilly,O-Haik,A/ FRA-chT 1992. ] 449
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 except that the white king's bishop is on e2, not g2. xf3 Conceding the bishop pair, after which, although Black has a solid position, White will retain a 'nibble'. That is, a slight, but enduring, advantage. [ However, there is a problem with the a l t e r n a t i v e , 7...h5 e.g. 8.d3 bd7 Kwatschewsky, L-Kargl,K/Wolfsberg AUT ch 1985, and now W hite should have played 9.g4! g6 10.g5 and Black is in trouble, his only reasonable move is h5 but this piece is badly misplaced, all the more so since the white bishop is on e2, instead of g2, and there will be constant threats of capturing the h5-knight. ] 8.xf3 0-0 9.d3 bd7 10.d2 e7 11.0-0 ad8 Black's development is very sound, but I think that he should prefer ...Ba3 on one of h i s n e x t f e w m o ve s , e xc h a n g i n g h a l f o f White's bishop pair. 12.c2 fe8 [ 12...a3! ] 13.fe1 e5 14.e2 Posing Black the problem o f wh a t t o d o n e xt wi t h h is ce n t re . f8?! 15.a3 Black won't get another chance to play ...Ba3. b8 16.ac1 h6 17.b4 6h7?! Black is running out of ideas, he decides to advance on the kingside, but his has a down s i d e , t o o . 18.f1 d6 19.g3 Black was threatening ...e4, with a discovered mate threat on h2. h5?! Hoping to open the h2-b8 diagonal with ...h4. 20.cxd5 cxd5 21.f3 g6 22.h4 f5 Unjustified aggression. 23.e4! W hite counters on the light squares, these turn out to be chronically weak in the black camp. f4 24.h3 f6 25.g2 e7 The black knights are awkwardly placed, and have difficulty finding useful squares. 26.d4! This move often seems to be stronger when it has been delayed a long time. exd4 27.xd4 f7 28.e5 This is strong, but [ 28.exd5! is possibly even more effective, xd5? 29.f5 f8 30.g5 and Black can throw in the towel. ] 28...fxg3 29.fxg3 c6 30.f1 With a heavily disguised threat of 31 Qxh7+! and 32 Ng5+. xf3+!? This queen sac fails to a tactical trick, but what else? [ If 30...c7 then 31.g6 is crushing. ] 31.xf3 xd4 32.g6 xf3 33.e6+! The tactic White had carefully prepared, [ 33.xf3 xe5 is not nearly so clear. ]
33...h8 34.f5 f8 35.xh5+ g8 36.xf3 xe5 37.c8 Simplest. xc8 38.xc8 h7 Black has to concede further pawns, if [ 38...b6 39.b7 and d5 goes, with check. ] 39.xb7 f6 40.g4 White doesn't let-up, he wants the d-pawn, too. d4 41.g5 e3 If the knight moves, 42 Bd5+ wins the house. 42.f5 1-0
465 Morozevich,Alexander Vallejo Pons,Francisco Amber Blindfold rapid (11) [John Watson]
A12 2741 2686 31.03.2005
Two superstars test out a main-line Reti. The move order is key for our purposes, with the note on move four being the important one. 1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.b3 [ Tony's Dynamic English avoids the problems inherent in b3 by suggesting 3.g2 d5 4.f3 instead. Nigel Davies' recent Reti book does the same. That order sacrifices the c-pawn, but the next note shows why that's preferable. This is worth knowing. ] 3...d5 4.f3 What could be wrong here? White avoids the problems associated with ... dxc4. g4 [ But the most effective counter to White's order is 4...dxc4 5.bxc4 ( 5.b2 e6 ) 5...e5! Dunnington's Easy Guide to the Reti features the position after 4.Nf3 but doesn't mention 4...dxc4 at all! Statistically Black has scored tremendously well here (200 point performance rating edge) and White hasn't found a reliable solution, e.g., A) 6.b2 e4 hasn't worked out well for W hite. His best move is probably 7.d4 , when Black has good options: A1) 7...a6! has won a couple of g a m e s a f t e r 8.g2 c5 ( 8...d6 9.c2 c5 10.e3 e7 11.c3 h5 12.h3 a5 13.c2 0-0 with a nice advantage, McNab-S Collins, Blackpool 2003 ) 9.h3 d6 10.0-0 0-0 11.b3 e7 12.xc5 xc5 13.c1 h5!? 14.c3 f5 15.e3 b4 16.b3 e6 and Black stands well, Nickoloff-Kirton, 450
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Toronto 1978; A2) 7...d6 8.b3 ( 8.g2 e5 9.e3 c5 10.e6 d6! was already winning in Djosic-Laketic, Novi Sad 1989) 8...f5 ( 8...bd7 9.g2 0-0 10.c3 e7 11.0-0 e8 with advantage, PreissDobosz, Karlsruhe 2003) 9.g2 h5 10.c2 bd7 11.c3 e7 12.h3? g6! 13.e3? e5 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe5 xe5 0-1 Vujic KatanicStefanova, Becici 1994.; B) 6.c3!? e4! ( 6...a5 7.c2 e6 8.b1 a6!? came out well for Black in Strikovic-Piket, Lisbon 2001 White has to try 9.xb7 b4 10.a4 xa4 11.xa4 c8! 12.xb4 xb4 13.xe5 ) 7.g5 g4! (Practically everyone has missed this wonderful move) ( 7...c5 has also done well ) 8.gxe4 f5 this forces 9.f3 e5 10.f4 ( 10.f2 xc4 11.e3 b6 12.d4 b4!? 13.d2 e7 ) 10...xc4 11.e3 xe3 12.dxe3 xd1+ 13.xd1 fxe4 14.xe4= a6! 15.xa6 bxa6 and Black's bishops and rooks are extremely active. ] 5.g2 bd7 6.b2 e6 7.0-0 e7 [ 7...d6 is common, to support ...e5. Then White often plays the plan with d3 and Na3c2, aiming at e3 or d4. ] 8.d3 0-0 9.bd2 b8! An excellent move that is known from other positions. Black might want to expand by means of ... b5, but also challenges White's control of e5 without standing awkwardly on the c-file. [ 9...e8 and ...Bf8 is normal. ] 10.h3 h5 11.e1 a5 12.f1 e8 13.g4 g6 14.h4 a4 15.xg6 hxg6 16.c2 b5 17.d2 b6 White has the bishops, but Black stands well: his pieces are well-placed and he controls more space on the queenside. 18.e3 eb8?! [ 18...a3 19.c3 b4 ( or 19...e5 ) 20.d4 b8 with ...e5 next. ] 19.d4! c5!? [ 19...c5 20.c3 b4 21.b2 a3?! 22.xf6 xf6 23.cxd5! ] 20.xc5 xc5 21.ec1 a7 [ 21...e7 22.d4 ] 22.cxd5 xc2 23.xc2 axb3 24.xb3 cxd5 25.d4 e5 26.g5 e8 27.f4 xd3 28.d1 a3 29.c6 b6 30.f1
Black continues [ 30.f1 b2 31.e7+ fxg6 33.xb2 xe3= ] ½-½
466 Reti,Richard Capablanca,Jose Raul Moscow [Nigel Davies]
f8
32.xg6+!
A12
1925
This game was played a year after Capablanca's stunning defeat by Reti in the New York 1924 tournament. This time he plays a set-up that would become recognised as one of the most solid and reliable defences to the Reti. 1.f3 d5 2.c4 c6 3.b3 [ Of course 3.d4 would bring about a Slav Defence which Black must also be prepared for. ] [ If, on the other hand, White wants to fianchetto his king's bishop then he should d o t h i s n o w wi t h 3.g3 . But in this case White has to reckon with dxc4 . ] 3...g4 4.b2 f6 5.e5 [ One of the advantages of Capablanca's e a r l y . . . B c 8 - g 4 i s t h a t a f t e r 5.g3 he can mangle White's pawn structure with xf3 . ] 5...h5 6.g3 e6 7.g2 e7 8.0-0 bd7 Exchanging off White's advanced knight. It co u ld go b a ck o f co u rse , b u t t h a t wo u l d represent a loss of two tempi. 9.xd7 xd7 10.d3 0-0 11.d2 c7 12.c1 fd8 13.f3 e8 Preparing to exchange more pieces with ...Be7-f6. This time round it's e vi d e n t t h a t C a p a b l a n c a i s t r e a t i n g h i s opponent with far more caution. 14.c2 f6 15.a1!? Reti really loved putting his queen on this square! xb2 16.xb2 xf3 17.xf3 e7 18.d1 a6 There's not much in it now. 19.g2 g6 20.e3 h5 21.cxd5 exd5 22.b4 h4 23.a4 d6 24.e4 dxe4 25.dxe4 e8 [ 25...xe4 26.e1 f5 27.f3 would win the knight. ] 26.cd2 hxg3 27.hxg3 xd2 28.xd2 f6 29.d4 e8 30.b6 g7 31.e5 xe5 32.xb7 g4 33.b6 [ And not 33.xc6 b e c a u s e o f xf2 34.xf2 e2+ 35.g1 xd1+ etc. ] 451
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ whilst 33.xc6? is bad because of h5 34.g2 ( Or 34.a7 e2 ) 34...e2 etc. ] 33...h5 [ 33...h5 34.d4+ g8 35.d2 e5 gives Black adequate counterplay. ] ½-½
467 Rotstein,Arkadij Dogantug,Ismail 20th ECC Izmir TUR (6) [Tony Kosten]
A12 2525 2175 08.10.2004
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c6 3.b3 This avoids all the lines where Black captures on c4, but commits White to a queenside fianchetto, of course. d5 4.b2 f5 Lasker's set-up still remains popular at all levels. 5.g3 e6 6.g2 d6 7.0-0 bd7 8.d3 e7!? Black tries to deter W hite f rom developing his queen's knight, but this does put the king and queen on the same file, which allows the following tactical possibility. [ 8...0-0 is more usual, of course. ] 9.cxd5 exd5 [ 9...cxd5?! is we l l m e t b y 10.d4 0-0 ( 10...g6 11.b5 e5 12.a3 is u n p le a s a n t) 11.xf5 exf5 12.c3 wit h p re s s u r e o n t h e we a k b la ck p a wn structure and the bishop pair, Dake,A-Feigin, M/Folkestone 1933. ] 10.e4! The point! Reti players should always b e o n t h e l o o k - o u t f o r t h i s t a c t i c . dxe4 11.dxe4 g4 Almost forced. The other moves lose: [ 11...xe4? 12.e1 and the pin along the efile costs Black a piece, 0-0-0 Kennedy,MHurley,J/ Dublin 1992, 13.fd2 etc. ] [ 11...xe4? 12.h4 g6 13.xg6 hxg6 14.xe4 xe4? 15.e1 ] [ 11...g6? i s a l s o we a k : 12.e5! xe5 13.xe5 xe5 14.e1 and the e-file pin is again decisive. ] 12.h3! A new move, and better than [ 12.bd2 when e5 13.c2 xb2 14.xb2 0-0 is fine for Black, Euwe,M-Van den Bosch,J/Amsterdam 1934. ] 12...xf3 13.xf3 I think I would prefer [ 13.xf3! when e5 14.xe5 xe5 15.e3 0-0 16.f4 gives White some extra
space. ] 13...e5 This is positionally correct: when your opponent has the bishop pair you should try to exchange one of them. 14.c2 [ 14.c3 is more ambitious. ] 14...xb2 15.xb2 e5 16.g2 d8?! Black seems to have forgotten the castling rule! [ 16...0-0 is level. ] 17.a3! xa3 18.xa3 e7 W ithout queens the king might become a usef ul piece in the endgame, but with so many pieces still on the board this is a doubleedged decision. [ 18...0-0 19.ad1 still favours White, as f4 will drive the knight from the centre and give him some space advantage. ] 19.f4 d3 20.c4 d7?! Playing on the next board I was amazed to see how quickly Black's solid position disintegrated after this move. [ 20...c5 is safer. ] 21.e5 e8?! [ 21...d5 22.d6 is unpleasant, but better. ] 22.ad1 g6 [ 22...c5 23.b4 a4 24.xd7+ xd7 25.c1 c7 26.a5 leads to a strong white attack (b5 is coming) while the black pieces are bystanders. ] 23.a5! W inning material. g7 24.xb7! xe5?! [ 24...xb7 25.xd3 and White will win the c6-pawn as well. ] 25.c5 [ 25.c5 xd1 26.xd1 traps the knight on e5 and wins a piece. ] 1-0
468 Savchenko,Boris Dreev,Alexey World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (7) [Carsten Hansen]
A12 2583 2607 21.11.2007
1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.b3 g4 4.b2 d7 5.g3 xf3 6.exf3 gf6 7.f4 [ 7.g2 is the move covered in ECO, leading to a slight edge for White, but the text move is also perfectly good for a slight edge. ] 452
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...e6 [ This is just one of several options for Black the others are: A) 7...g6 A) 8.g2 b6 9.f5?! ( 9.e2!? g7 10.d3 ) 9...dxc4 10.fxg6 hxg6 11.e2 d3 12.xd3 cxd3 Nosenko, AKhmelnitsky, I/Kharkov 1988; B) 8.d3 g7 9.g2 0-0 10.0-0 c7 11.c2 dxc4 12.dxc4 ad8 13.d2 e5 14.fxe5 xe5 15.f3 Rodriguez Guerrero, E-Epishin, V/Seville 2002 ] [ B) 7...b6 8.c2 e6 9.g2 g6 10.0-0 g7 11.d4 0-0 12.d2 fc8 13.c5 d8 14.b4 a5 15.a3 axb4 16.axb4 xa1 17.xa1 Bezold, M-Fridman, D/Senden 1998 ] 8.g2 [ W hite can also consider 8.e2 e7 ( 8...d6 9.0-0 0-0 10.d4 c8 11.c5 b8 12.c2 e8 13.d2 f8 14.fe1 g6 15.d3 c7 16.f3 f8 17.b4 Sarno, S-Valenti, G/ Italy 1994) 9.0-0 0-0 10.d4 a5 ( 10...e4!? 11.d2 xd2 12.xd2 f6 , and a draw was prematurely agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Sarno, S-Belotti, B/Asti 1995) 11.c3 b4 12.c5 xc3 13.xc3 b6 14.cxb6 e4 15.b2 xb6 16.c2 fc8 17.fc1 g6 18.f3 d6 19.d1 ab8 20.ab1 Malis, J-Sosna, J/ CZE 1995 ] 8...g6 [ A couple of alternatives are: A) 8...d6 9.0-0 0-0 10.c2 e5 11.fxe5 xe5 12.d4 d6 13.c3 dxc4 14.bxc4 e8 15.fd1 Tammert, G-Von Buhrmeister, P/Germany 1994 ] [ B) 8...dxc4 9.bxc4 c5 10.d4 b6 11.c3 ce4 12.0-0 ( 12.d3!? xc3 13.xc3 0-0-0 14.d1 a5 15.0-0 b4 16.e2 ) 12...0-0-0 13.c5 a6 14.b3 xc3 15.xc3 xd4 16.f5 exf5 17.fc1 Anic, D-Dunis, A/Gonfreville FRA 2006, and now c4 18.b1 d3 ] 9.e2 dxc4 10.bxc4 c5 11.0-0 a4 [ 11...g7 12.c3 d3 13.a3 xe2 14.xe2 d3 15.ab1 0-0-0 16.b3 c7 17.fb1 b6 18.c5 b5 19.c3 ] 12.e5! g7 13.d4 0-0 14.c5 [ 14.d2 e8 15.xg7 xg7 16.f3 f5 17.d3 ] 14...d5 15.c2 a5 16.xd5
[ 16.xg7 xg7 17.d2 ac3 18.c4 b4 19.d3 ] 16...exd5 17.d2 c3 [ 17...f6 18.d6 fe8 19.b3 c3 20.ac1= ] 18.b3 [ 18.g2 b5 19.xg7 xg7 20.a4 c3 21.xc3 xc3 22.a3 e4 23.xe4 dxe4 24.b1 ab8 25.ab3 fd8 26.a5 xd4 27.xb7 xb7 28.xb7 d5 29.xa7 xc5= ] 18...b4 19.g2 [ 19.xg7 xg7 20.fc1 e4= ] 19...e4 [ 19...b5!? 20.xg7 xg7 21.d3 fe8 22.fc1 e4 ] 20.f3 f6 21.d2 a5 22.fb1 a6 23.f1 fe8 24.h4 d7 [ 24...b6 25.cxb6 axb6 26.e1 ac8 27.e3 c5 28.dxc5 bxc5 ] 25.e1 c4 [ 25...f6 26.d6 b6 27.cxb6 xb6 ] 26.xc4 dxc4 27.e3 b5 28.cxb6 xb6 [ 28...axb6 29.xc4 f6 30.c7 xe1 31.xe1 xa2+ 32.h3 b5 33.a5 f8= ] 29.ac1?! [ 29.xg7 xg7 30.ac1 ac8 31.f2 ed8 32.ed1 c5 33.d5 d7 34.d6 cd8 35.xc4 xc4 36.xc4 xd6 37.xd6 xd6 38.e3 a6 39.a4 f6= ] 29...ad8?! [ 29...f6 30.d6 ad8 31.c5 f5 32.c2 xe1 33.xe1 d5 ] 30.g4? [ 30.xg7 xg7 31.f1 d5 32.xc4 xe1+ 33.xe1 c3 34.e5 xd4 35.xc6 a4 36.e7 xa2 37.xa7 xa7 38.xa7 ] 30...e6 31.h5 [ 31.a4 xa4 32.xc4 b6 33.c2 ( 33.b4 d5 34.a4 f6 35.xf6 xf6 36.xf6+ xf6 37.e6 d7 38.xc6 f7 ) 33...d5 34.a2 f6 35.xf6 xf6 36.xf6+ xf6 ] 31...gxh5!? 32.f5 ee8 33.f6+ xf6 34.xf6 xe1 35.xe1 c8 36.g4? [ 36.g5!? d5 A) 37.b1 c3 ( 37...f6 38.h6 e7 39.g4 f7 ) 38.f6 h6 39.xh6 h7 40.c1 g6 41.b7 a6-+; B) 37.h6 f6 38.b1 e7 39.g4 f7 453
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 40.b7 d8 41.c1 hxg4 42.fxg4 e8 43.xa7 xd4 , and Black has decent winning chances ] 36...hxg4 37.fxg4 d5 Now it is a rather simple win for Black. The strong knight on d5 kicks away the bishop on f6, allowing Black to follow up with ...f7-f6 and then support the dangerous passed pawn on c4-pawn. 38.e5 f6 39.d6 c3 40.f3 d8 41.c5 a5 42.a3 b8 43.g5 fxg5 44.g4 h6 45.h5 g7 46.g4 e8 47.xe8 f6+ 48.f3 xe8 49.d5 c2 0-1
469 Slobodjan,Roman Dautov,Rustem 10th It Lippstadt GER (7) [Tony Kosten]
A12 2539 2606 12.07.2000
1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f5 4.d3 e6 5.c4 c6 6.b3 e7 7.b2 h6 8.0-0 0-0 9.a3 h7 Typical, the bishop retreats to a less exposed square, and Black maintains the most flexibility with his queenside development. 10.bd2 a5 11.c3 [ A move that has scored well for White, he wishes to force the b4 advance, and then weaken the solid wedge of Black central pawns. 11.c2 is perhaps more common first, a6 12.c3 b5 13.cxb5 cxb5 14.b2 b4 15.axb4 xb4 16.fc1 is fairly equal, Smejkal,J-Hubner,R/W ijk 1975. ] 11...c5!? [ A new move, clamping-down on b4, and intending to gain a tempo with ... d4 previously 11...a6 had been preferred, to stop b4, 12.a2 revealing White's plan, he will line his queen up on both the a1-h8 diagonal, and the a1-a8 file, b5 13.a1 b4 14.axb4 xb4 15.a4 with pressure on a5, and some advantage, Kasimdzhanov,R-Mari Arul,S/Genting Highlands 1998. ] 12.cxd5 [ White is obliged to change plans, for after, say 12.e5?! d4 13.b2 c7 Black gains a space advantage. ] 12...exd5 13.d4 c6 Black happily allows transposition into an IQP position, as his
pieces are very actively placed. 14.dxc5 d4 [ 14...xc5 is also perfectly reasonable. ] 15.b2 xc5 16.e1 Else Black may be tempted to advance his d-pawn even further. e8 17.d3 b6 18.c1 c8 19.b4!? axb4 20.axb4 d5 [ Aiming for c3, and e3, but the materialistic 20...xd3!? 21.exd3 xb4 was also worthy of consideration. ] 21.b5 xd3 22.exd3 e3! The knight sacrifices itself to free the b6-bishop's diagonal. 23.fxe3 dxe3 24.h1 [ Not forced, 24.h5!? exd2+ 25.h1 e7 26.cd1 was also feasible, although Black is certainly fine after d4 ] 24...exd2 25.xd2 d4?! [ 25...e3 26.c3 d4 27.b3 is not worse. ] [ 25...d4?! and although the players a g r e e d a d r a w , 26.f4! d7 27.c4 is worth trying ] ½-½
470 Agrest,E Grandelius,Nils TCh-SWE 2011-12 (9) [John Bartholomew]
A13 2599 2536 11.03.2012
1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ c6 6.xc4 b5 7.b3!? b7 8.0-0 bd7 9.d4 a6 10.e5! xe5 11.dxe5 d7 [ The alternative 11...d5 is analyzed in Fre ssi n e t , L (2 6 9 6 )-G o rd o n , S ( 2 5 3 5 ) / Bremen GER 2012. ] 12.c3!? Clearly the most flexible, and (by consequence) the most ambitious. [ 12.f4 ] [ and 12.d1 have been played, but you'll find that White has these options on almost every move going forward. ] 12...c7 Black is up against a number of tempting ideas: Nc3-e4, Rf1-d1, Bc1-f4, a2-a4, etc. He has tried various ways to complete development, but the practical results have thus far been heavily in White's favor (+6 =4 -0). Overall, I get the impression that this position is much easier for W hite to handle absent some very targeted preparation from 454
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the opponent. [ Let's briefly consider the alternatives. First off, accepting the pawn is extremely risky: 12...xe5 13.d1!? ( 13.e4 c5 was less clear in Ehlvest, J (2595)-Vitiugov, N (2687)/Moscow RUS 2009.) 13...d7 ( 13...c7 14.f4 e7 15.ac1 ) 14.e4 b6? 15.f4 e7 16.d6+ xd6 17.xd6 (clearly things have gone wrong for Black) 0-0-0 Bernard, C (2348)-Mirzoev, A (2563)/ Cappelle la Grande FRA 2011. Here simply 18.c1+- leaves Black without an adequate defense. ] [ 12...e7 13.e4!? ( 13.d1 c8 14.e4 0-0 Markowski, T (2564)-Sargissian, G ( 2 6 1 1 ) / M e r i d a 2 0 0 5 . 15.g5!? xg5 16.xg5 xe5 17.ac1 ) 13...c5 ( 13...0-0 14.f4 ) 14.c3 ( a n o t h e r a p p r o a c h i s 14.xc5 xc5 15.c2 b6 16.d2 with 17.Rac1 to come ) 14...xe4 15.xe4 c7 16.e3 b4 17.c2 c8 18.fd1 xe5 19.d4 g5 20.h4 h6 21.c5 f6 22.d2 xc5 23.xc5 e7 24.d6 0-0 25.ad1 a8 26.b3 b7 27.d3 h6 28.d7 b8 29.xa6 cd8 30.e7 xd7 31.xd7 b6 32.d3 c5 33.g6 c6 34.xf7+ h7 35.f3 b6 36.xf8 c4+ 37.f1 1-0 Glud, J (2496) -Collins, S (2436)/ Rogaska Slatina SLO 2011 ] [ 12...c8 13.a4!? (a familiar strategy: White inhibits ...c6-c5) ( 13.e4 c5 14.d1 e7 15.f4 0-0 16.d6 xd6 17.xd6 c4 18.e3 xg2 19.xg2 c5 20.ad1 Rotstein, A (2528) -Gustafsson, J (2615)/ Austria 200506.) 13...e7 14.e4 0-0 15.g5!? xg5 16.xg5 c5 17.d3 g6 18.xb7 xb7 19.e3 Khalifman, A (2616) -Sargissian, G (2680)/Moscow RUS 2010. ] [ 12...b6 13.a4! b8?! (Black can ill afford t h i s d e l a y ) 14.e3 c5 15.xb7 xb7 16.axb5 axb5 17.a5! b4 18.b5 e7 19.g5! (energetic play!) b6? ( 19...c6 20.xe7 xe7 21.d6 ) 20.a4 xg5 21.d6+ e7 22.a7 hd8 23.d1+- h6 24.a6 c7 25.c6 a8 26.xa8 1-0 Baumegger, S (2433)-Diermair, A (2388)/ Leoben 2008. ] 13.f4 [ Black's last move is well-suited to
advancing the c-pawn, so I'd be interested in seeing a practical test of 13.a4!?N . ] 13...c5 14.e4 xe5? This is very optimistic. [ W h i t e w a s d i a l e d i n a f t e r 14...d5 15.d6+! in Zysk, R (2436)-Simeonidis, I (2 2 8 3 ) / K a l l i t h e a C h a l k i d i ki 2 0 0 3 : xd6 16.xd5 exd5 17.exd6 c6 18.e3+ f8 19.e7+ g8 20.fd1 h6 21.ac1 c8 22.c3 f6 23.e4!? e8? ( 23...d4 was the only try) 24.c7 xc7 25.dxc7 xe4 26.xd5! xc3 27.d8 e2+ 28.f1 h7 29.c8+- ] [ The best defense looks to be 14...xe4! 15.xe4 c4 . This dampens White's immediate attacking potential, though he remains a bit better with the bishop pair: 16.c2!? d8 17.a4 ] 15.a4!? [ Agrest didn't want to pull the trigger with 15.xe5 xe5 16.f6+ gxf6 17.xb7 , though this is dangerous for Black too. ] 15...b4 16.fc1 [ 16.a5!? ] 16...c4 17.xe5 xe5 18.xc4! [ 18.xc4 d5 can be met by 19.d2! , but e7 20.xd5 exd5 21.f4 0-0 22.f3 e6 isn't much for White. ] 18...d8 Grandelius faced an unenviable choice. [ 18...c8 is obvious, but Black probably assessed his position after 19.xc8+ xc8 20.xc8+ d7 21.ac1 very pessimistically. Indeed, White is well coordinated and a knockout punch seems likely to land. Still, this might have been a decent way to interrupt the trend of the game and complicate things. ] [ 18...d5 is also depressing. 19.c7 xc7 20.xc7 ] 19.f6+ gxf6 [ or 19...xf6 20.xb7 e7 21.xa6 0-0 22.c2 ] 20.xb7 h6?! This last error terminates the game rather quickly. [ 20...e7 21.xa6 0-0 22.c2 wasn't fun either, though. ] 21.xb4! Black can't castle to safety. d6 [ 21...xc1 22.c6+ d7 23.xc1+- ] 22.xd6 xd6 23.c8+ d8 24.xd8+ xd8 25.xa6 e7 It was better to head 455
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 towards the queenside, but realistically Black 13.b3! White defends c3, and is ready to has almost no chances to hold. 26.b7 b8 double rooks on the open file. a7 27.f3 f5 [ Black makes room for his bishop, [ 27...xb2 28.a5+- ] 13...bd7?! whilst natural, leaves Black in 28.a5 e5 29.d5 d6 30.xf7 t r o u b l e a f t e r 14.d4 ab8 ( 14...cxd4 Black resigned. These two games with 7. may be superior, but 15.xd4 gains the Qb3!? suggest that it may be in no way inferior important light-squared bishop) 15.a3! to the traditional 7.Qc2. Theory is developing ( 15.d5?! xb3 16.axb3 xc3 is the point) EXTREMELY rapidly in these sharp lines, so 15...c7 16.d5 exd5 17.exd5 b7 keep your eyes peeled! and although White cannot capture the e71-0 bishop (because ...Re8 traps the queen) his space advantage is significant. ] 14.d4! This move wil l leave White with an 471 A13 iso lat e d c-p a wn o n a n o p e n f ile, b ut t h e Akopian,Vladimir 2660 dyn a m ic p o ssib ilit ie s ou t we igh st ra t e gic Svidler,Peter 2686 considerations. Note that had Black played ... World Teams Yerevan ARM (4) 15.10.2001 b4 earlier, instead of ...bxc4, then W hite would be able to play this move more freely, [Tony Kosten] as the c4-pawn would be defended by his It is not very often that you can see such a partner on b3. cxd4 15.xd4 a8 16.e3 long line of captures and forcing moves, as The bishop eyes the a7-rook. b7? [ This allows an incredibly long, forcing was instigated by White's seventeenth move. tactical sequence, and is far from ideal, but 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 a6!? the natural 16...c7? , intending ...Nbd7-c5, Black prepares to expand on the queenside. allows the decisive tactic 17.xe6! fxe6 4.g2 b5 5.b3 Naturally, White has to 18.b6 ] defend his c-pawn. c5 6.0-0 [ Perhaps Black's only chance was 16...d7 [ There is nothing to be gained along the but after 17.fb1 c6 18.xc6 xc6 h1-a8 diagonal: 6.e5 a7 and ...d6. ] 19.b6 White's queenside pressure is 6...b7 7.c3 White would like to force Black considerable. ] to clarify the situation on the queenside, and 17.e5!! Th is m ove win s b y f orc e . xb3 so pressures the b-pawn. a5!? The first point, White is [ 7...b6 is more common, deterring White 18.exf6 f r o m p la yi n g h i s c1 -b is h o p t o b 2 , p l a y simultaneously threatening e7, a8, and b3. should continue along similar lines, i. e. 8.e3 xg2 [ 18...xc3 is a little better: 19.fxe7 e8 e7 9.e2 preparing Rd1 and d4. ] 20.xa8 and if a3 ( 20...a4 21.e4!? 8.e3 e7 9.e2 bxc4 xc4 22.h5 g6 23.h6 f5 hangs on for [ White was threatening to capture the b5a bit ) 21.b1 White's two bishops are pawn, and 9...b4 allows White a freer hand clearly more than a match for the black in the centre, and the pawn lever a3. ] rook. ] 10.bxc4 0-0 [ This is new here, and a possible 19.xb3 xf1 [ 19...xc3?! 20.fxe7 wins a piece. ] impro veme nt o n 10...c6 11.b1 b8 The critical second point, White 12.e5 xe5 ( 12...d8 ) 13.xb7 20.g4! with an edge, Zarnicki,P-Rosito,J/Buenos menaces both the black king and queen. xf6 21.xa5 xc3 22.xf1 Aires 1998. ] [ 22.d4 xd4 23.xd4 e2 24.xd6 11.b1 This position shows two advantages of is also more than sufficient. ] having the black queen on a5, as opposed to b6: firstly, this last move doesn't gain a tempo, 22...xa5 23.d4 d8 24.a7! The final and secondly, the attack on the c3-knight point, the black pieces are uncoordinated, means White will have to defend this piece and unable to resist the powerful white queen. before he can play d4. c6 12.e4 d6 h6 25.b6 xb6 26.xb6 c8 27.xd6 456
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h7 28.c5 g6 29.c6! [ 29.c6! xc6 30.d7 wins the knight. ] 1-0
472 Al Hadarani,Hatim Adly,Ahmed ch-Arab Dubai UAE (5) [John Watson]
A13 2320 2503 16.09.2005
Black is utterly outplayed by his lower-rated opponent. This is a classic example of how to play a "Catalan without d4", but after some bad mistakes, probably in time pressure, Al Hadarani loses his way. 1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 5.0-0 bd7 The most popular move of late. 6.a4 [ 6.a3!? is suggested in Tony Kosten's "The Dynamic English", with the possible continuation xa3 7.bxa3 0-0 8.c2 b6 9.e5 ] 6...a6 7.xc4 b5 8.c2 b7 9.a4!? b4?! [ 9...c5! --see the next game. ] 10.b3 e7 11.b2 0-0 12.d3 c5 13.e4 c7 14.bd2 ad8 15.c4 e8 16.fe1 f6 17.e5 e7 18.e2 b6 19.ad1 g6 20.cd2 d5 21.h4 f5 22.exf6 xf6 23.xf6 xf6 24.g5 de8 25.ge4 a5 26.c1 [ A better route was to be had by 26.xf6+ xf6 27.xd5 xd5 28.e4 ff8 ( 28...f5 29.c1 b6 30.g4 ) 29.c1 etc. ] 26...xe4 [ 26...bd7! ] 27.dxe4 b7 28.h5! e5 29.hxg6 hxg6 30.h3!? This covers c8, but since it can be challenged there isn't much point. Much better was [ 30.e3 , winn ing ma terial af te r d7 31.h3 d8 32.f3! b6 33.xd7 xd7 34.xe5 , winning for White. ] 30...d8 31.c2 d4 32.g4? [ 32.b5! d6 33.e2 soon wins the cpawn. ] 32...d6 33.g5 [ 33.e6+ xe6 34.xe6+ h8 35.f3 is about equal. White goes downhill rapidly. He should have simply targeted and won the c-pawn. ]
33...c4! 34.bxc4! [ 34.xc4 xc4 35.xc4 xc4 36.bxc4 c6 leaving Black a dangerous b-pawn. ] 34...xa4 35.c5! f6 36.xf6 xf6 37.b3 xe4 38.d1? Probably time trouble. [ 38.a1! was an effective counterattack, and perhaps equal because of the additional threat of Bg2, e.g., d5 39.g2 xb3 40.xe4 xc2 41.xc2 xc5 42.xa5 ] 38...c3 winning. 39.a1 e2+ [ 39...e2+ 40.f1 xg3+ 41.g1 e2+ 42.f1 f4 43.d7 a6+ etc. ] 0-1
473 Aronian,Levon Anand,Viswanathan Zurich Chess Challenge (1) [Fier, Alexandr]
A13 2812 2773 30.01.2014
This was a more positional game compared to the other ones I analyzed for Chess Publishing this month. Aronian has an impressive score of +7 =18 -2 against Anand and this game was a victory move by move. 1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 dxc4 5.a4+ bd7 6.xc4 a6 7.b3 [ 7.c2 is more popular, but both of the queen retreats have their differences c5 8.0-0 b5 ( 8...b6 9.c3 b7 10.d1 was also seen here, in the game Bu Xiangzhi (2602)-Li W enliang (2506)/Tan Chin Nam Cup 2002.) 9.b3 b7 10.b2 is a slow and solid way to play for W hite, analyzed in Kozhuharov, S (2391)-Mateuta, G (2465)/14th Open Kavala GRE 2005. ] 7...b8 [ 7...c5 8.a4 b8 ( 8...d6 9.0-0 0-0 10.a3 c7 11.c4 b6 12.d3 b7 13.d2 e7 14.fc1 Bruzon Batista, L (2673) -Vallejo Pons, F (2724)/FIDE World Cup 2011 (2.4.) 9.a5 and Black is kind of tied. This position was analyzed for Chess Publishing in Naiditsch, A (2702)-Papin, V (2575)/13th EICC Plovdiv BUL 2012 (2.9). ] 8.0-0 b5 Black has no hurry to play ...c5. Instead he expands with ...b5 and opens the long diagonal for the bishop. [ 8...c5 9.d4 cxd4 10.f4 c5 11.c4 457
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d6 12.xd4 Sorokin, M (2550)Sveshnikov, E (2580)/RUS-ch Elista 1995 (10). ] 9.a4 b7 10.axb5 axb5 11.d3 I like this way of playing and it's typical in this variation. Usually when White goes for a quick d4, there are good chances that Black can equalize after a well timed ...c5. With the pawn on d3, W hite can often try a setup with e4, restraining the bishop on b7 and the knight on d6. Meanwhile Black's counterplay is not so clear. Af ter all, it's not that W hite will be better after this move, but nowadays it's hard to find an advantage in any variation. e7 [ 11...d6 was the choice of Ivanchuk in the World Cup 12.e3 c5 13.c3 0-0 14.d2 ( 14.xb5?? c6-+ ) 14...xg2 15.xg2 g4 and Black managed to draw without big problems in Bu, X (2675)-Ivanchuk, V (2768)/ FIDE World Cup 2011 (4.1). ] 12.f4 d5 This move will be necessary here or after 13.Rfc1. [ 12...0-0 would probably transpose after 13.c1 d5 14.d2 ] 13.d2 Black's knight is not well placed on d5. White can play e4 with tempo if it stays there. On the other hand sometimes it can go to b6 and the bishop has a good square on f6. 0-0 14.c1 c5 After all the pieces are developed Black finally goes for ...c5. [ 14...b4 would be an interesting alternative. At first sight it looks strange to give the c4square for free, but it avoids the bishop going to a5 and there is a hidden issue with leaving the pawn on b5, as we are going to see in a few moves 15.e1 c5 ( 15...c5 is not so good 16.c2 and the knight will need to go back at some point) 16.bd2 5b6 and the knight comes back, opening the diagonal for a bishop exchange and ready to exchange on c4 if anything goes there. The position is level ] 15.a5 Opening space for the b1-knight. e8 I have a f ee ling t hat th e pieces are a bit packed on the kingside. To put the queen on the c-file is also not ideal, but still can be ok, if combined with ...b4 afterwards. [ 15...c8 16.bd2 b4 17.c4 a8 18.fd2 and White can have a small edge ] 16.bd2 5f6 17.ab1! A beautiful move to make. W hite realizes that one of the best
plans in this position is to play with b2-b4. If he can exchange the b-pawn for the c-pawn all the pieces have more space and most likely the pawn on b5 is going to be weak at s o m e p o i n t . d5 18.d1 a8 19.b4 Just in time! I think White has already some advantage a6?! The beginning of a faulty plan. [ 19...b8 was also possible and the position can become chaotic in a few moves 20.e4 b7 21.b3 c4! ( 21...cxb4 22.d2 is what White is dreaming of) 22.bd4 cxd3 23.c7 a7 24.xb5 a2 and Black creates nice counterplay in exchange for the queen, 25.c3 c4 26.d5 exd5 27.xc4 dxc4 28.c1 and White has some advantage ] 20.e4 c6 [ 20...a8 21.b3 c4 22.bd4 and White has a pleasant position ] 21.b3 cxb4 [ 21...a8 is another idea, looking forward to a nice exchange sacrifice 22.bxc5! xa5 23.xa5 xa5 24.d4 e5 25.f4 ( 25.xc6 xc6 26.d4 maybe this is better, with a strong center) 25...xc5! 26.xc5 b6 27.xe5 xd4+ 28.h1 d7 29.h5 g6 30.h4 and the rook is in a really strange place. Probably Black has compensation coming with 30...Rc8 and ...Nc5 ] 22.d2 xe4 Finally Black shows his plan he will fight with some pawns for a piece. Since White only has pawns on the kingside, there are still some chances. But Aronian plays well, and proves that the pawns are not enough for the piece. [ Here the alternatives are not so interesting anymore 22...a8 23.xb4 a2 24.c3 xb4 25.xb4 a7 26.fd4 a8 27.a1 is much better for White ] [ 22...c5 23.xb4 xb3 24.xb3 xb4 25.xb4 also with advantage ] 23.dxe4 xe4 24.c2 c3 25.a1 f6 This was more or less the position Black was looking for with the piece sacrifice. He has some nice posts for the knight and if they can stay on c3 and d5 it would be ok. White needs to find something to do against this. 26.e5 fd5 27.d3 First relocating the knight to the best square on d3, where it can attack b4. c6 28.xd5! And then exchanging one of the 458
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 strong knights for the fianchettoed bishop. No easy decision to make, but W hite's idea is concrete. exd5 29.e1 [ 29.xb4!? was already possible, but White needs to be sure of the complications and t h e r e s u l t i n g p o s i t i o n xb4 30.d4 ( 30.xb4 e2+ 31.xe2 xe2 32.xc6 and it's not clear the endgame is winning) 30...c4 31.xb4 e7! 32.bc6 f6 and now White needs to sacrifice the queen again 33.xc3 xc3 34.xc3 White has good chances in this position, but it might also be drawn. In the game W hite keeps more pieces on ] 29...c4 30.f3 d7 31.f2 d6 32.b6 f5 [ 32...a4 strangely putting the knight in the corner, bringing the bishop to d4 is the computer's suggestion 33.d4 fc8 34.f4 and White keeps the advantage ] 33.e3 White has optimized the position of all his pieces and now the plan is to exchange Black's pieces one by one, making the pawns harder to defend. It's a long task, but Aronian was able to do it without any major problems. [ 33.c5 xc5 ( 33...xd3 doesn't make m u c h s e n s e 34.xd6 fc8 35.a5 and the rook has no squares) 34.bxc5 a4 and there is still a lot of play in the game. ] 33...h5 34.d4 c7 35.a7 First the rook. xa7 36.xa7 a8 37.c5 Followed by the bishop. d4!? An interesting resource. Black tries to exchange everything and create a fortress in the endgame. It looks a bit desperate, but if Black just waits the pawns are going to fall one by one. 38.xd4 xc5 39.xf5 xe3+ 40.xe3 b3 Now the b3pawn is dangerous and it's going to be exchanged for the f3-pawn 41.d1 c8 42.xc3 xc3 43.d1 b2 The last chance to do t his , o t h erwise W hit e 's kin g wo u ld defend the f3-pawn 44.xb2 xf3 45.d8+ h7 46.d5 b3 47.d3 g6 and I'm not sure if the endgame is really winning, but looking at the game White won easily. 48.d7 g7 49.f2 a3 50.e3 a2 51.h4 f6 52.b7 a5 The b-pawn is going to fall at s o m e p o i n t . 53.c5 a3+ 54.f4 a1 55.e4+ g7 56.d6 f1+ 57.e3 f8 58.xb5 e7 59.e4 e1+ 60.f4 f8
And now the target is the f-pawn. 61.b8+ g7 62.b7 f1+ 63.e3 f8 64.d6 f6 65.b8+ e7 66.e4 f1 67.e2 f5 68.c8 e5 69.f3 f5+ 70.g2 e5 71.g5 e2+ [ 71...f6 would not be enough 72.h3 g5 73.h8 and Black is forced to take on h4, giving the vital f4 square to the knight ] 72.h3 f2 [ 72...f6 73.f3 f2 74.d4 g5 75.c7+ d6 76.hxg5 fxg5 77.g7 ] 73.c4 With 74.Rf4 winning. 1-0
474 Arvind,Shastry Ramesh,Ramachandran B ch Mumbai IND (16) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2330 2472 28.01.2003
White seems to be doing nothing in particular in the opening, and then produces a mating attack out of clear, blue sky! 1.f3 f6 2.b3 d5 3.b2 e6 4.c4 Taking play from Larsen's Opening to an English structure. e7 5.e3 I would play [ 5.g3 myself, and put the bishop on the long diagonal, but W hite's move has its advantages. ] 5...0-0 6.c3 b6 7.c2!? [ 7.e2 b7 8.0-0 c5 9.cxd5 is the mainline here, White's move seems innocuous, but... ] 7...b7 8.e2 I am reminded of Gurevich's set-up against the Slav here, where he followsup with g4, but as Black has dispensed with ... c6, he can react more aggressively. c5 [ 8...dxc4 i s a s o u n d i d e a , 9.bxc4 ( 9.xc4!? ) 9...c5 10.0-0 c6 11.fd1 which seems fairly equal, Mesropov, KKroencke,M/ Bad Wiessee 1997, it is very si m il a r t o a R e t i m a i n li n e , e xc e p t t h a t White's bishop is on e2 instead of the more active g2. ] 9.cxd5! Better than [ 9.0-0 c6 ( 9...dxc4!? ) 10.a3 d4 with a good Benoni for Black, Majzik, LHudecz,V/Budapest 1998. ] 9...xd5 [ 9...exd5 10.d4 c6 is also possible, but 459
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the subsequent hanging pawn structure would not appeal to everyone. ] 10.xd5 It seems that White is happy to exchange pieces, and head for a draw perhaps? xd5 11.h4!? Suddenly, 'out-ofthe-blue', White plays for a kingside attack! h6 Maybe [ 11...d7 12.g5 f5 is safer, although after 13.0-0-0 h6 anything could happen. ] 12.g5! If this is possible, then Black's last move is pointless. hxg5? Opening the h-file is disastrous, [ and 12...f5? is no better: 13.c4 xg2 14.0-0-0! hxg5 15.xe6+ h7 16.hxg5+ g6 17.c3 wins. ] [ however, 12...f5! 13.d3 g4 is possible, e.g. 14.a6 ( 14.c4? hxg5 15.hxg5 e4 ) 14...e4! and no win is visible. ] 13.f3 The point of White's combination. xf3 It is all 'much of a muchness', [ 13...d7 also loses, 14.hxg5 (threatening m a t e o n h 7 ) f5 15.gxf6 xf6 16.xf6! ( 16.h7+ f7 17.h5+ e7 18.xf6+ xf6 19.g6+ e5 20.g3+ d5 21.f3+ xf3 22.xf3+ d6 and the king escapes ) 16...xf6 17.h7+ f8 18.h8+ f7 19.h7 g6 20.h5 f6 21.f8+ f7 22.d8+ e7 23.xe7+ xe7 24.xg6 with a winning material advantage. ] 14.gxf3 xf3 15.g1 g4 Black hopes that his light-squared control will give him enough compensation, but two pieces are rarely a m a t c h f o r t h e q u e e n . 16.xg4!? xg4 17.e4 Forking a8 and g4. d7 18.xg4 f6 19.g2 ad8 20.0-0-0 Black has had enough. [ 20.0-0-0 g6 21.xf6 xf6 22.h5 g7 23.hxg6 fxg6 24.g1 is convincing enough. ] 1-0
475 Bartel,Mat Dolzhikova,O 11th Gibraltar Masters (8.18) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2629 2239 29.01.2013
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 a6 4.g2 b5 5.a3!? Very rare, but logical, defending c4 while attacking b5. Bartel had already successfully tried this move last year. [ 5.b3 First is normal, but then Black can develop easily with b7 ] 5...c6 Solidly defending the b-pawn, but this seems a bit passive to me. [ Black can capture on a3, of course: 5...xa3 6.bxa3 White's pawns are damaged, but he has the bishop pair and the open b-file. bxc4 ( 6...b7 7.b1 c6 8.c2 bxc4 9.xc4 d5 10.c2 d6 11.0-0 c5 12.d3 0-0 13.e4 c6 White has a slight edge, but Black is solid, Novik, M (2405)-Aseev, K (2525) /Moscow 1991. ) 7.a4 ( 7.e5 d5 8.xc4 "and I think that pair of bishops and especially the weak black squares should provide W hite something of an edge." Bartel. ) 7...0-0 8.xc4 d5 9.c2 bd7 and ...c5, Ernst, S (2556) -Ipatov, A (2587)/ Wijk aan Zee 2013. ] [ 5...b4 6.c2 b7 7.0-0 c5 was Blomqvist, E (2469)-Ivanov, S (2537)/ Malmo 2012, when I would want to play 8.d4 cxd4 9.cxd4 ] [ 5...d5 "Looks the most logical." - Bartel. 6.cxd5 ( 6.cxb5 axb5 7.xb5 c5 "but I wasn't sure it this "Blumenfeld-like" position is so good for W hite." - Bartel.) 6...xd5 7.c2 b7 8.b3 e7 9.b2 0-0 10.0-0 Bartel, M (2658)-Popov, I (2599)/ Mo sc o w 2 0 1 2 , wh e n c5 is normal, with chances for both sides. ] 6.b3 Now White returns to a normal position h a v i n g p r o v o k e d . . . c 6 . d5 7.b2 This is actually a novelty. Bartel appears to pref er playing this move bef ore castling, although I can't see any real advantage. [ 7.0-0 seems more flexible to me, d6 ( 7...b7 8.b2 bd7 9.d3 e7 10.e4 Serov, M (2340)-Turov, M (2582)/Dagomys 2009.; 7...bd7 8.c2 b7 9.d4 d6 10.b2 with a position reminiscent of the 460
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Catalan, although the knight looks misplaced on c2, Badea, B (2495)-Turova, I (2394)/Eforie Nord 2010.) 8.d4 ( 8.b2 would transpose to the main game.) 8...0-0 9.c2 bd7 again like a Catalan, 10.a4!? bxc4 11.bxc4 a5 Maletin, P (2567)Zablotsky, S (2498)/Krasnoyarsk 2007. ] 7...d6 8.0-0 e7 Attacking the loose knight, but this piece will have to move soon anyway. [ 8...bd7 is m o re u se f u l , 9.c2 b7 10.e3 ( 10.a4! ) 10...0-0 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.c1 e7 13.c2 fc8 14.xc8+ 1/2-1/2 Hickl, J (2485)-Gruenfeld, Y (2550)/ Tel Aviv 1988. ] 9.c2 0-0 [ 9...b7 10.d3 ( I would prefer 10.a4!? a n d p l a y a s i n t h e m a i n g a m e , bxc4 11.bxc4 ) 10...bd7 11.d2 ( 11.e4!? dxe4 12.dxe4 ) 11...0-0 12.g5!? e8 13.xe7 xe7 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.fc1 fairly level, Loginov, V (2540) -Hellmayr, A (2300)/ Aschach 1994. ] 10.a4!? Putting pressure on Black's undeveloped queenside. [ 10.d4 is possible, with a Catalan type of position, but the knight on c2 is not very useful as we saw in some of the previous notes. ] 10...bxc4 11.bxc4 a5!? Black stops White f r o m a d v a n c i n g h is a -p a wn f u rt h e r, a n d prepares to develop his light-squared bishop to a6, but this weakens b5. [ In retrospect 11...bd7 might be better, Black may be able to play ...e5 later. ] 12.cxd5! I really like the way White plays this from now on, and it is worth trying to copy this strategy in similar Réti-style positions. cxd5 13.fd4 White heads straight for the b5square. d7 Making room for the d6-bishop to retreat. [ 13...a6 14.b5 c5 15.e5!? ] 14.b5 e7 15.cd4 b7 16.c1 c6 17.b3 The knight aims for c5. It's odd how Black is developed and has a solid centre, but is worse anyway. c8? This move looks ugly, the queen retreats to the open c-file, opposite the white rook. [ 17...fc8 18.c5 ( 18.xf6 gxf6 19.e4 ) 18...xc5 19.xc5 would give White some advantage, but the black structure is solid, a n d h e c a n t r y e4 20.c1 d6
and ...Nb4, to exchange the b5 outpost. ] 18.d3 d8 19.e4! The move Black was trying to stop! However, White goes on the offensive at the moment his pieces are the most active and Black's are slightly discoordinated. dxe4? Opening the h1-a8 diagonal is a mistake. [ Houdini suggests 19...a6 but White is clearly on top after, say, 20.e2 ] 20.xf6! gxf6 [ 20...xf6 21.xe4 and the pin on the knight wins material, e.g. a6 22.c5 b6 23.xb7 xb7 24.f3 ] 21.g4+ h8 22.xe4 Simply threatening to capture on c6. d5 [ 22...f5 23.e3! d7 24.c5 xc5 25.xc5 ac8 26.fc1 and Black can't move and can only wait for White to play d4 and Qc3. ] 23.c4 Winning the exchange and the game. d7 24.xd5 exd5 25.f4 e5? Desperation. 26.c7 h3 27.xe7 g4 28.c1! d4 [ 28...xh2+ 29.f1 h3+ 30.e2 leads nowhere. ] 29.xb7 e8 Threatening mate in two! [ 29...xh2+ 30.f1 h1+ 31.e2 xb7 32.xg4 is clearly hopeless. ] 30.xg4! A human decision. [ A computer might prefer 30.f3 xh2+ 31.f1 h3+ 32.g2 ] 30...xg4 31.d6 f3 32.xd4 d5 33.xe8 xb7 34.d6 The rook and two knights crush the black queen, especially as the black king is soon caught in a mating net. d5 35.c8+ g7 36.4f5+ xf5 [ 36...xf5 37.xf5+ g6 38.e7+ g5 39.g8+ h5 40.f5 and g4 mate. ] 1-0
476 Botvinnik,Mikhail Chekhover,Vitaly Moscow (16) [Nigel Davies]
A13
08.03.1935
1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.b3 f6 4.b2 e7 5.e3 0-0 6.e2 c6 7.0-0 bd7 8.c3 a6 9.d4!? I find this move of Botvinnik's quite intriguing given his fondness for broad pawn centres. The knight hangs in the centre like a 461
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 lure, provoking Black to move his pawn s forward. [ The se d ays W h it e pref ers to p la y 9.d4 with a Semi-Slav type position in which Black's ...a6 is of questionable value. For example b5 10.c2 b4 11.a4 e4 12.e5 xe5 13.dxe5 f5?! 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.f3 g5 16.d4 d7?! 17.b6 b8 18.xd7 xd7 19.xa6 won a pawn in Turikov, V (2353)-Znamensky, V (2353)/St Petersburg 2005. ] 9...dxc4 [ After 9...c5 10.f3 . On the other hand he could have followed 9...c5 up with 10...dxc4 when 11.bxc4 produces a structure in which Black can aim for counterplay with a later ... b6-b5. b6 White can inflict some weaknes ses wit h 11.cxd5 exd5 12.d4 , threatening to give Black either hanging pawns or an isolated d-pawn with dxc5. ] 10.bxc4 c5 11.f4 Securing the position of the knight on d4 and commencing the process o f a d v a n c i n g W h i t e c e n t r e p a w n s . c7 12.f3 d8 13.c2 cd7 14.d4 c5 15.e5 b6 16.d3 From his quiet opening Botvinnik has built up a dangerous attacking position. In these 'hanging pawn' positions with a White pawn duo on c4 and d4, Black would prefer to have his queen's knight on a more active square than d7. cxd4 17.exd4 b7 18.e2 f8 19.d1! Covering the d4 pawn with the bishop on b2 whilst routing the knight towards the Black king. a7 20.f2 b8 21.h3 h6 Trying to stop White's knight from landing on g5, but appearances prove to b e d e c e p t i v e . 22.g5! A brilliant knight sacrifice that would have led to a rapid victory if followed up correctly. hxg5 23.fxg5 8d7 24.xf7?! Missing his way. [ 24.xd7! would have won for White, for example xd7 ( 24...xd7 25.gxf6 xf6 26.xf6 gxf6 27.g4+ f8 28.a3+ is also hopeless for Black) 25.xf7! xf7 (W hat else?) 26.h5+ g8 ( Or 26...f8 27.h8+ f7 28.g6+ f6 29.h4# ) 27.h7+ f8 28.h8+ f7 29.g6+ f6 30.h4# mate. ] 24...xf7 25.g6+ g8 [ 25...e8 would also be winning for White after 26.xe6 f8 27.f7+ d7 28.f5+ c7 29.xe7+ 8d7 30.d5 c8 31.e5
a8 32.xg7 etc. ] [ On the other hand 25...f8 would have been a tough nut to crack, f or example 26.xe6 e5! 27.xf6+ gxf6 28.h3 b4 29.g7+ xg7 30.dxe5 xd3 31.exf6+ f7 32.h7+ e6 33.xd3 g8 hangs on for Black. This is the reason that Botvinnik's 24th move was dubious. ] 26.xe6+ h8 27.h3+ g8 28.f5! W ith the bishop joining the attack it swiftly becomes overwhelming. f8 29.e6+ xe6 30.xe6+ h8 31.h3+ g8 32.xf6! xf6 [ 32...gxf6 33.h7+ f8 34.f7# is an immediate mate. ] 33.h7+ f8 34.e1! e5 35.h8+ e7 36.xg7+ d6 37.xe5+ d7 38.f5+ c6 39.d5+ c5 40.a3+ xc4 41.e4+ c3 42.b4+ b2 43.b1# A brilliant game by Botvinnik, though not a perfect one. 1-0
477 Bruzon Batista,Lazaro Leitao,Rafael IV ch-IberoAmerican Final GpA (5.1) [John Bartholomew]
A13 2694 2623 22.04.12
1.c4 f6 2.g3 e6 3.g2 d5 4.f3 dxc4 5.a4+ c6 6.xc4 b5 7.b3 b7 8.0-0 bd7 9.d4 a6 10.e5! xe5 11.dxe5 d5 12.c3 e7 [ W e examine d 12...b8!? in Fressinet, L (2696)-Gordon, S (2535)/Bremen GER 2012/ [John Bartholomew]. It didn't work out too well for Black, so the text move looks best at the moment. ] 13.e4 c7 [ 13...c5 14.g5! , as in Meier, G (2659) Blagojevic, D (2514)/Porto Carras GRE 2011, was discussed last month in the notes to the above game. ] 14.g5!? Correctly sacrificing e5. White has to be ready to pitch this pawn at a moment's notice if he hopes to profit f rom the dark square weaknesses in Black's position. [ 14.f4 xf4 15.gxf4 0-0 16.a4 ad8 17.fc1 d4 18.e3 xa4 19.xa4 bxa4 20.c5 xc5 21.xc5 d8 22.f3= Ni Hua (2641)-Frolyanov, D (2555)/Moscow 462
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 RUS 2012. ] [ Last month I suggested a slightly different versio n of th is pa wn sa c wit h 14.d6+!? , i. e. xd6 15.exd6 xd6 16.e4 b6 17.d1 e7 18.c3 0-0 19.b3!? . W ith the text Bruzon demonstrates that White doesn't even need the advantage of t h e b i s h o p p a i r t o c la i m f u l l p o si t io n a l compensation. ] 14...xg5 15.xg5 xe5 [ 15...d8!? is worthy of attention because 16.f4 ( White should prefer 16.e4 xe5 17.c5 c8 18.fe1 ) 16...c5! provides counterplay. ] 16.e4 0-0 17.c5 c7 18.fc1!? White can arrange his rooks in various ways. Another decision he faces is whether or not to play e2-e4. Bruzon clearly prefers to keep the pawn on e2 for now one benefit of its presence there is that d3 is a conveniently defended retreat square for the knight. ad8 [ I'd be tempted to play 18...a5 rather than await the fixing of the structure with a2-a4. ] 19.c2 c8 20.d3 b7 21.a4! The aforementioned "fixing" of the queenside structure. These positions are tricky to play for Black. Objectively he is OK, but he lacks improving moves that don't simultaneously create further weaknesses. Thus, there is no real hope to make use of the extra pawn on the queenside so long as White maintains a grip on the position. e7 [ W recking the queenside with 21...bxa4!? actually makes a good deal of sense here and might be the best way to resist. ] 22.c5! Positional compensation, folks! White will f ind it even easier to press when the queens are exchanged. fe8 23.xe7 xe7 24.c5 g6?! Leitao is running short on ideas. It's hard to blame him, as his position is becoming increasingly uncomfortable. [ 24...c8!? ] 25.e4 [ 25.d1 also made sense. ] 25...f6 26.d1 c8 Surrendering the only open file, but it wasn't an easy choice. [ 26...xd1+ 27.xd1 c7 28.d8+ g7 29.a5!? leaves Black quite bound up. ] 27.b4 [ 27.a5!? is tempting, but White sees no reason to release the tension. ]
27...bxa4 28.xa4 e5 29.f1 b8 30.f3! Bruzon slowly increases his advantage. g7 31.d6! e8 32.d7 xd7 33.xd7 d8 34.xe5 Restoring material equality. Unfortunately for Black, his own weaknesses persist. d4 35.d3!? [ Interestingly, White declines to enter a pawn-up en dgame, i.e . 35.xa6 xa6 36.xa6 xb4 37.a7 d6 38.xc6 . Probably he didn't like his winning chances in this endgame and saw no reason to halt the torture. ] 35...c7 36.f2 c5?! [ Black should sit tight, i.e. 36...c4 37.c5 c2+ 38.e3 c8 39.h4 h5 . ] 37.e3 e6 38.h3! c6? [ 38...c4! w a s c a l l e d f o r : 39.e5 ( 39.xe6?? xd3+-+ ) 39...c3! 40.a3 ( 40.xe6?? c2 41.a1 d1 ) 40...xb4 41.xe6! fxe6 42.xc3 a5 and the a-pawn gives Black hope of saving the game. ] 39.a5 b5 40.xc5 xb4 41.xe6 fxe6 42.xe6+ f6 43.c5 c4? Losing, but B l a c k wi l l f i n d h i m s e l f t wo p a wn s d o w n regardless. 44.xa6 c3+ 45.d2 d3+ 46.c2 c4 47.a4 xf3 [ or 47...b5 48.c7! xa4+ 49.xd3+- ] 48.xc4 f2+ 49.d3 xh2 50.e3 g5 51.b4 g4 52.e5+ Black has yet to demonstrate a clear route to equality against 7. Qb3. 1-0
478 Bruzon Batista,Lazaro Moreno Ruiz,Javier Azuqueca de Henares op (6) [Fier, Alexandr]
A13 2699 2469 19.09.2013
Bruzon basically plays the same idea as in a Ivanchuk - Alekseev game that impressed me so m e ye a rs a go . I n st e a d o f t h e 1 4 . Nb 4 played by Ivanchuk or 14. Bb4 played recently, he goes for 14.Nh4. Black answered with the ambitious 14.. .g5, but soon this move proved to be too committal and Bruzon won in an instructive way. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 d4 An ambitious idea, trying to take the center and enter into some kind of Benoni with reversed colors. The main question is if 463
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the tempo up for White is sufficient to bring any advantage. 5.0-0 c5 [ 5...c6 is the main alternative, and was analyzed in the game IstratescuPapadopoulos - see the PGN Archive. ] 6.e3 c6 7.exd4 cxd4 8.d3 e7 9.e1 0-0 10.a3 This plan is by far the most popular in this variation and also playe d sometimes in the Benoni. Compared with the reversed color position White is a tempo up because of the first move. Also, sometimes Black uses one more tempo to play ...e6-e5. The main difference with this position is that Black usually tries to equalize, and with White that's not enough. The Classical setup against the Benoni was always a solid option and here it's the same. e8 Black brings the knight to the queenside, looking for c7-a6 where it can control White's expansion on the queenside. Black also has the idea of playing ...f6 and afterwards ...e5. Other moves are possible: [ 10...e8 was tried once by Zhang Zhong, opening the f8-square for the bishop 11.c2 a5 12.b3 f8 13.g5 ( 13.e5!? would be my personal preference, holding e5 f or some time a nd ope ning t he lon g diagonal ) 13...h6 14.xf6 xf6 with a typical position in Pavlovic, M (2498)Zhang Zhong (2603)/Monarch Assurance 13th 2004 ] [ 10...d7 is quite logical, with the idea of ... e5 and ...f6 11.c2 e5 12.b4! the break comes just in time! With 12...f6 played this would be not possible f6 13.b5 ( 13.b1 is not really necessary a5 Ni Hua (2662)Ra d u ls k i, J (25 5 6 )/ P o lit iken Cu p 3 3 rd 2011 ) 13...b4 this was probably the reason for Ni Hua's 13.Rb1, but it is p u n i s h e d i n a n i c e w a y ( 13...cb8 14.e2 ) 14.fxd4! exd4 15.a3! and suddenly Black can't hold all his pieces together ( 15.xe7 is clearly worse, but still playable xc2 16.xd7 xd7 17.xc2 with compensation) 15...a5 ( 15...xc2 doesn't brings enough pieces for the queen 16.xe7 xe1 17.d5+ h8 18.xd8 xd8 19.xe1+- ) 16.bxa6 xa6 17.xb4 xb4 18.xb4 and White would be close to winning even without an extra pawn. ] 11.c2 f6 12.d2 [ 12.b4 was never played but it's not so bad,
trying to play a Benko-style position xb4 13.xb4 xb4 14.a3 c6 15.d2 ] [ 12.a3 a5 13.d2 a4 transposes to the game. ] 12...a5 13.a3 a4 14.h4 A new move, but not exactly a new idea. [ 14.b4 is typical, since exchanging pieces is good for W hite. It was played by Batsiashvili in August, the game continued: e5 15.e2 d6 ( 15...h8? 16.xe7 xe7 17.fxd4 this is the idea, winning an important pawn) 16.d2 c7 17.ab1 with a double-edged position in Batsiashvili, N (2412)-Tsolakidou, S (1986)/ 22nd Kavala op 2013. ] [ 14.b4 was Ivanchuk's way to play, and after c7 15.b1 d7 ( 15...a5 would be thematic, but the pawn is hanging 16.xa4 xc4 17.c2 xd2 18.xd2 and W hite should be fine. This shows a small difference compared to the game, since with the knight on h4 the capture needs to be made by the queen) 16.h4 a5 17.f4 g6 18.f5 with quite entertaining complications in Ivanchuk, V (2703)Alekseev, E (2714)/Jermuk FIDE GP 2009. ] 14...g5?! I don't believe this can be good. A similar idea exists in the King's Indian with 7... exd4 where Black plays ...Nh5 provoking g4, but in that position W hite actually has an attack because of this g4. Here it just weakens the kingside without having any initiative on that flank. [ 14...c7 is more natural A) 15.h5 a6 16.e2!? tries to apply pressure since the knight on a6 is far from t h e k i n g ' s d e f e n c e c5 17.b4 t h e p a w n i s p o i s o n e d f5!? with complications ( 17...xd3 18.e4+- ); B) 15.b4 is normal but now Black can play an improved version of the analysis of Ivanchuk - Alekseev. a5 16.xa4 ( 16.e2 b3 17.ad1 and White's position is not so harmonious) 16...xc4 17.c2 xd2 18.xd2 here is the point of the knight being on h4 e5 and Black is fine.; C) 15.b4 a6 ( 15...e5 16.xe7 xe7 17.e4 and I prefer White ) C1) 16.xe7 xe7 ( 16...xe7 17.h5 g6 18.e2 ) 17.f5! c5 ( 17...d8 464
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.xc6 bxc6 19.fxd4 ) 18.xc6 xf5 19.e4 is also possible ( 19.xa4 highly ambitious, but the bishop will neve r c ome back e5 20.b4 c5 21.c2 and if White doesn't get mated his position is better ); C2) 16.xc6!? taking the pawn by force bxc6 17.xe7 xe7 18.xd4 d6 19.c2 b8 20.b1 c5 21.d4 cxd4 22.xd4 c7 and it's not clear that the pa wn o n t h e qu e e n sid e will m a ke a difference, while the bishop's absence will be important.; D) 15.f4 is another logical move a6 16.e2 preparing to play 17.f5 with one more double-edged position. ] 15.f3 g7 Now White should continue the plan of pressure on the queenside as the knight on g7 is not doing much. 16.b4 f7 17.xe7 xe7 18.d2 Without the bishop the knight is ready to go to d2-e4-c5, the other knight can go to b4, and Rb1 followed by b3 is the other plan. White already has some advantage. h8 19.b4 c7 [ 19...xb4 20.axb4 d7 21.b5 wins the a4-pawn ] 20.e4 a7 [ 20...f8 to keep one eye on c5 is better, b u t B l a c k ' s s t i l l u n d e r p r e s s u r e 21.c5 ( 21.f3 f5!? sacrificing a pawn to take the bishop on g2 22.xc6 bxc6 23.g4 h4 24.xf6+ xf6 25.xf6 b8 with some compensation) 21...f5 22.xc6 bxc6 23.c1 e5 and the queenside pawns are weak but Black is still in the game. ] 21.c5 [ 21.xc6!? w a s s l i g h t l y b e t t e r xc6 ( 21...bxc6 22.c5 f8 23.xa4 would transpose to the game) 22.c5 c7 23.c1 e5 24.d6 with a clear advantage ] 21...f8 [ 21...e5! was the last chance to stay in the game, and it looks like things are not so clear, 22.xa4 ( 22.e4 is the computer m o ve , b u t h u m a n s a re u s u a l ly p r o u d !) 22...d7 23.b6 e8 threatening 24...Rc5 winning the knight, 24.b3 d6 ] 22.xc6 bxc6 23.xa4 c5 24.b6 b7 25.a4 Necessary, to support the knight xg2 26.xg2 a6 27.a5 Now White is already winning ca7 28.f3 h5
[ 28...xa5 29.xa5 xa5 30.d7 wins ] 29.g1 g4 30.c6 e5 31.d5 xa5 32.xa5 xa5 33.b4 a3 34.d7 d8 35.bxc5 a5 36.f1 1-0
479 Bu Xiangzhi Li Wenliang Tan Nam Cup Qingdao CHN (3) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2602 2506 05.07.2002
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ bd7 The most popular reply, we have considered [ 5...c6 6.xc4 b5 in Van der Sterren,PDautov,R. ] 6.xc4 a6 7.c2 White retreats so that ...b5 can be met by a4. c5 8.0-0 b6 9.c3 b7 Black develops his queenside first, much as in the QGA, experience shows that if he castles first he has difficulties finding a satisfactory square for his queen's bishop. 10.d1 c8 11.a4!? A thoughtful innovation, White wants to expand in the centre, but doesn't want to allow ...b5-b4, dislodging his knight, e.g. [ 11.e4 b5 and now White must play 12.d3 , Huebner,R-Donner, J/Wijk aan Zee 1975, wh ich is t h e p o in t , t h e re is n o t im e f o r ( 12.d4? because of b4 )] [ 11.d4 just allows too many exchanges, cxd4 12.xd4 ( 12.xd4 c5 ) 12...xg2 13.xg2 c7 Sofrevski,J-Karaklajic,N/ Sarajevo 1958. ] 11...e7 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4! d5 [ 13...c5 is also possible, but loses time when compared with the previous note - the black dark-squared bishop has already moved once. ] 14.e4 xc3 15.bxc3 c7 Black pinpoints the weakness on c3, but is it too greedy? [ 15...f6?! appears tempting, but after 16.e5! xf3?! 17.exf6 xg2? ( 17...xf6 18.f4 xc3 19.b2 loses a piece, but is Black's best try) 18.fxg7 g8 19.xh7 White wins. ] 16.f4! xc3 [ 16...e5? 17.h3 ] 17.d1 c5 18.b1! The trap closes around t h e q u e e n . 0-0!? This leads to a difficult 465
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 endgame, [ 18...xe4!? 19.c1 xf3 20.xf3 a3 21.b7 0-0 22.xc8 xc8 23.b1 is unpleasant for Black, who is an exchange down, but playable. ] 19.d2 a3 20.b4 a2 21.d2 xa4 22.xa4 xa4 23.xe7 This is all forced, White wins a bishop and Black's three pawns p r o v e i n a d e q u a t e c o m p e n s a t i o n . fe8 24.a3 xe4 25.b4 c6 26.d6 b5 27.d4 xg2 28.xg2 c3? Black misses a tactic, [ 28...a8 kept the pawns defended, 29.c6 b6 30.e7+ xe7 31.xb6 d7 32.b3 with advantage to White - the black pawns cannot advance and must be defended - but Black is still playing. ] 29.xa6! [ 29.xa6 xa3 30.xb5 and Rxa4 win the two queenside pawns whilst regaining the piece. ] 1-0
480 Cornette,Matthieu Sokolov,Andrei FRA-ch 88th Nancy (1) [Fier, Alexandr]
A13 2592 2558 11.08.2013
8.e4 is a rare approach in a known position and 8...a5 was played before by Morozevich, attempting to punish White for the opening of the a6-f1 diagonal. Still, it's a committal move and after W hite's pawn sacrifice Black was under pressure for the rest of the game. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ bd7 6.xc4 c5 7.0-0 [ 7.d4 was analyzed in Zhou Jianchao (2607)-Zhou W eiqi (2590)/Danzhou 4th 2013 ] 7...b6 8.e4!? trying to get a center without losing time, this idea was played by Korchnoi in 2000 and in a blitz game in 2009, but in this game White makes a logical improvement [ 8.d1!? was seen in Mareco, S (2586)Tristan, L (2449)/86th ch-ARG 2012 ] [ 8.d4 is not dangerous for Black and after e5 9.c6 xc4 10.xd8 d5 11.c3 xd8 12.xd5 b7 the position is equal ] [ 8.d4 b7 9.c3 is the main line ]
8...a5 A forcing move, but probably not the best one. [ 8...b7!? is an interesting alternative, avoiding 9.e5 and looking for Rc8 9.c3 ( 9.e5?! xf3 10.xf3 xe5 11.a4+ fd7 and to take the rook is not advisable; 9.d3 d6 ) 9...c8 10.e2 c4 ] [ 8...e7 is also possible 9.e5 d5 10.c3 b7 11.g4 0-0 ( 11...g6 12.xd5 xd5 13.d4 h5 14.f4 was double edged in Kortschnoj, V (2659)-Jussupow, A (2628)/ S U I - c h T S w i t z e r l a n d 2 0 0 0) 12.d4 went by transposition to Romanishin, O (2560)-Sveshnikov, E (2510)/URS-ch44 Moscow 1976 ] 9.c3 Sacrificing a pawn to enter a promising position [ 9.e1?! a6 10.c2 ( 10.a4 is another try, but Black keeps the initiative after c4 11.c3 b5! opening space for the queen 12.xb5 b6 13.c3 g4 14.d1 b5 15.c2 c5 followed by 16...Nge5 with huge compensation) 10...c4 11.e5 d5 12.c3 b4 went clearly wrong for W hite in Svidler, P (2754)-Morozevich, A (2750)/Wch Blitz 5th blitz 2009 ] 9...a6 10.b5 xe4 11.e1 Black already needs to be careful. xb5 [ 11...d6? is brutally punished by 12.xe6+ fxe6 13.xe6+ e7 14.xd6+ d8 15.f7+ ] [ 11...ef6 12.fd4! is forcing and good xb5 13.xb5 c8 ( 13...b8 14.d4 e7 15.d5 xd5 16.xd5 exd5 17.xd5 0-0 18.f4 and somehow Black is already c o m p l e t e l y l o s t c8 19.ad1 f6 20.b7+- ) 14.a7 c7 15.c6 xc6 ( 15...c8 16.xe6+ fxe6 17.xe6+ e7 18.xe7# ) 16.xc6 ] 12.xb5 d6 13.e2 For one pawn White has a big initiative, d4 is coming and both bishops are much stronger than the knights, but White still needs to be quick, otherwise Black can consolidate his position. e7 14.d4 0-0 15.f4 f5 16.ad1 [ 16.d5!? I like this move, recovering the pawn immediately A) 16...exd5 17.h3 wins a piece for two pawns ( 17.g4 d6 18.g5 d4; 17.ad1 ) 17...d6 18.xf5 xf4 19.gxf4 g6 20.h3 f6 21.e5; 466
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 16...e5 is the best option for Black 17.xe5 d4 ( 17...xe5 18.xe5 f6 19.d6 b8 20.f4 ) 18.d3 xe5 19.xe5 c8 ( 19...f6 20.f4 is also not funny ) 20.xd4 cxd4 21.xd4 is solid for Black, but the pawns on the queenside are not well placed, so in the long run White can put a bishop on b5, for example, and Black has to just wait. ] 16...f6 The position is still delicate but I'm not sure if Black is worse anymore. 17.dxc5 bxc5 18.g4 [ 18.b5 a7 19.e5 b8 20.xb8 ( 20.xd7 xd7 21.xd7 ) 20...xb8 ] 18...e7 This is provocative. [ 18...d4 was more solid 19.xd4 xd4 20.xa8 xa8 21.h3 ( 21.e3? would be good if possible but e5 wins ) 21...b7 and Black has enough resources to hold the balance ] 19.d6 [ 19.g5!? this is a hard move to evaluate, since the resulting position is dangerous for White too, but this concrete approach can bring some advantage d5 20.c1 d4 ( 20...e7 21.xd5 exd5 22.xe7 e8 23.d6 e5 24.xd8 xf3+ 25.xf3 axd8 26.d1; 20...c3 21.bxc3 xc3 22.c2 xd1 23.xd1 ) 21.xd4 cxd4 22.xd4 ( 22.xd5 is the computer choice, but I wouldn't give my bishop like this exd5 23.xd4 c5 ) 22...b6 ( 22...7b6 23.h5! this is the idea, and 24.Rh4 will follow ) 23.g4 and White is better, but the position is still full of life. With the pawn on g3 things would be easier, with the pawn on g5 the knights become more dangerous ] 19...c8 20.b5 e8 Black position is really compact, but after giving the pawn back he will have some space to move. 21.g5 d4 22.xd4 cxd4 23.xd4 d5 This is an interesting practical decision, giving another pawn Black will get some counterplay due to the weakened white squares. [ 23...b6 le ad s t o excha nge s 24.xb6 xb6 25.xe7 otherwise 25...Ned5 xe7 26.b4 axb4 27.xb4 d7 and White has some chances in the endgame ] 24.xd5 exd5 25.xe8+ xe8 26.xd5 b6?! But I'm not sure about giving a second pawn.
[ 26...e2!? activating the queen is a nice idea 27.f5! White should be brave ( 27.xa5 xb2 28.c4 e8 is dangerous for White ) 27...c1+ 28.g2 f1+ 29.g3 g1+ 30.h3 f1+ 31.h4 c4! 32.xc4 xc4+ 33.g3 c6 ] 27.e5 [ 27.xa5 c1+ was probably the idea, but with the pieces centralized and the back rank mate in the air, Black has little. ( 27...c4 28.d5 ) 28.g2 c4 29.d5+- ] 27...c6 28.e7 h6 Giving the king some important air 29.gxh6 g6+ [ 29...xh6 there is nothing wrong with this 30.g5 h3 31.xa5 c6 with ...Rg6 ideas in the air ] 30.g5 c1+ 31.g2 c6+ 32.f3 [ 32.h3 f3+ 33.g3 h5+ 34.g2+- ] 32...c2+ 33.g3 xh6 34.xh6 gxh6 35.f6 Now the smoke has cleared and it looks like White is close to winning. But near move 40 I think both players were in big time trouble. h7 36.g4? This looks almost winning but Black has one last and sufficient resource [ 36.d6 a4 37.h4 h5 38.d5 would be better ] 36...d5! 37.d4 f6 And now things are far from clear. 38.e4 g6 39.a3 h5 40.h4 f5 41.b4 a2 42.bxa5 ½-½
481 Damljanovic,Branko Georgiev,Kiril Gorenje GM Valjevo SRB (9) [Carsten Hansen]
A13 2585 2660 21.06.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 a6 (This line is gradually becoming more and more popular and represents a problem for those W hite players who prefer a classical 1 Nf3, 2 c4, 3 g3, 4 Bg2, 5 0-0 and only then start playing, because Black's unorthodox set-up prevents White from using many of this standard plans. ) 4.g2 [ Other options for White include 4.d3 ] [ and 4.c3 We will return to this line in the near future ] 467
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 perpetual check. ] 4...b5 5.b3 c5 6.c3 b6 [ B) 7...c6 8.e5 g4 9.0-0 ( After the text [ 6...a5 is another possibility for Black. ] move, Black has a perfectly good game. 7.e4 (This move is played infrequently, but Instead White should consider 9.h3!? h6 appears to ma ke perf ect se nse: B lack is 10.d3 b7 11.e4 f5 12.0-0 ) 9...b7 making an advance on the queenside before 10.e2 h5= 11.h3?! ( 11.a3!? f ight ing f or t he ce ntre , W hite in rea ctio n leads to messy complications, e.g. d4 claims his stake of the centre before Black 12.xd4 xg2 13.xg2 cxd4 14.xf8 gets his pieces ready to respond to it. That xf8 15.f3 xh2 16.xh2 dxc3 being said, White hasn't been overwhelmingly 17.dxc3 ) 11...h6 ( Here 11...d4!? successful in his results in this line yet, but leads to a good game for Black, e.g. theoretically White is doing very well) d6 12.xd4 cxd4 13.e4 xe5 14.d3 [ This isn't Black's only option. Two other g6 ) 12.cxb5 axb5 13.xb5 c7 tries have been tried at this juncture: A) 14.e2 f5 15.b5 b6 16.b2 a6 7...b7 8.e2 c6 9.0-0 d4 10.xd4 17.a4 e7 18.fe1 ( 18.d4!? is likely ( 10.d3 g4 11.cxb5 xf3+ 12.xf3 better: cxd4 19.fc1 b8 20.f1 ) e5 13.h5 d3 , R.Pogorelov-A. 18...b8 19.f1 0-0 20.e4 , and a draw Stefanova, Salou 2000, and now 14.e2 was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, I.Stohl-P.Wells, b4 15.b1 ) 10...cxd4 11.d1 d6 Austrian Oberliga 2001 ] ( This position is called slightly better for Black by Mikhalchishin in a survey in vol 5 of 8.d4!? [ This is a new move in this particular position. the 'Secrets of Opening Surprises' from New E a r l i e r t r i e s i n c l u d e : A ) 8.0-0 b7 In Chess, but is a bit of a misrepresentation. ( 8...c6!? to prevent the idea suggested as An ot h er mo ve is 11...e5 12.b2 e7 an alternative to White's 9th move may be 13.d3 d6 14.a4 bxc4 15.bxc4 c7 prudent ) 16.a3 0-0 17.fc1 with a slight pull for A) 9.d4 is one again an important idea to White, R.Vaganian-V.Chuchelov, consider: Bundesliga 2004 ) A1) 9...cxd4 is better and also quite A) or 12.d3 d7 13.f4 e7 14.f2 a5 interesting, though not quite as much fun 15.d2 ( 15.cxb5 xb5 16.a3 ) 15...b4 for W hite as the main line... 10.xd4 16.f5 c5 17.h5 M.Tratar-R.Zelcic, c7 11.b2!? ( 11.d3 bxc4 12.xc4 Pula 2001; xc4 13.bxc4 bd7 14.b1 c5 B) 12.b2 e7 13.d3 ( 13.b4!? c8 15.e1 ) 11...bxc4 12.e2!? ( 12.c1 14.d3 h5 15.d2 h4 16.a4 ) 13...0-0 bd7 13.e2 b6 14.b1 e7 14.a3 bxc4?! ( 14...ac8!? 15.fc1 15.d2 ) 12...bd7 13.fc1 b6 d7 is comfortable for Black) 15.bxc4 14.a4 with an excellent game for White; c7 16.ab1 d7 ( 16...ab8!? ) A2) 9...xe4?! 10.xe4 xe4 11.e1 17.xb7! xb7 18.e5 c7 19.xa8 b7 12.d5 e5 13.xe5 dxe5 xa8 20.exd6 xd6 21.c5 ( White can 14.xe5+ d8 15.g5+ c7 16.a4! also c o ns id e r 21.xd6 xd6 22.c1 ( 16.f4 also looks attractive and c5 23.xc5 xc5 24.b1 a5 promises White excellent compensation, 25.d3 ) 21...f8 22.e4 d8 23.b1?! e.g. d6 17.e7+ d7 18.h3 xf4 ( 23.c1!? b8 24.f4 ) 23...a5 19.g4 h6 20.xd7+ b8 21.ae1 , and here the score ends with 0-1, O. and White, despite having only a pawn Foisor-S.Ionov, Oviedo 1993, but I suspect for the piece, has excellent the game must have continued a bit longer, co m p e n sa t io n a s we ll a s t h e b e t t e r because isn't in a particularly bad shape, e. chances thanks for Black's pieces g. 24.b4 xa2 25.c1 a5 26.c6 axb4 having a total lack of coordination ) 27.c7 c8 28.b7 , and now one A2a) 16...d6 17.a5 a7 18.f4! possible continuation leads to a draw: is even worse: xe5 19.xe5+ d8 xc7 29.xc7 xd2 30.xd7 xd3 20.g4 e8 21.xg7 d7 22.g5+ 31.c8 b1+ 32.g2 , with a draw by 468
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c8 23.h3 xd5 ( 23...bxc4 24.d1 cxb3 25.xd7+ xd7 26.f5+ d8 27.f6+ c7 28.d6+ c6 29.d7+- ) 24.cxd5 c4 25.bxc4 bxc4 26.b1+-; A2b) 16...d7 17.e1 d6 18.a5 a7 19.e7 with excellent attacking chances to compensate for the piece; B) 9.d3 bd7 10.h4 e7 11.f4 0-0 12.g4!? b4 ( 12...xe4?! 13.dxe4 xh4 14.g5 is very problematic for Black, the bishop will likely not return alive.) 13.a4 c7 14.g5 g6!? B1) 15.gxf6? xf6 16.xg6 fxg6 ( 16...xa1? 17.xf8 d4+ 18.h1 xf8 19.f5 ) 17.b2 c6; B2) 15.f5 exf5 16.exf5 xg2?! ( 16...h5 17.f3 xf3 18.xf3 ae8 19.d5 ) 17.xg2 h5 18.f6 d8 19.e3 e8 20.d5 J.Arnason-M. Angelis, Komotini 1993 ] [ B) 8.e2 c6 A) 9.cxb5 axb5 10.xb5 xb5 11.xb5 b8 12.a4 b4; B) 9.b2 d4 ( 9...b7 10.cxb5 d4 11.xd4 cxd4 12.a4 xb5 13.xd4 e5 14.b2 xe4 15.xb5+ axb5 16.c3; 9...b4 10.a4 c7 11.d4 e5 12.d5 d4 13.xd4 cxd4; 9...b8 10.d3 e7 11.0-0 0-0= ) 10.xd4 cxd4 11.e5 b7 12.d5!? xd5 13.cxd5 dxe5 14.xe5 f6 15.xd4 fxe5 16.xb6 exd5 17.c1; C) 9.e5?! dxe5 10.cxb5 axb5 11.xb5 xb5 12.xb5 d5 13.b2 a6 14.a4 f6 C1) 15.g5?! is a fantasy move deramed up by my computer, but it turns out not to be particularly good: C1a) 15...e7?! 16.e4 f7 17.ec3 ( 17.ed6+ xd6 18.xd6+ e7 19.e4 cb4 ) 17...db4; C1b) 15...fxg5! 16.xd5 exd5 17.c7+ d7 18.xa8 b4 19.d1 d3 20.c2 d6 21.b6+ c6 22.a5 f8; C2) 15.0-0 d7 16.fb1 e7 M.Wahls-P.Wells, Germany 2000 ] 8...b7 9.d5 [ 9.0-0 transposes to 8 0-0 Bb7 9 d4 above ] 9...e5 10.0-0 [ 10.h4!? g6 11.0-0 g7 12.d2
, preparing f2-f4 in the near future. White should hold a safe edge at this point. ] 10...g6 11.e2 g7 12.d2 b4 13.a4 d8 14.f4 bd7 15.b2 e7 16.ae1 (This position is already very good for White) h5 17.f3 h6 18.fxe5 dxe5 19.c1 xc1 20.xc1 0-0 21.e1 [ 21.cd1!? is possibly even better ] 21...ac8 22.d3 c7 23.h3 [ 23.h3!? a5 24.cd1 d6 25.e3 also looks very good for White ] 23...a5 24.e3 g7 25.c2 c8 26.f3 h7 27.h4 hf6 28.cf2 d6 [ 28...b7!? ] 29.d1 g8 30.g4 hxg4 31.xg4 df6 32.d1 [ 32.e2!? d7 ( 32...g4 33.axc5 xe2 34.xe2+- ) 33.h5+- ] 32...g4 33.g2 xd1 34.xd1 h6 35.f3 h7 36.f1 h5 37.e3 fc8 38.g5 e8 39.h1 ee7 40.ff2 e8 41.axc5 xc5 42.xc5 f4 43.a4 [ 43.e6!? xg2 44.c5 d7 45.xg2+- ] 43...f6 44.g3 f5 45.c5 f6 46.g5 f7 47.d6 fxe4 [ 47...h3 48.d2 xf2+ 49.xf2+- ] 48.c6 [ 48.d7! xd7 49.xf4+- ] 48...e3 49.f1?? [ 49.xf4! exf4 50.h5 gxh5 51.d7 g8 52.xg8+ xg8 53.d8+- ] 49...e2 50.e1 [ 50.xe2 d5+ 51.h2 xe2 52.d7 g8 53.g2 e4 54.xe2 xc6 55.d1 c7+= ] 50...d5 [ 50...e6 51.d7 g8 ( 51...h3+ 52.g1 e3+ 53.h1 h3+= ) 52.h5 f7 53.d8 xd8 54.c7 h3+ 55.g1 e3+ 56.h1 h3+ 57.g1 e3+= ] 51.d7 g8 52.exe2 [ W h i t e ' s b e s t i s p r o b a b l y 52.h5!? , although this is hardly an idea most players would consider without the aid of a computer, a possible continuation runs gxh5 53.d8 xd8 54.xd8 xd8 55.b6 xg2 56.xg2 g8+ 57.f2 f5 58.c7 e7 59.xe2 c8 60.xc8 xc8 61.xe5 g6 62.c5 ] 52...xe2 53.e7+? [ This turns out to be the decisive error, 469
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 which is hard to predict because the position is still very complicated and the players were likely short on time. A better choice is 53.d8 g3+ 54.xg3 xd8 55.b2 d5 56.c7 c6 57.c4 with more or less equal chances ] 53...f7 54.b6 [ 54.h2 f3 55.c5 ( 55.c7 f4 56.c2 e2 57.xe2 xe2+ 58.g1 e1+ 59.g2 e2+ 60.h3 d3+ 61.g2 c2+ 62.f1 xc7-+ ) 55...f4 56.xf7+ g7 57.xf4 xf4+ 58.h1 d4-+ ] 54...f3 55.h2 f4 56.xf7+ g7 57.d5 (Desperation) xd5 58.d8 f4 (And the threat is reinforced with just as much strength as before) 59.c2 h3+ 60.g1 f7 61.d1 g3+ 62.h1 d3 0-1
[ 15.fd1 with the idea of e3 and d4 is also promising. ] 15...cxd4 [ 15...f6 16.a3! cxd4 17.d6! wins material. ] 16.xd4 xd4 17.xd4 a7 18.fd1 A pretty picture, and the type of position that readers should become familiar with. White's sp a ce a n d p o we rf u l b ish o p su f f i c e f o r a significant advantage. b8 What else? Rc6d6 was threatened. 19.h4 h6 20.a4 [ or 20.d6 ] 20...a5 21.e4 b5 22.c5 f5 23.f3 bxa4 24.bxa4 e8 25.dc1 Black has saved his queenside but at the cost of a weak pawn on e6. b6 26.e5? A very strange move, giving away his a-pawn for Black's weak epawn. After this the play is level. Better was [ 26.e3 or ] [ 26.c4 d7 27.c6 h7 28.e3 e8 482 A13 29.b5 , with a clear advantage in both cases, arguably a winning one. . ] Djuric,Stefan 2466 Drazic,Sinisa 2514 26...xa4 27.c6 xc6 28.xe6+ h8 TCh-Serbia Zlatibor SCG (3) 28.08.2006 29.xc6 b4!? Black banks upon the power of his a-pawn, which is sufficient for equality. [John Watson] Otherwise [ 29...b2 avoids the loss of a pawn after How even a strong grandmaster can get into 30.c8 a8 ] trouble trying to coast to a draw in the Reti. [ , as does 29...b5= ] 1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 a6 Black tries to mix it up right away. His first idea is ...dxc4 and ... 30.c8 a8 31.xa8 xa8 32.xf5 a4 b5. 4.c2 f6 5.g2 e7 6.0-0 0-0 7.b3 33.f3 a5 34.c5 d8 35.d5 e8 c5 Now we're in a normal Reti Opening with 36.d3 d8 37.c3 e7 38.g2 f8 the trade-off Qc2 for ...a6. One could argue 39.e3 c5 40.e4 a3 41.a4 d5+ that White's queen is better-placed on e2, so 42.f3 a8 43.e8+ xe8 44.xe8+ h7 Black shouldn't have real worries here. 8.cxd5 45.h5 a2 46.g6+ h8 47.e8+ h7 48.g6+ h8 [ 8.b2 d4 or ...8...Nc6 with the idea ...d4. ] 8...xd5 9.c3 c6 If Black wants a more ½-½ dynamic encounter, [ 9...b4!? 10.b1 4c6 11.b2 f5!? 483 A13 intending ...e5 might be tried. ] Filippov,Valerij 2617 10.b2 xc3?! Kortschnoj,Viktor 2617 [ Again, he has 10...db4 11.b1 d4 27.09.2001 . After the simplification that follows he has ECC Panormo GRE (5) [Tony Kosten] no positive prospects. ] 11.xc3 f6 12.c2 xb2 13.xb2 W h it e n o w h a s a n a d va n t a ge d u e t o h i s Up to a point a very good game from Filippov, b e t t e r b i s h o p a n d c e n t r a l c o n t r o l . d7 including an instructive plan against an IQP, 14.ac1 b6 15.d4! Now White has the b u t t h e n , a r o u n d m o ve f o r t y, i t a l l we n t classic Reti/English Opening advantage in the haywire! 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 a6 4.g2 The real idea behind ...a6, Black centre, which shows how careful Black need b5 challenges the white c-pawn, and prepares to be to stay active. 470
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 bring his light-squared bishop to the h1-a8 diagonal. 5.b3 d5 6.cxd5!? There is no real need to c larif y t he centre qu ite so e arly, although this perfectly viable, of course. exd5 7.d4 [ Surprisingly, this seems to be a new move here, although 7.0-0 e7 8.d4 0-0 9.c3 is very similar, Huzman,A-Nikolic,P/Wijk aan Zee 1993. ] 7...c5 8.0-0 e6 There is little point putting this piece on b7 now, as the d5-pawn blocks the diagonal. 9.c3 bd7 10.e3 c8 [ Black avoids playing 10...c4 as by blocking the centre this way, he allows 11.bxc4 bxc4 12.e5 and both f4-5, and e4 are on the cards. ] 11.e2 f 4 b e c k o n s . d6 12.dxc5 Now was definitely the time to force the IQP position- White has good squares on d4 and f4. xc5 13.b2 ce4 14.fd4 A typical position, both sides can be happy w i t h t h e i r p r o s p e c t s . d7!? 15.f3!? A difficult decision to make. On the one hand White wanted to shift the strong black knight from e4, but on the other he won't want to weaken his e3-pawn, especially as Black has a semi-open e-file for his rook. c5 16.g4!? Very aggressive, White wants to secure the f 5 - s qu a re f o r a kn igh t a n d p re p a r e s t h e m a n o e u vr e N g3 -f 5 . e7 17.d2 0-0 18.g3 g6!? Another difficult decision, Black stops the knight from coming to f5, but loosens his kingside dark squares. 19.g5 e8 20.f4 The white set-up is looking very menacing. e4?! 21.xe4! dxe4 22.g2 c5!? [ Black jettisons the e-pawn hoping for sufficient counterplay on the e-file. Defending the pawn by 22...f5?! 23.gxf6 xf6 leaves Black facing the nasty continuation 24.gf5 xf5 25.xf5 e6 26.h6+ h8 27.f5! when the attack along the a1-h8 diagonal appears to be decisive. ] 23.xe4 g7 24.ac1 fe8 25.xe7 xe7 26.e4 Black's weak dark squares are still causing him discomfort. h5 27.f2 f6 28.h4 h6 29.f3 fxg5 30.hxg5 hxg5 31.fxg5 c6 32.g1 b4 33.e5 e7 Black's bishop pair provide no compensation for the pawn here. 34.gd1 b7 35.xc8 xc8 36.d6 d8
[ 36...xd6? 37.xd6 wins the g-pawn. ] 37.gf7 f8 38.c1 e6 39.g5?? [ Either the moves to this game are wrong, or both players were in terrible zeitnot, as 39.h6+ h7 40.c7 xh6 41.xe7 seems pretty crushing. ] 39...d5?? [ If this is really the right position, 39...xg5 wins a piece for nothing. ] 40.c7?? f6?? [ 40...xg5 ] 41.e2?? [ The final blunder, 41.xe7 wins a piece. Now the game resumes its previous route, White's extra pawn winning comfortably. ] 41...xd6 42.xd6 e8 43.c5 xd6 44.xd5 f6 45.c5 f5 46.c8+ g7 47.c7+ g8 48.c8+ g7 49.e4 g3+ 50.e3 d6 51.c7+ f8 52.e5 f5+ 53.e2 b6 54.d3 e8 55.e4 b4 56.a7 c6 57.d5 b6 58.e4 e3+ 59.c5 b5+ 60.c6 f5 61.d6+ 1-0
484 Fressinet,Laurent Gordon,Stephen J Schachbundesliga 2011-12 (13) [John Bartholomew]
A13 2696 2535 18.03.2012
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ c6 [ 5...d7!? Lunev, A (2509)-Korchnoi, V (2632)/Togliatti 2003/[TonyK]. ] [ 5...bd7 was examined long ago in Bu Xiangzhi (2602)-Li Wenliang (2506)/Qingdao 2002/[TonyK], so I've taken a fresh look at it in Naiditsch, A (2702)-Papin, V (2575)/ Plovdiv BUL 2012. ] 6.xc4 b5 7.b3!? Lately White has been opting for this retreat square with increasing frequency. [ I e x a m i n e t h e m o r e s t a n d a r d 7.c2 in Sadorra, J (2525)-Lenderman, A (2581)/ Richardson USA 2012. The major benefit of the text is that W hite avoids the x-ray his queen so often finds herself in on c2 (facing an eventual ...Ra8-c8 and ...c6-c5) thus, White has more of a license to play an early d2-d4, not fearing an exchange of pawns. ] 471
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Plovdiv BUL 2012.; 7...b7 8.0-0 bd7 9.d4 a6 The most C1b) 12...0-0! as I submit this update, resolute. Black immediately prepares .. .c6-c5, t h i s l o o k s c r i t i c a l . 13.e4 so White has to hurry. ( th e co mp ut er sugge st s 13.xd5!? [ W e ' v e s e e n 9...e7 before. With no c5 exd5 14.e3 ) 13...c7 14.f4 a6 break to worry about for now, White has a 15.a4 c5 16.axb5 b6 17.d6 xd6 wider choice. Two recent games ended in 18.exd6 xf4 19.gxf4 xg2 20.xg2 victories for the first player: xd6 21.f3 b6 22.bxa6 xa6 A) Instead 10.d1 0-0 11.c3 a6?! 23.xa6 xa6 was completely equal ( 11...b4! 12.a4 a5 is better, when in Andreikin, D (2689)-Matlakov, M White won't be able to stop ...c6-c5, with (2632)/Plovdiv BUL 2012.; probable equality) 12.e5 xe5 13.dxe5 C2) 11...d7 12.c3 c7 13.f4 g5?! d7 14.f4 c7 15.e4! was promising (this is dodgy White will happily part with for White in Brynell, S (2486) -Rombaldoni, t h e e 5 p a w n t o o p e n l i n e s ) 14.e3 A (2459)/Porto Carras GRE 2011. xe5 15.ac1 a6 16.e4 (White's Following c5 ( 15...xe5?? 16.xe5 pieces occupy great squares and Black's xe5 17.d7 is a typical tactic.; 15...c5?! position is full of holes) h6 17.c5 0-0 meets wit h 16.f6+! xf6 17.exf6 e5 18.c3 f6 19.f4! gxf4 20.gxf4 g6 18.fxg7 ) 16.xc5 xc5 17.e4 e7 21.h3 h7 Khalifman, A (2632)it may be strongest for White to play Kulaots, K (2581)/Tallinn EST 2012. A1) 18.f3 ab8 ( this position was Here 22.e3! f5 23.g5+ xg5 also reached in Naiditsch, A (2702)24.fxg5 leaves White very much on Riazant sev, A (2 710)/Kishinev UK R top. ] 2 0 1 2 , w h e r e B l a c k c h o s e 18...fd8 and went on to lose after 19.dc1 ac8 10.e5! [ Holding up the c-pawn advance with 10.a4 20.a4 ) 19.g4 fd8?! ( 19...c5!= ) t u r n s o u t t o b e i n e f f e c t i v e a f t e r c5! 20.g5 xd1+ 21.xd1 d8 22.xd8+ (yup, this comes anyway!) 11.axb5 d5 xd8 23.xe7 xe7 24.f3 , when Black is at least equal. This has was the game; been known for quite some time, but White A2) 18.d3!? , hitting h7 and looking to players continue to push the a-pawn. A invade on d7.; recent example: 12.c2 axb5 13.xa8 B) 10.c3 a6 11.g5?! ( White should xa8 14.c3 c6 15.h4 xg2 16.xg2 try to transpose to our game with b4 17.b5 c6 18.a4 e7 19.dxc5 0-0 11.e5! ) 11...c5 12.xf6 xf6 13.dxc5 20.c3 xc5 21.e3 h5 22.f4 f5 xc5 14.b4 e7 was even a little better 23.d1 c8 Matthiesen, A (2316) -Hector, for Black in Van der Sterren, P (2569) J (2575)/Denmark DEN 2012. ] Dautov, R (2606)/Germany 2001/ 10...xe5 Again, critical. [TonyK].; [ 10...b6 gives White a free hand: 11.xd7 C) 10.e5!? (White plays by analogy with xd7 12.e3 ( 12.c3!? is a very our main game) xe5 11.dxe5 interesting gambit offer that Black may want C1) to give you an idea of the explosion to decline, e.g. xd4 13.e3 e5 14.f4 o f p o p u l a r i t y i n 7 . Q b 3 , 11...d5 f5 15.ad1 ) 12...c5 13.d5 exd5 was seen just days ago in the European 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5 d8 16.a4 e7 Championship...in two different games! 17.axb5 axb5 18.c3 0-0 19.b4 12.c3 ( 19.f5 ) 19...f6 20.xb5 cxb4 21.a7 C1a) 12...b4?! 13.e4 0-0 14.d1 c5 22.f3 xf3 23.exf3= Meier, G a6 15.f3 c7 16.f4 ( 16.d6!? ) (2656)-Ponomariov, R (2764)/ Dortmund 16...xf4 17.gxf4 ad8 18.dc1! GER 2011. ] c5?! 19.a3 c4 20.axb4 b5 21.e3 [ 10...c8 also looks unimpressive, i.e. a6 22.b3 xb4 23.bxc4 c6 11.xd7 ( 11.f3!?; and 11.a4 also makes 24.xa6 xe4 25.xe4 Grandelius, sense ) 11...xd7 12.c3 ( 12.e3 c5 N (2545) -Kanmazalp, O (2389)/ 472
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.xb7 xb7 14.dxc5 xc5 15.c2 Maletin, P (2545)-Grachev, B (2640)/ Novokuznetsk 2008. c8= ) 12...c5 13.d5 c4 14.c2 with good prospects. ] 11.dxe5 d5 [ Black is at a crossroads here. I examine 11...d7 in Agrest, E (2599)-Grandelius, N (2536)/Sweden SWE 2012 ] 12.c3 b8!? Trying to sideline White by pressuring e5, though we know White doesn't mind pitching this pawn. [ Previously Black had only played 12...e7 , e.g. 13.e4 A) on 13...c7 , 14.d6+!? is an intriguing pawn sac , i.e. ( 14.f4 xf4 15.gxf4 0-0 16.a4 ad8 17.fc1 d4 18.e3 xa4 19.xa4 bxa4 20.c5 xc5 21.xc5 d8 22.f3= N i H u a ( 2 6 4 1 ) - F r o l y a n o v, D ( 2 5 5 5 ) / Moscow RUS 2012.) 14...xd6 15.exd6 xd6 16.e4 b6 17.d1 e7 18.c3 0-0 19.b3!? . White's compensation is of the positional variety, so more tests are needed.; B) 13...c5 14.g5! c4 15.xe7 xe7 16.d1 0-0 17.d6 c6 18.b3 ( 18.d4!? ) 18...c3 19.d2 xg2 20.xg2 b4 21.xc4 ( White is shooting for a slightly better ending he can consider going for more with 21.bxc4 ) 21...c5 22.d3 d5+ 23.xd5 exd5 24.e3 fe8 25.c2 xe2?! 26.xb4 xe5 27.f4 ee8 28.xd5 and Black managed to save a long rook ending in Meier, G (2659) -Blagojevic, D (2514)/Porto Carras GRE 2011. ] [ 12...c7!? is currently untried. White could c o n t i n u e a s i n o u r p r e s e n t g a m e wi t h 13.a4!? ] 13.a4 [ 13.f4 ] [ and 13.d1!? also come in to consideration. ] 13...b4 14.e4!? A nice, low-risk pawn sacrifice. If White doesn't regain the material, he'll surely have decent positional compensation to show. [ Fressinet probably decided that 14.xd5 cxd5 doesn't promise much. Black will just complete development with ...Bf8-e7 and ... 0-0. ]
14...xe5 15.e3 a5?! [ A small misstep. Developing with 15...e7! appears better, i.e. 16.c5 ( 16.ad1 xe3 17.xe3 c5 ) 16...c7! ( avoiding 16...0-0 17.xe7 xe7 18.xb4 c7 19.c5 ) 17.xe7 xe7 18.ac1 a5 19.c5 0-0 with objective equality (though I suspect most players would prefer White's activity). ] [ Also possible is 15...xe3 16.xe3 c5 , i.e. 17.f4!? d4! ( 17...xb2?! is too dangerous 18.f6+ xf6 19.xb7 b8 20.c6+ d8 21.ad1+ c7 22.e4 ) 18.xd4 cxd4 19.ac1 d5 20.fd1 d8 21.xd4 e7 though White looks marginally better here, i.e. 22.f2!? ] 16.fd1 c7 17.d4! e5 18.c5 [ I'd prefer 18.ac1!? : exd4 19.xd5 d8 20.c4 e7 21.c5 ] 18...xc5 [ 18...e7!? ] 19.xc5 d8?! [ 19...0-0 20.xb7 ( or 20.ac1 ) 20...xb7 21.xd5 cxd5 22.xd5 ] 20.c2!? Mysterious. [ Surely White looked at 20.e4! , but I guess t h e t r i c k i e r t e x t a p p e a l e d t o h i m . f6 21.xd8+ xd8 22.d1+ c8 23.h3+ b8 24.c4!? ] 20...c8?? Playing right into White's hands! [ 20...0-0! 21.b3 f6! ] 21.b3! Those pesky backwards knight moves! In one stroke, Black's position unravels due to the trio of weaknesses on a5, c6, and d5. b6 22.xa5 xa5 23.xc6+ e7 24.xd5 xd5 25.xd5 a6 26.b3 d8 27.f3 Black threw in the towel. 1-0
485 Gashimov,Vugar Luther,Thomas XXIV Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A13 2665 2526
1.c4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 dxc4 4.a4+ d7 5.xc4 a6 6.g2 b5 7.c2 b7 8.a4 c5 [ Black's other options include: A) 8...b4 9.0-0 gf6 10.d3 d6 11.bd2 0-0 12.b3 e5 13.b2 Murey, J-Kuijf, M/Amsterdam 1987 ] 473
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xc6 , and Black is a pawn up and has [ B) 8...c5 9.c3 b4 10.e4 a7 11.0-0 the better position, Nureev, Ggf6 12.d3 c8 13.fd2 d5 14.c4 Karpeshov, O/Omsk/Perm 1998; Murey, J-Guigonis, D/FRA 1991 ] A2) 13.d3 e7 14.h4 d5 15.xd5 [ C) 8...gf6 exd5 16.f5 b4 17.b1 f6 18.d6+ A) 9.c3 b4 10.d1 e7 ( 10...d6 f8 19.e4 g6 20.h6+ e7 11.0-0 0-0 12.e3 e5 13.b3 ) 11.0-0 A2a) 21.f4!? g5 ( 21...f8?! 0-0 12.b3 c5 13.b2 c8 14.e3 h6 22.e1! g5 23.exd5 a4 24.c4 15.c4 Lukov, V-Preissmann, E/Geneve gxf4 25.e8+ xe8 26.xe8 xe8 1993; 27.b3 , and White is winning) 22.f5+ B) 9.axb5 axb5 10.xa8 xa8 11.0-0 d8 23.e3 d4 24.d2 a6 c5 12.a3 b6 13.b3 c6 14.h4 wit h a co m p lica t e d , in d e e d ra t h e r ( 14.e1 d5 15.d3 e7 16.e4 5f6 messy, struggle ahead; with chances to both chances, Thompson, A2b) 21.exd5 a4 22.b3 xd6 I-Porat, I/Port Erin IOM 2003) 14...d5 23.bxa4 xd5 24.d2 , and White ( My computer likes 14...g5!? 15.xc6 has the initiative and the better xc6 16.g2 b4 17.c4 g7 chances, Dyachkov, S-Sorokin, M/ with approximately even chances Sochi RUS 2006; according to the silicon beast, but I still B) 12...a6 13.d3 e7 14.b3 c6 prefer White's chances) 15.d3 b4 16.c4 15.h4 ( 15.g5 0-0 16.d2 xg2 a6 17.e3 ( White can claim an edge 17.xg2 b8 18.a1 h6 19.f4 e5 with 17.g5!? e7 18.xe7 xe7 20.e3 c6+ with an initiative for Black, 19.d6+ f8 20.c4 xc4 21.xc4 ) Tolstikh, N-Zinchenko, Y/Alushta UKR 17...xe3 18.xe3 xg2 19.xg2 e7 2005 ) 15...d5 16.f5 f8 17.xd5 20.f3 0-0 with approximately even exd5 chances, Panchenko, A-Moroz, A/ B1) 18.d4!? f6 ( 18...g6?! 19.e3+ Pardubice 1992 ] d8 20.h6 xh6 21.xh6 b4 9.0-0 22.g5+ f6 23.xf6+ xf6 24.g7 [ White unsuccessfully tried to obtain an e8 25.xf6+ c7 26.b1 xe2 advantage with 9.c3 b6 10.axb5 axb5 27.f4+ b7 28.f7+ ) 19.dxc5 11.xa8+ xa8 12.0-0 gf6 13.d3 e7 xc5 20.f3 e4 21.d4; 14.b3 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/ B2) 18.e4 a4 19.xa4 bxa4 20.exd5 2-1/2, Sunye Neto, J-Slipak, S/Pinamar xd5 21.b5 d8 22.f4 Djachkov, 2002 ] S-Yakovich, Y/Sochi RUS 2005 ] 9...gf6 10.c3 [ C) 10.d4 c8 11.axb5 axb5 12.b3 b4 [ White has tried a few other lines at this ( 12...cxd4 13.xd4 xg2 14.xg2 b4 juncture: A) 10.d3 e7 11.fd2 xg2 15.d2 e5 16.4f3 c5 17.c4= ) 12.xg2 0-0 13.c3?! b6 14.b3?! d5 13.bd2 d5 14.d3 c4 15.c2 15.b2 b4 16.b1 c6 17.g1 de5 A) Here Black should instead have , and Black has taken control over the game, c o n s i d e r e d 15...c3!? which is a bit Fishbein, A-Kharitonov, A/Moscow 1989 ] p r o b l e m a t i c f o r W h i t e , e . g . 16.bxc3 [ B) White's strongest continuation is possibly ( 16.b1? b3 17.d3 c4 18.xc3 10.axb5 axb5 11.xa8 xa8 12.a3 ( Or xe2 19.e1 xf1 20.xf1 e7 12.h4 e7 13.a3 b4 14.xb7 xb7 , and Black is obviously better) 16...bxc3 15.c4 0-0 16.f3 b3 17.d1 b5 17.b1 c7 18.e1 xg2 19.xg2 18.d3 , Godes, A-Lugovoi, A/Smolensk 1992, d5 20.a3 b6 21.e3 xa3 22.xa3 and now a8= ) , and White has slightly better game; A) 12...c6 B) 15...b3 16.b1 a8 17.e5 xe5 A1) An inferior continuation is 13.d4?! 18.dxe5 xg2 19.xg2 , Kazantsev, Vc4 ( 13...cxd4 14.d1 c5 Salakhova, G/Togliatty 2001 ] looks promising for Black) 14.d5?! xd5 15.d4 xa3 16.bxa3 0-0 17.xc6 10...b6 11.d3 e7 12.b3 474
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Another try is 12.e4 0-0 13.h3 c4 14.dxc4 bxc4 ( 14...b4!? 15.e5 bxc3 16.exf6 xf6 17.bxc3 c7 is perfectly acceptable for Black ) 15.a5 c7 16.d1 ( 16.a4!? c5 17.d1 ac8 18.h2 a7 19.f1 ) 16...b4 17.d4 ( 17.a4!? xa5 18.f1 xc3 19.xc4 c5 20.g5 e7 21.bxc3= ) 17...xa5 18.g5 b6 ( 18...e5!? 19.xf6 gxf6 20.f3 xf3+ 21.xf3 b6 , and Black has a very c o m f o r t a b l e g a m e) 19.ac1 ac8 ( 19...e5!? is worthy of serious consideration, . e.g. 20.a4 a7 21.xf6 gxf6 22.e2 fd8 23.f4 c6 24.c3 b6 , and White is a complete bind) 20.a4 a7 21.b3 a5 22.d2 h5 23.e3 cxb3 24.xb3 xc1 25.xc1 xd4 26.xd4 xe4 , and although Black somehow managed to avoid winning this position despite being two pawns up and this stage, Onischuk, A-Novikov, I/W ashington DC2002 ] 12...d5 13.axb5!? [ 13.g5 doesn't produce anything for White, if Black reacts properly A) Here 13...f6!? deserves consideration despite apparently weakening Black's pawn chain, e.g. 14.d2 0-0 A1) 15.axb5?! axb5 16.xa8 xa8 17.e4 ( Here White shouldn't get tempted by 17.xb5?? xc3 18.xd7 xe2+ 19.h1 f8 , and White's q u e e n w i l l n o t e s c a p e u n s c a t h e d) 17...xc3 18.bxc3 b4 19.h3 f7 , and Black is doing rather well; A2) 15.e4 f5 16.a5 c6 17.eg5 h6 18.h3 g5 , and Black is indeed doing very well; B) 13...xc3 14.xc3 f6 15.axb5 axb5 16.xa8+ xa8 17.a1 c6 18.a5! xa5 19.xa5 d7 20.a7 xf3 21.xf3 xg5 22.c6 0-0 23.xd7 with a small, but clear advantage for White, Wells, P-Haslinger, S/Torquay 2002 ] 13...axb5 14.xa8+ [ White doesn't achieve anything after 14.xd5 either, e.g. xd5 15.xa8+ xa8 16.e4 0-0 17.e3 b7 18.a1 a8 19.xa8+ xa8= ] 14...xa8 15.g5 xc3 16.xc3 xg5 17.xg5 0-0 18.xa8 xa8 Black has light
but solid initiative by having the a-file under control 19.c1 h6 20.e4 a2 21.e3 a7 22.b3 b4?! [ This leads to a quick and painless draw, but Black could have tried for more with the somewhat challenging 22...a3 , and now W h i t e h a s t o b e c a r e f u l . . . 23.c2 ( 23.xc5?? l o s e s i m m e d i a t e l y b4!-+ ) 23...a1+ 24.g2 b1 25.xc5 ( 25.d2 d1 26.f3 e5 will leave White suffering passively for a while to come) 25...xc5 26.xc5 xb3 27.c3 xc3 28.xc3 , and while this should probably be a draw, it is White who will be defending. ] 23.c4 a1 24.xa1 xa1+ 25.g2 ½-½
486 Georgiev,Kiril Adla,Diego Gustavo ch-FRA Top 16 GpA (4) [John Watson]
A13 2654 2485 31.03.2005
1.c4 e6 2.c3 b4 Tony dubbed this the ' A c c e l e r a t e d N i m z o ' ! 3.b3! c5?! This is loosening. [ Black might want to develop quickly by 3...c6 , e.g. , 4.f3 f6 5.e3 0-0 ] 4.a3 [ We have previously seen 4.b5 f6 5.a3 a5 6.d6+ of C Hansen-Lobron, Bundesliga 2000, when e7 gives Black a lead in development to make up for his king position and loss of the two bishops. But most players would still prefer to be White in such a position. ] 4...a5 [ 4...xc3 5.xc3 cedes White the bishops in a flexible position. Nevertheless Black is probably best off capturing. ] 5.e4! [ Also promising looks 5.b5 d5 6.g3 f8 ] 5...c7 [ 5...f6!? 6.xc5 c6 7.e3 e7 gives some compensation for the pawn, since Black is way ahead in development. ] 6.g3!? [ 6.d3!? keeps the queens on with some advantage. It's a matter of taste. ] 475
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 6...xg3 Pretty much forced. 7.hxg3 a6 8.b3 White concentrates upon the dark squares. He is aided by the open h-file. c7 9.b2 f6 10.e3 b6 11.d4 b7 12.c3 [ 12.d3! looks more pointed, maintaining the knight and eyeing h7: f5 ( 12...e7 13.f3 ) 13.g5 with the idea xg2 14.h2 b7 15.d5! ] 12...e7 13.d5 e5 [ 13...0-0 14.0-0-0 ] [ 13...exd5 14.cxd5 ] 14.0-0-0 xc3?! [ 14...exd5 15.cxd5 d6 16.f3 c7 17.xe5 fxe5 18.e4 ] 15.xc3 exd5 16.cxd5 d6 17.b5+ f7 18.e4 with a nice edge. Black doesn't have good squares available for his pieces. c7 19.d3 a5 20.a4!? [ 20.f3 a4 21.b4! allows less counterplay ] 20...a6 21.c2 [ 21.c4 b5 ] 21...c8 22.e2 h6 [ 22...d7 23.b2 a6! ] 23.d2 f5 24.f3 f8 25.f4 g8 26.c1 [ 26.de1 fxe4 27.xe4 ] 26...fxe4! 27.fxe4! Now Black can't control e5. g4 28.d2 ad8 29.e5 e8 30.e1 d7 31.e6 c7 32.g6 xg6 33.xg6 White's bishops dominate the board. f5? [ Black needs to give up an exchange to survive, but the position is ultimately hopeless af ter 33...e7 34.f7+ exf7 ( 34...h8 35.h1! h7 36.f1! h8 37.df2 ) 35.exf7+ xf7 36.f2+ f6 37.f4 ] 34.f7+ h8 35.f2 g6 36.xg6 xf2 37.xe8 e7 38.d7 xg2 39.e5 1-0
o f t h e h igh le ve l, i s t h e ir a b il it y t o t h in k without prejudice, and change the character of the position at any moment. W ith perf ect timing Giri exchanges the bishop for the knight, so he can then lay siege to the black d-pawn. xf6 11.d4! b8 [ 11...e7 12.c3 c6 13.e4! ] 12.c3 dxc4 13.d2 a5 14.a4 b4 15.a3! xc3 16.e4 f5 17.xc3 b3 18.ad1 c2 19.xc4 d2 20.xc7 xf1 21.e4! A move that needed to be seen in advance. For today's computer generation, making difficult calculations is a piece of cake. [ 21.xb8? xe3 22.fxe3 xc3 would only be better for Black. ] 21...b7 22.c5! b2 23.b1 d2 24.xf1 b2 It looks as if Black has survived the worst, b u t t h e r e is a s t i n g in t h e t a i l . 25.xh7+! xh7 26.e4 c2 27.xf8 xe4 28.xc8 The smoke has cleared and White is left with a technically winning ending. Giri very rarely p u t s a f o o t wr o n g in s u c h s i t u a t i o n s . a5 29.c5 a4 30.a7 f5 31.xa4 h6 32.e8 a2 33.h4 xa3 34.h5 1-0
488 Gomez Feria,Jose Maria Pogorelov,Ruslan XXIX Open Sevilla ESP (2) [Tony Kosten]
A13 1989 2451 10.01.2004
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 a6 4.g2 b5 This is an ambitious line, a bit like a Hedgehog, but Black aims for more queenside space. 5.d4!? The critical reply, but perhaps [ 5.b3 should be preferred, simply defending the attacked c4-pawn. ] 5...c6! 487 A13 [ 5...d5 6.cxb5 e5 is an interesting gambit. ] Giri,Anish 2730 6.cxb5 Bartel,Mateusz 2635 [ 6.d3 d5 7.0-0 is safer, Sunye Neto,JBundesliga 1213 (11.1) 16.03.2013 Stean,M/Lone Pine 1978. ] [Danny Gormally] 6...axb5 7.xb5?! At first sight this seems to win a pawn, but in fact falls for a trap. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 a6!? 4.e3 d5 [ 7.0-0 d5 8.d3 c5 9.b3 b6 5.b3 d6 6.b2 0-0 7.g2 b5 Good luck and Black has the centre, Schinzel, W trying to find this line in your databases, as I Robatsch,K/Lublin 1976. ] couldn't find any! 8.0-0 bxc4 9.bxc4 c6 7...cxb5! Black can also play the gambit 10.xf6! One of the characteristics of a player [ 7...d5 8.5c3 e5 with the centre and 476
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 some open lines, Heine,R-Hajek,J/Dortmund 1990, but in view of the strength of the main move this seems unnecessary. ] 8.xa8 d5 The point, the hapless white bishop is trapped on a8! 9.c2 The idea is to stop Black from playing ...Qb6-a7, picking-up the a8-bishop immediately. [ 9.a4 attempts to bring direct aid to the bishop: a5 10.c2 d7 11.b7 b4 the bishop has no escape, 12.0-0 d6 13.d3 a7 (before White plays Be3) 14.c8 c6 15.e3 ( 15.e1?! 0-0 16.e4 c5 17.f4 xc8 is crushing for Black, Houdart, D-Bunzmann,D/Bethune FRA 2003) 15...d4 16.g5 Reis,L-Damaso,R/Lisbon 1999, when d5 17.d2 0-0 favours Black, who gains 2 bishops for a rook and 2 pawns. ] [ 9.b3!? d7 10.c3 is possible, b4?! ( 10...a6! ) 11.xd5 exd5 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5 is unclear, Ilic,S-Carnic, D/Nis 1995. ] 9...d7 10.b4!? A pawn sac, trying to gain a te mp o o ve r 1 0 b3 , which is on e o f ma n y alternatives: [ 10.b3 a5 11.b7 e7 12.b2 0-0 13.d4 b4 14.0-0 b5 15.c7 xe2 16.a7 a6 17.xa6 xa6 18.b6 e2 19.e3 h5 and Black moved over to an attack on the light squares, Ehrenfeucht, W-Adamski,J/Warsaw 1990. ] [ 10.b7 e4 11.d4 d6 12.xd5 exd5 13.c3 a5 is clearly good for Black, Kohnert,A-Davidovic,A/Dortmund 1989. ] [ 10.0-0 e7!? ( 10...b6 -a6 is a simple solution ) 11.d3 0-0 12.e3 g4 Mukhtarov, L-Panchenko,A/Katowice 1993, and now 13.d4 looks critical. ] [ 10.xd5? makes it too easy for Black: xd5 11.c3 c6 12.f3 b4 13.b3 8a6 14.a3 c5 15.d1 bd3+!? with a crunching attack, Du,D-Van Meter,L/ Framingham USA 2001. ] 10...xb4 11.b2 0-0 12.a4?! [ 12.d4! is better, stopping ... Qb6-a7, d6 13.f4!? and Black has no obvious way to recover the bishop, although this piece is still a long way from escaping! ] 12...bxa4 13.xa4?! White panics, and returns his extra material, but without solving the bishop problem. xa4 14.xa4 b6 15.c3?! xc3
[ 15...a6 is also convincing: 16.c6 a7 17.b7 c5 wins a piece and the game. ] 16.xc3 a6 17.c6 c8 18.b5 c5 19.b4 b8 20.d4 ce4 White loses a piece. 0-1
489 Gourlay,Iain Motwani,Paul ch Edinburgh SCO (7) [Jonathan Rowson]
A13 2349 2503 17.07.2009
1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 dxc4 4.a3 xa3 5.bxa3 b5 6.b2 f6 7.a4 b4!? an unusual approach. Black willingly gives back the c-pawn but hopes to win an a-pawn at a later stage. [ 7...a6 ] [ 7...c6 ] 8.c2 bd7 9.xc4 c5 10.g2 b7 [ 10...a5!? looks more critical to me. 11.d4 a6 12.b5 0-0 13.xa8 xa8 14.0-0 Here it felt to me like Black should have adequate compensation, but Rybka is not convinced and moreover Black doesn't even have a pawn for the exchange. ] 11.d3 0-0 12.0-0 c8 [ 12...a5!? to retain the option of ... Ba6 (can be useful to get off the h1-a8 diagonal and to le ave d5 f or t he kn ight ) migh t be a n improvement, but in general the position feels balanced. 13.fc1 makes it difficult for Black to find a constructive move. ] 13.c2 a5 This is potentially a good square for the queen, so I wonder if Black can do better here. ...a5 made more sense when ... Ba6 was still a possibility, but now it is not clear what it achieves. [ 13...h6!? Generally useful, and pre-empting any Ng5 surprises. ] 14.d2 xg2 15.xg2 d5 [ 15...b6!? seems to cause more problems and pe rh aps le aves Bla ck with a sligh t initiative. ] 16.c4 7b6 17.e4 xc4 18.xc4 b6 19.b5 d6 20.a3! c6?! [ 20...d7 somehow white's queen, though active, is more awkwardly placed so there is something to be said for keeping queens 477
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 on. ] [ 9...bd7 10.d4 transposes to Bruzon 21.axb4 axb4 22.fc1 fd8 23.xc6 xc6 Batista - Leitao in this update ] 24.a5 d7 25.c4 [ 9...e7 10.d1 d4!? 11.c3 b6 [ 25.d4! gives White chances to be better. 12.d4 0-0 13.e3!? Wojtaszek, R (2705)For instance c4 26.a4! ] Adams, M (2734)/Porto Carras GRE 2011. 25...e5 26.d4 exd4 27.xd4 f6 Paul's draw ( 13.g5 looks even better )] offer is curiously timed, and may have been 10.d4! xd4 11.d3 time-trouble related, because his position now [ Generally a good square for the knight, but looks quite comfortable to me, with a clear 11.f4! looks more promising. White can plan of centralising the king. follow with Rf1-d1 and Nb1-c3, among other [ 27...f6 28.f4!? ( 28.e3 f7 29.a6 a8 ideas. ] 30.a7 c7 and Black is clearly better.) 11...bd7 28...f7 29.f3 e6 30.e3 b8 [ Black can equalize cleanly by preparing ... and it will not be easy for White to hold the c6-c5 without delay: 11...b6! 12.e3 c5 position. ] and now I can't find anything but equality, i. ½-½ e. 13.xb7 ( 13.xc5? xg2!; 13.xc5? xc5 14.xb7 xf2+ 15.xf2 xb7 ) 13...xb7 14.xc5 ( or 14.xc5 xc5 490 A13 15.xc5 b6 16.d2 0-0 17.ac1 c6= ) 14...xc5 15.xc5 bd7 16.d6 Grachev,Boris 2705 e4 17.d1 ( 17.a3?? a5! is actually Aleksandrov,Aleksej 2604 terrible for White) 17...a7 18.f3 xd6 13th EICC Plovdiv BUL (10.28) 30.03.2012 19.xd6 0-0= ] [John Bartholomew] 12.e3 d6 13.c1 [ 13.d2!? ] 1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 dxc4 5.a4+ c6 6.xc4 b5 7.b3 b7 8.0-0 13...e7 14.c3 b8 15.e4 d5!? Keeping the tension. a6 [ Black need only exercise a bit of care to [ This is less common than 8...bd7 . ] reach a draw after 15...xe4 16.xe4 c5! 9.e5!? An important test of 8...a6. If Black 17.xb7 xb7 18.xc5 xc5 19.xc5 isn't going to cover the e5 square, why not xc5 20.xc5 0-0 21.ac1 . ] occupy it? [ The point of Black's move order is that on 16.ec5?! [ Jumping to c5 with the other knight is 9.d4 (trying to reach positions we're familiar better: 16.dc5! so as to answer xe3?! with after 9...Nbd7 10.Ne5), c5! is a fully with 17.xe3 ] satisfactory equalizer. White recently ground out a win in this line in Fridman, D (2653) - 16...xe3 17.xd7 c7! Possibly White Pridorozhni, A (2524)/Plovdiv BUL 2012, but underestimated this in-between move. 18.fxe3 in the game continuation 10.dxc5 bd7 xd7 19.c3 f6? This is over-ambitious in 11.e3 xc5 12.xc5 xc5 13.b4 c8 turn. [ 19...0-0 was far better, i.e. 20.xc6 xc6 14.c1 Black's position was more than 21.xc6 a7!? ] adequate . In fact, he could have ignored the attacked knight on c5 with 0-0! since 20.d1 d8 21.b3! c8 22.f4 d5!? ( 14...d3 15.xc8 xb4 16.xd8+ xd8 Black is under considerable pressure, so he 17.c3 e7 18.e5 xg2 19.xg2 ma ke s a p ra ct ica l e xch a n ge sa crif ic e t o was t he ga me , whe re W hit e re taine d a reverse the trend. [ The alternative is 22...xd1+ 23.xd1 e5 microscopic edge.) 15.xc5? d6! 16.xb5 24.e6 g6 , which looks unpleasant but d1+ 17.e1 ( 17.e1 xg2-+ ) defensible. ] 17...xe1+ 18.xe1 axb5 19.xb7 c1 20.f1 d8-+ is essentially winning for 23.xd5 cxd5 24.ac1 d8 25.e4 b6+ 26.f1 Black. ] [ 26.e3! dxe4 27.xe4 f7 ( 27...xe4? 9...d6 Actually a novelty. 478
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28.c8++- ) 28.xb7 xb7 29.c2 ] 26...dxe4?! [ 26...d4! ] 27.c3? [ Missing 27.xe4!+- ] 27...d8! Now Black gains sufficient counterplay. 28.d4 0-0 29.xe4 f5 [ 29...xe4 30.xe4 f5 31.e5 f4!? ] 30.xb7 f6 31.c6 xd4 32.xe6+ h8 33.c8 xc8 34.xc8+ d8 35.xf5 xb2 36.xa6 b4 White tries for a bit, but Black easily hold s t he e ndgame . 37.g2 g6 38.e4 c3 39.c4 g7 40.h4 h5 41.c6 h6 42.f7 f6 43.e8 d6 44.e4 f6 45.e8 d4 46.e3 c3 47.f4+ xf4 48.gxf4 e1 49.e4 xh4 50.e5 g7 51.f3 e1 52.d7 d2 53.e4 c1 Grachev's 9.Ne5!? is likely the way to go against 8...a6. Should this line be repeated I believe White ought to go for 11.Bf4! instead. ½-½
and at any rate has a clear advantage. e4? 14.d3 g5 15.h4 e6 16.d4 d7 17.f3 The opening is over, so I'll leave it up to you whether you want to see W hite stretch his lead and win. ad8 18.c5 b8 19.xd7 xd7 20.0-0 f6 21.d3 g6 22.fe1 g7 23.g3 b6 24.f1 d6 25.ad1 bc8 26.b3 c7 27.e2 ce8 28.c2 e7 29.g2 e6 30.cc1 d8 31.c3 h6 32.b1 f8 33.e1 g5 34.hxg5 hxg5 35.f5 g6 36.d3 f7 37.c5 f8 38.e4 e7 39.g4 b8 40.e5 g6 41.exf6 xf6 42.d2 xc5 43.xg5+ f7 44.dxc5 e6 45.h5+ g6 46.c3 d4 47.e4 f6 48.xg6 xg6 49.b2 e5 50.f4 c6 51.e1 g7 52.g5+ f7 53.e4 d7 54.g2 b6 55.f5 b7 56.f6 e6 57.h5+ f8 58.xe6 1-0
492 491 Gurevich,Mikhail Kurajica,Bojan 37th Olympiad (11) [John Watson]
A13 2643 2548 02.06.2006
Hansen,Curt Lobron,Eric Bundesliga [Tony Kosten]
A13 2615 2550 2000
1.c4 e6 2.c3 b4 3.b3 c5!? [ A positionally desirable move, in many ways, W atch out for this trick! For some reason but the weakening of d6 does have players periodically fall for it, and have done consequences. 3...c6 4.f3 f6 5.a3 so for at least 30 years since it was widely xc3 6.xc3 d6 7.d4 is more usual, published. And who knows how many times transposing into a Qc2 Nimzo, Gurevich, before? 1.c4 e6 2.c3 b4 3.b3 c5 M-Rozentalis,E/Groningen 1992. ] 4.a3 4.b5! [ 4.b5!? c6 5.g3 ( 5.d6+ f8 ) [ Sharper than 4.a3 a5 5.e4 when Black 5...f8= ] seems OK: c7 6.g3 xg3 7.hxg3 a6 4...a5?! 8.f3 d5 Bodo,N-Laihonen,P/ Nagykanizsa [ Better is 4...xc3 5.xc3 f6 1993, 1/2-1/2 (14). ] , and Blacks best plan to counteract the 4...f6 bishops may be ...0-0, . ..b6, and ...d5. ] [ Black continues his development, 4...a6 5.e4! f6? is similar, 5.d6+ e7 6.xc8+ ( 6.g3 ) [ 5...d6 6.g3 simply loses a pawn ] 6...xc8 7.g3 f6 8.g2 b8 9.h3 b5 [ But 5...c7! 6.g3 xg3 7.hxg3 a6 10.0-0 bxc4 11.a4! b6 12.a3 b8 8.b3 d5 9.b2 f6 10.d6+ e7 13.c2 a5 14.xc4 with the more 11.xc8+ xc8 12.e3 hangs in there. pleasant position, Ragozin,E-Hartereau,P/ White is better due to his two bishops, but Paris 1993, 1-0 (24). ] it's a normal advantage. ] [ However, Black must permit the intrusion 6.xc5 c6 7.e3 e7 8.a4 0-0 9.c2 into d6, 4...d6? allows the fork 5.g3 ] d5 10.b4 c7 11.b2 a6 12.cxd5 exd5 5.a3!? 13.e2 White has pretty much consolidated [ A n e w i d e a . 5.d6+ e7 6.g3 479
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is also dangerous for Black, c6 7.e4!? f8 8.f3 e8 9.xe8 xe8 10.d3 a5 11.e5 c7 12.b3 with more space, and easier development for White, Agrest,ESjoberg,M/ Stockholm 1998, 1-0 (34). ] 5...a5 6.d6+ e7 7.xc8+ [ The simplest choice, White will bank on his bishop pair, and the temporary discomfort of the black king, outweighing his temporary development deficit. 7.g3 is the sharp alternative. ] 7...xc8 8.g3 c6 9.f3 b8 10.g2 a6 11.0-0 b5 12.d3 d6 13.d1 d8 14.c2 h6?! [ Black is worried about ...Kf8 being a n s w e r e d b y B g 5 , b u t 14...b7 may be superior, so as to meet 15.b3 with bxc4 16.bxc4 b3 ] 15.b3 d7 16.b2 Now Black has problems, White is ready to play d4, and the black king cannot flee to the kingside without allowing Bxf6, wrecking the black pawn structure. d8 So as to play ...Kf8. 17.d4 cxd4? [ Black should prefer 17...bxc4 18.bxc4 ( 18.dxc5 is interesting, cxb3 19.cxd6+ xd6 20.c5 c7 21.a4 e4 with fair chances. ) 18...cxd4 19.xd4 xd4 20.xd4 and White has only a small edge. ] 18.c5 dxc5?! [ 18...f8 19.ac1 d5 20.xd4 is clearly better for W hite, with his passed c-pawn, and two bishops, but playable. ] 19.xc5+ d6? [ This loses, the only chance lay with 19...e8 although 20.ac1 e7 21.b4 is very awkward for Black. ] 20.xd4 xd4 21.xd4 d7? This leads to disaster, but Black was losing an exchange, anyway. 22.xd6+ [ 22.xd6+ xd6 23.xf6+ c7 24.ac1+ wins two pieces for nothing. ] 1-0
493 Hansen,Curt Lobron,Eric Bundesliga 2000 [Paul Motwani]
A13
2000
Quick Tricks and Traps 1) W3: The game Cu. Ha n s e n - E . L o b r o n , p l a ye d i n G e r m a n y ' s 'Bundesliga' on 29 January 2000, was an English Opening that began with the moves 1.c4 e6 2.c3 b4 3.b3 c5?! (even strong GMs can make errors at move three!) 4.b5! and Black was already in serious difficulties at the d6-square because 4...d6? loses to 5 Qg3. In the actual game, Denmark's super-GM Curt Hansen won easily in only 22 moves.
494 Hillarp Persson,Tiger Dreev,Alexey Politiken Cup (6) [Jonathan Rowson]
A13 2596 2660 22.07.2009
1.c4 c6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 dxc4 4.g2 e6 5.0-0 f6 6.a4 This appears to be one of those positions, fairly typical of flank openings in general, which comes under what you might call 'theory lite'- there are some games, and a few authors have give some tentative thoughts on the best lines, but there haven't been enough top level games to be completely sure which way the theoretical wind is blowing. a6!? [ 6...a5!? is a major alternative. 7.a3 xa3 8.bxa3! 0-0 9.c2 b5 10.b1 a6 11.axb5 cxb5 12.d4 xd4 13.xa8 left Black with inadequate compensation in Tomashevsky, E -Korneev, O Dresden 2007, main ly because th e o pen nat ure of th e position means that his queenside pawns are as much a weakness as a strength. ] 7.a3 xa3 8.bxa3!? This has been done before. Having one of the a-pawns already on a4 helps a lot because it makes it almost impossible for Black to hold on to his extra material. Your site manager, Tony Kosten, previously opted for what looks like the saner alternative. [ 8.xa3 b4 9.a5! 0-0 10.b3 cxb3 480
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.xb3 With compensation that looks at least adequate- I think I would rather be W hite here. I have retained the following moves just to show that Tony is really a hacker at heart. bd5 12.e5 ( 12.d4; 12.b1!? ) 12...d7 13.d4 xe5 14.dxe5 c5 15.f4 c7 16.e4 e7 17.c2 c4 18.g4 c5+ 19.h1 d8 20.h3 g6 21.g5 b5 22.e2 b7 23.e3 c7 24.a6 xa6 25.f5 f8 26.f6 xe5 27.f4 d4 28.e3 e5 29.f4 d4 30.e3 e5 1/2-1/2 Kosten, A -Goldin, A /Paris 1994. ] 8...c5 9.b1 a5?! I suspect this may be a mistake. [ 9...a6 10.e5! is no improvement but ] [ 9...0-0 10.c2 d5 11.xc4 b6 12.d4 a6 13.c2 d7 14.d1 with e4 to follow also looks better for W hite, so I begin to wonder if this whole doubled a-pawns with a4 included idea might be a very good one. ] 10.b4! c3 11.dxc3! Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The pawns themselves may not look pretty, but Black's kingside has only one defender, the knight on f6, while W hite has several potential attackers and this eventually decides the game. 0-0 12.c2 d5 [ 12...d7 At first I though Black should probably just complete development and hope for the best, but the more I look at the position the more I like W hite- the weak queenside pawns don't matter, while the active rook on d4 and black's weakened d a r k s qu a re s a n d vu ln e ra b l e k in g, d o . 13.e3 ad8 14.g5 ] 13.e4! e7 14.e5 c7 15.h4! d5 A pseudo-threat, especially against Tiger, who wouldn't think twice about sacrificing the exchange. [ 15...b6 is slightly more tenacious, but White is certainly much better. ] 16.e1 b6 17.d4!? An interesting decision, perhaps based on the judgment that Black now had to play f5. [ The direct 17.g4 also looked strong. ] 17...f5 18.exf6 gxf6 19.h6 f7 20.c4 e7 21.d1! Now we see one point of the rook being on d4. g6 22.d8+ f8 23.e5! decisive b7 24.xa8 xa8 25.xf7 xf7 26.h5+ e7 [ 26...g6 27.f4 ] 27.g4 cd7 28.xf8+ A crushing victory,
and an impressive demonstration of why the doubled-a pawns are rarely the most important positional feature in these lines. 1-0
495 Illescas Cordoba,Miguel Shirov,Alexei XII It I Dos Hermanas ESP (2) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2595 2723 29.03.2003
1.c4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 dxc4 4.g2 [ 4.a4+ first, is more common, White delays recapturing the pawn so that Black has to commit himself. ] 4...f6 5.0-0 e7 6.a4+ bd7 Mickey Adams preferred [ 6...c6 against me at Drancy in the French Team Championship, a couple of months ago (by transposition), and this game continued 7.xc4 b5 8.c2 b7 9.b3 bd7 10.b2 0-0 11.d3 c5 12.bd2 w h e n B l a c k f o u n d a s t r o n g p l a n : d5! 13.ac1 ( 13.a3 a5 14.e4 5b6 15.a4 may be better, keeping the knight out of b4, although a4 is a constant problem,) 13...a5! 14.a4 ( 14.a3 a4 favours Black as the a3pawn will be exposed on the a-file) 14...b4 15.b1 bxa4 16.bxa4 ( 16.a1!? axb3 17.xg7 a4! 18.c4 f5 19.xf8 xf8 and it will be difficult to stop the rampant aa n d b - p a w n s) 16...b6 17.a1 f6 18.c4?! ( 18.b3! ) 18...xc4 19.xc4 d5 with advantage to Black. ] 7.xc4 c5 8.d4 This move brings us into Ca ta la n te rrito ry, bu t is im po rt a nt f or a ll English Opening players. b6!? As far as I can see this is a novelty, if instead [ 8...cxd4 then 9.xd4 b6 10.d3 0-0 11.c3 is about level, Padevsky, N-Oney,F/ Albena 1977, but by far the most common move here is ] [ 8...0-0 when 9.dxc5 xc5 10.c3 a6 11.e4 e7 12.xf6+ xf6 13.d1 a5 14.d2 b6?? was a blunder, allowing 15.xc8 1-0 Telljohann,S-Kelecevic,N/Biel 1994. ] 9.c2 cxd4 10.d1 d7 11.xd4 c8 12.d3 fd5 Black has developed all his minor pieces, and has equalised. 13.a3 f6 481
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.b3 White refrains form the 'obvious' [ 14.e4 perhaps because of a4!? 15.b3 xd4 16.xd4 xb3 but following 17.exd5! xd1 18.xg7 xc1 19.xh8+ e7 20.b2 he may be better, but who would risk this against Shirov? ] 14...0-0 15.e4 e7 16.e3 c6 17.xc6!? [ 17.c3 seems more natural. ] 17...xc6 18.a2 d7! 19.e2 a5 This puts pressure on the white queenside, whilst allowing the black rooks to come to d8. 20.c2 White plays timidly, [ 20.ad2 fd8 21.f4 offers more. ] 20...fd8 The problem for White is how can he chase the queen away from his queenside, and then develophisb1-knight? 21.h3 a6 22.d2? Not like this! [ 22.cd2 still looks strongest. ] 22...b5! 23.b4 This leaves an ugly doubled pawn that needs defending, but the only other way of parrying the menace to the b3-pawn was by [ 23.b4 when c5 24.e1 a4 was awkward 25.xd8+ xd8 26.d2 xd2 27.xd2 xe4 winning a pawn. ] 23...xb4 24.axb4 e7 25.c4 e5 26.cd4 xd4 27.xd4 b5 28.f4 c6 29.d7 xb4 30.xb7 a5?! [ 30...d8! is even stronger, the immediate threat is the fork of king and knight, 31.f3 d3 32.f2 xb3 and White can resign, as 33.d2 (what else?) xe3! 34.xe3 c5# ] 31.b6 xb3 32.f1 If White can eliminate the a-pawn he should be able to draw. c5 33.xc5 xc5 34.xb5 axb5 35.d2 Now White is back in the game. [ 35.xb5? xe4 ] 35...g5!? Played to free the rook from defending the back rank. 36.xb5? [ 36.fxg5 d3 37.xb5 c2 38.b3 looks OK. ] 36...gxf4 37.gxf4 d3 38.g5+? Time trouble, I suspect, as this just puts the rook out of play, the immediate [ 38.f5 was best. ] 38...f8 39.f5 White desperately tries to exchange the remaining pawns. c1+ 40.f1 f4 The black pieces combine well together. 41.g4 [ 41.g3? e2+ ] 41...e5! 42.f2 The h-pawn cannot be
defended, [ 42.h4? h5 and the rook is lost to a knight fork. ] 42...xh3+ 43.g2 f4+ 44.f2 h5 45.g3 h4 46.g4 h3 47.h4 c2+ 48.f3 g7 49.g3 c3+ 50.g4 f6 White has managed to sort his pieces out to some extent, but the h-pawn will prove a thorn in his side. 51.h1 b3 52.f2 Can he capture the hpawn? e3! 53.xh3 e2 No, the cost will prove too great. 54.h5 g3+ 55.g4 xe4 56.h5 g3+ 57.g4 e2 58.h5? [ 58.h5 had to be played again, although White is lost. ] 58...g3+ [ 58...g3+ 59.h4 g2 leaves the three white pieces without a single move!! ( 59...xh3+ 60.xh3 f4+ is much too mundane. )] 0-1
496 Istratescu,Andrei Papadopoulos,Ioannis IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (2) [Carsten Hansen]
A13 2628 2471 22.04.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 d4 This move is in my opinion very provocative, due to Black having played ...e7-e6 previously and by following up with ...e6-e5 later, he is losing a tempo on purpose. However, this is far from the first time this move has been played, but nevertheless White should have e xce l le n t c h a n ce s o f o b t a in i n g a n e d g e compared with other lines in the Reti where Black plays an early ...d5-d4. 5.0-0 [ 5.b4!? is also worth a thought, but likely insufficient for an advantage, e.g. A) 5...c5 6.b2 A1) 6...a5 transposes to our main line after 5...a5; A2) 6...c6 7.b5 A2a) 7...e7 8.e3 dxe3?! ( 8...f5 9.exd4 cxd4 10.0-0 ) 9.dxe3 xd1+ 10.xd1 g6 11.h4 h5 12.e2 g4 13.d1 Ilivitzki, G-Spassky, B/ Moscow 1955/ URS-ch; A2b) 7...a5 8.d3 d6 9.0-0 0-0 10.e4 e5 11.bd2 d7 12.c2 482
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 show ) 7...a5 8.exd4 exd4 9.d3 e7 c7= Mikhalchishin, A-Fernandez, A/ 10.g5 0-0 11.bd2 h6 12.xf6 xf6 Lisbon 1986; 13.e1 ( 13.e1!? ) 13...a4 14.e4 e7 A3) 6...b6 7.b3 c6 8.b5 ( 8.bxc5 15.f4 a5!? 16.f3 e6 17.d2 b6 xc5 9.0-0 0-0 10.a3 e5 11.xb6 18.ae1 d7 19.e2= f5?! 20.f2 f6 xb6 12.b5 d8 1/2-1/2 Vaulin, A21.c2 , and here, just as White is Serper, G/St Petersburg 1993) 8...a5 beginning to have the more comfortable 9.c2 d6 10.e3 ( 10.0-0 0-0 11.e3 position again, White offered a draw, which e5 12.exd4 cxd4 13.d3 f5 14.h4 was duly accepted by Black, 1/2-1/2 Nielsen, d7 15.d2 ac8 with chances for P-Fyllingen, R/Aars 1999 ] both sides, Raizman, M-Taimanov, M/ P a r i s 1 9 5 4) 10...e5 11.exd4 exd4 6...e7 [ Black has tried a couple of other moves in 12.0-0 0-0 13.d3 d7 14.bd2 h6 this position, but I don't think either of the 15.ae1 ae8 , and the game is more alternatives are particularly good: A) 6...a5?! or less balanced, Kotov, A-Taimanov, M/ (this looks a little careless, Black shouldn't Zuerich 1953/ Candidates; play this move unless White has played a2B) 5...xb4!? is likely the critical test a3, placed his knight on c2 or threatens to 6.a4+ c6 7.e5 b8 play b2-b4. In this position Black just hands B1) 8.xc6 bxc6 9.xa7 ( 9.0-0 8 White the b5-square at no charge can transpose to 0-0) 9...b6 10.a4 whatsoever.) b7 11.0-0 0-0 12.c2 c5 13.xb7 A) White must be a King's Indian fanatic, xb7 , Cuellar Gacharna, M-Albert, E/ because this really isn't even close to M a r d e l P l a t a 1 9 5 7 , 14.d3 a8 being critical why on earth does W hite with a pleasant game for Black; want to play this when he has much better B2) 8.0-0 0-0 9.xc6 bxc6 10.a3 c5 moves ava ilable such a s 7.e3! c5 11.d3 d7 12.d2 , and White has ( 7...dxe3 8.xe3 g4 9.e2 xe3 obvious compensation for the pawn, De 10.xe3 b4 11.a3 e7 12.fd1 Fotis, G-Karklins, A/ Illinois 1987; followed by d4 is very good for W hite; C) 5...a5 6.b2!? ( 6.b5!? 7...e5 8.exd4 exd4 9.f4 e7 10.a3 would probably be my preference) 6...c5 threatening Nb5 is even worse for Black) 7.bxc5 xc5 8.e3 ( 8.0-0 c6 9.d3 a4 8.exd4 xd4 9.c3 0-0 10.e3 10.a3 d7 11.fd2 0-0 12.xc5 xc5 with a pleasant game for White; 13.a3 e5 14.b1 e7 , and the B) 7.e4?! d7 8.e1 e5 9.f4 e7 chances are about even in this reversed 10.d2 0-0 11.f5 g5 with a better Benko Gambit, Donner, J-Bouwmeester, H/ game for Black, Andonov, B-Razuvaev, Y/ Beverwijk 1 95 2) 8...c6 9.0-0 0-0 Sochi 1987 ] 10.a3 e5 11.b5 with a pleasant game [ B) 6...c5 7.a3 ( 7.e3!? dxe3 8.xe3 for White in Ehlvest, J-Pomes Marcet, J/ xe3 9.fxe3 with a more comfortable game Terrassa 1991 ] for White ) 7...0-0 8.c2 a5 9.b3 e5 10.a3 5...c6 e8 11.g5 h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.b1 f5 [ 5...c5 is the main alternative. ] 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 f8 16.d2 e6 6.d3 17.e1 h3 18.h1 h5 19.b5 d8 [ W h i t e h a s a l s o t r i e d 6.e3 e5 , Pajkovic, V-Guyot, P/Podgorica 1991, and ( My computer likes 6...d3 , but to me it here White's best is probably 20.e3 dxe3 looks like Black wants to lose a pawn for 21.xe3 with a complicated position, where i n s u f f i c i e n t c o m p e n s a t i o n a f t e r 7.e1 I prefer White, but objectively the chances f ollowe d by Qb 3) 7.a3 ( In my opinion, are about even ] W hite can obtain a better game with the simple and straight-forward 7.exd4!? exd4 7.e3 e5 [ Black can also consider 7...0-0 , though I'm 8.e1+ e7 9.d3 0-0 10.a3 followed by of the opinion that W hite can obtain the Nc2 and Bf4, and the downsides to the lost better chances, e.g. 8.xd4 xd4 9.exd4 tempo with ...e7-e6-e5 are beginning to 483
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.bd2!? xd4 10.c3 B1a) 11...xd3? '?!' by Ribli, but the A) 10...e5!? 11.e3 d8 12.h3?! move is a very bad move that leads , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Black to a lost position 12.b3 b4 Sher, M-Korneev, O/Elista 1995. Despite '?' by Ribli, but there isn't anything the few moves played, the position is more better - the mistake was on the or less completely equal, my computer's p r e v i o u s m o v e 13.xe7! xe7 main line goes ( The immediate 12.d4!? 14.e1 c5 ( 14...e2 15.xd4+- ) , however, is of more interest, e.g. g4 15.a3 c2 16.e5+- (Ribli); 13.d2 exd4 14.xd4 c6 15.f4 d6 B1b) 11...e8 12.e5 xe5 16.xd6 xd6 17.fe1 , and White has 13.xe5 (Ribli); the initiative in the queenless B1c) 11...d6 12.g5 h6 13.xf6 m i d d l e g a m e .) 12...c6 13.d4 exd4 xf6 14.e4 xe4 15.xe4 ae8 14.xd4 a5 , and Black should have 16.d2; nothing to fear; B2) 11.a3 (Ribli) b4 12.e2 d6 B) 10...d8 11.b5 d7 12.f4 e8 13.xd6 xd6 14.d2 ae8=; 13.a4 f6 14.ad1 xb2 15.d4 c6 B3) 11.a3 d6 ( 11...a5?! 12.e5 16.a3 c5 17.b5 xd4 1-0 Akesson, Ris the only variation discussed by Ribli.) Marusenko, P/Port Erin 2000/CBM 78 ext 12.xd6 xd6 13.b4?! ( 13.c2= ) (35) 18.a3 f6 19.e3 13...ae8 with a comfortable game for B1) 19...e5?! 20.xd4 exd4 Black; ( 20...cxd4?? 21.d5+ ends the fun on B4) 11.e5 This a typical move in this account of h8 22.f8# ) 21.xc5 b6 type of position, exchanging a pair of 22.a3 , and White has a winning knights to get a little more breathing advantage; ro om f o r th e p ie ce s a nd a dd a litt le B2) 19...f7 20.xd4 cxd4 21.xd4 pre ssu re a lon g t h e h 1 -a8 d ia go n a l. and White has the clearly better chances xe5 12.xe5 d7! ( Rather than thanks to his lead in development and co n t i n u i n g wi t h t h e p a s si ve 12...c8 Black's difficulties getting his pieces 13.e1 d6 14.xd6 xd6 15.d2 developed. ] , Black sacrifices a pawn for the 8.exd4 exd4 9.a3 initiative) 13.xb7 ab8 , and with his [ W h i t e h a s a n a l t e r n a t i v e i n 9.e1 lead in development and well, but this is less convincing: 0-0 10.f4 coordinated pieces, Black has ample A) or 10...d7 11.a3 c5 12.c2 compensation for the pawn, Groenn, Ae6 13.d2 a5 Carlsen, M/Gausdal 2004 ] A1) 14.e5!? xe5 15.xe5 c6 ( 15...c5 16.h5 f6 17.d5 d7 9...b4?! [ This is a peculiar and not very good novelty. 18.e1 ) 16.f3 f6 17.ee1 g5=; Previously Black has obtained an adequate A2) 14.e2! f6 15.a3 ( 15.b4 axb4 game with 9...0-0 10.c2 a5 ( 10...g4 16.xb4 xb4 17.xb4 c5 18.d2= ) 11.f4 h5= ) 11.b3 c5 12.a3 f5 15...c5 ( 15...a4 16.b4 a5 ( 12...e8!? ) 13.b1 d7 ( 13...e8 14.b4 17.d5 b3 18.ad1 ) 16.b4 b3 axb4 15.axb4 ) 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 a7 17.ab1 xd2 18.xd2; 16.f4 ( White can grab the initiative with A3) 14.b3 f6 15.b1 c5 16.c1 16.b5!? d8 17.e5 d6 18.e1 e8 f5 17.f1 e8 18.xe8+ xe8 19.a3 19.a3 with an uncomfortable position for d7 , and Black has gained excellent Black ) 16...g6 ( 16...fe8!? ) 17.b5 d8 control over the position, Jimenez, J18.e5 c8 19.xg6 hxg6 20.e5 Sagalchik, G/ Alajuela CRC 2006; Hardicsay, P-Horvath, P/Balatonlelle HUN B) 10...f5 2007 ] B1) In his annotations to GroennCarlsen in CBM, Ribli suggests a few 10.b5 0-0 [ Or 10...c5 11.f4 0-0 12.c7 d7 ideas for White instead of the text move. 484
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.e1 c6 14.e5 xe5 15.xe5 with a very pleasant game for White ] 11.bxd4 c5 And with this move, Black wins back the pawn, but the resulting position is, as we will see, clearly favouring White 12.a3 cxd4 13.axb4 xb4 14.d2 xd2 15.xd2 The material is once again balanced, but the white position is more or less strategically won. The d4-pawn is terribly weak and so is the black queenside, with W hite being able to apply pressure along the a-file and the h1-a8 diagonal. In addition, White has a slight lead in development and the initiative. Black's prospects are indeed bleak. f5 16.h4 c8 17.fe1 c7 18.a5 d6 19.b4 a6 I'm uncertain about what Black is trying to accomplish with this move, but it could be so me th in g like . .. b7 -b 6 an d .. .Ra8 -a 7 t o remove some of the pressure W hite is applying against Black's queenside. Obviously, White isn't going to let Black off the hook that easily. 20.f5!? [ White forces Black to get exchange on f5 and with that remove one of Black's guard pieces that is currently protecting the weak queenside. However, W hite has an interesting alternative in 20.c5!? , e.g. b8 ( 20...d7 l o o k s w o r s e : 21.b5! d5 22.ab1 d8 23.c6 d6 24.b6! , and the back rank problem prevents Black from doing anything about White's advanced pawns without losing material.) 21.f3 e6 22.xd4 d5 23.xd5 xd5 24.f5 , and W hite is a pawn up and his pieces dominate the board. ] 20...xf5 21.xf5 ab8 [ Or 21...fe8 22.xe8+ xe8 23.xb7 xb4 24.xa6 b2 25.f1+- , White's e xt ra p a wn in a d d it io n t o a f a vo u ra b l e bishop vs knight imbalance should make the win fairly trivial ] 22.c5 d8 [ 22...c7 is met in similar fashion: 23.e5 be8 24.ae1 xe5 25.xe5 d7 26.d6 xd6 27.cxd6 d8 28.xb7 xd6 29.a1+- ] 23.e5 e8 24.ae1 xe5 25.xe5 d7?? [ This of course loses on the spot, but even t h e s t r o n g e r 25...f8 offers no hope of salvation after 26.c1 intending Rc4, and the d-pawn will fall. ]
26.xb8+ 1-0
497 Jurkovic,Hrvoje Pandurevic,Miro Riviera IM Opatija CRO (4) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2401 2280 04.05.2003
1.c4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.e3 The advantage of playing this move is that White keeps the cpawn well defended, [ 3.g3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ is the mainline, but I think it offers W hite little as his queen makes too many moves. ] 3...f6 4.b3 e7 5.b2 0-0 6.e2 dxc4 This capture is very common in such Reti lines, Black wants to avoid the IQP positions which could arise after [ 6...c5 7.0-0 c6 8.cxd5 exd5 9.d4 say, although this is very much a question of taste. ] 7.bxc4 c5 8.0-0 c6 9.d4!? White expands in the centre, although many Flank Openings players would prefer to reserve this advance for a more opportune moment, e.g. [ 9.c2 b6 10.c3 b7 11.ad1 c8 12.a3 White keeps his options open, Ribli,ZBarczay,L/HUN-ch 1975. ] 9...b6 10.c3 The most aggressive, [ 10.dxc5?! xc5 11.xd8 xd8 12.bd2 a6 13.b3 e7 14.fd1 offers White less than nothing, Petersen,N-Bezold,M/ Copenhagen 1997. ] 10...a6!? A novelty, and a very logical one at that, Black aims at the c-pawn. [ 10...cxd4 11.exd4 b7 had been played previously, setting up a hanging pawns position, 12.c1 ( 12.d2 c8 13.ad1 B a r n a , A - W i e d e r s i c h , J / G e r m a n y 1 9 9 7; 12.e1?! c8 13.c1 a5 14.b5 a6 15.a3 b4 favours Black, Rossello,CGonzalez,G/Las Palmas 1996) 12...a5 13.d3 c8 14.d2 d7 also looks promising f o r Black who has go od pla y against the white centre, Hickl,T-Siegel,G/ Germany 1981. ] 11.a4 a5 12.fd1 cxd4 Now Black goes f o r t h e h a n gin g p a wn st r u ct u re . 13.xd4! Anti-positional, as W hite concedes the c5485
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 square, but best, [ 13.exd4 e8 is a bit awkward, as Black will exchange queens which diminishes White's dynamic possibilities. ] 13...e8 14.b5 b7 Black is ready to evict the knight with ...a6, and remove queens from the boa rd, pe rha ps, but W h ite ha s o the r ideas... 15.c5?! Is this correct? I don't think so, but it certainly gives W hite a couple of tempi, and permits him to swing his queen over to the kingside, with reasonable practical chances. xc5 16.h4 e7 Best, Black had to defend against the threat of Bxf6, and after ...gxf6, Qg4+ and Qh5, forcing mate. 17.d3 A n o t h e r p i e c e j o i n s t h e a t t a c k . h6?! Moving pawns in front of the king is always a risky business when the opponent's pieces are nearby, [ 17...fd8! is best, as there is no real threat to h7 once the f8-square is vacated: 18.xf6? ( 18.c2!? ) 18...xf6 19.xh7+ f8 and White's position is a mess. ] 18.f4 Now Black is in trouble, as Rxh6 is menaced. h7? This loses, the best move might be the strange [ 18...h5 but then that implies the previous move is clearly wrong! ] 19.xg7! Devastating! [ 19.xh7+ xh7 20.xg7 is also good, of course. ] 19...g5? This is not the best, although, to be fair, Black could resign here, [ 19...xg7? is also hopeless, 20.xh6+ g8 21.xh7# ] 20.f6 1-0
Dautov,R. ] 7...b7 8.0-0 bd7 9.b3 c8 To add force to the ...c5 move, but Black can try to makedo without this move, Mickey Adams preferred [ 9...e7 10.b2 0-0 11.d3 c5 12.bd2 d5! against me last year, and his queen's rook proved useful on the a-file. ] 10.b2 This set-up appeals to me because White's piece set-up is simple to follow, and it almost doesn't matter what Black does. e7 11.d3 0-0 12.bd2 c5 13.a3!? Probably a useful move, if my experience against Adams is a n yt h in g t o go b y, b u t d e ve lo p in g t h e queen's rook is very popular, and may transpose: [ 13.ac1 b6 14.b1 fd8 (agreed drawn in Ehlvest,J-Grischuk,A/ New Delhi IND 2000!) 15.a1 and now Black has a wide choice: f8 ( 15...a6 16.c2 a7 Jansson,B-Langeweg,K/telex 1975; 15...b8!? (aiming f or d4) 16.c2 e8 17.fc1 f8 18.a3 d6 but Black's play seems a bit too original, Minnebo,A-Luther,T/ Asti 1996 ) 16.a3 d5 17.d4!? Bertok,MPavasovic,D/Pula CRO 2001. ] 13...b6 14.ac1 White continues his simple plan of development, the queen will go to a1 to increase the pressure on the a1-h8 diagonal, and then he will double rooks on the c-file when all of his pieces will be working at full power. fd8 15.b1 a6 Curiously this position is sometimes also reached with Black to move - when he plays ...Nbd7 instead of ... c6 in the opening so that ...c7-c5 comes in one move instead of two! [ 15...h6 has also been seen here, but 16.fd1?! looks wrong, b8 17.c2 c6 18.dc1 White has lost a tempo with his 498 A13 ro o k m a n o e u vre , V e liko v, P -V a s ile v, M / Pamporovo BUL 2001, obviously 16 Qa1 is Kharlov,Andrei 2591 more logical, as in the other games. ] Izoria,Zviad 2541 [ 15...f8 16.a1 transposes to the Bertok ECC Rethymnon GRE (3) 30.09.2003 game in the last note. ] [Tony Kosten] 16.a1 f8 17.c2 a7 18.fc1 One of the nice things about the Flank So, W hite has managed to get to move Openings is that you can sometimes follow a eighteen without even having to think, and he pre-arranged plan and get a good position. has a good position! a8 Black also likes the 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 queen here, but W hite is able to blunt the 5.a4+ c6 6.xc4 b5 7.c2 Better than pressure, immediately, unlike Black. 19.e4!? So that the b7-bishop is 'biting on granite'. the [ 7.b3 I looked at in Van der Sterren,P- The loss of pawn control of the d4-square is 486
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 not too important yet, as the black pieces are n o t w e l l - p l a c e d t o e x p l o i t i t . e7 Black changes plan, and returns his bishop to e7, but he could also consider [ 19...e8!? hoping for ...f6 and ...e5, perhaps, or ...Nd6 and a later ...c4. ] 20.a4!? Personally I am not too sure about this move, a black piece may arrive on b4 lateron. c4? A typical tactical theme in this line (see the Korchnoi game from a few months ago, say), but it is not correct here. There was no need to play this, as there were lots of reasonable alternatives, like [ 20...c6 for instance. ] 21.bxc4 c5 The point, hitting both d3 and a4, but White can ignore these and continue capturing. 22.cxb5 xd3 23.xc8 xc8?! [ 23...xc8 24.xc8+ xc8 25.a3 also leaves White a pawn up, but at least the black pieces are more active. ] 24.c7! Rather than defend, White counters, attacking the e7-bishop. d7?! A bit too compliant, [ 24...xb2 is best met by 25.xe7 d3 26.c3 White has an extra pawn, and the better position - Qc7 is a threat. ] [ 24...d6!? may be the best bet, 25.xf6 gxf6 26.c2 g7 although 27.d4 looks strong. ] 25.xd7 xd7 26.a3 [ 26.xf6! is also good, gxf6 ( 26...xf6? 27.e5 e7 28.b1 c5? 29.g5 attacks the queen and threatens mate on h7 ) 27.d4 c5 28.e5 opening the long diagonal with a big plus. ] 26...c5 27.b6! This pawn will win the game. c6 Black is unable to stop White from protecting his passed pawn, as [ 27...a5?! 28.c3 c8 29.b7! xb7 30.xc5 wins a piece. ] 28.a5 a4 29.b2 [ 29.c1 is also good, xa5 30.b7 c7 31.xc5 xc5 32.xc5 xc5 33.b8+ with an extra piece. ] 29...c2 30.d4 c6 31.e3 White knows that he only has to avoid a blunder and the game will win itself. b7 32.d4 a4 33.xa4 xa4 34.4b3 f8 35.d4 e8 36.f3 d7 37.c4 Black's position is quite hopeless. 1-0
499 Korotylev,Alexey Timofeev,Artyom 57th ch Moscow RUS (8) [John Watson]
A13 2596 2611 24.11.2004
In this game Black plays a simple yet irritating f l a n k p a wn a t t a c k f r o m a S l a v D e f e n c e structure. It has had good success over the years an White still needs to find an answer. 1.c4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 c6 4.b3 f6 5.g2 a5 A typical advance, played with or without ... c6 in. Black wants to play ...a4 and ...a3 or ... axb3 as appropriate. My database has over 50 examples! 6.b2 White hasn't cracked this line, e.g., [ 6.0-0 a4 A) Black achieves his aim after 7.b2 a3 8.c3 b5! ( or 8...e4 ); B) 7.a3 xa3 8.xa3 e7 9.c1 0-0 10.d4!? bd7 11.b2 e8 12.e3 b6= Ionescu,C-Soppe,G Istanbul 2000 ] 6...a4 That's 5 pawn moves out of 6 (with . .. a3 and ...b5 next if White allows it). In spite of the fact that Black's bishop on c8 and knight on b8 are problem pieces he stands well. Against the Double Fianchetto Reti the combination of ...a5-a4 and ...b5 has been a common plan over many years now. 7.a3 e7 [ 7...d6 might prepare ...Qe7 later. ] 8.0-0 0-0 9.d3 [ 9.d4 intending Ne5 has also been tried. ] 9...b6 [ 9...bd7 10.c2 e8 11.fb1 d6 was comfortably equal in Reichert,LRohrmueller,U Bayern 2002. ] 10.d4 A sign that Black's irritating pressure on t h e qu e e n si d e is h a vi n g it s e f f e c t . bd7 11.c5 c7 12.b4 b6! 13.c2 bxc5 14.bxc5 a6 Black already has some advantage. A great system to know! 15.b4 b5 16.a3 e4 17.c2 f5!? Or simply [ 17...c4 18.d3 fb8 ] 18.d3 f6 19.ab1 c4 20.a1 Now Black has the advantage on the queenside, but he plays ambitiously to attack: g5!? 21.d2 xd2 22.xd2 ab8 23.e3 f7 24.xb8 xb8 25.b4 Since it's difficult for Black to advance on the kingside without exposing his king he maneuvers for a break in 487
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the centre. It's not clear what W hite can do about this. g8 26.c1 b5 27.d2 g6 28.e3 [ 28.d3 looks better. ] 28...e5! 29.dxe5 xe5 30.d1 g4 Preventing ...f4. 31.h4 e8 32.b1 b8 33.c2 h5 34.d4 c4? [ 34...e7 should precede this move. ] 35.c1!? [ 35.xf6 xf6 36.c3+ is very dangerous although Black may hang on due to the tactic e5! ( 36...e6 37.d3; 36...e5 37.xd5! ) 37.xe5+ xe5 ( 37...xe5 38.xd5 ) 38.xd5! d3! 39.b2 xb4 40.xb4 cxd5 41.xa4 f3+ with at least a perpetual check. ] 35...xd4? Too ambitious. The knight should return to e5. 36.exd4 f4 37.d3! f8 [ 37...f3? 38.g5+ h7 39.e1 wins. ] 38.xf4+ xf4 39.gxf4 f7 Black has no compensation and his king is still exposed. An unfair finish after a well-played game. 40.f1 f5 41.a1 e4 42.c3! xf4 43.d3+ f6 44.xc4 xc4 45.e1 f3 46.xf3+ gxf3 47.e5 1-0
8...b5! 9.b3 [ Now 9.e5 d5! and there's no knight on c3 to capture on d5. ] [ 9.a4 achieves nothing now after b7 ] 9...b7 10.b2 e7 11.d3 0-0 12.bd2 b6 13.ac1 ac8 14.b1!? fd8 15.a1 b8! 16.c2 c6 17.a3 d7 18.fc1 cd8 Black has superior central control but no break. White has to sit a wait for his opponent. 19.e5?! [ 19.a2! d5 20.a1 ] 19...xe5 20.xe5 xg2 21.xg2 g4! 22.e4? [ (a) 22.xg7? loses to c4! (hitting f2) 23.e4 ( 23.f1 b7+ 24.g1 f6 25.h3 cxd3 26.exd3 e5! ) 23...f5 24.h3 fxe4 25.hxg4 exd3 26.exd3 b7+ 27.h2 cxd3 28.d2 f3 ] [ (b) Best is 22.h3! xe5 23.xe5 c4 24.bxc4 xa3 25.b1 c5 , when Black has little if any advantage because of the pesky a-pawn after 26.cxb5 d5 27.c4! xe5 28.xb6 xb6 29.bxa6 d4 30.b7 a5 31.e3 c5 32.d4 d6 33.a7 ] 22...f5? This throws away Black's advantage. [ 22...c4! 23.xg7 f5 transposes to the last line. ] 23.xc5 d5?! 500 A13 [ 23...c6+ 24.e4! ] Kozhuharov,Spas 2391 24.c7! xc7 25.xe6 e5 26.xe5 Mateuta,Gabriel 2465 xe5 27.xd8 xd8 28.c8 The rooks 14th Open Kavala GRE (8) 18.08.2005 come into their own against minor pieces in an endgame and they will cost Black another [John Watson] pawn. f7 29.xd8 xd8 30.c5 f6 This game features another Catalan-without- 31.c7+ e7 32.d4 g4 33.a7 f6 d4 setup, but White misses his opportunity to 34.xa6 e4 35.a4 b4 36.a5 c3 37.b6 tie Black down and achieve a central break. 1-0 He also fails to create weaknesses in Black's position, thus suffering from a lack of space. A13 B u t h i s p i e c e s a r e w e l l - p o s t e d a n d i n 501 Hedgehog style he defends until his opponent Kuzubov,Yuriy 2642 tries for too much. 1.c4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 Neverov,Valeriy 2508 f6 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ bd7 6.xc4 a6 15th ch-EUR Indiv 2014 (2.27) 04.03.2014 7.c2 c5 Different than the 7...b5 plan of the [Fier, Alexandr] last game because a4 will be somewhat less effective. White nevertheless has alternatives. Black goes for 5...a6 which is provocative and 8.0-0 Kuzubov proved that he was ready for it. Black [ White could try for the advantage by 8.c3! had an interesting alternative on move 11, (this covers d5 and thus prevents b5) e7 which would lead to unclear consequences. ( 8...b5? 9.e5; 8...b8 9.0-0 b5 10.d4 ) 1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.f3 dxc4 4.g2 f6 9.0-0 0-0 10.d4! ( or 10.d1 e5 11.b3 )] 5.0-0 a6 6.c2 The best. White wants Black 488
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to open the long diagonal and play a real gambit instead of trying to recover the pawn. [ 6.a4 is the most played move, but a p p a r e n t l y i t ' s b a d f o r W h i t e c6 which looks a bit like a Catalan, but the pawn would be better on d4 here 7.a5 d7 8.c2 b4! and Black is already better 9.xc4 b5 wins the e2-pawn ] 6...b5 7.e5 d5 [ 7...c6 is a thematic sacrifice in this kind of position and is also possible here A) 8.d1 b7 9.d4 ( 9.d3 c7! ) 9...c8 would enter into the Catalan world; B) 8.xc6 b6 9.xb8 xb8 was double-edged in Sjugirov, S (2610)Frolyanov, D (2556)/RUS-chT 19th 2012 (4). ] 8.d3! White immediately opens the position a n d B l a c k ' s c e n t e r is n o t s t a b l e , s o t h e position is already dangerous. cxd3 [ 8...f6 can't really work, and White punishes it in a nice way 9.dxc4 fxe5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.g5! and Black needs to be careful to not lose on the spot xg5 ( 11...d6 12.c3 c6 13.xd5!+-; 11...e7 12.xe7 xe7 13.c3 c6 14.ad1 e6 15.e4 with a strong initiative) 12.xc7 d8 ( 12...e6 13.b7 ) 13.xe5+ e7 14.xd5 a7 15.c1 c7 16.d2 a n d it ' s h a rd t o b e lie ve t h a t B l a c k ca n survive ] 9.xd3 b7 10.c3 d6 11.xd5 exd5?! It's not easy to realize this, but Black already has some problems after this move. [ 11...xd5 was probably better, with some complications A) 12.xd5 exd5 13.a4! breaking Black's pawn structure bxa4 ( 13...b4 14.f4 with quite good compensation) 14.xa4+ c6 15.e4 0-0 16.d1 dxe4 17.c5 again with compensation for the pawn, but maybe no more than that; B) 12.e4 is also interesting c4 13.e5 e7 14.d1 c6 15.a4 d5 16.xd5 xd5 17.e3 0-0 18.ac1 c8 with a big positional fight ahead ] 12.f4 0-0 13.fd1 [ 13.ac1 this idea was also tempting c6 14.xd6 xd6 15.e4 dxe4 ( 15...d7 16.exd5 cxd5 17.c7 with a clear advantage for White, since Black is forced to
come back with the bishop to c8) 16.xe4 and 17.Nc5 is coming, so d7 17.xh7+ and White is better ] 13...c6 14.e4 xf4 15.xf4 d6 [ 15...d7 leaves Black under heavy p r e s su re a f t e r 16.exd5 cxd5 ( 16...c5 17.h3 wi n s a p a wn c4 18.e6! fxe6 19.dxe6 ) 17.xd5 c8 18.f5 but maybe it was better than the game ] 16.exd5 Natural, but not the best. [ 16.ac1! avoids ...c5 d7 17.exd5 c5 18.e6 fc8 19.c3 with an almost winning position ] 16...c5 17.ac1 c8 18.c3?! White improves the queen and prepares to launch an attack with 19.Nh5. However, there was a more direct idea. [ 18.e6! is best and Black has nothing better than to take the piece A) 18...d7 19.c3 and Black is clearly worse f6 ( 19...f6 can't be good for Black, but is the only move ) 20.xc5+-; B) 18...fxe6 19.dxe6 b6 20.xb7 xb7 21.xc5! this is th e ide a c6 ( 21...e8 22.g5! h6 23.h5 xe6 24.d8+ h7 25.f5+ g6 26.cc8 with mate; 21...f8 22.e7 e8 23.d6 and Black can't move any piece) 22.d7 a5! this is Black's best resource 23.g5 xc1+ 24.xc1 e4 25.c3 g6 26.xa5 b1+ 27.g2 e4+ 28.f1 with a healthy pawn up for White ] 18...b4 19.e3 d7 20.e1 f8 This move makes some sense to avoid 21. Qe7, but later Black had some problems with his king. [ 20...f6!? was another possibility, letting the queen enter the seventh rank 21.e7 b6 22.d6 xg2 23.xg2 ( 23.xg2 b5 and the passed pawn on d6 is under control for the moment) 23...c6+ 24.f3 d8 and it looks like Black's position is ok, but some hidden dangers exists in the position, f o r e x a m p l e : 25.cd1 ac8 loses to a beautiful idea ( 25...h6 is better and Black should be fine) 26.h5! xh5 27.d7 b8 28.d6 a4 29.b6! a8 30.xa6! c2+ 31.e2 and White is winning ] 21.cd1 f6 Black is coming with 22...Re8 and White doesn't have a nice square for the quee n a t t he mom ent . 22.g4!? I like this 489
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 move because it creates some problems for Black to solve. Now the queen has a good place to go. e8 [ 22...xg4 loses because of 23.g3 d7 24.e6+! fxe6 25.dxe6 e7 26.d7 and Black's position collapses ] 23.g3 g8? There was no need for this move and the king going to f8 and coming back to g8 cannot be good. After this move White has a tangible advantage. [ 23...xe1+ was necessary and after 24.xe1 d8 defends any trick with the q u e e n o n d 6 25.g5 e8 and Black's position is a bit passive, but still quite solid ( 25...xd5 doesn't work because of 26.xd5 xd5 27.d1 c6 28.d3 winning a piece )] 24.g5 xe1+ [ 24...d7 will be similar to the next note 25.d3 xg3 26.hxg3 xe1+ 27.xe1 f8 28.b3 transposes to the position analyzed in the next move ] 25.xe1 e8?! Now White wins a pawn. [ 25...d7 26.d3 xg3 27.hxg3 f8 28.b3 reaches a funny position. Black has the knight defending the pawn on c5 and he is not allowed to play 28...Rc8 because of 29.Bh3, winning. Also the bishop has no squares, the king can't go to the center. Still W hite is not winning, probably Black can sacrifice the pawn on c5 to bring the king into the game. ] 26.xe8+ xe8 27.d3 There is no way to defend the pawn on c5 without losing the pawn on b4, so W hite is much better. Still with the pawn on g5 Black has some hopes to h o ld t h e p o s it io n . a5 28.xd6 xd6 29.xc5 f8 30.f4 e7 31.f2 c8 32.f1 b7 Black wants to exchange the bishop and create a block with the king and knight. With the pawns on a5 and b4 this is not possible. White's king now goes for a long march and finally enters Black's position from the 8th rank. [ 32...f5!? was an interesting practical chance 33.e3 b1 34.d3! is the best, returning the pawn to centralize all th e pieces ( 34.a3 bxa3 35.bxa3 f5+ the bishop and knight are creating a wall, so White's king can't help the defence of the d5pawn 36.d2 d6 37.b7+ xd5
38.xa5 e4 and Black has good chances to hold ) 34...xa2 35.d4 h6 36.b3 and White is dominating ] 33.xb7 xb7 34.e3 c5 35.b5 d6 36.d4 With the king going to the queenside, there is not much to do. Black tried his best to hold the position, but it wasn't sufficient. b7 37.h4 f6 38.gxf6 gxf6 39.d3 h6 40.c4 c5 41.c2 d7 42.b5 xd5 43.xa5 c5 44.b3 b6 45.a6 c8 [ 45...c6 holds the king, but not the game 46.a3 bxa3 47.bxa3 will decide the game ] 46.b7 e7 47.h5 f5 48.c7 d4 49.f7 f5 50.d7 e2 51.e6 xf4+ 52.xf5 d3 53.g6 e5+ 54.g7 d6 55.b3 1-0
502 Larsen,Bent Timman,Jan H Tilburg (4) [Nigel Davies]
A13 2620 2625 1979
1.c4 b6 2.b3 b7 3.b2 f6 4.f3 e6 [ Larsen mentioned the possibility of 4...g6!? 5.xf6 exf6 6.c3 , obtaining the superior pawn structure at the cost of the two bishops. ] 5.e3 This looks quite innocuous but it puts great demands on Black's positional skills. T h e ce n t ra l p a wn s t ru ct u re ca n b e c o m e defined in a number of different ways which both players will have to judge very accurately. d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7.b5+ c6 8.e2 d6 9.c3 0-0 10.c1 bd7 11.0-0 c8?! [ 11...e7 followed by the centralisation of Black's rooks was better. ] 12.e1 e7 13.f1 c5 14.d4! Finally clarifying the position of the central pawns in a way the favours W hite. Black's hanging pawns on d5 and c5 are a problem here. fd8 15.g3 a6 16.h4 e6 17.e2 e8 18.g2 c7 19.c2 a5 [ After 19...c4 White can play 20.bxc4 dxc4 21.d5! xd5 22.d4! f6 ( 22...h6 23.df5 is even worse) 23.b5 , winning material. ] 20.c3! Getting ready to take on c5 without allowing Black to recapture with the b-pawn. 490
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 This forces his hand. c4 21.f4 e7 [ 21...xf4 22.exf4 c6 23.f5 is just very good for White. ] 22.f5 f8 23.xd6 xd6 24.b1 e4 25.ec1 a6 [ After 25...xc3? 26.xc3 b5 Larsen intended 27.bxc4 bxc4 28.b5 b4 29.xb4 axb4 30.3c2 when the weaknesses on b4 and d5 will spell Black's downfall. But Rybka pointed out an alternative for Black in 28...Bc6!. ] 26.e1 df6 27.h4 I suspect this move was played by Larsen with greater frequency than any other Grandmaster. Here the idea is to trap Black's knigh t on e4 with 28.f 3 . d8 28.bxc4 xc4 29.xc4 xc4 30.d3 d7 31.b2 a6 32.c2 a8 33.c6 xc6 34.xc6 c8 35.xc8+ xc8 36.f1 Th e e nd ga m e is cle a rly b e t t er f o r W h it e because of the bishop pair and the fact that the pawn duo on b6 and a6 can be blockaded just by White's a-pawn. So White's plan is to gradually advance on the kingside. f8 37.f3 d6 38.d3 b7 39.f2 c6 40.g4 h6?! 41.e2 e7 42.d1 e6 43.f2 b5 44.xb5 xb5 45.h3 The game was adjourned at this point so the players could go and eat dinner. This was one of the joys of p l a y i n g c h e s s b e f o r e t h e a d ve n t o f t h e personal computer. d6 46.d3 f8 47.f4 e6 48.e2! c6 49.e4 f6 50.d2 d6 51.a4 bc7 52.c3 c6 53.h5! Creating a permanent weakness on g7. d6 [ After 53...g5 54.exd5+ xd5 55.xd5 xd5 56.xg5 hxg5 57.c3 the pawn endgame is winning for White. ] 54.e3 c6 55.f4 dxe4+ [ Or 55...d6 56.e5+ c6 57.f5 etc. ] 56.xe4 d6 57.c1 d7 58.a3 e8 59.d5 d8 [ After 59...c5+ 60.xc5 bxc5 61.d3 f o llo we d b y 6 2 . K c4 , W h it e win s t h e c5 pawn. ] 60.d4 d7 61.c4 e8 62.e4 f7 63.f8 d8 [ 63...fd6+ 64.xd6 xd6+ 65.xd6 xd6 66.b5 ] [ 63...c7 64.b5 /\65.d6 ] 64.g3 1-0
503 Lautier,Joel Sokolov,Andrei ch-Gp A Marsailles FRA (7) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2675 2604 19.08.2001
1.c4 e6 2.c3 b4 3.f3 White invites transposition to the Nimzo-Indian. c5!? [ 3...e7!? 4.d4 c5 was tried in Beim,VBronstein,D/Rishon Le Ziyyon 1991, and ] [ 3...f5!? 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 reached a Dutch-style position in Horvath,G-Meszaros, A/Zalakaros 1992. ] [ 3...f6 4.d4 would be normal, of course. ] 4.g3 c6!? [ In this key battle (Lautier had to win to qualify for the top group, Sokolov to draw) Bla ck f in d s a n e w m o ve o n m o ve f o u r! Ob viou sly h e d e cid e d t o avo id W h it e 's e x t e n s i v e o p e n i n g k n o w l e d g e . 4...f6 5.c2 c6 6.g2 0-0 leads to more normal lines, Uhlmann,W-Taimanov,M/Brno 1975. ] 5.g2 ge7!? 6.0-0 0-0 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 [ Tempting Black to play 8...xc3 9.bxc3 a5 with a more double-edged position, but Black prefers to stay solid. ] 9.e4!? This looks artificial, although the threats to d6, and the b4-bishop, seem real enough. d5! Black changes tack: the IQP position will prove very playable thanks to the time lost by the white queen's knight. 10.cxd5 exd5 11.g5 h6 12.gf3 'Knights are at their worst when defending each other'- 101 Tips to Improve Your Chess. g4 13.h3 h5 14.f4 c5 15.c1 b6 Black has an active position with pressure on d4. One of White's standard plans in such positions, the capture on c6 to produce a backward c-pawn, is no longer a problem as the knight is defended by its brother on e7. 16.d2 [ This cuts-off the f4-bishop's return, but if 16.g4!? g6 and the bishop will come to the outpost on e4. ] 16...xf3! Breaking White's hold on d4. 17.xf3 [ 17.xc6? is impossible: xc6 18.xf3 g5! 19.e3?! d4 and a piece drops. ] 17...g6 The bishop has nowhere to go, so opposite-colour bishops will arise. 18.e3?! 491
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xf4 19.gxf4 d4 20.e4 White is still hoping chipping away at the queenside with b6 to win, but now it is Black who is in the driving . The dark squares remain an issue for him, seat. a5 21.d3 f6 22.f5 ad8 23.a3 however. ] c7 White's kingside pawn structure is very 6.g3! Ouch! Only six moves in and Black is weak on the dark squares. 24.b4 f4 25.c5 under serious pressure. f6 fe8 26.d1 Naturally, Black is better, but a [ The point is that 6...f5? is met by 7.b4 b6 draw suited him well, otherwise he would 8.c5+- , trapping the hapless cleric. ] surely continue such a position. 7.e4! c5 8.e5 g6 9.d6+ e7 10.d3 ½-½ [ 10.f3!? ] 10...xg3 11.hxg3 c7 [ Black has to give a pawn since 11...h6? 504 A13 12.e4+- is awful. ] Le Quang,Liem 2693 12.xh7 xh7 13.xh7 h6 14.xc8+ Kurajica,Bojan 2551 xc8 15.e4 b8 16.f4 White is up a solid 40th Olympiad Open (2.28) 29.08.2012 pawn. f5 17.e2 d6 18.b4!? cxb4 19.axb4 dxe5 20.a3 f6? Trying to [John Bartholomew] escape the bishop's crosshairs, but Black is Le Quang Liem scores big in an unassuming soon forced back in to the line of fire. [ Threatening a back-rank check with line. 1.c4 e6 2.c3 b4 The Accelerated 20...h8! offered chances of resistance. ] Nimzo. 3.b3 e7?! Exceedingly rare, and 21.g4! h8 22.0-0-0 d6 23.g5+ e7 very likely dubious. Winning a piece. The rest is simple [ On 3...c5?! White has an idea related to 24.b5+our present game: 4.b5! f6 5.a3 a5 mop-up work for Vietnam's number one. exf4 [ Or 24...b8 25.fxe5+- . ] 6.d6+ e7 7.xc8+ xc8 8.g3 with an advantage in Hansen, C (2618)- 25.bxa6 bxa6 26.c2 h5 27.b1 xg5 28.b7 d7 29.xd6 xd6 30.d4 a5 Lobron, E (2550)/Germany 2000/[TonyK]. ] [ 3...c6 is the most reliable continuation. 31.xf4 g5 32.h5 f5 33.c5+ d7 Many games have been played in the line 34.f6+ d8 35.c6 a2+ 36.b3 d2 4.f3 f6 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 37.c4 c2+ 38.d3 c1 39.xa7 d1+ , where W hite has chances for a modest 40.c4 c1+ 41.b3 d1 42.d5 c1 43.d6 xd6 44.d7+ c8 45.b7+ edge but Black remains very solid. ] 4.b5! Highlighting the weakness of Black's Black resigned. If Black wants to enter the last move. The knight jump also prepares a A c c e l e ra t e d N im zo , I s u gg e st h e p re f e r sneaky queen transfer to which Black often quieter channels with 3...Nc6. Alternatives like 3.. . c5 ?! an d the gam e's 3 .. .Q e7? ! brin g falls victim. a6 5.a3!? [ In Kovacevic, B (2490)-Fucak, E (2311)/ misery after Nc3-b5 and Qb3-b3. Sibenik 2006 White played the immediate 1-0 5.g3 , and after f8?! ( 5...f5! ) 6.a3 c6 7.c3 ( 7.xa7! i s s t r o n g e r , a s d6 A13 is met by 8.xc8 xc8 9.b3 . ) 7...d6 505 Lunev,Andrey 2509 8.d3 c5 9.c2 e5 Kovacevic should Kortschnoj,Viktor 2632 have played 10.b4 ( 10.f3?? e4 11.d4 20.05.2003 d3+ 12.d1 xf2+ 13.e1 xh1-+ TCh Togliatti RUS (5) was the game continuation.) 10...e6 [Tony Kosten] 11.e3 with a more pleasant game. ] 5...a5? Striving to overprotect the c-pawn, 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ but the bishop is very poorly placed here. [ 5.a3!? is rarely played these days, and [ Better was 5...c5 6.g3 f5! , i.e. 7.d4 ( Black has compensation after 7.xc7+?! doesn't core very well for W hite, still he obtains the bishop pair, and there are some xc7 8.xc7 f6 ) 7...c6! 8.c7+ xc7 tricks that Black should avoid, like xa3 9.dxc5 a6 10.b4 and Black better start 492
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 6.bxa3 0-0 7.c2 b5?! 8.g5 c6 9.b2 (threatening Bxf6 and mate!) e8 10.0-0 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.h7+ f8 13.e4 g6 14.xg6 fxg6 15.d6 d8 16.xb5 a6 17.c3 xd2 18.e4 xe2 19.d6 d7 20.xc4 c2 21.e5 ( 21.b6 a7 22.fb1 e8 23.c8 drew in Varga,ZGyimesi,Z/Heviz HUN 2003) 21...e8 22.fd1 c5 23.f4 and Black had problems moving his pieces, Smyslov,V-Kholmov,R/ Baku 1961/URS-ch. ] 5...d7!? Very rare, and possibly played to take his opponent out of his book knowledge, the main move is [ 5...bd7 as in Illescas Cordoba,M-Shirov,A, for instance, although, ] [ 5...c6 is fairly trendy at the moment. ] 6.xc4 c6 This method of developing the bishop to the long diagonal is borrowed from the Catalan, and indeed this would transpose if White played d4 on either of his next couple of moves. 7.c3 The one problem with this natural move is that it cuts-off the queen's retreat to c2. [ 7.0-0 is probably better, bd7 8.c2 ( t h e p o i n t ) d6?! ( 8...e5 9.c3 c5 Karpov,A-Sunye,N Amsterdam 1985) 9.c3 0-0 10.a3 c5? 11.b4! ce4 12.d1 trapping the knight in mid-board, although Black is not without compensation, and drew after a5!? 13.d3 axb4 14.dxe4 xe4 15.b3 d5 16.d3 e7 17.e3 bxa3 Gelfand,B-Polgar,Z/Munich 1991. ] 7...a6!? Aiming for ...b5 to embarrass the queen. 8.0-0 [ 8.a3 is a bit passive, b5 9.a2 bd7 10.0-0 b7 11.d4 c5 and Black has no problems, Ru kavina, J-Sa ntos,J/Budva 1981. ] 8...b5 9.b3 bd7 10.d3 This is fairly normal for these positions, although actually a novelty here, but it may be better to play Catalan-style with [ 10.d4 e.g. b4?! 11.a4 d5 12.c2 e4 13.d1 c5 Stangl,M-Smagin,S/ Gelsenkirchen 1994, and now Stangl suggests 14.g5 ] 10...e7 11.d2 0-0 12.fc1 b7 13.d1?! A really very strange move, perhaps White is hoping to play a4, and then Ne3 to c4, b u t i t i s a b i t s l o w . c5 14.a4 c4!
A nice tactical trick, that effectively allows Black to plant his knight on b3. 15.dxc4 c5 16.e3 Effectively forced, as [ 16.a3 allows xf3! 17.xf3 xd2 18.xa8 xa8 with a clear advantage. ] 16...bxa4 This is the point of Black's 'petite combinaison', the knight is strongly-placed on c5, and there is a threat of ...Nb3, forking the two rooks. 17.e5?! White decides to jettison an exchange, but [ 17.d4 wa s t h e b e s t c h a n c e , xg2 18.xg2 d7 and White is hanging on, just. ] 17...xg2 18.xg2 b3 19.c6 d7 20.xe7+ xe7 21.xa4 b7+ 22.f3 xc1 23.xc1 fc8 The smoke clears and White has a pawn for the exchange, but this is not sufficient. 24.a3 d7 25.e3 h6 26.f2 ab8 [ 26...e5!? ] 27.d3 The white pieces have found reasonable squares. b3 28.c5? A serious error, the endgame was quite playable: [ 28.xb3 xb3 29.f4 followed by advancing the white king, and Black has a lo t o f wo rk a h e a d o f h im t o e xp lo it h i s advantage. ] 28...c2! Attacking e2. 29.f1 White is in real trouble, [ 29.f2? b3 30.a2 xd3 and a piece is lost. ] 29...b3 30.a1 xd3! Anyway! 31.exd3 xd3+ 32.f2 xc5 Black has exchanged his exchange for a piece, a couple of pawns and a strong attack. 33.d4 c2+ 34.d2 b3! The killer. [ 34...b3 35.xc2 xc2+ 36.f1 xa1 leaves Black a rook up. ] 0-1
506 Malakhov,Vladimir Oparin,Grigoriy Latvian Railway op rapid (2) [Fier, Alexandr]
A13 2717 2526 28.03.2014
This rapid game went quickly out of theory. B l a c k p l a ye d w i t h o u t a n y p l a n a n d wa s qu ickly wo rse . I t wa s b e t t e r t o b rin g t h e bishop to c5 in one move and play ...a5 at 493
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 some point, since the main plan for White is to play with b4. 1.c4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.b3 d4 [ 3...f6 4.b2 e7 5.e3 0-0 6.e2 was analyzed for Chess Publishing in a game from 1935! Botvinnik, M-Chekhover, V/ Moscow 1935. ] 4.e3 c6 [ 4...c5 would lead to a Benoni-kind of position 5.exd4 cxd4 6.g3 Damljanovic, B (2569)-Palac, M (2571)/EU-chT (Men) 19th 2013 (5.8) ] 5.b2 This move can be controversial, the bishop hits the rock on d4 and stays passive in some variations. W hite's idea is to force Black to have a pawn on d4 instead of a piece and later to put pressure on it. e5 6.exd4 exd4 7.d3 f6 8.e2 Later the bishop can be relocated, right now the safety of the king is more important. [ 8.g3 i s t o o s l o w b4+! 9.bd2 0-0 10.g2 e8+ and White will need to resign soon ] 8...e7 [ 8...c5 I would prefer this move. Sooner or later Black will need to defend this pawn 9.0-0 ( 9.a3 a5 ) 9...0-0 and there are good chances for W hite to enter the same position of the game with a tempo less ] 9.0-0 0-0 10.a3 e8 [ 10...a5 is not the right move order 11.b5! and the knight is much better here than on c2 c5 12.a3 with a pleasant position for White ] [ 10...c5 is good, but chess players are proud 11.c2 a5 12.a3 e8 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 xa1 15.xa1 xb4 16.xb4 xb4 17.xd4 with a better version of the game ] 11.c2 c5 12.e1 [ 12.b4 w a s a l r e a d y p l a y a b l e xb4 13.cxd4 g4 14.a3 xd4 15.xd4 c6 16.e3 with chances for both players ] 12...g4 Slightly superficial. [ 12...a5 is a good idea, exchanging one of the rooks 13.a3 f5 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 xa1 16.xa1 xb4 17.cxd4 ( 17.fxd4 g6 18.xb4 xb4 19.f1 d6 ) 17...xd3! now this is possible 18.xf5 ( 18.xd3 xe1+ 19.xe1 xd4 and Black is more than ok) 18...xf2+ 19.f1 xe1 20.xd3 b4 21.xd8 xd8
22.xf6 gxf6 and with two pawns to comp ensa te t he knights the pos itio n is level ] 13.h3 h5 14.b4! White has developed all his pieces so it's time to open the position. xb4 15.cxd4 g6 16.d2 [ 16.b3 w a s a l s o p o s s i b l e xd3! a n d b y m a g i c e ve r yt h i n g i s d e f e n d e d ! ( 16...f8 17.e5 with a good position) 17.xc5 xe2 18.b3 c6 19.e5 xe5 20.xe2 g6 21.xe8+ xe8 22.xf6 b6! and the position is unclear ] 16...f8 [ 16...d6 is more active, but it can make the next move trick impossible 17.a3 xe2!? 18.xe2 xd3 19.c3 is interesting, but hard to evaluate ] 17.a3 a6?! Black wants to bring the knight to c5, but it's not really helping there. [ 17...xe2 is the same idea as in the last move's variation 18.xe2 xd3 19.h4 e4 and it looks like Black's pieces are not so stable ] [ 17...xd3! was a good shot, Black can use the pin on the d-file 18.xd3 xd3 19.xd3 c5 20.xe8 xe8 and the position is equal ] 18.f1 xe1 19.xe1 c5 The main problem for Black is that he hasn't any useful plan for the moment. White, on the other hand, can improve the knights and push the d-pawn. [ 19...c5 is an ugly move, but at least it stops any central expansion 20.b5 ( 20.c2 d7 21.e3 ) 20...c7 21.xc7 xc7 22.h4 ( 22.xf6 gxf6 is not so good, White's bishop is more important than the doubled pawns) 22...d7 23.xg6 hxg6 and White has some advantage ] 20.e5 a4?! The beginning of a bad plan. [ 20...c6 21.df3 e6 22.xg6 hxg6 23.d4 and White is much better with the bishop pair and mobile center, but still this position is better than what happened in the game ] 21.a1 xa3? An ambitious idea, but White just wins a piece. 22.a5 b2 23.xb2 xb2 24.df3 And the knight on b2 has no squares. d6 [ 24...xd3 does not help 25.xd3 xd3 26.d1+- ] 25.b1 494
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 25.d4 was also possible, the knight is not going anywhere ] 25...b6 26.a1 xd3 27.xd3 xd3 28.d1 a5 29.xd3 The rest is easy. e7 30.a4 h6 31.e3 d6 32.a2 c5 33.a4 h5 34.d7 f6 35.d3 f4 36.d6 e6 37.b7 e8 38.xb6 a4 39.c6 b8 40.d1 a3 41.a4 d4 42.xa3 1-0
507 Mareco,S Tristan,Leonardo 86th ch-ARG 2012 (3.1) [John Bartholomew]
A13 2586 2449 06.07.2012
W e've examined some of the more volatile lines in the Neo-Catalan over the past few months. This game proceeds down calmer channels but suddenly gets interesting. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.0-0 [ Our April and May updates focused on the h y p e r - p o p u l a r 5.a4+ c6 ( 5...bd7 6.xc4 a6 Naiditsch, A (2702)-Papin, V (2575)/Plovdiv BUL 2012/[John Bartholomew].) 6.xc4 b5 and now either 7.b3!? ( or 7.c2 )] 5...bd7 6.a4 c5 7.xc4 b6 This line has an extremely solid reputation. Black strives to develop as harmoniously as possible. 8.d1!? Exceedingly rare in this exact position, yet very standard in the Neo-Catalan. The x-ray is uncomfortable for Black, so White is fully justified in postponing d2-d4. [ Most usual is 8.d4 , but b7 9.c3 a6! has proven to be very reliable for Black. Take a quick look at the statistics to conf irm: Black is +10, =28, -4 f rom this position! ] [ The forcing line 8.d4 e5! 9.c6 xc4 10.xd8 d5 11.c3 xd8 12.xd5 b7 isn't anything to write home about either. ] 8...b7 9.c3 c8 [ I believe now is the ideal time for 9...a6! - before White can retreat the queen to e2. Two high -level e xa mp le s: 10.a4 c8 ( 10...e7 11.d4 c8 12.g5 cxd4 13.xd4 h6 14.e3 c5 15.d2 e7 16.xc5 xc5 17.f4 0-0 18.d6 c7 19.xc7 xc7 20.d6 c6 21.e5 xg2
22.xg2 b8 23.ad1 Karpov, A (2690)Miles, A (2555)/England 1977.) 11.d4 ( 11.e4 ) 11...cxd4 12.xd4 c5 13.f4 e7 14.e3 xe3 15.xe3 0-0= Ribli, Z (2590)-Korchnoi, V (2695)/ BadenBaden 1981. ] 10.e4 a6 11.e2 e5? This meets with a spectacular blow. [ 11...c7 is most accurate, side-stepping problems down the d-file. After 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 c4! Black can hope to complete development and castle. ] 12.d4!! Bombs away! This line-opening sacrifice is entirely correct given Black's vulnerability down the d and e-files. cxd4 [ 12...exd4 13.e5 is even worse, e.g. d5 14.e6 fxe6 15.xe6+ e7 16.h3! d8 (17. Re1 was a big threat) 17.xd5 xd5 18.e1 d6 19.g5+- ] 13.xd4 exd4?! [ 13...c7 14.f5 is surely unpleasant for Black, though it might have promised a better fate than the game. ] 14.e5 xg2 15.exf6+ e7 16.xd4! c6 17.f4? White has conducted the attack beautifully, but here he misses a knockout. [ 17.fxg7! g8 18.h6+- leaves Black with little hope of escape. For example, c7 19.e1 e5 ( 19...e5 20.d1! f6 21.e4 xe4 22.dxe4+- ) 20.d5! xd5 21.xd5 g6 ( 21...f6 22.h5+ g6 23.f5+- ) 22.h4!! and Black is utterly helpless. ] 17...gxf6 18.e1 0-0 19.xe7 xe7 20.xe7 fd8 21.f1 Black has kept W h i t e ' s a d v a n t a g e t o a m i n i m u m . c5 22.xd8+ xd8 23.c7 d2 24.e2 xe2 25.xe2 b5 26.e3 b4 27.e2 b3 28.axb3 xb3 29.f4 c5 30.h5 d7 31.f4 f8?! Why? 32.xf6+ g7 33.e5 g6 34.h4 e6+ 35.g4? An unfortunate misstep. [ 35.e3 ] 35...h5+! 36.h3 [ Not 36.xh5?? f5+ . ] 36...f3 37.g4 Draw agreed. [ A likely continuation is 37.g4 hxg4+ 38.xg4 f5 39.h2 d5 40.d6 f4+ 41.xf4 xf4= . Mareco posed Black some interesting problems in this line, so it's a shame he couldn't finish the job. Probably 495
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...a6! is the way to deal with 8.Rd1!? ] ½-½
508
A13 Matamoros Franco,Carlos S 2529 Ibarra Chami,Luis Fernando 2364 II ch-Ibero-Americano Gp C (2) 16.02.2008 [Carsten Hansen]
1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 dxc4 5.c2 d5 This is the move that has been the topic of discussion in the Forum for a while. Some claim it to be good for Black, but it appears W hite can claim an edge, but it is nevertheless an interesting option for Black. 6.0-0 [ White has two other options that can be considered at this juncture: A) 6.b3 cxb3 7.xc7 a6 8.f4 d6 9.a4+ d7 10.xb3 xb3 11.axb3 c5 12.a3 d5 ( 12...0-0 13.0-0 c6 14.d3 a5 15.bd2 b5 16.d4 xg2 17.xg2 cd7 18.a2 fb8 19.a3 xa3 20.xa3= ) 13.b2 0-0 14.e5 b5 15.c4 e7 16.d3 b4 17.0-0 c6 18.bd2 ( 18.d4!? xg2 19.xg2 e4 20.c1 b5 21.cd2 ) 18...fd8 ( 18...xg2 19.xg2 b5!? ) 19.aa1 xg2 20.xg2 f6 ( 20...b5 21.e5 a5= ) 21.fc1 ( 21.d4!? ca6 22.f3 ) 21...c6 ( 21...e5! 22.a3 e6= ) 22.a3 d4 23.xc5 xc5 1/2-1/2 Hulak, K-Sargissian, G/Antalya 2004, and now I think W hite can claim an edge with 24.e3 b5 25.d4 b4 26.e4 ] [ B) 6.c3 c5 A) 7.d4 cxd3 8.xd3 c6 9.0-0 b4 10.b1 e7 11.f4 bd5 A1) 12.xd5 xd5 13.e5 f6 14.d4 b5 15.e4 b4 16.d1 ( 16.a4 h5 17.e5 d7 18.exf6 gxf6 19.e4 e5 20.c3 c6 ) 16...0-0 17.e3 h5 18.a3 c6 19.a2 d6 20.ac1 f7; A2) 12.e5 xc3 13.xc3 c6 14.d3 0-0 15.fd1 h5 16.ac1 d5 17.d4 f6 18.e4 c7 19.b3 Snape, I-Barlow, J/corr 2002; B) 7.0-0 d6 8.d4 cxd3 9.xd3 c6 10.g5 ( 10.e3 h5 11.b5 0-0 12.xd6 d8 is insufficient for White)
10...0-0 11.xf6 gxf6 12.e4 f5 13.h4 e5 14.xd6 xd6 15.f3 f5 16.e4 fxe4 17.g4+ h8 18.xe4 ] 6...c6 7.a3 [ 7.c3!? looks counter-intuitive, but may well be White's best move, e.g. c5 8.b3 cxb3 9.xb3 a5 10.c2 d6 11.d4 c4 A) 12.d1!? d5 13.b2 d7 14.d2 ( 14.e5 xe5 15.dxe5 c6 16.ac1 xc3 17.xc3 xc3 18.xc3 xg2 19.xa5 c6 20.xc7= ) 14...a6 15.e5 xe5 16.dxe5 c4 17.c2 xc3 18.xc3 c6 19.xc6+ xc6 20.ac1 b5 21.a4 a6 22.b4; B) 12.e3 d5 13.b2 xc3 14.xc3 d7 15.d2 a6 16.xa5 ( 16.fb1! ) 16...xa5 17.xb7 b8 18.c6 ( 18.c4 a4 19.xa4 xa4 20.xd6+ cxd6 21.fc1 ) 18...xc6 19.xc6+ e7 20.c2 h5 ( 20...d5 21.e4 hd8 22.ab1 ) 21.c4 d5 22.fd1 Ragot, N-Komljenovic, D/Plancoet 2003 ] 7...xa3 8.bxa3 e5 [ 8...e4 9.d1 0-0 10.b2 f5 11.c1 c5 12.a4 d8 13.d4 b4 14.c2 A) 14...d5 15.ab1 b6 A1) 16.g5 f5 17.xc6 bxc6 18.e4 c5 19.exf5 exf5 20.dxc5 xc5 21.c3 ( 21.fe1 b7! 22.a5 h6 23.a6 c6! ) 21...e7 22.a5 d5 23.xc4 xg5 24.c6 b7 25.xb7 f4; A2) 16.fc1 xa4 17.xa4 xa4 18.xc4 xb2 19.xb2 e5 20.e3 d6 21.h4 exd4 22.xd4 xd4 23.xd4 xd4 24.exd4 b8 25.c2 c6 26.d5 cxd5 27.xd5 e6 28.xe6 fxe6 29.c7; B) 14...d7 15.c3 e7 16.ab1 ab8 17.e4 e8 ( 17...a5!? 18.fe1 ) 18.fe1 a5 19.e2 d7 20.xc4 b6 21.b3 a8 22.ec1 b8 ( 22...f6 23.e1 f7 24.bc1 ) 23.a1 a6 ( 23...c6 24.b2 ) 24.c3 xa4 25.xa5 Vaulin, A-Mackic, Z/Nis 1993 ] 9.b2 [ 9.g5!? leads to interesting complications: d4 10.a4+ b5 11.xb5+ xb5 12.a4 d6 ( 12...d4 13.b2 0-0 14.e3 e2+ 15.h1 d8 16.xe5 xd2 17.xf6 gxf6 18.e4 b2 19.xf6+= ) 13.b2 h6 496
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.h3 fe4 15.xe5 0-0 16.f4 e8 A) 17.d4 c6 18.fe1 ( 18.f3 f6 19.xd6 xd6 20.e4 f7 21.ac1 g5 ) 18...g5 19.h5 g4 20.f3 ( 20.xd6 xh5 21.a3 c3 22.e3 xa4 ) 20...xh5 21.xh5 e7 22.ac1 d8; B) 17.b2 f5 ( 17...xd2?! 18.fd1 2e4 19.d5 c3 20.a3 c2 21.dc1 c4 22.b4 c5 23.xc2 cxb4 24.xc4 d6 25.d4 ) 18.fd1 ad8 19.d4 ( 19.d3 c5!; 19.f3 c5 20.a5 a4 ) 19...b6 20.f3 g5 21.a5 b5 22.f2 c2 23.dc1 xd2 24.e1 exe2 25.xe2 xe2 26.f2 e6 27.f1 bd4; C) 17.d4 c6 18.d3 cxd3 19.exd3 f5 C1) 20.xg7 exg3 21.fxg3 xg7 22.a5 e3 23.h5+ C1a) 23...g6 24.f4+ g7 25.h5+= ( 25.fc1 xg2 26.xg2 e5 27.a6 bxa6 28.ab1 a5 ); C1b) 23...f8 24.f6 g4 25.f4; C2) 20.b2 c5 21.a5 a4 , and here White forfeited and thus 0-1 in Vidal, L-Cipressi, N/ICCF 2005, but W hite is better after 22.c1!? , e.g. ( also 22.a3!? looks good for White) 22...a6 23.b1 g5 24.h5 ] 9...e4 10.xf6 gxf6 11.h4 d4 [ 11...f5!? 12.f3 f4 13.xe4+ xe4 14.fxe4 fxg3 15.hxg3 g4 ] 12.xe4+ xe4 13.xe4 xe2+ 14.g2 0-0 15.fe1 d4 16.ac1 e6 17.xb7 ab8 18.a6 b5 19.a4?! [ 19.xb5 xb5 20.c2 d8 21.e3 g7= ] 19...d6 20.d3 b4! 21.xc4 [ 21.a5 a4 22.xc4 xc4 23.dxc4 xa2 24.a1 b2 25.ed1 fb8 ] 21...xc4 22.dxc4 xa4 23.g1!? The idea behind this move only becomes a p p a r e n t a f t e r W h i t e ' s n e x t m o v e xa2 24.g2 White wants to remove Black's bishop on e6, as it helps Black secure a clear advantage by preventing W hite from penetrating on the seventh rank, while simultaneously applying pressure on White's queenside. a6?! [ 24...d8! 25.a1 ( 25.f4?! dd2-+ ) 25...dd2 26.xa2 xa2 27.c5 ( 27.e3?! a5-+ ) 27...a5 28.f4 g4 29.g2 d7
30.f3 ( 30.e7? d2-+ ) 30...c6+ 31.e3 c2 with excellent winning chances for Black ] 25.f4 [ 25.e3 c6 26.f4 c5 27.g4 f5 28.gxf5 xf5 29.f2 e6 ] 25...c6 26.xe6!? [ 26.h5 d8 ( 26...f5 27.a1 a8 ) 27.xf6+ g7 28.d5 a5 ( 28...xd5? 29.cxd5 xc1 30.xc1 xd5 31.xc7= ) 29.e3 a6 ] 26...fxe6 27.ed1 d6?! [ With the win within reach, Black starts hesitating he should keep the pressure on W hite with 27...a5! 28.a1 c5 29.db1 f7 30.a4 e7 31.g2 d8 , and Black should win, though there is still a lot of work left to be done. ] 28.c5?! [ 28.xd6 cxd6 29.a1 f7 30.f4 c7 31.a6 d7 32.f2 f7 33.e3 h5 34.d4 with decent drawing chances for White thanks to his active pieces ] 28...xd1+ 29.xd1 a5 30.a1 a8 31.a4 W ith a passive rook and a pawn less, this endgame is lost f or W hite. But it is quite instructive how White blocks the black a-pawn as far back as possible and then creates counterplay with his king on the kingside. e5 32.g2 f7 33.f3 e6 34.g4 c6 35.h4 a7 36.h5 h6 37.f3 a8 38.e4 f5+ 39.f3 d5 40.g4 f4?! [ 40...e4+! 41.f4 fxg4 42.xg4 e5 43.h3 a7 44.g4 ( 44.f3 exf3 45.g3 d5 46.xf3 xc5-+ ) 44...g7+ 45.h3 f4 46.xa5 g5 47.a3 ( 47.h4 g1 48.h3 f3-+ ) 47...xc5 48.g2 xh5-+ ] 41.g5! hxg5 42.g4 e4 43.h6 f3 [ Black wins with 43...e3! 44.fxe3 fxe3 45.f3 h8 46.xa5 g4+ 47.xe3 xh6 48.f4 g6 49.g3 c4 ] 44.xg5 xc5??= [ With this obvious looking move, Black throws the win away. Like on the previous move, Black should have played 44...e3! , although the win is more complicated in this variation, e.g. 45.fxe3 g8+ 46.h5 f8 47.e4+ e5 48.h7 f2 49.a1 xe4 50.g6 f3 51.g7 d8 52.h8 xh8 53.xh8 g2-+ ] 45.h7 b5 46.xe4! a4 47.e7 497
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 47.h4 h8 48.f6 a3 49.g7 a2 moment Black's bishop on b7 is a miserable 50.h1 xh7+ 51.xh7 c4 52.g6 b3 piece and it's very hard to achieve a 53.f5 b2 54.e4 a1 55.xa1 xa1 successful ...c5. One analytical sample: 0-0 56.xf3 b2 57.e3 c5 58.d3 b3 12.bd2 e7 13.aa1 a6 14.fc1 fc8 59.d2= ] 15.e5 b4 16.c5 xc5 17.xc5 fd5 47...a3 48.a7 h8 49.g6 b4 50.b7+ 18.e4 f6 19.f3 d8 20.cc1 a5 c4 51.a7 b3 52.b7+ c4 53.a7 21.c5 with pressure. ] ½-½ 6...bd7!? The right idea, but I think that [ 6...a6! discourages White's best plan, i.e. , 7.a3 xa3 8.xa3 b4! and White 509 A13 can't play Qc2. ] Matamoros Franco,Carlos S 2522 7.c2?! [ T h i s i s t h e l a s t c h a n c e f o r 7.a3! Suba,Mihai 2529 , when the dark squares will provide at least VIII Malaga Open (7) 24.02.2005 some compensation: xa3 8.xa3 e5! [John Watson] ( 8...e7 9.c2 e5 10.xc4 e4 ) 9.c2 e7 10.xc4 e4 11.d4 0-0 with ...Ne5 T h e f o llo win g ga m e b e t we e n t wo st ro n g or ...Nb6-d5 to come. ] Grandmasters who understand the English tests one of White's disruptive ideas versus 7...c5 8.a3 [ 8.xc4 e5! ( or 8...d5 , also threatening the solid Slav. 1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.g2 d5 ...Nb3. )] 4.f3 e6 [ In the Dynamic English Tony gives the 8...b6!? Suba is typically clever and indirect. variation 4...dxc4 5.c2 ( 5.a4 The obvious [ 8...b3! is somewhat better for Black since is also reasonable, as the game see he wins the two bishops after 9.a2 d5 Radjabov-Svidler, Internet INT 2003 ( 9...xc1 10.xc1 d5! 11.xc4 d6 shows. ) 5...b5 6.b3! cxb3 7.axb3 b7 12.aa1 0-0 13.d4 is also favourable) ( 7...e6 8.e5 ) 8.a3 . A major difference 10.xc4 xc1 11.xc1 e7 12.d4 0-0 ] between this and the game is that in the c a s e o f . . . e 6 W h i t e g e t s t o e xc h a n g e 9.xc4 b3 10.c3! [ 10.d4 xc2 11.xc2 b3 Black's good bishop and prevent him from is unattractive. ] castling at the same time. ] 5.0-0!? In this particular order, I'm not sure 10...d5 11.d4 b4! Threatening ...Nb3 that this standard sacrifice fully holds up. It again. Tempting but weaker was [ 11...f6 12.a3 b4 13.e4 e5? does cause a lot of problems, however, and is 14.fxe5! ] in line with an aggressive approach to the [ or 11...c2 12.e3 xe3 13.xe3 b3 English. 14.d4 xd4 15.xd4 with the slightest [ The conventional move is 5.b3 ] of edges due to White's extra centre pawn. ] 5...dxc4 6.a4 [ White could try the gambit here as well but 12.a3 b5? [ It was time to cash in Black's small the move 0-0 costs him a key tempo on the a d va n t a g e b y 12...b3 . Suba may have queenside, e.g., 6.c2 b5 7.b3 cxb3 feared 13.d6+ xd6 ( 13...xd6 8.axb3 b7 ( 8...d6 9.e4! intending e5 14.xb4 xb4 15.xb3= ) 14.xb3 10.d4 ) 9.d4 I don't trust this, but at least , b u t t h e n c5 is awkward, for example, W h i t e h a s a p o s i t i v e p l a n , e . g . , e7 15.e4 b6 16.d3 b7 ] ( 9...bd7!? 10.e5 xe5 11.dxe5 d5 12.c3 b4 13.e4 0-0 14.a3 a5 13.axb5 b3 14.xb3! xb3 15.bxc6 15.fc1 ) 10.a3 xa3 11.xa3 with material equality and a large advantage. 16.d3 b4 and White will try to bring a knight to e4 and Th e ga me con tinu e d a6 rook to c1 to control c5. The idea Ne5-d3 17.d2 [ Or 17.g5! c5 18.xc5 xc5 19.e5 ] will sometimes serve the same purpose. This may seem a bit far-fetched but for the 17...c5 18.a1! b5 19.e4 f6 20.b6 498
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d8 21.xc5 xc5 22.c7 Effectively winning. xb6 23.cxd8+ xd8 24.e5 e8 25.c4 c7 26.f4+ c6 27.xb6 axb6 28.c1+ b5 29.c8 g8 Black needn't play on. 30.e5 d7 31.c3 e5 32.d4! exd4 33.f1+ a4 34.xd4 c5 35.xc5 bxc5 36.b8 h5 37.c4 a5 38.f1 f8 39.e1 f6 40.d2 h4 41.b5 hxg3 42.hxg3 f5 43.xe8 f7 44.c4 d7+ 45.c3 fxe4 46.e6 a7 47.c6 a8 48.xc5+ 1-0
510 Miroshnichenko,Evgenij Kruppa,Yuri 6th Open Dubai UAE (4) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2599 2533 22.04.2004
1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 dxc4 4.g2 This is quite playable, although W hite normally prefers to recapture the c-pawn immediately by [ 4.a4+ ] 4...c6 This aims to protect the c-pawn, and forces White to look for positional c o m p e n s a t i o n . 5.c2 This forces Black to commit himself to the weakening ... b5 should he desire keeping his extra pawn. White can also continue developing: [ 5.0-0 f6 6.a4 a6 7.a3 xa3 8.xa3 b4 9.a5! 0-0 10.b3! cxb3 11.xb3 and I had real comp for the pawn: more space, open queenside lines, and the bishop pair, Kosten,A-Goldin,A/Paris 1994. ] [ 5.a3 Gurevich,D-Fridman, D/Europe vs Americas, Mermaid Beach BER 1998 can also be met by xa3 ] 5...b5 Black hangs-on to the pawn. 6.0-0 b7 7.a4 a6!? Aiming straight for the weakness on b4. [ 7...f6 reaches a more common position, 8.d1 ( 8.b3 cxb3 9.xb3 a6 10.d4 with typical compensation for the pawn, Fioramonti, H-W irthensohn,H/SW Z 1999) 8...a6! as in the main game, 9.b3 cxb3 Szczepaniec,S-Popov,V/Koszalin POL 1999, and now I have no idea why W hite didn't play 10.xb3 ] 8.b3 A typical device to open queenside files
against the weakish black structure. cxb3 9.xb3 c5 [ 9...b4!? is also possible, but leaves a nice square on c4 for a white knight. ] 10.b2 Forced, or the a4-pawn drops. b6 Now Black is really putting the question to the a4-pawn. [ 10...xa4? 11.xa4 bxa4 12.xb7 ] 11.a5 there is an alternative in [ 11.c3 which keeps more tension, although af ter b4 White has to retreat by, say 12.d1 ] 11...a6 12.d4? This is too casual, I prefer [ 12.c3 to cover a4, when f6 13.d4 forces cd7 when White has typical compensation. ] 12...a4 This is the problem, now that the b7bishop is protected the knight assumes an advanced post (albeit slightly offside) that hinders White's natural development . In the meantime the a5-pawn is vulnerable. 13.c2 f6 Time to complete the kingside development. 14.e5 White aims for c6, but this is easily defended for the moment. There is something to be said for [ 14.a3 which both develops a piece, and stops ...c5 (which would be answered by Nxb5 when the a4-knight would lose it's pawn defender), e.g. xa5 15.d2 d8 16.e5 c8 ] 14...c8 [ 14...c5?! is pre ma t ure , 15.xb7 xb7 16.xa4! bxa4 17.xa4+ d7 18.d1 with a very strong initiative, Black will have serious difficulties getting castled. ] 15.d2 [ 15.a3!? ] 15...e7 Once Black castles he will actually be ahead in development, when with his extra pawn and useful queenside development he will be well on top. 16.e4?! White wants to control c5 before Black can play the liberating ...c5 move, but this loses a further pawn. [ 16.b1!? might be th e best try, xa5 ( 16...c5? would now lose to 17.xb7 xb7 18.xa4 as the b-pawn is pinned) 17.b3 a6 18.c5 xc5 19.dxc5 and White has at least got some real compensation for his 2-pawn deficit. ] 16...c5! This is the move Black wants to play, advancing his backward c-pawn and freeing 499
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.g2 exd5 11.xd5 xg4 One extra pawn will not give Black much relief for his forthcoming pain on the open files on the kingside. 12.e3 [ 12.c2 creates numerous threats, including 13 Nxc7 and 13 Nf6+ gxf6 (13... Bxf6 14 Qxh7) 14 Rxh4. ] 12...c8 Black could do little else to meet the threats towards b7 and g4. 13.c2 h6 [ Black loses a piece in the case of 13...g6? 14.c3 f6 15.xh4 ] [ or 13...f5? 14.c4+ h8 15.xh4 ] 14.f5 xf5 [ 14...f6 15.xh6+! gxh6 16.xh6 xb2 17.h7# is a quick way for Black to exit. ] 15.xf5 d7 16.e4! This direct move is even stronger for White than 16 Bxb7 or 16 511 A13 Rxh4 Qxh4 17 Qxd7. g6 17.f4 g5 [ 17...g5 18.f5 leads to another dead-end Motwani,Paul for Black. ] Motwani,Paul 'Dream Game', January 1999 1999 18.xh6! xh6 [ 18...xf4 19.h8# ] [Paul Motwani] 19.xh6 f6 20.xg6 This final destructive W59: "A Dream Game" The funny thing about sa crif ice le a ve s B la ck' s kin g h o p e le s s l y the following game is that it happened to me... exposed. [ 20.0-0-0 followed by Rh1 is equally in a dream! It's a battle of me against myself, deadly. ] where everything looks bright for White and 20...fxg6 21.xg6+ h8 22.0-0-0 d5 really black for Black! 1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 [ If 2...dxc4 , then White can choose 23.f3 [ B l a c k c o u l d o n l y h o p e f o r 23.h1+?? between 3 Na3, 3 Qa4+, and 3 e3 to quickly xh1+ but of course White can find a win win back a pawn on c4, and personally I even with closed eyes! ] would favour the third option. ] 3.b3 e7 4.b2 f6!? Black spends a 23...c6+ 24.b1 Black resigned. precious tempo to move a bishop f or the 1-0 second time already, because he hopes to nullify the effect of White's counterpart on the A13 long a1 to h8 diagonal, but in this particular 512 Naiditsch,Arkadij 2702 dream game the b2-bishop later turns Black's Papin,V 2575 life into a nightmare. 5.c3 e7 13th EICC Plovdiv BUL (2.9) 21.03.2012 [ 5...d4 allows 6.e4 ] 6.g4!? g for "go for it" is a favourite attacking [John Bartholomew] motto of mine. g6 7.h4 A very active move for a sleeping player! xh4 8.xh4 xh4 1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 dxc4 9.cxd5 0-0? White has pieces pointing 5.a4+ bd7 Historically the most common menacingly towards the "hot" region where choice. [ The knight's development has lately been Black has unwisely castled. superseded by 5...c6 , but it remains a solid [ However, 9...f6 10.h2 ] choice for Black. ] [ or 9...exd5 10.xd5 xf2+ ( 10...xd5 11.xh4 ) 11.xf2 xd5 12.h5 6.xc4 a6 7.b3!? It's important to retreat looks rosy for White, especially after 12... now so Black can't play 7...b5 with tempo. [ White has the same choice here as he does e6?? 13.e5 ] his light-squared bishop, and it must be even more gratifying when it actually wins material! 17.dxc5 [ 17.xf6+ is met by gxf6 ( 17...xf6 is also good) 18.xb7 xb7 19.f3 cxd4 both winning another pawn and providing a nice square for the black knight on c3. ] 17...xe4 18.c6? [ 18.xe4 is better, as after xc5 19.xb7 xb7 White has the resource 20.b3 xe5 21.xa4 as the b-pawn is pinned, although Black should still win easily after xe2 ] 18...xc6 19.xc6 f5 The pinned c6-knight is lost immediately. 0-1
500
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 in the line 6...c6 6.Qxc4 b5. Thus, for 7.c2 see Bu Xiangzhi (2602)-Li Wenliang (2506)/ Qingdao 2002. ] 7...c5 Staking some space and preventing a true Catalan setup with d2-d4. [ 7...b5?! is met by 8.e5 , e.g. c5 ( 8...xe5 9.xa8 c5 10.g2 h5!? Milchev, N (2373)-Rusev, K (2521)/Plovdiv 2 0 0 8 . B l a c k h a s s o m e a c t i vi t y f o r t h e exchange, but it ought to be inadequate for t h e e x c h a n g e : 11.f4!? eg4 12.e3 with the idea of h4 13.h3 h6 14.g4 ) 9.c2 d5 10.d4 ( I like 10.a3!? to prevent ...Nd5-b4. ) A) 10...b7! 11.0-0 ( 11.dxc5?! b4 ) 11...b4 12.d1 xg2 13.xg2 d7 14.f3; B) 10...b4 11.c3 d5 12.f3 f6 13.c3 b7 14.xd5 xd5 15.xf6 gxf6 16.xd5 exd5 17.g4 d7 18.f4 Poluljahov, A (2554)-Fomichenko, E (2409)/Krasnodar 1999. ] [ Black often chooses the flexible 7...b8 . For instance, A) 8.d4 led to Catalan-style play in Ivanchuk, V (2739)-Naiditsch, A (2626)/ W arsaw 2005. Black equalized after b5 9.0-0 b7 10.f4 d6 11.c1 ( Naiditsch has accumulated a great deal of experience on both sides of the 5... Nbd7 line. 11.xd6 cxd6 12.bd2 0-0 13.fc1 b6 14.c2 fc8 15.ac1 xc2 16.xc2 h6 17.b3?! c8 18.d2 c4! 19.e1 xg2 20.xg2 e4 21.e3 d5 Grunberg, M (2442)N a i d i t s c h , A ( 2 6 5 4 ) / D r e s d e n 2 0 0 7 .) 11...xf4 12.gxf4 d5 13.e3 c5 14.dxc5 c8 15.c6 xc6 16.a3 b7 17.bd2 b4 18.d3 0-0=; B) Another Ivanchuk game went 8.0-0 b5 9.a4 b7! 10.axb5 axb5 11.d3 d6 12.e3 c5 13.c3 0-0 14.d2 xg2 15.xg2 g4!? Bu Xiangzhi (2675)Ivanchuk, V (2768)/ Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 201.; C) 8.a4!? b6 ( 8...c5 transposes to our main game.) 9.0-0 b7 10.c3 e7 11.d3 0-0 12.d1 c5 13.f4 a8 14.ac1 d5 15.xd5 xd5 16.c2 f6 Podkriznik, G (2332)-Sjugirov, S (2627)/Rogaska Slatina SLO 2011. Here
17.e4 b7 18.e5 looks a bit better for White. ] 8.a4 This is the principle downside of 5... Nbd7 compared to the 5...c6 6.Qxc4 b5 line. Black will often find it difficult to break with ...b7-b5. [ I also think Nigel Short's treatment of this position as worth studying: 8.d3 d6 9.0-0 b8 10.a4 b5 ( 10...b6!? ) 11.axb5 axb5 12.c3 0-0 13.g5 h6 ( 13...b6 is better ) 14.e4! hxg5 15.xd6 g4 16.g5 c4 17.dxc4 c5 18.d1 bxc4 19.a7 Short, N (2698)-Sveshnikov, E (2514)/Porto Carras GRE 2011. ] 8...b8 9.a5!? Consistent with White's restriction concept. [ White can also revert to 9.d3 , as in the game from the last note. ] 9...d6 The maneuver ...Bd6-c7 will be useful in harassing the a-pawn. [ After 9...b5 10.axb6 White can claim a long-term positional edge thanks to Black's extra iso lat ed pa wn. A n e xa m ple : xb6 11.c2 b3?! (I don't think Black should necessarily push for a queen trade) 12.xb3 xb3 13.d3 d6 14.bd2 b5 15.c4 c7 16.d2 d5 17.0-0 e7 18.fc1 b7 19.e1 b8 20.fd2 c8 21.f4 Korotylev, A (2607)-Gutov, A (2467)/Sochi 2008. ] 10.d3 d5 [ If unopposed, White's typical plan involves 0-0, Bc1-d2, and Nb1-a3-c4, controlling many key squares and keeping Black very tied down. Two responses are likely: 1) Black plays ...e6-e5 to try and develop the bishop along the c8-h3 diagonal, and/or 2) Black plays ...b7-b5, accepting the aforementioned "c" and "a" pawn weaknesses. In either case I believe White should have a nice, workable advantage. Let's see these scenarios in practice: 10...0-0 11.0-0 h6 12.d2 e8 13.a3 e5 14.c4 c7 15.fd1 e7 16.h4!? ( 16.a3!? ) 16...b5 17.axb6 xb6 18.a5! bd5 19.c2 d7 20.b3 d6 21.xc5 xc5 22.xc5 xb2 23.e4 b5 24.a3 e7 25.c3 b7 26.dc1 b8 27.d4! exd4 28.xd4 Lputian, S (2610)Piket, J (2575)/Sarajevo 1998. ] [ 10...c7 11.d2 0-0 12.0-0 d5 501
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.c1!? (a useful move since Nb1-a3 isn't possible right this second ) b5 14.axb6 7xb6 15.c2 d6 16.c3 (16.Na3 isn't as attractive now with Black's knight on b6) ( 16.a5! l o o k s s t r o n g t o o) 16...b4 17.d1 b7 18.e4 xe4 19.dxe4 e7?! 20.e1 ( 20.xb4 cxb4 21.xa6 ) 20...d7 21.f4 b5 22.d2 g5 23.xg5 xg5 24.c4 e7 25.c3 Romanov, E (2594) -Yevseev, D (2520)/St Petersburg RUS 2010. ] 11.c3! A good adjustment to Black's last move. c7?! [ 11...xc3 isn't too appealing in view of 12.bxc3!? when a pawn exchange on b6 after ...b7-b5 will leave White with a healthy and compact structure. Still, this may have been best for Black, i.e. 0-0 13.d2!? (the other knight heads for c4) b5 14.axb6 xb6 15.0-0 ] 12.0-0 xc3 13.xc3 0-0 14.f4?! This exchange lets Black off the hook too easily. [ White already has an attractive position, a n d I t h i n k 14.g5!? f6 15.e3 was a more focused continuation. White is hounding the c5 pawn and emphasizing that his dark square bishop is more useful than its Black counterpart. If Black doesn't play ... b7-b5, then W hite will create unbearable pressure by playing Nf3-d2-b3 and Rf1-c1. ] 14...xf4 15.gxf4 b6 16.e5 xe5?! [ 16...b7! is more accurate. Black will liquidate and fully equalize, i. e. 17.xb7 xb7 18.axb6 xe5 19.xe5 xb6= ] 17.xe5 b7 18.fc1! White retains a bit of pressure. d5 19.h3 [ 19.axb6! led to the immediate win of a p a w n , e . g . xb6 20.e4 c6 21.xc5 xc5 22.xc5 b5 23.d4 fd8 24.d5 exd5 25.exd5 ] 19...e8?! [ 19...c8! was better, overprotecting c5. For example, 20.xd5 exd5 21.axb6 xb6 22.xd5 xb2= ] 20.axb6 xg2 21.xg2 xb6 22.xc5 xb2 23.xa6 b7+ 24.ac6 bc8 25.e4 xc6 26.xc6 Should this be drawn with good defense? Most probably. In practice, Black is bound to suffer indefinitely (especially with the FIDE time control!). d7
27.c4 h6 28.c7 d8 29.g3 b8 30.c5 b1 31.g2 b2 32.c6 f8 33.e4 a2 34.e5 a8+ 35.h2 b8?! 36.f5! exf5? [ 36...e8! was correct. ] 37.xf5 Now the f7 weakness forces Black's rook into submission. f8 38.d7 b8+ 39.g2 a8+ 40.e4 c6 41.d4! g6 42.d5 c1 [ 42...xd5 43.xd5 a8 Albeit depressing, the rook ending held more drawing chances. ] 43.d8 xd8?! [ Black may be technically lost at this point, but 43...d2! was a more tenacious defense, i.e. 44.xf8+ xf8 45.e5 b2! (at least making it d if f icult f or W hite t o a d v a n c e t h e d - p a w n ) 46.d6+ e8 when White still has some work to do. ] 44.xd8+ g7 45.e7!+- A fantastic square for the queen: here she prepares the advance of the d-pawn, covers g5 from checks, and prevents Black's king from assisting in defense. g5 46.e5+ f6 47.e7+ g6 48.e8+ g7 49.d7+ g6 50.d5 h5 51.f5+ g7 52.d6 c6 53.d7 [ Black resigned because of 53.d7 c7 54.e6 . 5...Nbd7 is less concrete than 5... c6 6.Qxc4 b5, so maybe it's not surprising that it isn't as popular in the Houdini era. Several model continuations for White were shown in this game, and you can probably tell that I support the first player's cause. If you're thinking about giving 5...Nbd7 a try, you might want to also investigate another popular sixth move - 6...c5. ] 1-0
513 Ni,Hua Tischbierek,Raj Porto Mannu op 6th (9) [Kosten, Tony]
A13 2653 2414 14.06.2014
1.c4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 a6 4.g2 b5 The Romanishin Gambit. I had to prepare for this a few weeks ago (although the actual game took a different route), but didn't find anything convincing, and so I was curious and wanted to examine this quick win in more 502
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 detail. 5.b3 By far the number one move, simply defending c4 and preparing to develop the bishop to b2 if appropriate. [ 5.e5!? a7 6.d4 A) I analysed Wojtkiewicz, A (2551)Kamsky, G ten years ago, which continued instead 6...b7 7.d5 b4+ 8.c3 c5 and White was a bit better.; B) 6...d6 is answered by the neat trick 7.e3 as in the game, c5! ( 7...dxe5?! is m o re c om m o n , b u t 8.dxe5 xd1+ 9.xd1 c5 10.exf6 gxf6 favours White, Greenfeld, A (2530)-Loginov, V (2500) Beersheba 1998, 1-0 (55).) 8.c6 xc6 9.xc6+ d7 10.f3 c8 is a little plus for White, but no more, Neckar, L (2380)Panchenko, A Prague 1982, 1-0 (32).; C) 6...b4+!? new, 7.c3 d6 8.e3! Greenf eld would be well aware of this t h e m e ( s e e a b o v e ) , 0-0 ( 8...dxe5? is inad visa ble : 9.dxe5 c5 10.xd8+ xd8 11.exf6 gxf6 12.0-0-0+ ) 9.0-0 b7? ( 9...c5 ) 10.d5! dxe5 ( 10...a8 11.xf7! xf7 12.dxe6 wins material.) 11.xa7 bd7 12.cxb5 axb5 13.dxe6 xg2 14.xg2 fxe6 15.f3 Black has no c o m p e n s a t io n f o r t h e l o st e xch a n ge , Greenfeld, A (2545) -Smirnov, A (2463) Golden Sands 2014, 1-0 (35). ] 5...b7 [ 5...c5 is the equally popular alternative, when 6.0-0 ( 6.c3 is Damljanovic, BGeorgiev, K in the PGN Archive.) 6...b7 transposes below. ] [ I considered 5...d5 in Filippov, V-Korchnoi, V. ] 6.0-0 c5 7.c3 a5 This move, defending b5, was a favourite of Romanishin, but [ 7...b6 is the most common, when 8 e3 is s t a n d a r d , b u t 8.e1 intending e4 is interesting. ] 8.e3 e7 9.e2 Putting pressure on b5, White would like to force Black's hand. 0-0 [ 9...bxc4 10.bxc4 0-0 11.b1 led to a quick win for White in Akopian, V-Svidler, P, see my annotations. ] [ 9...b4 displaces the knight but allows White to open the a-file, 10.a4 0-0 11.a3 bxa3 12.xa3 c7 13.d4 with pressure, although Black's position is fairly solid, Kabanov, N (2509)-Turov, M (2561) Krasnoyarsk 2007, 1/
2-1/2 (64). ] 10.d1!? A novelty. This rook has a big future, and will soon be capturing the pawn on d7! [ 10.b2 is usual, but after bxc4 11.bxc4 White would prefer to have a rook on the open b-file. ] [ 10.cxb5 axb5 11.xb5 is greedy, yet playable, a7 12.e2 a6 13.d3 c6 with compensation for the pawn. ] 10...bxc4 11.bxc4 c6 12.e5!? c7 [ Houdini likes the cool 12...ab8 allowing 13.xc6 xc6 14.xc6 dxc6 when he considers that Black is slightly better. At first this seems absurd, as doesn't he have doubled c-pawns? Yet, on closer examination we see that it is not easy for W hite to finish his development, the c1-bishop can't move and neither can the dpawn. ] [ 12...xe5 would probably be my choice, 13.xb7 ab8 about equal, despite White's bishop pair. ] 13.d4 xe5?! I think that Black simply missassesses the tactics here. [ 13...a5 is more than satisfactory, 14.xb7 xb7 and ...d6, driving the knight a wa y wh e n B l a c k c a n c o n c e n t r a t e h i s attention on the c4-pawn. ] 14.xb7 a7? The rook stays here for the rest of the game! [ 14...xb7 15.dxe5 e8 16.b1 is also awkward, c7 17.b2 and on xe5 18.d5 d6 19.e7+ h8 20.xe5 xe5 21.xd7 still, Black is still on the board after f6 ] 15.dxe5 xe5 The point, both b7 and c3 are attacked so Black regains his piece. 16.b1 xc3 17.b2 a5 18.xf6 xf6 19.xd7 At the end of the tactics material is equal and there are opposite colour bishops on the board, but the a7-rook is terribly misplaced. g6 20.bd1 g7 [ 20...b4 21.f3 a5 would force White to show some way of improving, 22.a4 b2 23.e4 Planning Rb1, Qc6. ] 21.g4 Eyeing e6. White is obviously better, still, it seems strange that Black would lose so quickly from this position. e8 22.f4 b6 23.e4 e7 [ 23...d8 24.xd8 xd8 25.d7 f6 26.a4 is similar to the game continuation. ] 503
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.1d6! b2 25.xe7 xe7 26.d7 9.d1 Black can never move his rook. f8?! [ Due to the outcome of the opening, White [ 26...a1+ 27.g2 f6 28.c6 e5 being essentially lost, you have to examine 29.c8 e4! keeps the game going, although every single move to see where 30.xe4 xd7 31.xd7 would be a long improvements can be found. Here W hite and difficult defence for Black, W hite will tried 9.e1 , but again Black has a safe play Bd5 and tie his queen to the defence of e d g e a f t e r c5 ( 9...f5!? can also be f7 before advancing his kingside pawns, f4, co n sid e re d) 10.d3?! ( 10.b1 is better, e4-5. ] d5 11.d3 cxd3 12.xc5 xc5 13.xd3 27.c6! Qc8+/c7-b8 wins the rook. e7 14.e4 b4 15.xb4 xb4 16.c2 1-0 d6 , and although White has a little compensation for the pawn when looking at sp a ce a n d d e ve lo p m e n t , it isn 't n e a rly 514 A13 enough. ) 10...b3 11.b1 cxd3! 12.xc5 ( 12.xb3 dxe2-+ ) 12...xc5 13.xd3 Pantsulaia,Levan 2607 xa4 , and Black is up a couple of pawns Meier,Georg 2556 for insufficient compensation, Karlsson, ALake Martuni ARM (4) 14.07.2008 Thorhallsson, T/Hafnarfirdi 1992 ] [Carsten Hansen] 9...d7! [ This is Black's best move, targeting the a41.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 dxc4 pawn which is also becoming soft. Black has 5.0-0 also tried 9...d6 on a couple of occasions: [ I think that if White is to play for an 10.d3 cxd3 11.xd3 c5 ( 11...h5!? advantage in this line, he should opt for 12.d2 0-0 13.h3 c6 14.g4 c5 15.c3 either 5.c2 ] a7 16.e3 b4 17.b1 b8 18.c1 [ or 5.a4+ though in both cases Black has d7 19.c4 c6 with some but not quite excellent chances of equalizing. ] adequate compensation for the pawn for 5...a6 6.a4?! White, Butnorius, A-Grabliauskas, V/Vilnius [ According to the ECO, there is nothing 1994 ) wrong with this move. However, I think this A) 12.xc5!? xc5 13.e5 d6 may well be the time for White to bail out, ( 13...d7 14.d2 c6 15.ac4 e7 because in our main game and in the 16.b3 is simply better for White) 14.ac4 supporting material, things don't look too xc4 15.xc4 e7 16.g5 ( 16.a5 dandy for White. The alternatives are 6.c2 d5! ) 16...h6 17.d2 , and White's b5 7.e5 d5 8.d3 ] activity an d be tt e r de ve lo p me nt f or a [ and 6.c3 bd7 ( 6...b5 7.d3! ) 7.a4 change fully compensates for the missing with about even chances. ] pawn, which he is likely to win back as 6...c6 7.c2 a5! the pressure on Black's queenside [ 7...e5 is the ECO's main line, quoting the continues to mount.; game Gurgenidze, B-Ubilava, E/ Ckhaltubo B) 12.d1 0-0 13.b4 xb4 14.d2 c5 1981, but for some reason the combination 15.c1 h5 16.h3 e5! 17.g4 xg4 of Black's 7th and 8th move isn't mentioned 18.hxg4 xg4 19.xa5 e4 20.d5 f5 there. ] , and here W hite blundered with 8.a3 d5! 21.xc7?? ( 21.xd6 cxd6 22.e1 f4 [ 8...xa3?! is completely unnecessary, , and Black has excellent compensation solving several of White's problems for him for the sacrificed material) 21...xc7 without being able to hang on the c4-pawn 22.xc7 exf3 23.exf3 h2+ 24.f1 as he perhaps had hoped for with his last xc7 , and Black is winning, Adamski, Jmove. 9.xa3 0-0 10.d3 e7 11.c3 b6 Beliavsky, A/ Copenhagen DEN 2003 ] 12.dxc4 b7 13.g5 c5 , and the chances are more or less even, Ivacic, V-Gostisa, L/ 10.d3 b3 11.b1 [ W h i t e h a s a l s o t r i e d 11.a2 SLO 1993 ] 504
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 without success, e.g. xc1 12.xc1 xa4 13.xc4 xd1 14.fe5 b5 15.xd1 b4 , and Black essentially already has a winning position, Quinn, M-Onischuk, A/ Yerevan 1996 ] 11...xa4 12.xc4 b5 13.f1 [ Or 13.e3 d5 14.f1 b4 15.a3 xe3 16.fxe3 c5 17.xc5 xc5 , and also in this line, W hite has lost a pawn without compensation, Chuprikov, DZinchenko, Y/Alushta UKR 2005 ] 13...d5 14.cd2? [ The fact that White's best is 14.e3 d6 15.c4 xc4 16.xc4 e7 , leaving him a pawn down without compensation illustrate the magnitude of problems he is already facing. After the text move, W hite loses another pawn without compensation and with that, any hope of saving the game. ] 14...d4 15.c4 xe2+ 16.h1 xc4 17.dxc4 b4 18.e5 [ White tries to stir up a little complications, but as a result Black wins even faster. The relatively best move is 18.b3 , though this hardly inspires confidence, leaving W hite two pawns down without any compensation c6 ] 18...c2! 19.a1 f6!? [ 19...d8 20.df3 f6 21.g4 e4-+ ] 20.ef3 [ 20.xb7 almost works, but nevertheless still loses for W hite: b8 21.f3 d4 22.h5+ g6 23.ef3 e2 24.g4 f5 25.h3 g7 26.e1 xc1 27.axc1 e7 , and W hite's house of cards finally tumbles. ] 20...0-0-0 21.h3 c5!? [ 21...f5!? 22.e1 xc1 23.exc1 g6 threatens ...Bg7 and ...Bh6, needless to say White is completely lost already. ] 22.e1 [ 22.xe6+ b8 leaves White only a pawn down, but that aside, he can barely move. 23.g2 he8 24.g4 g6 , threatening ...f6f5 ] 22...d3 23.xe6+ b8 24.f5? A mistake in a lost position. xc1 0-1
515 Pogorelov,Ruslan Baron Rodriguez,Jesus XV Open La Pobla de Lillet ESP (6) [John Watson]
A13 2442 2445 07.08.05
Pogorelov plays a beautiful game in which he steadily and harmoniously builds up a better and better position. Then almost certainly in time trouble, he misses a number of direct wins (each requiring immediate resignation by Black). 1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 dxc4 The Reti Opening isn't understood very well by computer engines (at least ones that aren't simply reading out of their book). Here as usual HiArcs 9 gives Black a clear plus, and even after the mighty [ 4...c6 and ] [ 4...c6 it gives Black a significant advantage. I think that this is less a p re j u d i ce a ga i n st t h e f i a n c h e t t o a s a n overrating of space. ] 5.a4+ bd7 6.xc4 c5 [ Here the computer suggests 6...b6 7.c2 b4 (!) and ] [ 6...d5 7.d4 7b6 , both very awkward. ] 7.c2 b6 8.0-0 b7 9.d3 d6 10.a4 0-0 11.a3 These are standard moves in this variation. White wants to establish control by means of Nc4, some developing moves, and a central ad vance such as d4 or e4. Blac k counts upon his active pieces and shared central control to give him good play. I'd call it equal. d5 12.d2 a6 Probably preparing ... b5 once the knight settles on c4, but the structure changes dramatically after White's 14th. 13.c4 c7 14.e4 5f6 [ C r i t i c a l w o u l d b e 14...b4 15.xb4 ( 15.b3!? ) 15...cxb4 16.d4 pitting two bishops versus centre. ] 15.b4 e8 16.b5! e5!? [ 16...axb5 17.axb5 e7 is similar to the next note. ] 17.c3 b8 [ 17...e7 looks preferab le. Perhaps Black was worried (justifiably) about eventual Nf5s and Nd5s. ] 18.b2 axb5?! 19.axb5 xa1 20.xa1 I like White, and don't see why Black gave him the a-file. Now let's sit back and enjoy a great e x e c u t i o n o f a t t a c k o n b o t h w i n g s : e7 505
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.h4 f8 22.f5 e6 23.h4! 6d7 24.h3 e8 25.fe3 e6 26.d5 ef8 27.g2 f6 28.h3! e6 29.xe6+! xe6 30.b3 f7 31.ce3 f8 32.a4! g6 33.a2 h6 34.e2! e8? [ But other moves are also unattractive, e.g., 34...h7 35.h5 ( 35.h5 ) 35...g6 36.f3 g7 37.h5 ] 35.g4+ [ Or 35.f5! ] 35...f7 36.f5 e6 37.h5 Now it's effectively over. There's just too much pressure. d8 [ 37...g5 38.f4 ] 38.g6+ f8 39.xh6! gxh6 40.xh6+ g8 [ Also losing was 40...g7 41.xf6 xf6 42.xf6+ g8 43.h6 ] 41.g6+ f8 42.xf6 xf6 43.xf6+ g8 44.xe5 d8 45.h8+ f7 46.h7+ f8 47.xb7 Good enough but [ winning immediately in a forced manner was 47.h6+ (or 47.Qf5+ Kg8 48.h6!) g8 48.a7 e7 49.xb7 xb7 50.xe6+ f7 ( 50...f8 51.d6+ g7 52.g6+ h8 53.e5+ ) 51.g6+ ( or 51.h6 ) 51...f8 52.d6+ e8 53.e6+ e7 54.xe7+ xe7 55.xe7 ] 47...xd3 [ A slightly tougher defence was 47...g5 48.a7 xh5 still losing to 49.d5! ] 48.a7?! [ 48.h6 is much easier d1+ 49.g2 h5 50.h7 , and 48.Qh7 is also curtains. ] 48...d1+ 49.g2 xh5 50.d6+? [ 50.d5! t h r e a t e n s B d 6 + , a n d g6 51.d6+ g8 52.g7+ xg7 53.xg7 xg7 54.xb6 is easy. ] 50...g8 51.d5!? xd5 52.exd5 d4 Now at least Black isn't getting mated and has a few chances if White goes wrong. It's hard for White to adjust to missing all those simple wins and he collapses: 53.f4?! [ 53.b7 ] 53...xb5 [ 53...d8 ] 54.b7 d8 55.xb6 c3 56.e5 xd5 57.c6 f7 58.xc5 e6 59.b2!? b8 60.c1 b4 61.f3 b3 62.g4 c3 63.d2 [ 63.f4! ] 63...e2 64.f2
[ 64.f4 ] 64...d4 65.c3 b5 66.g7 This still cle arly winn in g, bu t wh a t is W h it e do in g messing about? d6 67.f8 f7 68.g3?? Disaster. e5 69.xe5+ [ 69.g7 xf3+ 70.g2 ( 70.h4 xg4! ) 70...e3 ( 70...f2+ 71.xf2 d3+ 72.g3 xc5 may also do the trick) 71.g5 f3 72.f2 b3 73.g6 h4= ] 69...xe5 70.g7+ e6 71.f4 f7 72.d4 g6 73.e4 g5 74.e3+ h4 75.f2+ [ 75.g5 b4+ 76.f5 b5+! 77.g6 ( 77.f6 b3 ) 77...b3= ] 75...g5 76.e3+ h4 77.c5!? g3 [ 77...b7 also looks good to me. ] 78.d6+ h4 79.f4 b7 80.e5 f7+ 81.e4 g5 82.d6 d7 83.c5 f7 84.e3+ h4 85.f2+ g5 86.e3+ h4 87.f2+ What a sad draw to take. ½-½
516 Reti,Richard Bogoljubow,Efim Bad Homburg (2.3) [Nigel Davies]
A13
1927
This game was a bit of a tragedy from Reti's point of view. After obtaining an excellent position from the opening and even winning a pawn, he lets slip what should have been a really excellent endgame. 1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 dxc4 4.a4+ d7 5.g2 gf6 6.0-0 d6 [ 6...c5 is the modern preference and frankly I doubt that W hite can hope for too much there. ] 7.a3 xa3 [ After 7...0-0 8.xc4 White has to be better because of his harmonious development and central pawn majority. So Bogoljubow's plan is critical. ] 8.bxa3 [ 8.xa3 b6 would make it difficult for White to recover the c4 pawn. ] 8...0-0 9.xc4 b6 10.c2 d7 11.b2 a4 12.b1 c6?! [ P r e s u m a b l y B l a c k d i d n ' t l i k e 12...h6 b e c a u s e o f 13.e5 but then xd2 506
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 isn't clear. ] 13.g5! This is very strong now, the threat being to take the knight on f6 when h7 hangs. bd7 14.xc6 bxc6 15.c1 c5?! [ And here 15...b8 was better. ] 16.xc5! b8 [ Of course 16...xc5 would lose on the spot to 17.xf6 . ] 17.c4 h6 18.e4 d5 19.c2 7b6 20.c6 c8 21.d3 b7 22.e5 a6 23.xc7 [ 23.c1 might have been better, simply protecting the a3 pawn. In any case White is better but this might have clamped down better on any counterplay. ] 23...bc8 24.xb6 xc6 25.xc6 c8 26.c5 xc6 27.xa6 xb6 28.b4 c3 [ 28...xb4 29.axb4 would give White all the chances in a simple endgame, so B o go lju b o w ke e p s m o re p i e ce s o n t h e board. ] 29.e3 a5 30.c2 b2 31.d4 xa2 32.e1? After Black's reply White has to go b a c k wh e n h e m i g h t e ve n b e s o m e wh a t worse. [ 32.g2 was a better chance. ] 32...d2 33.a1 a4 34.b5 g5 35.g2 g4 36.d6 c3 37.e4?! It looks as if Reti was blind to the dangers inherent in this position. [ 37.c4 was a better chance though after xd3 38.e5 d2 39.xg4 e4 he's still struggling to draw. ] 37...xd3 38.f6+ g7 39.xg4 [ Or 39.h5+ f8 40.f6 h5 41.xh5 e4 , tying White up. ] 39...f6 40.h4 h5 41.h2 b5 42.f3 xa3 43.xa3? Black's outside passed pawn is especially dangerous in the knight endgame. W h i t e s h o u l d h a v e k e p t r o o k s o n . xa3 44.d4 f7 45.f3 e5 46.e2 b1 47.e4 [ Or 47.e4 a3 48.c1 c3 etc. ] 47...a3 48.c1 c3+ 49.d3 a2 50.b3 a4 51.a1 [ Or 51.e2 c5! 52.a1 e4 , leaving White completely tied up. ] 51...c5+ 52.e2 e4 53.f3 f5 54.g2 d2 55.f3 e4 56.fxe4 xe4 57.f3 f6 58.f4 c5 59.c2 d3+ 0-1
517 Reti,Richard Lasker,Edward New York (7) [Nigel Davies]
A13
24.03.1924
Black's 5...Ne4 makes little sense before W hite has played d2-d4 as the knight gets driven away with d2-d3. But this is typical of the way people played against Flank Openings when they first started being played in strong tournaments. Players were used to 'doing something' so just did it anyway. 1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c6 4.b3 f6 5.g2 e4?! 6.c2 e7 7.b2 0-0 8.0-0 d7 9.d3 g5 10.bd2 xf3+ 11.xf3 f6 Attempting to ease his game via simplification, but White can avoid this easily enough. 12.d4 Now Black would like his knight on f6 so as to fight against White's central expansion with e2e4. e8 13.e4 b6 'Fast development' was still highly prized at this time in chess history, but now we have a greater focus on quality rather than just speed. [ Black's knight does nothing on b6 so it would have better to play 13...b6 instead. ] 14.e5 d7 15.g4 c8 16.xf6+ xf6 17.a4 ed8 [ 17...a5 18.c5 a8 19.e5 f5 20.d2 would win the a5 pawn. ] 18.a5 a8 19.e5 g6 20.e2 c7 21.a3 a6 22.fe1 e8 23.d6 f5 24.f4 h6 25.f3 Preventing 25...Bh5 and getting ready for eventual kingside action with g3-g4. Black 'strikes' first in order to effect some exchanges but the problem with his position continue into the endgame. g5 26.a2 [ 26.fxg5 xg5 27.h1 looks very strong here. ] 26...gxf4 27.gxf4 d7 [ After 27...xf4 White would obviously have compensation for the pawn along the open files on the kingside but with nothing clear th is might ha ve be e n a goo d swin d lin g chance for Black. ] 28.e3 g7+ 29.g2 xg2+ 30.xg2 Reti has a certain endgame in mind in which Black's knight on a6 will spell his doom. But the exchanges also weaken his king position so he needs to be careful. h5 31.xh5 xh5 32.g1 f7 33.h1 g8 34.xg8 507
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg8 35.cxd5 cxd5 36.b4 The point behind White's recent moves. What does the knight do? f7 37.d3 h4 38.f1 d8 39.h3 g8 [ Or 39...g6 40.g3+ f7 41.g5 etc. ] 40.g3+ f7 41.g5 c8 [ 41...xg5 42.fxg5 g6 43.b5 also wins Black's knight. ] 42.b5 c1+ [ Or 42...b8 43.xb8 xb8 44.f6+ etc. ] 43.g2 d2+ 44.h3 e3+ 45.h4 e1+ 46.h5 e2+ 47.h6 xh2+ 48.h5+ xh5+ 49.xh5 g7 50.bxa6 bxa6 51.c5 f7 52.h6 g8 53.xa7 h8 54.b6 g8 55.d8 h8 56.h4 Not a great game but interesting nonetheless. 1-0
518 Reti,Richard Vidmar,Milan Sr British Empire Club Masters (4) [Nigel Davies]
A13
1927
5 . . . N b d 7 i s ge n e r a l l y vi e we d a s a m o r e reliable line these days. Vidmar's 5... Bd7 aims to put the bishop on c6 from where it will neutralise the one on g2. But the problem is that it blocks Black's c-pawn. This makes it difficult for Black to challenge White's centre. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ d7 6.xc4 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.c2 [ White can also leave the queen on c4, for example 8.c3 a6 9.d4 0-0 10.g5 bd7 11.fe1 b8 12.a4 d5 13.xe7 xe7 14.e4 was better for White in Va ga nian , R (26 15 )-Sm agin, S (25 20 ), Germany 1993. ] 8...0-0 9.c3 bd7 10.d1 Still keeping all the options open with his pawns. [ 10.d4 l o o k s n a t u r a l b u t a f t e r b4 Black gets some kind of hold on the d5 and e4 squares. ] 10...e5 11.d4 exd4 12.xd4 xg2 13.xg2 c6 14.f5 Already this looks very good for White. Perhaps Black should have played 13...g6 last move. e8 15.g5 c7 16.f4 a5 17.d6 f8 18.d2 g6 19.xf8 xf8 [ It might have been better to play 19...xf5
whereupon 20.xf5 gxf5 21.d6 must be better for W hite though Black's weak pawns may not be as weak as they seem. ] 20.d6 e7 21.ad1 e8 22.ce4 xd6 23.xd6 e5 24.f6+ g7 25.f1 e6 26.xe6 xe6 27.e4 e8 28.c3+ e5 29.d6 e6? [ 29...e7 was better when 30.xe5+ xe5 31.xb7 b5 gets the pawn back with a good game. ] 30.xb7 xc3 31.bxc3 e5 32.d4 e6 33.a4 d5 34.a5 [ 34.xa7 d7 puts White in a nasty pin. ] 34...d6 35.b3 d7 36.d4 xd4 37.cxd4 b7 38.a6 c7 39.e3 f8 40.e2 e7 41.d3 d7 42.a3 f6 43.c4 f5 44.c5 Black is doomed though there hasn't been a particularly good reason for him to resign as yet. e7 45.b3 g5 46.a4 f4 47.gxf4 gxf4 48.e4 f6 49.b8 g5 50.f3 h5 51.f8 b7 52.f5+ g6 53.xf4 b2 54.h4 a2 55.e5 xa4 56.e6 1-0
519 Richardson,Keith B Pokorna,Regina 4NCL West Bromwich ENG (4) [John Watson]
A13 2220 2370 21.11.2004
1.c4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.a3 d5!? I'm amazed that I can't find this move in my database! There are of course thousands of games after 5.Na3, and I keep thinking my search method must be wrong it's only move 5! But I see nothing wrong with the move, which of course entail some risk, but so do many such lines. [ I also fail to find this position via 5...xa3 6.bxa3 d5 ] 6.a4+ What's the problem here? Can't White achieve anything? [ 6.c2 c6 ( or even 6...xa3 7.bxa3 c6 8.0-0 e5 ) 7.xc4 might run into b4!? ( 7...d4 8.c3 c5 9.e3 d6 10.xd4 xd4 looks about equal) 8.b3 ( 8.c3 e4 ) 8...b5!? 9.e3 xb3 10.axb3 b7 ] [ 6.0-0 e5!? ( 6...xa3 7.a4+ c6 508
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.xa3 e5 ) 7.g5 e4 ( 7...d4!? ) 8.xe4! xe4 9.d3 is interesting, although n o t n e c e s s a r i l y a d v a n t a g e o u s : cxd3 ( 9...xa3 10.xe4 d7 11.bxa3 cxd3 12.xd3 c6 ) 10.exd3 xa3 11.bxa3 d4 12.e3 with two strong bishops. ] [ 6.b3 should provide White some compensation but nothing too frightening for Blac k , e .g. , cxb3 7.axb3 e5 ( 7...e7 8.c4 0-0 9.0-0 b5!? ) 8.b2 e4 9.d4 c6 unclear ] 6...c6 7.xc4 a6 [ Also reasonable looks 7...xa3 8.xd5 exd5 9.bxa3 f5!? ( 9...0-0 10.b2 e4 11.d3 c5 with a sound game White's bishops aren't doing much. ) 10.b2 bd7 ] [ 7...a6 is solid ] 8.0-0 c5 9.xd5 [ 9.h4!? ] 9...exd5 10.c2 0-0 11.a3 e8 12.e1 f5 13.cd4 d7 [ 13...g6 is also logical. The result of the opening is equality. I'll leave you to play through the rest of the game. ] 14.b4 b6 15.b2 c7 16.b3 e4 17.e3 d6 18.d3 f5 19.ed1 f6 20.h3 a5 21.bxa5 xa5 22.fd4 g6 23.a4 b4 24.c2 a5 25.a3 c4 26.xa5 xa3 27.xa3 xa5 28.b1 a7 29.ab3 xa4 30.xb7 e6 31.b4 c5 32.b6 xd3 33.xd3 xd3 34.c1 e4 35.bxc6 xg2 36.xg2 d4 37.exd4 xd4 38.c8 xc8 39.xc8+ f7 40.c7+ g6 ½-½
[ White adopted a more universal setup in Kharlov, A (2591)-Izoria, Z (2541)/ Rethymnon 2003/[TonyK]: 8.0-0 bd7 9.b3 c8 10.b2 e7 11.d3 0-0 12.bd2 c5 13.a3!? b6 14.ac1 fd8 15.b1 a6 16.a1 f8 17.c2 a7 18.fc1 a8 with a typical Reti game. Sadorra's approach with Nc3, 0-0, a4, d3 and e4 is considered more theoretically challenging. ] 8...bd7 9.0-0 a6 10.a4 An important move. Otherwise Black will get an easy game with ... c6-c5. c8 In view of 11.Rd1, this might be a slight move-order inaccuracy. [ 10...e7 limits White's options. If he p e r s i s t s w i t h 11.d1 ( 11.d3 could transpose to the game) 11...0-0 12.d4 , then Delchev points out the feasibility of c5! 13.axb5 axb5 14.xa8 xa8 15.xb5 e4 16.d2 cxd4 17.bxd4 b8 when W hite faces a near impossible task in r e a li zi n g t h e e xt r a p a wn . S vid le r, P (2755)-Gelfand, B (2744)/Moscow RUS 2011. ] 11.d3 [ D e l c h e v c l a i m s t h a t 11.d1! is even stronger alternative, preparing d2-d4. O n e o f h i s l i n e s b e g i n s w i t h b4 , which indeed looks critical . After ( he also analyzes 11...b6; and 11...e7 ) 12.e4 xe4 13.xe4 , I tried to improve Black's position with f6 ( Delchev gives 13...c7 14.e1! f6 15.c4 c5 16.b3 xg2 17.xg2 b7+ 18.f3 e7 19.b2 0-0 20.d3 ) 14.c2 ( if White plays by analogy with the above line with 14.c4 c5 15.e1 , then xg2 16.xg2 d5+ 520 A13 17.xd5 exd5= is totally fine for Black) 14...c5 15.b3 e7 16.b2 c7 Sadorra,J 2525 , but the resulting position is extremely Lenderman,Alex 2581 sim ila r. W h it e ke e p s a n ice e d ge , e . g . UTD GM Invitational (6) 14.03.2012 17.ac1 0-0 18.e5 xg2 19.xg2 ] [John Bartholomew] [ Delchev notes that the immediate 11.d4 is met by b4 12.e4 c5 ] 1.c4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ c6 6.xc4 b5 7.c2 White prefers 11...e7 12.e4 0-0 This position is important this retreat to 7.Qb3 by a more than 4-to-1 to the assessment of the entire line with 7. ratio. The text is also the recommendation of Qc2. 13.d1 Too routine. Black will now get a GM Alexander Delchev in "The Modern Reti: fine position with natural moves. [ Delchev proposes 13.h3!? , trying to cut An Anti-Slav Repertoire". Our present game out ...Nf6-g4. It's a good recommendation loosely follows Delchev's analysis and and definitely more challenging than the text. includes a very recent cameo by Delchev Now after himself, so let's get to it. b7 8.c3 509
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A) I w o n d e r i f 13...b4 isn't a better try. After 14.b1 (planning Nb1-d2-c4) ( instead, 14.e2 c5 15.b3 c7 looks fine for Black ) A1) Black can also consider the a d v e n t u r o u s 14...c5!? 15.d1 b3 16.e2 ( 16.c3? fxe4 ) 16...a5! in t en d ing .. . B b7 -a6 wit h in t ere st in g play.; A2) 14...c5 15.bd2 e8! (a good idea to remember Black counters with ...Ne8-d6) 16.c4 d6 Black gets an acceptable game, e.g. 17.f4 xc4 18.dxc4!? ( 18.xc4 b6 w i t h t h e i d e a o f 19.c2?! c4 ) 18...b6 19.ad1 fd8=; B) 13...b6 14.e3 c5 B1) 15.fc1!? was tried this month by G M L a s zlo G o n d a . He ga in e d in a n advantage similar fashion: fd8 ( I think 15...b4! was called for, once again with t h e i d e a o f 16.b1 e8! ) 16.axb5 axb5 17.b4! c6 18.b2 Gonda, L (2536)-Oparin, G (2487)/Budapest HUN 2012.; B2) 15.axb5 axb5 White gets in the ideal 16.b4! when c6 ( Delchev also gives 16...e5 17.b1 c6 18.c1; but what about 16...d8!? avoiding any unpleasantness on the b and c files?) 17.b1! actually occurred in the game Delc hev, A (2622 ) -Mast rova silis, A (2510)/Plovdiv BUL 2012, right as we go to press! This is straight from the man's book, and what do you know - he won a f i n e g a m e ! e5 ( 17...cxb4 18.d4 xc3 19.c1 is a nice line of Delchev's.) 18.c1 cxb4 19.d5 d6 20.xe7+ xe7 21.b2 xc1+ 22.xc1 c8 23.xc8+ xc8 24.d2 d6 25.f1 e8 26.xb4 and White eventually converted. Kudos to Alexander Delchev for practicing what he preaches! I believe Black should be fine after 13.h3!? (keep an eye on the possible improvements I mentioned with 13...b4!? or in 13...Qb6, as well as the timely . ..Nf6-e8-d6 idea), but these lines warrant independent investigation if you plan to play them as W hite or Black. ]
[ Another sub-optimal approach was 13.e3?! g4 14.f4 , Ivanchuk, V (2768)Grischuk, A (2746)/Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2011. Here Delchev gives b4 15.e2 g5 16.d2 c5 ] 13...b6 14.e3 c5 15.axb5 axb5 16.e2 [ H e r e ' s t h e d i f f e r e n c e : n o w 16.b4?! is met by g4! when White's opening is a failure. ] 16...fd8 17.db1? White is still fixated on b2-b4, but it's a pipe dream at this point. [ 17.h3= ] 17...g4! Now Black will take over the central dark squares. 18.f4 f6 19.g5?! ge5 20.d1 h6 21.h3?! [ I'm not sure why White preferred this to the natural 21.f3 . Black has a great position in a ny case, i.e . xf3+ 22.xf3 e5 23.g2 b4 24.a4 b5 ] 21...c6 22.h5 de5 23.xe5 xe5 24.f4 d7 25.e2 cd8 A quick glance at the position is enough to confirm that Black's positional advantage ought to be decisive. 26.f1 g6 [ Black is understandably unhurried, but 26...b4 27.a4 c6 with the idea of 28.b3 (else Black rips open the center with ...c5c4) g5! 29.h5 h8 would already be de cisive , e . g. 30.b2 xd3! 31.xd3 ( 31.xd3 xd3 32.xd3 xa1-+ ) 31...xa1 32.xa1 xd3-+ ] 27.e3 g7 28.ac1 d6 29.h3 c4 30.dxc4?! [ 30.xb6 xb6 31.dxc4 xd1 32.xd1 bxc4 33.xc4 xe4 offered more defensive chances. ] 30...xe3 31.fxe3 bxc4 32.xd6 xd6 33.c2 f3+ 34.f2 d2 35.g2 xc3 36.e5? [ B e t t e r w a s 36.xc3 xe4 37.e1! with some possibility of holding. ] 36...xe5 37.xb7 b6 38.g2 xb2 39.xb2 xb2 Lenderman is two clear pawns to the good, and his technique proves more than sufficient. 40.e2 b1 41.d1 a3 42.e2 e5 43.d2 b5 44.g4 d6 45.c6 f5 46.g1 f7 47.e2 f6 48.f3 b2 49.e2 e5 50.gxf5 gxf5 51.g3 e4+ 52.f2 e5 53.e2 g5 54.a4 c3 55.b3 b5 56.e1 h4 57.e6 d6 58.g1 g3 59.f1 c2 60.e2+ f3 510
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 61.b3 xe3 62.xc2 f4 White can realistically aim for a small Catalan-type edge with 7.Qc2. Black's counterplay with ...c6-c5 (ideally combined with ...Nf6-g4!) ought to be easy to anticipate now, so learn from White's mistakes in this game! The critical line is definitely Delchev's 13.h3!?. I mentioned a couple potential improvements, but overall I h i g h l y r e c o m m e n d t h a t yo u p i c k u p h i s interesting work on these previously unexplored lines. 0-1
521 Salgado Lopez,Ivan Pelletier,Yannick Top 12 Haguenau (5) [Fier, Alexandr]
A13 2598 2599 03.06.2013
Salgado goes for an interesting gambit instead of the normal paths and gave Pelletier a lot of problems to solve. For Black, I would play something other than 9...Nxe5. 1.c4 f6 2.g3 e6 3.g2 d5 4.f3 dxc4 5.0-0 This is less common than the usual 5. Qa4+, but is an interesting way to play for a gambit, now Black has chances to def end the c4 pawn. a6 6.c2 c5 [ 6...b5 would be another logical continuation, and after 7.e1 d5 8.d3 cxd3 9.xd3 b7 10.c3 d7 ( 10...d6 11.xd5 exd5 12.f4 0-0 13.ac1 ) 11.xd5 exd5 12.f4 White had the initiative in Grigoryan, A (2579)-Rozum, I (2500)/St Petersburg Botvinnik Memorial op 2012 ] [ 6...bd7 tries to transpose to normal variations A) 7.a4!? is a way to try to take advantage of this move order c5 8.a5!? ( 8.xc4 b5! 9.b3 c4 10.c2 b7 and Black solved all his opening problems) 8...e7 9.xc4 b5 sooner or later this move is forced, otherwise Black will be paralyzed 10.axb6 xb6 11.c2 b7 with a slightly better version of this kind of position for White, since the pawns on the queenside are weaker, but the position is still quite playable for Black; B) 7.xc4 b5 transposes to 5.Qa4+ Nbd7 6.Qxc4 a6, and here 7.0-0 is not
c o n s i d e r e d t o b e d a n g e r o u s 8.c2 ( 8.c6 b8 9.d4 b7= ) 8...c5 9.b3 b7 10.b2 e7 11.d3 is about equal ] 7.e5 [ 7.a4?! is not precise now, since it allows Black to develop the knight in a more active way c6! 8.xc4 e7 and the Black knight controls e5, while White's queenside is not healthy ] 7...a7 8.d1 White is more or less forced to play a gambit since if 8.Qxc4 b5 will liberate all the black pieces. Still, the pawn sacrifice brings some initiative. bd7 [ 8...b5 would be interesting too, trying to bring the rook into the game 9.a4 fd7 10.xd7 xd7 now Black's rook neutralizes the d1 opponent, but the a1-rook enters the game 11.axb5 axb5 12.a8 d6 13.d3 cxd3 14.xd3 with typical pressure for the pawn. Now one possible continuation would be 0-0 15.c3 a6 16.d1 b6 17.e4 b7 18.xb8 xb8 19.xd6 xd6 20.xd6 xd6 21.xd6 xg2 22.xg2= ] 9.d4 xe5?! I don't like this move, as after it White can recover the pawn with a positional advantage because of the open file. [ 9...cxd3 A) 10.xd3 e7 11.c2 ( 11.c3 0-0 12.e3 c7 13.f4 xe5 14.xe5 b6 15.a3 d5 again this important move 16.d2 f6 17.c4 b5 with some complications) 11...0-0 12.c3 e8 13.c4 b5 14.a5 again with sufficient compensation for the pawn, but nothing more; B) 10.xd3 d5!? ( 10...e7 11.f4 0-0 12.c3 e8 13.c4 gives White too m u c h c o n t r o l) 11.xd5 ( 11.xd7? b4 ) 11...xe5 12.c6+ d7 13.xd7+ xd7 14.c3 b5 with two minor pieces out Black should be fine ] [ 9...cxd4 is more risky 10.xc4 ( 10.xd4 allows Black to sacrifice an exchange and finish his development with a good initiative. It's nice to see Black attacking at least once! b5 11.c6 b6 12.xa7 xa7 13.d1 c5 14.e3 b7 and the bishop exchange f o ll o we d b y . . . N e 5 gi ve s B la ck a go o d game ) 10...e5 11.e3 A) 11...b5!? can enter into some funny l i n e s l i k e 12.a5 c7 13.c6 b8 511
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.exd4 g4 15.e1 c8 16.xe5+ ( 16.d5 d6 is fine for Black) 16...e6 17.d5 d6 18.e1 ( 18.f4 exchanges too much xd5 19.xd5 xe5 20.xe5 xd5 21.xc7 xc7 22.d4 xc2 23.xc2= ) 18...xd5 19.d1 ( 19.xd5 is also possible) 19...xc6 20.c3!? xc3 21.xd6 d4!? 22.xd4 e2+ 23.xe2 xc1+ 24.e1 xe1+ 25.xe1 0-0 and finally entering an equal position; B) 11...c7 Black needs to make some precise moves here 12.exd4 b5 13.e3 exd4 14.xc7 xc7 15.f5 e5 16.xd4 g4 not afraid of the pin 17.e1 d7! 18.c3 d3 19.e3 xc1 20.xc1 b4 21.ce2 xc1+ 22.xc1 c7 and Black holds ] 10.dxe5 d7 11.d2 [ 11.a4 was a positional way to play, avoiding 11...b5 A) 11...c7 doesn't work because of 12.a3 xe5 13.xc4 c7 14.f4 e5 15.e4 f6 16.e3 and Black's white squ a re s a re go in g t o b e d e cisive e7 17.g4 0-0 ( 17...f8 18.h5 b5 19.axb5 axb5 20.d5 g6 21.h6++- ) 18.e6+ f7 19.d5+-; B) 11...e7 12.d2 b6 13.xc4 0-0 14.e4 h6 15.e3 is clearly better for White ] 11...b5 12.a4 c7 13.e4 xe5 14.f4 b4 [ 14...f6 doesn't really help 15.xe5 fxe5 ( 15...xe5 16.axb5 c7 17.xc4+- ) 16.g5 e7 17.xh7 f7 18.a3! and Black is in trouble ] 15.d2 [ 15.d2 is maybe a small improvement, just looking at the d6 square e7 16.ad1 0-0 17.d6 c3 18.bxc3 f6 19.xc8 xc8 20.cxb4 cxb4 21.h3! h8 22.xc8 xc8 23.xe6 and White's pieces are much better placed than Black's ones ] 15...d6 16.xc4 xc4 17.xc4 [ 17.xd6 was interesting, but hard to play in a game xd6 18.d1 f6 ( 18...0-0 19.xd6 d8 20.xc5 d7 21.c6 b7 22.xd7 xd7 23.xb4 ) 19.xd6 a5 20.c6+ f7 21.xc5 c7 22.d6 With good control over Black's pieces, but is not so sure White is able to keep improving
his position. White should be better, but it is not an easy evaluation to make ] 17...xf4 18.gxf4 0-0 19.ac1 d7 20.b3 e5 Returning the material. [ 20...c8 was logical, and after 21.d3 g6 22.cd1 c6 23.xc6 xc6 24.d6 b7 25.e4 Black shouldn't be worse ] 21.fxe5 xe5 22.xc5 xc5 23.xc5 Now Black's position is a little unpleasant to play since the queenside pawns are weak and White's rooks are more active. Salgado was successful in creating problems. e6 24.d3 g6 25.a5 b8 26.d5 xd5 [ 26...b5 is a risky decision 27.xb5 axb5 28.xe6 fxe6 29.d6 xa5 30.xe6 a1+ 31.g2 b1 32.e3 b2 33.f3 f7 and in my opinion W hite has some chances ] 27.dxd5 f8 28.c6 e7 29.e3 b5 It's hard to suggest an alternative plan here, but now W hite gets a strong passed pawn. 30.xb5 axb5 31.a6 d7 32.b6 [ 32.f6!? e7 33.b6 wins a tempo ] 32...c7 33.f6 b8 34.g2 c7 35.b6+ a7 36.xb5 xa6 37.xb4 And Black's king is too far away to help. The computer says that it's still not a clear advantage, but I think that White is almost winning in the long term. c5 38.h4 h6 39.g3 h5 40.f3 a5 41.b7 f5+ 42.g3 f6 43.e4 e5 44.f4 g5+ 45.hxg5 xg5 46.f3 g1 47.h7 1-0
522 Stripunsky,Alexander Shabalov,Alexander 87th Marshall CCC (9) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2530 2597 07.12.2003
1.c4 b6 2.b3 b7 3.b2 e6 4.e3 f6 A double queenside fianchetto, but W hite soon make sure that this is not a symmetric position. 5.f4!? e7 Perfectly natural, but new. [ 5...c5 6.c3 e7 7.f3 0-0 is like the main game, Mangei,K-Fehrenbacher,U/ Eppingen 1988. ] [ 5...d5 is sensible, but weakens the dark squares a little, in particular e5, 6.f3 bd7 512
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7.c3 b4 8.d3?! Burris,D-Miller,J/ Gaylord 199 4, a mista ke allowin g ( 8.a3 is better ) 8...c5 9.c2 dxc4 10.bxc4 when d3 is weak. ] 6.f3 0-0 7.d3 This odd development of the bishop is quite normal in such positions remember the famous double-bishop sacrifice of Lasker! d5 8.0-0 dxc4 [ 8...bd7 is possible, as in one of the notes, intending to play ...Nc5. ] 9.xc4 c5 Black is unaware of what is about to hit him. 10.f5!? exf5 11.h4 g6 12.xf5! The point of White's conception, opening the black king position to exploit his two powerful bishops. gxf5 13.xf5 The sacrifice may not be objectively sound, but in practical chess it i s v e r y u n p l e a s a n t t o d e f e n d . e4! The bishop heads for g6 to closed the g-file. [ 13...bd7 is worse, 14.c3 covers e4 and d5 and W hite will bring his queen to the queenside with a massive attack. ] 14.f1!? More fuel on the fire! White doesn't want the bishop to come to g6, obviously. [ 14.g5+ g6 ] 14...b5!? Black wants to deflect the c4-bishop off the a2-g8 diagonal. [ 14...xf5 15.xf5 bd7 is met by 16.e4! when the further advance of the e-pawn will regain a piece. ] 15.xb5 [ 15.g5+!? g6 16.f3 bd7 17.xb5 is a reasonable alternative, White has two pawns for the piece. ] 15...xf5 16.xf5 d5 This is the point of Black's little tactic, the queen is able to help the defence laterally. 17.f4 e4 18.g5+ g6 The queen has managed to replace the light-squared bishop's task of bolstering the gfile. 19.e5 White cannot afford to exchange queens, as he has a rook less. a6 What else? [ 19...e4 repeats, and ] [ 19...d8!? looks very unnatural: 20.a3 and Black can hardly develop his pieces. ] 20.xe7 axb5 21.xf6 White has to accept the exchange of queens, as [ 21.xf6?! c6 22.d6 a6 leaves the black pieces misplaced, e.g. 23.f4? b4 24.c3 d3 with a clear advantage. ] 21...xf6 22.xf6 b4 Fixing the a2-pawn on the open file. 23.f2 a6 24.b2 c6 White has two pawns for the exchange, which
is fair value, but some problems on the a-file. 25.d3 fa8 26.a4 bxa3 27.xa3 b4 28.e2 f8 29.xa6 xa6 The exchange of a pair of rooks is go od f or Black, but his pawns are not very good, so his chances of winning slight. 30.a3 g6 31.g3 h6 32.h4 g6 A common tactic to force an exploitable weakness in two adjacent pawns. 33.d4!? White wants to create connected passed pawns. [ 33.xb4 cxb4 34.f3 c6 35.d2 is also possible, White should hold easily. ] 33...xg3 34.dxc5 d5 35.d3 A necessary evil, [ 35.c6+ e8 36.c5 g6 loses the cpawn. ] 35...xe3 36.b4 e7 37.b5 The pawns are coming! d7 38.c6+ c7 39.e4 c4 40.b4 g4+ [ 40...b3 fails to win a piece after 41.c3 xb4?? 42.d5+ with a nasty fork. ] 41.d3 The only move. b6 Black seems to be getting on top, he has the pawns b lo ck a d e d a n d t h e wh it e ki n g is c u t -o f f . 42.c3 e5+ 43.c2? Perhaps the king should head towards the kingside: [ 43.e2! ] 43...f5? [ 43...xb4! seems strong now, as 44.d5+ xb5 45.xb4 xc6! ( and not 45...xb4?? 46.c7 ) 46.d3 b4+ and wins the king and pawn! This is why c2 was the wrong square for the king on move 43. ] 44.e7! g2+ 45.b3 xc6 Black has to concede his knight, and a draw is assured. [ 45...g8 46.g5 threatens Be3+, and then Nd5+ when the pawns advance all the way! ] ½-½
523 Swiercz,Dariusz Malakhatko,Vadim 44th Rubinstein Mem GM (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A13 2456 2612 22.08.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ bd7 6.xc4 c5 7.0-0 a6 8.c2 a7 [ 8...b5 was the topic of Gashimov-Luther, 513
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1/2-1/2 Ristic, N-Inkiov, V/Porto San Giorgio Capelle 2007, whereas ] 2001 ] [ 8...b6 was discussed in connection with Bu [ B) 11.d1!? a8 ( 11...cxd4 12.xd4 Xiangzhi-Li Wenliang, Qingdao 2002 - both xg2 13.xg2 a8+ 14.f3 c7= ) 12.dxc5 games can be found in the PGN archives. ( 12.e3 is interesting and transposes to the The text move seems a bit odd, because it note after W hite's 12th move in variation prepares to play one of these moves that 'c'. ) 12...xc5?! ( 12...xc5!? ) 13.f4 are already available to Black. Note that c6?! ( 13...e7!? ) 14.ac1 d7 15.xd7 9.e5 is met by d5 which took me a bit to cxd7 16.a4 b7 17.c7 a7 18.e5 notice. ] xg2 19.xg2 Nikolic, N-Kekki, J/Espoo 9.d4 1987 ] [ White has several alternatives here: A) 9.d3 [ C) 11.e3 a8 e7 10.a4 ( or 10.c3 b6 11.b3 b7 A) 12.ad1 proves less effective 12.b2 0-0 13.ac1 g4 14.h3 ge5 compared to the below alternative, 15.xe5 xe5 with a comfortable game for centralising the other rook: e7 13.dxc5 Black, W egerle, J-Aagaard, J/Pardubice xc5! 14.c1 ( 14.b4 cd7= ) 14...0-0 2000 ) 10...b6 11.d2 0-0 12.a3 b7 15.a4 fd7 16.xc5 xc5=; 13.c4 d5 ( 13...a8!? 14.a5 b5 B) 12.fd1!? e7 13.dxc5 xc5 15.b6 d8 16.xd7 xd7 is at least 14.xc5 xc5 15.d6 c6 16.e4 d7 okay for Black, Grebionkin, V-Konnov, O/Ufa 17.xd7 cxd7 ( 17...fxd7? 18.b4!+- ) 1999 ) 14.fc1 h6 15.d1 a8 16.f1 18.d4 b7 19.f4; Haag, E-Eisinger, M/Oberhausen (EU-chT) C) 12.dxc5?! leaves Black with an easy 1961, and the chances are about even after road to equality. White has two moves like 16...a5, 16...Nb4, and 16...N7f6 ] alternatives available: xc5 13.xc5 [ B) 9.a4 b6 10.d4 ( 10.d3 b7 11.bd2 xc5 14.fd1 0-0 15.b4 cd7 16.ac1 e7 12.c4 , and a draw was agreed upon, h6 17.b2= 1/2-1/2 Wells, P-Pinter, J/ 1/2-1/2, in Oblitas Guerrero, C-Urday Austrian League 1999 ] Caceres, H/Peru 1996, though for obvious reasons both sides could have played on in 11...cxd4 12.xd4 a8 [ Black's remaining alternatives are less this position.) 10...b7 11.dxc5 xc5 c o n v i n c i n g : A ) 12...e7 13.d1 c8 12.c3 a8 13.g5 0-0 14.ad1 14.e2 e5?! ( 14...0-0 ) 15.f4 c6 was another quick draw, 1/2-1/2, Bany, J 16.b3 0-0 17.e3 d7 18.ac1 a8 Skalkotas, N/Athens 1989, though Black 19.a4 b8 20.f2 Schoeneberg, Malready has the more comfortable position ] Augustin, J/Leipzig 1981 ] [ C) 9.b3 b6 10.b2 b7 ( 10...c7 11.d3 [ B) 12...c5 13.d1 a8 14.b3 b4 b7 12.bd2 e7 13.ac1 0-0 14.b1 ( 14...e7 15.e3 0-0 16.ac1 Ribli ) a8 15.c4 fc8= Csom, I-Hartman, C/ 15.a3 xc3 16.xc3 Wrexham 1995) 11.d3 e7 12.bd2 0-0 A) 16...xe4? 17.xe4 xe4 18.xg7 13.c4 b5 14.ce5 xe5 15.xe5 xg2 f8 , and now 19.xh7+- is the most 16.xg2 d7 17.f3 b6= Saric, I-Atalik, c o n v i n c i n g ( 19.h6+Ribli ef6 S/Zenica BIH 2005 ] 20.xd7 xd7 21.d1 e4 22.xd7 9...b6 e1+ 23.g2 e4+ 24.h3 xd7 [ 9...b5 has also been tried, is possible but 25.xf8 should also win without too many also more committing, though in its only difficulties ); outing Black equalised: 10.d1 b6 11.a4 B) 16...0-0 17.f3 c8 18.d4 c6 b7 12.axb5 axb5 13.xa7 xa7 14.g5 ( 18...e5 19.f2 c6 20.a4 ac7 e7 15.a3 b4 16.c4 1/2-1/2 Freisler, P21.h3 ) 19.f4 c5 20.xc5 bxc5 Kucera, P/CZE 1996 ] 21.c3 ( 21.xc5? a4 ) 21...d7 10.c3 b7 11.e4 Vaganian, R-Jussupow, A /Riga 1995 [ Again at this juncture, White has several 22.d6 ] moves available for consideration: A) 11.dxc5 xc5 12.f4 0-0 13.a3 13.e1 c5 14.b3 e7 514
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 14...b4 15.a4 d8 ( trying to prevent the pawn advance to a5 by playing it himself will only cause Black further suffering: 15...a5 16.d2 0-0 17.b5 ) 16.d1 c7 17.e3 0-0 18.ac1 , and White has the better chances ] 15.a4 c8 16.e2 c5 [ Or 16...0-0 17.e3 a8 18.ac1 b8 19.f4 with a somewhat better game for White. ] 17.xc5 xc5 18.e3 xe3 [ 18...0-0 This along with Black's following moves seem a bit eager to simplif y the position, but Black can also play the normal 19.ac1 c6 20.xc5 bxc5 21.e5 d7 22.xc6 xc6 23.ed1 with a comfortable edge for White. ] 19.xe3 c5 20.xc5 bxc5 21.a5! d7 22.a4 [ White can also consider a couple of other options at this juncture, though it isn't clear whether they exactly are any better than the game continuation, but they do have the advantage of keeping pieces on the board, maintaining White's position advantage. The first is 22.ad1 e7 23.f4 b8 24.e2 with a decent plus for White, and the second is ] [ 22.f4 e7 which can likely transpose into the just mentioned line. ] 22...c6 23.ec1 xa4 24.xa4 e7 25.b4 cxb4 [ Black aims at the ensuing simplifications to steer him to a drawable position. However, he also has a decent alternative in 25...c8 26.f1 cc7 27.b5 axb5 28.xb5 c4 29.a6 b6 30.b4 d6 , and Black should be able to defend. ] 26.xb4 b8 27.xb8 xb8 28.e5! d8 29.b1 d7 30.f4 c7 31.d1 c8 32.f1 b8 [ Here Black should have given 32...c6!? a try. W hite has the better chances in the endgame, but Black's position is solid and will be difficult to breach. The game continuation is what originally brought my attention to this game aside from a 2450 player beating a 2600+ player. Black is systematically pushed off the board in what seems to be a very smooth effort. I will not add any further comments, but recommend
that the reader play the game through to the end it is quite instructive. ] 33.d6 b7 34.d8 c8 35.g2+ c7 36.d6 d8 37.b6 d7 38.f2 d2+ 39.f1 c8 40.b7+ d8 41.h3 h6 42.xa6 xa6 43.xa6 a2 44.a7 e8 45.a6 h5 46.a8+ e7 47.e1 a4 48.a7 a1+ 49.d2 a2+ 50.c3 g6 51.g4 hxg4 52.hxg4 a3+ 53.b2 a6 54.f5! 1-0
524 Van der Sterren,Paul Dautov,Rustem Bundesliga 2000-1 (8) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2569 2606 17.02.2001
1.c4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ c6 This move is quite popular, and prepares queenside expansion, whilst keeping the h1-a8 diagonal firmly closed until Black is ready to open it himself. 6.xc4 b5 7.b3 [ Probably the queen is better-off avoiding the c-file: 7.c2 b7 8.a4 e7 9.e5 d5 10.0-0 0-0 11.d4 a6 12.c3 ( 12.xc6 xc6 13.xc6 ab4 14.xb5 c2 is unpleasant for W hite) 12...b4 13.e4 and now Black freed himself with the standard c5 14.dxc5?! c8 15.c6 b8 16.c5 xc6 and Black is even better, Ivanchuk,V-Kramnik,V/Monte Carlo 1999. ] 7...b7 8.0-0 bd7 [ 8...e7 is similar, 9.a4 a6 10.d4 bd7 11.c3 0-0 12.g5 b4 13.d1 c5 Black has equalised, Kortschnoj,V-Rabiega, R/AUT-chT9596 1996. ] 9.d4 e7 10.c3 a6 11.g5 1/2-1/2 Nielsen,P-Luther,T/Gausdal 1994 c5 Black has to play this sooner or later. 12.xf6 xf6 13.dxc5 xc5 14.b4 e7 15.ac1 d7 16.f4 0-0 Black's opening has been a great success, and he even has the bishop pair. 17.c7 c5!? [ Good, but 17...ab8 18.fd1 fd8 is more ambitious. ] 18.xb5 White decides to play for a draw. axb5 19.xc5 xc7 20.xc7 xf3 [ Black too! 20...d5 might preserve some slight chances. ]
515
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.xf3 xa2 22.b1 xb2 ½-½
525 Vaulin,Alexander Blatny,Pavel FSGM October (11) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2492 2476 12.10.1999
1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 dxc4 A common theme in similar positions, Black prefers to concede temporary control of the centre but wil l s p e e d h i s d e ve lo p m e n t wh il e W h it e wastes time recapturing the pawn. 4.a4+ d7 5.xc4 a6 [ A typical idea, preparing to drive the queen away by ...b5, but 5...c5 is normal in this position, or ] [ 5...gf6 transposing into main variations. ] 6.a4 Another standard move, restraining Black's queenside. b6!? [ This novelty is the start of a long knight manoeuvre, aiming to embarrass the white queen, and establish the knight on the b4outpost, 6...gf6 is more usual 7.d3 d6 8.c2 d5 9.d2 with balanced chances, Krasenkow,M-Brodsky,M/ Koszalin 1997. ] 7.c2 d5 8.f3 b4 The knight has landed on a strong square. 9.b3 d5 10.d1 [ Awkward, but the endgame after 10.xd5 exd5 is more than satisfactory for Black. ] 10...d7!? 11.c3 h5 12.0-0 c5 13.h3 With the threat of g4. f6 14.b3 e5? [ Hoping to gain time by attacking the h3pawn, but the weakening of the central light squares allows W hite to take command. 14...e7 was better. ] 15.d5! xd5?! [ This loses material, but if 15...d8 16.c7+ e7 17.d5+ and the black king has lost its right to castle. ] 16.xb7 d8 17.xd5 xh3 18.c6+ f7 19.xa6 And White has won a good pawn, and retains the better position, as well. e6 20.d3 d6 21.e3 h6 22.xh6 xh6 23.a5 The simplest plan, by pushing his extra passed a-pawn, W hite wins speedily. d7 24.c6 b8 So, Black has managed to b l o c k a d e t h e a 7 - sq u a r e , b u t n o w W h i t e
exchanges a couple of pieces to leave Black with a bad bishop, and of f side queen. 25.a3!? [ The re was n ot hing wro ng wit h 25.xc5 of course, but White has bigger fish to fry. ] 25...a7 26.b3 hd8 27.b7 xb7 28.xb7+ d7 29.e4 e7 30.a1 d5 31.a4 b7 32.h4 Threatening Nf5+, and thereby forcing the exchange of Black's good bishop. [ 32.h4 g6 33.xb7 xb7 34.c6 d7 35.f3 is quite hopeless. ] 1-0
526 Wells,Peter K Barsov,Alexei Premier Hastings ENG (7) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2517 2525 04.01.2002
1.c4 e6 2.c3 b4 3.e4 [ Probably the critical reply. We considered 3.f3 where White is happy to transpose to the Nimzo-Indian, in Lautier,J - Sokolov, A/ ch-FRA Gp A Marsailles FRA (7), 19.08. 2001. ] 3...e7 [ I like this more than 3...c5 when 4.b5 ( 4.g4 f8 ) 4...d6 5.a3 a5 6.b4 is unpleasant for Black, for if cxb4 7.g4 f8 8.g3 with threats. ] 4.f3 [ 4.d4 d5 5.e5 c5 6.a3 led to a quick win f o r W h it e in Ho d g so n , J -R o ze n t a li s , E / Rakvere 1993. ] 4...c5!? A novelty at move four! Black plays this now, noticing that, his kingside is better developed, and with the white knight on f3, White no longer has the dangerous possibility of playing Qg4. [ 4...0-0 is normal, but 5.d4 d5 6.cxd5 exd5 7.d3 dxe4 8.xe4 led to another crushing de f ea t f o r Ro sen t a lis in Kra se n k ow, MRozentalis,E/Krynica 1997, although the current position is reasonable for Black. ] 5.e5!? White intends Ne4-d6, but it seems slow. [ 5.b5?! d5 leads nowhere. ] [ 5.a3 a5 6.d4 is more sensible. ] 5...bc6!? 516
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Interesting, Black continues his development and relies on a tactic to save h i s c - p a w n . 5...d6 is a straightforward alternative. ] 6.e4 0-0! 7.a3 a5 8.xc5 This is the point of White's play, it seems that he has won a pawn, but Black has seen further. xe5! 9.xe5 d6 10.xf7?! Opening the f-file is not such a good idea. [ 10.ed7! looks right, e8!? ( 10...xd7 11.xb7 c7 12.xa5 xa5 doesn't give Black enough for the pawn.) 11.b4 c7 12.f6+!? gxf6 13.e4 which is unclear. ] 10...xf7 11.b3 b5! Offering another pawn for an advantage in development. 12.xa5 xa5 13.b4 [ This does not work-out too well, but grabbing the pawn by 13.cxb5 also brings its problems: d7 14.a4 af8 all of Black's pieces are developed, and none of White's!! ] 13...b6 Threatening mate-in-one! 14.d4 bxc4 15.e3 [ 15.xc4 c6 16.f1 c3+ 17.d2 xd4 clearly favours Black. ] 15...f5 16.xc4 c6 This is the problem, hitting c4 and g2. 17.b3 xg2 18.0-0-0 White manages to bring his king to 'safety' on the queenside, but Black's initiative continues unabated. a5 19.b5 a4 20.b4 c7 21.b1 The king has to leave the open c-file. b8 22.d3 d7 23.a1 d5 The b5-pawn is not long for this world. 24.c1 [ 24.b1 does not help cb7 ] 24...cb7 25.c4 e4 The black position is very easy to play. 26.he1 xb5?! [ I imagine both players were short of time, as 26...d5 is far better, avoiding the following tactic (in the notes). ] 27.d2?? [ A clear blunder, White could have kept the game alive by 27.f3! xf3 28.xe6+ h8 29.c8 ] 27...xd4+ 0-1
527 Wells,Peter K Short,Nigel D 2nd IECC Ohrid (10) [Tony Kosten]
A13 2520 2675 2001
1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 a6 Not an uncommon move, Black often plays a later .. .b5, and expands on the queenside. 4.b3 f6 5.g2 e7 6.0-0 0-0 7.b2 dxc4!? [ A common idea in main-line Retis, but a novelty here, Black sidesteps the possibility of W hite playing cxd5 at some point, and p l a n s p l a y a l o n g t h e d - f i l e . 7...b5 is more consistent, 8.e5 b7 9.d4 for instance, Espig, L-Dvorietzky,M/Vilnius 1978. ] 8.bxc4 c5 9.c3 c6 10.e3 [ Standard play in such positions, White wishes to bring his queen to e2, Rfd1, then play d3 or d4, as appropriate, but 10.d3 is also reasonable. ] 10...d3!? Black won't be able to maintain his queen here for long, he simply wants to force the white pieces onto less-than-optimum squares. 11.a4 The threat to infiltrate on b6 allows W h ite time to d ef en d th e c-pawn , b e f o r e e x p e l l i n g t h e b l a c k q u e e n . d7 12.c1 b8 Black prepares the positionally desirable thrust ...b5. 13.e1 g6 14.d4! Creating a hanging pawn formation, judging that Black is poorly-placed to counter this. cxd4 15.exd4 d8 16.d5 exd5 17.cxd5 a7!? [ This reply appears passive, but Black intends blockading the d5-pawn by bringing his knight to d6 via b5. He may have been worried about the line 17...ce5 18.f4 g4 19.h3!? ( 19.e2 is possibly stronger, f6 ) 19...e3 20.e2 but Black has the interesting tactic e8! ( as 20...xf1? loses two pieces for a rook after 21.xe7 ) 21.xe3 c5 winning the queen for three pieces, 22.xc5 xc5 23.xc5 xg3 which is not too clear. ] 18.d3 b5 19.e1 [ The white pieces find active posts, but 19.f4! is more aggressive, f6 20.e5 and White retains the dark-squared bishop, and some advantage. ] 517
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19...f6 20.e2 xb2 21.axb2 f8 22.e5 f6 23.bc4 f5 24.e3! Taking aim at b6. h5?! [ If White didn't have 150 ELO points less than Black he would surely have continued, 24...h5 25.f3 g6 26.a4 keeps the initiative firmly in White's hands. ] ½-½
a5 16.e3 b7 17.ab1 d7!? [ 17...d7 looks more natural, but Black wants to play ...Bb5. ] 18.b4 cxb4 19.axb4 b6 20.e2 d4 21.d2 xe3 22.xe3 b6 Black decides to go for an ending where he has counterplay against the b4-pawn. 23.xb6 xb6 24.fc1 c8 25.f1 f8 We must always remember to bring the king to the centre in the endgame! 26.a2 This is a bit negative, why not the 528 A13 obvious [ 26.d3 planning f4, or Kf1-e2. ] Wojtkiewicz,Aleksander 2551 27.xc8 xc8 28.c1 d8 Kamsky,Gata 2717 26...e7 d7 117th NY Masters (4) 14.09.2004 The king arrives just in time! 29.f3 30.c2 b7 31.f2 c7 32.xc7 xc7 [Tony Kosten] 33.e3 b6 34.d2 White plays openly for Gata's back! 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 a6 the draw, but this is perhaps understandable 4.g2 b5 5.e5!? An unusual, if very direct, with 160 rating points less! [ 34.f4 f6 35.c3 offers some chances. ] line. Normally White defends his c-pawn by 34...a5 35.bxa5+ xa5 36.c3 a4 [ 5.b3 ] 37.c1 d7 38.h3 c5 The knight has 5...a7 6.d4 [ 6.cxb5 axb5 7.b3 also has its followers, done nothing all game, then springs to a although b7! 8.0-0 xg2 9.xg2 a6 strong square. 39.d3 xd3 And is then b4 41.f4 f6 10.xb5 b4 is very satisfactory for Black, e x c h a n g e d . 40.xd3 The white king is closer to the pawns, but this Vaganian,R-Seirawan, Y/Biel 1985. ] 6...b7 7.d5!? Somewhat surprising, as the d- doesn't count for too much as the king will fxe5 pawn's defender is under attack, but this is have difficulties invading. 42.fxe5 more ambitious than accepting the exchange 43.f5 h6 44.h4 b5+ 45.e3 c3 46.g4 c2 47.h5 c1 48.g4 a4 of bishops by [ 7.xb7 xb7 8.c5?! d6 Black is at least 49.h5 d1 50.e8 g4 51.a4 b2 52.d3 a3 53.e8 b4 54.c6 equal, Voscilla,A-Zaja,I/Pula 1995. ] ½-½ 7...b4+ An obvious improvement on [ 7...d6 8.d4 a8 9.c3 e7 10.g4 wit h an e d ge , Necka r,L -A lle gro ,V / S io n 529 A13 1990. ] 8.c3 c5 Zhou Jianchao 2607 Zhou Weiqi 2590 [ 8...bxc4 9.e4 exd5 10.e3 a8 11.exd5 29.05.2013 le a ve s W h it e wi t h m o re s p a ce , h e wil l Danzhou 4th (9) soon recapture the c4-pawn. ] [Fier, Alexandr] 9.0-0 0-0 This is only a rapid game, and K a m s k y i s p r o b a b l y a b i t r u s t y , b u t t h e Both players enter into a known position by a immediate different move order. Zhou Weiqi plays in an [ 9...d6 might be more accurate, as g4 is not interesting and provocative way by 11...Be7 protected by the white queen, 10.c6 xc6 and 12...Qa8, and after 13.d5!? the game 11.dxc6 bxc4 12.a4 c7 13.f4 e n t e r e d i n t o b i g c o m p l i c a t i o n s . S t i l l , everything is under control for Black. 1.c4 with unclear play. ] 10.e4 d6 11.g4 xg4 12.xg4 c8 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 dxc4 5.a4+ The e6-pawn was under attack. 13.e2 bxc4 bd7 6.xc4 c5 7.d4 Not so popular, but 14.xc4 e5 An important decision, Black an active option. [ 7.0-0 and ] closes the centre but leaves W hite with a [ 7.b3 are the main lines ] small edge because of his extra space. 15.a3 518
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...a6 8.c2 a7 Trying to keep the rook away from the bishop's diagonal. This order is almost never played, but since all the moves are more or less normal, there is still a lot of transpositional chances. [ Usually Black doesn't worry about the diagonal and answers with 8...b6 9.e5 d5 A) 10.xd7 is not so critical, but playable too xd7 11.dxc5 xc5 12.0-0 b7 13.d1 e7 14.e4 b4 15.e2 0-0 16.a3 c6 17.e3 and it looks like Black is absolutely fine; B) 10.c3 is the most played move at the high level, and after b7 11.xd5 xd5 12.xd5 exd5 13.0-0 ( 13.xd7 xd7 ) 13...xe5 14.dxe5 c8 15.d1 e6 16.d3 e7 17.xd5 d8 18.b3 xd1+ 19.xd1 0-0! ( 19...xe5? 20.a4+ is just bad) 20.b3 was seen in Kramnik, V (2750)- Deep Fritz 10/Bonn Man-Machine 2006. ( 20.f4 f6 21.exf6 xf6 22.e3 d8 gives big compensation) 20...xe5 21.xb6 xe2 22.e3 d8 Black is out of danger; C) 10.c6!? taking advantage of the early 8...b6, the big question is whether White can st abilize th e knight on c6 o r gain some activity after ...Bb7xc6 c7 11.e4 C1) 11...e7?! is not convincing 12.xe7 xe7 13.f4 a7 14.d5 e5 15.e3 Tkachiev, V (2639)-Sokolov, A (2596)/FRA-chA 85th 2010, and Black would be fine if ...Nd7-d6 was possible, but otherwise White has an edge; C2) 11...xc6 is playable, accepting the c h a l l e n g e . 12.exd5 exd5 13.c3 ( 13.0-0 f6 14.g5 e7 15.c3 e6 16.dxc5 xc5 17.e3 ) 13...f6 14.g5 cxd4 15.xf6 dxc3 16.xc3 Zaichik, G-Ivanov, A (2400)/URS-ch45 otbor 1977; C3) 11...5f6 was Meier's choice and looks possible 12.d5 b7 13.0-0 d6 14.d2 with a double-edged position in Landa, K (2598)- Meier, G (2648)/ Politiken Cup 32nd 2010. ] 9.0-0 b6 10.c3 This position can arise if White plays first 7.0-0 8.Qc2 9.Nc3 and only then 10.d4, or if Black plays ...b6 or ...Ra7 at dif ferent moments, putting all the games
together we have some material to take a look at again. b7 11.e4 [ 11.e3 is the main alternative but with pieces instead of pawns in the center the chances for an advantage are less. a8 12.dxc5 ( 12.fd1 waiting for 12... Be7 to take on c5 can be possible improvement) 12...xc5 13.xc5 xc5 14.fd1 0-0 15.d6 b5 was drawn in Huebner, R (2608)Prusikin, M (2545)/SUI-chT Switzerland 2012. ] 11...e7 Playing in a provocative way! Usually Black tries to take on d4 to avoid any d5 ideas [ 11...cxd4 12.xd4 a8 13.e1 c5 is analyzed in Swiercz - Malakhatko/ Rubinstein memorial 2008 - see the Archives. ] 12.d1 a8 Now White needs to make a serious decision. [ 12...0-0 13.d5 exd5 14.e5 g4 ( 14...e8? 15.xd5 xd5 16.xd5 c7 17.d3 Lautier, J (2645)-Pinter, J (2580)/ FRA France 1993.) 15.xd5 ( 15.f5 xf2 16.xf2 d4 is not so clear) 15...dxe5 16.xe5 xe5 17.f4 d6 18.b3 b5 19.a4 leaves Black with some problems to solve. ] 13.d5!? Accepting the challenge! [ 13.dxc5 maybe this is better but it's hard to understand what is going on after 13. d5 over the board, xc5 14.b4!? A) 14...cxe4 to take the pawn is too dangerous 15.a4 A1) 15...d8 does not help 16.e3; A2) 15...0-0 16.xb6 e8 17.e3 xb4 ( 17...g4 18.d4 f6 19.d7 and the rooks are in trouble) 18.c4 a8 19.ab1 e7 20.a3 c5 21.xc5 xc5 22.d6 e4 23.xe4 ( 23.xc5 xb1 24.xb1 ad8 25.b6 e8 26.e4 xc5 27.xc5 a5 ) 23...cxe4 24.e5 ac8 25.c6 c7 26.bc1 d6 27.d3 with advantage to White because of the strong knight on c6. Probably the a6 pawn will fall and Black will have to fight hard for a draw.; A3) 15...c8 16.xc8+ xc8 17.xb6 0-0 18.a3 c3 19.e1 fd5 20.xd5 xd5; B) 14...cd7! 15.a3 0-0 16.f4 c8 a n d m a yb e W h i t e h a s a r e a l l y s l i g h t 519
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 advantage, which is enough f or some players. ] 13...exd5 14.exd5 xd5 15.h4 [ 15.xd5 it's hard to believe this sacrifice, but White's pieces have a lot of potential. xd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.f4 f6 ( 17...0-0? 18.g5 ) 18.b8 d7 ( 18...a8 looks enough for equality 19.xa7 xa7 20.e5 0-0 21.c6 c7 22.e2 e8 23.xa6 f8= ) 19.e5 d2 20.b3 0-0 21.xd7 xd7 22.f4 b4 ( 22...c4 23.xd2 cxb3 24.axb3 a5 ) 23.d1 f6 24.c7 xb3 25.axb3 c8 26.xb6 b8 27.a5 xb3 28.c3 and the bishops compensate the pawn, but nothing more. ] 15...xc3 [ 15...b4! is interesting, leading to a p o s s ib le d ra w 16.xb7 ( 16.f5 xg2 17.xg2 f6 18.g5 0-0 ) 16...xc2 17.xa8 xa8 ( 17...xa1 is not so clear if the knight can escape from a1 at some point 18.e4 xh4 19.gxh4 0-0 20.f4 f6 21.xa1 xe4 22.xe4 e7 23.c3 d8 but I would still prefer to be Black here) 18.f5! White needs to keep the initiative at any cost. ( 18.b1 xh4 19.gxh4 a7 ) 18...xa1 19.d5 d8 ( 19...f6 20.c7+ ) 20.xg7+ f8 21.h6 f6 ( 21...g8? 22.f5 and White's attack is unstoppable f6 23.c7! xc7 24.xd7 e5 25.g7+ f8 26.a7++- ) 22.f5+ f7 ( 22...g8 23.c7! ) 23.d6+ e6 24.f4+ e7 25.f5+ e8 26.g7+ e7 27.f5+= with a beautiful draw. ] 16.xc3 f6 17.f5 Going into a forced draw variation. xg2 18.xg7+ f8 19.h6 [ 19.h5 doesn't change the evaluation h1 20.f3! xf3 21.h6+ e8 ( 21...g8 22.xf6+ xf6 23.xf6 xf6 24.d6 e7 25.e1! f5 26.xb6 d8 27.b8 f7 28.xh1 ) 22.g7+ f8 23.f5+ e8= ( 23...g8 24.d2! )] 19...h1 20.f5+ e8 21.g7+ f8 22.f5+ e8 23.h4? Suddenly White collapses! Now the position is just winning for Black. [ 23.g7+= ] 23...g8 24.f3 g4! 25.d3 [ 25.f4 xh4 26.e1+ e7-+ ] [ 25.fxg4 xh4 and Black can defend any
check on the e-file easily ] 25...xh4 26.xh7 xh6 27.xh6 A rich game with a disastrous end! 0-1
530 Bareev,Evgeny Kramnik,Vladimir Amber Blindfold (9) [Tony Kosten]
xf3
A14 2714 2777 30.03.2004
Craig Hall asked about a line in the notes, which seems to have escaped the attention of the various Reti writers. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 b7 4.g2 e6 5.0-0 e7 6.c3 0-0 7.b3 d5 8.e3 dxc4 The point of playing this move is that it takes away the possibility of advantageously capturing on d5 from White once and for good. [ 8...c5 9.b2 c6 has occurred a few times in my games, 10.cxd5 this is why B l a c k l i k e s t o t a k e o n c 4 ! ( 10.d3 ke e p s m o re t e n sio n , b u t I n o t ic e d t h a t Dunnington reckoned the capture on d5 wa s d a n ge r o u s f o r B l a c k) 10...xd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.d4 a5!? unusual, but not bad, 13.h4!? ( 13.a3 fd8 14.c1 ac8 doesn't seem to offer White much, Poluljahov,A-Maiorov,O/Krasnodar 1998; 13.dxc5! is best, xc5 14.xd5 xd5 15.fd1 fd8 16.ac1 c6 17.d4 xg2 18.xg2 xd4 19.xd4 xd4 20.xd4 xd4 21.exd4 with an edge in Miles,A-Short, N/ch-GBR, Torquay ENG 1998) 13...d8! 14.xb7 xb7 15.f3 b8 ( 15...xh4! is best ) 16.fd1 e8 ( 16...xh4 17.dxc5 g5 18.c6 c5 19.h1 regains the piece on h4 ) 17.g2 f6 ( 17...cxd4 18.xd4 f6?? l o s e s n e a t l y t o 19.xf6! gxf6 20.g4+ h8 21.xf6# ) 18.f4 e7 19.h5 cxd4 20.xf6+ xf6 21.xf6 gxf6 22.xd4 with a clear advantage, KostenDubois, Naujac 2004. ] 9.bxc4 c5 10.b2 c6 11.e2 b4!? Black aims for the weakened d3 square. Craig says: "In my database this has been met by 12.d4, 12.Ne1 and 12.Ne5 - d4 seems strongest to me, do you agree? None of my bo o ks h a ve a n y co ve ra ge o f t h is lin e . . " 12.e1 Solid, but I agree with Craig that 520
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 12.d4 is best, cxd4 13.exd4 White has hanging pawns, but an active position with well-placed pieces, c8 14.fd1 e8 prophylaxis, and better than aiming directly for the c-pawn by ( 14...c7 when 15.a3 a6 Ravikumar,V-Theulings,P/Dieren 1991, when 16.d5!? exd5 17.b5 looks really dangerous for Black) 15.a3 c6 16.e5 ( 16.d5?! is wrong with the rook facing the white queen, Petrosian,A-Kuzmin,G/Baku 1977 ) 16...c7?! offering White a free tempo, ( 16...d6 17.f4 a5 18.xb7 xb7 19.b5 b8 20.a4 gives White more spa ce, but the exchange o f light squared bishops helps Black, Plachetka,JGizynski,T/Bardejov 1991) 17.b5 b8 18.d5! exd5 19.cxd5 xe5 20.xe5 a6 21.xb8 xb8 22.a7 aiming for c6, d6 23.a4 a8 ( 23...e4! to block the diagonal ) 24.c6 ac8 25.ac1 ( 25.xf6 gxf6 26.ab1 c5 raises the spectre of opposite-colour bishops) 25...b5?! 26.b1?! ( 26.xf6 gxf6 27.axb5 axb5 28.b1 wins the pawn immediately) 26...a8?! Panno,O-Mecking,H/Buenos Aires 1970, but instead ( 26...e4 was best. )] 12...xg2 13.xg2 d7 14.d1 First, [ 14.a3 c6 then 15.d1 is an alternative, ( 15.f3 fd8 16.fd1 b7 17.g1 d7 is very pleasant for Black, Ivkov,B-Platonov, I/Wijk aan Zee 1970) 15...b7 16.g1 a6 17.a4 e8 18.f4 d6 19.b1 f6 20.f3 fd8 with fair chances, Bagirov,V-Psakhis,L/ Amsterdam 1989. ] 14...fd8 Black's main plan is simple: pile-up on the d-file! 15.d3 a6 16.a3 c6 17.a4 White often plays this to dissuade Black from playing ...b5. b7 18.g1 d7 Actually an innovation, although the [ 18...b4 19.f4 d7 20.f3 of Schmidt,WKostro,J/Polanica Zdroj 1970, is similar. ] 19.f4 This is the key to White's play, he controls e5 (and keeps the a1-h8 diagonal o p e n ) wh i ls t p r e p a ri n g a k i n g s i d e p a wn advance. ad8 20.f3 g4!? Black wants to blunt the b2-bishop's diagonal by playing ... f6. 21.h3 h6 22.h2?! Slow, [ 22.g4!? f6 23.g5 f7 24.e4 f5 25.f2 covers d3, and keeps e5 under control. ] 22...f6 23.d2 White must stay ready to cover d3, as now
[ 23.g4 is met by f7 ] 23...b4 24.d4 [ 24.e1 is possible, if a little passive, but ] [ 24.fd1? loses a pawn to xd3! 25.xd3 xd3 26.xd3 xd3 27.xd3 xf3 ] 24...f7 25.fd1 f8 Black plays a lot of useful prophylactic moves, which is often a good idea. 26.a1 c6 Black takes aim at c4. 27.f5? This is a bit desperate. [ 27.b2 kept the tension. ] 27...exf5 28.d5 c7 29.h4 d6 30.f1 e7 31.e1 d7 32.f2 de8 Black doesn't even need to weaken his kingside with . ..g6. 33.xf5? xf5 34.xf5 c2 Forking e1 and e3. 0-1
531 Borovikov,Vladislav Moro,Alfonso 74th ch-UKR KO (2.1) [John Watson]
A14 2595 2487 26.08.2005
1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.b3 f6 4.b2 e7 5.g3 0-0 6.g2 c5 7.0-0 c6 8.e3 This is a traditional main line of the Reti, c o n t e s t e d o v e r a c e n t u r y o r m o r e . d4 A real test of White's setup with a long history behind it. 9.exd4 cxd4 10.e1 To prevent ... e5 and play for Ne5. [ 10.d3?! e5! is a reversed Benoni in which White's Bb2 is a disadvantage. So although Black lost a tempo by ...e6-e5. White lost one by Bb2 and may lose another by Bc1, back to the best square for the bishop! ] 10...e8! A strange remedy but a good one, intending ..f6 and ...e5. Oddly enough, this has been the only move that has worked well for Black, for example: [ (a) 10...e8 11.e5! xe5 12.xe5 d7 13.b5 and White was much better in TalZhuravlev, USSR Ch 1967. ] [ (b) 10...d3?! 11.a3 ( 11.e5!? xe5 12.xe5 ) 11...a5 12.c3 is excellent for White. Nb5 is in the air, as is Re3 in many lines. ] 11.a3!? [ The best order to mix it up is 11.d3! f6 ( 11...c7 12.bd2 f6 13.a3 a5 14.h4!? e5 15.h5 e8 16.xe8 xe8 17.f4 521
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 - I l i k e W h i t e) 12.bd2 ( 12.a3 is still playable) 12...e5! ( 12...c7 13.a3 a5 14.h4 b8 15.f4 with a small edge) 13.a3 a5 14.h4!? A) (or 14...g5 15.d5+ g7 16.g2 (intending f4 or h4) c7 17.e4 d7 ( 17...f5 18.xc6 bxc6 19.xe5 ) 18.f4 Black will acce de to some weakness, again with a dynamic position in which I favour White, for example, gxf4 ( 18...exf4 19.gxf4 f5 20.xc6 bxc6 21.f3 ) 19.gxf4 h8 20.h5 h3 21.xh3 xh3 22.fxe5 fxe5 23.xc6 bxc6 24.xe5; B) or 14...c7 15.h5 e8 16.xe8 xe8 17.f4 exf4 18.gxf4; C) 14...e6 15.f4 d7 16.h5 ( a more ambitious move would be 16.f5!? xf5 17.xf5 xf5 18.e4 h3 19.f3 c7 20.f5 h6 , but it's hard to see a go od f ollo w-u p) 16...f7 ( 16...g4?! 17.d5+ xd5 18.xg4 f7 19.f5 h8 20.f1 ) 17.e2 with a complex game, probably equal but easier for White to play. ] 11...f6 12.c2 e5 13.d3 c7 14.b1?! [ 14.d2! a5 15.a3 Tal-Grigorian, Gori 1968. This is the last way to fight for the advantage that I see, although it's doubtless okay for Black who has active pieces and even a practical advantage. ] 14...a5 15.c1 Proof that the setup has failed to achieve anything. Black has a mild advan ta ge . b8 16.a3 b5 17.d2 d7 18.e2 e8 19.h4! g6 [ 19...g5? 20.f5! f8 21.e4 ] 20.xc6 xc6 21.xa5 d7 22.xc7 xc7 23.b4 xb4? [ 23...b7! w i t h t h e i d e a 24.cxb5? ( 24.g4!? c8! 25.xc8 bxc8 26.c2 c7 and the bishops ensure some a d v a n t a g e .) 24...xb4 25.axb4 d7 exploiting the light squares an retaining the better game. ] 24.axb4 d6 25.g4 [ 25.c5 d5 26.f3 is also hard to crack. ] 25...d7 26.f3 c6 27.g4 d7 28.f3 c6 ½-½
532 Chuchelov,Vladimir Rogozenco,D Bundesliga 2003-4 (3) [Tony Kosten]
A14 2603 2517 22.11.2003
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.b3 e7 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 b6 7.b2 b7 8.e3 bd7 A solid line, Black develops his bits foremost. 9.e2 a5!? Black plays to embarrass the b2bishop, [ 9...c5 is the main move. ] 10.c3 a4 This is the tactical point. [ 10...e4 11.cxd5 exd5 12.d3 xc3 13.xc3 c5 was fairly level in Tal,MCifuentes Parada,R/Buenos Aires 1991. ] 11.xa4!? This obvious capture is actually a novelty! [ 11.d4 ha d b e e n p ref e rre d , wh e n a3 12.c1 b4 13.d2 gives Black good play, e7 14.ac1 fd8 ( 14...ac8 15.fd1 fd8 is similar, Plaskett,J-Parker,J/ Birmingham 1999) 15.e1 xc3 16.xc3 e4 17.a1 c5 18.d3 dxc4 19.bxc4 ac8 and White's bishops don't amount to much, Pigusov,E-Kosashvili,Y/Biel 1989. ] 11...dxc4 This is the point, the c4-pawn is invulnerable. 12.fc1 [ 12.xc4?! a6 wins the exchange ] 12...cxb3 [ 12...b5 13.c3 b4 14.a4 d5 is more testing. ] 13.axb3 c5 This seems a bit too simplistic, Black exchanges pieces, but is the knight on a4 doing anything? Perhaps [ 13...d5 is more to the point. ] 14.xc5 xc5 15.d3 e7 16.e5 xg2 17.xg2 White's play is also simple, but there is a p l a n : e xc h a n g i n g t h e l i g h t - s q u a r e d bishops exposes the squares on c6 and b5 to infiltration. a3? Black continues the logic of exchanging pieces, hoping for a quick draw, but gets into surprising difficulties after this. [ 17...xa1 18.xa1 d7! would have achieved his objective. ] 18.c6 d6 19.e5 d7 The queen is short of squares, and the only other possibility was [ 19...d5+ when 20.e4 b5 21.xa3 xa3 22.e7+ h8 23.xf6 wins material, as gxf6? 24.b2 is decisive as it menaces 522
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the rook and (more importantly) Qxf6 mate. ] 20.xa3! xa3 21.xf6 gxf6 22.b2 This is the point, the queen forks the rook and t h e f 6 - p a w n . fa8 There is nothing better. 23.xf6 d5+? The only move was [ 23...e8 when 24.c4 (threatening Rg4+ and mate) e5 (to cover g4 with the queen) 25.xe5 d5+ checks and attacks the knight at the same time, which gives Black time to defend, 26.f3 e6 and Black is clearly worse, but still fighting. ] 24.e4 xd3 [ 24...d6 looks better, but still loses, 25.e5 d5+ 26.h3 e8 27.c4 and Black has to give his queen to avoid mate. ] 25.e7+ f8 26.xc7 Mate follows after [ 26.xc7 xe4+ 27.h3 ] 1-0
533 Durarbayli,Vasif Yu,Yangyi World Teams 2013 (7.5) [Fier, Alexandr]
A14 2559 2668 03.12.2013
W hite's pawn sac was quite an interesting idea, much more active than the normal 15. Nb1 and it brought a lot of life to the game, but 16.Nxd5 was better and would be my recommendation in the position. Soon things went wrong and Black easily won the game. 1.c4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.g3 e7 4.g2 0-0 5.0-0 d5 6.b3 b6 7.b2 b7 8.e3 c5 9.e2 c6 10.d1 dxc4 11.bxc4 c7 12.c3 a6 [ 12...fd8 can also be tried here, and after 13.ac1 a5 14.d3 a6 with the same idea as in this game, and it was seen last year in Kvon, A (2492)-Sargissian, G (2693)/ Istanbul ol (Men) 40th 2012 (8.4). ] 13.ac1 fd8 14.d4 An ambitious approach. [ 14.d3 is also natural, trying to expand a f t e r w a r d s w i t h f 4 a7 ( 14...a5 wou ld tra ns pose t o Sargissian's gam e) 15.d2 xg2 16.xg2 c6 was Lahno, K (2548)-Kosintseva, T (2517)/Geneve FIDE GP (Women) 2013 (9). ] 14...a5 15.d5!? An new idea in the position. W hite give s a p awn in order t o ope n th e position - Black should not underestimate
White's attacking potential. [ 15.b1 is sometimes played, defending c4 a n d g o i n g w i t h t h e k n i g h t t o d 2 ac8 16.bd2 e4 17.b3 xb3 18.axb3 was recently seen in Wiedenkeller, M (2479)Kreisl, R (2408)/EU-Cup 29th Rhodes 2013 (1.2). ] 15...exd5 16.cxd5 xd5 17.e4 The computer doesn't like this move, but the position is not easy to understand. Changing the knights instead of 17.Ne4 could hold the balance, but with good practical chances. [ 17.xd5!? xd5 18.xd5 it looks like White is exchanging too many pieces, but it won't be a dead draw so early xd5 19.e5 A) 19...xe5 loses an exchange 20.xe5 xe5 21.xa8 with a clear advantage; B) 19...dd8 is already losing to 20.xf7! this theme will be seen in other variations xf7 21.h5+ f8 ( 21...g8 22.d5+ h8 23.e4 is j u s t m a t e) 22.xh7 and Black is not able to deal with the attack, for example: d6 23.d5 e8 to run away to e7-d8 with the king 24.d1 and Black's position is completely hopeless; C) 19...ad8 this is basically the only move 20.xf7!? a dangerous idea, and it's easy for Black to make a step in the wrong direction ( 20.xd5 is a solid option, but d oesn 't b ring any adva ntage xd5 21.xa6 f8 and Black is fine ) C1) 20...xf7 is not possible, and reminds me of the old Figatello 21.xd5+ xd5 22.f3+ e6 23.g4+! precise d6 24.e4 and the king is too exposed to survive g5 25.d1+ c6 26.e6+ b5 27.a4+! White needs to open the a-file ( 27.b1 a4 and suddenly the attack is over ) 27...xa4 28.a1+ b5 29.b1 winning; C2) 20...d2 C2a) 21.h5 is also interesting xb2 22.e4 C2a1) 22...g6 23.xg6 f6 ( 23...hxg6 24.xg6+ f8 25.h6 with a brutal attack) 24.xh7+ f8 25.h6+ g7 26.xd8! xd8 ( 26...xh6 27.e6++- ) 27.f4+ g8 28.f7+ h8 29.f5 d2 523
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 30.h3+ g8 31.e6+ with a perpetual; C2a2) 22...f8 23.xd8 xd8 24.d1 f6 25.xh7 with dangerous compensation, probably Black can defend, but the position is easy for White to play; C2b) 21.g4 leads to an entertaining draw xf7 22.xg7+ e8 23.f3 xb2 24.h5+ d7 25.g4+ ( 25.d1+ c8 is em barra ssin g) 25...c6 26.f3+= ]
complications. 20.f3? [ 20.c2 is the computer suggestion but without any concrete plan, b6 ] 20...dxe3 Now it's over 21.xd8+ xd8 22.f6+ xf6 23.xf6 xg2 24.xd8 xd8 25.d1 [ 25.xg2 maybe White was counting on this move, but White is paralyzed after f6 26.e1 c6 if the queen leaves the e-file 27...Ne5 is decisive, so there is nothing to do ] 25...f6 26.e8+ g7 27.d8 xf3 28.f8+ f6 29.d7 d5 30.h8+ f5 17...b5 [ 17...c6! was the best move, trying to 31.g4+ xg4 32.h3+ xh3 bring the queen to e6 and also threatening 0-1 18...Qb5 18.a1 ( 18.e5 e6 and it's not clear how W hite is going to A14 continue the attack) 18...h6 19.e1 e6 534 and there is not enough compensation for Filippov,Valerij 2639 the pawn ] Grischuk,Alexander 2719 18.h4? Trying to go to f5 and force Black to FIDE WCh KO Tripoli LBA (3.6) 24.06.2004 open the long diagonal for White's bishop, but [Tony Kosten] there are no real threats on the diagonal, so this move is not so effective. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 e7 [ 18.fg5 was more to the point 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 c5 7.e3 c6 8.cxd5 A) 18...xg5 19.xg5 h6 20.xd5! [ 8.b2 is more common, b6 9.c3 b7 again this idea, but now connected with 10.e2 and now we looked at dxc4 11.bxc4 the h7 square instead of f7 xd5 21.d3 b4 in Bareev-Kramnik last month. ] hxg5 22.xd5 and the bishops are really 8...xd5 9.b2 b6 10.d4 dangerous. Black needs to give the [ 10.c3 f6 ( 10...b7 11.xd5 e x c h a n g e b a c k f8 23.f5 xd5 was considered in a note to the ( 23...ac8? 24.xc5 wins ) 24.xd5 b7 aforementioned game.) 11.d4 xc3 25.xg5 f6 26.f5 and White is slightly 12.xc3 b7 13.c1 1/2-1/2 Hartung better; Ni e ls e n , J -M a k si m o vi c, B / C o p e n h a g e n B) 18...c4 19.xg7 more or less forced, 1989. ] but good xg7 20.g4 xg5 21.xg5 10...a6! More active than I p r e f e r t h i s o n e ( 21.xg5+ [ 10...b7 which would transpose to more is also possible, but Black can have some normal lines. ] a d v a n t a g e a f t e r h8 22.f6 e5 11.e1 cxd4 23.xd5 one more time this move xd5 [ 11...db4 has never been played, but has 24.h6 f5 25.xd5 xd5 26.e4 its points, ...Nd3 is an annoying threat. ] t h i s i s t h e i d e a b e h i n d 2 3 . R x d 5 g6 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 With the symmetric 27.xg6 hxg6 28.xd5 and in the structure it seems at first glance that a draw is endgame these pa ssed pawns on th e not far off. c8 The rook leaves the exposed q u e e n s i d e c a n b e e n o u g h f o r s o m e h1-a8 diagonal. 14.d2 White can also try to advantage ) 21...h5 22.e6+ f6 bring his rook to d2 by 23.xc7 hxg4 24.xa8 xa8 25.e4 [ 14.a3 when f6! ( 14...d7 15.a2 fd8 b2 26.d2 c4= ] 16.d2 is only slightly better for Black, 18...g6 19.a1 c4 And with two simple Zivkovic,V-Vuksanovic,S/ Vrnjacka Banja moves White's attack is completely neutralized. 1996 ) 15.a2 xd4 16.xd4 c3! W ithout a clear path W hite got lost in the 17.xd8 fxd8 18.xc3 xc3 524
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 wit h p re s s u r e o n t h e wh i t e qu e e n sid e , Maninang,R-Fernandez Garcia,J/Luzern 1982. ] 14...f6 Once again Black aims to control the c 3 - s q u a r e . 15.e4 xd4 16.xd4 f5! A powerful novelty, Black weakens e5 and e6, but wins control of c3 for his knight. [ 16...e7 17.ac1?! ( 17.ec1 is right, keeping the a-pawn defended) 17...a3 ( 17...f5! ) 18.cd1?! ( 18.d2 ) 18...c2 with a useful initiative, Pham Toan ThanhSaevareid,O/Bergen NOR 2002. ] 17.d2 c3 18.f1 [ 18.xd8 fxd8 19.f3 keeps White's position solid, but Black is clearly on top. ] 18...xf1 19.xf1 xd4 Black gives White an IQP, but also opens the e-file and exposes the e6-pawn. Perhaps [ 19...e5 20.xd8 fxd8 offers more, 21.c4 e4 with a small space advantage. ] 20.exd4 b5 21.f3 c3 22.g2? Astounding, White misses a simple tactic, [ 22.a4! is fine, xf3 ( 22...d6 23.g5 xb3 24.xe6 can only be good for White) 23.axb5 f4! 24.g4 xb3 25.xe6 xb5 26.xa7 f3 with a likely draw. ] 22...xf3! Winning a pawn. 23.xf3 xd4+ 24.f4 c2 The sting that regains the exchange. 25.ac1 xe1 26.xe1 f7 Black has a solid extra pawn, the backward e6p a wn is h i s o n e p ro b le m . 27.c1 f6 The king covers e5, and prepares ...e5 or ... g5. 28.e3 What else? If [ 28.c7 Black simply plays f7 29.c6 g5+ 30.e3 g4 ] 28...g5 29.b4 f7 30.c8 d7 31.a4?! White doesn't defend the position too well, [ 31.f4 should be played, for better or worse, as at least ...e5 is inhibited. ] 31...g4! This move leaves the white kingside pawns completely crippled. 32.b5 e5 33.c4 d6 34.h3!? It is always a good idea to exchange some pawns. gxh3 35.h4 [ 35.d4+ e7 36.h4 seems more accurate, keeping the black king further from the queenside. ] 35...c7 36.d3 c1 Black searches for activity. 37.xh3 a1 The beginning of the e n d f o r W h i t e , h e i s t ie d t o t h e a -p a wn . 38.h4 [ 38.xh7 xa4 is no help, the b5-pawn is
soon lost. ] 38...a3+ 39.e2 d5 40.f1 e5 41.g2 e4 Cutting the rook from the a4-pawn forces the exchange of h-pawn for a-pawn. 42.xh7 xa4 43.h3? White should at least try [ 43.h5 e6 44.h6+ e5 45.h5 f6 46.h6+ g5 47.h7 when the black king i s f o r c e d t o s t a y o n t h e k i n g s i d e , a5 and Black will probably have to exchange the a7-pawn for the b5-pawn, although this should win. ] 43...a2 44.h4 [ 44.g2? e3 ] 44...xf2 [ 44...e3! wins on the spot. ] 45.xa7 c5 46.f7 f3 Black will capture on b5 with a trivial win. 0-1
535 Galyas,Miklos Paridar,Shadi FSIM June Budapest HUN (13) [John Watson]
A14 2444 2263 16.06.2005
1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 c5 7.b2 c6 8.e3 b6 9.c3 a6 10.e2 c8 11.d3 [ 11.b5!? was played in the instructive game Botvinnik-Bakulin, USSR 1967: b7 12.d3 a6 13.c3 c7 14.fd1 d7 15.cxd5! xd5 16.xd5 exd5 17.d4 e8 18.d2 cxd4 19.xd4 e5 20.ad1 c5 21.a3 a5 22.b5 c6 23.a4 a8 24.d4! ] 11...e5?! This is a tactically-based attempt to free Black's game at once, but it doesn't quite work. Instead, the modest [ 11...d7 has been played several times a n d s e e m s s o l i d e n o u g h , e . g . , 12.fd1 ( 12.ad1 fd8 13.fe1 d4?! 14.exd4 xd4 15.xd4 cxd4 16.e4 xe4 17.xe4 Hjartarrson-Belyavsky, Linares 1 9 8 8 , b u t 1 3 . . . Q e 8 w a s e q u a l - E C O) 12...fd8 13.ac1 e8 14.h3 b7 15.cxd5 xd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.e5 dd8 18.g4 with a slight initiative, Panchenko-Kharlamov, Smolensk 1986. ] 12.xd5! xd5 13.cxd5 e4 [ 13...b4 14.xe5 f6 15.c4 ] 525
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.d2! b4 18.c2 b7 19.a1 xa1 1/2-1/2 Roeder[ 14...xd3 15.g4 is White's point, Baklan, Saint Vincent 2003. ] although d4! 16.exd4 f5 17.h5 xf1 9.d3 18.xf1 g6 19.e2 f6 is only somewhat [ 9.c2 bd7 10.fb1 b4 11.d1 e7 better for White after 20.f3 cxd4 21.fxe4! 12.c2 d6 13.d3 axb3 14.axb3 xa1 d3 22.xd3 xb2 23.exf5 gxf5 24.c4 15.xa1 e5 16.e3 g6 17.d4 e4 18.d2 g7 25.xf5 ] Pribyl-Weglarz, Decin 1998. ] 15.g4 g6 16.dxe4 xf1 17.xf1 9...bd7 Now White has a huge centre and two bishops [ 9...a6 10.c2 b6 11.b1 axb3 12.axb3 along with two pawns for the exchange. The b4 13.c3 xc2 14.xc2 b7 15.a1 rest is easily understandable: d3 18.a1 d7 16.xa8 xa8 17.a1 Bofill Masf6 19.xf6 xf6 20.e2 b4 21.c4 b5 Hoensch, Banyoles 2004 ] 22.e5 a6 23.d6 b8 24.a1 a5 10.c2 b4!? 25.d2 c7 26.f4 a5 27.a3 a6 28.e4 [ 10...axb3 11.axb3 b4 12.d1 c4 29.d6 a7 30.b4 fd8 31.c3 axb4 and Nc2 follows perhaps W hite is a tad 32.axb4 b6 33.f6+ f8 34.d5 better. ] [ 34.d5 a7 35.xa6 xa6 36.e6 11.fc1 h6 and checkmate follows. ] [ Le ss casu al is 11...e7 12.b1 e5 1-0 ( 12...axb3 ) 13.cxd5 a3 14.c3 xd5 ] 12.d1 e8 13.c2 f8 14.b4! Black's play has been generally passive, 536 A14 although his position is solid enough. After 14. Ivanchuk,Vassily 2739 b4 we have the classic Reti tension between Asrian,Karen 2611 flank and centre. e5 15.a3 b5! Generally this 6th EICC Playoff (1.1) 02.07.2005 move is a bit awkward for White because c5 allows Black free rein in the centre. 16.c5 [John Watson] c7 17.d2 g6 18.e4 d4?! [ 18...g7 ] The ...a5-a4 system of the traditional main line of the Reti has always done well, so it's 19.e2 g7 20.f1 f8 21.ae1 h5? interesting to see how Ivanchuk handles it. Weakening. Black is losing the thread. 22.f4 1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 e7 exf4 23.xd4!? [ 23.gxf4! d5 24.e5 ] 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 a5 [ 6...c5 7.b2 c6 8.e3 reverts to the main 23...e6 [ 23...g4! ] line. ] 24.xf6 xf6 25.e5 g5 26.d4 7.b2 a4 8.a3 Directly blocking the [ 26.e4! intending xe5? 27.xg5 xg5 advance of the pawn. White has gained time 28.xc6 ] but at the cost of putting the awkward knight 26...fxg3 27.hxg3 xd2 28.xd2 g7 on a3. 29.d5! cxd5 30.xd5 e6 31.xa8 xa8 [ 8.d3 ] 32.d6 Black has nothing for the pawn and [ 8.bxa4 and ] [ 8.c1 have all been played with indifferent goes on to lose. 1-0 success. ] 8...c6 In some games Black has achieved ... b5 so White has to be on the lookout for that idea. [ Black puts his knight on d7 in this game, so it's worth seeing another example: 8...bd7 9.d3 ( 9.d4 e4 10.c2 ) 9...b6 10.c1!? ( 10.e3 b7 11.c2 ) 10...b7 11.c2 c5 12.b1 axb3 13.axb3 c7 14.e3 c6 15.cxd5 xd5 16.e4 5f6 17.e3 fd8 526
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 537 Kosten,Anthony C Grimberg French League [Tony Kosten]
A14
24.03.2012
1.c4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 f6 [ 3...c5 4.g2 c6 5.0-0 e7!? was an interesting idea to dissuade White from playing b3, 6.e3!? ( my opponent was doubtless hoping for 6.cxd5 exd5 7.d4 f6 transposing to the Tarrasch - but as I'd seen that he likes to play this I naturally wanted to take him out of his 'comfort zone'.) 6...f6 7.b3 e4!? continuing with the plan of stopping White from playing his queenside f i a n c h e t t o , ( 7...0-0 is normal, of course, 8.b2 transposing to the main game.) 8.b2 f6 9.xf6!? a novelty, and played after considerable reflection the move before. ( 9.d4 is the obvious reply, but then 0-0 10.cxd5 exd5 11.c3 returns play to a QGD Tarrasch once more, and would be much more to my opponent's liking!; 9.c1 was a reasonable alternative, Makarov, M (2505)-Vekshenkov, N (2295)/ Novosibirsk 1989. ) 9...xf6 ( 9...xf6 is worse, 10.c3 xc3 11.dxc3 dxc4 12.d2 as cxb3?! 13.e4 e7 14.d6+ ) 10.cxd5 xd5 11.d4 cxd4 12.xd4 f6 ( I had been expecting 12...d7 which is close to equal.) 13.d2! a n i c e t r i c k , xd4 14.e4 the point, f3+ 15.xf3 e5 16.c1 d7 to play ...Bc6. ( 16...0-0 is safer, 17.c5 b6 18.d3 with a small advantage.) 17.d2! heading for c4, 0-0 18.c4 f6 19.e4! A) 19...b4 was pretty much forced, 20.e5 ( 20.xd7? xf3 ) 20...e7 21.xb7 ab8 22.d6! winning a pawn.; B) 19...c3?? p l a y e d q u i c k l y , 20.e5! simply winning, xd1 21.exf6 the knight is trapped, Kosten, A (2498)-Wheeler, D (2272)/England 2011. ] 4.g2 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 c5 7.b2 c6 8.e3 b6 9.c3 a6!? An ambitious move, pinning the c4-pawn. [ 9...b7 is the mainline and is 3 times more popular. ] 10.d3 [ 10.e2 c8 11.d3 transposes, and I don't know if W hite can gain any advantage by
delaying this by, say ( 11.fd1 as Black can play d4 12.exd4 cxd4 13.b5 d3 and White soon had a quite a bad position in Botvinnik, M-Van Scheltinga, T/ Amsterdam 1966. )] 10...c8 11.e2 c7!? This move is very rare, but seems very logical - the rook is coming to d7 to press on the d-file. [ 11...e5?! was Galyas, M-Paridar, S, analysed by John W atson - see the PGN Archive. ] [ 11...c7 is by far the most popular at this juncture. ] 12.ad1 Normally the other rook would come here, but I realised I would need it on the f-file later on. [ 12.fd1 d7 13.b5 b8 14.a4 b7 15.d4 led to a quick draw in Makarichev, S (2 5 05 ) -Marjan o vic, S (2 51 5 )/ S ara je vo 1982. ] 12...d7 13.h4!? This seems to be new here, but I like this idea which gives Black something to worry about on the kingside White might play cxd5 and then Nf5. [ 13.e1 b7 14.d2 dxc4 15.bxc4 a8 16.f4 fd8 17.f3 with interesting play in Sulava, N (2430) -Zelcic, R (2450)/Cattolica 1993. ] 13...e8 Freeing a retreat square for the bishop, and also placing the rook opposite the white queen. [ I had expected 13...b7 as the bishop has done its job on a6 and was now 'biting on granite', 14.cxd5 xd5 ( 14...exd5 15.f5 but d4 is fine. ) 15.xd5 xh4 ( 15...exd5 16.f5 f6 17.d4 ) 16.f4 f6 but this looks f airly equal, W hite might try 17.d4 cxd4 18.h5!? ] 14.f4 This was why I left the rook on f1, the threat is f5. g6!? This is like waving a red flag at a bull! [ 14...b7 has to be best, otherwise Black can never move his d-pawn as the c6-knight would be left hanging. 15.f3 with a tense position, but where Black is certainly not worse. ( 15.f5 can now be answered by d4 )] 15.f5!! With the c6-knight still loose and the dpawn pinned this is definitely the right time to start the attack, White can't afford a moment's hesitation. exf5 16.xf5! [ 16.xd5 is n o t th e id e a a t a ll, xd5 527
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.xd5 xd5! 18.cxd5 xd5 with a pawn and excellent play for the exchange. ] 16...gxf5 [ 16...f8 was the only other sensible alternative, 17.xd5 xd5 18.xd5 xd5! 19.cxd5 xd5 20.g4!? ( 20.h4 ) 20...xd3 21.g5 with the exchange and an attack. ] 17.xf5 The key position, White has a pawn for his piece, and will soon get a second as the d5-pawn is still pinned, but most important he has opened the black king position - the bishop on b2 points menacingly at g7. d6 A good move, the rook can block on g6 if necessary. Black had to be very careful: [ 17...b7? would lose to 18.xd5 xd5? 19.g4+ ] [ 17...f8? 18.xd5 xd5 19.xf6 ] 18.xd5 During the game I played this because it 'felt' right, although both I and my opponent thought that perhaps [ 18.cxd5 was objectively stronger, b4 ( 18...b8 19.e4 ) 19.a3 xd3 20.xd3 xd3 21.xd3 and this does indeed look unpleasant for Black. ] 18...c8 Absolutely the only move, anything else and White would play Rdf1 and then take on f6. 19.g5+!! I played this after a great deal of t hought, a s th e ro ok will b ecom e t ra p p e d . N o n e o f t h e a lt e rn a t i ve s r e a ll y appealed to me, though: [ 19.f4 xd5 20.xd5 xd5! 21.cxd5 xd5 ] [ 19.df1!? xf5 20.xf5 h6 21.f3 xd5 22.cxd5 g5! ] 19...f8 20.f1 h6 This was the basis of my opponent's defence, the rook is attacked and has no safe escape. 21.xf6! The first point. xf6? Obvious but losing. [ 21...hxg5? is also bad, as 22.h7+ g8 23.h5 forces mate. ] [ but 21...xf6 wa s e s s e n t i a l , 22.d5! ( in the post mortem we spent a long time looking at 22.d5 xf1+! and were unable t o d e c i d e w h i c h r e c a p t u r e w a s b e s t !) 22...e6! ( 22...hxg5? 23.h5 ) 23.xf6 xf6 24.h5 e5! 25.xh6 g4 and Black is still in the game. ] 22.h5! The second point, now Black is quite lost. ee6 The f6-bishop is pinned, and [ 22...hxg5 23.h6+ e7 24.xf6+ d7
25.h3+ c7 26.xd8+ wins the queen. ] 23.xh6+ e7 24.gf5 The bishop on f6 is pinned and lost. [ 24.gf5 I had actually expected my opponent to try the trick d4 when I'd planned A) 25.xd4 cxd4 26.d5 is also decisive,; B) even the blunder 25.exd4? isn't that bad: xd4+ 26.xd4 xh6 27.xf7+ e6 ( 27...e8 28.f8+ d7 29.xd8+ xd8 30.e3 ) 28.g7 with some nasty t h r e a t s, a n d m a yb e so m e a d v a n t a g e despite only having a piece for the queen!; C) 25.5f2 g8 26.exd4 xd4 27.h4+ f6 28.xd4 ] 1-0
538 Kosten,Anthony C Horvath,Csaba 20th ECC Izmir TUR (2) [Tony Kosten]
A14 2519 2565 04.10.2004
1.c4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.e5 bd7 last month I described this as 'a sensible alternative' 7.d4 c6 8.d2 xe5 9.dxe5 d7 10.f3 b6 11.cxd5 exd5 [ 11...exd5 Dorfman thought I may have some advantage after 12.c2 g4 13.h3 h5 14.d4 g6 15.f5 but I was d o u b t f u l a b o u t t h is , e8 16.e4 f6 and W hite's pieces seem a bit loose, so I was happy to take the draw. ] ½-½
539 Kosten,Anthony C Landa,Konstantin FRA-chT Top 16 GpA (5) [Tony Kosten]
A14 2511 2641 11.04.2008
1.c4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.b3 b6 4.g3 b7 5.g2 e7 6.0-0 0-0 7.b2 d5 8.e3 c5 9.c3 I've had this position many times. c6 This and [ 9...dxc4 10.bxc4 c6 are the most 528
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ambitious, ] [ 9...bd7 is the most solid, and is well covered in the PGN Archive. ] 10.cxd5 The normal move here. [ 10.e2 leaves Black too many options, such as d4 ( or 10...dxc4 )] 10...xd5 [ 10...exd5 11.d4 is also very common, but scores well for White. ] 11.xd5 exd5 [ I've actually had the position after 11...xd5 12.d4 mu c h mo re o f t e n myse lf , ad8 ( I also discussed 12...a5!? in the game Socko, B-Klovans, J - see the PGN Archive. ) 13.e5 leads play down a long forcing line, d6 ( 13...xg2+?! 14.xg2 xe5+ can't possibly be correct, can it? 15.f3 cxd4 16.exd4 c6 17.e2 d5 18.ac1 fd8 but Black actually managed to draw in Ehlvest, J (2606)-Nakamura, H (2701)/Saint Louis 2009 - perhaps W hite had a few drinks beforehand?!) 14.dxc5 xc5 15.d7 critical, ( 15.e2 xe5 16.xb7 is nothing for White, although Kaspa rov once pla yed it .. . in a s imul!) 15...f5 16.e4 g5 (Black doesn't want to allow White to unpin with Qg4.) 17.h4 h6 18.c1 g5 19.hxg5 g7 20.f6+ ( 20.e5!? h8 21.f4 a3 22.b4 xb4 Rath, U (2395)-Flear, G (2390)/Esbjerg 1982, 23.c1!? c5 24.c3 to d3. ) 20...xf6 21.gxf6 g6 22.e2 d4 23.d3 xf6 24.a3 1/2-1/2 Makarichev, S (2510)-Servat, R (2455)/Valencia 1990. ] 12.d4 a6!? 13.e1 c4 This whole idea was knew to me, although my opponent told me that he had prepared it and thought it was fine f o r B l a c k . 14.bxc4 xc4 15.d2 a5 16.c3 b5 17.xc4 xc4 Black has conceded the bishop pair, but his knight is strong and he has a useful 2-1 queenside majority. 18.b1! After much thought I played a new move. Previous tries: [ 18.h5 c8! 19.ac1 Rodriguez Cespedes, A (2470)-Borm, F (2260)/ Amsterdam 1978, b4 20.a1 f5 equal. ] [ 18.b3 d7 19.ec1 fc8 20.e1 ab8 Bla ck h as no p ro b le m s, Maka rich ev, S (2540)-Pushkov, N (2485)/Moscow 1994. ] 18...b8 19.h5 I couldn't resist having a prod at the weak d5-pawn, but perhaps I
should have ignored this and played [ 19.e4!? dxe4 20.xe4 which opens the position for the bishops. ] 19...b4 20.a1 b5 [ 20...f5!? ] 21.e4 Attacking the pinned d5-pawn, and undermining c4. [ 21.e2 a3 22.bc1 was also worthy of consideration. ] 21...a3 22.e2 dxe4?! [ 22...xb1 23.xb5 c3 looks equal, after 24.xc3 bxc3 there are opposite colour bishops. ] 23.xe4 f6 24.bc1 b6 25.c6! xd4 Agreed drawn, [ , but perhaps I should have played on as 25...xd4 26.ed1 c7 27.e4 c3 28.xh7+ xh7 29.xc3 bxc3 30.d3+ g6 31.xc3 wins a pawn. ] ½-½
540 Kosten,Anthony C Luther,Thomas Aut chT0809 Graz (5.4) [Jonathan Rowson]
A14 2514 2536 23.01.2009
Most of the major notes in what follow are taken from a theoretical article by Tony Kosten in Everyman's book "Dangerous W eapons: Flank Openings." 1.c4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.b3 f6 4.b2 e7 5.g3 0-0 6.g2 c5 The main move here. [ 6...b6 and ] [ 6...a5 are the main alternatives. ] 7.0-0 c6 [ 7...d4 8.b4!? ( 8.e3 c6 9.exd4 cxd4 10.e1 transposes. )] 8.e3 Preparing Qe2, Rd1 and d4. Once the queen lands on e2, d4 becomes difficult due to exchanging on d4 f ollowed by Ne5. d4 9.exd4 cxd4 I have never played this line with either colour, but I have always found it a bit surprising that Black, already trying to 'catch up' can take time to grab space with d4. The idea is to snuff out the bishop on b2, which might therefore have to move again. However, if White can find a way to show that the bishop is well placed on b2, as he does here, then this line begins to look ever so slightly 529
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 suspect. 10.e1 e8 The main line. In DWFlank Tony also covers the alternatives: [ 10...e8 11.a3 a5 12.d3 A) 12...f8 13.e5 xe5 14.xe5 d7 15.b5! Elegant, and keeping some initiative. A1) 15...e5!? 16.d2 ( 16.xb7 xb7 17.xb7 c5 18.b5 b8 19.a4 is probably even better.) 16...b8 17.b4 b6 18.bxa5 A1a) 18...a6 19.axb6 xb5 20.cxb5 xb6 21.b3 looks good for White. ( 21.a4 b4! ); A1b) 18...bxa5 and now White has various ways to play, but Tony Kosten suggests Rb1 is best, with some advantage.; A2) 15...c5 16.b4 axb4 17.axb4 xa1 18.xa1 a6 19.b3 c7 20.a5! another TK suggestion ( 20.e5 was worse, Vikulov, A-Pirozhkov, A/ Moscow 1995) 20...a6 21.a3! xb4 22.a8! c6 23.b5 with excellent compensation.; B) 12...c5 13.e5 xe5 14.xe5 c7 15.f4 d6 16.xd4! Tony's idea ( 16.e1 was Espig, L-Zaichik, G/Berlin East 1988) 16...xe5 17.xe5 with fully adequate compensation because of the centre and two bishops, but also due to the creative satisfaction of casually sacrificing the exchange. ] [ 10...d6 11.xd4 xd4 12.xd4 xg3 13.hxg3 xd4 14.c3 I prefer White here, though I think Black's play (normally ...a6 or ...Rd8) might be improved with h5!? ] [ 10...d3 11.c3 is now simplest. There is not much theory here, but I prefer White- all his pieces are happy and the d-pawn, which W hite can play around, should be a weakness in the long term. ( 11.a3 b6 Rybka- looks awkward, even if it may not be particularly good. )] 11.e5!? [ 11.d3 f6 12.a3 e5 13.c2 c7 14.a3 a5 15.d2 a6 ( 15...b8 16.b4 axb4 17.axb4 b5= ) 16.b4 and Tony remarks, somewhat cryptically, that he knows 'for a fact' that Black is fine in the ensuing complications. ] 11...xe5 12.xe5 f6 13.e1 e5
[ 13...c7!? 14.f4!? preventing e5, seems to be better for White. ( 14.d3 e5 )] 14.f4! exf4 [ 14...d6!? is not mentioned by Tony, but looks plausible to me. 15.fxe5 ( 15.f3!? is a more complex approach, though not obviously bad for Black after c7 ) 15...fxe5 ( 15...xe5 16.d3 followed by Nd2-f3 leaves the d-pawn looking weak.) 16.d3 f6 17.d2 and White seems to have a small but stable advantage. ] [ 14...c7 15.fxe5 fxe5 16.xe5 f6 17.e1 doesn't seem to give enough for the pawn. ] 15.f3! fxg3 16.d5+! h8 17.hxg3 xd5 [ In light of White's weakened king, I would try hard to avoid the exchange of queens. However, the queen on d5 is a strong piece, Black loses further time, and White's king is in no great danger. 17...c7 18.xd4 d6 19.c3 f5 20.f2 I guess White is still better here- all his pieces are more active. ] 18.xd5 d6 [ 18...c5 19.a3! xa3 20.xa3 d6 ( 20...c7 21.f3 and Re7 is coming.) 21.c2 f5 22.f2 is still better for Whitethe d-pawn will fall and White dominates the centre. ] 19.xd4 c7 20.f3 xg3 21.f2 xf2+ 22.xf2 d8 [ 22...e6 23.c3 b8 24.b5 a6 25.d6 d4 26.e7 with domination. ] 23.e7 e6 24.c3! Still following Tony's analysis. g8 [ 24...xd2+ 25.e3 d8 26.d1 f8 27.e4 ( 27.xb7!? ) 27...g5 28.xg5 fxg5 29.c5 seems to be no better for Blackhe has the familiar problem of being almost unable to move. ] 25.d5 f8 26.h5 g5 27.ae1 d7 28.d4 e8 [ 28...b5!? might be an improvement, and is at least more challenging for W hite e.g. 29.c5 e6! 30.1xe6 xe6 31.xe6 xd5 32.f3 f5 And Black is at least not worse. ] 29.xe8 xe8 30.xb7 xe1 31.xe1 f3+ 32.f2 xd4 33.e3 [ 33.c7 d8 34.xa7 h5 35.b4 when White is favourite in the race, but it's all a bit random. ] 33...f5+?! 530
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 33...c6! looks better. Partly to support a7, but mainly because the knight will be secure and relevant on e5, where it supports the kingside pawns, covers f7 and guards the queenside. W ith the rook on the seventh White is still somewhat better, but Black has more chances to resist. ] 34.f4 d6 35.d7 e8 36.c5 c8 37.b4 a5 [ 37...a6!? looks more tenacious, but Black remains very short of moves. ] 38.a3 axb4 39.axb4 h5 40.f5! a8 41.g6 And Black can only choose how soon he wishes to be mated. 1-0
541 Kosten,Anthony C Townsend,M Paul BCF-chTc 1112 (4NCL) (9.46) [Tony Kosten]
A14 2492 2255 07.05.2012
1.c4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 f6 4.g2 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 c5 7.e3 c6 8.b2 d4 This is an ambitious and strong move, but Black has to be happy playing a Benoni setup. 9.exd4 cxd4 10.e1 e8 11.d3 [ 11.a3 a5 12.d3 will transpose to the analysis below. ] 11...f8 [ In fact, in Delchev's book he only considers 11...c5 ("this is the best place for the bishop" - Delchev) when I analysed 12.a3 ( Delchev's 12.a3 to which he gives an exclamation mark, will transpose to the game. ) 12...a5 13.e5 xe5 14.xe5 c7 ( , b u t De lch e v p ref e rs 14...d6 (by transposition) 15.f4 b8 he now says this achieves "comfortable equality", giving the continuation 16.b4 axb4 17.axb4 xb4 18.a3 d7 19.b5 xb5 20.xb5 b6 ) 15.f4 d6 16.xd4! in DW-Flank. ] 12.a3!? Well, why not, after just having bought Delchev's book I thought I might as well give this a try! [ In 'Dangerous Weapons: Flank Openings' I gave 12.a3 a5 13.e5 as my preferred line, xe5 14.xe5 d7 15.b5 but here my opponent had prepared c5! (W hich I said was "rare, but possibly
s u p e r i o r " ) 16.b4 axb4 17.axb4 xa1 18.xa1 a6 19.b3 c7 20.a5 (my suggested improvement on the p r e v i o u s l y p l a y e d 2 0 R e 5 . ) ( 20.b6 offers to repeat: d5 21.b5 c7 22.b6 1/2-1/2 Horton, J (2147)-Hinojar Basa, A (2210)/Aragon 2008.) 20...a6 21.a3! xb4 22.a8 (so far this all my analysis from the DW-Flank book) a6 heading for c5 again. ( I'd only mentioned 22...c6 ) 23.b5 when White has some compensation for the pawn, but possibly not enough. ] 12...xa3 [ 12...e5 is possible, but 13.xf8 xf8 Moehring, G (2395)-Przewoznik, J (2370)/ Rzeszow 1988, 14.bd2! and the knight is better placed here, controlling e4, than on a3, or c2. ] 13.xa3 e5 14.c2 I played this immediately, after all it was in the new book I'd just bought (!), but if I write another DW book I would prefer [ 14.c5!? intending Nc4, as the knight is much better placed here than on c2. ] 14...a5 (To stop b4.) 15.a3 b8!? A logical move, defending b7 and possibly preparing ... b5. [ 15...h6! preparing ...Bf5, 16.d2 ( 16.b4 e4 17.dxe4 d3 is equal. ) 16...g4 is also good, and might be best, 17.f3 f5 18.e4 xe4 19.xe4 xe4 Peyrat, O (2345)-Brochet, P (2365)/Bagneux 2001, 20.xe4 f5 21.e1 e4 with advantage. ] [ Delchev briefly analyses the game Sherbakov, R (2541)-Grigoriants, S (2413)/ Mo sco w 1 9 9 9 , wh ich co n t in u e d 15...f5 16.h4 g4 17.d2 h6 "A critical position" - Delchev, and here he suggests 18.h3! d7 19.b4 axb4 20.axb4 xa1 21.xa1 However, he doesn't consider any of Black's 15th move alternatives. ] [ 15...d6 16.b4 axb4 17.axb4 xa1 18.xa1 f5 19.a3 is slightly better for W hite, Schwartzman, G (2455)-Flear, C (2195)/Parthenay 1993. ] 16.b4 axb4 Actually a new move. [ 16...b5?! is obviously weaker, though: 17.cxb5 xb5 18.a4 d5 19.b5 with a big advantage, Hutters, T (2390)Holst, P/Denmark 2001. ] 531
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.d4 ) 13.d1 ( 13.d4 c2 ); B) 10...d8 11.d1 Webb-Lambert, London 1977. The play might continue f5 12.d4 d7 13.bd2 ( or 13.d5 exd5 14.cxd5 a5 15.c3 b6 16.e4 h5 17.bd2 )] 10...h6 [ 10...a5 11.e5 ] [ 10...d8 is the most natural move. One example: 11.d1 e8 12.e1 g6 13.d4 f6 14.d5! xb2 15.xb2 exd5 16.cxd5 b8 17.c3 a5 18.d3 b6 19.e4 a6 20.e5 h6 21.f4 c4 22.f2 f6 23.xc4 xc4 24.e5 with a monstrous centre, Svensson-Korhonen, Jyvaskyla 1996. ] 11.d1 d8 12.e1 h7 13.d4 The point. 9...Qd3 was meant to tie down the d-pawn but there it goes. cxd4 14.exd4 d7 15.d5! exd5 16.cxd5 a5 17.c3 b6 18.d6 dc8 19.xa8!? Cute, but [ 19.d4 was a better way to advantage: f8 20.xa8 xa8 21.d2 etc. ] 19...xc3 20.xc3 f8 21.d5 xd5 22.xd5 g6!? [ 22...xd6 23.xf7+ xf7 24.xd6 b5 must still favour White's two rooks over the queen, but the game is obviously a long ways from the end. ] 23.f3!? [ An ambitious move, as opposed to 23.a3 542 A14 saving the d-pawn? ] Kostic,Vladimir 2439 23...xd6! 24.ac1! e6 Now Black's queen Brkljaca,Ante 2392 gets in trouble. [ But 24...g4 25.h4 h5 26.e4! Zepter Valjevo SCG (8) 18.06.2005 works out for White following xd1 27.c8+ [John Watson] f8 28.f5! f6 29.e7+ f7 30.g6+ ] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 e7 4.g2 0-0 25.h4 g4 26.d4? [ 26.xe6! xe6 27.xg7! is a nice trick 5.0-0 d5 6.b3 c5 7.b2 c6 8.e3 dxc4 base upon xg7 ( 27...xg3 28.hxg3 9.bxc4 d3 This position (after 9...Qd3) has xg7 29.d6! ) 28.xd6 xd6?? 29.f5+ ] scored about 70% for W hite, regardless of A complete hallucination! Black the response. Ultimately the problem is that 26...xd4?? Black has no advantages that to make up for would have been well on top after [ 26...e2! 27.xe6 ( 27.c3 c5 ) W h i t e ' s m o b i l e c e n t r a l m a j o r i t y . 10.c1 27...xe6 ] This has been seen about half of the time in master play. W hite protects his c-pawn and 27.xd4 xd5 [ 27...xd5 28.f5 ( 28.c8+ h7 29.f5 prepares Rd1 and Ne1 so as to expand in the a3 30.xg7 also wins ) 28...a3 29.c7 centre. is not worth playing out. ] [ My book gave 10.b3! A) 10...b4 11.e5 xb3 12.axb3 d8 1-0 ( 12...c2 13.a5 d8 14.c1 b4
17.xb4 Maybe an inaccuracy, but I was wondering what I was supposed to do with the c2-knight otherwise, and I kept remembering something that I saw in the Delchev book: "In my opinion, it is principally wrong to play with bad pieces in one's camp." [ Also 17.axb4 e4 ( 17...b5!? ) 18.dxe4 d3 looked uncomfortable to me, but maybe 19.e3 xb4 ( 19...g4!? 20.xg4 xg4 ) 20.b1 c6 21.d1 favours White slightly. ] 17...d6! 18.b1 d7 19.g5 xb4 20.axb4 c6 At this point I was wondering how I was supposed to play for a win. 21.b3 xg2 22.xg2 h6 23.e4 xe4 24.xe4 e6 Solidly doubling rooks on the e-file. 25.be1 be8 26.c5 c6 27.c4 Planning b5. b5! [ 27...f5?? loses to 28.b5 ] 28.cxb6 xb6 [ 28...xc4 29.dxc4 xb6 is probably also equal, 30.b5 c8 31.xe5 xc4 ] 29.b5 b7! 30.g1 c8 31.b4 c3 32.xe5 xe5 33.xe5 c1+ [ I w a s h o p i n g f o r 33...f3?! 34.b6 when the b-pawn is running. ] 34.e1 xe1+ 35.xe1 xb5 36.e4 d7 37.g2 f6 38.h4 ½-½
532
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 543 Kramnik,Vladimir Ezat,Mohamed World Teams 2013 (9.1) [Fier, Alexandr]
A14 2793 2454 05.12.2013
Ezat tried a brave idea, sacrificing the queen for two pieces against Kramnik. Nakamura tried this move back in 2009 and he also drew. It's hard to believe that the sacrifice is enough for equality, but it is also not so clear how White should proceed to gain an advantage. In this game Kramnik actually blundered and got into trouble. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 e6 4.0-0 e7 5.c4 0-0 6.b3 An alternative to 6. d4, t ran sp osing in to th e Cat alan . c5 7.b2 c6 8.e3 b6 9.c3 b7 10.cxd5 xd5 11.xd5 xd5 [ 11...exd5 is also possible and after 12.d4 a6 13.e1 c4 14.bxc4 xc4 White is doing well - this was analyzed for ChessPublishing in Kosten, A (2511)-Landa, K (2641)/FRA-chT Top 16 GpA 2008 (5) ] 12.d4 ad8 [ 12...a5 was also analyzed on C h e s s P u b l i s h i n g 13.c1 ( 13.dxc5 this is supposed to be critical xc5 14.xd5 xd5 15.fd1 Miles, A (2595)-Short, N (2660)/BCF-ch 85th Torquay 1998 (11).) 13...fd8 14.a3 f5 with an interesting pos it io n in S ocko , B (2 55 4)-K lo va ns, J (2456)/ Skanska Open 2004 (7). ] 13.e5 xg2+ [ 13...d6 is the normal move and can lead to some interesting complications 14.dxc5 xc5 15.d7!? critical, but a hard move to make over the board. Still there are a lot of games in this position ( 15.e2 doesn't give much for White xe5 16.xb7 f6= ) A) 15...g5 is less precise and Black is in t r o u b l e a f t e r 16.h4 h6 17.c1 the rook is coming to c7 and Black has problems with the pin, Dizdar, G (2531)Carlsson, P (2430)/ Dos Hermanas op 5th 2006 (7). e5 18.g4 fe8 ( 18...f5 19.c4+ f7 20.d5 wins ) 19.fd1 with a big advantage for White; B) 15...f5 trying to make White play 16. e4 and close the bishop B1) 16.c1 there is just one game in this position, from 1980, but I think Black
should be careful to avoid getting into trouble B1a) 16...c5 17.b4!? and White wins an exchange in an ingenious way xb4 18.xb7 e5 19.c8! xc8 20.xf8 xf8 21.c4 and White should be slightly better; B1b) 16...b8 this is the most solid option 17.xb7 xd7 18.f3 d2 19.d4 xf3 20.xf3 f6 ( 20...xa2 21.a1 and White is going to recover t h e a -p a wn wit h so m e a d va n t a ge) 21.xf6 gxf6 22.c7 looks slightly better for White; B1c) 16...e5 this is the most forcing, and White needs to make a decision B1c1) 17.xf8 the most ambitious idea, entering into a queen against two rooks endgame xd1 18.fxd1 d4 basically necessary, to keep at l e a s t o n e f i l e c l o s e d ( 18...xf8 19.xc6 xc6 20.xc6 and with both files dominated White is clearly better ) B1c11) 19.exd4 xg2 20.xg2 e4 and the knight can't get out 21.g1!? ( 21.xh7 f3+ 22.g1 e3 23.fxe3 xe3+ is drawn ) 21...xf8 22.d5 h5 23.d6 e3 and the counterplay arrives just in time 24.fxe3 f3 Black will have a perpetual; B1c12) 19.xb7 e2+ 20.g2 B1c121) 20...xc1 21.e4! an important move g4 22.xc1 xf8 B1c1211) 23.c8 d7! 24.a3 ( 24.a6 e7 and everything is under control ) 24...xc8 25.xc8 xa3 with a draw; B1c1212) 23.c7! h5 24.xe5 and White's pieces a re t o o h a r m o n i o u s , B d 5 i s coming at some point with advantage for White; B1c122) 20...e4! 21.d7 ( 21.b1 doesn't bring anything for White f3+ 22.f1 xg3+ 23.hxg3 h1+ 24.e2 f3+ w i t h p e r p e t u a l , s i n c e 25.d2 533
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 loses to xf2+ 26.c1 xe3+ 27.c2 c5+ 28.c3 f6-+ ) 21...xc1 22.xc1 xd7 23.c8+ f8 24.a3 xc8 25.xc8 xa3 26.f5 and still with a pawn down this position should be drawn; B1c2) 17.xc6 this is a simpler way to play and here W hite also has a small initiative xc6 18.xc6 xd7 19.g4 xd1 20.gxf5 d2 21.xe5 xa2 22.d1 but with some good moves Black probably equalizes; B2) 16.e4 this is the main move and it looks like Black is holding on in this ext re m e ly co m p lica t e d p o sit io n g5 17.h4 h6 B2a) 18.c1 again this can be played, but now it's not so problematic b8 ( 18...e5 ) 19.xf8 ( 19.c7 gives nothing for White xd7 20.xd7 c6 21.xd8 xd8= ) 19...xd1 20.fxd1 xf8 21.d8 it looks funny, but in the end we are going to see an equal endgame c6 22.xc6 xc6 23.a3 g6 and the position should be drawn; B2b) 18.c1 this, on the other hand, is one of the advantages of the pawn being on e4 instead of e3 g5 forced ( 18...g6 19.h5 and the queen has no squares) 19.hxg5 g7 20.e5 h8 21.f4 and the chaos will continue for a long time. The position looks strange for Black, but there was a correspondence game that finished in a draw, so nothing is clear, Tienhoven, R (2410)-Endsley, B (2148)/RCCA 20, pr10 (RUS) 2013. ] 14.xg2 xe5+ 15.f3 cxd4 16.exd4 c6 17.c1 [ 17.e2 Ehlvest tries to activate the rooks wit h o u t lo s in g t i m e wi t h a 3 a n d b 4 d5 18.ac1 fd8 19.c4 sacrificing the e x c h a n g e t o c o n n e c t t h e p a w n s a6 o t h e r w i s e 2 0 . R f c 1 wo u l d b e a n n o yi n g 20.e4 xc4 21.bxc4 5d6 22.d1 f6 23.a3 xd4 24.xd4 xd4 and Black could somehow hold the endgame without too many problems in Ehlvest, J (2606) Nakamura, H (2701)/USA-ch Saint Louis
2009 (2). ] 17...d7 18.a3 This plan looks a bit slow. [ 18.c4!? could be another idea, in the style of Ehlvest's gam e fd8 19.c1 b4 20.c7 xa2 21.xd7 xd7 22.a1 b4 and with one roo k le ss t he e ndga me is supposed to be better for White ] 18...fd8 19.e2 f6 [ 19...xd4 gives White the chance to exchange one of the rooks 20.xd4 xd4 21.fd1 xd1 22.xd1 d5 ( 22...xd1 23.xd1 d5 24.b4 and Black cannot defend the pawns on the queenside properly ) 23.c2 and it will be hard for Black to defend the c-file, so White should be close to winning ] 20.b4 [ 20.fd1 would avoid Black's next move, but i t ' s n o t c l e a r i f i t ' s g o o d o r n o t xd4 21.xd4 xd4 22.c4 e5 and Black's position is hard to break, but probably White can change one pair of rooks ] 20...e5!? [ 20...xd4 could be a solid alternative. Black has no passed pawn, but both bishops are on excellent posts. And there is an interesting idea, if White tries to exchange th e roo ks o n th e c-f ile 21.xd4 xd4 22.fd1 e5 23.d2 trying to exchange a pair of rooks h6 24.dc2 e4!? this is the point 25.fxe4 e5 and it's not so clear what White's plan would be ] 21.d5 Now White can enter the seventh rank. xd5 22.fd1 d4 23.xd4 exd4 24.c7 c8 25.xa7 White can now create a passed pawn, but the d-pawn also becomes more d a n g e r o u s . d3 26.e4? Centralizing the queen looks natural, but the queen is also too exposed in the center. [ 26.f2 was more prudent h6 ( 26...e5 27.a8 with Rxc8 on the pocket) 27.a4 e8 28.e1 e6 29.c7 and White is controlling the advance of the d-pawn. Still the position is not so easy ] 26...e6 [ 26...e5! and here Black is already ok A) 27.xd3 de8! an important detail and W hite can't move the queen, since ( 27...xe4? 28.xd8+ xd8 29.fxe4 and Black has no way to deal with 30. Ra8 ) 28.c4 e2+ 29.h1 e1+ 534
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 30.g2 8e2# is mate; B) 27.c4 e6 28.c7 ( 28.a6 probably this is White's best choice c8 29.c4 e6 with draw ) 28...e2+ 29.g1 c2 30.f4 d2 and the d2-pawn is too dangerous. White already needs to be careful ] 27.a4?! Now it looks like White loses material, more or less by force. [ 27.d2 could be an interesting idea but B l a c k i s f i g h t i n g h6 ( 27...c3 is not possible, because d8 is not defended anymore 28.xd3 xd3 29.xd3 a n d W h i t e wi n s) 28.c7 and White is ho ld in g th e prom ot io n at te mp ts f or t h e moment, for example e5!? trying to use the e-f ile 29.f4 e8 30.c1 ( 30.xd3 White still needs to be careful e2+ 31.g1 g5 32.d4 h3 with a mate attack) 30...f5 31.f2 g5 32.xe5 xe5 33.f4 e4+ 34.g1 xf4 35.gxf4 e6 and White has slightly better chances ] 27...d2 28.e2 [ 28.c2 d4 29.b7 c4 30.xd2 ( 30.b1 g5 followed by 31...Rc1 wins) 30...xd2+ 31.xd2 g6 32.xb6 e7 and apparently White's passed pawns are only enough to bring a draw ] 28...d4 Threatening 29...Bb3 29.e3 h6 30.a5 bxa5 31.bxa5 d3 32.e2 b3 33.a8 White's only resource, since now W hite can get rid of the d2-pawn at least. xd1 34.xd3 xa8 35.xd2 d8 36.e3 I think Black has good chances in this endgame, even if the game showed something different. The a-pawn ties Black's pieces, but the bishop is still ok on the long diagonal and with a kingside expansion Black can create an attack. a4 37.a6 c6 38.a7 a8 39.f4 With the queen on b8 it's harder f o r B l a c k t o m o v e . g5 40.b8 g6 I don't like this move, now Black has no safe square for the dark squared bishop. [ 40...f8 41.b4+ e7 42.b8 h5 could be another idea ] 41.e5 f8 42.h4 d8 43.h5 Forcing Black to expose the king. gxh5 [ 43...g5 44.hxg6!? fxg6 45.h3 xf3 46.e6+ g7 47.d7+ g8 48.d3 threatening 49. Qxf3 is enough for a draw ] 44.xh5 g5 45.h3 g7 46.f4 f6
47.g4+ h8 48.f5 g7 49.g4 Now the position is already hard for Black to make any progress. They still kept fighting for a lot of moves, but with no big changes. d8 50.g3 e8 51.c5 d8 52.b5 c8 53.g5 hxg5 54.fxg5 a1 55.g6 Changing the last pawn. f6 [ 55...xg6?? 56.a6++- ] [ 55...fxg6?? 56.d7++- ] 56.gxf7 c3+ 57.g4 xf7 58.d7+ f8 59.h5 c6 60.d2 e7 61.b4+ d7 62.b5 e7 63.d5+ d6 64.g8 c8 65.f7+ c6 66.c4+ b7 67.b5+ c7 68.a5+ c6 69.a6+ d7 70.g5 c6 71.b6 f8 72.g6 a8 73.f6 f8+ 74.g7 c8 75.f6 e8 76.f7 d5+ 77.g6 e6+ 78.f5 e5+ 79.f6 e6+ 80.f5 e4+ 81.g4 g6+ 82.h5 g8 83.b5+ e6 84.e2 f5 85.f2+ e6 86.e3 f5 87.h3+ f6 88.h4+ f5 89.h3+ f6 90.h4+ e5 ½-½
544 Krasenkow,Michal Nakamura,Hikaru Casino Barcelona ESP (2) [Carsten Hansen]
A14 2668 2648 19.10.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 a5 7.c3 [ We haven't discussed this line before on Chesspublishing.com. Previously, in the July 2005 update, John discussed 7.b2 a4 8.a3 on the basis of the game IvanchukAsrian, which of course can be found in the PGN archives. As John points out, W hite has also tried a number of other continuations on move 8, but "with indifferent success" ] 7...c6 [ With this move and White's next, the game is taking on the outlines of a Closed Catalan, which is very solid f o r Black, but in m y opinion leaves White with excellent chances of obtaining the upper hand. In addition, Black has played the somewhat odd-looking ... a7-a5. I can hear the crowd yelling, what about 7...d4 for Black, which looks both obvious and pretty good. It sends White's 535
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 knight to b5, with no real target to play against or...? In actuality with the knight on b5 and if Black plays ...Nb8-c6, the position somewhat resembles those that can arise from the Schmid Benoni with the colours reversed, whereas if Black plays ... c7-c5, the knight is quite decently placed on b5. I n t e re s t in gly, in h is n o t e s t o t h e ga m e Nakamura doesn't even mention this option. Nevertheless, this line has of course been played numerous times, so let's have a look at it: 8.b5 A) 8...c5 9.e3 c6 10.exd4 cxd4 11.e1!? ( 11.d3 e5 12.e1 d7 13.a3 h8 14.b1 f6 15.d2 c5 16.e4 f5 Cs o m , I - Hu ss , A / S u h r 1 9 9 2) 11...d3?! ( 11...e8 12.b2 is also quite comfy for White, but pushing the d-pawn to d3 doesn't look like a particularly sensible thing to do.) 12.b2 c5 13.e5 b4 (This appears to be a good idea, but really isn't the knight quickly becomes vulnerable and doesn't have a good retreat square. 14.f1 a4 15.f3 b8 16.c3 b6 17.a3 b7? ( Or 17...c2 18.ab1 b7 19.xd3 xd3 20.xd3 xa3 21.xa3 xa3 22.a1 d6 23.xb7 xb7 24.xa4 , and White is a pawn up for nothing) 18.axb4! xf3 19.xf3 e7 20.c6 d7 21.xa4 (Did I hear anybody s a y d o m in a t io n ? B la ck is co m p le t e l y routed note that White at the moment only has two minor pieces for the queen, yet more is ready to be banked with W hite threatening Nxb8 and Ra7, to mention some of the most obvious issues a beautiful display by the Finnish International Master) b7 22.e5 c8 23.xb7 xb7 24.a7 e4 25.xe7 e2 26.f3 h5 27.c6 e4 28.cd4 1-0 Valkesalmi, K-Pulkkinen, K/Helsinki 1994; B) 8...c5 9.e3 B1) 9...e5!? is interesting if for no other re a so n t h a n 10.xe5 ( White's best is 10.exd4 exd4 11.b2 c6 12.e1 , and I prefer White, but the chances are probably about equal.) 10...c6 11.xd4 xd4 12.exd4 xd4 13.a3 xe5 14.d4 c7 15.xf8 xf8 is obviously fine for Black.;
B2) 9...c6 10.exd4 xd4 11.fxd4 xd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.b1 d8 14.e2 d3 15.xd3 xd3 16.e1 , and with the bishop pair, particularly the beast on g2, and more space, and has a clear advantage, Hauchard, AVidarsson, J/Istanbul 2000; C) 8...c6 C1) 9.b2 e5 10.e3 C1a) 10...c5 C1a1) 11.a3 b8 ( 11...g4 12.exd4 exd4 13.h3 f5 14.d3 e8 15.g4 g6 16.d2 ) 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 xb4 14.exd4 exd4 15.bxd4 xd4 16.xd4 g4 17.b3 c5 18.c3 e8 19.fe1 f8 was played in Reizniece, DZa t o n skih , A / W a rsa w 2 0 0 1 , a n d here 20.xe8 xe8 21.e3 d7 22.f3; C1a2) 11.exd4 exd4 ( 11...xd4 12.fxd4 xd4 13.xd4 exd4 14.f3 d6 15.fe1 b8 16.c5 xc5 17.f4 d6 18.xd6 cxd6 19.xd4 Paunovic, D-Lanzani, M/ Seville ESP 2007) 12.a3 ( 12.d3 g4 13.d2 e8 14.a3 xf3 15.xf3 e5 16.xb7 b8 , Manouck, T-Flear, G/St Chely d'Aubrac 2001, and now 17.g2 c6 18.f4 xd3 19.xd3 cxb5 20.cxb5 e3 21.c4 b6 ) 12...g4 13.h3 h5 14.d3 e8 15.d2 ( 15.g4!? g6 16.d2 ) 15...xf3 16.xf3 e5 17.xb7 b8 18.g2 c6 19.f4 xd3 20.xd3 cxb5 21.ad1 e3 22.f5 xb3 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Malaniuk, VNikitin, A/Smolensk 2000; C1b) 10...g4 11.h3 xf3 ( 11...h5 12.g4 g6 13.exd4 exd4 14.fxd4 xd4 15.xd4 c5 16.f5 xf5 17.d4! ) 12.xf3 d7? ( 12...d3 13.c3 d7 14.g4! ) 13.exd4 exd4 14.f4 fd8 15.xc7 xc7 16.xc7+Gabriel, J-Welker, M/ Germany 1993; C2) 9.e3 C2a) 9...e5 10.exd4 exd4 11.d3 g4 12.h3 h5 ( 12...e6!? ) 13.f4 c8 14.g4 g6 15.h4 d7 , Berezin, O536
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.cxd5 xd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.fd1 Nik it in , A / K h a rko v 2 0 0 0 , a n d n o w f6 15.g5 cxd4 16.xd4 xg2 16.f3 looks very pleasant for White; 17.xg2 d5+= Pineda, B-Escobedo C2b) 9...dxe3 10.dxe3 ( 10.fxe3?! Tinajero, A/Linares 1997; isn't as good, e.g. e5! 11.d4 g4 D) 9.e5 12.d2 e4 13.b2 ) 10...d7 D1) 9...fd7!? 10.f4 ( 10.f4!? xe5 11.b2 c8 12.a3 d8 13.c2 b8 11.xe5 d7 12.f4 ) 10...a6 14.e5 c6 15.c3 a6 16.e4 11.cxd5 cxd5= Hentunen, A-Pihlajasalo, ( 16.ad1!? e8 17.a4 c7 A/FIN 2001; 18.c5 ) 16...xe4 17.xe4 f5 D2) 9...a6 10.cxd5 ( 10.b2 fd7 18.g2 c7 19.ad1 Gross, S11.xd7 xd7 12.d3 b5 13.cxb5 Meister, Y/ Pardubice 1998; cxb5 14.xb5 b6 15.a4 fb8 C3) 9.d3 e5 10.e3 g4 11.h3 h5 16.fc1 f8 17.e4 xb5 18.axb5 12.g4 g6 13.exd4 exd4 14.f4 e8 xb5 19.xb5 xb5 Godes, D-Soffer, is usually given as unclear on account of R/Ramat Aviv 1998 20.c3 b6; 10.f4 t h e ga m e K o rt sch n o j, V -G e l f a n d , B fd7 11.xd7 xd7 12.a4 b7 Tilburg 1992, which Black won rapidly. 13.c1 Matjushin, G-Nasobin, A/St However, White has a pleasant position P e t e r s b u r g R U S 2 0 0 3) 10...cxd5 a t t h i s j u n c t u r e , e . g . 15.e2 a4 11.b2 a7 ( 11...fd7 12.xd7 xd7 16.ae1!? axb3 17.axb3 b4 18.c1 13.d2 b5 14.fc1 f6 15.c2 b8 , and I prefer White ] 16.ac1 h6 17.e3 Serafimov, T-Le 8.d4 bd7 Roux, J/ Clichy FRA 2003) 12.d2 b4 [ Black has tried several other things: A) 13.fc1 c7 14.a3 xc3 15.xc3 e4 8...b6 16.xe4 dxe4 17.b2 f6= Zueger, BA) 9.b2 a6 ( 9...b7 10.c2 bd7 Kurajica, B/Biel 1981 ] 11.fd1 b8 12.d2 c5 13.dxc5 xc5 [ B) 8...e4 9.xe4 dxe4 10.e1 c5 14.cxd5 exd5 15.f3 e8 16.e3 11.xe4 xd4 12.xd4 cxd4 13.b2 f6 1-0 Badea, B-Ciampi, V/Porto San Giorgio 14.d1 d8 ( 14...e5 15.f4 ) 15.c2 a4? 1998 ) 10.d2 a7!? ( 10...bd7 11.e4 16.xd4 Be717. b4 c6 17.b6+dxc4 12.e5 d5 13.bxc4 xc3 14.xc3 Ovetchkin, R-Glushenkov, F/Salekhard RUS b8 15.e1 Keres-BÃ|^ÂPÃ|^ÂPk 2006 ] Kemeri 1937 ) 11.c2 d7 [ C) 8...a4?! 9.xa4 dxc4 10.bxc4 a5 A1) Ribli gives the folllowing analysis in 11.b2 d8 12.c2 c5 13.dxc5 c6 ChessBase Magazine 12.fd1!? dxc4 14.d3 1-0 Rozhkov, V-Fedukin, A/ corr 13.xc4 xc4 14.bxc4 xd4 15.xd4 1990 ] xd4 16.e4 ( 16.d5!? c5 17.xe7+ xe7 18.b1 ) 16...d8 9.c2 [ 9.b2 b6 ( 9...b8 10.e5 xe5 17.d1; 11.dxe5 e8 12.d2 c7 13.fd1 b5 A2) 12.e3 c5 13.fd1 cxd4 14.exd4 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.f4 d7 16.e4 b4 c6 15.b5 b4 16.b1 b7 17.a3 17.e2 c6 18.h4 Van Wely, La6 18.d3 a8! Lautier, J-Kramnik, Cladouras, P/Munich 1992) 10.c2 a6 V/Cannes 1993; 11.d2 b5 12.fe1 bxc4 13.bxc4 c5 B) 9.c2 a6 10.d1 b5 11.c5 14.dxc5 xc5 15.ad1 c8 16.cxd5 ( 11.e5 fd7 12.xd7 xd7 13.e4 exd5 Sorokin, M-Magomedov, M/ bxc4 14.e3 b6 15.f4 f5 16.exf5 exf5 Cheliabinsk 1990 ] 17.f2 d7 18.b1 fe8 19.d2 d6 20.f3 cxb3 21.axb3 1-0 Ernst, S- 9...b6 [ Black has to play actively for instance Jonkman, H/Utrecht 1999) 11...b4 12.a4 9...e8?! i s t o o s l o w , e . g . 10.b2!? bd7 13.a3 b5 14.axb4 axb4 15.b2 ( 10.d1 b6 11.e4 dxe4 12.e5 b7 b8 16.e1 d8 17.d3 c7= 13.xe4 c7 14.b2 ad8 was played in Csom, I-Murugan, K/Wrexham 1996; Hernandez, T-Pazos, P/Varadero 2000, but C) 9.f4 b7 10.c1 bd7 11.d3 c5 537
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 after 15.g5! Black is in serious trouble: f8 16.h3 c8 17.exf7 xf7 18.xe6+- ) A) or 10...b6 11.d2 a6 12.e4 dxc4 13.xc4 b5 14.e3 b7 15.e5 d5 was Berkes, F-Sedlak, N/Balatonlelle 2000, and now 16.e4 h6 17.exd5 exd5 ( 17...cxd5 18.h7+ h8 19.d3 c6 20.a4+- ) 18.d3 b6 19.h7+ h8 20.f5 f8 21.e2; B) 10...b4 11.d2 b5 12.e4 bxc4 13.bxc4 a6 14.e5 g4 15.a3 xc3 16.xc3 c5 17.fe1 c8 18.d1 cxd4 19.xd4 h6 20.cxd5 Abramovic, BKosanovic, G/Belgrade 1991 ] 10.e4 [ 10.d1 is insufficient: a6 ( 10...b7?! 11.e4 a4 12.b1 axb3 13.axb3 dxe4 14.g5 a7 15.gxe4 xe4 16.xe4 a8 17.c5 Kosic, D-Gavric, M/Herceg Novi 1999 ) 11.e4 dxc4 12.bxc4 xc4 13.e5 ( 13.e5?! xe5 14.dxe5 d7 15.a4 b5 16.b2 c7 17.xc4 bxc4 18.f4 c5+ 19.h1 b6 20.b2 fd8 21.f5 xd1+ 22.xd1 d8 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.h3 xd1+ 25.xd1 e7 Nalbandian, T -A s ria n , K / Ye re va n 2 0 0 0) 13...d5 14.e4 b5 15.eg5 g6 16.h4 b6 17.h5 fc8 , and although White doesn't quite have enough compensation for the pawn, he still managed to swindle to win the game, Perez, R-Leyva, H/Holguin 1991 ] 10...a6 11.d2?! [ This has been played by some decent players before, but best seems 11.e5 e8 , and now 12.e2 ( 12.d1 dxc4 13.e4 cxb3 14.axb3 h6 15.g4 c7 16.g5 d5 17.gxh6 g6 18.eg5 e8 19.h4 xg5 20.xg5 f6 21.xe6 b4 22.b1 fxe5 23.xf8 xf8 24.a3 1-0 Nikcevic, NMazet, J/Paris 200001) 12...b5 ( 12...c7 13.d1 c8 14.f1 dxc4 15.bxc4 b5 Ager, J-Wolfsteiner, H/Bayern 2002 16.c5; 12...c8!? ( N a k a m u r a ) 13.d1 c7 is given as approximately equal by Nakamura, with him intending to play ...c6c5 on his next move. However, I quite like White's chances, e.g. 14.f4 c5 15.dxc5 xc5 16.e3 b7 17.a3 7a6 18.cxd5 exd5 19.h3 c7 20.b1 , and White is clearly better) 13.c5 b4 14.a4 ( 14.e1!?
xe2 15.xe2 c7 16.d2 b5 17.d3 c7 18.h4 Udovcic, M-Teschner, R/ Dortmund 1961) 14...bxa3 ( 14...f6 15.exf6 xf6 16.b2 e7 17.fe1 ) 15.xa3 c7 16.e3 ( 16.xa5 d3 17.xa8 xc2 18.xd8 xd8 19.e3 ) 16...f6 17.exf6 xf6 18.xa5 d3 ( 18...e5!? 19.dxe5 xe5 20.xe5 xe5 21.e1 e6 ) 19.xa8 xc2 20.xd8 xd8 21.h3 Timman, J-Karner, H/Tallinn 1973 ] 11...c5!? [ This novelty by Nakamura is an intended improvement over the established, which, however, seems fine for Black to me 11...c8 12.e1 c5 ( 12...dxe4?! invites trouble: 13.dxe4 xe4 14.xe4 f6 15.b2 b7 16.d1 c7 17.g4 h5 18.e4 g6 19.c1 d8 20.h3 , and White is clearly better at this juncture, Sinanovic, M-Janjic, J/Neum 2002 ) A) 13.exd5 cxd4 14.e2 exd5 15.xd4 b5 16.f5 bxc4 17.bxc4 xc4 18.xc4 xc4 19.b2 b4 20.ed1 e8 21.xd5 , thus far, Truskavetsky, A-Grabinsky, V/ Alushta 2002, and now g6 seems best, e. g. 22.f3 ( 22.g5? e5 ) 22...e5 23.xc4 xf3+ 24.xf3 e7 25.e5 c8 26.b3 , and White has sufficient compensation for the queen, but no more than that; B) 13.dxc5?! d4 14.a4 xc5 15.xc5 xc5 16.d3 e5 17.h3 b8 18.f3 e8 19.g5 b5 20.d2 b4 21.ed1 h6 22.xf6 xf6 23.ac1 c3 24.d7 bxc4 25.bxc4 ed8 26.b5 1-0 Renet, OBronstein, D/Oviedo 1992. Nakamura writes that Black resigned in the f inal position, but I don't think Nakamura even had this position on the board or for that matter his computer, because then he would have known that this is likely a forfeit on time (this was a rapid game after all), not a resignation. In the final position, Black is clearly better after b7 27.f3 e6 . Nakamura quoting a game in this fashion is a bit peculiar, but I guess we can all be lazy on occasion. ] 12.exd5 cxd4 The analysis to the remainder of the game is largely by Nakamura, unless where indicated [CH] 13.b5 [ 13.d6?! xd6 14.xa8 dxc3 15.e4 538
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xa8 16.xd6 e5 leaves Black with massive compensation the light squares around White's king are terribly weak ] 13...exd5 [ This is stronger than 13...xb5 14.dxe6 ( 14.cxb5 e5 is given as better for Black by Nakamura, but White is probably fine after 15.c4 c8 16.e2 ) 14...fxe6 15.cxb5 c8 16.c4 , and this is given as better for Black by Nakamura on account of White's strong bishop on g2, but this is a rather unclear position, and I'm not entirely sure, Black's position should be so easily dismissed, e.g. c5 17.b2 d3 18.c3 e8 with a complicated struggle ] 14.xd4 c8 15.e1 b5 Thanks to his pressure on the c4-pawn, Black has taken control over the game 16.b2 [ Or 16.f5 c5 17.b2 e8 is also pleasant for Black ] 16...e8 17.d1 bxc4 18.bxc4 b6 19.b1 dxc4 20.c6?! [ Nakamura gives preference to 20.c3 c5 21.c2 ] 20...xc6 21.xf6?! [ Nakamura says White's last hope was 21.xe7 xe7 22.a3 e5 23.xb6 xb6 , although White's chances of survival are quite small against two rooks and a strong advanced passed pawn. ] 21...xf2+! 22.xf2 c5+ The king hunt is on. After this there is no letting go: Black eit h e r m a t e s o r win s m a t e ria l d e cisive ly 23.f3 [ 23.f1 c3+ 24.e2 c2 wins a bucket load of material ] [ 23.e3 xe3+ 24.e1 xd2+ 25.xd2 d6+ 26.c2 xd1 27.xd1 xf6 leaves Black with an extra piece ] 23...xf6+ 24.g4 e5+ 25.g5 [ Or 25.xe5 c8+ 26.h4 xe5 27.g4 f2+ 28.h3 h5# ] 25...g6+ 26.h5 [ Or 26.f4 d3+ 27.f3 f6+ 28.g4 c8+ 29.h4 xe1 30.h5 f4+ 31.gxf4 f2+ 32.g5 f6# ] 26...f6 27.xe5 [ 27.d5+ h8 28.h4 h6+ 29.h5 g5+ 30.h3 xh5+ , and Black will be two piece up. ] 27...xe5+ 28.h4 c8 Nakamura calls this
his best game ever it's hard to fault him for thinking that way. 0-1
545 Kurajica,Bojan Horvath,Peter TCh-CRO Rabat CRO (6) [Tony Kosten]
A14 2540 2503 10.09.2004
1.c4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.g3 f6 4.g2 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.e5!? Well, this move may not be a novelty, but it is certainly new to me! Is it any good (how can it be, White moves a piece twice in the opening?!), or is White just trying to take Black out of his book knowledge? c5 So, a completely new position at move 6, who would believe it was possible in this solid variation? [ 6...bd7 is a sensible alternative, but then W h i t e p l a y s 7.d4 leading to Catalan-style lines, Aijala,J-Haara,P/Helsinki 1994. ] 7.cxd5 exd5 8.b3 Now White develops this queenside, he is counting on the fact that Black cannot play ...Nc6 (because he will get doubled pawns) to hinder his natural development. e6 [ 8...e8 might be a more active choice, 9.b2 ( 9.d4!? ) 9...d6 and White has to decide what to do with the knight. ] 9.b2 c8 Planning ...Nc6, and possibly ... Bh3, but [ 9...bd7 seems simpler. ] 10.d4 Now White chooses to switch to more n o r m a l p o s it i o n s . cxd4 11.d2 c6 12.df3 The e5-knight is defended in time. h3 13.c1 xg2 14.xg2 e8 The queen was not very well placed on c8, but now W hite has completed his development and can try to exploit the ensuing hanging pawns. 15.xc6 bxc6 16.xd4 c8 17.c2 c5 18.f5 The black hanging pawns are not so dynamic here because the black pieces are passively placed, and on top of that W hite is pressing along the a1-h8 diagonal. d7 19.fd1 d8? Black wants to conserve his bishop but this leads him into a terrible tangle, [ 19...fd8 was natural, and pretty much f o r c e d , w h e n 20.xe7+ xe7 21.a3 539
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 gives White pressure against the c-pawn, but Black is not doing too badly. ] 20.e4! Of course! The d-pawn is pinned. e6 There is really nothing better, [ 20...xe4?? 21.xe4 ] 21.exd5 xd5 [ 21...d7 leaves Black a pawn down with a rotten position. ] 22.xg7 e8 23.b2 [ 23.e1 is ve ry st r o n g, t o o , a s xe1 24.xe1 xe1 25.d2 forks e1 and d5. ] 23...c6?! [ 23...g5 24.b1 ( 24.f4?! xf4 25.gxf4 xf5 26.xf5 e3+ is the point, although W h it e is eve n be t t e r h e re) 24...cd8 k e e p s t h e ga m e g o in g , a lt h o u g h t h e r e should only be one result. ] 24.g1 a5?! Instead [ 24...g5 is now met by 25.f4 ] 25.c4 White attacks d5, and threatens to swing his queen to g4. 1-0
and f2-f4/ g3-g4). [ 13.ab1 a6 14.a1 ab8 15.e1 a7 16.xb7 xb7 17.f4 db8 18.g4 b5 Sunye Neto, J (2500)-Ribli, Z (2580)/Las Palmas 1982/IZT. Despite White's efforts, Black has succeeded in organizing b6-b5. A balance struggle ensued. ] [ 13.d3 a6 14.ab1 ab8 15.a1 a7 16.a4!? ( On 16.e1 Black obtains counterplay with xg2 17.xg2 b5 ) 16...c6 (the b4 square is weak) 17.e1 b4 18.f4 xg2 19.xg2 e8 20.f3 d6 21.a2 c6 22.e4 f6 and again we have a complex fight. Drasko, M (2478)Svetushkin, D (2621)/Porto Carras GRE 2011. ] 13...a5! 14.d3 White resolves to play solidly, relinquishing any aspirations for an advantage. [ 14.b5 c8 ( 14...b8!? ) 15.d4 would be a critical test, but after a6 16.a3 ( 16.c3?! cxd4 and the c4-pawn is hanging ) 16...c6!? 17.b1 Black's position was fully acceptable in Sarno, S (2391)-Saccona, S (2113)/Turin 546 A14 2000. Simplest now was ac8 ( or even 17...cxd4 18.exd4 e4 . )] Kvon,A 2492 Sargissian,G 2693 14...a6 15.g5 [ Or 15.e1 xg2 16.xg2 ab8 40th Olympiad Open (8.3) 05.09.2012 with ...b6-b5 on tap. ] [John Bartholomew] 15...xg2 16.xg2 b7+ 17.f3 [ 17.g1 gives Black many ways of A continuation of our discussion from proceeding, including the direct b5 . ] Pantsulaia - Fridman. Here Sargissian e q u a l i z e s wi t h e n via b l e e a s e , a s W h i t e 17...xf3+ 18.xf3= Sargissian has won the hesitates to execute d2-d4 or the "kingside theoretical duel without much effort. Now he crawl". 1.c4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 begins to outplay his lower-rated opponent. e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 b6 7.b2 b7 8.e3 c6 19.f1 d7 20.a4 White is clearly concerned about the prospect of ...b6-b5. g5! dxc4 9.bxc4 c5 10.e2 c6 11.d1 [ Not a mistake, but I think White should Staking space on the kingside. 21.e2?! [ White should put an immediate stop to follow the script with 11.c3 . This would Black's kingside expansion with 21.g4! . ] keep open the option of a quick 12.Nb5 (as 21...g4 22.e1 f5 The position is already a we see in Pantsulaia - Fridman). ] bit easier to play for Black. 23.b1 f7 11...c7 12.c3 fd8 24.g2 f6 25.xf6 xf6 26.c3 a5!? [ Black has a very wide choice: 12...a6 ] 27.h4?! The knight does nothing on the rim. [ 12...ac8 ] [ 27.f4 was more practical. ] [ and 12...ad8 all have their points. ] 13.ac1 Undeniably natural, but Black's next 27...d7 28.b1 b4 29.b3 ad8 30.b5 White is completely tied to the defense of move discourages W hite from pulling the h5 trigger on d2-d4. Consequently, the rook may d3. 31.a3 g8! Planning ... Ng8-e7-c6-e5. not be ideally placed on c1. Let's instead see 32.h3 e7 33.hxg4 hxg4 34.d4?! [ 34.g2 offered a better defnse, but it's a couple examples using Delchev's preferred hard to blame White for lashing out. ] plan (Rab1, Ba1 to prevent b6-b5, then Ne1 540
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 34...f6?! Sargissian plays a bit inaccurately in this phase of the game. [ The straightforward 34...ec6! was best. White is losing the d-pawn after 35.d5 f6 36.d6 e5! followed by 37...Nf7. ] 35.f3 g8 36.f2 ec6 37.fxg4 fxg4 38.g1! e7 39.b3 e5 40.c1 ec6 41.d1 g5 [ 41...gd8 42.f1! ] 42.d2 e5 43.c3 f7 44.c1 e5 45.g2 d8 46.dd1 f7 47.d2 d6 48.xd6 xd6 49.f1 d8 50.df2? Kvon has def ended well, but now - likely emboldened by Sargissian's marking of time he commits a mistake. [ White's defensive configuration is nearly optimal, so he should continue waiting, i.e. 50.g1 . ] 50...cxd4 51.f7+ d6 52.exd4 c2! It's probable that W hite missed this move. 53.c5+?! [ 53.b1 was more tenacious. ] 53...bxc5 54.dxc5+ c6 [ Or 54...xc5 . ] 55.b1 xc5 56.g6 d2+ 57.g1 [ 57.f2! was the last chance to resist. ] 57...d4!-+ 58.e7+ [ The text loses quickly, but 58.f2 f3+ 59.g2 cc2-+ 60.xd2 xd2+ 61.f1 a2-+ would be fairly simple for Black as well. ] 58...d6 59.b6+ e5 60.g6+ e4 61.f4+ e3 White resigned. Black's opening play was natural and strong. If W hite isn't going to venture d2-d4, then I'm unconvinced that the queenside rook belongs on c1. Still, Black's counterplay in other lines (13.Rab1, 13.d3) seems fully satisfactory. The standard procedure is ...a7-a6, ...Ra8-b8, and ...Nc6-a7, preparing ...b6-b5. 0-1
547 Marin,Mihail Gonzalez Garcia,Jose VII Sants Open (10) [John Watson]
A14 2537 2478 04.09.2005
1.c4 e6 2.f3 d5 3.b3 f6 4.g3 e7 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 b6 7.b2 b7 8.e3 bd7
This is the other main setup: Black keeps the long diagonal open. 9.c3 c5 10.e2 c8 [ 10...e4!? --see Noviko-Turov ] 11.d3 Played in many games, but it's rather slow with the knight on d7.There are 2 better moves: [ (a) 11.cxd5 xd5 12.xd5 exd5 13.d4 looks thematic although W hite has to co n t e n d wi t h c4!? . Then 14.fc1 b5 15.d2! threaten bxc4 and in some cases a 4 . B l a c k ' s b e s t i d e a i s p r o b a b l y b6 , perhaps leading to 16.ab1 a6! 17.a4! unclear ] [ (b ) T h e m o s t f l e xi b l e m o ve i s 11.fd1! , preparing d4 with pressure down the d-file. a6 12.cxd5 exd5 13.d4 ( 13.h4!? eyes f5 and is attractive) 13...d6 ( 13...c4! would be totally unclear after 14.bxc4 dxc4 15.e4 b5 16.e5 d5 17.e6 ) 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.h4 with some advantage ( or 15.g5 h6 16.ge4 )] 11...a6 12.e1!? A standard manoeuvre begins. The other normal move is [ 12.fd1 ] 12...c7 13.f4 fd8 14.e4!? [ 14.f3 would complete the normal setup. That can be called dynamically equal. ] 14...dxe4 [ 14...d4! 15.b1 e5 makes it hard for W hite to progress because the f-pawn is e xp o se d if h e p l a ys a k n i gh t t o f 3 , f o r example, 16.d2 b8 17.df3 ( 17.f5 b5 18.g4 h6 19.h4 h7 ) 17...exf4 18.gxf4 h5! ] 15.dxe4 b8! Targeting the weakness on d4. 16.e5! xg2 17.xg2 e8 18.f3 c6 19.e4 b7 20.fd1 White has a little more space and flexibility. b5 21.ac1 bxc4? 22.xd8 xd8 23.xc4 The c-pawn is isolated and weak nevertheless, White's king is exposed and Black can exploit the weak point at d3. d5!? [ 23...b4 24.c1 d5 25.e3 d3 26.e1! ] 24.a3 b4 25.xb4?! I don't like straightening out Black's pawns, although it gains d4. cxb4 26.d4 h6 27.f3!? [ 27.c6! ] 27...d7 28.c6 a5 29.e3 f8 30.a7 [ 30.b6! ] 30...xa7 31.xa7 f5 32.exf6 gxf6 541
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 33.c6?! [ 33.c8 f7 34.c6 ( 34.xe8 f5 35.xf8+ xf8 36.f2 d2 Once again it's rook-versus-minor pieces in the endgame. W h i t e w i l l h a v e t o s t r u g g l e t o d r a w .) 34...d6 35.d8+ e7 36.xd6 xd6 37.c6+ f7 and Black will pick up White's a-pawn after losing his own. ] 33...f5! 34.f2 d2 35.d4 xa2 36.d8 White has to scrounge around to dig up play for the pawn. f6 37.f3 a4! 38.bxa4 xa4 39.d3 a3!? [ 39...g7 protects the b-pawn, and ] [ 39...b3!? 40.d4 ( 40.b8 a3 41.ce5= ) 40...b2 41.xb2 a3+ 42.e2 a2 wins. ] 40.cxb4 d5 [ 40...c3! 41.e3 c4 and Black is safe. ] 41.e2 xb4 42.xb4 f7 43.c6 a2+ 44.d2 xd2+ 45.xd2 d6 46.e3 c5+ 47.f3 f6 48.e5 d6 49.d3 c7 ½-½
548 Miles,Anthony J Godena,Michele 5th HIT Open (5) [Tony Kosten]
A14 2579 2487 05.02.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 b6 7.b2 b7 8.e3 bd7 9.d3 c5 10.e2 c7 11.c3 ad8 The most common, and most logical, move played in this position. 12.e4!? [ Very committal, normally White prefers to keep his pawns flexible, and plays either 12.fd1 or ] [ 12.ad1 ] 12...d4 [ This should be strongest, Black claims extra space, and play resembles a King's Indian reversed, where the white pieces are not optimally placed. 12...dxe4 13.dxe4 g4 14.fd1 a6 is less ambitious, but quite good, Mista,L-Slezka,V/CZE-chT2 1995, 1/2-1/2 (22) , as 15.h3 ge5 16.xe5 xe5 17.f4 c6 and the knight comes to d4. ] 13.d1 e8 [ A new move, but a perfectly good one, Black p lays h is knight to d6 in o rder t o
support the ...f 5, or ...b5 breaks. 13...g6 14.e1 e5 is similar, though, Bischoff, KAndersson,U/Dortmund 1987, 0-1 (37). ] 14.c1 There was no future for the bishop on b2, hitting on the strong black pawn chain. e5 15.b1 d6 16.b2 White finds a strange route f or the rook, which is now ready to s w i t c h t o t h e c e n t r e o r k i n g s i d e . de8 Black is better, he has more space, and his p i e c e s a r e w e l l - p l a c e d . 17.d2 White prepares for Black's ...f5, which would now concede the e4-square. g6!? [ Possibly Black should avoid this move, which weakens the kingside. Instead, he ca n p re p a r e . . . b 5 b y 17...a6 and then answer 18.f4 with f5! 19.exf5 exf4 with advantage. ] 18.f4 f5 19.exf5 xg2 [ The problem with 17...g6 is revealed after 19...exf4? as White can now play 20.fxg6 . ] 20.xg2 Removing the queen from the exposed e-line. xf5 21.e4 f6 22.e2 exf4 23.xf4 After this play is equal. All but one of White's pieces are in play and Black's extra space counts for little. d7 24.fe1 xe4 25.xe4 d6? [ A mistake, allowing a long tactical sequence, better 25...f6 which keeps the d5-square covered, 26.f2 xe4 27.xe4 g7 and Black has no problems. ] 26.xe8 xe8 27.d5+ With the black bishop on f6 this move would not be possible. g7 28.e5+ As the d6-bishop is pinned. h6?! [ ' O u t o f t h e f r y i n g p a n . . . ' 28...f8 is forced, with 29.xd6+ xd6 and the e8ro o k i s p r o t e c t e d b y t h e k i n g , 30.xe8+ xe8 31.a8+ f7 32.xa7+ e7 forcing an endgame where Black has some drawing chances. ] 29.e4 [ This is strong, and wins the exchange. 29.f2 threatens a mating attack beginning Ng4+, and also obliges Black to concede t h e e x c h a n g e : xe5 30.g4+ g7 31.xe5 winning. ] 29...d8 30.f6! xf6 31.xe8 g5 32.f3 d2 33.e2 c1 34.g2 e7 35.f2 Bringing the last piece into the game. e3+ 36.f3 g5 37.g4+ xg4 [ 37...g7 38.xe3 dxe3 is rather more 542
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 awkward. ] 38.xg4 e3 39.f3 1-0
549 Neverov,Valeriy Efimenko,Zahar 74th ch-UKR KO (4.2) [John Watson]
A14 2572 2643 31.08.2005
Black tries a radical solution, but the game is a tribute to the latent dynamism in W hite's position, even after a trade of queens. 1.c4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.b3 e7 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 c5 7.b2 c6 8.e3 dxc4 Now for a sh ameless plug: There are actually 9 different plausible moves here, all discussed in my ancient book "English: Franco, Slav, and Flank Defences"! You can get a reprint f rom Hardinge Simpole (o n Am azon ) bu t there's a real drawback: it's in the old English D e s c r i p t i v e n o t a t i o n . 9.bxc4 d3!? If this works, W hite's whole move order is inaccurate, But since it's easily the most frequently-arising one over the past 50 years it's good that White has the appropriateanswers! 10.b3! d8 11.d1 a6 [ 11...xb3 12.axb3 gives White control of e5, a potentially mobile centre and the afile ] 12.xd3 [ 12.e1 f5 13.d3 ] 12...xd3 13.c3 [ 13.e1 d8 14.c3 ( 14.d3 b8 15.d2 is also slightly more comfortable for White )] 13...d8 14.ab1!? Quite effective. White could also play the immediate [ 14.d4 and stand better: cxd4 15.exd4 A) 15...b8 16.ab1 d7 ( 16...b5 17.e5! xe5 18.dxe5 xd1+ 19.xd1 d7 20.cxb5 axb5 21.e4 with the better game ); B) 15...a5 16.c5! c4 17.ab1 xb2 18.xb2 makes it very hard for Black to develop and is a solid plus. ] 14...b8 15.a4 [ 15.d4! ] 15...d7?! Uninspiring. Better [ 15...b5 16.cxb5 xb5!? ( 16...axb5
17.xc5! xc5 18.xf6 gxf6 19.dc1 f a v o u r s W h i t e) 17.c3 b6 18.d3 , when Black's pawns are a little weak but so are White's - slight edge to the first player. ] 16.b6 d6 17.d4! cxd4 18.exd4 e8 19.d5! exd5 20.cxd5 [ Even better is 20.xf6! gxf6 21.xd5 with a very large advantage. Black has to play g7 22.h4! ( 22.d2 b5 23.e3 ) 22...d7 23.e3! e5 24.hf5+ f8 25.f4 c7 26.c5! and Black is in trouble. ] 20...e7 21.e5 [ Also strong is 21.xf6! gxf6 22.d2 ] 21...c8 22.bc4 b5 23.xd6 xd6 24.a3!? [ 24.d4 ] 24...bc8 25.dc1 fe8 26.h3 xc1+ 27.xc1 e4 28.g2 xd5! 29.xf7? [ 29.xe4 xe5 30.xb7 ] 29...8f6! 30.f3 xg3 31.h6+ gxh6 32.hxg3 c6 [ 32...d2! Things have gone wrong for White and Black has some edge. ] 33.b2 f7?! [ 33...h5! 34.f1 g5 ] 34.c2 d3 35.f2 h5 36.c1 d7 37.f4 f8 38.e3 e6 39.f1 d6 40.c4 The bishops are very strong. Black had a few opportunities in what follows, but only when White played inaccurately. The whole position was terribly difficult for the second player: f6 41.c1 g5 42.a3 d7 43.e2 g6 44.c1 f7 45.xg5 xg5 46.f4+ g6 47.c5 d7 48.g5+ f6 49.xh5 e4 50.g4 d2 51.a4 d3 52.e3 xe2+ 53.xd3 e7 54.h6+ g7 55.b6 g8 56.d4 f7 57.a5 g8 58.d5 f8 59.f5 f7 60.g5 d7+ 61.e5 f8 62.f6+ g8 63.d6 c7 64.e6 c1 65.d8+ g7 66.f6+ g6 67.g8+ h5 68.f7 1-0
550 Novik,Steffen Turov,Maxim Open Dutch Championship (8) [John Watson]
A14 2534 2527 03.08.2005
This game makes the Reti look like a dull line used for equality, but the notes show how 543
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 interesting the play can become in these lines. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 c5 6.b3 e7 7.b2 0-0 8.c3 d5 9.e3 bd7 10.e2 With the knight on d7 instead of c6 it makes also makes sense to prevent ...Ne4 by [ 10.d3 . But that's not really necessary. ] 10...e4!? A typical freeing move, but White can still try for advantage. [ Tony annotate d the game SorokinSambuev, St Petersburg 1999, again illustrating the fact that these lines are more unbalanced than they sometimes appear: 10...a6 11.fd1 c7 12.ac1 dxc4 ( (Tony: "A normal plan in these positions, Black closes the c-file and aims for counterplay with ...b5. Further keeping the t e n s i o n r u n s i n t o p r o b l e m s : 12...ac8!? 13.cxd5 xd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.e4 b7 16.d4 with a mobile centre.) 13.bxc4 c6!? 14.d4! b7? ( 14...cxd4 ) 15.d5! exd5 16.cxd5 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.e5! f6 ( 18...xg2? 19.xd7 e4 20.c4 ) 19.xd5! xd5 20.d1 ad8 21.d2! xe3!? 22.xb7 xd1 23.c2 and White won easily. ] 11.cxd5 xc3 [ Or 11...exd5 12.d4 ( 12.fd1!? ) 12...xc3 13.xc3 c7 14.dxc5 ( 14.h4!? see the next note.) 14...bxc5 15.ac1 a5 (stopping b4 and threatening ...Ba6) 16.fd1 b6 ( 16...a4 17.b4! wins the d4 square) 17.b2 ( 17.e1!? ) 17...f6 18.h4! d7 ( 18...a4 19.f5 fd8 20.b4! c4 21.b1 ) 19.d2! a4 ( 19...g5 20.xa5 ) 20.b4! , transforming the pawn structure to White's advantage. ] 12.dxc3?! A nothing move. [ M o r e a m b i t i o u s w a s 12.xc3 exd5 ( 12...xd5 13.d4 c8 14.e4 b7 15.fd1 ) 13.d4 c7 , and besides 14.dxc5 of the last note, W hite might try 14.h4!? xh4 ( 14...ac8 15.f5 f6 16.ac1 , for example, fe8 17.fd1 g6 18.h6+ g7 19.g4 ) 15.gxh4 with the ideas of d x c 5 a n d Q g 4 ac8 16.h1 ( 16.dxc5 bxc5 17.fd1 )] 12...xd5 13.c4 c6 14.e4 [ More natural seems 14.ad1 , but after c7 White has nothing better than 15.e5 ( 15.d2 xg2 16.xg2 f6 ) 15...xe5
16.xe5 xe5 17.xc6 ad8= ] [ Or 14.e5 xg2 15.xg2 xe5 16.xe5 f6 17.ad1 c8 18.c3 c6+ 19.e4 leaves at best a nominal edge which can't possibly lead to anything. ] 14...c7 15.d2!? fd8 16.f4 White's basic idea is that Black has nothing going on so maybe he can grab some space in the meantime. f6!? A slight weakness but it doesn't matter. [ 16...e5 is also fine. ] 17.ad1 f8 18.f5!? d6 19.f3 exf5 20.exf5 e8 21.f2 ad8 22.fe1 xe1+ 23.xe1 e8 24.xe8 xe8 , about equal. A true grandmaster yawner, but it needn't have been. ½-½
551 Pantsulaia,Levan Fridman,Daniel 40th Olympiad Open (2.11) [John Bartholomew]
A14 2575 2653 29.08.2012
The following line in the Réti has been given extensive coverage in recent works on the English, so it's high time we tackled it. 1.f3 d5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 e6 4.0-0 e7 5.c4 0-0 6.b3 c5 7.e3 c6 8.b2 b6 9.c3 dxc4 10.bxc4 b7 11.e2 c7 In "Grandmaster Repertoire 4: The English Opening Vol 2" Mihail Marin characterizes this move as a loss of time in view of White's next. Meanwhile, in "The Modern Reti: An Anti-Slav Repertoire" Alexander Delchev calls 11...Qc7 "a flexible move" and actually labels 12.Nb5 as a "loss of tempo"! W ho is right? Of course it's impossible to say, but 11...Qc7 has been seen plenty of times in Grandmaster practice with reasonable results for Black (it's the second most popular move at this juncture). This line is quite subtle, and I personally doubt there are many bright-line rules. [ Most popular is 11...c8 ] [ 11...a6 ] [ 11...d7 ] [ and 11...b4!? are also played. ] 12.b5 Following Marin's recommendation. [ Instead, Delchev endorses the prophylactic approach 12.fd1 a6 ( 12...fd8 544
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is examined this month in Kvon, A (2492)Sargissian, G (2693)/Istanbul TUR 2012) 13.ab1 ab8 14.a1 , keeping open options of either d2-d4 or the "kingside crawl" with Nf 3-e2, f 2-f3, g3-g4, etc. In general Marin favors the former plan, while Delchev usually opts for the latter. ] 12...b8!? Neither text mentions this retreat. [ Delchev writes that after 12...c8 13.fd1 a6 14.c3 a5 "the queen is not worse on c8 than on c7". This is probably due to the fact that d2-d4 has been held up, and if White reverts to the slower plan with Nf3-e1, then the queen's placement o n c8 isn't particularly significant. Often an exchange o f l i g h t - s q u a r e b i sh o p s wi l l o c c u r a n d Black's queen ends of on b7 anyways. ] 13.d4 Certainly the most direct. [ White could also play ala Delchev with 13.fd1 a6 14.c3 c7 15.ab1 (compare to the note to White's 12th). ] 13...e8!? Very mysterious! This appears to be directed against a future d4-d5. [ 13...a6 14.c3 a5 15.dxc5 xc5 ( 15...bxc5!? ) 16.ab1 ( 16.a4! l o o k s m o r e c h a l l e n g i n g) 16...c7 1/2-1/2 Solleveld, M (2502)-Levin, F (2482)/Netherlands NED 2011 ] 14.fd1 [ White can also consider 14.e5 , though a5! 15.xb7 xb7 is a good reaction. ] 14...a6 15.c3 cxd4 16.exd4 a5 17.d5!? Pantsulaia does not hesitate. Probably this is the correct decision, otherwise Black intends quick coordination with . .. Qb8-c7 and Ra8d8. f8! Now the significance of Black's 13th move is apparent. 18.dxe6 xe6 19.f1 c8 [ 19...c7!? ] 20.g5 xg2?! [ The awkward-looking 20...e5! is best. ] 21.xg2 c6 22.d5! xc4 23.xf6 gxf6 24.e4 f5? [ 24...g7! ] 25.ef6+ h8 26.h3 [ Here and on the next move White misses the murderous 26.e1 , looking to penetrate down the e-file. After, say, e6 the engine qu i c k l y p o in t s o u t ( 26...g7 27.e7! ) 27.ac1!+, threatening 28.Rxe6 followed by 29.Nxb6 or 29.Nc7. ]
26...h6 27.e7? Letting Black off the hook. [ 27.e1! was again powerful, this time with t h e r e m a r k a b l e a t t a c k i n g i d e a o f e6 28.e7 c5 29.xe6 fxe6 30.eg8!! . Did I mention I'm analyzing this with the assistance of an engine?:) ] 27...e6 28.xc6 xf6 29.d4 b2! Securing the draw. 30.d2 c4 31.dd1 b2 32.d2 [ White decides to call it a day. He could play on with 32.xf5 xd1 33.xd1 , but Black no lo nge r h as an y p ro b le m s. Su m min g things up, I don't see much wrong with 11... Qc7, and Fridman's unique take with 12... Qb8!? and 13...Re8!? is definite food for thought. ] ½-½
552 Reti,Richard Gruenfeld,Ernst Trencianske Teplice (2) [Nigel Davies]
A14
1928
Starting out as an English Opening this game soon transposes into a main line of the Reti. Black seemed to be doing OK up to move 22 when he finally succumbed to W hite's ongoing pressure. 1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 c5 7.cxd5 [ These days we tend to keep the central tension, say with 7.e3 ] [ or 7.b2 . ] 7...xd5 8.b2 c6 9.c3 f6 10.c1 xc3 11.xc3 e5 12.d3 b8 It makes sense to take the rook off the h1-a8 diagonal but more recent encounters have featured other moves: [ a) 12...e6 13.b2 d4 14.e3 xf3+ 15.xf3 d5 16.e4 e8 17.e2 d6 was dead equal in Speelman, J (2583) Ganguly, S (2531), Bled 2002. ] [ b) 12...g4 13.h3 e6 14.b2 e8 15.d2 c8 16.e4 e7 17.f4?! f5 18.d2 exf4 19.xg7? fxg3 20.xc6 xc6 21.h8 f8 was good for Black in Dizdarevic, E (2520)-Zelcic, R (2554), Solin/ Spilt 2002. ] 13.b2 d4 14.e3 xf3+ 15.xf3 xd3 16.g2 545
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ And not 16.xe5? because of f5 17.xf6 xf3 threatening 18...Bh3. ] 16...b6 17.xe5 xe5 18.xe5 b7 [ 18...g4 might have been better to try and keep W hite's rooks off the d-file, at least temporarily. ] 19.fd1 b5 20.c7 xg2 21.xg2 a5 22.d7 White has kept an edge right into the endgame. Maybe Black could have held the game with super accurate defence but then this is never easy. bc8 [ 22...a4 is an interesting bid for counterplay as if White carries out his 'threat' of 23.xf7 there follows xf7 24.xb8+ f8 25.b7 e2 26.d5+ h8 27.f1 a3 threatening to take on a2. ] 23.d6 c6?! [ And here 23...c4 is a better chance, trying to hoover some pawns off the board. ] 24.d5 a4 25.a7 cc8 [ Perhaps it was only here that Black saw 25...axb3 26.a4 , winning the rook on c6. As a result he loses a pawn. ] 26.xa4 cd8 27.f3 d3 28.c4 d6 29.e4 e2 30.c2 b5 31.f3 fd8 32.e1 d7 33.e4 d3 34.e3 d1 35.ce2 e6 36.e5 h6 37.e4 1d4 38.xd4 xd4 39.e4 d2 40.a4 xe5 41.a8+ h7 42.xf7 e4+ 43.f3 e6 44.b8 d4 45.h4 d2 [ Or 45...c4 46.bxc4 xc4 47.xb6 xb6 48.d3+ h8 49.xc4 etc. ] 46.h5 e5 47.a8 d5+ 48.xd5 xd5 49.xb6 xh5 50.b5 d5 51.a4 d3 52.a5 1-0
many times. ] 10.c3 a4 11.xa4! Now I think this is best, otherwise the black a-pawn is too annoying. [ 11.d4 a3 12.c1 b4 13.d2 e7 "gives Black good play", according to me a decade ago! ] [ 11.ab1 axb3 12.axb3 c5 13.d4 d7 14.fd1 e5 15.c2 dxc4 16.bxc4 xg2 17.xg2 e4 18.f3 exf3+ 19.xf3 d3 was already quite promising for Black in Mge la d ze, T (2 19 8 )-A kop ian , V (26 6 7 ) Albena 2014, although 1/2-1/2 (49). ] 11...dxc4 12.xc4!? A surprising novelty. Eleven years ago I considered this dubious, but to be fair I hadn't looked too much further. [ 12.fc1 wa s t h e f o r m e r c h o i c e , b5! ( 12...cxb3 13.axb3 c5 was Chuchelov, V (2 6 0 3 ) -R o go ze n c o , D (2 5 1 7 ) - s e e m y annotations in the PGN Archive.) 13.c3 c5 ( 13...b8 ) 14.xb5?! ( 14.e5 ) 14...d3 15.cb1 cxb3 16.a4 forced ( 16.axb3? xb2 17.xa8 xa8 wins a piece.) 16...c5 17.c3?! ( 17.e1 ) 17...c4 with an obvious black advantage, Mgeladze, T (2295)-Dzagnidze, N (2390) Tbilisi 2002, 0-1 (33). ] [ 12.c3 is worth a thought, cxb3 13.axb3 c5 14.d4 but White has no advantage. ] 12...a6 13.c2 xf1 14.xf1 So, what exactly has White obtained for his exchange sac? W ell, apart from the pawn he has excellent light square control. c5 [ 14...b5 15.c3 c5 is better, Ne5 is no longer a problem and Black is fine. ] 15.e5 c8 [ 15...xe5! returns the exchange, 16.xa8 xa8 17.xe5 d7 18.a1 b5 19.c3 ( 19.d3 c6 20.c3 c4 ) 19...e5 553 A14 20.e4 xe4 21.xe4 d3 with compensation for the pawn. ] Rusev,Krasimir 2540 Brynell,Stellan 2463 16.c6 e8 17.a7 b8 18.c6 c8 b8 Black is happy to repeat, but Copenhagen Whitsun GM (1) 03.06.2014 19.a7 W h it e is o n ly g a in in g t im e o n t h e c lo c k . [Kosten, Tony] 20.c3! The knight heads for the weak b51.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 square. Black is passive and his rooks are 5.0-0 e7 6.b3 0-0 7.b2 d5 8.e3 bd7 doing nothing, White is better. e5 21.cb5 9.e2 a5 Black's 2nd most popular move White controls the queenside light squares. plans the annoying ...a4 when Black can g6 22.h4!? [ I rather like the look of 22.f4! and f5. ] either open the a-f ile o r play ...a3 unde r 22...h5 Best, if favourable circumstances. [ 22...h6 instead, then 23.c6 d8 24.f3 [ W e ' v e c o v e r e d t h e c l a s s i c a l 9...c5 546
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 threatens both Nc6 and h5. ] 23.a4 A slow, strengthening move, but White's positional advantages are not going to disappear. [ 23.c6 d8 24.d4 is also strong. ] 23...g4 [ 23...d5! blocks the h1-a8 diagonal, when 24.d4 d7 25.d1 fd8 limits White's edge, at least Black has got his pieces into play. ] 24.d4 f5?! Further weakening Black's light squares. He obviously had ideas of some sort of kingside demonstration, but it is too optimistic. 25.c4 f7?! [ 25...xh4 at least justifies his previous play, but 26.dxc5 ( 26.gxh4? e7 menacing ... Q x h 4 a n d s u d d e n l y B l a c k i s wi n n i n g !) 26...bxc5 27.c6 c8 28.d6 d7 29.xc8 xc8 30.xc5 just ignores the sacrifice on h4. ] 26.c6 cxd4 27.bxd4! Hitting e6, while keeping e7 and b8 attacked. [ 27.xb8? dxe3! would be very unclear. ] 27...6e5 28.xe6 Taking a 2nd pawn and exchanging queens, Black is totally lost. xc6 [ 28...xe6 29.xe6 xc6 30.xf8 xf8 31.xc6 with the bishop pair and two extra pawns. ] 29.xf7+ xf7 30.xc6 bc8 31.d5+ e8 32.xg7 Grabbing a 3rd pawn for the exchange, and leaving the f8-rook short of squares. f7 33.d4!? White prefers not to swap his light square bishop for the rook. However, [ 33.xf7+ xf7 34.xe7 xe7 35.d4 would surely force resignation. ] 33...h7 34.xb6 h6 35.xe7 xe7 36.a5 The two bishops will help shepherd the white passers home. c2 37.b4 f6 38.f3 e4 39.xe4 fxe4 40.d4 a2 41.a1 xa1+ 42.xa1 c6 43.d4 d7 44.g2 c7?! [ 44...c8 45.b5 d6 46.a6 d5 47.b6 b8 stops the queenside pawns, but then 48.g4 hxg4 49.g3 followed by Kxg4 and h 5 wi l l q u e e n o n t h e o t h e r s i d e o f t h e board. ] 45.b5 c2 46.a6 Black can't stop b6-b7 and Be5 followed by b8(Q). 1-0
554 Sherbakov,Ruslan Aleksandrov,Aleksej 9th chT Ekaterinburg RUS (4) [Tony Kosten]
A14 2549 2654 20.05.2002
1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 f6 4.f3 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 c5 7.e3 b6 8.b2 b7 9.c3 bd7 [ The solid choice, 9...c6 is possibly more active. ] 10.d3 [ I prefer 10.e2 which keeps the possibility of playing d4 in one move (instead of d3 first, then d4) a6 11.fd1 which we examined in Sorokin, M-Sambuev,B/St Petersburg RUS 1999. ] 10...c7 11.e2 c6!? [ Interesting, Black aims to nullify White's pressure on the h1-a8 diagonal. We looked at 11...ad8 in Miles,A-Godena,M/Nova Gorica SLO 2000. ] 12.fd1 [ 12.fe1 b7 13.e4 is an alternative plan, closing the diagonal. ] 12...b7 13.d4 Black was men acing to play ...d4 himself, because of the pin on the f3knight, so White strikes first. dxc4!? [ A perfectly logical novelty, Black opens the long diagonal, although at the cost of giving W hite a central preponderance. 13...fd8 is a sound alternative, Bobotsov,M-Najdorf, M/ Siegen 1970. ] 14.bxc4 e4 15.d5!? This is the sort of ce nt ra l brea kth ro ugh th at W h it e is o f t e n hoping to play in this variation, and here he takes advantage of the lack of black kingside de f e nd ers. xc3 16.xc3 exd5 17.e5 xe5 18.cxd5! This zwischenzug is the point of White's combo. a4 19.xe5 [ 19.d6!? c6 ( 19...xd1 20.xd1 d7 21.xe5 transposes to the game) 20.dxe7 xe7 21.xe5 xg2 22.xg7 is also interesting, and not too clear. ] 19...xd1 20.xd1 d7 The critical position, that White needed to assess before playing his fifteenth move. White has sacrificed the exchange, but in return he has two powerful bishops and a dangerously mobile centre. 21.d6 ad8!? 22.h5 [ 22.dxe7!? is a difficult move to judge: 547
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xd1+ 23.f1 xe2 24.exf8+ xf8 25.xe2 d2 26.c4 c2 27.d5 b5 White has two great bishops, but the active rook and passed queenside pawns make the situation quite unclear. ] [ The other alternative is the 'unpinning' 22.d5 g5 ( White has at least a draw after 22...f6 23.xf6 gxf6 24.e4 fe8 25.f5 c6 26.g4+ f8 27.f4 b u t m a y b e n o m o r e) 23.xg7 xg7 24.xg5+ h8 25.d5 with good compensation. ] 22...fe8 23.h3 a4 24.d7 f8 25.d2 b4 26.f5 [ 26.g4 xg4 27.xg4 c4 28.c7 would regain the exchange, but the oppositec o lo u r b is h o p s wo u ld m a ke a win ve r y problematic. ] 26...h6 27.d1 a4 The queen stays on the fourth rank to stop White from playing Qg4, and also keeps the rook under attack. 28.d2 b4 29.d1 a4 30.d2 White can make no progress. ½-½
555 Sherbakov,Ruslan Alexandrov,Alexei chT Yekaterinburg [R. Scherbakov]
A14
2002
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 c5 7.e3 b6 8.b2 b7 9.c3 bd7 10.d3 c7 11.e2 c6 12.fd1 b7 13.d4 dxc4 14.bxc4 e4 15.d5 xc3 16.xc3 exd5 17.e5 xe5 18.cxd5 a4 19.xe5 xd1 20.xd1 d7 21.d6 ad8 22.h5 [ 22.dxe7 really gave nothing as the rook was very active and Black's Q-side pawn were dangerous. ] 22...fe8 23.h3 a4 24.d7 f8 25.d2 b4? This terrible mistake was played after 40 minute's thought! [ Black should have clarified the situation i m m e d i a t e l y b y 25...g6!? 26.h6 f6 27.e6+ h8 28.c7 c6 29.xd8 xd8 ] 26.f5 h6 27.d1 [ I was going to play 27.d5! and calculated
something like this: c4 28.e4 c1+ ( 28...xa2 29.g4 g5 30.h4 g6 31.hxg5 gxf5 32.exf5+- ) 29.g2 A) 29...g5 30.d1+- h5 31.h4 h6 32.f4 h8 (here I stopped calculation somehow White can win against such ugly major pieces) 33.d6 (probably the most precise way) xd6 34.xd6 g6 ( 34...c4 35.d5 c3 36.e5 ) 35.xg6+-; B) 29...g6 30.xg6 g5 31.xg5 hxg5 32.f5 /\\ Bc7+- with technically winning endgame also Black can still fight somehow. ] 27...a4 28.d2 b4 Taking a look at the scoresheet I noticed that the move h7-h6 was played just a few moves ago so I decided to repeat one more time having not realised that the position after 26. Bf5 h6 is just that the same. [ 28...c6 was already insufficient as White could have simply continued his K-side a c t i o n s b y 29.h4 with idea Qh5-g4 with strong attack. ] 29.d1 a4 30.d2?? [ 30.d5! ] 30...b4 And here my opponent wisely claimed a draw by three times repetition. It was very disappointing - we have eventually lost a very important match with the score 2, 5:3,5! ½-½
556 Socko,Bartosz Klovans,Janis Skanska Open (7) [Tony Kosten]
A14 2554 2456 29.07.2004
1.f3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.e3 f6 4.b3 e7 5.g3 c5 6.g2 c6 7.0-0 0-0 8.b2 b6 9.c3 b7 10.cxd5 xd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.d4 a5 By a very strange move order we reached the position I discussed in the notes to Bareev,E-Kramnik,V from Monte Carlo, a short while ago. 13.c1 A further possibility. I played [ 13.h4!? in my game, but thought that ] [ 13.dxc5! was best, as in Miles,A-Short,N/ ch-GBR, Torquay ENG 1998. ] 13...fd8 A natural move, as is 548
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 13...ac8 14.a3 f5 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.d7!? xf3 17.xf3 xf3 18.xe7 c6! 19.xc5 fd8 when Black has a little compensation for the pawn, because of the weakened kingside light squares, Bistric,FHulak,K/Makarska 1996. ] [ 13...cxd4 is worse, as after 14.xd4 xd4 15.xd4 White has a slight edge in the endgame. ] 14.a3 f5 Black removes his queen from the diagonal. [ 14...ac8 is also fine, 15.dxc5 ( 15.e2 h5 16.fd1 is fairly level, Poluljahov,AMaiorov,O/Krasnodar 1998) 15...xc5 16.xc5 bxc5 soon petered out to a draw in Toran Albero,R-Filip,M/Skopje 1972. ] 15.e2 e4 Threatening ...Bd3. 16.fd1 g5?! A bizarre novelty, which weakens the kingside and certainly is no improvement on [ 16...c6! when 17.dxc5 bxc5 18.xc5 xd1+ 19.xd1 d8 ( 19...xc5 20.h4 e5 21.xe4 xe4 22.xc5 is the point) 20.e2 d3 21.e1 ( 21.b2 xc5 22.h4 g5 23.xc6 xe3! 24.fxe3 xe3+ 25.g2 g5 1/2-1/2 Arkhipov,SSzekely,P/Moscow 1985) 21...xc5 22.h4 b4!? ( 22...e5 23.xc6 d6 24.g2 b5 is even simpler, ...Bb4 is coming with adequate play) 23.xf5 xe1 24.xe1 xf5 25.xc6 d2 with chances to draw the endgame, Toran Albero,R-Darga,K/ Skopje 1972. ] 17.dxc5 Obvious and good! bxc5?! [ 17...xc5 would avoid what follows, 18.xc5 ( 18.b4 f8 ) 18...bxc5 19.d2 xg2 20.xg2 b7 21.c4 with a positional plus. ] 18.xd8+ xd8 19.d4! The c-pawn is pinned. cxd4? Not a nice move to play, but after the superior [ 19...e5 20.xe4 xe4 21.xc5 wins a pawn for nothing. ] 20.xe4 xe4 21.xe7 White is already winning. d5 Black attempts to defend g5 and a5, but now his king gets into trouble. [ 21...d3 22.h5 e8 23.xg5+ g6 24.xa5 wins the knight whereas the bishop on e7 is untouchable: xe7? 25.d8+ g7 26.xe7 ] [ 21...d7 22.b5! xe7 23.xg5+ f8 24.c8+ e8 25.c5+ g7 26.xe8
wins material. ] 22.f6 There is no way to stop Rc8+. h6 23.c8+ h7 24.h5 Black has no sensible way to avert Rh8 mate! 1-0
557 Sorokin,Maxim Sambuev,Bator Chigorin mem (2) [Tony Kosten]
A14 2574 2390 03.11.1999
1.f3 f6 2.c4 A common method of reaching an English, the advantage is that B l a c k c a n n o t p l a y l i n e s wi t h 1 . . . e 5 , t h e disadvantage is that W hite is committed to playing his knight to f3. Still, if White is going to do this anyway, he might as well start with 1 Nf3. e6 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 c5 6.c3 e7 Black has indicated his willingness to play a Hedgehog, but W hite prefers to keep his centre in reserve, and heads for a Reti instead. 7.b3 0-0 8.e3 d5 9.b2 bd7 10.e2 a6 [ A perfectly logical move, but either the immediate 10...c7 or the simplifying ] [ 10...e4 are normally preferred. ] 11.fd1 [ I like White's method of playing this position, many players give away their intentions by the move 11.d3 but instead, in this game, W h it e d e ve lo p s h is ro o ks t o t h e ir b e s t squares, c1 and d1, first, before deciding how to move his d-pawn. ] 11...c7 12.ac1 dxc4 [ A normal plan in these positions, Black closes the c-file and aims for counterplay with ...b5. Further keeping the tension runs into problems: 12...ac8!? 13.cxd5 xd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.e4 b7 16.d4 with a mobile centre. ] 13.bxc4 c6!? [ A new move, and a very sensible one, preparing ...b5. 13...ac8 has also bee n tried, and in Tosic,M-Petronic,J/Novi Sad 1995, White continued with the committal 14.e4?! weakening his central dark squares, e 5 a n d d 4 . ( 14.d3 is m ore sens ible .) 14...g4! and Black had an edge. ] 14.d4! Illustrating the advantage of White's 549
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 flexible strategy to perfection, instead of d3 he can exploit the slight awkwardness of Black's piece placement to expand in the centre. b7? [ A natural reply, taking control of the h1-a8 diagonal, but it loses! 14...cxd4 15.exd4 fe8 was better, with a typical hanging pawn structure. ] 15.d5! White's d-pawn may have been slow to get going, but once started, it seems that nothing will stop it! exd5 16.cxd5 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 All forced so far. 18.e5! The point of White's combination. f6 [ T h e a l t e r n a t i v e 18...xe5 is little improvement, 19.xd5 g6 and White ha s various rook moves discovering an attack on the black queen, and winning material. ] [ M e a n w h i l e , 18...xg2? simply drops a piece after 19.xd7 e4 20.c4 ] 19.xd5! Lining-up a killing pin along the g2bishop's diagonal. xd5 20.d1 ad8 21.d2! [ The simplest, after 21.xd5?! xd5 22.f3 B l a c k c a n h e a d f o r a n e n d i n g b y f6 23.xd5 xd5 24.xd5 b5 with reasonable chances, so it is better for White to keep the queens on the board. ] 21...xe3!? [ Aiming to obtain some play in return for a queen sacrifice, but it fails. The alternatives were no h elp, i.e . 21...f6 22.c4 b5 23.a5 c7 24.xd5+ h8 25.e4 and the white minor pieces will dominate the black rook. W hite will win by judiciously advancing his kingside pawns, and exposing the black king. ] 22.xb7 xd1 [ 22...xd2 is quite hopeless, 23.xd2 f5 24.xa6 with a solid piece more. ] 23.c2 c4!? [ 23...xb2 24.xb2 f6 25.xa6 does not hold out too much hope either, White can easily defend the knight by a later f4. ] 24.xc4 c5 25.xa6 xf2+ [ Unfortunately, 25...xf2 achieves nothing: 26.a3! d3+ 27.xc5 ] 26.g2 fe8 27.c1 Careful play, White defends against any nasty 'accidents' on the e 3 - s q u a r e . c5 28.b2 Forcing the e x c h a n g e o f t h e a n n o y i n g k n i g h t . e3+
29.xe3 xe3 30.d3 The writing is on the wall for Black, White has fought-off the attack, and can now concentrate his pieces against the f7-square. g6 31.c7 Menacing Bc4, tying Black to the f7-pawn. d4 [ Hopeless, but 31...d5 also fails, 32.c4 f5 33.g4! f6 34.e5 f8 35.xf7! winning, as 6xf7 36.xf7+ xf7 37.c8+ picks-up the bishop, g7 38.c3+ ] 32.c4 f8 33.xf7+ h8 34.f4 [ Sufficient, but 34.e5 is also decisive, c5 35.xg6+! hxg6 36.xg6 and Black can only fend off the mate by giving a rook. ] 34...c8 35.e7 1-0
558 Zvjaginsev,Vadim Skatchkov,Pavel TCh Togliatti RUS (1) [Tony Kosten]
A14 2664 2475 16.05.2003
This game struck me as interesting as White delayed playing the 'automatic' e3, seemingly provoking Black to play ...d4. 1.c4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.b3 c6 A solid choice, although there is nothing wrong with playing [ 6...b6 7.b2 b7 immediately, 8.e3 c5 and Black avoids playing ...c6 altogether. ] 7.b2 b6 8.c3!? Very provocative! Normally White plays [ 8.d3 b7 9.e3 a5 and only now 10.c3 as in Damljanovic, B-Piskov,Y/Belgrade 1998/, amongst many others. ] 8...b7 Black continues his development, he was not tempted into [ 8...d4?! as after 9.a4 d3 ( 9...c5?? 10.xd4 and the a8-rook is lost) 10.e5 dxe2 11.xe2 White has a substantial lead in development. ] 9.c2 White again forgoes playing e3 (to control d4) as now bd7 [ 9...d4?! is met by 10.e4! xe4 11.xe4 and the d-pawn is lost. ] 10.e3 Finally, but perhaps White could have delayed this even further? The position is fairly standard now, except that the white queen is on c2, whereas she normally goes to e2. h6 11.ad1 c8 12.d3 b5!? 550
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 This move is perhaps the justification behind Black playing ...c6, but even so I would prefer [ 12...c5 myself, to keep the b7-bishop's diagonal open. ] 13.e4 White is eager to provoke the opening o f t h e d - f i le t o e xp l o it h is ro o k wh i ch i s p o i n t i n g a t t h e b l a c k q u e e n . b6!? Black tries to bring maximum pressure to bear on c4, but the knight is not well-placed here. [ 13...b4 14.e2 c5 was interesting. ] 14.b1 The queen moves off the c-file to avoid a nasty skirmish with the black rook on c8, and threatens the b-pawn in passing. a6 [ 14...dxc4?! is not very good, because after 15.dxc4 the queen is attacked. ] 15.e2 a5?! Black misses White's positional threat, he should have played [ 15...c5! when there is absolutely nothing wrong with his position. ] 16.exd5! exd5 17.cxb5 cxb5 18.ed4 This is the point, the knight finds a lovely post on d4 eyeing the f5-square, and meanwhile the b7-bishop is stymied by its pawn on d5. b4 19.de1 c5 20.h4 The knight aims for f5, or does he have another square in mind? bd7 21.h3 All the white pieces are finding aggressive posts, and tactics are 'in the air'. b6?! Black misses the far-from-evident threat, better to play the prophylactic [ 21...h8 ] 22.e6!! This must have come as a shock! d4 This simply concedes the exchange, but if [ 22...fxe6 23.xe6+ h7 ( 23...f7 loses to 24.d4! f8?! and now the queen s p r i n g s i n t o t h e f r a y f r o m a f a r : 25.g6 and the rook cannot be defended.) 24.xf6 xf6 25.xc8 xc8 26.d4+ and again the white queen checks from as far away as possible, and the bishop is lost. ] [ 22...fe8 do e sn 't h elp : 23.xc5 xc5 24.xf6 xf6 25.xc8 ] 23.xf8 xf8 24.d1 d5?? Black drops the d7 -kn igh t a nd brings th e game to a n abrupt halt, but he was losing anyway, of course. 1-0
559 Agrest,Evgenij Ponomariov,Ruslan EuTCh Plovdiv BUL (1) [Tony Kosten]
A15 2605 2718 11.10.2003
The famous 'portable phone' game! 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.d3!? White aims for e4 to stymie the b7-bishop. [ 4.g3 is likely to transpose to a standard Hedgehog. ] 4...xf3!? Black shatters the white structure. [ 4...g6 5.e4 g7 6.g3 0-0 7.g2 c5 is a f ianchetto Hedgehog, Kortchnoi,VKuzmin, G/Leningrad 1973. ] [ 4...c5 5.e4 e6 6.g3 was examined in Morozevich,A-Lutz, C. ] 5.exf3!? A novelty, White captures away from the centre. [ 5.gxf3 g6 6.g2 c5 7.g5 g7 8.d2 c6 was fine for Black in Kluger,G-Barczay, L/ Budapest 1963. ] 5...c5 Controlling d4 as White's lack of an epawn weakens his hold on the dark squares. 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 c6 8.d1 g6 9.e2 g7 10.f4 0-0 11.e3 Black's position is solid, but White has the bishop pair, and the two open central files to pressurize the black centre. e6 12.0-0 e7! Both aiming for the f5-square, and preparing ...d5, as now Black can recapture on d5 with a knight two times. 13.a4 f5 Revealing another problem related to White's lack of an e-pawn: the f5square provides a nice spot for a black knight. [ 13...d5 is an alternative, 14.fd1 e8 ] 14.ad1 xe3!? Introducing opposite-colour bishops, and depriving W hite of the bishop pair, but also evening-out the white structure. 15.fxe3 c7 16.h1 a6 17.f3 a7 18.d2 A useful move, defending the second rank and preparing to double rooks on the d or f-files. c8 19.e2 Necessary to defend the c-pawn. b8 20.b3 White keeps pressure o n d 5 so t h a t t h e b la c k d -p a wn r e m a in s backward. f8!? Black aims to defend the dpawn on d6 with a typical Hedgehog structure. 21.e4 d6 22.f5!? White aims at the e6-pawn, which cannot be so easily defended without a light-squared bishop, still White also weakens h i s d a r k s q u a r e s , i n p a r t i c u l a r e 5 . d7 The e5 and c5 squares lure the black knight. 551
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.g4 The point, hitting Black at his weakest point before he can bring his p i e c e s t o t h e k i n g s i d e . e8 25.e2 The knight heads for f4 or d4 to bring the p r e s s u r e o n e 6 t o b o i l i n g p o i n t . e5? Black is too keen on getting to the e5-square, [ 25...g7 is better, 26.d4 ( 26.h3 c5 27.b4?! xe4 28.xe6+ h8 is good for Black ) 26...c5 27.e3 a8 28.e2 ae7 and e6 is well defended, and the black pieces well-placed. ] 26.xe6+! Ouch! xe6 27.c5 Opening the a2-g8 diagonal, and pinning the rook against the black king. d5 The only chance, [ 27...e8 28.d4 ae7 29.xe6 xe6 30.f6 wins immediately. ] 28.xd5 ae7 And Black was disqualified! Actually, his portable phone rang, and under new rules this equates to the immediate loss of the game! [ 28...ae7 of course he can still play on after 29.d4 g4! (with a threat to h2!) but he is quite lost: 30.g3 e3 ( 30...e5 31.xe6 xe6 32.c6 d6 33.c1 and the c-pawn is too strong) 31.xe6! xf1 ( 31...xd5 32.xf8+ ) 32.f2 e3 33.d6! with a massive attack. ] 1-0
560 David,Alberto Vachier Lagrave,Maxime ITA-chT 46th (1.1) [Fier, Alexandr]
A15 2579 2758 30.04.2014
This was an interesting game in a line which is not so popular. W hite tries a quick expansion on the queenside but Black shows that there are also dangers on the other side of the board. The game finishes with some amazing fireworks. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.b4 White plans to bring the bishop to b2, and so why not push the b-pawn one more square? g7 4.b2 0-0 5.g3 c6 I like this move, as it's always useful against the b4-pawn. Black can play ...a5 at some point to create some pressure against the queenside pawns. It's funny that even against 1.b4, 1...c6 is possible, with the idea of 2.Bb2 Qb6 3.a3 a5!?. [ 5...b6 6.g2 b7 was analyzed for
ChessPublishing in Reti, R-Capablanca, J/ New York 1924. ] 6.a3 This move looks unnatural, but the knight will be better on c2 than on c3. b6 Black attacks the b4-pawn and at the same time creates threats against the f2-pawn. [ 6...d5 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.g2 b6 9.b3 a6 10.c2 is another possible continuation and was played in Kosten, A (2516)-Jerez Perez, A (2416)/Fincas Mediterranea 1st 2004. ] 7.c2 [ 7.b3 is also possible, but Black had a comfortable position after e4 8.d4 a5 9.b5 a4 10.e3 d5 in Gofshtein, L (2560)Har Zvi, R (2485)/Zagreb zt 1993. ] 7...d6 8.b1 White defends the bishop and avoid any problems with the f2-pawn. However, it was also possible to just continue his development. [ 8.g2 is a playable option. White can sa crif ice a p a wn t o im m o b ilize B la c k ' s pieces. a5 9.a3 g4 ( 9...e4 is worse, since the knight will come under attack on e4 10.d4 xd4 11.fxd4 ) 10.d4 axb4 11.axb4 xa1 12.xa1 a6 in theory this can be a problem, but 13.0-0! ( 13.b1 f5 would be annoying) 13...xb4 14.b1 c5 15.d2 with the idea of 16.e4 and Black can't escape from the pin without losing the pawn a5 just gets into another pin after 16.c3 ] 8...e5 9.g2 White tries to just play normal ideas, but this poses no problems for Black. Instead, [ 9.c5!? is critical, going for a complicated middlegame dxc5 10.bxc5 xc5 11.a3 ( 11.xe5 is also possible, but Black will have good centralized pieces in exchange for the central pawns e8 12.d4 e7 13.e3 c5 14.c3 b6 15.g2 b7 16.0-0 c6 17.c2 ad8 with good play for Black ) 11...a5 12.xf8 xf8 13.g2 ( 13.a3 looks a bit slow, but maybe it's not a bad idea ) 13...bd7 14.0-0 xa2 15.d4 e6 and Black has two pawns for the exchange, but the position remains unclear ] 9...e4 10.fd4 [ 10.g5 tries to bring the knight to h3 d5 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.0-0 d8 13.d3 h6 14.h3 c6 but I prefer Black's center 552
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 domination and the squares for the respective knights ] 10...a5 11.a3 axb4 12.axb4 bd7 13.0-0 e8 14.c3 This move is not so necessary in order to exchange the rooks. [ 14.a1 was more direct xa1 15.xa1 e5 probably White didn't like to allow this option. ( 15...h5 is not so different ) A) Now 16.e3 leaves the pawn on b4 hanging, xb4 ( 16...fg4 is probably better 17.dc2 xe3 18.xe3= ) 17.a3 xd2 18.xd6 and White has good compensation for the pawn. The queen on d2 has no good squares; B) 16.b3 pinning the e5-knight c7 17.c5 d5 18.d4 fg4 with a complex position ] 14...e5 15.e3 h5 16.a1 [ 16.b5 doesn't help much c5 ( 16...c5 is not possible because of 17.b3 ) 17.b3 d8 18.c2 h4 19.a1 xa1 20.xa1 and with the queenside more or less closed Black can continue the attack ] 16...xa1 17.xa1 h4 18.b5 hxg3 [ 18...c5 was also possible, but Black has a more interesting idea in mind 19.dc2 d8 and it's similar to the position analyzed in the 16.b5 variation ] 19.hxg3 [ 19.fxg3 is ugly, but avoids the idea of the game fg4 20.xg4 xg4 21.bxc6 bxc6 22.e3 c5 23.b1 c7 24.b5 d7 25.xe5 xe5 26.a7 and Black is slightly better ] 19...eg4 Opening a path for the queen. 20.dc2 This is already slow, White is still not feeling the danger of the position. [ 20.bxc6!? bxc6 21.b1 ( 21.dc2 c5 ) 21...c5 22.a4 was a much more direct approach and one possible continuation could be h5 23.xg4 xg4 24.xc6 h2+ 25.f1 f6 26.e3 h3 27.xh3 h1+ ( 27...xh3+ 28.e2 h5+ is also draw) 28.e2 xb1 29.b5 d3+ 30.e1 b1+ with a perpetual ] 20...c5! And this was probably unexpected! Black just gives the bishop on g7 to create mate threats. Now the game becomes wild! 21.xg4 Accepting the challenge, but it's a bad decision. [ 21.f3 was possible, trying to keep the
tension exf3 22.xf3 h5 23.xg7 xg7 24.bxc6 bxc6 and Black still has some pressure ] 21...xg4! 22.xg7? Following the plan, but now White is officially lost. [ 22.e3 was the last chance to survive A) 22...xe3 this is the wrong move order 23.fxe3 xc3 24.xc3 cxb5 25.f6! just giving one more pawn xc4 26.xe4! th is is t he po int , Bla ck ca n 't ta k e t h e bishop in a good way e6 ( 26...xe4 27.d3 b3 28.dxe4 xe3+ 29.f2 c5 30.g2 and the endgame has good chances to finish as a draw; 26...xe4 27.xf7+ h8 28.f4 b1+ 29.f2 and Black is helpless) 27.xe6 xe6 28.c1 xe4 29.xc8+ g7 30.c7 and White holds; B) 22...xc3! 23.xc3 cxb5 24.cxb5 xc3 25.dxc3 xe3 26.fxe3 g4 27.f2 e5 28.d1 and Black is better, but White has chances to defend ] 22...h5 23.b1 Trying to give an escape route to the king. [ 23.e1 was tricky, avoiding the idea of the game. But now the king can't run too far h2+ 24.f1 f6!! the other square, now the knight will join the attack again via h5 ( 24...e5 25.g4! f3 26.exf3 and the rook on e8 is hanging now) 25.f3 h5 26.c3 xg3+ 27.f2 h3 28.e3 f5 29.g1 ( 29.h1 g3+ 30.g1 xe3 and White's position is just sad 31.f1 xf1 32.xh3 f5 winning ) 29...g3+ 30.f1 exf3 31.xh3 xh3+ 32.e1 xe3 33.dxe3 f2+ 34.xf2 xe3+ 35.g2 xe2+ 36.h3 h5+ with mate ] 23...h2+ 24.f1 e5 [ 24...f6 is not so good now, because the king miraculously runs away 25.e3 h3 26.e1 g1+ 27.f1 xf1 28.d1! xg7 29.c2 and the position is far from clear ] 25.g4 Last trick. [ 25.e3 h3 26.e1 xg2 27.d1 xg7 and Black is just a piece up ] 25...f3! [ 25...xg4 26.xe5 attacking the queen ] 26.exf3 exf3 27.xf3 xg4 A nice end! 0-1
553
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A15 27.d3 g5!? Black plans kingside aggression Ehlvest,Jaan 2588 wi t h . . . f 4 , m a k i n g u s e o f h i s c 7 - b i s h o p . Kasparov,Garry 2838 28.hxg5 hxg5 29.a5 de8 [ 29...bxa5 30.c5 f4 is unclear. ] FIDE GP Moscow RUS (1.2) 01.06.2002 30.axb6 axb6 31.a4 e7 32.e1? [Tony Kosten] Anything but this! White simply forgets about 1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.b3!? An unusual the threat, and removes his knight from the a m a l ga m o f t h e E n g l is h a n d t h e L a rs e n control of f4. f4! O f co u rse ! 33.exf4 gxf4 g7 The black pieces spring to the Opening, White decides to take Kasparov far 34.g4 from his renowned opening preparation, but to attack! 35.f3 e8 36.c2 ge7 37.d3 no avail. e5 4.b2 e4!? Black has an a6 38.f1 h7 39.e2 d8?! 40.h2? [ 40.d4 would exchange queens when e n o r m o u s c h o i c e i n t h i s e xt r e m e l y r a r e White would have real fighting chances in position, but the World no. 1 goes for the gain the endgame. ] of space, in line with his aggressive style. 40...xh2 41.xh2 d5 42.b3 dxc4 5.xf6!? [ A fifth-move novelty! White concedes the 43.xd8+ xd8 44.xc4?! Otherwise White bishop pair to weaken the defence of e4, has lost material for nothing, but now the dark 5.c2 d5 6.f3 f5 7.h3 g6 squares come back to haunt W hite. h4+ allowed Black to bolster his strong centre in 45.g2 g3+ 46.f1 xc4+ 47.xc4 xf3+ 48.e1 f6 Smyslov, V-Kortschnoi,V/Moscow 1971. ] 5...xf6 6.c3 e5 7.g2 f5 Black is 0-1 s l ig h t ly b e h i n d i n d e ve l o p m e n t , b u t h a s managed to maintain his strong centre. 8.e3 A15 a6! Thoughtful development! The knight 562 aims for the weak d3-square. 9.ge2 c5 Frois,A 2320 10.0-0 e7 Maiorov,N1 2542 [ There is little point to occupying the d3- 29th Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (1.41) square immediately, 10...d3 11.c1 ] [John Bartholomew] 11.b1 0-0 12.d4!? White plans a tactical operation to free his position. exd3 13.d4 Nothing earth-shattering happens in this one, f6 14.a4!? but I wanted to include it to show how easily [ this leads to the recapture of the d-pawn, B l a c k m a y o b t a i n a g o o d g a m e a g a i n s t but at the cost of a weakened structure. mechanical play from White. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 14.b4?! is worse, e6 15.xe6 dxe6 b6 3.g3 b7 4.g2 g6 5.0-0 g7 6.c3 and the attack on c3 allows Black time to 0-0 7.d4 e4 8.d2 Another continuation defend his d-pawn. ] rooted in Queen's Indian play. 14...xa4 15.bxa4 b6 16.xd3 a6 [ The double-edged 8.c2 xc3 9.bxc3!? 17.fd1 g6 18.bc1 is examined in Putka, V (2321)-Wojtaszek, [ Missing a nice opportunity to justify his play, R (2710) Jurmala 2013. ] 18.b5! is strong, the knight will land on the 8...d6 Normal, but certainly not the only move! f i n e d 6 o u t p o s t a s cxb5? 19.axb5 [ Black has tried several other approaches wins back the material with interest. ] here - a true testament to his flexibility. For 18...ad8 19.b3 h8 20.h4 c5 example: 8...c5 (the most attractive, in my 21.e2?! opinion) 9.xe4 ( 9.c2 xd2 10.xd2 [ Again missing 21.b5! as cxb5? 22.cxb5 cxd4 11.xd4 xg2 12.xg2 c8 13.b3 hits queen and bishop, and otherwise the b7+ 14.g1 c6 15.xc6 dxc6 knight goes to d6. ] was at least equal for Black in Jakovljevic, 21...e5 22.c2 e7 23.c1 h6 24.d3 V ( 2 3 9 0 ) - S a r i c , I ( 2 5 4 9 ) N e u m 2 0 1 1) c7 25.b4 c8 26.cd2 White has a 9...xe4 10.c3 c6! 11.e3 d6 12.c1 h a r m o n i o u s p o s i t i o n , b u t h i s we a k e n e d e6 13.e1 c7 14.b3 ad8 Jankovic, A queenside pawns will always be a liability. f6 (2543)-Edouard, R (2646) Aix les Bains 561
554
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2012 ] [ 8...a6!? 9.xe4 xe4 10.c3 c6 11.h4 xg2 12.xg2 b5!? 13.a3?! ( it looks better to play 13.cxb5 cxb5 14.a3 ) 13...bxc4 14.a4 b6 15.xc4 d5 16.d3 e5!? 17.dxe5 c5 18.d4 e4 19.f4 xd4 20.xd4 d2 21.fd1 b3 22.ab1 c5 23.e3 d4 Grunberg, M (2414)-Horvath, J (2560) Hungary 2011 ] [ 8...e6 9.e1 ( 9.c1 d6 10.c2 xd2 11.xd2 d7 12.b3 e7 13.e4 c5 14.fd1 ad8 15.e3 a6 16.c2 b8 17.cd2 led to a protracted maneuvering struggle in Vigh, B (2370) -Csom, I (2455) Hungary 1995. Black cannot be worse here with his influential dark square bishop, and indeed c6 18.d5 d4 looks quite good for him. ) 9...xc3 10.xc3 xg2 11.xg2 d5 12.b3 c6 13.fe1 a5 14.a4 a6 15.ad1 d7 16.e3 was agreed drawn in W erle, J (2556)-Speelman, J (2518) Sunningdale 2007, ] 9.xe4 [ 9.d5 xc3 10.xc3 xc3 11.bxc3 e5 12.e4 d7 13.h3 c5 was already a bit better for Black in Linqvist, G (2037)-Li, Y Seinajoki 2008. ] [ 9.c1 is reasonable, i.e. d7 10.d5 xd2 ( 10...dc5!? ) 11.xd2 c5 12.e4 a6 13.a4 Radulov, I (2359)-Bratanov, J Mizia 2002. Here Black can play e5 14.xe5 xe5 15.f4 d4+ 16.h1 c7 with fully adequate play. ] 9...xe4 10.c1 d7 [ 10...c5!? ] 11.c3 e6 12.d2 f6 13.fd1 b7 Both sides have been content to play quietly thus far. Black experiences absolutely no problems, so his opening can be thought of as a s u c c e s s . 14.c2 e4 15.e1 f6 16.c3 e4 17.d2 a5 18.b3 e7 19.f4 a4 20.d2 xg2 21.xg2 d7 [ Interesting is 21...d5!? . ] 22.f3 f5 [ This doesn't lead to much, so maybe Black sh ou ld go f o r an ot h er p a wn b re a k wit h 22...e5 , i.e. 23.e3 axb3 24.axb3 a2 25.a1 c2 26.ac1 a2= . ] 23.c6 a7 24.e3 e5 25.dxe5 xe5 26.xe5 xe5 27.f3 [ 27.b4! offered chances for a small edge. ]
27...b2 28.d5+ h8 29.d4 a5 30.c2 xd5 31.xb2 e5 32.c2 axb3 33.axb3 a8 34.b5 e7 35.dd2! e5 36.a2 xa2 37.xa2 White is definitely for choice now, but the players soon arrive at a peaceful result. c6 38.a7 e8 39.c7 e7 40.f4 [ 40.b5 e8 41.a3 followed by Na3-c2b4 was a possible winning attempt. ] 40...b2 41.a8+ g7 42.e8+ h6 43.xd6 Drawn by agreement. [ After 43.xd6 xe3 44.c8 xb3 45.xc6 a draw would indeed by the correct result. ] ½-½
563 Hentunen,Asko Fressinet,Laurent 20th ECC Izmir TUR (1) [Tony Kosten]
A15 2354 2637 03.10.2004
1.c4 f6 2.g3 c6 3.a4!? White deters Black from an immediate ...d5, but this move i s v e r y a r t i f i c i a l . e5 The most natural, although [ 3...g6 4.g2 g7 5.e4 0-0 6.e2 e5 7.bc3 d6 leads to a Botvinnik type of position where the white queen is oddly placed, Kortchnoi,V-Bareev,E/Brussels 1992. ] [ 3...d5!? ignores White's previous move! 4.g2 ( 4.cxd5 b5 5.c2 cxd5 ) 4...e6 5.f3 bd7 6.d3 d6 and Black has a very reasonable Slav set-up, Csom,I-Guindy, E/Aarhus 1991. ] 4.g2 a6! Probably the most accurate, the knight will come to c5 with gain of tempo. [ 4...c5 is also logical, 5.c3 0-0 6.b3 a6 7.d3 d5! and Black is doing well, Csom,I-Farago,I/HUN 1993, as 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.xd5 xd5 10.xd5 b6 with a strong attack. ] 5.c3? This seems to be new, but for tactical reasons is worse than [ 5.d3 b4+ ( 5...c5 6.c3 0-0 7.f3 e8 8.0-0 Gyurkovics,M-Kiss,P/Cseppko 1997; now 5...c5 6.c2 d5 is met by 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.f3 and Black has problems defending e5) 6.d2 0-0 7.gf3 e8 555
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.0-0 d5 Black has successfully constructed a good centre, Abolianin,A-Van der Stricht, G/Westerlo BEL 2004. ] 5...c5 6.c2 d5 Natural and strong. 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.d3 d4 9.b1 e6 Black has a space advantage, a lead in development, plus strong play on the c-file. It is fair to say that W hite's opening has not been a success! 10.b4 cd7 11.d2 d5 12.a3 e7 13.f3 0-0 14.0-0 c8 15.b2 f5!? Black plays ambitiously on the kingside, but [ 15...b6 was a good alternative: 16.c1 a5 17.b5 xc1+ 18.xc1 c8 and Black's pressure on the queenside will soon bear fruit. ] 16.e4?! If White wants to play this, then why not [ 16.e3 dxe3 17.fxe3 as Black can capture on e3 en passant if he wants anyway? ] 16...fxe4 But this is even stronger. 17.dxe4 5b6 The knight aims for both c4 and a4. 18.c1 a4 19.d2 b5 20.e1 c7 21.d3 c2 White's pieces form a sad picture. 22.f4 f6 23.fxe5 xe5 24.f4 f7 25.xc2 xc2 26.d2 d3 27.d1 c4?! This wins material, although [ 27...g4 is also strong, winning a whole rook. ] 28.b3 xa1 29.xa1 a2 30.b3 cb2 31.xb2 xb2 Both rook on d1 and knight on b3 are attacked. 0-1
564 Hodgson,Julian M Efimov,Igor zt 1.1 Mondariz ESP (4) [Tony Kosten]
A15 2640 2520 06.09.2000
1.c4 f6 [ If Black wants to play a King's Indian Defence, 1...g6 might be more accurate, as W h it e co u ld n o lo n ge r play th e ga me 's system. ] 2.f3 g6 3.b4 Quite a popular method of countering the KID, which has the merit of avoiding too much theory, and a similar line was recommended by Dunnington in his 'Easy Guide to the Reti Opening'. g7 4.b2 0-0 5.g3 d6 6.g2 e5 A natural reaction, Black
closes the b2-bishop's diagonal. 7.c3 c6 [ This is more active than 7...bd7 when 8.0-0 e8 9.d3 e4 10.xe4 xe4 11.xg7 xf2?! 12.xf2 xg7 13.d2 favoured White, with his better centre, and open f-file, Plachetka,J-Adamski,J/Stary Smokovec 1974. ] 8.b5 e7 [ Perhaps 8...d4 is more active. ] 9.0-0 e6 10.d3 h6 The position resembles a main line King's English, with the exception that the white rook had not had to move to b1, to prepare b4. 11.d2 c6!? [ A new move, Black prepares ... d5, and this seems better than 11...b8 12.a4 c8 13.c2 d7 14.fc1 with a plus, Wittke,MGrigore,G/Berlin 1996. ] 12.a4 d7 13.a3 The a3-f8 diagonal is the best place for this piece. fd8 14.b1 c5 Played to control White's queenside play, but n o w t h e d 5 - s q u a r e i s w e a k e n e d . 15.e4! The touch of a strong player! White closes the g2-bishop's diagonal, but only to better open it later. h7 16.d5 f5?! [ Black mechanically 'attacks' on the kingside. 16...xd5 17.cxd5 h3 leaves Black with the lesser bishop, and hands the d2-knight the c4-square. ] 17.b6 a6?! [ 17...xd5 18.cxd5 axb6 19.b5 a5!? might be a better try. ] 18.exf5 See the note to move fifteen. gxf5 [ 18...xf5 allows White control of both d5, and e4. ] 19.c7 ab8 20.f4! Thematic, the f5-pawn is fixed, and will be a target. f7 21.fxe5 xe5 [ 21...dxe5 22.xc5 g6 is hardly an improvement. ] 22.f3 Seemingly out of nothing White's position has grown, and grown. g7 23.d4! White is in no mood to concede the initiative, and piles-on the pressure. xc4 24.e1 cxd4 [ 24...g5 25.dxc5 dxc5 26.xd7 xf3+ 27.xf3 xd7 28.xc5 g6 is unpleasant for Black, because of the b7-pawn, but might offer some defensive possibilities. ] 25.c1 f7 26.e6! Another blow, freeing the c7-square for the rook. c6?! [ It is probably better to sacrifice the queen imme dia tely b y 26...xe6 27.c7 c6 556
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28.xd7 xd7 29.xd6 bc8 although White is clearly on top. ] 27.xg7 xg7 28.xd4 f6 29.xc6 bxc6 30.e7! [ 30.e7 xe7 31.xf5+ wins the queen. ] 1-0
xa1 10.xa1 c6?! 11.b5 e7 12.c3 with a plus, Black has yet to use c5, Smyslov,V-Jimenez Zerquera,E/Havana 1964. ] 8...bd7 9.c3 [ 9.d4 is considered in Sulskis,S-Afek,Y [A15]. ] 9...c5 10.d4 This is to the point now that 565 A15 Black cannot contest the knight on d4, even Hoffmann,Michael 2450 though it temporarily cedes control of c5. [ 10.d3 e8 11.d2 h5!? led to interesting Wemmers,Xander 2350 play in Fuller,M-Plachetka,J/Copenhagen chT, NED Hengelo (4) 2000 1980. ] [Tony Kosten] 10...exd4 11.xd4 g4!? The knight heads for the other dark square weakened by 1.f3 f6 2.g3 [ 2.c4 g6 3.b4 is a different move-order that White's tenth move, e5, where it will attack is preferred by many good players, as White the backward c4-pawn. 12.d5 e5 13.c2 keeps his kingside options open (he can c6!? Black elects to play actively, but it is also play e3 and d4, instead of g3, say) and has loosening. 14.bxc6 [ 14.e3 e8 15.ad1 May be more an even greater queenside presence. See precise - White can capture on c6 when he the Sulskis - Afek game for this. ] likes. ] 2...g6 3.b4 g7 4.b2 d6 [ 4...c6!? is interesting: 5.g2 a5 6.bxa5!? 14...bxc6 15.e3 e8 16.ad1 f5? [ Ugh! 16...b8 is safer. ] ( 6.a3 is possibly better, with a likely t ra n s p o s it io n t o t h e Na rs isco Du b la n - 17.b5! Winning material. b8? [ Black should try the exchange sac 17...cxb5 Pedersen game) 6...xa5 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 18.xa8 e6 19.d5 b4 although 20.f4 d6 9.c4 a6 10.a4 h5 11.bd2 h3 clearly favours White. ] 12.c2 c5 and this is fine for Black, his pressure on the a-pawn is more important 18.xd6 e6 19.a3 To add insult to injury, than White's potential play along the b-file, B l a c k h a s a l s o l o s t t h e u s e o f c 5 ! cd7 Its non-stop fun for W hite! h8 and the c5-knight is strong, Campora,D- 20.d5! 21.f4 f6 22.xc8?! Moreno,J/Malaga ESP 1999. ] [ 22.e4! is crushing. ] 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e5 Black gains a foothold in 23.e4 fxe4 24.xe4 f7 the centre, and erects a dark-squared pawn 22...fxc8 Black is almost back in the game! 25.c1 e8 chain to stymie the white b2-bishop. 7.c4 T h i s m o v e i s t h e m o s t n a t u r a l , w i t h a 26.fd1 h6?! Probably Black should only try t r a n s p o s i t i o n t o t h e E n g l i s h , a l t h o u g h this after having removed his king from the a1-h8 diagonal. 27.d6 b7 28.c3 g8 Dunnington prefers the line [ 28...xf4? loses to 29.gxf4 xf4 [ 7.d3 keeping W hite's options open, c6 30.xc6 ] 8.bd2 e8 9.e4!? a5 ( 9...bd7 10.c4 A terrible move! Why not something c5 11.a3 and White can prepare f4, 29.b1? Hickman, J-Lappage,J/Jersey Open, St like [ 29.e1 with a masked pin on the e-file, Helier JCI 2000.) 10.a3 axb4 11.axb4 xf4? wi l l a g a i n l o s e : 30.gxf4 xf4 xa1 12.xa1 a6 13.a3 but this 31.xc6 ] doesn't look like too much for White, Marin, 29...xb1 30.xb1 xf4 31.gxf4 xc4 M-Georgiev,V/Andorra 1997. ] 7...a5 8.b5 Gaining space at the expense of Attacking both of White's once-proud bishops. 32.xc6 the c5-square. Otherwise: [ 32.e5 cxe5 33.fxe5 xe5 34.xc6 ] [ 8.a3 axb4 ( 8...h5 9.c3 f5 10.d3 with typical Closed English play, Taimanov, 32...xd6 33.d1 e4?! [ Better 33...e6 34.d5 f8 ] M-Jansa,V/Marianske Lazne 1962) 9.axb4 557
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 34.b3 xb3 35.axb3 White wins a knight back. ec5 36.xd7 d8 37.d5?? [ How to explain White missing the obvious, and forced, move 37.g4 , drawing? It can only be very severe time pressure. ] 37...xd7 38.f5 g5 Presumably White lost on time, as he can still capture the a-pawn and continue. 0-1
566 Kosten,Anthony C Jones 4NCL Telford ENG (5) [Tony Kosten]
A15 2545 2063 08.03.2003
A banal queen sacrifice? Yes, it does exist as in the following game I obtained more than enough pieces for the lady. 1.c4 f6 2.f3 g6 3.b4!? An 'anti-KID' system that I have looked at a couple of times. g7 4.b2 0-0 5.g3 d6 6.g2 e5 7.0-0 e8 A standard move, but we had only really considered [ 7...a5 8.b5 before, where Black can plant a knight on c5. ] 8.d3 bd7 [ 8...a5 is still possible, and might be best: 9.b5 bd7 10.fd2!? c5 11.c3 leading to a quick draw in Speelman,J-Nataf, I/Mondariz ESP 2000. ] 9.bd2!? An unusual square for this knight in the English, as White normally likes to gain further control of d5, but I wanted to keep the b2-bishop's diagonal unencumbered. [ 9.c3 c6 10.c1 f8 11.b5 led to typical Closed English play in Chistiakova,T-Huang Qian/Heraklio GRE 2002. ] 9...f8!? I was more concerned about [ 9...c6 to play ...d5, 10.a3 Lupu,M-Sykora, R/Prague 1989, d5!? ] 10.c2 A new move, previously White preferred [ 10.b3 to control d5, h5!? 11.h4!? 8h7 12.ac1 b8 13.c5! dxc5?! 14.xe5 wi t h a d v a n t a g e , K r e u za h l e r , M - L a u , M / Jedesheim 1991. ] 10...e6 11.e3 d7!? Black plans to get his kingside pawns rolling, but this neglects the centre. 12.d4 f5 13.dxe5 Black's kingside demonstration is countered in the centre.
dxe5 14.e4! I didn't want Black to play ...e4, with some space. f4 15.c5 Nc4xe5 is on the cards, White cannot allow Black to play ...g5g 4 u n o p p o s e d . g5 16.h3 h8?! Bla ck a vo ids a p in , but run s int o trou ble elsewhere. [ 16...h5 is no particular problem, 17.xe6+!? ( or 17.f5 g4 18.h4 ) 17...xe6 18.b3 e7 ( 18...f7? 19.h4! gxh4 20.gxf4 e7 21.g5 leaves Black in all sorts of trouble) 19.c6!? bxc6 20.xg5 c5 (forced) 21.bxc5 xg5 22.f3 g6 23.xe5 and White should win this. ] 17.c6! I felt that this move was a bit greedy and 'computer-like', but strong all the same. bxc6 18.xc6 Forking a8 and e6. b8 [ 18...b6 19.xe5 xe5 20.xe5 is also hopeless. ] 19.xe6 b6 20.xd7 Of course, White gets t o o m a n y p i e c e s f o r t h e q u e e n . xc6 21.xc6 e6 I was originally worried about [ 21...g4 but then I saw a simple win with 22.xe8 gxf3 23.h5 as xd2 loses to 24.ad1 xb2 25.d8+ f8 26.xf8+ g7 27.xc8 when White has a material plus, and there is no problem on g2 as the f3-pawn can always be captured. ] 22.d5 g4 After [ 22...e8 23.c4 e6 24.ad1 xd5 25.xd5 e7 26.a3 White has complete control and can capture e5 when he wants. ] 23.xe6! Simplest. xe6 24.fd1! The point, returning a piece to keep Black's counterplay to a minimum. gxf3 25.xf3 e8 26.xe5 fxg3 27.hxg3 [ After 27.hxg3 Black resigned, as he saw that White menaces to play Rac1xc7, and Black's only attempt at counterplay, h3?! l o s e s o n t h e s p o t t o 28.d8 xd8 29.f7+ ] 1-0
567 Putka,V Wojtaszek,R Vladimir Petrov Memorial (1.5) [John Bartholomew]
A15 2321 2710 15.02.2013
This game and Frois-Maiorov might more properly be classified in the "Daring 558
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Defences" section, but the play is so decidedly flank-oriented that I couldn't resist including them here (also, there seems to be no existing information on this line over in the "Daring" archives). 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 b7 4.g2 g6 I have to admit that I knew nothing of the existence of this system until a month or two ago. Thus, I was surprised to learn that many Grandmasters have been giving it a try of late! Essentially, Black is aiming for a super-flexible Double Fianchetto by holding off on any pawn advance in the center. It's an unabashedly hypermodern approach, and it's been seen since at least the early 1920s. As you can imagine, theory is chaotic at best in this line (and co m pa riso n s t o va rio u s I n dia n d e f en se s abound), so I'll use these games primarily to acquaint you with the themes. [ 4...e6 ] [ or 4...c5 would lead us to well-trodden territory, of course. ] 5.d4 g7 6.0-0 0-0 7.c3 [ White faces a Queen's Indian-like dilemma: should he play Nb1-c3 and allow Black's next, or delay it in favor of 7.e1 ] [ or 7.c2 ? ] [ Challenging is 7.d5!? , shutting the lightsquare bishop out of play. This has been t h e c h o i c e o f t o p p la ye rs l ik e G i ri a n d Grischuk: A) 7...e4 8.c2 f5 9.f4!? c6 10.fd2 f6 ( 10...cxd5! 11.cxd5 xd5 12.xe4 fxe4 13.xe4 xe4 14.xe4 d5 15.e6+ f7 16.c3 xc3! 17.bxc3 d7 ) 11.c3 h5 12.g5 h6 13.e3 e5 14.dxe6 dxe6 15.c5 d7 16.c4 xc5 17.xc5 bxc5 18.a4 Grischuk, A (2746)-Feller, S (2666) Khanty-Mansiysk 2011; B) 7...e6 8.c3 exd5 9.cxd5 e8 10.e1 c6 11.e4 ( 11.d6!? ) 11...d6 12.f4 cxd5 13.exd5 xe1+ 14.xe1 a6 15.d4 d7 16.d1 c7= Giri, A (2730)-Rodshtein, M (2616) Eilat 2012. ] 7...e4 In accordance with hypermodern principles, of course! 8.c2 [ More popular is 8.xe4 xe4 , i.e. 9.e3 ( 9.d2?! d5! 10.cxd5 xd5 11.b3 c5 12.b2 Malakhov, V (2682)-Taboas
Rodriguez, D (2296) Benidorm 2006 here d8 puts White under pressure; 9.d5!? a6 10.h3 (a common idea, White wants to move the knight and play e2-e4 without a l lo wi n g a n e xch a n g e o f b i sh o p s ) xf3 11.exf3 e6 12.b1 c6 13.f4 cxd5 14.cxd5 c8 15.e1 e8 16.d6 c7 17.dxe6 dxe6 18.f4 d5= Feller, S (2666)Vachier Lagrave, M (2722) Caen 201 1) 9...c5 ( 9...d6; and 9...d5 have also been played, while; 9...c6!? deserves attention) 10.d2 d6 11.h6 d7 12.fd1 f6 13.ac1 c7 14.b3 cxd4 15.xd4 xg2 16.xg2 b7+ 17.f3 fc8 18.e4 a6 19.a4 c5 20.xg7 xg7 21.c2 d7 22.dc1 g8 23.h4 ac8 24.b4 e5 25.b1 a8 26.b5 ec5 27.c6 8xc6 28.bxc6 xc6 29.b4 h5 30.b3 g7 31.f2 f6 32.g2 e5 33.bc1 h7 34.c3 h8 35.3c2 g7 36.c3 a5 37.a1 c5 1/2-1/2 (37) Radjabov, T (2788)-Kramnik, V (2797) Istanbul 2012 ] [ I examine 8.d2 in Frois, A (2320)-Maiorov, N (2542) Cappelle la Grande 2013. ] 8...xc3 9.bxc3!? A double-edged but possibly wrong decision. [ 9.xc3 c5 has held up well for Black, though: 10.e3 d6 ( 10...xf3!? 11.xf3 c6 ) 11.fd1 d7 12.d2 cxd4 13.xd4 f6 14.e1 c7 (Black has a more than acceptable Double Fianchetto) 15.b3 fd8 16.ac1 d7 17.d3 ac8= Trella, T (2 4 0 4 ) - Ma i o r o v, N ( 2 5 4 1 ) M i l a n 2 0 1 2 . Maiorov is a proponent of this line for Black, so interested readers may want to have a look at his games. ] 9...c6! I like this simple move a lot. W ojtaszek is showing his tremendous versatility. [ It's entirely possible for Black to proceed in standard fashion with 9...d6 10.e4 d7 , but the Polish Grandmaster sees no reason to define the central structure just yet. ] 10.b1 This doesn't look too useful. [ On 10.e4 Black would likely have continued with a5 11.d3 a6 12.d2 c5! re a c h in g a p o sit io n re m in isc e n t o f t h e Samisch variation of the Nimzo-Indian. ] [ Bu Xiangzhi recently tried to improve White's play, but Black was hanging tough: 559
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.d2 c8 ( or 10...a5 ) 11.e4 a5 12.e1 d6 13.f1 c5 14.d5 e5?! ( perhaps Black shouldn't rush this move, i. e. 14...a6!? 15.f4 d7 16.d3 ae8 with play similar to our main game) 15.b3 xb3 16.axb3 a5 17.f4 exf4 18.xf4 c7 19.d2 ae8 20.d3 c8= Bu Xiangzhi (2675)-Kjartansson, G (2430) Reykjavik 2013. ] 10...a5 11.d2 xg2 12.xg2 d6 13.e4 c5 14.d5 d7 15.f4 ae8 Black is fully co o rd in a t ed a n d e xtre m e ly com f o rt a b le . W hite doesn't have much to show f or his structural deficiency. 16.f3?! e6 Now watch W o j t a s z e k g o t o wo r k ! 17.dxe6 xe6 18.d3 f5! The game is opening in Black's favor. 19.exf5 xf5 20.f2 d5! Continuing to hammer White in the center. 21.g4 f7 22.f5 dxc4 23.f3 e3?! A small misstep that White fails to notice. [ Easier was 23...gxf5 24.gxf5 e5 25.b2 ef8 . ] 24.xe3 xe3 25.xc4?? Equivalent to resignation. [ 25.b3! would have given Black some problems, i.e. xc3 26.xa5 bxa5 27.f6! f8 ( the pawn is immune in view of 27...xf6 28.b8+ g7 29.b2 ) 28.b2 d3 29.c1 . ] 25...xc4 26.xe3 xe3+ 27.f3 c4 28.e4 gxf5+ 29.gxf5 d6+ 30.d5 xf5+- It's over. 31.e2 xc3 32.e8+ g7 33.g1+ h6 34.e6 f6+ 35.d5 d4 36.b1 e3+ 37.e4 c4 38.d3 d6 39.e7 f3+ 40.e2 f2+ 41.d3 c4+ W hit e resigne d. The re was quite a large rating mismatch in this game, but Wojtaszek's handling of this unexplored line was nearly textbook. Réti and Nimzowitsch would be proud! 0-1
against Black's King's Indian style set-up and have often played something similar in my own games (1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.b4). White takes space on the queenside and this often leads to an undermining of any centre Black tries to set up. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.b4 g7 4.b2 0-0 5.g3 b6 6.g2 b7 7.0-0 d6 8.d3 bd7 9.bd2 e5 [ Black can also consider 9...c5 but after 10.a3 White's space gives him slightly the better chances. ] 10.c2 e8 11.fd1 [ A n o t h e r p l a n w o u l d b e t o p l a y 11.e4 with the aim of preparing f2-f4. This would probably have been my preference in fact. ] 11...a5 12.a3 h6 13.f1 c5 [ 13...e4 14.dxe4 xe4 would have been fine for Black, though perhaps Capablanca wa s co n ce rn e d t h a t t h e p o sit io n m igh t become drawish. ] 14.b5?! White should not close the queenside like this. [ 14.e3 looks like a much better idea, keeping open possibilities of play along the b-file. ] 14...f8 15.e3 c7 16.d4 e4 17.c3 exd4 18.exd4 6d7 [ 18...e6 looks like a superior alternative. After 19.d2 cxd4 20.xd4 xg2 21.xg2 b7+ 22.f3 Black can play ( 22.c6 d8 ) 22...e4! 23.fxe4 xd4 24.xd4 xe4 etc. ] 19.d2 cxd4 20.xd4 xc4 21.xg7 xg7 22.b2+ g8 23.xd6 c5?! Leaving the queen exposed. [ 23...c7 would have been better. ] 24.ad1 a7 [ And here 24...e7 was better. ] 25.e3 h5? This could have lost on the spot. [ 25...c7 was better. ] 26.d4?! [ Missing an even stronger move in 26.1d5! 568 A15 xd5 27.g4 xf3 28.gxh5 xh5 29.c6 etc. ] Reti,Richard 26...xg2 27.xg2 e5?! Capablanca,Jose Raul [ 27...xe3 28.fxe3 xd1?? loses to New York (5) 22.03.1924 29.f5! , threatening both mate on g7 and [Nigel Davies] Black's queen. But 27...Rxe3 might have been a better chance in conjunction with 28... A famous game in which Reti put his opening Ne5. ] on the map. I quite like this method of play 560
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28.c4 c5 29.c6 c7 30.e3 e5? [ 30...xe3 was the last chance to keep fighting. ] 31.1d5 [ 31.1d5 c4 32.xc5 xb2 33.c2 threatening both the knight on b2 and 34. Nd5 is deadly. It rather looked as if both players were affected by nerves in this game, and certainly Capablanca looked far from at ease when facing Reti's indirect opening. ] 1-0
569 Sulskis,Sarunas Afek,Yochanan Open Lisboa POR (6) [Tony Kosten]
A15 2573 2381 26.08.2001
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.b4 g7 4.b2 0-0 This is by far the most common line here, Black simply completes development. [ The quick attack on the queenside is less effective here than when W hite has preferred g3 to c4: 4...c6!? 5.e3 d5 6.h3 0-0 7.a3!? b6 8.c3 e4 9.xg7 xg7 10.b1 White has the more comfortable position, Speelman, J-Gormally, D/Birmingham ENG 2000. ] 5.g3 [ T h i s i s a g o o d a p p r o a c h , b u t 5.e3 is preferred by many, continuing with d4. ] 5...d6 6.g2 e5 7.0-0 [ 7.d3 or ] [ 7.c3 are more common, when play resembles a Closed King's English line, a fine example is the Hodgson - Efimov game, also in [A15], but with the text White keeps the possibility of playing d4 on the cards. ] 7...a5 This is very common in such positions, when although Black allows White even more space on the queenside, he weakens White's hold on the dark squares, in particular c5, which provides a useful resting place for a black knight. 8.b5 [ For 8.a3 see the notes to Hoffmann Wemmers. ] 8...bd7 9.d4!? An interesting idea, White permanently concedes pawn control of c5, but gains space. [ 9.c3 with similar play, is seen in
Hoffmann - Wemmers. ] 9...exd4 10.xd4!? A novelty, keeping an eye on c5. [ 10.xd4 was also successful in Barcza, GHecht,H/Hamburg 1965 and may be stronger, e8 11.c2 c5 12.c3 e6?! Black lacks space for his minor pieces, but this loses control of c5, with serious consequences, 13.xe6 fxe6 ( 13...xe6? 14.xb7 ) 14.c5! with advantage, as dxc5?! would be countered by 15.a4 ] 10...e8 11.bd2 Another piece in the puzzle, as by playing the knight here, instead of to c3, White can play a later Nb3 to further contest a black knight on c5. c5 12.c1 f5 13.e1 A key position, Black has developed his minor pieces and has control of e4, how to proceed? fe4 [ 13...a4!? ] 14.xg7 xg7 15.d4 d7 16.e3 f5!? [ Black wants to keep a hold on e4, 16...xd2 17.xd2 a4 would maintain the knight on c5, and exchange a pair of pieces, but 18.e4 and f4 enhances White's space advantage. ] 17.2b3 The time has come to discuss the c5square. xb3 18.xb3 b6!? A very doubleedged move, defending a5, but weakening the h1-a8 diagonal. 19.f3 f6 20.d4 e7 21.f4 ad8 22.d2 White menaces the move e4, and Black must unpin his knight, but whe re sho uld he put th e king? h6?! Very doubtful, [ 22...g8 m u s t b e r i g h t , 23.e4 fxe4 24.xe4 xe4 25.xe4 (threatening a killer check on d5) g7 26.d5+ h8 is quite playable. ] 23.e4 fxe4 24.h3! With the simple idea of playing g4-5 when the black king proves to be b a d l y m i s p l a c e d . e3 25.g4 xg4! The only try, as [ 25...g5 is met by 26.c3! gxf4 27.xf4+ g7 28.cxe3 f7 29.g5 h5 30.d4+ ] 26.hxg4 xg4 27.f3 f8?! [ I think I would prefer 27...e4 and try my chances in the endgame. ] 28.g5?! [ 28.h2! xh2 29.xe3 f6 30.xf6 xf6 31.xh2 xf4 32.e7 is strong. ] 28...f6? [ Again, 28...f6! forcing the exchange of 561
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 queens, when the black king is safer. ] 29.c3 [ 29.e2! ] 29...df8? [ B l a c k m i s s e s t h e t h r e a t , 29...e8 was the best chance. ] 30.cxe3! xe3 31.xe3 Attacking the q u e e n , a n d t h r e a t e n i n g R h 3 + x h 7 . xf4 Forced. 32.xf4 xf4 33.xe7 xg5 34.xc7 The rest is trivial. h5 35.c6 h4 36.xb6 xc4 37.xd6 c1+ 38.h2 g5 39.b6 g4 40.d3 There was a threat of matein-one to deal with! b1 41.b7 a4 42.b3! Interference! 1-0
570 Agopov,Mikael Elsness,Frode 18th European Teams (6.16) [John Bartholomew]
A16 2450 2506 08.11.2011
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c2!? It's remarkable, but this unpretentious queen move was a novelty when Topalov played it in May. Since then I count 38 total games with 5.Qc2 with White scoring a robust 68% (+14, =15, -5). It's too early to say whether this move is any better than the more established lines (5.Qa4+, 5. Qb3, 5.e4, 5.g3, even 5.h4!?), as much of its su c c e s s c a n be co rrela t e d wit h th e h igh caliber of its handlers (>2500 FIDE average for White). Still, it's clear that 5.Qc2 is useful (mainly because White reveals little about his intentions!), and sets Black some unique problems that deserve our investigation. c6 This move has been gaining steam since the source game. [ Check the archives for 5...g7 6.e4 A) 6...b4 7.a4+ 4c6 This retreat looks a little extravagant to me. ( 7...8c6 8.d4 d7 transposes to the game.) 8.d4 d7 9.b5 0-0 A1) 10.e3 a6 11.d5 e5 12.xe5 xe5?! ( 12...xb5 13.xb5 xe5! ) 13.xd7 xd7 14.b3 b6 15.0-0 a5 16.f4 g7 17.ac1 a4 18.c4 a5 19.fd1 a6 20.e5 Mareco, S (2597)Hunt, A (2437)/Livigno ITA 2011.;
A2) 10.d5!? e5 11.xe5 xe5 12.0-0 c6 13.dxc6 xc6 14.d1 a6 15.xc6 bxc6 16.e3 c7 17.h3 ab8 Rozum, I (2464)-Smikovski, I (2541)/St Petersburg RUS 2011. Now 18.ac1! seems good because xb2?! 19.a3! works out well for White, e.g. b7 ( 19...xc3 20.xc3 ) 20.d5; B) 6...xc3 7.dxc3 should favor White. B1) 7...d7 8.h4!? ( 8.g5!? ) 8...h6?! 9.e3 c6 10.h5 g5 11.0-0-0 c7 12.d4 e5 13.f3 d7 looked a little su s p e c t f o r B l a c k i n L e n d e r m a n , A (2525)-Sedlak, N (2580)/Amsterdam NED 2011. 14.f5!?; B2) 7...0-0 B2a) 8.e3 b6?! 9.h4!? ( 9.d1 ) 9...g4 10.h2 e6 11.h5 c5 12.hxg6 hxg6 13.f4 Bitalzadeh, A (2409)-Cigan, S (2343)/Rogaska Slatina SLO 2011. ( 13.f3 ); B2b) 8.f4 c6 ( 8...c5 9.e2 c6 10.h3 a5 11.0-0 b5 12.a3 d8 13.e3 c4 14.a4! Plischki, S (2332) Seidl, S (2090)/ Teplice CZE 2011.) 9.h3 d7 10.e2 e5 11.e3 e7 12.0-0 Malakhatko, V (2543)-Kanter, E (2406)/St Petersburg RUS 2011.; C) 6...b6 , Topalov, V (2775)-Kamsky, G (2732)/Kazan RUS 2011/[Nigel Davies]. Other recent developments: ] 6.d4 [ A couple of players have experimented with 6.e4 db4 7.b1 , but g4! appears to be a convincing answer. ( 7...d4?! 8.xd4 xd4 9.a3 c6 10.d5 e5 11.d4! Nisipeanu, L (2659)-Atakisi, U (2370)/Konya TUR 2011. ) 8.a3 xf3 9.gxf3 ( 9.axb4 g4 is no problem for Black.) 9...a6 10.b5 g7 11.d3 ab8!? ( T h e r e ' s n o t h i n g w r o n g w i t h 11...c5 12.e3 d6 ) 12.e3 a6 13.c4 e6 14.f4 d4 15.d1 h4! Emphasizing Black's dark-squared control. 16.xd4 xd4 17.f3 c6 18.c1?! g5! Cabrera, A (2530) -Asis Gargatagli, H (2431)/Sitges ESP 2011. ] 6...g7 This is risky. [ Alarmingly, the creative resources in the line 6...db4 7.a4 d7 8.d1 e5! may h ave alrea dy b een exhau sted in a 562
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 matter of months! The current conclusion is that Black is doing quite well - thus, I would definitely recommend 6...Nbd4 over the text. Observe: ( Too routine is 8...g4?! 9.a3 d5 10.e4 xc3 11.bxc3 g7 12.b1 b8 13.e2 0-0 14.0-0 Kamberi, S (2283)-Bagi, M (2309)/Budapest HUN 2011. ) A) 9.a3 exd4 appears entirely acceptable f o r B l a c k : 10.b5 ( 10.axb4 dxc3 11.bxc3 g7 12.d2 0-0 Alekseev, E (2673)-Kurnosov, I (2633) /Taganrog RUS 2011. ) 10...a6 11.bxd4?! ( 11.g5! ) 11...xd4 12.xd4 c6 13.f3 e6 14.xd8+ xd8 15.g5 e7 16.xe7 xe7 with even slightly slightly better chances. Dorfman, I (2578)-Vachier Lagrave, M (2722)/Caen FRA 2011.; B) 9.dxe5 f5 10.g5 e7 11.e4 g4 12.xe7 xe7 13.a3 xf3 14.gxf3 d8 15.a4 d3+ 16.xd3 xd3 17.b5 xf3 18.xb7 d8 19.b4 xe5 20.d1 c6 21.0-0 e6 22.d6 xd6 23.xd6 0-0 Up till here both players had f o l l o w e d H o u d i n i ' s m a i n l i n e ! 24.g2 ( H o u d i n i s l i g h t l y p r e f e r s 24.fd1 , though probably Sutovsky had things figured out even here.) 24...d3 25.xd3 f4+ 26.f3 xd3= Vorobiov, E (2574)Sutovsky, E (2700)/Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2011. Kind of depressing, but it's a dogeat-dog chess world we live in today. If yo u d o n 't wo rk o u t t h e se s h a rp li n e s conclusively, your next opponent just might! ] 7.e4 db4 [ 7...xc3 is rather accommodating. 8.bxc3 0-0 9.h4!? Sambuev, B (2513) -Kleinman, M ( 2 1 9 5 ) / G u e l p h C A N 2 0 1 1 . ( 9.e2 Loncar, R (2385)-Debevec, B (2084)/Sentjur SLO 2011. )] 8.a4 [ The text has already been played three t i m e s , b u t 8.b3N merits investigation. xd4 ( Maybe White players are scared of 8...g4 , but 9.d5! xf3 10.dxc6 is st ron g.) 9.c4 0-0 and now 10.h6 makes much more sense because a5?? 11.xb4 c5 12.a4 is just winning for White. ] 8...d7 9.b3 xd4 Principled.
[ 9...e5 10.d5 d4 11.xd4 exd4 12.xb4 dxc3 13.bxc3 Khusnutdinov, R (2508) -Kozganbayev, E (2271)/Astana KAZ 2011. ] 10.c4?! [ 10.d5! is stronger, as Le Quang Liem demonstrated against Navara. A) 10...e6 11.c4 A1) 11...a5! is the only move. This might n o t b e s o b a d a f t e r 12.xb4 axb4 13.xe6 fxe6 b e c a u s e o f 14.xe6 ( 14.h6; or 14.0-0 ) 14...d6; A2) 11...b5?? 12.xb4 ( or 12.xb5 0-0 13.xc6 xc6 14.c4+- ) 12...a5 13.xb5+ 1-0 De Verdier, M (2359)Massoni, M (2294)/Krakow POL 2011.; B) 10...xd5 11.exd5 a5 12.a3 b6? ( 12...c5 ) 13.b4+- Gu, C (2209)Matlin, A (1989)/ICC INT 2011.; C) 10...a5 A couple disasters have been witnessed at lower levels in this very sharp line: 11.a3 a6 12.xd4 ( 12.xb7!? ) 12...xd4 13.c3 e5 ( 13...c5 14.e3 isn't pleasant either.) 14.xa6 c6 15.xb7 b8 16.e3 xb7 17.xd4 cxd5 18.xe5 0-0 19.0-0 dxe4 20.fd1 c8 21.e3 a4 22.d6 Le Quang Liem (2687)-Navara, D (2702)/Havana CUB 2011. Black has to show an improvement against 10.Nd5 (the closest thing I can see is 10...Be6 11.Bc4 a5), otherwise 6...Nbd4 should be preferred. ] 10...0-0 11.h6? White's game goes downhill fast after this error. [ 11.0-0 is best, but Black certainly isn't worse in the play after a5!? 12.xf7+ ( or 12.xb4 c5 13.xf7+ xf7 , transposing.) 12...xf7 13.xb4 c5 14.a3 b5! ] 11...a5! Powerful and unexpected. 12.xb4 c5 13.xf7+ [ 13.a3 xc4 14.b3 a5 15.c2 e8 ] 13...xf7 14.a3 b5! Black doesn't let up. 15.e2? Already teetering on the brink, White falters. [ 15.d1 is t h e o n ly m o ve . A f t e r c4 16.d3 a5+ 17.d2 xd2 18.xd2 xd2+ 19.xd2 af8 Black enjoys a pretty sizable advantage with the pair of bishops. ] 15...c4 16.b3 563
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 16.d3 a5+ 17.f1 xb2-+ ] 16...a5+ 17.c3 xb2-+ Winning further m a t e ria l. W h it e f la i ls h o p e le s sly f o r t h e r e m a i n d e r o f t h e g a m e . 18.0-0 xc3 19.ac1 b4 20.d5 d8 21.g5 e6 0-1
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A16
Anti Grunfeld Overview [Jonathan Rowson] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 [ 4.a4+ d7 ( 4...c6 5.d4! Appears to be somewhat better for White, for instance after d7 6.cxd5 xd5 7.xd5 xd5 8.xc6 xc6 9.xc6+ bxc6 And although Black managed to draw in Kramnik, V (2759)-Kamsky, G (2725)/Nice FRA 2009. White must be somewhat better. Here I like 10.b1!? intending a quick b3 and Bb2.) 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 A) 6...c6 Is a major alternative and does quite well for Black. However, personally I do not have full confidence in the mainline in which White gets three pieces for the queen. 7.d4 ( 7.e4 e5! is th e id e a) 7...g7 8.e4 0-0 9.e5 ( 9.h3!?; 9.e2; 9.e3 ) 9...e6 10.exf6 xc4 11.fxg7 xg7 12.xc4 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.e2 Black is probably ok here, but I would much prefer to be W hite, if only because I have more pieces to move. b4 15.0-0 fd8 16.b1!? Many previous games went ( 16.a3 b3 17.d1 c4 18.e2 with a repetition.) 16...d7 17.b3 g8 18.a4 ad8 19.a3 e4 20.e3 b6 21.c3 e5 22.bc1 d2 23.fe1 c5 24.c4 2d3 25.h6 h5 26.xd3 xh6 27.c4 e6 28.a4 d2 29.e4 d4 30.c3 f4 31.f3 b8 32.g5 f5 33.xe6 xc4 34.bxc4 d6 35.h4 d2 36.fe3 c2 37.g5 xc4 38.e8+ g7 39.1e7+ f6 40.xh7# 1-0 Nakamura, H (2648)-Mikhalevski, V (2584)/Bastia FRA 2007; B) 6...a6 B1) 7.e4 b5 8.e2 c5 appears to be fine for Black. ( 8...c8!? I am still fond of my extravagant novelty, but nobody
seems to have taken it seriously. ); B2) 7.d4 b5 ( 7...e6 8.d3 appears to be better for White.) 8.b3 c5! 9.dxc5 And now there are lots of move-order wrinkles that I haven't fully got my head around, but Black either plays Bc6 to attack e4 or goes for quick development with a combination of Nc6 and Be6 and possibly b4 or Nb4. The highest level example is the following, where Black was at least ok at the end. g7 10.e4 0-0 11.e2 c6 12.e5 fd7 13.e3 xe5 14.xe5 xe5 15.d1 a5 16.0-0 e6 17.f4 g7 18.a3 c7 19.c2 b4 20.axb4 b7 21.d6 xb4 22.fd1 a7 23.1d2 d7 24.xd7 xd7 25.d6 b7 26.d2 f6 27.f1 b8 28.d8+ f8 29.xb8 1/2-1/2 Topalov, V (2783)Svidler, P (2728)/ Morelia/Linares MEX/ ESP 2007 ] 4...xd5 5.a4+ [ 5.h4 Not a bad move, but not as good as those who play it feel it is when they release their h-pawn with a flick of the wrist. g7 ( 5...h6!? intending to keep the kingside closed with g5 after h5, is also very playable. ) 6.h5 xc3 7.bxc3 c5 8.a4+ d7 9.h4 f6 10.f4 f5 11.g3 g5 12.e3 c6 13.g2 d7 14.h6 c8 15.0-0 g8 16.e1 b6 17.d3 g6 18.a4 a5 19.e5 xe5 20.xe5 xh6 21.d3 c6 22.f5 d8 23.xc6+ xc6 24.a5 xa5 25.xa5 bxa5 26.e3 c6 27.b1 g6 28.c4 h6 29.f3 e6 30.xc5 h3 31.b5+ f8 32.f2 e6 33.g1 f6 34.b1 f5 35.c1 a4 36.h1 g8 37.d4 c6 38.c5 a6 39.g4 d5 40.c2 f7 41.xh7 xh7 42.c4+ f7 43.xa6 b3 44.c6 e6 45.c7 xa6 46.cxd8+ f7 47.d5 b5 48.d6 exd6 49.xd6 1-0 Aronian, L (2750)-Kamsky, G (2725)/Nice FRA 2009 ] [ 5.b3 is likely to transpose to the Qa4+ and Qb3 lines, but gives Black extra options because the bishop is not on d7 blocking the d-file, which sometimes makes it easier to attack the d-pawn. ] [ 5.e4 xc3 6.dxc3 was, for a brief time, t h o u gh t t o b e a p la u sib l e t r y f o r a t in y endgame advantage, but it seems Black can 564
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.b2 b8 18.c3 c5 19.e4 axb3 retain equality(at least) in lots of ways, the 20.axb3 a3 21.c2 b4 22.d2 b6 following being the game I remember most 23.a1 ba6 24.xa3 xa3 25.c3 d7 vividly. xd1+ 7.xd1 d7 8.f4 c6 26.d1 c6 27.d8 a8 28.xa8 xa8 9.c2 f6 10.d2 e5 11.e3 c5 12.xc5 29.b4 cxb4+ 30.xb4 e5 31.c5 f5 xc5 13.b4 a4 14.c4 d8 15.d6 32.a4 b7 33.c6 c8 34.f4 exf4 e7 16.d1 a5 17.b5 d8 18.xc8+ 35.gxf4 h6 36.d5 d7 37.c6 c8 axc8 19.xd8 xd8 20.b6 xb6 21.h4 38.e8 b7 39.h4 f6 40.b5 g5 h6 22.g3 c7 23.e2 c8 24.h5 g5 41.hxg5+ hxg5 42.fxg5+ xg5 43.c6 25.g4 d6 26.d3 b5 27.d1 e7 xc6+ 44.xc6 f4 45.xc7 e3 28.e3 b4 29.c1 b5 30.cxb4 axb4 46.d6 xe2 47.e5 e3 48.xf5 31.f4 gxf4+ 32.gxf4 d4 33.d3 a7 1/2-1/2 Gelfand, B (2733)-Svidler, P 34.fxe5 fxe5 35.b1 d6 36.xb4 a3+ (2726)/Dagomys RUS 2009 ] 37.d2 xa2+ 38.d3 a3+ 39.d2 g3 40.d1 b5 41.e2 g2 42.d3 h2 6.b3 [ 6.h4 43.d1 h3+ 44.d2 c5 45.a4 c3 A) 6...c6 keeps more tension in the 46.g4 g3 0-1 Gelfand, B (2713) position and is worth a try if you want to Ivanchuk, V (2702)/Batumi 19994 ] a v o i d d r a wi s h p o s i t i o n s . H o w e v e r , I [ 5.g3 is played quite often, and gives White suspect it also gives White more chances comfortable play but is not unduly t o a c h i e v e a n a d v a n t a g e e . g . 7.d4 threatening for Black, e.g. g7 6.g2 0-0 ( 7.e5 g7 8.xc6 xc6 9.e3 0-0 7.0-0 c5 8.a4 b6 9.h4 e6! 10.xd8 10.e2 e6 11.a4 ce7 12.d4 c5 xd8 11.d3 d5 12.g5 f6 13.d2 c6 13.xd5 xd5 14.dxc5 c3 15.b4 14.a3 f8 15.fb1 a5 16.a4 b8 xe2 16.xe2 g5 17.g3 ac8 18.d2 17.c1 b6 18.c3 de7 19.e4 g7 xc5 19.xb7 g4+ 20.f3 c4+ 20.ab1 f5 21.c3 h6 22.b5 d7 21.e1 xb2 22.d1 d8 23.e2 23.c3 e5 24.e1 e6 25.d2 d4 xe2+ 24.xe2 c2 0-1 Schandorff, L 26.b3 d5 27.xd5 xd5 28.f1 e6 (2520)-Howell, D (2593)/Dresden GER 29.f3 h5 30.c4 e4 31.dxe4 xb3 2008 ) 7...g8 8.e5 e6 9.xc6 xc6 32.xb3 xc4 33.bb1 b5 34.exf5 gxf5 10.a4 d7 11.e3 0-0-0 12.e2 35.d1 a4 36.a5 e8 37.c2 d4 ( 12.b5!?; 12.a3!? ) 12...db4 13.0-0 38.c3 b3 39.cb2 xc3 40.xc3 e3 d3 14.b4 b8 15.b5 ce5 16.f4 41.c1 b4 42.b1 b5 43.f2 e5 44.h3 xc1 17.axc1 d3 18.xd3 xd3 f7 45.g4 hxg4 46.hxg4 fxg4 47.fxg4 19.e4 f5 20.g5 ( 20.f2! d5 21.d4 b6 48.h1 f6+ 49.e1 d5 50.d2 g5 ) 20...xd2 21.f7 d5 22.b6 axb6 fd6 51.axb4 a3 52.xd5 a2 53.f1+ f6 23.e8+ a7 24.h6 a3 25.xg8 0-1 Grischuk, A (2748)-Svidler, P (2726)/ xe3+ 26.h1 xc1 27.e7 xf4 Dagomys RUS 2009/ ] 28.g1 a3 29.xd5 exd5 30.d7 d6 5...d7 31.xh7 d4 32.g3 e4+ 33.g2 d3 [ 5...c6 is solid, and playable, but there is no 0-1 Johannessen, L (2545)-Howell, D doubt that White is somewhat better after (2593)/ Dresden GER 2008; 6.xd5 xd5 7.e4 and d4. ] B) 6...xc3 [ 5...c6!? 6.e5 d6 ( 6...db4 7.a3 B1) 7.dxc3 c6 Here White has c2+ 8.xc2 xe5 9.d4! keeps some various ideas, but Black faces no advantage.) 7.xc6 xc6 8.xc6+ bxc6 theoretical problems White presumably has some way to prove B1a) 8.g3!? f6 ( 8...g7 9.f4 c8 an edge here, but it's not easy. Moreover, it 10.e4 0-0 11.0-0-0 e8 When Black will not be easy for Black to play to win from h a s a so lid a n d f l e xi b l e p o s it i o n .) such a position against a decent player. 9.b3 9.h4!? probably gives White some xc3 10.dxc3 ( 10.b2 d5 11.xh8 f6 ) initiative, so best might be the simple; 10...g7 11.b2 a5 12.g3 a4 13.g2 a6 B1b) 8.e4 e5 9.g5 e7 10.c4 h5 14.0-0-0 e6 15.c4 0-0 16.xg7 xg7 565
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.d4 c6 ( 8...g7!? ) 9.f4! ] 11.xe7 xe7 12.0-0-0 xh4 13.xh4 f8 and 0-0-0 is equal but 7...g7 8.f4 Currently the move of choice. [ 8.g5!? is also dangerous for Black. h6 not sterile.; 9.h4 e6 10.c2 c6 B1c) 8.f4 f6 9.h6; A) 11.d1!? Is more critical and leads to a B2) 7.d4 f6 8.xc3 c6 9.a3 ( 9.d4 highly curious and largely forced sequence e5! 10.dxe5 b4 ) 9...e5 10.d3 d6 that Black is probably well-advised to 11.e3 e7 fine for Black.; follow: The following notes are based on B3) 7.bxc3!? The latest wrinkle, that those of Ftatchnik's in Chessbase appears to give White a pleasant pull. c5 magazine. I would advise anybody 8.b1 c7 9.g3 xg3 10.hxg3 b6 choosing to play this line with either colour 11.e4 g7 12.d4 0-0 13.h6 cxd4 to check the details closely. My job for now 14.xg7 xg7 15.cxd4 d8 16.d2 is merely to state that I understand why all c6 17.e3 a5 18.c1 h5 19.d3 these fireworks are necessary- if Black ac8 20.a6 c6 21.e5 doesn't do something relatively forcing, he 1/2-1/2 Rustemov, A (2520)-Svidler, P will be sligh tly worse, a nd co uld f ac e (2727)/Baden Baden GER 2009 ] unpleasant positional pressure. Before [ 6.d4 f6 followed by Bg7 and 0-0 is plunging in, the point of Rd1 is not only to fine. ] support d4 but also to be able to meet Nb4 [ 6.c2 is a very tricky move, and still with Qb1 when the rook is already out of relatively underexplored. b4 is now critical, t h e c o r n e r . b4 12.b1 0-0 13.e3 because ( 6...b6 7.d4 g7 8.e4 ( 13.h3 f5!? JR ) 13...f5 14.e4 g4 and Be3 looks like a good Russian system 15.d5 ( 15.e2!? xf3 16.xf3 c6! for White. ) 7.b3 JR ) 15...f5 16.a3 g5 17.g3 f4 18.axb4 A) 7...c5 is the main recommendation fxg3 19.hxg3 xf3 here, but it requires a huge amount of A1) 20.gxf3 xf3 21.h2 xd1 work to navigate the tactics that can follow 22.xd1 d6 ( 22...a5!? ) 23.h3 f8 from this move. 8.e4 f5 ( 8...a5 24.e6+ h8 25.h5 e5 26.g6 is where the really sharp stuff kicks in, but f6 27.xf6 xf6 28.e5 f8 29.e4 my suspicion is that White is better.) 9.d3 c4 30.xg5 xe5 1/2-1/2 Herraiz xe4 10.dxe4 looks a bit better for Hidalgo, H-Fernandez Garcia, J/Burgos White.; 2003/ (43); B) 7...8c6 8.a3 e6 9.a4 d5 A2) 20.e2!?N xc3 21.xg4 10.e5 ( 21.bxc3 xe2 22.xe2 a4-+ ) B1) 10...xc3 11.dxc3 ( 11.bxc3!? ) 21...b3 ( 21...c4 22.e6+ h8 11...d7 12.xd7 xd7 13.e4 23.e5 e8 24.f5 g4 ) 22.e6+ h8 might be quite playable for Black, but ( 22...f8? 23.e5 xe5 24.g6+- ) certainly more pleasant for White due to 23.e5 e8 24.f5 c4! ( 24...xb2? the bishop pair.; 25.xg5 f8 26.f5! e6 27.dxe6 B2) 10...d6!? 11.xc6 xc6 xb4+ 28.f1 b5+ 29.g1+- ) 12.xc6+ bxc6 and although Black's 25.xg5 f8 26.d6 ( 26.f5 xe5-+ ) structure looks bad, we have seen in 26...xb2 ( 26...exd6!? 27.xc4 xb2 related lines that the lead in 28.d2 b1+ 29.d1 xb4 ) 27.f5 development and open lines often fully e6 ( 27...xe5? 28.dxe7 d3+ compensate, which also seems to be the 29.xd3 e8 30.e3+- ) 28.dxc7! case here, but it depends on the next A2a) 28...xb4+ 29.f1 d2+ few moves. ] 30.g1 exf5 31.xh6+ xh6 6...b6 7.d4 ( 31...g8 32.d6+- ) 32.xh6+ g8 [ 7.g5!? was played by no less than Victor 33.g6+ f8 34.f6+ g8=; Ko rtc h n oi a ga in st you r scribe , bu t it is A2b) 28...exf5 29.d8 b1+ 30.e2 designed to knock the opponent off balance b2+ ( 30...xh1 31.xa8 xa8 rather than achieve a theoretical edge. e6 566
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 32.d8+ xd8 33.cxd8+ h7 34.e6+- ) A2b1) 31.f3? xe5+ 32.e3 ( 32.f4 g4-+ ) 32...g4+ 33.d3 xf2+ 34.e3 g4+ 35.d3 xb4-+; A2b2) 31.d1 b1+ 32.c2 xh1 33.xa8 xa8 34.d8+ xd8 35.cxd8+ h7 36.e6 f1=; A2b3) 31.e1 b1+ 32.e2 b2+ 1/2-1/2 Bauer, C (2602)-Svidler, P (2723)/Germany 20040/ [Ftacnik]; B) 11.e3 These 'little centres' should not be un deres tim at ed. I f B la ck do es no t manage to achieve c5 or e5 he can easily b e s q u a s h e d . b4 12.d1 0-0 and now c5 is a threat that is not so easy for White to prevent. 13.a3 4d5 14.e4 d7 15.c1 Now Black can play solidly with c6, but given the lead in development he could also consider more aggressive play with f5 and g5 f5!? ] 8...0-0 9.e3 [ 9.d1 c8!? By no means forced, but an interesting reaction to white's move order. ( A more conventional interpretation is 9...c6 10.e3 a5 11.e2 a4 12.c2 f5 13.e4 g4 14.d5 b4 15.c1 xf3 16.xf3 a3 17.bxa3 xa3 18.e5 a5 19.0-0 4xd5 20.xd5 xd5 21.xd5 xd5 22.xd5 xd5 23.xc7 1/2-1/2 Reshevsky, S (2515)-Timman, J (2550)/Skopje 1976/MCD ) A) 10.a3 c4 ( 10...c5 11.dxc5 is not obviously working for Black. c4 12.b4 xb2 13.xb2 xc5 14.e4! ) 11.b4 ( 11.b3 b6 but Nd6 avoiding the repetition is also ok. ) 11...d6; B) 10.e3 c5 11.e2 ( 11.d5 e6 looks ok. ) 11...cxd4 12.exd4 g4 13.0-0 c6 14.b5?! ( 14.e3 and holding on, looks necessary.) 14...a5 15.b4 d5 16.d2 c4 17.xc4 xc4 18.c3 xf3 19.gxf3 xf4 20.xf4 e5 21.d2 exd4 22.e2 xa2 23.xd4 ad8 24.b4 d5 25.b5 xf3 0-1 Saravanan, V (2379) -Mirumian, V (2525)/Urmia IRI 2008 ] 9...e6 10.a3 And now we have some idea of why this, along with 4.Qa4+ and Qb3 is currently considered the critical anti-Grunfeld
test. This brings us to the relevance of the games selected for this update.
572 Aronian,Levon Areshchenko,Alexander WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (3.1) [John Watson]
A16 2724 2653 03.12.2005
Aronian has chosen to use the English opening at the highest level. As I've been telling you, it's a good way to avoid endless theory and still get a game. He doesn't extract much from the opening (do players get much against the Najdorf or Berlin W all?). The game remains complicated, however, and in the end we get to see the normal advantages of bishop-vs-knight in a simplified position with pawns on both sides of the board. White shows masterly technique. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c3 b6 7.d3 c6 8.e3 0-0 9.d2 e5 10.h4 A probing move. Needless to say, White has several choices, for example, [ 10.c1 and upon g4 with the idea ...Bxf3 and .. Nd4, 11.g5!? Preventing ...Nd4 due t o t h e a t t a c k o n t h e b 7 p a w n . h6? ( 11...d7 12.ce4! ) 12.ge4 h7 13.c5 ] 10...h5 [ 10...g4 11.h2 ] 11.g5!? Probing White wants to reduce the influence of the bishop on g7. [ 11.0-0-0!? ] 11...f6 12.e3 e6 13.e4 d5 14.0-0 A key decision. W hite doesn't fear the following exchange because it gives him 2 bishops. Nevertheless, Black is smart to do so, since his knights have good prospects and the bishop on g2 needs time to get to the weakened light squares. The play is roughly equal. xe4!? 15.dxe4 xd2 16.xd2!? [ 16.xd2! is more natural. These are very complicated decisions in spite of the somewhat reduced material, play is doubleedged. ] 16...c4! 17.fc1 [ T h e o b v i o u s 17.c3 is met by d6! 18.d2 b5! and there goes the bishop anyway. ] 567
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17...xd2 18.xd2 fd8 19.b3 f8! Areschenko controls the d-file temporarily. Now W hite finally activates his bishop and draws the king to the second rank. The next moves depend upon each player's assessment of a basic position: 20.h3! f7 21.e3 Positionally forced but it denies Black d4. a5 22.f1 a4 23.c5 xc5 24.xc5 d2 25.b5! d8 26.d5! [ 26.c1 c6 27.b6 e7! marching to c7. ] 26...xd5?! A dangerous move because it straightens out W hite's pawns. The natural move was [ 26...xb2 27.d7+ e8 28.xc7 ( 28.g7 e6 29.xg6 f7 ) 28...e6 29.h7 c8 preventing Bc4. ] 27.exd5 a3 28.bxa3!? [ Not awful because White wins the b-file. Still, 28.b3 is obvious and apparently good what was Aronian afraid of? Perhaps e7 29.c1 c6 30.c4 c8 , but 31.d3 continues to limit the knight's movements. In what follows White is only nominally better but strengthens his position. Likely both players are in some time trouble. ] 28...xa3 [ The pawn isn't going anywhere. Perhaps 28...e7 29.c1 d6 looks equal. ] 29.c1 c6 30.dxc6 xc6!? [ 30...bxc6 is anti-positional but covers the entrance squares. The king would quickly move in for defence. ] 31.b1 a5 The knight is cut off from c4, so unless Black wins the a-pawn this looks very passive [ 31...d8 32.c4+ e7 33.b6! has Bd5 in mind. Now we begin to see the normal advantages of bishop-vs-knight in a position with pawns om both sides of the board when there aren't many pieces left: ] 32.g2! g7 [ 32...e7 33.d5 d6 34.f7 ] 33.d5 f5 34.e4! fxe4 35.xe4 a4 [ 35...xa2 36.b6! and the kingside pawns are falling ] 36.d5!? d4 37.g2 [ Or 37.b5! Black is completely tied down and White hasn't even used his king! ] 37...d2 [ 37...a4! is the best try but 38.b6 ( or 38.b2 ) 38...xa2? 39.e4 repeats the
theme. ] 38.a3!? [ 38.e4! d4 39.f3 is winning, because Rb6 or Rb5 will follow. d6 , e.g., 40.b5 b6 41.xe5 ] 38...d3 39.e4 xa3 [ 39...d6 40.b5 ] 40.b6 We've seen this position before: White will win a n e xt ra p a wn an d re t ain a ll t h e adva ntages o f bisho p-ve rsus-knight . a4 41.xg6+ f7 42.f5 b5 43.b6 a1+ 44.g2 c4 45.xb5 a2 46.d3 The e- and h-pawn will f all. Incredible t e ch n i q u e ve rs u s a 2 6 5 0 p l a ye r i n wh a t seemed an innocent position. 1-0
573 Aronian,Levon Kamsky,Gata 24th ECC Kallithea GRE (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A16 2757 2729 20.10.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ d7 6.h4 xc3 7.bxc3 g7 8.b1 b6 [ 8...c6 is the topic of Carlsen-Svidler, Kallithea 2008, which is also to be found in this update. ] 9.d4 h6 [ 9...c5 10.e4 c7 11.e3 ] 10.e4 [ 10.g3 was played in Roggeveen, P-Polak, I /Maastricht NED 2007, doesn't offer White any real chances of an advantage after f5 11.b2 c5 ] 10...c5 11.e3 [ The first new move. Previously White had tried 11.d2 cxd4 12.cxd4 c6 13.d5 d4?! ( 13...e5 14.d4 e6 15.xd8+ xd8 is quite playable for Black, and if White now go es f o r 16.b5 0-0 17.f4 , then xb5 18.xb5 d7 19.dxe6 fxe6 leaves White with only a minor advantage.) 14.xd4 xd4 15.d3 e6 16.g3 exd5 17.0-0 with a strong initiative for White to compensate for the pawn, Roeder, M-Lopez Gonzalez, D/Campillos ESP 2006 ] 11...c7 12.c1 c6 13.e2 c8 [ Black can also consider regrouping his 568
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pieces with 13...d8 14.0-0 e6 15.e5 c6 ] 14.0-0 f6 While forcing the issue on exchanging the queens may not appear to be what Black should concern himself with the most, he has to do something about his king that is currently stuck in the centre. Despite the fact that the queens come off the board, Black's position is still very passive and fairly u n p le a s a n t . 15.g3 xg3 16.hxg3 g5 17.d5 [ Maintaining a broad, strong centre in this fashion has a natural appeal. However, you have to qu es tio n wha t wo uld h app en if White were to take the offered pawn on c5? I don't see a refutation or even a line that doesn't result in a solid plus for White, e.g. 17.dxc5 bxc5 18.xc5 0-0 19.fd1 e6 20.a3 fd8 21.xd8+ xd8 22.b5 , but I suspect that Aronian decided that the ga m e c o n t in u a t io n o f f e re d W h it e e ve n better chances, even if Black can improve on move 20. ] 17...a5!? [ The a lt erna tive is 17...e5 , but after 18.xe5 xe5 19.f4 g7 20.h5 ( 20.e5 h5 ) 20...gxf4 21.gxf4 White has a very pleasant game. ] 18.d2 e6 19.c4 e5 20.h5 0-0?! [ Now things start getting ugly for Black. I think Black's only reasonable option is to t r a n s f e r t h e k n i g h t t o d 6 wi t h 20...b7! 21.f4 d6! after which Black can decide whether castling or placing the king on e7 is the better choice. ] 21.f4 g7?! [ Black is trying to hold the position by letting White prove why he is better. However, the only way to stay in the game at this juncture is to exchange some pieces and open up the position, no matter how ugly it looks, such as for example 21...exf4 22.gxf4 b2 23.c2 d4 24.xd4 cxd4 25.fxg5 hxg5 26.e5 , and Black is still fighting. ] 22.f3 exf4 23.gxf4 g4? Black's position goes from being decidedly awful to plainly lost. 24.e5 If Black wants to avoid losing the gpawn, he has to add another centre pawn for White. xe5 25.fxe5 ce8 26.f4 c8 27.c3 With a series of precise cuts, White finishes Black off. h7 28.h2 g7 29.f6
e7 30.f4 h8 31.d6 b7 32.g3 f8 33.xh6+ 1-0
574
A16 Bacrot,Etienne 2613 Svidler,Peter 2689 FIDE WCh KO New Delhi IND (2.1) 30.11.2000 [Tony Kosten] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ d7 6.h4 The key move, W hite will follow with e4, and d4, bringing about a Grünfeld-style position where his queen is aggressively-placed on the kingside. xc3 7.dxc3 [ 7.d4 f6 8.xc3 is the alternative. ] 7...c6 8.e4 e5 9.g5 e7 10.c4 h5! Greenfeld's strong novelty, threatening ...f6, and ...g5, which seems to equalise for Black. [ P r e v i o u s l y , 10...h6 11.xe7 xe7 was played, when 12.g3! gives White an edge, e.g. 0-0-0 13.d5 h5 14.h4 de8 15.0-0-0 Vera,R-Gonzalez Diaz,D/Aceimar 1995. ] [ T h e t a c t i c a l 10...xg5? 11.xg5 h6 loses to 12.xf7+ f8 13.0-0-0 when the g5-knight is twice attacked, but can't be captured! ] 11.xe7 [ What else? 11.0-0-0?! achieves nothing: f6 12.xd7 ( forced, for the retreat 12.e3? allows g5 13.g3 h4 of course, leaving the white queen short of squares) 12...xd7 13.xf6 f8! 14.xe7 xe7 and White's compensation is insufficient. ] 11...xe7 12.0-0-0 [ The point of Black's tenth move is that 12.g3 no lo n ge r h a s a n y ef f e c t , h4 obliging 13.g5 ] 12...xh4 13.xh4 f8 14.d2 [ Mikhalevski's suggested improvement over 14.d5 , when the stem-game, Piket,JMikhalevski, V/Belgrade 1999, continued: 0-0-0 15.d3 e7 16.b3 f6 17.hd1 g4 with equality. ] 14...0-0-0 15.hd1 An unfortunate finish, many games were drawn quickly in New Delhi, wit h t he pla yers p re f errin g t o d ecide th e matches in the rapid chess because that way 569
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 they were guaranteed a bigger prize should they lose. [ After 15.hd1 a5 16.e2 g4 is possible, when they position looks quite level. ] ½-½
575 Batchuluun,Tsegmed Li Chao 6th ch-Asia Cebu City PHI (7) [Carsten Hansen]
A16 2415 2529 25.09.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 xc3 6.dxc3 [ Here 6.bxc3 will usually transpose to a standard Grünfeld. The text invites Black to exchange queens and a somewhat boring middlegame without queens, which, however, can be exceedingly difficult for Black if playing for a win. ] 6...xd1+ 7.xd1 g7?! Interestingly, this move is considered dubious, by some sources, and even a straight-out error. Black has a number of other moves available: [ 7...c6 8.e3 e5 9.c4 f6 10.c2 d8 11.a4 f7 12.d2 d6 13.d5 c6 14.b3 e7 15.f4! Timman, J-Kozul, Z Belgrade 1989 ] [ 7...f6! was first played by Korchnoi in 1960, and is Black's most popular move. The idea is to play ...e7-e5 to thwart White's hopes on a n in i t ia t i ve b a se d o n p re s su re o n t h e queenside. A recent example is 8.e3 e5 9.c4 d7 10.d2 c5 11.xc5 xc5 12.b4 d7 13.c2 b6 14.b3 a5 15.a3 e7 16.hd1 d8 17.c4 xd1 18.xd1 xc4 19.xc4 axb4 20.axb4 e6 , a nd Black ha s obviou sly successf u lly solved his opening problems, 1/2-1/2 Nalbandian, T-Petrosian, T/ Yerevan ARM 2007 ] [ 7...g4 was introduced by Botvinnik and has since been emp loyed by Ivanchuk. 8.e2 d7 9.h3 xf3 10.xf3 h5 11.c2 h6 12.xh6 xh6 13.ad1 e6 14.h4 e7= 15.d4 hh8 16.hd1 hd8 17.e2 e5 18.4d2 f6 19.f3 1/2-1/2 Kortschnoj, V-Ivanchuk, V/Luzern 1997 ] [ 7...c5?! transposes to a dubious variation
of the Symmetrical English ] [ 7...d7 was covered in Gelfand-Ivanchuk, Batumi 1999 - see the PGN archives ] 8.f4 c6 9.c2 d7 10.c4 [ White achieved little after 10.e1 c5 11.d2 1/2-1/2 Morozevich, A-Svidler, P/ T o g li a t t i R US 2 0 0 3 . N o t a p a r t i c u la r l y inspired effort by the two world class players. ] [ 10.a4 c5 11.d2 f5 12.f3 fxe4 ( 12...e6 13.e3 d7 14.exf5 xf5+ 15.d3 xd3+ 16.xd3 with a solid edge for W hite, 1-0 Halkias, S-Mouroutis, K/ Agios Nikolaos 2000) 13.fxe4 e6 14.e3 d7 15.a5!? f8 16.e2 e5 17.d4 f6 18.h3 d7 19.e3 g7 20.hf1 with a plus for W hite thanks to his more space and better coordinated pieces, Polovodin, I-Menzel, R/St Petersburg 1992 ] 10...b5 [ Black has played three other moves at this point: A) 10...0-0 A) 11.he1 c5!? ( 11...b6?! 12.b3 h6 13.a4 a5 14.h3 d7 15.e3 e8 16.ad1 1/2-1/2 Bjelobrk, I-Wastney, S/ Auckland 2000) 12.b4 ( 12.e5 e6 13.xg7 xg7 14.xe6 xe6 15.ad1 w i t h a t b e s t a s l i g h t p u l l f o r W h i t e) 12...e6! 13.xe6 xe6 14.e5 a5 15.xg7 xg7 16.a3 f4 , and Black has solved his opening problems, 1/2-1/2 Li Wenliang-Yin Hao/Beijing 1996; B) 11.a4 e5 ( 11...c5 12.d2 b6 13.e3 e6 14.f4 c7 15.b4 e5 16.hf1 with some initiative for White, 1/ 2-1/2 Ernst, S-Rosmuller, A/Utrecht 1998) 12.e3 h6 13.h4 e8 14.h5 g5 15.ad1 f8? ( 15...f6 16.d2!? g4 17.f3 xh5 18.b3 and White has suf ficient compensation f or the pawn) 16.xg5 b6 17.b3 hxg5 18.a5 g4 19.g5 d5 20.h6 e7 21.h7+ g7 , Aumann, W -Karius, T/GER 1996, and now 22.xf7 f5 23.exf5 xf7 24.xd5+ cxd5 25.xd5+- ] [ B) Probably Black's best is 10...c5!? A) 11.he1 a5 12.d2 ( 12.ad1 b5 13.f1 0-0= ) 12...b5 13.f1 0-0 14.e3 a4= 1/2-1/2 Treppner, G-Keller, M/ Krumbach 1981; B) 11.d2 e6 12.e2 0-0 ( 12...f5!? 570
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.f3 fxe4 14.fxe4 f8 15.hf1= ) 13.e3 d7 14.f4 f5 15.e5 d5 16.hg1 c5 17.b5 1-0 Mussoni, MBruns, M/Feffernitz 2000 ] [ C) 10...e5?! 11.e3 h6 12.ad1 a5 13.a4 f8 14.d2 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 A) 16.e2!? e4 ( 16...e7 17.e6 f4 18.c1+- ) 17.h4 e5 18.d4 xc4 19.xh8 f7 20.d4; B) 16.e1 e7 17.de2 e4 18.d2 g5 19.d4!+- 1-0 Libeau, R-Gauglitz, G/ Muenster 1992 ] 11.e2 c5 [ Black has tried a few other things here: A) 11...0-0 12.ad1 ( 12.hd1!? e8 13.e3 f6 14.d4 xe4 15.xc6 ) 12...c5 13.d2 f5 14.e3 xe4 15.f3 f4 16.xe4 fxe3 17.fxe3 g4 18.f3 ac8= Jansen, P-De Greef, H/Dieren 1990 ] [ B) 11...b7 12.d2 0-0 ( 12...a6 13.b3 c5 14.f3 c8 15.a4 c4 16.d2 0-0 17.axb5 axb5 18.a7 c6 19.ha1 f5 , Vaingorten, Y-Glinert, S/Toronto 2000, 20.exf5 xf5 21.g3 ) 13.f3 e5 14.e3 fd8 15.a4 a6 16.b3 ab8 17.hd1 f8 18.d2 e7 19.ad1 1-0 Richter, M-Voigt, U/Schoeneck 1996/ Juniors (30) ] [ C) 11...a5 12.a4 b4 13.e3 0-0 14.d2 e5 15.c5 , and here White chickened out and agreed to a draw despite his obvious advantage, 1/2-1/2 Logothetis, S-Caruana, F/Hamburg GER 2005 ( White can probably do even better with 15.cxb4 axb4 16.f4 d7 17.e5 ) 15...bxc3 16.bxc3 f6 17.f4 d7 18.a3 ] 12.d2 a5 [ Black has a couple of alternatives at this juncture: A) 12...f5 13.f3 fxe4 14.fxe4 f8 ( 14...e5 15.e3 f8 16.hf1 e7 17.b4 a4 18.a3 f8 19.c4 1/2-1/2 Berry, DMartinovsky, E/Lone Pine 1976) 15.e3 a4 16.b3 e6 17.c5?! ( 17.d4!? d7 18.af1 0-0-0 19.xf8 xf8 20.d1 a6 21.f3 is better for White) 17...xc5 18.xc5 f4 19.f3 g4 is perfectly fine for Black, Schippel, G-Keller, M/Finkenstein 2000 ] [ B) 12...0-0 13.e3 a4 14.b3 f5 15.f3 a5 16.d4 d7 17.ad1 fb8 Kwiecien, JKaczorowska, B/Lubniewice 1998, and now: 18.xf5 xf5 19.exf5 gxf5 20.d3 e6
21.g4 ] 13.e3 a4 14.b3 b4 15.c5 xc5 16.xc5 bxc3 17.bxc3 e6?! [ This allows White to penetrate via the b-file and the 7th rank. Instead Black should probably have tried 17...f5!? 18.d3 fxe4 19.xe4 f7 20.he1 e6 21.a4 f6 22.f4 ] 18.hb1 0-0 19.b7 fb8 [ Or 19...fe8 20.xe7 xe7 21.xe7 f5 22.d3 fxe4 23.xe4 a4 24.c5 ] 20.xb8+ xb8 21.xe7 f5? This move looks logical in the sense that Black wants to open the diagonals pointing down towards White's king. However, through very simple means, White closes Black's bishops off and generates a passed pawn, thus creating a winning position for White. 22.d6 e8 23.e5 d5 24.f3 xf3 25.gxf3 This position is winning for W hite, but in the game continuation, Black manages to make it look even easier than it is. f7 26.f4 g5 27.g1 g4?! [ 27...gxf4 28.g5 xe5 29.xf5+ f6 30.xf4+- ] 28.d3 e6 [ 28...d8 29.e3 f8 30.xf8 xf8 31.f3 gxf3 32.g5+- ] 29.f3 Now it's completely game over h5 30.fxg4 hxg4 31.h3 d8 [ 31...h6 32.hxg4 xf4 33.f1 xe5 34.xe5 d8+ 35.d4 c5 36.gxf5+ f7 37.f6 cxd4 38.cxd4+- ] 32.hxg4 h6 33.e3 h8 34.f3 d8 35.h1 fxg4+ 36.xg4 g8+ 37.f3 f8 38.xf8 xf8 39.e4 g8 40.h7 1-0
576 Bu Xiangzhi Lahno,Kateryna Trophee CCAS GpA rapid (2) [Carsten Hansen]
A16 2714 2488 26.10.2008
1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.f3 g6 5.a4+ d7 6.b3 We looked at this line several times last year, but this year too, this variation has been explored quite a bit. In the notes to this game, I have only included games from 2008. b6 7.d4 e6 571
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ The major alternative and the subject of much attention, including in most of the top games with this line, throughout this year is 7...g7 A) 8.g5 e6 ( 8...0-0 was discussed in Ionov-Klimov, St.Petersburg 2005, which can be found in the PGN archives) 9.c2 h6 10.f4 c6 11.e3 0-0 12.e2 c8 13.d1 b4 14.b1 4d5 15.g3 xc3 16.bxc3 d5?! ( 16...c5!? is perfectly acceptable for Black) 17.d3 c5 18.e4 cxd4 19.exd5 f5 20.b5 dxc3 21.0-0 c2 22.c1 , and Black doesn't have sufficient compensation for the piece, Shimanov, A-Nechepurenko, R/ St Petersburg RUS 2008; B) 8.e4 g4 is a regular line in the Grünfeld.; C) 8.f4 C1) 8...0-0 has also been tried: C1a) or 9.e3 a5 ( 9...e6 10.c2 c6 11.a3 d5 12.xd5 xd5 13.d3 Sfarlog, T-Voiteanu, G/ Timisoara ROM 2008) 10.e2 c6 11.0-0 b4 12.a3 e6 13.d1 4d5 14.g3 c6 15.e4 c8 16.d2 a4 17.h3 f6 18.xf6+ exf6 19.ac1 is comfortably better for White, Saric, A-Bykhovsky, A/ Plovdiv BUL 2008; C1b) 9.d1 c8 ( 9...a5 10.e3 a4 11.c2 c6 12.e2 b4 13.d2 e6 14.a3 4d5 15.e5 xc3 16.xc3 d5 17.c1 Wojtaszek, RKhmelniker, I/Plovdiv BUL 2008) 10.e3 c5 11.e2 cxd4 12.exd4 g4 13.0-0 c6 14.b5?! ( 14.e3 a5 15.b4!? ) 14...a5 15.b4 d5 , and Black is clearly better, Saravanan, V-Mirumian, V/Urmia IRI 2008; C2) 8...e6 C2a) 9.d1 is h a rm less, e. g. c4 ( 9...d5!? ) 10.e5 xe5 11.xe5 0-0 12.g3 c6 13.g2 f6 14.f4 xd4 15.xb7 b8 16.g2 e5 17.h6 f7 is fine for Black, Nguyen Ngoc Truong Son-Tomczak, J/Vung Tau City VIE 2008; C2b) 9.a3 C2b1) 9...c4 10.e3 xf1 11.xf1
0-0 ( 11...c6 12.c5 e6 13.0-0-0 is quite pleasant for White) 12.e2 c6 ( 12...d5 13.xd5 xd5 14.fd1 ) 13.fd1 8d7 14.b3 e8 15.a4 e5 16.dxe5 xe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.h6 g7 19.xg7 xg7 20.a5 Roiz, M-Kurnosov, I/Dagomys RUS 2008; C2b2) 9...c6 10.e3 was scrutinized in t he games B u Xiangzhi-Vachier Lagrave, Wijk aan Zee 2007 and Jakovenko-Vachier Lagrave, Crete 2007, both games leading to advantages for White and both games are available in the PGN archives.; C2b3) 9...0-0 C2b31) 10.e4 C2b311) 10...g4 11.e5 c8?! ( This is an decision instead Black should play 11...e6 12.d5 d6 13.xd6 cxd6 14.dxe6 xe5 15.xe5 dxe5 16.exf7+ xf7 ) 12.d1 8d7 13.f3 f6 14.h3 c6 15.e2 e6 16.b3 h5 17.g5 h6? ( 17...f6 18.e3 c7 19.c1 ) 18.xe7 c7 19.d6 d7 20.xf8 xf8 21.c1 , and White is winning, Svidler, PKazhgaleyev, M/Almaty KAZ 2008; C2b312) 10...c6 11.d1 8d7 ( Black varies over the encounter be t we e n t h e sa m e p la ye rs a t Mexico 2007, which can be found in the PGN archives. 11...c4 ) 12.g5 g4 13.f3 h6 14.fxg4 ( 14.e3!? hxg5 15.fxg4 is quite possibly better) 14...e5 15.f3 ( 15.dxe5 hxg5 16.e3 xe5 is unclear and okay for Black) 15...exf4 16.e5 e8 17.e2 e7 18.xe7 xe7 19.0-0 c5 20.dxc5 xc5 21.d5 xd5 22.xd5 d7 , and Black wins a pawn, but due to the opposite coloured bishops, W hite h as d ecent cha nc es o f keeping the balance, Gelfand, B572
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.f3 bc4 ( 18...xf3+!? Svidler, P/Sochi RUS 2008; 19.gxf3 g5 is quite pleasant C2b32) 10.e3 for Black ) 19.xc4 xc4 C2b321) 10...c6 11.e2 a5 20.b3 d2 21.xb7 f7 12.c5 d5 13.xd5 xd5 22.b4 b8 23.d4 xe4 14.xd5 xd5 15.0-0 ( 15.xc7 24.xd2 xf3+ 25.f1 xh5 fc8 16.b6 b4 provides with chances to both sides, B l a c k a m b l e c o m p e n s a t i o n) Eljanov, P-Svidler, P/Foros 15...xf3 16.xf3 e5 17.dxe5 UKR 2008; xe5 18.xb7 ab8 19.d5 C2b32222) 11...d5 xb2 20.ab1 fb8 21.b3 12.xd5 xd5 13.e2 e8 , and the bishop pair and 14.0-0 c6 15.g3 b6 superior pawn structure provides 16.b3 W hite with a clear advantage, C2b322221) 16...a5 Gustafsson, J-Areshchenko, A/ 17.c4 b4 18.c1 e6 Plovdiv BUL 2008; 19.a3 ( 19.d2!? C2b322) 10...8d7 i s w o r t h c o n s i d e r i n g) C2b3221) 11.e2 c5 19...e7 provides Black C2b32211) In a brand-new adequate counterplay game, played just days ago according to Eljanov in in the Olympiad in Dresden, CBM; W h i t e t r i e d 12.0-0 c4 C2b322222) 16...e5 13.a4 ( White should 17.xe5 xe5 18.dxe5 consider 13.xc4!? xc4 xe5 19.c4 Eljanov, P14.fe1 , e.g. b6 15.ac1 Shirov, A/ Foros UKR fc8 16.b3 e6 17.e4 2008 ] , a n d I p r e f e r W h i t e) 13...db6 14.c2 f5 8.c2 g7 [ 8...c6 looks normal, but has only ( 14...cxd4 15.xd4 d7 amounted to an awful lot of headaches for 16.g5 ) 15.c1 cxd4 Black in the games it has been tested: 9.e4 16.xd4 d7 17.xc4 A) 9...g4?! 10.d5 b4 11.b3 a5? ( 17.g3!? c8 18.d1 ( 11...xf3 12.gxf3 is also very good for c a n a l s o b e c o n s i d e r e d) White, but better than the game 17...xc4 18.d5 e5 continuation for Black) 12.a3 a6 19.g5 f6 20.f4 c8 13.e5+Obregon, A-Barrionuevo, P/ 21.d1 c6 , and Black has Villa Martelli ARG 2008; solved his opening problems, B) 9...b4 10.d1 g4 11.a3 xf3 Bu Xiangzhi-Vachier Lagrave, 12.gxf3 c6 ( 12...a6 13.e3 g7 M/Dresden GER 2008; 14.d2 c6 15.0-0-0 h6 16.h4 e5 17.d5 C2b32212) 12.dxc5 c4 c7 18.b1 Saravanan, V-Antonio, V/ 13.b4 a5 14.b5 c8 New Delhi IND 2008 ) 13.d5 15.0-0 , and a draw was B1) 13...b8 14.d4 f6 15.e3 c6 agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in 16.h4 8d7 17.h5 g5 18.f4 h6 Radjabov, T-Vachier Lagrave, ( 18...gxf4 19.xf4 e5 20.dxe6 c5 ) M/Kallithea GRE 2008; 19.e5 fxe5 20.e4 , and White is C2b3222) 11.d1 winning, Ghaem Maghami, E-Antonio, V/ C2b32221) 11...c6 12.g5 Dubai UAE 2008; d5 13.e4 e5 14.dxe5 B2) 13...e5 14.f4 ed7 15.d4 xe5 15.xe5 xe5 16.h4 g8 16.h3 f6 17.e3 c6 18.d1 ( 16.f4!? - Eljanov - appears g7 19.b4 c7 20.a4 , and it seems to offer W hite the better like White is in control of the entire board, chances ) 16...e8 17.h5 f6 573
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Khmelniker, I-Tseitlin, M/Beer Sheva ISR 2008 ] 9.e4 c6 [ 9...g4 10.e5 leads to a better game for White: xe5 11.dxe5 c6 12.b5 d7 13.xc6 xc6 14.e3 d7 ( 14...c4?! is more aggressive, but also clearly better f o r W h i t e : 15.d1 c8 16.f4 g4 17.g3 h5 18.h3 g5 19.e2 h4 20.f4 xg2 21.g1 xe4 22.xe4 xe4 23.d4 xb2 24.xe4 d3+ 25.f1 c5 26.c4 e6 27.e3 gives Black three pawns for a bishop, but White is much due to his active pieces, Huzman, A-Livshits, G/ Israel ISR 2008) 15.d1 e6 16.0-0 0-0 17.f4 ad8 18.d4 f5 19.exf6 exf6 20.f5 gxf5 21.xf5 with a large advantage for White, Gelfand, B-Shirov, A/Dagomys RUS 2008 ] 10.f4 [ 10.e3 was played in Feller, S-Maze, S/ Pau FRA 2008, but reaches a position that has been seen several times in the Grünfeld the ECO reference is D96. ] 10...0-0 This position was first reached in a game from the 1945 Moscow Ch, AlatortsevFlohr, although using a decidedly unfashionable, both then and now, move order in the Grünfeld. 11.d2 Alatortsev played 11 Rd1, but didn't really get anything out of the opening. c4 [ This appears to be a reasonable choice for Black, at least at first glance. However, in the game continuation, White demonstrates that Black is more or less without any viable counterplay. Therefore Black should consider a move that was played in another v e r y r e c e n t g a m e : 11...8d7 12.h6 ( 12.e2!? ) 12...g4 13.xg7 xg7 A) 14.0-0-0!?; B) 14.g5 h6 ( 14...f6 15.e2 ) 15.h3 hxg5 16.hxg4; C) 14.f4 xf3 15.xf3 e5 16.0-0-0 exd4 17.xd4 g5+ 18.d2 ad8 , and with Black having fully equalized, the players settled on a draw, 1/2-1/2, Rodshtein, M-Nechepurenko, R/Gaziantep TUR 2008. ] 12.xc4 xc4 13.e2 b6 14.d1 a6 15.0-0 c7 16.g3! a6 This move is ugly, but she wants to play ... Nb5 to gain some
counterplay. Obviously, White is not going to l e t h e r g e t a w a y w i t h t h a t . . . 17.a4! This position is pretty depressing for Black who is essentially left without any counterplay. The next several moves are, like the previous ones, very accurately played by White, gaining a clear advantage. a5 18.d2 c8 19.fd1 d7 [ Or 19...e6 20.e5 e8 21.b3 with a solid plus for White ] 20.e5 e8 21.b3! White has plenty of time and continues to improve on his position until he is ready to break through in the centre. e6 22.d5! White gives up on his pure space advantage in order to gain other plusses, primarily a dominating piece position. cxd5 23.xd5 xd5 24.xd5 c5 25.d7! xd7 26.xd7 c1 27.d2 [ 27.xb7 c6 28.bd7 is also very good for White, but White prefers to keep Black restrained ] 27...xd1+ 28.xd1 c8 29.c7 e6 30.d5! xd5 31.exd5 Thanks to his activity, White is clearly better in the endgame. d8 32.xe7 xd5 33.h4 b6 34.e8+ f8 35.c7 g7 [ 35...f6 36.d8 xd8 37.xd8 ] 36.xb6 b4 37.g3 [ If White wants to play 37.d8!? , he should do it here and not on the next move, when Black's king is already in the centre. The p o i n t i s t h a t a f t e r xd8 38.xd8 , the bishop covers the f6-square, and the kings will enter the centre at the same time unlike in the game where Black has a head start. ] 37...f6 38.d8? [ This is a decidedly bad move, but of course White is likely in serious time trouble at this stage of the game. A much better choice is 38.g2 , hanging on to the pawn and decent winning chances. ] 38...xd8 39.xd8+ e5 Despite Black's king being far more active, W hite can still hang on to a draw with accurate play. 40.g2 d4 41.f3 c3 [ Or 41...h5 42.g4 c3 43.gxh5 gxh5 44.f4 xb3 45.f5 , and White will pick up both of Black's kingside pawns. ] 42.f4 xb3 43.g5 xa4 [ 43...e1 44.b6 xa4 45.h6 b5 574
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 46.xa5 is similar to the game continuation ] comp as d3 and b2 are chronically weak. ] 44.h6 b3 45.xa5! Forcing the draw 17.d4 a4 18.c6! White cannot realistically xa5 46.xh7 e1 47.g7 xf2 hold-on to the d-pawn, so decides to aim for ½-½ positional compensation based on his bishop pair and the backward c7-pawn. [ 18.c2 seems more natural, but then after xd4 19.b3 c5 20.b2 Black can play 577 A16 the surprising e6! as if 21.xd4 xd4 Bu Xiangzhi 2606 22.e4 xe5 23.ad1 c5 offers excellent Neverov,Valeriy 2527 co m p e n s a t io n f o r t h e e xch a n g e wit h a Aeroflot Open (8) 24.02.2004 strong knight and bishop (secure on dark [Tony Kosten] squares) plus extra queenside pawn. ] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 18...xd4 19.e3 d3!? Black prepares 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 g7 7.e4 c6 8.d3 another positional sacrifice, he was wary of 0-0 9.e2 a6!? Very much in the 'Hungarian playing the obvious [ 19...c4 b e c a u s e o f 20.xa6 xb2 System of the Russian Grünfeld' style (that's 21.xb5 xe5 22.xe5 xe5 a mouthful!), preparing queenside counterplay which appears OK, but Black may have with ... b5. Before we had looked at the main problems dealing with the passed a-pawn move supported by the two bishops, to be frank it [ 9...bd7 for example as in Piket, J-Bacrot, is a difficult one to call. ] E/Escaldes 1998. ] [ 9...fd7!? has also been played, and this 20.b3 xe3! This is the idea. 21.fxe3 b6 is more in Smyslov's style: 10.e3 e5 22.ad1 xe5 Black has won a pawn, and 11.b4 b6 12.b3 d7 with fair chances, the e 3-pawn is weak, plu s he has u sef u l control of the dark squares, but his knight is a Pelletier,Y-Moor,R/Lugano 1999. ] 10.0-0 Strictly speaking, an innovation, lot less impressive than in the note to move 18, although it is so natural, it hardly counts as and an exchange is an exchange! 23.g3 d6 24.g2!? White decides not to bother one! [ 10.h3 prepares Be3, to control d4 and c5: defending the ailing e-pawn. If [ 24.fe1 b4 and once he has secured his b5 11.b3 bd7 12.e3 e6 13.a4!? queenside pawns Black can think about bxa4 14.xa4 b5 15.c3 c5 16.0-0 returning the knight to the centre by ...Nd7b8 17.a3 and White's superior structure e5. ] g a v e h i m a n e d g e a g a i n s t o u r n e we s t contributor: Smirin,I-Mikhalevski,V/Saint 24...xe3 25.fe1 c5 This is forced, [ 25...g5?? 26.xd6 cxd6 27.xb6 Vincent ITA 2000. ] wins. ] 10...b5 11.b3 bd7 12.e5 Now White 26.xc5 xc5 27.b7 White pesters the doesn't want to stop ...Nc5 with [ 12.e3 b e c a u s e o f g4 , but the move black queenside. b8? This brings problems, played seems strong as the knight cannot the a-pawn cannot move as [ 27...a5? is met by 28.e5 winning pawns go to its natural square on d5, or can it? ] on the fifth rank, but ] 12...d5! A neat tactic, Black sacs a pawn for [ 27...b4! seems fine, as 28.xa6? a8 good play. 13.xd5 c5 The point, although gives a significantly improved version of the the surprising game. ] [ 13...xe5!? might also be possible: 14.c3 xf3+ 15.gxf3 d7 planning ... 28.xa6 a8 29.xb5 xa2+ 30.e2 xe2+ 31.xe2 White has made significant Qh3 with some attack. ] 14.xe7+ White has to grab the material, as progress, as he has not only won a pawn but otherwise Black has equalised at no cost. also managed to exchange a pair of rooks. xe7 15.c3 xf3! The simplest solution, S t i l l , b r e a k i n g B l a c k ' s g r i p o n t h e d a r k squares will be no piece of cake as the e2Black develops quickly. 16.xf3 ad8 [ 16...xe5!? 17.xa8 xa8 also provides bishop can hardly provide assistance. d6 575
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 32.g4 g7 33.b5 c8 34.h3 c5 35.d7 b6 36.f3 d6 Black has decided that this is the safest set-up with both minor pieces defended and well-placed. In particular the f7pawn is covered by the knight so that the white pieces cannot successfully gang-up on it. 37.c6 f6 38.h4 h6 39.d5 g7?! Probably Black didn't want to commit himself too much bef ore the time control, but he should certainly have played [ 39...g5 immediately. ] 40.f4 f6 41.b4?! This gives Black a second chance, [ 41.g5+! must be the correct move positionally: hxg5+ 42.hxg5+ g7 43.b4 and now Black can only move his king! g8 44.e5 f8 and maybe White can engineer a route for his king to c6, via d5, and then capture on c7 or d6. ] 41...g5+ 42.g3 g7 43.h5 f6 44.f3 g7 Now Black has a secure blockade, as with f4 controlled White cannot advance his king past the third rank except on the a-file but then it can't get beyond a4! 45.e2 f8 46.d3 e8 47.c6 f8 48.c3 g7 49.b3 f8 [ 49...f6 is more active, Black can only move his king but this is sufficient. ] 50.a4 g7 51.d5 f8 52.d8+ g7 53.b3 e3 Black allows the king to a5, as this is met by a knight fork on b7! 54.c2 f2 W hite has skilfully stopped the black king from moving, as now [ 54...f6? loses the h-pawn to 55.h8 ] 55.a8 White would like to bring his king to a6, so Black stops this. b6 [ 55...c4! is possibly even better, threa te ning a kn ight f o rk o n e 3, a s th e white pieces have become a bit scattered. ] 56.d3 Controlling the knight and putting Black into zugzwang, any move f rom the minor pieces a allows the white king into a6 or c6, so Black has little choice. f6 [ 56...d4?! is t o o r i s k y: 57.a5 b6+ 58.a6 d4 59.d8 and b5-6 is on the cards. ] 57.h8 d4 58.xh6+?! [ 58.a5! was a better chance, as now the rook becomes trapped. ] 58...e7 59.a5 g7 60.h7 f8 61.a6 [ 61.h6 d4 62.b5 g8 63.a6 e8
and Black draws easily as he can play the position like an opposite-coloured bishop ending - the rook is going nowhere. ] 61...g8 62.g6? A doubtful decision, but it is possible that both players were short of time. [ 62.a7 f5 63.xg7+ xg7 64.gxf5 g4 65.b8 g3 66.f1 xf5 67.g2 e3 68.e4 is a complete draw - Black can win the bishop but W hite will capture his remaining pawn on c7. ] [ 62.g6? can only give winning chances to Black af ter fxg6 63.hxg6 e4! 64.b7 f6 65.h1 ( 65.xc7? xh7 66.gxh7+ xh7 67.b5 g6 68.b6 e5+ 69.c8 f6 wins ) 65...f8 66.xc7 xb4 67.g1 g7 68.c6 xg6 69.b5 d6 70.c4 f7 and White has a lot of work ahead of him to draw this. ] ½-½
578 Bu Xiangzhi Vachier Lagrave,Maxime Corus B Wijk aan Zee NED (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A16 2644 2573 21.02.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ This move is not that problematic for Black, but there are a number of different ideas for White that Black needs to know how to handle. In the notes to this game, I have included all relevant recent games that have been played since the start of 2007 d7 6.b3 [ 6.h4 xc3 A) 7.dxc3 c6 A1) 8.g3 g7 ( 8...f6 9.e4 e5 is the main line in the ECO. Baramidze's choice looks more natural, but allows White to develop an initiative. However, Black may well be okay in this line too.) 9.f4 c8 10.e4 0-0 11.0-0-0 e8 12.e5 f5 13.d3 xd3 14.xd3 d8 15.xd8 xd8 16.h4?! ( 16.d1 c8 f o llo we d b y . . .Rd 8 is f in e f o r B la c k) 16...d5 and Black has already claimed the initiative, R.Buhmann-D. Baramidze, Koenigshofen (GER-CH) 2007; A2) 8.e4 e5 9.xd8+ xd8 10.c4 f6 576
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.e3 a5 ( 11...a5! 12.e2 e6 13.d2 b6 is fine for Black as in Kramnik-Yudashin, Wijk aan Zee (m/2) 1994 ) 12.d2 b6 13.a4 d6 14.e2 b8 15.f3 e7 16.hb1 h5 17.d1 e6 18.f2 , Peng Zhaoqin-P.Negi, Wijk aan Zee 2007, leaves White with a slight initiative; B) 7.d4 f6 8.xc3 B1) 8...e5 9.xe5! fxe5 10.xe5+ e7 11.xh8 c6 12.b3 e5? ( 12...b4 13.d1 0-0-0 14.a3 a5 is given in ECO, claiming compensation for the exchange for Black) 13.e3 0-0-0 14.a3 c5 15.c1+- G.Todorovic-I. Sarenac, Belgrade 2007; B2) 8...c6!? is a new idea: 9.e4 e5 10.a3 d6 11.c4 e7 12.d3 c5 13.e3 b6 14.0-0-0 0-0-0 15.d5 b8 with a good game for Black, G. Savchenko-W.Schmidt, Legnica 2006 ] 6...b6 7.d4 [ a) 7.h4?! e6 8.d1 h6 9.d3 g7 10.f4 c6 11.g3 g4 12.g2 e5 13.e3 d4 ( 13...d7!? also looks appealing) 14.xd4? ( 14.h2 c8 15.d2 c6 16.0-0-0 e6 is better than the game continuation, but nonetheless quite comfortable for Black.) 14...exd4 15.a4 0-0 16.0-0 e8 , and Black is completely in control of the game, M.Muse-A. Areshchenko, Berlin 2007 ] [ b) 7.g3 is a decent alternative, e.g. g7 8.g2 c6 9.d3 0-0 10.0-0 A) 10...e6 11.a3 ( 11.c2!? ) 11...d6 12.xd6 cxd6 is of course fine for Black; B) 10...e5 11.g5 Osuna Vega,ESolaroli,R, Catalan Bay 2007 ] 7...g7 [ 7...e6 is the main move in the ECO ] 8.f4!? [ 8.e4 g4 is a Grünfeld Defence, and therefore not to be discussed here ] 8...e6 9.a3 c6 10.e3 0-0 11.e2 a5 12.c5 a4 13.b5 a5 14.c1 d5 15.g3 Black is slightly ahead in development, but lacks in possible pawn breaks to take advantage of it. In fact W hite has a slight advantage at this point. g4 16.c4 e6 17.g5 f5 18.0-0 e5 19.f3 e6 20.c2
exd4 21.bxd4 xd4 22.xd4 White's advantage doesn't look like much, but it's nonetheless nagging Black, who has a hard time releasing himself from the pressure. d7 23.ad1 c6 24.b5 [ 24.e4!? f6 25.c4 looks very pleasant for White ] 24...f6 25.d6 xb2 26.xb2 xb2 27.xb7 a7 28.c5 c3 29.d2 a3?! [ 29...xe2+!? is possibly better, e.g. 30.xe2 a3 31.c2 f5 32.e4 xc5 33.exf5 a5 34.c4 with a slightly better game for White ] 30.c4 f5 31.f3 a5 32.d6 e8 33.e4 The material is even, but White is far better coordin ate d c8 34.d3 b5 35.xb5 xb5 36.xb2 axb2 37.b1 d8 38.a4 a5 39.bxb2 e6 [ 39...xa4 can also be considered, but the defensive task can well be long and unpleasant after 40.b8 e8 41.c7 ] 40.c7 xd2 41.b8+ g7 42.xa5 a2? [ The text move looks perfectly logical, but Black exposes his king to a direct attack. T h e ri gh t m o ve i s 42...c2 which still is rather difficult for Black ] 43.c3+ h6 44.f6 xa4 45.g4 xg4 This looks a bit desperate, but doesn't otherwise have an answer for 46 g5+ followed by 47 Rh8, and Black's king is trapped in a m a t i n g n e t . 46.fxg4 xe4 47.h3 e6 48.g5+ h5 49.h8 h4 50.g2 h5 51.gxh6+ h5 52.h7 1-0
579 Bu Xiangzhi Wang Yaoyao Torch Real Estate Cup (1) [John Watson]
A16 2630 2456 20.04.2005
1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.d3 g7 7.e3 c6 This move a n d t h e n e xt t ry t o a vo i d t h e d if f i c u l t ie s associated with 7...0-0 8. Qd2 (or 8.Qc1) and at some point Bh6. The problem is that Black's knight will no longer come to c6 to contest the centre. The immediate [ 7...c6 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.c1 has generally favoured White. ] 577
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.d2 h6 9.f3 8d7 10.0-0 a5 11.ac1 f6 12.h3 To prevent ...Ng4. But White was already far enough ahead in development to play [ 12.c5 0-0 13.e4 intending d4. ] 12...fd5 13.d4 0-0 14.xg7 xg7 15.e4! xc3 [ 15...f6 16.d4 demonstrates White's greater control of the centre. ] 16.xc3+!? [ 16.bxc3 is easier to play, with Rb1 and d4 to follow. ] 16...f6 [ 16...h7 is less weakening. This move comes back to haunt Black. ] 17.d4 e6 18.a3!? f7 [ It's interesting that Bu Xiangzhi allows ...a4, with 2 pawns holding up one. This is the same decision, traditionally considered positionally bad, that Timman took in his games versus Hermanson and Hector! Here 18...a4 19.b4 ties Black down a bit, although a6 with the idea ...Qd6 doesn't look so bad. ] 19.fe1 d6 20.h4! White takes aim at the weakness on g6, which for the time being seems trivial and not worth pursuing. e6 [ 20...h5!? ] 21.h5! This looks easy, but remember that the pawn on h5 could prove weak if White hasn't calculated correctly. a4?! Wasting time. [ The problem with 21...g5 is that it cedes the key f5 square after 22.d5! cxd5 23.d4 , e.g., c8 24.f5+ h8 ( 24...h7? 25.d3 ) 25.d4 e6 26.xh6 ] 22.c2 b6 23.h4! Suddenly the weakness on g6 is extremely serious and W hite probably already has a won game! ad8?! [ But 23...g5 24.f5+ h7 25.e5 is very bad for Black and ] [ 23...fc8 24.hxg6 xg6 25.xg6 xg6 26.e5+ f5 27.g4 leaves White with an overwhelming advantage. ] 24.d5! e5 [ 24...cxd5 25.exd5 g4 26.hxg6 xg6 27.xe7+ is crushing. ] 25.hxg6 xg6 26.f5+ h7 [ 26...xf5 27.exf5 d6 28.dxc6 bxc6 29.e6 d7 30.e4! f7 31.f3 h7 32.h5 g7 33.exc6 and Black can
resign. ] 27.dxc6 bxc6 28.xc6 d7 29.b4 axb4 30.axb4 e6 Black has no constructive moves. 31.e7!? [ 31.f4! b8 32.xe6 xb4 33.ed1 would be decisive. ] 31...f7 32.c7 xc7 33.xc7 e5 34.f4 d3 35.b1 h5 36.c6 [ or 36.b5 ] [ or 36.f1! and Rb3. White's technique may not have been perfect but he remains in control until the end of the game: ] 36...c8 37.xc8 xc8 38.e5 g6 39.d1 fxe5 40.fxe5 c7 41.b5 b7 42.f1 [ 42.b4! ] 42...c5 43.d6 e4 44.c4 g7 45.h2 b7 46.d8 c7 47.b6 c8 48.h3 g6 49.xe6 f5 50.h4 xe5 51.xc5 xd6 52.xe4+ e5 53.a6 b8 54.c5 d6 55.a4 g8 56.e2 a8 57.b5 g8 58.c3 c5 59.b7 b8 60.a6 b6 61.e2 xb7 62.xh5 c5 63.e4+ d4 64.d6 d7 65.f7 d5 66.g5 a7 67.f6 a6+ 68.g7 e6 69.g4 e7 70.h6 a5 71.f7 b5 72.g6 b6 73.f5 b5 74.h6 b2 75.g5 g2 76.g4 g3 77.g6 f3 78.h6 g3 79.g4 a3 80.e2 a7 81.c4 c7 82.d5 c5 83.f5+ 1-0
580 Buhmann,Rainer Nedilko,Vasily 11th EICC Men (11) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2587 2400 17.03.2010
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ c6 This natural move has the drawback that Black gets doubled c-pawns, though he does get some activity too. 6.e5 d6 7.xc6 xc6 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.g3 [ Another possibility is 9.b3 when xc3 10.dxc3 g7 11.b2 a5 12.g3 a4 13.g2 a6 14.0-0-0 e6 15.c4 0-0 16.xg7 xg7 17.b2 b8 18.c3 c5 wasn't much for White in Gelfand, B (2733)Svidler, P (2726)/Dagomys 2009. Of course defending a position without much in the way of winning prospects may not be 578
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 everyone's cup of tea. Nor is it suitable for 6...xc3 Nevertheless, Black is facing a every tournament situation. ] completely different kind of game in the 9...b8 This seems to be 'new', though I don't game continuation without the active see it revolutionising the assessment of this counterplay that characterizes the Grünfeld. line. Other moves are as follows: While White will definitely not see a large [ a) 9...g7 10.g2 e6 11.b3 0-0 12.b2 advantage in the game continuation, he will fd8 13.0-0-0 b4 14.a3 d5 15.a4 f6 have that annoying plus-over-equals 16.c5 f7 17.a6 d6 18.d4 pressure which can be difficult to face. ] was better for W hite in Kraai, J (2526)- 7.d3 c6 8.e3 0-0 9.d2 Bezemer, A (2364)/Hoogeveen 2009. ] [ In a survey in New In Chess Yearbook 79, [ b) 9...xc3 10.dxc3 e6 11.g2 d5 Marin claims 9.c1 to be the slightly more 12.e4 c4 13.f1 xf1 14.xf1 0-0-0 accurate move, somewhat limiting Black's 15.e3 was looking very pleasant for White options. ] in Mastrovasilis, A (2518)-Oreopoulos, K 9...e5 10.h6 e7 (2284)/ Kalamaria 2008. ] [ This move is what Marin recommends 10.g2 e6 11.b3 g7 12.b2 0-0 against 9 Qc1, but in this line it doesn't 13.xd5 xd5 appear particularly effective. The ECO main [ There must surely be a case for undoubling line is 10...d4 11.xg7 xf3+ Black's pawns with 13...cxd5 , though it's ( 11...xg7 12.h4 xf3+ 13.xf3 still White for choice after 14.xg7 xg7 Marin/Stoica ) 12.xf3 xg7 15.c1 fc8 16.c5 c6 17.0-0 intending A) 13.h4 h6 14.c1 ( 14.b4 c6 15.b2 18.Rfc1. ] d4 16.0-0 a5 , and Black has solved his 14.xg7 xg7 15.0-0 fd8 16.d3 xg2 opening problems successfully, Ribli, Z17.xg2 b6 This is a nightmare endgame Pribyl, J/Germany 1989; 14.0-0-0 c6 f o r B la c k wh o f a ce s le n g t h y t o rt u re . I t ' s 15.b1 Marin/Stoica) 14...e7 15.e4 difficult to see what attracts Black players to c6 16.c3 d8 17.c5 e6 18.a3 this line unless they actually enjoy this kind of ( 18.g4!? d5 19.g5 h5 20.a3 thing. 18.fc1 f8 19.c4 e8 20.ac1 l o o k s l i k e a n i n t e r e s t i n g a l t e r n a t i v e) d6 21.a4 a6 22.f4 d8 23.f3 c8 18...d5 19.g2 f5 20.d2 f6 24.c5 d5 25.ac4 d7 26.d4 xc5 Gil Reguera, J-Fernandez Cazorla, A/ 27.xc5 b5 28.c4 d6 29.e4 f5+ Madrid 1992 21.0-0; 30.d3 d5 31.b4 d6 32.c3 d7 B) 13.0-0 33.b3 d5 34.e3 b5 35.a4 d5 B1) 13...a5 14.e4 c6 15.fd1 e7 [ 35...b8 might have been better. ] 16.ac1 d8 17.c5 d5 36.c3 b5 37.b3 d5 38.c4 c8 B1a) 18.d4 39.a3 b7 40.a5 d6 41.e5 e6 42.h3 B1a1) 18...b6!? isn't mentioned by h5 43.d3 White's impending 44. e4 Marin/Stoica, but it may represent a persuades Black to halt his suffering. better option for Black, e.g. 19.e4 1-0 ( or 19.dxe5 bxc5 20.e4 e6 21.exd5 xd5 22.e3 xf3 23.xf3 xe5= ) 19...f5 ( 19...f5 581 A16 20.dxe5 xe5 21.d4 xd4 22.xd4 ac8 with no more than a Butnorius,Algimantas 2442 tiny edge for W hite) 20.c3 e4 Iordachescu,Viorel 2584 21.xd5 cxd5 22.g2 a6 23.c3 IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (3) 23.04.2008 dc8=; [Carsten Hansen] B1a2) 18...b4 19.e3 xa2 20.xe5+ xe5 21.dxe5 e8 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 22.a1 b4 23.e6 fxe6 24.xb7 xd5 5.g3 g7 6.g2 b6 xb7 25.d7+ f6 26.xb7 h5 [ It is arguably a question of taste whether 27.h3 ( 27.h4!? to fix Black's Black should prefer the text move or 579
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 k i n gs i d e p a wn s o n b l a ck se e m s m o r e l o g i c a l) 27...ed8 28.b6 ( 28.a4!? ) 28...c2 29.a4 ab8= Marin/Stoica; B1b) 18.a4 e6 19.a3 c7 Solleveld-l'Ami, Utrecht 2005, 20.c5 b5 21.e3 f6= Marin/Stoica; B2) 13...c6 14.b4 e6 ( This position is given as equal in ECO, but that is hardly t h e wh o l e t r u t h , s i n c e B l a ck is st i l l working to equalize well beyond this move. Alternatively in a more recent ga m e , B l a ck t rie d 14...c4 15.c2 d6 16.fd1 a5 17.ab1 axb4 18.xb4 e7 Teske, H-Joachim, S/ Panormo 2001, and now 19.db1 e6 20.a4 leaves White with a somewhat more comfortable game) 15.fc1 c4!? ( 15...f6?! 16.a4 f7 17.g2 f5 18.a5 d5 19.b5 cxb5 20.xb5 a6 21.a3 c8? 22.xc8 xc8 23.b2 e7 24.c4 f6 25.xe5 1-0 Komljenovic, D-Dragojlovic, A/Nice 2001) 16.c2 ( 16.d1!? d6 17.d4 c4 18.d5 cxd5 19.xd5 c8 is given as 'unclear' by Marin/ Stoica, but White has a clear initiative after 20.d3 b5 21.a4 a6 22.axb5 axb5 23.a7 ) 16...d6 17.b2 f6 18.e4 xe4 19.xe4 f7 20.a4 d6 21.c5 e8 22.ac1 R o b a t s c h , K - P o l u g a e vs k y, L / S o c h i 1974 ] 11.xg7 [ In an earlier game with this variation, White went for the more aggressive-looking 11.h4 xh6 12.xh6 f6 13.c1 g4 A) 14.h2 is a peculiar-looking alternative, e.g. d7 ( 14...e6 15.xc6 bxc6 16.0-0 is slightly more comfortable for White ) 15.a3 ad8 16.d5 ( 16.g4 d4 with sharp complications, though Black shouldn't have any problems) 16...xd5 17.xd5+ h8 18.f3 d6 19.e4; B) 14.0-0 ad8 15.e3 fe8 16.e4 d5 17.c5 f5 , Nedela, V-Konopka, M/ CZE 1997 , and now W hite should have played 18.xe7 xe7 19.c5 xf3 20.xf3 d4 21.xb7 xf3+ 22.exf3 b8 23.a5 xb2 24.c6 , and he is clearly not worse in the endgame. ] 11...xg7 12.0-0 d7 13.fc1
[ 13.ac1!? ] 13...ad8 14.b3 [ 14.e4!? f5 ( 14...c8 15.c5 f6 16.b4 ) 15.c5 c8 16.b4 e4 17.b2+ g8 18.e1 is very pleasant for White ] 14...f6 15.b2 f7 16.e4 c8 17.a3 d4 This is the move Black has been preparing wit h his la st co up le o f m o ves, b u t a s a n equalizer it doesn't fully do the job. 18.c5 [ White can even consider the not entirely obvious 18.xd4 exd4 19.a4 ] 18...c6 19.b4 e6 20.a4 d5 21.xe6+ xe6 22.cb1 a6 23.d2 b6 24.b5 , and in this position a draw was agreed upon, although only W hite can be better in this position, having all his pieces excellently coordinated to apply pressure against Black's queenside. ½-½
582 Carlsen,Magnus Svidler,Peter 24th ECC Kallithea GRE (5) [Carsten Hansen]
A16 2786 2727 21.10.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ d7 6.h4 xc3 7.bxc3 [ Somewhat surprisingly, we haven't covered this move before on ChessPublishing. com. The main move is 7.dxc3 about which you can find a couple of references to other Svidler games in the PDF e-books. ] [ The other alternative is 7.d4 f6 8.xc3 which leads to a complicated game and chances to both sides. ] 7...g7 [ Black has two other options to consider at this juncture: A) 7...c5 A) White doesn't achieve anything with 8.g3 , e.g. c6 ( Black has several other moves to consider as well: 8...g7 9.g2 c6 10.0-0 d7 11.d4 h6 12.dxc5?! xc3 13.b1 a5 14.e3 xa2 15.d4 g5 16.h3 xd4 17.xd4 xg2 18.xg2 xc5 , and White doesn't have enough for the pawns, Rajkovic, DKrasenkow, M/Ptuj 1989; 8...a5 9.e5 g7 10.xd7 xd7 11.h3 d8 12.0-0 0-0 13.b1 b6 14.a4 e5 15.b5 a6 580
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A) Black can also play 11...exd4 12.cxd4 16.e4 f5 17.c2 Urday Caceres, Hf5!? ( this is better than 12...b4+ 13.d2 Sion Castro, M/Palma de Mallorca 1991; xd2+ 14.xd2 0-0 15.c1 8...c6!? 9.g2 d7 10.0-0 e6 leaves W hite wit h th e be tter cha nce s 11.xd8+ xd8 12.c4 g7 , and with according to Mikhalevski in CBM) 13.e5 Black having solved all his opening b4+ 14.d2 xd2+ 15.xd2 a5 problems, a draw was prematurely agreed , and Black is doing pretty good.; upon, 1/2-1/2, in W inkeler, U-Loehr, M/ B) 11...g7 12.g5! b8 13.d1 exd4 Germany 1996.) 9.g2 e5 ( 9...g7 14.cxd4 0-0 15.e2 be8! 10.0-0 e6 11.f4 0-0 12.b1 b6= with a pleasant game for Black, Tunik, GH u l t i n , J - M o b e r g , K / M a n h e m s 1 9 9 8) Tseitlin, M/Beersheba 1996. ] 10.c4 e7 11.0-0 0-0 12.d3 c8 13.h6 e8 14.h4 e6 15.b5 d7= 8.b1 c6 [ 8...b6 is the subject of Aronian-Kamsky, Spassov, L-Webb, S/ Concordia 1977; Kallithea 2008, which is the next game of B) 8.b1 b6 ( 8...c7 9.g3 xg3 this update. ] 10.hxg3 b6 11.e4 c6 12.e5 a4 13.c4 e6 14.b3 xb3 15.xb3 d7 9.e4 [ This appear to be White's best, whereas 16.c4 b8 17.a4 a6 18.e2 b5 9.d4?! is simply mistaken, leaving Black with , and Black has sufficient counterplay, the better chances after d5 ] Milos, G-Fernandez Garcia, J/Buenos [ Of more interest is somewhat provocative Aires 1990) 9.d4!? ( 9.e4 c6 10.c4 9.d4!? d5 ( 9...xd4 10.xd4 xd4 e6 11.g3 g7 12.h4 b8 is quite 11.cxd4 d7 12.f3 0-0-0 13.e4 e6 comfortable for Black, Peng Xiaominfollowed by ... f7-f5 is probably okay for S v i d l e r , P / N e w D e l h i / T h e r a n 2 0 0 0) Black even if I would rather play W hite) 9...cxd4 10.cxd4 g7 11.h6! 10.e4 xa2 ( 10...e5? was played in a W ith this move, making use of the recent game, but should be avoided as otherwise oddly placed queen on h4, most evidenced by this game. 11.xd8+ xd8 of Black's potential counterplay is 12.exd5 exd4 13.xb7 dxc3 14.d6! e8+ prevented. 15.d1 cxd6 16.b5 c2+ 17.xc2 c6?? B1) This gets Black into trouble a rather 18.xc6 1-0 Shimanov, A-Kilpatrick, C/Vung s i m p l e i m p r o v e m e n t i s 11...xh6 Tau City VIE 2008) 11.xb7 ( 11.b2 e5!? 12.xh6 , and now c6 has been given without further evaluation by B1a) 13.g7 f8 14.e4!? ( 14.xh7 Mikhaelvski, but White seems to hold the xf3 15.exf3 xd4 is complete okay better chances in this line, e.g. 12.xd8+ for Black ) 14...xe4 15.b5+ c6 xd8 13.f3 e6 14.xb7 , and White 16.g5 d5 17.xh7 e4+ 18.d2 has the better pawn structure along with d7 is complicated; the possibility of scooping up the advantage B1b) 13.c1 d5 14.d2 d7 of the bishop pair with Ng5 in some lines.) 15.e3 b5! is at best marginally better 11...0-0 is given as unclear by Mikhalevski, for White; which is quite possibly an accurate B2) 11...0-0?! 12.e3 f6 13.c4+ h8 assessment, although I somewhat prefer 14.0-0 c6 15.bc1 a5 16.d3 c8 White after 17.e4 , and White has a clear advantage, A) 12.a3 f6 13.h6 c5! ( 13...c8 Macieja, B-Areshchenko, A/ 14.b2 c5 15.f3 ) 14.b3 xb3 Wattenscheid GER 2008 ] 15.xb3 a5 gives Black excellent [ B) Black's second alternative is 7...c6 counterplay; 8.e4 ( 8.d4!? can also be considered, but B) 12.f3 c5 ( 12...f6 13.e2 d6 has yet to be tested.) 8...e5 9.xd8+ xd8 14.b2 f7 15.0-0 ) 13.b2 a5 10.b1 b6 11.d4 ( 11.b5!? 14.xe7 c6 15.b7 fc8 16.a6 is less committal and probably also better, , and W hite seems to be doing rather yet Black should be fine after g7 12.0-0 well. ] 0-0 13.a3 fe8 ) 581
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...e6!? [ This is a new move. Previously Black tried 9...0-0 10.d4 e6 11.g5! f6 A) 12.c4!? e8!? ( 12...fxg5?? 13.xe6+ h8 14.xg5 h6 15.f7+ xf7 16.xd8++- ) 13.e3 is a suggestion of Mikhalevski's White is doing very well in this line too; B) 12.e3 This is a rather unpleasant version of the Exchange Variation of the Grunfeld, Black has hardly any counterplay and both his pieces and pawn structure leave him in an awkward position. e8! 13.d3 ( 13.c4!? M i k h a l e v s k i) 13...d7 14.0-0 d8 15.fd1 b6 16.d2!? a4 17.b3 Sakaev, K-Mikhalevski, V/ Beersheba 1998 ] [ Another option is 9...e5 10.xd8+ xd8 11.g5 '!' is given by Mikhaelvski without an eva lu a t io n , th o u gh h in t ing t h ro u gh t h e punctuation that is supposed to be better for White. However, Black seems to be only slightly worse after e8 This line, however, is n 't a s f le xi b l e f o r B la ck a s t h e g a m e continuation due to the limitations imposed by the e5-pawn on the bishop on g7. ] 10.xd8+ xd8 11.g5!? [ Strictly speaking, this is the novelty of the game, because Svidler premiered 9...e6 against Sakaev in the Russian Championship two weeks prior to this game. In t hat game W hite gave pref eren ce t o 11.d3 d7 12.c2 c5 A) 13.g5 was played in a brand-new game less than two weeks ago, but it is definitely not any threat to this line for Black: e8 14.d4 ( on 14.a3 b6!? looks satisfactory for Black) 14...h6! Black is already doing rather well. 15.xf7 xf7 16.dxc5 xc3+ 17.e2 b5 ( 17...ad8!? ) 18.b2 f6 19.f4 ( 19.xf6 xf6 20.hd1 e5 ) 19...hd8 20.xf6 xf6 21.hd1 g5 ( 21...e5!? 22.g3 xd1 23.xd1 b4 24.e3 a5 may even be better for Black) 22.g3 xd1 23.xd1 gxf4 24.gxf4 g8 25.f3 a5 26.a3 h5 27.e3 g2 28.d2 g1 29.d1 g2 30.d2 g1 31.d1 1/2-1/2 Khismatullin, D-Timofeev, A (2670/ Serpuhov RUS 2008;
B) 13.e5!? f5!? 14.exf6 xf6 15.a3 d7! 16.0-0 b6 17.fe1 e8 18.c5 xf3 19.gxf3 c6 20.e4 ( 20.b3 d7 21.f4!? gives W hite a little pressure) 20...c7 21.eb4 ( 21.be1 ad8!= ) 21...e7! 22.xb6+ axb6 23.xb6 eb8 24.e4 xa2 25.d4 a6 26.xa6 bxa6 27.xb8 xb8 28.xc6 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, Sakaev, K-Svidler, P/Moscow (Russian Ch) 2008 ] 11...e8 12.f3 White's position seems easier to play. W hile largely undeveloped at this juncture, White should be able to establish a solid centre and thereby gain a pleasant space advantage. Black, on the other hand, doesn't have access to the typical Grunfeld counterplay and is therefore at a disadvantage from the outset, though this disadvantage is fairly small. h6 13.h3 b6 14.d4 a4 15.f4 [ 15.d2!? ] 15...c5 16.d2 e7 17.d5 [ 17.d3 d8 18.d5 is also worth a thought. ] 17...g5 18.h5!? e5 19.g3?! [ This is a very dynamic move, but unfortunately for White, not a very good one. Instead W hite should have opted for 19.c4!? d7 20.0-0 after which White has perhaps a slight pull. Now Black takes over the control of the game. ] 19...exd5 20.exd5 c2! The target is the awkwardly-placed knight on h5. 21.c1 g6 22.f4 [ White tries to shake things up a bit, wellknowing that the pawns are very loose and w i l l f a l l . 22.g4 xh5 23.gxh5 d7 is obviously far from ideal for White ] 22...xh5 23.fxe5 The pawns look impressive and if White now only had time to p la y c3 -c4 , h e wo u ld b e n e a rly win n in g . However, in the game the pawns are just easy targets for Black, and as you will see, both are quickly picked up. d7 24.d6+ [ 24.g2 xe5 25.0-0 ae8 is inadequate for White ] 24...e6 25.h3+ g4 26.g2 ad8 27.0-0 xe5 28.c4 xd6 Black has won both of White's central pawns, but White has some compensation in his bishop pair, open files and Black's lacking piece coordination. This 582
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 allows White to stay in the game. 29.c3 f6 30.d5+ d7 31.xf6!? This wins back one of the two pawns. Carlsen may already have had the conclusion of the game in mind at this juncture. xf6 32.xe5 hf8 33.d1 c8 34.xf6 xf6 35.f1!? My computer objects to this move, but Carlsen may have judged this endgame to be an easy draw, which may or may not be right, depending on how you evaluate Black's chances in the lines given as alternatives after Black's 36th move. xf1+ 36.xf1 d7 [ Black can consider 36...a6!? 37.e2 b5 with reasonable winning chances. In the game continuation, White doesn't seem to have too many problems. ] [ Another idea to place the bishop on a better square, ideally d7, and then advance t h e p a w n s o n t h e q u e e n s i d e 36...e8 37.e2 c7 38.e3 c6 39.e6 ( 39.xc6? xc6 40.f4 h5 is of course an easy win for Black) 39...d7 40.d5 a6 41.f4 b5 with excellent winning chances for Black ] 37.e2 d6 38.b7 b5!? [ While this certainly is an interesting attempt at winning, Black may be able to do better with 38...f7 39.a6 e6 40.e3 e5 41.a3 d7 42.b7 b5 43.cxb5 xb5 44.c8 h5 with some chances. However, as with all lines in this endgame, Black has to be wary of the possibility of W hite exchanging all the pawns on the kingside and then sacrifice the bishop on the c-pawn, leaving Black with a-pawn and the wrongcoloured bishop. ] 39.cxb5 f7 40.a3 c4+ 41.d2 xb5 42.c3 Black has won the pawn back, but as long as White is able to maintain his king on c3 and the bishop on the a8-h1 diagonal (or at least prevent Black from using it for his king to penetrate the white kingside), White will be able to hold the endgame. The rest of the endgame sees Black trying to make it work, but Carlsen easily wards off all black attempts. c6 43.c8 d7 44.b7 e6 45.e4 e5 46.c6 c4 47.b7 h5 48.c6 f7 49.g2 d5 50.f1 e4 51.g2+ e5 52.f1 a6 53.a4 a5 54.xc4 c6 55.f7 xa4 ½-½
583 Chernyshov,Konstantin Malykin,Vitaly KB Czech Open (5) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2518 2410 23.07.2002
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c6 3.e4 d5 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.e5 fd7 A solid but rather passive move which leads to positions reminiscent of a French Defence. [ 5...e4 is more enterprising. ] 6.d4 b6 [ T h i s c o u l d w e l l b e b e t t e r t h a n 6...c6 wh i c h b l o c k s t h e c - f i l e a n d t h e e 8 - a 4 diagonal. After 7.ge2 b6 8.g3 g6 9.h4 h5 10.e2 d7 11.g5 Black came under strong pressure in Lautier, J (2645)Van Wely, L (2585)/Groningen 1995. ] 7.d3 [ After 7.ge2 Black gets a reasonable position with g4 8.f3 d7 9.g3 e6 and now ( 9...h5!? 10.h4 e6 is also possible) 10.h5 would be strong we r e i t n o t f o r h4+ , driving the knight back where it came from. ] 7...c6 8.ge2 e6 [ In some games between some not notably stron g p la yers Bla ck ha s pla ye d 8...g4 , but without notable success. For example 9.f3 d7 10.0-0 e6 11.a3 a5 12.b3 e7 13.c2 g6 14.h6 c8 15.d2 left Black very passively placed in Klauser, M (2260)-Silva, C/Zuerich 1986. ] 9.a3 a5 10.b3 d7 11.a4 [ This way of doing things looks quite creative, though I'm not convinced it's better than keeping it simple with 11.0-0 after which e7 12.c2 h6 13.e3 c8 14.d2 makes it difficult for Black to castle kingside due the possibility of a sacrifice on h6. White probably avoided this line because of a4 15.b4 a7 when Black gets at least some squares for his pieces on the queenside. ] 11...e7 12.e3 xa4 13.bxa4 a7 14.b3 b8 15.c3 The exchange of White's knight on a4 gives him the b5 square and some pressure on the b-file. But I can't help thinking this distracts him from playing on the kingside where his space advantage lies. 0-0 16.0-0 f5 17.f4 h6 18.fc1 h8 583
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.c2 g5 20.ac1 g8 21.b5 c6 22.f1 f8 Black has counterplay on the kingside now. 23.d2 d8 24.h3 g7 25.h1 g4 26.e3 b6 27.b1 d8 28.b3 c8 29.cb2 a8 30.e1 h5 31.c3 h8 32.d3 f7 33.g1 g7 34.f1 f7 35.e2 g7 36.d1 f7 37.c2 h4 38.b1 g7 39.a2 f7 40.d2 g7 41.e3 f7 42.c3 f8 43.e2 d8 44.b5 d7 45.d2 c7 46.c1 hc8 47.e3 d8 48.e1 c7 49.f2? A serious mistake. [ 49.c3 is about equal. ] 49...b4+! A real bolt from the blue. 50.b1 [ After 50.axb4 xb5 51.bxa5 ( 51.axb5 axb4+ 52.b1 a5 ) 51...c4 Black just wins. ] 50...c2 51.xd7 [ 51.c3 xb5 52.xc2 xc3 53.xc3 d3 is also winning for Black. ] 51...xe1 52.xc8 xc8 This result seems very strange because Black is winning here. ½-½
12.h3 cxd4 13.xd4 h6 14.d1 , and White is in control, Ivanchuk-Shirov, Polanica Zdroj 1998 ] 7.g3 This move isn't particularly popular and hasn't been discussed on this page before. It has seen a few outings in top level chess. The normal moves are of course 7 e4 and 7 d4 leading to lines we have discussed several times before. g7 [ The main alternative is 7...b5 A) Or 8.h4 c5 9.d3 c6 10.g2 A1) Black ca n a lso conside r 10...g7 11.h6 0-0 12.0-0 bd7 13.ac1 ( 13.xg7 xg7 14.b4!? c8 ) 13...c8 14.d1?! ( 14.xg7 xg7 15.fd1 e5 16.e3 h6 ) 14...e5= 15.e3 h5 16.xg7 xh4 17.xh4 , and here the players settled on a draw, 1/2-1/2, Nisipeanu, L-Timofeev, A/Dubai 2002, despite the fact that Black is doing rather well at this point.; A2) 10...h6!? 11.0-0 bd7 12.d2?! xg2 13.xg2 g5! 14.h3 g4 15.h4 g8 ( 15...e6!? 16.f3 e7! is very unpleasant for W hite, e.g. 584 A16 17.d1 h5 18.fxg4 xg4 19.h3 de5 , and Black is completely in Damljanovic,Branko 2595 command of the game.) 16.f3 e6 Areshchenko,Alexander 2650 17.de4 xe4 18.xd8+ xd8 IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (8) 29.04.2008 19.fxe4 h5 20.f4 g7 21.ac1= [Carsten Hansen] Davies, N-Rowson, J/Southend 2002; B) 8.b3 c5 9.d3 c6 10.g2 c8 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 B1) 11.e3 e6 ( 11...c4!? ) 12.d1 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 a6 d4 13.g5 d7 14.0-0 g7= 15.a4 [ T h e i m m e d i a t e 6...g7 is actually too b4 16.xd4?! cxd4 17.d5?? passive for Black, and White's score in this ( 17.ce4 0-0 ) 17...xd5 18.xd5 e6 variation in enormously in his favour, e.g. , oops and therefore: 0-1, Kongevold, H7.e4! 0-0 8.e5! g4 9.d4 Giemsa, S/Dresden GER 2007; A) or 9...e6 10.d5 f5 11.f4 d7 B2) 11.d1 g7 12.e3 ( 12.0-0 0-0 12.e2 f6 13.e6 de5 14.d1! c6? 13.e3 b4 14.h3 fd5 15.d2 b6 ( Mikhalevski has suggested two ideas, but 16.c1 c4 17.dxc4 xc4 n e i t h e r l o o k s c o n v i n c i n g : 14...xf3+!? with a pleasant game for Black, Psakhis, 15.xf3 e5 16.xe5 fxe5 17.e2 h5 L-Mikha levski, V / Ra mat Aviv 199 8) (necessary, White threatens g2-g4) 18.h3 12...a5 13.c1 0-0 14.b3 c6 15.0-0 h4 19.c4; 14...d6!? 15.d4! d3+ b7 16.h3 d7 17.xd7 xd7 16.xd3 xf4 17.g3 e5+ 18.e2 ) with more or less even chances, Wang 15.d4 d3 16.xd3 xd3+ 17.xd3 Yue-Predojevic, B/Lausanne SUI 2006 ] , and it was soon over: cxd5 18.e2 e5 19.b5 g5 20.e3 f5 21.xg5 f4 22.0-0 8.g2 c6 [ 8...0-0 g6 23.d1 1-0 Rustemov, A-Zezulkin, J/ A) 9.0-0 c6 10.d3 Swidnica POL 1999; A1) 10...e5 11.h4 f5 12.h6 g4 B) 9...c6 10.f4 a5 11.e2! c5 584
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 , and Black has a pleasant game) 13.xg7 xg7 14.xd8 axd8 15.fc1 18...b5 ("and Black is OK" c8 16.e4 f6?! ( 16...f5!? 17.c5 Mikhalevski) ( 18...xe5 19.dxe5 d6 makes more sense the chances are b5 20.a3 bxc4 21.f4 ) 19.c2 fairly level) 17.xf6 xf6 18.f1 d7 xe5 20.cxd5 d7 21.b4 a5 19.d2 , and White has the clearly 22.d2 f6 23.e3 xd5 24.xc7 better chances in the endgame, Jaracz, f8 25.dc1; P-Brkic, A/Nova Gorica SLO 2005; A2) 14...b6 15.a3 e8 16.ac1 A2) 10...g4 11.f4 d7 12.e5 d4! 17.d2 b5 18.b4 c6 19.a5 ( 12.g5!? ) 12...xe5 13.xe5 c6 d7 20.xd8 axd8= , and Black has 14.fc1 ac8 15.b4 h3 16.f3 e6 a t le a st e ve n ch a n ce s , T o p a lo v, V 17.c5 g4 18.g2 e6 , and Black Svidler, P/Dos Hermanas 1999; has solved his opening problems, B) 11.d2 Ionescu, C-Konopka, M/ Budapest B1) Bla ck sh o u ld co n sid e r 11...e6!? 2000; , e.g. 12.a4 ( If White plays 12.h4 B) 9.e5!? c6 10.xd7 bxd7 11.0-0 as in the game, Black has the clever c8 12.d3 a5 13.d2 h5 14.a4 a5 d7!? , and if White plays the natural15.h3 , and White has the somewhat looking, but careless 13.fc1? , then better chances, Miroshnichenko, Eg4! creates serious problems for the Timoshenko, I/Alushta 2000 ] w h i t e q u e e n) 12...0-0 , and here it 9.d4 seems as if White's dark-squared bishop [ 9.0-0 e5 10.d3 h6 Similar position with is somewhat misplaced on d2 Black White's queen on d1 can be reached by 1.c4 certainly shouldn't have any problems Nf62.Nc3 d5 3.cd N:d5 4.g3g6 5. Bg2 Nb6 6. here.; Nf3 Bg7 and so on. The position of queen B2) 11...0-0 12.h4 e8 13.xd8 on c4 is in the Black's favour as he can win xd8 14.ab1 f5 15.fc1 e6 16.e1 few tempos by the means of Be6 and then d6 17.b3 This looks utterly harmless Nd5 and Nb6. for Black, despite the fact that I would A) In an earlier game in this line, two of much rather play W hite in this type of today's top players tested the merits of position (the old Dragon itch is a difficult 11.d1 e6 12.a4 0-0 13.e3 d5 thing to shake off...) nevertheless Black 14.c5 soon ends up in a problematic position A1) Mikhalevski in CBM gives the on account of non-committal play. following line: 14...e8!? 15.d4 B2a) 17...e4!? 18.f4 ( 18.dxe4?! A1a) 15...exd4 16.xd4 xd4 xe4 19.xe4 fxe4 20.e3 f5 ) 17.xd4 xc3 ( 17...xd4 18...fe8; 18.xd5!+- ) 18.xc3 is quite B2b) 17...e7?! 18.a4 c6 19.a5 uncomfortable for Black; de8 20.c2 ( 20.b4!? b5 A1b) 15...xc3 16.bxc3 21.e3 ) 20...f4 21.b4 df5?! A1b1) 16...exd4 17.xd4 xd4 ( 21...d8! ) 22.c5!? ( 22.e4!? d4 18.xd4 ( 18.cxd4?! d5 ); 23.xd4 exd4 24.f3 ) 22...c8 A1b2) 16...e4 23.e4 h5?! , Rahman, Z-Gupta, A/ A1b21) 17.e1?! b5 New Delhi IND 2007, and now 24.c5 ( a l s o M i k h a l e v s k i ' s 17...f5 leaves W hite with a small, but clear is excellent for Black e.g. 18.d5? advantage. ] xd5 19.c4 b5! , and Black is 9...e6 10.a4 0-0 11.0-0 d5! winning ) 18.c2 d5; [ 11...b5 12.c2 b8 13.d1 ] A1b22) 17.e5 d5 ( 17...xe5!? 18.dxe5 g5 ) 18.c4 12.d1 b6 [ 12...b5!? isn't entirely hopeless, e.g. 13.e4 ( 18.c2!? - Mikh a le vski - e3!? xc3 14.bxc3 a5 with an interesting 19.f3 b6 20.a3 a5 21.c4 position ] xe5 22.cxd5 d6 23.b2 b5 585
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.f4 d5 14.g5!? h6 15.d2 b6 16.e3 a5 17.b3 f5 18.c1 [ In an old New In Chess Magazine from the 1980s, Timman wrote that it can be difficult to tear yourself away from thinking about what has just been played, rather than what is actually the best move in the position. I recalled this, because W hite's best move may actually be yet another move with the dark-squared bishop: 18.c1!? , and now d7 19.b2 ( 19.a3!? ) 19...h3 20.e4 leaves White with a comfortable edge. ] 18...g5?! [ 18...d7!? 19.e1 ad8 ] 19.e1 g6 20.d5!? [ White has an noteworthy alternative in 20.e4!? , e.g. d5 21.c5 b6 22.a4 ( 22.e6 fxe6 23.xc6 e8 is less clear) 22...a7 23.e2 e6 24.d3 with a clearly more comfortable game for White. ] 20...b4 21.e4 c6?! [ 21...e6 22.a3 a6 23.e3 exd5 24.exd5 ] 22.a3 a6 23.dxc6 bxc6 24.e3! b8 25.f4! d8 26.c2 gxf4 [ 26...d5!? 27.xd5 cxd5 28.f5 h5 29.exd5 c8 30.d2 d6 31.d3 ] 27.gxf4 h8 [ This is terribly passive and soon leads Black into an even worse position. Instead Black should have opted for something more active, e.g. 27...d5 28.xd5 cxd5 29.f5 h5 30.d3 d4 , and though White is also much better in this line, at least Black isn't passively awaiting the execution... The same can be said about the rest of the game, which is quite a lacklustre performance by Black. ] 28.f5 h7 29.f3 d7 30.a4 f6 [ Black needs to play more actively, such as 30...c5!? ] [ or 30...d6!? though White in either case is still much better ] 31.h1 [ 31.b6!? c8 32.h1+- ] 31...g4 [ 31...c5!? ] 32.g1 d6 33.b6! ab8 34.c4 Now things start coming undone for Black for real d3 35.xa5 e3 36.xd3 xd3 37.xe3 xe3 38.xc6 Black is not only two
pawns down, his minor pieces on h7 and a6 can't get into play. This is of course completely lost for Black, but White makes it looks eve n worse.. . a8 39.d2 e2 40.dc4 d4 41.f3 a2 42.b4 e6 43.b3 f2 44.b5 b8 45.c8+ g7 46.f6+ 1-0
585 David,Alb Salem,AR Gibraltar Open (10.18) [John Bartholomew]
A16 2598 2505 02.02.2012
1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 b6 5.g2 g6 6.d3 g7 7.e3 c6 [ Subscribers may want to peruse the game Ivanchuk, V (2709)-Mamedyarov, S (2580) / Bled 2002/[TonyK] in order to get a feel for the positions resulting from Bg2xc6 in this line. That contest went 7...0-0 8.d2 c6 9.xc6! bxc6 10.h6 (in our main game Black put a stop to this) c5 11.d1 b7 12.f3 with characteristically unbalanced play. ] 8.xc6+ Flank openings are replete with scenarios where one side (usually W hite) exchanges a fianchettoed bishop for a knight in hopes of exploiting the resulting structural deficiencies. Here I believe Black's dynamic potential outweighs such considerations, but I wo u l d n o t b e o f f e n d e d i f yo u d i s a g r e e ! Evidence to the contrary is 8.Bxc6's status as the main line, a healthy 60% score in White's favor, and the patronage of World Champions Vasily Smyslov and Tigran Petrosian. Nevertheless, you can find plenty of strong players taking up Black's cause, and the "eye in the sky" (current ly named Houdini!) is particularly good at unearthing the concrete resources at Black's disposal. [ L a s t m o n t h I i n v e s t i g a t e d 8.d2 . Black has adequate play in the line d4 9.c1 f5 , preventing the exchange of dark-square bishops. See Reinderman, D (2581)-Harika, D (2516)/ Wijk aan Zee NED 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] [ White may want to look in the direction of 8.f3 ] 586
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ or the newly fashionable 8.c1 . See the archives. ] 8...bxc6 9.d2 [ S m y s l o v a n d P e t r o s i a n p l a y e d 9.c1 , which look admittedly less natural than 9. Qd2. Black faces the same choice he had in the game, e.g. A) or 9...h6 10.f3 h3! 11.g1 ( 11.d2 0-0 12.de4 h7 13.f3 d5 14.c5 e6 15.f2 h3 16.d1 Malakhatko, V (2548) -Petrosian, T (2612)/ Dubai UAE 2010. f5! 17.c5 d6 ) 11...g4 12.d2 d5 13.xd5 cxd5 ( taking the opportunity to repair his pawn s t ru c t u r e , b u t 13...xd5 i s f i n e t o o .) 14.b3 d6 15.f3 d7 16.d4 Petrosian, T (2645) -Schmidt, W (2450)/ Skopje 1972. Here I like a5!? , i.e. 17.f2 a4 18.c5 b5 19.d2 h5! with active counterplay for Black.; B) 9...h5 10.f3 g4 ( 10...h3!? ) 11.g5 d5 12.xd5 xd5 13.f3 b8 ( 13...h4!? makes sense; there's nothing wrong with 13...0-0 either. ) 14.b1 d7 15.b3 Smyslov, V (2600) -Robatsch, K (2440)/Sochi 1974. Here Robatsch could have nabbed a pawn with a5+ 16.f2 xa2 . ] [ N a k a m u r a r e c e n t l y p l a y e d 9.c1 , which should probably be met by the old d5!? , e.g. ( 9...g4 10.d2 h5 11.h3 f5 12.f3 d7 13.h4 Nakamura, H (2710)-Mamedyarov, S (2717)/Mainz GER 2009. ) 10.d2 h5 ( 10...xc3!? 11.bxc3 d5 12.f3 g4 13.c4 h5 ) 11.xd5 xd5 12.f3 g4 ( 12...h3 ) 13.c5?! xa2 14.b4 xd2+ 15.xd2 d7 Ree, H (2470)-Van Dop, A (2340)/ Leeuwarden 1975. ] [ 9.f3 h3 could be similar to the game. ] 9...h5!? Black can treat this position a few different ways. The text makes sense: Black toys with the idea of ...h5-h4 and simultaneously prevents Be3-h6. [ 9...h6 is completely playable, and it's probably the move I would chose here. Castling is now more difficult to achieve, but in return Black guards against Ng1-f3-g5. A couple examples: A) 10.f3 h3! An important idea to remember - Black wants to force a small
concession ( 10...g4 has been played a couple times, but Vavrak's move is stronger. ) 11.g1 g4 (The optimal square now that White can't castle) 12.c1 d7 13.h4 d5 14.xd5 cxd5 15.d4 Dizdar, G (2548)-Vavrak, P (2466)/Plovdiv 200 8. At th is po in t I like t he en gin e's suggestion of c8!? with the idea of ...c7c5 and ...d5-d4 if W hite captures. After 16.c5 c6 White is somewhat lacking in ideas due to the poor arrangement of his kingside pieces, i.e. 17.f3 ( 17.g2 g5!? ) 17...h3 18.f2 ( Trying to trap the bishop with 18.g4?! backfires after h5! ) 18...g5 19.g2 0-0 planning ...Rf8-e8 and ... e7-e5 with excellent play.; B) 10.c1 a5! (exemplary flank play!) B1) Better is 11.h4 , i.e. d5 12.f3 xe3!? Black has an interesting dilemma: what minor piece scenario to go for? ( It's also very interesting to fight with two bisho p versu s t wo k nights : 12...xc3!? 13.bxc3 g4; 12...g4 ) 13.xe3 d6; B2) 11.f3 w o u l d b e m e t b y h3! as in Dizdar-Vavrak above. Notice that Black generally does well in waiting to commit his bishop until White has played h2-h4, Ng1-f3, or both.; B3) 11.f3?! a4 ( 11...d5; or 11...h5!? are also attractive.) 12.h4?! d5 13.xd5 xd5 14.a3 b8 15.d4 a2 Von Bahr, O (2284)-Tikkanen, H (2586)/ Stockholm SWE 2011. (23) ] [ 9...0-0 10.h6 would transpose to the af oremen tio ned Ivan chu k-Ma medyaro v game. ] [ Finally, I want to mention the slightly suspicious pawn sacrifice 9...c5?! , i.e. A) 10.h4?! c4 11.d4 b7 12.h2?! ( 12.f3 d7 ) 12...h5 13.h3 d7 14.0-0-0 a4 and White was clearly going off the rails in Cajbel, M (2104)-Kos, P (2220)/ Laczna 2002.; B) 10.h6!?N i s i n t e r e s t i n g : xh6 11.xh6 b7 12.f3! xf3 13.exf3 xd3 14.d1 xf3 15.0-0; C) 10.xc5 b7 11.f3 d7 Lerner, K (2494) -Khmelniker, I (2444)/Ramat Aviv 2 0 0 4 . H e r e 12.h4! looks good when Black's compensation is pretty nebulous. ] 587
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.f3 h3!? New, but entirely logical. [ 10...g4 had been played previously, when 11.0-0!?N is a critical response. After xf3 12.exf3 0-0 13.ac1 Black's pawn weaknesses are slightly more appreciable. ] 11.g5 g2 12.g1 d5 13.c1 0-0 14.ge4 This position is really difficult to assess. Houdini actually prefers White a bit, but (and I'm conjecturing here) I think it tends to overvalue static pawn weaknesses (c6+c7) when concrete counterplay has outwardly stalled. A human will probably wonder where White will put his king and how he intends to deal with the advance of Black's e and f pa wn s . Be s id es, m ost o f t he " p la ns" t h e computer suggests here for White don't make an ounce of sense (try it - you'll see!) f5!? 15.c5 h7 16.b3 g8 17.d4 This advance presents Black with a convenient opportunity for counterplay. e8! 18.d3 d8 Aiming to push the e-pawn. [ 18...a5!? is another good option. ] 19.b2 Trying to pitch the d-pawn. [ 19.f4!? was probably a smarter way to offer it, e.g. xd4 ( 19...d7!?; 19...c4!? ) 20.xd4 xd4 21.e3 d6 22.f2 ] 19...d7! Declined! [ 19...xd4 20.xd4 xd4 21.a4 e5 22.ac5 ] 20.f4?! [ White had better clamp down on c5 with 20.a4 when e5 produces complications. ] 20...c5! This is very well-timed. 21.a4 Damage control - White tries his best to close the floodgates. [ 21.dxc5?! e5! ] [ and 21.xc5 xc5 22.dxc5 e5! are not fun for White. ] 21...f6 [ 21...c4!? 22.bxc4?! f6 is also possible, hitting the knight on a4. ] 22.e5 [ Safer was 22.h3 . ] 22...g4! 23.xg4 cxd4 A key zwischenzug. 24.e5 xe5 25.fxe5 dxe3 26.c3 f4!? Refusing to lose momentum. 27.gxf4 xf4 28.xe3 dd4! 29.c5 b5 We've reached the climax of the game. 30.c3?? A very unfortunate square! [ White had several acceptable moves, i.e. 30.d3 ]
[ or 30.g3 . ] 30...c4! The proverbial "cold shower"! Suddenly White has too many loose pieces. 31.bxc4 There is no defense. [ 31.e3 xc1+ 32.xc1 b4+ 33.d2 ( or 33.d1 d4+ ) 33...xc5 34.xf4 xg1+-+ ] 31...xc5 32.g5 [ or 32.g3 g4! ] 32...f2+! The last accurate move. White resigned in view of 33.Kd2(d1) Rd4+ 34.Kc2 Rxc4. [ But not 32...xc4?? 33.e6! when White survives. ] 0-1
586 Filippov,Valerij Glek,Igor V Open Dubai UAE (3) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2632 2566 17.04.2001
1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 c6 An unusual m o ve , B l a c k wa n t s t o p l a y a s ym m e t r i c Fianchetto King's Indian. 4.e4!? [ W h it e t ries t o d et er .. .d 5 , 4.d4 d5 transposes to the KI, but with this move order (the knight on c3) it is impossible to play a Reti, ] [ 4.f3 d5 and ...d4 is a threat. ] [ However, 4.g2 d5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.b3 e6 7.f3 is quite possible, with a small plus. ] 4...d5 [ 4...d6 could transpose to a KI, but Black is more ambitious. ] 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.e5 d4!? [ No co ncessio ns, b u t 6...e4 is quite r e a s o n a b l e , 7.g2 g7 8.f4 xc3?! 9.dxc3 e6 10.e3 and White has a favourable French-style position, Spraggett, G-Girard,R/Quebec 1989. ] 7.exf6 dxc3 8.bxc3 exf6!? [ A perfectly logical innovation, although 8...e5 , the previously preferred try, also has its merits: 9.e2 ( if 9.f3 d6 10.c4 0-0 and . ..Nd7xf6, is also reasonable for Black ) 9...d6 10.d3 xf6 11.g2 0-0 Black is doing fine, Williams,S-Herraiz,H/ Menorca 1996. ] 588
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.d4 h5!? A typically eccentric Glek move, Black wants to play his bishop to d6, and so stops White from playing Bh6. 10.g2 d6 11.e2 c6 12.c4 White expands in the centre. b4+ 13.d2 xd2+ 14.xd2 White certainly seems to have a plus, Black's doubled kingside pawns are not particularly useful. 0-0 15.d5?! The pawns start rolling, but this is too loosening. e5 16.c5 h3 17.0-0 [ 17.xh3?? f3+ wins the queen. ] 17...c8 18.ac1 xg2 19.xg2 d7! Before W hite can properly support the advanced pawns. 20.c6 bxc6 21.xc6 b6 22.d1 e7 23.c2 b7 24.xc8 xc8 25.b3 g7 26.f4 c4 27.f3 d7 28.h4 d6 Strategically correct, the passed pawn is f irmly b lo ckad ed . 29.d2 c5 30.d4 b5 31.d3 a5 32.d2 a3 33.g1 White can make no progress. ½-½
[ 11...xf1? 12.gxf8+ queening with check and gaining rook and two pieces for the black queen and pawn. ] 12.xc4 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.e2 After the fireworks an unusual position is reached, three pieces is generally considered to be more than a match for a queen, but h e r e B l a c k h a s t w o p a w n s a s w e l l . c6 A new move, but it seems to change little, W hite should avoid the exchange of rooks and attempt to advance his queenside minority. [ 14...ad8 15.0-0 e5 ( 15...b4 16.b1 d7 17.e3 fd8 18.g3 c6 19.a3 b3 20.d1 xd1!? 21.fxd1 xd1+ 22.xd1 seems unclear but White went on to win in V l a d i m i r o v, E - S u t o vs k y, E / B a t u m i G E O 2001 ) 16.e3 d7 17.fe1 a5 18.a3 fd8 19.g4 f5 20.f3 e5 Kramnik,VIvanchuk, V/Belgrade 1997, when 21.xb7! c5 22.c6 seems to favour White. ] [ 14...fd8 15.0-0 c6 16.e3 b4 17.ab1 d7 18.fc1 ad8 19.h3 d2!? 587 A16 offers an exchange to gain some activity, which is a common theme in these positions, Friberg,H 2243 Janssen,R-Golod,V/Vlissingen NED 2000. ] Winge,Stefan 2262 Tch-2002-3 Sweden SWE (3) 13.10.2002 15.0-0 e5 16.e3 b4 17.ab1 ad8 The position is similar to that seen in the [Tony Kosten] previous note: the black rooks can control the 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 d - f i l e b u t t h e y c a n o n l y e n t e r t h e w h i t e 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 c6 7.d4 position at the cost of an exchange as the A more traditional Grünfeld-style approach, white pieces are covering all the important squares, so Black has to consider advancing previously I had analysed [ 7.e4 when e5 might be best, see Gerzhoy, his e and f-pawns to disrupt the white coo r d i n a t i o n . 18.h1!? fe8 19.f4?! L-Sutovsky,E/Tel Aviv ISR 2001. ] 7...g7 8.e4 0-0 9.e5!? The sharpest An unusual and interesting way of proceeding, attempt, other moves are certainly possible, White tries to lever open the f-file to attack the black kingside before Black plays ...f5-f4. for instance [ 9.e2 which blurs the line between the e4!? I am not sure that Black should close this English and the Grünfeld, and is considered column like this, as his rooks need files, why [ 19...exf4 when 20.xf4 d6 21.d4+ under [D90]. ] xd4!? 22.xd4 xd4 should favour 9...e6 This is the critical reply, as allowing Black. ] the knight to be displaced concedes control of 20.f5 f6 21.a3 a5 22.c4!? Offering the centre, e.g. [ 9...g4?! 10.f4 a5 11.e2 h8?! another pawn to weaken the black kingside. 12.h3 h6 13.xh6! xh6 14.e6 c6 gxf5 23.e2 e5? [ 23...e5!? ] 15.e5+ winning a piece, Vaulin,A-Vokarev, 24.g3 This regains the pawn with advantage S/Novgorod 1999. ] 10.exf6! Once again the only testing reply, for as the white pieces have found good squares. if the queen moves Black can play .. .Nd5. b5 25.xf5 bxc4 Returning the queen to reach an endgame where Black has rook and xc4 11.fxg7 xg7 And not 589
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 two pawns for the two white pieces, but where his pawn structure is significantly devalued. [ 25...d6 is met by the stunning 26.xf6!! xf6 27.f1+ g7 ( 27...g6? 28.f7+ g7 29.f5+ is even worse.) 28.f5+ regaining the queen. ] 26.xe5 xe5 27.g1 b5 28.e2 d3 29.d4 d5 30.c3 [ 30.xa7! ] 30...e3 31.g3 d1+? It is normally correct to exchange the opponent's one rook in such endgames, but here this move swaps a n active piece for a passive one, and allows the white king to win the e-pawn. 32.xd1 xd1+ 33.g2 g6 34.f3 f5 35.d4+ g5 36.xe3 Now White is winning. h1 37.f3+ g6 38.h4 c5 39.f2 b1 40.d2 d1 41.xc4 The weak pawns drop like ripe plums. d8 42.f3 f5 43.e3+ e6 44.f4 d7 45.h5 d8 46.g4 f5 47.e3 g8 48.h6 d8 49.xf5 d1 50.e3 h1 51.g7 h2 52.g4 h1 53.g5 White's technique is really very good and he leaves his opponent without a glimmer of a hope. f7 54.g4 f1+ 55.e4 d1 56.e5+ g8 57.g4 f7 58.e5+ g8 59.f6 d2 60.d3 c4 61.f4 f7 62.c3 h2 63.d5 h4 64.e5 g4 65.g6+! g8 [ 65...hxg6 66.h7 queens the h-pawn. ] 66.gxh7+ xh7 67.xc4 xh6 68.d5 g5 69.e6+ g6 70.d4 f7 71.b4 e8 72.c6 a6 73.a4 a5 74.b5 xa4 75.b6 a3 76.b7 b3 77.b8+ xb8 78.xb8 a4 79.d6 d7 80.a3 c8 81.c5 b7 82.b5 c7 83.d4 b7 84.xa4 1-0
castling rights. ] 6.dxc3 [ 6.bxc3 would lead to a Grünfeld Defence, of course. ] 6...xd1+ 7.xd1 d7 Black wishes to play ...e5, and then bring his f8-bishop out onto the a3-f8 diagonal (to c5 if possible)- the bishop has little future on g7 in this line. 8.f4 [ White tries to keep a grip on e5, but will have to lose a tempo later-on. Otherwise, he can try 8.c4 e5 9.e3 f6 10.d2 d6! 11.f3 e7 12.e2 a5 which seems fairly level, Gurevich,D-Gurevich,I/Chicago 1992. ] 8...c6 The reason that this line is less promising for White than the corresponding one in the Symmetric, is that the black c-pawn is not on c5, and therefore he can play this move and maintain control over the light squares. 9.c2 f6 Black persists with his plan. 10.d2 e5 11.e3 c5 [ The most straightforward move, exchanging White's best minor piece. 11...a5 12.h4 h5 13.h3 c5 14.d1 xe3 15.xe3 c5 allowed White to maintain a pull in Larsen, B-Cseshkovsky,V/Riga 1979. ] 12.xc5 xc5 13.b4 a4! [ Knights are normally badly placed when they wander offside like this, but Black has to find concrete answers to W hite's positional threats. 13...e6 would allow W hite to take hold of the initiative on the queenside by 14.c4 e7 15.a4 ] 14.c4 d8!? [ A new twist, the black king heads for the c7s q u a r e , r a t h e r t h a n t h e 14...e7 of Novkovic,M-Yandemirov,V/Eupen BEL 1999, which led to a quick draw after 15.e2 e6 16.hd1 xc4 17.xc4 a5 18.a3 b6 19.e2 axb4 20.axb4 xa1 21.xa1 588 A16 a8 ] Gelfand,Boris 2713 15.d6 [ White decides to exchange the black Ivanchuk,Vassily 2702 bishop. 15.e2 e6 16.a5 can be met, Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (6) 05.12.1999 simply, by c7 ] [Tony Kosten] 15...e7! A clever change of plan, the point of 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 which is revealed several moves later. 16.d1 a5 17.b5? xd5 5.e4 xc3 [ A m is t a k e , 17.a3 axb4 18.axb4 b5 [ By comparison with the similar line in the would be equal. ] S y m m e t r i c a l V a r i a t i o n , 5...b4?! w o u l d b e p o i n t l e s s a s a f t e r 6.d4 17...d8! Winning a pawn. 18.xc8+ axc8 White controls the centre without losing his 19.xd8 xd8 The rook needs to stay on the 590
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a minor role this year so far. xd5 5.a4+ [ Other moves include 5.e4 (played in our other main game in this section) ] [ 5.b3 ] [ 5.h4!? . Examples of these lines can be found in the PDF e-books and the PGN archive. ] 5...d7 6.b3 [ White's two main alternatives are 6.c2!? , which Tony Kosten gives as his preferred move in the PDF e-book, but unfortunately hasn't been covered in any of the updates on Chesspublishing.com thus f ar. I will return to this move soon, because W hite scores incredibly well with it and its treatment in the ECO is by and large very superficial ] [ and 6.h4 which clearly is the theoretical m a i n l i n e a n d i s p la ye d 8 - 1 0 t i m e s a s frequently as our main game move and 6Qc2 ] 6...b6 7.d4 [ As mentioned in the notes to Bu XiangzhiVachier Lagrave in the February update, White has a decent alternative in 7.g3!? ] 7...g7 8.f4 [ 8.g5 was seen in Ionov-Klimov, St Petersburg 2005, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] [ 8.e4 g4 is a regular Grünfeld ] 8...e6 9.a3 0-0 [ An alt ernat ive is 9...c6 Bu XiangzhiVachier Lagrave, Wijk aan Zee 2007, which was discussed in my February 2007 update and th us ca n b e f ou nd in th e a rc hives . W hite obtained in my opinion the better chances in that game ] 10.e4 [ A new move in this position. Previous encounters featured the more reserved, and in my opinion probably better 10.e3 8d7 589 A16 ( 10...d5 11.xd5 xd5 12.e2 d7 13.0-0 c6 14.g3 f6 15.e5 e4 Gelfand,Boris 2733 16.xg7 xg7 17.fd1 h5 18.e5 d6 Svidler,Peter 2735 19.d3 f6 20.c4 xc4 21.xc4 WCh Mexico City MEX (11) 25.09.2007 1/2-1/2 W ang Yue-Areshchenko, A/ [Carsten Hansen] Lausanne SUI 2006; 10...a5 11.e2 c6 12.0-0 8d7 13.fd1 c4 14.xc4 xc4 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 15.b3 d5 16.xd5 cxd5 17.ac1 b8 Gelfand started dabbling with 4 Qa4+ which 18.b4 c6 19.b5 a7 20.b6 xb6 has been quite popular all year. The text move 21.xe7 1-0 Granda Zuniga, J-Mikhalevski, is the main line move, which has played only
c-file. 20.b6 [ Now we see why the black king went to e7 instead of c7, as now 20.bxc6 meets xc6 which wouldn't be possible with the king in the way, and after 21.c4 b6 the black rook comes to b2, with a winning advantage. ] 20...xb6 And having won a solid pawn for nothing, the rest is, as they say, 'a question of technique' (or, at least it is at this level!) 21.h4 h6 22.g3 c7 23.e2 c8 24.h5 g5 25.g4 d6 Black doesn't want to allow a rook and pawn ending here, and anyway, his knight will prove stronger than the bishop because of the pawn structure. 26.d3 b5 27.d1 e7 28.e3 b4! Both creating a passed c-pawn, and exposing the isolated apawn on an open file, whilst at the same time establishing a powerful square for the knight on d4. 29.c1 b5 30.cxb4 axb4 31.f4 gxf4+ 32.gxf4 d4 33.d3 a7 Now the a2-pawn is a target. 34.fxe5 fxe5 35.b1 d6 [ 35...a3+! 36.c4 c2 seems more to the point, threatening mate in one. ] 36.xb4 a3+ 37.d2 [ If 37.c4 then xa2 wins easily enough, the white bishop is fairly useless here. ] 37...xa2+ 38.d3 a3+ 39.d2 g3 40.d1 b5 Black intends to bring his king to c5, thence d4, when the e4-pawn will drop. 41.e2 [ 41.c4 Would have held up Black more. ] 41...g2 42.d3 h2 43.d1?! h3+ 44.d2 c5 45.a4 [ 45.b2 h2+ 46.c1 xb2 47.xb2 d4 is equally hopeless. ] 45...c3 Winning the e-pawn with check. 46.g4 g3 0-1
591
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 V / L a L a g u n a E S P 2 0 0 7) 11.g5?! ( 11.e2!? ) 11...c4!? ( 11...f5!? 12.e4 e5 13.dxe5 xe5 14.e3 d6 15.a5 e5 16.exf5 ec4 17.xf7 e7 18.h6+ g7 19.xc4 xc4 20.f6+ xf6 21.d5 xa5 22.xe7 b4+ 23.e2 xe7= ) 12.xc4?! ( 12.0-0-0!? xf1 13.hxf1 c4 14.b3 db6 15.h4 , and I prefer White, but both sides have chances) 12...xc4 13.b3?! ( 13.b4 e5! 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.0-0 a5! 16.xb7 b8 17.a7 xb2 ) 13...e5 14.xc4 b6 ( 14...exf4!? 15.f3 fxe3 16.fxe3 e8 ) 15.b3 ( 15.d3 exf4 16.f3 fxe3 17.fxe3 d7 ) 15...exf4 16.f3 fxe3 17.fxe3 e7 0-1 Kottnauer, C-Richter, E/Chocen 1942 ] 10...c6 11.d1 [ 11.h4 xd4 ( 11...g4 12.e5 e6 13.0-0-0 ) 12.xd4 xd4 13.xe7 8d7 14.d1 f6 15.xf6 xf6 ] 11...c4 12.xc4 xc4 13.e5 a6 14.e3 [ 14.d5 ] 14...d6! 15.f4 [ This looks a bit odd, why does White allow Black to mess up his pawn structure. The answer lies in the fact that 15.xd6 exd6 16.d3 d7 while innocent-looking is quite u n c o m f o r t a b l e f o r W h it e t h a n ks t o t h e pressure Black can apply down the e-file and along the a6-f1 and h8-a1 diagonals, and White essentially is without any targets to focus his counterplay on. ] 15...xa3 16.bxa3 f6 [ 16...d8!? (intending ...Nd7) 17.h4?! d7 18.h5 ac8 looks very nice for Black ] 17.f3?! [ I don't agree with move, even if looks perfectly normal, overprotecting the d4-pawn which often becomes a target in the Grünfeld. Instead I tend to give preference t o t h e s o m e wh a t p ro vo ca t ive , ye t a ls o perfectly logical 17.d3 and now preventing Nc5 with A) Or 17...e6 18.c5 f7 19.d5 cxd5 20.xa6 xa6 21.exd5 exd5 22.xd5 fd8!? and the chances are about even; B) 17...d7 18.d5 c4 ( 18...f5 19.e5 ) 19.b2 f5 20.e5 xd5 21.xd5 cxd5 22.xd5 , and White should be okay; C) 17...c4!? also looks good, anticipating
White's Nc5, which now can be met with ... b6 18.f5 gxf5 19.exf5 d7 20.f4 b6 , and Black has at least a slight pull; D) 17...b6!? may be given preference e.g. 18.f5!? f7 ( 18...e6?! 19.fxe6 e8 20.f4 is better for White) 19.g4 d7 20.f4 c4 21.f2 fd8 , and despite W hite space advantage, Black has the slightly better chances thanks his better pawn structure ] 17...d7!? [ Black has another attractive option in 17...e6!? e.g. 18.h4 h5 19.f2 d7 20.he1 b6 21.d5 f5!? 22.d4 fxe4 23.xg7 xg7 24.xe4 exd5 and Black has the better chances ] 18.d5 b6 [ 18...fc8!? 19.dxc6 ( 19.f2 f7 20.d6 e8 21.dxe7 xe7 ) 19...xc6 20.d5 f7 21.b4 c3 22.f2 b5 looks very comfortable for Black ] 19.dxc6 bxc6 20.d4 fc8 [ Black has several good continuations at this juncture. The game continuation is one, but another one is 20...f7!? 21.f2 c4 22.c1 fc8 , and Black must be better with his well-placed knight on c4, bishop pair, and better pawn structure ] 21.e6 h6! 22.f2 And here a draw was agreed upon. [ 22.f2 rather prematurely I will say, because Black's position looks rather c o m f o r t a b l e a f t e r c4 23.c5 f7 followed by a knight to c4, and Black has every reason to be satisfied ] ½-½
590 Gelfand,Boris Vachier Lagrave,Maxime GM Biel SUI (5) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2755 2703 24.07.2009
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 g7 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 b6 [ This keeps more options with his pawns than 7...c6 as Black can still move his cpawn. On the other hand it moves a piece away from the centre. ] 8.d3 592
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 8.d4 c6 would be a regular Neo Gruenfeld, as would 8...Nc6 9.d4 Nb6. ] 8...a6!? This looks odd at first as Black is voluntarily putting his knight on the rim. On the other hand he is able to close the h1-a8 diagonal with ... c7-c6 which leaves Black's position very solid. [ Gelfand has also played against the more classical 8...c6 , for example 9.e3 e5 10.b4 e8 11.b5 d4 12.a4 e6 13.g5 b3 14.b1 d5 15.ge4 c6 16.b2 and he now had a clear edge in Gelfand, B (2758)-Obodchuk, A (2404)/Khanty Mansiysk 2009. ] 9.f4 Temporarily preventing ...e7-e5, which makes Black consume half a tempo (with ... Re8) if he still wants to get it in. [ White has played other moves here, for example 9.e3 h6 ( 9...e5 is certainly possible ) 10.c1 h7 11.d1 c6 12.d4 e6 13.f4 c8 14.e5 f6 15.f4 h3 was Khalifman, A (2662) -Bologan, V (2683)/ Moscow 2005, with a somewhat worse but still playable position for Black. ] 9...c6 The consistent follow up to 8...Na6. [ Another possibility is 9...e8 , for example 10.d2 c6 11.ac1 e6 12.fd1 d7 13.b3 ad8 14.h4 h3 15.h1 e5 16.h6 g4 17.h2 f5 didn't get anywhere for White in San Segundo Carrillo, P (2405)Balinov, I (2265)/Odessa 1990. White must surely be for preference in these positions, but converting his 'central pawn majority' into something more concrete is far from easy. ] 10.d2 g4 11.fd1 c7 12.e5 e6 13.d4 cd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.h6 xh6 16.xh6 b6 17.f3 f6 [ 17...xb2? 18.e4 f6 19.g5 is good for White, as even the clever doesn't help after xf2+ 20.h1 intending 21.e5. ] 18.d2 ad8 19.e3 c7 20.c2 f5 21.c4+ e6 22.e2 d5 23.e1 e5 24.dxe5 fxe5 25.f3 c5 26.g5 White is now better because of his possession of e4 in front of Black's isolated e5 pawn. But it's not much... e7 27.e4 g7 28.c2 e6 29.c3 g5 30.xg5 xg5 31.xd5 cxd5 32.f4 f6 33.xe5 xe5 34.fxe5 fe8 Things are petering out to a draw now. 35.ac1 d7 36.e4 xe5 37.xd5 exd5
38.exd5 xd5 39.c7+ f6 40.xb7 d1+ 41.g2 d2+ [ 41...d2+ 42.h3 h5 43.xa7 xb2 is never going to be anything but a draw. ] ½-½
591 Georgiev,Kiril Neverov,Valeriy 1st League TCh-SCG (9) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2637 2566 07.09.2003
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 g7 7.e5!? An ambitious attempt to gain the bishop pair, we had previously examined the move [ 7.e4 which aims to drive the knight from f6, or set-up a strong centre. ] 7...e6! A novelty, Black preserves his bishop at the cost of a pawn. [ 7...0-0 had been the automatic choice up till now, 8.xd7 bxd7 9.g3 e8!? 10.g2 d6 11.b3 c5 12.d3 White has the bishop pair, but Black enjoys a solid setup, Andonov,B-Zahariev,Z/Sofia 1992. ] 8.b5+ White has to grab the pawn, o t h e rwi se h i s se ve n t h m o ve wo u l d b e a complete waste of time. bd7 9.xd7 xd7 10.xb7 0-0 So, Black completes his development and is ready for action, while White is hardly developed at all. On the other hand, W hite has an extra pawn, and has made a hole in the black queenside structure. 11.e3 d5!? [ 11...fb8 12.a6 c5 is also possible, keeping the queens on the board. ] 12.b5 d6 13.c6 Naturally White looks for an exchange of queens. ab8 Black has to acquiesce, as [ 13...d8?! 14.0-0 leaves him with little to show for the pawn. ] 14.xd6 exd6 15.a4 White has to guard the c2-square. b4 16.0-0 c5 Black has excellent compensation for the pawn due to his strong queenside initiative. Two other possibilities worth consideration: [ 16...xc3!? 17.bxc3 xa2 would regain t h e p a w n , a l t h o u g h a f t e r 18.a3 Black m igh t ha ve pro blem s m oving h is knight from a2. ] 593
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 16...d3 must have been tempting, 17.b3 c5 with a strong bind. ] 17.b3 d5 18.a3 d4!? A good move, although Black could also keep the tension by [ 18...fc8 , say. ] 19.exd4 xd4 The bishop comes to a commanding central post. 20.ac1 fd8 21.xb4 Conceding the two bishops, but the b la c k k n i gh t wa s ju s t t o o p o we rf u l . cxb4 22.e2 f5! Black seeks to show that the a4bishop is misplaced, and thus there is no need to move the d4-bishop. 23.fd1 [ 23.xd4?! xd4 24.fd1 bd8 25.c4 a5 26.xd4 xd4 is better for Black, as he will play ... Bc2 and recuperate the d-pawn, when he will have the superior minor piece (as the white queenside pawns are fixed on light squares). ] 23...b2 24.c7 d3 25.c1 f5 26.h3!? White decides to play on, although this is a very risky decision, [ 26.e2 would repeat, while ] [ 26.xa7?! g4 27.f1 ( 27.f3?? d4+ ) 27...xd2 is excellent for Black, whose bishops dominate. ] 26...bc8 27.xc8 xc8 28.e2 c2 Black's initiative seems to be never-ending! 29.b5 Time to bring this piece back into play. f6 30.g3 xa2?! White is happy with a draw, but after [ 30...e6 31.d4 d5 he is clearly better as he will take the a-pawn and have two bishops and an active rook. ] 31.xf5 gxf5 32.d4 f8 33.d5 f4 34.d3 White tries to keep rooks on, as [ 34.d6 a1 is an immediate draw. ] 34...c3! 35.d6 d2 36.xd2 xd2 There is no chance of making any progress in this opposite-colour bishop endgame. ½-½
592 Georgiev,Kiril Safarli,Eltaj 30th Open Benasque ESP (6) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2675 2603 13.07.2010
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 a6 7.g3 e6 Here too Safarli seems well prepared with a
new and very reasonable move. In earlier games Black has played either 7...b5 or 7... Nc6 here, for example: [ a) 7...b5 8.b3 ( 8.h4!? is much more interesting) 8...c5 9.d3 c6 10.g2 g7 11.0-0 0-0 12.f4 c8 was fine for Black in Greenfeld, A (2560) -Baron, T (2299)/Haifa 2008. ] [ b) 7...c6 8.g2 g7 9.0-0 ( 9.d4 e6 10.a4 0-0 11.0-0 d5 12.d1 b6 13.f4 d5 was fine for Black in Damljanovic, B (2595)-Areshchenko, A (2650)/Plovdiv 2008 - see the Archives.) 9...e5 10.d3 h6 11.d1 e6 12.a4 0-0 13.e3 d5 14.c5 b6 15.a3 e8 16.ac1 d4 and the game was about equal in Topalov, V (2700)-Svidler, P (2713)/ Dos Hermanas 1999. ] 8.h4 [ 8.b4 is well met by c8 with ideas of ... Nb8-c6 and ... Be6-h3. ] 8...g7 9.d3 h6 Preventing Bc1-h6 and making the kingside less habitable for White's queen. 10.a4+ b5 11.d1 [ 11.xb5? loses to d7 . ] 11...c5 12.g2 bd7 13.0-0 0-0 14.e3 c8 Black has no problems here whatsoever. 15.h3 b4 16.a4 d5 17.d2 7b6 18.xb6 xb6 19.b3 ½-½
593 Gerzhoy,Leonid Sutovsky,Emil Open Ch Tel Aviv ISR (1) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2245 2604 09.04.2001
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 c6 [ W e h a v e s e e n 6...g7 several times before. ] 7.e4 e5! [ N e w , a n d e x t r e m e l y l o g i c a l , 7...a6 was examined in the archives, but the text stops White from further advancing his epawn. ] 8.d4 exd4 9.xd4 e5!? [ Black keeps control of the e5-square, although 9...g7 10.xc6 xc6 11.f4 is only marginally better for White. ] 594
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg7 11.xc4 is also feasible) 9...d5 10.g5 h6 11.xe6 fxe6 12.e4 is very awkward for Black, Adamski,J-Vujic, B/Valjevo 1984. ] 9.d4 e6 [ The 9...c6 of Ivanchuk-Shirov, was mentioned in the archives. ] 10.d5 f5 11.f4 d7 12.e2 W hite threatens to win a piece with h3. f6 13.e6 de5 [ 13...c5?! 14.c4 b6?! 15.d4 e5 16.xe5 fxe5 17.c6 e8 18.b4 is horrible for Black, Drogoon,A-Vorobiov,E/ RUS-Cup02/1998. ] 14.d1!? [ Considered stronger than the original 14.xe5 fxe5 15.h3 f6 of Goldin, AMikhalevski,V/Rishon Le Zion 1997, although here 16.g4 e4 17.d2 xd5 18.gxf5 seems to win a piece for next-tonothing. ] 14...d6! [ An improvement, suggested by Mikhalevski in h is n o te s to t h e ga me Ru st em ov, A Zezulkin,J/Swidnica 1999, which continued: 14...c6? 15.d4! d3 16.xd3 xd3+ 17.xd3 cxd5 18.e2 e5 19.b5 winning. ] 15.h3 [ This time 15.d4 can be answered by d3! 16.xd3? ( 16.xg4 xf1 17.xf1 xg4 18.xd6 cxd6 is not too bad for Black ) 16...xd3+ 17.xd3 xf4 ] 15...xf3+ 16.xf3 e5 17.e3 g5 594 A16 18.xe5 xe5 19.xe5 fxe5 20.b5 Golod,Vitali 2590 Reaching an endgame where White has the Tseitlin,Mark D 2445 better pawn formation, but Black has two ch-ISR Ramat Aviv Modiin ISR (3) 19.12.2000 bishops, and he hastens to free the darksquared one. e4 21.0-0 xc3!? 22.bxc3 [Tony Kosten] g7 23.fe1 ad8 24.d7 f6 The black 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ king is well-placed on the dark squares. 25.c4 Once again this idea of playing a favourable 5 b6 26.e3 g6 27.d2 e5 28.a3 d6!? [ Offering a pawn for activity, 28...a5 29.c5 Qb3 Grünfeld where the d7-bishop is is more awkward. ] misplaced. d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 g7 29.c5+! 7.e4 0-0 8.e5! [ 29.xa7 a8 30.xa8 xa8 31.a4 c5 [ This reveals the point of luring the bishop to forces W hite to passively defend his d7, as now black's knight can't retreat to its queenside pawns, his king is currently far n a t u r a l s q u a r e o n d 7 . 8.d4 g4 a w a y f r o m t h e a c t i o n . 32.b5 e8 would transpose to a normal Grünfeld. ] will lead to a drawn rook endgame. ] 8...g4 [ 8...e6?! 9.h4 ( 9.exf6!? xc4 10.fxg7 29...bxc5 30.a6+ e5 31.xa7 e8!
10.e2?! [ Not a very useful square for the queen, 10.b3 c5 11.c2 c6 12.g5 is more testing, as f4 is threatened, and the c2-knight can head for d5 via e3. ] 10...g7 11.f3 e7 12.g5 [ 12.xe5 xe5 13.f4 a5 14.e5 d5 15.d2 0-0-0 is also fine for Black, who can break with ...f6. ] 12...0-0-0 13.d5 d6 14.xe5 xe5 15.f4 d6 Although Black is getting kicked around, he has completed his development and is ready to apply pressure on the central files. 16.c3? [ 16.xf6 xf6 17.d1 g7 18.e3 would allow White to castle, but Black will be happy with his bishop pair. ] 16...g4 [ Good, but 16...xe4! 17.xe4 b4+ 18.f2 de8 is a killer. ] 17.c2 he8 18.e5 Otherwise the pressure on e4 is too great, but now Black hits out: xe5+! 19.fxe5 xe5+ 20.e2 xg5 Black has gained two pawns, and control of the dark squares, for the exchange. 21.0-0? [ This loses by force, but better alternatives a r e f e w , e . g . 21.c1 e5 and White cannot castle. ] 21...d2 22.xg4+ xg4 23.e4 h4 24.h3 d4+ 25.h1 xh3+! [ 25...xh3+ 26.gxh3 h2# ] 0-1
595
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 32.xc7 xd7 33.exd7 d6 34.c6+ xd7 35.xc5 White has managed to achieve a rook and pawn ending with a solid extra pawn, but the respective activity of the kings allows Black to draw. c8 36.b5 b8 37.xb8 xb8 38.d4 b1+ 39.h2 b2 40.g3 e2 41.a4 h5 42.b4 d6 43.a5 h4+ 44.h2 [ 44.g4 xf2 45.xg5 xg2+ 46.xh4 xd5 might even favour Black, as the white king is cut-off. ] 44...xf2 45.xe4 a2 46.e6+ [ 46.a6 xd5 47.xe7 xa6 48.g7 a4 49.xg5+ e6 is a simple draw. ] 46...xd5 47.g6 xa5 48.xg5+ e5 49.g4 a1 50.xh4 e4 51.g3 f1 52.h8 e3 53.e8 d4 54.h4 [ 54.h4 following d3 Black will queen the epawn, but the white king and h-pawn will be far up the board. ] ½-½
595 Gonda,Laszlo Rajlich,Vasik G FSGM April Budapest HUN (4) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2482 2459 06.04.2010
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ d7 6.h4 c6 7.d4 This series of queen moves looks very odd, but Black's defensive moves don't gain much time and he has to play some moves that are not very thematic in Gruenfeld like structures. f6 8.e3 g7 9.e2 e5 10.c4 d6 11.d4 d7 12.0-0 f5 13.b5 [ Vladimir Kramnik's choice in this position was 13.b3 when e4 14.d2 a5 15.a4 h5 16.b5 e7 17.c4 was a bit better for him in Kramnik, V (2710)-Gurevich, I (2575)/Biel 1993. ] 13...xb5 This seems to be new it avoids a loss of time by moving the queen back. [ Previous games have featured 13...e7 when 14.dxe5 xe5 15.xe5 xe5 16.d4 xd4 17.xd4 f6 18.xf6 xf6 19.d1 was slightly better for White in Do nc he v, D (2 4 55 ) -G h in da , M (24 80 )/ Bratislava 1983. ] 14.xb5 0-0-0 15.dxe5 xe5 16.d1 c6
17.b3 f6 18.d4 White seems a bit bett er here be cau se h is kin g is sa f er. h5 19.d2 g4 [ 19...b8 was better, trying to safeguard his monarch. ] 20.e1 [ White was probably scared of playing 20.h3 because of e5 21.hxg4 hxg4 22.g3 e4 , but he can also play 22.Ba6!? which seems very strong. ] 20...e5 [ 20...d6 seems better, helping cover the queenside. ] 21.g3 h4 22.xc6!? [ Interesting, but 22.a6! bxa6 23.xc6 wi t h f o l lo w- u p s s u c h a s 2 4 . R a c 1 wa s probably very strong. ] 22...bxc6 23.a6+ d7 24.c3 b8? This is just bad. [ Black should play 24...e4! when 25.b7+ e6 26.xc6+ e7 27.c5+ e6 gives him a draw but nothing more, the point being that 28.xg7? hxg3 would give Black a winning attack. ] 25.xb8 xb8 26.xg7 White is just a pawn up now with a powerful pair of bishops. hxg3 27.hxg3 h3 28.e2 h7 29.d4 e6 30.ac1 c8 31.e4! b6 32.a4! e5 [ 32...xa4 33.c4+ Double attack ] 33.f4 ed7 34.a5 a8 35.xa7 c5 36.c4+ e7 37.b5 e6 38.exf5+ gxf5 39.xd7 xd7 40.e1+ f6 41.xd7 c7 42.e6+ g7 43.a6 xd7 44.b8 1-0
596 Grinev,Valeriy Schukin,Igor ch Kiev UKR (3) [Tony Kosten]
A16
18.01.2004
1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 g6 5.g2 xc3 6.bxc3 g7 7.b1 0-0?! A surprisingly common mistake. [ 7...d7 i s b e s t , t h e n 8.f3 ( and not 8.xb7? xb7 9.xb7 b6 trapping the rook ) 8...0-0 9.0-0 is slightly better for White, with his big centre. ] 8.xb7 The unexpected point, [ 8.xb7?? xb7 9.xb7 d5 10.xb8 596
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xh1 is a quick way to lose! ] 8...xb7 9.xb7 d7 10.xa8 xa8 11.f3 [ 11.f3 is also possible, avoiding any problems along the diagonal, but it is u n n a t u r a l : c5 12.h3 b8 13.f2 ( 13.a4!? ) 13...c6 14.c2 a6 with counterplay, Bischoff,K-Henni,M/Tunis 1997. ] 11...e5 Black gets to damage the white pawn structure like this, and enjoys a lead in development although this doesn't count for t o o m u c h . . 12.0-0 xf3+ 13.exf3 d5 14.a4!? A new move that works well, but it is far from clear that is an improvement on the older moves: [ 14.a4 xf3 ( 14...e5 15.e4 e6 16.d4 d6 17.h6 b8 Scheuer,JThuesen,M/Hillerod 1980, and now 18.b1! looks good; 14...a5 15.g2 b8 16.d4 and although W hite's extra pawn is devalued, it is still a pawn! Vaulin,A-Honos, A/Budapest 1990) 15.d7 f6 16.xc7 h5 17.h4 g4 with some counterplay, Cekro,ELytchak,B/ GER 1999. ] [ 14.e2 f6 ( 14...xa2 15.xe7 ) 15.d4 c5 16.dxc5 xc5 17.c4 c8 18.h6 xc4 19.xc4 ( 19.c1!? e6 20.xe6 xc1+ 21.xc1 fxe6 should be drawn) 19...xc4 20.b1 c8 21.b7 a8 22.f1 with active pieces, Smejkal,J-Grimm,S/Porz 1992. ] 14...d8 15.e2 e5 16.g2 h6!? The start of Black's downfall, the bishop is b e t t e r d e f e n d i n g e 5 . 17.e1 f6? This weakness proves fatal, a good player would admit his mistake and return the bishop by [ 17...g7 he can't capture on d2 anyway. ] 18.a6 [ 18.d4! has its points: xc1 19.xc1 exd4 20.cxd4 attacks c7 with advantage. ] 18...a8?! This is based on a tactic that doesn't work. [ 18...d6! 19.xa7 c6 regains a pawn with some chances. ] 19.xf6 f8?! The white queen can't move because of f3, but he has seen a powerful retort. 20.xe5! 1-0
597 Grivas,Efstratios Liakos,Dimitris GRE-CupT Athens (1) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2498 2065 15.06.2008
1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.f3 g6 5.a4+!? c6!? 6.d4 [ 6.xd5 seems to be a simpler and more economical choice, my preference being for W hite because of his central pawn majority. ] 6...f6 7.e4 e5! [ 7...xc3? 8.xc3! e5 is difficult for Black after 9.c4 because he'll have trouble getting his king to safety and meanwhile White can open it up with d2-d4. ] 8.xe5!? xc3! The only good reply. [ Both 8...e7 9.xd5 cxd5 ( 9...fxe5 10.xe7 exd4 11.xc8 d7 12.xa7 xa7 13.a3 ) 10.b5+ d7 11.xd7 xd7 12.xd5 ] [ and 8...b4 9.xd8+ xd8 10.f7+ e8 11.xh8 c2+ 12.d1 xa1 13.b3 g7 ( 13...e6 14.c4 ) 14.xg6 hxg6 15.b2 xb3 16.axb3 are good for White. ] 9.xc3 e7 10.f3! xe4+ 11.e2 [ Rybka's novelty is 11.d1!? but is it really that great? I think Black can defend himself with d7 12.c4 d8! when 13.e1 g4 14.e6?! ( 14.g3 c7 is fine for Black) 14...xg2 15.d4 d6 is unconvincing. ] 11...g7? [ Black should play 11...d7! when 12.0-0 b4 13.e3 ( 13.b3 can be answered by c5 14.d1 d3 ) 13...xe3 14.dxe3 b6 15.d1 e6 16.a3 e7 17.d4 c4 18.xc4 xc4 19.b3 b6 20.e4 f7 21.e3 was just a tiny bit better for White in Franco Ocampos, Z-Krupkova, P/ Montecatini Terme 1998. ] [ On the other hand 11...e7? is strongly met by 12.0-0! when xe2 13.e1 b5 14.xf6 would win on the spot. ] 12.0-0! 0-0 13.e1 [ After 13.c4+ h8 14.e1 Black can hang on with f4! 15.d4 d6 . ] 13...h8 14.d4 d7 15.c4 f5?! [ 15...g4 was another try, though White c a n t h e n p l a y 16.b3 followed by 17.Ba3 which seems to win the exchange. ] 597
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.e6 b5 17.a4! b6 18.f4?! [ 18.h4! threatening 19.Nxg6+ would have been very strong, for example e5 19.xe5 fxe5 20.xg6+ hxg6 21.h3+ leads to mate. ] 18...d8 19.a5 [ Once again missing the deadly 19.h4! threatening 20. Nxg6+. ] 19...e5 [ 19...e8 might have been a bit tougher but even so White's lead in development gives him a winning advantage. A sample line is 20.a2 xe1+ 21.xe1 f8 22.b4 b6 23.c4+- threatening mate on g8. ] 20.xe5 xe6 [ Or 20...fxe5 21.xe5 xe5 ( 21...xe6 22.xg7+ xg7 23.xe6 ) 22.xe5 f6 23.e3+- with a good pawn up. ] 21.xg6+ hxg6 22.xe6 e8 [ 22...d7 23.d6 would not have helped Black much. ] 23.a6! xe6 24.h3+ 1-0
15...e7 16.c2 ( 16.g5 is worth considering here too) 16...e5 17.g5 e7 18.b3 g7 19.d2 d5 20.c5 h6 21.a3 h7 22.b4 d7 and Black was starting to get control of the position in Fressinet, L-Howell, D/Germany 2010. ] 15.g5 This seems to be new, though whether or not it was a 'prepared novelty' or just over the board improvisation is not clear. [ An earlier game featured 15.g5 f6 16.h6 c6 17.e3 f5 18.g5 dxe3 19.fxe3 c7 20.c5 d6 21.h1 f6 22.e4 xg5 23.xg5 e7! with approximate equality - Arkhipov, S-Leko, P/Nettetal 1992. To me the position after 14.Ne4 just looks like a tough middlegame in which both sides have their chances and there are many possibilities. ] 15...c6 16.fe1 a5 17.c5 e7 18.e4 f6 19.h4 f5 20.f4 g7 21.a3 e6 22.b4 axb4 23.axb4 d5 24.b5 h8 25.bxc6 bxc6 26.b1 f8 27.c2 e7 28.cb2 a5?! White is better in the endgame, though admittedly it proves difficult to win. [ Black should probably have kept queens on 598 A16 with 28...d7 when 29.b7 e6 would leave Black with an OK position. ] Huebner,Robert 2598 Kulaots,Kaido 2592 29.xa5 xa5 30.h3 a7 After contracting TCh-FIN 2010-11 (7.1) 13.02.2011 doubled f-pawns the position starts to look really nightmarish for Black. [Nigel Davies] [ As Black I'd try to avoid any further weakening by playing 30...e6 . ] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.f3 g6 5.g3 g7 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 b6 8.d3 31.xf5 gxf5 32.d6 xd6 33.xd6 a2 34.xa2 xa2 35.b2 a8 36.f3 d5 c6 9.e3 e5 [ Black can also try 9...h6 10.c1 h7 37.b4 h5 38.xd4 g7 39.b4 a7 followed by ... e7-e5, but does he really 40.b6 a2 41.e4 [ I'm rather loathe to criticize the endgame need to prevent an incursion on g5? play of someone as strong as Huebner, but Probably not. ] surely it must be better to improve the king 10.d2 e8 On the other hand it seems quite with 41.f2 rather than have his king important for Black to avoid the exchange of confined to the first rank. ] dark square bishops. [ After 10...d4 11.h6 e8 12.xg7 41...fxe4 42.fxe4 e6 43.xc6 h3 44.e5 xg7 13.b4! c6 14.xd4 exd4 15.e4 fxe5 45.xe5+ f7 46.d4 g2+ 47.h1 d5 16.b2 White was better in d2 48.h6 g4 49.g1 e7 50.f1 d7 Romanishin, O-Whiteley, A/Hastings 1976/ 51.g6 f3 52.f6 g4 53.b6 f3 54.b4 g4 55.f4 d3 56.f2 f3+ 77. ] 11.h6 h8 12.ac1 d4 13.xd4 exd4 57.e1 d3 58.e5 e6 59.f2 f3+ 60.g2 d3 61.b2 d5 62.f2 14.e4 d5 Not the only move. [ 14...c6 also makes sense here, for ½-½ example 15.fe1 ( 15.g5 f6 16.h6 d5 wo u ld tra ns p ose in t o 1 4. . .Nd 5 1 5. B g5) 598
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 599 Ibraev,Nurlan Gupta,Abhijeet 12th Dubai Open (9) [Nigel Davies]
A16 600 2405 Ibragimov,Ildar 2560 Odeev,Handszar 13.04.2010 Open Dubai UAE (3) [Tony Kosten]
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ d7 6.c2 [ T h i s s h o w s a t l e a s t t h a t 6.d4 is not W hite's only move, though I'm not sure he should avoid it. ] 6...b4 7.b3 c5 8.a3 e6 9.a4+ d7 10.d1 [ 10.b3 e6 could already be a way for the players to take an early bath. ] 10...4c6 11.e3 g7 12.d4? White hasn't played this way before but it seems quite dubious after Black's reply. [ When Karpov got this position as White he played 12.e2 after which 0-0 13.0-0 e5 14.b1 f5 15.d3 c4 16.e4 cxd3 17.xd3 e6 18.d5 d4 19.xd4 exd4 20.b5 left him with an edge in Karpov, A (2725)Bacrot, E (2555)/Cap d'Agde 1998. ] 12...e6! I think White must have missed this unpleasant reply. He tries to make the best of it with a dubious pawn sacrifice. 13.g5 [ 13.d5? just loses a pawn after xc3+ ] [ whilst 13.dxc5 leads to a horrific endgame after xd1+ 14.xd1 d7 followed by 15... Nxc5. ] 13...cxd4 14.xe6 fxe6 15.exd4 xd4 16.c4 bc6 17.0-0 0-0 18.e3 h8 19.c1 d6 It's not so much the pawn down that's the problem for White here but rather Black's superb grip on the d4 square. Of course it might not be easy to win for Black because the extra pawn is crippled. 20.a2 ad8 21.h1 e5 22.g4 f5 23.h4 f6 24.h6 a5 25.h3 f5 26.h6 g7 27.h4 e5 Black has had enough of repeating moves and he is rewarded with a mistake. 28.h6? f5 29.xg7+ xg7 W ith W hite's bishop pair gone Black gets a c c e s s t o s qu a re s li ke d 2 wit h h is ro o k . 30.c4 d2 31.ce1? A blunder in a bad position. xf2! 32.g1 d4 33.xe6 h4 34.e4 fd4 0-1
A16 2611 2425 30.04.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 g7 4.e4 This move order is used to allow the King's Indian Defence, whilst avoiding the Grünfeld. e5!? Black clearly doesn't want to allow a main line KI, and prefers this interesting sideline. 5.xe5 [ Critical, 5.d4 exd4 6.xd4 0-0 allows Black to play a K.I. position with a tempo more, he will continue with ...Re8, ... c6, and ...d5 in one go, without having to play ...d6, first. ] 5...xe4 6.xe4 xe5 7.d4 [ 7.g3 brought White a quick success after e7!? 8.d4 g7 9.g2 f5!? 10.g5 e6 11.0-0! in Epishin,V-David,A/Montpellier Masters (2) 1998. ] 7...g7 8.g5 f6 9.e3 0-0 10.c3 [ Sensible, the knight moves to a safer spot, 10.e2 provoked the advance of the f-pawn, f5 11.g5 e8 12.c3 d6 13.0-0 f7 14.e1 c6 15.d5 e5 with chances to both sides, Acebal Muniz, A-De la Villa Garcia,J/Cala Galdana ESP 1999. ] 10...f5!? [ An innovation, opening the dark-squared diagonal immediately, in Timman,J-Aronian, L/Las Vegas USA 1999, Black deferred this by 10...c6 11.d5 e7 12.d3 d6 13.0-0 f5 14.f4 h6 15.c1 f5 but White had the better position. ] 11.d2 c6 12.g3 [ 12.d5!? e5 13.d6 seems more critical. ] 12...d6 13.g2 f4! A fine positional offer of a pawn. 14.gxf4 [ 14.xf4 e8+ 15.e3 xd4 is equal. ] 14...g4 15.h3 h5 The idea is to stop White from castling long. 16.e4 h4 17.d5 e7 18.f5!? Before the knight can settle here. xf5 19.g5 h6 Forced, but adequate. 20.0-0 xg5 21.xg5 ae8 22.f4 h6 23.xh4 xh4 24.ae1 The endgame has been reached, and although W hite has more space, he is somewhat hampered by his weak kingside pawns. g7 25.c5 f5 26.b4 d8 27.c3 599
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f7 28.h2 df8 29.e4 a6 30.f2 h4 counterplay and thereby avoid the pressure 31.f1?! A risky idea that pins the f4-pawn, p l a y W h i t e i n t e n d s a g a i n s t t h e b l a c k and allows Black to win it. g5 32.e2 g6 queenside. 8.f3 33.c4 gxf4 [ White has tried several other things in this [ 33...xf4 is met by 34.cxf4 xf4 35.xf4 p o s i t i o n : A ) 8.c2 can actually lead to a gxf4 36.c6 creating serious counterplay on transposition to our main game it has been the queenside. ] used m>Gurevich on a couple of occasions. 34.g4 f3 0-0 9.f3 ( 9.d3 is also playable, but less [ After this White regains a pawn, although critical, e.g. d7 10.f3 b6 11.f4 b7 remains worse, 34...d3!? is an alternative, 12.0-0 a5 13.e4 c5 14.bc1 ac8 35.d4 h7 36.c4 as now g6 is free for 15.e2 a6 16.fd1 fd8 with a pleasant the knight, g6 coming to e5. ] game for Black, Gurevich, M-Sutovsky, E/ 35.cxd6 cxd6 36.e6 f4 37.c7+ f6 Essen 2001) 9...b6 10.0-0 b7 11.d4!? 38.xb7 e5 39.b5 axb5 40.xb5 c4 a5 12.e4 d7!? ( 12...c5 Black has a healthy initiative. 41.d1 f4 would transpose to our main game) 13.f4 [ 41...c1 is tricky, as after 42.b2 , g2 fd8 14.fe1 c5 15.d5 c4 16.bd1 e5!? menaces ...Ne3. ] 17.g5 f6 18.f1! 42.fb2 a8 43.5b4 a4 44.a3 axb4 A) 18...b5 19.xc4 fxg5!? ( 19...bxc4 45.xb4 xb4 46.axb4 c2 47.f2 a4 20.e3 /\21.Nd2 - Gurevich) 20.f1 h6 The exchange of rooks hasn't helped White's is given as unclear by Gurevich, while my position much, the advanced f3-pawn and computer likes White in this case I agree active king tip the scales heavily in Black's with the computer, Black's bishops are favour. 48.c8 To get his b-pawn moving. both quite awful and White can generate a b5 49.b7 e3 50.c6 fair amount of pressure against Black's [ 50.g1 is slightly better. ] queenside after 21.b1 a6 22.a4; 50...c4?? B) 18...d6 19.e3 with a slightly better [ Overlooking the simple 50...xf2 51.xb5 game for White, though Black's position is f5 which must win, the knight will come to solid and not without counterplay, e3, and either the f-pawn will queen, or Gurevich, M-Sulypa, A/French Team Ch Black will capture the d5-pawn, and his d1999 ] pawn will queen. Note that the white king [ B) 8.h4!? Tyomkin calls this "Perhaps, the is trapped in the corner. ] most annoying move for Black", but I'm not 51.g1 d4 52.b5 xd5 53.g4 c5 sure I agree. However, if Black isn't careful, 54.xd5 xd5 55.xh6 c5 56.f2 xb5 he will soon get in trouble. 57.g4 White will win the f-pawn by force. A) 8...d6 9.f3 ( 9.h5!? has been ½-½ suggested by Tyomkin and is a natural follow-up f or W hite) 9...b6 10.a4 ( 10.d4!? is tricky to deal with, and Black 601 A16 will likely have to hand over his darksquared bishop due to variations like b7 Iljin,Artem 2556 11.a4 ) 10...d7 11.c2 ( 11.a3 d5 Sutovsky,Emil 2630 12.b3!? ) 11...d8 12.d3?! ( 12.h5 ) IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (2) 22.04.2008 12...c5 13.b2 e6 ( 13...a5!? ) [Carsten Hansen] 14.0-0 0-0 15.fc1 h6 ( 15...xa2 16.a1 e6 17.a3 f5 18.g5 1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 g6 - Tyomkin ) 16.a4 g4 17.b3 e5?? 5.g2 xc3 6.bxc3 g7 7.b1 c6 ( Now Black's position falls apart. Instead T h i s i s a f a v o u r i t e o f S u t o vs k y' s i n t h i s o f t h e t e xt m o ve , B l a c k s h o u l d h a v e position. The more common moves are 7... c o n s i d e r e d 17...d6!?; or 17...a5!? Nd7, 7...c6 and 7...0-0. Black's idea behind in both cases with a fuly satisfactory game the text move is to play ... Qd7, ...b6, ...Bb7, for Black ) 18.a3 , and Black is more or ...Na5 and ...c5 with Gruenfeld style 600
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 less lost, Bischoff, K-Sutovsky, E/Ohrid 2001; B) 8...h5 is called "[A] strategical blunder" by Tyomkin in CBM, and indeed it does create some long-term problems for Black. B1) or 9.c4 0-0 10.d3 d4 ( 10...e5!? ) 11.e3 f5 12.b2 e5 13.f3 c6 14.0-0 c7 15.c2 Agdestein, S-Mikhalevski, V/ Port Erin IOM 2003; B2) 9.h3 Tyomkin, D: 'A very logical move - White intends to exploit the weak spots created by h5 ' B2a) 9...0-0 10.a3 e5 11.d3 c6 12.g5 c7 13.0-0 b6 14.b3! a6? ( 14...h6 ) 15.c4 ( 15.e4! more or less wins for White, the main threat being Bxg6, which is awfully difficult to prevent without material loss for Black ) 15...ab8 16.b2 Lo b ro n , E -Mikh a le vski, V / I n t e rn e t 2001; B2b) 9...d7 10.a4! d8 11.xd7+?! ( 11.a3! 0-0 12.0-0 e5 13.g5 as pointed out by Tyomkin, is very difficult for Black and rather ea s y t o pla y f o r W h ite , wh o ha s a small but clear advantage) 11...xd7 12.f4 c6 B2b1) 13.a4! 0-0 ( 13...b6 14.a5 b5 15.d3 - Tyomkin ) 14.a5 Tyomkin; B2b2) 13.a3 b6 14.0-0 c8 15.d4 e6 16.d3 c7 17.fc1 b5= Huzman, A-Tyomkin, D/ Montreal 2005; C) 8...d7 9.a4 ( 9.h5!? is logical and good ) 9...d8 10.c2 ( 10.xd7+ xd7 11.h5 b8 12.a3 ) 10...c6 11.h5 b6 12.f3 b7 13.d3 ( 13.d4!? a5 14.h6 f6 15.e4 ) 13...0-0-0 14.e3 b8 15.f1 h6 16.hxg6 fxg6 17.d2 df8 , and Black is doing well, Taylor, P-Knott, S/West Bromwich ENG 2003; D) 8...h6 D1) 9.c4?! 0-0 10.d3 e5 11.h3 d6 12.a4 d4 Bykhovsky, A-Khmelniker, I/ Givataim ISR 2005; D2) 9.f3 0-0 10.0-0 b6 11.h5 ( 11.c2!? ) 11...gxh5 12.b5 g4 13.h2 d7 14.xg4 hxg4 15.a4
and White has excellent compensation for the pawn, Rasmussen, K-Mikhalevski, V/Saint Vincent 2000; D3) 9.d4 0-0 D3a) 10.f4!? h5 11.f3 d5 12.0-0 ( 12.a4!? intending Rb5 in some v a r i a t i o n s i s w o r t h a t h o u g h t) 12...xa2 13.b3 a4 14.e5 xe5 15.fxe5 d8 ( 15...c6!? 16.g5 f6 is s im p ly b e t t e r f o r B l a c k W h i t e ' s initiative has simply run out) 16.g5 xe5 17.xe7 e8 18.g5 xg3 19.c4 with chances for both sides, Cvetkovic, S-Nikolic, Z/ Vrnjacka Banja 1989; D3b) 10.f3 a5 11.e4 c5 12.0-0 b6 13.e2 cxd4 14.cxd4 g4 15.d5 D3b1) or 15...c8 16.b2 ( 16.f4!? ) 16...c4 17.e3 xa2 18.xg7 xg7 19.e5 e2 20.fe1 c4 21.c3 d2 22.a1 ( 22.xd2 xd2 23.b4 a5 24.xe2 axb4 25.xd2 a1+ 26.f1 ) 22...h7 23.xe2 xe2 24.f1 xe4 25.xc4 Epishin, VLujan, C/San Marino SMR 2006; D3b2) 15...d7 16.b2 xb2 17.xb2 c4 18.d4 Matamoros Franco, C-Seger, R/Predeal ROM 2007 ( 18.c1!? xf3 19.xf3 e5 20.e2 )] [ C) 8.d4 0-0 9.f3 a5 10.d2?! ( 10.0-0 f5 11.b2 c5 ) 10...c5 11.e3 f5 12.b2 e5 , and Black has already taken over the control of the game, Chernin, O-Mikhalevski, V/Philadelphia USA 2004 ] [ D) 8.b2 0-0 9.d3 e5 ( 9...e5!? ) 10.c4 c5 11.d2 f5?! ( 11...b8 12.f4 g4 13.xg7 xg7 14.f3 f6 ) 12.xe5 xe5 13.f3 g7 14.xb7 b8 15.xb8 xb8 16.0-0 , and Black has inadequate co m p e n sa t io n f o r t h e sa crif ice d p a wn , Kotsur, P-Al Modiahki, M/Aden 2002 ] [ E) 8.a4 0-0 9.h4 ( 9.xc6?! bxc6 10.xc6 e6 11.a4 d5 12.f3 xa2 13.xa2 xa2 , and Black is in charge of the game, Ivanov, I-Sarthou, G/FIDE.com 2001; 9.h3!? e5 10.0-0 followed by f2-f4 is an interesting idea for W hite) 9...h6 10.f3 e5 11.0-0 e4 12.e1 ( 12.xe4?? f5-+ ) 12...e8 13.d3 xc3 14.xh6 d4 601
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.dxe4 xe2+ 16.h2 f6 17.d1 e7 with the better chances for Black, Cebalo, M-Nikolic, Z/ Novi Sad 1985 ] 8...0-0 [ 8...d7?! at this point is premature, e.g. 9.d4 b6 10.f4 b7 11.e5!? xe5 12.xe5 xe5 13.xb7 , and White is clearly better, Heberla, B-Ris, R/Plovdiv BUL 2008 ] 9.c2 [ A major alternative is the immediate 9.0-0 , and now A) or 9...a5 10.c2 c5 A1) 11.d3 c7 12.c4 c6 13.b2 e5 14.d2 f5 15.a3 d7 16.e3 b6 17.f4 ae8 18.be1 Mirzoev, A-Lujan, C/ Balaguer ESP 2006; A2) 11.g5!? h6 ( 11...g4 12.d3 c7!? ) 12.e4 f5 13.c4 b6 14.d3 c6 15.f6+ exf6 16.xc6 h3 17.e1 c8 18.d5 , and White is slightly better, Milos, G-Lujan, C/Sao Paulo BRA 2005; A3) 11.d1 d7 12.d3 e8 13.e1 a4 14.b2 c8 15.e3 d7 16.a3 b6 17.c4 c6 18.d2 xf3 19.xf3 xc4 20.dxc4 xd2 21.xa7 f6 22.ed1 c2 23.dc1 1-0 Kotsur, PKorniushin, N/Tomsk 2001; B) 9...e5 10.a3 e4?! , Drasko, MNikolic, Z/JUG 1989, and now ( 10...e8!?= ) 11.d4! e8 12.xc6 bxc6 13.d4; C) 9...b6 C1) 10.d4 xd4 11.cxd4 b8 12.d5 b7 ( Black can possibly improve with 12...e6!? 13.dxe6 xe6 14.c2 c5 , and I prefer Black's position) 13.b3 d7 14.d3 fd8 15.f4 bc8 16.fc1 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xc7 xb3 19.axb3 d7 20.f4 xc1+ ( 20...dd8!? ) 21.xc1 f5 , and the chances are more or less even, Gurevich, M-Konopka, M/ AUT 2002; C2) 10.c4 b8 11.d3 b7 12.a4 d7 13.e3 fd8 14.fc1 d4 15.xd7 xd7 16.xd4 xd4 17.xb7 xe3 18.fxe3 xb7 19.c5 b8 , and though White has the initiative in the endgame, Black should be able to defend, Berkovich, M-Dragojlovic, A/
Moscow 1990; C3) 10.d3 a5 ( 10...b7 11.f4 a5 12.d2 c5 13.h4 c4 with a satisfactory game for Black, Thompson, I-Knott, S/ Nottingham ENG 2005) 11.c4 c5 12.d2 c6 13.a4 d7 14.b3 g4 15.a4 d7 16.fe1 , and here a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Gulko, BM i k h a l e vs k i , V / C o p e n h a g e n 2 0 0 0 , though Black has every reason to be satisfied with the outcome of the opening. ] 9...b6 10.0-0 b7 11.d4 a5 12.e4 c5!? This is an interesting new idea, the background for which is illustrated in this game. Previously Black had played 12...Qd7 as seen in Gurevich-Sulypa in the first note to this game. 13.dxc5 c7! [ Black sacrifices a pawn for active piece play and pressure against W hite's queenside pawns. 13...bxc5?! 14.e3 ] 14.cxb6 axb6 15.g5 [ 15.d1!? ] 15...c4 16.b4 a3 17.d4 [ 17.b3= ] 17...d6 18.d2?! [ 18.e2?! fa8 19.a1 b5 ] [ 18.fb1!? xc3 19.e2 c5= ] 18...e5 19.b3 fa8 20.a1 f8 21.c1 3a6 22.d2 b5 [ 22...e8!? 23.bb1 a4! 24.c4 c5 leaves Black with excellent compensation for the pawn ] 23.f3?! [ 23.a3 c6 24.f1 is somewhat passive, but also solid the chances are more or less even. ] 23...a4 24.xa4 xa4 25.xe5 [ 25.d2!? ] 25...xe4 26.xe4 [ 26.d3 xg2 27.xg2 c6+ 28.g1 g7 , and Black's active pieces more than compensate for the pawn. ] 26...xe4 27.f4 g7 28.e1!? xc3 29.xc3 xc3 30.d7?! [ 30.c6! h5 31.e8+ h7 32.e7 xa2 33.e5 xe5 34.xe5 g8 35.xf7 , and White has decent chances of saving the endgame. ] 30...e4 [ 30...f5 31.e7 e4 32.e5 xe5 602
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 33.xe5 xa2 34.f4 will be difficult for Black to win on account of W hite's active pieces and the location of Black's king. ] 31.xe4 xe4 32.b6?! [ 32.f1!? c3 33.a3 f5 34.e3 f7 ] 32...c3 33.a3 d4 [ 33...e2+ 34.f1 xf4 35.gxf4 f8 36.a4 bxa4 37.xa4 d6 will also leave Black a pawn up, but winning the ensuing endgame will be quite difficult. ] 34.e3 xe3 35.fxe3 Thanks to White's weaker pawn structure and Black's somewhat better placed knight, Black has decent winning chances. However, W hite makes several big mistakes, making Black's job significantly easier. f5 36.f1? [ White has to play more aggressively, e.g. 36.f2 f7 37.e4! fxe4 38.e3 e6 39.d4 b1 40.a4 bxa4 41.xa4 f5 42.h3 h5 43.c5 d2 , and it is by no means certain that Black will convert his pawn advantage to a win. ] 36...f7 37.e1 e6 38.d2 b1+ 39.c2 xa3+ 40.b3 b1 41.c2 a3+ 42.b3 b4! 43.a4 d5 44.xb4? [ This loses a second pawn. White should have tried 44.b6+!? after which Black still wins, but at least it seems a little more complicated, e.g. c6 ( 44...e4 45.d7 xe3 46.f8 b1 47.xh7 d2+ 48.xb4 isn't clear) 45.a4 b5 46.b2 b1 47.c4 c5 48.h4 c3 49.e5 d5 50.c4 ( 50.g4 xe3 51.gxf5 xf5 52.d7+ b5 ) 50...h6 51.e5 xe3 52.xg6 f1 , and Black wins another pawn. ] 44...c2+ 45.c3 xe3 46.d3 f1 and Black picks up a second pawn, which caused White to resign, though he could have played on due to the limited material left on the board. 0-1
602 Ionov,Sergey Klimov,Sergey 78th ch-City (3) [John Watson]
A16 2527 2509 19.03.2005
W hite plays the Anti-Gruenfeld line that is often resorted to by 1.c4 players. I'm not sure that Black has found his best path here. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 [ I like this order better than 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 , which has been seen in several ChessPub games. ] 4...xd5 5.a4+ d7 6.b3 [ It's also not so easy for Black after 6.h4 xc3 7.dxc3 c6 8.g3! , as Tony analysed in the game Piket-Svidler, Zurich SUI 2001, although I think that he should be okay there. ( Instead, the blindfold contest of a few days ago between stars Vallejo Pons and Ivanchuk went 8.e4 e5 9.g5 e7 10.c4 h5 11.xe7 xe7 12.xe7+ xe7 with approximate equality. )] 6...b6 7.d4 g7 8.g5 0-0 9.e3 White isn't supposed to have much here, but his centre is difficult to crack open. a5!? [ 9...e6 is the most common move, which is not to say the best one. ] 10.e2 e6 11.c2 c6 12.0-0 a4? Logical but time-consuming. He might have tried [ 12...b4 13.b1 h6 14.h4 c6!? , since the knight finds a home after 15.a3 4d5 16.e4?! f4 ] 13.fd1 f5 14.c1 [ Not bad, but White had a straightforward ad va n ta ge b y 14.e4! g4 15.d5 b4 16.d2 a3 17.b3 ] 14...d5 15.h3!? Or [ 15.e5! ] 15...a3 Also slow. [ Probably better was 15...h6 16.h4 xc3 17.xc3 e4 ] 16.xd5! xd5 17.bxa3 a5 18.d5! A nice sacrificial idea that forces the pace since Bxe7 will answer a knight move. xa1 19.xa1 b8 20.xe7?! [ 20.h6 f6 21.d6! is a very strong and more-or-less standard idea. There is no good defence, e. g., cxd6 22.c4+ f7 23.g5! ] 603
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20...e8 21.f6!? Suddenly White's attack is faltering. He could have played [ 21.d6! cxd6 22.xd6 with Nd4 to come. ] 21...d7?! [ 21...xa3! 22.h8 f8 was better. ] 22.h8! There goes his best piece, but White retains an attack. He would also have good pressure after [ 22.b2 with ideas like d6 and in some cases Nd4. ] 22...f6 23.xf6 xf6 24.xf6 xa3 [ White's centre rolls after 24...f8 25.d4 ad8 26.c4 d6 27.e4 ] 25.d6! xa2 26.g5! h6? But the position was lost anyway. Now White finds one of the very few bad moves in the position: 27.d4?? [ Horrible. Among other immediate wins was 27.f3 c6 ( 27...f8 28.e7 ) 28.d5+! . But he gets one more chance to redeem himself: ] 27...a1+? [ T h e r i g h t d e f e n c e w a s 27...b1+ , when W hite doesn't seem to have more than a draw. Even if the opponents weren't in time pressure (which they probably were) these decisions were still difficult ones. ] 28.h2 hxg5 29.c4+ h7 30.dxc7?? Even for a 2500 player it's extremely hard to forget your blunders and settle down. Still winning was the subtle [ 30.d7 ed8 31.e7+! h6 32.f4! ( 32.h4+ gxh4 33.xh4+ g7 34.e7+= ) 32...g4 33.hxg4 xg4 34.g5+ g7 35.f5!! ] 30...a5! That's it. The idea of ...Qe5+ defends in all the critical lines. A tragic loss for W hite, although his opening came out beautifully. Black has a lot of repairs to make in this line. 31.xg5 xc7+ 32.g3 g7 33.f4 f8 34.e4 xc4 35.exf5 c6 36.g4 a1 37.xg6+ xg6 38.xg6+ h7 39.g4 a6 40.g5 b5 0-1
603 Ivanchuk,Vassily Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar Olympiad Bled SLO (8) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2709 2580 02.11.2002
1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 Somewhat rare than [ 4.f3 but quite playable, nonetheless. ] 4...g6 5.g2 b6 6.d3 g7 7.e3 0-0 8.d2 This line was my recommendation in 'The Dynamic English'. c6?! This is thought to be incorrect, and falls-in with White's plan. [ 8...e8 avoids the exchange of darksquared bishops, but brings me good mem orie s - my e xcit in g vict ory agains t Ganguly at Calcutta, 1996. ] 9.xc6! Creating 'doubled singleton' pawns on a n o p e n f ile . bxc6 10.h6 An important follow-up, having given one bishop W hite immediately exchanges the other bishop so that Black cannot enjoy the famous bishop pair. c5 Played to open the h1-a8 diagonal, [ 10...e5 11.xg7 xg7 12.f3 f6 13.0-0 was Saidy,A-Byrne,D/New York 1966, where W h it e m a n a ge d t o e xp l o i t t h e we a k c pawns. ] 11.d1!? A novelty from Ivanchuk has to be taken seriously, although the simple [ 11.xg7 xg7 12.f3 b7 13.e3 was very effective in previous games: c4 14.0-0-0 ( 14.d1 c8? 15.dxc4 wo n a pa wn in S h a m kovich , L -W e b b , S / Hastings 1977) 14...xf3 15.exf3 cxd3 16.xd3 e8 17.h4 c6!? an attempted improvement on ( 17...d8 18.xd8 xd8 19.h5 d5 20.e5+ f6 21.h6+ g8 22.d1 which was crushing in Serper,GAlterman,B/Manila 1992) 18.h5 c4 19.d4+ f6 20.d7 e5 21.xc6 xc6 22.d7 and the superior pawn structure was enough for White (who obviously learnt from the previous game!) in Alterman,B-Roesch, A/Germany 1997. ] 11...b7 12.f3 A different approach, avoiding the capture on f3. d6 13.xg7 xg7 14.e4 The point, regaining the light-squared bishop. xe4 [ 14...e5 15.c1 forces the exchange anyway. ] 15.fxe4 f5!? Black plays aggressively, relying 604
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 on his activity to counter-balance the pawn s t r u c t u r e . 16.exf5 xf5 17.f3 e6 A t t a c k i n g f 3 a n d a 2 . 18.0-0 af8 This is stronger than [ 18...xa2 19.c3+ g8 20.e4 f6 21.a1 e6 22.xc5 ] 19.g2!? White could also try [ 19.b3! d5 20.g5 which seems like a p l e a s a n t p l u s b e ca u s e o f h i s s u p e r i o r pawn formation. ] 19...xa2 20.a1 f7 21.xa7 Regaining the pawn, but allowing Black to generate an initiative on the kingside. g5!? 22.aa1?! Probably due to shortage of time, which was e n d e m i c a t t h i s O l ym p i a d , W h i t e c o u l d maintain the advantage with [ 22.g4! f4 23.xc7 xg4+ 24.h1 although Black has some play. However, White should certainly avoid ] [ 22.xg5? which loses to a series of checks: f2+ 23.xf2 xf2+ 24.h3 f5+ 25.g4 f1+ 26.g3 f2+ 27.h3 and now f6 and ...Rh6+. ] 22...f6 23.h3 c4 24.g4 b5 Switching to attack the queenside. 25.d4 [ 25.dxc4!? xb2 26.d3 lines-up some nasty threats along the f-file, c5 ( 26...e5? 27.xg5! xg5 28.xf8 xf8 29.a3+ forks b2 and f8) 27.a7 f7 28.d2 c6+ 29.e4 and Black still has problems to solve. ] 25...f4! 26.xf4 xf4 27.a2 h6 28.c1 e4 29.f2 b3 30.d2 f4+ 31.f3 e4 ½-½
604 Jakovenko,D Sutovsky,E 20th TCh-RUS 2013 (3) [Danny Gormally]
A16 2734 2671 09.04.2013
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.b3 b6 6.d4 g7 7.e4 g4 8.b5+ c6 9.g5 0-0 10.e2 xe2 11.xe2 a6 12.h3 h6 13.f3 h5 [ 13...d7 14.h4 A) S a f e r t h a n 14...g5?! which allowed White to launch the kind of long-burning attack which is very difficult to defend over the board 15.xg5! hxg5 16.xg5 fd8
17.h5 e5 18.0-0 f6? ( 18...c7 19.f4! was also extremely dangerous) 19.h7+ f8 20.f4! White has a deadly attack exd4 21.f5 fxg5 22.f6 h8 23.xh8+ f7 24.g7+ e6 25.f7 d6 26.xd4 c7 27.e5+ d6 28.e6+ 1-0 Navara, D (2710)-Ris, R (2407)/Reykjavik 2013/ CB08 2013; B) 14...h5! 15.h3? ( the more sedate 15.0-0 was more advisable) 15...c5! 16.g4 cxd4 17.gxh5 d3! 18.hxg6 fxg6 19.g5 f6 20.f4 d6 21.g1? c4 22.d5 b4 23.xf6+ xf6 And Black was well on top and went on to win in Fressinet, L (2714)-Sutovsky, E (2687)/Istanbul 2012 ] 14.g1! White is gearing up to an out and out kingside attack, but Sutovsky, himself known for some rather primitive attacking instincts, proves up to the challenge. d7! [ 14...c5 15.g4 cxd4 16.gxh5 is now inviting trouble for Black, with the rook already menacingly posted on the gfile. ] 15.g4 f6 16.g5?! too optimistic. [ 16.gxh5! a5+! ( 16...xh5 17.f4 looks rather dangerous for Black) 17.d2 xh5 18.xh5 xh5 19.0-0-0 fd8 20.e3 with a slight pull in the endgame for White. ] 16...hxg4 17.xg4 c8 18.f3 d8 [ 18...b4! 19.f2 ( 19.e5 h5 20.f4 c2+ 21.f2 xa1 22.xh5 gxh5 23.xh5 f5 rather puts a dent in White's attacking ambitions.) 19...c2 20.b1 d8 21.e5 h5 22.e4 xh3 23.xh3 d7 would have given Black the upper hand in the endgame. ] 19.e5! Now everything is forced and although it looks dangerous for Black, with best play it's just a draw. xg4 20.fxg4 f6 21.h7+ f8 22.xg6 fxg5 23.e6 g8 24.xg5 [ 24.f7+ h7 25.h5+ h6 26.f7+ h8 27.g6= ] 24...d5! 25.f7+ h8 26.h5+ g8 27.f7+ h8 28.h5+ g8 29.f7+ ½-½
605
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 other hand, W hite has the opportunity to A16 send Black to a full count. ] Jakovenko,Dmitrij 2710 Vachier Lagrave,Maxime 2634 21.g5 f5 22.f4? [ I don't know what Jakovenko missed the ETCC Crete GRE (7) 04.11.2007 text move is obviously less accurate than the [Carsten Hansen] more punishing 22.e4 , and now A) 22...f4 23.g3 f6 24.e5 c6 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 ( 24...xe5? 25.xf7 xf7 26.xb4+ xd5 5.a4+ d7 6.b3 b6 7.d4 g7 f8 27.f4++- ) 25.xb4 axb4 26.xf7+ 8.f4 e6 9.a3 c6 h8 27.e6+-; [ 9...0-0 10.e4 was the topic of GelfandB) 22...f6 23.e5 f5 24.g4 d3 Svidler of the October update. ] 25.xb4 axb4 26.xf7+ h8 27.e6 10.e3 0-0 11.b5!? f8 28.f7+ xf7 29.xf7 xe5 [ In the February 2007 update, we discussed 30.xe7 d5 ( 30...d4 31.xb7 ) the game Bu Xiangzhi-Vachier Lagrave, 31.f6+ xf6 32.xf6+ g8 33.d6 Wijk aan Zee B 2007. In that game White , and White should be winning ] continued with 11.e2 a5 12.c5 a4 13.b5 a5 14.c1 d5 15.g3 22...d5 23.xf7 xb3 [ 23...f6 24.xf6 exf6 25.e4 xb3 , and W hite obtained a slight edge, but 26.axb3 d3 27.xf6 xb3 28.c3 ] Vachier Lagrave undoubtedly had prepared a novelty in the event somebody would play 24.axb3 d5 [ 24...f6 25.xf6 exf6 26.e4 transposes this line against him. ] to 23...Bf6 above ] 11...d5 12.g3! [ Jakovenko apparently didn't like giving up 25.e4?! [ White seems to have a better and simpler t h e b i s h o p p a i r wi t h 12.xd5!? xd5 continuation in 25.xg7+ xg7 26.e6+ 13.xc6 xc6 , although White appear to f7 27.c7 ad8 28.xd5 xd5 29.f4 have an initiative after 14.0-0 d7 15.ac1 , and White is a pawn up and clearly better c6 16.g5!? f5 17.e4 g4 18.h3 e2 in the endgame ] 19.fe1 b5 20.f3 , and White has the upper hand. But as we will see, Jakovenko 25...d7 26.f3 a6 27.e5?! [ White has a couple of alternatives: A) aims for and achieves more with the 27.g3 is possibly better xb2 28.h4 chosen continuation ] ( 28.e5 c6 29.e4 d3 is very good for 12...cb4 13.c1 c5?! This aggressive Black ) 28...c6 29.e5 d5 30.e6 approach is quite typical of the Grünfeld, but (a n a t t e m p t t o m u d d l e t h e wa t e rs ) d4 in this case it falls short of achieving its goal 31.d6!? xc5! 32.xc5 cxc5 33.f7 of obtaining active counterplay. c6 34.xh7 , and now Black has to show [ 13...c6 14.e2 a5 15.0-0 b6 16.b3 some extra care if not to throw the with a small, but obvious advantage for advantage away by one inaccurate move: White ] b5 ( 34...f5?! looks perfectly normal, but 14.xd5 xd5 15.0-0 fc8 allows White back in the game with 35.g5 [ 15...xa2 16.xc5 b6 17.cc1 ] c3 36.f4 , and White is doing rather well) 16.c4 d7 17.dxc5 xc4 18.xc4 a5 35.c1!? xb3 36.xc6! b1+ 37.h2 19.b3 d8 20.h4 bxc6 38.xe7 f5 39.f3 , and White is [ 20.e5!? may be even better, e.g. d3 probably at least equal. ] 21.c3 ( 21.d4 xb3 22.axb3 c6 [ B) 27.e3 c2 28.e2 d4 29.e3 23.xg7 xg7 24.dd1 ) 21...xc3 Now Black can keep repeating the moves if 22.xc3 d5 23.a3 d3 24.c2 e5 he wants the draw, or play for the win with 25.xe5 xe5 26.c6 bxc6 27.xc6 ] c6 30.f4 xc5 , and Black has the better 20...e6? chances ] [ 20...c6!? 21.cc1 a4 22.c2 e6 28.e4 xb2 29.g5 e6 , and Black has some, but not entirely full, 27...xe5 compensation for the pawn. Now on the 30.h6 g7 31.xg7 xg7 32.c3 605
606
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ The text move invites a pure rook ending, which leaves Black with plenty of winning chances, but also the draw within reach. My computer gives preference to 32.e3 c2 33.g5 c6 ( 33...xe3? only serves White: 34.xe6+ f6 35.f8 xf1 36.xd7+ e6 37.f8+ f7 38.xf1 xf8 ) 34.e2 d4 35.d2 h6 36.e4 b6 37.cxb6 xb6 38.fd1 e5 ] 32...d3 33.a4 e5 [ can lead to a different type of R vs R e n d ga m e a f t e r 33...d5 34.b6 xc5 35.xd3 xb6 36.e1 e6! 37.f1 xe1+ 38.xe1 b5 39.d7 f7 with excellent winning chances for Black ] 34.h3 xc5 35.b6 d3 36.xd3 xd3 37.d1! Rook endings have a propensity for providing the defender with a certain level of drawing chances, almost no matter how dire the situation appears. Accuracy on the side of the advantage, however, will of course often lead to the desired win. b5 38.xd3 xb6 Black has excellent winning chances in this endgame, but at the same time, W hite also has decent drawing chances. I will not discuss the endgame in detail as this is hardly the forum for this. 39.d5 xb3 40.xa5 b1+ 41.h2 b5 42.g3 b3+ 43.f4 f6 44.a6+ e6 45.b6 g5+ 46.e4 b1 47.g3 b4 48.h4! Eliminating another pair of pawns helps White's defence. gxh4 49.gxh4 b3 [ The tempting 49...h1 50.xb4 xh4+ is unfortunately for Black answered by 51.f4 , and a draw is around the corner. ] 50.b5 b2 With this move Black eliminates his last real winning chances as the rook on b1 cannot leave its post without dropping Black's greatest asset. BY keeping the pawn on b3, Black would leave room for the king to run to b2 and thereby release the rook of its duty. This will likely also lead to a draw, but at least Black is still playing for a win. 51.f3 e5 52.g2 with the king carefully placed, away from any harmful checks, the draw becomes obvious. e4 53.b8 e5 54.b7 d4 55.b8 e5 56.b7 f5 57.b5+ g4 58.b4 f4 59.b8 g4 60.b4 h5 61.b7 h6 62.b4 e1 63.xb2 xh4 64.b8 g5 65.g8+ f6 66.h8 g7 ½-½
606 Jones,G Areshchenko,A TCh-ISL 2012-13 (6.1) [John Bartholomew]
A16 2653 2720 02.03.2013
I was teammates with GM Gawain Jones in the Icelandic league, so I was able to witness the following game first-hand. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 g6 5.g2 b6 6.d3 g7 7.e3 c6 8.xc6+ The main line. White parts with his bishop but obta ins clea r st ruct ural com pens atio n in return. [ Alternatives are 8.d2 ] [ , 8.f3 , ] [ a n d t h e n e w l y f a s h i o n a b l e 8.c1 . Refer to the archives for all of these. ] 8...bxc6 9.d2 h6 [ An alternative is 9...h5 , which was seen in David, A (2598)-Salem, A (2505) Caleta 2 0 1 2 / [ J o h n B a r t h o l o m e w] . T h a t g a m e continued 10.f3 h3!? 11.g5 g2 12.g1 d5 13.c1 0-0 14.ge4 f5!? with unusual, complex play. ] 10.c1!? This is undoubtedly a useful move. White leaves the knight on g1 for a moment, preventing ...Bc8-h3. [ G a wa i n h a d p l a ye d 10.f3 a couple months prior. Af ter h3 11.g1 b8 12.f4 g5 he tried to force the issue with 13.e5!? , when xe5 ( Houdini points out the unusual resource 13...c8! 14.xc6 d7 ) 14.xe5 f6 15.g4 fxe5 16.g3 d4 17.xh3 xg4 18.g3 f4= led to rough equality in Jones, G (2644)Alsina Leal, D (2511) Hastings 2013. ] 10...d5 The most popular reply. The knight was fairly useless on b6, so Black deploys it back to the center. [ R u n n i n g t h e a - p a w n w i t h 10...a5!? deserves attention, as I mentioned in the notes to David - Salem. Black secured great co u n t e rp la y in t h e o n ly ga m e wit h t h i s co nt in u at io n : 11.f3?! ( 11.h4!? ) 11...a4 12.h4 d5 13.xd5 xd5 14.a3 b8 15.d4 a2 Von Bahr, O (2284)-Tikkanen, H (2586) Stockholm 2011. ] 11.f3 White cannot afford to delay this move much longer. [ 11.xd5 xd5 12.f3 xa2 607
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 12...h3!? ) 13.0-0 was Sega, C (2252)Barreto Filho, C (2258) Yerevan 2012. Here the engine claims compensation for White after h3 14.fd1 xb2 15.c2 b5 16.c4 (intending Be3-d4), but I doubt Black would be opposed to such a continuation. ] 11...xe3 [ 11...h3 12.d4! f6 13.xf6!? ( 13.g1!? ) 13...exf6 14.e3+ f8 15.c5+ g8 16.d4 h7 17.xc6 d7 18.f3 he8 19.f2 Ruck, R (2582)-Nedev, T (2514) Yerevan 2001 ] [ Nobody has tried 11...xc3!? , possibly because the exchange sacrifice 12.xc3! is a very real possibility, e.g. xc3 13.xc3 f6 14.xc6+ d7 15.c4 ] 12.xe3 0-0 Apparently a novelty. [ The programmed 12...h3 can be met by 13.e5! , i.e. d6 14.f4 g5 15.f2 f5 16.a4 f6 17.c5 0-0 , Milanovic, D (2507) -Zinchenko, Y (2546) Metz 2010. Here 18.c4! leaves White firmly in control. ] [ P e rh a p s B la ck s h o u ld o p t f o r 12...h5!? , probing on the kingside and menacing ... Bg7-h6. ] 13.0-0 d6 14.d4!? With his king secure, White can proceed in a few different ways. The text further restrains Black's structure and lends support to the attractive outposts on c5 and e5. [ 14.e4 also suggests itself. ] 14...h3 15.fd1 ad8 16.b3 f5!? Black's position is of course strategically suspect, so he must do everything he can do unbalance the struggle. 17.a4 g5 18.d3 f4 19.c5 d5 20.c4 [ 20.e4 looks preferable, avoiding the possibility Black has on the next move. ] 20...d6? A significant error, allowing White to dictate the terms of the queen trade. [ Correct was 20...xc4! , taking advantage of a m om ent ary lack of coordin at ion in White's position. On 21.bxc4 ( the point is that 21.xc4 is met by e5! , setting Black's entire structure in motion and opening lines for the bishops) 21...g4 22.g2 d6!? Black maintains the dynamic balance, as lines like 23.b1 f5 24.b7?! could easily backfire, e.g. g4 25.h4 c2 26.d2 xd4 ]
21.xd5+! xd5 [ Nor is 21...cxd5 22.e5 very appetizing, e. g. f5 23.g4 h7 24.a4 . ] 22.d3 fxg3 23.hxg3 g4 24.b4 xf3 25.exf3 df5? Areshchenko is striving for a c t ive co u n t e r p la y, b u t t h is o n l y m a k e s matters worse. [ He had to try 25...xd4 26.xd4 xd4 27.xc6 e5 , with chances to hold. The r o o k a n d p a w n e n d i n g a f t e r 28.xd4 ( t h e p a t i e n t 28.g2 might have been Gawain's choice) 28...exd4 29.xc7 d8! is not simple at all , e.g. ( not 29...xf3 30.xa7 ) 30.f1 d3 31.e1 e8+ 32.d1 a5 33.a7 e2 34.xa5 xf2 35.a4 xf3 . ] 26.xc6 xf3 27.xe7+ h7 28.d2 No w W h i t e h a s e ve ryt h i n g s e c u r e d a n d remains a pawn to the good. On top of that, B l a c k ' s p a w n w e a k n e s s e s r e m a i n . 8f7 29.c6 h5 30.e5! Simplest. xe5 31.dxe5 e7 32.c6! g7 33.dc2 ff7 [ Or 33...xe5 34.xc7+ f7 35.xf7+ xf7 36.c7++- . ] 34.2c5+- Black cannot hold. f8 35.e6 g7 36.a5 Black resigned. This game is a vivid illustration of the problems Black experiences in the 8.Bxc6+ line. Players who are uncomfortable operating with a shattered pawn structure should definitely avoid this one. If you're keen to take up Black's cause, check the notes to David - Salem and, in the case of 10.Rc1, consider the reply 10...a5!?. 1-0
607 Kekelidze,M Robson,Ray 40th Annual World Open (7) [John Bartholomew]
A16 2494 2601 07.07.2012
Ray Robson is an extremely well-prepared Grandmaster. In this game he demonstrates a ll t h e im p o rt a n t id e a s in t h is qu ie t (b u t venomous) line of the Anti-Grunfeld. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 Ulf Andersson is the most noted practitioner of this "endgame" line. He amassed an impressive score of +5, =5, -0 with it in the period 1978-2009, and there's no doubting 608
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 that he's still searching for victims! xc3 [ 5...b6 transposes to a line of the Grunfeld where White can probably expect a slight edge. Korchnoi tried this against Andersson, b u t h e t o o c a m e t o g r i e f : 6.h3 ( the immediate 6.d4 is more common, but 6.h3 first is fully in keeping with Andersson's risk-averse style!) 6...g7 7.d4 0-0! 8.e2 c6 9.e3 f5 10.exf5 xf5 11.b3+ h8 12.d5 e5 13.d4 c6?! 14.d1 cxd5 15.xf5 xf5 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 c7 18.0-0! c6 19.fd1 xd5 20.xd5 Andersson, U (2635) -Korchnoi, V (2655)/Clermont Ferrand 1989 (1-0 on move 40). ] 6.dxc3 [ Of course White could seek a main-line G ru n f e ld wit h 6.bxc3 , but this isn't in the spirit of 5.e4. ] 6...xd1+ [ Andersson punished another opponent for getting creative: 6...d6?! 7.b3! g7 8.e3 0-0 9.d1 c6 10.c4 a6? ( 10...e6 11.0-0 ) 11.xf7+!+xf7 12.d8+ f8 13.e5 f6 14.xf7 xf7 15.h6 e6 16.xa8! xb3 17.axb3 c5 18.xf8+ xf8 19.xf8 xf8 20.e2 xe4 21.e3 d6 22.g4 e5 23.a1 a6 24.a5 f7 25.e4 e7 26.xe5+ 1-0 Andersson, U (2585)-Kouatly, B (2350)/ La Valetta 1980. ] 7.xd1 Theoretically speaking, the early exchange of queens is not considered dangerous for Black. All the same, he really ought to be aware of some key ideas to avoid n e e d l e s s t o r t u r e . f6 Black does best to immediately establish his pawn on e5. [ 7...d7 is another way of going about this, i.e. 8.f4 ( this eventually loses a tempo, so m a y b e W h i t e s h o u l d p r e f e r 8.e3 , as in our main game,; or 8.c4 ) 8...c6 9.c2 f6 10.d2 e5 11.e3 c5 12.xc5 xc5 13.b4 a4 ( 13...e6!? ) 14.c4 d8!? 15.d6?! ( 15.a5 is st ron ge r) 15...e7! 16.d1 a5 17.b5? d8 18.xc8+ axc8 Gelfand, B (2713)Ivanchuk, V (2702)/Batumi 1999/[TonyK]. ] 8.e3 e5 9.c2 [ Andersson most often began with 9.d2 . Here are a couple of his games, 30 years(!) apart: e6 ( per the strategy outlined in the
m a i n g a m e , I ' d r a t h e r p l a y 9...d7 intending 10...Bf8-c5) 10.c4 xc4 ( 10...f7 11.c2 d7 12.ad1 a5 13.a4 c5 14.xc5 xc5 15.f3 c6 16.xe6+ xe6 17.b3 e7= Andersson, U (2571)Atakisi, U (2393)/Budva MNE 2009 (1-0 on move 68). ) 11.xc4 d7 12.b4 b6 13.a5 (compared to Kekelidze - Robson, this knight is far more pesky on a5) 0-0-0+ 14.c2 e7 15.a3 f5?! 16.xb6!? axb6 17.c4 f6?! 18.a4! g7 19.he1 he8 20.b5 f4 21.a5 Andersson, U (2560) Franco Ocampos, Z (2360)/Buenos Aires 1979 (1-0 on move 42). ] 9...d7 10.d2 c5 Second order of business: exchange the dark-square bishops. The e3 bishop is W hite's best piece, while Black's own bishop is restricted by his e5/ f6 pawns. Thus, Black is quite eager to trade. 11.xc5 xc5 12.b4 [ 12.c4 ] 12...e6!? 13.c4 e7 14.a5 White's knight very often lands here, but Black has a convenient reply. d7! Accurately played. 15.a4 [ 15.xb7?! c6 16.a5 xe4+ 17.b3 ab8 ] 15...b6 16.c4? A positional error which Robson is quick to exploit. [ 16.b3 wa s n e e d e d . T h e n a f t e r a5 ( Black could also play more slowly i.e. 16...hd8= ) 17.bxa5 bxa5 18.c4= White maintains control over the crucial c5 square, and the game is balanced. ] 16...a5! Simultaneously fixing the pawn on a4 and ensuring control of c5. 17.b5 [ Neither does 17.bxa5 bxa5 18.f3 c5 19.b2 ab8 impress. Black has a clear plan of doubling on the b-file, whereupon White will be very tied down. ] 17...c5 18.e3 e6!? 19.c4?! [ For better or for worse, White should p r o b a b l y t r y 19.d5+ xd5 20.exd5 . Now he's just down a clear pawn. ] 19...xe4 20.d5 xf2! Perhaps White underestimated this reply. 21.xa8 [ The neat point is that 21.hf1 is powerfully met by g4!-+ . ] 21...xh1 22.f3 f2 23.f1 e4! 24.xf2 [ or 24.e2 d3 ] 24...exf3 25.xf3 d8-+ Black should win 609
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with decent technique, and Robson is very m u c h u p t o t h e t a s k . 26.g4 h8! A nice switchback. White cannot prevent the kingside from opening up. 27.g3 h5 28.g5 h4 29.g1 fxg5 30.xg5 f6 31.g1 g5 32.d3 d8+ 33.e2 g6 34.c1 g4 35.c4 d4 36.c5 Speeding White's demise, but there was no longer anything left to do. If White had chosen to sit tight (Rc1-c2-c1 etc.), Black could even just walk his king over to the queenside. xa4 37.cxb6 cxb6 38.c6 f7 39.xb6 a2+ 40.d3 xh2 41.b7+ f6 42.h7 f5+ 43.xf5 xf5 44.b6 g3 45.b7 b2 46.xh4 g2 47.h5+ g6 48.h8 xb7 All in all, an exemplary display from Black. This is the sort of line you can play with either color so long as you've done your homework. 0-1
608 Khalifman,Alexander McShane,Luke J ECC Rethymnon GRE (7) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2678 2619 04.10.2003
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 c6 McShane preferred [ 6...g7 against Krasenkow recently, but a similar queen swap occurred anyway, see the July 2003 update. ] 7.d4 g7 8.e4 0-0 9.e5!? e6 10.exf6! xc4 11.fxg7 xg7 12.xc4 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.e2 fd8 Possibly the most logical move, we looked at [ 14...c6 in the Friberg, H-Winge,S game, and ] [ 14...ad8 in the notes. ] 15.0-0 c6 16.e3 b4 17.ab1 d7 18.a3!? Actually a novelty, [ 18.fc1 was seen in Janssen, R-Golod,V/ Vlissingen NED 2000. ] 18...b3 19.e4 W ith a nasty threat. b6 20.d2 Driving the queen away from the b3square. e6 21.c4 Once again improving the white pieces with gain of tempo. [ An unfortunate decision, robbing us of the 'truth' in this line. 21.c4 a f t e r , s a y f5 22.fe1 ad8 23.e4!? both sides have
chances. ] ½-½
609 Kopinski,Tomasz Orzech,Dominik Lasker Mem A [Nigel Davies]
A16
03.06.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c6 3.e4 d5 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.e5 e4 6.xe4 Attempting to refute the gambit by taking it, but Black turns out to have excellent compensation. dxe4 7.a4+ c6 8.b5 [ After 8.xe4 d4 Black gets excellent compensation, for example 9.xd4 xd4 10.d3 d7 ( 10...e6!? ) 11.f3 ( 11.e2 is also possible here. Black should probably reply with xe2 12.xe2 c6 13.f3 e6 14.b3 e7 15.b2 0-0 16.ac1 fd8 with compensation for the pawn.) 11...xf3+ 12.gxf3 0-0-0 13.b3 e6 14.b2 c6 15.e4 b4 16.c3 xc3 17.dxc3 xe4 18.fxe4 d3 19.g1 g6 20.g3 hd8 21.a4 h5 22.e2 d2+ 23.f1 d7 24.a5 e7 was equal and rather drawish in Panchenko, A-Sergeev, V/Kiev 1986. ] 8...d5 [ Simple and strong, though Black may also have a reasonable 8...d7 9.xe4 b6 ] 9.xc6+ xc6 [ 9...bxc6 10.e2 b7 was also pretty strong. ] 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.f3 f5 12.e2 exf3 13.gxf3 d3 Black is clearly better here thanks to his bishop pair and massive bishop on d3. 14.b3 e6 15.b2 e7 16.h4 a5 17.f4 b5 18.a4 a6 19.c1 d7 20.c3 hb8 21.xa5 xb3 22.c3 a3 23.a5 a4 24.g2 c5 25.h5 b8 26.h4 a2 27.g4?! [ 27.e3 might have been a better chance, for example xe3 28.dxe3 e2+ 29.d1 xe3 30.d4+ c7 31.b4 b5 32.f4 with counterplay. ] 27...g6?! [ 27...b3! was stronger. ] 28.hxg6?! [ 28.e3 gxh5 29.g7 was better. ] 28...hxg6 29.h4 g5 30.h7 e7 31.h5? 610
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d3 [ 18.xc5? i s h o p e l e s s : xd5 19.xf8 [ 31...a3!? 32.d1 b3 threatening ... xh3 threatens mate on g2, and wins Rxc3 would have won immediately. White material, ] also allows this concept over the next few [ and 18.c3? is similarly hopeless, a4! ] moves whilst Black misses it, presumably 18...xd3 19.d2 the game being affected by time trouble. ] [ 19.a7!? appeared too risky to me at the 32.f4? g4 33.h6? g3 34.h3 f2+ time, b7 20.xb7 xb7 21.c5 d5 35.d1 e4 and I would prefer to be Black. ] 0-1 19...b7! Black has no time to defend the hpawn because of Rad1, but he has calculated everything. 20.ad1 xg2 21.xg2 d5+ 610 A16 22.h2 e4 Consolidating the knight's Kosten,Anthony C 2502 advanced position. 23.xh6!? Going for the Degraeve,Jean Marc 2536 king, [ 23.f4 c4 24.xd3 is met by fd8 ] tm 1st Monaco-Clichy (6) 1999 23...xh6 24.xh6 xa2 25.e3 c4 [Tony Kosten] 26.f4 bd8 Allowing White to escape with a 1.c4 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 f6 4.c3 0-0 draw, [ 26...xf4?! is dangerous for Black: 27.gxf4! The popular 'King's Indian Defence to the xb4 28.f5 with attack, but ] English'. 5.d3 d6 6.g5 Gurevich's line, [ 26...fd8 would have avoided the White wants to see how Black plays before perpetual. ] committing his central pawns. h6 7.d2 e5 This is no time for false bravery! 8.e4 A Botvinnik set-up is the appropriate 27.h5!? response to this. a6 9.ge2 b5 A pawn offer gxh5 Allowing a perpetual check, [ 27...gxh5 28.g5+ h7 29.xh5+ etc. ] that W hite dare not accept, in fact I didn't [ but, had the match situation been different, even bother to think about the possibility! Black might have been tempted by 27...d6 10.0-0 bd7 11.h3 b8 12.cxb5 axb5 e.g. 28.g5 renewing the threat of 13.b4 This fixes the b5-pawn, and hopes to perpetual, by Nf6-h5+. e3 ( 28...c3!? ) show Black's queenside play to be pointless. 29.fxe3 c2+ 30.g1 f2 31.e5 c6 14.e3 White is already for action, indeed and Black must take a perpetual himself. ] h e t h re a t e n s Q d 2 , a n d t h e n f 4 -5 , wit h a strong attack. d5!! A stunning riposte, I just ½-½ couldn't believe it was possible! [ The original game, Gurevich,M-Nijboer,F/ A16 B r e d a 1 9 9 6 , h a d g o n e r a t h e r m o r e t o 611 White's taste: 14...b7 15.a4!? a change of Kosten,Anthony C 2498 Griffiths,Ryan Rhys 2310 plans. bxa4 16.xa4 d5?! weakens c5, 31.03.2012 17.a7 a8 18.a5! d4?! 19.a4 e8 4NCL 2011-12 (7.34) 20.d2 d6 21.c5 xc5 22.xc5 [Tony Kosten] and White had a clear advantage, the b71.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 g6 bishop is particularly useless. ] 15.exd5 There is no other choice. cxd5 5.g2 b6 6.d3 g7 7.e3 c6 8.f3 [ 15...xd5!? with a likely transposition to I decided to play this over-the-board, trying to take my opponent out of his preparation. the game. ] [ My 'Dynamic English' recommendation was 16.xd5?! Trying to prove black wrong, but in 8.d2 when d4 9.c1 f5 10.c5 0-0 retrospect, 11.f3 is very slightly better for White, but [ 16.d4 m a y b e b e t t e r , e4 17.b3 it's not much, see Reinderman, D-Harika, D with play against d5. ] 16...xd5 17.xd5 c5! The point of in the January 2012 update. ] Black's tactic. 18.g2 The only move, but I 8...0-0 [ 8...e5?! is probably a bit dubious: 9.c5! felt that it must be good. 611
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a5 ( 9...e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.d4 exd4 12.xd4 with a nice plus, although the black position is solid, Sloth, J (2380)-Ogaard, L (2490)/Aarhus 1976.) 10.c1! d7 11.a3 f8 How else to castle? ( Black had hoped to play 11...b4?! but then realised that 12.b5 was awkward.) 12.xf8 xf8 13.d4 g7 14.0-0 xd4 15.xd4 exd4 16.xd4+ f6 Kosten, A (2514)-Fontaine, R ( 2 5 4 6 ) / F r a n c e 2 0 0 9 , w h e n 17.c5 was probably the most accurate move, with some advantage, Rfd1 is coming and the epawn can advance to e5. ] 9.0-0 It was only at this point that the idea to play my intended 'Anti-Reversed Dragon' line came to me, as I reasoned that the black bishop would be misplaced on the a1-h8 diagonal. [ 9.d2 is more common, intending to push the h-pawn: e5 10.h4 ( or 10.h6 ) 10...h5 11.g5 f6 12.e3 e6 13.e4 d5 14.0-0 although I'm not sure White has anything here, Aronian, L (2724)Areshchenko, A (2653)/ Khanty-Mansiysk 2005. ] 9...e5 The most common move here, preparing an outpost for the knight. 10.a4 a5 11.xb6 cxb6 12.d2 [ 12.b5 e6 13.d2 will likely transpose. ] 12...e8 [ 12...e6 is the main alternative, 13.c4 A) 13...f5 Blumenfeld, R-Szabo, L/Haifa/ Tel Aviv 1958, 14.c1; B) 13...e8 14.b5 ( 14.b3 a6 15.e4 e7 16.ac1 d4 17.d1 d7 gave White nothing in Ree, H-Benko, P/ W ijk aan Zee 1970.) 14...f8 15.c1 transposes below.; C) 13...b8 defending the b7-pawn frees the c6-knight. 14.c1 e8 ( 14...h6 15.e3 b4 16.xe5 g7 17.d4 xe5 18.dxe5 d3 19.b1 xe5 20.d5 with the better pawn structure, Korobov, A (2470)-Areshchenko, A (2462)/ Ordzhonikidze 2001.) 15.b5 f8 16.e3 c5 17.e2 e7 18.fd1 bd8 19.h4 h5 20.h2 f6 21.h3 fairly level in Korobov, A (2511)-Areshchenko, A (2470)/ Alushta 2002. ] 13.c4 f8 14.c1 e6
[ 14...b8 15.b3 ( 15.b5 would be my choice. ) 15...c5 16.d5?! e6 17.e4 d4 and now Black is better, Djukic, Z (2370)-Rogers, I (2450)/Nis 1983. ] 15.b3 So far I was playing my moves very fast, and simply following 'the plan', but I don't think this is right, [ 15.b5 first has to be more logical, as it is far from clear that the pawn is best on b3. ] 15...f6 16.b5 b8 A common move in t h e s e p o s i t i o n s , d e f e n d i n g b 7 . 17.e3 Having put my minor pieces on their ideal squares it was time to advance the d-pawn. f5 Hitting d3, but White was going to move this anyway! [ 17...c5 was a sensible option, 18.e2 d7 19.fd1 and White is almost ready to play d4, he must just take care to remove his queen from the vis-à-vis with the e8rook. ] 18.d4 exd4 19.exd4 b4 20.c3 To control d3, now White is ready to push the d-pawn to d6 if given half a chance. d7! An annoying move, Black will capture on b5, int rod ucing op posit e-colo ur bisho ps an d weakening the white formation. 21.bd6!? Probably not a very good move objectively, I just wanted to avoid ...Bxb5 and a likely draw against a lower-rated opponent. [ 21.d5 looks tempting, but xb5 22.axb5 d7 23.d6 xb5 24.d4 can simply be answered by c5! 25.xc5 bxc5 26.xa5 xd6 27.xb7 f8 28.xc5 ec8 and it will be very dif f icu lt to make an y progress. ] [ 21.e3 xe3 ( 21...xb5 22.axb5 d7 23.xe8 xe8 24.f3 f5 25.f4 k e e p s t h e i n i t i a t i v e .) 22.fxe3 f5 is also nothing special. ] 21...xd6 [ 21...e6!? was a worry, trying to trap the knight. I intended to sac the exchange: 22.xb7!? c8 23.xb6 ( 23.d2 xb7 24.d6 xd6! 25.xc8 xc8 26.xb7 xb7 and I like the minor pieces here.) 23...xc3 24.xd7 be8 25.d5 unclear. ] 22.xd6 g4 Forced, but good. 23.xg4 xd6 24.d1 Probably this position is just equal, the d4-pawn is passed, but if I play d5 then the bishop is impeded, and meanwhile the b4-knight is strong. e7 25.c8+ g7 612
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.xb8 xb8 27.h4 Trying to open a front on the kingside. h5! Black plays well. 28.f3 c8!? A little bit risky, as this allows the dpawn to advance. [ I had expected 28...d6 ] 29.d5! I only need to be asked once! g4! 30.xg4 hxg4 31.d6 [ 31.f3! first might be best, gxf3 32.xf3 planning g4, maybe d6, and then Kf2, with some real chances. ] 31...d7 32.f3 gxf3 33.h3 After a long thought. [ 33.xf3 c6 34.xc6!? bxc6 35.g4 f7 36.f2 was possible, hoping for e6? ( but 36...e8 is equal, 37.g3 d8 and the rook is freed.) 37.h5 gxh5 38.gxh5 and Black is losing. ] 33...f5 34.g4 f6! [ 34...fxg4 35.xg4 d8 36.d7 would be most unpleasant. ] 35.gxf5 gxf5 36.f2 c6 37.xf3 e5! Th e m o s t a c c u ra t e , f o rcin g a re p e t it io n . 38.e1+ f6 [ 38...xd6? 39.d1+ e7 40.xd7+ xd7 41.xf5+ e7 42.e3 would be difficult to defend. ] 39.d1 e5 40.e1+ [ I briefly considered 40.e3 but xd6 41.xd6 xd6 42.xf5 e5 43.g4 d4 didn't look very promising, 44.d3 xb3 45.c4 c5 and Black can draw by taking on a4 if he wants - W hite has the wrong rook's pawn. ] ½-½
612 Kosten,Anthony C Noordhoek,Henk P 5th Rohde Open (1) [John Watson]
A16 2507 2118 22.10.2005
1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 c6 This is passive but f airly solid. The main theoretical moves are [ 4...g6 ] [ 4...c5 ] [ and 4...e5 5.g2 b6 ] 5.g2 xc3 6.bxc3 g6 7.f3 g7 8.0-0 0-0 9.a4 To get Ba3 in, or even play with ideas like Qh4.
[ An ot he r ap proa ch is th e mo de s t 9.b1 d7 10.c2 b6 ( 10...e8 11.d3 e5 12.g5 ) 11.c4 Eventually White's central majority will give him the advantage. ] 9...d7 10.a3 e8!? [ More natural looks 10...b6 with the idea of bringing the c8 bishop out and answering 11.h4 by f6 ] 11.ab1 e5 12.d3 The d6 square is beginning to look inviting, with ideas like Nd2e4 or even Ng5-e4 if allowed. b6! 13.c2 e6 14.d2 f5 Black's pieces are coordinating pretty well. 15.c4 c7 16.b4! A star move. The idea of Ba5 makes Black's n e xt a lm o st o b liga t o ry. d7 17.a4!? Back again! This works out well, but [ 17.f3 h6 18.c3 was a sound alternative and probably better. ] 17...ac8! Clearing the long diagonal in preparation for ...b6 or ...b5. [ 17...c5?! 18.a5 b6 19.b3 ] 18.c5!? A good idea but it seems poorly timed. [ 18.f3 was possible, the exotic ] [ 18.a3 c5 19.c3 b6 20.b2 , preparing a4-a5. I still would rather be White in these positions. ] 18...f6?! Finally giving up on the queenside. Black could try [ 18...b6 anyway, or ] [ 18...b5!? , in both cases leading to 19.cxb6 axb6 20.fc1 c5 ( 20...b5!? ) 21.c3= ] 19.fc1 d5 20.e4! Now White is clearly better. e6 Black can test White's idea by [ 20...fxe4 21.dxe4 ( 21.xe4 xe4 22.xe4 xe4 23.dxe4 ) 21...e6 , but either 22.c4 or 22.Ba5 are quite nice for White. ] 21.a5 f7? A positional blunder. The queen might have retreated by [ 21...d7 , when Black is worse but still in the game. ] 22.f3 with the double threats of Nxe5 and Ng5. g4!? 23.g5 f6 24.xe6 xe6 25.exf5 Working on the light squares. [ 25.h3 and ] [ 25.xb7 fxe4 26.f1 are other very strong moves. ] 25...xf5 [ 25...gxf5 26.h3 h6 27.xb7 ] 26.f1! h5 It's pretty resignable whatever 613
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black does, so why not threaten mate and see i f T o n y i s d r e a m i n g a b o u t l u n c h ? 27.h4 Bh3 is an unstoppable threat. ce8 28.h3 e4 29.d1 1-0
613 Kosten,Anthony C Schwarz,Michael TCh-2003-4 Graz AUT (3) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2540 2409 30.11.2003
1.c4 g6 2.c3 g7 3.g3 f6 4.g2 0-0 5.f3 c6 An unexpected reply. 6.e4!? I searched for an alternative to [ 6.0-0 d5 which leads to a fairly boring symmetric line of the Fianchetto King's Indian: 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.d4 c6 9.e5 ] 6...d5 The critical reply, although KI players might prefer [ 6...d6 7.d4 bd7 which is a mainline Fia n c h e t t o V a ria t io n , a s in S o ro kin , M Chuprov, D/Novgorod RUS 1999. ] 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.e5 [ 8.exd5 xd5 9.d4 c6 10.0-0 e6 is fine for Black, El Ghazali,Y-Neverov,V/ Tanta 1997. ] 8...e4 9.0-0 c6 10.d4 g4 The most logical move, Black brings this piece out before playing ... e6 with a solid light-squared structure. [ 10...e6 keeps the bishop pair, 11.e2 f6 12.f4 d7 ( 12...g4!? has its points) 13.exf6 exf6 14.e3 fe8 15.d2 f7 looks fairly equal, Vijayalakshimi,S-Lalic,B/ Goodricke Open, Calcutta IND 2000. ] [ 10...xc3 11.bxc3 g4 12.h3 Transposes. ] 11.h3 xf3 12.xf3 xc3 Creating a backward pawn on an open file. 13.bxc3 e6 The evident follow-up, although it appears to be a novelty. [ 13...a5 14.b1 d7 15.e2 c4?! shows why ...e6 is wise: 16.e6! xe6 ( 16...fxe6 17.g4 wins an exchange) 17.xb7 xe2 18.xe2 e5! Rahimbekov,SBurschowsky,M/ Oropesa del Mar ESP 1998, and now 19.dxe5 xe5 20.b5 is good for White whose bishops dominate. ] [ 13...d7 is sim ila r : 14.h4!? very direct,
fc8 15.h5 a5 16.g2!? b6? ( 16...xc3 17.hxg6 hxg6 18.e1 ac8 19.d2 xf3 20.xf3 c4 is not too clear) 17.hxg6 fxg6 18.e6! d8 19.d2 c6 20.g5 xc3 21.h1 led to a winning white attack in Bukal, V-Duric,S/ Bjelovar 1979. ] 14.h4 As in the above note White cannot hang around as his queenside position is compromised - he plays to use his kingside space to inaugurate an attack. c7 15.g5 a5 16.c1 c4 17.g2 This is not necessary, I should have avoided this to save a move for the attack. ac8 18.d3 [ 18.h5 is not so good: h6 19.f4 g5 and the attack is stymied. ] 18...h6 19.f4 e7 Black defends against possible sacs on g5. 20.c2 Freeing c1 for the bishop. c6 21.h5 g5 22.c1 fc8 Both sides play on 'their' side of the board. 23.e2 a3 This was accompanied by a draw offer, but after a little thought decided that I could play on without great risk. 24.xa3 xa3 25.fc1 a6 This is a little slow, I had expected [ 25...f8 26.f4 a5 intending ...Ba3, but then 27.f5 ( 27.fxg5 is also good) 27...a3 28.b1! ( 28.fxe6!? xc1 29.exf7+ f8 30.h7! is also strong) 28...xc3?! 29.b5! and wins. ] 26.f4 gxf4 27.gxf4 b5 Black is menacing ... b4 in certain lines, but White's attack is more pertinent. 28.f5 exf5 [ 28...b4 29.cxb4 xc1 30.xc1 xc1 gains two rooks for the queen, but 31.fxe6 fxe6 32.xa6 hits e6 and wins easily. ] 29.f3 The point. d8 30.h1 This was my plan, to use the open g-file for the final attack, but I considered [ 30.xd5!? long and hard: xd5 31.f3 r e g a i n s t h e e x c h a n g e , b u t a f t e r cc5! 32.dxc5 xc5 The white position is open. ] 30...b4 Perhaps it was time to consider helping the kingside defence by, say [ 30...f6 ] 31.g1 xc3 32.xc3 xc3?! It was very difficult to see all the following, but [ 32...bxc3 was the better chance: 33.xf5 c2! ( 33...f8 34.e2! h8 35.xa6 a8 36.d3 g8 37.c1 xa2 38.xc3 is very unpleasant for Black, who can hardly move ) 34.f6 ( 34.xg7+? xg7 35.f6+ 614
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g8 36.xd8+ h7 loses! ) 34...f8 35.xg7+ xg7 36.xd8+ f8 37.c7 a3! the saving resource! 38.xc2 xf3+ 39.g2+ xg2+ 40.xg2 f8 draws. ] 33.xf5 White has some nasty threats, Qf6 and Rxg7+. e3?? [ 33...c8 i s t h e o n l y m o v e , 34.xc8 ( 34.f6?? would win if it were not for h3# ) 34...xc8 35.d1 d8 36.c1 and despite being a pawn down W hite is w e l l o n t o p , f8 37.c6 a5 38.a6 followed by Rxa5xd5. ] 34.xg7+! The simplest, but my computer also finds other wins, for instance [ 34.xd5 xd5 35.c8+ h7 36.g4 as g5 37.e4+ wins everything. ] 34...xg7 35.f6+ h7 [ 35...g8 36.xd8+ g7 37.f6+ g8 38.xd5 ] 36.xf7+ h8 37.f6+ h7 38.e7+ My opponent admitted that he had missed this check. [ 38.e7+ h8 39.xd8+ g7 40.f6+ h7 41.f7+ h8 42.e6 and the e-pawn will queen in a few moves. ] 1-0
6.bxc3 g7 7.c2 [ Another sensible way to develop is 7.d2 , which also seems to keep the possibility of playing a later Qc1 and Bh6. One game with this went 0-0 8.g3 b6 9.g2 b7 10.h4 h5 11.0-0 c5 12.b1 c6 13.g5 d7 14.e4 ad8 15.c4 c7 16.f4 c8 17.d2 d4 18.c3 xg2 19.xg2 fe8 20.fc1 f5 21.e4 c6 22.g1 d7 23.d1 ed8 24.a4 and White had some initiative in Sunye Neto, J (2415)-Popovic, P (2490)/Hastings 1980. ] 7...0-0 8.g3 After this we're going to transpose into a known position, but it doesn't normally come about via this 5.d3 move order. c5 9.g2 c6 10.h4!? In the style of Bent Larsen used to like pushing his h-pawn in the English W hite is spicing things up on the kingside where there aren't too many defenders. The other thing about h-pawn advances in flank openings is that the rest of your position remains very tough, so W hite isn't risking much here. [ An earlier game featured the quiet 10.0-0 after which b8 11.b2 e5 12.d2 c7 13.c4 b5 14.e3 e6 15.d5 d7 16.e4 f5 was fine for Black in Bachmann, K (2325) -Zimmermann, F (2255)/Germany 614 A16 1983/GER-chT. ] 11.d2 d5 12.b2 a5 Kramnik,Vladimir 2784 10...b4 L'Ami,Erwin 2628 Black is playing 'actively' but he makes little 73rd Tata Steel (9) 25.01.2011 impression on W hite's rock solid structure. 13.h5 b6 [Nigel Davies] [ 13...xc3 14.xc3 xc3 15.c1 xd2+ 16.xd2 will recover the pawn with the 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 better endgame. White's bishop on g2 has a xd5 5.d3 Many different moves have been lot of influence here. ] played here but this is rather rare. So it's 14.hxg6 hxg6 15.a4 d7 16.f1 xa4 interesting to see Kramnik adopting it. xc3 b6 After this White's attack [ Black's most popular reply has been the 17.g5 natural 5...g7 though he hasn't scored becomes very strong. [ 17...fe8 was worth considering, the idea particularly well with it. For example 6.d2 b e i n g t h a t a f t e r 18.e5 Black can gain 0-0 7.g3 c5 8.c1 ( 8.g2 c6 9.0-0 counterplay with ( Or 18.h4 ) 18...c4! c7 10.a4 d7 11.h4 e6 12.xd8 . For example after 19.d4 c7 20.d5 e6 axd8 13.ab1 d5 14.fc1 b6 15.a3 21.g4 xb2 22.f6+ f8 23.h7+ fe8 16.f1 ce7 1/2-1/2 Petrosian, TWhite's attack is good enough to draw but Kortschnoj, V/Tbilisi 1956.) 8...c6 9.g2 not more than that. ] xc3 10.bxc3 b8 11.h6 b6 12.h4!? d6 13.h5 f6 14.xg7 xg7 15.hxg6 18.h4 fe8 [ Another try was 18...f6 but then 19.h7+ hxg6 16.g5 was very dangerous for Black f7 20.h4 is good. ] in Har Zvi, R (2512)-Zinchenko, Y (2516)/ 19.c1 e5? Losing immediately. ICC INT 2008. ] 615
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Black should try 19...f8 20.h7 f6 , though he's probably losing anyway after 21.d4! threatening 22.Bg5!. ] 20.h7+ f8 21.h6 xh6 22.xh6+ e7 23.xe5 [ Black has no good defence, for example 23.xe5 f5 24.h4+ f6 25.xb7 xh4 26.xh4 wins material. ] 1-0
615 Kramnik,Vladimir Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar AZE vs World Rapid rapid (4) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2759 2725 08.05.2009
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 g7 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 c6 8.a4 b6 9.h4 Larsen and Stein used to li k e t h i s k i n d o f k i n g s i d e s a b r e r a t t l i n g . Actually I'm not convinced it's anything for W hite if Black plays accurately, but it can quicken the opponent's pulse. e5 [ Another sound method for Black is 9...f6 10.h6 e5 , f o r e xa m p l e 11.d3 g7 12.g5 f6 13.d2 f5 14.b3 h6 15.a3 e8 16.ac1 e6 17.e4 1/2-1/2 was Ljubojevic, L (2600)-Ivanchuk, V (2735)/ Reykjavik 1991. But there seems no particular reason for Black avoiding the exchange of queens. ] 10.xd8 xd8 11.d3 d4 12.g5 [ White must be careful about reflex captures on d4 in such positions as they lead t o positions in which Black has a well defined spa ce ad va nta ge . For exam ple 12.xd4 exd4 13.e4 h6 14.b4 d5 15.a3 a5 16.bxa5 xa5 gave Black a clear advantage in Schlosser, P (2375)-Herbrechtsmeier, C (2305)/ Germany 1987/GER-chT. Kramnik's move is better, though Black still manages to force Nf3xd4. ] 12...f6 13.d2 g4 14.xd4 What else can White do when Black is threatening to capture on f3? exd4 15.e4 xe2 16.fe1 [ 16.fc1 xd3 17.xc7 might be better though this is none too exciting for White. ] 16...xd3 17.c5 c2 [ 17...c4 18.xb7 ab8 was stronger when White is struggling to find
compensation for his pawn. ] 18.xb7 c4 19.f4 d3 20.e7?! This inappropriately active move ends up hitting the jackpot when Black blunders. [ 20.b3 was better when a3 21.xd8 xd8 22.d2 would leave things 'dynamically balanced'. ] 20...d4? A serious mistake which changes the course of the game. [ 20...d2! 21.xd2 xd2 would force White to play 22.a5 xa5 23.xa8 . I'd have to favour Black's two minor pieces here. ] 21.xc7 g5 22.e3 xe3 23.fxe3 dd8 24.xd8 xd8 25.e4 e8? Losing on the spot. [ 25...a4 would have been much more tenacious. ] 26.d5+ h8 27.b3 1-0
616 Kramnik,Vladimir Shirov,Alexei Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (2) [Carsten Hansen]
A16 2766 2715 21.02.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 g7 7.e4 c6?! Shirov's move has not seen much action previously, Other ideas are 7...Na6, 7.. .Bc6 and 7...0-0. Recently Black has given preference to [ 7...0-0 which is also the main line in ECO 8.e5 A) 8...e6 9.exf6!? this is a very gutsy move, an idea also known from the Russian Variation of the Grünfeld Defence ( 9.b5!? ) 9...xc4 10.fxg7 xg7 11.xc4 c6 12.0-0 b4 13.d3 c6 14.e4 d5 ( 14...c2!? 15.b1 b5 16.b3 xd3 puts a question mark to White's idea) 15.d2 b6 16.b4 ad8 17.a4 h6 18.fe1 c7 19.a5 without any breaks for Black to destabilize White minor piece superiority, Black may well be in trouble fe8 20.d4 e6 21.e5 f6 22.d3 b6 23.g3 f7 24.e2 threatening Nef4, hitting the e6-pawn g5 25.g3 d7 ( 25...c7!? ) 26.b5! c5 27.dxc5 bxc5 28.e4 b4?? 616
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1-0 A.Shchekachev-R.Swinkels, Bethune 2006; B) 8...g4 is the ECO main line, e.g. 9.d4 e6 10.d5 f5 11.f4 d7 12.e2 f6 13.e6 de5 14.xe5 fxe5 15.h3 f6 16.d1 e4 17.e5 c6 18.dxc6 c7 19.cxb7 ad8 20.d7 xd7 21.exd7 xb7 22.b5 xd7 23.c4+ h8= Goldin-Mikhalevski, Rishon Le-Zion 1997; C) 8...e8 9.d4 c6 10.b3 ( 10.e2 e6 11.d3 f6 12.f4 d7 13.e3 fxe5 14.dxe5 b6 15.d4 c7 16.g3 c4= S. Ovsejevitsch-J.Owczarzak, Le gnic a 2 0 0 6) 10...c5 11.dxc5 c6 12.e3 c7 13.e2 c8 14.0-0 xe5 15.xe5 xe5 16.c4 c6 , J.Gustafsson-D.Baramidze, Koenigshofen (GER-CH) 2007 17.f3!? ] 8.d4 b5 9.b3 a5 10.e5 a4 11.d1 d5 12.xd5 cxd5 While the first exchanges h a ve h a p p e n e d , a n d W h i t e 's qu e e n h a s retreated to her starting square, White has a small but clear advantage thanks to Black's advanced queenside pawns and the weaknesses around them. The key focus for W hite now is to complete his development while preven ting Black f rom ope ning th e position. 13.e2 c6 14.0-0 0-0 15.e3 a5 16.b3 keeping Black's knight away from the attractive c4-square axb3 17.axb3 b6 18.e1 heading to the weak c5-square b4 19.d3 b5 20.c5 b7 21.xa8 xa8 22.xb5 xb5 23.d3! c6 24.a4 White is not interested in exchanging knights as it will make Black's defensive task f ar easier, an d in order f or Black to pre ven t White's knight from returning to c5 later on, Black will have to keep his knight on a rather awkward square, either on e6 or on b7. d8 25.c1 b7 26.c2 Thank you - that's the cf ile f or W h it e. Kra mn ik ma kes po sitio na l chess look easy. f6 27.f4! h6 28.g3! W hite is obviously not interested in letting B l a c k ' s b i s h o p b a c k i n t o t h e g a m e . fxe5 29.dxe5 e6 30.c6! With better piece coordination, more active pieces - particularly Black's beauty on h6 is troublesome - White has a clear advantage xc6 31.xc6 f7 32.f2 b8 33.e2 f8 34.d3 b7?? and Black resigned due to 35 Rxe6 Kxe6 36 Nc5+, nonetheless Black's position is rather
difficult and undoubtedly one Kramnik took great joy in playing. 1-0
617 Krasenkow,Michal McShane,Luke J 18th North Sea Cup (4) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2609 2592 07.06.2003
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 g7 7.e4 c6 By pressurising e4 Black hinders White from advancing d4. 8.d3 0-0 9.e2 bd7 10.0-0 Logical, we looked at [ 10.f4 in Piket,J-Bacrot,E/Escaldes 1998. ] 10...a5 The most precise, White might otherwise play the annoying b4-5, for instance: [ 10...e5 11.b4 a6 12.a4 b6 13.b3 and b5 would soon be a problem, Khalifman, A-Jansa,V/Tegernsee GER 2002. ] 11.e5!? A typical, sharp, Krasenkow innovation. [ 11.d1 e5 12.e3 ( 12.d4!? xe4 13.dxe5?! xc3 14.bxc3?! xf3! 15.xf3 xe5 won a pawn in Janssen,R-De Vreugt, D / W i j k a a n Z e e 1 9 9 9) 12...e7 Maksimenko,A-Sulipa,A/Lvov 1999, and now 13.d4 looks interesting, as now xe4? 14.d5 xc3 15.bxc3 wins. ] 11...b6!? Black willingly allows the queen for 3 pieces exchange. [ 11...e8 12.d4 b6 leaves White with a useful space plus, but is probably stronger. ] 12.exf6! A well-known idea in such positions. xc4 13.fxg7 xg7 14.dxc4 xf3! 15.xf3 c6 Compared to the Friberg-Winge game we examined a few months ago this must be somewhat better for White as he is ahead in d evelopmen t, and ha s an extra pawn. 16.b3! c7 17.b2 g8 18.ae1 W hite inhibits Black's main source of counterplay, the advance of his extra kingside pawn, because of the pressure on e5 from rook and bishop. ad8 19.e2 d7 20.fe1 fd8 21.a3! An annoying move, which gives B l a c k a n a w k w a r d d e c i s i o n . f4!? Black ditches the e-pawn. [ 21...e6?! allows 22.e4 with a nasty threat to check on f6. ] 617
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ but 21...e8 isn't impossible. ] 22.xe7 e8 23.a3? It is not like Krasenkow to miss a straightforward tactical win, [ 23.e4! leaves the black queen without any s e n s i b l e s q u a r e s , d2 ( what else? 23...f5 24.g4; 23...c7 24.a3 xe4 25.xe4 and Nf6+ decides) 24.d1 xd1+ 25.xd1 and after Black captures on e7 W hite will have two pieces for the rook, enough to win. ] 23...xe2 24.xe2 f5 25.e3 d4 26.g3 d2 White is still better, but Black's queen has become active, and things are not simple. 27.e2 f7 28.c5?! [ 28.c5! seems better, to play Bb6 and threaten the a-pawn. ] 28...e7 29.c4+ e8 30.d3 White certainly doesn't want to exchange both rooks, as his pieces cooperate better with a r o o k b y t h e i r s i d e s . c2 31.g2 The one major problem with White's set-up is that his bishop is looking a bit silly on a3, which is why his 28th move was not best. g5! 32.d1 This allows Black to exchange the last pair of rooks, better [ 32.h3 although d7 33.f3 f4 is not too clear. ] 32...d7! 33.b2 xd3 34.xd3?! I suspect White was in time-trouble here, as [ 34.xd3 c1 35.c4 a1 36.d6+ e7 keeps White well in the game. ] 34...xa2 35.c1 a4 The b-pawn is pinned. 36.xg5 e2! [ 36...axb3?! allows White to force a neat perpetual by 37.e5! c2 38.f7+ f8 39.h6+ e7 40.g5+ ] 37.f6 axb3 Yet another pawn drops, and this one is close to the queening square. 38.b2 e4+ 39.g1 f4! Black plays with great precision. 40.xb3?! e1+ 41.g2 e4+ 42.g1 fxg3 As ...Qf3 will fork both bishops. 0-1
618 Krasenkow,Michal Mikhalevski,Victor 1st ch-Europe (2) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2661 2499 04.07.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 a6!? [ A typical 'Grünfeld-type' move, although l e s s c o m m o n t h a n 6...g7 as played previously. ] 7.e4 [ The sharpest reply, Black had no particular problems after 7.g3 b5 8.b3 c5 9.d3 c6 10.g2 c8 in Psakhis,L-Mikhalevski, V/ Ramat Aviv ISR 1998. ] [ The other main possibility, 7.d4 brings play even closer to a real Grünfeld, and worked well for White after b5 8.b3 c6 9.f4 g7 10.e3 0-0 11.e2 e6 12.d1 b4 13.e4 , Lautier,J-Bacrot,E/ Enghien-lesBains FRA 1999. ] 7...b5 8.e2! [ This is possible now that the e-pawn has moved, 8.b3 is more 'normal'. ] 8...c6!? [ A novelty, 8...c5 9.e5 h5 10.e4 c6?! 11.xc5 f5 12.d3 ( 12.e6!? ) 12...e6 13.e4 b4+ 14.d2 f4 15.e3 d5 16.h6 f8 17.d6+!? xd6 18.exd6 xh6 19.xh6 was slightly favourable for W hite in Gelfand,B-Svidler,P/Haif a ISR 2000. ] 9.e5 b4? [ These type of combinations always seem very seductive to computers, but the knight r a r e l y e s c a p e s f r o m a 1 , b e t t e r 9...h5 although 10.d4 g4 11.e4 is more pleasant for White. ] 10.exf6! Krasenkow rarely shirks away from complications! c2+ 11.d1 xa1 12.b3 f5?! [ Hoping to withdraw the knight via c2, but 12...e6 13.b2 xb3 14.axb3 xb3+ was a better bet, although I prefer the pieces to the rook and pawns. ] 13.b2! c2 14.g4 [ 14.fxe7 xe7 15.e4 also wins the piece. ] 14...xg4 15.xc2 e6?? [ An unlikely blunder, but one that brings the 618
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g a m e t o a s w i f t c o n c l u s i o n ! 15...d7 should have been tried, although 16.g2 e6 17.e5! favours White anyway. ] 16.xb5+!! [ A stunning move, after 16.xb5+ axb5 17.xb5+ d7 18.xd7+ xd7 19.e5+ picks-up the bishop on g4. ] 1-0
619 Krasenkow,Michal Zezulkin,Jurij chT Zakopane chT (7) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2702 2529 09.09.2000
1.c4 f6 2.f3 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 c6 7.e4!? [ Actually, this typical move is actually a novelty here. Normally W hite prefers 7.d4 g7 8.e4 0-0 9.e5 when the queen for three pieces combination is possible: e6 10.exf6!? xc4 11.fxg7 xg7 12.xc4 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.e2 which is unclear, Kramnik,V-Ivanchuk,V/Belgrade 1997. ] 7...a6 8.e5!? White keeps his d-pawn in reserve. e6 9.a4 Of course, without the bishop on g7, capturing on f6 as in the Kramnik game is impossible. d7 10.d4 b6 11.d1 d7 12.e3 White has gained central space, but a hole on d5 has been created. f6!? Black wishes to attack the white centre, but many other plans were possible, too. 13.e2 g7 14.e4! Black cannot stop the knight from landing on c5, and forking qu e e n a n d b is h o p . fxe5 15.c5 d5 16.g5! Charge! f5 17.f3 e4! [ Returning the pawn immediately, as after 17...g8 18.dxe5 xe5 19.xb7 b4 20.0-0 the black queen is oddly-placed. ] 18.gxe4 0-0-0 19.g3 White can ruin the black structure thus. c4 20.xf5 gxf5 21.xc6 bxc6 22.c1! b4+ 23.d2 xd4 24.e2 Menacing the powerful Qxa6+, and forcing Black's reply. xd2+ 25.xd2 xd2 26.xd2 h6+ Obviously, without this Black would lose an exchange. 27.e2 xc1 28.xc1 So, the dust has settled, and Black is actually a pawn to the good. However, White recaptures this easily, and can then try to
exploit his better structure. a5 29.d3 d8 30.e5 d5 31.xc6 d7 32.f4 T h is p ro vid e s a n ice o u t p o st o n e 5 . d6 33.e5 c5 34.g3 d4 35.c3 a4 36.a3 c4 Black plays actively to compensate for his weaker pawns. 37.c2 d5 38.f3 d3 39.d2! White decides that he has better chances without rooks, as the black rook is the more active of the two. xd2+ 40.xd2 d7? [ 40...h6 is stronger, so that if 41.c3 c5 and ...Nd5+ will drive the white king back. ] 41.c3 Threatening Kb4, and winning a pawn. h5 [ 41...c5 is no longer sufficient, 42.d4 ] 42.b4 c5 43.d2 e5 No doubt the point of Black's play, he wants to seek counter chances on the kingside. 44.xc4 [ 44.fxe5 d3+ 45.xa4 xb2+ 46.b4 d3+ 47.c3 xe5 is only slightly better for White. ] 44...exf4 45.gxf4 d3+ 46.c3 xf4 47.b6+ e4 48.xa4 Will Black's lone passed pawn be able to match the two white ones? Perhaps, if it is quick enough. e3 49.b4 e2+ 50.c4 f4 51.b5 f3 52.b2! Forced, but this resource is very strong. f4 [ 52...f2?? fails to 53.d1+ f3 54.xf2 xf2 55.b6 and the pawn cannot be stopped. ] 53.d1+ [ Not 53.b6? d2! controlling d1, 54.b7 f2 and Black queens with check! ] 53...d2 [ 53...e2 is also hopeless, 54.c3+ e1 55.e4 and the f-pawn is halted. ] 54.f2 e6 55.b6 d8 56.a4 The white pawns are unstoppable. e2 57.h3 f1 58.g5 f2 59.h3 b7 60.b4 h4 61.a5 [ 61.a5 g2 62.xf2 xf2 63.a6 soon brings White a queen. ] 1-0
619
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A16 25.d1 Kuznetsov,Vadim 2224 ½-½ Petrov,Yury 2105 60th ch-RUS sf Urals (9) 22.03.2007 621 A16 [Nigel Davies] Lautier,Joel 2645 Van Wely,Loek 2585 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c6 3.e4 d5 4.cxd5 cxd5 Groningen 1995 5.e5 d4 6.exf6 dxc3 7.fxg7 [ After 7.bxc3 I t h i n k t h a t exf6 [Nigel Davies] may be Black's best, despite the fact that it has rarely been played. ] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c6 3.e4 d5 4.cxd5 cxd5 7...cxd2+ 8.xd2 5.e5 fd7 Solid but rather passive. [ 8.xd2 is nothing for White, for example [ 5...e4 is the more active knight move ] xd2+ 9.xd2 xg7 10.b5+ d7 [ and Black can also consider 5...d4 . ] 11.0-0-0 a6 12.d3 c5 13.c2 e6 6.d4 c6 14.e3 c8 with approximate equality in [ 6...b6 may be a more flexible approach, Johanssen, T (2001)-Strasser, J (1917)/ but I'm still not made about Black's Seefeld 2006. ] position. ] 8...xg7 9.b3 White has tried other moves 7.ge2! here but has nothing special, for example: [ Black is fine after both 7.xd5 db8! ] [ a) 9.c2 c6 10.f3 b6 11.c3 [ and 7.f3 b6 8.h3 (to prevent 8...Bg4) xc3+ 12.xc3 b4 13.xb4 xb4 f5 . ] 14.b5+ d7 15.xd7+ xd7 was equal 7...b6 8.g3 Making it difficult for Black to in Eibersberger, M (2155)-Bachofner, C develop his bishop on c8. g6?! (2085)/Austria 2000. ] [ After 8...e6? White has a strong reply in [ b) 9.b5+ d7 10.b3 b6 11.xd7+ 9.h5! when the knight is difficult to xd7 12.xb6 xb6 was pretty good for dislodge (...g6 allows Nh5-f6+) and Black's Black in Babos, L-Karpati, T/Balaton 1996. ] bishop is tied down to f8. ] 9...c6 10.e2 0-0 11.c3 e5 12.d1?! [ The best was probably to wait with 8...d7 [ 12.g3 was better, but Black would have a but I still don't like Black's position after 9.h4 dangerous initiative after e6 13.xb7 followed by 10.h5. ] d4 . ] 9.h4 h5 10.e2 d7 11.g5!? Initiating 12...e7 some interesting play on the kingside. [ 12...d4! looks even stronger after [ 11.e3 was the standard move when 13.xd4 exd4 14.f3 e6 etc. ] Black's position is far from pleasant. ] 13.a3 11...f6 12.d3 f7 13.e3! fxe5 14.f3+ [ Or 13.g3 d4 14.xd4 exd4+ 15.e2 g7 15.xd5 xd5 e6 , with a good game for Black. ] [ 15...g4? 16.e4 hits g6. ] 13...e6 16.xd5 e8 17.e4 With Black's king [ Black would also stand well after 13...d4 being vulnerable it makes sense to keep , f o r e xa m p l e 14.b4 xb4+ 15.xb4 queens on. exd4 18.d2 f7?! c2+ 16.d2 xb4 17.axb4 d8+ [ 18...e6 would have been better. ] 18.e1 xd1+ 19.xd1 f5 etc. ] 19.0-0 g8 20.f4! Preparing to set fire to 14.c2 fd8 15.xd8+ xd8 16.g3 d4 Black's ramshackle king position with f4-f5. 17.xd4 exd4 18.d3 b3+ g7 [ Black should have played 18...c8 when [ 20...e6 21.c4 d7 22.ae1 is also good 19.d2 f5+ 20.d1 xd3 21.xd3 h6 for White. ] leaves White in all sorts of trouble. ] 21.f5 e5 22.f4 d5 23.e2 xd3 19.e2 xe2+ 20.xe2 a6 21.0-0 b5 24.xd3 c6 25.g5?! 22.c1 c4 23.d1 b3 24.c1 c4 [ 25.ae1 was also very good. ] 25...d5 26.f2 b5?!
620
620
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Black should probably have tried 26...b5 but he certainly wouldn't be out of the woods after 27.d2 e5 28.h2 intending 29. Re1. ] 27.d2 e5 28.f3! xg3 29.xg3 xf5 30.xd4 h7 31.e1 c6 32.d2 f7? Cracking under the tremendous pressure. [ 32...f8 would have stayed in the game. ] 33.e5! f1+ 34.h2 h7 35.e3 g7 36.xe7 f6 37.h6+ g8 38.xg7+ 1-0
If you want to make a draw it's usually better to keep rooks on. You can learn this from Eugene Znosko-Borovsky in his 'How to Play the Chess Endings'. xa1 28.xa1 e6 29.b1 f5 30.exf5+ xf5 31.f1?! [ Suddenly White sees that the pawn endgame is lost after 31.xf5 gxf5 32.c2 d5 33.d3 e4+ 34.fxe4+ fxe4+ 35.e3 e5 etc. ] 31...d5 32.c2 e4 33.f4 c5 0-1
622
623
Laxman,Rajaram Safarli,Eltaj 12th Dubai Open (5) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2485 2606 10.04.2010
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 xc3 6.dxc3 xd1+ 7.xd1 f6 A very solid reply after playing ...e7-e5 Black's opening problems are over. Of course on e wou ld no t n ecessarily e xp e ct t o win games like this without a little bit of help from White. 8.c2 e5 9.e3 d7 [ Another possibility is 9...e6 , for example 10.d2 d7 11.a4 a5 12.c4 xc4 13.xc4 c5 14.hd1 xe3 15.xe3 b6 16.b4 e7 17.c4 c6 18.c5 d7 19.b3 hd8 20.c4 axb4 21.b6 xc5+ 22.xb4 xe4 23.xa8 xa8 24.f3 was a draw in Ribli, Z (2610)-Ftacnik, L (2535)/Germany 1992/GER-chT. ] 10.d1 White probably thought he could coast to a draw but he has to be careful. [ 10.d2 is a much better idea than just putting the rook on the open file, for example a5 11.f3 c5 12.c4 e7 was about equal in Kreizberg, M (2346)-Mikhalevski, V (2524)/Tel Aviv 2002. ] 10...c5 11.d2 d7 12.f3 h5 13.h4 a5 14.b3 e6 15.g3 c5 16.c4 b5 17.xc5 xc5 18.e3 c6 Black might claim to be e ve r s o s l igh t ly b e t t e r h e re a f t e r h a vin g gained space on the queenside. Of course it should still be a draw with accurate defence by White, though this is often easier said than done. 19.h3 xh3 20.xh3 e7 21.a3 hd8 22.xd8 xd8 23.b4 axb4 24.axb4 b7 25.h1 a8 26.b2 d6 27.a1?
Laznicka,Viktor Nechepurenko,Roman V WCh-Junior Gaziantep TUR (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A16 2601 2476 05.08.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ c6 The main lines is of course 5...Bd7, which we have examined several times. 6.e5 db4!? [ The alternatives are unconvincing: A) 6...b6? 7.xc6 xa4 8.xd8 xc3 9.xf7 xf7 10.dxc3 Krasenkow, MAzmaiparashvili, Z/Groningen 1997 ] [ B) 6...xc3?! 7.bxc3 d7 8.xd7 xd7 9.g3 g7 10.g2 , and White has the easier game plan, Vekshenkov, NKorniushin, N/Tomsk 2001 ] 7.a3 g7 8.axb4 [ 8.d4!? xe5 9.dxe5 d5 10.e4 b6 11.c2 d4 12.d1 e6 13.e3 ] 8...xe5 9.b5 b8 [ 9...d4 is examined by John Watson in the notes to the game mentioned in the note after White's 10th move. ] 10.g3 [ The alternative is 10.e3 which also leads to an advantage to W hite as evidenced in Steingrimsson-Sakalauskas, 2006 - which can be found in the PGN archives. ] 10...c6 [ A major alternative for Black and also the o n l y l i n e g i v e n i n t h e E C O i s 10...0-0 11.g2 A) 11...g7 12.0-0 c6 (here ends the coverage in the ECO with an '=' based on the below Timman game, though matters are, as suspected perhaps, a little more 621
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 b-file, White is doing rather well out of complicated than that) 13.d3 a6 14.bxc6 the opening b5! 16.a3 b7 17.d4 xc6 15.xc6 ( 15.g5!? h6 16.e3 d7 is an untried and promising alternative for C2a) Here Postny in CBM White; 15.f4 d4= ) 15...bxc6 recomm end s 18.e4 fc8 ( 18...b4? A1) The theory's stem game goes along i s s t r o n g l y m e t b y 19.b3! bxc3 with 16.h4 b8 17.a4 h5 18.d2 20.e3 Postny ) 19.g5; g4 19.f3 C2b) 18.b2?! This move is not really A1a) Black can improve with sound, the B is too passive on b2. 19...d4+ 20.g2 f5 21.c3 fc8= Sturua, Z-Goloshchapov, A/ ( 21.xd4 xd4 22.c3 c5 ) Batumi 2002; 21...e3 22.fe1 b5=; C3) 14.d3 b8 15.f4 xf4 16.xf4 A1b) 19...xb2?! 20.xb2 d4+ Lopez Martinez, J-Moor, R/ Zug 2001; 21.h1 xb2 22.ad1 xd2 23.xd2 D) 11...d7 Black has several e3 24.fxg4 xd2 25.xe7 hxg4 alternatives at this juncture, e.g. 12.0-0 26.f4 Timman, J-Tseshkovsky, V/ c5 Bled 1979; D1) Or 13.c2!? f5 ( 13...e6 14.b4 A2) 16.xc6 b8 17.d1 ( 17.c4 b3 15.a3 xc1 16.xc1 ) 14.d3 d7 18.h4 f6 19.g5 xg5 a6 15.e3 xd3 16.exd3 xd3 20.xg5 xb2= ) 17...b7 18.a4 c8 17.b3 xf1 18.xf1 axb5 19.xb5 19.f4 h3 20.e4 bd8 ( Black can , and White is close to having a winning i m p r o v e w i t h 20...e5 21.e3 f5 advantage, Sherbakov, R-Pribyl, M/ , and Black has decent compensation for Belgorod 1991; the pawn ) 21.e3 h8 22.c2 f5 D2) 13.c4 d6 ( 13...e6 23.f3 fxe4 24.dxe4 , and White has also leads to a clearly better game for stabilized the position and consolidated White: 14.e3 a6 15.bxa6 xa6 his advantage, Pogorelov, R-Perera 16.xa6 bxa6 17.d4 d6 18.b4 Gonzalez, P/Las Palmas 1999; Benko, P-Rajna, G/Szolnok 1975) 14.b4 B) 11...d7 12.0-0 ( or 12.e3 c6 e6 15.e3 a6 16.a5 g7 17.d4 b8 13.bxc6 xc6 14.d4 g7 15.0-0 a6 18.d5 d8 was Zacurdajev, M16.d1 Cools, G-Lavrenov, Y/ BEL Khakimov, T /Peterhof RUS 2007, and 2001 ) 12...c6 13.d1! ( 13.b6 a6 now White should have tried 19.e4 e5 14.d3 ) 13...cxb5 14.xb5 c6 15.d4 20.h6 e8 21.c1 , and Black is g7 16.f4 Savon, V-Rudolf, M/Warsaw struggling getting his pieces back to life ] 1992; [ F i n a l l y , B l a c k h a s a l s o t r i e d 10...d7 C) 11...c6 12.0-0 ( 12.d3 g7 13.f4 11.g2 b6 12.c2 f5 13.d3 c8 cxb5 14.xb5 a6 15.a5 c6 16.xd8 14.h3 d7 15.e4 d5 16.c5 e6 xd8 17.xc6 bxc6= Doettling, FA) White should probably opt for 17.c4!? Dunsbach, R/Bad Wiessee 2002) 12...a6 c6 18.xd7 xd7 19.bxc6 xc6 ( 12...b6 13.e4 f6 14.d3 f5 20.xc6+ ( 20.a5!? ) 20...bxc6 21.e3; 15.e3 d4 16.d2 a6 17.fc1 cxb5 B) 17.b3 c6 18.xd7 xd7 19.bxc6 18.xb7 a7 19.f3 Lobron, E-Schirm, bxc6 20.xd5?! , and a draw was agreed F /Wiesbaden 1993 ) 13.bxc6 xc6 upon, 1/2-1/2, in Bison, B-Brockbank, H/ C1) 14.xc6 doesn't produce anything corr CAPA 1995, although it is only Black for White: bxc6 15.d3 b8 16.e1 c5 who can be better in this position ] 17.a5 d4 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Sturua, Z-Turov, M/ 11.g2 0-0 [ On a few occasions Black has also given Dubai 2002, though Black has every 11...d7 a try: reason to be satisfied with the outcome A) Or 12.d4 g7 13.d1 0-0 14.0-0 of the opening.; c8 15.g5 ( 15.a4!? d8 16.c5 C2) 14.e3 xc3 15.bxc3! with a strong c8 17.e3 ) 15...e8 16.c1 ( 16.a4 centre, pair of bishops and a semi-open 622
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d8 17.c5 ) 16...h3 , Ligterink, GDuesterwald, M/Curacao AHO 2002, and now White should probably opt for 17.d3 a6 18.bxc6 xc6=; B) 12.b4 0-0 13.0-0 c8 14.d3 a5 15.h4 f6 16.g5 xg5 17.xg5 cxb5 18.xb5 Saric, I-Banas, J/Zagreb CRO 2006; C) 12.e4 g7 13.d3 0-0 14.0-0 e5 15.e3 a6 16.fc1 e6 17.b4 d7 18.e4 , and Black is in serious trouble, B is c h o f f , K -Hu e n e rko p f , H/ G e rm a n y 1988 ] 12.0-0 [ 12.d3!? ] 12...d7?! [ A better try is 12...a6 , for instance 13.bxc6 xc6 14.d3 ( 14.xc6?! bxc6 15.xc6 b8 ) 14...d6 15.g5 , and White has the somewhat more comfortable game, but Black is nowhere near suffering like he is in the game. ] 13.b4 d6 [ Black can also consider playing more actively with 13...a5 , e.g. 14.bxa6 xa6 15.xb7 d4 16.a3 ( 16.xa6?? b8 17.xb8 xb8 ) 16...a7 17.b3 e6 18.d1 b6 , which looks somewhat prom ising f or Black, until W hite simply c o n t i n u e s w i t h 19.e3 g7 20.d4 , and Black's compensation is rather limited. ] 14.h4 b6? [ This invites more trouble and further losses of time. Black should instead have opted for 14...e5 , though 15.xd8 xd8 16.d3 is clearly better for White. ] 15.d3! cxb5? [ After this added mistake, Black pretty much loses by force. The superior, but still not very good 15...c5 16.e3 f5 17.e4 also leads to a very clear advantage for White. ] 16.e3 c7 17.d5 d8 18.b6 c6 19.xa8 xa8 20.xa7! xa7 21.d4 c6 22.xc6 And Black resigned a bit early pe rh a p s , b u t p la ying a n e xch a n ge d o wn without any counterplay after being routed straight out of the opening isn't what most people consider fun. 1-0
624 Malakhov,Vladimir Ni Hua CHN-RUS Chess Summit (7) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2690 2607 17.08.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 g6 5.g2 xc3 6.bxc3 g7 7.f3 0-0 8.0-0 c6 9.c2 Rather than go for immediate activity White prefers to build up quietly. b6 [ The other plan is 9...e5 but it doesn't look like complete equality for Black either. For example 10.d3 d7 11.b1 b6 12.a4 b7 13.a3 fe8 14.fd1 ad8 15.d2 a5 16.xb7 xb7 17.c4 a5 18.e3 was slightly better for White in Rat, D (2316)Pg, M (2152)/Szombathely 2003. ] 10.b2 b7 11.c4 xb2 12.xb2 This looks quite nice for White because of his long term trump of having more centre pawns. This is an important factor even when Black neutralises the pressure along the h1-a8 diagonal. a5 New and better for White. [ T h e r e a g a i n 12...d6 13.ac1 ad8 14.fd1 f6 15.xf6 exf6 16.c5 fe8 17.e3 e7 18.d4 1/2-1/2 was also good for White in Thorarinsson, P (2149)-Seger, R (2400)/Pardubice 2001. This also illustrates the advantage of having a higher rating! ] 13.c5 d5 [ 13...bxc5 14.b5 would be extremely unpleasant. ] 14.ac1 bxc5?! Personally I would have gone to great lengths to avoid playing this move. 15.c3 c4 16.b1 ad8 17.b2 a8 18.e4 h5 19.g4! xg4 [ Black is losing a piece because 19...c5 is met by 20.d4! . But the game proves to be far from over... ] 20.xa5 xe4 21.h3 e6 22.e1 d5 23.b5?! [ 23.b4 looks stronger, intending just to take the pawn on c4. ] 23...c6 24.xd5 xd5 25.c3 d8 26.e2 b8 27.e1 xg2 28.xg2?! Another slip which lets Black right back into it. [ 28.e5! was better, followed by taking on g2 with the king. ] 28...e6 29.e5 b1+ 30.e1 b5 31.e3 f3 32.h4 a5 33.a3 [ 33.xc4?! b4 will get the h4 pawn. ] 623
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 33...h5 34.b1 f4 35.g2 d6 36.b7 with an ugly position for Black, Eingorn, Vb5 37.xb5 cxb5 38.xa5 e5 39.c3 Konopka, M/Graz 2001) 10.h6 xh6 e4 40.b2 c6 41.e3 h5 42.d4 a8 11.xh6 e5 12.f3 xf3+ 13.xf3 e7 43.c5 b7 44.f1 d7 45.e5 h7 14.0-0 c6 15.fd1 f5 16.e3 f6 17.b4 46.f4 g8 47.g3 e5 48.e4 e6 18.c5 Bischoff, K-Chabanon, J/Novi [ 48.g5! would have been very unpleasant Sad 1990 ] here. ] 9.d2 48...e7 49.g5 xa3 50.xe5 f3 [ White has a couple of alternatives at this 51.e8+ juncture: A) 9.h4!? [ This time missing 51.f6+! f8 52.c5+ A) 9...h6 10.f3 e5 ( 10...xf3+ g7 53.e8+ g8 54.d4 after which 11.xf3 c6 is relatively best) 11.e4 0-0 g4+ 55.xg4 hxg4 56.d6 gives White a 12.d2 h7 13.h5 g5 14.fxg5+ hxg5 winning endgame. ] 15.h6 ( Here White should probably have 51...g7 52.e5+ g8 53.c3 tried 15.xg5+!? h8 16.xd4 exd4 [ Aga in m iss in g 53.f6+ with a probable 17.f4 f5 18.xc7 with an on-going win. ] a t t a c k n o t e t h a t d5? 19.h6 f6 53...g4+ 54.g3?! After the exchange of 20.h7+ g8 21.h4 is unhealthy for queens Black's troubles are at an end. Black ) 15...f6 16.xf6+ xf6 17.h5 [ 54.f1 was the last chance to play for c6 18.xg5 g8 1/2-1/2 Eingorn, V-Finkel, something. ] A/Metz 1996; 54...b4 55.xg4 hxg4 56.d5 b3 57.g2 B) 9...h5!? 10.f3 xf3+ 11.xf3 c6=; b2 58.c3 g7 59.g3 f5 Black is in the C) 9...f5 10.d2 h5 11.f3 c6 12.0-0 driving seat now. 60.f4 h6 61.b1 h5 0-0 13.e1 d5 14.e4 xc3 15.bxc3 62.g3 g5 63.hxg5 xg5 64.f4+ f6 d6 16.f4 Eingorn, V-Bogdanov, V/ 65.f2 e6 66.c3 f6 67.g3 g6 Metz 1996 ] 68.h4 f6 69.g3 A lucky escape for [ B) 9.f3 xf3+ 10.xf3 c6 11.h4 h5 Black. 12.d2 e6 13.g5 , Stanec, N-Bogdanov, ½-½ V / A s c h a c h A U T 2 0 0 2 , a n d n o w d5!? is be st, e .g. 14.e4 b6 15.b3 g4 with a comfortable game for Black ] 625 A16 9...c6?! [ This passive move lets White gain an Marin,Mihail 2556 advantage without any problems. Instead Ris,Robert 2395 9...f5 has been established as the best IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (4) 24.04.2008 way for Black to proceed: 10.c5 0-0 [Carsten Hansen] A) 11.e3 is slightly premature on account of 1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 g6 A1) 11...e8 12.ge2 ( 12.f3 5.g2 b6 6.d3 g7 7.e3 c6 8.c1 will transpose to 11 Nf3 and offers White [ This is a quite rare line in this variation. better chances of an edge) 12...e5 The normal moves are 8.xc6+ ] 13.0-0 c6 14.b3 a5 15.fd1 d7 [ 8.d2 ] 16.a3 b6 17.c5 d7 18.a3 b6 [ and 8.f3 which was seen in Butnorius19.c2 , Gritsak, O-Zezulkin, J/ Iordachescu - see the next game in this Z a k o p a n e 2 0 0 0 , a n d n o w h6 month's update. ] is approximately equal; [ whereas 8.c1 is seen less frequently, but A2) 11...d7! 12.a3 e5 13.d1 in conjunction with Nf3 can be a handful for b8 14.f3 xf3+ 15.xf3 b6 16.0-0 Black to handle. ] c5 17.b4 cxb4 18.xb4 a5= 8...d4 Grigorian, K-Gulko, B/URS 1974; [ 8...0-0 9.d2 d4 ( 9...e8?! 10.h6 B) 11.f3!? h8 11.h4! d4 12.h5 e5 13.hxg6 hxg6 B1) 11...e8 12.e4?! ( 12.0-0 ) 14.e4 f6 15.f3 xf3+ 16.xf3 624
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12...h6 13.c2 xc1 14.xc1 , Zolt e k, T -K irov, N/ L od z 19 8 0 , d7 , and Black is already clearly better despite the absence of the dark-squared bishop; B2) 11...d7 12.a3 c5 13.0-0 b8 14.b4 cxb4 15.xb4 a5 16.a3 b5 , Dannevig, O-Bae, T/Bergen 2000, and now 17.e4 b4 18.b2 e5 19.c2; B3) 11...c6 12.0-0 e8 B3a) 13.c2 d7 14.a3 e5 15.xe5 xe5 16.e3 g7 ( 16...e6 17.e2 ) 17.d4 e6 18.b3 h5 19.fd1 with a solid plus for White, Vilela, J-Pribyl, J/Trnava 1979; B3b) 13.e3 e5 14.a3 ( 14.e4 e6 15.b3 d7 16.a3 d5 17.fd1 ) 14...e6 15.b3 d6 16.fd1 a5 17.c2 , Bischoff, KHouhou, O/Bad Zwesten GER 2006, and now Black could have obtained app roxim ate ly equal chan ce s wit h d5 ] [ Also 9...e5 has been tried, but after 10.h6 0-0 11.xg7 xg7 12.e3 e6 13.f3 f6 14.0-0 c6 , Bischoff, K-Seger, R/ Gladenbach 1997, White can obtain a clear advantage with 15.e4 ] 10.h6 0-0 11.xg7 xg7 12.e3! f5 [ 12...e6 13.f3 c7 14.0-0 f5 15.d4 cd5 16.fe1 , and White is clearly better, Schandorff, L-Holmsten, A/ Reykjavik 2000 ] 13.f3 f6 14.d4! This is like a dream version of a Gruenfeld for W hite: the dark-squared bishops have been exchanged, the black f orc es a re u nco ordinate d a nd W hite ca n expand in the centre more or less at will. h5?! This ugly move doesn't accomplish much, but serves to weaken Black's kingside further. W hite is now already clearly better. 15.h4! Whatever Black was trying to do with the hpawn has now been stopped and the weakness on g6 is of far greater importance than that on g4. h6 16.0-0 g4 17.c2 [ 17.e4!? followed by Nc5 is very unpleasant for Black, who is struggling a weak pawn structure and inf erior piece coordination ] 17...f7 18.e2 White wants to play Nf4, poking at the weak pawn on g6. [ 18.a4!? e5 19.a5 d5 20.xd5 cxd5
21.dxe5 xf3 22.xf3 xe5 23.g2 xa5 24.b3 ad8 25.fd1 ] 18...e5 19.dxe5!? [ 19.a4 d6 20.a5 d5 21.e4 b4 22.b3 exd4 23.exd4 ad8 is perfectly satisfactory for Black ] 19...xf3?? Routine pl ay, but missing an important detail. Black should have played 19... dxe5 with a small, but clear advantage for White. 20.xf3?? [ And White returns the favour... After 20.f4! the game would have been over. ] 20...xe5? [ 20...fxe5! is the lesser evil because it takes the f4-sqare away from White's knight on e2. White is of course still better after 21.cd1 f6 22.g2 ] 21.e4! f5 This is an necessity, otherwise White will play Nf4 with even more threats. 22.f4! f6 23.g2 ad8 24.cd1 h6?! [ 24...fe8 25.e4 ( 25.a4!? c8 26.b4 ) 25...fxe4 26.xe4 d5 27.xd5 cxd5 28.xd5 ] 25.d4! xd4?! This looks normal, but it actually creates an abundance of new problems for Black as the king on h6 now gets under fire. 26.exd4 g4 27.e1 f7 [ A passive defence with 27...g8 28.d2 h7 doesn't work either, e.g. 29.b4 h8 30.e6 f7 31.e7 xe7 32.xe7 g7 33.e8+ h7 34.e6 g8 35.e7+ h6 36.xb7 , and more pawns will fall ] 28.d2! e8 [ 28...c4 29.c1 only makes things worse for Black ] [ and 28...h7 29.e6 is also a disaster. ] 29.e6+ f4 Sadly this is the only move, yet it leads to a completely lost endgame. 30.xf4 xe1+ 31.xe1 d5 32.xd5 cxd5 33.e6! Gam e o ver! xe6 34.xe6 f6 Black is only a pawn down, but unfortunately for him, getting the king from h6 to f7 takes four moves because of the knight on e6. 35.f3 h7 36.f2 g8 37.e3 b6 If not the b7pawn will fall after 37...Kf7 38 Nd8+ 38.f4 f7 39.d8+ [ Or 39.e5 e7 40.f4 , and White wins the d5-pawn. ] 39...e8 40.c6 1-0
625
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 626 Meier,Georg Robson,Ray 5th SPICE Cup GpA (8) [John Bartholomew]
A16 2648 2583 23.10.2011
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 g7 6.g2 b6 A trendy move. The problem is that W hite gains some flexibility due to the lessened pressure on c3. He may effectively delay castling, while Black can't really do the same. [ Black players should seriously study the main line 6...0-0 7.0-0 when many reliable moves are available, i.e. ( White has also ventured 7.h4!? here. ) 7...c5 Check the archives. ( or 7...c6; or 7...b6 )] 7.d3 c6 8.e3 0-0 9.d2 e5 10.h4 Having scrutinized many Anti-Grunfeld games over the past few months, I can tell you there's a definite trend towards pushing h2-h4 in nearly every line! Actually, I can't even limit that statement to the Anti-Grunfeld: see, for instance, Radjabov - Ivanchuk in this update. [ 10.h6 is more common, ] [ while 10.0-0 transposes to a well-known line. For recent coverage of the latter, check the archives for Huebner, R (2598)-Kulaots, K (2592)/Porvoo FIN 2011/[Nigel Davies]. ] 10...g4 A novelty mentioned by John Watson in 2005. [ Black has previously played 10...h5 , i.e. 11.g5 ( 11.g5 d4! 12.ge4 c6 13.d1?! e7 Bukal, V (2400)-Leko, P (2255)/Dortmund 1991.) 11...f6 12.e3 Aronian, L (2724)-Areshchenko, A (2653)/ Khanty Mansiysk 2005/[John Watson]. ] 11.g5! Quite a thematic move. White has various ideas: capturing on c6, playing f2-f3, targeting the h7-pawn, opening the h-file, repositioning the knight to e4, etc. [ Watson gives the tempo-gaining 11.h2!? , which also makes sense. For instance, e6 12.xc6 bxc6 13.h5 . Meier's move is more intuitive to me, though W hite's position remains promising here as well. ] 11...e7 Black's position is already difficult, which makes m e question th e entire lin e beginning with 7...Nb6. Others: [ 11...d4!? offers a pawn and might be Black's best bet. After
A) 12.h5 xh5 ( 12...c6 13.hxg6 hxg6 14.0-0-0 ) 13.xh7 e8 ( 13...xh7? 14.g4 ) 14.f3!? ( 14.xb7 b8 15.g2 c6 ); B) 12.xb7 b8 13.g2 f6 14.ge4 f5 15.g5 d7 Black has some practical compensation with White's king in limbo. ] [ 11...f6 12.ge4 d4 13.c5 c6 14.xb7 e7 15.a5 ac8 seems like a less desirable version of 11... Nd4. ] 12.h5 [ White plans to part with the light-square bishop anyway, so he could consider 12.xc6!? bxc6 h e r e , e . g . 13.f3 ( 13.ge4!? ) A) 13...d7 14.h5 ( 14.ge4!? ); B) 13...c8 14.h5 d8 15.hxg6 hxg6 16.ge4 c4 17.c5! d6 18.g4 ] 12...xh5 13.xc6 [ Here 13.xh7!? is interesting. Black must e s s e n t i a l l y s a c r i f i c e a p a wn , a s xh7? ( 13...fd8; or 13...fe8 is necessary.) 14.g4+- is already decisive. ] 13...bxc6 14.ge4?! [ Now 14.xh7 should definitely be preferred. ] 14...f5!? Robson seeks the initiative with an exchange sacrifice. [ This looks unnecessary, as after 14...d7! Black could cover c5 and expect counterplay with ...f7-f5 coming. ] 15.c5 d7 16.xf8 xf8 17.c5 [ 17.f3!? fxe4 18.xe4 White will regain the piece with g3-g4. ] 17...e7 18.b3 [ 18.a6!? ] 18...e4 Opening lines while White is a bit disorganized. 19.0-0-0? [ 19.dxe4 fxe4 20.h4! enables White to fight for the advantage. ( 20.0-0 c4 )] 19...c5? Black misses an excellent chance. [ 19...xc3! would have put White in a predicament. For example, A) 20.bxc3 exd3 21.exd3 ( 21.xd3 xe2 ) 21...xd1; B) 20.xc3 xe2 21.d2 ( 21.de1 g5+ 22.d2 xd2+ 23.xd2 xd3 ) 21...xd3 22.xc6? f6! ] 20.dxe4 fxe4 21.e3 Now White is in control. c4?! [ 21...xc3 is a better chance, e.g. 22.xc3 626
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 22.bxc3 a4 ) 22...xe2 23.de1 f3 ] 22.d4 c5 23.db5 b8? A blunder. [ 23...g4 and Black can still hope. ] 24.g4! Meier is alert. a6 [ 24...xg4 25.f4+- ] 25.d6 [ 25.gxh5 axb5 26.hxg6+is more efficient. ] 25...xg4 26.dxe4 f5?! 27.xc5 b7 28.d6+Now White only needs to consolidate. e7 29.e4 e6 30.f4 xc3 31.bxc3 a4 32.e5 b6 33.xh7! A killer - forcing mate! xh7 34.xe6+ h8 35.e8+ g7 36.f5+ [ faster is 36.f7+ h8 37.f8+ g8 38.h1# ] 36...f6 37.e5+ It's mate after 37...Kf7 38. Qe7+ Kg8 40.Qe8. 1-0
627 Miton,Kamil Vachier Lagrave,Maxime TOP 16 GpA Evry FRA (3) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2581 2727 28.03.2010
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ c6 6.xd5 [ A m u c h s i m p l e r t r e a t m e n t t h a n 6.d4 . White will gain time on Black's queen and rely on his central pawn majority. ] 6...xd5 7.e4 d6 8.d4 d7!? A new order of moves Black may be able to play ...e7-e5 or ...f7-f5 quite quickly. [ In previous games Black had played the automatic 8...g7 , for example 9.e3 0-0 ( An interesting plan for Black is to play for ... f7-f5, for example 9...d7 10.d1 b6 11.c2 0-0 12.e2 g4 13.0-0 f5 14.h3 xf3 15.xf3 fxe4 16.xe4 d5 wa s f in e f o r Bla ck in S te in grim sso n , H (2547)-Areshchenko, A (2673)/Reykjavik 2009 ) 10.e2 g4 11.d1 d7 12.0-0 e5 13.dxe5 e7 14.g5 e8 15.h3 xf3 16.xf3 b6 17.d4 xe5 18.b4 and W hite was slightly better in Turov, M (2595)-Svetlov, D (2399)/St Petersburg 2009. ] 9.e2 [ 9.e3 c a n b e m e t b y b6 ( 9...e5?!
looks dubious after 10.0-0-0 ) 10.c2 g4 transposing. ] 9...b6 10.c2 g4 11.e3 g7 [ 11...f5!? , trying to hunt down light squares in the centre. ] 12.0-0 [ Offering a temporary sacrifice of the d4 pawn but it doesn't really achieve much. He could also play just 12.d1 when f5 makes sense for Black. ] 12...xf3 13.xf3 [ There's still time for Whit to keep his d4 pawn with 13.e5 but then e6 14.xf3 d5 seems fine for Black. ] 13...xd4 14.ad1 e5 15.xd4 exd4 16.e5 e6 17.c5 [ 17.xd4 0-0 would be fine for Black. ] 17...0-0-0 18.xd4 xd4 19.xd4 d8 20.f4 h5 [ And not 20...xa2? because o f 21.g4+ d7 22.d1 with a horrible pin on the knight on d7. ] 21.e1 e8 22.g4 d7 23.gxh5 xe5 24.h1 c7 It seems slightly bizarre to pin the knight on e5 to the king as well as the rook, but it doesn't look bad for Black. 25.hxg6 [ 25.h6 f6 is fine for Black. ] 25...fxg6 26.g2 d6 27.h4 e7 28.g3 d8 29.f3 e8 30.g2 f8 31.e4 e6 32.e2 f7 33.xd6+ xd6 34.h5 gxh5 35.xh5 d5 36.xf7 xf7 37.f3 d2 ½-½
628 Navara,David Svidler,Peter Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A16 2719 2728 21.02.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 a6 7.d4 [ 7.g3 c6 8.g2 e5 9.0-0 g7 10.d3 h6 11.d2 0-0 12.h4 e8 13.xd8 xd8 with at best a tiny little pull for W hite, Z. Rahman-A.Gupta, New Delhi 2007 ] [ 7.e4 b5 8.e2 c6 9.e5!? b4 10.exf6 c2+ 11.d1 xa1 12.b3 e6 13.g5 f5 14.g4 c2+ 15.e1 h6 16.h4 with a ridiculously complicated position, S. Arun Prasad-J.Aswin, Atul 2006 ] 627
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...b5 8.b3 [ 8.d3 c5 9.dxc5 g7 10.e4 0-0 11.a3 c6 12.d2 b4 13.d5 ( 13.a4!? ) 13...xd5!? 14.exd5 f5 15.c4 xb2 16.d1 bxa3!? 17.dxc6 e6 18.c2 b8 19.c4 xc4 20.xc4 b5 21.xb5 axb5 and Black's nasty passed pawn on a2 more than compensates for the sacrificed piece, T.Nyback-D. Howell, Stockholm 2007 ] 8...c6 [ 8...c5 9.dxc5 g7 10.e4 e6 11.c2 A) 11...bd7 12.c6 b6 13.f4 c8 14.e2 ( 14.d4 0-0 15.e2!? ) 14...c4 15.0-0 h5 16.e5 1-0 Sundararajan, K-Aswin,J/Atul IND 2006/The W eek in Chess 634 (34); B) 11...c6 12.e2 c7 13.0-0 0-0 B1) 14.a3 ad8 15.g3 a7 B1a) 16.e3 g4 17.d1 ( 17.d5 xd5 18.exd5 xd5 ) 17...xe3 18.xe3 a5 19.d5 xd5 20.exd5 xd5 21.ac1 h6 is fine for Black; B1b) 16.b4 xe4 17.b2 xc5 18.bxc5 xc5 19.ad1 b4 20.axb4 xb4 21.c1 c8 , and White is already in trouble, J.W erle-Vachier Lagrave, Wijk aan Zee 2007; B2) 14.h3 b4 15.b1 xc5 16.e3 c8 17.c1 c6 18.d4?! ( 18.b4!? b7 19.a4 looks like a better try for White ) 18...xd4 19.xd4 b8= Peng Zhaoqin-I. Nepomniachtchi, Wijk aan Zee 2007 ] 9.g5 [ 9.f4!? ] 9...e6 [ 9...h6 10.xf6 ( 10.f4 e6 11.d1 g5 also appears okay for Black) 10...exf6 11.d1 d6 12.g3 0-0 13.g2 e8 14.0-0 b4 15.a4 xe2 16.c5 xc5 17.dxc5 e8 1/2-1/2 V.Chuchelov-P.Popovic, Katernberg (GER-CH) 2007 ] 10.d1 g7 11.e3 0-0 12.e2 [ 12.d3!? b4 13.b1 c8 is okay for Black ] 12...d5 13.e4 h6 14.h4 f5 15.c5 d6 16.0-0 f7 17.b7 d7 18.g3 So far things look pleasant for Black, who now takes action to create counterplay. g5!? 19.a4 [ 19.c5 d8 20.a4 looks like a better way
to play it for Black, but things are rather complicated ] 19...f4 20.exf4 gxf4 21.h4 db4 22.axb5 axb5 23.xa8 xa8 24.xb5 d5 Black is fine now 25.e2 b8 26.c5 xd4 27.xd4 xc5 and despite plenty of play being left in this position, the players agreed upon a draw. ½-½
629 Ni Hua Li,Chao 6th TCh-CHN Ningbo CHN (3) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2667 2613 18.04.2010
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ d7 6.h4 c6 7.d4 g8 [ An interesting alternative to the preservation of castling rights with 7...f6 . Black supports the posting of his bishop on g7 so as to win time on White's queen. ] 8.e5!? e6 [ And not 8...g7 now because of 9.xc6 xd4 10.xd8 . ] 9.e4 b4 10.xd8+ xd8 11.d1 W eird but best. And now W hite enjoys an edge in the endgame because of his central pawn majority. e8 12.d4 f6 [ Maybe 12...d7 is better here, for example 13.xd7 xd7 14.e3 g7 15.c4 c6 16.e2 a5 17.d3 c5 18.dxc5 xb2 19.b1 e5 20.d4 ( 20.f4!? ) 20...c7 21.e2 ad8 which was OK for Black in Sargissian, G (2660) -Vachier Lagrave, M (2684)/Paris 2009. ] 13.f3 g5?! This advance of the g-pawn breaks with previous precedent, though I hesitate to call it a 'prepared novelty' because it probably wasn't! [ 13...c5 14.c4 d7 15.e3 cxd4 16.xd4 e7 was played in Halkias, S (2566)-Bykhovsky, A (2466)/ Benidorm 2009 and seems more logical to me. But I don't particularly like Black's game here either. ] 14.c4 f7 15.h3 c5 16.e5! cxd4 17.e4 Black's position is falling apart at the seams. He can thank 13...g5?! for a lot of the damage. d7 18.xf6 [ 18.exf6 might have been a simpler way to 628
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 play this. ] [ White usually chooses between the text and 18...c8 19.b3 9.b3 . A very recent example of the former: [ Suddenly it's not that easy an more, for b4!? ( Kaufman gives 9...xc3 10.dxc3 example 19.xg8 xc4 20.xg5+ c7 g7 11.b2 a5 12.g3 a4 , as in Gelfand, 21.b3 c2 22.a3 xg8 23.axb4 xf2 B (2733)-Svidler, P (2726)/ Dagomys RUS is looking a bit messy. But White could kill 2009. Black has good counterplay.) 10.d1 the counterplay here with 24.c1+ b8 e6 11.b2 g7 12.c1 0-0 13.a4 25.c2 , exchanging off Black's active rook. ] h6!? 14.c5 ad8 15.e3 f5 16.a3 19...xf6 20.exf6 b5 c2!? 17.a2 d5 with highly interesting [ 20...d5 was probably better. ] play. Postny, E (2653)-Shankland, S (2579)/ 21.xb5 c5 22.c4 c6 23.b2 xc4 Biel SUI 2012. ] 24.bxc4 e5 25.c1 h6 26.e1 g4?! [ 9.e4 b4 ] 27.xe5 xe5 9...g7 1-0 [ 9...b8 was seen in Buhmann, R (2587)Nedilko, V (2400) / Rijeka CRO 2010/[Nigel Davies]. ] 630 A16 10.g2 e6 11.a3!? Covering the b4 square. [ 11.b3 is more common, but after 0-0-0 Petrosian,Tigran L 2661 ( mo re a dve nt u ro u s is 11...0-0!? , i.e. Gupta,Abhijeet 2627 12.b2 b4 13.0-0 fd8 14.d3 g4 15.f3 21st Kavala Open A (7) 30.07.2012 d4+ 16.h1 e6 17.a4 e3 [John Bartholomew] Andreikin, D (2648)-Hammer, J (2583)/ L u b b u c k U S A 2 0 0 9 .) 12.b2 xc3 The early queen trade Black offers in the 5... 13.xc3 xc3 14.dxc3 d6 White is trying Nc6 Pseudo-Grunfeld used to be regarded to squeeze water from a stone. Black simply with suspicion, but many recent games have intends ...Rh8-d8 with a fully acceptable demonstrated the resiliency of Black's game, e.g. 15.d1 hd8 16.xd6 xd6 position. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 17.e4 c5! 18.c2 f5 19.e4 g4!? 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ c6 A move that has ( 19...xe4 20.xe4 e6 21.f3 f5= ) 20.f3 been steadily gaining in popularity. It was xf3 21.f1 xe4 22.xe4 e6 23.xf7 recently recommended by Larry Kaufman in xe4+ 24.d2 h5 and, though still "The Kaufman Repertoire for Black & White". objectively fine, White went on to lose the [ T h e p r i n c i p l e c o n t i n u a t i o n i s 5...d7 ending in Markos, J (2585)-Li Chao2 . See the "Pseudo-Grunfeld" guide in the (2669)/Shenzhen CHN 2011. Black is +2 =7 archives. ] -1 from the position after move 14. ] 6.e5 d6 12.e3 Now all of White's pawns [ White has better chances for an advantage 11...b8 in the line 6...db4!? 7.a3 . See Laznicka, occupy dark squares, so he'll have to take V ( 2 6 0 1 ) - N e c h e p u r e n k o , R ( 2 4 7 6 ) / extra care on the light squares left behind. 0-0 13.a4 c8!? Black senses an opportunity to Gaziantep 2008/[Hansen, Carsten]. ] 7.xc6 xc6 8.xc6+ bxc6 The evaluation s w i t c h h i s b i s h o p t o t h e e n t i c i n g a 6 - f 1 of this queenless middlegame determines the diagonal. [ A different strategy is 13...b6 14.c5 theoretical fate of 5...Nc6. Black's fractured d5 as in Lalic, B (2503)-Bakalarz, M (2320)/ pawns are offset by his excellent piece activity, Plovdiv 2003. Following 15.e4 ( 15.0-0 e.g. .. Ra8-b8, ...Bf8-g7, and the possibility of looks wiser) 15...c4 16.d3 d4! 17.dxc4 ...Nd5-b4. White must proceed cautiously if xc5 18.h6 fd8 19.c1 d4 20.c2 c5 he hopes to exploit his structural advantage. Black was slightly for choice. ] This position first appeared in 2008 according to my database, and 50 subsequent games 14.0-0?! [ All of this had occurred before in a highhave yielded respectable results for Black. level game from last year. That contest went Almost two-thirds of games in this line have 14.c5 , which looks stronger to me. White been drawn. 9.g3 629
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 doesn't allow the bishop to travel freely to a6. Nevertheless, after a5 15.0-0 b5 16.d4 e5! 17.a4 b6 18.dxe5 xe5 19.e4 b4 20.f4 ( 20.b1!? ) 20...xf4 21.gxf4 a6 22.fc1 d8 ( 22...xb2 is playable, e.g. 23.xa6 xa6 24.xc6 d3 25.xc7 fb8 ) 23.f1 xc5 24.xc5 xb2 25.xa5 g4 26.c5 e2 27.xe2 xe2 28.c4 dd2 29.f1 a2 a draw was soon agreed in Vitiugov, N (2720)-Areshchenko, A (2687) / Olginka RUS 2011. ] 14...b6! A perfectly timed response. Black is happy to part with a pawn to obtain a bind on the light squares. [ After 14...a6 15.e1 White can hope for a miniscule advantage with Na4-c5 looming. ] 15.xc6?! White accepts the offering, but he'll very quickly regret doing so. [ 15.xb6 doesn't bother Black, e.g. xb6 16.d4 e5! ] [ Gupta would have likely met 15.c5 with d7! , but perhaps this was best. A draw is the logical result after 16.xd7 xd7 17.d4 c5 18.dxc5 xb2 19.xb2 xb2 20.fd1= .] 15...xa4 16.xa4 a6 17.e1 d3 Black has convincingly won the theoretical discussion. White's extra pawn is of almost no signif icance, and Petrosian f aces th e unpleasant task of trying to free his position. 18.a2 b1 19.a1 d3 20.a2 c5! 21.d1 [ 21.b3? b1-+ ] 21...c4 22.e2 b3 23.a4 a5 24.d1 White has seemingly run out of ideas. [ Exchanging a couple pieces with 24.xd3 cxd3 25.a3 xa3 26.bxa3 c8 27.g2 may offer better chances to resist. ] 24...b4 25.e2 b3 26.d1 b6 27.e2 fb8 28.f4 e5 29.fxe5 xe5 30.xd3 cxd3 31.b3? An ill-timed bid for freedom. [ 31.a3 c8 ] 31...xb3 32.a3 c8!-+ Now the everpresent threat of ...Rc8-c2 essentially freezes White's entire position. In particular, the a2 rook is completely stymied. 33.f2 c7 Ta k in g a wa y t he e 7 squ a re just in ca se . 34.f3 f5! Zugzwang motifs begin to appear! 35.h3 h5 36.g1 f7 37.c1 Surely White wasn't thrilled about exchanging his only semi-
active piece, but there wasn't much he could do. [ 37.g4 fxg4+ 38.hxg4 h4-+ is hardly an improvement. ] 37...xc1 38.xc1 b1 39.a3 e6! Yup, the threat is simply ...Ke6-d5-c4-b3! White has no answer. 40.e4 d4 41.exf5+ xf5 42.g4+ hxg4+ 43.hxg4+ e5 44.e7 d5 45.f4 b7 46.d8 c4! 47.a3 b2 48.a2 b3 49.xb2+ xb2 50.xa5 c2 White resigned. White is going to have to come up with something big in the 5..Nc6 line, as the queenless middlegame is holding up very well for Black. 0-1
631 Piket,Jeroen Bacrot,Etienne zt 1.1 Escaldes AND (3) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2605 2555 08.11.1998
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 Clearly Black wants to play a Gruenfeld Defence, but one of the advantages of playing an English moveorder is that it permits White to avoid this. [ If Black had played 3...g7 instead, then White can play, not 4 d4, but 4.e4 ] 4.a4+ This is less common than [ 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ but is not without its points. ] 4...d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 g7 I n f a c t , t h e p o si t i o n re s e m b l e s a 5 Q b 3 Gruenfeld, except that the white d-pawn is unmoved. 7.e4 Played by Boersma a couple of times in 1988, and then f orgotten, ten years later it has suddenly been ' r e d i s c o v e r e d ' . c6 Black attempts to reorganise his queenside, the normal move is [ 7...0-0 when 8.e5 g4 9.d4 c6?! quickly turned to White's advantage: 10.f4 a5 11.e2! c5 12.h3 cxd4 13.xd4 h6 14.d1 b6 15.d2 f5 16.xf5 xf5 17.d5 d8 18.b4 and Black is in big trouble, Ivanchuk,V-Shirov,A/Polanica Zdroj 1998. ] 8.d3 The advantage of not playing d4, is that White can now play this move, which supports e4, and avoids giving Black a target on d4. 0-0 9.e2 bd7 10.f4 White menaces to take 630
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the c6-bishop by Nd4, and force Black to decentralise his f6-knight. h5 11.e3 e5 Oddly, we have reached a Boleslavsky Siciliantype structure which is very favourable for W hite as he has a firm hold on d4, and his q u e e n s i d e i s f r e e t o e x p a n d . 12.g3 To keep the knight out of f4. hf6 13.0-0 e8 14.b4! The advance of the b-pawn is very embarrassing for Black. a6 15.a4 b6 16.b3 d7 17.fd1 e6 18.c2 e7 19.g5! Keeping-up the pressure. d8?! It is understandable that Black wished to avoid [ 19...d7 20.a5 c8 21.d5 when he is being driven back, but nevertheless, this was his best chance. ] 20.xe6 xe6 21.b5 axb5 22.xb5 W hite's queenside initiative is very strong. a8 Ugly, but necessary, unfortunately this knight will stay here until the end of the game. 23.ab1 c6 24.a3 d6 25.c4 xc4 26.dxc4 With a powerful bishop pair, and a target on the b-f ile, W hite should win. b6 27.c5 At the same time this move frees the e2bishop, and creates an outside passed pawn. bxc5 28.xc5 fe8 29.xd8 xd8 30.b7 Rook to the seventh, threatening Bc4. h8 31.c4 Black has had enough, his position is a picture in passivity. 1-0
9...d5!? [ Black persists with his concept. 9...f6 10.e4 d7 11.f3 e5 12.c4 is a more solid approach, although White has a plus. ] 10.e4! [ Best, White sacs a pawn for the initiative, 10.xc7?! d8 11.f4 f6 is too dangerous. ] 10...xe4 11.e3 0-0-0 12.e2 e5?! [ P r o b a b l y B l a c k s h o u l d r i s k 12...xg2!? 13.d1 ( 13.g1 h6 14.xf7 xf7 15.xg2 is also feasible) 13...xh1 14.xd5 xd5 15.c4 e6 16.xe6 fxe6 which is none too clear following 17.g4 ] 13.0-0 There is a threat of Rd1, Black has no time to develop his f8-bishop because of the loose position of its e4 counterpart. d3?! 14.c4! With this further sac White guards the initiative. xc4 [ It transpires that the black pieces are awkwardly placed, 14...xc4?! 15.xd3 xd3 16.xf7 forks the two rooks, and wins. ] [ 14...xc4? 15.xe5 xe2 16.xh8 is even worse. ] 15.fd1 The point of White's play, d5, c4, e5, and f7 are all menaced, how can Black avoid material loss? d3 [ Giving the queen doesn't solve Black's problems: 15...xe2?! 16.xd5 xd5 and now 17.e4! threatening Nc3. ] 16.b3 632 A16 [ Another strong possibility is 16.xd3 xd3 17.ac1 e5 18.c3 xa2 (so that the d3Piket,Jeroen 2628 bishop is untouchable because of the backSvidler,Peter 2695 ra n k m a t e ) 19.c1! and the bishop is lost, Korchnoi Birthday KO (1.1) 29.04.2001 all the same. ] [Tony Kosten] 16...a6 17.f3 a5?! [ B l a c k m u st u n d e f e n d f 7 , a s 17...f5?? 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 is a blunder, 18.g4 ] xd5 5.a4+ d7 6.h4 xc3 7.dxc3 [ but 17...d6 is a better try. ] c6 8.g3 xb4 19.xf7 g7 20.ab1 [ White takes control of e5, 8.e4 gave White 18.b4! Thus White not only wins the exchange, but nothing in the archives, after e5 ] also retains a strong attack on the queenside. 8...f5 21.xh8 xh8 22.h3+ b8 [ Unusual, Black tries to hinder e4, instead, a5 23.xh7 f6?! 24.xg6 he normally prepares ...e5 with 8...f6 ] [ Good enough, but missing the opportunity 9.g5! to hit Black with 24.xb7! xb7 25.xd3 [ The critical reply. Although White moves winning further material because of the this piece twice, he regains control over e4. weak back-rank. ] 9.g5 f6 10.d1 c8 11.c1 e5 allowed Black easy equality in Krivoshey,S- 24...xa2 25.e4 1-0 Jasnikowski,Z/Katowice 1995. ] 631
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 633 Piket,Jeroen Svidler,Peter KasparovChess GP g/60, (3.2) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2630 2670 02.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.h4!? A speciality of Piket, this sharp move aims to exploit the weakness of the black kingside. f6 [ A new move! Black stops the further a d v a n c e o f t h e h - p a wn , b u t l o s e s t h e possibility of capturing, Gruenfeld-like, on c3. 5...g7 6.h5 f5 7.b3 c6 8.d4 is a little better for White, Ftacnik,L-Kouatly, B/Thessaloniki 1984, but ] [ 5...h6 is the preferred reply, with 6.e4 xc3 7.bxc3 g7 8.d4 c5 reaching a s t a n d a r d G r u e n f e l d p o s i t i o n , wi t h t h e exception of the two h-pawns, 9.b1 0-0 10.e2 d7 11.0-0 Ribli,Z-Smejkal,J/Novi Sad 1982, and now cxd4 12.cxd4 e6 13.e3 b6 is fine for Black. ] 6.d4 g7 7.e4 0-0 8.e2 c5 Black takes his first swipe at the white centre. 9.d5 e6 10.h5! White protects his centre from the side! xh5 [ Black might as well take the pawn. 10...exd5 is the other possibility, when White has the interesting line: 11.hxg6 hxg6 12.e5!? g4 13.g5 f6? 14.xd5+ xd5 15.xd5 fxg5 16.e7+ f7 17.xc8 xc8 18.xg5+ picking-up the loose knight on g4. ] 11.g4 f6 12.g5 b6 Black has to unpin t h e k n i g h t . 13.xf6 xf6 14.d2 Threatening both Qh6, and e5. At the cost of his h-pawn White has opened the h-file and obtained a slight lead in development. g7 15.0-0-0 d7 16.g5 c4 17.h2 White prepares to double his rooks on the hfile. e8 18.d6 d8 19.f4 With an unpleasant threat. a5? [ This allows a simple tactic. Perhaps Black should be prepared to part with his darksquared bishop: 19...xc3!? 20.bxc3 a5 21.b2 b6 with reasonable counterplay. ] 20.xh7! f5 [ 20...xh7? allows a quick mate, starting: 21.xf7 , threatening Rh1. ] 21.gxf6 xf6 22.xg7+ xg7 23.e5
[ After 23.e5 Black's king is too exposed, h5 24.h4 d7?! 25.e7+ g8 26.g5 forces mate. ] 1-0
634 Poldauf,Dirk Pezerovic,Edin Bundesliga 9900 (5.5) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2453 2447 11.12.1999
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c6 3.e4 d5 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.e5 d4 6.exf6 dxc3 7.bxc3 gxf6 Capturing towards the centre as they recommend in many books though I don't think this is the best. [ 7...exf6 would leave White with a passed dpawn but it's certainly not out of the question. The pawn would be difficult to advance and Black would get free play for his pieces plus a super strong kingside. ] 8.d4 f5 Black has tried a number of alternatives in the smattering of available games, but none of them look entirely satisfactory: [ a) 8...a5 9.d2 c6 10.f3 g4 11.e2 0-0-0 12.c4 a3 13.d5 b4 14.0-0 e5 15.b1 e4 16.d4 was horrible for Black in Ravikumar, V (2305)-Roth, R (2370)/Copenhagen 1980. ] [ b) 8...e6 9.d3 d7 10.f3 a5 11.e2 a3 12.d2 b2 13.b1 xa2 14.0-0 a3 15.e3 e7 16.c4 a3 17.c5 gave White a very strong initiative in Lautier, J (2660)-Bajarany, I (2405)/Berlin 1997. ] [ c) 8...c6 9.f3 g7 (This at least lends Black's kingside more protection) 10.e2 g4 11.h3 h5 12.0-0 0-0 13.b1 b6 14.a3 c7 15.h4 g6 16.xg6 hxg6 17.f3 fd8 18.xc6 xc6 19.xe7 d7 20.e1 xc3 was only a bit better for White in Lechtynsky, J-Tichy, V/Havirov 1971. ] 9.f3 e6 10.e2 c7 11.c4 White is simply better here because of his central control and the potential vulnerability of Black's king. Over the following moves he shifts gear to 'attack mode', but would also have been better with more modest play. d6 12.0-0 0-0 13.d5 d7 14.d4 [ White could have prepared this with 14.h1 632
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 .] 14...xh2+ 15.h1 e5 16.xf5 xa1 17.d6 a5 18.d3 h8 [ 18...exf5? 19.h5 would give White a winning attack. ] 19.h6 exf5 20.xf8 xf8? Presumably missing the reply. [ 20...xf8 was better and fine for Black. ] 21.h5! d2 22.xf5 h6 23.xa1 [ 23.f4 is just winning for White after g7 24.xa1 xf4 25.xd7 . ] 23...e5! 24.c5 g7 25.h4 b6 26.cxb6 axb6 27.d7! d8 [ 27...xd7 would lose a piece after 28.g4+ . ] 28.g3+ g5 29.xg5+ fxg5 30.b1 f6 [ And not 30...xd7? 31.d1 etc. ] 31.g4 xd7 32.xd7 xd7 33.xb6+ e5 34.xh6 d2 35.g2 xa2 ½-½
with 8.Bb5 in Kopinski - Orzech but didn't achieve much. ] [ Bocharov, D (2574)-Ivanov, S (2553)/St Petersburg 2004 varied with 6.d4 but after c6 7.ge2 f5 8.g3 xg3 9.hxg3 e6 10.e3 b6 11.d2 c8 12.e2 b4 13.0-0 0-0 14.ac1 a5 Black had an excellent game. ] 6...c6 7.c2 g6!? [ Shamkovich didn't like 7...xc3 8.dxc3 g4 because of 9.d4! xe5 10.f4 c6 11.f5 but he might well be able to improve with 8...g6. ] 8.xe4 dxe4 9.xe4 f5 10.f4 g7 11.c4 [ After 11.d4 S h a m k o vi c h l i k e d d5! intending 12...Nb4, 12...Be4 or 12...Rd8. But there could be other good moves such as the simple 11...0-0. ] 11...a5 12.e6 [ After 12.0-0 xe5 Black would simply be better because of the isolated White d-pawn 635 A16 and a simplified position. ] 12...xe6 13.xe6 fxe6 14.0-0 f5 Polugaevsky,Lev [ After the game Shamkovich preferred Shamkovich,Leonid 14...f8! , presumably intending 15.h4 USSR 1971 xf3 16.gxf3 d4 with good compensation [Nigel Davies] for the exchange. ] 15.c7 d5 16.xb7 b8 17.a6 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c6 3.e4 d5 4.cxd5 [ 17.c7? i s s t r o n g l y m e t b y e5 [ 4.exd5 cxd5 5.d4 would transpose into when W hite's queen needs urgent rescue the Panov Attack line against the Carobecause of Black's threatened .. .0-0 Kann Defence. But with White's knight on followed by ...Rfc8. ] c3 already he loses options such as 1.c4 c6 2.e4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.cxd5 Nf6 5.Bb5+ or 5. 17...0-0 18.e2 xb2 19.xb2 [ 19.xb2 xb2 20.e3 e5 21.ac1 Qa4+ and Gundaram's 4.d4 Nf6 5.c5. ] is fine for White. ] 4...cxd5 5.e5 [ After 5.exd5 xd5 6.d4 Black has quite a ½-½ good line in xc3 7.bxc3 g6 , for example 8.f3 g7 9.e2 0-0 10.0-0 c6 11.a4 A16 d7 12.a3 c8 13.g5 e8 14.ab1 636 Psakhis,Lev 2534 a5 was comfortable for Black in Khmelniker,Ilya 2430 Charleshouse, G-Arkell, K (2442), W igan 22nd Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (6) 2001. ] 5...e4!? Offering a pawn sacrifice that White [John Watson] probably shouldn't accept. Another win for White against the Gruenfeld [ Black has alternatives here in 5...fd7 ] with a Qa4+ system. W hite tries a daring [ and 5...d4 . ] queen sacrifice, with on the one hand activity 6.f3 [ As Shamkovich pointed out, Black gets a but on the other weaknesses. The former good game after 6.xe4 dxe4 7.a4+ prevails. 1.c4 f6 2.f3 g6 3.c3 d5 c6 8.xe4 d4! . White varied from this 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 a6 633
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black needn't be worried about any tactical incursions such as Nb5 so this move only serves to play the standard queenside expansion with ...b5. In my opinion this is not so good because it doesn't go well with . ..Bd7. Maybe just [ 6...g7 7.e5 0-0 8.xd7 bxd7 when the bishop pair has come at the cost of a lot of development, or ] [ 6...c6 7.d4 e6 ] 7.d4 b5 8.b3 [ 8.d3 may also yield some advantage because . ..b4 and ...Bf5 weakens Black's queenside. ] 8...g7 9.e4 0-0 10.e5! e6 11.exf6! The computer hates this 3-pieces-forqueen+pawn sacrifice, of course, claiming a wi n n i n g p o s i t i o n f o r B la c k . B u t P s a k h i s disagrees. Along with great development, the weakness of b3 actually helps his game by giving him the c-file. At least in a practical game, W hite has plenty of chances. xb3 12.fxg7 xg7 13.axb3 c6 14.e3 b4 Still a kill for Black according to the usually reliable HiArcs. 15.c1 d7 16.e2 e6?! 17.d5! xd5 [ 17...d6 18.0-0 xd5 19.xd5 xd5 20.xc7 fe8 ( 20...xb3 21.d1!? a2 22.d4+ g8 23.xe7 fe8 24.fe1 xe7 25.xe7 illustrates the kind of compensation that White can get: bishops and activity.) 21.c3 ad8 22.a1 d6 ( 22...d6 23.c5 c6!? 24.b4 threatens Rd1. )] 18.d4 d6 19.xd5 xd5 20.f3 d6 21.xa8 xa8 22.0-0 Now the material is nominally about equal, but the c-file and backward c-pawn grant W hite a lot of good squares. g8 [ 22...c5? 23.xc5 e5 24.c6 ] [ 22...e5 23.c6 g8 24.fd1 e6 25.b4 transposes ] 23.c6 e5 24.b4 e8 25.fd1 e6 26.h3 b3 27.h6? This slip doesn't end up hurting White, but [ 27.d7! xb2 28.h6 is decisive: Black can't move! ] 27...e6 28.c5 f6 29.d8 But why resign, o r i s t h is a m i s p ri n t ? P l a y m i g h t g o e7 30.cd5 [ White should go back and try something
like 30.c6! e6 31.a7 with pressure. Maybe the score was truncated. ] 1-0
637 Psakhis,Lev Lujan,C 2nd Open San Marino SMR (2) [John Watson]
A16 2551 2378 06.06.2006
Here's another 4.Qa4+ Gruenfeld and another win. Amazingly, Psakhis repeats his stunt from two months ago, in which we saw him give up his queen for three pieces and a pawn. This time it's for three pieces and two pawns! Furthermore, Black has no weaknesses. On the other hand, the bishop pair can be a mighty weapon. 1.c4 f6 2.f3 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 c6 [ The earlier Psakhis game went 6...a6 7.d4 b5 8.b3 g7 9.e4 0-0 10.e5 e6 11.exf6 xb3 12.fxg7 xg7 13.axb3 c6 14.e3 , when the d-pawn didn't fall (essentially, ...a6 and ...b5 cost time. I prefer the development with ... Nc6). b4 15.c1 d7 16.e2 e6 17.d5 xd5 18.d4 d6 19.xd5 xd5 20.f3 d6 21.xa8 xa8 22.0-0 g8 23.c6 e5 24.b4 e8 25.fd1 e6 26.h3 b3 27.h6 e6 28.c5 f6 29.d8 e7 30.cd5 1-0 Psakhis, -Khmelniker, Cappelle la Grande 2006 ] 7.d4 g7 8.e4 0-0 9.e5!? e6 10.exf6 xc4 11.fxg7 xg7 12.xc4 Exactly the same idea, but by comparison Black's ahead in development and can't resist the d-pawn. xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.e2 b4!? Maybe Black should play the standard restrictive move [ 14...c6 ] [ or if he feeling frisky, just get that kingside majority rolling by, e.g., 14...e5 15.e3 h4 16.0-0 f5! ] 15.0-0 ad8 16.a3 b3 17.d1 c4 [ 17...b6 ] 18.f3 b3?! Would Black honestly take a draw here? That shows a very negative and pa ssive a t t it u d e, so P sakh is, a bs o lu t e ly unobjectively but with a good psychological sense, turns down the draw. 634
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 18...c6! takes away key squares from White's pieces. ] 19.e1 fe8 20.e4 b6 21.d2 Psakhis is just messing around hoping that something will show up. c2 [ 21...d3! 22.e4 f6! with ...e5 to come. ] 22.e4 c5 23.b4 d4?! It probably doesn't hurt that much but Black seems to be determined to lose time. 24.a2 e5 25.c2 Okay, so now the omission of ...c6 at some point starts to hurt. c6 and c7 are both vulnerable. e7?! [ 25...d7 26.b2 f6 ] 26.h4!? [ More psychology. White could start to get real chances after 26.b2 d7 27.f4 f5!? 28.c6 d3 29.a4 ] 26...f5? He keeps losing tempi with every move! This one's really a mistake. 27.f3 xe4?? Black must be in time trouble, or Ps ak h is ' reje ct ion of t h e d ra w m ay ha ve thrown him off. Now White just vacuums up material: [ 27...d7 ] 28.xe4 fxe4 29.g5 d1+ 30.h2 f7 [ 30...exf3 31.xe7 fxg2 32.xg2 , b u t t h e e x t r a p i e c e wi l l b e a t t h e t w o pawns rather easily. ] 31.xe5 f5 32.xc7+ g8 33.g4 Maybe next time he'll spot Black queen and t h r e e p a wn s f o r h i s p i e c e s ! A t r i b u t e t o courageous play. 1-0
h6 The most common (although from such a small selection of games this is perhaps not too relevant), Black stops the g-pawn in its tracks. [ 4...d6 attacks g4, and prepares a square on d7 for the king's knight, 5.h3 ( 5.g5 fd7 ) 5...e5 6.g2 c6 ( 6...0-0 Claesen, P (2260)-Bastida, A Odessa 1990, 1-0 (40), 7.ge2 ) 7.ge2 e6 8.b3 h5 occurred in the stem game, and continued 9.g5 g8 10.h4 f6? too loosening! Vandevoort, P (2010)-Grooten, H (2340) Belfort 1989 (but 0-1 (20)), as now 11.a3! e7 12.e4 is seriously unpleasant, close to winning. ] [ 4...0-0!? is provocative, 5.g5!? ( 5.g2 d6 6.h3 bd7 7.ge2 is more solid (or 'sensible', as you prefer), b8 8.0-0 a6 9.d3 c5 10.a4 e8 11.b1 c7 12.b4 with an edge, Jadoul, M (2400)-Van der Stricht , G (21 75) G en t 1 99 5, 1-0 (3 3).; 5.h4!? ) 5...e8 ( 5...h5 6.e2 ) 6.h4 e5 7.f3 c6 8.h5 d5 ('counter a wing attack' etc.) 9.cxd5 cxd5 unclear, Fries Nielsen, J (2369)-Jacobsen, B (2306) Helsingor 2013, 1/2-1/2 (23). ] 5.g2 c6! A new move, and a good one Black prepares ...d5. [ 5...d6 6.h3 A) 6...c5 7.a3 ( 7.ge2 and d4 immediately is better.) 7...a6 8.ge2 c7 9.b4 0-0 10.d4 d7 11.0-0 b8 12.a2!? a nice idea, b5?! 13.dxc5 dxc5?! 14.d2! the point, Bc6 will win a p ie ce, A n de rse n, J (2 2 7 6 )Matthiesen, M (2304) Aarhus 2010, 1-0 638 A16 (26).; B) 6...e5 typical KID play, but White's h3 Rapport,Richard 2704 and g4 looks more useful than ...h6 Melkumyan,Hrant 2655 compared to a normal Staunton setup. Riga Tech op 4th (7) 22.08.2014 7.ge2 c6 [Kosten, Tony] B1) 8.d4 0-0 9.0-0 e8 10.b3 i s a g o o d p a w n a r r a n g e m e n t , exd4 1.e3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 g7 (This position 11.xd4 ( 11.exd4 ) 11...d5 12.cxd5 is also likely to arrive from the move-order 1 xd5 13.xd5 cxd5 14.b2 c6 c 4 N f 6 2 N c 3 g 6 3 e 3 B g 7 ) . 4.g4!? Vandevoort, P (2205)-Penson, T (2280) This is actually the 4th most popular move Brasschaat 1990, 1-0 (49), when here ... and the highest scoring for W hite! 15.c1! with a clear positional plus White intends to fianchetto his light-squared because of the IQP and likely weaker bishop, but grab more kingside space than light-squared bishop.; normally. It is an invention of Belgian Pascal B2) 8.b3 a5 9.b1!? ( 9.0-0 Vandevoort from 1989, but he stopped playing and then d4 is simple and good.) 9...e6 it soon after, and went on to become an IM. 635
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.0-0 0-0 11.f4!? ( 11.d4 ) 11...exf4 12.exf4 ( 12.xf4! simple and good, White will play Bb2 and use the open ffile. ) 12...h5! 13.f5! gxf5 Andersen, J (2300)-Borbjerggaard, L (2365) Denmark 1998, 1-0 (27), and now 14.gxh5 xh5 15.d4 promises excellent play for the pawn. ] 6.h4!? Treating a 2650 player with utter disdain! [ The normal 6.h3 d5 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.ge2 would lead to a less exciting game, perhaps. ] 6...d6 Taking aim at g4. [ 6...d5 7.g5 hxg5 8.hxg5 xh1 9.xh1 h7 10.cxd5 xg5 was also possible. ] 7.g5 hxg5 8.hxg5 xh1 9.xh1 h7!? This knight looks pretty dim to me, why not [ 9...fd7 or even ] [ 9...g4!? 10.d4 e5 and Black is certainly not worse. ] 10.f4 e5 11.e2 e7 12.b3 Planning Ba3 a n d 0 - 0 - 0 . exf4 Black wants to exchange queens. [ 12...a6 13.a3 c5 14.0-0-0 f5 was a sharper approach. ] 13.exf4 g4 14.xe7+ [ 14.f3 xe2+ 15.xe2 might offer more. ] 14...xe7 15.b2 Maybe threatening Nd5+, as the g7-bishop is loose. d7 [ 15...a6 is b e t t e r, a s t h e n 16.d5+?! is met by f8 ] 16.f3 f5 17.ge2 a6 18.a4 xb2 19.xb2 f6 Time to get the h7-knight back into the game. 20.f2 f8 21.h1 f7 Just in time. 22.gxf6 xf6 23.g3 c5 Black has no problems, and might even be a bit better. 24.h8?! g4+ [ 24...b1 is awkward, hitting the a2-pawn, 25.b4 e6 and White might have to play 26.h1 xa2 27.a1 to avoid losing a pawn. ] 25.g2 e6 26.d3!? Tricky. xd3 27.xg4 Pinning the knight. e7 [ 27...xf4?? 28.h7+ ] [ My computer likes 27...a6 although I'm not sure whether this is to play ... b5, or to avoid having the a-pawn hanging later on. ] 28.b8! xf4+ 29.f3! Walking into a discovered attack! d5+ There is nothing better. 30.g2 f4+ 31.f3 d5+ 32.g2
f4+ ½-½
639 Reinderman,Dimitri Greenfeld,Alon Amsterdam Batavia Grolsch 5th (7) [Danny Gormally]
A16 2599 2540 07.03.13
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ These anti-Grünfeld lines are becoming increasingly popular these days, and as a Grünfeld player myself are always annoying t o f ace- W h ite tends to set th e tempo. d7 6.c2 b6 7.d4 g7 8.e4 0-0 9.e3 g4 10.e5! xe5 Personally speaking I would be reluctant to make this decision- many Kings Indian and Grünfeld pla ye rs a re lo a th e t o give u p th e ir d a rk squared bishop under any circumstances. [ 10...e6!? Would be more in the spirit of the opening. 11.d1 c8 12.f4 c6 13.e2 f5! grabbing crucial space 14.0-0 fxe4 15.xe4 d5 16.d2 d7 17.g5 xe5 18.xe6 f3+ 19.xf3 xe6 White has less than nothing 20.c1 h8 21.c4 ad8 22.b3 d6 23.f2 b6 24.f5 gxf5 25.xf5 xf5 26.xf5 f8 27.d3 f4 28.xf4 xf4 29.h3? xd4+! 0-1 Szabo, G (2553)-Petrisor, A (2383)/Plovdiv 20128 ] 11.dxe5 c6 12.h3 e6 13.d1 c8 14.f4 It seems to me White has a comfortable edge, as not only does he possess the two bishops, but Black can undertake little in the way of constructive play. He has no pawn breaks to speak and no dynamism, a direct consequence of giving up the dark-squared bishop so easily. d8 15.c5 [ Nonetheless a player of the calibre of Kamsky was quite happy to defend this position 15.b3 b4 16.xd8+ xd8 17.b1 f5 18.exf6 exf6 19.e2 e7 20.0-0 f7 21.f2 d8 22.d1 xd1+ 23.xd1 c5 24.f1 c6 25.g3 g7 26.g2 h5 27.b5 c8 Topalov, V (2775)Kamsky, G (2732)/Kazan 2011. ] 15...xd1+ 16.xd1 e8 17.c1 d8 18.b5! a6 19.xc6 xc6 20.xe7 d7 21.f6 A bishop reaching this square spells doom for the Black king. a4 22.0-0 xc3 636
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.bxc3 xa2 24.f5 c4 25.f2 c5 26.f4 a5 Black's queenside counterplay is horribly slow, as W hite's next turn convincingly demonstrates. 27.e6! fxe6 28.fxg6 hxg6 29.e5 g7 30.xg7 xg7 31.f6+ h7 32.h2 d6+ 33.e5 d7 34.f8 1-0
with interesting play. ( or 10...c6 11.h6 xh6 12.xh6 d4!? ); C) 9...e5 C1) 10.0-0 0-0 is fine for Black. For instance, 11.h6 c6 ( 11...e8 12.xg7 xg7 is also fine for Black. White has tried 8(!) different moves here without particular success.) 12.xg7 xf3+ 13.xf3 xg7 14.b4!? c4 15.c2 d6 16.fd1 a5! 17.ab1 640 A16 axb4 18.xb4 e7 with an excellent ga m e . T e s ke , H (2 4 8 6 )-J o a c h im , S Reinderman,Dimitri 2581 (2443)/Panormo 2001.; Harika,D 2516 C2) 10.h4!? 74th Tata Steel GMB (4) 17.01.2012 C2a) 10...h6 11.c1 Picana, A[John Bartholomew] Calugar, A (2144)/Toronto CAN 2010. Now it looks best to play c6! , i.e. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 g6 12.0-0 ( 12.b4!? ) 12...e7! 5.g2 b6 6.d3 g7 7.e3 c6 covering the c5 square and intending Black's chief concern in this line is the 13...Nf5.; exchange of dark-square bishops with Qd1-d2 C2b) 10...h5 11.c1 c6 12.0-0 g4 and Be3-h6, very possibly in conjunction with 13.g5 0-0 14.h2 e7= h4-h5. The text aims to prevent this plan. Conquest, S (2513)-Areshchenko, A [ For 7...0-0 8.d2 see Ivanchuk, V (2709)(2570)/Coventry 2005.; Mamedyarov, S (2580)/Bled 2002/[TonyK]. ] C3) 10.c1 (I think this is best) 0-0 [ S u s p i c i o u s i s 7...c6 8.d2 h6?! 11.h6 xh6 ( 11...f6 12.xg7 xg7 , Bu Xiangzhi (2630)-Wang Yaoyao (2456)/ 13.0-0 a5 14.e4 Dimitrov, V (2512) Jinan 2005/[John Watson]. ] Pantale ev, P (2226)/ Tsarevo 2001 .; 8.d2 11...e8 12.h4 xh6 13.xh6 f5 [ The main alternative is 8.xc6+ bxc6 14.d2 h5 Talla, V (2367)-Dvorak, T , which leads to double-edged positions ( 2 3 3 1 ) / C z e c h i a 2 0 0 4 . 15.e4 ) where the empirical evidence has favored 12.xh6 f6 Redpath, J (2131)-Navara, W hite. In my opinion Black has plenty of D (2479)/Balatonlelle 2001. Now just reasons to be satisfied here, but I will save 13.0-0 looks a little better for White. ( or a thorough investigation for a future 13.xd4!? exd4 14.e4 )] update. ] [ White can also play 8.f3 , when 0-0 9...f5 [ P a s s i ve i s 9...c6?! 10.h6 , Marin, M 9.0-0 is a tabiya of the Pseudo-Grunfeld. (2556)-Ris, R (2395)/Plovdiv 2008/ [Hansen, ( In the archives you will also find coverage Carsten]. ] of other "delayed-castling" alternatives: 10.c5 0-0 9.d2; and 9.c1 . )] [ 10...d7 is also of interest: 11.a3 [ Finally, 8.c1 d4 9.d2 transposes. A) The computer is enthusiastic about ( For a round-up of the alternatives 9.h4!?; 11...e5!? , threatening 12...Bh6 when 13. and 9.f3 see the notes to Marin-Ris cited e3 would hang d3. An interesting line is below. )] 12.f4 c6!? 13.fxe5 h6 14.e3 8...d4 9.c1 White covers the c2 square ( 14.c2?! e3 ) 14...xe3 15.d1 xc1 and renews the threat of Be3-h6. 16.xc1 xd3 17.c5! 0-0 [ 9.f3 is also played, i.e. with a n un ba lan ce d po sit io n in whic h A) 9...f5 10.c5 0-0 is similar to the White retains the better prospects.; game.; B) 11...c6 12.f3 0-0 13.0-0 b6 B) I'm surprised that nobody has played 14.b3?! ( Unnecessary. I'd prefer 9...xf3+ 10.xf3 , e.g. h5!? 637
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.cd1; or 14.fd1 ) 14...d6 15.b2 f5?! ( 15...a5! ) 16.e4 g4 17.d4 Roesemann, R (2207)-W ahrenberg, R (1974)/Dresden 2007. ] 11.f3 [ This is better than 11.e3 when the old game Grigorian, K-Gulko, B/Soviet Union 1974 saw d7! 12.a3 e5 (the same Silic on -ap proved ma ne uve r as ab ove! ) 13.d1 b8!? ( 13...c6 also looks good.) 14.f3 xf3+ 15.xf3 b6 16.0-0 c5 with a balanced game. ] 11...c6 [ 11...d7 12.a3 c5 ( 12...e5 13.xe5 xe5 14.0-0 c6 15.fd1 g7 16.b3 McNab, C (2474)-Poobalasingam, P (2224)/ Edinburgh SCO 2009.) 13.0-0 b8 14.b4 ( It looks better to play 14.e4 b6 15.b4 cxb4 16.xb4 with a slight pull.) 14...cxb4 15.xb4 a5! 16.a3 b5 17.d5?! b7 Dannevig, O (2356)-Bae, T (2246)/Bergen 2000. ] [ 11...e8 12.0-0 ( Clearly unfavorable is 12.e4?! h6 Zoltek, T (2345)-Kirov, N (2455)/Lodz 1980.; but 12.h4!? deserves a t t e n t i o n .) 12...e5 and here 13.e3 or 13.Rfd1 is comfortable for W hite ( but again not 13.e4?! h6 14.c2 xc1 15.xc1 g7 with little compensation for the exchange. Talla, V (2417)- Toma, K (2224)/Frydek Mistek 2005. )] 12.e3 The first new move. White is playing for an immediate d3-d4, but Black can meet this wit h eit he r que en side activit y (. ..Nb6 -d 7 f ollowed by .. .a7 -a5 /. ..b 7-b 5), o r cent ra l counterplay (...Rf8-e8, ...Nb6-d7, and ...e7-e5). Harika decides on the latter. [ Cornette, M (2548)-Gislason, G (2318)/ L o n d o n E N G 2 0 1 1 w e n t 12.0-0 d7 ( 12...a5!? ) 13.a3 a5 14.e4 e8 ( 14...f6 looks playable as well.) 15.b3 . Now a4 would give Black good counterplay. ] 12...e8 [ Black should seriously consider 12...d7 13.a3 a5 as in the above game. I don't really see an edge f or W hite, e.g. 14.b3 ( 14.d4?! b5 is suddenly dangerous for White thus, he needs to take a time-out.) 14...a4!? ( 14...b6= ) 15.b4 ( 15.xa4?? b5-+; 15.bxa4?! a5 ) 15...d6
with mutual chances. ] 13.d4 This allows Black to carry out a key advance. [ 13.0-0 ] [ or 13.h4!? are better tries. ] 13...d7 14.a3 e5! Black should have few p ro b l e m s n o w. 15.dxe5 xe5 16.xd8 xf3+ 17.xf3 xd8 18.e4 e6 [ 18...a5!? ] 19.c5 xa2?! [ Slightly more accurate is the immediate 19...d5 e.g. 20.xd5 ( 20.e4 d4 21.g2 e8 ) 20...xd5 21.xb7 ( 21.e4 e5 22.0-0 d4 ) 21...b5 22.c5 xb2 23.xb2 xb2 24.a4 d8 25.0-0 and now Black can force a draw if she wants with xe3 26.fxe3 dd2= . ] 20.xb7 d5 21.xd5 xd5 22.c5 [ Not 22.xc6?! b5 ] 22...d6 23.a6! b5 24.b4 d6 25.xc6 xa3 26.bxa3 b2 27.c2 xa3 28.e2 White has managed to retain a small edge. Now he gets to press in an objectively drawn endgame. d7 29.a1 f8 30.a6 b7 31.d3 d7+ 32.e2 b7 33.g4 g7 34.g5 h6! Liquidation. Harika defends well. 35.h4 hxg5 36.hxg5 e7 37.xe7 [ Essentially agreeing to a draw, but 37.f4 d8! and ...Bd8-b6 was coming. ] 37...xe7 38.ca2 e5 39.f4 e4 40.2a3 ae8 41.f2 8e7 42.f3 h7 43.6a4 xa4 44.xa4 g7 45.e4 b7 46.g4 c7 47.f5 gxf5+ 48.exf5 c1= 49.xa7 g1+ 50.f4 f1+ 51.e4 e1+ 52.d3 e5 53.g6 xf5 54.xf7+ xf7 55.gxf7 xf7 Black is doing fine in the line 8.Qd2 Nd4 9. Rc1 Nf5. Of note is the plan for queenside co un te rp lay wit h . .. Nb 6-d 7 an d . .. a7 -a 5 , threatening ... b7-b5-b4. ½-½
641 Rustemov,Alexander Svidler,Peter Bundesliga 2008-9 (15) [Jonathan Rowson]
A16 2520 2727 29.03.2009
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ d7 6.h4 xc3 7.bxc3! I think this move is probably worthy of the 638
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 exclamation mark, because at the present time Black has no clear path to equality. [ 7.dxc3 is the main line. c6 8.g3!? always seemed to me to be the most dangerous test for Black here. ] [ 7.d4 f6 8.xc3 looks promising for White at first, but after c6 9.d4 is met by e5 so Black has time to get e5 Bd6 and Qe7 and generally develops comfortably. ] 7...c5 This move is not forced, but I guess the problem is that after [ 7...g7 8.b1 Black doesn't even have Qc7 and has to make do with a half-move. ( 8.d4 c5 9.h6! comes fast, but things are not so clear af ter a5 10.c1 xh6 11.xh6 cxd4 ) 8...b6 9.d4 and Bh6 is now threatened so W hite's initiative starts to build. ] 8.b1! A very annoying little probe. c7 [ 8...b6 9.e4 ( 9.d4!? looks more critical to my mind. g7 10.h6 f6 11.g5 0-0 12.e3 is at least somewhat better for White. ) 9...c6 10.c4 e6 11.g3 g7 12.h4 b8 13.g5 e5 14.xe5 xe5 Black's doing well, Peng Xiaomin (2657)Svidler, P (2689)/New Delhi/Teheran 2000. ] [ 8...c6 9.e5 ] [ 8...c6 9.xb7 b8 10.xb8 xb8 almost looks like promising counterplay, but White has 11.e4! g7 12.g3 f5 13.c2 e5 14.d3 c4 15.g2 0-0 16.0-0 cxd3 Hera, I (2530)-Roganovic, M (2458)/ S z o m b a t h e l y H U N 2 0 0 8 , 17.exd3 planning Ng5. ] 9.g3!? Safe and effective rather than forced, but the endgame is very pleasant for White. xg3 10.hxg3 b6 11.e4 g7 12.d4 0-0 13.h6 cxd4 14.xg7 xg7 15.cxd4 d8 16.d2 c6 17.e3 a5 18.c1 h5 19.d3 ac8 20.a6 c6 21.e5 W hite has quite a big advantage here, but Black has 200 rating points worth of compensation. ½-½
642 Shimanov,A Mchedlishvili,M Nakhchivan Open A 2013 (7.5) [Danny Gormally]
A16 2639 2640 29.04.2013
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.h4 g7 6.h5 An interesting idea test ed b y n o le sse r playe r th an Aron ian , amongst others. The main idea is to discourage kingside castling by Black. xc3 To some extent this justifies White's idea. [ By far the most popular and testing idea is 6...c6! to try and generate piece play in the center as soon as possible. There are now many possible ideas for White, but as the theory of this line is relatively new, the way forward is not exactly clear. A) 7.d4 g4 8.h6 f6 9.e4?! perhaps in the spirit of what has gone before, but this allows Black to launch strong counterplay ( 9.e3 seems more c i r c u m s p e c t) 9...db4 10.d5 d4 11.d3 c6! And Black had obvious counterplay and went on to win in Naiditsch, A (2712)-Volokitin, A (2695)/ San Sebastian 2012; B) 7.e4 b6 ( 7...db4 seems eminently playable, for example 8.d3 g4 ) 8.b5 g4 9.h6 f6 10.d4 xf3 11.xf3 xd4 12.e3 d6 13.f4 e6 14.0-0 0-0 15.xc6 bxc6 16.fe1 1/2-1/2 Vallejo Pons, F (2705)-Svidler, P (2755)/Porto Carras 20116 ] 7.bxc3 c5 8.g3! This may seem a rather strange switch to positional play, but the fact that White is opening the h-file just gives him a n o t h e r a t t a c ki n g o p t i o n , t o g o wit h t h e normal pressure. c6 [ 8...0-0 9.hxg6 hxg6 10.a4 e5 11.g2 ] 9.g2 e6 10.a4 a5 11.f4? Still harbouring attacking ambitions, but this could have backfired horribly. [ 11.xa5 xa5 12.g5 ] 11...f5? Black prepares the idea of taking on c3, but there was no need and it should have been played immediately [ 11...xc3! 12.b1 xa2 13.xb7 0-0-0! An easy move to miss in the calculations, it turns out Black has everything covered! 14.0-0 xb7 15.dxc3 f6 and although 639
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 W hite retains some chances due to the murkiness of the play, Black is certainly better after 16.e3 xc3 ] 12.g4! xc3 now this is just unclear. 13.dxc3 xc3+ 14.d2 xa1 15.gxf5 gxf5 16.0-0 g8 17.h1 d8 18.c2 xg2? panic. [ White still had to prove he was better after 18...e6 ] 19.xg2 g7+ 20.h1 g4 21.g1 xh5+ 22.h2 d4 23.g5 h3 24.xc5 d1+ 25.g1 xg1+ 26.xg1 h5 27.b5 g6+ 28.f1 b6 29.f3 White has consolidated and Black has an uphill struggle trying to save the game, which did not last much longer: d8 30.f4 e6? 31.g5 f6 32.xf7+! xf7 33.xc6 1-0
643 Steingrimsson,Hedinn Sakalauskas,Vaidas Keres Mem A Tallin EST (1) [John Watson]
A16 2439 2464 08.01.2006
For English players who need something versus the Gruenfeld (without transposing, maybe these Qa4+ ideas deserve a closer look. This game with 5... Nc6 follows theory straight through and W hite always stands better, even in the side notes. It seems that 5...Bd7 is still the most important move. 1.c4 f6 2.f3 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ c6 [ This is not uncommon but the main move must be 5...d7 . Here's a mni-overview, using some older games that I find still relevant: A) 6.h4 is popular nowadays. xc3 7.dxc3 c6 8.e4 e5 9.g5 e7 10.c4 h5!? 11.xe7 ( 11.0-0-0 f6! ) 11...xe7 12.xe7+ xe7 13.d5 h4 14.h3 f6 15.0-0-0 d8! = Vallejo Pons-Ivanchuk, Monte Carlo 2005.; B) 6.d4 and; C) 6.b3 are also played, and in fact the latter has scored rather well. I suspect that Black can equalise, however.; D) 6.c2 I prefer this option, although there are three fully legitimate alternatives: b6 7.d4 g7 8.e4 ( very Gruenfeld-like.
8.f4 is probably okay for Black if he reacts quickly, but it's not easy, e.g., 0-0 9.d1 c6 10.e3 c8!? 11.e2 b4 Postny, E-Huzman, Israel 2003 and here 12.b3!? was worth a try in view of a5 13.e4 c5!? 14.c1 c4 15.d1 , although it's only +=) 8...0-0 ( 8...g4 9.e5 e6 10.e3 0-0 11.f4 c6 12.e2 8d7 13.d1 Arsovic-Cornette, Obrenovac 2004) 9.e3 c6 ( 9...g4?! 10.e5! Piket-Avrukh, Biel 1999) 10.d5 These lines requre further practical tests. ( Volzhin analyses 10.0-0-0!? g4 11.d5 e5 12.e2 bc4 13.d4; and 10.d1!? g4 11.d5 e5 12.e2 xf3 13.gxf3 ec4 14.c1 d6 15.f4 ) 10...e5 ( 10...a5? 11.d1 g4? 12.b5 f5 13.b4 1-0 Engel-Estrin, corr 1978 ) 11.xe5 xe5 12.d1 e8 ( Volzhin prefers 12...c8!? ) 13.e2 c6 14.0-0 cxd5 15.xd5 ( 15.exd5!? c8 16.d2 ) 15...xd5 Volzhin-Baikov, Elista 2001, and here Volzhin suggests 16.xd5 in vi e w o f g7 17.fd1 c6 18.5d2 ] 6.e5 White has over a 200 point performance rating lead after this move. db4 7.a3 g7 8.axb4 xe5 9.b5 b8 [ 9...d4 hasn't done very well but deserves a look: 10.e3 A) 10...e6!? 11.d4 g7 ( 11...d6 12.h4!? g7!? 13.e2 d7 14.f3 c8 15.e4 a5 Fuchs-Schneider, Eppingen 2004 ) 12.c4 0-0 13.0-0 d7 14.a3 Rohde-Mirabile, Philadelphia 2003; B) 10...f5 11.d4 g7 12.g3!? ( 12.e2 ) 12...0-0 13.g2 d6 14.0-0 d7 15.b4 e8 16.c5 xb5?! 17.xb7 xc3? 18.bxc3 h3 19.e1 and White is winning, M Ivanov-Desinte Charleroi 2004. ] 10.e3 Why shouldn't White stand better? He has solid development and more importantly a central majority. 0-0 [ 10...d7 11.d4 g7 12.e2 0-0 13.0-0 b6 14.c2 ( 14.a2 e6 15.b3 has also been played) 14...f5?! ( 14...e5 is natural, although I still like W hite after 15.dxe5 xe5 16.e4 intending f4, for example, h4 17.g3 h3 18.e3 e6 ? but f4 follows regardless) 19.f4 g7 640
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.f5 ) 15.e4 d7 16.d1 e6 17.e3 wi t h a s o li d a d va n t a g e , K u s t a r - P ri b yl , Bayern 2004. ] 11.e2 [ 11.d4 g7 12.e2 c6 13.0-0 a6! ( 13...e6 14.f3 is unpleasant) 14.bxc6 xc6 is essentially a tempo up on our game for Black, but White seems to be a bit better regardless: 15.d1 ( 15.b3!? ) 15...d7 16.b3 b5 17.e4 f5 18.g3 d7 19.d2 e6 20.a3 J Rubinetti-Zukerfeld, Tres de Febrero 2003 ] 11...c6 12.0-0 cxb5 [ 12...a6! 13.bxc6 xc6 14.d4 g7 15.f3 again gains Black a sort of 'tempo' - see the last note. ] 13.xb5 c6 14.d4 g7 15.f3 a6 16.b3 a7 What else? 17.a4 b8!? [ 17...e6? 18.d5 a5 19.b4 ] [ 17...a5 18.a3 ( or 18.xc6 bxc6 19.c5 )] 18.d2 d7 19.fc1 e5? [ Maybe 19...b5 , but White is clearly better. ] 20.d5? White is clearly better but could have gained a decisive advantage: [ 20.b4 e8 21.d5 ] 20...b5 21.c5 xc5 22.xc5 d7 23.e4 Black's position is just bad, and he went on to lose: b8 24.e3 a8 25.c3 d8 26.a5 f8 27.b4 d6 28.ac1 b7 29.c7 xc7 30.xc7 b8 31.g5 e8 32.g4 h5 33.h3 f5 34.xd8 xd8 35.b6 f7 36.g3 a5 37.exf5 g5 38.f6 xd5 39.d7 c4 40.d8+ h7 41.xa8 c1+ 42.f1 c4 43.a7+ 1-0
644 Tkachiev,Vladislav Sutovsky,Emil 8th Karpov Poikovsky RUS (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A16 2649 2629 17.03.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 a6 7.d4 b5 8.b3 c5 [ 8...c6 was the move Svidler chose against Navarra - see the February 2007 update ] 9.dxc5 g7 10.e4 0-0 [ 10...c6 11.e2 e6 is an alternative
which was played on a couple of occasions in W ijk aan Zee this year in the groups B and C. These games were discussed in the notes to the aforementioned NavarraSvidler. ] 11.e2 c6 12.e5 fd7 13.e3 xe5 14.xe5 xe5 15.0-0 [ 15.d1 is Topalov-Svidler, Morelia/Linares 2007, which is analysed separately. ] 15...c7 [ 15...e6 16.a4 bxa4 17.xa4 c7 18.f4 g7 19.b6 is already very good for White, and Gelfand drove the victory home: a7 20.fd1 e8 21.c4 h6 22.f1 b7 23.f2 d7 24.xd7 xd7 25.xa6 xa6 26.xa6 g7 27.d2 a7 28.b6 a8 29.b5 xb5 30.xb5 b8 31.c4 a1+ 32.f2 xb2 33.c6 xd2+ 34.xd2 a7+ 35.e2 c7 36.a5 c8 37.c7 f8 38.c6 f5 39.c3 f7 40.e5 e7 41.d3 g5 42.g3 gxf4 43.gxf4 1-0 Gelf and, B-Svidler, P/Moscow RUS 2006 ] 16.f4 g7 17.ad1 [ In comparison with the Gelfand-Svidler game, the 17.a4 idea isn't as effective, since after bxa4 18.xa4 d7 Black will put a rook on b8 with a decent game ] [ However, 17.fd1!? may be worth a thought. A transposition to the GelfandSvidler game is still possible, and if Black tried to avoid it, with, say, b7 then 18.d5 e6 19.b6 a7 20.f1 is pleasantly better for White ] 17...e6 18.c2 [ 18.a4 can also be considered, e.g. bxa4 19.xa4 d7 20.b6 xb6 21.cxb6 b7 22.f3 xf3 23.xf3 fd8 24.ff1 and while White's advantage is by no means winning, he clearly has the upper hand t h a n k s t o t h e p a s s e d p a wn o n b 6 a n d Black's queen's obligation to stop it: f6 25.xd8+ xd8 26.d1 xd1+ 27.xd1 with excellent winning chances for White. ] 18...b7 19.f2 [ 19.f3 xf3 20.xf3 c6 21.e4 b4 22.b1 ad8 23.d6 c6 and the knight on b4 will retreat to d5 with a fine game for Black. ] 19...a5 20.d6!? d7 21.xc6 xc6 22.f3 a6 23.xa8 xa8 24.e4 641
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 24.d2!? is also worth consideration: f6 25.d6 c8 26.xb5 d5 27.d4 f8 28.f5 ( 28.e4 xd6 29.xd6 d7 30.f5 28 leads ultimately to the same as f5) 28...xd6 29.xd6 d7 30.e4 gxf5 31.h4 f6 32.xf6 xf6 33.xf6 a7 34.g5+ and now the players can agree to a draw af te r h8 35.f6+ g8 36.g5+ h8 37.f6+ ] 24...f6 25.xf6+ xf6 26.d2 c8 27.e4 c6 28.xc6 xc6 29.b3 [ 29.d7!? c o u l d b e w o r t h a t r y xb2 30.b7 b4 31.a7 c3 32.xa5 h5 A) 33.b5 g7 ( 33...a6? 34.b6 xa2 35.b8+ g7 36.c6 wins for White ) 34.b6 c7 35.f1 f6 and Black is okay; B) 33.a7 g7 34.f2 e5 35.fxe5 xe5 36.f3 f6+ 37.e4 e6 38.d5 and White has definite winning chances, e. g. xh2 39.d4+ f8 40.c6 ] 29...e7 30.f1 f8 31.e2 e8 and now after 32.a4 White decided to offer a draw which Black accepted. [ 32.a3 f6 33.d3 c7 34.c2 would have left White with an edge ] ½-½
645 Topalov,Veselin Kamsky,Gata WCh Candidates (1.4) [Nigel Davies]
A16 2775 2732 08.05.2011
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c2 [ I'm not sure if the line 5.b3 b6 6.d4 g7 7.f4 e6 is an English or a Gruenfeld, it can come about via either move order, but is more commonly arrived at via 1.c4 or 1. Nf3. So I've relegated it to the notes even though there was an innovation by Topalov. After 8.a3 c6 he played the super sharp A) 9.e3 had been played in a couple of earlier Kamsky games, for example a5 10.e2 ( 10.b5 0-0 11.xc6 bxc6 12.c5 d5 13.e5 xc3 14.xc3 d5 15.xg7 xg7 16.0-0 xf3 17.gxf3 d5 18.fc1 a6 19.c4 g5+ 20.f1 b6 21.b3 d8 22.c2 1/2-1/2 Eljanov,
P -K a m sky, G / O h rid 2 0 0 9) 10...b4 11.0-0 c6 12.g5 d5 13.fc1 h6 14.ge4 c4 15.xd5 xa3 16.c7+ f8 17.bxa3 d5 18.xd5 cxd5 19.c5 gave White compensation for the queen in Ivanchuk, V-Kamsky, G/Jermuk 2009; B) 9.0-0-0 A new move from Topalov. d5 10.g3 h6+ 11.e3 a5 12.h4 cb4 13.h5 c6 14.hxg6 hxg6 15.d2 f6 16.e4 b6 17.e2 c8 18.h4 f7 was more dangerous for White's king than it was for Black's in Topalov, V-Kamsky, G/ Kazan RUS 2011. ] 5...g7 6.e4 b6 7.d4 0-0 Despite its Gruenfeldy appearance, this position is only ever reached via 1.c4 or 1.Nf3. 8.e3 g4 9.e5 xe5 A radical way of playing the position. [ In earlier games Black has played mainly 9...e6 , for example 10.0-0-0!? ( 10.d1 c6 11.e2 8d7 12.0-0 xe5 13.dxe5 c8 14.f4 g4 was OK for Black in Malich, B-Vladimirov, E/Halle 1976; as was 10.f4 c6 11.d1 8d7 12.e2 f5 13.d5 cxd5 14.exd5 f7 15.xf7 xf7 16.0-0 c8 17.b3 c5 in Malich, B-Schmidt, W / Zinno witz 197 3) 10...c6 11.f4 c8 12.b1 xe5 13.dxe5 c6 14.c5 e8 15.f2 g4 16.d2 c7 17.c2 ad8 18.e3 c8 19.e2 b8 20.g4 st a rt e d a m a s sive kin gsid e b u ild u p i n Koneru, H-Nadig, K/Calicut 2003. ] 10.dxe5 c6 11.h3 e6 12.d1 c8 13.f4 d8 14.b3! This makes sense as taking control of c4 shuts down both the b6 knight and e6 bishop. It also happens to be a new move. [ 14.e2 b4 15.b1 xd1+ 16.xd1 was played in an earlier game Pogorelov, RFernandez Barrera, V/Albacete 2009, and now Black should probably have played c4 with annoying counterplay. ] 14...b4 [ 14...xd1+ 15.xd1 e8 followed by 16... Rd8 is also worth considering here as the c6 knight keeps the option of going to d4. ] 15.xd8+ xd8 16.b1 f5 17.exf6 exf6 18.e2 e7 19.0-0 White is slightly better now because of his bishop pair. Not to mention the fact that Black would probably 642
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 prefer to have his g6 pawn back on g7. f7 archives for Krasenkow-Mikhalevski, Saint 20.f2 d8 21.d1 xd1+ 22.xd1 c5 Vincent 2000 ] 23.f1 [ F i n a l l y a l s o 7.g3 has been seen with [ Another possibility was 23.f3 and after c4 frequency, though it is decidedly tamer than 24.bxc4 xc4 25.d4 c6 26.c5 the previous two options. Topalov has also White still has an edge. ] tried this line some years back and on this 23...c6 24.g3 g7 25.g2 h5 26.b5 site we examined the game-Damljanovicc8 27.d2 c4 28.bxc4 xc4 29.d4 Arashchenko, Plovdiv 2008 not too long b4 30.c1 The position would also favour ago. ] White after a queen exchange thanks to his 7...g7 two bishops. But Topalov still wants to play [ In one of the few games I have found, that against Black's weakened king. 8e7 31.a3 pertained to this variation, Black by a4 32.b2 b6 33.h2 f7 34.c3 a2 transposition reached this position in in 35.f5 Lechtynsky-Zezulkin, Czech Rep 2003 by [ 35.xc6 xc6 36.d4 was the quiet way transposition and now played the t o p la y it , o n ce a g a in wit h a n e d ge f o r aggressive: 7...b5 8.h4 White. ] A) Black is clearly concerned about White 35...c4 36.b2 e5 37.d2 g5 38.e6 playing Bh6, which may or may not be 7c6? Letting White in. just if ie d . Bla ck can inst ead cons ide r [ 38...b3 was better. ] 8...c6!? 9.g3 ( 9.h6?! xh6 10.xh6 39.d6! e8 40.c7+ f7 41.d5 e2 e6 is comfortable for Black) 9...g7 42.xf6+ e8 43.e6+ f8 44.g1? 10.g2 0-0 11.0-0 with an interesting After this neither king can find safety. game, though I prefer White's chances; [ 44.h6+ f7 45.g1 f3+ 46.h1 B) 8...h6!? 9.a4 c6!? ( 9...c6!? would have left Black with nothing, though can also be considered, e.g. 10.d4 g7 this isn't easy to accept at first. ] 11.e4 a5 12.e2 a6 13.axb5 b4 44...d1+ 45.f1 xd5 46.exd5 d4 14.0-0 cxb5 with a complicated position 47.f6+ g8 48.xg5+ f7 49.d8 c2 and chances for both sides) 10.axb5 axb5 50.g2 c1+ 51.h2 c2 52.g1 df3+ 11.xa8 xa8 12.xb5 a5+ 13.c3 53.h1 e1 54.f2 xf2 55.c7+ f6 B1) Black has an interesting alternative 56.d6+ f7 57.c7+ f6 58.d6+ f7 in 13...a1!? which immediately forces ½-½ W h i t e t o gi ve u p t h e r igh t t o c a s t l e 14.d1 ( 14.d2 gives Black a nasty initiative: g7 15.e3 a5 16.e2 0-0 646 A16 , and Black obviously has more than enough for the pawn) 14...g7 15.e3 Topalov,Veselin 2777 0-0 16.a4 a8 17.xa1 xa1 Shirov,Alexei 2741 18.e2 e6 19.d2 g4 20.f1 a5 XXIII Rapid Open rapid (9) 03.08.2008 21.d1 c5 , and Black's activity provides [Carsten Hansen] him with full compensation for the pawn, but probably not more than that.; 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 B2) 13...g4 14.g3?! ( Now White 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 a6 7.d3 ends up in severe trouble. Instead White [ As far as I know, this move have not been could have reached a reasonably played in this position before. White aims for comfortable position with 14.e3! a1 a position where Black doesn't have the 15.d1 g7 16.d4 , and White will be usual Grunfeld counterplay against White's able to complete his development and centre. The main line is 7.d4 which we have then start worrying about consolidating discussed several times previous, his pawn advantage.) 14...a1 15.f4 including Topalov-Svidler, Morelia 2007, e5 16.d2 b4 17.h3 f6 , and Black which can be found in the PGN archives. ] is already completely tied up. The rest of [ Also 7.e4 of interest - see the PGN 643
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the game wasn't particularly pleasant for White: 18.d1 d4 19.xd4 exd4 20.d2 xb2 21.a2 xd2+ 22.xd2 a1+ 23.c1 0-0 24.g4 a8 25.f4? ( 25.f3 d5 doesn't appeal either, but at l e a s t i t d o e s n ' t l o s e o n t h e s p o t .) 25...c6 26.g1 a2 27.xa2 xc1+ 28.f2 xf4+ 29.e1 c1+ 30.f2 e3+ 31.e1 xg1 0-1 Lechtynsky, JZezulkin, J/Czech Rep 2003 ] 8.g3 0-0 [ To claim that the text move is a mistake is perhaps taking it a bit too far, but I think Black is playing a little too much with the auto pilot on. Black has two very reasonable alte rn a tive s in 8...e6!? 9.b4 ( both 9.c5 d5; and 9.a4+ b5 are also fine for Black ) 9...c8 10.g2 c6 , and Black seems to be doing well. ] [ or 8...c6 9.g2 e6 with chances to both sides. ] 9.g2 c6 [ In another game, also reached by transposition, Black tried 9...c6 10.0-0 e5 11.h4 ( 11.d1!? b5 12.c5 e8 is also pleasant for White ) A) Or 11...g4 12.xd8 axd8 13.h3 f6 ( 13...h6 14.d2 f5 15.fc1 ) 14.g5 b8 15.ac1 fe8 16.e3; B) 11...f5 12.h6 g4 13.xg7 xg7 14.xd8 axd8 15.fc1 c8 16.e4 f6 17.xf6 ( White can also consider the 'Dragon' move 17.xc6 , which also leads to an advantage for White after bxc6 18.xe5 xe4 19.xe4 , but White undoubtedly found this to be unnecessary as the game continuation leaves W hite with a nagging positional plus and no much hope for counterplay f or Black.) 17...xf6 18.f1 d7 19.d2 e7 20.b3 b8 21.c5 f6 22.ac1 , and White has a fairly clear advantage, J a r a c z , P - B rk i c, A / N o va G o r i c a S L O 2005 ] 10.0-0 bd7 11.f4 xf3 [ This move looks decidedly radical, handing over the bishop pair to White without really b e i n g f o r c e d t o d o s o . T h e a l t e rn a t ive 11...b6 is of less consequence, but also promises White the better chances. 12.b3 fd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.c2 e5 15.g5
f6 16.e3 d7 17.ac1 ] 12.xf3 c6 13.b4 b6 14.b3 a5 15.e3 [ 15.ac1!? is also worth a thought ] 15...fd5 16.c5 [ White can win a pawn with 16.xd5 xd5 17.xb7 , but Black gets reasonable compensation after xe3 18.fxe3 h6 19.f2 b8 20.xc6 xb2 21.fb1 b8 , and the opposite coloured bishops and the we a k e 3 - p a wn p r o m i s e s B l a c k d e c e n t counterchances ] 16...d7 17.a3 5b6 18.fd1 e8 19.e4 a4 20.c2 d5 21.ac1 W h i t e h a s o n e o f t h o s e s m a l l, b u t c l e a r advantages that are so difficult to neutralize and which will keep you on the defensive forever. Black's defensive task in rapid play ga m e su ch a s t h is ga m e is ve ry dif f ic u lt because any break for activity will likely only increase White's advantage. b6 22.c3 b4 23.d2 [ White can also claim an edge after 23.xb4 xb4 24.d4 a3 25.b3 ad8 26.e3 , but keeping the bishop pair is a far better option as Black's task will be more difficult with more pieces on the board and no active plans where they can be of any use. ] 23...e6 24.d4 ed8 25.e3 d5 26.c2 b4 27.e2 f6 28.c4 f8 29.g2 a5 30.e2 White is not in any rush, his advantage is not running anywhere. bd5 31.xf8 xf8 Finally Black managed to eliminate White's pair of bishops, but Black is still suffering from a lack of counterplay, thus preserving an edge for White. 32.a3 [ 32.e4!? ] 32...g7 33.a2 [ 33.e4!? e7 34.c4 ] 33...b6 34.c2 b3 35.c1 b6 36.d3 a5 37.dc1 aa8 38.c4 b5 39.c2 a7 40.c5 White's advantage is slowly but surely taking on a more definite shape. His space advantage is significant and Black's counterplay is still non-existent. da8 41.e4 Finally! b6 42.b4 a5 43.c3 c8 44.g4 fd7 45.h4 Now we have the type of position we associate with Topalov: full-board pressure. White's advantage is nearly decisive at this point. g8 46.e3 e5 47.e2 d8 48.g5 e8 49.e3 f6 50.dxe5 bd5 644
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 51.exd5 xd5 52.d4 [ 52.h6! xb4 53.axb4 is even worse for Black ] 52...xb4 53.axb4 d8 54.d7 b6 55.d1 c5 56.bxc5 bxc5 57.d6 h8 58.c4 e7 59.f6 f8 60.g3 ab7 61.d2 b8 62.xb8+ [ 62.d5! bc7 63.c6 threatens Nd7 and the pawn on a4, deciding the game immediately. ] 62...xb8 63.f4 eb7 64.h5 xb2 65.d6 2b7 66.a6 g7 67.g5 gxh5 68.xh5+ f8 69.f6 g7 70.g4 b4 71.d5 d4? 72.a7 bb4 73.xf7+ [ Here White can mate Black with 73.h5! xd5 74.a8 , and now Black can only delay mate by giving up his two rooks. ] 73...g6 74.f8?? [ An incredible blunder, undoubtedly caused by severe time trouble of both players. Here 74.h5! mates, Black can only delay matters by giving up his two rooks. xf4+ 75.xf4+ xf4+ 76.xf4 ] 74...xf4+ 75.g3 fd4? [ Black can keep White's advantage within re a c h wi t h 75...f1 76.e6 e1 . In the game continuation, Black now once again is losing. ] 76.e6 d3+ 77.f3 bb3? 78.g4 xg5?! 79.e7 xf3+ 80.xf3 b8 81.f6 Up to W hite's 74th move, this game wa s brilliantly executed by W hite. A beautif ul game. 1-0
647 Topalov,Veselin Svidler,Peter XXIV SuperGM (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A16 2783 2728 21.02.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ So Topalov gets in on the f un as well, undoubtedly hoping to get something like the position Gelfand obtained against Svidler in Moscow 2006 - see the notes to the next main game. d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 a6 7.d4 b5 8.b3 c5 [ 8...c6 was Svidler's choice against Navarra - see the February 2007 update for
this line ] 9.dxc5 g7 10.e4 0-0 11.e2 c6 12.e5 fd7 13.e3 xe5 14.xe5 xe5 15.d1 [ 15.0-0 c7 16.f4 as in Tkachiev-Sutovsky may well be a better try - see the next main game ] 15...a5 [ Also 15...c7 , preventing White from castling right away, and 16.d5 xd5 17.xd5 c6 18.f3 ac8 looks okay for Black ] 16.0-0 e6 17.f4 g7 18.a3 c7 19.c2 [ 19.a4 bxa4 20.xa4 transposes to a line I have analysed at length in the TkachievSutovsky game, here each side has spent an extra tempo, W hite with a2-a3-a4 and Black with ...Qd8-a5-c7 ] 19...b4!? played to prevent White from playing b2-b4 with an uncomfortable bind for Black 20.axb4 b7 21.d6 xb4 22.fd1 a7 23.1d2 d7 24.xd7 [ Here 24.xa6 looks appealing, but after fd8! 25.xd7 xd7 26.f1 xd2 27.xd2 f8 28.f2 d7 Black wins the c5-pawn and is by no means worse ] 24...xd7 25.d6 b7 26.d2 f6 27.f1 [ 27.d1!? b8 28.d8+ e8 29.xb8 xb8 leaves White with no more than a nominal edge ] 27...b8 28.d8+ f8 29.xb8 [ 29.xb8 xb8 30.d4 e7 , and Black h a s e q u a l i s e d , w h i l e 31.xa6?! a7 32.d3 xc5 33.xc5 xc5+ gives Black the initiative ] ½-½
648 Turov,Maxim Hansen,Eric Oslo op (8) [Fier, Alexandr]
A16 2586 2584 29.09.2013
This line has been the subject of some recent games. Black believes the structural disadvantage is not enough to bring any real a d va n t a ge f o r W h it e . S t ill it 's a ri s k le s s position to play and Black can suffer sometimes. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.f3 g6 5.a4+ c6 The most forcing move here 645
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 5...d7 is the most played and was recently tried by Giri A) 6.h4 was Ni Hua's preference and his game was analyzed for Chess Publishing c6 ( 6...xc3 is another option 7.bxc3!? c5 8.b1 Gajewski, G (2653)-Tomczak, J (2564)/ POL-ch Chorzow 2013.) 7.d4 g8 8.e5 with an exotic position in Ni Hua (2667)-Li Chao2 (2613)/6th TCh-CHN Ningbo CHN 2010.; B) 6.b3 b6 7.d4 g7 8.e4 trying to transpose to the Russian variation of the Grünf eld with the bishop on d7 instead of c8. The verdict is still not clear, Wang Hao (2737) -Giri, A (2720)/Beijing Sportaccord blitz 2012. ] [ 5...c6 is not so goo d 6.d4 f6 7.e4 and White has a comfortable game, as seen in Li, C (2686)-Tazbir, M (2561)/Universiad Men 2013. ] 6.e5 d6 [ 6...db4 was tried on several occasions but the ball is in Black's court in this position 7.a3 g7 8.axb4 xe5 9.b5 b8 a n d h e r e b o t h 10.e3 ( and 10.g3 are enough for an advantage )] 7.xc6 xc6 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.b3 I think developing the queenside, where White has some weak points, is more important than bringing the bishop to g2. [ 9.g3 Black has decent results after this move g7 10.g2 e6 and Black's pieces are active enough to bring counterplay. It was analyzed in Petrosian, T (2661)-Gupta, A (2627) - see the Archive. ] 9...xc3 Going to an almost symmetric endgame but not with many chances for Black. My preference would be to keep the knights on: [ 9...b4 immediately questioning the queenside looks more interesting 10.d1 e6 11.b2 g7 12.c1 was played in some games and it's still not clear how W hite is going to finish his development. The main plan is to play Na4-c5, so probably Black can slightly improve from the played games with A) 12...0-0 this was played by Shankland, but after 13.Na4 the position can become annoying at some point, 13.a4 h6 ( 13...xb2+ 14.xb2 with 12...Rd8 this is
not possible ) 14.c5; B) 12...0-0-0 I'm not sure the king belongs on the queenside and sometimes the rook is more useful on the a or b-files, 13.d3 f5 14.a4 was more comfortable for White in Maksimenko, A (2554)-Le Roux, J (2551)/ POL-chT Warsaw 2012 (3.4).; C) 12...d8N this is basically aimed against 13.Na4 since the pawn on d2 is a t t a ck e d n o w 13.d3 ( 13.a4 xb2+ 14.xb2 0-0 15.a4 d5 defending c5 and soon Rdf8 will follow) 13...0-0 14.a4 d5 with a complex position. ] 10.b2 [ 10.dxc3 the bishop on g7 is more active than the bishop on b2, and after c4 White is going to exchange it anyway, so better to do it immediately g7 11.b2 a5 12.0-0-0 a4 13.c4 xb2+ 14.xb2 e6 enters the same kind of position as in the game, but with the pawn already committed to c4. ] 10...g7 11.xc3 xc3 12.dxc3 The endgame starts here. I'm always afraid to enter into early endgames where my opponent might have studied all the plans and doesn't have to make a real move with the head. White's plan is to expand the pawns on the kingside, and the king will be well centralized on e3. One of the key squares is c5, so Black probably needs to advance the c-pawn to control the position. e6 [ 12...a5 tries to get rid of one weak pawn and it's a respectable alternative. I thought about two plans for White A) 13.e3 to keep open the option of Bd3e4 at some point e6 14.d3 a4 15.b4 a3 ( 15...0-0 16.a3 and the a4-pawn can be an important factor later in the endgame ) 16.d2 and again White needs to be careful with ...c5 and invasions on the b-file since the pawn on a2 needs to be defended. But if nothing happens White should be better ( 16.e4?! 0-0-0 is too active for Black ); B) 13.g3 e6 14.g2 d5 B1) 15.0-0!? trying to quickly activate t h e p i e c e s a4 16.e4 e6 17.f4 with the idea of f5 and bringing the king to e3 again axb3 ( 17...0-0 18.f5 c8 19.g4 is comfortable) 18.axb3 0-0 19.b4 and White always needs to take 646
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 care of ...c5, but maybe there is some slight advantage.; B2) 15.e4 e6 16.c4 c5 was not much in Liascovich, L (2409) -Bacallao Alonso, Y (2580)/Pinamar Carilo 2012. ] 13.e4 0-0-0 [ 13...a5 is once again possible, and I believe it's the best plan, 14.d2 a4 15.b4 a3 with a similar kind of position as that analyzed in 12...a5. ] 14.a6+ b8 15.e2 d6 16.e3 c5 17.e2 The first part of the plan is complete, t h e k i n g i s we l l p l a c e d , n o w i t ' s t i m e t o advance the pawns. f6 18.f4 hd8 19.ad1 Exchanging one rook is good to avoid any counterplay on the d-file. xd1 20.xd1 But two rooks is too much! c4 Black needs to be active and get rid of the c-pawns. 21.c2 c5 22.f5! gxf5 This is committal, weakening the pawn structure but giving the bishop the d5-square. [ 22...f7 would be solid and can lead to a funny variation, 23.fxg6 cxb3 ( 23...hxg6 24.h4 and White can create a dangerous p a s s e d p a wn) 24.axb3 ( 24.gxf7 bxc2 25.c1 f8 26.xc2 xf7 should be ok for Black ) 24...xg6 ( 24...hxg6 25.h4 ) 25.a1 and White is better. ] 23.exf5 d5 24.d1 d6 25.g4 c7 So far things are under control 26.b4 b6 [ 26...cxb4 changes the position 27.cxb4 b6 with ...c3 and ...Bc4 ideas, and maybe ...a5 to exchange another pawn ] 27.h4 h6 28.e4 xe4?? This is just losing. [ 28...f7 was the move, and after 29.b1 ( 29.xd6+ exd6 30.bxc5+ xc5 31.b7 d5 and it looks like everything is under control. ) 29...d5 30.c2 White is trying to go lef t and right and Black needs to be careful. ] 29.xd6+ exd6 30.xe4 d5+ [ 30...c7 31.b5 and the king enters on d5 ] [ 30...cxb4 31.cxb4 ( 31.g5 also works hxg5 32.hxg5 b3 33.axb3 cxb3 but the king is in time 34.d3+- ) 31...d5+ 32.d4 followed by g5 winning ] 31.xd5 cxb4 32.xc4 Maybe this is what Black missed. bxc3 33.xc3 c5 34.b3 d5 35.b4 e5 36.c5 1-0
649 Vaganian,Rafael A Nedev,Trajce World Teams Yerevan ARM (2) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2650 2514 13.10.2001
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.0-0 c6!? [ 6...c5 is more normal, with a transposition to [A38]. ] 7.c3 b6 8.d3 0-0 9.e3 e5 Bringing play into a Reversed Dragon-style position, except that the black dark-squared bishop is on g7 here, not e7. 10.a4 [ White plays a typical Dragon schema, but 10.c1 is also not bad, intending Bh6. ] 10...a5 11.xb6!? This is just like the Hodgson-Gormally game, under [A29]. cxb6 12.b5!? [ An innovation, placing the knight on the fine b5-square. Previously White had preferred 12.d2 , when e6 13.c4 e8 14.b3 a6 15.e4 e7 was unclear in Ree,HBenko,P/Wijk aan Zee 1970. ] 12...e6 13.d2 As in the above game, the knight heads for c4. In return for his darksquared bishop White has devalued the black queenside structure, and gained two good square f or knights on c4, and b5. Still, a bishop is a bishop! e7 14.c1 ac8 15.c4 d4! Black contests the b5-knight's position. 16.bd6?! [ I think that this move is verging on the dubious, but White clearly wasn't happy with 16.xd4 exd4 17.xb6 xc1 18.xc1 b4 with more than enough play for the pawn. ] 16...cd8 [ Missing the lovely queen sac 16...xd6! 17.xd6 xc1 18.d2 ( 18.xc1 xe2+ is t h e p o in t) 18...c2 19.g5 xe2+ 20.h1 xb2 when Black is clearly on top, his piece s have go od square s, and th e extra queenside pawn (assuming W hite captures on b7) is useful. ] 17.e3 [ 17.xb7? d7 traps the knight. ] 17...f5?! [ 17...c6 18.b5 f5 is better, targeting the d3-pawn.. ] 18.b5 b4 The b6-pawn couldn't be 647
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 defended anyway. 19.xb7 e7 20.g2 xc4 21.xc4 xb2 Black regains his pawn, b u t s t r u c t u r a l l y h e i s w o r s e . 22.e1 With a nasty threat of Re2. a2 23.f1! [ Black stops 23.e2?? b e c a u s e o f xc4 as the d-pawn is pinned. ] 23...xc4 24.dxc4 xd1 25.xd1 Despite the opposite-colour bishops W hite has the advantage because he owns the d-file and threatens to molest the b6-pawn. c6? [ I feel that Black should open the a1-h8 diagonal for his bishop, whilst simultaneously closing the h1-a8 one, by 25...e4! 26.d6 c8 and there is no obvious way that White can bring his bishop into the game, as Black will continue with ... f5. ] 26.d6 c8 27.g2 This is why Black's 25th move was a mistake, the white bishop will come to d5 and attack f7. e4?! [ It is easy to understand why Black prefers this pawn sac to 27...b4 28.d5 xd5 29.cxd5 , b u t a f t e r c4 30.xb6 xa4 31.d6 a1+ 32.g2 d1 Black has reasonable drawing chances. ] 28.xe4 e5 29.d5 xc4 30.d7 e5 31.b7 The respective activity of the pieces says it all. c5 32.e4 c2 33.d6 d2 34.xb6 This is better than capturing the fpawn, as he will be able to attack it again later. f8 35.a6 h5 This hastens the end. 36.xf7! xf7 37.xg6+ g7 38.g5 The pretty point, Rf5 is the immediate threat. c2 39.xh5 c7 40.f5 The simplest, White will exchange the rooks and play with f o u r p a w n s a g a i n s t a l o n e b i s h o p . f8 41.g2 d4 42.h4 g7 43.xf7+ xf7 44.xf7 xf7 45.f4 e6 46.g4 d6 The only chance is to capture the a4-pawn and run his own, but the white pawns arrive much too quickly. 47.g5 c5 48.h5 b4 49.h6 [ 49.h6 xa4 50.g6 b4 51.g7 crowns a queen long before Black. ] 1-0
650 Vallejo Pons,Francisco Safarli,Eltaj Wch Rapid Khanty-Mansiysk (6) [Fier, Alexandr]
A16 2706 2660 07.06.2013
h4-h5 lines are tried in many different positions and are not always working. In the Anti-Grunfeld it's in fashion now, but I'm still not sure if it's sound. To spend 2 moves to open the file is sometimes too expensive. But if White manages to finish his development the attack can be dangerous, as seen here. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.h4 g7 6.h5 c6 [ 6...xc3 7.bxc3 c5 8.g3 is analyzed in Shimanov, A (2639)-Mchedlishvili, M (2640)/ Nakhchivan Open A 2013 2013 (7.5)/1-0 ] 7.d4 f5 [ 7...g4 A) 8.h6 was played before, and after f6 9.e4?! ( 9.e3 0-0= ) 9...db4! 10.d5 ( 10.a3 xd4 11.axb4 xf3+ 12.gxf3 xc3+ 13.bxc3 xd1+ 14.xd1 xf3+ ) 10...d4 And White was already in trouble in Naiditsch, A (2712)-Volokitin, A (2695)/ San Sebastian KO 2011; B) 8.hxg6 hxg6 9.xh8+ xh8 10.e4 b6 ( 10...db4 without a rook on h1 this doesn't work 11.a3 ) 11.d5 with a doubleedged position ] 8.b3 [ 8.g5 may be an interesting option d6 9.h6 f6 A) 10.xd5 A1) 10...xg5 11.c3 f6 can't be good ( 11...f6 12.e4 wins ); A2) 10...xd5 11.xf6 exf6 12.e3 0-0-0 with an unbalanced position; B) 10.xf6 xf6 11.e3 0-0 12.e2 with a playable position for both sides ] 8...xc3 [ 8...e6!? is a solid option and if White doesn't want to draw, he needs to enter into a not so exciting position A) 9.d1 f5= ( 9...g4 transposes ); B) 9.xb7 i s n o t g o o d db4 10.b5 d7 11.d1 c2 12.xc2 xd4+ 13.xd4 xb5 14.dxb5 c6 15.a3 xc3 16.bxc3 a5 is better for Black, White's pieces are not coordinated at all; 648
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 C) 9.hxg6 hxg6 10.xh8+ xh8 11.d1 and I don't see why W hite would be better ] 9.bxc3 0-0 10.hxg6 [ 10.xb7 is not in the style of the position, White has more important issues than taking a pawn A) 10...e4 is tempting but it looks like W hite survives 11.hxg6 hxg6 12.a3 b8 13.a6 xf3 14.gxf3 xd4! 15.cxd4 xd4 16.c1 b1! 17.d3 ( 17.xb1 c3+ 18.d1 d8+-+ ) 17...xc1+ 18.xc1 a1 19.d2 ( 19.d1 b2 20.d2 xc1 21.xc1 d8+-+ ) 19...xa2+ 20.d1 a4+ 21.d2 a2+=; B) 10...d7 11.hxg6 hxg6 12.b5 ab8 13.c5 e5 with good compensation ] 10...hxg6 11.h6 [ 11.xb7 is the same ] 11...xh6 12.xh6 g7?! It's not easy to understand why, and even more so in a rapid game, but this move already gives White the initiative. The rook is not doing much on h6, but now it's going to fulfil an important role. Central measures where necessary [ 12...e5! 13.e3 ( 13.xb7 f6 14.a6 exd4 15.xd4 e4 and compared to the game, Black's pieces are much more active, his rooks are ready to take the central files and W hite's king is not safe) 13...f6!? 14.xb7 ( 14.h1 ab8 15.e2 g7 is comfortable for Black) 14...exd4 15.cxd4 ab8! A) 16.a6 g7 17.xc6 ( 17.h1 b4-+ ) 17...xh6; B) 16.xc7 fc8 17.f4 b4 18.d1 c2+ 19.d2 xf4 20.exf4 f5 and even without queens Black's initiative is still dangerous, maybe W hite can defend the position, but he is certainly going to have to find some good moves. ] 13.h4! e5 [ 13...f6 to play 14...g5 is too optimistic 14.e4! g5 15.exf5 gxh4 16.xh4 and Black's king is going to suffer. ] 14.e4 c8 [ 14...g5 can be possible, but is hardly a move that any human would play 15.h5 xe4 16.xg5+ h8 17.h5+ g7 18.0-0-0 with a powerful attack. ]
15.0-0-0 exd4?! Black underestimates White's attacking chances and gives him too much liberty. Now the position becomes too dangerous. [ 15...h8 it's necessary to exchange the rooks without letting White's queen get to e3 16.dxe5 e7 17.xh8 xh8 18.b5 e6 19.b2 g7 with compensation for the pawn. ] 16.cxd4 e7? [ 16...h8 is not a move to make one happy, but at the cost of a pawn Black can finish developing his pieces 17.xh8 xh8 18.d5 d8 19.c3+ g8 20.xc7 g4 21.b1 c8 22.a5 but White is still a clear passed pawn up. ] 17.e3! Suddenly White's attack is decisive! With all his pieces aimed at the king there is no reasonable way to defend the position. h8 18.xh8 xh8 19.c4 g8 [ 19...g7 20.h1 and now 21.Qh6 will be check ] 20.h6 f6 21.g5 d8 22.h7! g7 23.h4 xh7 [ 23...c6 is brutally met by 24.h1 xd4 25.f6+ f8 26.h8+ e7 27.e8+ xf6 28.xf7+ e5 29.f4+ xe4 ( 29...d6 30.d1 ) 30.xg6+ f5 31.e1+ xf4 32.f1+ e3 33.h6+ f4 34.xf4# ] 24.xd8+ g7 25.xc7 g8 26.d8+ g7 27.c7?! This is not so bad, but misses a forcing continuation: [ 27.e8! and Black has problems defending his king with only the queen h6+ 28.c2 f4 ( 28...e6 29.xa8 xc4 30.xa7 h5 31.f3+- ) 29.h1 and soon the a8-rook will fall xf2+ 30.b1 ] 27...g8 28.d3 g4 29.f4 c8 30.c3 e6 31.d5 d7 [ 31...xd5 looks more active, but doesn't really help 32.exd5 b5 33.d6 bxc4 34.d7! d8 35.e4 h6+ 36.e3 g5 37.d4 and Black is completely paralyzed. ] 32.b2 b5 33.b3 xc3 34.xc3 h1 35.d6 a1+ 36.c2 e6 37.d7? Spoiling the game, as now White has no good way to avoid the perpetual. [ 37.d2 White should improve the position of the queen before advancing the pawn, like this the king has a secure path against 649
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the checks: xb3+ 38.xb3 b1+ 39.c3 a1+ 40.d3 f8 41.e3 f6 42.d4 g5+ 43.d3 e8 44.xa7+- ] 37...xb3+ 38.axb3 a2+ 39.c1 a1+ 40.c2 a2+ 41.c3 a1+ 42.d3 b1+ 43.e2 c2+ 44.e1 b1+ 45.e2 c2+ 46.d2 xe4+ 47.d1 b1+ 48.e2 e4+ 49.f1 b1+ 50.e2 e4+ 51.d1 ½-½
651 Vladimirov,Evgeny Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar Open Dubai UAE (6) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2605 2542 22.04.2002
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.a4+ d7 5.b3 dxc4 6.xc4 g7 7.e4 c6 8.d3!? This novelty looks like an ugly move, but is not without its points, the bishop can drop back to c2 when W hite will be able to play d4 without worrying about his e-pawn which is solidly protected by his bishop and knight. We have examined the normal [ 8.d3 in the game Piket,J-Bacrot,E/Escaldes 1998. Otherwise, ] [ 8.e2!? is interesting, menacing to push the e-pawn, or d-pawn: h5!? 9.d4!? xd4 (if Black doesn't capture on d4 his 8th move loses any sense) 10.xd4 xd4 11.h6 keeping the king in the centre, d7 12.d1 e5 13.e3 f5!? unclear, Ehlvest,J-Isaev,J/ Elista 1998. ] 8...a6?! [ Black aims for a queenside advance, but two days later (!) Black preferred 8...bd7! 9.c2 e5 (to inhibit d4) 10.0-0 0-0 11.d1 e7 12.d4?! ( 12.b4!? ) 12...exd4 13.xd4 xe4 virtua lly f orced , 14.xe4 xe4 15.f4 ( 15.e1?! c5! ) 15...ec5 16.b5 1/2-1/2 Ehlvest,J-Goloshchapov,A/ Dubai UAE 2002, but Black is better here. ] 9.c2 b5 10.b3 bd7 11.d4 White has the centre, and Black has no obvious way of undermining it just yet, the white opening has been a success! e6 12.0-0 0-0 13.f4 b8 14.fe1 Simple chess - White just puts his p i e c e s o n g o o d , n a t u r a l s q u a r e s . a5?! W e a k e n i n g t h e qu e e n si d e , wh i ch W h it e hastens to exploit. 15.d3! b4 16.a4 b7
17.ac1 Both the c4 and c5 squares are weak, and the c7-pawn is a fat target sitting on the open c-file. fd8?! [ 17...fc8 avoids immediate defeat. ] 18.xc6! xc6 19.c1 b7 20.xc7 b8 All forced. 21.g3! [ The cool point, defending the bishop and threatening a nasty discovered attack on the b l a c k q u e e n . N o t e t h a t 21.g3? l o s e s c o n t r o l o f c 1 a n d a l l o w s c8! wh e n W h it e c a n n o t ca p t u r e t h e k n i gh t because of the back-rank mate. ] 21...e5?? Weak play from someone so highly classed, the only real try was [ 21...h5 with 22.xd7 xf4 23.xd8+ xd8 24.gxf4 xd4 White is clearly on top with two knights for a rook, but the game is not over yet, not by any means. ] 22.xe5! xe5 [ 22...xc7? lo s e s t h e q u e e n : 23.xf7+ h8 24.xg6+ hxg6 25.xc7 ] 23.xe5 d5 Hopeless, but how else to defend f7? 24.exd5 1-0
652 Wang Yue Howell,David UK-CHN Match (6) [Jonathan Rowson]
A16 2696 2519 09.09.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.a4+ d7 6.b3 b6 7.d4 g7 8.f4 0-0 9.e3 e6 10.a3 8d7 11.e2 [ 11.d1 Gives Black three possibilities, all of which look plausible, and all of which have been endorsed by super-GMs. A) 11...a5!? 12.d5 ( 12.e2 c4 ) 12...xc3+ 13.bxc3 xd5 14.c4 xf3 15.gxf3 White has quite serious compensation due to the two bishops, better coordination and kingside attacking chances, but the position can only be classified as 'unclear' and Black's play can probably be improved. e6 16.h4 f6 17.e2 e5 18.g5 c6 19.h5 f6 20.h6 f7 21.g1 Eljanov, P (2720)Vachier Lagrave, M (2716)/Emsdetten GER 2008, g5!? 22.f4 exf4 23.exf4 e8 unclear.; 650
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 11...c6 12.g5 d5 13.e4 e5 Very Grunfeldesque, but is it any good? 14.dxe5 xe5 15.xe5 ( 15.c1!? ) 15...xe5 16.h4 ( 16.f4!? ) 16...e8 17.h5 f6 18.f3 bc4 19.xc4 ( 19.b4 looks critical.) 19...xc4 20.b3 d2 21.xb7 f7 22.b4 b8 23.d4 xe4 24.xd2 xf3+ 25.f1 xh5 un cle ar, E lja no v, P (2 68 7)-Svidle r, P (2746)/ Foros UKR 2008.; C) 11...d5 12.xd5 xd5 13.e2 e8 14.0-0 c6 15.g3 b6 16.b3 e5 Black's play looks exemplary, but in these lines freeing the position does not always g u a r a n t e e e q u a l i t y . 17.xe5 xe5 18.dxe5 xe5 19.c4 xc4 20.bxc4 xg3 21.hxg3 It is hard to believe that Black is worse here, but no less tha n Shirov managed to lose from this position. e4 22.d7 ae8 23.c5 b5 24.xa7 a4 25.b6 xb6 26.cxb6 b8 27.b1 xa2 28.b4 c5 29.e4 b2 30.ee7 b1+ 31.h2 xb6 32.xf7 c6 33.g7+ f8 34.xh7 e8 35.d5 cc8 36.e5+ f8 37.xc5 xc5 38.h8+ e7 39.xb8 1-0 Eljanov, P (2687)Shirov, A (2740)/Foros UKR 2008 ] 11...c6 Perhaps a bit diffident. [ 11...c5! seems to be playable and therefore should be played. A) 12.dxc5 is of course critical. c4 ( 12...xc3+ 13.bxc3 d5 14.h6 e8 15.c6 bxc6 16.0-0 looks a bit better for White. ) 13.xc4 ( 13.b4 c8!? Looks like a useful detail. 14.xc4 a5 ) 13...xc4 14.b4 a6 with enduring compensation because White will probably have to castle queenside.; B) 12.0-0 c4 13.a4 db6 14.c2 f5 15.c1 cxd4 16.xd4 d7 17.xc4 xc4 18.d5 e5 Bu Xiangzhi (2714)Vachier Lagrave, M (2716)/Dresden GER 2008. ] 12.0-0 c4 13.fd1?! [ 13.xc4 xc4 14.b3 seems to make it harder for Black to break with e5. ] 13...xe2 14.xe2 e8 and now White cannot keep his 'little centre'. 15.a5 d5 16.g3 e5 17.c3 e4 18.xd5 cxd5 19.d2 e6 20.ac1 f5 21.c7 g5 22.d6 xd6 23.xd6 fc8 24.c7 f8
25.c2 e6 26.dc1 f7 27.g3 xd4!? This move must have been difficult to resist, and is not at all bad, but Black was a little better even in any case and could also have tried to play more simply. [ 27...e8!? ] 28.exd4 xd4 29.b3 xc2 30.xc2 e7 31.c3 d7 32.e5 xc3 33.xc3 c8?! [ 33...f4 ] 34.d4 f4 35.f3 f8 36.f2 f6 37.gxf4 gxf4 38.e2 f5 39.d4 b6 [ 39...e3+ 40.e1 b6 41.h4 d6 still favours Black. ] 40.h4 h5? [ 40...d6 ] 41.f6 h6 42.d4 Trapping the rook. d6 43.g2 e3 44.a3 a6 45.a4 c5 46.h3 e2 47.xe2 f5 48.d4+ c4 49.g4 f7 50.xb6 e7 51.d4 a5 52.b3+ c3 53.xf4 b7 54.c5 b8 55.e5 e8+ 56.xd5 d8+ 57.d6 1-0
653 Zvjaginsev,Vadim Najer,Evgeniy Aeroflot Open (5) [Tony Kosten]
A16 2671 2585 15.02.2003
1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.f3 g6 5.h4!? One of Piket's attempts to blast the Pseudo-Grünfeld. f6 The knight stops the hpawn's further advance. 6.d4 g7 7.e4 0-0 8.e2 c5 This looks like a perfectly normal Grünfeld position, except with a white h-pawn on h4! 9.d5 b5!? A sharp new move, [ 9...e6 10.h5! led to a fin e white victory in Piket,J-Svidler,P/ KasparovChess GP g/60, Internet (3.2) 2000. ] 10.e5 The alternative is [ 10.xb5 but then comes xe4! 11.xe4 a5+ 12.c3 xc3+ 13.bxc3 xb5 which is unclea r, Black's dark-s qua re d weaknesses are matched by White's lightsquared frailty. ] 10...g4 11.xb5 [ 11.d6!? is interesting, with the nasty threat of Qd5, b7 12.g5 f6 13.b3+! h8 14.xb5 and White seems to be well on top. a6 15.xc5 exd6 16.exf6! winning a 651
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pawn. ] 11...d7!? Black plays for speedy development, but this is risky, [ 11...xe5 12.xe5 xe5 13.h6 is a little awkward, however. ] 12.e6!? This appears interesting, but [ 12.g5 also has its points, hitting the g4k n i g h t , a n d a f t e r dxe5 ( 12...gxe5? 13.f4 ) 13.f4 the knight has nowhere to go, but then comes h6 14.h3 e6 15.0-0 xh4 16.fxe5 xe5 and Black has reasonable compensation for the piece - one o f t h e d ra wb a c ks o f p l a yi n g h 4 is t h a t kingside castling is no longer a solution to the king's problems. ] 12...fxe6 13.dxe6 de5 14.xd8 xd8 15.xe5 xe5 16.0-0 a6 17.e2 xe6 Black recuperates his pawn with a perfectly satisfactory position. 18.e1 f7 19.f4 c6 20.f3 ac8 21.g4 a8 22.f3 White decides to repeat. ac8 23.g4 ½-½
Black's next. ] 10...d5 11.d3 d4 Both gaining space and closing the a1-h8 diagonal. 12.c2 c7 13.d2 d7 14.0-0-0 So the reason White has been reluctant to advance his b-pawn is clear, he wanted to keep his queenside strong to serve as a haven for his king. However, in this line White is often happy to leave his king in the centre and attack on the wings. d6 The knight heads for the strong square on f5. 15.f4 fe8 16.e5?! This move allows multiple exchanges, and ends in a position advantageous to Black, White should prefer to keep more tension in the position by, say, [ 16.g3 e5 17.e4!? ] 16...xg2 17.xd7 Forced, [ 17.xg2? f5 18.xd7 xf4+ 19.d2 d6 and the knight is lost. ] 17...xd7 18.xd6 [ 18.xg2?! is again doubtful, e5 19.g3 b5! 20.cxb5 xb5 and Black has the makings of a strong attack on the b and cfiles. ] 18...xd6 19.xg2 ab8 White's potential 654 A17 kingside attack is a long way from achieving Agrest,Evgenij 2616 anything, yet Black can lever the b-file open Ivanchuk,Vassily 2716 almost immediately. Black is better. 20.d2 TCh-SWE 2003-4 (8) 28.02.2004 b5 21.e3 Attempting to respond in the centre, but Black has this well under control. b4! [Tony Kosten] More effective than [ 21...bxc4 which allows White the c4-square 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 0-0 after 22.xc4 ] It is always interesting to see how a really strong player responds to a critical variation, 22.axb4 [ 22.a4? is worse, c6 (hitting the rook on and here Ivanchuk is happy to put his king 'in g2) 23.e4 b3 24.b1 xa4 winning a the firing line'. 5.g5 e8 6.g1!? Vaisser's pawn whilst continuing the attack. ] move. Most attention has been concentrated [ 22.a4!? might be the best bet, bxa3 on 23.xa3 although Black is still better. ] [ 6.c2 as in, for instance, my game against 22...xb4 23.exd4 cxd4 24.g4!? Balogh earlier this year. ] 6...b6 Black brings the light-squared bishop to White looks to complicate, by offering the hthe long h1-a8 diagonal, a logical alternative pawn. [ 24.g3 is safer, yet eb8 25.d1 b3 to Sokolov's with a strong grip on the position, and once [ 6...d5 see the original game, against Black brings his queen into the attack the Vaisser. ] white position will be at breaking point. ] 7.c2 b7 8.a3 xc3 Conceding the bishop pair to help speed-up development. 9.xc3 24...xh2 25.f4 [ 25.xd4 g1+ 26.d1 xg5 c5 10.g2!? Why put the rook on g1 and wins a pawn, whilst retaining a big positional then play this? I think I would prefer plus. ] [ 10.b4 myself, bringing the important dark26.d1 b7 27.h4 b8 squared bishop onto the a1-h8 diagonal, 25...h1+ and pressurising the c5-pawn to hinder Tripling on the b-file and pinning White down 652
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 t o t h e d e f e n c e o f b 2 . 28.hh2 a6 pawn sac, Preparing a switch to the a-file. 29.c2 [ 15.0-0-0 xg2 16.xg2 is about level. ] [ 29.b1? a4 wins on the spot. ] 15...exd5 16.cxd5 e7! A good move, 29...e5! A far-sighted move that prepares the although once again taking the pawn by e6 -s qu a re f or t h e qu e e n . 30.fxe5 a4 [ 16...xd5!? i s p l a y a b l e : 17.g5 31.d1 The king must flee the danger zone. ( 17.xg6?! fxg6 18.xg6+ f8 19.g5 a1+ 32.e2 e6 This is the point of Black's looks good, but Black has the riposte e8! 29th move, the queen eyes g4. 33.f3 f5+ 20.xe8+ xe8 21.xd5 xd5 22.xd5 34.g3 xg5+ Forcing mate in a few moves. and now xg5 23.xg5 e5 regaining 0-1 material, with advantage) 17...ge7 18.h7 with a useful initiative. ] 17.g4!? White chooses the sharpest 655 A17 continuation at nearly every move. [ 17.xf4 xf4 18.g4 xc3+ 19.bxc3 Bareev,Evgeny 2721 f6 20.e4+ and now e6! is unclear. ] Naiditsch,Arkadij 2574 ECC Rethymnon GRE (5) 02.10.2003 17...xc3 [ 17...xd5!? might be playable, as 18.e4 [Tony Kosten] e5 19.xe5 ( 19.g5 d6 20.a4+ d7 defends ) 19...xe5 20.f4 xh2! 21.0-0-0 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 xf4! 22.xe5 xe5 23.xb7 d8 Still the most topical line in the English, and with a position that is difficult to evaluate, when 2700+ players use it is fair to say that it but probably more than OK for Black. ] h a s b e c o m e t h e m a i n l i n e i n t h e N i m zo English. h6 5.g1 b6 6.c2 This move has 18.xc3 xd5 [ 18...h5!? is interesting, so that if recently taken over from the sharp 19.xg7? f5 wins an exchange. ] [ 6.h4 ] 19.xg7 h3 20.g5!? Bareev has a good 6...b7 7.a3 e7 [ 7...f8!? didn't do too well in Mamedyarov, eye for tactics. xh1 [ 20...d3+!? has its points, 21.f1 xf2! S-Naiditsch,A/Lausanne SUI 2003, see the 22.g1 ( 22.xf2? xh2+ wins; 22.xd5 September update. ] xg4 ) 22...xh1 23.xh3 xh3 24.xh1 8.g5 hxg5 9.xg5 h5 White has a small material advantage, but [ 9...f8 Zvjaginsev,V-Adams,M/Moscow his king is awkwardly placed. ] RUS 2001. ] 21.xh3 xh3 22.f5! The tactical point of 10.d4 c6 Back to this logical move. [ 10...c5!? 11.d5 may be playable, but took White's play, there is a veiled threat to the h3knight, which has no escape square. c6 a knock in Najer,E-Pedersen,N. ] 11.f3 f6 12.d5!? Gaining space and The bishop escapes to safety, [ 22...d5? plans to drive the queen from e4, shutting-out the b7-bishop, Bareev attempts but after 23.f3! the bishop is trapped, and to improve on c6 24.d2! f2 25.f6 d6 26.xg6! [ 12.d3 a5 1/2-1/2 Guidarelli,L-Sakelsek, fxg6 27.xg6+ d7 28.f7+ c8 29.g1 T/Opatija CRO 2003. ] wins. ] 12...e5 13.g2!? g6 For obvious reasons 23.f6 e6 24.e4 White is materially behind, Black avoids [ 13...xc4!? 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.g5 but his strong bishop cuts through the heart of ( 15.b5!? is also dangerous) 15...xg2 t h e b la c k p o s i t i o n , a n d t h e h 3 - k n ig h t i s 16.g6+ although no win is evident after misplaced. f8! Freeing the e8-square for the b la ck ro o k . 25.xe6 dxe6 26.c1 b5 e7 ] 27.xc7 hf4 Rough material equality has 14.d2 [ 14.dxe6 dxe6 15.h4 xh4 16.xb7 been reached, and the h3-knight has returned b8 17.c6+ f8 is quite playable for to play. 28.g5?! This just wastes a move, as Black will play ...e5 anyway. Black, who can continue ..g6 and ...Kg7. ] [ 28.d2 e5 29.h4 looks best. ] 14...hf4 15.h1!? White offers another 653
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28...e5 29.c3?! A strange move, hoping for Rh3-h8 perhaps, but possibly just the result of tim e p re ss u re . d3+ Winning a pawn with check. 30.e2 The king must keep the f2pawn defended. xb2+ 31.f3 d3 [ 31...c4! to defend e5, followed by ..Re8e6 looks good for Black. ] 32.e3 e8? [ 32...b2! might be best, to go to c4 again, but having decided not to go there before, Black is hardly going to waste two moves getting there! ] 33.h4? Why not the obvious [ 33.xd3 xd3 34.xd3 e6 35.f5 with a small advantage to W hite, as the bishop is stronger then the knight. ] 33...c5 34.h5 d7!? [ 34...e6! 35.f5 e7 looks very promising for Black. ] 35.hxg6 xf6 36.c7 d7?! [ 36...fxg6 37.xg6 e6 (menace: ...Nd5+) 38.gg7 a5 39.cf7+ e8 40.a7 c6 seems better. ] 37.xa7 f6?! The g-pawn will prove to be a problem now, [ 37...fxg6 38.xg6 should be a draw. ] 38.g1! e7? Black gets his bits into a tangle. [ 38...e7 39.g7 g8 should hold this position. ] 39.h1 g8 40.a4 c4? The final nail in the coffin, the bishop had to continue defending the knight: [ 40...c6 41.d1! (planning Rd6xc6) ( 41.c1?! allows the neat tactic xe4! 42.xe4 c5+ 43.xc5 xa7 ) 41...e8 42.dxd7 xd7 43.xd7 a8 44.f7 xa4 with some slim chances to draw. ] 41.h7! [ There is no hope af ter 41.h7 xh7 42.gxh7+ xh7 43.xd7+ ] 1-0
656 Berkes,Ferenc Balogh,Csaba TCh-HUN 2005-6 (9) [John Watson]
A17 2597 2561 19.03.2006
A nice opening comb ination nets a large positional advantage and, soon, the game. 1.c4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 c5 5.g3 c6 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 d5 8.d3 xc3 9.xc3 d4 10.a3 d6?! [ 10...e7 11.e3 b4 12.b3 dxe3 13.xe3 e5 ] 11.e3 b4 [ 11...e5!? 12.exd4 exd4 13.f4 e7 14.ae1 e6 15.g5 ] 12.exd4! A big surprise. Black can't win material: c2 [ 12...cxd4? 13.d2! a5 14.xd4 xd4 15.xb4 ] 13.f4! The point. xf4 [ 13...e7 14.xc5 xc5 15.dxc5 xa1 16.xa1 and White's pawn mass will win for him. ] 14.a4 d6 15.xc2 cxd4 16.c5 d7 17.c4 [ 17.fe1 is also good: Black's quite tied down. ] 17...d8 18.b4 [ Or 18.fe1 ] 18...d5 19.fe1! [ 19.ac1 e5! isn't so clear. Now White will win something. ] 19...b8 [ 19...xc4 20.dxc4 leaves Black no hope but a5 21.b5 d7 , but it loses to 22.c6 c5 23.ad1! d3 24.e5 etc. ] 20.a3 [ Or 20.ac1 threatening Ne5. ] 20...e8 Black has nothing to do. Now the e n d c o m e s . 21.e4 xc4 22.dxc4 d3 23.d1 b5 24.cxb5 xb5 25.d4 d5 26.1xd3 c7 27.e5 f6 28.c6 1-0
654
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A17 9...a5!? [ A new move, but as mentioned above not a Bogner,Sebastian 2423 new plan. Previously Black had only tried Wirig,Anthony 2477 9...g4 10.e3 bd7 11.h3?! ( 11.e2= ) 5th GM Mulhouse FRA (7) 29.06.2008 11...xf3 12.gxf3 d5 13.0-0-0?! c5 [Carsten Hansen] , and Black is already better, Barbero, GTimman, J/Novi Sad 1990 ] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 d6 10.g3 axb4 11.axb4 xa1+ 12.xa1 b5!? 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 e5 7.b4 0-0 8.b2 e8 [ 8...a5 has recently proven quite successful T h i s is s im i la r t o t h e . . . b 7 - b 5 p l a y e d b y for Black in Tratar-Kosten, Graz 2008 and Ivanchuk against Kramnik in Monaco 2007, Kramnik-Ivanchuk, Monaco 2007. The text but with a white d2-d3 and a black ...Re8 mo ve is o f c ou rse f u lly pla ya b le , b u t if inserted. Nevertheless, it is still very effective, Black wants to employ the plan laid out by and this game is another advertisement for Ivanchuk, 8...a5 is more accurate than the th is p a rticu la r an gle o f a t t a ck f o r B la c k . 13.cxb5 text move. ] [ 13.g2 bxc4 14.dxc4 b7 15.0-0 a6 9.d3 , intending ...Qb8 with more or less equal [ White has a couple of alternatives here: A) chances. ] 9.g3 Black's position is already quite A) 9...bd7!? 10.g2 b6 11.0-0 13...d7 ( 11.c2!? ) 11...e4 12.d4 c5 comfortable, if not not outright better. 14.g2 , and Black is alre ady f ighting f or th e xb5 15.0-0 a6 [ Personally, I prefer 15...c6!? intending to initiative, Jelen, I-Kuzmin, G/Bled 1979; meet 16.h4 with d4 with a pleasant B) 9...b6 10.g2 b7 11.0-0 c5 game for Black ] ( 11...bd7 12.d3 c5 13.e4 f8 14.h4 e6 15.ae1 d4 16.c1 d7 17.f4 16.b1?! [ With this move, White initiates a series of a6 18.xd4 exd4 19.b2 b8 20.b5 moves without much plan or merit, , a nd th o ugh t h e ch an ces ob ject ive ly ultimately leading to a bad position. White speaking are probably about even, White's should instead consider 16.h4!? , e.g. position is easier to play, Schmidt, W d7 17.d2 c6 18.h3 ( 18.f4 a7+ Kholmov, R/Legnica 1994) 12.e3 bd7 19.h1 g4 20.f3 e3 21.b1 c7 13.d3 c8 14.e4 a6 15.h4 b5= 22.fxe5 dxe5 23.g2 xg2 24.xg2 d5 Szabo, L-Larsen, B/Lugano 1970 ] is also quite unclear and also not worse for [ B) 9.e3 bd7 ( 9...g4 10.e2 bd7 Black ) 18...d5!? 19.b1 e6 , and now 11.d3 f8 12.h3 , and a draw was 20.e4 dxb4 21.xb4 xb4 22.xb4 prematurely agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in xd3 results in an interesting distribution of Krivoshey, S-Epishin, V/La Laguna ESP material and a rather unclear position. ] 2007. In the final positional, I prefer White.; Black can also consider 9...a5 with similar 16...d7 17.d2?! d5!? Black grabs the ideas as in Tratar-Kosten, Graz 2008 - see initiative and at the same time prevents White PGN archives.) 10.d3 a5 11.e2 b6 from playing Nd2-c4-a3 to exchange the lightsquared bishop that is blocking the queenside. 12.c2 f5 13.0-0 d7 14.b5 e4 A) 15.xf6! exf3 ( or 15...gxf6 16.d4 18.e3 [ 18.f3 looks like a reasonable move, g6 17.dxe4 xe4 18.d3 ) 16.xf3 putting pressure on the Black centre and the gxf6 17.xb7 has White giving two minor a1-h8 diagonal. d4! 19.d2 c6 , and Black pieces for a rook and two pawns, but the has the better chances. ] minor pieces are severely restricted by White's pawn chain, and therefore White 18...d6 19.b3?! [ N o w i t i s d e f i n i t e l y t i m e f o r 19.f3 is clearly better.; , i n t e n d i n g d7 20.h4 with some B) 15.dxe4?! xe4 16.c1 f5 counterplay for White. ] with a comfortable game for Black, Ortega, 19...c6 L-Zelcic, R/Bratto 1997 ] 657
655
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 19...d7!? ] 20.h3 d7 21.b1?! [ 21.f3 f6 22.h4 should again be considered. I really don't know what White was hoping to accomplish with his passive play in the game. ] 21...c7 22.a3 f6?! [ Already at this juncture, Black can consider 22...d4!? , e.g. 23.d2 e6 , and Black is in complete control of the game ] 23.d2 h6 24.f3 [ After having missed out on this plan several times previously, White finally picks up on it. However, at this point in time, he could also try 24.c5! , e.g. xc5 25.bxc5 a6 26.d4! , and White can actually play for the advantage. ] 24...d4 25.exd4 [ 25.c5! is again an excellent option. ] 25...e4! 26.dxe4 xe4 27.b2?? [ This loses on the spot. Instead White shou ld have playe d 27.c1! , and after xb4 then 28.d7 e7 29.e5!? ( Or 29.g4 h5 30.f5 g5 31.e5 f6 32.c3 d6 33.g6 e8 with a messy position) 29...f6 30.xc6 xe5 31.dxe5 xc6 32.exf6 d2 33.f7+ xf7 34.c3 e4 35.xc6 f3+ 36.f1 xh2+ 37.g1 f3+ with a perpetual check ] 27...g5! Oops the old back rank problem! Game over! 0-1
658
A17 Buss,Ralph 2303 Mahesh Chandran,Panjanathan 2441 MTO Biel SUI (7) 26.07.2004 [Tony Kosten]
This is not a game of enormous theoretical significance, but the attack is amusing. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 b6 7.e3 b7 8.e2 e4!? Played in 'Dutch/Nimzo' style, I had previously only considered the normal [ 8...d6 9.0-0 bd7 as in Kramnik-Zhang Zhong, for instance. ] 9.c2 f5 10.0-0 This might be a case of 'castling into it', although W hite's defensive resources should be adequate here. In Ree,
H-Kortchnoi,V/Amsterdam 1976 W hite preferred [ 10.b3 d6 11.b2 d7 12.d4 e7 13.d3 ef6 and now the knight has been pushed away he could safely play 14.0-0 when the game continued ae8 15.ae1 c5 16.f3 xf3 17.xf3 e5 with equality. ] [ 10.d3 is met by g5 putting pressure on f3. ] 10...a5 This is often a useful move for Black in such positions, the threat of ... a4, fixing a weakness on b3, obliges W hite to play b3 instead of the b4 he would normally prefer.. 11.b3 d6 The first new move. [ 11...c5!? 12.b2 d6 13.d3 g5 was played in Soylu,S-Kurajica,B/Kavala 1985, which continued 14.h1?! ( 14.d1 ) 14...f4 15.b4?! e5 and Black's kingside pressure is considerable, 16.bxa5 bxa5 17.xg5 xg5 18.e4 c6 19.ab1 c8 20.f3 f6 21.fc1 h6 and White soon cracked. ] 12.e1 h4 Typical play in such positions, Black prepares to use his extra kingside space to swin g his ro ok int o th e at ta ck. 13.f3? White might well be lost after this move, if it was me I would play [ 13.f3 f6 14.d4 followed by Bb2 and Nd3, with two bishops and a reasonable position. ] 13...f6 14.g3?! [ 14.d3 is better, although h6 15.h3 g5!? 16.dxe4 g4 17.d1 xe4 18.d2 xg2 is incredibly dangerous for W hite, whose king has lost its defenders, e.g. 19.xg2 xh3 20.f4 g3 forcing 21.h4 although xh4 22.f3 is unclear. ] 14...h3 15.g2 Forced, [ 15.d3?? h6 leads to mate in a few moves. ] 15...g5! A neat tactic, although it has been seen many times before in similar positions from the Nimzo-Indian. 16.f4 Neither [ 16.xh3?? xh3# or ] [ 16.xb7?? h6 are playable. ] 16...h6! Black continues the 'joke'! 17.fxg5 Once again the only move. xh2+ 18.f2 xg2 19.xg2 h3 20.g1 [ 20.b2? A) 20...xg3+ 21.g1 h2+ leads to a draw, but Black can easily play on here 656
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with ( 21...d7 say, instead. ); B) 20...xg3 21.g1 d7 transposes. ] 20...d7! Black brings up some reinforcements, this is stronger than [ 20...xg3+ 21.f1 xg5 when Black has three pawns for the piece, but W hite can defend. ] 21.b2? The bishop needs to be controlling the f4-square. [ 21.d4 xg3 22.d2 keeps the game going. ] 21...xg3 22.d1?! White is losing anyway, even after the better [ 22.d4 f8 23.c1 t o s t o p . . . f 4 e5 and the attack is soon decisive. ] 22...f8 There is no way to counter the opening of the f-file by ...f4. 0-1
659 Cheparinov,Ivan Drasko,Milan ETCC Crete GRE (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A17 2670 2557 30.10.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 d6 7.e3 [ In our April 2007 update, we discussed the merits of 7.b4 as played in KramnikIvanchuk. The move chosen by Cheparinov is played much less frequently. ] 7...a5 [ Black has a number of alternatives at this juncture: A) 7...e5 A) 8.b4!? e8 ( 8...e7 9.b2 e8 10.e2 bd7 11.0-0 c6 Ilsley, GJ a c k s o n , D/ c o r r 1 9 7 5 , a n d n o w 12.d3 leaves White with a pleasant little edge) 9.b2 c6 10.e2 g4 11.d3 a6 ( or 11...d7 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 f5 14.0-0 g6 15.ad1 Sasikiran, KSatyapragyan, S/Mumbai 2003 ) A1) 12.h3! h5 ( 12...xf3 13.xf3 d5 14.cxd5 xd5 15.b3 ) 13.g4 g6 14.h4 - analysis by Chekhov; A2) 12.0-0?! d5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.c4 d7 , thus far, Timman, J-Larsen, B/ Buenos Aires 1980, and here Chekhov recommends 15.fd1 followed by Rac1 with White holding the upper hand;
B) 8.d3 a5 ( 8...e8 9.e2 c6 10.0-0 g4 11.h3 h5 12.c2 e4 13.dxe4 xe4 14.b3 g6 15.d3 e6 16.b2 a5 17.ae1 g5 , and a draw was soon agreed upon, but the moves quoted in Ch e ssBa se Ma ga zine a re h o p ele s s ly wrong, Dorfman, J-Almasi, Z/ Hilversum 1993. At this juncture I prefer White.) 9.b3 d7 10.e2 b5!? ( 10...c5 11.0-0 c6 12.b2 e7 is solid and probably good enough for equality.) 11.d4 b4 12.c2 exd4 13.axb4 c6 14.bxa5 dxe3 15.xe3 xa5 16.0-0 Dorfman, JSokolov, A/Marsailles 2001; C) 8.e2 b6 ( 8...a5 9.b4 axb4 10.axb4 xa1 11.xa1 c6 12.a3 e4 13.d4 1/2-1/2 Hartoch, R-Keene, R/ Amsterdam 1973 ) C1) 9.d3 a5 10.b3 e8 11.b2 c5 12.0-0 c6 13.fe1 g4 14.h3 h5 15.ad1 c8 16.c1 h6 17.a1 ( 17.c3 d5 18.cxd5 xd5 19.b2!? ) 17...d7 18.d4?! ( 18.c3 cd8 19.b2 ) 18...exd4 19.exd4 xe2 20.xe2 xf3 21.gxf3 xh3 0-1 Majorovas, V-Shneider, A/Vilnius 1984/MCD (29); C2) 9.b4 b7 10.b2 bd7 11.0-0 e8 12.d3 c5 13.d2 f8 14.a4 a5 15.bxa5 bxa5 16.b3 8d7 17.d2 b8 18.f4 exf4 19.xf4 1-0 Ree, HLangeweg, K/ Wijk aan Zee 1972 ] [ B) 7...bd7 8.e2 b6 9.b4 e4 10.c2 b7 11.b2 A) 11...g5 invites complications, and in the one game it was played, W hite im me diat ely ob lige d : 12.g1 ( 12.h4 xf3+ 13.gxf3 f5 14.0-0-0!? can also be c o n s i d e r e d) 12...xf3+?! ( 12...f5!? ) 13.gxf3 g6 14.f4 h4 15.f1 xh2 16.g3 h1 17.0-0-0 , and White has excellent compensation f or the pawn, Villalobos-Funes Castro, J/corr 1985; B) 11...a5 12.0-0 e7 13.d4 e5 14.b5 df6 15.f3 ( 15.d3 c6 16.dxe4 cxb5 17.f3 bxc4 18.bxa5 xa5 19.xc4 ) 15...c6 16.c3 g5 17.e2 e6 18.a4 d7 19.d3 h6 ( 19...h4!? ) 20.f4 axb4 21.axb4 exf4 22.exf4 1-0 Timman, J-Vogel, J/ Leeuwarden 1974 ] 657
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ C) 7...c5 8.b4 bd7 9.b2 e5 10.e2 e8 11.0-0 A) 11...b6 12.ae1 b7 13.d4 cxd4 ( 13...c8 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.b5 e7 16.d2 cd8 17.f3 f8 with chances to both sides, Roussel Roozmon, T-Hecht, H/ Kitchener CAN 2006) 14.exd4 c8 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.b3 c7 17.d1 f8 18.fe1 g6 19.f1 a5 20.h3 axb4 21.axb4 , and White has a pleasant plus thanks to his pair of bishops, queenside majority and in general well-coordinated pieces, Doettling, F-Balogh, C/Pula CRO 2003; B) 11...a5 12.d3 b6 13.b3 ( 13.bxc5!? a4 14.c2 xc5 15.d4 exd4 16.exd4 looks very pleasant for White ) 13...bd7 14.c3 b6 15.fe1 f8 16.d4 g6 17.bxc5 bxc5 18.d5?! ( Closing the centre doesn't strike me as the most sensible way to proceed. Opening the game for the benefit of the bishop pair makes f or a better overall strategy. 18.dxe5 dxe5 19.c2 b7 20.ed1 b6 21.d2 h4 22.f3 ) B1) 18...g4!? 19.h3 f5 20.g4 ( 20.d2 e4 is fine for Black) 20...e4 21.d2 h4 22.f3 g6 23.e4 also leaves White with the upper hand though my computer insists Black is at least equal here; B2) 18...e4 19.c2 f5 20.d3 g5 21.xg5 xg5 22.f4 exf4 23.exf4 xe1+ 24.xe1 xf4 ( 24...xf4? 25.c1+- ) 25.a4 ( 25.g3! g5 26.a4 f8 27.e8 b8 28.c3 is obviously very problematic for Black, e. g. f4 29.e7 , and it is time to throw in the towel.) 25...h6?! 26.c6?! ( 26.c3! prevents the counterplay Black is b a n k i n g o n , e . g . g4 27.f1 and the Black position is ripe to p e n e t r a t e d) 26...d2! , and Black is back in the game at full force 27.e8+ h7 28.xa8 xb2 29.e1 d4+ 30.h1 xd3 31.xc8 e5 32.e6 f4 33.xd6 f3 34.f8 d2 35.g1 fxg2+ 36.xg2 e1+ 37.g1 e4+ 38.g2 e1+ 39.g1 1/2-1/2 Pelletier, Y-Sokolov, A/Bled 200203 ] [ D) 7...b6
A) 8.b4 A1) 8...e4!? 9.c2 b7 10.b2 d7 11.e2 ( 11.d3 g5! ) 11...e7 12.0-0=; A2) 8...b7 9.b2 bd7 10.e2 e7 11.0-0 e5 12.d3 e8 13.d4 e4 14.d2 f5 15.d5 ef6 16.f4 exf3 17.xf3 1-0 Stokke, K-Revil, B/ Oslo NOR 2004; B) 8.e2 b7 9.0-0 c5 10.d4 ( 10.d3!? bd7 11.b4 e7 12.e4 ) 10...a5 11.b3 bd7 12.b2 ( 12.d2 e8 13.b2 g5 14.f3 g6 15.dxc5 xc5 16.ad1 ) 12...e7 13.ad1 fc8 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.d2 e8 16.d3 ( 16.e4!? a4 17.bxa4 xa4 18.b3 c6 19.g3 with excellent attacking chances for White ) 16...a4 17.bxa4 b6 18.c2 h6 19.b1 xa4 20.a1 c6 21.b3 ( 21.f4 cb8 22.e4 c7 23.xb8 xb8 24.xc6 xc6 25.e4 ) 21...c7 22.fb1 cb8 23.h7+ , and a draw was somewhat prematurely agreed upon, 1/2-1/ 2, Hansen, Cu-Werle, J/Katernberg GER 2003 ] 8.b3 e8 [ 8...bd7 9.b2 b6 10.e2 b7 11.0-0 e7 12.d4 e5 13.f5 e6 14.g3 e4 ( 14...c5 15.d4 fe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.d3 ) 15.xe4 xe4 16.d4 exd4 ( 16...g6 17.f3 f5 18.e4 h3 19.f2 exd4 20.xd4 c5 21.c3 ) 17.xd4 Berezjuk, S-Schmittdiel, E/Passau 1999 ] [ 8...e5 9.e2 g4 10.b2 c5 11.d3 c6 12.h3 h5 13.0-0 e7= Passerotti, PNaumkin, I/Montecatini Terme 2000 ] 9.d4 c6 10.b2 e5 11.d5 e7 12.d2 b5 13.e4 bxc4 [ 13...c6!? 14.dxc6 xc6 15.cxb5 d4 16.c1 d7 17.c4 c8 18.0-0 ( 18.d3 d5! 19.exd5 f5 20.g3 xd5 21.f3 f4! ) 18...d5 19.exd5 e2+ 20.xe2 xc3 21.xc3 xd5 22.e4 b6 23.c4 xc3 24.xc3 ] 14.xc4 d7 15.0-0 c6 16.dxc6 xc6 17.f4 [ 17.ad1!? ] 17...b6+ 18.h1 g6 19.fxe5 dxe5 20.a4 ad8 [ 20...ac8 21.g3 e7 is also perfectly 658
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 fine for Black ] 21.ac1 f4? [ 21...d7! would have avoided White's next move and aims to consolidate the position. However, White's bishops are well-placed and will hassle Black for some time to come, but objectively the chances are fairly even. ] 22.xf7+! Black likely had overlooked this s t r o n g m o v e . xf7 23.c4 d4? This speeds up the end by quite a bit, indeed Black just loses material. [ 23...e2 24.f3 xe4 25.xe2 b7 26.g4+- ] 24.xe5+ xe5 25.xd4 xd4 26.xd4 xe4 27.xf6 1-0
660 Conquest,Stuart Cox,John J 4NCL 2006-07 (8) [Carsten Hansen]
A17 2536 2404 04.03.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.e4 I have always felt that this move was rather annoying to play against when playing Black in a Hedgehog formation. Theoretically Black is doing reasonably well, but the standard plans that Black aims for, such as the ...b6-b5 and ... d6-d5 breaks are not that attractive after this set-up for White. In addition, White will aim at setting up a kingside attack in a fashion that is normally not available in the Hedgehog. b7 6.d3 d6 7.g2 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.g5!? This move looks rather bizarre and quite primitive: it is blatantly obvious that White will want to continue with f2-f4 and start kingside action. What is somewhat surprising is that it has not been tried more often. I only found two prior games on my database, one between two relatively unknown players from 1999 and then a game f rom 2003, where Morozevich used the move to beat the German grandmaster Lutz (this game can be found in the July 2003 update by Tony Kosten). The surprising thing isn't so much that other players haven't tried it in comparison to the lame continuations they have used instead. The theoretical main lines: 9 b3, 9 h3, 9 Qe2 and 9 Re1 don't exactly
kick-start the action. The text move is a good example that even in lines that are considered rather harmless or boring, simple and non-standard choices can help alter the general perception of a particular line. [ In one of the more recent games in the normal main lines in this variation, W hite tried to direct the play towards a standard Hedgehog: 9.h3 a6 10.a4 c7 11.e2 c6 12.e3 d7 13.d4 cxd4 14.xd4 fe8 15.ac1 f8 16.fd1 ac8 , Beliavsky-Su.B. Hansen, Bundesliga 2004, and Black has equalised. ] 9...c6!? In the previous games in this line, Black has tried to interfere with White's play on t h e kin gside , b ut th is st raight f o rwa rd developing move makes a lot of sense, taking control of the weakened d4-square, from where it can support Black's pawn-breaks in the centre with ...d6-d5 and on the queenside with ... b6-b5. [ In the aforementioned game, MorozevichLutz, Biel 2003, Black continued differently: 9...fd7 10.h4!? h6 11.h3 c6 12.f4 d4 13.e3 b8 14.h2 c6!? ( Tony K gave 14...a6 planning ...b6-b5 as safer; also 14...f6 looks logical) 15.xd4! cxd4 16.b5 xb5 17.cxb5 f6 18.g1! d7 19.a4 (White has the better chances at this juncture) a6 20.bxa6 a7 21.h3 xa6 22.f3 b5 23.a5 a7 24.g4 h7 25.g5 hxg5 26.hxg5 g6 27.d2 b4 28.f5 b5 29.a6 b6 30.fxg6 fxg6 31.xe6+ g7 32.d5 xa6 33.ac1 d7 34.g2 f4 35.g3 g4 36.e5 dxe5 37.f7+ h8 38.xh7+ xh7 39.h3+ 1-0 Morozevich, A-Lutz, C/Biel 2003 ] 10.f4 d7 [ Anyway, but Black has to keep an eye on how W h ite de velops his kingsid e p awn storm. My computer likes 10...d7 11.h3 ac8 12.f5 e5 13.e3 d4 for Black, even if I personally would pick W hite any day of the week on account of the potential for a kingside attack. ] 11.f3 [ 11.h4 h6 12.h3 d4 would be a transposition to Morozevich-Lutz above, but these moves are hardly forced from either side. ] 11...d4 12.e3 xf3+ 659
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Unlike in the note to Black's 9th move, here 12...f6?! do esn't work du e t o 13.xd4 cxd4 14.b5 and Black has a problem with his two d-pawns. ] 13.xf3 a6 14.g4 b5!? 15.g5 [ After 15.cxb5 axb5 16.xb5 a6 17.a4 a5 Black is doing very well. ] 15...e5!? [ 15...b4 16.e2 f5 17.h3 e8 18.g3 and White has the initiative ] [ 15...a5 16.h3 ] 16.g3 exf4! 17.xf4 e5! 18.ad1 a5 19.xe5 A decision such as this one should only be made with a heavy heart. White does win a pawn, but Black gets ample compensation on account of the dark-squared weaknesses everywhere in White's position, thanks to the central pawns being semi-fixed on light squares and the kingside pawns being s o f a r a d va n c e d . dxe5 20.xe5 ae8 21.g3 [ 21.f5!? ] 21...d8! [ Immediately attacking the dark squares; in contrast, Black can win a pawn back with 21...b4 22.d5 xd5 23.cxd5 xa2 24.d2 but White has the better chances since Black has less control over W hite's central pawns ] 22.h4 d6 Around this point, Black in my opinion has an excellent game: the darksquared bishop more than compensates for the sacrificed pawn. 23.g4 e7!? [ 23...e5!? ] 24.h3 [ 24.cxb5?! e5 25.f2 h2+ 26.f1 c8 27.h5 axb5 looks very attractive for Black, W hite's pieces are not particularly well placed and White's king in isn't very happy at the moment. ] 24...e5?! [ 24...e5 25.f2 c6 ] 25.cxb5 axb5 26.xb5 xb2 27.b1?! [ White should concern himself with securing e q u a l i t y . O n e wa y t o d o s o i s 27.d7!? xd7 ( 27...e5 looks attractive 28.xb7 g3+ 29.g2 b8 30.d7 xb5 but after 31.f3 d4+ 32.h1 White has the better chances ) 28.xd7 e7 29.g4 c6 30.a4 xb5 31.axb5 b8 and the chances are fairly even. ]
27...e5 28.a3 a6 [ 28...a8!? ] 29.f3 a8 [ When analyzing this position, my computer originally favoured 29...f5 which in many ways is a real computer move, that not many players would reason their way to, but at closer examination, it does look rather at t ra ct ive . 30.exf5 d4+ 31.h1 e2 32.c4 c2 and Black is taking over the seventh rank (W hite's second) in accordance with Nimzowitsch's recipe for success. ] [ However, 29...d8!? is possibly best, e.g. 30.d7 a5 and if now 31.xf7 then d4+ 32.h1 xd3 looks very good for Black ] 30.d7 xd7 31.xd7 c8 [ Here my computer likes 31...fd8 32.c6 xd3 33.xa8 xb1 34.d5 xd5 35.exd5 e4 36.f2 xd5 and it claims a slight edge for Black. This, however, is not a decision most of us would go f or and Cox's choice is both a simple and attractive solution ] 32.xc8 xa3 33.b7 c4?! This looks like a typical time trouble move, that looks good at first glance, but turns out to be a real stinker. Black gets a passed pawn on c3, but at the same time, White has passed pawns on both a2 and d3. White is now clearly better. [ Instead 33...xa2 34.d5 d4+ 35.h1 a1 36.xa1 xa1 37.g2 g6 may be defensible for Black, but clearly White is having all the fun. ] 34.d5 c3 [ 34...xd3 keeps Black in the game, whereas after the text move it is play to one goal. ] 35.b3 a7 36.h5 g6 37.f2 gxh5 38.e3 d8 39.bf1 d4+ 40.e2 dd7 41.h3 db7 42.xh5 xa2+ 43.xa2 b2+ 44.f3 xa2 45.e5 d2 46.e4 c5 47.e6 fxe6 48.g6 e2+ 49.f3 e3+ 50.g4 d6 51.gxh7+ h8 52.a1 g3+ 53.h4 f3 54.a6 e7+ 55.g4 f8 56.xe6 c8 57.xe7 c2 58.e1 c1 59.xc1 xc1 60.f4 c8 61.d4 d8 62.e4 1-0
660
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.b5 ] A17 Cornette,Matthieu 2325 21...d5 22.cxd5?! Why open the c-file when Adams,Michael 2723 the king and queen are on it? [ 22.d3 still offers hope. ] National I Bordeaux FRA (7) 07.04.2003 22...cxd5 23.xf5 xf5 24.b4 c8 [Tony Kosten] Simplest, although other moves are also good. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 xc3 25.b2 a5! 26.b5 d4 27.d2 dxc3+ [ 27...dxc3+ 28.xc3 d4 forks queen and 5.dxc3 d6!? Adams returns to this solid move, rook. ] we have already considered 0-1 [ 5...d5 in Krasenkow,M-Dydyshko,V. ] 6.g5 fd7 7.e3 Actually an innovation, although W hite will continue with a similar 662 A17 development to [ 7.c2 c6 8.h4 de5 9.xe5 xe5 Dorfman,Josif D 2602 10.g2 c6 11.e3 as the white pieces Chabanon,Jean Luc 2511 have reached the same squares, and now ch-Gp B Marsailles FRA (5) 17.08.2001 d7 12.b4 c8 13.h5 is more pleasant for [Tony Kosten] White, with two bishops and lots of space, Razuvaeva, J-Zvereva,M/St Petersburg RUS 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 1999, but Black could always play a quick ... Here we go again! h6 5.g1 b6 6.h4 b7 e5 as in the main game. ] 7.g5 hxg5 8.hxg5 e4 9.c2 xc3 7...e7 8.g2 e5 So this is Black's new plan, 10.dxc3 d6 11.e3 So far this has all been he has exchanged his dark-squared bishop seen before. c5!? and now sets-about putting his pawns on dark [ A new try, Black wants more central control, squares with a solid pawn structure. Both but this weakens his dark squares. Anyway, sides will likely castle queenside. 9.c2 c6 as we have seen some time ago, 11...c6 10.h4 b6 Necessary, to develop the rest of fared well in Van Wely,L-Timman,J/Wijk aan the qu ee nside . 11.b3 g6!? Interesting, I Zee 1999. ] would be wary of weakening the kingside like 12.0-0-0 e7 13.d2! A good plan, White th is , b u t if s o m e on e so st ro ng d o e s it is will try to exchange the dark-squared defender probably good! 12.d2 f5 13.e4 e6!? on d6. c7 14.f4 e5?! Black attempts to keep the central tension, if [ After a long thought, but this adds d5 to White captures on f5 Black will recapture with Black's list of problems, and what is so t h e f -p a wn t o ke e p co n t ro l o f e 4 . 14.a4!? wrong with 14...xf4 15.xf4 c6 ? As Positionally it is right to cramp knights like 16.c7 can be met by d5 ] this, but on the other hand, White should be [ Hamdouchi suggests 14...d6?! instead, but careful not to move the pawns in front of his 15.g2! keeps the threat to d6 alive, without king, so this makes long castling less secure. p e r m i t t i n g a c a p t u r e o n f 3 . ( instead of d7 Black must be able to answer White's a5 15.xd6 xd6 16.xd6 xd6 17.xd6 with ...a6. 15.h5 0-0-0 16.0-0-0 b8 17.h4 xf3 18.exf3 e7 when Black is OK. )] e7 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.dh1 xh4 20.xh4 15.g3 c6 16.g6! 0-0-0 White has gained control of the open h-file, [ Black has to allow the capture on f7, further but Black will react strongly in the centre. c6 weakening the black position, or go in for W ith the strong threat of ...d5, W hite's 16...f5?! 17.h4! e6 ( 17...xh4? position has suddenly become very difficult. is impossible: 18.xh4 xh4? 19.xd7+ 21.f1 If one has to play such moves then f8 20.f7# ) 18.g5 e7 19.h7 e6 that is a sure-fire sign that something has 20.h3 with powerful threats. ] gone drastically wrong! 17.gxf7 xf7 18.b3 h6 19.g2 d6 [ 21.d3!? d5 22.b2 is a better bet, as 20.e3 xd1+ 21.xd1 f5 22.g5 e4?! is e as ily an swered b y ( 22...xd3 Prepared by White's previous play, the knight 23.xd3 f5 keeps a plus) 23.cxd5 cxd5 makes its way to e4. b8?! 23.xb7+ xb7 661
661
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.e4+ xe4 25.xe4 Black has a bad bis h o p , a n d scru f f y p a wn st ru ct u re , a n d naturally White decides that the easiest way to exploit this in the endgame. h8 26.b4 cxb4 27.cxb4 h6 28.d3 g5?! A tactical trick, which only hastens the end. 29.xg5 c6 30.c3 d5 31.b2! xc4 32.xc4 dxc4 33.b5 This isolates the c4-pawn. a6 34.a4 d7 35.e4 axb5 36.axb5 f8 37.c3 g6 38.xc4 e7 39.c3 1-0
for the queen than after the habitual 10.c2 e.g. c5 11.0-0 c6 12.e3 c8 13.b3 e7 14.b2 fd8 and Black is fine, Van der Sterren,P-Dautov,R/Germany 1998/GERchT. ] 10...c5 11.b3 In order to control e5, before Black gets the opportunity to play e5. c6 12.b2 e8!? [ More aggressive than 12...e7 13.d3 fd8 as now Black envisages ...e5, and ...Nd4. ] 13.d3 e5 14.e3 [ To control d4, for if 14.0-0?! then d4 15.xd4 exd4 when Black has more space, 663 A17 and pressure on e2. ] A speculative piece sacrifice, Dydyshko,Viacheslav 2521 14...d4!? Dautov,Rustem 2597 opening the e-line, and setting-up various Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (7) 06.12.1999 tactics along the h1-a8 diagonal. 15.exd4! [ Correct! If 15.xd4? then the white queen [Tony Kosten] gets into trouble following cxd4 16.e4 c8 17.a4 c6 but ] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 Although [ 15.0-0 was also possible, not fearing b5?! White hasn't played d4, Black still plays as if a s t h e e x c h a n g e s a c r i f i c e ( 15...e2+!? he had, and indicates his acceptance of a m i g h t b e b e t t e r , 16.h1 dc3! Nimzo-style position. 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 as t h e o b vio u s 17.xc3 is met by d5 6.xc3 White has gained the bishop pair, 18.g4 xc3 with an edge) 16.xc5 xb3 without weakening his pawn formation. b6 17.xb5 xa1 18.xe5 seems promising 7.g3 for White. ] [ White avoids 7.d4 , as although this leads directly to a 4 Qc2 Nimzo-Indian, his knight 15...exd4+ 16.f1! [ The alternative 16.d2 leaves White in is on f3 which means that he cannot play the serious trouble after c3! 17.xc3 d5 most aggressive lines involving f3. ] 18.a4 ( for once, the queen for three 7...b7 8.g2 d5 Active central play, aiming p ie ce s swa p o f 18.b2 xc4 19.bxc4 to make something of Black's slight lead in favours the queen after b5! 20.cxb5 a5+ ) development. 18...dxc3+ 19.c1 e2 e.g. 20.f1?! xf3 [ More usual is either 8...d6 with 9.0-0 bd7 21.xf3 xd3 with mate to follow. ] 10.b4 e8!? 11.b2 e5 Illescas Cordoba, 16...f6 The point of Black's combination, M-Epishin,V/Dos Hermanas 1994, or ] [ 8...c5 as in, say, Kramnik,V-Nikolic,P/ menacing discovered attacks against the f3Monaco (rapid) 1997, which continued: 9.b4 knight. 17.c1! [ Skilful defence, for after a sensible d6 10.0-0 bd7 11.b2 c8 and in both a l t e r n a t i v e l i k e 17.c2 Black can play cases Black sets his pawns on dark squares, e3+! ( even 17...e3!? is possible, i.e. to compliment his remaining bishop, with 18.h4 xg3 19.xd5 xd5 20.hxg3 solid play. ] xh1 with play for the material) 18.fxe3 9.cxd5 xd5 xe3 with a strong attack, e.g. 19.c1 [ The fluid choice, 9...exd5 is also possible, xf3+ 20.g1 e8 ] intending to play a hanging pawn position: 10.0-0 ( 10.d3 d4! 11.c2 a5 ) 10...e8 17...e3+ 18.fxe3 xf3 [ Obligatory, as now 18...xe3?? is met by 11.e1?! c5 12.d4 e4 13.c2 c6 19.xe3 winning on the spot. ] 14.dxc5 bxc5 with active black play, 19.g1 xg2 20.xg2 c6+ 21.e4 f5 Speelman,J-Seirawan, Y/Saint John 1988. ] Black will gain two pawns, and some initiative, 10.c4!? [ A new attempt to find a more active square for his piece, but it shouldn't be quite enough. 662
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.c4+ h8 23.he1 fxe4 24.g1! [ Actually gaining a tempo over the immediate 24.dxe4 xe4 25.g1 ae8 26.f1 ] 24...g6 [ The pin on the c-file forces this queen move, if 24...e3? 25.xd4 ] 25.dxe4 xe4 26.f1 ae8 27.ad1 h6 28.xe4 xe4 29.f2 e6 30.d2? [ Dropping a further pawn, returning the bishop to the fray by 30.c1 was stronger. ] 30...f3 31.e1 [ 31.e1 after xb3 32.xe6 xe6 Black has nothing to fear, in fact he could well consider continuing. ] ½-½
664 Fridman,Daniel Meins,G 16th OIBM 2012 (9.6) [John Bartholomew]
A17 2670 2473 04.11.2012
The Nimzo-English with 4.g4 rose to prominence 10-15 years ago and still produces unbalanced encounters. Here Black chooses a positional continuation that may appeal to many Nimzo players. 1.c4 e6 2.c3 b4 3.f3 f6 4.g4 [ White has a host of viable alternatives. 4.c2 is the main line, and 4.g3, 4.Qb3, 4. e3!?, etc. are also played. See the "NimzoEnglish" guide in the archives. ] 4...h6 This has proven to be Black's preferred method in countering the g-pawn spike. [ You can find 4...d5 ] [ and 4...0-0!? in the archives. Both score reasonably well for Black, especially short castling. ] [ The radical 4...xc3!? can be compared to the game continuation. For example, 5.dxc3 ( possibly stronger is 5.bxc3 d6 6.g5 fd7 7.g2 c6 8.d3! , Nakamura, H (2710)Sokolov, A (2570)/Mainz GER 2009/ [TonyK] ) 5...d6 6.g5 fd7 7.e3 e7 8.g2 e5 with a similar structure and game flow. Cornette, M (2329)-Adams, M (2734)/ France 2003/[TonyK]. ] 5.g1 [ I'm not entirely taken by the concept of
5.a3!? A) More recently, 5...e7 6.d4 d5 7.g1 A1) 7...dxc4!? 8.e4 ( it's simpler to play 8.a4+ c6 9.xc4 with chances for a slight edge) 8...b5 9.e5 d5 10.xb5 Karttunen, M (2447)-Maki Uuro, M (2332)/Helsinki FIN 2012. Here Black s h o u l d c o n s i d e r b6 with obscure play.; A2) 7...b6 8.f4 looked like an a3Q u e e n ' s I n d i a n o r Q u e e n 's G a m b i t Decline permutation. b7 9.a4+ c6 10.0-0-0 dxc4 11.xc4 b5 12.b3 a5 13.g5 hxg5 14.xg5 b4 15.e4 Sitnikov, A (2506)-Polivanov, A (2435)/ Donetsk UKR 2011.; B) 5...xc3 6.dxc3 b6 7.a4 , but Boris Savchenko is 2-0 from this position as White. See Savchenko, B (2630)-Goganov, A (2 4 80 )/T a ga nro g RUS 20 11 / [ Nige l Davies] for the details. ] 5...xc3!? Fundamentally sound. Black makes good on his positional threat before White can play Qc2. [ More u sua l is 5...b6 . The position after 6.c2 b7 7.a3 e7 8.g5 hxg5 9.xg5 has been discussed some time back on this site for example, see Bareev, E (2721) Na i d i t s c h , A ( 2 5 7 4 ) / R e t h ym n o n 2 0 0 3 / [TonyK]. ] 6.dxc3 [ Or 6.bxc3 d6 7.d3 ala NakamuraSokolov. ( 7.h4!? )] 6...d6 7.h4 [ White can also consider the immediate 7.g5 , which was seen in David, A (2580)Rozentalis, E (2596)/ Turin 2006. After hxg5 8.xg5 e7 9.g2 e5 10.d2!? bd7 ( 10...xh2 11.c2 bd7 12.0-0-0 ) 11.f1 (White has his sites set on the e3 square) b6 12.h4 c6 13.e3 e6 14.d3 0-0-0 15.0-0-0 White had slightly better chances, though Black retained a very solid position. ] 7...c6 Leaving the d7 square open for the o t h e r kn ig h t . 8.g5 hxg5 9.hxg5 d7 10.g2 e5 [ Perhaps Black should play more flexibly with 10...e7!? , i.e. 11.e3 b6 12.d3 e5 13.d2 e6 . ] 11.e3 f8 12.b3 b8 13.0-0-0 663
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 W hite has completed his development and secured a nice spatial advantage to accompany his bishop pair. Despite his solidity, Black still has some problems to solve (his king, for example). b6 14.h1 [ I li k e t h e lo o k o f 14.d2 intending to transfer the knight to e4. ] 14...xh1 15.xh1? [ 15.xh1 is necessary so as to meet a5 16.b4 c5 with 17.xc5!+- . ] 15...a5! Forcing White to make an awkward decision. 16.a3 [ It's the decisive last round and Fridman outrates his opponent by 200 points, so he probably wasn't thrilled about a repetition after 16.b5+ d7 17.a6 c8 18.b5+ d7 etc. ] [ 16.b4 c5 is similar. ] 16...xc4 17.xa7 xe3 18.fxe3 b7 Black is fine, though things now get a little hairy. [ 18...e6!? ] 19.h8 c6?! [ 19...e7 ] 20.a6 d7 21.c4 e6 22.h4 e7 23.d2 d7 24.a4+ b5 25.a7 d8 26.g8 b6 27.b7 e7! 28.xg7? Finally swallowing the bait! d7! White's rook is trapped, and 29...Qh8 is the threat. 29.a8? Time was probably becoming a big factor. [ 29.e4 was necessary, controlling h7. ] 29...xa8? [ Missing 29...xb7! 30.xb7 h8 . ] 30.xa8 a6 31.e4 xa2 32.h7 a1+ 33.b1 a4 34.b4 f8 35.g6?! Black forfeits on time!? This is the result given by TWIC, which I confirmed by cruising over to the OIBM tournament website. [ An unfortunate end for Meins, as 35.g6 f6 36.c2 ( 36.g7+ g8 ) 36...xh7 37.gxh7 g7 38.xa4 bxa4 is clearly in his favor. So long as he's willing to manage a s li g h t l y c ra m p e d ( b u t f u n d a m e n t a l l y sound) position, 4...h6 5.Rg1 Bxc3!? is a reliable enough line for Black. . ] 1-0
665 Ftacnik,Lubomir Stocek,Jiri Jirasek mem Rakovnik CZE (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A17 2544 2559 11.08.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 d6 7.b4 a5 [ 7...e5 8.b2 a5 9.e3 c6 10.d3 d7 11.b5 e7 was played in Tratar, M-Kosten, A/ Graz AUT 2008. For annotations to the game, see the PGN archives. ] 8.b2 axb4 9.axb4 xa1+ 10.xa1 e5 11.g3 b5 12.cxb5 d7 13.d4!? [ Here White finally departs from the amazing Kramnik-Ivanchuk game from last year's Monte Carlo tournament this game has dictated several new developments in this line, all in involving the idea of ...b7-b5 f or Black. I n the abovem ention ed ste m game Black obtained the better chances after 13.e3?! c8 14.e2 b7 15.d3 xb5 as you can see for yourself by looking the game up in the PGN archives. ] 13...e4 14.d2 xb5 Black has already fully equalised. 15.d5! [ White has to play actively, if not Black will co m p l e t e l y t a k e o ve r t h e ga m e a n d i n particular the queenside will cause White a l o t o f h e a d a c h e s , e . g . 15.g2 d5 with a better game for Black. ] 15...e3! 16.fxe3 bd7 17.g2 e5 W hite has an extra pawn and t he pa ir o f bishops, but in this position, both are entirely irrelevant and Black has at least full compensation for the pawn. 18.0-0!? [ White decides to give up on the pawn right away. The alternative is 18.f3 a8 19.e4 a7 20.d4 a6 with full compensation for the pawn. ] 18...xe2 19.c1 d3!? [ Black decides to play it safe. The main alternative is the more aggressive, e.g. 19...e7!? A) or 20.xc7 f3+ 21.xf3 xe3+ 22.h1 xd5! ( 22...e4 leads to a draw after 23.d4 f2+ 24.g1 h3+ 25.h1 f2+= ) 23.d4 a3 24.c3 xb4 25.c6 xc3 26.xc3 c5 with an interesting endgame, where Black should not be worse; 664
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 20.e4 c8 21.e3 b5 e7 23.hg1 ] with approximately even chances ] 20.dxc6 c8 21.h4 xc6? 20.b1 e5 Inviting a draw by repetition, [ Black had to play 21...h5 to prevent White's White doesn't have much better than to follow next move. Now, however, Black loses a suit. 21.c1 d3 22.b1 e5 23.c1 piece ] ½-½ 22.h5! d5 23.hxg6 fxg6 24.e5 b5 25.cxb5 d4 26.c4+ h8? 27.xd4 [ 27.exf6!! wins immediately, e.g. xe3? 28.xh7+ xh7 29.h1# ] 666 A17 Gelfand,Boris 2736 27...xb3+ 28.xb3 xd4 29.xd4 xc4+ Adams,Michael 2729 30.b1 xe5 31.c1 xc1+ 32.xc1 h5 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (27) 22.11.2007 33.b6 e7 34.c7 1-0 [Carsten Hansen] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 b6 7.e3 a5 [ 7...b7 is the main line, the game continuation is quite rare ] 8.b3 [ 8.b4 c5 9.b2 axb4 10.axb4 xa1+ 11.xa1 a6 12.b5 b4 13.e2 b7 14.0-0 e7 15.b2 d5 16.d3 d8 17.a1 dxc4 18.dxc4 xf3 19.xf3 d3 20.a6 d6 21.h3 xb2 22.xb2 h5 23.c2 h4 24.c3 e5 25.c2 g6 26.d5 xd5 1/2-1/2 Prusikin, M-Jankovic, A/ Zemplinska Sirava 2004 ] 8...d6 9.b2 [ The only previous game saw 9.d4 e4 10.c2 b7 11.d3 f5 being tested and proved adequate for Black: 12.0-0 d7 13.d2 h4 14.f3 g5 15.f2 f6 16.f4 h3+ 17.gxh3 g6+ 18.f1 f6 ( 18...xh3+ 19.e1 xe3+ 20.e2 xd4 21.b2 g1+ 22.f1 xf1+ 23.xf1 g1 24.c3 e5 ) 19.e1 g1+ 20.f1 g2 21.a2 e4 22.d1 h5+ 23.e1 h4 24.d1 h5+ 1/2-1/2 Eng, HMeyer, H/Germany 1985 ] 9...e5 10.d4 e4 11.d2 e8 12.d5 f5 [ 12...bd7 13.e2 e5 14.0-0 ( 14.f4 exf3 15.gxf3!? ) 14...f5 15.ac1 c8 ] 13.e2 e5 14.f4 exf3 15.gxf3 This position looks quite messy, but Black's position is difficult to play, and Gelfand makes the process of winning look rather effortless bd7 16.e4 g6 17.0-0-0 c5 [ 17...h5 18.dg1 h4 19.e3 ee8 20.g4 e7 21.hg1 ] 18.e3 e8 19.dg1 c6 [ 19...h5 20.h4 d7 21.g2 f5!? 22.g5
667 Gelfand,Boris Eljanov,Pavel Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (13) [Carsten Hansen]
A17 2737 2692 27.01.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 b6 [ 6...d6 is an interesting alternative that was tested in Kramnik-Ivanchuk, Monte Carlo 2007 - see the PGN archives. We will return to this move in next month's update. ] 7.e3 b7 8.b4 d6 9.b2 bd7 10.e2 c5 This variation has been played numerous times, but it is my impression that the chances are clearly favouring White, even if his edge is minimal, because Black has very little hope of grabbing the initiative and will likely be forced to defend a slightly passive position with White holding the initiative. The score in top encounters is decidedly in White's favour, though it should be said, that it is usually the somewhat higher rated player who plays White in those games. 11.0-0 c8 [ Other tries are: A) 11...e8 has also been tested on a couple of occasions, for instance Kramnik-Zhang Zhong, W ijk aan Zee 2004 - the game can be found in the PGN archives. ] [ B) 11...e7 as for example played in Gustafsson-Khalifman, Cologne 2003 - see the PGN archives. I feel this is likely the continuation Black should give preference to. ] 12.d4 e4 [ It's difficult to say what is best for Black in 665
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d6 20.c2 f8 21.e2 ) 18...f6 19.g4 th is lin e, b eca u se h e is f a cing a t o u gh f7 20.f4 b8 , Stojanovic, M-Jeremic, V/ defensive task in every variation at this Mataruska Banja SRB 2007, and here White ju n c t u re . O t h e r t ri e s i n clu d e : A ) 12...d5 s h o u l d o p t f o r 21.c2 f8 22.a3 13.dxc5 ( 13.d2 e7 14.f3 c7 , and it's obvious that Black is in serious 15.ac1 fc8 16.bxc5 bxc5 , Claas, Mtrouble. ] Schmock, S/Bonn 1996, and now 17.cxd5 13.b3 xd5 18.a5 c4 19.e4 f4 20.c3 ) [ White has also obtained good positions with A) 13...bxc5 14.b5 ( 14.cxd5!? xd5 13.d3 , for instance 15.ac1 cxb4 16.xb4 b8 17.d4 ) A) Or 13...f6 14.d2 g6 15.f3 xd2 14...c7 15.a4 fe8 16.fd1 e5 17.cxd5 16.xd2 d5?! ( 16...fd8 17.ad1; xd5 18.c2 , and here a draw was 16...cxd4 17.exd4 e5 18.ad1 ) 17.dxc5 prem a tu rely a gre e d u po n , 1 /2 -1/ 2 , in bxc5 18.ac1 fd8? ( 18...g5 ) Kozak, M-Vyskocil, N/ Brno CZE 2007. A 19.cxd5 xd5 20.e4 b7 21.fd1! possible continuation is c4!? 19.a3 c3 , and Black is basically lost if he is to ( 19...7f6 20.d2 c3 21.c4 release himself from White's pressure, he , and White has the upper hand) 20.g5 will lose material, Kramnik, V-Kogan, A/ e4 21.g4 cd8 with chances to both Port Barcares FRA 2005; sides; B) 13...e7 B) 13...dxc4 14.fd1 e7 15.a4 bxc5 B1) 14.d2 f5 ( 14...xd2 15.xd2 16.b5 b6 17.a5 bd5 18.xc4 g5 16.f3 ) 15.f3 ef6 16.fd1 e5?! , and Black is clearly struggling, Zarkua, ( 16...fd8 17.b3 ) 17.dxc5 bxc5 D-Kalashian, D/Istanbul TUR 2006 ] 18.xf5 b6 19.g5 h6 20.h4 [ B) 12...e7 , and Black doesn't have enough for the A) 13.fd1 fd8 14.ac1 ( 14.b3!? pawn, W erle, J-Rozentalis, E/ a8 15.a4 d5 16.bxc5 bxc5 17.a3 Wattenscheid GER 2006; e8 18.a5 cxd4 19.xd4 , and White B2) 14.fd1 fd8 15.ac1 h6 16.d2 has pleasant initiative, Savchenko, Sxd2 17.xd2 g5 18.f3 f8 19.e4 Brunner, N/Metz FRA 2005) 14...cxd4 Savchenko, S-Agafii, V/Illichevsk UKR 15.xd4 e5 ( 15...d5!? ) 16.e1 e8 2006 ] 17.f3 g6 18.f1 g5 19.h1 a6 20.e4 with more space and the pair of 13...c7 [ Black has tried a couple other things here, bishops, W hite has a clear advantage, though without much success: A) 13...g5 Laznicka, V-Petrik, T/Steinbrunn AUT 14.xg5 xg5 15.f3 cxd4 16.exd4 c7 2005; 17.f2 fc8 18.d1 a5 19.c1 e7 B) 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.b5 fd8 ( 14...d5 20.f4 e5 21.e3 Llanos, G-Jimenez, J/ 15.a4 b6 16.d2 fd8 17.a5 xc4 Buenos Aires 1998 ] 18.xc4 dxc4 19.fd1 d5 20.xc4 [ B) 13...c7 14.fd1 fe8 ( 14...d5 Gurevich, M-Aagaard, J/Torrelavega ESP 15.ac1 b8 16.a2 fd8 17.a1 f6 2007 ) 15.a4 f8 16.d2 e5 17.f3 18.b1 a8 19.e1 d6 20.cxd5 xd5 xf3 18.xf3 g6 19.fd1 e4 20.c2 21.dxc5 bxc5 22.f3 xf3 23.xf3 f5 21.d2 xd2 22.xd2 , and White Ostenstad, B-Tallaksen, G/Bergen 2001) has a comfortable advantage, Seirawan, 15.ac1 a5 16.d2 xd2 17.xd2 axb4 Y-Damljanovic, B/Istanbul 2000 ] 18.axb4 b8 19.dxc5 dxc5 20.c3 f6 [ C) 12...cxd4 13.xd4 e7 14.fd1 d5 21.b5 cd8 22.cd1 e4 23.g4 15.cxd5 xd5 16.ac1 b8 17.h4 fd8 , and Black is suf f ering, Jakovenko, D18.e5 f8 19.c4 , and White is Tiviakov, S/Sochi RUS 2007 ] c o m p le t e ly in c o n t ro l, K o m lje n o vic, D 14.fd1 Vaillant, S/Metz 2001 ] [ Also 14.ad1 is perfectly good and [ D) 12...c7 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.b5 fd8 playable, e.g. a8 15.e1 d5 16.dxc5 15.a4 d5 16.a5 e8 17.cxd5 exd5 bxc5 17.f3 ef6 18.cxd5 exd5 19.bxc5 18.h4 ( 18.fc1!?; 18.fd1 f6 19.d3 666
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xc5 20.b4 cd7 21.d3 e8 22.f4 Huss, A-Bellin, J/Biel 1987 ] 14...e7 15.a4 [ White tries a new, but perfectly normal move. In an earlier game, White gained the better chances after 15.dxc5 bxc5 16.d2 ef6 17.b5 e5 18.f3 h5 19.f1 h4 20.d2 b6 21.a4 h3 22.g3 ( 22.a5!? hxg2 23.g3 c8 24.e4 h7 25.f5 g5 26.c1 is pretty terrible for Black) 22...d5 23.cxd5 bxd5 24.a5 ( 24.ad1!? ) 24...b4 ( 24...e4 25.f4 d8 26.ad1 ) 25.e4 Gelpke, P-Douven, R/ Hilversum 1989 ] 15...d5 16.dxc5 bxc5 17.b5 d6 18.cxd5 exd5 19.ac1 b8 [ 19...e4!? ] 20.c2 cc8 21.a3 h6 22.b2! e6 23.c3! White more or less forces Black to create an ugly long-term weakness on the light squares, something Black will suffer badly from later in the game. f6 24.h3 This gives th e king a brea thing h ole an d simultaneously prevents Blacks queen from m e s s i n g w i t h W h i t e k i n g f r o m g 4 . b6 25.c2 bc4 [ 25...d4!? 26.exd4 e4 27.d2 dc4 28.xc4 xc4 29.e2 xb2 30.xb2 xf3 31.gxf3 c4 ] 26.a1 Keeping the bishop, which long-term is much better than even Black's nice-looking knight on c4. e8!? 27.g6 bd8? [ This looks perfectly normal, but because Black's position is already a positional toilet with weaknesses everywhere, he should have thrown the kitchen sink at White with 27...xe3 28.fxe3 xe3+ 29.h1 e4 and some compensation for the piece and at le a s t s o m e c o m p li c a t io n s t o wo rk a n d confuse Gelfand with. Gelfand had a terrible tournament in W ijk aan Zee, so Black should have tried to rock the balance a bit. In the game, Black is taken apart without hesitation. ] 28.d3 e4 [ 28...f8 29.h4 is slightly better for Black than the game continuation, but Black's position is pretty terrible in any case ] 29.h4! cd6 Black plays actively, but now he loses the f irst pawn. 30.xe4 xe4 31.f5 d7 32.xh6+ f8 33.f5 d4?!
[ 33...c8 34.h7 b7 35.h4 f7 36.h5+ g8 37.g6+- ] 34.exd4 a2 35.f1 cxd4 36.xd4 d5 37.f3 d6 38.c5 1-0
668 Gelfand,Boris Timman,Jan H It Pamplona ESP (7) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2713 2650 03.01.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e7 6.c3 0-0 Black is clearly happy to pla y a Qu een 's In dia n Def e nce , m an y players would have preferred an early ...c5 to avoid this. 7.e1 [ White decides to avoid the QI, 7.d4 e4 with a slight edge to White, and goes for a Hedgehog. ] 7...e4 [ 7...d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.d4 leads to another, but this time inferior, version of the Queen's Indian where Black normally plays ...c5, and defends the resulting hanging pawn position. ] 8.xe4 xe4 9.d3 b7 10.e4 c5 11.d4 d5?! [ A new move, previously Black had chosen between 11...cxd4 12.xd4 c6 when 13.f4 c5 14.xc6 xc6 15.d6 xd6 16.xd6 b8 is almost equal, Ibragimov,ITiviakov,S/Elista 1997, 1/2-1/2 (54), and ] [ 11...d6 allowing White to play a Benonistyle position: 12.d5 exd5 13.cxd5 d7 14.f4 b5 with a plus to White, Krivoshey,SOral,T/Prievidza 1997, 1/2-1/2 (44). ] 12.exd5 exd5 13.e5 This is a constant theme in these lines, W hite's g2-bishop is more powerful than its b7-counterpart, simply b e c a u s e t h i s l a t t e r i s u n p r o t e c t e d . cxd4 14.xd4 a6 15.g4 [ 15.cxd5 b4 and the threat to fork on c2 regains the pawn. ] 15...b4 16.d1 Pinning the d5-pawn a second time, but along the column on this occasion, and avoiding the loss of an exchange (...Nc2 was threatened). [ 16.d1 also has its points, a3 is the menace. ] 667
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.b2 ) 14.d2 f5 15.f3 g5 16.f1 f6 17.d2 g6 18.h1 f6 19.e1 Nguyen Anh Dung-Naiditsch, A/Budapest 2000; B) 11.b3 g5 ( 11...f5 12.b2 d7 13.ad1 g5 14.xg5 xg5 15.f3 e5 16.d4 exd4 17.exd4 ae8 18.f2 e7 19.bxc5 dxc5 20.d5 Prusikin, M-Markos, J/Pulvermuehle GER 2006) 12.xg5 xg5 13.f3 c6 14.b2 e5 15.f2 ae8 16.bxc5 dxc5 17.a4 e6 18.c3 e7 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/ 2, Nielsen, P.H, -Rozentalis, E/Malmoe/ Copenhagen SWE 2004 ] 11.bxc5 [ White can also do without this exchange, f o r e xa m p l e 11.d4!? e4 ( or 11...e4 12.d2 bd7 13.bxc5 bxc5 14.b2 e7 15.d5 ) 12.b2 g5 13.xg5 xg5 14.f3 However, the opening of the b-file will likely benefit White more than it will Black ] 11...bxc5 12.d4!? White immediately takes countermeasures to Black's plan of keeping the centre closed. W ith the opening of the centre, White's bishops gain strength. exd4 13.exd4 e8 14.e1 cxd4!? [ This may not look entirely obvious, why does Black open the position further when an open position normally clearly favours the side with the bishop pair? The problem for 669 A17 Bla ck is th a t if W h it e ge t s t o clo s e t h e centre with d4-d5, Black's disadvantage is Grischuk,Alexander 2716 even greater because the bishop on b7 is Adams,Michael 2729 entirely out of play, and Black lacks FIDE GP Baku AZE (5) 25.04.2008 counterplay, thus reducing him to a sitting [Carsten Hansen] duck, for instance 14...bd7 A) 15.b2 is also okay, but less to the 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 point and less problematic for Black, e.g. 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 b6 7.e3 c5 8.e2 d6 e4 ( 15...e4 16.c1 ) 16.g5 b8 9.0-0 b7 10.b4 e5 17.dxc5 xc5=; [ This is a new move in this position, though B) 15.d5 b6 16.d3 xe1+ 17.xe1 the idea of playing ...e6-e5 in this variation a6 18.c3 , and White is completely in is hardly a new one. Nevertheless, W hite control. ] appears to obtain an edge after Black text move. Here 10...bd7 11.b2 has been 15.xd4 c6 16.xc6 xc6 17.e3 e4 discussed on this page previously - see the 18.d4 White clearly is in control of the game and Black is almost without counterplay. eBooks. ] [ Another try, which we haven't covered Black's can hope to throw a spanner in the works by playing actively and thus avoid a previously is 10...e4 A) 11.b2!? c6 ( 11...d7!? 12.d3 situation where he is waiting for W hite to g5 13.d2 ) 12.d4 d7 13.d1 e7 break through. c5 19.ad1 a4 20.b1 ( 13...f6 14.c2 f5 15.dxc5 bxc5 c8 21.h3 Taking time to make a breathing
16...c8 [ Removing the queen from both pins, if 16...d6 then 17.cxd5 c2 18.g5 is strong. ] 17.d2 d6 [ 17...c2?! fails to 18.ac1 f6 19.h6! xg4 20.xg4 ] 18.xb4 xe5 19.xc8 fxc8 20.cxd5 xb2 The point of Black's play, he recuperates the pawn, but White's passed dpawn, and active pieces leave him on top. 21.ab1 f6 22.h3 c4?! [ 22...c2 23.a3 d8 24.g2 e5 25.e7 d7 26.d6 might have been better. ] 23.d6 f3?! [ This concedes without a fight. Perhaps Black had intended 23...e4 but then saw that 24.f1! was possible, still, ( 24.dc1 xb1 25.xc4 xa2 26.c7 a5 27.d7 d8 is not so clear) 24...c2 might hold-out some chances. ] 24.dc1 xc1+ 25.xc1 d8 26.d7 N o w, t h e p o we r f u l d 7 - p a wn d e c i d e s . h5 27.c7 a6 28.c3! f8 [ Unfortunately, if 28...xc3 then 29.xc3 threatens both Rc8, and the f3-bishop. ] 29.c8 g5 30.d4 e7 31.xd8 1-0
668
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 disturbing factors. Instructive. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.f3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 b6 [ 6...d5 is also played. ] [ and 6...d6 prepares ...e5 freeing his bishop on c8. All these are matters of choice but I like this last setup. ] 7.e3 Establishing a purely English version of the ...Bb4 system. [ 7.d4 would be a line from the 4.Qc2 NimzoIndian. ] 7...b7 8.e2 c5 [ I like 8...d5 better, giving Black time for ... Nbd7 and ..c5. ] 9.b4 d6 10.b2 c6 11.0-0 e8 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 d5 15.cxd5 This isn't y (15. Qe5!?) but Gurevich wants to torture his opponent. Now we see the two bishops come into their own. xd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.ac1 ac8 18.fd1 xc1 19.xc1 c8 Black thinks that simplifying will help his cause. In fact, the closer that one gets to a pure minor piece two bishops ending the easier it should be for White. Watch the build-up over the next 20 moves. 20.xc8+ xc8 21.e4 e7 22.b5!? [ Or 22.f3 f6 23.f2 ] 22...f6 23.c3 f7 24.c4 g6 25.b4 e5 26.e2 b7 27.f3 d7 28.d6 g6 29.f2 f5 30.exf5 gxf5 31.g4!? A slightly strange solution. Yet opening the position makes Black's king a target. fxg4 32.fxg4 d5 33.e3 g6 34.h4 h6 35.h5+ g7 36.g3 f6 37.e5 f7 38.f4 g7 39.d4 e4 40.e5+ f7 41.f4 [ 41.b8 ] 41...g7 42.e5 [ White should win fairly easily after 42.b8! c5 43.xa7 d7 44.a4 f6 45.c3 ( 45.a5 bxa5 46.c3 ) 45...e7 46.b4 d6 47.a5+- ] 42...c3 43.d3 f3 44.d6 a4 670 A17 [ 44...xg4?? 45.e5+ ] Gurevich,Mikhail 2629 45.e5+ g8 46.g5! c5 47.g6 e4+ Sandipan,Chanda 2522 48.xe6 xg5+ 49.e7 e2 50.b8 a6 Gibtelecom Masters (7.5) 30.01.2006 51.bxa6 xa6 52.a7 f3 [ 52...b5 53.d3 ] [John Watson] 53.xb6 Now it's a matter of time. e5 Gurevich gives a convincing demonstration of 54.e8 c4 55.d4 d3 56.e3 g7 the power of two bishops in a neutral pawn 57.a4 b4 58.d4+ g8 59.a5 d5+ structure where there are no particularly 60.d6 f4 61.e3 f8 62.c6 xh5 hole for the king. It's difficult to fault W hite for doing this, the advantage is hardly running anywhere. c7 22.c3 [ Or 22.b2 ce7 23.eb1 e4 24.d5 4e5 25.d2 e4 26.d4 c5 27.f3 with a continued plus for W hite Black's pieces are placed as active as they can possibly be, yet Black has no counterplay worth talking about. ] 22...ce7 23.f3 h6 24.d5 [ This looks perfectly normal, but achieves little why block Black's weak backward pawn. To me it seems like Grischuk was either tired of the game and wanted to end the game or, more probable, he was short of time, which also explains the lacklustre play in the continuation. Instead W hite could consider 24.ec1!? c7 25.a5 d7 26.g4 c6 27.xc5 dxc5 28.e1 ] 24...c7 25.d4 [ Or 25.ec1!? ] 25...xe1+ 26.xe1 e6 27.xe6 [ White starts a series of exchanges leading to a draw. The only move offering any real chanc es to play f or a win is the b isho p retreat 27.e3 c6 28.d2 ( Winning a pawn with 28.xc6 xc6 29.xa7 doesn't achieve anything after d5 30.c5 d4 31.c1 c8 ) 28...c5 29.d1 offers White the slightly better chances ] 27...xe6 28.xe6 fxe6 29.c5 dxc5 30.xc5 a6 31.d4 d7 32.xd7 Now it's completely drawn of course. But even with the queens on the table, neither side has sufficient weaknesses to offer the opponent any kind of chances. xd7 33.d4 f7 34.h2 g5 35.g4 g6 36.g3 h5 37.gxh5+ xh5 38.f6 g6 39.d8 f5 40.h4 gxh4+ 41.xh4 ½-½
669
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 63.xh6+ f7 64.d5+ xd5 65.xd5 1-0
followed by ...Nh4, or ...Nd5-f4, so W hite prevents this. 18.d4 [ 18.a3!? ] 18...h4 19.d3 c4 20.c2 e4 671 A17 Black can't allow W hite to play f3 and e4. Gustafsson,Jan 2566 21.xe4 dxe4 22.d5! White must play this Khalifman,Alexander 2702 before Black gets the time to blockade the d5 Bundesliga 2002-3 (11) 09.02.2003 square, as this would leave the white darksquared bishop with nothing to do. f5 23.f4!? [Tony Kosten] exf3?! Risky, Black refrains from capturing the 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 pawn by [ 23...xd5 b e c a u s e o f 24.d1 d8 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 b6 7.e3 Probably the ( 24...e6? 25.d6! is the awkward point most popular move here, White completes his the black queen is tied to the g7-pawn, of kingside development before playing b4. b7 course. ) 25.f2! planning to double on the d8.e2 d6 9.0-0 bd7 10.b4 e7 11.b2 f il e t o p in t h e b ish o p , f7 ( 25...e6 c5 12.d3 fc8 This is the mainline at present, 26.fd2 xd2 27.xd2 f7 28.d6 ) one of Black's main plans is to open the a-file, 26.fd2 a7! (covering g7, and preparing to then swap both rooks (after playing ...Qf8 so d e f e n d d 5 ) 27.b1 (planning Ba2, then as to recapture on a8 with a major piece) and Rxd5 and Bxc4) c7 28.a2 and the black play for a draw. position is very uncomfortable, his pieces [ 12...e5 is a good alternative, blocking the can hardly move, and his knight doesn't a1-h8 diagonal. ] seem to helpful, nevertheless, after g6! 13.b5 Gaining more space on the queenside. 29.h1 dd7 he might be holding-on, as f8!? An innovation, normally Black continues 30.g3 f3 31.xd5 h5 a draw seems [ 13...a6 14.a4 axb5 ( or 14...f8 first, likely: 32.c2 xh2! 33.xh2 xd1+ 15.h3 axb5 16.axb5 xa1 17.xa1 a8 34.xd1 xd1+ ] 18.xa8 xa8 etc. Labollita,M-Ahmed,S/ Bled SLO 2002) 15.axb5 f8 16.d2 24.g3 [ 24.d1! seems very strong to me: fxg2 ( 16.fd1 is a waste of time, as Black plays 25.f4 g6 26.f2! and there is no xa1 17.xa1 a8 anyway, and the white defence to Bxf5-e6+. ] r o o k h a s m o v e d t wi c e , 18.e1 b8 19.xa8 xa8 20.a1 xa1+ 21.xa1 24...g2 25.xf5 xd5? In a complicated and White's bishop pair advantage is not too position the ex-FIDE champ goes astray, [ 25...xe1 26.e6+ h8 27.xe1 f8 much here, Shchekachev,A-Bunzmann,D/ 28.f2 g5 is far from clear, Black can play Bethune FRA 2001) 16...xa1 17.xa1 ...Bc8 to exchange the annoying bit on e6. ] a8 18.c1 xa1 19.xa1 a8 (o nc e a ga in, th is plan is re ally ea sy t o 26.e4! xe1 Forced, the black bishop cannot remember!) 20.g4 xa1+ 21.xa1 e8 move: [ 26...b7? 27.xf3! xe1 28.e6+ h8 and another quick draw occurred in Vera,R29.f7 is curtains. ] Vilela,J/Cienfuegos 1983. ] d3 28.d6! After this White is 14.a4 a5!? Completely closing the queenside, 27.exd5 clearly winning. g5 Forced, is a bit passive, [ 28...f6? loses to the elegant 29.e6+!! [ 14...a6 is still possible. ] h8 ( 29...f8 30.xf3! ) 30.xf6 gxf6? 15.ae1 White prepares for the central push. 31.xf6# ] g6 16.d2 d5!? The start of an interesting 29.xc8 f2+?! Not very good, but Black is plan to render the white b2-bishop obsolete. [ 16...e5 would be positionally desirable, losing anyway [ 29...xc8 30.d7! d e f l e c t i o n ! c7 when White will try lever the long diagonal 31.xg7+! xg7 32.d8+ f8 33.g5+ open again, 17.f4 e8 and Black is solid. ] ( 33.xc7?? f2+ 34.g2 e1+ 17.cxd5 exd5 Black hopes to be able to w o u l d b e e m b a r r a s s i n g !) 33...g7 reopen the h1-a8 diagonal with a timely ...d4, 670
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 34.xg7+ xg7 35.xg7 and wins easily. ] 30.xf2! xf2 31.d7 The black queen cannot guard the queening square, d8, and g7 simultaneously. h3+ 32.f1 f5+ 33.g2 f2+ 34.xh3 f1+ 35.h4 [ 35.h4 f8 36.xg7+ xg7 37.d8+ leads to mate. ] 1-0
672 Ivanchuk,Vassily Bologan,Viktor 21st ECC Saint Vincent ITA (7) [John Watson]
A17 2752 2700 24.09.2005
You always wonder why these top GMs (in this case 2700+) don't play the sort of unbalanced line that arises here. There's practically no t h e o r y , a n d t h e b e s t m a n t e n d s t o wi n . Interestingly, Ivanchuk has played varieties of the English Opening recently. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g3 0-0 5.g2 d5 6.a3 xc3 [ 6...e7 7.d4 is the other route, reaching a Catalan with White having played Nc3 and having the extra tempo a3. The latter may not be much, but is useful in more cases than not: dxc4 ( 7...bd7 8.c5!? e4 9.c2 , using a3 to good effect.) 8.e5 ( 8.a4 ) 8...c6 9.xc6 bxc6 10.xc6 e8 11.xe7+ xe7 12.a4 a5 ( 12...e5!? Ribli ) 13.g5 a6 14.0-0 c5 15.xf6 gxf6 ( 15...xf6 16.dxc5 ) 16.ad1 Kramnik-Salov, Madrid 1993. ] 7.dxc3 [ 7.bxc3 has done badly in practice, several games going c6 ( or 7...c5 8.0-0 c6 ) 8.cxd5 exd5 9.0-0 e8 with excellent piece activity. ] 7...c5 A logical but unusual move. Normally Black tries to play ultra-solidly by [ 7...bd7 8.cxd5 exd5 9.0-0 e8 . In spite of the interesting conflict between bishop and knight pairs, this line hasn't seen much action. There seems no particular reason for this, but play does seem about equal, e.g., 10.f4 ( 10.c2 e7 11.e3 c5 12.fe1 b6 13.ad1 b7= Schlosser-Lingnau, Werther 2003) 10...c6 11.c2 b6 12.a4 c4! 13.d4!?
( 13.ad1 ) 13...g4 14.b3 d6 15.fe1 h5 16.ad1 g6 17.c1 de4 18.f3 c5 19.e3 Eingorn-Popovic, Bor 1985. ] [ 7...dxc4 Ribli 8.xd8 xd8 9.e5 d5!? ( 9...bd7 Ribli 10.xc4 b6 11.a5 b8 12.0-0 e8 13.e3 f6 14.fd1 xd1+ 15.xd1 f7 16.d8! e7 17.xb7 d6 18.a5! xd8 19.c6++- Kaidanov,GNeverov,V URS-OT56 Blagoveshchensk 1988 ) 10.xc4 c6 11.0-0 e5 Ribli,Z-Speelman,J Manila olm 1992 ] 8.0-0 c6 9.g5!? Ivanchuk opts for the min or position al advant age o f t he bet te r bishop (on g2). dxc4 10.a4 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.xc4 The position turns out to be an irritating one for Black. e7 The problem is that natural development by [ 12...b6 can be met by 13.b4 ] 13.e1! A clever move threatening both Bxc6 and Nd3. e5 [ 13...a5!? ] 14.f4 g6 15.e3 c4 This looks awkward but is a good move, stopping Nd3. 16.f3 c7 17.a4!? [ 17.h4! will kick out Black's knight and retain the advantage. ] 17...d7 18.fd1 fd8 [ 18...c6 19.c5 ] 19.a5 e7!? The position is roughly equal, but now Ivanchuk plays a series of masterly moves eventually wearing Black down and forcing a concession: [ 19...a6 is probably better. ] 20.e5! ac8 [ 20...xe5? 21.xe5 wins a pawn ] 21.d4! e8 Black's bishop can't move due to Qxc7. 22.ad1 a4 23.1d2 f5 24.g4!? h5 25.e4 xe5 26.xe5 b3 27.h3! W hite takes the bishop off its beautiful diagonal in order to play to the 7th rank and b e a b le t o u se d 4 a s a swin g squ a re . g6 28.d7 f8? [ 28...c5! 29.xf7?! ( 29.a6! ) 29...a4 30.xb7 c6 is the computer defence. ] 29.xf5?! Okay, but [ 29.xg6! fxg6 30.xe6 c6 31.xc6 bxc6 32.e4 h6 33.xa7 is overwhelming. ] 29...exf5 30.ed4 c5 31.f4 xa5 [ 31...b5 32.c7 and Rdd7. Black's bishop on b3 is out of play. ] 671
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 32.xb7 c2 33.dd7 e4 34.xa7 xa7 35.xa7 d5 36.d7 d8 37.f6+ f8 38.d7! The rest is pretty much a high-level mop-up. xd7 39.xd7+ e7 40.e5 d6 41.f2 e6 42.e3 c5 43.d2 d6 44.c2 d5 45.f3 f6 46.d2 d6 47.b3 cxb3+ 48.xb3 c4 49.e3 e2 50.d2 c5 51.e4 g4 52.d3 h3 53.c4 d6 54.d4 fxe4 55.xe4+ e6 56.c5 g2 57.c6 e7 58.c7 h3 59.c5 d7 60.d6 e6 61.h4 g5 62.hxg5 fxg5 63.fxg5 e5 64.f7+ e6 65.g6 f6 66.d6 f5 67.e5 c8 68.c6 h3 69.e7 g4 70.g7 xg7 71.e5 1-0
673
A17 Kjartansson,Gudmundur 2356 Panchanathan,Magesh Chandran 2493 ch Edinburgh SCO (4) 14.07.2009 [Jonathan Rowson]
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 0-0 [ 4...h6 There are several playable moves here, and although I don't know the lines well, for what it is worth, ... h6 feels to me l i k e t h e b e s t m o ve , i f o n l y b e c a u s e i t generally forces White to compromise his kingside structure to make any 'progress'. ] 5.g5 e8 6.c2 d5 7.a3 [ 7.b3!? e7 ( 7...c6 might be better.) 8.g1 c5 9.e3 c6 10.d3! f5 11.gxf6 xf6 12.a3 e8 13.b2 h5 14.e2 and White had the initiative in Krasenkow, M-Romanishin, O/Lvov 2000. ] 7...e7 [ 7...xc3 looks better to me, but many strong(er) players have opted to retreat. ] 8.d4 b6?! [ 8...c5! Feels like the most thematic move. 9.dxc5 xc5 10.e3 e7 11.h4 dxc4?! ( 11...c6! ) 12.xc4 left White with a comfortable edge in Zvjaginsev, V Riazantsev, A Moscow 2003 ] [ 8...dxc4 is also plausible and after 9.e4 c5 ] 9.e4 dxc4 10.xc4 c5 11.d5 d6 12.a2 e5 13.g1 [ 13.xe5 xg5 ] [ 13.xe5 xg5 14.g1 xc1 15.xc1!
also looks promising. ] 13...f5 14.gxf6 xf6 15.e3 d7 16.0-0-0 b5 17.g5! xg5 18.xg5 b4 In positions with opposite side castling every tempo is precious and it is usually a matter of 'who lands first wins'. Not always, and perhaps not even here, but when in doubt it makes sense t o f o l l o w t h i s s p i r i t . 19.dg1! bxc3?! Perhaps Black underestimated the power of white's 21st move. He is not playing directly for mate, but for a more enduring attack. [ 19...f7?! 20.axb4 cxb4 21.b5! xb5 22.d6 is winning. ] [ 19...g6 looks too passive, but probably gives the best practical chances because even though white is better mobilised the position remains hugely unbalanced. ] 20.xg7+ h8 21.f4! cxb2+ 22.xb2! The idea is simply Qg2 with the assumption that Black cannot possibly stop all the mating threats. e8 23.g2! df6 24.d6! The dormant bishop wakes up. c4 25.xc4 g4 26.xg4 xg4 27.xg4 h6 28.fxe5 c8 29.e6! Elegant. xe6 30.xe6 g7 31.d5 Black is the exchange up, but he faces a hopeless battle against the bishop pair from hell supporting a pawn trio from somewhere even worse. ac8+ 32.d2 h7 33.e6 b8 34.d4 A sweet and powerful victory. 1-0
674 Kosten,Anthony C Balogh,Csaba Aut chT Velden (5.1) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2507 2456 23.01.2004
1.c4 e6 2.c3 b4 3.f3 f6 4.g4 0-0 5.g5 e8 6.c2 [ 6.b3 c5 7.a3 a5 8.e4 b6 is similar to this game, but the white queen is in a worse position, Huzman,A-Nikolic,P/ Neum BIH 2000. ] 6...c5!? This seems to be an innovation, I had expected [ 6...d5 as in the Zvjaginsev,V-Riazantsev,A game we examined previously. ] 7.a3 a5 The bishop gets stuck here for the rest of the game. 672
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 7...xc3 8.xc3 b6 9.b4 with the advantage because of the bishops. ] 8.e4!? Aiming for f6, but hitting c5 in the process. b6 9.b4! The point, g7 diagonal is opened with gain of tempo, and while the white dark-squared bishop will attack g7, its black counterpart is of absolutely no help to the king's defence. cxb4 10.b2 b7 This looks best, giving the option of capturing one of the dangerous white knights. Th e immediate threat was Rg1 and Nf6+ so the only serious alternative was [ 10...d5!? which is met by 11.f6+ gxf6 ( 11...xf6 12.gxf6 g6 might be playable, but the f6-pawn is a monster) 12.gxf6 xf6 ( 12...b3?! 13.d3! (keeps the threat of Ng5) d6 14.g1+ h8 15.g7 f5 16.g5 and wins ) 13.g1+ h8 14.g5 d4 (the only move to stop mate) 15.g2 wi n n i n g t h e a 8 - r o o k w h i l s t t h e a t t a c k continues. ] 11.g1 Really threatening Nf6+ now. [ 11.f6+?! doesn't work any more, gxf6 12.gxf6 xf3 13.g1+ h8 14.g7 xg7 15.fxg7+ g8 16.gxf8+ xf8 17.exf3 and Black is better because of the tatty white pawn structure. ] 11...b3!? This doesn't achieve a great deal, but Black didn't want to capture on a3, and drag the a1-rook into the attack, or allow W h it e t o t a k e o n b 4 wh e n it s u i t e d h i m . 12.d3 xe4 The knight had to go! [ 12...d5!? is very risky, A) 13.f6+!? xf6 ( 13...gxf6? 14.gxf6+ h8 15.g5 wins on the spot) 14.gxf6 g6 might defend, 15.e3 ( or 15.d1!? to free the queen and knight f rom the defence of d2) 15...d7 16.cxd5 xd5 17.h6 xf6 18.g5 e5 etc.; B) 13.g3! possible as the d5-pawn is pinned, d7 14.cxd5 exd5 15.f6+ exf6 16.gxf6 g6 17.e3 e8 18.h6 xf6 19.d4 planning Nf5 and also Nxb3, note that the black dark-squared bishop is a long way from its best post on g7! ] 13.xe4 c6 Clearly best, although there are alternatives: [ 13...d5?! 14.cxd5 xd5 15.xd5 exd5 16.d4 and Nxb3 leaves White with the bishop pair and a better structure. ] [ 13...a6 14.g3 c5 15.h4
and Rh3 wins. ] 14.g3 The attack continues - the immediate threat is Rh3 - and meanwhile White can pick t h e b 3 - p a w n u p w h e n h e w a n t s . f5!? The most obvious way to counter Rh3 and Qh4, however [ 14...d6 aims for f5, and may be better, 15.g4 ( 15.d3 is also possible, to take t h e b 3 - p a w n) 15...e8 (the king needs some space) 16.h3 e5 17.h5 xc4 18.xh7+ f8 19.b1 xb2 20.xb2 e4 and although the black king is bare he is still fighting. ] 15.gxf6 Simplest, opening the g-file, though I also considered [ 15.h4 when e7 16.h3 g6 17.d4 is unpleasant for Black who must constantly be on the lookout for mating attacks along the a1-h8 diagonal. ] 15...xf6 16.d3 e7 Black hopes to close t h e d i a g o n a l b y . . . e 5 . 17.g2?! The immediate [ 17.g5!? is more accurate: e5 18.g2 with a nasty threat of Bd5+ and Rh3. ] 17...c5 [ 17...h5! looks odd, but may be the best d e f e n s i v e p o s s i b i l i t y , 18.h3 f7 and Ng5 is impossible because f2 is hanging. ] 18.g5 e7 The point of Black's play, he wanted to prohibit Ng5. [ 18...d5? is met by 19.xg7+! xg7 20.g5 with a double threat of Qxh7 mate and Nxe6+, forking king and queen. ] 19.0-0-0 d5 20.cxd5 exd5 21.h4 [ 21.g1 is also strong, but I wanted to attack d5 as well as g7 (by Nf5). ] 21...ae8?! I had expected [ 21...c5+ 22.b1 c2+ 23.xc2 bxc2+ 24.xc2 but this is very good for White. ] [ 21...h8 22.g1 c7 23.b1 ad8 looks OK, but then 24.xd5! is good. ] 22.xd5+ h8 The knight on f6 is pinned. 23.xb3! [ 23.xc6?! i s n o t h i n g s p e c i a l : c7 and White has only succeeded in exchanging his powerful bishop, but ] [ 23.dg1 was tempting, e5!? ( 23...c5+ 24.b1 c2+ 25.xc2 bxc2+ 26.xc2 must win ) 24.xe5 c7+ with some chances. ] 673
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23...xe2 24.g6+! The neat point. hxg6 25.xg6 [ after 25.xg6 e7 is forced, , but then ( 25...e7? 26.h5+ mates ) 26.xf6 xf6 27.h5+ xh5 28.xh5+ h6 is quite hopeless. ] 1-0
White's attack. [ 19...gxf5 might be answered by 20.h5 ] 20.d5+ h8 21.h5! gxh5 22.g2! Tony gains a tempo on c6 and diverts a Black defender from the kingside. c8 23.be1!? To some extent a matter of taste. Alternatively, [ 23.h3! wins the f5 pawn, after which the advance of White's own f-pawn will prove decisive even if Black's king survives. ] 675 A17 Kosten,Anthony C 2527 23...e7 24.xb7 xb7 25.h3 g7 Van der Linden,Lucas 2263 26.xh5 f8 27.d2 d7 Breaking the pin 4NCL Nottingham ENG (6) 23.01.2005 to prepare ...d5, which W hite immediately prevents. 28.e3! fg6? This ends up being [John Watson] time-consuming, since the knight will have to Our fearless Webmaster plays a pretty game defend h7 anyway. Better [ 28...d4 , to divert White from an easy which illustrates again the power of the g4-g5 rook shif t to t he h -f ile , alt hough 29.h2 expansion in nearly every opening these days. e6 30.h3! f8 31.cd5 is hardly fun for 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.g3 e6 4.f3 b6 5.e4 Black. Perhaps ] b7 6.d3 In general this system hasn't given [ 28...c6 29.ed5 d4+ 30.h2 xe1 Black too much trouble. Still, he can't waste 31.xe1 g6 would have stabilised for a too much time getting a plan going. d6 7.g2 moment. Of course there remains the e7 8.0-0 bd7 Black forfeits the idea of ... problem that Black can hardly move! ] e5, ...Nc6-d4 and aims for a Hedgehog 29.e2! c6 30.h2 f8 31.cd5 d4 formation instead. 9.e1!? Preparing f4. [ 31...xb2 32.h3! d4 33.h1 [ 9.e1 0-0 10.d4 cxd4 11.xd4 c7 and the crucial f-pawn falls. ] 12.b3 a6 13.b2 would be a typical f o r m a t i o n f o r b o t h s i d e s . W h i t e m i g h t 32.c3 b7 [ 32...g8 33.c2! f7 ( 33...xc2 consider a g4-g5 plan at some point. ] 34.xg7 xg7 35.f6 ) 34.xd4 xh5 9...e5!? Now Black switches to a ...Nc6 35.xh5 cxd4 36.cb4! grabs every formation, which is logical but takes time. available square. ] [ 9...0-0?! allows 10.e5! xg2 11.exf6 xf1 12.fxe7 xe7 13.xf1 when White's pieces 33.h1 e6? 34.xd4 xd4 [ 34...cxd4 35.xf5! ] should outweigh the rook and pawn. ] 35.xf5 d8 36.xd4 cxd4 37.f5 [ But 9...c7 10.f4 0-0 11.e3 a6! is a standard setup that has served Black 1-0 well. Who knows? Maybe White can close h i s e y e s a n d p la y 12.g4!? . Amazingly, A17 Fritz8 pref ers W h it e slight ly inste ad o f 676 b l o wi n g a f e w c i rc u it s o ve r h is la c k o f Kramnik,Vladimir 2785 development. ] Carlsen,Magnus 2714 10.f4 c6 11.e3 0-0 12.c2 a6 13.g4! World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (5) 21.11.2007 Whether this objectively gains the advantage [Carsten Hansen] or not, it is perfectly sound and difficult to meet. W hite simply pushes Black's pieces 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g3 0-0 back and gains space. e8 14.g5 d7 5.b3 This combination of g3 and Qb3 is 15.h4 f8 16.d2 b8 17.a4 g6 18.ab1 somewhat of a Kramnik speciality, and one I have no idea what either side should be which scores well for him. This game is no doing here but Black's next seems logical, to exception... c5 6.g2 c6 7.0-0 d6 challenge the centre. f5 19.exf5 exf5?! [ Black has tried several other moves in this Opening the e-file yet underestimating p o s i t i o n : A ) 7...a5? is tempting, but 674
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 doesn't accomplish anything: 8.c2 xc4 9.a4! A) 9...b5 A1) 10.a3 a5 ( 10...bxa4 11.axb4 ) 11.xc5 Ribli; A2) 10.a3; B) 9...d5 10.a3 ( 10.d3 b6 11.xc5 bd7= Ribli ) 10...a5 11.d3 b6 ( 11...d6 12.xc5 ) 12.xc5 bd7 13.b4 B1) 13...c7! 14.b2 b6 15.xd7 xd7 16.e5 ( 16.xf6 gxf6 17.e4 c8 18.b3 c6 19.d4 a8 20.exd5 e5= Ribli; 16.fc1 c8 17.b3 Ribli ) 16...c8 17.xd7 xd7 which Ribli evaluates as very slightly better for White thanks to White's bishop pair; B2) 13...xc5 14.bxa5 B2a) 14...xa5 15.d2 c7 ( 15...b6 16.e3 fd7 17.fc1+- ) 16.ac1 ( 16.fc1 Ribli b6 17.d4+- ); B2b) 14...b6 15.e3 Garcia Ilundain, D-Psakhis, L/Benasque 1995 ] [ B) 7...d5 8.d3 xc3 ( 8...h6 9.e3 e8 10.a3 dxc4 11.dxc4 xc3 12.xc3 e5 13.b4 Kasparov, G-Anand, V/PCA-Wch/ 1995; 8...d4!? 9.a4 d6 10.e3 a5 11.exd4 cxd4 12.g5 e5 13.a3 h6 14.xf6 xf6 15.c2 g4 1/2-1/2 Izoria, Z - S a d y k o v , R / N a k h c h i v a n A Z E 2 0 0 3) 9.xc3 d4 10.a3 b6 11.f4 e8 12.e5 Ehlvest, J-Kortschnoj, V/Horgen 1995 ] [ C) 7...e7 8.d3 h6 9.a3 a5 10.e3 d8 11.c2 a6 12.d4 d5 13.dxc5 xc3 14.xc3 xc5 15.b3 b5 16.b2 bxc4 17.bxc4 Kramnik, V-Illescas Cordoba, M/ Yerevan 1996 ] [ D) 7...a6 8.d3 b8 9.d1 d6 10.g5 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.e4 e7 13.a3 a5 Ch u ch e lo v, V -B a kla n, V/ B in d la ch G E R 2006 ] 8.d3 h6 [ 8...b8 9.h4 d7 10.d2 a6 11.a3 a5 12.d1 b5 13.b4 c7 14.cxb5 axb5 15.b1 cxb4= Kavalek, L-Ree, H/NED/ 1969/ ] 9.e3 [ 9.a3 a5 10.e3 b8 11.d4 d7 12.d1 e7 13.d2 c7 14.b5 b6 15.dxc5
dxc5 16.c3 e5 17.a4 a6 18.a3 c7 1/2-1/2 Pelletier, Y-Mastrovasilis, A/Athens GRE 2005 ] 9...e5 [ 9...b8!? 10.a3 xc3 11.xc3 b5 12.b3 b6 13.d2 d8 14.b2 bxc4 15.xc4 c7 16.b4 cxb4 17.axb4 xb4 18.a5 Bezold, M-Kortschnoj, V/Muenster 1996 ] 10.d2 [ 10.a3 a5 ( 10...xc3!? 11.xc3 a5 ) 11.d2 e7?! 12.d5 xd5 13.cxd5 xd2 ( 13...b8 14.c4 ) 14.xd2 ( 14.dxc6? xc1 15.cxb7 xb7 16.xb7 ab8 ) 14...b8 15.d4 d7?! ( 15...cxd4 16.exd4 exd4 17.fe1 f6 Ribli ) 16.dxe5 xe5 17.f4 Kramnik, V-Hracek, Z/Berlin 1996 ] 10...f5 [ 10...xc3 this is natural, because the bishop on b4 is already out of the game, whereas the knight on c3 is part of the fight over control of the centre, in particular the d5-square. 11.xc3 A) Premature, Ribli gives 11...e6 12.f4 d7 13.fxe5?! ( 13.e4! looks better CH ) 13...dxe5 14.xf6? gxf6 15.e4 e7; B) 11...d5?! 12.cxd5 xd5 13.xc5 db4 14.b3 ( 14.d4 exd4 15.e4 e6 is comfortable for Black - Ribli) 14...xd3 15.c3 xc1 16.axc1 e6 17.e4 ( 17.xc6? bxc6 18.e4 a5 19.fd1= Ribli ) 17...e7 18.c5! Kramnik, VAdams, M/Dortmund 1996 ] [ 10...e6!? 11.de4 xe4= is given by Dolmatov ] 11.a3 xc3 12.xc3 d7 13.e1 h3 14.h1 ac8 [ 14...a5!? ] 15.b4 b6 16.b2 fe8 17.b3 h5 18.f3 f5 19.h4 d7 20.c3 h7 21.d1 g4 22.f3 h3 23.f4 f6 24.f3 g4 [ 24...g4!? ] 25.b5 d8 26.a4 e4 27.xg4 xg4 28.d4 [ 28.dxe4!? xe4 29.d5 e6 30.f5 ] 28...cxd4 [ 28...d5!? ] 29.xd4 f6 30.ed1 h3 31.xd6 g4 32.d2 [ 32.d2!? ] 32...xc4 675
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 32...e6! ] 33.d7 f8 34.xg7 xg7 35.f5+ h7 [ 35...g8 36.d6 c3 37.xe4 xe3 38.g5 xg3+ 39.hxg3 xg3+= ] 36.d6 c3??+[ 36...b4! ] 37.xe4 e6 38.xc3 xe3 39.d3+ f5 40.d5 d8 41.e4 h6 42.e5 xg3 43.f6+ h7 44.xf7+ g7 45.hxg3 xd5 46.xd5 xg3+ 47.g2 e3+ 48.h1 f5 49.g1 1-0
677
A17 Kramnik,Vladimir 2766 Ivanchuk,Vassily 2750 Amber Rapid Monte Carlo MNC rapid (5) [Carsten Hansen] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 d6 7.b4 Here also 7 d4 and 7 g3 have been played on several occasions. a5 [ 7...e5 8.b2 ( 8.g3 c6 9.b5 e7 10.g2 c5 11.bxc6 xc6 12.0-0 e8 13.b2 g4 14.h3 d7 15.d3 c8 16.d2 c7 17.e4 e7 with chances to both sides, Arduman, C-Maksimovic, S/ Katerini 1993 ) A) 8...b6 9.e3 c5 10.e2 b7 11.0-0 bd7 12.d3 c8 13.a4 e8 14.e4 cxb4 15.xb4 a5 16.a3 c5 17.d2 c6 with a fully satisfactory position for Black, Ivkov, B-Langeweg, K/Wijk aan Zee 1971; B) 8...c6 B1) 9.b5 e7 10.e3 b6 ( 10...f5!? 11.d3 a6 looks pretty decent for Black) 11.e2 b7 12.0-0 e4 13.c2 g6 14.e1 f5 15.f3 c5 16.d4 e6 17.d5 c5 18.d3 Portisch, L-Larsen, B/Palma de Mallorca 1971; B2) 9.e3 e4 10.c2 f5 11.e2 a5 12.d3 f6 13.b5 e7 14.c5 Portisch, L-Larsen, B/Las Palmas 1976; C) 8...e8 9.g3 ( 9.d3?! g4 10.e3 bd7 11.h3 xf3 12.gxf3 d5 13.0-0-0 c5 , and White is already in trouble, Barbero, G-Timman, J/Novi Sad OL 1990) 9...b6 ( 9...bd7 10.g2 b6 11.0-0 e4 12.d4 c5 13.c2 g4 14.fe1 c8
15.e3 a4 and Black has equalised without much effort, Jelen, I-Kuzmin, G/ Bled 1979 ) 10.g2 b7 11.0-0 c5 ( 11...bd7 12.d3 c5 13.e4 f8 14.h4 e6 15.ae1 d4 16.c1 d7 17.f4 Schmidt, W -Kholmov, R/Legnica 1994) 12.e3 bd7 13.d3 c8 14.e4 a6 15.h4 b5 16.f5 b6 with a doublee d g e d p o si t i o n , S za b o , L - L a r s e n , B / Lugano 1970 ] [ 7...bd7 8.g3 b6 9.g2 b7 10.0-0 c5 11.b2 A) 11...c7 12.d3 fc8 13.fc1 e5 14.h3 e8 15.e4 f8 16.h4 ( 16.a4!? ) 16...e6 17.d2 d8 18.xe6 fxe6 19.ab1 ( 19.a4!? ) 19...c6 20.e2 e7 21.g2 f7 with a satisf actory position f or Black , Illescas Cordoba, M-Karpov, A/Wijk aan Zee 1993; B) 11...e7 12.d3 fc8 13.e4 f8 14.fe1 a6 15.d2 ab8 16.d4 , and White has the upper hand, Lobron, EAdams, M Brussels SWIFT 25' 1992; C) 11...c8 C1) 12.d3 e8 ( 12...c7 13.a4 Georgiev, Ki-Lobron, E Tilburg1.1992) 13.e4 Kasparov, G-Karpov, An New York/Lyon Wch m(24) 1990; C2) 12.c2 c7 13.bxc5 bxc5 14.ab1 c6 15.c3 c8 16.d3 b8 17.e4 xb1 18.xb1 c7 19.d2 b8 20.xb8+ xb8 21.b3 xb3 22.xb3 and White has a slightly better endgame thanks to his bishop pair, and in fact managed to convert it to a win, Dueball, J-Hecht, H/ Bundesliga 1990 ] 8.b2 e5 [ 8...axb4 9.axb4 xa1+ 10.xa1 b6 11.g3 b7 12.g2 bd7 13.0-0 e7 14.b2 a8 15.d4 xg2 16.xg2 e8= Azmaiparashvili, Z-Corral Blanco, J/ Ponferrada 1992 ] 9.g3 [ 9.e3 bd7 ( 9...g4!? ) 10.e2 b6 11.c2 g4 12.0-0 e8 13.d3 d7 14.fd1 a4 15.c3 Furman, S-Kholmov, R/ USSR Ch (Baku) 1972 ] 9...axb4!? [ 9...e4 10.c2 g5 11.xg5 xg5 12.b5 d7 13.g2 c5 14.0-0 h5 676
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.d4 exd4 16.xd4 e8 17.fe1 Lengyel, L-Hecht, H/Budapest 1973 ] 10.axb4 xa1+ 11.xa1 b5!? This is a fascinating concept in this variation. Black appears to get a position where he plays for a win without any further ado. 12.cxb5 d7!? [ Even 12...d7 can be considered, but this is not part of Ivanchuk's concept. ] 13.e3 [ On 13.c4 Black still plays c8 and if 14.d4 then e4 15.d2 e3! 16.fxe3 b7 17.g1 xb5 with amble compensation for the pawn ] 13...c8 14.e2 b7 15.d3 xb5 [ 15...g4!? 16.e4 xb5 17.h3 xf3 18.xf3 c6 19.0-0 b8 20.g2 b7 21.b1 h6 ] 16.0-0 c6 [ 16...c6?! ] 17.b1 [ 17.b3 e7 18.c1 c6 19.e4 b5 ] 17...a6!? [ 17...e4!? 18.d4 xd4 19.xd4 a8 20.f1 exd3 21.xd3 xd3 22.xd3 e4 23.d4 f6 , and Black has the better chances. However, Ivancuk prefers to keep the pieces on due to White's lack of overall activity andcoordination ] 18.b3 a8 19.d2?! [ 19.e1!? a2 20.xa2 xa2 21.d1 a7 ] 19...a2 Black is already clearly better and on the verge of something more. 20.c3 xb3 21.xb3 a2 22.f1? [ 22.f3?! e7 A) 23.e4 fd5 24.b2 ( 24.e1 f5 25.d2 a4 26.b1 c2 27.c1 xb4-+ ) 24...h6 25.h4 a4-+; B) 23.b1 xd3-+ ] [ 22.b2 a1+ 23.b1 xb1+ 24.xb1 d5 25.f3 cxb4 26.d4 d3 27.xb4 xb4 28.c3 c5 29.dxc5 dxc5 ] 22...d5! and now Black wins a piece. The rest of the game is relatively interesting as Kramnik plays on, but never really has any chance and Ivanchuk rather methodically eliminates whatever counterplay Kramnik has dreamed up. 23.g2 ce7 24.b2 a4 25.a3 xb2 26.xa4 b6 27.a7 xd2 28.xc7 f8 29.b7 d1+ 30.f1 ec8 31.b5 a1 32.c7 g6 33.h4 b1 34.d4
exd4 35.exd4 e7 36.g2 h5 37.b7 bd5 38.b8+ g7 39.d8 b2 40.g1 f5 41.c4 b1+ 42.h2 f6 43.f3 b2+ 44.h3 xd4 0-1
678 Kramnik,Vladimir Zhang Zhong Wijk aan Zee NED (6) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2777 2639 17.01.2004
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 b6 7.e3 In some ways the least ambitious move, but if Kramnik plays it ... [ We have also looked at 7.g3 and ] [ 7.b4 ] 7...b7 8.e2 d6 9.0-0 bd7 10.b4 Kramnik plays this only af ter having f irst developed his kingside. c5 Black reacts in the centre, this move gives the possibility of pressurizing the c4-pawn. [ 10...e5 blocks the long diagonal, 11.d3 e7 12.b2 with a plus for White Vokac,MLechtynsky,J/Marianske Lazne 1978. In both ca se s B la c k p la ce s h is p a wn s o n d a r k squares to impede the white light-squared bishop. ] 11.b2 e8!? A novelty in a common position. [ 11...e7 is the most popular, and has similar ideas, see the game Gustafsson,JKhalifman ,A. ] [ 11...c8 puts pressure on the c-line, Portisch,L-Najdorf,M/Wijk aan Zee 1978. ] 12.d4 Gaining space at the (temporary) cost of the e4-square. e4 13.b3 b8 14.ad1 c7 15.d2 ef6!? Interesting, normally with less space Black should be happy to exchange a pair of pieces, and yet here he ref uses. Perhaps he con sidered that th e knight was misplaced on d2, or perhaps he simply wanted a more exciting position with m o r e p i e c e s . 16.c1 a5 17.fd1 e5 Black follows his plan of putting all his pawns on dark squares. 18.f1 axb4 19.axb4 h6 20.a1 ec8 Black plays solidly, ready to c o u n t e r W h i t e ' s p l a n s . 21.b2 A small repetition to gain time on the clock, 677
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 perhaps? e8 22.dxc5 dxc5 23.b1! The knight heads for the b5 square. cxb4 24.xb4 c5 The black knight finds a good square on c5, White's advantage (the bishop pair) seems to amount to very little here. 25.c3 bd8 26.b1 The b6-pawn is the target. c6 27.a1 xd1 28.xd1 d8?! Careless, B lack is keen on exchanging the last pair of rooks, when the draw would be close, but misses a neat tactic. 29.b5! xb5 Forced, [ 29...e7?! 30.xd8+ xd8 31.xe5 wins a pawn for nothing. ] 30.xe5! xe5 Black has little choice, the position of two knight versus rook and two pawns is unpleasant but otherwise he loses a pawn for nothing. 31.xd8+ e8 32.xb6 I am not sure that this position is winning for White, the c-pawn is well blocked, but it takes a lot of patience to defend it. e7 33.c8 fd7 34.c7 f8 35.g3 e6 36.c6 g6 Th e b la c k p o s it ion is so lid , b u t p a s sive . 37.h3 f5 If White is able to capture on e6 the c-pawn will be free to advance. 38.g2 g7 39.d5 ec5 40.a8 f7 41.a1+ f6 42.a7 White is probing the black position, hoping that Black will buckle under the pressure. a6 Black is unable to return to e7: [ 42...e7? 43.xc5 xc5 44.xd7 wins immediately. ] 43.xa6 xa6 44.f3 Without queens on the board W hite can advance his king and kingside pawns. ac5 45.f2 f6 46.c6+ e6 47.e2 e5 48.f4+ f6 49.d2 e7 B l a c k d e f e n d s w e l l . 50.f3 b3+!? Black plays a tactical sequence to simplify matters, but perhaps he should have preferred something like [ 50...a4 51.c2 dc5 ] 51.c3 a5 52.a6 Forced, or White loses t h e c 4 - p a w n . xc4 53.xe6+ xe6 54.xc4 An extra pawn on just one wing with bishop against knight is not the most promising scenario, but here the white king is active, and the black knight short of good squares. g5 55.d5+ f6 This takes the f6square from the knight but [ 55...d6 56.d4 f6 57.b7 is also difficult, Bc8 is a problem, attacking the f5-pawn. ]
56.c6 f8 57.d5 g6 58.d6 e7 59.b7 g6 60.f3 f8 Black hopes to survive by moving his knight from f8-g6, to break this W hite will have to advance his kingside pawns. 61.d5 g6 62.c6 f8 63.d7 g6 64.h3 h5 The best chance, [ 64...f8 65.h4! gxh4 66.gxh4 g6 67.h5 and Black loses use of the g6-square, and will soon be in zugzwang. ] 65.fxg5+ xg5 66.h4+! g4!? A difficult decision, if Black can only swap his knight for the g and e-pawns he would draw by virtue of the 'bad h-pawn', but it is difficult to achieve this. [ 66...f6! l o o k s b a d a f t e r 67.e8 but Black has the resource e5 68.d5 ( 68.xh5? c4+ draws ) 68...g4 69.d4 h2! (the knight works wonders!) 70.xh5 f1 and Black seems to have achieved his g o a l , b u t t h e n t h e r e i s 71.e4! fxe4 ( 71...xg3?! 72.e5+ g7 73.f3 ) 72.g4 with connected passed pawns, but Black is still not dead: g3! 73.g5+ f5 74.d1 f4! 75.g6 f5+ 76.c5 e5 77.h5 f6 and draws as the knight will play Nh4xg6. ] 67.e4 xg3 68.exf5 h8? A terrible decision, perhaps due to a shortage of time. [ 68...f8! might just do the trick: 69.f6 ( 69.e7 h7 70.f7 xh4 71.g7 g5 72.f6 g3 73.h6 f4 74.xh5?! h7 drawing ) 69...xh4 70.f7 g5 71.e7 g6+ 72.e8 f6 this looks bad but Black has a fabulous resource, e.g. 73.b5 g7 74.d3 f8 75.f5 h4 76.e7 h3! 77.xh3 g6+ 78.e8 f8 79.f5 (zugzwang?) h8! 80.xf8 stalemate!! ] 69.e7 xh4 70.f6! The knight is miserably placed on h8. g4 71.g7 g5 72.f6 [ 72.xh8?? f6 ] 72...h4 73.c8 h5 74.f5! [ 74.xh8?? g6 ] 74...g5 75.e6 g6 Black has to let the pawn advance, he has no other moves. 76.f7 f4 77.c8 h5+ Obviously hopeless, but [ 77...g6 is no better, 78.d7 ] 78.h7 1-0
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xh6 and Black may defend. ] A17 Krasenkow,Michal 2702 22...xd2+ 23.xd2 Black is temporarily a Dydyshko,Viacheslav 2525 p a wn t o t h e g o o d , b u t h a s n o m e a n s o f chT Zakopane chT (1) 02.09.2000 defending g7. g6 24.hxg6 fxg6 25.xg6+ f7 26.h7 [Tony Kosten] [ 26.h7 h8 27.f1+ e7 28.e1+! f7 29.g2 leads to a quick mate, the black king 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 has no cover, i.e. hd8 30.h8! xh8 xc3!? 31.f2+ g7 32.g1+ h6 33.h2# ] [ A newish idea, the idea being that after 4...d5 5.g5 it is not possible to bring the 1-0 knight to e4 after xc3 because of the reply 6.bxc3 e4 7.d3 xc3 8.b3 d4 9.xd4 A17 xd4 10.b2 with a large advantage. So by 680 capturing immediately on c3, Black can then Krasenkow,Michal 2661 play ...d5 and then ...Ne4, should W hite Romanishin,Oleg M 2578 recapture with the d-pawn. ] Leonid Stein Mem (1) 12.05.2000 5.dxc3 [Tony Kosten] [ 5.bxc3 is also possible, when Play might resemble a Nimzo-Indian after d6 , say. ] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 0-0!? 5...d5 Provocative, but undoubtedly playable. 5.g5 [ So this is the point of Dydyshko's idea, e8 6.c2 d5 7.b3 p r e v i o u s l y 5...d6 had been played, 6.g5 [ White allow s the pawn to advance, fd7 7.c2 c6 with a solid position for natu rally he pre f ers to ke ep the ce ntre Black, but W hite's extra space, and two closed, 7.a3 e7 8.cxd5 exd5 9.d4 bishops, means that he is on top, allows Black simple development, Roiz,MRazuvajeva, J-Zvereva,M/St Petersburg Alienkin,A/Beersheba 1998. ] 1999. ] 7...e7 6.g5 e4 It will prove difficult to force this [ A logical new move, 7...c6 8.b2 e7 knight to move from this strong square, now 9.g1 b4 10.b1 c5 11.h4 led to similar that White no longer has a d-pawn. 7.f4 0-0 play in Zhukova,N-Lakos,N/Nova Gorica 8.e3 b6 9.c2 b7 10.0-0-0 d7 11.g1 SLO 1999. ] a6 12.h4 b5 Both sides attack the opposing 8.g1 c5 9.e3 c6 10.d3!? A doubleking position. 13.cxd5 exd5 14.h5 dc5 edged move. f5 15.e5 However, it seems that White's attack [ 10...b4!? is wild: 11.xh7+ h8 12.b1 is quicker, already the thrust g6 is on the dxc4 ( 12...d4? appears strong, but loses cards. e6 16.d3 e7 17.f3! White does after 13.e4! dxc3 14.h4 manage to play this move, and, at the with a devastating discovered attack next temporary cost of a pawn, gains an move. ) 13.bxc4!? g6 14.xg6 fxg6 appreciable advantage. 4xg5 18.xg5 15.e5 unclear. ] xg5 19.f4 h6 11.gxf6 xf6 12.a3 e8 13.b2 h5 [ Surely not Black's original intention, but 14.e2 d4!? This turns-out to be more after the natural 19...e4? 20.xe4 dxe4 dangerous for Black than for White. 15.xd4 21.g2 is winning, as after f6 there is the xd4 16.exd4 xh2 The idea behind stunning move ( 21...f6 22.d7 ) 22.d6!! Black's play, winning a pawn, but at the same ( a rook sacrifice to close the sixth rank, the time this opens lines against his king. 17.0-0-0 immediate 22.g4 is easily met by b6 ) cxd4 18.e4 f4 19.d3 xe4 22...cxd6 23.g4 e6 24.f5 [ 19...g6 might be a better defence, 20.xd4 and the queen is lost, if she leaves the sixth xa3+ 21.b1 e7 ] rank then: c4 25.f6+ h8 26.xg7# ] 20.xe4 h6 21.xd4! Otherwise Black will 20.fxg5 xe5 21.gxh6 xe3+ 22.d2! play ...e5 to close the a1-h8 diagonal. f6? [ The endgame is crushing, no t 22.b1? [ After this Black doesn't even get a pawn for 679
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.0-0 e5 14.e3 c8 15.d3 c7 16.fd1 c8 17.ac1 a5 with chances to both sides, Uhlmann,W-Kortchnoi,V/Hastings 1976. ] 11...c6 12.e3 c8 13.b3 e7 14.b2 fd8 Black has finished his development with h i s p i e c e s o n i d e a l s q u a r e s . 15.ac1 White has yet to fully complete his mobilisation, but enjoys the bishop pair, and says to Black "how are you going to exploit your lead in development before my bishops get going?" f6 [ 15...c7 16.fd1 e8 17.b1 h6 s e e m s wo r s e , I b r a g i m o v, I - B e l i k o v , V / Moscow 1998, but ] [ 15...e5 is certainly possible now (or even earlier, as in the Korchnoi game). ] 16.fd1 h6 17.b1! White still bides his time, and brings the queen to b2 to augment the pressure along the a1-h8 diagonal. [ The immediate 17.c3?! allows b4! ] 17...h7!? A new move here, but maybe not the best. In Rubinetti,J-Polugaevsky,L/Toluca 1982 Black preferred [ 17...a6!? 18.d3 b7 19.c3 ( 19.a1!? ) 19...d5 20.a1 e5 with fairly equal play, and ] [ 17...a5!? is also possible, 18.c3 d5!? 681 A17 pu t t in g p re ssu re o n b 3 , a n d so 19.xa5 bxa5 and although the black queenside Malakhov,Vladimir 2672 structure is shattered he will have lots of Nikolenko,Oleg 2521 play down the b-file. ] City-ch Moscow RUS (3.1) 22.04.2003 18.c3 Preparing Qb2, and possibly b4. a5 [Tony Kosten] I am not sure this is entirely necessary, [ 18...g5 would justify Black's previous In many ways this game seems to me an move, e.g. 19.xg5 xg5 and if 20.b4 c4 ] 'ideal' Flank game: W hite allows Black the f6 Black has to blunt the bishop's centre and simply manoeuvers his pieces into 19.b2 st ro n g squ ares an d t hrea t en s f ro m a f a r, pressure on the diagonal, but this weakens Stopping ...Ng5 before countering in the centre, when the the kingside pawns. 20.h4 game explodes into sharp tactics, and White once and for all. a7 21.d4 White finally 22.e1 wins! 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 pla ys t h is ce n t ral t h ru st . b5 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 b6 7.g3 b7 White needs to preserve both his bishops to 8.g2 d5 9.cxd5 xd5 The most natural count on an advantage, and the knight an easily be driven b ack f rom b5 later. cxd4 reply, keeping the pawn structure solid, 23.xc8 xc8 24.a4 e4? [ 9...exd5 is the alternative. ] 10.c2 We have already examined the Black miscalculates the sharp tactics, the simple unusual [ 24...c3 i s b e s t , f o r a f t e r 25.xd4 [ 10.c4!? in Dydyshko,V-Dautov,R/Batumi B l a c k h a s t h e r e s o u r c e e5 26.d3 GEO 1999. ] (where else?) e4 27.d1 and providing 10...c5 11.0-0 Black can bring his h7-knight back into the [ 11.b3 c6 12.b2 could transpose, but game he should be OK. ] now Black played more aggressively: e8
h i s t r o u b l e s , 21...xa3+ 22.b1 e5 23.e3 and Black has the resource xe4! 24.xe4 f5 although White is slightly better after 25.xf5 xf5 26.xh6 ] 22.e3 d6 Menacing mate in two, starting 23...Qxa3+. 23.c5 a6 24.a4 a5? [ Black continues to play for an attack, but W h i t e g e t s i n f i r s t , b e t t e r 24...h8 although White is on top now. ] 25.xh6 Now Black is lost. b4 Can you find the forced mate? 26.xg7+!! xg7 27.h7+ h8 28.xg7+ xg7 29.g6+ h8 30.h5 [ 30.g1 amounts to the same. ] 30...xf2 [ 30...a3+ 31.c2 a2+ 32.c3 and the checks run out. ] 31.e4+ [ 31.f5+ is slightly quicker. ] 31...g7 32.g1+ f8 33.h6+ e7 34.g7+ f7 35.g5+ e8 36.g8+ [ 36.g8+ f8 37.h5+ e7 38.g7+ d8 39.h4+ is mate in a couple of moves. ] 1-0
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 25.axb5 b7 This is the point of Black's combo, the knight has no way to retreat and defend the g2-bishop as both h4 and e1 are occupied. However, it is now that the weakening of the black kingside comes into play. 26.h3! [ 26.e2 c2 27.d2 d3 28.d1 is a l s o p o s s i b le , a l t h o u g h s e e m s ve r y uncomfortable for White. ] 26...xf3 27.xe6+ h8 28.xd4 The simple solution, obviously White avoids the line [ 28.xc8 xc8 29.xd4 because of the retort g5! 30.hxg5 h3 when it seems that there is no defence to mate, but on 31.d8+ h7 32.c2+ f5 White wins by the astounding 33.g6+ xg6 34.c6+! xc6 35.bxc6 and Black has no way to stop the c-pa wn queen ing! The only try is f4 36.exf4 e6 but then 37.c7 xe1+ 38.g2 e4+ 39.h2 c2 40.c8 xf2+ 41.h3 f1+ 42.h4 h1+ 43.h3 and there is no perpetual! ] 28...e8 29.f5 f8 30.c2 White has an extra pawn and the bishop pair, so has every chance to win. f7 31.d3 h5 32.f4 e6? A tactical error, first [ 32...a8 is best, followed by ...Ne6, if possible. ] 33.xf3! White is on his toes. xf3 34.d7 c7 35.g6 e2 If the rook moves, then Q x c 7 w i n s . 36.xe8 This is good, but, objectively, [ 36.c3! must be even stronger. e.g. f8 37.xc7 d1+ 38.g2 xb3 39.c6 a4 40.d4 winning easily. ] 36...xe1+ 37.g2 xe8 38.xe8+ h7 39.e4+ h8 40.d4 b1 41.xb6 e4+ [ 41...xb3 42.xa5 is hopeless. ] 42.h2 f3 43.b8+ h7 44.f4 d5 45.b6 White's extra two pawns are more than sufficient to win the game. b5 46.e4+ f5 47.e6 1-0
682 Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar Naiditsch,Arkadij 4th YM Lausanne SUI (3.1) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2585 2574 21.09.2003
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 h6 5.g1 b6 6.c2 b7 7.a3 f8!? A novelty, the bishop returns to defend the g7pawn, Black hopes to gain a tempo over [ 7...e7 8.g5 hxg5 9.xg5 f8 ( w e e x a m i n e d 9...h5 in Najer, EPedersen,N) 10.d4 of Zvjaginsev,V-Adams, M/Moscow RUS 2001. ] 8.d4 In view of Black's last, White decides to ke ep g5 in re se rve . d6?! A little passive, Black aims for a solid set-up, but allows White to gain a lot of space. [ 8...c5!? ] 9.e4 bd7 10.e3 a6 11.0-0-0 I have to say that I like White's position here, he has a big centre, and has almost completed development. c5 Black strikes in the centre. 12.d5 e5 Black's play is logical in that he should be keeping the centre closed, but where is his counterplay? For his part, White can simply prepare the push of his g-pawn to open the black kingside. 13.h4 g6 [ 13...h5!? is also worthy of consideration, 14.g5 g4 and Black will exchange a piece. ] 14.g5 hxg5 15.hxg5 h5 The knight is temporarily safe, but without the support of the other black pieces will soon find itself driven from its post. 16.h3 g7 17.h1 Already threatening Bg4xh5. b5!? Black must h for some counterplay, as it is clear that he is in a bad way on the kingside. 18.cxb5 b6 19.bxa6 [ 19.f1! looks like a good move, too, Black's play for the pawn is significantly less than in the Benko. ] 19...xa6 20.g4 c4 Black has a couple of open files, and active pieces, in front of the white king, and in practical play, who knows? 21.xh5! At first sight White swaps a powerful bishop for a poor knight, but in fact, following Tartakower's dictum, it is not important which pieces have b een exchange d, but rathe r which pieces have been left - and a white knight will now come to f5 and dominate the 681
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g7-bishop. gxh5 22.h4 b6 [ 22...c8 controls f5, but after 23.dg1 White will continue Nf5, and after ...Bxf5 he will establish his other knight on e4. ] [ 22...xe3 23.fxe3 xg5? loses to 24.f5 f8 25.a4+ ] 23.f5 f8 24.dg1 Making room for the knight, although [ 24.h4!? b8 25.a4 seems strong, White will proceed with Rdh1 and capture the h-pawn. ] 24...b8 25.d1 Now b2 is solidly protected, and White can try to exploit his advantages on the other wing. a5 26.g6 f6 Ugly, but what else? 27.h3 c4 28.d2 b3+ 29.b1 a6 Black tries to generate some play, but short of a white blunder it is unlikely he will ge t ve ry f ar wit ho u t h is kin gsid e p iece s. 30.c3 xd2+ 31.xd2 e2 32.h3 [ 32.de3! immediately, is even simpler, the threat is to capture the 'bad' bishop on g7 and then play Nf5+ (that Tartakower dictum again!) ] 32...f1 33.c3 e2 34.de3! The same position is reached and White finds the right path. g4 There is nothing better. 35.c2 b5 36.b3 xf5 37.xf5 The culmination of W hite's strategy, the knight totally dominates the black bishop and kingside. b6 38.gg3 [ 38.xb6! xb6 39.a4 is very effective, Qd7 is the menace, and after b7 40.xd6 Blac k c ann ot parry b oth Qe 8 m ate an d Qd7. ] 38...h4 39.xb6 xb6 40.a4 White will force mate in a few moves. 1-0
5...b7 6.d3 d6 [ 6...d5!? is possible, 7.cxd5 exd5 8.e5 fd7 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 ( 10.b5!? ) 10...xe5 11.b5+ bd7 12.e2 e7 13.0-0 with a strong initiative for the pawn, Platonov,I-Grigorian,K/Leningrad 1971. ] 7.g2 e7 8.0-0 0-0 [ 8...a6 9.e1!? is another way to force f4, ( 9.b3 ) 9...c6 10.f4 0-0 11.g4!? d7 12.f3 e5 13.g5!? with interesting chance for White on the kingside, Dzindzichashvili, R-Browne,W/Tilburg 1978. ] 9.g5!? This looks ridiculous, but reminds me of various openings where the same idea is employed to free the f-pawn. [ 9.h3 is more 'standard', a6 10.b3 c6!? 11.b2 b5 12.e5!? dxe5 13.xe5 xg2 14.xg2 was nothing special for White in Portisch, L-Yudasin,L/Manila 1990. ] 9...fd7 Quite surprisingly, this position has been seen before, and there Black preferred [ 9...h6 which demonstrates the point of W h i t e ' s n i n t h : 10.h3 c6 11.f4 and the knight can always drop back to f2 to suppo rt the kin gsid e pa wn adva nce , Staricek,P-Flasik,R/SVK 1999. ] 10.h4!? White could also play his knight immediately to h3, but would prefer to provoke ...h6, which slightly weakens the black kingside. Black's idea was that after [ 10.f4?! he can play xg5 11.fxg5 c6 with great squares for his knights on d4 and e5. ] 10...h6 11.h3 c6 12.f4 d4 13.e3 b8 With the centre closed Black must look f o r cou nt e rp la y o n t he qu ee nside , a s h e cannot simply allow White to push his kingside and gain a strong attack. 14.h2 c6!? This allows a surprising tactic, perhaps 683 A17 [ 14...a6 was safer, planning ...b5. ] Morozevich,Alexander 2679 15.xd4! cxd4 16.b5 The knight forks a7 Lutz,Christopher 2631 and d4, and so Black's next is obligatory. 17.cxb5 It takes good judgement to It Biel SUI (4) 24.07.2003 xb5 realise that this position is good for W hite. [Tony Kosten] The b5-pawn hampers Black on the 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.g3 e6 4.f3 b6 queenside, and c6 may prove a useful staging Black aims to transpose into a Hedgehog. post for a white piece later in the game. f6 18.g1! White wants to force Black to defend 5.e4!? 19.a4 a6!? [ 5.g2 b7 would be more normal, but d4 by continuing Nf3. d7 White prefers to play a Hedgehog with the d- Opening the queenside, as the a-pawn is easily recuperated. 20.bxa6 a7 21.h3 pawn on d3, instead of d4. ] 682
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 This move controls g4, as the immediate [ 21.f3? allows g4+ 22.g1 e3 ] 21...xa6 22.f3 White obviously aimed for a position like this when he played his 15th move. Not only is he threatening the d4-pawn, but g4-5 is an annoying threat, which is why he wanted Black to play ...h6 earlier. b5 23.a5 a7 24.g4 h7 25.g5 hxg5 26.hxg5 g6 Black attempt s to defend his kingside, as his queenside counterplay does not amount to v e r y m u c h . 27.d2 b4 28.f5 Further breeching the black defences, it is at this point that he would like a light-squared bishop to defend the e6-pawn! b5 [ 28...e5 29.f6 d8 30.h1 will quickly force mate along the h-file, as the black king is all on its own. ] 29.a6! There is no need to give the a-pawn, as it might prove useful later-on. [ 29.f6 d8 30.f4 is strong, but after xa5 31.xa5 xa5 32.h4 Black may be able to sacrifice a piece for the f and g-pawns to stop the attack. ] 29...b6 30.fxg6 [ 30.f6 is not bad, once again. Psakhis once said to me that such a pawn 'is worth a rook!' ] 30...fxg6 31.xe6+ g7 32.d5!? Th is ke e ps a lid o n B lack's co un t erp la y, although [ 32.c4 d5!? 33.exd5 d6+ is probably nothing much. for Black ] 32...xa6 33.ac1 d7 34.g2!? White goes for gold. [ 34.xb4 is obviously quite good. ] 34...f4?! [ 34...h8 is t h e o n ly t ry, 35.g1 f8 but this only defers the end to a later date after 36.g3 planning Qh4, and Nxd4. ] 35.g3 g4 [ 35...f8 36.h4 h8 37.xd4 is also crushing. ] 36.e5!! A stunner! dxe5 [ 36...xg3 allows a nice mate: 37.f7+ g8 38.xe7+ f8 39.xg6# ] 37.f7+ h8 38.xh7+! xh7 39.h3+ It will be mate on h6. 1-0
684 Morozevich,Alexander Van Wely,Loek Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (1) [John Watson]
A17 2741 2679 15.01.2005
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.g3 e6 4.f3 b6 5.e4 b7 6.d3 It's hard to get anything out of this move. Black decides to set up a Hedgehog. c6 [ A more active approach would aim for ...d5, as in the line 6...e7 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 d5 ] 7.g2 d6 8.0-0 a6 [ Also possible is 8...e7 9.d4 e5!? ] 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c8 11.xc6 xc6 Black has already organized an ideal piece p l a c e m e n t . 12.e2 e7 13.d1 c7 14.f4 d7 15.ac1 b7 Versus Nd5. Now White has space but no real targets. 16.a4 c6 [ 16...c6 doesn't seem to allow anything b e t t e r t h a n 17.c3 when White has to switch plans. Now Black's position is typical of a solid Hedgehog with no real way for White to make progress. The play eventually simplifies. ] 17.b3 0-0 18.f1 c7 19.b4 e5 20.xe5 dxe5 21.c5!? bxc5 [ 21...b5! 22.b6 cd8 equalizes. ] 22.xc5 g5 23.c3 fd8 24.h4 d2 25.c4 b6 26.a3 c6 27.d3 h6 28.xe5 b5 29.xc8 xc8 30.e1 a4 31.b1 c2 32.a1 d4 33.f3 xe4 34.g5 xe1+ 35.xe1 g6 36.f1 c3 37.xa6 xa3 38.c1 a2 39.c4 b2 40.b5 a4 41.a1 b4 42.d3 f8 43.b6 h6 44.e4 c6 45.b1 xb1+ 46.xb1 f5 47.d2 c5 48.a2 f7 49.c4 e7 50.e5 ½-½
685 Najer,Evgeniy Pedersen,Ne 4th IECC Istanbul TUR (4) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2606 2508 02.06.2003
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 h6 5.g1 b6 6.c2!? [ 6.h4 is probably the main move here, see 683
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Van W ely,L-Timman,J, for example, but the ] [ 6.b3 of Zvjaginsev,V-Adams,M/Moscow RUS 2001, also has its adherents. ] 6...b7 7.a3 e7 8.g5 White opens the gfile. [ 8.h4?! seems erroneous now, as Black can gain a strong grip on d4 by xf3! 9.exf3 c5 10.f4 c6 as White now played the gr o v e l li n g 11.e2 Wallace,J-Johansen,D/ Melbourne AUS 2002. ] 8...hxg5 9.xg5 h5 Aggressive, but there is something to be said for Adams' move [ 9...f8 to keep g7 protected, 10.d4 c6 11.d5 d4 12.d1 c5 13.e3 f5 with chances to both sides, Zvjaginsev,VAdams,M/Moscow RUS 2001. ] 10.d4 c5!? Possibly a prepared innovation, [ 10...c6 11.f3 f6 12.d3 a5 1/2-1/2 Guidarelli,L-Sakelsek,T/Opatija CRO 2003, doesn't tell us too much, but level seems a fair assessment, as Black is threatening ...Bxf3 followed by ...Nb3xd4. ] 11.d5 Shutting down the bishop's diagonal, and gaining space. a6 12.d2 b8 13.h4 White is ready to castle long and then get on with his attack, and meanwhile Black is far from solving the problem of his monarch. e5!? 14.0-0-0 c7? This gets Black into some trouble, but it was not easy to find a good alternative, [ 14...exd5!? 15.f3!? ( 15.cxd5 is a ls o go o d) 15...e6 16.cxd5 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.e4 b7 19.c4 with a powerful initiative. ] 15.f4! The most direct, although the simple [ 15.f3 f5 16.xf5 exf5 17.h3 g6 18.e4 is also fairly convincing. ] 15...xf4 16.f3 f6 17.e4 h6 [ 17...f5 18.g5 also wins the knight. ] 18.g4 The knight is pinned, attacked, and cannot be defended. exd5 19.xf4 e6 [ 19...h5 i s n o b e t t e r : 20.g5! xg5 21.d6+ e7 22.xg5 is crushing. ] 20.f2 The only move, defending the rook, but sufficient. 0-0-0 21.xg7 xh4 22.xh4 xh4 23.e3 f6 24.g1 The white pawn structure is a bit ragged, but his extra piece is a match-winner. e6 25.g3 h5 26.cxd5 xd5? This makes things even worse. [ 26...c7 ]
27.xd5 xd5 28.a6+ b7 29.e4 Attacking both the queen and the check on d6. f3 30.d6+ b8 31.xb7+ 1-0
686 Nakamura,Hikaru Sokolov,Andrei 16th ORDIX Open rapid (6) [Jonathan Rowson]
A17 2710 2570 02.08.2009
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4!? xc3 Another move I would hesitate to play, but many strong players, not least Michael A d a m s , s e e m t o e n d o r s e i t . 5.bxc3 Probably best. Lunging with the g-pawn feels less purposeful when there is little tension in the centre. [ 5.dxc3 d6 6.g5 fd7 7.e3 e7 8.g2 e5 9.c2 c6 10.h4 b6 11.b3 g6 12.d2 f5 13.e4 e6 14.a4 d7 15.h5 0-0-0 16.0-0-0 b8 17.h4 e7 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.dh1 xh4 20.xh4 c6 21.f1 d5 With a clear advantage to Black was vintage Mickey in Cornette, M -Adams, M France 2003 ] 5...d6 6.g5 fd7 7.g2 [ 7.d4 leaves c4 weak, and turns the position into some sort of strange Nimzo Indian. b6 8.e4 b7 9.d3 c6 10.e3 e7 11.d2 e5 12.b1 0-0 13.h5 f6 14.g6 hxg6 15.xg6 f7 16.g3 f5! was better for Black in Gurevich, M -Istratescu, A) Antalya 2004 ] 7...c6 8.d3! Positionally astute. It is better to leave the d4-h8 and e3-a7 diagonals free for the bishop, and the d4 square free for the knight. e5 9.h4 b6 10.e3 e7 11.d2 d7 12.a4 [ 12.h5!? Begs the question of how Black will connect his rooks, and White can continue to build with Rg1 and Bf3 if necessary. ] 12...a5 13.b3 c6 14.xa5 xg2 15.g1 [ 15.h2 c6 16.xc6 bxc6 17.a5 d7 18.a4 c5 19.c6 0-0 20.xc7 e4 21.d4 appears to be better for White, but in rapid games strong players much prefer to keep the initiative. ] 15...h3 16.c5 684
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 16.xb7 looks simpler and better. c5 17.a5 0-0 however, does leave White's extra pawn looking only marginally relevant. ] 16...d5 17.xb7 xe3 18.fxe3 dxc5 19.b3 0-0 20.a3 ab8 21.xc5 [ 21.xc5! looks better. ] 21...f5 22.b3 [ 22.a2+ f7 23.c4 The knight on c5 is strong and should probably stay there. ] 22...f7 23.d2 As I mentioned, Nakamura has a reputation for uncompromising chess but while looking at his recent wins I noticed that many of them featured a fairly complex opening struggle, followed by grabbing a pawn, and then slowly absorbing the pressure and winning the ending! That said, Black has a very active position here, and the assessment is f ar f rom clea r. h5 24.h1 xh4+ 25.d1 g3 26.c5 g4 [ 26...e4!? ] 27.c2 xe2 28.d5+ h8 29.e6 xd3+! 30.xd3 fd8+ 31.c4 xd2? A forgivable blunder in a rapid game, but in fact [ 31...g2! appears to be winning quite easily. ] 32.xf5 h2 33.af1 h4+ 34.c5 g8 35.xh2 xh2 36.b1 e4?! Unnecessary [ 36...g3! leaves Black at least ok. ] 37.xe4 d6+ 38.c4 a6+ 39.b3 b6+ 40.a2 c5 41.h1! g6 42.d4+ xd4 43.cxd4 White now has a slightly better ending, perhaps clearly better, but I imagine Black lost on time rather than resigned. 1-0
687 Pelletier,Yannick Skalkotas,Nikolaos Acropolis GM Open (1) [John Watson]
A17 2604 2278 06.03.2005
This game between two respected grandmasters indicates how White can gain an advantage in the 1c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4 line, although it's mainly Black's system that is suspect. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.b3 [ 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 b6
has been played in hundreds of games. White can get only a very small advantage, if any. ] [ 4.g4!? is the newer and most entertaining move, played by top players in order to a vo id t h e ra t h e r d u ll o ld lin e s (in wh a t position ISN'T W hite playing g4 ?) Tony dealt with this in the game Bareev-Naiditsch, Rethymnon GRE 2003. The standard a n s w e r h a s b e c o m e h6 with a recent example being 5.g1 b6 6.c2 b7 7.a3 e7 8.e4 ( 8.g5 hxg5 9.xg5 ) 8...d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.e5 e4 11.b5+ c6 12.e2 g5 13.d4 xf3+ 14.xf3 Krasenkov-Naiditsch, Antalya 2004. ] 4...c6!? Playing for development first. [ 4...a5! is a good alternative. A game just played went 5.g3 d6 6.g2 e5 7.a3 c5! 8.d3 h6 9.0-0 0-0 10.c2 c6 an d B lack wa s a t le a st equ al, Ars ovic Fedorchuk, Sozina 2005. ] 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 d5!? It's a bit antipositional to play on the light squares and cede the long diagonal. [ 6...d6 intending ...e5 has been played with fair success. ] 7.e3 0-0 8.b4! The most testing move. [ 8.d4 is the solid alternative. Then a5! 9.b3 d7 would be a typical treatment, with White retaining just a formal edge after something like 10.d3 a4! 11.b4 dxc4 12.xc4 a7 13.0-0 b5 14.b2 c6 15.d2 Black's light square treatment characterises the plan following from 6...d5. ] 8...e5!? A dynamic sacrificial idea that tries to justify Black's setup. It is probably too much to ask of the position. Alternatively, Black has: [ (a) 8...e4 9.c2 g5!? 10.b2 ( or 10.xg5 -- Bareev ) 10...d7 11.cxd5 xf3+ ( 11...exd5 12.xg5 xg5 13.b5 ) 12.gxf3 exd5 13.g1 and White was clearly better in Bareev-Rozentalis, Pula 1997. ] [ (b) 8...e8 preparing ...e5, is the other ma in t ry a n d p ro b a b ly b e st , a lt h o u gh I prefer White after 9.b5 e7 10.b2 c6 ( 10...g6!? ) 11.g4! ] 9.b5!? [ It's probably more advantageous if seemingly risky to grab the pawn by 9.xe5! xe5 10.xe5 e8 11.d4! , for example, ( 11.c3? d4! 12.d3 e4! 13.b2 f6 685
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a n d W h it e i s in t r o u b le .; 11.b2!? ) 11...e4?! ( 11...f5 12.b2 e4 13.c3 d4 14.b3 ) 12.c3 d4 13.c2 dxe3 14.dxe3 f5 15.d3 xc4 16.xc4 xd3 17.d4 and Black lacks compensation. P e l l e t i e r p l a ys f o r a c e r t a i n b u t s m a l l advantage. ] [ On the other hand, 9.cxd5 xd5 10.c2 e8 is quite fun for Black: 11.d3 g4 ( or 11...f5!? 12.e4 d4 ) 12.e2 a5!? 13.b5 a7 14.b1 d7 and Black will play for a properly timed ...c6. ] 9...e4 10.bxc6 exf3 11.gxf3 d4 [ Or 11...bxc6 12.b2 f5 13.g1! g6 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.c6! and White's two b i s h o p s c o m e a l i v e : b8 ( 15...e8 16.d4! ) 16.e5 e8 17.c3 etc. ] 12.a5!? d6! [ 12...bxc6 13.b2 dxe3 14.dxe3 has the ideas of Rg1 and Rd1 again the bishops will rule the board. ] 13.b2 e8 14.0-0-0!? Good, although [ 14.g1! was very strong: e5!? ( 14...b6 15.g5 g6 16.e2 ) 15.b4! xc6 16.xd4 ] 14...e5!? [ 14...h6 15.xd4 b6 16.c3! ( 16.a4 f5 ) 16...xc6 17.xf6 xf6 18.xf6 gxf6 19.d4 will win in the long run. ] 15.b4! xc6 16.xd4 f5 [ 16...e6 17.e2 ] 17.g1 xf3 18.g2 xf2 19.df1 h4 20.e7! e6?? [ 20...xf1+ 21.xf1 was pretty bad anyway. ] 21.xf5 xf5 22.xb7 b8 23.xf6 xc4+ 24.c3 g6 25.e5 1-0
688 Ponomariov,Ruslan Motylev,Alexander WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (2.2) [John Watson]
A17 2704 2632 01.12.2005
Another effective opening sequence for White, wh o c o m e s o u t wit h a co n s id e ra b le a n d probably winning advantage. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g3 xc3 5.bxc3 b6 6.g2 b7 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 d6
[ Black can also post his pieces more actively by 8...c5 9.e4 c6 , not fearing 10.e5!? e8 11.e1 f6 12.d4 c8 ] 9.e4 bd7 10.h4 [ I tend to think that these positions should be better for White, since his centre is safe and he has two bishops. Another idea is to be able to meet ... d5 by e5 by, say, Qe2. Then Nh4 and f4 could follow. 10.e2 e7 11.h4 ] 10...d5?! [ 10...e5 11.f4 g6 12.f3 ] 11.exd5 exd5 12.f5! e8 13.g5 White threatens d5 and has won the opening struggle. e5!? [ 13...h6 14.h4! intends Qd2 with attack (cxd5 is a lso b e th rea t en e d ), e. g. , h7 15.d2 e5 16.g4 e8 17.f4! g5 18.xg5 ] 14.g4 h6 15.h4 c8 (with the idea ...dxc4) 16.e1! With the idea Ne7+ [ The alternative 16.f3!? stops ...dxc4 and threatens Nxh6+ still, I prefer the game move. ] 16...xe1+ 17.xe1 f8 18.xf6 White is better after several moves, e.g., [ 18.e7+ h8 19.xd5 also gains the advantage, since xd5 20.cxd5 xg4 fails to 21.d6 ] 18...xf6 19.e5! With the ideas Nxh6+ and Qxc7. xg4 20.xc7 b8 21.g3!? This should work out. On the other hand, [ 21.xb8+ xb8 22.cxd5 wins a (passed) pawn for virtually nothing. ] 21...xg3 22.hxg3 [ Similar is 22.fxg3! , and it leaves the option of h3 open: d8 23.e7+! ( 23.xd5 xd5 24.e7+ f8 25.xd5 b5! ) 23...f8 24.xd5 b5 25.e1 bxc4 26.dxc4 and the pawn is significant because Black's pieces are stuck (h3 is a threat). ] 22...d8 23.cxd5? After playing so well and securing a won game, Ponomariev slips up. Once again [ 23.e7+ f8 24.xd5 was strong, one cute line going e5 25.d4 xc4 26.xb6! xg2 27.xc4 ] [ or 23.xd5 xd5 24.e7+ f8 25.xd5 b5 26.e1 ] 23...g6 24.e7+ f8 25.c6 [ 25.e1 was the last chance but Black 686
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 holds after e8 26.d6 xg2 27.xg2 d8 28.d5 xd6 29.c4 ] 25...xc6 26.dxc6 xd3 27.c4 e7 28.d5 d6 29.e1 g5 30.e8 ½-½
689 Savchenko,Boris Goganov,Aleksey 64th ch-HL Taganrog RUS (1) [Nigel Davies]
A17 2630 2480 15.06.2011
1.c4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4!? An enterprising approach to a line which is often characterised by lengthy middle game manoeuvres. It's interesting how such moves seem to have become more popular as former 1.e4 players have switched over to Flank Openings in an attempt to get out of well studied lines. h6 [ I s u s p e c t t h a t t h e co ld b l o o d e d 4...0-0 is Black's best here. ] 5.a3 [ Although this has been played before it is less popular than 5.g1 , for example b6 6.h4 ( 6.c2 b7 7.a3 e7 8.g5 hxg5 9.xg5 f8 10.d4 c6 11.d5 d4 12.d1 c5 13.e3 f5 14.e4 d4 wa s v e r y o r i g i n a l b u t f i n e f o r B l a c k i n Zvjaginsev, V (2640)-Adams, M (2731)/ Moscow 2001) 6...b7 7.g5 hxg5 8.hxg5 e4 9.c2 xc3 10.dxc3 d6 11.e3 c6 12.0-0-0 e7 13.g2 0-0-0 14.d4 xd4 15.xb7+ xb7 16.cxd4 c6 1/2-1/2 was Stella, A-Naumkin, I/Forni di Sopra ITA 2011, again a highly original g a m e b u t wi t h a s u r p r i s i n g l y p e a c e f u l outcome in the end. ] 5...xc3 6.dxc3 b6 7.a4 a5 8.g1 b7 9.d4 e4 10.g2 h4?! This doesn't look very good for Black but Black might have been following a previous Savchenko game. It's also not easy to find great moves for him here, for example: [ a) 10...a6 11.b5 ac5 12.e3 looks quite awkward. ] [ b) 10...0-0 is quite dangerous with White's g-pawn creating some of the preconditions for an attack, for example 11.c2 d5 12.g5 hxg5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.xe4 dxe4
15.xg5 c8 16.f6 is terrific for White. ] 11.xe4 xe4 12.f4 a6 13.b5 d6? It's quite curious that this serious error should be the deviation from Savchenko's previous game in this line. Was it faulty preparation, no preparation or forgetfulness? In any case the position is very good for White now. [ Black is better off playing 13...0-0 but after 14.xc7 xc7 15.xc7 d5 16.g3 f6 17.f3 h7 18.cxd5 exd5 19.f2 Black was a pawn down for very little in Savchenko, B (2638)-Guliev, L (2426)/Baku 2009. ] 14.d4 g6? Another mistake. [ 14...b7 15.xg7 0-0-0 was the best chance. ] 15.xc7+! xc7 16.xd6 d8 [ After 16...a6 17.c6+ e7 18.d6+ f6 19.d7 White wins on the spot, so Black has to go two pawns down. ] 17.c6+ d7 18.xc7 c2 19.xb6 That's pawn number three! 0-0! 20.b5 e7 21.c1 h7 22.g5 hxg5 23.xg5 f6 24.h6 f7 25.d1 d8 26.c5 xd1+ 27.xd1 f5 28.c1 h7 29.e3 c7 Nobody ever won a game by resigning, and I guess that White has to be a bit careful here. 30.d1 e5 31.c4 e4 32.d6 d5 33.d3+ f5 34.f4 f6 35.xd5 exd5 36.xf6 gxf6 37.b4 g8 38.b5 f8 39.b6 1-0
690 Shchekachev,Andrei Prasad,Devaki V Metz Open FRA (5) [Carsten Hansen]
A17 2530 2413 18.04.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 b6 5.e4 xc3 [ 5...b7 6.e5 A) 6...xc3 7.dxc3 g8 8.e2 e7 9.h4 d5 10.h5 h6 11.f4 d7 12.0-0-0 V. Gavrikov-L.Couso, Gothenburg 2001; B) 6...g8 7.d4 e7 8.e3 d5 9.a4+ ( 9.c5!? bc6 10.a3 xc3+ 11.xc3 ) 9...bc6 10.cxd5 xd5 11.b5 d7 12.c2 a6 13.d3 J.Tisdall-R.Fyllingen, Oslo 2006; 687
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 C) 6...g4 7.d4! ( 7.h3 h6 8.a3 xc3 9.dxc3 f5 10.g1 xf3 11.gxf3 c6 Comp Chessica-G.Ligterink, The Hague 1996; 7.a3 xc3 8.xc3 f5 9.exf6 xf6 10.xf6 xf6 11.e2 , and White may h a ve a t in y p u ll t h a n k s t o t h e p a i r o f b i s h o p s a n d t h e a b i l i t y t o d e ve l o p a space advantage, A.Moen-K.Mork, Trondheim 2004) 7...c5 8.a3 xc3+ ( Or 8...a5 9.h3 (Chuchelov) h6 10.g5 xc3+ 11.xc3 cxd4 12.xd4 f5 13.c3 c7 14.e2 ) 9.xc3 c7 10.h3 h6 ( 10...cxd4 11.xd4 xf3 12.hxg4 b7 13.f4 c6 14.e3 according to Chuchelov) 11.xh6 gxh6 12.d5! exd5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.0-0-0 xf3 ( On 14...e6 Chuchelov gives 15.d6 c6 16.a6 ) 15.xf3 c6 V.Chuchelov-G.Dorenberg, Gent 2000, a n d h e r e C h u c h e l o v g i v e s 16.f6! with a clear advantage for White, but it is probably closer to a winning advantage, e. g. xe5 17.xe5+ xe5 18.e1 f6 19.f4 d6 20.b5+ f7 21.fxe5 fxe5 22.c6 ad8 23.d5+ ] 6.xc3!? [ 6.bxc3 e5 ( 6...d6 7.d4 b7 8.d3 bd7 9.0-0 e5 10.h4 g6 11.f4 h5 12.f2 xf4 13.xf4 exf4 14.xf4 e7 15.f3 0-0-0 16.ae1 A.Ramirez-V.Jeremic, ICC 2006 ) 7.e2 d6 8.d3 c6 9.d2 e7 10.f1 g6 11.h4 h6 12.h5 e7 13.e3 c6 14.a3 c7 15.d4 0-0 16.0-0 c5= V.Chekhov-A.Bagheri, Moscow 2000 ] [ Chuchelov analyses the third option 6.dxc3!? e5! ( 6...d6 7.e5 dxe5 8.xe5 b7 9.g5 ) 7.xe5 ( 7.d3 d6 8.h3 bd7 9.b4 0-0 10.0-0 e8=; 7.g5 d6 8.0-0-0 bd7 ) 7...e7 8.d3 ( C h u c h e l o v d o e s n ' t m e n t i o n 8.f4!? but it may well be worth a try, e.g. 0-0 9.f3 a6 10.g4 xg4 11.fxg4 h4+ 12.g3 xg4 13.d3 e6 14.e5 ) 8...xe4+ 9.e2 d6 10.xe4+ xe4 11.f4 b7 12.d5 a6 13.f3 ec5 14.b4 e6 15.d3 0-0 16.0-0 fe8= ] 6...xe4 [ The two tested alternatives favour White: 6...b7 7.e5 g8 8.d4 c5 9.e3 ( 9.dxc5!? bxc5 10.e2 ) 9...xf3 10.gxf3 cxd4 11.xd4 c6 12.d1 ge7
13.d3?! ( 13.e3 0-0 14.g1 ) 13...g6 14.e4 c8 R.Kipker-I.Varasdy, Dortmund 1988 ] [ 6...0-0 7.e5 e4 8.c2 g5 9.xg5 xg5 10.d4 e7? ( 10...h4 11.e3 b7 12.0-0-0 ) 11.d3 ( 11.e4 c6 12.d3 g6 13.0-0 ) 11...f5? ( 11...h4!? ) 12.exf6 xf6 13.xh7+ f7 14.e4+- B.Ciglic-B. Saxer, Bled 1998 ] [ However, the untried 6...d6 looks more solid, and could well be Black's best, e.g. 7.d3 0-0 8.e2 c5 according to Chuchelov. ] 7.xg7 f6 8.xf6 xf6 9.d4!? [ This is the first new move, but it appears a rather strong one. The previous game in this line saw White try 9.g3 b7 10.g2 c6 11.0-0 b4 12.e1 ( White tries to keep the dark-squared bishop in the hope that he can take advantage of the somewhat weakened dark squares in Black's position. The alternative allows Black more or less equalise: 12.d4 d3 13.d1 xc1 14.axc1 g8 15.e5 xg2 16.xg2 d6 , and White's advantage, if you can call it that, is negligible.) 12...xg2 13.xg2 c5 ( Here Black can consider 13...e7 , e. g. 14.b3 d5 15.b2 dxc4 16.bxc4 c5 and Black shouldn't be worse) 14.b3 d5 15.b2 d4 16.d3 e5 17.c1 g8 18.d2 c6 19.f3 0-0-0 20.g5 g7 M. Tyrtania-P.Cladouras, 2.Bundesliga 1996, and now 21.ae1 leaves White with a better game, e.g. dg8 22.f3 e8 23.h4 ] 9...b7 10.f4 d6 [ Trying to wreck White's pawn structure with 10...xf3 leaves White with the pair of bishops and space advantage 11.gxf3 d6 12.0-0-0 c6 13.d5 and White opens the position, allowing him to take advantage of his pair of bishops ] 11.0-0-0 bd7 12.g5 My computer engine doesn't like this move at all, but I must admit that I find it to be a fine positional idea. Black now has to decide whether he wants to keep his king in the centre to protect the f7-pawn or kick the knight away with ...h7-h6, which leave Black with the task of protecting it on h6 or pushing it further forward and weakening the dark squares. I'm not entirely sure which choice is the better for Black h6 688
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 12...e7 13.f3 ag8 14.b1 d5 ( 14...e5 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.e1 f8 17.d2 ) 15.g1 a6 16.b3 ] 13.h3 0-0-0 14.f3 dg8 [ Or 14...e5 15.e3!? ( 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.e3 e8! 17.d3 d6 18.b1 e4! 19.fxe4 e5 is good for Black) 15...c5 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.e2 with a structural advantage for White ] 15.e3! c5 16.d2! [ Another possibility is 16.dxc5 dxc5 17.g1 e5 18.b1 g6 ( 18...a6 19.b3 ) 19.d3 h4 20.d2 g7 21.f2!? hg8 22.xh6 xg2 23.gxg2 xg2 24.g5 , and White has the better chances. In the game continuation, W hite prefers to keep the game fluent and somewhat closed until White has all of his guns pointing where he wants them to. This is the modern way of exploiting the pair of bishops. ] 16...g7 17.f2 c7 [ 17...e5 18.d5! ( White doesn't achieve anything after 18.dxc5 dxc5 19.d3 h5 20.e1 h4 21.d3 h3 22.g3 e4 23.fxe4 xe4 24.xe4 xe4 25.f1 e5= ) 18...b8 19.g4 ( 19.g3 b5 20.b3 h5 21.d3 ) 19...b5 20.b3 and White controls the game. ] 18.d1 g8?! [ 18...cxd4 19.xd4 hg8 20.c3 a6 21.b1 ] 19.c3 a6 20.d3 e7 21.hd1 f5 22.f1! c8 23.e2 h5 24.a3 h4 25.b4!? [ 25.f4!? e8 26.f2 cxd4 27.xd4 e5 28.d5+ xd5 29.xd5 h8 30.b4 h6 31.b2 e7 32.5d2 f4 33.d3 h3 34.g4 fxg3 35.xg3 f6 36.e4 f5 37.f2 g2 38.c3 ] 25...e5?! [ 25...cxd4 26.xd4 g6 ] 26.dxe5 dxe5 27.f4 e4 28.c3 h6 29.d5+ b8 30.f2 cxb4 [ 30...hh7 31.e3 f7 32.c2 ] 31.axb4 f8? [ 31...f7 32.c5 bxc5 33.bxc5 ] 32.xb6!+- xb6 33.d8+ c8 34.xf8 a5 35.b5 [ 35.dd8!? c7 36.xf5 axb4 37.b5 b7 38.xb4+- ] 35...c7 36.c5 a4 37.c6 c3 38.dd8 1-0
691 Speelman,Jonathan S Gormally,Daniel Premier Hastings ENG (1) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2623 2499 29.12.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.e3!? [ Something of a speciality of Speelman's, he hopes to be able to transpose into a favourable Nimzo, 4.c2 is the standard riposte here, to play 5 a3 and recapture on c3 with the queen. ] 4...0-0 5.e2 c5 [ Actually, I have had this position as Black a g a i n s t J o n s e ve r a l t i m e s , a n d i n t h e English Championships 1991 (was this the one and only time this event was held?) one of our games continued: 5...b6 6.0-0 b7 7.a3 xc3 8.bxc3 d6 9.d3 (one advantage of delaying the d-pawn is this possibility) bd7 10.e4 h8 11.e1 e5 12.g3 g8 13.h4 e7 14.g4 f6 15.h3 c8 16.g2 a6 17.a4 b7 which is about equal. ] 6.a4!? [ A new move! The knight goes to a 'silly' square, but White avoids the doubling of his pawns, and threatens to win the c5-pawn. 6.0-0 xc3 7.dxc3 b6 8.d3 b7 9.e2 e4 10.d1 c6 didn't give White a lot in Kortschnoi,V-Bronstein,D/ Leningrad 1960/ URSS-ch. ] 6...d6 7.a3 a5 8.0-0 c7 9.b4 b6 10.c3 c6 11.d4!? [ A positional 'Benko-like' pawn sac to open t h e q u e e n s i d e , t h e p r e p a r a t o r y 11.b1 would allow Black to play d5 ] 11...cxb4 12.axb4 xb4 13.a4 a5 14.a3 d7 15.b3 c6!? [ Black decides to return the pawn for some si m p li f ic a t io n , 15...a6 16.fb1 c6 is quit e viab le, alt hou gh W hit e h as f ull compensation. ] 16.xb4 axb4 17.xb4 a5 18.b5 xb5 19.cxb5 xa1 20.xa1 d5 Freeing the bishop. 21.c1 d6 22.c3 b8 23.d3 h6 24.c6 d8 25.g3 f8! 26.g2 e7 27.c3 f8 28.h3 b7 29.c6 b8 There are no weaknesses in the black position. 30.c3 ½-½ 689
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 692 Topalov,Veselin Kramnik,Vladimir Sparkassen Cat XXI (1) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2711 2802 12.07.2001
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.b3 [ Putting the question to the bishop. 4.g4!? has been considered in some detail o n these pages, whilst ] [ 4.c2 is the main line. ] 4...c5 5.g3 c6 6.a3 a5 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 d5 Black expands in the centre. 9.d3 h6 [ The best move, in my opinion, guarding against the possibility of Bg5, pressurising the d-pawn. 9...d4!? is known to be dodgy: 10.a4 b6? ( 10...d7 is better, but even so, the c-pawn is exposed, and the darksquared bishop not particularly well-placed) 11.e5 xe5 12.xa8 with some advantage, Speelman,J-Seirawan,J Saint John m/1 1988, a s d7 13.g2 e8 c a n b e m e t b y 14.a2 xa4 15.b4 regaining the piece. ] [ 9...xc3!? is a reasonable alternative, conceding the bishops but forming a strong centre: 10.xc3 d4 11.c2 e5 12.d2 e8 13.b4 Granda Zuniga, J-Urday,H/Las Palmas 1989. ] 10.f4 [ A natural developing move, controlling e5. A t t a c k in g t h e c 5 -p a wn is , o n c e a ga i n , possible: 10.a4 b6 11.f4 d7 ( 11...e8 would transpose) 12.c3 xc3 13.xc3 d4 14.c2 e8 planning ... e5, but... 15.e5 xe5 16.xe5 g4 ( White wins the exchange anyway, 16...c8!? 17.b7 ) 17.xa8 xa8 18.f4 e5 19.c1 f5 20.f3 e3 21.xe3 dxe3 22.h1 c6 with some compensation for the exchange, Ehlvest,J-Romanishin,O/ Terrassa 1991. ] 10...e8 11.a4 [ A new move, although, as we have seen, this is a standard idea in this line. P r e v i o u s l y , 11.e5 w a s p l a y e d , xe5 12.xe5 , Filippov,V-Kiriakov,P/Krasnoiarsk 1998, when g4!? 13.f4 d4 14.e4 e5 15.c1 b6 is interesting. ] 11...b6 12.e5 d7! Black fights for control of e5. 13.e3
[ There was a menace of ...Nd4 and ... bxa4 t o d e a l wit h , a n d t a k in g t h e b is h o p b y 13.xd7 allows Black a nice position after xd7 14.c3 ad8 ] 13...g5! The bishop has nowhere to go, so the following moves are forced: 14.xc6 xc6 15.e5 g4 16.c3 xc3 17.xc3 dxc4 18.dxc4 xg2 19.xg2 e7 After the e xc h a n g e s , a l e ve l p o s it i o n h a s a r is e n . 20.e4?! [ Luring Black's pawns forward, but 20.h3 e5 21.ad1 was safer. ] 20...f5 21.h3 e5 22.c3 d7 23.d2 ad8 24.ad1 f6 25.f3 xd1 26.xd1 e5 White has only succeeded in giving Black a so l i d sp a c e a d va n t a g e o n t h e k in g s i d e . 27.c2 e4 28.g1 d8 29.e2 xd1! 30.xd1 d7 Black can do little without control of the d-file, and his advanced pawns give him real winning chances in the ensuing knight endgame. 31.xd7 xd7 32.b3 e5 33.c3 f7 34.g4! White cannot afford to hang around, and had obviously foreseen this resource beforehand. fxg4 [ Black counts on the advantage of an outside passed pawn, almost as effective in kn i g h t e n d g a m e s a s i n ki n g a n d p a wn endgames. 34...e6 35.gxf5+ xf5 36.b5 c6 also maintained an edge. ] 35.hxg4 xg4 36.xe4 e6 37.c3?! [ 37.g3 e5 38.f4 gxf4+ 39.exf4 c6 40.g4 appears stronger, with drawing chances. ] 37...e5 38.f4 gxf4 39.exf4 c6 40.b5 h5 41.g3 a5 42.c7+ f5 43.d5 d4 Black will simply swap his h-pawn for the fpawn, when his king will be the first to reach the queenside. 44.h4 [ 44.xb6 xb3 45.d7 h4+! 46.xh4 xf4 is also hopeless. ] 44...xb3 45.xh5 d2 46.xb6 xf4 47.a4 e4 0-1
690
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 693 Topalov,Veselin Tiviakov,Sergei Corus Wijk aan Zee NED (6) [Tony Kosten]
A17 694 2718 Tratar,Marko 2597 Kosten,Anthony C 20.01.2001 Austrian 1 Bundesliga (11) [Carsten Hansen]
1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 b7 4.g2 e6 5.0-0 e7 6.c3 0-0 [ 6...c5 at some point would bring play to a Hedgehog, whereas Black seems happy to allow White to play d4 unchallenged, when a Queen's Indian would result. ] 7.e1 e4 [ Nowadays this is preferred to the less flexible 7...d5 which allows White some advantage. ] 8.xe4 xe4 9.d3 b7 10.d4 [ 10.e4 is the other try, c5 11.d4 cxd4 12.xd4 c6 13.e3 c8 14.c1 a6 Black has sufficient space for his pieces, Chuchelov,V-Tiviakov,S/Haarlem 1999. ] 10...e4 The bishop returns, but otherwise White will play e4 with a full centre. 11.h4 [ The current favourite, fighting for the e4square, at the expense of exchanging a further pair of pieces. 11.d5 f6 12.d2 xg2 13.xg2 d6 14.e4 d7 gained little, Portisch,L-Karpov,A/Milan 1975. ] 11...xg2 12.xg2 d5 Again to stop e4. 13.cxd5 [ T o p a l o v ' s n e w m o v e , 13.a4 dxc4 14.xc4 c5 15.dxc5 xc5 16.e3 d7 dra w, S avch en ko ,S -T ivia ko v, S/ Ja ka rt a 1997. ] 13...xd5 [ 13...exd5 is worse, Black will be obliged to play ...c5 later, when weak hanging pawns will result. ] 14.e4 d7 15.f4 d8 16.e3 c6 Black gains counterplay against the d-pawn. 17.e2 f6 18.e5 e7 19.a3 f8 20.c2 e7 21.g5 dc8 22.xe7 The knight c a n n o t b e a l l o we d t o s e t t l e o n d 5 . xe7 23.ad1 c5 24.b3 [ 24.dxc5 e8 regains the pawn. ] 24...cxd4 25.xd4 c7 26.f4 ½-½
A17 2507 2511 16.03.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 d6 7.b4 e5 8.b2 a5 9.e3 [ 9.g3 was played in Kramnik-Ivanchuk, Monaco 2007 - see the PGN archives for this imaginative game by Ivanchuk. ] 9...c6!? [ This already appears to be a new move. The alternatives have proven to be better f o r W h i t e : A ) 9...bd7 10.e2 b6 11.c2 g4 12.0-0 e8 13.d3 d7 14.fd1 a4 15.c3 1-0 Furman, SKholmov, R/Baku 1972/URS-ch (39) ] [ B) 9...axb4 10.axb4 xa1+ 11.xa1 g4 12.d3 ( 12.e2 e4 13.d4 xe2 14.xe2 c6 15.0-0 Chuchelov, V-Taimanov, M/ Fuerth 1999) 12...xf3 13.gxf3 c6 14.b5 e7 15.d4 Ortega, L-Zelcic, R/Montecatini Terme 1997 ] [ C) 9...g4 10.h3 h5 11.d3 axb4 12.axb4 xa1+ 13.xa1 bd7 14.e2 e7 15.0-0 a8 16.b2 Ruck, R-Kristjansson, S/Crete GRE 2007 ] 10.d3 [ 10.b5 e7 11.d3 d7 transposes to our main game, but avoids Black's alternative on his next move. ] 10...d7 [ If Black wanted to stick to the style of the Kramnik-Ivanchuk game from last year, he could consider 10...axb4 11.axb4 xa1+ 12.xa1 , and now b5!? 13.e2 ( 13.cxb5 a7 is fine for Black) 13...d7 14.0-0 b8 15.b1 b7 with an interesting position and chances to both sides ] 11.b5 e7 12.g3 [ This is very ambitious and not particularly obvio us. In st ea d 12.e2 g6 13.0-0 looks solid and good. Black's problem is his lack of active counterplay such as we saw in Gelfand-Eljanov in last month's update. ] 12...c8 13.h3 g6 [ Black has to be a little careful. For instance 13...c6 is premature, e.g. 14.c5 ed5 15.c1 e4 16.d2 exd3 17.cxd6 ] 691
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.g2 [ 14.g4!? ] 14...e8 15.h4 [ 15.g4 h6 16.g1 c6 17.a4 h7 ] 15...h6 16.d2 c6!? 17.bxc6 bxc6!? [ Black can also take back with the bishop, and although his chances after 17...xc6 18.e4 d7 are no worse, his position isn't as dynamic as in the game continuation ] 18.e4 xe4 19.xe4 f5!? [ Another option is 19...g4!? , e.g. 20.g2 a4! 21.f3 d7 22.h5 f8 ] 20.g2 a4 21.e4 g4 22.c5?! [ This looks a decent idea, but it is overly a m b i t io u s . I n st e a d W h it e s h o u ld h a ve considered 22.f3 , for instance: d7 23.f4 b8 24.f5 b3 25.d2 f8 26.f3 b8 27.c1 d5 ] 22...dxc5 [ Black has several good choices, for example 22...b8!? also leads to a better game for Black: 23.c2 b3 24.b1 dxc5 25.f3 d7 26.0-0 a6 ] 23.f3 d7 24.xc5 b8 25.c3 b5! 26.e3 b3! 27.b4 f5!? [ Very sharp, yet 27...a6!? intending 28.f1 f8! looks very pleasant for Black ] 28.h5 f4!? [ 28...f8!? 29.0-0 e6 30.exf5 d4 31.f6 f5 32.fxg7 xg7 ] 29.d2 [ 29.a7!? f8 30.gxf4 e6 31.f5 d4 looks quite scary for White ] 29...f8 30.gxf4 exf4 31.xf4 [ Here White should have opted for 31.d4!? , e.g. d8 ( 31...e3+ 32.f2 e6 33.ae1; 31...e6 ) 32.xf4 e6 33.d6 b2 34.0-0 h4 ] 31...c5! 32.d2?! [ 32.c1 is relatively best, though a6 33.c3 e6 34.e3 d4 is very nice for Black ] 32...e6 33.g3 [ White's troubles are evident everywhere: his pieces are totally un coordinated, he is way behind in development and his king is stuck in the centre... and Black has only temporarily sacrificed a pawn to achieve this... 33.d6 b5 34.f1 ( 34.g1 xd3 ) 34...d4-+ ] 33...d4 34.c1
[ 34.f2 a6 35.f1 f6-+ ] 34...xd3 35.c3 [ 35.f2 b3 36.c2 xd2 37.xd2 xa3-+ ] 35...xe4+! [ 35...xd2! is also nasty: 36.xd2 b7! 37.hc1 b2+ 38.1c2 xc2 39.xc2 d4+ 40.e1 b5! , and it is game over for White ] 36.fxe4 xg3 37.xg3 b8 38.c3 [ 38.f2 f8+ 39.e1 c2+ 40.d1 f2-+ ] 38...b5! 39.f1 b1+ 40.f2 xe4 A b e a u t if u l a nd im p re ssive e f f o rt b y o u r webmaster 0-1
695 Vaisser,Anatoli Sokolov,Andrei ch Val d'Isere FRA (2) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2581 2587 20.08.2002
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 0-0 5.g5 e8 6.g1!? A new move, White bolsters his g-pawn and will decide on the exact placement of his pieces depending on Black's choice, we considered [ 6.c2 in Krasenkow,M-Romanishin, O/Lviv UKR 2000. ] 6...d5 7.b3 White attacks b4 and d5 at the same time, which shows one of the plus points of his sixth move. xc3 If Black wishes to avoid conceding his bishop he has to sac a pawn, for instance: [ 7...c6!? 8.xd5!? d6 ( 8...exd5?! 9.cxd5 e7 10.xb4 is worse ) 9.c3 e5 but it is hard to believe Black has sufficient comp here. ] 8.xc3 d6 9.b3 Both defending c4 and opening the a1-h8 diagonal. e4 10.c2 c5 11.b2 c6 Black develops sensibly. 12.a3 W hite has to take some prophylactic measures, firstly against ...Nb4, and then later against ...Qa5+ when he eventually plays d3 to chase the e4-knight away. b6 13.e3 f5?! A decidedly risky decision, Black hopes to open the f-file, but he also opens the g-file which certainly justifies W hite's sixth move novelty. 692
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 13...b7! 14.d3 d6 is simple and logical, although W hite's bishop pair give him the edge. ] 14.gxf6 xf6 [ 14...xf6!? i s n o b e t t e r : 15.d3! and the rook cannot capture on f3, ( 15.xf6? xf6 forking a1 and f3, 16.d1 e5 ) 15...xf3? 16.xg7+ f8 17.xe4 dxe4 18.xe4 winning. ] 15.cxd5! exd5 16.g5! Obvious and strong, s u d d e n ly t h e p o sit io n o p e n s f o r W h it e ' s bishops and g-file rook. d4 Black had to stop Bxf6 followed by Qxh7+. 17.g2 d7 [ 17...e8 18.xc6 xc6 19.xd4 exploits the c-file pin. ] 18.xc6!? [ 18.c4+! h8 19.xc6 xc6 20.f7+ xf7 21.xf7 is also possible, and must have been tempting, although I suppose W hite must have been worried about his lack of light-squared control here, i.e. g6 and ...Bd5 threatens to win the queen, still, White is clearly on top. ] 18...xc6 19.xd4 The point, White decides to take a pawn, but remove Black's c6-bishop. [ 19.e6 d6 20.xf8 xf8 is not so clear, as White's light squares are very weak. ] 19...cxd4? This move allows the white queen to infiltrate, [ 19...e4! 20.xe4 cxd4 is clearly superior, 21.c4+ h8 22.g5 dxe3 23.fxe3 d7 and Black has good play for the pawn, as the white king is awkwardly placed. ] 20.xc6 dxe3 21.fxe3 c8? This loses the exchange, although [ 21...e7 i s n o w m e t b y 22.e6+ exchanging the queens, when the extra pawn should decide. ] 22.e6+ h8 23.f7+ xf7 24.xf7 Black has no compensation for his material deficit, and even has to defend against the mate threat on g7. c7 25.e6 h6 26.e2 e7 27.f5 e4 28.a2 c7 29.g2 B la c k ' s m e n a c e s a re e a sil y p a rr ie d . e8 30.g6 e5 31.c2 f8 [ 31...xd2!? was worth a punt, although White has 32.g3! defending e3 and exchanging queens, ( 32.xd2? xe3+ 33.d1 xb3+ 34.c2 f3+ draws by perpetual check, and; 32.xd2!! xe3+
33.d1 e1# is even worse! )] 32.c6 White wants to finish with a queen sac on h6. g5! [ 32...xd2? 33.xh6+ gxh6 34.xh6# ] 33.h4? Careless, or were both players short of time? b5+? Black misses a great chance: [ 33...d5! is very strong, threatening ... Qf3+, and attacking the g2-rook, and brings B l a c k r i g h t b a c k i n t h e g a m e : 34.xg5 ( 34.f2 xf2+ 35.xf2 xd2+ ) 34...hxg5 35.hxg5 d8 and anything could happen here. ] 34.c4! The only move, but strong. xb3 [ 34...d5 is no longer so dangerous, 35.c6 f7 36.f4 ] 35.c2 White forces the queens off, and the ending is hopeless for Black. 1-0
696 Vallejo Pons,Francisco Adams,Michael SuperGM Linares ESP (11) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2629 2742 07.03.2002
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 c5 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.e1 e4 I have mentioned this possibility in previous games, Black takes to time to exchange a couple of pieces. He won't be able to stop W hite f ro m f orcing e4 an d d 4, but in th e ensuing Hedgehog position he will be less cramped. 8.xe4 xe4 9.d3 b7 10.e4 0-0 11.d4 cxd4 12.xd4 d6 13.b3 a6 14.e3! Actually this seems to be a new move here, but it is, of course, very logical. Previously White had brought his bishop out on a different diagonal: [ 14.a3 leads nowhere, c7 15.c1 d7 Janssen,R-W illemze,T/Leiden 1999, the kn i g h t c a n g o t o c 5 t o b lo c k t h e a 3 - f 8 diagonal. ] [ 14.b2 d7 15.f4 is better, Son,I-Drilinsh, A/Kherson 1990, although ...Qc7 and ...Bf6 gives Black reasonable chances. ] 14...d7 15.f4 e8 16.f2 This careful move gives the e-pawn extra defence. c7 17.c1 f6 18.d2 ad8 Both players have developed their pieces sensibly: White has carefully bolstered his space advantage, and 693
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black is ready to react to any aggression in t y p i c a l H e d g e h o g f a s h i o n . 19.g4!? This aggressive plan mirrors play in the main line, see Zhu Chen - Bischoff, for example. c5!? Luring White on, [ 19...xd4 20.xd4 e5 was an interesting alternative, 21.c3 exf4 22.xf4 e5 with goo d play, alth ou gh W hite 's d arksquared b isho p will a lways be a u sef u l piece. ] 20.b4 White advances on both fronts, but he risks becoming over-extended. g6 A little trick. 21.c2 Capturing the knight is a mistake: [ 21.bxc5? dxc5 ] 21...d7 22.g5 g7 23.e3 The white kingside advance starts to look very dangerous for Black, Ne3-g4 is the immediate menace. h5!? [ Apart from this, 23...f6 or ] [ 23...f5 24.exf5 gxf5 were also possible. ] 24.gxh6 xh6 25.g4 f8 The d6-pawn will n e e d d e f e n d in g . 26.h4 Although the g5pawn has disappeared W hite still has an initiative on the kingside dark squares. c8 27.g5 a5 Black counterattacks on the queenside - he can't let White have everything his o wn way. 28.a3 axb4 29.axb4 a6 30.f5! White ditches the c-pawn, and goes straight for the black throat, but it seems that Black has many resources. xc4 31.f6 e5?! [ Black should leave the knight on d7 to keep an eye on the f6-pawn, 31...b5 ] 32.h6+ xh6 33.xh6 Black was forced to concede his dark-squared bishop, and must now find a defence against the brutal threat of Bg7, and Qh6-h8 mate. b5 34.g7 b6+ 35.h1 g4 Absolutely the only move, Black stops Qh6, and even has a nasty threat of his o w n : . . . N f 2 + . 36.h3?! White misses something in the coming complications, [ 36.c2! is stronger, defending f2 and t h r e a t e n i n g h 3 : b3 37.b2 c2 (what else?) 38.h3 f2 (forced) 39.e2 h4 40.xc2 xc2 41.xc2 xf6 42.xf6 xf6 White has won a piece for two pawns, and although his structure is not very good he has every chance of winning the b5-pawn and the game. ] 36...f2 37.g5 This seems strong, but
B la ck h a s s e e n f u rt h e r ! e2! 38.hxg4 White accepts the draw, [ 38.xe2!? is too risky, xc1+ 39.xc1 xe2 40.hxg4 xg4 41.h6 h5+ stops the mate when the poor placement of the two white bishops, and the two extra pawns, make the black rook favourite to win. ] 38...f3 39.xf3 There is no choice, [ 39.g1?? xc1 40.xc1 h4# ] 39...xf3+ 40.h2 [ 40.g1 g3+ is also a draw. ] 40...f2+ 41.h1 f3+ ½-½
697 Van Wely,Loek Adams,Michael Corus Wijk aan Zee NED (5) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2646 2715 20.01.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 b6 7.b4 a5 [ I have always had a penchant for this move in similar positions. The idea is simple: as White enjoys the advantage of the bishop pair, Black 'shortens' the pawn structure, as his knights are happier in a restricted space. The disadvantage is that W hite can sometimes use the open a-file, and that the b6-pawn can become a liability after Black plays ...c5. 7...b7 8.b2 d6 9.e3 bd7 10.e2 c5 is the more normal way of playing, Ftacnik,L-Rozentalis,E/ Moscow 1994, 0-1 (56). ] 8.b2 d6 9.g3 axb4!? [ A new idea, and a good one. Instead of the standard 9...b7 10.g2 axb4 11.axb4 xa1+ 12.xa1 bd7 13.0-0 c5 with a solid position for Black, but a slight advantage to White, Budnikov,A-Kholmov,R/ Voronezh 1988, 0-1 (69), Black defers the development of his light-squared bishop, it might be more useful on the h3-c8 diagonal, and tries to make something of the extra tempo. ] 10.axb4 xa1+ 11.xa1 c5 12.g2 e5 A t yp ica l pla n, th e bla ck pa wn ch ain will restrict the a1-bishop, meanwhile, the weakness created on the light squares can be 694
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 defended by the black pieces. 13.0-0 c6! W ith t he b la c k bish op o n c8, t he re is n o reason that this piece shouldn't find a more active square tha n the hab itual d7 . 14.b5 d4 15.xd4 cxd4 This last move creates a square on c5 for the black knight, or queen. 16.b4 [ This square may not be the best, but 16.c2 also seems fine for Black: c7 17.e3 dxe3 18.fxe3 e6 19.c6 d7 ] 16...c7 17.e3 c5 18.xc5 dxc5 Shutting-out the white dark-squared bishop. 19.f4 dxe3 20.fxe5? [ Amazingly, this move loses. White had to re ca pt ure : 20.dxe3 e6 21.xe5 xc4 which should lead to a draw. ] 20...exd2! 21.h3?! [ Trying, unsuccessfully, to stop the black piec es f rom using g4, o therwise 21.exf6 g4 22.fxg7 e8 23.d5 e7 and Black is better, the d2-pawn queens. ] [ 21.d1 g4 22.xd2 e3 23.d5 e6 wins the c4-pawn. ] 21...d8 22.d1 g4! Anyway! 23.c3 e3 24.xd2 xd2 25.xd2 xg2! The simplest solution, the opposite-colour bishop position is hopeless for White, as he cannot defend h i s q u e e n s i d e p a w n s . 26.xg2 f8! The white bishop can't be allowed into d8. 27.e6 xe6 28.f4 xc4 29.c7 e7 30.f3 xb5 31.xb6 d6 White could only draw if the extra two black pawns were closer together. 32.h4 d5 33.e3 d7 34.d8 d6 35.a5 h6 36.f4 f6 37.d8 e6 38.e4 c6+ 39.d3 b5+ 40.e4 d7 Black bides his time before finding a winning plan. 41.d3 d6 42.e4 g4 43.f4 d1 44.e3 c2 45.d2 b1 46.e3 e6 47.b6 c4 48.d4 f5 49.c3 c2 50.f3 d1+ 51.e3 g5 Finally Black transforms his kingside majority into a passed pawn. 52.b2 h5 53.c3 f7 54.f3 d5+ 55.f2 c6 Black is in no hurry. 56.e3 a4 57.f3 d1+ 58.e3 g6 59.d4 e2 60.b4 h5 61.f8 f5 62.e5 d3 63.hxg5 hxg5 64.a3 g4 65.c1 e2 66.d2 d1 67.d4 b3 68.e5 a2 69.c1 c3 70.d4 c2 71.e5 b3 72.d2 a4 73.c1 d7 74.d2 xg3 75.xg5 f3 76.c1 e2 0-1
698 Van Wely,Loek Ivanchuk,Vassily Monaco (Blindfold) rapid (1) [John Emms]
A17 2683 2750 17.03.2007
1.c4 [ The Nimzo move order to reach the relevant position would be 1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3+ 6.xc3 b6 7.f3 b7 8.e3 a5!? ( discouraging b2-b4 we've mainly c o n c e n t r a t e d o n t h e p o p u l a r 8...d6; and the fairly new 8...d5 ) 9.b3 ( 9.b4 e4! is awkward for White, whose queen is forced to the undesirable b2-square.) 9...d6 followed by ...Nbd7, . ..Qe7, ...Ne4 etc. ] 1...f6 2.c3 e6 3.f3 b4 4.c2 0-0 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 b6 Over the next few moves White can play d2-d4 and transpose to a Classical Nimzo (here he does so on move 12), although in practice those who play the English move-order often prefer to keep their d-pawn back and thus restrict Black's options regarding the e4-square. 7.e3 b7 8.e2 d6 9.0-0 a5 10.b3 bd7 11.b2 e7 12.d4 Now we are definitely back in the Nimzo. [ 12.d3 keeps an English flavour. Then c5 13.d2 e5 14.f3 xf3 15.xf3 fe8 16.d4 exd4 17.xd4 e5! 18.c2 e4! was equal in Cvetkovic-Rozentalis, Schellenberg 1991, but of course there are many other possibilities for both sides. ] 12...e4 Black begins the usual attacking plan on the kingside: ... Ne4, ...f7-f5, ...Rf6-h6/g6 etc. 13.c2 f5 14.e1 After this plausible move, simply trying to kick the knight away with f2-f3, White lands up in trouble, although it's not clear that this move is the problem. [ 14.b4!? is logical, even if Black can claim some sort of moral victory in that, given he has played b4 in two goes, White is a tempo down on the normal line. ] [ Another possibility is 14.fd1 - angling for d4-d5 df6 a n d n o w a f t e r 15.e1 Black no longer has ...Qg5. However, this also looks risky for W hite on account of g4! 16.d3 h4 17.xg4 fxg4 when W hite has to endure some worrying times on the kingside. ] 14...g5! Preventing White's f2-f3 plan, at 695
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 least for the moment. But there is more to B l a c k ' s m o v e , a s w e s h a l l s e e . 15.c1 W hite defends e3 and thus prepares f2-f3 again, but Black is not about to be dictated to! [ 15.f3?? not only blunders a pawn but also t h e k i n g a f t e r xe3+ 16.h1 g3+! 17.hxg3 f6 ] [ 15.c1!? is another way "forward" for W hite, as at least now Black has no trick with ...Qh5 after f2-f3 (see later in the main game). 15 Bc1 was played in the game Agrest-Ki.Georgiev, Turin Olympiad 2006, w h i c h c o n t i n u e d e7 ( 15...f6? now fails - the attack doesn't work after 16.f3! g3 17.hxg3 xg3 18.f4 h6 19.f3; 15...ae8!? 16.f3 ef6 ) 16.f3 ef6 17.b2 c5 with a typically complex and roughly level position. ] 15...f6!? [ 15...e7 16.d3 e5 17.c2 was M.Gurevich-V.Bologan, Sanxenxo 2004, and now Gershon gives g5!? (threatening ...Nd2) 18.f4 exf4 19.exf4 h6 as unclear. The text move is clearly more ambitious and it certainly does the business, but is there a flaw? ] 16.f3? [ Shredder likes 16.c5! - threatening c5-c6 and I'm finding it difficult to come up with a suitable answer for Black. For example, bxc5 ( 16...h6? 17.c6 h4 achieves nothing after 18.f3; 16...dxc5 17.dxc5 e5 18.f3 ) 17.dxc5 dxc5 18.f3! g6 19.xf6 xf6 20.d4 and Black certainly has some play for the material deficit but it's not clear how much. Note that e5 21.b5 xb3? loses to 22.c4+! ] 16...h5! Cleverly using the pin on the f3pawn - 17 fxe4 Qxe2 looks good for Black wh ile a lso lin in g u p t h e t h rea t of . .. Rh 6 . 17.g4? Panic, although I have a lot of sympathy for Van W ely. These sort of positions are hard enough to defend as it is with the board in sight, never mind trying to do so blindfold! [ Curiously (or perhaps not so given the number of games played these days), this position had been reached before: 17.d1 h6 18.fxe4 ( 18.h3 g5 gives Black a dangerous attack, and White must be wary of sacs on h3: 19.f4? xh3+! for example,
when the nicest line is 20.h2 xf4+! 21.xh5 e2!! ) 18...xh2+ 19.f2 f6 20.e2 (Miton-Balogh, Aarhus 2005), and here Mikhail Golubev in Chess Today advocates xe4 when it's true that Black has very good compensation for the piece, as well as excellent practical chances. ] 17...fxg4 18.fxe4 [ After 18.fxg4 - not that this would ever be the idea behind 17 g4 - Black has more than one winning move, but g3!? is the most e n t i c i n g . F o r e x a m p l e , 19.gxh5 ( and I particularly like 19.c2 xg4!! ) 19...xe2# ] 18...h6 19.f2 xe4 20.d2 h4! Threatening ... g4-g3, against which there is really no good defence. White's only chance is to try to chase the bishop off the diagonal, but he is too late and Black's impressive attack powers through. 21.d3 g3 22.g2 gxh2+ 23.h1 f8! 24.c2 hf6! 25.d5 e5 [ 25...f2 26.xe4 f1+ mates ( but not 26...xd2?? 27.xg7+! h8 28.xh7+! )] 26.e1 xg2+ 27.xg2 h1+! [ B l a ck m a t e s wi t h 27...h1+ 28.xh1 g4+ 29.h2 h6# A very well played attack by Ivanchuk, an a good illustration of the practical difficulties White faces in this line, even if objectively he may have an edge. ] 0-1
699
A17 Van Wely,Loek 2636 Timman,Jan H 2649 Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee NED (12) 30.01.1999 [Tony Kosten] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 h6 This might weaken the kingside, but at least it stops the f6-knight from having to wander around the board. 5.g1 b6 Black plays the position as if it were a Queen's Indian, [ 5...d5 is an important alternative, 6.a3 e7 7.d4 e4!? 8.c2 xc3 9.xc3 d7 10.g2 0-0?! 'Castling into it', and now, i n s t e a d o f 11.h1 when Black quickly played g5! and managed to keep the g-file from opening, Tukmakov, V-Shneider,A/ Donetsk UKR 1998, White could have gone 696
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f or 1 1 g5! hxg5 12 B h1 f 6 13 h 4 wit h a venomous attack. ] 6.h4 White is not a player for half-measures. b7 7.g5 So White manages to play this anyway, but at a cost in time. hxg5 8.hxg5 e4 Better this, than put the knight offside by [ 8...h5?! 9.e3 e7 10.b5 d5 11.a3 d6 12.cxd5 exd5 13.g6! c6 14.gxf7+ xf7 15.xd6+ cxd6 16.g5 e7 17.d4 and the black position is a mess, Piket,JNikolic,P/ Monte Carlo MNC 1999. ] 9.c2 xc3 10.dxc3 d6 An unusual square for the bishop. 11.e3 c6 12.d2? A careless slip, the obvious [ 12.0-0-0 maintained a small plus, e.g. e7 13.g2 ] 12...h2! Forcing the g1-rook onto an e xp o s e d l igh t s qu a re . 13.g2 The only square. e7 This is stronger than [ 13...e5?! which allows 14.xh2 xh2 15.f4 forking the two pieces. ] 14.f3 d6 And by returning, Black gains a useful move. 15.g4 g6 16.0-0-0 e7 17.g2 0-0-0 Black has a small advantage, he controls the h-f ile, and the g4-rook is m i s p l a c e d . 18.a4 a6 19.d4?! Now was the time for [ 19.d2 -e4. ] 19...xg2 20.xg2 b7 21.g4 e5 22.e4 f5 23.gxf6 gxf6 24.b3 White is hoping to generate some play against the black king, but he just puts his pieces on a w k w a r d s q u a r e s . c5! 25.f4 c7 Black prepares to play ...d5. 26.d2 d5 27.cxd5? Better to keep the fourth rank shut by [ 27.e3 so as to answer h4 with 28.g3 ] 27...exd5 28.e3 [ 28.xe5 dxe4 29.xe4+ was the last chance, although Black has a clear advantage. ] 28...h4! 29.f3 b5 Black wins a piece. 0-1
700 Werle,Jan Willemze,Thomas 10th Essent Open (5) [John Watson]
A17 2551 2384 24.10.2006
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 We have concentrated upon 3 e4. This move allows Black to enter into the Queen's Gambit by 3...d5 or keep it within the English Opening, as he does with his next move. b4 4.b3!? [ 4.c2 has been more common. ] 4...c5 5.g3 0-0 6.g2 d6 7.0-0 c6 8.d3 b8 9.a3 xc3 10.bxc3 b6 [ 10...e5! is consistent with Black's plan of giving up his dark-squared bishop in c o n j u n c t i o n wi t h . . . d 6 . T h e n h i s l i g h t squared bishop is good. White can try to use the fact that his pawn on c3 prevents ... Nd4 to bring a knight to d5, but Black can disrupt his development, e.g., 11.e1 g4 12.f3 e6 13.c2 ( 13.c2? b5 ) 13...a6 14.a4 d7 15.e4 b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.cxb5 xb5 ] 11.e4 a5 [ 11...e5!? ] 12.c2 e5 This is rather late because White already has the desired pawn structure set up. 13.a4 e8 14.h4!? f6 15.f5 d5?! B l a c k is p r o b a b l y n o t e xc it e d a b o u t t h e prospect of White transferring his knight to d5 vi a e 3 o r s u p p o r t i n g i t w i t h g 4 , b u t t h i s advance ends up costing material for insufficient compensation. [ 15...xf5! 16.exf5 d7 prepares ...Nc6, although I still like the bishops and White's k i n g s i d e p a w n m a s s a f t e r 17.f4 , for example, c6 18.d5+ h8 19.g2 ] 16.cxd5 xf5 17.exf5 d6 18.f4! c4! [ 18...xf5? 19.fxe5 fxe5 20.d4! establishes a huge centre. ] 19.fxe5 fxe5 20.dxc4!? [ 20.a3 cxd3 21.xd3 ac4 22.xd6 xd6 23.ae1 f6 24.g4 and White will try to enforce g5 by Qg3 and h4. ] 20...axc4 21.e2 c8 22.h5 Black's knights and rooks are ideally placed but White threatens on the kingside. c7 [ 22...e8!? ] 23.g4 cf7 24.f3!? h6 25.a2!? c7! 26.h3 c5+ 27.h1 e4? 697
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 27...f6 ] man who is intent upon tearing you limb from 28.xh6 xd5 29.e3 f6 30.d4 e5 limb. 31.e2?! [ Thus 7...c6 seems better after which [ 31.h7+ f7 32.f2 ] 8.dxc5 xc5 9.f4 b6 10.0-0-0 e5!? 31...c4 wo u l d g i v e B l a c k h i s f u l l s h a r e o f t h e [ 31...h6! ] chances in a complex game. ] 32.e1 8.a3 a5 9.dxc5 dxc5 10.e3 d7?! [ 32.g5! xf5 33.xe4! with the idea xe4 Another passive looking move, the knight 34.h7+ f7 35.xf5+ etc. ] should really want to come to c6. 32...h6 33.g5 df7 34.e3 xg4?? [ 10...e7 11.0-0-0 c6 looks more like it. ] [ 34...xh3 35.xh3 g5 isn't inspiring but 11.0-0-0 e7 12.e4 c7 13.d2?! keeps Black in the game. ] I can understand White wanting his bishop on 35.g3 xh3 36.xh3 the a1-h8 diagonal but this seems to lose a bit 1-0 of momentum. [ 13.g1 b6 14.a4 looks more like it, with B l a c k p r o b a b l y h a v i n g t o p l a y f5 701 A17 to get some freedom. ] 14.c3 b7 15.c2 d8 Williams,Simon Kim 2528 13...b6 Jones 2153 Sensible but still passive. [ Black needs to play 15...f5! when 16.gxf6 98th ch Sheffield ENG (10.13) 04.08.2011 dxf6 leaves him with rather a good [Nigel Davies] position. ] 16.g1 e5 17.h4 e6 18.e3 xe4 1.c4 e6 [ The position after Black's fourth move 19.xe4 f5 For many moves this has been would normally be reached via a different the key idea but here it is too late. 20.d5! move order: 1...f6 2.f3 e6 3.c3 b4 xd5 21.xd5 g6 22.e2 [ 22.e4! fxe4 23.h3! was much stronger, 4.b3 ( 4.g4!? ) 4...c5 etc. ] immediately cracking open Black's pawn 2.c3 b4 3.b3 c5 4.f3 f6 5.g4!? structure to get his light square bishop into This seems to be new in this particular play. ] position, though the idea is quite well known. Here are a couple of the quieter moves in 22...f7 23.gd1 e7 24.f3 g7 25.g2 e6 26.h4 f7 27.h1 df8? Blundering action: [ a) 5.a3 a5 ( 5...xc3 would stop the away an important pawn. [ H a n g i n g t o u g h , s a y w i t h 27...d6 bishop getting out of play) 6.e3 0-0 7.e2 , would still leave White wondering how he c6 8.0-0 d5 9.a4 d6 10.c2 d4 could win the game. ] 11.xc5 xc5 12.b4 xb4 13.axb4 xb4 14.b3 d3 15.xd3 xd3 16.xd3 c7 28.xe5 xd5?! [ And here 28...xe5 was a better try. ] 17.b2 d8 18.c3 b6 19.d3 b7 20.e5 e8 21.f4 was good for White 29.f6+ d6 30.cxd5 xd5 31.b5 xf6 because of her strong pawn center and 32.d1+ e5 33.f4+ A good example of the pressure on the a1-h8 diagonal in Stefanova, power of intimidation! But 5.g4 deserves more trials. A (2551)-Bojkovic, N (2368)/Plovdiv 2010. ] [ b) 5.g3 0-0 6.a3 xc3 7.xc3 b6 8.g2 1-0 b7 9.b4 d6 10.0-0 bd7 11.d3 c8 12.e4 c7 13.b5 fe8 14.e1 h6 15.h3 cd8 16.a2 c8 17.a4 e5 18.a5 f8 19.xc8 xc8 20.b2 was better for White because of his space in Topalov, V (2737)Abulhul, T (2076)/Tripoli 2004. ] 5...0-0 6.g5 e8 7.d4 d6 This feels wrong, it's usually better to stand up tall against a 698
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 702 Zhou Jianchao Bagheri,Amir 6th ch-Asia Cebu City PHI (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A17 2572 2495 21.09.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 d6 5.a3 [ if W h it e p la ys 5.d4 we arrive in an odd sideline of the Classical Variation of the Nim zo -I nd ia n bd7 ( or 5...0-0 6.g5 bd7 7.e3 e8 8.h4 e5 9.0-0-0 c6 10.d2 a6 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.de4 with as slight pull for White, Petrosian, TTaimanov, M/Moscow 1964) 6.g5 b6 7.e3 b7 8.d3 h6 9.h4 xc3+ 10.bxc3 e7 11.e4 e5 12.d2 g5 13.g3 h5 14.0-0-0 f4 , and Black is doing fine, Christiansen, L-Karpov, A/W ijk aan Zee 1993 ] [ Alternative, White can consider 5.g3 0-0 6.g2 c5 7.0-0 c6 8.e3 xc3 9.xc3 e5 10.b3 g4 11.h3 xf3 12.xf3 e4 13.g2 e5 14.b2 d7 15.c2 h5 ( 15...ae8!? ) 16.h2 e6 , thus far Gabriel, C-Sokolov, A/Swiss Team Ch 2001 17.d3 exd3 ( 17...xd3 18.xf6 gxf6 19.xe4 xe4 20.ad1 ) 18.c3 ae8 19.f4 c6 20.ad1 ] 5...xc3 6.xc3 e5 [ Black has a couple of alternatives at this juncture: A) 6...b6 A) 7.e3 bd7 8.b4 b7 9.e2 0-0 10.b2 e5 ( 10...e7 11.0-0 c5 12.fd1 fc8 13.d4 a5 14.b3 e4 15.d2 c6 16.dxc5 dxc5 17.b5 b7 , Roussel Roozmon, T-Kunte, A/Montreal 20 0 7 , a n d n o w 18.c2 ) 11.d3 e7 12.0-0 fe8 13.d2 a5 14.b3 axb4 15.axb4 eb8 16.e4 xa1 17.xa1 c5 18.a7 and White has the somewhat better chances, Benko, P-Schmittdiel, E/ Augsburg 1987; B) 7.g3 b7 8.g2 0-0 ( 8...e5 9.0-0 bd7 10.b4 0-0 11.b2 h5 12.d3 f5 13.c5 Fang, J-Jakab, A/Budapest 1998) 9.0-0 bd7 10.b4 ( 10.d3 c5 11.b4 d5 12.cxd5 xd5 13.b2 e7 14.d2 fc8 15.fc1 Jones, C-Kelson, R/Las Vegas 1994 (15)) 10...c5 11.b2 c7 12.d3 a5 , and here a draw was
prem a tu rely a gre e d u po n , 1 /2 -1/ 2 , in Benkovic, P-Vojinovic , G/Jahorina 2001, but after 13.e4 White has the better chances ] [ B) 6...0-0 A) 7.e3 e5 ( 7...c5 8.b4 bd7 9.b2 e5 10.e2 e8 11.0-0 a5 12.d3 b6 13.b3 bd7 14.c3 and I slightly p re f e r W h it e 's ch a n ce s, P e lle t ie r, Y Sokolov, A/Bled 2002) 8.d3 ( 8.e2?! e4 9.d4 c5 10.c2 g4 11.xg4 xg4 12.0-0 c6 13.h3 ge5 14.b3 d5 15.cxd5 xd5 , and White is facing uncomfortable pressure from Black along the open d-file, Chuchelov, V-Winants, L/ Belgium 2004) 8...a5 9.b3 d7 10.e2 b5 11.d4 b4 12.c2 exd4 13.axb4 c6 14.bxa5 dxe3 15.xe3 xa5 16.0-0 with a small but clear advantage for White, Dorfman, J-Sokolov, A/Marseilles 2001; B) 7.d4 b6 ( 7...bd7 8.g3 b6 9.g2 b7 10.0-0 a5 11.b3 e7 12.b2 e4 13.fe1 fe8 14.f1 Shulman, YBalandin, A/ Sioux Falls 2001) 8.g5 b7 9.e3 bd7 10.e2 c5 11.0-0?! ( 11.h4!? ) 11...e4 12.xd8 xc3 13.bxc3 fxd8 , and Black has at least equ alize d, Schu lz, M-S oko lo v, A/ Ba d Wiessee 2006; C) 7.b4 e5 8.b2 g4 9.h3 h5 10.g4 g6 11.g2 c6 12.0-0 e7 13.h4 Quist, V-Podolsky, A/corr ICCF 1984; D) 7.g3 e5 8.g2 D1) 8...c6 9.b4 ( 9.0-0 a5 10.b3 e4 11.e3 c5 12.b2 e8 13.c3 g4 14.c2 e4 Koenig, BHecht, H/Bayern 1998) 9...a5 10.b2 axb4 11.axb4 xa1+ 12.xa1 g4 13.h3 h5 14.d3 a8 15.g4 g6 16.0-0 a7 17.b5 e7 18.h4 Reis, G-Taimanov, M/Fuerth 1999; D2) 8...a5 9.b3 c5 10.0-0 c6 11.e1 g4 12.h3 f5 13.d3 h6 14.b2 d7 15.h2 fe8 16.e4 e6 , and Black has nothing to complain about, Hochgraefe, M-Sokolov, A/Germany 2001(43) ] 7.d4!? [ 7.g3 a5 8.b3 c5 9.g2 c6 10.0-0 g4 11.d3 d7 12.e1 h3 is comfortable for Black, Srebrnic, V-Balogh, C/Nova Gorica 699
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2004 ] 7...e4 8.g1 bd7 [ 8...0-0 9.f4 c6 10.e3 d5 11.g5 e6 12.h3 h6 13.xf6 xf6 14.cxd5 xd5 15.f4 ] 9.g5 h6 10.h4 0-0 [ 10...f8 11.e3 f5 can also be considered ] 11.e3 e8 12.e2 f8 13.d5 8h7!? [ A new move in this position. In an earlier game Black won using 13...e5 14.d4?! ( 14.f4! exf3 15.gxf3 e7 16.f2 b5 17.0-0-0 a5 18.e4 is complicated, but clearly better for White) 14...g6 15.g3 e8 16.c3 f5 17.0-0-0 d7 , and Black has a comfortable position, as W hite will have a hard time getting anything started on the kingside thanks to his bishop on g3, wh i l e B l a c k c a n a i m t o b l o w o p e n t h e queenside, Zhou Jianchao-Sokolov, A/ Paris 2006 ] 14.c2 e7 [ 14...c6!? 15.c3 A) or 15...cxd5 16.xd5 g5 17.f4 c7 ( 17...b5!? 18.cxb5 d7 ) 18.c1 f5 19.e2; B) 15...g5!? 16.xg5 hxg5 17.h4 g4 18.g3 cxd5 19.cxd5 e5 , and Black is p ro b a b ly o ka y, a l t h o u gh I st i ll p re f e r White ] 15.c3 g4 16.h3 h5 17.e2 [ 17.g4!? g6 18.0-0-0 is complicated, e.g. g5 19.xg5 ( 19.g2 d7 almost looks comfortable for Black the knight will continue to c5 and possibly d3.) 19...hxg5 20.g2 d7 21.h2 a5 22.dh1 c5 23.h4 d3+ ( 23...gxh4? 24.xh4 f6 25.f4+- ) 24.b1 gxh4 25.xh4 f6 26.f1 e1 , and White appears to be better, but Black is still playing ] 17...c5?! [ Black can try 17...g5!? , e.g. 18.f4 c6 and I don't see any reason why Black isn't okay ] 18.dxc6 bxc6 19.g3 g5? 20.d4 d7 [ is an attempt to complicate that will fall short: 20...c5 21.f5 e6 22.xh6+!? ( 22.xd6!? ) 22...g7 23.g4 xg4 24.hxg4 xg4 25.f3 f5 26.f4 g4 27.e2 xe2 28.xe2 g4 29.f5 xf5 30.0-0-0+- ]
21.c5! d5 22.a4! After this move, Black is toast, his queenside is falling apart and he is lo sin g m a te ria l. B lack n o w sa crif ic e s a n exchange to create at least some complications unfortunately for Black, White is still in complete control over the situation and wins rather effortlessly. e6 23.xe6 fxe6 24.a6 f8 25.d6 f7 26.b4 d4 27.b5 [ 27.exd4 e3 28.f3 e8 29.e5+- ] 27...cxb5 [ 27...dxe3 28.fxe3 e8 29.bxc6 d8 30.f1 xd6 31.cxd6 xd6 32.xf7 xf7 33.c2+- ] 28.xb5 xb5 29.xb5 dxe3 30.fxe3 d5 1-0
703 Zvjaginsev,Vadim Adams,Michael FIDE WCh KO Moscow RUS (3.1) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2640 2731 01.12.2001
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 4.g4 h6 5.g1 b6 6.b3!? A newish idea, and quite a change from the sharp, and logical, [ 6.h4 which we have examined previously, intending to continue the kingside advance. Later in this same match, in the quick-play decider, White tried another idea: ] [ 6.c2 b7 7.a3 e7 8.g5 hxg5 9.xg5 (menacing Nxf7!) f8! 10.d4 which was qu it e u n cle a r (Zvja gi n se v, V - A d a m s , M / Moscow RUS 2001). ] 6...c5!? [ A new move, preparing to relinquish the bishop pair, but obtain good central play. In Miroshnichenko,E-Kuzmenko,Y/Kharkov U K R 2 0 0 0 , B l a c k p r e f e r r e d 6...c6 but then White returned to the 'traditional' plan: 7.h4 b7 8.g5 hxg5 9.hxg5 g8 10.d4 with some advantage. ] 7.a3 xc3 8.xc3 d5 Black's idea is to gain a central presence to compensate his loss of the dark-squared bishop. 9.cxd5!? exd5 10.b4!? White attacks the dark squares with sharp tactical moves. d4 And Black tries to block these same squares. [ 10...xg4?! is risky: 11.bxc5 bxc5 12.e5 ] 700
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.c2 bd7 12.e4 By strengthening his dark-squared pawn chain, Black has also weakened his light squares, this is a direct consequence of course, and so W hite prepares to bring his f1-bishop to c4 or b5. dxe3 13.dxe3 b7 A good way of playing in such positions is to remember to develop the pieces to good squares, and hope that the tactics take care of themselves! 14.e2 c8 A curious position has arisen where the white king will have to stay in the centre while Black will be obliged to castle, but into an attack on t h e g - f i l e . 15.b2!? Offering an interesting pawn sac. cxb4 16.a4 a5! [ Black is obviously not prepared to risk having his king stuck on e8 after 16...bxa3?! 17.xa3 ] 17.axb4 0-0 Black has successfully completed his development, but there is still the problem of his g7-pawn. Can he generate enough central counterplay? 18.g5! Naturally. hxg5 19.xg5 c6 20.a3 xf3! This all part of an elaborate defensive plan. 21.xf3 axb4 22.xb4 c5 Black's sixteenth move ensured that he could control c5, and so he now proposes to exc ha n ge W h ite 's d an gero us ro o k. 23.h4 c7 24.d1 e8 White has two mighty bishops, but the absence of white pawns on the queenside means that the black knights can operate effectively in a smaller area- the kingside and centre. 25.f1 e5 26.f4 e6 [ Black avoids the transparent trap 26...xf3?? 27.xg7+! xg7 28.xf6+ winning immediately. ] 27.g2 h7 28.g3 b5 29.d4 f6 30.g1 So, the white king does make it to the kingside eventually. c2 31.c3 b1 32.xb1 xb1+ [ After 32...xb1+ 33.h2 f5 W h i t e s h o u l d r e p e a t m o v e s , 34.g1 as there is a nasty threat of ...Ng4+, b1+ etc. ] ½-½
704 Zvjaginsev,Vadim Piket,Jeroen Fontys Tilburg NED (11) [Tony Kosten]
A17 2650 2605 04.11.1998
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b4 One of the duller lines in the English, W hite normally plays 4 Qc2, takes the bishop pair, and tries t o m a k e h e a d wa y a g a i n s t B l a c k ' s s o l i d formation. 4 d4 is a bit livelier, transposing into a Nimzo. 4.g4!? It says something about this amazing game, that novelties can still be found, as early as move four, in an established main line! White profits from the temporary weakness of g7 to drive the f6knight from its post. d5 The normal central reaction against White's wing attack. [ 4...xg4?! 5.g1 f6 6.xg7 is the tactical point of White's aggressive idea. ] 5.g5 e4 [ 5...xc3?! 6.bxc3 e4 is worse: 7.d3! xc3 8.b3 The knight is trapped. d4 9.xd4 xd4 10.b2 f4 11.xc3 xg5 12.h4 h6 13.xg7 xg7 14.xg7 White has a large advantage: two bishops and the better centre, Popov,V-Orlov, V/St Petersburg RUS 1999. ] 6.h4! White blithely continues his kingside advance. This is stronger than [ 6.a4+ c6 7.xe4 dxe4 8.e5 e3 9.fxe3 xg5 unclear, Krasenkow,M-Garcia, G/Groningen 1997. ] 6...c6 7.c2 Posing Black an awkward problem , he d oesn't want t o retre at, an d capturing on c3 only allows White to speed-up his development. f5 8.gxf6 xf6 9.a3 xc3 10.dxc3 White is more interested in bringing his c1-bishop out, than constructing a large centre with 10 bxc3. e7 11.g5 d7 12.0-0-0?! [ 12.cxd5 exd5 13.0-0-0 was stronger, with an edge. ] 12...dxc4! White doesn't get a second chance to capture this pawn. 13.h5 0-0-0 14.h6 White is attempting to undermine Black's darksquared control, and make his g5-bishop even stronger. hg8 15.h3 gxh6 16.h4! W h i t e m a i n t a i n s t h e a n n o yi n g p i n . df8 17.d2 Menacing the gain of material by Ne4. 701
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f7 18.xc4 e5! Otherwise the d7-bishop had no future. 19.xd7+ xd7 20.e3 c5 [ 20...g6 was best. ] 21.d5 d7 There was the threat of b4-5 to deal with, driving the c6-knight from its control of e7, and allowing Ne7+, winning the e x c h a n g e . H o w e ve r , t h i s m a n o e u vr e i s loosening, and [ 21...g6!? might still have been the best choice, e.g. 22.b4 e6 23.b5? ed4! 24.cxd4 xd5 and Black wins! ] 22.d3!? f5? 23.e4 e6 24.b4 P b 5 h a s b e c o m e a s t r o n g t h r e a t . f7? This loses serious material, [ 24...a6 25.a4 b8 had to be played. ] 25.c4 Threatening to win the c6-knight, with b5, and the black queen. a6? 26.b6+ 1-0
would prefer White. ] 13.d3 f5 Now that ... f5 is impossible (as the knight cannot recapture on f6) this move is forced. [ 13...g6? l o s e s q u i c k l y : 14.h5 xg5 15.hxg6 fxg6 16.xg6! xf3 17.xh7+ f7 ( 17...f8 18.e4 hits f3 and menaces Rh8+ ) 18.g6+ e7 19.xg5+ and Black can resign. ] 14.e4 d6 15.f4 Both developing and threatening to capture on d6 followed by e5. f5 16.exf5 xf5 17.0-0-0 Whilst Black has been fiddling with his king's knight (already 6 moves!) W hite has completed his development and already has some nasty threats lined-up. a5?! [ 17...b6 would stop the next move. ] 18.d4! White tries to blast his way past the f5-barrier. c6 [ 18...xd4 19.xh7+ h8 20.xd4 705 A17 is pretty awful, but was Black's best, e5?! 21.d5 ] Zvjaginsev,Vadim 2671 exf5 20.c4+ h8 21.d5 Riazantsev,Alexander 2538 19.xf5 Aeroflot Open (1) 11.02.2003 Suddenly the black queen is short of squares! c5 [Tony Kosten] [ 21...b6? 22.a4 ] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.f3 b4 4.g4 0-0 22.a4 b5 Forced. 23.xc5 d4 24.d1 b7 Unfortunately for Black, 5.g5 e8 6.c2 White decides not to try the [ 24...xa4 25.xd4 bxc4 restores material [ 6.g1!? which, as we saw, worked so well equality, but allows mate! 26.c7 g8 in Vaisser,A-Sokolov, A/Val d'Isere FRA 27.xg7! xg7 28.d8+ g8 29.e5# ] 2002. ] 25.xd4 The simplest. xh1 26.c3 ad8 6...d5 7.a3 [ 7.b3 was considered in Krasenkow, M- 27.d5 xd5 [ 27...xd5 28.xd5 e1+ leads nowhere, Romanishin,O/Lviv UKR 2000. ] 29.c2 e4+ 30.b3 and the king 7...e7 8.d4!? A novelty, White avoids the escapes to a2. ] capture on d5: Rather than have two pieces for a [ 8.cxd5 exd5 9.d4 as this frees Black's 28.c7! light-squared bishop, c6 10.f4 g4 r o o k W h i t e t a k e s a w h o l e p i e c e ! b3 29.xd8 Roiz,M-Alienkin,A/Beersheba 1998. ] 1-0 8...c5 [ 8...dxc4 9.e4 c6 10.e3 d6 11.0-0-0 b5 appears to be critical, Black goes pawnA18 grabbing but allows W hite space and the 706 Agrest,Evgenij 2607 c e n t r e , t h i s m i g h t c o n t i n u e 12.e5 ( 12.e5?! f5 13.xb5? xe3 14.fxe3 Sturua,Zurab 2536 Olympiad Bled SLO (11) 06.11.2002 d5 ) 12...b7 13.f4 with sharp play. ] 9.dxc5 xc5 10.e3 e7 11.h4 dxc4 [Tony Kosten] 12.xc4 d6?! Black has happily liquidated the centre to allow his pieces to develop, but 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d3 this is a mistake, [ 12...c6 13.d3 f5 is better, although I a6 9.c2?! This seems to be a new move, 702
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 as previously White had always preferred the natural [ 9.0-0 (with a passing threat of Nxe5) but is c5!? p o s s i b l e h e r e , t o o ? ( 9...d6 has been considered in some detail - see the [A18] eBook chapter) 10.c2 ( 10.e2?! e4 11.d4 d6 is more than fine for Black, Petursson,M-Marciano,D/Andorra 1991) 10...g4 11.d4! ( 11.e1 0-0-0 transposes to the game) 11...exd4 12.cxd4 and White is better than in the game, as Black still hasn't castled 0-0-0?! allowing the standard 13.g5 xf3 14.xf6 xd1 15.f5+ although after e6 16.xd8 e2 17.fe1 xc4 Black has a pawn for the exchange. ] 9...g4! [ 9...d6 10.0-0 would transpose to normal l i n e s , b u t B l a c k a s p i r e s t o m o r e ( wi t h some justification). ] 10.0-0 0-0-0 11.e1 c5 12.h3 h5 13.d4 xf3 14.xf3 xf3 15.gxf3 exd4 16.f5+ White was relying on this move to regain his pawn. d7!? Why didn't Black play [ 16...e6 ? I suppose he was worried about 17.g5 d6 18.f4 d7 19.xe6 fxe6 20.xe6 but Black has the resource dxc3! 21.d1 d6 22.xd6 cxd6 23.xd6?? c2! and the pawn queens! ] 17.cxd4 g6 18.e4 g7 Black has pressure on the d4-pawn, and has a slight advantage despite White's two bishops. 19.b1 [ 19.e3?! f5 20.c2 b6 21.c5 d5 is excellent for Black. ] 19...b6 20.c5 This concedes d5, and limits the effectiveness of the white central pawns, but White had no other way of defending d4. d5 21.g5 d7 22.b3 f5! 23.d3 [ 23.xd5? would be positional suicide, White would have bad bishop versus good. ] 23...c6 24.eb1 b6!? A simple choice, but [ 24...xd4! was even better, the attack on the b-file leads nowhere: 25.a6 ( 25.xb7 xb7 26.a6 h6! tran sp ose s) 25...h6! 26.xb7 (if the bishop on g5 moves, then B l a c k c a n d e f e n d b 7 b y . . . R h h 7 ) xb7 27.xb7 c7 or ( 27...hxg5 28.b4+ c7 29.xd4 xh3 and wins. )] 25.cxb6 axb6 26.e3 c7 [ 26...f4! 27.a6+ d8 28.d2 xd4 seems clear enough. ] 27.c4 b5 28.xd5 xd5 29.a4 White tries
everything to generate some activity, but the black position is too easy to play. b6 30.c1 e8?! Black, who is a very strong GM, is showing a bit too much respect to his opponent, and adopts a 'safety-first' policy, but [ 30...xd4 was simple. ] 31.bc3? [ 31.c5 gives some chances, e.g. xc5 32.dxc5+ a5 33.axb5 a4 34.d3 xb5 35.d7 ] 31...e6 32.axb5 cxb5 33.c8 xd4 34.f4 e5 35.e3+ b7 36.f4 b8 White's slight activity counts for little against Black's extra pawn and positional plusses. 37.8c2 e7 38.a2 g5?! Once again, I suspect a shortage of time might be involved here - this was endemic at the 2002 Olympiad. [ 38...e4! ] 39.fxg5? [ 39.a5! gxf4 40.c5 is messy. ] 39...f4 40.c5 ee5! 41.ac2 xg5+ 42.f1?! f3 Now Black wins by direct attack. 43.e7 h2 Flashy! 44.xg5 xg5 45.e1 g1+ [ 45...g1+ 46.d2 f4+ wins a rook. ] 0-1
707 Aronian,Levon Hou,Yifan Tata Steel Chess 2013 (8.3) [John Bartholomew]
A18 2802 2603 20.01.2013
Levon Aronian loves endgames, and he also happens to play them very well! Here he outplays Hou Yifan in a line that had already appeared in the 'B' group. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 [ 7.d4 is the old main line. See the "Mikenas Attack - 3...d5 & Intro". ] 7...e5 8.d3 Presently White's principal try for an advantage. [ 8.d4 c6! 9.d5 ("A computer move") was seen in Naiditsch, A (2698)-Fedorchuk, S (2634) Belfort 2012/[Kosten, Tony]. ] 8...g4!? Houdini's top choice, as played a week earlier by Arkadij Naiditsch in group B. [ Major alternatives are 8...a6 ] [ and 8...d6 . Check the aforementioned 703
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 "Mikenas Attack" guide in the archives. ] 9.e4 d7! This leads to an endgame nearly by force. [ The only other game in this line saw 9...c6?! 10.0-0 0-0-0 , but after 11.a4 d7?! 12.b1 f5 13.xf5+ xf5 14.b5+Black was swiftly crushed in Nakamura, H (2657)-Zarnicki, P (2523) Minneapolis 2005. ] 10.xb7 The following line appears best for both sides. b8 11.d5 c6 12.e4 c5 13.e2 xe4 14.xe4 xf3 15.xf3 xf3 16.gxf3 The computer claims that this endgame is dead equal, but in practice I think White is for choice. His extra pawn isn't too useful at the moment, but it could become significant when the respective structures eventually do clash. Moreover, it's harder to envision an effective plan for Black. In the post-game interview Aronian said that he had analyzed this ending some time ago an d found difficulties for the second player. d6 Taking prophylactic measures against f3-f4. [ Interesting is 16...c5 is best, tying White down to the f2-pawn for awhile. For example, 17.d3 0-0 18.e2 f5!? intending 19.f4 e4 20.d4 d6 . ] [ Instead, the source game Movsesian, SNaiditsch, Wijk aan Zee 2013 saw 16...d7 17.e2 ( 17.d1!? ) 17...d6 18.d1 he8 19.d3 f5 20.h3 f4! and Black was even better for awhile (though the game was eventually drawn). Both Aronian and Hou were undoubtedly aware of this game, so it's intriguing to see them repeat this endgame line. ] 17.d1! Aronian spots a nice summer home for his monarch on c2. d7 18.c2 f5?! This pawn should probably stay on f7. [ Maybe just 18...b6 , preparing to double on the b-file (...Rb6-a6 could also be annoying). ] 19.d3 hf8 20.g1 g6 21.h6 f7 22.ad1 e6 23.c1 Returning home now that the queenside rook has been freed. b6 Aronian questioned the wisdom of this plan. [ 23...fb7 looks logical. ] 24.f4!? a6?! [ Black should play 24...exf4 25.d4 c5 . ] 25.fxe5 xa2+?? It's hard to understand what Hou was thinking.
[ Necessary was 25...xe5 , i.e. 26.c5 c7 27.b3 f6 28.f4 . ] 26.b1 xf2 27.exd6 b7+ 28.a1 xd6 29.d2 f3 30.e1 d7 31.b1+Black is completely lost. It doesn't help that White is one of the best technical players in th e wo rld ! g5 32.c2 f4 33.a3+ c7 34.d4 g4 35.d5 cxd5 36.cxd5 h5 37.e7 g3 38.e5 e3 39.d6+ c6 40.xh5 Black resigned. 8...Bg4!? has the engine's blessing, so I suspect that we haven't seen the last of the ending that occurs after 16. gxf3. Initial impressions suggest that Black needs to have some knowledge of how to proceed (here Naiditsch coped better than Hou). 1-0
708 Aronian,Levon Kramnik,Vladimir Botvinnik Memorial rapid (6) [Nigel Davies]
A18 2807 2791 03.09.2011
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d4 exd4 9.g5 [ 9.cxd4 b4+ shows a plus score for Black in Megabase 2011, which testifies to its total lack of poison. After 9.Bg5 the defence is far more difficult. ] 9...e6+ 10.e2 e7 11.cxd4 xg5 12.xg5 f6 13.d2 0-0 14.0-0 c6 15.d5 [ In an internet game Garry Kasparov played 15.f3 but after g4 16.ad1 ad8 17.d5 xf3 18.xf3 e5 19.e2 b6 20.fe1 fe8 21.f1 d7 Black had an excellent position due to the nice outpost for his knight o n c 5 . A n d h e e ve n w e n t o n t o wi n i n Kasparov, G-Zarnicki, P/ICC INT 1998. ] 15...d4 16.e4 A new move from Aronian, merrily allowing Black to exchange his knight for the bishop on e2. [ In earlier games White had played 16.d3 , for example f5 17.xf5 xf5 18.e4 g6 ( 18...h4 19.fe1 fe8 20.d3 d6 21.g3 e7 22.xd6 xd6 was equal and later drawn in Bukal, V Rosandic, D/Zadar 1995) 19.fe1 ad8 20.f4 b6 21.a4 d6 22.xd6 xd6 704
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.xd6 xd6 24.a5 1/2-1/2 was Cramling, 4.cxd5 exd5 5.e5 e4 D-Wiedenkeller, M/Stockholm 1993. ] [ 5...d4 was played against me in August, 16...xe2+ 17.xe2 g6 18.fe1 f5 but somehow I was not able to remember [ In retrospect Black might have wished he'd my analysis and I needed to be caref ul p l a y e d t h e m o r e c o n s e r v a t i v e 18...b6 6.exf6 dxc3 7.e2+ ( 7.b5+ The following sequence, which leads to the w a s m y r e c o m m e n d a t i o n i n J u l y c6 loss of W hite's c4 pawn, gives W hite a 8.e2+ ) 7...e6 8.dxc3 xf6 9.b5+ dangerous initiative. ] d7 10.xb7 e5+ 11.e2 d5 12.b5 19.g3 d3 Going for it. c5 with good compensation, Fier, A (2595)[ But 19...d7 was safer. ] Van Ketel, R (2241)/Vienna Open 2013. ] 20.e5 xc4 21.f5 Threatening a nasty 6.f3 f o rk o n e 7 . h8 22.e3 d3 23.xc7 [ 6.d4 was the subject of Ding, L (2707)-Wei, The net result of the last few moves is that Y (2530)/Danzhou 4th 2013. ] White has secured a powerful passed d-pawn. 6...f5 7.e2 This position is far from easy for Black now. [ 7.b3 it looks like this move was popular e4 24.f4 fe8 25.f3 d3 26.ad1 h5 in correspondence in the 90's with terrible 27.d2 b5 28.ed1 ad8 29.d6 results for White c5 8.xd5 c6 The passed pawn is making its presence felt. A) 9.d4 b4 10.xd8+ xd8 11.g5 c6 30.d7?! As this was a rapidplay game ( 11.b5+!? can bring some funny we must forgive the players a few complications, but not necessarily good for inaccuracies. White c6 12.0-0 cxb5 13.dxc5 xc5 [ 30.c4 was better, keeping an iron grip on 14.g5 c8 15.xb5 d3 16.d6+ the position. ] xd6 17.exd6 xf1 18.e1+ d7 30...e6 31.c4 f6? Missing his chance. 19.e5+ e6 and the computer gives the [ Black should have played 31...xd7 when habitual 0.00 with 20.d7 or 20.Kxf1 32.e5 ( 32.xd7?? xd7 33.xd7 b1+ 20.g6+ ) 11...c2+ 12.d2 e7 would see W hite get mated) 32...xe5 13.xe7 xe7 14.d1 xd4 15.xd4 33.xe5 xd2 34.xd2 xf3 is far from xd4+ 16.e3 xd1 17.xd1 f6 clear. ] a n d B la c k is sl ig h t l y m o re a c t iv e b u t 32.xf6 gxf6 33.a5 g7 34.d4 f5 maybe White can hold the balance; 35.f2 b6 36.xc6 xc6 37.g3 B) 9.xd8+ xd8 10.d4 xd4 11.xd4 The rook endgame is winning for White. c2 xd4 12.e3 d7 13.d1 d3+ 38.f4 g6 39.e5 e2+ 40.d6 f6 14.xd3 xd3 is also not so nice to play 41.d5 xg2 42.c7 gg8 43.f4 gf8 with White; 44.g1 e7 45.d6 C) 9.b5 xd5 10.xd5 0-0-0 1-0 and the Black pieces are active enough to compensate the pawn and even give an advantage ] 709 A18 [ 7.d4 would be a normal way to develop A) 7...c5 here is not precise because of Aronian,Levon 2813 8.b3! c6 ( 8...xc3 fails here, but not Lysyj,Igor 2648 in the game 9.xb7! ) FIDE World Cup (2.2) 15.08.2013 A1) 9.xe4!? sends things out of [Fier, Alexandr] control dxe4 10.d5 b4 11.a3 xd5 ( 11...xd5 12.c4 ) 12.c4 c2+ One more time W hite goes for 4.cxd5 but 13.xc2 exf3 14.xd5 xc2 15.xb7 playing 6.Nf3 instead of the 6.d4 analyzed in fxg2 16.xa8 gxh1+ 17.xh1; Ding - Wey in July, probably based on another A2) 9.xb7 is better c8 10.b5 d7 game from Lisyj. Soon something went wrong 11.xc6 xc6 12.b3 c4 13.c2 for Aronian and Lisyj could have given him big and Black hasn't enough for the pawn; problems. I would take a look at playing 10. B) 7...b4 8.d2 ( 8.a4+ c6 9.b5 Nxd4 instead. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 705
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d7 10.d2 xc3 11.xc3 0-0 and both sides has their own plusses) 8...xd2 9.xd2 0-0 is given as equal by Ribli in Rojas, L (2455)-Milos, G (2555)/ Villa Martelli 1998. ] 7...c5N This is a natural novelty. [ 7...c6 8.0-0 d7 9.d4 e7 was some kind of Petroff, but there is not much reason to not bring the pawn to c5 and combat the center, Zvjaginsev, V (2678)-Lysyj, I (2628)/ EU-Cup 28th Eilat 2012. ] 8.d4 [ 8.b3 now this is not so threatening because xc3 9.dxc3 ( 9.xb7 is not possible xe2-+ ) 9...d7 10.0-0 e7= ] 8...c6 9.0-0 cxd4 10.b5 [ 10.xd4 is slightly better compared to the game xd4 11.xd4 c5! ( 11...xc3 12.bxc3 only helps White e7?! 13.b5+ ) A) 12.a4+!? is an idea to surprise Black d7 13.b3 0-0! Black needs to be quick, to compensate the lost pawn with activity ( 13...xc3 14.xc3 b6 15.e6! a n d B l a c k ' s k i n g wi l l n e v e r b e s a f e) 14.xd5 ( 14.xd5? e6 15.c4 b5-+; 14.xb7 f5 15.xd5 b8 16.c6 c8 17.b7 b8= ) 14...c6 15.xd8 axd8 16.xe4 xe4 and the idea of ...Bd4 makes things even.; B) 12.b5+ d7 13.xd5 xb5 14.xb5 ( 14.xd8+ is just drawn xd8 15.xb5 xf2 16.b4 h3+ 17.h1 f2+ 18.g1= ) 14...xd5 15.c7+ d7 16.xd5 ae8 17.f4 c6 18.c3 xc3 19.bxc3 d8 and probably Black is fine, but still this extra pawn can make a difference. ] 10...d3! The main point of this move is put the d3-bishop in the way of d4. If White manages to play Nbd4 without any problem, his position will be better. 11.xd3 c5 12.g5 [ 12.e2 is a normal setup, going to trade the black squared bishops, but still Black is ok. There will always be counterplay on e5 0-0 13.e3 xe3 14.xe3 g6= ] [ 12.e3 tryin g to m ix th in gs u p xe3 13.xe4 dxe4 14.d6+ f8 15.xf5 exf3 16.fxe3 fxg2 17.xg2 xe5 18.c1 with enough compensation for the pawn. ] 12...b6
[ 12...xg5 enters some unnecessary co m p lica t io n s, 13.xg5 ( 13.xf5 0-0 14.xg5 xg5 15.xh7+ xh7 16.c2+ g8 17.xc5 xe5 is u n b a la n c e d) 13...xg5 14.c7+ d7 15.xa8 d4! covering d5 ( 15...h3 would enter another typical computer line 16.e4 d4 17.xd5 xa8 18.c1 xc1 19.a4+ b5 20.xc1 bxa4 21.xc5 e2+ 22.f1 b8 23.gxh3 f4= ) 16.xf5+ xf5 17.c1 xe5 18.f3 xa8 19.xf7+ e7 20.xd5+ d6 21.f7+ e7= ] 13.h4 The position is nothing special for W hite, but after two moves it will become worse. I would not imagine White going back to 13.Be3 after just playing 12.Bg5, but it's hard to suggest anything interesting. [ 13.d6+ xd6 14.exd6 0-0 leads nowhere ] [ 13.e3 0-0 ( 13...xe3 14.xe4 dxe4 15.d6+ f8 16.fxe3 xe3+ 17.h1 complicates things with no reason) 14.xc5 xc5= ] 13...0-0 14.a3 [ 14.c3 does not work tactically xb2 ( 14...xc3 15.bxc3 ) 15.xd5 xe5 16.b1 xa2-+ and the d5-knight is also hanging ] 14...fe8 Now the e5-pawn is going to fall. 15.c1 [ 15.b4 e7 ( 15...f8 16.c1 a5 ) 16.xe7 ( 16.c1 xh4 17.xh4 e6 18.f3 g4 ) 16...xe7 17.d6 c3! 18.d2 xd3 19.xd3 xe5 20.xe5 xe5 21.xc3 xd6 with some play, but a pawn up for Black ] 15...xe5 16.xe5 xe5 17.xe4? xe4? [ 17...dxe4 was really strong, with the idea of 18...e3 18.g3 I imagine this was the reason he avoided this line, but Black has a trick, ( 18.c3 e3 ) 18...xf2+! 19.xf2 ( 19.xf2 xb5 ) 19...xb5 20.xa7 e3 21.d4 e2 22.fe1 ae8-+ ] 18.g3 f5 19.c3 And somehow White is back in the game! f8 [ 19...xb2? 20.a4 ] 20.e2 The rook on f5 is a bit misplaced and the e4-bishop is good but has no squares. e8 21.fd1 Threatening 22.Nxd5. e6 22.b5 d4 [ 22...xb5 23.xb5 b6 24.d4 h5 706
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 25.b4 is too discoordinated. ] 23.xb6 axb6 24.xe4 xe4 25.f3 e8 26.f2 fe5 27.f1 White might be slightly better, but nothing serious, Lysyj defended we l l a n d t h e r e s t o f t h e g a m e i s n o t s o interesting. g6 28.xd4 5e6 29.f2 g7 30.c2 a8 31.d3 c6 32.xc6 bxc6 33.xb6 xb2 34.c5 g7 35.e2 f8 36.xf8 xf8 37.d2 e7 38.c2 e6 39.b3 b8+ 40.c3 b1 41.c2 b7 42.c3 b1 43.d2 c5 44.c2 b7 45.d1 h5 46.a4 a7 47.b3 b7+ 48.c3 a7 49.a1 a5 50.h4 d5 51.b3 c6 52.c4 d6 53.a2 e5 54.g3 d6 55.a1 e5 56.f4+ d6 57.b3 c6 58.f1 a7 59.f5 b7+ 60.c3 a7 61.fxg6 fxg6 62.f4 d5 63.g4 e5 64.c4 d5 ½-½
[ 8...f5!? is also possible, perhaps. ] 9.e2 [ 9.xe4 dxe4 10.xe4 d7 and ...Bc6 gives Black bags of compensation for the piece, and ] [ 9.cxd5 exd5 10.xe4 dxe4 11.xe4 d7 likewise, but ] [ 9.d1!? is worth a try, planning to trap the e4-knight by d3, a5 10.e2!? (to unpin the d-pawn) b5 11.d3 xd3 12.xd3 bxc4 wi t h t w o p a w n s a n d l o t s o f p o s i t i o n a l compensation for the piece. ] 9...f5 Black bolsters his powerful knight. 10.0-0 0-0 11.d1!? Again hoping to win the e4-knight, White plans for more than [ 11.d3 xc3 12.bxc3 c6 13.cxd5 exd5 which is only equal. ] 11...dxc4 12.xc4 b5! Black will give White no time to play d3. 13.xb5 b6 14.c4 a6 15.e3!? Again the most ambitious, although 710 A18 [ 15.d3 is also possible, xc4 16.dxc4 fd8 17.f2 xf2 18.xf2 d3+ 19.g1 d7 Azmaiparashvili,Zurab 2676 and Black's control of the d-file and strong Ivanchuk,Vassily 2711 knight provides an excellent return for the Saraybahce Blitz Exhib (2) 08.2002 pawn. ] [Tony Kosten] 15...fd8 Carefully controlling d3. 16.b3 h8 d3 Black's knights form an T h i s is 'o n l y' a b l it z ga m e , b u t is a ve r y 17.g3 impressive crush, even so. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 impressive pair. 18.b2 d7 Black improves e6 3.e4 c6!? This is a move I hadn't seen his position. 19.c3 ad8 20.c2 [ 20.xa6 xa6 21.c4 is another way, but before, normally Black plays how can White shift those two knights? ] [ 3...d5 or ] 20...b7 Black eyes the weak h1-a8 diagonal. [ 3...c5 ] 21.ad1 c6 The way Ivanchuk's pieces 4.f4!? have all gravitated to superb squares is quite [ 4.d4 is more natural: b4 5.f3 d5 6.e5 22.xd3 xd3 23.e1? d7 7.cxd5 exd5 8.f4 but this isn't too bad amazing. for Black, Adorjan, A-McCambridge,V/New This is a blunder, but it is almost impossible to successfully defend such a position in a York 1984. ] blitz game. xe3?! This is winning, but 4...d5 5.e5 e4 [ 23...xc3 24.dxc3 h1+ 25.f2 xh2+ [ 5...d4 6.exf6 dxc3 7.bxc3 xf6 8.d4 is somewhat simpler. ] is like the 3... d5 mainline, except that with the pawn on f4 Black can no longer free 24.dxe3 xd1 25.xd1 xc3 26.f3 a6 himself with ...e5, Luetzen,M-Premke,S/ 27.h5 g6 28.h3 e2+ 29.f2 xa2 0-1 Passau 1999. ] 6.f3 ...Qh4+ was a threat. e7 7.c2 b4 8.b1 c5! A novelty, [ 8...xc3?! is too compliant, 9.bxc3 a6 10.d4 White has a strong centre, and the black knight has been driven offside, Stef f ensen,S-Fredericia,L/Copenhagen 1998. ] 707
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A18 there is no real defence. Bareev,Evgeny 2709 1-0 Rozentalis,Eduardas 2630 Bundesliga 2000-1 (13) 01.04.2001 712 A18 [Tony Kosten] Bratanov,Zsivko 2438 Antonov,Ognjan 2123 1.c4 e6 2.c3 f6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 29.08.2002 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d3 GP Izmir TUR (2) [Tony Kosten] d6 9.0-0 0-0 10.e4!? [ This is less usual, the main line, 10.c2 is examined in the archives, whilst ] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 [ 10.e1 is also seen there. ] 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 c5!? 10...c6 11.c2 h6 12.b1 White aims to This is the main alternative to cause Black problems on the queenside. [ 7...e5 ] a5?! 8.f3 h6 Black stops the threatened Bg5, but [ A new idea, Gelfand considered. 12...e6 [ 8...cxd4 is also a possibility, 9.g5 f5 to be forced, 13.d3 d8 14.d4!? xc4 10.cxd4 b4+ 11.d2 c6 1-0 Tal,M15.d3 e6 16.e1 c6 Gelfand,BSosonko,G/Wijk 1976. ] Yegiazarian,A/Yerevan 1996, when 17.e4 9.d3 c6!? Maybe best, Black retains the maintained an edge. ] central tension. 13.a4 f5 The tricky point of Black's play. [ 9...cxd4 is the main move, to develop the 14.xf5 xf5 15.b5 f 8 - b i s h o p wi t h c h e c k , 10.cxd4 b4+ [ 15.xa5? xb1 ] 11.f1!? ( 11.d2 xd2+ 12.xd2 0-0 15...b6 16.c5 So far this is forced. The text 13.0-0 offers White extra space, Oratovsky, seems strong as White wins a pawn. e7 M-Kruppa,Y/Budapest 1999) 11...c6 [ Rathe r tha n 16...xc5? 17.xc5 bxc5 12.b2 c5 13.c2 0-0 14.d3 18.xa5 e4 19.d4! d5 20.b3 favours W hite, Seirawan,Y-Kortschnoj,V/ and the c5-pawn is lost. ] Wijk aan Zee 1980. ] 17.cxb6 axb6 18.xe5 f6 So, White has 10.0-0! White offers the d-pawn as bait! won the e-pawn, what compensation does [ 10.b2 d6 11.0-0 0-0 12.e2 e5 Black have? Firstly, he has a slight lead in is plea sant f or Bla ck, as the b2 -bisho p development, and secondly the a2-pawn is does lit tle , Kramn ik,V -Ton g Yuanm ing/ weak, and on an open file. However, a pawn is Singapore 1990. ] a pawn! 19.e2 d6 20.fe1 f5 21.d4 10...cxd4 White scores very heavily after this d5 Training his sights on a2. 22.d3 fd8 pawn grab, perhaps 23.c2 f8 24.e5 d7 25.5e3 [ 10...d6 is more prudent, 11.b1 0-0 To cover the d3-pawn. c5 26.f3 c6 12.e2 e7 Black keeps the c-pawns 27.b1 d6 28.d2! White is doing his d o u b l e d , C r a m l i n g , D - S c h u l z, K / S l u p s k utmost to keep the advantage, the knight aims 1987. ] for d5. a5 29.e4 c6 30.c4! If Black 11.cxd4 xd4 plays ...c4 first, the c1-bishop will be weak. [ 11...c5!? might be possible, as the dd7 31.c3 ad8 32.h3 d6 33.g3 d7 pawn is pinned along he a1-h8 diagonal, but 34.d5 White has carefully prepared this I cannot find any examples of it. ] possibility, and now envisages developing his 12.xd4 xd4 13.b1 White prepares Bb2, bishop. b5! 35.f4 e6 36.xe6 xe6 h i s l e a d i n d e v e l o p m e n t i s m o r e t h a n 37.c7 a8 38.e3 g6 39.xb5 sufficient compensation for the pawn [ Strong, although 39.xa5 xa5 40.e8 sacrificed. d6 Black defends his g-pawn with mu s t s u re ly b e win n in g t o o , t h e kn igh t a little tactic, but maybe other moves could dominates the black bishop. ] also be considered: 39...c6 40.g3 e6 41.e3 g6 42.b7! [ 13...c5!? 14.b5 d6 15.f3 xa2 43.e8 White threatens Rxf8+, and 1/2-1/2 Krause,C-Kretschel,K/Bayern 1996, 711
708
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 although both sides could continue. ] [ 13...h4!? 14.g3 h3? Lellis, MZampronha,W/Sao Caetano do Sul 1999, and now 15.e4! is simple and strong. ] 14.b2 h4 [ 14...f4 15.g3 g5 transposes to the note below. ] 15.g3 h3?? A most unfortunate novelty! Clearly Black has hopes of playing . ..h5-h4 or forcing a perpetual should White snatch the gpawn, but there is a big flaw. [ 15...g5! is correct, A) 16.h4!? is aggressive, but weakening, e7 ( 16...c5! ) 17.g4 ( 17.c5!? xc5 18.xg7 g8 19.b5+ is good fun, d7 20.xd7+ xd7 21.xd7+ xd7 22.xb7+ with some advantage) 17...f6 18.g6+ f8 19.bd1 b5?? ( 19...c5 ) 20.xd6! xd6 21.f3 1-0 Cox,JRichmond,P/ Southport 1983, as W hite threatens the rook on a8 and Bxf6.; B) 16.e4 c5 17.c1!? e7 18.f3 1/2-1/2 Chekhov,V-Cherepkov,A/ Yaroslav 1982. ] 16.e4?! This is good, but [ 16.e2! threatens to trap the queen with Bg4, and to take the bishop on d6, and wins on the spot. ] 16...c7 17.d4 e5 18.c5 d7 19.a3 W hite has a truly virulent initiative, Black's game has already disintegrated. b6 20.c6! [ 20.c6 b8 21.bd1 xc6 22.xc6+ wins everything. ] 1-0
713 Bruzon Batista,Lazaro Zarnicki,Pablo Open Santo Domingo DOM (5) [Tony Kosten]
A18 2603 2513 30.11.2003
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d4 exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 e7 11.cxd4 xg5 12.xg5 e7 13.d2 c6 14.d5 e5 15.0-0 0-0 16.fe1 f5 17.f4 f6 18.f3 fe8 19.h4! Ivanchuk's innovation from last month. g6 20.xf5 xh4 21.f1 b6!? Already a new move, which is based on a subtle tactical point.
[ 21...d4 22.d7 xe1 23.xe1 c5 24.h4! allowed White to keep a useful initiative in Ivanchuk, V-Nielsen,P/ Skanderborg DEN 2003. ] 22.g3 All part of White's plan, driving the black queen away, followed by h4-5 to dislodge the black knight. [ 22.d7 i s l e s s e f f e c t i ve n o w , e5! 23.xc7 f4 (with a very nasty threat) 24.h1 ac8 and White has to be careful, e.g. 25.xa7?? ( 25.b7 is better, and this reveals the point behind Black's 21st move, with the pawn still on b7 this would win a further pawn! g4 26.g3 xf2 27.e2 d e f e n d s , a s t h e e 2 - r o o k i s i m m u n e) 25...g4 26.g3 xf2 forcing mate. ] [ However, 22.ad1 might be an improvement, as Black must find a useful move, and if ad8 23.g3 is stronger as the black queen cannot go to d4 or d8 (as in the game). ] 22...d8 [ 22...d4 is also possible. ] 23.h4 Continuing in thematic style, but White misses a chance to gain control over the e-file: [ 23.e4! xe4 24.xe4 d6 25.e1 a n d h e re h 4 -5 a n d B h 3 will h a ve m o re effect. ] 23...d6 24.h5 f8 [ 24...e5! is inte resting, 25.g4 xe1 26.xe1 e5 27.e4 e8 28.g2! e7 29.f5 d7 and Black seems OK. ] 25.h3 e7 Black takes advantage of White's inaccuracy to double rooks himself. 26.h6 g6 27.g5 ae8 Black has no problems. ½-½
714 Bunzmann,Dimitrij Riazantsev,Alexander FRA-chT Top 12 (5.3) [Kosten, Tony]
A18 2464 2692 28.05.2014
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 e5 8.f3 c6! This move brings back bad memories of my loss to Wesley So a couple of years ago! Time to have another look at it, and most importantly the games played during the last t w o y e a r s . 9.xe5 Not the best move, but 709
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Dimitrij plays very little these days (and was enjoying the Top12 in Saint-Quentin with his family) and might have been unaware of the fairly recent theory. [ 9.g5 still looks best, g6 10.d5 A) 10...e7!? has been played by Crouch a c o u p le o f t im e s, b u t 11.a4+! c6 ( 11...d7? 12.xd7+! Ouch! xd7 13.xe5+ ) 12.e3 f6 13.d1 with advantage, Reinderman, D (2597)Buscher, M (2334) Germany 2012, 1-0 (38).; B) 10...b8 B1) 11.h4 h6!? (m a yb e be st ) 12.h5 ( 12.e2!? hxg5 13.xe5 h5 14.g4 xg4 15.xg4+ d8 16.g2 Steingrimsson, H (2556)-Lysyj, I (2656) Plovdiv 2012, 0-1 (43), d7 when White doesn't have quite enough for the piece. ) 12...d6 13.e3 d7 14.d2 f6 15.e2 f5 16.0-0 e7 is nothing for White, Gerzhoy, L (2478)Adamson, R (2278) St Louis 2013 1-0 (74).; B2) 11.e3 d7 12.a4 c6 13.a5?! l o o k s v e r y o d d , b6 14.a4 b7 15.d3? but White was worse anyway, Bu, X (2662)-Wei, Y (2530) China 2013, 0-1 (32). Now Black has a choice of wins (which he didn't play!) For instance, xd3 16.dxc6 xc3+ 17.e2 c8; B3) 11.d2 d6 12.d3 h5 13.e3 a6 1/2-1/2 Abasov, N (2465)-Sadorra, J (2551) Richardson 2013.; B4) 11.d3 f5 ( 11...f5! was my recommendation in 'DW Flank'. ) 12.a4+ ( always played, but 12.xf5 xf5 13.0-0 d7 14.a4 is also possible. ) B4a) I've previously suggested 12...d7 here, let's see: 13.c2 f5 14.0-0 e4 15.fe1 d6 16.c5 xc5 ( or 16...0-0!? ) 17.xe4! fxe4 18.xe4+ f8 19.ae1 d6 20.b3 a6! 21.xb7 c8 (the a6-knight is in d ire ct ly d ef e n de d b y t h e que e n ) 22.e7+ g8 pretty unclear.; B4b) 12...d7?! 13.0-0 ( 13.h4! h a s n e v e r b e e n p l a y e d , b u t xg5 14.xf5 looks awkward for Black, d8 15.xd7+ xd7 16.f3 e7 17.0-0
m e n a c i n g b o t h N x e 5 a n d Q x a 7 .) 13...d6 B4b1) worse than the previously played 14.xf5 xf5 15.c5 xc5 16.xe5 f6 17.g4! xe5 18.ae1 0-0-0 19.xe5 xe5 20.e3 xe3 21.fxe3 b8 22.d4! ( 22.b1 b6 23.c4?! h5! Barnes, M (2335)Garcia, G (2540) London 1994, 0-1 (50). ) 22...h6 23.c4 he8 24.c5 with advantage, Kortschnoj, V (2645)Ashley, M (2460) New York 1996, 1-0 (36).; B4b2) 14.h4!? xg5 15.xf5 Williams, S (2515)-Faisal, A (2255) A l A i n 2 0 1 2 , 1 - 0 ( 2 6 ) , wh e n d8 is perfectly f ine for Black, he will castle and play ...Nc5. ] [ 9.e2 exd4 10.cxd4 b4+ 11.d2 xd2+ 12.xd2 (Wesley So told me he thought this was 'drawn') 0-0 13.h3?! ( 13.0-0 g4 14.d5 xf3 15.xf3 e5 16.e4 D'Israel, D (2250)-Leitao, R (2545) Sao Caetano do Sul 1999, 1/2-1/2 (25).) 13...d8 14.d1 xd4! 15.xd4 c5 winning a pawn, Nikologorskiy, K (2400)Shomoev, A (2571) St Petersburg 2012, 1/ 2-1/2 (64). ] [ 9.dxe5?! xe5 10.e2 d6 wa s m y ga m e a ga in st S o , W (2 6 5 3 ) a t Belfort 2012, 0-1 (37). ] 9...xe5 10.e2 e7 [ 10...f5!? looks like a mistake, but 11.f4 0-0-0 12.fxe5 g6 13.e3 e8 14.e2 f6 15.0-0 fxe5 16.dxe5 b6 17.h1 c5 18.f3 Ibarra Chami, L (2489)-Adamson, R (2 2 8 7 ) L a s V e ga s 2 0 1 3 , 1 -0 (3 3 ) , xe5 regains the pawn with advantage, as 19.f4 xe2! 20.xe2 d3 21.f3 xf1 22.a8+ d7 23.d5+ d6 24.xf1 f8 with the better structure. ] 11.dxe5!? The first new move, but it is no i m p r o ve m e n t , a n d i t wo u l d b e b e t t e r t o exchange queens by [ 11.xe5 xe5+ 12.dxe5 f5 13.e2 0-0-0 when, as I previously wrote: "Black has more than enough compensation for the pawn in the shape of W hite's poor queenside formation", Socko, B (2636)-Lysyj, I (2633) Moscow 2012, 1/2-1/2 (45). ] 11...g6 12.e3 710
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 12.h4!? ] 12...f5 13.e2?! [ 13.g3 is safer, but then he could have exchanged queens more easily on move 11. ] 13...xg2! Now the white king will have to stay in the centre. 14.f3 g6 15.xb7 b8 16.d5 c6! [ 16...0-0 17.g3 ] 17.xa7? [ W h i t e h a d t o r e t r e a t , 17.f3 0-0 although his position remains unpleasant. ] 17...d8 18.f3 [ 18.a4? 0-0! 19.xc6 xd5! 20.cxd5 ( 20.xg6 xe5+ ) 20...g2 21.f1 d3 forces mate. ] 18...g4! Black plays very accurately. 19.a3!? [ 19.xg4 e4+ 20.e2 xh1+ is also horrible. ] [ 19.g1? is impossible here, xf3 20.xg6 d1# ] 19...xa3 [ T h e c o m p u t e r m o v e 19...g5!! w i n s q u i c k l y , 20.xg4 e4+ 21.e2 xh1+ 22.f1 e4+ 23.e2 d2+ 24.d1 e3+ and the queen drops. ] 20.g1 Now this is possible. b2 21.xg4 d3 22.xc6+ f8 Black is slightly inconvenienced, but is still winning. 23.f3 Forced, otherwise ...Bxc3 was mate. xc3+ 24.f2 xa1 Now Black has a rook for two pawns, but White (who used to be a 2550+ player) manages to find some resources. 25.d5! c2+ 26.g1 f5 Defending f7. 27.a3+ g8 28.e7 f8 [ 28...b8! as 29.e6 b1+! forces mate. ] 29.e6 g6 30.exf7+ g7 [ 30...xf7 was legal, 31.xf7+ xf7 32.f4 xd5 33.cxd5 g7 but Black might have problems with his 'wrong rook's pawn'. ] 31.h4 f6 32.a7 b1+ 33.g2 c2+ 34.f1 h2 35.a4 xh4 36.a5 h1+ [ 36...h5! ] 37.g1 h3+ 38.g2 f5 39.e2?! d3! The threat of ...Qd1+ is very unpleasant. 40.e3 There is nothing else, but now it's trivial. xe3 41.xe3 xf7 42.xf7 xf7 43.a6 a8 44.a3 e6 45.g2 e7 46.a5 d8 47.a1 d6 48.d1+ c6
49.f4 c7 50.f5 gxf5 51.a1 b6 0-1
715 Delchev,Aleksander Pilgaard,Kim XXI Open Cullera ESP (4) [Tony Kosten]
A18 2629 2438 22.07.2001
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d3 d6 9.0-0 0-0 10.e4 c6 11.c2 h6 12.b1 c5! [ A novelty, Black takes measures to stop both d4, and Rb5 followed by c5. However, in a way this will only encourage W hite to expand with d4, but it seems that Black h o l d s o n b y a w h i s k e r . 12...a5?! came a cropper in Bareev,E - Rozentalis,E, wh ic h we h a ve a lre a d y e xa m in e d , la s t April. ] 13.e1 e8 14.b5 b6! [ This looks suicidal, weakening the h1-a8 diagonal, but if Black can get away with it, h e w i l l b e d o i n g w e l l . 14...d6? appears possible, but loses to the beautiful line: 15.d4! (thematic) exd4 16.cxd4 xd4 17.xd4 xd4 ( 17...xd4? 18.d5 ) 18.b2 d6 19.c3! ( much stronger than 19.h7+?! w h e n , a f t e r f8 20.xg7+ xg7 21.xe8 Black has the resource f5! 22.xf5 xe8 ) 19...f6 20.d5+ f8 ( 20...e6 21.xe6+ xe6 22.xe6 xe6 23.xc5 wins a piece) 21.xe8+ xe8 22.xc5 xc5 23.a3 b6 24.e1+ and Black has to play e6 to avoid mate, but it is hopeless. ] 15.d4 This is certainly critical, and if White tries anything else he will just find his rook driven back, Black will then finish his development (by ...Bb7, and ... Rad8, for in st a n ce ), an d m a y e ve n b e b e t t e r. exd4 16.h7+ [ 16.cxd4 xd4! will transpose. ] 16...f8 17.xe8+ xe8 18.e4+ [ Again, 18.cxd4 xd4 19.e4+ t r a n s p o s e s , a s d o e s ( 19.xd4 xd4 20.e4+ )] 18...e6 19.cxd4 xd4! 20.xd4? [ T h i s l e a ve s W h i t e i n t r o u b l e , 20.xc5! 711
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is t h e b e s t t r y: bxc5 21.xa8 e2+ ( 21...xf3+? 22.gxf3 ) 22.h1 xc1 23.xa7 xc4 24.xc7 ( 24.b8 d8 25.f5 a6 ) 24...e6 25.b8+ ] [ White has to eliminate the c5-bishop, as th e im me diat e 20.xa8?? allows mate in four: xf3+ 21.gxf3 e1+ 22.g2 xf2+ 23.h1 g1# ] 20...xd4 21.e3 [ The queen cannot capture either of the black pieces, e.g. 21.xd4?? e1# ] 21...c6! [ 21...xe4?! 22.xe4 xe3 23.e5+ f8 24.xa8 leaves White an exchange up, although Black is solid. ] 22.f5? [ and White, perhaps sensing that he was in trouble, punted the draw offer, which was a c c e p t e d . H o w e v e r , a f t e r 22.f5 t h e s i m p l e l i n e xe4 23.xe4 cxb5 24.xd4 ( 24.xa8 xe3 25.fxe3 bxc4 is quite hopeless) 24...b7! 25.xb7 d8 wins for Black!! ] [ 22.xd4!? cxb5 23.e4 b8 24.cxb5 may offer White's best practical chance. ] ½-½
same idea as 4. e5 d4, but the important difference is that the e-file is now open, giving White the opportunity to play Qe2+ sooner or later, 6.exf6 dxc3 7.b5+!? I prefer this move, developing one more piece bef ore the check ( 7.e2+ e6 8.dxc3 xf6 9.b5+ d7 10.xb7 e5+ 11.e2 d5 12.b5 c5 gives Black nice compensation. It's still not clear how White is going to finish his development.) 7...c6 ( 7...c6 would be natural, but allows White to wait before taking the pawn on c3 8.e2+ e6 9.c4 ) 8.e2+ e6 9.dxc3 ( 9.c4? is now answered by d4 ) 9...xf6 10.f3 d6 11.d4 0-0 12.xe6 ae8 13.c4 ( 13.xf8 xe2+ 14.xe2 xf8 i s a l s o p o s s i b l e) 13...fxe6 14.0-0 looks promising for White, with the bishop pair and better structure. ] 6.d4 [ 6.f3 c6 7.b5 is also interesting and wa s a n a l y ze d b y W a t s o n i n t h e g a m e Korchnoi-Nielsen, see the archives. ] 6...b4 7.a4+ c6 8.b5 d7 9.ge2 This is the main point of waiting to develop the knight. Here it protects c3 and d4 and leaves the f-pawn free to annoy the knight on e4. 716 A18 [ 9.xc6 makes little sense, xc3+ 10.bxc3 xc6 11.c2 b5 and Black has nothing to Ding,Liren 2707 worry about. ] Wei,Yi 2530 Danzhou 4th (2) 21.05.2013 9...0-0 10.0-0 xc3 [ 10...xc3 tries to keep the bishop but [Fier, Alexandr] White can claim an edge after 11.bxc3 e7 12.b3 h i t t i n g d 5 a5 ( 12...e6 Ding Liren is another one to try the less played 13.d3 ) 13.b1 xb5 14.xb5 c6 4.cxd5, which avoids the theoretical mainlines 15.d3 c4 16.g3 White has a clear in the Mikenas, and easily got a good position. pla n o f a tt acking o n t he kin gside wh ile I th in k t he po pu la rit y o f th is id ea sh ou ld Black still needs to find something concrete increase a lot in the coming months. 1.c4 f6 on the queenside. ] 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.cxd5 This line is increasingly popular since sometimes the 11.bxc3 [ 11.xc3 e8 ( 11...xc3 12.bxc3 e8 positions with 4.e5 are a bit too simple, 13.f4 ) 12.xc6 xc6 13.c2 ] [ 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 11...a6 12.xc6 xc6 13.c2 f6 is much more common by far. ] After this move Black is in real danger but the 4...exd5 5.e5 e4 [ 5...fd7 is comfortable for White 6.d4 c5 position is already more pleasant for White. [ 13...b5 would be an option, to activate the 7.f3 c6 8.b5 a6 9.g5 a5 10.xc6 bishop, 14.a4 bxc6 11.0-0 San Segundo Carrillo, P A) 14...xe2?! 15.xe2 f5 ( 15...xc3 (2495)-Mitkov, N (2455)/ESP-chT 16.e3 e4 17.f3+- ) 16.f3 g5 Ponferrada 1997. ] 17.xg5 xg5 18.a5 with a clear [ 5...d4 is the main alternative and has the 712
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 positional advantage.; B) 14...c4 15.f3 g5 16.f2 c5 17.xg5 xg5 18.f4 e7 19.f5 cxd4 20.cxd4 h4 21.f4 looks dangerous for Black as well. ] 14.f3 g5 15.xg5 fxg5 16.f4 d7?! I don't think Black can survive with two white pawns on e5 and f5. [ 16...b5 17.f5 g4 18.f2 doesn't change so much ] [ 16...gxf4 this should be played 17.xf4 g5 18.e6 xf1+ 19.xf1 g4 20.f4 ( 20.xc7? is not advisable c8 21.e6! White can still draw by finding some good moves xc7 22.f2 h6 23.f8+ h7 24.d8 b5 25.xc7 xf1 26.xf1 f5+ 27.g1 xe6= ) 20...f8 21.h3 g5 22.d2 White has a better knight and a passed pawn, but Black can still fight at least. ] 17.f5 a4 18.b1 b5 19.e6 [ 19.f2 xe2 20.xe2 xf5 21.xb7 is also good for White ] 19...e7 20.f2 h5 21.g4! h4 [ 21...hxg4 gives a nice place for the knight 22.g3 c5 23.d1 cxd4 24.cxd4 ac8 25.xg4 and Black is in trouble. ] 22.c1 c4 23.d3 xd3 24.xd3 a5 25.b1 b6 26.e2 fd8 27.f1 [ 27.e5! would be enough for the win d6 28.b5 ad8 29.a4 e8 30.f3 c6 31.g2+- ] 27...h8 28.f3 c6 29.e5 d6 30.f6 Opening the position. White is still better, but now the endgame requires precision and a lot of effort. gxf6 31.xf6+ xf6 32.xf6 e8 33.g2 g7 34.ff5 dxe6 35.xg5+ h6 36.h5+ g6 37.h3 xe5 38.dxe5 f8 39.xh4 f2 40.g5+ h6 41.h3 c2 42.g8 xc3 43.g5+ h7 44.d8 e3 45.d6 xe5 46.xc6 d4 47.d6 e2 48.a4 d3 49.xd3 e4+ 50.h5 xa4 51.g6+ g7 52.d7+ g8 53.b7 b4 54.h4 a4 55.g5 a3 56.h5 b5+ 57.f6 1-0
717 Ftacnik,Lubomir Kveinys,Aloyzas MK Cafe Cup Open A (10) [Tony Kosten]
A18 2589 2515 13.08.1999
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d3 d6 9.0-0 a6 10.c2 After my experience with 10 Re1 ( see the archives) players have once again turned to this move, hoping to extract an edge from the bishop pair in the ending. g4 11.d4 0-0-0? A logical move, hoping to delay the capture on f3, but it seems to lose. [ 11...xf3 12.xf3 xf3 13.gxf3 is the best line, see the archives. ] 12.g5! Normally this move is impossible when its defender is pinned, but for tactical reasons this is an important exception. xf3? Black captures first, which seems strong, at first inspection. [ Objectively, 12...xg5 is better, although 13.xg5 xd1 14.axd1 wins the h-pawn, when W hite will have a clear advantage despite the opposite-coloured bishops. ] 13.xf6 xd1 14.f5+! The point, moving the bishop away from c2 with tempo, for if [ 14.xd8 instead, White will lose material after xc2 ] 14...d7? Black should have seen the problem by now, and played [ 14...b8 instead, although following 15.xd8 e2 16.fe1 xc4 he will only have a pawn for the exchange. ] 15.xg7 g8 16.axd1 exd4 Hopeless, but after the obvious [ 16...xg7 White wins material by 17.dxe5 as the d6-bishop is pinned against the d7rook. Without this White would be losing! ] 17.xd4 g5?! 18.xd7+ xd7 19.c5 [ 19.c5 xc5 20.f4 d5 21.c4 wins a second exchange. ] 1-0
713
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 718 Ghaem Maghami,Ehsan Azarov,Sergei Aeroflot Open (6) [John Watson]
A18 2623 2565 20.02.2005
Two high-rated players test out an older line in the Mikenas System. I will try to give a pretty deep survey of theory. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 [ Tony and I have both talked about the newer (but now well-established) 7.f3 e5 ( 7...c5 8.d3!? ) 8.d3 ] 7...c5 [ What I think is a new idea was just presented in Seres - K Szabo, Budapest 2005: 7...e5 8.f3 e4 9.e2 ( perhaps 9.g5 e7 10.e2 f5 11.h3 is a good answer, with a small but definite advantage ) 9...e7 10.d2 ( 10.g5 transposes to my last note) 10...f5 11.g3 ( 11.e3 c5 12.e2 ) 11...c5 12.g2 c6 ( 12...cxd4 13.cxd4 c6 14.b2 b4 15.0-0 d3 16.c3! ) 13.b3 f6 ( a good idea is 13...cxd4 14.cxd4 d8 15.d5 b4+ 16.d2 xd2+ 17.xd2 e5 18.0-0 0-0= ) 14.0-0 e7 ( or 14...cxd4 15.cxd4 xd4 16.b2 xb3 17.xf6 gxf6 18.axb3 c5 19.e3 xe3 20.fxe3= ) 15.e3 0-0 16.f3 exf3 17.xf3 with a small advantage. ] 8.f3 cxd4 Azarov returns to this old line to sole Black's problems. [ 8...h6!? 9.d3 leads to Watson-Millar. ] 9.g5 f5 10.cxd4 Objectively best since it gives some advantage, but for those who are bored with fewer pieces on the board there are two fascinating alternatives: [ (a) A much-debated gambit follows 10.d3!? a5 11.0-0 dxc3 ( 11...h6 12.f4 dxc3 13.e5 d7 is complex, but now 14.g6?! of Drummond-Reeves, Canberra 1996 surely should have been a n s w e r e d b y fxg6! 15.xg6+ d8 and I find it extremely hard to believe that White has real compensation. Instead, 14... Rg8? 15.Nxf8 led to complications ) A) 12.c2 c6 13.fb1 h6 14.e3 e7 looks insufficient; B) 12.e2 c7 ( 12...c6 13.ab1 a6
14.e4 c5 15.xc6+ bxc6 16.e4 0-0 17.xc6 a7! should have been already close to winning in Kern-W uenderlich, Dortmund 1998) 13.ab1 e7!? 14.xe7 xe7 15.e5 f6 16.b5+ d7 17.fe1 0-0 18.g5?? Kanan AzerKalantari,/Arak 1998 lead to a win f or W h i t e b u t h e r e a6! 19.a5 b6! would have been curtains; C) 12.e1 (sensible) c6 13.e4 e7? ( 13...c5 ) 14.xc6+ bxc6 15.xe7 xe7 16.e5 c7 17.f3 f6? 18.xc6+ e8 19.ad1 (winning) d7 20.e5 a4 21.xa8+ 1-0 Gschwendtner-Forthauser, Niederbayern 2000; D) 12.b1!? This may not exert enough pressure. There have been a number of tries here: d7! ( 12...c6 13.c2 e7 14.b5 d8 15.xc3 with compensation, Mestel-Marusenko, England 1999) 13.c2 h6 14.f4 a6 15.fe1 e7 16.d4 c5 17.f5? ( Enterprising but unsound. 17.b3! xb3 18.xb3 was a better try) 17...xd3 18.xg7+ f8 19.xd3 xg7 20.e5+ f6 21.e3 and now ( 21.xc3 d8 22.g3+ g5 ) 21...f7 1-0 Bratanov,V-Djakov, K/Shumen 1997 (38) 22.Rg3 led to a win for W hite (still undeservedly) in Bratanov-Djakov, Shumen 1997. But ( 21...fxe5! 22.g3+ g5 would have ended the attack, e.g., 23.h4 d8 24.e2 c2! 25.xc2 d2 26.c1 xa2 27.hxg5 h5! )] [ (b) Remarkably, 10.xd4 c6 11.d2 seems to yield an attack because Bd3 will gain further tempi: c5!? ( 11...f6 12.e3 e5 ) 12.d3 g4 13.0-0 f6 ( 13...0-0 14.ae1 h5 15.f4 f6 16.d4! ) 14.h4 e5 15.h3 h5 16.e4! and White even haad the advantage in Timon Piote-Vega Gutierrez, Empuriabrava 1997. ] 10...b4+ [ I t ' s p e r h a p s s u r p r i s i n g t h a t 10...c6 causes Black more dif f iculties: 11.d2!? A bizarre move although logical in it's own right. White has two saner moves which lead to a small advantage: ( (a) 11.d3 b4+ 12.f1 a5 13.e4!?; (b) 11.e2 b4+ 12.d2 is the note to White's 12th move in t h e m a i n g a m e) 11...b4 ( 11...e5!?; 714
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11...e7 12.e2 0-0 13.c3 ) 12.c1 d3+?! ( 12...e7 13.b3! a5! 14.a3 a4 15.b2 e4+ 16.e3 d3+ 17.xd3 xd3 18.c3 and White is still to be preferred ) 13.xd3 xd3 14.c3 e4+ 15.e3 c6 16.e5 c7 17.0-0 ( 17.f3!? f6 18.xf6! gxf6 19.h5+ d8 20.f7+ d7 21.xh8 xc4 ) 17...d6 18.g4 0-0 19.h3 f6 20.h5 g6 ( 20...g5 21.c5 xe5 22.dxe5; 20...h6 21.g4 ) 21.xg6 hxg6 22.xg6+ g7 23.h5 f5 24.f4 d7 25.g3 e8 26.xg7+ xg7 27.g5+ f7 28.d5 exd5 29.xf5+ e7 30.e1+ d8 31.xd5 c7 32.c5 Nachon Menendez-Acebal Muniz, Asturias 1996. ] 11.d2 c6 Azarov picks a traditional solution but see the next note. The other two moves are: [ (a) 11...a5 12.b1! ( 12.d3 c6 13.b1 xd2+ 14.xd2 xd2+ 15.xd2 is a better version for White of the ending that follows, for example, 0-0 16.e4 a5 17.hc1 d8 18.e3 ) 12...xd2+ ( 12...c6?? 13.xb4! xb4 14.b3 ) 13.xd2 xd2+ 14.xd2 e7 ( 14...0-0 15.d3 d8 16.e3 isn't much better) 15.d3 d8 16.e4 c6 17.xc6!? ( 17.e3 a5 18.hc1 is again very strong ) 17...bxc6 18.c3 f6 19.h4!? d7 20.he1 b7 21.xb7+ xb7 22.b1 c8 Zdenek-Blahacek, Czechia 1997 and here the idea of taking over d6 is attractive: 23.d2! ( 23.c5!? ) 23...c5 ( 23...f5 24.f3; 23...d7 24.e4 ) 24.dxc5 e5 25.e4 ] [ (b) 11...xd2+ 12.xd2 c6 ( 12...0-0 13.d3 gives White a more active game with more central control) 13.d3! ( 13.e2 is examined below ) 13...f6 14.e4 ] 12.e2 [ Maghami might have rendered the game less relevant by 12.xb4! xb4 13.b1 , which exploits Black's move order: c6 ( 13...a5 14.d2 c6 15.d3 xd2+ 16.xd2 b6 17.hc1! Miles-Sosonko, Tilburg 1977; or 13...c2+? 14.d2 a3 15.b3 a5+ 16.e3! ) 14.d3 f6 ( 14...a5+ 15.d2 0-0 16.e4 gives the usual advantage) 15.e4 0-0 16.0-0 d8 17.xc6 bxc6 18.a4 e5
(wh at e lse? ) 19.dxe5 g6 20.b3 c5 21.a3 a6 22.xc5 xa2 23.a3 e2 24.d4 e4 25.b5 e6 26.d6 and White ws winning in D Cramling-Solin, Stockholm 1992. ] 12...a5 [ 12...0-0 13.0-0 has been played several tim es, b ut I th ink t ha t 13.xb4! xb4 14.0-0 is good because Black's knight on b4 will lose another tempo. ] 13.b1 xd2+ 14.xd2 e7!? [ 14...xd2+ 15.xd2 e7! ( 15...0-0 16.d3 b6 17.e4 b7 is also not bad) 16.e3 d8 favours White, but 17.hd1 b6 keeps the damage to a minimum. ] 15.xa5 [ The placement of the king on e7 close to the action definitely helps Black. White gets lit t le f ro m 15.d3 d8 16.xa5 xa5 17.e2 d7 ( 17...b6 18.c5 b7!? 19.cxb6 xf3+ 20.xf3 axb6 is another course ) 18.e3 ac8 19.c5 c6 20.e5 d5 is equal. ] 15...xa5 16.c5!? [ A plausible continuation was 16.c5 d7 17.0-0 c6 18.e5 d5 19.b5 b6! 20.cxb6 axb6 21.xb6 f6 22.f3 xa2 . But we can see that Black really shouldn't have equalised in this line, whatever the move order he chose. ] ½-½
719 Ghaem Maghami,Ehsan Moradi,Behrooz ch-IRI Tehran IRI (1) [John Watson]
A18 2581 2299 22.12.2006
I f i t ' s m y l a st u p d a t e , t h e r e h a s t o b e a Mikenas Variation. Here's the most interesting of this month's lot, in which W hite retains some edge. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d4 exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 e7 11.cxd4 xg5 12.xg5 e7 13.d2 0-0 [ 13...h6 14.f3 0-0 15.0-0 c5 ( 15...g4 16.ab1! c6 17.fe1 with space and advantage, Soffer-Nagetz, Bad Lauterberg 1991 ) 16.d5 d6 17.b2! d7 18.d3 f6 19.e2 d8 20.ae1 715
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 wi t h a s u b s t a n t i a l a d va n t a g e , I l le sc a s Cordoba-Pogorelov, Zaragoza 1996. ] [ We have also seen 13...c6 in numerous g a m e s , e . g . , 14.d5 e5 15.0-0 0-0 16.fe1 f5 17.f4 f6 18.f3 fe8 19.h4! g6 20.xf5 xh4 21.f1 with some advantage, Ivanchuk-Nielsen, S k a n d e rb o r g 2 0 0 3 a n d t h e la t e r g a m e Steingrimssom-Kulaots, Tallin 2006 - see earlier columns. ( 21.g4!? )] 14.0-0 d7 [ A slightly unusual move. There have been many games with 14...h6 ] [ and 14...c6 , all leading so some theoretical advantage for White. ] 15.fe1 f6 [ 15...h6 16.f3 c5 17.d5 d6 18.d3 f6 19.ab1 again favours White's greater space, e.g., b6 20.e5 e8 21.f4 ] 16.f3!? White has both space and activity, although Black is without weaknesses and hopes to keep things under control. [ P r e v i o u s l y 16.d3 was played in Christiansen-Lein, Philadelphia 1990. White stood better after d6 17.c5 d8 18.ab1 b6 19.f4 ( or 19.c2! )] 16...d6 17.c5 d8 18.ab1 c6 Notice that ...b6, as in the Christiansen-Lein game, is not available. 19.f4!? h6 20.e4 d5 Trading d5 for d6. [ 20...xd4?! 21.xf6+ xf6 22.xf6 gxf6 23.e7! ties Black down the other idea is ] [ 20...xe4 21.xe4 , when Black still has problems getting unwound, but this was perhaps best. ] 21.g3 b6 22.bc1!? [ Interesting and probably better was 22.d6 e6 23.xd5!? xd5 24.f5 f6 25.e7+ h8 26.xd5 cxd5 27.e5! xe5 28.xe5 bxc5 29.dxc5 d4 and White has excellent winning chances. 30.f1 ] 22...e6 23.a3 Slow. Still, [ 23.cxb6 axb6 24.xc6 xa2 is not convincing. ] 23...b5 24.d6 f6 25.e5 ab8 26.xd5!? xd5 This powerfully posted piece roughly evens the chances. 27.c3 d8? This retreat takes the queen from defence on the kingside. Better, for example, is [ 27...g6 28.f3 h8 ]
28.ce1 [ 28.f5! Prevents ...Qf6 due to Ne7+ and so prepares Rce1 and Qg3. It also introduces the idea of Rxd5. ] 28...e6 [ Black should return by 28...f6! ] 29.g3 [ 29.f3 ] 29...a5 [ Last chance for 29...f6 ] 30.f4! After f5, White will break through to the seventh rank. b4 31.axb4 axb4 32.f5 d5 33.e7 b3? Now it's over. [ 33...h7!? would hold on longer. ] 34.f6 g6 35.f5 e4 [ 35...h7 36.xh6! ] 36.xh6+ h7 37.7xe4 xf6 38.f4 d8 39.xf7 d5 40.e7 be8 41.e5+ 1-0
720 Grischuk,Alexander Aronian,Levon Norway Chess 2nd (3) [Kosten, Tony]
A18 2792 2815 05.06.2014
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 e5 8.f3 c6 Just as I was analysing last month's game between Bunzmann and Riazantsev, this one was being played! 9.g5! g6 10.d5 b8 11.h4 The mainline, but I did wonder whether [ 11.d3 wasn't a better try, as the standard c o n t i n u a t i o n f5 12.a4+ d7?! c a n b e m e t b y t h e n o v e l t y 13.h4! - see the notes to Bunzmann, D-Riazantsev, A in the PGN Archive. ] 11...d7 Normal, the knight heads for c5, but after this White has some advantage. [ I suggested that 11...h6!? 'maybe best' last month - see the analysis to Bunzmann, DRiazantsev, A. ] 12.d3 [ 12.h5 d6 13.d2 c5 14.b3 e7 15.e3 is nothing special for White, Najer, E (2640)-Ovetchkin, R (2499) Sochi 2012, 1-0 (42), after a4 ] 12...e4?! A new move, but not very good - it seems that Aronian had simply forgotten his 716
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 home preparation. [ 12...d6! is so lid e nou gh , 13.0-0 h6 14.e3 e7 15.e1 b6 ( 15...0-0 16.c2 ) 16.c5!? ( 16.a4 is an alternative, White has more space and an advantage in development, but the question is whether the h4-pawn helps with a kingside attack, or whether it is just a weakness.) 16...bxc5 ( 16...xc5?! 17.b5+ d7 18.c6 b8 19.xe5 ) 17.b5 0-0 18.c6 b8 19.d2 heading for e4 or c4. W hite had obvious positional compensation for the pawn in Zaslavsky, M (2450)-Bulmaga, I (2307) Plovdiv 2012, 1/2-1/2 (44), although maybe not quite enough after, say, g6 ] [ 12...f5 can be met by 13.g4! e4 14.gxf5 xf5 15.d4 g6 16.e2 f6 17.b5 d6 18.d4 with advantage. ] 13.h5! One advantage of having the h-pawn on h4 is to defend the g5-bishop, but the other is to be able to drive the black queen to a w o r s e s q u a r e . f5? The World number 2 overlooks a surprising tactic. [ 13...a6 was forced, 14.xe4 h6 15.e3 xc4 but 16.d4 e7 17.d2 a6 18.f3 followed by Bd3 with a clear plus. ] 14.h4!! This must have come as an enormous shock, Black is already lost! exd3 [ 14...c5 15.xe4! xe4?! ( 15...d7 ) 16.e2 wins, as Rxe4+ is decisive. ] 15.f4 The vicious point - the queen is t r a p p e d i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h e b o a r d . c5 16.xf5 xf5 If Black was already castled he might hope for some compensation for his material loss, but instead White still has the initiative and soon wins the d3-pawn. 17.d4 d7 18.f1 Making room for a check on e1. [ 18.h6! is even more unpleasant, gxh6 19.f6 g8 20.d2 and Qe3+. ] 18...d6 19.b3 [ 19.e1+ f8 20.d2 is also good. ] 19...f6 [ 19...0-0 20.xc5 xc5 21.xd3 is similarly bad. ] 20.e3 b6 21.xc5 bxc5 22.xd3 Rounding up the advanced black pawn, White now has queen and pawn for rook and bishop, a significant material advantage. 0-0 23.d2 e8 24.h6 g5 25.b2! The queen will go to a3 and capture the c5-pawn. d7 26.a3 fe8 27.xc5 h2 28.e1
[ There doesn't seem to be much point continuing here, perhaps Black was hoping for 28.g3?? h3# ] 28...f5 29.xe8+ xe8 30.e3 White had to guard against ...Bd3 mate! f7 31.e2 e5 32.d2 g4 33.xa7 g6 34.a4 xh6 35.a5 c6 36.dxc6 c8 37.f3 f5 38.g4 e6 39.e7 xc4 40.d4 1-0
721 Ivanchuk,Vassily Nielsen,Peter Heine 1st Samba Cup (5) [Tony Kosten]
A18 2710 2626 14.10.2003
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d4 exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 e7 As I have mentioned before, [ 10...d3?! is a mistake, but that doesn't stop even quite strong players from falling for it! 11.0-0 c5 12.xd3 0-0 13.e1 a6 14.d4! h6 ( 14...d6 15.h5!? g6 16.h4 f6 17.f4 is also very good for White, Kaspi,A-Haimovich,T/Tel Aviv 1993) 15.h5 xd4 ( 15...d7 16.f5 f6 17.xh6+ gxh6 18.xh6 xf2+ 19.f1! is win n in g) 16.cxd4 d7 17.e7 e8 18.h4 f8 19.f3 a5 20.c5 a4 21.e4 f5 22.d5+ h8 23.e7 f6 24.c4! 1-0 Kosten,A-Gregoire,S/Cap d'Agde FRA 2003 as W hite wins an exchange whilst converting into a trivial endgame. ] 11.cxd4 xg5 12.xg5 e7 13.d2 c6 14.d5 e5 15.0-0 0-0 16.fe1 f5 17.f4 Back to this move, we saw the innovation [ 17.ac1!? in Rasmussen, K-Rozentalis,E/ Linares ESP 2002. ] 17...f6 18.f3 fe8 19.h4! Ivanchuk's subtle novelty. [ 19.d4 looks more logical, but after g6! (Banas,J-Rigo,Z/Prievidza 1998) 20.xf5 xd4 the black queen is well-placed in the centre of the board, and play is equal. ] 19...g6 20.xf5 xh4 And here is the allimportant difference: the black queen is on a s l i g h t l y i n f e r i o r s q u a r e ! 21.f1 d4 The queen centralises anyway, but now White 717
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 has an extra move! 22.d7 xe1 23.xe1 c5 24.h4! Typical Ivanchuk power play, he will try to drive the knight to a bad square so that he can use the seventh rank, and have the better minor piece. f8 How should Black react? Not [ 24...xh4? be ca u se a f t e r 25.e7 f8 26.xc7 White is winning, but ] [ 24...f6!? is possible, so that after 25.h5 e5 the knight reaches a central square with gain of tempo, 26.e6+ h8 27.h6 is clearly good for White, but Black is still fighting. ] 25.f5 g8 Black has to return, else he loses his h-pawn. 26.h5 f8 This is the problem, the knight becomes very passive. 27.g5! d6! To defend the d7-square. 28.g3 h6 29.e7 Penetrating to the seventh rank, White keeps a solid long-term initiative. d7 So the knight returns to the fray. 30.h3 c5 A natural move, but it may have been better to keep this piece close to the king with [ 30...f6 although White stays on top after 31.f5! ( 31.xd6 cxd6 32.e7 b8 is equal ) 31...xh5 32.c5! d8 ( 32...xd5?? 33.e8+ ) 33.d6 with a monster passed pawn. ] 31.f5! Controlling the b1-h7 diagonal sets up back-rank mating tricks whilst keeping the black knight in check (d3 is no longer accessible to this piece). b8 [ 31...f8 avoids the coming tactic, although White is still better after a simple move such as 32.g2 ] 32.e8+! f8 33.e7 White has simply achieved the 'transfer' of the black queen from the central d6-square to the passive f8 square. xe7 34.xe7 f8? This is a blunder, Black had to defend the c7-pawn: [ 34...a6 e.g. 35.f4 f8 36.d7 e8 37.f2 d8 38.xd8+ xd8 39.e3 e7 40.d4 d6 with fair chances. ] 35.xc7 a6 36.d6! This is what Black missed, after [ 36.d7 c5 37.c7 a6 he would force a repetition of moves. ] 36...d8 [ 36...xc7 37.dxc7 e8 38.c8 is hopeless, of course. ] 37.c5 b6 38.c6! b8 [ 38...xd6 39.xa7 hits the knight and
threatens c7-8 winning immediately. ] 39.e4 xd6 40.c8+ 1-0
722 Jobava,Baadur Brunello,Sabino 52nd It Reggio Emilia ITA (9) [Nigel Davies]
A18 2696 2507 06.01.2010
T h e F l o h r - M i k e n a s a t t a c k , wi t h W h i t e ' s attempt to throw his opponent on his own resources with 8.Bd3 prompted an extreme reaction in 9...g5!?. It's difficult to believe this can really be good, but it certain led to some fun. 1.c4 e6 2.c3 f6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 c5 [ One of my own efforts in this line is worth mentioning, if only because it shows I've played it! 1/2-1/2 Davies, N (2497)-Parker, J (2532), Birmingham 2000 went 7...e5 8.b1 e4 9.e2 e7 10.d4 h5 11.d3 exd3 12.xe7+ xe7 13.xd3 0-0 14.0-0 d8 15.f5 d7 16.e1 d6 17.g5 f6 18.h4 e5 19.xc8 dxc8 20.xb7 cb8 21.b3 xc4 with stone cold equality. ] 8.d3 Moves like this shouldn't be seen as a fight for the advantage but rather an attempt to put the opponent more on his own resources. With a rating difference of almost two hundred points W hite probably figured that a chess game was more to his advantage than a theoretical struggle. [ The 'theoretical' move is 8.d4 when h6 9.d3 has been covered in earlier games. ] 8...d6 [ S o m e p l a y e r s h a v e p r e f e r r e d 8...d7 so as to meet 9.e4 with c6 . Not that 9. Be4 is necessarily that dangerous. ] 9.0-0 [ 9.e4 is an argument against 8...Bd6 but doesn't seem to be that scary. For example 0-0 10.d4 h6 11.0-0 d7 12.b1 b8 13.e1 d8 14.e3 e7 15.c1 f8 16.f4 b6 17.g3 xg3 18.hxg3 f6 19.e5 b7 started to look quite equal in Kharlov, A (2633)-Jakovenko, D (2557), Batumi GEO 2002. ] 718
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...g5!? Needless to say this amazing move is new! Actually there seems to be a decent case for it with White having blocked his dpawn. [ A much more sensible approach is to play just 9...0-0 , f or example 10.e4 c6 11.d4 h6 12.e3 b8 13.b1 d8 14.e2 c7 15.fd1 a5 16.h3 b6 was very comfortable for Black in Valensi, B (2173)-Matnadze, A (2415), Izmir TUR 2002. ] 10.c2 g4 11.e1 h5 12.d4 c6 13.e3 d7 14.e4 g7 15.b1 [ This, if anywhere, might have been White's c h a n c e t o g e t a n a d v a n t a g e . 15.d3 looks like a good move when cxd4 16.cxd4 f5 can be met by 17.xc6 xc6 18.f4 intending d4-d5. ] 15...f5 16.xc6 xc6 17.d5 exd5 18.cxd5 e5 19.g3 xd5 Winning a pawn, but isn't Black's king in trouble? Not as much as it might seem at first sight... 20.g5 0-0 [ One can understand Black's interest in d e v e l o p m e n t , b u t m a y b e 20...e4 was a better move. ] 21.g2 f4!? [ At first sight 21...e4 looks very strong, but W hite can answer this with 22.f3 gxf3 23.e3 f2+ 24.xf2 without suffering any ill effects. ] 22.xf4 xf4 23.xf4 e4 24.f3 gxf3 25.f2 [ 25.xd6 d8 26.f2 xd6 is also very difficult to assess. ] 25...xf4 26.gxf4 xa2 27.b2 xf4 28.g1+ h8 29.g3 [ White is loathe to play 29.xf3 when the f3 pawn helps protect his king. But a couple of moves later he doesn't see a good alternative. ] 29...h4 30.h3 g5 31.xf3 [ And not 31.xf3?? because of g8 . ] 31...g8! This leads to a draw by perpetual check, an exciting end to an exciting game. 32.xa2 g1+ 33.e2 e8+ 34.d3 b1+ 35.c2 c4+ 36.d4 d8+ 37.xc4 c8+ 38.d4 d8+ 39.c4 c8+ 40.d5 d8+ ½-½
723
A18 Khalifman,Alexander 2667 Leitao,Rafael 2567 FIDE WCh KO New Delhi IND (4.2) 07.12.2000 [Tony Kosten] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d3 [ The older 8.d4 is rarely played nowadays. ] 8...a6 9.0-0 d6 10.c2 [ 10.e1 is covered in the archives. ] 10...g4 11.d4 xf3 [ 11...0-0-0? is also analysed in the archives. ] 12.xf3 xf3 13.gxf3 This endgame is considered to be slightly better for White, as, although his structure is compromised, his bishop pair is very effective. 0-0-0!? [ 13...exd4 is more common, but it allows the displacement of the black king: 14.e1+ d7!? ( 14...d8 15.e4 b8!? 16.cxd4 c5 17.e3 is fairly level, Milov,V-Dizdar, G/ Dresden 1998) 15.f5+ d8 16.cxd4 c5 also seems close to equality, Huebner,RStohl,I/Baden 1999. ] 14.c5! [ I like this better than 14.b1 c5 15.e4 b6 16.dxe5 xe5 17.b3 b8 18.e3 c7 19.fb1 c6 20.d5 d7 21.f4 draw, Gelfand,B-Jussupow,A/Erevan 1996. ] 14...f8 15.c6! [ A novelty, improving on 15.g5 which gave W hite nothing af te r f6 16.e3 exd4 17.cxd4 b4 18.f5+ b8 19.fb1 d5 in Suba,M-Pogorelov,R/Berga 1994. ] 15...exd4 [ O t h e r w i s e , 15...bxc6?! allows White to capture the e5-pawn after 16.f5+ b7 17.b1+ a8 18.dxe5 ] 16.cxb7+ b8 [ 16...xb7!? 17.b1+ c6 18.d1 and 19 Be4+ seems awkward for Black, but might be playable. ] 17.cxd4 b4 18.e4 d5 19.b1!? An interesting exchange sac, very much in Khalifman's style. c3 20.g5 f6 [ 20...xd4!? may be possible, answering 21.e3 with b4 ] 21.e3 xb1 22.xb1 White has only ga in ed a p awn f o r h is e xcha nge, b ut h is powerful b7-pawn's future is assured. d6!? 719
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Encouraging some tactics, Black could sittight with 22...d6 23.c6 a6 , say. ] 23.f4 b6 [ 23...d8 would admit a mistake, but is possible. ] [ However, 23...xd4?? would be positively disastrous: 24.xc7+ xc7 25.b8+ ] 24.xc7+! xc7 25.c1+ c5! [ Black could also aim for an opposite-colour bishop position by 25...d7 26.c8 g6 27.b8 xb8 28.xb8 f5 , but the text is better. ] 26.xc5+ b8 27.c6 d8 28.d5 White's two pawns provide more than enough compensation. xb7! This will be necessary, sooner or later. 29.xb7 xb7 30.g2 a6 31.a4 d7 32.g3 b6 Despite the pawn less Black has no problems. 33.c6+ a5 34.d6 xa4 35.c7!? [ 35.xa6+ b5 36.a8 g6 is drawn. ] 35...xd6 36.xg7 h5 37.h7 White's play appears to be very risky, as he has allowed Black to create a passed a-pawn. d5 38.h6 g5+? [ This must be a time-trouble error, 38...f5 39.f4 a5 40.f3 b3 41.e4 b5 42.xf6 a4 is far from clear. ] [ However, 38...a5 39.xf6 b4 is worth consideration as the a-pawn is hard to stop. ] 39.f4 g2? [ This drops the h-pawn, 39...c5 40.xf6 a5 is fine. ] 40.xh5 xf2 41.h4 a5 42.h8 The start of a clever winning plan. a3 43.h5 h2 44.h6 a4 45.h7 h5 46.g4 h1 47.f4 h2 48.f5 h4 49.e4 h5 50.f5 This leaves Black in zugzwang. a2 [ There is nothing else, 50...h1 51.d5 and Ke6xf6 is easily winning. ] 51.a8! xh7 52.xa4+ b3 53.a6 The black king is too far from the remaining pawns. e7+ 54.e6 f7 55.d5 c3 56.e8 a7 57.e6 a6+ 58.f7 d4 59.e6 Once White captures the pawn the black king remains cut-off. 1-0
724 Kortschnoj,Viktor Nielsen,Peter Heine Smartfish Masters (7) [John Watson]
A18 2601 2663 03.01.2005
Just when the theory of the Mikenas Variation was beginning to go in a single direction (however unclear - see the previous column), we realise that some of the old lines are still unresolved. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.cxd5 [ For 4.e5 d4 see the December Update. ] 4...exd5 5.e5 e4 6.f3 It's long be en known that 6.Nxe4 dxe4 7.Qa4+ Nc6 8.Qxe4 Qd4 or 8...Be6 give Black at least enough for his pawn c6 [ Moves like 6...c6 ] [ and 6...f5!? (7. Qb3 Nc5! ?) have only been played a couple of times but ma y indicate the direction to look in if you're Black. ] 7.b5 e7 [ Korchnoi's lengthy experience with this line includes his game versus Sharif in France 1987: 7...d7 8.xd5 ( 8.0-0 has also b e e n p l a ye d) 8...xe5 9.e2 xb5? ( 9...xf3+ 10.gxf3 c6 11.c4 cxd5 12.xd5 and White is better) 10.xe4 d6 11.d4!? ( 11.xe5! 0-0 12.e3 ) 11...c6 12.0-0 xd5 13.xd5 xf3+ 14.xf3 with the advantage. ] [ Another game Korchnoi-Unzicker, Johannesburg 1979 went 7...xc3 8.dxc3 e7 9.d4 d7 10.xc6 bxc6 11.d3 0-0 12.c2 h6 13.e3 with the advantage. ] 8.a4 This has been a very common move over the years, but I'm not clear why W hite can't play [ 8.xc6+! bxc6 9.a4 , which wins a pawn following xc3 10.xc6+ d7 11.xc3 0-0 12.0-0 c5 13.d4 . Black has some compensation but not much. See the next note. ] 8...d7 [ 8...xc3 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.xc6+ d7 11.xc3 transposes to the previous note. Then c5 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4!? ( 13.xd4 looks strong) 13...c8 14.e3 b6 15.0-0 c5 16.d1 0-0 17.f4 f6 18.e3 ce8 720
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.exf6 xf6 20.g5! d6 21.c2 f5 22.g3 b6? 23.b4 xe3 24.xe3 fe5 25.xd5 d6 26.e3 e7 was SerperSkomorokhin, Kstovo 1994. ] 9.xe4 a6! 10.f6+ [ White stands poorly after 10.e2 xe5 11.d4 xf3+ 12.xf3 dxe4 13.xe4 0-0 ] 10...gxf6 11.xc6 xc6 12.f4 g8 [ 12...d4! opens the long diagonal, and 13.xd4 xg2 14.g1 d5 15.exf6 d6 favours Black. ] 13.0-0 [ 13.exf6 d6 14.e3+ d7 15.d4 xf6! ] 13...d4! 14.exf6 d6! 15.d3 xf6 16.xf6 xf6 17.e1+ d7 18.f1 xg2? Flashy, but wrong. Black's bishops would have been dominant after [ 18...g6! 19.f4 ag8 20.g3 xf3 21.gxf3 h5! , for example, 22.h4 e7 23.e4 c5 24.ae1 d6 25.xd6 xd6 and Black should win. ] 19.xg2 g8+ 20.f1 xf3 21.f4 g4!? Black could just consolidate the position by [ 21...c5 when he has some chances for advantage. ] 22.g3 h5 23.ac1 c6 24.c5 d5 25.xd5+! cxd5 26.e5 d8 27.h3 g6 28.xd4 e6 29.e2 A lucky save for Korchnoi. There is plenty more for both sides to investigate in this old line. ½-½
Kasparov's opponents found-out to their cost in the early Nineties. ] 4.e5 d4 Best, Black refuses to give ground in the centre. 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 The critical position. 8.d3!? this unusual move has caught-on recently since it was found that the traditional move [ 8.d4 gives White little. ] 8...a6 9.0-0 White continues his development, he will defer playing d4, until it offers some concrete advantage. d6 10.e1 There is an alternative in [ 10.c2 which really does threaten d4, g4 is the problem, an d a f te r 11.d4 xf3 12.xf3 xf3 13.gxf3 exd4 14.e1+ d8 ( or 14...d7 15.f5+ d8 16.cxd4 c5 Huebner,R-Stohl,I/Baden SUI 1999.) 15.e4 b8 16.cxd4 c5 White's two bishops were offset by his structural weaknesses, Milov, V-Dizdar,G/Zonal 1998. ] [ 10.a3 - 51/(18) ] 10...0-0 Now, [ 10...g4 is nothing af ter 11.e4 c5 12.h3 h5 13.d4 ] 11.xe5? An unfortunate idea of Van Wely's, [ 11.c2 h8 12.e4 is more sensible, but gives White nothing after c5 Miles,A-Oll,L/ Szeged 1997. ] 11...xe5 In the original game, Black shied away from this, and instead played [ 11...c5?! but he was quickly worse after 12.c2 xe5 13.h5 xh2+ 14.xh2 d6+ 15.e5 Van Wely,L-Oll,L/Beijing (open) 1997, W hite's bishop pair the 725 A18 dominant factor. ] Kosten,Anthony C 2515 12.h5 xh2+! In my pre-game preparation I Dizdar,Goran 2570 had completely overlooked this possibility, Montpellier 1998 instead I considered [ 12...e8 when 13.xh7+ f8 14.a3+ c5 [Tony Kosten] 15.d4 leads to a powerful white attack. I should be more careful! ] 1.c4 e6 2.c3 f6 Black wants to play a Unfortunately, the move I want to Q u e e n 's G a m b it D e cli n e d p e rh a p s, o r a 13.xh2 Ni m zo - I n d ia n . 3.e4 White has other ideas! play, [ 13.xh2?? loses a piece to d6+ ] The sharp Mikenas Attack threatens to swamp This move helps Black's position no Black in double-quick time, by e5, and d4. d5 13...f5 Black's safest move, the only reasonable end. 14.f1 A retreat, but I felt it was in my own best interests to keep both my bishops. alternative is [ 3...c5 when 4.e5 g8 5.f3 c6 6.d4! fe8 15.a3 g5! 16.e3!? xe3 17.fxe3 The white queen is temporarily out-ofsacrificing a pawn, cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 e4! 8.db5 gives White enormous positional play, and the white central pawns awkward. g6 19.d1 d8 20.e5? compensation for the pawn- as several of 18.f4 721
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...c5 seems less critical. c6 The most logical, but there are others: [ 8...d8!? is intelligent, removing the queen f rom a n exp osed squ are , 9.c2 d7 10.0-0 g6 the point, 11.d4 g7 12.f4 e7 13.e2 0-0 14.ad1 White's space advantage, and better development must count for something here, Chandler, M-Levitt, J/London 1999. ] [ 8...d7!? plans exchanging Black's most pa ssive bit , 9.e4 c6 10.e2 xe4 11.xe4 c6 12.b1 0-0-0 13.d4 d7 14.f4 g6?? this was far better on the p r e v i o u s m o v e , ( 14...d6 ) 15.xc6+!! 1-0 Benjamin,J-Gamboa,N/Philadelphia 1995, the capture of the queen allows mate on b8. ] [ 8...d6 prefers developing the kingside first, 9.e4 0-0 10.d4 h6 (Bg5 was t h r e a t e n e d ) 11.0-0 d7 12.b1 b8 13.e1 ( 13.a4!? ) 13...d8 14.e3 e7 is fairly equal, Kharlov,A-Jakovenko,D/ Batumi GEO 2002. ] 9.e4 This is the idea behind White's last move, the bishop makes way for the d-pawn's advance, and at the same time attacks c6. d7!? A new move, and quite understandable, Black protects the knight, but it may be better to ignore this and get on with kingside development by [ 9...d6 10.d4 h6 11.0-0 0-0 12.b1 ( 12.a3! d8 13.xc6 bxc6 14.a4 is more to the point, e. g. cxd4 15.xd6 xd6 16.c5! d8 17.cxd4 and the c8bishop looks silly) 12...e5!? 13.dxc5!? (I would be very worried about playing such 726 A18 a move and then losing!) xc5 14.e1 b6 15.a3 e8 16.a4 c7 White has some Kosten,Anthony C 2514 pressure, but Black seems fine, Kortschnoi, Guedon,Stephane 2232 V-Ravia,M/Antwerp 1995. ] 11th Open St Affrique FRA (1) 19.07.2003 10.d4 This is the sort of move you play and [Tony Kosten] then try to look distracted, perhaps the 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 opponent won't notice that you are threatening 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 The most to win his queen!! h6 Black spotted it! [ 10...d6?? 11.g5 is a recurrent theme in flexible move, in my opinion, although this line. ] t r a n s p o s i t i o n i s l i k e l y . c5!? d6 12.b1 b8 13.e3 W e h a v e c o n s i d e r e d t h i s a f t e r 7 d 4 i n 11.0-0 B r a t a n o v, Z -A n t o n o v, O / I zm ir T UR 2 0 0 2 . White develops with tempo. cxd4 Removing 8.d3!? I wanted to take advantage of the fact White's doubled pawn, but after [ 13...e7 14.e1 0-0 15.c2 is a little that I had delayed d4, and this looks like the annoying, as White will continue with Qd3. ] similar line following 7...e5 8 Bd3, except that
After this things go rapidly downhill, [ I hadn't seen that after 20.d3 f6 21.f2! d7 the move 22.d2 is possible, because xd3? loses to 23.e4! xe4 24.g3 and so White holds the balance. ] 20...h5 21.e7?! d7 22.h4?? The bishop is not too well placed here. h7? A reprieve! [ 22...g4! wi n s , I h a d in t e n d e d 23.d4 xd1? 24.e8+ h7 25.xe4+ g6 26.e8 and 27 Bf6, with mate, but hadn't noticed that simply 23...Bc6, and White has two pieces en prise. ] 23.d4 f6 24.g3 e8 [ 24...c5! was more worrying, bringing the knight into the game. ] 25.h3 g5 Black was getting short of time hereabouts. 26.e1 g6 27.d2 h4 28.c5 My first positionally useful move for a while! f5 It looks bleak for White with his bishops so badly placed, and the black e4-bishop so strong, but I had been sneakily preparing some counterplay. 29.g4! fxg4?! [ 29...hxg3 30.xg3 h7 31.h2 should keep Black slightly ahead. ] 30.xg4 Suddenly White has some play, B x h 4 i s t h e i m m e d i a t e t h r e a t . f5 Black decides to force a draw, he could still go wrong, by [ 30...h6? for instance, 31.h2 g6 32.c6 and suddenly it is W hite who will be victorious. ] 31.f3 e4 32.g4 f5 33.f3 e4 34.g4 ½-½
722
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.cxd4 0-0 15.e1 My original intention had been to play [ 15.d5 to win the a-pawn, but then exd5 16.cxd5 e5 is fine for Black, as 17.xa7? is met by f4! which attacks e4, and h2. ] 15...fc8? Black is oblivious to the threat, [ 15...fe8 was far better, as then the e4bishop would be 'en prise' if White were to play d5, but even here White is on top after 16.c5! c7 17.e5 as xe5? 18.dxe5 xe5 19.xd7 xh2+ 20.f1 leads nowhere. ] 16.d5! Now that the e4-bishop is defended this move is strong. exd5 17.cxd5 b4 There is nothing better, as now [ 17...e5 18.xa7 a8 ( 18...f4 19.xe5 xe5 20.g3 wins, as e4 is defended ) 19.xe5 xe5 ( 19...xe5?? 20.h7+ ) 20.xb7 grabs two pawns. ] 18.d4!? This is nice, but my first thought was [ 18.a3 when a6 is f o r ce d , ( 18...a2 19.b3 c3 20.d4 wins the hapless knight ) 19.xa7 a8 20.xb7 winning easily. ] 18...d8 19.e5 f5 I had been expecting [ 19...xa2 when White wins with the sacrificial attack 20.xf7! xf7 21.h5+ g8 ( 21...f8 22.xg7+! xg7 23.g6+ f8 24.xh6+ forces mate in a few moves ) 22.g6 and Black can resign. ] 20.h5! The second tactical point. xe5 [ 20...fxe4 21.f7+ h7 22.xd7 is quite hopeless, and ] [ 20...e8 21.xe8+ xe8 22.xf5 is hardly any better. ] 21.xe5 fxe4 22.xb4! Of course, there is no way I would play [ 22.xb8? allowing d3! and play is unclear. ] 22...a5?? This shortens matters, [ 22...f8 is better, 23.bxe4 ( 23.b2 a8 24.xb7 may be even stronger) 23...c2 24.d4 and White should win quickly by a t t a c k i n g g 7 , p r o v i d i n g h e a v o i d s f5 25.e7?? when ( 25.4e3 ) 25...xe7! turns the tables, as the back rank is weak! ] 23.g6 There is no way to defend g7. 1-0
727 Kosten,Anthony C Horvath,Jozsef TCh-AUT 2005-6 (2) [John Watson]
A18 2507 2522 19.11.2005
Our Webmaster plays a theoretically important game with an interesting ending as a bonus. I hope that he wasn't counting upon my p r e vio u s a n a l ysi s i n t h is c o lu m n , wh i c h proved flawed. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d4 exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 e7 11.cxd4 xg5 12.xg5 e7 13.d2 c6 14.0-0 Annotating the game Timman-Kulaots, Prague 2004, I suggested that [ 14.d5 was probably a bit better. I may have b e e n r i g h t b u t n o t wh o l l y f o r t h e r i g h t reasons. ] 14...xd4 Otherwise White is clearly better off positionally and has a certain initiative. 15.h5 [ 15.xd4 xg5 16.f4 is worth thinking about. ] 15...0-0 [ 15...e6! A) 16.xf7+ xf7 17.fe1 e6 18.xe6 xe6 19.xe6 xe6 20.e1 xe1+ 21.xe1+ f7 22.b1 '!' ', which wins either the b-pawn or h-pawn, for example, ' ( [new note:] 22.e5 he8 23.xc7+ e7 24.a5 , about equal. Probably Black has what chances there because White has the weaknesses.) 22...he8 23.h4 ( 23.h3 b6 24.xh7 and the position looks balanced.) 23...b6 24.xh7 ad8 25.h5 'is another approach. I doubt that White will win this sort of thing however.' d6=; B) 16.xf7!? was the Timman game. I'll co m bin e n ot e s: xf7 17.xd4 xh5 18.fe1 e2 19.b2!? 0-0-0 ( 19...f7 20.xe2 f6 forces simplification: 21.xf6+ gxf6 . This looks drawish.) 20.ab1 b6 21.xe2 d7!? ( 21...c5! lo o ks like a so lid a lt e rna t ive . 22.xg7 xc4 23.e7 c2 24.f1 hf8 (intending ...Qxf2+!) 25.h3 h5= ) 22.h3 he8 23.xe8 xe8 24.c5 e6 25.b3 e7 26.f1 White has a small edge. The ideas of a4-a5 and Rc1 are available. Still, this isn't much...' [Timman went on to win] . 723
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 '...White should probably prefer the small advantage that he gets from 14.d5. ' ] 16.xf7+ h8!? [ In my analysis to that game I missed that 16...xf7! 17.xf7 c5! 18.g5 h6 19.f3 xf3+ 20.gxf3 e6 was playable. This looks like just enough for the Exchange. Fortunately Tony didn't have to deal with that one! ] 17.ae1 f6 18.d5 c5 [ I also missed that 18...c6! was better, since 19.f7+ ( 19.e4 f5 20.xf5 xf5 ) 19...g8 does nothing. ] 19.f4 [ I said that 19.e4 'yields a clear advantage. ' It does seem like the best move. ] 19...f5?! [ 19...h6 20.e4 with a some advantage because Black has to defend his b-pawn bef ore moving the bishop. There migh t follow b6!? ( 20...e7 ) 21.c3 b8 22.e7 d6 23.fe1 xf4? ( 23...d7 ) 24.e4! xe7 25.xf4 a8 26.d6! ] 20.xb7 ab8 21.e4 h6 22.xf5 xf5 23.e6 b2 [ 23...fe8 24.xc5 ] 24.d5 fb8 25.e5?! A little too careful. [ 25.xc5! turns out to be safe enough. d8 26.d7 g6 27.f2 ] 25...h4 26.f2 b1? [ The best chance was 26...xe5! 27.fxe5 xf2 28.xf2 b2+ 29.g3 ( 29.f1 xg2 30.xc5 xh2 isn't clear.) 29...g5 30.h3! ( 30.xc5 xg2+ 31.h3 c2 ) 30...xa2 ( 30...xg2 31.e4; 30...xg2?? 31.xg5! )] 27.xb1? [ Now it's White's turn. The not-so-obvious 27.ef1! xe5 ( 27...g6 28.d5 ) 28.fxe5 g6 29.e2 does the trick. 27.Rxb1 may still win but it gets a little difficult. ] 27...xb1+ 28.f1 xe5 29.fxe5 xf1+ 30.xf1 g6 31.xc5 xe5 32.e2 g8 33.e3 xc4+ 34.d4 White's king position should give him enough to bring the point home. I don't have any idea whether Black has chances here, but I'll give some superficial indications about what may be relevant lines. b6 [ 34...d6 35.d5 ( 35.e5 c4+ ) 35...f5 36.c6 f7 37.a4 e7 38.b7
and W hite will be ahead of the game continuation. ] 35.e5 f7 36.d6 White must be winning here but it looks as though there are a lot of subtleties. c4+ 37.c6 e3? Miscounting! Much tougher was [ 37...e7! 38.a4 , f o r e xa m p le , e5+ 39.b7 d6 ] 38.g3 f1 39.b7 xh2 40.xa7 and wins. f1 [ 40...h5 41.a4 g5 42.e4 ] 41.a4 xg3 42.a5 h5 43.a6 f5 [ 43...h4 44.b8 h3 45.d3! ] 44.e4 e6 45.b8 e5 46.c3 d4 1-0
728 Kuljasevic,Davorin Grigorov,Grigor TUR-chT 1st League (6.5) [Tony Kosten]
A18 2564 2494 26.06.2014
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d3 Could we see a return to this line? d6 9.0-0 a6 10.c2 g4 11.d4 xf3 12.xf3 xf3 13.gxf3 The critical endgame, White's bishops offer him a small plus, but Black is solid, his defensive plan is well worked out, and W hite's weakened pawn structure is a problem. exd4 Standard, I looked at [ 13...0-0-0 14.c5! in Khalifman, A-Leitao, R. ] 14.a4+!? A new try, first played by Aronian, although play will likely transpose later on. [ 14.e1+ is normal, d8 A) 15.e4 b8 16.cxd4 c5 17.b2 c7 18.d5 he8 ( 18...be8 19.f5 b8 20.e4 d7 21.xd7 xd7 22.ae1 should be level, Akopian, V (2660)-Sorokin, M (2572)/Dubai 2000.) 19.a3 e5!? 20.xe5+ xe5 21.f4 ee8 22.xh7 d6 the pawn is not worth too much, Van W ely, L (2675) -Rozentalis, E (2586)/ Istanbul 2003.; B) 15.cxd4 c5 16.d5 c7 17.b2 ( 17.a4 transposes to the main game.) 17...he8 18.a3 ad8 19.e4 ( 19.a4 xe1+ 20.xe1 b8 was quickly drawn in Morovic Fernandez, I (2573)-Vescovi, G 724
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 (26 48 )/ S ao Pa ulo 20 04 .) 19...xe4 20.fxe4 f6 21.h1 Kuzubov, Y (2639)D i z d a r , G ( 2 5 1 3 ) / D u b a i 2 0 1 4 , f8!? 22.f4!? ] 14...d8 15.cxd4 c5 Thematic, Black shouldn't allow White to play c5 when his light square bishop would be more powerful. 16.d5 c7 17.f4!? Positionally well-founded, the pawn restricts Black's remaining bishop. [ 17.e1 allows b4 18.d2 ( 18.e3?! b5! 19.cxb5 xd5 was nice for Black in Shishkov, M (2278)-Grigorov, G (2490)/ Sunny Beach 2013.) 18...d3 19.e3 e5 20.c1 g5 occurred in the stem game, after 21.a5+ b6 22.c3 f6 23.ce1 hg8 24.g2 af8 ( 24...xc4!? 25.e7+ xe7 26.xe7+ b8 27.c6 ) 25.e4 g6 26.h1 e5 Black was fine, but went on to los e in A ro nia n, L (28 16) -Naidit sch , A (2712)/Istanbul 2012. ] 17...b8 The knight heads for a more useful square. [ 17...b4 would be pointless with no rook on e1, 18.d1 and a3. ] 18.b1 b6 [ 18...d7? 19.xd7 xd7 20.xb7+ ] 19.g2 [ 19.b3!? is interesting, with a swinging rook, d7 20.a3 a5 21.g3 g6 22.h3 forcing weaknesses in the black structure. ] 19...d7 20.f3 Another point behind White's 17th, the knig has a nice safe square on f3. he8 21.b2 g6 22.fe1 xe1 23.xe1 g8 Black defends passively behind his wall of pawns. 24.h4 a6 25.c3 b5!? A well-timed bid for counterplay. 26.cxb5 [ 26.a5+ b6 27.cxb5 axb5 28.xb5 transposes. ] 26...b6 27.a5 axb5 28.xb5 a8 29.xb6+ xb6 30.a4 White has gained a pawn but the opposite colour bishops restrict his winning chances somewhat. a5! 31.e4 [ 31.h5 seems natural, but gxh5 32.h1 b4! and ...c4. ] 31...d8 32.e3 f5 33.e6 b4 34.d3 xf4 35.c4 d6 36.f6 d7 37.h5 xa4 38.hxg6 hxg6 39.xg6 Now the game is soon drawn. a5 40.g5 f4 41.g8 b6 42.c8 c7 43.a8 b7 44.e8 d6 45.b5 e7 46.c6+ b6 47.d8 c7
48.g8 e1 49.g6 d1+ 50.e2 ½-½
729 Mastrovasilis,Athanasios Papaioannou,Ioannis GRE-chT 42nd (5.2) [Tony Kosten]
A18 2512 2642 01.07.2014
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 e5 4.f3 c6 5.d4 exd4 6.xd4 b4 7.xc6 The most common, and strongest. [ I looked at 7.f3 in Navara, D-Istratescu, A, see the Archive. ] 7...bxc6 We've reached a Scotch Four Knights position, except that White has gained the c2-c4 move for free. Is this useful? [ 7...xc3+ 8.bxc3 bxc6 9.e5 e7 10.e2 g8 11.f4 offers White some space and the bishops for his weakened structure, Tichy, V-Lange, D/Prague 1990 ] 8.e5!? One advantage of having the pawn on c4, as now the knight can't go to d5! [ 8.d3 i s n a t u r a l , w h e n 0-0 9.0-0 has to be an improvement for White on the Scotch, as Black can't play ...d5 so easily, d6 10.g5 h6 11.h4 e8 12.c2 still, W hite has very little here, even so, Jobava, B (2658)-Melkumyan, H (2534)/ICC INT 2008. ] 8...e4 [ 8...e7 9.e2 is a bit awkward: g4?? ( 9...xc3+ 10.bxc3 and now g8 is forced, Hoelzl, F (2415)-Hasan, Y (2260) / Novi Sad 1990.) 10.xg4 xe5+ 11.e2 and Black can't capture twice on c3 as his queen is pinned! Sidon, M (2013)-Kottemer, J (2070)/Nickenich 2012. ] 9.g4!? The most forcing, and reminiscent of the 4 d4 King's English Four Knights. Still, such lines are always risky. [ 9.c2 xc3 10.bxc3 c5 11.d3 d6 12.exd6 cxd6 13.0-0 it's not easy for Black to castle, Khatanbaatar, B (2395) -Battulga, N (2420)/Ulaanbaatar 2011. ] [ 9.d4 f5 10.exf6 xf6 11.e2 0-0 12.0-0 c5 13.h4 xc3 14.bxc3 looks equal, Lucena, L (2161) -Shumyatsky, V (2352)/Brazil 2010. ] 9...xc3 Clearly best. 725
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 9...d5? 10.xg7 f8 11.a3! h4 12.g3?! ( 12.e3! ) 12...xg3 13.axb4 xh1 14.g2 h3 15.xh1 xf1 16.xf1 g8 was a bit wild, Hausner, I (2451)-Pagerka, M (2215)/Brezova 2010, but should favour White after 17.cxd5 ] 10.d2?! The first new move, but not a good one. [ 10.a3 f8 11.bxc3 e7 12.g3 d6 13.e2 xe5 14.f4 f6 15.g5 e5 16.f4 f6 17.g5 1/2-1/2 Svane, R (2394)-Rusev, K (2549)/ Copenhagen 2012 ] 10...0-0 11.bxc3 e7! [ 11...a5 12.d3 d6 is also satisfactory, 13.e4 g6 14.xc6 b8 Black has excellent compensation for the pawn. ] 12.e2!? Of fering a pawn. xe5 13.0-0 A n d a s e c o n d o n e . xc3 14.f4 f6 15.ac1 d6 16.f3 b2 17.b1 f5 W hite has zero compensation, and is objectively lost. 18.g5 xg5 19.xb2 ae8 20.b7 e4 21.g3 a5! [ 21...xg3 22.hxg3 xg2 23.xg2 xe2 m u s t h a v e b e e n t e m p t i n g , b u t 24.xc7 xa2 25.xc6 will be difficult to win, despite the two extra pawns. ] 22.d3 h6 23.h3 e6 24.xe4 xe4 25.d3 fe8 26.b8 4e5 27.b1 c5 28.b3 e4 29.b1 xb8 30.xb8+ h7 31.xc7 f4 32.f1 f6 Black has returned a pawn, but is still one pawn ahead and enjoys a dominating position. 33.h2 xc4 34.f4 c2 35.f3 Activating the rook. c1 36.d7 a1 Not the most efficient. [ 36...g1+ 37.g3 e1+ 38.h2 h5 39.f5+ h6 forces 40.h4 d1 threatens ...Qg1+ and ...Rd2. ] 37.c3!? g1+ [ 37...xc3? 38.f5+ forces a perpetual, g8 39.c8+ f7 40.d7+ ] 38.g3 b1? Stopping Qf5+, but it decentralises the queen. [ 38...e1+ 39.g4 e4 keeps control. ] 39.h4! f5 40.g3 b2 Black has to defend g7, but now White is OK. 41.xf5+ h8? [ 41...g8 ] 42.b3 f6+ 43.xf6 gxf6 44.h5! Menacing Kg6 and mate. e1!? [ 44...xa2 45.g4 e2 46.xh6 e8 47.g6 followed by the advance of the kingside pawns would be very difficult to
face, still any win is far off. ] 45.xh6 e8 46.g4 Now we reach the same p o s it i o n wi t h a p a wn m o re f o r W h i t e . d5 47.h4 d4 48.g5 f5! [ 48...fxg5 49.hxg5 d8 50.d3 c5 51.g6 c4 52.d1 d3 53.f5 d2 54.f6 is winning. ] 49.g6 g8? Time trouble, no doubt. [ 49...c5 would draw comfortably, 50.b7 ( 50.xf5? d8 and ...d3.) 50...d8 51.h5 d3 and White would have to take a perp. ] 50.h5 d8 51.h6 h8 52.f7 d3 53.g6 d7+ 54.f6 Now Black can't stop mate, what a turnaround! d8 55.h7 c5 56.g5 1-0
730 Naiditsch,Arkadij Fedorchuk,Sergey TCh-FRA Top 12 2012 (10.1) [Tony Kosten]
A18 2698 2634 09.06.2012
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d4 c6! "A computer move" - Wesley So told me after our game, and it's true that Houdini seems to like this move a lot. Unfortunately I hadn't noticed this particular game as our team had a free day (due to the forfeit of one of the teams) and I was sightseeing! The very next day it was played against me! 9.d5!? A novelty, but I don't think it will catch on. [ 9.g5! is critical, g6 10.d5 b8 A) 11.d3 f5 ( I gave 11...f5! 12.e2 e4 13.h4 d7 in 'DW-Flank' "when Black m i g h t e v e n b e b e t t e r " .) 12.a4+ Kortschnoj, V (2645)-Ashley, M (2460)/ New York 1996, d7!; B) 11.h4 d7 ( 11...h6 12.e2!? hxg5 13.xe5 h5 14.g4 xg4 15.xg4+ d8 was quite unclear in Steingrimsson, H (2556)-Lysyj, I (2656)/Plovdiv 2012.) 12.h5 ( 12.d3 d6 13.0-0 h6 14.e3 e7 15.e1 b6 16.c5!? Zaslavsky, M (2450)-Bulmaga, I (2307)/ Plovdiv 2012.) 12...d6 13.d2 c5 14.b3 e7 15.e3 b6!? 16.xc5 bxc5 17.b1 0-0 18.h6 g6 19.b5 a6 20.e2 d7 21.xc5!? offering the exchange for darksquared control, Najer, E (2640)-Ovetchkin, R (2499)/ Sochi 2012. ] 726
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 9.e2 exd4 10.cxd4 b4+ 11.d2 xd2+ 12.xd2 "is a draw" according to Wesley So. ] [ 9.dxe5?! is a 'morning move' - I simply couldn't think straight at all! xe5 10.e2 d6 A) 11.c5? wins a piece, but loses to A1) the obvious 11...g4? can be met by A1a) 12.cxd6? 0-0-0 is crushing, 13.c2 ( 13.xe5 he8 ) 13...xf3+ 14.gxf3 xf3 winning quickly, Hempson, P (2219)-Crouch, C (2424)/ Durham 2000.; A1b) 12.g5! f5 13.cxd6 xf3 14.d7+ xd7 15.0-0-0+ unclear.; A2) 11...0-0! the move I'd originally underestimated. 12.cxd6 g4 13.d2 xf3+ 14.gxf3 xf3 winning material.; B) 11.g5 A c h a n g e o f p l a n s ! e6! 12.d4 d3+ 13.d2 xe2+ 14.xe2 c5 with the better pawn structure for Black in Kosten, A (2493)-So, W (2653)/ Belfort FRA 2012. ] [ I thought a great deal about 9.xe5 when xe5 10.e2 is met by e7! ( 10...d6?! 11.f4 ) 11.xe5 xe5+ 12.dxe5 f5 13.e2 0-0-0 when Black has more than enough compensation for the pawn in the shape of White's poor queenside formation, Socko, B (2636)-Lysyj, I (2633)/Moscow 2012. ] 9...b8 [ 9...e4!? is certainly worth consideration, 10.g5 xc3+ 11.d2 d4 12.dxc6 c5 and White is in a bit of trouble. ] 10.d3 d7 [ Again 10...e4!? i s p o s s i b l e , 11.xe4 xc3+ 12.d2 xc4 ] 11.0-0 h6 12.e1 d6 13.c2 White has more space, but Black has a nice square on c5 and the better pawn structure. b6 14.b1 f8!? [ Black was clearly worried that after 14...0-0 White can aim for h7 by 15.d3 however, g6 16.xg6 fxg6 17.xg6 a6 18.d2 c5 gives compensation. ] 15.e3 g6 16.d2 d8 17.f4 g7 18.f5 f6 19.f1 [ 19.fxg6 fxg6 20.h3 with a small plus. ] 19...g5 20.h4 e7 21.e1 a6 22.d3?!
ag8 Too routine. [ 22...e4! i s t h e m a t i c , 23.xe4 xe4 24.xe4 f6 menacing ...Qxe4, ...Qe5 and ... Bxc4, and after 25.d3 e5 26.g3 xg3+ 27.xg3 xg3 I prefer Black. ] 23.e2 ½-½
731 Navara,David Istratescu,Andrei 5th IECC Playoff Bronze (2) [Tony Kosten]
A18 2602 2587 30.05.2004
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 e5!? An alternative to the normal moves [ 3...d5 and ] [ 3...c5 ] 4.f3 c6 We have reached Nimzovitch's System with an extra tempo for White! 5.d4 The most logical, although [ 5.e2 b4 6.d3 was tried in Ribli,Z-Hoelzl, F/Austria 1997. ] [ 5.a3!? would be my choice, stopping ... Bb4, d6 ( 5...a6?! 6.e2 c5 7.xe5! xf2+ 8.xf2 xe5 9.d4 with a clear advantage, fg4+? 10.e1 h4+ 11.g3 h3 12.f1 h5 13.dxe5 winning a piece, Damaso,R-Figueiras,J/2nd Open, Faro POR 1998 ) 6.h3 g6 7.g3 g7 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 e6 10.d3 h6 11.d5 and White is a move ahead of a normal Botvinnik-style setup, Badea,B-Barbu,I/Miercurea Ciuc ROM 2000. ] 5...exd4 6.xd4 b4 7.f3 Solidly defending the e-pawn, [ 7.xc6 is an alternative, xc3+ ( 7...bxc6 8.d3 0-0 9.0-0 e8 10.e1 d6 11.g5 h6 12.h4 with a plus, Schneider,B-Klings, P/Schoeneck 1988.) 8.bxc3 bxc6 ( 8...dxc6 9.xd8+ xd8 10.d3 led to a quick win for White in Spaan, H-Van de Bruinhorst,G/ Alkmaar 1984, but looks OK for Black here) 9.e5 e7 10.e2 g8 11.f4 offers White some space and the bishops for his weakened structure, Tichy,V-Lange,D/ Prague 1990 ] 7...d6 [ 7...0-0 8.e2 e8 9.g5 d6 10.c2 ( 10.c1!? but not; 10.0-0?? xd4 727
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.xd4?? c5 ) 10...xc3+ 11.bxc3 is not very inspiring, Berechet,O-Talla,V/ CZE-chT 1993. ] 8.e2 [ 8.e3 xc3+ 9.bxc3 e5 10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 fd7 12.f4 g6 is similar to positions that arise from the Four Knights with 4 d4 (A28), White has more space and t wo b i s h o p s , b u t B l a c k h a s t h e b e t t e r structure and a nice square on c5. Himanshu, K-Satyapragyan,S/Mumbai IND 2004. ] 8...0-0 9.e3 White must still take care not to castle! xc3+ 10.bxc3 e7!? Heading for g6, as in the above note, but [ 10...e5 seems more logical. ] 11.0-0 g6 12.a4 a5 13.d2 [ 13.b5 would be my choice, threatening Bg5xf6. ] 13...e8 14.f2 b6 15.fe1 b7 16.f5 [ Once again 16.b5 is a different idea, the pressure on c7 will stop Black from becoming too active. ] 16...d7! Both sides place their pieces c a r e f u l l y . 17.h4!? White decides to use his advanced knight to generate a kingside attack. [ 17.e3 can now be answered by g5 pinning the knight and menacing ...Nf4. ] 17...c5!? Black continues to place his hopes on his well-placed pieces. [ 17...e7 would help defend the kingside. ] 18.h5 e5 19.h6?! White attacks on the dark squares, Black has exchanged his darksquared bishop, of course, but this pawn will soon be lost. [ 19.xc5!? dxc5 20.f4 f6 21.g3 is another idea. ] 19...g6! Black should certainly not grab the 'poisoned exchange': [ 19...b3? 20.d1 xa1 21.xg7! f8 22.f5 and White can capture the knight on a1 when he wants and remain with a powerf ul attack on the weakened black king. ] 20.h4 f6 21.d4 The knight returns to cover b3. f7 22.d1 g5 The point, the h6pawn is c ut -o f f f ro m it s de f e nd er. 23.g3 xh6 24.c2 White still has some chances because of the weakened black kingside. f7 25.f2 White wants to use the opened h-file. c8 26.h1 h6 27.h5 d7 28.ah1 g7
E ve r yt h i n g i s s o l i d l y d e f e n d e d . 29.b1?! This all looks rather crude, White lines-up his queen and bishop battery. h8 30.f4?! e7 31.c2 gxf4 32.xf4 ag8 The king can simply escape to f8. 33.d2 f8 34.xh6+ xh6 35.xh6 xh6 36.xh6? [ 36.xh6+ e8 37.h5+ is better, although Black is still on top. ] 36...g7 [ 36...xe4! would be a neat way to finish the game, 37.xe4 xe4+ winning. ] 37.f1 g5 Black decides to force play into a favourable endgame. 38.xg5 fxg5 39.h7 [ 39.b5 stops the loss of the a-pawn, but after xb5 40.axb5 Black has a good knight against a terrible bishop. ] 39...g7 40.h8+ e7 41.c2 f7+ 42.f5+ f6 [ 42...xf5? 43.exf5 would actually be fine for White, who can attack the g-pawn. ] 43.e2 xa4 The a-pawn was bound to disappear, sooner or later! 44.xa4 xa4 45.d3 c5+ 46.d4 e6 47.g8 a4 The a-pawn is coming! [ 47...xe4! 48.xe4 xf5 would be another winning method. ] 48.xg5? a3 49.e3 a2 50.d4+ d7 51.c2 Stopping the a-pawn for a short while. f1 52.g7+ c8 53.g4 c1 54.d4 0-1
732 Nepomniachtchi,Ian Aleksandrov,Aleksej 11th Aeroflot Open A (2) [John Bartholomew]
A18 2735 2612 08.02.2012
1.c4 e6 2.c3 f6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 The old main line. [ The flexible 7.f3 is quite popular these d a y s . S p e c i f i c a l l y , t h e v a r i a t i o n e5 ( Transpositional possibilities abound between 7.d4 and 7. Nf3, i.e. 7...c5 8.d4 reaching the present game.; Black should a lso give s t ro n g c o n si d e r a t io n t o 7...b6 - see the note to Black's next move.) 8.d4 ( There's also 8.d3!? , forgoing d2-d4 in favor of development.) 8...exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 is still up for debate. See 728
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 "Mik en as A tt ack - 3. . .d 5 & In tro" f or a good launching point for the discussion. ] 7...c5 The most frequent reply. Now an exchange on d4 will result in a classic "hanging pawn" structure. [ Black has a couple noteworthy alternatives. 7...e5 8.f3 transposes to 7.Nf3 e5 8.d4. ( 8.e2!? has been tried by some very strong players, but e7! has proven to be a fully satisfactory response. )] [ The positional 7...b6 deserves attention. Black declines an immediate central clash (why allow White to easily rid himself of the double d c-pa wns?) in f avor of Queen's Indian-style development. After 8.e2 b7 9.f3 xf3 10.xf3 d6 11.0-0 0-0 12.h3 h6 13.e1 c6 Black was doing well in Nikologorskiy, K (1946)-Nikolaev, V (2186)/ St Petersburg 2006/[John Watson]. ] 8.f3 h6 Preventing the pesky 9.Bg5 but falling behind in development. [ John Watson thoroughly investigated the complications of 8...cxd4 9.g5 ( Compare 9.cxd4 b4+ 10.d2 xd2+ 11.xd2 to our main game: here Black has saved a tempo (no ...h7-h6) and W hite has yet to play Bf1-d3. This ensures Black an easy game after b6! , e.g. 12.e2 b7 13.0-0 0-0 with a bare-bones hanging pawn position where W hite has done nothing to obstruct Black's ideal piece arrangement. Though objectively level, I think such a position is already easier to play as Black, and this seems to be borne out in the statistics (Black is +3, =4 from this position). A brief example: 14.fd1 d8 15.e3 c6 16.d2 e7! (Black is fully coordinated) 17.ad1 f5 18.f4 d6 (insisting on a favorable queen exchange) 19.xf6 gxf6 20.c5?! e4 Quinn, M (2391)-Lenic, L (2531)/Kemer 2007.) 9...f5 in Ghaem M a g h a m i , E ( 2 6 2 3 ) - A z a r o v, S ( 2 5 6 5 ) / Moscow 2005. In addition to the game's 10.cxd4 , there are 10.Qxd4 and the risky gambit 10.Bd3!? ] 9.d3 cxd4 [ Alternatives can be found in the archives: 9...c6!? 10.0-0! cxd4 11.cxd4 xd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.b1 with excellent compensation, Bratanov, Z (2438)-Antonov, O (2123)/Izmir 2002/[TonyK] ]
[ and 9...d6 Watson, J-Miller, I/Buena Park G/ 60 1995/[John Watson]. ] 10.cxd4 b4+ 11.d2 xd2+ 12.xd2 0-0 [ White obtained an enduring positional a d v a n t a g e a f t e r 12...c6 13.e3 in Tomashevsky, E (2586)-Iljin, A (2510)/ Cheboksary 2006/[John Watson]. Aleksandrov prefers to develop the knight to d7. ] 13.0-0 Black experiences minor problems in completing development. This allows White to build pressure over the next few move and secure a nice advantage. d7!? A novelty that doesn't change the assessment of the position. [ The old game Golombek, H-Koenig, I/ Warsaw 1935 went 13...c6 A) A more recent contest saw 14.fe1 b6 , Agrest, E (2574)-Henriksson, J (2161)/ Dos Hermanas 2003. White should have reacted energetically, i.e. 15.d5!? ( or 15.e4!? b7 16.ae1 ) 15...exd5 16.cxd5 a5 17.e5; B) 14.e4 d7 15.ab1 ab8 16.fd1 fd8 . Here White rushed things with 17.d5 (Black is prepared for this advance) exd5 18.cxd5 and Black was fine after e5 ( or 18...e7 ) 19.e3 xf3+ 20.xf3 b6 21.a3 a5 22.bc1 bc8 . Perhaps he should have tried 17. c5!? with a slight advantage. ] [ White had an interesting idea in Oratovsky, M (2481) -Kruppa, Y (2602)/Budapest 1999: 13...d8 14.ae1!? ( 14.fe1 c6 15.ad1 is more natural and looks good for an edge. ) 14...c6 15.e4! g6! A) This peters out to equality. Instead, 16.c2!? b6 17.fe1 b7 18.d5 creates problems for Black. ( or 18.g4!? ); B) 16.xh6 xd4 17.xd4 xd4 18.xd4 xd4 19.d1 d7 20.c2 c3 21.xg6 fxg6 22.xg6+ f8 23.h6+ g8 24.g6+ h8 25.h6+ g8 1/2-1/2 ] 14.e3! Quite a useful move. White prevents ...e6-e5 and prepares his next. d8 [ The idealistic 14...b6?? loses instantly to 15.e4 . ] 15.e4 f8 [ Passive, but it's hard to fault Black for re ject in g th e co mp u t er's sugge st ion o f 729
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15...g5!? ] 16.ab1 e7 17.c5! Positionally desirable W h i t e f i x e s t h e B l a c k p a w n o n b 7 . c7 18.b3!? [ It was also possible to play in the center with 18.fe1 . As usual, the side with the space advantage has the luxury of playing all over the board! ] 18...b8 19.fb1 b6 20.e5 d7?! [ Better was 20...b7! , i.e. 21.cxb6 axb6 22.xc7 xc7 23.xb6 d7 . Black has decent drawing chances despite the pawn deficit. ] 21.c6?! [ White has controlled the game excellently until now. W ith 21.a4! (threatening a4-a5) he could have gained a big advantage, i.e. f6 22.xc7 xc7 23.a5 d7 24.axb6 axb6 25.d2! ] 21...f6! Nepo may have missed this resource. 22.g3 xg3 23.hxg3 c7 24.c3 f7 No w W h it e 's e d ge is wit h in m a n a ge a b le b o u n d a r i e s . 25.cc1 g6 26.d5!? A reasonable decision. W hite sacrifices a pawn to support his waning initiative. exd5 27.d4 a6 28.a4 f8 29.f4 g6 30.e1 f5! 31.bc1 e6= Black has consolidated well. 32.xe6?! A tempting exchange sac, but probably a little optimistic. [ W h it e s h o u ld h a ve se t t le d f o r 32.xe6 xe6 33.xa6 d8= ] 32...xe6 33.xa6 d7 34.f2 e8 35.b5 a8 36.h1 h5 37.e1 e7 38.e5!? d8 39.a6 a8 40.b5 d8 Black acquiesces to the repetition. [ H e m u s t h a v e f i g u r e d t h a t 40...xe5 41.fxe5 offered him few chances to win, but g5!? was interesting since 42.xf5? e6-+ allows Black to decisively active his king. ] 41.a6 a8 42.b5 ½-½
733 Ni Hua Aleksandrov,Aleksej Open Calcutta IND (9) [John Watson]
A18 2611 2659 15.11.2004
exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 f6 Although it's not been seen as much recently, this has been considered a relatively solid option. This game challenges that assessment. 11.xd4 f7 12.h6! [ A terrific innovation! Here White has played 12.f4 in many games, doing fairly well. Objectively he shouldn't get much, however, after c5 and a timely ...c6 and/or ...Na6. ] 12...c5? Confronted with a new idea like the Bh6 shot even a first-class player can become disoriented. This move gives away b5 to the knight and horribly weakens d6. Of course Black can't respond by [ 12...gxh6?? 13.h5 but he can limit the damage with ] [ 12...g6 , after which there are several o p t i o n s f o r W h i t e i n c l u d i n g 13.d2!? , for example, xh6 14.xh6 f8 15.f4 f7 16.0-0 0-0 ( 16...a6 17.f3! ) 17.c5! ] [ Notice that 12...d6 13.h5 g6 14.e2 f8 15.d2 transposes to 12...g6. ] 13.b5 f5! This prevents Bh5 in lines like [ 13...c6? 14.xg7! xg7 ( 14...xg7 15.d6+ ) 15.h5+ e7 16.d6# ] [ and 13...e6? 14.xg7 etc. ] 14.0-0 d7 [ 14...c6? 15.h5 g6 ( 15...g6 16.e1+ ) 16.e1+ e5 17.xg6 hxg6 18.f4 and White's threats are overwhelming. ] [ 14...gxh6? 15.h5 g6 16.e1+ e7 17.d6+ ] 15.f4 a6 16.e1! f7 There's nothing else to do, for example, [ 16...xd1 17.h5+ d7 18.axd1+ c6 19.d6! ] [ or 16...0-0-0? 17.xa7# ] 17.f3 d8 18.xb7 [ Or 18.d5+ g6 19.f3 , but the move played traps Black's knight on a6. ] 18...g5 19.g3 b8 20.h5+ g7 [ 20...g6 21.f3 ] 21.ad1 xb7 22.xd8 c6 23.d5 g6 24.g4 h5 25.d7+ h6 26.e6 a8 27.xf6 e7 [ 27...e7 28.exe7 xe7 29.h4 ends it. ] 1-0
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 e5 8.f3 730
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 734 Nikologorskiy,Konstantin Nikolaev,V White Nights Open (1) [John Watson]
A18 1946 2186 23.06.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 b6 8.e2 b7 9.f3 xf3 10.xf3 d6 11.0-0 0-0 12.h3 h6 13.e1 c6 14.a4 a5 15.c5 f4 16.a3 [ 16.xf4 xf4 ] 16...fd8 17.ab1?! [ 17.e4 seems to give White some advantage. ] 17...f5! 18.b4?! c4 A great outpost. B l a c k s t a n d s b e t t e r . 19.c6 d5! Correctly judging that the resulting ending will be very difficult for W hite. 20.xd5 xd5 21.g3 g5 22.xg5 xg5 Now White has no compensation for the huge disparity between the minor pieces. W orse, ...a5 is threatened, so Black gets another open file. 23.cxb6 cxb6!? [ Why not 23...axb6 ? It seems very strong. ] 24.g2? [ 24.a1 intending a4-a5. ] 24...d5 25.g4 d7 Again ...a5 is threatened and Black is winning (and won) 0-1
735 Pelletier,Yannick Bakker,Sven Gibtelecom Masters (8.19) [John Watson]
A18 2579 2308 31.01.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 [ White can't possibly have gotten an advantage in the following game and in fact probably stood worse, but the final position is worthincluding! 7.d4 e5 8.f3 exd4 9.xd4 e7 10.e3 c6 11.xf6 xf6 12.d4 0-0 13.0-0-0 a6 14.xc6 bxc6 15.c2 e6 16.d4 ab8 17.d3 fd8 18.f4 a5 19.b1 e7 20.xb8 xb8 21.f5 d7 22.c5 f6 23.b1 xb1 24.xb1 h5 25.xf6 gxf6 26.h4 1-0 Ubilava -Mascaro, Platja de Muro ESP 2005. ]
7...c5 8.d3 d7 9.0-0 d6 10.c2 c6 11.e4 xe4 12.xe4 c6 13.d4 0-0 14.d1 cxd4? Now White has what he wants: space and pawn mobility. The doubled pawns were Black's main advantage, and he should have played [ 14...a5! or even ] [ 14...g6!? ] 15.cxd4 ac8 16.b1 b6 17.b5! All of White's pieces are gaining scope and Black properly tries to simplify: g6 18.e2 Now we are treated to a comedy of errors! fd8?? 19.g5?? Mutual blindness. Winning was [ 19.h4 , trapping the queen and forcing xd4 20.xd4 f6 21.f3 , game over. ] 19...h6? [ 19...f6 looks bad but retains a playable game, e.g., 20.g4 ( 20.b2 e7 ) 20...h6 Versus Bg5 21.b2 f5 22.h4!? f6 ] 20.h3? [ 20.d5! leads to the machine idea a5 ( or 20...e7 21.f5! g6 22.h4! ) 21.f5 g6 22.h4! ] 20...e7?! [ 20...f6 ] 21.g4?! [ This time the analytical engine finds the bizarre 21.c5! xc1 ( 21...g6 22.xc6! xc6 23.e5 ) 22.xc1 bxc5 23.dxc5 xc5 24.g5! and Black lacks compensation, although this isn't resignable by any means. ] 21...h5 22.b2 Now White's advantage is rather small, especially if Black opposes bishops by ...Bf6. f8!? 23.g5 h6 24.d5 a5 [ 24...e7 is better, centralising. ] 25.g4! f5? 26.c1! Pelletier doen't miss this one! fxg4? [ 26...h5 27.xe6+ f7 had to be tried, however ultimately hopeless. The rest is easy. ] 27.xh6 gxf3 28.xe6+ h8 29.g5 e8 30.f5 xc4 31.xf3 c5 32.f4 f8 33.g3 cd8 34.d6 xd6 35.xd6 f6 36.xc5 xd1+ 37.h2 h6 38.g4 d5 39.d4 f7 40.e6 dd7 41.xh6+ 1-0
731
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A18 white queen should have retreated the move 28.c3 xf4? Returning the Pelletier,Yannick 2624 before. Ribli,Zoltan 2568 compliment, [ 28...b6! 29.h1 g8 is better, te being a Bundesliga 2002-3 (8) 11.01.2003 pawn down Black can take advantage of the [Tony Kosten] open g-file, 30.e6 xe6 ( 30...xg4?? is a b lu n d e r, 31.xf6+ g8 32.f8# ) 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 31.xg8+ xg8 32.dxe6 xe6 and Black 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 is OK! ] The old main line seems to be coming back 29.xf4 xf4 30.h5 e5 31.xe5?! into fashion, since This may have been a Sunday morning round, [ 7.f3 e5 8.d3 offers little. ] 7...e5 8.f3 exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 as I can see no reason why White cannot play e7 11.cxd4 xg5 12.xg5 f6!? the simple [ 31.xf6 xc3 32.xc3 with an extra We have already analysed a couple of games pawn. ] involving the more usual 31...fxe5 32.f1 g8 33.f5 d7 34.g4 [ 12...e7 ] 13.e4!? A novelty, the knight moves again, White is still better, as his pieces are more active, but the win is far from obvious. c8?! but gains a tempo on the black queen. [ 13.d2 had been the almost inevitable Black should stop the rook getting onto the choice here: 0-0 14.0-0 f5 ( 14...c6 seventh rank, perhaps, by [ 34...h6 35.f6+!? ( 35.f2 f8 36.xf8+ 15.d5 d4 16.d3 f5 17.xf5 xf5 xf8 37.e3 f7 38.e4 offers better is almost equal, Cramling,D-Wiedenkeller, chances ) 35...xf6 36.xf6 f8 ( 36...g7 M / S t o c k h o l m 1 9 9 3) 15.ad1 e8 37.e6 ) 37.xh6 f4 38.h3 xc4 1/2-1/2 Stohl,I-Zarnicki,P/Moscow 1994. ] when W hite has two connected passed 13...g6 14.g3 0-0 15.0-0 One immediate pawns, but the black rook is very active. ] advantage of having the knight on g3, instead of g5, is that W hite no longer has to worry 35.g5+ h8 36.g7 f6 This is Black's about defending it, and so can concentrate on intention, to play the rook and pawn ending, xh5 h i s o t h e r p i e c e s . d8 16.c1 f6 but his rook is very passive. 37.e7 Black's logical plan is to force the d-pawn to 38.gxh5 h6 39.f2! The e-pawn is not going advance and then put his queen's knight on to run away, and so White keeps control of t h e c 5 - s q u a r e . 17.d5 a6 18.h5!? the seventh. b5 40.c5 g8 41.e3 a5 T h i s l o o k s o d d , b u t t h e y o u n g S w i s s 42.e4 b4 43.xe5 a4 44.e6 There is no Grandmaster is trying to create a weakness in real defence against Kd7xc7 when the two white pawns march to the queening square. Black's kingside structure. e5 [ 18...h6!? would keep g7 under 1-0 surveillance. ] 19.f3 c5 20.e1 d6 21.d4 A18 White achieves his desired piece set-up. f6 737 22.e3 White's extra space, and control of the Rasmussen 2397 e-file give him a certain plus. d7 23.g4! Rozentalis,Eduardas 2598 F r e e i n g t h e t h i r d r a n k f o r t h e r o o k . e8 Anibal Open Linares ESP (6) 06.03.2002 24.g3 White's kingside initiative is taking on [Tony Kosten] a l a r m i n g p r o p o r t i o n s . xg4 25.xg4 Attacking both g7 and f6, this wins a pawn. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 h8 26.xg7 e5! The knight's retreat will [ 4.exd5 exd5 5.d4 transposes to a lesser not be so easy. 27.f4?! This move is a useful line of the exchange French, although this resource, but it should be prepared, can still be dangerous, Miezis, N[ 27.d1! d7 28.f4 e7 29.h5 Gunnarsson,A/Reykjavik ISL 2002. ] and White is a pawn to the good. ] 4...d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 27...e4 Gaining a tempo, which is why the 8.d4 exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 e7 736
732
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 10...d3?! seems like a good idea, but 11.0-0! d6 ( 11...xe2? 12.e1; 11...dxe2?? 12.d8# ) 12.xd3 0-0 13.e1 d7 14.c5!? xc5 15.e5 d6 16.h5 gave White a powerful attack, Cramling,DOrnstein,A Gausdal 1980. ] [ 10...f6 is playable, though: 11.xd4 f7 12.f4 c6 13.0-0 e7 and White's development advantage is balanced by his weak queenside. ] 11.cxd4 xg5 12.xg5 e7 13.d2 c6!? An interesting alternative, threatening to capture on d4. 14.d5 e5 [ 14...d4?! is too flashy, 15.xd4 xg5 16.0-0 0-0 17.f3 a5 18.fe1 a6!? 19.e5 d8 20.ae1 with complete control of th e e-f ile, Gulko ,B-Plieste r,L/ Arub a 1992. ] 15.0-0 0-0 16.fe1 f5 Black has managed to develop his minor pieces to active squares, but will they prove to be targets for W hite? 17.ac1!? White provokes a weakness on c6, although I am far from sure that this novelty is much better than [ 17.f4 w h e n a f t e r f6 18.f3 fe8 White has next-to-nothing, Banas,J-Rigo,Z/ Prievidza 1998. ] 17...b6 To stop c5. 18.f4 f6!? Risky, [ 18...f6 19.f3 fe8 is similar to the previous note. ] 19.f3 d7 20.xe5 fxe5 21.e3 c5?! This leads to unexpected problems. 22.dxc6 xc6 23.c5! b5 [ 23...bxc5 24.xc5 xc5 25.xc5 forks c6 and e5, winning a pawn. ] 24.d3 f7 25.a3 ad8 Black seems to have reasonable play at the moment, but sooner or later he must find some real compensation for his weak pawn on e5. 26.f3 This puts pa id to any tactics along the f-file, and prepares Be4 to remove the bishop from its blockade of the c5-pawn. d4 27.c2 h8?! Black ditches the e-pawn, but [ 27...e8 28.b3 d5 29.xd5 xd5 30.c6 was also unpleasant, as the c-pawn is very dangerous. ] 28.xe5 g4?! The tricky point, but it leads nowhere. 29.f5! Exchanging queens is the simplest. xf5 30.xf5 a4 31.e4 a6 [ 31...xe4? 32.xe4 xa3 re-establishes material equality, but after 33.c6 Black will
have to give a rook to stop the pawn, i.e. h6 34.c7 c8 35.d4 h7 36.d8 ] 32.ed1 g8 33.d6 f6 34.xf6 gxf6 35.f2 f7 36.xc6 xc6 37.e3 e7 The extra white pawn, and the passive black rook, are enough to assure W hite the full point. 38.d4 a6 39.c3 d7 40.d5 a4 41.c6+ c7 42.e3 b6 43.e7 xa3 44.b7+ a6 45.b8 d3+ 46.e6 c3 47.d7 d3+ 48.c8 h5 49.c7 d2 50.b7 Kb8 and c8(Q) follow. 1-0
738 Ronchetti,Niccolo Brunello,Sabino XIII Luigi Serra (3) [John Watson]
A18 2421 2391 03.07.2006
1.c4 e6 2.c3 f6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 e5 8.f3 exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 f6 11.xd4 f7 12.f4 The old move. Either White doesn't like or didn't know about Ni Hua)-Aleksandrov, Calcutta IND 2004, which I analysed in a previous column. Here is the game and a few of my notes: [ 12.h6! A) 12...gxh6?? 13.h5 but he can limit the damage with; B) 12...g6 , after which there are several o p t i o n s f o r W h i t e i n c l u d i n g 13.d2!? , for example, xh6 14.xh6 f8 15.f4 f7 16.0-0 0-0 ( 16...a6 17.f3! ) 17.c5!; C) 12...c5? 13.b5 C1) 13...c6? 14.xg7! xg7 ( 14...xg7 15.d6+ ) 15.h5+ e7 16.d6#; C2) 13...f5! This prevents Bh5 in lines like 14.0-0 d7 ( 14...gxh6? 15.h5 g6 16.e1+ e7 17.d6+ ) 15.f4 a6 16.e1! f7 ( 16...xd1 17.h5+ d7 18.axd1+ c6 19.d6! ) 17.f3 d8 18.xb7 g5 19.g3 b8 20.h5+ g7 ( 20...g6 21.f3 ) 21.ad1 xb7 22.xd8 c6 23.d5 g6 24.g4 h5 25.d7+ h6 26.e6 a8 27.xf6 e7 1-0 ( 27...e7 28.exe7 xe7 29.h4 ends it. )] 733
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12...c5 [ 12...a6!? ] 13.a4+! c6 14.b3 e7?! [ 14...a6 ] 15.0-0 [ 15.xb8! gives some advantage after xb8 16.xa7 d6 17.d1 ] 15...0-0 16.fe1 d7 17.c5 e5! 18.e3?! e6 19.d4 d5 20.f5 fe8 Black is wellcentralized. 21.h4 [ 21.xe7+?! xe7 threatens ... Qg6. ] 21...f8 22.d4? g6 23.g3 d3 24.xd3 xd3 Black has 2 bishops, lightsquare control and play against White's weak pawns. 25.f4 xe1+ 26.xe1 b6!? [ 26...xa2 with a passed a-pawn. ] 27.g4! g6 28.xg6 hxg6 29.cxb6 c5 30.e3 [ 30.b7! b8 31.e3 splits the pawns, although the bishops should eventually prevail. After this White is clearly lost and plays until mate. Perhaps the clock was an issue. ] 30...axb6 31.b1 xa2 32.h4 a6 33.d1 c6 34.h5 gxh5 35.xh5 f7 36.f4 a7 37.f3 b5 38.c1 a3 39.f2 a2+ 40.f1 g5 41.d3 g4 42.xc5 gxf3 43.gxf3 xf3 44.b3 a3 45.e1 d5 46.d4 c4+ 47.g1 b2 48.b1 d3 49.d1 a1 50.xa1 xa1 51.d2 b4 52.cxb4 xd4+ 53.g2 e6 54.f3 d5 55.f4 e5+ 56.f3 c4 57.g4 d6 58.b5 xb5 59.e3 c4 60.f3 d5 61.d2 f5 62.e3 e4+ 63.e2 f4 64.xf4 xf4 65.f2 d4 66.e2 c3 67.f2 d2 68.f1 f3 69.f2 g4 70.f1 e3 71.g2 e2 72.g1 f3 73.f1 g3 74.e1 c1 75.f1 d2 76.g1 e2 77.h1 c3 0-1
739 Smirin,Ilia Kulaots,Kaido Monarch Assurance (9) [Tony Kosten]
A18 2671 2593 03.10.2004
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d3 [ 8.d4 seems to have recovered its crown
now, so I was surprised to see this move. ] 8...d6 9.0-0 a6 10.e1 After my game against Dizdar I thought everyone had gone back to [ 10.c2 although this only seems equal. ] 10...0-0 11.xe5?! xe5! [ 11...e8 12.f3 g4 was about equal in Schlosser,P-Wells,P/Herzliya 1998, while ] [ 11...c5? 12.c2 xe5 13.h5 was very good for White in Van Wely,L-Oll, L/Beijing 1997. ] 12.h5 xh2+ The unpleasant problem. 13.xh2 f5 14.f1 [ 14.xf5!? xf5 15.d4 might be the best chance, d3 16.g3 xg3 17.fxg3 might not be too bad for White, despite the pawn structure, as his bishop is good. ] 14...fe8 15.a3 g6!? An innovation, but no improvement on the [ 15...g5! of Kosten,A-Dizdar,G - see the archives. ] 16.g3 The square h2 is not a satisfactory post for a queen! c6 [ 16...c5!? ] 17.g5! White stops the knight from returning into play. xe1 18.xe1 a4 19.c1 e8 [ 19...xa2?! i s t o o g r e e d y , 20.b5 threatens mate on e8 and wins the b-pawn. ] 20.xe8+ xe8 21.d4 Now I would say that W hite is better as his two bishops should prove important. h6 22.d2 e4 23.b2 e1! 24.d2 Of course, [ 24.xb7? xc1 25.xa6 d3 would lose a piece. ] 24...d1 25.c1 a4 26.b2 White decides to repeat moves, but [ 26.a3 was possible, perhaps, b6 27.f4 and White still has reason to hope with the better minor pieces. ] 26...d1 27.c1 a4 28.b2 ½-½
740 Steingrimsson,Hedinn Kulaots,Kaido Keres Mem A Tallin EST (8) [John Watson]
A18 2439 2558 12.01.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 [ 3...c5 4.e5 g8 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 734
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7.xd4 is seen less and less often. See previous ChessPublishing games - W hite seems to win them all! ] 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d4 [ 8.d3 has received a lot of attention in these pages. Frankly, I don't think tha t White gets even the tiniest advantage. ] 8...exd4 9.g5 [ 9.xd4 was an original capture played in Ubilava-Mascaro March, Platja de Muro 2005. I seriously doubt that W hite gets anything from this line, but the ending is nice! e7 10.e3 c6 11.xf6 xf6 12.d4 0-0 13.0-0-0 a6 14.xc6 bxc6 15.c2 e6 16.d4 ab8 17.d3 fd8 18.f4 a5 19.b1 e7 20.xb8 xb8 21.f5 d7 22.c5 f6 23.b1 xb1 24.xb1 h5 25.xf6 gxf6 26.h4 ] 9...e6+ 10.e2 e7 [ The line 10...f6 11.xd4 f7 was almost put to rest by 12.h6!! c5? ( 12...gxh6?? 13.h5; 12...g6 ) 13.b5 f5! 14.0-0 d7 15.f4 a6 16.e1! f7 17.f3 d8 18.xb7 and wins, Ni Hua-Aleksandrov, Calcutta 2004. ] 11.cxd4 xg5 12.xg5 e7 [ For 12...f6!? see earlier ChessPublishing c o l u m n s , f o r e xa m p l e , P e l l e t i e r - R i b l i , Tegernsee GER 2003 went 13.e4!? g6 14.g3 ( 14.f3 ) 14...0-0 15.0-0 d8 and here instead of 16.Rc1!?, I gave 16.d3 d6 17.e1! intending moves like d5, Qc2, Rad1 etc. ] 13.d2 c6 [ We've also seen a number of games with 13...h6 , generally favouring White. ] 14.d5 [ 14.0-0!? xd4 15.h5! e6! should have been about equal in Timman-Kulaots, Prague 2004. ] 14...e5 15.0-0 0-0 16.fe1 f5 17.f4 f6 18.f3 fe8 19.h4 [ Ivanchuk's improvement on 19.d4 g6! (Banas, J-Rigo, Z/Prievidza 1998) 20.xf5 xd4= ] 19...g6 20.xf5 xh4 Since the queen goes to d4 next, White has gained a sort of tempo. 21.f1 [ M y p r e v i o u s s u g g e s t i o n 21.g4!? also de serves co nsideration, since th e
queen doesn't get back to d4. Potentially White might have to worry about back-rank tricks but not obviously so. The real question is whether W hite needs an improvement, since things go so well for him. ] 21...d4 [ Tony suggested several improvements for W hite after 21...b6!? from Bruzon-Zarnicki, Santo Domingo 2003. ] 22.d7 xe1 23.xe1 c5 24.h4 f8 25.d3!? An innovation on move 25! Whether it is ne ce ssa ry is n ot cle a r, bu t W h ite is certainly in charge and the move has several advantages. The elegant stem game IvanchukP Nielsen, Skanderborg 2003 went [ 25.f5 (threatening h5) g8 ( 25...xh4? 26.xh7 g6 27.d3 ) 26.h5 f8 27.g5! d6! 28.g3 h6 29.e7 with a clear advantage. ] 25...d6!? Trying to hang on. Although White threatened h5 again, that won't be true if the queens come off. [ 25...xh4?! doesn't suffice after 26.h3! d4 ( 26...g6 27.xg6 fxg6 28.xh7 f7 29.e4 ) 27.e4 a1+ 28.h2 g6 29.xh7 ] 26.f5 [ 26.b5!? hits the b-pawn but Black can defend after b6 27.h5 ( 27.b2!? ) 27...f4 28.xh7 xh5 ] 26...f4 [ 26...g8 27.h5 f8 28.g5 is at least as good as the Ivanchuk game, and there are other good moves. ] 27.h5 g8 28.e3!? [ 28.g3! would ask Black where he's going, e. g., d6 ( 28...d4 29.f5; 28...f6 29.e2 d6 30.h5 f8 31.e7 ) 29.g5 and Black is still tied down. ] 28...b6 [ 28...d4 29.g3! threatens Qf5 again. ] 29.g3! d6 30.xg6?! Incomprehensible. Obviously W hite still keeps the advantage, but consistent with all the previous play was [ 30.g5! ] [ or 30.e2 ] 30...hxg6 31.e2 f8?! It not clear what the threat was. Maybe a slower move was called for. [ 31...c8 has the idea of ...c6 if White strays: 32.h5 ( 32.e5 ) 32...gxh5 33.xh5 735
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c6 34.e4!? cxd5 35.cxd5 g6 36.h6 by Tony. Let me add a few brief notes. The c5! ] key game Pelletier-Ribli, Tegernsee GER 32.h5! gxh5 33.xh5 Now Black has lost a 2003 continued 13.e4!? g6 14.g3 critical tempo. h6 ( 14.f3 appears a bit better for White as [ 33...g8 34.e4! threatens Rh4, but h6 well) ) 14...0-0 15.0-0 d8 and here instead 35.f5 f6 can be answered by 36.d7 of 16.Rc1!?, I t hink tha t 16.d3 d6 ( or 36.xf6 gxf6 37.g2 ) 36...d8 ( 16...f6 17.e1 c6 18.d5 d4 19.d2 ( 36...d6 37.xd6 cxd6 38.e7 c8 c5 20.e4 g6 21.h1 ) 17.e1! 39.xa7 xc4 40.a8+ h7 41.d8 ) prepares moves like d5, Qc2, Rad1 etc. I 37.h3 ] think this whole line is better for White ] 34.f5 f6 35.d7 13.d2 c6 [ There are several good ideas, e.g., 35.h7 [ Timman had another game versus h6 36.e4 d6 37.g2 ( or 37.g4 Naiditsch in Dortmund 2002 which went threatening Rh3 )] 13...h6 14.f3 0-0 15.0-0 c5 ( 15...g4 [ Even 35.xf6 gxf6 36.g2 likely wins, but 16.fe1 c6 Karpov-Yusupov, Linares it ' s e a s i e r t o ge t t h e k in g t o g2 b e f o r e 1991, and now 17.e5! xe5 18.xg4 entering the ending. ] h4 19.xe5 xg4 20.ae1 keeps the 35...d6 36.h3 h6 37.d7 d6 pressure on Black) 16.d5 d6 17.fe1 Terrible. W hite must have been completely ( 17.b2! d7 18.d3 left Black a little tied out of time towards the end. His winning down in Illescas Cordoba-Pogorelov, chances are excellent. Zaragoza 1996.) 17...d7 18.ab1 e8 ½-½ 19.d3 xe1+ 20.xe1 f6 and Tony's idea 21.e5 xe5 22.xe5 looks better for White after b6 23.a4! ] 741 A18 [ Also promising for White is 13...0-0 14.0-0 d7 15.d3! h6 16.e4! intending c5 Timman,Jan H 2602 17.d5 ] Kulaots,Kaido 2597 As far as I can see this is a novelty. Promopro Matches (1) 03.12.2004 14.0-0!? Which is not surprising since it allows Black to [John Watson] capture on d4. [ 14.d5 is probably better and yields a small 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 This variation is advantage: e5 15.0-0 0-0 16.fe1 f5 still critical and unresolved after 60 years of 17.f4! f6 18.f3 fe8 19.h4! g6 regular practice. d5 20.xf5 xh4 21.f1 ( 21.g4!? ) 21...b6!? [ 3...c5 4.e5 g8 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 ( 21...d4 22.d7 and White is much 7.xd4 is seen less and less often. See better, Ivanchuk-P Nielsen, Skanderborg previous ChessPublishing games - W hite 2003 ) 22.g3 ( Tony's 22.ad1 also give a seems to win them all! ] small edge to White.) 22...d8 , and here 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 T o n y s u g g e s t s s i m p l y ( 22...d4 e5 8.d4 might be met by 23.ad1! c3 24.xe8+ [ 8.d3 has received a lot of attention in xe8 25.d7 e5 26.d6! cxd6 27.xa7 ) these pages. Frankly, I don't think tha t 23.e4! xe4 24.xe4 d6 25.e1 White gets even the tiniest advantage. ] intending h4-5 and Bh3. ] 8...exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 e7 14...xd4 Black's usual choice. [ This looks logical. Safer is 14...0-0 15.fe1 [ White develops too quickly after 10...d3?! f6 16.d3 ( or 16.d5 ) 16...f5 17.xf5 11.0-0! ] xf5 18.f3 but White remains with a [ For 10...f6 , see Ni Hua-Aleksandrov. ] nagging edge. ] 11.cxd4 xg5 12.xg5 e7 [ For 12...g6 see the next game Valden- 15.h5! The point. [ 15.xd4 xg5 has the idea 16.f4 c5! Stavrianakis. ] 17.c3 f6 ] [ 12...f6!? has been looked at thoroughly 736
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15...e6! Accurate defence. [ 15...0-0? 16.xf7+ h8 17.ae1 f6 18.d5 c5 19.e4 yields a clear advantage. ] 16.xf7!? White has trouble getting more than a simplified position after this. A few more chances were given by [ 16.xf7+ xf7 17.fe1 e6 18.xe6 xe6 19.xe6 xe6 20.e1 xe1+ 21.xe1+ f7 22.b1! , which wins either the b-pawn or h-pawn, for example, he8 23.h3 ( 23.h4 b6 24.xh7 ad8 25.h5 is another approach. I doubt that White will win this sort of thing however.) 23...b6 24.xh7 and the position looks balanced. ] 16...xf7 17.xd4 xh5 18.fe1 e2 19.b2!? 0-0-0 [ Or 19...f7 20.xe2 f6 f o r c e s s i m p l i f i c a t i o n : 21.xf6+ gxf6 . This looks drawish. ] 20.ab1 b6 21.xe2 d7!? [ 21...c5! looks like a solid alternative. 22.xg7 xc4 23.e7 c2 24.f1 hf8 (intending ...Qxf2+!) 25.h3 h5= ] 22.h3 he8 23.xe8 xe8 24.c5 e6 25.b3 e7 26.f1 White has a small edge. The ideas of a4-a5 and Rc1 are available. Still, this isn't much, and Black plays poorly over the next few moves. b7 27.d5+ c6!? 28.cxb6 axb6 29.d1 f6!? [ 29...c5! 30.f3 c3 should draw ] 30.g4!? a7 31.d4 b5!? 32.g5 c1+ 33.g2 b6 34.h4 h6 The position is roughly equal and remains so for some moves u n t il T im m a n we a rs h is o p p o n e n t d o wn . 35.d3 b4 [ 35...c6= ] 36.a3! c3 37.axb4 [ 37.xc3 bxc3 38.c4 b2! ] 37...xd3 38.xd3 xb4 39.g3 hxg5 40.hxg5 e7 41.f4 b6 42.g4 c5 43.f5 c6 44.a6+ d5 45.a8+ e5 [ 45...d6 ] 46.c6 d4?! [ 46...d6! After this the game appears to be lost for Black. ] 47.f6 e2+ 48.f3 e6+ 49.h5! f7+ [ 49...gxf6 50.xf6+ d5 51.xe6+ xe6 52.h6 etc. ] 50.g6 f8 51.f7 c4 52.f4+ d3 53.f5+ e3 54.e6+ f3 55.c6+ g3 56.c7+
f3 57.g5 e3 58.g4 d3 59.d7+ c3 60.e8 c5 61.f8 g1+ 62.f5 Timman's 14.0-0 created a lot of problems. Objectively, however, White should probably prefer the small advantage that he gets from 14.d5. 1-0
742 Timman,Jan H Naiditsch,Arkadij Sparkassen Match (6) [Tony Kosten]
A18 2623 2581 19.07.2002
Leo Martinez wrote: "I was wondering about a line in the English opening. After 1 c4 Nf6 2 Nc3 e6 3 e4 d5 4 e5 d4 5 ef6 dc3 6 bc3 Qf6 7 Nf3 (or 7 d4 transposing I would think) e5, you say that 8 d4 is rarely played nowadays. I play this line on occasion as Black and I was just wondering what is wrong with this move and what I can do against it." 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 It is true that I have focussed exclusively on the trendy [ 7.f3 e5 8.d3 here, so it is time to consider the old alternative. ] 7...e5 8.f3 exd4 9.g5! [ 9.cxd4 b4+ is too easy for Black. ] 9...e6+ 10.e2 e7 [ Certainly not 10...dxc3?? 11.d8# ] 11.cxd4! Again the most accurate. [ 11.xe7?! d3! equalises. ] 11...xg5 12.xg5 e7 13.d2 h6 [ 13...0-0 14.0-0 d7 15.fe1 h6! 16.f3 c5 is also OK for Black, Adorjan,A-Petrosian, A/Shenzhen 1992, and ] [ 13...c6!? is considered in another game this month. ] 14.f3 0-0 15.0-0 c5 [ 15...g4 16.ab1! ( 16.fe1 c6 17.h3 xf3 18.xf3 was equal in Karpov,AnYusupov, A/Linares 1991) 16...c6 17.fe1 gave White an edge in Soffer,R-Nagetz,F/ Bad Lauterberg 1991. ] 16.d5 White has obtained a protected passed d-pawn, but it impedes his bishop and is easily blockaded. d6 17.fe1 Actually the first new move. [ 17.b2 d7 18.d3 f6 19.e2 d8 737
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.ae1!? gave White a spatial plus in Illescas Cordoba,M-Pogorelov,R/Zaragoza 1996. ] 17...d7 18.ab1 e8 19.d3 xe1+ 20.xe1 f6 21.d2!? [ 21.e5 is an interesting try, hoping to break the blockade of the d-pawn. xe5 22.xe5 b6 but Black is very solid here. ] 21...g6! White's previous move was aimed against [ 21...b6 when 22.e4 xe4 23.xe4 g6 24.e8+ offers him some initiative. ] 22.h3 b6 23.e3 g7 24.f4 White plans Qe5, and tries to make something of his extra space and development advantage, but Black has a sound pawn structure and will soon bring his remaining pieces into the game. a6 25.e5 d8 26.b3! White's best chance, t h e r o o k t h r e a t e n s t o c o m e t o a 3 . b5!? Black also has his ideas, and decides that it was time to undermine the d5-pawn, [ 26...xe5? is faulty: 27.fxe5 d7 28.f3 e8 29.a3 c8 30.xa7 xe5 31.xe5 xe5 32.d6 and the passed d-pawn wins a p i e c e . W h a t d i d Ni m zo vi t c h s a y a b o u t keeping this criminal "under lock and key"? ] [ 26...c8 is a solid alternative.. ] 27.cxb5 b7? A faulty follow-up, [ 27...xe5! would have justified Black's idea: 28.fxe5 xd5 29.e4 ( 29.bxa6?! b4 with equality) 29...f4 30.f1 c8 with counterplay, although W hite is still better. ] 28.c4! xe5 [ 28...xd5 29.d3 leaves Black in a terrible pin. ] 29.fxe5 xd5 [ 29...d7 30.a3 xe5 31.xa7 xd5 32.xd5 xd5 33.e4 is a better try although the two passed white pawns should prove decisive. ] 30.d3 d7 31.b3 c7? This is hopeless, although [ 31...b6 32.xd7 xd7 33.e6 fxe6 34.xe6 is not much better as the c-pawn is lost. ] 32.xd5 c4 33.xc4 xc4 34.d7 c8 35.xa7 [ 35.e6! is perhaps even more effective as xd7?? 36.exd7 and a queen is born. ] 35...b4 36.c7 e6 37.c5 xa2 38.e6
xb5 Black tries his hardest to stay on the board by removing as many white pawns as possible. 39.e7! But the e-pawn decides the game. The win is problematic after [ 39.xf7+?! g8 40.c7 b1+ 41.h2 e1 ] 39...b8 [ 39...b1+ 40.f2 b2+ 41.e3 doesn't change the result. ] 40.e4 b3 41.b7! A nice trick, Black had only considered [ 41.d6? a4 ] 41...xb7 42.e8 e6 43.d8 h5 44.d4+ f8 45.h8+ e7 46.f6+ f8 47.c5 1-0
743 Timofeev,Andrei Airapetian,Gor 14th Chigorin Mem (4) [John Watson]
A18 2344 2328 25.10.2006
I 'm re lu c t a n t t o sh o w t h i s e m b a rr a s s in g miniature, but it has such compelling features. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d6?! Now this is a Mikenas Variation gone sour! Perhaps Black was afraid of the theory after 3...c5 or 3...d5. In a few moves, however, it's looking up a little. 4.d4 bd7 5.f4 Of course it can't be bad, but I don't like this move, which justifies Black's ...d6 and ... Nbd7. [ Obviously 5.f3 has to be a good move, and as it turns out, probably better. But Black can still confuse things by c5 ] 5...c5! Why not? 6.d5 [ The problem is that Black seems to be able to get a decent Sicilian Defence out of 6.f3 cxd4 7.xd4 ( 7.xd4 e5!? with the idea 8.fxe5?! dxe5 9.xe5?? c5 ) 7...e7 , when 8.f5 allows 0-0! , intending 9.fxe6 c5! 10.exf7+ xf7 and White's position is a mess in view of ...Ng4, ...Nfxe4, ...Qb6 and other problems. ] 6...exd5 7.cxd5 e7! 8.d3 An interesting coincidence: Now we have the same position that arises in the Benoni Defence after 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e6 4Nc3 exd5 5cxd5 d6 6 e4 g6 7 f4 Qe7 8 Bd3, except that ...Nbd7 has been substituted for ...g6! This means that Black can't develop actively by ...Bg4, but it 738
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 also means that Black can play 8...Nxe4, whereas in the Benoni that would lose to 9 Qa4+! a6? [ The consistent move was 8...xe4! A) 9.xe4 f5 10.e2 ( 10.f3 fxe4 11.0-0 f6 12.e1 f5 13.a4+ d7! ) 10...fxe4 11.xe4 d8!?= or perhaps better for Black.; B) 9.xe4!? f5 10.f3! fxe4 11.0-0 f6 12.e1 f5 ( an unclear position arises after 12...d7 13.xe4 xe4 14.g5 0-0-0 15.xe4 f7 ) 13.a4+ f7 14.g5+ g8 15.d2! ( 15.xe4?? xe4 16.xe4 e8 ) 15...b5!? ( 15...e8!? ) 16.xb5 h6 17.f3 g6! ( 17...f7!? ) 18.h4 g7 19.xf5 gxf5= ] 9.e2?! [ Maybe with luck Black can survive 9.f3 b5 10.e5 ( but much better is 10.0-0! ) 10...dxe5 11.fxe5 xe5 12.0-0 xd3 13.xd3 d6 14.e1+ e7 15.e4! xe4 16.xe4 f5 17.h4 a7 ] 9...b5 [ 9...c4!? 10.c2 b5 11.f3 b4 12.a4 ] 10.f3 g6? No sense of danger! Black had to respond to the threat of e5 by [ 10...b7 11.0-0! b4! 12.d1 g6 13.e1 g7 14.e5 xd5 15.exd6 xe2 16.xe2+ f8 and Black is still in the game. ] 11.e5 Now it's real trouble! g4 [ A fun line for White is 11...dxe5 12.fxe5 g4 13.d6 e6 14.e4 a7 15.d5 f5 16.e6 ] 12.h3 h6 13.e4 dxe5 14.fxe5 xe5 15.xe5 Black must have played the last few moves in shock. 1-0
744 Tomashevsky,Evgeny Iljin,Artem U20ch-RUS Cheboksary RUS (7) [John Watson]
A18 2586 2510 08.03.2006
5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xd4!? 8.xd4 e7!? (this allows White to control d6) 9.f4 c6 10.e3 a5 11.0-0-0 b6 12.b1 a6? A waste of time that will be important soon because Black will need an extra tempo to free his queen. 13.e4 b7 14.e2 c5 ( 14...0-0-0!? 15.g5 f6 16.f7 c5 ) 15.d6+ f8? ( 15...xd6 16.xd6 e7 17.d3! c5 18.f3! Again the bishop pair will dominate once the queens go off.) 16.f3 b8 17.d2 xe5 18.f4 a4 19.xb7 xb7 20.xe5 1-0 Narciso Dublan-Spoelman, Cappelle la Grande FRA 2006 ] 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 [ 7.f3 c5 8.d3 isn't my favourite line although it succeeded after c6 9.0-0 d6 10.e4 d7 11.b1 b6 12.d4 h6 13.a3 e7 14.c2 0-0 15.d3 g6 16.dxc5 xc5 17.xc5 bxc5 18.b7 in Rusev-Petkov, Svilengrad BUL 2006. ] 7...c5 8.f3 h6 9.d3 cxd4 10.cxd4 b4+ 11.d2 xd2+ 12.xd2 c6 13.e3 Now W hite has the kind of positional advantage that we've seen before. Only he can win, and Black can suffer for a long time. 0-0 14.0-0 d7 15.fe1 fd8 16.e4! e8 17.ad1 d6 18.d5! exd5 19.cxd5 e7 20.e5 b5 21.c5 b6? Effectively a blunder. 22.d6 g6 23.xg6 fxg6 24.d7 d8 25.a4 a6 26.xg6! h7 27.e5 e6 28.d5 e7 29.h3 b6 30.e4+ g8 31.g4! 1-0
745 Topalov,Veselin Rozentalis,Eduardas Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (1) [Tony Kosten]
A18 2690 2586 29.11.1999
1.c4 e6 2.c3 f6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 e4 5.f3 e7 6.h4! [ A powerful new move in this standard position, making it dif f icult f or Black t o M i k e n a s f a n s m i g h t e n j o y t h e f o l l o wi n g castle. 6.c2 had been the preferred move positional crush. As we have seen before, up till now, attempting to force the knight to Black needs to play actively in this system. capture on c3, although c6 7.xe4 b4 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 offers Black some play for a pawn. ] [ 6.d4 also promises White some [ Another recent game went 3...c5 4.e5 g8 739
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 advantage. ] 6...xc3? [ This facilitates White's task, I think it is b e t t e r t o k e e p t h e t e n s i o n , b y 6...c6 for instance, e.g. 7.d4 0-0 8.d3 ] 7.dxc3 dxc4 Hoping to play the ending, but White has other ideas! 8.a4+ d7 9.xc4 c6 10.g4 The white queen has been drawn to the powerful square g4, from where it menaces the weakened black kingside. xf3 Black needs to find some space for his bits. 11.gxf3! Conceding doubled pawn is perhaps surprising, but this decision is absolutely correct tactically. f8 12.f4 The former gpawn is looking at a bright future, acting as a battering-ram against the black position. d7 13.e3 c6 14.0-0-0 a5 Black is ready to bring his king to safety on the queenside. 15.f5!! Just in time. xa2 [ Maybe 15...xe5 is the best bet, although the black king finds itself stuck in the centre on 16.e4 exf5 17.xf5 e.g. g6 18.f6 g8 19.g5 ] 16.fxe6 xe6 17.f4 d8 [ This loses, but there was no escape for the king 17...0-0-0 18.h3 a2 19.d4 a3 20.bxa3! and after a few checks White will win. ] 18.c4 e7 19.he1 Black is already lost, he has no real defence against e6, ripping open the e-file. h5 20.g3 [ A strong move, threatening Bg5, but 20.e6! fxe6 21.e4 was instantly decisive. ] 20...xe5 21.xd8+ xd8 22.f4 xc4 [ What else? 22...f6 23.xe5 fxe5 24.g5 wins the queen. ] 23.xe7 xe7 24.d3 [ 24.d3 b6 25.d6+ e8 26.b8+ wins all of Black's queenside pawns. ] 1-0
we're accustomed to this sort of "rule breaking" these days. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 [ Last month we analyzed the consequences of the semi-forced endgame variation 7.f3 e5 8.d3 g4 9.e4 d7 10.xb7 b8 11.d5 c6 12.e4 c5 13.e2 xe4 14.xe4 xf3 15.xf3 xf3 16.gxf3 . See Aronian, L (2802)-Hou, Y (2603) Wijk aan Zee 2013/[John Bartholomew]. ] 7...e5 8.f3 exd4 This capture remains the main line. [ Instead, 8...c6 (! - Kosten) was examined in Naiditsch, A (2698)-Fedorchuk, S (2634) Belfort 2012/ [Kosten, Tony]. ] 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 e7 Again the most u s u a l c o n t i n u a t i o n . 11.xd4!? A fresh perspective from Vachier Lagrave. Previously this move had attracted almost zero attention at Grandmaster level. [ The line 11.cxd4 xg5 12.xg5 has been analyzed thoroughly. The current theoretical verdict favors g6 , for example ( t h e o t h e r q u e e n m o v e s a r e 12...f6 , i.e. Aronian, L (2807) -Kramnik, V (2791) Moscow 2011/[Nigel Davies]; and 12...e7 , as in Timman, J (2602)-Kulaots, K (2597) Pra gu e 20 04 /[Joh n W a tson ]) 13.f4!? ( 13.f3 Valden, P (2204)-Stavrianakis, I (2045) Athens 2004/[John Watson]) 13...0-0 14.0-0 c6 ( 14...h6!? ) 15.d5 e7 16.d2 h6 ( 16...b6+ 17.h1 f5 18.d3 h6 19.f3 c6 20.ab1 c5 21.fe1 Grachev, B (2669) -Wojtaszek, R (2721) Lublin 2011) 17.f3 d6 18.ad1 c6 19.dxc6 xd2 20.xd2 xc6 21.e4 e8 22.f3 g4 23.xg4 xe4= Grachev, B (2669)-Socko, B (2654) Lublin 2011. ] 11...d6 A novelty that doesn't have much independent value. 746 A18 [ On a few occasions Black has played 11...e5 , which transposes after 12.xe7 Vachier Lagrave,M 2715 xe7 . ] Ris,R 2407 Reykjavik Open 2013 (9.7) 26.02.2013 12.xe7 [ 12.d2!? ] [John Bartholomew] 12...xe7 13.0-0 0-0 14.e1 [ Craftier than 14.f3 d7 15.e1 , i.e. f6 Very few players have pulled the trigger on 11. ( or 15...c5 ) 16.b1 ( 16.b5!? ) 16...c6 Nxd4!? in the Mikenas Attack. Accepting 17.e4 g6 18.d2 c5 19.c2 e6 double-isolated pawns is a big decision, but 740
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.xe6 fxe6 21.e3 b6 and Black was at least equal in Pfaff, T-Racherbaeumer, M (2270) Griesheim 1998. ] 14...f6 [ Black has tried 14...a6!? a couple times: 15.d3 ( 15.f3!? ) 15...f6 ( 15...g5 16.e3 c5 17.c2 g6 turned out fine for Black in Kamp, C (2280)-Ivanov, S (2505) Cologne 1994 ) A) now 16.c5!? is worth consideration, e. g. d7 ( 16...xc5 17.xh7+ xh7 18.h5+ g8 19.xc5 ) 17.h5 g6 18.e5 xe5 19.xe5 fe8 20.xe8+ xe8 21.c6 c8 22.xa6 bxa6 23.f3; B) 16.b1 g6 17.b5 c5 18.f3 was Labok, B-Grushevsky, A Podolsk 1993. Now xf3 ( or 18...g7 ) 19.xf3 b6 would be totally fine for Black. ] [ 14...d7N also makes sense. ] 15.f3 c6 16.e2 d7 17.ab1 c5 18.e3 f5? [ Safer is 18...d7! when White would probably aim for the position after 19.e5 xe5 20.xe5 d3! 21.e7 c5 22.b3 xb3 23.axb3 c8 . However, after (say) 24.be1 g6 it's difficult to find anything convincing for White, i.e. 25.c7 a5 26.a1 d8 and Black begins to unravel. ] 19.xf5 xf5 20.h3! A powerful 'quiet' move! Now W hite threatens 21.Bg4, and Black doesn't have time to solidify his knight on c5. b6?! [ It looks better to retain the c-pawn with 20...h5!? . Then 21.e5 ( 21.d5!? ) 21...xe5 22.xe5 d3 23.xh5 snaps a clean pawn, though converting to a win will take some serious work, i.e. g6 24.a5 b6 25.a3 e5 26.e2 g5 . ] 21.xc6 ac8 22.d5 c7 23.bd1 Black is in for a difficult defense. e6 24.h4 [ White isn't interested in the double rook ending after 24.xe6 xe6 25.xe6 fxe6 26.xe6 . Why hurry? ] 24...g6 25.g3 g7 26.d3! Signaling a nice regrouping. e8 27.d2 ce7 28.f3 h3 29.ee3 h5 30.e1 f8 31.b1! g7 32.e4 The heavy artillery is now in place. f6 Black buckles under the strain, but it was hard to blame him. [ A g a i n s t p a s s i v e d e f e n s e l i k e 32...h7 White works his way into the position, e.g.
33.e5 g8 34.f6 h7 35.e4 g8 36.g4+- trapping the queen. ] 33.e1! Menacing Rf3-e3. It's practically zugzwang! g4 [ Lashing out with 33...g5 loses trivially: 34.xe7+ xe7 35.xe7+ f8 36.fe3+- ] 34.xg4 hxg4 35.fe3 f7 36.f3!+- f5 37.fxg4 fxg4 38.f2 f6 39.xe6+ xe6 40.xe6+ xe6 41.xe6 xe6 42.e3 e5 Black resigned, as the pawn endgame is easily won. I'd like to see 11.Nxd4!? get a few more outings before passing judgment. It appears to be a worthwhile departure from the norm, though. 1-0
747 Valden,Petros Stavrianakis,Ioannis Acropolis IM Open (3) [John Watson]
A18 2204 2045 18.11.2004
1.c4 e6 2.c3 f6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.d4 e5 8.f3 exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 e7 11.cxd4 xg5 12.xg5 g6 This move has been see more recently and may be replacing 12... Qe7 as the way f or Black to maintain the balance. 13.f3!? [ The alternatives are: (a) 13.d2 0-0 ( 13...h6 14.f3 0-0 15.0-0 h3 16.e1 f5 ) 14.0-0 h6 15.f3 h3 16.e1 f5 17.d3 transposes to the note to White's 16th but with ...h6 in. ] [ (b) 13.f4!? mixe s it u p : 0-0 ( 13...f6 14.0-0 h6? 15.e4 with space and some initiative.) 14.0-0 ( 14.h5?! f5 15.0-0 h6 ) A) 14...h6 15.f3 c5 16.d5 d6 17.d2 f5 18.h4 d7 19.b2! e8 ( 19...b6? 20.e5 ) 20.f5 b5 21.f6 e5 22.xe5 xe5 23.ae1 a6 ( 23...e4 24.f3 bxc4 25.d2 ) 24.f3 followed by fxg7 with better prospects; B) 14...c6 15.d5 ( better was 15.d3 f5 16.xf5 xf5 17.d5 e7 18.b3 b6 19.ae1 g6 20.e3! ) 15...e7 16.h1 #0 Mulyar-A Gorlin, Saint Paul 2000, and f5! would have evened the play; 741
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 C) 14...f5 15.g4 c2 16.d2 h6 17.ac1 hxg5 ( 17...a4 18.d3 d6 19.f3 c5 20.d5 favours White with his space advantage.) 18.xc2 gxf4 19.b2 with the initiative after b6 20.f3 c6 21.xf4 Perhaps 13.f4 is best it definitely should be considered by those seeking double-edged play. ] 13...0-0 14.0-0 [ 14.d2?! e8 ( 14...xg2 15.g1 h3 16.xg7+ xg7 17.g5+ draws ) 15.0-0 h3 is better for Black than the game. ] 14...h3 15.e1 f5 16.f3?! [ 16.d3! is the only way to play for a very slight advantage. At least White retains the center pawns. Instead, ] [ 16.f3!? c6 gives Black the more aggressive pieces and instant equality. ] 16...e4!? [ The theoretical discussion ends with Black playing for the advantage. 16...h3 17.e1 f5= ] 17.e1 c6 18.h4 f6 19.f3 xf3 20.xf3 fe8! [ 20...ad8 21.d5 a5 22.a4 b6 23.ad1 and White stands better. ] 21.d2 [ 21.a4!? ] 21...b6 22.ad1 h6 23.d5 e5 24.xe5 xe5 25.xe5 xe5 26.e1 d6 27.g3 [ White should probably settle upon the s i m p l i f y i n g 27.e3 c6 28.e7 xe7 29.xe7 cxd5 30.cxd5 d8= ] 27...d8 28.e3 b4?! Too fancy. Simply [ 28...c6 was at least equal, for example, 29.dxc6 xc6 30.e7 d7 31.e8+ h7 ] 29.e7 xe7 30.xe7 c8 31.e3 f8 32.c5?! [ 32.g2 e8 33.f3= ] 32...d8 [ 32...bxc5 33.c3 ] 33.cxb6 axb6 34.c3 d7 35.d6? [ Further compromising his position. Instead, 35.c6 e7 36.d6+ cxd6 37.xb6 d5 38.f1 would have left Black only somewhat better. ] 35...c5! 36.a3 [ 36.d3 f5 37.g2 f7 38.f3 e6 and Black is winning. ] 36...xd6 37.a7 e8 38.b7 g6
[ 38...c4! 39.c7 b5 40.a4 bxa4 41.xc4 a6 ] 39.f1 e6 Cutting off the king. In the rest of the game Black's passed pawn is decisive. 40.h4 f5 41.a4 d8 42.a5 bxa5 43.a7 a4 44.xa4 c7 45.h5 gxh5 46.f4 e5 47.h4 d6 48.xh5 c4 49.xh6+ d5 50.h8 c3 51.c8 d4 52.f3 d3 53.d8+ e3 54.c8 d2 55.d8+ c1 56.g4 f4 57.d4 c2 58.xf4 c5 59.e4 d2 60.e2+ d3 61.e1 b5 62.f2 b1 63.e8 c1 64.d8+ c4 65.c8+ d5 66.xc1 xc1 67.g3 e5 68.f4+ e4 69.f5 e5 70.h4 f6 0-1
748 Watson,John L Miller,Ike S Park G/60 Baena [John Watson]
A18
1995
I've managed to sneak in one of my own efforts for the edification of the readership (or for my own egotistical reasons). It is quite relevant for the assessment of Black's most solid line. In the notes, a very recent game between two lower-rated players illustrates so m e o t h e r t h e m e s . B l a c k is f a c e d wit h co n sid e ra b le d an ge rs an d mu st d e ve lo p quickly. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 c5 8.d4 h6 9.d3 [ P Petrovic-Marinkov, Belgrade 2005 went 9.b1!? c6 10.e2!? ( An unclear but dangerous gambit would be 10.d3 cxd4 11.cxd4 xd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.0-0 ) 10...g6?! ( 10...d6! 11.0-0 0-0 is p ro b a bly e qu a l - co m p a re m y ga m e) 11.e3 A) Horribly slow. 11...Be7 was a bit better. But the only way to justify 10...Qg6 is to grab the pawn. Unfortunately, 11...xg2 12.g1 h3 13.a4! looks very dangerous: ( 13.d5?! d8 14.f4 d7; 13.g3 f5 14.d3 f6 15.e4 d6 ) 13...cxd4 ( 13...d7 14.xb7 ) 14.cxd4 f5 15.b5 e4 16.d2! h4 17.f3! ( 17.g4 xh2 18.d5!?; 17.f3 e4 is a draw ) 17...d8 18.d5 e5 19.xb7+ 742
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d7 20.a6 c8! 21.h1! exd5 22.xd5 d3+ 23.f1 b4 24.a5 xd5 25.xd5 and Black still has problems to solve; B) 11...b6? 12.0-0 f6 13.e1 e7?! 14.d5 ( 14.e5! xe5 15.dxe5 xe5 16.f3 b8 17.d4! d6 18.e5 xd1 19.bxd1 wins ) 14...b8 15.d2!? ( 15.d6! f8 16.d4! cxd4 17.xd4 and wins ) 15...0-0 16.d6 xd6 17.e4 xh2+ 18.xh2 h4+ 19.g1 b7 20.d2 d8 21.f3 xf3 22.xf3 and wins. Still, 9. Rb1 Nc6 10.Be2 Bd6 makes this move order look a bit slow. ] 9...d6 [ 9...c6 10.0-0 ( 10.e4 is less risky and keeps an edge.) 10...cxd4 11.cxd4 xd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.b1 is the line we saw above-W hite has a dangerous attack ( 13.b3!? d6 14.b2 c5 ) 13...c5 14.e3 c7 15.d4 ] [ 9...cxd4 10.cxd4 b4+ and now 11.Bd2 is good, but 11.f1! introduces a fun attack that seems to win every time. ] 10.0-0 0-0 11.e2 c6!? 12.g4! I've actually tried this idea in a couple of positions. Needless to say it's all or nothing. First, White wants to play Qe4. [ The immediate 12.e4 achieves nothing after f5! ] 12...g5!? [ Not 12...f4?? 13.e4 ] [ The most important move is 12...e5 13.g5 A) 13...e6 14.d5 g4+ ( 14...h3 15.dxc6 g4 16.e4 ) 15.h1 e7 16.gxh6 g6 17.g1 h5 18.g5 h3 19.xe5; B) 13...hxg5 14.xg5 e6 15.d5 g4+ 16.h1 d8 ( 16...f6 17.g1 h5 18.dxc6 fxg5 19.e4! ) 17.g1 h5 18.f6! g4 ( 18...g6 19.g5 h3 20.ag1 ) 19.h4! ( or 19.xg4 xg4 20.g1 xg1+ 21.xg1 ) 19...xh4 20.e4 f3+ 21.xf3 xh2+ 22.xh2 e4+ 23.h1 and mate follows ] 13.h4 f4 [ 13...gxh4 14.g5 g7 15.h1 hxg5 16.xg5 with a winning game. ] 14.e4 g6 15.hxg5 xe4 16.xe4+xc1 17.axc1 hxg5 18.xg5 [ 18.g2!? intending Rh1 was an option. ]
18...a5 19.dxc5 d7 20.h7!? [ 20.cd1! a4 21.d4 e5 22.d6 xc4 23.xb7 was much easier ] 20...fd8 21.f6+ g7 22.xd7 xd7 23.b1 c7 24.b5 xc4 25.xb7 [ 25.fb1 ] 25...b8 26.c6 d6 27.b3 with a winning advantage. White went on to win a tough rookand-pawn ending. 1-0
749 Zontakh,Andrey Poobesh Anand,S Open Moscow RUS (9) [John Watson]
A18 2545 2413 06.02.2006
Our customary Mikenas line. In the main game W hite may have to play a bit more ambitiously in the opening in order to get anything substantial. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 d5 4.e5 d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 7.f3 e5 8.d4 exd4 9.g5 e6+ 10.e2 h6 11.xd4 [ 11.h4! is White's best chance, when g5 ( 11...e7 12.xe7 xe7 13.cxd4 ) 12.xd4 ( 12.g3 dxc3 ) 12...d7 13.g3 g7 14.0-0 0-0 15.c2 leaves Black with more weaknesses and W hite with more activity than in the main game. ] 11...d7 12.e3!? Objectively fine. [ 12.h4 is more active it can lead to the odd line c5?! ( 12...e7! ) 13.e6!? fxe6 ( 13...xe6 14.d8# ) 14.h5+ f8 15.f3+ g8 16.d1 d6 17.c5 with advantage. ] 12...c5 13.0-0 Possessing better development and space, White safely retains a small advantage but his pawn structure makes it difficult to create anything. [ 13.b5!? was interesting but not c o n v i n c i n g : xe3 ( 13...e7 14.xc5 xc5 15.d4! ) 14.xd7+ xd7! ( 14...xd7 15.d1+ c6 16.fxe3 with some initiative.) 15.xc7+ d8 16.xa8 c5 17.0-0 c8 18.f3 ( 18.ad1 b6 19.f3 c6 20.d3 b7 ) 18...c6 19.g4+ d7 20.f3 c6= ] 13...0-0 14.f3 This is a familiar position from similar positions except that Black's queen 743
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 isn't normally on d7. Perhaps W hite could attack it, e.g., [ 14.c2 a6 15.ad1 c6!? ( 15...e7 ) 16.fe1 d6 17.b3 e7 18.d4 ] 14...a6 15.e1 c6 16.d2 c7 17.ad1 [ or 17.f4 d6 18.xd6 xd6 19.ab1 ] 17...d6 18.g3 e5 19.h4 h3 20.h2 d7 Black doesn't seem to have a good spot for this bishop. 21.b5! cxb5 22.xd7 bxc4!? [ White stills holds a small advantage after 22...bxc4 23.xc7 xc7 24.b1 ] ½-½
750 Bacrot,Etienne Dorfman,Josif D ch-Gp B Marsailles FRA (2) [Tony Kosten]
A19 2653 2602 14.08.2001
A key point in Etienne's third consecutive French title, was this fine victory against his former trainer. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 g8 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 8.db5 a6 9.d6+ xd6 10.xd6 f6 11.e3 e7 12.b6 f5 13.c5 e7 [ We have already looked at the alternative 13...d6 in Hodgson,J - Barsov,A. ] 14.xe7+ [ The endgame is a good choice, but if White w a n t s t o a v o i d t h i s t h e n 14.a5 is a reasonable alternative. ] 14...xe7 15.f4 g6 16.g3 d6 17.h3! [ Why did no-one play this move before? Previously, 17.d3 had been preferred, e.g. h6 (to avoid the capture on f5) ( 17...d7 18.0-0-0 ac8 19.he1 f7 20.xf5 exf5 21.xd6 c6 22.b4 with some advantage, Thorsteins,K-Luther,T/Borsodtavho 1991.) 18.0-0 d7 19.fe1 c6 20.b4 Ribli,Z-Luther,T/Altensteig 1992. ] 17...d7 Now, with the bishop on h3, moving the f5-knight from f5 would expose the e6pawn. 18.0-0-0 c6 [ As the white bishop is not on d3 here, and t h e c 4 - p a w n u n p r o t e c t e d , 18...ac8!? was worth consideration, but 19.he1 e5 20.c5 and Black's centre is buckling under the pressure. ] 19.he1 The other advantage of Bacrot's
novelty is that both of the central files are unencumbered, the white rooks come immediately to pressure the e- and d- pawns. f7 20.d5! [ 20.xf5 exf5 21.xd6 is similar to the Thorsteins game, and certainly good for White, but Bacrot wants more. ] 20...exd5 [ Black must capture, Nc7 was the threat, f o r k i n g a 8 a n d e 6 , a n d e v e n 20...ae8 doesn't stop this: 21.c7 e7 22.xe6 xe6 23.xf5 and after regaining his pawn t h e t wo wh i t e b i s h o p s wi l l o f f e r W h i t e every chance of taking a whole point. ] 21.xf5 f8 [ Black must cover the e6-square, if 21...dxc4?! 22.e6+ f8 23.c7 with powerful threats. ] 22.c5!? [ An interesting idea, the simple 22.cxd5 d7 23.c2 (keeping both bishops) maintains a sure advantage. ] 22...dxc5? [ This allows White's rook to the seventh. 22...d7 must be an improvement, 23.c2 dxc5 24.xc5 e6 offers real defensive possibilities. ] 23.xc5 Menacing Re7+. h5 [ 23...e8 24.xe8 xe8 25.e1+ f7 ( 25...d8?? allows a neat mate: 26.b6# ) 26.e7+ g8 locks the black pieces in a box. ] 24.e7+ g8 25.de1 h6 26.c7 g6 Else White doubles his rooks on the seventh. 27.h4! Killing any hopes of counterplay. Black is bound hand-and-foot, his extra pawn is an irrelevance. a5 28.c8 a4 29.d2 h8 30.f5 h6 31.a3 d8 32.c3 h8 33.b6 a8 34.c8 g8 35.d4 [ White has prevaricated, but he knows that t h e r e i s n o t h i n g B l a c k c a n d o . 35.xb7 is convincing enough. ] 35...h8?! 36.e6+ h7 37.xf6 he8 38.xg7+ h6 39.c7 [ Good enough, Bg5 mate is a powerful t h re a t , t h o u g h 39.f5! forces mate more quickly. ] 1-0
744
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.d5+ f8 27.b3 xb3 28.xb3 g7 29.a5 e8 30.c7 e7 Bareev,Evgeny with a draw, Osnos, V-Salov, V/ L'Ami,Erwin Leningrad 1980; 3rd NH Amsterdam NED (1) B1b) 20.d3!? f5 21.0-0 f6 22.f4 [Carsten Hansen] b5 23.d4+ e7 24.xg7 e8 25.e5 xe5 26.fxe5 b7 27.f4 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 g8 , and White has the initiative, Hoelzl, 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 F-Gruenfeld, Y/Biel 1980; 8.db5 a6 9.d6+ xd6 10.xd6 f6 B2) 19...b5!? 20.h4 ( 20.d3!? b7 11.e3 e7 12.b6 f5 13.xd8 21.0-0 ac8 22.b4 provides White with [ 13.c5 is considered the critical move and a long-term initiative) 20...b7 21.h3 the subject of L'Ami-W ells from this ac8 22.a3 hd8 23.g3 g6 month's update. The game continuation is 24.gd3 e5 25.f4 e4?! ( Black could almost never played anymore, but as can be safely pick-up the pawn, e.g. 25...exf4 seen in the analysis given below, there is 26.b4 g5 27.a5 d7 ) 26.d4 e6 plenty of fertile ground for discoveries on 27.g4 , and White has some both sides. ] co m p e n sa t io n f o r t h e p a wn , G a rc ia 13...xd6 14.c7 e7 15.c5 e8 16.b6 Gonzales, G-Browne, W /Banja Luka [ 16.a5!? is a suggestion of John Watson's 1979; from his 1979 book. The idea is that after d5 C) 18...b6!? 19.xb6 17.cxd6+ xd6 18.b4 the bishop is better C1) 19...f5 20.0-0-0 b7 21.c5+ placed on b4 than it is on c5 in the note e8 22.f3 is better for White, Kaiszauri, after W hite's 18th move. It isn't entirely K-Botterill, G/London 1980; clear that it is so, but it is certainly worth a C2) 19...b7 20.c5 ( 20.d4!? try. ] is quite possibly an improvement White 16...d5 17.cxd6+ xd6 18.0-0-0 threatens to exchange on e5 and if Black [ 18.c5!? is likely more critical, even if the retreats the knight to f7, White has time theory claims Black to be at least okay. to complete his development and claim A) 18...b5 was tried in one of the most an edge thanks to the pair of bishops.) recent games involving a grandmaster, but 20...ac8 21.a3 hd8 22.0-0-0 ef7 W hite should be able to claim an 23.e2 e8 24.he1 Uhlmann, Wadvantage after this move: Kurajica, B /Sarajevo 1980; A1) 19.a4 is less convincing, e.g. bxa4 C3) 19...d7 20.e3 b7 21.f3 hc8 20.xa4 ( 20.f4 ef7 21.xa4 22.d1 Garcia Gonzales, G-Morales, H/ is a better try) 20...b7 21.b6 ad8 Bayamo 1980 ] 22.f4 d7 23.xd6+ xd6 24.xa6 xa6 25.xa6 c5 26.a3 c6 18...ef7 [ This is another important juncture. Black , and Black has a strong initiative in the has several moves available: A) 18...d7 endgame, Schneider, B-Huebner, R/ is fairly straightforward Solingen 1986; A) 19.f4!? is a noteworthy alternative, e. A2) 19.f4 ef7 20.d3 b7 21.0-0 g. ef7 ( 19...ec4! is the right answer, ac8 22.b4 , and White has established forcing the game into an even endgame: an unpleasant pressure.; 20.xc4 xc4 21.c5+ e8 22.d4 B) 18...ef7 19.d1 c8 23.xc4 b5 24.xb5 axb5 B1) 19...d8 is the line given in ECO, 25.c2= ) 20.d3 c6 21.d2 ac8 but is likely not the most critical line: 22.b1 g6 23.e1 he8 24.c2 B1a) 20.h4 d7 21.h3 ac8 Hellbing, B-Albert, V/IECG Email 2001; 22.b4 c6 23.g3 g6 24.e3 e5 B) 19.c5 ef7 20.e4 ac8 ( or 24...b5 25.a4 e5 26.axb5 axb5 ( 20...hc8 can of course also be 27.xb5 e6= Salov, V-Siegel, G/ conside red : 21.b1 c6 22.a3 e5 G r o n i n g e n 1 9 8 1) 25.c4 a4 751
A19 2655 2610 20.08.2008
745
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B2) 21.b3 b6 22.d4 ( 22.d4 e5 23.d3 , Richards, B-Domanski, R/corr 23.bxc4 exd4 24.xd4 e6 25.d6 1991, and now e8 24.xd6+ xd6 xc4 26.xb6 hc8 leaves Black with 25.xh7 f5+ 26.xf5 xf5 the initiative in the endgame, Hellbing, Bis comfortable for Black.) 21.b1 c6 V a n B o m m e l , T / I E C G E m a i l 2 0 0 1) 22.a3!? ( 22.e2 e5 23.a3 f5 22...bxc5 23.xc4 b7 24.f3 ac8 24.d3 d8 is given as equal several 25.d1 c6 26.a4 e7 27.b2 b7 places, quoting the game, Miles, A-Karpov, 28.a5 h5 29.a4 h4 30.xc5 d5 A / L o n d o n 1 9 7 7 , b u t t h is m u st p a rt l y , a n d B l a c k i s b y n o m e a n s wo r s e , have something to do with the outcome of Quinteros, M-Abramson, H/Buenos Aires the game, which was a draw. At this point 1978 ] of the game, however, only Black can be [ C) 18...d7 19.a5 b6 20.b4 c5 better. ) 22...hc8 23.e2 e5 , Tolhuizen, 21.a4 xa4 22.xd6 a5 23.a3 d8 L-Kerkmeester, H/Eindhoven 1983, and 24.xd8+ xd8 25.f8 d7 26.xg7 e7 now White should continue with 24.f3!? 27.h6 c8+= Huebner, R-Wockenfuss, K/ f5 25.a1 b6 26.xd6 xd6 Germany 1981 ] 27.xd6 xd6 28.xb7 c4 29.xa6 cd4 30.e1 d7 31.xd6 xd6 32.b3 19.c5 [ The pin on the d6-knight is a common , and W hite has excellent winning theme in this variation. White, however, has chances. ] several alternatives available: A) 19.e2 [ B) 18...ec4!? d7 20.d2 hc8 21.hd1 a4 22.e1 A) 19.d4!? is possibly White's best, e.g. e4 23.d4 c6 24.d3 f5 25.xe4 A1) 19...d8!? 20.xc4 ( 20.f4!? b6 xe4 26.f3 c6 27.d2 , Quinteros, M21.d3 intending b2-b3 looks better for S o f r e v s k i , J / S t i p 1 9 7 7 , a n d n o w e5 White ) 20...xc4 21.b3 e5 22.xe5 would have left Black with the better xd1+ 23.xd1 fxe5= Melson, G-Mielke, chances. ] K/corr 1986; [ B) 19.g3 d7 20.h3 hc8 21.he1 A2) 19...b6 20.b3 e5 21.xb6 b7 A) 21...f5 is a suggestion of John 22.c5 Huebner, R-Gruenfeld, Y/ W a t so n ' s f ro m 1 9 7 9 b o o k, b u t W h it e Luzern 1982; ap p e a rs t o b e do in g f in e a f t e r 22.b1 B) 19.xc4 xc4 20.c5+ f7 c6 23.f4; B1) 21.d4 b5 22.b3 e5 ( 22...a5!? B) 21...g5! on the other hand, is quite 23.hd1 e5 24.d6 , and here Ftacnik uncomfortable for White, e.g. 22.g4 ( or claims that White has compensation for 22.g2 c6 , and Black is gaining t h e p a wn , b u t t h i s i sn 't p a r t i c u la rl y control ) 22...f5 23.e2 ge4 convincing after b7 25.c6 xc5 , White clearly has insufficient 26.xc5 g4 27.c7+ g6 28.f3 compensation for the pawn.; hc8 with a solid extra pawn for Black.) C) 21...e5?! 22.g2 c6 23.h3 d7 23.d5 a5 24.b6 b7 ( 24...c6 24.g2 c6 25.h3 , and a draw was 25.d6 e7 26.hd1 b7 27.g3 agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, Miles, Ais unc lea r accord in g t o Fta cnik, bu t Polugaevsky, L/Reykjavik 1978. ] again this seems unconvincing on [ C) 19.d3 d7 20.he1 ac8 21.f4 a4 account of hc8 28.b2 b4 29.a4 22.d2 c6? ( Black should opt for 22...c4 c6 30.c5 ab8 31.a7 b5 23.de2 d7 24.f2 fd6 ) 23.b1 b5 , and Black has an extra pawn and is 24.xb5 xb6 25.c7+- , and White is b e t t e r c o o r d i n a t e d .) 25.hd1 close to winning, Melson, G-Kutscheid, H/ Here a draw was agreed upon in Miles, corr BdF 1986 ] A - H u e b n e r , R / T i l b u r g 1 9 7 7 e8 26.b2 e6 27.5d2 ac8 28.e4 19...b5 20.a4 [ The text move is the most forcing c6 29.d6+ xd6 , and in this continuation. An interesting alternative is position a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/ 20.d3 in order to activate the h-rook and 2, Jund, C-De Backer, P/corr 1994; 746
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 put pressure on Black's entire position, for instance b7 21.he1 ac8 22.b4 e5 23.f4 g6 24.g4?! ( This looks normal, but W hite can do better with 24.fxe5 fxe5 25.e4 xe4 26.xe4 xc5+ 27.bxc5 xe4 28.xe4 c8 29.e2 xc5+ 30.c2 , and White has the slightly better chances in the endgame.) 24...hd8 25.g5 e6 26.f1 fxg5 27.fxe5 f5 Uhlmann, W-Csom, I/Berlin East 1979 ] 20...b7 [ This is more accurate than the alternatives: A) 20...bxa4 21.c4 d8 22.he1 d7 23.d5+ De Kok, W-Brkusanin, D/Bela Crkva 1983 ] [ B) 20...d7 21.axb5?! ( 21.b4!? is better, e.g. hc8 22.e4 c6 23.e2 ac8 24.axb5 axb5 25.b2 e5 26.f4 gives W hite some initiative) 21...axb5 22.b1 hc8 23.b4 c6 Lehto, VTolonen, L/Finland 1998 ] 21.axb5 axb5 22.xb5 [ The text move invites Black to liquidate into a complicated endgame with three minor pieces against two rooks that can be difficult t o e v a l u a t e . T h e a l t e r n a t i v e 22.b1 , and now hb8 23.f3 c6 24.b4 a7 25.e2 gives White full compensation for the pawn and should therefore is a perfectly playable alternative. ] 22...hc8 23.b4 a3 [ B l a c k c a n a l s o o p t f o r 23...xg2 which after 24.hg1 a1+ 25.b2 xd1 26.xd1 g5 gives Black a position, where it is doubtful that W hite can claim full compensation for the sacrificed pawn. ] 24.b2 xc3 25.xc3 xc5+ 26.bxc5 xb5+ 27.b4 c7 28.f3 d5 29.a5?! [ This looks like the logical move, trying to break through on the queenside with the king, but the progress is soon halted. I n s t e a d W h it e sh o u l d lik e l y h a ve t r ie d 29.a1!? , e.g. e5 30.hd1 c6+ 31.c3 b5+ 32.d3 , and White can continue his efforts to breakthrough on the queenside. However, Black's position is difficult to crack provided Black keeps his minor pieces protecting each other and managing the white c-pawn. ] 29...e5 30.b6 [ 30.b1!? d3 31.b6 a8+ 32.a7
c7 leads to a draw without any further ado a n d t h e re f o r e is b e t t e r t h a n t h e g a m e continuation. ] 30...d7 31.d4 a8+ [ Black heads for a draw. He can consider 31...c4+!? 32.xc4 xc4 , but endgames o f t h i s t yp e a re n o t o ri o u sl y d i f f ic u l t t o evaluate because the knight and bishop work quite poorly together. Nevertheless, I think Black can play for a win in this position. ] 32.b5 c7+ 33.b6 a8+ ½-½
752 Cramling,Dan Bergstrom,Christer opJ Hallsberg (7) [Tony Kosten]
A19
1975
Concerning the Mikenas Attack, Jeffrey Reep asks: "I do not understand at all why 10 ...f6 is played." So in this game I decided to have a look at the alternatives. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 g8 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 8.db5 a6 9.d6+ xd6 10.xd6 g6!? The knight retreats from its central square, but its new placement is not particularly good - where will it go next? [ 10...c6 is the other possibility: 11.e3 ( 11.g3!? f6 12.xg7 g8 13.h6 regains the pawn, but after d4 Black has go o d co un t e rp la y) 11...ge7 12.d3 (to stop ...Nf5) 0-0 Jahnke,K-Eckhardt,C/ Germany 1996, and now 13.0-0 looks best, when b6 14.e4 leaves Black in a terrible bind, while White can play Rad1 to eye the backward d7-pawn. ] [ 10...f6! is best, keeping the knight in the centre, and preparing a later retreat on f7 which will control the d6-square. ] 11.e3 [ 11.c5 also has its points, stopping ...b6 and ...d6, and if Black can't play either of these he won't be able to develop his queenside, which may prove to be a handicap! Still, Black has a resource: 8e7 12.d3 h4!? planning ...Nf5 to regain some control over d6. ] 11...e7 747
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 11...8e7!? m a y b e b e t t e r , 12.b6 ( 12.d3 Berg,D-Rosen,W/Germany 1990 should also be met by h4! to f5. ) 12...f5 ( e l s e t h e q u e e n i s l o s t ! ) 13.b4!? ( 13.xd8! xd6 14.b6 is rather good for White, as he will follow-up with c5 and the b l a c k q u e e n s i d e wi ll b e ' p u t t o s le e p ') 13...e7 14.c5 0-0?! ( 14...d5 was surely forced 15.cxd6 xd6 16.xd6 xd6 17.0-0-0 f5 with reasonable chances) 15.e4?! ( 15.0-0-0!? t o c o n t r o l d 6) 15...e5? ( 15...f4! to get to d5,) 16.d1 c6 17.c3 e5 18.d6 (end of game!) fd4 19.c4 h8 20.0-0 e6 21.fe1 Black can never move his queenside and might as well resign, Rotzinger, M-Kuepferle, E/Germany 1993. ] 12.b6!? Planning Bc5. [ 12.e4! ke ep s a ho ld o n d6 , e. g. f5 13.xe7+ xe7 14.c5+ d8 15.d6 h6 16.b6+ e7 17.0-0-0 f7 18.c5 and on ce again t he black quee nside is 'dead'. ] 12...d6? A bad, if understandable, move. [ 12...d8 13.b4?! I don't know why White players refuse these endgames, ( 13.xd8+ xd8 14.b6+ e7 15.0-0-0 f6 16.c5 looks good) 13...8e7 14.d3 0-0 15.d1 e5 16.e2 ( 16.c5!? ) 16...5c6 17.b3 f5 18.b6 f6 19.a4? d5 and Black has escaped from the dark-squared bind, Tassi,O-Adianto,U/Dortmund 1980. ] 13.e4 This attack on d6 just wins. d7 14.xd6+ f8 15.c5 8e7 16.0-0-0 f6 [ 16...f5 might last a few extra moves. ] 17.e4 c6 18.xc6 [ 18.xc6 bxc6 19.d8+ f7 20.d6# ] 1-0
giving up a pawn as he does after 5...Nc6 6.d4, but Black develops relatively smoothly. [ T h e m a i n l i n e i s 5...c6 , as seen in Machalik-Petrik. ] 6.exd6 [ 6.d4!? hasn't been tried, as far as I can see, but HiArcs suggests the line. A) 6...dxe5?! 7.dxe5 ( maybe 7.d5!? There are some interesting ideas here) 7...xd1+ 8.xd1 c6 ( 8...d7 9.d3 c6 10.e2 d7 11.e4!? ) 9.d3 ( or 9.b5 ) 9...b4 10.e4 f5 11.exf6 xf6 12.a3 xe4 13.xe4 d3 14.c2 xc1 15.axc1 The two knights look quite a bit better than the two bishops with the isolated pawn, especially when you factor in development.; B) 6...cxd4 7.xd4 ( 7.g5? f6 8.exf6 gxf6 9.xd4 fxg5 10.h5+ d7 11.d1 f6 ) 7...c6 8.e3 , supposedly with a small edge, although ge7 9.d3 g6 10.exd6 xd6 11.0-0 0-0 isn't much. ] 6...xd6 [ 6...c6 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 xd6 is another approach, which doesn't seem very good: A) 9.e3 has been played f6 10.e2 d7 11.0-0 b8?! 12.c5! e7 ( 12...xc5?? 13.xc6+- ) 13.b4! xb4 ( 13...a6 14.b3 0-0 15.fd1 ) 14.b1 a5 ( 14...bd5?! 15.xd5 xd5 16.c6; 14...c6 15.a6! b6 16.cxb6 axb6 17.xc6 xc6 18.xb6 xb6 19.xb6 xa6 20.d4 ) 15.a3 c6 16.f3 c7 17.cb5 with a very strong attack, AdorjanLarsen, Riga (izt) 1979.; B) 9.xc6 (I think that this is best my a n a l y s i s f o l l o w s ) xc6 10.e2! with the idea xg2 ( 10...f6 11.0-0 ) 11.f3 h3 ( 11...g6? 12.b5+- b4+ 753 A19 13.d2 xd2+ 14.xd2 ) 12.b5 b4+ 13.e2 e7 14.c7 b8 15.a4 ] Flores,Diego 2514 Garcia 2228 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 [ 8.xd4 a6 has worked out well for Black, XXIV Andorra Open (1) 08.07.2006 but our game Tsarouhas-Vouldis featured a [John Watson] promising innovation with 9.Nb3!. See that contest. Otherwise, play has gone 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 g8 A) 9.e2 f6 10.0-0 0-0 11.g5 h6 5.f3 d6!? This move may be 12.h4 c7! 13.xf6 gxf6 14.f3 underestimated. I've merged in the major ( 14.e4 e7! /\\ f5=/+ ) 14...d8= games with it over many years, and White has Ermenkov-Kolev, Bulgaria 1992 (notes in found nothing special against it. White isn't 748
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Informant).; h5 11.f3 f5 should appeal to King's B) 9.e3 f6 10.f3!? ( 10.e2 0-0= ) Indian players as White is several tempi up 10...0-0 11.0-0-0?! bd7! ( 11...c7 on a typical KI position here, Stjazhkina,O12.g4 ) 12.b1 ( 12.xe6 fxe6 13.xd6 Brodsky, M/St Petersburg RUS 2000. ] e8! with a double attack, although [ 6.exd5 plans capturing on d5 with a piece 14.d1 xd6 15.xd6 f6 16.xd8 instead of a pawn, the Williams,S-Emms,J xd8 17.f3 is still complex) 12...c7 g a m e f r o m H a s t i n g s 1 9 9 5 w e n t exd5 13.h3 e5 14.e2 d7 15.b3?! 7.xd5 xd5 8.xd5 ( 8.cxd5 transposes ( 15.g5= ) 15...g6 16.f3!? e5 17.f2 t o t h e m a i n ga m e) 8...f5!? instead, xc3 18.b6 c8! 19.bxc3 e5 ( 8...b4 9.e4 d3+ 10.xd3 xd3 Korchnoi-Vladimi orchnoi-Vladimi 11.e2+ xe2+ 12.xe2 g4 orc h no i-Vla d im irov, Sa la ma n ca 1 9 9 1 again Black has sufficient compensation for Black went on to win. (notes by the pawn, Rumiancev,G-Cherniak,L/ Odessa Vladimirov). ] 1991. ) 9.f3 e7+ ( 9...b4!? 10.0-0 8...f6 xd5 11.cxd5 xd5 12.e1+ e7 13.d4 [ 8...e5!? 9.e3 ( 9.d3 c6 10.e3 ) g4 14.e2 0-0 15.xe7 xf3 9...f6!= ( S a l o v ) b u t 10.c5 ( 10.xe5? looks mighty dangerous for White) 10.f1 0-0 ) 10...c7 11.b5+ d7 12.0-0 xb5 h3+ 11.g1 0-0-0 12.d4 which was 13.xb5 should favour White slightly, I unclear ] think. ] 6...exd5 7.xd5 xd5 8.exd5 b4 9.a3!? 9.g5 c6 10.h4 e7 11.d1 a5 [ 9.d3 e7 10.e2 xd5 is obviously very 12.e2 pleasant for Black, Paehtz,T-Vogt,L/Plauen [ 12.d2 (Salov) this doesn't look 1980. ] impressive. ] 9...d3+ 10.f1 e7!? A sensible novelty, 12...0-0 13.0-0 h6 14.d2 f5 15.f4 [ 10...f5?! allows the neat tactic 11.e4! xf4?! xc1 ( 11...xe4?? 12.a4+ d7 [ 15...e5! improves. ] 13.xe4+ wins! ) 12.xf5 xd5 13.a4+ 16.xf4 b6 17.b5 b7 18.d6 xd6 e7 19.xd6 fd8 20.fd1 xd6 21.xd6 f8 A) 14.h4+! f6 15.f4 is almost winning: 22.e5 xe5 23.xe5 White has a big d3 ( 15...xh1?? 16.c7+ e8 advantage due to his bishop pair. But Black 17.d7# ) 16.c7+ e8 17.xd3 xd3+ had improvements and I doubt that W hite 18.g2; stands more than slightly better. B) 14.f4? b3 15.e1+ d8 1-0 wh i c h i s wi l d , B r o c h e t , P - R o t s t e i n , A / Montpellier - Masters. ] 11.b3?! 754 A19 [ 11.e4 xc1 12.xc1 f5 13.f3 is stronger. ] Hertneck,Gerald 2525 Black is not afraid of sacrificing Zeller,Frank 2440 11...f5! 12.g4? This allows Black to BL2-S9798 Germany 1997 pawns! demonstrate his tactical ability. c4! 13.xb7 [Tony Kosten] [ 13.xc4? b6 14.h3 c8 wins. ] 13...b8 14.xa7 Now White has 3 extra 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.g3 e6 4.e4!? p a w n s , b u t t h e e n d g a m e i s f a r o f f . c5 [ 4.f3 is the best move here. ] 4...c6 5.g2 d5! It is difficult to even really 15.a4+ d7 16.xc4 h4 The triple call this a sacrifice, as Black will get so much at ta ck o n f 2 brings t h e gam e t o a c los e . 17.e4+ There is nothing better: play. 6.cxd5 [ 17.h3 b5 18.e4+ d8 and ] [ 6.d3 is the solid choice, d4!? ( 6...dxc4 [ 17.e2 b5 18.xb5+ xb5 19.xd3 7.dxc4 xd1+ 8.xd1 led to a quick draw xg4 are both hopeless. ] i n S m y s l o v , V - B a l a s h o v , Y / L v o v 1 9 7 8) 7.ce2 e5 8.h3 d6 9.f4 exf4 10.gxf4 17...d8 18.f3 e8 749
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 compensation. ] [ after 18...e8 19.e2 xg4 mate follows 19.e2 e3 20.d2 3d5 21.xd5 xd5 in 3 moves. ] 22.b1 xf4 0-1 [ B l a c k g r a b s a n o t h e r p a w n , 22...dxc5 23.xc5 b6 was another possibility. ] 755 A19 23.f3 d5 24.hd1 Threatening g3, and Hodgson,Julian M 2640 when the knight moves, Rxd5! . b5 25.e3 26.xd5!! Now is the time to strike, Barsov,Alexei 2534 g6 2nd Viking York ENG (5) 17.12.2000 before Black can bring his remaining pieces into play, and organise his defences. exd5 [Tony Kosten] 27.xd5+ f8 28.c6 Threatening Bc5+, the 1.c4 e6 2.c3 f6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 g8 black king is terribly exposed. e5! 29.cxb7 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 xb7 30.xb7 b8 31.a4! [ This resource had to be envisaged at move 8.db5 Black has grabbed the e-pawn, but 26, the plausible 31.a3+?! e8 32.d6 White has strong positional pressure on the allows Bla ck to escape by virtue of th e dark squares, especially when he exchanges s n e a k y t a c t i c xb2+! 33.xb2 c4+ the f8-bishop, more space and open lines. f6 34.c3 xd6 35.xd6 xb7 36.d8+ f7 [ The logical 8...d6?! leaves Black with grave 37.xh8 xb6 ] difficulties after 9.c5! e.g. dxc5? 10.f4 f6 31...xa4 32.c5+ f7 33.d4 b5 11.xe5 fxe5 12.h5+ winning. ] [ 8...a6 9.d6+ xd6 10.xd6 f6 11.e3 34.c7+ g6 35.c2+ f7 36.c7+ W hite plays a repetition to gain time. g6 transposes. ] f7 38.d5+! e8 39.c7 9.e3 a6 10.d6+ xd6 11.xd6 e7 37.c2+ 12.b6 f5 The point, saving the trapped Threatening to capture, not the rook, but the knight which guards c6. b6? queen. 13.c5! d6 [ 39...c8 40.e6 b8 might be a better [ The ending that follows 13...e7 14.xe7+ chance. ] xe7 15.f4 5c6 16.0-0-0 also favours W hite, Karpov,An-Ribli,Z Reggio Emilia 40.xe5 fxe5 41.c8+ e7 42.c7+ [ 42.c7+ d7 43.xe5+ d8 44.f3 1989/90. ] wins the queen. ] 14.a5 d7 [ 14...e7 15.0-0-0 0-0 16.f4 c6 17.a3 1-0 e5 18.g4 fd4 19.d5 f7 20.f5 g6 21.g1! gxf5 22.g5 with an edge to White, 756 A19 Kasparov,G-Sokolov,A Belfort 1988. ] 15.f4 c6 16.a3 ce7 L'Ami,Erwin 2610 [ To bring the queen to c6, and free the Wells,Peter K 2526 b l a c k p o s i t i o n t o s o m e e x t e n t , 16...e5 6th Staunton Memorial (9) 16.08.2008 17.d3 0-0 18.0-0 exf4 19.xf4 fe7 [Carsten Hansen] 20.d1 g6 21.ff1 ge5 22.e4 m a i n t a i n e d a s t r o n g p o s i t i o n a l b i n d , 1.c4 e6 2.c3 f6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 g8 Kasparov,G-Beliavsky,A/Linares 1991. ] 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 17.0-0-0 c6 18.c5!? 8.db5 a6 9.d6+ xd6 10.xd6 f6 [ A sensible novelty, 18.b3 d7 19.g1! 11.e3 e7 12.b6 f5 13.c5! d5! 20.g4 d6 21.cxd5 xd5 22.xd5!? [ K a s p a r o v ' s m o v e 13.xd8 is the less exd5 23.g2 e4 24.e1 led to unclear p o p u la r a l t e rn a t ive a n d t h e su b j e c t o f complications in Psakhis,L-Greenfeld, A/ Bareev-L'Ami, also from this month's Israel 1991. ] update. ] [ 18.a5!? ] 13...d6 18...f7 [ 13...e7 has also been the topic of [ 18...d5 19.b5 axb5 20.xa8 wins the discussion a couple of times as can be seen exchange, although Black may have some in the PDF e-books, most recently in 750
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Ramesa-Ljubicic, Omis 2006. ] 14.a5 d7 15.f4 c6 16.a3 ce7 [ In the 'old' game Kasparov-Beliavsky, Linares 1991, Black instead tried 16...e5 17.d3 ( 17.0-0-0 exf4 18.d5 0-0 Kasparov ) 17...0-0 18.0-0 , Kasparov, GBeliavsky, A/Linares 1991, and now Black should have played f7 , but 19.d5 ( 19.fxe5 fxe5 20.d5 g6 21.e4 also leaves White with amble compensation f o r t h e p a wn) 19...e6 20.e4 ac8 21.fxe5 fxe5 22.d3 leaves White with adequate compensation for the pawn according to Kasparov. ] 17.0-0-0 [ 17.g4 c6 18.a4 d7 19.xc6 xc6 20.g1 h4 21.0-0-0 h5 22.h3 hxg4 23.hxg4 d5 24.g3 c8 25.e3 f7 26.b1 hg6 27.f5 Aleksandrov, ABalashov, Y/Kstovo 1998 ] 17...c6 18.b3 [ White has tried several things in this position, not all of them equally good. A) T h e m a i n a l t e r n a t i v e i s 18.c5 which immediately threatens Bb5, winning the exchange, but as we shall see the threat may be an illusion A) 18...f7 19.e2 d7 ( 19...e3?! was played in Hodgson, J-Barsov, A /York 2000, which can be f ound in the PGN archives ) 20.f3 d5 21.d2 e3 was seen in the interesting Michalik, P (2330)-Petrik, T (2523)/Banska Stiavnica SVK 2006, which can also be found in the PGN archives. This line deserves s e rio u s c o n s id e ra t io n f o r B la c k, wh o according to John Watson in his notes to the game gave Black's chances a thumbs up.; B) 18...dxc5 19.d8+ f7 20.xh8 xb6 is given as unclear by Ribli and that seems just about right, though I prefer W hite, e.g. 21.e2!? d6 22.g3 c6 23.e1 , and White has the initiative.; C) 18...0-0 19.d3 ( 19.b5? axb5 20.xa8 dxc5 , and Black is already winning, Salo, K-Ljungberg, R/corr 1991) 19...e3 20.d2 7d5 21.e4 f7 22.xd5 xd5 23.hd1 dxc5 24.xc5 xc5+ 25.xc5 c7 26.c2 f7 27.xd5 exd5 28.xd5 e6 29.d6
xa2 , and White has drawing chances, Baermann, J-Heyn , U/Germany email 2002; D) 18...d5! is probably best, though by no m e a n s t h e o n l y m o v e t r i e d : 19.d3 ( 19.b5 axb5 20.xa8 e3 is also clearly better for Black.) 19...e3 20.d2 0-0 21.e1?! d4 22.d1 7d5 Like Dzindzi, I will say that Black has the pawn and the compensation. 23.e4 c4 24.d3 cxb6-+ 25.xh7+ h8 26.h3 xf4 27.h4 xc5+ 28.c2+ g8 29.xf4 e5 30.e4 e6 31.f2 ac8 32.h7+ f7 33.e4 b4 34.a3 xc2+ 0-1 Speelman, J-W ells, P/ London ENG 2007. A very one-sided game where White didn't stand a chance. No wonder Wells was eager to play this variation again. ] [ B) 18.a5!? A) 18...g6 19.d3 xf4 20.e4 xc4 21.he1 e5 22.g3 g6 23.b3 f7 24.d5 , and despite being three pawns down, White is in complete control of the game and has more than sufficient compensation for all of the pawns, Van Deursen, P-Leyen, P/IECC Email 1999; B) 18...0-0 19.g1 d5 ( 19...d7 20.d3 d5 21.xf5 xf5 22.cxd5 c4 23.g3 ac8 seems to leave Black with the better prospects ) 20.c5 d6 21.d3 b8 22.b4 1/2-1/2 Maiffret, P-McLeod, F/ IECG Email 2001; C) 18...d5 is suggested in the ECO, but this looks less convincing, e.g. 19.b1 0-0 20.cxd5 exd5 21.xd5 xd5 22.xd5+ xd5 23.xd5 e6 24.d2 with an edge for White.; D) 18...d7 19.g1 0-0 20.d3 Nitti, F-Britten, D/corr 1996 ] [ C) 18.f2 d5 ( 18...f7 19.g1 h5 20.g3 d7 21.c5 d5 22.b1 ad8 23.d3 g6 24.h3 g7 25.g4 hxg4 26.hxg4 , and W hite has more than adequate compensation for the pawn, Ramesa, DMazi, L/Trieste ITA 2006) 19.e2 c7 20.g3 0-0 21.b1 e8 22.cxd5 xd5 23.xd5 exd5 Kahlert, T-Meier, G/ Nuernberg GER 2007 24.h5 g6 25.f3 with more or less even chances. ] [ D) 18.b4 A) 18...d7 19.g1 c8 ( 19...d5 20.g4 751
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 gives White a good initiative for the pawn, Marek, S-Trebula, J/corr 1997) 20.f2 fe7 21.g3 b8 22.g2 c7 , Newman, N-Lentes, H/IECC Email 1999, and now 23.e4 promises White the better chances, e.g. d5 24.b3 0-0 25.b1; B) 18...0-0 19.g1 a5 20.b5 d5 21.xc6 bxc6 22.g4 h4 23.c5 e8 , and W hite has compensation for the pawn, but certainly no more than that, Kruse, H-Bennborn, J/ ICCF Email 1999 ] 18...0-0 [ Again here we have a couple of alternatives to look at: A) 18...d7 19.g1! ( 19.b1 c8 20.g1 h5 21.e2 f7 22.b4 h4 , Kovalyov, A-Goldwaser, C/Buenos Aires ARG 2007 23.g4 hxg3 24.hxg3 h2 25.a1 xe2 26.xe2 xc4 27.xc4 xc4 28.g4 c6 29.a7 h6= ) 19...d5! ( 19...c8 20.f2 h5 21.e2 ) 20.g4 ( 20.cxd5? xd5-+ ) 20...d6 21.cxd5 xd5 22.xd5!? ( 22.g2 xb6 23.xd5 e3+ 24.b1 0-0 25.f5 exd5 26.xd5+ f7 27.xd6 c6 1/2-1/2 Rak, P-Elburg, J/ ICCF Email 1999) 22...exd5 23.g2 e4 24.e1 c8! 25.b1 e6 26.xe4 dxe4 27.xe4 xb3 28.xc6+ f7 Ps ak h is -G ree nf e ld , I srae l 1 99 1 , 29.e4 ( 29.d7 cd8 30.xd8 xd8= Psakhis ) 29...c4 30.b3 b5 31.d5+ g6= ] [ B) 18...e5 A) 19.fxe5 fxe5 20.c5 d4! 21.xd4 ( 21.a4 xa4 22.xa4 g4 ) 21...exd4 22.b5 e6 Karason, AEdelstein, M/corr 1995; B) 19.g1!? B1) 19...exf4 20.g4 e3 ( 20...h6 21.c5 ) 21.xe3 fxe3 22.g2 c7 23.d5 xd5 24.xd5; B2) 19...e6 20.g4 h4 21.g5 c8 22.gxf6 gxf6 23.b4 , and White has excellent compensation for the pawn, Vujadinovic, M-Heinrich, A/ IECC Email 2001; C) 19.d3 e6 20.g4 h6 21.f5 f7 22.e4 xc4 23.xc4 xc4 24.b3 d5 25.g2 d4 26.bxc4 xg4 27.d5 xd5 28.xd5 e3 , Barendswaard, W-Van der Muysenberg, F/ corr 1993, 29.dg1 c8 30.e6 c6 31.c5 g6 32.d2 e7
33.b3 xf5 34.d5 e3 35.xc6 bxc6 with a fascinating endgame, where my computer prefers to bail out with 36.g3 c4+ 37.d3 b2+ 38.c2 c4 39.d3 b2+ , with a draw by repetition to come shortly. ] 19.g1 d5 20.g4 d6 21.c5 f7 22.g2 h8!? [ Only now the game parts from the path laid out previously. In the earlier game, Black went for 22...a5 23.h4 f5 24.gxf5 xf5 25.f1 a4 in Kleindl, P-Skalicky, F/corr ICCF 1997, and now 26.b4 d7 27.d3 7h6 is rather unclear, but White seems to have sufficient play for the pawn. ] 23.h4 d7 24.h5 [ 24.b1!? a5 25.h5 can also be considered ] 24...c8 25.a5 [ 25.xd5?! looks tempting to restore material balance, but Black instead obtains a n a c t u a l a d v a n t a g e i n r e t u r n : exd5 26.xd5 b5 27.xf7 xb6 28.cxb6 c6+ 29.b1 e4+ 30.a1 a4 , and Black seems to be on the road to victory. ] 25...xc5 26.b4 e3+ 27.b1 , and a draw was agreed upon, though I'm not entirely why, if some special circumstances dictated Black agreeing to W hite's of f er, because he appears to have the better chances after 27...Re8. intending ...Nb6 and Black's pieces are finally coming to life. ½-½
757 Michalik,Peter Petrik,Tomas ch-SVK Banska Stiavnica SVK (9) [John Watson]
A19 2330 2523 16.07.2006
T h is m a in lin e b e ca m e we l l-kn o wn a f t e r Kasparov (as White) won two fantastic games against Sokolov and Belyavsky. White's two bishops provide compensation for the pawn. The question seems to be: do they offer more than enough, or can Black hold the balance? 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 g8 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 [ Moves like 7...a6 8.f4 ] 752
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ and 7...c7 have gone by the wayside, although the latter may deserve a new try. ] 8.db5 a6 [ 8...f6 9.e3!? a6 ( 9...b6 10.f4 c6 11.f5! ) 10.d6+ xd6 11.xd6 transposes to the game. ] 9.d6+ xd6 10.xd6 f6 11.e3 e7 12.b6 f5 13.c5 d6 [ Tony reported on the game Bacrot-Dorfman, Marsailles FRA 2001, which went 13...e7 14.xe7+ xe7 ( 14...xe7 15.c5! 0-0 16.0-0-0 won two nice games for White in the Informant. Black is terribly tied down.) 15.f4 g6 16.g3 d6 17.h3! d7 18.0-0-0 c6 19.he1 f7 20.d5! exd5 21.xf5 with a nearly winning position already. ] 14.a5 d7 15.f4 c6 16.a3 ce7 17.0-0-0 c6 18.c5 [ 18.b3 has been played, and ] [ 18.a5 recommended. ] 18...f7 19.e2 d7 Finally a new move. [ 19...e3 20.d2 3d5 21.xd5 xd5 22.b1 xf4 23.f3 d5 24.hd1 b5 25.e3 g6 26.xd5! exd5 27.xd5+ f8 28.c6 led to a victory for White in Hodgson-Barsov, York ENG 2000. ] 20.f3 [ Or 20.h5+!? g6 21.f3 ] 20...d5 21.d2 e3! Threatening ...Nc4. 22.b3 3f5 [ 22...hc8 also looks good. Black seems to have found a good answer to this line. ] 23.e1 h4!? 24.h5+ g6 25.d1 c8! 26.a5 b6 27.cxb6 b8?! [ 27...xb6 . It's hard to see much compensation for the pawn, and W hite's king is as exposed or more so than Black's. ] 28.c2 d6? [ 28...xb6 ] 29.xd6 xd6 30.b2!? [ 30.g3 hf5 31.a4! ] 30...c8?! [ Time pressure? 30...hc8! ] 31.g4 h5?! 32.h3!? [ 32.xd5! hxg4 33.xf6 is strong, but that's certainly hard to see. ] 32...f5! 33.a4! xa4 34.bxa4 e8 [ 34...xb6 35.c7+ d7+ 36.a3 hd8 37.xf5 gxf5 ] 35.c7+!?
[ 35.xf5 gxf5 36.c6 ] 35...e7 36.xe7+ cxe7 37.xf5 xf5 38.c1 b7 39.c8 d6 40.c7+ xc7 41.bxc7 e8 42.c3 f5 Black wins a pawn but can't bring a point home. The somewhat tragic details I'll leave for you: 43.b3 d7 44.b4 xc7 45.d4 c6 46.a5 b7 47.b4 e4 48.a5 c6? [ 48...g5! 49.fxg5 ( 49.g3 h4 50.fxg5 hxg3 51.hxg3 xg5 ) 49...xg5 50.b2 f7 and ...e5 soon will win. ] 49.b4 b7? 50.a5 Now the notation falls apart. The game was quickly drawn after Black refused to play ...g5. ½-½
758 Miezis,Normunds Tissir,Mohamed Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (2) [Tony Kosten]
A19 2525 2303 14.02.1999
Concerning the Mikenas Attack, Jeffrey Reep says that "I have encountered numerous other moves on White's fourth. So far, I have not yet had to defend your mainline. However, moves like 4. Nf3 and 4.d3 have shown up for me. (And one 4.g3, in which I forgot about d5!. )" So here is a look at some alternatives. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 c5 Black plans ...Nc6, to control d4, and then ...d5 to grab his share of the centre so W hite cannot afford to hang around. 4.e5 Absolutely critical. Others: [ 4.f3 c6 5.e2 d5 is OK, see this month's Mohr,G-Haba,P/St Veit AUT 2003. ] [ 4.g3 c6 5.g2 tries to restrain ...d5, but after d5! Black is doing well, see Hertneck, G-Zeller,F/ Germany 1997. ] [ 4.d3?! is really too limp, d5!? 5.exd5 exd5 6.g5 e7 7.g3?! ( 7.xf6 xf6 8.e2+ e6 9.xd5 c6 favours Black who has a lead in development) 7...0-0 8.g2 g4 9.f3 e8! 10.xg4 xg4 11.xg4 xg5+ 12.f1 dxc4 13.dxc4 f6 with advantage, Bistric,F-Zelcic,R/Makarska 1996. ] 4...g8 5.d4 I think Tony Miles once wrote that: "less creative players tend to prefer this move"! The pawn sac [ 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 8.db5 is strong, see the Mikenas Attack-3... 753
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c5 eBook. ] 5...cxd4 6.xd4 c6 7.e4 f5!? This does nothing to counter W hite's advanced e-pawn, [ 7...d6! is the best move, 8.f3 dxe5 9.xe5 d7! ( 9...f6 10.xc6 b6 11.f3 bxc6 12.g3 b7 13.g2 gave a pull to W hite in Kortchnoi,VAndersson,U/ Johannesburg 1981) 10.xd7 xd7 11.g5 (to hinder ...Nf6) b4 12.d1 xc3+ 13.bxc3 c7 14.e2 f6!? with an interesting battle of two knights against two bishops and doubled pawns in Miezis,N-Aleksandrov,A/Bad Wiessee GER 1999, which later turned in Black's favour. ] 8.e2 ge7 9.f4 b6 10.f3 g6 11.e3 White's space advantage and pressure on the d-file keeps him on top. b4 12.c1 0-0 13.a3 Putting the question to the bishop. e7 14.d1 b7 15.d3 Attacking d7 and preparing to complete his kingside d e ve l o p m e n t . f7 16.e2 c8 17.b4! Stopping ...Na5. h6 Black is short of ideas, his position is passive and he has no real p a wn b r e a k s , a p a r t f r o m . . . g 5 wh i c h i s do u b le -e d ge d . 18.g3!? Miezis continues in his inimitable style, many players would prefer to castle or play [ 18.b5 to d6 with a complete bind, but he has his eyes on a kingside attack. ] 18...f8 Ready for ...g5, but White is prepared for this. 19.h4 g5!? This looks desperate, but if White plays h5 Black can only sit and wait. 20.hxg5 hxg5 21.h5! gxf4?! Opening a further file in front of the black king. [ 21...g4 is slightly better. ] 22.gxf4 g7 23.f2 g6 24.g1 a5?! Now Black hits out on the queenside as well. 25.b5 b8 26.a4 As well as s space advantage, and kingside attack, White is also w i n n i n g t h e b - p a w n ! e4 27.d4!? This is complicated, but quite sufficient. [ T h e s i m p l e r 27.c3 was curtains for Black. ] 27...d5?! [ 27...c2!? looks attractive, as then 28.xb6 c5 wins the white queen, although 29.xc8! xd4 30.xd4 xc8 31.xc2 should win easily enough. ] [ 27...xa3 allows 28.hg5 f7 29.h4 e7 30.xg6 ( 30.h5 also kills) 30...xg5
31.xg5 xg6 32.h5 winning material. ] 28.exd6 xd6 29.xg6! A nice crush. [ 29.xg6 xd4 30.xd4 xg6 31.h8+ f7 32.e5+ wins everything. ] 1-0
759 Mikhalevski,Victor Vaibhav,S 11th Aeroflot Open B (3) [John Bartholomew]
A19 2525 2448 09.02.2012
1.c4 e6 2.c3 f6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 g8 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 8.db5 a6 9.d6+ xd6 10.xd6 f6 11.e3 e7 12.b6 f5 13.b4 c6 14.c5 e7 Suri Vaibhav has played this twice in the past six months. [ I examine 14...d6 in Potkin, V (2671)Grandelius, N (2536)/Emsdetten GER 2012. W hite wins the pawn back af ter 15.xd8 dxc5 16.b6 and seems to keep a small advantage in the resulting positions. ] 15.xe7+ [ I would be remiss if I failed to mention that 12.Qb4!? was first essayed by Korchnoi against Timman in 1991. Korchnoi played 15.0-0-0 , but he later evaluated the position after xc5 16.xc5 d6 A) Subsequently 17.a3 has been tried, but e5! ( 17...e7 18.d3 fd4 19.he1 Neuman, P (2428)-Petrik, T (2457)/ Czechia 2004.) 18.e4 e6 19.xd6+ xd6 20.xd6 f7 was level in Akermann, T (2149)-Rusev, K (2541)/Zurich SUI 2008.; B) 17.xd6 xd6 18.xd6 e7 as equal. Indeed, the game continuation 19.c5 d7 20.g3 ac8 21.h3 e5 22.hd1 hd8 proved absolutely fine for Black. Korchnoi, V (2610) -Timman, J (2630)/ Brussels 1991/Candidates. ] 15...fxe7 A small improvement over his previous game. [ I n A u gu st V a i b h a v p r e f e rre d 15...xe7 , but after A) t h e s i m p l e 16.0-0-0 might be even better, i.e. A1) 16...d6 17.d3 gives White easy play with full compensation. ( 17.g4!? ); 754
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A2) 16...f7 17.c5!? h5 Brenke, A (2357)-Romanov, O (2340)/NRW 2000 here 18.c4 ( or 18.e4 look very nice to me. ); B) 16.c5 d5 17.cxd6+ xd6 ( 17...xd6!? ) 18.c5 e5 19.e4 ef7 20.0-0-0 d8 21.xd6 xd6 22.e2 Black was compelled to give the pawn back with b6 (23.Rxd6 was a big threat). Then 23.xb6 d7 24.b3 b7 25.he1 c8+ 26.b2 was pleasant for White with the two bishops and queenside majority. Turov, M (2630)-Vaibhav, S (2430)/ Haarlem NED 2011. ] 16.0-0-0 [ If 16.c5 then b4! is a clean equalizer, i.e. 17.c1 bd5 18.a5 ( 18.e4!? c6 19.d6+ e7 20.d1 xb6 21.cxb6 e5 with the idea of 22...Nf7.) 18...d6 19.cxd6 b6 20.xb6 xb6 21.dxe7 xe7= ] 16...d5! As in Potkin-Grandelius Black is willing to give back the pawn to facilitate development. 17.e2 [ The immediate 17.cxd5?! xd5 18.xd5 exd5 19.xd5 allows e6 with the idea of 20...Bxa2 or 20...Rc8 when Black is definitely not worse. 20.d3 c8! ] [ On 17.b3!? t h e e a si e s t m a y b e d4 18.xd4 xd4 19.xd4 d7 when Black is very close to equality. ] 17...f7 18.f4! Controlling the e5 square. [ The natural move is 18.he1 , but e5! s e e m s t o wo r k o u t f i n e f o r B l a c k . F o r example, ( 18...d7 19.b3 ) 19.cxd5 xd5 20.xd5 exd5 21.f4 g6 22.f3 e6 ( 22...xf4?! 23.g3 ) 23.f5!? ( 23.xd5 ac8+ 24.b1 xd5 25.xd5 xf4 26.d7+ g6= ) 23...hc8+! 24.d2 ( 24.b1? xf5+ ) 24...xf5 25.xd5+ f8 26.c1 e5! 27.xb7 xc1 28.xc1 b8 29.c7 c4+ 30.xc4 xb7 with a completely drawn opposite colored bishop ending. ] 18...d7 Black does best to hunker down and complete development. [ The computer endorses 18...dxc4 19.xc4 b4 (a familiar idea: bring the knight to d5), but 20.e4! ( 20.he1 bd5 21.xd5 xd5 22.xd5 exd5 23.xd5 e6 of f ers W hit e no trace of a n advantage) 20...bd5 21.d6+ forces Black to tread
c a r e f u l l y : g8 ( 21...f8? is poor on account of 22.c5 when xf4? 23.f5!! is a d e c i si ve l in e -o p e n e r .) 22.d8 with sustained pressure ( not 22.c5?! can be safely met by xf4 )] 19.g4?! This proves to be an unnecessary weakening of the position. [ 19.f3 ac8 20.b1 he8 21.he1 is a more natural continuation. W hite shouldn't hurry to capture on d5 since this will only free Black's position. If Black plays by analogy with the game with b8?! , then ( 21...d4? 22.e4 is highly unpleasant; Black should probably play a non-committal move like 21...g6 when White can win the pawn back at any moment, but its unclear if he can achieve any real edge.) 22.cxd5 exd5 23.xd5 is a big improvement for White he has played Rh1-e1 and refrained from the weakening g2-g4. ] 19...he8 20.f3 ac8 21.b1 b8! Fo rcin g W h ite t o ca p tu re o n d 5, t he re b y easing the pressure. 22.cxd5 exd5 [ 22...xd5 23.xd5 c6!= was a more ruthless equalizer. ] 23.hf1!? c6 24.c5 cd8 25.f5?! Still searching for an advantage, but Black has a convincing counter-argument. [ 25.b6= ] 25...d4! 26.xd4 xf3 27.xf3 bc6 28.fd3 h5! 29.h3 hxg4 30.hxg4 h8 Now it's clear that only Black can be better. 31.e4?! [ Safer was 31.a3 when h4 allows 32.xf6! xf6 33.xd8 xd8 34.xd8 xg4 35.d7= ] 31...h4 32.c3 xd3 33.xd3 b5?! [ 33...xf5! i s s t r o n g e r , e . g . 34.d7+ ( 34.gxf5 xe4 ) 34...fe7 35.xb7 xg4 .] 34.f2 h2 35.e4 g2 36.g3 xg3 37.xg3 d5 38.c2! White is losing a pawn, but he does his best to active his king. [ or 38.d2 e5 when g4 falls. ] 38...e3+ 39.d3 xg4 40.e4 e7 41.d5 d7 42.h5 e7+ 43.c5?! Unnecessarily pushing things, though (remarkably) this still appears to draw. [ 43.e4 ho ld s co mf orta bly, i.e . f2+ 44.f3 d1 45.e4!= ] 43...xf5 44.b6 ge3 45.xa6 c6 755
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 46.a4 bxa4 47.a5 d5 48.xg7! Mihalevski knows his endgames! [ Instead, 48.xa4 xc3+ 49.bxc3 d5 wins for Black, i.e. 50.f4+ ( the knight is trapped after 50.b5 e5! 51.c4 g6-+ ) 50...e4 51.g6 e3 52.b5 f5-+ ] 48...xg7 49.xf6 xf6 50.xa4 The famous Troitzky ending! To refresh our m e m o r i e s , t h e s o - c a l l e d " T r o i t zk y l i n e " (extending from a5-b3-c4-d5-e5-f4-g3-h5) establishes that Black can force a win here only if White's pawn is blockaded on b3 or b2. Thus - as the Tablebase confirms - W hite draws since his pawn will reach b4. Knight pawns are in general the best pawns for the defending side to have in the Troitzky ending by contrast, a W hite central or rook pawn could be blockaded on the fifth rank and still allow Black to force a win. By the way, don't take the above as absolute truth: in practice, the 50-move rule and/or a very poorly placed defending king will complicate things! d5 51.a5 c7 52.b4 d5 53.c3 f5 54.d3 b5 55.b4 fd6 56.e3 e5 57.f3 f5 58.g3 e4 59.g4 f7 60.g3 e5 61.f2 d3 62.g2 e2 63.g3 e3 64.h4 f4 65.h5 f5 66.h4 g6 67.h3 h5 68.g3 g5 69.f2 f4 70.e2 c4 71.d3 e3 72.d2 e4 73.e2 g4 74.d2 f3 75.c2 e4 76.d2 f3 77.c2 e3 78.b3 d3 79.a4 c4 80.a5 f6 81.b6 d5+ 82.c6 dc7 83.d7 d5 84.e7 e5 85.d7 f6 86.c6 e6 87.c5 d6 ½-½
760 Potkin,Vladimir Grandelius,Nils Schachbundesliga 2011-12 (8) [John Bartholomew]
A19 2671 2536 04.02.2012
1.c4 e6 2.c3 f6 3.e4 Chess nomenclature is f unny. Gary Lane writes that 3.e4 was originally referred to as the "Flohr Attack" in homage to the great Czech player, while others began calling it the "Mikenas Attack" when Vladas Mikenas used it to score several victories in the 1950s and
60s. The "Flohr-Mikenas System" seems like a good compromise (is 3.e4 already an "attack"?), but on ChessPublishing we refer to it as the "Mikenas Attack" for consistency's sake. c5 [ The game Flohr, S-Kashdan, I/Folkestone 1933 saw 3...d5 4.e5 ( Mikenas also tried 4.cxd5 exd5 5.e5 ) 4...d4 5.exf6 dxc3 6.bxc3 xf6 . This position remains critical tod ay: se e t he gam e Nepo mniach tch i Aleksandrov from this update as well as "Mikenas Attack - 3... d5 & Intro". ] 4.e5 g8 5.f3 [ For the immediate 5.d4 check out Miezis, N (2525)-Tissir, M (2303)/Cappelle la Grande 1999/[TonyK]. ] 5...c6 [ 5...d6 is less principled. See Flores, D (2514)-Garcia Paolicchi, R (2228)/Andorra 2006/ [John Watson]. ] 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 8.db5 a6 9.d6+ xd6 10.xd6 f6 [ Second-rate alternatives such as 10...g6 ] [ and 10...c6 are examined in Cramling, DBergstrom, C/Hallsberg 1975/[TonyK]. ] 11.e3 e7 12.b6 f5 13.b4!? This retreat has proven popular at GM level in the p ast year. It was also Tony Kos ten's recommendation in "Dangerous W eapons: Flank Openings". [ The main line is 13.c5 . The problem is that d6 14.a5 d7 15.f4 c6 16.a3 ce7 17.0-0-0 c6 hasn't panned out for W hite. Search the archives and the "Mikenas Attack - 3...c5" guide by Nigel Davies. ] [ 13.xd8 is no longer considered dangerous for Black. After xd6 14.c7 e7 15.c5 e8 16.b6 d5 17.cxd6+ xd6 White has full compensation but no more. Bareev, E (2655) -L'Ami, E (2610)/ Amsterdam 2008/[Hansen, Carsten]. ] 13...c6 Critical. [ 13...e7 A) On 14.c5 Black ought to play A1) 14...c6?! 15.a4!? gives White excellent compensation , i.e. ( 15.a3 d5 16.cxd6 xd6 17.xd6 xd6 18.0-0-0 f7 19.c4 0-0 20.a4 ce5 21.b3 d7 1/2-1/2 Silseth, S (2295)-Kohlweyer, B (2420)/Gausdal 756
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1993/TD ) 15...d5 16.cxd6 xd6 17.d1 f7 ( 17...0-0?? 18.c5 d8 19.a3+- ) 18.e2 d7 19.0-0 0-0 20.f4 and Black will not find it easy to free himself.; A2) 14...d5! , i.e. 15.cxd6 xd6 16.xd6 xd6 17.0-0-0 ( or 17.d1 df7 ) 17...df7 A2a) 18.f4 g6 19.g3 looks like a better try, though Black is OK after 0-0 ( 19...d7; or even 19...e5!? ); A2b) 18.c5?! d7 19.f4 c8! 20.b4 c6 21.c5 ce5 22.f2 g6 23.g3 Zugic, I (2465)-Bluvshtein, M (2462)/Toronto 2004. Now after b5 24.b1 c6 25.g1 0-0 White's compensation is lacking.; B) 14.a5!? tries to reach a popular line of the 12.Qc5 line after d6 ( 14...0-0; and 14...c6 have also been played.) 15.0-0-0 , e.g. Ramesa, D (2253)-Ljubicic, F (2404)/ Omis 2006/ [John Watson].; C) 14.xe7+ transposes to a favorable ending more commonly reached via 13. Qc5 Qe7. See Bacrot, E (2653)-Dorfman, J (2602)/Marseille 2001/[TonyK]. This is probably White's best option, though there are a couple alternatives: ] 14.c5 d6 [ 14...e7 leads to a different type of queenless middlegame. This was played in Mikhalevski, V (2525)-Vaibhav, S (2448)/ Moscow RUS 2012, just a few days after our present game. I have analyzed it eparately in this update. ] 15.xd8 dxc5 16.b6 So, White will win the c5 pawn and re-establish material equality. Black isn't tore up about this, though in return he gets a good moment to complete development. Still, W hite seems to keep a small advantage in the resulting positions. e5 This is new. [ 16...fd4 17.0-0-0 e5 18.d3 e6 19.xc5 ( 19.e4! looks more promising. ) A) T h e e n e r g e t i c 19...b5! should be preferred, for example 20.cxb5 ( 20.e4 c8 21.cxb5 axb5 22.xc6+ xc6 23.b4 f7 intending 24...Ne6 is fine for Black.) 20...axb5 21.e4 a6!?; B) 19...0-0-0 20.b6 d7 21.b3 f7 22.he1 g6 23.d5 Neuman, P
(2414)-Rusev, K (2409)/ Aschach 2006. ] [ Vachier Lagrave, M (2715)-L'Ami, E (2628)/ W i j k a a n Z e e N E D 2 0 1 1 s a w 16...d7 17.0-0-0 e5 . Here A) 18.e2?! resulted in a quick handshake: c6 19.xc5 xg2 20.he1 f3 ( cooperative Black had full license to play for more, e.g. 20...c8 ) 21.xf3 xf3 22.d3 c6 23.xe6+ f7 24.e2 1/2-1/2. Structure-wise Black has a slight pull in the final position, but L'Ami decided not to test his opponent's defensive technique.; B) The immediate 18.xc5?! is met by c8 19.b4 a5! , undermining White's shaky queenside construction.; C) 18.e4! is best, attacking the c-pawn twice. ] 17.xc5 d7 18.b4!? Ambitiously played and probably correct. [ A s e d a t e a l t e r n a t i v e l i k e 18.b6 is not challenging enough, i.e. c6 19.f3 h5! (a useful prod against White's f3-g2-h2 construction) 20.e2 h4 21.0-0 h3 22.g3 g5!? and Black's knights are quite wellplaced in the center. ( 22...d7 23.f2 e5 is also possible )] [ Likewise, I don't see much of anything after 18.f4 g6 19.g3 c6 20.g1 d8 21.d1 xd1+ 22.xd1 f7 23.d3 h5 . ] [ 18.0-0-0?! c8 transposes to the variation with 18.Bxc5?! above. ] 18...a5?! Committal. Black is trying to equalize by brute force when there isn't a pressing need to do so. [ He had more than one normal move at his disposal, i.e. 18...c8 ] [ 18...h5 ] [ or even 18...g5!? , preventing f2-f4 and solidifying the knight on e5. ] 19.b5 c8 20.e4 b6 Otherwise the inclusion of ...a6-a5 and b4-b5 is clearly in White's favor. 21.f4 White decides to sacrifice a pawn for solid positional compensation. [ 21.xb6! is the real test. Following xc4 22.c5 xb5 23.c1 Black must choose between two depressing endings: A) or 23...cd6 24.xb5+ xb5 25.b1! c3 ( 25...c7 26.g4 h6 27.d6+ d7 28.xc8 xc8 29.h3 is even worse) 26.xc3 xc5 27.b8+ 757
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f7 28.xh8 xc3 29.d2 a3 30.a1; B) 23...c6 24.xc4 xe4 25.xe6 c6 26.b3 the crossfire from White's bishops forces Black to shed material after xg2 27.g1 , e.g. f3 28.a4 f7 29.xc6 xc6 30.e3 . Players with good technique would surely look forward to pushing in either of these endgames. ] 21...xc4 22.xc4 bxc5 23.f2 e7 24.a4 White's position is easier to play, but I don't think he can claim a concrete advantage. d4 [ B r e a k i n g o u t i m m e d i a t e l y wi t h 24...e5 deserved serious attention. ] [ R e r o u t i n g t h e b i s h o p w i t h 24...e8!? is also interesting. ] 25.ac1 f5?! Black begins to drift after this. [ Once again, Black ought to break free without delay: 25...e5! ] 26.d2 h6 27.h4 f6 28.a2! Preparing Nd2-c4. e8 29.c4 h5 [ 29...a8?! 30.e5 c8 31.d3 ] 30.he1 hd8?! [ Black should be looking for counterplay, i.e. 30...g5! ] 31.xa5 [ 31.e5!? with the idea of doubling on the cfile was also interesting. ] 31...a8 32.b7 xa4 33.xe6! e2 [ Black is also hurting in the semi-forced variation 33...xe6 34.xe6+ xe6 35.xc5+ e7 36.xa4 d4 , though 37.c3! A) 37...xf4+?! 38.e3 xh4 39.b6 pushes the second player to the brink: d8 ( 39...b4?? 40.d5++- ) 40.b5 e4+ 41.f2 e7 42.d4 b7 43.e6+ e7 44.xg7 g4 45.c6 h5 46.e6 d7 47.d4 with excellent winning chances despite equal material.; B) 37...d2+! 38.g1 d6 39.b1 c7 offers him reasonable chances of holding. ] 34.c4! d2 [ The b-pawn is a decisive factor after 34...xc1 35.xd8 f7 (forced Black has to prevent 36.Re6) 36.xf7 xc4 37.e5 xf4+ 38.g3 d4 39.b6+- ] 35.xe2 xe2 36.xe2 aa2?! [ 36...e4! 37.e1 c2 is much tougher to
break down. ] 37.e1 db2? Probably the decisive error. [ After 37...d7! 38.xc5 d5 39.b3 xb5 40.c1 ( 40.d4 b4 41.d1 g5 ) 40...c2 41.d3 Black finds a moment to play g5! , looking to exchange as many pawns as possible. ] 38.xc5 xb5 39.d7+ e7 40.e5 f6 41.f1 ba5 42.h5! Freezing Black's kingside structure. a1 There's not much else. 43.xa1 xa1+ 44.f2 Now it only remains for White to organize an attack on f5. a2 45.f3 a3+ 46.d3 b3 47.g3 a3 48.e3 a2 Immediately losing the pawn, but it's too late anyways. [ One illustrative variation is 48...a1 49.c4 h1 50.f3! xh5 (otherwise Nc4-e3 wins the f 5 pawn ) 51.g2 (the rook is trapped) g5 52.e2 g4 53.e3 e7 54.c4 f6 55.a6 e7 56.c8 f6 57.d7 (zu gzwa ng) e7 ( 57...g6 58.e8++- ) 58.xf5 f6 59.xg4 and White will win. ] 49.d7+ e7 [ or 49...e6 50.c4+ , winning. ] 50.xf5 The rest is very straightforward. a3+ 51.f2 b3 52.e5 a3 53.g4 c3 54.f3 a3 55.g3 c3 56.g5 hxg5 57.fxg5 c4 58.e5 a4 59.g6+ f7 60.f4 g8 61.g4 h8 62.d3 a5 63.e4 b5 64.d5 a5 65.f5 h7 66.e6 a6+ 67.f7 a7+ 68.f8 a6 69.h6 a4 Allowing a nice mate. [ 69...gxh6 70.g6+ xg6 71.e4+- ] [ 69...g6 70.f7+- ] 70.g8+ h8 71.g6# 1-0
761 Ramesa,Davor Ljubicic,Filip Goodbye Summer Open (4) [John Watson]
A19 2253 2404 06.10.2006
A good test of the main line of the 3 e4 c5 Mikenas System. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 g8 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 8.db5 f6 9.e3 a6 10.d6+ xd6 11.xd6 e7 12.b6 f5 13.c5 d6 14.a5 e7 15.0-0-0 All seen countless times. As a practical matter, 758
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black has a difficult time holding off White's initiative. d7!? This seems slow, although it has turned out to be playable in previous contests. [ A more interesting approach is 15...0-0 16.f4 c6 17.a3 a5!? 18.g4 ( 18.d3 b4! ) 18...h6 19.e2 b4!? ] 16.f4 c6 17.a3 c8 18.d3 [ 18.g4 h6 19.e4 f7 20.b1 is also better for White, and perhaps best. ] 18...0-0 [ 18...fd4? 19.e4 ] [ 18...e5? 19.g4 fd4 20.d5 f8 21.f5! ties Black up beyond salvation. ] 19.xf5 exf5 20.he1 f7 21.xd6 [ 21.d5 fe8 22.xe8+ xe8 23.xd6 c8 is probably in White's favour, but only just so. ] 21...b8! Apparently the best try. [ 21...fe8 22.xe8+ xe8 23.d5 is very difficult, for example, f8!? 24.e6+ f7 25.xf5 xd5 26.xd5+ h8 27.d7 ] 22.c5!? c6! 23.e7 e6!? This isn't terrible but leads to difficult decisions. [ With 23...e6! 24.xf7+ xf7 Black comes close to equality. I don't think that W hite has any large improvement on the last few moves, so 15...Bd7 hasn't come out too badly. Probably 18 g4 deserves the most consideration. ] 24.xf7+ xf7 25.e2! e8 Nd4 will come in any case. 26.d4 cc8 27.b1 [ 27.xe6 xe6 28.xe6 xe6 29.b4 d7 30.d6+ e7 31.c2 favours White, whose majority is the better one. Nevertheless, Black is very much in the game. ] 27...d7 28.g3!? e4! 29.xe4?! Sec uring B la ck bo th a pa sse d pawn an d activity! fxe4 30.c2 b5 31.d4!? [ White can bail out with 31.d6 d7 32.b4 , but then his bishop on b6 is a liability, and xb6 33.xb6 c6 definitely favours Black. ] 31...d7 32.b4?? [ 32.a4 c6 33.e3 ( 33.a5 xb6 34.axb6 b5 35.b4 a5! gives Black a pull d u e t o W h i t e ' s p a w n w e a k n e s s e s .) 33...xb6 34.cxb6 g6 ] 32...c6 Perhaps a typo, given White's
resignation in two moves the game may have gone [ 32...xb6 33.cxb6 d3 34.d7+ e8 35.c7 xc7 36.bxc7 d7 ] 33.e3 xb6 34.cxb6 g6 Surely not the re a l f i n is h . B la c k s t a n d s b e t t e r, b u t t h e position is hardly resignable. At any rate, W hite held the advantage throughout the opening and early middlegame. The only question is whether it was enough to win with. 0-1
762 Reinderman,Dimitri Werle,Jan Open A Groningen NED (4) [Nigel Davies]
A19 2575 2565 24.12.2009
This game is a real theoretical duel, with the players following known paths for some 22 moves before White innovates. This is quite a rare thing for a flank opening. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 g8 5.f3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xe5 8.db5 f6 9.e3 a6 10.d6+ xd6 11.xd6 e7 12.b6 f5 13.c5 [ The old move is 13.xd8 , but this is less dangerous for Black. ] 13...d6 [ Black can also reach an endgame after 13...e7 but then 14.xe7+ ( 14.a5!? ) 14...xe7 ( Or 14...xe7 15.c5! ) 15.f4 g6 16.g3 d6 17.h3! was better for W hite in Bacrot, E (2653)-Dorfman, J (2602)/Marsailles FRA 2001, see the PGN Archive. ] 14.a5 d7 15.f4 c6 16.a3 ce7 17.0-0-0 c6 18.b3 0-0 19.g1 d5 20.g4 d6 21.c5 f7 22.g2 a5 [ B l a c k h a s a l s o p l a y e d 22...h8 , f o r e xam p le 23.h4 d7 24.h5 c8 25.a5 xc5 26.b4 e3+ 27.b1 1/2-1/2 was L'Ami, E (2610)-Wells, P (2526)/ London ENG 2008. Black probably agreed to the draw because of his habitual time trouble as Carsten Hansen pointed out he's probably better after e8 . ] 23.a3!? Well this is it, the 'theoretical novelty'. [ In one correspondence game (Kleindl, P Skalicky, F, ICCF 1997) White played 23.h4 759
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 after which f5 24.gxf5 xf5 25.f1 a4 was played and now 26.b4 d7 27.d3 7h6 would have been produced an ongoing lack of clarity. ] 23...d7 24.b1 a4 25.c2 c8 26.e2 c6?! [ 26...e8 looks like a better idea when B l a c k c a n m e e t 27.f5? with exf5 . Now White's f4-f5 gives him the edge. ] 27.f5 e5 28.fxe6 [ 28.g5!? is very interesting, for example xf5 29.gxf6 gxf6 30.xd5+ h8 31.e4 leaves Black's king more exposed. ] 28...xe6 29.a1 h8 30.g5 d4 [ As White can just take this pawn, maybe Black should play 30...ae8 instead. ] 31.xd4 f5 32.b4 ae8 33.xc6 xc6 34.e4 White now has very strong pressure and he isn't even down a pawn any more. f7 35.f1+- e6 36.gxf6 gxf6 37.b5 g8 38.c7 e8 39.a5 ee7?! [ Losing, but 39...g8 40.c3 is hardly any better. ] 40.c3 h6 41.h5 g8 42.fe1 g7 43.d6 d5 44.f5 d3 45.xg7 xh5 46.xh5 [ 46.xh5 xe1 47.xf6 xe4 48.xe4+ forces Black to give up a piece with f6 . ] 1-0
763 Tsarouhas,Konstantinos Vouldis,Angelos 35th TCh-GRE (3) [John Watson]
A19 2282 2521 05.07.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 g8 5.f3 d6 6.exd6 xd6 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 a6 9.b3! A promising innovation that very simply threatens c5 and targets the dark squares. It may not achieve a large advantage, but other moves haven't done much. [ For 9.e3 ] [ and 9.e2 , see the notes to FloresGarcia. ] 9...c7 10.c5!? [ 10.g4 e5 11.d2 is another idea. ] 10...e5 [ 10...xc5 11.xc5 xc5 12.e3 wins all the dark squares with a large lead
in development. This looks like way more than enough for a pawn. ] 11.e4!? Now Nd6+ is unavoidable, but White has used a lot of time to get there. [ 11.d2!? with the idea d7 12.f4 ] 11...f6 12.d6+ e7 13.c4 c6 14.xe5!? xe5+ 15.e2 f5 [ 15...xe2+?! 16.xe2 gives White the bishop pair and dark squares, although e5 isn't too bad. ] 16.c4 d8 17.e2 White's taken a long time to get castled and he doesn't quite make it. e5 18.h4? [ 18.b4 ] 18...d3+ 19.f1 [ 19.xd3 xd3 20.d2 e5 is obviously better for Black, but so is the text. ] 19...xc1?! [ Why? 19...e5 ] 20.xc1 g5? [ 20...d7 is one good move. ] 21.g3 a5 22.h4!? a4 23.a1 a3 24.b4 g4 25.g1? This leaves everything unprotected and doesn't even develop the knight on a1. [ 25.b3 and White is practically equal. ] 25...d2 26.b5?? [ Still, 26.e3 xa2 27.d3 d5! gives Black a solid advantage. ] 26...e4 0 - 1 , b e c a u s e 27.e3 xf2+ 28.xf2 xf2 wins more material. 0-1
764 Aronian,Levon Shirov,Alexei 2nd Grand Slam Masters (5) [Nigel Davies]
A20 2773 2730 11.09.2009
In a slightly unusual line Aronian 'innovates' with 10.h3, preventing the exchange of his light square bishop via ...Qd7 and ...Bh3. Both sides had their chances in the tough struggle which ensued, with White coming out on top towards the latter stages. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.b3 d6 8.b2 0-0 [ 8...e7 9.d3 0-0 10.fd2 ( After 10.c3 Gurevich suggest that he could have e q u a l i se d wi t h a3!? , when 11.xa3 760
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xa3 12.b5 e7 is assessed by him as 'e q u a l ' . T h is m a y we l l b e t r u e , t h o u g h personally I would prefer to play White after, say, 11.Qc1 Bxb2 12.Qxb2.) 10...g4!? 11.c3 d7!? 12.e1 ae8 and Black stood quite well in Hertneck, G (2605)Gurevich, M (2620), Strasbourg 1994 because of his potential counterplay with ... f7-f5. ] 9.d3 [ I must admit that I'd prefer this move to either 9.d4 ] [ or 9.c3 . I play the Kan Sicilian quite a bit and like to keep the diagonal open for my queen's bishop there too. So 'naturally' I want to put the knight somewhere which doesn't block the bishop. ] 9...g4 10.h3 [ It seems that this is a new move, with 10.bd2 d7 (planning .. .Bh3) having been more commonly played in the past. White's idea is clear, he wants to prevent the exchange of his light square bishop. Sorokin - Rublevsky, Krasnoyarsk 2003 continued 11.a3!? h3 12.b4 xg2 13.xg2 a6 14.b3 ae8 15.e4 h8 when Black was ready to get some counterplay with 16.. .f5. ] 10...h5 11.bd2 e7 12.e4 f5 13.xd6 cxd6 14.b4!? Trying to generate some initiative on the queenside. The battle between these two great players proves to be quite closely fought for some time to come. xb4 15.b3+ 4d5 16.xe5 dxe5 17.xd5+ xd5 18.xd5+ h8 19.fe1 ae8 20.ac1 f4 21.g4 f7 22.e4 g6 23.g2 This looks a bit passive but Aronian evidently wanted to keep the game going. [ 23.d5 f7 24.e4 would repeat the position. ] 23...f7 24.c5?! xa2?! Perhaps time pressure was starting to rear its ugly head hereabouts. [ Black seems to have a strong move in 24...e4! when 25.dxe4 b6 26.c3 xe4 27.f3 xa2 seems better for Black. ] 25.b5?! [ A n d h e r e W h i t e s h o u l d p l a y 25.xe5 to rule out the possibility of 25...e4. ] 25...b6?! 26.a1 Now White has the initiative be c a u s e o f t h e we akn e ss o f . . . . g7 . f7
27.xe5 b3 28.xe8 xe8 29.d4 b4 30.d5 e7 31.c1 h6 32.f3 d6 33.b2 h7 34.c4 b5 35.c6 b4? Under persistent pressure Shirov goes wrong. [ 35...b8 would have kept his defences intact. ] 36.c3 e7 [ 36...b1+ 37.g2 leaves Black facing the twin threats of 38.Qxf4 and 38.Rc7. ] 37.xf4 f8 38.e3 [ 38.d4 was even stronger. Black now could (and should) have bailed out into an endgame. ] 38...f7? 39.e5 e8 40.f4 d7 41.c5 e7 42.c7 xc5+ 43.xc5 1-0
765 Azmaiparashvili,Zurab Kotronias,Vasilios 31st TCh Halkidiki GRE (2) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2676 2578 06.07.2002
1.g3 f6 2.g2 e5 3.c4 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.c2!? A new idea at move seven in one of the most popular m a i n l i n e s ! e7 8.a3 0-0! 9.d3 g4 Black's main problem is deciding the most appropriate manner of responding. The text threatens to capture on f3, but Black could also consider [ 9...a5 or ] [ 9...d4 amongst others. ] 10.e3 d7 [ 10...d5 11.c5 xc5 12.xc5 d6 would equalise comfortably, but Black aims for more. ] 11.bd2 f5!? This is always a double-edged move in such positions, Black makes aggressive noises on the kingside, but also weakens his e-pawn and the a2-g8 diagonal. 12.b4 d6 13.b5 e7 14.c4 xc4 [ 14...xb5? loses the e-pawn after 15.fb1 ] 15.xc4+ h8 16.d4 White reacts in the centre - completely thematic! f4!? Black plays the sharpest move, [ 16...e4?! is not very good, 17.e5 xe5 18.dxe5 with a clear edge because of the dark-squared bishop, but ] 761
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 16...xf3!? is an alternative: 17.xf3 e4 18.g2 g6 menacing ...f4. ] 17.dxe5 Critical. e6 [ 17...fxe3 18.exd6 exf2+ 19.xf2 cxd6 20.af1 confers a small plus on White. ] 18.e4 fxe3 As played Black can capture on d6 with his queen. [ 18...d5 19.d3 fxe3 20.exd6 exf2+ 21.xf2 cxd6 22.af1 threatens Ng5, and virtually obliges Black to play xf3 23.xf3 with a plus because of the superior minor piece. ] 19.exd6 exf2+ 20.xf2 xd6 21.af1 Again we reach this same type of position, but W hite has two main threats: Ng5 which would threaten mate on h7, and the rook on f8, and would win immediately, but also Qxb7. g8?! Black should prefer [ 21...d5! both defending f8, and blocking the h1-a8 diagonal: 22.g5 g8 so that if 23.d4!? xf2 24.xf2 xa3! 25.xd5 c1+ 26.f1 xg5 recuperates the piece. ] 22.xb7 Of co urse . xa3 23.xc7 d5 24.c1! The threat to the black queen stops B la ck f ro m p la yin g h is kn igh t t o e 3 . b4 25.b1 This doesn't look best, [ 25.d2 is more natural. ] 25...xb1?! Black acquiesces to an ending a pawn down, but perhaps thought that h e would win it back. [ 25...c5 is a better chance, keeping the pieces on the board. ] 26.xb1 c3 27.b4 a5 Probably Black thought he could play [ 27...ab8 28.d4 xf2 29.xf2 a5 when he traps the white rook, but the last laugh is on him, as White has the resource 30.bxa6 ( 30.b2?? d1+ ) 30...xb4 31.a7 a4 32.a8 xa8 33.xa8 ] 28.bxa6 xa6 With so few pawns on the board Black has some drawing chances, but it is difficult. 29.e4 h6 30.f1 d8 31.e1 Behind the pawn! a2 32.f1 f8 33.e5 h7 34.d3 f7 35.e5 e8 36.f4 The knight careefully prepares the e-pawn's advance by each time attacking the square in f ron t o f th e p awn . d5 37.d3+ h8 38.c4! Simplest. xf4? [ 38...xb4 39.xf7 forks both rooks. ] 39.xa2 h3+ 40.g2 xa2 41.xh3 Now Black has lost an exchange as well, and
can resign. e6+ 42.g2 g5 43.d1 g7 44.d6 f7 45.b5 c8 46.b7 1-0
766 Bourquin,Pascal Vnukov,Denis WC-2002-S-00004 [Tony Kosten]
A20
05.03.2000
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.d3 e7 8.bd2 [ An interesting alternative to the normal 8.c3 ] 8...0-0 9.a3 a5 10.b3 e6 11.b2 f6 12.c2 d7 Black completes his development in a sensible way. 13.e3!? [ This move of Chernin's prepares the th em a tic d 4 -m o ve , lib e ra t in g t h e whit e pieces. 13.ac1 fd8 14.fd1 is less committal. ] 13...fd8 14.d4 exd4 15.xd4 xd4 [ 15...d5?! led to a White plus in the stem g a m e , a f t e r 16.xd5+ xd5 17.xc6 xc6 18.xc6 bxc6 19.fd1 Chernin, ASmejkal,J/Altensteig 1991. ] 16.xd4 c5! The critical reply. 17.xc5 [ W hite has little choice, as 17.c3 a4 may even favour Black. ] 17...ac8 18.b4 d5! [ The strongest move, which I discovered when writing The Dynamic English. 18...axb4 19.axb4 d5 20.d3 xb4 21.xd7 xd7 is equal, Matamoros Franco, C-Volzhin,A/Hamburg 1999. ] [ Chernin only considered 18...a4 when 19.e4 b6? 20.ad1 e8?? 21.xe7! wins material. ] 19.b3!? [ This was my suggestion, but may not be the strongest, 19.xd5!? is possible, xd5 ( 19...xd5 20.e4 f5 21.a2 xa2 22.xa2 might just favour White) 20.e4 e6 21.fd1 b5 is unclear ] [ 19.b2 allows xc5 20.bxc5 xe3 21.fxe3 xd2 when Black has no difficulties. ] 19...b6 20.e4 xb4! [ This exchange sacrifice seems better than my line 20...bxc5 21.exd5 f5 22.a2 762
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 axb4 23.d6 and White wins a pawn. ] 21.axb4 axb4 22.fd1 c7 23.d4 [ Pascal Bourquin also analyses 23.xe7? but after xc2 24.xd8+ ( 24.xd8 xb3 25.h3 a8 26.xb6 xa1 27.xa1 xe4 28.g2 e5 is no improvement) 24...xd8 25.xd8 xb3 26.xb6 c3 27.a8+ f7 28.a7+ g6 and he correctly indicates that White is lost, the b-pawn will cost another white piece. ] 23...xd4 24.xd4 bxc5 25.c4! [ White says: 'The only move I found to stay in the game. Not a computer move!' indeed, after the obvious 25.c1 b3 26.d2 e5 27.a4 c4 28.a7 ( B o u r q u i n ) c3 the passed black pawns are unstoppable. ] [ Pascal Bourquin also examines 25.dd1 when c4 26.a6 ( 26.f1 b3 27.c3 e5 28.d4 b4 wins,; 26.a4 c3 27.b1 d7 28.axb4 xb4 29.xb4 d2 likewise ) 26...b3 ( 26...f7!? ) 27.c3 g4 28.f3 b7 A) 29.a5 c3 30.fxg4 c2; B) 29.a4 b5 ( 29...e6 !? ) 30.aa1 e6 ( 30...b4 !? 31.b2 e6 32.e2 c5+ 33.h1 c3 also wins at a canter) 31.h1 b4 32.xb4 xb4 33.a6 c3; C) 29.aa1 b4 and the blockade of the pawns is broken, White can resign. ] 25...xc4?! [ Allowing White a strong light-squared b l o c k a d e , B o u r q u i n p r e f e r s 25...b8!? so that 26.b1 ( White may be able to try 26.f1!? b3 27.b2 e5 28.b1 ) 26...xc4 27.xc4+ h8 achieves a similar situation to that of the game, but where the white rook is less active. ] 26.xc4+ f8 27.h3 d8 28.e6 Now the black queenside pawns will need a lot of help to advance past White's light-squared barrier. g6 29.g8 d6 30.d5 g7 31.a8 xa8 32.xa8 e5 33.d5 a7 34.g2 d4 35.g8 [ White can also play more actively with 35.b5 as, providing White keeps queens on the board, Black will be unable to activate his own queen- the black king is too exposed. ] 35...e7 36.e6 a7 Black has no serious winning chances. ½-½
767 Buhmann,Rainer Balogh,Csaba TCh-AUT 2009-10 (2) [Nigel Davies]
A20 2603 2613 07.11.2009
W h it e go t n o wh e re in t h is ga m e a n d h is position even became very dangerous when he tried to prove something when he had n o t h in g. 3 . . . h 6 se e m s t o h a ve a c e rt a i n provocation value. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 h6 4.c3 b4 This would probably be my choice, but it's not the only move. [ 4...c5 is also possible here, one of the ideas being that 5.f3 can be met by e4 when W hite's knight can't go to g5. After 6.g1 e7 7.c2 d5! 8.xd5 ( 8.cxd5 f5 ) 8...xd5 9.cxd5 f5 Black has compensation for his pawn in the form of rapid development. ] 5.e4 c6 6.ge2 c5 This second move with the bishop makes sense once White has committed himself to e2-e4 and weakened the d4 square. Of course it also costs a tempo. 7.0-0 d6 8.a3 a6 9.h3 [ In an earlier game, Cekro, E (2433)-Jaracz, P (2542), Belgium 2003, White played 9.b4 af t er wh ich a7 10.h3 Black could have played in a similar way to Balogh with just 0-0 ( 10...d4 was the move played in the game ) 11.d3 e8 . ] 9...0-0 10.h2 e8 11.d3 d4 The hole on d4 will prove a source of great frustration to W hite in his attempts to attack on the kingside. 12.f4 c6 13.b4 a7 14.f5 b5 15.a2 bxc4 16.dxc4 a5 17.b5 b7 18.bxc6 xc6 19.g4?! Aggressive but also loosening, and White's position starts to fray at the edges. [ This was probably time for the pedestrian 19.e3 after which xe2 20.xe2 xe3 21.xe3 is solid enough for White. ] 19...b8 20.d2 xe2 21.xe2 b3 With Black's pieces storming into the vacant holes, White's position is starting to look very dubious. 22.d3 d4 23.d5 xd3 24.xf6+?! This just helps Black. [ 24.xd3 was better. ] 24...xf6 25.xd3 h4 26.d2 b8 27.e1 d8 28.f6 b2?! Black in turn goes wrong. 763
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 28...a4 was better, supporting the rook's advance to b3. After 29.b4 ( 29.fxg7 b3 is good for Black) 29...g6 Black has the preferable game because of White's many strategic responsibilities. ] 29.fxg7 a8 30.f3?? This seems aggressive but it should lose. [ 30.d2 was the right move, shutting down the rook's activity along the 7th rank. ] 30...b7 [ Missing the powerful 30...f5! after which 31.gxf5 ( 31.xf5 xg2+ ) 31...xe4 leaves White without a saving check on f8. ] 31.f2 xf2 [ 31...xe4 was still better for Black, for example 32.xe4 xe4 33.xe4 xf2 34.d5 xg7 35.g2 e3+ 36.f3 f4 with a good extra pawn in an admittedly difficult endgame. Now it fizzles out. ] 32.xf2 xf2 33.xf2 xg7 34.d2 xe4 35.xe4 xe4 36.xd6 e2+ 37.g3 e3+ 38.g2 e2+ 39.g3 e3+ ½-½
768 Carlsen,Magnus Anand,Viswanathan Amber Rapid Nice FRA rapid (7) [Carsten Hansen]
A20 2733 2799 22.03.2008
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 e4 4.d5!? [ This is a very aggressive continuation, aiming to prevent Black from establishing a firm centre with pawns on e4 and d5. 4.c3 d5 is discussed in Narcisco Dublan-San Segundo Carrillo, Sanxenxo 2004, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] 4...f6 5.g2 b4+ [ Black's alternatives at this juncture have only bee n te sted in obscure game s: A ) 5...b5 6.c3 ( 6.d6!? ) 6...bxc4 7.dxc6 d5 8.g5 e6 9.a4 b6 Chavira, WStefurak, D/USA 1990, and now W hite's best is 10.xf6 gxf6 A) 11.0-0-0?! A1) 11...xf2? 12.c7+ d7 13.xd5 h6+ ( 13...xg2 14.xf6+ e7 15.xd7+- ) 14.b1 xd5 ( 14...xg2 15.xf6+ f8 16.xd7+ g7 17.b5+- ) 15.h3 0-0 16.xd7+-;
A2) 11...xc6! 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5 b8 14.d1 h6 15.xe4 0-0 , and it is White who's in trouble; B) 11.c7+ c6 12.0-0-0 f5 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 g7 15.b5 xf2!? ( 15...xc7?! 16.xf5 ) 16.xf5 xf5 17.xc6+ e7 with a messy position and chances to both sides ] [ B) 5...cxd5 6.cxd5 c5 7.h3 0-0 8.c3 e3 9.f3?! ( 9.xe3!? xe3 10.fxe3 d6 11.0-0 ) 9...d6 10.0-0 a6 11.d3 e8 12.d1 bd7 , and Black has the better ch a n c e s , Ho ld , A -B e h n k e , D/ G e rm a n y 1997 ] [ C) 5...c5 6.c3 e7 7.e3 ( 7.h3!? d6 8.g5 seems to offer White the slightly better chances; 7.c2 e3 8.xe3 xe3 9.fxe3 0-0 10.e4 , and Black has some compensation for the pawn on account of White's weak dark squares) 7...d6 8.b3 b4 9.ge2 g4 10.b2 cxd5 11.cxd5 bd7 12.0-0 xc3 13.xc3 e5 Arsenault, L-Uranga, P/IECC Email 1998 ] 6.d2 e7 [ Black may also consider 6...c5 A) 7.c3 e7 8.h3 ( 8.g5!? xf2+ 9.f1! b6 10.xe4 0-0 11.d6 ) 8...d6 9.g5; B) 7.b3 0-0 8.h3 d6 9.c3 e8 10.0-0 e3 ( 10...e7!? is fine for Black) 11.fxe3 xe3+ 12.xe3 xe3 13.f2 e7 14.c2 c5 15.fe4 xe4 16.xe4 f5 17.xf5 xf5 18.xf5 Brugnoli, PSiqueira, F/IECG Email 1998 ] 7.c3 0-0 8.a3 [ The alternatives are: A) 8.h3 (this is possibly White's best option at this juncture) e8 ( 8...cxd5 9.cxd5 d6 10.0-0 f5 11.f3 a6 12.g4 g6 13.g5 d7 14.xe4 xe4 15.fxe4 Perez Fungueiro, M-De la Villa Garcia, J/Sanxenxo ESP 2007) 9.0-0 c5 10.h1 ( 10.g5!? ) 10...h6 11.a3 a5 12.c2 ( 12.a4!? d6 13.xc5 dxc5 14.c3 cxd5 15.cxd5 d8 16.xf6 xf6 17.c2 f5 ) 12...d6 13.ab1 f5 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 d4 16.e3 b6 ( 16...xc3 17.xc3 cxd5 18.xf6 xf6 19.cxd5 d7 ) 17.f4 bd7 with a complicated game and chances to both sides, Kudriashova, I-Gansvind, V/Moscow 1996 ] [ B) 8.e3 e8 9.ge2 d6 10.dxc6 xc6 764
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.a3 xc3 12.xc3 g4 13.h3 xe2 14.xe2 ac8 15.0-0 e5 , and Black has taken over the control of the game, Giardelli, S-Campora, D/Asuncion PAR 2003 ] 8...c5 [ A novelty. In an earlier game, Black tried 8...xc3 9.xc3 d6 10.e3 ( 10.d2 bd7 ) 10...bd7 11.e2 c5 ( 11...cxd5!? ) 12.0-0 e5 13.xe5 xe5 with a pleasant game, Granados Gomez, MCampora, D/Lanzarote ESP 2003 ] 9.e3 d6 10.ge2 cxd5 [ 10...g4!? ] 11.xd5 xd5 12.cxd5 d7?! [ 12...g4!? should have been Black's choice. Now White grabs the initiative. ] 13.0-0 f6 14.c3 g4 15.xf6 xf6 16.b4 b6 17.xe4 a5?! [ 17...fe8!? 18.g2 b2 19.e1 xe3 ( 19...ac8!? ) 20.fxe3 xe3 21.f1 ae8 22.c1 e5 23.a2 f3 24.b2 g5 25.d4 ] 18.bxa5 xa5 [ 18...c5!? 19.d3 xe2 20.xe2 xa5 21.d3 e5 22.c2 ] 19.xh7+! xh7 20.b1+ g6 21.xb6 Now W hite is up two pawns, and the counterplay Black may have hoped for on the light squares around White's king soon prove to be going nowhere fa8 22.d4 [ 22.d4!? ] 22...f3 23.c3 e8 24.h3! f5 25.f6 g8 26.ab1 xe3 27.xb7 c8 28.d8+ g7 29.xc8?! [ 29.xf7+! xf7 30.fxe3 wins much faster ] 29...xc3 30.xf7+ [ 30.d8 xd5 31.b8 h5 32.f8+ f6 33.xd6+ g7 34.d1+- ] 30...xf7 31.d7+ f6 32.d8+ [ 32.e1! ] 32...f5 33.xa5 [ 33.e1! wins faster, but after the game continuation White doesn't risk anything and wins in convincing fashion ] 33...xa3 34.b4 e5 35.d2 d3 36.g5+ f5 37.e1+ xd5 38.xf5+ gxf5 39.g2 a3 40.h4 d4 41.h5 d5 42.h6 a7 43.f3 h7 44.e6 c3 45.c6+ d3 46.f4 f7 47.g5 e2 48.d6 1-0
769 Chabanon,Jean Luc Kasparov,Garry tt France [Tony Kosten]
A20 2425 2805 1993
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 d5 6.g2 e6 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.f3 c6 9.a4 c5 10.0-0 0-0 11.e1?! [ Planning Nd3-f4, but 11.g5 is more usual, h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.fd1 ( 13.e4 dxe4 14.xe4 is a quick equaliser, e7 15.xc5 xc5 16.fd1 ad8 17.a3 and a draw was so o n a gree d , P irc,V -K e re s, P/ B e lgra d e 1956; 13.e1 offers a little edge, ad8 14.d3 d4 15.ac1 fe8 16.f4 e5 17.e3 xc3 18.bxc3 , Seirawan,Y-Sokolov,I/ Wijk 1995 ) 13...b6 14.b5 fd8 15.a4 d4 ( 15...d4!? ) 16.xb6 axb6 17.xb6 xa2 18.xb7 db8 19.d7 a7 20.g4 xb2 equal, Romanishin, O-Agdestein,S/ Taxco 1985. ] [ 11.b5?! aims for d4, but b6 12.e3 e4 13.bd4 fe8 14.a3 g4 Black is very act ive, Schwaiger,A-Ivan ov, I/ Dea rb orn 1992. ] 11...d4 Gaining space. 12.d3 b6 13.b5 d5 14.h3!? To avoid the exchange of his light-squared bishop, but it appears strange. Af ter the game Kasparov told me that he couldn't predict any of his opponent's moves! e8 Again, with the black pawn on d4, e2 is seriously weak. 15.f4 e4 16.d1 e7 17.a3 d3! Black opens the g1-a7 diagonal and exposes the white king. 18.exd3 [ If 18.xd3?! d4 19.f4 c6 wins. ] 18...f3 19.f1 g4 20.d2 ce5 21.g2 xf2! 22.xf2 xg2 23.xg2 xf2 24.xf2 g5 The point of Black's combination. 25.e4 [ 25.h5 xd3+ 26.g1 c5+ is crushing. ] 25...gxf4 26.gxf4 h4+ White is an exchange down for nothing. 0-1
765
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 770 Colin,Vincent Libiszewski,Fabien 81st ch-FRA Besancon BRA (1) [John Watson]
A20 2415 2482 14.08.2006
This is a game with extraordinarily clearcut positional issues having to do with space and minor pieces. I'll try to provide some opening notes of use. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 h6 The mighty 3...h6 has been played by leading players for a few years now. As with so many modern moves, it's a useful waiting move that depends upon White to commit to a particular formation before reacting. At the same time, it serves a purpose in most logical continuations that the players might agree upon. W hite's task is simply to find a setup which is normally either not available to him without the extra tempo that Black hands him, or h armles s wit ho ut . .. h6 bu t f a vo urab le because of W hite's extra move. The game continuation is appropriate in that regard. 4.f3 For example, 1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e4 4.Nd4 is slow for several reasons, one being 4...d5 5.cxd5 Qxd5, with the ideas of ...Qxd4 and ...e3 (...Qh5 and . ..Bh3 can f ollow). c6!? [ The critical 4...e4 5.d4 is quite a bit more promising for White than in the above note. W hether Black equalizes is unclear my guess is that W hite remains with a slight advantage in most lines. A few samples out of many: A) 5...c6 6.c2!? c5 7.c3 e7 8.0-0 ( 8.e3 0-0 9.ed5 ) 8...d6 9.d3 exd3 10.exd3 0-0 11.d4 b6 12.e1; B) 5...d5 6.cxd5 xd5 B1) or 7.c2 , f o r e x a m p l e , c6 ( 7...h5 8.h3 ) 8.c3 e5 9.0-0 f5 10.d4 exd3 11.exd3 0-0-0 12.xc6 bxc6 13.f4 a5 14.d4 followed by Re1. There are almost countless variations for both sides here; B2) 7.b3 d6 ( 7...f5 8.c3 d7 9.d3 b4 10.0-0 xc3 11.bxc3 0-0 12.f4 with an edge) 8.c3 e5 9.d3 exd3 10.xd3 ] 5.d4 Black can choose among several versions of the main line 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 Nc6 4.g3 after
[ 5.c3 .Then he also has the unique move e4 , which would normally be met by Ng5. ( 'normal' would be 5...b4 6.0-0 e4 7.e1 xc3 8.dxc3 0-0 9.c2 e8 10.e3 and Nd5, with the c1 bishop going to e3 or f4 ) 6.h4 ( 6.g1 e7 ) 6...e7 ( 6...e7 7.d3 exd3 8.xd3 e5 9.c2!; 6...d6 7.xe4 (e l se . . . g5 ) g5 8.xf6+ xf6 9.f3 ) 7.f5 0-0 8.xe7+ xe7 9.0-0 with advantage. All this is wide open to improvements by both sides. ] 5...b4+!? [ 5...exd4 6.xd4 c5 7.b3 b4+ 8.d2 xd2+ 9.xd2 0-0 10.c3 d6 11.0-0 e8 and W hite has space whereas Black can develop fairly smoothly. The first player has a small edge. ] 6.d2 [ Perhaps 6.c3 yields something, e.g., A) 6...e4 7.d2 ( 7.e5!? ) 7...xc3 8.bxc3 e7 9.c2 e3 10.e4!; B) 6...d6 7.dxe5 xc3+ 8.bxc3 dxe5 9.xd8+ xd8 10.a3 ] 6...xd2+ 7.xd2 d6 8.d5 [ 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.xd8+ xd8 10.c3 is safe for White, and mildly better for him. One gets the impression that 4... Nc6 has conceded some advantage. ] 8...e7 [ 8...b8 9.c3 a5 10.0-0 a6 is an option, but W hite stands better, in particular because he can expand on the queenside. ] 9.c3 0-0 10.0-0 a5 11.e1!? d7 aiming for c5. Now we have arrived at a basic position with White having space and Black having the better bishop. Compare 1.d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Qe7 5.g3 Bxd2+ 6. Nbxd2 d6 7.Bg2 e5. Here White gets a knight on c3 instead of d2 and should stand better. Developing by [ 11...g4 is an option, but the bishop can get stuck on the kingside after 12.h3 f5 13.e4 h7?! ] 12.d3 f5?! This simple and obvious move condemns Black's bishop to passivity on c8. A better choice was [ 12...b6 13.e4 c5 ] 13.f4! e4 This is undesirable, leaving the bishop in the lurch, but much better than [ 13...exf4? , when 14.xf4 is awful. ] 766
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 13...g6? 14.e4! exploits White's space and better development. ] 14.e1 White's strategy until the end of the game is standard stuff. It is important to get a knight to the ideal blockading square e3, from which the break with g4 is supported. b6 15.b3 c6 16.c2 cxd5 17.cxd5 d7? Black should be preparing for g4 by ...Kh8, ... Ng8-f6, ...h5 etc. Of course, W hite is also better on the queenside. 18.ac1 h7 19.e3 g8 A tempo short. 20.g4! g6 21.gxf5! [ 21.d4 e7 22.g5!? ( 22.h1 bc8 23.g1 ) 22...h5 23.c2 and Rfc1. The pawn on g5 cramps Black's pieces. ] 21...gxf5 22.d4 e7 23.h1 g6 24.g1!? [ 24.xe4!? fxe4 25.xe4 is a typical combination. Rg1 and f5-f6 are among the threats. But evidently Black can't stop this anyway. ] 24...f6 [ Or 24...c8 25.xe4 fxe4 26.xe4 ce7 27.xg6! xg6 28.xg6+ xg6 29.g1+ h5 30.e4 g8 31.f3+ h4 32.g3! ] 25.xe4 fxe4 26.xe4 e8 27.c7+! [ Or 27.g4 ] 27...d7 28.g4 f8 29.xd7+! xd7 [ 29...xd7 30.f6+ xf6 31.xf6 g7 32.e6! f7 33.xg6+ xg6 34.xg6 xe6 35.xe6 ] 30.xg6+ xg6 31.xh6+ h5 32.g7 f6 33.g5+ h4 34.xd7 1-0
771 Damljanovic,Branko Vasilevich,Tatjana Open Kavala GRE (8) [Nigel Davies]
A20 2551 2420 07.08.2009
Here's a rare 4th move alternative for White which seems designed to sidestep the equally rare 4.Nc3 Bb4. It doesn't look very dangerous but may cast some light on what Damljanovic thinks about this line. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 e4 4.b3!? [ Presumably this is designed against the line 4.c3 b4 which seems quite interesting despite its main proponent having been an
unknown Dutch player called Van Weersel. For example 5.d2 xc3 6.xc3 ( 6.bxc3 f6 7.g2 d5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.b3 0-0 10.xd5 cxd5 11.b1 b6 12.h3 a6 was quite good for Black in Smokina, K (2283)-Van W eersel, A (2169), Kusadasi 2006. ) 6...d5 7.b3 f6 8.cxd5 xd5 9.e3 xb3 10.axb3 0-0 11.b4 e8 12.d6 bd7 was Landa, K (2609)-Van Weersel, A (2173), Vlissingen 2005. White eventually won this game but it had a lot to do with him being 400 points higher rated. At the moment the position looks fine for Black. So will we now get a transposition back into normal lines after 4... d5 5.cxd5 cxd5? This was probably Damljanovic's hope, but Black has another way to play it. ] 4...d5 5.cxd5 xd5 Exactly. And the endgame looks fine for Black. 6.xd5 cxd5 7.c3 e6 8.f3 f6 9.fxe4 xe4 10.xe4 dxe4 11.e3 c6 12.d2 b4 13.b5+ d8 14.f2 c8 15.xb4 c2+?! [ Just 15...xb4 16.e2 e7 would have been at least equal for Black. The text gets slightly carried away by the prospect of having an active rook and Black ends up suffering a little for his enthusiasm. ] 16.e2 xb4 17.a4 d2 [ And not 17...xb2 18.ab1 xb1 19.xb1 a5 20.a3 xa3 21.xb7 which would be very dangerous for Black what with White's rampaging rook on the 7th. ] 18.hd1 xe2+ [ 18...xb2 is dubious here too after 19.ab1 xe2+ 20.xe2 g4+ 21.f2 xd1 22.xd1 a5 23.a3 xa3 24.xb7 , once again with a powerful rook on the 7th. ] 19.xe2 g4+ 20.f2 xd1 21.xd1 f5 22.a3 d6 23.g2 White is slightly better now. It's still not much but he gets full points for effort. e7 24.c1 f8 25.b3 d8 26.h3 b6 27.f1 f8 28.d5 g6 29.g4 b8 30.b4 d8 31.c6 f4 32.f2 f8 33.h1 fxe3+ 34.xe3 f3+ 35.xe4 xa3 36.b5 a5 37.bxa6 xa6 38.b5 a5 39.b1 d6 40.c4 c6 41.c1 a7 42.d5+ d7 43.g8 d6 44.b1 e7+ 45.d3 c7 46.f1 g7 47.f7 d8 48.c4 e7 49.d5 d6 50.e4 c7+ 51.d3 a7 52.f8 e7 53.b8 c7 767
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 54.h8 a3+ 55.e2 xh3 56.xg6 f6 57.f8 xd4 58.f7+ d6 59.xh7 g3 60.f5 b5 61.b7 c5 62.d3 xg4 63.xb5+ d6 64.h5 f6 65.f3 g5 66.e4 ½-½
772 Davies,Nigel R Cherniaev,Alexander 7th Staunton Memorial GM (5) [Nigel Davies]
A20 2493 2428 12.08.2009
Cherniaev seemed much better prepared than me for this game but that doesn't always help. I was blissfully unaware of the fact that my improvised 5th move sidestepped his preparation and created a lot of confusion to boot. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 e4 4.c3 d5 5.f3 [ My opponent was probably inspired to play this way by the game Davies, N - Cornette, M, 4NCL 2008: 5.h3 a6 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.b3 c7 8.f4 d6 9.f3 exf3 10.exf3 e7 11.b5 xf4 12.xf4 0-0 13.f2 f5 14.d3 xb5 15.xb5 xd3 16.xd3 b6 1/2-1/2 which was all very comfortable f or B lack. Of course I was no t going t o repeat this as long as I remembered it, and the move played (5.f3) looked quite good to me. I found out later that it hasn't been played much. ] [ One of the critical lines here is 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.b3 c6 7.xd5 xd5 8.xd5 xd4 which I'll take a closer look at in Gelfand Karjakin. Does the inclusion of the moves f3 and .. . f5 make a difference to these lines? I could have asked this question in th e game. ] 5...f5 [ There's probably a good case for 5...exf3 6.xf3 f6 , for example 7.g2 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.e5 e6 with complex play. ] 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.b3 c6 8.xd5 xd5 9.xd5 xd4 10.f2 [ 10.c7+ is similar to Gelfand - Karjakin and looks critical. But with ...f7-f5 included Black has an additional possibility in f7!? , f o r e x a m p l e 11.xa8 c2+ 12.f2 ( 12.d1 xa1 also needs checking
carefully ) 12...c5+ 13.e3 xa1 14.c7 f6 15.c4+ e7 looks fine for him. I can't say tha t I pa rticula rly trust this line f o r White. ] 10...e6 [ During the game I was more concerned abo ut t he lin e 10...c2!? 11.b1 e3+! , w h e n I wa s i n t e n d i n g t o p l a y 12.xe3 ( 12.xe3?! c5 looks strong) 12...xe3 13.xe3 without having a huge amount of confidence in it. Actually I think Black has plenty for the pawn after d6 14.h3 e6 15.hf4 f7 intending ...g7-g5. ] 11.g2 [ Fritz likes the move 11.h3!? , which is something I hadn't really considered at the board. It looks quite strong, for example exf3 12.xf3 e7 13.d1 xd5 14.xd5 seems better than the game because Black is forced to waste time defending his f5 pawn. ] [ My opponent on the other hand preferred 11.fxe4 fxe4 12.g2 which I rejected because of c5+ 13.e3 e7 14.xe4 g5 . I was probably wrong to have done so a s W h i t e i s a p a w n u p a f t e r 15.d3 . The move I played is not bad and keeps an easy game for W hite. Though in view of Black's excellent defence it's tempting to look for improvements here. ] 11...exf3 12.xf3 e7 13.d1 xd5 14.xd5 c5+ 15.e3 xe3+ 16.xe3 0-0 17.c1 White of course has 'strong pressure' but can this be converted into something more tangible? b8 18.e5 f4+ 19.d2 fxg3 20.hxg3 e8 21.d6 f8 [ I spent some time wondering about the rook endgame that arises after 21...g5 22.d7 xd7 23.xd7 e4+ 24.xe4 xe4 25.cc7 g4 26.xb7 xb7 27.xb7 xg3 28.xa7 . After the game Jon Speelman, who understands such things, opined that it looked good for White because the e-pawn would shield my king from checks. I'll take his word for it. ] 22.xc8!? I'd seem some spectacular lines after this and the way Black plays it I keep an edge. But he could have equalised immediately by recapturing with the right rook. bxc8?! Just not this way. [ After 22...exc8 I don't see anything for me 768
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 apart from perpetual check with 23.d5+ E-Hertneck, G/Muenchen 1994 and now h8 24.f7+ g8 25.e5+ etc. ] 12.d1 e6 13.c3 0-0 14.e4 23.d5+ h8 24.f7+ g8 25.g5+ h8 would have been slightly better for White) 26.f7+ g8 27.d8! This keeps an edge 11.d1 b6 12.e3 c5 13.xc5 xc5 though it's not enough to win. c5 The only 14.b4 b6 15.c3 0-0 16.a5 move. and White had a slight edge in Lobron, E[ After 27...cxd8 28.xd8+ h8 29.f7+ Kharlov, A/ Leeuwarden 1997. ] g8 30.d6+ e6 31.xb7 White wins a 10.xg7! This is good for White but not pawn ] everyone has played this way. [ and on 27...exd8 28.xd8+ h8 [ 10.e4 c6 11.c3 e6 12.e3 0-0 29.f7+ g8 30.d6+ it's a whole rook. ] 13.fd1 c7 14.ac1 fd8 15.a3 xd1+ 28.h6+ h8 29.f7+ g8 30.h6+ h8 16.xd1 d5 17.xd5 xd5 18.a4 31.xe8 xd5+ 32.e3 gxh6 33.xf8+ 1/2-1/2 was Ruck, R-Rogic, D/Porec 1998. ] g7 34.c8 So White has the better pawn 10...f6 11.h6 c2 12.c3 structure but Black's doubled h-pawns come [ Jon Speelman later commented that my in handy in many lines. After the game opponent's resignation was a very deep Cherniaev thought that perhaps he should move! He does appear to have a lost game have retreated his rook to d7 here, but either as a later game amply demonstrated: way it looks like a draw. b5 35.b3 e5+ 12.c3 xa1 ( 12...xc3 13.bxc3 xa1 36.f3 e7 37.e4 f6 38.f4 e6 39.f8 14.g7 is also winning) 13.d1 d7 d7 40.e8+ f7 41.h8 e6 42.e8+ ( 13...e7? is met by 14.d5; and 13...d4 f7 43.a8 a6 44.f5 d2 45.b8 f2+ by 14.g5 d6 15.xd6 cxd6 16.xd4 46.e5 b5 47.b7+ g8 48.a4 bxa4 etc ) 14.d5 e7 ( Or 14...e5 15.g5 49.bxa4 h5 50.b6 f3 51.xa6 xg3 c8 16.f6+ etc ) 15.g7 f8 16.h6 52.f4 h4 53.a8+ (Threatening 17.Nf6+ Bxf6 18.Qxf8 mate) f6 ½-½ 17.f3 f5 18.h5+ g6 19.xg6+ hxg6 20.xg6+ d7 21.xf6+ c6 22.e4+ 1-0 Franco Ocampos, Z-Needleman, A/ 773 A20 Buenos Aires 2003. ] Davies,Nigel R 2510 1-0 Thiel,Thomas 2320 Lloyds Bank op 18th (3) 1994 774 A20 [Nigel Davies] Ding,Liren 2742 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 Balogh,Csaba 2637 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 exd4 Tromsoe ol (Men) 41st (3.2) 04.08.2014 After this I think White has an edge. [Kosten, Tony] [ A more critical response is 7...e4!? 8.e5 f5 , for example 9.xc6 bxc6 10.c3 0-0 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.f3 e4 11.f3 exf3 12.exf3 ( 12.xf3 might be a 5.d4 d5 6.cxd5 xd5 7.e3 Currently better way) 12...f6 13.e1 b8 14.f4 f a s h i o n a b l e . e5 Moving off the h1-a8 b4 gave Black excellent counterplay in diagonal is prudent, and is the 2nd most Carlsen, M-Gelfand, B/Moscow 2007. ] popular move, scoring well for Black. 8.xd4 xd4 9.xd4 b4 This tempting [ The most common, 7...c5 was analysed move pretty much loses by force. by Alex Fier a few months ago, see [ Black has to play 9...f6 when 10.a4+ Savchenko, B-Kravtsiv, M. ] ( 10.xd8+ xd8 11.c3 c6 12.b4 0-0 [ 7...c5 8.c3 e5 is also possible, 9.db5 13.a4 e6 14.b2 a6 15.b5 a5 16.bxc6 ( 9.f4 Miroshnichenko, E (2602)-Guner, S bxc6 17.e4 was marginally better for (2041)/Kocaeli 2014, 1-0 (39), e7 ) 9...a6 W hite in Lalic, B-Mohr, G/Zagreb 1993) 10.a4 c6 11.xe4 xe4 12.xe4 10...c6 ( 10...d7 11.c2 c6 was Lobron, looks greedy, but might be playable, d7 769
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.f4 ] 8.f4!? White revives an old idea. [ 8.c3 c5 ( 8...a6 9.0-0 b4 10.d3!? is possible, as xd3?! 11.xe4!; 8...c5 9.db5 as above. ) 9.d3! ( 9.b3 b6 is quite pleasant for Black.; Likewise 9.de2 0-0 10.0-0 Bilek, I (2485) -Gheorghiu, F (2530)/Teeside 1972, 1/2-1/2 (24), d8 ) 9...exd3 10.xd3 0-0 11.0-0 a6 12.a3 b6 13.b4 d8 14.c2 c7 ( 14...xd4 15.exd4 xd4 16.f4 gives good play for the pawn, h5 17.ad1 ) 15.ce2 e6 16.b2 xd4 17.xd4 with an edge to White, Zhigalko, A (2619)-Balogh, C (2630)/ Warsaw 2013, 1/2-1/2 (60). ] 8...exf3 A fairly human reaction, but not forced. [ 8...e7!? is p o s sib le , 9.c3 ( 9.c2 ) 9...a6 10.0-0 but White is a little better here, e4 is a target and it is not easy for Black to complete his kingside development. Still, after g4 11.a4 d7 Black may even consider ...h5-4. ] 9.xf3 h5 10.0-0 e7 11.c3 0-0 12.d4! W hite will continue e4 next move when his centre is very dynamic. e6 [ The only previous time this position was reached Black preferred to exchange the light-squared bishops: 12...h3 13.e4 bd7 but then 14.e5! is a wkward , d5 15.xd5 cxd5 16.b3 the d5-pawn is a problem, b6 17.a4 ab8 ( 17...xg2 18.xg2 f5!? i s b e t t e r , 19.a5 c4 20.b5 menaces b3, b6 21.axb6 xb6 ) 18.a5 c4 19.b5 b6 20.xd5!? ( 20.axb6 xb6 21.xd5 wins a pawn.) 20...xa5 21.xh3 xh3 22.g5 bd8 23.e4 d7 24.ad1 with some advantage b e c a u s e o f t h e m o b i l e c e n t r a l p a wn s , Chuprikov, D (2422)-Zakhartsov, V (2526)/ Voronezh 2002, 1-0 (66). ] 13.e4 bd7 14.c2 ad8 Black's pieces are a little bit congested. 15.e2! Heading for f4. [ 15.h4 g6 16.e5 can be answered by e8!? and the knight can reroute to a useful square via g7 or c7. ( 16...d5 17.f3 g4 18.xd5 cxd5 19.d1 xf3 20.xf3 and Black has a weakish d-pawn again. )] 15...b5 16.f4 c4! 17.b1! g4 18.b3 b4
[ 18...a6 looks safer, 19.h3 xf3 20.xf3 b6 21.e3 c5 22.e5 e8 23.d5 e6 W hite has the bishops, but his centre is weakening. ] 19.b2 [ 19.e3 ] 19...fe8 A natural move, but the f7-pawn lacks a defender later on. 20.c2 b6 [ 20...f8 -g6 is better, if Black can exchange a piece he will be more comfortable. ] 21.h1 h5 22.d3! White strives to keep pieces on the board, and anyway his knight on d3 is more useful than Black's on h5. hf6 It's a bad sign if Black can only sit and wait. 23.d2 Nc4 is the threat. [ 23.g5!? is crude, but quite effective: f8 24.h3 ( 24.f2 ) 24...h5 25.f4 g6 26.xg6 hxg6 27.e5 d5 and now 28.xf7! xf7 29.xg6 threatens the rook o n f 7 a n d B e 4 f o l l o w e d b y Q h 7 , df8 30.e6 e3 31.f3 xg2 32.xf7 xf7 33.f1 regaining the two knight deficit with interest. ] 23...f8?! Black goes downhill rapidly now. 24.c4 c7 25.e3! A strange but harmonious position for the white knights. The g4-bishop is under attack and Black is already in big trouble. c8 26.f2 Now e5 is coming, when f7 is undefended. h5?! Losing. [ 26...e6 ] 27.f4 g4 28.xg4 xg4 29.d5?! [ 29.h3 d7 30.d5 is completely crushing, B x g 7 i s t h r e a t e n e d , s o : f6 31.e5! transposing to the game. ] 29...f6?! [ 29...d6 30.h3 xf4 is the only hope, 31.hxg4 e5 32.xf7+ h8 when Black is still fighting. ] 30.h3 d7 31.e5! With a decisive attack. fxe5 32.h5 f6 33.xf6+ gxf6 34.xf6 xh3 35.xe5 Bla ck can re sign . xe5 36.xe5 g6 37.f6 f8 38.g5 xf1+ 39.xf1 xg2+ 40.xg2 e8 41.d6 e4+ 42.f3 1-0
770
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 775 Ehlvest,Jaan Charbonneau,Pascal ch-Marshall CC (4) [Jonathan Rowson]
A20 776 2601 Foisor,Cristina Adela B 2507 Kosten,Anthony C 09.12.2007 Aubervilliers [Tony Kosten]
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.b3 d6!? Now that the bishop is going to b2, it is not clear whether the bishop is needed on e7 to control g5 and the kingside more generally. Indeed this move looks like the most efficient form of development, but on the other hand, wi t h t h e k n i gh t o n b 6 , a n d wh i t e h a vi n g fianchettoed on the kingside, Black is unlikely to s ucce ed t hrou gh f orce of arm s on th e kingside. Play in the centre and the queenside is more common, and for that purpose it can be useful to have the d-file unobstructed. 8.b2 0-0 9.c3 e8 10.c1 g4 11.h3 h5 12.e4 The other issue with the bishop being on d6 is that it is more likely to be snaffled by a knight. f5 13.xd6 cxd6 14.d3 a5 15.d2 Intending Qg5. h6 16.e3 d7 17.h4 g5 18.f3 [ 18.xf5 xf5 19.g4 was probably plan A, but xg4 20.hxg4 xg4 leaves White without any sensible way to regain control on the kingside. ] 18...f7 19.h2 a4 [ 19...g6 20.f4 ] 20.g4!? axb3 21.a3 g6 22.f4 a4 [ 22...gxf4 23.exf4 a4 is more accurate. 24.gxf5 h5 25.g4 xg4 26.hxg4 xb2 27.xb2 d4 is one of many lines that leads to a fairly random position. ] 23.gxf5 h5 24.fxg5 hxg5 25.a1 ac8 [ 25...c5 obliges White to find something better than Bb2, (or Ba1 after Na4) if he wants to avoid a repetition. ] 26.c4 b6 27.cc1 a4 28.g4! xg4 29.hxg4 d5 30.b1 c5 31.f6 Black's suddenly position looks hopeless. e4 32.f5 [ 32.f2! is even stronger. ] 32...xd3 33.xg5+ f8 34.xb3 ce5 35.c3 e6 36.b1 xf6 37.xe5 f2 38.f5 1-0
A20
1996
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 d5 6.f3 e6 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.0-0 c6 9.a4 c5 10.a3 0-0 11.b4 b6 12.b2 e4 With the bishop on the g1-a7 diagonal, and the knight on e4, f2 is a target. 13.bd2 c8 14.ad1 e7 15.e3 g4 16.h3 h5 17.g4 White breaks the pin, but it leaves the kingside weaker. g6 18.b3 fd8 I have always liked this variation as you often obtain such fine attacking set-ups for Black, every piece is on a strong square. 19.fe1 h5 20.d4?? White cracks (this was only a rapid game) xd4! 21.exd4 xd2! She had clearly overlooked this possibility. 22.a2 [ 22.xe7? xb3 ] 22...e4 23.f3 hxg4 24.hxg4 h4 25.fxe4 xg4 26.e5? White is lost anyway, but this should hasten matters. xb4 [ 26...xe5! is even stronger. ] 27.b3 [ 27.axb4? c2 forces mate. ] 27...c2 28.f3 xf3 29.xf3 d3 30.xd3 xd3 31.a4 c2 Black has a winning material advantage. 32.a3 e4 33.d1 d2 34.a5 c8 35.e2 cc2 36.f1 xe2! 0-1
777 Galkin,Alexander Alsina Leal,Daniel LIII TCh-ESP CECLUB Gp1 (2) [Nigel Davies]
A20 2608 2544 21.09.2009
I have some sympathy for White's 2.a3 here it's almost always a useful move for Black to have in the Sicilian Defence. Black's 3...c6 is a sensible reply as ...a7-a6 is of questionable merit against the 2.c3 Sicilian. But W hite could have spiced things up with 3.b4!? or maybe 5.exd4. 1.c4 e5 2.a3 f6 3.e3 [ 3.b4!? is worth considering here, the point being tha t c6 4.b2 denies Black time to 771
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 play ...d7-d5 because of the attack on the e5 pawn. It's an original position and I won't spare you the cliché that it 'deserves tests'! ] 3...c6 An intelligent choice by Black, using a plan that makes White's 2. a3 rather useless. From a theoretical point of view it's easy equality for Black, but there are a few things W hite might have tried to spice it up. 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 [ One idea worth noting is 5.exd4 d5 6.c3 e7 7.c5 , reaching a position similar to some lines of the Tarrasch French with colours reversed in which Black plays ...c5c4. I don't think this is any 'advantage' for W hite, but it would create an original position on the board. This is the point of playing moves like 2.a3, one is not attempting to win any 'novelty of the year awards'. ] 5...d5 6.f3 e7 [ Other moves are also not bad, for example 6...d6 7.c3 dxc4 8.xc4 0-0 9.e4 c7 10.xd8 xd8 11.g5 f8 12.f4 h6 13.xf7 xf7 14.e5 fd7 wasn't really good enough in Bosboom, M (2423)Tiviakov, S (2663), Hilversum 2007, the point being that 15.e6 e7 pins the epawn. ] 7.c3 0-0 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.e2 c6 10.d3 This position will be familiar to 2.c3 Sicilian players as we've got one with reversed colours with White having a2-a3 in. A nice position for those who like playing against isolated pawns. g4 11.0-0 d7 12.b3 [ 12.d1 may be better. ] 12...fd8 13.b2 f5 14.d1 d4 15.exd4 A massive liquidation is in the offing. ½-½
sides. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 e4 4.c3 d5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.b3 c6 7.xd5 xd5 8.xd5 xd4 9.c7+ d8 10.xa8 c2+ 11.d1 xa1 This is a quite critical line in which computer analysis is likely to feature heavily. I do have one or two thoughts to add to some earlier analysis on Chesspublishing. com and this high level game also deserves inclusion. As far as I can see Black is doing very nicely here. 12.e3 I'm surprised that a (normally) well prepared player like Gelfand would go into this line without having anything sp ecia l in m in d. P erha ps h e avoide d his normal stuff because of Karjakin's excellent preparation only to find himself out of the proverbial frying pan and into the fire. [ a) 12.f4 was dealt with by John Watson following a question from Jose Blades. I don't have anything to add here. ] [ b) 12.b3!? is Tony Kosten's idea, but I think B l a c k i s O K a f t e r b6 , for example ( 12...b5!? 13.b2 xb3 14.axb3 b7 15.e3! b4 16.c4 f6 17.h3 xa8 18.e2 e7 19.a1 c8 20.f4 with attack was Tony's line) 13.b2 xb3 14.axb3 b7 15.xb6 axb6 16.e3 f6 17.c4 b4 with no problems for Black. ] 12...e6 13.xa7 New but rather good for Black. [ Two years earlier the game Solak, D (2567)-Volokitin, A (2645), Murska Sobota 2 0 0 6 h a d g o n e 13.b3 xb3 14.axb3 xb3+ 15.c1 a3+ 16.d2 b4+ 17.c1 b6 18.b2 d5 19.xb6 axb6 20.xb6+ e7 21.d4 f6 22.e3 b8 and Black had a strong attack despite the absence of queens. ] 13...f6 14.b3 [ M a y b e W h i t e s h o u l d p l a y 14.h3 , though after xa2 15.b6+ e7 16.c5+ e8 17.c7+ d8 it still looks very 778 A20 dangerous for White. ] Gelfand,Boris 2737 14...a3 15.d4 e7 16.b6 d8 17.e3 Karjakin,Sergey 2732 c5 18.a4?! [ 18.c1 might have been more tenacious 2nd ACP World Rapid Cup rapid (2.4) 6.1.08 but xd4 19.exd4 xb6 gives Black two [Nigel Davies] pieces for a rook and all the chances. The fact that the d4 pawn is falling means that Alexander Cherniaev told me about this game the knight on a1 is alive. ] after our encounter in the 2009 Staunton. It was a rare opening disaster for Gelfand and a 18...xd4 19.exd4 xb3! Everything is clear few days later he would be seen changing now. Black goes a solid pawn up and gets his 772
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 knight back into the game. 20.c3 xd4 21.c1 c8 22.b2 d5 23.ge2 xe2 24.xe2 b4 25.d4 d8 [ I don't see a good reason to avoid 25...xa2 though maybe the clock was playing a role. ] 26.xe6 fxe6 Another surprising move. [ But after 26...xe6 27.c4+ e5 28.c3 d5+ 29.xd5 xd5 30.b1 it's not easy for Black. ] 27.c4 d3+ 28.c3 [ 28.xd3 xd3 would win the f2 pawn. ] 28...xf2 29.b1 d1+ 30.b4 e3 31.b5 d5+ 32.b3 c8 A bad loss for Ge lf an d. It wou ld be int e re st in g t o kn o w exactly how his opening went so wrong. 0-1
king and white's control of the centre are much more important factors. e6 13.e4 0-0 14.e2 a3 15.c2 e7 16.f4 f7 17.ad1 d7 18.d3 ac8 19.c3 [ 19.xa7!? is not very practical(unless you are really confident and play it quickly) but Rybka seems to think you can get away with it. ] 19...c5 20.f4 e6 21.xe6 xe6 22.e5! fxe5 23.xe5 3 4v has become 3v 2 and Black's king begins to feel slightly drafty. cd8 24.e4 h6 25.xd8 xd8 26.e1 b4 27.c3 xc3 28.xc3 Black has eased the pressure, but even here W hite keeps a niggle due to superior control of central squares and long term king safety. Moreover, Black has an immediate tactical issue to deal with on the e-file. f7 [ 28...d6 seems to retain material equality, 779 A20 though it is not straightforward. 29.e3 h3 30.xa7 d2 31.e3 xa2 ] Georgiev,Vladimir 2538 Krush,Irina 2447 29.e3 d5 30.xd5 xd5 31.xa7 d2 Winter Invitational (8) 12.01.2006 32.h4 h7 33.f1 g8 34.a5 d5 35.xd5+ cxd5 36.a4 d4 37.g2 d3 [Jonathan Rowson] [ 37...d3! 38.b1 f7 trying to win the micro-battle for king activity, looks more 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 tenacious. ] 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.b3 e7 8.b2 f6 38.c1 c2 39.d1 c3 40.b4 b6 41.f3 9.d4 exd4?! a3 42.b5 f7 43.e3 xa4 44.xd3 b4 [ 9...e4 10.fd2 f5 11.d5 A) 11...f6 An interesting if slightly 45.d7+ f8 46.d5 e7 47.f4 b3+ irrelevant line: 12.xf6 xf6 13.c3!? 48.f2 c3 49.h5 c2+ 50.f3 c3+ xc3 14.c1 xd5! 15.xc3 xc3 51.g4 e6 52.e5+ f6 53.h4 c4 16.e1 d4 17.h1! ( 17.e3 c2 54.e3 b4 55.e5 c4 56.h3 b4 is an amusing may for the queen to meet 57.g2 b2+ 58.f3 b3+ 59.f2 b2+ her demise.) 17...0-0 ( 17...cxe2 18.f3 60.e3 b3+ 61.d4 xg3 62.d5 d3+ e3 19.c4 e6 20.xe3 f4 21.gxf4 0-0 This seems to lose a precious tempo. [ 62...g4! keeps some practical drawing 22.c2 keeps an edge for White. ); chances alive. ] B) 11...xd5 12.xg7 g8 ( 12...f7 i s m o r e s t y l i s h b u t 13.xh8 xh8 63.c6 d4 64.xb6 xf4 65.c5 g5 14.xe4 e6 15.bd2 fxe4 16.xe4 66.hxg6 xg6 67.a6 f2 68.b6 a2+ d8 17.e3 is hard to assess.) 13.b2 69.b5 h5 70.b7 h4 71.c6 b2 72.b5 e6 14.c3 f6 and again Black looks 1-0 comfortable. ] 10.xd4 xd4 11.xd4 c6 12.c3 Now W hite has an enduring edge. In many openings this structure arises and the rule of thumb is that with the queens off Black is better because he has a potential outside passed pawn and W hite's queenside pawn duo can become weak, but with the queens on, Black's relative lack of pawn shield for his 773
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.e4 b6 19.d6 ab8 A20 17...b7 Gonzalez Zamora,Juan Carlos 2524 20.xb7 xb7 21.xc6 and so forth... Estrada Nieto,Julian 2361 1-0 XVII Torre Mem (7) 18.12.2004 [John Watson] 781 A20 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 b4+ 4.d2 xd2+ Gulko,Boris F 2622 5.xd2 d6 6.c3 f6 7.g2 0-0 Harikrishna,Penteala 2514 If Black wants to play the ...Be6 idea, he Corus B Wijk aan Zee NED (4) 20.01.2001 should do so now. 8.e4 e7 This move [Tony Kosten] appears innocuous but places the queen on a square that may not be the best one. Black 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 can set up in numerous other ways: 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 e4 8.e5 f5 [ (a) 8...e6!? resembles the 8.e3 Be6 lines Probably Black's only good reply. 9.xc6 that have been discussed in this column, but bxc6 10.f3 W hite has clamped down on ...d5. Black [ White hits the important e-pawn head-on. switched strategies in Gurevich, M-Godena, 10.c3 0-0 11.a4 d6 12.xd5 cxd5 Istanbul2003by 9.b3 ( 9.d5 cxd5 10.cxd5 13.f4 a6 led to near equality in Dorfman, d7= ) 9...b5!? 10.cxb5 ( 10.d5 cxd5 J-Ivanchuk,V/Debrecen 1988. ] 11.exd5 d7 12.xb5 xb5 13.cxb5 [ 10.a4 was considered previously. ] --M Gurevich, and now I think Black should 10...exf3 11.xf3 0-0 12.c3 e6 play b6 14.a4 a6!= ) 10...cxb5 11.dxe5 [ 12...f6?! 13.e4! xc3 14.bxc3 fxe4 dxe5 12.xd8 xd8 13.xb5 c6 when 15.xe4 a6 16.e1 favoured White in 14.c7 should have led to some Zita, F-Hromadka,K/Prague 1943. ] advantage. ] 13.a4!? [ (b) 8...bd7 is the main line: 9.f3 ( 9.d5 [ A novelty, White hopes to pin Black down cxd5 10.cxd5 b5! 11.ge2 b4 12.d1 to defence of the c6-pawn, but fails, 13.e3 c5 13.f3 b6 14.e3 a6 was better xc3 14.bxc3 d5 , Spraggett,K-Vehi for Black in Ekeberg-P Carlsson, Bergen Bach,V/Ampuriabrava 1997, is equal, but ] 2001; 9.ge2 a6 10.0-0 b5 11.cxb5 axb5 [ 13.e4 may be best, fxe4 14.xe4 b8 12.a3 b7 13.fd1 b6 14.b4 fe8= 15.f2 e8 16.g5 d8 17.xe7 xe7 Rotstein-Fontaine, Montpellier 1999) 9...a5 18.c5 f5 , Sher,M-Smirin,I/Moscow 10.0-0 a4! 11.ab1 a5 12.fd1 e8 1990, 19.g4 with advantage, as the e613.b3 axb3 14.axb3 exd4 15.xd4 e5 bishop is loose. ] 16.f3 h5 --analysis by M Gurevich. ] 13...b6! 14.xc6 d7 [ ( c ) F i n a l l y , t h e o d d 8...c5!? 9.d5 [ 14...d7 15.b7 c8 forces a perpetual pits W hite's centre versus Black's better attack on the queen. ] bishop. One idea is a6 10.ge2 c7 ½-½ 11.0-0 a6 12.a4 b8 13.f4 e7 ] 9.ge2 bd7 10.0-0 a6 [ 10...a5 11.f4 exd4 12.xd4 c5 782 A20 13.ad1 e8 ] Gurevich,Mikhail 2652 11.f4! b5?! Anand,Viswanathan 2788 [ Black's best is 11...b6 12.ad1 b7 ] Corsica Masters KO (2.2) 04.11.2005 12.c5! exd4?? [John Watson] [ 12...dxc5 13.dxe5 e8 14.ad1 with the advantage. ] A confusing game between leading 13.cxd6 xd6 14.e5 c5 15.xd4 g4 grandmasters. First Anand uncorks the bizarre 16.h3 h6 17.h2 move 3...h6!? and Gurevich, without trying to [ 17.ac1 . White is in complete control. In exploit it, finds a way to get back to a normal the game he won convincingly after ] variation. Then W hite does everything that 780
774
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 he's supposed to do in this line but somehow gets in trouble. Finally we get a premature resignation. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 h6!? What's this? It's amazing what players can get away with these days. Is ...h6 really useful in every variation? Maybe White should play 1. e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 3.h3!? 4.d3!? I almost gave this a '?!' because Gurevich makes no attempt to make Black pay for ...h6. It would be much more interesting to play some other formation, e.g. , [ 4.c3 b4 ( 4...c5 5.e3 ) 5.e4!? ] [ or 4.f3 e4 ( 4...c6 5.d4 ) 5.d4 ] 4...c6 5.a3!? [ 5.c3 c5 6.f3 d6 7.0-0 is a position in which ... h6 is normal and useful. ] 5...c5 It seems that everyone's playing this way. Anand recently played the Moeller versus the Spanish Game: 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 b5 6.Bb3 Bc5. 6.e3 [ 6.b4 d4 7.a2 a6 8.e3 a7 9.e2 might be tried. ] 6...a6 7.c3 0-0 8.ge2 d6 9.0-0 Back to book! It's instructive to see Anand counter White's traditional buildup. e8 10.h3 a7 11.h2 b8 12.b4 e7 13.b2 b5!? This is Anand's idea: he wants to chip away at the centre while preventing b5. White needs to react quickly on the queenside. 14.cxb5 axb5 15.d4 [ I wonder if the players looked at 15.xb5!? , which I would have skipped by without Fritz' oversight. Then xb5 ( 15...xh3 16.xa7 xg2 17.xg2 b7 18.d4! ) 16.a4 b6 17.xa7 a6 could follow: 18.b8 c6!? (threatening 19...Nd7! 20.Qxd6 c5) ( 18...d7!? also gives a lot of play, since ...Rb6 and ...Bb7 can follow) 19.b5 b6 20.a7 xb5 ] 15...g6!? [ 15...b7 16.xb7 xb7 17.dxe5 dxe5 is at best slightly better for White ] 16.dxe5?! Strange to say, this might be a mistake, ceding the c4 square. Unless the tactics in the next few notes are good for White. [ 16.a4! is a good option. ] 16...xe5 17.d4 [ Again, 17.xb5 xb5 18.a4 should be looked at, when Black's only counterattack begins xh3! 19.xh3 ( 19.xb5? xg2
20.xg2 a8+ 21.f3 fg4 with more than enough attack.) 19...f3+!? ( 19...b8 20.xe5 bxe5 21.c6!; 19...fg4+ is anothe r complicated move , probably better f or W hite af ter 20.h1 ) 20.g2 ( 20.h1 h5 ) 20...a8 21.xf6 gxf6 22.f4! d2+ 23.g1 g5! unclear, intending 24.g2 xg3! 25.fxg3?? xe3+ ] 17...d7 18.d5 White is flailing around a bit, and this move allows Black to activate his centre. xd5 19.xd5 c6 20.g2 b6 [ More aggressive was 20...c5! 21.c2 c8 with a clear advantage already! W hat did White do wrong? ] 21.f3 c4 A monster knight. Anand has gained the advantage without seeming to have done anything special. 22.c3 d5!? 23.d4 c7?! [ 23...f5 or ] [ 23...a8 would have been more effective. Anand is trying to keep pieces on, perhaps underestimating Gurevich's next few moves: ] 24.d3! d6!? 25.fe1 [ 25.c3 f8 ] 25...a8 26.c3 f8 27.e5! a6?! [ 27...xe5! 28.xe5 g5 29.f4 g6= ] 28.xd7? [ 28.e4! gives White a standard central advantage: e6 29.exd5 cxd5 30.d3! ] 28...xd7 29.e4 White has lost time, but he needs to do something about the queenside pressure after ...Rea8. ea8 30.exd5 cxd5 31.f3 xa3 32.xa3 xa3 33.f4! White accedes to loss of a pawn, since [ 33.xd5 xd5 34.xd5 d3! wins material after 35.xc4 bxc4 36.c5 xc5 37.bxc5 d5 ] 33...a8 34.c3 d8 35.d4 c6 36.h4 b6 [ 36...b6!? ] 37.e3!? Gurevich tries to shore up his position but puts his rook on a vulnerable square. a4 38.d2 c4! Suddenly e v e r y t h i n g i s c r i t i c a l f o r W h i t e . 39.d3! Sharp defence. [ 39.xc4? dxc4 40.e1 d1 is killing. ] 39...b2 [ The game may have ended due to a time forfeit because there was no harm in playing on by 39...b2 40.xc4 xc4 ( 40...bxc4 775
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 41.xd5 ) 41.c3 White seems to have real compensation for his pawn because of the d5 and d4 squares. Black still has the edge after b6 42.d4 a4 43.b3 , yet the two bishops shouldn't be underestimated. ] 0-1
783 Gurevich,Mikhail Malakhov,Vladimir WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (4.3) [Nigel Davies]
A20 2652 2670 08.12.2005
After having lost famously to Anand in this line, Gurevich is seen repeating his 4.d3. Black in turn takes fright at the thought of an improvement and finds himself on the receiving end of a technical grind. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 h6 4.d3 Despite his lack of success with this move in an earlier game against Anand, Gurevich persists with his choice. Presumably he thinks he can do better this time. c5 [ Anand played 4...c6 and after 5.a3!? ( 5.c3 looks more 'normal') 5...c5 6.e3 a6 7.c3 0-0 8.ge2 d6 9.0-0 e8 10.h3 a position arose which was similar to the current game, except that White's a2-a3 meant that the c4 square was not as well su p p o rt e d . I nd e e d A n a n d th e n t rie d t o exploit this with a7 11.h2 b8 12.b4 e7 13.b2 b5!? (Gurevich, M (2652)Anand, V (2788), Bastia 2005). ] 5.c3 a6 This makes room for the bishop to retreat to a7, but I can't help thing that Black's loss of time is what enables White to choose an effective set-up for his pieces with 6. e3 and Nge2. [ U s u a l l y B l a c k h a s p l a y e d 5...0-0 a n d o n l y a f t e r 6.f3 ( After 6.e3 Black can play c6 ) 6...d6 7.0-0 should he play a6 . For example 8.a3 a7 9.b4 c6 10.b2 b8 11.d2 e7 12.d5?! fxd5 13.cxd5 f5 was nice for Black in the game Perez Fungueiro, M-Hamdouchi, H, Sanxenxo 2006 which was analysed by John Watson. ] 6.e3 c6 7.ge2 d6 8.b3 0-0 9.0-0 f5 10.h3 I know there are people who think this kind of thing is fine for Black what with all his
pieces going to natural squares. But I can't help thinking that his lack of effective pawn levers is a serious problem on a 'Philidorian' level. e8 11.b2 h7 12.d2 d7 13.a3 ab8 14.b4 a7 15.ac1 e4?! This attempt to gain counterplay just makes things more difficult. [ He should probably have tried 15...e7 when 16.e4 xe4 17.dxe4 is better for White but the position's not as nasty as the game. ] 16.xe4 xe4 17.dxe4 xe4 18.c5 xg2 19.xg2 e6 20.cxd6 cxd6 21.fd1 I t ' s n o w ve r y c l e a r t h a t W h i t e i s b e t t e r b e ca u se o f B la c k' s sick d -p a wn a n d t h e weakness at d5. And this is not the kind of position one would want against a master t e c h n i c i a n l i k e M i k h a i l G u r e v i c h . e4+ 22.g1 f3 23.d4 xd4 24.xd4 xd4 25.xd4 e6 26.d5 xd5 27.xd5 Black has only pain and more pain to look forward to here. f8 28.f1 e8 29.d3 d8 30.e2 d7 31.g4 e7 32.dc3 d5 33.c7 d6 34.xd7+ xd7 35.c5 d6 36.c8 h5 Giving up a pawn in order to try and get so me co un terplay. A nd wh o ca n blame him from trying to escape the rack? 37.gxh5 h6 38.g8 xh5 39.xg7 e6 40.g8 xh3 41.b8 b5 42.a8 d4 43.xa6+ d5 44.f6 dxe3 45.fxe3 h2+ 46.d3 a2 47.e4+ e5 48.f5+ d6 49.xb5 xa3+ 50.d4 b3 51.d5+ c6 52.c4 e3 53.b5+ b6 54.d6+ c7 55.c6+ b7 56.d5 b3 57.f6 xb5+ 58.d6 c8 59.xf7 b6+ 60.e7 b7+ 61.e8 b6 62.e7 [ 62.f8 c7 63.e7 was the right way to do it. ] 62...b7+ 63.f8? A rare slip from Gurevich. [ 63.e8 b6 64.f8 is again the way. ] 63...b5? [ I don't see a win for W hite after 63...b1 (or for that matter after 63...Rb2, Rb3 or Rb4!), for example 64.e8 e1 65.e7 h1 66.e5 h8+ 67.f7 d8 etc. ] 64.f5 b4 65.e5 d7 66.f6 e4 67.d6+ c7 68.e6 h4 69.g6? Another slip. [ 69.f7 h7+ 70.g6 h8 71.d6 is winning. ] 69...e4? 776
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ And here I don't see how White wins after 69...d8! , f o r e xa m p l e 70.d6+ c7 71.f7 h5 . After the move played it's easy. ] 70.e6 f4+ 71.e7 h4 72.g1 h7+ 73.f6 h6+ 74.f7 h7+ 75.g7 h8 76.g1 h7+ 77.g6 h2 78.d1 1-0
784 Gurevich,Mikhail Rublevsky,Sergei TCh-Nat1 GpA (2) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2656 2655 31.01.2004
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.b3 This move is being seen quite often in top-flight games these last few years. The immediate attack on e5, and possibility of playing the liberating d4 thrust, offers extra possibilities. d6 8.b2 More natural than [ 8.c3!? which we saw in Hertneck,GTimman,J. ] 8...0-0 9.d3 Simply better than [ 9.d4?! exd4 10.xd4 Hramtsov,AV o r o b i o v , E / M o s c o w 1 9 9 6 , w h e n e5!? is a wk wa r d , 11.xc6 ( 11.xc6? xd1 12.xd1 xb2 13.e7+ h8 wins an exchange) 11...bxc6 12.c3 d5 with good play. ] 9...g4 10.bd2 e7!? [ 10...d7 is more common, planning ...Bh3, and has been played by Rublevsky before: 11.c1 ( 11.a3 h3 12.b4 xg2 13.xg2 a6 14.b3 ae8 15.e4 h8 planning ...f5 with counterplay, Sorokin,M-Rublevsky,S/ Krasnoyarsk RUS 2003) 11...ae8 12.e4 h3 13.c5 xc5 14.xc5 xg2 15.xg2 f6 16.b4 with a slight edge to White, Korchnoi,V-Rublevsky,S/St Petersburg RUS 2001. ] 11.a3 White has the set-up I recommended in my book whilst Black has been forced into a d i f f e r e n t p i e c e p l a c e m e n t t o n o r m a l . a5 A new move, although perfectly normal in such positions, [ 11...f5 Dizdarevic,E-Zelcic,R/Solin/Split CRO 2000, could have been met by 12.b4 ] 12.h3 h5 13.e4?! White wants to play d4
without allowing the reply ...e4, but it s very committal for if Black gains control of d4 W hite will be worse. c5 14.c2 fd8 15.fc1 d7 16.h4 a7 17.f5 e8!? [ 17...e6 seems more natural. ] 18.b1?! This move allows a tactical sequence, W hite should have taken more care, e.g. [ 18.g4 g6 19.f3 although I still prefer Black. ] 18...c5 19.c3?! Better, first [ 19.f1 d7 then 20.c3 ] 19...e2 20.f1 xd3 [ 20...xd3!? 21.xe2 xf2 22.f3 xe4+ 23.g2 xc3 24.xc3 is not entirely clear. ] 21.xd3 xd3 22.xd3 d7 The point, the bishop on d3 is pinned. [ 22...d8 23.c4 xd2 is also quite good, maybe even better. ] 23.c4 xd2 24.a2! The only move to protect f2 successfully. xb3? This is a blunder, but Black's position was not as good as it looks: [ 24...xe4 25.xe5 c3 is met by 26.f1! xa2? ( 26...d7 27.h6+ gxh6 28.xc3 is unclear) 27.xf7+! xf7 28.c4+ e8 29.g8+ d7 30.f7+ d8 31.xc7+ c8 32.d6+ wins - an amazing resource. ] [ 24...d8 is best, although the position after 25.d4! g5 26.e3 f6 27.b4 is messy. ] 25.a1! xf2+ [ 25...c1+ 26.xc1 xc1 27.c2 traps the knight. ] 26.g2 d7 There is nothing better, but now Black drops a piece. 27.xf2 xa1 28.xa1 f8 29.b2 Black has 3 pawns for the piece, but the white pieces are perfectly placed and the attack decides. h8 30.d5 d4 [ 30...b6 31.xc6 xc6 32.xe5 f6 33.e7 is crushing. ] 31.xb7 1-0
777
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 785 Hertneck,Gerald Timman,Jan H Bundesliga 2000-1 (15) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2576 2620 29.04.2001
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.b3!? Rare, White prepares an immediate attack on the e5-pawn. d6 The logical reaction, e5 is supported. 8.c3!? [ White changes tack, and prepares to pester the d6-bishop . 8.b2 0-0 9.d4 exd4 10.xd4 xd4?! ( 10...e5 ) 11.xd4 f6 12.c3 is more normal, and slightly favours W hite, Hramtsov,A-Vorobiov,E/Moscow 1996. ] 8...0-0 [ This natural move seems to be new, 8...g4 9.b2 d7 was played in the game Reiter,U-Dehm,J/Eppingen 1988, when the move 10.d4 suggests itself. ] 9.b2 g4 10.d4!? In the Sicilian, if this freeing move is playable, it is often good, and sometimes bad, but here will W hite's extra tempo help? xf3 [ Black enters the complications, if 10...exd4?! 11.xd4 White is better, he has opened both bishop's diagonals in one fell swoop. ] 11.xf3 exd4 [ 11...xd4?! 12.xb7 b8 13.g2 c4 14.c1! leaves the black queenside horribly ragged. ] 12.b5 e5 13.c1 e8?! [ Th e c rit ic a l lin e wa s 13...a6 14.a3 ( 14.xc6?! axb5 15.xb7 xa2 is more than a bit awkward) 14...d5 15.c4 f6 16.e3 when White will regain his pawn, by capturing on d4, but will have an IQP (balanced by his bishop pair), so play is about level. ] 14.xc6!? [ Flashy, but the simple 14.xc6 bxc6 15.xd4 d5 16.c2! ad8 17.d2 should confer an edge- Black's queenside pawns are a mess. ] 14...bxc6 15.xc6 b8 [ 15...d3?! 16.xe8 xe8 17.xd3! ( 17.xe5? xb5 hits e5 and e2) 17...xb2 18.xc7 clearly favours White. ]
16.xe8 xe8 17.d3 Black's pawn formation is worse, but his pieces are active. c6!? Very dangerous, but for whom? 18.xa7! [ 18.a3 allowed the tactical line a4!? 19.xd4 d8 20.e3 c5 with equality. ] 18...b7 19.xd4!? [ Provoking exciting complications, but the clever 19.e4! xa7 20.xd4 forks knight and bishop- and both pieces are pinned! e7 21.xb6 xg3 22.g4 d6 23.d4 should favour White. ] 19...c7 The knight is trapped, how best to react? 20.xg7! xa7 [ 20...xg7?! 21.c3+ e5 22.xc6 gains a lot of pawns for the piece. ] 21.d4 a5!? [ Black is worried about his open king, and d i d n ' t f a n c y 21...xa2 22.f5 e6 23.g5+ when his king is forced to wander the board. ] 22.f3 e6 23.c1 d5 24.a4 a6?! A strange move, although Black's position is difficult to play- there is no clear defensive plan- the end of the game looks like it was played in a time scramble. 25.c4 e7 26.b2 a5?! This verges on a blunder, but somehow Black escapes. 27.e4 [ Avoiding the tempting, and false, variation 27.c3?! e5 28.f4? b6+ and it is the white king who is suddenly in trouble. ] 27...e5 [ The only move, 27...d6? loses to 28.f6 xf6 29.xf6 g6 30.e8+ f8 31.e7 ] 28.e3 f6 29.f4 It seems that the bishop's days are numbered, but it somehow manages to survive! f5 30.f3 [ 30.b6!? looks like a killer, but d4+! 31.xd4 xd4 32.xd4 d5 33.e3 g4 is annoying, the black queen enters on the light squares and W hite will have to calculate lots of checks. ] 30...d6 31.e3 f5 32.e4?! [ White accedes to the draw, but with more time he would no doubt have found the line 32.g4+! f7 33.h5+ g8 34.h3! pinning the knight, f7 35.xh7+ e8 36.h3 with excellent winning chances. ] 32...d6 33.e3 f5 34.e4?! ½-½
778
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.h6! Black had obviously only considered [ 11.xf3 xd2 12.xd2 when f5! 13.c3 e5 forks f3 and c4. ] 11...f5 12.g5 The point of White's play, t h e t h r e a t t o h 7 i s u n s t o p p a b l e . e8? This move compounds the problems, stopping 1.c4 e5 2.g3 g6 3.d4 Played before Black the black king's escape, [ 12...d8 is b e st , wh e n 13.xh7+ f8 can gain control of d4 14.h8+ g8 15.h7+ e8 ( 15...e7 [ 3.g2 is also possible, of course. ] 16.g5+ d7 17.h3! xh3 18.f6+ 3...exd4 wins the queen) 16.xg8+ e7 17.g7 [ 3...d6 4.dxe5 dxe5 5.xd8+ xd8 e6 18.g5+ leaves White a pawn up with is a little b ett er f or W hite, an d led to a a strong attack. ] famous victory of Seirawan over Karpov. ] 13.xh7+ f8 14.h3? This is winning, but 4.xd4 f6 White misses a mate in two: [ 4...f6 is safer. ] [ 14.e6+! xe6 15.h6# ] 5.d2!? A new move, planning Nc3, b3 and Bb2 to embarrass the black queen on the 14...f6 [ 14...xg5 15.xg5 g8 is quite open a1-h8 diagonal. previously many moves hopeless. ] have been played, e.g. [ 5.e3+ e6 6.c3 f6 7.h3 xe3 15.e6+ Now he sees the mate! 8.xe3 with a small edge for White, 1-0 Kortschnoj,V-Karpov,A/Roquebrune 1992. ] [ 5.xf6 xf6 6.c3 g7 7.g2 0-0 A20 8.f3 e8 9.e3 a6 10.0-0 d6 11.d4 787 again W hite has a plus in the endgame, Horvath,Jozsef 2519 Pigusov,E-Dvoirys,S/Kharkov 1985. ] Rabiega,Robert 2522 5...c6 TCh-2003-4 Graz AUT (3) 30.11.2003 [ 5...c6!? is not the sort of move that a [Tony Kosten] human would want to consider, but thre aten s to win a p awn , 6.d4! f6 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 b4+ ( 6...xh1?! 7.xh8 xg1 8.xg8 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 d6 7.c3 0-0 8.e4 and White is winning because of the threat The most ambitious move gaining space and of Bh6! ) 7.f3 c5 8.e5+ e7 setting-up a large centre, if relatively rare. I with unclear play. ] have always preferred 6.c3 b4 It seemed at the beginning that [ 8.e3 which leaves the bishop's diagonal this piece was destined for g7, but Black open. Still, it is always useful to have an changes tack as this stops b3. 7.f3 d6 extra weapon. ] 8.g2 ge7 8...bd7 [ 8...e6! hits the loose c4-pawn, and may [ 8...a6 9.f3 g4!? 10.0-0 xf3 11.xf3 be best, 9.a3 xc3 10.bxc3 xc4 11.b1 bd7 12.fd1 b5 is also playable, with compensation for the pawn. ] Khalifman,A-Rublevsky,S/Elista 1996. ] 9.0-0 0-0 Now 9.f3 e8 Black solidly defends e5. This [ 9...e6 is met by the unpinning 10.e4! looks like a King's Indian position where the bu t t h is is t he la st ch a n ce f o r B la ck t o dark-squared bishops have been exchanged, capture on c3 and double the white pawns, and this should be to Black's liking as he has perhaps he underestimated W hite's next less pieces so his lack of space is less of a move. ] disadvantage. 10.0-0 a6 The .. .b5 thrust will 10.e4! xf3? This loses in surprising p r o v i d e B l a c k w i t h c o u n t e r p l a y o n t h e fashion, Black should play queenside, plus a square on b7 for his bishop. [ 10...g7 when 11.f4 f5 12.ed2 11.fd1! An innovation, is a little better for White, but not too much. ] [ 11.h3 seems unnecessary, b5 12.cxb5 786
A20 Hoelzl,Franz 2360 Schwarz,Michael 2410 TCh-2002-3 Fuerstenfeld AUT (10) 15.03.2003 [Tony Kosten]
779
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 axb5 13.a3 b6 is equal, Mandl,R-Hecht,H/ Germany 1991. ] 11...b5?! Thematic, but White was wellprepared for this, perhaps the preparatory [ 11...e7 is better. ] 12.c5! This is the positional point of White's play, undermining the e-pawn. b4 This looks critical. [ 12...dxc5 is met by 13.dxe5 g4 ( a s t h e d 7 - k n i g h t i s p i n n e d ) 14.f4 when the ugly h6 is forced. ] [ 12...exd4 is possible, though, 13.xd4 (hitting c6) e5 and now 14.xc6!? xc6 15.e5 xe5 16.xa8 g4 17.g2 might offer W hite a plus, because of the pressure on d6. ] 13.a4 a5 The alternative is [ 13...xe4 when 14.c2 d5 15.xe5! xe5 16.xe4 dxe4 17.dxe5 a5 18.b6 b8 19.d6 leaves White with a powerful dark-squared bind. ] 14.c2 dxc5 15.dxe5 xe5 16.xe5 xe5 17.f4 Structurally White is on top, as he can recapture the c5-pawn whenever he wants after which the c6-pawn will be very exposed. e8 18.b3!? White wants to capture on c5 with his queen without leaving his knight hanging, but he could have 'cashed in his chips immediately': [ 18.e5!? d5 ( 18...g4? 19.xc5! xa4? 20.xc6 wins material) 19.xd5 cxd5 20.xd5 b7 21.xc5 winning a pawn, but the weakness of the long diagonal may prove to be a problem, so he prefers to keep complete control. ] 18...g4 19.e1 ad8 20.xc5 xc5+?! Black drags the a4-knight to a strong square, [ 20...b5 is more tenacious, 21.ac1 d2 with some counterplay to compensate the pawn structure. ] 21.xc5 c8 22.ac1 d7 [ 22...d2 23.e5 g4 24.a1! wins the c6pawn, and there is also a threat of Ne4-d6.. ] 23.d3 a5 24.b2! [ 24.xc6 b8 25.b6 is also strong, but there is no need to bother with calculating this. ] 24...b6 [ 24...b7?! 25.c4 attacks the a-pawn, and threatens Nd6, forking the rook and bishop. ]
25.xc6 Now White has a good extra pawn. d2 Black's only chance is to pin White to the a-pawn. 26.d1?! A strange move, [ 26.xb6 xb2 27.a1 is playable, if a bit passive. ] 26...d7?! [ 26...e6!? seems to equalise! Note the logic - Black exchanges a passive piece for an active one! 27.xe6 xe6 and the a2pawn is lost, W hite can try 28.f5 d7 29.e3 xa2 30.d1 e8 31.e5 w h i c h g a i n s s o m e i n i t i a t i v e , b u t f8 should hold. ] 27.e3 b7 [ 27...xa2? loses a piece: 28.ec1 b7 29.c7 ] 28.c2 xc2 29.xc2 c5 30.e5 xg2 31.xg2 White has exchanged the active rook, and has every prospect of converting his sound extra pawn. c8 32.d4 e6! B la ck h o p e s f o r t h e we ll-kn o wn d ra win g chances in rook endgames. 33.xe6 fxe6 34.f3 f7 35.e3 The king heads for the queenside to stop infiltration on c2, but this risks conceding the other wing, [ 35.e2 looks right, followed by Ke4, and then g4, f5. ] 35...h5 [ 35...c2 leads nowhere after 36.e2 ] 36.d2 d8+ 37.c2?! g6 38.d1 xd1? A time-trouble mistake, the king and pawn ending is hopeless, so Black had to play [ 38...c8+ 39.b2 c3! ( 39...h4 40.g4 c3 is also interesting.) 40.d6 f5 when he has serious counterplay on the kingside. ] 39.xd1 f5 40.e2 e4 41.h4 g6 42.f2 d4 43.g4 hxg4?! [ 43...e4 44.g3 d5 45.f3 d4 keeps the suspense for a little while longer. ] 44.g3 c3 White can win immediately by 45 h5 or 45 f5 which both allow a pawn to queen. 1-0
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 play xe5? as in the game because of A20 15.hxg6 and the knight hangs. ] Hulak,Krunoslav 2557 Fedorov,Alexei 2595 13...xe5 14.b3 f7 15.d4 Black's ...f4 TCh-CRO Rabat CRO (1) 07.09.2003 pawn sac has resulted in W hite gaining a m a s s i v e c e n t r e ! e7 16.e3 b5!? [Tony Kosten] Black searches for complications in a 1.c4 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 e5 4.e4 desperate situation. 17.cxb5 b8 18.a4 a6 White tries to keep the queenside W hite is ready to play a Botvinnik System, 19.b6 and puts paid to any ideas of an immediate ... closed, but [ 19.h5! i s a g a i n s t r o n g , e . g . cxb5 f5. h6!? Amazingly I didn't find any game ( 19...axb5 20.hxg6 hxg6 21.a5 ) 20.hxg6 with this move in this exact position - the hxg6 21.f4 f6 22.d5 with extra English Opening is still a very fruitful area for material and a strong attack. ] originality! Actually the move reminds me of the line Gary Lane discussed recently in the 19...a5 Black isolates the b-pawn. 20.h5 d8 Closed Sicilian, but with colours reversed. 21.hxg6 hxg6 22.f4 xb6 23.a2!? f6 5.d3 0-0 6.e2 f5 7.bc3 f4!? 24.0-0-0 b4 25.d2 A useful prophylactic This aggressive advance appears a little move to defend the b-pawn, which is a bit 26.c2 premature before W hite has castled. Black exp ose d o n t he ope n f ile . a6 W hite reminds his opponent that the black could play more simply with [ 7...d6 8.0-0 ( 8.h4!? ) 8...c6 transposing pawns are even weaker than the white ones. t o a c o m m o n l i n e , e . g . 9.d5 e6 d5! The best practical chance, [ 26...c8 27.h3 c7 28.g1 Larsen,B-Spassky,B/Tilburg 1979. ] leaves Black on the brink of disaster. ] 8.f3 Stopping the f-pawn's advance, [ 8.gxf4 h4 is a little annoying for White, 27.exd5 [ 27.e5? is a mistake: xe5! 28.dxe5 xe5 as the f4-pawn is pinned. ] 29.d2 fxf4 and Black has swapped the 8...c6 9.h4! I like this idea, White really exchange f or two p awns, and f reed his threatens to capture on f4, as h4 is covered position. ] by the rook, and can also consider playing g4. The point, Black clears the long The white king is quite safe in the closed 27...xd4! centre, and will later go to the queenside. d6 diagonal. 28.xc6!? White is also doing well after This is certainly better than [ 28.e6!? (forking the rooks) d3! 29.d2 [ 9...fxg3? when White has the strong move cxd5 30.xf8 xf8 but Black is active. ] 10.g5! e7!? ( 10...e8 11.b5 f7 [ 28.xd4? is a blunder, of course, xf4+ 12.xc7 b8 13.d2 is also pretty and ...Qxd4. ] convincing) 11.d5 xd5!? 12.xd8 e3 29.e1 xf4 30.d2? 13.d2 xg2+ but now 14.f1 and Black's 28...e5 c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r t h e q u e e n i s q u i t e White cracks, [ 30.xa6 is best, b4 31.e2 ( 31.d2?! insufficient. ] xb2! 32.xe5 xa2 33.e7 b8! 10.d5 Strongest, although and White is in trouble) 31...f5 which is a [ 10.gxf4 is also possible immediately. ] bit of a mess. ] 10...e7 [ 10...fxg3 11.g5 is still unpleasant: d7 30...c4+?! [ 30...e2! is a difficult move to find, but 12.xg3 f7 13.h3 and Black must part surprisingly strong, 31.c3 ( 31.b3 xd5 with his queen. ] 32.c2 e5 33.xe2 d3+ 34.d1 b4 11.gxf4 c6 12.xe7+ xe7 13.fxe5 wins material) 31...d4 with strong threats [ 13.h5! seems very strong, White levers the and a piece more! ] h-file open when the h6-knight will wonder why it didn't go to f6 instead! f6 and now 31.xc4 xd5 pinning the rook against the ( 13...f7 14.hxg6 hxg6 15.e3 queen, but White can defend it. 32.f1 d6 followed by Qd2 and long castles is good for 33.b3 xc4 34.bxc4 f7 35.b3 xf3 White ) 14.fxe5 is awkward, as Black cannot Finally reaching a position with equal material! 788
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 36.d3 [ 36.xf3! is awkward for Black, because of xf3 37.g2! a3 38.d5+ f8 39.f1+ e8 40.f7 with good chances. ] 36...c8 And in this unclear position, Black must have lost on time. 1-0
13.xb4 xb4+ 14.d2 xd2+ 15.xd2 a6 16.e4 c5 17.he1 ae8 18.f3 e5 19.e2 g6 20.g2 f5 21.f4 xe4+ 22.xe4 xe4 The rook endgame is a draw. ½-½
790 789 Ivanchuk,Vassily Gelfand,Boris Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (3) [Nigel Davies]
A20 2751 2737 14.01.2008
It's interesting to see Gelfand playing the Black side of this line just 8 days after his game with Karjakin - the Karjakin game was on January 6th whilst this one was on the 14th. White's failure to get anything with 4.Nc3 has thrust 4.d5!? into the limelight, but Black proved to be well prepared. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 e4 4.d5!? White's failure to get very far wit h 4 . Nc 3 h a s t h ru st t h is m ove in t o t h e limelight. White cuts off support for Black's e4 pawn in the most radical way, but in doing so he gives Black some squares for his pieces and uses valuable time. b4+ 5.d2 e7 6.c3 f6 7.g2 0-0 8.h3 Possibly White's best. [ 8.a3 featured in Magnus Carlsen's win over Anand but it wasn't because of the opening. ] 8...cxd5 [ After 8...e8 9.0-0 c5 I think it's interesting to play 10.g5!? for example ( 10.h1 h6 11.a3 a5 12.c2 d6 13.ab1 f5 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 d4 was quite promising for Black in Kudriashova, I-Gansvind, V/Moscow 1996) 10...e3 11.fxe3 xe3+ 12.h1 d6 13.xe3 xe3 14.xf6! gxf6 15.ge4 with more than enough for the exchange. Gelfand's move looks better. ] 9.cxd5 d6 10.xe4 [ 10.0-0 f5 11.f3 can be met by c5+ 12.h1 e3 , causing quite a lot of disruption. So Ivanchuk's decision to remove the pawn is understandable, even though the game now peters out. ] 10...xh3 11.xf6+ xf6 12.xh3 xb2
Ivanchuk,Vassily Sutovsky,Emil FIDE WCh KO Moscow RUS (3.2) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2731 2664 02.12.2001
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 b4+ 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 d6 7.c3 [ I still like 7.e3 first. ] 7...0-0 8.e3 e6 This move, and the plan it entails, is a critical test of White's set-up. 9.b3 exd4 10.xd4! [ In my book, The Dynamic English I suggest t h a t t h is m o ve 'is m o re p e rt in e n t ' t h a n 10.exd4 Lobron,E-Huzman,A/Budapest 1996. ] 10...d5 [ Black should also investigate the move 10...a5!? pinning the knight, 11.ge2 d5 , Jiro vsky,M-St oce k,J/CZE 2 000 , whe n 12.cxd5 xd5 transposes to the game. ( 12...xd5!? 13.b4 )] 11.cxd5 xd5 [ 11...cxd5!? also requires tests, 12.ge2 c6 13.d2 b6 14.0-0 ad8 with a reasonable IQP position, ] [ 11...xd5!? also has its points, 12.f3!? a6 13.ge2 c5 14.h4 c6 15.0-0 level, Chabanon,J-Fontaine,R/Bescanon FRA 1999. ] 12.ge2!? [ This is Ivanchuk's new idea, eschewing the possibility of isolating Black's d-pawn, e. g. 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5 cxd5 14.e2 ( 14.f3 1/2-1/2 Ionescu,C-Marin,M/ Bucharest ROM 2001) 14...c6 15.b2 e7 16.0-0 e4!? 17.ad1 e5 18.d4 ac8 with fair chances, Kurajica,B-Fressinet, L/Solin/Split CRO 2000. ] 12...a5 13.a4! xa4 14.xa4 a6 Black plans ...c5, and then ...b5. 15.d4! ad8 Brazenly allowing White to capture on e6, but he is not interested. 16.0-0 c8!? 17.fc1 White needs both his rooks on the 782
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 queenside to support his coming queenside attack. dc7!? Black needs to shift the knight from d4, to be able to exploit the open d-file, so this knight heads for e6, but he temporarily g i v e s h i m s e l f ' l i n k e d k n i g h t s ' . 18.f1! Putting paid to Black's plan, as the ensuing capture on a6 would wreck his queenside. d5 Black has to force-through the advance ... c5. 19.h4 g6 20.a3 c5 21.f3 b6 Black has finally managed to set-up a solid queenside structure, but he needs one more move to separate his knights. 22.b4! e6!? [ 22...cxb4?! 23.axb4 opens the a-file, and the b-pawn cannot be captured because of the hanging knight on c7. This is often the problem with 'linked knights'- they are fine defending each other, but are unable to do anything else at the same time. ] 23.c3 [ White could win a pawn by 23.e4 dd8 24.xa6 xa6 25.bxc5 but has reasoned that the black counterplay is significant after d4 ] 23...f5 24.d2 cxb4 25.axb4 xb4 26.xa7 Now we can see how far-sighted White was when he put his king's rook on c1 as far back as move seventeen, and left his other rook on a1. After much effort Black has solved his knight problem, but his isolated bpawn is a weakness and the white kingside is rock-solid. c6 [ 26...d8 27.c4 c6 28.aa1 b5 29.b6 also loses the b-pawn. ] 27.aa1 d8 28.ce4 a5 29.ab1 e7 30.xb6 Inevitably the b-pawn has dropped, but Black still has some drawing chances, if he reaches an ending with rook and three pawns against rook and four, for instance. g7 31.c4 c5 32.b3 xe4!? [ Sheer desperation, if 32...xb3 33.xb3 Ng5 is the menace, and we see that Black suffers from the absence of his e-pawn, f7 is e x p o s e d , h6 34.d6 and Black must permit a further deterioration of his structure. ] 33.xa5 d2 This counterattack wins f2, but it is quite irrelevant. 34.f1! By controlling h3 White avoids ...Nxf2-h3+. [ 34.b3? xf2 35.c7?! f5 is a bit messy. ] [ and not 34.f1? h3 ]
34...xf2 35.c4 a2 36.b2 The point, the rooks are exchanged and Black's temporary initiative vanishes. xb2 37.xb2 e4 38.c7 f6 39.h2 e6 40.g2 f2 Black has a solid position, but an exchange is just too much. 41.g1 g4 42.e4 e5 43.d1 7c6 44.e3 d4 45.f1 ef3+ The knight goes on a 'wild goose chase'. If he could only swap his d4-knight for the white knight on e3, and leave himself with a knight on e5, he might have a chance, but as it stands he does not have enough squares for t wo k n i gh t s . 46.f2 g5 47.d5+ e5 48.g2 g4 49.e3 e1 50.h1 f5 51.f4 ec2+ Black has been forced to weaken his st ru ct u re , a n d h is kn igh t s h a ve n o go o d squares. 52.d2 fxe4 53.c5+ [ 53.xe6 e3+ 54.d3 is also more than adequate. ] 53...d6 54.xc2 e3+ 55.c3 xc2 56.xc2 f5+ 57.c3 e5 58.d3+ 1-0
791 Ivanchuk,Vassily Vachier-Lagrave,Maxime SportAccord Rapid Men 2013 rapid (5.6) [Fier, Alexandr]
A20 2731 2745
A complicated game with ups and downs, as is usual in rapid chess. White tries a new idea with 8.h4, to push the pawn forward if the queen leaves, and in a few moves it proved to be quite important. 1.c4 e5 Vachier-Lagrave tried this move 3 times in China, twice connected with the idea of ...c6, and nobody can say it didn't work, since he won against Ivanchuk and Leko. 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.f3 [ 4.d4 another important option and tried by L e k o i n C h i n a exd4 5.xd4 a6 personally I like this move, and it brings positions full of play ( 5...d5 is the main variation and after 6.f3 e7 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.0-0 c6 9.a4 0-0 10.c3 we are in a position quite similar to a Tarrasch) 6.c3 c5 7.d1 0-0 8.f3 e8 9.0-0 and the position was level in Leko, P (2730)-Vachier-Lagrave, M (2745)/ SportAccord Blitz Men 2013 (17.7). ] 783
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 4...e4 5.d4 d5 6.cxd5 xd5 The same idea as in the Alapin which starts with 1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.Qxd4 7.c2 h5 8.h4!? This move is based on diverse plans. The first one is to keep the king safe in case of 0-0 at some point, the second one is to push the pawn to h5, to divert the black pieces from the defence of the e4-pawn. If the pawn is still alive after h5, h6 will be annoying since White plans to put the bishop on b2. [ 8.h3 is the main line and was the choice of Svidler against Adams in the London Chess Classic A) 8...g6 is the most played, waiting one more move to see where best to put the pieces 9.c3 c5 ( 9...d6 the bishop can come here, too 10.e3 0-0 11.c2 e8 12.b3 and Black was ok in Andriasian, Z (2624)-Petrosian, T (2636)/ ARM-ch 72nd Yerevan 2012 (5).) 10.d4 I don't believe in this plan exd3 11.xd3 xd3 12.exd3 e6 and Black was fine in Sale, S (2416)-Kotsur, P (2572)/Dubai op 5th 2003 (9).; B) 8...a6 played by Svidler in 2005! And surprisingly the choice of Adams against him in London 9.c3 g6 10.e3 c5 11.a4 trying to create weaknesses on t h e q u e e n s i d e b5 12.c2 a n i m p r o v e m e n t ( 12.d1 0-0 and W hite is missing some space, the queen is not well placed on d1, Leko, P (2749)- Svidler, P (2735)/Amber-blindfold 14th rapid 2005 (1).) 12...b4 13.b1 xe3 ( 13...0-0!? 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4 f5 is also interesting 16.g2 f4 17.xg6 hxg6 and Black has counterplay b e c a u s e o f t h e c 2 - s q u a r e p r o b l e m) 14.dxe3 and White had a more comfortable position in Svidler, P (2758)Adams, M (2754)/5th Classic KO 2013 (1. 2). ] 8...c5 9.c3 g6 After this move White has a dangerous initiative. [ 9...f5 was also possible and maybe more precise. It's not clear the queen is doing well on h5, but at least it blocks the 'dangerous' hpawn 10.b4 b6 11.e3 0-0 ( 11...xe3 it's always a committal decision to give the bishop f or a better structure. Af ter this
White's c1-bishop can become a monster 12.dxe3 0-0 13.b2 and I slightly prefer White ) 12.0-0 d8 13.xf5 xf5 14.c2 with a double-edged position ] 10.b4 Typical, to bring the bishop to b2 to win a tempo. b6 11.h5! One of the main ideas of the 8.h4 move is now realized. Probably Black needs to change the central pawn for t h e h - p a w n . f5?! It's not a good idea to keep this pawn alive. [ 11...xh5 was better and Black has a trick to bring the knight back to a better position 12.xe4 f4!? 13.f3 d5 14.b2 but still it's a dangerous position for Black, even more so in a rapid game ] 12.e3 e5 After 5 queen moves, it's still not safe. 13.b2 0-0 [ 13...d4 does not help so much but tries to complicate the position 14.c1 xh5 ( 14...0-0 15.h6 d8 16.hxg7 and White has the powerful idea of Rh4 to increase the pressure on Black's center) 15.c4 xf2+!? an interesting practical chance, but st i l l a l l t h e p i e c e s a r e h a n g i n g 16.d1! ( 16.xf2 is also possible, but less precise xg3+ 17.g1 f4 18.f1 h3 19.e3 and everything is defended) 16...xg3 17.xh5 xg2 18.d6+ e7 19.cxe4 f1+ 20.c2 xc1+ 21.xc1 is hard to evaluate, but this position is better than the one after 16.Kxf2. All the pieces are at full p o we r a n d i t 's i m p o s si b l e f o r B l a c k t o avoid material losses ] 14.c2 d4 15.c4 [ 15.h6! including this move before Nc4 is good, since it creates one more tactical theme in the position g6 16.c4 e7 17.xe4 xb2 18.xb2 this is the point and Black has nothing to do, since after xe4 19.g7# is mate ] 15...f5 [ 15...e6 attacking the knight is better. White still has an extra pawn, but things are less clear 16.xe4 xb2 17.xb2 xe4 18.xe4 f6 19.c2 a5 and at least Black has some compensation for the pawn ] 16.e3 xc3 [ 16...e6 was still possible 17.a5 e5 18.h6 g6 19.xe4 xe4 20.xe4 with advantage to White ] 17.xc3 It's hard to imagine that Black can 784
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 survive without the bishop. The computer a l r e a d y g i ve s a wi n n i n g a d va n t a ge , b u t Vachier Lagrave keeps finding resources to survive. d8 18.h4 [ 18.h6 was still possible, but White prefers to improve one more piece beforehand a6 19.a3 c7 trying to bring the knight into the game 20.h4 cd5 21.d4! and soon some pawns are going to fall ] 18...g5 Defending g7. 19.h6 f5 20.hxg7 d5 With a white pawn on g7 the battery on the diagonal loses a bit of its force. Of course the pawn is also dangerous here, and, after all, White is a pawn up. 21.b3 e7 22.e5 [ 22.e2 would be my choice, just trying to bring one more piece into the game d7 23.ah1 7f6 24.a3 and it's hard for Black to come with anything useful ] 22...d7 23.xe4? Overlooking some small tactics. Now the position is again far from clear. [ 23.xd7 was better, and after xd7 24.b5 White is clearly better ] 23...xe5 This move is also good, but allows White an ingenious defence. [ 23...xe4 was the move to play, when W hite is losing a piece 24.xe4 5f6! and th ere is n o good wa y to def end e 5 25.xf7 ( 25.c4 xe4 26.xe4 xe5 27.xe5 xb4 and Black is already better) 25...xf7 26.h4 e8 and Black can already think about an advantage ] 24.xf5 Losing an exchange. [ 24.h5! this nice move could save the exchange and keep some advantage for White. A hard move to see in a rapid game, though A) 24...xe3 25.xe3 only move ( 25.dxe3? this is already losing by force d3+ 26.xd3 xd3 27.c4 xe3+-+ ) 25...d3 ( 25...d3+ simplifies the p o s i t i o n a n d a f t e r 26.xd3 xe3+ 27.dxe3 xd3 28.d4 White is better) 26.xf5! xe3+ 27.fxe3 g6 28.c3 and with all the pieces looking at the king, it's hard to believe Black has chances to survive; B) 24...xe4 25.xe5 xb4 26.xd5! this is easy to overlook when you are ana lyzing s om e mo ve s be f o re . W h it e recovers the piece and stays a pawn up
a5 27.xd8+ xd8 28.c3 c5 but still the position remains unclear. Now the bishop on e4 is much more dangerous than the one on c3. ] 24...f3+ 25.e2 xh4 26.gxh4 xh4 Logical, taking the pawn and keeping one eye on h7. [ 26...f4+ was also possible, trying to activate as soon as possible 27.d1 d5 28.c2 xh4 with a clear advantage for Black ] 27.g1 d6 Bringing more pieces to the defence. [ 27...h5+!? this was a nice way to improve the queen's position 28.g4 g6 29.g3 e4 attacking b4 and also with Nf4+ ideas ] 28.d1 Threatening 29.Rh1. [ 28.c2 ad8 29.xh7+ doesn't really work because after xh7 30.xh7+ xh7 31.h1+ h6 wins ( 31...g6 32.g1+= )] 28...h6 29.a3 e8 It's not easy for White to find any good plan with his king in the center. 30.c2 h5+ 31.f1 e7 32.e4 g6 F i n a l l y e ve r yt h i n g i s d e f e n d e d . 33.h1?! There is not much reason to exchange the rooks, since the black rook on h6 is not active. [ 33.e1 improving the king was a good idea to stay in the game ] 33...b5+ 34.g1? [ 34.d3 was still possible, avoiding the i n v a s i o n o n e 2 xh1+ 35.xh1 h5 36.e4 e5 and Black is better, but there is still fight ] 34...xh1+ 35.xh1 e2 Now Black is just winning. 36.e4 g4+ [ 36...g4+ 37.g2 h4 ] 0-1
792 Janssen,Ruud Van den Doel,Erik Dutch Open Dieren NED (8) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2437 2607 25.07.2001
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 e4 8.e5 f5 9.xc6 bxc6 10.d2 [ Another move for White here, the knight heads for b3, to stop Black playing ...c5. We have previously examined 10.a4 and ] 785
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 10.f3 ] 10...c5? [ A novelty, immediately liquidating the forward c-pawn before it is too late, but I think it loses, 10...0-0 11.b3 e6 12.d2 f6 13.c1 left Black with queenside problems, Milos,G-Adla,D/Buenos Aires 1991, and the wild ] [ 10...h5!? 11.b3 h4 12.d2 d6 13.c1 a6 14.e1 h5 descended into anarchy after 15.c5 , Foisor,C-Minnebo,A/ Liechtenstein 1996, ( but 15.g4!? fxg4 16.c5 c8 17.xe4 was interesting )] 11.dxc5 xc5 12.c2!? [ Good, but there is also the sharp tactic 12.xe4! (softening-up the long diagonal) fxe4 13.a4+ f7 ( 13...d7? 14.xe4+ ) 14.c6 forking c5 and a8, and regaining the piece with interest. ] 12...d6 The only move. 13.c4?! [ Why not 13.xe4! fxe4 14.xe4 winning a pawn, or two, and destroying the black centre? ] 13...e6 14.a3 0-0 15.b4 e7 16.a5 f6 17.b2 xb2 18.xb2 f4 Black's queenside is ragged, so he gambles all on the other side of the board. 19.d4! f6?! [ T h e t e m p t i n g 19...f3?! 20.exf3 exf3 c a n b e m e t b y 21.fe1 f7 22.f1 with advantage. ] [ but 19...fxg3 20.hxg3 f6 avoids the loss of the f-pawn. ] 20.gxf4! Of course. f7 [ 20...a6 21.fe1 g4 22.e3 is no better. ] 21.ac1 h8 22.c6 The black c6-pawn may no longer be there, but the square is still weak! h5 23.e3 h3 Trying to drum-up some attacking chances. 24.c5 [ T h i s i s e f f e c t i v e , b u t 24.e5! is even stronger, as then h4 25.g5 exchanges the queens. ] 24...h4 25.g5 xg2 26.xg2 ae8 27.e5 With his extra pawn, and superior structure, W hite should certainly win. e6 28.g3 Rh3 is the nasty threat. g8 29.xe4 h6 30.h3 d8 31.c1 e7 32.g5 g8 33.c6 f6 Black has shed two pawns now, but his position has not improved one iota. 34.c4 c8 35.f5 e8 36.e6 a4 37.e7 d1 38.exg7 xh3 39.g8+!
xg8 40.xg8+ [ 40.xg8+ xg8 41.f7# ] 1-0
793
A20
Keres,Paul N,Archana [Tony Kosten] 1.c4 e5 2.g3 [ 2.c3 f6 3.g3 c6 As White hasn't forced Black to play ... Nc6, thus obstructing the c-pawn, this is a strong move, intending to set-up a strong centre with ...d5. The problem with having the knight on c3 is shown by the line A) The alternative line, where White lures the black centre forward in Alekhine's Defence fashion, is 4.f3 e4 5.d4 b6 as seen previously, and ( This is rarer than 5...d5 6.cxd5 b6 which also offers Black fine play.; the surprising sac 5...b5!? has also been analysed in Silva,F-Efimov, I. ); B) 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 d5 6.cxd5 ( 6.g2 m a y b e s a f e r , e6 7.cxd5 cxd5 transposing to a later note ) 6...cxd5 B1) 7.g5 c6 8.a4 d4 9.d1 ( if 9.0-0-0 d7 10.h3 then xh3!? 11.xh3 c8 is also possible here) 9...d7 10.h3 xh3 11.xh3 c8 12.xf6 gxf6 13.d5 xh3 14.xf6+ d8 15.xd4+ c8 16.c4 b8 White's compensation for the piece is insufficient, Losoff, A-Alburt,L/Chicago 1989.; B2) 7.g2 c6 8.a4 when the move d4! is awkward, i.e . 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.e4 b4+! ( 10...xe4? 11.xc6+ ) 11.xb4 xe4 12.f3 c5 with advantage.; B3) 7.f3 is considered in elsewhere, whilst: ] 2...f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 exd4 The most aggressive move, whereby Black accepts an IQP in exchange for active piece play. [ 4...b4+ is a more solid choice. 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 d6 7.c3 ( I think that 7.e3 first, is more accurate) 7...e7 8.e3 ( 8.e4!? d5!? is analysed somewhere else.) 786
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8...0-0 9.ge2 has also been seen. ] 5.xd4 d5 6.f3 [ 6.cxd5 allows the f8-bishop to come directly to c5, without having to play . ..Be6, i. e. cxd5 7.f3 c6 8.a4 c5 although play is likely to transpose, anyway, o n e e x c e p t i o n i s 9.0-0 0-0 10.c3 when instead of ...Be6 I tried d4!? 11.c4 b4!? 12.b5 e6 13.d3 c5 14.f4 c8 15.a3 a6 16.b4 axb5 17.bxc5 c4 with good play, Koshy,V-Kosten,A/Calcutta 1996. ] [ Players wishing to try this as Black should note 6.c3!? as e6 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.g5 c6 9.a4 will bring quick pressure on d5, and dissuades Black from playing ...Bc5: e7 10.d1 0-0 11.f3 b6 12.b5 Usachi,M-Kosten,A/Oberwart 1993, with equality. ] 6...e6!? [ This rare move is becoming popular through the efforts of Krashenkov. Black wan ts t o f orce W h it e to ca pt ure o n d5 , which allows Black to bring his f8-bishop to a m o re a c t ive squ a re . T h e m o re u su a l 6...e7 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.0-0 c6 9.a4 0-0 10.e3 g4 11.d4 allows White a firm control of d4. ] [ 6...dxc4!? is an interesting alternative, if Black wishes to avoid the IQP. ] 7.cxd5 [ 7.g5 might be better, dxc4 8.xe6 b4+ 9.d2 xd2+ 10.xd2 fxe6 11.xc4 with a small edge, Jaderberg,B-Adler,B/ Sweden 1998. ] 7...cxd5 8.0-0 [ 8.a4+!? is an interesting finesse, seen in Urban,K-Krasenkow,M, White decides to 'fall before he is pushed'. c6 9.d4 ( 9.0-0 c5 would transpose into the main line, see t h e a r c h i v e s .) 9...d7 10.0-0 c5 play is similar to normal lines. ] 8...c6 9.a4 c5 10.c3 This is the most important move, although most games with this come from a 2 Nc3 move-order. [ 10.bd2 0-0 11.b3 b6 is a little passive ] [ The new idea 10.e5!? , attacking c6, is considered in Markowski,T-Krasenkow,M. ] [ 10.g5 is a critical line, exploiting the absence of the bishop from e7, 0-0 ( 10...h6
11.xf6 xf6 12.c3 also transposing) 11.c3 transposing to 10 Nc3, h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.fd1 ( I prefer 13.e1! planning Nd3-f4; 13.ad1?! fd8 14.e1 d4 already favours Black, Ekeberg,C-Myhrvold, R/Bergen NOR 2000.) 13...b6 14.b5 fd8 seems fairly level, Romanishin,OAgdestein, S/Taxco 1985. See the archives for more details. ] [ 10.a3 plans b4, but, again allows Black active play, see in Foisor,C-Kosten,A. ] 10...0-0 and now this position is examined in [A25].
794 Kortschnoj,Viktor Bacrot,Etienne (m/4) Albert [Nigel Davies]
A20 2610 2545 1997
With 6...Nc6 being all the rage in this line it's easy to forget that there is an alternative. 6... Ne7 looks playable in conjunction with 11... Qd7. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 e4 4.c3 d5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.b3 e7 [ This looks like a playable(ish) alternative to 6...c6 (Gelfand - Karjakin), but with the latter doing so well then should Black be bothered? ] [ On the other hand 6...f6 seems strongly met by 7.g5! , f o r e x a m p l e c6 ( 7...bd7 8.h3 intending 9.Nf4 is strong) 8.xf6 xf6 9.xd5 xd4 10.xd4 xd4 11.0-0-0 winning the e4 pawn. ] 7.f4 Threatening Nc3-b5. a6 8.f3!? [ Exchanging off White's 'bad' bishop with 8.xb8 xb8 9.e3 is sound enough but i n n o c u o u s . A f t e r e6 10.c1 c6 Black is certainly no worse. On the other hand this would be quite a good idea if Black now played 8...f5 because of the inviting home for W hite's g1 Knight on the f4 square. ] 8...exf3 9.xf3 [ In his notes to the game Korchnoi analysed 9.e4!? bc6 when White's best is probably ( 9...dxe4? 10.c4! is good for W hite) 10.xf3 , transposing back into the game. ] 9...bc6 10.e4 e6 [ After 10...g4 Korchnoi gave the line 787
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.xd5 xd5 ( 11...xf3 12.c7+ xc7 13.xc7 xh1 14.d5 is strong ) 12.exd5 xf3 13.xf3 xd4 14.e4+ e7 15.xe7+ xe7 16.0-0-0 with the better endgame for White because of his bishops. ] 11.d1 [ 11.0-0-0!? looks very interesting, all the more so because Korchnoi didn't mention it. ] 11...dxe4 Black has several alternatives here: [ a) 11...a5?! 12.a4+ ac6 ( And not 12...b5 b e c a u s e o f 13.xb5+ axb5 14.xb5 ac6 15.xa8 etc. )] [ b) On 11...d7 Ko rchn o i ga ve 12.g5 as being good for White, but this isn't simple after g4 ( 12...a5 13.xe6 xb3 14.c7+ d8 15.xa8 seems to give W hite more than enough for the queen) 13.e2 ( Both 13.exd5!? a5; and 13.xd5 xd5 14.exd5 b4+ 15.f2 xd1 seem to rebound on W hite) 13...xe2 14.xe2 a5 15.c2 f6 and Black repels borders with a very reasonable position. This looks like the way Black should play it because now he runs into trouble. ] 12.d5 xd5 [ 12...a5? is bad because of 13.a4+ b5 14.xe4 f5 15.e2 threatening 16.d6. ] 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 d6 This looks like Black's only move. [ After 14...c8 there follows 15.g5 c5 16.xf7! xf7 17.c7+ g6 18.e6+ f6 19.g4+ f7 20.c4+ winning ] [ whilst 14...exf3 15.c7+ e7 16.e3+ f6 17.g5+ wins Black's queen. ] 15.xb7 0-0 [ And not 15...a5? b e c a u se o f 16.c7+ xc7 17.xe4+ f8 18.xc7 etc. ] 16.xd6 xd6 [ 16...e8 17.xc6 exf3+ 18.f2 c8 19.c7 would defuse Black's play and leave him ruinously behind in material. ] 17.xc6 xc6 18.e7+ h8 19.xc6 exf3 The complications have fizzled out into an endgame but one in which White is clearly better. It still needs accurate handling of course. 20.f2 ac8 21.b4! c1 22.d3 [ And not 22.g2?? because of c4! . ] 22...a1 23.g2 xa2 24.xf3 d8 25.c1 g6 26.e3 g7 27.c7?! [ Korchnoi later felt that 27.c5! intending
Bf3-d5 was the correct way to regroup. ] 27...a5 28.a7?! [ And here 28.c6 may have been better. ] 28...d6 29.g4 b5 30.b4 h5 31.gxh5 gxh5 32.b7 bb6 33.c8 f6? The losing move. [ 33...bc6 would have held the draw. ] 34.c5! g6 35.xa6 f5 36.h4 f4+ 37.f3 f6 38.xb6 xb6 39.d3 c6 40.b7 c3 41.xf4 f6 42.e4 b3 43.e3 b1 44.d4 g1 45.b5 e6 46.b6 1-0
795 Kortschnoj,Viktor Rublevsky,Sergei Korchnoi 70 St . Petersburg RUS (3) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2639 2657 20.03.01
1.c4 f6 2.g3 e5 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.d3 d6!? [ A novelty! The bishop goes directly to a more active square than normal. 7...e7 is almost invariably played here, leading to normal main lines. ] 8.b3 [ O n e o f m a n y p o s s i b i l i t i e s , 8.c3 being the most obvious, intending to take th e bish o p pa ir at som e p oint , b y Ne 4 / b5xd6. ] 8...0-0 9.b2 g4 10.bd2 d7 Black co nt inu es h is de ve lo pm e nt , wh ils t keeping his e5-pawn well-guarded. 11.c1 ae8 12.e4 h3 As Black is going to lose his dark-squared bishop, he quickly exchanges W hite's other bishop so that he won't have the bishop pair. 13.c5 xc5 14.xc5 xg2 15.xg2 f6 Black's opening seems reasonably successful, he has completed his development, and bolstered his centre. 16.b4! White needs to obtain some counterplay on the queenside. f7 [ 16...xb4? 17.b3+ 4d5 18.e4 wins a piece for insufficient compensation. ] 17.a3 d4! A standard positional ploy, Black opens the e-file against the backward e2pawn. 18.xd4 exd4 19.c2 fe7 20.e1 h8 [ 20...a6 stops White's further queenside expansion. ] 788
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.b5 d6 22.a4! Swapping the a-pawn for the d-pawn. xa4 23.c4 b6 24.xd4 a3 25.h4!? [ Very ambitious, White wants to win by direct attack, but some simple move such as 25.e3 could be considered, removing the need to defend the e-pawn. ] 25...a6 26.d4 h6 27.h5!? [ W hite wants more than 27.bxa6 xa6 28.e4 but starts going down the wrong path. ] 27...a5! Pinning the b-pawn. 28.g4 axb5 29.g5 d5! Ouch! This puts a spanner in the works. 30.f5 [ 30.gxh6?? f4+ ] 30...c6 31.e4! [ Not 31.gxh6?? g6 32.xg6?? f4+ ] 31...d8 32.gxh6?? [ W hite f a lls f or th e sam e trick, 32.exd5! xe1 33.xe1 xe1 34.gxh6 g5 35.h4 is roughly equal. ] 32...g6 33.g4 gxh5 34.h4 g8+ 35.f1 [ Presumably both players were in time trouble, and Black lost on time, as otherwise he is simply a rook up after 35.f1 g4 I expect we may see a lot more finishes like this with the new FIDE time controls! ] 1-0
endgame is quite pleasant for Black who can play ...d5 and free his position. Previously, [ 7...e7 was played, to keep the queens on, 8.0-0 0-0 9.c3 e8 10.d4 ( 10.d1!? b4 11.d4 ) 10...c5 (again!) 11.d1 d6 12.b3 f5 13.b2 e7 14.d4 Black hasn't managed to play ...d5, and White has an edge, Cekro,E-Van Mechelen, J/Antwerp 1997. ] 8.xe7+ xe7 9.0-0 White cannot stop Black from playing ...d5, and recapturing with a piece, i.e. [ 9.c3 b4 ( 9...d5 might be worse, 10.cxd5 b4 11.dxc6!? c2+ 12.f1 xa1 13.d4 and, surprisingly, White will regain a piece while the a1-knight remains awkwardly-placed on a1.) 10.0-0 d5 11.cxd5 ( 11.a3!? c2 12.a2 dxc4 13.d1 f5 14.e5 is unclear) 11...bxd5 Black has no worries. ] 9...d5 10.cxd5 [ 10.bd2 e6 11.b3 0-0 12.b2 retained more tension, but Black is fine. ] 10...xd5 11.e4!? I wanted to 'prove' that I had some advantage, but this simply weakens t h e d 3 - s q u a r e ( a n d l a t e r d 4 , t o o ) . db4 12.e1?! This was my idea, menacing the win of a piece by a3, but it is too ambitious it was time to develop some bits: [ 12.c3 d3 13.d1 xc1 14.axc1 796 A20 Black has snatched the bishop pair, but W h i t e h a s a h e a lt h y p o si t io n , a n d c a n Kosten,Anthony C 2551 consider e5, and Ne4-d6, for instance. ] Collins,A 4NCL 24.11.2002 12...c5 13.d2 a5 14.c3 e6 15.b3? [ 15.xg7? is also a mistake, g8 16.d4 [Tony Kosten] c4 winning the exchange, but I should have played ] 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 exd4 [ 15.d2 so that if xa2 ( 15...0-0 16.a3 5.xd4 a6 6.f3 c5!? A move first bd3 17.xd3 xd3 18.f3 p la ye d b y L a r ry Ch r is t ia n s e n , I b e lie ve , appears fairly level) 16.xg7 g8 17.d4 gaining a tempo on the white queen. 0-0-0 18.ef3 play is completely obscure. ] [ 6...e7 was played in my game against 16.d2 fd8 17.ef3 Miltner (see the second-move note to Miezis- 15...0-0 I had originally intended Zapata) ] [ 17.c4? b u t t h e n n o t i c e d a4! 7.e5+ and White is in trouble. ] [ 7.d1 allows Black to equalise easily: 0-0 An interesting idea, to exploit the 8.c3 e8!? ( 8...d5 9.cxd5 b4 10.0-0 17...g4!? bxd5 is completely equal, Kelly, B-Motwani, weakness on d3. 18.a3 xf3! The simplest, I P/Lichfield ENG 2000) 9.0-0 d6 10.a4 had been busily analysing [ 18...c2 19.a2 xa3 20.xa3 xf3 f5 11.a3 d5 with chances to both sides, ( 20...xe4?! looks good, but then there is Zueger,B-Christiansen,L/Bern 1996. ] 21.a4! xc3 22.xg4 and White wins a 7...e7!? A novelty, and why not? The 789
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 piece ) 21.xf3 xe4 22.xe4 xa3 23.c4 b4 which isn't very clear. ] 19.xf3? I miss assessed the resulting position, as my opponent pointed-out after the game, I should play [ 19.axb4 axb4 20.xb4 with fair chances to draw. ] 19...c2 20.a2 d4! Again I thought my opponent intended [ 20...xa3!? 21.xa3 xe4 as above, but this is much stronger. ] 21.d1 Played after a long reflection, I had t h o u gh t t h a t t h e o p p o sit e -c o lo u r b is h o p position was possible, but [ 21.xd4 xd4 22.b1 g5 23.c4 a4! ( 23...xe4 is not bad either) 24.b4 b3 and White is lost, the knight is hanging, and if it moves ...Nd2 forks rook and bishop. ] 21...b5 22.a1 xa3 Winning a pawn. 23.xa3?! This hasten s matters, I could still have tried to do something with my bishop pair after [ 23.e5 ] 23...xd2 24.b4 [ 24.c3 xe4 25.xa5 xa5 26.xa5 b2 27.b6 c5 is also hopeless. ] 24...d3! A killer, I had hoped to generate some tactical chances on the kingside after [ 24...xe4 25.e3 f5 26.g4!? (although White is still lost, of course). ] 25.xa5 [ 25.c3 also fails to xb4 ] 25...xa5 26.bxa5 c5 With a triple attack on f2. 27.b3 xf2 28.g2 h5!? (Threatening mate!) 29.g4? Time trouble, [ 29.c3 e2 ( 29...d3? 30.xf7+! xf7 31.e1 ) 30.e1 xe1 31.xe1 xe4 was a big improvement. ] 29...xg4+ 30.g3 d3+ 31.f3 xf3+ 32.xf3 xh2+ 33.g2 g4 34.c3 f8 I would normally resign, but as the match situation was still unclear ... 35.e5 e7 36.f3 g6 37.f4 e3 38.d2 d5+ 39.f3 d4 40.e4 c3 41.g5+ e6 42.c4 xe5 43.a6 bxa6 44.xa6 f5+ 45.f3 f6 46.c1 c5 0-1
797 Kosten,Anthony C Jones,Gawain C Masters Bunratty [Nigel Davies]
A20
27.02.2011
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 b4+ 4.d2 xd2+ 5.xd2 d6 6.c3 f6 7.g2 0-0 8.e3 e6 9.d1 a6 10.b3 [ This has been played almost as a matter of course though it's worth mentioning that 10.f3!? is legal here. After e4 11.g5 xc4 12.gxe4 xe4 13.xe4 f5 14.d3 the position looks about equal, but with more imbalance than after 10.b3. ] 10...exd4 11.xd4 b4!? A new idea which appears to equalise. [ P r e v i o u s l y B l a c k h a s p l a y e d 11...a5 which a lso se em s very re ason ab le , f o r example 12.d2 ( 12.ge2 d5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.0-0 xc3 15.xc3 xc3 16.xc3 fd8 17.h3 f8 wasn't really anything for W hite either in Glud, JMortensen, E/Denmark 2009.) 12...c7 13.ge2 ( 13.f3 might have been a better choice ) 13...d5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.xd5 xd2+ 16.xd2 xd5 17.0-0 xg2 18.xg2 fd8 19.fd1 xd2 20.xd2 f8 21.c3 e7 22.f4 d7 1/2-1/2 was Reinderman, D-Giri, A/Groningen 2009. ] 12.d2 f5 13.e4 e8 14.ge2 [ 14.ce2!? appears to be very embarrassing as he's attacking two pieces. But Black gets a strong attack after xe4 15.xe4 xe4 16.xb4 f6 17.f3 c3 18.xd6 e5! , f o r e x a m p l e ( 18...a5 19.xf6 axb4 20.d6 xe2 21.xe2 xa2 22.d2 a1+ 23.d1 a2 is only a draw) 19.d2?! ( 19.f2 xe2 20.d2 c3 21.d3 seems to hang on, but I don't like it) 19...xe2 20.xe2 a1+ 21.f2 xe2+ 22.xe2 ( 22.xe2 xh1 ) 22...xa2+ 23.f1 d8 etc. ] 14...xe4 15.xe4 xe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.xb4 e7 18.d2 e8 19.0-0 c5 [ 19...c5 20.a5 xe2 21.xe2 xe2 22.xa7 leaves it equal. ] ½-½
790
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.a1 d5 23.b1 b6 24.xe5! Tactical opportunism of the best variety. Kotsur,Pavel White takes the chance to change the nature Naiditsch,Arkadij of the position before Black strengthens his WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (1.1) grip. fxe3 [Jonathan Rowson] [ 24...fxe5 25.g5 e7 26.xe6 xe6 27.e4 is comfortable for White- Black's 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 remaining light squares will be very weak. ] 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.b3!? e6 8.b2 f6 9.c2 A curious move that only makes 25.fxe3 fxe5 26.c4 h5 27.b2 f6 sense when you realise that White is trying to 28.f2 d7 29.g2 h6 30.e4 b5 play d2-d4 in one move without allowing ...e5- 31.cd2 b6 32.f2 Now White appears to be better, but Black manages to complicate e4 in return. 33.f3 [ 9.d3 is absolutely fine, but White then enough to hold the balance. e8 loses whatever he sting the idea of a quick d5 34.e2 b4 35.xe5 c3 36.b2 [ 36.g4!? is more fun. ] d2-d4 has in this move order. ] 37.d4 g8 38.dxc5 xc5 [ 9.d4 is the most straightforward approach, 36...xb3 but is unlikely to give any advantage- if 39.axb4 a4 40.a3 xe3 41.xc8 xf2+ anything the opposite. e4! As a rule of 42.xf2 xc8 43.g1 b6+ 44.e3 xb4 thumb, these French-like pawn structures 45.c6 b6 46.xa7 xe3+ tend to be favourable in almost all openings ½-½ other than the French! For instance in the open Sicilians, W hite usually meets ...d5 A20 with e5, and here, in some sort of reversed 799 dragon, the same issue applies- if W hite Kramnik,Vladimir 2785 goes for d2/d3-d4, Black usually tries to Bacrot,Etienne 2695 respond with ...e4 when possible. Perhaps World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (36) 22.11.2007 the point is that in the French Black's pieces [Carsten Hansen] tend to be on squares to help a quick source of counterplay, for instance the knights on 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f5 After 2 g3 this move much d7 and c6 hit the e5 point, contribute to p l a y a b l e t h a n a f t e r 2 N c 3 , t h o u g h control of d4 and make ...f6 and g5 plausible. nevertheless still considered dubious by some In this case, the bishop on g2 might be a u t h o rit ie s, su ch a s R ib li in C h e s s B a s e slightly misplaced, as is the bishop on b2, Magazine. 3.d4 exd4 while Black's knight on b6, which is [ 3...e4 4.h3 ] otherwise a bit unsure of itself, now looks at 4.xd4 c6 5.e3+!? This is considered the juicy d5 square with glee. the critical line e7 A) 10.e1 f5 11.f3 exf3 12.xf3 [ The alternatives are: A) 5...e7 6.c3 ( 12.exf3!? d7 and 0-0-0 looks good for ( 6.f3 is h armless: f6 7.d4 xe3 Black ) 12...e7 looks very comfortable for 8.xe3 b4+ 9.d2 xd4 10.xd4 e4 Black; 11.e3 b6 12.a3 xd2+ 13.xd2 xd2 B) 10.fd2 f5 and again Black has some 14.xd2 b7= Spanton, T-Rosen, D/4NCL sort of good reversed French. ] (Birmingham) 2002) 6...f6 ( 6...b4?! [ 9.a3 d7 ( 9...a5 10.c2 a4 )] 7.d2 ) 7.g2 xe3 8.xe3 b4 9...b4! Equally strange, and effective. Noroozi, O-Barzigar, B/Tehran IRI 2004, and 10.c1 c5! 11.d3 e7 12.bd2 0-0 now 9.d2! leaves White with a small plus. ] 13.e4 c8 14.a3 c6 Black is very [ B) 5...f7 is unnecessarily artistic and comfortable. 15.d1 d4 16.fd2 d7 p r o v o c a t i v e 6.f3 ( 6.h3!? ) 6...f6 17.e1 fd8 18.c1 f8 19.e3 f5 20.f1 7.g2 b4+ 8.d2 ( 8.c3 e8 9.d3 The position is roughly equal, but I would take Ribli ) 8...e8 9.b3 c5 ( 9...xd2+ Black. In any case it feels like Black slightly 10.bxd2 e7 11.0-0 Ribli ) loses his way around here. h8 21.c2 f7 A) 10.0-0 e4!? ( 10...xe2 11.c3 798
A20 2587 2641 27.11.2005
791
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e8 12.g5 Ribli ) 11.c3; B) 10.c3 h6 ( 10...g8 11.g5 ) 11.0-0 d6 12.ad1 a6 13.a4! e4 ( 13...a7 14.c5+ Ribli ) 14.xc5 xc5 15.a3 xe2 ( 15...a5? 16.b4 ) 16.e3 e4 ( 16...e6 17.c5 ) 17.d4! xd4 18.xd4 B1) 18...g5 19.c3 g6 ( 19...e6 20.d5 ) 20.c5 Ribli; B2) 18...e7 19.f3 g5 ( 19...d2 20.xe4+- ) 20.h5+! g6 ( 20...f8 21.h4 e6 22.xe2 xd4 23.xd4 xe2 24.c5 Ribli ) 21.xe2 xe2 22.e3! xe3 23.xe3 Delchev, ANikcevic, N/France 2003 ] 6.g2 f6 7.c3 0-0 8.h3 [ 8.d5 e8 9.xe7+ xe7 10.xe7 xe7 11.g5 f7 12.xf6 xf6 13.h3 e7 14.0-0-0 d6 15.he1 b8 16.f4 Rivas Pastor, M-Castro Valero, J/Mallorca 2000 ] 8...e8 Others: [ 8...d6 9.0-0 e5 A) 10.b3 c6 11.d1 e8 12.d4 a5 13.a4 ( 13.d2!? ) 13...fd7 14.d2 c5 15.b1 c7 16.a5 f8 17.f3 e6 18.f2 ad8 Romero Holmes, A-De la Villa Garcia, J/Leon 1996; B) 10.d5 c6 ( 10...xd5 11.cxd5 c5 12.f4 ) 11.xe7+ xe7 12.b3 d7 13.a3 fg4 14.d2 f6 15.ad1 f7 16.fe1 Just, J-Kuehn, P/Berlin 1978 ] [ 8...b4 The idea behind this move isn't just ...Nc2+, but also to play ...c7-c6 and ... d7d5. 9.d2 a5 10.f4 c6 11.0-0 A) 11...d6 12.b3 ( 12.a3?! a6 13.b3 c5 is fully adequate for Black. ); B) 11...a6 12.d3 ( 12.b3 c5 13.b2 ) 12...d6 13.b3 e8 14.b2 d8 15.ae1 e4 16.c2 ( 16.xe4?! fxe4 ) 16...ec5?! ( 16...ac5 17.xc5 xc5 18.e3 Ribli ) 17.d1 Miezis, NDamljanovic, B/Istanbul 2000 ] [ 8...b4 9.0-0 ( 9.d2 d6 10.d5 xd2+ 11.xd2 e4 12.c2 d4 13.d3 e6 14.0-0 c6 15.df4 6c5 Wiener, RKrivda, M/corr 2001) 9...e7 10.a3 xc3 11.xc3 d5 12.d1 c6 13.b4 a5 14.b1 axb4 15.axb4 e8 16.b2 Kern, G-Todts, B/Vlissingen 2005 ] 9.0-0 f8
[ 9...b4 10.d3 e5 11.c2 c6 12.a3 f8 13.b3 d6 14.b2 e6 15.g5 e7 16.ad1 ad8 17.xe6 xe6 18.e3 Chernin, A-Bologan, V/ Geneve 1996 ] 10.d2 e5 11.b3 d6 12.f4 c6 13.d1 c7 14.a3 f7 15.ac1 d7 16.e3 ad8 17.b4 [ 17.b4!? ] 17...e5 18.e2 [ 18.b2!? ] 18...g5 19.h5 xh5 20.xh5 e6 21.xg5+ g7 22.xg7+ xg7 23.b5 [ 23.b2 xc4 24.c2 d3 ] 23...xc4 24.bxc6 xa3? [ 24...bxc6 25.xc6 xa3 26.xe8 xe8 ] 25.cxb7 xc3 26.xc3 c4 27.d5? [ 27.d5! e7 28.xc4 xb7 29.c1 b2 30.a5+- ] 27...xd5 28.xd5 b6 29.a5 b8 30.c7 f8 31.xa7 f7 32.xf7 [ 32.c6 fxb7 33.xb7 xb7 34.xd6 c4 with decent drawing chances for White. ] 32...xf7 33.a4 e6 34.a5 d7?? [ 34...d5! 35.g2 d7 36.f3 c6 37.e4 fxe4+ 38.xe4 b4 39.f4 d5+ 40.d4 b5 41.c3 c6-+ ] 35.g2 d5 36.f3?? [ 36.a6 c5 37.f3 e5 38.h4 xa6 39.xa6 xb7 40.a5+ leaves White with excellent winning chances ] 36...c6?? [ 36...e5+ 37.f4 c6 38.a8 xb7 , and now it is Black who can play for a win ] 37.a6 c5 38.a8 c7 39.a7! xb7 40.c8+! 1-0
800 Kramnik,Vladimir Carlsen,Magnus 6th Tal Memorial (3) [John Bartholomew]
A20 2800 2826 18.11.2011
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 h6 Possibly a slight nod to Kramnik's tremendous theoretical prowess. 3...h6 is not new to the top level, though GMs have been more likely to ve n tu re it a t b lit z/ rap id t im e co nt ro ls . Regarding the merits of 3...h6, I agree with 792
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 what John Watson wrote in his notes to Colin Libiszewski (below): "The mighty 3...h6 has been played by leading players for a few years now. As with so many modern moves, it's a useful waiting move that depends upon White to commit to a particular formation before reacting. At the same time, it serves a purpose in most logical continuations that the players might agree upon. W hite's task is simply to f ind a set up which is normally eit her no t available to him without the extra tempo that Black hands him, or harmless without ...h6 but favourable because of White's extra move. " With that in mind, let's see how the game unfolds. 4.c3 [ Quite interesting is 4.f3 c6 ( 4...e4!? 5.d4 ) 5.d4 , see Colin, V (2415)Libiszewski, F (2482)/Besancon 2006/[John Watson]. ] [ G M G u r e v i c h t w i c e p l a y e d 4.d3 , which doesn't make a serious attempt to profit from 3...h6. See the archives for c6 , Gurevich, M (2652)-Anand, V (2788)/Bastia 20 05 06 / [J oh n W at so n] , ( and 4...c5 Gurevich, M (2652)-Malakhov, V (2670)/ Khanty Mansiysk 2005/ [Nigel Davies]. )] [ In the only previous game where Carlsen vent ure d 3. ..h 6, h is oppo nen t tried th e unc onvinc in g 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 c6 6.d1 . T h e g a m e c o n t i n u e d b4+ ( 6...c5 ) 7.d2 xd2+ 8.xd2 0-0 , with level chances, though Magnus went on to lose. Ostenstad, B (2480)-Carlsen, M (2673)/Moss 2006. ] 4...b4 5.e4 Ambitious - Kramnik is trying to put the 'extra' move to good use with unabashed central play. We see 5.e4 in more common form (with .. .0-0 instead of ...h6 for Black) in Naidtisch - Topalov. [ The text is most popular, though 5.f3 also makes a great deal of sense. Now Black has three main possibilities: A) 5...e4 6.d4 is a bit better for White, i. e. xc3 7.dxc3 0-0 8.0-0 e8 9.b3 d6 10.c2 b6 11.e3 b7 12.d5 , completing a typical maneuver. Markowski, T (2610)-Pavlovic, M (2593)/ Plovdiv 2003.; B) 5...xc3 6.dxc3 ( or 6.bxc3 - this recapture may be more promising, e. g. e4 7.d4 0-0 8.0-0 with a typical
stru ctu re in which W h ite sho uld have better chances. Ribli, Z (2585)-Rustemov, A (2564)/ Germany 2005.) 6...d6 7.0-0 c6 8.e1 e6 9.b3 d7 10.e4 0-0-0!? Hulak, K (2564)-Bologan, V (2676)/Ohrid 2001.; C) 5...c6 Logical development. 6.0-0 d6 ( or 6...0-0 ) 7.d3 ( 7.d4!? would be the most ambitious, when xc3 8.bxc3 0-0 prod uces a com plex p osit io na l f igh t .) 7...0-0 8.d2 e6 9.h3 d7 10.h2 fe8 11.a3 c5 12.b4 b6 13.c1 a6= wi t h a p o s i t i o n c h a r a c t e r i s t i c o f t h e Karpov Variation. Rukavina, J (2418)Balogh, C (2567)/Zuerich 2005. ] 5...c6 [ More common is 5...xc3 6.bxc3 0-0 7.e2 , when the Naidtisch - Topalov game indicates to us that Black would love to get in ...c7-c6 and ...d7-d5. Here White can beat him to the punch: c6 ( The solid 7...d6 is normal; while 7...e8!? 8.0-0 c6 is a real attempt to achieve ...d7-d5 White can try to parry with 9.b3 , i.e. a6 10.a3 b6 11.d3 d6 12.ad1 c7 13.f4 c5 14.c2= Cekro, E (2410)-Glek, I (2575)/Vlaardingen 2005.) 8.d4 , although this seems acceptable for Black: d6 9.0-0 e8 10.e1 bd7 11.a3?! c5! Tkachiev, V (2642)-Fressinet, L (2625)/ Cannes 200607. ] 6.ge2 c5 Carlsen doesn't mind losing further time in order to enhance his control of the dark squares. 7.d3 [ We've actually seen this line before. Check the archives for 7.0-0 Buhmann, R (2603)Balogh, C (2613)/Jenbach AUT 2009/ [Nigel Davies]. ] 7...d6 8.h3 Prophylaxis against ...Bc8-g4. h7!? I really like this idea - the knight is headed to d4 via g5-e6. We're very familiar with White's occupation of d5 in the Botvinnik English via Ne1-c2-e3-d5 (or Nd2-f1-e3-d5) and the underlying positional logic behind such a maneuver. As he does so frequently, Ca rlse n de cide s to p ut a lit tle twis t on a standard concept. Great imagination from the world 1! [ 8...0-0 9.0-0 e6 would be very standard. Theoretically speaking, Black stands well at this point, so W hite needs to rethink his 793
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 strategy against 3...h6. ( or 9...a6; or 9...a5 )] 9.a3 a6 [ T h i s i s a c a s e w h e r e 9...a5 seems preferable to prevent W hite's queenside expansion. ] 10.0-0 g5 Gaining a tempo to accomplish the intended maneuver. 11.h2 e6 12.f4 d7 13.b4 Kramnik is correctly playing on both wings. a7 14.d5 ed4 [ Trying to further soften White's kingside with 14...h5!? is intriguing. ] 15.ec3 The knight seems a little superfluous on c3, but evidently Kramnik didn't want to allow an exchange on e2 followed by ...Nc6-d4 and ...c6-c7, kicking White's knight from d5. [ T h e i m m e d i a t e 15.fxe5 dxe5 16.c5 was possible, shutting out the bishop. ] 15...e6?! I don't see the point of this move. [ 15...h5!? ] 16.f5 d7 17.b1 White is beginning to g e n e r a t e s o m e c o n c r e t e t h r e a t s . b8!? 18.c5!? [ 18.g4 f8 and now Houdini's top move is 19.d1 , so it's safe to say things are unclear:) ] 18...dxc5 19.bxc5 c8 Carlsen is really playing matador to Kramnik's bull in this game! [ Black's position looks shaky after 19...xc5 20.xb7 d6 21.e3 bc6 , but I don't see anything clear-cut. ] 20.h5 The game is reaching a critical stage. [ On ChessBase. com, GM Ramirez examines 20.g4 f8 ( Ramirez claims that 20...g5! is stronger, with the nice supporting line 21.h5 c6 22.xg5 xg5 23.xg5 hxg5 24.c7+ d8 25.xa8 xc5 26.b6 xb6 27.xb6 b5! wh e n t h e r o o k i s t r a p p e d .) 21.h5! , with the idea that d7 is now met by 22.f6 g6 23.xh6+ e8 24.xg6!!+- when Black can't take the queen. ] 20...d7! 21.a4 c6!? Carlsen doesn't back down. [ 21...f6 22.xf6+ xf6 was safer. ] 22.db6 xc5! 23.f6 [ 23.xa8 xa4 24.f6 g5 25.xg5 transposes to the game. ( 25.h4!? )] 23...g5 24.xg5 [ 24.xc8!? ] 24...xa4 25.xa8 [ 25.xa4?! b5 26.c3 e6 (Ramirez) ]
25...b5 26.e3 A very messy position has arisen that revolves around the future of the a8 knight. Should Carlsen be able to win, he will have an overwhelming material advantage he n ce, K ram n ik will b e th ro win g vario u s ro a d b lo ck s in h is wa y. b8 White was threatening 27.Qxe5+ 27.g4 Now g4-g5 is on th e ca rd s. g8!? 28.xh6 e6 29.bc1 d7! 30.xd4 Again, White has to play with a sense of urgency. exd4+ 31.e5 c3 32.xc3! [ Carlsen was probably hoping for 32.f4 a7 , and with the d4 pawn solidly defended Black will pick up the knight. ] 32...xe5+ 33.h1 dxc3 34.e3 Kramnik is scrambling well. b8 35.c5 d6 36.a7+ d8 37.xa6 d4! 38.a5+ c8 39.a6+ d8 40.a5+ c8 41.a6+ Draw! If you've been following the coverage of the Tal Memorial, you'll now what computers (and thus commentators!) were quick to point out: b8 is likely winning for Black. After the forced 42.b6 , both Kramnik and Carlsen missed the excellent move c8! , when Black wins - for example, 43.xc8 xc8 44.a4 b4 45.c4 c5 etc. The majority of this game was clear as mud, but Carlsen's 3...h6 gave him a fine position out of the opening. His 7... Nh7!? conception as well as the possibility for completely normal play with 7...0-0 means W hite will have to go back to the drawing board. ½-½
801 Kuzmicz,Krystian Socko,Bartosz DMP Ekstraliga (5) [Jonathan Rowson]
A20 2400 2627 10.09.2008
1.g3 e5 2.g2 d5 3.c4 f6 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.b3!? An attempt to be distinctive. [ 7.d3 e7 8.a3 a5 9.b3 0-0 10.b2 f6 11.bd2 A) 11...g4!? Given White intends e3 and d4, it makes some sense to place the bishop out of the range of a prospective knight on d4. 12.c2 d7 13.fd1 ad8 14.ac1 h3 15.h1 d5 ( 15...g4 ) 794
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.e4 g4 17.c5 xc5 18.xc5 h8 19.b5 b6 20.e1 h5 21.d4 f7 22.dxe5 fxe5 23.c5 h6 24.e3 de8?! ( 24...d5 ) 25.xc6! bxc6 26.xe5 f6 27.f4 and White was clearly better in Mchedlishvili, M -Kasimdzhanov, R Emsdetten GER 2008; B) 11...e6 12.c2 Now if White is given the opportunity, he will play e3, Rfd1 and d4, possibly with Ne4 included. However, Bla c k ra re ly h a s t o a llo w t h is id e a t o proceed smoothly, and has various ways to compete e8 ( 12...f7!?; 12...d7!? ) 13.e3 d5 14.d4 exd4 15.xd4 xg2 16.xg2 xd4 17.xd4 c5 18.b2 c6+ 19.g1 a4 and Black has a slight initiative. ] 7...g6!? [ 7...d6 is probably best here, but many Black players stubbornly associate this line with the presence of bishops on e7 and e6. 8.b2 0-0 9.d3 I would prefer White but I am a life-long Sicilian player. Objectively Black should be fine. ] 8.b2 [ 8.c3!? g7 9.a3 looks more testing, b u t B l a c k m i g h t b e f u l l y o k a f t e r a5 intending Nb4 and 0-0 ] [ 8.a3!? a l so l o o k s i n t e r e st in g . g7 ( 8...xa3 9.xa3 0-0 is probably fine, but other things being equal these structures should slightly favour White.) 9.e1!? a5 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.c3 with highly unclear play. ] 8...g7 9.d3 0-0 10.c2 This feels a bit p r e m a t u r e . e8 11.bd2 f5 12.c4?! This looks compliant, but I am not sure White had anything better. [ 12.a3 e4! ] [ 12.fd1 e7 doesn't seem to help. ] 12...xc4 13.dxc4 e7 14.ad1 e6 15.c3 ad8 [ 15...e4 16.d4 xd4 17.xd4 ad8 l o o k s m o r e p r e c i s e . 18.b2? xd4 19.xd4 c5 ] 16.b2 e4 17.xd8 xd8 18.e5 xe5 19.xe5 xe5 20.xe5 d6 Black is clearly better. 21.c3 d4 22.a5 b6 23.c3 f7 24.e3 c5 25.a1 b6 26.f1 d6 27.c5?! An unforced error, doing Black's work for him. xc5 28.xc5 bxc5 29.c1 d5
Temporarily awkward, but Black now has extra sp a c e a n d h a lf a p a wn - e n o u gh t o h a v e se rio u s win n in g ch a n ce s. 30.c4 e5 31.f1 xc4+ 32.xc4 a6 33.e2 d5 34.a4 d6 35.c4 d5 36.a4 d6 37.c4 c6 38.h4 [ 38.f3 exf3+ 39.xf3 e6 40.e4 fxe4+ 41.xe4 looks drawish. ] 38...e6 39.d2 d5 40.c3 a5 41.a4 a6 42.c4 c6 43.a4 b5 44.c2 d6 45.c4 d8 46.c1 h6 47.c2 d5 48.c1 d6 49.c2 a6 50.a4 f6 51.c3 d6 52.c2 e6 53.d2 e8 54.c3 f8 55.c4 b6 56.a4 f6 57.c4 e6 58.a4 g5 59.hxg5 hxg5 60.g4 f4 61.d2 f3 62.c3 b5 63.c4 e8 64.a4 b6 65.c4 c6 66.a4 d6 67.xa5 h8 68.a6+ c6 69.a4 d5 70.a7 h4 71.d7+ e6 72.d2 xg4 73.a4 g1 74.b2 e1 75.a3 e2 76.d8 xf2 77.a5 f1 78.b2 f2 79.f8 e7 80.f5 d7 81.f7+ c8 82.a6 b8 0-1
802 Kuzmicz,Krystian Vovk,Yuri Najdorf Mem GpA (9) [Jonathan Rowson]
A20 2418 2557 28.07.2007
1.g3 e5 2.g2 f6 3.c4 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.b3 e4!? I suspect this is a bit dubious, though gambiteers who are at ease with being a pawn down for nebulous compensation might like it. I wrote this line before looking at the position very closely, but after a little analysis it seems the compensation is actually quite enduring, so I am no longer sure about ...e4. 8.e1 f5 [ 8...f5 9.b2 followed by d3, will leave Black's position rather loose. ] 9.c3 [ 9.b2!? ] 9...f6! 10.c2 0-0-0 [ 10...g6 11.e3 ] 11.xe4 [ 11.xe4!? xe4 12.xe4 f5 13.f3 intending Nf2, is also worth considering, but even here Black has quite easy play for the pawn. ] 795
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11...e6 [ 11...g6 12.d3 b8 followed by h5 looks plausible. Again, I don't think it is a pawn's worth, but there is no denying that Black's position is quite easy to play (Kb8 is not forced but it is useful to have c8 available for the bishop after Ne3). ( 12...h5 13.e3 e6 14.f4!? )] 12.d3 e7 13.g5 xg5 14.xg5 f6 15.e3 h3 [ 15...d5 keeps more tension in the position but the way Black plays almost seems to keep the balance so I am not sure it is an improvement. ] 16.xb6 Perhaps a bit simplistic. [ 16.e1!? ] [ 16.h1!? h5 17.g1 ] 16...axb6 17.d2 h5 18.e3! d7 19.f4 xg2 [ 19...h4! and seems to be fully adequate for Black. ] 20.xg2 h4 21.g4 he8 22.e3 d4 Now Black is winning material and is clearly better. 23.f5 g5 24.xd4 c6+ 25.e4 xd4 26.xd4 d7 27.f5 h3+ 28.xh3 xd3+ 29.f3 h8+ 30.g3 d2 31.h3 d8 32.f2 f4+ 33.g2 c6 34.e1 b5 35.e5 fxe5 36.e7+ b8 37.g6 b4 38.ee2 d1 39.xe5 f4 40.f1 xf1 41.xf1 g3 42.d3 xf3+ 43.f2 c5 44.c2 b6 45.e1 c7 46.e2 c4 47.c2 c3 48.b4 d6 49.e2 d5 50.e4 c2 51.d2 xe2+ 0-1
for Black, Gutsu,S-Dobrin,C/Eforie Nord 1998. ] 6.d2 b4 [ 6...xe5 7.xc4 is slightly to White's advantage. ] 7.gf3 c3?! [ Tempting, but in the light of what follows, 7...e6 is safer. ] 8.bxc3 xc3 9.0-0!! Blithely leaving a rook en prise! e7?! [ I suppose Black had to capture, but 9...xa1 10.c4 c7 ( 10...xa2? 11.d6+ f8 12.xc8 g6 13.d8+ g7 14.d6 wins ) 11.d6+ f8 12.a3 regains a piece with enormous compensation. ] 10.c4 d5 11.d6+ Now White obtains the attack without sacrifices. f8 12.xc8 xc8 13.a3+ g8 14.xd5 [ 14.xd5 cxd5 15.ac1 wins a bit. ] 1-0
804 Lenic,Luka Gajewski,Grzegorz ETCC (Open) Warsaw POL (4.42) [Fier, Alexandr]
A20 2637 2634 11.11.2013
One more game quickly following unknown paths. Lenic tries an idea of just going for the pawn on e4 and actua lly he takes it. Bu t Gajewski proves that the activity of Black's pieces a re e no ugh co mp en sa tion . 16 .b 6 would be more prudent in my view. 1.g3 e5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 e4 4.d5 Basically aimed to 803 A20 avoid 4...d5. It resembles the Sicilian with 1. Lauvsnes,Arild 2274 e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.c3 d5 4.e5 d4!?. This move Grotnes,Nils Ragnar 2291 was played by some strong players including TCh-Final Langesund NOR (2) 24.05.2001 Carlsen against Anand! b4+ [Tony Kosten] [ 4...f6 was Anand's choice and trying to keep the bishop later with 6...Qe7 5.g2 1.c4 c6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 e5 Transposing into b4+ 6.d2 e7 7.c3 0-0 a type of Keres system. 4.d4!? with a complex game in Carlsen, M (2733)[ Interesting, first 4.cxd5 would be more Anand, V (2799)/Amber Rapid Nice FRA usual. ] 2008. ] 4...dxc4 5.dxe5 a5+!? 5.d2 xd2+ Actually a novelty! But a quite [ A novelty! 5...xd1+ 6.xd1 is the normal normal move. way of playing this, c5 7.e3?! ( 7.d2!? [ 5...e3 is a t h e m a t ic s a cr i f i c e 6.fxe3 xf2 8.xc4 is fun ) 7...g4+ 8.e2 d7 ( 6.xb4 b6! 7.fxe3 xb4+ 8.d2 xb2 9.f4 0-0-0 10.e1 seems very promising and Black should be ok) 6...e7 7.b3 796
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c5 8.d3 with typical compensation due to W hite's strange structure in Carlstedt, J (2386)-Goh Wei Ming, K (2382)/Budapest FS03 GM 2011. ] [ 5...e7 allows transposition to Carlsen Anand: 6.c3 f6 7.g2 transposing. ] 6.xd2 f6 7.c3 0-0 8.g2 e8 9.d4 An ambitious idea, but Black has enough resources to hold the balance. [ 9.d6 tries to block Black's position, but allows another break: b5! 10.cxb5 ( 10.h3 i s a l s o p o s s i b l e bxc4 11.0-0 a6 followed by 12...Rb8) 10...cxb5 11.xb5 a6 12.h3 b8 13.c3 b6 with compensation. ] [ 9.h3 h6 ( 9...d6 10.dxc6 e3 11.fxe3 xh3 12.xh3 xc6 gives insufficient compensation because of the d5-square for t h e k n i g h t .) 10.0-0 e7 11.ad1 could be a possible follow up with a small advantage for White. ] 9...d6! Not losing time, suddenly all Black pieces are going to enter the game. 10.xe4 xe4 11.xe4 c5 12.d3 a5+ 13.f1 g6 A difficult position to evaluate, if White can coordinate his pieces the extra e-pawn will make the difference, so Black needs to be quick. 14.g2 [ 14.h4!? trying a brutal attack d7 15.h5 f6 16.hxg6 ( 16.xg6 hxg6 17.hxg6 c7 18.f3 e7 19.gxf7+ xf7 is also possible, but now Black's queen is h e l p i n g m o r e t h a n i n t h e m a i n l i n e .) 16...xe4 ( 16...xe4 17.gxh7+ h8 18.h6 g4 19.xe4 xh6 20.f4 xh7 21.f3 looks good for White with the rook coming to the h-f ile.) 17.gxf7+ xf7 18.xh7+ g6 19.h4 f5 with chances for both sides in a chaotic position. ] 14...b5! Creating counterplay on the other wing. 15.cxb5 [ 15.b3 maintains the pawn chain, bxc4 16.bxc4 f5 17.f3 d7 and ...Rb8, ...Ne5 are sufficient to keep the position alive ] 15...a6!? [ 15...d7 16.c2 ( 16.f3 this sacrifice can be played in this position and in the next variation, f5 17.xf5 gxf5 18.xf5 xb5 19.g5 e7 20.e6 xb2 21.g5+ f7 22.h6 g8= ) 16...xb5 17.f3 b8 again with enough
counterplay. ] 16.h3 [ 16.b6 makes sense, and it's a typical B e n k o m o v e , d7 17.f3!? ( 17.h3 xb6 18.c2 b4 19.f3 e5 20.g5 f5 and Black is fine.) 17...f5 18.xf5 gxf5 19.xf5 xb6 20.g5 e7 21.e6 f7 22.g4+ h8 23.g5 f8 but with only two white pieces attacking Black should be fine again. ] 16...axb5 With this structure Black will always ha ve so m e b re a ks a n d e xp a n sio n s . T h e position is about equal, but still easier to play for Black. 17.a3 d7 18.hd1 I'm not sure if this move is really useful. [ 18.f4 was possible f6 19.f3 f5 20.d1 a7 with the idea of bringing the q u e e n t o e 7 - e 5 21.h4 e7 22.e3 with a complex position. ] 18...c4 [ 18...d8!? the computer prefers using the queen on the other side, where it can better control the dark squares and White needs to t a k e s o m e c a r e s i n c e 19.f4 fails to ( 19.f3 e5 20.c3 f6 is also interesting for Black) 19...e7 20.f3 g5! 21.h5 g4!-+ winning a piece. ] 19.f3 e5 20.f6 xh3+ 21.xh3 b6 22.f4 c3!? Activating all the pieces [ 22...b4 was another possible break, and after 23.axb4 xa1 24.xa1 xb4 25.b1 c5 with the idea of playing 26...f5 in case of 26.Kg2. ] 23.bxc3 a4 24.d4 It's necessary to give the pawn back, but it's hard to evaluate if it was better to have the pawns on b2 and c4 or a3 and b5 xd4 25.cxd4 xd4 26.b1 c4 27.b2 c5 28.g2 c4 29.b3 xa3 Finally recovering the pawn, but now White has time to organize his pieces. 30.f3 f8 31.h4 c4 32.h5 And the counterplay is enough to hold the balance. d4 33.d3 xd5? This is a blunder, probably caused by time trouble. [ 33...xf4 was necessary and the position is ok for both players after 34.xf4 c8 35.hxg6 hxg6 36.d4= ] 34.xc4? Returning the favour. [ 34.hxg6! hxg6 35.xg6 and Black's king is now too open to resist, for example, e6 36.d3 e5 37.h4 h8 38.g5+ g7 797
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 39.xb5 e5 40.f5 and Black is just lost. ] 34...bxc4 35.h6 e6 36.d4 e5 37.xc4 g5 38.d4 xh6 39.xd6 Now it's just drawn. g5 40.f4 xf4 ½-½
20.g2 f8 21.f5 d8 22.xd6?! [ Strong enough, although the elementary 22.h8+ g8 23.xg8+! xg8 24.h3 force mate. ] 22...e7 23.h8+ g8 24.h3 1-0
805
806
Markowski,Tomasz Gajewski,Grzegorz 58th ch Warsaw POL (12) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2595 2344 30.03.2001
1.g3 e5 2.c4 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 b4+ 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 d6 7.c3 e7 8.e3 [ 8.e4!? d5! 9.cxd5 exd4! was examined in previously. ] 8...0-0 9.ge2 e4!? [ Unusual, and provocative, 9...bd7 and ] [ 9...e8 were evaluated in previous games. ] 10.d5! [ White 'isolates' the e4-pawn. Previously, 10.0-0 e8 11.h3 h5! (else White plays g4) 12.f3 exf3 13.xf3 h7! yielded nothing in Franco Ocampos,Z-Conquest,S/Saint Vincent ITA 2000. ] 10...c5 11.h3 h5 Again, Black has to stop White from playing g4, and Ng3, winning the e4-pawn. 12.0-0-0 [ 12.g4!? hxg4 13.hxg4 xg4 14.g3 is also possible, but White prefers to bring his king to safety first. ] 12...a6 13.c2 e8 14.g4! Thematic, and s t r o n g. W h it e u n d e r m in e s t h e e -p a wn ' s defence, and opens files on the kingside. hxg4 15.g3! [ 15.hxg4 xg4 16.h2 and 17 Rdh1 also has its points. ] 15...gxh3 16.xh3 xh3 17.xh3 g6 18.dh1 The attack down the h-file is already decisive. bd7 19.f4! [ This move, freeing the second rank, is e v e n s t r o n g e r t h a n 19.gxe4 xe4 20.xe4 xe4 21.xe4 xe4 22.h8+ which picks-up an exchange. ] 19...g7 [ 19...exf3 loses to the pretty variation: 20.f5! gxf5 21.g3+ g4 22.xg4+! fxg4 23.h7+ and mate next move. ]
Markowski,Tomasz Krasenkow,Michal TCh-POL Lublin POL (2) [Nigel Davies]
A20 2632 2651 13.09.2009
Markowski's 3.Bg2 is probably designed to avoid the line 3.d4 exd4 4.Qxd4 Nf6 5.Bg2 Na 6 . B u t h e lo se s so m e o p tio n s a gain s t Krasenkow's choice because his bishop is already committed to g2. Black equalises with some ease but finds himself outplayed in the middle and endgame. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 cxd5 5.d4 e4 6.c3 c6 7.h3 b4 [ Black can also play 7...e7 , for example 8.a3 (this looks passive) h6 ( Presumably delaying 8...f6 because of 9.g5 but then b6 seems quite playable) 9.f4 f6 10.b4 ( 10.b3 can be answered by a5 ) 10...g5 11.h3 f5 gave Black a good ga m e in Ja n o sch ka , A (2 3 0 4 )-S o rm , D (2371), Bad Homburg 2008. ] 8.0-0 ge7 9.f4 0-0 10.b3 xc3 11.xc3 [ 11.bxc3 a5 would immediately exploit the weakness of the c4 square. ] 11...d6 [ Varying from a previous Markowski game, Markowski, T (2549)-Jenni, F (2483), Bled 200 2. In t hat o ne Black p la ye d 11...g6 a f t e r wh i c h 12.xg6 hxg6 13.b3 f5 14.a3 was a bit better for White. ] 12.f3 f5 Keeping White's g2 bishop out of the game by supporting the granite barrier on e4. 13.fxe4 fxe4 14.d2 f5 15.e3 Passive. [ White should have given 15.b4 a try, ] [ or maybe even 15.c5 . ] 15...g5 16.h3 h6 Black has obtained an easy game from the opening, so his early play can be considered and unqualified success. Of course after the opening the gods placed t h e m i d d le a n d e n d ga m e . 17.f2 h5 798
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.b3 h7 19.ac1 d7 20.b4 h4 21.g4 e6 22.h3 g7 [ 22...xb4 would have been at least equal for Black and was probably better than the move played. Could it be that Black wanted to keep pieces on because he thought it was the best way to aim for the full point? ] 23.a3 f7 24.c3 g8 25.c5 af8 26.d6 [ 26.xe4 is tempting, but Black can meet it with b6 ( And not 26...dxe4? 27.xg5+ ) 27.b5 a6 28.xa6 dxe4 when White will struggle to find adequate compensation. ] 26...xd6 27.xd6 d8 28.a3 c8 29.d1 d6 30.b3 b5 31.c5 c8 32.xf7 xf7 33.f1 c7 34.c3 e8 35.a3 b8 36.f2 a6 37.e1 g6 38.d2 c7? This should lose a pawn. [ 38...f6 was better. ] 39.e2? [ Just before the time control White misses a n im m e d i a t e wi n vi a 39.xd5! xd5 40.xc7 xc7 41.d6 , winning back the piece and keeping the extra pawn. ] 39...d7 40.f1 c6 41.a4 ef6 42.e7 g8 43.b4 gf6 44.a3 c8 45.b2 c6? After White's strong reply Black feels obliged to present his opponent with a quee nside p awn majority a f te r wh ich his chances of holding the game diminish sharply. [ 45...e8 w a s b e t t e r w h e n 46.c1 ( 46.c5?! is simply met by xc5 47.dxc5 xc5 ) 46...xc1 47.xc1 is better for White but by no means as good in the game. ] 46.c5! xc5 47.dxc5 d7 48.b4 e6 49.d4 e8 50.f8 e7 51.c3 f7 52.xf7 xf7 53.e5 e6 54.d4 a4 55.h2 f6 56.c7 d7 57.d8 e5 58.xg5 b5 59.xb5 f3+ 60.c3 axb5 61.d8 f7 [ A l s o a f t e r 61...d7 White's queenside pawns will march sooner or later, for example after 62.f6 e6 63.g5 h2 64.a4 . ] 62.g5 e5 63.f6 c6 64.b3 e6 65.c3 f5 66.a4 The beginning of the end. bxa4+ 67.xa4 d4 68.exd4 e7 69.b5 d5 70.e1 xg5 71.b6 f4 72.b5 e3 73.c4 1-0
807 Markowski,Tomasz Krasenkow,Michal chT Zakopane chT (9) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2568 2702 11.09.2000
1.g3 e5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 exd4 4.xd4 d5 5.g2 e6 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.f3 c6 8.a4 c5 9.0-0 f6 10.e5!? An innovation, att ackin g c6 . c8 11.c3 0-0 12.d3 Revealing the real idea, the knight drops back to d3, when it can be used to attack the d5pawn from f4. d4! [ Black has to be prepared to capture the c3knight, 12...b6? allows 13.g5 e8 14.f4 with unbearable pressure on d5. ] 13.g5 xc3 14.bxc3 h6 15.e3 The bishop will be able to defend the c3-pawn from d4. g4 16.f4 [ 16.fe1 would avoid the coming combination, but after e8 17.f4 e4 Black enjoys reasonable chances. ] 16...g5! 17.xd5 xd5 18.xg4 [ 18.xd5?! xe2 19.xc6 xc6 20.fe1 f3 is much too risky- the white king is liable to mated on g2 later. ] 18...xe3 19.fxe3 e7 White's extra pawn is useless. 20.d5 xe3+ 21.h1 e5 22.f5 xc3 23.e4 g6 24.d5 White decides to force a draw by threatening f7 and h7, alternatively. e5 [ 24...e7!? 25.xf7+ g7 26.e6 c6!? 27.xe7 c7 is possible, but can hardly offer any winning chances. ] 25.e4 g6 26.d5 ½-½
808 Markowski,Tomasz Krasenkow,Michal Rubinstein Mem (6) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2568 2702 23.08.2000
1.g3 e5 2.c4 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 exd4 [ The most aggressive move, whereby Black accepts an IQP in exchange for active piece play. 4...b4+ is a more solid choice. ] 5.xd4 d5 6.f3 e6!? [ Black wants to force White to capture on d5, which allows Black to bring his f8-bishop to 799
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a m o re a c t ive squ a re . T h e m o re u su a l 6...e7 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.0-0 c6 9.a4 0-0 10.e3 g4 11.d4 allows White a firm control of d4. ] [ 6...dxc4!? is an interesting alternative, if Black wishes to avoid the IQP. ] 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.0-0 c6 9.a4 c5 The point of Black's move-order, the bishop points at f2. 10.bd2 [ A solid idea, White will bring a piece to d4, but 10.g5 may be a better method exploiting the absence of the bishop from e7, 0-0 11.c3 h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.fd1 ( I prefer 13.e1! planning Nd3-f4) 13...b6 14.b5 fd8 seems fairly level, Romanishin, O-Agdestein,S/Taxco 1985. ] 10...0-0 11.b3 b6 12.bd4 d7! [ A new move, menacing to win a piece by capturing on d4, and putting pressure on W h it e . P r e vio u sly B la ck h a d p re f e rre d 12...c8 which also defends c6, 13.e3 d7 14.d1!? e8 15.xc6 bxc6 16.d4 c5! 17.xf6 xf6 18.xd5 b5 with advantage to Black, Karlsson,LBackelin,R/ Gausdal 1990. ] 13.xe6?! [ The problem with this capture is that it strengthens the black centre, and opens the f - f i l e , b u t t h e a l t e r n a t i v e 13.xc6 is little better: bxc6! 14.e5 e8 15.xc6 f5 16.f4 d4 and Black regains his pawn, with advantage. ] 13...fxe6 14.d1?! The rook should stay on f1, to defend f2. e5 15.e3 Blocking the g1-a7 diagonal to the b6-bishop, but weakening f3. f5 [ Lining-up the pieces on the f-file, but 15...e4 16.d4 g4 is also strong. ] 16.f1 ad8 All Black's pieces are aggressively placed. 17.d2 e4 18.ad1 h5 19.h4 [ Forced, if 19.e1? then e2 attacks d2, and f2, and wins. ] 19...g5! Obliging White to part with his lightsquared bishop. 20.xe4 dxe4 21.g2 d6 Threatening both ...Rfd8, winning the d2b i s h o p , a n d . . . R h 6 . 22.c3 h6 This is simply winning. 23.h4 gxh4 24.c4+ [ 24.xh4 g4 25.g2 h3 26.h4 xh4 27.gxh4 h8 with mate to follow. ] 24...h8 25.xh4 g4 26.d5
[ White gives-up his knight, but there is little choice, 26.g2 h3 27.h4 xh4 28.gxh4 g4+ 29.h2 f3 leads to a quick mate. ] 26...xh4 27.xe5+ xe5 28.xe5+ g8 29.d5 xe3 0-1
809 Markowski,Tomasz Savchenko,Stanislav Masters KO, (3.2) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2530 2570 2000
1.g3 e5 2.c4 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 b4+ 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 d6 7.c3 e7 This tricky move again, and in this game the exact point of Black's move-order is revealed. 8.e4!? [ This natural move may be inappropriate here, 8.e3 0-0 9.ge2 has been analysed previously. ] 8...d5!? Black exploits the opposition of his queen against the opponent's king. 9.cxd5 [ 9.dxe5 xe4 10.xe4 dxe4 11.0-0-0 d7 12.xe4 xe5 is level. ] 9...exd4! [ Now, 9...cxd5?! 10.dxe5 xe4 loses a pawn to 11.xd5! xd2 12.xe7 xe7 13.xd2 ] 10.xd4 cxd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.xd5 0-0 What compensation does Black have for the pawn? W ell, the white king is still two moves from castling, and Black will gain time kicking the exposed white queen around. 13.e2 e6 [ Another possibility is 13...d8 , but after 14.b5 a6 15.b6 c6 16.0-0 d2 17.c3 menacing Nd5, White's problems are behind him, Kelly,B-Ryan,J/IRL 1995, 1-0 (25). ] 14.d2 [ Perhaps 14.b5 is a better choice here, too. ] 14...d8 15.e3 b4+ 16.c3 c6 17.f4 [ A new try, but one that fails. The natural 17.0-0 allowed d2 18.xb4 xb4 19.c3 xb2 20.ab1 xb1 21.xb1 xa2 22.xa2 xa2 23.xb7 a5 when the passed a-pawn granted Black the advantage, 800
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Davies,N-Khenkin,I/Tel Aviv 1992, 0-1 (36) ] 17...c4! Confining the king to the centre. 18.f1? Overlooking a tactic that regains the pawn. xa2! 19.e2?! [ If 19.xa2 xe4+ wins. ] 19...xe4 20.f3 White seeks to justify his eighteenth move, but the tactics favour Black, which is only to be expected considering his better mobilisation. f5 21.d3 [ Once again, 21.xa2? loses, but this time to b1+ ] 21...e5+ 22.xe5 xe5 23.e4 c4 Black has emerged from the complications with a pawn more, and the better position. 24.f2 [ White cannot capture the pawn: 24.xb7? ab8 25.xa7?! d7 26.a5 dxb7 27.xe5 xb2 and White can resign, it is almost impossible to stop ...Ra8-a1. ] 24...d2+ 25.e3 ad8 26.xa7 g5 27.xb7 The f4-knight cannot move without allowing ...Re2 mate. gxf4+ 28.xf4 d3+ 0-1
810 Markowski,Tomasz Wells,Peter K 2nd IECC Ohrid (11) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2590 2520 2001
1.g3 e5 2.c4 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 b4+ A popular line for Black, when he wants a solid position with good drawing possibilities. How will White react? 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 d6 7.c3 0-0 8.dxe5!? [ To beginners it might seem odd that White captures on e5 now, after Black has castled, rather than the move before when he could have displaced the black king to d8 with check. The reason is simple, in such an endgame the black king would be wellplaced on c7 (particularly as White has no dark-squared bishop), much more active than o n g8, as n ow. P revio usly we ha d co n s id e re d 8.e3 let us see if the endgame offers White more. ] 8...dxe5 9.xd8 xd8 10.f3 e8 [ 10...bd7 is worse, 11.0-0-0 threatens the e - p a w n a g a i n a n d f o r c e s e8 anyway, when the c8-bishop is temporarily
blocked-in. ] 11.0-0 So what advantage does White enjoy in this endgame? Firstly, not much, the black position is solid, but d6 is weak, and W hite will be able to claim the d-file. f5 [ A new move. In the original game in this line, Akopian,V-Gelfand,B/Cap d`Agde 1996 (a r a p i d g a m e ) B l a c k p r e f e r r e d 11...a6 12.fd1 f5 13.h3 h6 14.g4 h7 15.e1 c5 16.b4 with a tiny plus for White. ] 12.d2! [ 12.fd1 a6 would transpose to the above game. ] 12...a6 13.b3 So the point of White's play is revealed, he will bring this knight to a5 to pressurise the black queenside. ac8!? [ Possibly Black should have preferred 13...ad8 14.a5 c8!? as now White gains complete control of the d-file. ] 14.fd1 f8 15.a5 c7 16.d2 White prepares to double rooks on the only o p e n f ile , a n d B la ck ca n n o t o p p o s e t h is without losing his b7-pawn. e4! Black shuts the h1-a8 diagonal to free his queenside. 17.ad1!? [ 17.e3 b6 18.b3 d7 allows Black to contest the d-file. ] 17...b6 18.b3 e6 It seems that Black's plan to attack c4 will regain the equilibrium, but White profits from the tactical possibilities of his position. 19.d4!? c5 [ 19...e3!? first, is interesting. ] 20.d6 xc4?! [ This allows the b3-knight back into play with gain of time. As the c4-pawn is not going to run away, 20...e3! is good, when not 21.c6? because of xc6! 22.xc6 exf2+ 23.xf2 g4+ 24.g1 e3 and Black will capture the c4-pawn, and then the c6-rook, which is trapped. ] 21.d2 e6 22.dxe4 xe4 23.xe4 xa2!? Black was clearly depending on this shot, winning the a2-pawn. 24.c6 e6? [ Black should have tried 24...ec8! 25.d7 d8 26.xa2 e7 27.b5 xd6 28.xd6 xd6 29.xa6 c4 with really good chances as the a6-bishop is marooned, and Black has a useful queenside majority. ] 25.d8+ e7 26.b5 b4 Everything is defended, but W hite has seen further: 27.xa2 xa2 28.c4 Forking a2 and e6, 801
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and winning the exchange. b4 29.xe6 xe6 30.e8+ f5 31.d6 f6 32.ed8 e7 33.d2 Care is required, as Black's 3 to 1 majority on the queenside can soon become decisive. e6 34.2d6+ A little re p e t it i o n t o ga in t im e o n t h e c lo ck (t h e tournament featured the new fast FIDE timec o n t ro l) . f5 35.f1 e4? Black starts going to pieces. 36.8d7 c2 37.d2 c4 38.xa7 g5 39.b7 d4 40.xb6 c1+ 41.g2 g4 42.h3 h5 43.hxg4+ hxg4 44.b4 1-0
811
A20 Matamoros Franco,Carlos S 2513 Belkhodja,Slim 2478 36th Olympiad (11) 26.10.2004 [John Watson]
12...a5 13.a4 xa4 14.xa4 a6 [ 14...d7 looks like a fine alternative and easier to play. ] 15.0-0 [ Ivanchuk,V-Sutovsky,E/Moscow 2001 was annotated by Tony. There followed 15.d4 ad8 16.0-0 c8 17.fc1 with approximate equality. ] 15...ad8 16.fe1 b6!? [ 16...c5!? 17.ed1 b6 is suggested by HiArcs 9. ] 17.ac3 d5 18.a4 b6 19.ac3 d5 The whole system with 4...Bb4+ is looking like an equaliser. White needs new ideas. ½-½
812
A20 Matamoros Franco,Carlos S 2462 Volzhin,Alexander 2569 A c rit ic al lin e of t he 2 .g3 Ke re s line h a s 5th Wichern op (8) 21.10.1999 received some tests. Can Black equalise? [Tony Kosten] 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 [ 2...c6 3.d4 b4+ 4.d2 xd2+ 5.xd2 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 d6 6.g2 usually transposes by f6 ] 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 b4+ 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 [ To keep control of d4, if 6...e7 then d6 We have seen this system more than once 7.d4!? e4 8.e5 is interesting. ] in Tony's surveys. It is not easy to make 7.d3 e7 8.bd2 progress against. 7.c3 [ An attempt to avoid the heavily analysed [ 7.e3 e6 8.b3 (I'm not sure that Tony's lines after 8.c3 ] p r e f e r e n c e f o r 7 . e 3 o ve r 7 . N c 3 r e a l l y 8...0-0 9.a3 a5 Probably the most accurate improves W hite's lot here) ( 8.c3 exd4 move, keeping a lid on W hite's queenside and ...d5 doesn't inspire) 8...exd4 9.exd4!? expansion. 10.b3 e6 11.b2 f6 12.c2 ( 9.xd4 ) 9...d5 10.c5 0-0 11.c3 d7 13.e3! Chernin's move, planning the was a new but unimpressive plan in Rotstein, positionally advantageous d4-thrust. fd8 A-Rabiega,R Graz 2004. At this point the [ T h e m o s t n a t u r a l m o v e , 13...f5!? simplest answer was b6! in view of 12.b4? c a n b e m e t b y 14.e4 fd8 15.fd1 a5 13.a4 bd7 with a clear advantage. with an edge. ] White's play was too slow. ] 14.d4 exd4 15.xd4 xd4!? 7...0-0 8.e3 e6 9.b3 [ I have suggested that this might be Black's [ 9.d5 was again proven harmless after cxd5 b e s t m o v e . 15...d5?! was played in 10.cxd5 d7 11.b4!? a6 12.b1 c8 Chernin,A-Smejkal,J/Altensteig 1991, and 13.ge2 c4! in Granda Zuniga,J-Rohl,J after 16.xd5+ xd5 17.xc6 xc6 Calvia 2004. ] 18.xc6 bxc6 19.fd1 White enjoyed the 9...exd4 10.xd4 d5 11.cxd5 xd5 superior structure. ] Tony has also indicated that 16.xd4 c5!? 17.xc5 White has little [ 11...cxd5!? and ] choice, as otherwise Black will continue with ... [ 11...xd5!? are reasonable moves. ] a4, with a strong queenside set-up. ac8! 12.ge2 [ Chernin also gave 17...dc8?! 18.b4 a4 [ A string of equal positions have resulted but then 19.e4 b6 20.fd1 b5 is hit by from 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5 cxd5 ] 21.d6! and Black is in trouble. ] 802
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.b4 axb4!? [ 3...exd4 4.xd4 d5 is the most popular. [ C h e r n i n m e n t i o n s t h e l i n e 18...a4?! Refer to the "Keres" guide in the archives. ] 19.e4 b6? when White wins by 20.ad1 4.c3 By far the most common response. e8?! 21.xe7! ] [ However, 4.d5!? deserves attention, 19.axb4 d5! 20.d3 preven ting B la ck f ro m co nstructing h is [ The safest response. If White wants to desired pawn chain with ... d7-d5. Carlsen, hang-on to the pawn he can try 20.xd5!? M (2733)-Anand, V (2799) Nice 2008/ xd5 21.e4 but it is quite risky, ] [Hansen, Carsten]. ] [ 20.b2?! is nothing, xc5 21.bxc5 xe3! [ 4.b3!? was tried in Damljanovic, B (2551)22.fxe3 xd2 23.xd2 xd2 Vasilevich, T (2420) Kavala 2009/[John with equality. ] Bartholomew], presumably to avoid ...Bf820...xb4 b4. ] [ One of several reasonable choices, 20...b6 4...d5 5.g2 '!'' according to Marin. This is seems fairly equal after 21.xe7 xe7 something of a parting of the ways: 22.f3 xb4 23.e4 with the intention of [ A critical (and bloody!) line runs 5.cxd5 playing Nd4, ] cxd5 6.b3 c6 ( ! ) - M a r i n ( 6...e7 [ 20...xc5 21.bxc5 xc5 is also level. ] is probably playable too, as in Kortschnoj, 21.xd7 xd7 22.xb4?! V (2610)-Bacrot, E (2545) Albert 1997/ [ An odd decision, 22.xe7 xe7 23.fb1 [Nigel Davies].) 7.xd5 xd5 8.xd5 is better, although Black should be able to xd4 9.c7+ d8 10.xa8 c2+ maintain equality on d5 24.a7 cc7 ] 11.d1 xa1 . Black appears to be doing 22...xb4 fine here see Gelfand, B (2737)-Karjakin, S ½-½ (2732) Odessa 2008/[Nigel Davies]. ] [ 5.h3 angles for Nh3-f4 and there also makes sense. Narciso Dublan, M (2487)813 A20 San Segundo Carrillo, P (2516) Sanxenxo 2004/[John Watson]. ] Movsesian,Sergei 2688 [ W hite tried the totally unexplored 5.f3!? Grandelius,Nils 2572 in Davies, N (2493)-Cherniaev, A (2428) Tata Steel Chess 2013 (12.11) 26.01.2013 London 2009. ] [John Bartholomew] 5...b4!? Grandelius had already used this An early space-gaining line against Marin's move in December to draw rather effortlessly favored English move order (2.g3) leads to with Normunds Miezis. 6.b3 [ M a r i n ' s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n i s 6.d2 fine positional play for Black. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 , b u t t h i s h a s n 't ca u gh t o n m u c h . O n e c6 In "Grandmaster Repertoire 3 - The English r e c e n t e x a m p l e : xc3 (White was Opening vol. 1" Mihail Marin refers to this as threatening Nc3xe4) 7.xc3 ( Marin advises the "Accelerated Keres". Black wastes no time 7.bxc3 , but after, say, f6 8.cxd5 cxd5 in preparing his central play. 9.h3 0-0 10.0-0 h6 11.f4 g5! [ Transpositional possibilities to the Keres Black's position looks entirely reasonable) " p r o p e r " w i t h 2...f6 3.g2 c6 7...e7 8.f3 f5 ( 8...f5!? looks more are plentiful. ] promising ) 9.cxd5 ( 9.fxe4! xe4 10.xe4 3.d4 e4 Staking a claim to as much space as dxe4 11.c2 f5 12.h3 ) 9...cxd5 possible. 10.fxe4 xe4 11.f3 0-0 12.0-0= [ There are some unanswered questions in Barbier, S (2088)-Dusthageer, I (2212) the line, for instance 3...b4+ 4.d2 xd2+ Chennai 2011. ] 5.xd2 d6 6.c3 f6 7.g2 0-0 8.e3 [ 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.h3 c6 8.0-0 ge7 e6 9.d1 a6 10.b3 exd4 11.xd4 9.f3 exf3 10.exf3 0-0 was equal in Miezis, b4!? and White hasn't been able to prove N (2596)-Grandelius, N (2583) Al Ain 2012. ] anything more than a draw. See Kosten, A (2498)-Jones, G (2593) Bunratty 2011/[Nigel 6...a5 [ Since Black ends up exchanging his darkDavies]. ] 803
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 squared bishop anyways, it deserves attention to develop with 6...a6!? , i.e. 7.cxd5 xd5 8.xd5 cxd5 9.h3 e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.f4 c7 12.d2 d6! 13.f3 f5 and Black was fine in Zenzera, A (2170)-Bezgodov, A (2494) Kazan 2010. ] 7.h3 h6 A useful move in many lines. 8.0-0 f6 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.f4 xc3! 11.bxc3 0-0 [ It's also possible to play actively with 11...g5!? , though 12.h3 0-0 13.f3 exf3 14.exf3 c6 15.f2 definitely looks more favorable for White when compared to the game. Black risks overextension in the entire line with 3...e4, so he ought to exercise some discretion. ] 12.f3 c6! 13.fxe4 dxe4 14.e3 b6 15.a3 [ Perhaps W hite should consider 15.b5!? , i.e. a5 16.h5 xh5 17.xh5 . ] 15...a5 16.b5 e8 17.b4?! d7 18.a6 c8 19.b5 a6! 20.e2 g4 21.e1 c4 Cementing the knight on a beautiful square. 22.a4 a5 23.a3 g5! 24.h3 f3!? [ Or simply 24...d5 . White's bishop pair has been totally neutralized. ] 25.f2 xg2 [ It looks better to play 25...d5 ] [ or 25...g4!? . ] 26.xg2 d7 27.c1 d5 28.d1 ac8 Black is clearly on top. Unfortunately he plays somewhat hesitantly from here on out, and Movsesian escapes with a half point. 29.a2 d6 30.a3 c4 31.c1 g7 32.e2 f6 33.g1 c7 34.h5 f7 35.e2 e6 36.h5 ec8 37.h4!? d6 38.h2 f7 39.g4 d7 [ 39...f5! suggests itself, e.g. 40.e2 gxh4 41.gxh4 h7 and White is still very much in trouble with his numerous weaknesses and poor minor pieces. ] 40.h5 e8 41.g4 d7 [ 41...f5! ] 42.h5 e6 43.a3 c4 44.c1 c6 45.hf2 e8 46.g4 8c7 47.h2 e6 48.h5 d6 49.hf2 h3 50.h2 e6 51.hf2 f7 52.d2 d6 Draw agreed. 2... c6 3.d4 e4 isn't the most popular line, but it's eminently playable and forces White to solve some unique problems. Grandelius's concept
with 5... Bb4!? is highly attractive. ½-½
814 Narciso Dublan,Marc San Segundo Carrillo,Pablo XLVIII TCh-ESP (8) [John Watson]
A20 2487 2516 25.11.2004
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 e4 This move seems viable. W hite should attack Black's center q u i c k l y, b u t i t ' s n o t e a s y . 4.c3 d5 A critical position 5.h3!? A logical try but it has drawbacks. [ In his book, Tony suggests simply 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.b3 ( 6.h3!? c6 7.f4 f6; 6.f3!? ) 6...c6 7.xd5 xd5 8.xd5 xd4 9.c7+ d8 10.xa8 c2+ 11.d1 xa1 12.f4 , but f6 13.c7 ( 13.c1 d5 14.b1 xf4 15.gxf4 b6 16.xa1 b7 ) 13...e3! (preparing ...Bf5 or . . . N e 4 b u t a l s o c r a m p i n g W h i t e ) 14.f3 ( 14.f3 e4 15.c1 exf2 16.b1 b3 17.axb3 g5! ) 14...h5 ( or 14...f5! ) 15.d5 e6 and White is in trouble. White can also try the rather passive-looking ] [ 5.g2 , when an interesting move is h6!? , for example, ( 5...a6!? ) 6.cxd5 ( 6.b3 f6 7.h3? dxc4 8.xc4 b5 ) 6...cxd5 7.b3 f6 8.f4 ( 8.h3 c6 ) 8...e7 ] [ Finally, 5.b3 m i gh t b e m e t b y dxc4 6.xc4 b5!? ( or 6...f6 7.g5?! b5 8.b3 xd4 ) 7.b3 e6 ( 7...xd4 gives W hite attacking chances but it's not clear how effective they are.) 8.d1 f6 9.g2 b4 10.g5 d5 ( 10...xc3+ 11.bxc3 d5 ) 11.f3 exf3 12.xf3 xc3+ 13.bxc3 h6 14.f4 0-0 15.0-0 e8 with double-edged play. ] 5...e7 [ A problem with 5.Nh3 is 5...dxc4!? , when 6.xe4 b4+ 7.c3 f6 isn't pleasant. S o m e t h i n g l i k e 8.e3 ( 8.g5? xh3 9.xh3 d5! ) 8...0-0 ( 8...e4 ) 9.f4 d5 doesn't look promising. ] 6.g2 [ Also not attractive is 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.f4 ( 7.b3 c6! 8.xd5 e6 9.hf4 b4+ 10.d1 xd4! ) 7...f6 8.b3 c6 ] 6...f6 804
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 6...dxc4!? ] 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.g5 g8!? 9.e3!? [ The critical line must be 9.xe7 xe7 10.f4 . This may yield some advantage, e. g., b6!? 11.b3 b7 12.cxd5! xd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.xe4 c7 15.f3 d7 16.xa8 xa8 17.xa8+ xa8 18.e4 and W h ite's big centre will make Black suffer. ] 9...c6 10.0-0 f6 11.f3 exf3 12.exf3 0-0 13.f4 e8 14.f2 h5!? A strange move, preparing ...Bf5 without getting hit by g4.. Simply [ 14...a6 15.e1 d6 ( or 15...b5 also keeps the balance. )] 15.e1 f5 16.a3 c8 17.f1 a6 [ 17...d7 ] 18.c1 b5?! 19.b4! Now Nd3 aiming at c5 is a p r o b l e m . d7 20.b3 ed8 21.d3 xd3 22.xd3 g6 23.b1 [ 23.xb5!? axb5 24.xb5 hits c6 and e7, so f8 25.c3 xb4! 26.xd7 xc3 27.xc3 xd7 28.b1 ( 28.axb4 xb4 29.cc1 xe1= ) 28...a6 29.b5 with an unclear situation. ] 23...f8 24.d1 g7 25.d3 [ 25.a2 e8 ] 25...e8!? [ 25...e8 ] 26.a2 c7 27.e2 e7 28.ec2 h7 29.e2 e6 30.xc8 xc8 31.c3 c7 32.xc7 xc7 33.f4 g8 Simplification h a s r e s u l t e d i n a n e ve n g a m e , wi t h t h e bishops of opposite colours endgame lurking in the background. 34.b3 c6 [ 34...h4 ] 35.g2 c1 36.e3 a1 37.c2? [ 37.b1 xb1 38.xb1 is equal. ] 37...f5 38.f2 e6? [ T h e o b v i o u s 38...xd4 is strong due to 39.xd5 xd5 40.xd5 xf2 41.xf2 ( 41.xf2 d4+ ) 41...e5 42.f4 ( 42.c5 xd5 ) 42...e3+ 43.h1 a1+ 44.g1 xa3 ] 39.xd5?? time pressure. [ 39.xd5 was correct. ] 39...xf4+? [ 39...h4+! wi n s o n t h e s p o t : 40.gxh4 ( 40.h3 f1+ 41.xh4 f6# ) 40...xf4+ ] 40.gxf4 xd4 41.c7? h6??
[ 41...h4+! wins: 42.g3 ( 42.xh4 g1+ 43.h3 f1+ 44.g3 f2# ) 42...xf2+ 43.xf2 d4+ ] 42.d6 h7 43.xf7 xf7 44.d5 [ 44.xd4= ] 44...g7 45.xf7 f6 46.b7 h6 47.g3 h4+ 48.g4 f5+ 49.xh4 xf4+ 50.h3 e5 51.g3 f5+ Quite a struggle, marred by the end. But 3... e4 is very alive. ½-½
815 Paunovic,Dragan Topalov,Veselin XXIII Rapid Open rapid (8) [Jonathan Rowson]
A20 2539 2777 03.08.2008
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 The move that Nb6 is designed to avoid, but is it really a problem? e4 [ 7...exd4?! 8.xd4 xd4 9.xd4 f6 10.a4+ c6 11.d1 d7 12.c3 0-0 13.e4 was somewhat better for White in Reinderman, D-Hou Yifan W ijk aan Zee NED 2009 ] 8.e5 f5 9.xc6 bxc6 A curious position. The c-pawns are obviously an issue, but they are not the only issue. Black has a strong central knight, a space advantage and the chance to quickly open the position with ...c5, while white's bishop on g2 is a bit snuffed out, and it's not easy to f ind a role f or the c1 bishop. 10.d2 [ 10.a4 d7 intending ...c5 tends to be at least ok for Black. ] [ 10.f3 exf3 11.xf3 0-0 12.c3 e6 also looks fine for Black. ] [ 10.c2!? looks like the critical test. A) 10...d6 11.c3 e6 ( 11...0-0 12.xd5 xd5 13.e3 looks better for White. ) 12.xd5 xd5 13.f4 d7 14.f3 exf3 15.xf3 0-0 Black seems to be holding on, but somehow it feels like White should be better here.; B) 10...c5 11.dxc5 e6 12.d1 b8 gives White too many tactical ideas, not least taking on e4.; C) 10...d7 is probably best. The bishop on c8 can emerge on a6. 11.c3 0-0 805
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.xd5?! ( 12.f3 exf3 13.xf3 f6 14.d1 feels a little bit promising for White. ) 12...cxd5 13.f4 c6 14.fc1 b7 At first blush W hite may look better, but Black will play Rf c8, a5 and Ba6, and sooner or later c5, so in fact if anybody is better here it is Black.; D) 10...b4 11.a4 d7 ( 11...d7 looks best. 12.c3 c5! 13.xd7+ xd7 14.dxc5 xc5 And now there are lots of lines, but I imagine White has reasonable chances of creating a small edge here.) 12.a3 c5 13.d1 c6 ( 13...d5 lo o ks t oo sp e cula tive . 14.dxc5 e6 15.c2 0-0 16.d1 ) 14.dxc5 xc5 15.f4 g5 16.d2 e7 17.c3 d4 18.c1 0-0 19.b5 b6 20.xg5! xg5 21.xd7 and White soon won in SandipanKrush, Gibraltar 2007. ] [ 10.c3 0-0 11.f3 exf3 12.exf3 ( 12.xf3 e6 looks fine for Black.) 12...f6 13.e1 b8 14.f4 b4 15.xd5 cxd5 16.e3 xb2 17.a4 Subtle preparation from Carlsen. Black has to be careful to retain e q u a l i t y d e s p i t e b e i n g a p a wn u p , b u t manages to do so. a6 18.ab1 xb1 19.xb1 d6 20.c1 d7 21.a5 b5 22.xc7 xc7 23.xc7 c4 24.c5 xa2 25.xd5+ xd5 26.xd5 a8 27.xf5 a5 28.c5 a4 29.c2 a3 30.a2 f7 31.f5 g6 32.fxg6+ hxg6 33.g2 e6 34.c1 e7 35.h4 d5 36.g4 c4 37.g5 xd4 1/2-1/2 Carlsen, M -Gelfand, B/ Moscow RUS 2007 ] 10...0-0 11.b3 a5! 12.d2 a4 13.a5 [ 13.c5 xc5 14.dxc5 f6 appears to favour Black. ] 13...d7 14.xa4 [ 14.c1! e8 15.e3!? a3 16.b3 keeps the position very tense. ] 14...e8 15.b3 [ 15.c2 might save time. ] 15...h8 16.c4 You might think White is ok here, but Black has the initiative on both sides of the board, so his compensation seems adequate. c5 17.e3 b6 18.dxc5 xc5 19.c2 d6 20.fe1? [ 20.fd1!? White has to become more creative and transform his extra pawn into something else. f7 21.b3 f4 22.xe4 fxe3 23.xe3 and White is at least not
worse. ] 20...f7 21.d1 xa2 22.xa2 xa2 23.c3 f7 Now Black is simply better- more sp a ce a n d b e t t e r p i e c e s . T o p a lo v lo s e s control slightly, but gets there in the end. 24.f4 xf4 25.gxf4 h6 26.e3 e6 27.b5 c4 28.d4 c5 29.c6 d7 30.c3 d3 31.a1 e6 32.e5 xe5 33.fxe5 c4 34.d4 e8 35.a5 h7 36.h3 e2 37.d5 e7 38.h2 h4 39.f4 f3 40.d2 a8 41.d7 a6 42.d6 a2 43.d8? xg2 44.xg2 c3! Ouch. An unusual overloading motif. 0-1
816
A20
Reader Q From Jose Blades N,Archana [John Watson] Reader Jose Blades writes: "I really have been feeling for a while that one of the best counter to the move order 1.c4 2.g3 is ... e5 ... c6" He presents the following variation: [jw: all the move analysis in the notes is mine] 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 e4 4.c3 d5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.b3 c6 7.xd5 xd5 8.xd5 xd4 9.c7+ d8 10.xa8 c2+ 11.d1 xa1 12.f4 And here GM Tony Kosten writes in his book (page 61): "Preparing to retrieve the a8 Knight". But I think this is just bad for White." He's probably right, so White should consider [ 12.b3! (Tony Kosten's new suggestion) b5!? 13.b2 xb3 14.axb3 b7 15.e3! b4 16.c4 , slightly favouring White's more active bishops, e.g., f6 17.h3 xa8 18.e2 e7 19.a1 c8 20.f4 with attack. ] [ On the other hand, Blades' challenge also applies to slow moves like 12.e3? e6 13.b3 xb3 14.axb3 xb3+ 15.c1 a3+ 16.b1 f6-+ ] 12...e6 13.b3 xb3 [ jw: Also not bad is 13...f6 14.c7 d7 15.h3 ( 15.e3 a3 16.b5 xb5 17.xb5 e7 ) 15...a3 ( 15...h5 16.e5 f6 17.xa1 xc7 ) 16.e5 c8 17.xa1 xc7 18.xf6 gxf6 19.f4 d6 an d Bla ck's b ish o p s a re ve ry st ron g in 806
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 conjunction with his rook. ] 14.axb3 xb3+ 15.c1 a3+ 16.b1 e7 [ jw: Curiously, a recent game saw 16...f6 17.c7 a6 18.e3 g4 19.h3 h6?! ( 19...g5! 20.xg5 xf2 21.g1 h6 22.h3 d3 ) 20.e2 g5? 21.xg4 gxf4 22.d5! fxe3 23.fxe3 e8 24.c3 e5 25.d1 c4 26.c2 f5 27.d1+ c7 28.f4 b5 29.ce2! a5 30.d4 a4 31.h3? ( 31.g6! c5 32.h4 ) 31...b4 Now it's about equal. 32.fe2 ( 32.xa4!? bxa4 33.c1 c5 34.fe6+ xe6 35.xe6+ d6 36.xc5 xc5 ) 32...b6 33.a1 c5 34.c1 c3+ 35.b1 a5 36.ce2 b4 ( 36...xd4 37.xd4 b4 ) 37.g4! fxg4 38.hxg4 c7? ( 38...xe2! 39.xe2 g5 ) 39.xe4 a3 40.xc3 1-0 Kovalyov-Monier, Buenos Aires 2005. xc3 41.xb5+ xb5 42.c1+ ] 17.c7 a6 Jose: "The Nc7 is trapped and Black's chances of winning are at least as much as Whites." This is an understatement. [ jw: 17...c4! HiArcs! But same verdict can be applied to 17...a6 ] 18.h4 d7 [ j w : B e t t e r i s 18...g6!-+ 19.g2 f5 ( 19...xf4 20.gxf4 e3 ) 20.a8 xf4 21.gxf4 c5-+ ] 19.g2 f5 [ 19...d6 20.xd6 xd6 21.b2 a4 22.xa6 bxa6 23.xe4 b5 -HiArcs. But this isn't finished yet - at least there are opposite-coloured Bishops. ] 20.h3 d6 21.xd6 xd6 22.g4 a4 23.gxf5 xc7 24.xe4 f8 25.g3 xf5 26.xf5 xf5 27.xg7+ b6 28.xh7 xf2 Blades seems to think that White is lost and that looks true: 29.g7 [ 29.b2 g2 ] 29...h2 30.g4 d7 31.d4 c6 Now Black has the ideas of ...Rg2 and advance on the queenside. In the meantime White's pieces and pawns are immobilised: 32.g4 c5 33.c2 b5 34.d3 a5 35.f3 xf3 36.exf3 a4 etc.
817 Rotstein,Arkadij Bacrot,Etienne N1 France [Tony Kosten]
A20 2553 2653 2002
The IQP endgame that follows is very instructive , an d sh ould be stu died b y all English Opening players, as the same schema can occur from many different variations. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 b4+ 4.d2 xd2+ 5.xd2 d6 6.c3 f6 7.g2 0-0 8.e3 e6 9.b3 exd4 10.xd4 d5 11.cxd5 xd5 12.xd5 [ The standard move, we considered the i n t e r e s t i n g 12.ge2!? in Ivanchuk,VSutovsky,E/ Moscow RUS 2001. ] 12...xd5 Black prefers to exchange his bishop, rather than recapture with the pawn when this piece would be passively placed. 13.xd5 a5+?! [ An unfortunate idea, Black wishes to force a weakness on c4 before exchanging quee ns, bu t t he endgame prove s t o b e u n p l e a s a n t f o r h i m . 13...cxd5 is more normal, 14.e2 ( 14.f3 c6 15.c3 e7 16.0-0 e4 draw, Sher,MPopovic,P/Bad Ragaz 1994) 14...c6 15.b2 e8 16.0-0 e5 17.d4 f6 White has a firm grip on d4, but Black has some activity on White's weakened kingside light squares. 18.e2 a6 19.ac1 ac8 and W hite failed to make anything of his tiny advantage, Psakhis,L-Avrukh,B/ ISR 2002. ] 14.b4 xd5 15.xd5 cxd5 16.f3 a5 17.b5 Black weakens the c5-square as well, but the advanced b5-pawn proves to be a match-winner. d7 18.e2! Of course, the king is well-placed in the centre. Alex Baburin points-out that this endgame would be level wi t h o u t r o o k s, b u t wit h r o o ks B l a c k h a s severe diff iculties. fc8 19.ac1 f8 20.d4 b6 21.g4! A move worth noting, White gains space on the kingside which may prove important later. g6 22.h4 e7 23.h5 a4 24.d2 c5 25.f3 Keeping the knight from e4. e6 26.xe6 xe6 27.d3 d6 28.hxg6 hxg6 29.d4 The d4-square is not just a useful post for a knight, but also provides a safe, yet advanced, spot for the 807
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 king. a4 30.a3 b6!? With the simple idea of pla yin g . . .Rc 5 , B la ck d id n 't wan t t o st a y passive and allow White to play g5, but the w e a k e n i n g o f c 6 i s i m p o r t a n t . 31.e4! A really difficult move to find if White is just concerned with exploiting his structural plus, as White goes from two pawn islands to three in his favour, to the other way around. However, after Black's previous move, concrete tactical factors are paramount here. dxe4 32.fxe4 e6 33.e5! The point White's plan becomes clear: Rf1-f6xb6. d8+ 34.e4 ac8? [ The critical position, and Black misses a g o o d o p p o r t u n i t y t o g o a c t i v e : 34...f5+! 35.exf6 xf6 36.c6+ g5 37.xb6 d2 The black king has found a safe square, and the black rooks should be able to force a perpetual check. ] 35.hf1 Now Black can't stop White penetrating on either f6 or c6. c5 36.xc5 bxc5 37.f6+ e7 38.b6 d4+ 39.e3 c4 So that Black can get behind the b-pawn by ...Rc3(+)-b3. 40.g5 c3+ 41.e4 xa3 42.d5 The king comes to ensure the further advance of the b-pawn, and can use the black c-pawn as cover against checks. b3 43.e6!? Simplest. [ 43.c6 c4 44.f4 must also win, although White has to be certain of his analysis: b4 45.b7 e6 46.c7 a3 47.f6+ d5 ( not 47...xe5? when 48.b6 xb6 49.xb6 a2 50.b8+ is check! ) 48.f3 a2 49.a3 c3 50.xa2 c4+ 51.d7 b4 52.a5+ e4 53.a4! and wins. ] 43...fxe6+ [ B l a c k s h o u l d a l s o l o s e a f t e r 43...xb6 44.xf7+ e8 45.a7 for instance: b1 ( 45...c4 46.xa4 c3 47.c4 ) 46.xa4 d1+ 47.e5 e1+ 48.f6 f1+ 49.xg6 e7 50.c4 and the g-pawn will win the game. ] 44.xe6+ f7 45.f6+ Driving the king far f ro m t he que enside . g7 46.c6 c4 The c-pawn is more of a hindrance than a help, stopping Black from checking the white king from behind. [ 46...a3 47.f4 b4 48.f3 a2 49.a3 wins easily, W hite will queen his b-pawn and easily win the a and c pawns. ] 47.b7 a3
[ 47...c3 48.c7 a3 changes nothing. ] 48.c7 a2 49.a6 c3 50.xa2 1-0
818 Savchenko,Boris Kravtsiv,Martyn Minsk Bronstein Memorial op-A (8) [Fier, Alexandr]
49.f2
A20 2556 2618 18.02.14
White tries 7.e3 which is not so ambitious, but also no worse than the other moves. After a series of small inaccuracies, White was able to improve all his pieces and increase the pressure. I think Black could play something other than 14...a5 or 17...Ba7. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.f3 e4 5.d4 d5 6.cxd5 xd5 7.e3 One of the many options in this position. White just wants to keep the knight in th e cen te r. Th e ligh t squ ares are no w weakened, but if W hite has time to play d3 there are good chances for an advantage. [ 7.c2 h5 8.h4!? was a new idea which I analyzed for Chess Publishing in December, see Ivanchuk, V (2731)-Vachier-Lagrave, M (2745)/SportAccord Rapid Men 2013 (5.6). ( 8.h3 g6 9.c3 d6 is the most played variation, Andriasian, Z (2624)-Petrosian, T (2636)/ARM-ch 72nd Yerevan 2012 (5). )] 7...c5 [ 7...c5 is a respectable alternative, forcing W hite to retreat the knight, 8.c3 e5 9.de2 c6 10.a4 d7 was seen in Anastasian, A (2606)-Stocek, J (2496)/ Ubeda op 5th 2000 (9). and it's dangerous to take the pawn 11.xe4 b4 12.xf6+ xf6 13.b3 a6 and White can have some problems to solve ] [ 7...a6 also makes sense and was tried by Timman 8.d3 b4+ 9.c3 xc3+ 10.bxc3 c5 11.dxe4 e5? Cekro, E (2410)Timman, J (2625)/Vlaardingen op act rapid 2005 (8). and after ( 11...cxe4 was more natural and prudent) 12.f4 White would be clearly better ] 8.d3 Protecting the knight on d4 by tactical means. e5 Black decides to keep the queens on. [ 8...xd4 enters an endgame which is hard 808
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to evaluate: White has a strong bishop pair but the king in the center can give Black some activity 9.exd4 xd4 10.dxe4 xd1+ 11.xd1 0-0 12.c3 and Black managed to block the position in Miroshnichenko, E (2624)-Roiz, M (2668)/Bundesliga 1112 2011 (7.4). ] 9.dxe4 [ 9.c3 was also played, but Black can answer in a good way exd3 10.xd3 0-0 11.0-0 a6 12.a3 b6 the counterplay is based on attacking the queen on d3 13.b4 d8 and it's not clear if White can consolidate the position, Zhigalko, A (2619)-Balogh, C (2630)/EU-chT (Men) 19th 2013 (9.14). ] 9...xe4 10.c3 White doesn't care about isolating the pawn. [ 10.0-0 0-0 11.b3 d7 12.b2 df6 13.d2 ] 10...f6 Now both players can finish their development before something happens. [ 10...xc3 11.bxc3 0-0 12.0-0 d7 13.e4 and the pawn on c3 helps White's strategy a lot, but the position is also playable for Black ] 11.f3 e7 12.c2 A good move, avoiding ...Bf5 and also leaving the d-file. 0-0 13.0-0 bd7 14.a3 a5 I'm not sure if this move is really necessary. After this and the next move Black needs to take some care. [ both 14...d6 15.d1 e5 16.d4 c7 ] [ and 14...b6 15.b4 e5 16.xe5 xe5 17.b2 f5 are ok for Black ] 15.h3 e5 16.xe5 xe5 17.d5! With some subtle exchanges White can put pressure on the a5-pawn and thus discoordinate the Black pieces. Still it's not su c h a b ig d e a l b u t t h e p o sit io n is m o re pleasant for the first player. a7 [ 17...cxd5 is a move that nobody wants to play, but it's a concrete way to deal with the position 18.xc5 e4 19.d4 ( 19.b5 e6 and White has problems developing the c 1 b i s h o p .) 19...xd4 20.exd4 a6! creating pressure on the b-file 21.f4 b6 22.ab1 a4 and Black is still ok ] 18.xf6+ xf6 19.d2 Black can now defend the pawn in several ways, but always d o i n g s o m e t h i n g u n n a t u r a l . e8?! Black wants to play actively, but there are
some problems with the a7-bishop in this line. [ 19...f5 20.b3 d8! attacking the b i s h o p o n d 2 21.fd1 c7 22.ac1 and White's pieces are a bit more harmonious ] [ 19...b8 is probably the best move, followed by a bishop exchange 20.c3 e5 21.xe5 xe5 22.fd1 e6 23.d4 fd8 24.ad1 xd4 25.xd4 and White is slightly better, but the position is close to equal ] 20.xa5 h6 [ 20...d4 stays a pawn down 21.exd4 xa5 22.fe1 d8 23.ad1 and Black will suffer for a long time ] 21.b3! b6 and Black will get the h3-pawn. [ 21...xh3 22.xb7 xe3 doesn't work, because the f-file is now open and the f7 pawn hangs, 23.fxe3 xe3+ ( 23...xa5 24.xf7++- ) 24.f2 and the attack is over. ] 22.c3 xh3 23.a4 ab8 Locking the bishop on a7, since ...b5 is not realistic. [ 23...xg2 was not so different, but Black still has b8 for the bishop 24.xg2 g6 25.c4 and White is more comfortable ] 24.c2 c5 25.fd1 xg2 26.xg2 c6+ 27.g1 bc8?! There is not much reason to avoid fighting for the d-file. [ 27...bd8 28.xd8 xd8 29.d1 d7 was more consistent, but White will have a be t t e r qu e e n , b e t t er b isho p a n d b e t t e r pawn structure in the endgame ] 28.f5 c7 29.d5 White has increased the pressure a lot over the last few moves and B l a c k ' s p o s i t i o n i s a l r e a d y d e l i c a t e . f6 30.ad1 xa4? Now Black is just lost. [ 30...e6 was still possible, and better, but White has a large advantage after 31.h5 f7 32.e2 e6 33.b5 ] 31.d7 [ 31.d8 also wins ce7 32.1d7 xd8 33.xd8+ e8 34.e6+ f8 35.b3! a nice shot, the queen is not able to come back from b5, b5 36.xf6 gxf6 37.xf6+ g8 38.d5 winning. ] 31...b8 32.xf6 e4 33.g5 g6 34.d5+ 1-0
809
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 wins the e-pawn. ] A20 Schlosser,Philipp 2505 35.e2 f4 36.f2 xg2?! [ 36...g5! ] Khenkin,Igor 2622 Bundesliga 1999-2000 (7) 08.01.2000 37.xg2 d3 38.d2 d5 39.e6?! [ 39.f3 xe5 40.f4 d5 41.e4 c5 [Tony Kosten] 42.xd3 should be drawn, but White has all the chances. ] 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 b4+ 4.d2 xd2+ 5.xd2 d6 Having exchanged dark-squared 39...fxe6 40.fxe6 f8 41.f3 e7 42.e4 bishops, Black seeks to place his central d6 43.xd3 pawns on dark squares. 6.c3 f6 7.g2 ½-½ e7 8.e3 0-0 9.ge2 e8 [ The model game in this line was Dorfman,JA20 Razuvaev,Y/Burgas 1992, which continued: 820 9...bd7 10.h3! e8 11.g4 b6 12.b3 Soffer,R 2506 a5? 13.0-0 a4 14.ae1! axb3 15.axb3 d5 Belousov,D 2340 16.c5 bd7 17.g3 f8 18.g5 6d7 Chigorin Memorial (8.40) 03.11.2012 19.f4 e4 20.f5 d8 21.d6 and Black [John Bartholomew] was lost. However, Dorfman mentions that Black could have played 10...h5!?, to stop A new position by move four in the King's this plan of h3, g4, and Ng3-f5. ] English! 1.c4 e5 2.g3 h5!? The tenth(!) 10.h3 h5! As the Dorfman game showed, most popular move (53 games out of 16, allowing W hite to play g4, and Ng3, is very 00 0 +) a n d n e ve r p revio u sly e xp lo re d o n risky, and although moving the black h-pawn ChessPublishing.com. Compared to other weakens his king position, it may be the lesser obscure rook pawn sorties, this one seems of evils. 11.e4!? fairly logical. One nice point is that 3.Nf3 can [ White changes plan, 11.0-0 e4 12.ae1 still be met by 3...e4, so Black isn't compelled f5 13.d1 bd7 14.f4 g6 to go crazy and sacrifice an exchange (though wo u l d t r a n s p o s e t o S h e r, M- L a ke t i c, G / that might be interesting: 3...h4!? 4.Nxf3 Rxh4 Belgorod 1990, 1/2-1/2 (14). ] etc.). Also, should White respond with 3.h4 or 11...a6 12.0-0 b5! 13.b3 bd7 14.f4 3.h3, Black has the luxu ry of ch oosing a White plays aggressively, but Black is more King's English line where the inclusion of rook comfortable in these type of positions when he p a w n m o v e s m i g h t b e n e f i t h i m . 3.d4?! has no dark-squared bishop. b7 15.a3 Principled, but unconvincing. Of course there's ad8 16.ad1 bxc4 Black will target the no established theory on 2. ..h4!?, so White weak c4-pawn. 17.bxc4 a5 18.a2 a6 has met Black's last move in a number of 19.c5! Hitting the black pawn chain at its base. different ways. exd4 20.cxd6 xd6 21.xd4 c5 [ Most common is the no-nonsense 3.h4 Black's pieces are actively placed, and he . Now manages to avoid any disadvantage. 22.h2 A) Th ere 's also 3...d5!? 4.cxd5 f6 f8 23.xd8 xd8 24.e5 d5 25.f3 ( 4...xd5!? ) 5.f3 g4!? , as in Larsen, W hite is hoping to use his strong kingside B (2575)-Shirazi, K (2430)/New York 1986. pawn chain as a basis for an attack, but the Shirazi actually managed to "out-Larsen" queenside and centre are too open. xc3 Larsen in this one and went on to win!; 26.xc3 d4 27.f2 c5 28.e3 d3 B) 3...f6 4.g2 c6 5.c3 c5 6.d3 Stopping White from playing f5. 29.e2 looked like a normal Karpov Variation until [ 29.f5?? xc3 ] B la ck p la ye d g4!? (making use of the 29...xe2 30.xe2 h4! 31.g4?! e6 32.f5 s q u a r e we a k e n e d b y h 2 - h 4 ) w i t h a n f4 The one passive black piece has been interesting game: 7.h3 d6 8.a4 b4+ activated, and W hite must take care not to 9.d2 a5 ( 9...xd2+ 10.xd2 f6= ) lose. 33.xd4 cxd4 34.f2 d3 10.0-0 d4 11.e3 f5 12.a3 xd2 [ 34...g5! is tempting, as 35.fxg6 xg6 13.xd2 h6!? Kovacevic, B (2460)819
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Bosiocic, M (2593)/Zadar CRO 2011. ] [ 3.h3 is another normal (if hesitant) reaction. h4 4.g4 e7!? (setting his sights on the f4 square) ( I'd be tempted to gambit a pawn with 4...d5!? 5.cxd5 f6 6.a4+ c6 7.dxc6 xc6 ) 5.d3 g6 6.c3 c6 7.g2 e7 8.e3 ( 8.e4! ) 8...d6 9.ge2 a6 10.d4 c7 11.d5 d7 12.e4 0-0 13.c2 e8 14.d2 c8 Khropov, B (2235)-Szabo, Z (2305)/Budapest 1994. ] [ With 3.g2 White resolves to ignore B l a c k ' s d e m o n s t r a t i o n , b u t a f t e r h4 the constant threat of ...h4-h3 is annoying. 4.c3 c6 5.a4?! (trying to discourage Black from playing ...d7-d6?) f6 6.d3 c5 7.a3 a5 8.h3 d6! 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.xc6+ d7 11.g2 b8 12.g5 d4 13.d1 h3 Swinkels, R (2483) Rakhmanov, A (2585)/Shenzhen CHN 2011. ] [ Similar is 3.c3 . Following h4 4.g4 I like e7!? , as in Kovacevic-Bosiocic (above). ( 4...h3?! 5.xh3 h4 was the bizarre course of Dzindzichashvili, R (2565)-Shirazi, K (2450)/ Durango 1992. Black shouldn't have sufficient compensation after 6.d3 . )] [ Finally, 3.f3!? e4 4.h4 is a critical test After ( 4.d4 c6 ) 4...e7 ( 4...d6; or 4...f6 also look fine) 5.f5 d6 6.xe7 xe7 7.c3 f6 A) 8.d3 h4!? ( 8...c6 9.g5 King, D (2500)-Smith, A (2265)/Dublin 1993 ); B) 8.g2 h4 9.d3 exd3 10.xd3 h3 11.f3 c6 12.0-0 e5 13.d1 xf3+ 14.exf3 e6 15.g5 0-0-0 16.e1 W hite was f or choice in Markowski, T (2573)-Andriasian, Z (2540)/Polanica Zdroj 2007. ] 3...exd4 4.f3 A novelty! [ It looks stronger than the 4.xd4?! c6 5.e4+ of Schmitt, T-Lisanti, A (2300)/ G r i e s h e i m 2 0 0 0 . N o w a f t e r e7 I think Black is definitely for choice. ] 4...h4! Black plays his trump card without delay. [ I like this better than 4...c5 5.e3 dxe3 6.xe3 . ] 5.gxh4?! Rather unsightly. [ White should keep his structure tidy with 5.xh4 . Then c6 ( 5...c5!? 6.e3 c6
7.f3 f6!? 8.exd4 cxd4 9.xd4 c5 ) 6.g2 c5 7.0-0 d6 leads to a balanced fight. ] 5...c6 6.g5 [ Or 6.xd4 xh4 . ] 6...b4+ 7.bd2 ge7 8.a3 xd2+ 9.xd2 f6 10.f4 f5 11.d3?! d6 12.0-0-0 e6 13.e4 dxe3 14.fxe3 d7 15.g3 0-0-0 Black already stands better in view of White's abysmal structure and array of weaknesses. 16.e4 h6 17.c3 e8 18.c5!? dxc5 19.xd8+ xd8 20.xc5 g4 21.d2 d4 A queen trade simplifies White's defensive task. [ I'd prefer 21...f7!? , intending to active the rook via h5. ] 22.xd4 xd4 23.c4 e6 24.f2 xc4 25.xd4 e6 26.g1 h7 27.f3 f7 28.d2 b6 29.e3 d6 30.f4 d7 31.e5 e8 32.exf6 gxf6 33.d1 e7 34.e1 [ 34.b4!? might be a little better, just trying to frustrate ...c7-c5. ] 34...h5 35.f2 f7 36.d4 d7 37.g3 c5! Black begins to active his queenside majority. 38.e2 d6 39.f3 f5 [ 39...c4!? ] 40.f4 xh4+ 41.f2 f5 42.d1 e6 43.d8 g6 44.e3 e5+ 45.d2 e4 46.xg6 xg6 Black is up a clean pawn, but the presence of opposite color bishops means he probably can't win. 47.b8! a4 48.d6 f7 49.c6 d4+ 50.e3 f5 51.c7+ f6 52.xa7 e4+ 53.f2 c4 54.b4 cxb4 55.axb4 f4 56.c7 f5 57.c8! Soffer defends impeccably. d4 58.f8+ g4 59.h3+ g5 60.c7 b5 61.d8+ g6 62.c7 d2+ 63.f3 d5+ 64.xf4! Definitely the simplest. f2+ 65.e5 xf8 66.xd5 h8 67.c6 xh3 68.xb5 Draw agreed. Though it hasn't caught on, 2... h4!? certainly has merit against the "Marin" move order with 2.g3. My recommendation for White is to play 3.Nf3 e4 4.Nh4 in search of an edge. ½-½
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.xb4 xb4 23.d3 a5 is far from clear, A20 as the two bishops are strong, and ...a4 an Sorokin,Maxim 2574 awkward threat. ] Makarov,Marat 2527 Chigorin mem (7) 08.11.1999 20...xe6 21.xe6+ f8 Forced, but the i n c o n ve n i e n c e o f t h e b l a c k k i n g i s o n l y [Tony Kosten] temporary, and White cannot bring any other 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 pieces over to help the queen. 22.a4 c7 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 b6 7.b3 An idea of 23.b2 g5 24.h4 e7 25.xe7+ Speelman's, intending to put quick pressure ½-½ on e5. e7 [ This position may call for a change of plans A20 now, and 7...g6 has its points, ready to 822 def e nd e5 wit h t he bishop on g7 , 8.c3 Svidler,Peter 2738 g7 9.a3 a5!? 10.e1 b4 11.d3 Gelfand,Boris 2720 e7 12.f4 led to unclear play in Speelman,J- Tal Memorial Blitz blitz (30) 30.08.2008 Oll,L/Pula 1997. ] [Carsten Hansen] 8.b2 f6 [ The most natural means of defending e5, if 1.c4 e5 2.f3 This is a very rare bird that we 8...f6 9.c3 f5 10.d3 threatens Ne4. ] haven't covered previously on 9.d4!? Chesspublishing.com, but I couldn't resist the [ If this is possible, then why not? 9.a3 e6 temptation because it gives me a chance to 10.d3 a5 11.bd2 0-0 as in Speelman,J- q u o t e a f e w o l d g a m e s b y t h e l i k e s o f Romanishin,O/Moscow 1985, leads to more Nimzowitsch, Alekhine, Rubinstein and Euwe. normal lines. ] e4 3.d4 c6 4.c2 9...exd4 [ 4.xc6 dxc6 5.c3 ( 5.d4 exd3 6.xd3 [ 9...e4 10.fd2 f5 seems like a more xd3 7.exd3 f5 8.d4 0-0-0= Alekhinecritical test. ] Tartakower/Warsaw/1935) 5...f6 6.h3 10.xd4 xd4 11.xd4 ( 6.d3 exd3 7.e4 c5 8.h3 e6 [ T h e m o s t i n t e r e s t i n g c h o i c e , 11.xd4 is very good for Black, Shatskes-Seredenko, is also possible, aiming for a slight edge in V/USSR/1967) 6...b4 7.c2 d4 8.e3 the ending, e.g. xd4 12.xd4 c6 13.a4!? e5 9.d4 exd3 10.xd3 xc3+ 11.bxc3 e6 14.a5 d5 15.d2 although Black is e6 , and Black has the upper hand, Murey, fine, Hramtsov,A-Martin,A/Moscow 1991. ] Y-Ivanov, AV/ New York 1989 ] 11...c6 12.c3 e6 13.d3 0-0 14.ad1 4...f6 5.c3 c5 6.d4 White hopes that his slight lead in [ White has a number of alternatives at this development, and the weakness of the e6juncture: A) 6.b3 0-0 7.g3 ( 7.b2 e8 square is enough to give him an advantage. 8.d4 exd3 9.xd3 e5 10.d2 c7 15.e4 is more solid, though still rather comfortable [ Another way to approach this position would for Black ) be 15.e4 ad8 16.c2 fe8 17.e3 A) 7...e8 8.g2 a5 9.0-0 d6 10.e3 , a n d l a t e r f 4 , h o p i n g t o u s e h i s e xt r a d4 11.d3 exd3 12.xd3 d7 central pawn. ] with approximately equal chances, 15...f7 16.h3 fd8 17.f5 g6 Rubinstein, A-Saemisch, F/Breslau 1925; Black refuses to weaken his light squares. B) 7...a6 8.g2 e8 9.0-0 d6 10.e3 18.e6 f5 19.xb6 d4 11.d3 ( 11.b2 c6 12.d3 f5 [ 19.xf7+ xf7 20.e3 doesn't lead to 13.xf5 xf5 14.dxe4 xe4 15.xe4 much either, after f8 ] xe4 16.e3 g5= Lisenko, A-Fradkin, B/ 19...xb6!? Offering a pawn sacrifice. 20.c4 Sverdlovsk 1989) 11...exd3 12.xd3 b8 [ Evidently White had intended to win a pawn 13.b2 c6 14.cd5 e5 15.d2 c6 by 20.xf5 but then thought better of it. In 16.xf6+ xf6 , and the chances are fact, the ending after xd1 21.xd1 b4 about even, Rubinstein, A-Tarrasch, S/
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Breslau 1925; C) 7...d5! When I wrote my book on 1 c4 e5, I rather indiscriminately quoted ECO, wh i c h g i v e s t h i s m o v e a s l e a d i n g t o equality (probably based on the outcome of the game, which was a short draw), but matters are far from that simple. Alternatively Black has also tried a couple o f le s s c rit ica l c o n t in u a t io n s : 8.cxd5?! ( 8.g2 dxc4 9.bxc4 is relatively better, but still quite good for Black. ) C1) As Alekhine himself pointed out (and I'm baffled why this hasn't made it into the ECO), Black has the considerably stronger 8...g4! available (the following analysis is by Alekhine, except where noted), e.g. C1a) 9.e3 ce5 10.xe4 ( 10.d4 f3+ 11.e2 gxh2! 12.dxc5 g4-+; 10.e2 d3+! 11.xd3 exd3 ) 10...xd5 ( CH: 10...f5!? also looks rather promising 11.d3 xd5 12.f3 ad8 with a distinct advantage for Black ) C1a1) CH: 11.g2! is the lesser evil, e.g. d3+ 12.f1 f5 13.f3 ( 13.f4!? ) 13...b6 14.a3 e8 15.h3 h6 16.g4 , and while ugly, White's position is probably survivable; C1a2) 11.f3 f5! ( CH: Again Black s h o u l d g i v e t h o u g h t t o 11...f5!? , e.g. 12.d3 ad8 13.h3 h6 with a strong initiative to compensate for the pawn. ) C1a21) CH: This is just an absolutely terrible move that loses o n t h e s p o t , w h e r e a s 12.c4!? xc4 ( 12...xc4 13.bxc4 xc4 14.xc5 is much better for White analysis by ChessBase) 13.f6+ xf6 14.bxc4 d3+ C1a211) The editorial team at ChessBase only off ers 15.e2 gf2 16.f1 ( 16.g1! isn't mentioned either, e.g. e6 17.b2 h6 18.d4 xc4 19.xc5 h3 20.b1 xc5+ 21.d3 xd3+ 22.e1 e8 23.b4 b6 24.d2 a5 , and Black still has the initiative
and the slightly better chances) 16...e6 17.b2 h6 18.b1?! ( Here White can improve with 18.a3 xc4 19.xc5 xc5+ 20.xf2 xf1 21.axf1 with approximately even chances ) 18...xc4; C1a212) 15.f1; C1a22) 12.xc5 xf3+ 13.e2 , and now rather than Alekhine's xc5 , which is only clearly better for Black ( Black should have played 13...fxh2! 14.xh2 xh2 15.f2 xf1 16.xf1 xc5 with a won game. ); C1b) 9.e3 xe3 10.fxe3 f6 11.c2 ( 11.xe4 xa1 ) 11...f2+ 12.d1 f5 C1b1) 13.xe4 b4 14.b1 xe4-+ Alekhine; C1b2) 13.dxc6 d8 14.e1?? ( 14.b1 f2+ 15.e1 xh1 16.xe4 h5 17.b2 f5 ) 14...f2+ 15.d1 xe3# - analysis by the ChessBase editorial team; C1b3) 13.e1 b4 Alekhine; C1c) 9.xe4 xd5 10.g2 ( 10.f3 xe4 ) 10...xf2+ 11.f1 f5 Alekhine; C2) 8...b4?! 9.xb4 xb4 10.g2 e8 11.0-0 f5 12.b2 xd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.d3 ad8 15.dxe4 xe4 16.xd5 , and here a draw was agreed, 1/2-1/2, Euwe, M-Alekhine, A/ N L D 1 9 3 5 a f t e r xd5 17.fd1 , the position is completely drawn. ] [ B) 6.g3 A) 6...0-0 7.g2 e8 8.0-0 d6 A1) 9.e3 h5 10.ed5 f5 11.e3 h4 ( 11...xd5 12.cxd5 b4 13.xh5 g6 14.g4 e7 leaves Black with excellent compensation for the pawn) 12.xf6+ xf6 13.f3! was played in Chabanon, J-Cramling, P/France 1997, a n d h e r e B l a c k s h o u l d o p t f o r e6! 14.fxe4 g4 15.b3 h3! 16.h1 d4! 17.xb7 ab8 18.a6 e2+ 19.xe2 xe2 20.f4 xc4 with an unclear position; A2) 9.b3 f5 10.e3 xe3 813
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 10...d7!? ) 11.fxe3 d7 12.b2 e5?! ( 12...a6!? ) 13.c2 Gorbatow, A-Rotstein, A/Arco 1999; B) 6...e5 7.b4?! ( 7.g2 xc4 8.xe4 xe4 9.xe4= ) 7...e7 8.g2 ( 8.d3!? ) 8...xc4 9.xe4 xe4 10.xe4 d5 11.g2 c6 12.b1 a5 13.b5 c5 14.d4 ( 14.d3!? ) 14...f5 Lisenko, A-Cebalo, M/ Makarska 1994; C) 6...d6 7.g2 ( 7.b4 xb4 8.xb4 xb4 9.g2 f5 10.b1 is a suggestion f rom my book, but Black seems to b e doing fine after a5 11.a3 a6 12.xb7 c5 13.b2 0-0 with approximately equal chances ) 7...f5 C1) 8.0-0 d7 9.e3 h3 10.ed5 xg2 11.xg2 h5 12.h4 was Rejfir, JFlorian, J/ Prague 1955, and now xd5 13.cxd5 e7 is about even; C2) 8.b4!? b6 ( 8...xb4 would transpose to the line given above after 7 b4.) 9.e3 d7 10.0-0!? xe3 11.fxe3 xb4 12.f4 with an unclear position and chances to both players; C3) 8.e3 g6 ( 8...xe3 9.dxe3 d7 10.d5 xd5 11.cxd5 e7 12.d4 0-0 13.xe4 xe4 14.xe4 ae8= Gutop, Y-Rutman, A/Moscow 1999) 9.b3 d4 ( 9...0-0 10.b2 e8 11.0-0 a5= Lis enk o, A-It kis, B/B ucharest 1 99 3) 10.b2 h5 11.h4 0-0 12.c1 e5 13.cd5 xb2 14.xb2 xd5 15.xd5 c6 16.f4 f6 17.c3 , a n d t h e c h a n c e s a r e a b o u t e ve n , Lisenko, A-Lerner, K/Beltsy 1981 ] [ C) 6.e3?! d4?! ( 6...d6!? ) 7.b3 ( 7.ed5! d6 8.b4 xd5 9.xd5 c6 10.bxc5 cxd5 11.cxd5 ) 7...b5 8.b2 a6 9.cd5 ( 9.ed5!? b7 10.e3 e6 11.c2 is actually better for White) 9...xd5 10.xd5 c6 11.b4 a7 12.c5 e6 13.e3 d6 14.cxd6 xd6 , and Black is clearly better, Pliester, L-Welling, G/Dieren 1987 ] [ D) 6.a4 e7 7.g3 d5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.g2 0-0 10.c3 e5 11.0-0 e8 is comfortably better for Black, Tate, E Dougherty, M/ Philadelphia 1993 ] 6...exd3 7.exd3 d5 8.d4 e7 9.c5 0-0 [ Here we depart the established theory. However, I'm quite certain that the move
chose by Gelf and doesn't constitute an improvement. An old classic game c o n t i n u e d w i t h 9...f5 10.d3 xd3 11.xd3 b6 12.0-0 0-0 13.g5 h6 ( 13...bxc5 14.dxc5 b8 15.b3 d4= ) 14.h4 bxc5 15.dxc5 e5 16.d4 g6 17.g3 c6 18.b4 c8 with a comfortable game for Black, who eventually won the game, Reti, R-Nimzowitsch, A/Marienbad 1925 ] [ Another option is 9...g4 , for example 10.e2 xe2 11.xe2 0-0 12.0-0 e8 13.d3 e4 , and Black has equalised, Kwatschewsky, L-Petschar, K/Austria 1989 ] 10.d3 b6 11.cxb6 axb6 12.0-0 a6 13.g5 [ 13.xa6 xa6 14.g5 h6 15.d3 a8 16.h4 d7 is about even ] 13...h6 [ 13...xd3 14.xd3 d7 15.f3 is also slightly better for White ] 14.h4 xd3 15.xd3 h5!? 16.f3= [ After this move, I don't think White can claim any advantage. Instead White should consider 16.g3!? , e. g. f6 17.ad1 e7 18.b4 , and White has the initiative ] 16...xh4 17.xh5 f6 18.fd1?! [ This looks like a case of the wrong rook. White would be doing fine after 18.ad1!? e7 19.e3 c6 20.g4 d6 21.f4 , a l t h o u g h B l a c k c a n e q u a l i s e w i t h c5 for instance: 22.xf6+ xf6 23.dxc5 bxc5 24.xd5 xd5 25.xd5 xb2 26.xc5 xa2 27.f2 ] 18...e7 19.a4 [ 19.e3 c6 20.g4 d6 is slightly better for Black ] 19...c6 20.g3 [ White could possibly do better with 20.e1 d6 21.ad1 g6 22.g3 with only a minimal disadvantage for White. ] 20...d7 21.f3 f5 [ Black invites a repetition of moves. Alternatively he could consider 21...g6 with an edge. ] 22.e2 e6 [ 22...h3 23.d3 h5 leaves Black with the initiative and the better position, but unf ortunately he is ready to settle for a draw. ] 23.d3 f5 24.e2 e6 , and here a draw 814
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Black has some tempting possibilities which unfortunately rebound, for example 10...d4+ 11.c2 xd1+ 12.xd1 xd5 13.h3 e3+ 14.d2 xg2 15.xf2 leaves Black's knight on g2 trapped. ] [ or 10...xd5 11.f3 e3+ 12.c2 e4+ 823 A20 13.d3 e3+ 14.d2 xd3+ 15.exd3 Svidler,Peter 2730 xg2 16.f1 e1 17.h4 g5 18.f5 Mastrovasilis,Athanasios 2547 gives W hite a massive attack even in the 12th ch-EUR Aix les Bains FRA (4) 25.03.2011 endgame. ] [Nigel Davies] [ As the endgame that arises after 10...fxg1 11.xg1 xg1 12.xg1 is also bad Black 1.g3 e5 2.c4 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 e4 5.d5 decides just not to recapture his sacrificed cxd5 piece. But this leaves him with woefully [ Most of the strong players who've reached inadequate compensation. ] this p os ition with Black h ave p re f erre d 5...b4+ 6.d2 e7 , for example 7.c3 11.f3 f5 12.c3 0-0 13.b3 d8 e8 15.xf2 g4 16.e1 0-0 8.a3 ( 8.e3 e8 9.ge2 d6 10.dxc6 14.hf1 xc6 11.a3 xc3 12.xc3 g4 White can comfortably afford to offer some of was quite good for Black in Giardelli, S- the booty back. e7 17.e4 d7 18.e2 Campora, D/Asuncion 2003.) 8...c5 9.e3 g6 19.xb7 h5 20.c7 ge5 21.xe5 22.xd7 xe2 23.xe2 g5 d6 10.ge2 cxd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.cxd5 xe5 d7 13.0-0 f6 14.c3 and now the 24.xd6 speculative g4 left Black with inadequate 1-0 compensation for the pawn after ( 14...f5 wa s b e t t e r) 15.xf6 xf6 16.b4 b6 A20 17.xe4 in Carlsen, M-Anand, V/Nice 824 2008. ] Thiede,Lars 2432 6.cxd5 b4+ Graf,Alexander 2630 [ 6...a5+ 7.c3 b4 8.d2 xc3 9.xc3 Bundesliga 2002-3 (8) 11.01.2003 xd5 is very bad for Black after 10.xf6 [Tony Kosten] xd1+ 11.xd1 gxf6 12.xe4 etc. ] 7.d2 e3?! This might have seemed like a Another look at the anti-Reversed Dragon line good idea at the time but it works out bady. that I recommended in The Dynamic English, [ B l a c k h a d p r e v i o u s l y p l a y e d 7...e7 but the judgement is unchanged. 1.c4 e5 i n t h i s p o s i t i o n w h i c h a l t h o u g h l e s s 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 spectacular is probably just a better move. c6 6.0-0 b6 7.d3 e7 8.bd2 After 8.a3?! ( 8.c3 looks more natural) Of course, White can always try the mainlines 8...c5 9.c3?! Black could now have with played xf2+ ( 9...d6 10.xe4?! xf2+ [ 8.c3 ] 11.xf2 xe4+ 12.xe4 xe4 8...0-0 9.a3 a5 10.b3 e6 11.b2 f6 was quite good for Black in Hala, V-Koys, 12.c2 d7 13.e3?! Chernin's move relies M/Czechia 2007) 10.xf2 e3+ when on a tactical continuation that seems to be 11.xe3 g4+ would have put White in faulty. desperate straights. ] [ 13.ac1 ad8!? (the other rook seems 8.xb4 exf2+ 9.d2 b6 stronger) 14.fd1 h3 15.h1 g4 [ Th e im me d ia t e 9...fxg1 looks nice for 16.e4 fe8 Lobron,E-Fritz 5/Frankfurt W h i t e a f t e r 10.xg1 g4 ( 10...d6 1998, when 17.d4!? xf3 18.xf3 exd4 11.e3+ is strong ) 11.d4 g5+ 12.f4 ] 19.c5 xc5 20.xc5 is interesting: White [ but 9...a6 10.a3 fxg1 11.xg1 d6 will capture on c6, then on d4. ] 12.e3+ f8 looks kind of playable. ] [ 13.fd1! fd8 14.c4!? ( 14.ac1 f8 10.a3 d6 15.d4? exd4 16.e4 f7! attacks b3 and was agre ed, alth ough Bla ck's position is undoubtedly to be preferred. ½-½
815
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 wins a pawn, Giddins,S-Gurevich,M/ Amsterdam NED 2000 ) A) 14...d5 15.e4!? ( 15.d4?! e4! 16.xe4? f5 17.h4 g5 traps the queen ) 15...b6 16.xb6 cxb6 17.d4; B) 14...xc4 15.bxc4 ( 15.dxc4!? e8 16.h4 and Be4 is interesting) 15...a4?! ( 15...c5!? ) 16.d4! exd4 17.xd4 xd4 18.xd4 c8 19.xd8+ xd8 20.e4 W hite enjoys some advantage with his centralised pieces, Pecorelli Garcia,HFranco Ocampos, Z/Havana CUB 2001. ] 13...fd8! Critical, although other moves have been tried: [ 13...d5 14.fd1 fd8 15.c4 e6 16.ac1 with complex play, Vallejo Pons,FTiviakov,S/Ohrid MKD 2001. ] [ 13...f5 14.e4 fd8 15.d4!? exd4 16.xd4 xd4 17.xd4 d5 equal, Van Me c h e le n , J -Gu re vich , M/ Ch a rle ro i B E L 2001. ] 14.d4 exd4 15.xd4 Not forced, as against Yakovich, at Gausdal in 2000, fellow contributor Nigel Davies preferred [ 15.xd4!? xd4 16.xd4 d5 17.c4 xg2 18.xb6 cxb6 19.xg2 d5+ agreed drawn. ] 15...xd4 16.xd4 c5! 17.xc5 ac8 18.b4 d5! Stronger than [ 18...axb4 as we saw in Matamoros Franco, C-Volzhin,A. ] 19.b3!? b6 20.e4 xb4! 21.axb4 axb4 22.fd1 c7 23.xd8+?! This attempted improvement on [ 23.d4 xd4 24.xd4 bxc5 25.c4! which we considered in Bourquin,P-Vnukov, D/IECG 2000, seems weaker - or was White simply not aware of this game? ] 23...xd8 24.f1 My Fritz suggests the tricky line [ 24.d4!? xd4 25.h3! f7 ( 25...xh3? 26.b3+ f8 27.xd4 ) 26.xe7! but then Black has xe7 ( not 26...xc2?? 27.a8+ e8 28.e6+ h8 29.xe8# ) 27.c6 d6 28.a8+ d8 29.a1 but Black's forward b-pawn is very dangerous. ] 24...xc5!? [ 24...bxc5 25.c4 allows White some c h a n c e s o f b lo c ka d i n g t h e p a wn s, b u t appears more logical. ]
25.c1 d7 26.c4?! White should take the pawn: [ 26.xc5 bxc5 27.xc5 c8!? 28.xc8+ xc8 29.xc8+ xc8 30.c4+ f8 and White has fair chances of defending this ending. ] 26...f8 27.d4 xc4 28.xc4+ f7 29.e6 d6 [ 29...b3! i s a w k w a r d , 30.f4 ( 30.xd8? xc4 31.xc4 b2 makes another queen; 30.xb3? d6 win s a p ie ce .) 30...b2 31.b1 c5+ 32.f1 ( 32.h1 a8 wins. ) 32...a8! wins, as 33.xb2? a1+ 34.e2 h5+ forces mate. ] 30.xf8 d1+ 31.g2 xc1 32.xc1 xf8 After the tactics Black has a simply winning queen and p awn e nding. 33.c8+ e8 34.c4 e7 35.d5 b3 Offering to swap one of the b-pawns for the white e-pawn. 36.f3 b4 37.d8+ f7 38.d7+ e7 39.d4 c5 40.d7+ Once White runs-out of checks the game will be short-lived. g6! 41.h4 [ 41.g4+ g5 ] 41...h5 42.g4 hxg4 43.fxg4 b2 44.d3 e5 45.f3 h7 46.h5 b5 47.b3 d4 48.c2 e5 49.b3 h6 Presumably the players are short of time, as [ 49...h2 wins on the spot, the threat is ... Qh1+ and b1(Q). ] 50.b4 h2! Finally! 51.xb5 h1+ 52.g3 b1 53.g5+ xh5 0-1
825 Topalov,Veselin Timman,Jan H Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee NED (1) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2700 2649 16.01.1999
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 [ 5.c3 b6 6.f3 would transpose into the main variation. ] 5...c6 6.0-0 A tricky little move. e7 [ 6...b6 is the normal move, keeping hold of the d4-square. ] 7.d4 Thematic, if Black doesn't stop this, then White has to play it! e4 8.e5 f5 The only m o v e t o a vo i d d i s a d v a n t a g e , t h e b l a c k queenside pawns will be severely hamstrung, 816
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 but his e-pawn is strong. 9.xc6 bxc6 10.a4 d7! By immediately breaking the pin on the c6-pawn, Black manages to force the move .. .c5. [ 10...d6 11.c3 had been played previously. ] 11.d1 c5! Exchanging the first of the doubled pawns. 12.xd7+ xd7 13.dxc5 e6 Defending the knight before recuperating t h e c 5 - p a w n . 14.d2?! Very dangerous, W hite tries to keep some advantage, but should have been happy with equality by [ 14.c3 xc3 15.bxc3 xc5 16.f4 ] 14...0-0-0 15.a3?! e3 Black has a large lead in development, and now sets-about the white position. 16.f1 exf2+ 17.xf2 xc5+ A good time to recover his c-pawn, with check s o a s n o t t o l o s e t i m e . 18.e1 he8 Bringing the last piece into play. 19.g5 d6 20.ac1 White manages to develop his queen's rook. b6 21.f3 White carefully protects the e2-pawn, and moves the bishop from g2, in preparation for playing Bf4, else, if the immediate [ 21.f4?! then xf4 22.xd6? xg2+ wins. ] 21...h6?! A case of forcing White to do what he wanted to do anyway! 22.f4 Possible as t h e d 5 - k n i g h t i s p i n n e d . d7 23.e5 White's disadvantage is limited now that this piece has found a good square. g5 24.d4 g4 25.h1 f7 26.xb6 axb6 White has eased his position somewhat, but his knight is passive, and his pawn structure worse (somewhat ironic if compared with the respective pawn structures after the opening). 27.c6 Not best, the rook's placement will a ll o w a s m a l l t a ct ic . f4! 28.f2 h5 Missing the line [ 28...f3! 29.exf3 f4! winning the exchange, 30.gxf4 ( 30.xd7?? allows the surprising 'snap mate' h3+ 31.g2 e2# in either move order.) 30...xd1 31.fxg4 b1 32.c2 c5 and the possibility of swapping off the white rook by ...Bb3, and ... Rd8, leaving t he wh ite b -pawn sho rt o f defence, is good for Black. ] 29.d4! fxg3+ 30.xg3 Having activated this piece, W hite is close to equality. e5 31.h6 d8 32.e1 d6 33.h8+ d7 34.h7?! Missing the simple
[ 34.e4 g6 35.c3 forcing off pieces, and which should be drawn. ] 34...e8 35.a4 And again, but this time with serious consequences. f4?? A terrible blunder, just at the moment when Black's centralised pieces gave him the advantage, once again, e.g. [ 35...f6 36.h8+ e7 and both white rooks are offside. ] 36.xf4 1-0
826 Turner,Matthew Yastrebov,A2 4NCL Telford ENG (10) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2519 2207 04.05.2003
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.d4 exd4 4.xd4 d5 5.g2 dxc4!? There is nothing wrong with this move, although up till now I have mainly concentrated on [ 5...f6 6.f3 e6 7.cxd5 cxd5 with the standard IQP position. My recent game against Shchekachev, French Tch 2003, continued 8.0-0 c6 9.a4 c5 10.g5 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.c3 0-0 13.e1 fd8 ( 13...ad8 was Seirawan,YSokolov, I/Wijk 1995) 14.d3 d4 15.ac1 a6 16.f4 b5 new, ( 16...e5 17.e3 xc3 18.xc3 d4 was level in Taylor,M-Berry,N/ Telford ENG 2003) 17.d1 e7 18.e3 xc3 19.xc3 ac8 20.xc8 xc8 21.d2 d4!? which turned-out to be fairly level. ] 6.xc4 The critical line is [ 6.xd8+!? xd8 7.f3 when Black has a large choice: f6 ( 7...d6 8.0-0 f6 9.d1 c7 10.bd2 b5?! 11.e4 e7 12.f4+ won very quickly in Rotstein,A-Rahls,P/Arco 1998, and; 7...b4+ 8.d2 xd2+ (8...Na6!?) 9.bxd2 f6?! 10.xc4 c7 11.c1 favoured White in Suba,M-Peric,S/ Geneve 1995) 8.0-0 bd7 9.d1 e8 10.bd2 b6 11.e5 e6 12.xc6!? is unclear, Suba,M-Sax,G/Baile Herculane 1982. ] 6...e6 7.c2 f6 8.f3 a6 The most aggressive, [ 8...b4+ 9.bd2 h6 10.0-0 0-0 11.b3 a5 12.b2 bd7 13.ad1 h5 14.d4 817
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is slightly better for W hite, Serper,GVakhidov,T/Bishkek 1993. ] 9.c3!? A novelty, as normally White has played [ 9.a3 to keep the knight from b4: c5 ( 9...h6 10.b4 e7 11.0-0 0-0 12.b2 c8 13.bd2 with an edge, Raicevic,MPaunovic,T/Belgrade 1988) 10.bd2 d5 11.0-0 e7 12.b4 ce4 13.c4 0-0 14.b2 e8 15.ad1 planning to gain the bishop pair by Ne3, Spraggett,K-Schroer,J/ Quebec 1986. ] 9...b4 10.b1 bd5 Black can also wait until his knight is 'kicked' for this move, and play [ 10...c5 say. ] 11.0-0 xc3 Black is playing a lot of moves with his knight, although this is hardly critical as yet. 12.bxc3 b6 13.e3! White simply plays natural developing moves. a6 [ 13...xb1 14.fxb1 is more than a little awkward, as the b-pawn needs defending. ] 14.d4 e7 15.b2 d5 16.fd1 d8 Again, whilst this move is not actually bad, [ 16...0-0 seems simpler. ] 17.f1!? An original idea which succeeds im m e d ia t e ly, W h it e t h re a t e n s e 4 , wh ic h discovers an attack on the black queen. a3?! A queen move would be best, i.e. [ 17...a4 as the b-pawn is indirectly defended 18.xb7?? c5 wins a piece. ] 18.c2 e4?? Black expected a repetition of moves, no doubt, and was looking-forward to a draw with his strong opponent, but this loses on the spot! [ 18...e7 i s s t i l l O K : 19.e4?! xe4! 20.xe4 xf1+ 21.xf1 xe4 22.xg7 g8 and Black has no problems. ] 19.xf6! [ After 19.xf6 Black drops a piece, gxf6 ( 19...xc2? 20.xd8# ) 20.xe4+ ] 1-0
827 Urban,Klaudiusz Krasenkow,Michal chT Zakopane chT (2) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2472 2702 03.09.2000
1.g3 e5 2.c4 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 d5 6.f3 e6 7.cxd5 [ 7.g5 Might be better, dxc4 8.xe6 b4+ 9.d2 xd2+ 10.xd2 fxe6 11.xc4 with a small edge, Jaderberg,B-Adler,B/ Sweden 1998. ] 7...cxd5 8.a4+!? An interesting finesse, White decides to 'fall before he is pushed'. c6 9.d4 [ 9.0-0 c5 would transpose into the main line. ] 9...d7 10.0-0 c5 11.xc6 White hopes to exploit the hanging pawns on the c and d-files. bxc6 12.c3 0-0 13.g5 g4 14.ac1 b6 15.d1 An odd move, but White wishes to bring his knight to c5 via a4, and, of course, the queen was in the way. e5 16.a4 h3 17.b3 [ 17.c5 is met by f5 , hitting the g5bishop. ] 17...fe8 18.d2 xg2 19.xg2 d4!? Menacing to fix the e2-pawn, and threatening ...Qd5+. 20.e4 f5! 21.exf5 d3!? [ Black continues to advance the newlypassed d-pawn, not bothering with 21...xf5 although this is also good. ] 22.xb6?! [ Opening the a-file is dangerous, if 22.f4 then f7 maintains the pressure, but this is certainly a better bet. ] 22...axb6 23.e3?! d5+ 24.f3 Forced. g4! 25.ce1 xa2! Lightning strikes from the side! 26.xa2 xe3+ 27.xe3 xe3 At the end of the tactics Black is lost, the d3pa wn is t o o stro n g, an d th e b la ck he a vy pieces well centralised. 28.f2 h5 29.d2 e5 30.h3 c5 31.g4 h4 32.f4 e4+ 33.h2 e2 0-1
818
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 828
A20 Wang Hao 2733 Rublevsky,Sergei 2681 27th ECC Rogaska Slatina SLO (4.1) 28.09.11 [John Bartholomew]
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 e4 8.e5 f5 9.xc6 bxc6 This position is critical to the e v a l u a t i o n o f 7 . d 4 . H i g h - l e ve l d i s p u t e s continue to flare up. 10.d2 White scored 2/2 with this move at the European Club Cup against 2680+ opposition. Positionally speaking, it is quite desirable to maneuver the knight to b3 in order to clamp down on c5 and prevent the liquidation of Black's doubled pawns. Past updates have dealt with the alternatives: [ 10.a4 d7! Topalov, V (2700)-Timman, J (2649 )/Wijk aan Zee 1999/[TonyK] ] [ Jonathan Rowson gives the popular 10.c3 , as in Carlsen, M (2714)-Gelfand, B (2736)/ Moscow 2007, ] [ and 10.c2 good coverage in his notes to Paunovic - Topalov. Check the archives. ] 10...0-0 [ Premature is 10...c5? Janssen, R (2437)Van den Doel, E (2607)/ Dieren NED 2001/ [TonyK] ] 11.b3 d6 Black begins to shift his resources to the kingside, but this may not be the best way to handle the position. [ Rowson gives 11...a5 an "!", but the pawn sacrifice 12.d2 a4 13.a5 d7 ( 13...c5! i s a m o v e t o i n ve s t i g a t e .) 14.xa4 ( 14.c1!? Rowson. ) 14...e8 in Paunovic, D (2539)-Topalov, V (2777)/Villarrobledo 20 08 /[ Jo n at ha n Ro wso n] h as no t be e n repeated since. ] [ The natural 11...e6 was played earlier this year. 12.d2 b6 13.c2 c4 14.e3 ( 14.c3 is more accurate.) 14...xd2?! ( Here 14...a5! is strong. If White attempts to stop the a-pawns advance with 15.a4 then d5 threatens to embarrass the knight on b3. ) 15.xd2 ( 15.xd2!? ) 15...d5 16.c4 a5 17.fc1 c5 18.dxc5 xc5 19.d1 c6 20.e5 d6 21.d7 xd7 22.xc5 Matamoros Franco, C (2549)Lapshun, Y (2438)/Philadelphia USA 2011. White holds a marginal advantage. ]
[ A d a y a f t e r t h e t e x t g a m e , 11...d6 was tried in Vitiugov, N (2726)-Motylev, A (2690)/Rogaska Slatina SLO 2011. Black again ta kes aim at W hite 's king. 12.d2 ( 12.c2 is flexible.) 12...e8 13.e3 e6 ( 13...a6!? seems like a more useful diagonal, i.e. 14.e1 b8 15.f1 b5 , when Black isn't making it easy for White to exploit his positional advantage on the queenside.) 14.c1 e7 15.a5 d5 16.b3 f6 17.e2 h5 18.h4 g6 19.c4! Hurrying back to eliminate the dark-square bishop. e8 20.e5 xe5 21.dxe5 e6 22.c3 ( 22.a5!? ) 22...h6?! ( After 22...g4 23.xg4 hxg4 24.a5 g6 25.xc7 xe5 26.xe5 xe5 27.c5 t h e re a rise s a n e n d in g t h a t re se m b le s Matamoros Franco - Lapshun (though in slightly b ett er f orm ). W hite h as a n ice , w o r k a b l e a d v a n t a g e .) 23.f4!? A h u m a n d e c i s i o n . ( The computer is unimpressed with Black's kingside display and wants to continue 23.h3 g5 24.a6 ) 23...exf3 24.xf3 g6 25.h2 xf3 26.xf3 g4 27.d3 g5?! ( 27...e6 ) 28.d7 I feel it's speculative to stake everything on a kingside attack as Motylev did in this game. ] [ I believe 11...b8N ] [ or 11...a6N also deserve practical outings. ] 12.c2 g6 13.d2 f4? This is simply unsound. Black is extremely underprepared to breach White's defenses. [ Straightforward development with 13...a6 was called for, i.e. 14.fe1 ab8 15.ac1 b4!? ] 14.fc1 [ White can also just take the pawn: 14.xe4 f5 15.xf5 xf5 16.ac1 and Black's threats are largely illusory. ] 14...f6 15.a5 [ or 15.xe4 ] 15...f3 [ Maybe 15...fxg3 16.hxg3 f5 17.xc6 d6 had a better shot at confusing the issue. If White finds 18.e5! things would be fairly straightforward for Wang Hao. ] 16.exf3 exf3 17.xg6 hxg6 18.f1 W ith more than half his pawns as targets, Black is clearly suffering. d7 19.a3 e8 819
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.b4 f8?! 21.g5! Black's rickety position can't handle the strain. f5 [ 21...d6 22.c4 de6 23.h3+- ] [ 21...fe6 22.h3 d6 23.xd7 xd7 24.xc6+- ] 22.h4 e7 23.c4 d5 24.e5 xd4 25.e3 d5 26.c4+- White wins material and the game is decided. e6 27.xd5 xd5 28.xa7 f5 29.xg6 d6 30.c5 h7 31.h5 xc5 32.xc5 d4 33.d1 e2+ 34.h2 h6 35.g4 e4 36.h3 d4 37.g3 g5 38.xd4 xd4 39.e5 f6 40.xc6 d3 41.b5 1-0
829 Xu Jun Christiansen,Larry Mark 2nd Summit Shanghai CHN (3) [Tony Kosten]
A20 2654 2559 14.07.2002
Sometimes it doesn't pay to take too many risks to win - especially against a very strong opponent! 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 d5 6.f3 e6 7.g5!? Pestering the bishop. We have considered [ 7.cxd5 many times, and the resulting IQP position seems to give Black good tactical play, so it is certainly appropriate to consider this critical alternative. ] 7...bd7 I think this is best, Black simply gets on with his development, hoping that the strengthening of the black centre will provide compensation, [ 7...d7!? also allows White to capture the bishop, 8.xe6 xe6 9.0-0!? dxc4 10.d2 bd7 11.xc4 xc4 12.xc4 b6 13.xb6 axb6 White's bishop pair give him the edge, Serper,G-Zagorskis,D/ Lyon 1994 ] [ 7...dxc4?! is worse, though, 8.xe6 b4+ 9.d2 xd2+ 10.xd2 fxe6 11.xc4 e7 12.0-0 0-0 13.f3 White has the superior pawn structure, Jaderberg,B-Adler,B/ Sweden 1998. ] 8.xe6 fxe6 9.e3 The white queen was going to be attacked anyway, so moves before b e i n g p u s h e d . f7!? A new idea, Black decides to castle 'by hand'. [ 9...b4+ was the previous try, and would
be my choice: 10.d2 e7 11.0-0 c5 12.b3 b6 13.cxd5 exd5 Black has good p ro sp e ct s d e sp it e c o n ce d in g h is ligh t squared bishop, Serper,G-Xu Jun/Jakarta 1994. ] 10.h3 b4+ 11.d2 xd2+ [ 11...e7!? could now be met by 12.xe6+ xe6 13.xe6+ xe6 14.xb4 dxc4 although both sides have chances. ] 12.xd2 e8 13.0-0 b6 14.c3 a5 15.e3 b4 Black feels more comfortable in the ending, in f act his king might prove wellplaced there. 16.ac1 xc3 17.xc3 e5 18.cxd5 exd5 19.g2 a4 20.d1 ad8 21.f3 c4 22.d4!? e4 [ 22...xb2? 23.b1 c4 24.xb7+ is good for White, but ] [ 22...c5!? 23.e2 b5 is interesting. ] 23.c2 f6 24.e2 a3! 25.b3 b2 26.f1 d3 27.xe4 dxe4!? A risky winning attempt, [ 27...xe4 would be most players' choice. ] 28.c4 e5 Black seems to making slow but sure progress. 29.a4 [ 29.xe4? f3+ 30.g2 xe4 ] 29...d3!? [ 29...d2!? 30.c3 f5 31.xa3 c2 also keeps a useful initiative. ] [ 29...a8 was more circumspect, 30.xa8 xa8 31.d1 f8 level. ] 30.xa3 b5!? [ 30...ed8 31.a4 f3+ 32.g2 e5 33.c1 might also favour White. ] 31.a6 g5?! But this is going too far, was Larry hoping to set-up a mating net? 32.d4 d2 33.a4 bxa4 34.bxa4 Now Black is a p a wn d o wn wit h n o n o t i ce a b l e c o m p . c5 35.e6+ g4 36.g2! [ 36.xc5 h3 would allow some cheapo chances. ] 36...e7 37.xc5 c4 38.e1 b2 39.h3+ h5 40.b3 d5 41.d4 d3 42.e2 g6 43.a5 c5 44.g4+ h4 45.f4! c4? [ 45...exf3+?? 46.xf3# ] 46.f5+! After the knight is captured White mates on h6 with his rook. 1-0
820
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 830 Agrest,Evgenij Conquest,Stuart 19th Open Reykjavik ISL (8) [Tony Kosten]
A21 2604 2563 12.04.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 e7 4.d4 d6 5.e3 [ An unusual alternative to the normal 5.e4 f6 6.xe7 xe7 7.f3 when Black has reasonable play, although White's bishop pair and extra space offer him long term advantages. ] 5...f6 [ 5...f5!? is the aggressive alternative, 6.e2 f6 7.ec3 0-0 8.e2 xd5 ( 8...e6 9.0-0 bd7= ) 9.xd5 g5 10.0-0 c6 ( 10...c6!? ) 11.c3 and Black has no reason to be unhappy with his position, Lobron,E-Bologan,V/Moscow 1994. ] 6.xe7 xe7 7.e2 0-0 [ 7...f5!? 8.g3 g6 9.e2 c5 10.d5 is favourable to White, Williams,S-Pert,N/ Birmingham ENG 1999. ] 8.d5 bd7!? [ Conquest's innovation, which prepares a more aggressive strategy than the positional 8...a5 to gain the c5-square, 9.c3 a6 10.e4 c5 11.f3 h6 12.h3 h7 13.g4 (e l s e B l a c k p la ys . . . f 5 ) h4 14.e2 and White has more space, and the pair of bishops, Onischuk,A-Bologan,V/W ijk aan Zee II 1996. ] 9.c3 e4 The idea behind Black's previous move, he plays ...e4 before White can do it himself. Which will be more important, Black's extra space on the kingside, or the open a1-h8 diagonal for White's c1-bishop? 10.h3 c6 11.dxc6 bxc6 12.b3 Menacing Ba3. d8 13.a3 e5 14.d2 a5 15.e2 c5 Another committal move, as now d5 is weakened, but the black pieces can control this square easily, and it is more important to block White's bishop. 16.a4 b7 17.c3 c6 18.b2 fd7 [ 18...xa4!? is certainly possible, but playing with two knights against two bishops is not everyone's cup of tea. ] 19.0-0 g5 Black has plans on the kingside, his ninth move does give him a space advantage here. 20.h2 e8! 21.ad1 e6
22.g1 h6 Storm clouds are gathering around the white king. 23.f4! The best move, at the price of weakening the kingside, White gains some valuable space, and opens the gfile. exf3 24.gxf3 h5 25.g3 xf3? [ This seems tempting, but White can defend. I prefer 25...g6 , when 26.dg1?! allows ( 26.xg6! xg6 27.g1 is better, although h5 28.g3 e8 favours Black) 26...xf3! 27.xf3 xf3!! the point, for if 28.xf3?? xf3+ 29.h1 xg1# ] 26.xf3 xf3+ 27.xf3 e5 Defending against the mate on g7. 28.df1 xf3+ 29.xf3 g6 The g7-square had to be defended again. 30.e4 [ Possibly, in his habitual time trouble Black had missed this resource, the only move to defend the rook, otherwise, if 30.f2?? g5 wins. ] 30...e8 31.e3! White is ready to play Nc3d5, when his troubles will be behind him. f5!? A good practical try, as the rook will be more influential in the endgame. 32.xf5 xf5 33.exf5 xe3 34.fxg6 e2+ 35.g3 hxg6 W h it e is su re l y b e t t e r, b u t h a s d if f ic u lt y moving his pieces without losing his queenside pawns. 36.f3 h2 37.e4!? White decides to jettison his h-pawn and go after the black queenside pawns, but this will allow Black counterplay on the kingside, of course. f7 38.d5 e7 39.c6 xh3 40.c1 [ White prefers to keep an eye on the gpawns, 40.c3!? g5 41.xa5 g4 42.c7 h6 is very risky. ] 40...e6 41.b6 h2 42.a4?! [ White wants to create a passed a-pawn, but 42.f4 xa2 43.xd6 g5 44.a4 g4 45.xc5+ is very promising. ] 42...h3 43.b5 e5 44.d5 xb3+ 45.xa5 g5 46.a6? [ After this Black is better, the evident 46.xg5 keeps White on top. ] 46...g4 47.f4+ e6 [ 47...d4 48.xd6 g3 is excellent for Black. ] 48.a5 g3 49.e3 d7 50.a7 c6 51.a6 g5! This move wins one of the white pieces for t w o p a w n s . 52.xg5 g2 53.xg2 g3 54.e3 xg5 55.d5 Amazingly, this appears to be drawn as the black king cannot 821
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 approach the a-pawn. g7+ 56.b8 g8+ 57.a7 e8 58.f6 e7+ 59.b8 f7 60.d5 h7 61.a8 [ For after 61.a8 h4 62.b8 xc4 63.a7 a4 64.e7+! b5 65.d5 xa7 66.xa7 c4 67.c3+ b4 68.e2 White has time to bring his king back to stop the pawns. ] ½-½
14.gxf4 The white structure has been we a k e n e d , b u t h e h a s a p o we r f u l d a r k squared bishop as compensation. e4 [ 14...f5 and ...Be4 is also possible, but Black clearly doesn't want to allow W hite to generate too much pressure along the a1-h8 diagonal. ] 15.c1 f6!? Always a double-edged decision: Black impedes the b2-bishop's influence, but weakens his kingside light squares. 16.d4 b6 17.e3 d7 18.h5 Attacking d5 from 831 A21 the side! xd4!? 19.xd4 [ 19.xd5+!? e6 20.xe4 c6 21.c2 Agrest,Evgenij 2599 is also good, Black doesn't have a lot to Sasikiran,Krishnan 2650 show for his pawn. ] Ordix Open Mainz GER (10) 18.08.2002 19...d6? A bad mistake, [Tony Kosten] [ 19...e6 avoids losing a piece. ] Of course! The knight has no retreat as 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 d6!? 20.f3 Unusual, Black intends ...c6 and ...Bc7, we d6 is occupied by the queen. g6 21.h4 g5 22.h6 have previously considered 1-0 [ 3...a5 and Shirov's ] [ 3...e7 ] 4.d4 Obviously best, White is not going to let A21 Black develop too easily. c6 5.dxe5 xe5 832 6.f4!? An innovation, White spurns gaining Almasi,Zoltan 2693 the bishop pair by Vallejo Pons,Francisco 2700 [ 6.f3 d6 7.xe5 ( 7.f4!? is clearly a 49th Capablanca Elite 2014 (6.3) 14.05.2014 move much liked by Agrest! e7?! 8.xe5 [Fier, Alexandr] dxe5 9.xd8+ xd8 10.d3 f6 11.b3 wa s f a v o u ra b l e t o W h i t e i n A g r e s t , E - In a reverse d Gra nd Prix Att ack po sitio n Moberg,K/Haninge 1997) 7...dxe5 8.c3 W h it e ch o o s e s t o st a rt t h e ga m e o n t h e xd1+ 9.xd1 e6?! ( 9...a6 or; 9...a5 queenside before Black is able to castle. 9.c5 are superior) 10.b3 a5 11.b2 f6 12.c3 is interesting, but I'm not a big fan of 10.Bg5?! a6 13.0-0-0 h6 14.h3 f7 15.e3 0-0 1.c4 f5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 e5 4.c3 16.e2 b4 17.f4! b5 18.g4 led to a fine [ 4.d4 d6 Black has excellent results in the white win in Salov,V-Kramnik,V/Linares m i d d l e g a m e w i t h o u t q u e e n s ( 4...exd4 1993, the e6-bishop is a problem. ] 5.xd4 b4+ 6.d2 xd2+ 7.xd2 d6 6...f6 7.f3 c7 As the white knight is no 8.c3 c6 9.h3 was slightly better for longer on d5 Black can simply withdraw his W h i t e in P o p o v, V (2 5 4 8 )- G o r o v e t s , A bishop, rather than play as above with (2467)/Petersburg Summer rapid 2013.) [ 7...d6 ] 5.c3 ( 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.xd8+ xd8 8.g3 0-0 9.g2 d5 Black correctly heads for and the king is not really exposed) 5...e7 an IQP position, if he plays with ...d6 his was played twice by Kasparov in blitz games position will become too passive. 10.cxd5 6.e3 0-0 7.ge2 c6 KEB-Kasparov, G/ cxd5 11.0-0 c6 12.b3 e8 13.b2 Internet blitz 1998. ] White menaces the capture on f6, destroying 4...b4 5.f3 xc3 6.bxc3 d6 Black enters the defence of d5. xf4 a typical 1...e5 English position, but with the [ 13...e6 is a viable alternative, but then his difference that the pawn is on f5 instead of f7. previous move doesn't make a lot of sense - This brings some extra attacking chances. it would be better to leave the rook on the f- 7.d3 file should White play Nxe6. ] [ 7.0-0 0-0 8.d4 is more active, but White 822
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 needs to take care of the c4-pawn ( 8.b1 would be a solid way to play e7 9.e1 bd7 10.d3 c6 with a complex middlegame in Shimanov, A (2516)-Volkov, S (2594)/ Rilton Cup 40th 2010.) 8...e4 9.d2 e8 ( 9...e7 is also possible) 10.e1 bd7 11.c2 and White's plan should be to play 12.f3 and bring the knight to e3, as seen in Simic, R (2495)-Nikcevic, N (2450)/YUG-chT Igalo 1994. ] 7...c6 8.b3 This idea has two purposes. To make Black lose a tempo defending the b7pawn to develop his bishop and to gain the a2g8 diagonal. White thinks he is quick enough to combat Black's center. [ 8.b1 would be normal, and a possible continuation would be 0-0 9.0-0 e8 with a typical Dutch attack ] 8...b8 [ 8...0-0 would be usual and it would bring a similar position compared to the game if 9.c5+ d5 10.g5 b8 11.xf6 xf6 and now W hite can take the d5-pawn by force ( 11...xf6 12.g5 e7 13.c4 d4 14.d5+ xd5 15.cxd5 is an interesting idea with a complicated position) 12.d2 e7 13.xd5+ xd5 14.xd5+ e6 15.f3 bd8 but Black should have enough compensation for the pawn ] 9.c5 Setting some kind of trap. Black can't take the pawn. d5 [ 9...dxc5 10.g5 and because of the rook on b8, Black has problems defending f7 and c6 at the same time d7 11.xc6! xc6 12.f7+ d8 13.0-0 g8 14.d4 and Black's king is in danger ] 10.g5?! Since White can't take the pawn on d5, this move doesn't make much sense to me. I would prefer to keep the bishop pair. [ 10.d4 is t he most direct e4 11.e5 it looks like White's pawns are going to be shattered, but Black's center is also not so stable xe5 ( 11...d7 12.f4 0-0 13.0-0 b6 14.a3 is interesting, White has many ways to fight against Black's center) 12.dxe5 g4 A) 13.a4+ f7!? ( 13...c6 14.h3 xe5 15.f4 e7 16.d4 is the idea) 14.d4 e8 and Black's king is doing well on f7; B) 13.f4 exf3 14.xf3 xe5 15.xd5 e7 and here White's pawns can become
weak 16.0-0 c6 17.g2 e6 18.b4 d8 and Black should be fine; C) 13.f4 this is the best g5 14.c1 xe5 15.h4 gxh4 16.xh4 0-0 17.h5 and big complications are on the way ] [ 10.0-0 is also ok, bringing more pieces to the game before striking in the center 0-0 11.d1 e7 12.e4 fxe4 13.dxe4 a5 14.a4 dxe4 15.g5 g4 16.e1 c6 17.xe4 xe4 18.xe4 f7 19.e3 e6 with an interesting position. Of course, nothing of this is forced ] 10...h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.0-0 [ 12.xd5?? would be embarrassing e6-+ ] 12...e6 Black is ready to finish his development and White had no reason to give t h e b i s h o p p a i r . 13.ab1 e4 14.d4 White makes a temporary sacrifice to create some counterplay. [ 14.d2 is possible, but Black is also fine here 0-0 15.c2 b6 16.b3 e5 and Black's chances are slightly preferable ] 14...xd4 15.cxd4 xd4 16.dxe4 fxe4 17.a3 [ 17.bd1 is the alternative e5 ( 17...xc5 is not necessary 18.xe4 c6 19.g6+ f7 20.xf7+ xf7 21.f3+ g8 22.e4 with compensation) 18.c6 trying to recover the pawn in a strange way 0-0 ( 18...b6 19.a3 is not what Black is looking for) 19.cxb7 c5 20.b1 f7 with some advantage to Black ] 17...0-0 18.e3 f6 19.xa7 g4! Activating the bishop, now W hite has some coordination problems. 20.a5 Sacrificing an exchange to rearrange the pieces, but White has insufficient compensation. [ 20.xb7?? a8 wins the queen ] [ 20.be1 is a sad move, but at least White defends e2 c6 21.a3 a8 22.b3 h8 and White's pawns on the queenside are too weak ] 20...e2 21.d2 d3!? Black is not in hurry to take the exchange. The bishop is basically stronger than the white rooks. [ 21...xf1 is also ok, but White can take the ce n t ra l p a wn s 22.xd5+ h8 23.xf1 fe8 24.xe4 e5 and the c5-pawn will fall 25.g2 xd5 26.xd5 e5 27.b3 xc5 and Black should be close to winning ] 22.bc1 b6 23.c6 823
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 23.cxb6 xb6 and the rook enters the game 24.f4 d6!? Black just doesn't want t h e e x c h a n g e 25.fd1 c5 26.f1 c4 27.c3 c5 28.e1 a8 and Black is dominating ] 23...xf1 Finally, Black goes for the exchange, now it's just matter of technique. [ 23...a8 is also good, but less human 24.fd1 b5 25.f1 c4 26.xc4 dxc4 and White is in trouble ] 24.xd5+ f7 25.xf7+ xf7 26.xf1 f5 27.a4 d8 [ 27...c5 was already possible, the endgame without rooks is hopeless 28.xc5 bxc5 29.b5 f7 30.f1 e6 31.e2 d5 and because of the weak f-pawn White is lost ] 28.c4 e5 29.c2 c5 And the c-pawn falls. 30.b2 xc6 31.b4 c1 32.g2 c2 33.xe4 f8 34.c4+ h8 35.h3 cxf2 36.e7 c6 37.e4 c2 38.f7 f2 39.c4 h5 40.c7 g5 41.e6 d8 42.f7 g4+ 43.h4 xh2+ 44.g5 h4 45.xg4 h3 46.e5 hd2 47.xh3 2d7 48.xd7 xd7 49.e6 e7 50.g4 g7 51.f5 b5 52.axb5 cxb5 53.h5 b4 54.d1 c7 55.e5 c3 56.a4 b3 57.e7 b2 58.d6 d3+ 59.c5 e3 60.d4 0-1
15.xh8 xg5 16.xg8 h6 resulted in a sudden and quite unexpected agreement to a draw. The position is quite unclear, for example one possibility is 17.d5 e3 18.fxe3 f7 19.xf8+ xf8 20.d4 with weird and wonderful play. ] 8.bc3 [ I think that White also has a pull after 8.xe7 but after xe7 9.c3 e6 I think White should play 10.b3 ( 10.e3 c6 11.b4 d5 looked fine for Black in Williams, S ( 2 4 8 7 ) - H o we l l , D ( 2 3 4 8 ) / C a l e t a 2 0 0 5) 10...c6 11.g5 0-0 12.e3 and maybe 13. d5 next. ] 8...0-0 9.xe7+ [ Another possibility is 9.g3 , for example e6 10.xe7+ xe7 11.d5 f7 12.h3 g4 was Speelman, J (2533)-Howell, D (2501)/Sunningdale 2007, and now 13.0-0 looks interesting after which ( Rather than Speelman's 13.xg4 ) 13...h5 14.f3 exf3 15.exf3 e5 16.b5 xc4 17.d4 is suddenly very good for White. ] 9...xe7 10.g5 f7 A new move from Volkov. [ In an earlier game Black played 10...e6 after which 11.e3 bd7 12.e2 c6 13.0-0 f7 14.d5 cxd5 15.b5 e5! 16.xd6 g6 17.xf6 ( 17.f4!? ) 17...xf6 18.cxd5 d7 19.c4 xc4 20.xc4 f4 gave Black counterplay in Lautier, J (2620)-Shirov, A 833 A21 (2685)/ Tilburg 1996. ] Andreikin,Dmitry 2696 11.e3 c6 12.e2!? At first sight this looks Volkov,Sergey 2607 l i k e a b l u n d e r b u t i n r e a l i t y i t i s a m o s t Baku Open A Baku AZE (6) 11.08.2011 interesting pawn sacrifice. [ Having said that White could also get a [Nigel Davies] nice position with 12.h4 a f t e r w h i c h h6 13.xf6 xf6 14.h5 leaves him with a 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 e7 4.d4 d6 pleasant looking reversed French. ] 5.f3 e4 6.d2 f5 7.b1 This paradoxical retreat makes perfect sense the knight is not 12...g6 13.h4 h6 14.xf6 xg2 15.d2! well placed on d2 but really good when it gets xf6 16.d5 f7 17.g1! The brilliant point. to c3. So why not simply reposition it even if White goes into a pawn down endgame but one in which Black has serious problems. Very this involves some undevelopment. [ White's most popular choice has been 7.e3 deep and inventive chess. xg1 18.hxg1 f4 .] [ 18...f8 19.f4 would renew the threat of 7...f6 20.Bh5. ] [ Bogdan Lalic playced his own undeveloping f8 20.xc7 b8 21.e8 move with 7...f8 in Solonar, S (2445)-Lalic, 19.h5 B (2590)/Manresa 1995 after which 8.h4 c6 The knight's journey continues, this time 22.xd6 e6 9.g5 d7 10.f4 f7 11.h5 xc4 forking d6 and g7! h8 12.c3 f7 13.g6 hxg6 14.hxg6 xg6 23.g6 g8 24.ag1 fd8 25.c5 b6 824
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.xg7 bxc5 27.7g6 d7 the sake of the two bishops. 8.e3 [ 27...cxd4 28.xh6+ h7 29.f7# [ 8.e2 exd4! ( 8...f5!?; 8...0-0!? ) would see White's heroic knight deliver the A) 9.g4!? For the bold or slightly insane. mate! ] h4+ ( 9...f6 10.xd4 0-0 11.e2 28.dxc5 xa2 29.xh6+ h7 30.xh7+ looks comfortable.) 10.d2 f6 11.xd4 xh7 31.g6+ h8 32.exf4 xb2+ h5 12.gxh5 xh5 13.c2 is unclear.; 33.e3 b3+ 34.xe4 b4+ 35.e3 a5 B) 9.xd4 c6 10.d2 f5 11.exf5 36.f7 b3 37.xb3 xb3+ 38.e4 b2 e5! As pointed out by John Watson in 39.d5 d8 40.e4 It's fitting that the last the third edition of Mastering the Chess move should be made with this knight. Black Openings, works well for Black. ] now has no good defence to the threat of 41. 8...f5 Nf6 and 42.Rg8 mate. [ 8...exd4 9.xd4 c6 10.c3 0-0 1-0 intending f5 next, is also playable, ] 9.exf5 f6!? 10.e2 [ 10.g4!? e4 ( 10...exd4 11.xd4 c6 ) 834 A21 11.h3 does not lend itself to an immediate refutation. If this were Black's only way of Aronian,Levon 2739 playing it would be worth investing some Shirov,Alexei 2755 more time here, but given the alternative on XXV SuperGM Morella Linares MEX/ESP (5) move eight and the more general sense that [Jonathan Rowson] White is trying too hard, I think it's best not to get embroiled any further. ( 11.f4 h5 )] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 e7 4.d4 d6 5.e4 I think many, myself included, have 10...exd4 11.xd4 xf5 12.d2 c6 a s s u m e d t h a t t h i s is t h e b e st m o ve d u e 13.0-0-0 [ 13.c3 e5 ] principally to Kasparov-Shirov below. However, 14.g4 g6 15.f4 xd4 Black's play can be significantly improved 13...0-0-0 16.xd4 b8 17.h4 f7 18.d3 f6! [ 5...c6 6.xe7 xe7 7.e2 f5 8.dxe5 At first I felt W hite made quite a generous xe5 9.exf5 f6 10.d4! xf5 11.f4 offer, but in fact if anybody is better in the a5+ 12.c3 xc3+ 13.xc3 0-0 final position it is probably Black e.g. [ 18.d3 c5! 19.f2 c7!? 20.g5 d5! ] 14.0-0-0 d5 15.d6 c8 16.f3 bd7 17.g4 e6 18.g5 e8 19.cxd5 xd5 ½-½ 20.g3 e6 21.d3 c5 22.c2 d8 23.h4 f7 24.e4 xe4 25.fxe4 f8 A21 26.df1 g8 27.h5 d7 28.f2 d6 835 Aronian,Levon 2739 29.g6 e6 30.gxh7+ h8 31.h6 g6 Shirov,Alexei 2755 32.f6 e8 33.xg6 c4 34.e1 xh7 35.g3 e5 36.c3 c4 37.g7+ 43 XXV SuperGM Morella Linares MEX/ESP (5) 1-0 Kasparov, G (2805)-Shirov, A (2740)/ [Carsten Hansen] Novgorod 1994/CBM ] 6.xe7 xe7 7.f3 h5! Black has to play 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 e7 Black has q u i c k l y a n d u s e h i s a s s e t s - p r i n c i p a l l y also tried several other moves here including development- before W hite can show the 3...Ba5 and 3...Bc5, but the text is considered relevance of his extra space and bishop pair. the most solid and best 4.d4 d6 5.e4 f6 My f eeling about this line is that if W hite 6.xe7 xe7 7.f3 h5 [ This is considered the main line in this wants to invest some time making sure he can variation complex. Nevertheless, Black has tread a tightrope for the next few moves then tried several other things in this variation: A) it might be rewarding, but on the face of it, I 7...c5 8.d5 ('+/=' Ftacnik) h5 ( 8...0-0 believe in Black's prospects, because his 9.g5 h6 10.h4 bd7 11.d2 e8 position is sound and active and there is only 12.d3 b5 13.cxb5 xe4 14.xe7 xd2 so much suffering one should put up with for 825
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.xd6 e4 16.xd2 exd3 17.xd3 a6 Degerman, L-Davies, N/Stockholm 1995, and now 18.h3 axb5 19.he1 ) 9.e2 0-0 10.e3 f5 11.c3 ( 11.exf5 xf5 12.g4 e4! ) 11...f4 12.f2 a6 13.e2 c7 14.d2 d7 Ater, G-Rausis, I/ Calella 1994 ] [ B) The only move previously covered here o n C h e s s p u b l i s h i n g . c o m i s 7...exd4 , where the game Cu.Hansen-I.Sokolov, Groningen 1995 was the subject, but since this is the main line and it has been played a lot since that game, let's take a closer look at that variation: 8.xd4 c6 ( 8...c5?! 9.d2 e6 10.d3 c6 11.e2 0-0 12.0-0 a6 13.b3 ab8 14.c3 d4 15.b2 b5 16.d5 xd5 17.cxd5 Karpov, A-Illescas Cordoba, M/Dos Hermanas 1994) 9.c3 ( 9.d1?! h5! 10.g3?! f5 11.g2 fxe4 12.fxe4 f6 13.g5 0-0 14.e2 h6 15.xf6 xf6 16.0-0-0 e5 Grant, J-Zueger, B/Ohrid 2001 ) A) 9...e5 10.e2; B) 9...0-0 B1) 10.e2 B1a) 10...e5 11.e3 a6 12.f4 c5 13.e2 d7 14.0-0 b5 15.fd1 fd8 16.b3 Lenz, A-Ganaus, H/Vienna 1998; B1b) 10...d7 11.f4 B1b1) 11...h4+!? 12.g3 d8 (Ribli) 13.e3 de5 14.g2; B1b2) 11...f5!? is likely Black's best: 12.d5 h4+ 13.g3 d8 14.exf5 ( 14.h4!? c5 15.g5 d7 16.h3 f7 17.0-0 e6= ) 14...e7! ( 14...xf5 Ribli 15.f4!? ) 15.e3 xf5 16.xf5 xf5 17.e3!? xf3 18.g2 f8 19.0-0-0; B1b3) 11...b6?! 12.a4 ( 12.e3 ) 12...a5 13.e3 d7 14.d5 d8 15.d1 b6 ( Ribli suggests 15...c5 16.xc5 dxc5 17.b6 xd1+ 18.xd1 cxb6 with some compensation for Black for the queen on account of the d4-square where Black will place a knight, but whether it is fully adequate is an open question) 16.d3 c5 17.c2 e6 18.0-0 xd5!? 19.cxd5 b4
20.d4 xc2 Marin, M-Dizdarevic, E/ Istanbul 2003, and now 21.xc2 with a space advantage and better chances for White; B1c) 10...e8 11.f4 f5 12.d5 f7 13.exf5 xf5 14.e3 f6 15.0-0-0 a5 16.a3 a4 17.d3 xd5 18.cxd5 a5 19.c2 xc2 20.xc2 b3+ 21.b1 a5 22.d3 , and now Megacorr 3 gives this as e n d i n g i n a d r a w, 1 / 2 - 1 / 2 , a t t h i s juncture in the game Wrba, K-Gehret, A/corr 1997, but Black is clearly better after e8 23.he1 e5!; B1d) 10...h5 11.g4 ( 11.e3 f5 12.exf5 xf5 13.g4 ae8 ) 11...h4+ 12.d1 f6 13.g3 e6 14.e3 Lalic, B-Shirov, A/Moscow ol/ 1994; B2) 10.g5 B2a) 10...e5 11.d2 ( 11.xe5 xe5 12.xf6 gxf6 13.e2 xc4 14.c3 b6 15.b5 d7 16.xc7 ac8 17.b5 xb5 18.xb5 c2= Kubasky, A-Koch, C/IECG Email 2002 ) 11...e8 12.e2 a6 13.c3 e6 14.d1 h6 15.f4 a5 16.e2 ab8 17.d5 Olarasu, G-Ionescu Brandis, I/Iasi 1999; B2b) 10...e5 11.e2 e8 12.g3 h6 13.xf6 xf6 14.e2 d7 15.xf6 xf6 16.f2 e6 17.hd1 g6 18.f1 d7 19.e3 Williams, SBuckley, M/ Scarborough 2001; B2c) 10...e8 11.d2 ( 11.xf6 gxf6 12.0-0-0 f5 13.d3 Lalic ) 11...h6; B3) 10.e3 (+= Shirov) B3a) 10...e8 11.e2 e5 B3a1) 12.g3!? c6 13.0-0-0 d5!? 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.exd5 d7 16.c5?! ( 16.b1!? ac8 17.b3 xf3 18.f4! ) 16...d8 17.a3 c8 18.b1 c7 19.c1 xd5 with a complicated game and chances to both sides, Chernin, AMoberg, K/Gothenburg 1996; B3a2) 12.f4 eg4 ( 12...g6 13.0-0-0 was Hansen, Cu-Sokolov, I/ Groningen 1995 - see the PGN a rc h ive s wi t h T o n y a n n o t a t i o n s) 13.d2 ( 13.fxg4? xe4 14.a3 826
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 10.d2 ) 10...f4 11.e2 cxd5 xg4 15.d5 d8 leaves White's 12.cxd5 h4+!? ( 12...xe2 13.xe2 ) king temporarily stuck in the centre, 13.f2 f6 14.xf4 ( 14.c1 ) 14...exf4 f a c i n g a n a s t y d e f e n s i v e t a s k .) 15.d4 Nielsen, P-Pedersen, S/Aalborg 13...d7 ( 13...xe4?! 14.fxe4 2000 ( 15.d2 )] xe4+ 15.e2 g5 16.0-0 gxf4 [ E) 7...xe4 8.fxe4 h4+ 9.d2 f4+ 17.xf4 g6 18.f3 leaves White ( 9...xe4 10.f3 f5 11.c3 exd4+ with amble compensation f or the 12.xd4 e5 13.d3!+- ) 10.d3 f2 pawn ) 14.e2 e5 15.0-0 a6 11.f3+Raetsky, A-Kleinert, J/Biel SUI 16.b4 b5 17.fc1 bxc4 18.xc4 2003 ] a4 is Kund, W-Zawadka, A/IECG Email 2001, and now 19.f1 c6 8.e3 [ 8.e2 0-0 20.d3 fd7 21.f2 intending f3-f4 A) 9.g4!? is probably the critical line, leaves W hite with the better though largely ignored, e.g. h4+ 10.d2 chances; A1) S v i d l e r d i s m i s s e s 10...f4 B3b) 10...h5!?; , but matters aren't as clear as Svidler B3c) 10...d7 11.e2 f5 12.exf5 leads us to believe, for instance 11.xf4 e8 13.f2 de5 14.g3 f7 exf4 12.c2 (+/- Svidler) c6 13.d5 15.e2 xf5 16.h3 e6 17.b3 g6 f2+ 14.e2 ( 17...f6!? ) 18.he1 f8 19.g1 A1a) 14...d4+ looks promising, but f4 20.d2 e5 with a comfortable is probably better for White I couldn't position for Black, Ibragimov, Ifind anything for Black in the following Kovacevic, B/Djakovo 1994; line: 15.d3 b5 16.cxb5 xe2 C) 9...e6 10.e3 0-0-0?! ( 10...0-0!? ( 16...a6? 17.e1 xe1 18.xe1 11.0-0-0 a5 12.b1 a4 is rather doublexe2 19.xe2 g5 20.c2 a7 e d g e d , a n d s h o u ld b e f i n e f o r B l a c k) 21.bxa6 xa6+ 22.d4+- ) 17.xe2 11.0-0-0 d7 12.xg7 hg8 13.c3 f5 b6 18.a4 d7 ( 18...a6 19.b4 ) 14.exf5 xf5 15.e2 c5 16.d4 19.e1 f5 20.gxf5 xf5 21.g1 Popov, V-Evertsson, K/Stockholm 2001 ] ( 21.exf5?? xf5+-+ ) 21...b7 [ C) 7...0-0 22.d4; A) 8.e2 c6 9.c3 d5 10.cxd5 cxd5 A1b) 14...xg4! 15.fxg4 f3 16.f1 11.dxe5 xe5 12.xd5 c6 13.c4 xe2+ 17.xe2 d4+ 18.d3 xe2 d8 14.0-0 e6 15.e1 xd5 16.exd5 19.f1 h5 20.xf3 ( 20.gxh5?! f5! ) d6 , and here a draw was agreed upon, 20...hxg4 21.f1 xc1+ 22.axc1 1/2-1/2, in Mellado Trivino, J-De la Villa , and White has more space, but Black Garcia, J/Zaragoza 1995, but White has a should be able to defend; strong initiative after 17.g5! , e.g. c5+ A2) 10...f6 11.e1 h6+ 18.h1 d7 ( 18...xc4? 19.xd8 xd8 ( 11...xe1+ 12.xe1 ) 12.d1 g6 20.dxc6!! xd1 21.exd1 f8 22.d8+ 13.g1 fd7 14.d5 c6 15.e3 cxd5 e7 23.cxb7+- ) 19.c2 xd5 20.f5 16.cxd5 a6 Fridman, D-Sulskis, S/ d6 21.f4 dd8 22.ac1; Riga 1995 17.c3 ac5 18.c2 B) 8.g5 h6 9.h4 exd4 10.xd4 c6 (Svidler); 11.xf6 '!' Ribli. gxf6 12.d2 f5 13.0-0-0 B) 9.e3 fxe4 14.xh6 f5 15.fxe4 xe4 16.f3 B1) 9...exd4 f5 17.d3 Uhlmann, W-Onischuk, A/ B1a) 10.xd4!? c6 11.d2 Dresden 1994 ] ( 11.d5 e5 12.g3 xg3 [ D) 7...c6 13.hxg3 e6 14.d4 c5 15.c3 f5 A) 8.g5 d5 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.exd5 16.exf5 xf5 Svidler ) 11...f5 exd4+ 11.e2 ( 11.e2 xe2+ - > 9 . . . f 5 ! ? 12.c3 fxe4 13.xe4 12.xe2 xd5 13.xd4 ) 11...b4+ ( 13.fxe4?! g4! is a positional toilet 12.d2 xd5 13.xd4 Ribli; for White ) 13...f5 14.d3 e5 B) 8.d5!? h5 9.e3 0-0 10.g4!? 827
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c6 12.d2 xf5 13.0-0-0 ae8= 15.0-0 xd3 16.xd3 xe4 17.fxe4 was played in Lautier, J-Shirov, A/Las f6; Pa lm a s/ 1 9 9 4, a n d n o w Sh iro v c a lls B1b) 10.xd4?! c6 14.f2 g6 15.c3 f7 equal, but as I B1b1) 11.c3?! is given as equal already pointed out in my book on the by Gulko in Informator, but as King's English, this position already feels mentioned in my book, Black is just more comfortable for Black, a verdict my better after f5 12.d5 f7; computer now (I didn't have an chess B1b2) 11.d2!? is probably best, engine when I wrote the book) agrees though Black is quite comfortable with, e.g. 16.c5!? f4 17.cxd6 b4 after e6 12.c3 xd4!? 18.d4 ( 18.dxc7?? xa2+ 19.xa2 ( 12...f5!?; 12...e5 ) 13.xd4 g5 xa2-+ ) 14.d2 c5 15.0-0-0 b5; B3a) 18...xa2+ 19.xa2 e2 B1b3) 11.g4?! xg4 12.fxg4 xe4 20.d2 xa2 21.xe2 b1+ 22.d2 13.gxh5 xh1 Gulko, B-Granda c2+ 23.e3 b3+ 24.d2 c5!? Zuniga, J/Moscow ol/1994; ( 24...c2+= ) 25.xc5 d3+ B2) 9...c5?! 10.dxc5 dxc5 11.d5 ( 25...xb2+= ) 26.c1 b1+ 27.d2 a6 12.0-0-0 xb2+ 28.d1 b1+ 29.d2 B2a) 12...e6 13.d6 f6 b2+=; ( 13...h4? 14.xe5+- ) 14.c3 fd8 B3b) 18...c5! 19.xc5 ( 19.c4? ( 14...f4 -12...Qf6 ) 15.d5! h4 fd3+ 20.xd3 xd3+ 21.xd3 16.e7 xe7 17.xe7+ f8 xd3 22.xd3 g6-+ ) 19...xa2+ 18.d5 Svidler; 20.d2 ( 20.xa2 c8-+ ) B2b) 12...f6 13.c3 ( 13.xc5? 20...xc3-+ ] e6 14.d6 xc5 15.xc5 fc8 16.d6 xc4 17.xf6 xa2+! 8...f5 [ This is Shirov's novelty, immediately Svidler ) 13...f4 14.d6 e6 sharpening the game by opening the centre Svidler: ' -12...Qf6' ' -12...Qf6' with only a few pieces developed and both ( 14...xd6 15.xd6 e6 16.d5 kings still on their original squares. Normally, d4 17.f4 Yakovich ) Black castles first before playing this pawn B2b1) 15.d5? xd5 16.cxd5 advance. Black has also tried a couple of fd8 ( 16...ad8 17.dxe6 xd6 other things in this position: A) 8...0-0 18.xd6 e7 Yakovich 19.exf7+ A) 9.e2?! f5 ( 9...exd4?! is Gulko, Bxf7 20.xa6 bxa6 21.d5 ) Granda Zuniga, J/Moscow 1994 - see 17.dxe6 xd6 18.xd6; above ) B2b2) 15.xc5 fd8 16.e7 xc5 A1) 10.dxe5 dxe5 ( 10...xe5?! 17.xc5 xg2 18.xg2 g5+ 11.d5+ xd5 12.exd5 ) 11.c3 c6 19.b1 xg2; 12.exf5 xf5 13.g4?! xg4 14.fxg4 B2b3) 15.d2 b4 ( 15...ad8 h4+ 15.d2 d8+ 16.d3 a6! Yakovich 16.d5 xd5 17.exd5 ) Shirov; B2b31) 16.d5 bxd5 A2) 10.exf5 exd4! 11.xd4 ( 11.xd4 ( 16...xd5 17.cxd5 ) 17.cxd5 xf5 12.g4 xg4! 13.fxg4 e4 d7 18.b1 b6 19.g3 g6 14.g1 f4 15.g3 c6 Shirov ) 20.f4; 11...xf5 ( 11...c6 transposes to B2b32) 16.xc5 fd8 17.e3 Lautier, J-Shirov, A/Las Palmas 1994 xd1+ 18.xd1 xa2+ ( 18...c6 above ) 12.0-0-0 c6 13.d2 f7 Yakovich 19.b1! b6 20.a3 14.c3 ( 14.g3!? ) 14...e6 15.e2 d8 21.c3 ) 19.b1 d8 a6 16.g4 f6 17.g5 d7 18.d5?! ( 19...d8 Yakovich 20.f2 ) ( 18.g6! hxg6 19.he1! ) 18...xd5 20.f2 Yakovich, Y-Solozhenkin, 19.cxd5 b4 20.g6 hxg6 21.g5 e5 E/St Petersburg 1995; 22.f4 e4 23.b3 c5 , and Black is B3) 9...f5!? 10.exf5 exd4 11.xd4 828
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 clearly better, De Ramos, J-Bui Vinh/ Phu Quoc VIE 2007; B) 9.d5 f5?! ( 9...g6 (Ribli) 10.d2; 9...a6!? 10.d2 d7 11.g4 f4 12.h4 c5 13.0-0-0 a5 looks fine for Black) 10.exf5 f4 ( 10...xf5? 11.g4 xg4 12.fxg4 h4+ 13.d2 g3 14.hxg3 xh1 15.h3 /\ g5 - Ribli) 11.g4 b5 12.cxb5 ( 12.d2!? Ribli ) 12...b7 13.c4 g2+ ( 13...d7 14.e2 g2+ 15.f2 xe3 16.xe3 g5+ 17.f2 h4+ 18.g3 e4 19.fxe4 f6 20.g2 xg4 21.d4 Ledger, A-Hebden, M/ Hastings 1995 ) 14.f2 xe3 15.xe3 ] [ B) 8...exd4!? 9.xd4 c6 10.c3 e5 ( 10...f5 11.exf5 0-0 12.g4 e8 13.d2 f6 14.e1 e5 15.d4 b6 16.xe5 dxe5 17.h3 b7 Williams, S-Pert, R/ W itley 1999) 11.e2 d7 12.0-0-0 0-0 13.g4 f6 14.h4 fe8 15.g1 Smirin, I-Lehner, O/Vienna 1998 ] 9.exf5 f6! [ W h ite ca n claim a n e d ge af t e r 9...exd4 10.xd4 c6 11.d2 0-0 ( 11...xf5 12.g4 ) 12.0-0-0 xf5 13.g4 e5 14.f2 ] 10.e2 [ W hite should of course consider 10.g4!? , e.g. d7 11.g2 exd4 12.xd4 c6 13.c3 0-0-0 14.0-0-0 , and White appears to have the better chances. What did Shirov have in mind in this variation? ] 10...exd4 11.xd4 [ Taking back with the queen doesn't offer W hite anything: 11.xd4 c6 12.c3 xf5 13.g4 d7 14.0-0-0 b4!? ( 14...0-0 15.g3 e5 16.d2 ) 15.d2 a5 with a complex position where Black by no means is worse ] 11...xf5 12.d2 [ 12.g4 grabs space and attempts to gain a tempo, but Black is doing very well after d7 13.g2 c6 14.0-0 0-0-0 15.e1 f7 16.c1 g5 ] 12...c6 [ Or 12...0-0 13.0-0-0 c6 14.g3 e6 15.c3 ad8= ] 13.0-0-0 0-0-0 14.g4 g6 15.f4 xd4 16.xd4 [ 16.xg6 hxg6 17.xd4 b8= ] 16...b8 17.h4 [ 17.d3 xd3 18.xd3 d7 19.he1
f7= ] 17...f7 18.d3 [ 18.d5 xd5 19.cxd5 he8 20.d3 g6= ] 18...c5!? 19.f2 d7!? [ 19...d5 looks tempting, but White keeps the balance: 20.h2 ( 20.g5 h5 21.xd5 xd5 22.cxd5 xd5 23.h2+ c7 24.xc7+ xc7 25.c2 f4 26.e4 e5= ) 20...e3+ 21.b1 a8 22.he1 xf3 ] 20.he1 e5 21.b1 f6 , and here a draw was agreed upon, but Black already has a pleasant game. According to the comments online, Black was already quite short of time. ½-½
836 Cheparinov,Ivan Stevic,Hrvoje CRO-chT Bol (9.4) [Fier, Alexandr]
A21 2687 2626 22.09.2013
One of our subscribers asked about the other lines without 6.f4 in the Erdos - Stevic game, so I'm giving an overview of the options in these positions when Black has a setup with ... e5, ...f5 and ...Be7. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 d6 3.g3 f5 4.g2 f6 5.d3 [ 5.d4 when I received the email, ChessPub Support mentioned that the critical lines are with 5.d4 or 5.e3, so I'm also taking a look at these moves: e7 6.f3 forces some definition in the center ( 6.e3 0-0 7.ge2 c6 8.0-0 a6 9.b1 c7 10.b4 e6 11.b5 xc4 12.bxc6 b5 Kovalyov, A (2606) -Arencibia Rodriguez, W (2526)/Quebec-ch op 2013. ) 6...e4 7.g5 c6 8.d5 these kind of position are hard to understand. White can sometimes play a committal f3 g4 9.h4 0-0 10.f3 exf3 11.exf3 e8 12.e6 xe6 13.fxg4 f7 ( 13...cxd5 is bad, but was played in Khismatullin, D (2 6 57 )-S kob e rn e , J (2 5 09 )/E U-c h 1 1 t h R i j e k a 2 0 1 0 . 14.gxf5 and White has the a d v a n t a g e .) 14.0-0 fxg4 15.xg4 with a complex position, which looks slightly better for White ] [ 5.e3 is a slower approach where White tries to play a reversed closed Sicilian e7 829
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 5...g6 is analysed in Wang Yue-Smirin, see the PGN Archive.) 6.ge2 0-0 7.d3 c6 8.0-0 e6 9.f4 e8 and in this kind of positions I feel that the bishop would be better on g7, Das, A (2470)-Pert, N (2563)/ Hastings Masters op 87th 2011. ] 5...e7 [ 5...g6 would transpose into another kind of position, basically a Closed Sicilian with reversed colors ] 6.f3 [ 6.e4 was another interesting option suggested by Tony K, entering a Botvinnik System 0-0 7.ge2 c6 8.0-0 a6 and White can try one of the typical ideas in this position, with 9.h3 e8 10.exf5!? to open the center before Black develops his pieces in a harmonous way xf5 11.g4 e6 12.f4 with good prospects in McNab, C (2466)-Greet, A (2433)/Edinburgh Quality Chess 2009. ] [ 6.f4 was analyzed in Erdos, V (2650)Stevic, H (2626)/CRO-chT Bol 2013. ] 6...0-0 7.0-0 c6 [ 7...e8 is an interesting alternative 8.b4 ( 8.c5 doesn't make too much sense to me, and after c6 9.cxd6 xd6 10.g5 h8 Black has good potential for an attack, he has good squares for all his pieces 11.xf6 xf6 12.e3 d7 and Black is fine and managed to win in Flores, D (2578)-Peralta, F (2609)/ARG-ch 88th Resistance/Saenz Pe n a 2 01 3 .) 8...h5 Black goes for a full attack 9.b3 h8 10.d2 f4 11.d5 xd5 12.cxd5 and Black can try ...g5-g4 and then meet Rac1 with ...Bd8. The question will be whether White's counterplay is faster or not Morley, P (2315)-De Carlos Arregui, I (2361)/email 2011. ] 8.b4 h8 [ 8...a6 9.a4 h8 10.b1 transposes. ] 9.b1 [ 9.b5 is also possible and after A) 9...cxb5!? it's strange to open the qu ee n sid e, bu t B lack ca n get th e c6 square for the knight 10.cxb5 ( 10.xb5 c6 11.b2 a6 12.c3 e6 is also level) 10...a6!? 11.b1 axb5 12.xb5 c6 with chances for both players; B) 9...e8 10.a4 h5 11.c5 it looks like
White's chances are slightly preferable ] 9...a6 10.a4 e6 11.b5 axb5 12.axb5 fd7 [ 12...c7 is more logical, trying to finish d e v e l o p m e n t 13.bxc6 bxc6 14.b3 with a typical kind of position, as seen in Spraggett, K (2585)-Dolmatov, S (2615)/ Hastings 8990 1989. ] 13.d2 f6 14.b2 c5 15.c2 [ 15.b3 is a thematic move and the game could continue like this: xb3 16.xb3 c7 17.fc1 ] 15...c7 16.bxc6 bxc6 17.b5! d7 18.d4 a2 [ 18...a4 is also logical, but White can claim an advantage after 19.dxe5 dxe5 20.a3 e7 21.xe7 xe7 22.a1 b6 23.c5 xa1 24.xa1 d5 25.d6 with a pleasant position for White ] [ 18...exd4 is just bad 19.xd4 g8 20.e3 and White is clearly better ] 19.dxc5 cxb5 20.b3 a7 [ 20...a4 is n ot e nough 21.xb5 xb5 22.cxb5 dxc5 23.b6 and White's passed pawn is much more dangerous than Black's one ] 21.c6 [ 21.cxd6 was more precise bxc4 22.xc4 and W hite can go away f rom the pin by tactical means a6 23.fc1 d7 24.b7! and both knights are hostages, so White is better ] 21...bxc4 22.xc4 a6 [ 22...xc6 was quite direct, but Black's position can be unpleasant after 23.xc6 b8 24.d3 xc4 25.xc4 axb2 26.xb2 xb2 27.e6 e7 28.xf5 since W hite's bishop is much better than Black's one ] 23.a1 xc6 Fearlessly going into some strange complications. [ 23...c5 was also possible 24.a3 xc4 25.xc4 xc4 26.xd6 c8 27.xb8 xb8 28.xa6 xa6 29.a1 c4 30.c7 c8 31.b7 xc7 32.a8+ g8 33.d5 h5 34.xg8 g6 ] 24.xc6 xa1 25.xa1 c5 26.b5 b8 27.a5 [ 27.a4 was more prudent g6 giving some air to Black's king ( 27...d5 28.b4 d8 29.a4 and White is somehow getting out 830
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 o f t h e p i n s c6 30.a3 h6 31.b3 and f inally the piece s a re more o r less unpinned d5 32.xc6 xb3 33.xb3 xb3 34.c4 and White can try to work in t h e e n d g a m e) 28.a3 ( 28.b4 xc4 29.xc4 xb5 30.c2 d5 31.c8+= ) 28...xb5 29.xc5 xb3 30.xd6 d5 31.f3 c3 32.a3 b3 and the endgame is level ] 27...d8 28.a3 [ 28.d7 it's hard to understand what's going on in this position, since there are too many pieces hanging A) 28...xb3 i s o k f o r W h i t e 29.xc5 xd7 30.d5 and the d6-pawn is going to fall c7 31.xd6 g8 ( 31...xb2 32.f7+ g8 33.xd7= ) 32.d2 with a draw; B) 28...xa5!? since everything is hanging, the natural laws of chess are not working 29.xb8 e1+ 30.g2 d5+ 31.f3 xe2+ 32.g1 d1+ 33.f2 xf3+ 34.e1 h1+ 35.d2 xh2+ 36.d1 and Black has an initiative, but White should be ok, since the threats on the back rank give enough counterplay ] 28...xc4? Now the exchanges leads to a draw. [ 28...d4! was better, and sufficient to enter the same position with a pawn up, since White can't get away from the pins 29.b2 xc4 30.xd4 xb3 31.a7 xa5 32.xb8 b4 and the pawn on d6 is still alive, so Black has chances. ] 29.xc5 xb3 30.xd6 xa5 31.xb8 c3 ½-½
837 Cook,Robert Williamson,Harvey BCCA v Bccs [Tony Kosten]
A21
2004
Harvey Williamson writes: "What do you think of 3...Na6!? with the idea of a later ...Nc5 - is ...Na6 a good move? Or an interesting novelty?" 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 a6!? This is Harvey's new move, it resembles [ 3...c6 but keeps the possibility of ejecting the white knight with a later ...c6. ]
4.a3 [ 4.xb4 xb4 5.b3!? is Dill,J-Sidi,M/ Buenos Aires 1978, although starting with 3...Nc6. ] 4...a5!? The most ambitious. 5.b4 c6 This is the point of Black's play, a retreat square on c7 is prepared. 6.c3 [ 6.bxa5 cxd5 7.cxd5 f6 8.e4 c5 is similar to the 3...Ba5 4 b4 c6 mainline, and seems fine for Black. ] 6...c7 7.d4 The natural central thrust, if [ 7.e4 f6 8.f3 Black might try d5!? ] 7...e7!? One of several possible replies, Black keeps the f-pawn's advance unhindered should W hite decide to close the position. 8.e4 White grabs even more space, other possibilities: [ 8.f3 exd4 9.xd4 0-0 10.b2 c5!? to justify the a6-knight's placement, 11.bxc5 f5 12.d5 d6 with some play for the sacrificed pawn, McMahon,F-Williamson,H/ BCCA v Bccs 2004 ] [ 8.d5 d6 9.e4 might be the most unpleasant for Black, sidelining the a6knight. ] 8...exd4 9.xd4 0-0 10.b2?! [ 10.c5 b6 11.b2 is superior, but Black's development compensates for the offside knight. ] 10...c5! This pawn sac prepares a lovely square for the a6-knight on c5, and is the key theme in this line. 11.bxc5 c6 Gaining time on the queen. 12.e3 e8 The line-up of the white king and queen on the e-f ile spells problems. 13.d1 b6! 14.cxb6 xb6 15.d2 c5 16.f3 a6 Black's pieces have found active squares, and W hite is yet to d e ve lo p h is k in g sid e a n d t h is wi ll p r o v e dif f icult be cau se o f t he we aken ed g1 -a 7 diagonal. 17.e2 e5 18.d5 If White loses th e c-p a wn he will b e worse wit h ou t a n y material compensation. b7 19.d2 f5! There is no let-up for White, Black levers the e - f i l e o p e n . 20.d5 a5 Keeping the pressure on, although [ 20...xe4! 21.fxe4 h4+ 22.g3 xe4 appears crushing as the h1-rook has no escape. ] 21.c3 xc3 22.xc3 fxe4 23.f1 d6 24.fxe4 xe4 25.d4 h4 Black has a crushing attack, and isn't even materially 831
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 down. 26.h3 xd5 27.cxd5 f8+ 28.g1 ac8 The threat is ...Rc3xh3 and mate on f2. 29.g3 xh3 30.xe4 c4! 31.xc4 f3+ 32.xf3 [ 32.f2 g5+ 33.e3 xe4 is also quite hopeless. ] 32...xf3 33.f1 c8 Intending ...Qc5+, or ... Qc2. 0-1
838 Crouch,Colin S Norwood,David 4NCL Birmingham ENG (7) [Tony Kosten]
A21 2424 2518 25.03.2000
1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.f3 e4 4.fd2 [ Slightly more passive than the usual 4.g5 f5 5.c3 , but playable, nonetheless. ] 4...f5 5.e3 f6 6.c3 e7 [ Black can also consider a more active placement of his dark-squared bishop, on g7, after 6...g6 ] 7.f3 White contests Black's central space advantage head-on. exf3 [ T h e p a w n s a c , 7...0-0!? is also worth consideration: 8.fxe4 fxe4 9.dxe4 xe4 10.xe4 d5 11.f2 b4+ 12.d2 e7 13.e2 c6! 14.cxd5 xd4 15.exd4 xe2+ 16.xe2 xd2+ 17.xd2 xf2 an d B la c k s oo n re cu p e ra te d h is p a wn , Raicevic,V-Guzijan,M/Niksic 1996. ] 8.xf3 0-0 9.d3 f4!? [ Very much in David Norwood's style, he at t e m p ts t o 'b lo w W h it e awa y', b u t t h e position doesn't really justify this. Normally Black defends his f-pawn: 9...g6 10.0-0 c5 ( 10...c6 11.e4 fxe4 12.dxe4 xe4 13.xe4 xf1+ 14.xf1 f5 15.f3 xd3+ 16.xd3 is a fairly drawish line, L e n t r o d t , T - P o h l K u e m m e l, J/ G e rm a n y 1997. ) 11.b3 c6 12.e2 cxd4 13.exd4 b6 14.b2 e5 led to a great position for Black in the game Potocnik,P-Kanstler,B/ Ljubljana 1992, after 15.g3? h5 16.e3 f4 17.xf4 xf4 but 15 Qe3 was more sensible. ] 10.exf4 [ 10.xf4 may also be playable, although Black has some initiative f ollowing g4
11.e4 g6 ] 10...c6 11.b3 g4 12.f2 b4 13.b1 d5 For his sacrificed pawn Black has gained a certain initiative. 14.cxd5!? fxd5 15.0-0 White plans f5, to free his c1-bishop. d6 [ Black's pieces are aggressively placed, and now he must find a way to increase their activity. The text plans to attack f4, but as the pawn can advance it may be better to l o o k f o r o t h e r m o v e s . 15...h4!? is annoying for White, and after 16.g3 f6 Black has real positional compensation for his pawn. ] 16.f5! g6?! [ Attempting to justify his previous move, but White was on top anyway, i.e. 16...c6 17.h3 h5 18.e4 and a3 is coming. ] 17.xd5 xd5 18.e4 f6!? [ Otherwise 18...c6 19.xd5+ cxd5 20.f6 is strong, the f6-pawn will be a constant problem for Black. ] 19.d3!? [ White is afraid of entering the complicated line 19.xb7 xf5 20.xa8 because of xh2+! b u t h e ca n p l a y 21.h1 g4 22.e1 xa8 23.h4 although Black has various tactical chances. ( 23.f4? e4 )] 19...gxf5? [ It is probably better to return to the previous note, by 19...d5!? 20.c4 c6 ( and not 20...xf5? 21.xd5+ xd5 22.f7+ winning ) 21.xd5+ cxd5 22.f6 ] 20.h6 This wins material. f7 [ 20...e8? loses quickly to 21.h3 h5 22.xf5 e7 23.g5+ with mate to follow. ] 21.c4 e4 22.xf7+ xf7 23.e3 h4 Threatening mate, but it is easily countered. 24.f4 e2 25.xe4!! [ 25.xe4 as after fxe4 26.g5+ xf1 27.xf1+ g6 28.xh4 White has an extra piece. ] 1-0
832
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White a pawn up. ] A21 Damljanovic,Branko 2611 26.f2 c7 27.c4 e7? Rather setting Drazic,Sinisa 2501 himself up for White's powerful reply. [ 27...h6 would have been a better idea TCh-SRB Premier Men (5.5) 31.08.2011 when 28.g4 doesn't have quite the same [Nigel Davies] impact. ] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 e7 4.d4 d6 28.g4 g6 [ 28...h6 W h i t e w i n s w i t h 29.e5! 5.f3 c6 6.c3!? I can understand why , for example dxe5 30.g5 hxg5 31.fxg5 nobody has had the idea to play this move xg5 32.g2 h6 33.d6! etc. ] before - W hite retreats an apparently well placed piece. White's idea is that there's now 29.g5 g7 30.f5 e5 31.f6 [ 31.b5! would have been even better. ] a positional threat to gain space with 7.d5, and Black's knight on c6 does not have a 31...f8 32.c1 xa4 33.f4 e8 34.e3 35.xa3 bxa3 36.e3 h6?! convenient retreat square. And meanwhile a3 Helping White to open up the kingside. The Black can't play 6...e4. [ In earlier games White has often preferred later stages of this game bear the marks of 6.e3 , for example e4 7.g1 g5 8.h4 t i m e t ro u b l e wi t h b o t h s id e s co m m it t i n g e7 9.e2 f5 10.ef4 f6 11.xf6+ certain inaccuracies. 37.gxh6 d7 38.g1 xf6 12.d5 0-0 13.d2 e7 14.xf6+ h7 39.d3 d8 40.g5 f5 41.h3 xf6 15.d5 g6! 16.c3 e5 17.xe5 xh6 42.f3 c8 43.h4 c4 44.c2 b7 dxe5 18.c2 c5 was about equal in 45.h5 b2 46.g2? [ 46.e2! was strong here, for example Gelfand, B (2685)-Shirov, A (2710)/Moscow xa2 47.hxg6+ fxg6 48.e5 xe5 1992. ] 49.xg6+ wins Black's queen. ] [ Another popular move has been 6.xe7 but then xe7 7.d5 d8 8.e4 f5 9.d3 46...e5 47.g3 xa2 48.hxg6+ fxg6 fxe4 10.xe4 f6 was fine for Black in 49.c1 a1 50.xa3 d4?! [ 50...h5+ 51.g1 xa3 52.xa3 f7 Me llad o Trivino , J (2 39 5)-Sp ra gget t, K would have seen Black escape into an equal (2550)/Casablanca 1994. ] endgame. ] 6...exd4 Opting for a 'little centre' structure in 51.e3?! which White has more space. [ 51.g5 was better but then xg5 52.xg5 [ Old timers like myself would probably prefer xf6 53.e3 f7 gives Black play on the to keep their outpost in the centre with dark squares. ] 6...f6 7.d5 b8 with transposition into a 51...h5+ 52.g1 e5 kind of Old Indian Defence. ] [ 52...xf6 is just fine for Black. ] 7.xd4 xd4 8.xd4 f6 9.d2 e6 10.e4 e7 11.e2 0-0 12.0-0 c6 13.b3 53.a7+ h8? 54.a8 g8 [ 54...xf6 55.f2 shows why black should d4 14.d3 a6 15.b2 c6 16.d1 b5 have put his king on g8 on his 53rd move. ] 17.e3 c5 [ 17...e8 looks interesting here also, 55.xg6+ f7 56.g2 g4 57.a7+ e7 keeping his pawn structure flexible for as 58.fxe7 h8 59.e8+ long as possible. As the game progresses 1-0 the knight on d4 looks very impressive but without pawn levers it's difficult for it to A21 gain support. Meanwhile White can advance 840 his kingside pawns. ] Erdos,Viktor 2650 18.h1 e8 19.ae1 b8 20.c3 b4 Stevic,Hrvoje 2626 21.b2 a5 22.f4 a4 23.bxa4 a8 24.d5 CRO-chT Bol (2.5) 14.09.2013 xd5 25.cxd5 a5 [Fier, Alexandr] [ And not 25...xa4 b e c a u s e o f 26.xd4 xd4 27.b5 c3 28.e2 a7 29.xe8 Here White plays 6.f4 before developing the xe1 30.xf7+ xf7 31.xe1 , leaving g 1 - k n i g h t wi t h t h e i d e a o f s t o p p i n g a n y 839
833
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 attacking ideas for Black. I like the 10.exf3 idea and soon W hite got a tangible space advantage. For Black I would take a look at 1 2 . . . e xf 4 . 1.c4 e5 2.g3 d6 3.c3 f5 This is quite a flexible setup. 4.g2 [ 4.d4 is the main line and played by various t o p p l a y e r s e4 5.h3 was analyzed in Kramnik, V (2788)-Svidler, P (2738)/Tal Memorial Blitz 2008. ] 4...f6 5.d3 e7 6.f4!? In a strange way this is the same idea Black made some moves ago. With this move it's much harder for Black to cre a te an y at t a ck on t he kin gsid e . 0-0 7.f3 c6 8.0-0 d4 9.h1 xf3 10.exf3! White is going to exchange the f4pawn and then bring another pawn to f4. With this in mind White has time to bring the rooks to the center and expand on the queenside. c6 Now the d6-pawn can be an issue if White plays something with d4. [ 10...e8 could be a solid option 11.e1 f8 def ending e 5 12.e3 and White still has a lot of useful moves like Qd2 and b4, a4. For Black is not clear where the pieces should go. ] 11.e1 d7 12.e3 f6 [ 12...exf4 is more active, more or less winning a tempo compared to the game 13.xf4 e5! all the counterplay is based on the f4-square. If Black manages to play ... f4 the position should be fine even a pawn down 14.e3 ( 14.d2 is too slow g6 15.e3 f4 and Black is fine; 14.xe5 dxe5 15.xe5 d6 16.e1 f4 and Black has good activity) 14...h5 ( 14...g6?! 15.f4 locks the knight) 15.f4 g4 16.g1 and we reach a similar position compared to the game, with the difference that the pawn is already on h5. Now a quick expansion on the kingside can work h4 17.f3 hxg3 18.hxg3 g5!? with a risky position for Black, but full of life. ] 13.d2 [ 13.d4 exd4 14.xd4 c5 15.d2 ] 13...exf4 [ 13...a5 waiting is not good, since White still has useful moves like 14.ad1 with the idea of 15.d4! ] 14.xf4 e5 15.e3 f4 is coming and Black won't have counterplay on the kingside in time. The position is already more pleasant for
White. [ 15.b3 to play d4 doesn't work g6 16.e3 f4 and Black is fine. ] 15...d7 16.f4 g4 [ 16...f7 I prefer this move. The knight on g4 soon needs to go to h6. From f 7 it's passive but still better placed, 17.e2 c7 18.ae1 ae8 19.b4 with the same kind of position as in the game. Now Black can try a5 20.b5 xc3 21.xc3 cxb5 to complicate matters. Still 22.Bd4 can come and the position remains dangerous for Black. ] 17.g1 e8 [ 17...h5 18.f3 h4 19.g2 hxg3 20.hxg3 g5 and we reach a similar position to the 12...exf4 note where the f6-bishop is not so useful ] 18.h3 h6 19.b4 Now we see the White position improving little by little. c7 20.a4 a6 21.a5 xe1 22.xe1 e8 23.a4 xe1 24.xe1 The basic plan for White is to keep expanding on the queenside, since all the pieces are aiming there. Maybe Black can defend successfully, but the task is far from easy. f8 25.b6 e8 26.d4 e7 27.d2 It's important to keep the queens on, otherwise the lack of space is not so prob lema tic. f7 28.d5 Finally the break, Black is almost lost. c5 29.bxc5 dxc5 30.e3 c7 31.a8 c8 32.b6 c7 33.a8 c8 34.d6! It's necessary to open the position for the bishops. xa8 35.d7 e7 36.dxe8+ [ 36.d5 was a nice finesse, making one useful move, since Black's bishop can't get away, xd7 37.xd7 d8 38.xb7 xa5 39.c8+ d8 40.xf5 with a clear advantage for White ] 36...xe8 [ 36...xe8! activating the pieces was necessary 37.xb7 d6 38.d5 e4 39.xe4 fxe4 40.d5 a4 and Black is still in the game. ] 37.d5 d8 38.xb7 xa5 39.h2 This is not necessary. [ 39.c8+ w a s s i m p l e r d8 ( 39...d8 40.c6+ f7 41.xf5+ g8 42.e4 wins ) 40.xf5 and Black's position will soon collapse. ] 39...g6 40.b8+ d8 41.a7 d3 834
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 41...d6 defending the pawn was better and it's not clear how W hite is going to make progress. 42.d5 f8 ] 42.xc5 xc5 43.xc5 d2 [ 43...h5 44.c6+ d8 45.d5 e2+ 46.g2 h4 ] 44.c8+ Now W hite is just winning e7 45.b7+ d7 46.xa6 c7 47.a3+ e8 48.c5 h5 49.d5 f8 50.e3 g5 51.fxg5 h4 52.g6 e5 53.h6+ g7 54.xh4 xg6 [ 54...xg6 55.h8+ e7 56.xe5+ wins ] 1-0
842 Estremera Panos,Sergio Georgiev,Vladimir XVIII Open Andorra AND (2) [Neil McDonald]
A21 2353 2538 25.06.2000
1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.f3 e4 4.g5 f5 5.c3 f6 6.g3 White's strategy is fundamentally different from Xu Jun's in the no te ab ove . He pre f e rs to f ian che tt o h is bishop rather than develop it on e2 and plans to attack the black centre with f2-f3 rather than gain space with d4-d5. e7 7.g2 0-0 8.h3 c6 9.0-0 a6 10.f3 h8 11.g5 e6 12.b3 d5 Now we have a similar 841 A21 structure for Black as in Sultanov-Poluljahov, Ernst,Sipke 2392 which featured 4 Nfd2 instead of 4 Ng5. Once Dunnington,Angus J 2372 again, W hite is attempting to dismantle the IM Lichfield ENG (5) 10.07.2000 black centre. Black agrees to this, but makes sure it is dissolved under conditions which are [Neil McDonald] favourable to him. 13.f4 d7 14.h3 b4 1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.c3 exd4 4.xd4 c6 15.c1 exf3 16.exf3 dxc4 17.xe6 xe6 ad8! This threatens 19...Rxd4! 5.d3?! Black has been unable to 18.bxc4 Most of Black's centre has disappeared but demonstrate a way to equality after [ 5.d2! -see the analysis in Tratar- his pieces are enjoying their activity and there is a clear target on d4. Srebrnic. ] [ On the other hand, dangerous would be 5...e5 6.c2 Besides the time lost, the 18...xc4 19.e4 f7 20.xf6 gxf6 queen will prove worse here than on d2. g6 21.h6 ] [ Not 6...xc4?? 7.a4+ ] 19.e4 White strives to activate his bishops, 7.g3 g7 8.g2 f6 9.b3? [ White is playing with fire. The modest 9.f3 b u t t h e e n d g a m e t h a t r e s u l t s f r o m h i s combination turns out to be unfavourable for was essential. ] xe4 20.fxe4 xd4! 21.exf5 9...0-0 10.b2 e8 11.e4 him. Of course if This is unsatisfactory, but if [ 21.xd4 c5 ] [ 11.f3 f5 12.d2 d3+ is painful. ] 11...b5! The beginning of a brilliant attack. 21...xd1 22.fxe6 c5+! This accurate move 12.xb5 c6 13.d4 d5 14.0-0-0 xe4 forces the white king one square further from 15.f3 d6 16.f4 c5!! Black gives up a piece the centre as going to g2 loses a rook to 23... 23.h1 fxf1+ 24.xf1 xc1 to open lines for his bishops against the white Rfxf1. king. 17.fxe5 cxd4 18.exd6 f5 19.f2 25.xc1 c7 26.h3 g8 Black now has h6+ 20.d2 a5 21.d1 xa2 an evident advantage because the passed A really severe punishment for White's failure pawn is a weakness rather than a strength. 27.f4 e8 28.g2 f8 29.f3 g1 to develop his king's knight. 30.e5 e7 31.g4 c5 32.h4 g6 33.h5 0-1 d6 34.d4 b6 35.hxg6 hxg6 36.e3 f6 37.d4+ e5 38.e3 c5 39.f2 d6 40.e3 Here White resigned or lost on time before Black could play xc4 0-1
835
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 843 Friedgood,David James,David J Four Nations Chess League 2000 [Paul Motwani]
A21 844
2000
Curiosity of the Month Consider game W11, the encounter D.Friedgood-D.James in the UK's Four Nations Chess League (4NCL) at Birmingham on 1 May 2000. David Friedgood is especially renowned for his prowess in endgame studies, but on this occasion there was no possibility of testing his skills in that a r e a . . . b e c a u s e h e f o u n d a d e va s t a t i n g combination immediately after the opening, and won at lightning speed in only 16 moves! Here's wha t happene d 1.c4 The English Opening has long been David's favourite e5 2.c3 f5 Certainly playable, although Black should be aware of the fact that he is really a tempo down compared to what White got with 1 e4 c5 2 f4 ingameW10 3.d4 e4 [ I would pre f e r 3...exd4 4.xd4 c6 5.e3+ f7!? intending rapid active piecedevelopment with ...Bb4, ...Nf6, and ...Re8, which is a speciality of Finland's GM Heikki Westerinen ] 4.h3! The white knight has spotted a promising position for itself at f4 f6 5.g5 c6 6.f4 e7 7.e3 0-0?! [ Missing the strength of White's next move Black should have played 7...d6 ] 8.c5! White's f1-bishop is eager to deliver a big check at c4! d5 9.cxd6 xd6 10.c4+ h8 11.h4! White goes straight for Black's king with a powerful case of "h for hunting"! b5? [ 11...g8 may not look very appealing, but at least it would stop 12.g6+ ] 12.g6+!! hxg6 13.h5 g8 [ Black is dead lost, as is demonstrated by lines like 13...bxc4 14.hxg6+ g8 15.xf6 xf6 16.h8+ xh8 17.h5+ g8 18.h7+ f8 19.h8# ] 14.hxg6+ h6 15.xh6 gxh6 16.h5 Black resigned, having no satisfactory way to protect his h6-pawn, since 16...Bg5 is crushed instantly by 17 Qxg5. 1-0
Gajewski,Grzegorz Heberla,Bartlomiej POL-ch Warsaw (3) [Fier, Alexandr]
A21 2629 2544 27.03.2014
A good game for W hite. It's always a good sign when it's hard to define where it went wrong for Black. My guess is that c5 doesn't help the counterplay and afterwards Black should try something with ...f5. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.c2 White just tries to play the position like a normal English Opening. [ 3.d5 is the main move and it was seen many times on ChessPublishing e7 4.d4 d6 5.f3 ( 5.e4 f6 6.xe7 xe7 7.f3 was extensively analyzed in Aronian, L (273 9)-S hiro v, A (2 755)/XXV Sup erG M Morelia/Linares MEX/ESP 2008.) 5...e4 6.d2 f5 7.b1 is a thematic idea that was tried and analyzed in several games, such as Andreikin, D (2696)-Volkov, S (2607)/ Baku Open A AZE 2011. ] 3...f6 4.f3 e7 5.e4!? 0-0 [ 5...a6 was played last year by Sokolov 6.d3 c6 7.a3 a5 8.b4 b6 keeping the f le xib i lit y 9.e2 d6 and both sides have their pluses and minuses, Short, N (2688)Sokolov, I (2650)/Canadian op 50th 2013. ] [ 5...xc3 6.bxc3 d6 7.b1 0-0 8.d3 bd7 Bachmann Schiavo, A (2555)-Volkov, S (2594)/Dubai op 11th 2009. ] 6.e2 xc3 The idea behind this exchange is to close the position with the pawns on dark squares. 7.bxc3 Another thematic idea. With the pawn on d2 the structure is not so bad and with the pawn on c3 the d4-square is under control. d6 8.0-0 c5 Consistent, but not forced. [ 8...bd7 A) 9.d4!? this is always a committal move, b u t h e r e i t c a n w o r k exd4 ( 9...b6 10.h4 ) 10.cxd4 xe4 ( 10...xe4 11.d3 f5 12.e1 df6 13.g5 d8 14.h3 with good compensation) 11.d3 e7 12.b2 and White's bishops are quite scary; B) 9.d3 c5 5 would also be possible here and was the Volkov idea in the note to move ] 9.d3 c6 10.g3 White slowly prepares his 836
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 expansion on the kingside. h3 Somehow I already don't like this move. White's plan will work really well in the game, and probably it's around here and over the next few moves that Black should seek something different. [ 10...e8 is one of the options, preparing the pieces for ....f5 11.h4 g6 12.g2 ( 12.f4 exf4 13.xf4 g7 ) 12...h3 A) 13.f4 A1) 13...exf4 14.xf4 xg2 15.xg2 g7 16.f2 ( 16.e3 f5 is not what W h i t e w a n t s) 16...f6 17.h6 and W hite can be better, but Black's position is solid; A2) 13...g7 14.f2 f5 15.f3 g4!? otherwise the bishop on f3 can become too strong 16.xg4 fxg4 17.e3 e6 18.d5 f7 with a double-edged game; B) 13.e1 f5 and Black has much more play than in the game ] 11.e1 h6 12.h4 h7 13.d1! It's funny, but now the position is already unpleasant for Black. White is ready to start the game on the kingside and the last moves of Black are not helping anything. [ 13.f5 it looks tempting to take the second bishop, but Black is fine after xf5 14.exf5 f6 15.f3 d7 16.g4 fe8 17.h3 d5 with chances for both sides ] 13...e6 Coming back to keep the bishops in the game. [ 13...ab8 14.g4 this is the move Black wanted to avoid. Without the bishops, the knight will be stronger on f5 xg4 15.xg4 f6 16.e2 b5 17.f5 d7 18.cxb5 xb5 19.d4 with a slight advantage for White ] [ 13...d7 avoids 14.Bg4 14.b1 b6 15.g4! and the bishop is out of play e7 16.f5 ] 14.f5 d7 15.g4 ab8 16.e3 h8?! [ 16...a6 looks like a better option, Black needs this move to play ...b5 under good c o n d it i o n s 17.f4 ( 17.h1 b5 18.cxb5 axb5 and Black is doing ok) 17...h8 18.d2 and White is at least attacking with some danger now. His king can become too e x p o s e d a t s o m e p o i n t b5 19.d4 is an entertaining position with too many p o s s i b l e c h a n g e s . F o r e x a m p l e : xf5 20.gxf5 cxd4 21.cxd4 exd4 22.xd4 xd4 23.xd4 bxc4 24.xc4 b4 and Black is
ok ] 17.h1 b5 [ 17...e7 is another idea, but it's not so clear what the knight is doing here A) 18.d4 looks nice, but probably its not n e c e s s a r y t o o p e n t h e c e n t e r c7 ( 18...exd4 19.cxd4 is also good for White; 18...cxd4 19.cxd4 only helps White ) 19.dxc5 dxc5 20.d6 xd6 21.xd6 b6 22.f3 and White will try to play on the d-file; B) 18.g1 is more to the point a6 19.d2 b5 20.cxb5 axb5 21.d4 now this move is b e t t e r a n d g i ve s s o m e a d v a n t a g e t o White ] 18.cxb5 xb5 19.d4 And White has a clear advantage, Black is going nowhere on the queenside. b2 20.dxc5 [ 20.d5 is not good because xf5 21.dxc6 xe4+ is with check ] 20...d5 21.exd5 xd5+ 22.f3 f6 23.c4 xf3+ 24.xf3 Black is a pawn down and h a s n o g o o d s q u a r e s f o r t h e k n i g h t s h5 Opening the kingside for the white pieces, but there was not much to do. [ 24...e8 25.g5 and White is winning ] 25.gxh5 e7 26.xe7 xe7 27.d4 b7 28.c6 1-0
845 Gonzales,Jayson Sadorra,Julio Catalino ch-PHI Finals (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A21 2524 2470 03.07.2008
1.c4 e5 2.c3 [ A related line 2.g3 f5 3.d4 was the subject of Kramnik-Bacrot, Moscow 2007. ] 2...f5 3.d4 e4 [ The text move is considered somewhat dubious, whereas 3...exd4 is supposed to be somewhat more critical ] 4.f3 [ 4.h3!? was discussed in FriedgoodJames, 2000, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] 4...exf3 [ Black's best option is possibly 4...f6!? ] [ As discussed in my book on 1 c4 e5, White 837
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h a s t h e b e t t e r c h a n c e s a f t e r 4...b4 , for instance: 5.h3 f6 6.d2 e7 7.e3 0-0 8.b3 xc3 ( 8...a5 9.e2 h8 10.f2 c6 11.f4 d5 12.c5 xc3 13.xc3 c7 14.a3 , and White has the clearly better chances, Stuart, P-Ker, A/Auckland NZL 2003 ) 9.xc3 d6 10.0-0-0 e8 11.e2 bd7 12.f2 f8 13.f4 d5 14.hg1 , and White has the better position and a simple plan to follow, Petursson, MVidarsson, J/ Gardabaer 1996 ] 5.xf3!? [ White can also obtain the better chances with the simple and straightforward 5.exf3 , e.g. f6 6.d3 d6 7.ge2 c6 8.c2 g6 9.e3 d7 10.a3 g7 11.0-0-0 0-0 12.b1 Vescovi, G-Rodrigues, A/Itabirito 1998 ] 5...f6 6.c2 [ At this juncture, in addition to the text move, W h i t e h a s t wo wo r t h wh il e a lt e rn a t i ve s available: A) 6.g3 c6?! ( 6...b4 7.h3 xc3+ 8.bxc3 d6 9.h4 ) 7.g2 d6 8.0-0 e6?! 9.d5 cxd5 10.cxd5 d7 11.e3 , and Black is already in severe trouble, Engel, G-Bachler, W/Graz 1995 ] [ B) 6.g5 e7 7.xf6 ( 7.e3 0-0 8.d3 is quite pleasant for White.) 7...xf6 8.e4 fxe4 9.xe4 A) 9...0-0!? A1) Or 10.xf6+ xf6 11.e2 ( 11.d3 e8+ 12.d2 c6 ) 11...d6 12.0-0; A2) 10.d3 h4+ 11.xh4 xh4+ 12.g3 h6 13.d2 h5; B) 9...e7 10.d3 b4+ 11.d2 xd2+ 12.xd2 e7 13.eg5+Cuadras Avellana, J-Lopez, E/Catalunya 1996 ] 6...d6 7.g3 [ White has another good continuation a v a i l a b l e : 7.e3 g6 8.d3 c6 9.a3 ( 9.0-0!? g7 10.d2 0-0 11.a3 ) 9...g7 10.b4 0-0 11.0-0 e7 12.d5 Eitel, PKuehl, R/Germany 1992 ] 7...g6 8.g2 g7 9.0-0 [ White can also send the king in the opposite direction with 9.f4 0-0 10.0-0-0!? , a n d wi t h o u t a n e -p a wn f o r B l a c k , h e appears to have a harder time generating real counterplay. ]
9...0-0 10.g5 [ 10.b4!? is also worthwhile of consideration. ] 10...h6 11.xf6 [ 11.d2!? ] 11...xf6 12.e4!? [ 12.e3!? ] 12...c6 13.ad1 g5 [ 13...f7 14.d5 ] 14.exf5?! [ 14.d5 e5 is pleasant for Black ] [ White, however, can improve further with 14.d5! , for instance: d8 15.e5! b8 ( 15...f7 16.fe1 with a very uncomfortable position for Black. ) 16.f2 a6 17.fe1 ] 14...xf5 [ While the exchange of queens are in Black's interest due to the open position and Black holding the pair of bishops, White can ea sily side ste p it. The ref ore Blac k sh o u l d c o n t i n u e h i s d e ve l o p m e n t wi t h 14...xf5!? 15.b3 ab8 with a doubleedged position ] 15.d2 [ White has a couple of alternatives here: A) 15.b3 d7 16.c5+!? ( 16.d5 e7 17.e4 b6= ) 16...h8 17.cxd6 cxd6 ( 17...xd6 18.b5 d8 19.d5 leaves White with the initiative) 18.d5 d8 with chances to both sides ] [ B) 15.e1!? lets Black exchange queens, keeping in mind the somewhat soft Black q u e e n s i d e . xc2 ( 15...g4 16.xf8+ xf8 17.f2+ f5 18.b5 xf2+ 19.xf2 g4 20.d2 c8 21.xc6 bxc6 22.xa7 a8 23.xc6 xa2 24.e3 ) 16.xf8+ xf8 17.xc2 g7 18.b5!? g4 19.f1 e8 20.f2 e2 , and the chances are about even. ] 15...g6 16.d5 [ The alternatives don't have much to offer f o r W h i t e : 16.b5 f7 17.d5 e5 18.xe5 xe5 19.xf7 xf7 20.f1 h7 , and Black has almost equalised. ] [ Or 16.d5 f7 17.b4 e6 18.xc7 xc7 19.d5 f7 20.dxc6 bxc6 21.c1 f6 ] 16...e5 17.xe5 xe5 [ 17...xf1+!? 18.xf1 xe5 19.b5 h7 with an identical position to the one after 16 Nb5 above in the note after W hite's 16th move. ] 838
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.xf8+ xf8 19.b5 g7?! [ Now Black is getting himself into a bit of trouble. The correct move is 19...h7! , e.g. 20.d4 ( 20.f1+ g8 21.e2 f5 ) 20...g8 21.e6 xe6 22.dxe6 c6 23.h3 , and White's advantage is truly minimal. ] 20.d4? [ White returns the favor He can obtain an advantage with 20.f1+! g8 21.e2 g4 ( or 21...a6 22.xc7!! xc7 23.h5 d4+ 24.h1 g7 25.e4 ) 22.e4 d7 ( 22...a6 23.xc7 xc7 24.g6+ g7 25.e8+ h7 26.e4+ ) 23.xc7 f8 24.e6 xe6 25.dxe6 xb2 26.d1 e5 27.xb7 xb7 28.xb7 , and White has excellent winning chances. ] 20...g8?! [ Here 20...xd4+ equalizes effortlessly: 21.xd4 xd4+ 22.xd4 d7 23.e4 a5 . Now on the other hand, White grabs the initiative once again, and Black has to play accurately. ] 21.e6 xe6 22.dxe6 c6 23.e2 [ 23.b4 to soften up Black's queenside and remove Black's protection of the d5-square makes perfect sense: f6 24.b5!? ( 24.h3 f3 25.d3 xd3 26.xd3 h5 27.f5 f8= ) 24...c8 25.bxc6 bxc6 26.e7 xe7 27.xc6 g7 28.d5 , White's advantage mainly consists of Black's weak light squares around the king, whether W hite can a ct ua lly e xp lo it th is weakne ss is a different issue altogether. ] 23...e8?! [ Black continues his parade of inaccuracies. Instead 23...g4 also leads to a better game for W hite, e.g. 24.e4 f8 25.b4 f6 26.e7 xe7 27.xg4+ ] [ whereas 23...g6! challenges White more, for instance 24.g4 ( 24.b4 initially looks like a good idea, intending xe6 25.b5 , b u t t h i s p l a n i s r e f u t e d b y d4+ , and it is game over for White.) 24...e8 25.h3 xb2 26.e2 a3 27.f1 , and White has compensation for the pawn, but not much more than that. ] 24.h3 d4+ [ 24...xb2!? 25.xd6 a3 26.d7 c5+ 27.h1 f6 28.a4 ( White can play 28.xb7 , but it invites nothing but problems
after a1+ 29.g2 g1+ 30.f3 h5 31.g7+! h8! (taking the rook loses for Black) 32.f7 d4 33.g4 h4 , and Black has successfully dug his way into the game again. ) 28...e7 29.d1 ] 25.h1 e5?? [ B l a c k s h o u l d h a v e p l a y e d 25...e7 , a n d t h e n o n l y a f t e r a m o ve l i k e 26.b4 Black could proce ed wit h e5 , after 27.d3 c3 28.a3 , White has a small but clear advantage. ] 26.d3! Game over, Black gets mated or loses the bishop on d4. f8 27.f1+ e7 28.h7+ g7 29.f7+ 1-0
846 Gulko,Boris F Short,Nigel D Elenite [Tony Kosten]
A21 2620 2645 1995
1.c4 e5 2.c3 d6 3.f3 White wishes to play d4, but should Black capture this, to be able to recapture with the knight on d4, rather t h a n t h e qu e e n . f5 Now that Black will not want to take on d4, he needs to control e4, ready to answer d4 with ...e4. The alternative is playing ...Nd7, with a transposition to an Old Indian. 4.d4 e4 5.g5 Sometimes other kn igh t m o ve s a re p la ye d , b u t t h is is t h e modern preference, the knight is unlikely to rest on g5, but will go to the important square f 4 , v i a h 3 . c6 Preparing to bolster the e4pawn by ...d5, [ 5...e7 6.h3 c6 will transpose. ] 6.g3 This way White can develop his lightsquared bishop whilst keeping the c1-h6 diagonal open for the use of his brother. [ 6.h3 a6 7.e3 is the, nowadays less popular, alternative, ( 7.g3 will transpose) 7...f6 8.f4 c7 planning . ..d5, or ...Ne6, to challenge W hite's forward knight. 9.d5! e7 10.b3!? The c1-bishop must be developed. 0-0 11.b2 d7 12.e2 g5! with unclear play, Timman,J-Yusupov,A/ Amsterdam 1994. ] 6...e7 7.h3 f6 8.g2 [ 8.d5 is possible here, but it seems to me that it might be premature as Black's 839
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 queen's knight can 'change course', and instead of heading for c7, can go to e5. bd7 9.g2 A) 9...b6!? i s t r i c k y , a s , i f 10.b3? then Black wins a pawn: ( 10.dxc6 bxc6 11.b3 is better, but equal.) 10...cxd5 11.cxd5 bxd5! 12.xd5 a5+ 13.d2 xd5 Lazarev,V-Gofshtein,L/Oberwart 1993.; B) 9...e5 10.b3 0-0 11.0-0 e8 12.f3 exf3 13.exf3 f8 14.dxc6?! ( 14.e1 keeps more control, d7 15.e3 c5 16.f4 f7 17.c2 with a space advan ta ge , Nikolic,P -V an de r W iel,J/ Netherlands (ch) 1997.) 14...bxc6 15.f2 d5! 16.cxd5 a6! 17.e1 c5 18.e3 d3! 19.xd3 xe3+ 20.h1 cxd5 Black's pieces have exploded into life, Poluljahov,A-Kotsur,P/ Novgorod RUS 1999. ] 8...0-0 9.0-0 a6 A key manoeuvre, borrowed from the Advance French, the knight comes to c7, either to prepare the ...d5-push, or to continue towards the kingside via e6. 10.f3 Attacking the black pawn chain head-on, but now is a good time for [ 10.d5 both gaining space in the centre, and stopping Black from playing ...d5himself. c7 11.h1 ( 11.f4 is met by g5 with sharp play.) 11...cxd5 12.cxd5 b5! with the annoying threat of ...b4, winning the d5-pawn. 13.b4 a5 14.b1 axb4 15.xb4 d7 16.b1 g4 17.f3 exf3 18.exf3 f6 with good play, Piket,J-Adams,M/Tilburg 1996. ] 10...exf3 Black prefers not to defend e4, but [ 10...c7!? is also possible, 11.fxe4 fxe4 12.d5 b5!? 13.dxc6 bxc4 14.b3! e8 15.f2 xc6 16.cxe4 d5 with chances f o r b o t h s id e s, P o rt is ch -G u lko , B i e l I Z 1993. ] 11.exf3 c7!? 12.d5 cxd5 13.cxd5 b5! Black mounts a concerted attack on the d5pawn, did this pawn cross the boundary too soon? 14.b4 A little bit weakening, [ 14.a3 a5 15.f4 might be an improvement, b7 can be met by 16.e6 xe6 17.dxe6 unclear. ] 14...a5 15.b1 axb4 16.xb4 d7 17.a3 a6 18.b1 c7 Black is happy to sacrifice the b-pawn, knowing that his piece activity will
be enough to recuperate the a, or d-pawns. 19.d4 [ 19.xb5 c5+ 20.d4 ab8 21.xc5 xc5 and ...Nxd5, is typical of the possibilities. ] 19...c5 20.xc5 xc5 The endgame is pleasant for Black who has two targets- the w e a k w h i t e q u e e n s i d e p a w n s . 21.e1?! After this move White's game slips downhill, [ 21.d1! was necessary, protecting the dpawn, and preparing to bring the g2-bishop into the game on f1. ] 21...d8 22.xb5 d3 23.d1 b6+ B la ck 's ' b a d ' b i sh o p h a s f o u n d a s t r o n g diagonal. 24.h1 xc1 25.dxc1 c5 26.f4 e3! 27.c4 xb5 Time to garner the fruits of his previous play, first Black takes the a-pawn. 28.xb5 xa3 29.b1 fa8 The white king is awkwardly placed, and the back rank weak. 30.f1 g5 31.e6 xd5 Now Black is a pawn up, and still retains his positional plusses. 32.c2 a1 33.cb2 c3 34.xa1 xa1 The black pieces are homing-in for the kill. 35.g2 f7 36.c7 d5 Black has another trump: the passed dpawn. 37.d3 g1+ 38.h3 f6?! [ 38...d1 39.e2 f2+ would have been more immediate. ] 39.f4 gxf4 40.gxf4 d1? 41.b3! A clever trick, for if 41...Rxd3 there is 42 Rxc3 Rxc3 43 Nxd5+, drawing. White doesn't give up, but uses all the resources at his disposal. d4 42.a6 g6 43.b8 f6 44.b6! e4 45.e8 d2 46.c8 h5 The opposite-colour bishops may yet prove a problem for Black. 47.d6 xd6 48.xd6 h4 49.e6? Careless, now Black is back on track . d4 50.d7 e2 51.c6 e3+ 52.g2 h3+ 53.f1 f7 54.d7+ e6 55.h7 d3 56.f2 d4 57.d7 c5? Strange, a computer would play [ 57...e4+ 58.f3 d2 and queens, without a moment's reflection. ] 58.d8 f6 59.f1 b6 60.d6+ e7 61.d7+ e6 62.d5 c7 63.d4 f6 Forcing a curious zugzwang. 64.b7 [ 64.b5 would lose to f3+ 65.e1 a5+ 66.d1 f1# ] 64...xf4! 65.a6 [ 65.xf4 d2 66.d4 e1+ forces the dpawn through. ] 840
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 65...f3+ 66.e1 xh2 67.xd3 g3+ 68.e2 White would draw, easily, if he could exchange the rooks. f2+ 69.e3 h2 70.d1 f4+ 71.d3 b2 72.c4 e5 Unfortunately, with the rooks on the board, Black wins easily! 73.c3 g2 74.d5+ e4 75.h5 f3 76.d5+ e3 77.h7 e5+ 78.c4 g1 0-1
27.a5 1-0
848 Gurevich,Mikhail Topalov,Veselin Bosna SuperGM (9) [Tony Kosten]
A21 2694 2702 26.05.2000
1.c4 g6 2.c3 g7 3.g3 e5 4.g2 f5 An aggressive move, Black makes his intentions on the kingside clear. 5.d4!? Gupta,Abhijeet [ A sharp reaction, White exploits tactical Nanjo,Ryosuke features of the position to make this XLIII WJun Kochin IND (1) advance, 5.e3 e7 6.ge2 d6 7.d3 ( or [John Watson] 7.d4 ) 7...0-0 8.0-0 a5 9.a3 c6 is more typical, Hort,V-Byrne, R/Sousse 1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.f3 e4 4.g5 f5 1967. ] 5.c3 e7 This has been a reliable system used by professionals for many years now. It 5...exd4 [ Best, 5...e4!? maintains Black's central often arises from the move order 1.c4 e5 2. pawn, but allows White a plus, 6.g4!? ( 6.f3 Nc3 d6 3.Nf3 f5 4.d4 e4 5.Ng5 Be7. Of course is simpler) 6...c6 7.gxf5 gxf5 8.h3!? in that case White has options like 3.g3, 4.g3, xd4 9.d5 d6 10.g5 d7 11.e3 xb2 and 5.Bg5!?. 6.h3 f6 7.g3 c6 8.g5 12.b1 g7 13.h5+ with some initiative, [ 8.g2 0-0!? 9.0-0!? d5 10.cxd5 cxd5 Miles,A-King,D/Moscow 1990. ] 11.g5 e6 12.f4 f7 looks equal. ] 6.b5 c6 8...e6! 9.d5 cxd5 10.cxd5 f7 11.g2 [ Naturally, 6...c5?? allows 7.d6+ ( 7.f4 [ It's hard to get any pressure on Black's a6 8.d6+ f8 9.xb7 is also strong) c e n t r e , f o r e x a m p l e , 11.b3 d7 7...f8 8.xb7 ] ( 11...bd7!? ) 12.xf6 ( 12.e3! ) 12...xf6 13.f4 a6! and with ...Nc5 Black will have 7.f3 f6 8.f4?! [ White tries to extract the utmost from the the better game. ] position, but the bishop proves misplaced 11...bd7 12.0-0 0-0 13.d2?! here, 8.0-0 is more solid e4! ( 8...d5? [ 13.b1 b6 14.xf6 xf6 15.f4 ] 9.f4 ) 9.bxd4 xd4 10.xd4 0-0 13...b6! 14.f3 exf3 15.xf3 d7 ( 10...d5? loses a pawn, prettily, 11.cxd5 [ 15...h6! 16.xf6 ( 16.e3 c4 ) 16...xf6 xd5 12.xf5! xf5 13.a4+ ) 11.b3 17.d3 ( 17.f4 c4 ) 17...d7 ( 17...c8! is level, Benko, P-Petrosian,T/Curacao 18.xf5 c4 ) 18.f4 fc8 and Black 1962. ] seems to have the better of it again. 8...d6 9.fxd4 White's whole setup looks suspect. ] [ A new move, if an exceedingly obvious one, 16.b3 ac8 17.a4 e4? Losing material. 9.c5!? e4 10.cxd6 cxd6 11.0-0 0-0 Naturally Black was in no trouble and could 12.bxd4 xd4 13.xd4 b6 14.b3 have played e6 allowed Black sufficient activity to [ 17...h6 ] co u n t e r-b a l a n c e h is we a k d 6 -p a wn , i n 18.xe4 fxe4 19.xe4 xh3?? Gaspar,A-Santos,C/Loures 1996. ] [ But 19...ce8 20.f5 is very strong for 9...xd4 10.xd4!? White. ] [ The logical follow-up, 10.xd4 e4 11.0-0 20.xe7 fe8 21.f5 h5 22.g4 g5 would allow Black active kingside play. ] Trapping the queen. h3 23.f3 xf3 24.exf3 xe7 25.xc8 xc8 26.c1 b6 10...0-0 11.c5 e4 Once again , opening the long diagonal a1-h8, for the g7-bishop, and 847
A21 2412 2154 20.11.2004
841
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 u s i n g t h e e 4 - o u t p o st t o r e s t ra in t h e g2 bishop's influence. 12.c4+ d5 13.b4 a5 14.a3 f7 [ 14...c6 15.d6 b6 is also reasonable. ] 15.d1 g5!? Black plays very aggressively. 16.e3 [ 16.xc7 xc7 17.xc7 xc7 18.xd5 e6!? is dangerous for White. ] 16...e8 17.c3 [ 17.d4 also allows f4 ] 17...xc3 18.bxc3 f4! 19.gxf4 [ 19.d4 f3 20.f1 fxe2 21.xe2 g4 22.e3 e4 also leaves White on his knees. ] 19...gxf4 20.d4 g4 [ 20...f3 21.f1 fxe2 22.xe2 g4 is also dangerous, but 23.e3 defends for a while. ] 21.0-0? [ The kingside will prove to be an inhospitable place for the king, perhaps 21.f1 was the best try, xe2 22.xe2 f3 allows 23.d2 fxe2 24.g1 with real chances. ] 21...a6! [ The last piece in the jigsaw, the rook will make its presence f elt on the kingside. 21...xe2 22.xd5 h8 is not so effective. ] 22.f3 [ This is positionally undesirable, but if 22.xd5? then g6 23.h1 xe2 threatens mate on f3, and wins. ] 22...f5 23.f2 g6 24.f1?! [ This loses a piece. 24.h1 was a better bet, but although White may have avoided immediate mate, his position is still awful. ] 24...xd4 25.xd4 fg7 With an unstoppable threat of capturing the g2bishop. 26.xd5 h3 [ 26...xg2 27.xg2 h3 also wins. ] 27.b3 [ 27.xh3?? g1# ] 27...h8 28.d1 xg2+ [ It is surprising that White plays on, which suggests that Black was short of time. Here, 28...xg2 29.xg2 xg2 30.d4+ g8 is even more straightforward. ] 29.e1 h3 30.d4 g1+ 31.d2 e3+ 32.xe3 fxe3+ [ 32...d1+ 33.xd1 fxe3 is an amusing
t rick, t ra p p in g t h e ro o k, b u t t h e t e xt i s stronger. ] 33.xe3 e6 34.d4 7g5 35.e4 g8 36.f4 xc5 37.f5 g7 38.f6+ g6 39.e7 f7 40.d4 c4+ 41.d3 c6 0-1
849 Hansen,Curt Sokolov,Ivan Groningen [Tony Kosten]
A21 2635 2630 1995
1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 e7 A surprising move, popularised by Shirov. Black seems happy to lose the pair of bishops, h e wi l l p l a c e h i s p a w n s s o l i d l y o n d a r k squares. 4.d4 d6 5.e4 The most ambitious move, White takes control of the centre. f6 The safest choice, perhaps, Black wishes to oblige White to capture on e7. The alternative is [ 5...c6 although the risk here is that the d6square might be weakened. 6.xe7 xe7 7.e2! f6 ( 7...f5!? is too risky, 8.dxe5 xe5 9.exf5 f6 10.d4! xf5 11.f4 a5+! 12.c3 xc3+ 13.xc3 0-0 14.0-0-0 with an ideal endgame for the bishop pair, and a consequent advantage for W hite, Kasparov, G-Shirov,A/Novgorod 1994. ) 8.f3 ( 8.c3 may well be superior.) 8...d5!? 9.dxe5 xe5 10.c2?! dxe4 11.f4 f5 12.0-0-0 0-0 13.c3 c5 14.g4 e6 Smirin,I-Stisis,Y/Tel Aviv ISR 1999, but Black's computer-like pawn grabbing came out on top. ] 6.xe7 xe7 7.f3 Black has a lead in de ve lo pm en t, bu t, m uch as in t he 4 Q c 2 Nimzo, unless he manages to achieve something concrete with it, White's bishop pair, and space advantage, will gradually come into their own. exd4 8.xd4 c6 9.c3 0-0 10.e3 A perfectly logical move, preparing to evacuate the king to the queenside if n e ce ssa ry, a n d p o ss ib ly b e t t e r t h a n t h e alternative [ 10.e2 although this might transpose. ] 10...e8 11.e2 e5 12.f4 Both continuing development, and keeping an eye on d5. g6 13.0-0-0 xf4 14.xf4 a6 842
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Hoping to generate some queenside play, with ...b5, but it may be too late for Black as White has almost completed his development and can start making his trumps count. 15.h4 e6 16.g4 With a strong hold on the centre, White can happily advance on the kingside, Black risks being flattened. d7 17.g5 b5?! Black's best chance lay in [ 17...f8! planning to answer h5 with ...f5, and thereby attempting to put up some sort of defence on the kingside. ] 18.h5 f8? After this, the game slides quickly out of Black's finger-tips, [ 18...f6 was better, although Black is really struggling. ] 19.h6 g6 Black's dark squares are horrifically weak, and of course he has no bishop to d e f e n d t h e m ! 20.xd6! The thematic darksquared explosion. b4 [ If 20...cxd6 then 21.xd6 wins the black queen, which cannot leave g7 undefended. ] 21.d4 ad8 22.xd7? A bad mistake that ruins White's previous fine play, [ 22.xa6! wa s st r o n g, a s c5 23.f6 xa6? allows mate in five, starting 24.e5 ] 22...xd7 Now Black is fine, and may even be better. 23.b3 h3 24.b2 xf1 25.xf1 d3 26.xc7 c3+ 27.b1 c5 Black has managed to free the queen from the defence of g7. 28.f4 d8 29.e2 d4 30.c1 a5? Black's turn to err, [ h e s h o u l d k e e p q u e e n s o n b y 30...d3 31.b2 c5 as the endgame is more dangerous for Black than it might appear at first sight. ] 31.b2 d3+ 32.xd3 cxd3 33.f2 [ 33.g7! would have asked some searching questions, for how will Black manage to extricate his king from g8? ] 33...f8 Phew! 34.c2 e3 35.e5 e8 36.c7 c3+ 37.b2 a8 The position is level. 38.a3? A time-trouble mistake, worried bout the further advance of the black a-pawn, White tries to stop it, and only encourages it! Preparation of the c-pawn's advance was called-for. a4! 39.bxa4 xc4 40.d6 bxa3+ 41.xa3 cxa4+ Black has liquidated the queenside pawns, and has obtained a serious advantage again. Can Black set-up some sort of f o rt re s s ? 42.b3 4a6 43.d2 d8 Forcing the exchange of a pair of rooks, which
is desirable, but more chances were offered by [ 43...c8 cutting the white king off from the defence of the kingside. ] 44.b4 xd2 45.xd2 f6 46.c4 a2 47.d3 a3+ 48.e2 The white king has come back, winning with the limited number of pawns remaining will take care. f7 49.f4 a5 50.gxf6 xf6 51.f2 h5? Black misses the clear-cut line [ 51...g5 52.e3 g6 53.f4 g4 54.f5+ h5 55.f4 a3 when White has two connected passed pawns, but his king is cutof f , and stopping the g4-pawn won't be easy. ] 52.e3 h2+ Now, if [ 52...g5 then 53.d4+ g6 54.g7 defends the h6-pawn. ] 53.g3 e2 54.d4+ g5 55.g7 The black king cannot pass, and the position is therefore drawn. e3 56.f8 b3 57.g7 h5 58.f8 g5 59.f2 b2+ 60.e3 b7 61.g7 f7 62.e2 h4 63.e3 g3 Black has managed to force the white king away, but at a cost, it is now perfectly-placed to aid the passed e-pawn. 64.e5 h4 [ 64...xf3+ 65.e4 g4 66.e6 a3 67.e7 a8 68.f5 will be drawn, but only if Black is careful. ] 65.f6 h5 66.e4 g6 [ 66...xh6 67.f5 is simple for White. ] 67.f4 gxf4 68.xf4 f8 69.e4 xh6 70.f5 e8 71.e6 h5 72.g7 xe6 ½-½
850 Hodgson,Julian M Psakhis,Lev Metz [Tony Kosten]
A21 2570 2585 1994
1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.g3 This is certainly a very logical reply, White ignores the threat to his pawn structure and continues his d e v e l o p m e n t . xc3 Little point putting the bishop on b4 unless Black plays this. 4.bxc3 d6 5.g2 f5 Perhaps a trifle over-optimistic, Black wants to play as in a Grand-Prix Attack reversed. 6.c5! If this is good, it is the refutation of Black's previous move. W hite 843
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 frees the position for his bishops, and rids himself of his doubled pawn. [ 6.d4 is much less critical. ] 6...dxc5 Black shows no fear, of course he doesn't want White to capture on d6, when he will have no compensation for the bishop pair, but [ 6...d5!? is possible. ] 7.a3 d6 8.d4! No expense spared in opening the position! exd4 9.cxd4 xd4 10.c1! A computer would be very happy with this position, I suppose, Black has two extra p a w n s , a f t e r a l l . f6 Black attempts to complete his development, defending the cpawn by [ 10...d7? w o u l d a l l o w 11.b2 g4 12.f3 g6 13.h5! deviating the queen from her defence of g7, and winning material. ] 11.h3 White is in no rush to capture the cpawn, but prefers to complete his development. d7 12.0-0 e7 13.b2 f7 14.e4!? White further exposes the soft black underbelly, but [ 14.e3! was also good, with a strong initiative. ] 14...0-0 15.g5 g6 16.exf5 xf5 17.e1 The strong b2-bishop, and awkwardly -placed black knights, cause Black no end of problems. d5 [ 17...xg5? e n c o u n t e r s 18.f4 g6 19.xe7 and Black will soon lose. ] 18.h4! 7b6 19.xc5 Black was obliged to return a pawn to develop his queenside. c6 20.e4 White decides to 'cash-in' but 20 h5! was more in the spirit of his previous play. h6? [ 20...a4! would change the powerful b2b i s h o p , w h e n B l a c k wo u l d h a ve s o m e compensation for the exchange he is about to lose. ] 21.f3 a4 Too late! 22.c2 xb2 23.d4! Of course, the b2-knight is going nowhere, and now White can take the f5-rook with his knight. e7 24.xf5 xf5 25.xb2 White is no ahead on material, and retains t h e b e t t e r p o s i t i o n , s o s h o u l d w i n . f7 26.c2! c5 [ 26...e6? would not have successfully countered the threat of 27 Bb3, because of the evident 27.xe6! xe6 28.b3 ] 27.b5! Renewing the menace of Bb3. e6
28.xc5 c8 29.xc8+! After 29...Bxc8 30 Bb3, W hite finds himself in an ending with two extra exchanges. 1-0
851 Illescas Cordoba,Miguel Arencibia Rodriguez,Walter Spanish Teams (1) [Tony Kosten]
A21 2605 2550 05.09.1998
1.c4 e5 2.c3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.xd4 c6 [ 4...f6 5.g3 c6 6.d2 will transpose. ] 5.d2 g6 6.b3 There is no reason to defer t h e d e ve lo p m e n t o f t h e q u e e n 's b i s h o p , although it is quite playable: [ 6.g3 g7 7.g2 f6 8.h3 0-0 9.f4 Getting a grip of d5. a5 10.0-0 e8 11.e1?! ( Now would certainly be a good time for 11.b3 , with an edge.) 11...a4 Forcing W hite to prepare the b3-move. 12.b1 d7 13.b3 axb3 14.axb3 ce5! 15.c2 c5 16.b4 f5 17.e4 e6! and the e1-rook allowed Black to conjureup favourable complications, Petursson,MAnand,V/Manila 1990. ] 6...g7 7.b2 f6 8.g3 The best time to develop the king's bishop. 0-0 9.g2 f5?! [ 9...e8 might be superior, and if 10.h3 d5 exploiting the h3-knight's temporary sojourn on h3. ] 10.h3 e8 11.f4! This way round Black fails to liberate his position, White's hold on d5 should give him a certain plus. e5 12.0-0 c6 13.e4 The problem for Black is that his pieces can be driven away from their, apparently active, posts. g4 14.f3 b6+ 15.h1 d7 16.ad1 White has finished his development, and has a consequent space a d v a n t a g e . g5?! 17.d3 g4 Black, understandably, tries to generate some play, but only succeeds in compromising his position. 18.xe5 dxe5 19.f4 Suddenly Black is lost, the tactics are working against him. ad8 [ Not 19...exf4? 20.xf4 with unstoppable threats along the f-file ] 20.fxe5 xe5 21.a4 White picks-up the exchange, but the d-f ile pin assures that Black will obtain absolutely no compensation 844
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 for it. c7 22.f4! Precise to the end. de8 23.xe5 xe5 24.xd7! A further, killing, blow. xd7 25.xf7+ h8 26.d1 Winning significant material. 1-0
852 Iordachescu,Viorel Kritz,Leonid 16th Monarch Assurance (7) [Carsten Hansen]
A21 2584 2571 28.09.2007
1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 e7 4.d4 d6 5.f3 c6 6.xe7 [ This is the normal move, White can also retreat his knight, although this leads to an Old Indian with an extra tempo for Black 6.c3 d7 ( 6...c7 7.e4 f6 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 h6 10.h3 e8 11.e1 f8 12.d5 a5 13.e3 with a typical Old Indian type set-up for Black, and a white space advantage that matches W hite has a slight plus, Gofshtein, L-Stisis, Y/Panormo 2001) 7.g3 gf6 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 b8 10.c2 a6 11.d1 c7 12.c5 e8 13.g5 h6 14.cxd6 xd6 15.dxe5 xe5 16.xe5 hxg5 17.c4 e5 18.d6 d8 Felecan, F-Nanu, C/Tusnad 1997 19.xc8 bxc8 20.f5 with a better game for White ] 6...xe7 7.c5 [ The text move markedly sharpens the battle with immediate effect. White has a couple alternatives here: A) 7.g5 f6 8.e3 ( 8.d2 g4 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.b3 a6 11.e3 0-0-0 12.a4 b8 13.a5 b6 14.c5 xc5 15.xg4 bxa5 16.c1 Grant, J-Shaw, J/Scottish Ch 1994) 8...a6 9.g3 f7 A) 10.d2 f5 11.g2 f6 Gulko ( 11...f4? 12.e4! Gulko ); B) 10.b3 e7 11.g2 0-0 , and Black has a very decent position, Renet, OGulko, B/St Martin 1993 ] [ B) 7.e3 f6 8.h3 ( 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 g4 10.h3 h5 11.b4 bd7 12.a4 fe8 13.b2 ad8 14.e1 f8 15.b5 c5= Hansen, C-Lutz, C/Groningen 1993/) 8...0-0 9.e2 e4 10.0-0 d7 11.c2 f5 12.b3 c5 13.b2 b6 14.d3 b7 15.d5 df6= Lutz, C-Renet, O/Kaufbeuren 1993 ]
7...e4 8.cxd6 xd6 9.e5 e6 10.b3 b5 Thus far everything has been played before, and that was nearly a decade and a half ago. 11.f3!? [ In the only previous encounter in this line, White instead went with 11.h3 e7 A) 12.e3 f6 ( If 12...h5 then 13.e2 g6 14.0-0 f6 15.c2 fxe5 16.dxe5 d7 17.xe4 d5 18.c2 with messy complications is acceptable for W hite) 13.g4 d7 14.b2 d8 15.e2 f5 16.h2 0-0 , and Black has the upper hand; B) 12.b2?! A brave and gutsy move, but at the same time a very bad one too. h5 13.c2 f6 14.xe4 fxe5 15.dxe5 d5 16.c2 a6 17.e4 c5 , and White has nowhere near enough compensation for the piece, Miles, A-Mainka, R/ Copenhagen 1993 ] 11...f6 12.g4 xg4 [ Black shouldn't necessarily rush to make this exchange, but clearly Black thinks this will leave him with a long term advantage. A l t e r n a t i v e l y , 12...e7 13.f2 exf3 14.gxf3 f5 15.g2 0-0 16.0-0 like ly f ollowed by e2 -e4 will le a d t o a n unclear position ] 13.fxg4 e7 14.g3 h5 [ 0.64 Deep Shredder 10: 14...a6 15.g2 b4+ 16.d2 e3 17.xb4 xb4 18.e4 bd5 19.b2 ] 15.g5 f5 16.f4 b4+ 17.d2 xd2+ 18.xd2 g6 19.e3 xf4 20.gxf4 g6 The smoke has cleared and we are down to a position with two rooks and a minor piece on both sides. W hite has a clear advantage thanks to his ability to break with both a2-a4 and d4-d5 in addition to penetrating on the dark squares with the king, play along the open c-file with his rooks and the fact that nearly all of Black's pawns are fixed on light squares, the colour of White's bishop. 21.a4! bxa4 [ The alternative pretty much sucks too: 21...b4 22.a5 e7 23.a4 c5 24.dxc5 d8+ 25.c2 d7 26.xb4 xc5 27.c4 , and White is a pawn up and should win the endgame ] 22.bxa4 [ White figures the b-file will be even more 845
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 useful to him than the a-file, though 22.xa4 h7 23.a5 b7 24.c4 d7 25.ha1 also looks promising for White ] 22...h7 23.e2 [ 23.b1 c7 24.e2 d7 25.a5 transposes to the game continuation. ( 25.hc1!? )] 23...c7 24.a5 [ 24.hc1!? ] 24...d7 25.ab1 e7 26.hc1 d6 27.c4 f8 [ 27...b8 28.f7 xb1 29.xb1 f8 30.c4 c5 31.d5 d7 32.c3 e7 33.a6 followed by Bb7-c6, and White will penetrate decisively on the queenside. ] 28.a6 c5 29.b7 [ W h i t e c a n a l s o c o n s i d e r 29.b5!? , f o r e x a m p l e : cxd4 30.xc7 dxe3+ 31.xe3 xc7 32.b7+ d6 33.xa7 b8 34.c4 , and White has every chance of winning, but Iordachescu undoubtedly prefers to keep matters simple and waits to open up the position ] 29...b8?! [ Here 29...cxd4!? looks like a better shot, e. g. 30.exd4 b6! 31.a6 xc1 32.xc1 d5 33.xd5 xd5 34.c7 xd4 , and this is no longer a win for White ] 30.a6 e8 [ Now 30...cxd4 isn't as strong as on the previous move, because White doesn't need to spend a tempo guarding the bishop on b7, and therefore gains a winning advantage with 31.exd4 xc1 32.xc1 f8 33.e3 d8 34.d5 e7 35.d4 d6 36.c6+ ] 31.b5 d8 32.c4 e8 33.c2 f8 34.b3 b8 35.a3 f8 36.c2 b8 37.b2 f8 [ 1.35 Deep Shredder 10: 37...h4 38.h3 c4 39.c3 b6 40.b4 e6 41.c1 e7 ] 38.c4 b8 39.c2 f8 40.b3 b8 41.b2 f8 42.c1 b8 43.d1 f8 44.b2 cxd4 After a bit of shadow boxing to get past the time control, Black decides to exchange on d4 before White place a rook on d 2 a f t e r w h i c h t h i n g s c a n b e c o m e ve r y un co m f o rt a ble . 45.xc7 xc7 46.c2+ b6?! [ This isn't exactly the best place, though it is hard to fault Black for not wanting to put his king on the back row. One line runs
46...d8 47.exd4 e8 48.d5 e7 49.e2 g8 50.c7 d6 51.c6+ e7 52.c8 d8 53.xd7 xd7 54.xg6 xd5 55.g7+ and White wins without too many headaches. ] 47.c6+ b5 48.exd4 b6 49.xg6 Now the win is elementary - the g-pawn will decide d8 50.f6 xd4+ 51.e1 a4 52.xf5+ c4 53.g6 c3 54.g7 1-0
853 Kelly,Brian Speelman,Jonathan S ch-GBR, ENG Torquay (3) [Tony Kosten]
A21 2390 2605 1998
1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 This is an alternative method of reaching this position, which will be of interest to anyone thinking of playing this line as black, against 1 c4. however, there are two things to note with this move-order, first White can play 2 e4, with likely transposition into a Pirc, and secondly, 3 dxe5 dxe5 4 Qxd8+ is possible, and although this ending is fine for Black, it might not be to everyone's taste. 3.f3 e4 4.g5 f5 5.c3 c6 6.f3!? A more direct approach, aiming to dissolve the black centre before black has time to defend it. e7 [ 6...exf3 is not bad either, 7.xf3 f6 8.e3 g6 9.d3 g7 10.0-0 0-0 11.c2 a6 12.a3 c7 13.d2 d5 14.b3 h8 and with a firm hold on e4, Black has no reason to be unhappy, Hodgson,J-van der Wiel,J/ Amsterdam 1995. ] 7.h3 f6 Black prefers to keep his e-pawn for the moment. 8.g5 0-0 9.e3 White is loathe to capture on e4 because of the opening of the h3-c8 diagonal. [ 9.b3 h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.0-0-0 is another way to castle long, but the black f 6 -b is h o p l o o k s o m i n o u sl y s t r o n g , exf3 12.exf3 h8 13.f4 e8 stopping h4-5 because of the threat to play ...Qe3+, and then driving the knight away by 14...g5, Than Soe Aung-Mas,H/ Yangon MYA 1999. ] 9...a6 10.d2 c7 11.0-0-0 The white king looks quite safe here, but appearances 846
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 can be deceptive! d5 Black has managed to keep his e-pawn safe, and can now give it further support. 12.cxd5 fxd5! d5 provides a fine square for a black knight, Black keeps e4 def ended with tactical motif s. 13.xe7 xe7 14.c4 [ 14.fxe4 fxe4 15.xd5 xd5 16.f2 is passive. ] 14...e6 15.f2?! Black achieves an edge after the following exchanges, but if [ 15.fxe4 fxe4 16.xd5 then xd5 17.xd5 xd5 and White doesn't have time for Nf4, because the a2-pawn is hanging. ] 15...xc3 16.xc3 exf3 Black picks the right time to capture this pawn, the white central pawns will be very loose. 17.gxf3 xc4 18.xc4+ h8 19.de1 d5 20.d1 An ugly move, White would like to play Nd3-e5, but he doesn't have the time, [ 20.e2 ae8 and White has to play 21.d1 anyway. ] 20...b5! Switching attack from the centre to t h e q u e e n s i d e . 21.e2 c5 22.xb5 W h a t e ls e ? fc8 23.b1 ab8 24.a5 The black attack has developed quickly, but wh a t n e xt ? cxd4! Black throws a piece onto the fire. 25.xd5 c7 26.a3 Forced. c2+ 27.a1 [ 27.a2 is scarcely better, c4 28.e5 b3+ 29.b1 d3 and Black should win. ] 27...c3! The threat is 28...Rxa3+. 28.a2 cb3 [ 28...cb3 if 29.xd4 then xa3+ 30.xa3 b3# ] 0-1
0-0 11.e2 d7 12.g3 a5 with an unclear position in Xu Jun-Adams, Yerevan 1996. Black is ready to play Nc5 and Bf6 etc. ] 7...a6 8.g3 The fianchetto doesn't really fit in with the d4-d5 advance. Maybe he should play [ 8.f4 to aim for the Xu Jun line given above. ] 8...f6 9.g2 c7 10.0-0 0-0 11.f3 After this White's centre proves too loose and Benjamin plays in incisive style to further soften up White's defences. cxd5 12.cxd5 b5! 13.b4 a5! 14.a3 a6 15.b1 d7 16.d4 h5 17.fc1 [ If 17.fxe4 f6 18.d2 axb4 ( 18...b6+!? 19.h1 fc8 ) 19.xb4 xb4 20.xb4 a5 looks awkward for White. ] 17...f6 18.e3 e5 19.f4 xc3 20.xc3 axb4 21.xb4 xb4 22.xb4 xa2 23.a3 xa3 24.xa3 b6+ 25.e3 f6 26.d4 c5 27.b3 a8 28.f1 a3 0-1
855 Kramnik,Vladimir Svidler,Peter Tal Memorial Blitz blitz (2) [Carsten Hansen]
A21 2788 2738 29.08.2008
1.c4 e5 2.c3 d6 3.g3 f5 4.d4 This is White's most aggressive response to Black's set-up. I have preferred 4 Bg2 in my own games, following up with 5 e3, 6 Nge2, 7 0-0, 8 d3, and then either f2-f4 or Rb1 and a p a w n a d v a n c e o n t h e q u e e n s i d e . e4!? Svidler goes for a fairly obscure line that is 854 A21 seen only very rarely in games invo lvin g Kleist,F strong players. Alternatives such as 4...Nc6 or Benjamin,Joel 2577 4...Be7 allow early queen exchanges after 5 Canadian Open (4) 10.07.2000 dxe5 and are considered slightly better for [Neil McDonald] White and therefore they can be thought of as right up Kramnik's alley. There are more 1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.f3 e4 4.g5 f5 de ta ils on t his in t he P DF e -b oo k on t h e 5.c3 e7 6.h3 c6 7.d5 By advancing his King's English. The text move was first played d p a w n W h i t e p r e v e n t s B l a c k f r o m by Tal. 5.h3 consolidating his pawn chain with d4-d5, as [ This move was given as interesting in my occurred for example in Estremera Panosbook on 1 c4 e5, but without further details Georgiev. However, this move seems and the ECO doesn't mention it all, but premature here. A more solid method was compare with the lines after 1 c4 e5 2 Nc3 [ 7.e3 f6 8.f4 a6 9.h4 c7 10.d5 d6 3 Nf3 f5 4 d4 e4 5 Ng5, and now after 847
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 both main moves 5...c6 and 5...Be7, White chooses set-ups involving Nh3 and g2-g3. Therefore you would think that White should have a safe edge, having spared a couple of tempi by developing the knight to h3 in one go. The alternative is 5.f3 , which is also what is mentioned in the ECO: f6 A) 6.g5!? exf3 7.exf3 e7 8.d3 0-0 ( The sharp 8...c5!? looks like a much better way for Black to proceed.) 9.ge2 h5 10.xe7 xe7 11.d2 c6 12.0-0-0 , and White has the better chances, Frog, I-Yuferov, S/Moscow 1989; B) 6.g2 exf3 7.xf3 g6 ( 7...e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.d3 c6 10.a3 a6 11.g5 d7 12.ae1 with a comfortable edge for W hite, Lerner, K-Savchenko, S/St Petersburg 1992) 8.0-0 g7 9.d5 ( 9.e4 fxe4 10.g5 0-0 11.gxe4 xe4 12.xf8+ xf8 13.xe4 c6 14.e3 f5 , and Black already had nothing to worry about in Toran Albero, R-Tal, M/ Ob e rh au s e n (E U-chT )1 9 6 1) 9...0-0 10.g5 e7 ( 10...e8 11.e4 a6 is given as unclear in the ECO, but White may have a little initiative) 11.e4 xe4 12.gxe4 fxe4 13.xf8+ xf8 14.xe4 g7 , and Black has a comfortable game, McNab, C-Kilgour, corr 1993. I think it is safe to say that Black doesn't have much t o wo r r y a b o u t i n t h e l i n e a f t e r 5 f 3 , provided the suggestion of 8...c5!? holds up in the 6 Bg5 line. ] 5...f6 [ This strikes me as a little odd. Usually in the 3 Nf 3 f 5 4 d4 e4 5 Ng5 line, Black only commits to this move later. Black has a couple of alternatives here: A) 5...g6 6.g5 f6 7.f4 g7 8.h4 c6 9.h5 f7 10.d2 a6 11.0-0-0 c7 12.f3 exf3 was Vanderwaeren, S-Lanzani, M/Haifa (EUc h T ) 1 9 8 9 , a n d n o w t h e s i m p l e 13.exf3 would have left White with a position that is nothing short of outstanding. ] [ B) 5...c6 6.g2 e7 7.f3 exf3 8.exf3 f6 9.d5 e5 10.f4 f7 11.g1 ( 11.f2 0-0 12.e3 looks very comfortable for White. But in the game W hite is targeting the soft e6-square.) 11...0-0 12.ge2 e8 13.0-0 Kourkounakis, I-Myhrvold, R/ Gausdal 1992 ]
[ C) 5...c6 6.g2 f6 7.g5 e7 8.f4 a6 9.e3 0-0 10.b3 c7 11.0-0-0 , Lappalainen, S-Tuutti, P/Finland 2001, and here Black can equalize with g4 12.xe7 xe7 ] 6.g2 [ Either here or on the next move, White should give serious thought to 6.g5!? ] 6...e7 [ Or 6...g6 7.f3 exf3 8.exf3 g7 9.0-0 0-0 10.d5 bd7 11.b5!? e5 12.b3 h5 13.g5 d7 14.d4 Galego, L-Leonardo, J/Lisbon POR 2007 ] 7.0-0 0-0 In the main line with 3 Nf3 f5 4 d4 e4, White normally only reaches this position with Black having played ...c6 already and is now to move again (3 Nf3 f5 4 d4 e4 5 Ng5 c6 6 g3 Be7 7 Nh3 Nf6 8 Bg2 0-0 9 0-0). So with two extra tempi White should be on top here, yet in our main game he goes down in a hurry. 8.d5 [ In an earlier game, White played the equally good 8.f4!? c6 9.h4 ( 9.f3!? ) 9...h8 10.b3 a6 11.f3 exf3 12.exf3 c7 13.e1 Mascarinas, R-Romero Holmes, A/ Novi Sad 1990 ] 8...c5?! [ Here Black can consider 8...bd7!? 9.f4 e5 with an interesting position and chances to both sides ] 9.f4 a6 10.f3 exf3 11.exf3 c7 12.e1 e8 13.d3 d7!? 14.xf5?! [ White's last chance of retaining the advantage is 14.e6!? xe6 15.dxe6 f8 16.d5 , and White is in control ] 14...e5 15.e6 xe6 16.dxe6 f6 17.f4?! [ After this weak move, Black takes over the initiative. Instead White should have given preference to 17.d5 , e.g. xe6 18.xf6+ gxf6 19.c2 f7 , and although Black will pick up the c4-pawn, W hite will have adequate compensation ] 17...xe6 18.c2 g4 19.f3?! [ White is playing too passively. A radical and better choice is 19.xe6 d4+ 20.h1 f2+ 21.g1 xe6 22.d5 f6 23.g2 h8 , and Black has the better chances, though White can still play. ] 19...xc4 20.xe8+ xe8 21.e4?! d4+ 22.g2 d5 23.d2?! g6 24.e1? 848
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Everything is pretty ugly at this point, but relatively best is 24.c1 e3+ 25.xe3 xe3 , though this too is clearly better for Black. ] 24...f2 25.e3 d3 26.e2 b4 0-1
Black might have thought that the d-pawn is untouchable because of the fork on b5, the apawn being pinned, but it was probably his only chance: [ 27...xd6 28.b5 axb5 29.xa7 bxc4 30.c7 d3 31.xe5 White is better, but can he win? ] 28.xe5 xc4 29.d1 f7 30.e7 a5 856 A21 The black a-pawn looks dangerous, but it is Lalic,Bogdan 2530 the white d-pawn that is the real match-winner. a4 32.f4 g6 33.e6 Ivanov,Alexey 2455 31.d4! Maidstone 1994 With a powerful triple attack, on a7, d8, and g7. aa8 [Tony Kosten] [ 33...xe7 34.dxe7 d1+ 35.f2 f7 allows the pretty finish: 36.e8+! xe8 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 The critical 37.f8# ] reply. a5 4.b4 c6 Clearly forced. 5.bxa5 cxd5 6.cxd5 xa5 7.e4 The dust has 34.xd8 a3 35.e6 a2 The a-pawn is h8 37.a7! settled, and White has gained the bishop pair, u n s t o p p a b l e ? 36.xg7+ and a space advantage in the centre, but has No, 37...Rxa7 is impossible because of 38 Rf8 yet to develop a piece. f6 8.f3 d6 9.e2 mate, and the other alternative is: [ 37.a7 a1+ 38.xa1 xa1+ 39.f2 The knight is coming to the g3, or c3-square, a8 to stop Rf8 mate, 40.d7 and the da s a p p r o p r i a t e . 0-0 10.b2 a6 pawn queens. ] Black intends to place this piece on c5, and then play for ...f5. He must be quick, for if 1-0 White completes his development, and plays d4, he will have a dominating position. 11.c3 A21 Chasing the queen from its aggressive post. 857 a3 Obvious, but it doesn't work out too well, Lautier,Joel 2666 perhaps he should have retreated. 12.d4 d7 Fressinet,Laurent 2637 13.b3! Showing-up the problem of Black's ch Val d'Isere FRA (4) 19.08.2004 eleventh, the endgame is very pleasant for [Tony Kosten] White. xb3 14.axb3 f5 15.exf5 c7 16.dxe5 xe5 Black is fighting hard to 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 a5!? d e s t r o y t h e w h i t e c e n t r e . 17.xe5! Well, we've looked at almost every other legal It is always difficult to give-up such a piece, move in this position, it was time we looked at but it has to be made for tactical reasons, the this one! 4.a3 e7 Now the position newly-created d-pawn will decide the game. r e s e m b l e s a 3 . . . B e 7 v a r i a t i o n , w i t h t h e dxe5 18.g3 e8 Black must try to a d d i t i o n o f a 3 a n d . . . a 5 - I wo u l d h a v e blockade the d-pawn. thought this favoured Black, but lets see what [ 18...xf5? would demonstrate the point of happens afterwards. 5.d4 d6 6.f3 White's 17th move: 19.d6 this pawn is now [ 6.e4 also makes sense, c6 7.xe7 xe7 passed, e8 20.c4+ h8 21.xf5! xf5 8.e3 f6 9.f3 0-0 10.e2 with a white 22.d7 d6 23.xa7! winning. ] plus, Schaller,S-Kalinitschew,S/Chemnitz 19.c4 d6 20.e4 Absolutely correct, 1997. ] W h i t e m u s t b r e a k t h e b l o c k a d e - b y 6...e4!? The sharpest possibility. exchanging the blockader. xc4 21.bxc4 [ 6...c6 7.xe7 xe7 8.g5 ( 8.c5!? ) 8...f6 xf5 22.d6 b6 23.0-0 g6 24.fe1 9.e3 c5!? 10.dxc5 dxc5 11.g3 c7 The frailty of the a7 and e5-pawns 12.g2 e7 looks OK for Black, although guarantees White a plus. fd8 25.b5 a6 White has the bishop pair, and went on to 26.c7 a7 27.d6! 'Passed pawns must be win, Renet,O-Glek,I/ Groningen 1992. ] pushed'. d3? This loses to a nice tactic. 7.d2 f5!? An aggressive new move, 849
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 supporting the e-pawn and gaining some space on the kingside. [ 7...c6 8.c3 f5 is similar, 9.e3 f6 10.f3 d5 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.b5+ c6 13.fxe4 fxe4 14.0-0 0-0 and Black was doing well in Zak,U-Luther,T/Catalan Bay ENG 2003. ] 8.b1! This move is worth an exclamation mark because of the thought behind it! White prepares to bring this knight to c3 to further control d5, and meanwhile his dark-squared b is h o p i s f re e t o m o ve ( h e wo u ld like t o develop this outside the pawn chain before playing e3). d7 [ 8...c6 is another possibility, White will hardly play Nc3 here, as t his square is p r o m i s e d t o t h e b 1 - k n i g h t , s o : 9.xe7 ( 9.f4!? f6 10.c3 ) 9...xe7 10.f4 f6 11.e3 0-0 12.c3 with the two bis ho ps an d h armo nio us de ve lop me nt , although Black has more space. ] 9.bc3 df6 10.f4 h5 Black refrains from ...c6 once again, and drives the bishop back . 11.d2 [ 11.b5?! is very dodgy: c6 12.dc7+ f8 13.xa8 xf4 and Black gets two pieces for the rook, as 14.c3 d7 and the knight on a8 is lost. ] 11...hf6 12.f4 h5 13.d2 hf6 14.e3 White decides to refuse the repetition, even though this means hemming his bishop in. c6 Finally! 15.xe7 xe7 16.c2 0-0 17.f4!? White coul d play to attack the centre by f3, but as Black can easily defend this by ... d5, instead Lautier closes the kingside (much as in some lines of the French) to play on the queenside. d7 [ 17...exf3!? is risky, 18.gxf3 and White will castle long and has a mobile centre, and the open g-file. ] 18.e2 b8 Black also has designs on this sector of the board. 19.a4!? White puts paid to possibilities of ...b5, and prepares to play Rb1 and b4 with pressure on the b-file. [ 19.0-0 is also good, as Black cannot really play b5?! b e c a u s e o f 20.cxb5 cxb5 21.xb5! xb5 22.b3+ h8 23.xb5 b6 24.a4 with a good pawn more. ] 19...h8 20.0-0 h6 21.ab1 g5?! A lt h o u gh i t s e e m s ri gh t t o a t t a ck o n t h e kingside, the problem is that Black weakens the a1-h8 dia gonal, and he has n o dark-
squared bishop to counter White's. [ 21...e6 is more sensible, although 22.b4 axb4 23.xb4 b6 24.fb1 is more pleasant for White who has a straightforward plan of attack on the b-file. ] 22.b4 axb4 23.xb4 g6 24.b2 Aiming at b7 while at the same time lining-up threats against the black king. c8 25.d5 a8 26.h1 h7 The king has to get off the l o n g d i a g o n a l s o o n e r o r l a t e r . 27.dxc6 Now White hits on the queenside, by creating a p a ss e d a -p a wn . bxc6 28.b8 xb8 29.xb8 e7? Black is worried about playing an endgame with White's bishops and a-pawn, but it might have been the better chance anyway: [ 29...e6! and if 30.xd8 xd8 31.b1 gxf4 32.exf4 d5 with plenty of counterplay. ] 30.b6 d5!? [ 30...d7 is more circumspect, but then 31.a5 and the pawn is difficult to stop. ] 31.cxd5! The simplest, although [ 31.xc6 se em s p erf ect ly le ga l, dxc4 32.xc4 d8 33.c1 and White is a whole pawn ahead. ] 31...cxd5 32.d4 e6 33.b1 g8 34.a5 Passed pawns must be pushed! g7 [ 34...gxf4 35.exf4 is better, but then g7 36.g3 and Black's attack grinds to a halt. ] 35.fxg5! Closing the g-file. hxg5 36.a6 f4 37.b7 f7 38.a7 h4 39.b8 The white apawn will queen. 1-0
858 Lautier,Joel Kramnik,Vladimir Cannes m (1) [Jonathan Rowson]
A21 2645 2685 1993
1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 c5 I have to admit that I am a bit confused by this line, mainly because I can't find any line for White that looks particularly compelling. 4.f3 [ 4.e3 f6 5.e2 xd5 6.cxd5 0-0 7.g3 d6 8.d4 A) 8...b4+ 9.d2 ( 9.c3 ) 9...xd2+ 10.xd2 e4 11.g2 f5 12.0-0 followed by f3, looks pleasant for White.; B) 8...exd4 9.xd4 e8 10.g2 d7 850
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.0-0 f6 12.d3 d7 13.b3 e7 14.b2 e5 15.c4 h5 I don't think Black is worse here. 16.fe1 e7 17.b4 b6 18.a4 h3 19.f3 g4 20.g2 ae8 21.a5 xd4 22.xd4 f3 23.xa7 xg2 24.xg2 g4 25.h3 xd5+ 26.g1 xf2 27.xf2 f5+ 28.g2 e4+ 29.f2 f5+ 30.g2 c2+ 31.g1 xb2 32.xb7 h6 33.ab1 f6 34.a6 c5 35.c6 e5 36.b5 d5 37.h2 f5 38.b2 c8 39.d6 e6 40.d7 a8 41.b7 ee8 42.b6 f6 43.ee2 1-0 Azmaiparashvili, Z (2658)-Bruzon Bautista, L (2677)/Beersheba 2005 ] 4...e4?! [ 4...c6 5.c3 A) 5...d6 allows 6.e4!? b6 7.c5 dxc5 8.xe5 f6 ( 8...e7 9.c4! ) 9.xf6+ xf6 10.f3 0-0 11.e3 Bricard, ETaimanov, M Wildbad 1990; B) 5...e7 B1) 6.e3 d6 ( 6...e4 7.d4! exf3 8.dxc5 fxg2 9.xg2 xc5? 10.e4 ) 7.d4 w h a t e l s e ? ( 7.e2 e4 ) 7...exd4 8.xd4 f6 and I doubt White has any real advantage.; B2) 6.d4 exd4 7.xd4 d6 8.f4 f o l l o w e d b y e 3 , o r p o s s i b l y ( 8.g3 but in all these cases, with the bishop on c5 I feel Black is active enough to claim his full share of the chances. )] 5.g5! [ 5.d4!? exf3 6.dxc5 fxg2 7.xg2 also looks promising. ] 5...e3! [ 5...f5 6.d4 ] [ 5...c6 6.xe4 cxd5 7.xc5 dxc4 8.a4 ] 6.d4! [ 6.dxe3? c6 7.e4 cxd5 8.xc5 a5+-+ Kramnik. ] [ 6.fxe3 c6 7.e4 h4+-+ Kramnik. ] 6...exf2+ 7.xf2 e7 8.xe7 xe7 9.e4 d6 [ 9...c6!? ] 10.d3 c6 [ 10...c5? 11.dxc5 dxc5 12.e5! c6 13.e1 ] 11.c2 f6 [ 11...f6+ 12.f3 g4 13.e3 ] 12.e1?!
[ 12.h3! indicated by Korchnoi and Kramnik, followed by Re1 and Kg1, keeps full control. ] 12...g4! 13.d3 [ 13.f3 xf3 14.gxf3 h5 ( 14...h5 Korchnoi 15.e3 h4+ )] [ 13.d2! ] [ 13.f3!? Ribli ] 13...d7! [ 13...b4 14.a4+ d7 15.b3 ] 14.a4 [ 14.e3!? ] 14...h6 [ 14...f6+ 15.g3 h5 ] 15.e5!? [ 15.f3 xf3 16.gxf3 h4+ ] [ 15.g3 f6+! ] [ 15.xc6 Ribli bxc6 16.f3 0-0 ] 15...dxe5 16.d5 d4!? By this point the game has become random and is no longer theoretically relevant, so I will spare you the worst of the complications and just give the remaining moves. [ 16...b4! Ribli ] 17.e4 e2! 18.h3 b5! 19.xb5 xb5 20.xe2 d4 21.d1 h4+! 22.f1 0-0 23.e3 f5 24.c2 xe3+ 25.xe3 f5 26.g1 ae8 27.f2 e4 28.c3 f6 29.g3?! h5 30.f1 d7! 31.g2 e5 32.h3 f4! 33.gxf4? xf4 34.xe4? g6+ 35.g3 xf2+ 36.xf2 xe4+ 37.h2 xc4 38.xc7 xd5 39.xa7 d6+ 40.g2 e3+ 41.h1 d5+ 42.h2 d1 43.g2 d6+ 44.h1 e1+ 45.g1 d5+ 0-1
859 Markowski,Tomasz Sasikiran,Krishnan 34th Olympiad (13) [Tony Kosten]
A21 2568 2573 10.11.2000
1.g3 e5 2.c4 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 d6 5.d3 f5 6.e3 a5 7.ge2 f6 This time Sasikiran plays the black side of this structure. 8.0-0 0-0 9.b3 c6 10.a3 a6 [ 10...e8 11.c1 a6 12.d2 c7 13.b2 e6 14.a4 f7 15.fd1 g5 16.c5! is unclear, Serper,G-Isakov,D/ Leningrad 1989. ] 851
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.c1 [ A new move, bringing the white pieces to their optimum squares before undertaking a n y a c t i o n , 11.d4 b4 12.d2 c7 13.b2 e6 14.a3 a6 15.ac1 f7 16.fd1 ae8 offered chances to both sides in Ledger,A-Mestel,A/Hastings 1991. ] 11...b8! [ A fine move, preparing ...b5, and removing the rook from the h1-a8 diagonal. 11...e8 would transpose into the Serper game. ] 12.b2 d7 13.d4 [ 13.f4 is a more flexible way of proceeding. ] 13...e4 14.d5 e7 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.d2 White eyes the d6-pawn. fd8 17.cd1 e8 18.a4 b4 19.c1 [ Played to control the d3-square ready to kick the knight from b4, but 19.c3 c5 20.a3 xa4 21.bxa4 d3 22.c1 was only level, anyway. ] 19...c5!? Black plans to capture on a4, and decides that the weakening of the d5-square is unimportant. In passing he sets a devilish trap. 20.c3? [ Obvious, but bad, 20.a3 c6 21.f3 ( or 21.c3 and there is everything to play for. )] 20...d5! This move grants Black a huge advantage, and the funny thing is that White's last move was expressly played to avoid this! 21.xd5 [ There is not much of a choice, 21.e2 d4 22.b1 d3 is horrible. ] [ and 21.cxd5 fxd5 22.e1 xc3 23.xd8 xd8 24.xc3 b5 wins the exchange. ] 21...fxd5 22.xg7 [ 22.cxd5 xd5 23.e2? b5 ] 22...c7 23.d4 White has lost a piece, and Black retains a good position as well. e6 24.e2 a4 25.b2 cxd4 26.exd4 axb3 27.axb3 d3 [ 27...d3 28.c3 f6 wins one of the two pawns. ] 0-1
860 Miezis,Normunds Popov,Valerij 39th Rilton Cup (6) [Nigel Davies]
A21 2530 2588 02.01.2010
People have been queuing up to play this line against the predictable Miezes, though like Uhlmann and his French Defence he understands the position well. Maybe not well enough... 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.g3 xc3 4.dxc3 d6 5.e4 [ The Latvian GM has also played first 5.g2 , for example c6 6.e4 e6 7.e2 d7 8.h3 ge7 9.f3 h6 10.b3 0-0 11.a3 a5 12.d1 was Miezis, N (2540) -Davies, N (2478), Liverpool ENG 2008, and now in retrospect I might have done better to play b6 and on ( rather than 12...fd8 ) 13.d2 play f5 . ] 5...c6 6.f3 h6 This has been played quite a lot against Miezes, though it doesn't look that natural. Alternatives: [ a) 6...f6 7.e2 h6 8.g2 e6 9.h3 d7 10.d2 g5 11.f1 0-0-0 12.e3 e7 13.b3 was probably better for White in Mi e zi s , N (2 5 0 2 ) - Ja k o b s e n , O ( 2 3 7 9 ) , Copenhagen DEN 2004 because Black's king can become vulnerable whilst W hite has maintained flexibility about where he intends to castle. ] [ c) 6...f5 7.exf5 xf5 8.h4!? e6 9.h5+ g6 10.e2 f6 11.g2 d7 12.f3 h3 13.xh3 xh3 14.g5 0-0 15.xf6 xf6 16.g5 g2 17.f1 xf1+ 18.xf1 was fine for Black at this stage in Miezis, N (2547)-Borisek, J (2489), Nova Gorica SLO 2005. I'm not sure Miezes would repeat his 8.Nh4 as it cost quite a bit of time. ] 7.h4 It looks like Miezis hasn't played this way before and neither has anybody else. So 'novelty'... [ A number of his earlier games featured 7.g2 e6 8.e2 ( 8.b3 d7 9.h3 ge7 10.d2 0-0 11.h5 a6 12.a4 a5 13.0-0 b5 14.f4 f6 gave Black good counterplay in Miezis, N (2547)-Gyimesi, Z (2602), Cork IRL 2005 ) 8...d7 9.h3 a6 10.d2 ge7 11.f1 a5 12.e3 b5 13.b3 b8 ( 13...bxc4 14.b4 b7 15.f4 f6 16.0-0 852
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 was similar in Miezis, N (2527) -Hammer, J 8.xc3 e4 9.d4 e5 10.f4! exf3 (2306), Gausdal NOR 2006) 14.f4 f6 15.0-0 11.xf3 e8 12.0-0 g4 13.b4 xf3+ bxc4 16.b4 b7 17.f2 a5 18.a3 c5 14.xf3 xf3 15.xf3 e4 16.c2 a5 19.xc4 axb4 20.fxe5 xc4 21.xc4 17.b5 d5 18.f4 g5 19.b2 e4 dxe5 22.axb4 cxb4 23.d2 was quite 20.cxd5 xd5 21.xe4 xe4 22.d3 g5 promising for White at this stage in Miezis, 23.a4 e6 24.e4 g5 25.f1 c5+ N (2 5 2 4 ) -J o n e s, G (2 5 2 6 ) , P o rt o S a n 26.f2 e3 which was equal in Kosten, A Giorgio ITA 2007. ] (2515)-Sokolov, I (2625)/Tilburg 1992. ] 7...ge7 8.h5 g6 9.e2 So White's queen 4.d5 c6 5.g3 Fairly insipid, but White just goes back after having weakened Black's wants to play chess. dark squares. Not a bad idea. e6 10.h3 [ White normally plays the aggressive 5.g3 d7 11.g2 a5 12.b3 a4 13.b4 a7 f8 ( 5...f8 6.e3 d6 7.e2 f6 8.a3 14.f4?! An attempt to take the initiative that c5 9.ec3 h5 was playable for Black, backfires this time. B a n a s, J (2 3 7 0 )- W e is s , C (2 2 9 0 )/ L i n z [ White should probably have settled for 1996. ) 6.e3 ( 6.d4 xd4 7.xe5+ e6 14.f3 so as to meet c6 with 15.d2 . ] is nothing, Luce, S (2395)-Bedos, M (2170)/ 14...c6 15.c5 dxc5 16.e3 0-0-0 17.bxc5 France 1990.) 6...d6 7.d3 ge7 8.xe7 [ 17.0-0 b5 would also be better for xe7 9.e2 e6 followed by ...g6 and ... Black. ] Bg7, Soffer, R (2520)-Gyimesi, Z (2360)/ 17...g5 18.f3 exf4 19.d4 fxg3! 20.xh8 Budapest 1994. ] xh8 21.e3 g6 White is the exchange up [ 5.e3 f6 6.d3 0-0 7.e2 xd5 8.cxd5 but his position is a total wreck. 22.0-0 b5 e7 9.a3 d6 10.c3 c6 equal, Pelletier, 23.fe1 d8 24.d4 xc5 25.xe6 Y (2478)-Gyimesi, Z (2518)/Bad xe3+ 26.xe3 fxe6 27.f1 a3 28.xg3 Woerishofen 2000. ] e5 29.c1 b5 30.g2 b7 31.e2 b6 5...f6 A novelty. 32.f2 g6 33.d1 xd1+ 34.xd1 f4 [ 5...d6 6.e3 ( 6.g2 ge7 7.f3 e4! 35.h2 b1 36.c2 c5 37.c4 b4 38.g4 W oe rd em an n, M (2 30 5)-Dunn in gt on , A c3 39.a3 b3 40.xc3 b2 (2445)/Rotherham 1997.) 6...f5 7.g2 e4 0-1 8.a3 c5 ( 8...a4!? ) 9.c3 e5 10.d4 b4!? Wow! 11.axb4 d3+ A) 12.f1! axb4 13.xd3! xa1 861 A21 ( 13...exd3 14.xa8+- ) 14.c2 with some advantage.; Morozevich,A 2739 B) 12.e2? axb4 13.xb4 (now White Vitiugov,N 2719 can't capture on d3 as ...exd3 would be FIDE World Cup 2013 (3.7) 19.08.2013 check!) xa1 14.xd3 exd3+ 15.xd3 [Gormally/Kosten] f6 and Black went on to win, Hodgson, J (2545)-Wolff, P (2485)/London 1989. ] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.b3 A sensible l o o k i n g m o v e a t t a c k i n g t h e b i s h o p a n d 6.g2 0-0 7.e3 xd5 8.cxd5 e7 9.e2 avoiding doubled pawns. It was quite popular c6 10.a3 d6 11.c3 cxd5 [ 11...b6! 12.0-0 a6 ] 20 years ago, but doesn't give White anything. xd5 Black is playing safely. [ White should certainly play 3.d5! e7 12.xd5 4.d4 when generally speaking he can count 13.xd5 b6 14.0-0 c5?! [ 14...c7 followed by ...d6, ...Ra7 and ... on some advantage. ] Be6 would be fairly equal. ] [ but not 3.g3?! xc3! 4.bxc3 c6 when I learnt many years ago that Black 15.d3 xd5 16.xd5 a4 17.d2 a6 18.ac1 W hite is no w m uch be tt er. b5 scores very well from this position ] 19.b4?! 3...a5 [ 19.e4 followed by f4, or Be3, must be good [ 3...c6 s e e m s m o r e n a t u r a l , 4.f3 for White. ] ( 4.d5 a5 would transpose to the game.) 4...d6 5.e3 f6 6.e2 0-0 7.a3 xc3 19...xb4 20.axb4 d6 21.f4 853
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 21.c7 a3 22.bxa3 xa3 23.fc1 h3 24.b7!? xd3 25.e4 g5 and Black has no real problems. ] 21...exf4 22.xf4?! [ Moro was obviously not on good form, as he misses the simple tactic 22.xf7+! xf7 ( 22...xf7 23.xf4+ e7 24.xf8 xf8 25.xc8+ e7 26.c7+ f6 27.f2 with a pawn more.) 23.xc8+ f8 24.xf8+ xf8 25.xf4+ e7 26.f5 with some chances, but perhaps he considered this was too drawish? ] 22...e6 23.d4 h6 24.c3 e8 [ 24...c8! ] 25.e4 [ 25.c6! is possible: c8 26.xd6 f8 27.e4 ] 25...g6 [ 25...c8! ] 26.f2? [ 26.c6! again! ] 26...g7 27.e3 f6 28.c7 b8 29.f4 g5+ 30.e3 c8 Finally Black contests the cfile. 31.b7 c2 32.xe6 fxe6 33.xb5 xb2 34.a5 c6 35.xd6 xd6 36.e5+ e7 37.exd6+ xd6 38.xa4 xh2 ½-½
B c 2 , B b 2 a n d d 4 , wi t h a 4 t h ro wn i n t o prevent counterplay- White achieves these objectives, and the onus is on Black to show how it can be stopped. a6 9.f3 d6 10.b2 c5 11.c2 d7 12.a4! 0-0 13.e2 ac8 14.c3 a6 15.d4 exd4 16.xd4 a5+ 17.f2 e8 18.g4 c7 19.g5 b5 20.f4 b4 21.d2 b6 22.a5 b5 23.hb1 b3 24.d1 7a6 25.e2 b7 26.h5 g4 27.xg7 b4 28.g1 c2 29.fxg4 xe4 30.f5 fe8 31.d3 xa1 32.xa1 b4 33.d4 xd4+ 34.xd4 d2 35.d1 c2 36.b5 b8 37.d3 a2 38.c3 b2 39.xd2 1-0 Lautier, J (2580)-Kotronias, V (2550)/ Chalkidiki 1992 ] 7...d6?! An instructive error. [ 7...f6 first is necessary. The point being t h a t a f t e r 8.f3 d6 9.a3 e4! is an important resource, after which Black can stabilise the position by using the c5 square. ] 8.a3 f6 9.xd6 bd7 10.f3 e4 11.d4 b6 12.b5 White already has a decisive advantage and could probably have won even more easily than he did. bxd5 13.a3 e6 14.d6+ d7 15.xb7 b6 16.c5+ d8 17.e3 xb3 18.axb3 b6 19.xe6+ fxe6 20.a6 c8 21.e2 b8 862 A21 22.hc1 d7 23.c4 xb3 24.d4+ c7 Petursson,Margeir 2555 25.c5 e5 26.c4 b6 27.c2 d7 Sokolov,Ivan 2630 28.c4 xc4 29.xa7+ e6 30.xc4 c8 Manila ol (Men) 1992 31.b4 d3 32.b6+ f5 33.xg7 xc5 34.f7 c2 35.bxf6+ g5 36.f4+ exf4 [Jonathan Rowson] 37.exf4+ g4 38.g7+ 1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 a5 I remember 1-0 this move being popular around 1990, because my first serious chess trainer, A21 Donald Holmes used to play it. Since then 863 however, it has always looked somewhat Poldauf,Dirk 2405 dubious to me, but I suppose it has some Graf,Alexander 2649 value in unblancing the game very early, Bundesliga 2000-1 (12) 31.03.2001 which is not such a bad thing against 1.c4 [Tony Kosten] players who tend to be a bit on the stodgy side. 4.b4 c6 5.bxa5 cxd5 6.cxd5 xa5 1.c4 e5 2.c3 d6 3.f3 f5 4.d4 e4 7.b3 5.g5 e7 6.h3 f6 7.g3 c6 8.d5 [ 7.e4!? might be better, and the following [ Gaining space, and stopping ...d5, 8.g2 game makes a strong impression. Lautier's is considered elsewhere. ] b e s t g a m e s a r e / w e r e a l w a y s h i g h l y 8...g4!? thematic. f6 8.d3!? Odd-looking, but this [ A novelty, intending to play the knight to e5, is an odd position. White's utopia is Ne2, 0-0, and bishop to f6. 8...bd7 is analysed in a 854
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 note to a previous game, whilst the other possibility is ] [ 8...a6 9.g2 c7 10.0-0 0-0 11.f3 exf3 12.exf3 cxd5 13.xd5 fxd5 14.cxd5 f6 with reasonable chances, Urban,K-Chekhov,V/Lubniewice 1995. ] 9.f3 This must be the critical reply. e5 [ 9...exf3 10.exf3 e5 11.f4 cuts right across Black's plan. ] 10.fxe4 xc4?! [ 10...fxe4 11.xe4?! 0-0 (menacing ... Rxf1+, and then ...Bxh3) 12.g2 xc4 is m ore awk wa rd , st o p pin g W h it e f ro m castling. ] 11.exf5 xf5 12.e4 Forking c4 and f5, and f o r c i n g t h e f o l l o w i n g e x c h a n g e . xh3 13.xc4 This stops Black from castling, because of the discovered check. [ 13.xh3 is also interesting, but allows Black to establish a knight on e5. ] 13...d7 14.f4 f6 15.d2 White intends to simply castle long, with enormous pressure on d6, so Black enters into the f ollowin g complications. xc3 16.xc3 cxd5 [ 16...g2?! 17.g1 xe4 also favours White after 18.dxc6 xc6 19.0-0-0 ] 17.xd5 c6 18.0-0-0 e7!? [ Black tries to 'buy' the right to castle, but, a n y w a y , h e i s i n a b a d w a y , 18...c8 19.b1 g4 20.d2 e5 21.b4 only puts off the inevitable, he still cannot castle, and d6 is dropping. ] 19.xg7 0-0-0 20.b3! There is no point a llo win g B la c k t o ca p t u re t h is a n d f o rce opposite-colour bishops. c6+? [ This pawn-grab loses a piece, and hastens th e en d, o bjective ly 20...c7+ 21.c3 xc3+ 22.bxc3 c7 is better, but quite hopeless. ] 21.b1 xe4+ 22.c2 e6 23.he1 f5? 24.c3+ 1-0
864 Poldauf,Dirk Kasimdzhanov,Rustam ECC Rethymnon GRE (3) [Tony Kosten]
A21 2404 2664 30.09.2003
1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 c5 A perfectly logical move, although out-of-fashion at the moment. 4.f3 The critical reply, hitting the black e-pawn, that provokes bizarre com plicat io ns. e4!? More exciting than the older [ 4...c6 5.c3 e7 as in Adorjan,A-Timman, J/Linares 1985, although this is fairly level. ] 5.g5! A surprising counter. e3!? The pawn cuts across the c1-h6 diagonal, but there are other possibilities: [ 5...f5 is preferred by 'Mr Mo', 6.d4 e7 7.f4 (menacing to win the queen with Bxc7) a6 8.e3 f6 ( now 8...xg5?! is met by 9.h5+ g6 10.xg5 with advantage) 9.xe7 xe7 10.h4!? curious, ( 10.e2 0-0 11.h4 d6 12.h5 h6 13.h3 Vigorito,D-Dembo,Y/Budapest HUN 2003; 10.c5 l o o k s s t r o n g e s t : h6 11.h3 menacin g the capture on a 6) 10...h6 11.h3 d6 12.e2 e6 13.h5 c6 14.g3 f7 15.f4 c7 draw agreed, McNab,CMotwani,P/Edinburgh SCO 2003. ] [ 5...c6?! is nicely met by 6.xe4 cxd5 7.xc5 and ] [ 5...xg5?! by 6.d4 ( rather than 6.xc7+?! d8 7.xa8 when the knight is trapped )] 6.d4 C l e a r l y b e s t . exf2+ 7.xf2 e7 8.xe7 White might as well grab the bishop pair, although [ 8.f3 is also plausible, f6 9.xf6+ xf6 10.e4 when White has a big centre, but his king isn't ideally placed, Renet, OSteingrimsson,H/Reykjavik 1993. ] 8...xe7 9.e4 d6 10.b3!? A novelty in the st e m ga m e , t e n ye a rs p re vio u sly, W h it e preferred [ 10.d3 c6 11.c2 f6 12.e1?! ( 12.h3 first, is good for White) 12...g4! 13.d3 d7! 14.a4 h6 and Black was at le a st e qua l, a s th e kn ight h ad n o e a s y retreat, Lautier,J-Kramnik,V/Cannes 1993. ] 10...c6 11.f3 f6?! A strange move from such a strong player, [ 11...f6 i s n a t u r a l , 12.d3 g4+ 855
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.g1? ( 13.e1! ) 13...xd4! 14.xd4 f6 winning. ] 12.d3 f7 13.f1 ge7 Black has chosen a solid set-up, but White's centre and bishop pair give him the edge. 14.g1 White has had time to get his king to safety. h5 15.a3 0-0 16.b4 White's space advantage is b e c o m i n g p r e o c c u p y i n g . a6 17.a2! A nice way to bring the rook into play. e8?! 18.e2 g6 19.e1 d7 20.g3 White has a large advantage, his pieces are well placed behind the powerful centre and Black can only sit and wait. ce7 21.fe1 d8 22.b2 e6 23.h4 h5 24.e3 b6 25.c5! The time for action has come. bxc5 26.bxc5 dxc5 27.d5 Opening the b2bishop's diagonal. g4 28.xc7 [ 28.xa6 looks good, after all, the weak Black c-pawns are hardly going anywhere. ] 28...xf3 29.gxf3!? White elects to strengthen his centre, although [ 29.xf3 is very promising. ] 29...d7!? [ 29...xh4 is worth a try, although White is still on top. ] 30.g3 b8! The point of Black's play, exchanging queens and hoping to tie White to the h-pawn in the endgame. 31.xb8 xb8 32.a1 a5 The a-pawn was en prise. 33.a4 c8! The knight is looking for a better square. 34.b5 db7 35.c3 d6 36.f1 White has to keep his bishops on the board. a8 A bit passive, Black avoided [ 36...xh4 because it concedes control of f4, and 37.f4 is unpleasant, with the idea of e5, but Black can try g6 ( 37...xe4!? 38.xe4 f3+ 39.f2 xe1 40.xe1 but the two bishops dominate here.) 38.e5 c8 which is not so clear. ] 37.h2 e5? After this Black has no compensation for the centre and two bishops, he should have tried [ 37...xh4 which is still met by 38.f4 but b3! ( 38...xe4?! 39.xe4 f3+ 40.g2 xe1+ 41.xe1 b3 42.e3 is still good for White ) 39.e5 e4! is unclear. Could Black have rejected this because of the rating difference: wanting to win and trying to ke ep t he p osit ion as complicat ed a s possible? ] 38.g3 Defending the h-pawn and preparing
to push the centre. dc4 39.3e2 b3 40.c2 a3 41.cc1 Black's temporary initiative is easily parried. d7 42.h3 b6 43.d6! The advance of the d-pawn is decisive, the black pieces are stuck on the queenside and unable to help stop it. c4 44.e5!? [ 44.d7 is even easier, followed by Red1, or Bxa5. ] 44...fxe5 45.xe5 a7?! [ 45...d8 46.e6+ f8 47.f5+ e8 48.e1 is also crushing. ] 46.e6+ h7 47.f5+ [ 47.f5+ g8 48.ce1 xc3 49.e8+ f7 50.8e7+ xe7 51.dxe7 makes a queen. ] 1-0
865 Popov,Valerij Konovalov,Nikolay Chigorin Mem A (2) [Jonathan Rowson]
A21 2580 2453 02.12.2007
1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 a5!? I am surprised this move is not played more often, because in general the inclusion of a3 and a5 should favour Black, and it is rarely a good idea for White to take on b4(the extra space and a-file are typically worth more than the bishop pair. 4.a3 Not forced of course. [ 4.g3 f6 5.g2 is also viable, and there are so me scena rio s whe n t aking on b 4 might be ok. ] 4...c5 [ 4...e7 5.d4 d6 6.f3 ( 6.e4 f6 7.xe7 xe7 8.f3 h5 In most cases a5/ a3 should favour Black in this line, because White's king looks (even) less safe on the queenside, where it generally has to seek refuge.) 6...e4 7.d2 f5 8.b1 d7 ( 8...f6 9.bc3 0-0 10.xe7+ xe7 11.g5 e6 12.e3 bd7 ) 9.bc3 df6 10.f4 h5 11.d2 hf6 12.f4 h5 13.d2 hf6 14.e3 c6 15.xe7 xe7 16.c2 0-0 17.f4! An instructive decision, although it is difficult to say why. The main point is to avoid the f5-f4 pawn sacrifice/ breakthrough. d7 18.e2 b8 19.a4! h8 20.0-0!? h6 21.ab1 g5 22.b4 axb4 23.xb4 g6 24.b2 c8 25.d5 a8 856
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.h1 h7 27.dxc6 bxc6 28.b8 xb8 8.a3!? h6 ( 8...xb2?? 9.a4 ) 9.c1 g5 29.xb8 e7 30.b6 d5 31.cxd5 cxd5 10.e3 intends Qh5+ and b4; 32.d4 e6 33.b1 g8 34.a5 g7 B) 7.e3 f6 8.f4 c7 is the standard 35.fxg5 hxg5 36.a6 f4 37.b7 f7 38.a7 idea that has held up for years. Tony cites h4 39.b8 1-0 Lautier, J (2666)-Fressinet, T i m m a n - Yu s u p o v, A m s t e r d a m 1 9 9 4 , L (2637)/Val d'Isere 2004 ] w h i c h w e n t 9.d5! e7 10.b3!? 0-0 5.e3 11.b2 d7 12.e2 g5! with unclear [ 5.f3 play. ] A) 5...c6 6.c3 d6 ( 6...e7 6...f6 Black's position looks suspect here, but I [ Previously in ChessPublishing we saw can't see any clear refutation. 7.e3 ) 7.e4 6...e7 7.h3 f6 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 a6 a7 8.c5; A key manoeuvre, borrowed from the B) 5...e4 6.g5!? e3 is very similar to Advance French, the knight comes to c7, the main line with Bc5 7.d4 still looks either to prepare the ...d5-push, or to better for White. ] continue towards the kingside via e6. 10.f3 5...c6 6.f3 f6 Attacking the black pawn chain head-on, but [ 6...e4 7.d4! ] now is a good time for ( 10.d5! ) 10...exf3 7.d4 d6 8.c5! xd5 9.cxd6 e4 10.d2 ( 10...c7!? ) 11.exf3 c7!? 12.d5 cxd5 f6 11.d5! White plays with impressive 13.cxd5 b5! 14.b4 a5 15.b1 axb4 vigour. e5 12.xe4! xe4 13.d4 cxd6 16.xb4 d7 and Black stood well in Gulko14.xe4 0-0 15.e2 b6 16.0-0 a6 Short, Elenite 1995. ] 17.xa6 xa6 18.d2 a8 19.ac1 c8 7.g2 h6 8.h3 g5 This kind of position has 20.h3 xc1 21.xc1 e8 22.b3 h6 23.c3 usually been satisfactory for Black, whose b8 24.d4 f6 25.d2 b7 26.f4 g6 kingside pawn formation is solider than it look. 27.d3 e7 28.e4 c8 29.xc8+ xc8 9.g1 30.e3 c7 31.c4 b7 32.f5 f7 [ 9.0-0 f4!? looks playable, due to the well33.b5 c8 34.f2 e7 35.g4 c7 know tactic ( 9...d5 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.f3 36.c4 b7 37.c3 f7 38.h4 e7 with approximate equality) 10.gxf4? ( 10.d5 39.d4 b8 40.g3 c8 41.xc8 xc8 g7 with a complex position) 10...g4! 42.a4 f8 43.f3 f7 44.e3 e7 trapping the knight and forcing W hite to 45.e2 d8 46.d4 e7 47.d3 d8 sacrifice a piece by 11.g5 hxg5 12.fxg5 48.g5 d5! , intending 13.gxf6? c7 ] 1-0 9...d5 10.h4 g8 [ 10...gxh4 11.xh4 dxc4 may look antipositional, yet Black wins a pawn. Best 866 A21 seems 12.h3 and 13 Nf4 compare the game. ] Prohaszka,Peter 2392 Vitor,Antonio 2414 11.hxg5 hxg5 12.h3 [ 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.h3 h6!? ] FSGM October (9) 15.10.2006 12...g4 13.f4 dxc4 14.f3 b4 [John Watson] [ S a f e r t h a n 14...gxf3!? 15.exf3 xg3 16.e2!? ] We take another look at one of Black's most successful def ences to the English when 15.fxe4 fxe4 [ 15...xe4! ] White has committed to Nf3. 1.d4 [ The game variation commonly arises via the 16.0-0 e7 Too slow. [ 16...f5 is better, since e4 is the key English move order 1.c4 e5 2.c3 d6 defensive square. ] 3.f3 f5 4.d4 e4 5.g5 ] 1...d6 2.c4 e5 3.f3 e4 4.g5 f5 5.c3 17.c2 xc3 Otherwise e4 falls. 18.xc3 e6 19.b3 Already intending Ba3, which only c6 6.g3 becomes better af ter W hite's next move. [ 6.h3 a6 A) 7.g5!? is in t e re st in g, wh e n b6 cxb3?! 20.axb3 d5 21.xd5 857
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Or 21.a3 ] 21...xd5 22.c2 f6 23.f5!? [ 23.a3 e6 24.f4 is extremely strong. ] 23...bd7 24.g5?! xg5? [ 24...d6! h i t s d 4 a n d g3 , b u t 25.c3 ( 25.xf6 xf6 26.e3 0-0-0 ) 25...d5 is equal. ] 25.xg5 d6 26.c3 d8 27.e3 c7 28.f4 xf4 29.gxf4 a6 30.e3 White is obviously winning. b5 31.f1 d5 32.xb5 b8 33.c4 xe3 34.xa6 xc4 35.bxc4 b1+ 36.f2 b7 37.a2 b6 38.g7+ b8 39.c2 b4 40.g3 xc4 41.h2 d6 42.h8+ c8 43.gg8 xd4 44.xc8+ b7 45.b8+ a7 46.a8+ b7 47.ab8+ a7 48.xg4 1-0
867 Ruban,Vadim Miles,Anthony J Belgrade [Tony Kosten]
A21 2395 2500 1988
1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 Transposing into the 2...d6 King's English. 3.c3 [ The endgame after 3.dxe5 dxe5 4.xd8+ xd8 is equal. ] 3...exd4 4.xd4 f6 5.b3 g6 6.b2 g7 7.g3 0-0 8.g2 bd7!? The knight will come to c5, to survey the e4-square. [ 8...c6 9.d2 is the mainline. ] 9.f3 c5 Threatening a nasty discovered attack, with ...Nfe4. 10.d2 a5 11.d4 Directed against ...Bf5. e8 12.0-0 c6 13.ab1 [ 13.ad1 i s a b e t t e r m o v e , b6 the position has become typical of a KID Fianchetto Variation, Classical line, 14.e3 a4 with chances to both sides. ] 13...e7 14.a3 h5! Very strong, the h-pawn will soften-up the white kingside. 15.c2?! [ White is soon in trouble after this, he should aim for exchanges with the immediate 15.b4 axb4 16.axb4 ce4 17.xe4 xe4 18.c1! ] 15...h4 16.b4 axb4 17.axb4 ce4 18.xe4 xe4 19.f3? By allowing the black bishop to f5 W hite loses. h3! This leaves the white king without any moves. 20.h1 f5 21.b3
[ The queen and rook were both on the same mined diagonal, and there was no time for 21.xg7 as xg3 menaces the queen, and Nxe2+. ] 21...xf2!! A killer! 22.xf2 [ Forced, as 22.xg7? xh1 23.b2 xg3 24.hxg3 e3+ 25.h1 xb1 26.xb1 f2 wins, as does ] [ 22.xf2 xe2+ 23.g1 c2 ] 22...xb1 23.xg7 xg7 24.xb1 f6! The point, ...Ra1 is the immediate threat. 25.d2 [ If 25.f1 xe2 and ...Raa2 wins easily. ] 25...d4 26.d3?? [ This allows a neat mate, the only possibility was 26.b3! (to guard a1) xc4 27.b2+ e5! 28.a5 b5 29.d4 g8 but White's minor pieces are no match for the rooks (and pawns). ] 26...a1+ [ 26...a1+ 27.f1 xf1+! 28.xf1 a1+ leaves the king somewhat embarrassed! ] 0-1
868 Salov,Valery Kramnik,Vladimir Linares 11th (8) [Jonathan Rowson]
A21 2660 2685 1993
1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 d6 Some people love to put their bishops on d6, in front of their d-pawns. It is almost like the dark squared bishop is the elder brother of the light squared bishop on c8, and delights in dominating him by refusing to let him out until he is ready...but sometimes it's actually a decent move, although here I think Black has better ones. 4.d4! c6 [ 4...c6 5.f3 e4 6.g5 f5 ( 6...f6 7.a3!? e7 8.xf6+ xf6 9.xe4 xd4 10.e3 looks like a decent Budapest Gambit for both sides, which means that White is p ro b a b ly b e t t e r .) 7.c5! f8 8.b3 is actually winning! ] 5.dxe5 xe5 6.f3 What follows is pleasant for White, but perhaps nothing special from a theoretical point of view, and a stronger Black player could certainly outplay somebody who didn't have a feeling for where to put his 858
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pieces in the queenless middlegame that results. [ 6.f4!? f6 7.f3 c7 8.g3 0-0 9.g2 d5 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.0-0 I like White's position here, even if just from an optical perspective- those knights on f4 and f3 are a pleasure to behold. c6 12.b3 e8 13.b2 xf4 14.gxf4 e4 15.c1 f6 16.d4 b6 17.e3 d7 18.h5 xd4 19.xd4 d6 20.f3 g6 21.h4 g5 22.h6 1-0 Agrest, E (2599)-Sasikiran, K (2650)/ Mainz 2002/CBM 089 ext ] 6...d6 7.xe5 [ 7.c3!? xc3+ 8.bxc3 is probably not worse for White. ] [ 7.f4 is not an exact transposition to 6. Nf4 above, because there is no longer any question of the bishop going to c7. e7 8.g3 f6 9.g2 0-0 10.0-0 is quite a strange position, because the bishop on e5 lo o k s b o t h a ct ive a n d m isp la ce d , b u t I suspect White is somewhat better due to his extra space and prospect of having the bishop pair. ] 7...dxe5 8.c3 xd1+ 9.xd1 e6?! A natural move, but given that White is going to play b3 anyway, the bishop was better deployed on f5. [ 9...a5!? ] 10.b3 a5 11.b2 f6 12.c3 a6 13.0-0-0 h6 14.h3 [ equally good is 14.e3 g4 15.e4 b4 16.h3! ] 14...f7 15.e3 0-0 A concession. [ 15...e7!? 16.a3+ ( 16.d3 ) 16...b4 17.a4 d6! is not so clear, but it's easy to understand that Black didn't want to walk into pins on the a3-f8 diagonal. ] 16.e2 b4 17.f4 b5! 18.g4 [ 18.cxb5 cxb5 19.xb5 fc8 20.d2 ( 20.b1 exf4 21.exf4 f5+ ) 20...exf4 21.exf4 d6! ] 18...exf4 [ 18...bxc4 19.f5 c8 ( 19...d5 20.e4 ) 20.xc4 a6 21.a3 xc4 22.bxc4 a6 23.e4 fd8 24.c3 a4 25.a5 ] 19.exf4 bxc4 20.bxc4 f5 21.a3 a6 22.a4 ab8 23.hg1 fxg4 24.hxg4 fe8 25.d2 d8 26.f5 f7 27.g5 b7 28.g6 hxg6 29.fxg6 e6 30.g5! bd8! 31.xd8 xd8 32.e5 e8! 33.d2 d6 34.d4
c7 35.c3 f5! 36.d3 [ Ftacnik points out a neat trick here: 36.c5? xg6 37.f3 cb5+! 38.cxb5 xb5+ 39.c4 f7+ 40.d3 d8 41.e4 g6 42.b3 c5! ] 36...xd3 37.xd3 d8? [ 37...e6! is still viable. ] 38.c5 a8 39.e4 xe4 40.xe4 c7 [ 40...c7 41.b6 c8 42.xc7 xc7 43.e8# ] 1-0
869 Savchenko,Boris Shirov,Alexei World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (5) [Carsten Hansen]
A21 2583 2739 21.11.2007
1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.f3 xc3 4.bxc3 [ I more or less dismissed this line in my book on 1 c4 e5 and instead gave preference to 4.dxc3 , but Black should be okay in that line too. White's best may well be 4 bxc3 after all. ] 4...d6 [ Black has also tried 4...e4 ] [ 4...e7 ] [ , and most frequently 4...c6 ] 5.d4 [ The most aggressive, which almost seems odd a f ter the more rese rved 3rd move . White has also tried: A) 5.g3 A) 5...c6 6.g2 ( 6.b1 ge7 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 b8 9.d3 h6 10.e4 g4 11.h3 e6 Kanellopoulos, P-Kritz, L/ E r m i o n i G R E 2 0 0 6 , a n d h e r e 12.e2 d7 13.g4 a5 14.h4 ) 6...ge7 ( 6...e6 7.b1 c8 8.b3 b8 9.g5 ge7 10.xe6 xe6 11.0-0 0-0 12.d3 h8 13.e4 Raicevic, I-Perunovic, M/Nis 1994; 6...g4 7.d3 d7 8.h3 h5 9.b1 b8 10.g4 g6 11.h4 Hansen, VSteinbacher, M/Bad Wiessee 2000) 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 ( 8.a3 g6 9.b1 b8 10.d3 b6 , was played in Kantorik, M-Laketic, G/ Cheliabinsk 1991, and at this point White should have tried 11.d2 b7 12.e3 a5 13.xb7 xb7 14.f4 f5 , but as it turned out Kantorik was having the worst tournament of his life and lost all 859
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 his games in this tournament) 8...b8 9.a4 ( 9.c2 g4 10.h3 e6 11.g5 f5 12.e4 g6 13.f4 was Orchard, CClough, P/corr BPCF 1995) 9...e8 10.e4 b6 11.h4 d7 12.g4 d8 13.f4 exf4 14.xf4 g6 , O'Rourke, R-Brady, S/ Drogheda 1999, and now 15.xg6 fxg6 16.a5 appears best; B) 5...e6!? 6.d3 c6 7.g2 ge7 8.0-0 f6 9.b1 b8 , Perez, J-Lugo, B/ Fuerteventura 1992, 10.e4 0-0 11.e3 d7 12.h4 b6; C) 5...f5 6.d4 e4 7.g5 f6 8.d2 h6 9.xf6 xf6 10.g2 0-0 11.0-0 f7 12.e3 d7 13.f3 exf3 14.xf3 f6 15.e2 Schweda, R-Rogozenko, D/ Stockerau 1993; D) 5...e7 6.g2 0-0 7.c5 e4 8.cxd6 cxd6 9.d4 d5 10.0-0 bc6 11.a4 d7 ( 11...xd4 12.cxd4 g4 13.f3 exf3 14.xf3 xf3 15.xf3 e8 16.b1 c8 17.a3 f5 18.e3 ) 12.a3 e8 13.d3 e5 14.b3 exd3 15.exd3 c6 16.fe1 Raicevic, I-Maric, D/Nis 1995; E) 5...e4 6.d4 f6 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 e8 9.d3 c5 10.c2 exd3 , Silseth, SBreivik, L/Gausdal NOR 2005, and now W hite c an o bta in a b et ter gam e af te r 11.exd3 g4 12.f3 d7 13.b1 b6 14.g4 h6 15.e3; F) 5...f6 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 F1) 7...e8 8.d3 ( 8.c2 h6 9.b1 bd7 10.d3 c6 11.d2 c7 12.e4 b6 13.f4 Kovtun, S-Khmelnitsky, S/ UKR 1986 ) 8...bd7 9.e4 f8 10.h4 c6 11.f5 d5 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.f3 dxe4 14.dxe4 Rahman, Z-Handoko, E/ Dhaka 1995; F2) 7...h6 8.d3 bd7 9.b1 b8 10.d2 c5 11.a3 b6 12.d4 cd7 Vita, F-Klinova, M/Bratto 1997, and here 13.e4!? looks like a worthwhile try; F3) 7...c6 8.d3 e4 9.d4 exd3 10.exd3 d7 11.b1 b8 12.h3 h6 13.e3 Pitam, E-Klinova, M/Dresden 1998; F4) 7...bd7 8.d3 e4 9.d4 ( 9.g5!? exd3 10.exd3 ) 9...e8 10.b1 c5 Meyer, E-Christiansen, L/New York 1985 11.f3 exd3 12.exd3 d7 13.g4 ] [ B) 5.c2 c6 6.g3 ge7 7.g2 0-0
8.d3 h8 9.b1 b8 10.0-0 f5 , Pils, W-Weinzettl, E/Vienna 1986, and here 11.g5 e8 12.h4 d7 13.f4 ] [ C) 5.d3 A) 5...f6 6.e4 0-0 ( 6...h6 7.g3 0-0 8.g2 e6 9.0-0 c6 10.a3 a6 11.a4 e8 12.fb1 Diehle, J-Annabi, S/ Ronneburg 1996 ) 7.e2 A1) 7...c6 8.0-0 e7 9.b1 d8 10.e1 e6 11.c2 ( 11.f4!? ) 11...f4 12.e3 c6 13.f3 Levieux, P-Amram, R/Cappelle la Grande 1995; A2) 7...bd7 8.0-0 h6 9.e1 c5 10.f4 e8 11.c2 c6 12.e3 exf4 13.xf4 Hiebel, J-Maier, C/Gladenbach 1992; B) 5...c5 6.g3 c6 ( 6...d7 7.g2 c6 8.0-0 d7 9.c2 gf6 10.e4 f8 11.d2 e6 12.h4 Orchard, CMcMillan, N/corr 1994) 7.g2 ge7 8.e4 0-0 9.0-0 h6 10.b1 b8 Lerner, KOnischuk, A/Cuxhaven 1993 11.e2 g4 12.h3 e6 13.d1 c8 14.h2 c7; C) 5...f5 6.g3 f6 7.g2 0-0 8.a3 e8 9.d2 c6 10.e4 b8 11.0-0 e6 12.f4 g4 13.e2 d7 14.h3 h6 ( 14...f6 15.g4 fxg4 16.f5 f7 17.hxg4 ) 15.h2 bd8 16.f2 Musikhin, P-Frolov, A/Ufa 1999; D) 5...d7 6.g3 g4 7.g2 xf3 8.xf3 c6 9.b1 c7 10.0-0 f6 D1) 11.d4 bd7 ( 11...e4?! 12.g2 0-0 13.f4 h5 14.xe4 xf4 15.gxf4 d7 16.d3 f6 17.g2 ) 12.b3 b6 13.c2 0-0 14.g5; D2) 11.g5 bd7 12.c2 h6 13.xf6 xf6 14.b2 h5 15.fb1 b6 , Schre ib er, W -B a st ia n , S/ G erma n y 2001, and now 16.d2; E) 5...e7 6.c5 bc6 7.cxd6 cxd6 8.g3 0-0 9.g2 e6 10.0-0 d7 11.a3 ad8 Jungbluth, R-Deinert, W/ Recklinghausen 2005 12.g5 g4 13.f3 h5 14.f4; F) 5...c6 6.g3 f5 7.g2 f6 8.b1 0-0 9.0-0 e8 10.c2 ( 10.d2 b8 11.e4 fxe4 12.xe4 xe4 13.xe4 f5= Gonzalez, J-Estrada Nieto, J/ Merida 2002 ) 10...b6 11.d2 b7 12.e4 e7 13.f3 c6 14.exf5 xf5 15.e4 d7 860
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.f4 e7 17.d2 Avery, R-Bisguier, A/ Chicago 1987 ] [ D) 5.c5!? appears to be White's best chance for an edge in this variation: A) 5...c6 6.cxd6 cxd6 7.g3 ge7 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 b6 10.c4 c7 11.d3 h6 12.a3 b7 13.c1 fe8 14.d2 ad8 15.e4 1-0 Dzindzichashvili, RKhmelnitsky, I/Philadelphia 1992; B) 5...f6 6.cxd6 B1) 6...cxd6 B1a) 7.d4 e4 8.d2 0-0 9.e3 a5 10.c4 d5 11.a3 d8 12.b3 e8 13.d2 f5 , Gerasimov, VHasangatin, R/Tomsk 2001, and now 14.c4 g6 15.0-0 c6 ( 15...h3 16.xf7+ xf7 17.xf7+ xf7 18.gxh3 f6 19.f3 exf3 20.xf3 ) 16.d5 f6 17.f3 xd5 18.xd5 exf3 19.xf3 e6 20.e4; B1b) 7.g3 0-0 8.g2 c6 ( 8...c7 9.0-0 c6 10.d3 b6 11.g5 d7 12.d2 h6 Thompson, I-Davies, N/ Port Erin IOM 2003 ) 9.0-0 B1b1) 9...e8 10.d4?! ( 10.d3!? ) 10...e4 11.d2 d5 12.e3 g4 13.a4 a5 14.a3 e2 15.fe1 d3 16.b3 xb3 17.axb3 b5 18.b4 a5 Gerasimov, V-Glek, I/ Tomsk 2001; B1b2) 9...f5 10.d3 d7 11.c4 h3 12.e4 ab8 13.a4 g4 14.e3 e8 15.d2 xf3 16.xf3 Arkell, K-Pert, N/Hastings 2000; B2) 6...xd6 7.a4+ bd7 8.a3 c5 9.d4 0-0 10.e3 c7 11.c1 b6 12.e2 b7 13.0-0 Knott, S-Davies, N/ Scarborough 1999; C) 5...e4 6.a4+ d7 7.xe4++Wiese, D-Keller, S/IECC 1997; D) 5...dxc5 6.xe5 f6 7.e3 0-0 8.e2 e8 9.f3 b6 10.0-0 b7 11.a4 d6 12.d4 bd7 13.a3 e4 14.c2 h6 15.ad1 Arkell, K-Plaskett, J/ Hastings 1988 ad8 ] 5...e7 [ 5...c6 6.g5 ( 6.e4!? ) 6...ge7 7.e3 0-0 Kulczyk, P-Merklejn, K/Bydgoszcz 2001 ] [ 5...e4 6.d2 f5 ( 6...e7 7.e3 f6 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 bd7 10.a3 b6
Datta, A-Lee, W/Stillwater 2002) 7.e3 f6 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 c5 10.f4 c6 11.b3 b6 Oakley, P-Brilla Banfalvi, S/corr 1983 ] 6.c5!? [ White may also consider another sharp move: 6.e4!? A) 6...exd4 7.cxd4 f6 ( 7...xe4+ 8.e3 ) 8.d3 0-0 9.0-0; B) 6...f6 7.d3 bd7 ( 7...exd4 8.cxd4 xe4 9.0-0 f5 10.e1 0-0 11.g5 f6 12.xe4 fxe4 13.xe4 g6 14.b2 ) 8.0-0 0-0 9.e2 e8 ] 6...e4! 7.cxd6 cxd6 8.d2 e3 Shirov as expected doesn't hesitate to sacrifice a pawn to gain a lead in development 9.fxe3 f6 [ 9...xe3? 10.a4+ d7 11.a3 (threatening Nc4) e6 12.e4 d5 13.d3 , and Black is in danger of being beaten to pulp. ] 10.g3 0-0 11.g2 g4 12.f1?! [ This is simply too passive, all just to hang on t o a pa wn . T h e b et te r a lte rn a tive is 12.b3!? , e.g. f5 13.0-0 g6 14.d2 c6 15.f4 f6 16.a3 fe8 ( 16...h5?! 17.e4! ) 17.af1 ad8 ] 12...f5 13.f3 d7 [ 13...e8!? ] 14.b3 b6 15.g1 [ 15.a4 ac8! 16.a5 c4 17.xb7 c7 18.d5 c2 19.a2 f6 20.g5 e4 ] 15...ac8 [ Black should consider 15...e6!? 16.c2 ac8 17.e4 f5! ] 16.e4 e6 17.d5?! [ 17.b4!? is relatively best: c4 ( 17...fe8 18.a4 ) 18.a5 c7 19.d2 a4 20.g5 f6 ] 17...d7 18.f4 c5 19.d2 [ 19.a3 a5 20.b2 c4 21.xb7 ge5 ] 19...fc8 20.c1 xh2 21.e3?! [ 21.c4 xf3+ 22.exf3 xd5 23.xb7 xf4 24.gxf4 d5!? ] 21...b5 [ 21...xd5!? ] 22.a3 xd5 23.xa7? [ 23.d4!? xf3+ 24.exf3 f5 25.f2 fxe4 26.xe4 c6 27.c4 a6 28.xa6 bxa6 29.cxb5 axb5 , and Black has the much better game and should win in the long run, but there is a lot of work left before the win 861
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 can be scored on the tournament table. ] 23...xf3+ [ 23...b6 24.c4 a5 25.b2 xa7 26.cxd5 xc1+ 27.xc1 xf3+ 28.exf3 transposes to the game continuation ] 24.exf3 b6 25.c4 a5 26.b2 xa7 27.cxd5 xc1+ 28.xc1 xa2 [ 28...f6! 29.a3 d4-+ ] 29.b1 a6 30.b4?! [ 30.b2!? f5 31.f2 fxe4 32.xe4 f7 33.b3 b5 34.c1 h5 35.c7 a2+ 36.e3 h6+ 37.d3 ( 37.f4? h2 38.xd7 e2+ 39.d4 a4+-+ ) 37...h2 38.c2 xc2 39.xc2 h5-+ ] 30...f5 31.e2 fxe4 32.xe4 a4!? [ 32...b5!? 33.c1 a2+-+ ] 33.xb6 g4! 34.f2?! [ 34.d2 a2+ 35.e3 a3+ 36.d2 xf3 37.e1 h6 38.d4 ( 38.xd6?! b7!-+ ) 38...f5 39.a1 e5 40.c3 f5-+ ] 34...a2+ [ 34...f8!? ] 35.e3 a3+ 36.d2 xf3 37.b8+? [ 37.e1!? f8 38.xd6 a7 39.c5 a2+ 40.d3 c8 41.b4 f5-+ ] 37...f8 38.b4 f3!? [ 38...e5! 39.c3 f2+ 40.d3 e2+ 41.c2 c4+ 42.b1 d4-+ ] 39.e1 xe4 40.xe4 g5+ 41.e3 h5!? [ 41...d8! 42.g4 a5+ 43.e2 b5+ ] 42.e6+ h7 43.d3 f5 44.d4 g4+ 45.c3 g5 [ 45...f3! 46.xg4 xe3+ 47.d2 hxg4 48.xe3 g6 49.f4 f6 ] 46.d4 f6 47.e4+ h6 48.c4 g6 49.b5 d8 50.f4+ h7 [ 50...g5 51.e6+ h7 52.xd6 xd5+ 53.xd5 xd5+ ] 51.e4?! [ 51.f5!? g5 52.xg5 xg5 53.c6 g6 54.f3 h6 55.f7!= ] 51...b8+ 52.c6 c8+ 53.b5 c5+ 54.a6 h6 55.f4+ g5??+[ 55...h7! ] 56.e6+ h7 57.xg5 c8+ 58.b6 b8+ 59.c6 c8+ 60.xd6 a6+ 61.e5 a1+ 62.f5 f1+ 63.f4 d3+ 64.g5 xd5+ 65.f5+ This is not a just outcome of the game, where Black created everything and obtained a winning advantage,
and all W hite did was to fight to stay in the game, though only barely so, though his effort is prize-worthy. 1-0
870 Skembris,Spyridon Lazic,Miroljub 11th Open Verona ITA (7) [John Watson]
A21 2446 2512 07.01.2005
1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.f3 e4 4.g5 f5 5.c3 A position also arising from 1. c4 e5 2. N c 3 d 6 3 . N f 3 f 5 4 . d 4 e 4 5 . N g 5 . c6 This move has become a standard solution versus d4 and Ng5. White has yet to make a dent in it. 6.h3 e7 [ Avoiding 6...f6 7.g5 with the idea e3 and Nf4. ] 7.e3 [ 7.f4 f6 8.e3 a6 9.e2 0-0 is equal ] 7...f6 8.f4 0-0 9.h4 Versus ...g5. a6 10.e2 c7 11.b3 b8 [ Another course is 11...b6 12.d2 d5 ] 12.d2 e6 13.d5 xf4 14.exf4 c5 [ 14...cxd5 15.cxd5 b5!? ] 15.h5 d7 16.a4 h6 17.0-0-0 a6 18.de1 b6 Black should definitely consider [ 18...b5!? ] 19.f3 exf3 20.xf3 ½-½
871 Sorokin,Maxim Tseshkovsky,Vitaly 99 Krasnodar RUS (10) [Tony Kosten]
A21 2574 2547 22.11.1999
1.c4 d6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 f5 4.d4 c6 5.dxe5 The standard method of treating such positions, the resulting ending is not quite as simple as it might seem. dxe5 6.xd8+ xd8 7.f3 e4 8.d4 f6 9.g5 e7 Forced, as Bxf6+ is a serious positional threat. 10.h3 [ 10.d1 seems tempting, but Black may be able to hold on af te r c7! ( 10...e8? 11.h3 g6 12.xf6 xf6 13.xe4 862
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 wins a good pawn) 11.h3 g6 12.db5+ cxb5 13.xb5+ ( 13.xf6 xf6 14.d5+ c6 15.cxb5+ xb5 is not so bad for B l a c k , a n d h i s k i n g s i d e p a wn c h a i n i s strong ) 13...b6 14.xf6 xf6 15.d6+ c5 16.xf6 ] 10...h6?! [ It might not be a good idea to weaken g6 like this, better 10...g6 as now 11.d1 can be met by d7 ] 11.f4 g6 12.f3 White only allows Black to ad va nc e h is pa wn s so th a t th ey be co m e easier to attack! exf3 13.xf3 [ Threatening Ne5, with an attack on f7 and g6, but 13.0-0-0 e8 14.exf3 opening a second central file against the king, is also tempting. ] 13...g5 14.e5 h7 15.0-0-0+ e8 16.d2 a6?! [ 16...bd7! is best, exchanging the annoying e5-knight, or obliging it to retreat. ] 17.hf1 g4? [ After this inaccuracy the black position d i s i n t e g r a t e s , h e h a d t o t r y 17...d6! whilst W hite cannot defend this with Bf4, 18.d3 g4 19.g2 and now e6 gains a tempo attacking the c4-pawn. ] 18.g2 c7 19.e4 e6 [ Black is forced to seek compensation for his f-pawn, as 19...fxe4 20.xe4 is extremely disagreeable for him. ] 20.exf5 d4 21.f4 c5 [ 21...xf5 loses material after 22.df1 ] 22.e1 h5 it is difficult to suggest any better, Black is a pawn down with a rotten position. 23.b5 xb5 24.cxb5 a6 25.b6 a5 26.c4 f8 27.c3 It is indeed a bad sign for Black when W hite's pieces find strong squares so easily. h6 28.e5 d6 29.f2 d7? [ 29...d7? 30.xd7+ xd7 31.e6 xe6 32.fxe6+ wins the knight. ] 1-0
872 Speelman,Jonathan S Howell,David 4NCL 2006-07 (5) [Jonathan Rowson]
A21 2533 2501 13.01.2007
1.c4 e5 2.c3 b4 3.d5 e7 This is currently the most popular retreat, and White's approach in this game is not the most critical line, but is noteworthy nonetheless, and as far as I can tell it does yield some advantage. 4.d4 [ 4.f3 I include the following striking game (Ehlvest-Shirov) more for entertainment than theoretical value, but it is worth noting that White doesn't have to meet Be7 with d4. A) 4...d6 5.b3!? ( 5.d4 ) 5...f5 6.b2 f6 looks fine for Black.; B) 4...e4!?; C) 4...c6 5.xe7 xe7 6.b3 d5 7.e3 h6 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.a4 c6 10.a3 e6 11.c1 d7 12.b4 f6 13.b5 d8 14.e2 f5 15.0-0 d6 16.b3 b6 17.d4 e4 18.d2 8b7 19.f3 f5 20.fxe4 fxe4 21.b1 1-0 Ehlvest, J (2655)-Shirov, A (2580)/Manila 1990 ] 4...d6 5.f3!? e4 [ 5...c6 seems unnecessary, though it does give Black the option of playing ...f5 before ...Nf6. 6.xe7 ( 6.c3 doesn't make sense, si n c e W h it e h a s e f f e c t i ve ly l o s t h a lf a tempo. ) 6...xe7 There are several ways to play now, but after something simple like 7.e3 f5 8.e2 f6 9.0-0 0-0 10.b4 White remains somewhat better, but it will take some skill to show it e.g. e4 11.d2 e6 ( 11...d5 12.a4! ) 12.a4 bd7 13.a3 f7 14.b5 c5 15.b3 b6 16.a5 ] 6.d2 f5 7.b1 f6 8.bc3 0-0 9.g3!? Perfectly playable, but White can probably do better. [ 9.xe7+ xe7 10.g5 e6 ( 10...h6 11.d5 ) 11.e3 bd7 12.e2 c6 Un d e rst a n d a b le , b u t n o w W h it e 's d a rk squared bishop is strong. 13.0-0 f7 14.d5 ( 14.b3 is also playable, and somewhat better for White.) 14...cxd5 15.b5 e5 ( 15...dxc4 16.xd6! and Nc7 or Nd4.) 16.xd6 g6 17.xf6 ( 17.f4! xc4 18.xb7! xb2 19.d4 c4 20.c5 863
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and White has positional domination for his pawn and will increase the pressure with Rab1-b7. ) 17...xf6 18.cxd5 d7 19.c4 xc4 20.xc4 f4 21.exf4 h3 22.g3 xf4 23.d6+ h8 24.d5 xf1 25.xf1 ff8 26.d1 ad8 27.g2 f6 28.d2 e3 29.fxe3 h6 30.d3 f6 31.d2 h6 32.d3 f6 1/2-1/2 Lautier, J (2620)-Shirov, A (2685)/Tilburg 1996 ] 9...e6 10.xe7+ xe7 11.d5 f7 12.h3 g4! 13.xg4 fxg4 14.e3 [ 14.d4 g6 15.b3 d7 16.b2 ] 14...d7 15.d4 g6 16.0-0?! This gives Black a very clear and strong plan of Q-h5 followed by Ne5-f3 or Qh3 and Rf5-h5. [ 16.h3!? is fine for White, who can still castle queenside. ] 16...ae8 17.xa7 e5! 18.fc1 h5 19.f1 [ 19.d4 h3 20.d1 looks a bit passive, but many good ideas do, and in this case it is not clear how Black strengthens his attack, because White can play Qf1-g2 to bolster his king's defences. ] 19...c5 20.a3 xh2 21.e1 Black now has various ways to win. W hite's rooks are not pulling their weight. a8 22.b4 d3+ 23.exd3 g1+ 24.d2 xf2+ 25.e2 xe2+ 26.xe2 g2+ 27.d1 exd3 28.e1 f8 29.f4 e8 30.e3 f8 31.f4 e4 32.c3 e8 33.c1 g6 34.d1 e2 35.d2 f2 36.b3 e4 37.xg4 f1+ 38.b2 xd2+ 39.a3 f5 40.h4 xa1 0-1
873 Suba,Mihai Bosboom Lanchava,Tea 6th Open Malaga ESP (5) [Tony Kosten]
A21 2501 2325 25.02.2003
1.c4 d6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 f5 [ 3...c6 is my preferred move in 'The Dynamic English', keeping control of d4. Play is then likely to transpose into a normal Closed English. ] 4.d4 This is the thematic reply, as now Black can only capture on d4 at the cost of conceding the f4-square to a white knight. d7 Black defends e5. Alternatives:
[ 4...exd4 5.xd4 c6 6.e3+ e7 7.g2 e5 8.b3 f6 9.b2 0-0 Van't Veen,GJanssen,E/Haarlem 1988, and now 10.h3 is logical, followed by Nf4. ] [ We considered 4...c6 in the game Sorokin, M-Tseshkovsky,V/Krasnodar RUS 1999. ] 5.h3!? A surprising novelty! It seems so automatic to bring the light-squared bishop to g2 t h a t m a n y o f u s wo u l d d o s o wi t h o u t thinking. [ 5.g2 is good, of course, gf6 ( 5...c6 6.e4!? Smokina,K-Martyniuk,T/Tapolca 1996 ) 6.e3 ( 6.f3!? e7 7.0-0 e4 8.g5 f8 9.f3 is better for White, Davies,NHartm an,C/ Katrineholm 199 5) 6...g6 7.ge2 g7 8.0-0 0-0 9.b3 with a standard type of position, except that the black queen's knight is more passively placed on d7 than on the habitual c6, Vehreschild,A-Kovalev,A/Cappelle la Grande 1996. ] 5...b6?! Maybe not the best, after [ 5...g6 I assu me W h ite in tende d 6.e4 to soften-up the diagonal, fxe4 7.xe4 gf6 with unclear play, whilst ] [ 5...e7 is also possible. ] 6.dxe5! dxe5?! This almost loses by force, Black should try a pawn sac with [ 6...e6 ] 7.xd8+ xd8 8.g5+ e7 9.0-0-0+ Everything with check! d7 10.xe7+ xe7 11.c5 Each move of White's is forcing, but will his initiative achieve anything concrete? c4 [ 11...bc8 12.f3 wins. ] 12.f3 e8 13.b3 The answer is yes, Black is forced to jettison material. e4 [ 13...a5 14.xe5 e6 15.b5 is even worse. ] 14.xe4! c6 15.eg5 a5 16.e6 W hite has a pawn more, the more active pieces, and the black king is misplaced enough for a quick victory. f7 17.xc7 xf3 [ 17...ac8 fails to trap the knight because of 18.e5+ g8 19.xc6 axc6 20.d7 ] 18.exf3 ad8 Again, [ 18...ac8 19.d7 leads nowhere for Black. ] 19.b5 a6 20.d6+ f6 21.f4 W ith W hite's two extra pawns and various other advantages the game is effectively over. 864
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 b8 22.he1 g6 23.f1 b5 24.g2 hd8 25.d2 ec6 26.de2 b4 27.e6+ g7 28.e7+ g8 29.b1 ac6 30.c7 d3 31.xc6 [ 31.d5+! h8 32.f7+ g7 33.g5+ forces mate. ] 31...e5? [ 31...xe1 is hopeless, but allows Black to continue: 32.d5+ f8 ( 32...h8? 33.f7+ ) 33.f7+ g8 34.e7+ f8 35.xe1 ] 32.d5+ f8 33.f7+ g8 34.e7+ 1-0
10...c6 11.0-0 e6 12.b3 b6 13.d2 [ White would like to exploit the weakness of c6 but 13.b5 c8 14.d2 d6 15.c1? would fall for the Greek Gift xh2+ 16.xh2 g4+ 17.g1 h4 etc. ] 13...a6 14.e1 d6 15.c1 e7 16.h5+ g6 17.h4 0-0 White is att acking with his pieces without the support of his pawns and so he proves unable to put the black centre under any real pressure. It remains intact, and so confers a space advantage on the black pieces without any drawbacks. 18.xg6 hxg6 19.e1 b8 20.h3 a7 21.e2 af7 22.g3 d7 23.xd6 xd6 24.g3 xg3 25.xg3 b5 26.f2 e8 27.xf7 xf7 874 A21 28.c8 e7 Black has a clear advantage in Sultanov,Alexander V 2290 the endgame as his bishop is clearly the best Poluljahov,Aleksandr 2525 minor piece on the board. Both white knights 53rd ch-RUS Samara 2000 are passive and cannot easily find anyrthing to attack. Meanwhile the black king is active [Neil McDonald] while its counterpart is shut in on g1. 29.c1 White cannot exploit the c file for if 1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.f3 e4 4.fd2 [ 29.b8 f6 planning Rc6. ] [ White can also play more aggressively with 4.g5 for example f5 5.c3 e7 6.h3 29...d7 30.c2 d6 31.b3 a5 32.a4 a6 c6 7.e3 f6 8.f4 a6! 9.h4 c7 10.d5 33.c3 f5 34.ge2? [ 34.xf5 White had to bite the bullet with 0-0 11.e2 d7! clearing the way for Bf6 gxf5 ] and heading for the active c5 square 12.g3 a5 with unclear play in Xu Jun-Adams, 34...g5! Zugzwang! 35.g3? A fatal weakening of the f3 square. The only move was Yerevan 1996. ] [ 35.h2 when if c8 36.g1 xc3 4...f5 5.e3 f6 6.c3 c6 A well established 37.xc3 xe3 38.f2 would keep up the alternative, which has also brought Black fight. ] some impressive successes over the years, is [ 6...c5!? aiming to counterattack against d4. 35...e7 36.g2 f3 37.g1 Losing, but I n t h e p r e s e n t g a m e B l a c k a d o p t s a there was no answer to the threat of 37...Nf5. completely different plan. He prepares to f1+ 38.h2 f2+ consolidate a space advantage in the centre. 0-1 The question is whether W hite is able to disrupt Black's build up with a blow from 875 A21 the flanks. ] Tratar,Marko 2435 7.f3 Srebrnic,Vojko 2200 [ Instead 7.d5 g6 looks unclear, though I 11th Open Ljubljana 2000 suspect fine for Black. ] [Neil McDonald] 7...d5 8.cxd5 [ 8.b3 a6! 9.e2 b5 10.c5 a5! d6 2.c4 e5 3.c3 exd4?! turned out well for Black in Ribli-Quinteros, 1.d4 Black concedes the centre. This isn't Las Palmas 1974. ] 8...cxd5 9.fxe4 fxe4 10.e2 This seems too recommended as although Black gains time slow to hurt Black. Much more enterprising with his next move he doesn't seem to be able t o ge n e ra t e e n o u g h d yn a m i sm t o o f f s e t would be [ 10.b5+ perhaps in combination with Qa4 White's space advantage and control of the d5 square. 4.xd4 c6 5.d2 g6 6.b3 or Qb3. ] 865
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g7 7.b2 f6 8.g3 0-0 9.g2 e8 10.h3!? The knight is heading for the f4 square where it will clamp down further on the important d5 centre point. This persuades B la ck t o p a rt wit h t h e t wo b ish o p s . xh3 11.xh3 e4 12.xe4 xe4 A couple of exchanges have eased the congestion in Black's camp, but he still suffers from a space disadvantage. Furthermore, W hite's light squared bishop will soon demonstrate its superiority over the black knight. 13.g2 e8 14.0-0 e7 15.e3 a5 16.ac1 xb2 17.xb2 d8 Black cannot find a constructive plan. All he can do is bolster his defences in anticipation of W hite's coming attack. 18.fd1 b8 19.a3 With all his pieces on optimal squares, White decides it is time for a queenside pawn advance. e6 20.c3 b6 21.c6 ed8 22.b4 axb4 23.axb4 dc8 24.a1 d8 25.g2 b5 26.a7 bxc4 27.d5 e8 28.xc4 c6 Th is b id f o r f re ed o m me et s wit h a sha rp response. 29.xf7+!? [ 29.g2 Of course, another way to keep up the pressure was the quiet ] 29...xf7 30.xd6 d8? [ 30...a8 Black reacts badly to the sacrifice. H e wo u l d h a ve d r a wi n g c h a n c e s a f t e r 31.xa8 ( 31.b7 ab8 32.a7 draws. ) 31...xa8 32.xc6 though stopping the past b pawn would be a demanding task. ] 31.e6 f8 32.ee7 d5 33.xf7 xb4 34.g7+ This is a drastic warning about the dangers of conceding the centre if you don't gain a lot of piece play as compensation. 1-0
876
A21 Vera Gonzalez Quevedo,Reynaldo 2530 Hodgson,Julian M 2590 Winnipeg 1997 [Tony Kosten] 1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.c3 exd4 4.xd4 c6 5.d2 Seems like an odd square for a queen, but it is very common in similar positions. The c1-bishop will be developed on b2, so the queen will be able to defend both the bishop on b2, and the g3-knight, from d2. f6 6.b3 e6 Threatening the freeing move 7... d5.
7.e4 And stopping it! g6 Sensibly continuing development, Black plays his bishop to the a1-h8 diagonal, but [ the immediate attack on the queenside 7...a5 is favoured by some, 8.b2!? a4 9.d1 freeing the a1-square for the bishop, otherwise ...a3 would be annoying. axb3 10.axb3 A) 10...g6 is also reasonable, 11.d3 g7 12.ge2 0-0 13.0-0 d7 14.d5 Lautier, J-Piasetski,L/Manila 1990, and i n s t e a d o f xd5?! which allowed White some advantage along the open c-file after exchanging dark-squared bishops, and recapturing on d5 with the c-pawn, ( 14...a2! might be OK for Black. ); B) 10...e7 11.ge2!? ambitious, perhaps 11 Bd3, and then 12 Nge2, was safer. 0-0 12.f4 d7 13.fd5 the point of White's play, ...Bf6 is ruled out, but White is getting behind in d e v e l o p m e n t . c5 14.c2 f5! and the opening-up of the position proved embarrassing to White, Akesson,JAgrest,E/ch-SWE, Ronneby SWE 1998. ] 8.b2 g7 9.d3 0-0 10.ge2 g4! Black's pieces are ready for action, already the white king is under fire. 11.h3 Driving the knight to the central e5-square, but [ the natural 11.0-0 was dangerous: h4 12.h3 ge5! (threatening 13...Bxh3) 13.f4 xd3 14.xd3 f5 with good play. ] 11...ge5 12.0-0-0!? White obviously felt that the king was safer here, but it is rarely the case. b4 Black passes immediately to the attack, although [ 12...xd3+ was also playable. ] 13.b1 xc4! Shattering the king's defences. 14.bxc4 xc4 15.f4 e5 16.h6 [ 16.g4? would lead to an amusing finish: h5! 17.f3 g5+ and the poor white king has no escape squares. ] 16...c6 [ 16...g7 with a repetition on the queen, would draw immediately, but Black strives for more. ] 17.d4! Sensibly returning material to blunt the attack. xd4 18.xd4 xb2 19.xb2 e8 An unbalanced position has arisen, W hite's two pieces should be a match for Black's rook and two pawns, but the openness 866
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 of the white king is also a factor. 20.d1 f6 21.f4 Risky, White cuts his queen off from the rest of his forces, [ 21.d2! was better. ] 21...a6 22.f5 c5 Countering the threat to d6, with an even bigger menace: ...Na4+. 23.e5 Desperately trying to close the diagonal. dxe5 24.d6 e6 25.xe6 fxe6?! [ 25...xe6 was far better, keeping the pawn structure intact with a clear advantage. ] 26.fxe5 f8 27.xf8+ xf8 28.e3 The endgame should certainly favour Black as rooks tend to come into their own in this phase of the game. d7 29.e4 xe5 30.c2 d8 31.c3 Trying to defend all the entry squares, if the black rook is passive, White will have drawing chances. b6 32.g5 d6 Short of time, Black allows a repetition of position, but [ jettisoning the pawn by 32...c5 at one point in the next few moves, would keep a plus, e. g. 33.xe6 d6 34.c7 f7 ] 33.e4 d8 34.g5 d6 35.e4 d8 36.g5 ½-½
877 Wang Yue Smirin,Ilia WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (2.3) [John Watson]
A21 2585 2673 02.12.2005
A good example of how to play one of the main ...e5/...f5 English Opening lines. White's setup is good but he can't slip up because Black's pieces are always ready to spring into action. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 d6 3.g3 f5 4.g2 f6 5.e3 g6 6.ge2 g7 7.b4 c6 8.b5 e7 9.a4 0-0 10.d3 b8 11.a3 e6 12.c1 h8 13.0-0 All standard stuff, but the rook's placement on c1 is an improvement over b1, and allows him to play f4 without c3 hanging. g5 I've always been a little skeptical of this kind of attack, but it certainly is difficult to face over the board! 14.d2 g6 15.d5 [ 15.f4! gxf4 16.exf4 ] 15...f4 16.exf4 gxf4 17.ec3?! The knights step over each other a bit. A good alternative was
[ 17.d4! ] 17...h6 18.cd1 g8 19.f3? This is a bad sign! 19.d4 was better. The rest of the game shows Black executing a very nice attack. h5 [ Or 19...xd5 intending exchanges on d5 and ...Ne7-f5. ] 20.e2 [ 20.g4 h4 21.de1? ( 21.e2 c6 ) 21...xg4! 22.fxg4 xg4 23.e2 f3 24.xh6 fxe2 ] 20...g7 21.c1 h4! 22.e1 fxg3 23.hxg3 xc1 24.xc1 g5 25.h2 bg8 26.g1 xg3 27.xg3 h6 28.e3 xf3# 0-1
878 Zvjaginsev,Vadim Tseshkovsky,Vitaly 56th ch Krasnoyarsk RUS (8) [Tony Kosten]
A21 2653 2538 11.09.2003
1.c4 e5 2.c3 d6 3.g3 f5 4.d4 e7 [ Not long ago we looked at 4...d7 5.h3!? in Suba,M-Bosboom Lanchava,T/Malaga ESP 2003. ] 5.h3!? Again this amazing idea, and again it is a novelty. [ 5.dxe5 is common, dxe5 6.xd8+ xd8 7.g2 f6 8.b3 c6 9.b2 but this ending doesn't offer White too much, as he hasn't even displaced the black king, Taimanov, M-Vaganian,R/Leningrad 1977. ] 5...exd4 This looks best, Black probably wanted to avoid [ 5...f6 because of 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.xd8+ xd8 8.e4 when the f-pawn is pinned. ] 6.xd4 c6 7.d1 White loses time with his queen, but, as I have stated many time s before, this structure is very favourable to White: he can use the f4 and d5 squares, the e6 and f7 squares are weak, and the black light-squared bishop is curbed by the f-pawn. e5 Trying to hinder White's natural development. 8.f3!? Offering to take play in a new direction, [ 8.g2 followed by Nh3-f4 was a reasonable alternative. ] 8...c6 Black threatens the c4-pawn, which could not be captured immediately because of 867
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the queen check on a4. [ 8...xf3+ 9.exf3 f6 10.0-0 0-0 11.e1 is nice for White because of his extra space and open central files. ] 9.c2!? Rather than defend the c-pawn White counterattacks the f5-pawn. xc4 10.xf5 xf5 11.xf5 d7 [ 11...d5 is also possible. ] 12.d3 e5!? An odd decision, Black prefers to play an endgame with an isolated e-pawn, rather than play the logical-looking [ 12...d5 as 13.e4 is no particular problem: dxe4 14.xe4 d6 15.c2 f6 with equality. ] 13.xe5 dxe5 14.xd7+ Now White is ha p py t o e xc h a nge qu e en s, a s h e ha s a weakness to exploit. xd7 15.e4 f6 16.e2 e6 17.f3 c5 18.a4 d4 19.e3 xe3!? Again this seems a bit too compliant, but perhaps Black was worried that [ 19...b6 20.xd4 exd4 21.d3 c5 22.b4 d7 23.f4 left the white pawns mobile and the black pawns rather static. ] 20.xe3 b6 21.b4 White hinders ...c5, which straightens the black structure, he will try to p r e s s u r i s e t h e b a c k w a r d c - p a w n . hc8 22.ac1 c7 23.c2 d8!? Black prefers not to defend to passively, but [ 23...ac8 is not so bad, for after 24.hc1 Black has the resource c5! 25.bxc5 d7 and the c-pawn is pinned, 26.c6 b8 with no particular problems. ] 24.hc1 d4 This is his idea, the b-pawn is pinned against the knight. 25.a3! [ 25.xc6+ xc6 26.xc6+ d7 27.c2 xb4 is nothing for White. ] 25...c5?! Black follows his defensive plan, but [ 25...d6 is better. ] 26.b2 d7 27.d3 This is the problem, now Black has no method of breaking the pin o n t h e c - l i n e a n d w i l l d r o p a p a w n . g5 To hinder f4. [ 27...c4? is n o im p ro ve m e n t : 28.xe5! xe5 29.f4+ wins an exchange and pawn. ] 28.bxc5 bxc5 29.xc5+ xc5 30.xc5 xc5 31.xc5 a4 Black is a pawn down in the rook ending, but plays for activity - his only chance. 32.c6+ f7 33.c3 h5 34.h4 gxh4 35.gxh4 e7 36.f4 exf4+ 37.xf4 White has been forced to liquidate two of the k i n g s i d e p a wn s t o f r e e h i s p o s it io n . f6
38.c6+ e7 39.c5! The only try - if White is tied down to the a-pawn he can never win. xa3 40.xh5 a5 41.f5 h3? I am not so sure about this, perhaps he should try [ 41...a1! 42.h5 a4 43.a5 a3 44.e5 (the king seeks cover in front of the pawn, otherwise Black would win by ...a2, and then rook somewhere check) a2 45.a7+ f8 46.h6 ( 46.e6 e1 47.xa2 xe4+ draws ) 46...g8 and how can White make progress without dropping his e-pawn? ] 42.h5 a4 43.g4 h1 Perhaps Black had missed that after [ 43...e3?! White has 44.h6! xe4+ 45.g5 e1 46.h7 h1 47.g6 and wins, as the white rook comes to h5. ] 44.a5 g1+ 45.f5 h1 46.g6 g1+ 47.h7 a1 Now Black puts his rook on a1, but the difference with the note at move 41 is that White has brought his king over to help the h-pawn. 48.h6 a3 49.g6 g1+ 50.f5 h1 51.a7+ f8 [ 51...d6 52.xa3! xh6 53.a6+ ] 52.h7 a2 53.xa2 g7 [ 53...xh7 54.a8+ f7 55.a7+ leads to a winning king and pawn endgame. ] 54.e5 [ 54.e5 xh7 55.g2 cuts the black king and wins in textbook fashion. ] 1-0
879 Boensch,Uwe Ftacnik,Lubomir TCh-AUT 2006-7 (1) [John Watson]
A22 2524 2580 03.11.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 c6 4.f3 d6 Black goes for the Old Indian formation. [ 4...e4 is the traditional move. ] 5.g2 e7 6.0-0 0-0 7.e4!? Now White is ready for d4, but if Black stops that we get a so rt o f B o tvin n ik with Nf 3 in . T h is is n o t necessarily b ad, because t he knight ca n always go to h4 to support f4 or perhaps play Nf5. In this game Black tries to exploit the knight position, but not too successf ully. g4!? [ To White's horror, Black might play 7...c5! 868
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 , cancelling out d4, 8.d3 c6 9.h3!? b8 might follow, with W hite going for f4 and Black for f5. ] [ Other ideas are: 7...bd7 8.d4 ] [ 7...e6 8.b3 a5 intending ...b5!? ] 8.h3 h5 [ 8...xf3 9.xf3 c5 10.d3 c6 is still irritating, but this time W hite can play for f4-f5, g4, etc. ] 9.d4 bd7 10.e3 [ An interesting juncture. Traditionally, White is supposed to have some advantage in p o s i t i o n s l i k e 10.g4 g6 11.e1 because Black's bishop is so bad, but it's not clear how he can show that. ( Maybe 11.h4! with the idea xe4 12.xe4 xe4 13.f5 is a goo d gambit : ef6 14.f4! and Black faces some real problems. I think that White is better, and almost certainly so in practice. )] 10...e8 11.e1 [ Better 11.g4 g6 12.h4! ] 11...exd4! 12.xd4 [ 12.xd4 gives more hope to get a little so me th in g ou t of t he p osit io n, b u t a5! l o o k s e q u a l ( 12...f8 13.c2 e5 14.d2! )] 12...e5!? [ or 12...c5= ] 13.xe5 dxe5 14.xe5 a3! 15.d4 xb2 16.ab1 xc3 17.xc3 xe4 18.d4!? [ 18.xe4! xe4 19.xb7 , but the opposite colours will make it difficult to get anything. ] 18...xd4 19.xd4 d2 20.xe8+ xe8 21.xb7 f3+ 22.xf3 xf3 23.e5!? a6 24.b8 xb8 25.xb8 e2 26.c5 f6 27.f4 f7 28.a4 d1 ½-½
880 Chernyshov,Konstantin Kachur,Alexander Geller Memorial op-A 3rd (1) [Tony Kosten]
A22 2570 2284 08.09.2007
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.a4 [ 6.d3 e7 7.a4 was the move order in Karlsson, L-Narciso Dublan, M, though this might be less accurate. ]
6...a5 7.d3 e7 [ With this move order 7...b4 is possible, 8.f3 c6 9.0-0 0-0 the bishop is more active on b4, Leepin, P-Alekhine, A/ Munich 1941. ] 8.e3 0-0 9.xb6 cxb6 10.f3 c6 11.0-0 e6 12.b5 [ 12.d2 is analysed in Karlsson, L (2482)Narciso Dublan, M (2544)/Badalona 2011. ] 12...c8 [ 12...f5 13.d2 ( it is probably better to keep the knight on f3 when Black plays .. .f5, so 13.e3 should come into consideration.) 13...d7 14.c4 c5 15.xe5!? xf2+ ( 15...xe5 16.d4 ad8 17.dxc5 bxc5 18.c2 b6 19.fd1 is about equal.) 16.xf2 xe5 17.f4 g5!? 18.d4 e7 19.c1 ac8 20.xc8 xc8 21.d2 c5 22.xb7! xb7 Blot, J (2324)-Colin, V (2324) / Mans 2001, 23.d8+ g7 24.d4 d5 25.d6 with advantage. ] [ 12...f6 13.d2 c8 ( 13...d7 14.c4 c5 15.c1 fd8 16.c2 ac8 17.fd1 b4 18.b1 f7 19.b3 White plays all his useful moves, next up e3 and d4 is on the c a r d s , b u t B l a c k b l u n d e r s f i r s t ! d7? 20.xb6! winning, Vedral, O-Plasgura, P (2186)/ Czechia 2001.) 14.c1 f7 15.c4 c5 16.h1 Kortschnoj, V (2639)-Zhu Chen (2497)/Amsterdam 2001. ] 13.c1 h8 Black waits for White to move his f3-knight before pushing his f-pawn. [ 13...f6 is again good, 14.d4!? ( 14.e3 d7 15.d4 should not be answered by exd4 as 16.fxd4 leaves White with a positional plus, Nagy, A (2090)-Turkova, K (1908)/ Banska Stiavnica 2010.; 14.d2 would be the normal move, heading for c4, f7 15.c4 c5 transposing to the 12...f6 note.) 14...e4 15.d2 f5 16.e3 b4 17.b3 is possible, White will prepare the f3 break, Dableo, R (2453) -Panopio, R (2212)/ Manila 2007. ] 14.d2 f5 15.c4 g5 This seems a bit pointless, the bishop is best on the a3-f 8 diagonal, protecting d6. 16.c3 [ Or 16.e3 ] 16...e7 17.b3 e8 18.e3 White simply continues 'the plan'. b4 19.c1 White is ready to push d4, or play first Qe2, Rfd1 and then d4. xc4?! Introducing opposite-colour bishops. 20.xc4 869
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 20.bxc4 must also have been tempting. ] 20...f6 21.c2 ed8 22.d1 g5?! W eakening the kingside when W hite was r e a d y t o e x p a n d i n t h e c e n t r e . 23.d4 Of course, this gains in strength now that Black's king is exposed. exd4 24.exd4 f4 25.d5 e7 26.d4 The knight has done its job on b5 and now heads for e6. [ 26.c7! also stops Black exchanging rooks. ] 26...fxg3 27.hxg3 xc4 28.bxc4 g6 29.e4 f8 30.g2 e8 31.f5 W hite dominates on the light squares. e5 32.f3 c5 33.h6 White has a number of routes here, as both [ 33.d6 and ] [ 33.h1 were also natural and strong. ] 33...f6 34.g4 g7 35.h1 g8 36.f5 I suspect both players were short of time here, but Black is completely lost anyway. d4 37.h5 g6 38.d6 f8 39.d5+ h8 40.xg5 c5 41.e4 g8 42.h6 f7 43.xh7! xh7 44.xg6+ 1-0
881 Griffiths,Ryan Rhys Howell,David 4NCL 2011-12 (5.12) [John Bartholomew]
A22 2310 2633 11.02.2012
1.c4 f6 2.g3 e5 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.e3!? A high-profile victory in an u n e xp l o re d li n e is a su re -f i re r e c i p e f o r copycat games in subsequent TWIC updates! c5 Interestingly, Howell is content to repeat Navara's play until move 15. [ Two new games saw the logical 6...c6 7.ge2 . Here Black has a choice: A) Zygouris, H (2205)-Felgaer, R (2571)/ Caleta ENG 2012 went 7...f5 8.0-0?! ( My recommendation last month was 8.d4! when White gets the upper hand in the complications of b4 9.0-0 c2 10.e1 g6 11.f4! . See Nakamura, H (2759)-Navara, D (2712)/W ijk aan Zee NED 2012/ [John Bartholomew].) 8...d3 ( I s u g g e s t e d 8...d3 the text is also fine. ) 9.f4 exf4 ( 9...h5!? ) 10.xf4 d6 11.d4!? ( W h i t e c o u l d p l a y 11.f2
though 0-0 12.f4 xf4 13.xf4 e7 isn 't m u ch .) 11...xf4 12.xc6 bxc6 13.xc6+ f8 14.gxf4 ( 14.xa8 xg3 15.hxg3 xa8 ) 14...b8 15.b3 h5! 16.a3+ g8 17.f3 h6 18.c1 a6 19.d4?? g6+ and White resigned in view of 20.h1 ( 20.f2 h4+-+ ) 20...xc6 21.xc6 b7-+ .; B) 7...e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.f4! exf4 ( I gave 9...f6; Zvjaginsev, V (2663)-Mikhalevski, V (2584) / Aix-les-Bains FRA 2011/[Nigel Davies] went 9...a5 10.fxe5 xe5 11.d4 g6 12.b3 c6 13.e4 c5 14.e3 cxd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.xd4 d7 17.d5 ) 10.xf4 e5 11.d4 g6 (this maneuver l o o k s a l i t t l e s u s p i c i o u s ) 12.xg6 ( 12.d3!? ) 12...hxg6 13.e4 c5! 14.d5 c4 15.f4 g5! 16.e2 gxf4 17.xc4 fxg3 18.e5! gxh2+ 19.h1 h4 20.e4 b5 21.e2 e8? 22.e6! fxe6 23.h5 e5 24.f7+ h8 25.d6 g4 26.g6 1-0 Matinian, N (2438)-Grover, S (2532)/ Moscow RUS 2012. A spectacular victory! ] [ Turov, M (2645)-Brandenburg, D (2527)/ Wijk aan Zee NED 2012 was played in the "C" section several rounds after NakamuraNavara. It continued 6...e7 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 f5 (this is somewhat loosening) 9.d4! A) 9...e4 10.f4 ( or 10.f3 exf3 11.xf3 ); B) 9...exd4 10.exd4 f6 11.d5 (White has several good alternatives, too) 8d7 12.f4 e5 13.e1 e8 14.h5 d7 . A t th is po in t 15.f4 looks very promising for White. In my opinion these recent practical tests should not at all dissuade you from venturing 6.e3!? in your own games. ] 7.ge2 c6 8.0-0 e7 9.f4 exf4 10.xf4 0-0 11.b3 f5 12.b2 d7 13.e4 ad8 14.f2 b4 15.f1 g6 A safe novelty, a d d re ssin g t h e t h re a t o f N f 4 -h 5 . H o we l l doesn't feel the need to refute Nakamura's previous play rather, he's aiming for a solid position in which he can outplay his lowerrated opponent. [ The source game went 15...xe4 16.xe4 6d5 17.h5 g6 18.a3!? a6?? 19.xd5 xd5 20.f6!+- and White won beautifully. Nakamura, H (2759)-Navara, D (2712)/ Wijk 870
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 aan Zee NED 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] 16.xg6 [ E x p e c t e d , b u t 16.c1! is much more challenging, i.e. c8 ( 16...xa2? 17.xc5 is definitely not advisable; I like White's attacking potential with the bishop pair after 16...xe4 17.xe4 f5!? 18.b1 ) 17.a3 4d5 18.xg6 hxg6 19.c3 ] 16...hxg6 17.d4 cxd4 18.exd4 6d5 Black has a sound position. 19.c5 [ 19.e1!? ] 19...c7 [ 19...xc5 20.dxc5 e3 21.e1 bd5! was an unbalanced alternative. ( 21...bc2? 22.c3+- )] 20.a3 e3 21.b5 xc5 22.c1 d7 23.xc5 xg2 24.xb4?! [ White is admittedly passive after 24.xg2 d5 25.xd7 xd7 26.e2 , but this was his best bet. ] 24...e3 25.d5?! Trying to offload the weakness. f6!? 26.e4 f5 [ 26...d1!? ] 27.e6+ f7 28.fc2 xe6 [ 28...e7! was stronger. ] 29.dxe6 e7 30.e2 de8 31.f2 xe6 32.xe6 xe6 33.c7 b6 [ It's unclear why Black refrained from the natural 33...e7 since a rook trade is not in White's best interest. ] 34.b4 a5 35.g4 d6 36.d4 a6 37.c5 e4+ 38.e3 xc5 39.c8+ f7 40.xc5 W h ite ha s go o d d ra wing ch a nce s in t h is ending. axb4 41.axb4 e6+ 42.d4 d6+ 43.e4 c6 44.b5 b6 45.h4 e6 46.h5 g5 47.d4 d6+ 48.e4 f7 49.e3 e6+ 50.d4 g6 51.hxg6+ xg6 52.d3 e1 Seeing no other way to make progress, Black makes for the g-pawn. 53.xb6 g1 54.e6?! Missing a sure draw. [ 54.b5 xg4 55.c6! b4 56.c5 s a ve s t h e d a y, in t e n d i n g K c 3 -c2 wh e n Black's rook cannot maintain an active post. For example, h5 ( 56...g4 57.c3 b1 58.c2 b4 59.c3 b1 60.c2 h1 61.b6 h7 62.b5 b7 63.d3= f5 64.e3 g5 65.f2= ) 57.c3 b1 58.c2 b4 59.c3 b1 60.c2 e1 61.b6 e8 62.d3 b8 63.b5 g4 64.e3 g3 65.e4 with an easy draw, e. g. g4 66.b3+ h2 67.f4 f5 68.b7 g2
69.xf5 g3 70.f4 f8+ 71.g4 g8+ 72.f4= ] 54...xg4 55.e4? A fatal miscalculation. [ 55.c3! still offered chances for the half point. ] 55...xe4 56.xe4 f7 Black gets back in time. 57.d5 e7 58.c6 d8 0-1
882 Grigoriants,Sergey Sadvakasov,Darmen Tournament for the 21st Century (4) [Tony Kosten]
A22 2503 2509 21.12.00
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 b4 4.g2 0-0 5.e4 xc3 The simplest line, this must be played now before White can play his other knight to e2. 6.bxc3 c6 I always felt that this was Black's strongest option here, he will play for ... d5. 7.a3 e8! [ Black is not worried about the bishop's incursion to d6, judging correctly that he can regain control of this square. W hen I had t h i s p o s i t i o n m y s e l f , I p r e f e r r e d 7...d6 , but this means Black will have to play ...d5 in two moves. Nevertheless the game turned out rather successfully for me: 8.e2 e8 9.b3 a6 10.c5?! to stop Black from p l a y i n g . . . b 5 , b u t i t w a s t e s t i m e , dxc5 11.xc5 b5 12.d1 e6 13.a3 bd7 14.d6 b6 the menace is ...c5, trapping the bishop, 15.f4? too aggressive, ( 15.d4 c4 was only slightly better for Black,) 15...g4 16.f1 xh2 17.fxe5 xf1 18.xf1 c5 Black won easily, Miezis,NKosten,A/Elgoibar 1995. ] 8.b3 White needs to control the d5-square. b6 9.e2?! [ 9.d3 b7 10.f3 d5 11.d2 ( 11.cxd5?! cxd5 12.exd5 xd5 13.c4 e4 is overwhelming) 11...a6 12.0-0 c7 which is fairly level, Huebner,R-Christiansen, L/Munich 1992. ] 9...b7 10.d6 [ White still strives to stop ...d5, 10.c5 a6 11.c4 bxc5 12.xc5 d6 13.a3 c5 ( 13...d5!? ) 14.0-0 a5 15.d3 c6 is fine for Black, Balduan, M-Lingnau,C/ Germany 1999. ] 871
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 fe8 13.d2 xf4?! 14.xf4 h3 15.h1 ad8 16.b2 e7 17.f2 White is certainly f o r p ref ere nce , b ut Karjak in's defensive skills came to the fore and he won this rapid game in the end anyway, Nepomniachtchi, I (2703)-Karjakin, S (2786)/ Moscow 2013. ] [ 7...f5!? Is a very natural way to play, with two ideas, either to clamp down on the d4 break by playing ..Bd3, or just by continuing with the straightforward ..Qd7 and ..Bh3. The problem though is that it runs into an equally natural response: 8.d4! exd4 ( 8...d6 9.d5! Is awkward for Black) 9.xd4 xd4 10.exd4 Now Black may feel the absence of the light-squared bishop from th e qu e en side - h an din g W h it e o bvio u s pressure so early in the game is a risky path. c6 11.0-0 e6 12.d5 Obvious, but strong. cxd5 Diagram 13.e3?! I feel this throws away any claims to an advantage. ( 13.d4! f6 14.xf6 gxf6 15.e3 was a very promising endgame) 13...e7 14.f4!? ( 14.xb6 xb6 15.xd5 xd5 16.xd5 0-0 17.f3 ad8 18.fe1 f6 Looks extremely drawish) 14...0-0 15.f5 d7 16.xd5 c6 Delchev, A (2622)Cheparinov, I (2664)/Panagyurishte 2012. ] 8.b3!? [ 8.0-0 g7 9.f4 0-0 10.fxe5 xe5 11.d4 883 A22 c6 12.f4 e7 13.b3 c6 14.a4 a5 15.d2 f5 16.ad1 Artemiev, V (2461)Hera,Imre Jr 2573 Brodsky, M (2563)/Tyumen 2012. ] Ribli,Zoltan 2554 Black is thinking smartly in the AUT-chT 1213 (11.2) 24.03.2013 8...a5!? opening. You may think this is played with the [Danny Gormally] intention of playing ..a4, but in fact it is also 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 a defensive measure, Ribli understands that 5.c3 b6 6.e3!? An interesting approach W h i t e will p la y B a 3 a t so m e p o in t i f t h e bishop goes to g7, so gets ready to meet this which has gained some popularity lately. [ Instead of the normal stuff with 6.f3 c6 with the neutraliser ...Nb4! It's so easy to drift 7.0-0 Which like most main-line theory these through the opening phase without paying days has been analysed to death, W hite attention to things- with the attitude that "any p la n s t o p u t t h e kn igh t o n e 2 a n d p la y old move will count" but if you see chess as a fight of ideas from move one, then you will be directly in the center with d4. ] less likely to overlook your opponent's plans. 6...c6 7.ge2 g6 [ Already it has become clear that there are 9.0-0 g7 10.a3 b4! 11.f4 0-0 12.fxe5 many ways of playing against this line . xe5 13.d4 g7 14.d2 I'm unconvinced An o t he r ap p roa ch is t he n at u ra l 7...d6 a b o u t t h i s c o m b i n a t i o n o f B a 3 a n d f 4 , After 8.0-0 0-0 9.f4! exf4 10.xf4 somehow it just doesn't feel right. On the A rather original position has arisen, with bright side White has an extra center pawn, very unclear play. f5 11.d4 d7 12.b3 but his position looks a bit clumsy. Black soon
10...e6 11.a3?! [ New, 11.xb8 xb8 12.0-0 d5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.exd5 xd5 favours Black because of his superior pawn configuration, Bruzon, L-Sadvakasov,D/Istanbul TUR 2000. ] 11...c5 Forcing this move is obviously White's plan, now Black can no longer play ...d5, but he has overlooked a tactical point. 12.xb8 xe4! 13.xe4 xe4 White's bishop is trapped! 14.f3 f6 15.xa7 c8 16.0-0 b7 17.b2 xa7 After recapturing the bishop Black retains a plus- he has the better pawn st ructure . 18.d4 h6 19.a4 a6 20.a2 e8 21.fb1 d6 22.d5 ea8 23.f2 The weakness of a4 and c4 seems to be balanced by the frailty of b6, so Black must open up a new front. e4! 24.fxe4 e8 25.b5 ae7 Now the white pieces look to be on the wrong side of the board. 26.a5 bxa5 27.xa5 c8 Black requires his most powerful piece in the attack. 28.a8 g4 29.xe8+ xe8 30.f4 g5 31.g2 xe4+ 32.g1 xc3 33.d2 f3 Decisive, there is no defence. 34.e1 [ 34.f2 e2+ 35.f1 d3 leads to a killer discovered check. ] 34...e2 0-1
872
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 initiates strong counterplay in the center. c5! 15.ad1 cxd4 16.exd4 e8 17.f4 f5 18.g4 e6 19.xb4? When your opponent keeps finding strong moves, then it's easy to lose patience, but this just gives away the ga m e in o n e m o ve . W h it e e m b a rks o n a forcing tactical line, that it wasn't difficult to see would not end in his favour. [ Nevertheless Black's game was already clearly preferable, as the f ollowing line might indicate 19.xb7 b8 20.f3 6d5! 21.xd5 xd5 22.d2 c8! Leaving W hite with an extremely difficult choice, either exchange the knight on d5, which will almost certainly lead to his king being butchered on the light-squares, or allow the knight into e3, where it will inevitably cause havoc. ] 19...axb4 20.d5 xg4! Perhaps White had missed this strong blow in advance. Either way, the game is now more or less over. 21.xg4 bxc3 22.f3 c2 23.c1 xd5 [ 23...xa2! 24.xf7+ h8 25.f4 e7 26.xg6+ hxg6 27.xg6 e5 W a s t h e m o s t e f f ic ie n t wa y o f wi n n in g according to a computer, but a human will almost always choose a less hair-raising path... ] 24.xc2 e3 25.xf7+ h8 26.c7 g8 27.fc1 xa2? [ 27...g5! 28.f3 xa2 was killing, as the Rc 8 re s o u r c e i sn 't g o i n g t o h u rt B la c k anymore. ] 28.f4? Returning the compliment. [ D o u b t l e s s W h i t e s a w 28.c8! But dismissed it, as Black's forces look far too active for him to resist for long. But this was certainly the way he should have played, even if Black is still much better after xc8 29.xc8 xc8 30.e6 f8 31.xe3 a1+ 32.c1 c8 ] 28...g5 [ Perhaps I'm cheating by putting this game through an engine, as then the commentator always looks like a genius, while the players look like patzers (if only this was always true in real life.) The computer indicates that the m o s t b r u t a l k i l l w a s w i t h 28...d2! Don't quote me on this, as I rarely understand computer moves anyway, but I think the idea is to play ..Rd1, followed by
taking on d1, then when the king goes to f2, the Knight retreats to f5, and a splendid slaughter on the dark squares will then ensue. Basically to cut a long story short the computer just smells mate. ] [ I did wonder why Black couldn't just play 28...d4 with the smothered mate threat, This is also very strong, for example 29.d7 d5+ 30.h1 xf4-+ ] 29.c8 xg2+ 30.h1 xh2+ 31.xh2 g4+ 32.h3 f2+ 33.h2 h4+ 34.g2 g4+ 35.f1 xc8 36.xc8+ xc8 37.xf2 f8 Nevertheless the smoke has now cleared and Black is easily winning. 38.xf8+ xf8 39.f3 g8 40.e4 f7 41.d3 d6 42.d5 e7 43.f2 h5 44.e4 c7 45.c5 b6 0-1
884 Jones,Gawain C Le Roux,Jean Pierre Politiken Cup 36th (6) [Kosten, Tony]
A22 2665 2560 25.07.2014
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.e3!? This fashionable move was covered extensively by John Bartholomew a year or so ago, and of course Gawain would have seen this. c6 [ W e've also looked at 6...c5 quite a lot, 7.ge2 c6 8.0-0 e7 9.f4! as in Nakamura, H-Navara, D, for instance see the Archive. ] 7.ge2 f5 This seems critical, and JeanPierre is not one to shy away from a fight! [ 7...e7 is solid, and the most popular here, 8.0-0 planning f4, see Zvjaginsev, VMikhalevski, V in the PGN Archive. ] [ 7...g6 8.b3!? a5!? was analysed by Danny in Hera, I- Ribli, Z. ] 8.d4! This was recommended by John Bartholomew in his notes to the Nakamura game. [ 8.0-0?! d3 ( or 8...d3 ) 9.f4 e4 Nakamura, H (2760) -Fressinet, L (2700) Beijing 2012. ] 8...b4 Obviously critical. [ 8...exd4 is the alternative: A) 9.exd4 is OK, but b4?! is a waste of 873
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 time, ( 9...e7 10.0-0 0-0 looks almost level. ) 10.0-0 c6 ( 10...c2?! 11.g4 g6 12.xb7 xa1 13.c6+ d7 14.f4 is strong.) 11.a3 ( 11.f4 Grigoryan, K (2604)-Licznerski, L (2354)/Al Ain 2013, 1-0 (42), e7 12.a3 4d5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.xd5 cxd5 15.b3 e6 16.xb7 is Black's best bet, with a pawn less. ) 11...4d5 12.f4 ( 12.xd5 ) 12...xf4 ( 12...xc3! 13.bxc3 e7 ) 13.xf4 e6 Kuenitz, K-Mendl, M (2155) St Veit 1995, 1-0 (54), 14.d5! xd5 15.xd5 cxd5 16.e5 and Black can hardly move.; B) 9.xd4 xd4 10.exd4 c6 11.0-0 White is ahead in development, and d5 is coming, B1) 11...e6 doesn't help: 12.d5! cxd5 Delchev, A (2622)-Cheparinov, I (2664)/ Panagyurishte 2012, 0-1 (42), when 13.a4! is lo gica l , ( 13.d4!? ) 13...d4 ( 13...c5 14.a5 c4 15.a4+ almost forces f8 16.b3 e5 17.f4 with a strong attack.) 14.e2 c5 15.b4! xb4 16.a5 and Black is in big trouble.; B2) 11...e7 12.d5! xd5 13.xd5 cxd5 14.xd5 0-0 B2a) 15.f4 b6 16.f3 xb2 17.xb7 ( 17.ae1! ae8 18.e5 ) 17...ad8 there are too few pawns left, Mejzlik, O-Bechyne, J (2155) Czechia 1999, 1/2-1/2 (28).; B2b) 15.e3 c o u l d b e b e s t , h3 16.xb7 b8 17.g2 xg2 18.xd8 fxd8 19.xg2 xb2 20.fb1! with some advantage in the endgame.; B2c) 15.b3 a5! 16.e3 ad8 17.fd1 ( 17.xb7!? e6 18.c3 b5! 19.g2 f6 20.c5 xb2 should draw.) 17...b6 18.ac1 d7 an d with accu ra t e play B lack he ld q u i t e c o m f o r t a b l y i n B o c h a r o v, D (2602)-Ponkratov, P (2603)/KhantyMansiysk 2013, 1/2-1/2 (47). ] [ 8...d6 is a sensible try, 9.d5 e7 10.e4 d7 11.a4 0-0 12.0-0 c6 13.a5 bc8 Cuenca Jimenez, J (2481)-Zaragatski, I (2488)/Hamburg 2014, 1/2-1/2 (44), 14.e3 ]
9.0-0 c2 10.e1 [ 10.d2?? c4 11.e1 d3 would be extremely embarrassing! ] 10...g6 11.f4! 'With an initiative:' - John. c2 [ 11...exd4 12.xd4 ] 12.f2 xa1 [ It's too late to turn back: 12...exd4 13.f5 h5 14.xd4 and Black virtually has to play xa1 anyway, 15.xb7 ] 13.xb7! 'with complications favoring White.' according to John, let's see if he was right. exd4?! White's powerful play refutes this move. The alternatives: [ 13...c2 i s h o p e l e s s , 14.c6+ d7 15.f3 ( or 15.fxe5 b4 16.f4! ) 15...b8 16.f5 h5 17.xh5 exd4 18.f6! gxf6 19.e4 e7 20.g5! f8 21.e6 c8 22.xf8 xf8 ( 22...xf8 23.exd4 ) 23.xf6 now it's a forced mate: d8 24.xf7 e7 25.xh7 a6 26.g8+ 1-0 Rooze, J (2340) Geske, J (2402)/Augsburg 2014. ] [ 13...b8 14.c6+ d7 15.f5 f6 ( 15...h5 16.dxe5 ) 16.g2 xf5 17.g4 ] [ 13...b4 might be the best chance, trying to get the king to safety, 14.c6+ d7 15.f3 0-0 16.f5 b8 17.fxg6 hxg6 18.d5 with a strong initiative for the exchange, and the knight has yet to escape from a1. ] 14.c6+ d7 15.f5! Actually the first new move, and a big (if obvious) improvement over [ 15.xd4 c5 16.f5 0-0 17.xa8 ( 17.fxg6 fxg6 18.e2 xd4 19.xa8 xf1+ 20.xf1 is rather more convincing.) 17...xa8 18.fxg6 ( 18.e2 ) 18...fxg6 19.g2 xf1+ 20.xf1 xg2+ 21.xg2 wi t h a s m a l l a d va n t a g e i n t h e e n d i n g , b e c a u s e o f B l a c k ' s d o u b l e d g - p a wn s , Mogranzini, R (2461)-Baron, T (2467)/Ortisei 2012, but 1/2-1/2 (57). ] 15...h5 [ 15...dxc3 16.fxg6 f6 17.f5! is no better. ] 16.xd4 d6 Black is getting ready to castle, and is still a rook up! 17.e6! Decisive! This powerful move just wins. f6 [ 17...fxe6 18.fxe6 f8 19.xd7+ e7 20.d5# ] 18.e4? [ St ra nge t ha t Ga w sho uld miss 18.d5! e5 19.e4! fxe6 20.f4 winning the 874
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 queen, 0-0 21.xe5 xe5 22.xa8 xa8 23.fxe6 Black has 3 pieces for the queen, but this is only temporary as the a1-knight is trapped. ] 18...e5 19.xd6+ xd6 20.xg7+ White still has a strong attack. f8 21.xa8 [ 21.e6+ fxe6 22.xa8 e5 23.b4 and Bb2 might be better. ] 21...xg7 22.g2 f6 23.e4 The position is not so clear now. White has 2 pawns for the piece, and the a1-knight is trapped, but he has to f irs t win it a n d t h e n co n so lid a t e . d3! Jean-Pierre is a tough fighter and will make the most of his chances. 24.d2! xd2 25.xd2 c2 [ 25...b8!? 26.xa1 xb2 returns the piece for a pawn and some activity. ] 26.c1 d4 27.xc7 d8 28.xa7 [ 28.a5! keeps the pressure on. ] 28...f7 [ 28...e8 defends d7 and avoids the exchange of rooks. ] 29.a5 c6 30.xd8 xa7 31.a3 4 pawns and the two bishops should vanquish the two knights and bishop, but only two of the pawns are passed and Black has a good square for a knight on e5. c6 32.c7 b3 33.f2 c5 34.e3 a4 35.d2! The king is rushing over to the rescue! f7 36.g4 e7 37.h4 d7 38.f4 a5 39.f1 c4 40.xc4 xc4+ 41.c2 c5! Tricky! 42.c3 xb2 Regaining one pawn, but now W hit e a dva nce s o n t he kin gside and th e knights are stranded too far away. 43.g5 [ 43.xb2 d3+ 44.c3 xf4 45.a4 might also be enough, but why exchange the strong bishop? ] 43...fxg5 44.hxg5 d1+ The next few moves were probably played with increments. 45.d4 b3+ 46.d5 a5 47.e5 c3+ 48.c5 e4+ 49.d4 f2 50.e6+ e7 51.d5 1-0
885 Kamsky,Gata Gelfand,Boris Tal Mem Moscow RUS (1) [Carsten Hansen]
A22 2714 2736 10.11.2007
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 b4 4.f3 This is a rare variation, and not considered particularly dangerous for Black, but against a strong theoretician like Gelfand, especially when you are not that strong in that particular department, like Kamsky, this isn't necessarily a bad policy. [ The variation played in this game can also be reached after 4.g2 xc3 5.bxc3 0-0 6.f3 e4 7.d4 ( White can also consider, although Black scores very well in that line too. 7.g5 )] 4...xc3 5.bxc3 [ If my analysis of Black's 7th move alternative, 7... c5!?, is correct, White may want to consider 5.dxc3 as discussed in the game Taimanov-Rublevsky, St Petersburg 2 0 0 1 , wh i c h c a n b e f o u n d i n t h e P G N archives ] 5...e4 6.d4 0-0 7.g2 d5 [ Black has a number of alternatives available here: A) The main continuation is 7...c5!? 8.c2 d5 9.cxd5 xd5 A) 10.f3 A1) 10...h5?! 11.fxe4 h3 12.f3 g6 13.d3 c4?! ( 13...c6 14.f4 h5 15.e3 ) 14.f4 c6 15.e3 cxd3 16.exd3 fe8 17.f2 ad8 18.e2 b5 19.a3 a5 20.hc1 b4 21.axb4 axb4 22.a6 e6 Kreizberg, M-Shevelev, D/Tel Aviv 2002, and now White has 23.xc6! xc6 24.e5 e8 25.xc6 xc6 26.f3; A2) 10...e6 11.0-0 b6 12.d4 exd3 13.exd3 b7 14.e1 c6= Costello, CBoersma, P/Leeuwarden 1993; B) 10.e3 h5 11.h3 c6 - Ribli; C) 10.d4?! d8 11.0-0 c6 12.e3 e5 13.e1 g4 14.f3 xf3+ ( 14...exf3 15.xf3 e4!? 16.b2 c4 ) 15.xf3 exf3 16.xf3 xf3 17.xf3 xf3 18.xf3 e4 , and Black has a comfortable edge in the endgame, Gollain, M-Danielian, O/ Paris 1994; D) 10.0-0 h5 11.e3 h3 12.f3 875
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 12.xh3 xh3 13.a3 bd7 14.f4 exf3 15.exf3 fe8 16.g2 ad8 17.e1 e5 18.f4 f5 19.f1 c4 20.c1 e3 21.dxe3 xd1 22.xd1 c2 23.f1 d8 24.e4 d1 25.xd1 xd1+ 26.f2 g5 27.e2 g4 28.b2 c2 29.a3 gxf3 30.xf3 xe4+ 31.f2 g4+ 32.f1 f3+ 0-1 Gordienko, ADolzhikova, K/Kiev 2005/CBM 107 ext) 12...xg2 13.xg2 D1) 13...d5!? D1a) 14.d3 exf3+ 15.xf3 c6 16.xd5 xd5 D1a1) 17.b3!? d7 ( 17...c4!? ) 18.f4 a5 19.a3 b6 with chances to both sides, though I prefer Black due to W hite's loose pawn structure, along with Black's ability to apply pressure along the open e- and d-files; D1a2) 17.c4?! h5 18.b2 fe8 19.d2 e5 20.xe5 xe5 , and Black is in control of the game, Shuraev, A-Vysochin, S/StPetersburg RUS 2006; D1b) 14.b3 xe3+ 15.dxe3 b6 16.d1 c6 17.d5 g6 18.b2 a5 19.a4 e6 with a terrible position for W hite, Alterman, BOratovsky, M/Jurmala 1989; D2) 13...c6 14.d3 ( 14.fxe4 xe4 15.f5 g6 16.f1 b6 17.d5 d6 18.f4 g5 19.e3 ae8 , and Black has the initiative thanks to his better coordinated pieces and better development, Stopkin, V-Vysochin, S/ K y i v U K R 2 0 0 3) 14...exd3 15.xd3 ( 15.exd3 ad8 is thanks to the weak d3-pawn better for Black) 15...fe8 16.f5 ad8 17.c2 e7 18.g4 ( 18.xe7+ xe7 19.e4 ed7 20.e3 d3 21.ad1! ) 18...g6 19.e4 i s g i v e n a s u n c l e a r i n E C O xg4!? ( 19...h5 20.h4 h7 21.g5 d7 Ribli 22.a4 g6 23.f5 h4 24.b1 ) 20.xe7+ ( 20.fxg4? xf5 21.exf5 xg4+ 22.h1 e2-+ Ribli ) 20...xe7 21.fxg4 xg4+ 22.h1 D2a) 22...xe4 23.f2 f6 24.e3 R i b l i , . e . g . e5 25.ae1! c4 26.g2 d7 ( 26...xc3 27.h6 d7
28.c1 ) 27.g1; D2b) 22...xe4+ 23.xe4 xe4 24.f4 f6 with an interesting endgame with fairly even chances, Anastasian, A-Danielian, O/ Protvino 1993 ] [ B) 7...e8 8.0-0 d6 9.f3!? ( 9.d3 bd7 10.c2 c5 11.g5 h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.ab1 exd3 14.exd3 g6 15.fd1 g4 16.d2 e7 , and Black has the upper hand, Psakhis, L-Adianto, U/London 1994) 9...c5 10.c2 exf3 11.xf3 c6 12.d3 d5 13.g5 dxc4 14.xf6 gxf6 A) 15.f4!? e5 ( 15...cxd3 16.exd3 d6 17.b1 ) 16.d4 ( 16.dxc4!? ) 16...cxd4 17.cxd4 g6 18.f2; B) 15.d4 cxd4 16.cxd4 e6 17.f4 e7 18.d2 , and a draw was prematurely agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, Marin, M-Garcia Ilundain, D/ Barcelona 2000, clearly there is plenty of play left in this position ] [ C) 7...c6 8.0-0 e8 ( 8...e5 9.d3 c5 10.c2 d5 11.f4 e7 12.e3 exd3 13.exd3 dxc4 14.dxc4 d8 was played in Portisch, L-Cao, S/Szekesfehervar HUN 2006, and now W hite can obtain a large advantage with 15.d5! xd5 16.cxd5 f6 17.e1 ) A) 9.a4 xd4 10.cxd4 d5 11.b2?! f5 12.ac1 c6 13.cxd5 xd5 14.c5 d7 15.fc1 h3 16.h1 g4 ( Also 16...f4 17.d1 g4 18.f3 is quoted on Me ga Co rr wit ho ut an e va lu at io n, a n d although Black is still better, White is still in the game g6 19.e5 e6 20.xe6 ) 17.c2 b6 18.c4 ( 18.xc6 b4 19.c7 xc2 ) 18...xe2 19.xe4 xe4 20.xe4 e8 21.c2 xc4 22.xc4 e6 , and Black has a positionally won position the knight is many times stronger than the lame dark-squared bishop, Altschuler, B-Grivainis, K/corr 1987; B) 9.d3 '+/=' exd3 10.exd3 xd4 11.cxd4 h6 12.h3?! ( 12.b1!? d5 13.f4 g4 14.a4 ) 12...d5 13.b1 b6 14.f4 ( 14.f4!? e6 15.c5 ) 14...b8 15.c5 a6 16.cxb6 axb6 17.f5 e7 18.f4 , and in this even position, the players agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2, in Ha n s e n , C u - R o g o ze n ko , D / G e r m a n y Bundesliga 1999 ] [ D) 7...a6 8.0-0 d6 9.f3 c5 10.c2 exf3 876
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.xf3 b8 12.d3 d7 13.a4 c7 14.f4 e7 15.d2 e8 16.e4 Marin, M-De Vreugt, D/Tel Aviv 2000 ] 8.cxd5 [ 8.a3 e8 9.cxd5 xd5 10.b3 h5 11.h3 b6 12.c4 bd7 13.b5?! ( 13.g4 e5 14.b2 b7= ) 13...a6 14.c3 c5 15.xc5 xc5 , and Black is in the driver's seat, Vaulin, A-Gavrilov, A/St Petersburg 2001 ] 8...xd5 9.f3!? [ A novelty, previously White had only tried 9.d3 , which is also perfectly fine for White, e.g. c5 ( 9...e8 10.0-0 c5 11.dxe4 xe4 12.b5 ) 10.c2?! ( 10.dxe4!? xe4 11.b3 c4 12.b5 e6 13.a3 d8 14.b1 is very nice for W hite) 10...d8 ( 10...e5 11.d4 cxd4 12.cxd4 h5 , and Black is already in control, Dominguez, H-Velasquez Ojeda, C/Santiago 1994) 11.c4 h5 12.b2 h3 13.xh3 xh3 14.xf6 gxf6 , Winants, L-Danielian, O/ Cappelle la Grande 1993, and now White's best chance to stay in the game is 15.e3 c6 16.d5 g7 17.d2 exd3 18.xd3 e6 , and Black has the initiative ] 9...c5 [ I'm not too keen on this move on account o f W h i t e ' s s t r o n g 1 1 t h m o ve c o u n t e r . Instead the normal continuation is 9...exf3 10.xf3 e5 11.d3 e7 with chances to both sides, though I think White's has the upper hand thanks to his bishop pair ] 10.fxe4 xe4 11.b3! h5?! [ This is an attempt at grabbing the initiative at the cost of a pawn, but as Kamsky will demonstrate, this approach falls flat on its f a c e . S o l i d a n d b e t t e r i s 11...e5 , although I af ter 12.f3 e7 13.0-0 prefer White ] 12.xe4 cxd4 13.cxd4 c6 14.b2 h3 [ 14...e8 15.f3 g4 16.xg4 xg4 17.0-0 e7 18.e3 ] 15.f3 g5 The following three moves from Kamsky are very good and change the nature of the game, from Black having some compensation for the pawn to White having t h e e xt r a p a wn a n d " t h e co m p e n sa t io n " 16.c1! ad8 17.c5! f6 18.h5! c8 19.d5!? [ 19.e4!? is also good: g6 20.f1 e7
21.h4 , but White doesn't seek complications when already having a winning position ] 19...d4 20.xd4 xd4 21.h4 e5 [ Now White can start consolidating before proceeding to slowly but surely advance his central p awns. 21...a1+ 22.f2 e5 23.c1+- ] 22.0-0 b6 23.d4 g5 24.e4 a6 25.d1 c8 26.f4 d8 27.e5?? [ This move is difficult to explain White is on the road to win, and then blunders away a central, passed pawn. Needless to say, most moves than don't blunder material away in this position are better than this, e.g. 27.a3 b5 28.e5 a6 29.d6 , and Black is going down ] 27...c4 28.b2 xd5 29.b5 [ 29.g2 xf3 30.xf3 e7 31.b3 ] ½-½
886 Karlsson,Lars Narciso Dublan,Marc Badalona op 37th (8) [Tony Kosten]
A22 2482 2544 08.08.2011
1.g3 e5 2.c4 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.d3 This move order might gain a few seconds on the clock. [ 6.f3 c6 7.d3 ( 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 0-0 9.e3 e6 10.a4 might not transpose as Black can prefer d5 ) 7...e7 8.a4 a5 9.e3 0-0 10.xb6 ( or 10.0-0 e6 11.xb6 ) 10...cxb6 11.0-0 would be the right way to transpose to the game from alternative move orders (more specifically the Four Knights.) ] 6...e7 [ T h e p o i n t i s t h a t 6...c6 could be answered by 7.xc6+!? ( although I would probably not bother to actually capture on c6 myself, and prefer 7.f3; or 7.e3 ) 7...bxc6 8.f3 d6 9.0-0 0-0 10.d2 g4 11.c2 f5 12.ac1 e8 13.h4 h5 14.fe1 g5 but this looks dangerous for W hite, Ivanchuk, V (2762)-Ruisinger, W (2175)/ Mainz 2007. ] 7.a4 [ 7.e3 0-0 8.a4 is another move order. ] 877
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...a5 The white a-pawn must be stopped, [ 7...c6?! 8.a5 d7 9.a6 c5 10.e3 with pressure on the queenside, Demidov, D (2017)-Yakovenko, A (1898)/Novosibirsk 2007. ] 8.e3 0-0 [ 8...c6 9.f3 8d7 10.b3 ( 10.0-0 ) 10...b4 11.0-0 0-0 12.fd1 e7 Kincs, I (2225)-Ruck, R (2435)/Harkany 1994, 13.d4 exd4 14.xd4 c5 15.c2 with a small plus. ] 9.xb6 [ 9.f3 c6 10.0-0 ( 10.xb6 ) 10...e6 11.xb6 cxb6 ] 9...cxb6 10.f3 c6 11.0-0 So we reach a key position. White has conceded the bishop pair but has weakened Black's queenside pawns, White has nice outposts on b5 and c4 for his knights, while Black has b4. W hite's simple, but effective plan is to put his pieces on these light squares and then prepare the advance of his (extra) d-pawn. e6 12.d2 The knight heads for c4. [ 12.b5 is considered in the game Chernyshov, K (2570)-Kachur, A (2284. ] 12...f6 A standard plan to control d4, Black intends ...Rf7, ... B-f8 (or c5/b4) and ...Rd7, [ 12...f5 i s m o r e a g g r e s s i v e , 13.c1 ( 13.c4 e4 Jolivel, P-Brunner, N (2407)/ Metz 2006.) 13...c5 14.b5 d7 when 15.f3 might be best, h6 16.xe5! xe5 17.d4 still, this does suggest that Nd2-c4 can be delayed a bit. ] 13.c4 f7 14.c1 b4 [ 14...c8 15.b5 c5 16.h1!? ( W h i t e w o u l d l i k e t o p l a y 16.e3?! but with Black's clever play this would be ans we red b y d7 ) 16...d4 ( 16...d7 ) 17.xd4 xd4 18.e3 c5 19.f4?! this looks weakening, ( I would play 19.e2 and Rfd1. ) 19...exf4 20.xf4 d7 21.d4 xd4! 22.xd4 xd4 23.exd4 1/2-1/2 Kortschnoj, V (2639)-Zhu Chen (2497)/Amsterdam 2001, as xc4 24.xc4 xc4 25.xb7 is fine for Black. ] 15.e3!? [ White can also continue to improve his pieces: 15.b5 d7 16.b3 c5?! 17.h3! the exchange of the light-squared bishops should normally favour White with t h i s s t r u c t u r e , e7 ( 17...xh3?!
18.xb6+ ) 18.xe6+ xe6 Wirig, A (2304)Abergel, T (2307) /Hyeres 2002, 19.xa5! ] 15...d7 16.e2 xc3 [ 16...xd3 17.xb6 d2 18.e1 b8 19.d5 is the tricky point, although xd5 20.bxd5 xd5 21.d1 threatening e4, ca n b e m e t b y e4 when 22.f3!? exf3 23.f2 xc3 24.bxc3 is messy, White will win a piece but Black will get some pawns. ] 17.xc3 b4 18.d4! White can achieve this ad va n ce a s th e e 6 -b ish op is lo o s e . exd4 19.exd4 f7 20.e3! b8 Defending b7, which is always a problem for Black in this line. [ 20...xd4 21.xb7 b8 22.f5 d2 23.g4 g6 24.e4 gives White play on the kingside, xb2? 25.fc1 wins, a2 26.d5+ h8 27.h4 b1 28.c7 ] 21.f5 White is a bit better here, as his IQP ju s t h a s t o b e m o r e u s e f u l t h a n B l a c k ' s doubled b-pawn. g6 22.h6+ g7 23.xf7 xf7 24.c4+ [ 24.e1! is more natural, and stronger: xd4 25.e6+ g7 ( 25...f8?! 26.c7! xc7 27.xf6+ g8 28.xd4 ) 26.e7+ xe7 27.xe7+ h6 28.cc7 with advantage. ] 24...g7 25.d1 d5 26.xd5 xd5 27.e2 d6 Black is close to equal as long as he keeps the d4-pawn well blockaded. 28.e3 f8 29.e6 d8 30.c4 f7?! This careless move drops a pawn. [ 30...d6 ] 31.xb6! xb6 32.xd5 xb2 33.xa5 This position won't be easy to win, but isn't that easy to draw either! b3 34.e1 b6 Black decides to head for a rook endgame as they are often drawish. [ 34...d7 ] 35.b5 xb5 36.axb5 d7 37.e6 xd4 38.xb6 g5? Making room for the king but allowing White to activate his rook. [ 38...b4 39.b7+ h6 looks right. ] 39.c6 b4 40.b6 g6 41.f1 b2 42.e1 h5 43.d1! The older GMs know h o w t o p l a y r o o k e n d g a m e s ! xf2? This loses by force. 44.c1 f5 The only m o ve t o st o p b 7 . 45.c2! b5 46.b2 Nice technique! c5+ 47.d2 c8 48.b7 b8 49.d3 f5 50.d4 g4 51.d5 f5 52.c6 f4 53.gxf4 xf4 Black is much too 878
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 slow. 54.f2+ e4 55.f7 h4 56.h3 h8 57.c7 g4 58.hxg4 [ 58.hxg4 h3 59.b8 xb8 60.xb8 h2 61.f1 ] 1-0
887 Kosten,Anthony C Salem,Zahed Golden Cleopatra (5) [Tony Kosten]
A22 2545 2319 05.06.2003
When I prepared for my Egyptian opponent I noticed that he had played this sharp, but perhaps slightly unsound, line before, and so with a little preparation I went into the game feeling very confident. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 e4!? A sharp idea of the Spanish GM Bellon-Lopez, but just what I was hoping for! Of course, since the advent of ChessBase such lines only have surprise value the first time you play them, as on the second occasion your opponent is almost certainly ready! 4.g5 b5 5.d3! This is well-known to be the best move here, as accepting the pawn by either [ 5.xb5 c6 6.c3 d5 or ] [ 5.cxb5 d5 allow Black a strong centre and useful initiative for the pawn. ] 5...exd3 [ 5...bxc4 6.dxe4 is the other main variation, but is very dangerous for Black: h6 7.xf7! the shot that justifies this line for W hite, xf7 8.e5 c6 ( 8...b7 9.exf6 xf6 10.e4 e6 11.e2 c5 12.0-0 with a clear advantage to White, because of the better s t ru c t u re a n d sa f e r k in g , C ve t k o vi c, S Nedeljkovic,M/ Jugoslavija 1976; 8...g8? 9.d5+ wins the a8-rook) 9.exf6 xf6 10.e4 d5 11.exd5! c5 12.e3 e8 Psakhis, L-Sermek,D/Groningen 1995, and now Psakhis gives 13.h5+ f8 14.xc4 xe3 15.fxe3 xe3+ 16.e2 e5 17.f1! as winning. ] 6.cxb5 h6 7.f3 dxe2 8.xe2 The key position, W hite has a lead in development, and free play for his pieces. a6!? This may be too ambitious, [ 8...c5 is possibly stronger, 9.0-0 b7 ( 9...0-0 10.e5 d5 11.f3 b7 12.d3
d6 13.f4 puts the d-pawn under strong pressure, Shahade,G-Tamburro,P/Chicago 1994 ) 10.d4 0-0 ( 10...xd4?! 11.xd4 0-0 12.b4 d6 13.b2 worked well for Black, but White is clearly on top here, Plaskett,JHe m p so n , P /B la ckp o o l 1 9 8 8) 11.e3 (with a threat!) b6 12.f3 d5 13.f5 e8 14.e1 with a big advantage, Ghitescu, TErmenkov,E/Moscow 1977/EU-chT. ] [ 8...b7 is similar, 9.0-0 e7 10.d4 0-0 11.f3 d5 12.f5 and once again Black is under pressure, Smejkal, J-Bueno Perez,L/ Leipzig 1977. ] 9.0-0 e7 [ 9...c5 came a cropper in the game Stean, M-Regan,K/New York 1977: 10.d4 0-0 11.f3 a7 12.e3 axb5? missing the menace ( 12...b6 was better, if still not too inspiring ) 13.c6! ( 13.e6! is also rather strong, maybe stronger) 13...xc6 14.xc5 forking the black rooks, b7 15.xf8 xf8 16.e1 with a significant advantage. ] 10.d4 0-0 [ 10...d5 11.f4 0-0 12.a4 d6 13.xd6 xd6 14.f3 b7 15.e1 d7 16.b3 c5 17.bxc6 xc6 18.ad1 e7 19.a5 ab8 20.a4 Kalevic,S-Stojanovic,A/Herceg Novi YUG 2001/The Week in Chess 344 ] 11.f3 d5 12.b3!? [ 12.f4 may be simpler. ] 12...axb5 [ 12...b7 13.f4 is also pleasant for White. ] 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 a6 [ After the game a spectator suggested 14...a4! when 15.d1 b4 ( 15...g4!? ) 16.f3 g4 ( 16...c6!? 17.xc6 xc6 18.xc6 g4! is a nice trick, 19.xd8 xd8 and Black recuperates the queen.) 17.xg4 xd5 18.f5 ( 18.a3!? a4 19.xh6 f6 20.e3 ) 18...e5 is better for White, if hardly earth-shattering. ] 15.d1 b4 16.f4 White's nicely centralised position, and better development give him a c l e a r e d g e . d6?! Falling for a nice trick. 17.b5! This gave my opponent a jolt. b6 [ 17...xf4 18.xf7+ h8 19.xd8 xd8 20.xb4 is crushing. ] 18.xd6 cxd6 19.g3 [ 19.e3 a6 20.xb4 is also good, of course. ] 879
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19...f6 20.ac1 d7 Black desperately tries to finish his queenside development. 21.e3! a6 I had expected [ 21...c5 when 22.d4 g5 23.xg5 hxg5 24.xc5 dxc5 25.xc5 wins a good pawn. ] 22.c4 c6? This loses material, although the better [ 22...a5 is hardly fantastic: 23.xd6 xb2 24.xh6 ] 23.xf7+ This may be the best move objectively, but in retrospect perhaps I should have preferred [ 23.d4 g5 ( 23...e5 24.f4 ) 24.xg5 hxg5 25.xf7+ xf7 26.xc6 with an exchange and pawn more in the endgame. ] 23...xf7 24.xc6 I had expected my opponent to resign here, after all an exchange a n d t wo p a wn s d o wn a ga in st a G M ? f6 25.xd6 g4 26.f3 d7 27.cc1 [ 27.c7 wins, but I didn't want my opponent to regain the exchange by e8 28.xd7 xc7 although this is still hopeless, naturally. ] 27...xa2 28.xb4 f7 29.b7 e8 30.d4 P l a n n i n g e x c h a n g e s . e2 W ith a tact ical threa t, th at do esn't work! 31.b8+ Of course, I had intended [ 31.xf6! but didn't want my opponent to play xg2+ as there were so many s p e c t a t o r s ! 32.h1! ( 32.xg2? h3+ 33.xh3 xb7 34.e5 xf3+ is problematic) 32...xf6 33.xg2 g5+ 34.h1 and there are no more checks - but why give him the pleasure? ] 31...h7 32.xf6 xf6! 33.xd7! g5 Hitting g2 and c1, but White had seen further. 34.xg7+! xg7 [ 34...xg7 35.c7+ ] 35.c7 e7 [ 35...xg2+? 36.f1 and the queen is lost. ] 36.xe7 xe7 37.h3 To stop the mate threat! e1+ 38.h2 h5 39.b4 h4 40.b5 b4 41.b6 Black has no way to stop Qc7, b7 and b8(Q), and there are no checks for White to worry about. 1-0
888 Mestel,A Jonathan Hynes,Anthony 4NCL West Bromwich ENG (7) [Tony Kosten]
A22 2496 2289 01.05.2004
1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.e4 e5 4.f3 d6 Black wants to keep his e5-pawn, after [ 4...g7 5.d4 Black has to capture, exd4 6.xd4 see Lautier,J-Taddei,B. ] 5.d4 e7?! A new move, [ 5...exd4 6.xd4 g7 leads to a King's Indian, while ] [ 5...g4? lo se s m at eria l, 6.dxe5 xf3 7.xf3! ( 7.gxf3 dxe5 8.xd8+ xd8 9.g5 e7 10.0-0-0+ is also promising, Santos,L-Reis,L/Evora 1995) 7...dxe5 8.g5 e7 9.xf6! ( 9.d1 fd7 is less effective, Chabanon, J-Grimberg,G/ Toulouse 1995) 9...xf6 10.d1 d7 11.g3 and Bh3 will win material. ] [ However, 5...bd7 is a superior method of defending e5, and leads to the KID, once again. ] 6.g5 Menacing Nd5. c6 7.c5! The most incisive, the position opens-up and Black is in some trouble. g4?! [ 7...exd4? 8.cxd6 xd6 9.e5 wins ] [ 7...dxc5? 8.dxe5 likewise, but the only real chance was ] [ 7...h6 although 8.h4 g5 9.cxd6 xd6 10.g3 b4 11.a3! is very unpleasant for Black. ] 8.cxd6 [ 8.b3! may well be even stronger, Black can hardly protect b7, e.g. xf3 9.cxd6! xd6 10.xb7 transposing to the game, whilst avoiding Black's superior alternatives. ] 8...xd6 9.b3 [ 9.dxe5 xd1+ 10.xd1 fd7 11.c1 xf3 12.gxf3 h6 is obviously good for White, but Black is still fighting. ] 9...xf3?! [ 9...exd4 10.e5 b4 11.xf6 dxc3! is a far better bet. ] 10.xb7 The a8-rook is lost. exd4 11.d5!? W hite plays to the crowd, and goes for an attack, but [ 11.gxf3! i s p e r h a p s s i m p l e r , dxc3 ( 11...e7 12.b5 cxb5 13.xb5+ f8 880
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.h6+ g8 15.c1 ) 12.d1 and Black can happily resign. ] 11...cxd5 12.b5+ bd7 13.xf6 Clearly best, [ 13.xa8+?! e7 14.xd7 ( 14.gxf3? b4+ forks king and bishop) 14...xd7 15.gxf3 g7 16.xd5 xd5 17.exd5 d6 gives Black fair chances in the endgame, as his better structure and active king compensate the lost exchange. ] 13...d8 Obviously forced. 14.xd8 xd8 [ 14...xg2 is not much of an improvement: 15.g5 f6 ( 15...xh1?? 16.c8# ) 16.c1! h3 17.d2 with extra material and an attack. ] 15.gxf3 dxe4?! Black doesn't have time for this. [ 15...b6 ] 16.c1! White threatens Rc8+, and then Rc7, winning another piece. b6 [ 16...g7 17.c8+ e7 18.xd7 xd7 19.c7 is also hopeless. ] 17.0-0 Calm development. e5? This allows mate in two, but even after [ 17...g7 say, White wins by 18.c6 d7 ( 18...e7 19.b8+ ) 19.xb6 ] 18.c8+! 1-0
setup. ] 8.f3 a6 This has been played successfully for 50 years or so. It is also a good plan with colours reversed. Another proven idea is [ 8...a5 intending ...a4 or ...Nc5. ] 9.0-0 [ 9.a4?! c5 hits b3, when 10.d2 a5 11.0-0 c6! makes it difficult for White to find a plan. ] 9...b5! Still book. The idea is to grab the light squares by force, and after ...Bb7, White will have to defend e4 but watch out for ...d5 as well. 10.d1! Switching plans. Inferior would be [ 10.cxb5 axb5 11.d2 ( 11.xb5? a6 ) 11...c5 ] 10...bxc4 11.xc4 a5 12.e2 a6 13.c4 a4! 14.b1 b7!? [ 14...e7 , to prepare ...Nc5 and in some cases ...Rfb8, is also logical. Then 15.h4 e6! 16.b3 axb3 17.axb3 c5 18.f5 g6 19.h6+ g7 achieves little. ] 15.h4!? c5 16.e3 fd7 17.f5 g6 [ 17...xe4?? 18.xe4 xe4 19.g4 ] 18.h6+ The knight isn't doing much here. h8 19.f4 e7 [ Again, grabbing the pawn runs into tactical trouble: 19...xe4? 20.xe4 xe4 21.fxe5 xe5?? 22.f4 ] 20.fxe5 xe5 21.d4 e6 889 A22 [ or 21...f6 ] Miezis,Normunds 2547 22.c3 c5?! Black hopes for ...Nd4 at some Olsen,Heini 2345 point but the timing is wrong. Simply [ 22...f6 was good, when White's e-pawn is Nordea Cup Dianalund DEN (9) 20.02.2005 the only weakness in the position. ] [John Watson] 23.g4! d4 [ Black would like to have been able to play ... With the move 3.Bb5 being so popular after 1. Nxg4 if ...f6 had been in, but now 23...f6 e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6, it's interesting to take a look 24.e3 brings the knight back from h6 to a at the reversed position. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 useful post. So Black mixes it up, but his 3.g3 b4 More than the Keres Variation pawn sacrifice is unsound. ] [ 3...c6 4.f3 e4 , this move drove people away from 3.g3 (as opposed to 3.Nf3 Nc6 4. 24.xd4 cxd4 25.xd4 f5 26.exf5 xg2 27.xg2 b7+ 28.d5 ae8 29.fxg6 xg6 g3, which is still going strong). ] 4.g2 0-0 5.e4 xc3 6.dxc3 d6 7.e2 30.d2 White is practically winning, and [ 30.d3! would have been even better, bd7 preventing Black's only idea of ...Re4. ] [ In the long history of this variation, Black h a s v e r y s e l d o m c h o s e n 7...c6 30...g7?! [ 30...e4! (h i t t i n g c4 a n d g4 ) 31.c3+ with the idea of ... Be6 and ...Qd7, as White e5 ] does in the reversed position. I don't think that the Rossolimo will continue to be much 31.h3! e4 32.h1?! [ 32.xd6! ] of a threat if White has to count upon that 881
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 32...xc4 33.xd6 b7+ 34.d5 xd5+ significant pressure, and Adams went on to 35.xd5 c2 36.g1?? White is two pawns win. Miezis, N (2547)-Adams, M (2734) / up and can consolidate by 36.Re3. Also good Porto Carras GRE 2011. ] is 6...c6 Preparing the ...d7-d5 advance is the [ 36.b5! , in view of f3? 37.b8+ g7 most critical challenge. 38.b7+ and Re1 or Rd1 g8 39.e1! ] [ S t r a n ge ly, 6...d6 , as in Smirin, I (2685)36...f3 Uh-oh. Now the tactics don't quite Comp Deep Shredder/ Kasparovchess.com work out and Black recovers. 37.d8+ g7 2002/[TonyK], is much less worrisome for 38.d7+ g8 39.d8+ g7 40.d7+ g8 W hite. One might think that with W hite's 41.h6+ doubled pawns and bishop pair, Black ought [ 41.e1 xg3+ 42.f1 f3+ ] to play this way to keep the game closed. 41...h8 42.f7+ Instead, experience has shown that Black [ Or 42.h1 e5 43.e7 ff2 as occurs in has at least equally good play in the open the game. Now the game is drawn. ] positions after 6...c6 and 7.. .d5. A 42...g8 43.h6+ h8 44.h1 e5 possible justification is that White's pawn 45.e7 ff2 46.xe5 h2+ 47.g1 cg2+ weaknesses will not simply disappear (the 48.f1 c2 49.e8+ g7 50.f5+ f7 a2/c3/d2 cluster is doomed to fragility), and 51.d6+ g7 52.g1 cg2+ 53.f1 c2 the open nature of the position will make it 54.g1 cg2+ 55.f1 c2 easier for Black to target them. ] ½-½ 7.b1!? White has an extremely wide choice. Various alternatives have been covered in this site: 890 A22 [ 7.d4!? Vallejo Pons, F (2674)-Aronian, L (2724)/Khanty Mansiysk 2005/[John Naiditsch,Arkadij 2712 Watson]. ] Topalov,Veselin 2768 [ 7.d3 Rogers, I (2569)-Acs, P (2623)/Wijk 18th European Teams (5.2) 07.11.2011 aan Zee 2003/ [TonyK]. ] [John Bartholomew] [ 7.a3 Grigoriants, S (2503)-Sadvakasov, D (2509)/ Subotica 2000/ [TonyK]. ] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 b4 [ A kind of tabiya for this variation is reached The possibility of this tried and true move is after 7.e2 d5 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.exd5 xd5 one of the reasons why 2.g3 has become so 10.0-0 c6 . White's practical results from popular. 4.g2 0-0 5.e4 this position have been mind-boggling poor: [ Most common is 5.f3 ] +1, =14, -21!!! Seriously, confirm for 5...xc3 6.bxc3 yourself! Of course, this is an anomaly and [ Another game from the European Team isn't a reflection of the true assessment of Championship, Miezis-Adams, saw Black the position. Also, play has a tendency to having success after the alternative capture, merge with other move 7 alternatives - for 6.dxc3 . Interestingly, I discovered that instance, 11.b1 (most common and Miezis has an incredible devotion to this line. possibly best) reaches our main game - and The database shows him playing the White thus we can't take the statistics for gospel side of this position some 45 times! He has truth (you never can!). However, one thing preferred 6.bxc3 on only seven occasions. that these games suggest is that with his d6 7.e2 bd7 8.h3!? fewer weaknesses, perhaps Black may have ( See the archives for 8.f3 , Miezis, N the easier/more manageable game in (2547)-Olsen, H (2345)/Dianalund 2005/ practice. ] [John Watson].) 8...a6 9.f3 b5! A typical [ Finally, 7.b3 aims to prevent the ...d7-d5 pawn offering in the 6.dxc3 variation. 10.e3 advance entirely, but a6 (other moves are ( Accepting is reckless: 10.cxb5 axb5 playable) 8.a3 d6 9.e2 ( 9.d3 b5 11.xb5?! c5! ) 10...bxc4 11.xc4 a5! 10.cxb5 e6 1/2-1/2 Kasimdzhanov, R 12.d3 a6 13.c2 b8! 14.f2 a4 (2 6 9 0 ) - T k a c h i e v, V ( 2 6 5 7 ) / N e w De lh i / 15.b1 d5! White was already under 882
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Teheran 2000.) 9...c5 has done very well for Black. ( or 9...e6 )] 7...d5 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.exd5 xd5 10.e2 c6 11.0-0 e8 My feeling is that Black is quite comfortable here and thus has a few good ways of proceeding. [ Carlsen played the immediate 11...b6 in a blitz match against Nakamura a couple years ago. That game continued A) 12.a3 e8 13.d3 f5 14.c1 e4!? 15.b5 f6 16.dxe4?! xe4 17.xe4 xe4 Olafsson, H (2445)-Christiansen, L (2550)/Grindavik 1984. This is the sce na rio W hit e n e ed s to avo id: cle a r pawn weaknesses with no bishop pair or other compensation.; B) 12.c2 g4 ( 12...e6 13.d3 d7 1/2-1/2 Benko, P-Hecht, H/ Olot 1971.) 13.d3 d7 14.g5 h6 15.e3 d5 16.b3 ac8 17.c4 de7= 18.f4?! f5 Askarov, M (2421) -Plischki, S (2366)/ Karvina 2005.; C) 12.d4 C1) 12...e6 13.d2 ( 13.a4 c4 14.e1 d7 15.a3 fd8 16.c5 d5 Pribyl, J-Hecht, H/ Bamberg 1972. ) 13...d5 14.dxe5 xe5 15.xd5 xd5 16.h1?! b6 ( 16...a5 Ivkov, B (2570)-Olafsson, F (2570)/ Wijk aan Zee 1971. ); C2) 12...g4!? Kasubke, M (1950)Maus, S (2270)/Germany 1988.; C3) 12...f5?! An inaccuracy. 13.b3?! ( 13.b5! creates more problems.) 13...e6 14.d5?! xd5 15.xd5 xd5 16.a3 e8 17.xb7 c8 Nakamura, H (2715)-Carlsen, M (2801)/Oslo NOR 2009. ] [ Perhaps unnecessary (though not bad) is 11...b8 , i.e. 12.a3 e8 13.b5 e6 ( 13...e4!? ) 14.b1 d7 15.e1 a6 16.b2 b5 17.d3 f5 Budnikov, A (2535)Naumkin, I (2450)/London 1993. ] 12.d3 [ 12.a3 Stein, L (2620) -Gheorghiu, F ( 2 5 2 0 ) / L a s P a l m a s 1 9 7 3 . a5!? ( 12...b6 is Olafsson-Christiansen above. )] [ Black was fully coordinated with a superior pawn structure after 12.c2 g4! 13.e1 d7 14.a3 ad8 , Stefansson, H (2525)Olafsson, H (2535)/Vestmannaeyjar 1994. ]
12...b6 [ 12...g4!? is thematic, threatening 13... N x c 3 . A f t e r 13.f3 e6 14.xb7 White's rook gets stranded, but he can make it ugly: b6 15.f4! c8 16.xb6 axb6 17.f5 xa2 18.f6 ] 13.e3 g4 [ I'd prefer the simple 13...f5 with fine play. ] 14.c2 e7 A useful move, securing b7. 15.c1 e6?! White has a little something to work with after this. [ 15...d5 gels better with Black's last move. ] [ 15...c8 is likewise good. ] 16.b5!? [ 16.b3 seems more natural, but Naiditsch wants to pressure the e-pawn. ] 16...d5! G o o d d e f e n s e ! 17.c4 xe3 18.fxe3 c8 19.b2 Black has to pitch his epawn, but fortunately he'll get decent compensation in return. White must exchange off his good bishop and will still suffer from multiple pawn weaknesses. b6 20.xc6 xc6 21.xe5 f6 22.e4 h3 23.ff4?! An awkward square for the rook. [ After 23.xe7 xe7 24.e1 White faces a long road in converting his extra pawn, but there's no doubt about his advantage. ] 23...f5! Topalov brings the evaluation level with this alert move. 24.xe7 xe7 25.f2 e6 26.d2 b7! 27.e4 Not a move White wanted to make, but the threat of 27...Qg2+ must be addressed. e8 28.e2 fxe4 29.e3 c6 30.xe4 [ or 30.d4 a4 with counterplay. ] 30...f8+ 31.f4 e8 32.e4 f8+ 33.f4 e8 34.f3? Naiditsch's decision to play on was likely influenced by the match situation (Bulgaria won the match 3-1). His fighting spirit is commendable, but unfortunately White is a little worse now. c5+ 35.d4 [ 35.d4?? g5-+ ] [ 35.e1 g5! ] 35...xc4 36.g4?? [ Nece ssary is 36.e4 , when the B vs. N endgame after e6! 37.f4 f7 38.xe8+ xe8 39.d5+ xd5 40.xd5 f7 is a bit more pleasant for Black. ] 36...g5! Of course, the other possibility is that N a i d i t s c h j u s t m i s s e d t h i s m o v e ! 37.f5 883
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Naiditsch resigned here due to [ After 37.f6 xg4! 38.xg4 xe2+ 39.xe2 xd4+ and 40...Qxf6, Black should convert the queen ending. ] 37...xe2+ 38.xe2 xe2+ 39.xe2 xg4+-+ 0-1
891 Nakamura,Hikaru Navara,David 74th Tata Steel GMA [John Bartholomew]
A22 2759 2712 19.01.2012
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.e3!? Nakamura is fond of e2e3 setups in the English, and this time he strikes gold. The text is extremely unusual (I find only 76 games of nearly 4400 to reach this position), with the similarly creative Vadim Zvjaginsev being the only other GM to have ventured it here. [ In the first round Navara got nowhere in the main lines after 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 . See Navara-Topalov in this update. ] 6...c5 Navara chooses to clamp down on d4. This is logical, and one might now expect W hite to adopt a reversed Hedgehog formation with Ng1-e2, 0-0, d2-d3, a2-a3, b2b3, Bc1-b2, etc. Nakamura has a different idea in mind. [ Zvjaginsev, V (2663)-Mikhalevski, V (2584)/ A i x - l e s - B a i n s F R A 2 0 1 1 w e n t 6...c6 7.ge2 A) He could consider a disruptive move like 7...f5 , but then 8.d4! ( 8.0-0?! d3 is annoying,; 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.d4 d6 and I'd prefer Black.) 8...b4 (critical) 9.0-0 c2 10.e1 and now an attempt to force a repetition with ( 10.d2?? c4 11.e1 d3 would be an embarrassing queen trap) 10...g6 can be met by ( or 10...f5 ) 11.f4! with an initiative: ( 11.d1 c2= ) 11...c2 12.f2 xa1 13.xb7! with complications favoring White.; B) I like the look of 7...g4!? , for example B1) Black has a completely sound position af ter 8.d4 exd4 ( 8...f6!? and 9...0-0-0 is friskier.) 9.exd4 d6 10.0-0 0-0=;
B2) 8.0-0 d7! is very flexible Black may castle queenside and unbalance the struggle, or simply complete development and castle kingside.; B3) 8.h3 h5 9.0-0 d6 10.g4 g6 11.d4 0-0 12.f4 f6!? 13.dxe5 fxe5 14.f5 f7 with an interesting game.; C) 7...e7 . Black reacts normally, but he has grounds for a more proactive approach: 8.0-0 0-0 C1) Better than 9.d4 exd4 10.xd4 xd4 11.exd4 ( 11.xd4 c6 12.xd8?! xd8 O'Siochru, M (2100)Quinn, M (2275)/Dublin 1992. ); C2) 9.f4! a5 ( 9...f6 looks preferable) 10.fxe5 xe5 11.d4 g6 12.b3 c6 13.e4 c5 14.e3 cxd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.xd4 d7 17.d5 . See Nigel Davies's notes in the archives. ] [ Black has also played 6...e7 , though after 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 Black will probably revert to A) or 8...c5 9.d4! ( 9.f4!? ); B) 8...c6 as in the Zvjaginsev game. ] 7.ge2 c6 8.0-0 e7 [ 8...d6 Scheidegger, U-Habibi, A (2255)/ Ba d Ra ga z 1 9 9 0 . He re 9.f4!? is again possible. e.g. ( 9.d4 cxd4 10.exd4 0-0 11.dxe5 w a s t h e g a m e w h e n xe5 is very close to equal.; 9.b3!? ) 9...0-0 10.b3 with a more comfortable game for White. ] 9.f4! The key idea of 6.e3, perhaps contrary to early expectations. W hite breaks down the center with f2-f4 instead of d2-d4. exf4 [ White is for choice after 9...0-0 10.fxe5 xe5 11.b3! , i.e. d3 12.f4! ] [ , but 9...h5!? was interesting. ] 10.xf4 0-0 11.b3 f5 12.b2 [ 12.g4!? ] 12...d7 13.e4 ad8 14.f2 Black has developed strictly according to principle, yet W hite has still emerged with a slight edge. His minor pieces have secured slightly better squares, and Black has no real weaknesses to attack. b4 15.f1! xe4 Not ideal, but White was menacing Nf4-h5. 16.xe4 6d5 [ 16...f5 17.g2 g6 was preferable, though White is still sitting pretty with the bishop pair. ] 17.h5 g6 [ Black must weaken the long diagonal since 884
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17...f6? 18.a3 c6 19.f5 d6 20.d3 leads to disaster on a corresponding diagonal, e.g. h6 21.h7+ h8 22.g6+- ] 18.a3!? [ There was also the remarkable possibility of 18.f5!? when Black cannot take: gxf5 19.xf5 d6 ( 19...c7 20.xh7+ and 21. Qf5+ mates quickly.) 20.h3! and with threats like 21.Qg4+, 21.Bxh7+, and 21.Nf6+ hanging in the air, Black is lost. ] 18...a6?? Overlooking a pretty idea. [ 18...f5! was necessary. ] 19.xd5 xd5 20.f6! Now Black must allow the knight to f6 to avoid a decisive loss of material. d6 21.xe7 xe7 22.f6+ g7 23.c4!+Deadly geometry. Black is unable to defend against the direct threats of Qc4-c3 and Qc4-h4 in addition to the simple e s c a l a t io n o f p re s su re wi t h Ra 1 -f 1 . e5 24.af1 h5 25.xh5+! Nakamura concludes the game with an efficient sequence. xh5 26.xf7+ xf7 27.xf7+ h6 28.f4+ g5 [ 28...g5 29.h7++- ] 29.f6+ g6 30.f1! Nice! Now the threats are 31.Rf6 and 31.Qh3+ Qh5 32.Rh7+. h5 31.xb7 Black is totally helpless. c4 [ 31...xd2 32.f6+ g6 33.h8+ mates. ] 32.f6+ g6 33.xd8 b1+ 34.f2 Black resigned, since White easily escapes the checks. It's too early to declare 6.e3!? theoretically challenging, but it's telling that a seasoned 2700 could not equalize out of the opening. W e'll definitely be seeing more of this line. 1-0
6.e3!? , which he used to beat Navara last year in the same event. See Nakamura, H (2759)-Navara, D (2712) Wijk aan Zee 2012. It's worth noting that Laurent Fressinet de f ea t e d Na ka m ura in t his va ria t ion in December at the W orld Mind Games in December: c6 7.ge2 f5 8.0-0?! ( I r e c o m m e n d e d 8.d4 in the notes to Nakamura - Navara) 8...d3 9.f4 e4 10.a3 e7 11.b4 f6 12.a2 0-0-0 13.c2 he8 and White was somewhat paralyzed in Nakamura, H (2760)-Fressinet, L (2700) Beijing 2012. ] 4.f3!? An attempt to enter standard Four Knights territory. [ 4.g2 is examined in the archives. See the guide "King's English - Moves other than 3 Nf3". ] 4...e4 [ Nakamura has experience against 4...xc3 as well: 5.bxc3 c6 ( 5...e4 6.d4 0-0 7.g2 d5 8.cxd5 xd5 Kamsky, G (2714)Gelfand, B (2736) Moscow 2007/[Hansen, Carsten] ) 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 e8 8.d3 e4 9.d4 exd3 10.exd3 xd4 11.cxd4 d5 12.e3 and White obtained some advantage in Nakamura, H (2758)-Howell, D (2633) London 2011/[John Bartholomew]. ] [ 4...c6 would transpose to the Four Knights. ] 5.d4 c6 6.c2 xc3 7.bxc3!? Somewhat rare. [ White usually captures away from the c e n t e r w i t h 7.dxc3 , which lends more support to d5. For example, h6 8.g2 d6 9.e3 0-0 10.0-0 e8 11.c2 e5!? 12.d2 e7 13.f4 exf3 14.exf3 f5 15.g4 e8 16.ae1 e6= Portisch, L 892 A22 (2650)-Timman, J (2620) Amsterdam 1981. ] Nakamura,Hikaru 2769 7...0-0 8.g2 d5 Also the choice of superSokolov,Ivan 2667 solid British GM Michael Adams. [ The fact that Karpov has also played this Tata Steel Chess 2013 (2.6) 13.01.2013 position for Black only adds to the line's [John Bartholomew] pedigree: 8...e8 9.0-0 d6 10.e3 d7 11.c2 a5 12.d3 c6 13.d2 d7 Many English authorities consider W hite's 14.ae1 b6 15.f3 exd3 16.exd3 h5!? move order in this game (2.Nc3, 3. g3) to be 17.f2 e7 18.fe2 ae8= and Black went suboptimal, but Nakamura has displayed a o n t o wi n a h i g h l y i n s t r u c t i ve g a m e i n clear preference for it in recent years. 1.c4 e5 Huebner, R (2630)-Karpov, A (2715) Baden2.c3 f6 3.g3 b4 Baden 1992. ] [ A reputable line that avoids Nakamura's patented 3...d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 9.cxd5 xd5 10.f3 Challenging Black in the 885
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 center, but with logical moves Black soon obtains a great position. Nor do the alternatives seem to promise much. [ Amanov, Z (2401) -Adams, M (2728) W heeling 2012 took a dif f erent course: 10.d4 h5 11.h3 e6 12.f4 fe8 13.d2 a5 (immediately exploiting the w e a k e n e d c 4 s q u a r e ) 14.e3 c4 15.xc4 xc4 16.e5 d5! 17.xe4 f6 18.f3 f7 19.f4 xf4 20.gxf4 xe2+! 21.xe2 e8 22.e3 xe3 23.fxe3 d5 24.g1 e6 25.g3 b6 and Black later won. ] [ On 10.0-0 it looks logical for Black to play h5 intending ...Bc8-h3. ] [ Likewise 10.e3 ought to be answered by h5 . ] 10...exf3 11.xf3 a5 12.g2 f5 13.0-0 e4! 14.e3 [ Black has good play after 14.xf6 xg2 15.f4 h3 . ] 14...xg2 15.xg2 fe8 16.f5?! e5 17.f1 ae8 Black is fully mobilized and enjoys a wonderfully coordinated position. 18.xf6 True to his style, Nakamura opts to u n b a l a n c e t h e ga m e ra t h e r t h a n d e f e n d passively. gxf6 19.xf6 8e6 20.f3 e7! Pitching the b-pawn to engage White's strong knight on e3. 21.xb7 f5 22.c4 c5 23.b3 e4 [ Here 23...c6+! would have been very strong. For example, 24.g1 d4 25.d3 ( 25.b8+ e8 26.b2 xe2+-+ ) 25...d6 and White's position collapses. ] [ Likewise, 23...d4 makes a lot of sense since 24.b1? is refuted trivially: e4+ 25.g1 b6-+ . ] 24.d3 xe3+ 25.dxe3 xc4?! [ 25...f6! ] 26.d8+ g7 27.b2+ f6 28.f1 Nakamura has managed to coordinate some of his pieces, thereby minimizing the damage. c6 29.g1 d6 30.xd6 xd6 The game now enters a technical phase. 31.c1 xe3 32.xc7+ g6 33.f2 ee6 34.c2 c6 35.d2 ed6 36.xd6 xd6 This endgame ought to be winning for Black. 37.a3 a5 38.c3 a4 39.b4 b6 40.c5 b5 41.d6 b3 42.h4 f5 43.e7 g4 44.d6 f5 45.g2 h6 46.f2 h5 47.g2 f4?!
[ Computers were quick to point out a win: 47...c3! (White must give ground with his king) 48.f2 ( 48.h2 e3 picks up the ep a w n a n d w i n s t r i v i a l l y) 48...h3 ( z u g z w a n g ) 49.e3 g4 50.e2 b3 (zugzwang again!) 51.f2 b2+ 52.e1 f3-+ . ] 48.gxf4 xh4 49.e4 g4 50.f5 d3 51.b4 h4? This move significantly complicates things. [ 51...f3! freezes White's pawns and ought to be decisive. ] 52.f6 h3+ 53.h2 f3 54.e5 f2+ 55.h1 h5 [ Unfortunately for Black, the natural 55...g3 would be a huge blunder in view of 56.e1!+- . ] [ 55...h2 56.f7 xf7 57.xh2 is the game. ] 56.c5 f3 57.h2 g4 58.b4? [ Better is 58.b6! ] [ or 58.a7! , covering f2. On f5 59.b8 e6 60.d6 it appears that White can hold. ] 58...f2+ 59.h1 h2 60.f7 xf7 61.xh2 Can Black win? If he can nab the e-pawn and keep the White king sufficiently far from the apa wn , t h en yes. Ho we ver, it 's e xt re m e ly difficult to pull off, and in the game Sokolov was unable to figure it out. The analysis of this endgame is better suited to an engine/ tablebase, so I won't say much more. f2+ 62.g1 e2 63.d6 f3 64.f1 e4 65.g1 e1+ 66.h2 d1 67.b4 d4 68.d6 h4+ 69.g1 h6 70.f8 h8 71.d6 h6 72.f8 b6 73.d6 b1+ 74.h2 e1 75.c7 a1 76.d6 d1 77.b4 d4 78.d6 g4? [ The engines indicate that Black can eventually win the e-pawn with 78...d2+ 79.g1 d1+ 80.h2 e1 . ] 79.e6! Advancing the pawn to e7 makes White's defensive task much, much easier. g2+ 80.h1 e2 81.e7 g4 82.g1 f5 83.f1 e6 84.f2 g6 85.f3 f7 86.b4 e8 87.c5 d7 88.b4 b6 89.c5 c6 90.b4 c4 Draw agreed. White should probably opt for 6.dxc3, though I don't think he has much there either. Sokolov was understandably upset after his failure to win this game, but I think even he wo u ld a d m it t h a t h is re a ct io n wa s k in d a 886
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 funny! http: //www.youtube.com/ watch?v=pTg46f85RBQ ½-½
893 Nepomniachtchi,Ian Lintchevski,D 65th ch-RUS HL (11) [John Bartholomew]
A22 2716 2563 27.06.2012
A rec ent d evelo pm en t in the 6 .e 3 K in g's En glis h f ro m th e Russian Ch am pion sh ip Higher League. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.e3 You'll recall that Nakamura's victory over Navara in Wijk aan Zee was the catalyst for the explosion of interest in this line. g6!? A fresh approach. Given that White's plan is to assault Black's center with f2-f4 (or perhaps d2-d4), directing the bishop to the long diagonal is entirely logical. On g7 Black can monitor the dark squares from afar. [ 6...c5 was Nakamura, H (2759) -Navara, D (2712)/W ijk aan Zee NED 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] 7.ge2 g7 8.f4 Consistent with White's stated goal. [ The only prior game with 6...g6 went 8.0-0 0-0 9.d4 (too straightforward to pose any problems) exd4 10.xd4 c6 11.f3 a6 12.d1 e7 13.a3?! c5 14.b4 e6 Schwabe, M-Koch, T/ Griesheim 1997. ] 8...exf4 9.xf4 c5?! Reverting to Navara's strategy to discourage d2-d4, but the available games have shown that this isn't necessarily the ideal structure for Black. [ It looks better to maintain some flexibility. After 9...0-0 10.0-0 Black has many viable options, i.e. c6 ( or 10...e8; or even 10...a5!? ) 11.d4 e7 intending ...c7-c6. Black is doing well from a structural point of view so long as he refrains from ... c7c5. ( 11...a5!? )] 10.0-0 0-0 11.b3 c6 12.a3 b4 13.c1 Black already experiences problems with the c5 pawn. W hite is ready for Nc3-e4. d7?! 14.xb4 [ Good enough for the advantage, but the computer is enthralled by the exchange sacrifice with 14.e4!? xa2 15.xc5!
xc5 16.xc5 , for instance e8?! ( 16...a5 17.d5! ) 17.d6 e7 18.d5 with spectacular threats, i.e. e6 19.xf7! xf7 20.xe7 xe7 21.xg6! hxg6 22.xf7 xf7 23.xf7+ xf7 24.b4!+- ] 14...cxb4 15.cd5 a5 16.c2 e5 17.c7 [ 17.c5!? ] 17...c6 18.d4 xc7?! [ 18...a4!? looks more competitive. ] 19.xc7 b8 20.d3?! [ It's unclear why Nepomniachtchi rejected 20.xc6 bxc6 21.xc6 . Other than the bishop pair (which isn't even very effective here), Black has no compensation for the missing pawn. ] 20...g4 21.fe1 e7 22.c5 b6 23.b7 h5 24.b5 e6 25.7d6 fd8 26.c7 d5 27.xd5 xd5 Now it's a similar story to 20.Bxc6 bxc6 21. Rxc6, but White doesn't have the luxury of an extra pawn. 28.c4 [ 28.e4!? suggests itself. ] 28...e6 29.d1 dc8 30.d5 g4 31.d2 xc7 32.xc7 c3 33.f2 d7 34.d6?! f8 [ Here Black could have given White a sweat with 34...e5! . 35.xf7? doesn't work in view of ( 35.cb5 f6 ) 35...h3 , wh e n W h it e ' s l a c k o f co o r d i n a t io n i s evident, i.e. 36.cb5 d8-+ ] 35.cb5 xb5 36.xb5 d8 37.d6 e5 38.d2 f6 39.f2 f7 40.f3 e6 41.c2 c3 42.a4 [ 42.xc3 bxc3 43.xc3 xd6= ] 42...c8 43.c1 Draw agreed. 6...g6!? is definitely worth further investigation, especially if Black works to maintain some flexibility in the center. ½-½
894 Olafsson,Helgi Kortschnoj,Viktor Chess@iceland rapidplay Group A (4) [Tony Kosten]
A22 2491 2659 1.4.00
1.c4 e5 2.e3!? Very rare, but not bad at all. Lines with an early e3 were recommended by W atson many years ago, but have neve r r e a l l y c a u g h t o n . f6 3.c3 b4 Here lie s t he ad van ta ge of de f erring th e 887
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g1-knight's development, W hite is ready to gain the bishop pair without losing time, or ruining his pawn structure. [ Very logical, as is 3...d5 4.cxd5 xd5 with a reversed Taimanov Sicilian, 5.f3 xc3 6.bxc3 d6 7.d4 e7 8.b1 0-0 with mutual chances, Hansen,S-Hector,J/ Helsingor DEN 1999. ] [ 3...c6 ] 4.ge2 c6!? [ Preparing to setup a strong centre, the one time I had this position myself I preferred 4...0-0 5.a3 ( 5.g3 c6 6.a3 a5 7.b4 c7 8.e2 d5 is more than reasonable for Black, Milov,V-Morozevich,A/Tilburg 1994.) 5...xc3 6.xc3 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.c2 c6 9.d3 h8!? with sharp play, Johnstone, P-Kosten,A/Birmingham ENG 1999, although 0-1 (21). ] 5.d4 e4!? [ Watson considered this move to be a mistake, and it certainly didn't succeed too well in this game, so perhaps Black should prefer 5...exd4 6.xd4 0-0 7.d2 e8 8.d1 d6 9.g3 g4 seems fairly level, Rivas Pastor,M-Garcia Ilundain,D/ Cala Galdana 1994. ] 6.d5! Before Black can play his own pawn to d5. cxd5 [ A new move. In the game Torre-Balinas/ Marboro PHI 1977, Black tried 6...0-0 7.a3 d6 8.g3 e8 9.e2 a5 which is more comfortable for White. ] 7.cxd5 a6 8.d2 0-0 9.g3 e8?! [ L o s i n g, o r s a cr if ic in g, a p a wn . 9...e7 is better, keeping the b4-bishop defended. ] 10.xa6! bxa6 11.cxe4 xe4?! [ Aiming for opposite-colour bishops, but 11...xd2+ 12.xd2 b8 gave more chances ( 12...xd5?! allows 13.c4 wh e n t h e k n i g h t c o m e s t o d 6 t o g o o d effect. )] 12.xb4 a5 [ So as to try to keep the white king in the c e n t r e , i f 12...b7 then 13.d4 f6 14.c3 xd5 15.f5 is favourable to White. ] 13.c3 a6 14.d4 h4 15.h5 White must drive the active black queen away. e7 16.a3 xg3 17.hxg3 With a brief mate threat on h7. d3
[ 17...h6?? loses quickly to 18.xg7 xg7 19.xh6+ ] 18.d1 g6 19.e2 g5 20.c3 Despite the drawish nature of the oppositecolour bishops, the presence of other pieces, and his far superior pawn structure, mean that W hite should win. a4 21.d6 e6 22.h4! With his king perfectly safe in the centre, W hite decides to develop his rook straight to a strong post. ae8 23.f1 [ W hite doesn't fall for 23.xa4? xe3! 24.fxe3 xe3 winning the queen. ] 23...c5 24.c4 f5 25.g1 c2 26.d2 [ 26.xa4?! xa4 27.xa4 c2 28.dd4 would throw away much of W hite's advantage. ] 26...c1+ 27.h2 e5?! 28.g4?! [ An odd move, when 28.xa4 won more material. ] 28...e4!? [ 28...h5+ 29.h4 he5?! would repeat the position, although White would simply c h a n g e h i s m i n d , a n d p l a y 30.xa4 , no doubt. ] 29.xe4 xe4 30.xa4?? [ Both players must have been short of time, I suppose, as this allows a draw. Better 30.b5! c6?! (else White captures on d7) 31.g5 with an almost unstoppable mate. ] 30...f6?? [ 30...f6?? after 31.xd7 g6 32.c6 the d-pawn will queen. ] [ but Black might have saved the game by 30...f1! 31.f3 e6 32.g4! e1 A) the only other possibility is 33.d5!? with the point that h4+ 34.g1 xd5 35.xd7 h6 ( 35...b7!? ) 36.c8+ h7 37.d7 wins!!; B) 33.g5 h4+ 34.g1 e1+ and a draw. ] 1-0
895 Papaioannou,Ioannis Gelfand,Boris EuTCh Plovdiv BUL (1) [Tony Kosten]
A22 2577 2703 11.10.2003
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.e3 This move has a certain novelty value, but for the moment it 888
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 doesn't seem to bring White particularly good positions. b4 4.ge2 0-0 We looked at [ 4...c6!? in Olafsson,H-Korchnoi,V. ] 5.a3 e7 Black preserves his bishop pair. [ 5...xc3 also has its points, Black is willing to concede the bishop for straightforward development: 6.xc3 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.c2 c5!? ( 8...c6 Johnstone,P-Kosten, A / G B R 1 9 9 9) 9.d3 xc3 10.dxc3 ( 10.xh7+? h8 11.dxc3 f5 12.g6 g5 wins the hapless bishop) 10...f5 11.0-0 e6 12.c4 c6 Black has more space, White the bishop pair, Franco, Z-Morozevich,A/ Pamplona 1994. ] 6.g3!? The knight controls e4 and f5. [ 6.d4 exd4 7.xd4!? a5 8.b3 a6 9.b2 c5 the pressure on b3 gives Black good play, Quinteros,M-Kouatly,B/Luzern 1985. ] 6...c6 The most ambitious move, attempting to construct a strong centre. [ 6...d5 7.cxd5 xd5 leads to an Open Sicilian structure, 8.c2 e6 9.d3 g6 10.b4 c6 which was previously preferred by Gelfand, against Klaus Bischoff, Dortmund 1990. ] 7.d4 Virtually forced if White wants to hinder Black's plans, [ 7.f5!? d5 8.xe7+ xe7 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.d4 c6 hands Black a useful lead in development. ] 7...exd4 8.exd4 [ 8.xd4 d5 9.e2 c5 10.d1 dxc4 11.xd8 xd8 12.xc4 c6 favours Black, Novgorodskij,V-Sherbakov,R/Omsk/Perm 1998. ] 8...d5 9.c5 White grabs space on the queen side, this pawn can have a s evere cramping effect on Black. The alternative was to play an IQP position: [ 9.e2 dxc4 10.xc4 bd7 11.0-0 b6 12.b3 bd5 13.e1 e6 but of course, Black is fine here, Bezold,M-Lukacs,P/Gyula 1997. ] 9...e8 10.e2 b6! A strong novelty which relies on a neat tactic to break the queenside bind. [ 10...h5!? is also interesting, to embarrass the knight, 11.xh5!? ( 11.g5 ) 11...xh5 12.xh5 xc5+ 13.e3 d6 and Black is doing well, Corral Blanco,J-Campos Moreno, J/Barcelona ESP 2000. ]
11.b4 In view of what follows White could prefer [ 11.e3 ] 11...bxc5 12.bxc5 xc5! The point. 13.dxc5 d4 14.0-0 [ 14.g5 dxc3 15.xd8 xd8 16.xf6 gxf6 17.c1 is similar to the game continuation, and if the knight moves ] [ 14.a2 then Black recuperates his piece by d3 ] 14...dxc3 15.xd8 xd8 16.g5 a6!? Black heads for a drawn endgame. [ 16...bd7 17.fc1 h6 is also perfectly sound. ] 17.xf6 gxf6 18.ac1 xe2 19.xe2 a6 20.xc3 d5 The black kingside is weakened but he will liquidate most of the queenside pawns and remain with active pieces. 21.f4!? xc5 22.xc5 xc5 23.c1 e8 The knight is taboo because of the back-rank mate. 24.g4 [ 24.g3 e5 is also equal, Black's extra pawn doesn't count for too much. ] 24...e4 Exchanging into a drawn rook endgame, [ 24...e5?! encounters 25.h5 ] 25.xc5 xf4 26.h3 a4 27.xc6 g7 [ 27...xa3 28.xf6 g7 is quite drawn. ] 28.c3 f5 29.gxf5 f6 30.g2 h5 31.f3 h4 32.f1 e4 33.c3 a4 ½-½
896 Rogers,Ian Acs,Peter GMB Wijk aan Zee NED (3) [Tony Kosten]
A22 2569 2623 14.01.2003
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 b4 4.g2 0-0 5.d3 [ 5.e4 xc3 6.bxc3 c6 is a more habitual move-order, and should transpose, although White can defer playing d3. ] 5...xc3+ 6.bxc3 c6 7.e4 d5 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.exd5 xd5 10.e2 c6 11.0-0 I always thought that these positions were slightly better for Black, who enjoys easy development, play on the light squares and pressure against the white central pawns, whilst White's bishops have little immediate 889
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 scope. e8 [ 11...g4!? i s a l s o p r o m i s i n g , 12.f3?! ( 12.d2 ) 12...f5 13.h1 d7 and the d3-pawn is a problem, Hibbeler,SAbel,E/Germany 1992. ] 12.b2 In this rare position this is new. [ 12.h3 f5 13.b3 b6 14.d1 d7 15.h2 Arbakov,V-Naumkin,I/Warsaw 1992, and now Black can probably snatch the dpawn: xd3! 16.e4 d4! which unpins the bishop by blocking the d-file! 17.xd3 xb3 18.xd7 xc1 and wins a pawn. ] 12...f5 13.d2 White develops his pieces s e n s i b l y b e h i n d h i s c e n t r a l p a w n s . e4!? The young Hungarian tactician plays true to style, [ 13...d7 and ...Rad8 is a reasonable alternative, but he wants more. ] 14.c4! Provoking wild complications, but this is better than [ 14.d4? a5 to c4, which is positional suicide. ] 14...e3!? [ 14...exd3 15.cxd5 xe2 16.f4 e7 ( 16...xb2 17.dxc6 ) 17.d4 f6 is far from clear. ] 15.e1 White cannot capture the pawn as the knight lands on e3. b6 16.c3 e5 17.f4 a4 The other good move was [ 17...xd3!? , forcing 18.fxe5 xe2 19.fe1 xc4 20.xe3 and Black has won a pawn, although White's bishops might yet save him. ] 18.a3 xd3 It looks like White's position is falling apart, but he keeps trying to play the best moves. 19.d4 b6 [ 19...d7 20.c5 also leaves the black knights looking misplaced. ] 20.c5 c4 Perhaps too complicated, [ 20...d5 might have been simpler. ] 21.c3 d2 22.xg7! e6? Black underestimates White's next move, [ 22...xf1 23.h6 ( 23.h8!? f6 24.xf6 is a ls o me ss y) 23...f6 24.b3+! h8 25.xb7 d7 26.a6 e6 27.c6 might be good for Black, but calculating this over the board would not be simple. ] 23.d4! White grabs the lifeline he's been thrown - now he is better as the black pieces are all loose. xf1?! [ 23...c8 24.xe6 fxe6 is better, Black's e-
pawn could still prove useful. ] 24.xf5 e2 25.h6+! White doesn't waste the chance he has been given, and plays accurately till the end. xh6 26.xh6 f6 27.e4! e1 28.xe1 xe1 A picture! Black is a ro o k up , b u t lo ses b y f o rce ! 29.b3+ h8 30.xb7 Hitting h7, g7 and a8. [ 30.f7! is perhaps even stronger, but W h i t e p r o b a b l y d i d n ' t wa n t t o h a v e t o calculate the checks: f3+ 31.xf1 d1+ 32.f2 d4+ 33.xf3 and they soon peterout. ] 30...d4+?! [ 30...f3+ 31.xf3 d4+ 32.xf1 g8 would allow Black to carry-on a few moves. ] 31.xf1 c4+ 32.xe1 A sad end for the two knights! c1+ 33.e2 c4+ 34.f2 1-0
897 Smirin,Ilia Deep Shredder Smirin vs Computers (1) [Tony Kosten]
A22 2685 14.04.2002
Smirin showed good 'anti-machine' tactics in his match against a selection of four of the best programs, and managed to come out on top. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 b4 4.g2 0-0 5.e4 A good practical choice, White closes the centre and aims for a position d e v o i d o f t a c t i c s . xc3 6.bxc3 d6 Not a good decision from the program. I think [ 6...c6 is best, and leads to a more open position where the computer's tactical ability may well come to the fore, see Grigoriants, S-Sadvakasov,D/Subotica YUG 2000. ] 7.e2 g4!? New here, but this 'pseudoactive' move achieves little, Black has a wide choice here, although [ 7...bd7 may be best , 8.d3 a6 9.0-0 ( I prefer 9.a4! keeping a lid on Black's queenside play) 9...b5 10.cxb5 axb5 11.f4 with chance for both sides, Sakharov,AGavrikov,V/Beltsy 1977. ] 8.f3! White wants to keep pieces on the board. e6 9.d3 c5? Absolutely g. When left to their own devices (i.e. when their opening knowledge runs out) computers often play p o o r p o s it io n a l m o ve s. B la ck s h o u l d b e 890
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 playing for ...b5, or ...c6 and ...d5. 10.0-0 h6?! Black wishes to avoid Bg5, which wasn't a t h re a t (! ) a n d p lays a m o ve wh ich ju st weakens his kingside. 11.h3 White's intention is to play f4-f5 with a powerful kingside attack, b u t m u s t c o n t r o l g 4 f i r s t . a6 12.a4! I always play this move in similar positions White is happy to close the queenside as he hopes to mow Black down on the other (more important) side of the board. b6 13.f4 c6 14.f5 d7 15.g4 c7? [ Black should probably try to defend against g5 by playing 15...h7 and ...f6. Notice how Blac k su f f ers f rom conceding h is d arksquared bishop in the opening, as if this piece were still on e7 he would be able to control h4 and g5 and White's attack would be more difficult to construct. ] 16.g3 a5 [ Black is quite lost, as it is now too late for 16...h7 : 17.f6! stopping Black from playing ...f6 himself, xf6 18.xf6! gxf6 19.h5 and Black 's king is trapped on the kingside without any defenders, and will be mated in a few moves, e.g. fb8 20.d2 f8 21.xh6+ e8 22.h8+ e7 23.xf6+ e8 24.h8+ e7 25.g5+ ] 17.h4 It is all too simple for White. h7 18.g5 hxg5 19.hxg5 b7 20.e3 b5 21.axb5 axb5 22.h5 His big space advantage on the kingside allows White to bring his pieces over whilst stopping Black from doing likewise. bxc4 23.f6 The simplest, although White has many other ways to prosecute his attack, for instance [ 23.f2 (t o b rin g a ro o k t o h 1 ) b2+ 24.f3 xg5+ (what else?) 25.xg5 f6 26.h1 fxg5 27.h7+ f7 28.g6+ g8 29.h7 f7 30.ah1 ] 23...fc8 24.fxg7 g4 Desperation, Black has n o d ef en ce against W hit e's multiple threats, like Qh6 with Nh5/or Nf5, or Kf2 and Rh1. 1-0
898 Taimanov,Mark E Rublevsky,Sergei Korchnoi 70 St . Petersburg RUS (7) [Tony Kosten]
A22 2454 2657 22.03.01
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 b4 4.f3!? [ White wants to force Black to play .. .Nc6, a n d e n t e r n o r m a l l i n e s . 4.g2 is more common, and is seen in the archives. ] 4...xc3!? [ Black prefers to avoid the main line with 4...c6 ] 5.dxc3 [ Again unusual, 5.bxc3 is more ambitious, e4 6.d4 0-0 7.g2 with typical play, Marin,M-De Vreugt,D/Tel Aviv ISR 2000. ] 5...d6 6.g2 h6 7.0-0 c6 8.e1?! [ Actually, this is a new move here, although this is a very thematic idea in such positions: the knight manoeuvres to d5 via e1, c2, and e3. However, whilst this works well when Black has already castled kingside, there is a big problem here. More drastic measures are called for: 8.c5! d5 ( if 8...dxc5 9.xd8+ xd8 10.e3 d7 11.ad1 e7 12.d2 frees the position for White's bishops) 9.b4 a6?! 10.c4! dxc4 11.xd8+ xd8 12.b2 e8 13.fd1+ d7 14.a4 White has a powerful initiative, Uhlmann,W-Gavrikov,V/Tallinn 1987. ] 8...e6 9.b3 d7! 10.c2 h3 This is the problem, the white knight no longer defends the kingside so Black castles long and leversopen the h-file. 11.e3 h5 12.d5 xg2 13.xg2 h4 14.h1 White is already forced into playing this ugly move. 0-0-0 15.g5 f5 16.xf6 [ The h-pawn is poisoned, 16.gxh4? e4 or ] [ 16.xh4? g5 ] 16...gxf6 17.d3 g5 18.e3 g6 Na t u r a l ly W h it e a vo i d s t h e e xch a n ge o f queens. 19.b4 b8 20.d3 f5 21.b5 e4! To free the e5-square for the knight. 22.e3 e5 23.d4?! [ White should grab the opportunity to exchange his weak c-pawn by 23.c5 ] 23...g4 24.f4 dg8 25.f1 W hite's position is a mess, and it simply 891
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 remains for Black to find a killer blow. hxg3 26.fxg3 f3! 27.f2 [ An unfortunate necessity, 27.exf3? xf3+ 28.g1 xg3+ mates. ] 27...d2+ 28.e1 xc4 With an extra pawn, and a dominating position, the end should not b e f a r o f f . 29.a4?! xg3! Another shot! 30.hxg3 xh1+ 31.f1 xf1+ 32.xf1 xg3 33.f2 xc3 Black now has four extra pawns! 34.h1 a5?! [ Perhaps Black was short of time, as otherwise he would surely pref er 34...c6 , controlling d5. ] 35.d5 c2 36.h8+ a7 37.xc7 b6 [ This is fine, but 37...e3+ 38.g3 ( 38.f3? e5+ 39.xe3 xc7 ) 38...xe2 would force a quick resignation. ] 38.e8 d5 39.d6 White has managed to drum-up some counterplay, but it has to be insufficient. f4 40.h7 c4 [ 40...f3 41.xf7 xe2+ 42.g3 c4 wins easily. ] 41.c8+ b8 42.e7 e3?? [ A dreadful blunder, 42...d4 43.h8+ c7 44.d5+ d6 45.xf4 d3 is still crushing, and there were many other good lines, too. ] 43.b6 Threatening mate! This must have come as quite a shock. c8 Fortunately for Bla ck he is s till slightly bet te r a f t er th is. 44.xc8 [ 44.xf7 d8 45.xf4 d1+ 46.e1 c3 47.e3 is also worth consideration as the black king and rook are confined to the back rank. ] 44...xc8 45.xf7 c4 46.c7+ b8 47.c5 xb6 48.xa5 c7 49.c5+ d6 50.b5 c6 51.b4 c4 So, the situation has clarified, White has an exchange for two pawns, but without passed pawns of his own, or weak pawns to attack, the rook is hardly stronger than the knight. 52.b1 e3+ 53.g2 d2 54.b4? [ 54.c1+ d6 55.c8 keeps the game alive, the rook is most active when behind pawns. ] 54...d4! 55.xd4 f3+ 56.exf3 e2 Black has skilfully arranged for one of his pa wn s t o qu e e n . 57.xd2 e1 58.d4 e2+ 59.g3 e5+ 60.f4 d5 61.g4 g7+ 62.h3 e5 63.g4 c7 64.g2 f5 65.e4 White attempts to form a barrier
against the advance of the black king. g7+ 66.f2 b2+ 67.g3 d2 68.g4 e1+ 69.g2 e2+ 70.g3 d2 71.e4 b6 72.g4 e1+ 73.g2 e3! 74.g3 [ The problem is that 74.e4 loses to xe4! 75.fxe4+ xe4 and the pawn ending is lost. ] 74...g1+ 75.h3 f2 Now that the white king has been forced to concede ground, the rook has to defend the f-pawn, and W hite loses. 76.g3 f4 77.g4+ xf3 78.g6 f1+ 79.h2 e2+ 80.h3 e5 81.h4 e4+ [ Black pragmatically captures the pawn, but 81...f5! 82.g1 f4+ 83.h5 h2+ wins the rook, instead. ] 82.h5 xa4 83.f6+ g3 84.g6+ h3 85.f6 g4+ 86.h6 b5 87.h7 0-1
899 Turov,Maxim Edouard,Romain Tata Steel Chess 2013 (7.8) [John Bartholomew]
A22 2630 2686 19.01.2013
Two strong 2600s debate a line that ha s underwhelmed us in the past. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 b4 4.g2 0-0 5.e4 xc3 6.bxc3 [ T h e a l t e r n a t i v e r e c a p t u r e 6.dxc3 is a persona l f avorite o f GM Normund s Miezis (he had played it 45 times at my last count!). Black ought to have good play, i.e. d6 7.e2 bd7 8.f3 a6 9.0-0 b5! s e e M i e zi s , N ( 2 5 4 7 ) - O l s e n , H ( 2 3 4 5 ) Dianalund 2005/ [John Watson]. ] 6...c6 7.e2 [ 7.a3 e8 8.b3 b6 9.e2?! b7 10.d6 e6 11.a3?! c5 12.xb8 xe4! was excellent for Black in Grigoriants, S (2503) -Sadvakasov, D (2509) Subotica 2000. ] 7...d5 8.exd5 cxd5 9.cxd5 xd5 10.0-0 c6 A tabiya for the 6...c6 line. At the end of 2011 I mentioned White's unbelievably poor practical results from this position (+1, =14, 21 at the time). W ell, it's my duty to report some improvement in 2012: White scored a single win to bump his stats to +2, =14, -21. 892
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Hallelujah! In all seriousness though, it will take something major from White to overturn the theoretical assessment of this line. Perhaps Turov has something in mind? 11.d3 [ The position after 11.b1 was reached in Naiditsch, A (2712)-Topalov, V (2768) Porto Carras 2011 (W hite actually played it on move seven in that game). Following e8 12.d3 b6 13.e3 Black could have p l a y e d t h e s i m p l e f5 with fine play. Naiditsch, A (2712)-Topalov, V (2768) Porto Carras 2011/[John Bartholomew]. Readers may want to have a look at the notes to this game as I detail a lot of the early alternatives in this line. ] 11...g4!? Tony called this "promising" in his notes to Rogers-Acs (below). [ Black also had excellent play after 11...e8 12.b2 f5 13.d2 e4!? in Rogers, I (2569) -Acs, P (2623) Wijk aan Zee 2003/ [TonyK]. ] 12.b2 [ 12.f3?! f5 13.h1 d7 14.d4 exd4 15.cxd4 fe8 was hardly attractive for W h it e in Hib b e le r, S -A b e l, E G e rm a n y 1992. ] 12...d7 [ Another game saw 12...e8 13.h3 f5 ( 13...e6 ) 14.b3 b6 15.fd1 e7 16.d4?! , Giles, N-Ardovsky, P Dos Hermanas 2003. Here a5 17.b4 ac4 suggests itself. ] 13.e1 b6 I don't think there was a compelling reason to withdraw this knight from the center. [ Instead 13...ad8 14.d2 b6 15.ad1 c4 16.c1 xb2 17.xb2 fe8 was at least equal for Black in Strozewski, F (2046)-Diesner, M Germany 2010. This underscores the fact that Black doesn't have to do anything particularly impressive to obtain a good game in this line. ] 14.a4 ad8 15.a5 c8 A little passive. [ 15...d5= is safe enough. ] 16.d4! 8e7 17.a4 h3 18.xh3 xh3 19.a3 fe8 20.a6 White has a slight initiative, but it doesn't amount to much. c8 21.axb7 xb7 22.c5 g6 23.a6 d7 24.ed1 e4?! [ 24...exd4 25.cxd4 b8 26.d3 ( 26.xa7?? xe2 ) 26...g4 ]
25.a4 e6 26.c4! f6 27.b3 [ Better is 27.a3! preventing ...e4-e3 and allowing White to keep an eye on the knight on c3. ] 27...e3! 28.f1 f3 29.c2 g4?! [ Black had more active possibilities for example 29...ce5!? 30.dxe5 d2 31.a4 xe5! with threats of ...Ng6-h4, ...Rd2xe2, and ... Re5xc5. ] 30.f3 c8 31.a3 a5 32.c1 [ 32.a4! ] 32...a6 33.d1 c8 34.f4 f8 35.d5 b8 [ 35...d7!? 36.xe3 b4 ] 36.xe3 xe3 37.xe3 xc4 38.a3 a4 39.d4 b5 40.d3 b6 41.g2 bd7 42.c4 xc4 43.xc4 e3 44.xf8 b6 45.b5 xf8 46.h3 xd5 47.xd5 xe2 48.d8+ e8 49.xa5 c8+ Draw agreed. White got a little something from the opening here, but it's hardly e nough to upse t th e theoretical assessment. There's a reason why this line isn't very popular. ½-½
900 Turov,Maxim Potapov,P 6th Agzamov Memorial (3) [John Bartholomew]
A22 2658 2473 08.03.2012
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.e3 e7 7.ge2 c5 8.0-0 0-0 9.f4 exf4 10.xf4 c6 11.b3 f5 12.b2 d7 13.e4 b4?! Immediately heading for the d5 square. [ Black attempts to improve on 13...ad8 , which was seen in the source game Nakamura, H (2759)-Navara, D (2712)/ Wijk aan Zee NED 2012/[John Bartholomew]. The position after 14.f2 b4 15.f1 i s p r o m i s i n g f o r W h i t e a f t e r xe4 ( o r H o w e l l ' s m o r e s o l i d t r y 15...g6 , wh ich we d iscu sse d la s t m o n t h - s e e Griff iths, R (2310)-Howell, D (2633)/ Sunningdale ENG 2012.) 16.xe4 6d5 17.h5! , as Nakamura demonstrated. ] 14.a3 4d5 [ 14...d3?? just drops a piece: 15.xd3 xd3 16.xf5+- ] 15.d3! A strikingly similar motif to 893
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Nakamura-Navara above (17.Nh5!). Black's kn igh t s a re ra t he r su p erf lu o us, wh ere a s White's contain plenty of dynamic potential. Thus, Turov avoids a trade. Black is already under significant pressure here, so I believe 13...Nb4 ought to be discarded. [ N o t i c e , h o w e v e r , t h a t 15.h5?! is less effective because of g4 , e.g. 16.f3 xh5 17.xh5 f5! 18.f2 f6 ] 15...ac8?! [ It's marginally better to surrender the b i s h o p p a i r i m m e d i a t e l y w i t h 15...xe4 , but here too after 16.xe4 f5 17.g2 ad8 18.e5! ( not 18.c1? xe3 ) 18...d6 19.c2 White has a very pleasant advantage to work with. ] 16.c1 xe4 17.xe4 f5 18.g2 cd8 19.e5 e6 20.c2 Black has made fairly normal moves, but he's already in big trouble. g6 [ 20...d7! is a tougher defensive try. ] 21.e4! Thematically opening the position. [ The preparatory 21.fe1! is possibly even stronger. ] 21...fxe4 22.xe4 [ 22.xe4! was more direct in view of f6 23.xg6! xb2 ( 23...hxg6? 24.xd5 xd5 25.xg6+ h8 26.c4!+- ) 24.xf8 d4+ 25.h1 xf8 26.xh7+ g7 27.xf8 xf8 28.f5+ xf5 29.xf5 . ] 22...xf1+ 23.xf1!? g5 24.c2 f5? Black wasn't doing too badly here, but he had to keep queens on board. [ 24...e7!? 25.g2 ] 25.xf5 gxf5 After this it's impossible to trust t h e s c o re . W h i t e o f f i ci a l ly p l a ye d 26.f3 but the further moves [ I suspect that 26.d3 was actually seen, when Black will lose a pawn. ] 26...e8?? 27.h3?? surely would not have been played. Black's bishop hangs for the next several moves. e7 28.xc5 d8 29.xf5 xd2 30.e6+ f8 31.f1 e3 32.e5 d3 White is completely winning in this final position after 33.Ke2. Despite the finish, this game further illustrates the dangers Black has encountered in the newlypopular 6.e3 lines. 13...Nb4?! is dubious, but even Navara's 13...Rad8 gives White an edge. 1-0
901 Vallejo Pons,Francisco Aronian,Levon WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (4.1) [John Watson]
A22 2674 2724 06.12.2005
In a battle of heavyweights, Vallejo Pons plays an odd variant that turns out worse that the normal line. But he proceeds inventively and holds a balance, after which a complex battle ensues. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 b4 4.g2 0-0 5.e4 xc3 6.bxc3 [ 6.dxc3 d6 isn't much better for White than when Black plays it in the Rossolimo Sicilian, f or example, 7.e2 bd7 8.f3 c5 9.d2 a5= ] 6...c6 A line that has always been considered comfortable for Black. [ 6...d6 7.e2 a6 intending ...b5 is also played. ] 7.d4!? This move wasn't played in the old days and I can f ind only 3 examples. But White never did very well with [ 7.e2 d5 8.cxd5 cxd5 9.exd5 xd5 10.0-0 c6 anyway, 11.d4 b6! ] 7...exd4 [ Black can also be content with the superior structure following 7...d6 8.e2 . Then ( 8.f3!? ) 8...c5!? is double-edged because it forgoes the idea of ...c6 with play on the cfile. Thus Black needs to get immediate access to c4, or White might sacrifice that p a w n i n o r d e r t o a t t a c k : ( a positional approach is 8...e6! 9.d5 d7; 8...e8 ) 9.d5 ( 9.0-0! c6 10.d3 ) 9...e8 ( 9...bd7! 10.0-0?! a5 11.f4 a6 ) 10.h3 g6 ( 10...f5 ) 11.h6 g7 12.g4 ( 12.0-0 f5 13.f4! would exploit the absence of Black's dark-squared bishop) 12...d7 13.g3 f6 14.f1 a5 15.d2 b6 with approximate equality, Sorokin-Motylev, Calcutta 2002. ] 8.xd4 White's point, operating on the d-file. [ 8.cxd4? xe4! 9.xe4 e8 ] [ In notes to the Sorokin game, Ribli gives 8.e5!? e8 9.cxd4 d6 10.f4 dxe5 11.fxe5 "W hite possesses the bishop pair and a strong pawn centre in return Black has a lead in development". Interesting, because after c5 that centre is collapsing and White is forced into a line that might be good for 894
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 him: 12.f3 c6 ( 12...cxd4 13.0-0 g4 14.g5! ) 13.0-0 e4 14.d5! xe5 15.xe5 xe5 16.b2 e8 17.xe4 xe4 18.xf7! ] 8...e8 9.e2 [ 9.g5 c5 10.xf6 b6 11.d3 xf6 12.e2 c6 ] 9...d5!? [ Stirring things up with a pawn sacrifice. It would be interesting to see what White had in mind after 9...d6 10.f4 ( 10.0-0 c5! and ...Nxe4 or ... Nc6-e5; 10.g5!? ) 10...c5! 11.xd6 xd6 12.xd6 xe4 13.xe4 xe4 14.xc5 g4 15.e3 xc4 wi t h t h e l i g h t s q u a r e s . W h i t e ' s w h o l e variation looks a little suspicious. ] 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.exd5 f5 12.d1 [ 12.e3 e4! ] 12...g4 [ 12...e4 13.xe4 xe4 14.g5 bd7 15.0-0 is unclear, but White still has his pawn, ] 13.f3 f5 14.c4 bd7 Black has superb development for the pawn, and moves like . .. Ne5, ...Rc8, and ....Qb6 all have to be dealt with. White properly runs away. 15.0-0 e5 [ A tempting move although it runs into a little trick. Also unconvincing is 15...c8 16.g4 g6 17.g5 h5 18.f4 b6+ 19.h1 e4 20.xe4 xe4 21.d3! cxc4 22.b1 ] [ The simple 15...c5 with the idea 16.a3 a5 looks best to me. ] 16.g4 b6+ [ 16...d3!? 17.g5!? ] 17.c5!? A surprise. [ 17.h1 d3!? 18.b3 f2+ 19.g1 h3+ 20.h1 is only a draw. Maybe Black could try 17...Bg6. ] [ 17.d4? d3! ] 17...xc5+ 18.d4 c2! [ Oddly unconvincing is 18...xd4+ 19.xd4 d3 20.d1! xd5 21.f4 c3 22.d2 ad8 23.fxe5 xd4 24.b2 and White actually stands better. ] 19.d1! Another subtle move. The obvious [ 19.gxf5 xe2 20.g5 ed7 21.d6 is interesting, but still in Black's favour. ] 19...c4 [ 19...c5+ 20.d4= ] 20.d4 xd1 21.xd1 d7!
[ 21...g6 22.b5! establishes definite counterplay, and the bishop pair may well be active shortly. ] 22.d6!? [ 22.b3= ] 22...xd6! This has to be well calculated, since t h e b ish op on d7 will h an g. 23.b3 b5! 24.g5 c3 25.d6 [ 25.d3? e2+ 26.f2 b5 ] 25...e1+ 26.f1 Always bold. The draw was to be had by [ 26.f2 e2+ 27.g1 ( 27.g3?? h5+ ) 27...e1+ ] 26...h3 27.b2 xf1+ 28.xf1 e8! 29.xc3!? [ 29.d2 xf1 30.xf1 xa2 is bad. ] 29...xd6 30.d1 b5 A slugfest. Now it looks lke Black is winning but W hite keeps coming up with resources until he manages to escape. 31.e5 e8 32.d5 a3 33.d2 c2 34.f4 b4?! [ 34...b6 ] 35.b5 d3 36.xb7 xe5 37.fxe5 h6 38.gxh6 xe5 39.xa7 e2 40.a8+ h7 41.hxg7 xg7 42.a3 g2+ 43.h1 xd2 44.xh3 xa2 ½-½
902 Van der Elburg,Freddie Van Beek,Alexander 10th Essent Open (7) [John Watson]
A22 2359 2379 26.10.2006
1.c4 c6 2.e4 e5 3.c3 f6 [ 3...a5!? is the subject of Postny-L'Ami in this month's column. ] 4.d4 [ 4.f3 i s p r o b a b l y b e s t , w h e n b4 is an old move that gives W hite the edge after ( Black's best is the normal 4...d6 5.d4 bd7 with an Old Indian after ... Be7 and perhaps a King's Indian after ... g6 and ..Bg7, although White has options in the second case. ) 5.xe5 e7 A) or 6.f3 xc3? ( 6...xe4! 7.e2 d5!? 8.cxd5 0-0 is an interesting gambit, but W hite must still be better) 7.dxc3 xe4 8.e3 is very good for White; B) 6.d3 xc3 ( 6...xe4 7.e2! xc3 895
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.dxc3 xe2+ 9.xe2 e7 10.f4 ) 7.dxc3 xe4 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 with the advantage due to active piece play and Black's backward pawn. ] 4...b4 5.f3!? [ An odd move. White is trying to avoid 5.dxe5 xe4 6.d4 xc3 ( 6...a5 7.ge2 c5!? threatens ...Nb3 (HiArcs' suggestion), when 8.d1 e4 9.d4 repeats ) 7.bxc3 e7 with moves like ...Na6c5 and perhaps ...Qa5 to come. ] 5...exd4 [ or 5...d6 6.dxe5!? xc3+ 7.bxc3 dxe5 8.xd8+ xd8 and Black's king looks safe enough on c7. ] 6.xd4 e7 [ Black can also emphasise development by 6...0-0 , i n t e n d i n g 7.f4!? d5! 8.cxd5 xc3+ 9.xc3 cxd5 10.0-0-0 e6= with chances against White's king. ] 7.g5 h6? [ 7...c5 ] 8.xf6 xf6 9.xf6 gxf6 10.ge2 d6 11.a3 c5 12.0-0-0 [ 12.b4 e3 13.d1 e7 14.d4 ] 12...e7 13.d4 a5 14.f5+!? [ 14.e2 is calm and good. I'm not sure that W hite wants the opposite-coloured bishops. ] 14...xf5 15.exf5 d8 16.d3 d5? Losing material and giving up central squares at the same time! [ 16...d7 17.he1+ f8 18.f4 , stopping ...Ne5, and Black is tied down although this doesn't look so bad. ] 17.he1+ f8 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.e4 Perhaps Black missed this. d4 [ 19...c6 20.xd5 ac8 21.b1 ] 20.a4?! [ 20.xb7! is less complicated that it looks after a7 21.e4 c8 22.b5! ] 20...d6 21.b1 xh2? [ 21...c6! 22.xc6 bxc6 23.xd4 xh2 24.c4 d2 25.g4 g7 26.xc6 h5 is better for White but not so easy. ] 22.c5 a7 23.xb7 d7 24.c5 d8 25.d3! d6 This really IS a bad bishop, and it can't cover all of Black's weaknesses. [ 25...d7? 26.h1 ] 26.c1 c7 27.xc7 xc7 28.c1 b6 29.f4 d6 30.d5 d8 31.c4 c6
32.c2 g7 33.b4 axb4 34.axb4 d3+!? (a little desperate) 35.d2 e5 36.c8!? b6 37.b8 [ 37.f4! g4 ( 37...d7 38.xd3 ) 38.xb6! xb6 39.c4 and Black's knight i s s t u c k , e v e n a f t e r f2 40.d5 , the c-pawn will win. ] 37...a7 38.b7 a6 39.c3? A mistake at time control. Simply [ 39.xd3 a2+ 40.c2 c4+ 41.c3 d6 42.d7 ] 39...d4 40.d5 d6 41.b5 xc3+ 42.xc3 c6 43.b3 d2! 44.d1 e7 45.a5 d5+ 46.xd2 xb4+ 47.e1 ½-½
903 Wen,Yang Sasikiran,Krishnan Asian Continental 13th (9) [Fier, Alexandr]
A22 2581 2680 25.04.2014
This game really impressed me with the ease that White got the advantage. I don't think this idea actually leads to a concrete plus, but B la ck n e e d s t o t a ke ca re t o n o t ge t in t o trouble. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.c3 b4 4.g2 0-0 5.f3 e8 6.0-0 c6 Black tries to control the center using the fact that the knight is still on b8. Later White tried to play a plan with 8.Ne4, not afraid to allow doubled pawns since with the pawn on c6 the black dpawn may prove exposed on d6. [ 6...e4 is the main line 7.d4 c6 8.c2 xc3 and here 9.bxc3 was seen in Kanep, M (2510)-Sammalvuo, T (2458)/TCh-FIN 2006-7. ( 9.dxc3 is the main line )] [ 6...c6 7.e1 is an interesting sideline h6 8.c2 c5 9.d3 d4 10.b1 a6 11.b4 with a n orma l En glish t yp e of p os it io n , analysed for ChessPublishing in Malakhov, V (2679)-Roiz, M (2605)/8th ch-Euro Dresden GER 2007. ] 7.d3 h6 8.e4!? Apparently this is a committal decision and White won't have an easy pawn break after 8...Nxe4, but all the pieces have good squares to go to and White will create annoying pressure on the d-file. a6 Keeping the options open. Black thinks that without the open d-file it will be harder for 896
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White to create play in the center. [ 8...xe4 it's hard to say if this is better than t h e ga m e o r n o t . I t h i n k b o t h lin e s a r e equivalent 9.dxe4 A) 9...f8 i s a l s o o k 10.e3 ( 10.b3 maybe this is a better option, bringing the bishop to the long diagonal) 10...d6 11.d2 e6 12.ac1 d7 with a level position, as seen in the rapid game A d i a n t o , U (2 5 2 0 ) -B a re e v, E (2 6 7 5 ) / Tilburg rapid20 1994.; B) 9...a5 getting some space on the queenside 10.b3 d6 11.b2 e6 12.h4 c5 13.a3 and the position is ok for both players, Polgar, Z (2510)-Torre, E (2530)/San Francisco 1991. ] 9.a3 A quite logical move, expanding on the queenside and still leaving the knight on e4 for the moment. [ 9.xf6+ would avoid any structural change xf6 10.e4 avoiding 10...d5 d6 11.h3 c5 12.a3 c7 13.b4 b6 14.b2 and I think White has a tiny plus. It was interesting to see both Kosintseva sisters forced to play against each other in the W orld Cup, Kosintseva, N (2539)-Kosintseva, T (2515)/ Wch World Cup (Women) 2012 (3.6). ] 9...f8 10.b4 d5 Active, but it also gives White some targets. [ 10...d6 11.b2 c7 would be a solid way to play. Probably one day one of the players will lose the contest and finally exchange the knights. For example: 12.fd2 xe4 13.dxe4 ( 13.xe4 d5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.c5 b6 16.b3 g4 with interesting game ) 13...a5 14.c2 e6 with a middlegame full of play ] 11.xf6+ xf6 12.b2 White has all his minor pieces targeting Black's center. So, the question is whether Black can finish development without making any big c o n c e s s i o n . d6?! Black tries to keep the center together, but it's too slow to spend one more tempo on the queen. [ 12...d4!? aiming against the bishop on b2. It's a committal decision, but then Black has more freedom for the other pieces 13.e3 c5 14.bxc5 ( 14.b5 is less good, White should try to open the position c7 15.d2 a6 16.a4 b8 and Black is fine) 14...xc5 15.exd4 exd4 16.d2 f5 17.e4 e7
with a complex position. White has a lot of potential, but Black's pieces also active ] 13.c1 f5? Now this is a mistake, Black overlooked something, maybe 15.e4. [ 13...g4 was a better square for the bishop 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.d4 e4 16.e5 e6 17.f3 is an active answer, and maybe White can h a v e a s m a l l p l u s exf3 ( 17...f6 is not interesting for Black 18.g6 f5 19.xf8 xf8 20.b5 c7 21.a4 and the bishop will find a good diagonal on a3 ) 18.exf3 ac8 19.f4 with some pressure ] [ 13...d4 was still possible 14.c5 d8 15.e3 dxe3 16.fxe3 f6 17.h4 e6 18.e4 and W hite's position is promising, but if Black's knight arrives on d5 before he get mated he should be ok ] 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.e4! This is not a real pawn sacrifice, but activates all the position while the black pieces are still uncoordinated. g4 Black wants to take the d5-pawn with the knight, but there is no time for his. [ 15...dxe4 was probably a better option, but W h it e st ill h a s so m e a d va n t a ge 16.h4 ( 16.dxe4 is probably not enough xe4 17.xd6 xd6 18.fe1 c6 19.xe5 xg2 20.xg2 c7 and with some precision Black should hold) 16...h7 17.dxe4 b6 18.f5 with good prospects ] 16.exd5 c7 17.h3 The most forcing. [ 17.e1 would also win a pawn but Black h a s a b i t o f c o m p e n s a t i o n a f t e r xd5 18.b3 b6 19.xe5 e6 20.d1 d5 ] 17...h5 18.g4 g6 19.e1 f6 [ 19...xd5 20.xe5 and the difference now is that the bishop can't go back to the long diagonal ] 20.h4 f7 21.f5 First activating the knight [ 21.d4 was also an interesting option and similar to the game, enough for an advantage e4 22.xe4 xd5 23.f5 b6 24.c2 Black's pieces are poorly placed and the king is not that safe ] 21...d7 22.d4 e4 23.xe4 [ 23.d6 trying to put the bishop in the way was slightly better xd6 24.xe4 d5 25.f3 and now the knight is attacked c7 26.c3 ad8 27.d2 with a dangerous attack ] 23...xd5 24.f3 a5 25.bxa5 b5 897
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 25...xa5 was a better way to try to hold t h e p o s it io n 26.d3 g6 27.e3 g7 and it's not so easy to break Black's position ] 26.c2 ac8?? A wrong idea, now White is winning with a simple trick. 27.xc8 xc8 28.xh6+! gxh6 29.f5 1-0
this passive position, but he should not be giving up a pawn here. [ 21...ge5 would have been much tougher. ] 22.xg6 hxg6 23.xc5 g4 24.b1 axb3 25.axb3 f3+ [ 25...f6 would have been better here. The text allows White to set up a mating net. ] 26.xf3 xf3 27.f1 e2 [ Perhaps Black's initial calculations had not 904 A22 t a k e n a c c o u n t o f t h e l i n e 27...xe4 28.e7+ h7 29.f4 threatening both the Zvjaginsev,Vadim 2663 bishop and mate on h4. ] Mikhalevski,Victor 2584 12th ch-EUR Aix les Bains FRA (6) 27.03.2011 28.e7+ h7 29.f4 a1+ 30.g2 a2 31.h4+ h5+ 32.h3 h6 33.g4 [Nigel Davies] Winning a piece. f5 34.exf5 e8 35.g5+ 36.fxg6+ f6 37.d5+ xg6 1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 e5 xg5 5.g2 b6 6.e3!? Welcome to the World of 38.xh5 Va dim Zvjagin sev. He's f o rever crea tin g 1-0 original positions with unusual opening moves, and in practice this can be a very effective 905 A23 approach. c6 [ One of the very few games to feature 6.e3 Al Hadarani,Hatim 2356 varied here with 6...e7 after which 7.ge2 Soon Wei Yee 0-0 8.0-0 c6 9.d4 ( 9.f4!? would have 14th Asian Cities (2) 22.03.2004 been interesting here.) 9...exd4 10.xd4 [Tony Kosten] a6 11.h5 g6 12.e2 f6 13.d1 e7 14.e4 d8 wasn't much for White in 1.c4 c6 2.g3 d5 3.g2 e5!? Dornieden, M-Usachyi, M/Naumburg 2002. ] Very ambitious, but can it be good? 4.cxd5 7.ge2 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.f4 This might be We looked at what attracted Zvjaginsev to 6.e3, the [ 4.d4!? in Lauvsnes,A-Grotnes,N. ] possibility of undermining Black's e-pawn with 4...cxd5 5.b3 Critical, White puts immediate f2-f4. pressure on the black centre and on the long [ T h e s t a n d a r d p a w n l e v e r i s 9.d4 diagonal. f6 The most common, but , but this doesn't bring much apart from [ 5...d4!? i s i n t e r e s t i n g : 6.xb7 c7! simplification. For example exd4 10.xd4 (the neat point) 7.xa8 xc1+ 8.d1 xd4 11.xd4 c6 12.xd8 xd8 13.e4 xb2 and now White must force a draw, e6 14.f4 c4 was nothing for White in 9.b3 c1+ ( 9...xa1!? 10.xb8 e7 O'Siochru, M-Quinn, M/Dublin 1992. ] 11.f3 is wild ) 10.d1 etc. ] 9...a5 10.fxe5 xe5 11.d4 g6 12.b3 6.c3 e4!? The most popular choice here is [ Af te r t he im me d ia t e 12.e4 Black can the strong pawn sac blockade the central pawns with c5 13.d5 [ 6...c6! with the continuation 7.xd5 d4 d6 . So White first prepares it. ] 8.xf6+ xf6 and White has certain 12...c6 13.e4 c5 14.e3! The point behind development problems, 9.d3 d7 10.e3 1 2 . b 3 B l a c k c a n n o t p l a y 1 4 . . . N c 4 . cxd4 c6 11.e4 0-0-0 12.b1 e6! 15.xd4 xd4 16.xd4 d7 17.d5 with a strong initiative, Gurevich,MIt's now clear that White has an edge because Sveshnikov,E/Alekhine mem op 1992. ] of his lead in development and powerful knight 7.d3 White continues his assault on the on d5. c5 18.ac1 b6 19.xc5 bxc5 centre. exd3 20.fd1 a4 21.ef4 de5? An active player [ 7...c6!? i s a g a i n p o s s i b l e : 8.d2 like Victor is not going to be comfortable in ( 8.dxe4!? ) 8...exd3 9.xd5 c5 10.xd3 898
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 0-0 Black has some play for the pawn, Njirjak,J-Starostits,I/Szombathely 1993. ] 8.xd5 dxe2?! An unsuccessful innovation. [ 8...xd5 is best, 9.xd5 ( 9.xd5!? b4+ 10.f1 dxe2+ 11.xe2 0-0 12.e3 seems about level, Wexler,B-Bazan,O/Mar del Plata 1960) 9...b4+ 10.d2 xd2+ 11.xd2 xd5 12.xd5 dxe2 13.xe2 and W hite has a slight development advantage, Duarte,R-Ramalho,J/Lisbon 1999. ] 9.xe2 [ 9.e3+! i s a w k w a r d t o m e e t : e6 10.xf6+ gxf6 ( 10...xf6? 11.xb7 ) 11.xe2 c6 12.0-0 with the better structure. ] 9...c6?! Black plays inaccurately, [ 9...xd5 10.xd5 b4+! is almost level. ] 10.g5 e7 11.d1 Piling-on the pressure. a5+? [ 11...xd5! is the best chance, 12.xd5 b4+ ( 12...xg5? 13.xf7+ e7 14.xd8 ) 13.d2 xd2+ 14.xd2 e7 15.0-0 0-0 and Black succeeds in getting his king to safety. ] 12.d2 d8 13.c3 Now Black is in real trouble. d6 14.xf6+ gxf6 15.0-0 0-0 16.f4 Heading f or h5. f5 17.h5 a5 18.f6+ h8 19.xd6 When the queen captures on d6 it is lost to a discovered check from the knight. 1-0
which also offers Black fine play. ] 6.c2 [ Probably the best square for the knight, as 6.b3?! is met by a5 menacing the win of the knight by ...a4, but ] [ 6.e3 is a good alternative, d5 7.c2 ] 6...d5 7.g2 [ Better than 7.cxd5 which allows the black knight the c6-square: cxd5 8.g2 e6 9.d3 c6! 10.0-0 d8 with good play for Black, Andersen,B-From,S/Nykobing 1961. ] 7...dxc4! [ The simplest solution to the pressure on the black centre, 7...e6 8.0-0 e7 allows 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.d3 Hentunen,A-Rytshagov, M/Espoo 1993, although, even here c6!? s e e m s r e a s o n a b l e , a s 11.dxe4 dxe4 12.xe4 xe4 13.xe4 d8 14.e1 f6 is active. ] 8.0-0 e6 [ T h e a g g r e s s i v e 8...h5!? is worth a thought. ] 9.xe4 xe4 10.xe4 d7 11.e3 [ Planning to exchange the light-squared bishops, and weaken the black c4-pawn which exerts a cramping effect on the white position. 11.g2 was agreed drawn in Perez-Barreras,A/Fuerteventura 1992. ] 11...f6 [ A logical innovation, that improves on 11...d4 12.f5 xf5 13.xf5 e4 14.e3 Dorfman-Karasev/USSR (ch) 1976. ] 12.f5! 906 A23 [ White uses Dorfman's recipe, which is not too surprising as he was Dorfman's student Bacrot,Etienne 2613 for many years! 12.g2 offers little. ] Svidler,Peter 2689 FIDE WCh KO New Delhi IND (2.4) 02.12.2000 12...xf5 13.xf5 b5 14.c2 0-0-0 15.e3 Thus we see the point of White's play, [Tony Kosten] the c4-pawn is compromised. e8 Black uses e4 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 c6 Keres' line is tactics to defend his c-pawn. 16.e1 17.b3! effective here because of the c3-knight. 4.f3 [ Best, White gives-up trying to win the c[ The problem with having the knight on c3 is pawn, if 17.f3 then d4 and White has only shown by the line 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 d5 succeeded in weakening his dark squares. ] 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.g2 c6 8.a4 when the move d4! is awkward, i.e. 9.xc6+ 17...h5!? [ Playing for the attack, but it is dubious, bxc6 10.e4 b4+! ( 10...xe4? 17...cxb3 18.axb3 is positionally good for 11.xc6+ ) 11.xb4 xe4 12.f3 c5 White, who has a strong centre, but had to with advantage. ] be played. ] 4...e4 5.d4 b6 [ This is rarer than 5...d5 6.cxd5 b6 18.b2 899
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 18.bxc4?! c5 ( 18...xe3? 19.dxe3 g4 leads nowhere after 20.h4 ) 19.b2 xe3 20.dxe3 g4 21.h4 he8 gives Black a useful initiative. ] 18...g4 19.xg4 xg4 20.bxc4 d6 Although White's kingside light squares are weak, the black attack appears insufficient for the moment. 21.e4 e8 22.d4 e6 23.e5 b4 24.f3? [ The beginning of White's troubles, 24.e3 h6 25.f4 consolidates. ] 24...f4! A surprising blow, regaining a pawn as both e1, and f3 are attacked. 25.f1 [ 25.gxf4? g6+ wins the white queen, or allows mate. ] 25...xf3 26.e4?? [ The second mistake, 26.xf3 xf3 27.b3 exchanges the queens with a positional advantage in the endgame, because of the powerful, and mobile, white centre. ] 26...h6! Of course! 27.h4? [ W h i t e c o m p l e t e l y c r a c k s , 27.c2 i s t h e o n l y c h a n c e , xg3+ 28.h1 leaves him some chances. ] 27...xf1+ 28.xf1 e2 The white queen can 't move with out allowing ma te on h2 . 29.f2 e1+ 0-1
907 Kapostas,Z Kallai,Gabor Hungarian Team Championship 20 [Paul Motwani]
A23
[ Better is 8.xf6+ , but even then Black still obtains excellent play via gxf6 9.d1 c7 , threatening to cash a big 'cheque' with the check & fork ... Nc2+. ] 8...d7 9.xf6+ xf6 10.d1 c8 Clearly, Black has an even stronger version of what he was getting in the notes at move 8. 11.b1 [ If 11.f1 t h e n 1 1 . . . a6 creates the deadly duo of threats ...Ba4 and ...Nc2. ] 11...a6! 12.b3 [ I n t h e c a s e o f 12.a3 a4 13.b3 Black wins on the spot by capturing the b3pawn with his knight or bishop. ] 12...b4! [ Black's actual move in the game is more devastating than 12...xa2 since it carries the crushing threat of ...Bf5, which W hite will not be able to meet with d2-d3 because his d-pawn is now pinned. ] 13.b2 f5 14.xd4 [ After 14.e4 c2+ White is horrified to find that his king cannot move, and so he's then f orce d to give up h is qu ee n f o r th e c2 knight. ] 14...xb1 15.xb1 xa2! Black brings this neat game to a classy finish. 16.b2 [ 16.xa2 c1# was another way for White to exit. ] 16...exd4 White doesn't wish to see any more, and so he throws in the towel here. 0-1
2001
B36: "Crushed by Keres' System!" 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 Known as the Keres System, this is a very logical counter to W hite's last move, because Black's c6-pawn blunts the effect of the opponent's bishop which is about to be fianchettoed on the long h1-a8 diagonal. 3.g2 f6 4.c3 [ 4.d4 is a more popular option, by which White acts in the centre just before Black's d-pawn can do so. ] 4...d5 5.cxd5 cxd5 6.b3 c6! The gambit that goes with this move is known to be strong for Black, as he will get a powerful lead in development in return for sacrificing his d5pawn. 7.xd5 d4 8.a4+?
908 Kosten,Anthony C Fedorchuk,Sergey A Open Marseille FRA (8) [John Watson]
A23 2504 2576 06.07.2006
Our W ebmaster provides yet another demonstration of the power of 1 c4 versus top opposition. 'I think it is an interesting game as I couldn't quite believe that he played this line when I was doing my prep, and was hoping that he would play it against me, which he did! It might not be so bad for Black, but I personally f eel very comfortable in these positions where White gets to dictate the play. ' He provides a few notes and I add some others, particularly about the opening. 1.c4 e5 900
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2.c3 f6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 c6 5.e3 d6 [ jw: It seems to me that there are two moves tha t are m ore consiste nt with .. .c6 : (a ) 5...0-0 6.ge2 ( 6.d4 exd4 7.exd4 b4 8.ge2 d5 ) 6...d5 7.d4 exd4 8.exd4 b6 ( 8...b4 9.cxd5 xd5 10.0-0 e6= ) 9.cxd5 xd5 10.xd5 cxd5 11.c3 c6 12.e3 e6= ] [ (b) 5...d5 6.cxd5 A) HiArcs suggests 6...0-0!? 7.d4 exd4 8.exd4 b6 but then 9.g5! h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.ge2 f5 ( 11...g4!? ) 12.0-0 is better for White; B) 6...cxd5 B1) 7.b3 c6 ( 7...d4 8.xb7?! xb7 9.xb7 bd7 10.e4 0-0! W hite stands poorly.) 8.xd5 0-0 9.xf6+ xf6 and Black has plenty of compensation.; B2) 7.d4 exd4 8.exd4 e7 ( 8...b6 9.ge2 c6 10.g5 e6 11.0-0 0-0 , about equal.) 9.ge2 c6 10.0-0 g4!? 11.h3 xe2 12.xe2 b6= ] 6.ge2 a5 7.d4 a7 8.b3 [ jw: 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.xd8+ xd8 10.a4 a6 11.d2 b4 12.0-0 e7 with a balanced game. ] 8...a6 9.b2 Tony K: I don't really believe this system for Black, White has all the pawn breaks: d5, dxe5, c5 plus f4, and also h3 followed by g4. [ jw: Again 9.dxe5 doesn't achieve much: dxe5 10.xd8+ xd8 11.b2 e7 12.0-0 f5 , about equal ] 9...0-0 10.h3 e8 11.d2 f5 12.0-0 h6 13.ad1 h7?! 'Careless, [ 13...e4!? 14.d5 ] [ 'I had expected 13...c7 ' ] 14.d5! cxd5 15.xd5 Tony K: Control of this square will win the game! e4 16.c1 b4 17.a3 c6 [ 17...xd5 18.xd5 c5 19.c3 f6 ( 19...xc3?! 20.xc3 ) 20.d2 e7 ] 18.b4 c8 19.ec3 xc3 20.xc3 [ 20.xc3!? ] 20...b8?! [ 20...b5! and at least Black is hanging in there. ] 21.bxa5 c5 22.b4! xa5 23.c3 c5 24.xb7 d7 25.b5 e6 26.c3 a4 27.c7 xc7 28.xc7 e7 29.c6 a7
[ 29...xc4? 30.d5 ] 30.d5 e6 31.b4 c2 32.d2 a4 33.b5 xb4 34.axb4 xb5 35.cxb5 b7 36.a1 b6 37.a6 xd5 38.xd5 f8 39.c6 e7 40.b6 d7 41.b5 Tony K: Just in time! f6 42.e4 Tony K: Black is completely dominated, I started wandering around the tournament hall expecting him to resign! h5 43.d2 h6 44.h4 e6 45.g2 g6 46.f3 f5 47.e3 f6 48.f3 b8 49.a2 e6 50.a7 f4+ 51.gxf4 xf4 52.g7! a8 53.cc7 a3+ 54.d2 a2+ 55.c1 1-0
909 Kveinys,Aloyzas Stocek,Jiri 9th HIT Open (7) [Tony Kosten]
A23 2511 2552 03.02.2004
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 d5 6.f3 White refrains from the immediate exchange, [ 6.cxd5 b e c a u s e o f cxd5 7.f3 c6 8.a4 d4! as we saw in Ljubojevic,LGelfand,B/Monaco MNC 2001. ] [ 6.g2 is a similar idea, see ChabanonKasparov. ] 6...a6!? We have seen ideas like this before in the Keres, Black plans ...Nb4 to menace winning the white queen. This is borrowed from the c3-Sicilian. [ 6...e7 is solid, 7.cxd5 ( 7.g2 c5 8.d3 d4 is level ) 7...cxd5 8.g2 c6 with a transposition to the mainline here. ] [ 6...e6 is more ambitious, 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.g2 c6 9.a4 c5 bringing the bishop to a more active diagonal. ] 7.g5! The most precise, [ 7.g2 c5 ( 7...b4! 8.0-0 c2 9.e5+ e7 ) 8.e5+ e7 9.xe7+ xe7 10.cxd5 b4 May,F-Lambert,A/GER 1998, and as I pointed-out in the notes to my game against Collins, 11.dxc6! c2+ 12.f1 xa1 13.d4 is probably good for White. ] 7...c5!? An innovation, [ 7...e6 8.cxd5 b4 Couso,L-V anderwae ren,S/Sa longerna s 1996, and now 9.xf6 gxf6 10.0-0-0 xd5 901
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 looks a tad better for White. ] [ 7...e7 is best, in my opinion. ] 8.e5+ e6 9.0-0-0 [ 9.cxd5!? cxd5 10.e3 is worth a try, b4 11.b5+ ] 9...d6 [ 9...xf2? is to o gree dy, 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.e4 with nasty threats. ] 10.d4 c5 11.xf6 This brings the slightest of advantages in the ensuing endgame, [ 11.h4 d4 12.d5!? might offer more. ] 11...cxd4 12.xd8 dxc3 13.a5 cxb2+ [ 13...c2 14.xc2 c8 is no improvement, 15.e3 b5 16.c3 bxc4 17.e4! taking advantage of the d-file pin. ] 14.xb2 d4!? [ 14...c7 15.cxd5 xa5 16.dxe6 fxe6 17.d4 gives White a very slight plus, but the opposite-colour bishops give significant drawing chances. ] 15.xd4 xc4 16.e4 xf1 17.hxf1 0-0 18.f4 White gains some space, and his pieces are slightly more active. fc8 19.e5 f8 20.f5 c5 21.c3 ac8 Black defends well, and his pawn structure is solid, so the draw seems close. 22.f3 b5+ 23.a1 b4?! Threatening mate, but [ 23...bc5 i s s t r o n g e s t , wh e n 24.b2 ( 24.d4?! d5 is a self pin 25.fd3 b4 and W hite has got his pieces in a tangle) 24...b5+ is a repetition. ] 24.xb4 xb4?? Losing a piece, [ 24...xb4 25.fd3 g6 26.a3 is better for White, but there is plenty of play left in this position. ] 25.b3! Pin and win! b6?! 26.xb4 [ 26.xb4 xb4 27.e7+ wins a piece. ] 1-0
910 Ljubojevic,Ljubomir Gelfand,Boris Amber Blindfold (1) [Tony Kosten]
A23 2566 2712 17.03.2001
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 d5 6.cxd5 [ 6.g2 may be the most accurate, e6 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.f3 c6 9.a4 stops the ... d4 thrust c5 with transposition into a main
line. ( 9...d4? 10.xd4 xd4?? 11.xc6+ )] 6...cxd5 7.f3!? c6 8.a4 d4! This space-gaining advance is the reason why the Keres can be so effective when the white knight is on c3 too soon. 9.b5 b4+ [ Good but so is 9...c5 10.g2 0-0 11.0-0 a6!? 12.c2?! e7 13.a3 b4 14.d1 d8 Black is on top, Uhlmann,W-Gligoric,S/ Moscow 1956. ] [ and 9...e4! (planning ...Nc5) is probably even stronger, although I cannot find any examples of it being played, for instance 10.g2 c5 11.a3 ( 11.d1 a5+ ) 11...f5 12.b4 d3+ winning. ] 10.d2 xd2+ 11.xd2 0-0 The e2-pawn is seriously exposed on the e-file. 12.g2 e8 13.f3!? [ A new attempt to make this line work, 13.xc6 bxc6 14.xd4 c5 15.4f3 , Kubicek,A-Kozma,J/Luhacovice 1968, is difficult to believe as the white light squares are too weak without the bishop. ] 13...d3 14.e3 g4 15.0-0 d7 16.c3 ad8 Black certainly seems to be well in charge here, he has a powerful passed dp a wn , a n d p e rf e ct d e ve lo p m e n t . 17.ad1 e5 [ Tempting, but 17...f5! is very strong. ] 18.xd7 fxd7 19.xe5 The only move. xe5 [ White is saved by the variation 19...xd1 20.xd3 when he will win the b7-pawn, and gain two pawns for the exchange. ] 20.f3 e6 21.b3 c8!? [ 21...a6 first, is better. ] 22.b5 c2?! [ 22...ed8 ] 23.f2 ec8 24.d4 Although Black has played aggressive moves, it seems that White has managed to defend, and his strong d4knight gains equality. xf2?! [ 24...c1 ] 25.xf2 Now White is much better, he can simp ly pla y Bf 1 xd 3 . d7 26.f1 f8 27.xd3 c1 28.e2 xd1 29.xd1 d3+ 30.f1 e7 31.a3 a5 32.e2 e5 33.e4 Now the win is just a matter of technique, even in a blindfold game. d6 34.e3 c5 35.e2 f6 36.f4 c6 37.xc6 xc6 38.c4 d6 39.d4 b6 40.h4 h6 41.f7 d7 42.b4 axb4 43.axb4 g4 44.e5+ 902
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 fxe5+ 45.fxe5+ e7 46.g8 d1 47.c4 g4 48.a6 d1 49.c8 f3 50.e3 d1 51.f4 c2 52.g4 d1 53.g5 c2 54.g4 b3 55.e2 e6 56.gxh6 gxh6 57.g4+ e7 58.h3 d5 59.f1 b3 60.e4 e6 61.d4 d1 62.h3+ e7 63.f5 f7 64.d5 e7 65.c6 1-0
911 Marin,Mihail Bacrot,Etienne Spanish Team Ch Gp2 (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A23 2533 2709 29.06.2007
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 c6 4.f3 e4 5.d4 d5 6.cxd5 b6 7.b3 a5 8.d3 a4 9.e3 [ Based on the evidence from the analysis below, W hite's best choice is likely 9.d2 , and now: A) 9...exd3 10.c4 ( 10.g2 cxd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.xd5 e6 13.g2 dxe2 14.xe2 e7 15.0-0 0-0 , so far V.Duart-Z.Smuk, corr 1998, and now: 16.e4 c6 17.e3 a5 18.fc1 , and White has the initiative) 10...c5 11.exd3 cxd5 12.d4 e7+ 13.e3 e6 14.b5+ ( 14.g2 d7 15.0-0 e7 16.f4 ) 14...c6 15.0-0 a3 16.f4 b4 17.b1 A. Nikitin-A.Gorchakov, Moscow 1970; B) 9...a3 10.c4 b4 11.d2 cxd5 ( 11...exd3 12.exd3 axb2 13.b1 e7+ 14.e2 xe2+ 15.xe2 ) 12.bxa3 c5 13.a4 c7 14.cb6 a6 15.f4+D.Komljenovic-F.Salamero Pelay, Zaragoza 1994; C) 9...cxd5 C1) 10.g2 a3 11.bxa3 c5 12.0-0 e3 13.b3 exf2+ 14.h1 xa3? ( 14...0-0 15.xc5 xc5 16.b2 e8 17.e4 ) 15.xa3 xa3 16.c1+W . Ch o wa n ie c-M. S zcze d ryg in , co r r 1993; C2) 10.dxe4 C2a) 10...c5 11.e3 a3 ( 11...dxe4 12.xa4 c6 13.xc5 xc5 14.g2 ) 12.bxa3 xe3 13.b5+ c6 ( 13...d7 14.0-0 xd2 15.xd2
dxe4 16.e3 ) 14.fxe3 xe3+ 15.e2+was seen in R.Nowak-J. Widera, Wisla 1998; C2b) 10...xe4 11.dxe4 dxe4 12.c2 f5 ( 12...f5 13.d5 a5+ 14.d2 xd5 15.xc8+ ) 13.g2 xf2+ ( 13...c5 14.0-0 0-0 15.xa4+- ) 14.xf2 e3+ 15.xe3 xc2 16.ac1 f5 C2b1) 17.b5 a5 18.c7+ e7 19.b6! e5 20.d4 a5 21.d5+ e6 ( 21...d7 22.c7++- ) 22.e4 g6 23.b6+-; C2b2) 17.b5! 1-0 H.Heemsoth-J. Lorenzen, corr 1966; C2c) 10...dxe4 C2c1) 11.e3 b4 12.c2 ( or 12.g2 0-0 13.0-0 xc3 14.bxc3 g4 15.c2 e2 , N.Hocevar-F. Bentivegna, Cutro 2005, and now: 16.b1 a6 17.xe4 xe4 18.xe4 c6 19.a3 d3 20.g4 fd8 ) 12...0-0 13.g2 f5 14.0-0 xc3 15.bxc3 e6 16.b1 b6 17.a3 c8 18.b4 d5 19.c4 , G.McIntrye-S.Kerr, CCLA 2001, d7 20.xe4 xc4 21.xf5 xc3 22.xe6 xc2 23.xd5 a5=; C2c2) 11.dxe4 xe4 12.xe4 b4+ 13.d2 0-0 14.g2 d8 15.c1 xd2+ 16.xd2 e6 17.0-0 c6 18.f3 ac8 19.f4 xb2 20.xa4 xe2= , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, W.Hort-P. Leisebein, e-mail 2002; C2c3) 11.g2!? a3 ( 11...e3 12.fxe3 d7 13.0-0 xe3+ 14.h1 T.Krovel Velle-N. S p i r i d o n o v , I E C G E m a i l 2 0 0 0) 12.b3 xb3 13.axb3 axb2 14.xb2 xa1+ 15.xa1 e3 16.fxe3 c6 with a complicated game, M.Sorokin-A.Raetsky, Pardubice 1992 ] 9...b4 10.d4 [ This line is both rare and not particularly good, a somewhat odd choice for player with Marin's expertise in the English Opening. Another inadequate line is 10.dxe4 axb3 11.a3 A) 11...a5 12.g2 c5 13.xc5 xc5 903
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.b1 b4 14.d4 leads to 14.0-0 0-0 15.e3 b6; fascinating play one possible line is c5 B) 11...e7 12.xb3 g4! 13.h3 h5 ( 14...xd5!? ) 15.xf6 gxf6 16.d1 ( 13...b4 14.axb4 xa1+ 15.d2 xh1 xa2 17.xb2 xb2 18.xb2 b5 16.f4 ) 14.f4 ( 14.0-0 h4 15.d6 19.d1 a3 20.c2 exd3+ 21.xd3 e6 ) 14...d7 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.0-0 g5 c4 22.f4 d6 23.g2 e7 24.a1 17.d2 de5; , and the complications continue; C) 11...c4 12.d4 cxd5?! ( Black can B2) 11.cxe4 xd5 12.bxa3 xa3 do better by getting the queen away from 13.b1 ( 13.g2 f5 14.b1 a5 t h e c - f i le wit h 12...a6 13.e3 a5 15.0-0 xe3 16.fxe3 fxe4 17.c4 14.xf6 gxf6 15.g2 g7 16.xb3 a7 18.xa3 xe3+ 19.h1 xa3 a6 , now White has a number of 20.b3 d6 21.xe4 ) 13...a5 in te re st in g a lt erna tive s o ve r th e ne xt ( 13...xe3 14.fxe3 a4 (ChessMail) several moves:) 13.e3 ( 13.c1! c7 15.xa4 xa4 16.c3 a3 17.b3 14.xd5 xd5 15.xc7 xc7 16.e5 ) , and Black has insufficient 13...c7 14.exd5 ( 14.c1 a5 15.xf6 compensation for the pawn) 14.d4 gxf6 16.exd5 ) 14...a6 ( 14...g4 15.f3 xa2 d7 16.e4 a5 17.c1 ) 15.xb3 B2a) 15.c1 is given as interesting in ( 15.xf6 gxf6 16.g2 ) 15...c5 ChessMail, but Black appears to be ( 15...e7 16.c4 xc4 17.xc4 f5 better in this line too, e.g. b4 16.c2 18.d1 ) 16.d1 ( 16.xf6 gxf6 17.b5+ f5 17.c5 a3 18.xg7 ( 18.g2 d7 18.d1 ) 16...g4 17.xa6 c3 19.xc3 xc3 20.0-0 xc5 ( 17.b5+ d7 18.xg7 g8 19.h6 21.b1 b3 22.c1 xb1 23.xb1 xd1 20.xd1 0-0-0 21.c2 d6 ) a3 24.a2 b4 25.c2 e5 ) 17...bxa6 18.a4+ d7 ( 18...f8!? 18...c3 19.c1 g8-+; 19.xc5+ xc5 20.d2 h3 ) 19.xc5 B2b) 15.a1 b4! 16.c1 g4 17.f3 xd1 20.e4+ e5 21.xd1 xe4 e6 18.c5 xc5 19.xc5 b6 22.xe4 xc5 23.xc5+- S.Hutchings-d. 20.h3 0-0 21.xe6 fxe6 22.c4 Sherman, Brighton 1972 ] a5 23.c3 with a complicated [ 10.d2 game; A) 10...cxd5 B2c) 15.e3?! b4 16.xg7 g8 A1) An untried, but excellent alternative 17.e5 g4 18.e2 xe2 19.xe2 is 11.a3!? which promises a relatively d7 20.a1 f5-+; simple road to an advantage, e.g. a5 B2d) 15.g2 f5 16.g5 b4 ( 11...xb2? 12.xa4+17.gf3 c3 18.xc3 xc3 19.c1 is much worse) 12.g2 exd3 13.exd3 e6 20.c2 b3 21.xa2 xa2 e7 14.0-0 ( 14.f3 g4 15.f4 c6 W.Etzold-Fritsch, corr 1988; 16.0-0 e6 ) 14...0-0 15.d4 c6 C) 10...exd3 11.c1 a3 12.bxa3?! 16.c2 d8 17.f3 g6 18.g5; ( 12.b3!? improves, e.g. e7 13.g2 0-0 A2) 11.c1 e6 12.dxe4 c6 13.exd5 14.0-0 g4 15.dxc6 xc6 16.h3 dxe2 ( White can claim an advantage with 17.xe2 d7 18.c4 ) 12...xa3 13.a3! a5 14.b4 axb3 15.xb3 d8 13.db1 ( A slight improvement is 16.g2 ) 13...xd5 14.g2 ( 14.g5 13.cb1 xa2 14.c3 a3 15.cb1 xc3 15.bxc3 a5 16.e4 h6 a1 ) 13...xa2 14.xd3 xd5 15.d2 17.e3 xa2 ) 14...xe3 15.fxe3 xc3 16.xc3 a3 17.e3+ e6 xb2 16.c2? ( 16.d5 is better, but 18.g2 c5 19.e5 d7 20.c7 0-0-+ still leaves Black better: d8 17.c4 , with an extra pa wn and much bette r b4 18.0-0 a5 ) 16...xc2 17.xc2 position for Black, P. Nikolic-D. Rajkovic, b4 18.c1 a3 , and Black is winning, Borovo 1981 ] Machler-Schilde, corr 1988; 10...xd5 B) 10...a3! is Black's best: [ 10...a3 looks attractive, but promises White B1) Or 11.c2 xb2 12.xb2 axb2 904
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the better chances immediately after 11.c2! xb2? ( 11...a5 12.b4 xb4 13.xb4 xb4 14.c1 ) 12.d4 b4 ( 12...c5 13.xf6 gxf6 14.xe4 e7 15.d6 f5 16.dxe7 fxe4 17.g2 e6 18.0-0 xa2 19.xe4 b3 20.d4 d7 21.b1 xc2 22.xc2 xe7 23.xb2 axb2 24.ab1 a2 25.b3 ) 13.xb4 xb4 14.xf6 gxf6 15.d2 exd3 16.b1 a5 17.xd3 0-0 18.g2 d7 19.0-0 e5 20.d4+B.Schneider-T.Van Houtte, Antwerp 1999 ] 11.d2 [ Black also obtains the better chances after 11.a3 xe3 12.fxe3 xb2 13.xe4 f5 14.h3 fxe4 15.xc8 c3+ 16.f2 xa3 17.e6 f8+ ( 17...exd3 18.exd3 b2+ 19.g1 f8 ) 18.g2 b5 ( 18...d7 19.a2 c5 20.c2 a5 ) 19.f1 a7 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in E. Pet it -M. Ge ene n, Clichy 19 98, a nd no w 20.xf8+ xf8 21.c1 a5 22.d5 c7 23.xc6 b6 24.xb8 xc1 25.xc1 xb8 26.c6+ d8 27.xe4 a3 28.d5+ e7 29.xh7 b4 30.g8 ] 11...xe3 12.fxe3 exd3 13.exd3 g6 14.g2 [ Or 14.c2 b6 ( 14...e7 15.e4 h5!? 16.d4 h4 17.g2 e6 18.f2 g5 19.d2 xd2+ 20.xd2 h6+ ) 15.g2 g7 16.0-0 0-0 17.ab1 d8 ] 14...h6 15.c2 e7 16.0-0 0-0 17.ae1 d7 18.d4 It's easy to second guess White's choices in this game, White obviously wanted to grab control over some squares, but the text move weakens the light squares and gives Black several targets to play against right away. b6 19.a3 [ This prevents Black's knight from jumping to c4, but also places the white knight on an awkward square. Alternatively 19.d5!? cxd5 20.d4 d8 21.xd5 xd5 22.xd5 looks slightly better than the game continuation, but Black's better pawn structure and bishop pair promises Black the upper hand, e.g. f5 23.d1 e6 24.e4 g7 25.b4 a5 26.d6 ae8 27.e7+ h8 28.exf5 ( 28.xe6 c5+ 29.f2 fxe4-+ ) 28...xf5 29.xf5 xf5 ] 19...e6 20.d3 ad8 21.f2 g7 22.d2 fe8 23.e2 h5
[ This is standard ploy to break up White's kingside structure further. A different plan is 23...f5!? 24.f2 f7 25.dd1 d5 26.xd5 xd5 27.xd5+ cxd5 ] 24.f2 b4 25.f3 h3 26.e4 f5 [ White is gradually pushed backwards into a hold position. The alternative is 26...e7 27.de2 d5 28.c2 b5 29.b1 c4 30.b3 f5 31.c3 xc2 32.xc2 axb3 33.axb3 xe3 34.xb5 xc2 35.xc2 cxb5 36.d5 h4 the opposite coloured b i s h o p s a n d W h i t e ' s we a k e n e d k i n g ' s position promise Black a long-term initiative. ] 27.c3 c5!? [ Black opens the position up for his better coordinated pieces and his bishop pair, W h i t e i s i n s e r i o u s t r o u b l e . 27...e6!? was also possible, but the text move seems more effective. ] 28.dxc5 xc5 29.e4?? [ This loses on the spot, but White's situation isn't exactly easy. The alternatives are as f o l l o w s : A ) 29.xb7 xc3 ( 29...xd2 30.xd2 h4 31.gxh4 e7 32.f3 h6 33.c2 xc2 34.xc2 xh4 ) 30.xd8 xd8 31.bxc3 xa3 32.e4 h3-+ ] [ B) 29.ab5 xd2 30.xd2 c4 31.d5 e5 32.xc5 xc5-+ ] [ C) 29.xd8 xd8 30.ab1 a3 ( 30...e8!? 31.a3 xe3 32.xe3 d4 33.d1 c4-+ ) 31.xa3 xc3 32.bxc3 xa3 33.e4 h3 34.xb6 d3 35.e2 xc3 36.f2 d2 37.e3 f6+ 38.f3 b6+ 39.e3 a5-+ ] [ D) 29.cb5 d7 30.d4 h3 31.d3 g5 32.ab5 h4 33.g2 hxg3 34.xg3 xg3 35.hxg3 g4 36.b3 axb3 37.axb3 c8 ] 29...xf2+ 30.xf2 d4 (White could have continued a bit longer, but most likely thought it a waste of time given Black's very effective play so far, and Black is winning anyway) 0-1
905
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A23 powerful black knight on e5. xd3 25.xd3 Markowski,Tomasz 2550 e6 26.d2 c5? [ A careless move, 26...c8 first was best, Hickl,Joerg 2600 and the black knight can come to c5 next Bundesliga 2001-2 (3) 24.11.2001 go. ] [Tony Kosten] 27.d5! This is the problem for Black: White 1.g3!? Markowski is a specialist with this hits f7 and forces the exchange of queens, move, but to play it against the '1 g3 king' is and the ironing-out of his structure. xd5 [ 27...e6 28.xc6 xc6 29.fd1 v e r y d a r i n g ! e5 2.c4 Play returns to the wins the d-pawn. ] English. c6 And then to a Keres System. 28.exd5 Black's pieces are shut-out of the 3.g2 f6 4.c3 e7!? [ We have already considered the critical game on the queenside, and d6 is a problem. c8 29.df2 This is strong, although 4...d5 ] [ 29.g5 , h4 and Bh3 is another logical plan, 5.e4!? White puts a clamp on d5 to prevent bringing the maximum pressure to bear on Black's freeing move. 0-0 6.ge2 a6 the black position. ] Hickl likes wing play. 7.0-0 This exact position seems to be new, although it soon returns to 29...f6 30.d4 Another good move, although I would possibly have been tempted by the the fold. [ 7.d4 d6 8.0-0 b5 is fairly level, Ujtelky,M- exchange sac [ 30.xf6!? xf6 31.xf6 a4 ( 31...d8 Csom,I/Amsterdam 1969, but in the main is n o b e t t e r , 32.xd6 axd6 33.xd6 game White decides to keep his d-pawn on xd6 34.xc5 a6 35.d6 xg2 36.xg2 d3 to protect c4. ] a8 37.b6 and the d-pawn costs Black 7...d6 8.d3 b5 9.h3 Often a useful move in dear. ) 32.bxa4 xa4 33.xd6 such positions, stopping Black from using the with a powerful position, note that if xc4 s q u a re o n g 4 , a n d p r e p a ri n g a ki n g si d e 34.f1 ] advance. [ 9.c2 bd7 10.f4 risks weakening 30...d7 31.e2 e5 Black tries his utmost W hite's dark squares, Hole,O-Jansson,J/ to stop an invasion along the e-file. 32.g5! fxg5 33.xd6?! NOR-ch 1993. ] [ If only White had continued his plan of 9...bd7 10.e3 b7 11.g4 undermining e5 by 33.c5! as Black has no White envisages Ng3-f5. e8 12.d2 g6 b e t t e r t h a n f8 when 34.xd6 xd6 Black controls the f5-square, and thinks about 35.cxd6 d7?! 36.e7 and the end is expanding on the kingside himself, by ... Ng7, nigh. ] and ...f5. 13.f4 exf4 Obviously forced, Black would be foolhardy to allow f5 when White's 33...xd6 34.xe5 e8 35.fe1 c5+ k i n g s i d e s p a c e a d v a n t a g e w o u l d b e 36.h1 a4 Black has managed to blockade s i g n i f i c a n t . 14.xf4 g7 15.h6 b4 t h e p a s s e d wh i t e p a wn s a n d g a in s o m e 16.d1 c5! Black opens the h1-a8 diagonal counterplay. 37.b2 xe2 38.xe2 axb3 for his light-squared bishop, and prepares the 39.axb3 a2 40.f3 f7?! [ 40...h5! ] e5-square for his knight, at the cost of the loss of control over d5. Sometimes it can be 41.g2?! [ 41.g4! to e6+ keeps White in the driving very difficult to judge which are more important, seat. ] the advantages of a move, or the disadvantages. 17.d4 a5 18.f2 cxd4 41...c8! 42.c1 [ 42.d6! kept some advantage: e6 43.d7 19.xd4 b6 20.ad1 fe8 Both sides e7 ( 43...xd7? 44.d5+ f8 45.g7+ have strengths and weaknesses, and with all xg7 46.xa2 wins an exchange.) 44.d5 the pieces still remaining on the board a xd5+ 45.cxd5 a7 46.f2+ g8 47.d6 c o m p l e x s t r u g g l e i s a c e r t a i n t y . 21.b5 d8 48.d4 xd7 49.c5 followed by White takes aim at d6. a6 22.e3 c6 advancing the white king. ] 23.b3 e5 24.d3! Of course White is 43.xe2 h6 44.f1? happy to swap his passive knight on f2 for the 42...xe2+ 912
906
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Adding weight to the defence of h3, but he overlooks Black's threat of ... Bf5-c2. [ 44.g4 f5! looks like a draw. ] 44...f5 45.f3 e7! Black must keep the dark-squared blockade, [ 45...c2? allows White to free his passed pawns by 46.e3 xe3 47.xe3 xb3 48.d4 and these two pawns will take some stopping. ] 46.e2 [ 46.e3 is met by d6 , naturally. ] 46...c2 47.g2 xb3 48.d3 a2! 49.f1 b1+ 50.e2 f5 51.f3 d4 White can no longer stop the b-pawn from continuing its route, except at the cost of a piece. 0-1
913 Miezis,Normunds Zapata,Alonso 11th Monarch Assurance (6) [Tony Kosten]
A23 2510 2549 03.10.2002
1.c4 f6 2.c3 With a different move-order, [ 2.g3 e5 3.g2 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 a6 is likewise possible (someone even had the effrontery to play it against me!), and n o r m a l l y t r a n s p o s e s , a l t h o u g h 6.f3 ( 6.h3!? c5 7.e5+ e7 8.xe7+ xe7 9.f4?! b4 10.d1!? g4 and White was forced to return: 11.h3 0-0 and Black was better, Bezold,M-Collinson, A/Birmingham ENG 2001.) 6...e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.c3 the advantage of the 2 g3 moveorder is that I have been able to complete my kingside development very fast, and only play this move afterwards, d6 ( 8...d5!? 9.cxd5 c5 ) 9.b3 a5 10.b2 h5 11.h4 aiming for a slight edge in the endgame, Kosten,A-Miltner,A/Menton 2001. ] 2...e5 3.g3 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 a6!? I had been meaning to examine this move for some time, Black plays much as W hite sometimes does with the c3 Sicilian, the knight can hop to b4 to threaten to fork the white queen and king, and then recapture on d5. [ 5...d5 is the standard move, of course. ] 6.g2 Others:
[ 6.e4?! xe4 7.xe4+ e7 8.g5 Breier,A-Feist,P/ Pinneberg 1996, and now f6 9.d2 b6 10.c3 d5! 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.xd5 b4 looks like lots of fun for Black. ] 6...e7 A novelty! Previously Black had preferred [ 6...c5 gaining a tempo on the queen, 7.d1 ( 7.e5+! e7 8.f3 0-0 9.0-0 e8 10.d4 is best, although fairly level, Shestakov, S-Dokuchaev,A/Tula 1998.) 7...d5 ( 7...b6!? 8.e3 b4 is interesting) 8.cxd5 b4!? 9.f3 ( 9.dxc6 xd1+ 10.xd1 xc6 offers fair compensation for the pawn ) 9...bxd5 10.xd5 xd5 11.0-0 0-0 Black has avoided the IQP, and ha s equ a lise d , 12.a4 ( 12.b3?! h5 13.b2 g4 14.d2 e8 15.ac1 b6 is d an ge rou s f o r W hite , O'Cin ne id e, MSutovsky,E/Halkidiki GRE 2002) 12...e4 13.xe4 xe4 14.d2 xd2 15.xd2 e8 16.e3 f5 17.c3 is completely equal, Kelly,B-Motwani,P/Lichfield ENG 2000. ] [ 6...d5 7.cxd5 b4 is also a good idea, 8.d1 bxd5 9.xd5 xd5 10.f3 b4+ 11.d2 0-0 12.0-0 equal, Tsivelekidis,GKogan,A/Athens 1999. ] 7.h3!? White wants to bring this piece to f4 to further control d5, but it is ambitious. [ 7.f3 0-0 8.0-0 is sounder, and transposes to my game in the note to move 2. ] 7...d5 8.cxd5 b4 Again, this move is the theme of this line. 9.0-0! xh3 [ 9...c2?! fails to 10.a4 xa1 ( 10...xh3 11.xc2 ) 11.dxc6 bxc6 12.xc6+ d7 ( 12...f8 13.xa8 xh3 14.g2 xg2 15.xg2 e8 16.d1 traps the knight, and once White recuperates it he will have a pawn or two more. ) 13.d1 b8!? 14.e4 b7! 15.g5 with a virulent initiative - remember, White may have a rook less but he can recapture the a1-knight at any time when he will have two pawns for the exchange. ] 10.xh3 0-0 [ 10...c2!? is again very risky: 11.a4 xa1 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.xc6+ f8 14.g5 and now if c2 15.a4 d4 ( there is no escape for the knight, 15...b4 16.xf6 gxf6 17.a3 ) 16.d1 White recuperates the 907
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 k n ig h t a n y wa y! xe2+ 17.xe2 b6 18.g2 and although White only has a pawn for the exchange, the awkward position of the black king is a def inite f actor in his favour. ] 11.d6!? xd6 12.f5 e7 13.f4 g6 14.b1!? The bishop is taking a torturous route to the queenside. bd5 15.f3 xc3 16.xc3 d5 17.f3 f6 18.h4!? This is typical of Miezis' aggressive 'hit or miss' chess. [ 18.a3 e7 19.a2 seems more logical. ] 18...e7 19.g2 fe8 20.e3 ad8 Black simply centralises his pieces. 21.a3 b6! 22.h5 If [ 22.a2 then d7 prepares ...Ne5-d3. ] 22...c4 23.a2 White is getting into a tangle on the queenside. e6 24.hxg6? A careless move, White obviously hadn't reckoned with the possibility of being attacked along the hfile he has just kindly opened for Black! hxg6 25.b4 g7! 26.h1 h8 27.xh8 W hite has to give way on the h-file as his queen's rook is unable to return to the first rank to help out. xh8 28.g1 e5 29.e4 h3 30.b2 h5! This move, threatening both ...Qd1+ and ...Nf3+, wins. 31.g4 Forced. xg4 32.f3 h2+ 33.f1 h1+ The bishop never did leave b1!! 0-1
7.dxe4 with an interesting position. ] 6...c5 7.c2 d5 8.g2 b7 9.d3 W hite must try to disarm the black centre before Black finishes his development. e7 10.0-0 [ 10.dxe4 is met by d4 ] 10...a6 Benko-style play to free the queenside columns and to rid Black of the annoying b5pawn. 11.bxa6 xa6 12.dxe4 d4 13.d5 [ The tactical line 13.e5 xg2 14.xg2 fd7 15.d5 xe5 also allows Black good compensation. ] 13...xd5 14.exd5 xd5 15.xd5 xd5 White has managed to exchange a couple of pieces, but still has problems because of Black's extra space, and 'swinging' rook. 16.b4 Continuing his counterattack against the black central pawns. 0-0 17.bxc5 xc5 18.e3 d3 19.d4 xd4 20.xd3 This fork is the point of White's clever play, reducing the black centre to nothing. c6 21.exd4 [ 21.xa6?? allows xa1 ] 21...fa8 Defending the a6-rook, and m e n a c i n g . . . N e 5 . 22.d1 Necessary, to defend the queen. h5 23.h4 b4 [ 23...xa2 24.xa2 xa2 might be OK for Black, who has the superior minor piece, but no more. ] 24.e2 f5 Black attempts to keep some initiative, as he is the stronger player and probably hopes to win, but he is playing with 914 A23 fire. 25.e3 [ If 25.a3 then e6! ( and not 25...c2? Sliva,Frantisek 2327 when 26.a2 xa3 27.xa3 xa3 Efimov,Igor 2445 28.xa3 xa3 29.d5 is winning, as the 15th ECC Gp 3 (3) 03.10.1999 p a w n i s t o o s t r o n g .) 26.d2 f3 [Tony Kosten] with threats. ] Black is still nurturing his initiative. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 c6 As White 25...a3 h a s n ' t f o rc e d B l a c k t o p l a y . . . N c 6 , t h u s 26.ac1?! [ Hoping to free his position by returning one obstructing the c-pawn, this is a strong move, of the pawns. No doubt a computer would intending to set-up a strong centre with ...d5. be very happy with something like 26.d2 4.f3 e4 5.d4 b5!? e8 27.b2 d5 28.b5 e6 29.c5 [ An incredible innovation, offering a pawn in but then axe3 30.fxe3 f3 grants Black a return for a strong centre which will sweep strong attack. ] the white knights away. The main move here 26...xa2 27.d2 2a3 28.d5?! Returning is 5...d5 but Tal's move, ] th e second pawn, but a draw is still far off as [ 5...b6 is also popular. ] White's light squares are weak. xd5 29.c5 6.cxb5 30.xa1 xa1+ 31.d1 xd1+ [ Acceptance of the gambit is often strongest, a1 but 6.d3 was also possible, e.g. bxc4 A strange decision, swapping the rooks, if 908
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black wants to win. 32.xd1 c3 33.d8+ h7 34.e3 e2+ 35.g2 e4+ 36.f1? [ L o s i n g a p a w n . A f t e r 36.h2 b1 White was no doubt worried about the threat of mate in two, but 37.d5 defends h1, and draws comfortably. ] 36...xg3+ 37.fxg3 xe3 38.b8 f6 W ell, I suppose this should be drawn relatively easily, but White has a lot of work before him yet. 39.c7 h6 40.b8 e5 41.b3 g6 42.g2 e4+ 43.h2 f5 44.f7 e2+ 45.h3 g4+ 46.h2 e2+ 47.h3 g4+ 48.h2 e5 49.c7+ e6 50.c6+ f7 51.c7+ g6 Black can afford to take his time, to see how White will defend. 52.b8 e2+ 53.h3 f5 54.f4+ e6 55.b8 f7 56.c7+ e7 57.b8 g5 Exchanging a pair of pawns, but Black has realised that he won't be able to make progress otherwise, as his g7-pawn will need d e f e n d in g . 58.hxg5 fxg5 59.b2 e6+ 60.h2 g6 61.b1+ f5 62.b6+ f6 63.b1+ h6 64.a2?! [ Black should take the opportunity to centralise his queen at some point. Here, 64.e4 is good, for instance, as after f2+ 65.h1 Black cannot capture the g-pawn without allowing a perpetual. ] 64...d6 65.g2 g4 66.b2 g6 67.c2+ f6 68.f2+ e6 69.c2 d5+ 70.h2 f3!? Giving the h-pawn with check, but this does allow his king to cross to White's side of the board. 71.g6+ e5 72.xh5+ d4 73.h8+ d3 74.b8 Black's winning chances reside in the fact that the king and pawn endings are almost all winning for him. e2+ 75.g1 d1+ 76.h2 d2+ 77.h1 e2 78.b5+ d3 79.b2+ e1 80.c1+ d1 81.e3+?? [ One check too many! As is often the case, it only brings the king to a better square. Simply 81.f4 should be played, cutting the black king from the f-file. After f3+ 82.g1 holds comfortably. ] 81...f1 82.d2 [ An obvious stalemate attempt, if 82.g1+ in s t e a d , t h e n e2 swaps queens, with a simple win: 83.xd1+ xd1 84.h2 e2 85.g2 e3 86.h1 f3 87.h2 f2 88.h1 xg3 and the king on the sixth rank, in front of his pawn, always wins, regardless
of opposition. ] 82...f3+ 83.h2 f2+ 0-1
915 Biocanin,Goran Rankov,Petar Belgrade Cup (1) [John Watson]
A24 2273 2127 05.04.2005
1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 e5 5.e4 0-0 6.ge2 d6 7.0-0 e6 The position from Motwani-Apicella. 8.d3 [ 8.b3 (with the idea d4) was briefly analysed in that game. ] 8...d7 9.d5 Again foregoing the f4-f5 idea in order to harass Black first. This should be harmless. xd5?! Not terrible, but it would be much easier to play [ 9...c6 10.xf6+ xf6 11.f4 g7 ] 10.cxd5 h3 11.e3 [ I prefer an idea that I used repeatedly when I w a s a c 4 / e 4 p l a y e r : 11.f4 g4 ( Probably better is 11...xg2 12.xg2 exf4! 13.xf4 a6 14.d4 ) 12.f5! gxf5 13.h3! xe2 14.xe2 fxe4 15.dxe4 f5 (else Rf5 and/or h4 and Bh3) 16.exf5 xf5 17.e3 with more than enough compensation: a6 18.xf5 xf5 19.f1 ( 19.b5! ) 19...d7 20.h5 f8 21.e4 xf1+ 22.xf1 f7+ 23.xf7+ xf7 24.xh7 with the two bishops and two dangerous passed pawns. ] 11...xg2 12.xg2 c6 13.dxc6 xc6 14.d4 exd4 15.xd4 fe8 16.f3 d5 [ 16...f5!? also looks good. Black is too active for White and stands better. ] 17.xc6 bxc6 18.d4 dxe4 19.xg7 exf3+?! [ Black would have had the better game after 19...xd1 20.axd1 e3 ( 20...xg7 21.fxe4 xe4 22.d7 ) 21.fe1 xg7 intending 22.d3 ad8 ] 20.xf3 xd1 21.xd1 xg7 [ The draw may be slightly premature as Black can play on by 21...xg7 22.d7 e2+! ( 22...f8?! 23.c7 ) 23.f1 ( 23.h3 f8 -the White king is a little exposed, e.g., 24.b3 h5 25.xa7 d8! 26.bb7 dd2! 27.xf7+ h6 28.h7+ 909
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g5 29.a5+ f6 and wins ) 23...xb2 24.fxf7+ h6 25.xh7+ g5 26.xa7 xa7 27.xa7 xh2 , etc. ] ½-½
916 Bruzon Batista,Lazaro De la Paz Perdomo,Frank Guillermo Premier I (7) [Tony Kosten]
A24 2568 2462 01.06.2000
1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 5.d3 d6 6.e3 e5 7.ge2 c6 In this typical position, Black normally prefers to play his knight to c6, but controlling d5 thus, is a good idea. 8.0-0 d5!? [ Very ambitious, but rarely played, normally Black prefers careful preparation, by say, 8...e8 or ] [ 8...e6 9.b4 d5 10.cxd5 xd5 11.b1 d7 12.c2 h3 13.e4 xg2 14.xg2 xc3 15.xc3 a6 16.e3 c7 leading to a Sicilian-type position, slightly favourable to White, Nunn,J-Gruenfeld,Y/ Groningen 1974. ] 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.b3 Necessary, if White wants to punish Black. d4!? [ A new idea, leading to sharp tactics, 10...c6! i s t h e o t h e r m o v e , 11.d2 ( superior to 11.xd5 xd5 12.xd5 a5 13.b5 a6 14.c5 h3 15.g2 xg2 16.xg2 xd3 and if anyone is better, it is Black ) 11...d4 12.exd4 exd4 13.e4 xe4 14.dxe4 e6!? with counterplay, Hofland,L-Ligterink,G/Leeuwarden 1977. ] [ Otherwise , 10...a6 11.d4 e4 12.f3 with pressure on the black position. ] 11.exd4 exd4 12.xb7! Critical. xb7 13.xb7 bd7 14.xd4 c5 15.b5 c8 [ W h it e h a s ca lc u la t e d we l l, i f 15...xd4 16.e3 xd3 17.xc5 Black has no compensation for the pawn. ] 16.c6 d7 17.e5! h3 [ The tactics f avour W hite af ter 17...d6 18.f4 h5 19.xf7! xd3 20.h6+ h8 21.e3 ] 18.d4 fe8 19.e2 xe5! [ The point of Black's seventeenth move, and nearly leads to mate, but W hite has sufficient resources, 19...a6 20.c4 e6
21.xa6 xd4 22.xd4 xe5 offers some compensation, but not enough. ] 20.f4 [ Not 20.dxe5?? when g4 forces mate. ] 20...e6!! 21.xe5 [ O n c e a g a i n f o r c e d , 21.dxe5?? xf4 22.xf4 g4 and mate. ] 21...xf4 22.xf4 g4 23.e1 Giving the king some room. h6 [ Winning material, the obvious 23...xh2+ 24.f1 c2 seems strong, but after 25.e8+ f8 26.d2 is forced, but su f f i cie n t h1+ 27.e2 xa1 28.b8 and White is winning. ] 24.f3 xh2+ 25.f1 c2 26.e2 The best defence. h3+ 27.e1 xc1+ 28.xc1 xc1 29.e7 Black has won two pieces for a rook, but finds his pieces slightly misplaced. h6 30.d5 c8 [ 30...xb2 31.d6 f8 32.c6 will win a piece, although the game is far from finished. ] 31.d6 g5 32.d5!? c1+ [ 32...xe7 33.dxe7 g7 34.e5+ f6 35.e8+ and White is in charge, once again. ] 33.e2 xb2+ 34.f1 f6? [ An unfortunate inaccuracy at the end of a beautifully-played game, 34...f6! draws, 35.e8+ g7 36.d7 g4 forcing 37.c5 , when b1+ 38.g2 b7+ 39.g1 b1+ forces a perpetual. ] 35.e8+ g7 36.d7 g4 37.c5 a1+ But now there is no perpetual, the queen is on the wrong square. 38.g2 e3+ 39.fxe3 1-0
917
A24 Contin,Daniel 2371 Sabia,Corrado 2173 64th ch-ITA Montecatini Terme ITA (1) 29.1.05 [John Watson] In this game we see the standard e4/c4 setup against a King's Indian with ... c6. Black plays well and it's not at all clear that White could have achieved an advantage from the opening. 1.c4 c6 2.e4 e5 3.c3 d6 4.g3 f6 5.g2 bd7 6.ge2 g6 7.d3 g7 8.0-0 0-0 The basic position. White would like 910
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to play standard moves like h3, Be3, and d4. Failing that, an alternate idea is f4-f5 and advance on the kingside. 9.h3 a6 10.a4 Preventing Black from breaking up W hite's centre, for example, [ 10.f4 b5 11.f5 ( 11.fxe5 dxe5 12.e3 e7= ) 11...gxf5 12.exf5 b7 13.g4 b6+ ( 13...h6 14.g3 d5 ) 14.h2 h6 15.g3 d5 16.cxb5 axb5 17.h4 b4 18.b1 b3! 19.a3 d4! and White's kingside play comes too late. ] [ Also too slow is playing for d4 by 10.e3 b5 11.cxb5 axb5 12.d4 b4 13.b1 a6 ] 10...a5 The standard positional idea to capture the c5 and b4 squares. Maybe Black could also angle for ...b5 by [ 10...b8!? ] 11.f4 c5 12.e3 fd7!? Black prepares for f5. Perhaps [ 12...e7 preventing d4 and preparing .. Bd7 was playable, for example, 13.f5 h6 14.g4 h7 ] 13.f5 [ The critical move here now that ...Nfd7 has released pressure on e4 is 13.d4 exd4 14.xd4 ( 14.xd4 xd4+ 15.xd4 b6 16.f2 e8 ) 14...e8 Black seems okay with careful play. Here are some thematic alternatives: ( 14...b6 15.b3 f5 16.exf5 xf5 17.xf5 gxf5 18.c1 f6; 14...b6 15.de2 e8!? ) 15.e1 b6!? ( 15...b6! is probably best, thinking about ...f5 as well as ...Qb4 ) 16.b3 d7 with the idea ...f5, e.g. , ( 16...f5!? 17.e5! ) 17.h2 ( 17.f2 f5 18.exf5 xe1+ 19.xe1 xd4! 20.xd4 xb3; 17.d2 f5 18.exf5 f6 ) 17...f5! with at least equality ] 13...f6! With the idea ...Bg5. 14.h4 [ 14.h6 e8 ( or 14...g7 15.xg7 xg7 16.g4 f6 -White's bishop on g2 is a liability )] 14...b6 15.a3 g5!? [ 15...b7 ] 16.d2 [ 16.h5 h6= ] 16...h6 [ 16...gxh4! 17.g4 h8 with the idea 18.g5 g8 ] 17.g4 h7 18.h1 g8 19.h5 Now neither side should be able to make legitimate progress. That doesn't stop them from trying, but I'd recommend going to the next game.
It's amusing that the players go 48 moves wit h o u t a n e xc h a n ge a f t e r 2 5 . Nxb 4 . b7 20.d1 e7 21.c1 ad8 22.f2 ge8 23.1a2 b8 24.b4 axb4 25.xb4 ba6 26.c2 b8 27.a2 a8 28.f1 b3 29.g1 bc5 30.aa1 ed8 31.ab1 c7 32.c1 e8 33.e3 d7 34.b2 ac5 35.f2 b7 36.c2 a8 37.a1 g8 38.db1 eb8 39.c1 h7 40.d2 g8 41.e2 a6 42.b4 b7 43.c3 bc5 44.f3 c8 45.b2 h7 46.ab1 c7 47.a3 b7 48.g2 a5 49.b4 aa8 50.f1 g8 51.e2 a6 52.a3 ac5 53.a1 g7 54.f1 a7 55.e3 aa8 56.ba2 g8 57.b4 a6 58.a3 ac5 59.c1 g7 60.d2 c8 61.a3 a7 62.a2 ba8 63.b1 b8 64.e1 ba8 65.f2 g8 66.f1 a6 67.d2 b8 68.e3 a8 69.b4 a7 70.b1 ab7 71.b2 g7 72.b3 c7 73.xc5 xc5 74.aa2 g8 75.d1 e7 76.b1 g7 77.ab2 h7 78.b4 g7 79.1b2 h7 80.b1 c7 81.d2 g7 82.d1 g8 83.c2 g7 84.g1 e7 85.e2 g8 86.f3 g7 87.g3 g8 88.h3 g7 89.b1 g8 90.d2 g7 91.b1 g8 92.4b2 g7 93.f3 h7 94.d4 exd4 95.xd4 d7 96.e1 c5 97.e5 cxd4 98.exf6 xf6 99.xd4 c7 100.e7 bc8 101.xf6 xf6 102.xc7 xc7 103.d2 e7 104.b3 ½-½
918 Gurevich,Mikhail Lanzani,Mario 12th Aosta Open (2) [Tony Kosten]
A24 2656 2352 09.02.2004
1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 5.d3 d6 6.e3 [ 6.e4 would save a move! ] 6...e5 7.ge2 c6 8.e4!? A curious decision, White plays a Botvinnik System with a tempo down, [ 8.0-0 is more normal, see Bruzon,L-De la Paz,F/Santa Clara CUB 2000. ] 8...a6 9.0-0 h5 Black inhibits f4, and prepares f4, but [ 9...c7 to e6 is quite f easible, 10.d4 911
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 curiously reaching a King's Indian position, will tu rn ou t t o h ave wea ken e d Bla ck 's wit h W h it e h a vin g lo st t wo m o ve s! e7 kingside pawn structure. A better move is 11.h3 d8 ( 11...exd4!? ) 12.d5! 13...f5!? although 14.f4 c6 15.exf5 gxf5 leaving the c7-knight misplaced, Espig, G16.fxe5 dxe5 17.d4 is very pleasant for Werner,V/Germany 1997. ] White ) 14.f4 f5 15.d4 h4 16.dxe5 dxe5 10.e3 e7 11.d2 c5 12.ad1 17.exf5 gxf5 18.d5 a6 19.fxe5 e8 Gurevich improves over his game against 20.f4 1-0 Bruzon Bautista, L-Kobese, W/ Grischuk, A/ Ca nnes FRA 2001 , wh en h e L i s b o n 1 9 9 9 ( An alte rna tive is 20.d4 played the immediate which is very problematic for Black, e.g. [ 12.d4 d7 13.ad1 e8 14.b3 hxg3+ 21.g2 xe5 22.xf5 xf5 which looks very promising for W hite, his 23.xf5 and White is winning )] loss of two moves is balanced by Black's ... 9.h3 Na6-c5-d7, also losing two tempi! ] [ 9.b1 12...a5 13.d4 exd4!? Black could follow A) 9...a5 Grischuk's lead, and play A1) 10.a3 h5 11.g5 c5 12.b4 [ 13...d7 but he prefers to maintain his ( 12.d4?! e6 13.e3 exd4 14.xd4 strong knight on c5. ] g4 is better for Black) 12...axb4 14.xd4 f6 So here Black loses two tempi 13.axb4 e6 14.d2 h4 ( 14...d7!? ) by ...Nh5-f6, thus bringing about a KID-style 15.c1 hxg3 16.fxg3 g4 17.h1 position after all! 15.g5 Pinning the knight ( 17.h3 can also be tried, but leads to a protects the e4-pawn. h6?! A small tactic, messy p osition : b6+ 18.c5 dxc5 radically unpinning the knight, but it rebounds 19.hxg4 cxb4+ 20.e3 d4 21.h3 on Black, better e6 22.h1 a5 and Black appears to [ 15...e8 for instance. ] have sufficient compensation for the 16.xh6 fxe4 17.xe4 xe4 18.xe4 piece ) 17...b6 18.d1 d4 19.ec3 xh6 ( 19.xd4 is worth a t ry, e. g. xd4 [ 18...xe4 is no im p rove me n t , 19.fe1 20.h3 f6 21.b2 ) 19...f5 20.e3 g4 20.xg7 xg7 21.c3 with a big xe3 21.xe3 c7 with chances to advantage. ] both sides, Ye Rongguang-Strikovic, A/ 19.xh6 xe4 20.fe1 g4 21.f3 d7? Novi Sad 1990; Bringing the game to a swift conclusion, A2) 10.h3 c5 11.e3 fd7 12.d4 [ 21...h5 was a far better try, although after exd4 13.xd4 e8 14.c2 e7 22.xh5 gxh5 23.e4 White can win the h15.fe1 a4 16.b4 axb3 17.axb3 f6 pawn by Rh4xh5. ] 18.b4 e6 19.b3 is a typical 22.e4 Black can only stop Rh4 and Qh8 Fianchetto King's Indian position, that is mate by giving his queen for the rook. better for W hite on account of Black's 1-0 lack of space and counterplay, Spiridonov, N-Radev, N/Pernik 1976; B) 9...a6 10.b4 ( or 10.b3 e8 11.h3 b5 919 A24 12.a3 b7 13.g5 b8 14.d2 c5 15.e3 , and the players prematurely Harikrishna,Penteala 2673 agreed upon a drawn, 1/2-1/2 Vakhidov, Poldauf,Dirk 2427 T-Kakageldyev, A/Bishkek 1993, but there Bundesliga 2006-7 (13) 18.03.2007 obviously loads of play left in this position, [Carsten Hansen] and I prefer W hite.) 10...e8 11.a4 ( 11.g5 f8 12.d2 e6 13.e3 g4 1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 14.h3 xe3 15.fxe3 h6 is pleasant for 5.e4 d6 6.ge2 e5 7.0-0 bd7 8.d3 c6 Black ) 11...a5 12.b5 c5 13.h3 d7 [ 8...a5 9.h3 c5 10.e3 fd7 11.d2 14.e3 ( 14.f4!? ) 14...c8 15.h2 c7 e6 12.h2 a4 13.ad1 h5?! 16.c2 ( 16.f4!? looks very good for ( this move is very weakening, because one White ) 16...ad8 17.fd1 c8 18.d4 side or the other will play f5, and then this 912
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 18.f4!? ) 18...exd4 19.xd4 is another position that is just pleasant for W hite, Teske, H-Van der Weide, K/Seville 2004 ] 9...c5 [ 9...a5 10.e3 A) 10...e8 11.d2 ( 11.f4 f5 12.exf5 gxf5 13.d4 e4 14.d5 Florian, T-Fletzer, G/San Benedetto 1957) 11...f5 12.ad1 a4 13.exf5 gxf5 14.f4 e7 15.h2 f7 16.c2 a3 17.b4 Kashljak, A-Gorshkov, A/Yaroslavl 1995; B) 10...e7 11.d2 c5 12.ae1 b6 13.f4 a6 14.f5 b5 15.g4 ( 15.cxb5 cxb5 16.g5 ) 15...b4 16.d1 fd7 17.g3 ab8 18.g5 f6 19.h4 Schmittdiel, E-Lendvai Wells, N/Oberwart 1995; C) 10...e8 11.d2 c5 12.f4 exf4 13.gxf4 e7 14.g3 a4 15.ae1 fd7 16.d4 e6 17.f5 Jeric, S-Mazi, L/ Feffernitz 2000; D) 10...b8 11.f4 b5 12.f5 bxc4 13.dxc4 b6 14.b3 gxf5 15.g5 d5 16.exd5 cxd5 17.cxd5 d6 18.h2 d7 19.d2 ( 19.g4!? f4 20.d2 ) 19...a4 20.bxa4 a8 21.ab1 xa4 22.xa4 xa4 with a complicated struggle, Kotov, AGeller, A/Leningrad 1956 ] [ 9...a6 10.e3 b5 A) 11.b3 b7 A1) 12.c1 b4 13.a4 c5 14.f4 c6 15.fxe5 xe5 16.b2 ( 16.c2 e8 17.f2 fd7 18.cf1 ) 16...a5 17.c2 b6 18.f2 b7 19.d1 a4 20.e3 axb3 21.axb3 a3 22.d5 xd5 23.exd5 d7 24.d4 f5 25.d2 xb3 26.dxe5 xe5 27.g4 d3 28.fe1 a6 29.f1 a3 30.ed1 e4 31.h6 f5 32.g5 b2 0-1 Turner, M-Kristensen, B/ Hafnarfjordur 1996; A2) 12.d2 e7 13.ac1 fe8 14.fd1 c5 15.b4 e6 16.a4?! ( an alternative is 16.b1 d7 17.a4 d4 18.cxb5 cxb5 19.axb5 xb5 20.xb5 axb5 21.c3 ) 16...a5! 17.b2 bxc4 18.dxc4 axb4 19.xb4 c5 20.b1 d4 21.d3 c6 and Black is in control, Eingorn, V-Van der Weide, K/Bad Wiessee 2004; B) 11.d2 B1) 11...b8 12.b3
B1a) 12...e8 13.f4 exf4 14.gxf4 ( 14.xf4!? ) 14...h5 15.ac1 b4 16.a4 f5 17.ce1 f8 18.c5 dxc5 19.e5 e6 20.xc6 Hebert, J-Ree, H/Luzern 1982; B1b) 12...c5 13.ae1 e8 14.c2 fd7 15.f4 e6 16.d2 d4 17.f5 b7 18.f2 xe2+ 19.xe2 d5 Hebert, J-Spraggett, K/Montreal 1982 20.fxg6 hxg6 21.ef1 d4 22.h6; B2) 11...b7 12.f4 exf4 13.gxf4 e8 ( 13...h5 14.f3 b4 15.d1 c5 16.xh5 gxh5 17.g3 h8 18.h2 g8 19.f5 Ruettinger, J-Dobrovolsky, L/Bayern 2002) 14.g3 ( 14.b3 e7 15.ae1 ad8 16.f2 Tempone, MP e r a l t a , F / M a r d e l P l a t a 1 9 9 8 b4 17.a4 a5= ) 14...b6 15.a4 b4 16.ce2 a5 17.b3 c5 18.ad1 e7= Lein, A-Vasiukov, E/USSR ch (Tbilisi) 1966 ] [ 9...h6 10.e3 h7 11.d2 g8 12.d4 Liebert, H-Hoshino, I/Siegen 1970 ] [ 9...h5 A) 10.h2 c5 11.e3 e6 12.d4 c5 13.dxc5 dxc5 14.d5 d4 15.f4 e6 16.f5 xd5 17.exd5 f6 18.g4 ( here 18.b4!? is best, e.g. b6 19.fxg6 fxg6 20.bxc5 bxc5 21.c3 is very good for W h i t e , d u e t o b e t t e r p a wn s t r u c t u re , passed pawn on d5 and the bishop pair) 18...gxf5 19.gxf5 h8 with a complicated struggle, Bilek, I-Gligoric, S/Teeside 1972; B) 10.e3 c5 11.d4 B1) 11...d7 12.c2 f5?! 13.exf5 gxf5 14.dxe5 dxe5 ( 14...xe5!? 15.b3 ) 15.f4 exf4 16.xf4 xf4 17.xf4 e5 18.ad1 Makarichev, SPetrovic, V/Novi Sad 1983; B2) 11...exd4 12.xd4 e5 13.f4 xd4+ 14.xd4 b6 15.f5 d3 16.xb6 axb6 17.b3 e5 18.ad1 Miezis, N-Schuurman, P/Seefeld 2000; B3) 11...e6 12.d5 cxd5 13.cxd5 g5 14.g4 xh3+ 15.xh3 h4 16.g2 f5? ( Better is 16...xg4 although this is h a r d l y d e s i r a b l e f o r B l a c k : 17.xg4 xg4+ 18.g3 f4+ 19.xf4 xf4 20.ce2 ) 17.gxh5 f4 18.h1 fxe3 19.e6+ 1-0 Kroll, O-Oney, F/ Groningen 197300 ] 913
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 9...e8 10.e3 f5 11.d2 df6 12.b3 c7 13.exf5 ( 13.f4!? ) 13...gxf5 14.f4 exf4 15.xf4 Kourkounakis, I-Novidis, N/Hania 1993 ] [ 9...b6 10.b3 ( 10.f4!? ) 10...d5 11.exd5 cxd5 12.g5 e6 13.d2 ( 13.d4!? ) 13...d4 ( 13...d6 14.f4 c5+ 15.h2 ) 14.b5 d7 A) 15.f4!? h5 16.g4 xf4 ( 16...f6 17.fxe5 fxg5 18.xg5+- ) 17.xf4 exf4 18.xf4; B) 15.h2 e8 16.h6 xh6 17.xh6 f5 18.f4 a6 19.a3 Gurevich, M-Wortel, M/Gent 1997 ] [ 9...e8 10.e3 a6 11.d2 b5 12.b3 ( 12.f4!? ) 12...b7 13.ae1 ( 13.f4!? ) 13...a5 14.f4 exf4 15.gxf4?! ( 15.xf4 ) 15...h5! 16.f3 g3! 17.f2 xe2+ 18.xe2 xd2 19.xd2 c5 Deng, K-Shaked, T/Honolulu 1997 ] [ 9...b8 10.e3 a6 11.a4 b6 12.b4 b7 13.b5 ( 13.f4!? ) 13...axb5 14.axb5 c5 15.f4 exf4 16.gxf4 h5 17.d2 f5 18.a7 e8 19.f2 Talla, V-Cerveny, M/Czech Rep 2006 ] 10.e3 e7 [ 10...a5 11.f4 exf4?! 12.gxf4 e7 13.d2 b8 ( the alternatives are no more promising: 13...h6 14.g3 e8 15.d4 h4?! 16.dxc5 xg3 17.f3 h4 18.cxd6+Hickl, J-Venkataramanan, T/ Calcutta 1994; or 13...d7 14.g3 ae8 15.ae1 c8 16.f5 David, P-Kaposztas, M/Slovakia 1998) 14.ae1 cd7 15.g3 e8 (from here onwards the annotations are from the tournament bulletin) 16.d4 c7 17.e5 dxe5 18.fxe5 b4 ( 18...c5 19.g5 e8 20.ce4 ) 19.h6 xc4 20.xg7 xg7 21.e4 e6 22.h4 h5 23.d5! A) 23...cxd5 24.xh5+! gxh5 ( 24...h8 25.f6+ g7 26.h7#; 24...g8 25.h6! gxh5 26.xh5+- ) 25.g2+ h6 26.f5!+- ( 26.g4?? xd4+!-+ ); B) 23...xf1+ 24.xf1 cxd5 25.xd5 b6 26.f4 xf4 27.xf4 a6+ 28.g1 d3 29.g5 h8 30.h6+ 1-0 Markland, PHort, V/Hastings 1970/[Bulletin] ( 30.h6+ g8 31.xh5!+- )] 11.d2 [ 11.b3 a5 12.d2 e8 13.fe1 e6 14.d4 exd4 15.xd4 ad8 16.ad1 c8
17.f4 c7 18.f2 b6? 19.xc6! xh3 20.xd8 xg2 21.xg2+Csom, I-Suradiradja, H/Surakarta 1982 ] 11...fd7 12.f4 e6 13.f5 d4 14.g4 a5 15.g3 [ Also 15.g5 f6 16.xd4 exd4 17.xd4 fxg5 18.xg7 xg7 19.d4 is very good for White, but White doesn't need to hurry, as we s e e i n t h e r e s t o f t h e g a m e , B l a c k doesn't have any counterplay of significance, so White can take all the time he needs to get his pieces on the right squares before breaking through ] 15...c5 16.f2 f6 17.h4 d7 18.af1 f7 [ Trying to run the king away from his kingside woes may appeal for a short while, but once you look at White's simple answer, the appeal quickly drifts... 18...f7 19.ce2 xe2+ 20.xe2 a4 21.g5 e8 22.d4 exd4 23.xd4 and Black's position reeks badly ] 19.ce2! Forcing the exchange of Black's only truly active piece. xe2+ 20.xe2 e8 21.g3 d7 22.g5 af8 23.h3 [ 23.h5!? gxf5 ( 23...fxg5 24.xg5 e8 25.f6 h8 26.d4 exd4 27.hxg6 hxg6 28.xd4 e6 ) 24.g6 f4 25.f5 xf5 26.gxf7+ xf7 27.xc5 dxc5 28.exf5+- ] 23...d8 24.h2 c8 25.g2 [ 25.h5!? fxg5 26.xg5 e8 27.h6 h8 28.h4 b5 29.cxb5 cxb5 30.h5 is clearly also very dangerous for Black, but W hite decides he is not in any hurry and continues to build up his attack undisturbed ] 25...h8?! This doesn't make any sense when looking at what follows, but clearly Black is at a loss of good moves 26.e2 fxg5 [ Or 26...d7?! 27.fxg6 hxg6 28.h5 and Black is in the ropes ] 27.hxg5 g8 28.gf2 [ Also 28.f6 h8 29.xc8 xc8 30.d2 is pretty awful for Black, but by keeping the tension and the pawn on f5, Black is left waiting for White to make a move, while White can improve on his position in several ways. ] 28...h8 29.h1! Black is being torn apart, and with White transferring the rooks to the hfile, the conclusion of the battle is approaching rapidly. b5 A rather desperate 914
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 attempt at counterplay, but it doesn't help at all because Black has no immediate follow-up, and also White's attack is quite menacing on t h e k i n g s i d e 30.cxb5 cxb5 31.g1! Getting out of the way of the rooks, Black is lost. b4 [ Or 31...c7 32.fh2 e8 33.fxg6 xh3 34.xh3 xg6 35.h6 f7 36.g6+- ] 32.fh2 g7 33.g4 e8 34.xh7 gxf5 35.exf5 b7 36.1h3 e4? 37.d4 d3 38.h2 1-0
920 Kosikov,Andrey Solomaha,Andrey ch-Kiev Kiev UKR (1) [John Watson]
A24 2210 2384 15.01.2005
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 5.0-0 d6 6.c3 e5 7.d3 bd7 Here we see the line without ...Nc6. Normally Black plays some combination of . . . c6, Re8, and ...h6 here. This game shows an independent plan that has enjoyed some success for Black but probably favours White with perfect play. I'll give it without many notes: 8.b1 c5 9.b4 e6 10.b5 d7 11.a4 f5 12.d5 g5!? 13.d2 [ 13.xg5!? xg5 14.xg5 xg5 15.xc7 b8 16.d5+ h8 17.e6 e7 18.xf8 xf8 is very unclear ] 13...f4 14.e4 dc5 15.xc5 xc5 16.a3 e6 17.c1 [ 17.e3 g4 18.f3!? ] 17...g4 18.c5 f7 19.cxd6 cxd6 20.c4 g5?! 21.gxf4 exf4 22.xf4 h3+ 23.xh3 gxh3 24.xc8! xc8 25.d5 h8 26.h1?! [ 26.xd6! allows for Bg3 and destroys the vestiges of Black's centre. Now the play degenerates, probably due to mutual time pressure: ] 26...f6 27.g1?! d7 28.e1? f4 29.e4 af8 30.b4 g4 31.e1 d4 32.d1 gf4? [ 32...xf2 wins outright ] 33.f3? [ 33.c1! xf2? 34.e3! ]
33...h5 34.f1 g4 0-1
921 Motwani,Paul Apicella,Manuel ch-FRA Top 16 GpA (7) [John Watson]
A24 2543 2543 03.04.2005
In this game Black allowed W hite's ideal attack and should have lost. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.e4 d6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 0-0 6.ge2 e5 7.0-0 Here we are again by the King's Indian route. e6 An unusual move not found in Hansen but appearing in three games of this update. Black plays without committing his queen's knight to either c6 or d7 (or a6). Nor does he decide upon ...c6. In most cases he wants to exchange the g2 bishop, but even that might (or should) depend upon White's move order. By attacking c4 and immediately playing ...Qd7, Black prevent h3 followed by Be3. 8.d3 [ An option is 8.b3 , thinking about d4: d7?! ( 8...c6 is probably fine. White can try the speculative 9.f4!? d4 10.f5!? . Sounder is simply 9.h3 Qd7 10.Kh2; 8...c5!? 9.f4 exf4! 10.xf4 c6 11.b2 e8 is unclear) 9.d4 exd4 10.xd4 h3 11.f3! xg2 12.xg2 e8 13.de2! intending c6 14.f4 ] 8...d7 9.f4 h3?! I don't like this move, which allows W hite to set up his ideal formation. Preferable seems [ 9...c6 , when 10.f5?! ( 10.h1 intending Be3 is logical) 10...gxf5 11.g5 e8 12.b3 followed by Qd2 offers some compensation for the pawn but nothing impressive. ] 10.f5 This is the consistent follow-up and in theory poses the greatest challenge to Black's plan. White inaugurates a flank advance by h3, g4 and g5. The exchange of his bad bishop on g2 is not unwelcome, since it isn't needed for defence of the kingside. Nevertheless, this attack is begun before W hite is developed and allows central counterplay. Another good move is [ 10.e3 , which still intends f5 but adds the idea of Qd2 and Bh6 to its effect. In some cases the bishop will support the move d4 915
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 (especially in the case of ... exf4). W hite retains a definite advantage. ] 10...xg2 11.xg2 c6 The other and probably better way to get central counterplay is [ 11...c6 12.h3 h6 13.g4 d5!? 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.fxg6 fxg6 16.b3 a6! 17.e3 ( 17.exd5 c5 18.c4 ac8 with plenty of play. ) 17...c7 ] 12.h3 [ 12.d5! forces the kind of position that White achieves in the game. Now Black gets a chance to break the bind. ] 12...gxf5?! [ 12...e7! 13.g4 gxf5 14.exf5 h6 15.g3 d5 changes the equation ( or 15...c6+ 16.h2 d5 )] 13.xf5! Not part of White's original game plan, but from now on he controls the key f5 square and allows Black no counterplay. [ 13.exf5 e7 would be the last note. ] 13...e7 14.f2 h8 15.g4 b5!? This probably isn't sound but Black wants to kick-start his play before moves like Ng3 and g5 happen. 16.g3 A good move, although [ 16.xb5 d5 ( 16...c6 17.bc3 d5 18.g3 ) 17.g5! is also strong ] 16...b4? It makes no sense at all to close the position and give White a free hand. On the other hand, Black stands worse even after [ 16...bxc4 17.dxc4 c6 18.g5 fg8 19.e3 ] 17.ce2 c6 18.g5 fg8 19.h5 f6 20.d2 a5 21.eg3 d5 22.c2 [ 22.e2 keeps an eye on the kingside attack but it doesn't matter much. Black's problem is that he has no effective break, and opening the d-file doesn't stop White's attack. ] 22...ad8 23.af1 dxc4 24.dxc4 d4 25.c1! g6 No better is [ 25...f7 26.e3 d6 27.g5 , e.g., df8 28.xg7 xg7 29.gxf6+ xf6 30.h6+! xh6 31.xf6 xf6 32.h5+ ] 26.xg7 h4+ 27.h1 xg7 28.e3 [ 28.g5! wins on the spot because Bxh4 and Nh5+ are both threatened. The play goes fxg5 29.xg5+ g6 30.f5+ xf5 31.exf5 etc. ] 28...d6 29.h6+? Probably ti me trouble is setting in for both players, but W hite sells
himself too cheaply. [ 29.g5! intending gxf6+ and/or Nh5+ would leave Black no good defence. ] 29...xh6 30.h5+ g6 31.xf6+ xf6 32.xf6+ xf6 33.xf6 Suddenly things have gone wrong. White is probably better but has won less material than he might have and left his king exposed. f7!? [ 33...d3! would have posed very real problems, since at the very least White's hpawn falls and king can't escape without material loss, e.g., 34.h2 f3+ 35.g2 h4+ 36.f2 ( 36.g1 xh3 ) 36...f3+ 37.e2 xf6 38.g5 f4 39.gxh6 xe4+ etc, ] 34.e1!? [ 34.f1 , covering f3 and d3, was more a c c u r a t e . T h e n g5 35.d5! cxd5 36.exd5 threatens Qf2 and creates dangerous passed pawns. ] 34...f3 35.e3? [ Last chance for 35.f1! ] 35...7g5?? Black's attack is probably winning after [ 35...d1+! 36.g2 e1+ ( 36...d3?! 37.c5 xf6 38.xc6+ g7 ) 37.f2 ( 37.h2 xf6 , when 38.c5 loses to d2+ ) 37...d3+ 38.g3 f4 ] 36.d5! This is still good, but White loses his way: d7 [ 36...cxd5?? 37.b6+ ] 37.b6 [ 37.c5! d4 38.e7+ f7 39.xc6 is winning. ] 37...d4 38.e3 xe4 39.xa5 f3 40.g2?? This allows a simple perpetual check. W hite could have penetrated into Black's camp by [ 40.a8 , when there's no defence to a coordinated attack by White's pieces. ] 40...h4+ 41.f1 d2 42.f5 f3 43.a7 h2+ ½-½
916
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 922 Rotstein,Arkadij Scharrer,Patrick Open Verona ITA (3) [John Watson]
A24 923 2528 Sareen,Vishal 2210 Ahlers,Ben 03.01.2006 Essent Open Hoogeveen NED (2) [John Watson]
A play o n th e Bo tvinn ik S yste m. W hite 's misplaced knight turns out to be well-placed indeed. 1.c4 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 d6 4.f3 f6 5.c3 0-0 6.0-0 e5 7.d3 h5 8.e4 I used to be dogmatic that one shouldn't play this when the knight was on f3 instead of e2. However, the combination of ...Nf6 and ... e5 in the Sicilian is sometimes best, so why not here? c6 9.g5! f6 10.e3 Threatening d4. f5 [ 10...d4? would be the thematic answer were ... f6 not in, whereas he it simply loses a pawn. ] 11.exf5 xf5 12.d4 [ P r o b a b l y b e s t , a l t h o u g h 12.g5!? has the ideas g4, Nd5 and Nge4. The most reasonable move is f6 13.h3 h6 14.g4 d7 15.ge4 and I like White. ] 12...exd4 13.xd4 d7 14.c5!? [ or 14.d2 White is somewhat better in both cases. ] 14...dxc5? [ 14...xd4 15.xd4 c6 ] 15.xc6 xc6 16.xc6 bxc6 17.xc5 e8 [ The lesser evil was 17...xd1 18.axd1 fe8 19.fe1 ] 18.b3+ h8 19.ad1 g5 20.d4 [ 20.c4! would tie Black down more. ] 20...f6? [ 20...xd4 ] 21.c4! c5 It's hard to find a good move, and c6 is hanging anyway. 22.xc5 g4 23.d4 e5 24.xe5 xe5 25.d5 e6 26.fd1 c6 27.c5 xc4 28.xc4 It's all over. xc3 29.xc3 e2 30.xc6 xb2 31.d7 xa2 32.cc7 a6 33.xh7+ g8 34.h4! Zugzwang. Neither rook can stray from the afile due to Rxa7, and Ra6-anywhere is answered by ...Rcg7+ and Rxg6. And 34...Kf8 allows mate in one. 1-0
A24 2375 2198 22.10.2005
This game illustrates what happens if White manages to establish the f5/g4 structure in t h e B o t vin n ik S yst e m a n d B la ck d o e s n ' t obtain early counterplay. The play is flawed yet the basic idea is clear. 1.c4 f6 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 d6 5.e4 0-0 6.ge2 e5 [ 6...c5 transposes into the Symmetrical version of the Botvinnik, probably a better (or at least easier) version. A recent example shows something new for Black: 7.d3 c6 8.0-0 a6 9.h3 b8 10.a4 d7 11.e3 e8 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 c7 14.h2 e6 15.de2 a5! 16.b3 b5! 17.cxb5 axb5 18.b4 c4 19.a7 bxa4 20.xb8 xb8 21.d5 e8 with full compensation, Alekseev, E (2632)Mamedyarov, S (2674), Istanbul TUR 2005 ] 7.0-0 c6 [ A typical sequence after 7...c6 is 8.h3 d4 ( 8...h8 ) 9.f4 h5!? ( better is 9...e8 10.d3 c6 11.e3 f5 ) 10.f5 c6 ( 10...gxf5 11.xd4 exd4 12.xh5 dxc3 13.dxc3 ) 11.g4 xe2+ 12.xe2 f4! 13.xf4 exf4 14.xf4 d4+ 15.h1 g5 16.f1 f6 and Black has some compensation but he needs a plan before White unwinds. ] 8.d3 e6?! [ Asking for f5. One better line is 8...bd7 9.h3 a6 A) 10.a4 a5 11.e3 c5 12.f4 b6 ( or 12...e7 13.f5 gxf5 14.exf5 h6 ) 13.c2 fd7 14.f5 b3 15.d2 b4!; B) 10.f4 b5 11.f5 ( 11.cxb5 axb5 12.fxe5 b6+ 13.h2 dxe5= ) 11...gxf5 12.exf5 b7 13.g4 h6= ] 9.f4!? [ 9.h3! first makes sense, also preparing Be3. ] 9...b6+ 10.h1 g4 11.f5 c8 12.e1 e3 [ Black should probably try the computer idea 12...gxf5 13.exf5 d7 14.f3 ( 14.h3 ) 14...e3 15.a4 a6 16.xe3 xa4 17.g4 but he is still faced with g5, regardless 917
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 of whether he plays moves like ...h6 and/or ...f6, even if the queens go off after c2 18.c3! xc3 19.xc3 ] 13.a4 [ The extent of Black's difficulties is even more clearly shown after 13.f6! xg2 14.xg2 h8 15.b3 ] 13...xg2 14.xg2 d8 15.g4 Black is stuck. This is the desired result for a Botvinnik System. The only drawback is that White has rid himself of his bad bishop, which could be used for defence! Still, White can neutralize a counterattack. d5 16.ac3 d4 17.d1 [ 17.b1! b5 18.a3! ties Black down while White progresses on the kingside. ] 17...d7 18.f3!? [ 18.g3! b5! 19.b3 and something like Nf2 and g5 can follow. ] 18...f6 19.d2!? [ 19.h6 e8 20.g3 g5 21.xg5 xg5 22.f2 b8 23.c1! xc1 24.xc1 g5 is still threatened, and g5 25.f6!? c5 26.f5 keeps the edge. ] 19...g7 20.h3 [ 20.f2 ] 20...f6 21.f2 h5! 22.g3?! h4 [ Blac k misses th e ch ance f o r 22...xg4! 23.xg4 hxg4 24.xg4 h7 and ..Rh8. ] 23.f3 h7! 24.h3 g5? Locking up the position gives W hite free rein on the queenside. Better was [ 24...b5 ] 25.f1 [ Or 25.b1 ] 25...a5 26.eg1 f6 Necessary, but now the highly-desirable manoeuvre ...Bf6-d8 can't occur. 27.f3 f7? Allowing the following tactic, but W hite was clearly better on the queenside. 28.hxg5! xg5 29.xg5 fxg5 30.xg5 xg5 31.xg5 f6 To stop Bxh4 nevertheless White's pawns are too strong. 32.xf6 xf6 33.g5 f7 34.h3! h7 35.g4 d7 36.g6 h8 37.g5! A nice finish. c5 38.a4 [ 38.f6! ] 38...a6 39.f2 b6 40.af1 d6 41.f6 e6 42.f7+ 1-0
924 Adianto,Utut Sorbe,Stephane 2nd Dato' Arthur Tan Malaysian Open (7) [John Watson]
A25 2588 2340
1.c4 f5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.e3 0-0 6.ge2 d6 [ There are many ways to approach this standard position, for example, one game analysed in this colum n proce eded (b y transposition) 6...e5 7.d3 c6 8.b1 h8 9.b4 a6 10.a4 a5!? 11.b5 b4 12.a3 c5 13.bxc6 dxc6 Rogozenko-Sadler, H e n g e l e 2 0 0 0 , w h e n 14.xb4 axb4 15.xb4 d6 16.b2 d8 would have given Black excellent compensation for the pawn. Note the value of omitting ...d6, which can sometimes come in handy if one wants to play ...Ne7 and ...d5 in one go. ] 7.0-0 White can try to gain time by delaying castling. Another ChessPublishing game Moor-Gallagher, Zurich 2000 went (again by transposition) [ 7.d3 e5 8.b1 c6 9.b4 ( 9.b3 ) 9...g5!? 10.b5 e7 11.f4! h6 with complications. ] 7...e5 The Dutch has become a full-fledged E n g l i s h O p e n i n g . 8.d3 c6 9.b1 Now we're back to "normal". a5 In his book on the ...e5 English Hansen makes a case that this is not the best move, since Black doesn't win the a-file anyway. [ 9...e7 is another way to reorganize for example: 10.b4 ( 10.b3 ) 10...c6 11.f4 e6 12.b5 c7 ] [ The most interesting try is 9...g5!? 10.f4 ( 10.b4 f4 ) 10...h6 11.b4 and now 11.. . Qe8 or h8 12.d5!? xd5 13.cxd5 e7 14.e4 gxf4 15.gxf4 g6 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.exf5 h4 Kurajica-Piskov, Skopje 1991. ] 10.a3 e6 11.d5 [ Also normal and good is 11.b4 , e.g., axb4 12.axb4 b8 13.b5 e7 14.a3 b6 15.b3 g5 16.d4 e4 17.d5 d7 18.d4 ] 11...b8 [ 11...f7 12.xf6+ xf6 ( 12...xf6 13.c3 ) 13.c3 e4!? 14.d5 with advantage, according to Hansen. ] 12.d2 [ 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 e7= ] 918
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12...d7 Perhaps considering ...b5, but I don't like this. f6 was a good square for the knight and where's it going now? 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 e7 15.ec3?! [ 15.b5! c5 16.c2 . Then Bb4 and f4 are themes. ] 15...c6 16.xe7+ xe7 17.b5? [ 17.e4!? ] 17...e4! 18.dxe4 xc4 19.e1 fxe4 20.xe4 d5! Black has a nice advantage with his centre and bishops but there are tactics to consider. 21.b4! f7 [ 21...c5? 22.xc5 xc5 23.xd5+ xd5 24.xd5+ ] 22.xf8 xf8 23.bxc6 [ 23.d6 xf2+ 24.h1 c3 is unclear. ] 23...bxc6 24.b7 [ 24.d6! ] 24...dxe4 25.xd7 xf2+ 26.h1 c3!? [ Black has more than enough for the exchange after 26...d3! ] 27.g1 xe3 28.c1 f3! 29.d8+ [ White could launch a dangerous counterattack by 29.a3! ] 29...g7 30.d7+ g8 31.gd1 d5 32.d8+ g7 33.d7+ g8 34.a3 Not quite as effective now. d4 35.d8+ g7 36.e7+ f7 37.e8 f6?! 38.d7+ f7 39.f1 b3 40.dxf7+ xf7 41.xe4 c5 42.e7 e6 43.a7 Avoiding the 2bishop ending. The rest of the game is a lengthy attempt by White to make progress that shouldn't have succeeded but eventually did: h5 44.b1 g8 45.b8+ g7 46.f4 e3 47.f3 d4 48.d1 b3 49.e2 e6 50.e4 e5 51.f3 f6 52.d3 e6 53.b1 a2 54.f3 f2?? No ned for this at all. 55.xf2 xf2 56.g2 d4 57.b7 f6 58.b6+ g7 59.d6 e5 60.d7 f6 61.d5 xd5+ 62.xd5 c4 63.f3 e6 64.e4 f6 65.c5 c3 66.c6+ f7 67.h3 h8 68.d5 g7 69.c7+ g8 70.e6 h7 71.g4 h6 72.g5+ h7 73.f7 e5 74.c6 f4 75.xg6 1-0
925 Balashov,Yuri S Najer,Evgeniy IV Russian Cup Final (11) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2575 2597 30.08.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 b4!? A move that is becoming popular, the idea is to delay the development of the g8-knight so that it may go to e7 (instead of the habitual f6), or Black may be able to play first ...f5, and only then ... Nf6. 4.d5 [ O b v i o u s l y t h e c r i t i c a l r e p l y , i f 4.g2 then Black can play xc3 5.bxc3 d6 ( 5...f6 is considered previously) 6.f3 f5 7.d3 f6 with a respectable reversed Grand Prix Attack, Cvek,R-Jovanovic,Z/Patras GRE 1999 (9). ] 4...c5 5.g2 ge7 6.e3 0-0 [ The first new move of the game, previously 6...xd5 had been preferred, 7.cxd5 e7 ( the 7...b4 of Balashov,Y-Pribyl,J/ Schwaebisch Gmuend 1998, is mentioned elsewhere ) 8.e2 c6 9.c3 d6 10.0-0 0-0 11.d4 with an edge, Gunter,D-Lalic,S/St Heliers 1997. ] 7.e2 xd5 8.cxd5 e7 9.0-0 f5!? [ This is the second innovation of the game! This position has been reached before, via the move order 1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 Nc6 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Nd5 Bc5 6.e3 0-0 7.Ne2 Nxd5 8 . cxd 5 Ne 7 9 . 0 -0 , wh e n p l a y n o rm a l l y continues: 9...d6 10.d4 b6 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.c3 c6 13.dxc6 xc6 14.d5 with a tiny plus, Dorfman,J-Nedev,T/Cannes 1996. ] 10.b3 [ Simple development, but White could also shake-off Black's attempted hold on d4 by the standard trick 10.d4 exd4 11.e4 d6 12.xd4 with a space advantage. ] 10...d6 11.b2 b6 12.a4 d7?? [ B l a c k h a s o ve r l o o k e d a t a c t i c , 12...a5 is much more prudent, preparing a 'luft' for t h e b i s h o p , 13.d4 f6 with reasonable chances. ] 13.d4! [ This is all the stronger for being delayed. 13.a5 c5 14.d4 b4 ( 14...exd4?? loses a piece as below, 15.e4 e7 16.b4 xb4 17.xd4 etc. ) 15.e4 e7 16.dxe5 919
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 dxe5 17.xe5 is also pretty miserable for Black. ] 13...c5 [ Black is obliged to ditch his e-pawn, as he needs to make space for his b6-bishop, 13...exd4? loses, as 14.e4 e7 15.a5 c5 16.b4 wins a piece: xb4 17.xd4 f6 18.xb4 ] 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.xe5 With a solid extra pawn, and a strong centre, White is winning. e8 16.b2 d6 17.f4 c8 18.c1 a5 19.h5 [ A good move, forcing a weakening of the black kingside, and making Black further regret the absence of his e5-pawn, but 19.xc5 xc5 20.d4 is also strong. ] 19...f6 20.f4 The knight returns to eye the newly-created hole on e6. c4?! A further mistake, in a hopeless position. 21.a3 b6 22.xd6 xd6 23.bxc4 Black has had enough. 1-0
employed by Black previously. 11.b1?! [ 11.exf5! xf5 12.h3 followed by f4, and g4, is just as effective here, as in the previously cited link. ] 11...fxe4 12.xe4 h3 Hoping to gain a tempo to ease his development problems. 13.f4? Flashy, but faulty. exf4 [ B e t t e r t h a n 13...xf1?! 14.e6 e7 15.xf8 f6 16.g5 ] 14.h5 f6 15.xh3 xe4 16.e6+ h8 17.xe4 f3! [ In view of the rating difference, Black wants m o r e t h a n t h e t i n y e d g e o f 17...fxg3 18.hxg3 b8 ] 18.f4 d7 Menacing ...Qh3. 19.h4 [ W h i t e h a s l i t t l e c h o i c e , 19.xf3? loses a piece to g5 ] 19...e5 [ Now if 19...h3?! 20.xf3 and ...g5 is no longer possible. ] 20.h2 [ Again forced, 20.xe5?? loses the queen after h3 ] 20...ae8? 926 A25 [ Missing a straightforward win: 20...xd3! 21.xd3 xf4 is st ro ng, 22.gxf4?? g4 Cekro,Ekrem 2390 23.g1 xh4# ] Georgiev,Kiril 2661 34th Olympiad (5) 01.11.2000 21.xe5 xe5 22.xb7 g4? [ 22...g5! is much more to the point. ] [Tony Kosten] 23.xc7 White sees no win for his opponent, 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.c3 b4 so grabs another pawn. g6 24.b8 xb8 e8 26.b1 h6 27.d4 5.e4 xc3 6.bxc3 The move that White most 25.xb8+ Agreed drawn, but W hite has a clear wants to play. 0-0 7.e2 d6 8.d3 a6!? [ Planning to play ...b5, to gain the advantage. ascendancy on the queenside, otherwise: ½-½ 8...e6 9.0-0 a6 10.f4 exf4 11.gxf4 the white centre gets bigger, and bigger, A25 g4 12.e1 xe2 13.xe2 d7 14.h3 927 Chabanon,Jean Luc 2455 with advantage, Schuh,K-Pinkas,K/Weilburg Godard,Maxence 2340 1995, and ] 02.05.2010 [ 8...e8 was roughly treated in another Top 16 Marseille (7) [Nigel Davies (Based on analysis by GMI Jean-L] annotated game. ] 9.a4! [ The right move, in my view, keeping a lid on 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 t h e b l a c k q u e e n s i d e c o u n t e r p l a y , b u t 5.b1 a5 [ S o m e o l d b o o k s a r g u e t h a t 5...f6 strangely an innovation, 9.0-0?! is careless, is a good reply to White's early 5.Rb1, for b5 10.cxb5 axb5 11.f4 b4! (to weaken d4) example the game Taimanov, M (2580)12.b2 e7 13.h3 a6 with good Gulko, B (2480)/Vilnius 1975 went 6.b4 0-0 possibilities for Black, Skalkotas,N7.b5 e7 8.f3 d5! 9.cxd5 exd5 Pandavos,E/Serres 1990. ] 10.b2 e8 11.0-0 e4 with a very good 9...e8 10.0-0 f5 The same plan as 920
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 game for Black. But White does not need to plunge in with b2-b4-b5 and can instead try to exploit the fact that Black's knight on f6 is not optimally placed for the middle game because it blocks his f-pawn. So 7.d3 is one of several improvements. ] 6.a3 d6 [ 6...f6 is very similar to Taimanov - Gulko above and features in the game Ivanov Razuvaev. Once again White should avoid getting too excited and play just 7.b4 0-0 8.d3 . ] 7.b4 axb4 8.axb4 ge7 [ The alternative treatment is 8...f6 ] 9.e3 Taking the d4 square away from Black's knight on c6 which no longer has e7 to retreat to. [ 9.d3 transposes into Davies, N (2500)Sadler, M (2440)/London 1991. ] 9...f5 [ Black can also play 9...0-0 , a famous example proceeding 10.ge2 e6 11.b5 a5 12.d3 c6 13.0-0 d5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.a3 e8 16.b4 b6 with a good game for Black in Kasparov, G (2800)-Kortschnoj, V (2625)/Paris 1990. ] 10.d3 d7 11.h3 Preventing the exchange of White's light square bishop via ... Bf5-h3, though White will not be able to castle right away. 0-0 12.f3 h6 13.b5 d8 14.e4 e6 15.d5 h7 16.h4 c8 [ After 16...f5 White can play 17.xe7 xe7 18.exf5 gxf5 19.0-0 White has some pressure. ] 17.e3 c6 [ This time 17...f5 can be strongly met by 18.exf5 gxf5 19.h5 . But Black's delay also has serious consequences on account of White's brilliant reply. ] 18.hf5! gxf5 [ After 18...h8 W hite can play 19.d2! , f o r e x a m p l e h5 20.g4 gives White a dangerous attack. ] 19.exf5 e7 20.h5 d5 21.bxc6 bxc6 22.fxe6 xe6 [ 22...xe6 might have been better, though the bish op p air still gives W hit e all th e chances. ] 23.0-0 f5 24.cxd5 cxd5 25.b5 e4 26.dxe4 [ 26.xd5! seems very strong here, for
example xd5 27.dxe4 c3 28.exf5 f6 29.c5 with three pawns and a powerful initiative for the piece. ] 26...dxe4 27.h4!? dc6 28.h3 d4 29.b7 ae8? Allowing White's powerful reply. [ 29...a2 was better. ] 30.a3! d5 31.xf8 [ 31.xg7+! was also good, for example xg7 32.b2! b6 33.xe8 xe8 34.xd4+ xd4 35.xf5+ etc. ] 31...xf8 32.fb1?! [ 32.a1! was much stronger intending to double on the 7th rank. ] 32...xe3 33.fxe3 f3+ 34.h1 e5 35.f7 xg3 36.xf5+ g8 37.xf8+ xf8 38.g4+?! [ H e r e W h i t e s h o u l d p l a y 38.e6+ , for example h8 39.f6+ g7 40.f4 etc.. ] 38...xg4 39.xg4 xh4 40.f1! c5 41.f4 g7? 42.xe4? [ 42.h5 is much simpler. ] 42...f6 43.e6+ g5 44.d1 a7 45.e7 b6 46.c2 f3 47.g7+ h4 48.f5 [ A n d h e r e W h i t e s h o u l d p l a y 48.d1! , for example e1 ( Or 48...e5 49.e7! ) 49.h2 h5 50.h7 g5 51.xh5+ g6 52.e4 with a win in sight. ] 48...g5 49.e4? This could have thrown away the win. [ White should have activated his king with 49.g2! a f t e r w h i c h xe3 50.c7! le a d s t o a wi n n in g a t t a c k , d e s p it e t h e paucity of material. For example d2 ( Or 50...h5 51.g3 d4 52.f4 h4 53.c2 ) 51.c2 e3 52.c3 d2 53.d3 a5 54.d7 h5 55.e8+ g4 56.d4+ f5 57.d5+ wins the bishop. ] 49...g3! 50.g6 e3? Forgetting that White's passes pawn must be kept under lock and key. [ 50...d4! is much better when it's difficult for White to win. ] 51.e5 f4 52.e6 c5 [ 52...xf5 53.e7 xg6 54.e8+ picks up the bishop on e3. ] 53.c2! e5 54.b3 e7 [ Black also loses the h6 pawn after 54...f8 55.xh6! because his bishop is needed where it is to stop White queening. ] 921
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 55.xh6 f5 56.a4 e5 57.d7 58.h2 e4 59.a2 c5 60.d2+ 61.c8 g5 62.e2+ d6 63.g2 64.c2 d6 65.a2 c7 66.a8 67.f3 e5 68.a7 d6 69.g4 70.f5 h4 71.h7 e7 72.h8 73.h1 c5 74.d1+ c7 75.d7 76.b5 e7 77.g6 xe6 78.f7 1-0
d6 e5 c7 d6 e7 d3 d6
the open e-file. e7 15.e1 d8 [ Black wants to avoid conceding the e6square, 15...d6 16.g5 h6 17.e6 ] 16.d6! Larry is a master of attack, and sets about the black position with gusto. First, he o p e n s t h e a 2 -g 8 d i a go n a l wi t h a t y p i c a l sacrifice hindering Black's development - the two black pieces remaining on the queenside will stay there till the end of the game. cxd6 [ 16...xd6? lose s immed iat ely, 17.g5 with twin threats of Qh5, and Qb3+. ] 928 A25 17.xe7! White wants to use the g5-sqaure, Christiansen,Larry Mark 2578 so eliminates its defender. xe7 [ 17...xe7 18.g5 h6 19.d5+ h8 Charbonneau,Pascal 2405 20.h5 is also crushing. ] WCN Ch-North America (4) 14.06.2002 18.g5 d5 [Tony Kosten] [ T h e o n l y t r y , 18...h6 19.b3+ d5 20.xd5+ h8 ( 20...xd5?! 21.xd5+ O n e r e v i e we r d o u b t e d t h a t t h e E n g l i s h h8 22.f7+ xf7 23.xf7 g8 24.g6 variations that I recommended in The with decisive threats against g7) 21.f7+ D y n a m i c E n g l i s h we r e ' D yn a m i c ' . W e l l , xf7 22.xf7 regains the exchange with an perhaps he should have a look at this enormous positional advantage. ] attacking masterpiece! 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 19.e2 h6 20.e1! hxg5 21.xe7 xe7 3.g2 c6 4.c3 b4 5.d5 Black has no sensible defence [ I like this move, and recommend it in my 22.xe7 book on the English, although we have against Rxg7+. mostly considered 5.e4 which is also quite 1-0 good. ] 5...c5 6.e3 Placing a barrier between the A25 bish o p o n c5 an d t h e se n sit ive f 2-p awn . 929 Davies,Nigel R 2500 xd5?! Sadler,Matthew 2440 [ This is probably premature, I prefer 6...0-0 ] London WFW 1991 7.cxd5 e7 8.b4!? [ 8.e2 and d4 is also good, but this exploits [Nigel Davies] the fact that Black hasn't castled. ] 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 8...d6!? [ 8...b6 9.b2 d6 10.d4 exd4 11.xd4 5.d3 [ G i v e n t h e p o t e n t i a l d a n g e r s o f 5.b1 0-0 12.e2 left White with a nagging edge (i.e. that Black may be able to play f6 in Stanec,N-Ganaus,H/Austria 1999, because of the potential c-f ile pressure followed by ...Nc6-e7 and a quick ...d7-d5) it makes sense to wait for Black to play ...d7against c7. ] d6 before lunging forward with b2-b4. ] [ 8...xb4 allows White to destroy the black kingside: 9.g4 c5 10.xg7 g6 5...d6 6.b1 a5 7.a3 ge7 8.b4 axb4 9.axb4 0-0 10.f3 11.h6 ] [ T h e r e ' s d e f i n i t e l y a c a s e f o r 10.e3 9.b2 0-0 10.a3 f5?! , stopping Black's c6 knight from going to d4. [ This weakens the kingside, and does Aronian, L (2420)-Chipashvili, M (2320)/ nothing for Black's development, 10...c6 Pasanauri 1997 continued e6 11.ge2 would justify Black's eighth move. ] d7 12.d5 xd5 13.cxd5 a7 14.0-0 11.f4 White will lever-open the a1-h8 diagonal. b5 15.b3 a6 16.b2 c6 17.c3 g6 12.f3 e8 13.0-0 exf4 14.exf4! xc3 18.xc3 b6 19.a1 xd5 20.xd5 Recapturing the other way would be cxd5 21.xd5 c8 with approximate positionally correct, but White wants to use 922
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 equality. ] 10...d4 11.0-0 xf3+ [ The game Geller, E-Mazzoni, G/Monte Carlo 1967 varied with 11...c6 after which 12.e1 f5 13.f4 h8 14.h1 g8 15.b2 f6 16.e3 e6 17.c2 exf4 18.exf4 d7 19.d2 c7 20.f2 e6 21.h3 e8 22.a1 left White with a slight edge. This kind of indirect manoeuvring battle is typical of this line which is more dependent on positional understanding than theoretical knowledge. ] 12.xf3 h3 13.e1 c6 14.g5 [ 14.b5 might have been better here, setting up immediate pressure on the queenside. ] 14...f6 15.d2 f5 16.b5 d7 17.bxc6 bxc6 18.b3 e6 19.b7 [ 19.b6 was stronger as then after e4 20.dxe4 Black does not have ... Bd4 available. W hite would stand better after xc4 21.b4 f7 22.c7 . ] 19...e4 20.dxe4 d4 21.b3 xf2+! Once the tactics started Matthew Sadler was immensely strong. 22.xf2 fxe4 23.xe4 xe4 24.g1 f5 25.e3 e6 26.b7 f7 27.c3 [ 27.eb1 would have been more testing. ] 27...h5 28.g5 af8 29.h6 e8 30.a1 g4 White's position is still more comfortable, but it's dif ficult to see where the winning chances will come from. ½-½
930 Davies,Nigel R Tebb,David BCF-chT 9798 (4NCL) (2.1) [Nigel Davies]
A25 2505 2280 1997
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.b1 a5 6.a3 d6 7.d3 f6 8.b4 axb4 9.axb4 0-0 10.b5 Various other moves have been tried here but I still like my choice. Other strong players have also tended to prefer it. e7 [ A n o t h e r p o s s i b i l i t y i s 10...d4 when Dgebuadze, A (2510)-Vaznonis, V (2282)/Dresden GER 2007 continued 11.e3 e6 12.ge2 h5 13.0-0 f5 14.d5 e8 15.d2 f7 16.f4 exf4 17.gxf4 c5
18.b4 with the better game for White. ] 11.b2 [ I seem to have been in a minority in my preference for this move, a more common one being 11.f3 . A n e xa m p le i s h6 12.0-0 e6 13.b3 d7 14.a3 f5 15.d2 b8 16.d5 c5 17.bxc6 bxc6 18.xe7+ xe7 19.c2 which was slightly better for White in Schlosser, P (2564)-Nataf, I (2552)/Cannes FRA 2008. ] 11...h5 Nobody else seems to have played this way. [ The critical line is 11...d5! , for example 12.cxd5 ( 12.a1 xa1 13.xa1 seems better) 12...exd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.f3 e4 15.dxe4 ( 15.e5 is better, but b y n o m e a n s c o m f o r t a b l e f o r W h i t e) 15...c3 16.xc3 xc3+ was good for Black in Vinke, A (2070)-Roemer, U (2250)/ Seefeld 199600. ] 12.f3 f5 13.0-0 h6 14.d2 Now White is better, his pressure on the queenside being far more significant than anything Black can do on the opposite flank. h8 15.a1 xa1 16.xa1 g5 17.a8 b6 18.a1 White is gaining serious control of the position whilst Black's play on the other flank is stillborn. f4 19.de4 fxg3 20.hxg3 f5 21.d5 [ I did not want to weaken myself with 21.g4 , despite the fact that it would win a piece. ] 21...f4 This, on the other hand, is an offer tha n ca n no t be ref used . 22.gxf4 gxf4 23.b8 e8 [ After 23...h4 White can kill the attack with 24.xc7 e8 25.a7 g6 26.xg7+ etc. ] 24.a8 g6 25.xc8 xc8 26.xc8+ h7 27.xc7 h5 28.f1 h6 29.h3 h4 30.d7 h5 31.xf5 xf5 32.xg7 h3+ 33.g1 f3 34.c1 Closing the mating net around Black's king. He has no good defence to the threat of a knight coming to f6. 1-0
923
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A25 29.e2 Dorfman,Josif D 2600 1-0 Kishnev,Sergey 2495 Bundesliga 2000-1 (9) 18.02.2001 932 A25 [Tony Kosten] Dorfman,Josif D 2608 Libiszewski,Fabien 2451 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 Monte Carlo MNC (5) 05.02.2004 5.b1 a5 6.e3 d6 7.ge2 h5!? [ An aggressive move that is popular in [Tony Kosten] similar positions, a more positional approach is 7...f5 8.d3 b4 9.e4 e6 10.0-0 e7 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 d6!? 11.a3 bc6 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 0-0 A rare line, trying to speed-up the queenside 14.b5 b8 15.e3 d7 16.c2 c6 development, W hite has no real advantage, Gulko,B[ 4...g7 is normal. ] Karpov,A/Moscow 1992. ] 5.b1 e6 6.b4! xc4?! A doubtful novelty. 8.h3 f5!? Previously Black had played [ Black is really going flat-out! However, this [ 6...d7 7.b5 ( 7.a4 g7 8.d5 ge7 hyper aggressive novelty, also has its down 9.xe7 xe7 10.xd7+ xd7 11.d3 d5 sides, the kingside, and in particular g5, is is very nice for Black, Azmaiparashvili,Zloosened. 8...e6 9.d3 d7 10.d5 f6 Malaniuk,V/Moscow 1983) 7...d8 8.d4! f5 11.ec3 h7!? deters White from short 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.b3 f7 11.f3! castles, Foisor,C-Ibragimov,I/Linares 1994. ] excellent! e4 ( 11...xc4? 12.a4 g7? 9.h4! Obviously White has to play this before 13.g5 wins the c4-bishop) 12.g5 e7 Black plays ...h4 himself. e6 10.b3 f4!? 13.0-0 f6 14.b2 with some advantage, I suppose this is only to be expected from as the black pieces are misplaced, Smyslov, Black's previous play! 11.exf4 g4 12.fxe5 V-Kupreichik, V/URS 1969. ] dxe5 So, Black has the open d and f files to 7.a4 Menacing to win a piece in two ways, play with, and controls d4. Still, a pawn is a and given as best by Gelfand, but pawn! 13.d3 e4? [ 7.b5 is also effective: ce7 8.a4 e6 [ A sharp, if doubtful, tactic, but 13...ge7 9.xb7 b8 10.xa7 and White has an 14.g5 0-0 was a sensible alternative, extra pawn. ] Black has some compensation. ] 7...e4 It is difficult to suggest anything better, 14.xe4 d4 15.f3! [ 7...e6 allows 8.b5 d4 9.e3 f5 [ 15.b2!? f3+ 16.xf3 xf3 17.0-0 10.xb7 b8 11.b6+! d7 12.bxa7! xa4 was another option, White is happy to give 13.axb8 xb8 14.c6+ xc6 15.xb8+ the exchange, and can easily defend his wining an exchange. ] kingside light squares. ] 8.b5! 15...xf3+ 16.xf3 xf3 17.0-0 g4 [ 8.xe4 d5 is Black's idea, no doubt. ] 18.g5 Without having done anything special, 8...e5 9.xe4?! Simple, but White misses White finds that he has an extra pawn, and a [ 9.d4! exd3 10.f4 which wins a piece for large development advantage. e7 19.d2 limited compensation. ] f5 20.f6+ xf6 21.xf6 0-0 22.xf5!? 9...d5 [ Simply 22.g5 is very strong. ] [ 9...d5! is stronger, and avoids problems 22...gxf5 23.h6 along the a1-h8 diagonal. ] [ Black's weakening of his kingside returns to 10.b2 g7? It is surprising how many errors h a u n t h i m . 23.g5+ f7 24.f1 ca n o ccu r in t h e o p e n in g d u rin g a ga m e is also very unpleasant. ] between two very good players when there is 23...xf6 24.xf6 xd3 25.g5+ f8 no theory to follow! 26.e1 e4 27.f2 d8 28.c3 c2+?? [ 10...e7! is the best bet: 11.f4 ( 11.b6+! [ An inexplicable blunder, 28...d4+ 29.e3 c6 12.xa7!? xa7 13.bxa7 d8 d7 keeps the game alive. ] 14.xe5 might be good for White, though) 931
924
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11...d3+! the tactical point, 12.exd3 xd3 13.c1 xe4 14.xe4 f6 regaining the piece on e4. W hite can try 15.b6+ c6 16.xc6 but after xe4+ 17.xe4+ dxe4 18.e6+ d7 19.xe4 axb6 White's advantage is minimal. ] 11.f4 After this Black is in real trouble. dxe4 12.xe5 xe5 13.xc4 d4 The only reasonable try, if the bishop moves then Qxe4 is check and b7 will drop immediately afterwards. 14.c2 d6 [ 14...g7 is slightly superior, 15.e3 d3 16.xd3 exd3 17.xb7 d8 but objectively Black is lost here. ] 15.e3 c5 [ 15...d3 16.xd3 exd3 17.xb7 b8 18.e4 wins a second pawn. ] 16.xe4+ e7 17.f3!? The practical move, but there was absolutely nothing wrong with grabbing the second pawn by [ 17.xb7 0-0 18.e2 ] 17...0-0 18.0-0 fe8 19.fc1 [ 19.xb7 is still good. ] 19...b6 20.c4 f5 21.h1 Played to free the e-pawn's advance and avoid any tactical tricks. White has an extra pawn and the better position so Black decided to avoid wasting his time! Two possible continuations: [ 21.h1 e7 ( or 21...g7 22.e4 e6 23.f5 g7 24.d4 gxf5 25.e5 e7 26.xc7 with a trivial endgame win) 22.e4 h6 23.e5 g4 24.d4 and the bishop is lost. ] 1-0
12.b4 a6 13.b5 b7 14.fxe4 fxe4 15.xe4 forced, White cannot allow Black to play ...Bxd5 for free, xe4 16.xe4+ e7 17.f3 xd5 18.g4 0-0 White's problems on the light squares are worsening, 19.f1 , Pismenny,A-Zemerov,V/ Budapest 1994, f6 with a clear advantage ] [ 8.d3 is the safest, xd5 9.f3 b4+ 10.d2 xd2+ 11.xd2 d6 12.0-0 0-0 13.ac1 e6 Black enjoys a comfortable equ a lit y, Lo b ro n, E -S oko lo v, I / Nus s lo c h 1996. ] 8...f6?! [ This is not sufficiently forcing. 8...d3+ 9.e2 fxe4 10.xe4 c5 11.d3 offers reasonable positional compensation for the (doubled) pawn. ] [ but 8...c6! appears strongest, for if 9.dxc6 d3 threatens ...Nc2+. ] 9.d3 c5 Black plays for pressure on the ffile. 10.f3 fxe4 11.dxe4 g4 12.a3 0-0 [ Better than 12...a6? 13.h3 when the pin is broken, and White can consolidate. ] 13.axb4 xb4+ 14.f1 xf3 15.xf3 xf3 16.xf3 xf3 17.e3 a6 18.e2 af8 19.hc1 The backward c-pawn assures White a positional plus. 3f7 20.f4 exf4 21.gxf4 e8 22.c4 a5 23.ac1 b5 24.d4 d7 25.f3 ed8 26.c6 White prepares his win c a r e f u l l y. f8 27.d2 a4 28.dc2 b4 29.xc7 xc7 30.xc7 a3 31.bxa3 bxa3 32.a7 b8 33.e5 1-0
934 933 Filippov,Valerij Volzhin,Alexander XIII Torre Open (5) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2593 2556 18.12.2000
Franco Ocampos,Zenon Akopian,Vladimir Anibal Open Linares ESP (10) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2482 2656 17.01.2001
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 f5 4.c3 f6 5.e4 d6 5.e3 d5!? 6.xd5 xd5 7.cxd5 b4 [ A couple of my opponents have tried The thematic point, Black threatens to 5...d4 6.ge2 c5 completely closing the recapture on d5, but also to check on d3, centre, although W hite maintains a very slight plus. ] exploiting the slight weakening of the white light squares on White's fifth move. 8.e4!? 6.ge2 ge7 7.0-0?! [ In the light of what follows, this may be [ A novelty, hanging on to the pawn by 8.b3!? is risky, e4 9.f3 d3+ 10.e2 p r e m a t u r e . 7.d3 retains White's options, c5 11.c4 b6 those light squares again! and will lead to a normal position. ] 925
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...h5 A new move here, although quite common in similar Botvinnik positions. 8.h4 White wants to stop the further advance of the h-pawn, of course. d4 [ T h e i m m e d i a t e 8...g5!? 9.hxg5 h4 is also possible. ] 9.xd4? [ White doesn't want Black to establish a p i e c e o n d 4 , b u t co n t r o l l in g g 5 b y 9.d3 was certainly safer. ] 9...exd4 10.e2 g5! 11.hxg5 d3! Black f rees the d4-square f or his bishop. 12.f4 h4 13.h5 d4 14.f6+ [ 14.gxh4 g6 fails to stop the white king's cover from disintegrating. ] 14...f8 15.gxh4 g6 16.h5 f4 17.f3 e2+ 18.h1 xf6 [ 18...xf6 19.gxf6 e8 is decisive, White cannot stop Black from play ...Qe5, and ... Rxh5+, mating the white king. ] 0-1
935 Georgiev,Kiril Sokolov,Ivan Bosnia 2001 Sarajevo BIH (1) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2676 2659 13.05.2001
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.b1 f5 Typical reversed Closed Sicilian play: Black expands on the kingside, but concedes the queenside to White. 6.b4 a6 7.a4 f6 8.b5 The White queenside initiative is well advanced, and he has yet to complete his kingside development. axb5 9.axb5 e7 10.b3 d6 11.d3 0-0 12.f3 h8 13.0-0 W hite has brought his king to safety, and Black must now find a good way of continuing his kingside expansion. fg8!? [ I really don't know what to make of this new move. 13...h6 is more common, planning ... g5, but the white queenside attack is very fast, 14.c5! g5 15.b6! (hitting the pawn chain at its base!) c6 16.a3 e8 17.cxd6 xd6 18.b4 Black's position is already disintegrating, Anilkumar,N-Saravanan,V/ Calcutta 1993. ] 14.b2 f4 15.a1 b8!? Black prefers to keep pieces on the board, and reasons that the a-file is not too useful for W hite. 16.d4!
With his pieces perfectly developed, and the black ones awkwardly placed, White strikes in the centre. fxg3 17.hxg3 exd4 18.d5 c5 [ Black cannot hang-on to the d-pawn, 18...f5 19.fd1 ge7 20.xd4 and W hite opens the a1-h8 diagonal, whilst maintaining a structural advantage. ] 19.bxc6 xc6 20.fd1 e6 21.f4 f7 22.xd4 f6?! [ A l l o wi n g a c o m b i n a t i ve li n e , 22...xd4 23.xd4 xd4 24.xd4 b5 is Black's best chance. ] 23.xc6! xb2 24.xb2 xb2 25.xb8 xa1 26.d7 d8 So far all forced. 27.c5! T h e k e y p o i n t , w i n n i n g m a t e r i a l . e5 28.xb7 e8 29.d5 h6 30.e3 b8 31.b6 f5 32.d7 c8 33.g4 h4 34.xe5 dxe5 35.d6 c7 36.xf7+ xf7 37.d8+ g7 38.d5 White's extra pawn, and superior minor piece, is decisive. e7 39.c5 h5 40.gxh5 gxh5 41.c6 1-0
936 Goganov,Aleksey Khismatullin,Denis Samara Polugaevsky Memorial 4th (8) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2590 2680 9.7.14
1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 Presumably White is aiming for a 4 Knights, but I would avoid this particular move order myself, and prefer [ 3.g3 ] 3...f5 4.d3 [ 4.d4 e4 is critical, with a reversed Frenchstyle setup, although we haven't looked at it too much on ChessPub [A27]. ] 4...f6 5.g3 b4 6.g2?! [ 6.d2 avoids the doubled pawns, and is definitely best, as is the case with reversed colours. ] 6...xc3+ 7.bxc3 d6 This is like a Reversed Grand Prix Attack, which is generally thought to b e qu ite go o d f o r W h it e (wit h c o lo u rs reversed), but here does the extra move make any difference? 8.0-0 [ 8.b3 b8 was Almasi, Z-Vallejo Pons, from a few months ago. ] 8...0-0 9.b1 The rook goes to the open file, 926
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to pressure the b7-pawn together with the bishops on g2 and hinders the development of the c8-bishop. [ 9.c5!? is probably incorrect, but opens the position for the bishops, d5 ( 9...dxc5!? 10.a3 d7 11.h4 with some initiative.) 10.c4 ( 10.d4 e4 11.e5 xe5 12.dxe5 g4 13.f4 b6 14.h3 h6 15.a4 e8 favoured Black in Wohl, A (2458) -Jones, G (2561)/Sydney 2010.) 10...dxc4 11.b2 e7 12.a4 e6 1/2-1/2 Kosten, A (2535)Degraeve, J (2525)/Montpellier 1998. ( 12...cxd3 13.exd3 and Rfe1 with play for the pawn. )] 9...e8 The queen heads for h5 "with a typical Dutch attack" - Alex. This position scores very well for Black, his play is simpler, he will aim f o r th e st an da rd . .. f 4 , .. .B h3 a nd . .. Ng4 . 10.e1 Probably best, , heading for d5 via b4 o r e 3 , a n d p r e p a r i n g a p o s s i b l e f 4 . b6 Playing in more positional style, Black protects the b-pawn and can try to exchange the light square bishops. The alternatives are also good: [ 10...h5 continues the kingside build-up, 11.f4 ( 11.c2 f4 12.e3?! g4 13.f3 fxg3 14.hxg3 Froitzheim, R (1870)-Witte, T ( 1 6 6 8 ) / T r o i s d o r f 2 0 0 8 , c8!? with advantage.) 11...e4 12.c2 e8 and I would pref er to be Black, W hite's extra tempo doesn't seem to help at all, 13.d4 xd4 14.cxd4 b6 ( 14...c6 15.e3 f7 also favours Black, he will gain the e4square for his knight, Bagheri, A (2531)Gerard, N (2272)/Nantes 2003.) 15.e3 ( 15.d5 looks right, followed by an eventual Bb2. ) 15...xd1 16.xd1 d7 17.dxe4 xe4 18.xe4 xe4 Black is slightly better, but the opposite colour bishops make this drawish, Dornieden, M (2279)-Ljubarskij, J (2338)/Dresden 2004. ] [ 10...b8 is slower, 11.c2 d7 12.b4 ( 12.e3 e7 13.d5 exd5 14.cxd5 b6 15.f4 e4 16.c4 h5 Wang, H (2724)Vitiugov, N (2722) /Ningbo 2010, 17.dxe4 fxe4 18.b2 is about equal, as g4 19.h3 e3 20.d4 f5 21.c3 xe2 22.fe1 d3 23.g4 regains the pawn.) 12...e7 13.g5 c6 14.d4 g6 Ihsan, J (2166) Safin, S (2510)/Al Ain 2008, 15.c5!? ] [ 10...f4!? 11.e3 g4?! ( 11...fxg3 ) 12.f3
fxg3?! 13.fxg4 gxh2+ 14.xh2 g6 15.h3 Black doesn't have nearly enough for the piece, Anwesh, U (2413)-Roshan, R (2062)/New Delhi 2012. ] 11.c2 b7 [ 11...d7 makes a lot of sense, 12.b4 xb4 ( 12...a5 13.d5 xd5 14.cxd5 e7 15.c4 Cruz, F (2338)-Sustach, M (2254)/Arequipa 2003, can be answered by f4 when White has no real counterplay.) 13.cxb4 c6 14.xc6 xc6 15.b5 b7 with a slight plus to Black has his minor piece is more useful in this closed position, Pfleger, H (2500)-Hort, V (2615)/Germany 1984/ GER-chT. ] 12.b4 a5 13.d5 Thematic, the knight finally reaches its destination on d5. [ 13.f3?! also keeps the bishop pair on the board, Heinrich, P (2240) -Hughes, B (1920)/ Sa n t a Mo n ica 1 9 7 4 , b u t c5 is strong, 14.c2 d5 15.cxd5 xd5 with advantage. ] [ P o s s i b l y W h i t e s h o u l d o p t f o r 13.g5 and take on f6 - his dark-squared bishop is no better than the knight. ] 13...f7 14.xf6+ xf6 15.f3 f4 So simple, White's structure is worse, and his bishops stymied. 16.e4 ae8 [ 16...c8! looks good, stopping White's next. ] 17.h3 h6 18.g4 g6 19.b2! Swinging the rook to the kingside . fxg3!? Black decides to sacrifice the exchange to 'prove' his advantage, but it would be better to keep the position closed. 20.hxg3 h5 [ 20...c8 21.xc8 xc8 22.g2 is almost level, but Black certainly isn't worse. ] 21.f5 xf5!? 22.exf5 xf5 23.d2 e6 Planning ...Rg6. Black has enough compensation with his light squared play, but n o m o re a s is k n i gh t i sn ' t p a r t i c i p a t i n g . 24.g5!? White switches to attacking mode, it's possible that a shortage of time for one or both players contributed to this decision. [ 24.e3 g6 25.g2 h3 26.f2 f5 27.e3 with a likely repetition. ] 24...xd3 25.d8+?! [ 25.xh5 i s s t r o n g e r , xc4 26.h2 looks dangerous ... for both players! ] 25...h7 26.h2 xf3 27.g5 g6? 927
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Missing a trick. [ 27...f6! protects f3 and stops Qd8, 28.g4 ( 28.xh5+ g8! 29.h2 xc4 30.hf2 d5 and ...e4 with domination.) 28...g8! 29.gxh5 ( 29.xh5?? loses on the spot to xf1+ 30.xf1 xg4+ ) 29...f5 an d with c4 d ro p ping B lack will ha ve 3 strong pawns for the exchange. ] 28.xf3! xf3 29.xh5+ h6 Forced. 30.xh6+ gxh6 31.xh6+ g8 32.e6+ White has a perpetual. g7 33.e7+ g6 34.e6+ f6 35.g4+ f7 36.d7+ e7 37.f5+ e8?? An awful blunder, any other m o v e d r e w ! 38.g5 d7 39.f6! W a s t h i s t h e m o v e B l a c k m i s s e d ? h7 40.e6+ [ 40.e6+ f8 41.h6+ ] 1-0
D (2217) -Sanzhaev, D (2056)/Kazan RUS 2008, 13.b3! ) 13.xe4?! ( 13.d4! opens the centre while Black is unable to castle ) 13...f6 14.f3 e6? ( 14...h6 ) 15.d4! exd4 16.g5 f7 17.xd4 c6 18.xe6 xe6 19.e1 and Black soon re si g n e d , W e b st e r, A ( 2 4 3 0 ) -V a n d e Berkmortel, T (2262)/ Sutton 1999; C) 10...f6 the best way to solve the problem of the loose knight, C1) 11.b3!? 0-0 12.b2 aims for a nice Reversed Dragon setup, and would be my choice, e7 13.c2 d7 ( 13...b8 14.e4 fxe4 15.dxe4 g4 16.h4 Stryjecki, M (2420)-Miton, K (2636)/ W arsaw 2005) 14.d2! ab8 15.c4 with a small plus, Markowski, T (2560)Miton, K (2592) /Poznan 2005; C2) 11.b3 to hinder Black from castling, e7 12.e4 fxe4 13.dxe4 937 A25 ( 13.g5!? exd3 14.e3 is fun, e4 15.d4 and White will recapture the Grischuk,Alexander 2720 pawns with an edge) 13...c6 to defend Cobbers,Martin 2102 b7 laterally, and prepare ...Be6 Mainz CCM5 simul 08.2005 ( 13...f7!? 14.c3 h5 15.d2 0-0 [Tony Kosten] 16.f3 Gofshtein, L (2507)-Mitkov, N (2509)/Lisbon 1999) 14.e3 the most 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 f5 4.c3 f6 logical, ( 14.g5 e6 15.c2 0-0 5.e3 The natural move, White is ready to play is nothing for White, Portisch, L (2600) Nge2 which both defends the knight on c3 Polgar, S (2480)/London 1996,; 14.d2 (against ...Bb4xc3) and prepares d4 (against c5!? 15.c2?! 0-0 16.b3 b6 ...Bc5). Instead, I recommended 17.f3?! a6 18.e1 g4 [ 5.d3 in 'The Dynamic English', to avoid was already crushing for Black, Ruck, R Black's next. ] ( 2 3 6 0 ) - N a j e r , E / B r a t i s l a v a 1 9 9 3) 5...d5!? This is the problem, the weakness of 14...e6 15.c2 0-0 16.h3 h6 17.h4 d3 allows Black to play an Open Sicilian-type fe8 18.fd1 c7 19.f5 xf5 position. 6.cxd5 b4 7.d3 bxd5 8.xd5 20.exf5 with advantage, Dzagnidze, N xd5 9.f3 The question is whether this is a (2484)-Kovalevskaya, E (2471)/Mallorca good Sicilian position for Black (because of 2004. ] the potential weakness of d3) or for W hite (active bishop on g2, pressure on e5). b4+!? 10.d2 xd2+ [ 10...e7 11.xb4 xb4+ 12.d2 e7 This allows Black to castle quickly, but also ( 12...xd2+? 13.xd2 and the e-pawn is helps W hite as his undeveloped bishop is lost ) 13.0-0 c6?! 14.e4! fxe4 15.dxe4 f6 exchanged. 16.c3 and the e-pawn is in trouble, d7 [ 9...d6 is the main move, 10.0-0 Schmittdiel, E (2387) -Giroux, F (2204)/ A) 10...c6?! 11.e4! fxe4 Velikov, P Avoine 2006, when White can brazenly play (2329)-Gerard, N (2283)/Angers 2006, is 17.h3 0-0 18.fd1 ready to capture on d7 met by 12.xe5! 0-0 13.dxe4 xe5 then on e5. ] 14.exd5 with an extra pawn; B) 10...e6?! also defends d5, but then 11.xd2 d6 12.0-0 0-0 At first glance this 11.e4! fxe4 12.g5 puts Black in all sorts position looks to be quite satisfactory for Black, of trouble, g8 ( 12...d7?! Ospennikov, but he is slightly behind in development and 928
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e5 is more exposed as there is no knight on c6. 13.fe1! The key move, White threatens e4 to expose the e5-pawn. [ 13.a5!? b6 14.b5 c5 15.c4 e6 16.g5 ad8 is fine for Black, Komljenovic, D (2 4 2 5 ) -P s a k h is , L ( 2 5 6 5 )/ B e n a sq u e 1998. ] [ 13.ac1 e6 14.g5 c6 15.xe6 xe6 16.fe1 ad8 17.a5 a6 18.e4 is about level, Lobron, E (2590)-Sokolov, I (2665)/Nussloch 1996. ] 13...f4! Taking the sting out of e4. [ 13...e6 is the main alternative, A) 14.e4! i s t h e m a t i c , fxe4 15.xe4 when f5 ( 15...f6 16.xe5 g4 17.e4 f6 18.d4 with a pawn more) 16.xe5 g4 fails to 17.g5! xf3 18.xf3 xf3 19.xd5 b6 20.f1 xb2 21.d7 menacing Qd5+; B) 14.g5 ad8 15.e4 f6?! Mareco, S (2187)-Garcia, G (2453)/ B u e n o s A i r e s 2 0 0 5 , 16.xe6 xe6 17.exf5 xf5 18.xb7 xd3 19.e2 with a structural plus. ] 14.e4 [ 14.gxf4! exf4 15.e4 e7 16.d4 gives White a mobile centre, and a certain edge. ] 14...b6 [ 14...e7! m i g h t b e b e t t e r , 15.d4 (else ...Nc6) g6 16.c3 exd4 17.xd4 e5 with a good hold on e5. ] 15.c3 H i t t i n g e 5 a g a i n . e8 16.d4 The 'equalising' Sicilian move, but here it gives White the advantage. exd4 17.xd4 e5 18.ac1 c6 19.b3+ h8 20.f3 Freeing the e-pawn's advance. f6 21.e5 e7 22.d4 e6? [ 22...fxg3 23.hxg3 g4 is obviously better, but even so 24.e4 h5 25.f4 gives White an obvious advantage, with the e and fpawns marching up the board. ] 23.xe6 xe6 24.xe6 xe6 25.gxf4 This leaves White with an extra pawn to add to his other plusses. d8 [ 25...f8 was a better try, 26.h3 g6+ 27.h1 xf4 28.e6 f8 29.e7 e8 30.cd1 winning easily, e.g. d5 31.xd5! cxd5 32.d7 ] 26.f5 e7 27.cd1 xd1 28.xd1 g8 29.f4 c4? But the position was hopeless
anyway. 30.e6? A mistake but at this stage of a simultaneous display it is normal to feel tired, and play worse. [ 30.d8+ f7 31.e6+ f6 32.f8+ leads to mate. ] 30...h6?? [ 30...g6! keeps the game alive, 31.d7 f8 32.h3 gxf5 33.xf5 xd7 34.exd7 e7 although W hite should certainly triumph after 35.xh7 ] 31.d8+ h7 32.d7 [ 32.e4! ] 32...e8 33.f6 xe6 34.f7 f6 35.e4+ 1-0
938 Gurevich,Mikhail Gagunashvili,Merab 3rd IECC Playoff (1.2) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2641 2472 27.06.2002
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.b1 A popular and flexible idea, White wants to expand on the queenside, but keeps his kingside development plans hidden. a5 6.d3 d6 7.e3 f5 8.ge2 f6 9.b3 This piece set-up is a very popular one for W hite, but with the white rook on b1, and black pawn on a5, it is even better, as, for one thing White doesn't have to worry about tactics along the a1-h8 diagonal. 0-0 10.b2 e6 One of many alternatives tried by Gurevich's opponents here: [ 10...h5!? 11.f3 ( 11.0-0 f4! is the point) 11...e6 12.0-0 f7 13.g2 e8 14.d2 Gurevich,M-Ehlvest,J/ Reggio Emilia 1991, ] [ 10...d7?! seems inferior, 11.d2 b8 12.0-0 b6 13.be1!? planning f4, e4 h8 14.f4 led to a nice victory for White in Gurevich,M-Kamsky,G/Reggio Emilia 1991. ] 11.d5 Black was intending the freeing ...d5. d7!? This appears logical, but is actually an innovation: [ 11...f7!? intending 12...Nxd5 which, if played immediately would lose a piece, 12.ec3 xd5 13.xd5 b8! 14.c3 c6= , Gurevich,M-Nikolic,P/ Antwerp 1997. ] 12.0-0 h6 13.d2 White often plays these opening moves fairly quickly, as his pieces 929
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 almost always go to the same squares. h7 14.be1!? White intimates that he will play f4 and e4 to attack in the centre. ae8 15.ec3 b6!? I prefer [ 15...f7! so that if 16.b5 Black can play xd5 17.cxd5 b4 ] 16.b5!? [ 16.a3 is safer. ] 16...c8?! This offers the exchange, [ 16...xd5! is better, 17.cxd5 b4 18.c3 e4! and Black has dynamic compensation for the white bishop pair, in particular his knight threatens to land on d3. ] 17.xf6+ xf6 18.xc6! White boldly takes t h e m o n e y. xc6 19.a7 f3 20.xc8 f4?! This threatens ...Bh3, and forces White to exchange the queens! [ 20...xc8 is better, although after 21.d4! White is well on top, f4 ( 21...b7 22.d5 and the long diagonal is closed.) 22.e2 b7 23.f3 h3 with some play for the exchange. ] 21.e2 xe2 [ 21...b7? 22.xd6 cxd6 23.f3 is much worse than the previous line. ] 22.xe2 f3 23.d2 xc8 24.d4 e4 Black tries to keep the position closed, as the rooks can only function if they have open lines. 25.c1 e7 26.c5! This is the problem, White offers a temporary pawn sac to free the d and c-files. dxc5 [ 26...b5 might be a better chance. ] 27.dxc5 xc5 28.d4! d8 29.dc2 xd4 [ 29...d6 is also insufficient: 30.xb6! cxb6 31.xc8 ] 30.xc7+ g7 31.xc8 d2 32.8c2 d7 Black could easily resign here. 33.c4 d2 34.xe4 xa2 35.h4 g5 36.h5 b5 37.e7 a4 38.bxa4 b4 39.cc7 1-0
( 3.f3 c6 4.g3 This is one of the main lines, but now I have noticed that many top players pref er to put their bishop on c5 rather than b4. c5 and theoretically, as far as I can tell, this line is fine for B la c k(a lt h o u gh ve ry r ich in id e a s , a n d certainly fine for W hite too).) 3...b4 is comfortable, because without the knight on c6 Black can castle and play Re8, and not only is Nd5 not such a big threat(knight on c6 is not attacked after it is captured) but Black also has the option of c6 and d5, or of taking on c3 and then perhaps putting the b8 knight on a different route(e. g. d7c5). ] 2...c6 [ 2...f6 3.g2 Here is where Black would sort of like to play Bb4, but it makes no sense without a knight on c3 and putting the bishop on c5 before White has played Nf3 runs into e3 and d4. c6 4.c3 b4 ( 4...c5 5.e3 intending Ne2. Now this line is not obviously bad for Black, and there are complications with Black playing d5 around here, but we will revisit that.) 5.d5 is probably somewhat better for White. ] 3.g2 c5!? An interesting set-up against the so-called 'Kostenites' i.e. those who rely on Tony Kosten's book on the English for their White opening repertoire and therefore begin with 2.g3 4.c3 a6 Perhaps not necessary, but [ 4...ge7 5.a4!? looked annoying. ] 5.e3 d6 6.ge2 [ 6.d4!? exd4 7.xc6+ bxc6 8.exd4 looks too ambitious, but I must admit that it scared me a bit at the time. ] 6...ge7 7.0-0 0-0 So Black has achieved the solid Bc5 line set-up but now with his knight on e7 the idea of e3 and d4 is not so t h r e a t e n i n g . 8.d4 I wouldn't go so far as to say this was a mistake, but it does make 939 A25 good sense of Black's piece set up, all of wh ic h i s d ir e c t e d a t t h e d 4 s q u a re . I t i s Hanreck,Alan E notable that the two top W hite players who Rowson,Jonathan Brentwood Weekender 17.02.2008 have faced this line, Van W ely and Peter Heine Nielsen, have both preferred set ups [Jonathan Rowson] where d4 is delayed or avoided. After looking at these lines for a while, you find that it is 1.c4 e5 2.g3 [ My understanding of these move orders is not so easy to play Black's position because t h a t a f t e r 2.c3 f6 ( 2...b4!? ) 3.g3 unless W hite plays d4, the knight on e7 is 930
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 r a t h e r a w k w a r d l y p l a c e d . a7 9.d5 I am not sure about this move. I suspect whatever White gains is not as much as he loses by making my bishop on a7 so influential. [ 9.a3 exd4 10.exd4 f5 11.e3!? not as bad as it looks- taking on e3 leaves white with some tender dark squares and a weakened king, but the bishop on a7 is a little bit snuf fed, and white's remaining pieces are rather good. ( 11.xc6 bxc6 12.b4 is strategically critical, because if White gets c5 then my bishop will be snuffed out, perhaps forever. c5! comes just in time and after 13.bxc5 dxc5 14.d5 Black is better, mainly because there is no convenient way to protect c4 (after ...Nd6) and the bishop on a7 has a future on a5. )] 9...b8 10.b4 d7 11.h1 h5 I am not sure about this move. [ 11...f6!? looks more flexible 12.e4 g4 13.e1 f5 is a bonus. ] 12.e4 [ 12.e4!? didn't occur to me, and is not very human, but actually quite annoying. ] 12...h4 13.d3 a5 [ 13...h3 14.xh3 c5 15.bxc5 xh3 16.g1 xc5 17.g4 ] [ 13...g6 14.f4 hxg3 15.f5 f4 16.xg3 I found this position hard to judge, but Black is probably ok. ] 14.a3 b6 15.e3 xe3 16.xe3 hxg3 17.fxg3 c6?! A bit too ambitious. I knew that if the position were to open the bishop on g2 and knight on e2 might look very badly placed, and that is indeed what ultimately happened, but I take too many liberties to achieve this goal. [ 17...axb4 18.axb4 xa1 19.xa1 c5 is more solid. ] [ 17...f5!? was also a better move. ] 18.c5 axb4 19.axb4 xa1 20.xa1 f6 21.cxd6? [ 21.a8! I saw this, and wasn't scared, but perhaps I should have been. ] 21...xd6 22.c5 Superficially White is better, but keep an eye on the bishop on g2 and knight on e2- terrible pieces that struggle to play a role. d8 23.h3 [ 23.a8 h7!= ] 23...g6 24.h2 g7 25.xd6 xd6 26.g4
e8 [ 26...cxd5 27.exd5 fxd5 28.xd5 xd5 29.d1 e4 30.xe4 e6 is clever, but just enough for a draw. ] 27.dxc6? xc6 28.c1 [ 28.d1 ] 28...e6 29.d5? White was getting short of time, but this walks in to a lost ending. xd5 30.exd5 xc1 [ 30...b6 also looked good, but I couldn't see any defence for him after what I did. ] 31.xc1 f5 32.gxf5 gxf5 33.e2 e4 34.f4 f6 35.g3 e5 36.h4 f6 37.h5 exd5 38.xd5 xd5 39.h6 f6?! [ 39...f4+ 40.h4 f6 41.g5 f3 42.h1 f2 43.g2 e3 44.f1 h7+ 45.g6 f8+ 46.f7 e6 an instructive little dance! It seems I can win the pawn by force. ] 40.h3 It now seems obvious that I should play f4 while I had the chance, but at the time I didn't want to commit myself. e7 41.f4 g6+ 42.e3 f8? To control h7, but... 43.g2 [ 43.h7! We both completely missed this move, which narrows Black's winning margin, though doesn't close it. xh7 ( 43...g6 44.d4 is tense. ) 44.f4 e3! 45.xe3 e5 should eventually win. ] 43...e5 44.h3 h7 45.f1 f4+ 46.d2 f6 [ 46...f5 ] 47.h3 b6 48.b5 h7 49.d7 g5 50.g4 f6 51.h5 h7 52.d1 g6 53.c2 f6 54.c3 xh6 55.d4 f3 56.e3 g5 0-1
940 Hansen,Curt Hodgson,Julian M Bundesliga 2000-1 (11) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2619 2596 11.03.2001
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e3 d6 6.ge2 h5 This aggressive response, is very popular, and White has to know how to handle it. 7.d4 [ White replies in the centre, in classical fashion, but 7.h4 is a sensible alternative. ] 7...exd4 931
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ The further advance of the h-pawn is the main alternative, but allows White to play a promising KI position : 7...h4 8.d5 ce7 9.e4 f5 10.g5 h3!? , Sokolov,I-Chernin,A/ Debrecen 1992, and now W hite pref ers 11.f1 with prospects of an advantage. ] 8.xd4 ge7 9.de2?! [ White preserves pieces, and avoids the exchange on d4, e.g. 9.h3!? xd4 10.exd4 f5 11.e4! 0-0 12.0-0!? ( 12.g5 ) 12...xd4 13.g5 f6 14.xd4 fxg5 15.d5+ h8 16.xg5 f6 when Black's bishops promises him good play, Geller,EKholmov,R/Moscow 1964. ] [ However, 9.xc6 is more popular. ] 9...h4 The critical reply, before White can play h 3 , o r h 4 . 10.0-0? This is really asking for trouble, but W hite obviously feels that his kingside is easily defendable. hxg3 11.hxg3 h3 12.xh3 xh3 13.f4 [ White has difficulty opposing rooks on the open h-file, i.e. 13.g2? d7 14.h1 xh1 15.xh1 0-0-0 and ...Rh8. ] 13...h7 14.c5 A desperate attempt to open the position, but it is not as if W hite has a development advantage. xc3! 15.bxc3 dxc5 16.f3 d7 17.a3 0-0-0! [ W hite was hoping for 17...b6 18.ad1 , although even here Black has no problems. ] 18.ad1 [ This fails, but recapturing the pawn allows Black a winnin g at tack: 18.xc5 e5 19.e4 7c6 20.d4 f5 21.g2 g5 etc. ] 18...e5 19.e4 xd1 20.xd1 xd1+ 21.g2 7c6 The exchange of two rooks for the black king has done nothing to dampen the black attacking prospects. 22.h3 [ Hopeless, but 22.xc5? f5 23.c2 dh1 forces mate. ] 22...b6 23.g4 b7 24.g3 f5 25.gxf5 gxf5 26.xf5 g7+ White must jettison material to avoid mate. 0-1
941 Hulak,Krunoslav Almasi,Zoltan TCh Pula CRO (1) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2566 2630 10.09.2001
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e3 d6 6.ge2 h5 7.d4 h4 [ T h e a l t e r n a t i v e 7...exd4 fared well in Hansen,C - Hodgson,J. ] 8.d5 Gaining space, and taking play into a type of KI position. ce7 9.e4 f5 10.g5 h3 11.f3 [ Personally, I feel that the bishop can be awkwardly placed here, and I prefer 11.f1! f6 12.exf5 ( Chernin indicates 12.d2 xe4 13.xe4 fxe4 14.c3 followed by the recapture on e4 with a positional advantage because of Black's 'KI bishop'. One possible continuation: g4!? 15.e2 f3 16.xf3 exf3 17.d3 but this doesn't look to be too clear to me .) 12...gxf5 13.d2 a6 14.f3 d7 15.g1 and the h3pawn was a problem, Larsen, B-Karlsson, L/Copenhagen 1985. ] 11...f6 12.0-0 0-0 13.d2!? [ A novelty, but it allows some interesting tactics. 13.h1 seems safer, removing the bishop from the f-file, h7 14.e3 g5?! 15.exf5 xf5 16.d2 g4 17.e4 e7 18.b3 c5 19.f3 gxf3 20.xf3 when White's space, and possession of e4, give him an edge, Comas Fabrego, L-Gual Pascual,A/Terrasa 1995. ] 13...h7! 14.e3 f4! 15.gxf4 exf4 16.d4 [ 16.xf4? g5 wins a piece, and this is why White hastened to move the bishop from f3 in the previous note. ] 16...h6 17.c5!? Possibly White was worried about Black playing ...c5 himself, but putting his king in the corner, and bringing a rook to the g-file, may have been better. g5 18.h1 f7 [ 18...f3 19.g3 leads nowhere, the knight has no useful discovered attack. In fact, its real destination is f7, to control e5. ] 19.cxd6 cxd6 20.d3 h7 21.fe1 e5!? 22.xe5 dxe5 23.ad1 g8 24.d6 T h i s p a wn s e e m s s t r o n g . f6 25.f3 Now that the f-file is closed this is a much safer square for the bishop, of course. d7 932
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.d5 xd5 27.xd5 g7 28.h1? [ Pawn-hunting by 28.xb7!? b8 29.xa7 xb2 30.h1 was worth consideration. ] 28...b6 29.f1 [ 29.g1 might be the best move, but it is difficult to admit one's mistake. ] 29...ac8!? [ 29...xb2 is possible, although 30.b1 a3 31.b3 xa2 32.c3 a6 33.e2 gives White some initiative. ] 30.d3 f6! Out-of-the-blue the d-pawn is being rounded-up. 31.c3 xb2 32.d5 f7 [ Preferring to avoid opposite-colour bishops after 32...xd6 33.f6+ xf6 34.xd7 ] 33.b1 d4 34.b3?! [ 34.xd4 exd4 35.xb7 offers better chances. ] 34...e6 35.bd1 c5 36.d3 White defends the d6-pawn with tricks, but it shouldn't hold-out for long. c4!? [ 36...d8 37.d2 fd7! ( 37...xd6 38.f6+ xf6 39.xd6 xd6 40.xd6 is p la ya b l e f o r W h i t e) 38.b2 b6 and the pawn is lost next go. ] 37.b1 c6 38.c7 d7 39.g1 f8 40.c1 d4 41.b3 With a passing threat of capturing the loose rook on f7. f6 42.d5 fxd6 43.cd1 xf2 44.f6+ xf6 45.xd7+ g7 ...Rc2 is the nasty threat, and White is quite lost. 46.d1 f3 Now, ...Qg2+ is threatened. 47.d3 c3! 48.xg7+ [ 48.xc3 g2+ 49.xg2 fxg2+ 50.g1 f1# would be a nice way to finish (for Black!) ] 48...xg7 49.d7+ f7 50.xh3 xg1+! [ 50...xg1+ 51.xg1 f2+ 52.f1 xh3 is quite hopeless. ] 0-1
enough that its soundness isn't in question." John Watson. [ The text certainly does score much better than the routine 5...0-0 ] [ and 5...d6 . ] 6.cxd5 b4 7.f3!? A novelty. Chucky ignores the light-square weaknesses and carries on with development, leaving Black to weigh the ramifications of this decision. A strategy well-suited to the time control, I'd say! [ The main continuation is 7.d4 exd4 8.exd4 e7 , i.e. Sarakauskas, G (2414)-Kiik, K (2452)/Jyvaskyla 2006/[John Watson] and Rogozenco, D (2577)-Parligras, M (2377)/ Iasi 1999/[TonyK]. ] [ White also often chooses 7.d3 , aiming for a reversed Sicilian-type position after bxd5 8.xd5 xd5 9.f3 . This quiet approach has some venom. One recent example: ( or 9.a3 ) 9...b4+ 10.d2 xd2+ 11.xd2 d6 12.0-0 0-0 13.d4! e4 14.e5 f5 15.fc1 e6 16.c5 f6 17.ac1 c6 18.b4 d7 19.xd7 xd7 20.f1 a6 21.c4 xc4 22.1xc4 ad8 23.a4 Vachier Lagrave, M (2699) -Hunt, A (2462)/ Caleta ENG 2012. ] 7...d3+ Svidler "calls." [ It's a close decision between the text and 7...f5!? . Following 8.0-0 c2 ( 8...c2? 9.e4+- ) 9.e1 d3 ( 9...e4!? ) 10.e2 0-0 White can begin the process of untangling, i. e. 11.e1 xe1 12.xe1 e4! 13.c4 e7 14.a4 xa4 15.xa4 ] [ Natural is 7...e4 , but 8.e5! isn't too promising for Black. ( 8.g5!? obviously comes into consideration as well. )] 8.e2 f5?! Now this isn't such a good idea. [ 8...xd5! w a s n e c e s s a r y . 9.a4+!? ( clearly not 9.xd3?? f4+ with mate to come ) 9...d7 10.e4 xc3+ 11.dxc3 ( 11.bxc3!? ) 11...xc1+ 12.hxc1 f6 942 A25 13.d1 gives White a semblance of an initiative, though the position remains fairly Ivanchuk,Vassily 2769 balanced. ] Svidler,Peter 2749 World Rapid Final (15) 08.07.2012 9.a4+! A disruptive check. c6?! [ Black can't claim much compensation after [John Bartholomew] 9...d7 10.c4 xc1+ 11.hxc1 d6 12.f1 , but maybe this was the best Ivanchuk's innovative 7.Nf3!? catches Black practical chance. ] off-guard in this unbalanced line. 1.c4 e5 [ Similar is 9...f8 10.c4 d6 11.e4 2.g3 c6 3.g2 f6 4.c3 c5 5.e3 xc1+ 12.hxc1 . ] d5!? "This move has been around long 933
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.h4! Svidler begins to realize that he's been caught wrong-footed by his wily opponent. xc1+? Essentially losing. [ 10...b5! was the last chance to make a mess of things. Then 11.b3 c8 12.e4!? xc1+ 13.axc1 g4+ 14.f3 d7 leaves W hite in control, but not without plenty to consider. ] 11.hxc1 g4+ 12.e1 Of course. White has no interest in blocking the h1-a8 diagonal. b5 A day late and a dollar short! 13.xb5! cxb5 14.xb5+ d7 15.xc5 0-0 16.c3 Th e re st is ea sy, even u nd er a f ast tim e control. b8 17.c4 f6 18.b3 c8 19.b4 b8 20.a4 d7 21.c4 c8 22.d3 b8 23.f5 b5 24.c2 g6 25.a4! gxf5 26.axb5 e4 27.f1 xd5 28.c5 As a su rp rise wea po n 7. Nf 3! ? wo rked t o perfection in this encounter. It looks legitimate, so keep an eye out for further developments. 1-0
943 Ivanov,Alexander Razuvaev,Yuri S URS-ch FL46 Ashkhabad (13) [Nigel Davies]
A25 2395 2465 1978
10...c6 11.d4 d5! 12.exd5 exd4 13.xd4 cxd5 14.cxd5 exd5 15.0-0 xc3 16.bxc3 d5 17.d2 a4 18.e1 a6 19.f3?! [ 19.e4 was better. Black's reply takes the initiative. ] 19...xc3! 20.xc3 xd4 21.bd1 d6 22.b4 f6 23.e4 xf2+ 24.h1 xe1! 25.xd8 xb4 26.d1? [ 26.d4 is better after which e7 27.xf8+ xf8 28.g4 h6 29.h4 g5 30.xa4 will probably lead to a draw. ] 26...xa3 27.xa4 c5 28.a1 f2 29.e5 b6 Now Black has more than enough for the queen and with a little help from his opponent grinds out the win. 30.h3 h5 31.f1 xf1+ 32.xf1 e6 33.f6 a8 34.g4 hxg4 35.hxg4 a4 36.e2 a2 37.d8+ g7 38.d1 e3 39.d3 g5 40.g1 f6 41.f1 a1+ 42.f2 a2 43.f1 b2 44.d6 g5 45.c6 b4 46.e1 e5 47.f3 b1+ 48.e2 b2+ 49.f1 b5 50.e2 b4 51.e4 c3 52.c4 b1+ 53.f2 e1 54.c6 c1! 55.e4 xc4 [ After 55...xc4 56.xc4 e1+ the queen is lost. ] 0-1
944 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.b1 a5 6.a3 f6 7.e3 I don't like this much in this position. [ I think White has several very reasonable moves that prevent a Black central expansion, for example 7.d3 and ] [ 7.e4!? will both do the job quite nicely. ] [ Another possibility is 7.b4 , looking to consolidate the centre after this queenside expansion. W hat he should avoid is axb4 8.axb4 0-0 9.b5? e7 when Black is getting ready for a quick ...d7-d5. ] 7...0-0 8.ge2 d6 9.d3 e7!? An interesting plan, aiming to play ...c7-c6 and ...d6-d5. It goes without saying that if Black achieves this without making serious concessions elsewhere he will have a very comfortable game. 10.e4?! Razuvaev's reply gives him a good position. [ If White wants something here he should try 10.d4! a f t e r w h i c h f5 ( 10...c6!? is probably better ) 11.e4 is quite good. ]
Kortschnoj,Viktor Kasparov,Garry Korchnoi Birthday KO (1.2) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2643 2827 29.04.2001
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.e3!? An unusual move, recommended by John Watson many years ago, but it has never caught on. c6 4.d4!? [ Sensible, yet 4.ge2 (taking the sting out of an eventual ...Bb4) or ] [ 4.a3 (aiming for a reversed Sicilian) are more usual. ] 4...b4 5.d5 xc3+ 6.bxc3 e7 Aiming for a Nimzo-style position, but White has other ideas. 7.d6!? [ White attacks on the dark squares, previously other moves had been tried, i.e. 7.e4 d6 8.f3 0-0 9.e2 d7 10.g4 c5 giving Black a reasonable Nimzo, Garcia Gonzales,G-Bronstein,L/Rio de Janeiro 1979. ] 934
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...cxd6 8.xd6 a5 9.b4 c7 Obviously Black cannot iron-out the white pawn structure by capturing on b4. 10.a3 c6 11.b1 d6 12.d3 a5! Black plays with great precision. 13.xd6? Too optimistic, W hite is obliged to sacrifice the exchange. f5! 14.xf5 [ There is little choice, 14.d2 e4 ] 14...xc3+ 15.e2 xa1 16.f3 d8 17.c5 White has trapped the black king in the centre, but it is obviously not enough, especially as the white king is hardly ideallyplaced! xa2+ 18.d2 d5 19.g4 g6 [ Not bad, but 19...c3+! 20.d3 a4 is instantly decisive. ] 20.d3 d4+ 21.e1 [ Awkward, but 21.exd4? f4+ wins the queen. ] 21...xd6?! Hardly necessary. 22.cxd6 a1+ 23.b1 a5+ [ Kasparov decides to give a half-point as a 70th birthday present! 23...b4 24.d1 dc2+ is still very good for Black. ] 24.d1 a4+ 25.e1 a5+ ½-½
945 Kosten,Anthony C Touzane,Olivier Montpellier (3) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2551 2350 06.07.2002
1.c4 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 e5 4.c3 c6 5.e3 I decided to play the 'Staunton set-up' (double fianchetto, and the knights on e2 and c3) just as in the Gurevich game this month, but [ 5.b1 might be a more accurate way to do this, enticing Black to play ...a5 and removing the white queen's rook from the a1-h8 diagonal. ] 5...f5 6.ge2 f6 7.d3 0-0 8.b3 e4?! Bla ck t ries t o e xp lo it t he we aken ed lon g diagonal but W hite f orces a positionallyadvantageous structure whilst avoiding any tactics. 9.a3! Simple and good, [ 9.dxe4 fxe4 10.xe4 xe4 11.d5+ f7 12.xe4 wins a pawn, but allows Black some play on the light squares. ] 9...exd3
[ 9...e8 10.0-0 d5!? was a more principled choice, 11.cxd5 xd5 12.xd5!? ( 12.c1 xc3 13.xc3 xd3 14.xd3 exd3 15.d5 d8 16.fd1 is a calmer choice) 12...xa1 13.xa1 xd5 14.dxe4 fxe4 15.c3 f5 16.d1 leads to a lot of fun for White, who ca n combine threats to the e4pawn with mating possibilities along the a1-h8 diagonal. ] 10.xd3 e8 11.0-0 We reach a structure that is known to favour White - he has good squ a re s o n d 5 a n d f 4 f o r h is kn igh t s . b6 12.ad1 b7 13.d5! An important point, the knight closes the diagonal for the b7bishop, Black dare not capture the knight as it opens the c-file against the c7-pawn. e4 14.c2 d6 15.b2 d7!? 16.f3 This is the dif f e rence be twee n W h ite's square s an d Black's - th e black knights can eas ily b e driven from e4 and e5. c5 17.b4 [ 17.f6+?! xf6 18.xf6 xe3 favours Black. ] 17...e6 18.f4! Re-opening the g2-bishop's diagonal. This time [ 18.f6+?! xf6 19.xf6 allows xb4 ] 18...a5 19.a3 Of course White cannot advance the b-pawn as it would concede the c5-square to Black. f7 [ 19...axb4 20.axb4 a2 21.ec3 leads nowhere. ] 20.ec3 It seems that White gives-up on his efforts to play a knight to f6, but has he? ad8 21.g4! Unexpected and strong! a8 [ 21...fxg4 allows White to bring another knight to f6: 22.e4 h8 23.g5 xg5 ( 23...d7 24.b5 a7 25.f6 xg2 26.xd7 wins ) 24.fxg5 e6 ( 24...d7 25.f6 c8 26.xe8 is crushing) 25.xc7 xe3+ 26.h1 e7 27.xd6! ( 27.d5 is a good alternative, gaining an exchange) 27...xb2 ( 27...xd6?? 28.f8#; 27...xc7?? 28.xd8+ xd8 29.f8# ) 28.xb2+ e5 29.xe5+ xe5 30.df6! and the threat to capture a piece on c6 cannot be successfully countered. ] 22.gxf5 This was a difficult decision, as [ 22.g5 e7 23.f6+ xf6 24.gxf6 was also very promising. ] 22...gxf5 [ 22...xf5 allows 23.e4 ] 23.f3! Crude but effective! The rook swings 935
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 over to g3 to put further pressure on Black's anyway, after, for example 7.d4 ( or 7.d3 dark-squared bishop. f8 24.g3 bxd5 8.xd5 xd5 9.f3 ) 7...exd4 [ 24.b5 is also quite good, d7 25.xg7 8.exd4 e7 9.d6!? xd6 ( 9...xd6 10.a3 xg7 ( 25...xg7 26.c3+ winning. ) c6 11.ge2 0-0 12.0-0 Raeva, E (2286)26.g3 g6 27.xf5 is very good fro Bulmaga, I (2258)/Albena 2010, 1/2-1/2 White. ] (40). ) 10.ge2 c6 ( 10...f5 11.0-0 c6 24...e6 I had expected 12.a3 bd5 Jepson, C (2394)-Hector, J [ 24...g6 although 25.b5 is winning (2584)/Copenhagen 2010, 0-1 (51).) 11.f4 much as in the last note. ] as analysed by Marin. d8 12.0-0 0-0 25.xc7! The most elegant. d4! 13.e5 bd5 14.b3 b6 15.f4 g4 [ 25...xc7 26.d5 wins on the spot, both 16.ad1 xe5 17.dxe5 c7 18.e6 Nxc7 and Rxg7+ are menaced. ] ( 18.fe1 g4 19.c1 Marin. ) 18...g5 26.xd4 xc7 27.b5 e7 28.xa8 19.ce2 Bacrot, E (2709)-Gelfand, B (2733)/ One of a number of wins here, perhaps Odessa 2007, 1/2-1/2 (51). ] [ 28.xd6! is the best: exd6 ( 28...xe3 5...a5 Radically stopping b4, but this move 29.xf5 e1+ 30.f1 ) 29.xd6 g6 weakens b5. ( 29...xd6 30.xg7+ is no improvement) [ 5...a6 immediately (or later), might be 30.xd8+ and White is a rook to the good. ] better, preparing a retreat square for the 28...xa8 29.g2 Hitting a8. g6 The only dark square bishop, although the downside chance. is it allows W hite to expand on the [ 29...b8 30.xd6 g6 31.xf5 q u e e n s i d e . 6.e3 ( of course, White can is obviously hopeless, and ] always transpose back into 4 Knights lines [ 29...xe3 is simply countered by 30.xg7+! anyway by, say 6.d3 d6 7.f3 h6 8.0-0 xg7 31.xg7+ xg7 32.e4+ ] 0-0 9.b4 a7 10.b2 reaching Marin's 30.xa8! After Black's checks run out he will main position. ) 6...d6 7.ge2 0-0 resign: xe3+ 31.f1 xg3 32.hxg3 xd4 A) Marin only gives 8.b4 a7 9.0-0 f5 33.d5+! e6 34.xd4 d3+ 35.g2 ( or 9...e7 10.b2 c6 11.d4 ) 10.d4 1-0 ( 10.d3 d7 ) 10...e8 11.h3 exd4 12.exd4 d7 13.h2 h6 14.e3 d8; B) 8.h3 a7 9.d3 is another, more 946 A25 flexible approach.; C) 8.0-0 Kosten,Anthony C 2455 C1) 8...a7 9.d4 ( I mentioned 9.f4!? Velten,Paul 2429 in 'D E ', b u t i t n e ve r r e ce i ve d m u c h TCh-FRA Top 12 2014 (11.7) 03.06.2014 testing. ) 9...exd4 10.exd4 h6 11.h3 [Kosten, Tony] e8 12.b4 ( 12.e3 e7 plans ...d5, Tallarico Tallarico, O (2216)-Korneev, O 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 f6 4.c3 c5 ( 2 5 8 3 ) / M o n d a r i z 2 0 0 2 , 0 - 1 ( 3 1 ) .) According to Jonathan Rowson: "theoretically, 12...e7 13.c5 c6 14.f4 probably as far as I can tell, this line is fine for Black a b o u t e qu a l a s B l a c k c a n b r in g h i s (although very rich in ideas, and certainly fine bishop into play via b8, Reinderman, D for White too)." Which seems about right. 5.a3 (2560)-Quick, S (2197)/Canberra 2009, In his GM Repertoire book Marin considers 1-0 (57).; this move dubious, and prefers C2) 8...f5 9.d4 a7 10.h3 ( not 10.b4 [ 5.f3 transposing to a 4...Bc5 Four Knights, d7 and ...Bh3. ) 10...e8 see Istratescu-Navara, this month. However, C2a) 11.d5 e7 ( 11...b8 12.e4 he later wants to play a3 and b4 anyway, so g6 13.b4 bd7 14.d3 1-0 (39) this makes no sense. ] Af ek, Y (2 301 )-L ampe rt, J (22 67)/ [ 5.e3 would be nice, if it weren't for d5 Haarlem 2012.) 12.e4 d7 13.d3 6.cxd5 b4 see the Archives for some 1-0 (36) Edouard, R (2607)-Lampert, J examples. Still, I was tempted to try this as (2205)/Deizisau 2012.; White gets some very, very slight advantage 936
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 C2b) 11.g4!?; C2c) 11.h2 h6 12.b3 exd4 13.exd4 e4 14.e3 1/2-1/2 (23) Sielecki, C (2424)-Scheerer, C (2140)/ Heringsdorf 2000. ] [ 5...0-0 could transpose if Black plays a quick ...a6 or ...a5, 6.e3 d6 was already played by my opponent a couple of times: 7.ge2 ( 7.b4 b6 8.ge2 a5 9.b5 e7 10.0-0 e6 11.xb7 b8 12.g2 xc4 13.d3 e6 14.d4 0-1 (72) Pogorelov, R (2403)-Velten, P (2385)/San Sebastian 2013. ) 7...f5 8.d3 ( 8.d4 b6 9.b4 a6 10.h3 must be better with the bishop on b6.) 8...h6 9.h3 a6 10.g4!? a nice kingside plan, h7 11.g3 b8 12.h4!? h8 13.b4 ( 13.g5 g8 ) 13...a7 14.b2 e7 15.g5 fg8 with sharp play in Wohl, A (2362)-Velten, P (2422)/Naujac sur Mer 2013, 1/2-1/2 (72). ] 6.e3 d6 7.ge2 I like this setup for White, for several reasons, one being, as I mentioned in 'DE ' : " W h i t e c a n st a rt a s t ro n g k in g sid e initiative with f4-f5, h3, g4 as the f2 pawn's advance is unhindered." 0-0 8.0-0 [ W hite can also play the immediate 8.h3 and then d3, g4, f4, etc., but it makes sense to play d4 and chase the bishop back. ] 8...f5 [ 8...e8 is another good move, 9.d4 ( 9.d3 g4?! 10.h3 e6? 11.d4 won material in Grivas-Miles, Komotini 1992.) 9...a7 10.h3 h6 11.b3 d7 12.h2 c8 13.b2 ( 13.d5?! was Psakhis, L (2598)-Janev, E (2445) in the Archive.) 13...e4?! 14.c2 f5 15.ac1 h5?! (to stop g4, but the cure is worse than the disease) 16.d5 h7 17.ef4 g5 18.e2 and Black is almost lost, Kosten, A-Janev, E/Aurec 2001. ] [ 8...g4 is actually the most played move, but after 9.h3 the bishop has to go back, h5 ( 9...xe2?! 10.xe2 is clearly good for W hite, Lie, E (2266)-Meyer, F (2348)/ G a u s d a l 2 0 0 3 , 0 - 1 ( 6 0 ) .; 9...e6? is a known b ut quite com mon, blunder: 10.d4 exd4 11.exd4 and Black loses a piece, Czebe, A (2496)-Frink, F (2239)/ Zalakaros 2004, 1-0 (25), as a7 12.d5; 9...f5 loses a move on the mainline, 10.d4 b6 11.g4!? g6 12.f4! Garcia, H-Saadi, J Cordoba 1970, 0-1 (36).) 10.g4 g6 11.d4
a7 12.b4 ( 12.f4! ) 12...axb4 13.axb4 with advantage, Trauner, R (2233)Waldmann, G (2153) Austria 2006, 1-0 (69), as xb4? 14.xb7 ] [ 8...e6? aga in lo se s a p ie ce t o 9.d4 and this has occurred a number of times! ] 9.d4 [ 9.d3 is worse here, d7 and ...Bh3. ] 9...a7 [ 9...exd4 10.exd4 a7 11.h3 transposes below. ] 10.h3! A necessary move, otherwise Black will play ... Qc8 (or maybe ...Qd7) and exchange the light square bishops with ...Bh3. Further White may harbour aggressive intentions on t h e k i n g s i d e w i t h g 4 , N g 3 a n d f 4 . h6 A logical move, preparing a luft for the f5bishop, and also ... exd4 without having to worry about Bg5 after. Alternatives: [ 10...exd4 11.exd4 e8 ( 11...h6 12.g4 h7 13.b5 b6 14.ec3 e8 15.e3 with more space, Miezis, N (2557)-Nikolajev, D (2325)/Riga 2012, 1-0 (63).) 12.g4! e4 ( 12...g6 13.e3 ) 13.xe4 xe4 14.c3! xf2?! 15.xf2 xd4+ 16.g3 e5+ 17.f4 f6 18.d2? ( 18.xc6 bxc6 19.d2 sh o u l d wi n .) 18...g5! 19.xe5 xe5+ 20.f2 c5+ 21.g3 e5+ 22.f2 c5+ 1/2-1/2 Frumkin, E (2029)Hess, R (2439) New York 2007. ] [ 10...h5!? 11.h2 d7 12.d5 xd5 13.cxd5 e7 14.e4 g6 15.f4 f5 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.fxe5 fxe4 18.f4 Favoured White, Skembris, S (2420)-Botsari, A (2335)/Athens 1996, 1-0 (36). ] 11.h2 It was a morning game, and I just wanted to play 'simple chess', so protected h3 and moved the king off the g1-a7 diagonal as a precautionary measure. It turns out that this is a novelty. [ 11.d5 (I don't like this move in such positions myself) e7 12.e4 d7 13.h2 g6 14.f4?! ( 14.d3 ) 14...exf4 15.xf4?! xf4 16.xf4 e7 17.d2 ae8 e5 and e4 are weak, as are W hite's dark squares, Serafimov, D (2157)-Van Elst, A (2258)/Condom 2006, 0-1 (43). ] 11...e8 12.b3 exd4 13.exd4 e4 Black's play is very logical, he uses the e4square to exchange some pieces. [ If 13...h7 then I was planning to play 937
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.b5! b6 15.ec3 and Na4, embarrassing the b6-bishop. Curiously, the idea came to m e f rom a game I h ad a s Black against Tony Miles 30-odd years ago, with the same queenside structure where he h a d p l a y e d t h i s wa y . I t h i n k I a c t u a l l y managed to draw, and stop him winning the G ra n d P rix, b u t n o t a f t e r c o n sid e ra b l e suffering. ] 14.e3 White has more space and a small advantage, while Black must find a way to bring the a7-bishop into the game. b8!? Played to reposition the knight and continue ... c6. 15.xe4! [ 15.b5 d7! 16.xa7 xa7 and it didn't s e e m t o m e t h a t m y e 3 -b is h o p wa s s o useful. ] 15...xe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.c3 e7 [ 17...e8 18.g4 h8 ( 18...e6 t r a n s p o s e s t o t h e g a m e .) 19.ae1 with advantage, d7?! 20.f3! forking f7 and b7. ] 18.g4 Menacing to take on h6, perhaps. e6 [ 18...d7 i s m o r e n a t u r a l , 19.ad1 ( 19.xh6 f5 20.g5 xd4 21.d5 f7 22.xd8+ xd8 23.ad1 might also be a bit better for W hite.) 19...f6?! 20.f3 and this time b7 and h6 are threatened. ] 19.d5! I was happy to gain a small but sure positional advantage, while avoiding any sharp tactics. g6 20.e4 xe3 21.xe3 d7 22.ae1 This position is very pleasant for White, he has more space and controls the only open file. In the meantime the g6-rook is offside, has no easy route back into play and must beware f4-f5 and Ne4. f5?! To play ... Rf6-f7, but now the weakness on e6 is a 2nd serious problem for Black. In my opinion he is now already lost! [ He suggested 22...h5 in the post mortem, to hide the rook on h6, but 23.e2 c5 24.e4 xe4 25.xe4 f6 26.fe1 keeps Black passive, g5 27.f4 f5 28.e7 ] 23.e2! f6 24.f4 f8 25.e2 Preparing to triple the heavy pieces on the efile. d7 26.fe1 f7 27.c3! b6 Solid, but now he loses any possibility (however slim) of creating some counterplay. 28.e3 I was in no rush, the game should 'win itself '. This prepares R1e2 and Qe1. h7
29.e6 g6 30.f4! Stopping ... Ne5 and ...f4 ideas. g8 31.c2 h8 32.e2 Tripling the heavy pieces again. f6 [ 32...h7? 33.g5+ hxg5? 34.h5# was one idea. ] 33.d4 f7 34.h5 f6 35.h4! Preparing a later h5 and Re7, Black is totally passive and c a n o n l y a w a i t t h e i n e v i t a b l e e n d . . f7 36.e2 c8 37.h5 f8 38.e7 g8 39.d3 g5 Desperation. [ I was e xpe ct in g 39...h7 to defend f5, when 40.b5 ( 40.g2 leaves Black in some sort of zugzwang, the only move to avoid immediate material loss is g8 when 41.c6 h8 42.a7 d8 43.xc7 ) 40...g8 41.xc7 starts taking some material. ] 40.xf5 gxf4 41.g7! [ 41.g7 xg7 42.xg7 xg7 43.e7+ g8 ( 43...f7 44.xf7+ xf7 45.f5+ forks king and rook. ) 44.gxf4 and Qg3+. ] 1-0
947 Macieja,Bartlomiej Pavlidis,Antonios GRE-chT 42nd (5.3) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2607 2478 01.07.2014
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.c3 c5 5.e3 An interesting choice, this move is by far the most popular here even though it is not considered very accurate. d6 [ We have only looked at the critical 5...d5 previously, I wonder what Maiceja intended against this? ] 6.ge2 f5 Logical. [ Marin looks at both 6...a6 7.0-0 0-0 8.d4 a7 9.h3 ] [ and 6...0-0 7.d4 b6 8.0-0 ( 8.b4 ) 8...e8 in his book. ] 7.d4 This exposes the drawbacks to the . .. Bc5 lines, the bishop is a target for the white pawns. I remember Alekhine considering them weak for this reason. b6 Not a very good square, which is why Black often prefers an early ...a6 so the bishop can retreat to a safer s q u a r e o n a 7 . 8.b4! If this is good, then it seems critical, White threatens to suffocate the b6-bishop with c5. 938
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 8.0-0 allows d7 stopping h3, ( 8...0-0 9.h3! ) 9.dxe5!? xe5 10.xb7 b8 11.g2 xc4 12.d4 g4 13.c2 Khasin, A (2503)-Gubajdullin, A (2305)/St Petersburg 1999, e5 ] [ 8.a3 see ms unn ece ssa ry, a5 9.0-0 transposing to 5 a3 lines. ] 8...d7 Probably best, supporting the knight on c6. [ 8...a6?! was the only previous try, giving the bishop some room, but 9.c5! a7 10.xc6+! bxc6 11.dxe5 e4!? ( 11...dxe5 leaves no way for the a7-bishop to escape.) 12.exd6 cxd6 13.d4 g5 14.f4 h3?! 15.e4! xe4 16.xe4+ Black is in a bad way, Kuljabin, V (2360)-Cisler, P (2165)/ Klatovy 1997. ] [ 8...a5!? is risky: 9.b5 b4 10.0-0 b8 (t o d e f e n d b 7 ) ( 10...c2 11.e4 xe4 12.xe4 xa1 13.b2 favours W hite.) 11.e4 ( 11.a3 d3 might be OK.; 11.h3 ) 11...g4 12.d5 and a3 will win material. ] [ 8...xb4? is im possible : 9.a4+ c6 10.d5 ] 9.a3 Defending b4 and renewing the threat of c5. [ 9.c5?! i s n o t h i n g : dxc5 ( or 9...exd4 10.xd4 dxc5 11.xc6 bxc6 12.a4 0-0; 9...xb4?! 10.cxb6 c2+ 11.f1 xa1 12.xb7 d8 13.bxa7 ) 10.dxc5 xb4 ] 9...a5 [ If 9...a6 10.c5 a7 11.a4 is awkward. ] 10.b5 d8 11.h3! A key move in such positions (see my game with Velden last month, for another example), both stopping the simplifying ...Bh3 and preparing kingside e x p a n s i o n . h5 T o s t o p g 4 . 12.a4 I like W hite's extra queenside space and f l e x i b l e p a wn f o r m a t io n . c6?! 13.a3 Eyeing d6 and supporting the c5 advance. exd4 14.xd4 c5 15.xc5 Simple and good. [ 15.bxc6 bxc6 16.xf5 xf5 17.b5 also wins material. ] 15...dxc5 16.xf5 xf5 17.d6! White is already winning. c8 18.0-0 e6 19.xc5 d7 20.a7 [ 20.d4 0-0 21.fd1 f6 should also win. ] 20...0-0 21.xa5 xc4 22.e4 White is a good pawn up with the better minor pieces.
e6 23.bxc6 xc6 24.xh5 a8 25.g5 h6 26.xh6 gxh6 27.e4 This is now a formality. a5 28.fb1 a6 29.b5 c8 30.d1 c7 31.xa5! xa5 32.xd7 xd7 33.f6+ f8 34.xd7+ e8 35.f6+ e7 36.g8+ f8 37.xh6 b6 38.c6 1-0
948 McNab,Colin Anderson Hodgson,Julian M MSO Ron Banwell mem (5) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2416 2640 24.08.2000
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.c3 c5 5.a3 [ To control the b4-square, as the obvious 5.e3 allows d5 6.cxd5 b4 as we have seen before. ] 5...d4!? [ A speciality of Julian Hodgson. Stopping b4 by 5...a5 is the normal reply, when White can continue 6.e3 and Nge2. ] 6.c2 [ A very sensible reply, the Scottish GM wishes to avoid doubled c-pawns, and so d e f e n d s c 3 w i t h h i s q u e e n . 6.d5 had been preferred in the game Spraggett,KHodgson,J/ W innipeg 1997, which continued: 0-0 7.f3 b6 8.d3 h6 9.0-0 d6 10.xb6 axb6 11.b3 with a plus to White. ] 6...xc3 Anyway! 7.xc3 d5 8.b4!? [ White refrains from playing a reversed Sicilian position after the natural 8.cxd5 xd5 9.c5 ] 8...0-0 9.b2 e8 10.d3 a5! [ W h i t e w a s c l e a r l y h o p i n g f o r 10...d4 leading to a Benoni structure in which he is well-versed, but, instead, Black embarks on a sharp tactical operation to exploit the white king's extended stay in the centre. ] 11.b5 d4 12.e3 a4! Of course, the d4knight is untouchable f or the moment, so Black prepares a strong square for it on b3. 13.f3? [ White brings a deluge down upon his head, there was still time for 13.cxd5 i.e. xb5 14.c5 with balanced chances. ] 13...h3! Undermining the f3-knight's support 939
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 in the most dramatic way. 14.xh3 xf3+ 15.e2 [ 15.f1 dxc4 16.dxc4 e4 is also awkward. ] 15...d4+ The knight turns to this apparently inhospitable square, but Black has to achieve something quickly, for otherwise White's two bishops will prove usef ul. 16.f1 b3 17.d1 c6 To open a queenside file for the rook. 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.c2 d4 20.e4? [ Closing the position does nothing to help the white bishops, 20.g2 seems better. ] 20...b8 21.g2 c5 The knight finally reaches a safe square, and what a strong one it is too! The threat of infiltration along the bline is difficult to counter. 22.he1 b3 23.g1 h5 24.e2 a5 25.c1? [ White overlooks a tactic, but after 25.f1 eb8 26.d2 the white position is near breaking-point anyway. ] 25...xd3! 26.d2 [ Of course, if 26.xd3?! xd3 27.xd3? then xe1+ but White could just as well resign. ] 26...c5 27.f1 xc4 28.g5 b2 29.xc4 xc4 30.xf6 gxf6 31.d7 d8 32.xc6 At least one of White's bishops has found some activity, but it is far too late to save W hite. xa3 33.a1 xa1 34.xa1 c8 35.xa4 a8 Pinning, and winning. 36.a2 d3 [ White loses a piece after 36...d3 37.f1 ( 37.b3 xa2 38.xa2 d2 39.b3 b2 ) 37...d2 38.e2 xa4 39.xa4 d1+ 40.xd1 b2+ ] 0-1
8.ge2 Transposing to the mainline, but [ 8.fxe5!? i s t e m p t i n g : e8 ( 8...xf2+ 9.xf2 e4+ 10.e1 f2 leads nowhere a f t e r , s a y , 11.h5 ) 9.f3 ( is Black's compensation sufficient after 9.xc6!? dxc6 10.d4 ? ) 9...d6 10.d4 xd4? 11.xd4 xe5+ 12.e3 g4 13.c2 won easily in Andrade,J-Santos,A/ Odivelas POR 2000. ] 8...d6 9.0-0 This is good, although I recommend [ 9.h3 e8 10.e4 in my book, as I don't like committing the white king too early here. ] 9...e8 This is the standard manoeuvre in all these lines, the queen heads for the kingside. 10.e4! This is known to be best since: [ 10.a4?! d4! 11.xd4 exd4 12.h3 ( 12.a3 a5 13.b3 and White managed to draw in Karpov,A-Bellon Lopez,J/Madrid 1973 ) 12...h5 13.a3 a5 14.b3 g6 and Black won a beautiful game, see Saidy, A-Fischer,R/New York 1969. ] 10...xe4 11.dxe4 h5 12.h1 Played to unpin the f-pawn so that White can repel ... Bg4 with f3. f6 Black's play is direct, but this m a y we ll le a d t o a qu ick m a t e a ga in s t a w e a k e r o p p o n e n t ! 13.f5!? A new move, covering h6. [ 13.c3 g4?! ( 13...xd1 14.xd1 xf2 ) 14.f3 h6 15.h4 e6 Oepen,L-Hermann,T/Germany 1987, and now 16.d5 looks good. ] 13...g6! Black forces open the f-file. 14.fxg6?! A risky reply, better [ 14.e3 when White's position is preferable. ] 14...xf2? A pity, [ 14...g4 was the right way to continue: 949 A25 15.d5+ ( 15.f3 xf3! 16.g1 xf1 17.gxh7+ xh7 18.xf1 g7 with threats Miezis,Normunds 2523 of ...Rf8, and ...Rh8.) 15...h8 16.c3 Simonsen,Olavur 2265 xf2 which is dangerous for White, e.g. Troll Masters (2) 08.01.2003 17.f4? xf4! 18.gxf4 g3 winning. ] [Tony Kosten] 15.d5+ h8 16.f4! The e-pawn is pinned Fischer's pawn sacrifice is rarely seen these along the rank. h6 17.d3 And now the 18.g5 f3 days, but still contains a lot of venom. 1.c4 b i s h o p i s p i n n e d . f8 c6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 f5 4.g2 f6 5.d3 W ith a very, very tiny hope that W hite will c5 6.e3 f4?! Fischer's famous pawn sac, capture the rook! 19.xf2 xf2 20.xf2 borrowed from the similar line with colours xf2 21.f1 1-0 reversed. 7.exf4 0-0 [ 7...d6! is more accurate. ] 940
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 950 Moor,Roger Gallagher,Joseph G Christmas Open (3) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2360 2514 27.12.2000
1.c4 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 e5 4.c3 c6 5.b1 f5 6.d3 d6 7.b4 f6 8.e3 0-0 9.ge2 g5!? Very aggressive, Black plays for out-and-out attack on the kingside. 10.b5 e7 11.f4 A standard device, White doesn't want to let Black play ...Ng6, and ...f4, himself, wh e n h e r is k s b e in g m o wn - d o wn o n t h e kingside, so stops the pawn's advance. h6 [ Keeping the tension, 11...exf4 12.exf4 ( 12.gxf4!? ) 12...g4 13.0-0 h5 14.e1 h4 should favour W hite, Lange,C-Rechel,R/ Kassel 1996. ] 12.d4!? [ A new idea, 12.0-0 e8 13.b3 g6 14.d5 xd5 15.xd5+ h7 is not so clea r, J an s en , C-A ub el, J/ NLD-ch T 94 9 5 1994. ] 12...e4?! [ 12...gxf4 13.exf4 e4 14.d5!? followed by Nd4, is interesting. ] 13.fxg5! hxg5 14.h4 White thereby gains the f4-square for his knight. gxh4 15.f4!? [ Sacrificing a pawn for a square, 15.xh4 g6 limits White's advantage. ] 15...hxg3 16.ce2 e8 [ Perhaps Black should try to evacuate his king by 16...f7!? 17.xg3 e8 ] 17.xg3 g6 18.gh5 xf4 19.xf4 f7 20.f1 g4 21.e2 c6 22.h5 a6 23.b6 d7 [ Blac k ha s to b e very ca re f u l, 23...h6? 24.xg4 xf4 25.exf4 fxg4 26.g5+ h8 27.d5 and Bb2 wins. ] 24.d2 fd8 25.xg4 fxg4 26.d5! The diagonal must be opened. cxd5?! [ 26...c5 would at least keep d5 out of White's hands. ] 27.g5 f6?? [ Presumably a time-trouble blunder, 27...f8 28.a3 f5 29.xd5 xd5 30.xd5 e6 is uncomfortable, but it may be possible to hold it. ] 28.xd5+ f8 29.b2 1-0
951 Movsesian,Sergei Acs,Peter FIDE WCh KO Tripoli LBA (2.2) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2647 2548 22.06.2004
1.g3 e5 2.g2 c6 3.d3 g6 4.c4 g7 5.c3 d6 By transposition we arrive at a standard Closed English. 6.e3 ge7 7.ge2 h5 We have already examined this idea with the white d-pawn on d2, which gives W hite the possibility of playing d4. 8.h3 d7!? As far as I can see a new move, Black wants to play .. .Qc8 and a ttack the h3-pawn t o hinder White from castling. [ 8...e6 has the same idea, but is met by 9.d5 which eyes c7, d7 10.d2 a6 11.b3 b8 12.b2 Sokolov,A-Bern,I/ Cappelle la Grande 1994. ] [ 8...h4 is clearly critical, 9.g4 f5 10.gxf5 xf5 11.d5 d7 12.ec3 0-0-0 with sharp play, Otero,E-Pecorelli Garcia, H/Cienfuegos 1991. ] 9.d2 White often plays this move first to protect c3 and avoid tricks along the a1-h8 diagonal, but I don't think it is necessary here, as there is nothing wrong with [ 9.b3 ] 9...c8 10.b3 d8 11.b2 This is the standard white set-up in this line, a piece formation that has been popular since first played by Staunton. It is true that here White cannot castle, but he often retards castling in this line, waiting to see how Black places his pieces and adapting his subsequent play a cco rd in gly. 0-0?! 12.g4! Perhaps Black should have thought twice about castling kingside too! h4 Black elects to keep the h-file closed, he hopes to open the kingside later with ...f5, but his h-pawn will prove a problem. [ 12...hxg4 13.hxg4 xg4 wins a pawn, but is very risky, 14.0-0-0 c6 15.f3 e6 16.f4 planning moves like Rdg1, Qe1-h4, etc., with a strong attack. ] 13.d4 White is still hesitant about castling, first he gains space, and makes sure that he has plenty of central play to dissuade Black from a kingside attack. a5 14.f4 Another typical move in this line, which has the advantage of stopping Black from playing ...f5-f4. [ 14.a4 is also a good idea, stopping Black's 941
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.0-0 g7 11.e3 ( Or 11.a3 0-0 12.b3 g4 13.d5 xd5 14.cxd5 b6 15.c4 b7 16.ac1 f7 17.c2 c5 A.Perkins-J.Tarjan, Graz 1972, and now 18.xc5 dxc5 19.a5 ) 11...0-0 12.b3 g4 13.a5 a6 14.d2 c8 , so far F. Svoboda-J.Simek, corr 1996, and now: 15.c5+ e6 16.b4 ( 16.a3!? ) 16...axb5 17.cxd6 cxd6 18.fc1 ] [ B) 8...h6 9.0-0 ( Another interesting try is 9.d4!? xc4 10.dxe5 g7 11.0-0 xb5 12.xb5 xb5 as played in V.Privalov-A. Zajarnyi, Lvov 1998, and now 13.a3 dxe5 14.b1 a6 15.b3 e4 16.d2 f5 17.c4 offers White excellent compensation for the pawns) 9...g7 10.e4 ( 10.b2!? ) 10...e7 11.a4 0-0 12.d2 f5 13.d5 c6 14.xe7+ xe7 , H.Hoffmann-T.Escher, Germany 1990, and here 15.h4 f6 16.exf5 xf5 17.xf5 xf5 18.e2 h7 19.ab1 ] [ C) 8...g7 9.g5!? e4 ( Or 9...f5 10.e4 g4 11.f3 e6 12.e3 ) 10.b2 exd3 11.xd3 a6 12.h4 axb5 13.cxb5 e7 14.d2 ( 14.h5!? is another fun line, so f orgive me f or taking the ana lys is a bit longer than can reasonably be expected to be accurate: d5 15.0-0-0 f5 16.e4 g4 17.f3 d4 18.fxg4 xg4 19.f3 dxc3 20.h3 h6+ 21.b1 xg3 22.hxg6 xg6 23.xc3 f6 24.hg1 f7 25.d7+ f8 26.xd8+ xd8 27.xd8+ e8 28.xe8+ xe8 29.e6+- ) 14...0-0 15.h5 gxh5 ( 15...h6 16.xe6 xe6 17.d1 e8 18.hxg6 fxg6 19.0-0 ) 16.xh5 f5 17.e4! ( 17.d5!? xb2 18.xb2 xd5 19.xd5 e8 20.c4 e5 21.d1+- ) 17...g6 18.xh7+- xh7 19.xh7+ h8 20.0-0-0 g8 21.h1 h6 22.d5 f6 23.e4 xa2 24.xh6 xh6 25.xh6 g7 26.h4 1-0 Tigran V. Petrosian-Y. Estrin, 952 A25 Moscow 1968 ] Navara,David 2720 9.xh3 xh3 10.d4! g7 [ Black recently tried 10...f6 and obtained a Ledger,Andrew 2413 quick draw, but analysing the few moves 4NCL 2006-07 (11) 07.05.2007 they played reveals that Black is on his [Carsten Hansen] heels in this line too: 11.e3! g7 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.a4 b6 ( 13...f7 14.e4 c8 1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 d6 4.c3 e6 15.d1 ) 14.d5 ( 14.c5 c8 15.d1 5.d3 d7 6.b4 g6 7.b5 d8 8.f3 h3 e7 16.g4 e6 17.c4+- ) 14...e6 [ The alternatives for Black also offer White 15.a3 ( 15.d1! f7 16.c5+- ) 15...f7 the better chances: A) 8...f6 9.a4 e7
qu e en s ide pla y, t h e wea kn ess o f b4 is irrelevant. ] 14...a4 15.bxa4!? exd4 16.xd4 dc6 [ 16...xa4 17.f3 wins the h4-pawn. ] 17.0-0 As so often in this particular line, White castles quite late, and only when he has maximised the possibilities of his pieces. a5 The c-pawn is weak, but relatively easy to defend, and difficult to attack. 18.d3 e8 19.ae1 White continues to strengthen his position, grabbing the h-pawn by [ 19.f3?! is worse, c6 20.xh4 xg2 21.xg2 e6 with lots of counterplay against the weakened white queenside. ] 19...ac6 The attack on the c-pawn has not amounted to too much, and so Black decides to exchange some pieces to get some room to breathe. 20.e2 xd4 21.exd4 c6 Targeting d4. 22.e4! The knight aims for the kingside, suddenly the black pieces seem far away. xa4 [ 22...f5 is tempting, but ... 23.g5! xe2 24.xe2 fxg4 25.d5+ h8 26.f5! a n d B l a c k i s l o s t , e . g . xf5 27.e1 (threatening Qxh4+) g3 28.f4 h6 29.xh4 g7 30.xc6 and d5+. ] 23.d5 The point, the f6-square beckons. b4 24.d1 f6 The situation is grim. [ 24...xb2 25.xb2 and there is no defence against the threats of Nf6+, Black must lose an exchange. ] [ 24...d8 controls f6 for one move, but then comes 25.g5 ] 25.a3 a6 26.xf6+ xf6 27.xf6 xe2 28.xe2 e8 29.f2 Black must have been rueing putting his h-pawn on h4! xa3 30.e1 [ 30.xh4 immediately is also winning, of course. ] 1-0
942
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.d1 f8 17.b2 A.Colovic-D.Otero, Havana CUB 2007 ( 17.b3!? )] 11.dxe5 [ 11.d5!? ] 11...e6? [ After this move, Black is on the brink of d i s a s t e r . A b e t t e r m o v e i s 11...dxe5 though after 12.b2 f6 13.d3 ( 13.a4 ) 13...f7 14.a3 c6 15.bxc6 bxc6 16.b1 ( 16.e4 c8 17.0-0 ) 16...e6 17.e4 White is much better. ] 12.d5 [ Or 12.b2!? dxe5 ( 12...0-0-0 13.d5 dxe5 14.a4+- ) 13.d5 f6 14.a4 f7 15.d1 ] 12...0-0-0?! [ 12...dxe5 is marginally better: 13.g5! ( 13.b2 f6 14.a4 is less convincing) 13...g2 14.f1 c8 15.a4 e7 16.b6+ c6 17.bxa7 0-0 18.b1 , and White is winning ] 13.a4 dxe5 14.e3 e4 [ Or 14...f6 , and now 15.b6! completely c r u s h e s B l a c k : axb6 16.xe5! b8 17.xb6 c5 18.b1+- ] 15.0-0-0! exf3 [ 15...xd5? 16.g5! xg5 17.b6 c6 18.bxa7+- ] 16.xa7 [ Another winning line is 16.b6 a6 17.bxc7 xd5 18.e8+ xc7 19.cxd5 d4 20.xf7+ e7 21.xd4 xd4 22.xe7++- ] 16...d6 17.b6+ cxb6 18.xd6 e5? [ 18...fxe2 represents a better chance as it complicates matters considerably, yet White still wins: 19.xb6 f1+ 20.c2 d4+ 21.xd4 e1+ 22.d1 d3+ 23.xe1 h6 24.c5+ b8 25.xg7 e8+ 26.e5 e4+ 27.d2 xe5 28.xe5 xe5 29.e1+- ] 19.c6+!? [ Elegant, but 19.a8+! c7 20.xb6 d8 21.d1 wins even faster ] 19...bxc6 20.bxc6 d8 21.a6+ b8 22.xb6+ c8 23.d1 c7 24.a6+ b8 25.xd8+ 1-0
953 Pelletier,Yannick Hansen,Sune Berg Bundesliga 2002-3 (15) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2624 2537 30.03.2003
1.c4 c6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.e3 d6 6.ge2 e6 This move is similar to the 5 Be3 line that is currently 'all the rage' in the Closed Sicilian, Black wants to force White to defend his c-pawn when he will continue w i t h . . . Q d 7 a n d p o s s i b l y . . . B h 3 . 7.d4! This temporary pawn sac, f irst played by Botvinnik over 60 years ago, is the critical reply. d7 Black prefers to keep the position closed. [ 7...xc4?! is generally considered a mistake: 8.d5 xe2 ( 8...ce7 9.a4+ b5 10.xb5 is very good for White; 8...b8 9.a4+ b5 10.xb5 xb5 11.xb5+ d7 12.e4 likewise, Botvinnik,M-Levenfish,G/ Leningrad 1937 as W hite's light-squared bishop will be too strong) 9.xe2 b8 10.b5+ d7 11.xb7 a6 ( 11...b8?! 12.xa7! c5 13.a5! the only move, but good f5 14.0-0 and Black had insufficient compensation, King,D-W olff,P/New York 1990 ) 12.c6 e7 13.c4 0-0 14.e4 f5 15.0-0 with a white positional advantage because of the open c-file and bishop pair, Suba,M-Karlsson,L/Las Palmas 1982. ] [ 7...exd4 8.xd4 d7 ( 8...xd4 9.exd4 d7 10.0-0 e7 11.e1 0-0 12.d5 f5 13.h3! is very nice for White, Quinteros,MHo rt , V / V in ko vci 1 9 7 0) 9.0-0 ge7 10.de2! otherwise Black can capture on d4 when he likes, 0-0 11.b3 c8 12.b2 h3 13.xh3 xh3 14.f4 d7 15.e2 with an edge to White, Delchev,A-De Vreugt, D/Ohrid MKD 2001. ] 8.d5 [ 8.0-0 c8 9.d5 h5 10.ec3 is also perfectly reasonable, Krasenkow,MFritsche,L/Germany 1993/GER-chT. ] 8...ce7 9.c5!? A sharp novelty. [ 9.e4 would be 'normal', f5 10.f4 h6 11.fxe5 dxe5 12.0-0 f7 13.c5 with advantage, Kennedy,M-W alls,B/IRL 1992. ] 9...f6 Black decides to avoid the challenge, [ 9...dxc5!? puts White's move to the test, 943
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.e4 b6 11.d6 c6 12.2c3 f6 13.b5 cxd6 14.bxd6+ is unclear, as although the black king has been forced to move, and the white knight is in the heart of the black position, Black has a solid pawn structure, and a pawn more. ] 10.b3 b8 11.cxd6 cxd6 12.a4 0-0 13.e4 A King's Indian position has been reached. h8 14.0-0 c8!? [ 14...e8 and ...f5 seems more normal. ] 15.f3 g8 16.e3 h6 17.f2 Naturally White doesn't want to swap his better bishop. f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.f4 This is a standard method of treating such positions, which is helped by the presence of the white knight on e 2 - t h e b l a c k p a w n s a r e b l o c k e d . f6 20.h1 g4 21.g1 e8 22.ae1 h5 This looks menacing, but White can defend easily. 23.c4 b6 24.b4 c8 25.b5 f6?! Both defending d6 and hoping to bring this piece to h6 as the black attack is in need of reinforcements, however, [ 25...xb5 might have been a better idea to avoid losing the a7-pawn. ] 26.f3 g7 27.ec3 After considerable manoeuvring White finally threatens to capture on e5, and forces the pawn to advance. e4 28.xg4! Players don't normally like exchanging their fianchettoed bishop, but here its counterpart is blocked by the black pawn chain. xg4 29.xa7 And White wins a pawn for no compensation. e8?! [ 29...xa7 30.xa7 g8 31.f2 h6 offers better chances. ] 30.c6! h5 Black threatens ... Qf3+ with a nasty smothered mate, but it is easily avoided, and then Black can resign. 31.d4 h3 32.g1?! [ 32.xf6 xf6 33.f2 appears even stronger. ] 32...g6 33.e3 f3 34.fxf3 bxc6 [ 34...exf3? 35.e8# ] 35.xg7+ [ 35.xb8?? xd4 would completely turn the tables! 36.xc8+? g8 37.xc6 exf3 and mate follows. ] 35...xg7 36.xb8 exf3 37.c7+ h6 38.xf3 h5 39.e3 The knight on c8 is lost. 1-0
954 Psakhis,Lev Janev,Evgeni Open Ubeda ESP (8) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2598 2445 28.01.2001
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.c3 c5 5.a3 [ This is my personal preference, 5.e3 allows d5!? see the archives. ] 5...a5 [ Hodgson's 5...d4!? was considered previously. ] 6.e3 0-0 7.ge2 d6 8.d4 [ T h i s i s g o o d , a l t h o u g h 8.d3 is more flexible. ] 8...a7 [ Best to keep the central tension. 8...exd4?! 9.exd4 a7 frees the c1-bishop, 10.0-0 g4 11.h3 h5 , Rehorek,L-Rehorek,R/ Brno 1999, would tempt me to play 12.g4 g6 13.f4 h6 14.f5 with a wonderful position. ] 9.h3 e8 [ Theoretically this seems to be a new move, although, curiously, Black played it against me recently! W as it before, or after, this game? 9...h6 10.0-0 exd4?! 11.exd4 e8 12.h2 f5 13.b4! axb4 14.axb4 xb4 15.xb7 c2 16.a4 won an exchange for White, Chabanon,J-Caposciutti,M/Cannes 1995. ] 10.0-0 h6 11.b3 d7 12.h2 c8 13.d5?! [ I don't really like this move myself, White ga in s e ve n m o re sp a ce, b u t o p e ns t h e g1-a7 diagonal. I preferred 13.b2 e4?! 14.c2 f5 15.ac1 h5?! (to stop g4, but the cure is worse than the disease) 16.d5 h7 17.ef4 g5 18.e2 and Black is almost lost, i.e. g6 19.h4 f3+ 20.xf3 exf3 21.xf3 e4 22.xh5 e7 23.xe7+ xe7 24.d5 f8 25.g4 , Kosten, A-Janev, E/Aurec 2001, and White h a d t h e a t t a c k t o a d d t o h i s e xt r a t wo pawns! ] 13...e7 14.e4 g6 15.d3 c6 16.e3 If W hite must exchange his 'better' bishop, then Black should be fine. xe3 17.xe3 cxd5 18.xd5 xd5 19.cxd5 b5 20.fc1 b7 21.b4 e7 22.d2 a4 23.c3 f5
944
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.d1 ½-½
955 Rahman,Ziaur Kortschnoj,Viktor Goodricke Open (1) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2465 2659 06.02.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 b4!? [ An unusual move, Black plans to capture on c3 and double the white c-pawns. 3...g6 is normal here, of course. ] 4.g2 [ White is happy to allow Black to concede his dark-squared bishop. The alternative is 4.d5 c5 ( 4...f6!? 5.g2 0-0 6.a3 c5 7.b4 d4 8.b1 d6 9.e3 b6 10.e2 looks to be very promising for White, Miles,A-Rossiter,P/ GBR 1999.) 5.g2 ge7 6.e3 xd5 7.cxd5 b4 8.d4 exd4 9.exd4 d6 10.a3 a6 11.e2 c6 12.c3 cxd5 13.e2+ e7 14.xe7+ xe7 15.xd5+ with an edge, Balashov,YPribyl,J/Schwaebisch Gmuend 1998. ] 4...xc3 5.bxc3 f6 [ A n a t u r a l d e ve l o p i n g m o ve , b u t 5...d6 is more flexible, so that Black can play ... Nge7, if he wants, and the f-pawn is unhindered, e.g. 6.f3 f5 7.d3 f6 8.0-0 0-0 9.g5 e8 1/2-1/2 Cvek,R-Jovanovic,Z/ Patras GRE 1999 (9) ] 6.e4! A fine move, the white pawns will act as a barrier to the black bishop. normally this position is reached from a different moveorder, 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 Bb4 5.e4 Bxc3 6.bxc3 etc. 0-0 7.e2 d6 8.d3 e8 9.0-0 f5 Black plays the same plan as in the Nimzovich Variation (1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4.e4), but here the white knight is on e2, instead of f3, and this may prove important. 10.exf5 xf5 11.h3! [ Careful play, the immediate 11.f4?! d7! and the white kingside expansion is stopped, 12.d4?! e4 13.d5 a5 14.d4 f6 15.xf5 xf5 16.e2 ae8 17.e3 g4! winning the c4-pawn, Solomon,DIvanov,I/Philadelphia 1994, 0-1 (22). ] 11...e6 12.f4 b8 13.g4! Not only does White gain space on the kingside, but he will
also stymie the black bishop. e7 14.f5 f7 15.g3 It becomes clear that e2 was a superior square for the white knight, after all, and now it threatens to hop into e4, and then g5. d5 16.c5 c6 17.g5 The white kingside majority continues on its way. b6 18.g4 g6 19.a3 b5 20.f6 White drives this pawn deep into the black king position. The black position is in a critical state. a5 21.ab1 b4 22.cxb4 axb4 23.b2 [ Good, but there is nothing obviously wrong with 23.xb4 , winning a pawn. ] 23...b5 24.d4 exd4 25.xd4 xd4?! [ F o r c i n g W h i t e t o wi n a p a wn , 25...a5 may be better, but still looks pretty grim for Black. ] 26.xd4 c6 27.xb4 c7 At least this piece has found a square. 28.xb5 xb5 29.h4 h5 Offering another pawn to stop threats of Qh6-g7. 30.gxh6!? On the one hand this wins a pawn, but, on the other, W hite allows the break-up of his pawn chain. h7 31.a4 c7 32.b4 With two extra pawns, and a clear positional advantage, White should win easily. a8 33.b1 a6 34.a5 c8 35.f1 c7 36.a7 e6 37.b7 f7 38.h2 xh6 39.b8 [ Aiming for an endgame, where he hopes to use his a-pawn, but 39.b6 is stronger, returning the queen to the fray. ] 39...g5 Black simply picks up the f6-pawn. 40.a5 xf6 41.xc8 xc8 42.b6 e6 43.a6?! [ 43.xc6 b7 44.b6 c7 45.a6 a8 46.d3 retains some chances. ] 43...c7 44.b8 d7 45.b7 c8 46.b8 d7 47.b7 ½-½
956 Rogozenco,D Parligras,Mircea ch-ROM Lasi ROM (14) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2576 2377 26.12.1999
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g2 c5 5.e3!? [ This temporary weakening of the d3-square has interesting consequences, I prefer 5.a3 myself, and on a5 then 6.e3 is fine. ] 945
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 5...d5! 6.cxd5 b4 Threatening both ...Nd3+, and to recuperate the d5-pawn. 7.d4 exd4 8.exd4 e7 9.ge2 f5?! [ In the light of this game, perhaps Black should prefer either 9...0-0 10.0-0 bxd5 11.b3 ( 11.f4 xf4 12.xf4 c6 is equal ) 11...c6 12.g5 h6 13.xf6 xf6 14.d5 which seems fairly level, Bunzmann,DHodgson,J/Germany 1999, but 0-1 (34). ] [ Or the immediate 9...bxd5 10.0-0 e6 11.f4 xf4 12.xf4 c6 13.e5 0-0 14.xf6 xf6 15.d5 cxd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 and the draw is not far off, Foisor,CKorneev,O/Paris 1995, 1/2-1/2 (33). ] 10.0-0 c2 [ Thought to give Black a draw, but it is not t h e c a s e ! I t i s t o o l a t e f o r 10...bxd5? now, as 11.xd5 xd5 12.b3 wins a pawn. ] [ However, 10...d7 is feasible. ] 11.g4! [ In the previous game, Chernin,A-Miles,A/ Moscow 1989, both players made attempts to win bef ore settling on a draw: 11.b1 b4 12.a1 c2 13.g4 g6 14.g5!? d7 15.b1 b4 16.a1 b6?! ( 16...c2 draws on the spot) 17.f4 c2 18.d2 h6 19.g3 c4 20.f2 d3 21.d1 c2 22.f1 ( 22.e1! ) 22...d3 23.d1 c2 1/2-1/2 ] 11...g6 12.f4!! A powerful novelty that refutes the variation. xa1 [ 12...xg4 13.f5 xa1 transposes, ( if 13...xf5 14.xf5 xa1 15.d2 and, after the capture of the a1-knight, the two white pieces are superior to the rook and pawn,; 13...ge3? 14.xe3 xe3 15.a4+ is also good for White. )] 13.f5 xg4 14.g3 [ Trying to gain a tempo on 14.fxg6 hxg6 15.h3 ] 14...xh2?! [ Tempting, but faulty. 14...d7 loses to 15.xg4 as White will pick-up either the g6bishop, or the pathetic a1-knight. ] [ 14...f6 15.fxg6 hxg6 16.f4 may be best, but the white pieces look good here. ] 15.xh2 d6 16.ce4 h4+ 17.h3 xe4 [ Desperation, but after 17...xg3+ 18.xg3 White will capture the g6-bishop, and pick-
up the a1-knight later. e.g. 0-0 19.f4 f6 20.d2 ] 18.e1 xe1 19.xe1+ f8 20.fxg6 hxg6 21.g2 [ Safe, and good, but 21.d1 is also strong, keeping the knight 'in the box'. ] 21...c2 22.f2 b4 23.e6 It transpire that White is not only material up, he also has a strong attack. f6 [ If 23...f5 24.f1 threatens Nxf5, and Qb5. ] 24.f4 h4 25.xd6+ cxd6 26.d2 a6 27.d3 g5 [ If 27...h6 28.b5 threatening Qd7, and Qxb7, and mate on f7. ] 28.b5 [ Not bad, but 28.g6 leads to mate in a few moves. ] 1-0
957 Rogozenco,D Sadler,Matthew chT, NED Hengelo (4) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2560 2630 2000
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.c3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.b1 f5 An aggressive treatment by Black. 6.d3 f6 7.e3 0-0 8.ge2 a6 An interesting move, whose point becomes clear later. 9.b4 h8 [ This novelty is a useful waiting move, which rem ove s th e bla ck kin g f ro m th e e x p o s e d a 2 - g 8 d i a g o n a l . 9...e7!? h a s a lso b e e n p la ye d , wit h a n e n t ire l y different idea, 10.b3 h8 11.0-0 d6 12.a4 g5 13.f4! gxf4 14.exf4 g6 with an un cle a r p osit ion , Mo ut o us is, K Prasad,D/ Manila 1992. ] [ 9...d6 would return play to more familiar paths. ] 10.a4 [ Obviously White should play this move if he wants to force-through b5 (and he always d o e s ) , b u t i t we a k e n s b 4 . I t w o u l d b e interesting to see whether Black could find another non-committal move after 10.0-0 or whether he would be obliged to continue with d6 ] 10...a5 The first point. 11.b5 b4 This move 946
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 justifies Black's playing of ...a5 in two goes, as now his well-posted knight will hold-up the white queenside onslaught. Of course, this whole idea is only possible after White plays a4, as otherwise White would now win a piece with a3! 12.a3 c5 13.bxc6 dxc6 O n l y n o w c a n we s e e wh y B la c k h a s s o studiously avoided playing the 'automatic' move ...d6. By recapturing this way he highlights the potential weakness of d3. 14.0-0 [ Capturing the pawn by 14.xb4 axb4 15.xb4 is critical, although Black will have good compensation after d6 16.b2 d8 be c a u s e o f h is b ish o p p a ir, a n d b e t t e r pawn formation. ] 14...h5 [ Preparing ...f 4. 14...c5?! concedes too many important light squares. ] 15.c1 [ 15.xb4 axb4 16.xb4 is now countered by f4 with strong pressure on the dark squares (not to mention the threat to win a piece with ... f3). ] 15...f4 This is always a double-edged move, for, the kingside threats are balanced by the loss of control over e4. In this position it is perfectly justified, as Black cannot afford to lose the initiative. 16.e4 f6 17.xf6 xf6 18.xb4 [ White hereby allows the further advance of the f-pawn, but the only move to stop this, 18.f3 is obviously too artificial. ] 18...axb4 19.xb4 f3 20.h1 g5 If Black can bolster the f3-pawn, the h1-bishop will be completely shut out of the game. 21.a2 e4! A positional sacrifice to stop the knight coming to e4. 22.dxe4 g4 23.c2 a5! Black swings another piece over, to molest the white king. 24.c5 e7 25.c1 e6 26.h3 White attempts to open the kingside. h5 27.e5 h4! Black switches to direct attack. 28.hxg4 hxg3 29.fxg3 f2+ 30.f1 xe5 31.e4? [ A n u n f o r t u n a t e m o v e , 31.g2 avoided immediate loss. ] 31...d5?! [ Good, but I suppose Black was in his habitual time-trouble, otherwise he would surely have found 31...h7! 32.g2 h2 winning a lot of material, e.g. 33.xe5 g1+ 34.e2 xg4+ 35.d3 xg2 and the f-
pawn queens. ] 32.xe5 xe5 33.xd5 xd5 34.e4 [ If 34.c3+ g8 and the a5-rook cannot be captured because of 35...Qh1+. ] 34...e5 35.d2 [ 35.c3 xc3 36.xc3 xc5 is quite hopeless. ] 35...xe4 36.h6+ After White's checks runout, he will be a whole exchange down for nothing. g8 37.g5+ h7 38.h5+ g7 39.g5+ g6 40.e5+ g8 41.d1 xg4 0-1
958 Rustemov,Alexander Mchedlishvili,Mikheil Bundesliga 1213 (11.2) [Danny Gormally]
A25 2544 2651 16.03.2013
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 f6 4.c3 b4 5.d5 c5 6.d3 h6 7.e3 In these reverseSicilian lines White generally prefers a slow build up, the serious questions will be asked later on. 0-0 [ 7...d6 was the choice of the great Vassily Ivanchuk. I do recommend you study his games in great detail- they will undoubtedly deepen your strategic understanding! 8.e2 a6 9.a3 a7 10.0-0 0-0 11.b4 xd5 12.cxd5 e7 13.d4 f6! 14.h3 d7 15.e1 ( 15.e4 b5! Is B lack's ide a) 15...c6 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.c3 cxd5 18.xd5 e6 19.xe7+ xe7 Black has completely equalised 20.b2 fd8 21.e2 d5 22.ed1 xg2 23.xg2 b6 24.xd8+ xd8 25.d1 xd1 26.xd1 e6 27.d3 c7 28.e4 c6 29.g4 b5 30.d5+ xd5 0-1 Kotsur, P (2548)-Ivanchuk, V (2769)/ Astana 2012. I'm not exactly sure what happened here, but in the bishop ending only Black can possibly hope to win, as the d-pawn is a potential weakness ] 8.e2 a6 9.0-0 d6 10.h3 a7 11.d2 f5?! The problem with putting the bishop on this square, is that it aims at little. White can easily defend the h3 pawn if Black elects to attack it with ..Qd7 at some point. [ 11...xd5 12.cxd5 e7 Would have been a normal approach, similar to the Ivanchuk game. 13.c3 d7 14.d4 g6 15.a4 e7 947
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 W hen W hite can probably lay claim to a slight advantage, due to having more space and more potential plans of action, (for example at some point he might play Qb3, or Ba5, teasing the queenside, but Black would remain extremely solid. ] 12.c3 xd5 13.cxd5 e7 14.h2 c6 The typical freeing move. White was already intending to continue with a Kingside advance, so it wa s im p ort an t to f ight f or sp a ce a s quickly as possible. [ 14...g6 15.e4 d7 16.f4! And there is a d a n g e r y o u w i l l g e t s t e a m r o l l e r e d . f5 17.exf5 xf5 18.g4 d7 19.f5 h4 20.g3 Would be very pleasant for Whitethe pawn on f5 rather cramps Black. ] 15.dxc6 xc6 16.d4! Effectively cutting the a7 bishop out of the game. If Black elects to exchange on d4, he risks making both his d and b pawns potential targets. e7 [ 16...exd4 17.xd4 xd4 18.xd4 xd4 19.xd4 Is White's dream and Black's nightmare- the weak black pawns are easy t a r g e t s . I m a g i n e t r yi n g t o d e f e n d t h i s against Carlsen! ] 17.d2 ad8 18.ae1?! A measured buildu p , b u t p e r h a p s i t wa s t i m e t o b e m o r e proactive. [ There was certainly an argument for 18.d5 b8 19.e4 g6 20.f4 gaining crucial space. f6 21.f5 f7 22.g1! Diagram Intending to cycle the knight around to the g6 square. ] 18...e4 Unable to withstand the tension anymore, Black decides to gain some space in t h e c e n t e r . B u t t h is d e ci sio n is a l s o n o t without it's risks, as potentially the e4 pawn c o u l d b e c o m e w e a k . 19.d5 e5 But of course, the knight is much better placed on e5 than b8, so really White should have committed to playing d5 earlier. 20.f4 fe8 21.c2 h7 22.d1 c8 23.e2 d7 24.c1 c5 25.fd1 b5 26.a3 b6 27.g4 e7 28.h5 g6 29.xe5 xe5+ 30.f4 h7 31.g1 Diagram c5? A serious error. [ Easy equality could be found with 31...g5 32.h5 g6! This would solve the key st ra t e gic qu est io n of t h e ligh t -squ a re d bishop, which in the game effectively remains a spectator, unable to exert any meaningful influence on the action. 33.a4
bxa4 34.xa6 xc1 35.xc1 xb2 Is the difference- in the game White gets b4 f or f ree, ensuring tha t su ch a variatio n cannot save Black. ] 32.xc5 xc5 33.b4 b6 34.a4! So simple. All of a sudden Black is in serious trouble on the queenside. bxa4 35.xa6 b8 36.xa4 c3 37.e2 c4 38.d4 xd4 39.xd4 c1+ 40.f1 g6 41.c6 c8? 42.c4! [ 42.c4 xc6 43.dxc6! And the pawn goes through. ] 1-0
959 Sarakauskas,Gediminas Kiik,Kalle 16th Heart of Finland Open (8) [John Watson]
A25 2414 2452 15.07.2006
This gam e f e atu res a po pular t empo rary sacrifice for Black that has become a fixture and seems to offer equality. I give the game with only a few notes because of the entertaining battle in the middlegame: 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 c5 5.e3 d5! This move has been around long enough that it's soundness isn't in question. W hether White can gain even a small advantage is still being disputed. 6.cxd5 [ 6.xd5 xd5 ( 6...f5!? ) A) 7.xd5 b4 8.e4 ( 8.g2?? d3 ) 8...f5 9.a3 d3+ 10.xd3 xd3 11.e2 xe2+ ( 11...b3! 12.d4 e7 m a y b e b e t t e r) 12.xe2 e4!? with compensation, probably just enough.; B) 7.cxd5 ] 6...b4 7.d4 exd4 8.exd4 e7 [ 8...xd4?? 9.a4+ ] 9.ge2 bxd5 10.b3 c6 11.0-0 0-0 12.xd5 xd5 13.c3 xc3?! This strengthens White's centre. Better [ 13...b4!? 14.d5!? f5 15.dxc6 bxc6 ] 14.bxc3 d6 15.c4 b8 16.b2 f5 17.d5 c5?! Black may well be equal after this, but W hite gets all the practical chances. From now on W hite gains the initiative and eventually breaks through. The attack is fun so I'll leave it to you to look at. 18.fe1 c7 19.e4 d7 20.a4 be8 21.c2 b6 948
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.d3 f5 23.f4 a6 24.c3 xe1+ 25.xe1 f7 26.d3 xa4 27.e6 f8 28.e5 b7 29.xf5 b5 30.e8 bxc4 31.b8 xb8 32.xb8 xf5 33.c8 f7 34.xa6 e8 35.d6 d7 36.e5 f7 37.c8 e6 38.xc5 g6 39.f2 f7 40.f3 b7 41.g4 d7 42.h3 h5 43.gxh5 1-0
960 Seirawan,Yasser Kriventsov,Stanislav G ch Seattle USA (4) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2644 2415 08.01.2002
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.e3 g7 5.e2 d6 6.bc3 h5 7.h4 [ This is the most radical solution to the problem of stopping the advance of the black h-pawn, although it weakens g4. We have considered the main alternative, 7.d4 in both Hansen,C - Hodgson,J, and Hulak,K Almasi,Z. ] 7...g4 8.b4!? An innovation, attacking straightaway on the queenside, but is it good? [ The two most common moves are: 8.d3 f6!? 9.d5 xd5 10.cxd5 e7 11.b3 c8 12.c3 0-0 13.d2 with a tiny edge to White, Larsen,B-Spassky,B/Malmo 1968, and ] [ 8.b1 e.g. d7 9.b4 ge7 10.d3 d8 11.b5 with chances to both sides, Suba,MHort, V/Reggio Emilia 1986, but if White can play b4 in one go, why prepare it? ] 8...d4!? Wow!! I bet Yasser didn't expect this one! Surely [ 8...xb4 had to be tried, 9.a4+ c6 10.b1 and now c8! is critical. ] 9.exd4 exd4 10.xb7 [ The knight can't move, i.e. 10.d5?! d3 attacking a1 and e2. ] 10...dxc3 11.dxc3!? White enters into the spirit of things, offering an exchange (although this game was played a full two weeks after Christmas), but simply [ 11.d4 looks adequate, the c3-pawn will be picked-up later. ] 11...xc3+ 12.d2 xd2+?! [ 12...xa1 13.xa1 f6 14.f4 will certainly offer White plenty of play for the
exchange, but Black could have tried this. ] 13.xd2 b8 14.g2 White has a small, but certain, advantage. e7 [ 14...e7? achieves nothing: 15.0-0 xe2 16.fe1 and the bishop is recuperated with advantage. ] 15.f4 0-0 16.0-0 c8 17.b5 a6 In principal a good idea, swapping his weak apawn. 18.a4 axb5?! Black could certainly delay this. 19.cxb5! Capturing away from the centre, but the a-pawn will prove very da n ge rou s. b7 20.xb7 xb7 21.fe1 c6? Missing a simple tactic, [ 21...d7 is preferable. ] 22.bxc6 xc6 23.d5 c7 24.xg6 This is the problem, the f7-pawn is pinned. b4 25.b3 Good, but White misses a sweet tactic: [ 25.e7+! xe7 26.xh5 f6 27.g4+ forking king and knight, and winning quickly. ] 25...c2 26.xf8 xf8 27.a5 a8?? Black is lost anyway, but this should hasten matters. 28.b2 The threat of mate in one allows White to pin the knight. g8 29.ec1 c8 30.a2 With an exchange and a pawn less, Black should certainly resign this. d4 31.xc7 f3+ 32.g2! The most accurate. xh4+ 33.f1 [ Of course, White is never going to fall for 33.gxh4?? g4+ 34.f1 d1+ with a perpetual. ] 33...h3+ [ If 33...xc7 then 34.gxh4 is now possible. ] 34.e2 g4+ 35.d3 f5+ 36.c3 The checks soon run out. f3 37.e2 f6+ 38.b4 1-0
961 Spangenberg,Hugo Slipak,Sergio ch-Najdorf mem (11) [Tony Kosten]
A25 2531 2521 02.12.1999
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.b1 A popular and flexible line for White, who initiates queenside play before deciding h o w b e s t t o d e v e l o p h i s k i n g s i d e . a5 949
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 The normal response, stopping b4 at the cost of a slight weakening of the b5-square. 6.e3 d6 7.ge2 ge7 8.d3 0-0 9.0-0 e6 Black threatens ...d5, exposing the d3-pawn. 10.d5 The inevitable reaction in such positions, d5 is occupied while Black is unable to capture. d7 11.ec3 [ A perfectly logical move, if quite unusual, reinforcing White's control of d5. Normally, White prefers to continue with direct action on the queenside, by 11.a3 and b4. ] 11...d8 [ Intending to play ...Nc8 (else White can answer ...c6? with Nb6), and ...c6, expelling the powerful d5-knight. 11...f5 has also been played, when, as well as the standard 12.a3 returning to normal positions, as in Abel,P-Klemanic,E/SVK 1997, there is also 12 Qa4!?, as in the game, menacing 13 Nxe7+. ] 12.a4 [ A tricky move, which is the point of White's subtle move order. 12.b3 led to nothing for W hite f ollowin g xd5 13.xd5 a6!? 14.a3 c6 15.c3 Bazaj Bockai,S-Stadler, B/Pula 1996. ] 12...xd5! [ The best reply, making a fine temporary p a w n s a c . O f c o u r s e , 12...xa4?? is a blunder, allowing the Zwischenzug 13.xe7+ winning a bit, h8 14.xa4 ] [ t h e p a w n s a c r i f i c e 12...dc6? is also unsound, as after 13.xe7+ xe7 14.xc6 bxc6 15.xc6 Black's compensation is almost nothing- as the light-squared bishop is equalled by the white knight, which threatens to hop into d5. ] [ 12...ec6?! is the only sensible alternative, bu t le ave s t h e b la ck p ie ce s a wkward ly placed. 13.a3 ] 13.xd7 xd7 [ The move 13...xc3? seems tempting, at first sight, as Black picks-up a rook and two pieces for the queen, but the knight on b1 will be trapped, and following a sequence like 14.xc7 xb1 15.b6 a4 16.e4 , and c1-bishop moves, the knight is lost, and Black too. ] 14.xd5 [ Winning material, but, in retrospect 14.cxd5
might promise more. ] 14...e6 [ The point of Black's defence. Obviously not 14...c6?? because of 15.b6 ] 15.e7+ h8 16.xb7 ae8! The key, forcing the two advanced white pieces into a tangle. 17.c6 c5 [ No t b a d , b u t 17...a4! was worth serious consideration: A) after 18.b4?! White only escapes material loss by the skin of his teeth, b8 19.c6 xc6 20.xc6 b6 21.a5 ( 21.e7?? c6 traps the poor knight) 21...c5 22.d1 a8 23.d2 xd3 with an edge to Black; B) 18.a5 c5 19.c6 xc6 20.xc6 xd3 21.e4 f5 with good play. ] 18.xa5 Obviously forced. xb7 19.xb7 a8 Cutting off the knight's retreat. 20.d2 [ 20.a3? fb8 and the knight is lost, and a l t h o u g h W h i t e wi l l h a ve t h r e e p a wn s following 21.xd6 cxd6 , it is not enough. ] 20...xa2 21.c3 fa8 22.a5!? [ An interesting alternative to 22.b4 ] 22...d5! [ The best chance, if 22...e4 then, simply 23.d4 ] [ but the real point of White's 22nd move is that following 22...2xa5? 23.xa5 xa5 B l a c k i s i n a b a d wa y : 24.a1 xa1 25.xa1 and, despite his two bishops, Black will experience great difficulties defending his queenside pawns, g8 26.a7 f5 27.e4 g4 28.xc7 e2 29.b4! the b-pawn will cost Black a bishop. ] 23.b3 [ If 23.cxd5 Black can now take the knight, 8xa5 24.xa5 xa5 as, on 25.a1 xa1 26.xa1 the c7-pawn can be defended by f8 27.a7 d6 ] 23...dxc4 24.dxc4 f5 Black remains a pawn down, but his bishop pair will provide reasonable compensation. 25.a1 d3 26.xa2 xa2 27.d1 e4 28.d4 [ 28.xg7+? xg7 and Black regains either the c or b pawns. ] 28...h5 [ Creating a bolt-hole for the king, if 28...xc4?? 29.e6! and the threat of mate wins a piece. ] 29.c5 h7 30.h3 a4 31.c1 g8 32.g2 950
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f8 33.g4 h4 This keeps the white king confined. 34.b3 xc3 35.xc3 b4 36.c1 xb2 37.xd3 exd3 38.xd3 c2 The black activity is enough to assure the draw. 39.d5 e7 40.g5 e6 41.e4 c3 42.f4 [ White is unable to improve his position, as 42.f3 allows c2+ confining the king to the back rank, and other tries lose either the hpawn or c-pawn. ] 42...e3 43.e5+ d7 44.f5 gxf5 45.xf5 e6 46.f6+ [ 46.f6+ e7 47.c6 d7 and White must repeat moves, or lose his e-pawn. ] ½-½
962 Timman,Jan H Jussupow,Artur Remco Inv Wolvega NED (5) [John Watson]
A25 2565 2600 26.11.2006
An odd game between two top-level GMs. Timman seems to miss something in a very conservative opening because he allows Black a positional advantage for free. Then, just when Black is about to cash in, Yusupov p l a y s i n a c c u r a t e l y a n d a l l o ws W h i t e a n unlikely drawing combination. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.e3 Avoiding standard theory. I once wrote extensively about 2 Nc3 Nf6 3 e3. g6 [ 3...f6 can be answered by 4 Nf3 with a main line, or by a Sicilian Reversed idea such as 4 a3 but I don't like 4.d4 due to b4 ( 4...exd4 5.exd4 d5 is also adequate, but not as likely to gain an advantage) 5.d5! ( 5.dxe5 xc3+ 6.bxc3 xe5 obviously favours Black, and; 5.f3 exd4 6.exd4 0-0 gives Black an irritating lead in development) 5...xc3+ ( or 5...e7 6.d2 0-0 ) 6.bxc3 e7 7.e4 d6 with a doubleedged position that I think is harder for White to play. ] 4.d4 d6 5.d5 ce7 6.f4?! I'm not sure what the point is, except to hope for 6... exf4. Black will be glad to activate his bishop along the long diagonal. [ 6.e4 ] [ or 6.f3 would be normal. ] 6...g7
[ 6...exf4 7.d4! forces the awkward response f6 ] 7.fxe5 xe5 8.f3 g7 9.e4 f6 We've reached a standard position in which Black has the e5 outpost in front of a backward pawn. If W hite doesn't move to change the structure he will probably stand a little worse. Now and for some time to come, my engine prefers White by almost a whole pawn! 10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 g4 To secure e5. 12.e1 [ Perhaps 12.h3 xf3 13.gxf3 was worth a look, but it's dangerous after h5 14.g2 f5 ] 12...xe2 13.xe2 d7 14.d3 c8!? A clever move to activate Black's queen and reinforce the blockading square, as we will see. 15.d2 [ 15.e3 e7! ( 15...cb6 16.c5 )] 15...cb6!? [ 15...e7 ] 16.b3 e5 17.xe5 xe5 18.ac1 d7 19.d1 [ perhaps 19.b4 a5 20.a3 was best. Then Black's piece activity comes into play: axb4 21.axb4 h4 22.g3 h3 ] 19...e7 20.c3 f5! [ 20...ae8 21.d2! c5 22.e1 holds everything together, although I still prefer Black by just a bit. ] 21.xe5 [ 21.exf5?? xh2+ ] [ 21.f2 f6 ] 21...xe5 22.c3 ae8 23.b5 c5?! The simple 23...Re7 preserves a moderate superiority, but it's surprising that Yusupov would miss [ 23...f6! with a substantial and possibly winning advantage, e.g., A) No better is 24.g3 xe4; B) or 24.d3? c6! 25.dxc6 bxc6 26.d4 ( 26.xa7?? fxe4 with ...Qc5+; 26.xd6? fxe4 27.d1 c5+ 28.h1 e6 29.b7 b4 30.d8 d6 ) 26...fxe4 27.c3 g4 28.g3 xf1+ 29.xf1 e3 and wins; C) 24.cd1 is perhaps best, but then g4 25.g3 g7! covers c7 and will win a central pawn; D) 24.xc7? g4 25.g3 d4+ 26.h1 xe4 and Black breaks through. ] 24.xc7! Leading to a well-calculated 951
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 simplification. e7 25.e6 xe6 26.dxe6 c5+ 27.f2 fxe4 28.xc5 dxc5 29.xf8+ xf8 30.f2 xe6 There's really nothing positive to do after 31 Ke3. ½-½
useful queenside pawns in return. ] 19.b5 e7 20.fe1 d8 21.d3 de8 P i l i n g t h e p r e s s u r e o n e 4 . 22.d5 White decides that it is time to stop the threat of ...exd4. c5 23.b5 d8 24.h4 a6 25.f1 c8 26.c4 White has more space, but Black has a strong grip on the queenside 963 A25 dark squares and White will almost certainly Vallejo Pons,Francisco 2648 never be able to play c5 to break through. Smirin,Ilia 2676 ee8 27.g3 d7 28.f3 h7 29.g4 g6 GM Biel SUI (9) 31.07.2002 30.e3 e7 31.f2 Pawn breaks are few and far between, and neither player wants to [Tony Kosten] take unnecessary risks. d6 32.h3 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.e3 c6 4.c2!? ½-½ W hite plays in reversed Sicilian style, we have examined 964 A25 [ 4.d4 b4 in a game Korchnoi-Kasparov. ] 4...d5 A novelty at move four! However, this Watson,John L 2345 move is so natural that it is hard to believe Enhbat,Tegshsuren 2408 that it hasn't been played before, somewhere, ch Seattle USA (4) 12.01.2003 although I can't find any examples of it! [Tony Kosten] [ 4...g6 is generally favoured here, 5.a3 g7 6.b4 0-0 Sunye Neto,J-Karpov,A/ 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.c3 b4 Amsterdam 1985. ] 5.d5 c5 6.e3 xd5 Black can also defer 5.cxd5 b4!? But this is any interesting idea, this capture, but [ 5...xd5 would lead to known position[ 6...0-0 7.e2 xd5 8.cxd5 b4 9.d4 types. ] exd4 10.exd4 transposes. ] 6.b1 White wouldn't be happy with 7.cxd5 b4 This sort of tactical sequence is [ 6.b3 f5 7.d3 xd3 8.xd3 xd3+ t e m p t i n g f o r a c o m p u t e r a s . . . N d 3 + i s 9.e2 c5 ] threatened, but, as we shall see, Black simply 6...bxd5 7.d3 b4 8.d2 0-0 9.f3 gets rebuffed. So, a Sicilian position has been reached, [ 7...e7 8.b4!? led to a crushing tactical although the black knights are on odd victory for W hite in Christiansen,Lsquares. e8 10.e4!? This is not too bad, as Charbonneau,P/Richmond CAN 2002. ] there is no black knight on c6 capable of 8.d4! controlling d4, and the problem for White was [ 8.b3?! is not so good, a5 ( 8...c6! ) 9.a3 that a4? ( 9...a6 ) 10.c3 a6 11.xe5+ [ 10.e2 can be met by xc3 11.bxc3 e4 wins, Nemeth,Z-Bordas,G/Budapest HUN breaking-up the white pawn structure. ] 2000. ] 10...xc3!? 11.bxc3 c5 12.e2 b6 8...exd4 9.exd4 White has doubled pawns in 13.c2 h6 14.d1 a6 15.a4 b7 the centre, but they control important squares, 16.0-0 White has completed his development, and drive Black's two developed pieces back. and he has more central pawns, and will try to e7 This is best, manage the d4-thrust although then the e[ 9...xd4? loses, but you should know how: p a wn wo u l d n e e d lo t s o f d e f e n ce . d7!? 10.a3 ( 10.xd4?? c2+ ) 10...f6 11.f3 17.xd7 xd7 18.d4!? d6 Black is not ( 11.e2+ d8 12.axb4 e8 13.e3 tempted by xb2 14.b1 c3+ 15.d1 is also good [ 18...exd4 19.cxd4 xe4!? 20.b5 for White ) 11...c3+!? ( after 11...xb2 ( 20.d3? g4 attacks f3) 20...c6 21.d3 12.xb2 xb2 13.axb4 xb4+ 14.d2 xd4 22.xd4 xd4 is an interesting Black has 3 pawns for the piece, but this is exchange sac whereby Black obtains two insufficient, as the pawns are all on their 952
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 starting squares and are good targets for the white rooks.) 12.f1! the most accurate, although ( 12.bxc3 xc3+ 13.d2 c2+ 14.d1 xd2+ 15.xd2 xa1 16.d6! cxd6 17.b2 is also favourable to White) 12...a6+ 13.g1 f6 at first glance it appears that Black has avoided losing a piece, but the knight has no squares, 14.f1 good, but ( 14.f4 xd5 15.xd5 0-0 16.xc7 is very convincing) 14...b5 15.f4 xd5 16.xd5 b7 17.e1+ d8 18.d3 and White soon won, Spraggett,K-Gonzalez Galvan,J/Dos Hermanas ESP 2000. ] [ 9...d6?! is unnatural, 10.a3 a6 11.e2 c6 12.c3 cxd5?! 13.e2+ e7 14.xe7+ xe7 15.xd5+ with a significant advantage, Balashov,YPribyl,J/ Schwaebisch Gmuend 1998. ] 10.a3 a6 A sad square for a knight! 11.e3?! This new move is White's mistake, better to play the natural [ 11.e2 0-0 ( 11...d6 12.0-0 g4 13.h3 xe2 14.xe2 0-0 concedes the bishop pair, Vandevoort,P-Schuermans,R/BEL 1992, when I would be te mpted to pla y 15.b5 as the knight's future looks bleak) 12.0-0 c6 Black will have to play this move, sooner or later, if he wants to be able to recycle his offside knight, but it allows White to undouble his pawns, and establish a piec e on d5 . 13.f4! the key move, White stops Black from playing ...Nc7. This is why this piece should not go to e3, as in the main game. cxd5 14.c3! d6 ( 14...c7 15.xc7! xc7 16.xd5 d8 17.e1 f6 18.c1 is crushing) 15.xd5 e6 16.e1 ( 16.b3!? ) 16...e8 17.xe7+ xe7 18.h5 d5 19.xd5 xd5 20.xe7 xe7 21.xd5 White has a solid extra pawn, Gil Reguera,J-Servat,R/Orense 1997. ] 11...c6 12.e2 c7! Black manages to bring the knight back. 13.c3 xd5 14.xd5 cxd5 15.0-0 0-0 16.xd5 White has still got an edge because of his extra space, and better development, but the absence of black weaknesses means that exploiting this may not prove easy. a5!? 17.b3 Should White be concerned by the possibility of ...a4 ? [ 17.e1 d6 18.d3 a4 19.ac1 keeps White on top. ] 17...a6!? Very provocative. 18.c4 a8
19.f3 b8 20.fe1 f6 21.a4 b6 22.f4 b7 23.d5 Exchanging the light-squared bishops is positionally desirable, as the black queenside pawns are stuck on dark squares. xd5 24.xd5 c8 25.d6? This is where White throws away his advantage, [ 25.ac1! is more natural, e8 26.xe8+ xe8 27.c7! and Black is in serious t ro u b le , a s xc7? 28.xc7 Hoovers the queenside. ] 25...e8 26.ac1 e6 27.g2 xe1 [ 27...c6 would be prettier! ] 28.xe1 Although White could still continue here. ½-½
965 Bareev,Evgeny Azmaiparashvili,Zurab FIDE World Cup KO (1.4) [Tony Kosten]
A26 2702 2673 08.09.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 d6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.d3 e7 6.e4 A good choice given the ma tch situ a tio n: W h ite ne e ds to dra w t o qualify. This avoids the typical black kingside attack that occurs when W hite plays exclusively on the queenside. bc6 7.ge2 h5 8.h4 [ The best reply, White doesn't want to place too many pawns on light squares by 8.h3 h4 9.g4 ] 8...e6 9.g5 f6 10.e3 d7 11.d5 0-0 12.0-0 [ It is difficult to believe that 12.d2 h7 13.0-0-0 can be better, f5 14.b1 ab8 15.g1 b5 with sharp play, Beikert,GHamdouchi,H/FRA 1999. ] 12...f5 13.g5 f7 14.d2 af8 15.ae1 [ A logical innovation, and completely in keeping with White's game plan, 15.b4 c8 16.ac1 allows White possibilities on the queenside, Ribli,Z-Nunn,J/ Plovdiv 1983, but Black is not devoid of counterplay. ] 15...fxe4 [ A common idea is the redevelopment of the badly-placed e7-knight by 15...c8 but then 16.exf5! is strong, A) 16...gxf5? keeps control of e4, but closes the f -f ile 17.f4 ( even 17.f3 953
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is possible ); B) 16...xf5 and White can place a knight on e4. ] 16.dxe4 g4 17.b3 h7 [ 17...f3?! appears tempting, but is a positional error, as after 18.xf3 xf3 19.g2 3f7 Black has merely exchanged his good bishop for White's worse one. ] 18.f4 Played to reduce Black's pressure on t h e f - f i l e . g8 19.e3 h3 20.f5! Forcing Black to play the unfavourable exchange, and creating an outpost on f5. xg2 21.xg2 ce7 22.fxg6+ xg6 23.xf7 xf7 24.c3 f6 25.f1 g4 Now W hite forces further exchanges that l e a v e B l a c k i n t r o u b l e . 26.xf7 xf7 27.xe7 xe7 28.f5+ f8 29.g5 f6 Forced, but now the remaining black knight is swapped, and only the bad bishop remains. 30.d5 f7? [ A mistake, simplifying White's task, but 30...xe4 31.xh5 f6 32.g5 is also losing, the white kingside pawns are free to advance. ] 31.xg7 xd5 [ Obviously not 31...xg7 32.xf6+ ] 32.cxd5 xg7 33.d8+ f7 34.xc7+ g8 35.xg7+ And a draw was agreed, as t h is wa s s u f f icie n t t o gu a ra n t e e W h it e ' s qualification, but Black could otherwise resign this. ½-½
966
A26 Belotti,Bruno 2419 Collutiis,Duilio 2332 ch-Playoff Montecatini Terme ITA (2) 01.12.02 [Tony Kosten] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.d3 d6 6.e4 f5 7.ge2 f6 8.0-0 0-0 9.d5 e7!? Edward Dearing wrote on the Forum that he was having difficulty proving an advantage against this move, whereby Black hopes to chase the knight away from d5 (with ...c6), or exchange it. 10.xf6+ xf6 11.d4 'The logical reaction' as I wrote in my book, although [ 11.h6!? g7 12.xg7 xg7 13.d4! ( 13.exf5 xf5 14.d4 exd4 15.xd4 f6
gave White nothing in Psakhis,L-Collutiis,D/ Bled SLO 2002) 13...c6!? 14.d5 e7 15.f4! favours White, Hanley,C-Meis,F/ Hoogeveen NED 2002. ] 11...fxe4! This is the problem, in my book I gave [ 11...c6 when White gained an appreciable advantage by 12.dxe5 xe5 13.h6 e8 14.d4 fxe4 15.xe4 d5 16.cxd5 xd5 17.e1 f6?! 18.b3+ h8 19.f3 Serper,G-Ludwikow,T/Gausdal 1991. ] 12.xe4 Automatic, but perhaps White should prefer Dearing's suggestion [ 12.d5!? (planning to use the e4-square by Nc3xe4) g4 13.xe4 c6 14.f3 h3 15.f2 b6 and now I like 16.c3!? f5 17.d3 f7 18.d2 af8 19.b3 when I prefer White, as Black's pieces are 'all dressed up with nowhere to go'. ] 12...h3 13.e1 [ 13.g2 xg2 14.xg2 is just level, Sadorra,J-Tay,J/ Singapore SIN 2001. ] 13...c6 14.h6 For what it is worth, a novelty, [ 14.dxe5 dxe5?! ( 14...xe5! ) 15.h6 xd1 16.axd1 fd8 is slightly better for W h i t e , b e c a u s e o f t h e i s o l a t e d p a wn , Dannevig,O-Sagafos,M/Asker NOR 2000. ] 14...f7 15.d2 d7 16.dxe5 xe5 17.d4 f5 Black invites exchanges. 18.xf5 xf5 19.ad1 xe4 20.xe4 f5 21.e2 The backward d-pawn, and White's efile build-up promise him a slight plus. g7? [ 21...h3 ] 22.xg7 xg7 23.xd6 Now White is winning. af8 24.f4 [ 24.f4! White controls both central files, and has an extra pawn. ] 24...c5 25.xf7+ xf7 26.e6 b5 27.cxb5 cxb5 28.e5+?! Quite unnecessary, we all know that rook and pawn endings are drawish, whilst with the queens on W hite has every chance of winning (particularly as his king is safer). xe5 29.xe5 b7 30.b4 f6 31.c5 h5 32.h4 Black seems quite passive here, but he soon activates! b6! 33.g2?! [ 33.a3 a6 34.c3 was a better chance. ] 33...a6 34.xb5 xa2 35.f3 b2 36.e3 a6 37.b8 f5 38.f8+ e5 39.e8+ f5 40.f8+ e5 41.f4 a5! Swapping the last queenside pawn brings about a theoretical draw. 42.bxa5 b3+ 43.e2 a3 44.b4 954
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xa5 Of course, this is a draw, although I almost lost one like this against I. Sokolov once at Tilburg! 45.b6 f5 46.f3 a2+ 47.e3 a3+ 48.f2 ½-½
967
A26
Botvinnik N,Archana [Tony Kosten] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.e4 d6 I don't want to dwell too long on the strategic aspects of this line, they will be very familiar to anyone who has a copy of The Dynamic English. So, rather than repeat that (which probably wouldn't go down too well with my publishers!) I have decided to concentrate exclusively on the most recent games. One of the advantages of this line for W hite is that the opponent often only has a vague idea of how to respond, although there are a few signs (in particular with 8...Nd4!?) that some players have been preparing. The Latvian GM Miezis has been playing this line a lot with White and has scored very well, so there are a lot of his games mentioned at various points. 6.ge2 ge7 This is generally considered to be one of the two main lines. [ 6...f5 is an important move, because this position can arrive from various move orders where Black plays an early ...f5 (i.e. 1 c4 f5). 7.d3 A) 7...h6 8.h4 fxe4! as I suggested in my book, this is Black's best try, 9.g5 d7 10.dxe4!? ( White keeps a hold of f5, but loses the uses of the e4-square, I prefer 10.xe4 ) 10...f7 11.d5 d4!? 12.xd4 exd4 , Delchev,A-Grigore,G/ Budapest HUN 2000, and now White has several tempting continuations, for instance 13.a4+! ( 13.xh6 xh6 14.xd4 ) 13...c6 14.f3 and; B) 7...f6 8.0-0 0-0 9.d5 The best move, this and alternatives are discussed in Mie zis,N-Ru st emo v, A/ Tallinn ES T 2001. ] [ 6...f6 7.0-0 0-0 is examined in Bruzon,LKempinski,R/Linares ESP 2001, whilst 8.d3 d7!? , where Black plans to bring his
knight to e6, is seen in the archives. ] [ 6...e6 Can transpose to 6...Nge7, but Black can also play more aggressively: 7.d3 d7 8.d5 d8 ( not 8...f6? 9.h6!; b u t m o ve s s u c h a s 8...f5 are fine, and transpose elsewhere,) 9.0-0 c6 10.e3 f5?! allowing White to play his normal exchange: 11.exf5! gxf5 12.f4 f7 13.d4 exd4 14.xd4 0-0-0 15.b1! f6 16.b4 White's typical queenside advance proves even more effective when the black king is in the way! d5 17.b5 dxc4 18.xe6 xe6 19.a4 d5 20.xa7 Black can resign, Franco Ocampos, Z-Mantovani,R/8th Valle d'Aosta Open, Saint Vincent I 2000. ] 7.d3 Simplest, and best. [ 7.0-0?! s e e m s t o b e a m i s t a k e , h5! , Franco Ocampos, Z-Akopian,V/Linares ESP 2001, see the archives for the gruesome details! ] 7...0-0 [ 7...h5!? is often played at move six, so that B la ck re t a in s t h e o p t i o n o f p l a yin g h i s king's knight to h6, instead of e7, but just recently it has also been tried at this juncture a number of times, have a look at Miezis, N-Seirawan,Y/Istanbul TUR 2000. ] 8.0-0 e6 [ 8...d4!? 9.xd4 exd4 has been resuscitated recently, with Black finding new ideas that have been giving W hit e problems, look at the analysis in Zueger,BGallagher,J/ Pontresina SUI 2000. ] 9.d5 f5 10.e3 reaching the main position, which is considered in Miezis,N-Praytino,S/ Jakarta INA 2001.
968 Bruzon Batista,Lazaro Kempinski,Robert Anibal Open Linares ESP (9) [Tony Kosten]
A26 2584 2543 16.01.2001
1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.e4 d6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 c6 6.ge2 0-0 7.0-0 e5 8.d3 [ Solid, the move 8.f4 is tempting, one recent example: exf4 9.gxf4 g4 by pinning the knight, defender of d4, Black hopes to put pressure on the dark squares. 10.h3 ( but 10.d4 is critical, if Black cannot exploit this, 955
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 he could be worse, e8 11.e5 d7 12.h3 with an edge) 10...xe2!? 11.xe2 e8 stopping White from playing d4, 12.d3 a5 13.e3 a4 14.d2 White has the better prospects, Ostenstad,B-Mortensen,E/Aars DEN 1999. ] 8...e6 [ 8...d7!? is seen in the archives. ] 9.d5 [ 9.f4 is best, threatening f5. ] 9...d7 10.e3 a5 11.d2 c5 12.f4 White prefers to play this advance after due preparation. exf4 13.dxf4 Menacing both t o p l a y d 4 , a n d t o c a p t u r e o n e 6 . e5 The attack on c4 holds-up pawn to d4. 14.h1?! [ To prepare the g1-square for the darks q u a r e d b i s h o p , b u t t h e s i m p l e 14.b3! is strong, preparing d4 again, g4 15.d4 xe3 16.xe3 d7 and now, 17.xe6 fxe6 18.e5 opens the g2-bishop's diagonal with great advantage. ] 14...g4 15.ad1? [ White prevaricates again, but this time it is really serious, 15.h3 kept an edge. ] 15...cxd3! 16.xd3 xc4 17.c1 xb2! The point, Black gives two pieces for a rook, b u t g a i n s a t h i rd p a wn , a s we l l . 18.xb2 xe2 19.a4 d7 20.c2 xf1 21.xf1 b5!? 22.e5 ae8 23.d3 bxa4 24.c6 h3 25.g1 b8 26.exd6 cxd6 27.xa4 e6 28.a7 bc8 29.f4 White manages to coordinate his bits, and regain equality. e5 30.d5 h8 31.b7 ce8 32.c6 c8 33.b7 cd8!? Black has the draw in hand. 34.xa5 b2 35.c7 de8 36.f4 d4+ 37.xd4+ xd4+ 38.h1 d2 39.g2 e1 40.c4 xf1+ 41.xf1 g7 42.e2?! e8 43.g2?? g5 0-1
969 Cebalo,Miso Tkachiev,Vladislav CRO-Cup Rabat CRO (2) [Tony Kosten]
A26 2524 2643 27.05.2003
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.d3 g6 5.g3 g7 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 d6 8.g5 With this move W hite's plan is to exchange
his dark-squared bishop for the knight and then play for control of d5, and eventually a good knight versus imperfect bishop position. [ 8.a3 is the main move for White here, but will often transpose should White play a later Bg5, and to avoid this Black often plays h6 ] 8...h6 9.xf6 xf6 10.b1 a5 Not so much to restrain b4, as White can easily force this move, but to ensure that his rook will enjoy an open a-file when W hite does play b4. 11.a3 e7 Possibly the best move, the knight makes way for the c-pawn, so that Black can control d5 with ...c6, and aims for f5. [ 11...e8 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 d4 14.d2 g7 15.e3 e6 is an alternative method of playing, but the knight may not be optimally placed on e6, Gelfand,B-Anand, V/Linares 1991. ] 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 g7 14.d2?! Falling into an instructive trap, and one that often occurs in this line. [ 14.b5 e8 15.d2?! e4 is similar, Vaganian,R-Lautier,J Manila izt 1990. ] [ 14.c2 is safer, defending the knight, c6 15.d2 d5 16.e4!? e6 17.fd1 d6 18.exd5 cxd5 19.cxd5 xd5 20.c4 d8 21.xd5 xd5 22.xd5 xd5 23.b6 a2 24.c4! and White was getting on top, Rotstein,A-Wahls,M/Vienna 1991. ] 14...e4! This is the surprising shot! Still once yo u h ave se en it yo u sho u ld n 't f o rge t it ! 15.c2 [ 15.d4 might be better, xd4 16.dxe4 g7 17.d5 ( 17.b3 e6 18.b5 b8 19.d5 xd5 20.cxd5 f5 21.c4 b6 22.bc1 e8 23.c3 a3 24.a2 a7 25.b4 a4 26.e4 d7 Sloth,J-Jansa,V/ Svendborg 1981/ MCD) 17...xd5 18.xd5 e6 ( 18...b8 19.fd1 f5 20.c5 is about equal, Berkes,F-Acs,P/Budapest HUN 2003 ) 19.xb7 a2 ( 19...xc4!? ) 20.c5?! f5! and White was in trouble, Rotstein,A-Herndl,H/Werfen 1989. ] [ Note that 15.cxe4? f5 and ] [ 15.dxe4? f5 both lose a piece. ] 15...exd3 16.exd3?! This novelty is probably an error, conceding control of d4, [ 16.xd3 seems better, c6 ( 16...a3 17.b3 xb3 18.xb3 c6 19.xc6!? bxc6 20.d1 f5 and I prefer Black, but White managed to hold this, Georgiev, V956
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Benjamin,J/Europe vs Americas, Mermaid doesn't stand at all badly. ] Beac h B ER 199 8) 17.xc6!? ( 17.d5 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 d6 e5 18.c2 c6 19.e3 isn't so bad for [ In this situation it's more risky to play White ) 17...bxc6 18.b5 and by gaining 7...d5!? because White can answer with control over d5 White managed to hold the 8.cxd5 xd5 9.xe5!? . Even so the balance, Jirovsky, M-Makharadze,J/ Batumi p o s i t i o n i s f a r f r o m c l e a r a f t e r xc3 GEO 2002. ] 10.xc6 xe2+ 11.xe2 bxc6 12.xc6 16...c6 17.fe1 White does not even b8 because Black is very active. ] contest d4 with 8.d3 h6 9.b1 [ 17.f3 ] [ After the immediate 9.b4 Black might try 17...d4 18.d1 h5!? Menacing the e4!? but then 10.e1! g4!? 11.d2 e3 annoying ... Bg4. 19.d5?! Perhaps White 12.fxe3 xc3 13.xc3 xe3 14.c1 xf1 should play 15.xh6 e5 16.f3 was very dangerous [ 19.h3 ] for Black, Horvath, G-Farago, I, HUN tch 19...g4 20.f3 A tactical error, White thinks 1992. ] t h a t h e h a s t i m e f o r N e 3 , b u t t h e r e i s a 9...e6 10.b4 d7 11.b5 d8 12.a4 problem. [ In the game Kortschnoj, V (2615)-Lutz, C [ Still, 20.f3 e6 21.f4 f5 is nothing to (2580), Garmisch Partenkirchen 1994 the write home about! ] great Victor played the immediate 12.e4 20...a2! 21.b5? This misses the threat, when Black saw no immediate reason to [ 21.f1 avoids the worst. ] excha n ge W hit e's n e wly in h ib it ed ligh t 21...xf3 22.xf3 d2! square bishop with 12...Bh3. The game went [ 22...d2 23.xd2? xf3+ wins the c6 13.h4 h7 14.a4 and now h3 queen. ] 15.bxc6 bxc6 16.xh3 xh3 17.a3 d7 0-1 18.c5 dxc5 19.xc5 e8 20.e3 left White slightly better. ] 12...h3 970 A26 [ Here too there's a case for delaying this move with 12...a6 . ] Gelfand,Boris 2758 xg2 14.xg2 e8 15.e4 Vachier Lagrave,Maxime 2718 13.d5 As White definitely wants to play this once the World Cup Khanty Mansiysk RUS (4.8) light square bishops are gone it makes sense [Nigel Davies] to play it straight away. [ Officially it seems that this is the 'new move' Gelfand's failure to get much after 4.g3 Nd4 as 15.b3 had been played in an earlier saw a switch to 4.a3 in this game. Black was game. But after e6 16.a3 h7 17.bc1 doing OK until he got edgy with 16...f5 and f5 18.c2 c6 19.c3 d4 was already within a few moves had White at his throat on slightly better for White in Seul, G (2415)the kingside. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 L u t z, C (2 5 5 0 ), G e rm a n y (B u n d e s liga ) c6 4.a3 g6 This move makes a lot of sense 1993. ] because White's 4.a3 is not his most useful 16.b2 Looking to play d3-d4, move in this kind of Reversed Sicilian. Usually, 15...e6 for example, the idea of b2-b4 will be prepared wh i c h i s p e r h a p s w h a t i n s p i r e s B l a c k ' s b y R b 1 , g e t t i n g t h e r o o k o f f t h e h 8 - a 1 loosening reply. f5? After this White obtains a powerful initiative. diagonal. 5.g3 g7 [ Black sh ould probab ly p lay jus t 16...a6 [ If Black wants to play an Reversed Open , when his position is a little worse but by Sicilian with ...d7-d5 it's probably best to do no means decisively so. ] so before White has his bishop on g2. Thus 5...d5 6.cxd5 xd5 7.d3!? ( 7.g2 17.h4! h7 18.exf5 gxf5 19.h5 [ 19.f4 would also have been very strong. might be met by xc3 8.bxc3 e4 ) 7...g7 After the text Black should play 19...Qf7. ] 8.xd5 xd5 9.g2 brings about a reversed Sicilian Dragon in which Black 19...c6?! 20.bxc6 bxc6 21.e3 f4 22.ef5 957
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f6 23.d4 Opening the position like this 14.c1 xf1 15.xh6 e5 16.f3 exposes the weaknesses in Black's camp. is very dangerous for Black, Horvath, Gexd4 24.xd4 xd4 25.xd4 e6 Farago,I/HUN tch 1992. ] [ 25...f7 was probably more stubborn. ] 10.b1 e6 11.e4!? A key idea that has 26.f5+ g8 27.fe1 c7 28.xg7 xg7 o f t e n b e e n u t i l i s e d b y G u r e v i c h , W h i t e 29.b7 e7 30.xe7+ xe7 31.xf4 g8 transposes into a Botvinnik structure with his 32.f5 knight on f3. This can be even more effective 1-0 when Black plays ...Re8 instead of ...Be6, as then the rook is misplaced. d7 12.d5 e8 13.b2 h7 14.d4 White opens the 971 A26 centre, but restraining ..f5 by [ 14.h4 is also possible, as in my game. ] Gurevich,Mikhail 2644 Plischki,Sebastian 2310 14...g4 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.e3 Hitting the KB Czech Open (1) 18.07.2003 b i sh o p , a n d t r a n sp o si n g i n t o a s u p e ri o r e n d g a m e w i t h t h e g r e a t e r s p a c e . xd1 [Tony Kosten] 17.fxd1 xf3 Black has to concede the By simple moves W hite gains a crushing bishop pair, as [ 17...e6?! 18.b5 axb5 19.cxb5 advantage. This game is worth seeing for the wins a pawn. ] plan White employs. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.a3 g6 5.g3 g7 6.g2 18.xf3 d6 This knight will just get kicked Both players head for a Closed English, and and have to return, [ 18...d4 looks better. ] this can transpose into [A26] at any moment. 19.g2 fd8 20.c5 e8 21.d5 d4 0-0 7.d3 22.f4 White is gaining lots of space. c6 [ 7.0-0 d5!? is seen in Ruck - Romanishin. ] 7...h6 To stop Bg5, or later Ng5 when the 23.d3 exf4 24.gxf4 xb2 25.xb2 g7 26.bd2 By a series of simple moves White black bishop comes to e6. [ 7...d5!? is pla ya b le he re, to o , 8.cxd5 has gained a dominating position. f6 27.h4 ( perhaps White can try 8.g5!? ) 8...xd5 f7 28.h3 Every white piece finds a good 9.xd5 xd5 10.0-0 b5 which is level, post. ab8 29.a4 b6 30.b5 axb5 31.axb5 H o r v a t h , G - R u c k , T / S z o m b a t h e l y H U N a5 32.c3 xd3 33.xd3 bxc5 34.d7+ A f t e r ga in i n g c o n t r o l o f t h e d - f i le W h i t e 2003. ] infiltrates the 7th rank. f8 35.e6 d6 8.0-0 d6 Maybe not the best, after [ 8...a5 9.b1 d6 10.b4 Black can open the 36.e5 fxe5 37.fxe5 xb5 38.f7+ g8?! a-file by axb4 11.axb4 e6 and now I Now Black gets mated, but [ 38...e8 39.e4 amounts to much the surprised my opponent with the same idea same. ] of the main game: 12.e4!? d7 13.d5 e7 14.h4!? h7 15.h1 xd5?! 39.d5 d4 16.cxd5 f5 17.exf5 xf5 18.xf5 1-0 ( 18.xg6!? xg6 19.e4 f6 20.g4 xe4 21.gxf5+ xf5 22.dxe4 f7 A26 is nothing special for White) 18...gxf5 19.f4 972 (fixing the weak f-pawn) e8 20.c2 c8 Gurevich,Mikhail 2667 Shirov,Alexei 2746 21.fxe5 xe5 22.d4 g6 23.b2 b5 24.xf5 and won, Kosten,A-Gozzoli,Y/St FIDE WCh KO New Delhi IND (3.4) 05.12.2000 [Tony Kosten] Affrique FRA 2003. ] 9.b4 a6 With the rook on a1 [ 9...e4!? is possible: 10.e1! ( 10.dxe4!? 1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 xe4 11.xe4 xa1 12.xh6 g7 5.f3 d6 6.0-0 c6 Black provokes White 13.g5 was not very clear in Haase,W- into playing d4, when transposition into a Bu c h e na u , F/K a ssel 1 9 9 5) 10...g4!? King's Indian, Fianchetto Variation, would 11.d2 e3 12.fxe3 xc3 13.xc3 xe3 occur. 7.b1 a5 8.d3 White prefers to play a 958
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 King's English, to avoid any early dissipation of tension. Having lost the first rapid game he had to win this game at all costs to stay in the tournament. e5 9.h3!? [ A very unusual move, normally White c o n t in u e s h is q u e e n sid e p la y wit h 9.a3 when play often goes: h6 10.b4 axb4 11.axb4 e6 and chances for both sides. ] 9...h6 10.e4!? Very unusual, White transposes into a Botvinnik-style structure. Now we see why he play h3 on the move before, it was to stop Black from continuing ... Bg4, and winning the fight for the d4-square. d7 [ T e c h n i c a l l y a n i n n o v a t i o n , 10...e8 had been played before, with the idea of stopping d4, but e8 is a worse square for the k night , 11.e1?! ( 11.e3 ) 11...e6 12.e3 d7 13.h2 f5 14.exf5 xf5 15.d2 with rough equality, Junquera,MFrois,A/Candas 1992. ] 11.e3 c5 [ This shows the disadvantage of Black's tenth move- he can no longer stop W hite from playing d4, 11...d4?! would lose a pawn to 12.xd4 exd4 13.b5 although Black's g7-bishop offers some compensation. ] 12.d4 exd4 13.xd4 The position resembles a K i n g ' s I n d i a n p o s i t i o n a f t e r a l l . d7 14.db5! White avoids simplification, and shows-up the disadvantage of Black having a knight on c6, instead of a pawn. e5 15.e2 c6?! 16.bd1 [ 16.xc5! dxc5 17.f4 d7 18.e5 is tempting. ] 16...ed7 White doesn't get another chance t o c a p t u re o n c 5 , a n d cr e a t e a k in gs id e majority. 17.d5 xd5 18.cxd5 e8 Black hopes for active piece play to compensate White's space advantage, and two bishops. 19.c2 h5 20.fe1 a4 21.f4 a5 Black finds an original way of attacking the b5-knight that appeared to be u n t o u c h a b l e . 22.a3 h4 23.g4 b5!? Shirov in his element, somehow he manages to conjure-up complications out of nothing. To avoid Nc4, and the positional bind, he sacrifices an exchange. 24.d2 a8 [ 24...a6? 25.xb5 would just lose a pawn for nothing. ]
25.xa5 xa5 26.h1 b4 27.c4 b3!? 28.axb3 axb3 29.e2 [ 29.xa5? bxc2 30.d2 xe4! 31.xe4 xe4 is far from clear. ] 29...b4 30.e5!? White shows that he can also play sharply. b6!? [ 30...dxe5 31.d6 cxd6 32.xd6 e7 33.d5 is White's idea, reclaiming the initiative. ] 31.xb6 cxb6 32.d2 Effectively forcing the exchange of queens. xd2 33.xd2 g5 34.e6!? I am not sure that this is the best, W hite excha nge s a p air of ro oks b ut th e p o s i t i o n b e g i n s t o l o o k d r a w i s h . gxf4 35.exf7+ xf7 36.xe8 xe8 37.f1 f7 38.g2 e4 39.d3 c5 Having played the whole game as though he had to win at all costs, Black now shows that he hasn't forgotten that a draw would be quite alright, t h a n k yo u ! 40.f3 xb2 41.xf4+ g6 42.b4 e5 43.c4 b2 This strong b-pawn will present enormous technical difficulties to White. 44.a2 g5 45.b1 d7 46.f3 f6 47.b5 d4 48.c2 d7 49.e4 e5 50.e3 f4+ 51.e2 e5 52.f5 c5 53.b4 f6 54.f3 [ 54.xb6 is no better, a4 55.b8 c3+ 56.d2 xd5 and White's winning chances are problematic, to say the least. ] 54...c3! 55.xb6 e5 So, Black wins the dp a w n a n y w a y . 56.b1 xd5 57.g5 The g-pawn's route to g8 is opened. d7 58.b7 e5+ 59.f4 c4 [ 59...c6 60.h7 c4 61.g6 d2 62.a2 b1 63.xb1 xb1 64.g7 also wins for White. ] 60.g6 c6 61.g7 e5+ 62.f5 e3+!? [ Shirov continues to try and bamboozle his opponent, 62...xg7 63.xg7 d2 64.g1 is hopeless for Black. ] 63.e4 [ 63.g5 xg7 64.xg7 c4 65.xh4 d2 66.d3 wins easily enough, ( but not now 66.g1?? f3+ )] 63...d5 64.f7?? [ A typical move at the end of a fifteen minute game, 64.d3 wins immediately, Black has to concede his bishop for the g7-pawn, and that is that! ] 64...c3+ 65.d3 xg7 66.xg7 xb1 67.c2 Fortunately White has this move or he 959
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 would even lose! d2?? [ A n d n o w i t i s B l a c k ' s t u r n , 67...c3 68.xb2 d1+ 69.c2 f2 wins White's last remaining pawn, and draws. ] 68.xb2 d5 69.c2 f3 70.d3 e5 71.g4 f5 72.e3 The king comes over in time to help the rook, the h3-pawn will win the game. g5 73.xh4 d5 74.f4+ g6 75.h4 d4+ Tricky to the end, neither white piec e c an ta ke th e p awn . 76.d3 f5 77.h8 e6 78.c4 e4 79.h4 f5 80.g8 e4 81.h5 d3 82.c3 f5 The h-pawn is unstoppable. 1-0
973 Kasparov,Garry Paehtz,Elisabeth ZMD Blitz Munich GER blitz (6) [Tony Kosten]
A26 2838 2349 13.11.2002
1.g3 e5 2.c4 d6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.d3 c6 6.e4 I think that this move is less accurate here, as we shall see. d4 [ 6...h5! is best, 7.h4 ( 7.h3!? d4 8.ge2 xe2 9.xe2 e6 was quickly drawn in Miles,A-Sadler,M/ Hastings 1998) 7...d4 8.ce2 ( t h e p o i n t i s t h a t 8.ge2 is n o w a ns were d b y g4 and White no longer has the possibility of h3) 8...e6 9.f3 ( 9.e3 f6 10.f3 0-0 11.d2 led to exciting play in Kosten,A-Georgadze,A/ P . S . G e o r gi o 1 9 9 4) 9...f6 10.g5 which is fairly equal in Chernin,A-Karpov,A/ Tilburg 1992. ] 7.ge2 With the h-pawns on their original squares this is good. g4 8.h3! f3 [ 8...f3+?? 9.f1 wins a piece. ] [ 8...xe2?! 9.xe2 xe2 10.xe2 e7 11.h4! c6 12.g5 f6 13.e3 h5 14.0-0-0 e7 15.h3 White's bi shop pair give him a pleasant edge, Csom,IKindermann,S/ Debrecen 1989. ] 9.xf3 xf3+ 10.f1 Black's check counts for nothing, as the white king will go to g2 with tempo, and Black has simply exchanged his better bishop. e7 [ 10...c6 11.g2 d4 12.xd4 exd4 13.e2 e7 14.h4 is similar to the game, Benko,P-Szabo,L/Winnipeg 1967. ]
11.g2 d4 12.xd4 Perfectly logical, although it is a novelty here, I recommend a similar ploy in related positions, the d4-pawn hinders the black bishop. [ 12.g5 e6 13.h4 c6 14.e3 is nothing special, Salov,V-Khalifman,A/St Petersburg 1997. ] 12...exd4 13.d5 c8!? [ 13...xd5 14.cxd5 leaves White with a small advantage - the better bishop and an open c-file. ] 14.h4 [ 14.g5!? xg5 15.xc7+ might be possible. ] 14...c6 15.f4 d7 16.h5 e7 17.b4 Typical Botvinnik System play, W hite has stabilised the centre, and attacks on both wings. 0-0-0 Probably the safest choice, kingside castling looks very risky when Gary can open the h-file! 18.a4 f5 Black looks for counterplay on the f-file. 19.exf5 xf5 20.b5 g5 21.g4 f7 22.h3 h6 23.b1 hf8 24.f1 e5 25.a5 This is a very quick game, of course, so there is not too much subtlety in the play. c5 26.a6 b6 27.f4 Having established a mighty queenside pawn chain, and in particular a possible spot on b7 for the white queen later-on, White utilises his extra kingside pawn. He has to act quickly as B l a c k wo u l d b e p l a yi n g . . . d 5 s o o n . gxf4 28.xf4 g7 29.f3 A little mate-in-one threat to keep Black on her toes! d5 30.h1 Played to unpin the g-pawn as ...Nf5 was a possibility. xf4 31.xf4 g5 32.b2 d6 Both sides bring their weight to bear on the ffile. 33.bf2 d7 [ 33...df6 34.g3 e5 looks more logical. ] 34.h2 ff6 35.g3 dxc4 36.dxc4 g8?! the knight was badly placed, but a move like [ 36...e5 was indicated. ] 37.f3 W ith a nasty threat. e5 38.g2 e7 39.d3? OK, it is difficult to criticise moves that are played instantaneously, but [ 39.e2 g5 40.b7+ was one of many wins here. ] 39...g5 40.b7+ e8 41.b8+ f7?? [ 41...d8 is far from clear. ] 42.xd6 The rook was not defended as its partner is pinned! xg4+ 43.g3 1-0 960
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 dark-squared pawns. 16.fxe3 xf1+ 17.xf1 The white queen is required on the queenside. Kharlov,Andrei d7 18.g1 d5! Popov,Valerij [ This is the best way to free his dark5th Russian Cup Final (5) squared bishop, Black has no time to play [Tony Kosten] 18...g4 as 19.b5 h5 20.a4 and the pressure on c6 is too great. ] 1.c4 e5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 d6 5.d3 f5 6.e4 The advantage of playing a 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.a4!? d6 [ 20...xa4 21.xa4 f8 22.a3 d6 Botvinnik structure against such aggressive is also fine, the bishop covers the c7-square black systems (with ... f5) is that White has a and stops the rook from infiltrating on the csay on the kingside, and should be able to file. ] avoid being 'mown down' there. c6 7.ge2 21.b5 c8 22.e2 ge7 8.0-0 0-0 9.d5 [ 22.xb7 d4 23.e2 xc1+ 24.xc1 [ 9.e3?! allows the annoying reply d4! dxe3 25.xa7 is a bit risky, if playable. ] , it is important that White can capture on 22...xc1+ 23.xc1 f8 24.xb7 xb4 d4 with a knight. ] 25.xd5 xb7 9...h6!? [ Both sides head for a draw. 25...e1+!? [ In my book I say that this move 'does not 26.g2 d2+ 27.f3 g4+ 28.e4 h8 appear to be overly useful', we will see if I 29.b3 is far from clear. ] am right! 9...e6 10.e3 d7 leads to the 26.xb7 a3 27.b3 xb3 28.axb3 c5 main line. ] The opposite-colour bishops assure the draw. 10.e3 g5!? [ An innovation, planning a kingside pawn 29.f2 g4 30.c8 h5 31.h3 gxh3 32.xh3 avalanche, but White should be well-placed f7 33.f3 b4 34.d4 t o h a n d l e t h i s . I n S e r p e r , G - H a r l e y , A / ½-½ Hastings 1990, Black pref erred 10...d4 11.xd4 exd4 12.xe7+ xe7 13.d2 c6 A26 14.b3 fxe4 15.xe4 h7 16.ae1 f7 975 17.f4 but White's mobile kingside pawn Kokarev,Dmitry 2650 majority gives him an easy plus. ] Levin,Evgeny A 2501 11.xe7+!? Samara Polugaevsky Memorial 4th (7) 8.7.14 [ Apart from the fact that White exchanges a [Tony Kosten] well-placed piece that has moved twice for a piece that has only moved once, this move 1.g3 g6 2.g2 g7 3.c4 e5 4.c3 d6 also suffers from the disadvantage that it 5.d3 makes it easy for Black to cover the d5[ 5.e4 is slightly more accurate if White is square with .. .c6. 11.exf5 xf5 12.b4!? g o i n g t o p l a y a B o t vi n n i k S ys t e m , b u t is an interesting alternative, White will try to perhaps he wanted to keep his options open play b5 as quickly as possible in order to here. ] gain light-squared domination. e4?! 13.d4 5...f6 6.e4 c6 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 d7!? e8 14.b5 favours White. ] "Black plans to bring his knight to c5, and 11...xe7 Black needs to be able to recapture then possibly to e6, to control d4." on f5 with a knight. 12.exf5 Almost forced, [ The mainline 8...e6 Bruzon, L-Kempinski, White cannot allow Black to play ...f4. xf5 R, and ] 13.c3 The knight eyes e4 and d5. c6 [ 8...d4!? Prusikin, M-Schunk, E, are both 14.c1 e6 15.b4 White plans b5, softeninganalysed in the Archive. ] u p t h e l o n g d i a g o n a l a n d t r yi n g t o g a i n 9.e3 In my view this 'automatic' move is a c o m p l e t e c o n t r o l o f d 5 . xe3!? slight mistake. This exchange has been on-the-cards for [ Otherwise, 9.f4 is popular, some time, Black gains the bishop pair, but A) 9...f5?! 10.exf5 gxf5 11.e3 d4 risks seeing his g7-bishop stymied by all his 12.xd4!? ( 12.fxe5 dxe5 13.xd4 exd4 974
A26 2656 2559 06.10.2001
961
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.d5 is only a little better for White, because of the f 4-square, Rotstein, A (2525)-Krasenkow, M (2676)/Izmir 2004.) 12...exd4 13.b5 s e e m s s t r o n g , c6 14.xd6; B) 9...exf4 10.gxf4!? ( 10.xf4 d4 Black has good dark-squared control. 11.e3 xe2+ 12.xe2 Popov, V (2542)Ba rba s hin , I (2 24 0 )/ E le t s 2 00 8 , e5 ) 10...d4 11.e3 xe2+ 12.xe2 f5 13.exf5 xf5 14.e4 f8 15.f5 gxf5 Stean, M-Biriescu, I/Teeside 1973, 16.xf5!? ] [ My preferred 9.d5 is seen in Kosten, ALilley, G, where I say: "As I explained in my book, this is almost invariably superior to 9 Be3"! ] 9...d4 This is the problem, Black occupies the d4-square, and White cannot capture with the knight. 10.d2 [ 10.xd4 exd4 11.b5 can be answered by b8 12.bxd4 c5 13.c2 xb2 regaining the pawn (on b2), 14.b1 g7 Lju bicic , F (24 80 ) -Ja nkovic, A (2 54 8)/ Sibenik 2007, 15.f4 c6 fairly level. ] 10...c6 An innovation, although play will later transpose. [ 10...c5 is the most common, when 11.f4 ( 11.b4 ce6 ) 11...c6 12.ae1 f5 transposes to the game. ] [ 10...a5?! stops b4, but is too slow, 11.xd4 ( 11.h3 c5 12.f4 c6 with good play for Black, Rodrigues, J-Askarov, B/St. Lorenzo 1995. ) 11...exd4 12.b5 winning a pawn. ] 11.f4 f5 12.ae1 c5 13.h1 a5 14.g1 Finally White can take on d4 with his knight. ce6!? Another new move, but perfectly logical. [ 14...xe2 is simpler, 15.xe2 Marantz, M (2420)-Ginsberger, A (2200)/Israel 1984, fxe4 16.dxe4 g4 which looks pretty good for Black. ] [ 14...a4!? Burwick, M (2239)-Couso, L ( 2 3 4 5 ) / S w e d e n 2 0 0 2 , 15.exf5 xf5 16.xd4 exd4 17.e4 Fairly equal. ] 15.exf5 Such positions can be a gold mine for the stronger player, as we often reach s it u a t io n s wit h a d yn a m ic t e n sio n in t h e centre (e4 and f4 against e5 and f5) and a difficult choice of which exchange to make, or whether it's better to keep the tension and
allow the opponent the same choice. [ 15.xd4 xd4 16.xd4 exd4 17.d1 would be an interesting alternative here, planning Nf2 and doubling rooks on the ef i l e . T h e n fxe4 18.xe4 and White can push his kingside pawn majority. ] 15...xf5 16.fxe5 dxe5 This double exchange favours White slightly, his backward d-pawn is less of a problem than the e5-pawn, and he has the e4-square for a knight. However, Black has good control of d4 and ... Bh6 can be awkward. [ 16...xe5?! 17.d4 ] 17.e4 [ 17.a4! is interesting, aiming at the b6square and answering h6 with 18.c3 when e5 is hanging. ] 17...h6 18.d1 e3 19.xe3 xe3 20.g1 xf1 21.xf1 xg1! I like this decision, the bishop was quite strong, but it is not the pieces that leave the board that are important, it is those that are left, and now Bla ck h as th e po t en t ially su pe rio r min o r pieces. [ 21...d4 22.d2 e7 as also playable, but 23.f3 keeps the pressure on, at some point Nf6+ will be a problem. ] 22.xg1 A strange choice, the rook was perfectly placed on the f-file, and [ 22.xg1 d4+ 23.h1 xb2? is no problem: 24.f3 and wins. ] 22...d4 23.c5 [ 23.f1 might be best, and if so the last move is shown to be a mistake. ] 23...e6 24.d6 xa2 25.e1?! White plays for the initiative, but it is not sure t hat this is the best square for the rook, [ 25.xb7 b8 also favours Black, 26.a1 xb7 27.xa2+ g7 because of his strong knight, but White is still in the game. ] [ 25.a1! is right, b3 26.xb7 b8 27.d6 and the difference is that the bpawn is defended. ] 25...f6 26.xb7 b8 27.d6?! [ 27.f1 e6 28.xa5 xb2 leaves the material equal. ] 27...xb2 28.e4 e7 29.c3?! These last few moves smell of severe time trouble. f7 30.a1 xg2! 31.xg2 c2 32.c1 xe1+ 33.xe1 xc5 Two extra pawns should prove decisive. 34.h3 e6+ 962
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 35.g4 b4 36.d4 xd4 37.e4 d3+ [ 12...xf5 concedes control of e4. ] 38.h4 d8+ 39.g3 f8 40.h3 f4+ 13.f4 cd4?! This allows White to force a 41.h4 h6 favourable adjustment of the pawn structure. 0-1 14.fxe5! Much better than [ 14.xd4?! exd4 (threatening to win the d5knight by 15...c6) 15.b5 a5! (renewing the threat by controlling the knight's escape 976 A26 s q u a r e , b 4 ) 16.bxa6 xa6 and Black is Kosten,Anthony C 2515 doing well. ] Lilley,Graham 2235 14...dxe5 15.xd4 xd4 16.xd4! 86th ch-British (4) 04.08.1999 Co nced in g th e b isho p pa ir, b ut in re tu rn [Tony Kosten] White closes the gap on d4, gains control of 1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 the f4-square, and isolates the f5-pawn. exd4 5.d3 e5 6.e4 Botvinnik's set-up is a good line 17.b5 So that if Black tries to chase the knight wh en Bla ck p lays . . .e 5. Th e g2-b is h op 's away from d5 he will give himself a weakness 18.e1 h8 h1-a8 diagonal is only likely to be closed on c6 (after b5xc6). d7 temporarily, as Black nearly always plays ...f5 19.h5 Black's loose kingside provides useful 20.bxc6 at some point, when White's reply e4xf5 will squares for the white pieces. c6 re-open it. c6 7.ge2 d6 8.0-0 d7!? bxc6 21.f4 f6?! [ 21...e8 was the only chance. ] Black plans to bring his knight to c5, and then p o s s i b l y t o e 6 t o c o n t r o l d 4 . 9.d5 22.e7! e8 [ 22...xe7?? is impossible because of As I explained in my book, this is almost 23.g6+ , of course. ] invariably superior to [ 9.e3?! w h i c h a l l o w s : d4! as here 23.e2 f7 24.e1 The move [ 24.c7 is also strong, justifying White's 10.d2 ( 10.xd4 exd4 11.b5 seventeenth move, but how could I resist can be answered by a6 12.bxd4 c5 tripling on the e-file? ] regaining the pawn (on b2).) 10...a5 11.h3 This brings the game to a swift c5 12.f4 c6 with good play for Black, 24...fe8? conclusion. I had expected Rodrigues,J-Askarov,B/St.Lorenzo 1995. ] [ 24...h6 although 25.e5 xe5 26.1xe5 [ Otherwise, 9.f4 is popular, but after exf4! xf4 27.gxf4 e8 28.b7 followed by 10.xf4 Goeslbauer, H-Schwarz,C/Graz doubling rooks on the seventh, would win 1994, d4 Black has good dark-squared easily. ] control. ] 25.xe8+! xe8 26.xe8+ xe8 27.xe8+ 9...c5 [ 9...a5 is possibly superior, stopping White's f8 28.e6 Black loses a piece. next, 10.b1?! ( 10.e3 ) 10...c5 11.e3 1-0 d4 12.d2 c6 13.dc3 e6 14.f4 f5 and Black was doing very well, Turner,M977 A26 Haydon,R/ENG-chT 1997. ] 10.b4 Taking the opportunity of gaining some Kosten,Anthony C 2533 space on the queenside. e6 11.b2 f5!? Renner,Christoph 2431 This is always a do uble-edged ad van ce . Bundesliga 2-Sud 17.03.2002 Previously, Black had played [Tony Kosten] [ 11...ed4 i.e. 12.xd4?! (White's play is timid, better ( 12.b5 xe2+ 13.xe2 d4 I arrived in Munich for this match, rushing 14.xd4 exd4 15.a4 wi t h a n e d g e )) straight from the Austrian league, after 1am in 12...xd4 13.e3 c6 14.c2 g4!? 15.f3 the morning, and by the time I found my hotel Mchedlishvili,M-Banikas,H/Zagan 1995, and it was almost 2am. I was awoken before 8 the now xc2 16.xc2 e6 should be next morning, as although we didn't play till 10, played. ] apparently the venue was some way away. 12.exf5 gxf5 However, the car I was assigned to didn't 963
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 leave until after ten, and I arrived over 40 minutes late! I was not very happy, to say the least, and rather than my planned preparation, decided to play something I knew very well, so that I could blitz-out my first 15 moves ... 1.c4 f5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.d3 d6 [ Against Santo-Roman, a few weeks later the game differed here: 5...0-0 6.e4 d6 7.ge2 fxe4 8.dxe4 e5 9.0-0 c5!? not a bad idea, as Black will follow-up with ... Nc6-d4 the backward d6-pawn will be safe, 10.h3 e6 11.b3 c6 12.g4!? d4 13.g3 d7 Black intends ...Qh4, ...Nf6, and a possible sac on g4, 14.d5! b6 15.e3 xd5 16.exd5 d7 17.c1 c7 18.e4! the right piece! Placing the knight here would block the bishop on g2. Now White planned Kg2, f3, and then h4-5 with a kingside attack, and this was carried-out successfully. ] 6.e4 c6 [ 6...e5 may be more accurate, 7.ge2 0-0 A) 8.0-0 is more natural, but allows f4!? 9.gxf4 h5 10.f5! ( White should return the pawn, 10.fxe5?! dxe5 gives Black excellent compensation f or the pawn, because of the weak white dark squares, K o s t e n - P h i l i p p e , C a p D ' A g d e 1 9 9 8) 10...gxf5 11.g3 xg3 ( 11...f4?! 12.xf4 exf4 Rychel,D-Gruschinski,R/ Heimbach W eis 1997, and now 13.xf5 xf5 14.exf5 favours W hite) 12.fxg3 but this looks a little better for White, so may be best.; B) 8.exf5!? I gave this an exclamation mark on page 121 of my book The Dynamic English, so I was happy to try it, but now I am not so sure ... gxf5 9.f4?! this is probably faulty, I was still worried about Black playing ...f4, and so I decided to 'nip it in the bud', but this is too we a k en in g, ( 9.0-0 c6 10.d4 was my recommendation (maybe I should read my own book?!)) 9...c6 10.0-0! e6 11.h3 d7 12.e3 ae8 1/2-1/2 Kosten,AMcDonald,N/Birmingham ENG 2002, I decided to accept Neil's draw offer, as a f t e r m y i n t e n d e d 13.d2 I was a bit concerned about d5!? 14.fxe5 xe5 15.d4 f7!? 16.c5 dxc4 sacrificing the
exchange for dark-squared control. ] 7.ge2 e5 Play returns to a pure Botvinnik System. 8.0-0 [ I had an idea that my opponent might capture on e4, after 8.h3 he had played fxe4 9.dxe4 e6 against Danny King, Germany 1997, and had drawn. ] 8...fxe4?! [ This fixing of the pawn structure is premature, in my opinion, 8...0-0 9.d5 is normal. ] 9.dxe4 g4?! This loses a move, as f3 is useful for White. [ After 9...0-0 Spraggett has been known to play 10.f3 anyway. This demonstrates the u se f u ln e ss o f kn o win g t yp ica l p la n s i n such positions. ] 10.f3 e6 11.d5 d7 12.e3 0-0 13.d2 f7 this is the standard plan in such positions, ever since Botvinnik successfully employed it, against Benko. However, I remember playing similarly as Black against John Piggot when I was very young, and being crushed by a quick c5! Since that time I have learnt my lesson! 14.b4 b6 15.ac1 It always pays to remove this rook from a1 - you never know when the a 1 - h 8 d i a g o n a l m i g h t b e o p e n e d ! af8 The position is very similar to the Psakhis Danielsen game I have examined, but here it i s W h i t e t o m o v e ! 16.fd1?! I was a bit doubtful about moving this rook f rom the defence of the kingside, but I had already managed to catch-up on the clock, and w a n t e d t o k e e p t h e p r e s s u r e o n ! h3 17.xf6+!? Giving my opponent something to think about. xf6! [ 17...xf6 18.c5 puts the pressure on Black's centre. ] 18.f1! The rook returns to defend f3. I wrote about this in my '101 tips' book: one should never be afraid of taking a move back. [ 18.xh3? xh3 19.d5+ h8 20.xc6 xf3 and there is no way to defend the bishop on e3. ] 18...xg2?! I am not too sure about this move, the black bishop is much more active than its counterpart, so why exchange it? [ 18...e6 19.c5!? bxc5 20.bxc5 d5 is almost level. ] 19.xg2 f7 20.g1 Black's initiative turnsout to be quite temporary, as once the f-pawn 964
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is well-defended, White can concentrate on the centre and queenside. d4? This loses. 21.xd4 exd4 22.b5! Sealing the d-pawn's fate, White has mobile kingside pawns, and a potentially food knight versus bad bishop. h6?! 23.d3 Freeing the knight. a6 24.a4 g5 25.e2 g4 26.f4 [ 26.xd4 gxf3+ 27.xf3 is also sufficient. ] 26...h5 27.f5 [ 27.xd4 h3+ 28.g1 xf4?! is Black's little trick, but even here, after 29.xf4 xf4 30.f5 White wins. ] 27...a8 28.f4 g5 [ 28...e8 29.d5 f7 30.f6 h8 31.e5! dxe5 32.g6+ is devastating. ] 29.e6 xe6 [ 29...e3 30.xe3 dxe3 31.xc7 a7 32.d5 is also without hope for Black. ] 30.fxe6 e5 31.f7! a7 32.a5! The cleanest kill. axb5 33.axb6 a2+ 34.f2 xf2+ 35.xf2 cxb6 36.cxb5 xe6 37.c4 xc4 38.xc4 f7 39.c7+ g6 40.c6 1-0
978 Ledger,Andrew Rendle,Thomas ch-EU Cork IRL (10) [John Watson]
A26 2450 2370 31.03.2005
1.c4 f5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d6 4.g2 g6 5.d3 g7 6.e4 c6 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 e5 N o w we ' v e t r a n s p o s e d t o t h e R e ve r s e d Closed Position with ...f5 and ...Nf6, extremely popular at the top levels. 9.b1 Not given in Hansen but a good waiting move. White wants to play b4 but he is also waiting for ...Be6 before he plays Nd5. e6 [ 9...fxe4 10.dxe4 g4 11.f3 e6 12.d5 is no improvement. Sometimes Black plays aggressively with ] [ 9...h5 intending ... f4, when White has 10.exf5 ( or 10.f3!? with the idea f4 11.g4 f6 12.d4 xd4 13.xd4 exd4 14.e2 ) 10...xf5 ( 10...gxf5 11.d4 or 11.f4, both with advantage) 11.h3 e6 12.d5 d7 13.g4 ( 13.h2 ) 13...f6 14.f4 ae8 15.ec3 d4 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.xf6+ xf6 18.xf6 xf6 19.e4 e7 20.h6
and Whites pieces seem better-placed than Black's (Qd2 and Rf1 is an obvious plan). ] 10.d5 d7 [ 10...fxe4 11.dxe4 d7 12.g5 intends Qd2. Then ... Bh3 is impossible because Black's c-pawn hangs. ] 11.b4 d8 This sort of reorganisation is a normal idea, intending ...c6 to expel or trade off the knight. Also typical is [ 11...e7 , but in this particular instance it loses a pawn to 12.xe7+ xe7 13.exf5 xf5 14.xb7 ] 12.b5 [ 12.xf6+ xf6 13.exf5 xf5 14.h6 g7! offers Black no problems. ] 12...c6 13.bxc6 bxc6 14.exf5 Accommoda ting. [ 14.xf6+ xf6 15.f4 at least unbalances the play. Black shouldn't have too many difficulties, but fxe4 16.fxe5 xe5 17.xf8+ xf8 18.xe4 d5 leaves Black's king is a little loose and I would rather play White. ] 14...xf5 15.e3 h3 16.d4?! This both isolates the c-pawn and cedes the e4 square. xg2 17.xg2 f7 [ 17...exd4! 18.xd4 e4 and White has some problems, probably solvable, with ideas like ...Nc3 and ... Ng5. ] 18.f4?! More loosening play as now e4 becomes a permanent outpost. exf4 [ 18...exd4! 19.xd4 e4 puts real pressure on, e.g., 20.b2 ae8 21.e1 h6! ] 19.xf4 d5 20.cxd5 xd5 21.exd5 cxd5 22.b3 White is fine but he has the worse bishop, so [ 22.a3 fe8 23.c5 is a better solution. ] 22...ad8 23.d2! fe8 [ 23...xd4 24.d3 g7 25.a5 e5 26.b3 is roughly equal. ] 24.h4? These innocent-looking positions are often the hardest play. Better was [ 24.a5 c8 25.xd5 c2+ 26.h1 ] 24...xd4 25.d3 e5 [ Even better is 25...e4! with a pawn and very nice game. In any case Black stands very well and either time trouble or ratingfear must have influenced his decision to split the point. ] ½-½
965
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 979 Lyanguzov,Oleg Klimov,Sergey Czech Open A (2) [John Watson]
A26 2355 2481 22.07.2006
When you're on the White side of the English Opening, one of the scariest things to face is a massive pawn advance on the kingside, even if you know that it's premature or shouldn't be correct. It's important to study and think about these positions. Here's a cautionary tale: 1.c4 g6 2.f3 g7 3.g3 e5 4.c3 c6 5.g2 d6 6.0-0 f5 7.d3 h6!? Presumably Black is trying to avoid [ 7...f6 8.g5 , although it's difficult for W hite to get anything ou t of the lin e h6 9.xf6 xf6= ] 8.b1 [ White's preparation for b4 is logical and perhaps best, but I used to play the move 8.d2 in such positions, with the idea b3 and Bb2, e.g., g5 9.b3 g4 ( 9...ge7 10.b2 0-0 11.e1 f4 12.d5 ) 10.h4 ge7 11.b2 ] 8...g5!? 9.d5 Since the knight can't stay here White loses some time and control over d5. Two preferable courses were [ 9.d2 a5 10.a3 f6 11.b4 axb4 12.axb4 intending b5, and ] [ 9.d2 a5 10.a3 f6 11.b4 axb4 12.axb4 ] 9...ce7! One good thing about this standard retreat is that it does no good for W hite to reinforce d5 in view of ...c6. 10.xe7 xe7 11.b4 g6!? Black is asking a lot from his kingside attack, although W hite has no obvious counterplay. Also possible was simply [ 11...e6 12.d2 c6 , simply preparing ... d5. ] 12.d2 [ 12.b2 might be met by 12...c6 (best?), or 0-0? 13.d2 ( the central break 13.d4 is reasonable but unimpressive following e4 14.d2 d5 15.cxd5 xd5= ) 13...e6 ( 13...e7 14.b5 ) 14.b5 ( 14.xb7 b8 15.d5 xd5 16.cxd5 xb4 ) 14...c8 15.a4 f4 ] 12...g4!? Plunging ahead! Black plays singlemindedly. 13.a4+ [ 13.b2 h5 14.d4 has the idea 14...exd4
15.Nb3!, but h4 keeps the initiative. ] 13...d7 14.b5 c8 15.c5!? This is the logical way to continue W hite's queenside atta ck, and hard to f au lt in spite of wha t happens. [ 15.a3 a6! looks effective. ] 15...dxc5 16.c4 b6! Not only good, but p o s i t i o n a l l y f o r c e d . 17.xa8 xa8 With the light squares, an extra pawn, and ... h5 -h 4 co m in g, B lack ha s e no ugh f or t h e excha nge . Bu t h e ha sn't castled an d his centre is a bit loose. 18.e4?! This is the key point. From now on White's defensive task is a tre me n do us bu rde n . I t hin k th e wa y t o counter Black's attack was to close the long diagonal: [ 18.f3! A) 18...h5?! 19.fxg4 hxg4 ( 19...h4 20.gxf5 hxg3 21.e4! ) 20.e4! cuts off the attack and has the idea Ng5 or even Bg5; B) 18...gxf3 19.xf3 c6! 20.a4 e4 ( 20...h5? 21.g5 ) 21.e1 ( 21.dxe4 cxb5 22.axb5 xe4! creates new chances because 23.xe4+ fxe4 24.e1 e7! with the idea ... Nd5 emphasizes White's weaknesses on b5 and e2. That's probably about equal.) 21...cxb5 22.axb5 and alth ough Black is quit e a ctive h e needs a plan. Perhaps e7 ( 22...exd3 23.xd3! ) 23.b2 e5 24.b3 d8 is a start, although W hite's position has improved considerably and he stands better overall. ] 18...f4 19.f3 What else? c8!? [ 19...h5! would ask White what he's going to do about the attack. ] 20.b2 e6 21.c2 d7 22.c4 [ 22.fxg4 makes sense, before ...h5 comes. There might follow xg4 23.c4 fxg3 24.hxg3 h5 , when I prefer Black's attacking chances (... h4 and ...Bh6 are themes) but at least 25.e3 grabs some squares. ] 22...h5?! [ 22...fxg3! 23.hxg3 gxf3 24.xf3 h5! looks more accurate. It's very difficult to say, especially over-the-board. ] 23.a4? This ultra-conservative defence of the b-pawn throws away the last opportunity: [ 23.gxf4 at least gets this move in before Black can recapture with the knight (23... 966
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c8 Black needs to move his knights if he wants to play ...c6, to drive the powerful d5knight back, but as soon as the e7-knight moves, White has the following stratagem: 16.exf5! xf5 17.d4 h3 18.dxe5 xe5 19.f4 g7 20.xh3 xh3 21.d4 the black rooks are now misplaced on the ffile, White is almost winning, e6 22.xg7 xg7 23.d4 d7 24.f3 c6?! , Davies,N-Duncan,C/ Scarborough ENG 1999, White winning quickly, but in fact he could have won immediately by: 25.e5! as dxe5?? 26.f6+ wins the queen! In cide n t a lly, Nige l t o ld m e th a t he h a d started playing this line after reading my book! ] 11.d2 h7 12.ac1 With less pressure on his kingside W hite is free to start his queenside play. g8!? [ Trying to bring the knight to a better square, 12...d7 is more natural, 13.b4 ab8 14.b5 d4 15.xd4! (White will play with his knights on the light squares- worth remembering!) exd4 16.ef4 c5 17.xe7 xe7 18.ce1 Black has problems on the efile, f7 19.xe6 xe6 20.exf5 xf5 21.e7 White has a strong initiative, despite the opposite-colour bishops, Istratescu,ANikolaidis,K/ Halkida GRE 2000. ] 13.b4 d4?! 14.xd4! As in the previous note, but this time a tactic is involved that guarantees the f4-square for White's knights. exd4 15.df4 c8 [ A necessary retreat, 15...d7?! 16.exf5 xf5 17.xb7 wins a pawn. ] 980 A26 16.exf5 gxf5 17.c5 c6 18.a4 e7 19.a2 Miezis,Normunds 2532 a5 20.b5 dxc5 21.xc5 d6 22.fc1 Prayitno,Sugeng 2391 White's queenside initiative gathers in pace. Wotulo Mem Jakarta INA (5) 26.03.2001 d7 23.bxc6 xc6 24.b3 ab8 25.b6 f7?! 26.xa5! f8 27.ac5 e5 28.g6! [Tony Kosten] A s i m p l i f y i n g c o m b o . xg6 29.xe5 1.c4 g6 2.c3 g7 3.g3 d6 4.g2 c6 As the knight is now pinned. h7 30.xc6 5.d3 e5 6.e4 ge7 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 f5 xc6 31.xd4 xa4 32.xf5! e8 [ 32...xf5 33.xf5 xf5? 34.c7+ 9.d5 e6 10.e3 h6!? wins the exchange. ] [ Quite a common move in OTB chess, Black puts his king in a safer spot, and controls g5, 33.c7 e1+ 34.g2 ee7 35.e6 e8 but it is not that useful. 10...d7 is best, 36.xf7+ xf7 37.xb7 xe6 38.xf7+ 11.d2 f7 12.ae1 ( I also like 12.f3 g6 39.g7+ f6 40.c7 f irs t , b u t t h e t e xt is q u it e re a so n a b le ,) 1-0 12...af8 13.b4!? a6 14.a4 d8 ( 14...fxe4 15.dxe4 g4 is possible) 15.a5
Nxf4? 24.Nxe5), so there might follow exf4! ( 23...xc4 24.dxc4 xf4 25.bd1 ) 24.xg7 xg7 25.b2 h7! 26.xg7 xg7 27.f2!? xc4! 28.dxc4 e5 You can see how little material need be on the board for an exchange sacrifice to retain i t s p o s i t i o n a l e f f e c t . 29.e2 xf3 ( 29...xc4 30.fxg4 xg4 also looks good White may be all right but he's struggling.) 30.xf3 gxf3+ 31.xf3 and White is stilt worse but can probably hold. ] 23...fxg3 24.hxg3 h4! This is decisive. Apart from the obvious threat of crashing through on the h-file, the move ...hxg3 will win the f4 square for a knight, and even ...Bh6 can be part of the attack if necessary. 25.f4 [ 25.gxh4 xh4 26.fxg4 xg4+ 27.f2 xc4! (to keep the knight from defending at e3) 28.dxc4 f4 and White should resign. ] 25...hxg3 26.f5 h2 27.d1? [ 27.fxe6 e7! 28.xh2 ( 28.b3 h4 and mates ) 28...gxh2+ 29.h1 isn't bad materially, but W hite's position has too man y h oles f o r h im to survives, e .g. , a pretty line is g3 30.e3 f4 31.xf4 exf4 32.f5 g5 33.xg7+ f8 34.e7+ xe7 35.f5+ e8 and there's nothing to be done about ... Qg4. ] 27...f4 . White resigns (0-1). ...Nh3+ and ... Ne2+ are threatened, while 28.xf4 exf4 29.xg7 xg7 actually mates within just a few moves. 0-1
967
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A26 12...af8 13.f4!? [ White decides to allow a hanging pawns Miezis,Normunds 2518 structure, but Black is well-placed to handle Rustemov,Alexander 2534 this, 13.f3 is my preferred move, ] Keres Mem Rapid rapid (2) 06.01.2001 13...fxe4 14.dxe4 e8 15.b3 g4 16.ec3 [Tony Kosten] exf4 17.gxf4 d4 18.h1 e6 Black's play 1.c4 g6 2.c3 g7 3.g3 f5 4.g2 f6 is normal, he tries to put pressure on the 5.d3 d6 6.e4 c6 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 e5 hanging pawns. 19.f5! But these pawns have great dynamic potential! xg5 20.xg5 h5 9.d5 Suddenly it seems that the black [ 9.f4!? is an interesting alternative, White is 21.h3! happy to play with hanging pawns on e4 and q u e e n i s o n a n e x p o s e d d i a g o n a l . c6 f4, but it lacks the strategical bite of the 22.g2?! [ White unpins the f-pawn, at the cost of a main line, fxe4 10.dxe4 e6 11.d5 d7 piece! However, whilst this may succeed in a 12.d3 h5 13.e3 f7 14.ad1 exf4 q u i c k g a m e , o b j e c t i v e l y 22.f4! 15.gxf4 with chances to both sides, is far stronger, for if xc3? 23.fxg6 wins. ] Movsziszian,K-Lautier,J/Cala Galdana ESP 22...cxd5 23.xd5 1999. ] [ Unf ortunately, if 23.fxg6 Black has the 9...e6 resource: f2+! 24.xf2 xf2+ 25.xf2 [ 9...xd5?! if this move were possible, there xh3 and wins. ] would be little point W hite playing Nd5 ! 10.cxd5 d4 with drawish intent, but the 23...h6! 24.h4 c6? [ Missing 24...f6! for 25.xf6+ xf6 open c-file, and target on c7, assure White a 26.fxg6 xg6+ is check. ] plus, 11.xd4 exd4 12.d2 h6 13.c1 a5 14.c2 f7 15.f4 a6 16.fe1 White also 25.fxg6 xg6 26.xf7 xf7 [ Not 26...xf7?? 27.e7+ ] has more centre pawns, e7 17.e5! dxe5 h7 28.xf7 xf7 29.e7 18.fxe5 xe5 19.xh6 d6 20.g5 27.e6 30.f4 White is well on top, Istratescu,A-Agouridis, White has a strong initiative. g6 f6?? 31.e6 No w W h it e wins . xe4+ A/Korinthos GRE 2000. ] 32.g1 h5 33.xe4 b6+ 10.g5 [ 33...xe4? 34.f8+ ] [ I think this is the most accurate, but 10.e3 is also worth consideration, the ideas are the 34.c5 dxc5 35.g4 c4+ 36.f1 same: d7 11.c1 h5 12.exf5! 1-0 the standard plan, gxf5 13.f4 f6 14.d4 thematic! g4 ( Black has little choice, A26 14...e4? 15.xf6+ xf6 16.d5 982 loses a piece) 15.dxe5 xe3 16.xe3 Miezis,Normunds 2518 dxe5 17.fxe5 xe5 18.f4 White has Seirawan,Yasser 2647 c o n c e d e d t h e i m p o r t a n t d a r k - s q u a r e d 34th Olympiad (3) 30.10.2000 bishop, but has gained f4 for his knight, and [Tony Kosten] weakened f5, c6 19.b3 h8 20.cd1 e7 21.xe6 xe6 22.c5 the f5-pawn is 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 soon lost, Nogueiras,J-Paramos Dominguez, 5.d3 ge7 6.e4 d6 7.ge2 h5 8.h4 0-0 R/Santa Clara CUB 1999. ] [ 8...d4!? 9.xd4 exd4 10.e2 a6 10...d7 11.d2 f7 11.0-0 b8 Black plays aggressively on the [ Possibly not the best move, for 11...h5 queenside, 12.b4 b5 13.cxb5 xb5 14.a3 , intending ...f4, see the note in the 0-0 15.g5 g4 16.f3 e6 17.c1 archives. ] the pressure on the c-file assures White an 12.ae1 slight pull, Franco Ocampos,Z-Pazos [ To me, the most logical, although 12.f3!? Gambarrotti,P/Havana CUB 2001. ] is also good, see the archives. ] [ 8...e6 is examined in the excellent game [ 12.ac1 is likewise examined therein. ] Bareev,E-Azmaiparashvili,Z/Shenyang CHN 981
968
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2000, see the archives. ] 9.0-0 g4 10.f3 e6 11.d5 d7 12.g5 f6 13.e3 A typical main line position is re ac he d, e xc ep t th a t th e two side s ha ve a d v a n c e d t h e i r h - p a wn s t wo squ a r e s . f5 The problem from Black's viewpoint, is that this standard advance concedes control of g5. However, Seirawan is a great English Opening expert, so must be aware of this. 14.d2 f7 15.g5 h7 16.b4 White has nothing to fear on the kingside, so expands on the queenside to accentuate his space advantage. g8 17.ab1 af8 18.b5 ce7 19.f4!? Most players would continue on the queenside, but Miezis certainly believes in this move in such positions. c6 20.bxc6 bxc6 21.e3 h6 With so many pieces clustered together on the kingside the s i t u a t i o n t h e r e i s v e r y t e n s e . 22.d4!? More oil on the fire! exd4 23.xd4 fxe4 24.xh6! xh6 25.xe4 White's idea is revealed, the f4-pawn acts as a barrier to the black rooks, and meanwhile the e4-bishop points at g6, and c6. g7?! 26.b7!? xb7 27.xe6 d7 28.xf8+ xf8 29.f5 White attacks on the light squares. g8 [ 29...xf5 30.xf5 gxf5 31.d3 is more awkward for Black than it appears at first glance, Qg5 is a strong threat. ] 30.d3 e5 31.g2 d5!? Black wants to exchange pieces, even at the cost of a pawn. 32.cxd5 cxd5 33.fxg6 xf1 34.xf1 e6 [ Forced, 34...dxe4?? 35.f7+ h8 36.h7# ] 35.f5 To win White would like to swap his bishop for the black knight, as otherwise the opposite-colour bishops will present technical problems. f6 36.f3 d4? Time-trouble, no doubt. 37.d5 Forced, but strong. xd5 38.xd5+ f8 39.a8+ e7 40.xa7+ f8 41.a8+ e7 42.b7+ f8 43.c8+ g7 44.d7+ f8 45.a4 e7 46.xe7+ xe7 47.a5 The passed a-pawn makes all the difference, as without it this would be drawn. 1-0
983 Mulyar,Michael A Revesz,Zoltan 34th World Open (2) [John Watson]
A26 2391 2161 29.06.2006
As far as I can make out from the PGN search there isn't a game in the ChessPublishing database with this popular position, one of B l a c k ' s f a vo r i t e s i n t h e C l o s e d S i c i l i a n Reversed (White's Botvinnik setups dominate the A26 system). It is considered fully equal, but the move chosen by Mulyar, 8.Nd5, isn't even mentioned in Hansen's excellent survey of the ...f5, ...Nf6 system. Here W hite produces a nice positional win in a game with almost no tactical element. This is a difficult variation against which to gain an advantage, and Mulyar makes it looks easy, lower-rated opposition or not. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.d3 d6 6.f3 f5 7.0-0 f6 8.d5 This is a good way to defuse Black's attacking setup, but has the drawback that it allows Black a choice of safe lines. Nevertheless, there seems a little poison in 8. Nd5, and 8.Bg5 hasn't gotten White very far. The main line has been the saame for many years, generally considered to lead to equality: [ 8.b1 a5 9.a3 0-0 10.b4 axb4 11.axb4 h6 12.b5 e7 13.b2 ( 13.b3 with the idea Ba3 was played by Seirawan verus Kamsky in Tilburg 1990. One of the better answers seems to be h7 14.a3 d7 -Kamsky.; 13.c5!? is best answered by e6 ) 13...e6 with dynamically balanced play. ] 8...0-0 [ 8...xd5 9.cxd5 e7 10.g5!? is messy, e.g., h6 ( 10...c6 11.a4 h6 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.xc6+ xc6 14.xc6+ d7 15.xd6 hxg5 16.xg6+ f8 17.xg5 gives White four pawns for a piece, albeit against two bishops. Only his h-pawn is passed, however, so it seems fair to call the position only slightly better for White. )] 9.g5 e7!? [ 9...d7!? 10.xf6+ xf6 11.xf6 xf6 12.d2 gave White a small edge in Romanisin-Kupreichik, USSR Ch 1981. This is similar to the game: ] 10.xf6+ xf6 11.xf6 xf6 12.c5!? 969
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 12.b3 b8 13.c3! ( 13.d4 e4 14.d2 d5 15.cxd5 xd5 looks fine for Black )] 12...g7!? Out of the a2-g8 frying pan into the a 1 - h 8 f i r e . 13.b3 c6 14.c3! e7 15.b4! d5 [ 15...dxc5 16.bxc5 d7 17.ab1 b8 18.e3 and d4 keeps a small edge. ] 16.b5 d4 17.b2 d8 18.e3! xc5 [ 18...dxe3 19.fxe3 xc5 20.xe5! xe5 21.xe5 and Black is under a lot of pressure. ] 19.exd4 exd4 20.xd4 No threats, but that d a r k - s q u a r e d d i a g o n a l i s o m i n o u s . d7 21.fe1 a6 22.e2 axb5 23.ae1 d6!? [ 23...h6 is the machine recommendation, although White has a lot of activity following 24.xb5 : e6 (vs Re7) 25.xe6 xe6 ( 25...xe6 26.a3 threatens both Bxb7 and Re5 ) 26.xb7 b8 27.e5 b6 28.xf5! d4! ( 28...gxf5 29.f6+ h5 30.f3# ) 29.f4 c5! 30.d2 xb7 31.xd4 cxd4 32.f7+ g5 33.h4 ] 24.e7+ g8 25.xb5 xb5 26.xb5 c6 27.b3+ h8?? [ 27...f7 28.xf7 xf7 29.xb7 xa2 30.xc6 with an extra pawn. ] 28.b2?? [ 28.e8+ f8 29.1e7! hits f8 and there's no defence: ] 28...g8 29.d7? There may be time trouble hereabouts. White's perfect buildup could still be rewarded after [ 29.e8+ f8 30.1e7 (threatening mate) f7 31.xf7! xf7 32.xa8 xa8 33.xb7+ ] 29...xd7 30.xf6 f7 31.d6! White is still way on top, but it's become a technical affair. f8 32.d7! f7 33.xb7 xa2 34.xc6 b4 35.e8+ g7 36.d5 a7 37.g2! d6 38.c4 d7 39.e6 d4 40.e7 xe7 41.xe7 f6 42.xf7+ xf7 1-0
984 Nikolaev,Leonid Cyborowski,Lukasz Open A Krakow POL (4) [John Watson]
A26 2301 2564 30.12.2004
The old but ever-popula r lin e with W hit e playing d3 versus a King's Indian is still of great interest. Here Black's system includes the move ...Nc6. If White is going to give up his bishop pair by Bg5 and Bxf6 he needs to esta blish a p ositio nal bind. Th at doe sn't happen in this game. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 c6 5.d3 d6 6.b1 a5 7.a3 f6 Delaying castling can be useful for Black because it forces W hite to commit. Here White deviates early but transposes by a circu ito u s ro u te to a ma in lin e . 8.g5?! Perhaps not really weak, but this move is too early to challenge Black, who can now transpose into a favourable line. h6 9.xf6 xf6 10.f3 g7 11.0-0 0-0 12.d2 White has had a hard time here. The point is that Bg5 is appropriate after Black has committed to a plan like ...Bf5 or ...Re8, but not before because Black can wait to pick his best plan. 12.Nd2 is a concession in that Black now needn't fear d4 or Nxd4 after ... Nd4. [ (a) By f ar the main m ove here is 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 A) or 13...e7! 14.b5 ( 14.d4!? ) 14...e6 15.d2 e4! 16.c2 (upon a knight capture on e4, ...f5 wins) exd3 17.exd3 c6 gave Black a small edge in KharlovBacrot, playchess 2004; B) 13...e6 is also commonly played; C) 13...e8!? 14.b5 d4 ( 14...e7 15.b3 e6 is equal ) 15.d2 a3 16.b3 C1) (Probably unnecessary. White's only plan is e3, so even a cheeky move like 16...g5! -from HiArcs- looks good: 17.d5! ( 17.e3? g4! ) 17...c6 ( 17...d8!? is equal! ) 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.b4 c5! ( 19...g4!? 20.xd4 exd4 ) 20.d5 g4! with the idea 21.e1? xe2 22.xe2 xb3; C2) 16...c6!? 17.e3 xb3 18.xb3 xb3 19.xb3 and according to Kapengut and Gelfand White is slightly 970
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 better. I think that's true after, e.g., c7 20.a1 f5 21.e4 e6 22.a7 ] [ (b) 12.e1!? c a n b e m e t b y g4 (among others) 13.h3 e6 14.c2 d7 15.h2 f5 and Black's attack is coming pretty fast ] 12...e8 [ 12...e7 and ] [ 12...d4 are also played. The text is a useful semi-waiting move that supports Black's centre after an eventual ...c6 and ... d5. ] 13.d5 [ 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 e4! ( or 14...e7 ) 15.b5 ( White loses a piece after 15.cxe4?? f5; or 15.dxe4?? f5 ) 15...exd3 ( or 15...e7 ) 16.bxc6 ( 16.exd3 d4 ) 16...xc3 17.exd3 b6 18.c2 d4 ( 18...g7 19.xb6! ) 19.b3 g7 and Black's two bishops and open files give him the advantage. ] 13...e7 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 c6 16.xe7+ xe7 Now ...d5 is in the air. 17.b3 [ 17.b5 d5 18.b3 e6 ] 17...e6 18.b5 d5 It's been so easy. Black is better. The rest of the game is instructive: 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.fc1 d7! 21.f1 h5 22.b6 h4 23.c7 h3! 24.h1 e4! 25.bc1 e5 26.7c2 exd3 27.exd3 d4 28.c7 f6 [ or 28...d6!? 29.xb7 a6 ] 29.c2? xb6 30.xd7 xd7 31.d2 e6 32.e3 d4 33.b1 a3 34.e2 c5 35.xb7 xd3 36.b8+ g7 37.f5+ Spite check. [ 37.xd3 xd3 and the bishops will escort the d-pawn in even if W hite survives that long. ] 37...xf5 0-1
985 Paunovic,Dragan Marholev,Dimitar XXVIII Open San Sebastian ESP (3) [John Watson]
A26 2518 2381 20.03.05
1.c4 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 e5 4.c3 f5 5.d3 c6 6.e4 f6 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 d6 9.d5 There a kind of "rule" in these positions
that Nd5 (or ...Nd4) is best delayed until after ...Be6 (or Be3) is played. Then the opposing knight can't capture the intruder without being forked. Nevertheless, such an exchange does open W hite's c-file and more importantly, it t ra d e s o f f o n e o f B la ck 's m o s t e f f e c t iv e attacking pieces. In Ledger-Rendle, Cork 2005, White played 9.Rb1, waiting for ...Be6, which transposed to another typical position. [ W h i t e p l a y s 9.h3 extremely often, for example, e6 ( Like hundreds before him, Black doesn't play 9...f4! , the remarkable m o ve f r o m R o c a - P e r a l t a , I T T R i c a r d o Lettieri 2005 in the March column.) 10.d5 d7 11.h2 fxe4 12.dxe4 d4= was Harpur-Almond, Cork IRL 2005. ] [ The most attractive alternative to 9.Nd5 is 9.exf5 xf5 ( 9...gxf5 10.d4 or 10.Nd5 ) 10.h3 , but apart from the normal 10...Qd7 Black can try b4!? , which looks good and isn't mentioned in any modern source that I know of. ] 9...xd5 [ A main line is 9...e6 , when White can play 10.g5 d7 11.d2 with only a small edge if that, e.g., h5! ( 11...f7!? 12.exf5 xf5 13.xf6+ xf6 14.xf6 xf6 15.f4 ) 12.exf5 xf5 13.ae1!? ( 13.ab1 f7 14.b4 ) 13...f7 14.b4 af8 15.b5 d8= ] 10.cxd5 e7 11.f4!? This activates Black's bishop on g7. . It's better to play in the centre or on the queenside, e.g., [ 11.b3 ,as given by Hansen with an '!', but he follows up with two poor examples that went h8 12.e3 c5 ( 12...c6 is natural and roughly equal, in my opinion) 13.f4 exf4 ( Black can play 13...fxe4 14.dxe4 g4 ) 14.gxf4 , with 14...Qc7? in one and b6? ( perfectly fine is 14...fxe4! 15.dxe4 g4 16.c3 d7 ) 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 xe5 17.d4 cxd4 18.xd4 xd4+ 19.xd4 d6?? 20.c3 1-0 Klimera-Radecki, corres 1993 ] [ Also logical (and perhaps best) is 11.e3 , intending Rc1 or sometimes d4. The play should be about equal. ] 11...c6!? This is the standard break after the ... Nxd5 and ...Ne7 sequence. It might be better to open the diagonal for the c8 bishop first, [ 11...fxe4 12.dxe4 ( 12.xe4? h3 or ...Bg4 gives Black what he wants) 12...c6 971
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( or 12...h8 , to avoid diagonal tricks) 13.b3! ( 13.c3 b6+ 14.h1 exf4 ) 13...b6+! ( 13...cxd5 14.c3! ) 14.xb6 axb6 15.c3 b5! 16.fxe5 xf1+ 17.xf1 xe5 with the idea of ...b4 and the more active pieces ] 12.e3 Developing normally. [ A natural-looking sequence that gains some central control is 12.fxe5 A) 12...dxe5 13.b3 cxd5 ( 13...b6+?? 14.xb6 axb6 15.d6 ) 14.exd5; B) 12...xe5 13.d4 g7 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.b3+ h8 16.g5 , e.g., h6 17.e3 b6 18.e5!? dxe5 19.dxe5 xb3 20.axb3 xe5 21.xh6 with superior activity. ] 12...cxd5 [ Again, 12...fxe4! looks advantageous, if m e s s y , a f t e r 13.dxe4 exf4 14.xf4! ( 14.xf4 b6+ 15.h1 cxd5 ) 14...xb2 15.b1 e5 16.dxc6 bxc6 17.b3+ h8 ( 17...g7? 18.d3! f6? 19.xf6! xf6 20.d4 ) 18.d3 xf1+ 19.xf1 g7 ] 13.exd5 h8! [ The difference is clear in a line like 13...exf4 14.xf4 xb2 15.b1 g7 16.e6! xe6 17.dxe6 etc. Still, the text conceals a potent idea. ] 14.d2?! It turns out that d5 needs protection and that W hite should move to activate his pawns, e.g., [ 14.fxe5 dxe5 15.c3! intending g8 16.c5 e8 17.b5 ] 14...g8! A nice reorganisation. Black wants to pressure d5 without being harassed by fxe5 and d6. This follows Black's long-term plan of capturing on d5 and then attacking it. 15.h3!? A slow move that anticipates ...Nf6-g4. [ 15.ac1!? ] [ 15.b4!? ] 15...f6 16.h2?! [ A more active move was 16.ac1 , e.g., b6 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.d6 b8 19.d4! xd6 20.c6 d7 21.dxe5 xd2 22.xd2 e4 23.xe4 fxe4 24.xf8+ xf8 25.e6 ] 16...b6! From here on out Black is better because White is tired to the d-pawn. 17.c3 [ Or 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.d6 b8 19.d4 e4 ] 17...b7 18.ae1 d7 19.f3 f7!? [ 19...fe8 ] 20.g2 a6 21.d1 ae8 22.fe1 h5!?
23.a4 [ 23.c1 d7 ] 23...xd3!? [ 23...c8! and ...Rfe8 might prepare this better. ] 24.xd3 [ 24.fxe5! dxe5 25.xd3 e4 26.dd1 exf3 27.xf3 is a much-improved version of the game. ] 24...e4 25.dd1 exf3 26.xf3 e4 27.xe4 xe4 28.f2 fe8 29.b3 h7?! [ 29...8e7! with ...Qe8 to follow is a good idea. ] 30.h4 d4? 31.xd4! xe1 32.xe1 xe1 33.c4 W hite has escaped. e7 34.h3 h6 35.c3 h1+ 36.g2 e2+ This is drawn, although the game result is given as '0-1'. Perhaps a tragic time forfeit? 0-1
986 Prusikin,Michael Schunk,Eduard 76th ch-GER Altenkirchen GER (1) [John Watson]
A26 2540 2337 18.02.05
A mini-game whose opening shows another typical structure. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.e4 d6 4.g3 c6 5.g2 e5 6.ge2 g7 7.d3 0-0 8.0-0 d4 9.xd4 exd4 A position with a 'dead point' on d4 is usually held to favour W hite's mobile kingside pawns but any advance is difficult to achieve, since ...f5 will be available. Anyway White, a 2500+ player, didn't see much reason to try. 10.e2 e8 11.h3 c6 12.b4!? [ 12.b3 c7 13.b2 e6 14.f4 f5 15.exf5 gxf5 16.d2 a5 is an illustration. White can play g4 at some point and try for kingside play. Should White do nothing, I wonder if Black can try for ... Bd7-e8-h5/g6 in addition to using the g-file? ] [ 12.f4 f5 ] 12...a5 13.b5 cxb5 14.cxb5 a4! 15.d2 b6 ½-½
972
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 987 Psakhis,Lev Danielsen,Henrik 3rd Int Torshavn FAI (2) [Tony Kosten]
A26 2611 2519 07.10.2000
1.c4 f5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d6 4.g2 g6 5.d3 [ White avoids the main line of the Leningrad D u t c h w h i c h w o u l d a r i s e a f t e r 5.d4 , and plays a Botvinnik structure instead. ] 5...g7 6.e4 c6 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 e5 9.d5 e6 10.g5 d7 11.d2 f7 [ P o s s i b l y n o t t h e b e s t m o v e , 11...h5 intends ...f4, and has more venom, 12.exf5 xf5 13.b4 ae8 14.b5 d8 15.e3 c6! 16.bxc6 bxc6 17.dc3 f6 18.c2 1/2-1/2 Gavrikov,V-Ibragimov,I/Katrineholm 1999. ] 12.f3!? [ A new move in this position, although the plan is a typical one, 12.ac1 af8 13.exf5 xf5 14.xf6 xf6 15.xf6+ xf6 16.d4 is another possibility, but offers White little, Marszalek,R-Bielczyk,J/Warsaw 1988. ] 12...af8 13.ac1 fxe4 This capture leads to a favourable structure for W hite, but Black had few other useful moves. 14.dxe4 e8 15.e3 h3 Played to weaken the white king position, but this exchange leaves White with the better bishop. 16.c5 xg2 17.xg2 a6 18.cd1 c8 19.c2 h8 20.b4 White prosecutes his queenside attack, and meanwhile Black has dif f iculty achieving anything on the other wing. g8!? In order to bring the bishop to f8. 21.a4 dxc5 22.xc5 e6 23.c1 f8 24.d3 The knight arrives in time to recapture on c5 if necessary. d6 25.b2 gf8? 26.b5 axb5 27.axb5 b8 28.b6! White undermines the black bishop. d7 [ 28...cxb6 29.xd6 xd6 30.xe5+ xe5 31.xe5 wins material. ] 29.3f4! The black queen is trapped in its own side of the board! xf4 30.xf4 xf4 [ Black has to concede a further exchange, as 30...f7 is met by 31.bxc7 xc7 32.xf8 ] 31.xd6 [ 31.gxf4?? xc5 ] 31...xd6 32.gxf4 c4 33.bxc7 c6 34.xd7 xd7
[ 34...xd7 35.xb7 is decisive, and, anyway, ] [ 34...xb2 35.d8+ is no better. ] 1-0
988 Roberts,Paul Rowson,Jonathan ch Edinburgh SCO (8) [Jonathan Rowson]
d6
36.d1
g7
36.c8
A26 2176 2591 18.07.2009
1.f3 [ 1.e4 Not a flank opening I know, but you need to be familiar with the following game to understand the main ideas in the English lines that follow. c5 2.c3 d6 3.g3 c6 4.g2 g6 5.d3 g7 6.f4 f6 7.f3 0-0 8.0-0 b8 9.h3 b5 10.a3 a5 11.e3 b4 12.axb4 axb4 13.e2 b7 14.b3! a8 15.c1! This idea of ceding the a-file and p l a yi n g b 3 i s b a s i ca l l y a wa y o f s e m i permanently stabilising the queenside, and limiting Black's targets to the c2 pawn. By avoiding or at least delaying the exchange of rooks Spassky also makes it less likely his extended kingside will be infiltrated by major pieces. a2 16.g4 a8 17.e1 a6 18.f2! ( 18.h4? xc2! 19.xc2 xd3 is bad news for white.) 18...a7 19.f5 b5 20.fxg6 hxg6 21.g5 a3 22.h4 c8 23.xf6! exf6 24.h7+ f8 25.xf7! xc2 26.h6 xc1+ 27.xc1 xf7 28.xg7+ e8 29.g5 f5 30.xg6+ d7 31.f7+ c6 32.exf5+ 1-0 Spassky, BGeller, E/Sukhumi 1968/Candidates ] 1...g6 2.c4 g7 3.g3 d6 4.c3 e5 5.g2 c6 6.d3 f5 7.0-0 f6 8.b1 Black can meet Rb1 in three main ways. Ignore it, delay it(a5) or wait for b4 and play a6. In most cases the details won't matter much, because the structure is likely to be the same. It is really just a question of when the a-pawns are exchanged. Against a5, White plays a3 and b4 and chop chop if b4 a6, white plays a4 and b5 then chop chop, and if Black does nothing, white plays b4-b5 and follows up with a4-a5 and Black usually feels obliged to stop b5-b6 by playing b6 himself, leading to chop chop and the same structure! T here are som e 973
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h id d e n n u a n c e s, b u t yo u a r e u n like ly t o remember them so it is more important to grasp the basic structural themes and pay a t t e n t i o n a t t h e b o a r d . h6 Given an exclamation mark by Psakhis in his notes to the following game. The ideas that follow are based partly on that game, and partly on it's precursor from the Closed Sicilian. I have included Spassky-Geller because it is really the model of how to play these positions and players on both sides should be aware of it. [ 8...a5 9.g5! According to Psakhis's notes in Informator, but what the plus-equals sign really means is that such positions are relatively easy for White to play rather than that pinning the knight gives him the advantage. That said, there is an issue with this particular move order. Ideally Black would meet Bxf6 and Nd5 with Qf7, and then after b4-b5 the knight comes to e6 via d8 and the coordination is good. However, when Black plays an early a5, it means that when a White knight lands on d5 it can only be chased away by weakening b6. In that case the queen needs to be on d8 and Black will probably have to meet b5 by exchanging knights on e7, which is not usually ideal, because it makes it easier for White to attack the queenside. ] 9.b4 a6!? [ 9...0-0 10.b5 e7 11.a4 e6! 12.a3 ( 12.c5? dxc5 13.xe5 e8!-+; 12.d2 d5 ) 12...c8! ( 12...b6? 13.xe5!; 12...b8 13.c5 ) 13.d2 b6 14.e3!? ( 14.a5 g5 15.axb6 axb6 16.b2 d7 17.a1 Interesting assessment- Psakhis clearly thinks that such positions are generally slightly in Black's favour.) 14...g5 15.d4 exd4 16.exd4 f4!? 17.e1 g4 18.f3! d7 19.c5 ce8 20.c1! f5 21.d3 h8! At this moment the position is merely tense and unclear, but Black eventually won in Psakhis, L (2575) -Kasparov, G (2800)/La Manga (m/5) 1990. ] 10.a4 0-0 11.b5 axb5 12.axb5 e7 13.b2 e6 14.b3 b6 15.a1 c8! F o l l o w i n g S p a s s k y ' s e x a m p l e . 16.d2?! Perhaps not a mistake, but the knight doesn't have much perspective here and to my mind it makes much more sense to play [ 16.e1 intending Nc2-b4. ]
[ 16.a7!? g5 17.fa1 e8 18.1a4 h5 19.a2 f4 20.a8 intending to defuse the attack by swapping rooks, is another plausible approach. ] 16...e8?! I think this is probably a bit inaccurate, but it shouldn't have done me any harm. [ 16...g5 makes more sense, so that the queen stays guarding c7 for now. ] 17.a7 g5 18.d5?! [ 18.b7!? is often played in such positions and tends to be annoying, but I forgot about it. d8 19.g2 ( 19.d5 xd5 20.cxd5 d7 leaves White's kingside vulnerable.) 19...c8 not forced, but after anything else it is no longer as easy to play in the thematic style of Spassky-Geller. ] [ 18.fa1!? The position is very rich so there are lots of ways for White to compete with B l a c k ' s p e n d i n g k i n g s i d e a t t a c k . h5 19.b7 cd8 20.f3 g4 21.g2 d7 22.a8 ] 18...exd5 19.cxd5 d7 d5 and b5 are weaker than c7, so Black should probably be better, but I was not in good enough form to find the relevant details over the next few moves. 20.c1 h5! 21.f3 This felt dubious to me at the time. [ 21.f3!? is better than it looks and probably ke ep s th e ba la nce . e8 Rybka prefers White but doesn't offer any plan to improve the position. Black's idea is Bf6-d8 followed by bringing the knight back to f6 and generally attacking on the kingside. 22.c4 f6 23.e4 f4 24.g4 h4 25.h3 h5 26.c3 g7 and I prefer Black's practical chances. ] 21...e8 22.ca1 f4 23.a8 f6 [ A f t e r t h e g a m e I f e l t t h a t 23...f7!? is probably much better. 24.xc8 xc8 25.f1 ( 25.a8 b7! is one point, and otherwise Black plans to take on g3 and play g4 and Qf2.) 25...b7 26.d2 f6 27.e4! A typical computer detail that we missed in our post-mortem analysis- White is not doing so badly after all. fxe3?! 28.fxe3 xd5 29.xd5 xd5 30.xf6! ] 24.xc8 xc8 25.a7 e8 26.c2 The trouble is that White's moves are almost f orce d, so I didn't give my op ponen t an y difficult decisions. xb5 With a heavy-heart! [ 26...e4 was plan A, and I had intended this 974
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 when I played Nf6, but then I saw an annoying detail a few moves down the line: 27.dxe4 xe4 28.xe4 xe4 29.xg7 xg7 30.e5! f5 31.c6! f6 32.d4 and here I felt W hite was at least ok and probably better. The immediate threat is to t a k e o n f 4 , t h e n f 5 a n d p l a y B h 3 + e5 33.xf5 ( 33.c6+ forcing a draw was the reason I didn't look any further.) 33...xf5 34.gxf4 c3!? with a complex ending. ] 27.xc7 d7 28.d2 b5 29.a3 f8 30.e4 xe4 31.xe4 a8 [ 31...d8 is obviously the soundest move, but I began to feel that the resulting endgame was unwinnable. 32.xc8 xc8 I felt White could take on c8, play Bb4 and exchange some pawns and I didn't see myself winning, but Paul said he was going to keep the queens on, after which I can at le a s t h o p e t o g e n e r a t e s o m e c h a n c e s although I don't think I am actually better. ] 32.b2 a4?! Fishing in murky waters without any bait. In a vain ef fort to win, I generate plenty of losing chances. 33.e3 [ 33.d4! exd4 34.h7+ h8 35.f5! ] 33...fxe3 34.fxe3 d8 35.b7 [ 35.d4! ] 35...a2 36.b3 a5 37.c3 [ 37.xd7 e1+ 38.g2 e2+ ] 37...a3 [ 37...a1+ Actually forces a draw so would have been a better move, but I was short of time and placed all my hopes in my peace offer. 38.xa1 ( 38.g2 a2+ ) 38...e1+ 39.g2 e2+ 40.g1 e1+ ] [ 37...a3 38.xa3 xa3 39.xe5 dxe5 40.xd7 I felt it was better to offer the draw before we actually reached this position, because the b-pawn looks much less scary than the d-pawn here. ] ½-½
played in this position. I have appended a lot of analysis to show the ideas. 1.c4 g6 2.c3 g7 3.g3 d6 4.g2 f5 5.d3 f6 6.e4 c6 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 e5 9.h3 A standard move, but Black's response makes a good case for [ 9.f3 ] [ Instead, 9.exf5 xf5 10.e3 d7 is comfortable for Black. ] 9...f4! Out of the hundreds and hundreds of games (including those at the top levels), I can find only 7 rather obscure games with this move, 3 of them leading to very quick wins for Black. In fact I see nothing wrong with it! 10.gxf4 [ It's pretty easy to see that slow alternatives such as 10.h2 g5 are undesirable, but even worse is ] [ 10.d4?! h5! ( or 10...f3 11.xf3 xh3; 10...fxg3 11.fxg3 exd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 e6! with a nice advantage) 11.d5 ( 11.g4?? f3 ) 11...d4 12.gxf4 h4! ] 10...h5 11.f5 [ (a) an important defensive try is 11.d5 h4! 12.f5 ( 12.xc7 exf4! ) 12...gxf5! 13.g3! ( 13.xc7? f4 14.xa8? -- but otherwise h3 falls -- f3 and Black's attack is simply winning) 13...xg3 14.fxg3 xg3 15.xc7 b8 16.f3!? Balashov,YDubinsky,R/Moscow 1999/, when Black s h o u l d h a v e p l a y e d xf3 ( instead of 16...h4? 17.e3 f4 when the players agreed to a draw Black would also get an a d v a n t a g e f r o m; 16...g6 ) 17.xf3 ( 17.xf3 fxe4 18.xe4 xf1+ 19.xf1 xh3+ 20.g1 d4 ) 17...d4 18.f1 f4! ] [ (b) 11.fxe5 and: (b1) A) (b2) 11...dxe5!? 12.d5 h4 A1) 13.xc7! xh3 14.xa8 xg2 15.xg2 f3! 16.g3! ( 16.xf3? h3+ 17.g3 d4+ 18.e3 h6+ 19.f4 xf4 and wins ) 16...xg3+ 17.fxg3 xg3+ 18.h1 h3+=; A2) 13.f4? xh3 14.e1 g4 15.e3 989 A26 d7 16.xh3 xh3 17.f5 ad8 0-1 Gelman,A-Annakov,B/Moscow Roca,Alfredo 2366 1997; Peralta,Eduardo 2252 B) 11...h4 12.f4 ( 12.d5 xh3 ITT Ricardo Lettieri (7) 14.03.2005 13.xh3 xh3 14.ef4? xf4 15.xf4 [John Watson] xf4! 16.xf4 xe5 17.f3 f8 18.xe5 xe5 ) 12...xh3 13.e1 g4 14.f2 I'm not sure why the pawn sacrifice employed xe5 15.d1 c6 16.d4 xg2 17.xg2 by Black in the following game is so rarely 975
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg2+ 18.xg2 xc4 MarinangeliPanesso, Bogota 2004. ] 11...gxf5 [ 11...h4 is also possible and apparently equal: 12.d2?! ( B e s t l o o k s 12.g3! xg3 13.fxg3 xg3 14.f3 h4 15.b5 d4= ) 12...h6 ( 12...gxf5! 13.g5 xg5 14.xg5= --Ribli, but fxe4 15.dxe4 f4 should favour Black) 13.f3 gxf5 14.e1 xe1 15.xe1 b4 ( 15...e6 16.d5 f7 --Ribli ) 16.d1 c2 17.b1 c6 18.d2 #0 Gurevich-Maiwald, Germany 2003 and now the easiest course was f4! 19.b4 e3 with an obvious advantage. ] 12.g3 [ 12.exf5 i s p r o b a b l y b e s t : h4?! ( 12...xf5! results in equality or perhaps a slight Black advantage after 13.g3! xg3 14.fxg3 d7 15.g4 g6 ) 13.g3 f4? ( 13...xg3 14.fxg3 d4+ 15.h2 xf5 16.b5! b6 17.e2 intends Be3 and White has a definite advantage) 14.g4! xg4 15.hxg4 xd3 16.d5?! ( 16.b5! wins a pawn and shatters Blacks position.) 16...d7?? ( 16...f7 17.h5 and Black is tied down ) 17.xc7 ad8 18.b5 1-0 S Williams-R Palliser,Birmingham 2002. One of White's only successes. ] 12...f4! 13.xf4 exf4 14.xf5 xf5 [ Black played the riskier but interesting 14...e5!? in Heilinger-H Dobosz, Vorarlberg 1997: 15.h5!? ( 15.d4 xc4 16.e2 is another try, when b6 17.xg7 xg7 18.f3 c6 is probably about equal) 15...f3! 16.xf3 g5+! 17.h1 xh5 18.xh5 xf5 19.exf5 xd3 20.d5 ab8 ( 20...c6 ) 21.ab1 c6 22.e2 c5 23.e3 e4 with rough equality ] 15.exf5 xf5 [ A dynamic try was 15...d4!? 16.xb7?! ( 16.g4? xf5 ) 16...b8 17.d5+ h8 18.b1 xf5 , but 16.Be4 is a solid response. ] 16.e4 It's hard to come up with another move in the face of ...f3, e.g., [ 16.h1 f3! 17.xf3 h4 18.g2 af8 ( 18...h5!? 19.b3 d4 20.xb7 af8 ) 19.g4! (only move) xg4 20.hxg4 xf2 and Black stands better. ] 16...g5+ 17.h2 e5!? [ This time 17...d4! is more effective
b e c a u s e Q g 4 i s n ' t a v a i l a b l e : 18.xb7 ( 18.g1 c6! 19.xg5 xg5 20.g4 xg4 21.hxg4 f3! and ideas like ..Be5+ and ... Rf8f4 give White problems) 18...b8 19.d5+ h8 with threats of ...Rxb2 and ...f3. Black stands better. ] 18.g1 h8 19.xg5 xg5 20.g4 f3+ 21.h1 h6? Now White's attack is better than Black's. Black would have maintained at least equality by [ 21...xg4 22.hxg4 d4 23.b5! f8 24.xd4 ( 24.e1 f4 25.xd4 xd4 26.xb7 h5 27.gxh5 xf2 28.e4 f5! ) 24...xd4 25.g1 f4 ] 22.g1 f8 23.d5? [ White has a clear advantage after 23.b5! f4 ( 23...xb2 24.xc7 , as in the game.) 24.xf4 xf4 25.xc7 h4 26.xf3 ] 23...xb2? [ 23...d4! 24.g3 e5 25.g4 d4 26.g3 draws. ] 24.xc7 e5 25.e6? [ A cute win follows 25.g3! c6 26.d5! (threatening mate on g8) e7 27.e6 g8 28.xg8+! xg8 29.g5! ] 25...xe6 26.xe6 f6 27.b1 c3? The last mistake. Black should try [ 27...xe6 28.xb2 b6 ] 28.c7 h6 29.xb7 xh3+ 30.g1 d5?? B u t W h i t e wa s wi n n i n g . 31.e6 g8 32.b8+ f7 33.g5+ f6 34.xh3 dxe4 35.dxe4 d4 36.f4 b6 37.d5+ 1-0
990 Tatisic,Milan Blesic,Vaso Belgrade Cup (1) [John Watson]
A26 2281 2254 05.04.2005
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 c6 4.g2 g6 5.d3 g7 6.e4 d6 7.ge2 e6 [ 7...0-0 8.0-0 h5 ( 8...d7!? -in this case with the idea of ...Nc5- 9.d5 c5 10.b4!? e6 11.b2 Kosten-Lilley,Scarborough 1999 ) 9.h3 f5 10.exf5 gxf5 11.f4 gave W hite some advantage in SmejkalBruckner, Bundesliga 1990/91. Here Black benefits by not castling. ] 8.d5 d7 This is the same idea as in the 976
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 last note. [ 8...0-0 9.g5! , when Black is stuck in the pin for a while in view of h6? 10.xf6+ xf6 11.xh6 ] 9.e3 0-0 10.d2 f5 11.f3 Normally this is played both to take the bite out of ...f4 and to enforce d4. Bruzon-Kempinski, Linares 2001 saw the plan f4 instead - see ChessPub f6 12.0-0 d7 Now this looks like one of the ...f5 systems, but White has gained two tempi due to ...Nd7-f6. 13.h1 [ 13.b4 is a normal plan. ] 13...ae8 14.g1!? e7 15.d4?! fxe4 16.fxe4 exd4 17.xd4 g4 White's pawn on e4 is isolated and he must stand slightly worse. 18.g5!? h6 [ Better was 18...exd5 19.exd5 e5! ] 19.d2 h7 20.ac1 eg8 21.f4 h5!? 22.xh5 xh5 23.h3 g5 24.g4 f7 25.b3 e5 26.h2 e7 27.f5 e6 28.f2 The position is relatively closed and a draw seems a fair result. ½-½
991 Vachier Lagrave,M Aronian,L 6th Final Masters (4) [Fier, Alexandr]
A26 2742 2795 10.10.2013
This was a great game of prophylaxis in the opening with subtle manoeuvres and unusual ideas compared to the normal English. 10... Ne7 is aime d a gainst W hite's qu een sid e expansion but to retreat the knight before being attacked allows White to choose plans other than the normal 11.b5. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 g6 In this order Black tries to go to a King's Indian setup, but allows White to immediately play in the center. 5.g2 [ The direct 5.d4 is also quite common exd4 6.xd4 g7 is the subject of plenty of strong games and was analyzed recently in Jones, G (2641)-Swiercz, D (2609)/ Bundesliga 1213 2012 (12.3). ] 5...g7 6.0-0 0-0 7.d3 [ 7.d4 is still possible and can transpose to a n e a r l y d 4 exd4 8.xd4 e8 was a nalyzed in Gretarsson, H (2 516)Bacrot, E (2671)/Hrokurinn Reykjavic ISL
2003. ] 7...h6 8.b4!? Without ...d6 played this move become possible. It looks a bit dangerous to open the diagonal with the rook still on a1, but there is no good way to use it. d6 [ 8...xb4 could be one attempt to 'refute' 8. b4 9.xe5 e8 ( 9...e8 10.b3 defends everything a5 11.f3 ) 10.f3 A) 10...fd5? is not good since Black cannot really take the exchange, 11.cxd5 xc3 12.xh6 xd5 ( 12...xa1 13.xa1 f6 14.d4+- Black's position is just too open. ) 13.e4; B) 10...d5 11.b1 c6 12.cxd5 xd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.c2 and White has two good files to use and all his pieces can quickly be active. W hite's chances are preferable. ] 9.b1 Now the position transpose to the normal path. [ 9.b5 d4 10.d2 would be a normal way to continue, but with the rook on a1 it does not really work a6! and 11.a4 is not possible since the rook is undefended. ] 9...a6 10.a4 e7!? One of the ideas of moving the knight before it is attacked is that against 11.b5 Black is not forced to capture anymore. On the other hand, W hite is not forced to play 11.b5 either. [ 10...e6 11.b5 axb5 12.axb5 e7 is the main line and almost one thousand games were played in this position so far, 13.b2 was seen in a recent top level game c8 ( 13...d7 is more common) 14.e1 with chances for both players in Movsesian, S (2693)- Andriasian, Z (2608)/EU-ch 14th Legnica 2013. ] 11.a3 Preparing 12.c5. [ 11.b5 would be logical, a5 ( 11...axb5 12.axb5 just transposes to the line with 10... Be6 ) 12.c5 allows Black to finally use the diagonal ( 12.a3 d7 and Black stops the a d v a n c e j u s t i n t i m e 13.d2 b8 followed by 14...b6 can be one option.) 12...dxc5 A) 13.xe5 looks like a blunder, but in fact can lead to a funny repetition, or a messy position h5! 14.f4 xe5 15.fxe5 d4+ 16.e3 xc3 17.b2! a n d t h e q u e e n c a n n o t r u n a w a y b4 18.d4 a3 19.a1 b4 20.b1 cxd4 977
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 20...a3 21.a1 b4 22.b1= ) 21.xb4 axb4 22.exd4 with unclear consequences; B) 13.b2 d7 14.d2 would be a gambit plan, and I'm not sure the compensation is enough for the pawn. ] 11...c6 With the bishop on a3 White can't go for b5 anymore, so ...c6 makes a lot of sense. 12.c5 e8 [ 12...ed5 is another idea A) 13.b2 xc3 ( 13...e8; 13...xb4 14.cxd6 xd6 15.xe5 xe5 16.e4 e7 17.xf6+ xf6 18.xf6 xf6 19.xb4 ) 14.xc3 e8; B) 13.c2 puts the queen in the line of fire, xc3 14.xc3 e4! 15.d4 ( 15.dxe4 xe4 16.c2 c3 and Black is too active) 15...exd3 16.xd3 d5 and Black should be fine ] 13.e4 Gaining some space in the center and restraining Black's position [ 13.c1 defends the bishop, and threatens b5 d5!? 14.xe5 f5 ( 14...d4 recovers the pawn, but allows White to use the c4square 15.d1 f5 16.c4 xe2 17.b6 b8 18.b2 and White is slightly better) 15.f4 ( 15.f3 d4 gets the pawn back) 15...d7 with good compensation ] 13...g4 Without the bishop on c8 the knight can go to d7, where it's more useful. [ 13...b5 is forcing, but usually opening up the queenside is better for White. Aronian wants to wait for cxd6 first, 14.cxb6 xb6 15.c2 ] 14.b3 d7 15.d2 [ 15.cxd6 does not win a pawn, since c8 16.b5 axb5 17.axb5 e6 18.b2 c5 is fine for Black ] 15...c8 16.c2 f8 Forcing matters, now the position opens up in a dangerous way. 17.cxd6 [ 17.d1!? hold the pawn on c5 with idea of bringing the knight to e3 dxc5 forcing 18.bxc5 b6!? 19.cxb6 xa3 20.b7 b8 21.bxc8 xc8 22.e3 and White has a go o d s qu a re on c4 . Me a nwh ile B lack' s bishop will also be strong on c5. ] 17...xd6 18.b3 b5! An important move for Black, W hite's bishop needs to find another place to go. 19.h3 e6 20.fd1 Black also needs to be careful here, if d4
arrives without any good counterplay White is better. bxa4!? Opening space for the d6kn igh t t o sto p d 4 p lan s. 21.xa4 b5 22.b2 xb3 23.xb3 c5 Now everything will be a mess! 24.bc1 [ 24.bxc5 is not the dream position for White xc5 25.xc5 xc5 and Black is slightly better. ] 24...b8 25.a2 [ 25.bxc5!? is also possible, sacrificing the exchange, d4 26.a2 e2+ 27.h2 xc1 28.xc1 a5 and White probably h a s e n o u g h c o m p e n s a t io n t o h o l d t h e balance. ] 25...cxb4 Black wins a pawn, so White needs t o b e qu ick in o rd e r t o f in d co u n t e rp la y. 26.c6 g7 27.d4 Finally opening the position. Both players are probably soon getting into time trouble so it's quite easy to lose control for both sides. b3 28.b1 exd4 29.xd4+ xd4 30.xd4 Here is the critical position! The computer says Black is better, but with a hard move to find over the board. a5 It is natural to escape from the pin, but now White finds counterplay on the seventh rank just in time. [ 30...e7 doesn't really unpin the queen 31.c7 ed8 32.b2! ( 32.d1 b2 33.xb2 xb2 34.dxd7 xd7 35.xd7 f6 and White is under pressure) 32...g8 33.d2 e5 34.cxd7 b2 35.xb2 xd7 36.xd7 xb2 now the queen is on e5 instead of f6 37.d5 xd5 38.xd5 b4 and W hite will find sufficient counterplay with Bf1-c4. ] [ 30...g8 this is the computer move, a bit mysterious but in some variations the king is better here, 31.d3 ( 31.e5!? to avoid ... Ne5! xe5 32.d3 e7 33.d5 g7 34.xg6 f8 35.xg7 xg7 36.xb3 and the computer says Black is better, but there is still fight) 31...e5! and Black is just winning! 32.xd8 exd8 33.xa6 xc6 34.xc6 d1+ 35.h2 b2 36.xb2 xb2 and there is no way to stop the rooks going to the second rank, surprisingly White has n o c h a n c e s a n y m o r e , 37.e5 ( 37.f6 dd2 ) 37...xf2 38.e6 dd2 ] 31.xd7 xa4 32.e5 [ 32.cc7! it looks like Black is promoting w i t h c h e c k , b u t i t ' s n o t e n o u g h , a2 978
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 32...b2 looks really scary 33.xf7+ g8 34.e5! a1 35.h2!! xb1 36.d5 and Black is just mated!) 33.xf7+ g8 34.d3 bringing all the pieces into the attack b2 ( 34...e7 35.e5! xf7 36.d5+ g7 37.c6 and there is no way to defend g6 d6 38.xd6 c2 39.d7+ h8 40.d4 ) 35.d7 b1+ 36.h2 ba1 37.xf8+ xf8 38.d6+ g8 39.xg6+ f8 40.f5+ g8 41.g6+= of course, all this lines are hard to see for a human. ] 32...e7! Now W hite is in trouble. 33.dd6 a2? But now White is winning! [ 33...b2 wa s d e c i s i v e , 34.xg6+ fxg6 35.xg6+ h8 36.e4 xe4 and the pawn promotes ] 34.xg6+ fxg6 35.xg6+ h8 36.d5 g7 37.xh6+ h7 38.e6 [ 38.g6! was necessary, g7 ( 38...g7 39.h5+ h7 40.g4 now the queen is better placed g7 41.h6++- ) 39.e4 h6 40.f5! and the threats of Rxh6 and Rc8 are unstoppable ] 38...b1+ Bringing the queen back to the defence. 39.g2 g7 40.c8 xc8 41.xc8 g8 Black is not getting mated anymore and the a6 pawn proves to be quite i m p o r t a n t i n t h e e n d g a m e . 42.b7 Trying to keep some pieces on. [ 42.xg8 was another option, but also not enough e4+ ( 42...xg8 43.e6+ h8 44.f6+ g7 45.d8+ is a draw ) 43.h2 xg8 44.e6+ h8 45.xb3 ( 45.f6+ g7 46.d8+ h7 and the checks are over ) 45...xe5 and Black's pawn will be quicker than White's counterplay. ] 42...h7 43.xb3 g5 44.e3 e7 Black's plan is to advance the p awn an d exchange the queens. It's hard for White to advance his pawns in order to create counterplay without exchanging anything, so Black is probably winning. 45.f4 g7 46.f5 g5! 47.xg5 xg5 48.g4 g7 49.e6 f6 White can play g4-g5 at some point but Black d o e s n 't n e e d t o wo rry so m u ch a b o u t it . 50.g3 a5 51.h4 g8 52.g5 g7! [ 52...a4 allows counterplay 53.f4 g7 54.h5! and the position is drawn, h8 55.h6+ xh6 56.gxh6+ xh6= ] 53.f4 h8! The most precise. [ 53...a4 54.h5= ]
54.g4 [ 54.gxf6+ xf6 55.e3 a4 56.e7 ( 56.d4 d8 wins ) 56...xe7 57.e6 ( 57.d3 d8-+ ) 57...d8-+ ] 54...b8 55.gxf6+ xf6 56.e7 [ 56.h5 d8 57.a2 d2 58.b1 a4 ] 56...a4 And the pawn is decisive. 0-1
992 Yudin,Sergei Stellwagen,Daniel WYb18 Heraklio GRE (6) [John Watson]
A26 2419 2512 08.11.2004
When Black plays the king's Indian Defence a g a i n s t t h e E n gl i s h O p e n i n g a n d W h i t e chooses d3 instead of d4, a classic struggle between White's queenside attack and Black's on the kingside. After at least 50 years of theoretical and practical examination it's very unclear who stands better. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 5.d3 d6 6.f3 e5 7.0-0 c6 8.b1 a5 9.a3 f5 Here various moves such as [ 9...h5 ] [ 9...e8 ] [ and 9...d4 have been played. ] 10.d2 [ The plan with 10.g5 (to prevent ...e4 as we ll as t o in crea se p re ssu re a lon g t h e h1-a8 diagonal) h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.d2 h a s n 't b e e n a c h i e vi n g m u ch , e . g . , g7 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 b8 15.b5 e7 16.b3 c6= Oll,L-Jussupow,A, Elista 1998. ] 10...d7 11.e1 h3 12.h1 h6 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 g4 [ Another and safer plan is 14...ab8 15.b5 d8 16.b2 c6= ] 15.b5 d8 16.b3!? It's a bit odd to abandon the kingside. White want to get either c5 or d4 in. The normal plan is still dangerous if Black over commits: [ 16.b2 f5 ( 16...f5!? 17.f3 e6 18.d5 h5 19.a1 and Black's attack was going nowhere, Kuehn,P-Lindinger,M, Berlin 1996.) 17.a1 xa1 18.xa1 f4 19.ce4 f5?! 20.f3 fxg3 21.hxg3 h5 22.a7 with a clear advantage, Shurygin,S979
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Czakon,J, Koszalin 2001. ] thematic 15.exf5! as the knight can no 16...f5 17.c5 dxc5! longer recapture on f5. ] [ 17...f4 18.f3 h8 19.cxd6 cxd6 9.xd4 exd4 10.e2 a5!? 20.d5?! should have been met by fxg3 [ This move shows some thought. As White 21.hxg3 xb5 in Aleksieva,S-Zielinska, needs to play b4 at some point, either to Elista 1998, in view of 22.c7?? b6 ] attack the d4-pawn, or to deflect the c518.d5+ pawn (if Black plays ...c5), Black simply [ 18.xc5?? d4 ] stops it! 10...b8!? is another good idea, 18...h7 19.xc5 e7 20.3a4 e4 Black intends to counter on the queenside Pointing out the weakness of White's kingside. with ...b5: 11.b4 ( White can stop ...b5 with The Re1/Bh1 plan always carries this risk. 11.a4?! but then a5 stops b4 for good,) N o w W h i t e b l u n d e r s : 21.dxe4? fxe4 11...b5 12.cxb5 xb5 13.d2 c5! 22.e3? xf2! 23.xe4 ( curiously, just before this game Davies had [ 23.xf2 e3 24.d3 exf2+ 25.xf2 e3 ] this position again, but this time as White, 23...g2+ against Murshed,N, also at Dhaka (BAN) [ 23...g2+ 24.xg2 xe3+ 25.h1 f2+ 2 0 0 1 . T h a t g a m e c o n t i n u e d , 13...b8 wins the queen, for starters. ] 14.c2 c6 15.ab1 h6 16.fd1 g4 0-1 17.f3 d7 18.a4 and White has some advantage, but clearly Nigel had spotted the potential of the line!) 14.bxc5 dxc5 993 A26 15.c2 b6 16.ab1 d7 if the white knight could get to c4, Black's queenside Zueger,Beat 2416 would be weak, and White would be clearly Gallagher,Joseph G 2514 better. However, the knight is miles away ch Pontresina SUI (5) 17.07.2000 f r o m c 4 , a n d t h i s c h a n g e s e ve ry t h in g ! [Tony Kosten] 17.xb5 xb5 18.b1 a6 19.f4 c8 20.h4 e5 preparing ...c4, with equality, 1.c4 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 e5 4.c3 c6 Miezis, N-Davies,N/Dhaka BAN 2001. ] 5.d3 d6 6.e4 ge7 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 11.d2 c6 12.c2 d7 13.f4 f5 14.ae1 d4!? [ This appears to be a respectable alternative W hite develops sensibly, his one problem to the standard 8...Be6. Other oddities: piece is the knight on e2 which, just as in the 8...a6!? 9.e3?! even the best can forget previous note, has no useful square to hop to. 15.h1 P r e p a r i n g N g 1 - f 3 . fxe4 that this is wrong! d4! the problem, White h8 can no longer capture on d4 with his e2- 16.dxe4?! [ White hopes to use d3 for his knight, a knight, 10.f4 c6 11.a4 e6 12.h3 d5!? common idea in these lines, but I would Black decides to liquidate the central prefer 16.xe4 myself, followed by Ng1-f3, tension, 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.fxe5 xe2+ and attempting to exploit the extra kingside 15.xe2 dxe4 16.d4!? d5 17.d2 c8 pawn. ] 18.f4 xf4 19.xf4 d5!? 20.xe4 xe4 21.xe4 d5 Black has positional 16...b4 17.xb4?! [ This concedes the bishop pair, and opens c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r t h e p a wn , M ie zi s, N the a-file. Obviously White wasn't too keen Ibrahimov,R/Dubai UAE 1999. ] on a move like 17.b1 as d3 18.c3 c2 [ 8...g4?! shows that Black doesn't know is possible, but this is probably less this line too well, as f3 is a move White will serious. ] of ten want to play anyway! 9.f3 e6 10.d5 d7 11.g5 ( 11.e3 17...axb4 18.c1 c5 19.b3 Necessary, to will transpose directly into my main line in defend the a-pawn, if W hite wants to play The Dynamic English, with White having an Nd3. b5 20.f2 a5 21.cxb5 xb5 extra move) 11...f5 12.d2 f7 13.ae1 22.e5?! ae8 23.d5 f5 [ Something has gone wrong for White, and af8 14.b3 c8 Mecking, H-Vescovi,G/Sao Black could even win a pawn by 23...dxe5 Paulo BRA 2000, when I would play the 980
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.fxe5 f5! although the move played is dark-squared bishops, as the weak c-pawns strong enough. ] will drop off eventually. ] 24.d2 dxe5 25.fxe5 d7 26.g2 d3!? [ 12...b8 has the best reputation, 13.cxd6 [ 26...f7 27.fe2 fe7 28.d3 c7 ( 13.d1 g4 14.e1 b4 15.g5!? should win the e5-pawn without too many xc5!? 16.xe7 fe8 17.h4 g5 problems. ] wa s m e s s y , S m y s l o v , V - Q u i n t e r o s , M / 27.g4!? Buenos Aires 1970) 13...cxd6 14.f4 d8 [ 27.f3 is an alternative. ] Illescas Cordoba, M-Godena,M/Lisbon 1993, 27...xg4 28.xf8+ xf8 29.xd3 e7 when 15.fd1 b4 brings about a fairly In an open position the bishop pair is very typical position for this variation: Black's useful. 30.g3 f5 31.d3 d8 32.b2 pawns remain weak, but he has open files d2 33.c4 The knight reaches a good for his rooks, and diagonals for his bishops. ] s q u a r e , b u t a t t h e c o s t o f a p a w n . xa2 13.d1 g4!? 34.e6?! xe6 35.b8+ f8 36.xf8+ xf8 [ An improvement on the previously played [ 36...xf8 37.xe6 a1+ regains the 13...f5?! allowing 14.e5! d7 ( 14...xe5?? piece. ] 15.e2 ) 15.f4 when Black had managed to 0-1 incarcerate both his bishops, Arsovic,ZCertic,B/Belgrade 1994. ] 14.d3 c8 15.g5 dxe4?! 994 A27 [ Another concession, 15...e8 is better, as 16.xe7?! xe7 17.exd5?! drops an Bruzon Batista,Lazaro 2569 exchange to f5 ] Quesada,Yuniesky 2411 f6 17.f4 b8 18.e1 Guillermo ALFIL (8) 27.05.2002 16.xe4 Black certainly seems to be poorly-placed [Tony Kosten] here, the white pieces are active, centralised, 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 g6 4.d4 and he has the superior queenside structure. This is the pertinent reply to Black's third move, f5 19.a4?! [ 19.xf5! xf5 20.a4 xb2 21.xc6 before he has time to play ...Bg7 and control wins the c-pawn for zero compensation. ] d4. exd4 5.xd4 g7 6.xc6 Doubling the b la c k p a wn s a ss u re s W h i t e a p o sit io n a l 19...xb2 20.xf5 xf5! [ 20...xf5? transposes into the previous advantage, but Black will always have active note. ] pieces in compensation. bxc6 7.g3 e7 8.g2 d6 9.0-0 0-0 Actually, ECO considers 21.c4+ d5 22.xd5 cxd5 23.xd5 this position part of A41, that arises after 1 d4 The attack on the queen, and threatened d6, but I personally feel that this is an English discovered check would finish many a game, but here Black can survive. c2 24.d4!? Opening. 10.c2 f5!? [ White could certainly consider the endgame [ Black provokes e4 so that the pressure here, 24.xc2 xc2 25.e7 c8 26.dd7 along the h1-a8 diagonal is cut, and White's f8 27.xh7 is obviously very good for control of d4 is lessened (e3 is no longer him. ] possible), but 10...e6 may be better, 11.b3 24...f5 25.e5 b1! A neat intermediate d7 12.d1 h3 with good play. ] 11.e4 e6 12.c5! This move is positionally move. 26.xb1 xb1+ 27.g2 xe5 strong, W hite certainly cannot afford to do 28.xe5 xa2!? [ This is very risky, 28...b7+ 29.h3 c6 nothing and wait for Black to play ...c5, . ..Nc6favours White, but at least the second rank d4. d5!? is protected. ] [ A drastic reply that leaves the c-pawns as White threatens mate and forces the we a k n e s s e s f o r t h e r e s t o f t h e g a m e . 29.e7 30.e8+ f8 12...dxc5?! is difficult to believe, 13.a4 c4 following continuation. f7 14.g5 e8 15.fd1 c8 , David,P-Pribyl, 31.xf8+ xf8 32.d8+ g7 33.xc7+ J / P r a g u e 1 9 9 0 , a n d n o w 16.e3 Material is equal, but the black king is open, looks simplest, intending to exchange the and White's c-pawn is very close to queening. 981
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 This should be enough to win the game for White, but Black has one useful resource: if he can get his queen to e4 he might be able to force a perpetual. f6!? [ This move allows White to check the black king around until he puts his queen on the best square to help the c-pawn, I prefer 33...f7 34.d6 c4 to control e4, when it will need some fancy footwork from White to avoid the perpetual. ] 34.d8+ f7 35.d7+ f6 36.d4+ e6 37.c6 c2 From here the queen surveys the c-pawn and the crucial e4-square. 38.d7+ f6 39.d6+ f7 40.c7 White is ready to play Qd7+ and c8(Q), but it is Black's turn, and he tries to force a perpetual. e4+ 41.f3 [ 41.f1 b1+ 42.e2 c2+ is also a draw, the white king cannot escape. ] 41...e2+ 42.h3 xf3?? [ 42...g5! threatens mate in one and draws comfortably: 43.d5+ g6 ] [ 42...f1+! 43.h4 xf3 is also a reasonable try, 44.d7+ f6 and White must take the perpetual, as otherwise there is no defence to the two mate-in-one threats. ] 43.d7+ f6 44.d4+ White stops the threat of perpetual, and queens his pawn next go. 1-0
often, when Black usually plays ...c6 and/or ...0-0-0 while White develops naturally by Bf4, 0-0, Rfd1 etc. ] 8...xd1+ 9.xd1 [ 9.xd1 retains the option of castling on either side. Bawart,M-Psakhis,L Vienna 1995 went c6 10.f4?! ( 10.d2 ) 10...e6 11.b3 0-0-0 ( or 11...b4+ 12.f1 e7 ) 12.h4 b4+ 13.f1 f6 14.f3 d6 and Black was better. ] 9...c6 10.c2 [ A fine example of a leading player handling the Black pieces is 10.f4 f6 11.e3 e7 12.e2 e6 13.b3 g5!? 14.e5 f7 15.ad1 he8 16.h4 g4 17.a4 ad8 18.d4 h5 19.d3 b4 20.hd1 f4+! 21.exf4 xd4 22.e3 ( 22.xd4 xc4# ) 22...xd1 23.xd1 d8+ 0-1 Schlindwein, R-Bareev,E Germany 2001. ] 10...f6 11.f4 c5 12.e3 e6 13.b3 0-0-0 14.h3 Versus ...Ng4. White is drifting a b i t b u t t h e p l a y i s s t i l l b a l a n c e d . h5 15.e5?! [ 15.h2 f4!? ] 15...he8! 16.f3 f7 17.h2 [ Black's point is 17.xh5?! xh5 18.xg7 f4! with a powerful attack, e.g., 19.a4 g6+ 20.c1 e7 21.d4 fxe3 22.fxe3 a3+ 23.b2 xe3! 24.xa3 e2 , winning. ] 17...g5! Straightforward aggression. 18.ad1 g6 19.b2 f8 Heading for g7. 20.e2 995 A27 f6! Heading to e4. [ 20...g7+ 21.c1 h6 22.xd8+ xd8 Ghaem Maghami,Ehsan 2558 23.d1 b2+ 24.c2 a3!? yields only a Agdestein,Simen 2589 small edge. ] 36th Olympiad (7) 22.10.2004 21.hg1 e4 22.xe4 fxe4 23.xd8+ [John Watson] xd8 24.c2 b4 25.c3 [ 25.d1 f8! 26.f1 c5! 27.g3 Espe cia lly be twe en two pla yers o f e qua l To protect the rook on f1 versus ...Bxe3. h5! strength, White's choice of the innocuous line and ...h4 win s the e-pawn. In general White that follows indicates a possible early draw. is cramped in these positions due to But in the end Agdestein accumulates Black's expansion on the kingside. ] advantages and shows that things are not so 26.g3 e7 27.h1 h5 easy. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f5 4.d4 25...f8 e4 5.d5 This is considered a harmless Preventing Rd1 and preparing ...Bf3. It's close continuation. 5.Ng5 is the most common move to over. 28.h4?! f3 29.h2 g4 30.h5 f5 e2 with 5.Nd2 less so. Interestingly, however, out To answer Bh4 with ... Rxh5. 31.b1 of a database of 84 games with 5.d5, 60% 32.f4 b5! 33.d2 d3+ 34.d1 b4! have had a decisive result. exf3 6.dxc6 fxg2 35.h6 a5 36.g2 f6! [ What an awful position for White. ...Rxa2 7.cxd7+ xd7 8.xg2 [ 8.xd7+ xd7 9.xg2 is played more 982
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 997
and a quick win follows. 36...f6 ] 0-1
996 Schlindwein,Rolf Bareev,Evgeny Bundesliga 2000-1 (6) [Tony Kosten]
A27 2441 2702 27.01.2001
1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f5 4.d4 e4 5.d5 [ This leads to multiple exchanges, 5.g5 is more ambitious. ] 5...exf3 6.dxc6 fxg2 7.cxd7+ xd7 8.xg2 [ 8.xd7+ xd7 9.xg2 is more popular, Taimanov,M-Polugaevsky,L/Baku 1961, although this allows Black to develop his queenside more quickly. ] 8...xd1+ 9.xd1!? [ 9.xd1 is also possible, c6 10.f4 e6 11.b3 0-0-0 but Black is fine, Bawart,MPsakhis,L/Vienna 1995. ] 9...c6 10.f4!? [ New. White will place his king on e7, but it proves exposed. 10.c2 might be stronger, e6 11.b3 c5 12.b2 f6 fairly level, Navabi,S-Stajic,S/Yerevan 1999. ] 10...f6 11.e3 e7 12.e2 e6 13.b3 g5! 14.e5 f7 15.ad1 he8 16.h4?! T h i s p a wn m a y p r o ve t o b e a lo n g - t e r m weakness on h4. g4 17.a4 ad8 18.d4?! [ White is forced to retain pieces on the board, a consequence of his sixteenth move, as 18.xd8 xd8 19.d1? loses a pawn: xd1 20.xd1 h5 the h-pawn is lost, as 21.g3? xg3 22.fxg3 d6 is even worse. ] 18...h5! This move carries a nasty threat. 19.d3? [ White had to admit the error of his ways by 19.e5 ] 19...b4 20.hd1 f4+! Brutally opening the e-file. 21.exf4 xd4 22.e3 [ The point is that 22.xd4? allows mate in one: xc4# ] 22...xd1 23.xd1 d8+ The black rook will infiltrate on the second rank, and 'Hoover' the white pawns. 0-1
Seirawan,Yasser Kritz,Leonid TCh-NED 2006-7 (5) [Carsten Hansen]
A27 2638 2597 21.02.2007
1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 g6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 g7 6.xc6 bxc6 7.g3 e7 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 d6 10.g5 [ In an earlier update 10.c2 was discussed. Now Black has tried a couple of different moves: A) 10...e6 11.b3 d7 ( Or 11...c8 12.d1 h3 David,P-Kulhanek,T, Czech Rep 2005, and now 13.g5 f6 14.f4 xg2 15.xg2 e6 16.c5 looks very good for W hite) 12.d1 ( 12.b2 h3 13.ad1 xg2 14.xg2 f5 15.f4 e6 with chances to both sides Christiansen,LL u g o vo i, A , A n t we r p 1 9 9 5) 12...f5 13.d2 e6 14.b2 h5?! 15.e1 h7 16.ad1 h6 17.e3 Georgiadis,IKoukoufikis,G, Athens 2005; B) 10...f5!? 11.e4 B1) 11...g4!? 12.b3 ( 12.e3 c5 13.f3 d7 14.ad1 ) 12...c5 13.h3 e6 14.b2 c6 15.e2 xb2 16.xb2 b8 is fairly even, Biolek, RArutinian,D, Olomouc 2006; B2) 11...e6 12.c5! b8 ( 12...d5 13.d1 g4 14.d3 c8 15.g5 dxe4 16.xe4 , and Black's position is quite ugly, Bruzon Bautista-Quezada,Y, Santa Clara 2002)) 13.cxd6 ( 13.g5!? Ribli ) 13...cxd6 14.f4 d8 15.ad1 ( 15.fd1 b4 16.d2 c4 17.b3 c5 18.ac1 Ribli ) 15...b4 16.d2 c4 17.b3 c5 18.c1 ac8 so far Illescas Cordoba-Godena, Lisbon 1993, and now 19.e3 d4 20.xd4 xd4 21.fd1 f6 22.e2 g4 23.f3 e6 24.d2 is better for White ] 10...f6 I criticized this move in my book on the 1 c4 e 5 E n g li s h , b u t i t h a s b e e n p l a y e d several times, even by rather strong players. Nevertheless, 10... Rb8 is still considered b e s t a n d i s p l a ye d f a r m o r e f r e q u e n t l y . However, I can't imagine a young, strong grandmaster like Kritz would enter a line like t h i s w i t h o u t l o o k i n g a t i t f i r s t . 11.f4 White has two other options at this juncture: a) 983
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 11.d2 A) Or 11...b8!? 12.b3 e6 13.e4 d7 14.c3 be8 15.h4 h3 16.d3 xg2 17.xg2 c5 A1) 18.f3 e6 19.ad1 f5 20.e3 ( 20.h2 d4! ) 20...h6 21.fe1; A2) 18.h5?! f5 and Black is grapping the initiative, Gasanov-Mamedyarov, Baku 2002; B) 11...e6 12.a4 d7 ( 12...d7?! 13.c5 d5 14.e4 f5 15.exd5 cxd5 16.h4 is much better for White, B.LarsenE.Torre, Leningrad IZT 1973) 13.ad1 h3 14.c5 xg2 15.xg2 d5 16.e4 ad8 17.e3 f5 18.exd5 cxd5 19.xd7 xd7 20.c6 xc6 and a draw was agreed upon, C.McNab-J.Rowson, Scotland 1995 ] [ b) 11.e3 d7 12.b3 a5 13.c1 h8 14.d2 c8 15.e1 h3 16.h1 Eliseev,A-Iljushin, Moscow 1996, and now e6 offers Black almost equal chances. ] 11...b8 [ 11...e6 12.c5 ( 12.a4!? d7 13.ad1 ) 12...d5 13.a4 d7 14.fd1 g5 15.c1 fd8 16.e4 g4 17.d3 h3 18.f3 Kutuzov,D-Gorkavij,V, Rybinsk 2001, and here Black can obtain a good game with g6! ] 12.c5 [ 12.b3 e6 13.d2 c5 C.Cobb-Thiruchelvam, 4NCL (Birmingham) 2001. and here 14.h4 f5 15.d5 e8 16.h5 with a better game for White ] 12...d5 13.a4 g5?! [ Black should probably have tried taking in b2: 13...xb2 14.xa7 b7 15.a4 and unlike in the game, White's advantage is rather manageable. ] 14.c1 b7 15.e4! dxe4 16.d1 e8 17.xe4 f5 18.e2 h6 19.e1 f6 20.b3!? f7 [ 20...xc3? 21.c4+ f7 22.xc3 wins for White ] 21.b2 f4 This is a rather desperate attempt to obtain counterplay. 22.ad1 b4 23.h3 g7 24.a4 [ 24.a3!? can also be considered, e.g. f3 25.xf3 xc3 26.xe7 xe7 27.xc3 followed by Bb2 and White is winning ] 24...d5 25.xf6 xf6 26.e5 g6
[ After 26...xe5 27.xe5 f3 28.f1 only White is enjoying himself. f5 29.g4 c2 30.d2 g6 31.c4 with a terrible position for Black ] 27.c3! After this simple move, Black's fragile position falls apart very rapidly. It is worth noting that Black's pieces, while seemingly active, completely lack coordination. f6 28.xc7 fxg3 29.fxg3 c2 30.d8 xc3 31.xf8+ xf8 32.xc8+ g7 33.c7+ [ White can also convert the win with 33.e7+ g6 34.f8 f5 ( or 34...xg3 35.g7+ h5 36.xf6 ) 35.g4+ f4 36.h2 g3+ 37.h1 c3 38.e6 and Black loses a piece. Seirawan's choice of line is more safe and more predictable, thus preventing any unpleasant surprises in time trouble. ] 33...g6 34.e5! xe5 35.xe5 W ith the queens off the board, W hite can start hoovering the black queenside pawns off the board. d7 36.e6+ f5 37.xc6 d4 38.c7 e5 39.xa7 d1+ 40.f2 d2+ 41.f1 1-0
998 Urban,Klaudiusz Krasenkow,Michal 58th ch Warsaw POL (6) [Tony Kosten]
A27 2429 2658 23.03.2001
1.c4 e5 2.c3 d6 3.g3 g6 4.d4 Th e correct a nswer to Bla ck's re f us a l t o control d4. g7 5.f3 [ T h e e n d i n g f o l l o w i n g 5.dxe5 dxe5 6.xd8+ xd8 offers White a small plus. ] 5...exd4 6.xd4 c6 7.xc6 bxc6 8.g2 e7 9.g5 f6 10.f4 e6 Putting the question to the c4-pawn. 11.c5!? [ This innovation certainly appears logical. Previously, both 11.a4 d7 12.0-0 0-0 13.fd1 with a small positional advantage to White, and some practical chances to Black, Staiger,F-Frick,C/Germany 1992, and ] [ 11.b3 d7 12.0-0 h3!? 13.xh3 xh3 14.c5 g5!? 15.cxd6 d8 Permiakov,VKlochko,R/Vladivostok 19 95, ha d bee n played. ] 11...d5 12.a4 0-0 13.a5 Placing more 984
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pressure on Black's static doubled pawns. c8 14.0-0 g5 Black cannot wait for White to increase his strategic advantage, and strikes back in active fashion. 15.d2 d4 16.d1 d5 17.e4! c4 18.e1 g6 19.b3 e6 20.a6 [ Note that the a-pawn is always poisoned, 20.xa7? a8 21.b7 d7 and ...Rfb8, winning the queen. ] 20...d7 21.b2 The knight aims for one of the fine squares c4 or d3. h3 Black stakes his chances on weakening the white king position. 22.xh3?! [ 22.h1 might be more prudent. ] 22...xh3 23.f1 h5 24.e2 g4! [ Black dare not risk the ending after 24...xe2 25.xe2 f5 as his queenside will be a permanent liability. ] 25.d3 e5 The point of Black's play is revealed: the threat of ...Nf3+ obliges White to capture on e5, which both strengthens d4, and opens the f-file for Black. 26.xe5 fxe5 27.a6 cd8 28.f1 f6 29.xa7 Quite a good practical decision. White goes pawn-grabbing, reasoning that he might as we ll g e t s o m e t h in g f o r h is t ro u b le s . h6 Played to gain access to h6. 30.ad1 df8 31.xc7 h3!? [ Gambling everything on the h-file, 31...xd2 32.xd2 h6 allows White to defend easily, by 33.h4 gxh3 34.f4 ] 32.xe5 e3! Interference! 33.xe3 dxe3 34.g5+ Forced. h8 35.d7?? [ But not this! White misses a tactic. He had to play 35.xe3 h6 36.fe1 when xh2+ 37.f1 hf6 38.d2 is dangerous for him, but defendable. ] 35...exf2+ 36.xf2 White obviously relies on his threat of mate in one, but it is Black to move: xh2+! [ Of course, this stunning move is easily m i s s e d ! A c t u a l l y, f o r p u r e l y a e s t h e t i c r e a s o n s , I p r e f e r 36...g2+! 37.xg2 ( 37.xg2 f1# ) 37...xf2+ 38.g1 f1+ 39.g2 8f2# ] 37.xh2 [ 37.xh2 f1+ 38.g2 8f2# ] 37...xf2+ 38.g1 f1+ 39.g2 8f2# Very pretty! 0-1
999 Vitiugov,Nikita Blagojevic,Dragisa IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A27 2617 2532 24.04.2008
1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f5 4.d4 e4 5.d5 [ This looks sharp, but usually quickly leads to drawish positions and short draws. The m a i n a l t e r n a t i v e i s o f c o u r s e 5.g5 , but several other moves have been tried here, e.g. ] [ 5.d2 ] [ 5.g5 ] [ and Christiansen's sharp 5.e5 ] 5...exf3 [ Most books, including the ECO and my own b o o k o n 1 c 4 e 5 , o f f e r 5...ce7 as an alternative f or Black to avoid the bo rin g ma in line , b u t Fo r so me re a s o n noone has tried A) the established move for White is 6.d4 c5 7.dxc6?! ( 7.db5 d6 8.a4 f7 is given as unclear by Kupreichik, but 9.h4 a6 10.a3 f6 11.g5 looks somewhat better for White) 7...dxc6 8.g4 fxg4 9.g2 f5 10.xf5 xd1+ , Sher, M-Kupreichik, V/ Gistrup 1997, and here 11.xd1 xf5 12.xe4 0-0-0+ ( 12...e6 13.d3 f6 is better with perhaps a tiny edge for Black) 13.c2 xe4+ 14.xe4 d4 is deemed slightly better for Black by Kupreichik, but in fact W hite has the better chances after ( 14...e8= ) 15.c3! f6 16.e3; B) 6.d6! , which looks pretty good for White cxd6 ( 6...exf3?? is severely punished by 7.b5! ) 7.d4 a6 8.g4 d5 9.cxd5 fxg4 10.g2 , and White has the better chances. ] 6.dxc6 fxg2 7.cxd7+ xd7 [ 7...xd7 8.xg2 c6 9.f4 ( 9.b3!? c7 10.e3 e7 11.0-0-0 f6 12.c5 ) 9...e7 A) 10.g5!? e6 11.b3 b6 12.0-0-0 xb3 13.axb3 g6 14.h4!? ( 14.e4 f4 15.e2 e7! , and Black equalises) 14...e7=; B) 10.e3 g6 11.h5 b4 12.0-0 0-0 13.g5 e8= Benko, P-Benjamin, J/New York 1989 ] 8.xd7+ 985
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 8.xg2 can be found discussed in a couple of games in the PGN archives - see the PDF eBooks for reference. ] 8...xd7 9.xg2 c6 [ E C O g i v e s p r e f e r e n c e t o 9...0-0-0 , and now 10.f4 ( 10.e3 f6 11.0-0 makes more sense for White as in MikenasFurman belo w) 10...f6 11.0-0-0 c5 12.e3 e6 13.b3 c6 14.f3 xd1+ 15.xd1 d8 16.e5 xd1+ 17.xd1 is correctly given as equal in the ECO. ] 10.0-0 [ White has tried a few other moves in this position: A) 10.f4 e6 A) 11.0-0-0 c5 ( 11...b4 12.c2 e7 13.b3 g6 14.d6= 1/2-1/2 Mellado Trivino, J-Gual Pascual, A/ Ponferrada 1997 ) 12.e4 xf2 13.hf1 h4 14.exf5 xc4 15.f3 d8 16.e3+ e7 17.xd8+ xd8 , and Black has a good game, Romsdal, T-Royset, J/NOR 1998; B) 11.b3 b4 12.c1?! e7 13.h4 g6 14.e3 f7 15.f1? ( 15.h5 e7 16.d2 a6= ) 15...hd8 16.a4 d2 17.xd2 xd2 0-1 Winter, K-Ikonnikov, V/ Munich 1996 (23) ] [ B) 10.e3 f6 11.d4 e6 12.b3 ( 12.xf6?! gxf6 13.b3 d8 14.d1 b4 15.xd8+ xd8 is, if anything, better for Black, Bezman, V-Bukhman, E/Simferopol 1990 ) 12...a3 ( 12...d8 13.0-0-0 b4 14.b2 f7 15.a3 e7 is at best a tiny bit better for White, Liebert-Kivipelto, Aarhus 1971 ) 13.d1 f7 14.0-0 hd8 15.a4 with a tiny edge for W hite, which nevertheless was converted to a win in Mikenas, V-Furman, S/Leningrad 1965 ] [ C) 10.b3 f6 11.b2 e7 12.f3 ( 12.d1 0-0-0 13.0-0 e6 14.e3 xd1 15.xd1 d8 16.xd8+ xd8 17.e2 g6 18.d4 1/2-1/2 Ree, H-Gheorghiu, F/ T e e s i d e 1 9 7 2) 12...0-0-0 13.g1?! ( 13.0-0-0!?= ) 13...g6 14.0-0-0 he8 15.a4 e4 16.xe4 fxe4 17.d4 b6 , and Black has the clearly better chances, Cappello, R-Meulders, R/Groningen 1970 ] 10...f6 [ There is nothing wrong with the alternatives either: A) 10...e6 11.b3 f6 12.e3 d6 13.ad1 e5 14.d4 xd4 15.xd4 d8 16.e3 ( or 16.fd1 e7 17.a4 xd4
18.xd4 d8 19.xd8 xd8 1/2-1/2 Braga, F-Filguth, R/Sao Paulo 1979) 16...e7 17.e2 g6 18.f4 f7 19.fd1 d7 20.f1 1/2-1/2 Taimanov, M-Polugaevsky, L/ Baku 1961/URS-ch ] [ B) 10...b4 11.d2 0-0-0 12.g5 f6 13.ac1 , Bellia, F-Verrascina, R/Rome 1991, he8 14.e3 h6= ] 11.f4 [ A novelty - sound of trumpets! However, it hardly constitutes a major improvement over the previously played moves, which unsurprisingly failed to provide White with a n y a d v a n t a g e : A ) 11.g5 e7 ( 11...e6!? ) 12.ad1 e6 13.b3 f7 14.e3 d7? ( 14...g4!? 15.d4 hd8 16.e4 fxe4 17.xe4 f5= ) 15.a4?! ( 15.d5! d6 16.f4 , and White picks up one of Black's bishop with a small, but clear, advantage as the result.) 15...f6 16.d4 , Du ri ga , S -P rie h o d a , V / T rn a va 1 9 8 5 , hd8= ] [ B) 11.b3 b4 12.b2 f7 13.ad1 he8 14.a3 a5 15.b4 c7= Berebora, F-Ulibin, M/Andorra 1996 ] 11...e7 12.fd1 e6 13.b3 White has at best a slight initiative thanks to his slight space advantage and somewhat better placed pieces. The problem for White is that Black can force exchanges of the rooks on the d-file. f7 14.e3 ad8 15.e2 xd1+ 16.xd1 d8 17.xd8 [ 17.d4!? d7= ] 17...xd8 With the heavy pieces exchanged, White's minor space advantage has very little significance, nevertheless W hite tries for a few more moves. 18.d4 d7 19.f3 c8 Black is obviously not interested in handing White the bishop pair. Now the draw should be a certainty. 20.e5+ e6 21.d3 e4 22.b8 ½-½
986
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1000 Agrest,Evgenij Akopian,Vladimir NY Open New York (3) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2525 2660 1998
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 White avoids the doubling of his pawns, as Black might thereby achieve a favourable Nimzo-style position, having a greater central presence due to the e5-pawn. 0-0 6.d5 The only way to exploit Black's omission of ... Bxc3. e8 7.f5 This odd move is still at the centre of the theoretical debate, although its heyday was after its introduction in the late Seventies. Although behind in development, White moves his queen again, but considers the threat to Black's pawn structure more important than the time lost. d6 8.xf6+ xf6 taking play into the ending. [ 8...gxf6 is quite playable, but after 9.h5 Black must beware attacks on his weakened kingside. ] 9.xf6 gxf6 Which is m ore important: B la ck ' s le a d in d e ve lo p m e n t , o r W h it e ' s superior pawn structure? 10.a3 c5 11.b4 b6 12.b2 a5 An important move, weakening the proud white queenside pawns. 13.b5 e7 14.d4 Tony Miles' new move, W hite expands bravely in the centre, and 'ignores' the possible disadvantages of having his king on the same file as the black rook. [ 14.a4 and 14 Be2 had been played before, without achieving a great deal. ] 14...a4! Freeing the a5-square for the b6bishop, and much stronger than the [ 14...g4?! played in the seminal game. That continued: 15.c5! Attacking the black dark squares, and showing why a ...Ba5+ re s o u r c e wo u l d h a ve b e e n u se f u l . a7 ( 15...dxc5 16.dxe5 with a clear advantage to White. ) 16.b6! This pawn structure deserves a diagram! xf3 17.gxf3 b8 18.g1+ f8 19.d1!! and the black pawn structure was on the verge of disintegration, Miles,A-Rodriguez,A/Yopal 1997. ] 15.0-0-0 Removing the king from the e-file, and e1-a5 diagonal. g6 Black bolsters the e5-pawn. 16.d2 If White is looking for an improvement, it will probably be found here, or hereabouts. exd4 Now that White cannot
re ca p t u re o n d 4 wi t h h i s kn i gh t . 17.xd4 xd4 18.exd4 The black kingside is feeble, b u t t h e p a w n s a r e d i f f i c u l t t o a t t a c k . c6 19.bxc6 bxc6 20.g3 d5 21.g2 f5 22.he1 eb8 Although the black queenside pawns are on light squares, and susceptible to attack, the white king is awkwardly placed. 23.e3 e6 24.f4 e7 25.g4!? Aggressive, White plays to win, but the weakening of the f4-pawn may prove a problem. f5 26.h3 f8 [ 26...fxg4 was also feasible, 27.xg4 xg4 28.g1 and now f5 will likely transpose. ] 27.g1 fxg4 28.xg4 xg4 29.xg4 f5 30.h3 White continues in an active vein. e8 31.f3 e3?! A risky exchange sacrifice, Black hopes to get amongst the weak white pawns, but rooks are very powerful pieces in the endgame! [ 31...h6 was safer. ] 32.xh7 xf3 33.h8+ e7 34.xa8 At the moment Black doesn't have a lot to show for his sacrifice. c3+ 35.b2 xc4 Th e po in t, h e will ob ta in two co nn ec te d , p a s s e d p a wn s a f t e r h e c a p t u r e s o n d 4 . 36.a7+ f6 37.g8 Difficult to criticise such a move in time-trouble, but Akopian considers that White has an edge after [ 37.g1! with the threat of Rc1. ] 37...xd4 38.d8 xf4 39.dd7 e6 40.dc7 Quite a transformation! White has playe d act ively, bu t lost t wo pa wn s . d4 41.e7+ d6 42.xf7 e4 Of course, Black must avoid the exchange of rooks, as the knight would be incapable of stopping the hpawn by itself. 43.f2 [ 43.fd7+ c5 44.e7 h4 45.h7 would force a draw through the perpetual attack on the rook. ] 43...e6 44.h7 c5 45.f5?! Allowing Black va lu ab le t im e, t ha t he will use to s et h is pawns in motion, charging the h-pawn up the board by [ 45.h4 -h5 was called-for. ] 45...c4 46.a7 c5 47.h5 e2+ 48.b1 d2 Trying to weave a mating net around the wh i t e k i n g . 49.a8? The last mistake, Whit had to keep the d5-pawn under attack by [ 49.a5! so as to answer b3 (with the threat of ...c3, and mate next move) by 50.h6+ e5 51.h5+ e4 52.xa4 987
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and the c-pawn is pinned. ] 12...f5 13.g3? 49...c3 Now it is too late for White. 50.h6+ [ White should control c4 at all costs: 13.d2 e5 51.e8+ f5 52.f8+ g5 d3+ 14.xd3 xd3 15.c4 and he is still in Side-stepping the checks. 53.h3 b2+ the game. ] Forcing mate. 54.c1 b3+ 13...e6! For the pawn Black has hegemony 0-1 over c4, and will try to ensure that the b2bishop has a miserable future. 14.f4?! [ This looks a bit desperate, but 14.e4 c4 menaces the capture on f1, followed by a 1001 A28 knight intrusion on d3. ] Agrest,Evgenij 2529 15.f5 b3 16.e4 e3 Anand,Viswanathan 2794 14...g4 Rapidplay Villarrobledo ESP rapid (4) 18.8.01 White's pawn moves have only succeeded in w e a k e n i n g h i s p o s i t i o n f u r t h e r . 17.f2 [Tony Kosten] White jettisons the exchange, but it doesn't help too much. d1+ 18.xd1 xd1 19.e2 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 e7 [ This move is not nearly as popular as the xh1 20.xh1 d8 21.c1 f6 22.c4 d1 23.f1 c2 24.g3 e5 The rest is too theoretical 4...b4 , but has its points. ] easy f or B lack. 25.e3 xg3+ 26.hxg3 5.a3 [ 5.d4 is the other line, but took a body blow xe4 27.f6 d3 28.xa7 xf1 29.xf1 after the game Timman,J-Karpov,A/Montreal a8 30.d4 xa3 31.fxg7 xg3 1979: exd4 6.xd4 0-0 7.xc6 bxc6 0-1 8.e2 d5 9.0-0 d6 10.b3 e7 11.b2 dxc4! 12.bxc4 b8 13.c1 g4 14.g3 A28 e8 15.d1 xh2! 16.c5 ( White didn't 1002 like the looks of 16.xh2 h4+ ) 16...xf1 Agrest,Evgenij 2554 17.cxd6 xg3! 18.fxg3 xd6 ] Piket,Jeroen 2635 5...0-0 6.b4 d5 Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (1) 29.11.1999 [ 6...e4!? 7.g5 a5 8.b5 e5 is unclear, [Tony Kosten] Miles, A-Nikolic,P/Niksic 1983. ] 7.cxd5 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 [ Black is happy with a reversed Sicilian 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.e2!? position, but 7.b5 may be stronger, e4!? Agrest has made this move his speciality, he 8.cxd5 a5 9.g5 f5 10.a4 is simply happy to play a reversed Sicilian with some advantage, Agdestein,S-Xu Jun/ structure with the two bishops. 0-0 8.d3 d5 Biel 1993. ] 9.cxd5 7...xd5 8.b2!? [ 9.0-0 Previously, White had been loathe to [ A novelty, previously White has preferred to allow Black's pieces to gain tempi like this, keep e4 under control by 8.c2 i.e. xc3 a n d h a d p r e f e rre d e4 10.d2 exd3 9.dxc3 f6!? 10.d3 h6 11.0-0 11.xd3 e5 with equality, as in with a slight edge to White, Hansen,C-Lutz, P o l u g a e vs k y, L - M a t a n o vi c , A / B e l g r a d e C/Tilburg 1993. ] 1974. ] 8...xc3! 9.dxc3 9...xd5 10.c2 g4 [ White intends a queenside expansion [ A couple of days later, at the beginning of involving three pawns, 9.xc3 e4 10.b5 December, Damljanovic,B played 10...f5! is about equal. ] against Agrest,E (Batumi GEO 1999), and 9...e4 10.xd8 xd8 11.d2 Intending to obtained a good position with alarming ease: continue with c4, but Black's fine next move 11.e4 db4 12.c3 g4 13.e3 a6 opposes this. e5!! 12.xe4 14.g1 and a draw was agreed. ( 14.0-0 [ W h it e gra b s t h e p a wn , 12.c4 d3+ Allowing the exchange on f3 is risky, xf3 13.xd3 exd3 would concede the bishop 15.xf3 fd8 and ...Nd4. )] pair. ] 11.a3 ad8 988
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Very sharp play resulted after 11...a5 12.b3 ad8 13.b2 d6 14.h3 c8 15.d2 g6 16.f3 d8 Agrest,E-Sokolov,I/Stockholm 1998. ] 12.h3 h5 [ 12...c8 is perfectly reasonable, as in the Sokolov game. ] 13.g4!? White plays to sideline the bishop, but at some cost to his structure. g6 14.e4 b6 [ The best square for this knight, 14...f4 15.xf4 exf4 16.0-0-0!? is nothing special. ] 15.d2! d7 [ I n t h e l i g h t o f w h a t f o l l o w s , 15...d6 might be more accurate. ] 16.c1 c8! Rather than rote play, Black has evolved a definite plan involving a queenside onslaught. 17.c5 d6 The ending would be ve ry n i c e f o r W h it e , wit h h i s k in g n i ce l y centralised, and his bishop pair. 18.b4 a6 19.e3 e8 The black plan takes shape. Returning the bishop to the f ray by ...f 6 , would be met by Nh4-f5. 20.f1?! [ Solving the problem of his king, it will come to g2 but, at the same time, the h1-rook stays at its post to p re-e mpt any Black attempts at kingside attack. However, the obvious 20.0-0 is better. ] 20...a4! 21.c2 d4 22.xd4 exd4 23.g2 c5 24.he1! Prophylaxis, defending against the threat of ...c4. For the moment the c-pawn is pinned. c3 [ As now, 24...c4 25.dxc4 xe4 is countered by 26.d3 pinning along the efile. ] 25.bxc5 xc5 26.f1 c6 Both guarding against e5, as the h1-a8 diagonal would be opened, and defending the powerful c3-knight. 27.d2 f6 28.h2 d8 29.g2 c7+ 30.h1 f7 Black finally brings his wayward bis h op b ac k in t o t h e ga m e , it se e ms h is strategy has worked to perfection. [ However, after this the game becomes messy. It might be simpler to leave the bish op o n g6, ke ep in g a lid o n W hite 's counterplay with Nh4-f5, and advance his queenside pawns, instead. 30...b5 ] 31.h4 a5?! [ This wins a pawn, but sends the rook offside, and loses control of the fifth rank, 31...g6 (to stop the knight from going to f5) 32.f4 c8 favours Black. ]
32.f5 xa3 33.e5 On the queenside White is completely lost, so must search for tactics involving his strong f5-knight. a2 34.f4 h6?? [ My French cl ub team mate seems prone to such blunders in winning positions, he has simply overlooked the White threat. Anyway, the position is now far from clear, 34...d5 for instance, 35.xd4 xg2+ 36.xg2 a4 37.d2 axd4 38.xc3 e7 39.e6 and f4-f5. ] 35.xd4? [ Missing 35.xg7! fxe5 ( as 35...xg7?? allows 36.exf6+ with a discovered attack on the queen ) 36.xe5 when the black king is wide open. ] 35...fxe5 36.xe5 d5 37.xc7 xf4 38.f5 e6?! [ 38...xd4 39.fxf7 e6 40.xb7 xd3 is less clear. ] 39.xb7 g5? [ 39...xd4 40.fxf7 had to be played, once again. ] 40.c6 xd3 41.h4 e6 42.hxg5 xf5 43.gxf5 a1+ 44.h2 hxg5 45.b8+ h7 46.e5 d6 47.f7 Threatening both the d6rook, and mate on h8. 1-0
1003 Beim,Valery Rublevsky,Sergei Ordix Open Frankfurt GER (5) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2563 2662 17.06.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c2 e7 7.e3 0-0 [ Simpler than trying to stop White's next move, by 7...a6?! when 8.xd5! xd5 9.d3! d7 ( 9...g4? 10.e4 d6 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.xe5 and wins, is the tactical point) 10.b4 e6 11.b2 d6 12.g5! g4?! 13.h4! xg2 14.0-0-0 g4 15.dg1 led to a powerful white attack in Chernin,A-Polgar,Z/ Brno 1993. ] 8.b5 g4 9.xc6 xf3 10.gxf3!? [ A n e w t ry, a lt h o u g h 10.xb7 xg2?! 11.xd5 xd5 12.xa8 was successful before. ] 10...bxc6 11.b3 xc3 12.dxc3?! 989
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ White is clearly worried about tactics along t h e a 1 - h 8 d i a g o n a l , a f t e r 12.xc3 , but now he loses the pressure along the cfile, and Black's feeble c-pawns become less of a problem. ] 12...d5 13.e2 [ 13.e4 may be more circumspect. ] 13...e4!! 14.xe4 [ 14.fxe4 may be better, but h5+ 15.e1 ad8 16.b2 f3 17.g1 h4 grants Black a strong initiative. ] 14...xb3 15.b1?! [ 15.d2 ] 15...a2+ 16.b2 xa3 17.xc6 f6 W hite's king is looking decidedly the more exposed of the two. 18.b7 a5 19.b2 ad8 20.a1 White has a strong attack on the queenside, but the real action will occur on the other side of the board! f5 21.e4 d7 22.c2 c6 23.axa7 c4+ 24.e1 d3?? [ Carelessly leaving the c7-pawn hanging, 24...d7 was a better way to proceed. ] 25.xc7 d5 26.c4? [ Another error, after 26.e4 b5 27.cb7 c4 28.b4 c5 29.xd3 xa7 White has every chance to win. ] 26...f5 27.e4?? [ 27.xf6! xe3+ 28.fxe3 xc2 may allow White to hold the draw. ] 27...xf3 Now Black is winning. 28.xf6 xe4+ 29.f1 h1+ 30.e2 f3+ 31.e1 gxf6 32.d7 xd7 33.xd7 e8+ 0-1
development here, as he will continue with ... g6 and ...Bg7 later. 6.d3 [ 6.f3 is the alternative: exf3 7.xf3 d6 8.e3 g4 9.e2 g6 10.0-0 g7 Black has a reasonable game, Horvath,GRuck,R/Budapest 1995. ] [ 6.c2?! which would be good after any other fourth move from White, is weak here on account of d4 7.b1?! b3 ] 6...exd3 7.e4!! An ambitious novelty, and very strong, White offers a pawn to be able to recapture on d3 with his bishop, relying on the fact that the black queen is awkwardly placed on an open e-file once Black captures the e4pawn. [ 7.xd3 had been invariably played, e5 8.c2 d6 ( 8...xc4? 9.b5 c5 10.e4 is horrible for Black, and; 8...h6 9.ge4 xe4 10.d5! d6 11.xe4 also favours White ) 9.e3 g6 10.e2 g7 11.h3 0-0 12.d2 h6 13.f3 f5 Black has every reason to be happy with his position, K o rt sch n o i, V -I va n ch u k, V / Ro qu e b ru n e 1992. ] 7...h6 8.f3 d5!? Probably best, Black forces White to block the d5-square, as [ 8...xe4 9.d5 d8 10.xd3 c5 11.0-0 offers White a powerful initiative for the pawn, with Re1(+) coming. ] [ 8...e5 9.xe5 xe5 10.f4 e6 11.xd3 gives White everything he wants. ] 9.cxd5 xe4 The point, now White cannot r e p l y N d 5 . 10.e3 xc3 11.bxc3 e5 12.xd3 Of course White doesn't capture on e5 as this solves Black's development problems. g4 The position is already difficult 1004 A28 for Black and he decides to close the e-file, at Beliavsky,Alexander G 2652 the cost of moving his knight a further two Turov,Maxim 2518 times. It is a pity that he didn't try [ 12...g4 as after 13.b5+ c6 ( 13...d8! 24th Politiken Cup (11) 26.07.2002 14.e2 xf3 15.xf3 c4 might just be [Tony Kosten] playable ) 14.dxc6 bxc6 I am sure Beliavsky w o u l d h a v e p l a y e d 15.xe5!! xd1 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 e4!? 16.xc6+ d8 17.xd1+ c8 18.d5! Very sharp, so far I have only considered with two pieces and a massive attack for the [ 4...d5 and ] queen. ] [ 4...g6 ] 5.g5 e7 The advanced e-pawn is further 13.0-0 xe3 14.fxe3 d7 Black prefers not bolstered and Black threatens to send the to have his king trapped in the middle of the white knight offside by ... h6, so White must board by [ 14...xe3+?! 15.h1 e7 16.e1 c5 keep the pressure on e4. Note that the queen 17.e2 ] d o e s n ' t r e a l ly h i n d e r t h e b l a ck b i s h o p ' s 990
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.e4 c5+ 16.h1 Black has the bishop pair, but the white centre is more important, if he can play c4 and e5 he will dominate the middle of the board. 0-0-0!? This doesn't look too hot, although I don't see any move that is much better! 17.b3 [ 17.e5 e8 18.xf7 xf7 19.xf7 wins a pawn, but loses control of the dark squares - White doesn't want an oppositecolour bishop position. ] 17...e8 [ If 17...f6 18.e5 ] 18.a4 Otherwise White couldn't move his queen's rook without leaving the a-pawn en prise. a5 19.e5 g5!? 20.b5 xb5 21.axb5 b6 [ 21...g4 22.d4 xe5 23.xa5 d7 24.a4 is winning. ] 22.a4! Both stopping ...g4, and menacing Rc4. b7 23.c4 a3 24.c2 Black has no moves, [ 24.c2 g7 ( 24...c5?? 25.a4 wins the queen.) 25.d6 cxd6 26.e4+ b8 27.d4 and mate is not far off. ] 1-0
1005 Belozerov,Andrei Rublevsky,Sergei Team Smolensk RUS (1) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2487 2662 15.04.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.a3 d5 8.d4 exd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4 0-0!? [ Black normally prefers 10...c5 here, but there seems to be nothing wrong with the text. ] 11.c5!? [ Belozerov played this novelty twice recently, White tries to exploit the opportunity to stop ...c5. 11.e2 would return to normal lines after c5 12.h4 Onischuk, A-Pena,E/ Mamaia 1991, and ] [ 11.cxd5 gains nothing on d8 12.e2 ( 12.c4 xd5! 13.xd5 e6 ) 12...xd5 13.h4 f5 when Black has only succeeded in speeding-up the black development, Biehler, T-Arnold,L/Germany 1990/GER-chT2. ]
[ The other attempt to take advantage of Black's tenth is 11.b4 a5 12.c5!? ( 12.b5 ) 12...axb4 13.axb4 xa1 14.xa1 e4 but here, too, Black has no reason to complain, Veinger,I-Birnboim,N/Jerusalem 1986. ] 11...e4!? [ Aggressive Korchnoi preferred the positional exchange of bishops by 11...b6 12.b4 bxc5 13.bxc5 e6 14.d3 a6 and the game is level, Belozerov, AKorchnoi,V/Smolensk RUS 2000, 0-1 (76). ] 12.b4 h4 13.a2 [ White doesn't wish to allow a weakening of his light squares by 13.g3 ] 13...g5 14.f3 f6 15.f2 c6 16.d3 e8 [ 16...f5? 17.e5 ] 17.0-0 White's position seems quite reasonable, if he can sort-out the problem of his e3-pawn, and then develop his c1-bishop, he could be better, with his two bishops. e5!? [ Possibly a psychological ploy, inviting play into an ending where W hite has an edge. 17...e6 18.e4 h4 is playable. ] 18.h4!? [ As he obtains a dangerous attack, it is easy to understand why W hite refuses the endgame, but, nevertheless, 18.xe5 xe5 19.e4! ( 19.e1 and 20 Bb2 is also promising ) 19...e6 ( 19...dxe4?! 20.fxe4 e7 21.g5 i s a w k w a r d) 20.b2 is clearly better for White. ] 18...e6 19.b2!? [ W h it e p la ys f o r m a t e, a lth o u gh 19.e1 is simpler. ] 19...xe3 20.d1 h6 21.xf6 gxf6 22.f4! [ White continues to play for the attack, as after 22.xf6 a5 Black threatens to infiltrate on the a-file. ] 22...g7 23.f1 f5 24.f3 d4 25.g3+ f8 26.e1? [ White had no reason to reject the obvious 26.xh6+ e7 27.e1! d8 28.xf5 when he has every chance to win. ] 26...h8 Of course, if White doesn't take it, Black will hang-on to it. 27.ge3 g7 28.h3 [ 28.g3 h8 29.ge3 will only draw. ] 28...a5!? 29.e5? [ Although 29.bxa5 is anti-positional, it s e e m s q u i t e g o o d , a s a f t e r xa5? 991
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 W h i t e p l a y s 30.xf5 xc5 31.xe6 and Black is lost. ] 29...axb4 30.axb4 a2 Black has found some counterplay! 31.g4? [ Rather risky, 31.1e2 is about equal. ] 31...ea8 [ Missing 31...fxg4! 32.hxg4 a4! and White is in trouble, as 33.f5 loses to xb4 34.fxe6? f4+ ] 32.xf5 xf5 33.xf5 b2? [ 33...g8 ] 34.e7+ g8 35.g5? [ 35.xb7 is very strong, as the a8-rook can't leave the back rank (because of Re8+), and the queen can't leave the f7-pawn. ] 35...g6 36.xb7?? [ One move too late! 36.d7 kept everything together. ] 36...xf5 37.xa8+ g7 38.a3 xf4+ White is suddenly mated! 0-1
1006 Bischoff,Klaus Pert,Nicholas ch-EU Liverpool ENG (10) [John Watson]
A28 2533 2503 15.09.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.d3 b4 5.d2 0-0 6.e3 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 This type of Sicilian Reversed never seems to give Black any problems, but it is very unbalanced and can lead to a full-fledged game. 8.e2 xc3 9.xc3 [ 9.bxc3 looks natural enough, but is passive. Black can even try e4! ( 9...f5 10.e4!? ) 10.dxe4 f6 11.c2 e8 12.d3 A) or 12...g4 13.h3 ( 13.0-0? xf3 14.gxf3 d7! ) 13...h5 intending ..Bg6.; B) 12...e7 13.0-0 xe4 14.ab1 b6= ] 9...e7 10.c2 d8!? [ A standard setup which equalises is 10...f5 11.0-0 ( 11.e4 xc3 12.bxc3 g4 ) 11...ad8 12.fd1 a5 ( or 12...e4 13.dxe4 xe4 14.b3 xc3= )] 11.a3 a5 [ To get to an improved version of the game idea, Black could play 11...xc3 12.xc3 ( 12.bxc3 f5 13.e4 g4 14.0-0 c5! ) 12...g4 13.0-0 d6!? ]
12.0-0 d6!? [ 12...g4 is solid and less ambitious. ] 13.d2!? [ 13.d2! would preserve the bishops I doubt that Black's attack will amount to much. ] 13...f5 14.e4 h6 Black's position has plenty of resilience, so he can afford this only moderately-useful move. [ Instead, 14...xc3 would have secured easy equality, e.g., 15.bxc3 xe4 16.dxe4 b8! 17.ab1 b6 18.fd1 xd1+ 19.xd1 d7 20.d3 c5 21.d5 f8 . White has some advantages, but they are at least neutralised by the superb knight on c5. ] 15.g3 d7?! The first move in the wrong direction. Black should settle for [ 15...xe4 16.dxe4 xc3= ] 16.c5 c8 [ A d m i t t i n g h i s m i s t a k e b y 16...e7 w a s r i g h t , w h e n 17.d2?! ( 17.e4 ) 17...f4! is Shredder's idea, when 18.f3 d8 19.exf4 ( 19.gxf4 h4 ) 19...d4 20.d1 xc5 isn't clear ] 17.f3! de7 18.b4 This looks more like a successful English opening, with the rook on h6 looking out of sorts. b6 19.e4 h3 20.fc1 f5 21.e2 f8!? [ Because his rooks are uncoordinated, Black needs to avoid 21...axb4 22.axb4 xa1 23.xa1 ] 22.bxa5 bxa5 23.ab1 g6?! [ 23...d8 ] 24.b5! f5 25.d2 f4 26.xe5 xe5 27.xe5 fxg3 28.hxg3 f5 Black is a pawn down and everything is collapsing positionally. 29.d5+ h8 30.f3 g4 31.f4?! [ 31.e4! h5 32.f1 , and the game is basically over: g5 33.xc7 xg3 34.fxg3 and there's no follow-up. ] 31...h5 32.f1 g5! Here's the difference now 33.Qe4 runs into 33...Nxg3!, when the p a w n o n g 5 p r e v e n t s R x h 5 . 33.xf5 Still good enough. At least Black temporarily wins the Exchange for a pawn, however weak everything else is. [ 33.e4? xg3 34.fxg3 f3 ] 33...xf5 34.e5+ hf6 35.c6 g6 36.e4! d7 37.xc7 g7 38.e3 White has everything back under control. The rest of the game is easy. g6 39.c4 gf6 40.e3 992
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 6f7 41.xg7+ xg7 42.d4 c8 43.a7 a4 44.e5 c6 45.a6 xd5 46.xd5 c4 47.f6 e7 48.d5! g7 [ 48...xe5 49.a7! ] 49.d6 xe5 50.d7 d4 51.e8+ f8 52.d6 1-0, in view of e7 53.d8+ xd8 54.f7+ 1-0
1007 Bosboom,Manuel Podgaets,Mikhail VAM Open Hoogeveen NED (9) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2476 2490 23.10.1999
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 0-0 6.d5 e8 7.f5 Once again, this funny move resurfaces. d6 8.xf6+ xf6 9.xf6 gxf6 Black is counting on his lead in development to compensate him for his weakened pawn complex. 10.a3 c5 11.b4 b6 12.b2 a5 13.b5 e7 14.g4!? [ Another weapon in White's arsenal in this position, W hite tries to fix the f-pawn. For Tony Miles' move, 14.d4 see the archives. ] 14...g6 Menacing the g4-pawn, the immediate capture being impossible because of the subsequent pin on the g-file after 15 Rg1. 15.g1 e6 16.h4! I like this move. White is playing entirely on the flanks, relying o n h is s t ro n g c e n t r e t o h id e h is ki n g . e4 17.h5! The point behind White's previous move. exf3 18.hxg6 fxg6 19.xf6 W h it e 's s t r a t e gy h a s t ri u m p h e d , h e h a s swapped his h-pawn for Black's f-pawn, and f3 is weak. c6 20.g5 To consolidate the powerful bishop on f6. cxb5 21.cxb5 ac8 Black has to find counterplay quickly, as White is intending to round-up the f3-pawn. 22.g3 d5 23.h3 c2 24.g4 The critical position. If White can simply take the f3-pawn he will be a sound pawn up with the better structure. Black must react, but how? xe3!? Probably not sound, but the best practical try. 25.dxe3 xe3+ 26.f1?! [ White has been bluffed. He was naturally afraid of 26.fxe3 as f2+ 27.f1 c4+ seems crushing, but he has the computerlike resource: 28.e2! ( 28.g2?? f1# ) 28...xe2 29.g2 a2 30.f1 xf1+
31.xf1 xa3 32.b6 and White will win. ] 26...xa3! Exploiting the weak back rank. 27.e1 d3?! [ 27...aa2 28.d4 d2 seems more to the point. ] 28.g1 To free the e1-rook from its defence of the first rank. a4 At first glance it seems that White is in trouble, as, although he has extra material, his pieces are offside and the a-pawn is very fast. However, he actually manages to conjure a mating attack. 29.h3! a3 30.d7! [ White is playing for the win, as he has a simple draw here: 30.e8+ f7 and now 31.e1 forcing g8 ] 30...f7 Forced, as Re8+ and Rxh7 mate was threatened. 31.h4?! [ A natural move, bringing the rook back into play. In fact, the rook was already perfectly placed, oddly enough, as W hite had the powerful move 31.e8! continuing twine the black king in a mating net, I can see nothing b e t t e r t h a n e2 for Black, when White should win easily enough by 32.xf7+ xf7 33.xh7+ as f8?? loses on the spot to 34.c1 ] 31...c4! The h-rook is too dangerous. 32.xc4 xc4 33.e8+ f7 34.e7+ f8 35.xh7 a2 Will this pawn be enough to save Black? 36.h8+ f7 37.a8 d2?! [ I m m e d i a t e l y 37...d1+ 38.h2 d5 is superior. ] 38.e8+ e6 39.xg6 d5 The threat is ...d4, cutting the bishop off from a1. 40.c3? [ 40.e8+! d6 41.e1 is better, avoiding what follows. ] 40...d1+ 41.h2 c1 [ 41...d4! ] 42.b2 b1 43.d4?! This is not the best square for this piece. d1 44.g7 d4 Amazingly, Black is better! His d-pawn will stop the g7-bishop from controlling a1. 45.h7 d7 46.f5+ d6 47.e4 White doesn't have time to push the g-pa wn as the c4 bishop controls the queening square, so, as he is about to lose his rook for the a-pawn, must try to garner as many black pawns as possible. c5 48.xb7 a1 49.xa1 xa1 50.xf3 The dust has settled, and White has two pawns for the exchange, but the d4-pawn is very strong. d5 51.g2 d3! A nice trick. 993
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 52.c3 [ 52.xa1?? loses to d2 of course, and the pawn queens. ] 52...c4 53.d2 xf3+ [ After this move the white king manages to return to help the bishop, and White's two passed pawns assure the draw. If 53...a2 instead, then it is now W hite's turn for a surprising resource: 54.g6! as xd2?? loses to 55.xd5+ xd5 56.g7 ] 54.xf3 xb5 55.e4 c4 56.f4 d1 57.e3 g1 The position is drawn. 58.f2 d1 59.e3 g1 60.f2 d1 61.e3 ½-½
White's d-pawn but it's easily defended. c8 28.h2 d6 29.g3 f7 30.e2 g8 31.ah1 g7 32.d1 ad8 33.e3 d6 34.e1 ½-½
1009 Bukal,Vladimir Sr Olsen,Heini OSS January It (8) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2424 2255 31.01.2004
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.d3!? Unusual, the mainline is 1008 A28 [ 7.a3 although this seems fairly level, and Agrest has had some success with ] Bu Xiangzhi 2640 [ 7.e2 although this is likely to transpose. ] Bacrot,Etienne 2708 37th Olympiad (11) 02.06.2006 7...d5 8.cxd5 xd5 Black is rig ht to aim for the reversed Sicilian position in which his [John Watson] knights are well placed. 9.c2 0-0 10.e2 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e4 Possibly not the most accurate, better to This move was first drawn to general attention control b4 by [ 10.a3 a5 11.b3 as in Chernin,A-Polgar,Z/ by Nimzowitsch, who never seemed much Budapest 1993. ] perturbed by traditional weaknesses. One idea This is the most annoying for is to answer 4...Bc5 by 5.Nxe5!? b4 5.d3 10...db4! d6 6.g3 g4 Not worrying about the bishop White. [ 10...e6 11.a3 a5 12.b3 f6 leads to fairly pair if it means better control over W hite's typical Sicilian play, Bosboom,M-Cuijpers, weakness on d4. 7.h3 xf3 8.xf3 d4 F/Hilversum 1988. ] 9.d1 c6 10.g2 0-0 11.0-0 c5! 12.h2 [ 12.a4 e7 13.xc5?! dxc5 11.c3 g4 [ 11...f5 12.e4 g4 has been played a simply leaves W hite's d-pawn more couple of times against Agrest, 13.e3 a6 vulnerable. ] 14.g1 (draw agreed in Agrest 12...a5 13.f4 b5 A big decision. The Damljanovic!) e6 15.h3 d4!? 16.f3 defensive option was ( 16.xd4 exd4 17.xd4 b4 18.c1 [ 13...h6 14.f5 e7 15.g4 h7 ] xa2 f a vo u r s B l a c k) 16...c5! 17.a3 14.f5!? b4 15.a4 d7 ( 17.xe5 b4 ) 17...f6 and Black is better, [ 15...a7 16.g5 h6 17.h4 ] Agrest,E-Mchedlishvili,M/Ohrid MKD 2001. ] 16.xc5 dxc5 12.a3 xd3+! Black is well-prepared. [ 16...xc5 17.f6! ] 13.xd3 e4 14.c4? White attempts to 17.g4 f6 18.h4 h6 complicate against his lower-rated opponent, [ 18...a4 19.g5 e8 is double-edged. ] 19.d2 f7! White's only real plan is g5, so but this new move is much worse than [ 14.e2 exf3 15.gxf3 ( 15.xf3 xf3 Black's king runs away before that move can 16.gxf3 e5 leaves Black with the superior threaten him. 20.f2 e7 21.g1 h8 minor piece.) 15...h5 16.g1 with the 22.f3 b6 23.d1 a4 24.g2 a3 25.b3 bishop pair and possibilities of attack along e8 26.g3 g5 27.f2 Now everything is the g-file, Agrest,E-Xu Jun/Istanbul TUR closed and there are various ways for Black 2000. ] to ensure the draw. The method in the game 15.gxf3 exd3 16.xd3 is good enough. It would be nice to go after 14...xf3 994
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White has found himself in a position similar to that in a previous note. If he could play b4, Bb2 and Rg1 simultaneously he would be better, but as it is he never gets to complete h i s d e v e l o p m e n t . ad8 17.e4 f6! This puts paid to W hite's queenside! 18.0-0 fe8 The black rooks are naturally drawn to the open central files. 19.f4 This looks disgusting, but what else? [ 19.g4 loses to e5 20.g3 xf3+ 21.g2 e5 22.e4 d2 23.xd2 xd2 and White will lose at least two pawns. ] 19...xf4 20.exf4 d4 There is no let-up for W h i t e i n t h e e n d g a m e . 21.e3 xf3+ 22.h1 b6 23.fc1? Things were bad, but this makes matters even worse. xe3! [ 23...xe3 24.fxe3 d2 forces mate. ] 0-1
1010 A28 Carlsen,Magnus 2733 Topalov,Veselin 2780 XXV SuperGM Morella Linares MEX/ESP (12) [Carsten Hansen] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.d3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.e4 b6 [ As you may ember, we looked at this peculiar variation back in the October 2007 update, where 6...f6 was tried, and now 7.e2 g4 8.0-0 xf3 9.xf3 d4 with a fascinating struggle, Morozevich, AGrischuk, A/Mexico City MEX 2007 - see the PGN archive ] 7.e2 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.a4 e6 This natural move deviates from the lines given in the annotations to the above game, where only 9... a5 was discussed. 10.e3!? [ White achieves less after 10.a5 , e.g. d7 11.a6 bxa6 12.d4 xd4 13.xd4 exd4 14.xd4 c5 15.d2 b8 with chances for both sides ] 10...d7!? Anyway! 11.d4?! [ This move look s so obvious, it is hard to believe that it isn't the best move. However, in the continuation, Black faces no problems and soon White has to be creative to keep the balance. Therefore this may be the time and place to try something different, e.g. 11.b1 a5 12.d4 exd4 13.xd4 xd4
14.xd4 c5 15.d3 c6 with approximately even chances ] 11...exd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 [ 13.xd4?! c5 is fine for Black ] 13...c6 14.a5 [ White doesn't achieve anything with 14.ad1 , e.g. a5 15.d2 b4 with a pleasant game for Black ] 14...c5 [ 14...c7!? can also be considered, though a draw is likely after 15.f4 ad8 16.f5 c5 , and now 17.b4 b3 18.a4 c5 19.b4 d3 leads to a repetition. Topalov undoubtedly played for more as usual... ] 15.e5 b3 [ 15...b8 is playable for Black: 16.xb8 fxb8 17.f4 d8 , and Black should be fine ] 16.a4 d6 17.h5 g6! 18.h6 e5! Topalov transfer the dark-squared bishop to the h8-a1 diagonal where it is of much more use than on d6. 19.g5?! [ 19.d1 e7 seems fine for Black, but the game continuation is even worse for White ] 19...c7 20.e3!? xa5 21.f4 g7 22.h4 b3 23.d4!? A necessary sharpening of the game retreating the rook to a3 or a1 leaves White with insufficient compensation for the pawn ad8! [ 23...xd4 can also be considered, but the weak squares around the king after 24.xd4 f5 very likely didn't appeal to Topalov who would probably prefer to play the White side in this position. The text move is solid and good. ] 24.e5 xd4 25.xd4 c5 [ 25...c4 has been suggested several places, but White may be okay after 26.f2 ( 26.xc4 xc4 27.f2 d8 28.e4 a5 is b e t t e r f o r B l a c k) 26...b6 27.e4 which gives White some compensation for the pawn ] [ The second alternative is also playable: 25...c4 26.f5!? xe5 ( 26...xe5?? 27.xc4+-; 26...e8 27.e6 xd4+ 28.xd4 b6 29.xb6 axb6 30.e4 e7 31.exf7+ xf7 32.f3 with some initiative for White though Black should be able to defend.) 27.f6 h8 A) 28.e4 d8 29.c5 ( 29.g5 h5 ) 29...a2 with a double-edged position; 995
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 28.f5 d7 29.h5 xf6 30.xf6 xf6 31.xf6 gxh5 32.g5+ h8 33.f6+ with a draw by perpetual check ] 26.e3 f6! 27.b5 d8 28.f5!? [ 28.e6!? is also worth a thought, e.g. xe6 ( 28...e7?! 29.f5! gxf5 30.f3 is quite dangerous for Black, particularly if in time trouble ) 29.xc5 f5 30.f2 f7 31.xa7 c4 32.d4 , and White is more or less okay. According to TWIC's coverage of the tournament, Carlsen thought for a long time before playing 28 f5, so he must have felt that it offered better chances than 28 e6, th ou gh m y an alysis d oe sn 't m at ch t ha t evaluation entirely. ] 28...fxe5 29.g5 b6 30.f6 c4+ [ This check looks safer than retreating the bishop on h8, which leaves the black king without breathing space the bishop awkwardly passive, yet it is worth considering, for example 30...h8 31.c3 b4 32.g3 d4+ 33.h1 c6 34.h3 f7 , and White doesn't have enough for the two sacrificed pawns. ] 31.h1 xb5 32.fxg7 xf1+ 33.xf1 xg7?! [ This obvious move allows White at least a pe rp e t u a l c h e ck. T he a lt e rn at ive s a re : 33...d7 34.h6 c6 35.xc4+ xc4 36.xc4+ f7 37.c1 d8 , and Black has all the chances, but whether it is enough to win is dubious. ] [ 33...d5 34.h6!? ( 34.e2?! xg7 35.h6+ f7 36.f2+ e8 37.f8+ d7 38.g4+ c6 39.f3 e4 40.e8+ b6 41.e3+ a6 42.xe4 d1+ 43.g1 d6 , and Black has excellent winning chances ) 34...c6 35.e2 e6 36.h3 with a continued complicated struggle ] 34.d8! Setting a nasty trap... c6?? [ ...which Topalov completely misses. A terrible blunder that loses the game on the spot. Instead 34...d5 would have lead to a draw by perpetual check: 35.xa5 xa5 36.e7+ , and Black's king can't escape the checks ] 35.f6+ g8 36.e6+ f8 37.g5! This may have been the move that Topalov missed when he played 34...Nc6?? 1-0
1011 Chernin,Alexander Bareev,Evgeny ECC Panormo GRE (5) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2601 2719 27.09.2001
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.a3 d5 8.d4 exd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4 0-0 11.d2!? A new move! d8 [ 11...c5 12.h4 dxc4 13.xc4 e6 wo u ld b e a n o t h e r, st a n d a rd m e t h o d o f treating this position. ] 12.b4 e8 13.c5 d7! 14.d3 b5 This simple plan either forces the exchange of the light-squared bishops, or obliges the white king t o st ay in t he cen tre a wh ile . 15.c2 W hite pref ers to keep his bishop pair. b6 16.a4 a6 17.f3 bxc5 18.xc5 d7! 19.f2 [ White has to part with his bishop pair all the same, 19.xd5? e5 20.b3 c6! 21.d4 xf3+ 22.gxf3 xf3 strips the white king bare. ] 19...xc5 20.xc5 d6 21.ac1 d4!? 22.exd4 e2+ 23.g3 [ The king has to try the other side of his kingside pawns, 23.g1?? e3# ] 23...d3 Cutting the bishop's control of g6, and therefore threatening ...Rg6+. 24.xd3 xd3 25.h3 d2 [ 25...d2 26.hg1 xb2 27.xc7 xd4 is level. ] ½-½
1012 Delchev,Aleksander Dabo Peranic,Robert 9th Open Bosnjaci CRO (4) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2583 2330 05.01.2003
Sometimes it is difficult to know how to react when your opponent offers to repeat a line you have already played - does he have a novelty prepared? 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 e4 5.g5 e7 6.d3 exd3 7.xd3 It is strange that Delchev returns to the old move, when as we saw not so long ago, Beliavsky's move [ 7.e4! seems very effective: h6 8.f3 d5! 996
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.cxd5 xe4 10.e3 xc3 11.bxc3 e5 12.xd3 xd3+!? an attempted improvement on the ( 12...g4 of Beliavsky, A-Turov,M ) 13.xd3 d8 14.0-0 e7 15.c4 and White made his space advantage count, Delchev, A-Papa,S/Zurich SUI 2002. Perhaps Delchev feared an improvement on this game? ] 7...g6!? A new idea. [ 7...e5 is the normal choice: 8.c2 d6 9.e3 g6 as in Kortschnoj, V-Ivanchuk,V/ Roquebrune 1992, and others. ] 8.f3 g7 9.g5 e5! This unpins the knight and defends against the menace of Nd5. 10.xe5 xe5 11.f4! c5 12.0-0-0 0-0 13.h3 There is no rush, the immediate [ 13.e4 allows g4 ] 13...e8 14.e4 White has a serious space advantage, but the black position is solid. d6 15.g4 h6 16.h4 a5 Else b4 was always a potential problem. 17.h2! White develops his rook, but leaves the light-squared bishop on f1, to defend the c4-pawn. Note this also defends f2 in prophylactic fashion, so that Bf2 becomes possible. a4 Freeing the a5-square for the queen's retreat. [ 17...g5!? would be the sort of move Black would consider in a Sicilian-style position, to gain control of e5, but thanks to White's last move this would be answere d b y 18.f2 c6 19.g2 with nasty threats to the black queen. ] 18.c2!? a6?! An inventive move, but perhaps he should have considered [ 18...g5!? now, as 19.f2 ( 19.g3!? ) 19...a5 20.d4!? gxf4 21.f2 g5 is very playable. ] 19.f3! The queen frees the d-file, and lends her presence to the f-file, squelching Black's dreams of counterplay. d7 [ 19...g5?! is no longer feasible: 20.f2 a5 21.c5 ] 20.d5 This is good, but the more forcing [ 20.f2! a5 21.c5 is even better, xc5 22.xc5 dxc5 23.xa6 xa6 24.e5 and Black's compensation for the exchange is non-existent. ] 20...c6? Black cracks completely, [ 20...a8! keeps the game alive, although I know which colour I would prefer to have here! ]
21.c7 24.c5 1-0
e6
22.f2
a5
1013 Ehlvest,Jaan Harikrishna,Penteala FIDE World Cup Gp D (1) [Tony Kosten]
23.xe6
fxe6
A28 2600 2551 10.10.2002
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e4 b4 [ 4...c5! ] 5.d3 d6 6.g3 h6!? This is a very rare move, [ 6...c5 is the mainline (and holds very fond memories for me, see the eBook), whilst ] [ 6...0-0 is also common, with the follow-up 7.g2 xc3+ 8.bxc3 e8 9.0-0 f5 but after 10.exf5 xf5 11.h4 e6 12.f4! White is better. ] 7.g2 xc3+ Black opts to double the white pawns, but it concedes the bishop pair, and allows White to regain control of d4, he can also play for control of d4 by giving his other bishop: [ 7...g4 8.h3 xf3 9.xf3 a6 10.0-0 c5 11.g2 d4 but I prefer to have the two bishops here, Land enbergue,C-Lutz,C/ Garmisch 1994. ] 8.bxc3 e6 9.d2! A strong novelty, White plans Nf1-e3 in order to bring the knight to d5. Otherwise White can play the knight to f5: [ 9.b1 b6 ( 9...b8 10.0-0 0-0 11.h4 a6 12.a4! is similar, Tarasenko,A-Smirnov,Y/ M o s c o w 1 9 9 5) 10.0-0 ( 10.d2 could transpose to the game) 10...0-0 11.h4 b8 12.b2 ( 12.f4 is also possible, Black's problem is that he lacks meaningful counterplay) 12...g5?! 13.f5 xf5 14.exf5 e7 15.h4! with advantage, Hjelm, N-Plesec,D/ Budapest 1993. ] 9...h5!? 10.b1 b6 11.h4! White cannot allow the h-pawn to advance further. d7 12.f1 e7 13.e3 From e3 the knight does a f ine job cont rolling d5 a nd f 5, but als o defends c4 so that playing d4 becomes a possibility. f6 14.d4 f8 I always found, whenever I played this variation, that although the black position is super-solid, it is White who enjoys all the meaningful pawn breaks, 997
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and the bishop pair are always useful. 15.b2 A standard plan in such positions, the darksqua red bisho p is f ine wh ere it is so th e queens' rook goes around it. c8 16.f4 Adding further pressure to the black centre. d7 17.a4 c6 18.d2 c7 19.a3 Now the bishop finds a good diagonal attacking d6, weakened by Black's 17th move. b5!? He could also have tried [ 19...c5 which blocks the a3-bishop although he probably didn't want to lose pawn control of d5. ] 20.d1!? An interesting pawn sac. [ 20.b4 was also strong. ] 20...bxc4 21.0-0 White has placed all his pieces on their ideal squares, and with the centre about to explode he can castle in safety. Note that Black is unable to castle kingside because of the weakness of his h-pawn. exf4 22.gxf4 f5?! A dubious move which just aids White in smashing the centre, [ 22...d8 is a better try, adding defence to d6, and waiting for White to decide how he will advance his big centre. ] 23.d5! [ 23.e5 d5 would suit Black fine. ] 23...cxd5 24.exf5! f7? Black is already in serious trouble, [ 24...xf5? loses to 25.xf5 xf5 26.e2+ d8 27.xd5 forking a8 and f5, but ] [ 24...b6!? was worth a shot, 25.d4 f7 and Black is still in with a shout. ] 25.xd5 xd5 26.xd5! White prefers to giv e h i s r o o k ra t h e r t h a n o n e o f h i s t wo massive bishops! 0-0 This is hopeless, but Black was lost anyway: [ 26...xd5 27.xd5 0-0-0 (forced) 28.a8+ b8 29.b1 d7 30.d5 is winning, Bxc4-a6 is the immediate threat. ] 27.xd6 b6+ 28.h1 xf5 29.xf5! xf5 30.xa8 d8 31.e4 xh4+ 32.g2 b5 33.e2 1-0
1014 Filippov,Valerij Joachim,Sven ECC Rethymnon GRE (7) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2630 2438 04.10.2003
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.e3 e7 A reasonable alternative to the ever-popular [ 4...b4 ] 5.d4 The whole point of 4 e3, White expands in the centre. We looked at [ 5.a3 in Agrest,E-Anand,V. ] 5...exd4 6.xd4 0-0 7.e2 d5 Black strikes b a c k i n t h e c e n t r e . T a l , wh o wo r k e d a s Karpov's second, revealed that this line was prepared for Karpov's match against Kortchnoi. . 8.xc6 White doubles the black pawns, but strengthens the centre. [ 8.cxd5 is fine for Black: b4! A) 9.e4?! xe4! 10.db5 ( 10.xe4?! xd5 11.f3 xd4! (the point) 12.xd4 c2+ 13.d2 xd4 should win) 10...f5 with a pleasant position for Black, Bagirov, V-Nei,I/URS 1979; B) 9.0-0 bxd5 10.xd5 xd5 11.b5 c6 12.xd5 xd5 13.d4 f6 14.d1 d8 with some pressure, Mikenas,V-Keres, P/Moscow 1950. ] 8...bxc6 9.0-0 d6 A second move of the bishop, but Black's plan revolves around an attack on the kingside - there is no white k n i g h t o n f 3 t o d e f e n d i t . 10.b3 e8 Karpov preferred [ 10...e7 which threatens the fork ...Qe5, h i t t in g h 2 a n d t h e kn i gh t o n c 3 , 11.b2 dxc4! Zaitsev's idea, ( 11...d8 12.cxd5 e5 13.g3 h3 14.e1 b4 15.c2 f5 16.c1 cxd5 17.f3 was fairly level in Keene,R-Jansson,B/Haifa 1976) 12.bxc4 b8! 13.c1 g4 14.g3 e8 15.d1?! xh2! and Black won a fine game in Timman,J-Karpov,A/Montreal 1979. ] 11.c2 e7 12.b2 dxc4 Zaitsev's plan works here, sa well. It looks illogical, but takes the pressure off the d5-pawn. 13.bxc4 [ 13.xc4 is positionally correct, but takes another piece away from the queenside, allowing e5 14.g3 h5 with a strong attack, ... Ng4 is the main threat, but ...Bg4f3 is also on the cards. ] 13...b8 All according to the Karpov recipe. 998
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.ab1!? Bolstering the b2-bishop, this is an attempted improvement on [ 14.fd1?! when e5 ( 14...g4 is a ls o in t e re st in g, a s 15.xg4 xg4 looks good for Black) 15.g3 g4 16.f3?! f6 17.g2 xf2+! 18.xf2 xf2 which looks winning, Stryjecki,M-Pinski,J/ Trzbinia 1999. ] 14...g4 This is just too easy for Black to play. 15.g3 Best. [ 15.h3? is a losing blunder: e5 16.g3 xe3 and the knight cannot be captured. ] [ 15.xg4 avoids immediate disaster, but after xg4 White will have to defend very well to avoid defeat, e.g. 16.a1 e5 17.g3 f5 winning a pawn. ] 15...xh2! Forcing a draw, at least. [ 15...e6 16.a1 h6 is also worth a try. ] 16.xh2 Forced, as [ 16.c5? loses to xf1 17.cxd6 xe3 hitting the queen, 18.fxe3 g5 ] 16...h4+ 17.g1 [ 17.g2 changes nothing, h3+ 18.g1 xg3 transposing. ] 17...xg3 18.fxg3 xg3+ 19.h1 h3+!? In view of the enormous rating difference Black decides to force a perpetual, but he could certainly play for more with [ 19...xe3! 20.e4 (there is nothing else) h4+ 21.g1 xe4 regaining one piece, but maintaining a strong attack and a number of pawns, 22.f3 g3+ 23.g2 e3+ etc. ] [ 19...e6 would win if White hadn't further defended his dark-squared bishop on move 1 4 , b u t n o w 20.h5 (the one and only move) h6 21.h2 xh2+ 22.xh2 xh5+ is unclear. ] 20.g1 g3+ 21.h1 h3+ ½-½
1015 Filippov,Valerij Svidler,Peter TCh Tomsk RUS (7) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2632 2695 20.05.2001
[ 8...e5 9.f4 was seen in the archives. ] 9.e3 e5 10.b5!? [ A sharp line, wasting more time chasing the c7-pawn, 10.f3 has been investigated in the archives, and is more positional. ] 10...d6 A good reaction, Black ignores the t h r e a t , a n d co n t i n u e s h i s d e ve l o p m e n t . 11.xf6 [ This is the whole point of White's play, of c o u r s e , a l t h o u g h t h e q u i e t 11.e2!? is possible, maintaining the 'threat', and vacating the f1-square for the king: g6 12.xf6 xf6 13.xc7 xc3+ 14.f1 b8 15.d5?! ( 15.b5!? e5 16.d4 wins the a or d pawn, and is worth consideration) 15...a5 16.h4 e6 17.h5 e5 18.h4 fe8 agreed drawn, Istratescu, A-Tkachiev,V/Ohrid MKD 2001, although Black might wish to continue. ] 11...xf6 [ 11...gxf6? is too ugly to contemplate. ] 12.xc7 f3+! The tactical justification of Black's tenth move! 13.e2 [ 13.gxf3? xc3+ 14.e2 xc4+ forks king and knight. ] 13...g4 'Protecting' the a8-rook by t h re a t e n i n g a d e a d ly d i sc o ve r e d c h e c k . 14.d5! xh2+! [ A novelty, previously Black had preferred 14...e5+ 15.e1 d8 16.d4 a5 17.e2 e6 18.e7+?! h8 19.f4 fe8! 20.fxe5 dxe5 left Black on top, Alterman,BHuebner,R/Yerevan 1996. ] 15.e1 g5 16.d4 xf1 17.xf1 e6 Black has regained his pawn and has the b e t t e r p a wn s t ru c t u r e . 18.d1 ac8!? P r o vo k i n g a s t r i n g o f p a wn e x c h a n g e s . 19.xa7 a8 20.b6 xa2 21.xd6 xd5 22.xd5 f6 23.f3 xc3 24.h4 a1 25.hd4 Having brought his king's rook into the game, White has equalised the position. fa8 26.xb7 ½-½
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 b4 6.g5 h6 7.h4 xc3+ 8.bxc3 0-0 999
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1016 Fritz 6a Junior 6.0 Cadaques Tournament (15) [Tony Kosten]
A28
26.01.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 0-0 6.d5 e8 7.f5 d6 8.xf6+ xf6 9.xf6 gxf6 10.a3 c5 11.b4 b6 12.b2 a5 13.b5 e7 14.d4 Miles' move gets another outing. a4 [ 14...g4?! was the original Miles, ARodriguez,A game from Yopal 1997. ] 15.0-0-0 g6 16.h4 [ As I suggested in the archives an i m p r o v e m e n t o n W h i t e ' s 16.d2 of Agrest,E-Akopian,V/Ne w York 1998 , would be found at this point, however, I didn't imagine that it would be a computer which would do it! ] [ Incidentally, my version of Fritz6 prefers 16.e2 , here! ] 16...h5 Stopping the onward march of the hpawn, but the black h5-pawn will be a weakness. 17.e2 g7 18.h2! The knight will come to g3. h8 [ 18...xh4 19.f1 f5 20.xh5 might be a better choice. ] 19.f1 e7 20.g3 g6 [ 20...g4 21.xg4 hxg4 22.h5 is hardly The End of the World! ] 21.hf1 f5?? Such an ugly move, walking into an unbreakable pin. The computer sees that he won't lose the piece immediately, but doesn't see that he can never extract his pie c e s f ro m t he p in , it is ove r h is 'e ve n t horizon'. 22.d3 e8 23.h1 d5 24.cxd5 exd4 25.exd4 d8 26.he1 a7 27.e4 c6 Now Black sees that Rd3-f3 is menaced, and tries everything to avoid this, but only s u c c e e d s i n l o s i n g e ve n m o re m a t e ri a l . 28.dxc6 c7 29.d5 a5 30.cxb7 f4+ 31.c2 d7 32.d3 xb5 33.xf5 xf5 34.xf5+ xf5 35.e7 g6 36.f3 e5 37.xe5 fxe5 38.exf7 This sort of position is very easy for a computer. b6 39.e7 b8 40.g3+ h6 41.gg7 b5 42.d3 xd5+ 43.e4 c5 44.f3 c4+ 45.d5 xh4 46.g3 h3 [ 46...h3 47.xe5 threatens mate in two by Rh7+, and Reg7. Not one of Junior's
better performances, but, to be fair, this was one of only two Fritz wins, opposed to the six Junior victories. ] 1-0
1017 Gajewski,Grzegorz Tomczak,Jacek POL-ch Warsaw (9) [Fier, Alexandr]
A28 2629 2544 02.04.2014
An interesting game and I like White's idea. This variation is similar to a Paulsen with reversed colors, with the difference being that White didn't play a3 and also has the extra t e m p o o f t h e f ir st m o ve . W i t h t wo s m a l l inaccuracies Black's position simply collapsed. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.e3 White tries to enter a Sicilian with a tempo up. d5 [ 4...b4 is the main move and it was an a lyze d in G risch u k, A (2 7 8 5 )-G iri, A (2737)/FIDE GP Paris 2013 (8.5). ] 5.cxd5 xd5 6.b5 xc3 7.bxc3 d6 8.d4 So far everything is normal, and now Black has several alternatives. I'm not a fan of closing the center so quickly, but it's quite a popular idea in the Paulsen. e4 [ 8...d7 I like this move more. Compared with the position with reversed colors, the difference is that Black is not looking for an advantage, but only a way to equalize 9.0-0 0-0 and here 10.xc6 leads nowhere, White will miss the light squared bishop ( 10.e2 is better and the position is normal after e8 11.d5 e7 12.e4 Bachmann Schiavo, A (2519)-Cubas, J (2430)/Asuncion Roggio Cup 2008. ) 10...xc6 11.dxe5 xf3 12.xf3 xe5 13.a3 c5! 14.xc5 xh2+ 15.xh2 c7+ 16.g1 xc5 17.xb7 xc3 with a dead equal position Nikolaidis, I (2555)-Skembris, S (2463)/GRE-ch 62nd Athens 2012. ] [ 8...exd4 is another way to play, releasing the pressure, but it's not so nice to give the central pawns so easily 9.cxd4 0-0 10.0-0 f5 11.d3 and I think White already has a small advantage, Pala, V (2333)-Mudrak, J (2363)/CZE-chT2E 1011 2010 (5.1). ] 9.d2 g5 10.f1 It looks like Black did well 1000
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 from the opening, forcing the bishop to retreat to f 1, winning space and transferring the queen to an active position. However, things are not that clear, since the e4-pawn now a target and the bishop is much more useful on g2 than it was on b5. g6 11.g3 0-0 [ 11...h5 i s c o h e r e n t 12.g2 ( 12.h4 would probably be similar to the game, but White's light squares are slightly weakened) 12...f5 13.b3 h4 14.c4 hxg3 15.xd6+ cxd6 16.hxg3 xh1+ 17.xh1 f7 with a double edged position in Hess, R (2579)-Izoria , Z (2562)/USA tt ICC INT 2013. ] 12.g2 e8 13.0-0 g4?! There is no need for this move. [ 13...f5 was better. Probably Black was afraid of 14.f3 ( 14.b1 ab8 15.b5 d7 is a better version of the game, since the e4pawn is not threatened) 14...exf3 15.xf3 g4 16.f2 h5 17.e4 f6 18.b1 ab8 19.a4 a6 and White has a beautiful position, but the strong pawns can become weak at some point ] 14.c2 [ 14.b3! was better because of a nice trick ab8 ( 14...c8 15.b1; 14...b6 is maybe the best chance 15.xe4 a5 16.b1 f5 17.f3 and White is a bit cramped, but has a pawn up) 15.xe4 xe4 16.f3 e6 17.b1 and the rook ran out of squares ] 14...f5 15.b1 ab8 [ 15...b6 weakens the long diagonal, but it's not worse than the text 16.b5 d7 16 wit h t h e s a m e id e a o f t h e va ria t io n o n Black's move ] 16.b5! G o i n g f o r t h e s a c r i f i c e . a6? A mistaken judgement of the position. The bishop and central pawns more than compensate the rook, and I even think that Black is already close to lost after this move. [ 16...d7 was better. It looks like White is winning a pawn, but there are some problems on the way 17.xe4 ( 17.b1 d e f e n d s t h e ro o k b6 18.xe4 xd4 19.cxd4 xb5 20.xb5 xe4 21.xe4 xe4 22.b2 is ok for Black) 17...xe4! now it's Black's turn to sacrifice the exchange 18.xe4 xd4 19.xg6 hxg6 and the rook has no satisfactory place to go
20.a5 ( 20.b1 e2+ 21.g2 xc3 22.a1 e8 with full compensation) 20...c6 21.d5 e6 22.d3 and the rook i s t e r r i b l y p l a c e d e5 23.d4 b5 so the position is level ] 17.xf5 xf5 18.xe4 h5 19.g2 White's plan is quite easy: he just wants to start pushing pawns. Black has little to do against this, so White has a clear advantage. a5 Trying to create counterplay with ...c5. [ 19...g6 20.e4 f8 21.f4 is also not funny for Black ] 20.e4 c5 21.e5 f8 22.f3 g6 23.e4 h5 24.f3 cxd4 25.cxd4 c6 26.g2 f6 Black still tries to somehow combat White's center. [ 26...g6 would not help, since 27.b3 h6 28.d5 d8 ( 28...e7 29.xh6 xh6 30.xc6 wins ) 29.xh6 xh6 30.h4 g7 31.g5 e7 and Black is dominated ] 27.h3 f5 Now Black is lost. [ 27...h8 is the computer move, but White can just play without hurry 28.e3 bc8 ( 28...fxe5 29.g4 f7 30.g5 d7 31.b3 d8 32.xh7 e6 33.dxe5 and Black's position will fall soon) 29.b3 a n d B l a c k c a n n o t t a k e t h e p a w n fxe5? 30.g4 wins the queen ] 28.d5+ h8 29.g5 xd4 30.c4 c6 31.f7+ g8 32.xc6 1-0
1018 Gajewski,Grzegorz Volokitin,Andrei FRA-chT Top 12 (5.2) [Kosten, Tony]
A28 2641 2638 28.05.2014
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.bxc3!? I've often wondered ab ou t t h is m o ve , I kn ow it se em s o d d t o voluntarily recapture with a pawn after having defended the knight with the queen, but it's true that Black captures on c3 without being provoked, so White's not losing time, and he do e s give h imse lf a b igge r cen t re . S u b a consistently used this line over more than 30 years, although not with particularly good results. [ 6.xc3 is the mainline, of course, and 1001
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 we've covered it here on many occasions, but it is also a bit dull and drawish! ] 6...d6 This allows White to close the centre with e4. [ 6...e4 is a critical alternative, 7.g5 A) 7...d5 is normally met by A1) 8.b1!? is tricky: h6? 9.cxd5! hxg5 ( 9...xd5 10.b5 and e4 drops, is the point! ) 10.dxc6 bxc6 11.a3 stranding the king in the centre, and with his obvious structural advantage White was close to winning in Zagorskis, D (2515)-Sammalvuo, T (2395) Copenhagen 1998, 1-0 (36).; A2) 8.f3 exf3 ( 8...h6 9.cxd5 hxg5 10.dxc6 exf3 11.gxf3 bxc6 12.a3 d5 13.e4 White's bishops and centre leave him on top, Persson, J-Svensson, L (2285) Lidkoeping 1994, 1-0 (29).) 9.xf3 g4 10.a3 d7 11.d4 ( 11.cxd5 xd5 12.b3 xf3 13.c4 d7 14.gxf3 a5 regains one 'small exchange', with a good game, Lukin, A (2470)-Rekhmann, P Moscow 1990, but 1-0 (38). ) 11...0-0-0 12.a4 xd4 13.xd7+ xd7 14.cxd4 e8 is fine for Black, Shimanov, A (2649) Pa la c , M (25 6 1 ) Ye re van 2 0 1 4 , 0 -1 (46).; B) 7...e7 8.f3 (White can't allow his knight to be kicked back by ...h6.) exf3 9.xf3 d6 ( 9...0-0 10.e2 d6 t r a n s p o s e s .) 10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 Reaching a key position, White has more cen tral p awns, an op en f -f ile an d th e bishop pair, but his centre is a bit unwieldy and Black has free play for his pieces. g4 12.d3 White will continue e4 to free his dark square bishop. ( 12.b1 b6 13.d3 is similar, Suba, M (2501)-Mishuchkov, N (2379) Condino 2009, 0-1 (38).) 12...d5 ( 12...fe8 13.e4 h6 14.b1 ab8 15.h3 d7 Poloch, P (2264)-Sosovicka, J (2149) Frydek Mistek 2011, 1-0 (39), 16.d4!? to f5. ) 13.cxd5 ( Houdini likes 13.d4! e.g. ae8 14.cxd5 xd5 15.e4! ) 13...xd5 14.d2! ( 14.e4? c5+ ) 14...f5! (else e4) 15.c4 ( 15.h3 h5 16.d4? loses material to xe2 17.xc6 bxc6 18.xe2 xc3 19.c2 d5 20.xc6 xe3 although White has good chances to
hold, Kovalevskaya, E (2427)-Turova, I (2384) St Petersburg 2009, 1/2-1/2 (52).) 15...f6 16.h3 h5 17.b1 b6 18.h4 g6 19.b2 xe2 20.xe2 h5?! ( 20...d7 21.f3 ae8 ) 21.xf5! xf5 22.xf5 g3 ( 22...gxf5 23.xh5 ) 23.f3 xf5 24.d5+ f8 25.xc6 Nikolaidis, I (2493)-Brkic, A (2568) Leros 2010, 1-0 (32), when Black should prefer xe3+ 26.h1 d8 27.xc7 xd3 28.e1 d7 29.e5 g7! with chances to defend. ] [ 6...0-0 is the most common, 7.d3 ( after 7.e4! d6 we transpose below.) 7...d6 8.e2 e7 9.d2!? ( 9.e4 is more thematic, e8 10.0-0 f5 11.exf5 xf5 Kovacevic, B (2440)-Ruck, R (2485) St Veit 1998, 1/2-1/2 ( 2 1 ) , w h e n 12.b1 b6 13.g5 f6 14.h4 and Bf3 might give White a small edge. ) 9...g4!? 10.e4 f5 11.xg4 fxg4 12.f1 e6 13.e3 a6 14.a4 a5 15.d5 d7 16.e3 e7 17.0-0 g6 with good p la y, K i n g, D (2 5 6 0 )- K o s t e n , A (2 5 1 0 ) Hastings 1990, 1/2-1/2 (33). ] 7.e4 Positionally this seems right to me. White will continue with d3 when his wall of pawns on light squares stymie the black bishop while increasing the power of his own dark square bishop. h5 This might not be a good idea as White will play g3 and Be2 anyway. [ 7...0-0 is normal, A) 8.e2 h5 ( 8...e7 9.d4 g6 10.0-0 e7 11.d3 h6 looks more like a Nimzo-Indian! Bocharov, D (2600)Matlakov, M (2668) Tyumen 2012, 1-0 (40). ) 9.d4 f4 10.xf4 exf4 11.h4 e8 12.d3 g4 13.g1 f5 14.f1 is t yp ically b izarre p la y f rom Ric h a rd Rapport! Rapport, R (2621)-Zaragatski, I (2460) Germany 2013, but he won, of course! 1-0 (69).; B) 8.g3 now Black has a wide choice of moves, but here plans are more important, and White's plan is to play Nh4, Bg2, d3, 0-0, but he might also try d4 and Be2 depending on Black's play. Black, meanwhile, will often seek to play ...f5. h8 ( 8...a6 9.a4 a5 10.d3 h5 11.e2 g4 12.h3 d7 Suba, M (2470)Romanishin, O (2580) Yerevan 1980, 0-1 ( 4 1 ) , w h e n 13.xe5!? dxe5 14.xh5 1002
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is perfectly playable.; 8...e8 is thematic, p l a n n i n g . . . f 5 , 9.h4 e7 Suba, M (2535)-Komarov, D (2580) Sovata 1998, 1/2-1/2 (40), 10.g2 b6 11.0-0 with a slight plus.; 8...h5 was the move order of Suba-Sutter, and transposes to the text.) 9.h4 g8 10.g2 ge7 11.d3 f5 this is always a go o d wa y t o g e t c o u n t e r p l a y i n s u c h po s it ion s , 12.g5 fxe4 13.xe4 e8 14.b1 b8 15.0-0 h3 16.fe1 f5! 17.g2 with an edge, Banikas, H (2535)Ivanisevic, I (2460) Dos Hermanas 2000, 1-0 (55). ] 8.g3 0-0 [ 8...g4 9.h4 g6 10.d3 h6 11.b1 b6 12.h3 d7 13.d1 g7 14.g2 e6 15.e3 f8 16.g2 h5 17.h4 b8 18.d5 after a period of 'manoeuvering knights around', White has some advantage as it is difficult to shift his knight from d5 wi t h o u t t h e w e a k e n i n g . . . c 6 , S u b a , M (2512)-Conquest, S (2514) Calvia 2005, 1/ 2-1/2 (43). ] 9.h4 Heading for f5, and stopping Black f ro m p la yi n g t h e f re e in g . . . f 5 m o ve . e7 Fighting for the ...f5 advance. [ 9...g6?! looks too weakening without a dark square bishop, 10.d3 f5 11.exf5 gxf5 12.h6!? ( 12.e2 g7 13.f4 a n d 0 - 0 l o o k s s o m e wh a t s i m p l e r , wi t h advantage.) 12...g7 13.f4 ( 13.g2 f6 ) 13...e8 14.0-0-0 led to sharp play in Suba, M (2475)-Sutter, O (2310) Bern 1995, 1-0 (49). ] 10.e2 f6 Black has to retreat, and has lost two tempi. 11.d3 g6 12.g2! This knight is heading for e3 where it surveys f5 and d5. h3 13.e3 d7 14.g1! Typical Gajewski, with the centre closed he launches a kingside attack. h5!? Fighting for control of g4, but weakening the king's shield. 15.d1 g4 16.f5 f6 17.g4! This came as a big surprise when I wandered over to see how my team mate was doing in this crunch match. hxg4 18.xg4! The point, White sacrifices the exchange for a strong, maybe winning, attack. [ 18.g5 is also interesting, h7 19.e3 g3 20.xg3 ] 18...xg4 19.xg4 d5 This looks a bit
desperate, but Black must find some counterplay. [ 19...xg4 20.xg4 threatening Nh6+, ad8 21.h4 and there is no defence to h5, winning the knight. ] [ 19...c6 looks reasonable, intending ...d5, but 20.g5! xg4 21.xg4 ad8 22.f6!! is winning, gxf6? 23.h5 and Qh6-g7. ] 20.cxd5 xd5 21.g5!? More really imaginative play, White intends Qf3 and then Nxg7. [ 21.g3 was also promising, if less flashy, as Black must stop the simple h4-h5 winning the g7-pawn. ] 21...xc3 22.f3 b5 [ 22...b5 23.d2! b2 24.c1 White threatens Rxg6! b1 25.e3 c6 26.e2 xe2+ 27.xe2 a3 28.h4 and h5. ] 23.xg7! d4 The only chance. [ 23...xg7? 24.f6+ g8 25.h3 forces xg4 ] 24.h3 f5 Andrei keeps finding resources. 25.xf5 xf5 26.exf5 xf5 27.0-0-0 The king looks pretty exposed over on the queenside, but Black's pieces are tied to the o t h e r w i n g . ae8 I couldn't find anything better: [ 27...f3 28.h6 c6+ 29.c4 d6 30.g1 f7 31.h7+ e8 32.e3 is crushing, as is ] [ 27...a5 28.d2 a6 29.dg1 ] 28.e3? Spoiling a beautiful attack. [ 28.dg1 is obvious, and winning: e6 29.d2 and there is no satisfactory defence t o Q h 6 a n d t h e c a p t u r e o n g 6 , a s ff6 30.xg6+ xg6 31.xf5 ] 28...e6! 29.g3 [ 29.dg1 xd3 30.xg6+ xg6 31.e6+ g7 and White can only draw, by 32.e7+ f7 33.xe5+ ] [ 29.g2 is better, though not enough to win. ] 29...a6 30.h4 ff6 Planning some checks on the 6th rank. 31.d2 f7 Andrei was mightily relieved to have saved this! Still, it was a shame for Gajewski who played fantastically well. ½-½
1003
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1019 Ghaem Maghami,Ehsan Hernandez,Holden III Open Calvia ESP (6) [John Watson]
A28 2581 2524 25.10.2006
White has the usual problem of trying to get something out of a Reversed Sicilian. The way the game goes is promising but the players agree to a draw in an interesting position. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.d3 b4 5.d2 A reverse Moscow Variation (1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 d6 3 Bb5+ Nc6). White has had a difficult time getting anywhere in this position, but the course of this game is original. 0-0 6.e3 e8 Setting up a possible ...e4. He might also play .. .Bxc3, when Bxc3 doesn't threaten the epawn. [ 6...d5 7.cxd5 xd5 is reasonable. White can try to set up a typical Sicilian formation by 8.c2 ] [ 6...xc3 7.xc3 e8 8.e2 d5 9.cxd5 xd5!? is also possible, with another position from the Sicilian reversed in which Black would normally castle queenside. Black is generally okay in these positions but at least this is all interesting stuff to play. ] 7.e2 d6 [ A more ambitious line is 7...xc3 8.xc3 d5 9.cxd5 xd5 10.c1 ( or 10.c2!? f5 11.d1 ) 10...xc3 11.xc3 e6 12.a3 would be a typical line. ] 8.0-0 f5 9.c1 [ 9.d5!? xd2 10.xd2 is another way to play it. Then xd5 11.cxd5 e7 12.c1 puts a little pressure on Black ( 12.b3 c6! is messy )] 9...xc3 10.xc3 e4 11.d4! xd4 12.xd4 b6 13.dxe4 xe4 [ 13...xe4 14.f3 and e4 is similar. ] 14.f3 g6 15.d2 d7 16.e4 a5 Versus b4. 17.fe1 [ 17.a3? a4 ] 17...f6 18.b3 e7 19.f1 White soon stops trying, apparently thinking that the e5 blockade won't be broken down and tha t other advances will be weakening. But two bishops and a space advantage should count for something, especially in a semi-closed position in which Black can do little else but wait around. Here's a good place to take a
look at alternatives. Clearly White will have to attack Black's pawn structure by one of e5, g5 or c5, or at least cause f avourable pawn t r a n s f o r m a t i o n s a l o n g t h e wa y. I f B l a c k follows the plan in the game, the move e5 will be almost impossible to enforce, because f4 will lose White's e-pawn. The g5 option is not unthinkable, and even the idea of trying to lock the kingside (by, for example, h4-h5, provoking ...h6) and then proceed on the queenside makes sense. The most ambitious plan involving attack on Black's king would be to bring W hite's king all the way to the queenside(!) and then throw the kingside pawns forward, with an emphasis on the move g5. All these strategies are possible, but rather exotic. The next thing to do is look at queenside expansion and in fact it looks fairly easy and almost risk-free to enforce the move b4. For example: I'm sure that this isn't best play for either side, but you get the idea. At any rate, White doesn't attempt to do anything and the game is quickly drawn. [ a) 19.b2 f8 20.a3 c5 ( 20...ae8 21.b4 axb4 22.axb4 f5 23.exf5 xf5 24.c3 ) 21.d1 ae8 22.b4 ] [ b) 19.c3 f8 20.a3 c5 21.d1 ( or 21.d1 , and if a4?! , 22.b4 b3 23.b1 f5 24.d5+ h8 25.exf5 xf5 26.d3 ) 21...f7 ( 21...d7 22.d4 f5 23.c2! fxe4 24.xe4 xe4 25.xe4 ) 22.b4 axb4 23.axb4 e6 24.c2 ee8 25.f4! ] 19...f8 20.f2 [ 20.f2 ae8 21.g3 e5 22.h3 ] 20...ae8 1/2-1/2 ½-½
1020 Grischuk,Alexander Giri,Anish FIDE GP Paris (8.5) [Fier, Alexandr]
A28 2785 2737 30.09.2013
Grischuk goes for an old line that even nowadays doesn't have a clear verdict. Giri plays 14...Ng6 instead of the critical 14...a4 and after one superficial idea got into big trouble. Also interesting is the sub-line with 8... gxf6. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 0-0 1004
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 5...xc3 6.xc3 e7 is the main line and some recent games went to an unclea r endgame after 7.e2 d5 8.0-0 d4 9.exd4 exd4 10.a3 xa3 11.bxa3 f5 and here 12.e1 was played in Short, N (2698)Rublevsky, S (2693)/Poikovsky Karpov 13th 2012. ( 12.b2 was seen in a blitz game Dubov, D (2624)-Karjakin, S (2772)/Moscowch blitz 67th 2013. )] 6.d5 e8 7.f5 d6 8.xf6+ xf6 This move is the mainline and tries to compensate the bad structure with a development advantage. [ 8...gxf6 looks more logical, winning a tempo and keeping the queens on to open the position, and leads to big complications. Still, sometimes Black is afraid of an attack on the kingside. A) 9.h5 is played much more, A1) 9...e4 10.a3!? the basic idea is to make Black spend one more tempo (with ...d5 in order to play ...Bf8 A1a) 10...c5 11.b4 b6 ( 11...exf3 12.bxc5 e5 13.xf3 ) 12.b2! exf3 13.gxf3 with a strong attack; A1b) 10...exf3 11.gxf3!? e5! ( 11...c5 12.g1+ and White is b e t t e r i n t h e c o m p l i c a t i o n s h8 13.h6 g8 14.xg8+ xg8 15.d3 f5 16.b4 e5 17.b2! with a strong attack xd3+? 18.e2 followed by 19.Rg1+ winning.) 12.g1+ g5 13.xg5+ fxg5 14.d3!? not in hurry to take the bishop! f6 ( 14...c5 15.xh7+ f8 16.h6+ e8 17.b4 b6 18.b2 with good c o m p e n s a t i o n) 15.axb4 xb4 16.xh7+ f8 17.e4 which is unclear.; A2) 9...d5!? 10.d3 entering a dangerous line e4 11.cxd5 looks kind of p r e c a r i o u s f o r W h i t e a f t e r f8! to keep the light squares open, ( 11...exd3 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.b3 is goo d f or W hit e) 12.xe4 xe4 13.dxc6 d3 ( 13...bxc6 14.0-0 g4 15.a5 xf3 16.gxf3 c8! draws. ) 14.h3 bxc6 15.g1 with the 16.Qe2 idea is totally unclear.; B) 9.c2!? is quite interesting, it was only played 3 times but it's no worse than the
main line. B1) 9...d5 i s b e t t e r a g a i n : 10.cxd5 xd5 11.c4 ( 11.a3 f8 12.c4 f5 13.d3 d7 14.e4 is slightly better for White ) 11...f5! 12.xf5 xc4 13.xf6 ad8 14.f5 d4 15.exd4 exd4+ 16.d1 d3 17.g5+ f8 18.h6+=; B2) 9...e4 10.a3!? is a similar idea to the one used in the 9.Qh5 line ( 10.g1 d5 11.a3 f8 is Kharlov, A-Korotylev, A, in the PGN Archive.; 10.h4 is not so good, the knight strays a bit out of play here, f5 11.g3 d5 and Black is fine.) 10...c5 ( 10...exf3 11.axb4 xb4 12.c3 fxg2 13.xg2 a5 14.g1 g i v e s W h i t e g o o d c o m p e n s a t i o n) 11.g1 d5 12.b4 now the bishop reaches f8 with more one tempo, f8 13.cxd5 xd5 14.e2 with good chances for an edge, since both the bishop and the knight have good squares to go to. ] 9.xf6 gxf6 10.a3 c5 11.b4 b6 12.b2 a5 13.b5 e7 14.d4 The most active move. Now White is threatening 15.c5! and if 15... Ba7 16.b6! with a picturesque structure! [ 14.a4 avoids 14...a4, but now the bishop can go to b4: c5! 15.e2 c6 was ok for Black in Hansen, C (2590) -Gurevich, M (2605)/Antwerp 1993. ] [ 14.g4 is an original move, avoiding ... Bg4 ideas and looking for kingside expansion. It wa s a n a l yze d f o r C h e s s P u b l i s h i n g i n Bosboom, M (2476)-Podgaets, M (2490)/ VAM Open Hoogeveen NED 1999. ] 14...g6 This is not the critical variation, but it's possible that Giri was not so well prepared in this specific line. [ 14...a4 opening an important diagonal for Black's bishop 15.0-0-0 A) 15...a5 allows the Nd2-e4 plan, 16.d2 g4?! 17.f3 f5 ( 17...c8 18.e4 g7 19.g4 with a comfortable position for White) 18.g4 g6 19.e4 and White has good prospects.; B) 15...g6 16.e2!? the most flexible, b e i n g a b l e t o a n s w e r ( 16.d2 is looking to play Ne4, but there is no time for this exd4 17.xd4 xd4 18.exd4 c6 and Black is fine, Agrest, E (2525)Akopian, V (2660)/New York op 1998 .; 1005
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.h4 h5 was also analyzed in Fritz 6aJunior 6.0/Cadaques Tournament 2000.) 16...g4 with 17.h3 is an interesting option and worth trying. ] 15.a4 I like this move, now any counterplay o n t h e q u e e n s i d e i s m o r e d i f f i c u l t . g4 Usually in these positions it's good for White to exchange the knight on f3 since the g-file will be opened and Black's bishop will be missing. 16.0-0-0 exd4 Trying to define everything quickly, but the resulting position is just sad for Black. [ 16...c6 is logical, trying to open the position on the queenside, but W hite still has the better chances after 17.h3 e6 ( 17...xf3 18.gxf3; 17...d7 18.dxe5 wins a pawn) 18.d2 this is one of the key plans for White, e 4 i s a g o o d s q u a r e f o r t h e k n i g h t , f5 ( 18...exd4 19.e4! this is the difference, in the Agrest game, Black's bishop was not in the way g7 20.xd4 xd4 21.xd4 with a clear advantage) 19.c5 dxc5 20.dxe5 and W hite plans to put the knight on c4 a n d e xc h a n g e o n c6 , b re a k in g B la ck' s structure. Probably this is enough for some advantage, but Black has some active pieces too. ] [ 16...e4 doesn't win a piece because of the simple 17.h3 and after xf3 18.gxf3 exf3 19.g1 will recover the pawn with a clear advantage. ] 17.xd4 xd4 18.xd4 xf3?! Now Black has no active plan and the knight has no good square. Even if the position is defensible it's not an easy task. [ 18...e6 keeping the bishop is better 19.e2 ( 19.b6 is premature ac8 20.bxc7 xc7 21.xd6 e5 with counterplay.) 19...e5 20.b2 gives White some advantage because of the structure. ] 19.gxf3 b6 20.f4 It's clearly visible that the bishop is better than the knight and the light square weaknesses are soon going to be decisive. e7 [ 20...f5 ties the knight to the defence of the f5-pawn, 21.d3 e7 22.g1+ h8 23.g3 ] 21.g2 ab8 [ 21...ad8 is basically the same, 22.d5 ] 22.d5 This move gives Black a choice, and I'm not sure if it's really necessary, but since
the choice is between two unpleasant positions, Black is still under pressure. f8 [ 22...xd5 would be my choice, but Black s t i l l h a s p r o b l e m s t o s o l v e 23.cxd5 ( 23.xd5 e4! ) 23...f5 with the idea of exchanging one rook, which makes the defence of c7 easier 24.c4 bc8 25.d2 e4 26.hc1 xc4 27.xc4 f8 28.d3 now Black's king can't both control c7 and stop an invasion on the g-file at the same time e7 29.c1 d7 30.g1 and move by move White can improve his position. ] 23.g1+ h8 24.dd1 xd5 25.xd5 Now this is possible, there is no ...Re4. g8 26.g3 g6 27.h5! Avoiding any counterplay, now W hite is ready for a royal march. [ 27.d2 h6! 28.h3 g8 and White can't defend the kingside in a satisfactory way. ] 27...g7 28.d2+And there is nothing B l a c k c a n d o a g a i n s t K - d 4 - d 5 - c 6 . h8 29.d3 xg3 30.hxg3 f5 31.xf5 h5 32.e4 h4 33.gxh4 xh4 34.d5 h1 This game shows that this endgame can be re a l ly d a n g e ro u s f o r B la c k if n o t p l a ye d correctly. A nice victory from Grischuk! 1-0
1021 Gritsak,Orest Sokolov,Ivan ECC Halkidiki GRE (2) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2542 2677 23.09.2002
This game is instructive for two reasons: Firstly, the B lack piece set -up out of th e opening, which is worth remembering as it is often playable, and secondly, the poor White 27th move which breaks one of the basic chess rules, and hastens White's defeat. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.d3 I have played this solid move a few times myself, but I feel that is less interesting than the various alternatives. b4 The standard move, [ 4...d5 is possible but Black plays a Sicilian position with a tempo less. ] 5.d2 e7!? Normally Black prefers [ 5...0-0 and then ...Re8, but here Sokolov has other ideas - he prefers to bring his 1006
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 king's rook to the d-file to pressurise d3. ] 6.e3 0-0 7.e2 xc3 8.xc3 d5! I have been unable to find another example of t h i s m o v e a n y wh e r e , a l t h o u g h i t s e e m s perfectly logical. Previously: [ 8...d6 9.0-0 e8 10.b3 h6 11.a3 a5 is a solid line, but White's bishop pair confer a long-term edge, Ubilava,E-Monakov,A/ Rostov 1976, whilst ] [ 8...e4!? 9.g5 exd3 10.xd3 e5 11.c2 d6 12.0-0 h6 13.f3 only opens the position for White's bishops, Nei,I-Lehto, V/Espoo 1989. ] 9.cxd5 xd5 10.0-0 d8 This is the aggressive 'raison d'etre' of Black's opening play, the opposition of rook and white queen already throw up certain tactical possibilities. 11.a4 d6 And now Black prepares to double rooks, and can also swing this over to the kingside. 12.ac1 f5 13.fd1 [ 13.e4? f4 ] 13...ad8 Black has achieved a strong set-up at the cost of the bishop pair, and he has strong pressure on the d-file. Still, we know from experience that W hite's extra central pawn in such Sicilian positions is a useful plus. 14.e1!? This appears overly passive to me. e4!? 15.dxe4 xe4 The bishop point s men acin gly a t g2 . 16.f3 xc3 Black elects to take this before it decides to go away! 17.bxc3 h6 18.xd6 xd6 19.d1 xd1+ 20.xd1 b6 After the mass of exchanges on the d-file Black has a tiny edge because of the extra white pawn island. 21.a4 a5 22.d2 d5 23.f3 e6 24.b3 xb3 25.axb3 White has managed to 'iron-out' his queenside pawn structure, but the draw is still far from sure, as Black has a queenside pawn majority which will prove useful in any subsequent endgame. a5 26.h4 g6 27.h5? White should no better than to put his pawns on light squares when he has a light-squared bishop! g5 28.c6 d6 29.b4 W hite had to free his queen from the b3pawn's d ef ence, even th ought th is help s Black create a passed pawn. e5 30.bxa5 bxa5 31.c4 Another pawn on a light square, but this time White had little choice, as [ 31.d4? xd4 32.cxd4 b3 wins a piece, as otherwise ...a4-a3-a2 is unstoppable. ] 31...c5 32.b5 c6 The simplest. 33.xc6
[ 33.a6? b6 ] 33...xc4 Black forces the exchange of queens as he has two trumps in the ending: the passed a-pawn, and the target on h5. 34.xc4 xc4 35.a4 f6 36.f4?! This doesn't help matters, [ 36.f3 was necessary, to defend the h-pawn with g4, f7 37.f2 e6 Black is clearly better, but White can still play on. ] 36...f7 [ 36...e2! is even simpler, 37.e8 d1 and Black proceeds with ...a4, Bb3, a3-a2. ] 37.fxg5 fxg5 [ after 37...fxg5 Black's position is hopeless, e.g. 38.g4 e6 39.d1 g7 or ( 39...f7 40.f2 a4 41.xa4 xg4 and ...Bxh5) 40.f2 d7 41.e1 a4 42.d2 f6 43.c3 a3 44.e2 ( 44.b3 a4+! ) 44...e6 ] 0-1
1022 Gurevich,Mikhail Bareev,Evgeny Corus Wijk aan Zee NED (4) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2641 2707 16.01.2002
The reason I gave-up playing 4 d4 was this sharp line for Black. I couldn't find anything f o r W h it e , b u t p e rh a p s G u re vich c a n d o better? 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 b4 6.g5 h6 7.h4 0-0!? [ A critical line, Black plays dynamically and aims for a lead in development. 7...xc3+ is the traditional move, doubling the pawns at the cost of the bishop pair, and we have already analysed this in Zvjaginsev,V-Van W ely,L, and more recently in Filippov,VSvidler,P. ] 8.c1 White doesn't give Black a second chance to double the pawns. e8 9.e3 xd4! Black draws the white queen to an exposed square, [ 9...e4 is less effective: 10.xf6 xf6 11.db5 d8 12.e2 a6 13.a3 xc3+ 14.xc3 White is better, Kosten,A-Moen,O/ Slough 1997. ] 10.xd4 c5! T h e p o i n t . 11.d1 g5 Black has to break the pin to play his next 1007
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 move. 12.g3 d5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.xd5 xd5 The key position, Black's kingside weaknesses have less importance in the end gam e, wh ich is why he was ha ppy t o exchange queens. 15.h4 [ 15.b5 d8 16.h4 g7!? ( 16...g4 would transpose) 17.hxg5 hxg5 18.e4 xc3 19.e5+ f6 20.xc3 is level, Zvjaginsev,V-Chernin,A/Portoroz 1997. ] 15...g4! Black continues to develop quickly. 16.hxg5!? This seems new, although the contours of the position are similar. [ I preferred 16.b5 when I had this position, ed8 17.f3 d7 18.xd7 xd7 19.e4 ( in Gelfand,B-Kortschnoj,V/Groningen 1996 (by transposition), White played 19.hxg5!? instead, xc3+ 20.bxc3 xe3 21.f2 xg2+ 22.f1 f4 unclear ) 19...xc3+ 20.bxc3 f4 21.xf4 gxf4 22.d1 which is equal, although I went on to win the rook and pawn ending, Kosten, A-Degraeve, J/Belfort 1997. ] 16...hxg5 17.b5 Incidentally, Gurevich was also playing in the Belfort GM tournament, an d wo uld ce rt ainly ha ve see n my gam e against Degraeve. e7! Black is on his toes. [ The idea behind the immediate capture on g5 is shown by 17...ed8 18.f3 when d7? is no longer possible: ( 18...e6 ) 19.e5 f6 20.c4 winning a pawn. ] 18.f3! White needs to drive the black pieces away. a6 [ 18...xe3+? 19.f2 xc3 20.bxc3 e6 21.c4 wins material. ] 19.f1 The only square. [ 19.e2? xe3 20.f2 xc3+ 21.bxc3 xc3 22.xc3 xc3 23.fxg4 e8 ] 19...e6 20.e4 f4 21.a3 a5 22.f2 b6 23.e3 White threatens g3, he has solidified his central position and his king will be wellplaced in the centre, whilst his rook can use the open h-file. d7! 24.d1 [ Now 24.g3 allows d3+ ] 24...ad8 25.xd7 xd7 26.xf4 W h i t e s im p l if i e s , b u t a n ywa y h e c a n n o t maintain any advantage. gxf4 27.xa6 [ The f4-pawn is poisoned: 27.h4?! b5! 28.xf4? c7 29.f6 g3+ 30.e2 c4+ ] 27...xc3+ 28.bxc3 a7 29.b5 xa3 30.d2 a2+ 31.d3 xg2 32.h4 b2 33.c4 b5 A drawn rook and pawn endgame
is reached. ½-½
1023 Hansen,Curt Dautov,Rustem Julian Borowski A (3) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2618 2602 29.04.2000
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.e2 White perseveres with this move. 0-0 8.0-0 [ 8.d3 was played in the archives. ] 8...d5 [ Perfectly normal, but what had White p l a n n e d o n 8...e4 ? Smyslov, V-Gipslis,A/ USSR 1975, continuing: 9.e1 d5 10.b3 d8 11.c2 g4 12.a3 e6 with a good position for Black. ] 9.d4 [ Probably best, after 9.d3 e4 10.d2 e5 11.b3?! exd3 12.xd3 xd3 13.xd3 dxc4 14.xc4 d8 Black had equalised in Maksimenko,A-Dvoirys,S/Moscow 1991. ] 9...exd4 10.xd4 xd4 11.xd4 c5 12.f4 This position greatly resembles that reached after 7 a3, except that W hite has gained a bishop move for pawn-a3, but it won't change much. dxc4 [ A l o g i c a l i n n o v a t i o n , b u t 12...e6 is not bad, by any means, 13.cxd5 xd5 14.e5 ad8 15.d2?! f4!? ( 15...g4! 16.xe7 xe7 17.xg4 xd2 looks good) 16.exf4 xd2 and this is not unpleasant for Black, Ksieski,Z-Kaminski,M/Suwalki 1999. ] 13.xc4 e6 Reaching a known position (for instance Timman,J-Balashov,Y/W ijk 1982) except that the a-pawn is normally on a3, not a2! 14.b3 xc4 15.xc4 e5 16.b1 e4 With this little manoeuvre Black exchanges queens. 17.xe4 xe4 18.f3 c3 19.b2 fd8 Black lays first claim to the open d-file. 20.c2 d3 21.d2 White finally manages to d r i v e t h e k n i g h t a w a y . b5 22.xc5 This leads to a drawn position, but other moves would have allowed Black the advantage. xd2 23.xb5 c8! Activity is most important in such endings, the rooks will double on the second rank. 24.xb7 g6 25.h1 1008
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ How else to defend the g-pawn? 25.b4?! d7 12.d4 exd4 13.xd4 c5 14.f5 f6 cc2 26.g4 xa2 leaves White passively when Black's active pieces hold the balance, placed. ] Renet,O-Ristic,N/ Dortmund 1989, 1/2-1/2 25...cc2 26.g1 xa2 27.h4 Black can win (44). ] the b-pawn at his leisure, when the position is 10...xg2?! drawn. [ An exceedingly hopeful exchange sacrifice, ½-½ either 10...b4 11.axb4 xb7 12.0-0 xb4 or ] [ 10...xe3 11.dxe3 xb7 should have been preferred, when White has the better 1024 A28 pawn structure, but Black can count on his Harikrishna,Penteala 2354 two bishops. ] Dao Thien Hai 2550 Goodricke Open (8) 13.02.2000 11.xd5 [ Naturally, if 11.xa8?! xh1 White has [Tony Kosten] nothing. ] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 11...xd5 [ Forced, 11...xh1? 12.xe7+ xe7 This is a perfectly sensible move, stopping ... 13.xh1 wins two pieces for a rook. ] Bb4, and preparing c2 for the white queen, just like a Sicilian (with colours reversed). d5 12.xa8 xa8 13.g1 f3 Black wishes to 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c2 e7 7.e3 Indeed, the play ...e4, and play on the light squares, but f5 players ha ve reache d a perf ectly norma l he does not have enough time. 14.d3 Sicilian position, where White has an extra 15.e4!? [ White fights for the light squares, at the cost tempo. 0-0 of a certain loosening of his centre. 15.b4 [ Simpler than 7...a6 , which allowed White a appears to be simpler, e4 16.c4+ f7 very active position after 8.xd5 xd5 17.b2 ] 9.d3 d7 10.b4 e6 11.b2! A) 11...xb4? fails to 12.c4 g4 15...h8 16.e3 fxe4 17.dxe4 d6 18.g3 13.axb4 xg2 14.e4!! ( 14.e2 ) a5 19.c1 h4 [ 19...a8 i s s t r o n g e r , 20.c6 xc6 14...xh1+ ( 14...f5 15.d5 xh1+ 21.xc6 xe4 recuperating one pawn, with 16.e2 g2 17.g1 h3 18.f7+ d8 gain of tempo, although the ending is 19.xg7 also wins ) 15.e2 g2 16.g1 certainly favourable for White. ] h3 17.xf7+ d8 18.xe5 xe5 19.xe5 c8 20.xg7 when the black 20.h3 h6 [ Now, 20...xe4 21.xe4 xe4 is met by king is hardly likely to survive very long.; 22.c5 exchanging one of the bishops, and B) 11...f5!? Chernin, A-Hertneck,G/ W hite is well on top. Still, in seeking to Austria 1993, as the tactic ] avoid exchanges, and maintain the initiative, 8.b5 B l a c k o n l y s u c c e e d s i n wo r s e n i n g h i s [ Pressurising the e5-pawn, 8.xd5 xd5 position. ] 9.c4 d6 10.b4 f6 11.b1 is nothing h5?! 22.d2 d8 23.c4 special for White, Smyslov, V-Kapengut,A/ 21.d3 Suddenly the black 'attack' has evaporated, USSR 1979. ] and W hite starts probing the black 8...g4!? 24.xa5 e7? [ Doub le-e dged . 8...xc3 9.bxc3 d7 w e a k n e s s e s . h7 i s s i m p l e r , ( or 9...d5!? 10.c4 e6 Black continues to aim for tricks, but it is he 1/2-1/2 Smyslov,V-Miles,A/Bugojno 1984/ who has missed a crucial tactic. 25.xc7! It was too late to back-out now. MCD (10) ) 10.e2 d6 11.d4 e8 d4?! and Black enjoys good prospects, Poluljahov, 26.xg7+! xg7 27.xe5+ f6 28.xd4 1-0 A-Popov,R/Krasnodar 1997, 0-1 (65). ] 9.xc6 xf3 10.xb7!? [ A new idea in a sharp position. Previously, 10.gxf3 had been played, bxc6 11.e2!? 1009
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 12...xb2! 13.b1 g7 challenges White A28 to prove compensation. ] 2645 2646 13.b6 d7 14.e3 f6 [ 14...xb2 ] 19.09.2005 15.dc3 d5! 16.d3 g4 [ 16...xd3 17.xd3 e5 18.e2 fc8= ] O n e o f t h e wo rld 's u p - a n d -co m in g s t a r s 17.e2 xe2 18.xe2 e4 19.d1 xc3 m e e t s a n o t h e r . B l a c k d i d n ' t s e e m t o 20.xc3 d4?! [ 20...xc3+ 21.bxc3 e5 22.f4 a6= ] u n d e r s t a n d t h e o p e n i n g a n d wa s i n b i g trouble until White tried for too much too soon. 21.b5!? [ 21.0-0! , and upon a6 , 22.b5! ] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.a3 A fairly unusual move. The point is that in a 21...ae8? [ 21...a6! 22.xd4 xd4 23.xd4 d6 Sicilian Defence ...a6 is almost always useful, 24.0-0 d8 ] so why not here? a5?! I don't like this. The 22.xd4 d5 23.f3 Just like that Black is a real problem is [ 4...g6! , for example, 5.b4 ( 5.d4 exd4 pawn down for nothing. b3 24.c5 xb2 6.xd4 g7 7.xc6 bxc6 8.e4 0-0= ) 25.0-0 xa3 26.b1 xb1 27.xb1 xc5 Black has a rook-and-bishop for the 5...d5 ( 5...e4 6.g5 g7 7.c2 e7 28.xb7 8.b2; 5...g7 6.b5 ) 6.b5 ( 6.cxd5 xd5 queen. However. his pieces are too exposed 7.b2 g7 ) 6...d4 7.xe5 e7 8.f3 for his position to hold. b8 29.xb8 xb8 xf3+ 9.gxf3 dxc4 . Nevertheless, there's 30.g4 f8 31.a6 b1+ 32.g2 c1 33.h4 c2 34.g5 b4? still much to be discovered here. ] [ 34...h6 35.e4 e7 36.g5 hxg5 5.d4!? Harikrishna exploits the fact that Black 37.hxg5 ] can't put a bishop on b4. Still, Black has other 35.b7 ways to proceed. [ 5.e3! improves upon 4.e3, since there too ... 1-0 Bb4 is a key defensive move. ] 5...exd4 A28 [ 5...e4 is usually an option here it falls short 1026 after 6.g5 h6!? (6...Bb4 would be normal) Ivanchuk,Vassily 2729 7.gxe4 xe4 8.xe4 d5 ( 8...h4 Karjakin,Sergey 2660 9.d3 f5 10.c3 xd4 11.xf5 ) 9.c3! Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (13) 29.01.2006 dxc4 10.e3 d6 11.xc4 with a clear [John Watson] positional advantage. ] 6.xd4 g6? The last round of W ijk aan Zee. Ivanchuk [ 6...c5 is the best way to force the pace. achieves a respectable result (3rd-4th) with Then 7.e3 0-0 8.e2 e8 9.0-0 b6 h i s u s e o f a v a r i a t i o n l o n g c o n s i d e r e d is equal. ( 9...d6 10.xc6 bxc6 11.f3 )] harmless. In spite of this loss Karjakin 7.db5! Exploiting the move ...a5. g7 8.f4 impressed everyone with his play and finished A f orcef ul move: Black has great trouble +1. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 defending c7. The other good and perhaps b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.a3 d5 better move was 8.d4 exd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4 c5 [ 8.g5! , threatening Nd5. ] [ 10...0-0 has also been played. ] 8...d6 9.c5! h5 10.cxd6! 0-0 11.h4 e6 Playable, but not my favourite [ 10...xf4 11.xc7+ f8 12.xa8 ] move. 11.e3 [ W e h a v e s e e n p r e v i o u s l y t h a t 11...0-0 [ 11.xc7! is objectively stronger. 11.Be3 12.cxd5 xd5 ( or 12...e5! ) 13.xe7 should also be effective. ] xe7 14.d2 e6 is about equal (here the 11...cxd6 12.d5!? Risky. bishop pair has few prospects), and I [ 12.xd6! ] suggested ] 12...f5 [ 11...g5!? in the same column, one line 1025 Harikrishna,Penteala Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar 6th YM Lausanne SUI (3.6) [John Watson]
1010
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 going 12.xg5 g8 13.f4 ( 13.h6 g6 14.h4 g4= ) 13...g4 14.f3 dxc4 with double-edged play. ] 12.cxd5 xd5 13.xe7+ xe7 14.b5+ You can see that things are a little more comfortable for White this time than in the last note, although Black should still not be in troub le. Notice , by the way, t hat W hite's kingside majority is just as good as White's on the queenside. No dogma for Ivanchuk! d7 15.e2 [ 15.xd7+ xd7 16.b3 ad8 17.b2 f6 18.e2 e6 19.hc1 b6 20.b4 c8 is roughly equal ] 15...f6 Slow [ Maybe better was 15...c6 16.0-0 ( 16.f3 0-0 17.e4 f5 ) 16...0-0 , delaying e4 for a while. ] 16.e4 f7 17.e3 hc8 18.f3 The problem for Black is that this is beginning to look like a classic "two-bishops-with-pawns-on-bothsides-of-the-board"! Objectively the game may well be lost already. e6 19.c1 b6 20.a6 d8 21.b4 cxb4 22.axb4 c8 23.e2 e6 24.f2 ac8 25.a1 [ 25.f4 is also good. ] 25...c6?! [ The power of the bishops stays intact after 25...d7 26.hc1 xc1 27.xc1 c7 28.f4 c2 29.e3 ] 26.a6 [ 26.hc1! i s m o r e a c c u r a t e : xb4 ( 26...d7 27.a6 b8 28.b5 ) 27.xc8 xc8 28.xa7+ g8 29.xb6 c2 30.c7+- ] 26...b8 27.b5! [ 27.f4 e5 ] 27...xb4 28.xa7+ g8 29.e7 f7 30.a1 a8 31.d7 dc8 32.xa8 xa8 33.xb6 h6 The bishops are dominant and White is a pawn up. The rest is technique. [ 33...b8 34.d6 c2 35.a4 ] 34.g3 c8 35.d6 e8 36.e2 c6 37.xc6 xc6 38.f4 e5 39.c7 d7 40.e3 [ 40.xe5 g5+ 41.e3 fxe5 ] 40...f8 41.d4 f7 42.a5 e5 43.b4+ e8 44.c5 g6 45.d2 e5 46.d6 a4 47.f4 f7+ 48.c7 d7 49.b4 a4 50.c4 h8 51.g3 f7 52.h4 h8 53.d6 g6 54.e2 h8 55.c4 g6 56.e5 fxe5
57.fxe5 e7 58.e6 g6 59.c5 f5 60.d3 e7 61.d6 h5 62.e5 f5 63.f6 c6 64.e7 1-0
1027 Karpov,Anatoly Bacrot,Etienne Match g/5 Cannes (6) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2695 2590 2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 0-0 6.d5 e8 7.f5 This move continues to attract attention. d6 8.xf6+ xf6 9.xf6 gxf6 10.a3 c5 11.b4 b6 12.b2 a5 13.b5 d8!? [ An unusual alternative to 13...e7 ] 14.d4! [ This seems like the critical reply, although 14.e2 has also proved successful, a4?! ( 14...e6 is better, Badea,B-Adams,M/ Prestwich 1990, 1/2-1/2 (21).) 15.0-0-0 c6 16.d4 cxb5 17.c5! dxc5 18.xb5 with a clear advantage, Stone,R-Dlugy,M/ Toronto 1989, 1-0 (38). ] 14...g4!? [ B l a c k ' s n e w t r y . P r e v i o u s l y , 14...e6 w a s p l a y e d , 15.d1 ( 15.c5! is more thematic, dxc5 16.dxe5 fxe5 17.xe5 with a clear advantage) 15...f8 16.e2 g4 17.h4 d7 18.0-0 and White is better, Serrano Marhuenda,SNamay Caceres,S/Catalunya 1996, 0-1 (45). ] 15.c5! White attacks the pawn chain at its weakest link. dxc5 16.dxe5 a4?! [ Black should at least take the pawn by 16...xf3 17.gxf3 fxe5 although after 18.0-0-0 White is better, anyway. ] 17.c4!? [ Pawn-grabbing with 17.exf6 a5+ 18.d2 is fine, Black has no compensation, whatsoever. ] 17...a5+ 18.f1 xf3 19.gxf3 fxe5 20.g1+ f8 21.d1 White enjoys open files for both his rooks, and good diagonals for his bishops. c6 22.g5 Black has to defend his pawns before he manages to complete his development. cxb5 23.xb5 f6! 24.f5 e6 25.c4 g7? 1011
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Black offers the exchange to ease his p o s i t i o n , b u t t h i s l o s e s , 25...c6 was the best bet, 26.f4 ( even stronger than 26.xe5 e7 ) 26...f7 27.fxe5 d8 and although Black is clearly worse, his queenside majority offers some chances. ] 26.xe6? [ A mistake, missing a simple win, but this was only a blitz game, of course. Black was hoping for 26.xd8? xd8 27.xe6 d6 28.c4 d2 regaining the piece, but ] [ 26.d7+! win s im m ed ia te ly, i. e . g6 27.d3 ] 26...xe6 27.h5 g6 28.h4 h5? [ Black is hoping to cut the h4-rook out of the game, but this loses material. The move 28...b5 offered real chances, as the advance of Black's queenside majority will create two passed pawns. ] 29.d6 e8 30.xa4 Now White is back on track for a win. c7 31.d7 d8 32.xd8 xd8 33.a7 b6 34.e2 c4 35.d7 h4 36.h3 f5 37.c3 c7 Black would have resigned this long ago in a normal time-limit game. 38.b4 [ 38.e7 wins a piece- the threat is e4+. ] 38...b8 39.d2 g5 40.b7 xh3 41.xb8 g5 42.e2 g6 43.h8 h7 44.f1 1-0
1028 Kharlov,Andrei Diu,Viacheslav TCh Tomsk RUS (6) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2639 2445 19.05.2001
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.a3 a5 [ Tryin g to s top b 4, b ut it d oe sn 't ! 7...d5 is more common. ] 8.b3!? [ 8.b4 is examined in the notes to a previous game. ] 8...d5 9.d4 exd4 10.xd4 e5!? 11.f3! [ A strong new idea, which works here, but could not have been tried in this month's other 4 e3 game. 11.cxd5 xd5 12.c2 was the previous choice, with 0-0 13.e2 g4 14.h3 gf6 15.0-0 e4 16.d3
W hite has an edge, Nei,I-Tal,M/Tallin n 1977. ] 11...xf3+ 12.gxf3 Planning to pressurise the g7-pawn along both the a1-h8 diagonal, and the g-file. dxc4 13.xc4 e6 14.e2! W hite needs to kee p the bishop pair. 0-0 15.b2 e8! To construct a barrier against the queen/bishop tandem, and unpin the knight. 16.g1 f6 17.c1 c6 18.d3 f7 Hoping to tie White to the defence of his bpawn. 19.d4!? h5 [ 19...xb3!? 20.h4 f5 21.g5 is dangerous, but possibly playable. ] 20.c5? This doesn't work-out as White hoped. xh2 21.g3 f7 22.e4 h1+ 23.f1 c7 24.d4 d8!? Black counterattacks. 25.xa5 fd7 26.f4 xd4!? Black hopes to catch the white king in the centre. 27.exd4 d5 28.e4?! d7!? [ 28...e8 almost forces 29.a8 ( as 29.h3 allows xf1+ 30.xf1 xh3+ )] 29.xd5! The only move. cxd5 30.xd5+ h8 31.f7? e8+ 32.d2 h6+ 33.d1 [ This loses, but if 33.c2 c8+ 34.c4 f5+ is also unpleasant. ] 33...c6? [ B l a c k m i s s e s t h e n e a t l i n e 33...e1+!! 34.xe1 c1+ 35.e2 b5+ winning. ] 34.f4 White is back in the game. d8 35.e1 d5 36.e7 g8 37.e3 h5 38.h3 f7? Allowing a tricky mate. 39.xh7+! xh7 40.h3+ g6 41.f5+ g5 42.e2 [ This is sufficient, but 42.e3+! xf5 43.d3+ leads to mate. ] 42...g6 43.f4+ xf4 44.h4+ e3 45.f2+ e4 46.f3+ [ 46.f3+ xf5 47.xd5+ wins the queen. ] 1-0
1029 Kharlov,Andrei Korotylev,Alexey ch Krasnodar RUS (9) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2609 2558 04.09.2002
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 0-0 6.d5 e8 7.f5 d6 8.xf6+ gxf6!? I had been looking forward to finding a decent recent game in this line, as a lot of the theory dates from the 70s. Previously I had 1012
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 only analysed the endgame after [ 8...xf6 9.xf6 gxf6 ] 9.c2!? A rarer move, theory has mostly concentrated on [ 9.h5 d5 ( 9...e4!? Lerner,K-Romanishin, O/Kiev, 1977 ) A) 10.a3 f8 11.d4 ( 11.d3!? e4 12.cxd5 exd3 13.dxc6 bxc6 14.b4 is unclear, Horvath,G-Sadler,M/Clichy 1993 ) 11...e6 12.d3 e4 13.c2 e7 14.d2 led to the famous game GoodmanNuun/ENG, 1978, which W hite won quickly after f5 15.cxd5 xd5 16.f3 c6? 17.xe4! xc2 18.f6+; B) 10.cxd5 xd5 11.e2 e6 12.a3 ( 12.0-0 e4 13.xd5 xd5 14.h4! equal, Kortschnoj,V.Karpov,An/ A m s t e r d a m , 1 9 8 7) 12...e7 13.d3 preventing .. .e5-e4, Black's centralised pieces compensate the doubled pawns, Timman, J-Portisch,L/Montreal 1979. ] 9...e4 10.g1! This move was recommended by Timman 30 years ago, but never played! [ 10.h4?! leaves the knight offside, f5 11.g3 d5 12.cxd5 e5 13.b3 e7 14.d4 exd3 15.xd3 xh4 16.gxh4 f3+ 17.d1 and the white king was awkwardly placed, Keene,R-Timman,J/Bad Lauterberg 1977. ] 10...d5 11.a3! Timman's analysis continued [ 11.cxd5 xd5 12.a3 d6 13.e2 f5 14.c3 e6 unclear, but Kharlov's move is stronger, as the black bishop is forced to a more passive square. ] 11...f8 12.cxd5 xd5 13.e2 f5 14.c3 d8 The difference between this position and that at the end of the previous note is small, but significant: the black queen and darksquared bishop are less active. 15.d4 exd3! 16.xd3 [ 16.xd3!? also allows Black to infiltrate on b3: d4 17.d1 e6 ] 16...e6 17.xd8 exd8 An endgame is re a ch e d wh e r e t h e b l a c k kin gs id e p a wn structure is a mess, but the black pieces are more active and Black is ahead in development. 18.b5 a5 19.e2 b3 20.b1 c5 Black also has a queenside pawn majority, and doesn't hesitate to set it in motion. 21.d1 xd1 22.xd1 a6 23.a4 d8+ 24.e1 xc1?! Perhaps Black should
have preferred taking the other white bishop by [ 24...b5 25.xb3 xb3 followed by ...Bg7, and ...b4. ] 25.xc1 b5 26.d1 g7 Black's bishop pair and queenside pawns look menacing, but the white position is very solid. 27.c2 f8 28.d1 e7?! I think this move is antipositional, Reti indicated that the two bishops work best with a pair of rooks on the board. [ 28...b8 29.d6 b4 seems more to the point. ] 29.xd8 xd8 30.d2 e7 31.c1 Defending the b2-pawn frees the knight. e5 32.e2 h6 [ 32...xh2? 33.g3 traps the bishop. ] 33.f4 c7? Black finds the worst square for the bishop! [ 33...d6 i s b e t t e r , a s 34.g3 f6 35.h5+ e7 36.g7 f6 37.e8+ e7 defends the bishop. ] 34.g3 White finally manages to exploit the doubled black pawns. f6 35.h5+ e7 [ 35...g6?! is worse, 36.g4 and Ng3 wins the f-pawn. ] 36.g7 c4 Now we see why the bishop sh o u ld n 't b e o n c7 , B la ck ca n n o lo n ge r defend the f-pawn: [ 36...f6?? 37.e8+ ] 37.xf5+?! Why allow the drawn oppositecolour bishop ending? [ 37.xf5! seems fine, b6 38.d2 d5 ( 38...f6 39.xe6 xg7 40.c8 a5 41.a6 and White wins a second pawn.) 39.c8 with every chance of winning. ] 37...xf5 38.xf5 b6 39.d2 d6 40.g4 c5 41.h5 f6 42.d1 a5+ 43.e2 b6 44.g4 b4 45.axb4+ xb4 46.h4 White obviously tries to win, but a single pawn advance is rarely enough to decide such positions. a5 47.f3 c3 48.bxc3+ xc3 49.g5 fxg5 50.hxg5 hxg5 51.fxg5 d8 52.g6 f6 53.e4 c4 54.c2 [ 54.e2+ c5 55.f5 h8 56.e6 a4 57.d1 c4 58.xa4 d3 wins the epawn with an immediate draw. ] 54...g7 55.f5 d5 56.b3+ Now even without the a-pawn Black would be drawing simply by putting his king on d6 and blocking the dark squares. ½-½ 1013
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1030 Kortschnoj,Viktor Rublevsky,Sergei TCh-RUS Dagomys RUS (10) [Carsten Hansen]
A28 2598 2695 12.04.2008
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c2 xc3 [ Previously we have only discussed 6...e7 on this website, but the text move is an important alternative for Black ] 7.bxc3 [ W hite can also consider 7.dxc3 d6 8.e4!? ( 8.g3 e7! 9.g2 e4 10.g5 f5 11.f3 h6 12.h3 exf3 13.xf3 e5 , and here a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, though Black seems to be doing quite well, Horvath, J-Varga, P/Austrian Ch-T 2002) 8...0-0 9.e3 e7 10.d3 c5 11.xc5 xc5 12.b4 d6 13.0-0 , and White has the slightly better chances, Tereick, BKarpatchev, A/Senden 2006 ] 7...d6 8.g3 [ This is the main line. The alternatives, haven't proved particularly good: A) 8.d4 exd4 9.cxd4 0-0 10.e4 g4 11.b2 f4 12.d1 e7 with a pleasant game for Black, Tartakower, S-Kostic, B/Budapest 1921 ] [ B) 8.e4 is the most interesting of White's alternatives: 0-0 9.e2 e7!? ( 9...h8 10.d3 f5 11.exf5 xf5 12.0-0 e7 13.b3 e4 14.dxe4 xe4 15.g5 d5 16.c4 g8 17.xb7 Beim, V-Lenz, A/ Aschach 2000) 10.0-0 b6 11.d4 g4 12.g5 f6 13.e3 h8 14.h3 ( 14.d5 a5 15.h4 d7 16.c4 b7= ) 14...d7 15.fe1 xa3 16.h4 d6 , and it is dubious whether White has enough for the pawn, Bauer, C-Karpov, A/Ajaccio FRA 2007 ] [ C) 8.e3 0-0 9.d4= ] 8...e7 [ Black has several alternatives at this juncture: A) 8...g4 9.g2 d7 10.h3 ( 10.b1 b8 11.g5 h6 12.h3 h5 13.e4 0-0 14.xd6 cxd6 15.a4 bc8 is comfortable for Black, Kovacs, GGolubovic, B/Oberwart AUT 2003) 10...f5 11.d3 f6 12.d2 b8 13.b1 d8 14.c4 c6 15.e4 e7 16.e3 0-0 17.g4 g6 18.xa7 a8 19.e3 Razuvaev, Y-Pieper
Emden, C/Germany 1990/GER-chT ] [ B) 8...0-0 9.g2 A) 9...h6 10.0-0 b8 11.d4 e7 12.e4 A1) 12...b6 13.e3 a5 14.dxe5 xe5 15.xe5 xe5 16.d4 ( 16.f4!? ) 16...e7 17.c4 e6 18.c3 f6 19.e5 f5 20.d5 bd8 , and Black has taken over the control of the game, Gurevich, M-Sanikidze, T/Izmir TUR 2006; A2) 12...d7 13.e3 b6 14.d2 a5 15.f4 f6 16.f3 c4 17.c1 b5 18.h4 e8 19.d1 c5 20.dxe5 fxe5 21.f5 Gurevich, M-Karpov, A/Cap d'Agde 2000; B) 9...e8 10.d3 d7 ( 10...a5 11.0-0 c5 12.c4 c6 13.b2 g4 14.h3 h5 15.e3 c7 16.fd1 f5 17.c3 e7 18.b2 b6 19.d2 ad8 20.h4 g6 21.d5+ Schlosser, P-Babula, V/ Werder Bremen GER 2007) 11.0-0 c8 12.e1 b8 13.d4 g4 14.b2 h6 15.e4 a5 16.d2 c5 17.dxe5 xe5 18.f4 d6 19.c4 c6 20.b3 Lalic, B-Zufic, Z/ Zadar 2000; C) 9...h8!? 10.0-0 f5 11.d3 ( 11.d4!? e4 12.g5 e7 13.h3 e6 14.f4 ) 11...e8 ( 11...d7 12.b1 b6 13.d2 e8 14.c4 c5 15.e3 c8 16.a4 a5 17.xa5 bxa5 18.a1 Gurevich, M-Han, H/Izmir TUR 2006) 12.b2 ( 12.c4!? f4 ) 12...h5 13.c4 f4 14.d4 fxg3 15.hxg3 f5 16.c3 exd4 17.xd4 e5 18.e3 ad8 , and White is in trouble, Ilic, ZDancevski, O/ Skopje 2002; D) 9...f5!? 10.d3 ( 10.d4 e4 11.g5 h8 is fine for Black) 10...f6 11.0-0 h8 12.b2 d7 13.d2 ae8 14.b3 d8 15.a4 c6 , and Black has taken over the initiative, Naumann, A-Krupkova, P/Montecatini Terme 1997 ] [ C) 8...b6 9.g2 b7 10.0-0 0-0 11.d4 e7 12.g5 g6 13.d1 a5 14.xb7 xb7 15.e4 fe8 16.e1 f6 17.f3 f7 1/2-1/2 Stohl, I-Mikhalchishin, A/ Istanbul 2000 ] 9.d3 b6 [ This makes perfect sense, counterbalancing White fianchetto bishop on g2 with one of his own on b7. Nevertheless, t h e a l t e r n a t i v e 9...0-0 has proven fully 1014
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 acceptable for Black too: 10.g2 d7 11.0-0 a5 ( 11...b6 12.d2 f5 13.c4 ae8 14.a4 f4 15.a5 c5 16.axb6 axb6 17.d2 f7 18.e4 with approximately even chances, Wahls, M-Werle, J/ Germany 2003 ) 12.d2 c5 ( 12...c6 13.e4 d7 14.a2 h8 15.a4 b6 16.xd6 cxd6 17.d5 xd5 18.xd5 c6 19.xc6 xc6 20.c4 ad8 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Kovacs, G-Ruck, R/ Oberwart 2001) 13.e4 f5 14.xd6 xd6 15.f4 ae8 16.fxe5 xe5 17.f2 c6 with chances for both sides, Vaganian, RChernin, A/Nabereznye Chelny 1988 ] 10.g2 b7 11.0-0 a5 [ This is a novelty. Previously Black had tried the perfectly good 11...0-0 12.e4 ( 12.d2 f5= ) 12...c5! 13.d1 ( 13.d2 a5 ) 13...ad8 14.b2 f6?! ( 14...a5!? 15.xe5 xe5 16.d4 h5 17.dxc5 xc5 with a comfortable game for Black ) A) Here Ribli suggests 15.d4! A1) Or 15...exd4 16.cxd4 xd4 ( 16...xd4 17.e5+-; 16...xd4 17.xd4 xd4 18.xd4 xd4 19.e5+- ) 17.xd4 xd4 18.d3 f3+ ( 18...d8 19.e5+- ) 19.xf3 xb2 , and Black doesn't have full compensation for the exchange; A2) 15...d6; B) 15.ac1 c8 16.d4 g4! Poluljahov, A-Sutovsky, E/Moscow 2003 ] 12.c4 0-0 13.d2 e4 14.h4 exd3 [ Black can also consider 14...e5!? 15.d4 xd4 16.f5 e5 17.xd4 xd4 18.xa5 bxa5 with approximately even chances ] 15.exd3 xg2 16.xg2 c6 17.c3 e5 [ 17...f5 18.ae1 f7 19.a4 leaves White with a slight initiative. ] 18.fe1 f6 [ Black was clearly angling for the game continuation, but had definitely underestimated White's initiative. 18...c5!? instead is definitely worth a thought. ] 19.xe5 xe5 20.d4! c6+ 21.g1 xc4?! [ When I first saw this game, I thought Black could fairly easily ward off White's kingside initiative. Now, however, I feel that Black should probably try to bail out with 21...f3+
22.xf3 xf3 , and although White has the in it iat ive , t his is d ef init ely com f ort ab le compared to what he encounters in the game. ] 22.e4 g6 [ My computer prefers 22...d3 though 23.e3 c1 24.f5 can only be better for White ] 23.f5 Although Black's position seems fairly solid on the kingside and overall pleasant on account of the extra pawn, he is actually on his heels. The knight on g6 can easily be removed by advancing the h-pawn h2-h4-h5 and in combination with a Qg4, Black has issues to deal with. I have looked for a while, b u t I d o n 't se e a n y e n t i re l y s a t i sf a c t o r y continuations for Black in this position, though B la ck so o n m a k e s t h in gs m u c h wo r s e . . . e6?! [ Black tries to consolidate his position with this "clever" offer for an exchange of queens. A better choice is 23...a4 , though White has an excellent game after 24.h4 ae8 25.g4 xe1+ ( 25...h5 26.xh5 a5 27.ec1 is clearly better for White) 26.xe1 xa3 27.h5 , and White wins a piece for three pawns ] [ 23...ad8 24.h4 h5 25.ac1 a4 26.f3 ] 24.f3 f6? [ This turns out to be a rather unfortunate square for the queen. Black probably wanted to avoid 24...d7 25.h4 , which is quite annoying for Black, e.g. ae8 26.g4 xe1+ 27.xe1 a4 28.h5 xa3 29.hxg6 fxg6 30.e7+ h8 31.e4 , and Black is in serious trouble ] 25.ac1 Black is a pawn up, but he is actually in serious trouble though on the surface it doesn't appear so. c5 [ Black gives up his extra pawn, hoping to find a defendable position after some exchanges. However, his troubles are far from over. A better alternative is possibly 25...fe8!? 26.xe8+ xe8 27.h6+ f8 28.xf6 gxf6 29.xc7 e7 , although White still has every chance of winning the game after the retreat 30.c1 ] 26.h6+ h8 27.xf6 gxf6 28.dxc5 bxc5 [ 28...fc8 29.c6 ( 29.xf7+ g7 30.d6 xc5 31.xc5 bxc5 32.c1 d8 33.f5+ 1015
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f7 34.xc5 is also much better for White) 29...e5 30.xe5!? fxe5 31.xf7+ g7 32.xe5 , and White enjoys a significant advantage. ] 29.xc5 e5 30.d1 ad8?! [ Black is in a difficult spot, but this definitely isn't the best. However, also after 30...fc8 31.xc8+ xc8 32.f4 c4 33.xf7+ g8 34.h6+ h8 35.c1 b6 36.xc8+ xc8 37.f5 White has excellent winning chances ] [ Nor does 30...g7 look particularly promising for Black, e.g. 31.f5+ g6 32.e7+ g7 33.f4 g4 34.f5+ g6 35.h3 h6 36.e7+ g7 37.c6 with an uncomfortable defence ahead ] 31.xd8 xd8 32.f4 d1+ 33.g2 d3? [ This looks perfectly normal, but Black actually ends up in a mating net. Instead B l a c k s h o u l d h a v e t r i e d 33...d2+ , though White still seems to have excellent winning chances after 34.h3 f3 35.c8+ g7 36.f5+ g6 37.g4 ( 37.e7+ h6 38.g4 d4 39.d8 e2 ) 37...h5 ( 37...g1+ 38.h4 xh2+ 39.g3 h3+ 40.g2 of course wins for White) 38.g8+ h7 39.g7+ h8 40.xf7 g1+ ( 40...xh2+ 41.g3 hxg4 42.xa7 c2 43.xg4 d2 44.h5 , and Black will have a hard time defending the f-pawn while at the same time avoid getting mated) 41.h4 xh2+ 42.g3 a2 43.gxh5 xa3+ 44.g4 e2 45.xf6 , and White should win ] 34.c8+ g7 35.f5+ g6 36.e7+ h5 37.f3?? [ This throws the win away. Most likely White was in time trouble, otherwise he wouldn't h a v e m i s s e d 37.h8! h6 38.g8 , and Black will have to give up the knight to prevent g3-g4+ followed by Nf5 mate ] 37...f1+ 38.e2 e1+ 39.xd3 xe7 40.h3 e1! Active defence is often the best approach in rook endings 41.c5+ [ 41.c7 g6 42.xa7 g1 43.g4 g3+ is similar to the game, and without any real winning chances for White ] 41...g6 42.a5 [ Or 42.d4 h1 43.h4 g1 , and White will not be able to make any progress ] 42...g1 43.g4 g3+ 44.e4 xh3
45.xa7 c3 Of course White could play on, because he is the only one with chances to win, but Black normally should make a draw rather effortlessly, so the handshake at this point is perfectly understandable. ½-½
1031 Kortschnoj,Viktor Rublevsky,Sergei ECC Rethymnon GRE (4) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2628 2672 01.10.2003
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 d5 In the same tournament Ivan Sokolov played the rare [ 4...d6 against Korchnoi, the game continuing 5.d4 exd4 6.xd4 g6 7.g5 g7 8.e3 0-0 9.e2 h6 10.h4 e8 11.xc6 bxc6 12.0-0 with a very slight edge to White in another mammoth (135move) draw. ] 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c2 e7 7.e3 0-0 8.b5 g4 9.d3!? A really surprising novelty from the great man, pressurising the d5-knight. We have already examined the mainline [ 9.xc6 , and the rare ] [ 9.e2 ] 9...xc3 [ 9...xf3 10.gxf3 b6 doubles the pawns, but concedes the bishop pair. ] 10.xd8 White elects to play the endgame with a bigger centre. xd8 11.bxc3 e4! Black plays this to handicap the white st ru ct ure, m a king t he d -p a wn b ac kward , bef o re W hite has th e ch ance t o p lay d4 . 12.e5 e6 13.e2 Better this than grabbing the light-squared bishop by [ 13.d7?! e8 14.c5 c6 15.xe6 xe6 as after 16.e2 c5 Black is better, the c1-bishop has little perspective. ] 13...f5 This allows White to free his game, [ 13...f6! is more accurate, 14.c4 c6 15.d4 exd3 16.xd3 ad8 17.e2 and Black has an improved version of the game, as the white knight is far from the fine square on f4. ] 14.d4! exd3 15.xd3 This way the knight reaches a fine square on f4. c6 16.b1 a5 Aiming for the tender queenside light 1016
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 squares. If Black can exchange light-squared bishops, c4 will provide a great square for his knight. 17.f4 a2 18.b2 f7 [ 18...c4!? loses a pawn, although it achieves its positional objectives: 19.xc4+ xc4 20.xb7 d6 with reasonable play for the pawn. ] 19.b5 The fork of knight and f-pawn deflects t h e a 5 - k n i g h t f r o m t h e c 4 - s q u a r e . b3 20.0-0?! [ 20.b2 c5 21.d3 is more accurate, contesting the strong black knight. ] 20...c5 21.c4 ad8 Black has a clear edge, because of the superior pawn structure. 22.h3 c6 23.b2 f6 24.c2 The rook returns here to help exchange the c1-bishop. e4 25.b2 The bishop was useless on c1, and so this exchange is a small victory. xb2 26.xb2 d7 [ 26...g5!? is interesting, and much in R u b l e v s k y ' s t a c t i c a l s t y l e , 27.h5 ( 27.d3? xc4 ) 27...b6 and the white knight is awkwardly placed on the edge. ] 27.c1 fd8 28.h4! White shows his great exp erien c e, an d co n so lid a te s h is stro n g knight's position. b6 29.g4!? fxg4 30.xg4 d2 31.xd2 xd2 32.f3! White has equalised. xf2 33.c5 The point, White will liquidate the queenside pawns. d3 34.cxb6! e5 [ 34...xc1? 35.bxa7 d8 36.xc6 wins. ] 35.xc6 axb6 36.e4 With only three pawns each still left on the board, one might expect a draw, but both players are fighters. c4! 37.d3 b5 The knight cannot move because of Rc8+. 38.a4 bxa4! A neat try, the pawn is as strong as the knight . 39.xc4 xc4 40.xc4 a3 Black threatens a2, Rd1+ and the a-pawn makes a queen, but White has lots of resources. 41.c8+ f7 42.c7+ [ 42.c1? fails to a2 43.f1 g8 44.e6 (threatens mate) h6 45.d4 b2 46.h5 g6!! 47.hxg6 h5! and amazingly White can do nothing about the threat of h5-4-3-2+, and then Rb1, i.e. 48.e4 h4 49.e5 h3 50.e6 h2+ 51.h1 b1 ] 42...e8 [ 42...f6 allows the simple draw 43.a7 a2 44.d5+ xd5 45.xa2 ] 43.e6 White aims for a drawish ending of knight and 2 pawns versus rook and one. a2
44.xg7+ f8 45.e6+ g8 46.c8+ f7 47.g5+ g6 48.c6+ h5 49.a6 h6 50.h3 b2 51.a4 b1+ 52.g2 a1 53.xa1 xa1 54.g3 White actually menaces mate in one! g6 55.g4 a5 56.f4+ This posit ion is not fun to play, but is probably drawn as the white knight and king can defend the two pawns and keep the black king away. f6 57.h5+ e5 58.f3 a4 59.f4 f5 60.g2 a1 61.f4 h1 62.g3 g1+ 63.f3 a1 64.e2 e5 65.f4 g1 66.f2 g8 67.f3 f5 68.e2 e5 69.g3 g7 70.h5 g6 71.f4 f6 72.g4 f5 73.h5 f7 74.f4 f6 75.h5 White has become active - if he can capture the h-pawn the draw is assured. g7 76.g4 e7 77.f3 e5 78.d3 a5 79.f4 h5 This just makes the pawn weaker, as it will be attacked by the knight. 80.f2 f6 81.f3 e5 82.d3 f5+ 83.e4 a5 84.f4 g7 85.d4 h6 86.e4! With the black king out of the way it i s t i m e f o r t h e p a wn t o a d va n c e . a4+ 87.d5 b4 88.e5 b2 89.f5 h2 90.e5 xh4 91.e6 g7 92.g5 g4+ 93.f5 xf4+ A great fight! ½-½
1032 Kortschnoj,Viktor Salov,Valery St . Petersburg [Tony Kosten]
A28 2635 2665 1997
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.a3 Compared with the Najdorf Sicilian, this move makes a lot of sense, guarding the b4-square, and preparing queenside expansion. The problem is that Black will probably not fall in with White's plans, and play 4...d5, of course. g6 The most sensible reply, preparing the kingside fianchetto. 5.d4!? Quite a logical move that only surfaced just recently, under the aegis of Korchnoi, White profits from the fact that Black can no longer play a later ... Bb4. But will a3 prove a useful move later-on? [ Transposition to slower lines with 5.g3 is the normal preference. ] 5...exd4 6.xd4 g7 7.g5!? The most aggressive, White limits Black's possibilities 1017
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with this pin. h6 8.h4 0-0 9.e3 White is ready to complete his development, once successfully achieved, W hite's central preponderance will assure him a plus. e8 The alternative is [ 9...xd4 10.xd4 d6 11.e2 g5 12.g3 f5 13.d2 e4 14.xe4 xe4 15.0-0 a5 to fix the b2-pawn. 16.d3 e7 17.ad1 with a small plus to White because of the weakness of the black kingside, Korchnoi,VHuebner,R/Switzerland 1997. ] 10.e2 xd4 11.exd4 This time White is obliged to recapture with the pawn, as [ 11.xd4? allows g5 12.g3 e4 with an initiative. ] 11...g5 If Black hopes to get any active play, he must break this pin. The down side, as ever, is the weakness of the black kingside. [ 11...d6 12.0-0 g5 will transpose. ] 12.g3 e4 13.0-0 d6 14.d3! A pawn sacrif ice to exploit the weakened b1-h7 diagonal, [ 14.f3? seems worse, xg3 15.fxg3 f5?! ( 15...c6 16.d2 b6 17.ad1 e6 is stronger.) 16.h5 f8 17.d2 d7 18.ad1 unclear, Atalik-Epishin, Philadelphia 1998. ] 14...f5 Black prefers to support the knight, rather than play [ 14...xg3!? 15.fxg3 xd4+ 16.h1 g7 17.f3 with a white attack. ] 15.xe4! fxe4 16.e1 e6!? 17.b3! W hite keeps-up the pressure against the black weaknesses. f7 18.xe4! xd4 19.ad1 From being behind in development, W hite has built up an impressive piece arrangement. The black bishop pair provide insufficient compensation for White's activity. g7 20.xb7 b8 The mark of an experienced player who knows that his best chance resides in an endgame, where the bishops' power can be felt. 21.c6 b6 22.d7! White wriggles away, knowing that he needs to keep queens on to exploit his attacking chances. ad8 23.f5 xb2 Re-establishing material equality, and defending against the menaced Nf6+. 24.h4 e6 25.a5! White would prefer to play [ 25.g6 of course, but f7 26.f5 e6 repeats. ] 25...b6 Back again! 26.a4 d7 27.c2
a5 28.hxg5 hxg5 [ 28...a4!? 29.f6+!? f7 30.b1 xd1 31.g6+ leads to White's advantage. ] 29.c1! c6 30.xg5 Further denuding the b l a c k k i n g . f5 31.c5!? xc5?! A time-trouble error, [ first 31...xe1+ 32.xe1 had to be played. ] 32.xc5? White fails to gain from his previous, powerful play due to zeitnot, simply [ 32.e6! xc1 33.xc1 d7 34.xc6 de7 35.d1 xe6 36.xc7 should win. ] 32...dxc5 33.xd8 xd8 34.c1 d5 35.e6 b2 36.b1 xa3 37.b8+ h7 38.c8 d7 39.xc7 White's active pieces more than counter-balances the two black bishops, for once. g8 40.xa7 b4 41.f4 d1+ 42.h2 c4 43.c7 c3 Black is unlikely to lose with his superior minor pieces. 44.e2 d3 45.c4 [ 45.e5 a5 46.c5 b6 is a draw. ] 45...a5 46.f3! Having removed his f-pawn from danger, White threatens to win the c3pawn. e6 47.c6 d5 48.c8+ f7 49.f4 d2 White is getting close to achieving definite winning chances. 50.xd5 xd5 51.c4 e6! 52.h3 b5 53.f2 d5 The king comes to help the c-pawn, and White decides to force a draw. 54.d4+ c6 55.c4+ d5 ½-½
1033 Kortschnoj,Viktor Spassky,Boris V Match Kalmykia RUS (5) [Nigel Davies]
A28 2567 2548 23.12.2009
T h is ga m e is qu it e f u n a s K o r ch n o i a n d Spassky rolled back the years to play in very frisky style. Korchnoi evidently didn't know about 8.Nxd5 Qxd5 9.Bd3 and found himself in trouble after 10...f5. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f6 4.a3 d5 A simple and straightforward reply, arguing that even with an extra tempo the Sicilian is still essentially a defensive formation. 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c2 e7 7.e3 a6 [ A conservative but sensible approach from Spassky, preventing White's Bf1-b5 which 1018
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is interesting after 7...0-0 . 7...a6 can also come in useful when White plays b2-b4 as it inhibits the further advance of White's bpawn. ] 8.c4 [ If Victor Korchnoi were a subscriber to Chesspublishing.com he might well have played 8.xd5 xd5 9.d3! which has been covered previously by both Carsten Hansen and Tony Kosten. ] 8...b6 9.d3 d7!? Very creative play by the old guy, preparing ...f7-f5 and having the idea of ...Qd7-g4 should White capture on h7. 10.b3 [ There might well have been a case for 10.e2 when f5 can be answered by 11.d3 and Black will nee d to move the quee n again to let his c8 bishop out. Instead we see Korchnoi attempt to justify the positioning of his pieces after which he runs into trouble. ] 10...f5 11.e4? [ As White ends up sacrificing a piece on his next move anyway, there was a case for offering one here instead. After the cool 11.b2!? B l a c k c a n p l a y e4 but then 12.xe4 fxe4 13.xe4 f6 14.xf6 gxf6 15.0-0 gives him a certain amount of compensation. ] 11...g5! 12.exf5!? [ White has suddenly found himself in the most awful position which explains why he now sacrifices a piece. After 12.0-0 g4 13.e1 f4 his position would be horribly passive. ] 12...g4 13.xe5 xe5 14.e4 c6 15.e2 f6 16.b1 d6 White now has scant little real compensation for the piece, though he does succeed in getting Black's king to go for a walk. 17.h3 gxh3 18.xh3 d7 19.d3 f8 20.xc6 xc6 21.e3+ d7 22.b2 d5 23.d3 xb2 24.xb2 [ Or 24.f4 d6 etc. ] 24...xa3 25.c2 ae8 26.d4 c8 0-1
1034 Kosten,Anthony C Ahmed,Esam Aly 1st Misr Closed (7) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2514 2403 07.09.2003
I am not really that interested in the Dragon, as such, but I couldn't help but notice the recent coverage of the exchange sacrifice on Ch r is W a r d 's Dr a go n s s e ct i o n , a n d t h i s greatly influenced my play in this game ... 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 I have recently experimented with this move, w i t h s o m e s u c c e s s . h6!? A surprise, presumably the idea is to threaten ...e4 by stopping the reply Ng5. My experience of Egyptian players suggests that they are good practically, and strong tactically, but their theory knowledge is not too good(Englishlanguage opening books are too expensive). 5.d3 I am not sure that this is the most accurate here, alternatives: [ 5.d4 exd4 ( 5...e4!? worried me, as 6.d2 e3!? looked a bit messy) 6.xd4 c5 7.b3 e7 8.e4 d6 9.e2 0-0 10.0-0 with a nice space advantage, Goldstern,FMiralles, G/SWZ 1995. ] [ 5.e4 might be strongest, as Black can no longer play ...Bb4 as in Nimzovitch's line, and c5 is met by 6.b4 d4 7.b5 e7 8.xd4!? exd4 9.e5 which seems quite favourable. ] 5...d5! The best move, I think, although White will effectively have a Sicilian position with two extra tempi (as ...h6 isn't particularly helpful). That said, [ 5...a5 is alright, 6.g3 ( 6.e4!? ) 6...d4!? 7.g2 xf3+ 8.xf3 c5 with a position akin to the 4 g3 Nd4 line, Downey,KSummers,C/Cardiff 1998. ] 6.cxd5 xd5 Leaving White with the choice of which Sicilian-style plan to choose. 7.g3 I decided to go for a Reversed Dragon, where a 3 m i gh t p ro ve a h e l p ( a s W h it e a lm o s t always plays this in the mainline) but ...h6 almost certainly wouldn't. [ 7.e4 aims for Najdorf-style play, but after xc3!? ( 7...f6 is also OK) 8.bxc3 c5 the a3-move wouldn't help White at all. ] 7...e6 [ 7...e7 8.g2 b6 9.0-0 0-0 10.b4 1019
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is exactly what I was hoping for. ] 8.g2 d7!? Black decides to play in Yugoslav Attack style, but then what is his hpawn doing on h6? [ 8...e7 is safer, 9.0-0 0-0 10.d4 which is probably only equal. ] 9.0-0 d6 10.d4 The standard Dragon liberating move, except that White has extra tempi here. 0-0-0 [ 10...xc3 11.bxc3 e4 is well met by 12.d5! exf3 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.xf3 with two bishops and the better structure. ] 11.e4! Flank Opening players always enjoy the moment when they construct their own centre! xc3 12.bxc3 exd4?! I don't like this move much, and had expected [ 12...c4 when I was toying with the idea of 13.e3!? anyway. ] 13.cxd4 c4 14.e3!? An exchange sacrif ice played in the style of the 9...d5 Dragon, although [ 14.e1 is good and without risk, as the pseudo-active e5 15.xe5 xe5 16.e3 d3 leads nowhere after 17.e2 ] 14...xf1 15.xf1 Threatening to win on the spot with Bh3. b8 16.e5!? I wasn't entirely sure about this move, as although it opens the h1-a8 diagonal for my unopposed bishop, it also makes it more difficult to use my other minor pieces. [ 16.b1 keeps the powerful centre mobile, but after b6 ( 16...xa3?! 17.d5 b4 18.d1 and Qb3, winning material) 17.a6 rather than f6?! ( 17...c8 seems tenable) 18.e5! fxe5? ( 18...e7 ) 19.dxe5 e7 and now 20.d4 wins. ] 16...f8 17.b1 White targets the b7-pawn. The attack is very dangerous, but what I thought made it decisive was that this game was played first thing in the morning! e8? A mistake. I had thought that [ 17...e6! was forced, so that Black can block the d5-square with the rook and nullify th e wh ite b ish op o n g2, a n d no w I h a d intended 18.b5!? a6 19.d5! xd5 20.xd5 xd5 21.d4 regaining material: xe5 22.xc6+!? ( if 22.xc6 then c5 23.b1 b6 defends, although White is better ) 22...bxc6 23.xa6 a1+ (forced) 24.f1 c5 25.b5+ a7 26.c6 d6 27.xc5+ xc5 28.xc7+ a8 29.xc5
when the black king is wide open, but as long as Black can keep the white bishop out of the game he has some chances to defend. ] [ 17...b6?! l o s e s i n s t r u c t i v e l y : 18.d5! the pawns advance to free the white bishops' diagonals, e7 19.d6! f5 ( 19...cxd6? loses immediately to 20.xb6! axb6 21.xb6+ c7 22.a6 ) 20.d4! xd4 21.xd4 a4 (e lse Qa 6 ) 22.d3 and Qf3 or Qe4 is decisive - the 'Dragon' bishop! ] 18.e6! Freeing the e5-square for the knight. xe6 Relatively best. [ 18...xe6 19.d5! xd5 20.d4 win n in g, e . g . e4 when the most elegant win is 21.xb7+ ( 21.xc6+ xc6 22.d3 is also decisive) 21...xb7 22.b1+ c8 23.xe4 d6 24.xc6 ] [ 18...fxe6 19.xb7+! xb7 20.e5 is completely crushing. ] 19.d5! xd5 20.d4 d7 [ 20...xd4 is little help, 21.xd4 xd4 22.xb7+ ] 21.b5 [ After 21.b5 b6 22.xc6+ xc6 23.xc6 d6 24.f3 there is no way to stop disaster on b7. ] 1-0
1035 Kosten,Anthony C Farago,Ivan Amantea [Tony Kosten]
A28 2515 2510 1992
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.e4 Nimzovich's move, White takes a firm grip on the centre, and stops Black from liberating his play with ...d5, but at the cost of weakening the d4-square. b4 Black probably doesn't want to capture on c3, but instead play ...Bc5 without allowing the Nxe5 trick, but it is timewasting. 5.d3 d6 6.g3 c5 Now that the e5pawn is firmly supported by the d6-pawn, Black can safely play this move. 7.g2 d4 8.xd4 xd4 So, Black has achieved his goal, his bishop is firmly established on d4. The problem is that this has taken several moves to achieve, and that the 'victory' might 1020
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 be a temporary one- White can still fight for, and win, control of d4 when he will have a s p a c e a d v a n t a g e . 9.h3 e6 10.f4!? This is an aggressive move, but [ 10.0-0 is risky, Black might be tempted to play h5!? ] 10...c6 Another advantage of Black's seventh is that he can play this move, controlling d5. [ Karpov preferred 10...a6 against Gulko. ] 11.e2 c5 Black cannot afford to concede the bishop pair. 12.f3! A good move, White (that is, I) intend to 'castle' slowly, by Kf1-g2. b6 13.f1 e3?! I suppose that this is 'positionally correct' in the sense that the black dark-squared bishop is on the same colour squares as his central pawns, but, on the other hand, it is much more active than its white counterpart. [ 13...d8 would have been a more useful move, but not ] [ 13...0-0? when Black would risk being wiped off the board by 14.f5 and g4-5. ] 14.g2 exf4 15.gxf4 xc1 16.xc1 d5 Presumably, this central strike is the point of Black's play, and it certainly appears reasonable at first sight. 17.f5 Unfortunately for Black, the white central pawns now sweep forward, overturning everything in their path. dxe4 18.dxe4 d7 19.e5 g8 20.c5 c7 21.e6! Will they never stop? fxe6 22.fxe6 xe6 23.d4 Black is allowed no respite. d7 24.g5 f6 25.ae1+ f8 Virtually forced, the move [ 25...f7? would lose, on the spot to 26.e7+! xe7 27.xg7+ which decimates the black position. ] 26.hf1 [ carefully avoiding, 26.e7? which is not c h e c k , a n d is m e t b y xh3+ and 27... Qxe7. ] 26...h5 Hoping to bring the h1-rook to the defence. 27.d5! h6 The only move, [ both 27...cxd5? 28.xf6+ and ] [ 27...d8 28.e8+!! win beautifully. ] 28.xh6!! So you thought that the English Opening was dull? gxh6 29.xf6+ g7 30.f7+ White has swapped his queen for a rook and minor piece, but more importantly he has eliminated the black king's only defenders. g6 [ If 30...h8 then 31.ee7 threatens Rh7
mate, and wins quickly. ] 31.b3! A good move, although the alternative [ 31.e6! also won, xe6 32.xe6+ xf7 33.xc6+ with a piece to the good. ] 31...a5 Or [ 31...c8 32.ee7 xh3+ 33.h2 when the threat of 34 Bc2+ is terminal. ] 32.f3! The immediate threat is Ne5+, forcing mate. e8 33.xe8 xe8 I was now very short of time, but I had planned the mate a few moves ago, so: 34.e5+ g5 35.h4+ xh4 36.f3+ [ 36.f3+ g4 37.e6# ] 1-0
1036 Kovacevic,Blazimir Zelcic,Robert Bizovac Metalis op 08th (7) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2457 2500 25.02.2001
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.d4 e4 5.g5 h6 6.gxe4 xe4 7.xe4 h4 8.d3 d5 9.cxd5 b4 10.b1 f5 11.d6+ [ 11.g4 xg4 12.f3 h4+ 13.d1 xd5 Obviously favours Black. ] 11...xd6! This improvement was brought to my intention by Topnotch on the Forum. I had previously looked at [ 11...cxd6 12.xf5 g6 13.f4 in Smirin, I (2677)-Johannessen, L (2422)/Istanbul 2000 - see the Archive. ] 12.xf5 g6 13.b1 [ 13.f3!? c2+ ( 13...xd4 14.b3 xd5 15.d2 might be playable) 14.d1 xa1 15.e3 ( 15.e3 f5 16.c1 f4 17.g3 f6 18.h3 0-0 19.gxf4 xf4 and the position is opening up on the kingside much too soon for White's liking.) 15...0-0-0 16.b3 b4 17.g3 ( 17.b2 d6 ) 17...h5 18.xh5 gxh5 19.g2 is not too clear, White is a rook down in an endgame, but will win the trapped knight, d6 ( 19...c3 20.e2 c2 21.h3+ b8 22.d3 b4+ 23.xc3 xa2+ 24.c4 xc1 25.xc1 ) 20.b2 a6 21.c1 ] 13...xd4 14.a3 [ 14.e4 mentioned by Markovich, 1021
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A) 14...f5 15.b5+ e7 16.e3 xe4 17.xe4+ fxe4 18.0-0-0 White can be happy with his two bishops, e.g. xa2+ 19.b1 a6 ( 19...b4 20.d4 ) 20.e2 b4 21.d4 f6 22.xe4 he8 23.d4+ f5 24.e3!; B) 14...c5 15.e2 (what else?) ( 15.d1 xf2 16.a3 d4+ 17.e2 ( M a r k o v i c h )) 15...c2 16.b4! xb4 17.b2 0-0-0 18.e3 b5+ 19.f3 d7 I don't think many humans would feel too comfortable here!; C) 14...xd5! 15.exd5 ( 15.d3 ) 15...b4+ 16.e2 0-0-0 (Markovich) is dangerous, 17.d3 e5+ 18.f3 xd5 ] [ 14.d2 0-0-0 15.c3 xd5 16.e3 ( 16.xh8? f4 with winning threats) 16...he8 17.a3 c6 White has the bishop pair, but a woeful lack of development. ] 14...0-0-0! 15.d2 [ 15.g3! xd5 16.h3+ f5 17.0-0 gets the king to safety, but he8 18.g2 c6 ( 18...xe2 19.f3 e5 (else Rd1 wins material) 20.d1 c4 21.xh6 and White is OK ) 19.f3 Black is nicely centralised, but White has got over the worst. ( 19.xh6 xe2 hits b2 )] 15...xd5 16.e3 f6 17.c2 he8 Black simply develops. 18.e2 [ 18.c4! e5 19.0-0 is playable. ] 18...b8 19.0-0 f4! 20.f3 [ 20.c4 xg2 21.xg2 g5+ 22.h1 xh2 wit h a p o we rf u l a t t a ck , 23.fd1 ( 23.xh2? h4+ 24.g1 g4+ 25.h1 e5 ) 23...h4 24.e1 d6+ 25.g1 h2+ 26.f1 xe3 27.d5 g3! 28.e4 h3+ 29.e2 g5 with 3 pawns and a strong initiative for the piece. ] [ 20.d1!? d3 ( 20...xg2 21.xg2 g5+ 22.h3 ) 21.e2 xf2!? 22.xf2 xh2+ 23.f1 h4 24.f3 g3 forces 25.xg3 xg3 which is not too clear. ] 20...h3+ 21.h1 g5 22.c3 e7 23.e2 e4 24.g1 f5 The knight is powerfully placed and is more than a match for a white bishop. 25.ae1 h5 26.d3? A simple blunder. [ 26.f3 g5 27.e2 ] 26...xh2+! 27.xh2 d6+ White not only loses a pawn, but also finds himself with the
inferior minor piece. 0-1
1037 Kovalyov,Anton Cubas,Jose Fernando IV Magistral (10) [John Watson]
A28 2381 2426 28.11.2006
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c2 e7 7.e3 xc3 8.bxc3 0-0 9.d4 This is a basic position that arises time and again in the English Opening and the Sicilian Def ence (with colours reversed). After all these years I'm not sure if anyone knows who stands better. It's probably dynamically equal, but one feels that with accurate play Black has to be careful not to cede a positional advantage based upon White's extra central pawn. d6 10.b2 [ An approach that doesn't solve the basic issue of Black's central threats (in particular ...e4) is 10.e2 e7 ( 10...e6!? 11.e4 exd4 12.cxd4 g4 13.e3; 10...f5 is another good move, however) 11.0-0 e4 12.d2 f5 13.c4 ad8 14.xd6 xd6 ] [ The key to these positions is probably to get c4 and/or e4 in, e.g., 10.b1 b8 11.d3 f5 12.e4 f6 13.d5 e7 14.c4 c5 15.g5 g6 16.xe7 xe7 17.0-0 f6 18.c5 ( or 18.a4 c5 19.exf5 xf5 20.fe1 )] 10...e7 11.e2 d7 [ 11...e4 12.d2 f5 is still a problem for W h i t e . A g a i n , 13.c4 looks right, with the idea g5 14.g3 fe8 15.g4 d7 16.h4 h6 17.0-0-0 ] 12.0-0 ae8 13.fe1 f5 [ 13...e4! 14.d2 h4 15.g3 e7 16.c4 b6 17.b3 is double-edged. ] 14.c4 b6 15.c5! bxc5 16.dxc5? [ 16.dxe5! xe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.xe5 xe5 19.ac1 destroys Black's pawn structure, and his disadvantage may be fatal after f4 20.xc5 fxe3 21.fxe3 xc5 22.xc5 ] 16...xc5 17.b5 b8! 18.xc6 xc6 19.xe5 e4 20.c4+ h8 21.d4 d6! Rather than grab the a-pawn Black keeps his initiative growing. Now W hite finds himself 1022
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 defending and soon finds Black's passed cpawn a might force. 22.f4 c5 23.c3 b7 24.e2 e7! 25.ad1 f6 26.a1 b3!? [ There's no reason to cede material. Much better is 26...fd8 wit h the ide a 27.c4 xd1 28.xd1 b3! ] 27.d7 xa1 28.xa1 c4 29.ec1?! [ 29.xf8 xf8 30.d1! ] 29...c3 Now it's very difficult to both stop the pawn and defend elsewhere. 30.xf8 xf8 31.d1 c2 32.e1 d8 33.ac1 h6 34.f1 c3 35.f2 xa3 36.xc2 xc2 37.xc2 xe3 38.h3 a5 The rest is self-explanatory: 39.h2 a4 40.f3 e4 41.c7 e8 42.a3 h7 43.d6 e6 44.d2 b6 45.a1 b4 46.g3 b3+ 47.h2 a3 48.e1 a4 49.d6 a2 50.e5 b5 51.e6 d3 52.d1 g3+ 53.h1 b1 0-1
1038 Mailbox Question Chris N,Archana from Hannover [John Watson]
A28
2005
Chris from Germany writes" "Two days ago, we had a team-competition taking place in Hannover. Against my 2300-rated opponent, I tried out the following idea I found on ChessPublishing in one of Beliavsky's games [ j w H e r e f e r s t o B e l y a vs k y - T u r o v , 2 4 t h Politiken Cup 2002] we arrived at the following position: 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 e4 5.g5 e7 6.d3 exd3 7.e4 After making this move, my opponent looked rather surprised and spent a lot of time on his n e x t m o ve . W h il e h e wa s c o n si d e ri n g , I wondered if White had any advantage at all after 7. ...Ne5 and guess what he played? 7. ...Ne5, of course." e5 "I do not know if this is a novelty or not, the game continued 8. Bd3: d6, 9. O-O c6, 10. f4!? (perhaps 10. Be2 is stronger?) Nd3:, 11. Qd3: Qc7, 12. e5?! (I guess 12. Be3 followed by Bd4 is better) Ng4! and in the end, I lost due to a blunder which of course had nothing to do with the opening anymore. What is your opinion on 7. ...Ne5? Is it preferable to the usual 7. .. .h6? 7. ...h6 se em s to wo rk o u t nice f o r W h it e , bu t is
played by strong GMs so it cannot be bad. I am looking forward to hearing from you! " Reply from John: I'm going to answer this by commenting on various options along the way. First, let's take a brief look at [ 7...h6 8.f3 d5 ( 8...xe4 9.d5 d8 10.xd3 c5 11.0-0 offers White a powerf ul initiative f or the pawn, with Re1(+) coming.; 8...e5 (too late!) 9.xe5 xe5 10.f4 e6 11.xd3 gives White everything he wants.) 9.cxd5 xe4 10.e3 xc3 11.bxc3 e5 12.xd3 g4 . This was Turov's choice versus Belyavsky. Another game went ( 12...xd3+ 13.xd3 d8 14.0-0 e7 15.c4 (White has space and is better) c5 16.f4 0-0 17.d2!? b6 18.ae1 d6 19.xd6 xd6 20.e3 with the better game, Delchev-Papa, Zuerich 2002 ) 13.0-0 xe3 14.fxe3 d7 ( 14...xe3+!? 15.h1 e7 16.e1 c5 17.e2 ) 15.e4 ( 15.h1 ) 15...c5+ 16.h1 0-0-0 17.b3 and Belyavsky stood better. ] 8.xd3 You also had a promising pawn sacrifice here: [ 8.f4! xc4 9.xd3 b6 ( 9...d5? 10.xd5 xd5 11.xc4 ) 10.0-0 ( or 10.e3 h6 11.f3 , for example, d5 12.e5 g4 13.g1 c6 14.c2 ) 10...h6 ( 10...c5+ 11.h1 h6 12.f3 transposes ) 11.f3 A) A sample line might go 11...d6 12.e1 d8 13.a4! e7 ( 13...a5 14.e3 e7 15.xb6 cxb6 16.b5+ d7 17.xd7+ xd7 18.d4 d8 ) 14.a5 bd7 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 g4 17.e6!; B) 11...c5+ 12.h1 B1) 12...e7 13.e5! ( or 13.e2 0-0 14.e3 h5 15.xb6! axb6 16.e5 e8 17.e4 ) 13...fd5 14.e4 c6 15.e6!! f6! ( 15...dxe6 16.e5; 15...fxe6 16.e5; 15...xe6 16.d4 g6 17.f5 h7 18.f6+- ) 16.d4 a4 17.h5+ d8 18.b4 c6 19.f7 dxe6 20.xg7 e8 21.d2; B2) 12...d5 13.e5 g4 14.e1 h5 15.f5! ( or one of: 15.h3 d7 16.e6!; and 15.e6 fxe6 16.g6+ )] 8...d6?! JW: This is so natural but from now on Black's queen on e7 hurts his cause badly. HiA rc s su gg e st s a m o ve t h a t I p ro b a b l y 1023
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 wouldn't have thought of: [ 8...d6! 9.e2 ( 9.b5 xd3+ 10.f1 c6 11.xd3 d6 and White is only slightly better if at all.) 9...xd1+ 10.xd1 h6 11.f4 ( 11.f3 d6 , about equal) 11...eg4 12.h3 d6 ] 9.0-0 c6 [ 9...h6 10.f3 g4 ( 10...xd3 11.xd3 d7 12.d5! ) 11.e2 leaves White much better. Black's position after 9.0-0 is worse than it appears because he never has time to play ..Qd8 and ...Be7 and unravel. ] 10.f4 [ "Perhaps 10.e2 is stronger?" JW: That would be a good move, but 10.f4 is also strong. ] 10...xd3 11.xd3 c7 12.e5 "?!" [ "I guess 12.e3 followed by Bd4 is better". JW: Actually, 12.e5! looks great! And you're right that 12.Be3 shows that W hite has a clear positional advantage. Something like ] [ 12.b4!? also looks strong. ] 12...g4! "and in the end, I lost due to a blunder which of course had nothing to do with the opening anymore." JW: On the other hand isn't your attack strong? W hite should play 13.exd6! xd6! [ 13...b6+? 14.h1 f2+?? 15.xf2 xf2 16.e3 xb2 17.e1 wins. This is no t ju st a n a tt a ck b ut B la ck's qu e en is trapped, for example, e6 18.c5 0-0-0 19.xe6 fxe6 20.b1 xd6 21.xb2 xc5 22.e4 ] [ 13...xd6 is also inferior after 14.e1+ e6 15.xe6 fxe6 ( 15...xd3 16.c5+ ) 16.e4 ( good but not great is 16.xd6 xd6 17.h3 c5+ 18.f1 f6 19.xe6+ f7 20.f5 ) 16...0-0-0 17.e3 xe3 18.xe3 c7 19.b4 ] 14.e1+ e7 15.e3! xe3 16.xe3 h6 17.f3 e6 [ 17...f8 18.ad1 g4 19.d2 xf3 20.xf3 ] 18.ad1! 0-0?? [ 18...f8 19.e5 ] 19.f5 winning a piece.
1039 A28 Matamoros Franco,Carlos S 2460 Korneev,Oleg 2613 XXVIII Sevilla ESP (5) 14.01.2003 [Tony Kosten] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.a3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c2 e7 7.e3 0-0 8.b5 White can also play the more conservative [ 8.e2 when g4!? would transpose to the game, except that Black has an extra tempo! 9.0-0! but why not ( 9.g5! xg5 10.xg4 anyway? ) 9...d7 ( 9...a5 10.d3 h8 Horvath,G-Parkanyi,A/Balatonbereny 1994) 10.d3 ad8 11.d1 fe8 with typical Sicilian play, Paehtz,T-Goldberg,A/Eilenburg 1984. ] [ 8.b4 ] 8...g4!? [ 8...xc3 9.bxc3 d7 is safer, Poluljahov, A-Popov,R/Krasnodar 1997. ] 9.e2!? White loses a whole tempo over the note to move 8, does he consider that provoking ...Bg4 justifies this? [ 9.a4!? is a possible alternative, hoping to provoke Black into capturing on f3 whilst retaining both white bishops, xc3 10.bxc3 d7 11.e4 d6 12.h4!? f5 13.d5+ h8 14.g5 with double-edged play, McNab,C-Mendoza,R/Moscow 1994. ] [ We have already considered the mainline 9.xc6 xf3 a couple of times, e.g. in Beim, V-Rublevsky,S. ] 9...h8?! Played to continue with ...f5, when the king is off the a2-g8 diagonal, but [ 9...d7! seems like a good idea, as at move eight, Black defends the bishop. ] 10.g5! Simply gaining the bishop pair with the double threat of mate on h7, and the a t t a c k o n g 4 . xg5 11.xg4 f5? Black, obviously annoyed at the turn of events, tries to justify his play with sharp tactics. 12.xf5 d4? 13.exd4 This is forced, but good. exd4 14.xd5 xd5 Forking f5 and g2, but there is a flaw. 15.e4 d3 [ 15...ae8 16.d3 leads nowhere. ] 16.xd5 ae8+ 17.f1 [ 17.d1 dxc2+ 18.xc2 xf2 is also winning. ] 17...dxc2 18.d3 f6 19.a2 d4 20.f3 After this it is clear that Black has no 1024
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 compensation for his piece, and can resign - centre by a flanking blow. f7 just what had he missed? e3 21.a1 d4 [ 21...fxg4 22.dxe4 dxe4 23.c4+ e6 22.e4 f6 23.e2 e5 24.a2 24.xe4 leaves White well on top. ] 1-0 22.dh1 f8 23.d1! ac8 24.g5 g6 25.gxf5 xf5 26.dxe4 dxe4? [ This loses, but even after the better 26...xe4 White has a powerful attack: 27.f3 1040 A28 f5 28.g4 e7! ( 28...d7 29.d3! xe3 Miles,Anthony J 30.xh7! xd3 31.xg7+! xg7 32.xd3 Kindermann,Stefan wi n n i n g b a c k t h e p i e c e wi t h i n t e r e s t .) Biel 1983 29.gxf5!! xg5 30.fxg6 xe3+ 31.b1 [Tony Kosten] and the bishop is untouchable, for xe2? 32.gxh7+ h8 33.xg7+! xg7 34.h8+ 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.e3 f6 4.f3 b4 xh8 35.g1+ and Qxe2. ] 5.d5!? This move is less popular nowadays, in fact White hopes to lure the e-pawn to its 27.xf5! xf5 28.c4+ h8 The simplest, d o o m , b u t a c c e p t s a d i s a d v a n t a g e i n winning the queen 29.h5! [ although 29.xh7+ was also winning: xh7 d e v e l o p m e n t . e4 The critical reply, and 30.h1+ h4 31.xh4+ g6 32.g3+ almost universally tried. 6.g1 The knight is g5 33.f7+ f5 34.h3+ g4 35.h7+ forced to return home. 0-0 7.a3 d6 8.e2 g6 36.xe8 etc. ] Mile s' n o ve lt y a t t he t im e , a lt h ou gh n o w [ After 29.h5 xf2? 30.xh7+ xh7 considered the main line. e5 9.g3 e8 31.h5# ] 10.c2 The point of White's opening is revealed, he menaces to capture on f6, then 1-0 e4. xg3!? [ 10...d6 is possible, and possibly superior, A28 tempting White to take the pawn: 11.xf6+ 1041 xf6 12.xe4 g6 with some initiative, Milov,Vadim 2676 although the white position is super solid. ] Lopez Martinez,Josep Manuel 2563 11.hxg3 d6 12.h4! Spanish Team Ch Gp1 (2) 21.06.2007 [ A lovely idea, attacking the e-pawn again, [Carsten Hansen] although 12.b3 and Bb2 is also good. ] 12...xd5 13.cxd5 e5 14.d3! 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.e3 c6 4.a3 [ The e-pawn cannot be captured: 14.xe4? (Milov likes to play these Sicilians with an g6 and ] extra tempo with the White pieces. Essentially [ 14.xe4? f5 loses an exchange in both these lines should be fairly harmless the ECO cases. ] claims equality for Black in any number of 14...f5 ways, yet White scores much better than with [ 14...exd3 15.xd3 xd3+ 16.xd3 the colours reversed. Is the tempo really all is actually very favourable to White, despite that important? The answer is both yes and no. the opposite-coloured bishops, as Bd2-c3 Of course the extra tempo offers something and 0-0-0 follows with a strong kingside better than with the colours reversed, but not attack. ] much. However, the psychological aspect is 15.d2 g6 16.h5 d7 17.c3 always an interesting one in lines such as this White has an edge because of his powerful c3- one. When Black loses he makes one of two bishop. c5 18.dxc6 bxc6 19.0-0-0 mistakes: 1) He plays too aggressively, as he W hite is catching-up on his development, would in a normal Sicilian, and here the extra whilst retaining his positional plusses. d5 tempo comes to benefit the first player, or 2) [ T h e t a c t i c 19...f4? 20.dxe4 g4 he plays too slowly, in a way he would never f a l l s t o t h e r e j o i n d e r 21.c4+ h8 have done with the colours reversed and 22.xh7+! ] White therefore easily gains the upper hand. 20.e2 e7 21.g4! Breaking-up the black The problem for Black in this line is to find a 1025
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 good balance, yet in the present game you will see that even a strong player don't find it particularly easy to do so.) g6 5.f3 g7 6.d3 0-0 7.e2 a5 [ This way of restraining White's queenside expansion is a common ploy for Black, but it also weakens Black's queenside and makes it easier for White's pawns to make contact with their black counterparts and therefore speeding up the interaction on the queenside. Alternatively, Black has tried 7...d6 A) 8.c2!? has been used by another specialist in this set-up for White, and to great effect: a5 ( 8...e8 9.d2 f5 10.e4 d7 11.b4 h6 12.h3 , and the players prematurely agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2 W.Schmidt-K.Typek, Lubniewice) 9.b1 h6 10.b4 axb4 11.axb4 e6 12.0-0 h7 13.b5 e7 14.d4 g5?! 15.dxe5!? ( 15.xg5 hxg5 16.d5 d7 17.e4 c8 18.e3 b6 19.d2 f6 20.f3 ) 15...xf3+ 16.xf3 xe5 17.xb7 xc4 18.xa8 xa8 19.d1 b8 20.b2 f5 21.e4 ( 21.a1!? b7 22.a4 xb5 23.xb5 xb5 24.xe5 dxe5 25.c4+- ) 21...xe4 22.xe4+M.Gurevich-E.Sobjerg, Korinthos 1998; B) 8.0-0 B1) 8...e6 9.b1 h6 10.b4 d7 11.b5 e7 12.c2 h7 13.d4 f5 14.d3 xd3 15.xd3 e6 16.e4 S.Barbeau-S.Dupuis, Quebec 1986; B2) 8...h6 9.c2 e6 B2a) Or 10.b1 e8 11.b4 a6 12.d5 f5 13.a4 ( 13.d4 e4 14.d2 xd5 15.cxd5 e7 16.f3 exf3 17.xf3 ) 13...e7 14.xe7+ xe7 15.d4 g5 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.b2 Z.Franco Ocampos-H. Fioramonti, Biel 1989; B2b) 10.b4 h7 11.b5 e7 12.d4 f5 13.d1 c6 14.a4 exd4 15.xd4 d7 16.b2 g5 17.d2 , Black's pieces are not particularly well-placed or well-coordinated, so White has an easy game and a solid advantage, P.Harikrishna-M.Sebag, Cap d'Agde 2006; B3) 8...g4 9.d2 f5 10.c1 f4
11.exf4 exf4 12.d4 h6 13.d5 e5 14.xe5 xe5 15.f3 g5 (this is being called 'unclear' by ECO, but I nonetheless prefer W hite after) 16.g4 f7 17.b4 M.Taimanov-S.Ionov, St Petersburg 1998; B4) 8...f5 9.c2 ( Or 9.e4 g4 10.e1 e6 11.f4 d4 12.f3 1/2-1/2, V.Milov-R.Dautov, Dresden 1998 ) 9...e8 B4a) 10.g5 h6 ( 10...g4!? ) 11.ge4 xe4 12.dxe4 d7 13.b4; B4b) 10.d2 g4 11.de4 xe2 12.xf6+ xf6 13.xe2 g7 14.b4 f5 15.b2 d4 16.exd4 exd4 17.d2 dxc3 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in K. Robatsch-K.Hulak, Lublin 1976, which seems entirely reasonable after for example 18.xc3 d7= ] [ Black's best option probably lies in 7...d5 which takes the ga me over in the ope n Sicilian terrain: 8.cxd5 xd5 A) 9.d2 is less convincing: A1) 9...a5 10.a4 h6 11.b3 b6 12.c1 ( 12.0-0 e6 13.c2 d7 14.ac1 de7= ) 12...d6 ( 12...ce7!? ) 13.0-0 d7 14.fd1 ac8 15.c3 xc3 16.xc3 C. Goritsas-V.Kotrotsos, Salonica 2006; A2) 9...xc3!? 10.xc3 a5 11.0-0 a4 12.d2 ( 12.d4 exd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 xd4 15.exd4 e6 16.c1 c6 ) 12...e6 A2a) 13.f4!? looks rather bizarre, but is n o t e wo rt h y n o n e t h e le ss , e . g. f5 ( 13...exf4 14.xg7 xg7 15.xf4 f5 16.xa4 ) 14.fxe5 xe5 15.f3 d6 16.c1 fe8=; A2b) 13.b4?! axb3 14.xb3 e7 15.b2 a5 16.xa5 xa5 17.c2 fa8 18.fc1 c5 M.Cebalo-J. Smejkal, Vrsac 1981; B) 9.c2 B1) 9...b6 10.0-0 b7 11.d2 ce7 12.b4 d7 13.ac1 ac8 14.b1 ( 14.e4!? xc3 15.xc3 c6 16.b3 ) 14...c5!= 15.bxc5 xc5 16.xd5 xd5 17.xc5 bxc5 18.c1 c8 19.e1 a6 20.d2 b6 21.e4 1/2-1/2, V.Savon-I.Farago, Yerevan 1026
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 similar to the game, and also quite 1982 c4 22.dxc4 xc4 23.xc4 comfortable for White ] xc4=; B2) 9...a5 10.d2 b6 11.c1 h8 15.d1 h6 16.h3 e6 17.f1 [ 17.b5!? e7 18.e4 is also very good for 12.b5 f5 13.e4 ( 13.0-0!? e6 ) W hite Black has a passive position with 13...e6 ( 13...f4!? ) 14.b3 c8 15.0-0 hardly any counterplay ] d6 16.a4 g8 17.c3 d7 17...h7 18.d5 e7 19.e4 d8 20.e3 E.Lobron-L.Oll, New York 1997 ] [ 20.b5!? ] 8.0-0 [ Other moves include 8.b3?! which should 20...xd5?! [ I really don't like this move since Black is be met by the untried e4!? 9.d4 xd4 stuck with defending the backward c-pawn 10.exd4 exd3 11.xd3 e8+ 12.e2 d5 ] the rest of the game with no real prospects [ Or 8.c2 e8 9.0-0 d5 10.cxd5 xd5 of ever becoming active. Possibly better is 11.b1 ( 11.e4!? ) 11...b6 12.xd5 20...c5 although White can obtain a rather ( 12.e4!? ) 12...xd5 13.b3 b7 14.b2 clear advantage in any number of way, e.g. ad8 15.fd1 d7= C.Horvath-P.Acs, 21.bxc5 ( 21.b2!? ) 21...bxc5 22.b2 ] Balatonlelle 2002 ] 21.cxd5 d7 22.dc1 c8 23.d4! 8...d6 9.b1 e8 10.c2 [ Or 10.e4!? g4 ( 10...d4 11.xd4 exd4 (White puts even more pressure on Black's 12.b5 c5 13.f4 a6 14.b4 ) 11.b5 position, as Black now also have to consider xf3 12.xf3 d7 13.g4 c5 14.f4 the o ption o f W hite pe ne trating t he ligh t 24.xd4 This idea is the brain child of my chess squares with Bf1-a6-b7-c6) exd4 engine, but looks like something that can h4 25.f3 g5 (Black tries to stage some counterplay as a last resort before W hite be considered as a decent alternative. ] crushes Black positionally, but unfortunately 10...f5 [ Opening the centre with 10...d5 11.cxd5 for Black, White can ward it off rather easily) xd5 looks like an attractive option as it will 26.f2! h5 27.e2!? (Now a ... Bxh3 is take the game into a Scheveningen Sicilian met Nf4) h7 (necessary as the queen was with the colours reversed in which Black otherwise trapped after Nf4) 28.c2! [ 28.g3 h4 29.a6 looks like an should not be worse, but White still appears attractive option, but it actually just lets to have a s light pull af te r 12.e4 f5 Black back into the game a8 30.b7 a3 13.d1!? ] 31.xc7 xe3 32.xe3 xg3 33.xd7 11.d2 g5 with counterplay ] [ My computer loves 11.e4!? g4 12.b5!? 29.bc1 d8 30.d4 e5 , and claims an edge for White. While it is 28...f6 interesting and a noteworthy idea, I doubt it 31.b5! xb5 32.xb5 f6 33.d4 g5 34.h4 h5 35.xd6 is White's best... ] 1-0 11...d7 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 g4 14.f3 [ An alternative is 14.b5 e7 15.xg4 xg4 16.e4!? with a better game for White. A28 However, White's idea is to only exchange 1042 pieces when it suits him in his plan, and Morozevich,Alexander 2749 right now the plan is to only allow Black to Adams,Michael 2744 exchange his bishops for White's knights, Sparkassen Cat XXI (5) 16.07.2001 thus creating a favourable imbalance for [Tony Kosten] White, or to retreat. Over the next several moves we will see how White consistently 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.e4 pushes Black towards the latter until White I was amazed to see Morozevich choose this has taken complete control over the board move I had a great deal of success with it and Black is left with no counterplay at all. ] some years ago, but only because my 14...b6 opponents chose inferior defences. b4 [ 14...e7 15.h3 e6 16.d1 is somewhat [ It is a pity that Mickey didn't play 4...c5 1027
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 , in my opinion the critical line, to see what Morozevich intended here. ] 5.d3 d6 6.e2!? [ Another surprise, White disdains the ' a u t o m a t i c ' 6.g3 and Bg2, as in my game against Farago. ] 6...h6 7.0-0 c5 [ Taking immediate control of d4 preserves more options than 7...0-0 although this is perfectly reasonable, too, e.g. 8.d5 c5 9.b1 a5 10.a3 xd5 11.cxd5 d4 12.xd4 xd4 with equality, Nei,I-Gipslis,A/ Tallinn 1975. ] 8.d2!? A new idea in this rare positionWhite intends to play Nb3, Kh1, and f4, with a k in g s id e a d va n ce . d4 9.b3 xb3 10.axb3 0-0 11.h1 c6 12.f4 d4 [ Perhaps it was time to consider conceding control of d4: 12...exf4!? 13.d4!? ( 13.xf4 d4 ) 13...b4 14.xf4 ( 14.a2 a5 15.b4 c7 16.c3 e8 is unclear) 14...c5 ( 14...xc3!? 15.bxc3 g5 16.f1 xe4 i s r i s k y , b u t p l a y a b l e) 15.b5!? with complications. ] 13.f3 Clamping-do wn on d5, and preparing to contest d4 with Ne2. White has managed to 'fianchetto' his light-squared bishop, anyway, without allowing any light-squared weaknesses, or losing control of g4. a6 14.h3 e7 15.e2 a7 16.d2?! [ T h i s lo o k s c a re le ss , 16.g3 first, is indicated. ] 16...b5?! [ Missing the opportunity to play 16...g4! 17.xg4 ( 17.hxg4?? h4# ) 17...xg4 with good play. ] 17.g3 Quickly rectifying his previous omission. b8 18.f5 xf5 19.exf5 Freeing the f3-bishop. bxc4 20.bxc4 d4 [ B l a c k h a d p o s s i b l y i n t e n d e d 20...xb2 but then 21.c3! ( if 21.xa6 b7 is OK, as 22.xc6? loses material to e4 ) 21...b6 22.e1 d7 23.d4 leaves Black in serious trouble. ] [ On the other hand, 20...e4!? 21.e1 d5 looks playable. ] 21.xa6 b7 22.a2 [ Once again 22.xc6? fails to e4 and now 23.xd6 exf3 menaces to capture on g2, so White has no time to take the bishop. ] 22...b3?
[ The ending is not good for Black, at all. I can see nothing wrong with the obvious 22...xb2 23.fxe5 dxe5 as 24.a4?! a8 25.a5 e4! leaves White fighting to draw- ... Bc3 is threatened. ] 23.xb3 xb3 24.fxe5 dxe5 25.xc6 c8! [ White is simply a pawn up after 25...xb2 26.xb2 xb2 27.b1 d4 28.b7 ] 26.f3 xd3 27.b4! A simple tactical point that guards d2, whilst the c4-pawn is untouchable because of Be2, winning the exchange. c3 28.xc3 xc3 29.e2 b3 [ The immediate 29...e4 doesn't seem to help, 30.h2 b3 ( 30...g3 31.b1 xe2 32.xe2 3xc4 33.xe5 should win) 31.b5 c3 32.f3 e4 33.g3 xa2 34.xb3 c1 35.b2 xe2 36.xe2 xc4 37.b2! 'rook behind the pawn', and wins. ] 30.b5 e4 31.f3 b1+ [ 31...xf3 32.xf3 ( rather than 32.gxf3? c3 33.b2 xe2 34.xe2 xc4 35.xe5 c2 drawing ) 32...d6 ( 32...xc4 33.b6 ) 33.b6 xc4 ( 33...e4 34.xe4! ) 34.b7 wins at a canter. ] 32.h2 d6 33.fa3! h7 [ 33...xc4? 34.a8 wins the knight: b6 35.xc8+ xc8 36.a8 c1 37.b6 ] 34.a8 xa8 35.xa8 The two passed pawns have survived, and therefore Black is lost. b2 36.f1?! [ This obvious move brings unexpected problems, 36.c5! xb5 37.d3 (menace: Rb8) d4 38.f6+ g6 39.f8 b7 40.c4 seems like the quickest kill. ] 36...e4 37.c5 xb5! [ 37...xf5 38.c6 e3 39.c7 xf1+ 40.g1 c2 41.b6 will crown a white queen. ] 38.b8 e3 Black's last desperate fling. 39.c4! [ 39.xb5 e2 40.xe2 xe2 41.c6 c2 may draw. ] 39...e2 40.xf7 With a threat of Bg6 mate. g5? [ The win is still not obvious after the superior 40...g6!! 41.xg6+ g7 42.e8 ( 42.b7+? f6 43.f7+ can now be met by g5 44.e7 d4 and Black's e-pawn will win a rook!! ) 42...d4 43.h5 f6 ] 41.g6+ g7 42.b7+ f6 43.f7+ e5 1028
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 44.e7+ d5 45.f6 d4 46.h5 b1 [ This loses to a cute tactical point, but 46...b8 47.f7 f8 48.e8 e6 49.f3+ e5 50.g4 is also hopeless. ] 47.f7 f1 48.xe2! [ 48.xe2! xe2 49.f3+ blocks the f-file, and queens the f-pawn. ] 1-0
also concerned about getting this in before White regrouped with 16.Nd2 or even 16. Qb2 Q b 3 1 7 . Q a 1 . 16.xb3 xb3 17.e4 g6 18.fe1 fe8 19.d2 a4!? An original and double-edged decision, putting the bishop on an offside looking square but stops W hite' f r o m p u t t i n g h i s r o o k s o n d 1 . 20.g3 It's not quite clear to me why White felt this was necessary. [ The imme diat e 20.exf5 gxf5 21.c4 1043 A28 loo ks b et te r to m e, t ho ugh I do ub t it is enough to particularly trouble Black. ] Morozevich,Alexander 2750 Gelfand,Boris 2758 20...g8 21.exf5 gxf5 22.h5 f8 23.c4 Tal Memorial (4) 08.11.2009 g5 24.a1 xd3 25.b2 xc3 26.xa4 c2 [Nigel Davies] [ Perhaps 26...d2 was a better try, for example 27.ed1 c2 leaves White unable He re we ge t a kno wn lin e o f t h e S icilia n to regroup his bishop on h5 with Bh5-d1. ] Scheveningen but with colours reversed. It's easy to overestimate the value of an extra 27.c5 e4 28.d1 b2 [ And here it might have been better to play tempo in these colours reversed defences and 28...c3 . ] it never looked like very much for White. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.d3 d5 5.cxd5 29.b3+ h8 30.ab1 xb1 31.xb1 d4 xd5 6.e3 e7 7.e2 0-0 8.0-0 e6 32.xb7 f4 33.c5 e3 34.gxf4 This leads 9.d2 f5 What we have here is a to a general liquidation and equality. xf4 Scheveningen Sicilian with colours reversed 35.fxe3 xe3+ 36.h1 xb3 37.xb3 and an extra tempo for W hite. W ill this be xc5 38.bxc5 f1+ 39.g2 c1 40.b8+ enough to give him an advantage? Certainly g7 41.a8 xc5 he won't be worse off than in the analogous ½-½ line, and it presents the players with a new playground. 10.xd5 xd5 A28 [ Usually Black has taken with the Bishop 1044 Morozevich,Alexander 2758 here, and that in fact is how Gelfand played it in a previous game: 10...xd5 11.c3 Grischuk,Alexander 2726 27.09.2007 f6 12.c2 h8 13.b4 e4 14.dxe4 fxe4 WCh Mexico City MEX (12) 15.d2 xc3 16.xc3 d6 17.b5 e5 [Carsten Hansen] was Alekseev, E (2616) - Gelfand, B (2714), Sochi 2004. Had this been repeated I think 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.d3 d5 that Morozevich might have played 18.ad1 5.cxd5 xd5 6.e4 This is an unusual move with what looks to me like an edge for White in this position, but nonetheless a playable after ( Rather than 18.d4 as played in the one that several grandmasters have used over the years. It looks like a Boleslavsky Variation game ) 18...e6 19.b3 . ] with the colours reversed, but as we will see 11.c3 ad8 [ The only earlier example of this line (10... White plays somewhat differently than Black Qxd5) I could find went 11...f6 12.c2 a5 normally does in that variation. For starters, it 13.a3 1/2-1/2 which was Schmidt, W (2469)- appears White doesn't have a problem with Grabczewski, R (2344), Wroclaw 1972. This Black playing ...Bg4 here, whereas in the Boleslavsky, Black immediately prevents doesn't tell us too much! ] 12.c2 h8 13.a3 f6 14.b4 a6 15.ac1 White from playing Bg5. I doubt this variation b3 White would not normally do such a thing will become very popular, but it can certainly against the Sicilian, but with Black we are be wheeled out on occasion to surprise an usually satisfied with less. He was probably opponent who likely never studied it, and as 1029
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 we will see in the game, Morozevich uses it to beat a fellow member of the 2700+ club, so it can't be bad. f6 [ 6...b6 A) 7.e2 A1) 7...g4 A1a) There is no tactical justification for 8.xe5?! xe5 ( 8...xe2? 9.xc6 xd3 10.xe2 xe2+ 11.xe2 bxc6 12.f4 0-0-0 13.hd1 d6 14.g3 Ermenkov, E-Russell, M/ T u r i n I T A 2 0 0 6) 9.xg4 xd3+ 10.e2 xc1+ 11.xc1 g5 12.f3 d8 13.c2 d6 14.g3 ( 14.hd1!? ) 14...0-0 15.h4 f6 wi t h a c l e a r a d va n t a g e f o r B l a c k , Csom, I-Garcia P alerm o, C/ Szira k 1986; A1b) 8.0-0 d7 9.e3 d8 10.c1 e7 11.h3 xf3 12.xf3 A1b1) This is too impatient, almost as if Black overlooked the consequences of White's 14th move. A b e t t e r c o n t i n u a t i o n i s 12...0-0 13.b5!? ( 13.a3 d4 14.g4 d6= ) 13...h6 ( 13...a6? 14.g4 ) 14.g4 xd3 15.xa7 xa7 16.xc7 xe3! ( 16...xd1? 17.xd1+- ) 17.fxe3 xd1 18.xd1 g5 19.xb7 xe3+ 20.f1 c4 21.b4 , and White's queenside pawns provide him with a clear advantage; A1b2) 12...xd3? 13.xd3 xd3 14.d5 d4 15.xd4 xd4 16.xc7+ f8 17.b5+Harikrishna, P-Saptarshi, R/Calcutta 2000; A2) 7...e7 A2a) 8.a4 g4 9.0-0 0-0 10.e3 xf3 11.xf3 d7 12.d5 f6 13.b3 ( White has two interesting a l t e r n a t i v e s i n 13.xe7+ xe7 14.b3 ab8 15.ac1 fd8 16.c5 d7 17.fd1; and 13.xf6+ xf6 14.c1 g5 15.d2 xe3 16.fxe3 also with an edge for White) 13...xd5 14.exd5 d4 15.xd4 exd4 16.xb7 d6 17.a5 a6 18.c6 Jobava, BRukhaia, K/ Batumi GEO 2003; A2b) 8.e3 0-0 9.0-0 f5!? 10.exf5
xf5 11.e4 d5 12.c2 ac8 13.a3 a5 , and Black has solved his opening problems successfully, Spraggett, K-Lautier, J/Correze 1989; A2c) 8.0-0 0-0 ( 8...h5?! 9.e3 g4 10.a4 a5 11.b5 0-0 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 h4 14.c1 d7 15.d2 e8 16.d1 f8 17.b3 e6 18.f4 Cox, J-Heiberg, T/Hamar 1982) 9.a4 a5 A2c1) Or 10.e3 f5 11.c1 ( 11.b5!? f4 12.xb6 cxb6 13.d4 looks pleasant for W hite) 11...f4 12.d2 b4 13.b5 xd2 14.xd2 h8 15.h3 e6 16.f3 g8 , thus far, Agdestein, SIvanchuk, V/Tilburg 1993, and now: 17.d4 exd4 18.fxd4 f6; A2c2) 10.b5 e6 11.c2 f5 12.d1 f6?! ( 12...c8 13.e3 f4 14.c5 xc5 15.xc5 ) 13.e3 f7 14.d4! b4 15.c1 fxe4 16.dxe5 d5 was played in Cramling, D-Astrom, R/Sweden 2000, and now 17.g5!? xg5 18.xg5 c8 19.e6! xe6 20.d8+ xd8 21.xd8 xd8 22.xc7 would leave W hite with a solid, if not winning, advantage; B) 7.e3 g4 8.e2 xf3 9.xf3 d4 10.g4 e7 11.0-0 0-0 12.e2 xe2+ 13.xe2 e8 ( 13...c6 14.ad1 f6 15.h1 e8 16.c2 c8 17.b3 d6 18.a4 Labuckas, A-Gomez Esteban, J/ Istanbul 2000) 14.fd1 g5 15.ac1 c6 16.g3 xe3 17.xe3 e7 18.d4 with a better game for White, but Black's position is solid and fully playable, Franco Ocampos, Z-San Segundo Carrillo, P/Cala Mendia, Mallorca 2001 ] [ 6...xc3 7.bxc3 A) or 7...d6 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 h6 10.e1 h8 11.e3 f5 12.exf5 xf5 13.d2 ( 13.b3!? ) 13...e7 14.b3 b6 15.f1 ( 15.f3!? c6 16.ad1 d7 17.d4 ) 15...d7 16.e4 e6 17.c4 f5 with an edge for Black, Ermenkov, EBotsari, A/Chania 1999; B) 7...c5 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 h8 ( 9...b6 10.a4 e8 11.b1 h6 12.c2 a6 13.e3 xe3 14.fxe3 e7 15.fe1 1030
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with at best a tiny edge for White, Svenn, G-Astrom, R/Sweden 2000; 9...e7 10.d4 d6 11.d5 a5 12.c4 b6 13.b2 b7 with chances for both sides, Ginsburg, MKraai, J/San Francisco 1999) 10.b1 b8 11.xe5 xe5 12.d4 d6 13.dxe5 xe5 14.a4 d7 15.xa7 b6 16.a3 c6 17.b4 e8 18.b5 xb5 19.xb5 xc3 20.c4 , and in this position the players agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2 Tal, M-Chernin, A/Sochi 1986 ] 7.e2!? [ White has never really achieved much by preventing Black from playing ... Bg4 with h2h3: 7.h3 c5 8.e2 0-0 ( 8...h6 9.0-0 a6 10.e3 xe3 11.fxe3 0-0 12.e1 e7 13.g3 e8 14.h4 , and Black is facing an uncomfortable kingside initiative by White, Duer, A-Dueckstein, A/Austria 1990) 9.0-0 e8 ( 9...a6 10.a3 h6 11.c2 e7 12.b4 a7 13.e3 d8 14.ac1 d4 15.xd4 exd4 16.a4 e8 17.c5 an White has a nice little edge and pressure against Black's queenside, Shatskes, B-Volovich, A/ M o s c o w 1 9 6 1) 10.a3 ( 10.e3 d4 11.c1 b6 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 exd4 14.b1 a5 15.f4 a4 16.c4 d7 with a complicated position, where I think I prefer Black's queenside play to W hite's kingside/centre playAkesson, R-Schinzel, W/Polanica Zdroj 1981) 10...d4 ( 10...a5 11.b1?! h6 12.a4 f8 13.e3 d4 14.xd4 exd4 15.b4? (premature) axb4 16.axb4 h5 17.c5 f4 18.d2 xe2+ 19.xe2 b6 20.b3 xb4 21.bxd4 c5 and Black has the upper hand, Masculo, JCastro, A/Sao Paulo 1991) 11.g5 c6 12.xd4 xd4 13.c2 h6 14.h4 d6 15.ad1 h7 16.h5 g6 17.e2 h5 18.d2 e6 with a complicated battle and approximately even chances, Jobava, BIvanchuk, V/Rethymnon 2003 ] 7...g4 last book move [ 7...e7 8.h3 0-0 9.0-0 b6 ( 9...e6 10.e3 c8 11.d4 exd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 h6 14.a4 , and White has a pull, Cvek, R-Revuckij, V/Rymarov 1999) 10.e3 b7 11.c1 d7 12.d5 d6 13.a3 e7 14.c3 c5 15.b5 b8 16.b4 cxb4 17.axb4 c6 18.b3 e7 19.b1 a6 20.c3 d6 and Black has more orless
equalized, Dzindzichashvili, R-Timman, J/ Amsterdam 1978, ] 8.0-0 xf3 9.xf3 d4 This looks like the type of position you will see in the instructional books, demonstrating a strong knight vs a bad bishop. So why did Morozevich play e2-e4 and on top of that allow Black to exchange his bishop on f3? W ell, Morozevich isn't exactly bending to convention and here he soon demonstrates that there is absolutely nothing wrong with his position. 10.g3 c5 11.g2 0-0 12.a4 b6 13.e3 d6 14.f4 [ 14.xb6 axb6 15.f4 d7 , with chances to both sides ] 14...d7 [ Black can also consider 14...exf4!? , e.g. 15.xf4 e2+ 16.h1 xf4 17.gxf4 d4 18.c1 g4 19.xg4 xa4 , and Black has a pleasant game ] 15.h1 ad8 [ 15...fd8 16.c1 ( 16.xb6 axb6 17.a3 e6 18.e2 ) 16...e6 ( 16...c6 17.h5!? ) 17.xb6 axb6 18.a3 dc5 19.f5 d4 ] 16.c1 c6 17.xb6 axb6 [ Or 17...cxb6 18.b3 h6 19.c3 d4 20.d1 c5 21.e1 with the better chances for White ] 18.c3 [ 18.fxe5 dxe5 19.d4 xd4 20.xd4 xd4 21.xd4 xd4 22.xc7 d2= ] 18...c5 19.a3 [ At this juncture, 19.fxe5!? may be even stronger, e.g. xe5 20.f5 e6 21.d5 b4 ( alternatively 21...xd5?! 22.exd5 xe3 23.dxc6 bxc6 24.d4 e4 25.xe3 f2+ 26.g1 xd1 27.e2; 21...f6 and 22.xc5 bxc5 23.cxc5 are both very pleasant for White) 22.xc5 bxc5 23.dxc5 xa2 24.b3 ] 19...xd3 20.c2 c5 21.xc5 bxc5 22.xc5 fe8 [ Black is trying to establish a blockade on e5, which will help him claim on knight on c6 to be a better piece than White's light-squared bishop, but matters are rarely this simple. As White after Black's 22nd move grabs the initiative, Black could instead also consider: 22...exf4 23.gxf4 d4 24.c3 b6 25.b4 ( 25.c4!? ) 25...c6 26.g5 fe8 27.g3 1031
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e6 28.g4 c7 29.e5 ] [ 22...d4 23.c3 exf4 24.gxf4 c6 ( 24...b6 leads to the same position as af ter 22...gxf 4) 25.c4 e2 26.c2 ( 26.f3 d2 27.f2 e1+ 28.f1 d2= ) 26...d4 27.c3 e2 with a possible draw by repetition ] 23.d5 e7 24.b3 exf4 [ If 24...xd5 then 25.exd5 ( 25.xd5 b8 doesn't appear to lead anywhere) 25...d8 26.e1 d6 27.f3 e7 28.g2 ] 25.xb7! xd5 26.exd5 d4 [ An attempt to play active. Black also had 26...d8 available, but after 27.b3 fxg3 28.xg3 b7 29.c3 d6 30.a4 Black's prospects aren't exactly filled with hope. ] 27.xf4 c5 28.f1 g6 29.a6 e2 30.d6! [ Or 30.b4 c2 31.d6 cxd6 32.xd6 and we have transposed to the position that is reached in the game ] 30...cxd6 [ H e r e B l a c k c o u l d h a ve t r i e d 30...xd6 as well, but after 31.xd6 cxd6 32.b1 d2 White has possibly all the winning chances he needs, so in time trouble Grischuk decides to keep the queens on in the hope for something to emerge... ] 31.b4 c2 32.xd6 f5 33.d8+ [ Complications arise rather quickly after what appears to be the simplest continuation 33.c6 b3 A) 34.b5? e3 35.f3 f2!! ( 35...xh2+ 36.xh2 xf1+ 37.g2 e3+ 38.h3 f1 39.b6 xa3 ) 36.e1 c2 37.e8+ ( 37.c1?? e3! w i n s f o r B l a c k) 37...g7 38.e5+ with a draw by perpetual; B) 34.f3 c2 35.e8+ g7 36.e5+ f6 37.e4 b2 38.g1 xh2 39.g2 xg2+ 40.xg2 xa3 41.b7+ h6 42.b8 and White still has winning chances, but with the open king and Black having the dynamic duo of queen and knight to attack with on the kingside, it may be a bit problematic. ] 33...g7 34.d5 b2? [ A better opportunity to save the game is 34...f6!? 35.b7+ ( or 35.g1 e3 36.b7+ h6 37.h3 b2 38.f3 xg2 39.xg2 xg2 40.xg2 xa3 41.d2+
g7 42.h2 a4 , and White's king position is too open to make winning attempts realistic) 35...h6 36.f3 b2 although 37.g1 ( 37.f4+ g7 38.c7+ h6 39.c1+ e3 40.xb2 xb2 41.g1 c2 42.a4 xb4 and I don't think W hite will win) 37...e3 38.f2 c1+ 39.f1 xf2 40.xf2 xa3 41.d2 g7 , and W hite has a long and complicated road ahead if he is to win this endgame ] 35.g4! d2 36.f3 d6 37.h3 [ W hite can also consider 37.b5!? d4 38.g5 f5 39.b1 b2 40.xb2 xb2 41.f1 h6 42.gxh6+ xh6 43.f4+ g7 44.a4 with a won endgame ] 37...f5?! [ This probably speeds up the end of the game, but it is the typically chancy move that you play in time trouble in the hope that something will fall out of the sky and save y o u . N e v e r t h e l e s s 37...g8!? would probably have been better, trying to avoid what happened in the game continuation, e.g. 38.g3 ( 38.f4 h6 39.f3 g5 40.e1 g7 , and Black is still playing ) 38...g5 39.e1 h6 40.f1 c2 41.g1 , and White is consolidating his advantage ] 38.g3 c2? [ In heavy time trouble, as per usual for Grischuk in this event, Black doesn't play the best move. Not that Black necessarily would have saved the game after 38...f6 b u t i t wo u ld h a ve g ive n B l a c k a b e t t e r chance to offer resistance, e.g. 39.a4!? A) 39...e5 40.xe5+ xe5 41.e1+ d4 42.gxf5 xf5 ( Or 42...gxf5 43.a1 b2 44.a5 xb4 45.a6 c8 46.a7 xa7 47.xa7+- ) 43.a5 e3 44.b7 a2 45.a6 wins for White; B) 39...xb4 40.h4+ f7 41.xh7+ f6 42.h8+ f7 43.e1 e4 44.xe4 fxe4 45.f1+ e6 46.g8+ e5 47.xg6+- ] 39.gxf5! [ My computer tried to convince me that 39.e5+ is better than the game move, but after f8 40.d5 xd5 41.xd5 e4 42.g1 e2 Black can still play for a tricks a little while longer, whereas in the game continuation, there is no doubt. ] 1032
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xc5 15.xc5 0-0-0! 16.h3 f5 17.e4 e6 and, having forced the concession e4, Black had complete equality, Xu,JHjartarson,J/Lucerne 1993. ] 12...0-0 13.e2 d8 Black has a simple plan, he will pressurise the d3-pawn, and try to force the move e4, when d4 will provide a square for one of his knights. 14.0-0 f5 15.ac1 White seems to have a normal Sicilian type of formation, and was probably 1045 A28 feeling quite happy with his opening. d6 Morris,Charles F 2240 Intending to double rooks. 16.e4 Possibly a Komarov,Dimitri 2570 concession, [ 16.fd1 ad8 17.c3 allowed White to ECC (qual) gp 6 (3) 18.10.1998 maintain a flexible structure, albeit, [Tony Kosten] somewhat passively. ] If Black can protect his c-pawn, he 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 16...g4 5.c2 xc3 Black's safest choice, he would threaten to capture on f3, and then play concedes the bishop pair, but gains important Nd4. 17.e3 Fighting for the critical square. Putting paid to any ideas White had time to get on with his development. 6.xc3 d7 e7 7.a3 d5 Here is the pay-back for Black, about playing Bc5, and preparing a later he gets to free his position, and obtains a knight manoeuvre to f8, and then e6. 18.e1 A good idea, White doesn't want to be left with reasonable Sicilian-style position. 19.xe2 d8 [ 7...a5 is also popular, but suffers from the a b a d b i s h o p . xe2 disadvantage that it doesn't actually do what Having removed his queen from the a3-f8 it is intended to do, that is, stop b4: 8.b4! d ia go n a l, N f 8 -e 6 - d 4 b e co m e s a s e ri o u s anyway! axb4 9.axb4 xa1 10.xa1 e4 possibility. 20.f4?! White didn't want to wait if Black captures on b4, he loses his e-pawn. for Black to occupy d4, but this creates further 11.b5 exf3 12.bxc6 fxg2 13.cxd7+ xd7?! weaknesses. f6 21.f2 exf4 22.xf4 de5 14.xg2 0-0 15.0-0 and White has a big One senses that W hite's position is on the advantage, because of his two bishops and brink. 23.xe5 fxe5!? An interesting choice, I extra central pawns, Agdestein, S-Adams,M/ would have preferred [ 23...xe5 myself, with a sure plus. ] Hastings 1991. ] 8.cxd5 The most ambitious reply, and the 24.c5 [ 24.f7+ h8 25.c5 was more most common, after enterprising. ] [ 8.d4 exd4 ( 8...xd4 9.xd4 exd4 amounts to the same.) 9.xd4 xd4 24...h8?! There was nothing wrong with the 10.xd4 c5 11.h4 dxc4 12.xc4 0-0 immediate [ 24...d4 menacing a knight fork on e2. ] 13.d2 e6 14.c3 xc4 15.xc4 e4 Blundering a rook, White should 16.0-0 fd8 Pomes,J-Epishin,V/ Terrassa 25.b5?? 1991, Black has complete equality, in fact, have grasped the chance to play [ 25.f3! while it was there. ] his queenside pawn majority might even 25...d4 It is always nice when you achieve prove to be the decisive factor. ] 8...xd5 9.b3 b6 10.d3 a5 your positional threat, and it wins tactically! An interesting attempt at embarrassing the White cannot even get by with 'just' losing a white queen, and fixing the white queenside, rook, as 26 Qc4 is met by 26...Rc6. 0-1 although [ 10...0-0 is OK, too. ] 11.d2 a4 12.c2?! Obvious, but not best, [ 12.b5! is more active, keeping pressure on the e5-pawn, d7 13.c1 f6 14.c5 39...xf5 [ Or 39...d1 40.e5+ f8 41.h8+ e7 42.f6+ e6 43.g8+ e5 44.f7 xf1+ 45.xf1 c6+ 46.h2 xf7 47.xf7+- ] 40.xf5! Game over! Black gets mated or loses more material after 40...Qxf5 41 Qc3+ xg2 41.e5+ h6 42.e3+ 1-0
1033
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.e4 b8 16.a6 b6 17.c1 regains the A28 pawn. ] 2268 Played without any complex! This 2552 14.xc6! 30.04.2006 move concedes the powerf ul bishop, but completely ruins the black queenside. bxc6 15.c1 xc1 [ 15...b6 keeps the queens on the board, 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 g6 but 16.b1 a6 17.c2 allows White easy 5.g3 d5 Black plays this now, as play against the doubled c-pawns. ] [ 5...g7 6.d3!? of Gurevich, M-Plischki, S 16.axc1 d5 can be met by 7.g5 perhaps? ] [ 16.fxc1?! i s m o r e n a t u r a l , b u t e4 6.cxd5 xd5 7.d3!? hits the other rook. ] [ 7.g2 is quite possible, of course, and 17.e4 f5 18.c5 d8 simpler as W hite doesn't have to worry 16...h6 Time to evaluate the position: Black still has about tactics on c3. ] his extra pawn and bishops, but the light7...g7 8.xd5 The simplest, although [ 8.g5 xc3 9.bxc3 d6 10.d2 f5 s q u a r e d o n e i s l o o k i n g v e r y s a d a t t h e 11.g2 0-0 12.g5 is possible, Chuchelov, moment, completely dominated by the white V-Zhu Chen/Deizisau 1999, W hen W hite knight o n c5. Me anwhile , the a5 -pawn is another weakness that White can win when he can use his centre and the e4-square. ] [ 8.d2 is a bit passive, a5 9.g2 de7 wants, so despite the pawn less the structure 10.0-0 0-0 11.c1 with a Dragon reversed means that White has all the chances. 19.c2 position, Svetushkin, D-Hasangatin, R/Abu To cover the bishop. f8 20.f3 d5 [ 20...xc5+? is absolutely no help, as after Dhabi 2003. ] 21.xc5 Black has no less than 4 pawns [ Eric naturally avoided 8.g2? because of hanging! ] xc3 9.bxc3 e4 10.dxe4 xc3+ ] 21.fc1 f7 22.f2 h5 23.c4 e7 8...xd5 9.g2 0-0 [ 9...a5!? 10.0-0 a4 11.e3 b5 12.g5!? 24.1c2 d8 25.f4! exf4 26.xf4 d6 White is dreaming of a good knight with similar ideas to the main game, De la 27.h4! Rocha, R-Garcia Palermo, C/ Zaragoza v e r s u s b a d b i s h o p e n d g a m e ! xf4? A bad misjudgement, in his eagerness to win, 1992. ] 10.0-0 b5! This is known to be the best and free his rook from the defence of the a5pawn, Romanishin plays an awful positional here. [ 10...d6 11.c2 g4 12.e3 d7 move. [ 27...b8 was better, and if 28.d2 then 13.ac1 1/2-1/2 Shchekachev, A-Avrukh, B/ a8 to see if White can continue to improve Biel 2003, but I would prefer White. ] his position. 29.f4 repeats, but ( 29.b2 11.a4!? A surprising novelty. could be tried without any risk. )] [ 11.c2 is the most common here, e6 12.e3 b3 13.c5 xc5 14.xc5 fd8 28.gxf4 b8 29.e3 e7 Black has no 15.ac1 a5 is fairly level, Horvath, G-Ruck, activity, and a terrible minor piece - somehow he h a s t o try t o ge t t h is o u t to a n a c t ive T/Szombathely 2003. ] [ 11.b1 a5 12.e3 e6 13.b3 square. 30.e2?! White takes his time, but [ 30.4c3! is better, planning Nb3 to attack is Gurevich's attempt to improve this, d4 the a-pawn or d4 and Nd3-e5 to win the c614.b4 a2! 15.xd4 exd4 16.b2 d5 pawn. White has a clear advantage. ] Black has an edge, with his bishops and space, Gurevich, M-Balogh, C/Kusadasi 30...d6 31.d2 b6 By defending c6 twice Black prepares ...Be6 or ...Bd7. 32.d4 d7 TUR 2006. ] 11...b4 12.d2! White offers a pawn for the 33.4c3 b4? Objectively speaking [ 33...b1 is best, intending ...Rh1 to win the initiative and two open queenside files. xb2 h4-pawn. I imagine Eric would have replied 13.g5 a5 The natural reply, Black is worried 34.c1 b2+ 35.3c2 b4 36.c4 about the advance of the white a-pawn. with a draw. ] [ 13...d4 14.a5 keeps the initiative, h6
1046 Moskow,Eric Romanishin,Oleg M Classics GMA (8) [Tony Kosten]
1034
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 34.b3! xb3 35.xb3 Now the a-pawn is attacked, and there is no way to defend it. e6?! [ 35...c5! 36.xc5 ( 36.xc5 e8 ) 36...xa4 37.xa5 c6 is unpleasant to play, but with his enormous experience Romanishin might have been able to draw. ] [ 35...d5 is no help: 36.c5 e8 37.b2 followed by Rb7 and if necessary Ra7 and Rxa5. ] 36.xa5 d5 37.b7 f6 38.c5 Coming back to base camp having gained a strong passed pawn. f8 39.c3 d6 40.b2 e8 41.d2 a8 42.c3 e8 Only now does Black show any willingness to draw! 43.e2 No thanks! b8 44.e1 e7 45.g1 f7 46.a1 Rook behind pawn! e6 47.a5 c8 48.a6 a8 49.a7 e7 50.b4 W hite can win pretty much as he pleases here. d6 51.c4 e7 52.a5 [ 52.d3 to e5 will win a pawn, but there is no rush. ] 52...d6 53.a3 e7 54.c3 d6 55.a5 e7 56.d3 b7 57.c5 c8 58.a1 d6 59.d3 b7 60.c4 c8 61.e5 At last! e6+ 62.c3 [ 62.b4 was possibly even more accurate. ] 62...c5 63.a6+ d5 64.dxc5 c8 65.a5 e4 Black is only playing with his king! 66.d2 g5 67.hxg5 h4 Some counterplay! 68.a4+? [ 68.c6! h3 69.e2 weaves a mating net: h2 70.d3 and both Re5 mate and Nf2 mate are threatened. ] 68...d5 69.c6?! h3 70.f3 White is really wavering hereabouts. xc6 71.e2 b7 72.a1 d6 Black can win the a-pawn by [ 72...b6 but then 73.f2! (other moves probably only draw) xa7 74.xa7 xa7 75.g3 c5 76.h4 c4 ( 76...e4 77.g6 c4 78.g7 d5 79.xf5 c3 80.d4 ) 77.xf5 and wins, the knight can stop the cpawn, and meanwhile the 3 white passers march home. ] 73.f2 c5 74.g3 c4 I imagine Eric must have been a little bit nervous around here! 75.d4 e4 76.xh3 c5 77.g3 c3 78.f2 b4 79.g6 c2 80.g3 c3 81.h4 b2 The black king has really worked hard in this game! 82.xc2 Forced. xc2 83.g5 d2 84.a3 d3 85.f6
xe3 86.g7 e4 87.a4+! [ 87.g8? xg8 88.a8+ xa8 89.xa8 xf4 is a draw. ] 87...e3 88.f7? Nearly jeopardising the win. [ 88.b4! and Rb8 will make a whole queen! ] 88...b5?? [ 88...c2! would have forced White to find a few accurate moves: 89.a5 xf4 90.f6! ( 90.a3 d3! 91.xd3? xa7+ 92.g6 xg7+ 93.xg7 e4 is a theoretical draw. ) 90...b3 91.a3 g8 92.a4+ f3 93.xf5 and I imagine White wins this by bringing the king to b6 and then playing Rf8, but I am not sure, perhaps Black can play ... Bd5 and ...Rg8 at the right time and hang on. It is important to note that White cannot give up his rook for the bishop at any moment the two pawns against rook is a draw when the pawns are so far apart. ] 89.g8 Of course! xa7+ [ 89...xg8 90.xg8 xa4 91.a8 ] 90.xa7 c4+ 91.f6 The quickest win, although all the other king moves also win. [ 91.f8 xg8 92.xg8 xf4 93.h7 e3 94.g6 f4 95.e7+ d3 96.f7 e3 97.g5 f3 98.g4 f2 99.g3 for instance. ] [ 91.f6 xg8 92.xf5 d4 93.d7+ c4 94.e5 and the pawn will cost Black his bishop. ] 1-0
1047 Naiditsch,Arkadij Savchenko,Stanislav 2nd President's Cup (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A28 2654 2545 06.05.2007
1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f6 4.d4 exd4 [ The main alternative is 4...e4 which has supposedly been under a cloud since the game Smirin-Johannessen, Istanbul OL 2000. However, matters aren't that clear and Black has in fact been doing rather well since that game: 5.g5 h6 6.gxe4 xe4 7.xe4 h4 8.d3 ( 8.c3 was the old main line, which is considered to be leading to equal play. The text move was brought 1035
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.g2 f5 and Black is by no means to attention by Smirin's win in the worse.; aforementioned game.) 8...d5 9.cxd5 b4 B2) 13...xd4 14.a3 ( or 14.e4 c5 10.b1 f5 11.d6+ 15.d1 xf2 16.a3 d4+ 17.e2 A) 11...cxd6 12.xf5 g6 13.f4! a6 18.e3 e5 with chances to both ( 13.b1? c8! 14.g3?! xd4-+ sides ) 14...0-0-0 ( 14...xd5!? ) 15.d2 15.h3 c2+ 16.f1 xd5 17.g1 xd5 16.e3 f6 ( 16...he8!? ) 17.c2 c7 0-1 R.Mathy-W.Pelzer, corr 1985) he8 ( 17...e5!? ) 18.e2 b8 13...c2+ 14.d1 xf4 15.xf4 xa1 ( 18...e5!? 19.b1 d6 and Black A1) 16.e4!? 0-0-0 17.d2 g7 continues to control the initiative) 19.0-0 18.e3 f5 19.f3 fxe4 20.fxe4 f6 f4 20.f3?! ( 20.c4!? stops Black's 21.c4 de8 22.c1 d8 23.d3? plans in their tracks, and leaves White ( 23.d3 b3+ 24.axb3 g5 25.b4 ) with a very decent game. Now, on the 23...xe4! 24.xe4 e8+ 25.d3 other hand, Black again takes ove r) xe3+ 26.d2 g5 , and Black 20...h3+ 21.h1 g5 22.c3 e7 eventually converted his advantage to a 23.e2 e4 24.g1 f5 25.ae1 h5 win, H.Spjelke-Iweborg, corr 1969; 26.d3? ( 26.d1 f4 ) 26...xh2+ A2) 16.e3 a6 ( 16...g5 17.g3 h5 27.xh2 d6+ and here White, 18.b5+ e7 19.h4 is fine for White; somewhat prematurely decided to resign, 16...c8 17.d3 (Smirin) is given 0-1, B. Kovacevic-R.Zelcic, Bizovac without evaluation, but looks better for 2001 ] White ) 17.d3 d7 18.d2 g7 ( S m i r i n h a s s u g g e s t e d 18...b3+!? 5.xd4 b4 6.g5 0-0 7.e3 h6 8.h4 and; 18...h5 intending . ..Bh6, in both e8 9.xc6 [ This is a rare line. The alternatives have cases without evaluations, but in both been tested examined in far greater detail: cases White appears to have the better 9.e2 chances. ) 19.xa1 h5 20.h4 ae8 A) 9...e4!? 10.g3!? ( 10.xf6 xc3+ ( 20...h6!? 21.h2 he8 is suggested 11.bxc3 xf6 12.0-0 e8= by Smirin in ECO, but again W hite M.Zacurdajev-A.Demianjuk, St. Petersburg seems to hold the upper hand, e. g. 2006 ) 10...xd4 11.exd4 e7 12.f1 22.a4 ac8 23.b4 followed by a5 and xc3 13.bxc3 with a complicated game, b5 with a better game for White) 21.a4 where I prefer White with the bishop pair C. h6 22.h2 f5 23.a3 hf8 24.b3 Grant-A.Kapstan, Manitoba 1990; c7 25.e2 f6 26.f3 g5?!+B) 9...g5 10.g3 e4 11.c1 xd4 27.hxg5 xg5 28.c3+ d7 29.b4 ( 11...xc3+!? 12.bxc3 d6 13.0-0 d7 ) g8 30.b5 axb5 31.xb5+ d8 32.a5 12.xd4 c5 13.d3 d5 14.xd5 g7 33.d3 h4 34.b3 c7 35.b6 , and now instead of 1/2-1/2 E.Agrest-P. e7 36.g3 hxg3 37.xg3 d7 38.f4 Cramling, Orebro 2000, W hite should h4 39.b1 1-0 I.Smirin-L.Johannessen, probably have played on, e.g. f6 15.0-0 Istanbul OL 2000. A beautiful xc3 16.bxc3 xc3 17.d2 xe2+ performance by Smirin.; 18.xe2 b6 19.f3 with a slight pull for B) 11...xd6!? 12.xf5 g6!? White; ( This is new, and a clear improvement C) 9...xc3+ 10.bxc3 e5 11.f3 g6 ove r S m irin 's 12...xd4 13.e3 xd5 12.f2 d6 ( 12...c5!? 13.b3 b6 14.0-0 14.xd5 xd5 , wh i c h a f t e r 15.d2 d5 is identical to Simutowe-Sokolov leaves White a small but clear below ) 13.0-0 d7 , and the players advantage. ) 13.b1 prematurely agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2 B1) Also 13...xd5!? can be considered, E.Ghaem Maghami-F.Vallejo Pons, e.g. 14.e4 b4+ 15.e2 f6 16.g3 Oropesa del Mar 2000; ( 16.a3? xe4! 17.axb4 xf2+ D) 9...e5 18.d3 0-0-0 19.e3 xd4+! 20.xd4 D1) 10.f3 g6 11.f2 d5 12.0-0 c5 d8-+ ) 16...xe4+ 17.xe4+ xe4 1036
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.b3 xc3 14.bxc3 b6 15.e1?! ( 15.cxd5 xd5 16.d2 c7= ) 15...e6 16.cxd5 xd5 A.Simutowe-I. Sokolov, Tripoli 2004; D2) 10.b3! a5 11.0-0 g6 12.xf6 xf6 13.d5 d8 14.a3 ( 14.a4!? c6 15.b4 cxd5 16.bxa5 dxc4 17.xc4 e5 U.Calgaro-A.Benassi, Email 1998 18.a6 bxa6 19.ab1 ) 14...c6 15.b4 c7 16.xc7 xc7 17.b5!? c5 18.b6! xb6 19.ab1 d8 ( 19...c7 20.b5 e5 21.fd1 ) 20.xc5 b6 21.d6 ( 21.d5 a6 22.fd1 ) 21...b7 22.c5 e4 23.b5 bxc5 24.xc5 L.Szabo-V.Smyslov, Budapest Candidates 1950 ] [ The new main move is 9.c1! and after xd4 10.xd4 c5 11.d1 g5 12.g3 d5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.xd5 xd5 White should opt for 15.h4!? ( 15.a3 xc3+ 16.bxc3 d7 17.e2 c6= A.Shariyazdanov-V.Kuporosov, Tula 2001) 15...g4 16.b5 d8 17.e2 xc3+ 18.bxc3 a3 19.c7 f8 20.b1 a6 ( 20...e6 21.d3 d5 22.f3 fe8 23.c4 c6 24.f5 gxf3+ 25.gxf3 ) 21.c4 ( 21.d3!? ) 21...b5 22.d5 a7 23.f4 g7 24.b3 d8 25.e4 B.Kohlweyer-E. Van den Doel, Vlissingen 2002 ] 9...bxc6 [ Or 9...xc3+ 10.bxc3 dxc6 11.xd8 xd8 12.e2 e6 13.b1 b6 14.b2 c5 15.xf6 gxf6= Y.El Ghazali-T.Najdoski, Internet Chess Club 2002 ] 10.d3 xc3+ 11.bxc3 c5!? 12.b1 [ Worthy of consideration is 12.f3!? a6 ( 12...b8 13.xf6 xf6 14.xf6 gxf6 15.0-0 ) 13.0-0 b8 14.fb1 b6 15.f5 d6 16.xf6 xf6 17.xf6 gxf6= ] 12...d6 13.0-0 d7 14.f3 g5 15.g3 g4 16.b7 b8 17.a6 c8! 18.a4?! [ 18.xc8?! exc8 19.f3 d7 20.b3 b6 21.fb1 cb8 ] [ White's best is possibly 18.xa7!? a8 19.b7 xa2 20.f3 d7 21.fe1= ] 18...d7! 19.c2 [ Or 19.xa7 a8 20.b7 xa2 21.f3 g7 22.fc1 d2 ] 19...xb1 20.xb1 c6 21.e1 e4 22.f3 xg3 23.hxg3 e6 24.f2 g7 25.c1 a5! White doesn't have much of chance to
develop any counterplay, so Black takes the opportunity to tie W hite up a bit more 26.e4 a4! 27.e3 f6 28.c2 e6 29.e2 e5 30.d3 f8 [ 30...b8!? ] 31.a3 g7 32.h1 e7 [ Black can also consider 32...b8!? 33.b1 xb1 ( 33...h8!? intending ...h5-h4) 34.xb1 h5 ] 33.g4 e8 34.g3 b8 35.b1 h8! 36.e3 h5 37.gxh5 xh5 38.g2 f5?! [ Black is in too much in a hurry. The solid 38...f6!? leaves White suffering a while longer. Now on the other hand, White finds an elegant and surprising solution to his problems ] 39.h1! h6 [ 39...xh1 is obviously met by 40.xg5+ f7 41.xh1 xc3 42.xf5+= ] 40.xg5+!!= Very nice! Now White steers the game into a drawn endgame xg5 41.f4+ xf4 [ Black can also try 41...g6!? but after 42.fxe5 xh1 43.xh1 A) 43...xe4+?? 44.xe4 fxe4 45.exd6 cxd6 46.g2 f5 47.f2 g4 48.e3 f5 ( 48...xg3 49.xe4 f2 50.d5+- ) 49.g4++-; B) 43...fxe4 44.exd6 cxd6 45.g2 g5 46.f2 g4 47.e3 xg3 48.xe4 d7= it's a draw after all ] 42.gxf4+ g6 43.xh5 xh5 44.f3 xe4+ 45.xe4 fxe4+ 46.xe4 g4 47.f5?? [ White blunders the game away in this relatively simple pawn endgame. The draw can be reached after 47.e3! f5 48.f3 c6 49.e3 d5 50.f3 d4 51.cxd4 cxd4 52.c5 d3 53.e3 d2 54.xd2 xf4 55.c3 e3 56.b4 d4 57.xa4 c4 58.a5 xc5 59.a4 d4 60.b6 c5 61.a5 ] 47...g5-+ 48.d5 xf5 49.c6 e4 50.xc7 d3 51.xd6 xc4 52.c6 b3 53.xc5 xa3 54.c4 b3 0-1
1037
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A28 33.h6 g7 34.h7 g8 35.c7 [ 35.f5! is right, when c4 36.e3 b3 2521 37.c1 which is not too clear. ] 2602 25.10.2003 35...c4 36.c2 d4! Black is searching for activity at any price. 37.xd6 [ 37.xf7!? g2 38.a5 xf2 39.c7+ is more combative, keeping the rook in the 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 game: xb5 40.d2! e1 41.d1! xd2 5.c2 0-0 6.d5 e8 7.f5 d6 8.xf6+ 42.c2 regaining the bishop. ] xf6 9.xf6 gxf6 10.a3 c5 11.b4 b6 12.b2 a5 13.b5 d8 The knight aims for 37...g2 Now White is in big trouble, his extra e6. 14.d4! a4!? A novelty as we previously pawns count for nothing. 38.d2 [ 38.xf7 xf2 39.b4 e1+ 40.b1 xb4 saw, 41.axb4 b3 42.c1 a3 also loses. ] [ 14...g4!? 15.c5! proved good for White in 39.e5 The bishop must be Karpov,A-Bacrot,E/Match g/5, Cannes FRA 38...xf2 protected against the discovered check. c5+ 2000. ] 15.0-0-0 g4 This is the point of Black's play, 40.c1? The wrong square! [ 40.d1 d3 41.g7 h2 42.c1 by delaying this move until White castles he keeps some chances. ] tries to side-step the c5 trick. 16.h3 [ 16.c5?! is ineffective now, dxc5 17.dxe5 40...e3+! This move forces mate. 41.b1 [ 41.d1 d3 42.g7 c2 mates by ... fxe5 and the f3-knight is pinned so that the Rc1. ] e5-pawn is safe from capture. ] The triumph of Black's king march! 16...xf3 17.gxf3 e6 18.g1+ f8 19.c5! 41...b3 Anyway! a5 Black's 14th move provided a 42.g7 d2 Mate is unavoidable. 0-1 useful square for the black bishop. [ 19...dxc5 20.dxe5 fxe5 21.xe5 opens the position for the powerful white 1049 A28 bishops. ] 20.g4 Navara,David 2656 [ 20.c4 is a good alternative, White must Rublevsky,Sergei 2676 have an edge here. ] World Cup Khanty Mansiysk RUS (2.4) 20...exd4 21.cxd6 cxd6 22.xd4 [Carsten Hansen] W hite is not worried about a possible opposite-colour bishop position, as rooks are 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 d5 on the board, and the black structure is a 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c2 e7 7.e3 0-0 mess. ec8+ 23.b1 c3 24.b6 f5 [ The main alternative is 7...a6 8.xd5 25.c4 xc4 26.xc4 White has played very xd5 accurately and has a clear plus due to the A) 9.c4 can also be considered, e.g. bishop pair and better pawn structure. e7 d6 10.b4 0-0 ( 10...g4!? ) 11.b2 27.d5!? I don't like this move so much, and e6 12.0-0 xc4 13.xc4 ad8 14.fd1 would prefer either , and W hite's position is easier to play, [ 27.d5 to target the b7-pawn, or the Gurevich, M-Atakisi, U/Izmir 2002; positional ] B) 9.d3 , and in this position, Black has [ 27.f4! fixing the f5-pawn on a light square. ] tried several things 27...f4 28.h5 c8 29.xe6? Why swap this B1) 9...e6 10.0-0 ( 10.e4!? d6 powerful bishop for the knight? 11.0-0 d5 ) 10...h6 11.b4 b3 [ 29.d5 keeps White in the driving seat. ] 12.xb3 xb3 13.b2 f6 14.e4 29...xe6 30.xh7 e5 Black is a pawn 0-0-0 15.fc1 d5= McNab, Cdown but his pieces are nicely centralised. Rodriguez Uria, J/Oviedo 1993; 31.h4 d5! The king is coming! 32.exf4 B2) 9...d7 10.b4 e6 ( 10...xb4?! f6!? 11.e4 a5 12.b1 d6 Prabhakar, [ 32...c4! looks better, pinning the f-pawn. ] K-Gutsche, D/ICCF Email 2000 13.b2 1048 Narciso Dublan,Marc Illescas Cordoba,Miguel LXVIII ch-Gp A (2) [Tony Kosten]
1038
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 him ) 12.b2 g6 ( 12...h6?! 13.c1 b8 14.0-0 ) 11.b2 d6 0-0 14.0-0 fe8 15.d3 g6 16.d2! ( 11...0-0-0!? is a suggestion by Ribli, but g7 17.b3 Mchedlishvili, M-Wang W h it e lo oks mo re com f o rt ab le a f t e r Yu A/Beer Sheva 2005) 13.0-0 0-0 12.0-0 b8 13.ac1; 11...f5 12.c4 14.d4 exd4 Vrbica, L-Cacko, J/corr f6 13.0-0 d6 14.fc1 f8 15.d3 2000 15.xd4!? xd4 16.xd4 e7 16.d5 0-0-0 17.ab1 xd4 17.ad1 c5 18.bxc5 xc5 Chernin, A-Hertneck, G/Austria 1994) 19.xd4 xc2 20.xc2 with the 12.g5! g4?! 13.h4! xg2 14.0-0-0 tiniest of edges for White ] g4 ( 14...d5 15.c4+- ) 15.dg1 [ 7...xc3 is the third move in this position h5 16.c4! 0-0 ( 16...d8 17.f4 ) for details see Kovalyov-Cubas, Pinamar 17.f4 ( White may also consider 17.e2 2006 in the PGN archives ] h6 18.d3 f5 19.c4+ h8 20.f7+ , an d W h ite p icks up t he exch an ge) 8.xd5 [ 8.b5!? has been discussed several times 17...h8?! 18.d5 ae8? ( 18...f6!? ) on this website - look in the PDF e-books 19.xf7+! xf7 20.g5 , and White and the PGN archives for the many games won shortly, Chernin, A-Polgar, Z/Brno discussing this option. ] 1993; B3) 9...a5?! 10.0-0 d7 11.b1 g6 8...xd5 9.d3!? [ Initially the bishop may look a little clumsy 12.b4 d5 13.b2 f5 14.c4 d6 on this square, but it is only a temporary 15.d4 , and it is already more or less station. Usually W hite will follow up with game over for Black, Badea, B-Haas, R/ either Bc4 or Be4, once Black has Wattens 1994; we a k e n e d h i s k i n g s i d e . T h i s t h e m e i s B4) 9...e6 10.b4 f5 11.b2 f6 obviously also known from the Sicilian. An 12.c4 d6 13.d3 e6 14.0-0 alternative is the direct 9.c4 which has Grimm, S-Oswald, H/Germany 1996/ been tested in several high-level encounters, GER-chT2; though it has proven less effective, e.g. d6 B5) 9...d6!? A) 10.h4 g4 11.b4 f6 12.g5 h6 B5a) This move is critical, the 13.e4 h5 14.b2 h8 ( 14...g6 a l t e r n a t i ve 10.b4 is less challenging 15.g4 h5 16.e4 g6= ) 15.f5 for Black: e6 11.b2 f6 12.c1 1/2-1/2 Nogueiras, J-Zambrana, O/Havana d8 13.e4 d5 14.0-0 xe4 2004; 15.xe4 0-0 16.c4 fe8 17.fc1 B) 10.b4 d3 ( 17...e6 18.a4 Delchev, AB1) 10...e6 is an important alternative, Bilobrk, F/Zadar CRO 2002) 18.c3 e.g. 11.b2 a6 12.0-0 ( 18.g4? was played in Dolgopolov, AB1a) 12...f6 13.d3 h6 ( 13...g6!? Rjabenko/Roslavl 1989, but Black now 14.e4 d5 15.d3 fd8 16.d2 ) m i s s e d t h e a m a z i n g b l o w d4!! 14.h7+ h8 15.e4 d5 19.xd4 xd4 20.xd3 xd3 B1a1) 16.d3!? 21.xc7 b5 22.xe5 xe5 23.xe5 B1a11) 16...xe4 17.dxe4 e6 xd2 ) 18...e6 19.xd3 xd3 18.e1! ( 18.d2!? fd8 19.b3 20.e4 e7= Mastrovasilis, A-Skembris, e7 20.ad1 ); S/Athens 1999; B1a12) 16...ad8 17.ad1 e6 B5b) 10.e4!? d7 11.b4 f6?! 18.d2 e7 19.c4 f5 20.xd5 ( Ribli suggests 11...e6!? 12.b2 f5 xd5 21.d4 e4 22.e5; 13.xc6 xc6 14.xe5 xg2 B1a2) 16.c3 fe8 17.xd5 xd5 15.g1 e4 16.d3 d5 , which is 18.d3 ad8 19.fd1 d7 20.e4 offered without evaluation, but White e6 21.ab1 ed8 22.h3 e7 seems to be doing pretty good after 23.h2 g6 24.g3 h5 25.a1 17.e4 fxe4 18.dxe4 b3 19.xc7 (1/2-1/2 Kuchtova, R-Kuchta, J/corr f6 20.c1 , and Black has a very CZE 2003) c6 , and in this unpleasant defensive task ahead of 1039
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c4 18.d3!? Agrest, E-Young, R/ New interesting position with chances to York 1998 ] both sides, the players agreed upon [ B) 10.c4 d6 11.b4 f6 12.b1 e7 a draw, in Gurevich, M-Khalifman, A/ 13.d3 f5 ( 13...g4!? ) 14.d2 ( 14.0-0 Wijk aan Zee 2002; c6= ) 14...b5!? 15.xb5 d5 16.e4 xb5 B1b) 12...ad8 13.ac1 d5 17.exf5 xf5 18.f3 ad8 19.b3 ( 13...xc4 14.xc4 f6 15.fd1 Kovalyov, A-Korneev, O/Alcala de Henares d3 16.a4! e4 17.xf6 gxf6 18.e1 ESP 2007 ] xc4 19.xc4 Ibragimov, I-Joachim, S/Fuerth 2000) 14.xd5 ( 14.fd1!? ) 10...d6 11.c3!? [ A new move, but also a reasonably strong 14...xd5 15.c4 ( 15.d4!? exd4 one, Black wants to play ...f7-f5 to chase 16.xd4 xd4 17.xd4 d6 18.c3 the bishop on e4 away and again space for with a slight initiative for White) 15...f6 his pieces, but the text move attempts to 16.fd1 , and here a draw was prevent that, because Black needs to keep prematurely agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in his e-pawn protected. Earlier tries include Dizdarevic, E-Georgiev, K/Skopje 2002, the following moves: A) 11.b4 f5! 12.xc6 despite the fact that xc4 17.xc4 bxc6 13.b2 f6?! ( 13...e4!? 14.d4 d3 18.e1 b3!? looks worth a try d7 15.c3 f6 ) 14.0-0 a5 15.c3 for Black; ( 15.d4!? e4 16.e5 axb4 17.axb4 xa1 B2) 10...h8 11.b2 f5 12.h4 e4 18.xa1 xe5 19.dxe5 xb4 20.d4; 13.g5 e5 14.c1 Vehre jr, J15.c5!? ) 15...a6 16.fc1 d3 17.b2 Lindholm, N/corr ICCF 1989; ae8 18.e1 a6 19.c2!? e4 20.bxa5 B3) 10...f6!? 11.b1 e7 ( 11...g6 xc3 21.xc3 Malakhatko, V-Vernay, C/ 12.d3 f5 13.d2 g7 14.e4 e7 Geneve 2007 ] 15.0-0 Smyslov, V-Kapengut, A/ [ B) 11.b3 f5 12.xc6 bxc6 13.b2 e4 Moscow 1979) 12.d3 f5 13.h3 ad8 14.e5 a6 ( 14...e6!? 15.0-0 d5 ( 13...a5 14.g4 g6 15.g5 b5 16.xb5 16.b4 ad8 17.ac1 f6 18.f4 exf3 xg5 17.bxa5 f6 ) 14.e4 e6 19.xf3= Turati, P-Van der Houwen, P/ICCF 15.xe6 ( 15.e3!? ) 15...xe6 16.0-0 Email 2003) 15.xc6 ac8 16.c2 f6 d7 17.d1 fd8 18.e3 a6 19.a4 h6 17.c4 xc4 18.bxc4 xb2 19.xb2 fd8 20.b3 xb3 21.xb3 g6 22.f1 20.0-0 b8 21.c3 xd2 22.e5 d7 , a n d wi t h t h e c h a n c e s r e a s o n a b l y , and the chances are objectively speaking balanced, the players agreed upon a even, although W hite went on to win the draw, 1/2-1/2, Piket, J-Ivanchuk, V/Wijk game showing excellent technique, giving up aan Zee 2001 ] t wo r o o k s f o r a q u e e n , o n l y t o e x p l o i t 9...h8 Black's weak pawns, Degerhammar, R[ Or 9...h6 10.0-0 e6 11.h7+ h8 Yepez Gutierrez, J/ ICCF Email 2002 ] 12.e4 d6 13.b4 d5 14.d3 f5 15.xd5 xd5 16.b2 a5 17.e4 d6 , and even a 11...f6?! [ After this solid move, Black drifts into a draw was agreed upon in this position, 1/2-1/ pa ssive p osit io n with o ut m uch h o pe o f 2, in Peralta, E-Cubas, J/ Asuncion PAR counterplay. Black should instead fight for 2006, I clearly prefer White after 18.b5 fxe4 the initiative with 11...f5!? anyway! the play 19.dxe4 d4 20.xd4 exd4 21.ad1 f6 could continue as follows 12.xc6 e4 13.d4 22.f4 ] ( 13.d4 bxc6 14.xc6 xc6 15.xc6 10.e4 f6 ) 13...bxc6 14.e5 c5 15.xc5 xc5 [ This seems better than the alternatives: A) 16.dxc5 e8 17.c6 xc5 18.d2 e6 10.b4 f5 11.b5?! ( 11.b2!? ) 11...e4 19.d4 b6 20.b4 d6= ] 12.c4 c5?! ( 12...d6! 13.bxc6 exf3 14.gxf3 xc6 15.b2 f6 16.xf6 xf6 12.b4 a6 [ 12...a5 13.b5 d8 14.a4 b4 15.c2 f5 17.d3 d6 ) 13.d4 exd3 ( 13...b6 16.d5 d6 17.a3 ] 14.d2 a5!? ) 14.xd3 xc2 15.xc2 [ 12...g4 13.0-0 f5!? 14.xc6 xf3 f6 16.b1 e5 ( 16...a5!? ) 17.d4 1040
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.xf3 e4 16.xe4 fxe4 17.b2 ] 13.b2 White's set-up is so simple that it is amazing to see how Black gets wasted in this game. The problem for Black is that W hite obtains a solid yet very dynamic position that allows for easy development and fast coordination of the pieces. Very shortly, White will have his king safely tucked aside and rooks on the c- and d-files, ready to break with d2-d4, which Black due to his much more passive set-up will be ill-equipped to face. e6 14.c2 ad8 15.0-0 d7 [ 15...g4 is met by 16.ac1! ( 16.d4 xf3 17.xf3 exd4 18.exd4 xd4 19.xd4 xd4 20.fe1 d6 21.xb7 b6 22.c6 ) 16...xf3 17.xf3 xd2 18.b3 d7 19.fd1 e8 20.xd8 xd8 21.c2 , and White wins the pawn back with interest in form of a destroyed queenside structure for Black ] 16.ac1!? [ Navara plays patiently a promising alternative is constituted in 16.d4 , e.g. exd4 17.xd4 xd4 18.xd4 c8 19.c5 e6 20.f5 f7 ( 20...e5 21.f4+- ) 21.xh7 xc5 22.g6 e7 23.bxc5+- ] 16...e6 17.fd1! [ Again taking his time, but Black's passive position is running nowhere. The alternative is 17.d4!? exd4 18.xd4 xd4 19.exd4!? ] 17...d6?! [ Either Black has underestimated the strength of White's next move, overlooked something or was trying to bluff White into believing that Black has everything under control. In any case the punishment falls swiftly from here onwards. Black should h a v e o p t e d f o r 17...f5 18.xc6 xc6 19.xe5 d6 20.xc6 xc6 21.d3 th o u gh t h is is h a rd ly a n y f u n f o r B la ck either. ] 18.xh7!! A gutsy, but great move. Even if the bishop is trapped after Black's next move, it is left lingering and untouchable, while W hite systematically blows Black's position to bits. f5 19.e4! e7 20.d4! exd4 21.xd4 c6?! [ 21...c6 22.d5 e7 23.a5 h6 24.e5! ( 24.xf5 b6 25.xd7 bxa5 26.e5 xd7 27.exd6 xd6 )] 22.e5! xf3 23.h4! d5 24.exd6 xd6
25.gxf3 c6 26.e2 xc1+ , and Black has finally had enough 1-0
27.xc1
1050 A28 Nevednichy,Vladislav 2582 Labib,Ibrahim Hasan 2426 FIDE WCh KO New Delhi IND (1.1) 27.11.2000 [Tony Kosten] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.d4 This move was once considered the main line, bu t is n o w t h o u gh t qu it e h a rm le s s . T h a t doesn't stop the line f rom claiming many victims, though! exd4 5.xd4 b4 6.g5 h6 7.h4 xc3+ 8.bxc3 e5 9.f4 [ This is the main line 9.e3 is considered in the archives. ] 9...g6 [ 9...xc4? 10.e4 e3 11.e2 xf1 12.e5 0-0 13.f5 wins. ] 10.xf6 xf6 11.g3 h5!? [ An interesting alternative to the standard 11...0-0 12.d2 d6 13.g2 e7?! 14.b5! c6 15.xd6 with some advantage, Smirin, I-Adams,M/Cap d`Agde 1996. ] 12.h4!? [ This new move aims to fix the h5-pawn, but c o n c e d e s t h e g 4 - s q u a r e . 12.g2 allows Black to open the h-file, h4 13.0-0!? hxg3 14.hxg3 d5?! ( better 14...a6 15.e4 d6 16.a4+ d7 17.b4 which is unclear ) 15.cxd5 g4 16.a4+ d7 17.b4 e7 18.e4 should be winning for White, Yanin,P-Kotov,V/Nizhnij Novgorod 1998. ] 12...0-0 13.g2 d6 14.0-0 g4!? 15.d2 [ 15.xb7 ab8 16.g2 b2 offers Black good prospects. ] 15...ae8 16.e4 e7 17.c2! c6 18.e3 C o n t r o l l i n g d 5 , a n d g 4 . fe8 19.d4 This leaves Black an awkward problem to face. f8! [ Probably the best, Black allows White to d o u b l e h i s k i n g s i d e p a w n s . 19...xd4?! 20.cxd4 would be too kind to White. ] 20.c5!? [ 20.xg4 hxg4 21.xf6 gxf6 22.ab1 can be answered by f5!? 23.exf5 g7 -f6. ] 1041
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20...xd4 21.cxd4 dxc5 22.dxc5 e6 The knight returns to the game. 23.fc1 d8 24.c3 ed7 25.f1 d4 26.c4 [ 26.xg4 hxg4 27.f2 is better, although Black should be OK. ] 26...f3+ 27.f2 d2 28.e3?! [ 28.xd2 xd2+ 29.e3 8d7 might offer White a slight edge. ] 28...xe4! An advantageous simplification. 29.xe4 e8+ 30.e5 Obviously forced. f6 31.d3?! fxe5 32.xd7 [ 32.fxe5? de7 is worse. ] 32...exf4+ 33.xf4 xd7 And Black has won a pawn. 34.c4+ e6?! [ This allows White to draw easily, but even after 34...h7 35.b1 c8 White' s active king will give him reasonable chances. ] 35.xe6+ xe6 36.b1 e7 37.g5 Simply winning the h-pawn. h7 38.xh5 e5+ 39.g4 xc5 40.xb7 a5 41.c7 xa2 42.xc6 a4+ 43.h5 a5+ ½-½
1051 Nogueiras Santiago,Jesus Harikrishna,Penteala 37th Olympiad (10) [John Watson]
A28 2556 2680 31.05.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 e7 We're more used to seeing [ 5...xc3 6.xc3 e7 here. ] 6.d5 Otherwise White's setup doesn't make much sense. xd5 7.cxd5 e4 8.g1!? [ 8.dxc6 exf3 9.cxd7+ xd7 10.xc7 looks promising at first, but c8! ( 10...c6 11.xe7+ xe7 12.g3 h5!? 13.h3 ac8 is unclear White has an extra pawn but it's dif f icu lt to d evelop .) 11.xb7 d6! This has several points. One is that Rg1 within the next few moves allows ...Qxh2. There's also the direct threat ...Rxc1+ and ... Qxd2 mate. Finally, by forcing White's queen back, Black can bring his rooks into play. 12.e4+ d8 13.c4 ( 13.d3?? fxg2 14.xd6 gxf1+ 15.xf1 xd6 ) 13...e8 14.d5 fxg2 15.g1 c6 ] 8...b8 9.xc7 0-0 Again Black has development for a pawn and White's pawn on d5 is weak. Still, this gives W hite time to
u n d e r m i n e t h e e 4 p a w n . 10.c2 b6 11.h3?! [ 11.a3 d6 12.d3! is the way to go, when f5 13.dxe4 fxe4 14.e2 intends Nc3 or Nd4. ] 11...b7 12.b3 d6 13.b2 xd5 Black recovers the pawn with no problems, whereas W hite still needs to do something with his knight on h3. 14.c4 xc4 15.xc4 c6 16.0-0 b4 17.c3 ac8 18.d4 f6 19.f4 [ Simplification by 19.xb4 xb4 20.f4 gives White close to equality. ] 19...c6 [ 19...e5 20.xe5 fxe5 21.xb4 xb4 22.d5 a3 23.c3 should be satisfactory, since c6 24.ad1 b4 25.xe4 d5 26.c3 d8 is about equal. Black will generally win a pawn as W hite frees his game. ] 20.d5+ h8 21.f3! xf4 22.exf4 exf3 23.xf3 f7!? 24.d3! xd5 25.xd5 fd8 26.e1 White has a little edge with bishopversus-knight and active rooks, but it's not much. The game continues normally for a while: g8 27.e3 f7 28.ed3 c7 29.f2 e7 30.b5 d5 31.a4 e6? [ 31...c5!= ] 32.a5 c6 33.g4 g6 34.b4?! [ 34.d4! attacks the b-pawn and every defence has a drawback: dd6 ( 34...bxa5 35.e3+ f7 36.b7; 34...b8 35.axb6 axb6 36.e3+ f7 37.h3 g8 38.c3; 34...c8 35.e3+ f7 36.axb6 xb6 37.c3 xc3 38.dxc3 and the bishop is much better than the knight, while Black's apawn will probably fall soon. )] 34...c8 35.f5+!? gxf5 36.gxf5+ xf5 37.bxd5+ xd5 38.xd5+ e6 39.h5 c7 40.axb6 axb6 41.e3 e7 42.xe7 xe7 43.d4 ½-½
1042
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B2) 15.a4? c4 16.c2 f5 Kwatschewsky, L-Brandner, S/ Oberpullendorf 2002; C) 8...e7 9.0-0 c5 10.f3 xf3+ 11.exf3 xc3 12.xc3 d5 13.g5 d4 14.d2 d7 15.b4 xc4 16.ac1 d5 17.e7 e8 18.f4 b5 19.fe1 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f6 4.d4 exd4 with a large advantage for White, Varga, Z5.xd4 b4 6.g3 Aagaard, J/Budapest 1996 ] [ This is Reti's move, but it is quite rare [ There is also 8.a4 , but Black is doing these days. The normal move is 6.g5 ] very well after e7 ( 8...c5!? 9.c2 xc3+ 6...0-0 10.bxc3 d6 11.e3 d7 12.b3 a5 ) [ Other moves include 6...e4 ] 9.0-0 xc4 ( 9...xc3 10.bxc3 d6!? ) [ and 6...e5 ] 10.cb5 c6 11.a3 c5 12.xc4 d5= 7.g2 e5 13.d3 cxb5 14.xb5 g4 15.e3 d7 [ Here Black has also tried 7...d5 ] 16.b4 b6 17.b2 f5 18.e2 g4 19.f3 [ 7...xc3+ ] fe8 20.d4 xd4 21.xd4 h3 [ , a n d f i n a l l y 7...e8 , which is the most Bui Vinh-Pham Chuong/Hue VIE 2005 ] popular move. ] 8...xc3 9.bxc3 xc4 10.e4 d5 11.exd5 8.0-0!? [ This is a new move. White sacrifices a xd5 12.b3 db6 13.f4 c5 [ 13...g5!? looks like a move Aronian would pawn for the initiative and a lead in play without much hesitation, considering development. Previously White has played his almost addiction to pushing the g-pawn 8.b3 which has provided White with an forward. In this case it leads to a doubleadvantage in most of the previous games: edged position one line runs 14.c1 e8 A) 8...c5 15.d1 g4 16.e1 c5 17.xe8+ xe8 A1) 9.f3 xf3+ 10.xf3 d6 11.0-0 18.b3 e7 19.xc5 xc5 20.d8+ f8 A1a) 11...h3 12.g2 ( 12.d1!? 21.g5+ h8 22.f6+= ] b8 13.a4 ) 12...xg2 13.xg2 b8 14.g5 h6 15.f4 e8 16.ae1 14.b5 d2 [ H e r e B l a c k s h o u l d o p t f o r 14...g4! d7 , and Black has solved his 15.fe1 , and now ( 15.xb7?? a5-+ ) opening problems, Plazas Oliveros, A15...g5!? (Shredder) 16.c7 d7 17.xb6 Martinez, R/ Cali 1998; d2 18.c2 axb6 19.e5 f3+ 20.xf3 A1b) 11...e8 12.a4 b6 13.xb6 xf3 21.xg5+ h8 22.f5 c6 23.c4 ] axb6 14.e3 g4 15.d4 e5 16.g2 c6 17.e3 f6 18.fd1 15.xd2 xd2 16.xa7 xa7 17.xb6 f5 with a pleasant game for Black, a3?! [ Black should keep White's plus under Krasenkow, M-Van der Sterren, P/ co n t ro l wit h 17...xa2!? 18.xa2 xa2 Germany 1998; 19.xc5 b2 ] A2) 9.c2 d6 10.a4 b6 11.xb6 axb6 12.e3 e6 13.c3 c8 14.h3 18.ad1 g5 [ 18...xc3? 19.d8+- ] e8 15.b3 c5 16.d2 c7 17.b2 ad8 18.f4 c6 19.xf6 gxf6 20.0-0 19.d5 f6!? [ 19...g6 20.xg6 hxg6 21.xc5 d8 Claesen, P-Van der Sterren, P/Escaldes 22.e1 ] 1998; B) 8...c5 9.f3 xf3+ 10.xf3 d5 20.xf6 gxf6 21.xc5 xa2 22.b1 [ White can claim a clear advantage with 11.cxd5 h3 12.g5 h6 13.xf6 xf6 22.d5 d2 23.b1 d8 ( 23...f5 14.0-0-0 a5 24.xf7+ xf7 25.xf5 g6 26.f4 f7 B1) 15.a3 c4 16.e4 d8 ( 16...cxb3 27.b6 ) 24.c4 , though of course it is by 17.xf6+ gxf6 18.axb4 fc8+ 19.b1 no means an easy win, but the defence may axb4 20.c1+- ) 17.e3 d6 18.xd6 well be long and unpleasant. ] xd6 19.f4; 1052 A28 Onischuk,Alexander 2674 Andriasian,Zaven 2546 World Cup Khanty Mansiysk RUS (1.2)25.11.07 [Carsten Hansen]
1043
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22...b6!? 23.d5 [ White can maintain a slight edge with 23.c6 f5 24.d1 g7 25.h4 ( 25.xb6 d8! 26.bb1 xd1+ 27.xd1 c2= )] 23...bxc5 24.xa2 d8 25.h4 [ 25.b8 f8 26.b3 e8 27.c2 g7 28.d3 e1+ 29.g2 e6= ] 25...g4 26.c4 [ 26.b5 f3 27.g4 c8 28.g5 fxg5 29.hxg5 g7= ] 26...d2?! [ 26...f3! is a more accurate move order, preventing White's option on the next move ] 27.e1?!= [ If White were to play for a win, then 27.b5!? would be the order or the day, but in all fairness, it is still quite drawn after f3 28.g4 xg4 29.xc5 , though it is only White who has chances in this endgame. ] 27...f3 28.f1 c2 29.e3 d5 30.g2 c1+ 31.h2 e6 32.f3 f5 33.c6 g7 34.f4 f6 35.g2 c4 36.f2 f1+ 37.g2 c1 38.f2 ½-½
1053 Onischuk,Alexander Baklan,Vladimir Bundesliga 98/99 (6) [Tony Kosten]
advantage. ] 10.a3 Cutting the black position in two. g5! Hitting the e5-pawn, the problem with 8 Qd3 is now revealed. [ 10...d6 11.exd6 0-0 12.0-0-0 cxd6 13.xd6 is marginally better for White. ] 11.d4?! Too time-wasting, [ 11.g3!? i s b e t t e r , d6 ( 11...xe5+? is unplayable, 12.d2 d8 13.e1 g5+ 14.f4 and Black loses.) 12.f4 g6 13.0-0-0 with unclear play. ] 11...d6! Now Black can open the position to try to exploit his slight lead in development. 12.exd6 0-0 13.e2 e8 Black holds-on to the initiative, and stops White from castling. 14.f1 cxd6 15.xd6 g6 16.d1 c2 17.d2 White is happy to escape into an endgame. xd2 ½-½
1054 Onischuk,Alexander Benjamin,Joel 29th World Open (9) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2658 2581 08.07.2001
A28 2630 2585 13.12.1998
1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.a3 d5 8.d4 exd4 9.xd4 xd4 [ I am looking forward to seeing Georgiev's 9...e5!? given further trials. ] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e4 c5 10.xd4 c5 If this move is playable, and I think it is, then [ 10...0-0 a l l o w s B e l o z e r o v ' s 11.c5 it must be Black's best. 5.xe5 xe5 - examined in two earlier games. ] [ The pawn sacrifice, 5...0-0?! is doubtful, 11.h4 d4!? my game against Bareev, at Oviedo 1992, [ Completely new in such positions, Black continued : 6.f3 e8 7.d3 d5 8.cxd5 aims for a closed pawn structure. 11...e6 xd5 9.e2 when Black's compensation was OK for Black in a previous game of was non-existent. ] Onischuk. ] 6.d4 b4 7.dxe5 xe4 8.d3 A new idea, 12.d3 e6 13.0-0 d8 Just in time to the normal move is protect the d-pawn, and threaten damage [ 8.d4 wh e n , a f t e r xc3 9.bxc3 e7 a lo n g t h e d -f ile . 14.e4 White's potentially 10.g4 Black has f8! 11.g3 d6 12.e3 mobile kingside pawn majority, allied to his h4! 13.f4 dxe5 14.xe5 f6 bishops, could quickly prove deadly, can with good play for Black, Tarasenko, A- B l a c k d i f f u s e t h e p o s i t i o n q u i c k l y ? d7 Pankratov,A/corr 1995. ] 15.g3 0-0 16.f4 8...xc3 9.bxc3 a5! The point of White's [ 16.f4?! seems strong, but then Black fixes play is that after the f-pawn by f5! ] [ 9...e7 10.g3 White gains a key tempo 16...b6 17.b3 h8 18.e5 de8 19.g5 on the old line, with good chances of an d7 White was planning f4-5, so Black has to 1044
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 be ready to play ...Bf5, stopping the f-pawn on a dark square. 20.f4 [ Controlling f5. 20.f6?! is fun, but not quite correct: gxf6 21.xh7?! ( 21.h4 f5 22.f6+ g8 23.g5+ draws ) A) 21...xh7!? seems risky, but might be playable, 22.h4+ g6 ( 22...g8?? 23.exf6 and mate ) 23.f4 d8 24.f3 fxe5 25.g3+ g4 26.xg4+ f6 unclear; B) 21...fxe5 22.h4 f5 23.xf5+ g8 and the queen can guard the seventh rank. ] 20...c8 The knight is needed to help on the o t h e r w i n g . 21.h4 e7 22.h5 h6! A good practical approach, the pawn cannot be allowed to continue its march all the way to h6- Black's dark squares would take a fatal hit. 23.xh6! f5 [ The point, Black certainly didn't intend 23...gxh6?? 24.xh6+ g8 25.h7# ] 24.xf5 xf5 25.g5 f6 26.exf6 gxf6 27.h4 h7 The critical position- that Black clearly planned some time ago. White has an extra pawn, but Black has freed his position and has pressure on the g and h files. 28.g4 f7 29.fe1 g8 30.h3 xh4! [ The h-pawn is untouchable: 30...xh5?? 31.xf6+ ] 31.xh4 f5 By defending f6 Black prepares to double rooks on the g-file. 32.h6 h7 33.g3 g6 34.g2 xh6 Black finally regains his pawn- his earlier judgement was irreproachable! 35.xh6 xh6 36.e6 h7 37.b4! White retains a slight initiative, anyway, and Black must take care. g6!? 38.bxc5 c8 39.b1 [ 39.d1! xc5 40.xd4 a5 41.dd6 might offer better prospects. ] 39...h7 40.b5 d7 41.d6 cd8 42.xb7 xd6 43.cxd6 xd6 44.c5 [ If 44.xa7?? d3 queens the d-pawn. ] 44...a6 45.f3! [ 45.d7 xa3 46.xd4 c3 draws comfortably. ] 45...f5! The king can't be allowed into e4. 46.g4+ e5 47.e7+ d5 48.d7+ e5 49.e7+ d5 50.d7+ ½-½
1055 Onischuk,Alexander Gurevich,Mikhail Rubinstein Mem (6) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2657 2643 22.08.1999
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.a3 d5 8.d4 W hite's safest move, as mentioned in the archives. exd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4 c5 11.h4 e6!? Another weapon in Black's arsen a l. p revio usly, B la ck h a d a ch ie ve d satisfactory positions with both [ 11...dxc4 12.xc4 0-0!? 13.d2 e6 Pomes,J-Epishin,V/Terrassa 1991, and ] [ 11...0-0 12.cxd5 xd5 13.xe7 xe7 Makarichev-Dvoirys, Sochi 1983. ] 12.cxd5 xd5 13.f3 White aims for central expansion, to free his c1-bishop. [ 13.b5+ d7 14.xe7+ xe7 15.d2 might offer White a tiny advantage. ] 13...0-0 14.e2 e6 Played to remove the black queen from the pin, and answer 15.e4 with 15...Bc4 15.0-0 fd8 16.e4 d7!? The e-pawn is pinned, of course. 17.e3 c4 18.xc4 xc4 19.ad1 f6 20.f4 Black has no problems, indeed he has two good plans here: firstly he can play 20...Nb6, intending ...Qb3, and ...Nc4. Alternatively, there is 20. ..Nf8, planning ...Ng6, or ...Ne6d4. ½-½
1056 A28 Onischuk,Alexander 2627 Shirov,Alexei 2746 FIDE WCh KO New Delhi IND (2.4) 02.12.2000 [Tony Kosten] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.a3 d5 8.d4 exd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4 0-0 11.c5 This move of Belozerov was first seen in last month. b6 [ 11...e4 was tried in the afore-mentioned game. ] 12.b4 bxc5 13.bxc5 e6 Played in or der to exchange light-squared bishops. The swap of one pair of bishops is the standard method of fighting against the bishop pair. 14.d3 a6 1045
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.c2 White retains his bishops, of course, but now will be unable to castle. c6!? [ Shirov's novelty, Black will have the possibility of playing ...Qb5 at some point, wi t h a m a t e t h r e a t o n e 2 . P r e v i o u s l y , 15...g4 16.f3 e5 17.b2 f6 had been played in Belozerov, A-Korchnoi,V/Smolensk RUS 2000. ] 16.b2 ab8 [ Threatening ...Qb5, the immediate 16...b5 achieves nothing on 17.d1 ] 17.c3 fe8 18.g4!? A sharp move, trying to blast the a1-h8 diagonal open. b5!? [ Typical Shirov! Black complicates, as if at first glance 18...b5 looks like a good move, if 19.d1? ( but the surprising 19.0-0-0! is strong ) 19...e4 wins a pawn. ] 19.g5 xc5! 20.a4 [ 20.gxf6? fails to c4! 21.d2 d4! and the entire white position seems to be en prise! ] 20...b6 21.xe8 [ And now, 21.gxf6?! e4 22.d2 xa4 23.g1 g6! 24.d4 is hit by xa3! with a back-rank attack. ] 21...xe8 Black has gained a pawn and good play for the exchange, especially as the white king is awkwardly placed. 22.f3 c6 23.d2 b5 24.f2 e2+?! [ 24...c2 25.he1 d7 keeps the flame of Black's initiative lit. ] 25.g3 c2?? A dreadful blunder. 26.e5?? [ W h i t e r e t u r n s t h e f a v o u r , 26.a4 threatens mate and wins the c2-rook, thus ending the game. It should be noted that this was a rapid play-off game. ] 26...d6?! [ 26...b5! would avoid the coming backrank tactic, and win the d2-bishop. ] 27.ab1 b5 [ 27...c8 28.b8 f8 29.xc8+ xc8 30.b4+ c5 31.xd5 is not clear, either. ] 28.xb5 xb5 29.c3 At the cost of the exchange White lines-up a very nasty threat of mate. d4! [ W h at e ls e ? 29...e8? loses to 30.b1 d7 31.b8 ] 30.xd4 f5+ 31.f4 xd4 32.exd4 xe5+ 33.xe5 After the wild complications have petered-out W hite finds himself in a pleasant rook endgame. f8 34.b1 e7
35.b7 d7 36.xa7 xh2 37.a8 h6 38.g8 hxg5 39.xg7 e7 Black plays accu rat ely and the draw b eco mes lik ely. 40.g8 e2+ 41.d5 e3 42.a4?! [ 42.xg5 should be played, but White tries to win. ] 42...xf3 43.c6 c3+ 44.b5 b3+ 45.c4 a3 46.b4 d3 47.a5 xd4+ 48.c5 a4 49.b5 a1 50.a6 White tries desperately to queen the a-pawn. f6 51.d8 b1+ 52.c5 a1 53.b5 b1+ 54.c5 e5 ½-½
1057 Rowson,Jonathan Ansell,Simon 4ncl Dresden GER [Jonathan Rowson]
A28 2585 2405 19.01.2009
1.c4 Played in the knowledge that I was probably goin g to be writing about Flan k openings fairly soon. I hoped to generate some content to get myself thinking about the English more generally (but also because the brief time you get before the game at the 4ncl is not enough time to refute the Slav...) f6 2.c3 [ 2.d4 c6 3.f4 is actually quite a good antiSlav weapon, mainly because b6 4.d2 e4 5.c2 xd4 6.e3 wins a piece but it occurred to me that Simon might want to play the Benko, which also didn't appeal to me at the time, so I carried on in Flank opening style and soon ended up with...a reversed Sicilian... ] 2...e5 3.f3 c6 4.a3!? To the uninitiated this move looks really harmless, and a little bit pointless, but I have gradually developed some affection for it. I first realised that it might be a serious weapon after getting a lost position as a resu lt of seemingly n atura l moves against Tiger Hillarp Persson in York back in 2000. The idea is simply to stop ...Bb4, prepare b4, and play a Sicilian a tempo up. It is not theoretically challenging for Black, but it is a good way to force your opponent to think for themselves. d5 [ 4...g6 5.g3 g7 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 d6 ( 7...d5!? ) 8.d3 h6 ( 8...d4!? ) 9.b1 1046
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 9.b4 e4 ) 9...e6 10.b4 d7?! 11.b5 e7 12.d4 f5?! 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.xd7 xd7 15.e4 g4 16.h3 xf3 17.xf3 c5 18.e3 e6 19.d5 c8 20.c5 c6 21.bxc6 bxc6 22.b4 e7 23.a6 fd8 24.b7 And White was much better, though I eventually won in Hillarp-Persson-Rowson, York 2000. ] 5.cxd5 xd5 6.d3 This is of course playable, and I was glad to have a familiar position with an extra move, even though I didn't really expect to be better. [ 6.c2 is critical, and numerous games by Mikhail Gurevich have shown that White has some chances to be better here. e7 7.e3 0-0 8.b5 ( 8.d3!? ) 8...g4 9.xc6 xf3 10.gxf3 bxc6 is considered fine for Black. ] [ 6.e4 seems to make sense, but the trouble is that Black can play an equalising line where the pawn being on a3 gives W hite nothing extra(if anything the opposite due to the weakness on b3). f4! 7.d4 exd4 8.xf4 dxc3 ] 6...g4 [ 6...xc3 7.bxc3 d6 is playable, but there is no need to make further strategic concessions. ] [ 6...e7 It is also possible just to play classically because white's extra tempo merely makes his position comfortable and safer, but not necessarily better. ] 7.e3 d7 8.h3 I have played the equivalent li n e a s B la c k ( wh e re W h it e h a s a lr e a d y castled queenside) and I noticed that this allowed me to pose some tricky questions s t r a ig h t a wa y . e6 Simplest and probably best. [ 8...h5 9.xe5 ] [ 8...f5 9.xd5 xd5 10.e4 Doesn't work when there is already a rook on the d-file due to Bxe4. ] [ 8...xc3 9.bxc3 f5 10.d4 and now Bb5 becomes an idea. ] 9.d2 [ 9.g5 was plan A. In the comparable position White has Nxc6 and Bc5 due to the pin on the d-file, so I hoped that might be important, but on closer inspection I saw nothing wrong with Black's position after xc3 10.bxc3 f5 For instance 11.b3 a5 followed by Be7 and castling and White
is probably a bit worse. ] [ 9.e2 and castles is probably best, when the extra tempo may yet prove useful. ] 9...f6 10.c2 0-0-0 11.a4?! This odd idea(in conjunction with Qc2) was based on a half remembered idea from Yermolinsky's book on the Classical Sicilian. I remembered there was some value in delaying the development of the king's bishop because it can sometimes be fianchettoed, but it turns out that the idea I had in mind- Na4(or Na5) was recommended in a position with the pawn on f5(or f4) rather than f6(f3). The general idea is to avoid an exchange of knights, but even with an extra tempo this turns out to be too ambitious here. b6! 12.c5 Consistent, but probably making things even worse- I am losing too much time. [ 12.xb6+ axb6 13.e2 is more solid ] 12...xc5 13.xc5 f7 Not bad, but I have no idea how I would have held my position together if Black had played more directly with [ 13...g5! followed by h5 and g4. ] 14.e4 a4 [ 14...g5 ] 15.c1 b3 16.e3 d6 17.e2 g5 18.0-0 [ 18.h4!? ] 18...h5 19.d2 d4 20.xd4 xd4 21.e1 [ 21.b1!? c5 22.c1 b6 23.c3 ] 21...hd8 22.f1 b6 23.g3 c5 24.xh5 f8 25.e2 e6 26.b1 [ 26.b4 b3 27.c6 4d6 28.a8+ d7 29.xa7 a8 30.b7 xa1 31.xa1 c8 32.xc8+ xc8 I felt I was more likely to be worse than better here, but I could be wrong. ] 26...d6 27.b4 xd3 28.xd3 xd3 29.e3 d1+? A bad misjudgement, going from slightly better to clearly worse. [ 29...b7 ] 30.xd1 xd1+ 31.xd1 xd1+ 32.h2 d7 33.h5 From here to the end I am quite pleased with my technique, but the earlier part of the game was terrible. e7 34.c3! This is what Simon had missed, in particular he overlooked that after d6 [ 34...d7 35.c6 he can hardly move. ] 35.xf6 c5 36.g3! b1 [ 36...c4 But no Kc5-d4 because I didn't take on c5 ] [ 36...cxb4 37.axb4 b1 38.a3! ] 1047
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 37.bxc5+ bxc5 38.d3+! I didn't like the look of my rook on c3 being stuck behind the c4 pawn so I thought I should get active. [ 38.h7 c4 39.xg5 b3 40.xb3 cxb3 41.f3 b2 42.d2 a2 43.f3 c5 44.e3 b1 45.xb1 xb1 46.h4 also felt winning but I saw no reason to risk this. ] 38...e7 39.d5+ f7 40.f3+! g7 41.c3 c4 42.xc4 b3+ 43.f3 xa3 44.c5 a5 [ 44...xd5 45.xd5 f6 46.d6+ f7 47.g4 a2 48.g3 a3 49.xg5 xf3 50.g4 e3 51.a6 xe4+ 52.f5 ] 45.c7 d7 46.d5 c8 47.d8 b7 48.b5 My first win with 1c4 for a long time, but not a particularly auspicious new beginning. 1-0
a bit loose, and the black pieces are active. h3 [ 13...e6 14.b1 1/2-1/2 Rechlis,GGelfand,B/Ramat Aviv ISR 2000 is not too revealing! ] 14.e1 [ 14.g2?! xg2 15.xg2 b3 16.d1 d5+ 17.e4 d8 regains the pawn immediately. ] 14...b6!? A new move, [ 14...d6 also seems good, but 15.c2 fd8 16.e4 d7 17.b1 f5 18.c4+ h8 19.g2 xg2 20.xg2 d5+ ( 20...xd3?? 21.e8+! ) 21.xd5 xd5 22.f4 White was better, Chernin, A-Kolev,A/ Villarrobledo 1998, for xb2?? loses in several ways, most notably 23.e2 db5 24.bxb2 xb2 25.e5+ ] 15.c2 e6! This move contains a nasty threat. 16.e4 Not [ 16.b1? when White loses a piece to b3 1058 A28 17.c5 d4 ] [ but 16.g2 may be best, although Black Ruck,Robert 2550 has plenty of play for the pawn. ] Romanishin,Oleg M 2561 11th GM Lippstadt GER (3) 09.08.2003 16...d7 17.c5 It is difficult to find a useful move for White here, [Tony Kosten] [ 17.b1 a2 18.a1 e6 repeats. ] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.a3 g6 17...d4 18.a5 b5 Black is happy with a 5.g3 g7 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 d5!? Black takes draw, but [ 18...f5!? was possible, 19.g2 f4 20.gxf4 play into a Reversed Dragon type of position, c5 and Black can play against the weakened [ 7...d6 8.d3 would be more normal, with a white kingside. ] transposition into a Closed English, [A26]. ] [ 7...e8!? attempts to delay ...d6, 8.d3 h6 19.a6 [ 19.d2 avoids the repetition, but is an ugly 9.e4!? again with a Closed English move. ] structure. ] 8.cxd5 xd5 9.xe5! This is obviously the 19...b6 20.a5 b5 21.a6 b6 22.a5 ½-½ critical reply, [ 9.xd5 xd5 10.d3 d4 11.xd4 xd4 12.c2 c6 13.e3 d8 is fairly level, 1059 A28 Agrest,E-Sjoegren,B/Sweden 1998. ] Seirawan,Yasser 2630 9...xc3 Van Wely,Loek 2635 [ 9...xe5?! 10.xd5 wins a pawn for ol Elista RUS (5) 03.10.1998 nothing. ] 10.xc6 xe2+ Again best, damaging the [Tony Kosten] white pawn formation, for [ 10...xd1?! 11.xd8 xb2 12.xb7! 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.d4 b8 13.xb2 xb2 14.a2 leaves White a The old main line, but it fell into disuse when good pawn ahead, Petrov,V-Milesi,L/Open, Black started exploiting the doubled pawn Cannes FRA 2000. ] complex. Still, it has come back into favour 11.xe2 bxc6 12.xc6 b8 13.d3 recently, and its surprise value has gained a White has grabbed a pawn, but his pawns are number of victims. exd4 5.xd4 b4 6.g3 1048
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A recent idea, [ 6.g5 is the traditional choice, but instead White wishes to take the play along different lines. ] 6...0-0 7.g2 xc3+ Black 'jumps before he is pushed', and decides that he would prefer the better pawn structure to the bishop pair. 8.bxc3 e5 9.c5 e7 10.b3?! Passive, Seirawan prefers [ 10.b1 which gains a powerful initiative for W hite af ter xc5 11.b5 c4 12.d4 xd4 13.cxd4 ] 10...b8! Black needs to play ...b6 to co m p le t e h is d e ve lo p m e n t . 11.0-0 b6 12.e1? White plays for activity, at the cost of a pawn, rather than submit to a slight positional disadvantage. bxc5 13.f4 c4 This is the ideal square for a black knight in s u c h N i m z o p o s i t i o n s . 14.e4 d6 Black's position is very solid. 15.e2 a6! 16.a5 e6 Black is not prepared to concede his outpost so easily. 17.f5 e5 18.c6 White takes the exchange, [ 18.xc4? loses even more material after xc3 ] 18...xc3 19.xb8 xb8 So, White has won back some material, but the black pieces have become even more active. 20.f4 d7 Heading for the powerful e5-square. 21.f1? Trying to pin the c4-knight, but just s u c c e e d i n g in e xc h a n gi n g b i sh o p s, a n d weakening his light squares. b2 22.d3 a5 23.d5 cb6 24.d1 xf1 25.xf1 The passed black c-pawn is ready to roll. c4 26.d4 c3 27.f3 a4 28.e1 b6 29.xb6 axb6 Things are looking bleak for W hite who has zero influence on the q u e e n s i d e . 30.e5 xe5 31.xe5 dxe5 32.xe5 h5 Giving the king a bolt-hole. 33.e4 xa2 Not bad, but [ 33...c2 34.c4 b5 35.xc7 b4 threatens ...Nc3, and then ...c1(Q), and wins immediately. ] 34.f2 a1+ 35.g2 c5? Black blunders his c-pawn, [ 35...c5 and the further advance of the queenside pawns will conclude quickly. ] 36.c4 c1 [ 36...a4! was worth a try, 37.xc3 e4 38.xc7 xf2 39.xf2 a5 and wins. ] 37.f3 c2+ 38.h3 e2 39.fxc3 e4?
From bad to worse, Black could still keep an edge by [ 39...e5 ] 40.c2 Now Black is obliged to change a pair of rooks. xc2 41.xc2 c5 42.b2 d6 43.f6! Playing for the win, [ 43.xb6 xf5 leads to a theoretical draw. ] 43...b5 44.d2 e4 45.d8+ h7 46.fxg7 xg7 47.e8! Clever play by White who forces weaknesses in the black position. f5 48.b8 b4 49.h4 f6 50.xh5 d2 51.h3 e4 52.g4 fxg4 53.xg4 White has created a dangerous passed pawn. f2+? There goes Black's last chance, [ 53...e5 54.h4 d4 still held the position, as 55.h5?! is met by f6+ 56.g5 xh5 57.xh5 and it is now White who will have to fight to draw against the two black pawns. ] 54.g3 xh3 55.xh3 e5 56.g2 d4 57.f2 This time the white king is too close to the pawns. c3 58.e1 b3 59.d1 b2 60.c8 a1 61.xc5 b2 62.a5+ b1 63.b5 1-0
1060 Seirawan,Yasser Winants,Luc TCh-NED 2005-6 (7) [John Watson]
A28 2635 2535 04.03.2006
1.c4 Yassar Seirawan isn't playing much these days, which is a shame for English Opening aficionados. Here he demonstrates the power of the bishop pair, albeit in unclear complications. e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.a3 d5 8.d4 exd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4 0-0 [ I like 10...c5 best, and 11.h4 g5!? then deserves attention, as explained in my previous columns. ] 11.c5! The most radical move: Seirawan will hold the position closed so that he can slowly bring his bishops into play. Allowing ... c5 and ...dxc4 or even ...d4 would make it easy for Black. [ 11.cxd5 d8 can only favour the second player. ] 11...b6 12.b4 bxc5 13.bxc5 b8 14.b2 1049
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e6 15.d3 a6 16.c2! c4 17.c3 c5 , e.g. 11.h4 e6 12.cxd5 xd5 fe8 18.h3! Now that the bishops are on safe 13.xe7+ xe7 14.b5+ d7 15.e2 squares and his king is protected. White tries , and White later won, V.Ivanchuk-S.Karjakin, to drive Black's pieces away from protection Wijk aan Zee 2006 - this game can be found of the kingside. h6 in the pgn archives a very instructive effort [ 18...a6 19.g4 e2!? 20.g5 f3 by Ivanchuk. ] threatens mate. Then 21.d3 c8 22.g1 7...d5 8.0-0 h5 23.g3! e4 24.e2! wins big [ A both rare and surprising move. White has material. ] several move popular alternatives at this 19.g4 a6 20.h4 b3 21.f5 c4 22.g5! juncture: A) 8.d4 exd4 ( 8...e4?! 9.c2 Our theme fo r the day: with or without queens f5 10.cxd5 b4 11.a4+ d7 12.b3 on the board the bishops will give W hite a exd4 13.xd4 F.Dreke-Goldberg, corr winning advantage. xd4 23.xd4 e4 1989 ) 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4 24.gxh6 g6 25.d7 e7 26.c6 White is A) 10...dxc4 clearly better here, and Seirawan uses the A1) Or 11.xc4 0-0 12.0-0 d8 bishops to great effect, although there are 13.c3 f5 ( Here Black should have technical inaccuracies along the way, tried 13...e4!? 14.a5 c5 15.f3 b6 especially just before move 40. Then Black 16.e1 d6 17.d3 f6 18.d2 e6 has a shot at an easy draw. Missing it is fatal. 19.c3 h6 ) 14.f3 c6 15.e4 c4 27.g1 b3 28.f3? A.Mihalik-I.Kubis, Slovakia 1998; [ 28.h5 h7 29.g2! seems more accurate A2) 11.xc4 0-0 12.0-0 e6 compare the game: ] ( 12...d8!? 13.c2 e5 14.f3 b6 28...c3 29.g2 b5! 30.c5 e5? 15.e4 ) 13.c2 d5 14.f3 c6 15.e4 [ 30...exe3+! 31.xe3 xe3+ 32.f2 fe8 16.e1 a5 17.e3 a4 18.ad1 ( 32.d2 d3+ 33.c1 d4! ) 32...e2+ I.Stohl-K.Mokry, Trnava 1984; 33.g3 xg2+ 34.xg2 h7= ] B) 10...c5 31.f2 d4 32.exd4 ee3 33.h5 xf3+ B1) 11.d1 dxc4 12.xc4 e4 34.g1 d5 35.hxg6 fxg6 36.e1 h7 13.b5+ d7 14.xd7+ xd7 15.0-0 37.e8?! d8 16.b3 ( 16.f3 b4 17.c2 e5 [ 37.e6! ] 18.b3 0-0 ) 16...0-0 17.b2 e5 37...f6 38.g5? c3= 39.e7 e2+! was H.Teske-A.Baburin, German 40.xe2 b1+ 41.h2 h1+ 42.g3 Bundesliga 2000; g1+?? Pure blindness. B2) 11.f4 dxc4 12.xc4 0-0 13.b3 [ 42...f3+ draws. ] e6 14.b2 xc4 15.xf6 xf6 43.h3 h1+ 44.h2 f3+ 45.g3 ff1 , and although a draw was agreed upon 46.xh1 xh1+ 47.g4 e1 48.g5 xe7 in this position in the game C. Cobb-S. 49.xg6+ h8 50.c3 e6 51.f5 d6 Bryn ell, 20 0 4 , W h it e h a s t h e be t t e r 52.e3 xc6 53.e6 chances in the endgame after 16.xf6 1-0 gxf6 17.bxc4 thanks to his better pawn structure; B3) 11.h4 dxc4 1061 A28 B3a) Another interesting move is 12.xc4 0-0 13.0-0 e5 14.d1 Short,Nigel D 2691 e6 15.c2 ad8 16.d2 b6 Morozevich,Alexander 2762 17.c3 g5 18.a4 ( or 18.f4!? h4 XXXVII Bosnia GM (1) 19.05.2007 19.xd8 xd8 20.e1 h6 [Carsten Hansen] 21.d1 ) 18...a5 19.xd8 xd8 20.d1 ( 20.h4 f5 21.d1 xd1+ 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 22.xd1 d5 23.xf6 gxf6 24.a3 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.e2 xd1+ 25.xd1 ) 20...xd1+ [ This line is a bit passive the critical line is 21.xd1 d5 22.f1 I.Stohl-L. 7.a3 d5 8.d4 exd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4 1050
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 K e it li n gh a u s , G e rm a n B u n d e slig a 1994; B3b) 12.xc4 0-0 13.0-0 e6 ( 13...d8 14.b3 e5 15.b1 e4 16.xe4 xe4 17.b2 e6 18.xe6 fxe6 19.f3 f6 20.e4 Cu.Hansen-M. Petursson, Espoo 1989) 14.d3!? d7 15.c2 b5 16.f3 e2 17.d1 d3 18.f2 fd8 19.c2 b5 20.b3 a5 was E.Jeske-D. Neukirch, Rostock 1979, and now W hite could have obtained the better chances with 21.b2 , e.g. d2 ( 21...d2 22.e1 b6 23.c1 f8 24.a1 ad8 25.b1 ) 22.ad1 xf2+ 23.xf2 c4 24.d4 ] [ B) 8.cxd5 xd5 9.b3 b6 A) 10.0-0?! (calling this move dubious is maybe a bit strong, but it certainly isn't White's best move) A1) 10...0-0 11.d3 a5 ( 11...e6 12.c2 fd8 13.a3 f5 14.d2 a5 15.b3 d7 16.e4 f6 17.b2 , and the players agreed upon a draw, 1/ 2-1/2, A.Hauchard-E.Bacrot, Vichy 2000 a possible continuation is xe4 18.dxe4 e6 19.ad1 ) 12.d2 a4 13.c2 d8 , so far C.McNab-N.Pert, Oakham 2000, and now 14.b4 axb3 15.axb3 f5 16.b4=; A2) 10...g4 11.d3 0-0-0 12.a3 f5 13.c2 b8 14.e1 e4 15.dxe4 fxe4 16.d2 f5 17.b4 e5= R.Cifuentes Parada-H.Hoeksema, Dutch Team Ch 1993; A3) 10...e6?! 11.c2 0-0 12.a3 d5 13.b4 e4 14.e1 a6 15.f4 exf3 16.xf3 e4 17.d3 g6 18.e4 I . Ro s s ik h in -J. T a t a rcza k, B e n a squ e 2000; A4) 10...e4 11.e1 0-0 ( 11...e6 12.c2 d5 13.b3 0-0 14.b2 f5 15.c3 f4 16.exf4 xf4 17.c2 V. B.Quist-H.Rittner, corr 1991) 12.d3 ( 12.c2 f5 13.b3 b4 14.d1 ad8 15.c2 xc2 16.xc2 d5 17.b2 g5 S.Conquest-J.Shaw, Groningen 1997) 12...e6 13.c2 b4 14.b1 exd3 ( 14...f5 15.d2 xd3 16.xd3 d7 17.f4 xd2 18.d1 a5= P.Cerisier-Y.Yakovich, Cappelle la
G r a n d e 1 9 9 3) 15.xd3 f5 16.f3 xd3 17.xd3 xd3 18.xd3 ad8 19.b3 c5 Z.Nikolic-B. Damljanovic, Vrnjacka Banja 1985; B) 10.b5?! 0-0 11.xc6 bxc6 12.d4 exd4 13.xd4 c5 14.e2 a6 M.Walach-P.Hudziak, Koszalin 1998; C) 10.d3 C1) 10...0-0 C1a) Or 11.d2 d8 12.0-0 d6 13.h3 f5 14.e4 e6 15.a3 f5 ( 15...f6!? ) 16.ac1 G.Michelakis-J. Hector, Copenhagen 2003; C1b) 11.a3 a5 12.d2 ( 12.0-0 e6 13.c2 fd8 14.d2 f5 15.fd1= ) 12...a4 13.c2 f5 14.c1 fd8 15.e4 g4 16.c5 d6 ( 16...d7! 17.0-0 xf3 18.xf3 xd3 19.e3 b3 ) 17.0-0 xf3 18.xf3 e6 19.e2 d4 20.d1 c6 21.b4 d8 22.xc6 xc6 23.e3 E.Ubilava-Y.Yakovich, Oviedo 1991; C2) 10...e6 11.c2 b4 12.b1 f5 13.a3 c6 14.d2 a5 15.0-0 0-0 16.e4 e6 17.c2 d7= Z . A zm a i p a r a s h vi l i - B . D a m l j a n o v i c , Groningen 1979 ] [ C) 8.d3 has been used several times by Swedish Grandmaster Agrest A) 8...g4!? 9.h3 ( 9.0-0 d4 10.b3 0-0-0 11.e1 ) 9...xf3 10.xf3 e4 11.e2 exd3 12.xd3 0-0-0 13.0-0 e4 14.b3 c5 15.a3 xd3 16.xd3 e4 17.xe4 dxe4 D. Bronstein-F. Cuijpers, Antwerp 1996; B) 8...0-0 B1) 9.0-0 d4 ( 9...d8 10.b3 e4 11.d4 e5 12.dxe4 dxe4 13.b2 g4 14.xg4 exg4 15.h3 h6 16.ad1 e8 17.e2 E.Maurer-M. Voss, corr 1998) 10.exd4 exd4 11.c2 e8 12.d2 g4 13.ae1 d6 14.g5 h6 15.h4 h5 16.d1 g6 17.d2 a5 L.B.Hansen-L.Psakhis, Ostende 1991, and now 18.g3 xg3 19.fxg3 d6=; B2) 9.a3?! dxc4 ( 9...e4!? 10.dxe4 dxe4 11.d4 e5 ) 10.xc4 e6 11.a4 d7 ( 11...d7!? 12.c2 a5 ) 12.c4 e6 13.a4 d7 14.c4 e6 15.a4 1/2-1/2 L.Psakhis-V. Gavrikov, 1051
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Sverdlovsk 1984; B3) 9.cxd5 xd5 10.c2 g4 ( 10...f5 11.e4 db4 12.c3 g4 13.e3 a6 14.g1 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in E. Agrest-B. Damljanovic, Batumi 1999; 10...db4 11.c3 g4 12.a3 xd3+ 13.xd3 e4 14.e2 exf3 15.gxf3 h5 16.g1 f6 so f ar E.Agrest-Xu Jun, Istanbul OL 2000, and now W hite should try 17.e4 a5 18.h6 g6 19.e3 ) 11.a3 a5 12.b3 ad8 13.b2 d6 14.h3 c8 15.d2 g6 16.f3 d8 17.c1 e6 18.c5 h4 19.g3 h6 20.h4 E.Agrest-I.Sokolov, Stockholm 1998 ] 8...d4 9.exd4 exd4 10.b3 0-0 11.e1?! [ The text move is perfectly logical and for all means and purposes, it appears to challenge Black by placing the rook opposite Black's queen. However, it appears t h a t W h i t e c a n d o b e t t e r w i t h 11.d3 , and now: A) An interesting, but untried option is 11...g4!? 12.f4!? xe2!? ( Or 12...fe8 13.h3!? xh3 14.ae1 c8 15.d1 d7 16.g5 e6 17.a3 ) 13.fe1 xf3 14.xe2 xe2 15.xb7 e7 16.e5 xd3 17.xd4 g6 18.b3; B) 11...e8 12.d2 b6 13.ae1 b7 14.g5 ( White has a cute, but quite good idea in 14.b5!? , e.g. d7 15.g5 ) 14...d7 15.f3 h6 16.e4 xe4 17.xe4 a6?! ( Now Black gets himself into trouble. Instead 17...a5! , equalizes: 18.xa5 xe4 19.dxe4 bxa5 20.d3 c5= ) 18.a4 e7 19.f4 E.Maurer-H. Doderer, corr 1998 ] 11...g4 12.d1 d6 13.d3 d7 14.d2 a5 15.h4?! [ 15.b5 c5 16.f4 xf4 17.xc5 fe8 ] 15...c5 16.a3 d7 17.e2 b6 18.ad1 h6 19.b3?! [ 19.g3 g5 20.g2 h3-+ ] 19...f6 20.f3 ae8 21.b2 g4-+ White has yet to lose material, but it is really only a matter of time, as White has no way of releasing himself of Black's complete domination. The rest of the game is pure execution, and by the way quite instructive
22.c2 xe2! 23.xe2 xf3 24.gxf3 xf3 (White has no defence against Black's simple plan of ...f5, ...Rf6-g6) 25.c1 f5 26.h3 f6 27.h2 g6 28.g1 xg1 29.xg1 xd3 30.e3 ce5 31.xd4 f4 0-1
1062 Simutowe,Amon Sokolov,Ivan FIDE WCh KO Tripoli LBA (1.2) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2442 2690 20.06.2004
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 b4 6.g5 0-0 7.e3!? White rejects the normal [ 7.c1 which prevents Black from doubling the c-pawns at the cost of an important tempo. ] 7...h6 8.h4 e8 Black is hopin g that White wil l p la y Rc 1 a n ywa y, so t h e re wi ll b e a transposition to the sharper of the two mainlines (see Gurevich,M-Bareev,E/Wijk aan Zee NED 2002 for instance). Watson thought that this was doubtful way back in 1979, but since then Black has discovered lots of active antidotes to White's system. [ 8...xc3+ 9.bxc3 e5 would transpose to the other main line, we have analysed this in Zvjaginsev-Van Wely, for instance. ] 9.e2 e5 The knight ady to evict the h4bishop, but Black has several more interesting alternatives: [ 9...xc3+ is still possible, but slightly less effective now, as it is not 100% clear that ... Re8 is a useful move, 10.bxc3 e5 11.0-0 ( 11.f3!? g6 12.f2 keeps the bishops, and must be better) 11...g6 Black regains the bishops, 12.xf6 xf6 13.b3 d6 14.ad1 e5 Black is doing well, Hasenbank,D-Hawranke,D/Pinneberg 1995 ] [ 9...e4!? has its points: 10.g3 ( 10.xc6 bxc6 11.g3 might be simpler) 10...xd4 11.exd4 e7 with pressure, Grant,CKapstan,A/Manitoba 1990. ] [ 9...g5!? is another radical solution, 10.g3 e4 11.c1 xd4 12.xd4 c5 13.d3 d5 14.xd5 1/2-1/2 Agrest,E-Cramling,P/ Orebro SWE 2000 ] 10.f3!? New in this position, although perfectly 1052
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 normal in this line, White prepares a 'luft' for his bishop on f2, and controls e4. [ 10.b3! may be best, the b4-bishop is no l o n g e r p r o t e c t e d , a5 ( 10...xc3+ 11.xc3 d6 12.f3 g6 13.f2 looks good for White ) 11.0-0 g6 12.xf6 xf6 13.d5 d8 14.a3! c6 15.b4 c7 16.xc7 xc7 17.b5 c5 18.b6! with a plus, Szabo,L-Smyslov,V/Budapest 1950/ Candidates. ] 10...g6 11.f2 d5 12.0-0 c5 Black counters in the centre - one problem for White in this line is that he is often behind in development. 13.b3 xc3 14.bxc3 b6 15.e1?! White should take care to defend his c3-pawn. This position has already been reached by transposition in the game Vakhidov,T-Neelotpal,D/Dhaka BAN 2003, and there play continued [ 15.c2 e7 16.fd1 b7 17.ac1 e5 18.cxd5 xd5 and a draw was soon agreed. ] 15...e6! 16.cxd5 [ 16.d2 is passive but avoids losing a pawn. ] 16...xd5 17.c2? Did White miss Black's next? [ 17.c1 f6 18.c4 c3 19.f1 allows Black a fair initiative, but White has every reason to hope to use his centre and bishops. ] 17...xe3! Ivan is a fine tactician, of course, a n d is h a rd ly go in g t o m iss t h is . 18.xe3 xb3 19.axb3 xe3 Black has won a pawn, and exchanged White's dark-squared bishop. 20.c4 g5 21.xe3 xe3+ 22.f1 e5 Black is not ready to relinquish the initiative just yet. It is often in positions like this that weaker players think that the win will come by itself, play some inferior moves, and mess it up! 23.d5 [ 23.e1? is met by xc4! ] 23...e8 24.e1?? The final mistake. [ 24.xa7?? is also impossible, White will find himself mated after g4! ] [ 24.d1 kept some chances, White's bishop may yet prove to be the better of the two minor pieces. ] 24...g4! Now lightning strikes from the other side, both ...Nxh2 mate and ... Qxe1 mate are threatened. 25.xf7+
[ 25.xe3 xe3+ 26.f2 xc2 leaves Black a rook up. ] 25...f8?! Good enough, although I see nothing wrong with [ 25...xf7! for if 26.f5+ g8 the fork on e3 still works! ] 0-1
1063 Slobodjan,Roman Georgiev,Kiril 2nd IECC Ohrid MKD (1) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2529 2676 01.06.2001
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.a3 d5 [ Similar play is seen this month after 7...a5!? ] 8.d4 exd4 [ 8...xd4 9.xd4 exd4 could transpose, but cuts down on Black's options. ] 9.xd4 e5!? [ An innovation, although the same idea is quite common after 7...a5, see the archives. Black wants more than the approximate equality of the standard 9...xd4 10.xd4 considered in 3 games from the archives. ] 10.cxd5 [ White heads for a Sicilian-style position. 10.f3?! does not have the same effect here, as with the pawn on b3, instead of c a p t u r i n g o n f 3 , B l a c k w i l l p l a y xc4 11.xc4 dxc4 with advantage. ] 10...xd5 11.c2 0-0 12.e2 c5 Driving the well-placed knight away from the cent re. Bla ck's extra spa ce, and sm oot h developmen t, a re mo re th an a matc h f o r White's bishops. 13.f3 g4 14.h3!? [ 14.e4 xf3 15.gxf3 might be a better try. ] 14...xf3 15.gxf3 fe8 16.f1 [ Now 16.e4?! meets the rejoinder c6! ] 16...ac8 17.d2 c4 18.g1 d3!? Black sacs a pawn to open some central files. 19.d1? [ How can White allow the knight to take up residence on d3? 19.xd3 cxd3 20.xd3 had to be played, when Black has some compensation, but no more, after ed8 ] 19...h4 20.g3 Necessary, to defend f2 and h3. xe3! 21.b3? 1053
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ If 21.xe3?! xg3! wins! ] [ 21.c3 is the only chance. ] 21...xf2! It never rains, but it pours! 22.e1 [ 22.xf2 xe2+ 23.xe2 xg3 is no help. ] 22...xg3 23.xd5 xh3+ 24.xf2 ce8 A massacre! 9...Ne5 will undoubtedly catchon after this! 0-1
1064 Smirin,Ilia Johannessen,Leif Erlend 34th Olympiad (1) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2677 2422 28.10.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.d4 e4 [ Considered a good equalising move, 4...exd4 5.xd4 b4 is more ambitious. ] 5.g5 h6 [ The theoretical favourite, 5...b4 6.d5 xc3+ 7.bxc3 a5 8.d4 e7 9.c5! is good for W hite, Zagema,W -Larsen,P/ Hinnerup 1979. ] 6.gxe4 xe4 7.xe4 h4 The point, it seems that Black will recuperate his pawn. 8.d3!! Watson mentions that this move loses to [ Long considered a losing blunder, but obviously this is White preparation. 8.d2 xd4 9.e3 e5 10.e2 doesn't offer White much, Cygielman,M-Horn,P/Germany 1988, and ] [ 8.c3 xd4 9.e3 is equal. ] 8...d5 [ 8...b4+ 9.d2 ( or 9.d1 ) 9...xd2+ 10.xd2 displaces the white king, but doesn't recover the pawn. ] 9.cxd5 b4 10.b1 f5 11.d6+ cxd6 [ All part of the plan, Black needs to use the c-file, 11...xd6 12.xf5 xd4 13.e3 xd5 regains the two pawns, but Black will suffer in this endgame against the white bishop pair. ] 12.xf5 g6 [ T h e c o m b i n a t i o n c o n t i n u e s , 12...xd4 13.e3 xd5 14.b5+ is even worse than before. ] 13.f4! [ The clever point, forcing the exchange of
queens. After the obvious 13.b1 then c8 is the point of Black's play, when ...Nc2+ is unstoppable. ] 13...c2+ 14.d1 xf4 15.xf4 xa1 So, Black has won a whole rook for two pawns, but as the knight can't escape then White will enjoy the two bishops and strong centre for t h e e xch a n ge . 16.e3 a6 17.d3 d7 18.d2 Regaining the piece. g7?! [ 18...b3+ 19.axb3 would, at least, damage the white queenside. ] 19.xa1 h5 20.h4 After all th e excitement White has a clear edge, especially as there are few open files for the black rooks. ae8 21.a4 h6 22.h2 f5 23.a3! hf8 24.b3 c7 25.e2 f6 26.f3 g5 This does little to help the black position. 27.hxg5 xg5 28.c3+ d7 29.b4 g8 [ Ideally, Black would wish to exchange a pair of rooks, but 29...c8? only aggravates the s i t u a t i o n : 30.xc8 xc8 31.f4! xf4 32.xf4 and the black kingside falls prey to the white king. ] 30.b5 axb5 31.xb5+ d8 32.a5 g7 33.d3 h4 34.b3 c7 35.b6 e7 [ 35...c3 36.e2 c7 offered better chances. ] 36.g3 hxg3 37.xg3 d7 38.f4 h4 [ 38...xf4 39.xf4 wins the f-pawn. ] 39.b1! [ 39.b1 White quickly brings his rook over, f7 40.h1 e7 41.h5 and the f-pawn goes, when the white pawn mass will advance. ] 1-0
1065 Solleveld,Maarten Sutovsky,Emil Lost Boys Open (8) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2451 2658 02.08.2002
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 b4 6.g5 h6 7.h4 0-0 8.c1 xd4!? A relatively recent idea, first played by Svidler, I think, Black tries to improve on the line [ 8...e8 9.e3 xd4! 10.xd4 c5 see Gurevich,M-Bareev,E/W ijk aan Zee NED 2002. ] 1054
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.xd4 g5 10.g3 c5 11.d6!? W hite attempts to keep the d-pawn back, whilst pinning the knight against the h6-pawn. [ 11.d1 d5 ( or 11...e4 12.e3 f6 ) 12.cxd5 xd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.e4 e8 15.f3 is another possibility, similar to the Gurevich-Bareev game. ] 11...e4! [ 11...e8 is also playable: 12.e3 ( 12.f3!? e6 13.d2 b5!? 14.e4 bxc4 15.xc4 xe4! 16.fxe4 xe4+ Williams,S-Gormally, D/ Scarborough 2001, and now 17.xe4 looks like fun) 12...e4!? 13.xh6 d5! 14.cxd5 xd5 15.d1 e6 and Black has more than enough play for the pawn, Smirin, I-Svidler,P/Istanbul TUR 2000. ] 12.d3?! White refuses the 'gift': [ 12.xh6 b6! (otherwise White might follow-up with Be5) 13.xb6 axb6 14.a3 xc3+ 15.bxc3 xa3 16.c7 f5!? 17.f3 xc3 18.xb6 a4 and Black's active pieces just about compensated the two bishops, Lukacs,P-Varga,Z/ Budapest HUN 2001. ] 12...d5! Black plays out-and-out for the initiative as W hite is still a long way from castling. 13.xd5 [ 13.cxd5 f5 is also unpleasant. ] 13...e7 14.e5? [ 14.e3 is superior: d8 15.e5 xc3+ 16.bxc3 xe5 17.xe5 although Black has excellent play after f6 18.g3 d2 ] 14...xe5! The ending is going to be very unpleasant for White. 15.xe5 e8 16.g3 f5 17.f3 xc3 18.bxc3 a3 19.b1 f4 20.f2 b6 White is a pawn up, and the black bishop on a3 has no squares, but White will ha ve e n o rm o u s d if f icu lt y d e ve lo p in g h is kingside. 21.g3 f5 22.b3 c1 23.gxf4 ad8! Now White can resign! 24.e4?! [ 24.g2 d2+ 25.f1 gxf4 is a minimal improvement. ] 24...d2+ 25.e2?! [ 25.d1 xf4+ avoids immediate mate, at least. ] 25...xe4+! 26.fxe4 g4# Very pretty! 0-1
1066 Stuart,Peter Li Oceania zt Auckland NZL (8) [John Watson]
A28 2146 03.02.2005
The 4.e3 variation of the Four Knights main line is still a regular visitor to tournament play even though its flame has dimmed at the top levels. But there are still issues to resolve. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.a3 d5 8.d4 exd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4 c5 [ Tony has given a number of games and ideas in this line, particularly after 10...0-0 , which he calls "the current preference". The archetypical game is Onischuk-Shirov, New Delhi 2000. See the downloadable PDF E-Books for an overview of and references for this variation. ] 11.h4 0-0 [ I seem to remember an idea from the m i d - 1 9 7 0 s o r s o t h a t g o e s 11...g5!? (o r m a ybe it wa s in a sim ila r po s it io n ? Anyway, the move deserves attention as a way to quash any W hite hopes for a d v a n t a g e ) 12.xg5 ( 12.g3 e4 13.f3 h5!? ) 12...g8 13.f4 ( 13.h6 g6 14.h4 g4= ) 13...g4 14.f3 dxc4 with double-edged play, for example, A) 15.d2 e4 16.c3? g4! 17.xf6 ( 17.xf6 xe3+! ) 17...e6! 18.g3 xf6 with a clear advantage; B) 15.h3 e4 16.d2 d7 17.c1 c6 18.c3 d5= ] [ Tony indicates two alternative paths from le ad in g G M ga me s: 11...e6!? 12.cxd5 xd5 13.f3!? Onischuk-Gurevich, Polanica Zdroj 1999 and ] [ 11...d4!? 12.d3 e6 13.0-0 d8 14.e4 Onischuk-Benjamin, Philadelphia 2001. ] 12.cxd5 xd5 [ 12...e5! is very old theory. ] 13.xe7 xe7 14.d2 e6 This looks equal. White has two bishops but is behind in development and lacks good squares for the bishop on d2. 15.c3 f6 [ Or 15...d5! 16.e5 ad8 and ...f6 next. ] 16.e2 d5 17.0-0-0?! [ An exotic move. White may have thought 17.d2 too passive, but fd8 18.c1 ac8 1055
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.e4 is more interesting. ] 17...xc3 18.bxc3 fd8 [ W r o n g r o o k ? 18...ad8! 19.f3 b5! with a small advantage. ] 19.f3 ab8 20.xd8+ xd8 21.d1 [ 21.xb7! b8 22.e4 b3 23.c4! xa3 ( 23...xc4 24.d1 ) 24.b2 a4 25.d5 is comfortably equal. ] 21...xd1+ 22.xd1 b6 23.d2 f7 24.b7 e7 [ 24...c4! still poses White difficulties. The game ends up in disaster for Black: ] 25.f4 d6 26.e4 c4 27.c8 b5 28.g4 a5 29.e3 b3 [ 29...e6! ] 30.e2! c6 31.g3 c4?? [ 31...e6 ] 32.d4 d6 33.g4 [ 33.e5+ should also win. ] 33...a4 34.h4 c2?! 35.f5! a4 36.xh7 e7 37.f5 f7 38.c5 e7 39.c8 g6 40.a6 1-0
1067 Sulskis,Sarunas Socko,Bartosz 18th European Teams (1.14) [John Bartholomew]
A28 2577 2635 03.11.2011
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.d4 This was the main line in decades past, but 4. g3 and 4.e3 (amongst others) have largely stolen the spotlight. Frankly, I think these moves are more promising than 4.d4, but it's still quite useful for the practical player to mix things up once in awhile. exd4 5.xd4 b4 The established antidote to 4.d4. [ 5...c5 is quite reasonable too. ] 6.g5 Counter pinning and fighting for the initiative. [ See the archives for 6.g3 0-0 7.g2 e5 8.0-0!? xc3 9.bxc3 xc4 10.e4 Onischuk, A (2674) -Andriasian, Z (2546)/ Khanty Mansiysk 2007/[Hansen, Carsten]. ] [ T h e w e l l - i n t e n t i o n e d 6.xc6 bxc6 actually scores miserably for W hite. He hopes to exploit his marginal structural advantage but allows Black too much control of the strategically crucial d5 square. The
game Timman - Karpov, Montreal 1979 (with a bishop on e7 instead of b4) is a vivid illustration of the dangers White faces. With both sides castled short, the W orld Champion played . ..d7-d5 and confidently launched a kingside attack via ...Be7-d6 and ... Nf6-g4. White had no chance for active counterplay, and Karpov even made the "anti-positional" move ...d5xc4! The result wa s m o r e o p e n l i n e s i n B l a c k ' s f a v o r . Timman's kin g was chased all over th e board, and he resigned on move 31. ] 6...h6 7.h4 xc3+ Positionally correct. [ However, 7...0-0!? is a critical test. It enables White to avoid doubled pawns after 8.c1 , but matters are not clear: ( W h i t e s h o u l d p r o b a b l y p r e f e r 8.e3 , see the archives: Naiditsch, A (2654)Savchenko, S (2545)/Baku 2007/[Carsten Hansen]. ) 8...e8 9.e3 xd4! 10.xd4 c5! 11.d1 Gurevich, M (2641)-Bareev, E (2707)/Wijk aan Zee 2002/[TonyK]. ] 8.bxc3 e5 9.f3!? A fresh approach - White plays for a bind with f2-f3 and e2-e4. Sulskis had success with this on one occasion in 2010. [ Check the archives for the popular 9.f4 g6 ( 9...xc4? 10.e4! ) 10.xf6 xf6 11.g3 , i.e. h5 12.h4!? , Nevednichy, V (2582)-Labib, I (2426)/New Delhi/Teheran 2000/[TonyK]. ] [ 9.e3 is probably too restrained. Black's position is completely sound, so he has many ways to proceed. One instructive example: d6 10.e2 g6 11.g3 e4 12.c2 e7 13.f3 xg3 14.hxg3 e5 15.b1 c6 16.e2 g6 17.d2 h5! Degerman, L (2485) -Chernin, A (2640)/ Stockholm 199899. W hite has difficulties finding any targets or organizing any pawn break. ] 9...g6 [ Socko must have been reluctant to venture it, but 9...xc4 must be critical. I found one o l d g a m e t h a t c o n t i n u e d 10.f5!? ( Compared to 9.f4 Nxc4? 10.e4 above, here 10.e4 is simply met by e5 . White had scarce compensation after 11.d3 d6 12.0-0 g6 13.f2 0-0 in Sassi, P (2141)Luukkonen, T (2171)/Jyvaskyla 2002/ EXT 2004. ) 1056
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A) 10...0-0 results in approximate equality: 11.xh6+ ( 11.d4 d5! ) 11...gxh6 12.d4 e3! ( 12...a3? 13.0-0-0 ) 13.xf6 c2+ 14.d1 xd4 15.xd8 xf3 ( or 15...xd8 16.cxd4 with maybe the tiniest of edges to White.) 16.xc7 g5; B) 10...g5! 11.d4 d5?! ( 11...gxh4 is better, i.e. 12.xc4 d5 13.f4 xf5 14.xf5 e7 ) 12.g7+ e7 13.g3 wit h a ve ry m essy p osit io n. K ah n, MPietzsch, W/Grossroehrsdorf 1949. It will b e in t e re s t in g t o se e if / wh e n S u lski s ve nt ures t his line a ga in , be ca use I'm skeptical that W hite can prove full compensation after 9...Nxc4. ] 10.f2 Improving on his previous game. [ 10.g3 0-0 11.e4 d6 12.d2 e8 13.0-0-0!? led to an unbalanced struggle. Sulskis, S (2544)-Andersen, M (2385)/Borup DEN 2010. ] 10...d6 11.e4 d7 Black angles for the c5 square. [ Simply awaiting developments with 11...0-0 was possible. ] 12.h4!? Playing for an extended bind! Maximizing space is smart: W hite has an inferior pawn structure but possesses the bishop pair. Thus, he will look to open the position at some point and would like to do so under optimal spatial conditions. c5 13.h5 e7?! Socko launches this knight on a faulty trajectory. [ 13...e5 This seems like the best square for the knight, so why not go there at once? ] 14.g4 In the spirit of W hite's 12th. e6 15.f5 g8?! [ Black avoids 15...0-0?! 16.xc5 xf5 ( 16...dxc5? 17.xd8 axd8 18.xe7++- ) 17.e3! e6 18.g5 , but the text also compromises his position. ] [ Best is 15...xf5 16.gxf5 c6 ] 16.xc5!? An interesting decision. White trades his good bishop, but favorably alters the pawn structure. dxc5 17.b3 xf5? Questionable. [ Black should stand firm with 17...b6 18.d1 d7 . Now one idea is to try to swing the other rook to d2 with 19.h2!? , but the nonstandard xf5! 20.exf5 ( 20.gxf5 f6 and ...0-0-0 to follow.) 20...f6 (the point
behind 18...Bd7 - keeping the queen active). 21.e2+ d8 is a good answer. Note that 22.ed2? h4+ 23.e2 e8+ 24.d3 c8 definitely isn't what White has in mind. ] 18.gxf5 [ It's a tough call between this and 18.exf5!? , e.g. d6 19.xb7! g3+ 20.e2 d8 21.e4 and White's extra pawn will be significant. ] 18...d6 19.d1?! Controlling the pace of the game, but passing up a good opportunity. [ Black has some pseudo-play after 19.xb7 d8 , but following 20.f2 e5 21.e2 White is effectively getting his pieces out. B la ck c a n 't r e a lly wh ip u p a n in i t ia t iv e without the participation of his e7 knight and g8 rook. Here xc3? would be simply bad due to ( 21...f6! planning 22...Kf7 is best.) 22.ad1 with devastating threats of 23.Qxc7 and 23.Qb5+ ] 19...g3+ 20.e2 b6 A unique position. Both sides have somewhat clumsy pieces, and neither king is totally safe. It's roughly level. 21.a4+ White forces a small concession. c6 This pawn may become weak, and it's significant that the knight can't occupy this square in the future. [ 21...f8? 22.xa7 ] 22.d3 f6 23.d1 f7 24.d2 b8 Black aims to contest the d-file with ...Rg8-d8. 25.f4 d8 26.hh3 c7 27.f2 xd3 Not strictly necessary, but things don't stray far from equality. [ Black could wait, e.g. 27...e8 ] 28.xd3 e8 29.g3 d8 30.d3 f8 31.e3 c8 [ White's queen is momentarily overloaded ( d e f e n d i n g f 4 a n d d 3 ) , s o 31...b5!? is possible. If White tries to fight fire-withf i r e , h e m u s t b e c a r e f u l : 32.e5?! ( Some thing like 32.g1= i s p r u d e n t .; G r a b b i n g a p a w n w i t h 32.cxb5 cxb5 33.xb5 i s d a n g e r o u s d u e t o c4! when White's bishop risks being cut off. ) A) Black should have few issues in the en d ga m e a f t e r 32...b4 33.cxb4 cxb4 34.c5 b6! 35.xb6 axb6 i.e. 36.e3 c5 ( or 36...a8 37.g2 a3= ) 37.e6 d4 38.g4 ( 38.g1? b5! 39.cxb5 d5+ ) 38...c6 39.g1 a5 40.c1 1057
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e7= It's hard for either side to make progress.; B) 32...bxc4!? 33.xc4 d7! ( 33...xf5?! 34.xc5+ ) 34.d3 d5 ] 32.e2 c7 33.e5! g8 34.e4 fxe5! 35.fxe5 e8 36.e6 f6 37.f3 d8 38.e2 f4+ 39.g2 e8 40.h3 e7 B o t h s i d e s a r e p l a y i n g w e l l . 41.e3!? At first I thought this was a move-after-timecontrol blunder, but in fact it's an interesting ploy. W hite doesn't have a real convenient w a y t o d e f e n d h 5 , s o w h y n o t ? d6? Black takes White at his word! [ I guess Socko didn't like the look of 41...xe3 42.xe3 xh5 43.g4 f6+ 44.f4 , when it appears White might walk his king to d6. This isn't really achievable, t h o u g h . F o r i n s t a n c e : c7 45.e1 ( 45.e5?? g4+ ) 45...e7 46.g1 d6 47.d1 e7 48.g1= ] [ 41...xh5 42.xf4 xf4+ 43.g4 would force Black to find g5! ( Despite the p a wn d e f i c i t , o n ly W h i t e ca n win a f t e r 43...xd3 44.xd3 )] 42.e2! Defending h5. Now the plan is to put the bishop on f3 and target c6. Despite the shaky looking White position, Black can't do much active. e8 [ 42...h7 43.g1 g5+ 44.g2 isn't much of a problem. 45. Rd1 is coming. ] 43.g1 c7 44.a4 a5 45.f3 e7 46.g6 d6 47.g2 c7 48.g1 e8 49.e1! A f t e r m a r k i n g t i m e , W h it e g e t s d o wn t o business. g8?? A totally nonsensical decision. [ 49...d6 is more tenacious. ] 50.e5! That's it! Black's c6 weakness will be his downfall. e7 [ 50...xe5 51.xe5 c8 52.e1+and 53.Rb1 is hopeless for Black. ] 51.d1 c8 52.d6 Insisting on a queen trade. xd6 53.xd6 f8 54.d1! e7 Black is hurrying to correct the error of his 49th, but the three weaknesses (b6, c6, and g7) keep him tied down. 55.b1 b8 56.g1 [ It's too early for 56.xc6?! : xh5 ] 56...g8 57.g3!+- Getting the king involved. B la ck is h e lp le ss. h7 58.xc6 d8 59.d5! f6 60.f4 xh5+ 61.e5 g8 62.b1 b8 63.g1 g8 64.b7! f6 [ 64...b8? 65.f3+- ]
65.b1 b8 66.xb6 e8 67.d5+- d6 [ Slightly better practical chances are offered by 67...h5 68.xc5 h4 , though 69.g2+is pretty convincing. ] 68.xd6 xb7 69.xc5 The rook ending is a total win. h5 70.c6 b2 [ 70...h4 allows a familiar mate: 71.d7+ xd7 72.exd7 d8 ( 72...h3 73.c7 ) 73.d6 h3 74.c5 h2 75.c6 h1 76.c7# ] 71.d7+ f8 72.c5 h4 73.d6 d2+ 74.e5 xd7 75.exd7 e7 76.f4 In the square! xd7 77.g4 c6 78.xh4 xc5 79.g5 1-0
1068 Van Wely,Loek Rublevsky,Sergei Masters Frankfurt GER (12) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2646 2662 25.06.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 xc3 6.xc3 e7 7.a3 d5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.b3 b6 10.d3 a5 [ Probably the most accurate, for if 10...0-0 then White can play 11.c2! and answer a5 with 12.b3 , protecting his queenside light squares. ] 11.c2!? [ 11.d2 a4 12.c2 would transpose, but ( 12.b5 had been considered, stronger, although d7 13.c1 f6 14.c5 xc5 15.xc5 0-0-0! is only equal, Xu,JHjartarson,J/Lucerne 1993. )] 11...a4 12.d2 e6!? [ Black aims for control of b3, but practice indicates that the bishop is more effective on f5, i.e. 12...0-0 which was successful in a previously analysed game, and another game was Lerner,K-Makarichev,S/Frunze 1979, which continued: 13.c1?! d8! 14.e2 ( now 14.c5?! can be met by e8 15.e2 f5 with an edge) 14...f5 15.0-0?! e4 16.dxe4 xe4 and Black is better. ] 13.c1 b3 [ A new move in this position, although the reasoning behind the previous effort, 13...g6 o f W in t ze r, J-P isko v, Y/ B o n n 1 9 9 5 , is a mystery to me! ] 14.c5 xc5 Now, of course, the exchange 1058
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 of queens cannot be avoided. 15.xc5 f6 16.g4! White shows a good understanding of this ending, he can undermine the e5-pawn from the side. 0-0-0 17.g1 d6 [ 17...d5 18.h4 g5 19.f5 h5 is a more aggressive treatment, although the f5-knight is very strong. ] 18.h4 hd8 19.h5?! [ White continues his plan, the threat is now g 5 , wh e n t h e b l a c k k i n g s i d e wi l l s t a r t creaking, and also the g7-pawn is fixed on a dark square, but Black has prepared a little surprise of his own. Had White seen what was coming he would have preferred 19.g5 as now e4 20.dxe4 e5 21.xe5 xd2 22.gxf6 gxf6 23.f3 is fine for him, d1+?! 24.e2 b1?? n o w l o s i n g t o 25.h3+ , thus we see the importance of opening the h3-c8 diagonal! ] 19...e4! 20.dxe4 d7!? [ Perhaps he should have given preference to 20...e5 , forcing 21.xe5 ( 21.xe5? xd2 22.f3 d1+ 23.e2 b1 is rather awkward) 21...fxe5 22.e2 d7 23.c3 when White doesn't have enough compensation for the exchange. ] 21.xc6 [ Forced, 21.c1? de5 22.xe5 xe5 is devastating. ] 21...bxc6?! [ Better to have allowed the knight fork by 21...xc6 22.d4 a s h e ca n p la y e5 23.e2 cd6 although White has a good position after 24.b4 , anyway. ] 22.d4 e5 23.e2 c5 24.xb3 axb3 25.c3 h6 26.f4 d3+ 27.xd3 xd3 28.e2 c4 29.c1 The complications have finished and, taking into account the white kingside pawn mass, and the weakness of c4, W hite is better. e8 30.e5 c5 31.d4! Even the tactics favour White. fxe5 [ 31...cxd4? 32.xc4+ d7 33.xd3 regains the exchange. ] 32.xe5 ed8 33.xc4 d2+ 34.f3 c2 35.c3 dd2 Black desperately tries to activate his position, as passive defence is doomed- his kingside is too weak. 36.xc5+ d7 37.b5 f2+ 38.e4 xb2 39.xb2 xb2 40.f5 b1 41.e4 The rook ending is quite hopeless. c6 42.a4 b2 43.e5 c7 44.e6 d6 45.b6+ e7 46.b7+ e8
47.a5 a1 48.xb2 xa5+ 49.g6 a4 50.f2 a7 Although tactically dodgy, it is clear that White's nineteenth move was very strong positionally, as the fixing of the g7pawn continues to bear its fruits. 51.f5 a4 52.xg7 xg4+ 53.f6 1-0
1069 Vladimirov,Evgeny Harikrishna,Penteala 12th Goodricke Open (5) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2612 2514 10.02.2001
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.e3 b4 5.c2 0-0 6.d5 e8 7.f5 d6 8.xf6+ xf6 9.xf6 gxf6 10.b3 [ A more restrained approach, we have seen the standard 10.a3 c5 11.b4 in several other games. ] 10...a5 11.a3 c5 12.b2 f5!? [ A n e w i d e a , 12...e6 is normal in this position, 13.c1 e4 14.d4 exd3 15.xd3 e5 16.e2 f5 White has a positional advantage, Baumgartner,U-Cebalo,M/San Bernardino 1989. ] 13.d3 a4 14.b4 xb4!? A positional piece, sac that creates a dangerous passed pawn. 15.axb4 xb4+ 16.d1 a3 17.c1 c5 18.d2 d7 19.e2 b5 20.xb4?! [ White has problems bringing his pieces over to the action on the queenside, 20.cxb5 xb5 might be preferable, though. ] 20...cxb4 21.c2 bxc4 22.dxc4 a4+ 23.b1 d5!? [ Black keeps hold of the initiative, 23...eb8 24.d2 c6?! 25.b3 allows White to blockade the pawns. ] 24.cxd5 ec8 25.a2 c3 26.d2 d8? [ 26...ac8 is more to the point. ] 27.c4? [ 27.e4 cc8 ( 27...b3+?! 28.a1 c8 29.a6 c7 30.d6 and the d-pawn wins) 28.xf6+ g7 29.h5+ must have been difficult to resist. ] 27...c8 B a c k o n t r a c k . 28.a1 8xc4 29.xc4 xc4 30.b1 b3 31.d2 f8 Black is at least equal. 32.d6 e8 33.d7+ d8 34.a1 c2 35.a2 f5? [ 35...c3 first leaves Black well on top. ] 1059
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 36.b3! W h it e g r a b s h is ch a n c e . e6 37.a4 The black pawns will not be able to advance properly. Ideally, Black will play ...b3b2, keeping the pawns on dark squares. f5 38.a1 g4 39.f3 c4 40.b5 f4 41.e4 [ 41.d6 c2 42.xb4 wins the b-pawn, but the a-pawn should assure the draw. a2 ] 41...h5 42.h4 c7 43.xb4 a2 44.dd1 b7+ 45.c5 xd7 46.b4 xd1 47.xd1+ e7 48.a3 f6 49.b2 g6 50.d6 g7 Black has an impregnable fortress, as the a2-pawn ties one of the white pieces down. 51.c6 b3 52.c5 f6 53.a5 e6 54.c3 g6 55.d2 f7 56.a7+ e8 57.d3 f7 58.a8+ e7 59.c3 e6 60.b2 f7 ½-½
1070 Williams,Simon Kim Rowson,Jonathan Open London ENG (2) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2288 2512 15.12.2001
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e4 c5! 5.xe5 xe5 6.d4 b4 7.dxe5 xe4 8.d3!? White tries this interesting idea of Onischuk's. [ 8.c2 was also tested by the system's founder: xc3 9.bxc3 c5 10.d3 h4 11.0-0 0-0 but White's free play barely compensates his weakened pawns, Nimzowitsch,A-Colle,E/ Bled 1931. ] [ 8.d4 is the main line. ] 8...xc3 9.bxc3 a5! 10.f4? An unfortunate innovation, which is ruthlessly exploited by Black. [ We have considered the superior 10.a3 in Onischuk,A-Baklan,V/Germany 1998. ] 10...d6! 11.a3 f5!? [ F l a s h y , a l t h o u g h t h e s i m p l e 11...dxe5 12.xd8+ xd8 13.0-0-0+ e8 is also good, Black wins a pawn for zero compensation. ] 12.xf5? [ After the better 12.g3 0-0 Black is better, but White is still on the board. ] 12...xc3+ 13.f2 xa1 14.d3 [ There is nothing to be gained from 14.exd6 0-0! 15.d7 ( 15.dxc7 d2+ ) 15...d4+
16.g3 c5 Black has a solid extra exchange. ] 14...dxe5! 15.f3?! [ Played to threaten the a1-bishop, as 15.xa1? allows d4+ , but the king proves misplaced here. ] 15...g6 16.e4 f5 17.e2 d4 [ Not falling for 17...e4+? 18.xe4 fxe4+ 19.xe4+ f7 20.xa1 with some chances, but ] [ 17...xd3+ 18.xd3 e4+ is also crushing. ] 18.fxe5 0-0-0 Black has extra material, a lead in development, and a strong attack! 19.d1 g4+ 20.f2 d4+ 21.f1 f4+ 0-1
1071 Ye Rongguang Al Modiahki,Mohamad Xiapu Xiapu CHN (14) [John Watson]
A28 2472 2569 21.06.2005
1.c4 Nimzowitsch's favourite 4.e4 in the following game has always attracted some experimenters and is considered soundly equal. The question is whether W hite can gain anything from using 4.e4. Ye Rongguang succeeds in raising our interest level about this. e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e4 c5 5.xe5 A variation from days long past - does White have something up his sleeve? 0-0!? This leads to unclear but probably insufficient compensation for the pawn: [ (a) 5...xf2+? 6.xf2 xe5 7.d4 leaves Black uncoordinated, e.g., eg4+ 8.g1 d6 9.h3 h6 10.g5 ] [ (b) But 5...xe5 6.d4 b4 is logical and previously held to be equal: 7.dxe5 xe4 8.d4 xc3 9.bxc3 A) 9...a5 10.a3 ( Maybe White could try 10.c5!? and bring the bishop to f4 ?) 10...d6 11.exd6 0-0 is another theoretical line, considered dynamically equal after 12.0-0-0 cxd6 13.xd6 xd6 14.xd6 e8 15.b2 d7; B) 9...e7 10.g4 ( Ye Rongguang probably had something new hereabouts. Maybe 10.c5!? intending 0-0 11.d3 ) 10...f8 11.g3 d6= ] 1060
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 6.f3 e8 [ 6...xe4?! 7.xe4 e8 8.e2!? ( 8.d3 f5 9.e2 fxe4 10.dxe4 ) 8...f5 9.xc5 xe2+ 10.xe2 e7 11.b3 gives White too much material for his queen, even after b4 12.f1 ] 7.d3?! [ Instead, the natural move looks considerably better: 7.d3! d5 ( 7...g4 8.d4; 7...d6 8.e2 ) 8.cxd5 xd5 9.e2 ] 7...d5!? [ 7...d6! 8.0-0 g4! makes it surprisingly difficult for W hite to get organized, e.g., , 9.h3! h5 10.b3 ( 10.e2 xe4 ) 10...d4 11.e2 xe2+ 12.xe2 d4 ] 8.cxd5 g4? This is way too ambitious. Better was [ 8...xd5 or ] [ 8...b4 9.c4 xe4 ] 9.0-0 ce5 10.b5 Reasonable, but safer is [ 10.e2 ] 10...d6 11.g3!? f6 [ 11...h6 12.h4! ] 12.xe5 xf2 13.f3? This must have been a complete miscalculation. [ 13.e2! w i n s a f t e r xe5 ( 13...xe4+ 14.d4! xd4+ 15.h1 hits the queen) 14.xf2 g4 15.e1 ] 13...xe5 14.xf6 xe4+ 15.g2 [ About the same thing results from 15.f2 xf2 16.xf2 h3! 17.e2! xf2+ 18.xf2 xd5 ] 15...xf6 16.d3 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 The situation is completely altered: Black has even material and pressure on the weak dpawn. To make things worse White's king is exposed. 18.c4 f5 19.f4? d6? [ 19...b5! 20.xb5 b7+ 21.h3 h5+ 22.g4 xh2 is winning. A typical line would be 23.xc7 h5+ 24.f4 b4! 25.ad1 e2 ( or 25...d2+ 26.xd2 xd2 )] 20.ae1 f8 21.d4 xf4 22.gxf4 d7 23.e5 f6! 24.e3 [ 24.xf5 xf5 leaves Black a pawn ahead with control over the key squares. ] 24...e8 25.xe8+ xe8 26.g3 f7 27.c1 xc4 28.xc4 c6 29.a4 a6 30.b3 e7 31.h4 h5 [ Or 31...d5 ] 32.c4 d6 33.c2 a5 34.e2 d5 35.f3
xd4 36.g2 The result is marked "1-0", but that is either a typo or Black's flag fell. 1-0
1072 Zvjaginsev,Vadim Van Wely,Loek Fontys Tilburg NED (4) [Tony Kosten]
A28 2650 2635 26.10.1998
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.d4 exd4 5.xd4 b4 6.g5 The most logical move, by pinning the f6-knight, W hite exploits the absence of Black's dark-squared bishop from e7. h6 7.h4 xc3+ 8.bxc3 e5 9.e3 A modest move, but possibly better than the 'standard' [ 9.f4 g6 ( and not 9...xc4? 10.e4 e3 11.e2 xf1 12.e5 and wins. ) 10.xf6 xf6 11.g3 which only leads to equality. ] 9...0-0 10.f3 A perfectly normal move in such positions, White controls e4, and prepares an escape route for his queen's bishop, should B l a c k t h r e a t e n i t . d6 11.e2 White's development might seem unimposing, but his two bishops and mobile e and f-pawns are ready for action. e7 12.0-0 a6 13.a4! C l a m p i n g d o w n o n t h e q u e e n s i d e . e6? A careless move, Black should first break the annoying pin by [ 13...g6 14.f2 and then bring a knight to c5, by d7 after all, the weak white queenside is Black's compensation for the bishop pair, he might as well exploit it. ] 14.f4! After this blow Black's pieces find themselves unfortunately placed. xc4 [ 14...c6 15.e4 is also unpleasant. ] 15.f3 d5 16.xc4 dxc4 17.e4 The threat of e5 appears crushing. g5 What else? The pin on the f6-knight is too strong, [ 17...g4 18.e5 xf3 19.xf3 wins material, and continues the attack. ] 18.fxg5 xe4 19.e1! xg5 20.xg5 hxg5 21.e5! The key move, cutting out defences based around ... Qc5+, and threatening various mating manoeuvres. fe8 22.e1? [ 22.f6 f8 23.xe6 xe6 24.xe6 fxe6 25.f1 should win quickly, the black king is completely isolated. ] 1061
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22...ad8! Black is not ready to give-up yet, [ Black often stops b2-b4 entirely with 8...a5 and finds a clever resource. 23.g3 g4 , as in Aronian, L (2744)-Topalov, V (2783)/ Forced, obviously. 24.f4? White concedes Wijk aan Zee 2007/[Hansen, Carsten] . ] control of the fifth rank, and allows Black to 9.d3 Restraint in response. White prepares a find a defence, retreat square on d2. [ 24.e4 w a s s i m p l e s t , f o r c i n g xd4 [ Gulko introduced the pawn sac 9.b4!? g4 25.xd4 and White has every chance to 10.e1 xb4 , see Khalifman, A (2667)win. ] Lutz, C (2595)/New Delhi/Teheran 2000/ 24...c5! 25.e5 b6 26.h6 b1+ [TonyK]. ] 27.f2 f5!! The brilliant point behind Black's [ Khalifman recently had success with 9.b3!? stubborn defence, just when it seemed that , reminding Black that the g-pawn rush has R g 5 + w a s u n s t o p p a b l e . 28.ge3 come at a price: the a1-h8 diagonal is now Shell-shocked, White decides to take a draw, weak. Now h5 ( Black should probably try but 9...g4 10.e1 h5 ) 10.d4!? exd4 11.b5 [ 28.xg4+ g6 29.h4 f6 30.e6 d2+! f5 12.b2! was an energetic follow up. 31.xd2 fxe5 32.h8+ f7 33.xe8 b6+ xb1 13.xb1 d7 14.bxd4 xd4 34.g3 xe8 was not very clear, anyway. ] 15.xd4 0-0-0?! ( 15...g8 16.e3 ) 28...xe5 29.g5+ h7 30.h5+ 16.xh8 xh8 17.d1 e6 18.e3 f6 [ 30.xe5 xd4 31.cxd4 g6 is playable, if 19.c2 h4 20.d4 xd4 21.xd4 hxg3 risky, the c-pawn is very strong. ] 22.hxg3 c6?! 23.c5 g6?? 24.h3+ 30...g7 31.g5+ h7 32.h5+ g7 1 -0 K h a li f m a n , A (2 6 3 8 ) -B u k a v s h in , I 33.g5+ (2458)/Moscow RUS 2011. ] ½-½ [ 9.a3?! as in Wu Wenjin (2560) -Ganguly, S (2464)/Calcutta 2001 is inconsistent with 8. Rb1. g4 10.e1 h5 ] 1073 A29 9...g4 [ Check the archives for 9...h5 10.e3 g4 Almasi,Zoltan 2707 11.d2 ( I want to note that 11.h4!?N Wang Hao 2736 is possible here. If Black gets greedy with Sportaccord WMG Rapid rapid (1) 09.12.2011 xh4 12.gxh4 xh4 , then 13.c1! [John Bartholomew] is a cute retort, when the threat of 14.Bg5 forces Black on the defensive: e7 14.b5 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 d7 15.g5! . Black's position is on the 5.g2 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.b1 verge of collapse, e.g. a6 16.xc6 bxc6 Flirting with b2-b4 in spite of the absence of 17.e3+. 12. ..Nd4 is better, with unique a2-a3. A major benefit of this omission is that play. ) 11...d4 Miezis, N (2505)-Smirin, I White avoids the typical weakening of the b3 (2590)/New York 1998/[TonyK]. ] square. The idea can also be employed on the previous move: 7.Rb1!?, as in Hodgson, J 10.d2 [ 10.e1 looks less logical to me, but it has (2605)-Gormally, D (2476)/Scarborough 1999/ attracted the attention of a couple strong [TonyK], and Korchnoi, V (2601) -Stefanova, players. The maneuver Nf3-e1-c2 actually A (2523)/Drammen 2005/[John Watson]. g5!? isn't uncommon in this line, as it facilitates An uncomprimising jab we've come across b2-b4. h5 11.c2 h4 many times on Chesspublishing.com. Of the A) 12.b4 hxg3 13.fxg3 xb4?! elite Chinese players, Wang Hao seems to be ( 13...a5!? ) 14.xb4 d4+ 15.e3 xc3 the most willing to mix things up, and no 16.d5 xd5 17.xd5 e6 18.xe6 doubt the short time control emboldened him fxe6 19.xb7 Hodgson, J (2625)-Bareev, further. E (2660)/Belgrade 1993.; [ Most common is 8...0-0 , when White can B) The unprejudiced engine suggests follow through with 9.b4 Kasparov, G (2849)giving up the light-square bishop with Tim ma n, J (26 29 )/ W ijk aa n Ze e 20 01 / 12.xc6+!? bxc6 13.d4 , but a human [TonyK]. ] 1062
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 eye can see that Black will have serious c h a n c e s in t h e o p e n b o a r d , e . g . exd4 14.xd4 d7 15.f4 a6 with counterplay.; C) 12.e3 d4 13.d2 c6 14.b4 a5!? 15.a3 f5 Sorokin, M (2559)Nepomniachtchi, I (2520)/Tomsk 2006. ] 10...d4?! A standard sortie, but Black causes more harm than good by inducing e2e3. [ 10...e6 is rote, but White has better chances here too: 11.b4 ( The computer is a g a i n k e e n o n 11.xc6+!? ) 11...d5 12.xd5 ( 12.b2!?; or even 12.a4!? are interesting.) 12...xd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.b5 d4 15.b2 ( 15.e3 ) 15...h5 16.xd4 exd4 17.b3 0-0-0 was at least equal for Black in Degerman, L (2490)Hector, J (2540)/Reykjavik 1995. ] [ Maybe 10...h5 is best. Now the queen trade after 11.c4 xc4 12.dxc4 xd1 13.xd1 comes in a better form for Black: d4! when 14.e3 is met by f3+ 15.xf3 gxf3 with excellent counterplay on the light squares. ] 11.e3 e6 12.c4 White aims for a pleasant queenless middlegame. [ 12.e2! is more ambitious, intending to blast the center open with Rf1-d1 and d3-d4. Black has problems completing queenside development and his kingside diversion is l o o k i n g i n a d e q u a t e . F o r i n s t a n c e , h5 13.d1 c6 14.d4 exd4 15.b3 d3! 16.xd3 c7 17.d1!? with e3-e4, Bc1-e3, and Rb1-c1 to come ( the immediate 17.e4!? m a y b e e v e n s t r o n g e r s i n c e c4 (trying to control e5) is hammered by 18.d5! cxd5 19.exd5 with a very dangerous initiative. )] 12...xc4 Removing the threat to e5 and c l a r if yi n g t h e p o s it io n . 13.dxc4 xd1 14.xd1 0-0 15.b4 g5 16.d5 d8 17.e4! c6 18.e3 White remains a bit better, b u t W a n g H a o d e f e n d s a c c u r a t e l y . e6 19.f5 [ 19.b5!? ] 19...f6 20.d6 b6 21.a4 fd8 22.e3 f3+! Securing the bishop pair and inching closer to full equality. 23.xf3 gxf3 24.c5 e7! 25.f5 xf5 26.exf5 bxc5 27.bxc5 ab8= Now Black is totally fine. 28.h3 xb1
29.xb1 d5 30.h6 This shouldn't change the result, but it's a step in the wrong direction. [ White ought to simplify the position, e.g. 30.f6 xf6 31.b7 when e4! results in a draw, e.g. 32.xa7 ( or even 32.b4 g5 33.xg5 xg5 34.xe4 xc5 35.f4 c3 36.g4 with Kh2-g3 and Rxf3 to come.) 32...d4 33.e7 xe3 34.fxe3 d1+ 35.f2 d2+ 36.f1 d1+ 37.f2 d2+= ] [ The straightforward 30.b7 should also end in a draw provided White doesn't lose his head: xc5 31.xc5 xc5 32.xa7 and now c1+ ( Black can also try 32...h5 but it's not enough.) 33.h2 f1 34.g4 saves the day, e.g. xf2+ 35.g3 f1 36.e7 f6 37.e6 f7 38.a5 a1 39.xc6 xa5 40.xf3= ] 30...f6 31.b7? The wheels begin to come off. [ 31.e3 is still drawn, i.e. xc5 32.b8+ f7 33.xc5 xc5 34.b7+ f8 35.g4!= ] 31...xc5 32.g7+ f8! White may have underestimated this in time pressure. 33.g4?! [ Guarding the first rank with 33.b7+ e8 34.b1 was the last chance. ] 33...e8!-+ 34.g5 [ White is helpless against the threats of ... Rd1+ and ...Bxf2 or ...e4, ...Rd1+, and ...Bd6, for instance 34.e3 d1+ 35.h2 xe3 36.fxe3 f2-+ ] 34...e4 [ or just 34...fxg5-+ ] 35.g8+ d7 36.g7+ c8 37.g8+ b7 38.g7+ a6 39.gxf6 d1+ 40.h2 d6+ 41.g3 d5! Declining to win the exchange and transitioning to a completely won rook and pawn ending. 42.f7 xf5 43.f8 xf8 44.xf8 xf8 45.g1 d8 0-1
1074 Anand,Viswanathan Topalov,Veselin WCHM 2010 Sofia [Nigel Davies]
A29 2787 2805 09.05.2010
1.c4 I must admit that I find Anand's switch a wa y f r o m 1 . e 4 t o 1 . d 4 a n d e ve n F l a n k Openings to be very interesting. Probably he 1063
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 reasons, as I do, that older players on the tourn amen t circuit have mu ch t o ga in b y switching the emphasis of the struggle to the middle game. e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.d3 f6 11.e4!? [ Quite a rare move in this position, White's most popular choices having been 11.e3 ] [ and 11.b2 . Anand's move makes a lot of sense because Black will lose time driving the knight away with a second move of his fpawn. And meanwhile he stays flexible with the development of his queen's bishop. ] 11...e8!? Topalov was probably making it up at the board given the rarity of both 11.Ne4 and Anand's adoption of the English Opening. [ 11...d7 is another possibility and features in the game Berkes, F (2593)-Munoz, L (2342)/ Turin 2006. ] [ 11...a5 seems critical, after which 12.c5 xc5 13.bxc5 d5 14.b2 ( 14.c2 is Miezis, N (2579)-Danin, A (2498)/Utrecht 2009 ) 14...a4 is Uhlmann, W (2417)Jackova, J (2360)/Marianske Lazne 2008. ] 12.c5 I hate to criticise the World Champion, but this does not seem to be that much in the spirit of the flexible English Opening. Could it be that in this tense situation Anand was inclined towards forcing moves? [ A couple of more flexible options come to mind in 12.b1!? ] [ and 12.c2!? . ] 12...xc5 13.bxc5 d5 14.b2 Looking to break open the centre with d3-d4 at some point. [ 14.d2 was another possibility, leaving the b-file open so as to possibly occupy it with a rook. ] 14...d8 15.c2 de7 A solid regrouping manoeuvre, making the bishop on e6 more active and inhibiting W hite's idea of d3-d4. 16.ab1 a2 17.bc1 f7 18.c3 d7 19.b2 b8 20.fd1 e6 21.d2 h6?! [ A leisurely looking waiting move, though as White has the plan of doubling on the b-file it might have been better to play 21...d5!? to exchange off the potentially dangerous dark squared bishop. I don't see much for him after that. ] 22.b1 d5 After this it starts to look quite nice for White.
[ Black would probably do better to play either 22...h5 ] [ or 22...b6 . ] 23.b2! b6 24.cxb6 White could probably have waited with this exchange. cxb6 25.d2 d6 26.bc2 White now seems to be slightly better because of his c-file pressure and bishop pair, though there's no doubting the solidity of Black's formation. It's also very hard to f in d a p la n b y wh ich W h it e ca n b re a k through. d7 27.h4 d8 28.b5 de7 29.b2 d5 30.b4 xb4 31.axb4 c6! 32.b5 xc2 33.xc2 e6 34.d4!? Trying to stir something up. e4 [ After 34...exd4 35.d2 f5 White can play 36.e4!? . ] 35.d2 xd4 36.xe4?! This looks natural but the White doesn't actually do much here. [ It might have been better to play just 36.xd4 xd4 37.xe4 with what looks like an equal position. ] 36...xb2 37.xb2 f7 38.e3 g5 39.hxg5 hxg5 40.f4 White doesn't want Black to play . . . g 5 -g 4 , f i xin g h is ki n gs id e p a wn s . gxf4 41.exf4 d4 42.f2 f5 43.f3 d5 44.d2 xf3 45.xf3 a4 46.g4?! I think a lot of tension started to creep into the game at this point. [ 46.d2! would have been the solid move, with a likely draw. ] 46...d6?! [ 46...e7! is better when White should fight f or a dra w wit h 47.d2 ( 47.g3 d5 48.f5 e3! 49.h2 c4 looks very dangerous ) 47...xf4 48.g3 b4 49.d7 xb5 50.xa7 etc. ] 47.g3 e4+ 48.h4! d6 49.d2? A very risky move, sacrificing a pawn to go active. [ 49.g3 was much safer, with a draw in prospect. ] 49...xb5 50.f5 e4 [ 50...c3!? might have been a better winning attempt. ] 51.h5! e3 52.h4 c3 53.d7+ e7 54.d3! e4 55.g6 c5 56.a3 d7 57.e3 g7 58.g5 b5 59.f4 b4 60.g6! b3 61.c3 d4! [ 61...b2?? would get Black mated after 62.xc5! b1 63.e6+ g8 64.c8+ etc. ] 1064
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 62.xc5 xf4 63.c7+ g8 64.b7 f3 65.b8+ g7 ½-½
1075 Anastasian,Ashot Sadvakasov,Darmen Aeroflot Open (2) [John Watson]
A29 2568 2635 16.02.2005
4 . g 3 a l wa y s t o p s t h e c h a r t s i n t h e F o u r Knights English. In an important main line we see how easily Black's activity can express itself when White opens the position. As so o f t e n t h e e a rl y o p e n in g o f l in e s f a vo u r s Black's two knights. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.e1 e8 8.c2 xc3 9.dxc3 h6 10.e3!? This is a better square for the knight in most varia tions, but W h ite spe eds his development and stops ...e3. b6 [ 10...d5 11.cxd5 xd5 12.d2 xe3 13.xe3 e7 14.ad1 ] 11.c5?! I think that this is a conceptual mistake. A major point of this variation is to control d5. By eliminating his doubled pawns, W hite gives Black's central majority a free hand. b7 [ 11...g4 is also possible but then ...Nxe3 is hardly a threat since a knight on e3 is well-placed. There is no need to worry about the bishop pair. ] 12.h3 e7 13.cxb6 axb6 14.c4 e5 Black's setup is fairly typical for this variation but W hite's knight is misplaced and ...d5 cannot be prevented. 15.b3 d5!? [ 15...ad8 might have been even more irritating: the threat is stronger than the execution. In any case Black has a solid advantage. ] 16.cxd5 xd5!? This allows White to activate his bish op . S ad va ka sov h as a pa rt icula r dynamic solution in mind. [ Instead 16...ad8!? is more flexible and forces White to find a useful move in view of 17.d4 xd5 ] 17.d4! c5! 18.b2 ad8 19.c1 e3! This is Black's point: he gets a wedge in White's position. The only drawback is that the bishop on g2 is finally activated.
[ 19...f6 or ] [ 19...a6 were also worth considering, both with advantage. ] 20.f4! [ A n a s t a s i a n a v o i d s 20.xe3 xe3 21.xe3? ( but 21.fxe3 xg2 22.xg2 d7! is pretty awful) 21...xg2 22.xg2 b7+ 23.f3 ( 23.g1 d3 24.d2 xf2 tears W hite apart) 23...xf3! 24.xf3 xe2+ 25.g1 xf3 26.xf3 xb2 and Black will win easily ] 20...c6! [ The bishops exert their influence after 20...d7 21.d1 7f6 22.e5! ] 21.d1?! Abandoning the kingside defences. However, [ 21.h2 a6! 22.e1 f5 intending ...Qe6g6 wasn't very attractive. ] 21...e6 22.h2 [ W i s e l y a vo i d i n g t h e a p p e a l i n g 22.d3 because of g6! 23.h2 xf4! 24.gxf4 d4! 25.xb7 xe2 26.e1 xd3 and wins ] 22...ce7! Black is play ing perfectly timed moves. Now White must attend to ...Nf5 and ... Qg6. 23.xe3?? After the burden of def en din g f rom a po or op ening situ at io n White collapses. Instead, [ 23.f3 was probably necessary, with a large disadvantage after f5 ] 23...xe3?? [ Black miscalculates horribly just as he was to cash in on a well-played game. Winning outrightwas 23...xe3 24.xd8 ( 24.c3 d4 25.xb7 xd1 ) 24...xd8 25.xb7 ( 25.c3 3f5 26.xb7 xe2+ a n d . . . R d 2) 25...d1 26.c3 f1+! (probably what Sadvakasov missed) 27.g1 ( 27.g2 xe2+ 28.g1 h2# ) 27...xg3+! 28.xd1 xe2+ 29.f2 xc3 30.xc3 xh3 ] 24.xe3 A forced series of moves follows that leaves Black o nly nom inally better. xe3 25.xd8 xd8 26.xb7 d2 27.c3!? [ 27.e5 is probably better because it isn't subject to attack on c3. xe2+ 28.g1 7d5 29.xd5 xd5 30.d1! . Now things get iffy: ] 27...xe2+ 28.g1 7d5! 29.e1!? [ 29.xd5 xd5 30.e1 is an instructive example of active-versus-passive pieces. 1065
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 The pawn on the same colour as the bishop restrain its scope. h5! 31.d1 ( 31.h4 e3; 31.f2 h4 ) 31...f6 and the a-pawn needs defence. 32.a4 e3! ( or 32...e4 ) 33.b1 e4! 34.g2 f5 and White has trouble finding a useful move. ] 29...c2 30.d1 xf4! 31.gxf4 xe1 32.a4 e7 33.d8+! h7 34.a6 Heading for c4. f3+!? [ 34...g6! 35.c4 c2 heads for the rooka n d - p a w n e n d i n g a f t e r 36.b8 e3 37.xb6 xc4 38.bxc4 e4 , which seems to give decent winning chances. ] [ 34...c2?? 35.d3+ ] 35.f2 d4 36.c4 g6 37.d6+ f5 38.xb6 xf4 39.a5 d7 40.a6 f5 41.b4 [ 41.b4 cxb4 42.xb4 e4 could still be tried, but the a-pawn will suffice to draw, and Black may have been disgusted with the easy win that he missed. ] ½-½
1076 Anastasian,Ashot Simonenko,Sergei Masters Abu Dhabi UAE (2) [John Watson]
A29 2595 2431 15.08.2005
exd4 18.xb7 That was easy! b8 19.f3? [ 19.c6! xb2 20.f3 puts White a clear pawn up since xa2? 21.xd4 paralyses the bishop and forces d6 22.c2! xc2 23.xc2 e6 24.xa7 etc. ] 19...xb2 20.b3 [ 20.c4 b8 21.ab1 xb1 22.xb1 g5 23.b7 c5= ] 20...d7 21.h4!? xb3? Now the opposite coloured bishops definitely favour W hite. Better was just [ 21...f7 ] 22.axb3 c5 23.a6! g5 A little desperate. 24.hxg5 fxg5 25.ca1 xb3?? [ 25...f7 26.xa7 xa7 27.xa7+ e7 28.b7 isn't at all easy. Black's bishop is awful, however. ] 26.g4 e7 27.e6+ xe6 28.xe6 b7 29.ea6 c4 30.dxc4 c7 31.xa7 xc4 32.d7 c8 33.a5 h6 34.xd4 f7 35.a6 c7 36.g2 g7 37.d5 e7 38.e3 b7 39.g4 e7 40.da5 e8 41.a7+ g6 42.5a6+ f6 43.a8 1-0
1077 A29 Aronian,Levon Gelfand,Boris White comes up with a truly unique plan. He 21st ECC Saint Vincent ITA 2005 perhaps rightly feels that knights are stronger [John Watson] t h a n b i s h o p s in so m e o f t h e se r e ve rse d Dragon positions. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 The combination of 7.Qb3 and g4 has given d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 White small edges for the most part. In this 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 0-0 9.e3 e6 10.d2!? high-level game Gelfand tries to develop An odd move that looks silly but shouldn't be simply and avoid weaknesses. 1.c4 e5 dismissed from a near 2600 player! f6 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 [ The natural 10...d5 doesn't solve all of xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.d3 c6 Black's problems: 11.fc1! xe3 12.xe3 [ 8...h6 prevents Bg5 and has been the main move, but it's weakening and White can play f6 13.d4! xd4 14.xd4 xd4 15.xd4 the same idea, e.g., 9.g4 c6 10.h4! exd4 16.d5 xd5 17.xd5+ h8 18.xc7 and the opposite-coloured bishops with a complex battle : e7 ( 10...b6 11.xb6 xb6 12.g5 hxg5 13.hxg5 won't save Black. ] xh1+ 14.xh1 h7 15.f4 11.fc1 e8 12.d1!? The point?! White takes 2 extra moves to get Rfc1 in. Oh well... Van der Sterren-Balcerak, Germany 2000) f7 13.d2 f8 11.g5! hxg5 12.xg5 d6 13.0-0-0 c7 14.dg1! e6 15.e3? ( better is 15.h5! [ 13...f5!? 14.b5?! d7 ] 14.a4 xa4 0-0-0 16.b1; or 15.b1 ) 15...f8 [ 14...f5! at least puts some pressure on ( 15...d5! ) 16.h5 d5 17.g5 dxc4 18.dxc4 d7 about equal, Mikhailuk-Sagalchik, White ] 15.xa4 d4?! 16.xe8 xe8 17.xd4 Seattle 2002 ] 1066
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.g4 This remarkable flank thrust has a winning record of about 80%! Needless to say, Black is developing defences after the initial shock has worn off. d6 [ 9...h6 transposes to 8... h6 ] 10.g5 d7 [ 10...g8 11.e4 b6 12.c2!? ( 12.h5! g6 13.f3; 12.d2 ) 12...c7 ( 12...e7 ) 13.c5!? dxc5 ( 13...d5 14.d6+ xd6 15.cxd6 xd6 16.e3 d4 17.d2 with some compensation) 14.xc5 e7 15.d2 e6 16.a3 b6 17.c1 d5 Zvjaginsev-Svidler, Moscow 2001 W hite went on to win. ] 11.e4!? [ 11.h4!? is more thematic but allows 11... Qb6. In the resulting queenless middlegame White can still try to make something of his space advantage yet it must be equal with careful play. ] 11...0-0 12.g1 b6 13.e3!? xe3 14.fxe3 f5 15.gxf6 xf6 16.0-0-0 The position contains chances for both sides. It's probably about equal. h8 17.d4!? [ Better seems 17.b4 d5 18.xf6 xf6 19.b1 ] [ 17.g3!? is also reasonable. ] 17...e7 [ 17...xe4! 18.xe4 h4 looks safe and potentially advantageous. ] 18.c3 [ 18.d5 xe4 19.xe4 f5 ] 18...xe4 19.xe4 f5 20.d3 xe4 21.xe4 ae8 [ 21...f7! 22.dxe5 xe5! 23.xe5 dxe5 must f avour Black somewhat in view of White's weak pawns. ] 22.dxe5 dxe5 23.g4 d8 24.d3 h6 ½-½
[ 10.d1 but it doesn't give White much hope of an edge. ] 10...exd4 [ 10...d6 11.d1 e8 12.c3 c6 13.dxe5! ( 13.e3 d7 14.e4 f6 15.xf6+ xf6 16.dxe5 xe5 17.d4 e7 18.a3 d8! saw Black hold a draw in Nielsen, PCaruan a, F/ Amsterdam 20 10. Black is holding tight and his problems seem quite m a n a g e a b l e .) 13...dxe5 14.g5 g4 ( 14...h6 15.xf6 xf6 16.e4 e7 17.c5 ) 15.xe7 xe7 16.e4 ] 11.d1 c5 This attempt to hold into the pawn must be critical but it doesn't seem to have been played before. [ Other players have just allowed White to recapture with 11...d6 after which 12.xd4 d7 13.f4 f6 14.d2 e5 ( 14...e5 15.e3 e7 16.c3 f6 17.d5 xd5 18.cxd5 gave White some pressure down the c-file in Wang Hao-Eljanov, P/Moscow 2010 ) 15.g2 g5 16.e3 xf4 17.exf4 d7 18.f3 f6 19.e1 and White was clearly better in Malakhov, V-Rodshtein, M/ Plovdiv 2010. ] 12.e3 dxe3 13.xe3 c7 [ 13...a5?! is less good, for example 14.e1 e8 15.g5 d6 ( 15...f8 16.xf6 xf6 17.xe8+ xe8 18.e3+ f8 19.e1 g6 20.xc5 is very strong) 16.xf6 gxf6 17.c3 gives White more than enough for the pawn. ] 14.c3 [ 14.d2 is also worth considering, for example d6 15.c3 e6 16.e1 gives White strong pressure for the pawn. ] 14...a6 15.g4!? The creative way of trying to get his knight on d5. [ 15.g5 h6 16.xf6 xf6 17.d5 d8 would also leave Black with a square on d4. ] 1078 A29 15...h6 16.h4 d6 17.g5 hxg5 18.hxg5 h7 Aronian,Levon 2808 19.d5 d8 20.b6 [ 20.xc5 xg5 21.b6 b8 Giri,Anish 2690 would transpose back into the game. ] 20th Amber Blindfold (1) 12.03.2011 20...b8 21.xc5 xg5 22.g2 g4 [Nigel Davies] 23.d2 e6 24.a3 f4 25.c5 We have to 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 give the players a certain latitude because of 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.0-0 this game having been played blindfold. [ But Fritz says that 25.e1 was better. ] 0-0 9.a4 e7 10.d4!? An enterprising 25...h4 26.d5 e6 27.e3 xd5 choice by White. 1067
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ This leads to the win of White's queen but it's not the best way. 27...xg2 28.xg2 e8 would have been easily winning for Black. ] 28.xf4 g5 29.xg5 xg5 30.xd5 g4 31.cxd6 Despite the fact that White has just two bishops for the queen this position is far from easy. The main problem is the massive White d-pawn which will keep Black's rooks tied down. fd8 32.e1 bc8 33.e4 c1+ 34.h2 g6 35.d7 h6+ 36.g3 g1 [ With pieces to look at I suspect Giri would have found 36...f5 37.e8+ h7 38.xd8 g5+ 39.f3 g4+ 40.e3 e1+ 41.d2 e2+ 42.c3 c1+ 43.b4 c4+ 44.a5 c7+ , winning back his rook whilst leaving White's king very bad. ] 37.e8+ h7 38.xd8 g6+ 39.f4 f6+ 40.e3 [ 40.g3 was better with a draw by r e p e t i t i o n . B l a c k d a r e n o t p l a y xd8 because of 41.e7! . ] 40...xd8? [ 40...e1+ was good for Black, for example 41.d3 d1+ 42.c4 h4+ 43.c5 xf2+ 44.c4 h4+ 45.b3 xd5 46.xd5 xd8 etc. ] 41.e4+ g6 42.f3 g5?! 43.e7 b6+ [ 43...xd5 was necessary, but Black probably couldn't bring himself to struggle for a draw in an endgame af ter being a queen up. ] 44.d4 a5 45.xg5 [ 45.d8! was quicker as Black's checks will co me to no t hing. B u t I can un d ersta n d Aronian's decision to simplify. ] 45...xg5+ 46.f2 d8 47.xb7 a5 48.a3 g7 49.b4 axb4 50.axb4 f5 51.b5 f4 52.e4 g5 53.e2 f6 54.d5 e6 55.b6 g4 56.fxg4 f6 57.b7 1-0
new subscribers or those interested in more details, I refer you to the PDF e-book, the PGN archives and in particular the August and September updates from 2007, which covered this line in detail. 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.d3 c6 9.0-0 [ This line is considered quite harmless. Instead 9.g4!? is a good way to kick some energy into the game. ] 9...0-0 10.g2 h6 [ 10...e8 11.d2 b6 12.c2 h6 13.a4 c7 14.ac1 d6 15.b4 d7 16.c3 c8 17.fe1 ( Or 17.b5 h3 18.bxc6 xg2 19.xg2 bxc6 20.b1 e6 21.a4 , and here a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Ludgate, A-Davies, G/corr ICCF 1992, though Black seems to be doing rather well after for example d5!? ) 17...h3 18.h1 a6 19.a4 a5 20.b1 ( 20.b5 b6 21.b1 g4 22.e3 b8 23.e4 Belchev, BErofeev, S/corr ICCF 1989) 20...axb4 21.xb4 a5 with chances to both sides, Portisch, L -Huebner, R/Abano Therme 1980/Candidates ] 11.d2 [ 11.e3 is Lautier, J-Sebag, M/Montpellier FRA 2007, which can be found in the PGN archives ] 11...e8 12.ac1 [ Both 12.h3 , Stefansson, H-Vallejo Pons, F/ Havana 2001 ] [ and 12.ad1 Popov, V-Sargissian, G/ Moscow RUS 2007 are discussed in the notes to Lautier-Sebag, mentioned in the note to White's 11th move. ] 12...f8 13.h3 d6 14.h2 a6 15.e3 e7 16.cd1 [ 16.g4 e6 is okay for Black ] 16...b8 [ 16...e6 is possibly better, for instance 17.d4 exd4 18.xd4 ab8 19.d2 ec8= ] 17.a7 a8 18.b6 d7 19.e3 f5 [ Black can also give consideration to 1079 A29 19...c5 20.c2 e6 , though White's chances are probably slightly preferable ] Aronian,Levon 2737 Svidler,Peter 2738 20.c5+ h8 [ The alternatives lead to a better game for 2nd FIDE GP Sochi RUS (9) 09.08.2008 White: A) 20...d5 21.xd5+ cxd5 22.xd5 [Carsten Hansen] f7 23.c7 xb3 24.axb3 f4 25.d2 xc5 26.xe8 f5 27.c7 , and White is 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 an exchange up. ] We haven't looked at this line for a while. For 1068
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 20...f7 21.xf7+ xf7 22.cxd6 xd6 23.f4 , and White is minimally better. ( 23.a4 b8 )] 21.cxd6 f6 22.d4 [ With his affinity to weird g-pawn moves, I'm a little surprised that Aronian passed on the s h a r p a n d i n t e r e s t i n g 22.g4!? , which appears to promise W hite decent chances for an advantage after for example xd6 23.gxf5 xf5 ( 23...e4+ 24.g1 exd3 25.xd3 ) 24.e4 ] 22...e4 23.f3 exf3 24.xf3 xd6 25.f4 xf4 26.xf4 e3 27.d5 [ Here White should have opted for 27.df1 f8 28.b6 g5 29.4f3 with a pleasant advantage. The complications that arises in the game are not necessarily to W hite's advantage. ] 27...c5 [ 27...xg3 28.xg3 g5+ 29.h2 xf4+ 30.h1 c5 31.d6 c4 transposes to the game continuation ] 28.d6 xg3 29.xg3 [ Or 29.d5 g6! ( 29...g5 30.xf5 xg2+ 31.h1 g6 32.df1 f6 33.xf6 gxf6 34.xg2 h5 35.h2 ) 30.f3 f6 with a messy position and chances to both sides. ] 29...g5+ 30.h2 xf4+ 31.h1 c4 32.b4 a5 33.b5 f6 34.b6 d7 35.e3?! [ Now White starts getting himself into serious trouble. With 35.d5 h4 36.xb7 d8 37.xf6 xf6 38.c7 a4 White is the one who has the better chances, but Black should be able to hold on. ] 35...g3 36.xb7 e8 37.f3 xf3 38.xf3 xe3 39.g2 g5 40.d5 xd5 41.xd5 g4?! [ 41...d3 If Black is still playing for a win, and I assume he is because otherwise there is no point in continuing the way he did in the game, then Black should have played 42.xa5 g7 which maintains good winning chances. In the game continuation, Black forces a rook ending on the board where he is two pawns up, but which unfortunately is a well-known draw. ] 42.hxg4 fxg4 43.xg4 xg4 44.d7 xd7 45.xd7 e2+ 46.f3 xb2 47.c7 c2?! [ 47...xa2 48.xc4 is also a draw, but may
be a little more difficult for White than the game continuation. ] 48.a4 c3 49.e4 c1 50.c5 c2 51.d3 a1 52.xc2 xa4 53.b3 b4+ 54.c3 a4 55.b3 a1 56.b2 e1 57.xa5 g7 58.c2 g6 59.d2 e8 60.a3 g5 61.e3 f8 62.e2 g4 63.e7 h5 ½-½
1080 Aronian,Levon Svidler,Peter WCh Mexico City MEX (13) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2750 2735 28.09.2007
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 c5 5.xe5 An interesting choice. The normal move is 5 Bg2, but the text move aims to e x p l o i t B l a c k ' s m o v e o r d e r . xf2+ Black hands the bishop pair to White in return for weakening the position of W hite's king. This weakness has yet to prove fatal, but it sets some limits to how White can proceed in his attempts to exploit the advantage of the pair of bishops. Usually W hite, in order to stabilize the position seeks a rather static pawn structure and will then try to build up a threatening position from this foundation. [ The much less played alternative is 5...xe5 which I dismissed in my book on the English Opening: 1...e5, but Ribli gives it a '!?' in ChessBase Magazine 97. 6.d4 A) or 6...e7 7.dxe5 g4 ( 7...xe5 8.g2 Ribli ) 8.e3 xe5 9.f4 ( 9.g2!? xc4? 10.d5 Ribli ) 9...c6 10.g2 b4 11.d3 Gulko, B-Pedro, F/Buenos Aires 2003; B) 6...d6!? 7.dxe5 xe5 8.g2 I called this position clearly better for White in my book, whereas Ribli assesses it as equal the truth is probably somewhere in the middle, I will definitely prefer White's side. Black's bishop is bit clumsily placed in the center, and White has a strong bishop on g2 and has the ability to generate pressure along the semiopen d-file. ] 6.xf2 xe5 7.e4 In accordance with the plan outlined in the comment after Black's fifth move. White would like to play d2-d4, but 1069
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 du e t o th e e xp o se d kin g, a mo re ca ref u l approach is prudent. [ 7.b3?! is ambitious, but too slow and not very good, Black soon has a signif icant a d v a n t a g e : d5! 8.d4 ( 8.cxd5 xd5 is also very good for Black) 8...c6 9.h3 0-0 10.g2 dxc4 11.d5 e5 , and Black has the better chances, although W hite managed to hold the draw in Topalov, VKarpov, A/Monte Carlo1997 ] 7...c5 This is more or less necessary as White otherwise at some point will throw d2-d4 in the mix with a great centre and dominant bishop pair. [ 7...d6 8.h3 ( 8.d4!? is a little played, but very interesting alternative, e.g. c6 9.h3 0-0 Kilgus, G-Mikac, M/Aschach 1993, and now 10.g2! e8 11.f1 and White w ill soon have finished castling-by-hand an excellent position in hand.) 8...0-0 9.d4 ( 9.d3 c6 10.d4 g6 Abdul Ghafour, ZPantebre Martinez, J/Buenos Aires 1978, and now W hite does best to play 11.g1 b6 12.h2 , and White's king is out of immediate danger, and can start worrying about consolidating; 9.g2 e7 10.d4 g6 11.d3 c5 12.dxc5 dxc5 13.g5 e5 , and Black has at least equal chances, Mukhin, A-Kavalenia, L/St Petersburg 1999) 9...g6 10.g2 e6 ( 10...b8 11.f1 e6 12.b3 c8 13.g4 h6 14.g1 h7 15.e2 g5 16.g3 h4 17.b2 xg2 18.xg2 Poldauf, D-Timman, J/Forchheim 2000 ) 11.b3 c6 12.e3 ( 12.d5?! With this impatient move White grabs more space, but should have focused on completing his development and tucking his k in g a wa y b e f o re p ro c e e d i n g wi t h t h i s undertaking. IN return for W hite's aggressive space grabbing, Black gains control over the e5-square. cxd5 13.exd5 d7 14.d4 e8 15.b2 e5 16.hf1 c8 , and now instead of 17 Kg1 which lead to unclear complications in Johannessen, LSebag, M/ Malmo 2003, W hite should instead try 17.g4!? with a position in which I favour White's chances.) 12...a5 13.d2 h6 14.ad1 ad8 15.f3 c8 16.g2 fe8 17.f2 Timman, J-Beliavsky, A/ Sombor 1972 ] 8.h3
[ White has tried several other things at this juncture: A) 8.e2 A) 8...d6 9.g2 e6 10.d3 d7 11.h3 h6 12.f4 a6 13.d4 cxd4 14.xd4 Vernales, G-Daguer, J/Tucuman 1977; B) 8...c6 9.d3 0-0 ( 9...d6 10.g2 h6 11.f1 0-0 12.e3 e5 13.d4 cxd4 14.xd4 1-0 Johnsrud, J-Schreber, D/ Email 2000) 10.f1 d6 11.g2 e8 12.e3 c7 Pham Minh Hoang-Galyas, M/Budapest 1998, 13.d2 e6 14.d5 d7 15.f4; C) 8...0-0 9.d3 d6 C1) 10.g2 e8 ( 10...d7 11.h3 h6 12.e3 e8 13.d2 e6 14.b3 b6 15.af1 d7 16.f2 ac8 17.d5 xd5 18.cxd5 is also slightly better for W hite, Schwartzman, G-Comp Lyon/ Dortmund 1991 ) 11.e3 c7 C1a) 12.g4?! e6 13.h4? ( 13.f1!? ) 13...c6 14.d2 ed4 15.d5 , thus far Paehtz, T-Malich, B/ Halle 1974, but now Black for some r e a s o n d e c i d e d a g a i n s t xe2 16.xe2 e5 17.g5 g4 which looks awfully appealing for Black.; C1b) 12.d2 e6 13.d5 b6 14.hf1 b7 15.f5 d4 16.xd4 cxd4 17.af1 xd5 18.exd5 , and W hite has the better chances, Moehring, G-Packroff, H/Erfurt 1973; C2) 10.h3 e8 ( 10...e6 11.g2 fd7 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 c7 14.b3 ad8 15.b5 Chernin, A-Groszpeter, A/AUT 1998; 10...a6 11.g2 b5 12.b3 b4 13.d5 xd5 14.exd5 e8 15.d4 cxd4 16.xd4 Volodin, A-Savchenko, A / V o r o n e zh 1 9 9 9) 11.g2 c7 12.e3 ( 12.d4!? cxd4 13.xd4 b6 14.e3 e6 15.d2 b7 16.hd1 ) 12...e6 13.d5 c6 14.d2 ed4 Garcia Gonzales, G-Uhlmann, W/Leipzig 1973, and now 15.hf1 e6 16.f4 ] [ B) 8.d4 cxd4 9.xd4 0-0 A) 10.g2 e8 11.g5 h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.e2 b6 14.hf1 ( 14.b5!? ) 14...c6 15.ad1 b7 16.g1 Joachim, S-Epishin, V/Bad Zwesten 2002; B) 10.f4 d6 11.h3 e6 12.e2 c8 ( 12...c8 13.b3 c6 14.d2 b6+ 15.g2 looks better for White) 13.ac1 1070
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xh3!? ( This is a rather risky move, but in the game it pays off 13...c6!? 14.xd6 xh3 looks like a good alternative for Black ) 14.d5 e6 ( 14...xd5? 15.cxd5 d7 16.xe5 dxe5 17.xe5+- ) 15.c7 e7 16.xa8 c6 17.e3 I va n c h u k , V -A n a n d , V / W ij k a a n Ze e 1999 ] [ C) 8.d3 d6 ( 8...d5 9.xd5 xd5 10.exd5 0-0 11.h3 f6+ 12.g2 f5 Pham Minh Hoang-Khechumyan, G/ Budapest 1999, 13.e2 g6 14.f1 xd3 15.xd3 xd3 16.g4 a6 17.b3 ) A) 9.g2 0-0 10.e2 e6 ( 10...e8 11.e3 f5 12.d2 f6 13.af1 fxe4 14.dxe4 Zapletal, J-Chachalev, J/Karvina 1992, and now e6 15.b3 d7 ) 11.h3 fd7 12.g4 b8 13.e3 bc6 14.d2 a6 15.hf1 d4 16.d5 xd5 17.exd5 b5 18.b3 b6 19.ae1 with a complicated struggle with chances to bot h sid es, K no tt, S-Fried go od, D/ London 1979; B) 9.h3 0-0 ( 9...h5?! 10.e2 h7 11.g2 h4 12.g4 g5 13.e3 d7 14.d2 e6 15.b4! with a clear advantage for White, Botvinnik, M-Keres, P/Moscow 1966; 9...e6 10.e2 fd7 11.g2 c6 12.e3 de5 13.d5 0-0 14.f4 e7 15.f1 , and the players agreed upon an all too premature draw, 1/ 2-1/2 W elin, T-Svenn, M/Lulea 1980. I think W hite's chances are preferable at this point. ) B1) 10.g2 fd7 11.f1 c6 12.e3 de5 B1a) Black was threatening ...Nb4. Also 13.g1 can be considered, e.g. e6 ( 13...b4?! 14.e2 bxd3 15.ad1 e6 16.b3 b4 17.xc5 dxc5 18.xd8 axd8 19.d5 ) 14.b3; B1b) 13.a3 a6 14.d2 b5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.xb5 ( 16.g1 b4 17.d5!? ) 16...a6 17.a4 Wirthensohn, H-Friedgood, D/Caorle 1972, and now b6 18.g1 xb5 19.axb5 xa1 20.xa1 xb5 with a better game for Black; B2) 10.g1 e8 11.h2 c7 12.f2 This is an unusual way of castling by
hand, but it appears to work quite well, White already has the upper hand at this stage. e6 13.e3 d4 14.b5 ( 14.h2!? e6 15.g2 d7 16.d2 ) 14...ec6?! ( 14...xb5 15.cxb5 e6 looks fully playable for Black now, on the other hand, W hite advantage becomes significantly bigger) 15.h5 a6 16.xd4 xd4 17.g2 e6 18.b4! Contin, D-Fiore, M/Formia 1995; B3) 10.g2 d7 11.f4 c6 12.e2 e8 13.d2 c7 14.b4?! ( 14.hf1 f5 15.d5 d7 16.h2 e6 17.e3 with chances to both sides) 14...cxb4 15.d5 a5 16.a3? bxa3 17.xa3 b5 Contin, D-Godena, M/Montecatini Terme 1997; B4) 10.e2 e8 11.g2 c7 12.e3 ( 12.g4 e6 13.e3 a6 14.d2 b8 15.d5 b5 16.b3 d4 17.d1 e6 18.c1 b7 with pleasant game for B l a ck , G a rc i a M a rt i n e z, S - B o e y, J / Skop je 19 7 2) 12...e6 13.d2 a6 14.a4 c6 15.d5 ed4 16.ab1 e6 17.d1 a5 18.f4 with chances to both sides, Jakobsen, O-Jansson, B/ Copenhagen 1974 ] 8...0-0 9.d3 [ 9.d4 is unnecessary: cxd4 10.xd4 d6 11.c5 c6 12.xd6 a5 , and Black has sufficient compensation for the pawn ] 9...a6 [ Black's alternatives are: A) 9...d6!? 10.g2 d7 11.f4 c6 12.e2 ( 12.h2!? intending Bf1-g2 is probably better) 12...e8 13.d2 c7 14.b4 cxb4 15.d5 a5 , and White has some compensation for the pawn, Contin, D-Godena, M/ Montecatini Terme 1997 ] [ B) 9...d5?! 10.cxd5 b5 11.f4 e8 12.g2 c4 13.xe5 xe5 14.d4 , and W hite is much better, Pham Minh Hoang-Khechumyan, G/Budapest 1998 ] 10.g2 b5 11.f1 d6 12.g1 h6 13.b3 e6 14.e3 b8 [ Only here Black steps off the path of what has been played before: 14...h7 15.h2 d7 16.d2 f6 17.e2 g5 18.f4 fe8 19.ad1 f7 20.f2 , and White has the better chances, Garcia Palermo, C1071
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Dzindzichashvili, R/Buenos Aires 1978 ] 15.e2 [ 15.d2!? ] 15...e8 16.c1 d7 17.c2!? [ White plans to play Ne2-c3 and then t ra n s f e r t h e c -ro o k t o f 2 . A ls o 17.d2!? deserve consideration: e7 18.h2 b4 19.f4 g5 20.e2 c6 21.cd1 a5 22.f2 with a better game for White ] 17...bxc4 [ I don't like this move at all, leaving the dpawn very vulnerable on an open file, but the alternative isn't entirely pleasant either, e. g. 17...e7 18.c3 e6 19.cf2 threatening Nc3-d5 h7 20.d5 g6 21.h2 ] 18.dxc4 c6 19.c3 b7 20.cf2 h7 Otherwise W hite can play Rxf6 with a very u n c o m f o r t a b l e p o s i t i o n f o r B l a c k 21.h4 Preventing ...Ng5 be7 22.d2 a5 23.c2 [ I think that White may have either overlooked or underestimated Black's 25th move in the continuation. Instead of the text move, White could also consider 23.d5!? d7 24.df2 xd5 25.xd5 f6 26.d2! xd2 ( 26...d8?! 27.xf6 gxf6 28.xh6 ) 27.xd2 eg4 28.f4 xe4 29.xe4 xe4 30.xd6 xd6 31.xd6 with a better endgame for White ] 23...g4 24.f4 hf6 25.e1 d5! [ If 25...e6 then White obtains the better c h a n c e s a f t e r 26.xd6 xe4 27.xe4 xe4 28.xe4 xe4 29.xe4 xe4 30.xe4 xd2 31.xc5 ] 26.e5?! [ After this move everything very quickly gets terminated down to a drawn endgame. The a l t e r n a t i v e i s 26.cxd5!? after which the complications take on a different shape, but Black may well be okay after xd5 27.xd5 xd5 28.ee2! c6 ( Or 28...b7 29.d6 xe4 30.xc5 xc5+ 31.xc5 e6 32.xe4 xe4 33.xe4 xe4 34.g2 with a clear advantage for White) 29.d6 e6 30.xc5 xc5+ 31.xc5 f5 32.e5 xe5 ( 32...xg2 33.xg2 xe5 34.d5 f7 35.a4 with a clear advantage for White in the endgame: bishop vs knight with pawns on both wings and W hite has a pawn majority on the queenside) 33.xe5 xe5 34.xc6 xc5 35.d5+ f8 36.f3 c1+
37.g2 e7 , and Black has excellent chances of holding the draw. ] 26...xe5 27.de2 d4 28.xe5 xg2 29.xf6 xe2 30.xe2 xe2 31.xe2 [ If 31.xe2 then b7 32.f2 ( of course not 32.e5?? e1+ 33.h2 h1# ) 32...gxf6 33.f4 d8 and Black has the clearly better chances thanks to his protected passed pawn and the soft light squares around White's king ] 31...gxf6 32.g4+ f8 33.c8+ e7 34.xg2 dxc3 35.b7+ d8 36.d5+ c8 37.c6+ b8 38.e8+ b7 39.e4+ c8 40.c6+ b8 41.e8+ b7 42.e4+ c8 43.c2 a3 44.xc3 xa2+ 45.f3 b1 46.e3 And a draw was agreed upon as evidenced by the last several moves neither side can make any progress. ½-½
1081 A29 Aronian,Levon 2739 Topalov,Veselin 2780 XXV SuperGM Morella Linares MEX/ESP (8) [Carsten Hansen] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 d4 [ 11...a5 is the other main line - see the PDF eBooks ] 12.d2 [ W e l o o k e d a t 12.e3 in the game Van Wely-Tiviakov, Wijk aan Zee 2007 - see the PGN archives ] 12...c6 [ 12...d5 was discussed in Bauer-Sokolov, Chartres 2005 - see PGN archives ] 13.de4 [ This move has seen a lot more action than our PDF eBook on the King's English appears to tell us thus far we have only covered this sub-variation with one game, so t h e b e l o w s h o u l d g i ve yo u a t h o r o u g h update on the current status of the this line. Alternatively 13.b2 was played in BareevTopalov, Dortmund 2002 and can be found in the PGN archives ] 13...d5 [ Black has several alternatives available: A) 1072
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13...f7 A) 14.d2 A1) 14...b8 15.a4 d5 16.e3 f5 17.c5 xc5 18.bxc5 xc3 19.xc3 d7 20.c2 e7 21.a1 ( 21.xc6 c7 22.e4 xc5 23.d2 ) 21...bd8 with chan ce s to both side s, though W hite's position is probably easier to play, Ljubojevic, L-Ivanchuk, V/ Monaco 2002; A2) 14...d5 15.e3 xc3 16.xc3 b5 17.b2 f8 18.c2 a5 19.a4 c7 , and Black has solved his opening problems successfully, Hjartarson, JBareev, E/Novi Sad 1990; B) 14.e3 b5 15.xb5 ( 15.b2 xc3 16.xc3 d7 17.d4 exd4 18.xd4 c4 19.c1 d5 20.d1 e6 21.d2 xg2 1/2-1/2 Zueger, B-Cvitan, O/ Turin ITA 2006 ) 15...cxb5 16.b2 B1) 16...d5 17.h3 a4 18.a1!? ( 18.c3 xc3 19.xc3 b6 20.e4 e6 21.xe6 xe6 22.b3 xb3 23.xb3 d8 with an insignificant plus for White, Pheby, J-Shikalov, A/RCCA 2004 ) 18...f8 19.c1 b6 20.c2 e8 21.fd1 e6 22.xe6 ( 22.g2!? also looks better for White his pieces are b e t t e r p l a c e d a n d c o o r d i n a t e d) 22...xe6 23.d4 exd4 24.xd4 Rotstein, A-Psakhis, L/Groningen 1990; B2) 16...c8!? 17.d4 c4 18.d5 d7 19.g4 b6 20.g3 d6 21.c1 a5 with a complicated position and chances to both sides, Alavkin, A-Demianjuk, A/ Kazan RUS 2007; B3) 16...a4 17.a1 B3a) 17...f5 was played in Yakovich, Y-Demianjuk, A/Salekhard RUS 2006, which can be found in the PGN archives; B3b) In his annotations to the Yakovich game, Watson indicated that 17...a5 leads to better game for Black, but I have to disagree on that point, e. g. 18.d4! ( Watson only offered 18.bxa5 xa5 after which I agree that Black has a comfortable game, but 18 d4 is considerably better) 18...exd4 19.xd4 xd4 20.xd4 axb4 21.axb4 , and White can claim a small
plus on account of his better placed minor pieces; B3c) 17...c8 18.d4 f5 19.c5 xc5 20.bxc5 c4 21.xb7 b8 22.g2 xf1 23.xf1 , and White has amble compensation for the exchange, Bareev, E-Ponomariov, R/ Moscow 2002 ] [ B) 13...f7 14.e3 ( 14.c5?! b8 15.h3 xc5 16.bxc5 d5 17.d2 h5 18.f3 f5 , and Black is in control of the game, Winants, L-Vyzmanavin, A/ Ostende 1991) 14...e6 15.g4 d5 16.e2 d7 17.d1 fd8 18.h3 f8 19.b2 e7 20.e2 g6 wi t h c h a n ce s t o b o t h si d e s , B a u e r , C Motylev, A/Katernberg GER 2007 ] [ C) 13...g4!? A) 14.e3 d7 ( 14...a5!? ) 15.d2 h8 16.h3 h5 17.f4 f5 18.g5 h6 ( 18...f6!? ) 19.f3 xf3+ 20.xf3 e8 with a complicated game, though White White's position appears more dynamic, Georgiev, K-Kharlov, A/ Niksic 1996; B) 14.h3 h5 15.g4 f7 16.e3 e6 17.c2 d7 18.d1 h5 ( 18...d5 ) 19.e2 hxg4 20.hxg4 g6 21.b2 f5 with a complicated game and chances to bo t h side s, S t oh l, I -Bio lek, R/ P ra gu e 1992; C) 14.f3!? c8 ( 14...h5 15.c5 c8 16.e3 e6 17.3e4 ) 15.e3 e6 16.f4 White re-opens the diagonal for the bishop on g2 and attempts to grab some space. Ideally, White would like to play f4-f5 and follow up with a kingside attack while have a go o d gra b o n th e imp o rt an t c en t ra l squares as well as a space advantage on the queenside. f5 ( 16...exf4 17.gxf4 f5 18.g3 Ribli ) 17.f2 exf4 18.gxf4 with a double-edged position, Lapshun, YGoldin, A/Seattle 2003 ] [ D) 13...d7 14.e1 ( 14.e3?! f7 15.xd4 exd4 16.a4 d5 17.ac5 c7 18.c2 f5 19.d2 e8 20.f3 f6 , and Black is clearly better, W hite has ended in the type of position he should strive t o a vo id , Z u e ge r , B -A n a s, N/ T u r in I T A 2006 ) 14...ad8 15.d2 d5 16.c5 xc5 17.bxc5 xc3 18.xc3 f7 19.xd4 xd4 20.c2 fd8 21.b2 h5 22.eb1 c8 , and while I prefer White's chances, the 1073
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ga m e is m o r e o r le s s b a l a n c e d a t t h i s juncture, Georgiev, K-Goldin, A/Niksic 1996 ] 14.e3 [ The young flank opening connoisseur, T o m a s h e v s k y i n s t e a d t r i e d 14.b2 in another recent game: f7 ( 14...xc3 15.xc3 d5!? ) 15.xd5 xd5 16.xd4 exd4 17.c2 e8 18.d2 f8 19.fe1 h8 20.xd5 xd5 21.c4 d7 22.f3 , a nd W h ite 's po sit io n is easier t o p la y thanks to Black's passive bishop and the re l a t i ve l y we a k d -p a wn , wh ic h m a ke i t difficult for Black to come up with an active plan, whereas W hite can advance on the queenside at will while warding of f an y potential counterplay from Black without too many headaches, Tomashevsky, EKhismatullin, D/Tomsk RUS 2006 ] 14...xc3 15.xc3 f5 16.c2!? [ This is the first new move. White aims to grab space in the centre and play actively by advancing his d-pawn quickly. Black doesn't appear to have any major problems in the continuation. In an earlier game, which may have been unknown to Aronian W hite tried 16.b5!? cxb5 17.xb5 c8 18.d5 xd5 19.xd5 h8 20.f3 d6 21.b1 , and White's chances seem slightly preferable on account on his well-placed central knight and more active position, Heitmann, M-Bradtke, K/ corr 1998 ] 16...c8 17.d1 d7 18.d4!? [ Aronian plays the sharpest continuation, taking on an isolated d-pawn. The a l t e r n a t i v e s i s 18.e4 , b u t a f t e r b6 Black has no reason to complain ] 18...exd4 19.exd4 d6 [ The actual merit of this move doesn't strike as immediately obvious, but Topalov probably wanted to get his queen away from the d-file and instead play for the control over the weak light squares on W hite's q u e e n s i d e . H o w e v e r , I t h i n k 19...fe8 20.e4 h8 is a more solid and sensible continuation. Now White grabs the initiative ] 20.e4! cd8 21.b2!? [ White may also consider 21.b5!? cxb5 ( 21...d5 22.bxc6 bxc6 23.b2 fe8 24.e1 is complicated but probably more pleasant for White) 22.d5 f7 23.h3 g6 24.b3 with a complicated game and
chances to both sides ] 21...f7 22.d2?! [ This solid move looks normal, but White can do better with 22.b5! cxb5 ( 22...b3 23.xf6+! gxf6 24.xf5 xd1 25.xd1 with a pleasant game for White) 23.d5 c8 24.d3 a6 25.bc1 , and White has good compensation for the pawn ] 22...d5 , and the chances are fairly even White's pawn on d4 is of course not ideal, but it guarantees W hite space and an active position 23.e1 b8 24.de2 b6 25.d2 xg2 26.xg2 d5+ 27.g1 b5 28.b3 d6 29.a5 c8 30.c1 c7 31.d3 fc8 32.ec2 g6 33.f1 f7 34.g2 e7 35.e1 h5 At this point the game is still fairly balanced, but up towards the time control on move 40, Topalov sharpens the game 36.h4 [ 36.e4 f5!? ] 36...f5!? Very aggressive and typical of Topalov White now has to be careful not to end up in trouble. 37.c1?! [ White undoubtedly expected Black's next move and counted on his planned 38th move to deal sufficiently with it, but I feel White should most likely have settled for the ugly and uninspiring 37.f4 which will likely f o rce t h e gam e t o e nd pe a ce f ully a f t e r s o m e t h i n g l i k e g8 38.ec1 e7 ( 38...f6 39.xc6 xg2+ 40.xg2 e8 41.c3 e4 42.3c2 f6 is another r e p e t i t i o n) 39.e1 with an invitation to a draw by repetition ] 37...f4 38.xe7+?! [ A dynamic response from Aronian, though quite possibly not best (see the note after Black's 39th move), but clearly he wanted to avoid 38.xf4 xf4 39.gxf4 f5 which is pleasant and without much risk for Black ] [ By the way, 38.e4 fxg3 39.fxg3 f5 doesn't inspire confidence for White either ] 38...xe7 39.xf4 xg2+? [ With his penultimate move before the time control, Black throws his advantage away and ends up in a worse position. Instead 39...d6! would have left Black with a comfortable game, e.g. 40.xd6 xd6 41.f3+ f6 , and Black has the upper hand. ] 40.xg2 d7 41.xc6 g7 42.d5!? 1074
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 42.e5+!? f7 43.f3 followed by Ke4 Romanishin, Polanica Zdroj 1993. ] also looks attractive for W hite. However, 11...cxb6 12.e3 This is a new move. The the advance of the d-pawn puts f urther alternatives are: pressure on Black who is already suffering [ 12.a4!? has been played by Kasparov, badly at this juncture ] which should indicate that this is W hite's 42...a6 43.f3 f6 44.e4 e7+ 45.d3 best. d7 46.d6 After this move, the writing on the A) 12...f6 13.fd1 e8 14.e3 f7 15.d4 wall has become obvious, W hite is winning exd4 ( 15...b4 16.d5! , e.g. xd5? rather easily. e8 47.d4 f7 48.f3 a5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xe5+- ) 16.exd4 b4 49.c5 axb4 50.axb4 b7 51.d2 a8 17.d5 f5 18.d6! xd6 19.xd6 xb1 52.e4 d8 53.d5 a3+ 54.d4 b3 20.xb1 xa2 21.xa2+ xa2 22.fd2 55.c5 e6 56.d2 b1 57.e2 d7 , a n d W h it e e ve n t u a lly co n ve rt e d h is 58.d5 d1+ 59.d2 xd2+ 60.xd2 e8 advantage, Kasparov-Faulks, London 61.e6 b6 62.g5 c6 63.xd8 xd8 (simul) 2003; 64.g5 e8 65.f7 B) 12...f5 13.fd1 f6 14.e3 e7 15.d4 1-0 e4 16.d2 b4 ( 16...ad8 17.b5 c7 18.bc1 a7 19.e2 d7 20.a4 ) 17.f1 ac8 18.a3 d5 1082 A29 19.dc1 fd8 20.c4 f7 21.xd5 xd5 22.b5 c6 23.c3 f4? Aronian,Levon 2744 ( 23...xc4 is better, although 24.xc4 Topalov,Veselin 2783 d5 25.xd5+ xd5 26.bc1 Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (9) 21.02.2007 is quite pleasant for White) 24.xd5 xd5 [Carsten Hansen] 25.xc6 bxc6 26.xc6+- H. Stefansson-T. Bjornsson, Iceland 1993 ] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 [ 12.d2?! b5! (according to Ribli, Black is 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 alre a dy a t le a st e qu a l a f t e r t h is m o ve ) 8.b1!? This move has in recent years 13.c1 ( 13.xb5 xa2 14.a1 e6 become a popular alternative to 8 a3 and 8 15.c4 c5 with chances to both sides d3. a5 The evaluation of this move has also (Ribli) ) 13...b4 14.a4 c8 ( Ribli has been rocked a bit. At the time when I wrote given 14...xa2 as bad on account of my book on the 1 c4 e5 English (1999), it was 15.xc6 bxc6 16.b3 g5 17.e3 xd3 considered dubious. However, the Hungarian 18.a1 but White may well play better with grandmaster Zoltan Ribli, who is an expert on 15 b3!? immediately.) 15.b3? ( 15.xc6!? th e E n glis h O pe n in g, give s it a n '! '. T h e bxc6 16.c4 - Ribli ) 15...d4! 16.xc8 alternatives are numerous: 8...f6?!, 8... Be6, ( 16.xb7 xc1 17.xc1 d7-+ ) 16...xc8 8...f5, 8...0-0 and finally the fun 8...g5!?. The 17.ac5 a4! 18.xd4 ( 18.xa4 xb3 latter two have previously been discussed in 19.xb3 b5-+ ) 18...xd4 19.e4 this column. 9.d3 ( 19.xa4 b5 20.e3 a7-+ ) 19...xb2-+ [ Here 9.b3!? was previously considered , and Black is winning Gabriel-Kir. Georgiev, best, although it has since been established Altensteig 1995. ] that Black is okay, e.g. 0-0 10.b2 e6 [ 12.c1 c8 13.a4 f6 14.fd1 d4 ( or 10...f5 11.d3 h8!? 12.d2 e6 15.xd4 xd4 16.d5 xd5 17.xd4 13.c4 f6 with chances to both sides, exd4 18.xd5 is pleasant for White, Levin-Romanishin, Bad Endbach 199 5) Hodgson-Gormally, Scarborough 1999. ] 11.d3 f6 12.d2 d7 13.c4 d5 14.e1 fd8 15.c1 h8 , and Black is 12...b5!? 13.xb5 xa2 14.c1 a4 15.c3 a l r e a d y d o i n g f i n e , T u r o v - Y a k o v i c h , b3 16.e2 e6 17.a1 a3 This is a prelude to further exchanges down to an even Krasnodar 2002 ] endgame. If White is allowed time to organize 9...e6 10.e3 0-0 11.xb6 [ Or 11.c1 e8 12.a3 h6 13.d2 b8 his pieces properly, Black may encounter 14.b3 d5 15.d2 d7= L.B. Hansen- problems hanging on to his queenside pawns. 1075
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.bxa3 xa3 19.xa3 xa3 20.b5 e7 21.d4 g4!= [ 21...exd4 22.fxd4 leaves White with the initiative ] 22.h3 xf3 23.xf3 exd4 24.exd4 f6 25.d1 b6 26.c4 [ 26.d5 d4 27.xd4 xd4 is nothing substantial for White ] 26...d8 27.g2 xd4 28.xd4 xd4 ½-½
firm hold of the initiative. a6 15.a3 c5 16.a5 d7 Once again forced. 17.c7! d8 18.xd8 xd8 19.b2 b6 20.c6 White plans to win the b-pawn. f6? 21.fb1 [ Good, but 21.xc5! is very strong, as after d7 there is 22.xb6! xb6 23.xb6 b8 24.a7 and now Black's attempt at activity, b2 allows 25.xf6 ] 21...d6 [ Perhaps 21...g4!? 22.f2 e4 offered better possibilities. ] 22.xb6 xb6 23.xb6 e6 24.xc5 d7 1083 A29 This is Black's idea, forcing an oppositeAzmaiparashvili,Zurab 2675 colour bishops' ending, but the two pawns are xb6 Simonenko,Sergei 2440 to o m u ch e ve n f o r t h is. 25.xd7 1st ch-Europe (8) 11.07.2000 26.xb6 xd7 27.f2 e6 28.e4 f8 29.a3 e8 30.e3 g6 31.c5 h3 32.d4 [Tony Kosten] White creates two connected passed pawns. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 d7 33.d5 f1 34.c6+ d6 35.a5 f5 36.b4+ c7 37.f8 h5 38.g7 g2 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 [ 38...d6? loses on the spot, 39.xe5+ [ White ignores the possible threat to capture xe5 40.c7 ] on c3, to double the white pawns, the more 39.xe5+ b6 40.exf5 xd5 41.c7 prudent 8.c2 was seen in the archives. ] 1-0 8...h6 [ Played to avoid a pin by Bg5, which would inhibit the plan ...c6, and ...d5. The A29 immediate 8...c6 might be more accurate, 1084 Bacrot,Etienne 2664 although 9.g2 e8 10.b3 c5 11.d2 Sutovsky,Emil 2646 b6?! ( 11...d6 ) 12.a4! xb3 13.axb3 and Black is almost losing, Uhlmann,W - ch-Europe Internet Blitz blitz (5.1) 09.11.2003 [Carsten Hansen] Ungureanu,E/Bucharest 1978. ] 9.g2!? [ An obvious new move, White doesn't fear 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 xf3+ 6.xf3 c5 7.d3 h6 t h e d o u b l e d p a w n s , p r e v i o u s l y 9.d2 5.g2 was preferred, c6 10.c1 e8 11.a3 xc3 Black makes the practical decision to prevent 12.xc3 d5 which seems fine for Black, White from playing Bg5 as he may well do if P e t u r s s o n , M- K r i s t e n s e n , L / G r o n i n g e n allowed. 8.h4?! [ This idea is less convincing here compared 1977. ] to after 6...Bb4 7 Qb3 Bc5 8 d3 h6 9 h4 as 9...xc3!? discussed in the August update. If W hite [ Black decides to call White's bluff, but wa n t s t o a vo i d t h e m a i n l i n e s , h e c a n perhaps 9...e8 is more prudent. ] instea d conside r 8.a3 0-0 9.e3 c6 10.bxc3 d6 11.b1 The rook goes to the Black prepared ...d7-d5 while reducing the open file, and increases the pressure exerted scope of the bishop on f 3 10.b4 e7 by the g2 bishop. b8 12.f4!? White attacks ( 10...b6!? ) 11.d4 exd4 ( 11...d6!? ) the solid black pawn structure, and tries to 12.xd4 d5!? open the position for the bishop pair. e7?! A) Ribli, while liking the combative and [ Missing the interesting, and thematic, directness of Sutovsky's idea, doubts its p o s s i b i l i t y 12...e4! 13.dxe4 e7 100% correctness, and offers the following and Black will recapture the pawn, whilst analysis: 13.cxd5! xd5 14.xd5 simultaneously ruining the white structure. ] ( 14.xd5? f6 - Ribli - 15.xf7+ xf7 13.fxe5 dxe5 14.a4! Now White takes a 1076
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.xd8 xd8 17.b2 a5 18.e2 g4+ 19.f3 e6 20.hd1 axb4 21.axb4 xa1 22.xa1 c4+ 23.e1 xd1+ 24.xd1 e7 ) 14...cxd5 15.xd5 f6 A1) 16.b1?! c3+ 17.d2 xd5 18.xd5 xd2+ 19.xd2 d8 20.e4 e6= - analysis by Ribli; A2) 16.xd8 xd8 17.a2 a5 ( 17...e6 18.c2 16 transposes to line with Ra2 ) 18.b5 f5 19.b2 xb2 20.xb2 ac8 21.0-0; A3) 16.a2 e6 ( 16...c7 17.c5 ) 17.xd8 fxd8 18.c2 ac8 19.xc8 xc8 20.0-0 , and White has won a pawn for insufficient compensation for Black. However, Black's active bishops and rook will nonetheless making the conversion of the extra pawn be a little difficult; B) 13.0-0? dxc4 14.xc4 d7! In ChessBase Magazine, W ells in his excellent column on chess strategy makes the following insightful comment: "I rather suspect that this is what Lautier underestimated. Far more purposeful than the routine 14...Be6, the text presages a promising future for all of Black's minor pieces", and Ribli adds "the knight comes to e5 with tempo and aims for c4 or d3". Indeed White all of a sudden has problems to face. 15.g2 e5 B1) 16.e4!? f6 17.b2 ( Ribli also gives 17.d1 c7 18.b2 e6 , and a knight will soon land on c4 with a better game for Black) 17...e6 18.a4 ( 18.ad1 e7 looks good for Black) 18...d5 19.f5 xg2 20.xg2 d5+ 21.h3!? , and despite the last move looking quite ridiculous, W hite has a pretty decent position; B2) 16.e2?! g4! 17.f3 e6 18.d1 b6 , and here I will quote Ribli: "Black has excellent play for his pieces and the c4-square is an eternal positional hole in th e wh it e po sition ". I nd ee d, B la ck' s pieces are well-placed and due to the weak c4-square, and W hite not being ready to counter Black's control of this square, W hite will a difficult time getting counterplay started, Lautier, JSutovsky, E/Gothenburg 2005 ]
8...d6 [ 8...c6!? This is Sutovsky's attempt at an improvement over 8...d6 as played in our main game. Here Bacrot promptly went astray with A) 9.e3 d6 10.d4 ( 10.b1 b6 11.b4 e6 12.a4 d5 also looks pleasant for Black ) 10...b4 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.xd8+ xd8 13.d2 e6 14.b3 e7 , and Black has already equalised; B) 9.g4 d5! All of a sudden all of Black's minor pieces spring to life with this text book central counter punch to W hite's premature flank attack. White is already in t r o u b l e . . . 10.g5 ( 10.cxd5 xg4 ) 10...hxg5 11.xg5 b6 12.0-0 h3 13.a4 a5 14.xc5 xc5 15.cxd5 xf1 ( 15...xd5!? ) 16.dxc6 h3 17.cxb7 b8 18.c1 a5 with a rat her messy position, wh ere W h ite with his passed pawn on b7 and bishop pair has some compensation for the exchange and wrecked kingside structure, Bacrot, ESutovsky, E/ playchess.com INT 2003 ] 9.b4 d4!? [ 9...b6 10.e3 c6 11.b2 e6 ] 10.d2 0-0 11.e3 xc3 12.xc3 d7!? 13.0-0 [ 13.g1!? h3 14.e2 c6 15.f1!? e6 ( 15...f5 16.g4 xf3 17.g3 xg3 18.fxg3 xg4 19.d2 ) 16.g4 h7 17.g5 hxg5 18.hxg5 g6 19.0-0-0 a5 20.b5 ] 13...e8 14.g2 d5 [ 14...f5!? ] 15.b3 dxc4 [ 15...c6!? ] 16.xc4 [ 16.dxc4 c6 17.ad1 c7 18.b2 f5 19.c5 e4 20.xe4 xe4 21.d6 f6 22.f3 d5 23.e4 e6 24.fd1 ] 16...c6 17.a4 f5 18.e4 g6 19.b5 [ 19.b3!? b6 20.b2 g4 21.fe1 ] 19...d7 20.fe1 ac8 21.b3 [ 21.bxc6 xc6 22.ac1 g4 23.b4 cd8 24.b2 d7 25.d4 ] 21...cxb5 22.axb5 xb5?! [ 22...g4! is a typical computer move that most human chess players will miss, but is one which is very strong 23.b2 b6! the idea behind the previous move now White's queen is burdened with the defence 1077
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 of t he f 2- a nd b5-p awns along with th e h6 bishop on c3. White's best now is 24.ec1 [ In my opinion this is the most logical c5 25.d4 xb5 26.d2 , when White continuation for Black, not allowing White to better coordinated pieces compensate for pin the knight on f6. However, a number of the sacrificed pawn. ] other tries have been made for Black in this 23.xb5 xc3 24.xa7 c2 position: A) 8...d6 9.a3 h6 10.b4 d4 [ 24...b6 25.f1 cc8 26.h3 c3 27.a6 11.d2 xc3 ( 11...c6!? ) 12.xc3 b8 h5 28.xb6 d8 29.d4! exd4 13.d4 e4 14.g2 d5 15.cxd5 xd5 ( 29...xd4? 30.b8+ h7 31.f5+ g6 16.d2 e7= Rosmej, S-Auge, A/Germany 32.xe5 xe4 33.xg6+ xg6 34.xe4 2003 ] xe4 35.xc3+- ) 30.f5! g6 31.xf6+- ] [ B) 8...a6 9.g5 h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.e4 [ 24...d8!? 25.xe5 cxd3 26.xb7 d1 e7 12.xc5 xc5 13.d2 a5 14.c3 27.b1 xb1 28.xb1 g4 ] d6 15.fd1 b8 16.b3 a3 As Ribli points 25.xb7 h5?! out, with this elegant little move, Black [ 25...d2!? 26.f3 ] prevents White from executing his traditional 26.b3! d2 27.f3! g6 28.d1!+plan of a2-a3 and b3-b4, which would be This position is evaluated as just slightly uncomf ortable f or Black in the long run better for White by Ribli, but I will contend that 17.d4 exd4 18.xd4 e6 19.c1 xc1+ White is winning. However, White throws the 20.xc1 fd8 21.e3 c5 ( 21...b6 better part of his advantage away on the very doe sn 't we aken th e d6 -pa wn , but d oe s next move. xd1+ 29.xd1? expose the light squares to further [ 29.xd1!! threatening Qc4 and Bb3, which weaknesses. W ith the text move, Black will force Black to a passive set-up with his defends more actively, and counts on the rook, queen and king tied up in the defence fact that with the king on e7, Black will be of the f7-pawn. meanwhile White can pick able to defend the backward d-pawn and at up the e5-pawn and obtain an easily won t h e sa m e t im e r e t a in t h e p o ssi b il it y o f position. ] possibly breaking with ...b7-b5 if 29...d8 30.b3 e8 31.h5! f6 32.g2 necessary.) 22.d2 f8 23.a4 Stopping d6 33.c7 e8 a n y co u n t e r p la y o n t h e qu e e n s id e e7 [ 33...c8!? 34.b5 ] 24.d5 a8 25.c3 d7 26.f4 34.a7 d6 35.g4 , and although White has more space and [ 35.d5! threatens 36 d3-d4, and e8 more active pieces, the black position is is met by 36.xf7 xd5 37.xf6 xf6 solid and perfectly defensible, Timman, J38.exd5 , and White should win ] Portisch, L/Nice 1974. ] 35...g5 36.f3 h7 37.d4 [ C) 8...c6 [ 37.a2!? leaves Black with a very A) 9.c2 h6 10.a4 e7 ( 10...d6!? ) uncomfortable position to defend ] 11.c5 d5 12.cxd6 xd6 13.e1 c7 37...exd4 and here the players settled for a ( 13...e7!? ) 14.d2 h3 15.a3 d7 draw, although it appears White may still have ( 15...e7!? ) 16.b4 f5?! ( 16...ad8!?= ) the upper hand after 38 Qd5!? 17.b5 ( 17.c4+! h7 18.h4 g4 ½-½ 19.xg4 fxg4 20.xg4 ) 17...cxb5 18.b3+ h8 19.xb5 e4 , so far Cummings, D-Treppner, G/ Manchester 1085 A29 1980, and now W hite should have proceeded with 20.ac1! d8 21.dxe4 Bacrot,Etienne 2653 xa3 22.cd1 fxe4 23.xe4 with a clear Sutovsky,Emil 2664 advantage; Match Albert FRA (4) 12.10.2001 B) 9.a3 a5 10.g2 h6 11.a4 a7 [Carsten Hansen] 12.c5 d5 13.d2 g4 1/2-1/2 Apel, STyrtania, M/German 2. Bundesliga 1996; 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 C) 9.g5 h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.e4 e7 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 c5 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 1078
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.xc5 xc5 13.d2! a5 14.a3 a4 15.ac1 f5 ( 15...d6 ) 16.fd1 e7 17.c5 1-0 Smejkal, J-Campora, D/Vrsac 1981 ] [ D) 8...e8 A) This is not exactly the critical way to approach Black's set-up. Instead W hite sh o uld co n sid e r 9.g5!? , and now for instance h6 ( or 9...c6 10.e3 e7 11.d4 d6!? ) 10.xf6 xf6 11.e3 d6 12.b4; B) 9.c2 h6 10.b1 c6 11.b4 d4 12.c5 d5 13.cxd6 ( 13.e3 xc3 14.xc3 f5 is quite pleasant for Black) 13...xd6 14.d2 g4 , and here the players prematurely agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2, in Tal, M-Browne, W/Wijk aan Zee 1976, b u t B l a c k a lr e a d y h a s a c o m f o r t a b l e position ] 9.a3 [ A) 9.g2 c6 10.d2 ( Or 10.b3 b6 11.d2 d6 12.h3 d7 13.h2 c5 14.d1 a5 15.f4 f5!= Najdorf, M-Camara, H/Sao Paulo 1978) 10...d6 11.a4 d4 ( 11...b6 ) 12.e3 b6 13.xb6 axb6 14.c3 e8 15.d4 e4 16.d5! e7 17.a4 c5 18.b4 f5 19.bxc5 bxc5 20.b3 ad8 21.fb1 ( 21.a5!? ) 21...d7 22.b2 ( 22.h3!? ) 22...g4 23.a3 e5 24.xe5 xe5 25.xe5 xe5 26.ab3 Smejkal, JPortisch, L/Milan 1975 ] [ B) 9.b1 A) 9...e8?! 10.b4 f8 11.b3 d6 ( 11...c6 12.b5 ) 12.b5 h3?! 13.xb7! xf1 14.xf1 ( Of course not 14.xa8?? xa8 15.xf1 h1# ) 14...b8 15.c6 , and with a pawn for exchange along with complete dominance on the light squares, White has a clear advantage, Cummings, D-Wells, I/Brighton 1979; B) 9...a5 10.a3 e8 11.b4 B1) 11...axb4 12.axb4 f8 13.d2 d6 14.b5 h3 B1a) 15.xb7! xf1 16.xf1! ( Ribli, who also offers the following line 16.xa8 xe2 17.xe2 xa8 18.e4 ) 16...a5 17.c6; B1b) 15.e1 c8 16.e3 ( 16.a1!? ) 16...f5 17.c1?! ( 17.e2!? ) 17...e4 B1b1) 18.g2 c6 19.b2 ( 19.bxc6 bxc6 20.dxe4 xe4 21.xe4
xe4 ) 19...exd3 20.e4 e6 21.xd3 g4; B1b2) 18.e2 exd3 19.xd3 xd3 20.xd3 h3 21.f1 h5 Urpilainen, E-Pietarinen, P/Finland 2001; B2) 11...f8 12.b3 d6 13.g2 ( 13.b5!? ) 13...g6 14.d2 g7 15.c2 axb4 16.axb4 c6 17.a1 e6= Vovsha, E-Tseitlin, M/Biel 2000; C) 9...a6!? 10.d2 d6 11.c1 c6 12.e3 d4= 1/2-1/2 Andersson, UTimman, J/Bad Lauterberg 1977 ] [ C) 9.e3 d6 ( 9...c6?! 10.d4 exd4 11.exd4 b6 12.d5 cxd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 Turko, S-Seraphim, L/ IECC Email 2002) 10.d4 b6 11.b3 ( 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.c2 e7 13.d1 c6= ) 11...e7 ( 11...h3!?= ) 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.b2 ( 13.c2 c6= ) 13...c6 14.e4 h3 15.xf6+ xf6 16.g2 xg2 17.xg2 g6 , and Black has a pleasant position, Balatoni, GGombkoto, O/HUN-ch corr 1999 ] 9...a6 [ A) 9...a5 10.a4?! ( with 10.b1!? e8 11.b4 White can trans pose to Urpilainen, EPietarinen, P as in the note after White's 9th move ) 10...e7 ( 10...a7!? ) 11.d2 d5 ( 11...c6!?; 11...d6!? ) 12.g2?! ( 12.cxd5!? xd5 13.b3 f6 14.ac1 ) 12...e6 13.b3 c6 14.c2 b5 15.b2 b6 16.e4 ab8 with a clearly more comfortable game for Black as in Kuusava, E-Valkama/corr 1989 ] [ B) 9...c6 10.e3 ( 10.a4 e7 11.c5 d5 12.cxd6 xd6 13.e3 h3 14.e1 e7= S c h m o l l , W - L i n h a r t , W / A u s t r i a 2 0 0 0) 10...e8?! ( 10...b6!? 11.d4 d6 ) 11.d4 f8 12.dxe5 xe5 , and here the players very prematurely agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/ 2 in Hanel, R-Linhart, W/Salzburg 2001, but White's position looks preferable after 13.b4 d6 14.b2 ] 10.e3 a7 11.b4 c6 12.d4 exd4 13.exd4 d5 14.cxd5 [ 14.c5!? f5 ( 14...e8 15.f4 h3 16.e1 d7 17.d3 f5 18.xf5 xf5 19.g2 ) 15.e1 d7 16.f4 fe8 17.d2 ( 17.e5 e4= ) 17...e4 18.xe4! dxe4 19.d5 cxd5 20.ad1 ] 14...xd5 15.xd5 cxd5 16.e3 h3= 1079
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 This position is given as equal by Ribli, but White nonetheless still holds a light initiative thanks to this slightly better coordinated pieces and ability to break on the queenside. These are very miniscule factors, but they allow White to keep pushing for a while. As we will see in the game, Black is able to fend o f f W h i t e ' s a d va n c e s wi t h o u t t o o m a n y headaches. 17.e1 c8 18.c1 xc1 [ 18...d7!? ] 19.xc1 d7 20.b1 c8 21.c1 xc1+ 22.xc1 f5 23.d1 g5!? 24.e2 e4 25.f3 f5 26.e2 g7 White offers a repetition and Black declines 27.f3 c8 28.b3 e6 29.f2 f6 30.d3 f5 31.e2 e6 32.b5 axb5 33.xb5 f7 34.b3 h5 35.g2 h4 36.d3 e6 [ 36...hxg3 37.hxg3 b8 ] 37.f2 hxg3 38.hxg3 e7 39.a4 e6 40.a5 f5 41.a6 bxa6 42.xa6 ½-½
Rahman,Z-Guseinov,A/Doha op (4) 1992.) 14...a5 (the point, the rook swings into action) 15.e3 xb5 16.c2 with chances t o b o t h s id e s, G u r e vi c h , M -J a n s s e n , R / Haarlem 1999. ] 14.bxc6 xc6 15.b5?! Etienne is famed for his serious home preparation, but this is one move that he will want to f orget in a hurry! The weak b5-square is occupied, but after Black's next few logical moves the knight is forced to return home. Others: [ 15.c1 seems sensible, d7 16.ce4 a4 17.c5 xc5 18.xc5 fairly level, Stryjecki, M-Kuemin,S/Tallinn 1997. ] [ 15.a4 b8 16.c1 xa4 17.xa4 b5 with good play, Romano,T-Marinelli,T/Caorle 1988. ] [ 15.b1?! a4 16.c1 seems artificial, Kunte,A-Koneru,H/Guntur, AP IND 2000. ] 15...a4! Fixing the a3-pawn, and stopping White from playing a4 to defend the knight on b5. 16.c1 a5! Black wins the fight for control of b5, and White has to admit that his 1086 A29 fifteenth move was a mistake. 17.c3 f7 Bacrot,Etienne 2649 A typical move in such positions, Black intends Topalov,Veselin 2739 ...Bf8 and ...Rd7 with central pressure. 18.f4?! FIDE GP Dubai UAE (5.1) 08.04.2002 White should prefer keeping his position solid, he has no justification for such 'activity'. exf4 [Tony Kosten] 19.xf4 f5! Pointing-out the weak c1-h6 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 diagonal. 20.h1? White is already clearly 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 worse, but this move does not help matters, [ 20.b1 g5 21.f1 avoids material loss, 0-0 9.a3 e6 10.b4 f6 as xd2 22.xd2 c4 23.f4 [ The immediate 10...a5 was examined in and the bishop is defended by the rook. ] Nimzo 7.32 - Fritz 6a. ] 20...g5 21.f1 xd2! A 'petite 11.b2 [ I prefer 11.b1 which gives the advance of combinaison'. 22.xd2 c4 The d-pawn is the white b-pawn more power, and we have pinned. 23.c2 Other moves are no better. e3 Black wins the exchange, and with it the seen this idea in several games. ] 11...a5 12.b5 d4 13.d2 c6 A standard game. 24.d2 xf1 25.xf1 h6 26.f4 move in th ese lines, exchanging W hite's b3 27.e1 e7 28.f2 d5 Black aims annoying b5-pawn, and allowing the black for piece exchanges, of course. 29.d4 d7 30.xd5 xd5 31.e4 c6 32.c3 b5! knight to return to c6 before White plays e3. [ 13...d7 14.xb7 ab8 15.g2 xb5 White has no compensation for his material. 16.xb5 xb5 17.c2 leaves White the 0-1 superior structure, Beliavsky,A-Cvitan,O/ Bled 1998. ] [ 13...a4!? is an interesting alternative, Black no t o n ly f ixe s t h e wh it e a -p a wn o n t h e exposed a3-square, but gains control of b3, 14.xb7!? ( 14.e3 b3 15.xb3 xb3 16.e2 b8 gives Black good counterplay, 1080
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 20.a5!? b6 21.b2 is worth trying, though ) 20...f6 ( 20...e5?! 21.xe5 dxe5 22.d3 b8 is worse: 23.e3 ) 21.d3 e8 ] 19...b5! Forced, but good, when the knight retreats Black can activate his bishop on b6. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 20.a5!? xa5 21.bxa5 xa5 22.a4 bxa4 23.xa4 b5 24.xa7 xa7 25.xa7 5.d5 [ I am surprised that this move is not more White has regained his pawn, but his bishop popular, it avoids the doubled pawns of the pair has less importance when there are no pawns on the queenside. b7 26.d1 e7 sharp main line with 5.g2 ] 27.b6 5...c5 6.g2 d6 7.d3!? [ The 'interesting' symbol is not for the move ½-½ itself, but for the concept: W hite retards kingside castling the maximum possible. A29 7.0-0 was considered in the game Van Wely, 1088 L-Salov,V. ] Bareev,Evgeny 2698 7...h6 Obviously, Bg5 was the immediate Shirov,Alexei 2709 t h r e a t , a n d s o B l a c k s t o p s t h i s . 8.d2 7th Karpov Poikovsky RUS (1) 18.03.2006 White continues his plan. [John Watson] [ 8.0-0 would return to normal lines, e.g. 0-0 9.e3 xd5 10.cxd5 e7 11.d4 exd4 T h e sa m e o ld C lo se d S ic il ia n Re ve rs e d 12.xd4 with a plus to White, Valdes, L- variation, and again with Bareev as W hite. Martinez,C/MEX 1997. ] Shirov finds an early way to wrest the 8...xd5 9.cxd5 d4 A new move in this advantage but for some reason misses a e xa c t p o s it io n , a lt h o u gh qu it e n o rm a l in fairly straightforward continuation, letting his similar ones. opponent off the hook. Soon Bareev has a [ 9...e7 was played in Aleksandrov,A-Acs, large advantage but returns the favour. The P/Ohrid MKD 2001: 10.b4 b6 11.0-0 0-0 game features an interesting ending. 1.c4 e5 12.c4 d4 13.b1 White is harassing the 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 black bishop. ] b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 10.e3 f5 11.d4! Black seems to have a e6 powerful hold on d4, and yet ... this positional/ [ As explained in previous columns, White's tactical device is worth remembering. move order prevents 9...g4? due to 10.b5 [ W i t h t h e b l a c k k n i g h t o n f 5 11.b4? d4 ( 10...xf3 11.xf3 d4 12.xb7 is a blunder, xe3 12.fxe3 xe3 winning. ] b8 13.g2 ) 11.xe5 ] 11...exd4 12.e4 e7 13.b4 b6 10.b1 [ Black must retreat, 13...xb4?? 14.a4+ ] [ We've discussed the virtues of this exact 14.c4 c6 15.f4 c7 16.xd4 move order before. The less precise 10.d3 The end of the 'petite combinaison', W hite allows a5 ( or 10...f5 11.b5 d4 etc. ) has regained his d4-pawn has a space 11.b5 d4 12.xe5 f6 13.f4 b3 ] a d va n t a ge , a n d a ggre ssive p ie ce s . cxd5 10...f6 11.d3 a5 17.exd5 0-0 18.0-0 White would have a clear [ For 11...d4 , see earlier games in the advantage if he could play a4, say, to archives. ] maintain his knight on the strong square c4, 12.b5 d4 13.d2 c8 but It is Black to move, he must react [ I guess Shirov isn't the one to fall for immediately. 13...d5?? 14.xd5 xd5 15.e3 e6 [ 18.a4 allows f5 19.d3 e8+ 20.e4 16.e4 ] xg3!? 21.hxg3 f5 which is very messy. ] 14.e3 f5 15.e2 Bareev has played this 18...g6 19.e3 before and obviously has some faith in [ 19.d2!? b5 20.c3 leads nowhere after White's position. d6 This stops Nc4 a move 1087 Bareev,Evgeny Gelfand,Boris NAO Masters Cannes FRA (2) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2707 2703 23.02.2002
1081
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 earlier than [ 15...a4 , which was seen in our annotated game Bareev-Yakovich, Kazan 2005: 16.b2!? ( 16.c4! ) 16...d6! 17.f4!? ( 17.de4 was a simpler idea.) 17...exf4! 18.xf4 c6? ( 18...d7! ) 19.bxc6 bxc6 20.f3 c5 21.d2 a7 22.a1! ] 16.a4 So White stops ...a4. g4 17.f3 e6 18.f4 This looks like a slightly improved version of Bareev's game in the last note, but Black does have the b4 square to play with, so perhaps it's a wash. f7 19.b3?! [ 19.b2 is probably the only chance for a lasting advantage. The text has tactical problems. ] 19...b4 Now the a-pawn is under attack and only defended tactically. 20.c2 h3 21.e4 xg2 22.xg2 f5 [ 22...xa4!? 23.xa5 xa5 24.xa4 is similar to the game, but without e4 in. ] 23.f2 e6 24.e4?! Beginning a petit combination that doesn't improve his position. xa4 [ Or 24...fxe4 25.dxe4 xa4 ] 25.xa5 xa5 26.xa4 b6 Black could also wait with this and play [ 26...fe8 , but then 27.exf5 xf5 28.c4 threatens g4. ] 27.b3 [ 27.exf5 ] 27...xb3 28.xb3 exf4! 29.xf4 [ 29.gxf4 d8! intends ...Ne6. ] 29...fxe4 30.xe4! [ 30.dxe4 a2 Things have gone wrong for Bareev, who perhaps simply underestimated the . ..Bb4 answer to Nb3. ] 30...a2+ 31.h3 d8? It's unlike Shirov to miss the direct [ 31...g5! 32.d2 ( 32.c1? g4+ ) 32...g4+ 33.h4 ( 33.xg4? e5+ ) 33...e5! 34.xf8+ xf8 with multiple threats. Then W hite 's be st is 35.f4 xh2+ 36.g5 f3+ ( 36...g6!? ) 37.xg4 d4 ] 32.c1 d5!? Bluff? 33.xc7 e3 34.h1 h5+ 35.g4 hxh2 36.xh2 xh2 37.f5!? The game begins to get tactical in spite of reduced material. c2 38.c3 b2? 39.e5! Well calculated. Now White has a c l e a r a d v a n t a g e . xe5 40.c8+ f7 41.d6+ e7 42.xe5 b6 43.e8+ d7 44.g8 d4+ 45.d5 b3 46.xd4 xd6
47.c4 a3 48.b4 a1 49.xg7 b6 50.xh7 [ 50.b7 may be better. The b-pawn is the more important one. ] 50...b1+ 51.c4 c1+ 52.d4 b1 53.h6+ c7 54.h5 b4+ 55.e3 g4 56.f3 d4 57.g4!? d6 58.g3 xd3+ 59.h4 d1 60.g5 d4 61.f5 b4 62.h6+ c5 63.g5 xb5 64.g6 b1 65.h5 f1+ 66.e6+ c4 67.h4+ c3 68.g4 f8 69.g7 g8 70.f7 Acceding to the draw, but [ 70.d5! A) 70...d3!? 71.g3+ ( 71.c6 e3 72.xb6 f3= ) 71...d2 ( 71...e2 72.e6 f2 73.f7 ) 72.d4 e2; B) 70...d2! also holds B1) 71.d4 e2 72.e5 d2 73.d6 ( 73.f6 c3 74.e6 b5 75.d5 b4 76.g3+ d2 77.c4 e2= ) 73...b5 74.c5 e3 75.xb5 f3=; B2) 71.g3 b5 ] 70...xg7+ 71.xg7 b5 72.e6 b4 73.d5 b3 74.g3+ c2 75.c4 b2 76.g2+ c1 77.c3 b1+ 78.d3 a3 79.d2 b1 80.c2+ d1 81.b2 c1 82.c2+ d1 83.c8 a3 84.c7 b1 85.c2 a3 86.b2 c1 87.b4 b1 88.b3 d2 89.c3+ d1 90.c8 b1 91.e4 ½-½
1089 Bareev,Evgeny Topalov,Veselin Sparkassen sf Playoff (1) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2726 2745 17.07.2002
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 d4 12.d2 c6 [ 12...d5 13.b2 c6 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5+ xd5 16.xd4 xd4 17.a4 f5 18.b5 c5 didn't give Black any particular problems in Kramnik,V-Tiviakov,S/Singapore 1990. ] 13.b2 This natural move is new. Previously Black had preferred to aim for the c5-square by 1082
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 13.de4 e.g. g4 14.e3 d7 15.d2 h8 16.h3 h5 17.f4 with unclear play, Georgiev,K-Kharlov,A/Niksic 1996. ] 13...f7 A common idea, Black can move the e7-bishop and then swing the rook over to the open d-file. 14.e3 f5 15.c2 f8 16.fd1 d5 17.c4 Both sides follow their game plan. b5!? A really surprising move, which c a u s e s a c a t a st ro p h ic we a ke n in g o f t h e queenside but is based on a tactical operation. 18.a5 I would be tempted to play [ 18.e4!? myself, so that if bxc4?! 19.dxc4 wins the pinned knight on d5. ] 18...dxe3! This is the point of Black's previous move, of course. 19.fxe3 xe3 20.f2 xg2!? Black prefers to take the important white bishop. [ 20...xd1 21.xd1 c8 22.xc6 is the other possibility, but the two white pieces should prove stronger then the black rook here. ] 21.xg2 c8 22.d4! [ 22.xc6? b6+ ] 22...b6 23.e2 [ 23.e4!? d5 24.c2 and Nc5 is another try. ] 23...d7 24.bc1?! Did Bareev miss Black's next move? [ 24.f2 would unpin the d-pawn and maintain an advantage. ] 24...c5!! Cleverly ridding himself of his backward c-pawn. 25.dxc5 xc5+ 26.bxc5 [ 26.h1 may be superior, but it is easy to understan d that W h ite wante d to avoid having both his king and queen on the same colour squares as the black light-squared bishop. ] 26...xc5 Black is now two pieces ahead, but the threatened discovered check, and the loose a5-knight mean that Black will regain one of them. 27.d4!? Played to weaken the black pawn structure. exd4 28.xc5 xc5 29.c6 e5 30.c1 [ 30.xd4 allows Black to force an i m m e d i a t e d r a w : e2 31.c1 xd4 32.xd4 h3 33.d2 e3+ 34.h1 f3+ 35.g1 etc. ] 30...e4 31.e1 Black now has three pawns for the piece, plus some attacking chances on the light squares, so White is happy to draw. ½-½
1090 Bareev,Evgeny Volkov,Sergey ch-RUS Superfinal (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2675 2614 22.12.2005
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 c5 7.0-0 0-0 8.e3 d6 [ A) 8...b4 9.g2 xc3 10.bxc3 A) 10...e4! is a recommendation of Ribli's, and now he analyses 11.f3 exf3 12.xf3 d6 13.d3 d7! , and here Ribli only mentions A1) However, White has at least two interesting alternatives: 14.d4!? c5 A1a) 15.b1 b6 16.dxc5 dxc5 17.a3 a4 18.f2 a5 19.b5 xc3 20.d5 h3 ( 20...xa3?? 21.b3+- ) 21.b3 e5 22.f4 h5; A1b) 15.a4 a5 16.e4 b6 17.d3 a6 18.f4 xc4 19.fc1 e8 20.f1 a5 21.xa6 bxa6 22.cb1; A2) 14.b1!? e5 15.e2 e7 ( 15...g4 16.c2 ) A2a) 16.d4 g4 17.c2 xc4 18.xb7 e6 ( 18...xe3? 19.e1 xc2 20.xe7+- ) 19.a4 ( 19.e4 b6 is fine for Black) 19...fb8 20.b5 xb5 21.axb5 d5 22.e4; A2b) 16.c5!? dxc5 17.d4 d7 18.a3 e6 19.xb7 xb7 20.xb7 fb8 21.xc7 d6 22.xc5 xc5 23.xc5; A3) 14.e4 e5 15.e2 g4=; B) 10...c6 11.e4 e8 12.a4 d6 13.d3 g4 14.f3 h5 15.b1 b6 16.a5?! ( 16.g4! g6 17.f4 Ribli ) 16...d7 17.axb6 axb6 18.f2 f6 19.fb2 f7 20.e3 a6 21.f4 c7 22.g4 ea8 23.g5 exf4 24.xf4 fxg5 25.xg5 a2 26.e3 xb2 27.xb2 a3 28.b3 a2 29.f1 d5 , and here the players agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2, Ivanchuk, VSeirawan, Y/ Groningen 1997, but at this stage Black is at least clearly better, e.g. 30.g2 dxe4 31.dxe4 g6! ( 31...xc4 32.b1 c5 ) 32.c1 xe4 33.b2 xb2 34.xb2 xg2 35.xg2 c5 , and Black 1083
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 should win ] [ B) 8...e8 9.d4 b4 10.d5!? ( 10.dxe5?! xc3! 11.bxc3 xe5 12.d4 a5 13.e4 d6 14.b1 d7 15.b2 e7 16.e2 b6 17.f4 b7 18.f3 e8 with a fairly clear advantage for Black in Obodchuk, A-Gwaze, R/Bled 2002, White has more space, but his deficiencies in his pawn structure along with Black's wellcoordinated pieces give Black the upper hand. ) 10...xd5 11.cxd5 ( 11.xd5 c6 12.g2 d6 13.a3 a5 14.b4 b6 15.b2 ) 11...e4 12.g2 A) 12...b6 13.f3 a6 14.f2 d3 15.fxe4 xe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.c2 ( 17.xf7?! looks attractive on account of xf7 18.f3+ g8 19.xe4 , but after f6 followed by either ...Rf8 or ...Re8, Black has more or less sufficient compensation for the pawn) 17...e8 18.e4; B) 12...c6 13.b3 e7 ( 13...b6 14.f3 exf3 15.xf3 e7 16.c2 ) 14.f3 exf3 15.xf3 a5 16.a3 d6 17.e4 a4 B1) White can possibly improve with 18.c2!? f6 , and here Ribli stops his analysis, but a possible continuation is ( 18...cxd5? 19.e5+- ) 19.e3! cxd5?! 20.e5 fxe5? 21.xd5+ h8 22.f7 d8 23.af1+-; B2) 18.c4 cxd5 19.xd5 e6 20.e5 , Oskooei, M-Rezaei, R/Iran 1994 ] 9.d4 [ 9.a3 b6 10.d4 c6 11.d5 h3 12.e1 c8 13.d3 d7 14.a4 c7 15.c3 g4 16.dxc6 bxc6 17.c5 d5 , and Black is already comfortably better with his broad centre and pieces well-placed for a kingside assault, Olafsson, H-Aronian, L/ Reykjavik ISL 2004 ] 9...b4 [ 9...b6 A) 10.b3 has also been tried, and now: A1) 10...h3!? looks like an equalizer, e. g. 11.g2 ( or 11.e1 a5 12.d2 xc3 13.xc3 e4 14.e2 d7 ) 11...xg2 12.xg2 exd4 13.exd4 d7=; A2) 10...c6 11.d5 ( 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.a3 e8 13.xd8 xd8 14.fd1 )
11...c5 12.g2 a5 13.e2?! ( 13.b2 f5 14.e2 ) 13...f5 14.b2 e7 15.f3 ae8 16.e4 g6 17.g4 h5 18.g3 d8 , Sasseville, J-Gilman, A/ Beloeil 2000, and now White has a clear plus wit h a m ove like 19.f5 xf5 20.gxf5; B) 10.b4!? c6 11.a4 exd4 12.exd4 d5 13.a5 c7 14.g5 dxc4 15.a6?! ( 15.e4!? is more challenging, e.g. d6 16.xf6+ gxf6 17.h6 e8 18.a6! b6 19.d5 c5 20.a4! e7 21.axb7 xb7 22.b5! e5 23.xc4 d4 24.a3 , and White has clear plus on account of Black's weakened kingside) 15...b6 ( 15...h6 16.xf6 xf6 17.axb7 xb7 18.e4 g6 19.c5 c8 20.a4 ) 16.d5 bxa6 17.dxc6 e6 , and a draw was very prematurely agreed upon, 1/2-1/ 2, in Marin, M-Olafsson, H/Turin OL ITA 2006. W hite can continue with 18.xa6 xd1 19.xd1 , and claim a clear advantage ] 10.d5!? [ 10.b3 xc3 11.xc3 e4 12.g2 g4 13.d5 d7 14.b3 f5 15.b2 fe8 16.fe1 h5 is approximately equal, Stean, M-Nunn, J/London 1980 ] [ 10.e2?! allows Black a comfortable game in more ways than one, e.g. e4 ( Both 10...h3 11.g2 xg2 12.xg2 c5!?; and 10...c5 11.a3 a5 12.g2 e6 lead to comf ortable positions f or Black) 11.g2 c6 12.a3 a5 13.b4 b6 14.d5 cxd5 15.cxd5 e8 16.b2 g4 , and Black has without any headaches obtained a pleasant position where he can play for a win at very little risk, Damljanovic, B-Bacrot, E/Gothenburg 2005. ] 10...xd5 11.cxd5 h3? [ Here Black has to play 11...exd4 12.xd4 ( 12.exd4? h3! 13.a4 xf1 14.xf1 f6-+ ) 12...c5 13.c3 h3 14.e1 a5 15.a3 d7 ( note that 15...b4?? doesn't work 16.axb4 axb4 17.xa8 bxc3 18.xd8+- ) 16.d2 g4 with chances to both sides ] 12.a4! Oops! The bishop is trapped! xf1 13.xf1 a5 14.a3 e8 [ 14...exd4 15.exd4 f6 16.d1 ] 15.d1 e4 1084
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 15...exd4 16.axb4 dxe3 17.xe3 axb4 18.c1 also leaves White with a solid advantage ] 16.e2 c6 17.axb4 axb4 18.d2 b6 [ Or 18...xa1 19.xa1 c5 20.b5 f8 ( 20...e7? 21.dxc5 dxc5 22.d6 e6 23.d7+- ) 21.a7 b6 22.b7 , and White will win sooner or later ] 19.c1 c5 20.b3 a5 21.g2 g6 22.h4 h5 23.d1 d8 24.c2! f5 25.dxc5 dxc5 Finally White has his pieces perfectly aligned and opens the position up with two decisive pawn breaks. 26.f3! exf3+ 27.xf3 f6 28.e4! fxe4 29.xe4 And the game is essentially over. a2 30.c1 f8 31.d6 h7 32.xc5 a5 33.xa5 f2+ 34.h3 e2 35.xg6+ 1-0
11.d3 a5 Black's most popular move. [ For 11...d4 , see Bauer-Sokolov and the notes to Bareev-Topalov in the archives. ] 12.b5 d4 13.d2 c8 [ As Tony keeps pointing out, 13...d5?? (as is played without the insertion of ...a5 and b5) now runs into 14.xd5 xd5 15.e3 e6 16.e4 ] 14.e3 f5 15.e2 We have seen both 15.a4 and 15.Qc2 here (featured last month in Marin - Komljenovic). Bareev has found a promising move, since it keeps an eye on the kingside and avoids key losses of tempo that ca n otherwise arise . a4! The most challenging move (in both of the last games on ChessPublishing White felt it was necessary to stop this move by playing a4). [ 15...b8 would protect the b-pawn in order to move the queen away and perhaps play ... c6, e.g., 16.b2 d7 ( 16...c6 17.bxc6 1091 A29 bxc6 18.fc1 ) 17.c4! (not possible with the queen on c2 or d1) xc4 18.dxc4 c6 Bareev,Evgeny 2688 19.fd1 e8 20.e4 . This isn't much but Yakovich,Yuri 2560 Black's queenside is rather vulnerable. ] 58th ch-RUS Semi-Final (1) 03.09.2005 16.b2!? [John Watson] [ 16.c4! looks better because Black's next move prevents it. I pref er W hite in that 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 case. ] 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 17.f4!? An interesting although Very common these days. By skipping d3 for a 16...d6! w h i l e , W h i t e i s a b l e t o b y p a s s c e r t a i n unclear way to begin play on both flanks. Black can allow fxe5 but it would create a defences. 0-0 9.b4 e6 [ For example, the common move (with d3 in) wonderful outpost for White's pieces on e4. [ 17.de4 was a simpler idea. ] 9...g4 now fails to simply 10.b5 d4 ( 10...xf3 11.xf3 d4 12.xb7 b8 17...exf4! 18.xf4 c6? [ 18...d7! ] 13.g2 ) 11.xe5 ] [ and 9...f6 10.b3+ (preventing ...Be6) 19.bxc6 bxc6 20.f3 c5 21.d2 a7 h8 11.d3 cuts out certain lines, for 22.a1! a6 23.e4 d8? Now White breaks example, g4 12.e3 xf3 13.xf3 d4 through. Better [ 23...f7 24.d5 xd5 25.exd5 14.xd4 exd4 15.a4 ] ,when White still has a substantial edge. ] 10.b1 Still waiting on d3. This Rb1 and b5 strategy/move order is the method that has 24.e5 The end. e8 25.exf6 d7 26.xa4 the most success in reversed position where 1-0 Black in the Dragon is fighting against White's Classical setup with Nb3, Be2 etc. [ Instead, 10.d3 allows a5 ( or 10...f5 11.b5 d4 etc. ) 11.b5 d4 12.xe5 f6 13.f4 b3 ] 10...f6 A solid and good response. [ The popular f ormation begun by 10...f5 is n o lo n ge r p o ssib le h e re d u e t o 11.b5 etc. ] 1085
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 transpose if Black decides to play ...Qd7 and A29 ...Bh3. ] 2440 2306 11.c1 [ I didn't appreciate it during the game, but 17.10.2011 a n g l i n g f o r 1 2 . N d 5 w i t h 11.d2!? makes a lot of sense. Black will likely have to forfeit the bishop pair, e.g. d7 12.d5 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c6 4.c3 c5 xd5 ( 12...a7?! 13.xf6+ gxf6 14.e3 5.f3 d6 6.d3 h6 7.a3 a6 8.0-0 0-0 9.b4 is hardly ideal for Black.) 13.cxd5 e7 b6!? Marin doesn't consider this retreat in 14.b3 with a slight edge to White. "GM Repertoire 3 - The English Opening vol. ( 14.e4!? )] 1", and understandably so! It appears nonsensical to p ut the bishop o n a more 11...d7 12.e3 e7 Rerouting the knight to exposed square, and 9...Bb6 has yet to be g6 is a typical plan. Black has other choices: [ L o g i c a l i s 12...h3 , and if 13.d4 played by any strong players. Still, the move ( White should delay this central push, i.e. has merit. For example, one of White's major 13.e1; 13.c2; or 13.b3 ) 13...exd4 plans in this line is to play Bc1-b2, Ra1-c1, e2A) 14.exd4 fe8 ( 14...g4!? ); e3, and Nc3-d5, encouraging Black to capture B) 14.d5 (a resource approved by Marin on d5 and open the c-file. With the bishop on with the bishop on a7), then Black can a7, the c7 pawn becomes a bit tender, but play ala my note to 11...Bg4 12.Rc1: xd5 now it is solidly defended. The major 15.xh3 xh3 16.cxd5 and now e5! downside to 9.. .Bb6 is that c4-c5 - a common 17.xe5 dxe5 18.exd4 e4! and once idea to idea to restrict the bishop - will come again it pays to have c7 defended. ] with tempo. Finally, I want to note that in the [ On 12...fe8 White again has an variation with 7...a5 (instead of 7...a6) it's o p p o r t u n i t y f o r 13.d2 , e.g. h3 actually quite common for Black to retreat the 14.de4!? ( 14.d5 xd5 15.xh3 xh3 bishop to b6 in anticipation of e2-e3 and d4-d5. 16.cxd5 e7 17.e4 f5 ) 14...xe4 Taking all this into account, let's see how 15.dxe4 xg2 16.xg2 ] things unfold. [ T h e m a i n - l i n e i s 9...a7 i.e. Perez 13.c5!? A critical test of Black's idea. [ Another option is 13.d2 ab8 ( 13...c6?! Fungueiro, M (2255) -Hamdouchi, H (2559)/ runs into 14.c5! wit h t h e id e a o f dxc5 Sanxenxo ESP 2006/[John Watson] ] 15.a4 a7 16.xc5 xc5 17.bxc5 10.b2 e6 Standard. However, in view of when White stands quite well.) 14.de4 the option I had on the next move, I think g4 ( 14.e1; 14.ce4!? ) 14...xe4 15.xe4 ] or f5 is a better square. [ 13.e1!? is quite useful. Marin approves of [ 10...g4 11.e3 ( I would prefer 11.h3; t h i s l i t t l e m o ve t o f a c i l i t a t e t h e d 3 - d 4 11.c1 with an eye toward Nc3-d5 is the advance (c4 won't be captured with tempo). move Marin likes in the analogous 9...Ba7 A) 13...g6?! 14.d4! vindicates White's line, but Black will just take on d5 here, e.g. idea, i.e. exd4 ( 14...xc4 15.dxe5 dxe5 d7 12.e3 h3 13.d5 xd5! 16.xd7 xd7 17.d2 e6 18.xb7 ) The point - Black can play this without fear. 15.xd4 g4 ( 15...xc4 16.xb7 ) Normally he would be losing c7 after 14. 16.b3 c6 17.c5!; Bxh3! Qxh3 15.cxd5 Ne7 16.Rxc7. 14.xh3 B) 13...c6?! 14.c5! is a problem once xh3 15.cxd5 e7 16.b3 a5! more.; Black has excellent counterplay.) 11...d7 C) 13...fe8 14.d4 exd4 15.xd4 xc4 12.c2 f5?! ( 12...h3 is much more 16.xb7 with 13...Rae8 this last move logical. ) 13.h4! d7 14.fe1 h7?! wouldn't come with tempo.; 15.d5 a7 16.b5 Ostenstad, B (2439)D) 13...ae8 The placement of the rooks Harestad, H (2196)/Bergen 2001. ] is a little odd, but Black needs to take [ 10...f5N is a fine square for the bishop in m e a s u r e s a g a i n s t d 3 - d 4 . 14.d2 the 9...Ba7 line and is also playable here. ( W h i t e s h o u l d a v o i d 14.d4 exd4 Note that all of these bishop moves may 1092 Bartholomew,John Troff,Kayden 5th SPICE Cup GpC (5) [John Bartholomew]
1086
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.xd4 xc4 16.xb7 c5!; 14.a4!? could be interesting. ) 14...c6 15.c5!; E) Finally, 13...a5!? fits well with the bishop on b6. Still, Black doesn't seem totally prepared for action on the q u e e n s i d e . 14.a4! ( 14.d2 axb4 15.axb4 c6 16.a1 h3=; 14.c5 axb4! 15.axb4 a7 16.d4 e4 ) 14...a7 ( 14...axb4 15.xb6 cxb6 16.axb4 ) 15.bxa5 c6 16.c3; F) 13...ad8 I think this is the most reliable move. Let's see why: 14.d2 c6 and now Black is well-prepared for 15.c5?! i.e. dxc5 16.a4 xd3 so White ought to prefer 15.Nde4 with typical play. ] [ Also useful is 13.c2 ] 13...a7 [ Blac k m ust lo se a te mpo , a s 13...dxc5? 14.xe5 is ugly, for instance d6 15.c4 xc4 16.dxc4 cxb4 17.xd6 cxd6 18.axb4 ] 14.c2 I wasn't quite sure how to proceed, so I decided to connect the rooks and prepare d3d4. [ The immediate 14.d4 e4 15.d2 d5 favors Black. He will shift his forces to the kingside, whereupon the bishop may reemerge with ...c7-c6 and ...Ba7-b8. ] 14...g6 15.e4?! [ The text provokes Black into a dubious retreat, but I can't explain why I refrained from 15.d4! , completing White's magnificent pawn chain and totally confining Black's dark-square bishop. ] 15...e8? This knight will give Black nothing but headaches. [ My opponent didn't like 15...xe4 16.dxe4 when White controls a lot of key squares. Still, it will not be easy to overcome Black's resilient position, i.e. ac8!? 17.fd1 e7 ] 16.c6 Aiming for a pleasant queenless middlegame. [ White's pieces are better placed, so it also ma k e s s e n s e t o ke e p th e t en sio n, e . g. 16.fd1 ] 16...bxc6 17.xc6 xc6 18.xc6 Black's pieces are a little awkward and I have some nice targets on a6 and c7. W hite is slightly better. b6 19.fd2 b8 20.c2 e7 21.c3 The long diagonal has been opened for White's g2 bishop. f5 22.e4
d7 23.d5 xd5 24.xd5 I was happy with this exchange, as I felt my knights had been competing for the same squares. f6 25.c6 f5 26.e4 h7?! Black is again reluctant to exchange on e4. [ Passive defense awaits him after 26...xe4 27.dxe4 e6 28.fc1 a5 29.b5 , though this is the best choice. ] 27.fc1 g6 28.g4 [ P l a y e d t o p r e v e n t . . . f 7 - f 5 , b u t 28.a4! i s b e t t e r . f5 29.c3 f4 30.exf4 exf4 31.d5! works out great for White. ] 28...h5? [ 28...a5! makes it harder for White to create a passed pawn. ] 29.gxh5 xh5 30.a4 g6 31.d5! a5 Otherwise White plays a4-a5 and wins the c7 pawn. 32.bxa5 xa5 33.c3 b6 34.b2 [ I didn't want to allow 34.a5 xa5 35.xa5 b5 when Black has more chances of resisting. ] 34...h8? [ Black really needed to try 34...f6 ] 35.a5+This pawn is too much for Black to cope with. a7 36.xb8 xb8 [ 36...xb8 37.e1 ( or even 37.xe5 dxe5 38.xc7 ) 37...c8 38.xd6+- ] 37.a6 f5 38.g3 f4 39.e4 a7 40.d2 b6 41.b1 xe4 42.xe4 f6 43.c6 e8 44.exf4 exf4 45.h4 Black is virtually in zugzwang, so I didn't see any harm in picking up the f4-pawn. [ 45.a5 is a more surgical way of ending things. ] 45...g8 46.b4 g6 47.xf4 g7 48.d5+ 1-0
1093 Bauer,Christian Dorfman,Josif D 81st ch-FRA Besancon BRA (8) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2599 2586 22.08.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.xe5 e7 6.f4 d6 7.d3 f5 This position is usually evaluated as clearly better for Black in most sources, but things a re n o t t h a t sim p le , wh ic h Jo h n W a t s o n pointed out back in 1979. 8.f2! [ Wisnewski gives preference to 8.e3 e4 1087
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( This is given an '!' by Wisnewski, but Black c a n p r o b a b l y d o b e t t e r w i t h 8...g4! , and I haven't found a good reply for White, e.g. 9.e2 xe2 10.xe2 e4 11.f2 g2 12.b3 e4 13.f1 xf2 14.xf2 h1+ ) 9.xe4 xe4 10.f2 c2+ 11.e2 g6 ( Wisnewski doesn't offer any alternatives, but they are 11...d4+ 12.e1 c2+ 13.e2= with a draw or; 11...xc4+ 12.d3 c5 13.b1 a5 14.a3 ) A) Wisnewski doesn't make any mention o f t h e m a s s i v e l y s t r o n g e r 12.g2! which seems to offer W hite the clearly better chances, for example A1) or 12...d5 13.b1 d4+ ( the alternatives don't offer Black much re lie f e ith e r 13...xe3 14.a4+ c6 15.dxe3 xb1 16.cxd5 b5 17.b3+-; 13...a3 14.a4+ d8 15.d3 xc4 16.b3 b6 17.a5 ) 14.exd4 xb1 15.b3; A2) 12...c6 13.b1 xe3 14.dxe3 xb1 15.b3+-; B) 12.b1 B1) Also the only move given by Wisnewski, but Black should probably opt for 12...h5+ instead, e. g. 13.d3 b4+ 14.c3 B1a) 14...e4+?! 15.xb4 c5+ 16.b3 xf2 17.f3 xh1 18.xb7 d8 19.g2 ( 19.xh1?! d5 20.c2 e7 21.b4 c6 ) 19...d5 20.xd5 xd5 21.xd5 f2 22.xc5 xc5 with a complicated endgame ahead; B1b) 14...xa2+ 15.b3 a5 16.a1 xc1+ 17.xc1 b6+; B2) 12...xe3 13.a4+ c6 14.d3 xf1 15.xf1 d5 is clearly better for Black according to Wisnewski, but after t h e o b v i o u s 16.g2! White is already b e t t e r , e . g . d6 17.e1+ f8 18.b3 ] 8...0-0-0 [ This move isn't covered by Wisnewski, who instead gives preference to 8...c6 A) After this move, White lands in serious tro u b le a s illu st rat e d b y W isn e wski's analysis, but if W hite instead tries the m o r e s o l i d 9.e1! , he stands a good cha nc e o f kee ping Black a t b ay: 0-0-0 10.e3 e6 11.d3
A1) 11...h5 12.f3 b8 13.e4 g4 14.e2 d5 15.exd5 cxd5 16.cxd5 xd5 ( 16...c7 17.e1 ) 17.xd5 xd5 18.e3 d8!; A2) 11...g5 12.fxg5 xg5 13.e4 g4 14.e2 xe2 15.xe2 e6 16.e3; A3) 11...d5 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.e2 b8 14.f3 d4 15.exd4 xd4 16.xd4 xd4 17.h3 d7; B) 9.e3? g4 10.a4 e4+ 11.xe4 xe4 12.g1 f3+ 13.e1 h5 14.f2 ( 14.exd4 e4+ 15.f2 xd4+ 16.g2 e4+ 17.f2 f3+ 18.e1 h6 j u s t w i n s - W i s n e w s k i) 14...h6 wit h a d an gerou s a tt ack a cco rd ing t o Wisnewski, I agree! ] 9.e1! h5 10.e3 e6 11.d4 g5 12.d5 e4+ [ 12...xd5 13.cxd5 h4 14.dxe6 ( 14.g2 hxg3+ 15.hxg3 xh1 16.xh1 gxf4 17.dxe6 fxg3+ 18.xg3 g5+ 19.f2 h4+ 20.g1 fxe6 21.g2 h3 22.f4 ) 14...hxg3+ 15.g1 gxh2+ 16.xh2 xh2 17.xh2 fxe6 ] 13.g1 d7 14.d3 gxf4 [ 14...g7!? 15.c2 e6 16.f3 f6 ] 15.xe4 xe4 16.f6 c6 17.d5 xc4 18.xe4 xe4 19.dxe6 fxg3 [ 19...xe6 20.d4 h6 21.xa7 fxg3 22.hxg3 hg8 23.f2 de8 24.a8+ d7 25.a4+ c6 26.b3 f5+ 27.f3 c7 28.d2 e6 29.af1 ] 20.hxg3 [ 20.d4 f5 21.e4 g6 22.hxg3 g7 23.xa7 xg3+ 24.g2 fxe6 ] [ 20.exf7 g6 21.hxg3 xg3+ 22.g2 h7 ( 22...h4 23.e1 g6 24.xh4 g7 25.xh8 xh8 26.f1 ) 23.d5 d7 24.xh5 dxf7 25.f5 ] 20...fxe6! [ 20...g8?! 21.f3 xe6 22.xh5 b8 23.g2 c6 24.f4 ] [ 20...g6!? 21.exf7 xg3+ 22.g2 h7 23.d5 d7 24.xh5 dxf7 25.f5 ] 21.d4 h7 22.xa7 g8 [ 22...g6 23.a8+ d7 24.xb7 xg3+ 25.g2 g8 26.b5+ c8 27.e2 h4 28.f1 e7 29.f4 e5 30.a6+ d7 31.b5+= ] 23.a8+ d7 24.xb7 xg3+ [ 24...d5 25.b5+ c8 26.f2 d6 1088
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 27.a6+ d7 28.a4+ c8 29.d2 df8+ 30.e2 xg3 31.c1 f5 32.d1+- ] 25.f2! h4 26.b5+ c8 27.a6+ b8 28.b5+ c8 29.d2 [ 29.c4!? ] 29...d5 30.a6+ [ 30.f3 e4 31.xh4 e7 32.xg3? ( 32.a6+ d7 33.b5+= ) 32...xh4+ 33.xh4 g8+ 34.f2 g2+ 35.e1 xh4+ 36.d1 g1+-+ ] 30...b8 31.b5+ [ 31.a4!? d4! 32.b5+ c8 33.a6+= ] 31...c8 32.a6+ b8 33.b5+ ½-½
1094 Bauer,Christian Sokolov,Andrei ch-FRA Chartres FRA (8) [John Watson]
A29 2641 2603 23.08.2005
26.fb1 xc4!? 27.dxc4 d6 28.d5?! [ 28.5b3! t h r e a t e n s c 5 , a n d xc4?? loses to 29.d5+ ] 28...xc4 29.d7 e4 [ Black should hang onto his pawn by 29...a3 30.c1 h8 31.cc7 b5 32.b7 a1+ 33.f1 g8 ] 30.xe4 e5 31.c7 d8 32.h4 d7?! Black concedes. Better was [ 32...d2 ] 33.c8+! [ 33.b7 xb7 34.xb7 a7 35.d5+ f8 36.xb6 isn't easy. ] 33...f7 34.xh7 Now Black is doomed. g6 35.g8+ g7 36.e6 d6 37.c7+ h6 38.g8 d7 39.b4 a1+ 40.g2 ad1 41.e4 g5 42.e6 b5 43.hxg5+ fxg5 44.f5 1d5 45.g4 1-0
1095 A29 Berkes,Ferenc 2593 A nice demolition job by White in a top-class Munoz,Lisandro 2342 match up. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 Turin ol (Men) 37th (1) 21.05.2006 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 [Nigel Davies] e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 d4 12.d2 d5 13.b2 a5!? This seems 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 fine, but one also wonders about f6 10.d3 e6 11.e4 d7 [ 13...c6 of Kramnik-Tiviakov, Singapore 9.b4 1990, which went 14.xd5 ( 14.e3? xc3 Looks sensible, connecting the rooks and 15.xc3 b5 ) 14...xd5 15.xd5+ xd5 preparing a possible exchange of the bishop 16.xd4 xd4 ( 16...exd4!? ) 17.a4 f5 on g2 with ...Bh3. But my impression is that (I don't like this move ( 17...a6 ) 18.b5 c5?! Black is somehow agreeing to a long and and now 19.b3+ h8 20.e6 d i f f i c u l t d e f e n c e u n l e s s h e s e e k s s o m e counterplay. 12.b1 ab8 13.c2 fc8 is awkward for Black. ] 14.bxa5 14.d2 h8 15.fc1 g4 16.e3 d8 [ 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5 xd5 16.xd4 17.e1 c6 18.fd2 Artfully transferring the exd4 ( 16...xd4 17.bxa5 ) 17.b3! xb3 knight to b3 from where it eyes c5 and a5. 18.xb3 with a very small edge. ] White's space advantage on the queenside gives him long term pressure, but will he be 14...xa5 15.c4 a7 16.a4 b6 able to turn it into something more concrete? [ 16...xc3 17.xc3 d5 ] 17.e3 xc3 18.xc3 f5 19.a5! c5 e6 [ 19...xc4 20.axb6! ] [ A t t a c k i n g t h e d 3 p a w n w i t h 18...e2 20.b4!? e7 bears little fruit after 19.b3 intending 20. Nc5 or 20.Nc4. ] [ 20...xb4 21.axb6 cxb6 22.xb4 d7 23.c2! The tactics are all starting to turn 19.b3 f8 20.ec5 f7 21.h3 h5 out right for White. ] 22.a5 c7 23.b3 d8 24.xf7 xf7 25.c2 d7 26.f4 e6? Under serious 21.xc5 xc5 22.axb6 cxb6 23.b3 [ 23.xb6! was safe enough. ] pressure Black allows a breakthrough. [ 26...xc5 27.bxc5 g6 was better when 23...b8 24.b5 xb5 25.xb5 a6 1089
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 W h i t e s h o u l d p r o b a b l y p l a y 28.e4 (intending 29.Bf2). Play might continue b5 29.cxb6 xb6 30.a1 , when White's pressure against e5 may be enough encouragement for Black to give up the centre with exf4 31.gxf4 . This looks a bit better for White but it's far from winning. ] 27.cxb7! bxb7 28.xb7 xb7 29.xc6 A rook and two pawns for two minor pieces is not always a good trade. But in this position White also has ongoing pressure. b6 30.f5 d8 31.c8 e7 32.b5 b8 33.bc1 g8 34.xb8 xb8 35.c8 d7 36.b4 b6 37.b8 d7 38.a8 b6 39.xe7 1-0
1096 Bischoff,Klaus Ruck,Robert TCh-AUT 2009-10 (3) [Nigel Davies]
A29 2569 2556 08.11.2009
Ruck plays 11...Nd4 a move earlier than usual, the standard line being 11... a5 12.b5 and then 12...Nd4. Bischoff shows the dark side of this plan with his 13.Nb3! and goes on to win a model game. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 e5 5.g2 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e8 10.d3 f8 11.d2 d4 [ Black usually plays this after 11...a5 12.b5 an d o n ly t h e n d4 , f o r e xa m p le 13.e3 e6 14.f3 c5 15.d4 exd4 16.exd4 cd7 17.g5 f6 18.e5 with some initiative for White in Sargissian, G (2642)Wen, Y (2508), Al Ain 2008. Ruck evidently thinks his position will be better without the moves . ..a7-a5 and b4-b5, but this presents White with an additional possibility which Bischoff promptly takes advantage of. ] 12.e3 e6 13.b3! Putting his finger on the difference with the Sargissian - W en encounter - White's knight is extremely well placed on b3 and cannot be harassed by ... a5a4. White is better now, and what follows is a beautiful model of how to play the English Opening. c6 14.b2 f6 15.c2 c7 16.ac1 f7 17.e4 d5 18.a5! I often advise students about the strength of knights on this square. The b7 pawn is under
pressure and also rooted to the spot because of the need to defend c6. d8 19.a1 h5 20.b1 f7 21.d2 b8 22.f3 a8 23.fd1 dc7 24.b3 b5 25.a4 bc7 26.b5 c5 [ After 26...cxb5!? 27.axb5 d5 there might follow 28.xe5!? xe5 29.xe5 fxe5 30.xb7 with a rook, two pawns and the initiative for two minor pieces. Though this might have been a better chance for Black than the game. ] 27.d2 b8 28.dc4 Intending b5-b6. e8? [ Perhaps Black should have tried 28...g5 . After the move played his position becomes deeply unpleasant. ] 29.b6 a6 30.c2 h8 31.f4! With Black tied up White opens up a second front on the kingside and brings his bishop on a1 to life. Classic stuff. exf4 32.gxf4 e7 33.f5 f8 34.e4 Defending both f5 and d3 whilst clearing the g-file for occupation by his major pieces. d6 35.xd6 xd6 36.c4 e7 37.g2 d7 38.f1 f8 39.f4 e5 Desperation. 40.xe5 fxe5 41.xe5 f6 42.g6+! The killer blow. White transmutes his advantages into a mating attack. hxg6 [ There's no declining White's offer as after 42...g8 there is 43.d5+ xd5 44.xd5+ f7 45.xf7+ xf7 46.xf8 with an easily winning endgame. ] 43.fxg6 e5 44.g3 e7 45.h4+! xh4 46.xh4+ 1-0
1097 Botvinnik,Mikhail Portisch,Lajos Monte Carlo (7) [Jonathan Rowson]
A29
1968
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 e6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 b6 8.d3 e7 9.a3 a5 10.e3 0-0 It is noteworthy that the great strategist chose not to take on b6 here, which is not to say he was correct... 11.a4 [ 11.c1 d5 12.xd5 xd5 13.a4 d6 14.c5 e7 15.e4 c6 16.c2 b6 B l a c k' s p o si t i o n i s wo r se t h a n it l o o k s 1090
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 16...f5 17.g5 causes problems) 17.d4! bxc5 18.dxc5 b8 19.fd1 d8 20.d2 b5 21.f1 h6 22.cxd6 cxd6 23.c7 d7 24.xb8+ xb8 25.xb5 xb5 26.c4 f6 27.xd6 c7 28.d8+ h7 29.d2 a n d W h it e c o n ve rt e d t h e a d va n t a ge i n Polugaevsky, L -Huebner, R Bugojno 1982 ] 11...xa4 [ 11...d5 12.c5 is probably somewhat better for White too. Black should probably play d6! and try to take back with the cpawn to keep the knight out of c5. ] 12.xa4 d5 13.fc1 e8 14.c2! [ A modern version of the same idea featured is 14.c3 Possibly just as good as Rc2, and with the added idea of Rb3 in some positions. A) 14...f5!? 15.b3!? ( 15.b5 a4 16.d2 xg2 17.xg2 c8 and it is not clear Whether White has any advantage. 18.c4?? a5 is certainly not the way forward. ) 15...f6 ( 15...xb3 16.xb3+ h8 17.xb7 gives White the advantage in every line.) 16.b5 and Black appears to be under pressure.; B) 14...f6?! I am always uneasy about this move- blocking the f-pawn and putting the bishop on a strange square. 15.c5 d4 Black's tactics look a bit contrived, and sure enough W hite emerges with a winning position. 16.xd5 xe2+ 17.f1 xd5 18.e1 e4 19.dxe4 h5 20.f3 e5 21.d3 b5 22.d1 c3 23.c2 e6 24.bxc3 ad8 White should be winning, but somehow lost control 25.c1 c4 26.e2 xe4 27.g1 e7 28.a1 c5 29.xc5 xe2 30.xe2 xe2 31.d4 d2 32.c5 b4 33.axb4 axb4 34.a7 bxc3 35.xc3 c2 36.d4 h5 1/2-1/2 Cvitan, O -Jobava, B Sibenik 2007 But White should certainly play on in the final position- there is a long slog ahead. ] 14...f8 15.ac1 b8? Trying to relieve the pressure on the c-file by playing ...c6 but thereby walking into one of the most famous combinations in chess history. [ 15...e4 16.dxe4 xe4 17.d2 keeps the pressure on. f6 18.c4! ] [ 15...d6 16.b5! ] 16.xc7 c6 17.1xc6! bxc6 18.xf7!! h6 [ 18...xf7 19.c4+ wins in all lines. ]
19.b7 c8 20.c4+ h8 21.h4 xb7 22.g6+ h7 23.e4 d6 24.xe5+ g6 25.xg6+ g7 26.xh6+ Powerful stuff. 1-0
1098 Carlsen,Magnus Cheparinov,Ivan FIDE GP Baku AZE (8) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2765 2696 29.04.2008
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.d3 f6 11.b1 d4 12.d2 c6 13.e3!? [ This line is seen rather infrequently. The normal move is 13.de4 as seen in several recent updates. For a complete reference guide, see the eBooks ] 13...b5 [ In another recent game, Black tried 13...f5 14.b3 d5 A) This looks a little artificial, but that has hardly ever been a problem for the original Rumanian grandmaster. The idea is that Black's knights are placed somewhat awkward and W hite can gain time through the advance of his e- and fpawns while Black shuffles his knights around. A promising alternative is 15.xd5!? cxd5 16.c5 xc5 17.bxc5 d7 ( 17...c7 18.d2 ) 18.b3 f7 19.d2 , and I prefer White.; B) 15.e2!? d6 16.e4 c7 17.f4 b6 ( 17...g4 18.h3 h5 19.g4 f7 20.b2 ) 18.b2 f7 19.c2 c5 20.bxc5 bxc5 21.a5 ( 21.f5!? xb3 22.xb3 b8 23.c4 ) 21...b5 22.c6 c7 23.a4?! ( 23.xe7+!? xe7 24.f5 d7 25.c4 d4 26.c3 fc8 27.a4 ) 23...xc6 24.axb5 b6 25.h1 a6! 26.bxa6 xa6 27.c3 c4 28.dxc4 , and any hint of advantage for either side has disappeared, 1/2-1/2, Suba, MSokolov, A/Bazna ROM 2007 ] 14.c2 [ White has an important alternative in 14.xb5 cxb5 which promises White decent chances f or an ad vantage af te r 15.b3 ( White accomplishes nothing with 1091
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.e4 a4! 16.b2 a5! 17.a1 , and the players agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/ 2, which it is hard to fault White for agreeing to Black almost seems to have the better c h a n c e s , V a u l i n , A -S t o h l , I / Z l i n 1 9 9 5) 15...a4 16.b2 d5 ( 16...d7 17.a1 ac8 18.c1 xc1 19.xc1 c8 20.e2 a5 21.f4 axb4 22.axb4 xb4 23.fxe5 fxe5 24.xe5 Kharlov, A-Brenninkmeijer, J/ Leeuwarden 1995) 17.e4 ( 17.a5 xb2 18.xb2 xg2 19.xg2 d5+ 20.f3 xf3+ 21.xf3 , and White has a light initiative in the endgame, Kharlov, A-Palac, M/Halkidiki 2002) 17...f7 18.d4 c8 19.d5 d7 20.e2 d8 21.a1 b6 22.bc1 a6 23.h4 , and White has the better chances, though Black's position is quite solid, Vallejo Pons, F-Ponomariov, R/ Linares 2002 ] 14...xc3 15.xc3 d7!? [ This is a new move, and a clear improvement over the previously played 15...d5?! which hands White the initiative and an easily pursuable plan, e.g. 16.e4 a2 17.a1 e6 18.b3 c8 19.a4 h8 20.c5 g4 21.f3 h5 22.e3 d7 23.h3 , and Black's position is very un c o mf o rta b le, Con t in, D-Ze lcic, R/ S t Vincent ITA 2004 ] 16.b3 ad8 17.d1 g4 18.d2 h8 [ Black has a couple of decent alternatives in 18...c8 19.c5 d5 ] [ and 18...d5 19.c4 e6 ] 19.c5 c8 20.b2 d5 [ 20...d7!? ] 21.c2 c7 22.c1 [ W hite can also consider 22.d4!? xc5 23.bxc5 exd4 24.xd4 xd4 25.xd4 ] 22...e6?! [ Here Black should likely opt for 22...xc5 , e.g. 23.xc5 a6 24.a5 ( 24.d4 e6 25.c2 exd4= ) 24...f7 25.d4 fd7 26.a4 ] 23.h4? [ Carlsen possibly overlooked a petite combination starting with 23.xb7!? xb7 24.c4 , winning back the piece with a better game, e.g. e4 25.h3 f5 ( 25...xh3 26.xh3 g5 27.g2 ) 26.g4 g6 27.xe6 d6 28.c4 exd3 29.d4 , and White is clearly better ]
23...xc5 24.bxc5 e6 25.d4!? While White can line up pressure on the b-file, it will in itself hardly present a problem for Black. Opening up the centre unbalances the position a bit and offers White better chances for exploiting his advantage. exd4 26.xd4 d7 27.e4! xe4 28.xe4 White has more space, the more active pieces, a backward pawn to target and the initiative, but Black's position is very solid and therefore taking his advantage all the way will demand a H e r c u l e a n e f f o r t o n W h i t e ' s p a r t . e8 29.g2 f8 30.b2 g8 31.cb1 ee7 32.b4 h5! This is a good practical decision, if Black doesn't grab some space he will face W hite playing f2-f3, g3-g4 and h4-h5, and suffer for a long time to come. 33.1b2 f7 34.f3 e6 35.f2 g6 36.f1 g7 37.a4 a6 38.ab4 f5 39.xg7 xg7 40.e4 fxe4 41.xe4 f5 42.xe7+ xe7 White has the initiative on account of all of Black's pawns being on light squares and the b-pawn needing constant protection. However, Cheparinov demonstrates Black's inconvenience is minimal. 43.c4 f6 44.e2 c8!? This is a good practical decision, by using the bishop to guard the b7pawn, the rook on e7 is released from protective duty and can be used actively to t a rg e t W h i t e 's p a wn o n c5 , t h u s f o r c i n g White's rook to guard it, making the draw the obvious result. 45.d2 e5 46.c2 a5 47.c3 d5 48.e3 e5+ 49.f2 d5 50.e3 e5+ 51.f2 ½-½
1099 Carlsen,Magnus Kramnik,Vladimir Chess Classic (1) [Nigel Davies]
A29 2801 2772 08.12.2009
This was Magnus Carlsen's key victory in the London Chess Classic. Kramnik plays the interesting 16...a4!? but his passive follow-up lets White gradually assume the initiative. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 [ This move order by White prevents 1092
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...g4? because of 10.b5 d4 11.xe5 etc. ] 10.b1 [ After 10.d3 Black has the option of playing or f5 11.b5 d4 when 12.xe5 f6 13.f4 b3 threatens both the rook on a1 and ... Qd4+. ] 10...f6 [ The popular f ormation begun by 10...f5 is n o lo n ge r p o ssib le h e re d u e t o 11.b5 etc. ] 11.d3 a5 [ Black can also play the immediate 11...d4 when 12.e4 may be bet met by d5 . ] 12.b5 d4 13.d2 [ 13.xd4 exd4 14.a4 d5 is nothing for W hite, so he keeps the tension in the position. ] 13...c8 Defending b7 and preparing a possible ...Be6-h3. 14.e3 f5 15.c2 [ 15.a4 is a reasonable alternative, and in view of Kramnik's 16th move novelty it might well become the preferred option. ] 15...d8 16.b2 a4 [ B l a c k h a s a l s o p l a y e d 16...h6!? t o t ra n s f e r h is kn igh t t o f 7 , t h o u g h it ' s possible he can implement the same idea more efficiently with ] [ 16...d6 , which simultaneously prevents a White knight coming to c4. ] 17.fc1 d6 [ 17...a5!? is interesting here, starting to gang up on the b5 pawn. ] 18.de4 e8 19.e2 A new move from Carlsen in a known position, so presumably we're seeing some high level preparation. f8?! [ And here Black might have played 19...d7 . After the passive text W hite takes the initiative. ] 20.f4 exf4 21.gxf4 d7 22.d4 c6 [ After 22...f5 W hite plays 23.c5 when xc5 24.dxc5 makes the bishop on b2 very strong. ] 23.c5 xc5 24.dxc5 c4 [ 24...d5 might have been better. White's extra space and bishop pair adds up to an a d v a n t a g e b u t i t ' s n o t e a s y, n o t l e a s t because of his potentially vulnerable king. ] 25.d1 c7 26.c1 a5 27.bxc6 bxc6 28.xa4 xd1+
[ 28...c4 29.c2 is also better for White. ] 29.xd1 d8 30.c2 f7 31.c3 h5 32.e2 f5 [ 32...f8 might have been more tenacious, in t e n d i n g t o m e e t 33.e4? with b3! 34.xb3 xb3 35.xb3 xe2 etc. ] 33.e4 g4 34.g3 f7 35.f1 e6 36.c3 a8 37.b4 d7 38.f5 f7 39.f4 d1 40.f2 b3 A desperate attempt to counterattack which is coolly rebuff ed by Carlsen. 41.e2 b1 42.c4 xa3 43.e2 [ After 43.e2 xc4 44.xc4+ f8 45.b7 it will be mate in a few moves. ] 1-0
1100 Conquest,Stuart Butnorius,Algimantas ch-IRL Dublin IRL (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2536 2442 08.07.2008
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.g5 xc3 8.bxc3 e8 9.f3 e3!? The Karpov-Zaitsev Gambit. A few new developments have taken place in this line. 10.dxe3 [ 10.d3 d5 11.b3 a5 12.a3 c6 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.f4 d7 ( 14...g4!? has been discussed at length on several previous occasions - see the PDF e-books for references.) 15.f3 c6 16.b2 g4 17.d6 e7 18.e5 xe5 19.xe5 g4 20.fe1 b6 21.a3 f6 22.d6 xd6 23.xd6 ad8 24.c5 b6 ( 24...c6!? 25.ab1 b6 26.a3 e7= ) 25.xe3 f5 26.f2 xe2 27.a4 f8 ( 27...xd3 28.xd5+ f8 29.xe8+ xe8 30.c6+ f7 31.a5 ) 28.a5 xd3 29.axb6 xe1+ 30.xe1 axb6 31.xb6 d7 32.d1 c4 33.h3 g6 34.b1 f7 35.d4 e7 1/2-1/2 Cvitan, O-Gonda, L/Sibenik CRO 2008 ] 10...h6 [ 10...b6 11.e4 h6 12.h3!? transposes to Cu. Hansen-Brynell, Malmoe 1998, which can be found in the PGN archives. ( 12.xf7?! was played in Topalov, VGelfand, B/Novgorod 1997, but considered inadequate for White. )] [ In another recent Conquest game in this 1093
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 va ri a t i o n , B l a c k t ri e d 10...e7 11.e4 ( 11.h3 as in Kasparov-Sadvakasov, Astana 2001 is possibly better - see the PG N a rc h ive s f o r t h e co m p le t e ga m e .) 11...c5+ 12.h1 h6 13.h3 xc4 14.f4 d6 15.d2 b6 16.d1 a6 17.b1 ad8 18.b2 a4 19.e1 c4 20.d5 xd5 21.exd5 e5 , and Black is completely sitting on top of White, who at the moment is without any counterplay, Conquest, S-David, A/ Liverpool ENG 2008 ] 11.h3 d5 [ Black has two important alternatives at this juncture: A) 11...e5 12.e4 xc4 13.d4 d5!? ( 13...e5 14.c4 d6 15.f4 b6 16.d5 c5 with chances to both sides, Gulko, B-Illescas Cordoba, M/Oropesa del Mar 1996 ) 14.f4 c6 15.exd5 cxd5 16.e4 b6 17.xd5 xd5 18.exd5 xd4+ 19.cxd4 b6 A) 20.f4 b7 21.d6 ed8! ( 21...ad8 22.fe1= ); B) 20.d6 b7 21.d7?! ( 21.f4 ed8 ) 21...e7 22.h3 c6 23.f4 ( 23.f5 xd7 24.d3 c8 25.f4 ) 23...xd7 with a clear advantage for Black, Kopilov, N-Raetsky, A/Voronezh 1990 ] [ B) 11...b6 12.f4 is Hansen, Cu-Brynell, S/ Malmo 1998, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] 12.f4 [ 12.f2 dxc4 13.a4 e5 14.d1 e7 15.e4 d7 16.a3 xa3 17.xa3 ad8= Rothkugel, W-Van der Straat, G/corr 1998 ] 12...dxc4 [ 12...a5? 13.cxd5 g5 14.d3 xd5 15.e4 b6 16.f4 bc4 17.e5 with a very large advantage for White, Chatalbashev, BMansson, J/Hastings ENG 2007 ] 13.e4 b6 14.a3 [ 14.xd8 xd8 15.a3 is an excellent alternative, leaving White somewhat better in the qu een less m idd legame af te r b7 16.ad1 ] 14...b7 15.c2 e7?! [ Black can maintain fairly even chances with 15...e5 16.fd1 e8 ] 16.ad1 b8 17.a4 g5 18.h3 c5 19.xc4 g6 20.a4 [ Or 20.b3 ] 20...e5 21.b2 e7 22.f2 a6 23.b3
[ White can also obtain a large advantage with 23.c4 e5 24.f4 gxf4 25.gxf4 eg4 26.xg4 xg4 27.h3 f6 28.e5+- ] 23...b5 24.c4 e5 25.c3! fd7?! 26.g4? [ White wins convincingly with 26.f4 b4 27.b3 gxf4 28.gxf4+- , and Black will lose material to avoid getting mated. ] 26...b4 27.d2?! [ With this move White throws the last chunk of his advantage away. Instead he should have opted for 27.e3 xg4 28.fxg4 e5 29.xe5 xe5 30.f5 , and White is still in control of the game ] 27...xg4 28.fxg4 e5 29.c1 ad8 30.d5? [ White is also clearly worse after 30.xe5 xe5 31.f5 c3 ] [ but 30.xd8 xd8 31.h3 f6 ke e p s W h it e's d isa d van t a ge a t a m o re manageable level. ] 30...f6 31.xe5 fxe5 32.xd8 xd8 33.h4?! f8 [ Or 33...c8 34.hxg5 hxg5 35.f3 e6 ] 34.f5 c8 35.xf8+ xf8 36.hxg5 xg5 37.xg5 hxg5 , and White resigned. Quite a tragedy after a well-played opening and early middlegame. 0-1
1101 Cvitan,Ognjen Sermek,Drazen Rapid 1hr Solin-Spilt CRO rapid (12) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2562 2590 17.12.02
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e8 10.d3 f8 11.b2 g4 B l a c k d e ve l o p s a n o t h e r p i e c e , we h a v e considered [ 11...a5 several times before, e.g. 12.b5 d4 13.e3 xf3+ 14.xf3 Sturua,Z-Xu Jun/Istanbul TUR 2000. ] 12.h3 h5 13.c1 f5!? An aggressive treatment, played to stop g4, e.g. [ 13...d7 14.g4 g6 15.h4 a6 16.e4 White has control of important light squares, ad8 17.c2! ( 17.c5 xc5 18.xc5 is met by e4 as in Rausis,I-Alterman,B/ 1094
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Corfu/1993.) 17...d5 18.e3 a5 19.bxa5 xa5 20.fd1 White's position is preferable, Gulko, B-Waitzkin,J/San Francisco 1995. ] [ 13...a5 is the most thematic, 14.b5 d4 15.g4 ( Alterman suggests 15.xd4!? exd4 16.e4 ) 15...g6 16.xd4 exd4 17.e4 f5!? 18.c5 ( 18.gxf5!? xf5 19.c2 ) 18...fxg4 19.xb7 h4 20.hxg4 xg4 which is a bit unclear, Rezan,S-Fercec,N/ Pula CRO 2002. ] 14.e4!? f4 15.e2! This move defends d4, attacks f4 and puts pressure on the e5-pawn. fxg3 Opening the f-file is to White's advantage, as the black rook cannot contest its control, but [ 15...d6 i s n o b e t t e r , 16.b5 d4 ( 16...b8!? ) 17.xd4 ( 17.exd4!? exd4 18.b3+ f7 19.c2 fxg3 20.fxg3 xg3 21.xd4 is also p ro m isin g) 17...exd4 18.gxf4 White has won a pawn, but Black will obtain counterplay against the weak white queenside after, say, h8 ( 18...a6 19.e5 e7 20.fxd4! ) 19.b3 a6 although it is not enough. ] 16.fxg3 a6?! [ 16...d6 17.b5 b8 is unpleasant, but Black is still fighting. ] 17.g4 g6 18.xc6! The thematic Sicilian exchange sac, which destroys the queenside and wins the e-pawn. bxc6 19.xe5 d6 20.b3+ h8 21.xg6+ hxg6?! Although [ 21...xg6 22.f4 d6 23.f7 is awful for Black, the threat is Nh5 while the simple improvement of the position by d4 and/or e5 is also possible. ] 22.f4 d7 23.h4 [ 23.f7! h7 24.d4 e7 25.b3 is also a killer, e5 is coming. ] 23...e5 24.d4 [ 24.d4 xg4 25.e5 d8 26.xg6+ h7 27.xc6 is too horrible for words, xg6 28.c2+ h6 29.c1+ etc. ] 1-0
1102 David,Alberto Svetushkin,Dmitry TOP 16 Poule Basse (8) [Jonathan Rowson]
A29 2587 2615 28.05.2009
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 c5 Generally speaking, the lines with Nf6, Nc6 and Bc5 are a very reliable defence to most versions of the English, because the position is solid and flexible, but Black has to be patient to generate an initiative of his own. 4.c3 0-0 5.f3 c6?! [ 5...d6 looks more accurate. ] 6.0-0 [ Several games have shown that 6.xe5! xf2+ 7.xf2 xe5 8.b3! intending a quick Rf1 and Kg1 is probably somewhat better for W hite, though Black has plenty of counterchances against White's weakened king. ] [ 6.e3 d6 7.d4 b4! was McNab-Rowson, analysed in Chess for Zebras. ] 6...d6 7.e3 a6 8.d4 a7 9.h3 e8 10.b3 h6 11.b2 e4?! A strategic error that must have been played without the consent of the bishop on a7. The pawn on e4 is quite an easy target for White and when White plays f3 the bishop on a7 will be missed f rom the defence of the kingside. [ 11...f5 looks better, probably followed by Bh7 and only then e4 if the time seems ripe. Black can also take on d4, play Qd7 and double on the e-file. Needless to say, White also has ideas, so you should never get too attached to any particular idea. ] 12.d2 f5 13.a3 b8!? A creative attempt t o re ga in co n t ro l o ve r e 4 . 14.f3! exf3 15.xf3 c8 16.ce4 bd7 17.g4 W hite has a clear advantage in space and time, but Black has no real weaknesses so White should be wary of over-pressing. e7 18.g3 b8 19.a4 xe4 20.xe4 f8 21.f2 f6 22.h4 h7 23.af1 e6 24.d5 The position looks ripe for changing. [ 24.a5!? ] 24...d7 25.d4 a8 [ 25...xd4 26.exd4 looks like a slightly better version of the game for Black. ] 26.a5 xd4 27.exd4 ad8 It is not clear to me that Black gained anything by waiting for 1095
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 W hite to play a5. 28.e2 f8 29.ff2?! Either there has been an input error, or White over-estimated his position. The time was now ripe to win some material and enter a more technical phase. [ 29.xf6+ xf6 30.xf6 xf6 31.f3 or something similar, should eventually be winning for W hite. In fact it doesn't look particularly difficult, because W hite also has trumps on the queenside. ] 29...de8 30.h2 d8 31.e1 f7 [ 31...f5!? ] 32.c5 g6 33.h5? [ 33.cxd6 is still much better for White. I imagine Alberto David must have been very short of time. ] 33...xg4 34.xg4 xg4 35.cxd6 cxd6 Had white fought back to this position he could have put up some resistance, but after the commanding position he had, I can understand why White couldn't find the will to continue. 0-1
Ba7 is not bad ( 9...a6 is the main line 10.b3 a7 11.b2 Anand, V (2786)-Gelfand, B (2755)/Moscow Tal Memorial 8th Blitz 2013 )] 7.bxc3 e8 [ 7...d6 8.d3 e4 9.d4 exd3 10.exd3 xd4 11.cxd4 enters into a similar position but with ...d6 played instead of ...Re8, which is less useful since sometimes Black strikes with ...d5 at once ] 8.e1!? I like this move and lately it's scoring well, the idea is to avoid 8...e4 and leave the road free for the center pawns. [ 8.d3 is the main line e4 9.d4 exd3 10.exd3 xd4 11.cxd4 was analyzed in Seirawan, Y (2653)-Gulko, B (2618)/ch-USA Semi-Finals playoff g/25 1999 ] 8...h6 This is a typical move in these kind of positions, avoiding Bg5 and waiting for White to choose his setup. [ 8...d5 was tried on two occasions in the last 12 months by top level players 9.cxd5 xd5 10.c2!? a mysterious move that is actually working, I imagine the idea is to keep the option of going with the knight to d 3 i n s o m e l i n e s g4 11.f3 e6 1103 A29 a n d h e r e w e h a v e a d i v i s i o n ( 11...h5 12.d3!? where it has good prospects of Dubov,Daniil 2624 going to c5 or holding things together on d3) Fedorchuk,Sergey A 2669 12.e4 ( 12.f4 exf4 13.gxf4 f5 14.e3 b6 FIDE World Cup 2013 (1.1) 11.08.2013 15.d3 also gives White a nice center, [Fier, Alexandr] Khismatullin, D (2658)-Tomashevsky, E (2709)/RUS-ch Higher League 66th 2013) Against the solid 6...Bxc3 White goes for the 12...b6 13.d3 d7 14.f4 with a good 8.Ne1!? idea. I like this variation and it's position f or W hite in Svidler, P (2747)making a lot of points lately. Dubov created a Ponomariov, R (2735)/EU-Cup 28th Eilat strong attack on the kingside and won without 2012 (5.1) ] any problems. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 [ 8...e4 9.f3 e3 10.d3 ] c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 xc3 Now things are clear. White goes for a [ 6...e4 is the old main line, famous because 9.e4 o f t h e K a s p a r o v - K a r p o v m a t c h 7.g5 kingside pawn expansion and Black needs to ( 7.e1 xc3 8.dxc3 h6 is a slower setup) quickly find some counterplay on the other 7...xc3 8.bxc3 e8 9.f3 was discussed a side, by hitting c4. d6 10.d3 a6 11.a4 a5 [ 11...b8 as a Panno player against the lot about 25 years ago ] King's Indian, I would think about this move, [ 6...d6 looks like the latest fashion in 12.f4 ( 12.b1 d7 13.f4 a5 14.f5 b5 important games, and then 7.d3 h6 8.d5 arrives in time) 12...b5 13.cxb5 axb5 c5 9.e3 b6 Eljanov, P (2702)-Sutovsky, 14.axb5 xb5 15.f5 ( 15.c4 b8 16.f5 E (2660)/ Poikovsky Karpov 14th 2013, was d4 with the idea of 17...c6 and 18...d5) a new idea introduced by Sutovsky in the 15...a5!? 16.b1 ( 16.xa5 xa5 17.c4 Poikovsky against Eljanov. Soon he c6 ) 16...d5 with counterplay ] sa c rif ic e d a n e xch an ge b ut af t er so m e c6 This is also logical, but in a less small imprecisions lost the game. Still, the 12.f4 idea of not losing much time with ...a6 and ... h a r m o n i o u s w a y . W h i t e n o w h a s s o m e 1096
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 chances to close the queenside. 13.b1 b5 14.axb5 axb5 15.cxb5 b6+ 16.h1 cxb5 17.c4! A strong move, trying to force things on the queenside and afterwards get free play against his opponent's king. Also it's important to stop ...d5 ideas b4 [ 17...d7 18.c2 eb8 ( 18...ec8 19.e3 is just better for White) 19.e3 d8 20.c5 exf4 21.xf4 dxc5 22.b2 with a huge initiative ] [ 17...g4!? trying to disrupt White's coordination before going to d7, but it's not enough 18.d2 ( 18.f3 d7 and the f3bishop is in the way) 18...d7 19.c2 eb8 20.a3 ( 20.e3 d8 21.c5 dxc5 22.fxe5 g4! this is the point! With the queen on d2 this move is possible 23.c3 xe3 24.xe3 c8 ) 20...c7 21.fxe5 dxe5 22.xf6! gxf6 23.f1 and Black comes under heavy attack anyway ] 18.c2 [ 18.fxe5 wins a pawn, but loses attacking chances, dxe5 19.a4 this is the idea, threatening the b4-pawn and 20.Rxf6 g4 20.xb4 e6 21.e3 but the hole on d4 can give Black some chances to hold ] 18...b3 [ 18...c6!? makes sense, trying to keep one eye on d4, White can win a pawn but Black activates, 19.e3 b8 A) 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.xb4 xb4 22.d2 A1) 22...a3! 23.xb4 d6 24.d4 ( 24.d1? xd3 ) 24...xe4! ( 24...xe3? 25.c5! wins ) 25.xe4 xe3 26.xe3 ( 26.c5 a6 and here the f 1 - ro o k i s h a n g in g 27.xe3 xf1+ 28.g1 e2 and finally White is under pressure ) 26...xb4 27.d5 b7 28.f3 xd5 29.xd5 e7 30.dxe5 e6 31.e1 c8 with good drawing chances; A2) 22...a4 23.c5 the point of 20. fxe5; B) 20.xb4 xb4 21.d2 ( 21.d2 now this doesn't work because there is no 22.Bc5 a4 ) 21...g4 22.f3 a2 23.xb4 a7 with counterplay ] 19.e3 d7 20.g4?! [ 20.fxe5! was more direct dxe5 21.f3 threatening 22.Nd5 e6 22.d5 xd5 23.exd5 with idea of 24.Bxh6 ]
20...ab8? Too slow. [ 20...exf4! 21.f5 A) 21...g5 is original, but such moves are usually not good 22.xh6+ g7 23.f5+ xf5 24.gxf5 d7 25.f6+! xf6 ( 25...xf6 26.g4 e5 27.f5++- ) 26.b2 with attack; B) 21...xf5 and now things are not so clear 22.gxf5 d7 23.xf4 d4 and Black can try to hold the Black squares ] 21.g5 hxg5 22.fxg5 h7 23.d5 d8 24.h5 Now all the pieces are ready for the attack, Black is already lost. e6 25.f6+! gxf6 26.gxf6 h8 27.h6 g8 28.h3 Trying to eliminate the defender of the f7pawn. d7 [ 28...xh3 29.g7+ xg7 30.fxg7+ xg7 31.xf7+ g8 32.xh7# ] 29.g1 xg1+ 30.xg1 b2 31.g7+ g8 32.f8+ [ 32.f8+ xf8 33.xh7 1 with mate in ] 1-0
1104 Eljanov,Pavel Salgado Lopez,I 11th Aeroflot Open A (5) [John Bartholomew]
A29 2690 2618 11.02.2012
1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 e5 5.g2 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 d4 Topalov used this principled continuation to a ch ie ve n e a r-e f f o rt le ss e qu a lit y a ga in s t Navara at this year's Wijk aan Zee event. The promising Spanish Grandmaster Ivan Salgado Lopez has worked as a second for the former World Champ, so it is not surprising that he would prefer the same line. [ For 11...a5 12.b5 d4 13.d2 see Carlsen, M (2801)-Kramnik, V (2772)/ London ENG 2009/[Nigel Davies]. ( I examined alternatives such as 13.e3; 13.xd4; and 13.e1 in the notes to Navara-Topalov, quoted below )] 12.h4!? It's likely that Eljanov executed this novelty with few pretensions that it was any better than the standard choices. In fact, he would probably admit that 12.Nh4 is a rather 1097
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 awkward and unpromising looking move! Still, he knows that successful tournament chess has at least as much to do with forcing your opponent to solve unique practical problems as it does with the relative strength of any given move. In that respect, 12.Nh4!? certainly has a right to exist. [ That alternatives have been found wanting only adds credibility to Eljanov's unorthodox a p p r o a c h . F o r i n s t a n c e , 12.xd4 is too simplistic to arouse concern. Black was comfortable after exd4 13.e4 d5! followed by a favorable exchange of light square bishops with ...f6-f5 in Navara, D (2712)-Topalov, V (2770)/Wijk aan Zee NED 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] [ T h e m o s t p o p u l a r a p p r o a c h i s 12.d2 , though Black has not experienced serious theoretical problems here either after c6 or 12...Nd5. See the "Four Knights 4 g3 - 4... d5 Reversed Dragon" guide. ] 12...c8?! An unnecessarily mild reaction. [ It's unclear what Black feared, as 12...g5 is definitely the critical response. Eljanov probably intended A) 13.f3 a5 14.b5 d7 leaves White down a couple tempi compared to normal 11...a5 lines ...g7-g5 is an i n c o n s e q u e n t i a l we a k e n i n g ( 14...a4!? looks even more challenging ); B) 13.e3 , but af te r gxh4 ( Black could also just play solidly with 13...c6 14.f3 d7 intending 15...Rad8) 14.exd4 xd4 ( 14...exd4?! 15.e2 and White's play in the center and on the kingside promises excellent compensation) 15.b2 d7 16.xb7 ad8 I don't see much of anything for White, i.e. 17.a6 ( 17.h5 c5 ) 17...g4!? with fully acceptable play. The computer thinks this is close to equal, but in a practical game I suspect must players would prefer Black with W hite's king looking the draughtier of the two. ] 13.e3 f5 14.xf5 xf5 15.e4 Highly typical for this line - White aims for the c 5 s q u a r e . d8 16.c5! This is possible thanks to W hite's superb coordination. c6 Black decides to hunker down. [ The alternative was 16...xc5 17.bxc5 xd3 ( 17...xd3? 18.e2 leaves Black hanging everywhere in view of 19.cxb6, 19.
Bxb7, or 19.e4.) 18.cxb6 axb6!? , i.e. 19.b3+ h8 20.e1 xb1 21.xb1 . While it won't be easy to breach Black's defenses, the bishop pair is a huge asset and leaves Black lacking in the counterplay department. ] 17.e4 g6 18.c2 a5 19.e3 axb4 20.axb4 Eljanov's novelty has achieved the desired effect: White has a pleasant edge to work with. f7 21.a1 f8 [ Black parts with this bishop soon anyways, s o m a y b e t h e i m m e d i a t e 21...xc5 wa s b e t t e r. T h e n a f t e r 22.bxc5 xa1 23.xa1 he could try a8! with the idea of ... Na8-c7-b5-d4. ] 22.h4 d7 Essentially surrendering the bishop pair, but it's already difficult to see how Black can create meaningful play. 23.h3 xc5 24.bxc5 c7 25.f4!? Gaining space. f8 26.f5 h5?! [ 26...d7! was better, reminding White about his d-pawn. ] 27.fb1 d7 28.b2 xa1 29.xa1 b8 30.a7 d7 31.f1 a6 32.a8+ h7 33.f2 e7 34.e2 d7 35.b2 e8 Perhaps Black can delay a queen trade, but he's running short on constructive moves. 36.xe8 xe8 37.g4 hxg4 38.xg4 d7 39.e2 f7 40.h5 e8 41.e1 W hite's eventual winning plan involves the dual pawn breaks d3-d4 and h5-h6. Black can do little but sit tight and look for an opportunity for counterplay. f7 42.d2 g8 43.b1 f7 44.c2 e8 45.c1 f7 46.d2 g8 47.g1 h7 48.h1?! b4?! [ This was the first chance to transfer the kn i g h t t o a b e t t e r s q u a r e wi t h 48...c7! . If White waits, then Black will continue with 4 9 . . . N b 5 , s o 49.h6 would be expected. However, following g5 50.fxg6+ xg6 51.f1 xe4 52.xf6 it seems Black can draw with accurate play: d5!? 53.d6 f5! 54.h5 xd6 55.cxd6 xe3 56.xe3 d7! 57.f3!? (the trickiest, intending 58. Bg4) ( 57.e4 xh6 58.f3 g7 59.xe5 b6 is completely drawn) 57...c5! 58.g4 c6+ 59.e3 b5! and the draw is ensured, i.e. 60.f3 d7 61.e4 xh6 62.xe5 g7 and the coming ...c5-c4 will remove any doubt. ] 49.c3 a2+ 50.d2 b4 51.a1 a6 1098
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 52.c3 d8?! [ The second opportunity for 52...c7! ] 53.b1 b8? Perhaps Black only now had hopes for ...Na6-c7, but the timing is extremely poor. [ He should have continued waiting with 53...d7 . ] 54.d4! exd4+?! [ This was the f inal chance f or 54...c7 , making it much tougher for W hite to destroy the e5-f6-g7 pawn chain. ] 55.xd4 c7 Too late! 56.h6! e8 There are several possible lines here, but all of them appear inadequate: [ 56...xh6 is mate in two: 57.h1+ g5 58.e3# ] [ 56...gxh6 57.xf6+- is terminal ] [ Two to ugh er tries are 56...e8 , i.e. 57.f2! gxh6 58.a6! a8 ( 58...c7 59.xb7+- ) 59.xb7 a3+ 60.b4 f3 61.g1 h5 62.xc6+- ] [ and 56...g6 57.xf6 b5+ when 58.d2! o u g h t t o w i n . ( Black has more chances to draw the opposite color bishop ending after 58.xb5 cxb5 59.xb5 gxf5 60.exf5 d5 )] 57.xb7 e7 58.hxg7 b5+? Understand able, but now Black is truly lost. [ He may have considered his position h o p e l e s s a f t e r 58...xg7 59.d3 , though White will have to prove the win. ] 59.xb5 cxb5 60.xf6 xe4 [ or 60...b4+ 61.d4 d7+ 62.e3 b3 63.c6 c7 64.b5+- ] 61.xb5 e1 62.d4 d5 63.d7 c1+ 64.d2 c4 65.d3 c1 66.c3 d1+ 67.e2 f3+ 68.xf3 d3+ 69.e4 xc3 70.f6 [ 70.f6 xc5 71.f5+ is decisive. While innovative, we can conclude that Eljanov's 12.Nh4!? does not hold up under the theoretical microscope. The critical 12...g5 appears to provide Black fully adequate play. ] 1-0
1105 Elwert,Hans Marcus Tiemann,Hagen 18th WChCorr (3) [John Watson]
A29 2693 2513 01.06.2004
W hen such a highly theoretical and critical line is tested in a correspondence game by world-class players, it's worth taking note! 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.g5 xc3 8.bxc3 e8 9.f3 e3 10.d3 d5 11.b3 [ 11.cxd5 xd5 12.b3 a5 13.a3 xg5 14.xa5 e5 is considered equal. It might be fun to test this! ] 11...a5 12.a3 c6 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.f4 g4 [ 14...c6 was Karpov's move versus Kasparov in what was probably the stem game. People haven't been too thrilled with this after 15. Rb1, which is not to say that we won't see a lot more of it. ] 15.f3 In my opinion this is the critical move. [ Tony has looked at 15.e1 at some length, for example, A) 15...h6 16.f3 c6 17.b1 d7 18.b2 ( 18.d4 h3 Lautier,J-Illescas,M/ Dos Hermanas 1995, and Tony analyses 19.e5!? xe5 20.dxe5 xg2 21.xg2 g4 wi t h u n c l e a r p l a y .) 18...h3 ( 18...h5!? 19.c4 d4 ) 19.c4 xg2 20.xg2 d4 21.c5 ad8 unclear, Schacher-Maki Uuro, Izmir 2004; B) 15...c8!? 16.h3 d7 17.b2 b6 18.ad1 h6 19.f3 h5 20.h2 f6 with a large advantage, Nimzo 7.32-Junior 6.0, Cadaques 2000 ] 15...c6 [ 15...xf3 16.xf3 ( 16.xf3 looks stronger, e.g., d4 17.b2 c6 18.ff1 and I like the bishops ) 16...h5!? 17.b1 c8 18.b4 b6 19.f5 d6 with a messy position in Quinn,MAllen,K, Port Erin 2000. ] 16.h3 d7 [ 16...xf3 17.xf3 d4 18.b2 is the last note ] 17.h2 c7 [ 17...b6!? might divert White's pieces after 18.b2 c7 or 18.Qb2 Qc7. ] 18.b1 b6 Given White's dynamic reply, I'm not so sure about the loss of time here. 1099
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 18...ac8 is natural,, e.g., 19.b2 b5!? 8.dxe5 with the idea 20.c5 a5 ] [ 8.0-0 [ and HiArcs suggests 18...e6!? to double A) This is the move White is trying to rooks and maybe swing kingward later. ] prevent by playing 8 Bg2 himself in the 19.b2 ad8 20.c4! dxc4 21.bc1! e6 main lines. Another independent line was [ A big moment. I'm sure that both sides reached after 8...e7 9.b3 0-0 10.b2 l o o k e d a t l i n e s l i k e 21...cxd3 22.xf6 c7 11.e3 ( with 11.g2 White can ( 22.e5! ) 22...d2! 23.xc6 xc6 24.xd8 belatedly reach the variation discussed xd8 ] u n d e r lin e A) 11...h3 12.e1 d7 [ and 21...a5 , which at least tempts White 13.g2 xg2 14.xg2 f5 , and Black to play Bc3 and Bxa5 at some point and give had equalised in Krupenski, I-Leito, P/ up his monster bishop. ] Tallinn 1999; 22.g5 d5 Again, B) 8...h3!? 9.e1 e7 10.b3 c7 [ 22...a5 should be considered. After the 11.b2 h5!? ( 11...0-0 is solid and good, text, things get double-edged. ] and should leave Black with more or less 23.xd5!? even chances) 12.d3 h4 13.e4 d7 [ 23.xf6!? gxf6 24.xd5 ] ( 13...hxg3!? 14.fxg3 xe4 15.xe4 23...xd5 24.xc4 d7 25.fc1 f6 26.f3 0-0-0 looks pretty good for Black) 14.e3 e6 27.e4 de8 Somewhere around here ( 14.g4!? ) 14...0-0-0 15.dxe5 ( 15.g4!? things go downhill for Black. Maybe he should looks like a fun alternative) 15...dxe5 simply let the rook stay on e4 by 16.c5 hxg3 17.fxg3 h6 ( 17...f5 [ 27...d6 ] 18.d6+ b8 ) 18.b4 f5 19.d6+ 28.xe6 xe6 29.a4 d6!? It's a bad sign xd6?! ( This is overly optimistic even if if this is necessary. 30.a3 cb4 31.b3 does look rather attractive. Instead Black a5 32.d4! h8 33.b2 h6 34.c4 e7 can obtain the better chances with 35.f7 bd5 36.f5 White controls the whole 19...xd6 20.cxd6 xd6 21.xa7 e4 board. c7 37.a4 ed5 38.xd7 xd7 , and Black is control.) 20.cxd6 xd6 39.g2 g8 40.f3 f7 41.c6 h5 21.a3 b8 22.ad1 e4 23.g2 xg2 42.e6 e8 43.a3 ec7 44.xc7 24.xg2 , and Black no longer has [ 44.xc7 xc7 45.xc7+ xc7 46.xe3 sufficient compensation for the exchange, b5 47.d4! bxa4 48.c5 etc. A fascinating Kraehenbuehl, G-Laird, C/Copenhagen positional struggle. ] 1981 ] 1-0 8...dxe5 9.xd8+ xd8 10.b3 [ 10.0-0 e6 11.b3 1/2-1/2 Danner, L-Sehrt, J/Germany 1999 doesn't tell us anything ] 1106 A29 10...f5 11.b2 e4 [ I don't like this move at all as it provides a Fahnenschmidt,Gerhard 2350 target for W hite and blunts Black's lightTreppner,Gerd s q u a r e d b i s h o p . I n s t e a d 11...c5 GER-chT fin Bad Kissingen (3) 1978 seems perfectly playable ] [Carsten Hansen] 12.g2 c5 [ I don't know if this is Black's best move, 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 because White achieves the better position 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 c6 7.d4 d6 through a series of simple, yet good moves. [ 7...e4? has rather surprisingly been played A n o t h e r t r y i s 12...c7 but whether it by an ELO-rated player, and although he represents an actual improvement is a hard eventually held a draw, the result doesn't call, as I still pref er W hite after 13.0-0-0 speak for the objective value of the text ( both 13.0-0 h5 14.h3 d8 15.ad1 move, which essentially drops a pawn for e7; and 13.h3 e3!? 14.fxe3 e8 nothing 8.xe4 xe4 9.xe4 d5 10.cxd5 seem okay for Black) 13...b4 14.h3 h5 cxd5 11.f3 b6 12.0-0 h3 13.e1 15.e3 followed by Nc3-e2 ] 1/2-1/2 Meyer, A-Heisel, G/Germany 1996 ] 1100
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.h3!? h5 14.0-0 e7 15.a4!? d6 16.d4!? hd8 17.c3 [ This wins a pawn, but whether it's White's best move is up for debate. Another try is 17.c5 xc5 18.xc5+ e6 19.e3 followed by f2-f3 and g3-g4 with an initiative and excellent chances for White ] 17...a5 [ 17...b4!? 18.xf6+ xf6 19.xe4+ g6 20.a3 e7 21.a2 a5 offers Black some counterplay on account of his ability to double his rooks on the d-file along with the pair of bishops. ] [ 17...a3!? 18.ad1 xd4! 19.xd4 b2 20.xe4+ xe4 21.xe4 d8 22.c5 b6 23.d3 xd3 24.exd3 xd3 25.xc6 d4 with an endgame which will be exceedingly difficult for White to win ] 18.ad1 b4 19.xf6+ xf6 20.xe4+ xe4 21.xe4 e5 White has won a pawn, but the limited material, Black's activity and the opposite-coloured bishops mean that Black has decent drawing chances, although, there is plenty of play left in this position. 22.c2 g5 23.g2 d2 24.xd2 xd2 25.d1 d8 26.e3 d6! Intending ...Bb4, s e e k i n g s o la c e in a n o p p o s it e c o l o u r e d endgame. 27.f4+ f6 28.f3 b4 29.xd6+ White doesn't achieve anything by avoiding the exchange of rooks, so rather go for the win in a still complicated oppositecoloured bishop endgame, which despite its drawish tendencies still offer plenty of play and winning chances if conducted well. xd6 30.e4 [ Which is the best continuation at this point is difficult to determine. The move chosen by W hite in the game gives him decent chances to squeeze out more than a half, but naturally W hite can try a number of other things, such as 30.a4 c5 31.h7 gxf4 32.exf4 d4 33.g4 hxg4+ 34.xg4 but whether it wins, is a topic that isn't particularly relevant to our discussion of t h e o p e n i n g va r i a t i o n i n q u e s t io n . F o r further comments, please look at the closing comment at the end of this game. ] 30...gxf4 31.gxf4 e6 32.e5 b4 33.h7 f5 34.exf6 xf6 35.a4 e6 36.e4 e7 37.g6 h4 38.f5+ d6 39.c8 b6 40.f5 c5 41.g6 d8 42.f7 e7 43.g4 d8
44.f5 e5 45.e8 g5 46.d7 f6 47.c6 d2 48.xb6 b4 49.c6 a3 50.d5 b4 51.e4 e1 [ And a draw was agreed upon. While it looks like a rather obvious draw on account of W hite's three queenside pawn being blocked by Black's two pawns and bishop, and W hite's extra kingside pawn b ein g stopped in its tracks by Black's king, there are still things White can try. The main idea for W hite is tie Black's king to f6 and the black bishop to the defence of the h-pawn, while keeping his own bishop on c2, and then break with the b-pawn, which will create a second passed pawn for White. This plan may still not guarantee the win, but nevertheless it is worth a try, because with two extra pawns, White has some freedom to continue before getting himself in trouble. The following variations are examples of what can happen. They may not represent optimal play from either side, but may give you an idea about what White can try and the dangers involved in Black's defence. Opposite coloured bishops are no guarantee for a draw even if it looks drawn... 51...c3 52.e2 e7 ( 52...e1 53.f4 c3 54.g4 e1 55.d3 f2 56.b1 e1 57.c2 f2 58.b4 cxb4 59.f4 c5 60.e4 g5 61.d5 g1 62.c5 b3 63.xb3 xf5 64.d6 h2+ 65.d7 , and White wins) 53.f4 f6 54.g4 d6 55.h5 d8 56.g6 e5 57.d1 f6 58.b4 cxb4 59.c5 e7 60.c6 d6 61.f6 f8 62.f3 b3 63.e4 e6 64.f7 e7 65.h7 b2 66.g8 h6 67.c7 d7 68.f8 xf8 69.xf8 xc7 70.e7 , and White wins ] ½-½
1107 Flores,Di Vallejo Pons,F FIDE World Cup 2013 (1.1) [Gormally/Kosten]
A29 2578 2706 11.08.2013
1.c4 e5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 f6 4.f3 c5 5.0-0 d6 6.c3 0-0 7.d3 This introduces the strategic idea of Bg5, while retaining other options. h6 This is the most common 1101
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 response for Black in this line, a useful move that prevents the irritating Bg5 W hite now goes for queenside expansion. [ 7...a6 8.a3 d4 Black chooses a different mode of play, but it's less successful 9.e1! c6 10.e3 f5 11.f3 a7 12.b4 e8 13.b2 b8 ( 13...d5! is better, as seen in another Gulko game, against Cramling in the Archive.) 14.c1 A very typical way of playing the English. Rather than committing his forces too early, White simply goes for slow expansion.. perhaps Black will lose patience and try to lash out, creating a weakness that can be exploited? A) The pseudo-active central push 14...d5 is not very effective either- 15.cxd5 cxd5 16.a4! d4 ( 16...e4 ) 17.e4 d6 18.c5 where Black is somewhat cramped.; B) 14...b5 15.c5! The whole strategic idea of the English is put into action- you exchange your wing pawn for a central one! B1) 15...d5 16.e4! ( or 16.e2! are both good ); B2) 15...dxc5 16.e4 cxb4 17.xe5 ( White would surely regain the pawn after 17.axb4 as both c6 and e5 are hanging, but he is punting f or more) 17...bxa3 18.a1 xe4 19.xe4 g5 20.xc6 b7 21.xa7 xa7 22.c5! f6 23.c2 e6 24.xf5 xf5 25.e4 After creative middlegame play, White has made decisive material gains g6 26.xf5 f7 27.c3 a2 28.d5 b7 29.a3 b4 30.xa2 b5 31.xa6 1-0 Gulko, B (2580)-Sadler, M (2665)/ Luzern 1997. ] 8.a3 a6 9.b4 a7 10.b2 [ 10.e3 e6 11.h3 d7 12.h2 e7 13.e2 g6 Everything is now set fair for Black to expand in the center with ..c6 and .. d5, or even the immediate ..d5. Realising this, White elects to lash out in the center himself.. 14.d4 exd4 15.xd4 ( 15.exd4 d5! 16.c5 c6 followed in short order by Ra e 8 , a n d B b 8 , give s B la ck ve ry go o d counterplay. The idea of re-routing th e bishop from the a7-g1 diagonal, to the b8-h2 one, is a typical idea in this line.) 15...xd4 16.exd4 ae8 17.e3 d5 18.c5 e4!
gave Black very good counterplay, and he went on to win in Valiente, C (2275)-Hellsten, J (2534) Santiago de Chile 2007 ] 10...e6 [ 10...b8 is Perez Fungueiro-Hamdouchi, by John Watson in the Archive. ] 11.c1 d7 Black unpretentiously develops all his pieces on natural squares. That's what I like about this line, it's very easy to play. 12.e3 g4!? A really novel idea in a position where Black has already tried a lot of alternatives. [ 12...h3 is the most common, 13.d4 xg2 14.xg2 exd4 15.exd4 ( 15.d5!? e4 16.exd4 fe8 17.d3 looks better, Eckert, D (2247)-Kavutskiy, K (2301)/Saint Louis 2012. ) 15...ae8 16.d3 White doesn't have much, Marin, M (2601) -Jerez Perez, A (2405)/Andorra 2001. ] [ 12...e7 13.e1 g6 14.d4 ad8 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.xd7 xd7 17.c5 wi t h a s l i g h t e d g e , N a va r a , D ( 2 7 3 1 ) Movsesian, S (2723)/Pardubice 2010. ] 13.d5 Simply defending e3. [ 13.h3!? i s o b v i o u s l y m e t b y xe3 ( 13...f6 14.h2 ) 14.fxe3 xe3+ 15.h2 xc1 16.xc1 with unclear play, although I don't think I would be too unhappy with White here, the rooks have no open files. ] 13...xd5!? [ 13...e7 is more solid, 14.xe7+ xe7 15.e1 ] 14.cxd5 e7 15.d4 I'm not so sure about th is, W h it e sh u t s o ut t h e a 7 -b ish o p , b u t doesn't do much for his own one on b2. [ 15.d2 would definitely be my choice, heading f or c4 while defending d5. The question is whether Black can play xe3 16.fxe3 xe3 garnering rook and two p a w n s f o r t w o p i e c e s , 17.b3 xf1 18.xf1 g6 ( 18...ae8 19.c4 ) 19.d4 not too clear. ] [ 15.e4 f5 16.e2 is another possibility, although I don't like o pening t he g1-a 7 diagonal. ] 15...e4 16.d2 f5 17.b3 f6 18.f3 exf3 19.xf3!? Tempting Black into some interesting complications. [ 19.xf3 would defend d5 directly. ] 19...fxd5 20.g4! h8 The knight must be unpinned. 1102
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 20...fxg4?? 21.xf8+ xf8 22.xd5+ ] 21.gxf5 xf5 22.g3 [ 22.h3! first is also possible, and may be stronger, g5+ 23.h1 e8 24.e4 f6 25.xc7 regaining the pawn, although after g6 it's a bit of a mess, e.g. 26.f1 xe4 27.xe4 xe4+ 28.f3 xf3+ 29.xf3 c6 30.c8! xd4 31.xd4 xd4 32.f8+ h7 33.f5+ xf5 34.xa8 d4 with fair drawing chances. ] 22...af8! Offering the exchange, [ 22...f6 23.xb7 ( 23.h3 d5 ) 23...f8 24.xa6 h5 25.d3 f5 26.xf5 xf5 27.c2 c5! was also reasonable. ] 23.h3 e8 24.e4 [ 24.xf5 xf5 25.f3 ( 25.xd5? xg3 26.hxg3 xe3+ winning. ) 25...fxe3 26.xf8+ xf8 27.d3 c6 with more than enough for the exchange. ] 24...f2 25.f3 xb2 26.xb2 f6 After a fairly forced series of moves Black might be slightly better - both d4 and e4 are under pressure. 27.g2? A mistake, in time trouble no doubt. [ 27.xc7 xe4 28.e2 g6 ( 28...xg3 29.hxg3 c6 30.xe8 xe8 31.xb7 xd4+ 32.xd4 xd4 33.b6 regains the pawn with a plus.) 29.xb7 c6! 30.xg6 ( 30.xa7? f4 31.d1 xg3 32.hxg3 xh3+ with advantage.) 30...xb7 31.e3! and the game goes on! ] 27...xe4 28.g4 f6 29.g3?! f5 Now White is quite lost. 30.h3 g4 [ 30...e3+ 31.h1 e4 32.f1 xd4 was more precise. ] 31.d2 g6 32.xc7? [ 32.h4 xh4 33.xh4 ] 32...xd4! 33.h1 [ 33.xd4 xd4+ 34.xd4 b1+ leads to mate. ] 33...xf3 34.xf3 xf3 [ 34...xf3 35.xf3 f2+ is horrible. ] 0-1
1108 Gelfand,Boris Svidler,Peter Cat. 19 Dos Hermanas ESP (8) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2691 2713 16.04.1999
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 The most popular move, with a number of objectives: attacking the b4-bishop whilst avoiding the doubling of the white pawns, and c o n t r o l l i n g d 5 . c5 8.0-0 0-0 9.d3 Gelfand recently revived the old idea [ 9.a4!? with e7 10.d1 d6 11.c3 d7!? Black prefer to keep d6 solidly defended, the previous move was ( 11...c6 12.d4 c7 but White has an edge.) 12.d4 f6 'Strongpoint philosophy'. 13.dxe5 xe5 14.e3 f6 15.c5 with a plus, Gelfand,BTimman, J/Wijk 1998. ] 9...h6 10.d2!? Perhaps not overly useful, [ 10.g2 e8 11.h3 c6 12.h2 is the other, better, possibility. ] 10...e8 11.g2 c6 Black always plays for an eventual ...d5 in this line. 12.ac1 b6 13.a4!? White has to move his queen again if he wants to play on the queenside with b4. d6 White was still controlling d5, indirectly, as [ 13...d5? loses a pawn to 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.xd5 xd5 16.xd5 and the bishop cannot be captured because of the hanging e8-rook. ] 14.b4 e6 15.b5 A structure typical of the English, Black is ready to play ...d5, just as W hite is trying to undermine Black's light squares. d5! Just in time, [ 15...cxb5?! 16.xb5 would concede d5 to White. ] 16.bxc6 bxc6 17.cxd5 White has to allow Black to set-up his centre, for he is worse after [ 17.xc6 c8 18.a4 dxc4 ] 17...cxd5 Black's opening has been a complete success. 18.a3 Planning Na4-c5. b8 19.a4 a5! 20.c3 d4! 21.xa5 xa5 22.c5 a6 Keeping the a4-knight pinned, it will never reach its destination. 23.c6 b6! Keeping up the pressure on the o f f s i d e k n i g h t . 24.xb6 axb6 25.b4 E ls e B l a ck wo u ld wi n t h e a 4 - kn ig h t . c8 26.a3 c2 Black has infiltrated the c-file, and his advantage is beginning to look 1103
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 consequent. 27.e1 d7 28.f4 White tries to break-up the black centre. b5 29.b2 It is clear that things have gone very wrong for White if he has to put his knight on such a square. c3! Black has decided that the simplest plan is to take the a-pawn, and then queen his passed b-pawn. 30.fxe5 b3 31.xd4 xa3 32.d1 The black centre has completely disintegrated, but the important factor is the b-pawn. b1 33.f1 a4 The point of Black's clever play, to save his knight White has to exchange queens and this p u t s t h e b l a c k p a wn e ve n f u r t h e r o u t o f W hite's reach. 34.xa4 bxa4 The a-pawn will cost a piece. 35.c3 xf1+ 36.xf1 a3 37.d4 b6 Black is i n no rush, he can win the knight when he wants, but wants to assure that he will be winning the ensuing position, with piece against two pawns. 38.e1 a2 39.xa2 xa2 40.d2 f8 If the white epawns were not doubled, he might have some drawing chances, but this position is very difficult. 41.e4 c4+ 42.d3 e7 43.f3 d7 44.c3 b6 45.d5 e7 46.d4 d7 47.g4 b3 White seems to have made the most progress. 48.h3 f8 49.g4 a4 Black doesn't want to touch his pawns because every pawn exchanged will favour White, but how to make progress otherwise? 50.e2 d7 51.h4 h3 52.b5 g4 53.c4 g6 54.b3 Black has placed his pieces on their ideal squares. f6 55.e6 Difficult to resist such a passed pawn, but [ 55.exf6+ must offer some prospects, although if Black can force his king to e5, and knight to d6, he will inevitably win. xf6 ] 55...d6 56.c2 e5 57.e3 c5 58.a4 Threatening d7, winning. g6 59.b3 d6 60.d4 f5 Exchanging the support of the d5pawn. 61.e7 xe7 62.e5 Creating two connected passed pawns, but at a cost. f4 63.gxf4 xf4 64.c5?! g6 Winning another pawn. 65.e6 xh4 66.d6+ The pawns progress, but the extra black piece i s n o t f a r a w a y . d8 67.e7+ e8 It is still possible to lose, by [ 67...d7?? 68.f7 and Black gets mated! ] 68.c2 d7 69.d1 g6 Careful defence. 70.d5 f5 71.e5 h5 72.f6 xd6
73.xg6 g4 Killing White's last hope- of taking the last black pawn. 74.c2 xe7 75.g5 f7+ 76.h4 f6 77.a4 d6 0-1
1109 Gelfand,Boris Vachier Lagrave,Maxime World Cup Khanty Mansiysk RUS (4.3) [Nigel Davies]
A29 2758 2718
Gelfand and Vachier Lagrave had something of a theoretical duel in this 4... Nd4 line. Given that Gelfand switched to 4.a3 I'd score this duel as having been won by Black. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 This is a tough move to break down. The best winning chance may be to take that pawn on e5. 5.g2 [ 5.xe5 e7 6.f4 d6 7.d3 f5 8.f2! was Bauer, C (2599)-Dorfman, J (2586), Besancon BRA 2006, which was covered by Carsten Hansen when he was running this section. Of course not every English Opening player is up for this kind of mayhem... ] 5...xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.d3 c6 [ The nonchalant 8...0-0 is also possible as in Vitiugov - Grischuk. ] 9.0-0 0-0 10.d2 h6 11.a4 [ In the previous game in which he had White Gelf and played 11.g2 a f t e r wh i c h b6 12.a4 c7 13.c5 d5 14.cxd6 xd6 15.b4 e6 16.a3 xb4 17.xb4 b8 18.c5 e8 19.xe6 xe6 left him with little advantage to speak of and the game was soon agreed drawn (Gelfand, B (2758) Vachier Lagrave, M (2718)/Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2009). And after coming close to losing this game he switched to the anti-theoretical 4.a3, winning that one rather easily! ] 11...e7 12.g2 d6 13.c3 c7 14.ac1 e8 15.f4 White is getting some space with this but at the same time it leaves him a bit loose. exf4 16.gxf4 a5 17.e3 h5 18.d1 [ 18.f3!? was interesting. ] 18...g4 19.e1 d5 20.cxd5 cxd5 21.b5 e2 [ 21...ac8 22.xc8 xc8 23.d4 1104
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 would allow White to get well entrenched, so Black sacrifices the exchange for a pawn and the initiative. ] 22.c7 xd3 23.xe8 xe8 24.f3 e4 25.b4 f6 26.d1 b5 27.h3 This allows Black to recover the sacrificed exchange, but Gelfand then bails out into a tenable endgame. xd1+ 28.xd1 d7 29.h5 g4 30.hxd5 xd1 31.xd1 xb2 32.f1 b6 33.e2 a5 34.e1 a3 35.d4 d6 36.d3 c5 37.c3 h7 38.c6 e7 39.f3 f5 40.h4 g6 41.d5 e4 42.e5 f6 43.xf6 So White gets opposite colour bishops and with 44.a4 blocks Black's queenside pawns. A draw is very much on the cards. xf6 44.a4 g5 45.hxg5+ hxg5 46.fxg5+ xg5 47.e4 fxe4+ 48.xe4 f7+ 49.g3 f2+ 50.g2 f4 51.c6 c5 ½-½
1110 Georgiev,Kiril Akopian,Vladimir FIDE WCh KO Las Vegas USA (4.1) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2650 2646 09.08.99
1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f6 4.g3 g6 5.d4 exd4 6.xd4 g7 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 e8 9.xc6 Not thought to offer White too much, [ 9.c2 is commonly preferred. ] 9...dxc6 10.f4 e7 11.c1!? In Tukmakov, V-Romanishin,O/ Erevan 1980, White played the more obvious [ 11.e4 although after the further g4 12.c2 c5?! 13.h3 e5 14.b3 e7 15.e3 f6 16.ac1 f3+ 17.h1 g5 the position was unclear. ] 11...c5 12.b3 h5 13.e4 [ 13.xc7?! i s d a n g e r o u s , a f t e r h3 14.xh3 xh3 15.f3 h5 White is in trouble. ] 13...h3 14.f3 ad8!? Provoking wild complications, [ 14...xg2 15.xg2 a5 was quite reasonable. ] 15.e5! xg2?! After this Black has great difficulty avoiding the loss of his queen, which is short of squares. [ A l t h o u g h a f t e r 15...d7!? 16.g4
forces Black to sacrifice his bishop by xg4 17.fxg4 xg4 , the outcome is far from clear. ] 16.xg2 g5!? If [ 16...d7?? then 17.g4 h4 18.g5 would be embarrassing. ] 17.exf6 xf6 18.g4? [ 18.xc7! is better, why drive the black queen to a better square? d3 19.e4 xa1 20.xa1 and the threat of Nf6+ will oblige Black to play xe4 which certainly looks winning for White. ] 18...g6 19.g3 [ 19.xc7 is no longer so effective: d3 20.e4? xe4! 21.fxe4 xe4+ is winning for Black. Such a slight difference in the p o s i t i o n , c a n , i n r e a l i t y, b e a wo r l d o f difference! ] 19...d3 Now, after [ 19...d3 White has the resource 20.e1! xe1 21.xe1 ] 20.d1?! [ 20.xc7 merited consideration. ] 20...xa1 21.f2 e2 22.xa1 The dust has settled, and White has two pieces for rook a n d p a wn , a r e a s o n a b l e e xc h a n g e . e6 23.b1 h6 24.xc7 d2 Black has lost his c7-pawn, but is very active. 25.a4 b2 26.f5 xb3 27.d1 b2 28.d8+ e8 29.xe8+ xe8 30.e5 White has eased his position by exchanging a pair of rooks. Now, if he had time to bring his knight to e4, Black would soon be mated. e2 31.d4 e6 32.xe6 [ 32.a5 appears more aggressive. ] 32...fxe6 33.xa7 a2 34.c5 xa4 35.b6 f7 36.e4 White may seem to have gained the upper hand, but rooks are very useful pieces in the endgame. e5 37.d6+ e6 38.f5?! Inaccurate, although after the better [ 38.xb7 e4!? gains useful activity. ] 38...a2+ 39.g3 a3 Threatening ...e4. 40.g2 a2+ 41.g3 a3 42.d6 d5 Black is now fine. 43.e4 d4 44.c7 Attempting to return the bishop to the fray. a1 45.f2 a2+ 46.g3 a1 47.h3 e3! Conceding the e5-pawn, but gaining the f3pawn, and even more activity. 48.xe5 f1 49.g2 xf3 50.d6 f2+ 51.g3 f3+ 52.g2 f2+ 53.g3 f3+ 54.g2 ½-½ 1105
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1111 Georgiev,Kiril Gurevich,Mikhail TCh Mulhouse FRA (7) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2676 2694 01.04.2001
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 The main line. 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 [ An interesting finesse, White delays 10.d3 when a5 follows, but play will transpose anyway. ] 10...f6 11.d3 a5 12.b5 d4 13.d2 c8!? [ Defending b7, whilst avoiding any w e a k e n i n g o f t h e q u e e n s i d e . 13...c6 and other possibilities here, are discussed in the archives. ] 14.e3 f5 15.a4!? [ Georgiev's improvement over 15.c2 d8 16.d1 a4 17.ce4 d7 18.c5 xc5 19.xc5 d6 in a previous game against Gurevich,M, at Niksic 1996, when Black is at least equal. By playing a4 before Black does, White concedes the b4-square, but does not have to worry about having Black target his a3-pawn. ] 15...d8 16.c2 b8 17.d1 c6!? So, Black f eels he h as to play this move anyway, in order to gain some space. 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.ce4 d5 20.b3!? [ White refuses the pawn sac, 20.xb8 xb8 21.xc6 f7 gives Black free play. ] 20...b4 21.e2 c5 Black uses his isolated c-pawn to stop the d3-pawn from advancing. 22.d2!? White provokes complications, r e l y i n g o n h i s s o u n d e r s t r u c t u r e . xd3 23.xa5 d7 24.dc1 a3 25.xc5 xa4 [ Obviously not 25...xc5? 26.xc5 e7 27.xb4 winning. ] 26.e1! Forced, but good. xc5? [ B l a c k s l i p s - u p , 26...a6 held the equilibrium. ] 27.xc5 xa5 28.xe6 Black has temporarily won the exchange, but the double pin on the b4-knight will cost material. a4 29.c6 a2 30.xb4 b6 31.d5 The white pieces dominate. a5 32.c5+ h8 33.d7 a7 34.xa5 A rout! 1-0
1112 Georgiev,Vladimir Dzagnidze,Nana 5th Open Istanbul TUR (9) [John Watson]
A29 2518 2437 07.09.2006
Another Reversed Dragon, but this time with b 3 i n st e a d o f a 3 a n d b 4 . W h it e t ri e s a n enterprising sacrifice of the Exchange, and although the result is some sort of equality, Black wins in the complications. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 e6 9.b3 A plausible alternative to the lines with a3 and b4. d7 [ The surprising move 9...g5!? has been played, with the idea ...g4 and ...h5-h4. White should probably strike back by 10.d4! , when it's not clear who stands better. ] 10.b2 0-0 11.c1 [ A better try is 11.e4! ( h i t t i n g e 5 ) f5 ( 11...f6 12.d4!? ) 12.eg5 ] 11...f5!? [ 11...f6 is safe and sound. This is where White benefits from a3 and b4, in that he can disturb Black's queenside. ] 12.d2 h6 13.b1 White is considering the direct Rxc6! Another approach is [ 13.e3 f4! ( 13...d6 14.h4!? ) 14.gxf4 exf4 15.e4 f5= ] [ And unimpressive is 13.e3 ad8 14.fd1 f4! ] 13...f6 14.xc6!? xc6 15.xe5 d6 16.g6 f7 17.xb7 e8 18.f3 The material is about equal. Except for his awkwardly-placed kingside pieces W hit e would stand better. But they make a difference: xb2 19.xb2 d7 20.h5 f6 21.f4 g6 22.f3 g5 23.h5 f7 24.c1 c5 25.c3 [ 25.c2 c6 26.xc6 xc6 and ..Qg6 will be a problem for White. Taken as a whole, one can say that this opening resulted in complex, dynamic play, and the chances appear more-or-less nearly equal. ] 25...c6 26.xc6 xc6 27.h3 [ 27.e4! is much better. ] 27...d7 28.g4? f6! 29.g3 [ The f-file is too much of a problem following 29.xf6+ xf6 30.e3 ( 30.f1? fxg4 31.hxg4 d4 ) 30...fxg4 31.hxg4 ef8 ] 1106
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 29...fxg4 30.hxg4 xg4 31.ce4 e6 32.f3 f6 [ 32...e3! ] 33.xc5 xe4 34.dxe4?? [ 34.xe4 g4 keeps the initiative, but at least Black's king is airy as well. ] 34...d6 Ending the game with a double attack. 35.c3 xg3+ 36.f1 ef8 37.c4 h7 38.f5 xf5 39.exf5 h3+ 0-1
1113 Gormally,D Gretarsson,H Scottish championships (5) [Daniel Gormally]
A29 2496 2511 10.07.2013
Having got to 3.5/4 in the Scottish with a nice wi n a g a i n s t M a r k H e b d e n , I wa s p a i r e d against the rising Icelandic superstar, Gretarsson. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 This seems like a very good way to play for Black. 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 [ While 6..Bb4 is by far the more preferred c h o i c e f o r B l a c k p l a y e r s , 6...c5 I s ve ry p la ya b le a s we ll . 7.e3 ( 7.d3 Of course is also possible, Black usually re s p o n d s wi t h h6 like in the ..Bb4 line) 7...0-0 8.0-0 d6 9.a3 c6 10.d4 b6 11.b4 e6 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.e2 e7 14.b2 ad8 15.fe1!? Some may question the validity of this move. W hat the hell is the Rook going to do on e1?? But Loek is not a supergrandmaster for nothing- such players tend to have incredibly deep insights into the position. By putting the rook here he avoids exchanges down the d-file, and he also over-protects the queen on e2- a point which will only become apparent later. c7 16.ac1 f5 17.e4 e6 18.d1 d7 19.e3 d3 20.c5 xe2 21.xe2!! W e can see with this Re1 move Loek is really Nostradamus! If he had to take back with the bishop, he would have dropped the e-pawn. Now everything is ok in W hite's world, but still he doesn't have much- Black has control over the d-file. d3 22.c3 h5 23.ee1 fd8 24.g2 g6 25.h4 3d7 26.f3 e8 27.f1 a6 28.a4 a8 29.c4 xc4 30.xc4 f8 31.b1 White has a
nice edge, but Black later defended well and the game ended in a draw in the game Van Wely, L (2652)-Sargissian, G (2676) Linares 2009 ] 7.0-0 [ I t i s m y b e l i e f t h a t t h e m o v e 7.d4! is most testing for Black here. W hite immediately puts the question to Black in the center. After all he has lost some time wit h t h is Nd 4 xf 3 m a n o e u vre , so W h it e should play as dynamically as possible to take advantage of this. xc3+ 8.bxc3 e4 9.g2 h6 10.c2 ( 10.c5!? 0-0 11.c4 b6 12.0-0 e8 13.a4 bxc5 14.dxc5 is more pleasant for W hite, Romanov, E (2625)-Caruana, F (2767)/Sochi 2012.) 10...0-0 11.0-0! In my view, is a serious try t o p r o v e a W h i t e e d g e . ( 11.xe4 White is still very slightly better after this, and you may ask why not take a pawn, but the problem is that the absence of the lightsquared bishop makes the White king more vulnerable, which gives Black sufficient counterplay. xe4 12.xe4 e8 13.f3 e7 see Jobava, B-Aronian, L in the PGN Archive. ) 11...b6 ( 11...e8 12.f3 e7 13.fxe4 xe4 14.f4 f6 15.d2 d6 16.e1 And White is ready to motor with e4 ) 12.f3! exf3 13.xf3 b8 14.e4 d6 15.f4 Looks quite nice for White ] [ 7.b3 Is by far the main-line, but in my (admittedly controversial view) this line is a bit insipid. Black generally tends to e q u a l i s e wi t h o u t m u c h e f f o r t , b u t s e e Williams-Van Kampen in this update. ] 7...0-0 8.d4 I was unfamiliar with the theory of this line at the time (what's new!) and played what I thought was the most natural move in the position! [ 8.b3 Would transpose back into the main line after c5 9.d3 h6 ] 8...xc3 9.bxc3 e7?! [ 9...e4 10.g2 h6 11.c2 Was this line we already discussed, where I believe that White's chances are preferable. However I still feel this was a better choice than the one played in the game, as I had a chance to get a opening advantage. ] 10.dxe5 xe5 11.d4! d6 12.b1? I spent some time here trying to find the right path, as my gut told me W hite should be 1107
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 better here, but still failed to find the correct solution. Later on I discussed this position with Mark Hebden, and even blindfold he was able to point out the right idea[ 12.f4! I saw this but could see no way f orward af ter a5 but now the star move, found by Mark, 13.fb1! A move that didn't even occur to me! Not only does White not have to worry anymore about the a2 pawn hanging, he also handily prevents any Bh3 moves coming with tempo. The old master still has it! b8 14.b5 a4 15.g5 ( or 15.h6! ) 15...e8 16.c5 xd4 17.cxd4 h6 18.h5 with an endgame edge. ] 12...e8 13.b5 xd4 14.cxd4 e4! I started to get worried here, as I could see he had visions of playing ..b6 followed by Ba6, where the game would have 0-1 written all over it, so I decided I better get on with things.. 15.c5 c6 [ 15...c3 16.b2 d5 17.c2 e4 18.c6! b6 19.f4 looks good for White. ] 16.a5 dxc5 17.dxc5 f5?! [ I was surprised he didn't avail himself of the chance to play 17...h3! which would have "punished" White for moving the wrong rook earlier. I would then have a difficult choice between playing Bg2, or leaving the bishop on h3, giving Black some useful backrank tricks. 18.e1 a6 followed by Rad8, and I don't see any problems for Black. ] 18.e3 h6 19.c1 f6?! 20.d4 d7 21.a3 e4 22.xe4 xe4 23.e3! I now felt very happy, as it was clear I could push for a win without any risk. It is clear that Black is going to be on the defensive over the next few moves, as I can tie him down to the defense of the weakling b-pawn. e7 24.b1 f8 25.ab3 b6 [ I think it now started to dawn on Hjorvar t h a t p a s s i v e d e f e n c e w i t h 25...b8 was not holding on- 26.a4! f6 ( 26...e6 27.e5+- ) 27.a5! a6 28.b6! And a pawn inevitably drops. ] 26.cxb6 axb6 27.xb6 e6 [ Other tries do not really help either 27...xa2 28.b8! f6 29.c5 f7 30.d8 c2 31.d6 And Black will drop a piece. ] [ during the game I thought his best try was 27...ee8 covering the back rank and getting ready to take the a2 pawn. However as
"Horvie", as he is affectionately known, pointed out, White can then just win with the simple 28.a1! e6 29.a4 xd4 30.exd4 e4 31.a5 xd4 32.a6 d7 33.xc6 And the extra a-pawn should ultimately be decisive, even if there are some technical problems to solve. ] 28.b8+ e8 29.a7! Forcing transition into a w i n n i n g B i s h o p v K n i g h t e n d i n g . f8 30.xa8 xa8 31.b8+ xb8 32.xb8 e7 33.f1 d7 34.e2 c5 [ Black has very little hope of saving this ending, as the outside passed pawn greatly favours White as well as the extra pawn: for example 34...c5 35.f3 a4 36.d3 c5 37.e4+- ] 35.d3 c6 36.a4 b6 37.c4 g5 38.d5 a5 39.h4 h3 40.xc5 I saw a chance to remove his passed pawn, and march my king into his pawns, wiping out his kingside, rather like packman in the video game, where he eats all the ghosts. [ 40.f4 f2 41.d6 c4 42.xc4 e4 43.c7+ xa4 44.f5 was also sufficient. ] 40...xf2 41.d6 g4 He simply cannot remove enough pawns on the kingside to make a draw. [ for example, 41...g5 42.h5 xa4 43.e7 f5 44.e6 g4 45.xf5 xe3+ 46.g6 g4 47.d6! and the bishop comes around to f8, where it's curtains. ] 42.a7?! [ 42.e4! f6 43.e5 e4+ 44.e7 xg3 45.xf7 was simplest. ] 42...h5 [ 42...xa4 43.e7 f6 44.f7 g5 45.h5 b3 46.g6 c2 47.f5 f2 48.xf6 and the h-pawn is dropping. ] 43.e7 h6 44.e4! f6 45.f8 g5 Now I calculated it to a finish. 46.hxg5 [ 46.g7 g4 47.g6 xa4 48.xh5 was easily winning of course, but I wanted to force immediate resignation. ] 46...fxg5 47.e5 h4 48.e6 g4 [ 48...f5 49.g4! h3 50.g1 was my idea, and the e-pawn romps through ] [ 48...h3 49.e7 h2 50.e8 h1 51.b5# was a nice variation. ] 49.d4 his knight is controlled, so finally he resigned. 1-0 1108
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 36.h3 f5 37.d8+ f7 38.g4 e6 [ And not 38...xe3+?! because of 39.f3 .] 39.f2 e7 40.a8 b6 41.a7+ d7 42.g3 d5 43.h4 f7 44.g5 h5 45.a8 d1 46.a7 h6 47.g6 Marking out the g7 Knowing Grand a's distaste f or extensive pawn as a target. h5 48.e4 c2 49.f3 opening preparation I guess his 14th move d1+ 50.e3 exf4+ 51.xf4 g4 52.e3 was more a case of inspiration rather than d6 53.f2 c5?! [ 53...f5 54.exf5 xf5 was a better try. Now perspiration. But he should probably have the g7 pawn becomes a real problem. ] settled for 16.bxc6 rather than his overly inventive 16.Nc4. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 54.e3 b6 55.a8 e5 56.g8 xg6 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 57.xg7 xh4 58.f7 f5 59.exf5 xf5+ 7.d3 e7 8.a3 e6 9.b4 a5 10.b5 d4 60.f4 This endgame is drawn. d4 61.h7 e6+ 62.g3 d4 63.f4 c5 64.g5 11.0-0 0-0 12.b2 f6 13.d2 d7 14.a4 [ Declining the offered pawn, though this f3+ 65.g6 e5+ 66.g5 f3+ 67.g6 leaves White with less than nothing. After h4 68.xh4 xh4+ 69.g5 f3+ 70.xg4 14.xb7 ab8 15.g2 ( 15.a6 ½-½ would leave White's bishop out of play and t h e l ig h t s qu a r e s a ro u n d h i s ki n g ve r y A29 vu lne rab le .) 15...xb5 16.xb5 xb5 1115 17.c2 c5 recovered the pawn with a Gretarsson,Helgi Ass 2516 comfortable game in Smetankin, S (2486) Bacrot,Etienne 2671 Mikhalevski, V (2566), Schaumburg USA Hrokurinn Reykjavik ISL (7) 25.02.2003 2006. ] [Tony Kosten] 14...c6 15.e3 f5 16.c4 [ 16.bxc6 bxc6 17.e2 was probably best, Taking Etienne Bacrot on in a theoretical though after ab8 the position is hardly very battle involving his pet line against the English promising for White. But Granda's attempt to is always a risky affair! 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 s h o w h e h a s s o m e t h i n g l e a v e s h i m 3.f3 c6 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 0-0 struggling to draw. ] 7.d4 exd4 8.xd4 e8 9.c2 16...xc4 17.dxc4 d6 18.c5 c4 We have already looked at 19.xd7 xd7 20.d5!? xc5 [ 9.xc6 dxc6 in Georgiev,K-Akopian,V/Las [ And not 20...cxd5 21.xd5+ h8 22.xc4 Vegas USA 1999. ] when W hite gets his piece back with the 9...d6 10.e4 e5!? 11.b3 c6 12.a3 d5! better endgame. ] The young French champion is known for the 21.fc1 xb2 high level of his preparation, and is the first to [ Here too Black could have gone wrong with spring a novelty. As we saw a little while ago, 21...cxb5 a f t e r w h i c h 22.axb5 xb5 he was horribly crushed following ( 22...xb2 23.xc5 would leave White with [ 12...fd7 13.e2 c5 14.ad1 more than enough for the pawn) 23.c7 in Ma la kh o v, V -B a cr o t , E / Ha lk id ik i G R E ac8 24.xb5 xb2 25.xb7 would win 2002. ] material. ] 13.f4!? Black's pawn sac attempts to exploit 22.bxc6 bxc6 23.xc5 cxd5 24.xd5+ the temporary looseness of the white pieces, h8 25.xa8 xa8 26.b1 xa4 27.xa5 and weakness of the long a1-h8 diagonal, So White eliminates the last queenside pawn patrolled by the 'King's Indian bishop', and which certainly increases his drawing chances. White's reply risks further weakening his dark But make no mistake, the best he can hope squares. Nevertheless, there was nothing for is survival. c8 28.a7 f5 29.a1 c3 better: 30.a8 g8 31.f4 g4 32.1a3 e4 [ 13.exd5 seems the simplest, although after 33.g2 d2 34.xg8+ xg8 35.d3 c4 g4! 14.f3 f5 15.d4 d3 16.f2 cxd5 1114 Granda Zuniga,Julio E Georgiev,Kiril XIX Magistral (9) [Nigel Davies]
A29 2640 2672 29.12.2009
1109
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black is doing very well, so instead ] [ 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.xd5 might be safest, when g4 15.f3 xd5 16.xd5 b6+ 17.c5 c7 18.d6 xc2 is unclear ( and 18...b6+ draws )] 13...g4 14.d2 f3+! 15.xf3 xf3 16.e5 The point of Black's play is that [ 16.xf3!? xe4 17.xe4 dxe4 hits d2, a1 and f3 simultaneously, 18.xd8 axd8 19.ff1 xa1 20.xa1 d2 21.e3 ed8 gains control of the open d-file and infiltrates the second rank. ] 16...e4 17.e3 g4 18.xe4 dxe4 19.xe4 f6 20.e3?! As we often note on ChessPublishing.com, the surprise effect of a new move often unbalances even the best of players, and after having reacted well, White cracks. [ 20.b2 f5 21.g2 fxe5 22.fxe5 xe5 23.xe5 xe5 seems fairly level. ] 20...e2! 21.f2 fxe5! Now White is in trouble. 22.c1 [ 22.xe2? exf4 23.xf4 xa1 wins. ] 22...d3 The bishop has made a very unusual manoeuvre in the heart of the white camp. 23.f3 a5 24.d6 e4 25.d1 ad8 W hit e h as m ana ged to just h ang-on, bu t Black's bishop pair, and greater activity are hard to contain. 26.c5 d4 27.e1 xe1+ 28.xe1 b6 Undermining the white bishop. 29.c7 c8 30.cxb6 axb6 31.d6 c5 32.f5 b5 Black gets ready to add a passed cpawn to his other advantages. 33.fxg6 hxg6 34.f4 c4 35.bxc4 bxc4 36.a4 c3 37.g2 f8 38.a2 xf4 The simplest. 39.gxf4 xe3 40.xe3 c2 The c-pawn will cost White a rook, this game was powerfully played by Black. 0-1
1116 Gulko,Boris F Charbonneau,Pascal Montreal Empresa-A (2) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2570 2501 09.08.2006
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 c5 7.0-0 0-0 8.a4 e7 9.d4 d6 10.g2 [ 10.c3 e8 11.b3 c6 12.d5 c5 13.e4
h3 14.g2 d7 15.f3 a6 ( 15...d8!? ) 16.a4 d8 17.a5 b8 ( 17...h5!? ) 18.f2 xg2 19.xg2 g6 20.e3 h5 21.a4 Kimmelfeld, R-Shabanov, Y/Briansk 1975 ] [ 10.e1 b8 ( 10...c6!? ) 11.c3 e6 12.b3 c6 13.b2 g4 14.d5 d7 15.e4 f6 16.d2 c5 17.a4 Moreland, HRodger, P/corr 1986 ] 10...c6 11.c3 a5 [ 11...g4!? 12.d3 d7 deserves attention, although 13.d5 c5 14.c2 still seems preferable for White to me ] [ 11...b6 12.d5 f5 13.b3 xb3 14.axb3 ] 12.d5!? cxd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5! c7 15.b3 b8 16.e3 [ 16.d3 e6 17.a4 is also worth a thought ] 16...e6 17.d2 b5!? [ Black pursues the counterplay very actively and sacrifices a pawn to activate his pieces. After the more solid 17...b6?! , White will play 18.a4 d7 19.fd1 , and Black has a pretty depressing position to look at and not much counterchances to go for ] 18.cxb5 d5 [ 18...xb5?! 19.fc1 is worse ] 19.fc1 d7 20.a5 xb5 [ 20...d4!? is also worth a look, e.g. 21.c6 d8 22.xd8 fxd8 23.d2 a3 24.d1 g4!? ( 24...d6 25.e3 bd8 26.a5 c8 27.d2 ) 25.f3 f5 26.f2 b2 27.b4 ( it appears that 27.a5 is less accurate, for instance dc8 28.e4 xa1 29.xa1 e6 30.b1 , and while White's position looks pretty good at the moment, it is less convincing, when Black gradually starts improving on his position, and W hite is unable to do the same: f6 31.e2 g5 32.a3 f7 33.b4 e8 34.c1 xc6 35.bxc6 b6 , and the seams are coming apart in White's position) 27...xa1 28.xa1 d3 29.e4 d7 30.a5 xc6 31.bxc6 dc8 32.c7 b5 33.b4 xa5 34.bxa5 xc7 35.e3 , and Black shouldn't lose. ] 21.xa7 xa7 22.xa7 a3 [ I t h in k t h a t 22...a8!? first is probably a better defence for Black, e.g. 23.e3 a6 , and Black keeps all the pieces on the board and doesn't allow W hite's rook on the seventh rank. ] 1110
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.c7 a8 24.e3 [ A n o t h e r i d e a i s 24.e4!? d4 25.f1 , W h i t e a p p e a rs t o h a ve g o o d win n in g chances after a5 26.b6 b2 27.xa5 xa1 28.c5 f6 29.d3 b2 30.b4 , and White should win by exchanging the light-squared bishops, transferring the king to d3, and then starting the advance of the queenside pawns. This may prove an easier way to win than the one chosen by White in the game. c3 31.c4 xc4 32.xc4 f7 33.f1 g6 34.e2 f5 35.d3 ] 24...f8 25.a7 The exchange of a pair of rooks should be to White's advantage xa7 26.xa7 a5 Black's more active pieces and nice central pawns provide him with a bit of co m pe n sa t io n , b ut on ly e no u gh to ma ke White's winning progress slow down. 27.b6 [ My computer gives preference to 27.b8 , but after d4 28.c7 a3 29.xe5 xb3 30.xd4 xa2 31.xa2 xa2 winning this endgame will prove very difficult ] 27...a3 28.e3 d4 29.c1 a7 30.b2 While the conversion of his pawn advantage by no means is easy, W hite is close to a winning advantage at this stage. The rest of the game will be left without annotations. c5 31.c6 c7 32.b5 b4 33.c1 a7 34.a4 h5 35.c2 f6 36.f4 f5 37.c4 d2 38.c1 c3 39.f2 e7 40.a3 b7 41.c5 b1 42.fxe5 fxe5 43.xe5 xa2 44.e7 b6 45.c5 f6+ 46.g2 f5 47.d6 d2 48.d7 a5 49.e6+ h7 50.c4 b1 51.e5 a1 52.xh5+ g6 53.e5 e3 54.h3 f5+ 55.g4 c8 56.e8 b7 57.e6+ 1-0
1117 Gulko,Boris F Cramling,Pia Sigeman & Co, Malmoe (4) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2605 2495 2001
9.e1!? [ Unusual, and ambitious. 9.xd4 xd4 10.c2 c6 is fine for Black, Lippmann,HSchmid,A/ Wuerttemberg 1997, but ] [ 9.d2 is a major alternative: c6 10.b4 a7 11.b2 f5 12.e3 e6 13.f3 h6 offered chances to both sides in Gelfand, BKarpov,A/Sanghi Nagar 1995. ] 9...c6 10.e3 f5 11.f3 Preparing to play d4, and grab the centre. This could also have arisen after 9 Nd2 c6 10 e3, of course. a7 12.b4 [ 12.d4 is conceivable. ] 12...e8 13.b2 d5! [ An innovation, Black plays the most obvious move. In Gulko,B-Sadler,M/4th World Team Ch, Lucerne SUI 1997, Black was crushed after 13...b8 14.c1 b5 15.c5!? dxc5 16.e4 the point e5, c5, and c6 are all exposed, cxb4 17.xe5 bxa3 18.a1 xe4 19.xe4 and now Black should have tried an exchange sac: c5!? ] 14.e4 [ White decides to clarify the central situation immediately, 14.c5!? kept more tension. ] 14...dxe4 [ I would be tempted to hop back into d4 immediately, with 14...d4 myself. ] 15.xe4 d4! Well-judged, Black allows the doubling of her kingside pawns, but it turnsout not to be significant. 16.xd4?! [ This leads nowhere, 16.c5 g4 17.d6 had to be tried. ] 16...xd4 17.xd4 xd4! 18.xf6+ gxf6 19.e1 g4 Black is ready to play ...Rad8 and attack the weak d3-pawn. 20.f3 f5 21.xg4 xg4 [ Not 21...fxg4? 22.e4 ] 22.e3 Black has nothing to fear in the endgame. ½-½
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 c5 5.d3 d6 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 a6 8.a3 d4!? [ Black seeks immediate exchanges, we have seen 8...h6 9.b4 a7 10.b2 in T imm an , J-K arpo v,A n/ A rn h em (m /5 )/ 1993. ] 1111
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1118 Gulko,Boris F Hansen,Curt North Sea Cup (1) [Tony Kosten]
A29 e4+ 23.d2 b4+ 24.e2 e4+ 25.d2 2643 xh4 26.f3 b4+ [ 26...b4+ 27.d1 b2+ 28.e2 e8+ 2613 and the king has no place to go. ] 07.07.2000 0-1
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.h4!? [ Tryin g to o bt ain mo re t ha n af te r 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 , but the move is not very natural. ] 5...c6 [ Black's typical plan in this line, he wishes to set-up a full centre. 5...g5?! is unnecessarily w e a k e n i n g : 6.f3 xf3+ 7.exf3 c5 8.e2 e7 9.d3 g8 10.h4 h6?! 11.hxg5 hxg5 12.xg5! xg5 13.d5 and Black was in some trouble because of his weak back rank, Botterill,G-Botto/England 1977. ] 6.e3 e6 7.d4?! [ A novelty, but it seems worse than 7.g2 g6 ( 7...b4 8.0-0 0-0 9.d4 exd4 10.exd4 d5 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.b3 a5 13.d1 d8 14.f5 allowed White to bring his offside knight to a strong post, Liberzon,VTatai, S/ Beersheba 1976.) 8.d4 exd4 9.exd4 d5 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.0-0 g7 12.e3 0-0 13.b3 with a slight edge, Huzman,A-Svidler,P/Haifa ISR 2000. ] 7...exd4 8.exd4 d5 9.c5!? [ Ambitious, but if 9.cxd5 Black can now recapture with a piece, xd5 ] 9...b6 10.b4 a5 Thematic, Black must break the white attempt at gaining a queenside space advantage. 11.a4 d7 12.b5 b7! White is unable to consolidate his c5-pawn satisfactorily. 13.a3 [ 13.cxb6 xb6 14.a3 c4 is also favourable to Black. ] 13...bxc5 14.dxc5 dxc5 15.c1 xa4 16.xf8 xf8 17.bxc6?! [ Loses, but 17.xa4 c5 18.g2 d4 is hardly any better, as W hite cannot castle without dropping an exchange. ] 17...xc6 18.xc6 e8 The unfortunate point, the rook is attacked, and a deadly discovered check is also threatened. 19.c1 f4+ 20.d2 [ 20.e2? b2 21.d2 bd3+ wins everything. ] 20...e4 21.gxf4 What else? xf4+ 22.e1
1119 Gulko,Boris F Hector,Jonny Politiken Cup (5) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2643 2509 21.07.2000
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.d3 h6 [ As I have mentioned before, this move is more common than the 8...c6 tried there. ] 9.h4!? [ The first novelty! White prepares a kingside pawn advance, thinking that he has good con tro l o ver th e cent re, an d t hat Blac k cannot break-out with ...d5 for a while. 9.0-0 is the common move, 0-0 10.g2 e8 11.h3 c6 12.h2 with fairly equal play, Hansen,C-Westerinen,H/ Reykjavik 1998. ] [ To be exact, 9.g4 was actually played in the Timman game, below, and then h4, although this amounts to the same. ] 9...c6 10.g4 d5!? [ The second novelty in this game! Black offers material for free play. 10...d6 11.g5 hxg5 12.xg5 Azmaiparashvili,Z-Timman,J/ Oviedo 1993, was mentioned in the archives. ] 11.g5!? [ Very risky although taking the pawns by 11.cxd5 xg4 12.xb7 also entails a certain amount of danger, as after ( 12.xg4 xg4 hits f2 ) 12...xf3 13.xc6+ d7 14.exf3 c8 the white pawn structure is a mess. ] 11...hxg5 12.hxg5 xh1+ 13.xh1 g4 14.cxd5 [ The best practical move, as 14.e3? xg5 leaves White on the verge of defeat. ] 14...xf2+ 15.d1 b6 16.c2 The white k i n g i s n o t t h a t b a d l y p l a c e d h e r e . d7 17.dxc6 bxc6 18.d2 e3?! [ Planning to win the g5-pawn, but protecting the c-pawn by 18...c8 is better. ] 1112
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.f1 Of course, White hits the f7-pawn. e7 [ Because of Black's previous move, the natural 19...e6?? is not feasible, 20.xc6+ wins. ] 20.e4 e6 21.a4 f8 Both kings have had to 'castle' on their own! 22.f3 xd2 23.h1! The idea behind White's previous move, he turns to the h-file- thus justifying his early opening of it. h6?! [ 23...g8 24.xd2 leaves the t out-on-alimb, and various combinations in the air, but the text is quite passive. ] 24.xd2 g8 25.xc6 b4+ 26.c3 W hite can afford to offer the exchange of queens, he is now a pawn up with the better position. a5 27.c5 f4+ 28.d1 e8 29.xe6+ xe6 30.c5+ e7 31.h8 [ 31.h8 xg5 32.c8+ e8 33.xg8+ xg8 34.xe8+ wins a piece. ] 1-0
plans by e6 20.cxd4 d5 21.xe3 xe3 22.xe3 xg3 with completely unclear play. ] 17.xf3 [ Once again you might want to consult the archives for the move 17.xf3 , played in Jensen-Soza, Zonal Latinoamericano G1 2002. The theory of this line is broad and complex, with every offshoot for both sides producing new problems, few of them resolved! ] 17...d4 18.b2 c8 19.b1 a5!? A strange move that has some interesting ideas behind it. Normal moves are [ 19...dxc3 20.xc3 d5 ] [ and 19...b6 ] 20.cxd4 b4!? The point, with the ideas of ... Nc2 and ...Nd5, strengthening protection over e3. 21.c1? [ 21.ff1 looks right, to challenge the g-file. White's kingside appears to hold together after bd5 ( 21...c2 22.a4; 21...c2 1120 A29 22.f3; 21...fd5 22.fc1 ) 22.fc1 xc1+ ( 22...b6 23.a4 h5! 24.xc8 xc8 Gulko,Boris F 2570 25.c1 f5 may be the best sequence, Korneev,Oleg 2638 although White still stands better) 23.xc1 Empresa A Montreal CAN (9) 16.08.2006 b6 24.a4 h5 25.h4! d6 26.h3 ] [John Watson] 21...xc1+? [ Both sides probably overlooked the tactic An interesting theoretical game in an 21...c2! 22.a4 xd4! , winning material. extremely theoretical variation. Black tries a Play goes 23.xc8 xf3+ 24.xf3 xc8 funny-looking idea that needs a closer look. . Then White can fight back by 25.xf6 gxf6 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 26.xb7! c1+ 27.h2 but Black 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.g5 xc3 8.bxc3 maintains an edge after d8! ( 27...b8 e8 9.f3 e3 10.d3 d5 11.b3 a5 12.a3 28.xa5! g7 still seems to favour Black, c6 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.f4 g4 15.f3 although his king is exposed) 28.xa5 [ T h e o t h e r m a i n a l t e r n a t i v e i s 15.e1 xd3! with the idea 29.h5 d1 ( 29...d2 . The best example of this line in the 30.d5 c7 31.a4 d1 ) 30.e4 d2 ] archives is Schacher-Maki Uuro, Izmir 2004, annotated and researched by Webmaster 22.xc1 h5 23.b2 b6 Obviously there's a lot to play for. My uninformed impression is Tony. ] that White will probably trade off some minor 15...c6 16.h3 xf3!? [ 16...d7 was analysed at some length in pieces and equality will result. ½-½ Elwert-Tiemann, 18th WChCorr 2004. ] [ 16...c8!? might be an interesting option, now that W hite's kingside is slightly vulnerable. Ideas such as ...h6, ...g5, and ... Nh5 might follow, with Black's queen and rook potentially participating. White would try to attack e3 and d4 quickly, probably by 17.e1 h5!? 18.f3 ( 18.g4? g3 ) 18...d4 19.c2 when Black might switch 1113
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c1 -b i sh o p . d6 15.f4 b6 16.d5 c5 A29 17.c3 xd5 18.cxd5 with unclear play, 2595 Gulko,B-Illescas Cordoba,M/Spain 1996. ] 2475 a5 13.c5 The pawn sells itself 1998 12.f4 dearly. e7!? 14.cxb6 axb6 Black prefers activity to pawn hunting, in particular the a-file 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 b4 Just one of may prove useful. 15.e4 c5+ 16.h1 b7 Daring Black to take the c-pawn, the possible move orders that reach the same 17.d3 position. 4.g2 0-0 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 e4 which would liberate the a1-h8 diagonal for The critical line, Black displaces the f3-knight the white dark-squared bishop. c4 18.f4 a n d g a i n s s p a c e i n t h e c e n t r e . 7.g5 d6 19.c2 d7 In return for the pawn Black has lots of little positional plusses, the White's most aggressive line, [ 7.e1 is the alternative, intending Nc2-e3- squares e5, c5, and c4, not to mention the afile. 20.fd1 e6 Vacating c4 for the knight. d5, and appeals to more positional players. ] c4 22.d4 Nice square for a 7...xc3 Forced, to defend e4. 8.bxc3 e8 21.e3 9.f3 White wants to open the f-file, and gain a bishop, but Black will always be able to drive central preponderance, which will advance, it away by ...c5, but at a cost: the ensuing 23.f4 supported by the bishop pair. e3 Zaitsev's we a k n e s s o f d 6 , a n d b 6 . a5 famous innovation, first played by Karpov White plays to undermine c4. e7 24.b3 against Kasparov, which led to him winning b5 25.a4! ea8 Keeping the knight on c4 by xa4 27.xb5 the second match game at Seville, 1987. tactical means. 26.ac1 10.dxe3 Originally considered an error, in the White has skilfully managed to rid himself of 28.h5 8a5 continual search for new ideas this move has his we a k a -pa wn . db6 29.h4 g5 recently been rehabilitated. [ 29...xh4 30.gxh4 weakens the white [ 10.d3 is the main line, d5 11.b3 a5 structure, but opens the g-file. ] 12.a3 c6 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.f4 c6 with chances for both sides, Kasparov,G- 30.b1 a2 31.g1 c6 The black pieces seem active, but need a target, and e2 is Karpov,A/Seville 1987. ] sufficiently defended. 32.f1? 10...h6! The most accurate, [ 32.xg5 hxg5 33.h5 keeps an edge. ] [ delaying this move can have serious consequences: 10...b6 11.e4 Advancing 32...a4! Embarrassing the rooks. 33.e1 c5 the mass of pawns. h6 ( 11...a6?! 12.f4 34.f2 xh4 35.gxh4 c2 36.bc1 b2? [ 36...d2 wins the exchange, 37...Nb3 can't h6 13.xf7 xf7 14.e5 is even more be stopped. ] dangerous for Black.) 12.xf7!? Topalov's big idea, sacrificing a piece to open the 37.h5?! Time-trouble, perhaps [ 37.a1 had to be played, contesting the ablack king position, and advance the file. ] n u m e r o u s k i n g s i d e p a w n s . ( 12.h3 was the previous move, and will transpose 37...aa2?! [ 37...a3 ] to the game.) 12...xf7 13.f4 g8 14.e5 38.a1 At last White finds the right idea. a4 h7 and now, instead of A) 15.f5 should be played, e7 ( or 39.d5 b3 40.g3 The white pieces are 15...b7 16.f6 xe5?! 17.d5+ starting to find squares. c2 41.xa2 xa2 with a strong attack.) 16.f6 gxf6 17.d5+ 42.h3 c2 43.f5 Cutting-off the king's escape square, and introducing back-rank g7 18.d2 with attack.; B) 15.a3? handing Black an important mate possibilities. e5 [ 43...xc3 44.xc3 xc3 45.a1 tempo, Topalov,V-Gelfand,B/ Novgorod is White's idea. ] 1997, ] 11.h3 b6 The other possibility to pick-off the 44.b1 b2 45.xb2 xb2 46.e7+ f8 47.c8 White has a clear advantage in this c4-pawn is [ 11...e5 with 12.e4 xc4 13.d4 e5 ending. bc4 48.h3 f6 49.e6 a4 14.c4 opening the a1-h8 diagonal for the 50.f2 a3 51.xd6! A little tactic that wins 1121 Hansen,Curt Brynell,Stellan Sigeman, Malmoe (1) [Tony Kosten]
1114
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a second pawn. e7 52.b7 e8 [ 52...xe6 53.xc5+ and 54 Nxa4. ] 53.d5 c4 54.a5 b5 55.xe5 fxe5 56.xc4 f6 57.e3 xc3 58.g4+ e7 59.xe5 xh5 After all the weak pawns have been captured, White remains with two pawns t o t h e go o d . 60.b3 e8 61.e3 f6 Many players would resign this position, but yo u n e v e r k n o w! 62.c4 b5 63.d3 Trapping the knight to force further exchanges. xc4+ 64.xc4 a4 65.d4 b6 66.e5+ e7 67.b5 The rest is quite trivial. c8 68.e4 b6 69.h4 e6 70.h5 e7 71.f4 e6 72.e3 e7 73.d4 e6 74.c5 c8 75.f1 The bishop finds an ef f ective diagonal. e7 76.h3+ f7 77.d6 f8 78.d7 g6 79.hxg6 xg6 80.f5 h4 81.f6 f7 82.e6+ e7-8 cannot be stopped. 1-0
1122 Hodgson,Julian M Gormally,Daniel 86th ch-British (5) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2605 2476 05.08.1999
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.b1!? This move has been something of a speciality of the Latvian GM Miezis here, it is more commonly seen after White has castled. a5 The mo st ac curate , in my opinion, Black clamps-down on White's queenside play, at the cost of weakening b5. [ 7...e7 falls in with W hite's plans, 8.b4 attacking on the queenside, as in Miezis,NTukmakov,V/Biel 1995, and relying on the standard tactic: xb4?! 9.xe5! ] 8.0-0 e7 9.d3 Curiously, this most obvious of moves is relatively unusual here, preference normally being given to [ 9.b3 as in one of my personal favourite games, Kosten,A-Sarno,S/ Anzio 1994, which continued: 0-0 10.b2 e8 11.d3 f8 12.d2 d4 13.e3 f5 14.c4 c6 15.e4!? f6 16.h5!? d5 17.bd1! b5!? when I hit my opponent with the surprising reply 18.a4! and went on to win in brilliant style. ]
[ Previously Julian Hodgson had preferred 9.a3 i.e. 0-0 10.b4 axb4 11.axb4 f5 12.b5 as in his game against Romanishin, at Groningen 1993. ] 9...0-0 10.e3 e6 11.xb6!? A somewhat surprising idea, W hite concedes the bishop p a i r t o we a k e n B l a ck ' s qu e e n s i d e . T h i s particular positional exchange doesn't tend to do all that well in general. Actually, Julian had already tried this scheme as Black, in his game against Smirin, W innipeg 1997, and thought that it must be even better with a t e m p o m o r e ! cxb6 As Julian s aid to me, concerning the frailty of Black's queenside structure, "if the black a-pawn were on a7, in st e a d o f a 5 , h e wo u l d h a rd ly c o n s id e r playing the move ...a5, would he?" 12.c1!? This is Hodgson's simple novelty, bringing his rook to the open file. [ In the original game in this line White played 12.d2?! but this allowed Black to so rt -ou t h is qu ee nside p rob le m s b y b5! 13.c1 Too late! ( 13.xb5 meets xa2 which is only possible because the rook is s t i l l o n b 1 .) 13...b4 14.a4 c8 with good play f or Black, Gabriel, CGeorgiev,K/Altensteig 1995. After the game, Georgiev suggested ] [ 12.a4 as an improvement, with play similar to the game. ] 12...c8 [ 12...b5!? might still be possible, as 13.xb5 xa2 14.b3 can be met by b6 which is unclear. 15.c3 xb3 16.b1 a4 17.xa4 xd1 18.xb6 xe2 ] 13.a4 f6 14.fd1 White's play seems unpretentious, but he soon gains the advantage. d4!? Very committal, but White was menacing Pd4. 15.xd4 xd4 16.d5! A surprising in-between move, forcing-off the light-squared bishops. Black's remaining bishop will be far easier to handle on its own. xd5 17.xd4 exd4 18.xd5 c5 The smoke has cleared, White has the better pawn structure, and potentially superior minor piece. 19.f4 Else Black would trap this piece with ...g5. f7 20.g2 Starting a long manoe uvre to bring the knight to a more u s e f u l s q u a r e . g5?! Anti-positional, Black should put his pawns on light squares. 21.e1 g4?! This stops the knight from going to f3, 1115
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 but weakens Black's kingside pawn chain. 22.g2 fd8 23.c2 b5 24.dc1 b6 25.f4 b4 26.g2 With a strong positional threat. a4?! Which Black overlooks! [ 26...a8 was more circumspect. ] 27.e4! White rids himself of his backward epawn. b3 Because of the pin along the c-file, [ 27...dxe3?! i s d a n g e r o u s : 28.fxe3 (threatening d4) b8 29.d4 d6 30.c6 infiltrating the c-file, with a considerable advantage. ] 28.axb3 axb3 29.c4 a8 30.h3! Punishing Black f or his hasty 21st move, W h it e o p e n s a n o t h e r a ve n u e f o r a t t a ck . gxh3+ 31.xh3 a2 32.b1 c8 33.g4 b5 34.cc1 aa8 35.h1 g8+ 36.f3 h8 37.h5 Black's position is in tatters. 1-0
1123 Howell,David Gordon,Stephen J 98th ch Sheffield ENG (4.1) [Nigel Davies]
A29 2625 2533 28.07.2011
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.d3 0-0 9.g4!? A quite startling and creative novelty f rom the you ng English GM, f irst suggested on ChessPublishing.com however, breathing life into what has been known as a rather dull variation. Previously W hite has chosen between a couple of rather quie t moves: [ a) 9.0-0 h6 10.a4 e7 11.e3 d6 12.c3 c6 13.ad1 c7 14.d4 h3 15.fe1 h8 16.c5 d5 17.dxe5 d7 18.g2 xg2 19.xg2 xc5 20.c2 1/2-1/2 was Aronian, L (2739)-Eljanov, P (2692)/Wijk aan Zee 2008. ] [ b) 9.g5 h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.e4 b6 12.xc5 xc5 13.c3 a5 14.0-0 d6 15.fd1 b4 16.ac1 xc3 17.xc3 c6 18.d4 e8 19.e3 f8 20.f1 e6 wasn't much f or W hite in Vitiugov, N (2694)-Grischuk, A (2736)/Moscow 2009. ] 9...d6 10.g5 d7 11.h4 c6 This is OK but it might wait whilst Black brings his knight round to c5 and e6. [ 11...b6 12.h5 c5 13.d1 c6
looks very comfortable for Black. ] 12.a4 a5 13.xc5 xc5 14.c3 e6 15.e3 f5 16.gxf6 xf6 17.0-0-0 d4 18.xd4 exd4 19.d2 e6 [ 19...a4 was another possibility. ] 20.g5 d5?! I'm not sure what Black missed when he played this move but something must have happened with his calculations. [ Black has a number of decent moves here w i t h m y f a v o u r i t e b e i n g 20...e5 intending 21. ..Rf5. ] 21.cxd5 xg5+ 22.hxg5 xf3? Making matters worse by throwing in the exchange. [ 22...xd5 23.xd5+ cxd5 24.f3 a6 se e m s b e t t e r , b a n k i n g o n t h e d ra wi s h properties of rook endgames. ] 23.exf3 xd5 24.de1 f8 25.e7 This invasion of the 7th rank is going to win for W hite. b5 26.he1 xa2 27.a7 xf3 28.ee7 xf2 29.xg7+ f8 30.xh7 g8 31.g6 a4 32.hg7+ h8 33.gc7 f1+ 34.d2 g8 35.xc6 1-0
1124 Huebner,Robert Ruck,Robert Mitropa Cup Leipzig GER (3) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2628 2569 05.05.2002
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.d3 e7 7.f3 c6 8.0-0 0-0 9.a3 e8 The main alternative to [ 9...e6 which prepares to give the e-pawn extra support. ] 10.b4 f8 11.b2 a5 The standard response in such positions, Black lures the bpawn forward to weaken it. 12.b5 d4 White can hardly capture this as it would open t h e e - f i l e f o r t h e b l a c k r o o k . 13.d2 Keeping the pieces on the board, although [ 13.e3 led to a terrific attacking win for W hite in Sturua,Z-Xu Jun/Istanbul TUR 2000, one of our analysed games. ] 13...c6 Attacking the b-pawn, and preparing the d4-knight's retreat, although this is not entirely necessary, [ 13...a4!? is possible, 14.e3 e6 15.c4 c5 but now, instead of there is ( 15...c5 1116
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 U h l m a n n - K o z u l , N o v i S a d ( o l ) 1 9 9 0) 16.xb6! cxb6 17.d4 b3 18.dxe5 xa1 19.xa1 White has good play for the exc h an ge , E rme n ko v, E -Ko zu l, Z/ Osije k 1992. ] 14.bxc6 xc6 15.b5 a4 This is highly reminiscent of the Bacrot - Topalov game that we considered last month. 16.b1 The rook moves to the open b-f ile. Of course, this would have little point in the Bacrot game just mentioned as the black light-squared bishop was more active there, and could go to b3 or a2. g4 A novelty, and a sensible one, hitting e2. [ 16...e6 was played n Petursson,MFernandez Garcia,J/Novi Sad 1990, when the game continued 17.e3!? ready to play d4, a2 ( 17...xd3 drops the exchange to 18.c7; but 17...d7 is sensible) 18.c1 d5 19.f3 fairly level, Petursson,MFernandez Garcia,J/Novi Sad 1990. ] 17.e1 d7 Black has stopped White from playing e3 and prepares to kick the knight fromb5. 18.a1 The bishop drops back to a l l o w t h e r o o k t o u s e t h e b - f i l e . e6 Planning ...Ba2 to dislodge the rook, and then ...Bd5. 19.c2 ec8 20.b2 The queen moves f rom the exposed c-f ile, and both controls d4 and possibly menaces the b6knight. f6 21.d4 In general, if this move can be played in Sicilian-style positions then it is o f t e n g o o d . b4?! Obviously prepared by Black, this trappy and unusual move leads to wild complications, but [ 21...exd4! was better, and was certainly safer, 22.xd4 xd4 23.xd4 xd4 24.xd4 c4 25.xc4 xc4 26.xb7?! ( 26.e3 xa3 27.b6 f7 28.a1 f8 29.xb7 is better ) 26...d8 27.b2 b8 28.f3 b3 and Black is on top, the pin on the bishop is awkward, and the a3-pawn is lost. It is important to note that the a3-pawn is a persistent problem for W hite in these lines. ] 22.dxe5! [ There was a nice trick: 22.axb4? a3! 23.xa3 a4 and the white queen is amazingly trapped on b2! ] 22...c2 23.d4 The only square, but one is enough! xd2 [ 23...xb5 defends the b6-knight, but after:
24.exf6! c4 25.fxg7 c5 26.f6 White wins. ] 24.xb6 c2 25.f1 [ W h i t e p r o b a b l y r e j e c t e d 25.c7! because of xe1 26.xe1 xe2! but then 27.f1 w i n s a n e x c h a n g e ( and not 27.xe2?? d1+ 28.f1 h3 )] 25...xa1 26.c7! The strongest, [ 26.xa1 c4 is equal. ] 26...a2 27.xa1 c8 Black thereby seems to avoid losing an exchange, but there is a sting at the end: 28.xa2! xa2 29.d5+ h8 30.xa2 xc7 31.e6 Mate on g8 is the important threat. xa3 32.exf6 gxf6 33.xf6+ So White has won a pawn, but with the opposite-colour bishops it is Black's open king that is the most important factor. g7 34.e6 f8 35.c4 b2 36.b1 f6 37.f3 White's king is well-protected by the pawns and so he can concentrate on trying to win the queenside pawns, while the black pieces are more or less tied to the defence of the king. e5 38.xb7 c5+ [ 38...c5+ 39.g2 xc4 40.xc4 a8 avoid s ma te, but af te r 41.d3 his last kingside pawn drops and the writing is on the wall. ] 39.g2 e3?! 40.b1 g1+ 41.h3 Black can no longer avoid mate. 1-0
1125 Huzman,Alexander Svidler,Peter 22nd ECU Club Cup (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2585 2750 11.10.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.d3 0-0 8.0-0 c6 [ Black has two alternatives: A) 8...h6 A) 9.d2 c6 10.a4 e7! ( or 10...a5?! 11.a3 xc3 12.xc3 e8 13.fd1 M . G u r e v i c h - E . V a n d e n D o e l 1 9 9 9; 10...c5?! 11.b4 ) A1) 11.ac1!? d5 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.b3 ( 13.b5 a6 ) 13...e6 14.xb7 b8 15.xa7 xb2 (M.Gurevich) 16.b1 d4 17.a4; A2) 11.fd1 1117
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A2a) Here Gurevich analyses 11...d5? 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.b3 d4 ( Now 13...e6 doesn't work because in variation 14.xb7 b8 15.xa7 xb2 bishop on d2 is protected to c o m p a r e w i t h 1 1 R a c 1 16.ab1 ) 14.d5 xd5 15.xd5; A2b) 11...d6 12.b4 A2b1) 12...d5 13.b5 ( 13.e1 a6!? ) 13...d4 14.bxc6!? dxc3 15.xc3 bxc6 ( 15...c7 16.cxb7 xb7 17.xb7 xb7 18.xe5 ) 16.xc6 ( 16.xc6 b8 17.xe5 b7 ) 16...d7 17.xe5 c8 18.xd7 xd7 Analysis by Gurevich; A2b2) 12...g4 13.xg4 xg4 14.b5 c8 15.bxc6 bxc6 16.f3 f6 17.ab1 d5!= 1/2-1/2 Gurevich, MAvrukh, B/Antwerp 199900/ [Avrukh, B] (40); B) 9.g2 xc3 10.bxc3 d6 was played in Z.Azmaiparashvili-S. Simonenko, Saint Vincent 2000 - see the PGN archives; C) 9.c2 c6 10.a3 e7 11.e4 d6 12.g2 a6 13.h3 b5 14.e3 e6 15.cxb5 axb5 16.d4 b8 ( 16...c8 17.h2 c4 ) 17.d5 cxd5 18.exd5 d7 19.a2 c8 with a complicated struggle, E.Bacrot-L.Van Wely, Leon 2001; D) 9.d5 xd5 10.xd5 c6 11.g2 c5 12.e4 d6 13.e3 b6 14.e2 f5 , and Black already has a pleasant position, H. Hoffmann-M.Zaitsev, Boeblinger 2003; E) 9.a4!? a5 ( 9...xc3 10.bxc3 c6 11.a3 ) 10.d2 d6 11.a3 xc3 ( 11...c5!? 12.b4 b6 13.g2 ) 12.xc3 g4?! E1) G u r e v i c h o f f e r s 13.xb7!? a s a p o s s i b l e i m p r o v e m e n t : xe2 ( 13...a7 14.f3 ) 14.fe1 xd3 15.xa8 xa8 16.e3; E2) 13.xg4?! xg4 14.c5 g5 15.cxd6 cxd6 16.e4 ( on 16.d7 G u r e v i c h g i v e s h5 17.h4 fd8 18.xb7 d5 intending 19...g5 with c o u n t e r p l a y) 16...h5 with a complicated position, M.GurevichE.Van den Doel, Haarlem 1999 ] [ B) 8...e8 9.g5 ( 9.b3 f8 10.d1 c6
11.d4 was played in V, Ivanchuk-L.Aronian, Turin OL 2006 - see the PGN archives) 9...xc3 10.bxc3 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.a4 d6 13.a5 b8 wit approximately even chances, A.Belozerov-Y.Balashov, Omsk 2001 ] 9.b3 [ 9.g2 e8 10.b3 ( 10.e4 c5 11.h1 d6 12.h3 a6 13.f4 b5 14.f5 b4 15.e2 d5 , and Black is already in control after this perfectly timed counterpunch in the centre, B.Gulko-J.Hector, Malmo 2001) 10...c5 11.d2 ( 11.g5 h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.e4 e7= ) 11...b6?? ( 11...d6!? ) 12.a4 xb3 13.axb3 b6 14.b4 f8 15.xb6+W.Uhlmann-E. Ungureanu, Bucharest 1978 ] [ 9.g5 h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.a3 e7 12.b4 a6 13.b3 d6 14.g2 e6 15.a4 fc8 16.a2 f8 17.e3 d8 18.a5 c7 , and W hite a slight initiative, though Black's position is perfectly playable, S. Jo achim-J. He ct or, Ge rm an B un de sliga 2001 ] [ 9.d2 e8 10.g2 h6 11.c1 xc3 12.xc3 d5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.b3 d4 15.d2 g4 16.fe1 , and White's pieces are ideally placed to nag at the many weaknesses in Black's position, E.VasiukovA.Kochyev, Beltsy 1981 ] 9...e7 [ 9...a5 10.c5 d5 11.cxd6 xd6 12.e3 e8 13.fc1 e7 14.a4 c7 15.g5 f5 16.h4 h6 17.xf6 xf6 18.xf6 gxf6 19.e4 g7 20.c5 c8 21.b4 a6 22.a4 , and White has everything under the co n t ro l, S . B e lt ra n Ru e d a -D. Ca m p o ra , Oviedo 1993 ] 10.d1 d6 11.d4 c7 12.g2 h6 13.c2 h7 14.b4 [ 14.d5 c5 15.f1 g5 16.e3 followed by f2-f4 looks better for White ] 14...exd4 15.xd4 g5= 16.e3 f6 17.dd1 e8 18.d3 a5 19.b5 xc3 20.b6 e7 21.xc3 g4 22.d3 ½-½
1118
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 25.f4 hg8 26.f3 ] A29 2622 24...b6! 25.a4 White is cutting it close. [ 25.f3 h5 ( 25...hg8 26.a2! 2596 -2nd rank defence is the way to neutralise 30.10.2005 any number of attacks!) 26.h4!? xg4+ 27.xg4 g8 28.a2 xg4 29.g2 xh4?? 30.f6 wins for White. ] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 d6 7.d3 h6 8.d2 e6 25...h5! 26.a5 g7 [ After 26...hxg4 , 27.h4! xh4 28.axb6 9.a3 xc3 10.xc3 d7 11.e4!? cxb6 29.a8 xa8 30.xa8+ g7 31.b8 [ 11.d4 xc4! 12.dxe5 e4 achieves looks to win. ] nothing for White. ] 27.axb6 cxb6 28.b7 hxg4 29.h4 gh5 11...h7 [ 11...g4! is a little hard to answer because 30.a7 e8 31.e7 xh4 32.e1 h3 isn't possible. Probably 12.d2 a5! 1-0 13.b3! h3= leads to equal chances. ] 12.h4 g5!? A29 [ 12...g5! 13.f4 g4 14.d2 h3+ 1127 15.h1= ] Istratescu,Andrei 2595 13.f5 xf5 14.exf5 f6?! Mullon,Jean Baptiste 2325 [ 14...xf5 15.e4 d7 was a more critical 2nd Open Nantes FRA (4) 28.12.2003 option because given the time Black will play [Tony Kosten] ...f5. ] 15.g4 g7 16.b4 Now White has space and 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 two bishops. Although Black's outpost on d4 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 is nice, White's threats of pawn breakthrough e6 9.d3 0-0 10.b4 f6 11.b2 d7 a r e s e r i o u s . h8? Black is going to lose Straightforward development, material. [ 11...a5 12.b5 d4 is more aggressive, [ 16...d5 is the only move that really makes see Bacrot,E-Topalov,V/Dubai UAE 2002. ] sense. Otherwise White just advances the 12.e4 ad8 Again Black continues his pawns and Black can only sit there. ] sensible policy, 17.b5 d4 [ 12...a6 13.c2 h3?! 14.c5! [ 17...d8 (t o p r o t e c t b 7 ) 18.d4! e7 le d t o a n ic e wi n f o r W h i t e in M il e s , A 19.dxe5 dxe5 20.e1 ] Timman,J/Tilburg 1984. ] 18.f4!? A great-looking move even if it's not 13.c1 strictly best. [ 13.c2 h8 14.c5 xc5 15.bxc5 c8 [ The obvious 18.xd4 exd4 19.xb7 ab8 16.ab1 8e7 and Black was fairly solid, 20.c6 wins a pawn for nothing. Perhaps Johannsson,I-Limbos,P/Moscow 1956. ] White thought that he could simply break 13...h8!? A new move, but possibly not the t h r o u g h t o t h e k i n g a n d f o r g e t a b o u t most useful. Others: everything else. ] [ 13...d5 was agreed drawn in Relange, E18...gxf4? Bacrot,E/ch-FRA Gp B 2001. ] [ 18...c5 19.fxg5 hxg5 20.d2 h7 21.f6+ [ 13...a5 14.b5 d4 15.xd4 exd4 16.a4 f8 22.xd4 cxd4 23.f5 isn't immediately c8 17.c5 with an edge to White in Janz, decisive, of course, but at some point h4 is F-Korsus,B/Neumuenster 1999, while ] going to be strong. ] [ 13...d5 14.c2 e6 15.ed2 d7? 19.xd4 exd4 20.f3 This is winning. ag8 16.e4 a2 17.b5 b8 18.d4 left Black in 21.xf4 f8 22.h3 g5 trouble in Plachetka,J-Nun,J/Trinec 1988. ] [ 22...c5 23.bxc6 bxc6 24.xd4 g7 14.c2 a6 15.fd1 With the menace of 25.f4 ] advancing the d-pawn to embarrass the black 23.xd4 d8 24.xa7?! queen. g4 Apparently stopping d4. White's [ Much more clear would be 24.xb7! h5 pieces are all well-placed, how to continue? 1126 Istratescu,Andrei Berkes,Ferenc TCh-HUN 2005-6 (2) [John Watson]
1119
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.d4! S u r p r i s i n g , a n d d e e p . xf3 Black captures the knight to control d4, this is obviously better than [ 16...exd4? 17.xd4 with a clear advantage. ] 17.xf3 exd4 Forced, [ 17...xd4? 18.xd4 exd4 19.c5 xc5 20.bxc5 c8 21.xb7 and Black's queenside disintegrates. ] 18.c5 xc5 19.xc5 So, this is the p o s i t i o n W h i t e w a s a i m i n g f o r wh e n h e sacrificed his d-pawn: he threatens to capture on c6, and the knight cannot move as it would leave the c7-pawn hanging. a4 [ 19...e6!? 20.xc6 xe2 21.xb7 xb2 22.xc7 was an alternative, but this is also good for White. ] 20.c2 xb2 21.xb2 White has been forced back, but the threat to c6 remains - the knight is unable to drop back to d8 to defend b7. f5 22.xc6 bxc6 23.c4 White has analysed this far and sees that he has a clear advantage because of the weakness of the black queenside. e6?! [ 23...c5 may be the best chance: 24.bxc5 ( 24.xc5 f4 with some counterplay.) 24...e7 25.d2 with a clear advantage. ] 24.cxd4 xd4 25.xd4 The smoke clear s an d W h ite h a s re ga in e d h is p a wn wh ilst retaining his superior structure. f4 26.d2 fxg3 27.hxg3 h6 28.d7 e5 29.d4 g5 30.g2 e8 31.xc7 The black pawns drop 'like ripe plums', as the saying goes. 1-0
( 13...ac8! 14.b3 a6 15.a3 fd7 was Packroff, H (2206)-Diebl, L (2213)/ Germany 2005, 0-1 (30).) 14.hd1 ac8 15.b3 ( 15.b4! c7 16.b5 forces d7 17.xd6 xh3+ 18.g1 when the elimination of the d6-pawn makes White's f4bishop more effective.) 15...a6 16.ac1 h6 level, Salgado Lopez, I (2627) -Fedorchuk, S (2638)/Saint-Quentin FRA 2014, 1/2-1/2 (25). ] 5...d6 6.0-0 0-0 7.d3 h6 Stopping Bg5. A couple of days later Navara tried to make do without this precaution: [ 7...a6 8.a3 d7!? very rare, but quite sensible as the bishop can find itself exposed on the squares e6 and f 5. 9.b4 a7 10.g5 this is a new move, but critical, as if White doesn't play this then Black can gain a tempo by simply avoiding ...h6. h6 11.h4!? d4! exchanging the f3-knight, ( 11...g5? 12.xg5 hxg5 13.xg5 wins, as there is no defence against Ne4 and Nd5. ) 12.xd4 xd4 13.xf6 obviously forced now, as c3 was hanging and ...g5 threatened, xf6 14.c1 xc3 15.xc3 c6 16.a4 e7 17.a5 g4 18.d2 d7 19.b1 h3 20.h1 ( 20.d4 ) 20...e7 21.cb3 e6 which is fairly equal, Ipatov, A (2613)-Navara, D (2708)/Saint Quentin 2014, though 0-1 (38). ] 8.a3 a6 Best, in my opinion. [ 8...a5 is actually more common, and we have a couple of examples in the Archive, see Marin, M- Karpov, A, for example. ] 9.b4 a7 [ 9...b6!? is Bartholomew, J-Troff, K, in the 1128 A29 Archive. ] This is the mainline, and the start of Istratescu,Andrei 2667 10.b2 Navara,David 2708 Marin's examination. d4 This is only the fifth FRA-chT Top 12 (6.1) 29.05.2014 most popular move for Black, but scores well. The idea is to exchange the knight (or if this is [Kosten, Tony] not possible retreat to e6) and then play ...c6 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 c5 and ...d5. [ 10...f5 is t h e 6 t h ! 11.c1 ( Marin likes This Karpov Variation was very popular at the 11.h4!? d7 12.c1 ) 11...d7 12.d5 recent French Team Championships. 5.g2 ( 12.e3 keeps more tension.) 12...xd5 [ 5.xe5 xf2+ 6.xf2 xe5 7.e4 c5 13.cxd5 e7 14.d4 f6!? ( 14...e4! 15.d2 8.d4 was also given an outing: cxd4 9.xd4 h3 16.xe4 xg2 17.xg2 xd5 0-0 10.f4 d6 11.h3 e6 12.g2 new! 18.d2 f5 Black is doing well, Torrecillas ( 12.e2 was analysed by me in Ivanchuk, VMartinez, A (2372)-Jerez Perez, A (2460)/ Anand, V. ) 12...a5 13.e2 returning to Martinenc 2001, 1/2-1/2 (41).) 15.d2 ac8 k n o wn lin e s , ( 13.b5 ad8 ) 13...fd8 1120
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.c4 h3 17.e4 g6 18.e3 xg2 19.xg2 ce8 20.f5?! e7 21.xe7+ xe7 22.dxe5 fxe5 23.e2 ef7 24.f3 b6 and if anything I prefer Black, Koch, J (2455)-Velten, P (2429)/Saint-Quentin FRA 2014, 1/2-1/2 (71). ] [ 10...e6 is the most common here, see Flores, D-Vallejo Pons, F, annotated by Danny and I. ] [ 10...b8 is Perez Fungueiro, M-Hamdouchi, H, see John Watson's notes in the Archive. ] 11.xd4 [ 11.d2 c6 12.e3 g4!? 13.b1 ( 13.f3 is met by f5 14.fxg4 xe3 15.e2 fxg4 16.h1 xf1 17.xf1 e3 w h e n B l a c k h a s t h e b e t t e r c h a n c e s .) 13...e6 Movsesian, S (2702)-Najer, E (2640)/Plovdiv 2012, 0-1 (42). ] [ 11.e3 xf3+ 12.xf3 ( 12.xf3 c6 followed by ...Bh3.) 12...c6 doesn't present Black with any problems. 13.e2 e8 Medvegy, Z (2561)-Burg, T (2502)/Germany 2013, 1/2-1/2 (41). ] 11...exd4!? Blocking in the a7-bishop, but opening the e-file and gaining some space in the centre. [ 11...xd4 scores well, 12.e3 a7 13.d4 ( 13.h3 c6 14.h2 seems a bit too slow here, e8 15.d2 d5 Nielsen, P (2530)Elbilia, J (2350)/Yerevan 1996, 1/2-1/2 (51). ) 13...exd4 14.exd4 e8 15.d3 W hite has more space, but Black is solid and can exchange rooks on the only open file, Mulyar, M (2408)-Iwu, O (2161)/ Wheeling 2012, 1-0 (33). ] 12.d5 The first new move. [ 12.b1 e8 13.d2 c5 Black will expand on the queenside with ...c5 and ...b5, 14.e1 b8 15.b3 A) 15...d7 16.a4 led to exciting play after g4!? 17.h3 e3!? this must have b e e n a s h o c k ! 18.fxe3 xe3 19.f1 ( 19.f3 ) 19...xg3 20.f3 g6 with a dangerous attack, Ghosh, D (2425)Laxman, R (2456)/Kolkata 2012, but 1-0 (40).; B) 15...b5 16.a5 d7 17.cxb5 axb5 18.c6 xc6 19.xc6 e6 Ghosh, D (2477)-Solak, D (2598)/Golden Sands 2013, 0-1 (58), 20.a4!? bxa4 21.b5 ] 12...xd5 13.cxd5 The position looks a bit
sterile, but due to the mutual doubled dpawns Black will have pressure on the e-file and W hite on the c-file. e8 14.e1 a5 15.c2 d7 16.ac1 axb4 17.axb4 b6 18.c4 The only real attempt at getting any ad va nt age . f6 Defending the d4-pawn, but the tactical [ 18...g5!? was also possible, 19.xd4?! xd4 20.xd4 xe2 is the point, with equality. ] 19.e4 dxe3! En pa ssa n t ! 20.xf6 exf2+ 21.f1 fxe1+ 22.xe1 xe1+ 23.xe1 gxf6 The position is completely equal as Black can easily defend his pawns, W hite has no useful pawn breaks and the white bishop is not at all useful. 24.f3 a1+ 25.e2 f5 26.g4 d7 27.h3 g1 The rook goes to a defended dark square, that way Black doesn't h a v e t o w o r r y a b o u t a n y t a c t i c s . 28.e4 White sees no way to break the fortress, and so went off for a drink. [ 28.a2?! could win the b7-pawn, but it is irrelevant, and g3 29.a8+ g7 30.xb7 xh3 favours Black. ] ½-½
1129 Ivanchuk,Vassily Anand,Viswanathan Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee NED (6) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2714 2784 23.01.1999
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 c5 5.xe5 Considered doubtful for many decades. xf2+ 6.xf2 xe5 7.e4 c5 Else W hite would play d4, and his mobile centre would push the two knights off the board. 8.d4! Why did nobody think of this before? [ The solid 8.d3 had been the almost invariable choice, d6 9.h3 Botvinnik,MK e r e s , P / M o s c o w 1 9 6 6 , a n d n o w 0-0 followed by manoeuvring the f6-knight to e6, via e8, and c7, gives Black a good game, as his knights have excellent squares. ] 8...cxd4 9.xd4 0-0 The knight is safe, of course, because of the fork on g4. 10.f4 d6 11.h3 Although the e4-pawn is isolated, the d6-pawn is at least as weak, and so White's bishop pair give him an edge. e6 12.e2 1121
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c8 Black plays for complications, he attacks h3, and c4. 13.ac1! xh3 14.d5 e6 Black is obliged to play an exchange sacrifice, as [ 14...xd5? loses, 15.cxd5 d7 16.xe5 dxe5 17.xe5 and White wins because the black bishop has no squares, Qh5 will pick it up. ] 15.c7 e7 16.xa8 c6 Attacking the white queen, and e4. 17.e3 [ Anand prefers 17.xd6 xe4+ 18.e1 xd6 19.h4 although Black is not without compensation for the exchange. ] 17...xe4+ 18.f3?! This doesn't look right to me, [ 18.g1 must be good f or W hite, f5 19.c5! xa8 ( 19...dxc5? 20.g4 g6 21.c7 and the knight escapes!) 20.cxd6 should be better for White, with care. ] 18...f5! 19.d3 e8 Amazingly, Black defers capturing the a8-knight. 20.he1 d8 Following this little switch, Black manages to maintain his advanced knight on e4. 21.g2 xa8 22.f3 Removing the queen from the exposed e-file, but now a draw is forced. d4 23.e3 c6 [ 23...b5?! 24.xd4 c5+ 25.d5 xd3 26.xe8+ xe8 27.xf5 xc1 28.xc1 favours White. ] 24.f3 ½-½
will win a pawn. ] 13.d5!? To cut off support for the e-pawn via ... d5. [ White could preface a central move by 13.f4 , since d5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.e5 is good. ] 13...d6 14.dxc6 bxc6 15.f4 f5 16.ac1 b8 17.c2 a5 18.d2 b6 19.c5! xb2 20.xb2 [ 20.cxd6 xd2 21.xd2 ] 20...xb2 21.cxd6 b4 22.h3 g5?! 23.e3 a6 24.g4 g6 From now on this bishop is stuck out of play. White stands much better and I'd guess that with perfect play he should be winning. 25.d4 [ HiArcs suggests the nice retreat 25.b1! , which is particularly odd since the knight had more plenty of influence where it was! But it's just the kind of dumb, unprincipled move that probably wins. After all, there's nowhere else for the knight to go if White is to attack the c-pawn, and how (concretely) will Black defend? c8 26.c5 b5 27.a4! bb8 ( 27...a5 28.b6 xa4 29.d7 ) 28.d2 d8 29.c4 with an obvious advantage. The bishop on g6 is particularly bad. ] 25...a5 26.a4 c8 27.xb4!? [ 27.a3 xd4 28.xd4 continues to give B l a c k p r o b l e m s w i t h t h e d - p a w n : d5 ( 28...d7 29.c5 xc5 30.xc5 ) 29.e5 f6! 30.g3 f4 31.xf4 gxf4 32.d7 d8 33.b6 ( 33.xc6 xd7 34.c3! e3 1130 A29 35.fxe3 fxe3 36.d5 g7 isn't so easy) 33...xa3 34.xc6 is quite a bit better for Ivanchuk,Vassily 2731 White because Rc4 follows and frees the g2 Aronian,Levon 2756 bishop. ] 37th Olympiad (9) 30.05.2006 27...axb4 28.b6 d8 29.d7 e7 30.xc6 [John Watson] xd7 31.d5 f8 32.c2 a8 Black has White was better most of the way, and had a escaped but his pawns are weak so White still few good chances, but those were difficult to gets activity. 33.d2 a6! 34.xb4 xb4 find and Aronian defended well to hold the 35.xd7 xa2 36.d8+ g7 37.d4+ f6 draw. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 38.d7+ f8 39.e3?! [ 39.xf6! xe2 40.f1 e1 41.g2 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.d3 0-0 , but this may not be enough to win. ] 8.0-0 40.d6 xf2+! 41.f1 e7 [ 8.b3 c5 9.g4! is the fun line. After 39...e1 White has castled, g4 won't be in the cards 42.xf6?! [ 42.b6! ] for a while. ] 8...e8 9.b3 f8 10.d1 c6 11.d4 e4 42...xe3! 43.xg6 xd4 44.xe4 f2+ 45.e1 f6 12.g2 h6 [ 12...d5? 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.g5 ½-½ 1122
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1131 Ivanchuk,Vassily Kramnik,Vladimir 18th Amber Rapid (9) [Jonathan Rowson]
A29 2779 2759 24.03.2009
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 [ 8.a4 a5 9.b5 0-0 10.d4 exd4 11.f4 d5 12.fxd4 cb4! was comfortable for Black in McNab-Rowson, Scottish Championship, Abderdeen 2001. ] 8...0-0 9.e3 e6 [ 9...f5 10.c1 f6 is a different way to playm o re a c t ive b u t a l so we a ke n in g e 5 . I n almost all cases White has to try to play a3 and b4 to make anything happen on the queenside. ] 10.c1 f6 11.a3 d4! This move is almost always an important part of Black's strategy. If White takes, Black has more space and can redirect his attention to the e2 pawn, and the move also allows him to play ...c6, securing the queenside. [ 11...a5 12.xb6! cxb6 13.a4 ( 13.e3!? )] 12.e4 b3 13.d2 xf3+ 14.xf3 d5 15.c2 c6 Note the standard recipe. Black doesn't weaken the queenside at all, but secures his position in the centre. In this particular case W hite whipped up a slight initiative and had some advantage, but in a rapid game we shouldn't take the moves too seriously. 16.d2 h8 17.fd1 f5 18.b4 g5?! [ 18...f6 19.a4 xf3 20.xf3 d5 ] 19.xg5 xg5 20.a4! Exploiting the temporary disharmony to force some sort of concession. e7 21.a5 xf3 22.xf3 e4 23.dxe4 fxe4 24.d2 e3 25.axb6 exd2 26.xd2 axb6 27.d4 ae8 28.e3 White has some advantage- hard to say how much- but the rapid time control no doubt made it difficult to convert. f7 29.d3 b5 30.d1 h6 31.d2 ef8 32.f4 b6 33.d6 f6 34.f2 e8 35.xf6 xf6 36.d7 g6 37.f5 h5 38.h4 e5 39.e4 xe4 40.f6 gxf6 41.xc6 f5+ 42.g2 e7 43.xb6 g7 44.f2 e5 45.h2 e6 46.b7+ e7 47.c6 e6 48.d7+ e7 49.g4+ h7 50.h3 h5 51.f3 g7 52.h2 d4 53.f5 e1 54.f3 e7 55.h3 e5
56.c6 e6+ 57.xe6 xe6 58.f5 g6 59.xb5 e2 60.b8 b2 61.b5 g7 62.b6 f5 63.b7 h7 64.f8 xb7 65.xf5 ½-½
1132 Jakovenko,Dmitrij Shirov,Alexei World Cup Khanty Mansiysk RUS (5.2) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2710 2739
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.b3!? This isn't exactly the most obvious choice in a must win situation, but maybe Jakovenko had made so me conside rations in regard s t o Shirov's style of playing and general attitude towards chess, that made Jakovenko think that this move could be the way to play for a win against Shirov. 0-0 9.b2 g4 10.h3 [ This is the best move. White has yet to prove anything after the alternatives: A) 10.c1 f5 11.a4 e4 12.e5 xe5 13.xe5 c6 14.xb6 axb6 ( 14...xb6 15.d4 ad8 16.c2 f6 17.c4+ h8 18.fd1 de8 19.d6 Simagin, VBebchuk, E/Moscow 1967) 15.c2 a5 16.c3 d5 17.e1 e8 , Black is completely in control, From, S-Hyldkrog, L/ corr 1979 ] [ B) 10.d3 A) 10...d7 11.c1 ad8 ( 11...fd8 is less accurate, because the f-rook will be needed on either f8 or e8 to support the advance of these pawns. Now White obtains a pleasant game: 12.e4 f5 13.c5 xc5 14.xc5 e4 15.e5 xe5 16.xe5 c6 17.h3 h5 18.xe4 fxe4 19.xh5 exd3 20.exd3 Dudas, JHudecek, J/Prague 1992) 12.e4 f6 13.c2 h8 14.a3 a5 15.fd1 e6 16.e1 f7 17.fd2 d7= , and Black has solved his opening problems, Bareev, E-Topalov, V/Monaco 2002; B) 10...e8 11.d2 f5 12.e4 d7 13.d5 d6 14.e3 b4 15.c2 ad8 16.a3 f8 17.fd1 g6 18.b4 , and I prefer W hite, Pekar, K-Lisko, F/ SVK 1998; C) 10...f5 11.c1 ( 11.d2 b8 12.c4 1123
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xc4 13.bxc4 d4 14.f3 h5 15.e3 e6 16.d2 c6 17.e2 f6 Tataev, M-Yakovich, Y/Belgorod 1989) 11...a6 ( 11...f6 12.b4 d4 13.d2 c6 14.f3 h5 15.e3 e6 16.g4 g6 17.gxf5 xf5 18.de4 Grivas, EGoldberg, A/Germany 2002) 12.h3 h5 13.b1 f6 14.bd2 d7 15.a3 f7 16.c2 e8 17.e4 d8 18.exf5 xf3 19.xf3 xf5 Seidemann, U-Wagner Michel, A/Frankfurt/Oder 1977 ] [ C) 10.a4 a5 ( 10...a6 11.a5 d7 12.d5 d6 13.e3 e6 14.d4 exd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.xd4 b8 17.a7 a8 18.d4 b8 19.f4 c5 20.b4 xd4 21.xd4 f6 22.d2 Kaidanov, G-Janjgava, L/Belgrade 1988 ) 11.b5 ( 11.c1 f5 12.b5 f6 13.d4 e4 Schmuggerow, K-Kraai, J/ Lincolnwood 1990, 14.e5! h5 15.xc6 bxc6 16.xc6 ) 11...f6 12.d3 d7 13.d2 ac8 14.c1 h3 15.xh3 xh3 16.a3 fe8 17.e4 e7 18.xe7 xe7 19.c5 with chances to both sides, Arkhipov, S-Zaichik, G/Moscow 1988 ] [ D) 10.e1?! d7 11.c1 ad8 12.d3 h3 13.e4 xg2 14.xg2 d5 15.c3 e6 16.c2 f5 17.a3 d4 18.xd4 exd4 Wagenbach, J-McLaughlin, K/corr 2001 ] 10...h5 [ 10...e6 11.h2 f6 12.d3 d7 13.c1 a5 ( 13...ad8 14.a3 fe8 15.e4 d4 16.xd4 exd4 17.c5 xc5 18.xc5 c6 with a position that is easier to play for Black, but probably is about even, Gray jr., W Green, W/corr 1996) 14.a3 fd8 15.b5 a4 16.b4 b3 17.d2 ac8 18.c3 c4 19.dxc4 xd2 20.xd2 xd2 21.a1 d8 22.f4 exf4 23.xf4 c6 , and Black is in control of the game, Hickl, J-Ekstroem, R/ Biel 1998 ] 11.d3 [ There are a number of move orders after t h e i m m e d i a t e 11.c1 Black has had a good record, but it is hardly any proof that it is weaker than the text move. f5 ( 11...d7 12.h2 ad8 13.d3 f5 14.a3 e6 with a pleasant game for Black in Gheorghiu, F-Miralles, G/Switzerland 1997 ) 12.d3 A) 12...f6 is also playable, though things quickly got quite messy: 13.e4 g6 14.e2
d7 15.h2 ad8 16.exf5 gxf5 17.g4 g6 A1) 18.xc6 bxc6 19.f4 d5 20.d2 exf4 ( 20...e4 21.dxe4 xf4 22.xf4 xb2 23.gxf5 xc1 24.xc1 d3 25.f4 d4+ 26.f2 f7 27.g4 ) 21.xf6 xf6 22.xf4 xd3 23.gxf5 h5 24.g4 xf5 25.xf5 xf5 26.f3 d3 27.c4+; A2) 18.g3 g5 ( 18...g7!? ) 19.c5 e7?! ( 19...e7 20.xc6 bxc6 21.xe5 f6 22.e2 ) 20.a3 fxg4 21.xg4 g7 , Bistric, F-Rogic, D/Pula 1999, and now 22.xc6! bxc6 23.xe5 xd3 24.a1+-; B) 12...h8!? 13.h2 ( 13.c2 xf3 14.exf3 g5 15.cd1 d4 16.b1 f4 17.g4 d5 18.fe1 e8 19.e4 e7 G o u w, C - B e r t h o l e e , R / W i j k a a n Z e e 2000 ) 13...f6 14.d2 b8 15.c4 d4 16.e1 c6 17.a3 e8 18.h1 d5 Nadera, B-Torre, E/Makati 2002 ] 11...e8 12.c1 f8 13.e4 d7 14.g4 g6 15.g3 a5 16.d4 e4 17.e5 [ 17.d2 f6 18.e3 d5 19.e2 ad8 20.a3 d6 ] 17...dxe5 18.dxe5 h4 19.e3 [ Now Black takes over the initiative. It a p p e a r s t h a t W h i t e c a n d o b e t t e r wit h 19.c2!? , and now e3 looks critical, but White has the better chances after 20.f5 exf2+ 21.xf2 g5 22.xc6 bxc6 23.e4 h5 24.g2 h4 25.d4 ( 25.xc6!? )] 19...ad8 20.c2 b4! [ This is much to be preferred over 20...xe5 , which allows W hite to keep the balance after 21.xe5 xe5 22.xc7 d6 23.b6 ee8 24.cd1 e7 ] 21.e2?! [ This is the beginning of a series of dubious and outright bad moves. Possibly the nerves started to fail the young Russian 21.xc7!? d3 22.d4 xc1 23.xc1 ] 21...c6 22.xe4?! d3 23.c4?! [ 23.cd1 xe4 24.xe4 xb2 25.xd8 xd8 26.xb2 xh3 27.e2 e8 ] 23...xe5 24.xe5 xe5 25.d1?-+ [ 25.f4 xe4 26.fxe5 d3 27.f3 xc4 28.bxc4 e7 ] 25...xd1+ 26.xd1 b5 27.d4 c5 28.d5 xe4 29.xe4 xe4 30.d8 e7 31.b8 1124
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 72.xe7 f6+ 1-0
b4 32.e2 d6 0-1
1133 Janous,Petr Soza,Jose Champions League Q14-2 [Soza, JW]
A29 2333 2307 02.06.2002
Another Dragon Reversed line in which I think t h a t W h i t e i s s l ig h t ly b e t t e r t h ro u g h o u t . Probably not enough to win against perfect def en ce, but what othe r op enin g is? 1.c4 Soza: In this game I choose a line that Salov uses, now I'm not sure if this is good alternative line for Black. e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 0-0 9.a3 e6 10.b4 d4 11.b2 xf3+ 12.xf3 c6 13.e4 d7 14.c2 d5 15.d2 xf3 16.xf3 d6 17.d2 e7 18.e4 ae8 19.xd6 xd6 20.a4 f5 21.b5 c5 with complications, Salov-Kasparov USSR 1988. 22.e3 h8 23.d4 exd4 24.exd4 c8 25.c3 f7 [ 25...f6 could be better to protect g7. JW: But then W hite wins at least a pawn after 26.dxc5 xc5 ( 26...c7 27.ac1 ) 27.d4! xd4 ( 27...c7 28.a3 d5 29.xa7 ) 28.xd4 c2 29.xa7 ] 26.dxc5 xc5 27.ac1 f4 [ 27...b6 28.fd1 f8 29.d4 ( JW 29.a5 )] 28.e5 f8 [ 28...xe5 29.xe5 fxg3 30.fxg3! ] 29.fe1 b6 30.d4 fxg3 31.hxg3 with some advantage - JW . The rest of the game ref lects this: g8 32.d5 h8 33.e5 d7 34.c4 dc7 35.e2 d8 36.c3 h6 37.f3 g8 38.e3 cd7? 39.xc5 bxc5 40.xc5 c8 41.e3 . JW: White is winning. d1+ 42.g2 c4 43.e2 xe2 44.xe2 c7 45.f8+ h7 46.e6 d2 47.a6 e7 48.h3 d1 49.g4 d5 50.f5 d2 51.f4 d4 52.h5 d3 53.e5 b7 54.h4 d1 55.e3 f7 56.g4 d4 57.f3 b7 58.g4 f7 59.e4 d3+ 60.e2 g3 61.f5 h5 62.gxh5 g5 63.e5 xh5 64.d3 c7 65.ae6 h3+ 66.e3 d7+ 67.c4 h4+ 68.3e4 c7+ 69.d5 h5 70.e7 xf5+ 71.d6 xe7
1134 Jensen,James Soza,Jose Zonal Latinoamericano G1 [John Watson]
A29 2303 2351 04.2002
This game is a contribution from Jose Soza. It is a long and close-to-forced theoretical line. I think that Black has enough play and I've supplemented Jose's analysis with a note that indicates the same. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.g5 xc3 8.bxc3 e8 9.f3 e3 10.d3 d5 11.b3 a5 12.a3 c6 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.f4 g4 15.f3 c6 16.h3 xf3 17.xf3 h5 [ JW: 17...d7 18.h2 h5 seems to me a better order, following a 1990-1991 correspondence game Garriga, Rufenacht cited by Hansen: 19.b2 h4 ( 19...f5 20.g2 ac8 ) 20.g4 c7 21.g2 ad8= 22.ac1 h7!? ] 18.c5 c8 19.b1 b6 20.b5 d6 21.g2 h4 22.gxh4 e7 23.b4 d7 24.h2 f5 25.h5 c5 [ 25...h4 ] 26.a3 ec8 27.b2 b5 28.a4 h4 29.d4 f5 30.a4 h4 31.d4 ½-½
1135 Jobava,Baadur Almasi,Zoltan 2nd IECC Ohrid (13) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2540 2640 2001
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.e1 [ A solid variation, and a good alternative to the sharp main line with 7.g5 , the knight aims for d5. ] 7...xc3 8.dxc3 h6 Black doesn't want to a l lo w B g 5 wh e n h is e - p a wn wo u l d b e i n trouble. 9.c2 d6 10.b3 [ 10.e3 should amount to the same, e5 ( 10...e8 ) 11.b3 a5 12.d5 e8 13.e3 1125
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 eg4 limiting White's advantage, Damljanovic,B-Illescas Cordoba,M/Elista 1998. ] 10...e8 11.e3 d7!? [ As far as I can see, this is a new move. 11...a5 12.a4 b6 13.c2 b7 is normal, Polugaevsky,L-Kholmov,R/Moscow 1969. ] 12.c2 [ Aiming at e4, but 12.d5 might be better. ] 12...e7! Black rearranges his minor pieces, and dares White to take his e-pawn. 13.d1 c8! [ White's previous move was designed to stop 13...f5?! when 14.c5 is strong, using the pin along the d-file. ] 14.xe4? [ Very risky, White wanted to prove he had some advantage, and other moves allow B l a c k e q u a l i t y , e . g . 14.d5 exd5 15.cxd5 h3 ] 14...xe4 15.xe4 f5 16.d3 xe3 17.xe3 c6 Black will have a powerful attack on the light squares, that more than compensates for the pawn. 18.e1 h3 19.f3 White is relying on this pawn move to close the long diagonal. e6 [ 19...e5 20.f4 h5 21.g4 h4 is also dangerous- ...Rxg4+ is threatened. ] 20.f2?! e5! 21.g4 Else ... Rh5 and the h2pawn is lost. g5 22.g3 xg4 23.f2 e8 24.g1 g6 Black has regained his pawn, and his attack persists. 25.d4 f5 26.f4 f6 27.g4 g5! [ 27...e4? seems strong, but after 28.fxe4 xg4 White saves his bacon by 29.xf6! gxf6 30.g1 ] 28.ag1 f8 29.xg5 [ W h a t e l s e ? I f 29.e3 fe6 wins immediately. ] [ and 29.d2 l i k e w i s e , a f t e r xe2+! 30.xe2 xf3+ 31.e1 e6+ ] 29...hxg5 30.xg5 e6 [ Sufficient, but 30...xf3+!! would be the ideal way to finish the game: 31.exf3 xf3+ 32.g2 e2+ 33.h1 ff2+ 34.5g2 xg2 35.xg2 xg2 and a discovered check will win the queen. ] 31.g8+ e7 32.xe8+ xe8 33.xa7 d7 34.d4 h6 White has insufficient compensation for the piece. 35.f4 h5 36.g5 xg5 37.xg5 e5 38.xe5 dxe5
39.e4 e6 40.e3 b6 41.a4 f6 42.f4 To keep the black king out of g5, but now e4 needs constant defence. e6 43.c5 bxc5 44.a5 b7 45.b4 cxb4 46.cxb4 f6 47.b5 f7 48.a6 a8 49.a7 g6 50.fxe5 fxe5 0-1
1136 Jobava,Baadur Aronian,Levon Sparkassen Chess Meeting (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2651 2761 01.08.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.d4!? [ 7.a4 is harmless c6 8.0-0 0-0 9.d4 e4 10.g2 d5 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.b3 e7 13.f4 b6 14.fc1 ( 14.f3 a6 15.c3 c4 16.c2 exf3 17.xf3 d7= ) 14...a6 15.d1 h5 16.d2 , and the players prematurely agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2, V.Ivanchuk-P.Svidler, Wijk aan Zee 1999 ] [ 7.d5?! allows Black a comfortable game, and shouldn't be repeated A) 7...c5 8.0-0 0-0 9.d3 c6 10.xf6+ xf6 11.d2 a5 12.c3 d6 13.e3 b4 14.c1 e7 15.g2 f5 16.e1?! ( 16.d4 f4 17.dxe5 dxe5 18.exf4 exf4 19.e1 g5 ) 16...e6 17.d4 e4 is already comfortable for Black, I.Snape-B.Lalic, Scarborough 2001; B) 7...xd5 8.cxd5 B1) 8...0-0!? 9.0-0 e7 10.d4 exd4 11.xd4 c5! 12.dxc6 ( 12.f4 d6 is also pleasant for Black) 12...dxc6 13.e3 xd4 14.xd4 d8 is fairly even, but easier to play for Black with his que e n side m a jorit y, J. B on in -A . Stripunsky, New York 2003; B2) 8...c5 9.e3 0-0 10.0-0 d6 11.g2 ( 11.d4?! is p re m a t u re exd4 12.exd4 b6 13.g2 f5 14.a4 a5 15.g4 d7 is better for Black, D.ContinA.Kizov, Gothenburg 2005) 11...f5 12.d3 d7 13.e4 g4 14.f3 f5 15.e3 h3 is already very problematic for White, M. Krasenkow-L. Van Wely, German Bundesliga 1998 ] 7...xc3+ [ 7...e4 8.g2 0-0 ( Here 8...xc3+ 9.bxc3 1126
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h6 10.c2 0-0 11.xe4 transposes to Korchnoi-Bareev below) 9.0-0 xc3 10.bxc3 e8?! ( 10...h6!? (Ribli) 11.f3 exf3 12.xf3 e8 13.f1 d5 14.cxd5 xd5 15.d2 ) 11.g5! h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.f3! exf3 ( 13...e3 14.f4 d6 15.b1 ) 14.xf3 g5 15.d5 e7 16.d3 c6 ( 16...d6? 17.xf7 xf7 18.f1+- ) 17.f5! g4 ( 17...g6? 18.xf7+- ) 18.f3 g6 19.h5 h7 20.e5! xd3 21.exd3 e6 22.b1 g6 23.xe6! dxe6 24.f3 f8 25.c5 a5 26.c4 a7 27.f2 e7 28.e3 d7 29.a3 e8 30.b6 d8 31.d5! c7 32.d6+ 1-0 Kamsky, G-Campora, D/Buenos Aires 1993/CBM 35/[Ribli] ] 8.bxc3 e4 9.g2 h6 10.c2 [ 10.b1 0-0 11.0-0 b6 12.c2 b7 13.d5 e7 14.d1 d6 15.d4 ae8 16.h3 c8 is comfortable for Black, Kerndl-Dunne, IECG Email 1999 ] 10...0-0 [ This move was given a '?' by Ribli in ChessBase Magazine and was ignored by W isnewski, who instead focused on 10...e7 , and now White has tried a couple of different things: A) 11.a4 d6 12.a3 0-0 is a line given by Ribli in ChessBase Magazine and has yet to be tested; B) 11.g4 looks wonderfully hip and in a c c o rd a n c e wit h t h e c u rre n t t re n d o f throwing the g-pawn forward to g4 whenever feasible. In this case though, it doesn't offer W hite anything special: d6 12.g5 ( 12.h3!? ) 12...hxg5 13.xg5 f5 14.b1 b6 15.e3 f8 16.xf6 ( If White postpones the exchange of the bishop on g5 f or the knight on f 6, the bishop can end up stranded as a target, e. g. 16.h4 e6 17.a4 h5 ) 16...gxf6 17.d2 c5 18.h4 c8 is fine for Black as in S.Makarichev-A.Vyzmanavin, Moscow 1987, and now White started floundering and soon had a terrible position. Instead 19.d5 h5 20.h3 d7 21.xf5 xf5 22.bf1 h7 23.f3 e8 24.fxe4 xe4 25.xf6 hxh4 26.hf1 h2+ 27.1f2 xf2+ 28.xf2 allows White to continue fighting; C) 11.f3 b6 C1) In lack of any real game material,
W isnewski offers some unconvincing analysis to support his opening concept: 12.fxe4 ('?!' by Wisnewski, but his analysis doesn't support that criticism) b7 13.d5 c5?! ( '!' by Wisnewski, but t h a t ' s w a y o f f . I n s t e a d 13...g4!? offers Black a decent game and good compensation for the pawn 14.d1 0-0 15.0-0 e5 16.f4 ) 14.d3 ( 14.e5 g4 is correctly given as better for Black by Wisnewski, e.g. 15.f5 xc4 16.0-0 0-0-0 17.d3 c5+ ) 14...a6 15.e3 xc4 C1a) Also 16.e5 goes unmentioned by W isnewski, which is strange since White seems to be doing rather well, e. g. g4 17.d4 0-0-0 ( or 17...xd3 18.exd3 0-0-0 19.0-0 ) 18.xc4 xc4 C1a1) or 19.f3!? h5 20.h3 h6 21.e4 ( 21.g1 ) 21...c5 22.e3; C1a2) 19.0-0 f6 20.exf6 xf6 21.xf6 gxf6 22.xf6 xe2; C1b) 16.xc4 xc4 , and this position is evaluated as clearly better for Black by W isnewski, even if 17.d4 leaves White with the better chances; C2) 12.0-0 and 1/2-1/2 was the tame outcome of B.Gulko-A. Chernin, New Delhi 2000, and a possible continuation b7 13.fxe4 xe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.d3 d6= ] 11.xe4 This position is evaluated as clearly better for W hite by Ribli based on the Korchnoi-Bareev below, but Aronian's 13th m o ve m a y c h a n ge t h a t e va l u a t io n . xe4 12.xe4 e8 13.f3 e7!? [ This is an intended improvement over 13...b8 , but Black may actually be okay in this line as well 14.0-0 b6 15.e1 ( 15.d1 e7 16.e3 a3 17.f4 d6 18.c5 a6= ) 15...a6 ( 15...d6!? ) 16.g4 h8 17.d5 d6 18.d4 c5!? (This is a strong answer to W hite's otherwise dominating position, and though White is still better, it allows Black to create some confusion, in which W hite soon throws away his advantage) 19.dxc6? ( 19.d3 d7 20.a4 f5 21.f3 according to Bareev) 19...e6 20.f4? ( 20.a4 (Bareev) c8 21.a5 bxa5 1127
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.xa7 xc6 23.xf7 xc4 24.f3 d5 25.e3 Marin ) 20...c8 21.c5 bxc5 22.a4 xe2 ( Black can also the consider the simpler 22...b6 23.e4 g5 24.e3 xc6 25.xc6 xc6 , and Black has equalised ) 23.xa7 e7 24.a4 e8! 25.xd6 e4 26.c2 f3 27.xe4 xe4 28.e2 xc6 29.xc5 f3 30.d3 e4 31.e2 1/2-1/2 V.Korchnoi-E.Bareev, Tilburg 1991 ] 14.e3 b8 15.a4 b6 16.a5 a6 [ 16...e6!? 17.d5 g6 ] 17.axb6 xb6 18.0-0 xc4 19.xa7 f6 20.g4 g6 21.f3 f6 , and a draw was agreed upon White is still up a pawn, but it is hardly convertible. ½-½
approximately equal, J. Lautier-V.Salov, Madrid 1993; B) 10.g5 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.e4 d8 13.c5 d5 14.cxd6 xd6 15.c1 e6 16.a4 d5 17.xd6 xd6 18.xd5 xd5= Z. Azmaiparashvili-V. Epishin, Tallinn 1988 ] [ C) 8...c6 A) 9.d4 d6 1/2-1/2 was E.TomashevskyP.Eljanov, Dresden 2007, which of course doesn't tell us anything. White can try a number of things here, e.g. 10.b3 ( or 10.g5!? ) 10...a5 11.dxe5 dxe5 12.d1 e7 13.g5 , and White has some initiative; B) 9.b3 c5 10.d3 ( 10.e3 b6 11.f4 d6 12.c2 exf4 13.xf4 d5 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.b3 d4 16.a4 dxe3 17.xb6 xb6 18.dxe3 e6 is given as equal by 1137 A29 Ribli based on the game M.Gurevich-A. Vyzmanavin, Jurmala 1983, which seems Jobava,Baadur 2650 a b o u t r i g h t a f t e r a l i n e l i k e 19.b2!? Mchedlishvili,Mikheil 2583 xe3+ 20.f2 xf2+ 21.xf2 d5 66th ch-GEO Tbilisi GEO (9) 23.03.2007 22.xf6 xg2 23.xg2 gxf6 24.xf6 ) [Carsten Hansen] 10...h6 ( 10...e8 ) 11.d2 e8 12.c2 b6 13.a4 c7 14.ac1 d6 15.b4 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 d7 16.c3 c8 17.fe1 ( 17.b5 h3 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.0-0 0-0 8.g2 18.bxc6 xg2 19.xg2 bxc6 20.b1 [ RR8.d3 c6 9.d2 e8 10.g2 h6 e6 21.a4 1/2-1/2, A.Ludgate-G.Davies, 11.c1 xc3 12.xc3 d5 13.cxd5 cxd5 corr ICCF 1992) 17...h3 18.h1 a6 14.b3 d4 15.d2 e6!= Vasjukov ] 19.a4 a5 20.b1 axb4 21.xb4 a5= 8...h6 L. Po rtisch-R.Huebn er, A bano Term e [ The alternatives are: A) 8...d6?! 9.b3 1980 ] ( 9.c2 a6 10.d3 h6 11.h3 c6 12.e4 h7 13.h2 f5 1/2-1/2, Y.Averbakh-V.Korchnoi, 9.d3 e8 10.e4 d6 11.f4 c6 12.h1 c5 Palma de Mallorca 1972 14.f4!? ) 9...a5 My computer calls this position equal, but it ( 9...a5!? Ribli ) 10.a3 c6 11.d3 h6 12.b4 isn't a particularly easy position for Black to b6 13.c5 c7 14.cxd6 xd6 15.b2 play: White has a solid grip of the d5-square Z.Azmaiparashvili-S.Kindermann, Dortmund thus preventing Black from breaking with ...d6d5, and W hite already a kingside attack on 1990 ] [ B) 8...e8 9.d3 ( 9.c2 c6 10.a3 xc3 the move after f4-f5 and g3-g4-g5 Black will 11.bxc3 d6 12.b1 h6 13.d3 c7 14.e4 be facing a very problematic defence. 13.b1 b6 15.f4 , and White has some initiative, but a6 14.f5 b5 15.g4 b4 16.a4 d4 17.g5!? objectively speaking, Black is probably okay, hxg5 18.xg5 c5 [ Black's headaches have already become Zhang Zhong-S.Volkov, playchess. evident, and some simple analysis shows com2004 ) 9...c6 the severity of Black's situation: 18...d7 A) 10.b3 c5 11.h3 ( 11.g5 h6 19.e1 a5 ( 19...d5 20.h4 dxe4 12.xf6 xf6 13.e4 e7 14.xc5 21.xe4+- ) 20.xf6 gxf6 21.h4 xa4 xc5= Ribli ) 11...h6 12.h2 b6 22.xf6+- ] 13.a4 ( 13.f4! Salov ) 13...c7 14.e4 [ 18...d5 19.e1 dxc4 20.dxc4 b8 21.f3 b8 15.c3 a6 16.a4 d6 17.e3 b5= f8 22.h4 e7 23.d1+- ] with a position Ribli assesses as 1128
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.e1! d7 [ 19...a5 20.xf6 gxf6 21.h4+the black king isn't running anywhere - the game is over ] 20.h4! xa4 21.f3 d7 22.h3 Oh oh! f8 23.h8+ g8 24.xd8 exd8 25.h7 1-0
1138 Jones,G Gormally,D Scottish championships (2) [Daniel Gormally]
A29 2643 2496 07.07.2013
My E n gli s h s u m m e r. O ve r t h e su m m e r I played some games in the English, with both colours, I'd like to share with the readers. The first game was against England's rising star Gawain Jones in the Scottish chess championships, held in the beautiful town of Helensburgh, located only a few miles away from the historical Loch Lomond. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 [ Incidentally, 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 c5 And now Black has to be aware that 5.xe5!? is a serious try for White here. However xf2+! 6.xf2 xe5 7.e4 c5 8.d4 cxd4 9.xd4 0-0! Allows Black to maintain equal chances. ] 2...f6 3.g2 c6 4.c3 c5 5.f3 d6 In my view, this line is very solid for Black and a very good way of fighting against the English. T h e p o s it i o n s t h a t a rise a re ve ry r ich i n possibilities, and there are any number of different strategical plans each player can adopt. 6.0-0 [ White also has the important option of playing quietly here, with 6.d3 a6 7.0-0 h6 8.a3 0-0 see Flores, D (2578)-Vallejo Pons, F (2706)/Tromso NOR 2013 in this update. ] 6...a6 7.e3 0-0 8.d4 a7 9.h3 Understand ably, White wishes to discourage ..Bg4. [ White also has the option of resolving the c e n t r a l i s s u e i m m e d i a t e l y , w i t h 9.dxe5 but this didn't work out too well f or him either- dxe5! I think this is the correct way to recapture, as we shall see later in my Jones game. It is tempting to take on e5 with the knight and exchange pieces, but this makes the bishop on g2 much more of a potent
force 10.e2 e7 11.d5 xd5 12.cxd5 b4 13.e4 d7 14.a3 ( White cannot get an easy life by avoiding the coming complications with something like 14.a4 e i t h e r , a s a f t e r c6! Black is very nicely placed and the knight on b4 becomes a serious irritant, impossible f or W hite to eject from proceedings.) 14...b5 15.d2 f5! Black calculates the consequences of this phase of play very finely 16.g5 f4 17.f3 fxg3 18.hxg3 xf1 19.xf1 xf3! 20.xf3 f8 21.xb4 ( 21.e2 c2! ) 21...xb4 22.axb4 xf3 23.b5 xf2+ 24.e1 f6 The upshot of this tactical exchange is that Black is now technically winning, and went on to convert in Bacrot, E (2470)-Hellsten, J (2490) Yerevan 1996 ] 9...h6 I'm not sure what I wanted to achieve with this move, as Bg5 is no longer a threat. Although sometimes ..h6 can be useful in any case, it creates luft for the King, and f a cilita te s th e ide a of . .Nh 7-g5 , a us ef u l manoeuvre in many positions. In fact I was playing quickly at this point, and for most of the game, as it was the final of W imbledon and I had a bet on Andy Murray. My philosophy was, if I lost quickly, no big deal I can go and watch the tennis! Better to get it out of the way rather than be ground down slowly in some endgame and don't get to watch the final either. Admittedly this is not a very professional attitude adhered to by the World's elite. The previous year in the same eve n t I ha d do n e t h e sa m e t h ing o nly t o watch painfully as Murray was beaten in the final by Federer.. that was even worse as I offered a quick draw (playing with the White pieces) to my 2200 rated opponent, who was quite clearly shocked, so everything went badly that day! Also that year I fell short of the prize winners, getting 6.5/9, this year he won and I came first equal, so clearly my fortunes are quite closely intertwined with those of Murray. Check the date also, 7/7/13. I'm sure Kasparov would have been salivating over the significance of such numbers! Actually It's not always a bad idea to play quickly against stronger opposition. They like to dominate both on the clock and on the board. What you don't want to do is play slowly and hesitantlystrong players can smell weakness. I once 1129
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 played a game against Sasikiran where I played very quickly, I had noticed that he generally played fast and liked to be ahead on the clock. He was taken out of his comfort zone, being behind on the clock for once, and I won easily. [ 9...b8 Probably makes more sense as it contains a concrete plan- to play ..b5. 10.b3 b5! 11.dxe5 xe5 12.xe5 dxe5 13.e2 b4 14.d5 xd5 15.cxd5 c5 16.b2 e7 17.ac1 d6 18.f4 f6 Black has comfortably equalised, and the game ended in a draw in Damljanovic, B (2625)Miladinovic, I (2584) Zlatibor 2006 ] 10.b3 e8 Solid, but perhaps not the best. [ 10...f5! was the choice of the "professor" Evgeny Tomashevsky, and who would argue with this renowned openings expert? 11.b2 exd4 12.exd4 e8 13.h2 d7 14.a3 h7 15.b4 ad8 16.d2 d5! 17.c5 e4 18.d1 b8 19.b3 xc3 20.xc3 e7! putting into motion the strategic plan indicated earlier- where Black frees the dormant bishop by means of ..c6. 21.e5 e6 22.b5 axb5 23.xb5 f6 24.g4 h5 25.e3 c6 26.xb7 h4! Black has excellent compensation for the pawn, and we n t o n t o win in Ma la kh o v, V (2 6 9 2 ) Tomashevsky, E (2664) Budva 2009 ] 11.dxe5 [ 11.b2 e4?! was David-Svetushkin, in the Archive. ] 11...xe5?! [ I underestimated the strength of 11...dxe5! during the game. 12.b2 e4! ( 12...f5 13.d5 e4 14.h4 xg2 15.xg2 xd5 16.cxd5 e7 17.e4 d6 about level in Vachier Lagrave, M (2705)B a l o g h , C ( 2 6 6 4 ) / S a i n t L o u i s 2 0 1 2 .) 13.xd8 xd8 14.h2 f5 15.g4 xg4 16.hxg4 xg4 17.xe4 d2 seems to at least equalise for Black. ] 12.xe5 dxe5 [ Originally I had intended to recapture with the rook, 12...xe5 but then I started to realise that after 13.b2! life would be far from a bed of roses. Black has real problems generating counterplay in this structure. White is threatening Nd5, and any attempt to develop the bishop on c8 simply hangs the b7 pawn, while if Black plays ..c6
first, then the d6 pawn can become terminally weak. e8 14.c2 ] 13.a3 c6 14.xd8 I was surprised he went for this queen exchange. This didn't seem to play to his strengths, as Gawain is a tactical genius who scores many brutal victories in the middlegame. Still, Black has problems to solve in the endgame as well. [ 14.c2 a5 15.b2 e6 16.ad1 ad8 17.h2 gives White a nagging edge. Later, he will move his knight to e4. ] 14...xd8 15.e7! d3! [ While the position after 15...e8 16.xf6 gxf6 17.e4 g7 18.g4! was probably just about holdable, I didn't fancy struggling to defend with this bad pawn structure against a 2650 player. Already White has a plan of Ng3, followed by Be4 and light squareddomination. ] 16.ac1 [ 16.xf6 gxf6 17.ac1 is now not a problem, as Black has f5! And there will be no bind on the light squares. If anything, I prefer Black then. ] 16...e6 17.fd1 xd1+ 18.xd1 d7 [ 18...h5!? was an idea, to prevent White's next. 19.d6 d7 20.e4 f6 21.a3 ] 19.g4 e8 20.d6 g6 21.d5! Here it comes. I seem to allow this idea a lot, as Yang-fan Zhou had the chance to play this against me in the final round of the British Championships, with a big advantage, but declined and the game ended in a draw. It's not anything like so dangerous as it was in that game, but W hite does bag the two bishops. Fortunately I'm compact enough to not experience any serious problems... or am I? b8 22.c7 xc7 23.xc7 f5 24.gxf5?! [ There was certainly an argument for 24.f3! with more of a slow-build up, of Kf2-Kg3. These endings where you are defending against the two bishops can be torturous. I had a similar game in a recent tournament in Ghent, where I was crushed easily by my 2500 rated opponent in such an endgame. You ne ed to ge t some ou tp ost f o r you r knight, to gain some counterplay somehow, or it's going to be a long day. ] 24...gxf5 25.f3 [ 25.f4 e4! With the point of playing against the white light-squared bishop, allows Black 1130
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to maintain the balance. ] 25...c8 26.d6 f7 27.h5+ f6 I felt comfortable at this stage, as while he may have the two bishops, my position seemed very compact, I have very few weaknesses and all my pieces are well placed. Over the next few moves he even started over-pressing to the point where he risked losing. 28.f4 b5! Fighting for space. 29.e2 bxc4 30.bxc4 c5 31.fxe5+ Gawain had a big think before playing this, as it suddenly started to dawn on him that his bishop on d6 was in danger of getting trapped. [ If White plays a neutral move like 31.f2 then he needs to find something quickly against e4! With the threat of .. Rc6, ..Bf7 and ..Ke6, winning the bishop. 32.d2 c6 And White must jettison a pawn with 33.h5 xc4 to prevent the aforementioned plan. ] 31...xe5 32.f2 c6 33.f8?! xc4?! [ 33...xc4! and Black is starting to get serious chances. During the game I feared t h e s e q u e n c e 34.xc4 xc4 35.xh6 with the idea of running the h-pawn, but in fact Black's c-pawn is the more dangerous. d6! 36.h4 e4+ 37.f3 c4 38.f4? b6 Illustrates the dangers facing W hite, as suddenly the threat of Rb2-f2 mating, rears it's ugly head... ] 34.xh6 d6 35.f3 And with this move he offered a draw, so we were off down the pub to watch the final set and half of the tennis. In fact after the game I asked Gawain why he played the English, as I was expecting more of a main-line d4 opening. He told me it was because he had read my article on chess publishing where I explained that I did badly against openings like the English where it's a slow-build up. Perha ps I shouldn't be so honest in future! ½-½
1139 Jones,Gawain C Swiercz,Dariusz Bundesliga 1213 (12.3) [Danny Gormally]
A29 2641 2609 17.03.2013
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 g6 4.f3 c6 5.d4 exd4 6.xd4 g7 7.xc6 bxc6
8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 e8 10.a4 Played with two intentions in mind: firstly to concretely discourage the central break ...d5, and also to prepare Rd1, a very natural square for the rook. However it could be argued that this m o ve i s m o s t e f f e c t i ve wh e n B l a c k h a s already committed the rook to the b-file with .. Rb8, as then White would also create a threat against the a-pawn. [ The major alternative is to immediately activate the bishop with 10.f4 In that case W hite can also lay claim to a slight a d va n t a g e . b8 11.b1 g4 12.a4! xc3 13.bxc3 xb1 14.xb1 g5!? A very direct approach that is typical of Ernst, who takes few prisoners. Recently in the 13 round W ijk Aan Zee B group, I believe he only drew one game! Don't expect any dull draws when he's near a chessboard. 15.d2 xe2 16.d1 A) And now best would have been 16...e7! 17.xg5! ( The greedy 17.b8?! d o e s n ' t wo r k o u t ve r y we l l a f t e r xf2 18.xc8+ g7 19.c2 h3+! 20.xh3 c5+ 21.h1 f2-+ ) 17...xf2 18.xe7 xd1 19.f6 e1+ 20.f1 e6 21.d4 c5 22.xc5 xc3 23.b8 e8 24.a3 a6 25.d3 Is certainly better for White, but Black has certain holding chances.; B) 16...xf2? Was played in the game. Black doesn't really get enough for the e x c h a n g e a f t e r t h i s . 17.h3 xd2 18.xd2 e5 19.e2 f6 20.b8 Timman, J (2635)-Ernst, S (2300)/ Rotterdam 1998. ] 10...a5!? [ 10...b7 Was the choice of the Mercurial Ukrainian genius Ivanchuk, who in my eyes at least is one of the f oremost opening experts in the world. He seems to have unique and original ideas in every opening under the sun! 11.f4 c8 12.ad1 a5 13.d2 h6 14.fd1 c5! ( 14...g5 15.e3 xe3!? 16.fxe3 e8 Would have been similar to our main game, Black has plenty of action for the exchange, but there is no need for radical measures 17.e4 e5 ) 15.xb7 xb7 16.b5 d6 Already Black's position looks far more harmonious and Miles feels forced into the following dubious combination. 17.xd6 cxd6 18.xd6 c7 1131
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.xe8 xe8 20.e3 f8 21.d3 h5 22.a3 a8 23.h4 d6 24.c2 c6 25.a4 c7 26.c2 f8 27.e4 e8 28.e3 g7 29.d3 e6 30.d7 d8! Miles, A (2580)-Ivanchuk, V (2660)/Biel 1989. ] 11.d1 b7 [ 11...e7 12.f4 g4 13.xc7? A rather greedy pawn grab which is quickly p o u n c e d u p o n b y B la c k , c5! 14.e3 ( 14.f1 xc3 15.bxc3 xe2 16.d1 xf2 17.d4 xd4 18.cxd4 xg2+ 19.xg2 e3+ ) 14...xf2! 15.xf2 xe3+ 16.f1 a6 Black has more than enough action for the piece 17.f4 c5 18.f3 g5! Vaganian, R (2625) -Akopian, V (2605)/ Yerevan 1994. ] 12.f4 h5!? [ 12...c8 Would transpose into the aforementioned Ivanchuk game. ] 13.e3? From a practical point of view this is a poor decision, and rather akin to putting your head into the opponent's jaws. However Jones, who has made fantastic strides over the last few years, is not averse to taking risks in order to unbalance the situation on the bo a rd . I t b a c kf ire d o n h im t h is t im e , b u t overall this highly-aggressive approach works in his favour. [ 13.d2 e7 would have kept things fairly balanced. ] 13...xe3! Petrosian would have played this without batting an eyelid. 14.fxe3 e7 Objectively speaking after the exchange sac the game remains fairly balanced, but Black's position is much easier to handle- his moves are fairly obvious, while White has a difficult task trying to defuse the initiative. And in this go ld e n a ge f o r p ra g m a t i c c h e ss p la ye rs , practical chances mean everything. 15.d3 f6 16.ad1 g4 17.e4 e5 18.c3 h5! Intending to "soften up" the kingside. It is not clear what W hite should do- his rooks lack meaningful targets. 19.f2 h4 20.gxh4 xh4 21.d4 g5 22.e4 h4 23.f2 h5! 24.d1 f8 25.h3 d6 26.c5 a6 27.f3 xf3+ 28.exf3 xd4 29.xd4 xf3 Black has got the exchange back and White now faces an uphill struggle trying to save the game, something he was not able to do. 30.e4 [ 30.e4 f5 31.f6+ f7 Leads nowhere. ]
30...f4 31.cxd6 cxd6 32.g4 c5 33.e3 xe3+ 34.xe3 b8 35.e5 dxe5 36.xc5 xb2 37.xa5 b7 38.xe5 xa2 39.c5 e2 40.c3 g7 41.g4 d5 42.f1 b2 43.g1 e6 Despite the limited material White is really suffering- the Black position is far more compact. Perhaps only an endgame genius like Carlsen could save the white position. (or failing that, Houdini 3.) 44.c5 f8 45.a5 e7 46.a7+ f8 47.a5 c2 48.a8+ g7 49.a5 d2 50.c5 a2 51.b5 a4 52.f2 h6 53.e5 a2 54.c5 e2 55.a5 e3 56.h2 f5! 57.h4 h5 58.a4 d5 59.f4 e4 60.h3 e2+ 61.g1 g2+ 62.h1 g4+ 63.h2 xh4 64.f2 g5 65.g1 g3 66.a2 g4 67.b2 a3 68.e2 g3+ 0-1
1140 Kamsky,G Svidler,P Makedonia Palace GP (6.5) [Daniel Gormally]
A29 2741 2769 28.05.2013
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.f3 c6 7.d3 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.e3 e6 10.c1 f5 11.a3 f6 [ In another game, Black chose to force mat ters.. . 11...f4!? Although this concedes control of the e4 square. 12.xb6 axb6 13.e4 h8 14.c3 d5 15.fd2 d7 16.e3 e6 17.c2 ac8 And Black had good chances, the game later ended in a draw in Granda Zuniga, J (2648)-Mecking, H (2602) Sao Paolo 2012 ] 12.d2 h8 13.b4 I must confess that I had a dif f icult time when tryin g this cla ssica l English from the Black side. The reason for this is quite simple- I'm good at what I call reaction chess, tactics and so on, positions where the pieces collide in open combat and you have to react to your opponents threats, but at slow, strategic chess, where you have to think up plans and think about where your pieces belong, I'm absolutely hopeless, a complete beginner. This is because I belong to the Facebook generation, the twitterati, that seeks instant gratification and has the sort of patience that would shame a goldfish. Kamsky 1132
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 on the other hand, is a master of positional play, honed by hours of deep study of the finer points of strategy as a youngster, and t h e s o r t o f s l o w- b u i l d u p we s e e i n t h i s opening plays right into his wheelhouse. b8 Simply played to protect the b-pawn, so that the knight on c6 can move. 14.c5 e7 15.b5 bc8 16.a4 b6 17.a3 d6 18.c2 c8 19.c1 d7 20.e1 fd8 21.e4! J u s t a t t h e ri gh t m o m e n t . T h e se kin d o f central breaks often cause a headache for Black in this variation. Because of the slow build-up, it's often difficult to switch from m a n o e u ve r in g p la y t o t h e c a lcu la t i o n o f concrete variations. g5 22.a1 c5 23.f3 f6 24.b2 g6 25.h4 h5 Understandably, Black desires to prevent any dislodging of the knight with h5, but by doing so he creates another potential weakness, which Kamsky expertly demonstrates. [ Given how the game pans out after this, Kamsky almost makes ..h5 look like a forced loss! 25...c4 May have made White's task som ewh at to ugh er. Af te r 26.d2 f7 27.exf5 xf5 28.h5 cxd3 29.hxg6 xg6 Black gains some serious compensation for the piece. At least this would sharpen things up a bit- in the game Black loses with a fight. ] 26.d5 f7 27.d1! f4 Practically forced. 28.h2! g4 29.xg4 hxg4 30.gxf4 xh4 31.f5 h6 32.f3! gxf3 33.xf3 f7 34.h5 g8 35.e3 b3 36.d2 c4 37.dxc4 b4 38.d5 xd5 39.cxd5 g5 40.f2 c3 41.xc3 xc3 42.h2 f4 43.e2 An extremely accurate game by Kamsky, who was ruthless in the prosecution of his advantage. 1-0
1141 Kanep,Meelis Sammalvuo,Tapani TCh-FIN 2006-7 (5) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2510 2458 19.11.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.g3 b4 4.g2 0-0 5.f3 e8 6.0-0 e4 7.d4 c6 8.c2 xc3 9.bxc3 This is generally considered to be less accurate than 9 dxc3, but can still be
considered as an alternative, but it has to be said that Black has scored remarkably well after the text move. [ A couple of lines concerning 9.dxc3 h6 10.e3 d6 11.c2 ( 11.f4 exf3 12.exf3 d7 13.h3 e7 14.c2 d5= Lautier, JKarpov, An Biel-A 1990 CBM/19) 11...e5 (also 11. ..Bd7, 11...b6, and 11...a5 have been tried here) 12.d2 d7 13.f4 exf3 14.exf3 c8 15.fe1 e8 16.d5 xd5 17.xe8+ xe8 18.cxd5 e5 19.c4 f8 20.h3 e8 21.f4 g6 22.c3 c5 23.h2 e7 with, according to the ECO, equal chances, Polugaevsky-Savon, Petropolis IZT 1 9 7 3, b ut it h a s t o b e sa id I wo u ld rather play W hite than Black here due to White spatial advantage and bishop pair. ] 9...d5 [ 9...d6!? has also been tried a this point, but 9...d5 is the main line ] 10.cxd5 xd5 11.d4 [ This is considered as best by Ribli. But if Sammalvuo's new idea holds up, then White will have to look for alternatives at this juncture. The alternatives are: 11.d3 h5 12.e3 h3 13.d4 ( 13.dxe4?! xg2 14.xg2 xe4 15.b1 b6 J.Sajtar-R. Fuchs, Leipzig 1965) 13...ad8 14.c2 e7 15.f3 xg2 16.xg2 g6 17.b1 b6 18.g4 a5 19.d2 A.Sznapik-J.Pribyl, Stockholm 1975 exf3 20.exf3 d5 21.e3 d7 ] [ 11.e3 h5 and here several things have been tried: A) 12.b1 A1) 12...e5 13.d4 ( 13.f3?! exf3 14.exf3 d3 15.c2 d8 16.c4 c5 17.b3 b4 18.b1 c6 D.Juswanto-V.Sadvakasov, Bali 2000) 13...eg4 14.xg4 xg4 15.h3 f6 R.Flacco-L. Christianse n, Lone Pin e 1972 16.g4 d5 17.b3 c6 18.e3; A2) 12...b6!? 13.f3 e5! 14.fxe4 eg4 15.xg4 xg4 16.c2 xe2 17.e1 f3 18.d3 xg2 19.xg2 c5 B.Larsen-M.Adams, Buenos Aires 1991 20.c4!? (Korchnoi) with chances for both sides; B) 12.f3 exf3 ( 12...e5! (Korchnoi) 13.fxe4 eg4 14.xg4 xg4 Ribli ) 13.exf3 1133
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B1) 13...e6!? 14.d4 ad8 15.d2 d5 16.e1 ( 16.f4!? xd1 17.xd1 f5 18.e1 f6 19.e3= ) 16...xe3 17.xe3 d5 18.e2 ( 18.xe8+ xe8 19.f1 f6 20.b1 b6= ) 18...f6 19.b1 f7 20.f1 P.Byway-D.King, Morecambe 1981 a5!?; B2) 13...d5 14.f4 xd1 15.xd1 b6 B2a) 16.f5 a5 17.e3 ac4 18.xc4 xc4 19.b1 ( 19.f6!? g6 20.d3 d6 21.f4 ) 19...d6 20.g4 d7 21.d3 A. Gamundi Salamanca-J. Campos Moreno, Olot 1996; B2b) 16.e3 B2b1) 16...f6 17.d4 ( 17.f5 d7 18.d4 ) 17...d7 18.d2 ad8 19.fe1 e6 20.f5 f7 21.xc6 bxc6 22.g2 c4 1/2-1/2 A. Perkins-A.Williams, Brighton 1972; B2b2) 16...a5 17.d3 E. Geller-J. Dorfman, URS-ch (Yerevan) 1975; C) 12.d4 g4 13.xg4 xg4 14.f3 exf3 15.exf3 h3 ( 15...e6 16.f4 a5 17.d3 ad8 18.fe1= B.Heggheim, BD. King, Hamar 1982) 16.xh3 xh3 17.f4 d7 ( 17...e7!? 18.e1 d5 19.d2 xe1+ 20.xe1 d7 and Black has the initiative) 18.d2 a5 19.ae1= R.Stoutenborough-A.Bisguier, Ventura 1971 ] [ 11.f3?! c5+ 12.h1 exf3 13.xf3 g4 14.xf6 gxf6 15.e3 xe3 16.dxe3 d8 E, Ubilava-N.Rashkovsky, Kujbyshev 1986 ] 11...c4!? [ This is a brand new idea, and it appears a rather effective one. 11...h5 A) 12.f4 h3 ( here 12...d5!? 13.d2 h3 14.b1 xg2 15.xg2 a5 looks rather pleasant for Black) 13.e3 ( 13.e3!? ) 13...f5 ( 13...g4 looks very tempting, but after 14.f3 xg2 15.fxg4 h3 16.f2 f3 17.f1 xg4 18.e1 e7 19.xf3 exf3 20.xf3 the chances are about even) 14.f3?! ( 14.b1!? ) 14...xg2 15.xg2 exf3+ 16.xf3 J.Perez Martin-V.Gomez Polo, Malaga 1984 e4 17.c4 d7; B) 12.c4 a6 13.f4 b5 B1) 14.cxb5!? axb5 15.f3 e7 ( 15...a7 16.a3 exf3 17.xf3 g4
18.h4 g6 19.e4 ) 16.d2 d5 17.g5 e3 18.xe3 f5 19.f4 e4 20.xe4 xe4 21.d3 f5 with some compensation for the pawn, but this may be worth a try for White.; B2) 14.f3 bxc4 15.xc7 h3 ( 15...d5! 16.d6 h3 is very unpleasant for White and a clear improvement over the game) 16.g4 h6 17.c1 xc1 18.fxc1 xg2 19.xg2 d5 and Black has the slightly better chances, Bobotsov-Fuchs, Sochi 1966; C) 12.f3 h3 ( 12...exf3!? 13.exf3 d5 14.d2 a5 15.a3 b6 is equal according to I.Sokolov) 13.g4 h4 14.e3 g6 ( Black has to be a little careful h e r e , e . g . 14...xg2 15.xg2 h3 16.g5 d5 17.b3 is far from desirable; whereas 14...exf3 15.exf3 e7 16.d2 fd5 17.e1 xe1 18.axe1 xg2 19.xg2 b6 is fine for Black ) C1) 15.b3!? a5 ( 15...ab8 16.xh3 xh3 17.g5 h5 18.fxe4 d8 19.e5 wins for White) 16.a4 c6 17.c4 is clearly better for White; C2) 15.d2 exf3 16.xh3! f2+ ( 16...xh3 17.xf3 h4 18.g2 xg4 19.xf6 xe2 20.f2+- Ribli ) 17.xf2 ( 17.g2!? keeps the extra piece ) 17...xe3 18.xe3 xh3 19.f3 xg4+ 20.h1 and White was clearly better, but nonetheless still failed to convert the advantage, Ljubojevic-I. Sokolov, Groningen 1993 ] [ 11...a5 12.e3 c6 13.d5 xc3 14.d2 a3 15.c1! Ribli ] 12.b2 b5 13.b1 e6 14.a1 [ This is not exactly where White ideally want to put his bishop, but better alternatives are not easy to find, e.g. 14.a3 a6 15.a1 a5 ] 14...a6! This is a beautiful, yet remarkably simple move by forcing White to push his apawn to a3, the bishop on a1 becomes even worse, and at the same time, by maintaining control over the c4-square, Black contains White's game, and his ability to free himself. 15.a3 c4 16.e1 d5 This is textbook stuff, maintaining a light-squared strategy while controlling the opponent's active counterplay. 17.d2 1134
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 17.b4 cxb4 18.axb4 e3 ( 18...f5!? ) 19.f4 g6 ( 19...ad8 20.c2= )] 17...b6 18.b4 cxb4 19.cxb4?! [ This simply loses a pawn for no co m p en s a tio n . W h ite u nd o u bt e d ly h a d hoped to bring some life to his pieces, but not much of this is gained in the game. Somewhat better, and not losing a pawn is 19.axb4 c8 20.c2 e6 ] 19...xa3 20.c2 a2 21.b2 xb4 22.xc7 a4 White has so me more activity than before and a passed d-pawn, whereas Black's pieces are lined up on the a-file with two passed pawns barely out of their starting blocks. Yet it is important to notice that White h a s n 't a c c o m p li sh e d m u ch co m p a re d t o bef ore, since Black's pieces have easier access to the important squares and files, while W hite's are still in each other's way. 23.c1 b3 [ 23...d5!? ] 24.f4 [ On 24.bb1 d5 Black is also clearly better ] 24...d5 25.f5 g6! 26.g4 f5! This weakening of the dark squares could be a serious issue, if White's dormant bishop on a1 is let out of its cage. On the other hand if Black can maintain the blockade on d5 and keep up his light-squared strategy, then he will b e we ll o n h is wa y t o victo ry. 27.h3 ac8 28.f1 d1 29.d2 xa1 30.dxd1 b2 31.e3 Black's strategy has triumphed, he is in complete control of the board with more space, better placed and coordinated pieces and a couple of passed pawns that can make life truly miserable for W hite. If Black m a i n t a i n s h i s g r i p h e s h o u l d w i n . c3 32.de1 e2+ 33.h1 c1 Black is pretty much doing what he pleases at this point. 34.g4 A desperate lunge for activity and counterplay. f4! [ 34...d3!? is also very good. ] 35.xe4 When White has to play something like this, the end is near. xe4 36.f3 e7 37.exf4 f7 38.e3 a2 39.e6 c3! 40.xa2 f3+ 41.g1 xg4+ 42.h1 f3+ 43.g1 g4+ 44.h1 xf4 45.e7 c1! 0-1
1142 Karpov,Anatoly Bacrot,Etienne Gp A Cap d'Agde FRA (1) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2699 2613 29.10.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 g6 5.d4 exd4 [ Black must concede the centre, 5...d6?! 6.dxe5 xe5 7.xe5 dxe5 8.xd8+ xd8 9.g5 e7 10.0-0-0+ d7 11.h4 f6 12.e3 c6 13.h5 is difficult for Black, Petrosian, T-Bannik,A/URSS. ] 6.xd4 g7 7.xc6 [ 7.g2 keeps more tension, and is considered in the archives. ] 7...dxc6! [ At first sight this recapture (away from the centre) seems wrong, but actually after this Black has two pawn islands, as opposed to the three after 7...bxc6 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 a5 10.e3 with an edge, Gheorghiu,F-Hebert,R/ Buenos Aires/1978. ] 8.xd8+ xd8 Black's active pieces give him real compensation for the doubled c-pawns, and displaced king. 9.g5!? [ A new try from Karpov, previously White had not been particularly successful with: 9.d2 e6 10.e4 e7 11.e2 hd8 12.f3 d7 13.0-0-0 e5 equal, Uhlmann,W-Lau, D/Dortmund 1990, ] [ 9.e4 g4 ( and not 9...xe4? 10.xe4 e8 11.g5+ f6 12.0-0-0+ winning ) 10.e2 xe2 11.xe2 e8 12.f3 d7 13.g5+ c8 14.ac1 a5! with good co u n t e r c h a n c e s , G u l k o , B - K r a m n i k , V / Novgorod 1995. Actually, the structure is reminiscent of the Berlin Defences employed by Kramnik in his match against Kasparov. ] [ 9.f3 e6 10.e4 d7 11.e3 c8 12.0-0-0?! e8 13.e2 b6! 14.c5 d7 15.c2 f8! 16.b4 a5 17.a3 f5 with good play for Black once again, Janssen,R-Bacrot, E/Wijk aan Zee 1997. ] [ and 9.g2?! is worse, e6 10.c5 ( 10.b3? e4 ) 10...d7 and the c-pawn is a problem. ] 9...h6 10.d1+ e7 [ So, White obliges the black king to go to e7, instead of c8, its favourite square in this line, 1135
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 as 10...d7?! 11.xf6+! xf6 12.e4 xb2 13.h3 f5 14.c5 and Black has problems. ] 11.e3 e6 12.c5+ e8 13.e3 d8 14.xd8+ xd8 15.d4 e8 16.d2 b6 17.b4 e7 18.d3 f8 19.a3 d7 Black is having some problems bringing his pieces to their ideal squares, and meanwhile White increases his space advantage. 20.a4 f5 21.e4 f7 22.e1 d8 23.exf5 gxf5 24.c2 a5 25.bxa5?! [ A l l o w i n g B l a c k l o t s o f p l a y , 25.c3 might be better. ] 25...a8! 26.c3 xa3 27.d2 d6 [ 27...bxa5!? ] 28.e2 f6 29.f3? [ 29.c5! bxc5 30.b2 creates a useful passed a-pawn. ] 29...bxa5 30.c5 f8 31.b1 a7 32.d3 d5 33.b8 f6 34.e3 d7! 35.b1 e5 Taking aim at the f-pawn, now Black is clearly on top. 36.f4 [ 36.e2 d5 37.f1 is too passive. ] 36...xd3 37.xd3 a8 [ 37...c8! 38.d4 a6+ 39.c2 b5 would free the a-pawns path. ] 38.b7 d8+ 39.d4?! Self-pinning moves like this are always dangerous. d7? [ Missing 39...b3! 40.xb3 g7 regaining the piece with a big plus. ] 40.e3 c4 41.a7 Now White is fine. e7+ 42.e5 g7 43.c3 b3 [ 43...xe5 44.fxe5 xe5+?? 45.d4 ] 44.xa5 xe5 45.fxe5 xe5+ 46.d4 e7 Black is now a pawn up, but his structure is poor. 47.a3 e6 48.e5 d7+ 49.f4 e1 50.a5 f1+ 51.e3 h1 52.h4 e1+ 53.e2 e6 54.d2 b1 55.a7 d5 56.xc7+ f6 57.h7 b2+ 58.d3 e4+ 59.e3 b3+ 60.d4 d3+ 61.c4 e3 Black has jettisoned a pawn for some activity. 62.f4 xg3 63.xh6+ [ 63.h5+ g6 64.xh6+ xh6 65.xg3 is also equal, and transposes to the game. ] 63...g7!? [ 63...e5 64.g6+ f6 65.f4+ draws immediately. ] 64.h5+ [ 64.xc6! g4 65.c7+ f6 66.d5+ offered better chances. ] 64...xh6 65.xg3 d5+
[ 65...b1 ] 66.d3 f4 67.e2 f3 68.f4 e4+ 69.e3 h7 70.h5 c2 71.g3 d1 72.f5 g6 73.d4 h5 74.xf3 g4 75.e5+ xh4 76.f4 a4 77.f5 g3 78.e6 f4 79.d6 e4 80.xc6 White has won the c-pawn under favourable circumstances, but it is still a theoretical draw. d3 81.c7 c4 82.b6 d5 83.a7 d7 84.b5 c4 ½-½
1143 Karpov,Anatoly Vyzmanavin,Alexey Tilburg (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2760 2605 1993
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.c2 0-0 [ 7...c6 8.0-0 0-0 9.d3 h6 10.d1 ( 10.a3 is Kasimdzhanov-Timman, W ijk aan Zee 1999 - see the PGN archives) 10...d6 11.g2 e7 12.d2 a5 13.a3 c5 14.e1!? g4 15.ab1 d4 16.h3 e6 17.e3 a7 18.h2 h5 19.e2 d7 ( 19...d5!? 20.cxd5 cxd5; 19...h4!? ) 20.e4!? xe4 21.dxe4 f6 ( 21...h4!? 22.g4 e7 ) 22.bc1 f7? ( 22...h4!? ) 23.xa5 xe3 24.xe3 xa5 25.xd6 xc4 26.d2 b5 27.b4+1-0 Tomashevsky, E-Pert, R/Dresden GER 2007 ] 8.0-0 [ 8.d3 c6 9.a3 e7 10.0-0 d5 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.g5 e6 13.fc1 d7 ( 13...h6!? 14.xf6 xf6 ) 14.a4 xa4 15.xa4 ac8 16.xf6 gxf6 17.e3 , and thanks to his superior pawn structure, W hite has a slight, but enduring initiative, which allowed him t o to rt ure Black f or a con sice ra ble amount of time, before agreeing to a draw, E.Bareev-B.Gelfand, Monte Carlo (blindfold) 2005 ] [ 8.a3 xc3 9.xc3 ( 9.dxc3!? ) 9...d6 10.0-0 h3 11.e1 c6 12.e4 d7 ( 12...g4!? 13.d4 f6 is quite pleasant for Black ) 13.d4 f6 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.b4 fe8 16.b2 b6 17.d1! V.Ivanchuk-A. Khalifman, USSR Ch (Moscow) 1988 ] 1136
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8...e8 9.d3 [ 9.d1 c6 10.d4 ( 10.a3!? ) 10...xc3 11.bxc3 ( 11.xc3 e4 12.g2 d5 13.g5 dxc4 14.xc4 h6= ) 11...e4 12.g2 d6 13.g5 f5 14.c5 ( 14.d2!? ) 14...h6 15.f4 d5 ( 15...dxc5!? 16.dxc5 a5 looks like a decent option for Black, who can't be worse) 16.ab1 c8 17.e3 h3 18.b3 xg2 19.xg2 d7 20.c4 dxc4 21.xc4 with pressure along the b-file, R. Vaganian-A.Yusupov, Rostov 1980 ] 9...h6 [ 9...c6 A) 10.g2 h6 11.b1 d5 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.b3 xc3 14.bxc3 b6 15.a4 g4 16.e1 d7 17.d2 ac8 18.a5 bxa5 19.a3 b8 is comfortable for Black, A. Karpov-J. Smejkal, Milan 1975; B) 10.a3 xc3 11.xc3 d5 12.cxd5 xd5 13.c2 c7 ( 13...e6 14.d2 d7 15.fe1 c7 16.c5 g4 17.xg4 xg4 18.b4 d7= P. David-S.Berezjuk, Czech Rep 2004) 14.b4 h3 15.d1 e6 16.b2 f6 17.ab1 ad8 and Black has least equalised, J.SmejkalV.Korchnoi, Palma de Mallorca 1972; C) 10.g5!? C1) or 10...h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.e4 g6 13.a3 ( 13.c5!? ) 13...f8 14.c5 f5 15.d2 d5 16.cxd6 xd6 17.c4 c7 with fairly even chances, J.TimmanM.Tal, Tilburg 1980; C2) 10...e7 11.fd1 d6 12.b4 a6 13.d4 exd4 14.xd4 , and White has t h e u p p e r h a n d , B l a c k' s p o si t i o n i s uncomfortably passive, M.Tal-A.Kochyev, Moscow 1981 ] 10.d2 [ White should probably give preference to 10.a3 xc3 11.xc3 d5 12.cxd5 xd5 13.c5 ( 13.b3!? c6 14.d1 a5 15.e4 f6 16.e3 ) A) or 13...c6 14.d2 b6 15.xb6 axb6 16.a4 c7 17.e3 b5?! 18.axb5 xa1 19.xa1 xb5 20.b6 ( 20.a8!? ) 20...d4 21.xd4 exd4 22.a4 d8 23.a8 e8 24.a4 d8 25.a7 h3 26.g2! ( 26.xb7?? a8-+ ) 26...xg2 27.xg2 d7 28.a8+ h7 29.a7 g6 30.f4 e7 31.f3 e3+ 32.f2 e7 33.b4 f6 34.a8 h5? ( 34...d7 )
35.d8 1-0 Cvetkovic, S-Skalkotas, N/ Kavala 1990/CBM 21/[Ribli]; B) 13...f6 14.c2 c6 15.b4 g4 16.h1 d7 17.b2 ad8 18.fe1 a6 19.ad1 e6 20.f3 h3 21.e4 d7 ( 21...a2 22.f4!? ) 22.d4! exd4 23.xd4 ed8 24.ed1 a2 , and here a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, I.FaragoM.Tseitlin, Polanica Zdroj 1978, but I think that White still has the better chances after 25.xd7 xd7 26.e1! , and White will start rolling with his e- and f-pawns ] 10...c6 11.ac1 d6 12.g2 e6 13.h3 a5 14.a3 d5 15.b4 b6 16.a4 d7 17.h2 ac8= 18.cd1 f5 19.e4 g6 20.xb6 axb6 21.c1 b5 22.c5 cd8 23.b2 c7 24.fe1 h7 25.e2 dxe4 26.dxe4 f6 27.h4 f8 28.xd8 xd8 29.d1 e6 30.d3 f7 31.d1 xd3 32.xd3 b6 33.cxb6 xb6 34.d2 d4 35.c3 c5 36.bxc5 xc5 37.b4 c6 38.c3 c4 39.e3 c2 40.d2 xb4 41.axb4 c7 42.h3 f7 ½-½
1144 Kasimdzhanov,Rustam Timman,Jan H Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee NED (5) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2595 2649 21.01.1999
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 Black breaks the first rule of the opening, m o v i n g a d e v e l o p e d p i e c e t w i c e . 5.g2 No-one ever takes the pawn by [ 5.xe5?! as after e7 6.f4 ( 6.d3?? f3# is the point.) 6...d6 7.d3 f5 Black has a virulent initiative. ] 5...xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 What is the idea? The c6-knight is often awkwardly placed in 4...Bb4 lines, but here not only is e5 no longer attacked, but Black might also be able to play ...c6, and ...d5. 7.0-0 [ 7.a4!? was tried by Ivanchuk, against Svidler, at Wijk aan Zee 1999, but following c6 8.0-0 0-0 9.d4 e4 10.g2 d5 Black had no problems whatsoever. ] 7...0-0 8.c2!? White controls e4, and dissuades Black from capturing on c3, but [ 8.g2 is simpler. e8 9.d3 c6 10.b3! 1137
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 otherwise Black would play 10...d5, and may even have the advantage. c5 11.h3! h6 12.h2 b6 Lautier,J-Salov,V/Madrid 1993, and now 13.f4! would give White a plus. ] 8...c6 9.d3 h6 Black prevents the pin Bg5 in orde r t o p la y . . .d 5 . 10.a3 e7 11.e4 A standard idea in the English, by preventing the freeing move ...d5 White keeps control of t h e c e n t re . d6 12.b4 h7 13.g2 f5 Black looks for his counterplay elsewhere, and while the centre is static can afford to expand on the wing. 14.f4! exf4 15.xf4 g5 16.h1 fxe4 17.dxe4!? A doubleedged decision, [ 17.xe4 xe4 18.xe4 h3 leads to immediate equality, aiming for more, White isolates his own e-pawn, but hopes for play against the d6-pawn along the dfile. ] 17...e6 18.e3 xf1+ 19.xf1 g5 Of course, with this pawn formation Black would like to exchange his lesser bishop. 20.xg5 Personally, I would play [ 20.g1 in such a position. ] 20...xg5 21.d3 e5 The fruit of his 19th move, the queen settles happily on the central e5-square. 22.a4 g5 23.c5 f7 24.cxd6 xd6 25.c5 g4 26.b3+ h8 27.d3 White manages to break the blockade of e4. d4 28.f4?! A misjudgement, White had to play the natural [ 28.e5 freeing his g2-bishop, even though c4 29.f4 a1+ 30.f1 only leads to a draw by repetition. ] 28...c4! 29.g6+ h7 30.f8+ g8 Black is not happy with a draw by 30...Kh8 now. 31.g6 e8 32.b5 e6 33.a4 f7 Trying to shift the annoying white knight. 34.h4 cxb5 35.xb5 e3 36.f5! White takes the opportunity to even-out his pawn structure. xf5 37.exf5 b6 38.c6 The extra black queenside pawn may prove useful in an endgame, so W hite decides to use his trump- the f5-pawn. e2 39.f6 gxf6 Black has no more than a draw after [ 39...xg2 40.c8+ h7 41.xg2 ] 40.a8+? In zeitnot White sends his queen offside, [ 40.xf6 xf6 41.xf6 is better for Black, because of the queenside majority, but should be defensible . ]
40...g7 41.xa7 g6! Black unpins the bishop so that it can take part in the decisive attack. 42.a6 xg2! 43.xg2 d5+ [ 43...d5+ 44.h3 e4 threatens mate with ...Be6+, and wins the house. ] 0-1
1145 Kasparov,Garry Sadvakasov,Darmen It Astana KAZ (5) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2827 2585 25.05.2001
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.g5 xc3 8.bxc3 e8 9.f3 This move led to many famous World Championship battles with Karpov, it is interesting to see what tricks Kasparov has ' u p h i s s l e e v e ' ! e3 This was Karpov's immediate reaction. The e-pawn is sacrificed to further weaken the white c-pawns. 10.dxe3!? [ Interesting, Kasparov had first played 10.d3 (see the archives for this move) and then had switched to ] [ 10.d4 with success. Now he tries the third possibility. ] 10...e7!? [ An unusual alternative to 10...h6 and ] [ 10...b6 , both considered in the archives. ] 11.h3!? [ One of the ex-World Champion's many innovations, the knight is misplaced, and so returns to the fray via h3, and f4. 11.e4!? c5+ 12.h1 h6 13.h3 xc4 leads to similar play, Zagorskis,DSammalvuo,T/Copenhagen 1998. ] 11...c5 As in the previous note, Black heads f o r t h e c 4 - p a wn . 12.f4 xc4 13.e4 What is the advantage of White's move-order, as he seems to have an almost identica l position to the Zagorskis game? Well, he has avoided having to move his king, and thus Black hasn't played the useful move ...h6. d6 [ 13...xc3!? 14.b1 b6 15.b2 is very risky, the b2-bishop could become very strong. ] 14.d3 e5 [ Not 14...xd3? 15.exd3 evening-out the white formation, when his bishops would 1138
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 give him a plus. ] 15.xc4 xc4 16.g4 White mobilises his mass of kingside pawns. b8 17.d1 b6 18.g5 d7 19.d5 b7 20.f4 Controlling the e5-square, and threatening to displace Black's powerful c4-knight. f8 21.d4 a5 [ 21...b5!? was also possible, but Black had to evaluate the line 22.a4!? c6 23.e3 e6 24.xc4 xd4 25.xd6 ] 22.f5 d7 23.b1 c5 24.d3 a4 Black's solid structure offsets the disadvantage of W hite's bishops. 25.f4!? The World no.1 sacs the exchange to correct his pawn structure. c2 26.b2 xd3 27.exd3 d8 28.h4 c6 29.h5 e7 30.e3 bd7 At the moment the black rooks have no open files, and the black knights no go o d squ a res , b ut W h ite h a s t o ach ie ve something concrete before Black can correct this situation. 31.g4 c6 32.h6 e5! The k nigh t arrive s just in t im e to red uce W h i t e ' s d a r k - s q u a r e d p r e s s u r e . 33.xe5 dxe5 34.hxg7 xg7 35.f1 d6 The pawn couldn't be defended, but at least Black has opened the d-line. 36.xe5 [ 36.f6+ h8 37.xe5 g8 is worse, as it allo ws th e f 8-kn igh t t o co m e to a go o d square, e6 or g6. ] 36...f6 37.g4?! [ 37.c4 c6 38.gxf6+ xf6 39.f2 appears stronger, e5 is a strong threat, and if d7 40.h2 is very awkward. ] 37...fxg5 38.h2 e8 39.e5 d5 40.f6+ h8 41.h6 White has allowed Black to blockade the pawns, and so decides to force a perpetual check. dxe5 42.f7+ g8 43.h6+ ½-½
1146 Kasparov,Garry Timman,Jan H Corus Wijk aan Zee NED (11) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2849 2629 26.01.2001
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.b1 W hite wants to play b4 without a3, so that there is no later weakness on b3. 0-0 [ Stopping b4 by 8...a5 is likely to transpose
into games in the archives. ] 9.b4 The tactical point. xb4!? [ A v e r y u n u s u a l c a p t u r e , 9...a6 is more usual, when W hite continues virulently on the queenside, by 10.a4 f5 11.b5! Serper,G-Kamsky,G/Dortmund 1993. ] [ 9...xb4?! 10.xe5 xe5 11.xb4 simply hands W hite the bishop pair, and both central pawns. ] 10.xe5 c6!? [ Timman's innovation. 10...a5 11.d4 4d5 12.xd5 xd5 13.b3 b6 14.d1 certainly looks good for White, Kobalija,MSolomon,K/Elista 1998, as he can attack along the queenside files, or use his centre, as he wishes. ] 11.a3 4d5 12.xd5 cxd5 This is clearly the point of Black's idea, he recaptures with the c-pawn to restrain the white centre. 13.a4 f6 14.d4 f5 15.b5 a6 16.b2 c8 17.f4 xe5!? Black thereby gains the c4square for his knight. 18.xe5 e8 19.e3 e7 Freeing the knight by defending the b7pawn. 20.g4!? The start of an aggressive plan on the kingside, White clearly feels that he cannot win on the queenside alone. e4 21.f3 c4 22.e2 g6 23.h4 f6 [ 23...xe5!? 24.dxe5 ec7 seems strong, as the c2-square is prepared for the bishop's u s e , b u t t h e n c o m e s , 25.e4 xh4 ( 25...dxe4 26.xd8+ xd8 27.f4 h5 28.f5 ) 26.exd5 and the white d-pawn is very strong. ] 24.f4 d7 25.fe1 c6 26.h5 f7 27.e4 dxe4 28.xe4 xe4 29.xe4 d5 W hite has two bishops, but Black has nice squares for his minor pieces, and can push his b-pawn. 30.e2 c8 31.h6 g5 32.g3 e8 33.e1 xe2 34.xe2 f8 35.d3 b6? [ Allowing White to fix the queenside, 35...b5 would have left Black with at least equality. ] 36.a5 c4 37.f1 The previously moribund bishop finally does something useful. e7 [ The a5-pawn is indirectly defended: 37...xa5? 38.a3+ ] 38.c3 e3+ 39.xe3 xe3 40.d3 c4 41.e1 g8 42.f2 b5 43.b4! [ 43.axb6 xb6 44.xa6 is much worse, as the Black hold on d5 may defend. As played W hite will attack, and win, the a6-pawn 1139
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 when his own a-pawn will be decisive. ] 43...b2 44.f5 c4 45.e3 d5 46.c8 c4+ 47.e2 1-0
1147 A29 Khalifman,Alexander 2667 Lutz,Christopher 2595 FIDE WCh KO New Delhi IND (2.3) 02.12.2000 [Tony Kosten] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.b1 g5!? 9.b4!? [ Gulko's move- a wing thrust is countered by ...another wing thrust! White decides to rip open the queenside before Black's kingside a t t a c k g e t s g o i n g . 9.d4!? is the more traditional counter, but after exd4 10.b5 f5 Black exploits the rook's position on the b-file, 11.a1 ( is 11.e4?! possible? xe4 12.e1 xb1 13.xg5 xa2 14.fxd4 0-0! su gge st s n o t) 11...e4 12.bxd4 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 xg2 15.xg2 0-0-0 and Black has some advantage, Claesen,P-Gurevich,M/Antwerp 1994. ] [ The alternative 9.d3 h5!? was seen in the archives. ] 9...g4 [ 9...xb4? 10.xe5 ] 10.e1 xb4 11.c2 [ 11.f4!? exf4 12.xf4 4d5 13.xd5 xd5 14.f1 is unclear, Rothermel,TGelfenboim,J/W uertemberg 1999, as c3 15.b3 xe2+ 16.h1 0-0 17.b2 gives White some play. ] 11...c6 [ Played to leave the c2-knight misplaced, 11...xc2 12.xc2 c6 13.a4 promises White plenty of compensation for the pawn, the black kingside is draughty. ] 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.d4 f6!? [ 13...exd4 14.xd4 f6 looks strong, but 15.xc6 d7 16.e4! is possible, e.g. g7 17.h6!! xd1? 18.xg7! winning material, because of the threat of Nf6 mate. ] 14.dxe5 [ G u l k o p r e f e r s 14.d3!? when e6 ( 14...exd4 15.xd4 c5 ) 15.e4 d7
16.dxe5 f5 17.e6 is unclear ] 14...xd1 15.xd1 fxe5 16.a3! [ This move, swapping one of Black's bishops, is the FIDE W orld Champion's improvement on 16.b4 when f5! 17.e4 xb4 18.xb4 e6 19.g5 f8 20.b2 f3 was better for Black in Gulko,BBenjamin,J/US Ch 1997. ] 16...a5?! [ Probably 16...xa3 17.xa3 e6 would be a better try, although the black structure is still very ragged. ] 17.xe7 xe7 18.e1! The knight is coming to d3, to attack e5, and c5. a6 19.d3 xd3 20.exd3! hd8 21.e4 d5 22.bc1 a6 23.a3 h5 24.e1 b6 Black has managed to defend his weaknesses, and must n o w t r y t o a c t i v a t e h i s p i e c e s . 25.d2! This wins the e5-pawn. f6 26.c4 b3 27.xe5 xd3 28.xh5 Re-establishing material equality, whilst maintaining the better pawn formation. c3? [ After this Black loses further material, 28...c5 kept him in the game, although White is certainly on top. ] 29.xc3 xc3 30.e3 d4 31.c5 [ 31.xa5 is also strong. ] 31...b5 32.xc6+ f7 33.c5 c6 34.c4 e6 35.g2 a4 36.h3 gxh3+ 37.xh3 d6?! 38.b6 b5 39.xc6+ f7 40.c4 d2 41.f4+ g7 42.xa4 An object lesson in the exploitation of weak and isolated pawns, every single one of Black's pawns has disappeared! The rest is simplicity itself for White. xa3 43.c5 c2 44.e4 d5 45.g4+ f7 46.g5 d4 47.c5 e1 48.g5+ f6 49.g4 d3 50.f5+ g6 51.f3 f4+ 52.g3 h5+ 53.h4 d1 54.h3 g7 55.f4+ h7 56.d5 f1 Hard as Black tries, he cannot a void th e inevitable. 57.d3 a1 58.d7 g8 59.d5 e6 60.e7 d4 61.f4 f8 62.e4 f3+ 63.g3 d2 64.e2 a3+ 65.e3 e4+ 66.f3 d6 67.c2 f7 68.c7+ e8 69.f5 f7 70.f4 d6 71.d5 a4+ 72.g5 f7+ 73.f6 d6 74.g5 a5 75.e6 a6 76.f6+ [ 76.b4 b6 77.c6 was even easier. ] 76...f8 77.d7+ g8 78.b8 b6 79.c6 1-0
1140
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 has the more attractive position, but it will be hard to make progress. 20.e4 h8 21.a2 d4 22.e3 d5?! [ Rather than exchange queens, Black could play ...f5 or even 22...g4!? 23.f3 h3 ] 23.b2 f5 24.xd5 xd5 25.xc5 bxc5 Now the a- and c-pawns are targets. The old man tackles a reversed Dragon one 26.b6! more time. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 e6 27.f3 c8 28.c1 d6 29.b5 S u d d e n l y B l a c k i s t i e d d o wn a n d W h i t e 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.b1!? [ If nothing else this sidesteps 7.0-0 e7 controls the play. dc6 30.c4 g8 31.f2 8.b1 g5!? White tries to get the queenside f7 32.f4! exf4 33.gxf4 g6 34.xa5! xb6 pawns rolling as early as possible, but this 35.d4 d8 36.dxc5 b1 37.b5 dd1 has an artificial feel and the results haven't 38.cb4 xb4 39.xb4 d8 40.d4 e6 41.b6+ c6 42.e3 The ending is not easy been particularly good. ] b u t K o r c h n o i e v e n t u a l l y c o n v e r t s . h1 7...f6 [ Recently 7...g6 has been looking like a 43.g3 e1 44.f3 h1 45.g3 e1 complete solution: 8.0-0 g7 9.b4 ( 9.d3 46.b2 h6 47.h4 h5 48.f2 a1 49.xb7 h6 10.b4 0-0 11.b5 d4 12.d2 a6 xa4 50.b6 d5 51.b1 d4 52.c1 13.a4 axb5 14.axb5 f5= --Ribli ) 9...0-0 c6 53.g1 xc5 54.xg6 a2 55.xd4+ 10.d3 d4 11.xd4 ( 11.a4 g4 12.xd4 xd4 56.e6 a1 57.e5 h1 58.e3+ exd4 13.e4 d5 14.c2 c6= d3 59.d5+ c4 60.xf5 xh4 61.e5 Miezis-Bromann, Gausdal 2003) 11...exd4 d3 62.f5 h2+ 63.f3 12.e4 d5 13.g5 f6 14.d2 b6 1-0 15.c1 ( 15.c2 ) 15...e6 16.c6 e8= Mulyar-Baburin, San Francisco 2001. ] A29 [ 7...g4 8.0-0 f6 9.d4 xd4 10.xd4 1149 exd4 11.b5 d7 12.xd4 xd4 Kortschnoj,Viktor 2643 13.xd4 0-0-0 14.h3 h5 15.e3 f7 Svidler,Peter 2695 16.b3 c5 17.b5 a6 18.c3 d5= Korchnoi Birthday Gp B (4) 28.04.2001 Serper-Oratovsky, North Bay 1998 ] [Tony Kosten] 8.d3 e6 9.a3 e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.b4 a5 The most aggressive. Alternatively, a nice 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 example (by no means forced) went 5.h4 d5!? [ 11...d4 12.e4 a2!? 13.xd4! exd4 [ A new idea, previously 5...c6 had been 14.c5! xb1 15.b3+ f7 16.xb7 e8 preferred, as in the archives. ] 17.a5 xd3 18.exd3 d8 19.c6 d6 6.e3 c6 7.cxd5 xd5 8.d3 This doesn't fit 20.b5 f8 21.a4 a6 22.a5 axb5 23.xb5 too well with the pawn on g3, as the lightwith a solid advantage in Miezis-Agopov, squared bishop cannot easily defend both the Oslo 2003. ] kingside and d3. e7 9.f3 0-0 10.g2? 12.b5 d4 13.d2 [ 10.a3 covers b4. ] [ White achieves nothing by 13.xd4 exd4 10...db4! Of course! 11.e2 14.a4 d5 ( Or 14...d5 )] [ Ugly, but how else can White defend d3? 13...d5 11.d4 losing a pawn t o exd4 12.xd4 [ Or 13...c6 . Black's strategy has been a xd4 13.exd4 xd4 14.xd4 c2+ ] success. ] 11...e6 12.e1 14.h3 e6!? [ Unfortunately, White cannot chase the [ 14...a4 or ] knight away immediately, as 12.a3 b3! [ 14...f7 preparing ...Nd5 were more 13.xb3?? loses to xd3+ 14.e1 c2+ ] challenging. ] 12...d7 13.a3 d5 14.c2 ad8 15.xe6+ xe6 16.b3 d7 17.c4 c5 A 'normal' Sicilian-style position has been 18.xb6 cxb6 19.a4 ad8 Stefanova still reached, but the presence of the white king on 1148 Kortschnoj,Viktor Stefanova,Antoaneta Smartfish Masters (9) [John Watson]
A29 2601 2523 05.01.2005
1141
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e 2 i s a s e rio u s p ro b le m . 15.d2 h8 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.f3 f5 19.c4 d7! [ 19...xc4 20.dxc4 e4 is favourable to Black, but keeping queens on the board is clearly best. ] 20.hd1 b5! 21.c2 [ Not 21.xb5?? e4 when any knight move wo uld allo w . .. Nd 4+, winn ing t he whit e queen. ] 21...f4 Opening a route to the weakened kingside for the black queen. 22.ac1? [ The threat to c6 is illusory, better 22.f1 to defend the f3-knight. ] 22...fxg3 23.fxg3 [ 23.xc6?? xd3+ 24.e1 g2 forces mate. ] 23...e4! Freeing the e5-square for the knight. 24.dxe4 g4 [ 24...h3 is also a killer. ] 25.f1 xf3 26.xf3 e5 27.cf1 xf3 [ 27...xf3 28.xf3 f8 wins the rook. ] 0-1
1150 Kosten,Anthony C Jean,Olivier Open Marseille FRA (1) [John Watson]
A29 2504 2193 30.06.2006
Another triumph by Tony. Not a very compelling game, but illustrating many ideas related to good squares, centralization, and opportunism. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 e8 This older move is perfectly reasonable, intending . ..Rd8 and perhaps ... Qf7 at some point. But it's slow by comparison with [ 11...a5 12.b5 d4 , as in this month's game Van Wely-Tiviakov, Bareev-Shirov, Poikovsky 2006 in our April Update the earlier Bareev-Yakovich, Kazan 2005. As we've seen that variation has been holding up well for Black. ] 12.e4 [ 12.b2 limits White's coordination after f7!? ( or 12...a5 13.b5 d4 14.xd4 exd4 15.e4 d7 ) 13.d2 fd8
and Black has no problems. ] 12...d8?! [ Black does better to adjust to the new rea lity b y 12...a5 13.b5 ( 13.c5? a2 14.b2 axb4 15.axb4 xb4! ) 13...d4 ] 13.c5 c8 14.c2 White's pieces are wellplaced and now he can work towards a central bre a k wit h d 4 . d6 15.b2!? Again the bishop may not be ideally placed here. [ 15.e3 is another possibility, since White can recapture with a piece if Black tries ... Bxc5. Then d5 16.c4 is a bit awkward f o r B la ck. A ll t h e se d e cisio n s a re ve ry technical and unclear. ] 15...e7 Black would like to dislodge the powerful knight on c5, but he could also play the immediate [ 15...xc5!? 16.bxc5 ( 16.xc5 a4 17.c2 xb2= ) 16...d5 with a nicely centralized position. I prefer W hite's two bishops, yet the game is almost in balance. ] 16.e3 [ Or 16.fc1 , to discourage ...a5. ] 16...de8 [ 16...a5! th re at e ns . .. a xb 4, a n d 17.b5 ( 17.bxa5 xc5 18.axb6 xb6; 17.a1? axb4 18.axb4 xb4; 17.d4!? ) 17...xc5 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.d4 d6 20.xc6 ( 20.dxe5 fxe5 21.xc6 isn't bad, but d7 leaves the queen short of good squares in view of ...Na4 or ..Bf5) 20...d7 21.c2 e4!? 22.d2 f5 is muddy. ] 17.d2 d8 18.d4! exd4 19.xd4 c6 20.bd1 f7 21.ce4 White has a definite positional advantage. All of his pieces except the rook on f1 are active. e7? [ 21...g6! 22.c1 e7 is the way to avoid the following tactic. ] 22.c5 White can cash in by [ 22.xb6! axb6 23.c4 , winning a pawn with no real consequences. ] 22...g6 23.f3 e6?! Probably missing White's next. 24.h4! h5 [ Or 24...f7 25.xe7! xe7 26.d6 h5 27.f3 e5 28.e4! ] 25.f3 g4 26.xg4 xg4 27.xe7 xe7 28.d6 g6 Black tries to cover the monster square f5, but W hite's pieces are still more active and this weakens the kingside. 29.d4 e6 30.fd1 d7? A typical blunder under pressure. Probably the only worthwhile try was 1142
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 30...d5! 31.b5! a6 ] 31.e4 h3 32.xg6! hxg6 33.h4 e6 34.xg6+ g7 35.h5 1-0
1151 Kosten,Anthony C Pert,Richard G 4NCL 2006-07 (10) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2517 2455 06.05.2007
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.0-0 0-0 9.a4 [ White has an interesting alternative in 9.d1!? A) 9...a6 10.e3 d6 11.d4 exd4 12.exd4 a7 13.f4 h6 14.c5 dxc5 15.dxc5 e7 16.a4 b8 17.e1 e6 18.c3 ( 18.c2!? ) 18...d7 19.c6 bxc6 20.xc6 M.Marin-L.Christiansen, World Chess Network 2000; B) 9...d6 10.e3 e8 11.d4 exd4 12.exd4 xd4 13.xd4 e1+ 14.g2 d7 C h r i s t i a n s e n 15.g4 h5 16.h3 intending Rd1 with a won position - Marin; C) 9...e7 10.d3 c6 ( 10...h6 11.a4 d6 12.xc5 dxc5 13.e3 Marin ) 11.g5 h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.e4 e7 14.xc5 xc5 15.c3 ( 15.e3 e7 ) 15...e7 16.c5 ( 16.d4 e4 ) 16...d8 17.d2 d5 18.cxd6 xd6 ( 18...xd6 19.b4 ) 19.ad1 e6 20.d4 exd4 21.xd4 e7 22.a3 f6 M. Marin-F. C u i j p e r s , S i t g e s 1 9 9 9 23.h4! xd4 24.xd4 d8 25.xd8+ xd8 26.e5 Marin ] 9...e7 10.d1 c6 [ This appears to be Black's best choice at this juncture. Other tries are: A) 10...e8 11.d4 e4 (this move leaves the e4-pawn a target that White will have a relatively easy time attacking) 12.g2 h6 13.c3 f8 14.e3 b6 15.c2 b7 16.d5 ( 16.f4!? ) 16...g4 17.d4 f5 18.f3 e5 19.fxe4 xc4 W.Uhlmann-Z.Jasnikowski, Polanica Zdroj 1981 20.b3 e5 21.exf5+- ] [ B) 10...c5!? may in fact also be perfectly playable, if a bit passive: 11.d3 d6 12.c3 e8 13.a3 b8 14.a2 d7 15.d5 h3
16.xf6+ xf6 17.b1 g4 18.xg4 xg4 with approximately even chances, though Miles eventually managed to win a drawn endgame against a young Sadler, who had his mom sitting next to the table throughout the entire game (I also played in this tournament and saw most of this game live) A.Miles-M.Sadler, Ostende 1991 ] [ C) 10...d6 A) 11.d4 exd4 ( 11...d7 12.g2 c6 13.e4 c7 14.e3 b6 15.ac1 b7 16.c2 ad8 17.h3 b8 18.c3 S.Makarichev-V.Epishin, Tashkent 1987) 12.xd4 b8 13.c3 e6 14.a4 e8 15.e3 c6 16.e4 xe4 17.xe4 , a nd W hit e ha s the som ewhat b et te r chances, A.Ludgate-G.Kubach, corr 1999; B) 11.c3 d7 12.d4 f6 ( 12...exd4!? 13.xd4 e5 offers Black a better chance for equalising) 13.dxe5 xe5 14.e3 f6 15.c5 e6 16.xb7 b8 17.xa7 xb2 18.d4 xd4 19.xd4 with a solid advantage for White, B.Gelfand-J.Timman, Wijk aan Zee (blitz) 1998 ] 11.c3 [ 11.d4 e4 12.g2 d5 13.cxd5 ( 13.c3 b6 14.f4 e6 15.a4 e8 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.xe8 xe8 18.f3 f5 19.ac1 , and W hite's chances are preferable, P. K o e n i g - H . D o d e r e r , I C C F E m a i l 2 0 0 0) 13...cxd5 14.f4 b6 15.c3 e6 16.ac1 d7 17.b5 ac8 18.c7 h6 19.f3 d6 (the beginning of a series of exchanges that will inevitably lead to an equal endgame) 20.xd6 xd6 21.fxe4 xe4 22.xe4 xc7 23.xc7 xc7 24.xd5 xd5 25.xd5 c2 , and Black is fine, G.SerperK.Aseev, St Petersburg 1994 ] 11...d6 12.d4 c7 13.c2 [ 13.g2 A) 13...exd4 14.xd4 e6 15.c2 ad8 16.b3 d5 17.cxd5 e5 18.e3 cxd5 19.ad1 d7 20.4d2 ( White can consider 20.f4!? h5 21.f3 h3 22.e5 , which looks pretty good for White, but what concerned Erik Bang, who is one of the best correspondence chess players in the world, I'm not sure, but he must have had something in mind.) 20...c8 21.d4 h5 22.b2 b6 23.c2 dc7 with chances for both csides, E.Bang-F. 1143
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Berry, corr 1989; B) 13...f5 14.h3 exd4 15.xd4 d7 16.d1 c5 17.e3 a5 18.d2 fe8 19.b3 ad8 20.c1 h6 21.h4 f8 , and Black has neutralised W hite's pressure, in addition White has to consider it a possibility that Black may sacrifice the exchange on e3. 22.d4 e6 23.e3 c5 24.d4 e6 25.e3 c5 , with a draw by repetition, 1/2-1/2, Cu. Hansen-J.Gustafsson, German Bundesliga 2000 ] 13...h3 [ 13...a5 Black has also done well with 14.dxe5 ( 14.b3 h3 15.a3 g4 16.e4 fd8 17.dxe5 xe5 18.h1 a4 19.b2 f5 20.d2 f6 21.g2 axb3 22.axb3 g4 23.f1 xa1 1/2-1/2 Baiocchi, G-Morgado, J/ corr 1995/MegaCorr3) 14...dxe5 15.a4 e6 16.e4 b6 17.c5 ( 17.e3!?= ) 17...b5 18.b6 ad8 19.d2 a4 (although the material balance is still intact, Black is more o r l e s s wi n n i n g a t t h i s p o i n t i f h e c a n manage to exchange all pieces and isolate the white knight on b6, he will be a piece up in the endgame. I will not give any more comments to the rest of this game, bu t despite this game being exceedingly long, take your time to play through and enjoy the technique of the then young grandmaster from Minsk, Gelfand, who had his international breakthrough that year) 20.e3 g4 21.xd8 xd8 22.xg4 xg4 23.g2 g5 24.c3 f6 25.xg5 xg5 26.b3 axb3 27.axb3 d8 28.h3 e6 29.b4 h5 30.a8 xa8 31.xa8 d8 32.b6 d1 33.h4 h3+ 34.h2 g4 35.g2 e2 36.e3 xe3 37.fxe3 f8 38.f2 f6 39.a8 e7 40.c7 d8 41.a8 d1 42.b6 c2 43.f3 d1+ 44.f2 c2 45.f3 g5 46.a8 b1 47.b6 d3 48.a8 c2 49.b6 b1 50.a8 g4+ 51.f2 d3 52.b6 c2 53.e2 c7 54.a8+ d7 55.b6+ d8 56.f2 xe4 57.e2 b1 58.f2 c2 59.e2 b1 60.f2 f5 61.a8 c2 62.b6 d3 63.a8 c4 64.b6 e6 65.a8 e7 66.c7 c8 67.a8 f6 68.c7 d7 69.g2 f4 70.gxf4 exf4 71.exf4 f5 72.g3 e4 73.a6 d4 74.b8 e8 75.a6 g6 76.b8 e4
77.f5 e5 78.f6 xf6 79.f4 d5 80.d7+ e7 81.b6 e6 82.a8 h1 83.c7+ d7 84.a8 f3 85.b6+ e6 86.c8 d5 87.d6 e2 88.f5 c4 89.g3 d3 90.xh5 xb4 91.e3 c3 92.f4 h7 93.d5+ c4 94.f6 f5 95.f4 g3 96.xg3 b4 97.f4 b3 98.xf5 b2 99.h5 b1+ 100.g5 c1+ 101.g6 g1+ 102.h6 xc5 103.e4+ d5 104.g5 e3 105.g6 e8+ 0-1 Miles, A-Gelfand, B/Moscow 1989/TD ] 14.b4 [ 14.b3 h6 ( 14...g4 15.g2 xg2 16.xg2 exd4 17.xd4 f5 18.h3 e5 19.a3 f4 20.xf4 xf4 21.gxf4 g6 22.e3 W.Taylor-B.Dabulawicus, corr 1995 h4+ 23.h2 f3+ 24.g2 h4+ with a draw by perpetual) 15.b2 h7 16.c5 g5 17.cxd6 xf3+ 18.exf3 55 1/2-1/2 Gulko, B-Nikolic, P/Polanica Zdroj 1996/CBM ] 14...g4 15.g2 xg2 16.xg2 b6 [ 16...f5!? 17.dxe5 xe5 18.b3 c8 19.f4 e6 , and Black has a pleasant game ] 17.b1 exd4 18.a4 d3 19.exd3 c7 20.h3 f6 21.e3 d5 22.d4 fd8 23.c3 h6 24.e2 h7 25.cxd5 cxd5 26.g4 f6 27.xf6 xf6 28.d4 b6 , and Black's activity will compensate for the inferior pawn structure after the exchange of queens, e.g. 29.xb6 axb6 30.d2 d4 31.e2 b5 ½-½
1152 Kovacevic,Blazimir Potkin,Vladimir Czech Open Pardubice CZE (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2457 2591 23.07.2007
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.d3 c6 [ 8...0-0 A) 9.a4!? e7 10.0-0 e8 ( 10...c6 11.c3 d6 12.d1 c7!? ) 11.d1 d6 12.c3 f8 13.c2 c6 is given as equal b y W i sn e ws k i b a s e d o n t h e ga m e V . Tukmakov-M.Hebden, Hastings 1982, but I quite like W hite's chances after 14.d4 1144
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 exd4 15.xd4; B) 9.g5 c6 10.0-0 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.e4 was played in J.Timman-J.Hector, Copenhagen/Malmoe 2005 - see the PGN archives; C) 9.g4!? C1) 9...d6!? 10.g5 ( 10.g5 d7 ) 10...h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.e4 h4 13.xc5 dxc5 14.h3; C2) 9...d5 10.g5 ( 10.xd5 xg4 is fine for Black) 10...dxc4 ( 10...g4!? 11.xg4 xg4 12.cxd5 b6 13.c4 ) 11.xc4 d7 12.e4 e7 13.e3 h8 14.0-0-0 with the idea d3-d4 or h4h5 (Watson) ] 9.g5 [ 9.g4 in ChessBase Magazine, Ribli calls this move interesting, but he doubts Black needs to fear White's threat of g4-g5 so far the games in this line have supported his o p i n i o n . . . d6 ( 9...d5!? 10.g5 dxc4 11.xc4 d7 12.e4 e7 is wonderfully c o m p l i c a t e d) 10.g5 g8 ( 10...d7!? was tested in L.Aronian-B.Gelfand, Saint V i n c e n t 2 0 0 5 - s e e t h e P G N a rc h ive s) 11.e4 ( 11.a4 is F, Vallejo Pons-B. Gelfand, Pamplona 1999- see the PGN archives ) 11...b6 ( 11...e7 ) 12.a3 c7 13.c5 ( 13.d2 e7 14.b4 f5 ) 13...dxc5 ( 13...d5 14.d6+ ) 14.xc5 e7 15.d2 e6 16.a3 b6 17.c1 d5 , so far V.Zvjaginsev-P.Svidler, Moscow 2001, and now 18.h4!? offers White a good game ] 9...e7 10.d1 h6 11.c1 [ 11.xf6 xf6 12.e4 d6 13.0-0 0-0 14.g2 e7 15.d4 c7= ] 11...d6 12.d4 c7 13.g2 0-0 [ 13...f5 14.e4 d7 15.0-0 0-0 16.c2 ] 14.0-0 exd4 [ 14...g4!? ] 15.xd4 White has the slightly better ch a nc e s t h an ks t o his a b ilit y t o b u ild u p pressure along the d-file and Black's relatively passive set-up e6 16.c2 c5 17.b5 b6 18.dd1 a6 19.a3 fd8 20.b3 d5 21.cxd5 xd5 22.c4 c7 23.d2 a5 24.a4 f6 25.f4 b4 26.b1 ab8 27.f5 xc4 28.bxc4 e7 29.e4 xe4 30.xe4 d4 31.f4 e8 32.xb7 xe2 33.de1 xe1 34.xe1 xc4 35.e8+ h7 36.a8
c2 37.xa5 c4 38.a8 c3 39.c8 a2 40.e4 c2 41.d2 g5 42.xb4 c1+ 43.xc1 xc1 44.c6 e3+ 45.h1 h5 46.e7 f6 47.e8 h6 48.h4 d4 49.d6 e5 50.xe5 fxe5 51.g6 xa4 52.g2 a6 53.e8 f6 54.d7 g6 55.fxg6 e4 56.b5 xg6 57.e8+ h6 58.b5 e3 59.g1 f2 60.e8 f3 61.b5 xg3+ 62.f1 g4 63.e2 e4 64.d3 xh4 65.xe3 h3+ 66.e2 g5 67.c4 f4 0-1
1153 Lautier,Joel Bu Xiangzhi Sanjin Hotel Cup (9) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2666 2620 26.07.2004
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.d5 c5 Normal, but what had Lautier planned against [ 5...e4!? as in his game against Kasparov? ] 6.d3 White threatens Bg5, although this should transpose. We had previously looked at [ 6.g2 ] 6...h6 7.a3 a5 8.g2 0-0 9.e3 d6 10.0-0 xd5 The knight on d5 is annoying, so Black decides to exchange it, he could also keep the tension by [ 10...f5 11.d4 a7 as in Uhlmann,WKraut,R/Germany 1999. ] 11.cxd5 e7 12.d4 White immediately evens-out his structure. exd4 13.xd4 g6 A n e w m o ve , t h e kn igh t a im s f o r e 5 . I n Barczay,L-Petran,P/Budapest 1978 Black preferred to exchange a piece by [ 13...f5 14.xf5 ( 14.b3!? ) 14...xf5 15.e4 d7 16.d2 c6 17.dxc6 xc6 18.c3 a4 White has a nominal edge. ] 14.b3 d7 15.h3 e8 16.b2 This is a typical position for this line, White has more space, and possible play on the c-line, but Black's pieces are active. a4!? 17.b4 b6 18.c1 e7 19.h2 Safety-first play, GMs of ten pref er to put their pieces on better squares before undertaking anything committal. ac8 20.e1 f8!? 21.c4 [ 21.b5 l o o k s g o o d , a8 22.c4 f6 23.c2 and to avoid losing the a-pawn Black 1145
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 has to try g6 but White is clearly better. ] 21...f5!? To control e4, but Black gives himself more weaknesses. 22.d3 f7 23.ec1 [ 23.b5 a g a i n l o o k s e f f e c t i v e , a8 ( 23...xd4 24.xd4 is horrible for Black, t h e c 7 p a w n i s t o o w e a k .) 24.c2 and the a-pawn's future looks bleak. ] 23...g6 24.e6! e5 [ 24...b5 25.xg7 e5 26.xe5 xe5 27.e6 gives plenty of compensation for the exchange, the black kingside is weak and the e6-knight very strong. ] [ 24...xe6? 25.dxe6 xe6 26.xb7 d8 27.d5 is hopeless for Black. ] 25.xe5 dxe5 26.xc7 Just winning a pawn. e4 27.d1 ed8 28.b5 e8 29.d6 h7 30.f1 White brings his one inactive piece back into the fray. d7?! [ 30...xc7 31.xc7 xc7 32.xc7 a2 33.g1 xa3 wins a pawn, but after 34.d7 f7 35.xb7 White has every chance of winning. ] 31.xa4 h5 This is a bit desperate. 32.d1 h4 33.d5 hxg3+ 34.fxg3 a7 35.c7 W h it e h a s t wo e xt r a p a wn s, a n d a go o d position. f4 36.exf4 f2 37.g2 g6 38.e7! The most accurate, Black only gets one check. xg3+ 39.h1 h4 (Qh5 mate was threatened.) 40.xd7! [ 40.xd7 xc1 41.xe4+ g6 42.xg6+ xd7 43.xh4+ wins everything. ] 1-0
11.b3 d5 Black wins. ] 6...0-0 7.g2 e8 8.0-0 c5 [ Black decides it is time to preserve his darksquared bishop, 8...d6 9.d3 exd3 10.xd3 xd5 11.cxd5 e5 12.c2 c5 13.b3 e7 14.b2 was slightly better for White in Lautier,J-Karpov,A/Dortmund 1993. ] 9.d3 Black's advanced e-pawn must be eliminated, else the knight on h4 might find itself short of squares. exd3 10.xd3 e5 11.c2 c6 12.e3 [ A little trick, 12.c3?! is worse, xc4! 13.a4 f8 14.xc4 b5 regaining the piece with advantage, Smyslov, V-Mecking, H/Petropolis 1973/IZT. ] 12...cxd5 13.xc5 d6 14.d4 dxc4 Black has grabbed a pawn, but White should be able to win it ba ck when he likes, bu t would like to do this whilst maintaining an advantage. 15.ad1!? [ A novelty, normally White prefers to place the other rook here, reserving the queen's r o o k f o r u s e o n c 1 : 15.fd1 e7 ( 15...d5!? ) 16.d2 c6!? 17.xf6 xf6 18.xc4 with an edge, Smejkal, J-Mecking, H/Rio de Janeiro 1979/IZT, but Black's play could probably be improved. ] 15...d5 This seems critical, and the idea was probably prepared by Kasparov for use against 15 Rfd1. 16.e4 [ Rather than 16.xe5?! xe5 17.xc4 g4 winning the e-pawn. ] 16...g4 17.f3 d7 18.exd5 b5 The dust h a s s e t t l e d a n d W h it e h a s r e g a in e d h i s 1154 A29 sacrificed pawn, without having to concede Lautier,Joel 2675 one of his two bishops. However, Black can Kasparov,Garry 2838 be happy with his queenside pawn majority FIDE GP Moscow RUS (2.1) 02.06.2002 and possible use of the d3-square. 19.xe5?! [ Why return the powerful dark-squared [Tony Kosten] bishop? 19.fe1 d3 20.xe8+ xe8 21.f1 is better, and appears fairly level. ] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 19...xe5 20.f4 b6+ Black hastens to 5.d5 Lautier's favourite. e4!? [ A s h a r p r e p l y , 5...c5 is standard, exploit the weak white dark squares. 21.h1 ee8 22.h3 Obviously directed against ...Ng4preserving the bishop. ] e3. e3 23.f3 ae8 24.xe3 xe3 6.h4 [ 6.xb4?! is worse, xb4 7.d4 g4! 25.h2 g6 Black provides a square for his crude, but very effective: ...Qf6 is the nasty king, whilst controlling the f5-square. 26.f3 threat, and if 8.h3? ( 8.f4 0-0 9.c2 The knight was doing little on h4. f5 27.f2 xc2+ 10.xc2 d5 with an edge to Black, e4 28.g1 d6 The black knight reaches Skembris,S-Kumaran,D/Kopavogur 1994) the fine blockading square on d6, the passed 8...xf2! 9.xf2 f6+ 10.e3? c5 d-pawn needs top be kept 'under lock and key', 1146
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 as a moment's lack of concentration is all it A1b) 17.c6?! bxc6 18.xc6 f5; needs to allow this pawn to advance to the A2) 16...dxc5 17.e4 e7 18.xc5 queening square. 29.d4 d3! Black wants xc5! 19.bxc5 fd8 S.Skembris-M. a passed pawn. 30.xd3 cxd3 31.e3 c4! Drasko, Belgrade 1994; 32.e8+ g7 33.f3 B) 9...d6 10.a4 d7 11.g2 a5 [ 33.xf5+? gxf5 34.b3 d4! and the d12.xc5 xc5 13.c3 e7 14.e3 e4 pawn cannot be stopped. ] 15.dxe4 xe4 16.d4 e8 17.b3 e5 33...e3 34.xe3 xe3 Black has correctly 18.b2 W.Uhlmann-V. Korchnoi, judged that this endgame is very promising for Amsterdam 1972; him, the d3-pawn is strong and the black C) 9...e8!? 10.d2 ( 10.g5 h6 knight very active. 35.d2 c4 36.xc4 11.xf6 xf6 12.e4 e7 13.xc5 bxc4 37.f3 d2 38.d1 White has done all xc5 14.c3 a5= Ribli ) 10...c6 11.ac1 he can to stop the d-pawn, but he also has a h6 12.a4 ( 12.a4 f8 13.c5!? Ribli ) problem with the h-pawn which needs 12...f8 13.fd1 ( 13.b4 d5! 14.cxd5 def ending. f6 39.g2 h5 40.g4 e4+ cxd5= 15.xd5?? xd5 16.xd5 41.f2 h4! Fixing the h-pawn on a light xd5 17.xe8 h3 18.e4 xd3-+ square. 42.e3 xd5 43.g5+?! Hjartarson ) [ 43.xd2 w a s t h e o n l y c h a n c e , g2 C1) 13...d5?! 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.b3! 44.e2 xh3 45.e3 with some drawing ( 15.b5 d7 16.b3 c6=; 15.xd5 possibilities. ] xd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.xe8 h3-+ ) 43...e7 44.xd2 e6 45.g4?? 15...d4 16.d5 e6 17.xf6+ xf6 [ A blunder, but even after 45.e2 xh3 18.xb7 xa2 19.b4 Hjartarson; 46.xc4 e6! Black wins the a-pawn, White C2) 13...d6 14.b4 g4= Cu.Hansen-J. cannot play the king-and-pawn endgame Hjartarson, Reykjavik 1997 ] because of the outside h-pawn. ] 9.0-0 0-0 10.g2 45...xg4 [ 10.a4 e7 11.c5 d5 12.cxd6 xd6 0-1 13.e3 e7 14.ac1 e6 15.c2 d5 16.g2 fc8= S.Silseth-P.Leito, Ringsted 1992 ] 1155 A29 [ 10.a3 h6 11.c2 e7 12.d1 d6 13.d4 c7 14.b3 h3 15.b2 h7 16.c5 Lautier,Joel 2661 R.Janssen-J.Van der Veen, Dieren 1997 ] Sebag,Marie 2479 [ 10.g5 e7 ( 10...h6 11.xf6 xf6 TCh-FRA Top 16 (5) 29.04.2007 12.e4 e7 13.xc5 xc5 14.c3 a5= [Carsten Hansen] Hjartarsson 15.fd1!? e7 16.c5 d8 17.e4! d5 18.exd5 cxd5 19.e1 d4 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 20.c4 ) 11.fd1 d6 12.ac1 h6 13.d2 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.d3 c7 14.g2 f5 15.a4 d7 16.b4 a6 c6 17.b3 b5= E. Tomashevsky-P.Svidler, [ 8...0-0 9.0-0 ( 9.g5 h6 10.xf6 xf6 Russian Ch (Moscow) 2005 ] 11.e4 e7 12.xc5 xc5 13.0-0 d6 14.c3 a5 15.fd1 1/2-1/2, F.Gheorghiu-J. 10...h6 11.e3 [ 11.d2 e8 Smejkal, EU-chT 1977 ) A) 12.ad1 f8 13.h3 a6 14.h2 d6 A) 9...a6 10.a3 d6 11.g2 b8 12.c2 15.f4 e7 16.f5 c7 17.e3 d7 e6 ( 12...h6!? ) 13.b4?! ( 13.g5! h6 18.c1 ( 18.b6 c8 19.e4 c5! 20.d5 14.xf6 xf6 15.e4 e7 16.xc5 xd5 21.cxd5 a5! 22.a4 a6; 18.a4!? dxc5 17.b4! Damljanovic, B) 13...a7 c8 19.g4 looks promising for White) 14.g5 ( 14.b2 c6 ) 14...h6 15.xf6 18...d8 19.g4 b8 20.a7 c8 21.f2 xf6 16.c5 b8 22.e4 b5 23.c2 d5 A1) 16...e7 with a complicated struggle ahead, V. A1a) 17.cxd6 cxd6?! ( 17...xd6!? ) Popov-G. Sargissian, Moscow 2007; 18.d5; 1147
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 12.h3 b6 13.a4 a5 14.b3 b8 d6 21.c2 ac8 (this looks terribly 15.a4 d6 16.c5 bxc5 17.c2 b5 comfortable for Black) 22.fe1 c5 23.bxc6 18.e3 d5 19.xc5 xc5 20.xc5 d6 bxc6 24.b3 c5 25.b5 d5 26.c4 21.e4 c5 22.c3 b4 23.d2 b8 b6 27.cc1 d5 28.c4 b6 29.c2 1/2-1/2, H. Stefansson-F.Vallejo Pons, d5 30.c4 , and a draw was agreed upon, Havana 2001 ] 1/2-1/2, Van Wely, L-Karjakin, S/Nice FRA 11...b6 2008, e7 31.a3 c3 32.xa5 d5 [ 11...e8 12.h3 f8 13.d2 d6 14.d4 looks better for Black ] c7 15.d5 d7 16.a3 b6 17.b3 12...c6 13.de4 f7!? W.Uhlmann-H.Pohla, Tallinn 1977 ] [ The alternatives are: A) 13...f7 14.d2 12.a4 c7 13.e4 a6!? 14.c5 d6! 15.cxd6 d5 15.e3 xc3 16.xc3 ( A new move xd6 16.e3 b8 17.h3 e6! 18.c3 d7 16.xc3 was played in Hjartarson-Bareev, 19.d4 If not for this move, it is difficult to which can be found discussed in the notes prescribe a good way for W hite to proceed. Aronian-Topalov, Morelia/Linares 2008.) However, after the text move, Black is allowed 16...f5 17.c2 f8 ( 17...d7 18.fd1 to e qu alize t hro ugh a se rie s of accu ra t e d8!? looks like a possible improvement. moves. b5! 20.c5 exd4 21.xd4 xc5 The chances are probably about equal, but I, 22.xc5 b4! 23.d4 xc5 24.xc5 c8! as someone who enjoys playing the Dragon 25.g4 b5 26.e3 c5 27.f4 c4!? 28.f5 as Black, prefer White's chances. White can d7 29.ac1 , and a draw was agreed upon. expand on the queenside and route the Black can play 29...Qc5 after which Black's knight to c5, whereas Black's plans are not ac t ivit y a n d a d va n ce d qu e e n sid e p a wn s that obvious.) 18.fd1 a5 19.a4 axb4 balance out White's advanced pawns in the 20.xb4 h8 21.xf8 xf8 22.c5 c8 centre and on the kingside. An excellent effort 23.a4 d6 24.b4 (White has a clear by Black against her much higher opponent. advantage, the exploitation of which Aronian [ 29.f6 g5 is better for Black ] makes look easy.) f5 25.b2 h6 26.h3 ½-½ c8 27.g4 e6 28.d4 e4 29.xe6 xe6 30.d5 cxd5 31.d2 a5 32.d4 b6 33.xd5 b7 34.xa5 bxa5 35.c2 f5 1156 A29 36.gxf5 xf5 37.xe4 g5+ 38.g2 d8 39.d5 f6 40.xa5 f8 41.a8 a1+ Leko,Peter 2753 42.f1 a3 43.d2 c6 44.xf8+ xf8 Kramnik,Vladimir 2799 45.d5 f6 46.g2 a1+ 47.h2 e5 Amber Rapid Nice FRA rapid (2) 16.03.2008 48.d4 xd4 49.exd4 c4 50.g3 g5 [Carsten Hansen] 51.g4 1-0 Aronian, L-Karjakin, S/Nice FRA 2008 ] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 [ B) 13...d5 was the move played in 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 Aronian-Topalov from last month's update. ] 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 d4 [ The other moves discussed in last month's 12.d2 update are (C) 13...g4 ] [ V a n W e l y t r i e d 12.xd4 , but this is [ and (D) 13...d7 ] generally not considered particularly critical this game follows the same pattern: exd4 14.e3?! [ A new move in this exact position, but one 13.e4 d5 14.b2 f5 15.d2 xg2 fairly typical of the Dragon and the ( 15...f6 was discussed in Soza-Muzyka, Reversed Dragon. The alternatives 14.c5 ] ICCF 2004, which can be found in the PGN [ and 14.e3 were both discussed in the archives. ) 16.xg2 e8 ( 16...d5+ notes to Aronian-Topalov, Morelia/Linares 17.f3 c5 18.bxc5 xc5 19.a4 d7 2008, which can be found in the March 08 20.c1 b6 21.c2 ae8 22.c4 xc4 update and of course in the PGN archives. 23.xc4 xe2 24.xd4= , DeMauro, JThe text move, however, is unlikely to start a Heilemann, P/corr CAPA 1994; 16...f6 ) new trend, because Black obtains an easy 17.f3 f6 18.c1 h8 19.a4 a5 20.b5 1148
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 game rather effortlessly. ] 14...a5! 15.c5 axb4 16.axb4 a3!? [ 16...c7!? is also perfectly acceptable, but the text move is far more aggressive. ] 17.3e4 c7 18.xd4?! This is just an ugly move, which seems to confirm the fact that Leko is ill at ease in this type of position. After this peculiar decision, Black is clearly better and White has very little counterplay. exd4 19.h3?! Huh? I guess he wanted to threaten to possibly jump a knight onto the e6square and also prevent Black from playing . .. f6-f5, but neither represent a major problem for Black. fa8! 20.c1 d5 21.b2 c3 22.xc3 dxc3 23.c2 e5 24.fc1 b5 25.e4 a2 26.a1 xb4 27.xa2 xa2 28.b3+ h8 29.xb4 c2 30.f1 b2 31.xb2 xb2 32.d2 c5 33.f4 [ 33.g2 d8 34.f4 c4 35.f2 f5 36.c6 cxd3-+ ] 33...c4! 34.f3 [ 34.f2 c3 35.f3 aa2 36.d4 b4-+ ] 34...b4! 35.dxc4 d8 36.e1 b3 37.f2 d1 38.d3 xd3! 0-1
1157 Lesiege,Alexandre Zugic,Igor It Montreal CAN (2) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2564 2440 03.08.2001
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.g5 xc3 8.bxc3 e8 9.f3 exf3 10.xf3 d5 11.d4 e4 12.c2 dxc4 13.b1 f5 [ One of several alternatives we examined in this position, in the notes to the game Lewis, J - Garcia,H, where the interesting 13...f6!? was tried. ] 14.g4! All part of Kasparov's preparation, W h ite at t em p t s t o e xp lod e Bla ck's ligh t squared control, and undermine e4. fxg4!? [ Well, I suppose the analysis of Kasparov had to be tested sometime! In the inaugural game in this line, Kasparov,G-Ivanchuk,V/ Moscow 1988, Black preferred 14...e7?! 15.gxf5 d6 16.g5 xe2 17.d5+ h8 18.xe2 xe2 19.f4 Black was quickly massacred. ]
[ Black didn't last much longer after 14...g6?! 15.f4 e6?! 16.xb7 d5 17.gxf5! xd4 18.cxd4 xb7 19.fxg6 hxg6 20.e5 eit he r, in S mirin , I-A vru kh , B/ G ro n in ge n 1996. ] [ However, 14...d6!? is worth examination, 15.g5 d7 16.h4 f7! 17.xf5!? xd4 18.cxd4 xd4+ 19.e3 xg4 20.xf7 xf7 21.f3 is very messy, David,P-Polak,T/ Olomouc 1995. ] 15.e5 This is the point of White's play, cutting the legs from under the e4-knight.. xe5?! [ This seems obvious, yet Kasparov suggests 15...d6!? 16.xc6 bxc6 17.e4 w i t h c o m p e n s a t i o n . ( 17.xc6 d7 of f ers t h e e xch an ge in ret u rn f o r ligh t squared control. W oe is he who doesn't follow mighty Kasparov's analysis! )] 16.xe4 g6 17.xg6 hxg6 18.xg6 e7 [ The World number one only considered 18...d7 when his analysis continued: 19.d5! b6 20.a3 (controlling f8 allows White time to set-up a mating attack with his queen and rooks) b7 21.e4 c5 22.f5! xe4 23.bf1 xd5 24.h5 with mate to follow on h7. ] 19.b5! Now that b5 is not guarded by the queen. e6? [ 19...f8 appears to be Black's only chance. ] 20.h5 The immediate threat is Re5, and Black has no good defence. g6 21.h6 [ 21.h6 d7 22.g5 wins immediately. ] 1-0
1158 Lewis,J Gracia,H ICC [Tony Kosten]
A29 2127 1999
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.g5 xc3 8.bxc3 e8 9.f3 exf3 [ This older alternative to 9...e3 is still perfectly valid. ] 10.xf3 d5 11.d4 Kasparov's strong move. e4 12.c2 dxc4 13.b1 f6!? [ Considered a blunder by Kasparov, but is 1149
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 it? The alternatives are: 13...f5 14.g4! e7?! ( 14...fxg4 15.e5 d6!? is less clear) 15.gxf5 d6 16.g5 xe2 17.d5+ which is crushing for White, Kasparov,G-Ivanchuk,V/ USSR (ch) 1988, ] [ 13...e7 14.d2 g5 15.e4 h3 16.xh3 xh3+ 17.g2 g5 18.h4 xe4 19.xe4 xe4+ 20.xe4 xe4 21.xb7 with an edge in the endgame, Hodgson,JNaumkin,I/Amantea 1995, and ] [ 13...h6 14.h4 ( 14.e5! ) 14...e7 15.f5 xf5 16.xf5 ab8 17.f4 s e e m s l e ve l , V i vo , M - S a x, G / P o r t o S a n Giorgio 1995. ] 14.e5 fxe5 15.xe4 This is the position given as +- by Kasparov, the black kingside is a t t a c k e d , h o w c a n B l a c k d e f e n d ? h3 He doesn't! The king is left to look after itself. 16.xh7+ h8 17.g6? [ Tempting, White goes straight for the throat, but 17.g6 is stronger, d5 ( 17...xf1? loses, 18.f5 xe2 19.h3+ with a swift mate ) 18.f3 exd4!? ( better to give the exchange, 18...f8 19.e4 xe4 20.xe4 exd4 21.xb7 is very difficult for Black) 19.xe8 xe8 20.g6 e6 21.xe6 xe6 and Black is not bereft of chances in this endgame. ] 17...xf1 18.g5 e6! [ A fine resource, 18...d7!? 19.xf1 h3 20.h4 f8 21.b1 forces f4! although this may be sufficient, however, not ] [ 18...e7? when 19.h5 xe2 20.h3 is winning g4 21.h4 ] 19.xd8 [ There is some choice, as 19.f5!? d6 20.xf1 exd4 21.h3 h6 22.xh6 xh6 is only slightly better for Black, but ] [ 19.h5? xe2! 20.h4 h6 favours Black. ] 19...xg6 20.xg6 xe2 21.xc7 exd4 Black is slightly better. 22.cxd4 [ Best, 22.xb7?! d3 23.xd3 cxd3 allows Black a dangerous passed d-pawn. ] 22...xd4 23.xb7 d3 24.xd3? [ A mistake, 24.h5 keeps the black passed pawn under control. ] 24...cxd3 25.f4?? [ This loses, 25.b4 e6 26.f4 is forced. ] 25...d2! 26.b1 [ 26.xd2 f3+ ]
26...e2+ 27.f2 c3 0-1
1159 A29 Ljubojevic,Ljubomir 2570 Van Wely,Loek 2668 Amber Rapid Monte Carlo MNC rapid (3) [Carsten Hansen] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.0-0 0-0 9.d3 h6 10.d2 [ 10.c2 is pretty harmless: c6 11.b1 ( 11.e4 xe4 12.dxe4 d6 13.b1 a5 14.b3 f5 15.e3 f6 16.b2 fxe4 17.xe4 h3 18.fe1 ad8 , and Black has equalised comfortably, H.Saldano-J.Campos Mo re n o , Ma n ch a R e a l 2 0 0 0) 11...d5 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.xd5 xf2+ 14.xf2 xd5 15.d2 e6 16.b3 c8 17.b2 d6 with a complicated position and chances to both sides, R.Tomaszewski-P. Botto, Graz 1978 ] [ 10.e3 is much more interesting, e. g. A) 10...a6 11.d1 a7 12.d4 e7 13.dxe5 xe5 14.d5! ( 14.c2 d6 15.b3 f5= Ribli ) 14...xd5 15.cxd5 d6 16.d2 c5 ( 16...b8 17.ac1; 16...f5 17.c3 e7 18.xb7; 16...h3 17.ac1 - analysis by Ribli) 17.c3 f5 18.g2 a5 19.d4 , and with his space advantage and potential to put Black's queenside under pressure, White has the b e t t e r c h a n ce s , L . V a n W e l y- J . P i k e t , Merrillville1997'; B) 10...d6 11.a4 gives White the pair of bishops and a small plus; C) 10...c6 11.d1 e8 12.d4 d6 13.c2 exd4 14.exd4 b6 15.c5 bxc5 16.b5 b8 17.dxc5 b7 18.b3 , and Black is being pushed backwards off the board, P.Kleindl-W .De Cort, Email 2000; D) 10...e8 11.c2 ( 11.d1 f8 12.c2!? d6 13.d4 g4 14.xg4 xg4 15.f3 exd4 16.exd4 f6 17.d5 , and W hite has the easier position to play ) 11...f8 12.g2 c6 13.e4 d6 14.f4 b5 15.cxb5 cxb5 16.h1 a6 17.e3 b7 18.d4 c8 R.Zysk-M.Grynszpan, 1150
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.g2 xg2 18.xg2 f5 . and Black is Sharjah 1985 ] already in the driver's seat, since his attack [ 10.g2 e8 ( 10...c6 11.d2 b6 is bound to touch down sooner than 12.ac1 d6 13.fd1 e8 14.e1 b8 W hite's queenside action, R.Dieks-L. 15.e4 c7 , and a draw was very Christiansen, Teeside 1973 ] prematurely agreed upon, C.Duncan-A. [ 10...a6 11.c2 d6 12.g2 c6 13.ab1 Collinson, England 2000; 10...d6 11.a4 c7 ( 13...g4 14.h3 e6 15.b4 a7 b6 12.d2 g4 13.xb6 axb6 14.fe1 16.h2 ) 14.b4 d4?! ( 14...a7!? ) 15.e3 L.Ljubojevic-L.Van Wely, Villarrobledo rpd xc3 16.xc3 e6 17.b2 d7 18.f4 1998 ) H.Pecorelli Garcia-R.Castellanos, La Paz A) 11.h3!? c6 12.h2 b6 13.a4! 2002 ] A1) 13...xb3 14.axb3 d6 ( 14...f8 [ 10...c6 11.fd1 ( 11.a4 e7 12.c5 d5 15.b6 b8 16.xa7 c5 17.e3 ) 13.cxd6 xd6 is perfectly comfortable for 15.d2 Ribli; Black ) 11...a5 12.a4 a7 13.ac1 d6 A2) 13...a5 14.xc5 xc5 15.e4 14.c5 dxc5 15.xc5 e7 16.a3 d5= e7 ( 15...d6 16.e3 a5 17.f4; H.Froberg-T.Klausen, corr ICCF 1999 ] 15...d5 16.cxd5 cxd5 17.exd5 ) 16.e3 d6 17.f4 Cu.Hansen-H. 11.ad1 [ 11.ac1 b8 12.a4! a6 13.b4 f8 Westerinen, Reykjavik 1998; 14.b5 Cu.Hansen-L.Christiansen, Munich B) 11.c2 c6 12.b1 f8 13.e4 a6 1992 ] 14.b4 , and with a good grip on the centre, [ 11.g2 c6 12.ac1 f8 ( 12...b6 and excellent prospects of a successful 13.a4 d6 14.b4 e6= B.Gelfand-P. wing attack on the queenside, White has Svidler, Dos Hermanas 1999 - see the PGN the better chances, H.Liebert-S. archives ) 13.a4 a6 14.b3 d6 15.e3 Kalinitschew, Halle1987 ] e7 16.a4 g4 17.fe1 ad8 18.h3 [ 10.a4 e7 11.e3 ( 18.b6 c8 19.e4 may be a possible A) 11...d6 12.c3 c6 13.d4 c7 14.d5 improvement for White, though Black should ( 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.ad1 e6=; 14.ad1 be okay ) 18...e6 19.h2 b5 20.b6 g4!? 15.c1 exd4 16.xd4 e5 1/2-1/2 Z.Izoria-N.Pert, Hoogeveen 2003 ] 17.g2 - Khalifman) 14...h3 15.fc1?! ( 15.g2 xg2 16.xg2= ) 15...c5! 11...c6 12.g2 f8 [ 12...b6 16.d2 h7 17.g2 xg2 18.xg2 f5 A) White has an noteworthy idea at this , and Black has a definite initiative. M. point, 13.e3!? b7 and now... 14.c1! Petursson-A. Khalifman, Narva 1998; ( 14.e4!? xe4 15.dxe4 a5 ) 14...f8 B) 11...c6! (preparing the counteraction in 15.d4 exd4 ( 15...e4 16.f3 exf3 17.xf3 the centre, if W hite gets to frisky on the d5 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.f5 ) 16.exd4; q u e e n s i d e ) 12.c5 d5 13.cxd6 xd6 B) 13.a4 b7 14.b4 f8 15.b5 ( 15.e4 14.fc1 e7 wit approximately even d5 16.exd5 cxd5 17.cxd5 xd5 18.e4 chances (although I once again like White d6 19.fe1; 15.b3 d5 16.b5 cxb5 slightly better) A.Minasian-Pr.Nikolic, 17.xd5 bxc4 18.dxc4 ) 15...c8 Yerevan 1996 ] 16.b3 c7 ( 16...cxb5 17.cxb5 xg2 10...e8 18.xg2 a6= ) 17.a4 ad8 18.b1 a8 [ 10...d6 11.g2 a6 12.ab1 d7!? 19.fe1 c5 20.a5!? ( 20.e4 xe4 13.c2 ( 13.xb7?? looks tempting 21.dxe4 d6 22.e3= ) 20...bxa5 21.a4 because b8 can be answered with b4! 22.xb4 axb4 23.xb4 cxb5 14.xc8 , but af te r fxc8 15.a4 h3 24.xb5 xg2 25.xg2 b8 ( 25...d5 Bla ck all of a sud den ha s a mu rde rou s 26.c5; 25...e4!?= ) 26.c5 xc5 attack that will cost White at least a piece to 27.xc5 d5 28.xb8 xb8 29.cxd5 parry: 16.c6 e4! 17.xe4 g4-+ ) xd5 30.a1 c3 31.f3 b5 13...g4 14.d5?! ( 14.b4!? a7 15.b5 32.a4?? ( 32.d7! a5 33.c1 a4 axb5 16.xb5 b8 17.c3 a7 18.e3 ) 34.c8+ h7 35.e4 ) 32...a5-+ 14...xd5 15.f3 g6 16.cxd5 h3 1151
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 0-1, Y.Yakovich-A.Zatonskih, Port Erin 2005 ] 13.fe1 d6 14.c1 [ 14.e4 c7 15.e2 c5 16.c3 is probably about balanced, but I nonetheless still prefer White's chances. ] 14...c7 15.d4 e4 16.d5 c5 17.h3 g6 18.g4!? g7 19.f4 a6 20.c2 e7 21.f3 h5 22.g5 h7 23.xe4 f5 24.h4 xe4 25.xe4 xe4 26.fxe4 e5 27.e3 b5 28.e2 b4 29.f1 a5 30.ef2 a7 31.h3 g7 32.g2 a4 and despite his extra mat erial, W h ite will no t b e a ble to brea k through Black's fortress. ½-½
1160 Malakhov,Vladimir Bacrot,Etienne ECC Halkidiki GRE (7) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2668 2653 28.09.2002
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 g6 This is something of a pet system of Etienne's, [ 4...b4 or ] [ 4...d5 are more common. ] 5.g2 We analysed [ 5.d4 exd4 6.xd4 g7 7.xc6 dxc6 8.xd8+ xd8 in Karpov,A-Bacrot,E. ] 5...g7 6.0-0 0-0 7.d4 [ 7.d3 is quite possible, of course, and very common, but the text is the most ambitious. ] 7...exd4 8.xd4 e8 9.c2 In principle this is correct, with more space W hite wants to retain as many pieces as possible on the board. [ 9.xc6 would allow dxc6 see Georgiev, KAkopian,V, and this is similar to the Karpov-Bacrot game, except that the black king is less exposed. ] 9...d6 10.e4 This is best, as otherwise, [ 10.b3 f5 controls e4, 11.b2 e4!? 12.xe4 xe4 13.xg7 xg7 14.e3 a5 Black has few problems, Psakhis,L-Akopian, V/Elista 1998. ] 10...e5!? Bacrot's improvement over his previous effort: [ 10...d7!? (possibly planning to capture on c3) 11.d2 a6 12.b3 b8 13.b2 b5
14.e3 Kortschnoj,V-Bacrot,E/Linz 1997, when Korchnoj suggests Black should play c5! 15.cxb5 axb5 16.cd5 b4 17.xg7 xg7 18.fd1 d7 with unclear play. ] [ 10...e6 is also possible, 11.b3 d7 12.b2 h3 13.f3 xg2 14.xg2 e5 15.d5 with more space, Poldauf,D-Zaitsev, I/Podolsk 1991. ] 11.b3 c6 12.a3 fd7 Black plays in similar style to the Classical line against the Fianchetto King's Indian. 13.e2 White gains nothing by capturing on d6: [ 13.xd6?! xc4 14.bxc4 xc3 ] [ 13.xd6?! xc4 14.bxc4 xc3 ] 13...c5 14.ad1 c7 15.d2 White returns to pester the d-pawn, although it is still not really 'en prise'. f5!? Black plays dynamically, moves like [ 15...f8 are too passive, but ] [ 15...b6 is reasonable, 16.xd6?! xd6 17.xd6 b7 18.dd1 xc4 19.bxc4 xc3 ] 16.f4 f7 This doesn't work too well, [ 16...ed3!? is more active, but allows 17.e5! dxe5 18.b4 which wins the knight, and altho ugh Black certainly has som e compensation after e4 19.bxc5 it may not b e e n o u g h , e . g . e6 ( still, 19...e7! is worth trying, Black's powerful knight is worth a lot.) 20.xe4! fxe4 21.xe4 ed8 22.d6 b2 23.xb2 xb2 24.d4 with advantage. ] 17.e5 d8? This leads to an inferior position by force, [ 17...f8 18.exd6 xd6 is superior although the black pieces are awkwardly placed, and White has some advantage. ] 18.exd6 xd6 19.e3 xd1 20.e8+ f8 21.xd1 e7?! 22.e1! xe8 23.xe8 The rook on the eighth wins for White, Black is unable to complete his development. d7 24.d4 h6 25.e6 f7 26.xf8+ xe6?? A blunder in a bad position, [ 26...xf8 27.xf8 g7 is quite awful, as the black bishop still can't move, but can be played. ] 27.e8+? White misses the pretty [ 27.d5+! cxd5 28.cxd5# ] 27...f7 28.e7+ Of course, White is still winning. g8 29.d5 A nice tactic, but [ 29.b5! has the same idea, but is even 1152
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 stronger: g4 30.e8+ g7 31.d6 wins the bishop. ] 29...g4 [ 29...cxd5?! 30.xd5+ f8 31.xh7+ e8 32.h8+ f8 33.xf8+ etc. ] 30.c7 b8 31.e6 df6?! [ 31...a5 ] 32.d6 a8 33.c7 b8 34.h3 h6 35.e8 xe8 36.xe8+ f7 37.e7+ [ 37.e7+ f6 38.xh7 attacks the rook and the knight. ] 1-0
1161 Malakhov,Vladimir Nepomniachtchi,Ian 8th ch-Euro Dresden GER (8) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2679 2602 11.04.2007
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 In the February update some of the lines after 8 Rb1 and 8 a3 were discussed 0-0 9.a4 This line is relatively rare, more common are 9 Be3 and 9 a3. a5 10.e3 e6 [ ECO's main line runs 10...g4 11.c1 e8 12.d2 b8 13.b5 b4 ( or 13...d7 Eingorn-Yakovich, USSR ch 1986, and now Kortchnoi gives 14.c4 xc4 15.xc4 as leading to an equal position) 14.xc6 bxc6 15.a7 h3 16.xc6 d5 17.f3 a8 18.xb4 axb4 19.e1 xa4 20.xc7 b3 with compensation for the pawn as seen in the game Kortchnoi-Petursson, Lugano 1986. ] 11.d2 [ This isn't even mentioned in ECO. Maybe for a good reason, because Black is doing rather well in the continuation. However, the alternatives are worth a look. W hite has several options available to him: A) 11.c1 is the most popular move A) 11...d5 12.xd5 xd5 13.d2 xg2 14.xg2 d4 15.xd4 exd4 16.b3 b6 17.f3 c5 18.e4= Evans, L-Donovan, J/ Omaha 1949; B) 11...f6 12.b5 B1) 12...d7 B1a) 13.xb6!? cxb6 14.d4 fd8 ( 14...e4 15.d2 f5 16.e3 ) 15.dxe5
fxe5 16.xd7 xd7 17.fd1 with chances to both sides.; B1b) 13.c5 ac8 14.d2 xc5 15.xc5 e7 16.c1 b4 ( 16...d8!? ) 17.b3 ( here 17.xc6 bxc6 18.a7 a8 19.xc6 xb2 20.a1 g4 offers about even chances. ) 17...d5 18.c4?! ( 18.e4!? d4 19.c5 f7 20.xb7 xb5 21.axb5 xb5 22.c5= ) 18...e7 19.b1 cb4 20.cc1 c6 21.c3 xc3 22.xc3 d5 , and Black has already obtained a pleasant position, Soto, G-Gamboa, N/Bogota 1992; B2) 12...f7 13.xb6 cxb6 14.d2 c8 15.c4 c5 16.c3 d7 17.e4 b4 18.f4 exf4 19.xf4 d4 20.b3 b5 21.axb5 a4 22.f1 axb3 23.b1 f5 24.ed2 xd2 25.xd2 c2 26.d1 a5 27.xb3 xb3 28.xd4 b6 29.xb3 xd4+ 30.f1 dc7 31.b1 7c3 32.f3 b6 33.h4 e3 34.g2 g6 35.g1 xd3 36.xe3 xe3 37.a1 exe2+ 38.xe2 xe2+ 39.f3 b2 40.f4 g7 41.a7+ h6 42.e5 xb5+ 43.f6 b3 44.h5 xg3 45.hxg6 hxg6 46.a8 h5 47.h8+ g4 48.xg6 f4 49.b8 f3 50.xb6 f2 0-1 Waltemathe, A-Sandor, B/Beverwijk 196601; C) 11...f5 C1) here 12.d2 f4 ( not 12...d5?! 13.b3! cb4 14.xd5 xd5 15.xb7 xe3 16.fxe3 b8 17.c6 d6 18.c4 ) 13.xb6 cxb6 transposes to our main game, Malakhov, V-Nepomniachtchi, I; C2) 12.b5 f6 C2a) 13.c5 f7 14.d2 d7 15.xb6 cxb6 16.xc6 bxc6 17.xc6 e4 ( 17...c8!? 18.xd7 xd7 leaves Black with adequate compensation for the pawn) 18.xa8 xa8 19.c2 exd3 20.exd3 d8 21.e1 d5 ( 21...f7!? ) 22.c4 b7 Bordoni, N-Villarreal, H/Mar del Plata 1993, and now 23.e6!? d5 24.xb6; C2b) 13.xb6 cxb6 14.d2 C2b1) 14...d7 15.c4 ad8 1153
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.xb6 f7 17.e1 ( Obviously 17.xc6 need to be examined as it picks up a second pawn for W hite: bxc6 18.xc6 e4 19.d6 e7 20.bc4 xb2 21.xb2 xd6 22.xd6 xd6 23.dxe4 xd1 24.xd1 fxe4 25.c3 ) 17...f4 18.c3 h5 19.e4 d4 Johnson, R-Bagherabadi, M/Lansing 1985; C2b2) 14...f7 15.xc6 bxc6 16.xc6 d5 17.d6 d7 18.c4 xd6 19.bxd6 f4 Gilles, RP a p a c e k , S / C l i c h y 1 9 9 0 20.e4 c8 21.b3; C2b3) 14...c8 15.c4 e7 C2b31) 16.e3!? c5 17.e2 e8 18.xe5 ( 18.fd1 f7= ) 18...xe5 19.d4 xd4 20.xc8 xc8 21.d6 d7 22.exd4 xd6 23.xe5; C2b32) 16.f4?! exf4 17.gxf4 c5+ 18.h1 f6 19.c3 h6 Littman, G-Reshevsky, S/New York 1940 ] [ B) 11.e4 d5 12.c5 h6 ( or 12...f5!? 13.xe7 xe7 14.eg5 db4 15.xe6 xe6 16.c1 h8 17.c3 ad8 18.ad1 d7 19.fe1 fd8= Ost Hansen, J-Schoch, H/Winterthur 1974) 13.c1 d6 14.fd2 f5 15.xd6 cxd6 16.a3 de7 17.c4 c8 ( 17...d5 18.d6 b8 19.b5 ) 18.e3 ( 18.xc6! bxc6 19.xd6 xd6 20.xc6 ) 18...f7 19.d4 exd4 20.exd4 Piro, V-Lipiniks, L/Buenos Aires 1946 ] [ C) 11.d4 exd4 ( 11...xd4 12.xd4 exd4 13.xd4 c8 14.d3 c6 15.fd1 f6 16.e4 e7 so far Nuesken, FKirchhammer, R/Schwerin 1951, and here 17.xf6+ xf6 18.b3 c5 19.b5 le a v e s W h i t e wit h a c o m f o r t a b l e p l u s) 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 ( 13.xd4 c6 14.e4 d5 15.c1 e8 16.e3 f8 Iglesias, A-Van Riemsdijk, H/ Mar del Plata 1994 17.g4 e6 18.h5 ) 13...c4 14.xb7 b8 15.d5 xe3 16.xe3 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xe7 xb2= Savon, V-Timoscenko, G/ Kischniev 1975 ] [ C) 11.xb6 is the only move covered in ECO now cxb6 12.c1 ( Two alternatives
are 12.b5 f6 13.d2 c8 14.c3 e7 15.fc1 b4 16.d1 f6 17.e3 e7 18.e2 fd8 , and a premature draw was agreed upon, despite Black having solved his opening problems successfully and can be quite pleased with his position, 1/2-1/2 Petran, P-Liebert, H/Stary Smokovec 1975; and 12.d2 h5 13.c4 h4 14.c1 c5 15.e3 hxg3 16.hxg3 f5 which is given as unclear in the ECO based on the game Kraidman-Lederman, Netanya 1975. White can pick up a pawn with 17.xc6 bxc6 18.xe5 e8 but the weaknesses on the light squares in W hite's position, particularly around the king provide Black with some compensation. Whether or not it is sufficient is difficult to say.) 12...d7 13.d2 f6 14.c4 c5 15.e4 c7 16.e3 ad8 17.e2 d7 18.fd1 g4 19.f3 xf3 20.xf3 f5 , and Black has the better chances as in Levitina, I-Yakovich, Y/Helsinki 1992, although Black in the end of the game managed to throw all of his advantage away and finally lose on time on move 39. ] [ D) 11.c1?! f6 12.b5 d5 13.c5 cb4 14.d1 c6 15.xe7 xe7 16.c3 b6 is already very pleasant for Black, Tassi, O-Roos, J/Luxembourg 1981 ] [ E) 11.b5!? A) 11...h6 12.c1 d5 13.d2 xg2 14.xg2 f5 15.xc7 xc7 16.b3+ h8 17.xb6 d7 18.b5 g5 19.cd1 ( 19.e3!? d8 20.c4 is probably better for White ) 19...xd2 20.xd2 f4 21.f3 fxg3 22.hxg3 e4 23.d4 f5 24.d5 h5 and here the players chickened out and agreed upon a draw (1/2-1/2) in Robledo, N-Casoy, G/Buenos Aires 1994, but there is obviously still plenty of play left in this position, though Black is the one who has to pro ve tha t h is kin gside initia tive is sufficient to compensate f or the pawn 25.g4 g5 26.g3 d6+ 27.f4 e7 28.e3 f5+ 29.f2 xg4 is a fun and messy, but definitely not bad for Black; B) 11...d5 12.d2 B1) 12...f6 13.c1 d7 14.e1?! ( White can do much better with 14.e4! b6 15.d4! exd4 16.f4 fc8 17.fxd4 ) 14...ac8 15.f4 d4 16.f5 1154
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f7 Cohen, L-Denker, A/ Chicago 1994; B2) 12...d7 13.c1 ac8 ( or 13...f6 14.e4 b6 15.d4 exd4 16.f4 fc8 17.fxd4 ) 14.xc6! bxc6 15.xe5 d8 ( 15...e8 16.a7 b8 17.axc6 xb2 18.xa5 ) 16.d4?! ( 16.a7 a8 17.axc6 d6 18.xe7+ xe7 19.c6 d6 20.c2 ) 16...c5 17.xe6 fxe6 18.xa5 f6 19.c4 b8 20.a1 1/2-1/2 Vehreschild, AJung, T/Goch 1993 ] 11...f5!? [ An improvement over a game played 43 years ago 11...d5 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.c1 d6 15.b3 xb3 16.xb3 fe8 17.c5 xc5 18.xc5 1Averbakh, Y-Bebchuk, E/ Moscow 1964 ] 12.c1 f4 13.xb6 cxb6 14.c4 c5 [ 14...g5!? ] 15.e4 b4 16.ed2 [ 16.e3!? ] 16...c5 17.e4 b4 18.h1?! [ This just hands Black the initiative and better position. Instead 18.e3!? should be co n sid ere d, e. g. f7 19.h5!? xd3 20.xe5 xe5 21.xe5 b3 22.gxf4 with chances for both sides ] 18...d4 19.c3 g5! Black's initiative is worth more than the pawn on b 6 20.xb6 ad8 21.c4 [ 21.d5 h6 22.xe6+ xe6 23.c4 f3 24.exf3 h3 doesn't work for White ] 21...h5 22.d2 xc3 [ 22...g4!? 23.f3 fxg3 24.fxg3 f7 is quite unpleasant for White ] 23.bxc3 fxg3 24.fxg3 xe2? Now Black enter s a forced sequence of moves that ends up being better for White. [ Black, however, has a much better alternative available: 24...xf1+ 25.xf1 f5 A) 26.e4?! d5! ( 26...e3? 27.d2 ) 27.e1 xe4+ 28.dxe4 e3; B) 26.e1 e3 27.g1 d7 28.b1 c6 is rather uncomfortable for White ] 25.f3 e4 26.xe2 exf3 27.xe6+ h8 28.f1 de8 [ Also 28...b5!? 29.axb5 xb5 30.b1 h5 can be considered ] 29.d6 d8?!
[ At this juncture 29...b5!? may be Black's b e s t , e . g . 30.axb5 xb5 31.e1 c8 and while W hite is b ett er, B la ck is st ill playing ] 30.b6 f2 31.e3 b5 32.a1?! [ Here 32.axb5! xb5 33.b1 a4 34.e4 looks like an easier solution W hite is winning. ] 32...de8 [ A more difficult move to face is possibly 32...bxa4 e.g. A) not 33.xa4?! because things immediately gets complicated, e.g. de8 ( 33...d1? 34.xa5 e1 35.e5 xd3!? 36.xd3 xe5 37.f3 , and W hite is winning) 34.f4! xf4 35.xf4 c5 36.e4 f8 37.e3 ( 37.xf8+? xf8 38.c4 a4 39.c3 a3= ) 37...a4 38.g2 a3 39.d2 b8 and Black's passed a-pawn provides an uncomfortable level of counterplay.; B) 33.g2! b5 34.e4 b3 ( 34...d7?! 35.c5!+- ) 35.c5 g8 36.c4! and White should win ] 33.e4 bxa4 34.c4 b8 [ A practical move that intends to follow up with ...a4-a3-a2 and ...Rb1, which can be difficult to deal with in time trouble, but under normal circumstances, W hite shouldn't have any problems facing this line. Th e alt e rna t ive 34...e5 allows White to co n s o l i d a t e 35.g2 e8 36.c5 ef5 37.a2 and White should win ] 35.h3 a3 36.c5! f3+!? [ Exchanging the queens allows White to c o n s o l i d a t e : 36...xc5 37.xc5 fe8 38.e4 b3 39.g2 followed by Ra2 and c5. ] 37.h2 [ 37.g2?? loses on the spot f1+! 38.xf1 xf1+ 39.xf1 a2 40.g2 a1+-+ ] 37...a2?! A typical time trouble move that can only serve to confuse White due to threats like ...Rb1 or ...Rb2, but its objective value doesn't account for much as White can win in several ways. [ 37...h5 38.xa3 h4 39.e7 hxg3+ 40.xg3 f4 41.xa5 f6 42.e5+- ] 38.a3 [ W h i t e c a n a l s o g o f o r 38.xa2!? but in time trouble, the concern of a passed 1155
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a-pawn supported by rook and queen may have caused White to go for the text move. Nonetheless after d1 39.xf2 xf2+ 40.xf2 a4 41.a7 f8 42.g2 White should win without any further ado ] 38...b1? Black may have been in time trouble at this point, because this move just loses. Obviously the alternatives aren't too pretty either, but most other moves are better than the text move, e.g. [ 38...h5 39.xa2 h4 40.c1 hxg3+ 41.xg3+- ] [ 38...f5 39.xa2 d1 40.a1 e1 41.g4! ff8 42.xa5 b1 43.c5!+- ] 39.d2 f5 40.xb1 axb1 41.xb1 h5 42.b5 1-0
1162 Malakhov,Vladimir Roiz,Michael 8th ch-Euro Dresden GER (10) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2679 2605 13.04.2007
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e8 7.e1 [ 7.d5 is the main line move ] 7...h6 [ 7...f8 A) An interesting alternative is 8.c2!? d6 9.d4 h6 ( 9...f5 10.d5 e7 11.g5 ) 10.e4 d7 ( 10...exd4 11.xd4 d7 is solid for Black, but gives W hite more space and an easier position to play, as Black in this of position often runs out of go o d m o ve s to p la y, wh ile W h it e ca n peddle his pieces around forever before deciding to break open the position.) 11.h3 h7 12.f4 exd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 Kurz, E-Herbrechtsmeier, C/ 2. Bundesliga1990; B) 8.d3 d6 9.c2 ( 9.d5 xd5 10.cxd5 e7 11.d4 f5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.d3 e4 14.f4 d6 15.e3 Bergstrom, C-Kinnmark, O/Boras 1979 d7 with a comfortable position for Black) 9...d4 10.b4 ( 10.g5 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.e3 xc2 13.xc2 c6 14.b4 d8 15.b5 d7= Sieglen, J-Hoffmann, H/ Wuerttemberg 1979) 10...c6 11.b5 e6
12.bxc6 bxc6 13.g5 e7 14.e3 g4 15.f3 xc2 16.xc2 Gurevich, MF e d o r o w i c z , J / N e w Y o r k 1 9 8 9 , d7 with an equal position according to Fedorowicz ] [ 7...d6 8.c2 xc3 A) 9.bxc3?! looks like a decent move but is in fact rather passive, e.g. e4 10.d3 h6 11.f3 exd3 12.exd3 d5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.b2 f5 15.d2 b6 16.ad1 e5 17.e1 Jorgensen, J-Kolbak, J/Vejle 1974, and now: xd3! ( 17...a4!? can also be considered) 18.xd3 c4 19.c2 e3 20.e5 xc2 21.xd8+ xd8 22.xc4 e2 and Black is clearly better thanks to his exce lle n t co ord ina t ion a nd a ct ive pieces, and White's lack of both; B) 9.dxc3 e6 10.e3 a5 ( 10...g4!? ) 11.b3 g4 12.d5 c6 13.b4 f5 with chances to both sides accord ing to ECO, quoting the game , Averbakh, Y-Passerotti, P/Reggio Emilia 1977. However, I think this is partly based on the continuation chosen by White in the game, 14 e4, which does lead to a rather unclear position, but instead 14.h3 f6 15.g5 f8 16.d3 gives White the more pleasant position ] [ 7...xc3 8.dxc3 e4?! ( 8...h6!= (as quoted by Kortchnoi in the ECO and his ECO monograph 'A29' the point is that it doesn't allow White to play Bc1-g5) 9.c2 e4 10.e3 , and now with d6 the play would have entered the main lines that arise after 6... e4 7 Ne1 Bxc3 8 dxc3 h6 9 Nc2 Re8 10 Ne3 d6) 9.g5! h6 ( or 9...d6 10.c2 e5 11.d2 e6 12.b3 h6 13.xf6 xf6 14.f4 Averbakh, YBronstein, D/USSR 1976) 10.xf6 xf6 11.c2 A) 11...b6?! 12.e3 e5 13.c1! a6 ( Relatively better is 13...b7!? 14.xd7 ad8 15.g4 d2 16.c2 with 'only' a clear advantage according to Averbakh) 14.d5 b5 15.fd1 b8 16.b4 bxc4 17.xc4 b5 18.xb5 axb5 19.a3 b7 20.c4 , and while this is evaluated as 'clearly better f or W hite' by Averbakh based on the game Averbakh, Y-Suetin, A/ USS R 1 97 8, th e t ru th is th at Black is probably even worse of f than that his 1156
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 position is a hopeless mess, pieces are totally uncoordinated and he will likely lose th e e-pa wn , while W hite 's pieces a re ideally placed; B) 11...d6 12.e3 B1) 12...e5 13.b3! ( or 13.d2 g5 14.fe1 e8 15.ad1 f5 16.f4 exf3 17.exf3 e6 18.f4 Petrosian, TKorchnoi, V/Tbilisi 197 6) 13...b8 14.ad1 b6 15.c2 f5 16.d5! be8 17.fd1 Uhlmann, W-Reshevsky, S/ Skopje 1976; B2) 12...d8!? 13.c2 f5 14.ad1 f6 15.d5 f7 16.f3; B3) 12...f5?! 13.f4! e7 14.g4 d7 15.e1! c6 16.h4 ad8 17.g3 Averba kh , Y-Ro drigue z, R/P olan ica Zdroj 1975 ] 8.c2 c5 9.d3 d4 10.b1 a6 11.b4 a7 12.a4 c6 13.xd4 xd4 14.b3 [ 14.e4 d6 15.e3 xe4 16.dxe4 a7 17.a5 ( 17.a3 b5!= ) 17...e6 18.d3 c5 19.a3 c7 ] 14...d6 15.b5 axb5 16.axb5 d7 17.d2 c8 [ 17...e7 18.e3 c5 19.a1 is about level, but I pref er W hite's position due to the re l a t i v e ly e a s y a c c e ss t o a qu e e n s i d e breakthrough. ] 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.a4 [ 19.e3 c5 20.a4 a7 gains a tempo for W h ite o ve r t h e ga m e con t inu a tio n , b u t wh e t h e r W h i t e c a n u s e t h e t e m p o f o r anything is questionable ] 19...d5 20.e3 a7 21.b7 c7 [ Also 21...a8 22.cxd5 cxd5 23.c3 e6 can be considered. The text move invites a draw by repetition ] 22.b3 c8 23.b7 c7 24.a6!? 24 Black being clearly satisfied with a draw, White tries something other than continuing the repetition of moves with Qb3 c8 25.a5 f5 26.b3 d7 [ 26...dxc4 27.dxc4 e6 28.b2 followed by Bc3 and Rd1 is pleasant for White ] 27.xd8 dxd8 28.cxd5 and the players agreed upon a draw, despite Black having solved his opening problems successfully. ½-½
1163 Malakhov,Vladimir Sargissian,Gabriel 25th ECC Ohrid MKD (6) [Nigel Davies]
A29 2715 2678 09.10.2009
An interesting game in which Black came up with a new move in 12...Nd4. He goes a pawn down but has plenty of compensation because of W hite's pawn weaknesses. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.d3 e6 10.e3 d5 11.xd5 xd5 12.c1 [ In view of Black's reply maybe White should prefer 12.a4 , for example Hansen, C (2616) -Sadvakasov, D (2595), Skanderborg 2003, continued d6?! (perhaps not best) 13.ac1 e6?! ( 13...fd8 looks better) 14.b5 a6 15.xb7 fb8 16.xc7 xb2 17.g5 xg5 18.xd5 xd5 19.xg5 h6 20.xc6 hxg5 21.d6 and White went on to win. ] 12...d4 A new move in an old position, and one which seems to neutralise this line. [ Black had previously played 12...d6 when 13.d2 ( 13.c5 e7 14.xd6 cxd6 15.b4 1/2-1/2 was fine for Black in Uhlmann, W (2505)-Seirawan, Y (2510), Thessaloniki 1988 ) 13...xg2 14.xg2 d7 15.e4 fe8 16.f3 ad8 17.b3 b6 18.c4 and White had a pull in Uhlmann, W (2510)Pfrommer, C (2325), Baden-Baden 1993. ] 13.xe5 Winning a pawn, but Black now gets to inflict permanent structural damage. Frankly I think that this position is unwinnable for W hite, though this doesn't stop him trying. xg2 14.xg2 d5+ 15.f3 xf3 16.exf3 W hite's extra pawn on the kingside cannot produce a passed pawn in any endgame, so its value is very limited. And meanwhile he has some liabilities because of the isolated dpawn. c6 17.c2 fd8 18.fd1 d7 19.c4 f6 20.xd5 xd5 21.c2 b5 22.dd2 a6 23.f1 d8 24.e2 b3 If you ask Fritz it seems to think that all these positions are good for White. But that's only because the extra pawn throws out all its evaluations. 25.d4 b5 26.b4 bd5 27.c5 5d7 28.c4 g6 29.a4 g7 30.b5 cxb5 31.axb5 axb5 32.b4 d5 33.db2 xd4 34.xd4 xd4 35.xb5 4d7 36.xb7 1157
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xb7 37.xb7 d5 38.f4 h5 39.h4 a5 40.d7 h5 41.f3 f5 42.e3 a3+ 43.d3 ½-½
1164 Marin,Mihail Fluvia Poyatos,Jordi VII Sants Open (8) [John Watson]
A29 2537 2458 02.09.2005
The ..Bc5/...Bf5 setup so popular for Black is probably still okay but White plays wonderfully in this game to break it down. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 c5 5.d3 d6 6.f3 This opening usually arises from 3.Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Bc5 5.Bg2 d6 6.0-0 0-0 etc. 0-0 7.0-0 h6 8.a3 a5 9.e3 b6 10.b3! f5 This kind of position used to be considered good for White, but Black has held his own for some years now. Marin does a brilliant job of crawling forward and squeezing Black, not the least based upon the restricted position of the bishop on b6. I'll supply few notes and let you watch this artistic achievement unfold: 11.h3! d7 12.h2 h7 [ 12...ae8!? ] 13.b2 fe8 14.g1! e4 [ 14...d8 15.ge2 b8 16.d5 xd5 17.cxd5 ] 15.d5 xd5 16.cxd5 d8 17.dxe4 xe4 18.xe4 xe4 19.f3! f5?! [ 19...e7 20.e2 c6 21.f4 ] 20.g4! f7 21.gxf5 [ Also good and probably even better than the text are 21.xf5 xf5 22.gxf5 ] [ or 21.e2! , both giving huge advantages to White. ] 21...g5 22.g2 ae8 23.f6! h4 24.ae1?! Now things start to slip. White should play [ 24.fxg7! ] 24...f7 25.g3? [ 25.fxg7! ] 25...h5! 26.g4 g6 [ 26...e4!? ] 27.e4 h7 28.f4 f8 29.e2 g5 30.g1 h7 31.e2 g5 A sad end f or White, who did everything right except play the obvious moves while cleaning up. ½-½
1165 Marin,Mihail Karpov,Anatoly TCh Lanzarote ESP (6) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2568 2686 11.05.2003
W hite plays a sharp exchange sacrifice to weaken Black's kingside defences, but then misses two crucial opportunities to gain the advantage. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 c5 The former World Champion still likes this system, although he wouldn't dream of playing like this with a tempo more as White! 5.g2 d6 6.0-0! 0-0! 7.d3 h6 8.a3 a5 9.e3 e8 this, and Black's next few moves, are fairly interchangeable. 10.b3 f5 11.b2 a7 This retreat seems to be a novelty in this particular position, as [ 11...b6 had been preferred: 12.h3 d7 13.h2 e7 14.d4 ( 14.e1 c6 15.e4 h7 16.d4 is another way of treating the position, Delchev,A-Savchenko,S/ 2nd IECC Playoff g/15, Ohrid MKD (3.1) 2001) 14...e4 15.d2 d5 16.a4 which occurred in another game of Delchev,A-Savchenko,S/ 2nd IECC, Ohrid MKD 2001. ] 12.h3 The exact position of the black darksquared bishop doesn't change the contours of the game too much, and W hite simply continues with the normal improving plan. d7 13.h2 White's last two moves stop the e xc h a n ge o f l ig h t - s qu a r e d b i s h o p s . h7 14.g1! The knight aims for e2. This plan was seen in an almost identical position (with the bla ck b ish o p o n b 6 , n o t a 7 ) in t h e ga m e Gurevich, M-Sokolov, I/Belgrade 1991. It is easy to know what to do when you have seen how the super-GMs handle a given position, but it seems to me that if the knight is better placed on e2 why not play 2 g3, and put it t h e r e d i r e c t l y ? ! d8 15.ge2 c6 Black menaces ...d5, so White stops it. 16.e4 e6 17.f4 White has the more dynamic position with distinct kingside possibilities. b5 Black aims for quick queenside counterplay he doesn't want to be mown-down by f5, g4 etc. 18.cxb5 cxb5 19.fxe5!? An unusual move, but part of a sharp tactical operation. dxe5 20.xf6! This shatters the black kingside, but is a genuine sacrifice as the co m pe n sat ion is e nt irely p o sit ion a l. gxf6 1158
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.d5 d8 22.d2 c7! The best practical decision as the d5-knight is too strong, and so Black hastens to exchange it. 23.ef4!? White will not give-up his outpost so easily! [ 23.xc7!? xc7 24.c3 is an alternative, d8 25.f1 e6 and now White might try 26.xb5!? ] 23...xd5 [ 23...exf4?? is impossible: 24.xf6+ f8 25.xh7+ destroys Black. ] 24.xd5 e6 25.g4?! Time is of the essence! White goes for complete control of f5, but this is quite unnecessary as Black can hardly contemplate an immediate ...f5 - see the next note: [ 25.f1! is simple and good, c8 ( 25...f5? just loses to 26.exf5 d6 27.f6 xd5 28.xh6 f8 29.g5+ h8 30.xd5 ) 26.xh6 f5 27.d2 and White has a pawn and attack for the exchange - I would judge that he is better. ] 25...c8 26.f1 c5 The bishop returns to help defend the kingside. 27.c3! [ 27.xh6 f5 28.d2 fxg4 shows the folly of White's 25th move. ] 27...a8 [ 27...a4!? ] 28.b2?! White must have been short of time to lay this passive move, as he has a nice trick here: [ 28.xh6! f5 29.c1! (the point - the c5bishop is loose) fxg4 ( 29...xa3 30.xa3 b4 is completely unclear, as White can play the wild 31.exf5!? bxa3 32.fxe6 fxe6 33.f6+ g7 34.xe5 with at least a draw by perpetual.) 30.xe5! xe5 31.xc5 and if anyone is better, it is White. ] 28...aa6 29.e1 f8 30.b4 axb4 31.axb4 d4 32.e2 ed6 33.c7 ab6 34.d5 bc6 Naturally Black plays on here. [ 34...a6 35.c7 could lead to a draw by repetition. ] 35.h4 d8 36.a2 g7 Black plays useful prophylaxis moves. 37.e2 a6 38.f3 Trying to keep Black pinned-down to the def ence of f 6. xd5!? The radical solution. 39.exd5 d6 With a nasty threat of ...e4. 40.h1 g6 41.c1?! By taking the pressure off f6 White allows Black to capture his b-pawn. xb4 42.c6? The point, but it
s h o u l d l o s e ! xc6? Returning the compliment, [ 42...a1+ 43.f1 b1 and White can resign, e.g. 44.xf6+ h7 45.g2 a2+ 46.h1 e4+! 47.dxe4 xe4+ and mate. ] 43.dxc6 e4 To def end f 6. 44.dxe4 e5 45.c7 c5 46.f1 b4 47.d3 xc7 The black light-squared bishop is stuck out of play, but the b-pawn is a monster. 48.g2 b3 49.f2 c1 50.e3 b2 51.e1 h5 W hilst W hite is tied-down to stopping the pawn, Black switches his attention to the kingside. 52.b1 hxg4 53.hxg4 f4 54.e2 h2+ 55.f1 h3+ 56.g1 h2+ 57.h1 g3+ 58.g1 xf2+ 59.xf2 h2+ 60.e1 g1+ [ 60...h1+ 61.f1 xe4+! 62.xe4 xe4 would be an amusing way to win! ] 61.f1 xg4 62.d3 g1+ 63.d2 c1+ 64.e2 h5+ The bishop returns to the game! 65.f2 h6 66.g2 e1 67.c2 g5 68.b1 e2+ 69.xe2 xe2 70.f2 g4 71.e3 f5 0-1
1166 Marin,Mihail Komljenovic,Davor 25th Ann Champions (7) [John Watson]
A29 2537 2473 12.07.2005
W e haven't seen many Dragon Reversed games. Here's a look at a battle which follows main-line theory well into some murky positions. White eventually emerges with the better game but strangely agrees to a draw in much the better position. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 [ 10.d3 f6 11.b2 a5 12.b5 d4 is Bacrot-Topalov in ChessPub. ] 10...f6 11.d3 a5 [ Black can also forego this move by 11...d4 12.d2 c6 , as in Bareev-Topalov, to be found in ChessPub. ] 12.b5 d4 13.d2 All theory thus far. c8 Avoiding the trap that Ton y has so of te n pointed out and has been played a remarkable number of times: [ 13...d5?? 14.xd5 xd5 15.e3 1159
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with the idea e6 16.e4 ] [ 13...d5!? --Kosten ] 14.e3 f5 15.c2!? [ A natural move that has been played several times. But W hite succeeded with 15.a4 in K Georgiev-M Gurevich, Mulhouse 2001. It seems a good idea to stop . ..a4. The game, with some of Tony Kosten's notes, went d8 16.c2 b8 17.d1 c6!? ( 17...b4!? ) 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.ce4 d5 ( 19...d7 20.b3!? xa4 21.xa5 xb1 22.xb1 d5 would be extremely unclear) 20.b3!? ( 20.xb8 xb8 21.xc6 f7 gives Black free play -- Kosten) 20...b4 21.e2 c5 with dynamically balanced play. ] 15...d8 16.d1 h8 [ An earlier game went 16...a4 17.ce4?! ( 17.c4!? xc4 18.dxc4 xc4 19.xd8+ xd8 20.xa4 unclear ) 17...d7 18.c5 xc5 19.xc5 d6 with double-edged play. ] 17.a4! Finally stopping ...a4, something White sh ou ld p rob ab ly h a ve d on e o n mo ve 1 5 . d5?! [ 17...b8 and . ..Qd7 is solid. ] 18.xd5 xd5 19.xd5 xd5 20.b2 b4 21.f3 White has taken over the centre and should have good chances. d7 22.e4 c5 23.e2 d4 24.xd4 exd4 25.bc1 xc1 26.xc1 c6 27.h5 [ Or 27.bxc6 bxc6 28.c2 c5 ( 28...c8 29.c4 ) 29.g2 , when Black's bishop on b4 is cut off. ] 27...c5?! 28.c4 e8 29.g2 e5 30.h3 xh3+ 31.xh3 g5 32.c1 g7 33.f4 gxf4 34.xf4 e6 35.g4 g6 36.f3 1/2-1/2. A strange draw. With the bishop stuck on b4 it's hard to believe that W hite can't make progress on the kingside, for example, [ 36.f3 f5! ( 36...b6 37.c2 (or 37.Bc7, tying Black to the defense of the b-pawn) Among several plans he has g4, h4-h5, and a well-timed Re2 and e5.) 37.e5 e8 38.c2 b6 39.h3 h5 40.g2 c8!? 41.g4 hxg4+ 42.hxg4 c4 ( 42...fxg4+ 43.xg4+ f7 44.e4 ) 43.gxf5+ xf5 44.g5+ e6 45.e4! with Rg6+ to come. The c-pawn can be held off until it's meaningless, e.g., c3 46.g6+ e7 47.xb6 a3 48.a6 c2 49.xa5 c1 ( 49...f8 50.g5+ d7
51.a7+ ) 50.xc1 etc. ] ½-½
1167 Marin,Mihail Lemos,Damian Porto Mannu Open (6) [Jonathan Rowson]
A29 2564 2511 20.05.2009
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 e6 9.b4 0-0 10.b1 [ 10.b5 d4 11.xe5 b3 12.e1 c2 ] 10...f6 11.d3 d4 as indicated elsewhere, [ 11...a5 12.b5 d4 13.d2 c8 ] [ and 11...a6 are both viable alternatives. ] 12.d2 [ 12.xd4 exd4 13.e4 d5 followed by f5. ] 12...d5 13.b2 c6 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5+ xd5 16.xd4! xd4 [ 16...exd4 17.b3 is better for White, mainly because d4 proves to be harder to defend than e2. ] 17.b3+ h8 18.fc1 ad8 19.c4 d5 20.b5 c5 White has achieved a small but clear strategic advantage and could probably have made more of it. Marin's play looks a bit lacklustre in what follows, perhaps caused by too many repeat visits to the bountiful buffet in Porto Mannu where this game was played. 21.a4 [ 21.a4!? ] 21...xb3 22.xb3 [ 22.xb3 a8 23.a5 fb8 24.f1 ] 22...a8 White should have quite a com f o rt able ad van ta ge he re , but p ro ve d unable to show it. 23.g2 [ 23.g4 ] 23...g8 24.c4 fd8 25.f3 f7 26.c2 e6 27.c4 d7 28.e4 [ 28.e3!? ] 28...ad8 29.e2 d4 30.d2 g6 31.c4 f8 32.bc3 d6 33.a4 e7 34.b3 xc4 35.xc4 c8 36.c2 c7 37.a5 d7 38.c4 d4 39.c1 d6 40.g1 c7 41.a1 [ 41.g4 intending Rg3-h3, obliging the rook to return to d7, and then trying ne3 to d5, looked like the best chance to increase the 1160
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pressure. ] 41...d8 42.a5 [ 42.g4 ] 42...d7 43.a4 a6 44.b6 ½-½
1168 Marin,Mihail Varga,Zoltan Rumania [Tony Kosten]
A29 2530 2565 1998
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 Black plays an open Sicilian reversed, and forces White to play a 'Dragon' with an extra tempo. 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 Not only is White threatening a discovered attack against the d5-knight, but also the freeing move d4 which, once played, will allow him a central predominance. b6 This is not forced, but is easily Black's best move, he keeps a firm hold on d4. 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 White starts an attack on the e5-pawn, he plans b4-5, dislodging the e-pawn's defender. [ 8.d3 is the more usual move-order, and can transpose. ] 8...0-0 9.b4 e6 Black defends actively against the threat to his e-pawn. 10.d3 a5 Active play, Black can play 10...Nd4 immediately, but prefers to weaken the white queenside first. 11.b5 d4 The point of Black's play, he threatens to bring a piece to b3. 12.b1 Controlling b3, and further supporting the b5-pawn, the one big advantage of this move is that W hite maintains his attack on e5 for a further move. [ 12.xe5? is punished by f6 as there are lots of juicy targets along the a1-h8 diagonal, and if 13.f4 then g5 with complications favourable to Black. ] [ but 12.d2 is more common, planning e3, and hides a terrible trap, for if Black plays th e 'e vide n t ' d5? White wins a piece by 13.xd5 xd5 14.e3 e6 (or 14...Nf5) 15.e4 ] 12...f6 Black takes time out to defend his epawn, but [ 12...d5 might be the most accurate, 13.a4 e8 ( 13...xf3+ 14.xf3 d6 15.d2 fd8 16.b2 c6 17.c3
is not bad either, Georgadze,G-Yakovich,Y/ Barnaul 1988.) 14.xd4 exd4 15.b2 d8 16.xd4 xa3 17.c5 f4 unclear, Azmayparashvili,Z-Romanishin,O/Yerevan 1989. ] 13.d2 c6 One of a number of possibilities for defending the b7-pawn, [ 13...b8?! is the most obvious, 14.e3 f5 15.c2 d6 16.b3 but this shows the disadvantage of 13...Rb8, the a5-pawn is undefended, Azmayparashvili, Z-Olafsson,H/ Moscow 1989. ] [ 13...d5?? is the move all English players dream of, White wins a piece, again, with the standard combination: 14.xd5 xd5 15.e3 and on knight moves, 16 e4. ] [ but 13...d5!? is possible, 14.xd5 xd5 15.e4 f5! 16.e3 fxe4 17.exd4 exd4 and now, instead of 18.xe4 which led to equality in Georgiev,K-Rublevsky,S/ Elista RUS 1998, ( 18.b2 could be tried. )] 14.e3!? xb5 15.xb5 cxb5 16.xb5 d5?! White quickly gains the advantage after this, perhaps [ 16...a7 is safer, 17.c2 h8 18.b1?! a4 19.xb7 c3 20.b6 Dumpor,ALengyel, B/Budapest HUN 1998, and now xb7 21.xb7 e2+ is good for Black, he will take the c1-bishop, and then the a3pawn. ] 17.b2 Better than [ 17.xb7 ] 17...b8 18.c4 b6 19.b3 With his extra centre pawn, and pressure on the b6-pawn, W h i t e h a s a c l e a r a d v a n t a g e . c5!? Black provo kes wild co mplica tions . 20.d4 W hite is obliged to call Black's bluff . c7 21.dxc5 xb5 22.xb5 bxc5 [ 22...d3 is interesting. ] 23.xc5 c8 This is stronger than [ 23...d3 when W hite can play 24.xe5 fxe5 25.xe5 when he has two pawns, and a strong position, for the exchange. ] 24.c6 Forced. a6 25.c1? A silly mistake, allowing the c6-bishop to be pinned, [ 25.d5 was forced, h8 ( the point is that 25...fc8? loses to 26.xa5 ) 26.xe6 xe6 27.xe5 fxe5 28.xe5 with an edge. ] 25...fc8 26.xe5? This further error seriously compromises White's chances, 1161
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 26.d6 xc6 27.xc6 xc6 28.xc6 xb2 would have been OK ] 26...xb2 27.d6 fxe5 28.xe6+ h8 White has only managed to get one pawn for his exchange, and the c6-bishop remains pinned. 29.d1 bb8 30.d7 xe6 31.xe6 So, the queens have been exchanged, and Black has a serious advantage. Fortunately, as is often the case in the English, W hite's kingside pawns still represent one solid mass without weakness, if the a-pawns were not on the board W hite would draw easily. c3 32.a4 a3 33.d7 a2 Black wants to attack f2 and force White into passive defence. 34.d5 White decides to play actively, and tries to eliminate the black pawns. f8 35.xa5 g6 To give the king a square. 36.f4 Now that White has been forced to play this move, his king is cut-off on the second rank and Black can try to mate him. d2 37.e6 e4 38.e5 a8! 39.d5 White must be very careful, [ 39.xe4?? loses to b8 and 40...Rb1+. ] 39...e2 40.d4 b8 Black has achieved his objective with skilf ul play, W hite's sof t u n d e rb e lly is e xp o se d . 41.d1 xe3?! Tempting, but [ 41...bb2 could be played as the e3-pawn is not running away. ] 42.d2! Giving the white king a safe spot on the second rank. a3 43.e2 b4 44.d5 e3 45.g2? White should certainly have defended his a-pawn first, by [ 45.c6 ] 45...bxa4 46.f3 d4 47.e4 d2?! Black could have hung-on to his e3-pawn by [ 47...d1 as 48.xe3? loses to f1+ 49.e2 e1+! 50.xe1 xe3+ so White would have been a whole exchange down for nothing. ] 48.xe3 xe3+ 49.xe3 xh2 50.g4 W h it e th re at en s to p la y g5 , an d th en f 5 , swapping-off a further pair of pawns when the reduced material will allow him to draw. h5 51.xg6 h4 Black creates a passed pawn, but provided White can keep the black king away, he should draw. 52.g5 g2 53.e4 The white pawns and bishop are complimentary- the rule about not putting your pawns on the same colour-complex as your bishop applies equally to all phases of
the game. g3+ 54.f2 g7 55.f3 f7 56.d5+ e7 57.f3 e6 58.e4 a3 59.g2 a4 60.f3 h3 61.g6 If the black king is allowed in to f5, Black will win. h2 62.g2 a2+ 63.h1 f2 64.h7 xf4 65.g8+ f5 66.xh2 g4 67.g6 xg6 White has managed to win the black pawn, in exchange for his two, but now finds himself in the wrong corner. 68.e6 g5 69.h3 White heads for the right corner (the opposite colour to his bishop), no strong player would have to think for more than a second about this decision. f6 70.h4 g7 71.c8 e5 72.h5 He co n t in u e s o n h i s wa y . f4 73.h6 c7 74.h3 c3 75.d7 d3 76.e8 d6+ 77.g6 Now he cannot be stopped. g4 78.g7 g5 79.h7 Black can make no progress, [ 79.h7 d7+ 80.h8 h6 81.g8 d8 is stalemate. ] ½-½
1169 McNab,Colin Anderson Stark,Lars It Hereford ENG (1) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2433 2419 29.08.2006
1.c4 f6 2.f3 c6 3.g3 e5 4.c3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 c5 7.e3 [ White has two other continuations that we will consider here: A) 7.a3!? d6 ( 7...a6 8.e3 0-0 9.d4 exd4 10.exd4 e8+ 11.e3 is an, for White, improved version over the continuation in the McNab-Stark game as Black no longer has .. .Bb4 available; 7...d5 8.cxd5 0-0 9.0-0 h3 10.e1 g4 11.xg4 xg4 12.e3 ) 8.d3 h6 9.a4 A) 9...0-0 10.xc5 dxc5 11.b4 c6 ( 11...d6 12.b3 h3 13.e3 e4 14.dxe4 e6 15.xc5 fd8 16.c3 xe4 17.xe4 xe4 18.f3 g6 19.f2; 11...e7 12.0-0 cxb4 13.axb4 h3 14.e1 c6 15.b2 ) 12.g2 ( 12.g2 d6 13.d2; 12.bxc5 h3 ) 12...cxb4 13.axb4 d4 14.b1; B) 9...b6 10.c2 e7 ( 10...0-0!? ) 11.0-0 0-0 12.g2 e8 ( 12...c5 13.b4 ) 13.d2 b8 14.b4 d7 15.xb6 axb6 16.a4 e4 17.c3 c6 1162
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.fe1 ( 18.b2!? ) 18...e3 19.f3 h7 ( 19...a8 20.b5 d7 21.f4 a7 22.b2; 19...e6 20.b2 ) 20.b2 g5 21.a5 bxa5 22.xa5 ( 22.f4!? g4 23.xc6 bxc6 24.bxa5 ) 22...g6 23.c3 b6 24.a7 b7 25.b5 h5 26.d4 h6 27.h4 f8 28.f4 xg2 29.xg2 e7 30.f1?? ( 30.ea1 ) 30...e6?? ( 30...c5-+ ) 31.xe3 ee8 1-0 Aleksandrov, A-Lugovoi, A/Moscow RUS 2002 ] [ B) 7.b1?! a5 8.a3 ( 8.e3!?= ) 8...c6 9.b4 axb4 10.axb4 d4 11.b3 d5 ( 11...0-0!? 12.d3 d5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.g5 e6 ) 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.e3 e4 14.g2 e5 15.0-0 e6 A) Here White can consider 16.d4 e.g. exd3 17.a4 e4 18.c5 c3 19.xd3 xb1 ( 19...f6!? 20.b2 d4 21.c2 dxe3 22.xe3 f5 23.c5 a6 24.e1+ e6 25.xe6+ fxe6 26.f1 b6 27.e3 0-0 28.b3 d5 ) 20.xe5 c7 21.xb1 xe5 22.b2 g5 23.f4; B) 16.e2? d4 17.d1 d3 ( 17...a2! is more problematic for White) 18.f4 a2 19.b2 xf4 20.gxf4 xb1 21.xb1 0-0 ( 21...e7!? ) 22.xf6 xf6 23.xe4 B1) 23...fd8!? 24.xb7 ( 24.xd3 h4 25.e4 g4+ 26.h1 xd2 27.xh7+ h8 28.e4 ad8 ) 24...ab8 25.e4 h4 26.f3 b5 27.b3 db8 28.xd3 xb4; B2) 23...e6 24.xd3 g4+ 25.h1 f3+ ( 25...fd8!? 26.xh7+ f8 27.e4 xd2 ) 26.g1 g4+ 1/2-1/2 Mamedyarov, S-Najer, E/Khanty Mansyisk RUS 2005/The Week in Chess 578 ] 7...0-0 8.d4 exd4 9.exd4 e8+ 10.e3 [ 10.f1?! makes less sense: b4 11.g5 xc3 12.bxc3 h6 13.xf6 xf6 14.g2 d6 15.b1 b8 16.h4 b6 17.c6 b7 18.xb7 1/2-1/2 Lisenko, A-Vainerman, I/ Lvov 1986 xb7 19.f3 xf3+ 20.xf3= ] 10...b4 11.b3 [ 11.0-0!? is also of interest: c6 12.d5 ] 11...xc3+ 12.bxc3 d6 [ Here I think Black should seriously give 12...e4!? some consideration, for instance:
13.0-0 b6 14.c2 b7 15.fe1 d6!? ( 15...d6 16.g2 d7 17.f3 f6 18.g5 ) 16.xb7 xb7 17.f4 d6 18.e4 d7 19.ae1 a5 20.e2 xe4 21.xe4 c8 , and Black has almost equalised ] 13.0-0 b8 14.fe1 h6 15.a3 g4 16.g2 a6 17.c5 d5 18.c6 [ White can possibly improve with 18.f4!? xe1+ 19.xe1 h5 20.d2 f6 21.a5 with uncomfortable pressure ] 18...bxc6 19.xa6 d7 20.f3 a8 21.e2 f5 22.d2 [ 22.g4 g6 23.a4 a5 24.d1 ea8 25.f1 ] 22...a7 23.g4 g6 24.f4 [ 24.f2!? ea8 25.h4 d6 26.g3 ( 26.e2 a3 27.g3 d7 28.e7 xc3 29.a4 c4 30.a5 xd4 31.a6 ) 26...d7 27.e3 ] 24...ea8 25.e2 e8 26.e1 [ 26.ae1!? d6 27.e7 d8 28.xd6 cxd6 29.xa7 xa7 30.f4 ] 26...d6 27.e7 d8 28.xd6 ½-½
1170 Miezis,Normunds Danin,Alexandre Utrecht OKU op (4) [Nigel Davies]
A29 2579 2498 06.06.2009
1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 e5 5.g2 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.d3 f6 11.e4 a5 12.c5 xc5 13.bxc5 d5 14.c2 This natural lo o kin g m o ve h a s b e e n qu it e a co m m o n ch oice f o r W h ite b ut it d oe sn't lo o k ve ry dangerous. [ P e r s o n a l l y I p r e f e r t h e m o v e 14.b2 as in Uhlmann, W (2417)-Jackova, J (2360)/Marianske Lazne 2008. ] 14...a4 [ The game Askarian, K (2274)-Khodotov, J (2364)/Kharkov 2000 varied with 14...d7 15.b1 ab8 16.b2 b5 17.cxb6 cxb6 and produced a structure very similar to that which eventually arose in Anand - Topalov, except that W hite was now able to play 18.d4 , opening the game. Black now blundered with e4? , probably missing the 1163
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 fact that after 19.xe4! he could not play f5? because of 20.e5 xe4 21.xd7 etc. ] 15.b1 This makes more sense than in Uhlmann - Jackova because White is at least attacking b7. a7 [ Improving on the 15...a5 of Fridman, D (2515)-Hanley, C (2010)/Port Erin 1998, a f t e r w h i c h 16.d4! e4? ( 16...b3 is relatively best) 17.xe4 f7 18.c2 b3 19.e4 e7 20.b2 gave White a winning position. ] 16.b2 de7 17.e3 a2 18.bc1 d5 19.e2 d7 20.fd1 g4 21.h3 h5 22.e4 b3 23.d2 d8 Black has achieved a very co m f o rt ab le p o sit io n he re . 24.e3 aa8 The rook's job on a7 has been done so he sets about bringing it back into play. 25.d4 exd4 26.xd4 xd4 27.xd4 c6 28.xd8+ xd8 29.g4 f7 30.f4? White logically advances his kingside pawns but Black's reply is immensely strong. [ 30.e5 was objectively better after which xe5 31.xe5 fxe5 32.xe5 would have been about equal. ] 30...a5! 31.c3 c4 32.e2 xa3 That's not just a pawn that guy on a4 is a monster and White's king is weak. 33.e5 fxe5 34.fxe5 c6 35.e4 f4 36.e1 b5 37.g2 xc3 38.xc3 xc1+ 39.xc1 d1+ 40.xd1 xd1 0-1
1171 Miezis,Normunds Smirin,Ilia NY Open New York (7) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2505 2590 1998
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 A perfectly normal reversed Dragon position. 8.b1 Whereas, with the colours reversed, Black would play 8 d3, W hite often tries to achieve something more with the extra tempo. Here he plans a quick queenside advance. g5!? An extremely provocative line, Black will charge his kingside pawns up the board, to open the white king position. 9.d3 [ 9.d4!? is possible, but Black will be able to
gain an important development move by a later ...Bf5. ] 9...h5 10.e3 White wants to play d4, with the standard central counter to a wing attack, b u t B l a c k i s a l e r t . g4 11.d2 d4 Else White may have been tempted to wreck t h e b l a c k q u e e n s id e p a wn st ru c t u re , b y Bxc6+. 12.c1 It may have been better to continue with the queenside action, by b4, etc. h4 Despite his lack of development, Black ge t s-o n wit h h is a t t a ck . 13.c4 xc4 14.dxc4 c6 15.d3 f5 16.fd1 f6 Black secures his post on d4, and thereby limits White's potential central counterplay. 17.f4 gxf3 18.exf3 f7! Black finds an original manner of bringing his queen to the hf i l e , t h e k i n g s e e m s s a f e o n f 7 . 19.f1? This seems rather passive, [ the immediate 19.f4 is more aggressive. ] 19...hxg3 20.hxg3 g8! Black side-steps out of the d-file pin, and prepares to bring his queen to the h-file. 21.e1 h7 22.f4 Finally undermining the d4-outpost, but it is too late as Black's attack is too advanced. e6 23.d5!? A reasonable practical try, sacrificing a piece to embarrass the black king, [ 23.fxe5 would lose to h2+ 24.f2 xe5 with a decisive attack. ] 23...cxd5 24.fxe5 f4! The success of the attack depends on the participation of the e6bishop. 25.xd4 [ 25.xf4? allows mate by f3+ 26.xf3 h2+ 27.f1 h3+ -the point of Black's 24th move. ] 25...f3 The f-pawn continues its journey, this time the displacement of the g2-bishop is the aim. 26.exf6 fxg2 A weird position. 27.xg2?! This loses, perhaps [ 27.f2 is better, trying to use the g2-pawn as protection for the white king. ] 27...ae8 The threat of a discovered attack on the white queen is winning. 28.e5 g4 29.e3 h2+ Forcing mate. 30.f1 h1+ 0-1
1164
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19...f2+ 20.d2 h6+ 21.f4 xh1 A29 22.fxe5 ] 2447 2531 12...d6 13.0-0-0 c7 14.dg1 e6 15.e3 [ 15.xf6!? xf6 16.e4 0-0-0 17.xf6 10.01.2002 gxf6 18.h5 should be very pleasant for White ] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f6 4.g3 d4 15...f8 16.h5 d5 17.g5 dxc4 18.dxc4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.d3 d7 19.e3 [ 19.d1!? f6 20.e3 ] h6 9.g4 [ 9.h4 h7? ( 9...c6 10.g4 transposes to 19...f5 [ 19...b6! ] the main game and should be given p r e f e r e n c e) 10.e4 e7 11.b5! 20.h6 gxh6 21.h5+ d8 22.f3 c5 is better for White - see J.Piket-B.Avrukh, 23.xc5 xc5 24.d1+ c8 25.a3 b6 26.b4 d7 27.a6+ b7 28.xb7+ Amsterdam 2001 in the PGN archives ] [ 9.a4 e7 10.b5 d6 11.0-0 c6 xb7 29.f7 f8 30.xe6 xe6 31.d7+ 12.b3 e7 13.d1 0-0 14.c3 c5?! c7 32.h5 af8 33.e7 e8 34.f7 f4 ( 14...d6 15.d4 c7 ) 15.e3 e7 16.d4 35.e4 e6 36.c5 b8 37.c2 d8 38.h7 a6 39.c3 bxc5 40.bxc5 d5 W.Uhlmann-E.Degtiarev, Dresden 2002 ] 41.f5 e8 42.ff7 xc5 43.f6 c8 9...c6 10.h4 e7 [ Black has tried several other things at this 44.xd5 cxd5 45.b4 e4 46.fxe4 dxe4 47.xf4 e6 48.ff7 c7 49.c5 e3 stage: A) 10...d6!? 11.g5 hxg5 A) This allows Black to equalize without 50.d4 e6+ 51.xe3 d8 52.xa7 c6 t o o m u c h e f f o r t . I n s t e a d W h i t e c a n 53.ag7 e6+ 54.f2 c8 55.g8 f6+ c o n s id e r t h e n a t u ra l 12.hxg5 xh1+ 56.g3 d6 57.hh8 c7 58.xd8 xd8 13.xh1 d7 ( 13...g4 14.e4 b6 59.xd8 xd8 60.a4 d7 61.e4 15.a3! must be better for White) 14.e4 1-0 e7 15.d2; B) 12.xg5?! b6 13.xb6 xb6 A29 14.a4 a5+ 15.f1 e6 16.b1 d8 1173 , and Black has already a very comfortable Miles,Anthony J g a m e , Z . A z m a i p a r a s h vi l i - J . T i m m a n , Timman,Jan H Oviedo 1993 ] Tilburg 1984 [ B) 10...d5 11.g5 is very risky - see B.Gulko- [Tony Kosten] J.Hector, Copenhagen 2000 in the PGN archives ] After ten moves, when there was a solid block [ C) 10...b6 11.xb6 xb6 12.g5 hxg5 of black pawns on the a1-h8 diagonal, who 13.hxg5 xh1+ 14.xh1 h7 15.f4 could imagine that the end of the game would ( 15.e4!? lo oks eve n be tt e r) 15...d6 revolve around Black's exposed g7-pawn. 1.c4 16.e4 c7 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.b4 a6 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 19.e3 , and White is clearly in control, P. xd5 6.g2 b6 The Reversed Dragon Van der Sterren-J. Balcerak, Bundesliga promises chances to both sides. Miles played 2000 ] the Dragon superbly as Black so would clearly 11.g5 hxg5 12.xg5 be very happy to have an extra move! 7.0-0 [ 12.hxg5!? looks very good, e.g. xh1+ e7 8.a3 0-0 9.d3 e6 10.b4 f6 13.xh1 g4 14.f3 h2 and now 15.g6! [ Solidly defending the e-pawn, although is ve r y p r o b l e m a t i c f o r B l a c k , e . g . c5 n o w a d a y s t h e a c t i v e 10...a5 is often ( 15...fxg6 16.c5! f8 17.e4 is very ugly preferred, see Nimzo 7.32-Fritz 6a/ for Black ) 16.gxf7+ xf7 17.e4 h4+ Cadaques 2000. ] 18.d1 g4 19.xc5 ( 19.fxg4 xh1+ 11.e4 The c5 square beckons. d7 12.b2 20.c2 b6 21.b1 g2 22.d2 a6 13.c2 h3 This allows White a very is also better for White, but less convincing) interesting, and quite surprising, combinative 1172 Mikhailuk,Slava Sagalchik,Gennadij USA-ch Seattle (6) [Carsten Hansen]
1165
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 p o s s i b i l i t y . 14.c5 xc5 15.xh3! To weaken the light squares for White's next move. xh3 16.b3+ h8 17.bxc5 d7 18.d4! White had no intention of grabbing the b-pawn, but instead starts working on the a1-h8 diagonal. ab8!? [ 18...exd4? 19.xb7 e6 20.xd4 xd4 21.xd4 loses a pawn without compensation. ] 19.dxe5 dxe5 20.xe5 fxe5!? 21.ad1 f6 T h r e a t e n i n g t o g o t o h 6 . 22.f4! White single-mindedly prepares the bishop's future. xf4 [ Black's tactical idea. If instead 22...bf8?! then W hite can capture the b-pawn, as 23.xb7 b8?? allows a back-rank mate: 24.xb8+! xb8 25.d8+ ] 23.xf4 The g-pawn is pinned, of course. exf4 24.f7 The goal of White's previous play, the a1-h8 diagonal is laid bare, and the g7-pawn is exposed. g8 25.f1! g4 [ T h e g - p a w n i s t o o h o t : 25...fxg3?? 26.xg7+ xg7 27.f8# ] 26.xf4 g5 27.g2?! [ Immediately 27.e4! is more accurate. ] 27...xc5? [ 27...d8 was the only chance. ] 28.e4! Threaten ing Qxg7 + again . f8 Forced. 29.h5! [ White can also win more mundanely, as the black queen and rook cannot move, e. g. 29.d7 a5 30.xc7 ] 29...e7 The only defence against Rh4. 30.g5! g6? [ Loses on the spot, but 30...c8 31.h4 e8 32.f5 c6+ 33.h3 h6 34.f7 is also crushing, and ] [ 30...c6?! 31.h4 f7 32.h6! f5 33.e4 is even worse. ] 31.xg6 [ 31.xg6 hxg6 32.h4# ] 1-0
1174 Morozevich,Alexander Motylev,Alexander ch-RUS Superfinal (11) [John Watson]
A29 2707 2632 30.12.2005
In the last round Morozevich (who forfeited a point by oversleeping!) needed a win to secure a respectable finish. What opening to select? The English, of course! 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.d3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g3 b6 7.g2 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.a3 We are in the main line of the Reversed Dragon, discussed at perhaps too much length in this column. Black's next has always been considered somewhat inferior. Perhaps that verdict should be reconsidered, although this g a m e d o e s n o t h i n g t o d i s p r o v e i t . a5!? 10.e3 e8 A solid move, as opposed to [ 10...f5!? 11.a4 ( 11.b3+ h8 12.fc1 a4 13.d1 e6 ) 11...h8 12.c1 f6 ( 12...e4!? ) 13.d2 xa4 14.xa4 d7 15.c2 a4 16.b4! axb3 17.xb3 e7 18.c5 c8 19.b2 Makarov-Semeniuk, Kuibyshev 1990. ] 11.c1 h6 [ 11...g4 could be tried, although 12.d4! looks +=, e.g., c4 13.d5 xe3 14.fxe3 xf3 ( 14...b8 15.xe5 ) 15.exf3 ( or 15.xf3 b8 16.b3 ) 15...b8 16.b3 ] 12.xb6 [ 12.a4 xa4 13.xa4 ] 12...cxb6 13.d2 f8?! Awfully slow maybe just [ 13...e6 Now comes a clever manoeuvre to attack the a-pawn ] 14.c4! a4 15.d2! This forces Black into a tactical solution: d4 [ 15...b5 16.xb5 b6 17.c3 xb2 18.c4 b3 19.d2! ] [ 15...d4 16.d5 ] 16.e3 e6 17.xa4 b5 18.c3 xd3 19.d5 Threa te ning B e4 . g6 20.e2 W hite wins a pawn and the game is pretty mu ch o ve r. d8 21.xb5 d7 22.xb7 ab8 23.a7 g5 24.h4! Temporarily sacrificing a pawn. This begins a long forcing sequence. h3+ 25.h2 xb2 26.c7 bb8 27.c4 bc8 [ 27...f5 28.xe5! leaves the knight hanging on h3. ] 1166
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28.xe5 e8 29.b2 h5 30.cb6 A pretty finish. xc1 31.xd7! xd5 [ 31...xf1 32.7f6+ ] [ 31...c6 32.b5! threatens N5f6+ and Qxh5 ] 32.xd5 xf1 33.xh3 1-0
1175 Nakamura,Hikaru Bauer,Christian TCh-FRA Top 16 Gp A (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2670 2614 10.04.2008
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 0-0 9.a3 e6 10.b4 a5 11.b5 d4 12.b1 f6 13.e3 The main line is 13 Nd2 which has been discussed on several previous occasions - see the PDF eBooks xf3+ 14.xf3 b8 [ B l a c k ' s m a i n a l t e r n a t i v e i s 14...d5 , a n d n o w W h i t e h a s t r i e d 15.c2 ( Two other ideas are 15.a4 c8 16.e4? (W hat was he thinking? Black is now just better) b6 17.xb6 cxb6 18.b2 c5 19.c1 d6 20.c3 cd8 , and Black is clearly better, Pinjagin, D-Arkhangelsky, B/ Ozery 1997; 15.b3 looks very provocative, but it doesn't achieve anything, other than Black easily securing equality f4 16.c2 xd3 17.xd3 xd3 18.xb7 ad8 19.e4 h3 20.d5+ h8 21.d1 xc1 22.dxc1 xa3 23.c2 c5 24.a4 b6 1/2-1/2 Thiede, L-Gustafsson, J/Germany 1998/GER-chT) 15...xc3 16.xc3 d5 17.xd5+ xd5 18.e4 d7 19.a4 fd8 20.d1 b4 21.c4+ f7 22.e3 xc4 23.dxc4 , and White has a space advantage, b u t e ve n t u a lly B la c k's p o sit io n p ro ve d s u f f i c i e n t l y s o l i d t o wi t h s t a n d W h i t e ' s pres su re , Pa nn o, O -B ro nste in , L/ A RG 1991 ] 15.c2 [ The first new move. In the only previous game with this line, White instead opted for 15.e2 f7 16.g2 f8 17.f4!? d7 18.d1 exf4 19.gxf4 a4 20.d4 b3 21.xb3 axb3 22.b2 h8 23.xb3 with a complicated game and chances for both players, Oussama, O-Lalic, B/ Balaguer
2005 ] 15...f7 16.d1 f8 17.d4 exd4 18.e2 This was Hikaru's idea now W hite has the somewhat better chances on account of his pieces having access to more active squares, as well the ability to contain Black's majority on the queenside, while being able to provoke weaknesses elsewhere. d3 19.xd3 d7 20.e4 g6 21.b2 xd3 22.xd3 a4 23.c1 Matters are getting a little uncomfortable for Black, and therefore he opts to get some counterplay by sacrificing a pawn. b3 [ G u a r d i n g t h e c - p a w n w i t h 23...d6 is hardly advisable, e.g. 24.xg6! hxg6 25.xg6+ f8 26.xf6 d7 27.d4 , and Black is in severe trouble ] [ Or 23...c8 24.e4 b3 25.c3 c4 26.d4! xb2 27.xb3 , and White is clearly on top ] 24.xc7 xd3 25.xb6 d6 26.xd6 xd6 27.d4 d5 28.f3 f5! White got his pawn, Black his pair of bishops. W hite of course has the better chances, but it's a hard call if White has enough to win. 29.f2 f7 30.b6 d8 31.h3 h5 32.f4 This is a rather provocative approach, aiming to claim that Black's pawns on the kingside are weak when fixed on light squares. [ 32.g4!? fxg4 33.hxg4 h4 34.g5 g3+ 35.g2 e6 36.c2 , and White has the better chances ] 32...e7 33.f3 [ My computer recommends 33.b5 c6 34.xd6 xd6 35.d4 , but I don't see how White is going to win this ] 33...a8 34.h4 a6 35.xg6+ e6 36.d4 xa3 37.c8 d6 [ 37...b4!? is similarly complicated, e.g. 38.e5 e7 39.c7+ e6 40.f7 e7 41.g5+ xg5 42.fxg5 a3 43.c1 ( 43.c5 b3 44.e7+ d5 45.d4 a2 46.g6 a1 47.xa1 xa1 48.xb7 a2+ 49.f3 e5 50.d7 c2 , and Black secures a draw) 43...f7 44.c5 e6 45.g6 a8 46.c1 a2 47.g7 d6 , and W hite has winning chances, but it isn't going to be easy ] 38.e5 e4? [ Now Black starts drifting towards serious trouble. An important alternative is 38...e7 1167
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 39.g6+ e6 40.e8+ d7 41.h8 a3 42.xh5 a2 43.g4 e4 44.gxf5 a1 45.xa1 xa1 White has four pawns for the piece, but it isn't clear if White can win, e.g. 46.e5+ e7 47.h7+ e8 48.h6 a2+ 49.g3 g2+ 50.h4 e7+ 51.f6 f8 , and there is still a long way to go. ] 39.g4 fxg4 [ 39...hxg4 40.hxg4 fxg4 41.e8+ transposes to the game ] 40.hxg4 hxg4 41.e8+ d5 42.xg4 f5 43.h6 d7? [ This looks like a perfectly good, but in fact it allows Nakamura to finish Black off with a series of accurate moves. White would be f a c in g a m uc h m o re d if f icu lt t im e a f t e r 43...g6!? 44.g8 e4 45.f5 a3 46.d8 a2 47.f7 xb6 48.f6 a6 49.xd6 xd6 50.a8 e6 51.xa2 , and though White still has excellent winning chances, and can prove rather complicated. ] 44.d8 c6 45.f7 a3 46.h8! a4 47.d8+! d5 [ 47...b5 48.xb7 e7 49.d8 ( 49.h5+ a6 50.h7 xd4 51.exd4 a2 52.xe7 a1 53.c5+ xb6 54.xd7 doesn't leave W hite many chances of winning ) 49...xd8 50.xd8 c6 51.d7 a8 52.a7 xa7 53.bxa7 a6 54.f5 b7 55.f6 d5 56.g3 a2 57.f4 a1 58.xa1 xa7 59.e5 c4 60.d6 , and Black's king will not make it back to help the bishop ] 48.xb7 xf4 49.h5+ c4 50.c5 a5 51.exf4 a2 52.b7 b5 [ Or 52...xd4 53.b3+ d3 54.xa5 , and White of course wins easily ] 53.xd7 xb7 54.a5 and while Black can win both of White's pieces at the cost of just the a-pawn, White also gets to exchange the rooks, leaving him with an easily won pawn endgame. 1-0
1176 Nakamura,Hikaru Howell,David 3rd Chess Classic (5) [John Bartholomew]
A29 2758 2633 08.12.2011
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 b4 4.f3 This move order is a little unusual but might be the most accurate. White forces Black to te n d t o h is e-p a wn , t h e re by d e n yin g t h e second player some flexibility. Mihail Marin attributes this finesse to Portisch. [ 4.g2 is the automatic move. Nakamura m a y h a v e wa n t e d t o a vo i d t h e l i n e 0-0 5.f3 e8 6.0-0 , in which Black scores well with e4 ( or 6...c6 , refusing to commit h i s k n i g h t t o c 6 .; Black could also play 6...c6 , reaching a tabiya of the Four Knights.; or 6...xc3 7.bxc3 c6 transposing to the game. )] 4...xc3 Howell responds in kind. Certainly there is nothing wrong with this standard trade, but if Black intends to commit his knight to c6 as he does in the game (instead of the critical 5...e4 - see below), then there isn't a pressing need to trade on c3 so early. [ 4...c6 5.g2 ( or 5.d5 ) 5...0-0 6.0-0 reaches the big main line. See Carsten Hansen's guide "Four Knights 4 g3 - 4...Bb4 The Main Line" for an excellent roadmap. ] [ 4...e4 5.d4 0-0 ( or 5...c6 6.c2 xc3 7.dxc3 ) 6.g2 e8 7.0-0 c6 8.c2 xc3 9.dxc3 transposes to a line t h a t wa s p o p u l a r in t h e 7 0 ' s a n d 8 0 ' s . W hite retains slightly better changes see Anastasian, A (2568)-Sadvakasov, D (2635)/ Moscow 2005/[John Watson] for a recent example. ] 5.bxc3 [ For 5.dxc3 , see Taimanov, M (2454)Rublevsky, S (2657)/St Petersburg 2001/ [TonyK]. ] 5...c6 Now the game merges with a more well-trodden path. [ Critical is 5...e4 6.d4 0-0 7.g2 d5 . I refer you to Kamsky, G (2714)-Gelfand, B (2736)/Moscow 2007/[Carsten Hansen], as well as to Marin's outstanding notes to th e sa m e ga m e in Ch e ssB a se . ( 7...c5!? is another important move that both commentators examine in-depth. )] 1168
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xd4 16.b3 d8 was totally fine for 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 e8 Black in Shaikh, N (2071)-Troff, K (2216)/ [ 7...d6 is a solid alternative. ] Porto Carras GRE 2010. ) 14...xd4 8.d3 e4 9.d4 Best. A) 15.c2 Kallio, H (2493)-Fressinet, L [ White has not done particularly well with ( 2 6 5 4 ) / P l o v d i v 2 0 0 3 . N o w f5!N 9.g5 exd3 10.exd3 . Now h6 is the most i s s t r o n g b e c a u s e 16.xc7 xd3 direct, e.g. 11.e4 ( 11.f3 b6 12.d4 17.ad1 (if the other rook moves, then 17... b7 13.a4 a5 14.f4 xg2 15.xg2 Re2 comes, attacking f2). c4! 18.xc4 b7 16.fe1 c5 17.c2 d6 18.e2 xc4 19.fe1 xe1+ 20.xe1 d7 19.ae1 xe2 20.xe2 e8 and Black can even play for the win with 21.b3?! e6! 22.c1 d5! was model h i s q u e e n s i d e m a j o r i t y , i . e . b5!? play for Black in Schiffler, G-Unzicker, W ( 20...xa2 21.a1 c4 22.d6 d8 (2450)/Bad Liebenzell 1995.; 11.h3 23.xb7 xd6 24.xa7 is an immediate can be met by d5 12.cxd5 xd5 ) draw. ); A) 11...b6 12.f4 b7 13.e1 a5 B) 15.c1 San Segundo Carrillo, P (2511)14.f3 d5 15.xf6+ xf6 16.d2 c5 Perez Felipe, M (2305)/El Sauzal ESP Taimanov, M (2580)-Bronstein, D (2590)/ 2010. Now I propose g4!? , e.g. 16.b3 Tallinn 1975.; ( 16.d2!? ) 16...e2 17.fe1 xd3 B) 11...xe4 12.xe4 d6 13.b1 e5! 18.xb7 ab8 19.xe8+ ( 19.xc7 14.f4 Cordara, M (2185)-Naumkin, I xe1+ 20.xe1 b2 21.f4 xf4 ( 2 5 0 0 ) / C e l l e L i g u r e 1 9 9 5 . H e r e h3 22.gxf4 xa2= ) 19...xe8 20.f1 p r o v i d e s e xc e l l e n t c o u n t e r p l a y , e . g . ( 20.xc7 e2 21.f4 is the same as 19. 15.e1?! ( 15.xe5 xf1 16.xg7 xd3 Qxc7. ) 20...e4 ( or 20...xf1 21.xf1 17.xd3 xg7 ) 15...g4! and 16... e5= ) 21.g2= ] Nf3+.; [ 12.f4 A logical square for the bishop. c6 C) 11...d6 Alternatives are also decent: ( Black could try to dispense with ...c7-c6 by 12.e1 ( 12.b1 xe4 13.xe4 e5! 12...f5 ) 13.e1 ( This allows Black to is 11... Nxe4 above.) 12...g4!? 13.f3? s i m p l i f y , s o 13.e5!? was worth ( 13.c2 e5 ) 13...xe4 14.dxe4 considering.) 13...xe1+ 14.xe1 f5 e6 Hanauer, M-Reshevsky, S/New York 15.c3 h6 16.h3 dxc4 17.dxc4 e4 1938. Black was already much better due 18.e1 xg2 19.xg2 d7 20.e5 h7 to his White's obvious pawn weaknesses. ] 21.h4 e8 22.f4 xe1 9...exd3 Here and over the next few moves 1/2-1/2 Mamedyarov, S (2646)-Kobalia, M Black sometimes plays ...h6. It's not clear to (2614)/Abu Dhabi 2005. ] me that preventing Bc1-g5 is necessary, [ Aronian played 12.b1 against Gelfand in since W hite's bishop often goes elsewhere 2008. Although he lost (a rarity with White!), anyways. 10.exd3 xd4 11.cxd4 d5 this useful move looks good enough for a Howell plays directly through the center, fixing slight plus. h6 ( 12...g4 13.c2 dxc4 White's doubled d-pawns. 14.dxc4 xd4 15.e3 e5 16.xb7 f5 [ An example of the 11...h6 strategy: 12.d5!? Friedel, J (2527) -Gupta, A (2587)/Chalkis d6 13.b2 . Despite Black's efforts, White GRE 2010. 17.b2 xb2 18.xb2 e4 f ound a b ette r diagona l f o r th e bishop . 19.d1 The endgame is more comfortable Seirawan, Y (2653)-Gulko, B (2618)/Salt for W hite.) 13.f4 b6 14.e5 Aronian, L Lake City 1999/[TonyK]. ] (2757)-Gelfand, B (2719)/Dresden GER 12.e3 Nakamura mentioned in the post2008. This last move is a standard idea game comments that he was on his own at that Nakamura also implemented in the this point. White has tried several moves here. game W hite exerts some slight pressure [ First, what happens if White makes good on with the bishop pair. Strangely, the play his 'threat' with 12.g5 ? Now in fact h6! re m i n d s m e o f so m e m a i n - li n e s o f t h e i s a s m a r t r e p l y . 13.xf6 ( 13.f4 Petroff. ] is possible, but admits to a loss of time.) A novelty. Again, I'm not convinced 13...xf6 14.cxd5 ( 14.xd5 c6 15.g2 12...h6 1169
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 this move is necessary. [ 12...e6 was seen in an old Botvinnik game. The Patriarch played 13.c1 ( 13.c5 Botvinnik soon played this move anyways, so maybe he could have saved the Ra1-c1 tempo.; 13.b3 is also logical.) 13...h6 14.h3 c6 15.d2 , but didn't get much of anything after d7= Botvinnik, M-Basman, M/Hastings 1966. ] [ Another clash of young super-talents saw 12...f5 This is the most desirable move provided Black doesn't run into problems with b7 or d5. Following 13.b3 d7 ( or 13...c6 since White isn't planning on taking on b7 wh en d3 is h an gin g wit h tem po .) 14.fe1 ( White has an extra pawn after 14.cxd5 h3 15.xb7 xg2 16.xg2 ab8 17.c6 xd5+ 18.xd5 xd5 , but it's difficult to believe he'll win.) 14...c6 15.g5 A) A normal-looking alternative is 15...dxc4 16.dxc4 e4 ( 16...xd4 17.xf6 xf6 18.xb7 ) 17.e3 ad8 ( 17...f6!? ) 18.ad1 with a customary small advantage for White, though Black's position is reliable.; B) 15...xe1+! Forcing the tempo. 16.xe1 e8 17.xe8+ xe8 18.h3 e1+ 19.h2 Giri, A (2672)-So, W (2674)/ Biel SUI 2010. Now dxc4 20.dxc4 xh3! leads to total equality, though it's im p o s s i b l e t o m a k e t h i s a ss e s sm e n t without a strong engine:) For example, 21.xf6 ( 21.xh3 xf2+ 22.g2 g4+ 23.h3 h5!; 21.xh3 e6+ 22.h2 g4+ 23.h3 xf2+ 24.h2 g4+ 25.h3 when Black can even try to play on with h6 ) 21...xg2 22.xg2 gxf6 23.xb7 e4+= . So played the immediate 19...Bxh3, which turned out to be slightly inaccurate. It's possible he had analyzed this temporary bishop sacrifice before and simply forgot to insert the capture on c4. ] 13.h3 [ 13.e1 might be a bit better. If Black chooses the plan with ...Be6 and ...Qd7 below, then White must lose time to defend h3. ] 13...b6 Nakamura questioned this plan. [ Instead, he gave the sample line 13...e6
14.b3 b6 15.ac1 c6 16.a4 d7 17.h2 , in which Black is very solid. ] 14.c1 d7 15.f4! Heading for e5 to harass the knight on f6. Black also experiences problems with the c-pawn. b7 16.e5 h7 17.c5 Hikaru burned a ton of time before playing this move. [ The players examined the cute variation 17.cxd5 ac8 18.g4 xg4 ( 18...f5!? ) 19.hxg4 f6 20.xf6 gxf6 21.d6 xg2 22.d7 xf1 23.xc7 cd8 24.dxe8+ xe8 25.xf1 d8 26.xa7 xd4 , concluding that Black draws. ] [ They also examined 17.g4!? which may in fact be most promising. ] 17...ac8 Not bad, but Howell admitted that he underestimated White's next few moves. [ Instead 17...c6!? is interesting. ] 18.h4 f8 19.h2 bxc5 20.h3 e6 21.xc5 f6 22.f4 d8 [ 22...f7!? ] 23.a5 [ Attacking a7, but maybe the restrained 23.c1 was preferable. ] 23...c5!? Bold! Howell was drifting into bad time trouble around here. [ 23...a6 24.e1 ] 24.xa7 b6 25.a4 xd4 26.h5 [ Black has excellent compensation for the exchange after 26.xc8 xc8 . Knowing Nakamura's style and (taking into account Ho we l l 's t i m e p re s su r e ) , yo u c o u l d b e almost certain that White would counterattack rather than bank material. ] 26...c6?? A blunder with his flag about to fall. [ 26...f5! is necessary. White has full compensation after 27.xd4 cxd4 28.xf5 a8 , but Black has all his bases covered. ] 27.b1?! [ 27.xd4 was immediately winning, e.g. cxd4 28.f5 e7 29.g6 f8 30.h7 . Black can barely move and will soon be crushed: a8 31.g6 e6 32.d6+- ( or 32.e1+- )] 27...a8? [ 27...f5 was again necessary. 28.a7 e7 29.a4 ] 28.xa8 xa8 29.g2 [ 29.e1+- ] 29...e6? The final mistake. 30.xb7! xb7 1170
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 31.xd5 c8 32.xh6! Removing any doubts about the result. a6 [ 32...gxh6 33.g6+ f8 ( 33...h8 34.xh6+ g8 35.g6+ h8 36.xf6+ g7 37.h6# ) 34.xf6+ e8 35.xe6 c6 36.e5+- ] 33.e3 d6 34.xc5 xd5 35.xd5 f7 36.e3 a6 37.c4 a8 38.d4 1-0
1177 Navara,David Topalov,Veselin 74th Tata Steel GMA (1) [John Bartholomew]
A29 2712 2770 14.01.2012
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 [ L a s t m o n t h w e e x a m i n e d 8...a5!? , a line whose stock is on the rise. ] 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 d4 Strategic a lly p r in c ip l e d . W h it e ca n 't t o l e ra t e t h i s centralized knight for long, so Black typically extracts some minor concession for its removal. He also gains the ability to play ... c7c6, blunting the long diagonal. [ It's interesting that Topalov has always preferred this direct and positionally sound move, as inserting 11...a5 12.b5 before d4 is a bit more unbalanced. Now the big main line A) Nakamura showed an intuitive approach with 13.e3 xf3+ 14.xf3 b8 15.c2 in Nakamura, H (2670)-Bauer, C (2614)/France 2008/ [Hansen, Carsten]. Ch a n c e s a re rou gh ly equ a l h ere (t h e combative f5!? might be best), though White went on to outplay his opponent.; B) 13.xd4 exd4 14.e4?! makes less s e n s e h e r e d u e t o ( Relatively better is 14.a4 , though Black has zero problems after d5 . ) 14...f5 15.d2 d5 , when W hite has to part with his lightsquare bishop in order to avoid 16...Nc3. Compared to 13.Ne4 f5?! below, W hite doesn't have the luxury of 15.Nc5, nor does his a-pawn enjoy adequate protection.; C) In 1993 Korchnoi defeated Tukmakov with 13.e1!? , a move to which the victor
(Viktor!) attached an '!'. Tukmakov later improved with c8 ( 13...c6?! 14.bxc6 xc6 15.e3 was Korchnoi, V (2605)Tukmakov, V (2605)/Wijk aan Zee 1993, when White already had good cause for optimism. ) 14.e3 f5 , scoring wins over Gulko and Van der Sterren. Comparing this to the main-line variation 13.Nd2 Qc8 14.e3 Nf5, it's diff icult to say that the position of the knight on e1 offers any benefit over its normal place on d2. In fact, I would much prefer the latter scenario.; D) 13.d2 has received plenty of coverage on ChessPublishing, with Carlsen, M (2801) -Kramnik, V (2772)/ London ENG 2009/[Nigel Davies] being a recent high-level example. Alternatives: ] 12.xd4 Navara played this against Karjakin in 2008. [ As in 11...a5 12. b5 Nd4 above, avoiding t h e k n i g h t e x c h a n g e w i t h 12.d2 is the most popular approach. Nevertheless, in recent practice Black has not experienced major problems with either c6 or 12...Nd5. For more details consult the archives for the "Four Knights 4 g3 - 4...d5 Reversed Dragon" guide. ] [ For 12.e3 xf3+ 13.xf3 c6 , see Van Wely, L (2683)-Tiviakov, S (2667)/Wijk aan Zee 2007/[Hansen, Carsten]. ] 12...exd4 13.e4 [ Harmless is 13.a4 d5 , for instance 14.xd5+ xd5 15.c2 Cvetkovic, S (2420)-Skembris, S (2470)/ Kavala 1997. Now xa4 16.xa4 a5! 17.b5 fe8 is a bit more comfortable for Black. ] 13...d5! Ensuring a favorable exchange of bishops. I don't think Black has anything to fear once he executes this idea. [ M o t y l e v r e c e n t l y p l a y e d 13...a2? and lived to tell about it, but the exchange sacrifice 14.c5! is really quite strong, for example ( Too accommodating is 14.a1 d5 , with obvious similarities to the game.) 14...xb1 15.b3+ h8 ( 15...f7 makes it a "true" exchange sacrifice, to Black's detriment: 16.xb7! e8 17.a5 xd3 18.exd3 d8 19.c6 d6 20.b5+Miezis, N (2516)-Agopov, M (2376)/Oslo 2003. Here an evaluation of "with compensation" would be selling W hite's 1171
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 achieve: 19.b3+ ( 19.c1 d6 20.b3+ position far too short! His minor pieces f7 21.e3! dxe3 22.fxe3 d5 23.xd5 completely dominate the board, and Black xd5 24.e4 b6 25.xf5 xf5 26.exf5 didn't last much longer in the face of c6= ) 19...f7 20.fc1 d6 21.a4 c5 threats like Rf 1-e1, a4-a5, Bc1-f4, etc.) ( 21...a5 22.a3 d7 23.c5= ) 22.a5 16.e6 ( 16.xb7!? is possibly superior.) d7! Black is playing for more. ( 22...d5 16...d7 17.xf8 xf8 18.xb7 23.a3 c8 24.xd4 b6 25.axb6 axb6= ) A) Black has better chances to draw with 23.xb7 e8 ( 23...af8!? ) 24.a3 f4 18...xd3 19.exd3 c5 , i.e. ( or 19...c6 25.xa7 Fedoseev, V (2428)-Khairullin, I 20.a6 c5 ) 20.f3 cxb4 21.axb4 a4 (2617)/St Petersburg RUS 2010. Now 22.xa4 xa4 23.b5 ( 23.d2 c3 A) 25...xe2? 26.xc5 xc5 27.b8+ 24.a1 xb4 25.xa7 e2+ 26.xe2 f8 28.xf8+ xf8 29.xc5; xd2 ); B) 25...f6 was the game. After 26.xc5 B) 18...a4?! 19.xb1 c6 20.a2! B1) 26...f3? 27.exf3 e5 fails in xb4 21.e6 xa3 22.xc6 b4 s p e c t a c u l a r f a s h i o n : 28.b8!! 23.e4 f5?! 24.xf5 a4 Thorfinnsson, (this is not possible with Black's queen B (2 4 1 2 )-M o t yle v, A (2 6 9 0 )/ Ro ga sk a on e6) xf3+ 29.h1 e5 ( 29...xa7 Slatina SLO 2011. Here 25.xa3 ( 25.f4 30.xe8+ f7 31.f8++- is the point.) c3 26.e5 e7 27.xe7 xe7 30.xe8+ xe8 31.a6! and suddenly 28.g4 was the game, when Black Black has no decent way to parry the m a n a g e d t o e s c a p e w i t h a d r a w .) threat of 32.Bxd4, threatening 33.Rc8. 25...xa3 26.b1+- is cleanest. Black is White is winning.; objectively lost. ] B2) 26...fxg3 27.xd4 gxf2+ 28.xf2 [ Unlike 11...a5 12.b5 Nd4 13.Nxd4 exd4 14. xe2 29.f1 White held on for a draw.; Ne4, here 13...f5? makes no sense due to C) 25...e6! is the most threatening. The 14.c5 ] main idea is 26.xc5? f3! 27.exf3 e5-+ 14.b2 .] [ In Hracek, Z (2628)-Karjakin, S (2763)/ Porto Carras GRE 2011, White obtained a 15...xg2 [ Th e f a ct th a t 15...f6 is a fully playable s m a l l a d v a n t a g e a f t e r 14.e3 a5 alternative only enhances this line's ( the forcing line 14...f5 15.c5 xg2 credibility: 16.xd5+ xd5 17.c1 f7 16.xg2 xc5 17.bxc5 d5+ 18.f3 ( 17...c6 is very logical too) 18.c5 e6 xc5 is a cleaner way to equalize, i.e. ( 18...d7 19.b3 e8 20.e1 a6 19.xb7 c2! ) 15.bxa5 xa5 16.exd4 Krause, U (2340)-Sher, M (2505)/Hamburg f5 17.e1! , but Black was never in serious 1992. Now 21.b5! a5 22.f3 looks a little danger: a8 18.c5 xg2 19.xg2 d5+ better for W hite he may try to double or 20.g1 fe8 21.e6+ xe6 22.xe6 triple on the c-file while Black is somewhat d6 23.c5 a7 24.b5 g6 25.e3 tied to the d-pawn.) 19.e1 ( Maybe White ( 25.g5!? ) 25...d5 26.xb7 xe3 s h o u l d p r e f e r 19.f3 d8 20.c2= ) 27.xd6 cxd6 28.e1 xa3 29.xe3 xe3 19...c6 20.f3 d7! (a common idea ) 30.fxe3 xd3 31.d5 and a draw was 21.c2 d5 22.a1?! a5! Timman, J agreed. ] (2630)-Bareev, E (2680)/Tilburg 1991. ] [ Neither does 14.c2 impress much, e.g. f5 15.c5 xg2 16.xg2 d5+ 17.g1 a5!? 16.xg2 h8 Again, Black has more than 18.e4?! ( 18.b2= ) 18...dxe3 19.xe3 one reliable line here. [ The first move to consider is 16...d5+ . axb4 20.axb4 a2 21.b3 xb3 22.xb3 17.f3 ( Better than 17.g1 a5 , Seret, J d5 Tsapin, I (2295) -Veliev, S/Sevastopol (2 4 0 5 ) -M ir a l l e s , G (2 4 6 0 )/ L yo n 1 9 9 0 .) 2000. ] 17...f6 ( 17...c5?! 18.a1 cxb4 19.axb4 14...f5 15.d2 f6 20.b3 xb3 21.xb3 ad8 22.c1 [ White can offer a pawn with 15.c5 xg2 Vidarte Morales, A (2394)-Ayas Fernandez, 16.xg2 d5+ 17.g1 xc5 18.bxc5 A (2256)/Barcelona 2002.) 18.c1 d7 xc5 , but equality is the maximum he can 1172
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.b3+ h8 Danailov, S (2445)-Yakovich, Y (2525)/Seville 1992. At this point 20.b5!? looks best White discourages ...c7-c6 and p la n s t o d o u b le o n t h e c -f il e (a 4 - a 5 i s another idea). White's play seems a touch easier to me, though Black has nothing major to complain about, i.e. f4!? ] [ Similar is 16...f6 , i.e. A) 17.c1 d7 18.b3 ae8 19.c5 f7 20.g1 ( 20.xb7?? d5+-+ ) 20...c6 21.a4?! d5 and Black enjoyed a very coherent position in Baumegger, S (2433)-Ragger, M (2527)/Leoben 2008.; B) 17.b3+ h8 18.bc1 a5 ( 18...d7 t r a n s p o s e s t o 1 6 . . . Q d 5 +; 18...c6 is a ls o f in e .) 19.c5 axb4 20.axb4 Sunye Neto, J (2465)-Huebner, R (2585)/ Manila 1990. ( 20.xf5!? ) 20...d7= ] [ Karjakin had played 16...e8 prior to his game with Navara, but maybe he ditched it due to 17.b3+ ( 17.f3 f6 18.c1 h8 19.a4 a5 20.b5 d6 21.c2 ac8= Van Wely, L (2681)-Karjakin, S (2732)/Nice 2008. ) 17...h8 18.e4!? dxe3 19.fxe3 , when White has some slight pressure. ] 17.f3 f6 18.c2 This is new. White aims to complete development with Rf1-c1 before undertaking activity on the queenside. [ The players had been following Navara, D (2646)-Karjakin, S (2727)/Sochi 2008. That game went 18.a4 a5 ( 18...d7; and 18...f4!? also look good .) 19.b5 e8 ( 19...d5 ) 20.e1 c5?! (unnecessarily creating a weakness) 21.bxc6 bxc6 . Now 22.c2 or 22.Qb3 look normal. White's weaknesses on a4 and e2 are less burdensome than Black's on a5, c6, and d4. ( or 22.b3 )] 18...d7! 19.fc1 c6 20.a4 [ 20.b5!? is a funny engine suggestion. I really doubt Black has any problems after cxb5 21.c7 , i.e. f7 ( 21...d5!? ) 22.xd7 xd7 23.c5 a6! 24.xf5 a4 , though he's also entitled to decline the bpawn with 20.. .Rac8. ] 20...f4!? Creating counterplay on the kingside without delay. [ I 'd p ro b a b ly p la y 20...ae8= first, but Topalov's sense of the initiative is much more refined than mine! ] 21.b5 cxb5 22.axb5 d5! 23.xd4 ae8
[ 23...g4! was more testing. The main threats are ...Bxd4 and ... f3+, plus ...fxg3 and Nd5-f4+. White has to tread carefully, i. e. 24.b3 ( 24.c4 fd8! ) 24...ad8 25.f3! xb2 ( White doesn't stand too poorly after 25...fxg3 26.c4 f4+ 27.xf4 xf4 28.hxg3 . ) 26.xb2 fxg3 27.fxg3 ( 27.c4 f4+ 28.xf4 xf4 29.hxg3 ) 27...f4+ 28.g1 xd3 ( 28...de8 29.c4!; 28...fe8!? ) 29.e5!? xe5 30.xe5 fe8 31.d1! g6 32.c5 with an un deniably shaky (bu t possibly savable) heavy-piece endgame. ] 24.f3 xb2?! [ Black should have settled for a perpetual: 24...fxg3 25.hxg3 f4+ 26.gxf4 g4+ A) or 27.h1 h5+ 28.g2 ( 28.h2? xe2 ) 28...g4+ etc.; B) 27.f1 h3+ 28.g1 ( 28.e1? xf3 ) 28...g4+= ( 28...xb2 29.xb2 xf4 30.c4 also forces Black to take the draw with g4+ . )] 25.xb2 e6 [ Now 25...fxg3 26.hxg3 f4+?? just doesn't work because of 27.gxf4 g4+ 28.h1 h5+ 29.h2 xe2 30.d4 . ] 26.d4 Leading directly to a peaceful conclusion. [ White could play on with 26.c5!? ] 26...fxg3 27.hxg3 xe2! 28.xd5 e3 W h i t e m u s t g i v e t h e p i e c e b a c k . 29.e1 xf3+ 30.xf3 exf3 31.b2 xd3 Here the p layers agreed a draw. A likely conclusion is 32.Re7 Rdf3 33.Rxb7 R3f7=. Thus, it appears White cannot rely on even a hint of an advantage with the straightforward 12.Nxd4. ½-½
1178 Nepomniachtchi,Ian Bocharov,Dmitry Final Russian Rapid GP rapid (2.1) [John Bartholomew]
A29 2730 2609 02.12.11
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 a5 Weakening the queenside to prevent b2-b4. Dra go n players gen erally p rof it f ro m th e inclusion of ...a6 and a4 in lines of the 1173
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Classical, so surely this should hold true in the Reversed Dragon? Ironclad logic, but Black has a specific idea in mind. [ The main line with 8...0-0 9.b4 is still incredibly popular. See Nigel Davies's guide "Four Knights 4 g3 - 4...d5". ] 9.d3 0-0 10.e3 e6 The usual bishop configuration. [ With the flexible 10...e8 , Black very often drops the dark-square bishop back to f8 or develops the other one to g4. See Morozevich, A (2707)-Motylev, A (2632)/ Moscow 2005/[John Watson]. ] 11.c1 [ 11.a4 is a typical procedure. See Botvinnik, M-Portisch, L/Monte Carlo 1968/ [Jonathan Rowson]. d5 is likely the best reply. ] 11...a4!? What's this? Isn't Black blundering a pawn? [ The most prominent move here has been 11...f5 , i.e. 12.a4 ( 12.b5!?; 12.d2!? ) 12...e4!? 13.e1 ( The analogous 13.d2 d5 14.c5 is more promising.) 13...d5 ( 13...xa4 14.xa4 exd3?! 15.xd3 d5 16.f4 xg2 17.xg2 c8 18.fd1 Davies, N (2500)-Hartman, C (2370)/ W r e x h a m 1 9 9 6 .) 14.c5 e3!? ( T h e m u n d a n e 14...f6 is also acceptable.) 15.fxe3 g5 16.c2 Shilov, S (2255)-Korobov, A (2590)/ P a r d u b i c e 2 0 0 8 . ( 16.xd5 xd5 Cebalo, M (2480)-Sertic, R (2401)/Djakovo CRO 2011. ) 16...f6! ] [ 11...d5 12.xd5 xd5 13.a4 is a bit better for White. For instance, d6 14.d2 xg2 15.xg2 h8 16.b5 b8 17.c4 Mamedov, R (2586)-L'Ami, E (2577)/Heraklio 2007. ] [ 11...f6 is familiar from the 8...0-0 9.b4 main line , bu t with t he b isho p alre ad y on e 3 Marin's 12.d4! is a convincing retort. exd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 xd4 15.xd4 fd8?! 16.b5! c5 17.xc5 xc5 18.c7 ( 18.xc5 ) 18...c4 19.xa8 xa8 20.xc4 xc4 21.d5+ f8 22.xc4 Marin, M (2549)-Strambu, M (2206)/Amara 2007. ] 12.xb6 Swallowing the bait. [ 12.e4 Playing for the c5 square is normal, but non-critical. d7!? , with ideas of ...
Be6-b3 and ...f7-f5. ] 12...cxb6 [ I think the text is best, though 12...b3!? is also testing. 13.xc7 xc7 14.d2 ( 14.e1!? is less aesthetic, but does prepare Nf3-d2. Volosin, V (2286) Karacsony, A (2333)/Budapest HUN 2010.) 14...b6 Now ( 14...ad8 Iglesias Valle, JEstevez Jacome, J/Asturias 199202. Now 15.e3!? with the idea of 16.Nd2 should d e n y B l a c k a d e q u a t e c o m p e n s a t i o n .) 15.e4?! ( 15.e3 fd8 16.e2 is a better way to unwind. After e6 17.fd1 b3 18.d2 ac8 White is for choice, though Black has undeniable practical compensation with the bishop pair and open c / d - f i l e s .) 15...f5! 16.c3 ad8 was ideal compensation for Black in Hofirek, B (1980)-Papan, C (2119)/Ostrava CZE 2011. ] 13.xa4 e4! This disruptive pawn push is the key. By now I ought to tell you that 11...a4!? is Houdini's top move. It's probably not coincidental that Bocharov (and Karacsony/ Papan above) took a sudden interest in a move that hasn't been seen since 1992 (and only once prior to that!). I don't say this to belittle the achievement of such a find (Karacsony may get the credit for 11...a4's resurrection since he played it in 2010) - it's more an illustration of how opening fashion develops these days. 14.e1 [ The second pawn is immune: 14.dxe4?? xd1 15.fxd1 xa4-+ ] [ On 14.d2 , g5 is good, i.e. 15.e3 ( 15.xc6 bxc6 16.xe4 e7; 15.c3 e3! 16.fxe3 xe3+ 17.h1 g5! ) 15...exd3 ] 14...d4? A clear imprecision. [ The source game for 11...a4 is Cekro, E (2365)-Komljenovic, D (2380)/Medulin 1983. T h a t c o n t e s t c o n t i n u e d 14...g5! , which Houdini also approves. Black has excellent piece play, and appears to have full compensation with chances for more. For example: A) 15.a1 , i.e. exd3 16.xd3 d4 (17...Bb3 was threatened) 17.c3 b3 ( Black can also take an immediate perpetual 17...b3 18.b1 c2 19.a2 b3 20.b1 c2= ) 18.xb7 ( 18.a2 1174
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d2 19.e1 b3 20.a1 looks terrible for W hite to me, though the computer thinks its close to equal) 18...a7 19.g2 xa1 20.xa1 resulting in an interesting middlegame. Material is balanced, and so are the chances. Either side can realistically push for a win.; B) 15.c3 f6 and now we have a r e p e t i t i o n a f t e r ( 15...d4!? 16.b4; 15...f5!? ) 16.c1 g5; C) 15.c3 xc1 16.xc1 exd3 17.xd3 c8; D) 15.e3 exd3 16.xd3 f5 ( 16...xa4! is probably stronger, i.e. 17.xa4 xd3 18.fd1 e2 ) 17.c3 f6 18.e4! g6 19.e5 . N o w t h e f o r c i n g l i n e xe5 20.xe5 xe5 21.xd8 fxd8 22.xb6 xc3 23.xa8 xb2 24.xb7 xa3 25.f3 should of course be drawn, though only Black can push with the bishop pair. An amazing conception from Komljenovic. One wonders whether it was the result (Komljenovic chose 19... Be7?! and went on to lose) or the lack of game proliferation that caused 11... a4 to go unnoticed for so long. Regardless, if this analysis holds the system with ...a5 should receive a much-needed shot in the arm. ] 15.c3! Coordination. Now Black has little compensation. g5?! The same idea, but a move too late. [ 15...b3 16.b1 exd3 17.xd3 ] [ 15...b3 16.d2 e6!? ] 16.e3 b3 17.xe4!? Giving the exchange under favorable circumstances. [ There was also nothing wrong with 17.c2 exd3 18.xd3 ] 17...xc1 18.xc1 d7 19.d4 xd4?? Clearly overlooking W hite's next. W hite is comfortably better anyways, as Black has very little to attack. 20.f4+- Decisive. xf4 21.xf4 d7 22.c2 fe8 23.d4 ad8 24.f1 e7 25.b5 d6 26.xh7+! White has a million ways to win but chooses a forcing continuation. xh7 27.h5+ g8 28.e4 c7 29.h4 f6 [ 29...c1+ 30.g2 xb2+ 31.f3 changes nothing. ] 30.xf6+! Superb calculation for a rapid game. f8 [ or 30...gxf6 31.h8+ f7 32.h7+ g6
33.h6+ g5 34.xf6+ g4 35.h4# ] 31.f4 c1+ 32.g2 gxf6 33.xf6+ g8 34.g6+ f8 35.h8+ f7 36.f6# 1-0
1179 Nimzo 7.32 Fritz 6a Cadaques Tournament (8) [Tony Kosten]
A29
04.01.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.d3 a5 This move is commonly preferred in these positions, Black challenges W hite's queenside build-up, and can often make use of the b3-square after a further ... a4. 11.b5 d4 12.d2 c6 [ One of the s of this line for White is that Black sometimes falls for the trap 12...d5? 13.xd5 xd5 14.e3 winning a piece, as e6 allows 15.e4 when the bishop has nowhere to go. ] 13.bxc6 xc6 14.b1 The open b-file will be put to good use. c8 [ P r o b a b l y b e s t , t h e n a t u r a l 14...a4 a l lo ws t h e su rp ri si n g 15.xc6!? bxc6 16.c2 c5?! ( 16...f5 ) 17.d1! a6 18.c4 with a positional plus, Vladimirov,ESavchenko,S/Helsinki 1992. ] 15.de4 [ 15.b2 e8 16.e1 f8 17.a4 d5 wa s s a t i s f a c t o r y f o r B l a c k , Z u e g e r , B Romanishin,O/ Cannes 1998. ] 15...a4 16.e3 d4 17.xd4 xd4 18.xa4!? [ An optically surprising move, seen by computers, but not so easily by humans, and a possible improvement on 18.e3 d8 19.xa4 xa4 1/2-1/2 Karlsson, LRo m a n is h i n , O / T a l li n n 1 9 8 7 , a s a l l t h e queenside pawns will come off the board after 20.xa4 f5 21.d2 xd3 22.xb7 xa3 ] 18...xa4 19.xb7 The point is that White will regain the piece when he plays e3, as the black queen can no longer support the knight from d7. xa3 20.e3 b2 21.exd4 xd1 22.xd1 exd4 23.a1 c1?! [ 23...c1+ 24.xc1 xc1 might favour 1175
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 W h it e , b e c a u se o f h is a ct ive ro o k, b u t should be a draw. ] 24.h4 fd8 25.aa7 Now White has two rooks on the seventh. c2 26.f3 f8 27.h5 f5? [ Any human would play 27...g6 28.d1 a2 wh e n W h i t e ' s c h a n c e s o f w i n n i n g a r e slight. ] 28.xg7! This move is a good winning attempt without risk, as W hite will always have a perpetual check to fall back on. fxe4 29.xh7 g8 30.dxe4 dc8 [ Black is in serious trouble, as his attempt at counterplay by 30...d3 is met by 31.ag7+ f8 32.g6 a2 33.e5 and e6 will threaten mate, and win a piece. ] 31.ag7+ f8 32.f7 xf7 33.xf7+ g8 34.fg7+ f8 35.d7 g8 36.hg7+ W hite plays like a human, and checks his opponent around a bit to gain time on the clock! f8 37.df7+ e8 38.a7 f8 39.e5 e2 40.h5 xe5 41.h6! Of course, computers rarely miss such tactical operations, winning back his piece. xh6 Otherwise h7, a n d R g 8 m a t e w o u l d f o l l o w . 42.h7 Menacing mate on h8. g8 43.xh6 d5 44.hh7 d3? [ This allows transposition into a trivial rook endgame, 44...cd8 was the only chance, aiming to push the d-pawn. ] 45.ag7+ f8 46.d7 xd7 47.xd7 c1+ 48.g2 c3 49.f3 e8 50.d4 f7 51.e3 d2+ 52.xd2 Now Black can resign, but it seems that this is too much for his pride! c6 53.g4 g6 54.f3 e6 55.a4 g5 56.e3 f7 57.f4 d5 58.g5 g6 59.a6+ g7 60.g4 d1 61.f4 d4 62.g6 d5 63.f5 h6 64.f4 d1 65.a7 d4+ 66.e5 d8 1-0
1180 Nimzo 7.32 Junior 6.0 Cadaques Tournament (2) [Tony Kosten]
A29
09.01.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 b4 4.g2 0-0 5.f3 c6 6.0-0 e4 7.g5 xc3 8.bxc3 e8 9.f3 e3 Zaitsev's move is still considered
to be strongest. 10.d3 d5 11.b3 a5 12.a3 c6 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.f4 g4 [ Generally considered stronger than Karpov's 14...c6 from his Seville match against Kasparov. ] 15.e1 c8!? [ The interesting thing about computer chess is that they can trot-out the f irst twenty moves of theory or so, directly from their hard disc 'memory', and when they get to the end of this, and have to 'think' for themselves, they might be able to find a new move of value. This appears to be a novelty, although bringing a rook to an open file is obvious, to say the least. Before this 15...h6 16.f3 c6 17.b1 d7 18.d4 h3! ga ve B la ck go od ch an ce s in La u t ie r, J Illescas Cordoba,M/Dos Hermanas 1995, and ] [ 15...c6 16.b1 d7 17.f3 b6 18.b2 is also reasonable, Soffer,R-Kindermann,S/ Bern 1990. ] 16.h3 d7 17.b2 b6 18.ad1 h6 19.f3 h5 An important move, the e3-pawn cuts the white position in two, and makes it difficult to defend the g3-pawn. 20.h2 f6 21.g1 White had to do something about the threat of ...Qg6. c6 22.h4? g5! Ouch! 23.c4 d4 24.xc6? [ An attempt to avoid 24.fxg5 that comes u n s t u c k , a l t h o u g h , i t i s t r u e t h a t hxg5 25.f3 xg3! is rather awkward, as 26.xg3?? is impossible, f4# ] 24...xc6 25.xa7 c8 26.g2 [ T h i s l o s e s , b u t 26.fxg5? is no longer possible, e6! 27.g4 d6+ 28.h1 g3+ and wins. ] 26...xg3!! Ripping out the heart of the white king's defence. 27.b8 [ Hopeless, but 27.xg3 f5 28.h1 gxf4+ 29.h2 f3! 30.exf3 g6 leaves White without defence to the threats. ] 27...f5 28.xc8 The only mov e to avoid immediate mate, the rest of the game is a mere formality. cxc8 29.xg3 ed8 30.a4 a8 31.a1 h5 32.af1 xa4 33.fxg5 e5+ 34.f4 a2 35.b1 f5 36.f3 b5 37.cxb5 xb5 38.a1 c6+ 39.g3 c8 40.bc1 f5 41.f3 h4 42.g6 d6 43.gxf7+ xf7 44.c7+ d7 45.c4 e5 46.c8 b5 47.cc1 b7+ 48.g4 d8 1176
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 49.c5 g8+ 0-1
1181 Ostenstad,Berge Agdestein,Simen ch-NOR Mons NOR (4) [John Watson]
A29 2480 2575 10.07.2006
In this game we look at the early push of the g-pawn in the Dragon Variation, both as Black (where it is an established idea) and by White (where it is virtually untried), a tempo ahead! As so often, the extra tempo in a Reversed opening can be useless, or even an impediment. 1.c4 [ Black's idea of 8...g5 has held up fairly well. What if White tries the same system but a tempo up? For example, 1.e4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 g6 5.c3 g7 6.b3 f6 7.e2 0-0 and now: A) 8.0-0 d6 and now the g4 idea has lost the point of h4-h5, but still resembles the main game after 9.f4 a6 10.g4 b5 11.g5 e8 12.f3 ( or 12.h1 h3 13.g1 ) 12...h3!?; B) 8.g4 d5! 9.exd5 b4 10.g5 - see the note to 9.b4 about 9.d4 - this is a direct transposition, because Black has played ...d5 in one move whereas there White plays d4 in two moves.; C) 8.e3 d6 9.g4 d5 10.exd5 b4 11.f3 ( 11.d6!? looks like a try for a d v a n t a g e b u t xd6 12.c5 f4! takes advantage of the weakness created by g4 ) 11...xg4! 12.xg4 xg4 13.xg4 xc2+ 14.e2 xa1 15.xa1 xc3 16.bxc3 xd5 17.d1 e5 and White has the two minor pieces for a rook and two pawns but his king is loose and another pawn my fall; D) 8.h4 d6 9.g4 d5! 10.exd5 b4 D1) 11.g5 fxd5 ( 11...xg4 12.xg4 xg4 13.xg4 xc2+ 14.e2 xa1 15.xa1 xc3 16.bxc3 xd5 is very messy, but White's exposed king is a problem. ); D2) 11.f3 xg4! 12.xg4 xg4 13.xg4 xc2+ 14.e2 xa1 15.xa1 xc3 16.bxc3 xd5 17.d1
xa2+ etc.]; D3) 11.h5 bxd5 12.hxg6 ( 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5 xd5 ) 12...xc3 13.gxf7+ xf7 14.c4+ e8 15.xd8+ xd8 16.bxc3 xg4; D4) 11.0-0 fxd5 12.xd5 xd5 13.c3 ( 13.f3 b4 ) 13...d6 14.f3 d8= . No matter what extra tempo tries to use in the 'reverse g4' system, he gains little or nothing from it. ] 1...e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 g5 9.b4 [ 9.d4! leads to positions with exciting possibilities: exd4 10.b5 g4 11.fxd4 ( 11.xg5 xg5 12.xg5 0-0 13.f3 ) 11...xd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 0-0-0 ] 9...g4 10.e1 f5 [ Or 10...h5 , which has been played before, with the simple plan ...h4 and playing for mate! ] 11.d3 0-0 12.b2 [ 12.h6 may well be better, e.g., f7 ( 12...f6 13.g5 g6 14.xe7 xe7 15.f3 ) 13.c2!? with the idea f4 14.e4 This all needs more investigation. ] 12...f6 13.c1 h8 14.xc6!? A very good positional move but a little risky b e c a u se o f t h e we a k e n e d l ig h t s q u a r e s around White's king. bxc6 15.a4 [ 15.f3!? ] 15...d6 16.c5!? [ 16.c2 ] 16...a5! 17.e4?! [ 17.d2! ] 17...axb4 18.axb4 f4 19.g2 f3 20.e3 g7 21.e1!? It's time to challenge the a-file. W hite's idea is that after a move like Nf5, capture on f5 will open a key file for White's rook. h5 22.d4!? I'm not sure what Ostenstad is doing. Perhaps he underestimated Black's ability to retain the dpawn. exd4 23.c2 c4? [ 23...d8 forces White to consider his material deficit. ] 24.xd4 d8 25.e5!? [ 25.a1! xa1 26.xg7+ xg7 27.xa1+ g6 28.c3 ] 25...xe5 26.d2 f7 27.cd1 g8 28.c3 g6 29.xg7 xd1 30.xd1 xg7 31.d4 f5 Black's extra pawn isn't worth 1177
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 much, but the restrictive pawn on f3 is very s t r o n g a n d n o w h e 's g o t g o o d p i e c e s t o s u p p o r t i t . 32.c1 f6 33.h4 d8 34.cb3?! [ 34.xf5 xd1+ 35.xd1 xf5 36.d3!? would be interesting. ] 34...e4 35.c5 d5! 36.a7? c2! 37.e1 xb3 38.xb3 c3 39.e3 [ 39.b1 xb4 40.xc7 c3 and Black has the extra pawn and a hugely superior position. ] 39...xe3 40.fxe3 b5 41.d4 [ White hangs it up because 41.d4 xb4 42.xc6 b2 threatens ...f2+, but then 43.d1 d6 followed by ...Ne4 or .. .Nf5 will lead to an irresistible attack. ] 0-1
1182 Pelletier,Yannick Chernin,Alexander XLVIII TCh-ESP (4) [John Watson]
A29 2589 2584 21.11.2004
This game illustrates a sideline of the main 1... e5 English 4 Knights. W hite has never achieved much here, and Pelletier commits the error so many have made: he pursues positional goals and neglects his kingside. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 d6 [ The main line with 6...e4 7.g5 ( 7.e1 xc3 8.dxc3 e8 9.c2 isn't played that much any more) 7...xc3 8.bxc3 e8 9.f3 e3 has been discussed by Tony in this column. Black seems to be doing okay. ] 7.d5 [ 7.d3 is the most common alternative, when White must be ready for xc3 8.bxc3 e4!? ] 7...c5 8.d3 xd5 9.cxd5 d4 This idea has been played for many years in this and similar positions. W hite has had difficulty finding anything promising, and this time it's no different. 10.d2?! [ 10.xd4 exd4 gives White problems down the e-file unless he tries 11.e4 , when f5 12.d2 a5 isn't bad for White but it's not what he wants. ] 10...g4! 11.e1 f5 12.b4!? b6 [ 12...xb4 13.f3 h5 14.e3 b5 15.b3
results in too many problems. ] 13.c4 f4! 14.xb6 axb6 What now? White has removed the bishop but can hardly defend his kingside. 15.h3?! [ But 15.f3 d7 (with the idea ...Ba4) 16.a4 e8 17.a5 bxa5 18.bxa5 fxg3 19.hxg3 g6 20.g4 f7 wins the d-pawn. ] 15...xe2! 16.xe2 f3 17.e4 fxg2 18.b2? [ White should play 18.xg2 , although d7 19.b2 f3 transposes. ] 18...f3+ 19.xg2 d7 20.e3 g5 21.h4 h3+ 22.g1 f7? [ 22...f5! threatens both ...Qxf2+ and ... Nh3+. White has to try the desperate 23.f4 ( 23.e2? h3+ 24.g2 xf2 ) 23...exf4 24.e7 f7! 25.xf7 xf7 26.f3 e5 27.xe5 xe5 28.f1 d4+ 29.h1 xa2 and wins. ] 23.e2 [ 23.d4 ] 23...h6 24.e4 f7 [ 24...c6 is also strong, e.g., 25.dxc6 bxc6 (in te n din g . .. d 5 ) 26.h5! a7! 27.h4 ( 27.d4 af7 28.f1 f3! ) 27...e6 28.a4 af7 29.f1 f5! 30.g4 e3! ] 25.c1 [ This is probably better than 25.d4 af8 26.f1 f5 27.ae1 g4 28.dxe5 ( 28.xg4 xg4 29.dxe5 f3! 30.e2 xg3+ 31.fxg3 xf1+ 32.xf1 f3+ ) 28...xf2 29.e6 h3+ 30.g2 xf1+ 31.xf1 xf1 32.xh3 h5! ] 25...f5 26.e3 e7 27.d4 xd5 28.dxe5 c3 29.g4 xg4 30.xg4 dxe5 31.d2 b5?! [ 31...e2+! 32.f1 d4 followed by ... Raf8 . Black has a pawn and the attack. 33.e4 c2 34.c1 xa2 ] 32.e4 e7?! [ 32...d7! 33.e3 d4 ] 33.f4 ae8 34.ae1 Now it's about equal, as the game demonstrates. d4 35.g2 c6 36.g5 e6 37.c1 h6 38.e3 b5 39.c5 b6 40.xb5 a8 41.d5 xa2 42.b5 e7 43.dxe5 xe5 44.xe5 f7 45.f4 g6 46.e4 c2 47.h5 xf4+ ½-½
1178
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1183 A29 1184 Perez Fungueiro,Manuel Antonio 2255 Petrosian,Tigran V Hamdouchi,Hicham 2559 Ree,Hans III Open Sanxenxo ESP (2) 27.06.2006 1971 Wijk aan Zee [John Watson] [Paul Motwani] 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 h6!? All the rage following Anand's use of it (with a few other GMs preceding him). The idea is that ...h6 will come in handy in every line, so Black doesn't show his cards yet. White is still looking for the right system with which to counter this. 4.d3 White doesn't want to commit. [ Maybe a move like 4.b3!? would irritate Black. ] [ O n e o f B la c k's id e a s is 4.c3 c5 ( even after 4...c6 5.d4 exd4 6.xd4 a6 , ...h6 is a handy moves, although W hite should stand better) 5.f3!? e4 and g5 isn't available for the knight, but 6.g1 e7 7.c2 d5! 8.xd5 ( 8.cxd5 f5 ) 8...xd5 9.cxd5 f5 isn't very convincing for White. ] 4...c5 5.c3 0-0 6.f3 d6 7.0-0 a6 8.a3 a7 9.b4 c6 10.b2 b8 11.d2 e7 12.d5?! This move almost always helps Black if he can capture without creating some awful weakness (or of course, if White can't recapture with a piece). Black gains time and clears the way for an attack. The bishop on a7 cooperates nicely with attack by ...f5-f4. Better was [ 12.a4 or ] [ 12.c2 or ] [ 12.b3 with the idea d4. ] 12...fxd5 13.cxd5 f5 14.c1 d7 15.c2 c8 16.c4 f4 17.h1 e8 Black pursues a more-or-less mindless and stock attack, but what to do about it? 18.gxf4 [ 18.d2 h5 doesn't help, since 19.d4? fxg3 20.fxg3 f5 is already close to winning. ] 18...xf4 19.e3 h4 20.e2 b5! 21.d2 g4! 22.f3 f5 23.e4 Versus ...Ng3+ h5 Now Black threatens both the e3 pawn and ... Rxe4! and there's little to be done. 24.c6!? xe3 25.c1 b6 26.e1 e7 27.f4 f8 28.b2 exf4 29.f3 g3+ 30.g2 [ 30.xg3 xe1 31.xe1 xf3# ] 30...xe4 0-1
A29
1971
W 37: "Black nightmare in the English Four Knights!" 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 [ Reader's Challenge W37P1: Consider the line 2...c6 3.f3 f5 4.d4 e4 5.g5 f6 6.d5?! exf3 7.dxc6 fxg2 Why is it fatal for White to move his c6-pawn left or right now? An answer appears at the end of the game W37. ] 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.d5 xd5 [ I would prefer 5...e4 ] 6.cxd5 e4?? [ B l a c k s h o u l d h a v e p l a y e d 6...d4 and he can always at least hope for 7.xe5?! e7 8.d3?? f3#! ] 7.dxc6 exf3 8.b3! This move caused GM Hans Ree to resign! Black loses a piece after 8...Qe7 9 a3, because when the b4-bishop retreats White simply plays the capture & fatal fork cxb7. Solution to W37P1 8 cxb7?? Bxb7 clearly leaves W hite in double trouble at f1 and h1. A more hidden pitfall is 8 cxd7+? Nxd7!!, intending 9 Bxg2 Qxg5 or 9 Bxd8 gxh1=Q with a winning material advantage for Black. 1-0
1185 Piket,Jeroen Avrukh,Boris Lost Boys Open (9) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2630 2598 19.08.2001
Brilliant and inventive opening play from Piket gains a big advantage. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 This is White's best move here. c5 [ 7...a5 is rarer, but possible: 8.0-0 0-0 9.d1! d6 10.d4 gives White a small plus, Uhlmann,W-Gelfand,B/Debrecen 1989. ] 8.d3 h6 9.h4!? [ Again this interesting move of Gulko's, preparing g4-g5, but it is less weakening than the immediate 9.g4 ] 1179
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...h7? [ A new defensive plan, Black wishes to preempt g4-g5, but misses W hite's counter. 9...c6 10.g4 d5 11.g5 1-0 Gulko,B-Hector, J/Copenhagen DEN 2000 ] 10.e4! e7 11.b5! Moving the queen again in the opening looks wrong, but this move is very strong! The e5-pawn is attacked and the d-pawn can't defend it because it is itself pinned. c5 [ Positionally ugly, Black concedes control of d5, but following 11...f6 White can play 12.xf6+ ( and 12.g4 is also effective) 12...xf6 13.d4! exd4 14.f4 with great play on the dark squares, and on ] [ 11...f6?! 12.h5+ is horrible. ] 12.e3 [ Rather than 12.xc5? a6 13.xb7 axb5 14.xd8 b8 and the knight is trapped. ] 12...a6 13.a4 c7 14.c3 Of course! Black has avoided immediate disaster, but ju s t lo o k a t t h a t ga p in g h o l e o n d 5 ! d8 15.b4! White hammers the nail further in. His pieces are all aiming at Black's queenside, so he wastes no time opening the b-file, and g1-a7 diagonal. f8 [ W hat else? 15...cxb4 16.d5 (menace: Bb6) b5 17.cxb5 b7 18.b6 axb5 and now W hite can win the exchange by 19.xa8 xa8 20.xd8 ] 16.bxc5 e6 17.b4 White holds-on to his extra pawn. 0-0 18.d5 f5 19.xe7+ xe7 20.d5 h8 Black is trying his utmost to generate some counterplay, ...f4 is coming. 21.xe6! The simplest, the opposite-colour bishops will not save Black. a5 22.b2 xe6 23.f4! The point, White opens the long diagonal to Black's king. e4 [ 23...exf4? is worse, 24.d4 e7 25.gxf4 and a white rook will soon appear on the gfile. ] 24.d4 The contrast between the two bishops is striking. f7 25.d2!? a6 26.e5?! [ Stopping ...d6, but Black has another pawn break. 26.ab1 d6 27.cxd6 xd6 28.e5 is simpler. ] 26...b6 27.cxb6 xb6 28.d4 c6?! [ Missing a good chance: 28...exd3 29.exd3 c6! planning both to embarrass the bishop with ...d6, and to check on g2. 30.he1 d6! 31.xd6 xd6 32.xd6 xd6 33.e8+
h7 34.xc8 White momentarily has two extra pawns, but... fd7 Black has excellent drawing chances. ] 29.c5 Consolidating the e5-square, and now the game resumes its normal course. exd3 30.exd3 a6 31.h5 c8 32.hb1 c6 33.b6 g2+ 34.c3 c6 35.ab1 White is coming down the b-file. f3? [ 35...h7 is Black's only hope. ] 36.xc6 dxc6 37.d6 Threatening both R b 8 + , a n d Q x h 6 + . xh5 38.xc6 Not to mention this, winning the bishop! a7 39.b6 [ Not bad, but 39.h1 is a real killer. ] 1-0
1186 Pogorelov,Ruslan Tiviakov,Sergei III Open Calvia ESP (5) [John Watson]
A29 2462 2680 24.10.2006
Any time that Tiviakov plays a Dragon or Dragon Reversed, players take notice. Here we follow down a familiar path in the main line (isn't it time that we move on to something else?), with a somewhat different structure arising. Pogorelov slowly outplays his opponent, but on the verge of winning he lets Tiviakov escape into a drawn position. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 a5 12.b5 d4 13.d2 c8 14.e3 f5 15.e2 [ 15.c2 d8 16.b2 h6!? was successful in L Van Wely-S Tiviakov, Hilversum NED 2006. Black is transferring his knight to f7. ] 15...d6 [ 15...a4 16.b2 d6 17.f4!? was unclear in Bareev-Yakovich, Kazan 2005. ] 16.f4 [ 16.a4 (stopping ...a4) g4 17.f3 e6 18.f4 was seen in Bareev-Shirov, Poikovsky RUS 2006, with similar intent. After f7 , W hite should simply have played 19.b2 , with perhaps a very small edge, because Black has no effective plan. ] 16...exf4 [ 16...a4?! 17.fxe5 fxe5 18.xf8+ xf8 1180
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.de4 gives White a nice outpost in front of the isolated pawn. ] [ 16...g4 17.f2 d7 wouldn't concede anything in the centre. ] 17.xf4! f5! 18.b3 xb3 Lest Nc5 follow. 19.xb3 e6 20.b1 g5 21.f3 The opening is pretty much over and looks equal. Black's central pressure makes up for W hite's two bishops. ae8 22.c2 d7 23.h3 h8 24.e2! e5 25.f2 d7 26.a4 c5?! [ 26...g6 was an easier way to hold down White's play. Now things turn favourable for White. ] 27.bxc6 xc6 28.f4 b4 29.b3 f7 30.d4!? White needn't be in a hurry to make this move, although it works out well. As it happens, ceding e4 gives Black some counterplay, but not enough to equalise. d6 31.a3 e4 32.xe4 fxe4 33.xb4! axb4 34.g2 xf4?! [ 34...e7 ] 35.xf4 xf4 36.gxf4 g5! 37.f5! White keeps the g-file closed and the pressure on. g4!? An odd pawn sacrifice for activity, but after [ 37...xf5 38.f1 e6 39.xb4 and White stands clearly better. ] 38.hxg4 g7 39.d1 g5 40.e2? On the treacherous 40th move, White gives back most of his advantage. [ 40.xb4 xe3 41.d5! keeps the extra pawn while threatening Qd4+ and Rxb7. After this Black manages to equalise and the game ends with a raft of checks. ] 40...g8 41.f1 h4 42.f4 h5 43.d5 [ 43.b5! xg4+ 44.xg4 xg4+ 45.h2= ] 43...xg4+ 44.xg4 hxg4 45.b2+ g8 46.e5 h3+ 47.g1 xe3+ 48.h1 c1+ 49.g2 c2+ 50.h1 d1+ 51.h2 d2+ 52.h1 e1+ 53.g2 d2+ 54.h1 h6+ 55.g2 h3+ 56.g1 e3+ 57.h1 f3+ 58.g1 g3 59.e8+ g7 60.g6+ f8 61.f6+ e8 62.e6+ d8 63.d6+ c8 64.e6+ c7 65.e7+ c8 66.e8+ c7 67.e7+ ½-½
1187 Poldauf,Dirk Timman,Jan H German Team Cup (1) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2459 2655 18.03.2000
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 c5 5.xe5 xf2+ 6.xf2 xe5 7.e4 d6!? [ B l a c k a v o i d s t h e n o r m a l 7...c5 w h e n I v a n c h u k ' s 8.d4 gives White the edge. ] 8.d4 g6 9.h3 0-0 10.g2 b8!? [ This is Timman's new idea, a subtle waiting m o ve . P r e vi o u s l y h e h a d e xp e r i e n c e d 10...e6 although from the white side, Timman,J-Beliavsky,A/Sombor 1972, continuing: 11.b3 c6 12.e3 a5 13.d2 with an edge. ] 11.f1?! [ Black's move gains an immediate recompense, better 11.e3 when Black will continue a6 intending a later .. .b5. ] 11...e6! 12.b3 c8 The point, White has moved his king's rook too fast, and his hpawn needs defending. 13.g4!? [ Obvious, but this weakens the kingside dark squares. 13.g5 e8 14.g4 is better. ] 13...h6 Consolidates g5, and prepares to bring the f6-knight to this square, via h7. 14.g1 h7 15.e2 g5 16.g3 h4 17.b2 xg2 18.xg2 f6 19.f4 d7 20.d3 b5 Black needs to obtain some queenside counterplay. 21.cxb5 xb5 22.c2 e8 23.h4 e6 24.f2 d7 25.f5 d5! 26.e5 Otherwise, White would be left with an IQP on d4. fxe5 27.dxe5 d4 Black is better, he has a dangerous passed pawn, and can control the h1-a8 diagonal. 28.e1 b6!? [ 28...bd8 is more logical. ] 29.d2 d4 becomes the focus of attention c5!? [ A combination that serves to expose the white king, 29...c5 permits 30.d6 ] 30.xd4 d5+ 31.h3 [ 31.f3 c6 ] 31...e4 32.xe4 xe4 33.xb6 axb6 34.f4 xf4 [ Better than 34...xe5? when 35.xh6+ demolishes the pawn shield, h7 36.xe4+ xe4 37.f5 with a good extra pawn. ] 35.xf4 xe5 36.f2 h5! 37.gxh5?? 1181
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ W alking into a nasty pin. 37.d2 f7 d6 ( 10...b6 ) 11.b3 ( 11.c2 and there are 38.g3 kept the balance. ] several moves here, but analogous to the 37...d7 38.g4 c5 Threatening ...Kf7-f6, game is e5!? 12.d1 with some picking-up the unfortunate knight. 39.a4 e6 difficulties for Black.) 11...a5 12.c2 a4 40.f3 h8 41.g5 White tries to keep the 13.b1 axb3 14.axb3 e7 15.d1 d7 opposing king away, but goes from one pin to 16.c5!? dxc5 17.c4 a6 18.b2 c8 another. h7 Leaving White in zugzwang. 19.a1 xa1 20.xa1 f5 21.d2 d4 42.f2 22.xd4 cxd4 23.xd4 c6 24.b6 e6 [ 42.g4 g6 43.hxg6+ xg6 44.h5+ f6 25.h4 h5 26.d4 d7 27.a5 f5 28.h3 wins the knight. ] g6 29.c3 f8 30.g2 d8 31.f4 f7? 42...xb3 43.f4 d5 44.b2 c4 45.e4 32.xe4 L Portisch-Izoria, Warsaw POL [ 45.e4 The powerful black c-pawn will win 2005. ] the game. ] 9.g5! e5!? 10.f4! e6 45...c5 'Rook behind the pawn', Black [ 10...exf3 11.xf3 e6 (else the move intends .. .c3. 46.d4 xa4 47.xb6 c3 Bxf6 will soon decimate Black's kingside) 48.e2? 12.d4 xd4 13.xd4 d6 14.d5 e5 [ 48.b1 was a better try. ] 15.xf6 gxf6 16.ad1 with a clear 48...c2 49.c1 xh5 advantage. ] [ 49...xh5 50.d3 xh4 and Black creates 11.c2 e7? Now Black is lost. But things a passed g-pawn, too. ] were bad anyway after 0-1 [ 11...h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.e3 e8 14.c2 e7 15.fd1 ] 12.f5 d6 13.c1! e5 14.e3 h6 1188 A29 15.xf6 xf6 [ 15...xf6 16.d5 d8 17.b3! c6 Portisch,Lajos 2525 18.a3 ] Warakomski,Tomasz 2384 6th EICC Warsaw POL (2) 19.06.2005 16.d5 c5+ 17.h1 d6 18.f6 g5 [ Or 18...xc4 19.e7+ h8 20.fxg7+ [John Watson] xg7 21.f5+ ] Portisch knows the Classical main-line Four 19.f5! xd5 [ 19...e6 20.xg5+ hxg5 21.xg5+ g6 Knights English and coasts to victory in this 22.e7+ , winning Black's queen. ] game, while grinding out another win in the same variation (in the notes). 1.c4 e5 2.c3 20.cxd5 d6 21.xg5+ A win in the old style f6 3.g3 c6 4.g2 b4 5.f3 of English Opening play. Here were at the starting point of thousands 1-0 of games. 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.e1 The older move this knight heads for e3 via c2 in order 1189 A29 to strengthen White's control over d5. Savchenko,Boris 2583 [ 7.g5 xc3 8.bxc3 e8 has been the Carlsen,Magnus 2714 critical variation for many years. ] World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (3) 21.11.2007 7...xc3 The classic example of [ 7...e8?! 8.d5! is ... Portisch-Huebner, [Carsten Hansen] Tilburg 1983: h6 9.d3 xe1 10.xe1 e5 11.dxe4! xc4 12.xf6+ xf6 13.c2 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 c6 14.f4 e5 15.ac1 xc2 16.xc2 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 So far so good. White's next move takes us off c6 17.d1 with a large advantage. ] the path from our theoretical survey a few 8.dxc3 e8!? [ Traditionally the move 8...h6 has been months ago 8.b5!? I'm at loss for the exact played in order to prevent W hite's next. reasoning that lead to this move. It seems to T h e n a n o t h e r P o r t i s c h g a m e f r o m t h e me that Black is interested in playing ...Qe7, . sametournamentwent 9.c2 e8 10.e3 ..c6 anyway so why f orce and encourage 1182
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black to get these moves for free? Maybe White wanted to clear the path for b2-b4, but this is surely not the best way. Nevertheless, I give it '!?' because it is bizarre enough to merit attention. e7 9.d3 c6 10.a4 0-0 11.0-0 [ An important alternative for White is 11.g5 , e.g. d4 ( 11...h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.e4 e7 14.xc5 xc5 15.a3! xa3 16.bxa3 with pressure on Black's queenside; 11...d8 12.0-0 d6 13.e4 h3 14.fd1 a5 15.c2 a7 16.xf6+ gxf6 is actually rather nice for Black) 12.e4 d5 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.xf6+ gxf6 15.d2 d8 with chances to both sides. After White's 11th move in the game, Black takes over the initiative. ] 11...h6 12.a3 a6 13.b4 a7 14.e3 d8 15.b3 d6 16.b2 e6 17.c2 d5 18.c5 b8 [ 18...h3 19.fe1 h7!? ] 19.g2 c7 20.e4 dxe4 [ While this approach looks normal and pretty good, I'm not sure it is actually Black's best as it allows W hite an opportunity to exchange some piece at no particular for Black. Instead Black can consider 20...a5!? 21.fe1 ( 21.e2 h5!? ) 21...d7 22.ad1 d4 23.e2 with a sort of Ruy Lopez Chigorin, but with the colours reversed, and one where Black in this position is doing quite well. ] 21.dxe4 c4 22.fd1 e6 23.xd8+ xd8 24.d1 d4 25.e2? [ White must have miscalculated or overlooked something in the continuation, possibly Black's 26th move. Instead White should have tried 25.c1 b3 ( 25...d7?! 26.xd4 exd4 27.b1 ) 26.xd4 exd4 27.e2 d3 28.d4 c4 29.e5 d7 30.f4 , and both sides still have chances, though I a c t u a l ly wo u l d n 't m in d p la yi n g W h it e here... ] 25...xe4! 26.xe4 b3 27.b1 xd1 28.f5 b3 29.c3 f3 30.c2 e6 31.d1 xd1 32.xd1 f8 33.h4 c4 34.d2 e7 35.e3 d5 36.xd5+ xd5 37.e2 g6 38.h5 g5 39.g4 e6 40.e2 f5 41.g4 e4 42.gxf5 xf5 43.g7 f4 44.f1 h4 45.e1 h1+ 46.d2 f4+ 47.c2 c1+ 48.b3 b1+ 49.c4 g4
50.c3 f7 51.b2? [ After this White loses rapidly. White can continue the game with 51.a4 , but is of course still losing in the long run, being a pawn down and more exposed king. ] 51...a2+ 52.d4 d5+ 53.c3 e5+ 54.c2 d3+ 55.xd3 exd3+ 56.b3 d2 0-1
1190 A29 Savchenko,Boris 2583 Rublevsky,Sergei 2676 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (14) 21.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 [ This line isn't played as frequently as 8.a3 ] [ and 8.b1 at the top level anymore. Examples of those lines can for example be found in the February 2007 update. The text move is considered more harmless because it is m o re in a cco rd a n ce wit h t h e lin e s Black would play in a Classical Dragon Variation in the Sicilian. Nevertheless, White can still play for a win in this fashion. ] 8...0-0 9.e3 e6 10.a3 [ 10.d2 was the topic of AnastasianSimonenko, Abu Dhabi 2005, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] 10...f5 11.c1 h8 12.b4 [ White has tried a couple of other things in this position: A) 12.a4 f4 ( While 12...e4 13.e1 exd3 14.xd3 is better for White as indicated by Ribli; Black should definitely consider 12...xa4!? 13.xa4 d5 14.fe1 a6 15.c5 e4 16.xe7 xe7 , and with lack having solved his opening problems successfully, the players agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2 Vaganian, R-Portisch, L/Moscow 1994.; 12...d7 13.d2 d5 14.c3 g8 15.b4 a6 16.a4 b3 17.c5 xc5 18.xc5 d6 was Andrade Ocana, J-Rasgadinho, J/Aveiro 2000, and now White could grab on to the initiative with 19.g5!? d7 20.h4 ) 13.c5 ( 13.c5!? xa4 14.xa4 d5 15.b5 Ribli ) 13...d5 14.d2 xc5 ( 14...b8 15.b4 Ribli ) 15.xc5 e7 16.b4!? ( 16.c1 f7 17.b4 xf3 18.xf3 d4 19.d1 c6 1183
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with chances to both sides, Cebalo, MRomanishin, O, Taxco IZT 1985) 16...f7 ( 16...ad8!? intending ...e5-e4 as suggested by Romanishin in the notes to the Cebalo game, is perf ectly adequate f or Black to equalise the game.) 17.e4! fxe3 18.xe3 A) 18...h6 19.g5! ( 19.h4 e6 20.e4 is given as clearly better for White by Ribli, but Black appears to be okay after g5 21.g6+ g8 22.b5 d4 23.xd5 xd5 24.xd4 exd4 25.e1 xg6 26.xd5= ) 19...hxg5 20.h5+ g8 21.xd5 xd5 22.xd5 , and White has an enduring advantage.; B) 18...af8? 19.g5+- Ribli; C) 18...d6 19.g5 C1) 19...e7 20.h5 ( 20.xd5 xd5 21.h5 f6 22.f7+ g8 23.xd6 xh5 24.xb7+Ribli ) 20...g8 21.e4; C2) 19...d7 20.h3 e7 21.h5 with a large advantage f or W hite, Ibragimov, I-Schwartzman, G/ Odorheiu Secuiesc 1993 ] [ B) 12.d2 f4 13.xb6 cxb6 14.e4 g5 15.xc6 bxc6 16.ce4 d5 17.c3 , and here a draw was much too prematurely agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, Gavrikov, VTukmakov, V/Barcelona 1993 ] 12...f6 [ In his analysis to the above-mentioned game with Cebalo, Romanishin here recommends 12...a5 13.b5 d4 14.xe5 xa3 15.xb7 xc1 , and now rather than Romanishin's continuation, which is covered in the line with 16 Bxc1, White should opt for 16.xc1! ( 16.xc1 d5! 17.xd5 xd5 18.xa8 xa8 Roma nishin /) 16...b3 17.b2 f6 18.xa8 xa8 19.xb6! cxb6 20.a4 ] 13.c5 f7 14.e4 d7 15.e2 xd3 16.b5?! [ White has an interesting alternative in 16.exf5!? , e.g. xf5 ( 16...c4 17.e4 d7 18.fe1 d3 19.g4 c4 20.b5 6a5 21.e4 ) 17.b5 d4 18.xd4 exd4 19.e4 b3 20.d1 xb5 21.xf6 xf6 22.xd4 d6 23.xb7 ] 16...c4 17.bxc6 xc3 18.d2 xf1?! [ Black starts down the wrong track, and
apparently must have calculated something t e r r i b l y w r o n g . I n s t e a d 18...d3!? looks good, e.g. 19.c2 a6 20.fe1 fxe4 21.xe4 d5 , and Black has perhaps the slightly better chances in this complicated position. ] 19.xc3 xg2?? [ After this blunder White has a very simple win. With 19...a4 , Black could have keep W h it e 's ad va n ta ge at mo re acc ep t ab le levels, e.g. 20.b3 b6 21.xa4 xg2 22.xg2 bxc5 23.xc5 ] 20.cxb7 b8?! [ 20...fxe4 21.xb6 axb6 22.xe5 b8 23.f7+ g8 24.b3 e7 25.d8+ h8 26.c6+- ] 21.xg2?? [ Here White missed a very simple win with 21.xb6! A) 21...axb6 22.xc7 ( 22.xg2? c5 ) 22...xb7 ( 22...xf3 23.xb8 xb8 24.c8+ ) 23.xb7 xf3 24.c8; B) 21...xb7 22.xc7 xc7 ( 22...f8 23.xg2 fxe4 24.xe5+- ) 23.xc7 xf3 24.xd8+ xd8 25.c8+- ] 21...fxe4 22.xe5 d5 23.xb6 xe5?! [ 23...e3+ 24.f3 xe5 25.d4 f8 ( 25...xd4 is fascinating, though the exact consequences are difficult to make out in their entirety, e.g. 26.xc7 e5 27.c8+ g8 28.f5 e8 29.c8 b8 30.xe8 xe8 31.c8 g8 32.f4 h5 , but Black shouldn't lose) 26.xe5 xf3+ 27.g1 f2+ with a draw by perpetual/ repetition ] 24.c5 xb7 25.xe5 e3+ 26.h3 xb6 27.fxe3 h6+?! [ After this move, Black consigns himself to defend a difficult rook ending. Instead he should try 27...c8! 28.f1 c5 29.f7 g8 30.c7 h6+ 31.g2 a6 , and Black is not worse ] 28.g2 d6 29.xd6 cxd6 30.c7 a5 31.a7 g8 32.xa5 f7 33.h4 b3 34.f3 e6 35.a4 g6 36.g4 b4 37.e4 h5 38.gxh5 gxh5 39.f4 b3? [ This loses without too much resistance, whereas Black can fight on with 39...e7!? ] 40.xh5 h3 41.a5 a3 42.b5 h3 43.h5 a3 44.h6 h3 45.a6 h4+ 46.e3 xh6 47.a5 h8 48.a7 a8 49.d4 d7 50.d5 c7 51.a3 b7 52.xd6 d8+ 1184
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 27.cxb6 axb6 28.eb1 xa2 29.5b2 e6 30.xb6 d5 31.e5 [ 31.h4 is more circumspect. ] 31...xe5! Exciting, and sound. 32.fxe5 g6 1191 A29 33.xc6!? The alternative is [ 33.f3! when h3+ 34.g1 xe5 Schacher,Gerd 2246 is awkward, 35.f6! (to play Qh4) ( 35.g2 Maki Uuro,Miika 2390 g4 36.6b2 h3+ 37.h1 f2+ 20th ECC Izmir TUR (2) 04.10.2004 draws. ) 35...d7 36.b8 h7 37.xe8 [Tony Kosten] xe8 is not too clear, as 38.xd4?? a8 forces mate! ] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 34.f3 c2 35.b7 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 e4 7.g5 xc3 8.bxc3 33...xc6+ e8 9.f3 e3 This is the sharp mainline since White counters the threats with an attack of the time of the Kasparov-Karpov matches. his own. f8 36.xd4 xd3 Menacing a deadly fork! 37.h3? I expect the quick FIDE 10.d3 d5 11.b3 a5 [ 11...d4!? is interesting: 12.c5?! e7 13.f4 time control must have been rearing its ugly h6 14.f3 xc5 and Black is doing well, head at this point! [ 37.g1 is forced. ] Bra une , S -Gymno pou lou s,K /Ma nnh eim 37...e1! Suddenly, Black wins. 38.f6 e4 1994. ] [ 38...xe2! is even stronger as 39.e6 h5+ 12.a3 c6 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.f4 g4 40.h4 f5+ 41.g4 f1+ 42.h4 g2+ 15.e1 h6 43.h3 f4+ 44.h4 g5+ captures the [ 15...c8!? was examined in Nimzo 7.32poor white king. ] Junior 6.0/Cadaques 2000. ] 16.f3 c6 17.b1 d7 18.b2 39.e6 g2+ 40.g4 xe2+ 41.f4 f3+ T h e t w o p l a y e r s t r o t o u t t h e t h e o r y i n 42.e5 xb7 0-1 impressive style, [ 18.d4 is t h e a l t e rn a t i ve , wh e n h3 Lautier,J-Illescas,M/Dos Hermanas 1995, A29 could be met by 19.e5!? xe5 20.dxe5 1192 xg2 21.xg2 g4 with unclear play. ] Schlosser,Philipp 2562 18...h3 19.c4 This is the point of White's Naumann,Alexander 2549 play, the threat of capturing on f6 allows him TCh-AUT 2006-7 (7) 21.01.2007 this flanking blow. xg2 A strong, if obvious, [Carsten Hansen] innovation. [ 19...h5!? is interesting: 20.cxd5 xg2 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 21.xg2 ( 21.dxc6? h3 22.cxb7 ab8 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 c6 is probably winning for Black, the threat is ... [ Note that 6...c5 7.0-0 0-0 8.a4 e7 Nxg3 ) 21...xd5 22.bc1 with chances to 9.d4 d6 10.g2 c6 11.c3 reaches the both sides, Biegler,M-Simons,J/St Ingbert same position as after Black's 9th move in 1998. ] our main game, but with the exception that 20.xg2 d4 Black retains his strong centre. Black is to move(!)... a5 12.d5 cxd5 21.c5 ad8 An interesting position, 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 c7 15.b3 b8 featuring an unusual central constellation. 16.e3 e6 17.d2 Gulko, BWhich will count for more, Black's extra space, Charbonneau, P/Montreal CAN 2006 ] or White's pressure on d4? 22.a1 g4!? [ 6...e7 7.g4!? A fun idea that is very much 23.b3 f2 A curious spot for a knight, but it in line with how W hite kicks some energy does hamper the white king to some extent. into otherwise solid systems in the English 24.h5 Played to stop ...Qh3+, although I am (and for that matter other openings too). d6 not too sure this was a big threat. b6 25.b5 8.g1 ( 8.e3 0-0 9.d4 is also fully The white pieces are creeping around the playable ) 8...h6 9.d4!? c6 10.e3 ( 10.d5 edges! b7 Rd5 was the threat. 26.c5 a6 cxd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.xd5 b8 53.e7 a8 54.d7 1-0
1185
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 because it represents very instructive play 13.d2 e6 14.d3 0-0 is fine for Black) by the Polish International Master, showing 10...d7 11.d5 c5 12.d2 ( Here White how to penetrate on the queenside, and can consider 12.d3!? , e.g. a6 13.a4 exploit such an advantage. g6 19.bxc5 g5 14.e4 with a better game for White, bxc5 20.f4 g7 21.b5 xb5 22.xb5 who has restrained most of Black's b8 23.a4 c7 24.f5 e7 25.fxg6 fxg6 potential counterplay and has according to 26.b3 xb5 27.cxb5 c7 28.c4 d8 plan good grip on the light squares.) 12...a6 29.xf8+ xf8 30.d2 d7 31.f1+ f7 13.c2 b5!? Before White gains too much 32.e2 e8 33.h3 f6 34.e6 c7 control over the position, Black decides a 35.c4 g7 36.a5 b8 37.g2 b7 Benko-style pawn sacrifice to gain some 38.f3 b8 39.g4 h6 40.h4 c7 41.g2 counterplay. 14.cxb5 axb5 15.xb5 a6 e8 42.d3 h5 43.g5 h7 44.f1 e7 16.c3 h4 17.e4 f6 18.g3 ( 18.b4! 45.b6 axb6 46.a6 b8 47.b5 a7 l o o k s l i k e t h e c r i t i c a l m o v e , e . g . xe4 48.c6 f8 49.h3 g8 50.e3 g7 19.xe4 f6 20.g2 0-0 21.bxc5 dxc5 51.f2 g8 52.e2 f7 53.d3 b5 22.a4!? c4 23.a3 and I doubt Black has 54.xb5 c4+ 55.xc4 xe3 56.xe3 enough compensation for his pawn, one a7+ 57.f3 g1 58.f1 d4 59.g3+ possible continuation being b7 24.g5 e7 60.f3 a1 61.f1 d7 62.b5 hxg5 25.f3 a6 26.xg5 xg5 27.xg5 d8 63.xd7 xd7 64.f7+ d8 xa4 28.h7+ h8 29.xa4 xa4 65.f6+ c7 66.e7+ b6 67.xd6+ 30.h5 ) 18...g6 19.b4 cxb4 20.c6+ e7 a7 68.f6 e1+ 69.f3 f1+ 70.e3 21.xb4 b8! 22.c3 f8 23.a5 e7! e1+ 71.d3 b1+ 72.c4 xe4+ 24.b4 f8 25.a3 g7 Now Black has full 73.c5 e3+ 74.d6 e4 75.e7 c5+ compensation for the pawn 26.d2 b6 76.d6 e3 77.e6 xa6 78.e8 c6+ 27.e3 hc8 28.d1 , and while the players 79.f7 b5 80.b3+ a5 81.a3+ b5 agreed upon a draw at this stage, 1/2-1/2 82.b2+ c4 83.c2+ b5 84.b3+ Romero Holmes, A-Nikolaidis, I, Mallorca a5 85.e6 f3+ 86.xg6 e2 87.d7 2004, but at this stage I actually prefer Black. d3+ 88.xh5 h7+ 89.g4 xd7 White's pieces are rather clumsily 90.xd7 e1 91.d5+ b6 92.g6 e2+ arranged whereas Black's are well93.g5 e7+ 94.h5 f6 95.g5 g7 coordinated and his position can rather 96.f5 d4 97.g5 e3+ 98.f4 g1+ easily be improved upon. ] 99.h6 1-0 Sznapik, A-Bernard, R/ 7.d4 d6 8.g2 e7 9.0-0 0-0 10.b3 Augustow 1975 ] [ 10.e4 b6 ( 10...c7!?; 10...exd4 [ 10...d7 11.b2 f5 12.d2 f6 13.ad1 11.xd4 g4 12.b3 e8 13.b2 f6 e8 14.b4 ( 14.dxe5!? dxe5 15.a4 e4 14.d2 ) 11.d5 d7 12.e2 ae8 16.c3 h5 17.f3 ) 14...h5 ( 14...f7!? ( 12...g4 13.e3 d4!? 14.h3 ) 13.e3 15.d5 d7 16.c5 fd8 ) 15.d5 d7 16.c5 c5 14.h3 h8 , so far Perkins, A-Bennett, ( 16.dxc6 bxc6 17.b5 e4 18.a3 g4 G / E a s t b o u r n e 1 9 7 3 , a n d n o w 15.ab1 19.h4 ) 16...dxc5 17.d6 d8 18.bxc5 ( 15.g4!? can also be considered) 15...a5 Poldauf, D-Beckemeier, W/Dortmund 1998 ] 16.a3 offers White the clearly better 11.e4 d7 chances ] [ 11...g4 12.f3 d7 13.e3 b8 14.c1 [ 10.d5 d7 11.dxc6 bxc6 12.g5 c7 d8 15.h3 b5 16.cxb5 cxb5 17.f4 c6 13.e4 xe4 14.xe7 fe8 15.xe4 18.d5 e8 19.fxe5 dxe5 20.g4 h6 xe7 16.d3 Herman-Vist/www.playchess. 21.e2 h7 22.g3 g5 23.xg5 hxg5 de 2002 ] 24.f5 b6+ , and a draw was prematurely 10...f5 agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Gheorghiu, F[ 10...b6 11.d5 c5 12.e4 e8 13.e3 Portisch, L/ Skopje 1972. White is clearly d8 14.d2 d7 15.a3 c8 16.d3 f6 better after 25.h2 ] 17.b4 b6 18.ab1 , and White is clearly [ 11...e6 12.b2 a5 13.d3 b6 14.a4 better, but I will nonetheless leave you with c7 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.c5 d7 17.c3 the rest of the game score of this game, 1186
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g4 18.f3 e6 19.fd1 Eckert, D-Schafer, N/ICCF Email 1999 ( 19.f4!?; 19.ad1!? )] 12.b2 c8 13.e2 c7 14.d2 fe8 15.h1 [ 15.ad1 ] 15...g4 16.f3 h5 The bishop doesn't look too pretty on h5 and can't do much for quite a while to come, but at least it isn't in the way of the other pieces... 17.ad1 a5 18.c3 ad8 19.c1 d7 20.a4 f6 21.d5 c5 [ This is a really ugly move, but the alternatives are pretty grim too. Therefore B la c k d e c id e s t a ke o n t h is u n p le a sa n t position, hoping to fend White off thanks to the closed nature of the pawn structure 21...c5 22.c3 is comfortably better for White, who has a space advantage, and has control over both wings and therefore can de c id e wh e re a n d whe n t h e a ct io n will commence. ] 22.xc5 dxc5 23.c3 [ White may also consider 23.g4 g6 24.f4 h6 25.cd1 although it is strikingly similar to the game if White at some point proceeds with f4-f5, sending the black bishop back to h7. ] 23...b6 24.f4 d6 25.ce1 h6 26.b2 g6 27.f3?! [ This allows Black to effectively seal off the queenside by advancing his b-pawn and possibly grab control over the a-file. Therefore it makes sense to examine the a l t e r n a t i ve s : 27.dxc6 xc6 ( 27...c7 28.f5 h7 29.d1 xc6 30.d5 c7 31.fd1 g6 32.g4 is clearly better for White, but Black's position is still solid, and may prove difficult to crack) 28.fxe5 g5 29.h4 e7 30.e6 xe6 31.xg7 ] [ 27.e2 d7 28.a4 h7 29.f5 will also lead to rather one-sided play where Black will be suffering, while W hite figures out wh e t h e r h e c a n b r e a k t h r o u g h o n t h e kingside or not. ] 27...b5! 28.e2 b4 29.b2 a4 30.f5 h7 31.h4 a8 32.c1 a5 33.e3 ea8 34.c1 axb3 35.axb3 a3 White still has the somewhat better chances, but Black is back in the game and can expect to have decent chances of a successful defence. 36.d3 e7 37.g2 f8! 38.f2 g8! Getting the bishop activated 39.b2 f6
40.h5 This may look a bit odd, why is White inviting the exchange of Black's tall pawn for a bishop which has more space to roam on? Evidently feeling that White will benefit more from the exchange on account of Black's weakened light squares than Black will from getting rid of this terrible piece, White decides it is the right way to go. Personally, I'm not entirely sure W hite is making the right decision as Black's bishop is unlikely to ever grab an active role in the game, whereas White's can be used to protect the b3-pawn, releasing the rook on b2 from its defensive duties thus allowing it to switch to the kingside where it can help g3-g4-g5 pawn break along. Which approach is more effective is an open question, but as it turns out in the game, W hite doesn't achieve much and from all appearances, he doesn't try much either, so maybe he had already internally settled for a draw, unless Black made a dumb, unprovoked blunder. f7 41.e2 xh5 42.xh5 a2 43.e2 xb2 44.xb2 a3 45.f3 [ Trying to get the queen out of the way first with 45.h3 doesn't necessarily produce b e t t e r p o s i t i o n s , e . g . cxd5 46.cxd5 ( 46.exd5 d7 is probably okay for Black) 46...a6 47.c4 a2 48.c1 a1 49.c2 a2 50.d1 a1 51.c1 xc1 52.xc1 h5! ( White has the upper hand if Black h e s i t a t e s i n h i s d e f e n c e , e . g . 52...d6 53.g4 followed by Kh5 and g3-g4-g5 when convenient) 53.e3 d6 54.g4 hxg4+ 55.g3 f7 56.h5 f8 57.h6 gxh6 58.xh6+ e7 59.e3 d7! , and Black is fine ] 45...cxd5 46.cxd5 [ The only truly interesting option, whereas, 46.exd5 e4+! 47.g2 d7 48.f1 d6 49.c2 e7 appears perfectly fine for Black ] 46...a6! 47.c2 [ This is the logical move, to put a cork in the weak diagonal a6-f1, where the Black queen along with a rook penetrating on a1 or a2 can cause a substantial amount of headaches. If White instead opts for 47.c4 then h5 followed by Ra2 can become annoying ] 47...a2 48.c4 [ This just terminates the game in a drawn 1187
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 endgame, although there is still some play left, though not the way the players continue. A n i n t e r e s t i n g a l t e r n a t i v e i s 48.d1!? but again after h5 49.g4 h2 50.a1 hxg4+ 51.xg4 e2+ 52.xe2 xe2 53.a8+ f7 54.f3 b2 55.a7 e8 , the game fizzles out in a draw ] 48...xc4 49.xc4 b2 50.xc5 xc5 51.xc5 xb3+ 52.f2 [ This leads to an immediate draw a little more play would be the result af ter the more enterprising 52.g4!? e3 53.d6 ( 53.b5? xe4+ 54.h5 e7 55.b7+ d6 56.xg7 b3 57.b7 e3 58.g4 e4 looks like White will lose) 53...e8 ( Or 53...xe4+ 54.h5 d4 55.c8+ f7 56.c7+ f8= with a draw by perpetual) 54.c7 xe4+ 55.h5 b3 56.b7 d4 57.xb3 xd6 58.g6 d7 59.g4 ( 59.b8+ d8 60.b7 d7 61.b8+ i s a d r a w b y r e p e t i t i o n) 59...d8 ( 59...e7?? 60.b8+ d7 61.b7+ d6 62.xe7 xe7 63.xg7 e4 64.g5 hxg5 65.hxg5 d7 66.gxf6 e3 67.f7 e2 68.f8 e1 69.g8 , and White wins due to Black's king being too close to White's pawn, and therefore Black will not be able to check his way to a draw, as his king will usually be the subject of a counter-check.) 60.e3 e7 61.a3 e4 62.a8+ d7 63.a7+ d6 64.xe7 xe7 65.xg7 e3 66.g5 hxg5 67.hxg5 fxg5 68.f6+ d7 69.f7 e2 70.f8 e1 71.f5+ e6 72.xg5= ] 52...b2+ 53.e3 b3+ 54.f2 b2+ 55.e3 ½-½
to use the d4-square. Oddly, the greatest specialist with this line as White is Gulko, who has the black pieces in this game. [ 9.g5 is still possible, of course, but offers White little after exd3 10.exd3 h6 11.e4 b6 ] 9...exd3 10.exd3 xd4 11.cxd4 White's bpawn has made its way to d4, where it could become very useful, despite being doubled. h6 Stopping White from playing an annoying Bg5. Black has to be careful, as for instance should he play [ 11...d6?! he will have problems, viz. 12.b1! b8 13.a4! Uhlmann,WKrasenkov,M/Germany 1992, as now, if a6 then 14.g5 ] [ 11...d5 is better, i.e. 12.g5 c6! 13.cxd5?! cxd5 14.b3 b6 15.xf6 xf6 16.xd5 a6 and black is close to equalizing, Gulko, B-Huebner,R/San Francisco 1995. ] 12.d5 A new idea, on the plus side White gains more space in the centre, and opens th e a 1 -h 8 d ia go n a l f o r h is d a rk-s qu a re d bish op. Howeve r, h e a lso clo ses the g2 bishop's diagonal. [ 12.f4 had been tried previously, d5 13.b3 ( 13.b1 c6 14.e5 d7 is level, Uhlmann,W -Georgadze,T/Decin 1977. ) 13...c6 14.fe1 with a slight edge to White, Azmayparashvili,Z-Martin,B/ Sydney 1990. ] 12...d6 13.b2 d7 14.e1 h7 15.d2 b6 Black is a little cramped, but has a very solid structure, which makes it difficult for White to envisage a breakthrough. 16.e3!? This doesn't seem to achieve much, perhaps [ 16.xe8+ xe8 17.e1 would be better. ] 16...xe3 17.fxe3 White has another central 1193 A29 pawn, but it is not especially helpful. g5 Seirawan,Yasser 2653 18.f2 f5 Both gaining some space on the Gulko,Boris F 2618 kingside, and restricting the e3-pawn. 19.f1 20.h3?! This leads nowhere. h5 ch-Semi-Finals playoff g/25 (1) 06.09.1999 f8 21.g2 White is obliged to repeat position, [Tony Kosten] [ 21.g2?? would be a horrible mistake: g5 ] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 21...f6 An interesting decision, rather than 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 xc3 A solid alternative to [ 6...e4 , which has the merit of avoiding the repeat moves, hoping for a draw by repetition, Black prefers to improve his position. 22.h3 sharper lines based on White playing f3. ] 7.bxc3 e8 8.d3 e4 Black plays this only g6 23.h2 h5 24.f3 g6 25.d4 f7 after White has played d3. 9.d4 As Black 26.a3 Neither side can profitably improve their has already captured on c3, this allows White 1188
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 position. ½-½
1194 Seirawan,Yasser Werle,Jan TCh-NED Netherlands NED (7.3) [Nigel Davies]
A29 2638 2574 12.03.2011
1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f6 4.g3 g6 5.d4 exd4 6.xd4 g7 7.xc6 bxc6 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 e7 10.f4 Simple chess, just latching onto the pawn on c7 and inviting Black to get in the way of his own pieces (i.e. the ...Qe7-b4 possibility) with 10...d6. Werle goes for counterplay instead, and rightly so. [ 10.c2 b4 11.b3 d5 12.cxd5 f5 13.d2 cxd5 14.b2 e4 ( 14...c6! would have been better when it's not that easy for White to neutralise Black's active pieces ) 15.xe4 dxe4 16.fd1 e6 17.a4 xd2 18.xd2 xb2 19.xb2 and White had a comfortable endgame edge in King, D-Duncan, C/London 1994. ] 10...b4 [ This looks like the most natural but there were some other interesting possibilities here such as 10...e8 ] [ and 10...e6 . ] 11.b3! Attempting to snuff out Black's counterplay with a queen exchange. [ An earlier game between lower rated players had gone 11.d2 a6 ( 11...xc4 12.xc7 d5 13.ac1 g4 would have left Black very active.) 12.xc7 fe8 13.fd1 xc4 14.ac1 d5? 15.xd5! winning a pawn in Donnenfeld, P-Thiriet, B/Montpellier 1991. ] 11...a5 12.xc7 a6 13.fd1 xc4 14.c2 d5 15.e5 fe8 16.d4 a4 [ And not 16...c5 because of 17.xf6 xf6 18.xd5 xd5 19.xd5 xb2 20.c4 . The text makes it difficult for W hite because his queenside is so cramped. ] 17.e3 eb8 18.xa4 Freeing himself but allowing Black to liquidate his pawn weaknesses. [ A n i n t r igu in g a l t e r n a t ive wa s 18.b1!? , protecting the b2 pawn and preparing to bring the knight to a3 from where it can
harass the bishop on c4. It actually looks a b i t b e t t e r f o r W h i t e , f o r e x a m p l e e4 ( 18...c5 19.c3 b6 20.a3 is just good for White ) 19.xg7 xg7 20.a3 xb2? l o s e s a p i e c e a f t e r 21.xb2+ xb2 22.xc4 . I guess that Seirawan would have considered 18.Nb1 but decided that the text was even stronger. ] 18...xa4 19.b3 xa2! 20.xa2 xb3 21.d2! Sacrificing a pawn to transpose into an endgame in which Black is quite precariously placed. [ 21.a6 would have led to a draw after xd1 22.xd1 b7 23.xb7 xb7 24.c1 e4 25.xg7 xg7 26.xe4 dxe4 27.xc6 etc. ] 21...xd1 22.xb4 xb4 23.a8+! f8 24.xf6 b1 Perhaps not sensing the danger. [ Black should have tried to eject White's rook from the 8th rank with all haste, for e x a m p l e v i a 24...b7 intending ...Bg4, ... Rc7-Rc8. ] 25.h3 f3+ 26.h2 xg2 27.xg2 With the light square bishops off the board Black is unable to drive White's rook away so his kingside remains hamstrung. b7 28.d8 c5 29.g4 c7 30.h4 h6 31.g5 hxg5 32.hxg5 b7 [ Black's c-pawn isn't going to get very far, for example 32...c4 33.c3 b7 34.f3 b3 35.f6 b7 36.c8 etc. ] 33.f3 c4 34.e2 c7 35.d2 b7 36.c2 a7 37.c1 b7 38.c8 a7 39.b2 b7+ 40.c3 a7 41.d4 d7 42.f4 It's zugzwang, and Black will still be helpless after shedding all his pawns. 1-0
1195 Socko,Bartosz Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar ETCC (Open) Warsaw POL (3.17) [Fier, Alexandr]
A29 2661 2757 10.11.2013
In this game Mamedyarov shows the danger of this kind of Reversed Sicilian for W hite. Af te r on e or t wo imp re cise m oves W hit e already needs to be caref ul, since ...Nf 4 themes are always in the air. Probably 17.a4 was not so good 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 1189
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.d3 d4 This move is basically new on Chess Publishing. Black has two main alternatives here: [ 10...a5 11.b5 d4 was analyzed for Chess Pub in Granda Zun iga, J (2 640)Georgiev, K (2672)/XIX Magistral 2009. ] [ 10...f6 is the most played move and analyzed in several games, such as Anand, V (2787)-Topalov, V (2805)/W CHM 2010 Sofia 2010. ] 11.xd4 [ 11.xe5 is almost never played, and for a good reason: f6 12.f4 b3 and 13... Qd4+ is a deadly threat, 13.b2 xa1 14.xa1 xe5 15.fxe5 c6 with advantage to Black. ] [ 11.b1 xf3+ ( 11...f6 is often played and tra ns po ses t o 10. .. f 6 .) 12.xf3 c6 was Movsesian, S (2698)-Zilka, S (2513)/ Hustopece op rapid 2012. ] [ 11.b2 is the main line, xf3+ 12.xf3 c6 13.e4 and this position has been played by dozens of 2700+ players for both sides, one of the most important games in this variation is Kasparov, G (2760)-Salov, V (2595)/ URSch55 Moscow 1988. ] 11...exd4 This exchange of the knights is thematic in different variations of the English a n d a f t e r it t h e st ru ct u re is m o re st a t ic , compared with the lines with Nd2, or Bb2 for example. W hite has some goals on the queenside, c-file and light squares. Black needs to create enough counterplay in the center and on the kingside. In this game, the counterplay proved to be too dangerous. 12.e4 d5 Neutralizing White's bishop and preparing to exchange it. 13.b2 f5 14.d2 xg2 15.xg2 f6 [ 15...d5+ i s a l s o p l a y e d , 16.g1 is suggested by Krasenkow and after a5 17.b3 transposes to Popov, V (2592)Matlakov, M (2604)/St Petersburg-ch 83rd 2010. f6 18.fc1 c6 without the queens White has more chances to be successful with his queenside play. 15...Bf6 is more to the point. ] 16.f3 A novelty, but not necessarily a good one. [ 16.b3+ was played before and reaches
the same kind of position as in the game, h8 17.ac1 a5 18.c5 enters Sunye Neto, J (2465)-Huebner, R (2585)/Manila Interzonal 1990 by transposition. ] 16...d7 17.a4 This move is not good in my opinion. White has no time to bring his pieces to the queenside and expand with a4 b5. Right now it doesn't look like Black has a dangerous attack, but after 3 more moves the position is already scary. [ I think 17.b3+ is a better way to play the position: h8 18.ac1 f4 again this plan is supposed to be the most dangerous, 19.c5 th is ma no e uvre is im p orta n t, ma kin g it difficult to bring Black's knight into the game, ae8 20.e1 c6 and now White can create some counterplay on the queenside with 21.b5 and a complicated position. ] 17...f4! Starting to open the files. 18.b3+ h8 19.d2?! Mixing plans, after this move the position is already better for Black. [ 19.b5 is more consistent but Black will probably have draw at his disposal in most of the lines, d5 A) 20.ac1 is another line that shows the danger of White's position ae8 21.c2 fxg3 22.hxg3 f4+! 23.gxf4 g4+ 24.h1 e5! and the attack is lethal, 25.d5 ( 25.g1 h3+ 26.h2 xf4 27.g2 xh2 28.xh2 f1#; 25.fxe5 xf3 26.exf3 h3+ 27.g1 xe5 28.f4 g4+ wi t h m a t e .) 25...xf4 26.xe5 ( 26.h2 h5 27.g2 g4 ) 26...h5+ 27.g1 xe5 28.d8+ e8 and White needs to give the queen.; B) 20.c4 ae8 21.fe1 ( 21.ae1 fxg3 22.hxg3 f4+ 23.gxf4 g4+ 24.h1 e5 25.fxe5 xf3 26.exf3 h5+ with a perpetual.) 21...fxg3 22.hxg3 f4+ 23.gxf4 g4+ 24.h1 e5!? 25.fxe5 ( 25.h2 h5 26.d5 e5 27.xe5 xh2+ 28.xh2 h4+ is also drawn.) 25...h5+ 26.g2 g4+ with a perpetual. ] 19...d5 20.e4 e5 21.c5 c6 With almost all of his pieces on the queenside, it's hard for White to resist the attack. 22.g1 [ 22.e4 going back with the knight doesn't help much, fxg3 23.hxg3 e6 passing the queen to the kingside and threatening a d i s c o v e r e d c h e c k 24.a2 ( 24.c4 1190
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg3-+; 24.c2 xg3-+ ) 24...xg3 25.fxg3 e3+ 26.g1 xf1+ 27.xf1 xa2 ] 22...fxg3 23.hxg3 f4! And the position is already lost. 24.e4 [ 24.gxf4 g6+ 25.h1 xf4 with mate. ] 24...xe2+ 25.g2 g6 Black is attacking and even has a pawn plus. 26.ae1 h5 27.f4 xf4+! 28.gxf4 xf4 29.g3 g5 [ 29...xg3 30.xg3 g5+ 31.h3 f5 32.xf5 xf5+ 33.g2 g4+ 34.h2 h4+ also wins. ] 30.xf4 xf4 31.e2 f3+ 32.h2 f4 33.g2 h4+ 34.g1 e3+ 0-1
1196 Soza,Jose Divanbaigyzand,Mehran Friendship 2003 [Soza, JW]
A29 2505 2419 28.06.2003
Jose Soza writes: "I'm a new subscriber, just today. I would like to ask some questions in English opening, especially A29 which I like to play with White and Black." 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.d3 0-0 9.a3 e8 10.b4 f8 11.b2 [ 11.b1!? "may have been better, preparing Nd2 if Black plays ...Nd4, and planning Ne4 with Be3 aiming at c5." JW: As featured in this column. Refer to ChessPub and the archives. ] 11...a5 12.b5 d4 13.d2 c6 14.bxc6 xc6 15.b1 [ JW: 15.c1 e6 16.ce4 looks a little better and about equal. ] 15...a4 16.b5 e6 17.e3 d7 18.e2 [ J Soza: 18.d4 a5 19.c3 b3 20.xb3 [JW:] axb3! ] [ 18.c4 xc4 ( 18...xc4 19.dxc4 xd1 20.fxd1 xc4 ) 19.dxc4 ed8 20.xd7 ( 20.d5 ) 20...xd7 21.d5 a5 ] 18...ed8 [ J Soza: 18...g4 19.f3 f5 20.e4 [JW: a5 ] [ 18...ad8 19.d4 ( 19.c4 xc4 20.dxc4 a5 21.fd1 xc4 22.xd7 xe2 23.xd8 xd8-+ ) 19...a2 ( 19...f5 20.be1 c8 21.d5 xd5 22.e4 g4
23.f3 c7 24.fxg4 xb5 25.xb5 xd2 26.xb7 e7 27.c1 c2 28.h1 ) 20.a1 d5 21.e4 xd4 22.xd4 exd4 ] 19.d4 a2 [ JW: 19...a5 ] 20.a1 e6 21.fd1 a5 22.d5 g4!? [ JW: 22...xd5 seems to work despite the pin. ] 23.f3 h5 24.xe5 xd5 25.ab1 [ JW: 25.c3 might keep White alive, although seriously worse. ] 25...e6 26.d4 c6 27.e1 h6 [ jw: 27...xd4! 28.exd4 xe2 29.xe2 ac8 ] 28.c4 xd4 29.exd4 a6 in a 20 moves more game finish in favour of black. 0-1
1197 Soza,Jose Muzyka ICCF Champions League [Soza, JW]
A29 2463 2487 01.12.2004
Another Reversed Dragon from Mr. Soza. Again I'll make only cursory comments and let his notes speak for themselves. I don't think that White's 12th move gives any chances for advantage. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 d4 12.xd4 [ J Soza: 12.e4 ] [ JW: The move analysed in this column has consistently been 12.d2 . This gam e and qu i t e a f e w o t h e r s s u gg e s t t h a t W h i t e should probably go that route. ] 12...exd4 13.e4 d5 14.b2 f5 15.d2 f6 16.xd5+ xd5 17.c1 c6! Here for me is not clear how white must play [ 17...f7 18.c5 e6 19.f3 Tim m a n. JW : Ma yb e , b u t W h it e h a s t o b r e a k d o w n a s i m p l e d e f e n c e l i k e d8 and ...c6, perhaps with ...f4 to follow. ] 18.b3 [ JW: How about 18.c5 e6 19.f3 ad8 20.e1 ? After Qc2, White can seriously contemplate e3 or e4. ] 18...a5 19.a1 xb3 20.xb3 axb4 21.axb4 fd8 22.e3 1191
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ J Soza: 22.c5 a7 23.e3 ( 23.e4 fxe4 24.xe4 a3 25.fe1 d5 ) 23...f7 ( 23...d5 24.b5 c3 25.xc3 dxc3 26.b6 a2 27.d4 c2 28.xb7 b8 29.d6 xb6 30.xf5 bb2 31.g2 f7 32.d6+ e6 33.e4 e7 34.f4 b3 35.f3 a3 36.c5+ )] 22...dxe3 [ J Soza: 22...d5 23.xd4 xd4 24.xd4 xb4 25.b1 a4 26.e6 d5 27.d4 b6 28.a1 xa1 29.xa1 f7 30.g5+ g6 31.b1= ( 31.f3= )] 23.xf6 gxf6 [ 23...exf2+ 24.xf2 gxf6 25.c5 a7 26.xf5 d5 27.b5 cxb5 28.e6 d6 29.d4 e7 ( 29...a5 30.h5 e3 31.h4 ) 30.xb5 ( 30.f4 d5 31.c7 g6 32.c8+ f7 33.c7+ e8 34.e4+ e5 35.e6 ) 30...xf5 31.xa7 xd3 32.c8+ g7 33.c7+ g6 34.xb7 d2 35.c6 h5 36.e7+ xe7 37.xe7 f5 38.h3= ] 24.fxe3 xd3 [ 24...d5 25.xf5 xb4 26.d4 a3 27.c5 xe3 28.xb7 xd4 29.xf6 d2 30.f2 xf2 31.xf2 b3 32.c4 d3+ 33.e2= ] 25.c5 d2 jw: It certainly looked as though Black was a bit better throughout. It seems that the pawn on d4 has a lot of cramping influence and is never weak.
offers reasonable chances to Black. ] 13...xf3+ 14.xf3 a4 Played to weaken White's control over b3, and before he has time to defend his b5-pawn with a4 himself. 15.c2 With the white bishop pointing at the b7-pawn, Black must find a way to develop his queen's bishop. f5 [ A novelty, Black attacks d3, otherwise 15...h3 i s p o s s i b l e , w h e n 16.fc1 ( the positional exchange sac 16.xb7!? xf1 17.xf1 a7 18.c6 is worthy of consideratio n) 16...a7 17.e4 a5! restricted White's advantage, Spraggett,KHartman,B/Canada 1992. ] 16.fd1 a7 Ugly, but b7 and a4 needed defence. 17.e4 e6?! [ Black is relying on the menace of ...Bb3, but 17...d7 is safer. ] 18.d4!! b3 [ Black is obliged to play the complications, as 18...g6 19.dxe5 wins a good pawn. ] 19.xh7+ h8 20.f5 g6 [ 20...xd1 21.xd1 f6 22.h5 leaves Black in all sorts of trouble, e.g. d6 23.e4 h6 24.xf7! f8 25.xd6 and Black suffers from not being able to use his queen's rook. ] 21.h3 c8 [ Now 21...xd1?? is completely impossible, 22.xg6+ g7 23.h7+ f6 24.e4+ e7 25.xf7# ] 22.g4 g7 Trapping the white bishop, but now the weakness of the a1-h8 diagonal tells. 1198 A29 23.e4 c4 [ 23...xd1 24.xd1 c4 fails to 25.dxe5! Sturua,Zurab 2594 and if xb2? there is the surprising shot: Xu Jun 2668 26.g8! xg8 27.f6+ g7 28.h7# ] 34th Olympiad (9) 06.11.2000 24.c3 d6? [Tony Kosten] [ L o s i n g o n t h e s p o t , b e t t e r 24...xd1 although 25.xd1 d8 26.h4 maintains 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 the threats. ] 5.c3 b6 6.d3 e7 7.f3 c6 8.0-0 0-0 25.f6?! 9.a3 e8 [ M i s s i n g t h e p r e t t y 25.g8!! xe4 [ A good plan, Black intends to support his ( 25...xg8 26.f6+ g7 27.dxe5 e5-pawn by playing ...Bf8, when ...Nd4 will is immediately decisive) 26.h7+ f6 become feasible. The main alternative plan 27.dxe5+ e7 28.b4+ d6 29.exd6+ involves 9...e6 and was seen in the winning. ] archives. ] 25...xb5 10.b4 f8 11.b2 a5 12.b5 d4 13.e3 [ 25...xd1?! 26.dxe5 wins. ] [ Quite common nowadays before White o f t e n p l a y e d 13.d2 so as to chase the 26.b2 xf6? [ 26...xd1 appears less clear, e.g. 27.dxe5 knight with e3, but then c6 14.bxc6 xc6 1192
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 27.xd1 d8 ) 27...xa3 provides the f8square for the king's escape. ] 27.dxe5+ e6 [ 27...g7 28.e6+ f6 29.xg6! leads to mate. ] 28.g5+ e7 29.e6! Freeing the a1-h8 diagonal, Bf6+ is unstoppable. fxe6 30.f6+ [ 30.f6+ f7 31.g8+! xg8 32.h8+ f7 33.h7+ g7 34.xg7# ] 1-0
1200 Sunye Neto,Jaime Morovic Fernandez,Ivan Buenos Aires (13) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2470 2535 1990
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 a5 8.0-0 [ 8.a3 c5 9.d3 0-0 ( 9...c6 10.0-0 0-0 11.d2 e8 12.ab1 d6 13.g2 c7 14.g5 d7 15.c2 f8 16.b4 d4 17.d2 is fairly even, although I slightly 1199 A29 prefer W hite's chances, W .Uhlmann-R. Greger, Valby 1991) 10.0-0 e8 11.g2 Suba,Mihai M.Illescas Cordoba-A.Chernin, Groningen Garcia,S 1993, and here Illescas gives d6 12.g5 h6 2001 Malaga 2001 13.xf6 xf6 14.e4 e7 15.xc5 [Paul Motwani] dxc5= , which I might add looks quite comfortable for Black ] W39: "Unlucky 13!" The curious thing about Black's blunder at move 13 in the following 8...0-0 [ 8...c6!? 9.d3 0-0 10.a3 xc3 11.xc3 very recent game is that it has all happened e8 12.b3 d5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.c2 c7 before...to numerous other players! Would you 15.b2 b5 is quite comfortable for Black, bet on this being the final time?! 1.c4 e5 2.g3 D.Poldauf-L.B.Hansen, Budapest 1989 ] f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 [ 5...xc3 6.bxc3 gives White a nice cluster 9.d3 [ 9.d4!? exd4 10.b5 d6!? ( 10...d5 of pawns near the centre, and possibilities 11.f4 c6 12.xd4 dxc4 13.xc4 g4 to increase the pressure towards b7 by 14.xg4 xg4 15.a3 e7 16.e6 fxe6 playing Rb1 soon. ] 17.xe6+ h8 18.ad1 e8 19.xg4 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 A. Adorjan-B.Toth, Biel 1983) 11.xd4 e8 10.b1 12.d1 e4 13.e3 e7 14.d3 d7= [ 10.b5 d4 11.xe5?? would be a horrific 15.c2 c6 16.xb4 axb4 17.a3 bxa3 blunder because of b3 ] 18.xa3 xa3 19.xa3 h6 20.b4 b5 10...f6 11.d3 a5 12.b5 d4 13.d2 21.d3 d7 22.c5 d5 , and here a draw d5?? Diagram W39D1 was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in B. Zueger-D. [ 13...d5!? merits attention, although it Campora, Swiss Team Ch 1995, but at this m i g h t l o o k s t r a n g e t o a l l o w 14.xd5 point White has the better chances ] , because after xd5 Black threatens ...Nc3. [ 9.d1 d6 10.d4 exd4 11.xd4 A possible further continuation is 15.b2 W.Uhlmann-B.Gelfand, Debrecen 1989 c5 a4 ( but not 15...xb5?? because of 12.d1 a7 13.g5 h6 14.xf6 xf6 16.b3 c6 17.e4 a4 18.a2 which would is given as equal by Gelf an d, but I still cost Black his pinned d5-knight )] prefer White after 15.d5 d8 16.c3 ] 14.xd5! xd5 15.e3! Black resigned, realising too late here that when his knight 9...d6 [ 9...h6 10.a4 ( 10.e3 xc3 11.xc3 retreats, White wins material after 16 e4. d6 12.c5 e8 13.cxd6 xd6 14.fd1 c6 1-0 15.c5 c7 16.b3 g4 17.xg4 xg4 18.e4 f6 19.f3 h7 20.d4 D.BronsteinL . P o l u g a e v s k y , P e t r o p o l i s I Z T 1 9 7 3) 10...e8 11.e3 f8 12.c5 d5 13.cxd6 xd6 14.fc1 e4 15.dxe4 xe4 16.d1 J.Smejkal-L.Bronstein, Rio de Janeiro IZT 1193
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1979 ] [ 9...e8 10.a4 ( 10.g5 xc3 11.bxc3 h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.c5 B. Lalic-Ristic, Metz 1995 ) 10...f8 11.g5 h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.c5 b8 14.fc1 c6 15.c3 ( 15.b6 d5 16.cxd6 xd6 17.xc8 exc8 18.a3 ) 15...d8 ( 15...d5!? ) 16.a3 d5 17.e4 h3 18.b6 f6 19.g2 xg2 20.xg2 bd8 21.e1 dxe4 22.xe4 e7 23.b4 R.Vaganian-M.Tseitlin, Telavi 1982 ] 10.g5!? [ 10.a4 d7 11.d1 c5 12.xc5 xc5 13.d4 e6 14.e3 f6 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.a4 d4 17.xd4 exd4= S.MakarichevV.Eingorn, Moscow 1989 ] 10...xc3 11.xc3 h6 12.d2 e8 13.g2 e4 14.e3 c5 15.d4 e7 16.ad1 f5 17.d2 b6 18.fd1 [ 18.h3 (intending g4 and Bf4 with a slightly better game for White - Sunye Neto) ad8 19.fd1 ] 18...g4 19.dxc5 dxc5 20.f4 g5 21.d6 e6 22.e3 ad8 23.b3 f6 24.c7 d3 25.xd3 exd3 26.xb6 xb6 27.xb6 d7 28.xa5 e5 29.c3 xc4 30.e4 xe4 31.xe4 xe4 32.xd3 e2 33.b3 a3 34.d2 e8 35.b2 b5 36.c2 c8 37.e5 a3 38.c1 b5 39.a4 a7 1-0
1201 Svidler,Peter Carlsen,Magnus Tal Memorial Blitz blitz (26) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2738 2775 30.08.2008
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.0-0 0-0 9.d3 h6 10.g2 c6 11.d2 e8 12.h3 [ 12.ac1 was discussed in last month's update in the main game Aronian, L-Svidler, P /Sochi 2008 ] [ Another move is 12.ad1 as in Popov, VS a r g i s s i a n , G / M o s c o w 2 0 0 7 , wh i c h i s c o v e re d i n t h e n o t e s t o L a u t ie r-S e b a g (details below) ] 12...b8 [ Here the game deviates from existing t h e o r y , w h i c h p r o c e e d e d w i t h 12...b6 as in Stefansson, H-Vallejo Pons, F/Havana
2001, which is discussed in the notes to Lautier-Sebag, Montpellier 2007 (see the PGN archives). For further references on the 4...Nd4 line, please see the August and September 2007 updates. 13.ad1 ] 13.ac1 a6 14.a4 a7 15.c5 d6 16.cxd6 xd6 Thus far Black has every reason to be satisfied with the outcome of the opening Black's p ie ces a re we ll place d an d wellcoordinated, only the bishop on c8 remains to be developed. 17.b4 c7 18.a3 d8 [ 18...a8 19.d6 d8 leads to the game continuation. ] 19.d6 a8 20.c5 xc5!? [ 20...e6!? 21.b4 d7 is another option, also leading to approximately equal chances. ] 21.xc5 a5 22.b4 a7 [ The alternative is 22...d5 , and now the sharp 23.b5!? leads to unclear complications after b6 24.a4 cxb5 25.xd5 xh3 26.c6 xf1 27.xe8 bxa4 28.xf7+ xf7 29.xf1 d7 , and the situation isn't entirely resolved, but I imagine the chances are about even, although Black's king seems more exposed than his white counterpart. ] 23.b3 a4 24.a5 e6 25.fd1 d5?! [ I'm not too sure about this move as it appears to hand White a couple of tempo and with that the initiative. A good alternative is 25...d7 26.h2 e7 27.c4 aa8 28.e4 ( 28.xe5?! xa2 ) 28...c7 with a position not unlike that in the game, but without the initiative to White. ] 26.e4 e6 27.c4 d4!? 28.d2 d6 [ 28...d7 29.h2 aa8 30.f3 d6 ( 30...c7 31.b5 ) 31.d4 xe4 32.dxe5 c7 33.e3 f5 34.a3 ] 29.f3 c7?! [ Black has to play accurately at this juncture and the text move isn't the most accurate. T h e c o r r e c t c o n t i n u a t i o n i s 29...aa8! , a n d a f t e r 30.d4 xe4 31.dxe5 , B l a c k h a s t o p l a y b8! 32.d4! ( White gains less from 32.e3 d5 33.b5 f6 34.bxc6 bxc6= ) 32...xe5?! ( This is inaccurate, instead Black should play 32...d5! 33.f4 f6 34.e6 f5 35.xf5 xe6 36.e1 d8 37.e3 ) 33.f4 d5 34.e3 ( 34.xc6? xa2 ) 34...xh3 1194
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 35.xh3 g5 36.g2 xe3 37.xd5 cxd5 38.fxg5 xg3+ 39.f2 xg5 40.c7 b6 41.a3 , and White has excellent winning chances. This line is obviously too long, and there are undoubtedly flaws in several spots along the way. ] 30.d4 exd4 [ 30...xe4 31.e3 d5 32.dxe5 ] 31.xd4 b6 [ 31...e7 32.xe6 xe6 33.d4 aa8 34.cd1 e7 35.f4 ] 32.e5 d5 33.xe6 [ W hite has a strong alternative in 33.b5! with the idea of cxb5 34.c5! , and all of a sudden, Black's position is rather loose, e.g. xc5 35.xc5 b4 36.xe6 fxe6 37.d2 c6 38.xb5 with an endgame that is much better for W hite both thanks to W hite's superior pieces and Black's miserable pawn of which several are placed on the colour of White's bishop. ] 33...fxe6 34.c4 [ 34.d3 f8 35.d4 xd4 36.xd4 d8 37.f4 aa8 38.cd1 ] 34...f8 35.d2 [ 35.dd4 aa8 36.d3 leaves White with a solid edge ] 35...aa8 [ Or 35...f5 36.e4! g5 ( 36...xe5 37.e2 c7 38.f4 ) 37.h4 xe5 38.b2 c7 39.f4 b6 40.xc6 bxc6 41.xe5 xe5 42.fxe5 d7 43.d6 ] 36.d3 [ White doesn't gain anything from 36.b2 a3 37.c2 f5 38.e4 af8 39.cd4 c3 40.e3 d5= ] [ But 36.e4!? on the other hand leaves W hite with the better chances, e.g. c7 37.f4 ] 36...ad8?? [ A terrible move that hands White the win. Black can still defend with 36...f5! 37.e4 ( 37.g4? xe5 38.e4 xe4 39.xe4 xb4 40.xe6+ h8 41.d1 a3 ) 37...af8 38.cd4 c3 39.e3 d5 40.e4= with a repetition of moves. ] 37.g6 f4 [ A rather desperate move, but other moves allow White to continue the penetration of the weak light squares on the kingside. 37...de8 38.e4+- ]
[ 37...fe8 38.e4 c7 39.h7+ f8 40.g6 xe5 41.e4+- ] 38.xf4 xf4 39.xd8+ [ Strictly speaking, 39.gxf4 is more accurate, e.g. xd2 40.e8+ h7 41.e4+ and mate follows shortly, but the text move gets the job done. ] 39...xd8 40.gxf4 d1+ 41.h2 d4 42.xe6+ f8 43.d6+ 1-0
1202 Timman,Jan H Bareev,Evgeny Corus Wijk aan Zee NED (6) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2605 2707 19.01.2002
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 c5 5.g2 [ T h e i m m e d i a t e 5.xe5 was seen in Ivanchuk,V-Anand,V and Poldauf,D-Timman, J. ] 5...0-0 6.xe5!? [ The normal 6.d3 was Gulko,B-Cramling,P, but W hite wishes to punish Black for his 'omission' of ...d6. ] 6...xf2+ 7.xf2 xe5 8.b3 By defending the c-pawn like this White prepares to drive the knight from the centre by d4. [ The 8.d3 of Vidarte Morales,A-Ater,G/Vila de Salou 1995, is also possible, but less incisive. ] 8...e8 Black continues his development. [ 8...fg4+?! 9.g1 f6 10.f1 b6+ 11.e3 leads nowhere, Vettel,M-Schneider,B/ Germany 1989/GER-chT2. ] 9.f1 White brings his king to safety, when he can hope to exploit his centre, and bishop pair. d5!? Bareev's sharp innovation, [ 9...c6 10.g1 h6 11.d4 g6 12.e4 wa s cl e a rl y ve ry p le a s a n t f o r W h it e i n Conquest,S-Loginov,V/Budapest 1996. ] 10.d4!? White declines the pawn, which is possibly the wisest choice. [ W h a t d i d B a r e e v i n t e n d a f t e r 10.cxd5 , perhaps c6 11.dxc6 b6+ 12.e3 d3+ 13.g1 bxc6 with good light-squared control for the pawn sacrificed. ] 10...eg4+ 11.g1 dxc4 12.bxc4 e3 B l a c k re g a i n s t h e d a rk - sq u a re d b is h o p . 1195
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.xe3 xe3 14.d2 e8 15.ad1 White suddenly finds himself with the better development, if he can get his centre going he will be well on top. c6 16.f4!? [ The direct 16.e4! looks best, g4 17.de1 c5 18.d5 and Black is under real pressure, e.g. cxd4?! 19.xf6! ( 19.xd4 i s a l s o p r o m i s i n g) 19...gxf6 20.f4 with a winning attack. ] 16...g4 17.f2 h5 Intending ...Bg6, to control e4, but also defending the f7-pawn. 18.d5 cxd5 19.xd5 At the cost of his pawn structure White has obtained a very dynamic position. g4! If Black hadn't had the foresight to defend f7, this manoeuvre would be impossible. 20.ff1!? [ Perhaps White should take the offered queen: 20.e3 xe3! ( 20...c8?! 21.xg4 xg4 22.xg4 xg4 23.xb7 wins a pawn for nothing) 21.xd8 axd8 22.h3 Black has a compact position, and is unlikely to lose. ] 20...e5 21.c1?! Menacing the black queen, again. xe2! [ A strong queen sac, although the a l t e r n a t i v e 21...a5 22.f4 g4 is also pleasant for Black. ] 22.f6+ gxf6 23.xd8 axd8 24.xb7 g7 25.d5 [ 25.c5!? is a good alternative: 'passed pawns must be pushed'! ] 25...xf1 26.xf1 b8 White's first and second ranks are both weak which means that Black will always enjoy plenty of tactica l possibilities. 27.f2? [ 27.f5 b2 28.e4 keeps the game alive, although after g6 Black is better. ] 27...d3! 28.xa7 e1+ 29.g2 b2+ 30.h3 e5 Winning, there is no defence to the threat of ... Ree2. 31.g4 ee2 32.g3 xa2 33.c5 ad2 ...Rd3+ leads to mate. 0-1
1203 Timman,Jan H Hector,Jonny 13th Sigeman & Co (3) [John Watson]
A29 2607 2513 17.04.2005
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 [ 4.e3 is discussed briefly in TimmanHermanson. ] 4...d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 The starting point of many top-level battles. I prefer White, but not because of the way this game proceeded. 8.d3 [ A blindfold game between Bareev (White) and Svidler from Amber-Melody 2005 went 8.0-0 c6 ( 8...0-0 9.d3 h6 was played in Gelfand-Svidler, Dos Hermanas 1999, with approximate equality) 9.e3!? 0-0 10.d1 d5!? 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.xd5 ( 12.d4! ) 12...e6 13.xf6+?! ( 13.d4 ) 13...xf6 14.d5 ad8 15.xe6 fxe6 16.f1 e4 17.xb7 f3 18.d4 h5!? 19.b3 ( 19.dxc5?? d1 ) 19...d5! 20.d2 ( 20.d1!?; 20.dxc5?? h4 ) 20...d6 21.d1 f5 22.e2 h4 23.ac1 h3 24.c6 f3 25.xd6! xd6 26.c1 d5 27.f1 f5 28.e1 g6 29.c6 f6 30.e2 hxg3 31.hxg3?! ( 31.fxg3 ) 31...h5 32.c8+ h7 33.f1?? g4 Bareev-Svidler, Monte Carlo MNC 2005. ] 8...0-0 [ Timman was on the Black side of 8...h6 9.g4!? c6 10.h4 d6 11.g5 hxg5 12.xg5 in Azmaiparashvili,Z-Timman,J/Oviedo 1993. Perhaps he was going to skip h4 and try g5 immediately. ] [ The game Vallejo Pons-Gelfand, Pamplona 1999 went 8...c6 9.g4 . It was anno tated by Tony in a much earlier instalment - see the ChessPub files. ] 9.g5 [ This shouldn't lead to anything I quite like the looks of 9.g4 , for example, d5 10.g5 ( 10.xd5 xg4 ) 10...dxc4 11.xc4 d7 12.e4 e7 13.e3 h8 14.0-0-0 with the idea d4 or even h4-h5. ] 9...c6 [ 9...h6 10.xf6 ( 10.d2 ) 10...xf6 11.e4 e7 12.xc5 xc5 13.0-0 is perhaps a shade better for W hite, but Black should be able to unravel easily. ] 1196
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.0-0 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.e4 e7 13.xc5 xc5 14.c3 a5 To prevent b4, although [ 14...e7 15.d4!? ( 15.b4 d6 ) 15...d6 is equal. ] 15.a3 a4 The standard method of holding up W hite's queenside. W e see this 3 times in this month's update! I'm not sure if Timman was better off preventing this he doesn't seem to generate much in return. 16.fc1 e7 17.c5 d5 18.cxd6 xd6 19.b4 c7 [ 19...d8 is another natural move. It's hard to believe that either player has anything at this point. ] 20.c5 e6 21.ac1 fd8 22.b5 d7 23.h4 b3 24.b6 f8 25.c5 f5? Right idea, wrong timing. This is an ambitious move and changes the tenor of the game, but it has a tactical problem. 26.b4?! [ White apparently overlooks 26.xb3! axb3 27.d5+ , when the presence of the rook on f8 means that Black will have to give back an exchange and leave the b3 pawn out to dry: xd5 ( 27...ff7 28.xb3; 27...cxd5 28.xc7 xc7 29.xc7 f7 30.c3 ) 28.xd5+ f7 ( 28...f7 29.xf7+ xf7 30.c3 ) 29.xb3 etc. ] 26...f6 27.g2 e7 28.b6 d7 29.a7 ff7 [ Or 29...f4 . Black has some pressure on W hite's slightly weakened kingside and allowing .. .a4 has eliminated any queenside chances for White. ] 30.c5 e6 31.e3 f6 32.f3? White is having a hard time holding off threats on the kingside but this fails miserably. He should probably just sit by means of a move like [ 32.c5 ] 32...e4! 33.dxe4 xb2 34.d1 xa3 35.d8+ h7 36.bd4 a1+ 37.h2 d5? [ This isn't awful, but throws away the win and even allows W hite to get good attacking chances during what was p r e s u m a b l y t i m e p r e s s u r e . 37...c5! and ..Qe5 would have consolidated Black's game with a winning advantage due to the passed a-pawn, and b-pawn if needed. ] 38.d3 fxe4 39.xe4 xe4 40.xe4+ xe4 41.xe4+ g6 42.f4! f6 43.h5 e7!? [ Black might also just defend by 43...g7
but there's still no obvious plan after ] 44.hxg6+ g7 45.d3 xe2+?! The point, but Black's king is exposed and White gains a key tempo. Perhaps Black can hold down thefortwith [ 45...b5 ] [ But 45...a3! 46.f5 e5! ( 46...a2 47.c4 ) 47.e4 a2 48.b3 a1 49.g8+ ( 49.g8+?? f6 -- ...Qe5 has vacated f6-50.h8+ g5 ) 49...f6 50.f8+ g5 51.e3+ g4 52.e2+ g5 53.e3+ is a draw ] 46.h3! [ 46.xe2? xd8 47.f5 f6 48.d3! threatens a perpetual check beginning with Qd7+ ] 46...e7?! [ 46...e3! 47.d7+ e7 48.f5 a3 49.d6 a2 50.xf6 a1 51.e6! xe6 52.d7+ f6 53.xe6+ g5 54.g2 will probably lead to perpetual check by one side. ] 47.f5 a3 48.a8 e5 49.f3!? [ Threatening f6+. Or 49.xa3 ] 49...f6 50.d3 e5 51.f3 f6 52.xa3 e5 53.g4 h5 W hat else? 54.e3 hxg4+ 55.xg4 d5 56.f4 d8 [ 56...d4 57.e7+ ] 57.e4 c5 58.g5 [ 58.h2! will mate soon, but it doesn't matter much. ] 58...xg5+ 59.xg5 b5 60.e7+ f8 61.g7+ An error-filled game but there were so many ways for both sides to go wrong that it's hard to fault the players. 1-0
1204 Tomashevsky,Evgeny Rublevsky,Sergei ch-RUS Superfinal (6) [John Watson]
A29 2564 2652 24.12.2005
Pure theory. Rublevsky the super-prepared plays a new move in an old variation and equalises. It looks like Black is okay again in this line, which would simplify his task against the irritating 5.Nd5. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.d5 e4 6.h4 0-0 7.g2 e8 8.0-0 c5 9.d3 exd3 10.xd3 e5 11.c2 c6 12.e3 cxd5 13.xc5 d6 1197
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.d4 dxc4 15.fd1 d5! A novelty, e5 19.dxe4 xe4 20.xe5 xe5 replacing 21.xe4 xe4 22.xc7 with some, but not [ 15...e7 16.d2 c6 17.xf6 xf6 quite full compensation for the pawn, Zueger, 18.ad1 Smejkal-Meking, Rio de Janeiro B-Godena, M/Cattolica 1994 ] 1979. ] 11.cxd5 e7 12.b3 c6 13.dxc6 xc6 16.c3 c6 17.f5 [ 13...bxc6 14.c2 f5 15.b4 d7 16.fc1 [ Now 17.xf6 xf6 is too slow because fc8 17.a3 h6 18.e4 e6 19.c3 g4 Black has 18.xd5 d4! ] 20.d2 e6 with chances to both sides, 17...e6 though I slightly prefer W hite's chances, [ An unbalancing try was 17...xf5 18.xf5 Rensen, M-Borst, J/IECG Email 2000 ] xe2 19.xd5 xd5 20.xd5 , but White's 14.c3 b8 bishop is quite strong. ] [ In an earlier Tomashevsky game, Black 18.e3 e7 19.xd5 xd5 20.xd5 xd5 went for 14...b6!? 15.a3 d8 16.a4 21.xd5 xe2 22.xe2 xe2 23.c5 d8 f6 17.d4 e4 18.d2 d5 , and Black seems [ 23...ae8 24.xc4 c2 doesn't really give to be doing okay, Tomashevsky, E-Turov, anything either: 25.d1 ( 25.f4 f6 ) 25...f6 M/Krasnoyarsk 2007. However, given that 26.d2 xd2 27.xd2 e2 28.c3 c2 W hite repeatedly this line by playing it in 29.f1= ] our main game, we should expect that he ½-½ either thinks he has an edge in this example o r t h a t h e h a s a n i m p ro ve m e n t re a d y . Svidler must also have thought about this 1205 A29 given he doesn't repeat Black's choice of 14th move. ] Tomashevsky,Evgeny 2646 Svidler,Peter 2732 15.d4 [ This improves over 15.a4 e6 16.c2 60th ch-Superfinal (7) 26.12.2007 c8 17.d2 a5 18.fe1 g4 19.h3 xf3 [Carsten Hansen] 20.xf3 d5 as in Uhlmann, W-Lein, A/Bad Wildbad 1997, where Black obviously has 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 a comfortable game ] 5.d5 c5 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 d6 8.e3 a6 15...e4 16.d2 d5 17.f3 exf3 18.xf3 e6 9.d3 a7 10.d2 [ Incredibly, only now does the game exit [ W h i t e ' s m a i n a l t e r n a t i v e i s 10.c3 what has been played before. In a , and now: correspondence game, Black tried 18...e8 A) Or 10...f5!? 11.h3 ( 11.d5 xd5 19.d2 e6 20.e1 ( Intending Ne1-d3-f4, 12.cxd5 e7 13.h4 d7 14.d2 ) hitting the d5-pawn. 20.ac1!? ) 20...g5 11...h6 12.e4 e6 13.e3 xe3 14.fxe3 21.f2 , Hefka, V-Wegman, W/ICCF Email b5 15.d5 h7 16.c1 e7 17.d4 2002 f6 22.d3 f7 23.f4 ed8 exd4 ( 17...c6!? ) 18.exd4 bxc4 19.f4 24.h3 ] Hansen, Cu-Miles, A/Esbjerg 1984; B) 10...h6 11.a3 e6 12.b4 d7 19.h1 e8 20.f2 [ 20.d2!? b5 21.ac1 ] ( 12...e4 13.dxe4 xc4 14.e1 ) 13.b2 ae8 14.c1 e7 15.e1 g6 16.d2 20...b5 [ 20...f6!? ] c6 17.ce4 xe4 18.dxe4 f5 19.exf5 xf5 20.e4 b8 21.e2 h3 22.ed1 21.d2 f5 22.af1 [ 22.e5!? xe5 23.xf5 c4 24.d3 xg2 23.xg2 e6 , and I prefer White, xb2 25.c2 c4 26.xd5 xe3 though objectively speaking the chances 27.xe3 xe3 28.xf7+ h8 29.d5 ] are about even, Bischof f , K-Short, N/ 22...e4 23.e1 b7 Garmisch 1994 ] [ 23...f6!? ] 10...xd5 [ 10...h6 11.c1 f5 12.e1 e8 13.f3 24.xe4 xe4 25.d3 d7 26.a4 bxa4 xd5 14.xf5 f6 15.f3 ( 15.c2!? ) 27.xa4 e6 28.c1 c7? [ 28...b8 ] 15...e4 16.e2 d5 17.cxd5 xd5 18.c3 1198
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 29.f4 d6 30.a5+- xa5 31.xc7 b6 17.c5 J.Smejkal-C.Garcia Palermo, 32.c3 h6 33.c2 e8 34.f5 g6 35.d3 German Bundesliga 1989) 10.d1 e7 g7 36.g2 11.xe7+ xe7 12.d4 d6 13.b3 exd4 [ 36.xa6 e4+ ( 36...e7 37.d3 14.xd4 b6 15.d2 a5 16.d3 d8 gains a pawn without further ado.) 37.g1 17.a3 e6 18.ad1 xc3 19.xc3 b1+ 38.f1 is an easy win. ] E.Dizdarevic-C. Garcia Palermo, Zenica 36...c6 37.e2! 1987 ] [ 37.xa6 is liked by my computer, but it 8.0-0 quickly becomes messy, which is not [ 8.a3 a5 9.c2 c6 10.b4 b6!? 11.c5 something you need when you are having a c7 12.d3 a5 13.b1 0-0 14.0-0 d5 winning position against a grandmaster of 15.cxd6 xd6 (Black is already okay) Svidler's calibre: e4+ 38.f3 g5 39.xb6 16.b2 axb4 17.axb4 h3 18.d1 g4 40.f2 xf3+ 41.e1 h1+ 42.d2 with approximately even chances, V. xh2+ 43.e2 , and White wins, but try to Ivanchuk-J.Ehlvest, New Delhi/Teheran work it out when you are in time trouble, 2000 ] not easy! The game continuation is by far to 8...0-0 9.d3 be preferred. ] [ 9.e3 c6 10.g2 e8 11.d3 xc3 37...a5 38.f3 e7 39.g4 h7 40.f3 12.xc3 d5 13.b3 f5 14.b2 ad8 a4 Having reached the time control, White can 15.ad1 e6 ( 15...d4 16.exd4 exd4 now concentrate on converting the material 17.a5 d7 18.xa7 ) 16.a5 a6 and positional advantage 41.g4 f6 42.h3 17.b6 T.Kotanjian-M.Tseitlin, St g7 43.g3 a5 44.c1 b6 45.d3 Petersburg 2000 ] 1-0 9...c6 10.g5 xc3 11.xc3 d6 [ 11...h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.fd1 d6 14.d4 f5 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.d2 fd8 17.ad1 1206 A29 xd2 18.xd2 e7 19.e4 h3 20.e2 e8 21.c5 , and thanks to White's Topalov,Veselin 2735 dominance over the d-file (in particular the Karjakin,Sergey 2556 d6-square), W hite's better placed pieces Leon 16th rapid (1.4) 06.06.2003 and Black's limited counterplay, White has [Carsten Hansen] the clearly better chances, A.Kosten-D. Prasad, Metz 2007 ] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f6 4.g3 d4 12.b4 h6 13.xf6 xf6 14.b5 c5 15.g2 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 e7 [ 7...e7 8.0-0 c6 ( 8...0-0 9.d1 d6 e7 16.e3 g4 17.f4 f5 [ 17...ad8 18.ae1 ] 10.d4 d7 11.d5 c6 12.xe7+ xe7 13.c2 f5 14.b4 e4 15.g2 f6 16.a4 18.ae1 g5 [ 18...ae8 19.e4 fxe4 20.xe4 d7 e6 17.a3 h6 18.b5 g5 19.c3 21.fxe5 xf1+ 22.xf1 f5 23.e2 ] M. Sorokin-P.Nakhapetiane, Moscow 2007) 9.d1 d6 10.d4 c7 11.g2 0-0 12.c2 19.e4 gxf4 20.gxf4 exf4!? [ 20...fxe4 21.xe4 h8 22.fxe5 dxe5 e6 13.b3 F.Gheorghiu-W.Hartston, 23.d2 ] European Team Ch (Bath) 1973 ] [ 20...g7 21.h1 h8 22.d2 ] [ 7...a5 A) 8.0-0 0-0 9.d3 d6 10.a3 c6 11.b4 21.xf4 [ At first glance it may look like both sides b6 12.g5 h3 13.fc1 a6 14.c5 c7 kings are wide open, but Black's king is in 15.cxd6 ( 15.e4 e8 16.h4 ) severe draf t and W hite's pieces are f ar 15...xd6 16.b2 h6 17.xf6 xf6 better placed. Here White can also consider 18.e4 e7 19.xd6 xd6= 21.exf5!? g5 22.h1! (to prep the g-file J.Timman-D.Campora, Amsterdam 1984; for a rook) xf5 23.e4 ( 23.xb7 af8 B) 8.a3! c6 9.0-0 c7 ( 9...b6 10.d3 24.e4 e5 25.g1 looks dangerous for e7 11.b4 d6 12.g5 h3 13.fc1 0-0 Black, but af ter f3! , and now 26.xg4 14.b5 ac8 15.bxc6 bxc6 16.e4 fd8 1199
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg4 27.g1 xg1+ 28.xg1 f2+ 29.f1 g5 30.d5+ h7 31.e4+ g8 32.d5+ with a draw by repetition) 23...e5 24.d4 ( 24.xb7 xe1 25.xe1 f8 26.d5+ h7 is probably okay for Black; 24.g1 h8 25.d4 cxd4 26.xd4 f8 is fine for Black) 24...cxd4 25.xd4 ae8 26.d5+ , and White has the better chances ] 21...g5 22.d2!? ae8 23.ef1= [ 23.h1!? fxe4 ( 23...b6 24.g1! h7 25.f2 is even more unpleasant for Black) 24.xf8+ xf8 25.xg5+ hxg5 26.xe4 o f f e rs W h it e t h e b e t t e r ch a n ce s in t h e endgame ] 23...fxe4 24.xf8+ xf8 25.xg5+ hxg5 26.xe4 xf1+ 27.xf1 b6 This endgame should be drawn, but only Black has chances thanks to W hite's queenside pawns on the bishop's colour. Karjakin does his best to produce something out of very little and does get an 'A' for effort. 28.f2 g7 29.e3 e6 30.f3 f6 31.e4 f5+ 32.e3 e5 33.d5 d7 34.f7 c8 35.d5 h3 36.a3 d7 37.f7 c8 38.d5 h3 39.f3 e6 40.e2 d5 41.f1 g4 42.g2 e6 43.f1 f7 44.e2 e6 45.f1 g4 46.g2 d4+ 47.f2 f5 48.f1 f4 49.e2 g6 50.f1 h7 51.e2 f5 52.f1 c8 53.g2 a6 54.bxa6 xa6 55.c6 c8 56.e4 g4 57.h7 h5 58.e4 d1 59.h7 g4 60.e4 b3 61.c6 f4 62.f3 a4 63.e4 d7 64.d5 f5 65.e2 g4 66.g2 h4 67.d2 g4 68.e2 f4 69.c6 e5 70.f3 d6 71.d2 c7 72.g2 b8 73.c6 a7 74.e8 a6 75.e2 a5 76.c6 g6 77.d7 h7 78.e8 f5 79.c6 a6 80.e8 b7 81.b5 c7 82.e8 d6 83.h5 e5 84.f3 f4 85.c6 g4 86.g2 h4 87.d2 g4 88.e1 f5 89.d2 h3 90.e4 g4 91.e2 g3 92.hxg3+ xg3 93.d2 f4 94.c6 e5 95.e8 d6 96.b5 c7 97.e2 g4+ 98.d2 d7 99.c2 xb5 100.cxb5 d6 101.a4 d5 102.d2 c4 103.dxc4+ xc4 104.a5 xb5 105.axb6 xb6 106.d3 c5 107.d2 c4 108.c2 d3+ 109.d2 d4 110.d1 e3 111.e1 d2+ 112.d1 d3 ½-½
1207 Uhlmann,Wolfgang Jackova,Jana Snowdrops vs Old Hands (2) [Nigel Davies]
A29 2417 2360 30.11.2008
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 b6 6.a3 e7 7.f3 c6 8.b4 e6 9.d3 0-0 10.0-0 f6 11.e4 It's interesting that a connoisseur of the the English like W olfgang Uhlmann would choose this variation. Black's reply looks critical. a5!? 12.c5 [ After 12.b5 B l a c k c a n p l a y d4 af t er wh ich 13.xd4 exd4 gives Black a typical and annoying space advantage. ] 12...xc5 13.bxc5 d5 14.b2 Looking to open the game with d3-d4 at some poin t whilst preparing to defend his advanced cpawn along the c-file. [ 14.c2 is featured in the game Miezis, N (2579)-Danin, A (2498)/Utrecht 2009. ] [ Another sensible move is 14.d2 when a4 15.b1 leaves White able to lop off any knight that lands on a5. I couldn't find any practical examples of this move so we wait with baited breath for a trial... ] 14...a4 15.b1?! Given White's evident aim of a central expansion (14.Bb2) then I find this unconvincing. Surely it would be better if the rook could go directly to d1!? [ With this in mind I suggest 15.d2 a5 16.ad1 , intending to advance with e2-e4, d3-d4 and/or maybe f2-f4 at some point. ] 15...d7 16.a1 [ With White's piece disposition as it is, 16.e4 makes less sense after de7 17.d4 b3 etc. ] 16...a5 17.d2 ab8 18.c2 b5 19.c3 xc3 20.xc3 b3 21.xb3 xb3 [ 21...axb3 looks very nice for Black, for example after 22.e3 there is b4! 23.axb4 a4 , lending big time support to the pawn on b3. ] 22.fc1 fd8 23.e4 f5 24.g2 d4 25.a5 b4 26.axb4 xb4? [ 26...d7 is better when there's still everything to play for. ] 27.xc7 e4?! 28.dxe4 a3 29.exf5 d4 30.a5 a2 31.xb3 a1 32.xa1 xa1 33.xa1 xb3 34.c1 White is winning 1200
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 easily here but perhaps Black's prolonged B2) 10.cxd5!? xd5 11.b3 xc3 resistance was a deliberate tactic by the 12.dxc3 ( Now White wins a pawn, as 'Snowdrops' to wear the 'Old Hands' out. a3 Black can't protect both his b-pawn and 35.b7 d7 36.c8 c7 37.e6+ f8 e-pawn (the threat is Qb5+) 12.bxc3!? ) 38.c6 a6 39.d7 a2 40.e4 e2 41.c4 12...d6 13.xb7 0-0 14.e4 e7 42.f1 d2 43.a4 d6 44.h4 e5 Black has absolutely no compensation 45.f4+ d6 46.a5 e7 47.h5 h6 48.e5 for the pawn. ] c2 49.a8 h2 50.g1 e2 51.h1 f2 8.g2 0-0 9.d3 52.g1 e2 53.a4 f8 54.g4 f7 [ With 9.d4 we would have entered the lines 55.e6+ e7 56.d5 d2 57.g2 c8 covered under line 'A'. ] 58.g5 b8 59.a7+ f8 60.gxh6 gxh6 9...c6 10.e4 g4?! 61.f6 b1+ 62.h2 bb2 63.g7 e2 [ This move is given a '?' by the fantastic 64.h3 b3+ 65.g3 bb2 66.d5 h2+ bulletin, and while it may be asking f or 67.g4 b8 68.e6 trouble, it is by no means a big mistake. 1-0 T h e i r s u g g e s t e d a l t e r n a t i v e 10...e8!? intending ...g6 and ...Ng7 is nevertheless an interesting option that is likely better 1208 A29 than the game continuation ] b6+ 12.h1 e6 13.f4 Uhlmann,Wolfgang 2530 11.f3 Rossetto,Hector 2465 Black's problem is that he thanks to his ...Bc8Skopje ol (Men) fin-A (1.1) 27.09.1972 g4-e6 manoeuvre has lost the time he needed to counter White's advance on the kingside. [Carsten Hansen] De sp it e my co mp ut er st ill co m plaining a 1.c4 c6 2.c3 f6 3.f3 e5 4.g3 d4 comfortable game for Black, White clearly has the upper hand at this stage. e8 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 d6 7.0-0 e7 [ The alternatives aren't that rosy either: [ Instead of this perfectly good continuation, 13...g4 14.e1 fe8 15.f5 ] the "Bulletin" (acc. to MegaBase) offers [ or 13...exf4 14.gxf4 g4 15.e1 d7 7...h3!? as a possible alternative, e.g. 16.e3 d8 17.f5 ] A) 8.xb7! isn't mentioned by the same bulletin, even if White wins at least a pawn, 14.e2 a5 15.e3 d8 16.d4 [ I like 16.f5 better, but in either case White e.g. xf1 9.a4+ d7 ( 9...e7 is clearly holding the upper hand ] 10.xf1+- is even worse) 10.xa8 xa8 11.d5 b7 12.xf1 , and Black has 16...exd4 17.xd4 a4?! [ This looks a bit like an attempt at no compensation for the lost pawn.; generating counterplay on the queenside, B) 8.g2 xg2 9.xg2 d5 is evaluated but ending up just wasting tempos he can ill as equal by the same bulletin, but White afford to waste. Instead Black should has several roads to an advantage at this attempt 17...f6 18.ad1 xd4 19.xd4 juncture. Instead Black could consider the f6 with a passive but at least somewhat solid 9...Be7, and he is probably about playable position ] even. B1) 10.d4!? is also an attractive option 18.ad1 a5 [ 18...f6 is probably, once again, better than for White thanks to his lead in Black's 'active' plan for counterplay. ] d e v e l o p m e n t exd4 11.xd4 dxc4 12.xc4 c6 13.g5 ( 13.d1 c8 19.f5 c8 20.a3 f6?! [ Black takes a very passive approach, and 14.e4 e6 15.xe6+ fxe6 16.f3 wil l q u i ckl y b e ru n o ve r, a n d wh i le t h e is also very pleasant for White, though alternatives aren't exactly bringing a lot of n o t a s c o n vin ci n g a s t h e m a in lin e) h o p e t o t h e t a b l e , i t i s c e r t a i n l y wo r t h 13...e7 14.fd1 ( 14.xf6?! xf6 considering a more active continuation, e.g. 15.ad1 e7= ) 14...a5 15.xf6 xf6 20...g5 although W hite after 21.f2 f6 16.e4 e7 17.d6+ xd6 18.xd6 22.c5 dxc5 23.xc5 f7 24.f3 e5 19.ad1; 1201
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 again is smacking Black around ] 21.e3 g5?! This isn't exactly the move Black wa n t s t o p la y, b u t h e will f o rce d t o d o it sooner or later as W hite otherwise will play Rf 4 - h 4 f o ll o we d b y Q h 5 . 22.h4 e5?! I don't know what Black had in mind when he played this move, but he must have overlooked White's next move, which is just one of several really good moves for White. 23.d4 [ 23.g4!? f7 24.hxg5 fxg5 25.d5 f6 26.xg5+ g7 27.xe7+ xe7 28.h6 xg3 29.f4 xe4 30.f6 ] 23...a5 24.hxg5 fxg5 25.h5 d7 26.h3! 27 White prepares the move he plays on move d8 [ 26...f7 was relatively better, but obviously still losing. ] 27.f6! xf6 28.xf6 xf6 29.xf6!+[ Now it is completely curtains for Black. In the bulletin, which is quoted on Ch e s s B a s e's Me ga Ba se , t h ey m e n t io n 29.e5 g7! without an evaluation, as if it may save Black or at least improve his chances. However, with a f ew accurate moves, White still wins rather easily. 30.f3! xh3 31.exf6 a5 32.d5! xf1 33.xf1 cxd5 34.fxg7 xg7 35.f7+ h8 36.e1 , and game over ] 29...xf6 [ 29...xf6 30.xd7+- ] 30.xg5+ f7 31.xd6 h6 32.f4 xh3 [ 32...g7 33.e5+- ] 33.xd8 xd8 34.e5 1-0
Moscow RUS/[John Bartholomew] 2012 saw 12...c8?! (an unnecessarily mild reaction) 13.e3 f5 14.xf5 xf5 15.e4 d8 16.c5! and White obtained a nice advantage. ] [ 12...g5 still looks critical to me. See the notes to the above game. ] 13.e3 f5 Cooperatively allowing the knight exchange - again very much along the lines of Eljanov-Salgado Lopez. [ Houdini advocates the enterprising pawn sac 13...b5!? 14.xb5 cxb5 15.xb7 b8 16.g2 ( 16.c6?! a4 ) 16...d7 followed by putting a rook on d8. If W hite pu sh e s d 3 -d 4 t h e n B la ck' s kn igh t ge t s access t o t h e c4 squ a re wit h e xc e lle n t c o m p e n s a t i o n , i . e . 17.b2 bd8 ( a p p a r e n t l y a b i t b e t t e r t h a n 17...fd8 which can be met by 18.e4 , when f5 19.g2 xd3 20.xd3 xd3 21.xe5 h i t s t h e r o o k o n b 8) 18.d4 c4 . This is further evidence in support of the idea that Black may be better served in taking a more adventurous stance against the slightly artificial-looking 12.Nh4!? ] 14.xf5 xf5 15.b3+ h8 16.e4 g6 17.d1 f7 [ 17...h5!? ] 18.c2 c7 19.b2 Natural moves all around. W hite has a miniscule edge, and I think this is about the maximum he can expect out of 12.Nh4!? a5!? 20.d4 [ 20.b5!? looks more promising. ] 20...axb4 [ Black should seriously consider blocking out his opponent's light-square bishop with 20...f5 21.c5 e4 . ] 1209 A29 21.axb4 c4 22.dxe5 fxe5 23.c5 fd8 Vachier Lagrave,Maxime 2715 24.f1 xb2 25.xb2 d5 26.a1 xa1 Fedorchuk,Sergey 2635 27.xa1 f8 [ 27...b5= ] Schachbundesliga 2011-12 (15) 15.04.2012 28.g2 xc5 29.bxc5 f7 30.d2 xg2 [John Bartholomew] 31.xg2 Black has some minor problems to 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 s o l v e d u e t o h i s s l i g h t l y i n f e r i o r p a w n 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 s t r u c t u r e . e4 32.h4 h6 33.b2 f3+ 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 d4 34.g1 f5!? [ 34...f7 is close to equality. ] 12.h4!? Eljanov's novel treatment of the xc5 36.g2 c3?? position. c6 As in the source game, Black 35.xb7 prefers a solid reply over a more forceful An unfortunate slip. [ 36...f5 holds the balance because refutation attempt. 37.xc6?? unexpectedly loses to c8! ] [ Eljanov, P (2690)-Salgado Lopez, I (2618)/ 1202
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 37.e7! g8 [ White is technically winning after 37...xd2 38.xf8+ h7 39.f5+ g8 40.e6+ f8 41.xc6+- . ] 38.e6+ h8 39.a2! c5 40.xe4 f6 41.d5 c8 42.c2 e7 43.c4 c7 44.g4 b6 45.g5 h5 46.f7 c6+ 47.f3 g6 48.e4 a6 49.g3 a1 50.f4 b2 [ The rook ending with 50...g7 51.xg7+ xg7 52.c4 was the last chance, though it's pretty bleak. ] 51.e8+ xe8 52.xe8+ h7 53.f7+ h8 54.f8+ h7 55.h6+ g8 56.xg6+ White easily forces the queens off. 12.Nh4!? isn't too dangerous, but the fact that another 2600+ Grandmaster succumbed to this 'artificial' move should put Black players on notice! 1-0
1210 Vallejo Pons,Francisco Gelfand,Boris It Pamplona ESP (1) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2519 2713 27.12.1999
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 A f t e r l o s i n g s o c o n vi n c i n g l y wi t h W h i t e against this move (se the archives) it is not surprising that Gelfand wants to try it himself! 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.d3 [ A sensible alternative to the more normal 8.0-0 although a transposition would normally be likely. ] 8...c6!? [ A new move is, fairly common, position. Normally Black precludes the possibility of Bg5 by 8...h6 although, even here White can play as in the game: 9.g4!? ( 9.0-0 0-0 would bring us to the Gelfand-Svidler game) 9...c6 10.h4 d6 11.g5 hxg5 12.xg5 b6 13.xb6 xb6 which seems fairly level, Azmaiparashvili,Z-Timman,J/ Oviedo 1993. ] 9.g4!? [ Well, these g4-moves are certainly all the rage in the English Opening these days! White will advance on the kingside while the centre is closed. A more positional approach would be 9.g5 , e.g. h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.e4 e7 12.xc5 xc5 when White
should be shade better after castling, and preparing d4. ] 9...d6 10.g5 g8! The knight is going to e7, a square with far more perspective than d7. 11.a4?! e7!? [ An interesting decision, Black is clearly happy with the following structural change, as instead he enjoyed the possibility of playing 11...a5+ when the grovelling 12.c3 seems wise, in view of ( 12.d2? xf2+ )] 12.xc5 dxc5 13.e4 Necessary, to control the f5-square. 0-0 14.c3 f5!? [ A r i s k y p a wn s a c , t h e s i m p l e 14...d6 seems fine. ] 15.h4!? [ I am not sure that Black has too much compensation after 15.xe5 d4 16.d1 ] 15...d4!? Black has decided to burn his bridges, and stakes everything on a sacrificial attack. 16.e3 f5! 17.g2! [ If instead 17.gxf6 then, xf6 18.f4 f5 19.xe5 xe5 20.fxe5 g3 21.g1 xe4 22.dxe4 with another 'IPC' and a likely draw. ] 17...e8 18.d2 [ 18.f1 is also possible, but f4! ( or 18...e6 19.xe5 ) 19.exd4 f3 20.h3 exd4 21.c2 xh3+ 22.xh3 e6 with real play for the piece. ] 18...f4?! [ I don't think that this is sound, simply 18...e6 must be strongest, and if 19.c3 d4 with a draw, but obviously Black wanted more. ] 19.exd4 f3 20.f1! [ 20.h3 weakens the light squares on the kingside. ] 20...exd4+ 21.d1 g4 22.b3 g6 23.a3 b6 24.c2 a5 25.g1 h5 26.e1 It seems that W hite has successfully consolidated his position, where is Black's c o m p e n s a t i o n n o w ? a4 27.b4 cxb4 28.xb4 xh4 29.g3 c5!? Black realises he is lost, and so aims to expose the white king, even at the cost of some more material. 30.d2 [ Keeping the queen close to the king, and the b-file closed, if 30.xb6? then Black can draw, and White may well have to suffer a little after h2! 31.xg4 xf2+ 32.d1 1203
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ab8 ] 30...ae8 31.c1 h5 32.xe8 xe8 33.f4? [ White must still be ultra-careful. Instead 33.h3 g4 34.h1 should be better for him ] 33...h1 34.h3?? [ The decisive error, the only move was 34.h3! with t he point tha t af te r xf1 35.xh5 e1 say, 36.d2 a1 37.f5! should be a draw, for if g6 then 38.d5+ is awkward. ] 34...e2+ Now Black is winning! 35.d2 a1 36.b8+ e8 37.e6+ Desperation. xe6 38.xf3 xa2+ 39.d1 b1+ 40.c1 b3+ 41.d2 a2+ [ Forcing mate in a few moves, although 41...c3+ 42.d1 e1# was a quicker mate- time trouble, no doubt. ] 0-1
[ 13...xe4 doesn't solve anything, rather the contrary. 14.dxe4 xd1 15.xd1 fd8 16.e1 d4 17.xd4 xd4 18.e3 d6 19.ec1 c6 20.a4 ad8 21.h3 is very unpleasant for Black, Sunye NetoVan Riemsdijk, Brasilia 1982 ] 14.b5! xe4 15.dxe4 d4 16.xd4 exd4 17.e5! White opens up for his bishop and as a result, shatters Black's pawn structure further. xe5 18.xb7 b8 19.e4 White is clearly better at this stage, an evidence that Black's o p e n i n g e x p e r i m e n t f a i l e d g r i m l y . d5 20.d3 g6 21.h6 e8 22.fe1?! [ 22.c4!? c3 23.c6 g8 24.d2 is also decidedly unpleasant for Black. ] 22...d6 23.c4 c3 24.c6 ed8 25.g2 [ 25.f4 g7 26.e6 f8 27.g5 looks crushing, but d3! 28.xd8 xd8 affords Black some counterplay ] [ However, 25.d2!? g7 26.f4 f6 27.g4!? is a fascinating line and worth 1211 A29 consideration. ] Van Wely,Loek 2683 25...d3 26.f4 [ Here both 26.f4 f6 27.g5 ] Motylev,Alexander 2647 [ and 26.d2 can be considered. ] Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (3) 21.02.2007 26...e2 27.e3 [Carsten Hansen] [ 27.xe5+ xe5 28.ad1 is another possibility, leaving W hite with the better 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 chances. ] 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 e6 9.d3 f5?! This set-up is relatively rare at 27...d4 28.xd3 xa1 29.xd6 xd6 grandmaster level it was last seen back in the 30.xe2 a6 31.f4 axb5 32.xd6 cxd6 1980s. 10.b4 f6 11.e4!? If you flip the 33.d2 b6 34.xd6 b2 35.a4 bxa4 b o a r d a r o u n d , t h i s m o ve i s r a r e l y e ve n 36.d8+ g7 37.d7+ h8 38.xa4 considered in the regular Classical Dragon Despite W hite's best efforts, this endgame 39.c6 d4 V a r i a t i o n , b u t i n t h e E n g l i s h , t h i s should end in a draw. b4 counterpunch is much more common. 0-0 40.h4 c5 41.f7 d4 42.h3 g8 43.c7 d6 44.b5 xf2 45.c4+ h8 12.exf5 xf5 13.e4 [ 13.b3+!? h8 14.e4 g4 46.c8+ g7 47.c7+ h8 48.c8+ g7 ( Eliminating the strong knight on e4 with 49.g8+ h6 50.g4 e3 51.g5+ xg5 14...xe4 also leaves White with a better 52.hxg5+ xg5 53.g7 c6 game 15.dxe4 d6 16.b2; 14...a5!? ½-½ 15.b5 a4 16.c2 a7 17.c5 xe4 18.dxe4 e7 19.e3 d6 20.b1 e8 may be playable for Black) 15.b2 xf3 ( 15...a5 16.b5 ) 16.xf3 e7 17.g2 d4 18.xd4 xd4 19.ac1 c6 20.c5 fb8 21.e4 , and White is completely in control, Adorjan-Fedorowicz, New York 1981. ] 13...h8 1204
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1212 A29 Van Wely,Loek 2622 Nyback,Tomi 2655 TOP 16 GpB Chalons en Champagne FRA (7) [Jonathan Rowson] 1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 Important not to forget this one. [ 6...e7 7.xe5! ] 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 [ 8...a5 prevents b4 but weakens the queenside. White typically continues with d3, Be3 and Bxb6 in that case. ] 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 d4 [ 11...a5 12.b5 d4 13.d2 There is nothing wrong with this way of playing with Black, but personally I do not feel comfortable with the resulting structural changes. ( 13.xd4 exd4 14.e4 a4 and b5, a3 and e2 are at least as weak as d 4 , c 7 a n d b 7 .) 13...c8 ( 13...d5? i s a w e l l k n o w n o p e n i n g t r a p . 14.xd5! xd5 15.e3 and White wins a piece with e4 after ne6 or nf5.; 13...d5!? playable but I always felt this was somewhat artificial. 14.xd5 xd5 15.b2 a4 and the position is unclear- too much so for my liking, and I would feel a bit insecure as Black without my light squared bishop- although that has more to do with my needs than those of the position. ) 14.e3 f5 and now the game continues, with a pertinent example being 15.c2 ( 15.a4 ) 15...d8 16.b2 h6!?N ( 16...d6!? /\Nf7 ) 17.fd1 ( 17.bc1 h3!? remains approximately equal.) 17...f7 18.bc1 f8 19.h4? ( 19.e2!? ) 19...h3 and Black was already a bit better in Van Wely, L-Tiviakov, S Hilversum 2006 ] [ 11...a6!? is plausible, but somewhat passive. 12.e4! a2 13.b2 d5 14.c5 b8 15.e4 f7 16.e3 d7 17.c2 ( 17.b3!? ) 17...xc5 18.bxc5 d7 19.fb1 and White had the initiative in Gulko, B-Seirawan, Y USA 1989 ] 12.d2 c6 13.e3 b5?! This has been played before, and has a respectable re p u t a t i o n , b u t I wo n d e r if i t m i gh t b e a mistake after all. It is certainly strategically risky because it gives White a central pawn majority.
[ 13...f5 keeps more tension in the position, but White has the more flexible position after 14.e2 which is not to say he is really better, but as a little thought experiment, imagine colours were reversed and it would look like a very successful Sicilian. ( 14.b3 )] 14.xb5 cxb5 15.b3 a4 16.b2 d5 [ 16...xb2 Simplest. 17.xb2 b6 A) 18.a5 ab8 temporarily passive given time Black will play Rfd8-d7 and Rbd8 19.d4 fd8 20.e2 exd4 21.exd4 f8 22.xb7 xd4 and Black is at least ok. ( 22...c4 23.xd8 xe2 24.d5+ h8 25.f7+ g8 26.xe2!? ); B) 18.d4 ad8 ( 18...c4 19.dxe5!? fd8! ) 19.c5 c4 20.e1 xc5 21.bxc5 a5 and Black appears to be fine. ] [ 16...d7!? Perhaps getting a rook to the cfile is more important than challenging the bishop on g2. 17.a1 fc8 18.c1 xc1 19.xc1 a5 gives counterplay. ] 17.a1 A novelty, and possibly quite an important one. [ 17.e4!? f7 18.d4 c8 19.d5 ( 19.a1 c3 20.xc3 xc3 ) 19...d7 20.e2 d8 21.a1 b6 22.bc1 a6 was a strategically risky approach f rom Black, but seemed to work out in Vallejo Pons, F-Ponomariov, R Linares 2002 ] 17...xg2 18.xg2 c8 [ 18...b6!? helps to generate counterplay with a5, but is a little scary because it takes away the main retreat square of the knight on a4. 19.e4!? a5 20.bxa5 bxa5 21.d4 looks a bit better for White. ] [ 18...f5!? 19.f3 ( 19.xe5 d5+ )] 19.f3 d7 20.d4! White has won the strategic battle. c3 [ 20...d6 was probably better. ] 21.xc3 xc3 22.fd1 exd4 [ 22...e6!? ] 23.xd4 f5 24.e2 d3 25.f4 xd1 [ 25...d6 looks slightly more tenacious, but White is still much better. 26.xd6 xd6 27.d5+ h8 28.c1 ] 26.xd1 c6 27.xc6 bxc6 28.d7 S u p e r s m o o t h p l a y f r o m V a n W e l y . e8 29.xa7 c5 30.b7 c4 31.xb5 a8 32.d5 f8 33.a5 c8 34.c3 g6 35.b5
1205
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g7 36.a2 b8 37.a4 c3 38.a6 1-0
1213 Van Wely,Loek Salov,Valery Hoogovens Wijk (1) [Tony Kosten]
A29 2605 2680 1998
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.d5 A favourite of Lautier's, White avoids any lines with doubled c-pawn complexes. c5 The position is similar to 4...Bc5 lines, except that the white knight is on d5, not c3. 6.g2 d6 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 h6 To stop Bg5. 9.e3 White aims for a flexible development, and avoids committing his central pawns too soon. a6 The black dark-squared bishop will need an escape square on a7 pretty soon, to avoid W hite playing a3, and b4, but it is a matter of taste whether to play this move, [ 9...a5 which restrains White's queenside expansion, but weakens b5. 10.b3 a7 11.c3 Otherwise, Black might play 11... Nxd 5 1 2 c xd 5 Ne 7 wit h go o d p la y. e6 12.b2 keeping e5 under surveillance, thereby stopping ...d5. c8 13.a3 e8 14.c1 g4 Black's disadvantage is minimal, Hansen, C-Gabriel,C/Porz GER 1999. ] 10.a3 a7 11.b4 In view of what follows, p e rh a p s h e re is a g o o d p la ce t o f in d a n alternative for W hite. xd5 A typical ploy, Black rids himself of the annoying d5-knight. 12.cxd5 e7 13.d2 f5 And, having exchanged his f 6-knight, Black is f ree to ad va n ce on th e kingsid e . 14.c4 f4!? A s t r o n g p o s i t i o n a l e xc h a n g e s a c r i f i c e , levering o pen the wh ite king's def ences. 15.exf4 exf4 16.xf4 xf4! 17.gxf4 g6 the point, ...Nxf4, and ...Qg5 is the threat. 18.f3 f6 19.ae1 White's dark squares are sensitive, but he does have extra material, and a lead in development. d7 20.e6!? A n in t e re s t i n g p ra ct i ca l d e cis io n , W h it e returns material to free his position. xe6 21.dxe6 b8 b7 had to be defended. 22.e3 xf4 Black finally gets to capture the pawn on f4. 23.g4 d4 24.e1 White is banking on his p asse d e-pawn . d5 Firmly closing the h1-a8 diagonal. 25.e3 c6 26.f5 xf2+!?
A tempting combination, but [ 26...c3 hitting the rook, is strong. ] 27.xf2 xf2+ 28.xf2 xd3+ 29.e2 xe1 30.xe1 The dust has cleared, and Black has gained a rook and two pawns for his two pieces, but the e6-pawn may prove a problem. e8 31.d4 g6 32.h3 g7 33.b3 Coming to the strong square c5 to menace the black queenside. e7 34.c5 g5 35.d7 An important move, keeping the black king away from the e-pawn. h5 36.f5 g4 37.f2 h6 Threatening ...Kg5, winning t h e e - p a w n . 38.h4 The o nly mo ve . d4?? A time-trouble blunder, I suppose, [ 38...gxh3 kept some chances. ] 39.c5?? White returns the compliment, [ 39.f6 won easily, the threat is Ng8, and if g7 then 40.xh5+ f8 41.xg4 ] 39...g7 40.e4 Trapping the king from a different square. e8 41.e2 f8 42.g3 f6 43.d3 e5 Black has managed to escape from the cage. 44.e7! White sensibly forces a draw. e8 45.xh5 xe7 And not [ 45...xf5?? 46.g7+ f6 47.xe8+ winning. ] 46.xg4 c7 47.d2 White's knight is awkwardly placed, but there is no fear of it being lost. c5 48.bxc5 xc5 49.a4 c3 50.d7 b6 51.g4 a3 52.d7 White does some problems to solve, but once he gets his pieces co-ordinated he should have no real trouble. d6 53.e8 h3 Picking-up the hpawn, but allowing the knight back into the game. 54.f4 xh4 55.d3 h2+ 56.c1 d5 57.f7+ e4 58.g6+ e3 Black's pieces are as well-paced as possible, but it is not enough. 59.b4 h6 60.c2+ f4 61.d3 a5 62.xd4 [ 62.xd4 as e3 63.f5+ xd3 64.xh6 is drawn. ] ½-½
1214 Van Wely,Loek Tiviakov,Sergei Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (6) [Carsten Hansen]
A29 2683 2667 21.02.2007
1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 1206
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 d4 12.e3 [ 12.e1!? d5 13.b2 xc3 14.xc3 c6?! ( 14...b5 15.b2 c6 16.a4 c7 has been suggested as an improvement by Stohl ) 15.a4 Kortschnoi-Stohl, Tilburg 1993 ] 12...xf3+ [ White seems to get an edge after 12...c5 13.e4 xf3+ 14.xf3 cxb4 15.c5! xc5 ( or 15...d5 16.xd5+ xd5 17.axb4 ) 16.xc5 f7 17.xb6!? axb6 ( 17...xb6 18.xb4 a6 19.a4 ) 18.axb4 Seirawan, Y-Gurevich,M, Biel izt 1993 ] 13.xf3 c6 14.c2 This is van Wely's new move, but as Tiviakov quickly demonstrates, it doesn't offer W hite any hopes of a lasting advantage. Previous tries have included: a) [ 14.e4 A) or 14...d5 15.a4 f5?! ( 15...d7 is probably a better choice - Curt Hansen) 16.d2 d7?! ( 16...f6!? 17.a5 c8 ) 17.xd5+! cxd5 18.b3 Serper-Tiviakov, Kherson 1991; B) 14...d5 15.d2 b6 ( 15...f5 16.c5 ) 16.a4 ( 16.c2 Ribli d7 17.fc1 fc8 ) 16...d7 17.fc1 fc8 18.c3 b5= Schwartzman-Tiviakov, Wijk aan Zee 1995 ] [ b) 14.c5 d5 15.xd5 cxd5 16.b3 e8 17.fc1 d7 18.b5 xc5 19.xc5 ac8 20.bc1 e4 21.dxe4 xc5 22.xc5 dxe4 23.g4 xb3 24.xd7 e7 25.g4 b6 with an even endgame, Timman-Bareev, Ubeda 1997. ] 14...f7!? 15.c5 d5 16.e4 b6! 17.xe7 xe7 18.fd1 c8 19.e3 f5 20.bc1 d7 21.e2 e7 22.c3 and a draw was agreed upon. White never got close to obtaining any kind of advantage. ½-½
1215 Van Wely,Loek Tiviakov,Sergei ch-NED Hilversum NED (9) [John Watson]
b e gin n i n g t o lo o k li ke B la ck h a s n o re a l problems here, especially with White's queen on c2. 1.c4 e5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 b6 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 a5 W e sa w 1 1 . . . Q e 8 i n K o st e n - J e a n i n t h e August Update (in which this game was meant to be included). 11...a5 is more critical and arguably the most important move for the assessment of the overall variation. 12.b5 d4 13.d2 c8 14.e3 f5 15.c2 [ B a r e e v p l a y e d 15.e2 twice here, as described in earlier columns. ] 15...d8 16.b2 h6!? A strange idea. Black is transferring his knight to f7, but you'd think that [ 16...d6 (preventing Nc4) would be a more efficient way to implement the manoeuvre. ] 17.fd1!? [ Black is also okay after 17.fc1 f7 ( 17...h3 ) 18.e2 d6!? ( 18...f5 19.e4 d7! ) 19.e4 f8! , with the idea 20.xc7 a4! ] 17...f7 18.bc1 f8 19.h4? With the point of stopping ...Ng5 (apparently), but this is too slow. Better was [ 19.e2! , intending the key move d4. ] 19...h3!? 20.h1 g4 21.e1 [ 21.f3 f5 22.de4 ] 21...f5! 22.ce4? [ 22.de4 d7 23.ed1 g4 24.f3 e6 ] 22...d7 Hitting d3 and b5 Black has a substantial advantage at this point. 23.xc7 a4! [ Or 23...xb5 24.b1 a4 25.c1 xd3 with a clear advantage. ] 24.a1 xa3 25.c4 [ 25.xd7 xd7 26.cd1 xd3 ] 25...xb5 Black is simply winning. 26.b1 b4 27.bc3 d7 28.b1 xc3 29.xc3 xd3 30.bxb4 axb4 31.xb4 ac8 32.e7 d7 The queen is trapped. 0-1
A29 2655 2669 27.06.2006
Once again, two top players test the new 'm a in li n e ' o f t h e R e ve r se d D r a g o n . I t ' s 1207
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1216 Vitiugov,Nikita Grischuk,Alexander 62nd ch-RUS Moscow RUS (2) [Nigel Davies]
A29 1217 2694 Williams,Simon Kim 2736 Van Kampen,Robin 21.12.2009 London Classic op 4th (9) [Gormally/Kosten]
A b o ri n g lin e ge t s e ve n d u ll e r h e r e wit h Grischuk's 15...Qb4 leaving White with very little. It's not easy to break this 4...Nd4 move down. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.d3 0-0 [ M o r e n o n c h a l a n t t h a n t h e 8...c6 of Gelfand-Vachier Lagrave. But in either case it's difficult for White to get much. ] 9.g5 h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.e4 b6 12.xc5 xc5 13.c3 [ 13.0-0 d6 14.e3 a5 15.fd1 was Maslak, K (2548) -Vysochin, S (2518), Peterhof 2007 and now b4 would have been a super solid way to play it. ] 13...a5 14.0-0 d6 15.fd1 b4 A new move after which the position just looks equal. [ Black had to struggle harder for the half point in 1/2-1/2 Timman, J (2540)-Portisch, L (2645), Nice 1974, the game going 15...b8 16.b3 a3 17.d4 exd4 18.xd4 e6 19.c1 xc1+ 20.xc1 fd8 21.e3 c5 22.d2 f8 23.a4 e7 24.d5 a8 25.c3 d7 26.f4 d8 27.f2 c7 28.f3 e8 29.g4 with White still pressing. ] 16.ac1 xc3 17.xc3 c6 18.d4 e8 19.e3 f8 20.f1 e6 21.d5 h3+ 22.g2 xg2+ 23.xg2 c5 24.b3 eb8 25.a4 [ After 25.b6 Black plays a6 . ] 25...e4 26.h4 g6 27.b6 a6 28.b5 b6 29.g4 g5 30.hxg5 hxg5 31.h1 g7 32.b3 a7 33.h5 f6 34.c3 g6 35.c1 h7 36.xh7 xh7 37.f3 exf3+ 38.xf3 g6 39.e4 h8 40.g3 e8 41.f3 h8 ½-½
A29 2515 2570 09.12.2012
1.c4 e5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 f6 4.g3 d4 5.g2 xf3+ 6.xf3 b4 7.b3 c5 8.d3 In a critical game played in the last round of the London Classic open, the Dutch player Robin Van Kampen played the sedate 0-0 No doubt expecting some kind of sedate reply in return. However he was facing the Ginger Gm himself, Simon Williams. Simon took this as a red rag would to a bull and responded with the ultra-aggressive [ 8...h6 A typical idea as we have already seen, Black prevents any ideas of Bg5. 9.0-0 0-0 10.d2 e8 11.ac1 b8 ( 11...c6 12.a4 f8 13.c5!? Is a trifle annoying for Black- he must exchange a central pawn for a wing pawn if he wants to complete his development. Nevertheless after d5 14.cxd6 xd6 15.e3 e7 Black shouldn't have any real problems.) 12.a4 d6 13.b4 d4 14.e3 xc3 15.xc3 h3 16.g2 xg2 17.xg2 d7 18.xd7 xd7 19.e4 Simple chess as ever by Aronian, and although this ending is surely holdable for Black, he was able to grind out a win by displaying impeccable technique in the game Aronian, L (2773)Istratescu, A (2624) Novi Sad 2009 ] 9.g4!? First played by David Howell. However I'm not convinced this approach will really catch on, as judging by the course of the ga m e , it lo o ks a s if B l a ck h a s s u f f i c ie n t defensive resources. c6 This may be best, Black will play his knight to c7 and then ...d5 in one go. [ 9...d6 10.g5 d7 11.h4 is Howell, DGordon, S, in the PGN Archive. ] 10.g5 e8 11.d2 [ 11.h4 White might as well play this i m m e d i a t e l y , c7 12.e3!? ( 12.d2 transposes to the mainline.) 12...d4 13.d2 ( 13.0-0-0!? ) 13...d5! 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.xd5 e6 16.e4 f5 and Black had good prospects in the game Fridman, D (2648)-Gordon, S (2527)/Legnica 2013. ] 11...c7 12.h4 e6 1208
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 12...d5! might be possible here, too, 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.xd5 ( 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5 b6 ) 14...e6 15.c1 b6 16.e4 c8 with great compensation - castling kingside will always be a risky enterprise for White. ] 13.e3 f5! An excellent move, grabbing some important central squares. 14.0-0-0 [ Sadly for White he cannot countenance taking this pawn, as after 14.gxf6 xf6 15.h3 f5 Black wins material 16.g3 xd3 17.e4 d6 ] 14...d6 15.a4 b6 16.c5?! This pawn sac does not work out very well. [ 16.b1 c7 17.g2 with everything to play for. ] 16...xc5 17.xc5 dxc5 18.c3 c7 19.h5 b5! 20.h6 g6 White's kingside attack had ground to a halt. Later on Black took over the initiative with moves like ..b5 and ...a5, resulting in a painful loss for Si. 21.h4 a5 22.a4 c4 23.dxc4 b4 24.e1 xg5 25.e2 e6 26.f4 e4 27.fxe5 xe5 W hite's bishops look rather sad. 28.d3?! But W hite was lost anyway. c5 29.d6 xe3+ 30.d2 b3+ 31.b1 xe2 32.g5 a7 [ 32...f4! threatens a nasty mate, e.g. 33.hh1 f5+ 34.a2 xc4 and ...Nc1+. ] 33.d3 d7 34.xd7 xd7 35.xd7 e1+ 36.a2 c1+ 37.xc1 xc1 Incidentally, despite being very well placed going into the last round, by losing this game W hite went home with zero prize money. Rather harsh don't you think? But this is the reality of chess these days. Unless you are ranked in the top twenty in the world, or have a good run in a big money tournament like the world cup, the reality is you are going to struggle to make money by being a chess pro. This is why so many struggling and desperate grandmasters like myself are turning to writing to try to scrape together a living, or even worse, chess coaching... 0-1
1218 Yakovich,Yuri Demianjuk,Alexander Polyarniy Krug (5) [John Watson]
A29 2576 2345 03.12.2006
1.c4 e5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 b6 7.0-0 e7 8.a3 0-0 9.b4 e6 10.b1 f6 11.d3 d4 [ The main line has been 11...a5 12.b5 d4 , but the immediate ....Nd4 avoids potential weaknesses that arise from ...a5. The move is o k a y, b u t I t h in k t h a t 1 1 . . . a 5 f o r c e s White into a narrower set of options. ] 12.d2 [ 12.xd4 exd4 13.e4 d5 14.b2 f5 15.d2 f6 16.xd5+ xd5 17.c1 c6! was featured in Soza, J-Muzyka, Y/ICCF Champions League 2004 on ChessPub and seemed fine for black. ] 12...c6 [ 12...d5 13.b2 A) 13...a5!? 14.bxa5 xa5 15.c4 a7 16.a4 b6 ( 16...xc3 17.xc3 d5 ) 17.e3 xc3 18.xc3 f5 19.a5! was slightly better for White in Bauer, CSokolov, A/Chartres FRA 2005; B) 13...c6 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5+ xd5 16.xd4 xd4 17.a4 f5?! ( 17...a6 ) 18.b5 c5 Kramnik, V-Tiviakov, S/Singapore 1990, and here I suggested 19.b3+ h8 20.e6 , which is awkward for Black. ] 13.de4 [ Bareev, E-Topalov, V/Dortmund GER 2002/ went 13.b2 f7 14.e3 f5 15.c2 f8 16.fd1 d5 17.c4 b5!? with complications that ended in equality. ] 13...f7 The standard idea, swinging the rook to the centre. [ 13...g4 14.e3 d7 15.d2 h8 16.h3 h5 17.f4 with unclear play, Georgiev, K-Kharlov, A/Niksic 1996. ] 14.e3 b5 15.xb5 cxb5 16.b2 a4 17.a1 f5!? [ 17...a5! is simple and advantageous, in view of 18.bxa5 xa5 ] 18.c5! xc5?! This all looks reasonable for Black, who has seized the initiative, but now he plays inaccurately. [ 18...xc5! 19.bxc5 xc5 20.xb5 xd3 1209
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.xb7 d7! 22.xa8 xb5 with a small advantage due to the well placed knight. ] 19.bxc5 d7? A tactical error. Better is [ 19...a6 with the idea 20.xb7?! ( 20.xe5 xc5 21.a4 ) 20...a7 21.g2 xc5= ] 20.xe5 d5 [ 20...xc5? 21.d4 and d5 wins material after d6 22.d5 xe5 23.dxe6 xe6 24.d5 ] 21.d4 xg2 22.xg2 a6 23.f3 It's not just White's pawn, it's his centre. d8 24.a4 d5 25.xd5 xd5 26.f4! Black resigns: The finish could be [ 26.axb5 xc5 27.bxa6 bxa6 28.fc1 is also good. ] 26...bxa4 27.xb7 d8 28.a1 and pawns fall, whereas c6-c7 is also threatened. 1-0
1219 Zhigalko,Andrey Ipatov,Alexander ETCC (Open) Warsaw POL (4.22) [Fier, Alexandr]
A29 2619 2630 11.11.2013
Ipatov tries an unusual move order, playing 6...0-0 instead of the normal 6...h6. Maybe the way to try to punish it is to play 7.Bg5, but is this really a problem? It will be similar to the ...g6 lines where using 3 moves to bring the bishop to f6 is not ideal, of course, but it is not the end of the world. Af terwards it transposed to a more common line. I don't like 11...Ne7, as it looks like Black is spending a lot of time travelling with the knight, and for W hite I would propose 16.a5!? 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e5 3.f3 c6 4.g3 b4 5.d5 c5 6.d3 0-0!? [ 6...xd5 is also playable, and used by the ex-world champion 7.cxd5 d4 Hansen, C (2610)-Anand, V (2753)/Middelfart SIS-MH Masters rapid 2003. ] [ 6...h6 is more common 7.g2 d6 8.0-0 0-0 9.e3 was analysed in Van Wely, L (2605)-Salov, V (2680)/Hoogovens, W ijk aan Zee NED 1998. ] 7.g2 [ 7.g5 e7 8.xf6 xf6 9.g2 is not so problematic for Black, but still it looks like a King's Indian setup with some
wasted moves ] 7...xd5 8.cxd5 d4 9.d2 d6 10.e3 f5 11.c4 e7 For me this idea is a bit slow, and the knight is not so good on e7. Black can try a queenside expansion instead. [ 11...a5 would be my personal preference and it was played twice before: 12.d2 a4 13.b4 ( 13.0-0 b5 14.a5 e7 and Black is fine.) 13...axb3 ( 13...a7 14.a5 e8 15.0-0 e7 Makarichev, S (2500)-Meduna, E (2405)/Frunze 1979.) 14.axb3 xa1 15.xa1 b5 16.a5 e7 17.0-0 Ivanchuk, V (2751)-Anand, V (2799)/ Amber rapid 17th 2008. ] 12.0-0 [ 12.a3 is less to the point, b5 ( 12...a5 13.d2 a4 is also possible, with equal chances ) 13.d4 exd4 14.exd4 b6 15.xb6 axb6 16.0-0 b4 exchanging the bpawn, Black's position is quite acceptable, Levin, E (2488)-Pacher, M (2361)/EU-ch U18 18th 2008. ] 12...f5 [ 12...b5 makes less sense now: 13.d4 exd4 14.exd4 b6 15.xb6 axb6 16.e1 and White is better. ] 13.d4 exd4 14.exd4 b6 15.a4 W hite already has some advantage, Black needs to move the queenside to save the bishop and White can take advantage of this. c6 16.dxc6 [ 16.a5!? was more precise, and now Black is under pressure A) 16...c7 17.e3 ( 17.a6 looks good, but Black can hold the position in a strange way cxd5 18.axb7 b8 19.e3 e4 20.f3 f5 ) 17...d7 18.b4 with pressure on the queenside.; B) 16...cxd5 17.axb6 dxc4 18.xb7 wins material. Still the position is not so clear, but White has good chances to get some advantage ( 18.bxa7 its not clear that the pawn on a7 is weak or strong d5 19.e1 c6 20.b3 c3 21.f3 e4 22.xc3 xg2 23.xg2 ) 18...xb6 ( 18...b8 does not gives enough for the queen 19.bxa7 xb7 20.a8 xa8 21.xa8 xa8 22.e1 ) 19.xa8 xa8 20.f3 d5 21.a3 c6 22.c5 with a slight advantage for White. ] 16...xc6 17.f4 1210
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 17.a5 makes less sense, just exchanging pieces xa5 18.xa5 xa5 19.xb7 b8= ] 17...d5 18.d6 With several pawns hanging it's hard to evaluate quite what is happening. It's still hard f or Black to take on d4 in a proper way, so it seems W hite is slightly better here, too. e6?! [ 18...d7 is better, since it's not such a bad deal to exchange the strong knight on d6 for t h e b i s h o p o n f 5 , 19.xf5 ( 19.a5 just exchanges one pawn xa5 20.xd5 c6= ) 19...xf5 20.b4!? defending the pawn indirectly f6 ( 20...xd4 21.b5 xa1 22.bxc6 bxc6 23.xa1 should be good for White.; 20...xb4 doesn't work at all 21.a5 d8 22.d6+- ) 21.e3! ( 21.xd5 will hardly bring any advantage for White, fd8 22.xc6 xc6 23.c1 d5 and the block is enough for equality) 21...a5 22.b5 b4 ( 22...xd4 23.a2 is annoying ad8 24.d2 f5 25.xb6 xb6 26.xd5 with a good advantage.) 23.c1 with some advantage, but Black does not have many problems either. ] 19.xb7 Now White has a stable edge and the initiative. e7 20.c5 xd4 21.b4! c6 Giving material, but the position is already not so easy. [ 21...f5 22.xe6 fxe6 23.e1 ad8 24.a2 and Black has problems with the e6pawn. ] [ 21...xc5 22.bxc5 f5 ( 22...xc5? 23.e3+- ) 23.c1 is almost winning. ] 22.xe6 fxe6 23.a5 c7 24.c1! And W hite wins material, Black's center is shaking because of the king on the a2-g8 diagonal. xf4 The best chance, but White is just an exchange up. [ 24...xf4 loses to 25.xc6 d6 ( 25...h6 26.xe6+-; 25...d7 26.xe6 ad8 27.h3 b8 28.h6 e7 29.e6+ h8 30.xh7+ xh7 31.h5# ) 26.xd5! ad8 27.e1 f6 28.b5 with a healthy pawn up and the better pieces. ] 25.gxf4 xb4 26.f5 xa5 27.e1 b6 [ 27...f8 was another try but it's refuted in a beautiful way: 28.a4 b6 29.xe6 g5 30.c8! xf2+ 31.h1 and it's just over. ] 28.xe6 g5 29.b1 c8 [ 29...xf2+ 30.h1! ( 30.xf2 xf5+
31.g1 xe6 32.xb4 d8 is not so clear. ) 30...c8 31.e2 c5 32.xd5++- ] 30.e1 h5 31.e8+ h7 32.xc8 d3 33.e6 1-0
1220 Anand,Viswanathan Gomez Esteban,Juan Mario Country vs. World Rapid rapid (2) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2764 2463 01.05.2003
Life is simpler when your opponent falls into a known trap! 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 Is the DoubleFian ch et t o go in g t o ma ke a co me -b ac k ? 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.b3 0-0 12.h4 a6 13.ac1 White has brought all his pieces to good squares. c7 A nice move which frees the eighth rank so that the black queen can come to a8 to augment the pressure along the h1-a8 diagonal. W e have previously considered [ 13...e8 14.g4!? ( although here 14.h3!? could be similar to the game, Fancsy,ID u d a s , J / B u d a p e s t / 1 9 9 4) 14...b5! Filippov,V-Nikolic,P/Neum BIH 2000. ] 14.h3! This looks odd, but is well-founded, White moves his bishop off the same diagonal as the black queen's bishop, thus avoiding a possible exchange. [ 14.g4 h6! 15.h3 g5 16.g3 b5 was nice for Black in Kramnik,V-Karpov,A/ Dos Hermanas/1999. ] 14...a8? Black continues his plan, but misses the disguised threat. [ 14...b8?! i s s l i g h t l y b e t t e r , 15.h6! ( 15.xd7? xd7 16.xb6? xf3 wins ) 15...xf3 16.xg7 xg7 17.exf3 e5 18.g2 b5 19.cxb5 axb5 20.b4! gave Black later problems with his b-pawn, Topalov,V-Psakhis,L/Las Vegas 1999. ] [ 14...e8 m a y b e b e s t , 15.h6 c5!? 16.g5 b5 17.d5 xd5 18.cxd5 xc1 19.xc1 xh6 20.xh6 f8 defending against the threats to h7, Arsovic,Z-Almasi, Z/Budapest/1991. ] 15.xd7! The point, White had previously missed this tactic: 1211
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 15.d2?! e8 16.g4 b5 17.g5 with some advantage, anyway, Yeke,SHarmon,C/Budapest HUN 2003. ] 15...xd7 [ 15...xd7 16.xe7 is even worse, and ] [ 15...xf3 16.h3 b7 17.xb6 just wins a pawn for nothing. ] 16.a4 This is the unpleasant reason for White's previous moves, he wins the important b-pawn. xf3?! I think that Black should at least hang-on to this piece, [ 16...b8 17.xb6 c7 18.d4 is obviously good for White, who has a solid extra pawn, but Black might have some practical chances. ] 17.xb6 b7 18.exf3!? The pragmatic move, Anand wants to avoid any counterplay after [ 18.xd7 xd7 ( 18...h1 19.f3 wins ) 19.exf3 e5 20.h3 xf3+ 21.f1 although this should be winning - White has an exchange more. ] 18...c7 19.d5 xd5 20.xd5 So, White is a pawn up, and Black has no real compensation, now Anand's technique takes over. d8 21.g2 f6 22.f4 cd7 23.cd1 g7 24.h4! f8 25.h5 White still has a space advantage, so he can attack on either wing, but before advancing his queenside pawns he decides to soften-up the b l a c k k in g s i d e . e6 This weakens the dark s qu a re s , b u t h e h a d t o f in d co u n t e rp la y somewhere. 26.5d3 d5 27.hxg6 [ 27.d4! dxc4 28.f6 is also sufficient, xd4 29.xd4 xd4 30.xd4 wins easily. ] 27...hxg6? [ 27...fxg6 may be ugly, but is the only way to stop a disaster on the h-file. ] 28.h1 g7 29.h4 It is as easy as ABC! d4? [ 29...f6 held-on a little longer. ] 30.g5 There is no sensible defence to Bf6 and Qh8+! so Black resigned. 1-0
1221 Anand,Viswanathan Vallejo Pons,Francisco XXII SuperGM (12) [John Watson]
A30 2786 2686 08.03.2005
This game occurred at an important time in this Super-tournament. Anand was trying to finish his comeback after a poor start. White has a hard time cracking this form of Hedgehog but with correct play Black has to sit around hoping that White won't be able to b r e a k t h r o u g h in a n e n d in g . No t f o r t h e average player. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 c6 9.f4 b8 At one time this was considered weaker than the Hedgehog with ...d6 and ...Nbd7 because W hite now gains a bind on d6. Black tries to prove that this doesn't mean much. 10.xb8+ [ 10.b5 d6 is useless, but ] [ 10.d1 ] [ and 10.e4 have been played. The latter probably exposes to e-pawn too early and allows Black quick counterplay. ] 10...xb8 11.f4 c8 12.b5 e4 13.fd1 a6 14.d6+ [ 14.c7+?! d8 15.d4 xd4 16.xd4 f6! intending 17.xe4 xe4 18.xe4 e5 ] 14...xd6 15.xd6 xd6 16.xd6 e7 17.ad1 c7 The key position. Anand demonstrates that W hite can keep a small ad va nt a ge , a lt ho u gh it isn 't mu ch . A b ig question is why Black wants to suffer without counterchances. 18.b3 f6 19.e1 b8 20.c2 c8 21.f4 d8 Preparing ...Nf7, although that may not be of much use. [ Black can also play the consistent move 21...b5 , f or example, 22.c5!? ( 22.cxb5 axb5 and ...b4 equalises; 22.e3 bxc4 23.xc6 b6 24.xc4 bxc6 25.e4 b7 26.6d2 ) 22...b4 23.xc6 xc6 24.xc6 dxc6 25.d6 d7 26.d4 c8 27.e4 ] 22.e4 f7 23.6d2 b7 24.a4!? [ 24.e3 g6 ( 24...d6 25.a4 prepares f5.) 25.h4 ] 24...a5!? Tantamount to a draw offer, since now Black has no positive plan. The challenge f o r A n a n d i s t o m a k e p r o g r e s s . 25.h4 Grabbing space is always useful. d8 26.f2 c5 27.d4 a8 28.e3 b7 29.f3 a8 1212
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 30.f5? A very strange move that concedes the e5 square and further locks in W hite's bad bishop. Obviously Anand's idea was tactical but perhaps he underestimated Black's next move. I think White can still progress slowly by [ 30.g4 A) 30...g6 31.g5!? ( or 31.b5 c6 32.c3 d6 33.g5 ); B) 30...c6 31.g5 with hopes of making progress while maintaining the pressure. ] 30...e5! [ 30...e5?? 31.xe6 ] 31.g4 d6 Now Black has all the keys squares and W hite can't defend e4. 32.fxe6 dxe6?! [ 32...xe4! keeps the initiative: 33.f5+! xf5 34.xd7+ xd7 35.xd7+ xe6 36.a7 may be best, but it allows xf3+! 37.xf3 c6 ] 33.b5! f7 34.xd8 xd8 35.a7?! [ 35.d6 ] 35...b7 36.b1 d7 37.b4? This seem to be a case trying too hard to win. Anand may not have wanted to defend against e-pawn threats, but this exposes everything. Instead, [ 37.b5 was the safest move. ] 37...axb4 38.xb4 a5! 39.b5 c6 Black has a very large advantage in view of White's weak pawns and bad bishop. Anand m a n a g e s t o e s ca p e b u t sh o u ld n 't h a ve . Nevertheless, one can see that the whole plan with ...Qb8 doesn't free one from a lengthy defence. 40.b1 e5 41.e2 xa4 42.c3 a3 [ Or 42...xc4+! , since Black is winning after 43.xc4 ( 43.f2 a3! ) 43...xc4 44.d3 c6 ] 43.d2 c6 44.g5! At least this generates some counterplay. a6! Not near enough if Black plays accurately. 45.gxf6 gxf6 46.f1 xc4+ 47.xc4 xc4 48.xf6 b5 49.d5!? xd5 [ or 49...d6 ] 50.exd5+ xd5 51.f7 h5 52.h7 e5 53.xh5 d4 54.h8 a2+ 55.d1 h2 [ 55...e4 56.h5 h2 ] 56.h5 b4 57.h6 d3 58.c1 c3 59.c8+ b3 60.h8 c3 61.c8+ b3 62.h8 e4 63.d1 b2 64.e1 b3 65.h7 e3 66.d1 b1?? After near-perfect play, Vallejo Pons falls asleep and blunders. Black had a
relatively easy win by [ 66...d2+ 67.e1 d7 , for example, 68.e2 ( 68.e8 xh7 69.xe3 a2 ) 68...e7 69.e1 e2 and wins, White is in zugzwang. ] 67.b8 xh7 68.xb3+ ½-½
1222 Aronian,Levon Kramnik,Vladimir 21st ECC Saint Vincent ITA [John Watson]
A30
2005
The big boys like to play with the Double Fianchetto version of the Symmetrical English, in which Black plays a Hedgehog with ...g6 instead of ... e6. Names like Kasparov, Karpov, Kramnik, Anand, and Topalov are associated with this line, partly because both sides think tha t it is re la tive ly sa f e . It t urns o ut t ha t there are plenty of opportunities for both sides. When Aronian and Kramnik recently fought it out in this variation, the game was pretty interesting, but mainly I've tried to give an overview of the most important moves. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 g7 8.c3 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 [ Tony has reported before on Kramnik's play with White is this line. A relevant example goes 10.b3 0-0 11.b2 c8 12.ac1 ( 12.e3 e8 13.ac1 a6 14.a1 c5! Karpov-Kasparov,WCh London Leningrad 1986 ) 12...a6 ( 12...c5 ) 13.d2 c7!? This resembles the idea in our main game but with a queen on d2. The difference may be slightly in White's favor because of his direct central con trol, especially of d5 : 14.e1 xg2 ( 14...a8 15.d5 ) 15.xg2 a8 16.e3 e8 17.cd5 c6 18.a4 with White having a nice bind in Kramnik-J Polgar, Dos Hermanas 1999 ] 10...c8 [ 10...0-0 11.h4 c8 12.h3? xf3 13.exf3 e5 14.g2 xc4-+ Topalov-Kasparov, Wijk aan Zee 1999. ] 11.ac1 0-0 12.h4 a6 13.b3 c7 This is an extremely popular idea . Blac k intends ...Qa8 and ...Rfc8. The older method 1213
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is [ 13...e8 A) 14.h6 h8 15.h3 xf3 16.exf3 c5 17.g2!? ( 17.g4 e5 18.g3 of Arsovic-G Timoshenko, Belgrade 1995 also promises White an edge. He played f 4 a n d Q f 3 .) 17...h5 18.f4 g7 19.xg7 xg7 20.d4 g8 21.d5 Piven-Ikonnikov, Werfen 1991; B) 14.h3 c7 15.h6 c5! ( 15...xf3 16.exf3 c5 17.xg7 xg7 18.d4 Wojtkiewicz-Palkovi, Stara Zagora 1990) 16.g5!? b5! 17.d5 xd5 18.cxd5 xc1 19.xc1 xh6 20.xh6 f8= Arsovic-Almasi, Budapest 1991 ] 14.h3 There's an interesting choice here: [ 14.e1 a8!? 15.h3!? intends Bxd7 and Na4 ] [ 14.g4 h6 15.h3 g5 16.g3 b5! 17.h4 bxc4 18.hxg5 hxg5 19.b4 a8 20.xg5 e8= Kramnik-Karpov, Dos Hermanas 1999 ] 14...b8 [ One-sided but instructive was 14...a8? 15.xd7! (a standard trick) xd7 16.a4 xf3 17.xb6 b7 18.exf3 ( or 18.xd7 ) 18...c7 19.d5 xd5 20.xd5 d8 21.g2 f6 22.f4 cd7 23.cd1 g7 24.h4! f8 25.h5 e6 26.5d3 d5 27.hxg6 hxg6 28.h1 g7 29.h4 d4 30.g5 1-0 Anand-Gomez Esteban, Santurtzi 2003. ] 15.g4 [ 15.h6 b5! drawn, Gelfand-Topalov, Batumi 1999 ] 15...e6! A novelty. The move may not equalise but is solid and challenges W hite to make progress. [ 15...a8 16.g5! e4 17.xe4 ( 17.a4! t h r e a t e n s b o t h B xd 7 a n d N xb 6 , b u t b5 18.b6 xb6 19.xb6 c6 20.xe4 xb6 21.e3 c6 22.xe7 ) 17...xe4 18.d2 c6 19.xd7 xd7 20.xb6 Pogorelov-Colovic, Balaguer 2003 ] 16.g5 e8 17.g2 [ 17.d4! a8 18.a4 d8 19.xe6! fxe6 20.xe6+ h8 21.xb6 ] 17...b5! 18.e4! bxc4 19.bxc4 d5 20.cxd5 xd5 21.c5 xc5 22.xc5 d6!? Just as White seems to be winning, Kramnik uncorks a surprising and clever idea. He
would concede material following [ 22...b2 23.e4 xa2 24.f4 e5 25.e3 ] 23.b1! [ 23.xd6?! xc1 24.xb8? xd1+ 25.f1 xb8 ] 23...xb1 [ 23...d8 24.b6 ] 24.xb1 xc5 White may stand better, yet Black has rook and piece for the queen with two active bishops. 25.a4 e4! 26.xa6 c2 27.d3?! [ 27.a4 c3 28.e1 ] 27...xa2 28.c1 fa8 ½-½
1223 Banikas,Hristos Aroshidze,Levan 14th Open Kavala GRE (5) [John Watson]
A30 2548 2463 15.08.2005
The Main Line of the Hedgehog, with a little twist. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 d6 7.e1 a6 8.e4 e7 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 11.e3 0-0 12.c1 bd7 13.f4 h5!? With the simple idea of holding up White's expansion via g4. Black also has the immediate idea of ...Ng4. 14.h3 [ 14.h1 is a careful response, giving a have at g1 for the bishop. Play might go c5 ( or 14...fe8 defending e6 against f5 and intending ...e5 at some point) 15.g1 h4 16.g4 h3 17.f3 ] [ C r a z y p l a y r e s u l t s f r o m 14.f5!? , f or example, g4 ( 14...e5? 15.d5 ) 15.e2!? ( 15.fxe6 xe3 16.xe3 g5! 17.d2 e5 18.d5 xd5 19.cxd5 a7 20.exf7+ xf7 21.e6 xe3+ 22.xe3 and Black is probably holding just enough squares to complement the exchange, so this is also unclear.) 15...xe3 16.xe3 c5 ( 16...e5 17.fxe6 g4 18.d5! ) 17.b4! ( 17.fxe6?? g5 ) 17...e5 18.h3 , utterly unclear ] 14...fe8 15.f2 [ White can try g4 anyway, but it may be too risky: 15.g4 hxg4 16.hxg4 c5 17.f2 d5 ( 17...e5? 18.f5 exf4 19.b4 cd7 20.g5 1214
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h7 21.g6! ) 18.e5 fe4 19.cxd5?! ( 19.e3 dxc4 20.xe4 xe4 21.c2 c5 22.xc4= ) 19...xf2 20.xf2 h4+ 21.f1 xe1 22.xe1 d8? ( 22...exd5! 23.b4 e6 is strong ) 23.b4 h4+ 24.f1 d7 25.dxe6 xg2+ 26.xg2 fxe6 27.e4 with advantage. ] 15...f8 16.d5!? [ 16.e2 is "normal" here, when Black has to deal with e5. ] 16...exd5 17.cxd5 d8 18.c6 xc6 19.dxc6 c5 20.c7 xc7 21.b4 ab8 [ 21...ad8!? ] 22.bxc5 bxc5 23.d4 d7!? 24.xh5 Now the material is even and White has two bishops - very unclear. a5 25.d5 [ 25.c3 xa2 26.g4!? intending g5-g6. ] 25...b6 26.g5 xa2 27.a1 e6 28.cd1 [ 28.f5 h6 29.xh6 gxh6 30.f1 is complex. ] 28...e7 29.xe7 xe7 30.e5 dxe5 31.xe5 bd8 32.c7 xd1 33.xd1 c4 34.c6 c8 35.d7 d6 36.d8+ [ 36.d5! xc7 37.xf7+ f8 38.xc7 xc7 39.xc4 is a draw. ] 36...xd8 37.xd8 a3 38.b7 c4 39.a5 I think I'd rather be Black with his c-pawn. There can't be much, however. ½-½
1224 Bareev,Evgeny Leko,Peter Amber Rapidplay rapid (6) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2707 2713 22.03.2002
After his resounding success with a quick d4 in the Symmetric Variation last month, Bareev tries it again against the same opponent. 1.c4 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 c5 4.e3 e6 [ 4...c6 5.e2 e6 6.d4!? was the Bareev Leko game from Cannes. ] 5.d4 This was first tried by Gurevich,M also against Leko. [ In the Austrian league, a few weeks ago, I essayed 5.e2 e7 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 bc6 8.xc6!? bxc6 9.0-0 0-0 10.c2 a6 11.d2 , Kosten,A-Horvath,T/ Austria 2 0 0 2 , b u t W h it e ca n ' t r e a l ly cla im a n y
advantage. ] 5...e7!? [ New, in the initial game Leko preferred 5...cxd4 ] 6.d5 White tries to prove he has some advantage by going into a Benoni-type position. [ 6.e2 would transpose into my game, above. ] 6...exd5 7.cxd5 d6 8.c3 0-0 9.f3 This is the best square for the knight, as from here it can head for c4 via d2. a6 10.a4 d7 11.0-0 This position is very typical of a Fianchetto Benoni, except that the white epawn is on e3, and the black king's knight is on e7, instead of f6. f5! So that the knight can hop into d4 in the event of White playing e4. 12.c2 e8 13.d1 e5 14.xe5 [ The problem with 14.d2?! is that White can never kick the e5-knight with f4 because of the hanging e3-pawn - the black knight seems to be very useful on f5 instead of f6! ] 14...xe5 15.d2 b6 16.ab1! d7 17.b4 W hite decides to break on the queenside. c4!? This pawn is passed, but well blockaded. 18.b5! White stops Black from defending his passed pawn with ...b5. axb5 19.xb5 xb5 20.xb5 c3! Black tries to complicate matters on the queenside. 21.e1?! [ In a quick game it is difficult to calculate all the con sequ ences o f such a m ove, bu t 21.xc3! could certainly be played: c7 22.b3 ec8 ( 22...xa4?! 23.xb6 xb6 24.xa4 hits e8 and wins a pawn) 23.d3! (perhaps White missed this) xc3 24.c1 b7 25.bxc3 xc3 26.xc3 xa4 27.c6 White has a clear advantage, the d6 an d b6 p awns a re wea k, a nd t he b la c k knight is worse than the white bishop. ] 21...a5 22.b4 a8 23.e4 White has regained piece control of d4, and this move becomes possible. e7 24.f4 g7 25.f2? At first sight W hite seems to have a large advantage, he has constructed his centre, whilst the black knight is awkwardly placed, and b6 is weak. [ I think that 25.f1! was the best move here, White intends Bb5 to defend a4 and keep the a-file closed. ] 25...b5! However, Black has a passed c-pawn, and this tactic keeps him more than alive. 1215
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.xb5 [ 26.axb5? a2 27.b3 b2 is very unpleasant for White. ] 26...xa4 27.e5!? Blow for blow! c8 [ 27...dxe5? 28.d6 ] 28.exd6 a2 29.c1 f5 30.d7 d8 Something has gone wrong for W hite, suddenly the black pieces are all well-placed and very active while the c3-pawn is still on the board! 31.d6 a6 32.f1 c6 33.e1 W h it e 's o p e n kin g p o sit io n is d if f icu lt t o manage in a rapid game, and defending the d6-pawn by [ 33.bd5 do e s lit tle t o h e lp , a s xd7 34.d3 xf2! 35.xf2 a7+ 36.f3 d4+ forces 37.xd4 xd4 with excellent winning chances. ] 33...xd7 34.d5 xf2! 35.xf2 a7+ 36.f3 a8 Pin and win ! 37.c4 xd6 38.b3 f5 39.ed1 d4+!? [ A nice interference, but the banal 39...e7 wins even more easily. ] 40.1xd4 [ 40.f2! xd5 41.xd5 xd5 42.xc3 is worth a try. ] 40...xd4 41.e4 f6 42.d1 b8 43.f3 xb3 44.xb3 c2 Even great players sometimes allow their opponent too much counterplay! 0-1
gives White some slight pressure, Berg,KVegh,E/Budapest 1983. ] 8.d5 e5 9.dxe6 dxe6 [ Black, one of the most solid players in the World, prefers to avoid the slight weakening of his pawn structure entailed in the other re ca p t u re , 9...fxe6!? 10.b3 0-0 11.f4 5c6 although this looks OK for him. ] 10.xd8+ xd8 11.0-0! White cannot sat isf actorily d ef e nd th e c-p awn , and s o leaves it to its fate. d7!? [ Black could certainly consider grabbing the pawn: 11...xc4 12.d1+ e8 13.bc3 b8 14.b3 b6 15.b5!? with some initiative for a pawn, e.g. d7 ( 15...xa1?? 16.c7+ f8 17.h6+ and Rd8 mate!) 16.d6+ ] 12.d1 c7!? This is why Black didn't take the pawn, he wants to keep the c-file closed so that his king is safe here, and he can allow his rooks to communicate. 13.bc3 a6 14.f4 c6 [ 14...ad8 i s n o b e t t e r : 15.d4 c8 16.e4 c6 17.xc6 7xc6 18.c5 and Nd6+. ] 15.d4 ad8 [ W h i t e i s g e t t i n g o n t o p a f t e r 15...xg2 16.xg2 as the pin on e5 forces c8 ] 16.xc6 7xc6 17.e1! Menacing to c a p t u r e o n c 6 a n d w i n a p i e c e . b6?! The most aggressive method of freeing the knight, but the king proves too exposed here. 1225 A30 18.a4+ a7 19.g5! d6 [ Black avoids weakening e6 by 19...f6!? as Bareev,Evgeny 2707 20.e3+ b8 21.c5 follows. ] Leko,Peter 2713 NAO Masters Cannes FRA (1) 22.02.2002 20.ed1 d4 [ Black finds himself in difficulty, 20...xc4 [Tony Kosten] is met by 21.xd6 xd6 22.xc6! bxc6 23.d1 and the entry of the rook on the 1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.e3 c6 seventh will prove unpleasant. ] Black keeps a firm grip on d4 this month, 21.e7 xc4!? Black offers an exchange, as against Gurevich last month Leko preferred [ 21...df3+ 22.xf3 xf3+ 23.g2 xd1 [ 4...e6 when White found the novelty 24.xd1 e5 25.c5+ b8 26.d6+ 5.d4!? ] is very awkward. ] 5.e2 White still refrains from playing his [ and 21...d7?? 22.c5+ wins the knight. ] queen's knight to c3. e6 6.d4!? Again White plays this quick d4, is this the way forward for 22.xd6 xd6 23.f1 e5 24.ac1 d8 the English Opening? cxd4 7.exd4 ge7!? 25.c5 b8 26.d5 c7 27.c5 e8? An innovation. Previously Black had stopped Black is worse, but his position was playable until this blunder. 28.c1 Threatening a killer the further advance of the d-pawn by [ 7...d5 when 8.cxd5 exd5 9.bc3 ge7 discovered check, the king can't leave the c10.g5!? h6 11.xe7 xe7 12.b3 file because it is needed to protect the knight 1216
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 on d6. h6 29.xa6+ 1-0
1226 Bartel,Mateusz Almasi,Zoltan 40th Olympiad Open (6.7) [John Bartholomew]
A30 2654 2713 03.09.2012
I really enjoy investigating the Double Fianchetto. It's a nuanced line with a great pedigree where an aficionado can make his mark with either color. Here we see a nice effort from one of its 2700 exponents, Zoltan Almasi. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.e3 bd7 10.ac1 c8 11.b3 0-0 12.h4 a6 13.fd1 c7 14.h3 [ 14.g4 c8!? Jakovenko, D (2729)-Karjakin, S (2766)/Sochi RUS 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] 14...b8 15.g4 [ The Double Fianchetto expert Sergey Karjakin has twice upheld Black's position after 15.h6 b5! 16.xg7 xg7 . See Topalov, V (2752) -Karjakin, S (2779)/ Astana KAZ 2012/[John Bartholomew] ] 15...e6! 16.g5 e8 17.d4!? This is likely White's best try for an advantage. [ Black had adequate counterplay after 17.g2 b5! in Aronian, L (2724)-Kramnik, V (2744)/Saint Vincent 2005/[John Watson]. The text was actually recommended by Watson in his notes to this game. ] 17...c5 Almasi also played like this against Vallejo Pons last year. [ The retreat 17...a8!? is intriguing. Black need not alter the position much, so adding force to the ...b6-b5 break and toying with ... Qb8-b7 is useful. One game went 18.g3 ( 18.g2 looks better) 18...c8 and here the b old s trok e 19.xe6? backfired after xd4! 20.xd7 b7! 21.d5 xe3 22.xe3 xd7 with an extra piece. Tratar, M (2466)-Babula, V (2593)/Austria 2006. ] 18.g3 Pressurizing d6 and postponing a major decision. [ Vallejo preferred 18.b4 d7 before going "all-in" on 19.xe6!? (this sacrifice on e6 is far more appropriate than Tratar's version
above) fxe6 20.xe6+ h8 . Here 21.f4! was best , with a complicated fight after (for instance) ( 21.d5?! xd5 22.cxd5?! e5 23.d4 xc1 24.xc1 c7 Vallejo Pons, F (2705) -Almasi, Z (2707)/ Beijing CHN 2011. ) 21...d8 . Almasi was apparently ready to defend Black's position again after 19.Nxe6!?, so it will be interesting to see if there's any takers for 21.f4. ] 18...e5 19.f4 g7 20.g2 e5!? Activating his position at the expense of the d5-square. [ Black could also sit tight with 20...xg2 21.xg2 , i.e. c8!? , overprotecting e6 and intending to push the f-pawn. ( the immediate 21...f5 looks worse after 22.gxf6 xf6 23.b4 xd4 24.xd4 )] 21.f3 [ 21.fxe5! dxe5 22.f3 looks stronger, for instance f5!? 23.gxf6 xf6 24.g5!? h5 25.h3 with a complex position where I'd marginally prefer White. ] 21...exf4 22.xf4 f6! A key move: Black's pieces come to life. 23.d5 xd5 24.cxd5 e7?! [ I t l o o k s m o r e n a t u r a l t o p l a y 24...fxg5 25.xg5 f6 ] 25.d4! fxg5 26.xg5 f6 27.g3 [ 27.h6! ] 27...xd4! Nearly forced, but still a nice concept. Almasi doesn't mind playing against W hite's bishops when he has such great footholds for his knights. 28.xd4 g7! H e a d i n g f o r f 5 . 29.b4? This only allows encourages Black to bring the knight to a better square (e5). f5 30.g4 d7 31.a1 b5 32.h1 a7 33.f1 e3! Black dominates the center. 34.c2 e5 35.xe5 xe5 Almasi has achieved an ideal position. 36.f3? A tactical oversight, after which White is technically lost. [ W h it e is a n h igh ly p o sit io n , b u t 36.f4 was more tenacious. ] 36...xd5! 37.f1 d4 38.h3 xh3 39.xh3 xb4 Almasi is two pawns to the good, and he has no problems converting his a d v a n t a g e . 40.c6 a4 41.e4 e7 42.xf8+ xf8 43.xd6 xa2 44.f6+ g7 45.b6 e2 46.xa6 xe4 47.b6 b4 48.g1 h5 49.f2 f4+ 50.g3 d4 51.e6 f6 52.c8+ g5 53.b5+ f5+ 1217
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 54.f3 f4+ 55.g2 c4 56.e6 e4 [ Note that White would be fully justified in 57.d7 f4 58.b6 d4 59.e8 h4+ reverting to normal lines with 11.e3 c8 60.h3 g5 61.b5 e4 62.f6+ e5 12.ac1 a6 13.b3 . ] 63.h6 e3# Almasi timed his e and f-pawn 11...c8 12.b3 a6 breaks very nicely this game (20...e5!?, 22... [ Kavutskiy continues in standard fashion, but f6!). At present 17.Nd4!? remains critical, and here and on the next move Black can also it would be especially insightful to see another play 12...c5 , exploiting the fact that White encounter in the line 17.. .Nc5 18.b4 Nd7 19. no longer covers c5 and threatening 13... Nxe6!?, ala Vallejo Pons - Almasi. R h 5 . A f t e r 13.g5 ( 13.xg7 xg7 0-1 14.d4 has been played many times, but it doesn't look like much to me) 13...xg2 14.xg2 Black has a respectable in e8 1227 A30 ( or 14...a8+ 15.g1 e8 , Braga, F (24 35)-Olsze wski, M (25 43 )/B rat to IT A Bartholomew,John 2446 2010. ) 15.xg7 , preparing to drop the Kavutskiy,Konstantin 2284 bishop back to h8. xg7 16.ge4 a8 SPICE Cup Open (3) 17.10.2012 was agreed drawn in So, W (2674)-Svidler, [John Bartholomew] P (2734)/Amsterdam NED 2010. ] Can White punish Black for castling early in 13.ac1 c7 [ White launched a promising kingside attack the Double Fianchetto? Sergey Karjakin and after 13...xh6!? 14.xh6 b5?! 15.g5! many pros prefer to defer castling until the in Gustafsson, J (2571)-Babula, V (2567)/ preparatory moves ... d7-d6, ...Nb8-d7, ...Ra8Germany 2004 [T onyK]. Followin g xg2 c8, and ...a7-a6 have been exhausted, but 16.xg2 bxc4 17.d4! cxb3 18.h4+the question remains open. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 Black should have lost (though he escaped b6 3.g3 b7 4.g2 c5 5.c3 g6 6.0-0 with a draw). ] g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 0-0 [ 13...c5 is again possible. ] [ A m o r e c o m m o n m o v e o r d e r i s 8...d6 9.d1 ( 9.h4 h6; 9.b3 ) 9...bd7 10.e3 14.g5!? I was surprised to discover that this c8 11.ac1 and only now 0-0 ( or 11...a6 natural move was a novelty. [ Previously only 14.h3 had been tried, i.e. 12.b3 0-0 , as Karjakin prefers. That way, if xf3!? ( or 14...a8 , Harika, D (2461)White tries an early Qd4-h4 (e.g. 9.Qh4 or K a z i m o v a , N ( 2 1 4 8 ) / G a z i a n t e p 2 0 0 8) 10.Qh4) Black has a strong 15.exf3 a8 16.xg7 xg7 17.g2 b5! counterargument in ...h7-h6!. The threat of ... B in d rich , F (2 5 2 2 )-C o rd o va , E (2 5 6 0 ) / g6-g5 then becomes annoying for W hite, Chotowa POL 2010. Funnily, the position and Black tends to score very well from after 13...Rc7 has also been reached with these positions. The downside of the text is BLA CK t o mo ve . If you 've be en p ayin g that after 9. Qh4 there is nothing attention, you should know why! Hint: it has preventing White from doing Bc1-h6 in one to do with the "one go" I mentioned earlier. ] go, so W hite gains an extra option. I suppose the only thing Black really gains 14...xg2 15.xg2 e8 [ 15...a8+ is a worthy alternative. ] in return is the ability to prevent a queenside fianchetto setup with 9.b3 (this 16.d5 a8 [ Not 16...xd5?! 17.xg7 , when Black has would be met by 9...Ne4, winning), but that to play h5 , e.g. ( 17...5f6 18.h6! c o n t i n u a t i o n i s k n o wn t o b e h a r m l e s s is dire for Black in view of Rd1-d4-h5, which anyway. )] is actually tough to stop! a5 19.h8 ) 9.h4 d6 10.d1 18.cxd5 xg7 19.c6 e5 20.d4 g8 [ Or the immediate 10.h6 . ] 21.xb6 . ] 10...bd7 11.h6 The critical test. White would love to follow with Nf3-g5 and evict 17.f3 cc8 Black is very solid here. I couldn't Black's knight from f6, but this has proven find any convincing way to proceed with the attack, so I chose a calmer continuation. difficult in practice. 1218
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.xg7 xg7 19.d4! Centralization. Black has a few problems to solve. b5 [ B e t t e r w a s 19...g8! , as 20.xb6? backfires because of the attractive ( 20.e4 xd5 21.cxd5 xc1 22.xc1 c8 i s o n l y v e r y s l i g h t l y b e t t e r f o r W h i t e) 20...xb6 21.xb6 c5! , hitting g5 and cutting off the queen's escape. Black wins a piece because 22. ..Rb8 is also threatened. ] 20.e4! bxc4 21.bxc4 [ Here I missed 21.exf6! exf6 ( 21...xf6? 22.b6+- ) 22.e4 with advantage to White because cxb3?! is met by 23.c7 xc7 24.xc7 c5 25.c4! . ] 21...c6 22.g4?! Encouraging mass simplifications. [ Stronger was 22.c3! , menacing Nd5xe7 and Rd1xd6. After g8 A) 23.xe7+ xe7 24.xd6 b7 25.xf6+ ( 25.xf6 xe4! ) 25...xf6 26.xf6 xe2+; B) 23.dxf6+ xf6 24.xd6! xe4 25.xc6 xc3 26.xc8 xc8 27.xc3 W hite has good chances to win the ending. ] 22...g8 23.dxf6+ xf6 24.xf6+ exf6 25.e4 e6 26.d2 White remains a tiny bit better in this heavy piece ending. b8 27.c5 c8?! 28.dc2 b8 29.g3 dxc5 30.xc5 d6+ 31.xd6 xd6 32.c8+ xc8 33.xc8+ g7 34.a8! I was quite satisfied with the transition to this technical (almost textbook!) rook endgame. Such positions are far from trivial to defend with the passive rook, and I was eager to put my opponent to the test. c6 35.h4 h6 36.a4 f5! Kavutskiy correctly decides on active defense. [ If Black waits, i.e. 36...d6 37.f4 c6 38.e3 d6 39.a5 h7 , I had a strong id e a in m in d : 40.b8! , intending 41.Rb6. Black would be very hard-pressed to defend. ] 37.gxf5 gxf5 38.e5 g6 39.d8!? f4+! 40.xf4 c4+ 41.g3 xa4 42.d6+ f5! [ 42...g7 would also be drawn, but the text is even easier. ] 43.f6+ xe5 44.xf7 b4 45.h5 a5?! The first in a series of missteps. [ Black should immediately activate the rook: 45...b1 46.f4+ ( or 46.h7 b6 47.g4 b4+= ) 46...e6 47.h7 f5!= 48.xh6
b3+ 49.h4 b4= . ] 46.f4+ e6?! [ 46...e4! ] 47.a7 a4?! After this, Black cannot prevent a transition to an "f+h" vs. "a" ending. [ Again, Black should go for activity, this time at the expense of his relatively useless apawn. 47...b1 48.a6+ f5 49.xa5+ f6 50.g4 ( 50.a6+ f5 ) 50...g1+ 51.f3 f1+= . ] 48.g4 f6 49.h7 b1 50.xh6+ g7 51.g6+! h7 52.a6 a1 53.g5 g1+ 54.f6 a1?! [ 54...h6! ] 55.f5 a3 56.f7 a2 57.f6 h1? [ Ama zin gly, 57...h6! is still a draw. Now Black should lose. ] 58.xa2 xh5 59.a7?? We were both very low on time at this point. [ After I made the text move I recalled that 59.f2!+- is the correct procedure. The poor position of Black's king prevents him from transferring his rook to the long side, and Black cannot cope with the advance of the fpawn, i.e. h1 ( or 59...h8 60.e6 g8 61.g2+ f8 62.a2+- ) 60.f8 e1 61.f7 e3 62.h2+ g6 63.g8+- . ] 59...b5! 60.e7 g6?? [ 60...b8= is a theoretical draw. ] 61.f7+- Whew! Now it's a win. e5+ 62.f8 h7 63.a1 f5 64.e7 g7 65.g1+ h7 66.h1+ Just to avoid any stalemate tricks. g7 67.f8+ xf8 68.g1+ Black resigned. Early castling in the Double Fianchetto seems reliable enough, but it only gives White an additional option in Bc1-h6. I would prefer the usual move order where Black waits until White commits to Bc1-e3. 1-0
1228 Beckhuis,Gernod Sulskis,Sarunas Vienna Operation Capablanca (5) [John Watson]
A30 2324 2535 28.08.2005
1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 b7 4.g2 c5 5.c3 g6 6.0-0 g7 7.e1 e4 8.xe4 xe4 9.d3 b7 10.e4 0-0 11.e5!? This is a curious way to breathe life into a 1219
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 deadly dull variation. White simply stakes out territory and hopes to disrupt Black's development. d5 [ 11...d6!? is more confrontational. Possibly W h i t e c a n t a k e a c h a n c e w i t h 12.e6!? ( 12.exd6 xd6 13.f4 d7 14.e5 xe5 15.xb7 xb7 16.xe5 f6! 17.c3 c6 ) 12...f5 ( 12...fxe6 13.g5 xg2 14.xg2 ) 13.h4!? c6 14.h5 c7 15.h4 d4 ( 15...e5 16.xb7 xb7 17.f4 ) 16.hxg6 hxg6 17.xg6 xg2 18.xg2 b7+ 19.f3 f6 20.f4 h6 21.d5 xe6 22.xe6 xe6 23.h1 f8 24.h5 with a moderate edge. This "needs tests", as they say. ] 12.f4 [ This time 12.e6! is more attractive: dxc4 13.exf7+ ( 13.dxc4 xd1 14.xd1 f5!? ) 13...xf7 14.e5 xg2 15.xf7 xf7 16.xg2 ] 12...dxc4 13.dxc4 xd1? [ 13...c6 14.e2 and Rad1 with e6 in the air. ] 14.axd1 e6 15.b3! To play Rd6 without allowing ...Na5 with tempo. [ 15.g5 xg2 16.xg2 c6 17.d6 ac8 18.f3 fd8 19.ed1 is only optically better for White. ] [ 15.d6 c6 16.ed1 ( 16.d7 ) 16...ad8 p r o b a b l y f o r c e s s o m e t h i n g l i k e 17.b3 anyway. ] 15...h6 16.h4 c6 [ 16...c6 17.d7! a5 18.ed1 ] 17.d6 c8 18.ed1 f8 19.6d2 [ It's not easy to see at this point, but it seems that 19.6d3! would be better, since it leaves d2 open for W hite's knight, for example, g7 20.d2 xg2 21.xg2 c6 22.e4 d8 ( 22...d4 23.c1 d8 24.b2 c6 25.d6 with an advantage.) 23.d7 a6 24.1d2 xd7 ( 24...e7 25.b7 ) 25.xd7 a7! 26.f6! e7 27.e8+ ( 27.xa7 xa7 28.d7 with some but probably not enough a d v a n t a g e .) 27...f8 28.xa7 xa7 29.c7 g5 30.d2 gxh4 31.gxh4 g7 32.h5 a5 33.f3 c6 34.e4 d4 35.e8+ f8 36.f6 intending g7 37.xh6+! xh6 38.g8+ xh5 39.xe7 e2 40.a4 d4 41.c8 xb3 42.xb6 g4 43.d7 and Black will have trouble
defending. ] 19...g7 20.d3 [ 20.g4!? e7 21.g5 h5 22.d3 a6 23.a3 d8 ] 20...e7 21.c1 a5 22.a4 a7! 23.b2 e4 24.e3 a8 The play is equal. 25.ed3 [ 25.c3 d7 26.xd7 xd7 27.d2 xg2 28.xg2 d8 29.e4 b8 30.d6 c6= ] 25...e4 26.e3 a8 27.ed3 cc7 28.d2 xg2 29.xg2 d7 30.e4 xd3 31.xd3 d7 32.xd7 [ 32.xd7 xd7 33.f3 still causes some trouble: b8 34.d6 c6 35.c8 d8 36.e4 Not winning, of course, but it was worth playing on. ] ½-½
1229 Beliavsky,Alexander G Kurajica,Bojan zt 1.2 Pula CRO (4) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2640 2530 14.04.2000
1.f3 c5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c6 4.g2 d5 5.cxd5 xd5!? [ An extremely rare, and somewhat surprising, m o ve , B la c k a l m o s t i n va r i a b l y p r e f e r s 5...exd5 when 6.d4 will transpose to a Tarrasch. ] 6.c3 [ A new move, it appears, although it is a ve r y e vid e n t o n e . I n t h e o n ly p re vi o u s example of this line that I could find, S m yslo v, V -B ro n st e i n , D / M o sc o w 1 9 6 6 , White omitted this, and played for d4: 6.0-0 d8 7.b3 e7 8.b2 f6 9.d4 0-0 10.dxc5 xc5 11.xd8 xd8 12.bd2 with a slight edge. ] 6...d8 7.d3 f6 8.0-0 e7 9.e3 g4! [ Black cuts across the White plan, for after 9...0-0 White could force Black into a certain passivity by 10.a4 d7 11.c1 ] 10.d2 0-0 11.c1 d7 12.e4 b6 13.c3 c8 Black has completed his development, and has no particular worries. 14.ed2 [ White decides to continue manoeuvering, his problem is that his most important pawn break, 14.d4?! leads to a disadvantage after f5 15.ed2 cxd4 16.xd4 xd4 17.xd4 1220
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xc1 18.xc1 b5! so he must bide his time. ] 14...f6 15.c4 e7 16.e4!? Very committal, as d4, and d3, are weakened, but White couldn't do nothing and allow Black to take control of the game. xc3 17.bxc3 b5 [ 17...e5 isn't bad either. ] 18.cd2 d6 19.b3 e5 20.e2?! [ Missing a chance to liquidate the centre by 20.d4 cxd4 21.cxd4 exd4 22.bxd4 xd4 23.xd4 which is fairly equal, although W h i t e m i g h t h a ve b e e n w o r r i e d a b o u t Black's queenside majority. ] 20...fe8 21.h3 f6 22.e3 d8 23.h4 c4 Played to drive the b3-knight to an inferior square. 24.dxc4 bxc4 [ The tempting 24...xc4 leads to equality on 25.xa7 a4 26.e3 xa2 27.a1 ] 25.fd1 b6! Taking play into an endgame where Black has the more useful bishop, and more space on the queenside. 26.xb6 axb6 27.d2 a4 28.e1 g6 29.b1 b5 30.f3 e6 With a very real threat of coming to d3 via c5. 31.d1 xd1 32.exd1 c5! 33.xb5 fxe4 34.xe4 xe4 35.c1 a8 36.c2 a3 Black has the more active pieces and the better structure. 37.f3 xc3?! [ Possibly in time trouble, Black lets slip his a d v a n t a g e . A f t e r t h e o b v i o u s 37...f6 perhaps he was worried about weakening his second rank, but after 38.b4 , say, c8 39.d2 xd2 40.xd2 xc3 41.d7 White's threats are a tempo too late, d3! 42.a7? ( 42.xc4! xg3+ 43.fxg3 xc4 44.a7 might draw) 42...c3 43.bb7 c2 and there is no perpetual as the black king can escape to d8. ] 38.xe5 [ 38.xe5 xe5 39.xc3 c5 40.c2 c3 still favours Black. ] ½-½
1230 Berkes,Ferenc Almasi,Zoltan It Budapest HUN (8) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2578 2676 19.04.2003
1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d3 An alternative to the mainline with [ 7.d4 where White tries to blunt the effect of the b7-bishop. ] 7...0-0 8.e4 d6 9.h3 c6 10.e3 White plans playing d4 and recapturing with a piece (instead of with the queen as in the mainline). e6!? Unusual, Black will be able to react with ...d5 in the centre, the best move might be [ 10...c8! to inhibit d4, 11.d2 ( 11.d4? cxd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 xc4 ) 11...d7 12.h2 a6 13.h4 d4 14.f4 b5 with a Botvinnik-style position, Speelman, J-Browne,W/London 1980. ] 11.d4 a5!? A new idea, [ 11...cxd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 had been played previously, e7 14.e2 fd8 15.fd1 White has a typical Maroczy position, and a plus, Vaganian,R-Contin,D/ Reggio Emilia 1994. ] 12.d3 d5! This is Black's plan, liquidating t h e c e n t r e . 13.cxd5 exd5 14.dxc5!? 'This move frees the d4-square for W hite's pieces, at the cost of activity, but anyway' [ 14.e5 e4 is nothing special for White. ] 14...xe4 [ 14...dxe4?! 15.xd8 axd8 16.d2 favours White. ] 15.cxb6 axb6 16.fc1 After the complications W hite has the better pawn structure but the black pieces are very active. c5! The immediate [ 16...c4 appears strong, but following 17.d4! xb2 18.b5 c4 19.xe4 dxe4 20.xg7 xg7 21.xc4 exf3 White saves himself by 22.c3+ f6 23.xf6+ xf6 24.cb1! as fxg2? is met by 25.xb6+ ] 17.d1!? [ 17.c2 seems necessary, to defend the bpawn, but Black has a very pleasant game after d4! 18.d1 ab3! 19.axb3 xa1 20.xa1 dxe3 ] 17...c4 Black's play is based on this move, 1221
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 which f orks b2 and the e3-bishop. 18.d4 The best practical chance, White gives a pawn but retains his better structure. xb2 19.c2 xd4 20.xd4 ba4! 21.cb5 f6 After Black's excellent play he has won a pawn, but certain technical difficulties remain his bishop must passively defend the d5-pawn for the moment, and his queenside pawns are split. 22.d1 e4 23.f3 xf3 24.xf3 ac5 25.c2 a4 The white a-pawn is the target. 26.d1 a5 [ 26...c4!? is interesting, White can hardly capture on c4 as this evens-out the black p a w n s , s o . . . 27.g2 d3 28.e2 (the threat was ...Ne1+) a6 with a powerful initiative. ] 27.g2 d8 Perhaps the players were becoming short of time, as here Black missed a good chance to activate his bishop: [ 27...a6 and if 28.c7 d3 29.cc1 f6 ] 28.b1 g5 The knight heads for e6 to contest control of d4, [ 28...d6 29.xd6 xd6 is simpler. ] 29.cb2 ge6 30.f3 a4 31.d1 W h i t e h a s t o h o l d t h e d 4 - s q u a r e . a6? A bad mistake, that can only be attributed to time-trouble, which messes-up an almost won position. 32.c6! Ouch! f8 33.c3 a3 34.xd5 White has regained his pawn, and is now better because of his active pieces. d3? It never rains, but it pours! This move loses another pawn, [ 34...b7 was still OK: 35.xb6 ( 35.xb6? xf3! ) 35...xa2 ( or 35...xc6 36.xc6 xa2 and in both cases the last queenside pawns are exchanged with a likely draw. )] 35.b3 xb3?! Perhaps Black should have preferred [ 35...xa2!? 36.bxd3 xd3 37.xd3 b2 when W hite has two pieces for rook and pawn, but the absence of white queenside pawns makes a draw likely. ] 36.axb3 g7 There was no way to defend the b6-pawn. 37.xb6 g5 38.d5 c5?! 39.b4 ce4 40.a1 b7 41.a7 xc6 42.xc6 b8 43.b7 xb7 44.xb7 d6 45.d5 f6 46.c4 The outside passed pawn is quite enough to win the game. b5 47.d2 e7 48.e4 xe4 49.xe4 c3 50.f3 d6 51.f4 d1 52.f3 f6 53.h4
The winning plan is simple, White will use the b-pawn to deflect the black pieces while he inf iltrat es th e black kingside p awns . c3 54.g4 e6 55.e3 d6 56.d3 a4 57.d4 b6 58.f4 d7 59.g5 fxg5 60.hxg5 b6 61.b5 [ 61.b5 d7 62.d5 f8 (else Bg8 wins the black pawns) 63.g8 c7 64.c5 etc. ] 1-0
1231 Berkes,Ferenc Stohl,Igor 37th Olympiad (10) [John Watson]
A30 2593 2538 31.05.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.g3 e6 4.f3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 a6 Move orders are huge in the Hedgehog. Assuming that White isn't going to move into a standard setup with b3 and/or e4, B l a c k h a s t wo p o t e n t i a l wo rr i e s. A t t h i s juncture, the main 'problem' with 9...0-0 is 10. Bg5, and if Black then plays 10...Nbd7, 11. Nb5. But after 9...a6, the main unique challenge is the one played in this game: 10.g5 xg2 11.xg2 0-0 12.ce4 d5!? I really don't think this move is sufficient to maintain a balanced game, although a completely convincing answer hasn't been established yet. Black's most frequentlyplayed move is 12...Ra7. The idea is to pin White's knight via ...Rd7 should White ever be so foolish as to capture on d6.12...d5 saves the pawn in another way, but I like Bjerkes' response, which follows an older and neglected game. 13.xf6+ xf6 14.g4! Now Black's d-pawn is a target. a7!? [ An older game went 14...c6 15.cxd5 exd5 16.f5! g6 ( 16...xg5 17.xg5 e7 18.e5 f6 19.e6+ h8 20.e3 ) 17.xd5 A) 17...xd5+ 18.xd5 ad8 19.e4! d4 20.xd8 xd8 gives Black some, but probably not enough compensation. One idea is to give the pawn back by 21.h6 ( 21.g5 e8 22.f6+ xf6 23.xf6 xe2 24.d1 e6 25.c3 b5 ) 21...xb2 22.b1 d4 23.e3 c5 1222
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.xc5 ( 24.g5 c8 25.f6+ g7 26.d7 ) 24...bxc5 25.b6 and you have to like W hite, although who knows if he has enough to win.; B) 17...d4?! 18.xd8 ( 18.b7! xg5 19.xg5 xg5 20.xd4 ) 18...axd8 19.e4 g7 20.g5 de8? 21.f6+ xf6 22.xf6 c2? 23.ac1 xe2 24.f1 fe8 25.c3! b4 ( or 25...b5 26.d6 b4 27.d2 and the knight is trapped. ) 26.xb4 xb2 27.a3 a5 28.d2 b3 29.e3 xa3 30.xb6 a4 31.a1 b3 32.d8 xd8 33.xd8 b4 34.a5 c4 35.e2 1-0 Robatsch-Kiefer, Germany 1986. ] 15.e4! d7!? Maybe this doesn't work, but Black doesn't seem to have another acceptable move, for example, [ 15...d7 16.exd5 exd5 17.cxd5 xd5?? 18.e4 ] [ or 15...d4 16.e5! e7 ( 16...xe5? 17.e4 ) 17.xd4 ] 16.cxd5 e5 17.h5 h6 18.f3?! [ W hite wins material by 18.xf7! xf7 19.dxe6 d6 20.e5 ] 18...g6! 19.xh6 xf3 20.xf3 d7 21.f4!? [ 21.d2 exd5 22.exd5 ( 22.g2 ) 22...a8! -White is temporarily two pawns up but the d-pawn will fall and he may end up with only a small advantage. ] [ 21.g2!? exd5 22.d2 e8 23.f3! with the extra pawn and some advantage, but White's king will be a little loose. ] 21...exd5 22.e5 g7 23.e3 e8 24.d4 de7 25.e1 b8 Very clever of Black. He'll regain his pawn and survive some problems with weaknesses. 26.g2 xe5 27.xe5 xe5 28.h6 c8!? [ 28...8e6!? is counterintuitive but may well equalise: 29.f4 g5! 30.xe5 xe5= ] 29.e1 f5 30.h3! f6 Finally closing the diagonal. Else g4 followed by f4 wins. 31.g4 d3 [ 31...c2 32.xe5 fxe5 33.c1 e4+ 34.f3 and Rc7 follows. ] 32.xe5 xe5 [ 32...fxe5? 33.e3! b1 34.f3 ] 33.c1 e8 34.c6 e4+ 35.g3 1-0. Probably Black's flag fell. He can play [ [ 35.g3 ] e5+ 36.f4 ( 36.h4!? g5+
37.h5 e6 ) 36...xf4+ 37.xf4 , although e4+ 38.f3 b4 39.xf6 g7 40.d6 xb2 41.xd5 xa2 42.d7+ will favour White. ] 1-0
1232 Bosboom,Manuel Harika,Dronavalli Corus C Wijk aan Zee NED (8) [Jonathan Rowson]
A30 2418 2473 25.01.2009
1.c4 c5 2.a3!? Bosboom's openings are famously eccentric, but this particular idea is not so silly because a3 and b4 is often played later, and it is an open question whether it favours Black or W hite to do it earlier. The problem is that if White wants to make 2 a3 distinct, and not just a move-order trick, he has to be willing to sacrifice a pawn early. g6 [ 2...c6 3.b4!? By no means forced, but otherwise 2 a3 loses some of its charm. cxb4 4.axb4 xb4 5.c3 And carry on as if nothing has happened. You cannot prove that White has enough compensation, but my understanding of chess tells me that White has good practical chances in such a position because you control the centre and have chances of creating pressure on the a and b files. Moreover, Black will have to play wit h a lo t of skill t o co nt ain th e initiative while making the extra pawn count. I am not sure how best to look at it- perhaps a go o d win g ga mb it , p erh a p s a d e c e n t Benko, but in any case W hite has a p l a ya b l e p o s i t i o n , a n d B l a c k m ig h t b e somewhat knocked off balance. I would say h o w e ve r t h a t yo u s h o u l d c h o o s e y o u r opponent carefully, because I doubt that W hite's compensation is objectively adequate. ] [ 2...e6 3.b4 ( 3.e3!? trying to redirect to some sort of Semi-Tarrasch, is also plausible.) 3...cxb4 4.axb4 xb4 5.b2 f6 6.f3 is again playable, pretending it is some sort of Benko (although admittedly very different in lots of ways!), but giving a pawn so early is not to everyone's taste and in this case Black's development looks quite easy. ] 1223
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 2...a5 looks foolish here, although many with some complications) 20...d7 21.b4 players would later do it almost and White has a lot of pressure ] automatically. ] 17.c5 c7 Again the alternatives are worse. 3.b4 g7 4.c3 d6 [ 17...e6 looks interesting, but White has a [ 4...b6 5.b2 looks more promising than strong answer 18.xd6 f8 many lines of the symmetrical English. ] A) 19.dd1 is not good and Black has 5.b2 f6 6.g3 0-0 7.g2 c6 8.bxc5 chances to be better here xc5 20.e5 dxc5 9.f3 xe3 21.fxe3 b6 22.xf7!? ( 22.xd7 [ 9.d3!? e6 10.h3!? ] is already losing xe3+ 23.f2 xg5+ 9...e6 10.d3 In general, this structure 24.g2 b4 and Black recovers the piece favours White, due to the extra centre pawn with interest ) an d th e lon g te rm(e. g. in a roo k e nd in g) A1) 22...xe3+ is a tense draw 23.f2 possibility of a minority attack on the xh3 24.h6+ h8 25.xd7 f4 qu e e n s id e . Ho we ve r, so m e t h in g u s u a lly A1a) 26.f7+ g8 27.h6+ xh6 happens to disrupt any hopes W hite might ( 27...h8= ) 28.xf4 f8 29.xf8+ have of early twentieth century strategising in xf8 is also equal; this case it is not straightforward to connect A1b) 26.xh7+ xh7 27.a7+ h8 the rooks. c8 11.g5 d7 12.b1 h6 28.f7+ g8 29.h6+=; 13.ge4 h3 14.xf6+ xf6 15.0-0 xg2 A2) 22...xf7 23.xd7+ g8 24.d4 16.xg2 b6 17.d2 h7 18.d5 xb2 xd4 25.xd4 c5 and Black has 19.xb2 d8 20.h4 The draw offer seems nothing to worry about; quite generous because W hite is very B) 19.cd1! it's important to keep Black comfortable here. tied down xd6 20.xd6 e7 21.b4 ½-½ and White has good compensation, Black is going to suffer without an important bishop ] 1233 A30 18.b4 [ 18.d5 leads nowhere, since Black has a Bu,Xiangzhi 2699 n i c e r e s o u r c e xd5 19.xd5 xc5 Sethuraman,SP 2576 20.xc5 ( 20.cxc5 xc5 21.xc5 a8 Asian Continental 13th (9) 25.04.2014 is the same) 20...a8! and Black will just be [Fier, Alexandr] a pawn up ] The second hot game in this line, just one day 18...dxc5 [ 18...e5 doesn't equalize 19.xe5 xe5 after the novelty of the previous game. A) 20.d4 xd4 21.xd4 e5! 22.g4 Apparently everybody is really well prepared ( 22.xd6 xg5+ 23.f1 f4 in this position, so Black had no problems in is too dangerous) 22...f4 23.f1 d7 playing a sequence of forced moves to with chances for both sides; equalize. Was everything book? 1.f3 f6 B) 20.d5!? xd5 21.xd5 e6 22.d3 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 d5 23.f4 h8 24.f2 and White is 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 slightly better, the pawn on c5 is strong bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 0-0 12.h4 a6 and Black has no easy counterplay at the 13.b3 e8 14.h3 a8 15.g4 b5 16.g5 moment ] This was the novelty played just one day after Karjakin's game. White will try to push the c- 19.bxc5 [ 19.e4 is just enough to equalize, Black pawn to c5 instead of opening the queenside. has different ways to play h5 The only move. A) 19...c4 20.c5 ( 20.b6? [ 16...xf3 is not good at this moment, with here it doesn't work xb6 21.xd8 xd8 the exchange, W hite's knight on c3 has 22.c5 xf3 23.exf3 d4 24.g4 d5 beautiful squares to go to 17.exf3 h5 and W hite is in big trouble) 20...e6 18.c5 e5 19.g2 c6 20.f4 ( 20.d5 21.xa6 c6 22.c5 c7 i s l e s s c l e a r dxc5 21.xc5 a8 1224
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with a possible repetition; B) 19...xe4 20.xe4 c4 21.b6 xb6 22.xd8 xd8 23.e5 d6 with a complex position where all th e results are possible ] 19...e6 Black's last 4 moves where more or less forced, but now the position is equal. Whether it's worth remembering all this I'm not sure, but anyway it's impressive! 20.e4 [ 20.a4 is also ok for Black b8 21.axb5 axb5 22.b4 ( Houdini 4 Pro x64:2) 22.e4 b4 23.d6 d8 24.c4 c3 25.b1 a7 and the position is quite hard to play for both players ) 22...ec8 A) 23.xb5 b7 24.a5 ( 24.c4?! b4 25.a6 xc5 and Black can start to fight for the advantage ) 24...a7=; B) 23.b1 xc3 24.xc3 xc5 25.e5 xf3 26.exf3 d3!? tricky 27.d4 c5 28.e5= ] 20...e7 21.d6 d8 White's knight looks strong on d6, but Black has a forcing way to deal with the problems. 22.g4 xc5!? Going int o a lon g f o rce d va riation , an d I wo n d e r i f e v e n t h i s w a s p a r t o f B l a c k ' s preparation. Is this possible? 23.xc5 f4 24.e1 xc5 25.xc5 b7! A hard move to see at the beginning of the variation but a necessary one, avoiding the check on c8. 26.c8 [ 26.g3 xd6 27.dc1 d5 28.f3 e5 and Black has enough compensation for the exchange ] 26...xc8 27.xc8+ xc8 28.e3 d5 B l a c k i s j u s t l i vi n g o n a k n if e - e d g e , b u t apparently everything is working. 29.xd5 exd5 30.xc8 c7 31.xa6 [ 31.h3 c1 and the knight will fall 32.d7 xe1+ 33.g2 c3 34.b7 e5 35.xd5 is a dead draw ] 31...c6 And finally the bishop has no s q u a r e s , W h i t e s t i l l t r i e d t o f i gh t f o r a n a d v a n t a g e i n t h e g a m e , b u t h e wa s n o t succe ssf u l 32.xb5 xb5 33.f3 b1+ 34.g2 xa2 35.b4 a8 36.d6 h6 37.d7 h5 38.h3 h8 39.g1 g7 40.h4 d4! Black finally activates the queen, and the game is draw. 41.xd4 e4 42.c8+ h7 43.d7 g8 44.c8+ h7 45.d7 g8 ½-½
1234 Bu Xiangzhi Jakovenko,Dmitrij CHN-RUS Chess Summit (4) [John Watson]
A30 2664 2667 13.08.2006
White doesn't get anything out of the opening, but finds an original way to create chances. He conducts a decisive attack but lets his opponent slip away at the end. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 c5 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 c6 6... Be7 has become the main line here, but moving the knight to c6 has its fans. The position that is reached in this game after move 11 is the same as in the 'main line' of the Hedgehog with 7.Re1, except that there Black puts his queen's knight on d7. The difference here is the knight exchange on d4. This (a) favours Black because he gets more room for his pieces, but it (b) favours White because it clarifies his space advantage and takes the pressure off of his centre. 7.e1 c7 8.e4 d6 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 xd4 11.xd4 e7 12.b3 0-0 13.b2 [ Or 13.a3 a6 14.ac1 ac8 ] 13...fd8 14.ac1 ac8 15.h3 Long-winded manoeuvering begins. Black stands solidly but has no chance to free his game and has to await events. Often both players shift around a while and agree to a draw. f8 16.h2 b8 17.cd1 c6 18.e3 [ 18.f4 e5!? ( 18...a6 asks White what he's threatening) 19.f2 exf4 20.xf4 d7 21.d5 e5 22.h4! with the idea Bh3 favours White. Again, Black should probably sit on the position, although a rook on e8 can come in handy, so maybe he should move it to that square. ] 18...d7!? 19.f4 a6! Black finally has an idea: ...b5. 20.f5!? Very committal, especially wit h t h e kn ig h t re a d y t o s p ri n g o n t o e 5 . Another thought was [ 20.e2 b5 21.cxb5 axb5 22.d4 ] 20...e5 21.fxe6 fxe6 22.e2! b5 23.cxb5 axb5 [ 23...xb5!? 24.d4 d7 looks fine for Black. ] 24.f4 e8 25.f1 b7 Black doesn't feel worried about the danger on the kingside. A more dynamic option was [ 25...b4! 26.h5 b5 27.d2 e7!? 1225
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 27...a8 is safer ) 28.xg7!? g5! ( 28...xg7? 29.xd6+- ) 29.xg5! f3+ 30.xf3 xg5 31.xd6 ] 26.h5 f7 [ Unnecessary. 26...e7 27.xe5?! dxe5 gives Black a positional advantage. ] 27.d2 e5 28.df2 e7 29.g4!? [ 29.a3 ] 29...d7?! [ Everything has been under control up to this point, and simply 29...b4! 30.g5 b5 would free Black's pieces enough to equalize. ] [ Perhaps White didn't want to play a3 because of the line 29...d5? 30.exd5 xd5 31.xd5 xd5 32.a3! ] 30.g5 e6? [ Not much better is 30...b4 31.g3 b5 32.f6+ h8 33.xh7! xf1 34.h4 g8 35.xf1 ] [ Perhaps 30...h8 was best, stopping g6 and intending ...Ng6. ] 31.g3! With the double idea g6 and Nf6+. ee8 [ 31...b8 32.f6+ h8 33.xh7 ] 32.g6 h8 33.gxh7+ xh7 34.h4 g8 35.g5 h7 36.c1! e7 37.f6! Threatening Rh6+. There's little to be done about it. f7 38.h6+ gxh6 39.f6+ xf6 40.xf6 c2 41.e3?! White's sense of danger fails him over the next two moves. On simple solution was [ 41.a4 bxa4 42.bxa4 a2 43.f5+ g6 44.d7+ g7 45.c6 ] 41...xa2 42.f2? [ 42.f5+! g6 ( 42...g8 43.g4+ h7?! 44.d7 e7 45.xd6 ) 43.d7+ g7 44.f2 xf2 45.xf2 ] 42...xf2 43.xf2 xb3 White shouldn't have given up both queenside pawns. From now on it's very hard if not impossible to win. 44.f5+ g6 45.d7+ e7 46.xb5 e6 47.f3 g7 48.g4 xg4 49.hxg4 e7 50.c4 [ Or 50.d5!? with the idea f4 51.xf4 exf4 52.f5+ but this pretty much transposes. ] 50...f4! 51.xf4 exf4 52.e6 f8 53.f5+ g8 54.xf4 f7 55.d2 f6 The key position. Black has a sort of darksquare blockade, and if he gets a bishop to e5
t h e g a m e wi l l b e d r a w n . W h i t e n e e d s a queenside pawn! 56.g3 g7 57.d5+ h7 58.h4 h8 59.c6 h7 60.d7 g8 61.e7 [ 61.h5!? h7 ] 61...h7 62.g5 hxg5+ 63.xg5 g6+ 64.f5 h6 65.f7 h8 66.g5 h7 67.f5+ g8 68.a5 h7 69.f5+ g8 70.d7 h7 71.f4 g8 72.e3 e5 73.d3 f6 74.c4 f7 75.g4+ h7 76.d5 h6 77.h4+ g6 78.d8 f4 79.g8+ h5 80.h7+ g4 81.g6+ h3 82.c4 f3 83.h5+ g3 84.g6+ h3 85.g5 g3 86.h5+ g2 87.e2+ g1 88.d5 c3 89.e6 g3 90.f5 c3 91.g4 g3+ 92.h4 c3 93.a2 g3 94.d2 c3 95.d5 f1 96.a5 e2 97.g4 g3+ 98.f5 c3 99.b5+ f2 100.e6 ½-½
1235 Bu Xiangzhi Shchekachev,Andrei Aeroflot Open (1) [John Watson]
A30 2645 2570 08.02.2006
This game between two top-flight grandmasters strikes me as theoretically important, since Black's Double Fianchetto defence has proven impossible to crack until re c e n t l y. H e re B u X i a n g zh i m a n a g e s t o improve upon a dull repetition to blast through on the kingside. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 0-0 12.h4 a6 13.b3 c7 14.g4 h6 Thought to be the key to Black's defence. 15.xh6 xh6 16.xh6 xg4 17.h4 gf6 18.h6 g4 19.h4 gf6 20.d5! In fact, a recent game was agreed drawn in this position. But Black does nothing terribly wrong from here on out and W hite has real play. xd5! [ 20...xd5 21.cxd5 xc1 ( 21...xd5 22.xc7 xc7 23.g5 f6 24.h6 threatens an unstoppable Rd3-h3 or Rd4h4 ) 22.xc1 A) 22...b5!? is the best try, to prepare a counterattack with ... Qa5. One idea in that 1226
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 case is 23.b4!? xd5 ( 23...g7 24.d4 c5 15.c4 c8= ) 10...xc3 11.xc3 h8 25.g3 ) 24.g5 5f6 25.h6 0-0 12.f4 f6 13.e5 xe5?! e5 26.h3! b6 27.e6! fxe6 ( Now White gains the initiative more 28.xe6+ f7 29.xg6+ h8 30.xf7; p r u d e n t i s 13...d7 14.xf6 xf6 B) 22...xd5?! 23.g5 5f6 24.h6 with approximately even chances) 14.xe5 e5 25.h3 and again there is no xg2 15.xg2 d5+ 16.f3 ( Also 16.e4 defence to both f4 and Be6, not to mention looks good, although White's advantage is Rc3. ] less significant after b7 17.ad1 c8 21.cxd5 f6 22.e4 a5 18.f3 e7 19.d3 c6 20.xc6 xc6 [ Again, 22...b5! looks best and is probably 21.d7 xd7 22.xd7 , and White has a the spot at which Black had good chances pull in the endgame) 16...d8 17.ed1 o f s a l v a t i o n . N e v e r t h e l e s s , 23.h6 xf3+ 18.xf3 a6 19.c6 T.Erdelyi-A. ( 23.b4!? ) 23...xc1 24.xc1 a5 25.h3! Delanoy, Kecskemet 1991 ] is still dangerous: xe4? ( 25...xa2! ) 10.bxc3 e4 26.e6! fxe6 27.xg6+ h8 28.xe4! [ This is a curious choice, but similar ideas xd5 29.h4+ g7 ( 29...g8?? 30.g5 ) are seen in some lines of the Queen's Indian. 30.xe7+ f7 31.g5+ h7 32.h5+ However, the main line is 10...0-0 11.e4 g7 33.g5 etc. ] ( 11.b2 c6 12.e4 c7 13.c1 ad8 23.h6 g4 24.h4 f6 25.h6 g4 14.e2 c8 15.f1 a8 26.g5! f6 27.d4! c5 28.xc5 bxc5 is very comfortable for Black, A.Apro-G. 29.e6 Kovacs, Paks 1995) 11...c6 12.d5 ( or 1-0 12.f4 cxd4 13.cxd4 f6 14.e3 c8 15.c1 a5 16.d3 xc1 17.xc1 a8 , and the players prematurely agreed upon a 1236 A30 dra w, 1 /2 -1/ 2 G. S an d n er-S. K as p aro v, Pardubice 2000 ) 12...exd5 13.exd5 a5 Carlsen,Magnus 2693 A) White can also consider 14.e5 Aronian,Levon 2759 A1) or 14...d6 15.h5 ( 15.f4!? WCh Candidates s/f (3) 29.05.2007 is b e t t e r, e . g . c7 16.g4 ad8 [Carsten Hansen] 17.d3 ) 15...c7 16.f4 ( or 16.f4!? ) 16...ae8 17.d2 f6 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 18.d3?! ( now Black's gets the upper 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.e1 d5 8.cxd5 hand. Instead W hite should try 18.g4 xd5 9.d4!? xe1+ 19.xe1 c4 20.c1 b5 [ This is rather rare line, but probably 21.e3 xe3 22.xe3 c8 ) 18...g6 W hite's best shot at an advantage in this 19.h4 c4 I.Nester-P.Lomako, line against Aronian who seems to Minsk 2005; u n d e r s t a n d t h e H e d g e h o g ve r y we l l . I A2) 14...f6 15.f4 suspect that the move was played under A2a) also 15...e8 is better for White: the inspiration of a game played between 16.h4 ( 16.d3 xe5 17.xe5 d7 two of Carlsen's compatriots. The main line 18.f4 leads to a similar position as is 9.e4 b4 10.d4 cxd4 11.xd4 8c6 that after 16.h4) 16...xe5 17.xe5 12.xc6 xd1 13.xd1 xc6 which leads xe5 18.xe5 d7 19.d3 b5 to approximately equal chances and likely 20.f4 I.Nester-K.Stupak, Lviv 2006; positions which Aronian knows intimately ] A2b) 15...xe5 16.xe5 d7 9...xc3 17.h5 f5 18.ad1 c4 19.f4 [ Black has an important, but less often ( 19.f4!? ) 19...ad8 20.e2 d6 played alt ernative in 9...cxd4 10.xd4 21.c2 c4 22.e2 Z.Rahman-T. ( 10.a4+ doesn't offer White anything, e.g. Abergel, Paris 2002; d7 11.xd5 xd5 12.xd4 xg2 B) 14.f4 d6 15.e5 c7 16.h5 13.xg2 1/2-1/2 G.Borgo-G.Papp, Brno B1) 16...f6? 17.c6 xc6 18.dxc6 2006 a possible continuation is 0-0 14.f4 1227
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xc6 19.xc6 xc6 20.e6 ad8 21.d1+-; B2) 16...ae8? B2a) 17.e3!? e7 ( 17...g6?! 18.e2 f6 19.xg6!+- Pelletier ) 18.ae1 fe8 19.c4; B2b) 17.xf7! xe1+ 18.xe1 xf7?? ( 18...xf4 19.e4 h6 20.g5 c8 21.xh7 e8 22.g6+- ) 19.e8+ f8 20.xf8+ ( 20.h3! w i n s o n t h e s p o t g6 21.e6+ ) 20...xf8 21.f5+ e8 22.e6+ e7 23.xd6 xd6 24.xd6 , and even though White has a clear advantage in this endgame and should win, he managed to mess it up and eventually Black drew the game, P. Maletin-P.Lomako, Nizhnij Tagil 2006; B3) 16...ad8 B3a) 17.ad1!? looks good, e.g. de8 ( 17...f6? 18.c6+- ) 18.xf7; B3b) 17.e3 B3b1) 17...g6 B3b11) In his notes to the game, Pelletier only gives 18.h6 f6 19.d3 c4 20.e4 ( 20.ee1 (+= Pelletier) is less convincing: g5! 21.xd6 xd6 ) 20...e5 21.xe5 fxe5 22.g5 de8 23.e2 a6 24.e3; B3b12) 18.h4! f6 19.g4 xf4 20.gxf4; B3b2) 17...f6 18.d3 c4 ( or 18...f7 19.xf7+ xf7 20.xd6 xd6 21.f4 c4 22.e8+ f8 23.e6 Pelletier ) B3b21) 19.e2 a6! is given by Pelletier without an evaluation, indicating that he probably considered Black to be okay, but in fact after 20.h3 e5 21.xe5! ( 21.xe5 xd3 22.e6+ h8 23.xd6 xd6 24.e3 ) 21...fxe5 22.e6+ h8 23.xe5 White is better; B3b22) 19.e4 B3b221) 19...b5 20.a4 ( 20.ae1 Pelletier ) 20...a6 21.b1 white still has some edge.; B3b222) 19...g6
B3b2221) Pelletier isn't happy with this move, and offers two a l t e r n a t i v e s : 20.e2 xd5 ( This is better than, Pelletier's 20...e5 21.xe5 fxe5 22.c4 b5 23.xe5 bxc4 24.c6 Pelletier ) 21.e7 c6 22.h6 f7 23.xf7 xf7 24.e1 e5 25.xe5+ xe5 26.d1 c4 27.d2 e6 with a fascinating position where Black should be okay; B3b2222) 20.h4!? (Pelletier) b5 21.xd6 xd6 22.ee1 f5 23.f4; B3b2223) 20.h6?! e5 ( 20...xd5?? 21.e7+- xe7 22.xd5+ h8 23.xc4+Pelletier ) B3b22231) 21.xe5! fxe5 22.c4 b5 23.ae1 B3b222311) 23...g7 Pelletier 24.xg7+ ( 24.c1!? bxc4 25.xc4 f7 26.4e2 ) 24...xg7 25.xe5 bxc4 26.c6 d7 27.xc4 a6 28.cc1; B3b222312) 23...bxc4 24.xe5 g7 25.xg7+ xg7 26.xc4 fe8=; B3b22232) 21.xe5 fxe5 22.g5 de8 23.c4 ( 23.d1 f7 24.e2 e4 ) 23...b5 Y.Pelletier-V. Kortschnoi, Biel 2002 ] [ A third option is 10...cxd4 11.cxd4 0-0 12.e4 c6 ( 12...a6!? ) 13.b2 A) 13...c8?! has also been tested, but is h a rd ly re co m m e n d a b le : 14.d5 b4 15.d4 A1) or 15...exd5 16.a3 c6 17.xc6 xc6 18.exd5 b5 19.d6! ( 19.b3 a6 20.f3 ) 19...xd6 20.g4 f6 21.ad1 h5 22.xh5 c5 23.xc5 bxc5 24.xf6 gxf6 25.e7; A2) 15...e5 A2a) T h i s m o v e i s f u n , b u t 16.a3! s p e l l s t r o u b l e f o r B l a c k : a6 ( 16...exd4 17.xd4 f6 18.xb4 xb2 19.xb2+- ) 17.f5 d6 1228
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.h3 a8 19.f4 f6 20.xd6 xd6 21.e6+ h8 22.fxe5 fxe5 23.h5+-; A2b) 16.f5!? c2 17.g4?! ( 17.f1!? xa1 18.xe5 f6 19.xa1 ) 17...g6 ( 17...f6! 18.f4 xe1 19.xe1 c7 20.h1 h8! ) 18.xe5 f6 19.h6+ ( 19.xf6 xf6 20.d6 xe1 21.xe1 c2 22.f4 a8 23.h6 d8 24.h3 ) 19...h8 20.xf6+ xf6 21.e5 g7 22.f4 xa1 ( 22...c5! ) 23.xa1 cd8 24.g4 ( 24.c1!? xd5 25.xd5 xd5 26.c7 xe5 27.xf7+ xf7 28.xf7 e1+ 29.g2 e4+= ) 24...xd5 25.xd5 xd5 26.f6 dd8 ( 26...g5 27.e3 a5 28.d4 ) 27.h4 I.Hrzic-D.Dinu, Bucharest 2002; B) 13...f6 14.c1 c8 15.c2 ( 15.d2 a5 16.d3 d7=; 15.c3!? e8 16.d2 d7 17.ed1 ) B1) 15...xd4!? 16.xd4 xc2 17.xc2 xd4 18.d1 e5 19.xd4 exd4 20.a4 c8 ( 20...d3 21.xa7 d7 22.xb6 ) 21.xa7 g4 22.f3 e6 23.a4 c7 24.xd4 xa2 25.f1 e6 26.b1 c5 27.f2 c8 28.xb6 will be difficult to win for White, b u t t h i s i s h a r d l y t h e k in d o f l i n e a grandmaster would try against a lower rated opponent.; B2) 15...a5 16.f1 ( 16.a3 xc2 17.xc2 e7 18.xe7 xe7 19.c1 d7=; 16.c3!? c4 17.d3 a6 18.ec1 ) 16...d7 17.d3 h6 ( 17...xc2!? 18.xc2 c8 ) 18.xc8 xc8 19.e2 c4 O.Hole-L. Johannessen, Moss 2006 ] 11.e5 xg2 12.xg2 0-0 13.e4 c8 [ An older game saw 13...c7 14.f4 d6 15.f3 c6 , and the pl ayers agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2, O.Dementiev-L.Gofshtein, Yerevan 1981, but White appears to have been able to obtain the better chances with 16.xc6 xf4 ( or 16...xc6 17.d5 exd5 18.exd5 d7 19.xd6 xd6 20.c4 ) 17.d5 d2 18.e2 ] 14.g4 f6?! [ This move may well turn out to be a loss of an important tempo, and should be reserved
for when W hite plays Bh6 and threatens mate on g7. I would give pref erence t o 14...c6 15.h6 ( not 15.f3?! f5 16.exf5 exf5 17.f4 cxd4 18.cxd4 d7 19.e3 f6 20.b2 a5 ) 15...f6 16.xc6 ( 16.f3?! e5 ) 16...xc6 17.g1 e5 18.d5 a4 19.d2 ] 15.f3 h8 16.h4! [ 16.f4!? c6 17.ad1 ] 16...c6 [ Best, other options leave White with a solid ad va n t a ge , e . g. 16...d7 17.h5 cxd4 18.cxd4 ] [ 16...cxd4 17.cxd4 c6 18.d1 e7 19.b2 ] 17.g5 cxd4?! [ I don't like this move, no matter how dynamic it is supposed to be, because the weaknesses around Black's king are not compensated for by other elements in the position, and therefore W hite is handed a long-term advantage. Black can possibly do better with 17...e7!? 18.h5 xg5 19.xg5 f6 with only a small plus for White. ] 18.xf6 gxf6 19.cxd4 e5 20.xc8 axc8 21.d5 a5 22.h5!? [ 22.d2 c3 23.ec1 fc8 24.xc3 xc3 25.g4 ] 22...c4 23.h4!? [ This is a very noteworthy idea: with his kn i gh t a n d h - p a wn W h i t e wa n t s t o p i n Black's king on the back rank thus p r e ve n t i n g B l a c k f r o m g e n e r a t i n g a n y significant counterplay because he constantly has to watch for threats to the back rank and advances of White's d-pawn. Another possibility is 23.ac1 d6 24.d2 g7 25.g4 b5 26.f3 ] 23...d6 24.h6 c3 [ Or 24...c4 25.ac1 xc1 26.xc1 xe4 27.c7 d6 28.xa7 ] 25.ac1?! [ This logical move gives Black a possibility he shouldn't have. W hite has two better options in 25.f3!? fc8 26.eb1 ] [ and even stronger 25.ad1! which is very problematic for Black, e.g. g8 26.d2 b5 27.f5! xf5 28.exf5 d8 29.e4 f8 ( 29...c4 30.xc4 bxc4 31.c2 c8 32.d6+- ) 30.g4 c4 31.g7 d4 32.xh7 e7 33.c2+- ] 1229
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 25...fc8? [ Here Black has a unique opportunity to e q u a l i z e w i t h 25...xe4! 26.f5 d8 ( 26...xc1 27.xc1 c5 28.d6 g8 29.f3 d8 30.e4 f5 31.xc5 bxc5 32.xc5 ) 27.d6 c5 28.xc5 xc5= ] 26.xc3 xc3 27.f5! xf5 28.exf5 g8 29.e4! f8 30.g4 c7 31.g7 b5 32.xh7 g8 33.g7+ h8 34.d6 d7 35.f3 b4 36.e4 xd6 37.xf7 a6 [ Or 37...a5 38.a7 d4+ 39.e3 c4 40.a6 c3+ 41.e4 c2 42.xa5 h7 43.a6 xf2 ( 43...xh6 44.xf6+ h5 45.f3 ) 44.xf6 g2 45.f3 xa2 46.g4+a7 47.g5 b7 48.f8 b3 49.g4 b2 50.h5 followed by g6 mate ] 38.g4 g8? [ This loses quickly by force in time trouble, Aronian may have overlooked White's 40th move juggernaut. Instead Black should have tried 38...a4!? , e.g. 39.g5 b3+ A) Black's hopes would have come to pass had W hite tried 40.e3? fxg5 41.axb3 f4 42.f3 h4 43.xa7 xh6 44.e4 b6 45.xe5 xb3 46.f6 b6+ 47.xg5 g8 48.f6 b1 49.f4 f8 50.h7 a1 , and despite his two extra pawns, White cannot win: 51.g6 g1+ 52.f5 a1 53.f7 a5+ 54.f6 a6+ 55.g5 a5+ 56.f5 a6 57.f4 ( or 57.f6 xf6 ) 57...f6 , and the draw is imminent; B) 40.d5! a5+ ( 40...bxa2 41.g6+d4+ 42.e6 d8 43.xa7 ) 41.e6 a6+ 42.e7 fxg5 43.axb3 xh6 44.f6 h3 45.f8+ h7 46.f7 f3 47.g8 xf2 48.xg5+- ] 39.h7+ h8 40.g5! An elegant breakthrough - the game is over fxg5 41.f6 Now White will play Ke4-f5-g6 and Rf8 mate 1-0
1237 Carlsen,Magnus Gashimov,Vugar 74th Tata Steel GMA (1) [John Bartholomew]
A30 2835 2761 14.01.2012
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4
d6 9.g5 a6 10.xf6 In "The Complete Hedgehog Volume 1", Sergey Shipov credits the 9.Bg5 a6 10.Bxf6 variation to the legendary Swedish player, Ulf Andersson. Andersson notched many victories against the Hedgehog with his patient, prophylactic play and unparalleled technique. This line is especially suited to his style: White obtains good prospects for a middlegame grind by nipping Black's traditional Hedgehog counterplay in the bud. After a couple of exchanges (Black will be forced to surrender his light-square bishop) , White finds it much easier to target Black's weaknesses an d prepare a slow-motion assault on the q u e e n s i d e . xf6 11.f4 Targeting d6. Shipov calls this "the most unpleasant continuation for Black", and it is clearly the main line. [ 11.d3 also has its points. For exceptional coverage of this and other Hedgehog lines I highly recommend that you pick up Shipov's book. ] 11...0-0 12.fd1 e7 13.e4 xe4 14.xe4 a7 15.d4 c7 [ An alternative is 15...c8 . See Kramnik, V (2772)-Aronian, L (2759)/Yerevan 2007/ [Hansen, Carsten]. ] 16.d2!? Not quite a novelty, but very typical o f M a g n u s ' s i n t u i t i v e s t yl e . T h e r e i s n o pressing reason to protect the b-pawn, so he prefers to get on with the thematic doubling of the rooks on the d-file. I don't find this move particularly groundbreaking from a theoretical standpoint but it indicates that elite GMs (and Magnus specifically) are constantly looking to put new spins on well-known positions. [ Most everyone plays 16.b3 here, including Carlsen's illustrious former mentor. Kasparov, G (2817) -Adams, M (2731)/ Moscow 2004/[TonyK] continued c5 17.a4 c7 18.b1 d7 19.e3 c8 20.a2 f6 21.c2 with play quite similar to our main game. Carlsen was no doubt aware of this and other contests (I found 42 games in my database after 16.b3), and he very likely could have discussed this line with Kasparov himself. Andersson's plan of a2a4, Qe4-b1, Ra1-a2-c2, followed by Qb1-a2 and finally b3-b4 is the prototypical idea in this line (see Tony's comments) and one to 1230
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 which Carlsen reverts here. ] 16...c5 Gashimov's reply is stock Black makes c7 available to his queen and looks to get in ...b6-b5. To that last end, he had an interesting opportunity (see below). [ The only other game with 16.Rd2 went 16...c8 17.b3 e8 18.ad1 f8 19.e3 d7 20.a4 f6 21.b1 and again we reach a position comparable to the game. Norri, J (2421) -Rantanen, Y (2356)/Finland 2004. ] [ T h e t a c t i c a l j u s t i f i c a t i o n i s 16...xc4?! 17.xe6 when c8 18.d4! ( 18.d4 c6 is less precise.) 18...xd4 ( if 18...c1+ 19.xc1 xc1+ 20.f1 fxe6? , then the p r e t t y li t t l e m a n e u ve r 21.xe6+ f7 22.f4! f6 23.c4! is decisive.) 19.xd4 is clearly in W hite's favor, as Black has nothing to show for his positional weaknesses. ] [ As we know, Black would love to achieve ... b6-b 5 in the se p osit ions, an d 16...d7!? ensures that he will achieve this ideal break. The critical line is A) On 17.d3 fc8 18.c2 ( 18.c1 d5! ) 18...b5 19.ac1 bxc4 20.xc4 d5 the game is level.; B) 17.c2? allows xc4! , which turns out great for Black: 18.xc4 d5 19.c2 dxc4 20.xc4 c8 21.d3 d8; C) 17.b3 (White must attend to the c4 pawn, as the Nd4xe6 resource is no longer available) b5 ( 17...f6!? ) 18.cxb5 axb5 19.d3 c5 Black's b-pawn appears weak, but there's really no way White can increase the pressure. Thus, he ought to create a passed pawn with 20.a4 ( 20.b4 c4 ) 20...bxa4 21.bxa4 . How should we assess this position? I think the appearance of such a dangerous outside passed pawn (though not unheard of in the Hedgehog) would be enough to put many players off Black's position, but winning this for White is a different matter. F o r e x a m p l e , ( The computer suggests 21.b4 c7 22.b5 , but cc8 23.xd6 cd8 24.b7 xd3 25.xd3 xd3 26.exd3 xb4 27.xa4 is totally level.) 21...f6 (probably best) 22.a5 c7!? 23.a3 ( 23.a6 c3 ) 23...a6 and Black should be fine. True, he must
play accurately in this line, but the temptation to successfully break the bind with ...b6-b5 is very strong. ] 17.ad1 c7 18.b3 [ 18.c2!? ] 18...h8?! A prophylactic move, presumably directed against Nxe6 ideas. [ Gashimov has decided to wait, but his chances for counterplay quickly dwindle to z e r o . T h u s , 18...b5 must be taken very seriously, especially since its a clearer possibility than it was on move 16. Fo r example, 19.cxb5 axb5 A) 20.b4?! c4 ( or 20...d5 ) 21.xb5 xe4 22.xc7 xb4=; B) 20.d3 B1) 20...a5 21.b1! threatens 22.b4, e.g. a6 ( 21...b4 22.a4! ) 22.c6! xc6 23.xc6 b4 24.xb5 ( 24.c3? c8 ) 24...xc6 25.xa5 xa5 26.c1 d5 27.e4! with complications favoring W hite and his connected passed pawns.; B2) 20...b6 21.a4 bxa4 22.bxa4 fc8 and we have a situation similar to the one I analyzed above. ] 19.b1 Initiating Andersson's plan. d7 [ Now 19...b5? 20.cxb5 axb5 21.b4 is very bad for Black. ] 20.e3 c8 21.c2 c7 This pullback anticipates White's queenside advance. 22.a4 W hite has prevented all counterplay and enjoys his standard, workable edge. Black must continue waiting. d8 23.a2 e5 24.h3 [ T h e co m p u t e r p re f e r s 24.a5!? bxa5 25.xa5 , when Black's a6 weakness is a bigger factor than White's b3 pawn. ] 24...f6 25.cd2 c5 26.f4!? g6 27.d3 h6 [ T e m p t in g B la ck t o b re a k wit h 27...d5!? , though 28.cxd5 exd5 29.b4! c4 30.b5 xd4 (Black has to eliminate this knight, otherwise Nd4-c6 is coming) 31.xd4 xd4 32.xd4 axb5 33.axb5 is still very pleasant for White. ] 28.d2 Re a d y, se t , e5?! ...go! As usual a sleepy, maneuvering Hedgehog game suddenly blows up when one side tries to force matters. The game now develops at a fast pace. 1231
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Of course, Black could maintain the status a n d a wa i t d e v e l o p m e n t s , e . g . 28...g8 . In light of what happened this is probably the best idea. ] 29.c2! b5! This is what Black had in mind. 30.axb5 axb5 31.a3! And this is why White played 29.Nc2! [ Less clear is 31.xd6 xd6 32.xd6 exf4 33.exf4 bxc4 34.b4 c7 , when both sides have potentially dangerous passers. ] 31...bxc4 32.xc4 d5 33.xd5 xh3 34.g2! Forcing a pleasant endgame. Magnus has controlled matters at every stage in this game. xg2+ 35.xg2 exf4 36.exf4 c7 37.e3 cd7 38.g4 [ There was nothing wrong with the immediate 38.b4 . ] 38...b2 [ 38...c3!? was perhaps a better try. ] 39.f2 f6?! 40.e4! f8 Unfortunately forced. [ 40...xd3 41.xd3 xd3 42.xd3 attacks both minor pieces and wins trivially after f5 43.xf5 e7 44.e6 d4 45.f3 etc. ] 41.b4 Black is in a bad position to stop this pawn. xd3 42.xd3 c3 43.c1 d4 44.c5 e3 45.c3 d2+ 46.f3 d4 47.c4 g6 48.d3 g1 49.c8?! A small misstep. [ 49.c1! d4 50.c8 was better to force Black to occupy d4 with his bishop (you'll see why this is important!). ] 49...g7 50.c7+ g8 51.f5? [ 51.c1! ] 51...g5? [ 51...h5!! was Black's last chance, and it might have saved him! The main idea is 52.fxg6 ( The important lines to investigate are 52.b5 g5; and 52.d5+ h8 53.c4 gxf5 ) 52...e6= , when Black has the convenient checking route Ne6-d4-e2(g3). ] 52.g4! Now White's king is totally safe and the rest is easy. h2 53.b7 c2 54.c5 c3+ 55.e2 h5 56.gxh5 g4 57.e6 c8 58.b5 b8 59.xb8 xb8 60.d5 a7 61.f1 e3 62.g2 f7 63.xf8+ xf8 64.g3 e7 65.xg4 d6 66.f3 d2 67.b6 Though there is no theoretical crisis, 9.Bg5 a6 10. Bxf6 remains a very difficult line for Black to deal with. His best bet is to take a hard
look at early ...b6-b5 opportunities - otherwise he faces a long and frustrating defense. 1-0
1238 Chuchelov,Vladimir Gommers,Ralf TCh-2002-3 Belgium BEL (8) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2593 2342 09.02.2003
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 b6 4.g3 b7 5.g2 e6 6.0-0 e7 7.e1 a6 8.e4 d6 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 11.e3 0-0 12.c1 bd7 13.f4 fe8 I think this is the most logical, Black is ready for central action, and also ready to defend his e-pawn against the f5-move. We have also looked at games involving [ 13...fd8 and ] [ 13...fc8 but in each case White's plan is the same: a kingside pawn storm. ] 14.g4!? Simply threatening to win a piece in one move by g5, as the black knight's escape square on e8 is occupied by a rook. [ 14.f5 is met by d8 and if necessary ...Nf8 when e6 is solidly supported. ] [ 14.d5!? is fun, but might peter-out: exd5 15.cxd5 b8 16.c6 xc6 17.dxc6 c5 18.c7 ( 18.e5 dxe5 19.c7 c8!? (19...Qxc7 would transpose to the Ftacnik game) 20.fxe5 unclear in Chuchelov,VJaracz,P/Ohrid MKD 2001) 18...xc7 19.e5 dxe5 20.xa8 xa8 21.b4 so White pins the knight and wins an exchange for two p a w n s , b u t h i s p o s i t i o n i s o p e n , exf4 22.xf4 Ftacnik, L-Browne,W/Pan Pacific 1991, when b7 is messy. ] 14...h6!? A double-edged move, [ 14...c5 15.f2 g6 is more solid. ] 15.g5! hxg5 16.fxg5 h7 17.g6 hf8 18.gxf7+ xf7 19.f1+ The best move. [ 19.ce2 f6 20.f4 c5 21.h5 is fairly level, Roktim,B-Mortazavi,A/Hove 1997, whilst ] [ 19.h3 f6 20.d5!? exd5 21.cxd5 c5 22.b4 xe4 23.bxc5 dxc5 favoured Black in Pein,M-Suba,M/Barnsdale 1989. ] 19...f6! This is Vaganian's suggested improvement on [ 19...g8?! 20.d5!! exd5 21.cxd5 d8 1232
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.c6 g5!? ( 22...xc6 23.dxc6 c5 24.d5+ is very awkward) 23.xd8 xe3+ 24.h1 axd8 25.c7 c8 26.h3! a5? 27.f3 winning material in Vaganian, RIonescu,C/Sochi 1986 because of the threat to capture on c8 and d7 then play Qf7+xd7. ] 20.db5! Now that d6 is not defended by the b l a c k b i s h o p . axb5 21.xb5 c6!? This is played to pin the e-pawn, but [ 21...b8 is better, A) 22.e5 but this is a mistake : xg2 23.xd6+ e7! as following ( 23...g8? loses to 24.exf6 xf6 25.xe8 xf1 26.xf6+ gxf6 27.g4+ f7 28.xf1 with a strong attack.) 24.xg2 xe5 25.xe8 xe8 Black is winning.; B) 22.xd6+! instead, Vaganian's a n a l y s i s c o n t i n u e d g8 23.xf6!? ( 23.xb7?! e5 ) 23...xf6 24.e5 e4! 25.xb7 xb7 26.a3 and White will recuperate the knight on e4 when his powerful bishop pair and queenside pawns leave him on top. ] 22.xd6+ g8 23.c5!? Played to be able to extract the knight from b7, [ 23.xe8 xe8 24.b4 also looks pleasant for White, but the immediate ] [ 23.xb7?! e5 24.d6 allows ed8 25.c5 bxc5 26.xc5 e7 which regains the piece. ] 23...e5? To control e5, but Black's position disintegrates after this. [ 23...bxc5 is almost forced, 24.xb7 xb2 ( 24...xb7? 25.e5 ) 25.e5 c7 26.c2 a n d W h i t e m a y h a ve a p l u s , e . g . xe5 27.f2 d4 28.xd4 cxd4 29.e2 g5 30.d6 eb8 31.xd4 ] 24.cxb6 ed8 [ 24...d7 25.c7 is no improvement. ] 25.xc6 xc6 26.c5!? [ 26.a3!? ] 26...xa2 27.b3 xb2 28.c3 [ 28.xb2 f3+ 29.xf3 xb2 30.g4 is also very good, as the b-pawn is too strong. ] 28...e2 29.g3 ed7 [ 29...fd7? 30.xf6! xf6 31.xe5 ] 30.e3 e5 31.f4 d4+ 32.h1 W h it e 's m o ve s h a ve n o t b e e n t h e m o s t precise and he has lost his b-pawn, but he is still winning. xb6?! 33.g5?!
[ 33.d3! forks rook and bishop. ] 33...a8 34.f3 Moving to the attack. [ 34.d3 is n o w m e t b y aa2 35.xd4 xg2 , when 36.xf8+!? xf8 37.xb6 xh2+ 38.g1 is difficult to assess. ] 34...c2 35.f7+ h8 36.h5+ h7 [ 36...g8 37.h3 is no better for Black. ] 37.f7+ [ 37.h3! aims for e6. ] 37...g8 38.g6 f8 39.h6+ h8 40.f7+ g8 41.h6+ Presumably this was played to reach the time control. [ 41.h5 was stronger, but play is much less clear now. ] 41...h8 42.f7! [ 42.f7+ g8 would be the third repetition, so White looks for an alternative. ] 42...gxh6 43.f6+ Stripping the king of it defenders. xf6 44.xf6+ h7 [ 44...g8 45.g1! wins. ] 45.e7+ g8 46.g1 a5 47.h4! To stop the black rook coming to g5 to block the g-file. h7 48.h3+ g5 A bit desperate, but this is the only way to stop immediate mate. 49.xe6+ g7 50.hxg5 xg5 51.f5 [ 51.e7+ g6 52.xg5+ hxg5 53.f5+ was neater. ] 1-0
1239 Cyborowski,Lukasz Laznicka,Viktor It Legnica POL (6) [John Watson]
A30 2564 2478 07.12.2004
Here we have an ultra-theoretical Hedgehog with 7.Re1 and 8.e4, a line that is considered more dangerous than those with d4 and ... cxd4 followed by Qxd4. Black has to have a lot of nerve (or a great memory) to play this one! I'll just touch upon the theory here. I'm sure that the experts could do so much better. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 a6 7.e1 d6 8.e4 e7 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 11.e3 0-0 12.c1 bd7 13.f4 fe8 14.g4 c5 15.f2 g6 Probably the best move. Others seem to fall short, for example, [ 15...h6 16.b4 ad8 17.g5 hxg5 18.fxg5 1233
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h7 19.g6 f6 20.gxf7+ xf7 21.d5! (Khaetsky-Belichev, Kharkov 1998) ] [ or 15...e5 16.f5 d8 17.g5 fd7 18.xd6 ( or 18.d5 )] [ or 15...ad8 16.g5 fd7 17.b4 f8 18.d5 exd5 19.cxd5 ] [ or 15...d5 16.cxd5 xf4 17.b4! exd5 18.xd5 xd5 19.exd5 ] [ or 15...f8 16.b4 e5 17.bxc5 exd4 18.cxb6 xb6 19.xd4 ] [ or 15...ed8 16.b4 cd7 17.d5 exd5 18.cxd5 b8 19.c6 xc6 20.dxc6 . Naturally t here m ay be more t o these lines. ] 16.b4 ad8! [ 16...cd7 17.d5 exd5 18.cxd5 d8 19.c6 xc6 20.dxc6 c8 21.e5! A Greenfeld-Cyborowski,Ohrid 2001. Note that Cyborowski is White in our game! ] 17.f3!? This works out but perhaps shouldn't. I like [ 17.e2! cd7 18.f3 , for example, e5 19.b3! exf4 20.g5 h5 21.d5 with close to a winning game. ] 17...cd7!? [ 17...cxe4! has done well and I see nothing wrong with it. One line among many: 18.xe4 xe4 19.xe4 xe4 20.xe4 d5 21.e1!? ( 21.e3 dxc4 22.c6 d3 23.xb6 xf4; 21.xe6?! c8 22.e1 xe6 ) 21...dxc4 ( 21...xf4!? ) 22.c6 xf4 23.e3 xg4 ] 18.d5! exd5 19.cxd5 b8 20.c6 a8 21.e5?! [ Better looks 21.g5! h5 22.h3 f8 23.xd8 xd8 24.c2 with a pawn and nice advantage. ] 21...dxe5 22.fxe5 xd5 23.e6? [ 23.xd5 c5 24.c4 xc6 ] 23...fxe6 24.xe6 f8? [ 24...xc6! 25.exc6 7f6 26.b3 h8 27.g5 f4 28.gxf6 xf6 and Black is better. ] 25.xd8 xd8 26.e5! c5! 27.bxc5!? [ 27.xd5 xf2+ 28.xf2 xd5 29.d1 ] 27...xe5 28.c6 c8 29.d1 e6 30.g3 g5 31.h4 g7 32.c7 xc7 33.xg5 A real slugfest! 1-0
1240 Eljanov,Pavel Karjakin,Sergey FIDE World Cup 2013 (3.7) [Fier, Alexandr]
A30 2702 2772 19.08.2013
Eljanov - Karjakin was a tense match in the World Cup and they played 3 games in the same line. In all three games Karjakin tried a solid idea of exchanging the knight on c3 and holding the position. The plan is hard to break and I think the move order of the last game is better than the one played before. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.g3 c5 5.g2 g6 6.0-0 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.b3 This is not the most played move, but it was ce rt a in l y t h e su b je ct o f t h is m a t c h ! J u s t finishing developing the pieces, protecting c4 and giving space to the rooks, all quite natural. [ 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 is usually the main line and it's extensively analyzed in Chess Publishing ] 9...bd7 10.b2 0-0 11.fd1 now Black has several options [ 11.e3 was Granda's choice during his amazing comeback against Giri in the World Cup, with the purpose of keeping more pieces in the game, a6 12.h3 e8 13.fd1 c8 14.ab1 with a typical English position, Granda Zuniga, J (2664)-Giri, A (2737)/FIDE World Cup 2013 (3.3) ] 11...d5!? [ 11...e4 was played in the other two games in this match, but there is a difference, 12.e3 xc3 13.xc3 xc3 this was played in the fourth and fifth games of the match and after a tragic loss in the fifth game Karjakin changed to the text move ( 13...f6 here would be a tempo down compared to the game ) 14.xc3 c7 A) 15.a4 was the choice of Eljanov in the fourth game but he got nothing special in the game ac8 16.h3 cd8 17.d4 a6 18.g2 ( 18.a5 was a better try) 18...xg2 19.xg2 d5= Eljanov, P (2702)-Karjakin, S (2772)/FIDE World Cup 2013 (3.4); B) 15.e3!? instead of playing slowly White goes directly for the king. Actually this approach makes a lot of sense since the bishops are exchanged, and even more so in a rapid game f6 16.d4 h5 1234
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 16...e5 looks provocative but Karjakin tried the same plan when the position was already quite dangerous. White can go 'all in' with 17.h4 h5 18.h6 and it's hard to deal with the threats, as seen in the game. One idea is 19.Ng5, exchanging bishops, followed by the brutal Rd1-d3-f3; 16...g7 this move is the most prudent, recognizing that the attack is dangerous 17.ad1 ) 17.h6 B1) 17...a6 the computer does not care about the attack at first, but after 18.g5 xg2 19.xg2 b5 20.f4 it sees that life is not that easy fc8 and here both 21.xf6 ( and 21.g4 hxg4? 22.xg4+- ) 21...exf6 22.h7+ f8 23.e4 e7 24.g7 are good for White; B2) 17...c5 18.ad1 ad8 ( 18...fc8 19.g5 xg2 20.f4 e5 21.xg2 and again the rook will come to d3-f3) 19.g5 and here it's already over e5 ( 19...xg2 20.f4!+- ) 20.xb7 exd4 21.d5 1-0 Eljanov, P (2702)-Karjakin, S (2772)/FIDE World Cup 2013 (3.5) ] [ 11...a6 12.e3 c8 13.ac1 e8 14.a1 c5 is Karpov, A (2705)-Kasparov, G (2740)/ World Championship 33th-KK3 1986. ] [ 11...c8 12.ac1 c5 ( 12...e4 leads to the same kind of position as in the game 13.e3 xc3 14.xc3 f6 ) 13.e3 h5 is kind of exotic but with the same idea of Karpov - Kasparov. h3 is not bad for W hite, but the hidden idea is to th re a t e n 1 4 . . . Bh 6 t o win t h e e xch a n ge 14.c2 still this move is not bad and the black rook will probably need to come back after a few moves e8 15.h3 a8 16.g4 was slightly better for White in Parligras, M (2636)-Almasi, Z (2726)/FIDE W orld Cup 2011 (2.1) ] 12.d2 Black makes the same exchange of knights but without allowing White to bring the queen to e3. Now it's more reasonable to keep the bishops on and bring the other knight to f6 to make White spend one more tempo with his queen. [ 12.h4 i s f u n n y b u t n o t g o o d xc3 13.xc3 xc3 14.g5 h5 15.xb7 xa1 16.xa8 f6 and White will have problems with the pin ] [ 12.d3 also helps Black c5 ]
12...xc3 13.xc3 f6 14.e3 [ 14.b2 could be one attempt to 'refute' the 11...Nd5 idea, but the pressure along the diagonal is not strong enough, so probably the position is equal after exchanges on g2 and g7, c7= ] 14...c7 15.ac1 ac8 16.a4 fd8 17.h3 b8 18.d4 White plays the exact same idea from the fourth game, but with one bishop more for each side. a6 [ 18...e5!? now this idea is possible, Black wins some space and brings the knight to e4 19.f3 e4 20.g2 ( 20.b2 c5! f o r c i n g t h e e x c h a n g e 21.xc5 xc5 22.d2 a5 and Black is even better) 20...xc3 21.xc3 e4 22.d4 c5 23.d2 d5 and Black has no problems ] 19.a1 e4 bringing the knight to c5 where it holds the queenside. 20.g2 c5 21.xb7 xb7 Without the bishops it's always easier for Black to free himself with ...d5 22.f3 [ 22.b4 doesn't work xa4 23.b3 b5 24.cxb5 xd4 25.xd4 axb5 and Black is just a pawn up ] 22...bc8 23.c2 Now the position will just be symmetrical and after exchanging some pieces they were ready for one more blitz. xa1 24.xa1 d5= 25.cxd5 xd5 26.b4 dd8 27.ab1 a5 28.d3 xd3 29.xd3 xd3 30.xd3 c7 31.d1 c5+ 32.g2 e5 33.f2 g7 34.e3 xe3+ 35.xe3 f6 36.d5 c3+ 37.d3 c2 38.d5 c3+ ½-½
1241 Filippov,Valerij Nikolic,Predrag XVI ECC Neum BIH (3) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2593 2657 26.09.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 The Double-Fianchetto Hedgehog is somewhat less popular than during its 'heyday' when it featured in the KasparovKarpov matches. 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 0-0 Both sides have completed their de velo p me n t with t he m in imu m of d ire c t c o n t a c t b e t w e e n t h e r e s p e c t i ve f o r c e s . 1235
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.h4 Once Black castled, and defended his g7-bishop, there was a threat of ...Ne4, or ... Nd5, with a discovered attack on the queen. Therefore, the queen was obliged to move, and chooses the most active spot. a6 13.b3 e8 14.g4!? [ A brave new idea! Normally White continues with piece-play, i.e. 14.h3 c7 15.h6 xf3 16.exf3 c5 17.xg7 xg7 18.d4 with a space advantage, but the black position is very solid, Wojtkiewicz,APalkovi,J/Stara Zagora 1990. ] 14...b5! The thematic Hedgehog counterthrust! 15.cxb5 [ 15.g5 h5 leaves the c-pawn pinned. ] 15...xg4 The point, discovering an attack on c3. 16.d4 [ 16.xg4 xc3 17.bxa6 xa6 gives Black good play. ] 16...gf6 17.a4 c5 18.bxa6 [ 18.xc5!? xc5 19.b4 h5 20.c4 leaves the white kingside susceptible to attack. ] 18...xa6 [ 18...xf3!? 19.xf3 xb3 is interesting, although the a6-pawn of fers W hite real chances. ] 19.d2 e6 20.e3 h5 To menace ...Ng4. 21.h3 d5 Black tries to make his central pawns count before W hite can exploit his passed a- and b-pawns. 22.c4 d4!? [ The obvious 22...xc4?! 23.bxc4 xc4 is met by 24.xc4! dxc4 25.xd8 xd8 26.a5 when the passed a-pawn, and White's powerful bishops, leave him well on top. ] 23.b5 [ 23.xd4?! lo se s t h e e xch a n ge t o g5 24.xf6 xd1+ 25.xd1 gxh4 26.xg7 xg7 although the queenside pawns allow White some hope. ] 23...xb5 24.axb5 d5 25.d2 c5 An unusual manoeuvre, the rook is going to control both b-pawns. 26.b6?! [ Better to chase the d5-knight away from its central post by 26.e4 f6 when 27.b6 b5 is unclear. ] 26...b5 27.a5? [ White carelessly loses control of f4 and g5, 27.e4 xb6 28.a5 b8! 29.xb6 f4! was a better chance, although Black will obtain lots of compensation for the
exchange. ] 27...df4! With winning threats of ...Rg5, and ...Nxe2+. 28.b7 [ W hat else? 28.h1 f6 29.g3 g5 wins a piece. ] 28...xg2?! [ Good, but both players were probably short o f t i m e , a s 28...b8 maintains all the threats: 29.c6? f6 winning the queen, 30.g3 xe2+ ] 29.xd8?? [ W h i t e m i s s e s h i s c h a n c e , 29.xg2 is clearly better for Black after d5+ but, ] [ 29.e4! offered some chances: xa5? ( 29...d7! 30.xg2 g5 is still winning) 30.xa5 xa5 31.c8 and White is better. ] 29...xh4 30.b6 h7 31.a1 b8 32.a7 f8 White is a whole piece down. 33.da1?! d3 0-1
1242 Filippov,Valerij Shipov,Sergei TCh Sochi RUS (6) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2639 2593 25.04.2004
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.e1 d6 8.e4 a6 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 11.f4 0-0 12.e3 e8 13.c1 f8!? Black delays [ 13...bd7 which is normal and would transpose to a position we've seen before several times. This has the advantage of avoiding Nd5 lines. ] 14.f5 Putting immediate pressure on e6. [ 14.g4 i s a s h a r p a l t e r n a t i v e , fd7 this is another advantage of delaying the development of the queen's knight, d7 is free for the king's knight to occupy, 15.g5 c6 16.xc6 ( 16.de2 ac8 17.b3 b8 18.g3 with a tense position, Lobron,EGranda Zuniga,J/Wijk aan Zee NED 2004; 16.d5 b8 ) 16...xc6 17.f2 ac8 18.a4 a8 19.b3 c5 20.h4 d5!? breaking out to attack f4, Iskusnyh,S-Ulibin, M/Maikop 1998. ] 14...h6!? [ 14...exf5?! 15.d5! xd5 16.cxd5 b7 1236
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.exf5 bd7 18.c6 and the enormous wh i t e k n i gh t o n c 6 g i ve s W h it e a s u r e advantage, Vaganian, R-Bischoff,K/ German Cup, Walldorf GER 1998. ] [ 14...bd7?! is a known fault: 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.h3 c5 17.b4! cxe4 18.xe4 ( 18.xe6+ xe6! 19.xe6 xc4 is messy ) 18...xe4 19.xe6 f7 ( 19...d7 Kengis,E-Aagaard, J/Gistrup/ 1997, and now 20.f4 is strong ) 20.f1 f6 21.g5 c7 22.d4 c6 23.f3 xf3 24.xf3 with the better structure, Chuchelov,V-Pelletier,Y/ Germany 1996. ] 15.f1 This innovation indicates a change of direction, the rook moves from the defence of the e-pawn to attacking along the f-file. [ 15.g4 bd7 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.g5 hxg5 18.xg5 is a more direct approach, Poluljahov,A-Ulibin,M/St Petersburg 1998. ] 15...e7 Probably best, the e6-pawn needs defending, and Black doesn't want to play ... e5 and concede the d5-square, or play [ 15...bd7 when 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.h3 is rather awkward: xc4 ( 17...c5 18.b4 ) 18.xe6! ( 18.d5 xd5 19.xc4 xc4 ) 18...xe4 ( 18...xe6?! 19.b3 deflects the queen from the defence of the rook) 19.a4 xa2 20.c7 xg3! 21.hxg3 xe3 22.c3! winning material. ] 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.h3 f7 This is the point, k e e p i n g e 6 w e l l - c o v e r e d . 18.xf6!? White continues his attempt to conquer e6. xf6 19.g4 Both attacking e6 and menacing Rf1. c6 Strongest, Black tries to develop his queenside. Defending e6 by [ 19...c8? loses to 20.f1 e7 21.g6! a7 22.xh6 etc. ] 20.f1 e5!? Black had a difficult choice to make: [ 20...e7 21.xe6+ h8 22.f7 xe6 23.xe6 looks good for White, although Black still has reasonable chances, while ] [ 20...e5!? 21.f3 f6 22.g5!? g6 23.xe6+ xe6 24.xe6+ leads to a draw. ] 21.h5 [ 21.xf6! is tempting, xg4 22.xf8+ xf8 23.xg4 and the three pieces are preferable to the two rooks in this position. ] 21...g6 22.xg6 xg6 23.xe6+ h8 24.f7 White regains the exchange, but
[ 24.d5!? might be better. ] 24...xe4 25.xe8 xe8 26.xe4 xe4 27.f5 g8 After all the tactics a fairly equal endgame has arisen. 28.xb6 xc4 29.b3 c6 30.d4 e5 31.e3 The knight heads for d5. e7? A poor move, blundering a pawn. Black had many superior alternatives, like [ 31...d3 ] 32.d5 Hitting the bishop. d8 33.b4 Forking rook and pawn. c8 34.xa6 d3 Black's position isn't completely hopeless, and first he stops the knight from leaving a6. 35.e3?! White avoided [ 35.d1 because of c1 36.xc1 xc1 attacking a2 and threatening a fork on e2, b u t f o l l o w i n g 37.g2 xa2 38.b4 the b-pawn is very strong. ] 35...c2 Black goes active. [ 35...a8?! is met by 36.d1 xa6 37.xd3 xa2 38.xd6 ] 36.a3 a2 Inaccurate [ 36...b2! 37.b4 b3 wins back the pawn and equalises, as 38.a1 allows xb4 39.axb4 xe3 ] 37.b4 [ 37.a4! b2 38.f5! xb3 39.b5 is worth a try. ] 37...xb4 38.axb4 b2 39.f4 b6+ 40.h1 d5 41.d6 xb3 Black regains his pawn whilst remaining active. 42.h4 d4 43.f8+ h7 44.h5 b2 45.g2 d4 46.d8 d3 47.f4 a3 48.b5 White swaps the b-pawn for the d-pawn. xb5 ½-½
1243 Gelfand,Boris Ivanchuk,Vassily Tal Memorial (2) [Carsten Hansen]
A30 2720 2781 19.08.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.e1 d5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.xd5 [ This move is decidedly tame, but was used no less than three times in the Sochi and the Moscow tournaments we are looking at this month. A more aggressive option is 9.d4 as in Carlsen-Aronian, Elista 2007 or ] [ 9.e4 which was covered in Pelletier1237
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Kortchnoi, Biel 2001 both games can be found in the PGN archives. ] 9...xd5 10.d4 cxd4 11.xd4 It is a little bit optimistic to think that this line should constitute any problems for Black the white lead in development in hardly substantial enough to cause Black any worries. However, it is evident that only White can hope for an advantage in this line whereas Black has to take a little care to keep the balance. xd4 [ Black doesn't have to exchange on d4 immediately, which is another indication why this line shouldn't be a problem for Black. T h e a l t e r n a t i v e i s 11...0-0 12.g5 ( 12.xd5 is obviously just an attempt to get e v e n m o r e p i e c e s o f t h e b o a r d . xd5 13.d4 xg2 14.xg2 f6 15.e3 1/2-1/2, Echarri Torres, M-Hernando R o d r i g o , J / C a s t e l l d e f e l s E S P 2 0 0 4) 12...xg5 13.xd5 xd5 14.xg5 xg2 15.xg2 A) In one of the early games with this variation, Black tried 15...d8 , and had to face some discomfort: 16.ed1 a6 17.ac1 h6 18.f3 f8 ( 18...xd1 19.xd1 c8 20.d7 c7 21.xc7 xc7 should be okay for Black) 19.a3 xd1 20.xd1 e8 ( 20...c8 21.d4 c5 22.c1 gives White some initiative) 21.d4 b8 22.g4 f8 23.c4 d7 24.c7 e8 25.d4 d8 26.c3 ( 26.xa7 xa7 27.c6+ c7 28.xa7 picks up a pawn and should be c o n s i d e r e d) 26...a6 27.c6+ e8 28.d3 c5 29.d6 b7 30.d4 c8 31.e5 c7 32.c4 b5 33.d6+ e7 1/2-1/2 Taimanov, M-Jansa, V/ Hastings 1976; B) 15...d7 16.ed1 ( White didn't gain anything from 16.ac1 ac8 17.ed1 f6 18.e3 g6 19.f1 g7 20.e2 fd8 21.f3 1/2-1/2 Schmidt, WR o d r i g u e z C e s p e d e s , A / H a l l e 1 9 7 6) 16...fd8 17.ac1 h6 18.f3 c5 19.xd8+ xd8 20.b4 White has the initiative, but with careful play Black can neutralize White's pressure. e4 21.c7 ( 21.c6!? ) 21...a5!= 22.bxa5 bxa5 23.c4 d2 ( 23...f5!? ) 24.d4 ( 24.c5 a4 25.c2 leaves White with some initiative) 24...xd4 25.xd4 f8 26.f3
c4 27.f2 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, Gelfand, B-Ivanchuk, V/ Moscow (blitz)2008 ] 12.xd4 xg2 13.xg2 a6 [ T h i s i s m o r e a c c u r a t e t h a n 13...d7 14.e3 f6 15.ac1 which leaves White with a steady initiative, ] [ and 13...0-0 , which is what Gelfand played himself as Black in the game that may have inspired him to take up the line as W hite. 14.e3 c5 ( 14...a6 15.a3 f6 is about equal; so is 14...d7 15.ac1 c5 ) 15.ed1 a6 16.a3 fc8 17.ac1 f8 18.c4 ( 18.b4!? puts more pressure on Black and should be given preference.) 18...e5 19.f5 xe3 20.xe3 c5 21.f3 d8 22.b4= 1/2-1/2 Alekseev, EGelfand, B/Sochi 2007 ] 14.e3 f6 15.ac1 0-0 [ 15...b4!? 16.c4 a5 is an alternative worth analysing. ] 16.c4 xd4 17.xd4 fd8 18.e3 [ 18.a4!? to prevent Black's plan in the game makes a lot of sense, e.g. ac8 19.ec1 xc4 20.xc4 , and White has the better chances. ] 18...b5!? This is a slightly radical way of dealing with the oddly placed knight on a6, which now gets into play. 19.c3 b4 20.c5 d5 [ 20...a5!? ] 21.c2 h6 22.ec1 [ 22.e4!? ] 22...f5! Otherwise White will simply play e2-e4 f o llo we d b y f 2 -f 3 wi t h a sm a ll, b u t c le a r a d v a n t a g e . 23.f3 White has a small advantage and a steady initiative. W ith the text move, White prepares to kick the strong knight away from d5, and force the way into an endgame White cannot lose. a6 24.e4 fxe4 25.fxe4 f6 26.e7 d7 [ At this juncture, Black should give considerable consideration to playing more a c t i v e l y w i t h 26...d4!? 27.xf6 gxf6 28.f3 a7 , and while White has a slight ongoing initiative, Black should be able to defend without too much trouble. In the note to W hite 28th move, W hite has a strong alternative that looks quite problematic for Black. ] 27.xf6 gxf6 28.h3 1238
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 28.f3 g7 29.c7 also leaves White 23.e2 d5 is very nice for Black) 22...e4 with a slight initiative, but also here Black 23.xb5 xd5 24.f4 e5 25.e2 should be able to defend without too many a7+ 26.f1 xa2 is messy but fine for headaches, although it should be said that Black; only W hite has the initiative in this C) 14...d8!? 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.h3 f8 endgame. ] Stohl: '-14. ..Nf8' 17.f2 6d7 18.b4 f6 [ However, White can obtain a very solid 19.ce2 ( 19.d5! exd5 20.cxd5 c5 endgame advantage with 28.f2!? g7 21.bxc5 bxc5 22.a4 xd4 23.xd4 29.c6 e7 30.b6 , and Black is solidly f7 24.c3 c8 25.xc8 exc8 26.e5 tied to the defence of his weak pawns. ] Libeau, R-Stickler, A/BL/1993/) 19...ac8 28...f7 Black can also start chasing after 20.b3 h8 21.e3 e5 22.f4 f7 W hite's e-pawn with 28...Rd4, but the text Schlosse r, P-Ho f f m an n, M/L ipp st ad t / move is simple and efficient. 29.g4 g6 1991/ ] 30.c6 e5 31.f1 f8 32.f5 d2 33.xa6 14.f5 [ 33.h4 g7 34.xa6 e2 35.f3 xe4+ [ 14.f2 was a Wojtkiewicz specialty: bd7 36.f5 e2 37.a7+ f7 38.xf7+ xf7 ( 14...fd7!? 15.b3 c6 16.d2 xd4 39.b3 f2+ 40.e4 e6 41.xb5 f5+ and draw agreed was Wojtkiewicz, A-Suba, 42.e3 g2 43.f3 d2= ] M/Debrecen EU-chT 1992, but needless to 33...xh2 34.xe5 h5+ 35.f4 f2+ say, there is still plenty left in the position) 36.e3 , and a draw was agreed. 15.e2 g6 ( 15...e5 16.d5 d8 17.fxe5 ½-½ xe5 18.e3 e8 19.f5 c8 20.d2 a8 21.d4 Wojtkiewicz, A-Kersten, U/ Bad Zwesten 1998) 16.e5 xg2 17.xg2 1244 A30 dxe5 18.fxe5 h5 19.b3 ac8 20.f3 ed8 21.d4 c5 22.ed1 xd4 23.xd4 Gelfand,Boris 2720 b8 24.cd1 , and White has the better Ivanchuk,Vassily 2781 chances, Wojtkiewicz, A-Suba, M/Budapest 2nd FIDE GP Sochi RUS (10) 11.08.2008 zt-A/1993 ] [Carsten Hansen] 14...h6 [ T h e a l t e r n a t i v e s a r e : A ) 14...bd7 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 has been known as a mistake for some time 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.e1 d6 8.e4 a6 and has been discussed in earlier updates 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 11.e3 0-0 and for example the game Kengis-Thesing, 12.c1 e8 2 0 0 4 , wh i c h c a n b e f o u n d i n t h e P G N [ 12...bd7 13.f4 h5 has been discussed in archives. ] the game Banikas-Aroshidze, Kavala 2005, [ B) 14...g6 is analysed by Ftacnik, but his which can be found in the PGN archives. ] analysis is flawed: 13.f4 f8 A) Also 15.h3 has been mentioned, and [ 13...bd7 14.f5!? while not as convincing, it is still very good A) T h e w e l l - k n o w n m i s t a k e 14...f8?! for W hite: e5 ( 15...exf5 16.d5 xd5 was the subject of Kengis, E-Thesing, M/ 17.cxd5 b7 18.exf5 is clearly better for Koelln 2006, which can be found in the White ) 16.d5 xd5 17.cxd5 d7 PGN archives.; , and now White should simply play 18.f1 B) 14...e5 15.d5 d8 16.b3 c8 , threatening 19 fxg6!, and most moves by ( 16...h6 17.h4 c8 18.e2 xd5 B l a c k , s u c h a s f o r e x a m p l e c8 19.cxd5 xc1 20.xc1 b8 21.f2 a r e m e t b y 19.e6 with a winning Kern, G-Spielmann, A/Budapest 1994) advantage for White; 17.f3 b5 18.xe7+ xe7 19.cxb5 B) 15.fxe6 Ftacnik fxe6 16.h3 f7! xc1 20.xc1 axb5 21.d3 was Loginov, (given without an evaluation by Ftacnik) V-Ulibin, M/Russian ch/1998, and now 17.f3! h6 18.e5 dxe5 19.xe5 B l a c k s h o u l d h a v e p l a y e d d5!? , a n d B la c k' s p o s it io n i s a p o s it io n a l directly, e.g. 22.exd5 ( 22.xb5 dxe4 1239
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 disaster ] [ C) 14...exf5 15.d5 is clearly better for White as in the game Vaganian, R-Bischoff, K /Walldorf 1998, which was covered in the notes to Kengis-Thesing. ] [ D) 14...h8 is an untested suggestion in Shipov's book on the Hedgehog. The idea is to wait for White to commit himself further wi t h o u t we a ke n in g t h e p a wn s t r u c t u r e further. I'm not entirely sure about this. Anyway let's examine it a little closer: 15.g4 fd7 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.g5 e5 18.h3 c8 ( 18...f7 19.f1 is a disaster for Black. ) 19.b3 ( 19.f1 bc6 20.b3 transposes to our main line) 19...bc6 20.f1 xd4 21.xd4 d7 22.h5 e7 ( 22...c6 23.d5! ) 23.e2 g8 24.cd1 ( 24.f4 g6 25.h4 f8 26.d3 g7 27.xe5 dxe5 , and while White's position is pref erable, Black is no longer in any immediate danger.) 24...b5 25.f4 f8 26.xe5 dxe5 27.f7+! xf7 28.d5+ g6 29.xc7 , and White will be an exchange up with a better position on the board as well. ] 15.f1 [ The main alternatives are: 15.g4 bd7 16.fxe6 ( 16.g5 hxg5 17.xg5 h7 is unclear, but apparently okay for Black, Werle, J-Van Wely, L/ Leeuwarden 2005) 16...fxe6 17.g5 hxg5 18.xg5 h7 19.h4 e5 is quite comfortable for Black, Poluljahov, A-Ulibin, M/St Petersburg 1998 ] [ and 15.e2 bd7 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.h3 c5 18.b4 cxe4 19.xe4 xe4 20.xe6+ , and here the game ended in a draw, 1/2-1/2, in the game Marin, M -Cosma, I/Romania 2001, despite the fact that White is much better in the final position, e.g. h8 21.f1 followed by Rf7 with a deadly penetration of Black's kingside ] 15...bd7?! [ It is unclear to me why Ivanchuk played this inferior move. The better move is 15...e7 which was played in Filippov, V-Shipov, S / Dagomys/Sochi 2004, which can be found in the PGN archives. It also contains reference to and analysis of several sidelines. ] 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.h3 c5 18.b4 xc4 19.d5 xa2 [ After the text move, Black is essentially lost.
The only working alternative for Black is 19...xd5!? , bu t eve n so a f t e r 20.exd5 ( 20.xc4?! xc4 21.e1 ac8 is playable for Black) 20...xd5 21.xe6 White has a clear advantage. ] 20.f2 xf2+ 21.xf2 exd5 22.xd7 xd7 23.c7 c8 24.f5 e5 25.h5?! [ This isn't the most accurate continuation for W hite. Instead he should have given preference to 25.e7+! xe7 ( 25...xe7 26.xd5+ e6 27.xe6+ f8 28.xb6+- ) 26.xe7 d4 27.b3+ h7 28.e8 is a straightforward win for White ] 25...e6?! [ Black immediately returns the favor the a l t e r n a t i v e i s 25...e6! 26.d4 ec8 ( 26...xf5! 27.exf5 is relatively better for Black, but is nevertheless clearly better for White ) 27.xc8! ( 27.xh6+ gxh6 28.xe5 xc7 29.g6+ g7 30.xe6+ h7 31.xd5 c1+ 32.g2 e8 gives Black d e c e n t s u r v i v a l c h a n c e s) 27...xc8 28.xh6+ gxh6 29.xe5 c1+ 30.f2 dxe5 31.g6+ , and White is winning ] 26.d4! f6 27.xe5 dxe5 28.xh6+! gxh6 29.xe5 d6 30.h5 d7 31.e5 e8 32.f3 dd8 33.f5 g7 34.g4 f7 35.e6 f8 36.xf7 xf7 37.exf7+ xf7 38.d7+ 1-0
1245 Gelfand,Boris Leko,Peter Tal Memorial Blitz blitz (9) [Carsten Hansen]
A30 2720 2741 29.08.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.e1 e4 8.xe4 [ The alternatives are 8.c2 xc3 9.dxc3 ] [ and 8.d4 both of which we will return to in future updates. ] 8...xe4 9.d3 b7 10.e4 c6 11.d4 [ 11.e3?! d6 12.d4 e5! is considered better Black whose pieces are better placed for this type of central pawn structure. ] 11...xd4 [ The ECO main line is 11...cxd4 12.xd4 without the knight exchange on d4 which for example was played in Vallejo Pons1240
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Adams, Linares 2002, which can be found in the PGN archives ] 12.xd4 cxd4 13.xd4 0-0 This is the tabiya for this variation. In comparison with the normal Hedgehog lines, all the knights have been exchanged, which should mean that the Black position is less cramped, but it can also be considered a little less flexible. Thus far, Black has normally been able to neutralize White's initiative along the way, but not always without suffering a slight disadvantage for some time. 14.f4 [ 14.b3 c5!? ( 14...c7!? 15.b2 f6 16.e5 e7= intending ...f7-f6 is given as equal by Stohl in CBM.) 15.c3 f5 ( 15...e7 16.a3 a5 17.b2 f6 18.e2 is given as slightly better for W hite in the ECO according to the game Vaganian, RYermolinsky, A/Tilburg 1993, but Black is doing fine, e.g. c6 followed by . ..f6-f5) 16.exf5 ( or 16.b4 e7 17.b2 f7 18.exf5 xg2 19.fxe6 dxe6 20.xg2 f8! wi t h a f u l l y a d e q u a t e g a m e f o r B l a c k) 16...xg2 17.xg2 xf5 18.f4 f6= Schlosser-Yermolinsky, Groningen 1996 ] 14...c5 [ This move appears to lead to a cleaner equality than the more popular alternative 14...d6 , e.g. A) 15.d3 c7 A1) 16.ad1 fd8 17.b3 c6 18.e2 ( 18.b4 e5 19.d2 d7 20.c1 e6 21.f1 a6 with a decent position for Black, Rausis, I-Womacka, M/Gausdal 2002 ) 18...b7 19.h4 , and draw agreed was the premature outcome of Ivanov, I-Yermolinsky, A/USA 1996. White seems to have the slightly better chances, although it is hardly fatal at this point.; A2) 16.ac1 a5!? 17.ed1 ( H e r e F t a c n i k r e c o m m e n d s 17.d2 fd8 18.c3 with a slightly better game for White, which appears to be the case, as he has more space, and Black doesn't have the same prospects of obtaining counterplay as he would have in a n o r m a l H e d g e h o g .) 17...fd8 18.e3 c6 19.b3 ab8= Kortschnoj, V-Ftacnik, L/Ostrava 1994; B) 15.d2 c7 ( 15...c8 16.b3 d8
17.e3 c6 18.a4 b7 19.d4 was played in Ehlvest, J-Lindberg, B/ Stockholm 1998, and now rather than the lame and rather pointless 19...a6, Black played in the game, he should have opted for f5! 20.e3 e5 21.c3 f8 with a complicated position with chances to both sides; Or 15...e5 16.e3 c7 17.ac1 c6 18.b4 b7 19.b5 d7 20.f4 , Vasilevich, T-Alexandrova, O / Kragujevac 2000, and now fc8 21.a4 e6 22.d3 f6 leads to a somewhat better position for White, where White can keep pressing and Black can only wait.) 16.ac1 fd8 ( 16...a5 17.ed1 fd8 18.e3 c6 19.c3 ab8 20.f4 b7 21.b3 a6= Taksrud, V-Trana, A/corr NPSF 1998 ) 17.h4 ac8 18.b3 c6 19.e2 b7 20.h2 a6 21.d2 b5 22.cxb5 axb5 23.c3 d5 , and Black has solved all his opening problems and may even be better at this juncture, Zlotnikov, M-Wells, P/London 1982 24.c2 ] 15.d2 [ A new move. Previously White has tried 15.d3 on a couple of occasions, but each time Black has come out okay f rom the opening. e7 16.e5 ( 16.e5 f5 17.exf5 xg2 18.xg2 xf5 Beckhuis, G-Roeder, M/Muenster 1997) 16...xg2 17.xg2 f6 18.ad1 fxe5 19.xe5 d6 20.e2 b7+ , and Black is doing fine, although W hite kept pressing for quite a while in Gurevich, M-Roeder, M/Germany 1996 ] 15...e7 16.ed1 e5 As we have seen several times in the above variations, this move is occuring quite frequently in this line of the Hedgehog, whereas it is rather rare in the normal lines. The difference is of course that due to the absence of the knights, White will usually not be able to exploit the weaknesses on d6 and d5 as ef f ectively. 17.e3 c6 18.xc5 bxc5 As far as I can see, Black has fully equalised at this juncture and can now start pushing for more. 19.a5 f5! 20.exf5 xg2 21.xg2 xf5 22.d2 d6 23.a6 f6 [ 23...af8!? 24.f1 5f6 25.c6 g5 ] 24.c6 af8 Black has the slightly better chances, but due to the limited material, White is at the moment not in any immediate danger 1241
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 o f l o s i n g . 25.d5+ h8 26.e1 c7 27.e3 h6 28.b3 8f7 29.a8+ f8 30.b7?! [ 30.d5= ] 30...a5! 31.bd3 xa2 32.e4 [ 32.xd6 xd6 33.xd6 xc4 34.d2 followed by Qd5 is still okay for White ] 32...a6 33.b3 b6 Black has consolidated and is a solid pawn up for no compensation. 34.h4 c7 35.e3 f7 36.ee2 e7 37.e3 a5 38.a2 c7 39.d3 b6 40.e1?! This is a strange decision, why does White take the queen away from the a8-h1 diagonal? b7+ 41.g1 f3 42.xf3 xf3 43.b2 b8?! [ Okay, it is blitz, but then again, why help W h i t e i n t h i s f a s h i o n ? W i t h 43...a8! Black can maintain his advantage. After the text move, We're heading for a draw. ] 44.xa5 xb3 45.xb3 xb3 46.d8+ h7 47.xd6 xc4 48.xe5 And now the endgame is drawn. The Black king doesn't have sufficient cover to make the passed cpawn count. c2 49.h5 c4 50.e6?! [ Since it is blitz, we continue with a bunch of mistakes for which I will not fault the players, but nevertheless, they need to be pointed out. Here White should have played 50.d5! b1+ 51.g2 c3 52.f3! , and once the black queen leaves the b1-h7 diagonal, White will either win the c-pawn or have a perpetual check. ] 50...c3 [ 50...d3! ] 51.f4?? [ 51.d5!= ] 51...d1+ [ 51...d3!-+ ] 52.g2 xh5 [ 52...d3! ] 53.e4+ [ 53.c4 d1 54.xc3= ] 53...g6 54.f5 f6 55.c2 [ 55.g4 ] 55...h8 56.g4 d4 57.f3 g8 58.a2+ f8 59.a8+ e7 60.b7+ f6= 61.c6+ e7 62.c7+ f8 63.c8+ f7 64.e6+ f8 65.c8+ e7 66.c7+ f8 67.c8+ f7 68.e6+ ½-½
1246 A30 Gelfand,Boris 2733 Svidler,Peter 2728 Amber Rapid Monte Carlo MNC rapid (2) [Carsten Hansen] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 d5 4.d4 cxd4 5.g2 [ 5.xd4 e5 6.f3 d4 is a regular Catalan ] [ 5.cxd5 xd5 6.xd4 c6 7.xd5 xd5 has also been tested on several occasions. ] 5...dxc4 [ 5...a5+ 6.bd2 c6 ( Black should probably consider 6...dxc4!? after which I struggle to see how W hite can expect to claim an edge as even equality is difficult to come by 7.xd4 e5 8.c2 e7 9.0-0 0-0 10.xc4 c7 11.2e3 e6 12.d2 c6 with a pleasant game for Black, CalotescuWang Yu, Yerevan 2000) 7.0-0 e5 8.b3 d8 ( 8...c7 9.cxd5 b4 10.g5 bxd5 11.c1 d6 12.a5!? b6 13.d2 gives White adequate compensation for the pawn thanks to his lead in development) 9.cxd5 A) this allows a little combination, but the a lt e rn a t ive a lso le a ve s W h it e b e t t e r : 9...xd5 10.fxd4 e4 11.xc6 ( or 11.e3 g4 12.xc6 xe3 13.fxe3 xc6 14.d4 ) 11...xc6 12.g5 e7 13.c1 and White has the initiative and better coordinated and developed pieces; B) 9...xd5 10.xe5 db4 ( 10...xe5 11.xd4 c6 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5 s i m p l y l e a ve s W h i t e a p a wn wi t h n o compensation for Black) 11.xc6 xc6 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 c5 15.c6 d7 ( 15...a6!? ) 16.e5+ e6 17.d3 d6 18.e3 c4 19.c5+ xc5 20.xc5 d8 21.b4 b7 22.c3 f6 23.fd1 and White eventually converted his pawn advantage, although the task by no means is easy, TopalovShirov, Monte Carlo 1999 ] [ 5...c6 6.xd4 A) 6...e5 7.xc6 bxc6 8.c3 e6 9.a4 d7 10.g5 looks pleasant for White.; B) 6...xd4 7.xd4 c7 ( 7...e6 8.e3 d7 9.a3 a6 10.d1 h3 11.xh3 xh3 12.cxd5 is also plain bad 1242
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 for Black ) 8.c3! ( a quieter alternative is 8.f4!? xc4 9.xc4 dxc4 10.d2 with Catalan pressure against Black's queenside ) 8...xc4 9.xc4 dxc4 10.b5! d8 11.f4 a6 12.0-0-0+ d7 13.c7 a7 14.d5! and Black is in serious trouble; C) 6...b6 7.xc6 bxc6 8.0-0 e6 9.c3 b4?! ( unnecessarily sharp, instead 9...e7!? deserves consideration) 10.e3 a5 11.d4 0-0 12.xf6 ( 12.a3!? e7 13.b4 a6 14.cxd5 cxd5 15.e4 ) 12...gxf6 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.e4 xc3 ( 14...a6!? 15.g4+ h8 16.fd1 with better chances for White) 15.bxc3 dxe4 16.g4+ h8 ( 16...g5 17.xe4 b8 is also clearly favouring White, but looks somewhat safer) 17.xe4 b8? ( 17...f5!? 18.g5 b8 19.f6+ g8 20.f3 b7 21.xb7 xb7 22.fd1 ) 18.c4? ( 18.f4! b7 19.xf6+ g8 20.fe1 and Black is toast) 18...f5 19.f4 a6 and Black is back in the game again, Loeffler-Podlesnik, Bled 2000 ] [ 5...g6 6.xd4 g7 ( 6...e5 7.b5 d4 8.a4 i s b e t t e r f o r W h i t e) 7.cxd5 ( 7.c3!? ) 7...xd5 8.0-0 ( 8.b3 e6 9.0-0 d6 10.a3 ) 8...0-0 9.c3 ( 9.b5 e6=; 9.b3 e6= ) 9...xc3 10.bxc3 a5 11.b3 c6 ( 11...a6 12.a3 f6= ) 12.e3 xd4 13.cxd4 , and I prefer White's position, F. Bistric-D. Lekic, Neum 2002 ] [ 5...e6 6.0-0 dxc4 7.xd4 A) 7...a6 8.a4+ fd7?! ( Yevseev gives 8...d7 and; 8...bd7 as better choices for Black ) 9.xc4 ( 9.c3! e7 10.d1 0-0 11.xc4 Yevseev ) 9...b6 Yevseev-V.Karasev, St.Petersburg 2002 10.d3 e5 11.f3 xd3 12.exd3 f6 13.c3 c5 14.d4 xd4 15.xd4 exd4 16.e2 c6 17.xc6+ bxc6 18.xd4 Yevseev; B) 7...d5?! 8.a4+ d7 9.xc4 7b6 10.b3 d7 ( 10...c5 11.b5+ d7 12.b3 Kramnik ) 11.c3 c5 ( 11...xc3 12.xc3 Kramnik ) 12.xd5 xd5 ( 12...exd5 13.e3 0-0 14.e6 Kramnik ) 13.f5! 0-0 ( Here Kramnik gives 13...f6 14.xb7 c8 15.e3; and 13...exf5 14.xd5 without any
evaluation, but it is clear these are not re co m m e n d a t io n s f o r B l a ck e it h e r. . .) 14.xg7! f6 ( 14...xg7 15.xd5 exd5 16.c3+ Kramnik ) 15.h6 Black is already busted, but let's see the rest of the game to enjoy a very strong GM being torn to shreds... e7 16.f3 c6 17.f4 h8 18.xc6 bxc6 19.ac1 d6 20.h4 g8 21.xe7 xe7 22.xe6 xh6 23.xf8 xf8 24.xc6 d8 25.fc1 g7 26.1c2 f5 27.e3 a5 28.a6 d5 29.e4 d1+ 30.g2 d4 31.c7 b5 32.b7 d6 33.d7 1-0 Kramnik, V-Naiditsch, A/Turin ITA 2006/The Week in Chess 603 ] 6.xd4 [ 6.a4+ has also been tried, but the text move has been endorsed by Kramnik, yet an advantage isn't easy to prove ] 6...c6 [ 6...d7 7.e5 c6 8.xc6 xc6 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.xd8+ ( 10.xc4 d5 11.xd5 cxd5 12.c3 e6 is obviously comfortable for Black) 10...xd8 11.d2 c3 12.bxc3 e6 13.b1 c5= MatnadzeMirzoev, Sort 2006 ] [ 6...xd4 7.xd4 Kramnik ] 7.xd8+ xd8 8.a3 e6 [ 8...d7 A) 9.xc4 c8 10.ce5 ( 10.fe5 9 transpose to the game's Ne5) 10...e6 11.xd7 b4+ 12.d2 xd2+ 13.xd2 xd7 14.ac1 leaves White with a strong initiative despite the symmetrical pawn distribution and neither side having any obvious weaknesses; B) 9.e5 c8 10.axc4 e6 11.b3 d5 12.0-0 e6 13.e3 ( 13.b2!? b5 14.e3 xg2 15.xg2 is very pleasant for White ) 13...b5 14.b2 a3 15.bd3 a5 16.c1 d6 17.d2 xg2 18.xg2 b7 , and Black has solved his opening pro ble ms successf ully, Su la va -Ru c k , Charleville 2000 ] 9.b5 d5 10.fd4 a6 11.xd5!? [ 11.xe6 axb5 12.xd5 fxe6 13.e4 g6 isn't particularly clear but playable for Black ] [ 11.a3 c8 12.xe6 fxe6 13.f4 g6 14.e4 b4 is also okay for Black, e.g. 15.d2 d3+ 16.e2 g7 17.xc4 xf4+ 18.gxf4 xc4 19.b3 c2 1243
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with chances for both sides ] 25.f5 cd8 26.xd7 xd7 27.xd6 xd6 11...axb5 12.xb5 xd5 13.c7+ d7 28.xd6 g7 29.f4 and the 3 pawns will 14.xd5 c6 15.e3 b5 16.d2 e6 win rather easily. ] [ 16...e5!? 17.a4 xa4 18.xa4 bxa4 [ b) 19...h8 20.d5 19.xc4 d6 20.0-0 b7 21.c1 b5 A) 20...d7 21.xd7 xd7 ( 21...xd7 looks fully acceptable for Black ] 22.xb6 ) 22.xe7 xe7 23.xd6 xg2 17.a4!? 24.xg2 c7 25.xh6+ g8 26.xb6 [ 17.0-0 c5 18.fc1 b7 19.a4 d6 etc.; 20.axb5+ xb5 leaves Black with the B) 20...a7 21.e4! b5 ( 21...xe4? initiative ] 22.xh6+ g8 23.xg7# ) 22.xf6 xf6 17...xa4 18.xa4 bxa4 19.0-0 b5 23.f5 ] 20.c1 c6 21.xc4 d4 22.f1 b3 20.d5?! 23.c2 d4 [ Again, 20.d5! was crushing, for exactly [ Forcing the draw, but Black should consider the same reason or another one if W hite 23...c5!? with a pleasant position ] chooses: d7 21.xd7 ( or 21.f4 xe6 24.c1 b3 25.c2 d4 22.xe6+ ) 21...xd7 22.xb6 ] ½-½ 20...e5 21.f4 xd5 22.xd5 d7 [ 22...xd5 is a bit easier for White after 23.xd5 f7 24.f5 ] 1247 A30 23.xe7+? Georgiev continues to falter, this Georgiev,Kiril 2666 time moving into an opposite-coloured bishop Markowski,Tomasz 2560 situation. Better [ 23.xd7 xd7 24.xg7+! xg7 25.xe7 6th EICC Warsaw POL (3) 20.06.2005 etc ] [John Watson] 23...xe7 24.xe7 xe7 25.fxe5 dxe5 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 26.xe5 xd2 27.xd2 e6 28.f4 g5 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 29.e3 b5 White has only two extra pawns and they are soon blockaded. Perhaps there's c6 9.f4 0-0 Instead of the more common still a win somewhere but if so it's a difficult [ 9...b8 ] 10.d1 d6 11.b3 b8 A slightly inferior one. A debacle for Georgiev after essentially version of Black's setup in the last game. Still, winning the game in the early middlegame. Bla ck's p ositio n is solid f or th e m ome nt . 30.c5 d5 31.b4 a8 32.a3 a5 33.bxa5 xa5 34.d3 a4 35.d2 c4 36.b4 h5 12.b2 d8 13.d2 [ 13.g5 h6 14.ge4 xe4 15.xe4 37.f2 g4 38.h4 e5 39.c3+ e6 ( 15.xe4 f6 ) 15...f5 16.d2 g5 40.b4 e5 41.d2 e4 42.d1 c2 17.f3 with a small but irritating edge for 43.e1 e5 44.d3 e4 45.d1 c4 46.d2 d4 47.c3 c4 48.b4 d4 White. ] 49.a5 c4 50.e1 xc5 51.f2 c6 13...a6 14.e3 c7 [ 14...d7 ( t o p r o t e c t b 6 ) 15.ad1 52.b4 f6+ 53.e1 c6 54.b2 c1+ 55.f2 a1 56.c2 c4 57.c3 d4 intends Ne4. ] 15.ad1 ac8 16.h3 a8 17.g5! h6? 58.c2 e4 59.d2 a2 60.xa2 It is strange that a top player like Markowski ½-½ would underestimate the strength of White's next move: [ 17...b4 18.xa8 xa8 19.a3 c6 20.ce4 keeps White's advantage, but xe4 21.xe4 b5 isn't so awful. ] 18.xe6! fxe6 19.xe6+ f8 This should lose, but what else? [ (a) 19...h7 20.d5! d7 21.xf6+ xf6 22.e4+ h8 23.xd7 xd7 24.xf6 gxf6 1244
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1248 A30 a3+ Gonzalez Rodriguez,Jorge Armando2312 0-1 Tyomkin,Dimitri 2516 Qualifier Internet ICC (5.2) 19.03.2000 1249 A30 [Tony Kosten] Grischuk,Alexander 2715 Jakovenko,Dmitrij 2710 1.b3 d5 2.e3 f6 3.b2 g6 4.f3 g7 22.12.2007 5.e2 0-0 A sensible reaction from Black, 60th ch-Superfinal (4) who is content to bring play into a reversed [Carsten Hansen] Queen's Indian position. 6.0-0 c5 7.c4 This is countered just as in the position with 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 e6 4.g3 b6 colours reversed, but what else? d4! 8.exd4 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.b3 d6 8.b2 0-0 h5 9.g3!? 9.e3 bd7 10.d4 [ A new move that prevents the intrusion on [ The other main line is 10.e2 ] f4, and aims for a Benoni position, but the 10...e4 manoeuvre Bf1-e2-f1-g2 leaves W hite a [ Black has tried many other moves in this tempo down rather than up! 9.a3 cxd4 position, but the most frequently seen are 10.d3 e5 11.e1 f4 12.f3 c6 13.g3 10...a6 as played by Kasparov two times e6 is a better plan, although even here (beating Smyslov and Speelman), and ] Black has the edge, Wischhoefer,C-Gieritz, [ 10...cxd4 11.xd4 xg2 12.xg2 c7 D/Germany 1997. ] 13.f4 a6 14.f3 fc8 15.g4 b5 9...cxd4 10.d3 c6 11.e1 e5 12.bd2 f5 ( The alternatives are not that attractive 13.f1 e8 14.a3 Menacing b4. a5 15.g2 e i t h e r , e . g . 15...h6 which looks like an W hite has achieved his desired setup, but in vit a t i o n t o a t t a c k o n t h e k i n gs i d e b y Black has the better position. h8 16.h4 creating another weakness, though I don't e6 17.g5 g8 18.c2 c8 19.f3?! see anything decisive and; 15...c5 16.g5 f6 20.b4 h6 21.b5 A little tactic that avoids fd7 17.ad1 which just looks pleasant for White having to retreat his g5-knight to the White, but may be playable for Black) 16.g5 passive h3-square. hxg5 22.bxc6 bxc6 e8 17.cxb5 axb5 18.cxb5 b6 19.a4 23.hxg5 h7 24.g2 Hoping to generate with a large advantage for W hite, some play along the open h-file. e6! 25.a4 Tomashevsky, E-Azarov, S/Serpukhov RUS d7! The most accurate, the g-pawn is not 2007 ] running away. 26.h1 g8 27.c5 xg5 11.d5 The g-pawn goes, and with it, White's position. [ This is just one of many continuations in 28.ae1 e6 29.d1 b8 30.c1 d5+ this position. Some of the other tries include: 31.f3 e6 32.c2 b5 Targeting the weak A) 11.e2 c-pawn. 33.c4 xc5 34.e2 e4! A) 11...df6 12.fd1 xc3 13.xc3 Demolishing the white pawn structure. 35.a4 c7 14.ac1 ac8 ( 14...fe8 15.e1 [ Not 35.fxe4? fxe4 36.dxe4 as f4+ xg2 16.xg2 b7 17.d5 e5 18.e4 37.xf4 xe4+ wins the white queen. ] d7 19.f4 Kovacevic, B-Vadla, Z/Pula 35...xc4 36.dxc4 d3 37.a2 dxe2 2001 exf4 20.gxf4 f6 ) 15.d2 xg2 38.fxe4 d3 39.xe2 White could resign, 16.xg2 b7+ 17.f3 xf3+ 18.xf3 b u t i n qu ic k c h e s s yo u n e ve r kn o w! d4 fd8 19.e4 d5 20.cxd5 exd5 40.e3 c2+ 41.xc2 xc2 42.d3 fxe4 1/2-1/2 Miles, A-Kortschnoj, V/London 43.d6 e3 44.xg6 e2 45.h6 e7 1980; 46.xg7 xg7 B) 11...xc3 12.xc3 f6 13.dxc5 bxc5 [ 46...e1+!? makes it even easier for Black 14.d2 xg2 15.xg2 d5 16.cxd5 exd5 47.g1 xg7 48.xg7+ xg7 ] with chances to both sides, Zhou Jianchao47.e6 e1 48.hxe1 xe1+ 49.xe1 Belov, V/Moscow RUS 2007; xc4 50.f3 xa4 51.e8+ h7 52.e6 C) 11...c8 12.fd1 xc3 13.xc3 f6 14.dxc5 dxc5 15.e5 c7 16.e4 ad8 1245
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.g4 xg4 18.xg4 Klaman, KNeishtadt, Y/Leningrad 1956 ] [ B) 11.c2 xc3 ( 11...f5!? ) 12.xc3 A) 12...cxd4 13.xd4 c7 14.ac1 fd8 15.h4 h6 16.e4 ac8 17.h2 f6 18.e3 b8 ( 18...d5!? ) 19.e2 e7= Karlsson, L-Paavilainen, J/ Pohja 1985; B) 12...f6 B1) 13.d5 exd5 14.g5 h6 15.xf6 hxg5 16.b2 b8 17.cxd5 a6 ( 17...f6 18.ac1 e8 ) 18.fe1 f6 19.e4 e8 20.ad1 c8 ( 20...g4!? ) 21.h3 c7 22.e5 Zakharov, AUtemov, V/Moscow 1991; B2) 13.ad1 e4 14.b2 c7 15.h4 xg2 16.xg2 cxd4 17.xd4 fc8 18.d3 b7= Boersma, P-Van Baarle, C/Wijk aan Zee 1987; C) 12...c7 13.ad1 ( 13.e4 cxd4 14.xd4 a6 15.fd1 ac8 16.ac1 fd8 17.e2 c5 Szamos, A-Meszaros, G/Zalakaros 1997) 13...cxd4 14.xd4 a6 15.e4 ac8 16.a4 fe8 17.fe1 f8 18.b2 c5 19.e3 g6 Kaiszauri, KSeirawan, Y/Malmo 1979 ] [ C) 11.e2 A) 11...cxd4 12.fxd4 c7 13.c1 a6 14.f4 ef6 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.xe6 b8 17.xf8 xf8 18.f3 c7 19.e4 e8 20.d2 Vukic, M-Zelic, Z/Cetinje 1990; B) 11...a6 12.c2 a7 13.f4 ef6 14.fd1 e4 15.e2 e8 16.f1 b5?! ( 16...a8 17.e2 cxd4 18.exd4 d5= ) 17.dxc5 xc5 18.cxb5 a8 19.b6 b7 20.d2 xg2 21.xg2 Pigusov, EPoluljahov, A/Tomsk 2001; C) 11...df6 12.f4 b8 13.d5 exd5 14.cxd5 a6 15.e1 g4 16.c2 C1) 16...f6 17.xf6 gxf6 18.h4 e8 19.f3 g5 ( 19...g5 20.f5 xg3 21.hxg3 gxf4 22.gxf4 ) 20.ad1 g6 21.e4; C2) 16...gf6? 17.h4! g5 18.f5+1-0 Markowski, T-Erenska Barlo, H/ Warsaw POL 2006; D) 11...c7 12.f4 ( 12.c1 ad8 13.f4 b8 14.d5 e5 15.d3 f5 16.d2 xd2 17.xd2 f6 18.a4 a5 19.f4 e4 20.f2 c8 21.g4 Lodhi, MNjo bvu , I /T u rin IT A 2 0 0 6) 12...g5
( 12...ef6 13.d5 e5 14.e2 b5 15.d2 b6 16.c2 bxc4 17.bxc4 c8 18.h3 d7 19.a4 ab8 20.c3 Paneque, PGarcia, O/Cienfuegos 1996) 13.xg5 xg5 14.d5 e5 15.h5?! ( 15.d3!? ) 15...g6 16.g4 e7 17.e4 f6 18.f4 h8 19.h3 c8 , and White loses his strand ed knight on h 5 f or insuf f icien t compensation, Nikolaevsky, Y-Popov, N/ Alushta 1977 ] [ D) 11.xe4 xe4 A) 12.d2 xg2 13.xg2 c7 14.f3 ad8 15.fd1 f6 16.dxc5 ( 16.d5 exd5 17.cxd5 d7 18.ac1 f6= ) 16...dxc5 17.e4 xe4 18.xe4 f6 19.xf6 gxf6 20.g1 Buldrova, M-Chmelik, J/ CZE 2001; B) 12.e2 B1) 12...f6 13.fd1 e7 14.d2 ac8 15.ad1 cxd4 16.xd4 xd4 17.xd4 f6 18.b5?! ( 18.f3 a8 19.e4 is probably better, but really sh o u l d n ' t b e d i f f i c u l t f o r B l a c k fd8 20.b5 e8 21.e3 a6 22.c3 c7= ) 18...xg2 19.xg2 d5= Mustelin, J-Laine, H/Tampere 1989; B2) 12...c7 B2a) 13.fd1 b7 14.e1 xg2 15.xg2 B2a1) 15...a6 16.e4 ( 16.dxc5 xc5 17.f4 b5 18.ac1 ac8 19.g4 g6 ) 16...cxd4 17.xd4 b5= Pribyl, J-Predein, V/Mlada Boleslav 1993; B2a2) 15...f6 16.d5 ( 16.ac1 proved inadequate for an edge: cxd4 17.xd4 fd8 18.h4 ac8 19.c2 1/2-1/2 Kortschnoj, V-Bischoff, K/ Brno 1992 ) 16...exd5 17.cxd5 fe8 18.d3 b5 19.h4 c4 20.d4 f8 ( 20...ac8!? is likely better, but White still appears to have the better chances, even if my computer calls it complete ly equa l) 21.f5 e4 22.d2 d7 23.h6+ gxh6 24.xf6 Radjabov, T-Belov, V/ Internet 2000; B2b) 13.ad1 b7 14.e1 ad8 15.xe4 xe4 16.g2 f6 17.d5 e5 18.f3 g6 19.e4 h5 20.h4 Ja n s s o n , B - K o r m a n , U/ D e g e r f o r s 1246
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1978 ] [ E) 11.d3 xc3 12.xc3 cxd4 ( 12...f6 13.h4 xg2 14.xg2 c7 15.d5 exd5 16.cxd5 d7 17.e4 Istratescu, ASimantsev, M/Bucharest 2000) 13.xd4 f6 14.d2 xc3 15.xc3 c7 16.ac1 ac8 17.b2 a6 18.fd1 fd8 19.e2 f6 20.f1 c5 21.d4 xg2 22.xg2 h5 1/2-1/2 Istratescu, A-Nisipeanu, L/ROM 2001 ] [ 11.c1 df6 ( or 11...xc3 12.xc3 f6 13.e1 e4 14.e2 c7 15.d2 fd8 16.e1 xg2 17.xg2 ac8= Benkovic, PVidonyak, N/Interlaken 2003) 12.c2 xc3 13.xc3 e4 14.b2 c7 15.fd1 b7 16.e2 fd8 17.e1 xg2 18.xg2 cxd4 19.xd4 ac8 20.e1 d5 21.cxd5= 1/2-1/2 Rasmussen, K-Schandorff, L/Danish Team Ch - playoff 2003 ] 11...xc3 12.xc3 exd5 13.cxd5 f6 [ 13...b5 14.e4 b4 15.b2 a5 16.a3 f6 17.c2 a6 ( 17...xb2 18.xb2 f6 19.xf6 xf6 20.d2 a6 21.fc1 d7 22.f4 ) 18.fd1 e8 19.a2 b6 20.axb4= 1/2-1/2 Pigusov, E-Razuvaev, Y/ Irkutsk 1986 ] 14.xf6 [ One alternative is 14.c1 which lead to a White win in its only outing, but Black should be okay, e.g. xc3 15.xc3 f6 16.e1 A) Here Black should improve with 16...xd5!? 17.d3 e4 18.xd6 e7 19.e2 ad8 20.xd8 ( 20.ed2? c2!-+ ) 20...xd8 21.d2 xd2 22.xd2 xg2 23.xg2 d7=; B) 16...e8 17.h4 g6 18.e4 d7 19.f4 Kartsev, S-Friedel, M/ Recklinghausen 2002 ] 14...xf6 [ This is the first new move, though the players of the stem game would probably never have thought that two of the world's highest rated players would replicate their moves this far. The stem game continued as follows: 14...xf6 15.h4 c8 16.e4 e8 17.e1 d7 ( 17...g4!? ) 18.d2 ad8? ( 18...c8!? ) 19.f5 g6 20.f3?! ( 20.h3! wins: c7 21.h6 h5 22.g4 gxf5 23.xf5 f6 24.xh5!+- ) 20...e5 21.g5 ( 21.g2!? ) 21...xd5 22.g4 Tutschka, JHenzner, R/ Bruchkoebel 1993, and now f6!
23.h6+ g7 24.xe5 dxe5 25.xd7 xd7 26.exd5 xh6 27.ed1 g5 28.d3 e4 29.d2 d6 30.ad1 f5= ] 15.e4 fe8 [ 15...e5 16.xe5 xe5 17.e1 fe8 18.c1 a5 19.a4 a6 20.f4 b2 21.e5 ] 16.e1 a6 17.c1 ac8= 18.e3 h6 19.h4 e5 20.h3 cd8 21.xe5 xe5 22.f4 d4!? [ This move surprises me a lot, because after the exchange of the queens, the c-file is opened, and likely only to White's benefit. Yet Jakovenko must have reached a comfort level telling him that White will not be able to exploit the advantage that an open c-file delivers. Black could also consider 22...b2 ] [ and 22...f6 , both of which leave the position approximately even. ] 23.xd4 cxd4 24.ee1 d3 [ 24...d3?! 25.cd1 is much better for White, as the d-pawn will drop sooner rather than later. ] 25.ed1 xe4 26.xd4 I clearly prefer White in this position, but Jakovenko makes the defence look rather simple and effortless. e7 27.f2 g6 28.e6 f5 29.xf5 gxf5 30.d2 [ 30.dc4!? looks more critical for Black, e.g. h5 31.c8 xc8 32.xc8+ g7 33.c6 d7 34.e3 , and Black has an uncomfortable defence ahead of him. ] 30...h5 31.e2 f8 32.a4 xe2+ 33.xe2 e7 Now White will not be able to break through 34.c7+ [ 34.c6 d7 35.a5 (if not then Black plays ...Rc8, forcing the exchange of rooks with a dead draw) bxa5 36.a6 e8+ 37.d3 b8 38.xa7+ e8 , and matters are not that clear anymore... ] 34...d7 35.c8 d8 36.c7+ d7 37.c6 d8 38.c7+ ½-½
1247
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1250 Gurevich,Mikhail Leko,Peter Corus Wijk aan Zee NED (2) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2641 2713 13.01.2002
1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.e3 [ For reasons best known to themselves, both players are trying to avoid playing their queen's knights too early, i.e. 4.c3 c6 leading to a main line Symmetrical. ] 4...e6 5.d4!? A new move so early in a SuperGM tournament game is very rare! [ 5.e2 is more normal, c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.exd4 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.bc3 ge7 with equality, Berg,K-Vegh,E/Budapest 1983. ] 5...cxd4 6.exd4 e7 [ If Black was worried about White's next move, he could always play 6...d5 ] 7.d5 [ This is the logical continuation of White's idea, grabbing space before Black can play ... d5, for instance 7.c3 d5 and Black equalises. ] 7...exd5 8.cxd5 d6 9.e2 g4 10.bc3 0-0 11.0-0 e8 12.e1 a6 Black develops sensibly, he has two open files for his rooks and plenty of squares for his knights (c5, e5, f5). 13.f4 b6 14.d2 White may enjoy more space in a technical sense, but the d5pawn hinde rs his g2 -bishop, a nd the g7 bishop is very strong, its control of d4 stops White from playing Nd4, for instance. f5!? By cutting-off its retreat, Black agrees to the exchange of his light-squared bishop for the white knight. 15.h3 xe2 16.xe2 xe2 17.xe2 c5 18.e1 So, White has the bishop pair, and control of the e-file, but how can he displace those two black knights? e5!? An interesting decision, as whilst it is normal to exchange one of your opponent's bishops when he has the bishop pair, this is also Black's key defender of the kingside dark squares. However, Black sees that d6 will prove a good blockading square for a knight. 19.xe5 dxe5 20.d1 [ And not 20.xe5?? d3 ] 20...d7 The e-pawn needs defending now, so Black doesn't have enough time to bring his knight to d6. 21.d6! Positionally forced,
otherwise Black will play ... Nd6, and this kn igh t will b e th e p erf e ct b lo cka d e r. d8 22.e4 The white knight has found a good square of its own, both defending d6, and menacing f6. c8 23.d2 g7 The position is equal. ½-½
1251 Gustafsson,Jan Babula,Vlastimil Bundesliga 2003-4 (8) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2572 2594 14.02.2004
1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 0-0!? Black normally prefers to defer this move, which fixes the position of his king, and plays [ 8...d6 ] 9.h4 With the dark-squared bishop def ende d there was a threa t of .. .Ne4 t o contend with. d6 10.h6 bd7 11.fd1 c8 12.b3 a6 13.ac1 xh6!? A provocative innovation, dragging the white queen to h6. [ 13...c5 is safer, 14.xg7 xg7 15.d4 b5! A) 16.cxb5 axb5 17.a4 bxa4 18.xa4 ( 18.b4!? ) 18...xc1 19.xc1 a5 is fine for Black, with his solid structure, Vadasz,L-Pigusov,E/Copenhagen 1986.; B) 16.d2 xg2 17.xg2 a8+ 18.f3 again Black is fine, Salo,T-Kanko,I/Vantaa 1999. ] 14.xh6 b5?! This is probably going too far, [ 14...c5 is the standard idea in such positions, so that the defensive move...Rh5 is possible. ] 15.g5! White aims for a kingside attack, [ 15.cxb5 a5 16.e3 axb5 is nothing. ] 15...xg2 16.xg2 bxc4 17.d4! The rook heads for h4. [ 17.d5!? is also interesting, e6 18.xf6+ xf6 19.d4 and Black is in some trouble, e. g. c3?! 20.h4 e8 21.xh7 xh7 22.xh7+ f8 23.f4 with a strong attack. ] 17...cxb3?! [ 17...e8! is more sensible. ] 18.h4 This looks good, but there is better: 1248
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 18.xh7! e8 the king needs the f8square, ( 18...xh7? loses, 19.h4 df6 20.d5 e8 21.xf6+ exf6 22.xh7+ f8 23.xc8 xc8 24.e4!! (beautiful!!) xe4 25.h8+ picking-up the queen.) 19.xf6+ xf6 20.h4 h5 21.e4! le a vin g t h e ro o k h an gin g, b u t Ng5 is a p o w e r f u l m e n a c e , d7 22.g5 e5 ( t o c o v e r f 7 ) 23.xc8 xc8 24.axb3 a n d B l a c k i s l o st , N e 4 / h 7 a n d Rx h 5 i s coming. ] 18...e8 19.xh7 h5 This move is forced, but OK. 20.xh5?! White opts to force a perpetual check, but he could still play for the win: [ 20.axb3! a5 21.g4 b4! (to pin the gpawn) ( 21...f4+? 22.xf4 xc3 23.h6 d5+ 24.f3 e5 (to cover h8) 25.f6+! xf6 26.h7+ f8 27.xc3 xc3 28.h8+ xh8 29.xh8+ g7 30.xe8 should win) 22.g5 f8 23.ce4! xc1 24.gxh5 and the white attack appears decisive! ] 20...gxh5 21.g5+ xh7 22.xh5+ g7 23.g5+ h7 24.h5+ g7 25.g5+ ½-½
14.b3 [ 14.e4 is more aggressive, d8 15.e2 ef6 16.d2 fe8 17.h3 b8 18.b4 a8 19.b3 d5! with counterplay, Boensch,UFtacnik,L/Trnava 1988. ] 14...c8 Less accurate than [ 14...d8 in my view, which adds weight to the d6-pawn, and allows Black to consider moves such as ...Ne5. 15.e1 ( 15.h4?! e5 16.c2 xf3+ 17.xf3 xf3 18.exf3 h6 19.d3 f6 is fine for Black, Gritsak,OF t a c n i k , L / K o s z a l i n 1 9 9 9) 15...xg2 16.xg2 b7 17.e3 df6 18.f3!? aim in g f o r a n en d ing wit h m o re s pa c e , Romanishin,O-Brodsky,M/Kherson 1989. ] 15.e3!? A new move with a neat tactical point. [ 15.g5 xg2 16.xg2 df6 17.f3 b8 18.d3 h6 19.ge4 d8 20.xf6+ xf6 21.e4 offers White a space advantage, but Black is solid, Spulber,C-Miulescu,G/ Bucharest 1992. ] 15...b8!? White ignores the threat along the e-file, [ 15...ef6 is the simplest move, although ] [ 15...e5 s e e m s p o s s i b l e , a s 16.g5 ( 16.h3!? ) 16...f6 17.d5 ( 17.h4?! g5 can only be good for Black) 17...xd5 1252 A30 18.cxd5 d8 19.xc8 xc8 20.c1 may avoid losing a piece, but can hardly Gustafsson,Jan 2572 c l a i m m u c h a d v a n t a g e f o l l o w i n g xc1 Prusikin,Michael 2519 21.xc1 f5 ] II GM-Tage Pulvermuehle GER (10) 27.02.04 16.d5! d8!? OK, but [Tony Kosten] [ 16...xd5 17.cxd5 e5 is worth consideration, 18.h3 c7 19.xc7 xc7 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 20.g5 xg5 21.xg5 df6 and White 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 has nothing. ] d6 9.g5 17.h3 White keeps the e-pawn pinned, but [ 9.d1 a6 10.g5 transposes. ] t h i s t i m e a l o n g t h e d i a g o n a l . h8! 9...a6 10.fd1 [ 10.xf6 xf6 11.d3 is an alternative, Black sidesteps the threat of Bxe6, as now the planning Rad1, and then Nd4 to swap the queen's capture on e6 will not be with check. light-squared bishops, but it leads to near 18.g5 White plays another aggressive move. b5? A careless move, missing the White equality. ] 10...bd7 11.d2 White wishes to play Bf4, threat. [ 18...xg5 19.xg5 b5 is perfectly without losing a piece (to ...e5). 0-0 12.f4 r e a s o n a b l e , a l t h o u g h 20.b6 xb6 e8 The best move, defending d6. 13.ac1 21.xb6 bxc4 22.xc4 looks quite c7 promising for White. ] [ 13...c8 is less flexible, 14.b3 h6 15.e4 c7 and now White shows that he can 19.xf7+! [ 19.xf7+ xf7 20.xe6 hits f7 and e8, attack on the flanks: 16.h4! b8 17.g4! Georgiev,K-Sokolov,A/Leningrad 1987. ] 1249
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 got much to worry about, Kavalek, L (2565)De Firmian, N (2475)/USA-ch Berkeley 1984 (3). ] 7...b8 Again using the fact that the knight is 1253 A30 still on g8. Black threatens the pawn, but not Hovhanisian,Mher 2516 with the bishop, since Qd4 will be a problem Fier,Alexandr 2587 afterwards. Taking with the rook is the real Minsk Bronstein Memorial op-A (8) 18.02.14 threat. [ 7...a5+ was the choice of Wojtaszek [Fier, Alexandr] 8.d2 f6 9.0-0 0-0 10.a3 h5 t h i s i d e a i s t h e m a t ic in a l l l in e s o f t h e I don't usually analyze my own games here, Symmetrical English 11.e4 a5 12.xh5 but since this was such an interesting fight I xh5 and Black has good counterplay on decided to make an exception. With 1...g6 and the b-file, Berczes, C (2399)-Wojtaszek, R a delayed ... Nf6 Black can usually avoid the (2599) /Rilton Cup 38th 2008 (4). ] kind of position of Ivanchuk - Vachier. The knight is not stable enough on d4, and White 8.c2 [ 8.c3 is also playable, but White can have needs to make a decision. 1.f3 g6 2.g3 problems defending the c4-pawn a5 9.0-0 g7 3.d4 White probably wants to transpose a6 ( 9...xc3 10.bxc3 xc3 11.f4 to a Fianchetto King's Indian, which, by the and W hite has more than enough for the wa y, wa s t h e va ri a t i o n in a n o t h e r ga m e pawn ) 10.d3 f6 11.b3 0-0 12.d2 between the same players. c5 Avoiding the c7 and Black is fine, White's queen and King's Indian and looking forward to a Benoni bishop are not in their best places, Krstic, kind of position. 4.g2 U (2350)-Cvitan, O (2527)/Omis op 2005 [ 4.d5 d6 5.c4 f6 6.c3 e6 (2). ] would transpose to the Benoni ] [ 8.0-0 falling for the trick xb2 9.xb2 4...cxd4 5.xd4 c6 So, here is the xb2 10.d2 xa1 11.xa1 and White difference. White needs to choose where to has some compensation, but Black is still a go with the knight. 6.xc6 This is the most pawn up f6 ] common move. W hite just tries to finish his 8...a5+ Making the knight go to a less active development without any more ambition. [ 6.b3 is the main option and can square. 9.d2 [ 9.c3 b4 and the problem with the pawn transpose to a normal Symmetrical English on c4 is seen again ] where White dropped his knight back to b3 9...f6 with no reason f6 7.0-0 0-0 [ 9...c5 was also possible, but I saw no A) 8.c4 d6 9.c3 e6 and I think Black reason to do it now 10.0-0 b7 11.f3 already has a pleasant position 10.d5 and Black should continue with 11... Nf6 ( 10.c5 tries to change the character of the anyway ] position d5 11.g5 c8 12.xf6 xf6 13.xd5 xb2 14.b1 g7 15.e4 10.0-0 0-0 11.f3 White has an alternative and Black was fine in Nikolic, P (2620)- p l a n t o b r i n g i n g t h e b i s h o p t o t h e l o n g Rodshtein, M (2664)/ Bundesliga 1314 diagonal. [ 11.b3 was what I was expecting, but Black 2013 (3.4). ) 10...d7; can again transfer the queen to the kingside B) 8.c3 brings the position to a h5 12.b2 d5 Rogoff, K (2480) -Geller, E Fianchetto Dragon d6 9.h3 d7 10.e4 (2620)/Las Palmas 1976 (8). ] c8 with a level position in Rombaldoni, D Black can't lose any time if he wants (2493)-Chatalbashev, B (2613)/Bratto op 11...d5 some initiative. 12.f4 f5 13.c1 e4!? 30th 2010 (5). ] A hard decision to make. I didn't want to agree 6...bxc6 7.c4 [ 7.0-0 is also played, leaving the pawn on to an equal position and I thought that piece c2 for the moment, b8 8.d2 f6 9.b3 activity was worth an exchange, but it's not c7 10.d2 0-0 11.a5 but Black has not clear that this is the best choice. If W hite winning two pawns for nothing. ] 1-0
1250
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 manages to defend all his pawns Black is go ing to be in tro ub le. St ill, t h e p ositio n becomes really dynamic. [ 13...bc8 would be the normal reaction and after 14.e5 fd8 15.b3 the position is equal ] 14.xb8 xb8 15.g4 Creating a weakness to make the bishop go away. The position is tricky and some normal moves are just bad. [ 15.b1 for example, doesn't work because of c3! threatening not only b1, but also e2 16.bxc3 xb1 17.e3 xf1+ 18.xf1 f6 and Black has the advantage ] [ 15.cxd5 w a s p o s s i b l e xb2 16.f4 ( 16.xc6 falls into another nice trick xa1 17.xa1 xa2! 18.xa2 b1+ 19.f1 h3 and the bishop also defends c8!) 16...b6 17.ad1 c3 18.d2 cxd5 with compensation for the exchange ] 15...d7 My main idea was to free the e-pawn to p la y .. . e 5 a t a n y m o m en t . Fin ally t h is moment never arrived and the pawn finished the game on e7. [ 15...xb2 the fireworks don't work properly for Black 16.f4 e5 17.xe5 c7 18.xg6 taking an important pawn. If White was forced to play 18.Nd3 everything would be ok xf4 19.xf4 xa1 20.xa1 a n d B l a c k h a s p r o b l e m s s i n c e ( 20.gxf5 is less clear e5 21.d3 d6 22.cxd5 cxd5 but W hite is still slightly better) 20...xg4 is not possible because of 21.f3 winning the piece ] [ 15...e6 was the other possible move, defending the center and also f7 16.cxd5 ( 16.f4 compared to the game, now it's less effective xb2 17.ab1 xa2 18.a1 xc4 19.xa7 and the bishop is not h a n g i n g o n d 7 h6 and Black is better) 16...cxd5 17.b1 xa2 with a complex position, but Black has a pawn and the bishop pair. Added to the strange pawn on g4, the compensation is largely enough ] 16.f4 White is also activating at any cost. [ 16.cxd5 was again what I expected and Black has a strange plan against it cxd5 ( 16...xb2 now is bad 17.f4 and the e4knight is also hanging) 17.b1 b6!? attacking the b2-pawn one more time and defending the rook 18.f4 ( 18.h3 b5 19.d1 c4 and White's queenside is
g o i n g t o f a l l) 18...f8!? ( 18...f6 m a ke s se n se , b u t it 's b a d t o clo s e t h e b i s h o p l i k e t h i s 19.d2 e5 20.f3 and White creates counterplay against the d5-pawn xg4 21.d3 e6 22.xe4 dxe4 23.xe4 xa2 24.a1 f7 and White can be better) 19.e5 d6 20.d3 xf4 21.xf4 d2 22.xd5 xg4 23.xe7+ h8 24.c6 xb1 25.xb1 a6 and the endgame has good chances to end in a draw ] 16...xb2 17.ab1 b6 Black needs to control the open file. [ 17...xa2 with the bishop on e6 this move was possible, but not here 18.a1 xc4 19.xa7 and the bishop is attacked e8 20.xe7 with a big advantage for White ] 18.xb2 xb2 19.cxd5 cxd5 20.g5 Now the position is clear. Otherwise Black h a d b o t h . . . N c 3 a n d . . . e 5 c o m i n g . xg5 21.xg5 xe2 Keeping the game alive, but also a risky decision. [ 21...f6 would probably enter a drawish endgame 22.xd5 xg4 23.f3 e6 24.a8+ g7 25.xa7 xa2= ] 22.xd5 xg4 23.h3 a4 24.d1 And the game never stops! If I had time to play ...h5 for example, everything would be fine. White is threatening an assault on the last rank with Qa8 or Qd8 followed by rook to the eighth. I found an easy to overlook trick, and since my opponent didn't have much time he fell for it. e8 [ 24...c6 is possible, defending with some samba 25.d8+ f8 26.b1 b5 ( 26...xg2 27.b8 ) 27.f1 a6 28.c1 c6 29.g2 d7 and the rook cannot enter the last rank ] 25.d8 This move looks almost winning. The idea is to come with 26.Rc1 and then 27.Bc6 or 27.Rc8 or 27.Qxe7. Black has one good resource. [ 25.c1! was the precise move order and Black can have some problems after d7 it's hard to believe, but Black can defend t h e b i s h o p 26.c4 a6! 27.a8+ f8 28.d4 b5 29.a4 b1+ 30.h2 f5 31.xa7 e8 and White is better, but Black still has chances ] 25...e5! Normal moves don't work. [ 25...b2 26.b1 a3 27.b8 f8 28.c8 1251
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and 29.Bc6 will come ] [ 25...h6 26.d4! ( 26.b1 f4 27.xe7 ) 26...b5 27.a4 b1+ 28.d1 winning ] 26.c1 h2+! This is the trick! [ 26...g7 27.xe7 is just bad for Black ] 27.h1 [ 27.xh2 f4+ 28.g1 xc1+ and the rook falls with check ] 27...d6 And somehow with the king on h1, Black has time to defend everything. 28.d5 [ 28.g1 g7 and Black has time to consolidate 29.c8 f4 30.c4 h2+ 31.f1 d7 and White won't survive ] [ 28.c8 d1+ this line only works because the king is not on g1 anymore ] [ 28.c6 f4 29.xe8+ g7 and again Black is winning because of the king on h1. ] 28...g7 With all the white pieces hanging Black is already winning. 29.g2 d4 [ 29...f4 was also good enough 30.xe8 g5+ 31.f3 xd5+ 32.e2 e4+ ] 30.f3 f4 31.c8 h2+ 32.f1 b5+ 33.e1 g1+ 0-1
1254 Ionescu,Constantin Avrukh,Boris 34th Olympiad (12) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2492 2625 09.11.2000
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.g3!? g6 A good reply to W hite's slightly strange move order. 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 g7 Forcing the knight to leave the centre. 6.c2 d6 7.g2 [ And not 7.c3?! as Black would play xc3+ 8.bxc3 a5 9.d2 f6 with an edge. ] 7...h5!? [ A vigorous alternative to 7...f6 8.c3 e6 9.e3 with near equality, Csom,ILazarev,V/Budapest 1998. ] 8.h3?! [ This encounter s certain problems, but how best to react to the threat of ... h4 ? 8.h4 may b e th e sa f e st , e6 9.e3 d7 10.c3?! xc3+ 11.bxc3 c8 good for Black, Mittelmann,G-Ward,C/Copenhagen DEN 2000, and ]
[ 8.0-0!? is risky, h4 9.c3?! hxg3!? 10.hxg3 xc3!? 11.bxc3 a5 ( 11...h3 is a go od alte rna tive) 12.e3 h5 with an attack, Cosma,I-Moldovan,D/ Bucharest 1997. ] 8...e6 9.e3 d7 Stopping White from castling. 10.d2!? [ A new idea, 10.d5 c8 11.a4 f6 12.bc3 d4 13.d1 xc4 14.e3 Gross, S-Zagorskis,D/Berlin 1997, and now b4 looks good. ] 10...c8 11.b1 In order to free the b-pawn. f6 12.df1 White keeps control of d5, but the move is ugly. 0-0 13.b3 b5! Black strikes while the white king is stranded in the centre. 14.cxb5 b4 15.a4?! [ 15.a3 a2 16.c6 might be playable, and White is still in the game. ] 15...f5 16.b2 e4 The black pieces flood out. 17.xe4 [ This loses, but what else? 17.g4 c3 18.d2 e4 is also good for Black, e.g. 19.gxh5 xg2 20.xg2 ca2 21.xa2 c3 and the queen is lost. ] 17...xe4 18.f3?! [ 18.h2 c7 is also embarrassing. ] 18...xf3! [ 18...xf3 19.exf3 xc1 20.xc1 d3+ forks king and queen (and rook- for good measure!) ] 0-1
1255 Istratescu,Andrei Ftacnik,Lubomir WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (1.4) [John Watson]
A30 2622 2612 29.11.2005
Continuing along with our theme of grandmaster disasters, we present for your pleasure a 20-move miniature played by two 2600s. W ho says that the English can't be dynamic? 1.c4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 Hedgehog. 7.b3 0-0 8.b2 d6 [ 8...d5 is also playable in this position. 8. .. d6 concedes White some space, hoping for later complications. ] 9.e3 White takes the conservative approach, one that was used in the early days of the 1252
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Hedgehog craze by Ulf Andersson. Andersson himself was a major contributor to the theory of the Hedgehog and wanted nothing to do with the main lines when playing White. bd7 10.e2 c7 11.ac1 a6 12.fd1 c6 [ And guess what? This year, decades later we see Ulf playing the same way versus Kovacevic in Calvia 2005: 12...ac8 13.d4 cxd4 14.xd4 xg2 15.xg2 b7+ 16.f3 c7 17.g1 fe8 18.e4 xe4 19.xe4 f6 20.f3 ed8 21.d2 d7 22.dc2 b7!? 23.xb7 xb7 24.f1 bc7 25.e2 f8 26.h3 d5 27.cxd5 xc2+ 28.xc2 xc2+ 29.xc2 xd5 30.a4 f6 with equality, although Andersson in vintage style made something out of nothing and eventually won. 31.c1 e8 32.e4 e7 33.e3 c8 34.b4 a5 35.c2 e7 36.d4 f6 37.d3 d7 38.e3 d8 39.f4 c7 40.g4 g6 41.d4 e5 42.fxe5 xe5 43.c4 c7 44.g5 d8 45.gxf6 xf6 46.f3 d8 47.f4 f6 48.e5 d8 49.d4 h4 50.e6+ e8 51.f3 f2 52.g5 h5 53.e4 g1 54.g5 f8 55.d5 e8 56.f6+ f8 57.d7+ e8 58.e5 e7+ 59.xe7 xe7 60.xg6+ f6 61.f4 h4 62.d6 c5+ 63.d7 f5 64.g2 e4 65.xh4 d3 66.f5 c3 67.d6 1-0 ] 13.d4 So far so good. Black is aiming for ...b5 and also trying to increase his control of d5 and e4. b7 14.h4! I have no idea whether this is a good move, but it wins the game. ae8? A disaster. Various other moves involving exchanges on d4 and/or ...d5 were better, but I think that W hite has some advantage in any case. Better than what h a p p e n s n o w : 15.d5! exd5 16.cxd5 xd5?? [ He still doesn't see it. The only move was 16...b5 17.xb5 ( even 17.c2 b8 18.g5 is strong ) 17...axb5 18.xb5 with an extra pawn and superior position. ] 17.xd5 xd5 18.xd5! xd5 19.g5 f5 20.e4 Nowhere to go. 1-0
1256 Ivanchuk,Vassily Aronian,Levon XXIII SuperGM (2) [John Watson]
A30 2729 2752 19.02.2006
In a heavyweight encounter, Ivanchuk finds a way to keep the advantage in an apparently sterile position. He uses his extra space to improve his piece position and then proceeds with deadly accuracy to score the point. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 b7 4.g2 c5 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.e3 bd7 10.ac1 c8 11.b3 a6 12.fd1 0-0 13.d2!? Ivanchuk allows his dark-squared bishop to be traded off, but Aronian prefers to trade knights. In either case this simplification appears to favour the side with more space. e4 [ After this White gains a distinct advantage. Perhaps 13...g4 14.h3 xe3 15.xe3 c5 was best. ] 14.xe4 xe4 15.e1!? [ Or 15.h3 xf3 16.exf3 ] 15...f6 16.h3! b8 17.d3 a8 18.f3 e6 19.f2 e8 20.b4! a5 Forced. White has completely outmanoeuvred his opponent and now wins a pawn: 21.a6 c8 22.xd6 xd6 23.xd6 d5!? [ 23...b5 24.e4 bxc4 25.xc4 xc4 26.bxc4 and the threat of e5 with queenside pressure is just too strong. ] 24.d1 [ 24.e1! is virtually winning, since f8 ( 24...c3 25.xb6 ) 25.d7 f6 26.a7 and Bxb6 wins another pawn. ] 24...c3 25.1d2 b5 26.d7 e5 27.cxb5 xb5 28.f1!? [ Or 28.c5! .Another pawn will soon fall. ] 28...c6 29.7d3 a3 30.f4 f6 31.c5 e7 32.d1 b5 33.a4 e4 34.d7 b4 35.g2 xg2 36.xg2 c2 37.b7 a3 38.dd7 f8 39.f3 b1 40.e3! xa2 41.c5 The end. d2+ 42.g2 xc5 43.xc5 e5 44.e6 exf4 45.xf7 Mate follows. 1-0
1253
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A30 25...f7! 26.h3! c5 [ 26...h8 27.g4 c5 28.b4 ce6 2739 29.e4 is unclear ] 2670 28.06.2005 27.b4 h8 28.g4 d7! 29.h3? [ 29.xd7 looks much better: xd7 30.e4 c6 covers everything, so White had better forge ahead by 31.b5 axb5 32.cxb5 xc1 A battle between elite players strays early 33.xc1 b8 34.a4 Probably the two from the beaten path as Black fins a dynamic pawns and well-placed pieces are enough solution to his problems. 1.c4 e6 2.c3 c5 for the piece. ] 3.f3 f6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.g5 a6 10.fd1 29...xg4 30.hxg4 a4!? [ Black can also try something like 30...ce6 bd7 Thus far a standard Hedgehog. Now 31.e3 fxg3 32.fxg3 a5! 33.a3 axb4 White plays a line that for some time drove 34.axb4 c7 ] Hedgehog def enders nuts. 11.d2 0-0 31.h1 e6?! Activating pieces looks best: 12.f4 e8 Normal. [ 31...xh1 32.xh1 b2! 33.c1 e6 [ 12...e5 13.g5 h6 14.xf6 xf6 15.h4 with a clear advantage. ] xg2 16.xg2 and Ne3 is only very slightly 32.xh8 xh8 33.b1 d8 34.e4 b6? better for White. ] [ 34...e8 ] 13.ac1 [ In the past White has reorganized by 13.e4 35.xb6 xb6 36.xg5+ e7 White has , but hasn't achieved much. Here Ivanchuk gotten his third pawn for the piece and now gains activity as well: 37.c5! c7 opts for piece play: ] [ 37...dxc5 38.bxc5 xc5?? 39.b7+ f6 13...c8 14.b3 c5 40.e4+ ] [ Or 14...c7 ] 15.g5 xg2 16.xg2 h6 17.ge4 38.gxf4 exf4 39.cxd6+ xd6 40.b5 [ 40.a4!? f5! with the idea 41.gxf5 g8 ] Now it seems as though W hite may have achieved a little something. Nisipeanu finds a 40...a5?! [ 40...axb5 41.xb5 e6 is at most slightly c r e a t i v e s o l u t i o n t o h i s p r o b l e m s : b7 better for White. His a-pawn doesn't mean The fianchettoed knight. 18.d3 f5! 19.d2 much. ] g5! And now an expansion that one seldom if ever sees in the Hedgehog! 20.e3 f4!? 41.b6 e6 42.xe6 xe6 43.b5!? [ 43.f3 ] This may be going too far! Instead, [ 43.b7 ] [ 20...c7 21.f3 c5 looks equal. ] 43...a4 44.b7 a3! 45.g5 d7 46.b3 c6 21.d4 47.g6 g8 48.f3 b8 49.xa3 xb7 [ 21.g6+ g7 22.d4 e5 transposes ] 21...e5 22.xb6! xb6 23.d5 d8 50.b3+ a7 51.a3+ A fascinating battle. 24.g6+ g7 25.xh6!? This is a natural ½-½ way to continue W hite's attack, grabbing a second pawn and further exposing Black's A30 king. But Nisipeanu is a great defender, and it 1258 would have been better to keep him Ivanchuk,Vassily 2702 completely tied down by Nisipeanu,Liviu Dieter 2584 [ 25.e4! c5! 26.xc5 FIDE WCh KO Las Vegas USA (4.3) 11.08.99 A) 26...dxc5 27.b6! e8 28.xc8 [Tony Kosten] xc8 ( 28...xg6 29.xe7+ h7 30.xg6 ) 29.d5! with ongoing pressure 1.c4 e6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 f6 4.g3 b6 ( 29.xh6? f6 30.xg5 e6 ); 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 B) 26...xc5 27.xh6 , when this time d6 9.b3 Planning a possible attack on the d6( 27.xe7+ xe7 28.xd6 e4! ) pawn, by Ba3. 27...f7? fails to 28.xe7 xe7 29.xd6 [ 9.d1 is a major alternative. ] and doubling on the file. ] 9...bd7 The best move, played to block the 1257 Ivanchuk,Vassily Nisipeanu,Liviu Dieter 6th EICC Warsaw POL (10) [John Watson]
1254
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a3-f 8 d ia go na l with .. .Nc5 , if n eces sa ry. 10.b5 One of the more aggressive replies, taking immediate interest in the d6-pawn. c5 [ 10...d5 11.cxd5 xd5 has a better reputation for Black, but perhaps W hite had something planned. ] 11.d1 d5 This move is the most common, as [ 11...fe4 has a doubtful reputation following Korchnoi's 12.xg7! f6 13.h6 xa1 14.g5 although even here Black has c h a n c e s a f t e r f6! as in Kuznetsov,SMaiorov, A/corr 1994. ] 12.cxd5 exd5 Black prefers to play an IQP position, the alternative [ 12...xd5? allows 13.xg7 f6 14.d6+! winning. ] [ but 12...xd5 is possible, if favourable to White. ] 13.a3?! A doubtful novelty. Previously, three moves had been tried: [ 13.e3!? 0-0 14.b2 Yermolinsky,ABrowne,W/Los Angeles 1996. ] [ 13.h3 stopping Black from playing ...Ne6, and ] [ 13.b2 which may be the best, 0-0 14.f4 a6 15.bd4 d6 16.h4! and Black had problems against the threat of Nf5, Yermolinsky, A-Browne,W/Chicago 1997. ] 13...d7! Of course, Black removes his queen from the d8-square, and thereby renews the threat of playing ...Ne6. [ The immediate 13...e6?! would permit 14.xe7 xe7 15.e5 with a positional advantage to White. ] 14.c3 The knight was attacked, and had to retreat. e6 15.e5 Otherwise White would lose a whole piece! xd4 16.xd7 xd7 Simplest, [ 16...xa3 17.xf6+ gxf6 18.xd5 xe2+ 19.f1 xg3+ 20.hxg3 a6+ 21.g1 0-0-0 is a more ambitious try, Black gains the bishop pair, at the cost of his ruined kingside structure. ] 17.xe7 xe2+ The desperado knight grabs a pawn before leaving the board. 18.xe2 xe7 19.d4 White has a 'positional advantage', but is a whole pawn down. hd8 [ 19...g6 must be better. ] 20.ac1 ac8?! Black is clearly happy with a draw.
[ 20...g6 seems more combative, keeping the knight out of f5, 21.h3 f8 when 22.c7 can be met by c8 although White certainly enjoys some compensation for his pawn. ] 21.xc8 xc8 22.f5+ f8 [ 22...f8 23.d6 c7 24.xb7 xb7 25.xd5 is a stone-cold draw. ] ½-½
1259 Jakovenko,Dmitrij Gashimov,Vugar 9th Karpov Poikovsky RUS (5) [Carsten Hansen]
A30 2709 2717 12.07.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 a6 10.g5 bd7 11.d2 0-0 12.f4 e8 13.ac1 c8 [ In the PGN archives, you will also find Tkachiev-Lie, Crete 20 07, in which th e c o n t i n u a t i o n 13...c7 14.e3!? is discussed. ] 14.b3 c5 [ 14...c7 was the topic of Gustafsson, JPrusikin, M/Pulvermuehle GER 2004, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] 15.g5 xg2 16.xg2 c7!? [ A new move Black initially dispenses with t h is m o ve t h a t f o rce s W h it e t o m a k e a decision regarding the knight on g5, possibly in the expectation that White will move the knight unprovoked and Black therefore will g a i n a t e m p o . 16...h6 was the topic of Ivanchuk, V-Nisipeanu, L/W arsaw 2005, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] 17.f3 A logical decision given the fact that Black likely will place his queen on the a8-h1 diagonal to force further exchanges once W h i t e r e t r e a t s h i s g 5 - k n i g h t t o e 4 . d8 18.ge4 b7 Anyway, this will allow Black to take back on c5 with the d -pawn, should W hite choose to exchange the knights. 19.g5 White tries to provoke weaknesses in Black's position by trying to exploit the absent ...h7-h6. f6 20.f4 f5 [ B l a c k c a n a l s o c o n s i d e r 20...xe4!? 21.xe4 f5 22.c3 ( 22.f2 f6 ) 22...f6 , though af ter 23.e3 Black is 1255
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 more or less forced to play f7 ] 21.f2 h6 [ Not so much Hedgehog-like, but still a feasible alternative, Black can try 21...a5 22.e4 c7 23.exf5 xf5 24.fe4 c6 25.e2 e5 26.e3 df8 27.f1 ] 22.c2 f7 23.e4 [ Or 23.b4 d7 24.e4 f8 25.e2 g5 26.d2 g7 27.b5 fxe4 28.fxe4 axb5 29.cxb5 g6 30.g4 h7 , and White has per haps the slightly better chances, but Black's position is far more dynamic. ] 23...fxe4 24.cxe4 [ 24.fxe4!? c8 25.a4 c6 26.h4 ] 24...g5?! [ Black plays very sharply to maintain active counterplay. However, I think Black's best o p t i o n l i e s i n 24...e5 25.e3 c7 wit h a n u n u su a l p o sit io n , wh e re B l a c k doesn't appear to be worse. ] 25.e3 [ 25.xc5!? looks good for White, e.g. bxc5 26.g6+ g7 27.g4 f8 28.xh6 f6 29.h7 xh6 30.xh6 gxf4 31.xf4+ ] 25...g7 26.e1 [ 26.g4!? f5 27.f2!? and although B l a c k h a s a c t i ve c o u n t e r p l a y, W h i t e ' s position is fundamentally and positionally stronger. ] 26...df8 [ 26...f5!? ] 27.d2 [ Or 27.g4 h8 ( 27...xf3 28.xc5 bxc5 29.xh6+ h8 leads to the same position as after 27...Kh8) 28.xc5 bxc5 29.xh6 xf3 30.e2 h7 31.g4 with a messy position. ] 27...h5!? 28.g1 d7 29.d4 [ 29.e4!? is an interesting alternative, but is likely fine for Black, e.g. d5!? ( 29...xe4 30.fxe4 f5 31.g4 hxg4 32.fxg4 e5 33.f2 , and Black's pawn structure is quite fragile and the glue that holds it together is the unusually placed rook on e5.; 29...c7 30.d3 c5 31.xc5 bxc5 32.g4 hxg4 33.fxg4 , and White has the slightly better chances. ) 30.cxd5 ( 30.c2 f5 31.cxd5 xd5 32.cd1 xe3 33.xe3 f5= ) 30...exd5 31.g6 f5 32.d4 f6 33.g4 xd4 34.gxf5 e5 with an unclear position. ]
29...f5 [ Black can possibly do even better with 29...e5!? , and now 30.e3 ( 30.b2 g4 i s e v e n b e t t e r f o r B l a c k) 30...f5 is also quite pleasant for Black. ] 30.b2 e5 31.e4 And here a draw was agreed upon, although Black clearly has a comfortable game after for example 20... Qxe4 21 Nfxe4 Nc5. ½-½
1260 Jakovenko,Dmitrij Karjakin,Sergey 19th TCh-RUS 2012 (5) [John Bartholomew]
A30 2729 2766 13.04.2012
1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 a6 12.b3 0-0 13.h4 c7 14.g4 [ Karjakin recently faced the more popular 14.h3 and put on a flawless display: b8 15.h6 b5! 16.xg7 xg7 17.d5?! xd5 18.cxd5 xc1 19.xc1 c8 20.c6 b7 21.xc8?! xc8 Salgado Lopez, I (2621)Karjakin, S (2763)/Porto Carras GRE 2011/ [John Bartholomew]. ] 14...c8!? What the heck? Was this an OTB mouseslip? Surely not, so let's consider the next likely culprit: engine-backed preparation (I sound like a broken record on this)! The most human explanation of 14...Rc8!? I can muster is as follows: in exchange for 'losing' two tempos Black has encouraged White to further loosen his position (g3-g4), thereby c u t t i n g W h i t e ' s o wn q u e e n o f f f r o m t h e queenside. The counterthrust ...b6-b5! now gains in strength (possibly in conjunction with a discovered attack on c3 by ...Nf6-xg4). The rook facilitates this plan in slyly returns to c8, making way for counterplay with ...Qd8-a5. [ The theoretical endorsement belongs to 14...h6 . See Bu Xiangzhi (2645) Shchekachev, A (2570)/Moscow 2006/[John Watson]. ] 15.h3 Logically taking the c8-rook in his sights now Be3-h6/Nf3-g5 or simply g4-g5 will b e p o s sib le . W h it e h a s a l o t o f o p t io n s , though: 1256
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ The immediate 15.h6? xh6 16.xh6 xg4 just loses a pawn. ] [ 15.g5!? looks critical. h5!? ( safer is 15...e8 , maintaining a compact position, i. e. 16.d4 xg2 17.xg2 c5 ) 16.h3 b5! 17.d2 ( 17.c5!? allows a promising e x c h a n g e s a c : xc5! 18.xc5 xc5 19.xb5! a5! 20.xd6 exd6 21.b4 xa2 22.bxc5 xe2 ) 17...e5 ] [ Moves like 15.d4 (discouraging ...b6-b5) ] [ and 15.d4 (opposing the g7 bishop) also deserve serious consideration. ] 15...b5! Black must strike fast to justify his rook maneuver, and Karjakin has worked out the following complications to perfection. 16.cxb5 [ 16.g5 h5 ( 16...e8!? ) 17.d2 e5 transposes to the above note. ] 16...a5! 17.d2 xf3! [ 17...axb5 18.g5 xf3! 19.exf3 b4 would transpose. ] 18.exf3 [ 18.d5?? xc1 is not advisable. ] 18...axb5 19.g5 b4! 20.gxf6 [ White can keep the bishop pair with 20.a4! , b u t a f t e r e5! 21.g2 h5 Black has excellent counterplay, i.e. 22.f4 c4! ] 20...xf6 21.e4 bxc3 22.xd7 cd8 [ 22...c7!? ] 23.xc3 xc3 24.xe7 d5 25.b5 d4= A balanced middlegame has arisen. Conventional chess wisdom says that the evaluation of an opposite-color bishop middlegame often turns on the safety of the respective kings, so many would find it easier to play Karjakin's position. Still, Jakovenko has an extra pa wn and lo oks to be in n o danger at present. 26.a4 d5! Karjakin b e g in s t o p o k e a n d p r o d . 27.e4 f5 28.h1 b6 29.g1 f6 30.g3 d8 31.d3 f4 [ 31...e5!? ] 32.b7 d6 33.g2?! [ 33.c4= was better, as d3?! 34.xc3 d2 35.e2 is no bother. ] 33...b8 34.a6 xa6 35.xa6 xb3 Now the extra pawn is gone and White really is just worse. 36.g4 f6 37.b5 g7 38.e4 d3 39.d1?! Time pressure? [ W hite should hold after 39.xd3! d2
40.c4 bxf3 41.f1 . ] 39...d2 40.e3 d6 41.e2 e6! 42.xe6? W hite is tempted by the e-pawn, but paradoxically its capture only helps Black. [ 42.f4! was more stubborn. ] 42...fxe6 43.c4 b4 44.xe6 xa4 45.d5 d4 46.e4 b4 47.f1 d6 48.e2 f4 49.h3 h6 50.g1? This loses. [ 50.c2 h5 51.h4! was the last chance to resist. ] 50...c4! 51.d3 c1 52.d1 g5 53.b5 h4 White resigned. Black wins as follows: [ 53...h4 54.d7 ( 54.xd2 xd2 55.xd2 b1 56.d7 b7 57.e6 e7 58.c8 e8! and White loses the h-pawn or the bishop.) 54...c7 55.g4 ( 55.a4 ) 55...h5 56.e6 e7-+ . Karjakin has proven to be a rea l con noisse ur of th e Dou ble Fianchetto, and his highly inventive 14... Rc8!? is a testament to his level of understanding and preparation in this line. ] 0-1
1261 Kasparov,Garry Adams,Michael ROW Match Moscow RUS (4) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2817 2731 13.06.2004
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 c5 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.g5 This move is not as naive as it appears, White intends to capture on f6 and then attack the d6-pawn, as he will have the added possibility of Ne4 when there is no longer a black knight on f6. a6 Played to control b5, although [ 9...bd7 is also possible, 10.b5 d5 11.cxd5 xd5 12.c3 with a small edge. ] 10.xf6 xf6 11.f4 0-0 [ 11...xf3 12.xf3 a7 is an alternative, the rook can come to d7 to defend the dpawn. ] [ 11...xc3 isn't too highly thought-of: 12.bxc3 xf3 13.xf3 a7 14.fd1 d7 15.ab1 c7 16.d4 and the b-pawn is lost, Kramnik,V-Ljubojevic,L/Monte Carlo 1998. ] 12.fd1 e7 13.e4 Heightening the 1257
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pressure on d6. xe4 14.xe4 a7 15.d4 c7 This move is better than the [ 15...c8 that Kasparov once played himself: 16.b3 e8 17.a4!? c5 18.a2 f6 19.ad2 with a plus, Karpov, AKasparov,G/Moscow 1981. ] 16.b3 c5 Preparing ...b5, and making space for the queen on c7, when d8 will be available for the king's rook. 17.a4 [ 17.b7!? is interesting, c7 18.xc7 xc7 19.a4 c5 20.a2 fc8 21.e3 g6 22.ad2 with a similar position, but without queens, Miles,A-Gamundi,A/Ubeda 1997. ] 17...c7 18.b1 This surprising move is standard here, White moves his queen from an exposed square, protects the back rank against nasty surprises and will slowly triple his heavy pieces. [ 18.a2 c8 19.ad2 f8 ( 19...d5! looks possible 20.cxd5 xd5 ) 20.e3 d7 21.b7 gave White an edge in Brook,OWard,C/Oakham 1988. ] 18...d7 [ 18...c8 19.a2 f8 20.e3 e7 21.c2 g6 22.a2 g5 23.h4 f6 24.b4 wit h a plus, A nde rsson, U-Se ira wan ,Y/ London 1982. ] 19.e3 Only this move is new!! [ 19.a2 f6 20.c2 d8 21.b4 c8 22.d3 c7 23.c1 d5 and Black had at least equalised in Pigusov,E-Aseev,K/Vilnius 1984. ] 19...c8 20.a2 f6 21.c2 a5!? Wow! I would be very wary of playing such a move, weakening b5, but the big upside is that White can no longer play Qa2 and then b4 as in the Andersson game. 22.dd2 d8 23.b5 This is the problem, of course, the knight takes-up position on b5. g6 24.d1 e8 25.f3 d7 26.d3 c7 Black manages to threaten the b5-knight with exchange. 27.cd2!? [ 27.c3 is more to the point, otherwise the d r a wi n g f a c t o r o f t h e o p p o s i t e - c o l o u r bishops becomes more important. ] 27...xb5 28.axb5 f8 29.c6 e7 30.d4 The white position looks very impressive, but how will he break through? f6 31.g2 h5 32.h3 c8 33.2d3 c7 34.f3 f5 35.f4!? xf4 36.exf4 White menaces to play Qe3xb6, but it is easy
to defend against this. a7 37.e3 d8 38.c5!? This reveals White's plan, he exploits the d-file pin to create a passed b-pawn. bxc5 39.xc5 b8 40.e3 a4!? Black looks for counterplay, not wanting to wait for White to attack the a-pawn. 41.b6?! Kasparov swaps the b-pawn for an a-pawn, but [ 41.bxa4 xa4 42.f5!? is more dangerous, exf5 43.b6 when the b-pawn can get to b7, and the bishop to d5 so that W hite can combine an attack on f7 with the possibility of using the b7-pawn. ] 41...a6 42.bxa4 xb6 43.b5 d5 44.f5 exf5 [ 44...gxf5 45.g5+ g7 46.xh5 offers White some chances. ] 45.xd5 d6 By exchanging rooks Black can easily defend f7, and stop the a-pawn from advancing past the a5-square. ½-½
1262 Kengis,Edvins Lutz,Christopher 36th Olympiad (2) [John Watson]
A30 2543 2596 16.10.2004
The original Hedgehog, now referring to a variety of openings including the Sicilian De f e n c e , wa s a va r ia t io n o f t h e E n gl is h Opening. In this game we see that W hite's 'purest' attempt to hold down Black's play with e4 is still a system to be reckoned with. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 a6 10.b3 bd7 11.e4 c8 12.b2 0-0 13.e3 e8 14.d4 c7 15.ac1 ac8 16.h3 This setup harkens way back to the early days of the Hedgehog. Uhlmann, having lost 2 famous games, figured out a way to stop both ...b5 and ...d5. The only problem is that most of White's pieces have to be used for that purpose! f8 [ A game Schwartzman-Yermolinsky, Alexandria 1996 saw White make progress after 16...b8 17.f4 f8 18.h2 e5 (Black's other main break but not so welltimed) 19.f5 g6 20.fxe5 xe5 21.g5! ] 17.c2 [ An earlier Lutz game had gone 17.e1 g6 1258
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 17...b8 18.h2 g6 19.cd1 g7 was a similar plan in Bezman, V-Shipov,S, St Petersburg RUS 1997. Of course the idea w e a k e n s d 6 .) 18.cd1 b8 19.d2 1/2-1/2 Bischoff, K-Lutz,C, Altenkirchen 2001. White is probably a little better. ] 17...h6 18.e2 Now we've got Uhlmann's plan all the way through the odd doubling of ro ok s on t h e e-f ile . T he who le id ea is t o answer .. .d5 with e5. b8 19.d2 a8 20.de1 cd8 21.h2 e5 Provocative. Black can try to sit by [ 21...c7 ] [ or 21...b7 ] 22.f4 g6 23.f5!? Giving back e5 for the s a k e o f p r e s s u r e o n e 6 . T h i s wo r k s o u t because of the extra tempo from attacking e6. In most games Black would have kept the knight on d7 and answered f5 with either ...e5 a n d . . . b 5 o r . . . e xf 5 a n d . . . b 5 . A n ywa y, I suspect that Black could have defended better in what follows. e5 24.f1 fd7 25.fxe6 fxe6 26.e3 b7 27.e2 f6 28.d1!? c8 29.f2 d7 [ 29...b7!? , waiting, may be best. ] 30.d3 [ Or 30.f3 ] 30...xd3 31.xd3 e7 [ 31...b5 32.cxb5 axb5 33.e5! ] 32.e5! dxe5 33.c2 Now e5 is attacked and White's activity gives him the advantage. c8 [ 33...d6 34.fd1 c7 35.b4! ] 34.xe5 f8 35.d4 f7 36.f3!? The wrong idea. [ 36.f4! further increases White's pressure on e6 and will soon win the pawn or otherwise infiltrate. Black is suffering here. ] 36...c6 37.xd8+ xd8 38.b2 [ Or 38.d4! xg2 39.xg2 b7+ 40.g1 and Black is tied down with nothing to do. ] 38...c7 39.e5 xg2 40.xg2 xe5! 41.xe5 c5 42.xf6 Simplification has already helped Black's cause and this makes it easy for him. The bishop could retreat. xf6 43.a8+ f8 44.xf8+ xf8 45.xf6+ [ 45.g2! brings the king closer and doesn't straighten Black's pawn structure. Still, all this should be drawn. ] 45...gxf6 46.b4 e7 47.g2 d6 48.f3 c6 [ 48...e5 49.e3 h5 50.d3 f5 51.e3
a5 52.a3 a4! 53.d3 d6= ] 49.g4 a5 50.a3 axb4 51.axb4 d6 52.e4 c6 53.d4 d6 54.e4 c6 ½-½
1263 Kengis,Edvins Thesing,Matthias Bundesliga 2005-6 (10) [John Watson]
A30 2531 2413 18.02.2006
W hite plays a main-line position in the simplest fashion and gains an advantage, making you wonder what others have been missing and taking a closer look at move orders. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 c5 6.c3 a6 7.e1 d6 8.e4 e7 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 11.e3 0-0 12.c1 Arguably the main line of the Modern Hedgehog, and one that we've repeatedly seen on ChessPub. e8 [ When you see this game then the plan we saw from Banikas-Aroshidze, Kavala 2005 makes even more sense: 12...bd7 13.f4 h5!? (stopping White's expansion via g4 and threatening ...Ng4) 14.h3 ( We analysed 14.f5!? g4 ) 14...fe8 and already there is a large difference: White doesn't have Bh3. ] 13.f4 f8 14.f5 We've seen a lot of games where White played single-mindedly for g4-g5 here he has the dumb-but-dangerous idea of attacking e6. bd7?! It's strange to label this move an error but Black should keep his queen in contact with the e-pawn. [ Werely-van Wely. Leeuwarden 2005 went 14...h6 15.g4 Nbd7 16. g5 with a doubleedged game. W hite could have tried to make the Bh3 idea work: 15.h3 ( 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.h3 f7!= That's the main problem with ...Nbd7) 15...e5! ( 15...xe4? 16.xe4 xe4 17.fxe6; 15...c8? 16.b3 c6 17.xc6 xc6 18.g2 ) 16.de2! ( 16.f3 xe4 17.d5 xd5 18.xd5 c6 19.xc6 xc6 20.xb6 c5 21.f6 d3 is unclear, perhaps a little better for White ) 16...bd7 ( now 16...xe4? fails to 17.d5 xd5 18.xd5 c6 19.xc6 xc6 20.g2 ) 17.d5 xd5 18.cxd5 d8 19.g2! (to prevent ...Be7-g5) e7 20.h4 and White will work on the queenside and 1259
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 along the c-file, probably with some advantage. ] 15.fxe6! fxe6 16.h3 Now Black doesn't have ...Qf7 available and W hite gets a substantial advantage. c5 [ 16...xc4 17.xe6+! xe6 18.b3 ] [ 16...f7? 17.f1! intending Qh5+ ] 17.b4 cxe4 18.xe4 xe4 19.xe6!? [ 19.xe6+! h8 20.g5 would be much better for White. ] 19...d7 20.g5?! [ Even now 20.f4! b7 ( 20...f5 21.xf5 xf5 22.xb6 ) 21.d4 would have been strong. ] 20...f5 21.g2 [ 21.xf5 xf5 22.f3 xf3 23.xf3 d5! hits b4 and isn't clear. ] 21...d5! 22.c5 bxc5 23.bxc5 ac8 24.b3 h8? [ 24...xc5! gives Black a serious advantage after 25.xc5 xe1+ 26.xe1 xc5 After this the game goes back and forth. But White's opening really challenges Black to find the best way through this line. ] 25.f1! h6 26.f3 e4 27.d4 b5 28.c6!? d3 29.fd1 c4 30.c2 c5 31.h1 e4 32.xc5 xc5 33.d4 xc6 34.xe4 xe4 35.xc6 xc6 36.g2 e6 37.f3 e2 38.f8+ h7 39.d2 g4 40.f2 e3 41.g1 f3 42.f1 e4 43.xd5 g4 44.f4 xd5 45.xe3 h3 46.f3 xa2 47.e4+ g8 48.b1 e6 49.b8+ f7 50.b7+ g8 51.xe6+ xe6 52.f2 c4 53.e3 g5 54.d4 f7 55.a7 g6 56.e5 d3 57.f6 h8 58.d7 c2 59.d2 e4 60.d6 c2 61.xa6 b1 62.g4 g8 63.a3 c2 64.c3 e4 65.h4 1-0
my book and thought I didn't allow the Hedgehog! c7 11.e3 e7 12.f4 0-0 13.c1 fe8 14.f2 I wanted to avoid the two mainlines, [ 14.g4 and ] [ 14.d5 ] 14...f8!? White might be threatening e5, which restricts Black's choice a little. Here Black's novelty prepares the d7-square for the f6-knight, other ideas: [ 14...h6 (gives the knight the h7-square if necessary) 15.b3 ac8 16.h3 b8 17.g4 h7 18.g3 d8 with typical Hedgehog play in Kramnik,V-Annageldiev,O/Moscow 1994. ] [ 14...f8 15.e2 ( 15.e5? i s n o w a n s w e r e d b y xg2 16.exf6 and the bishop is not en prise on e7) 15...h5 16.h3 g6 17.e5 xg2 18.xg2 h7 19.f3 with possibilities of attack on the kingside, Gelfand, B-Ljubojevic,L/Belgrade 1997. ] [ 14...g6 gives the knight h5, but after 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 h5 W hite played 17.d5! exd5 18.cxd5 c5 ( 18...b8 19.c6 xc6 20.dxc6 c5 21.c7 xc7 22.xa8 xa8 23.b4 is good for White) 19.b4 xe5 20.bxc5 bxc5 21.c6 xe1+ 22.xe1 d6 23.b3 and Black was crushed, Strauss,D-Short,N/Brighton 1984. ] 15.f5!? This move is very committal, in retrospect I might prefer [ 15.e2 ] 15...6d7 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.h3 f6 18.d5!? This is the point of White's previous play, but it is quite messy. exd5 19.cxd5 c5 The simplest reply. I was more worried by [ 19...d8 20.c6 A) 20...xc6 21.dxc6 c5 22.b4 ce6 23.c7 e7 ( 23...xc7? 24.xb6 e7 25.xc7 xc7 26.xc7 xc7 27.d5+ 1264 A30 picks-up the a8-rook) 24.xb6 looks good for White as the c-pawn is so strong; Kosten,Anthony C 2516 B) 20...c8 21.xb6! ( 21.e7+ xe7 Vera Pons,Felipe 2161 22.xc8 xc8 is probably good for Black) Castelldefals (3) 20.08.2004 21...xb2 22.c2 f6 Black has a piece [Tony Kosten] more, but can hardly move anything! ] [ 19...b8!? has its points: 20.c6 xc6 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.g3 e6 4.f3 b6 21.dxc6 c5 22.b4 ( 22.c7 xc7 23.b4 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 a6 7.e1 d6 8.e4 bd7 g6 24.bxc5 dxc5 is good for Black, who 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 My opponent was has a good extra pawn) 22...ce6 23.d5 surprised by the opening, saying that he had 1260
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c7 24.a4 and again Black has a piece more (for a great c6-pawn), but again his pieces are very awkwardly placed. ] 20.b4 xd4!? Black was obviously worried about the knight coming to c6 or e6, but now he will suffer on the dark squares. 21.xd4 c8 22.g2 The bishop returns to a closed diagonal, but in f act W hite threatens e5, breaking it open. d8 [ 22...g6 23.bxc5 bxc5 24.e5 dxe5 25.xc5 threatens the devastating d6. ] 23.bxc5 bxc5 24.a1 d7 25.e5! The position must be opened for the bishops, and besides, W hite doesn't want to allow Black to plant his knight on e5. dxe5?! [ 25...xe5 26.xe5 dxe5 27.d6 b8 28.d5+ e6 29.xc5 is good for White the e-pawn is weak and the d-pawn strong, but is perhaps not so dramatic. ] 26.d6 b8 27.c6! The black pieces are p a s s ive ly p la c e d . b6 28.d5+ h8 29.xd7 xd7 30.xe5 Opposite-colour bishops are on the board, but as everyone knows this favours the attacker, and g7 is not easy to defend! bc8? This loses, but even after the better [ 30...h6 31.f1 ( 31.h5 e6 defends ) 31...h7 32.e7 xe7 33.dxe7 c4+ 34.d4 c6 35.e5 g8 36.f8 Black can hardly resist. ] [ 30...xe5? 31.xe5 g8 32.f1! threatens Qxg7+ and wins. d8 33.f7 ] 31.g5 g8 32.f1! White must take a little care, [ 32.f7? c4+ 33.g2 b7+ draws. ] 32...h3 This allows mate in four, but the position was hopeless anyway: [ 32...c4+ 33.d4 d8 34.f7 and g7 explodes. ] 33.xg8+! [ 33.xg8+ xg8 ( 33...xg8 34.xg7+ h8 35.g6+ ) 34.xg7+ xg7 35.f8+ g8 36.gxg8# ] 1-0
1265 A30 Kovalyov,A 2596 Van Wely,Loek 2691 TCh-ESP CECLUB Div Honor 2012 (1.2) [John Bartholomew] W e've seen two recent examples with the retreat 16...Ne8. Here Van Wely tries 16..Nh5, a move he faced in an online game eight years back. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 b6 4.g3 b7 5.g2 g6 6.0-0 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 0-0 12.h4 a6 13.b3 c7 14.h3 b8 15.g4 White has been pinning his theoretical hopes on this pawn advance in recent months. [ 15.h6 b5! promises excellent counterchances. Topalov, V (2752)-Karjakin, S (2779)/Astana KAZ 2012/[John Bartholomew] ] 15...e6 16.g5 h5?! Sidelining the knight when Bh3-g4 is possible is somewhat suspicious. Van W ely actually encountered this move (a novelty at the time) from the White side in a 2004 game against Grischuk. He prevailed, but it was definitely touch-andgo for awhile. Perhaps the Dutchman had been itching to give it a shot with Black. [ We've focused on the 16...e8 retreat: 17.d4 c5 ( 17...a8!? Zhou Jianchao (2625)-Sasikiran, K (2703)/Hangzhou CHN 2012/[John Bartholomew]) 18.g3 e5 19.f4 g7 20.g2 e5!? 21.f3 exf4 22.xf4 f6! Bartel, M (2654)-Almasi, Z (2713)/Istanbul TUR 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] 17.xd6!? [ The source game saw 17.g4 (logical W hite immediately attacks the marooned steed) b5! 18.xh5 gxh5 19.xh5?! ( this pawn is a sitting duck, so perhaps 19.e4!? is better, i.e. xe4 20.xe4 bxc4 21.bxc4 ) 19...bxc4 20.b4 xf3 21.exf3 xb4 Van Wely, L (2681)-Grischuk, (2704)/ chessassistantclub.com ] 17...xf3 [ 17...xc4 18.xc4 xd6 19.d1 c6 20.xc6 xc6 21.d4 a8 22.g2 is pleasant for White. Black will struggle to activate the h5 knight. ] 18.exf3 e5 1261
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Black's intended follow-up, though 18...b5!? als o d e s e rve s a t t e n t io n , in f u ll Do u b le Fianchetto spirit. ] 19.e4! Initiating a tactical skirmish that re s o lve s in W h it e 's f a vo r. T h e f o llo win g s e q u e n c e i s b e s t f o r b o t h s i d e s . xc4 20.xb6 [ 20.bxc4 xd6 21.f4 d7 22.d1 c7 ] 20...xe4 21.xb8 xf3+ 22.g2 h4+ 23.f1 xc3 24.xf8+ xf8 25.xc3 Let's take stock. Material is equal, but Black's knights do not make a strong impression. Additionally, White is primed to attack Black's solitary a-pawn (Rc3-c6) and may very soon succeed in creating a passed pawn. Black cannot achieve anything similar on the kingside (for now, at least). White has better chances in this ending. f4! Black needs to address the minor piece inequality ASAP. 26.xf4 xf4 27.c6 f3 28.xa6 xg5 29.g2 e5 30.a5 f6 31.b5 [ 31.a4!? ] 31...d4 32.e1 g4 33.f1 d4 34.e1 g4 35.d5 No draw! I lost a game to the young Kovalyov some five years ago, and I was greatly impressed by his chess instincts. He knows he has the better of it here. e7 36.b4?! [ Beginning with the most distant passer seems better: 36.a4! ] 36...d6 37.a4 e4?! [ Black passes up a good opportunity: 37...e4! 38.xe4 (38...Rg1+ and 38. ..Nc3 were major threats) xe4+ 39.d2 c6 40.c3 ( 40.c5+ b7=; 40.b8 c7= ) 40...f4 and White can only play on by accepting a good deal of risk, e.g. 41.c5+ d6!? ( 41...b7 should be fine too) 42.a5 xf2 43.a6?! ( 43.b3 f1 44.b2 f2+ 45.b3 f1= ) 43...a2 . ] 38.d2 g2 39.e3 xh2 40.a5 h3+ 41.d4 d3+ 42.c4 a3 43.b6+ e5 44.a6 h5 45.b5?! White has been playing very impressively, but this affords Black some chances. [ 45.c6! is decisive, making way for the bpawn. If we follow a continuation similar to the game, you'll see why: h4 46.b5 h3 47.b6 h2 48.b7 h1 49.b8+ f5 50.c8+ f4 51.xf6+ (big difference!) e5 52.e6+ f4 53.f8+!
(bigger difference!) g4 54.xa3+- . ] 45...h4 46.a5 xa5 47.bxa5 h3 The pawns will queen simultaneously. 48.a7 h2 49.a8 h1 50.b8+ f5 51.c8+?! [ 51.b6! ] 51...f4 52.b8+ g4 53.g3+ f5 54.e3 a1?! [ 54...d1! offers good drawing chances, as 55...Qa4+ is a threat. ] 55.b5! Now Black will be hard-pressed to stop the passer. b2+ 56.c6 a1 57.c5 f3 58.xe4+?! [ 58.b7 is much easier. ] 58...xe4 59.e3+ f5 60.xf3+ g5 61.e3+ h5 62.b6 g5? [ The engine says Black retains drawing c h a n c e s w i t h 62...f5! because the White king will have a harder time hiding on f8 or g8 (Van Wely's downfall in the game). ] 63.a6 a4+ 64.d6 f4+ 65.e7 g6 66.a7 e4+ 67.e6 b7+ 68.d7 b4+ 69.e8 e4+ 70.f8 h6 71.g8 g4 72.g7+ h5 73.h7+ Black resigned. A deserved victory for Kovalyov, who dealt with Van Wely's 16...Nh5?! in professional fashion. P e rh a p s B l a ck is O K in so m e va ria t io n s (maybe 18...b5!? is worth another look), but I would definitely prefer 16...Ne8. 1-0
1266 Kraai,J Browne,W 3rd Konig Memorial rapid (5) [John Bartholomew]
A30 2514 2449 23.09.2012
GM W alter Browne is an American chess legend who dominated US and international tournaments throughout the '70s and '80s. He recently released an autobiography entitled "The Stress of Chess", and I can tell you that it's a highly entertaining read. In the present game W alter goes in for the Double Fianchetto, and (despite the result) displays much of the fighting spirit that catapulted him to six US Championships from 1974-1983. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 0-0 12.h4 a6 13.b3 c7 14.g4 b5?! 1262
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 This active move had been tried a couple times previously, but I can't recommend it. [ Prior to 2012, Black mostly played 14...h6 , taking precautions against g4-g5. In a recent Grandmaster game White achieved n o t h i n g a f t e r 15.h3 ( critical, however, is 15.xh6 xh6 16.xh6 xg4 , as in Bu Xiangzhi (2645)-Shchekachev, A (2570)/ Moscow 2006/[John W atson]) 15...g5 16.g3 b5! 17.d2 xg2 18.xg2 a8 19.xa8 xa8 20.cxb5 axb5 1/2-1/2 Kovalyov, A (2598)-Vazquez Igarza, R (2566)/San Cristobal VEN 2012. ] [ However, things changed this past April wh en K a rjak in in tro du ce d t he st un nin g reversal 14...c8!? in Jakovenko, D (2729) Karjakin, S (2766)/Sochi RUS 2012/[John Bartholomew]. Karjakin's move appears to be completely playable, though we have yet to see it repeated (this is in part due to the popularity of 14.Bh3 over 14.g4). ] 15.g5 [ Black's idea is 15.cxb5 xg4 , regaining the pawn. An unbalanced position could result after 16.xg4 xc3 17.xc3 xc3 18.a4 axb5 19.xb5 a8 20.a4 , with chances for both sides. ] 15...h5 [ Or 15...e8 16.d5 c8 17.e4 xd5 18.cxd5 c5 , Lalith, B (2320)-Joshi, G ( 2 2 5 0 ) / D i n d i g u l 2 0 0 7 . H e r e 19.h4 ensures White a clear advantage with the bishop pair and the possibility of Nf3-d4-c6. ( 19.g4 is similar. )] 16.d5! c8 Browne aims to keep the tension. [ Instead, Hamdouchi, H (2535)-Solozhenkin, E ( 2 5 0 6 ) / F r a n c e 2 0 0 1 w e n t 16...xd5 17.cxd5 xc1 18.xc1 a5 . Here 19.c2 ensures White a comfortable edge. ] 17.d4! bxc4!? Not objectively correct, but Black stays true to his combative style. [ He has no interest in defending the position after 17...xd5 18.xd5 . ( I think 18.cxd5 xc1 19.xc1 a5 is less clear, )] 18.xe7+ xe7 19.xb7 c7 20.xa6 [ Safer is 20.f3 , going after the h5 knight. ] 20...c3 21.b5 c5! The game now becomes incredibly difficult to assess. Objectively White still has the better chances,
but in a rapid game anything can happen. 22.b4 [ Black's last was possible because of 22.xc5? xc5 , trapping the bishop on a6. ] 22...e5 23.xc3?! xe3! Nearly forced, but s t i l l n i c e . 24.d5!? White struggles for the initiative, too! [ Black has great counterattacking potential after 24.fxe3 xe3+ 25.f2 xg5+ 26.h1 df6 . ] 24...e4 25.xe4 xe4 26.f3 d4?! [ 26...h4 ] 27.xd4 xd4+ 28.e3 a8 29.b7 [ Natural, but 29.exd4! xa6 30.c8+ f8 ( 30...g7?? i s r e f u t e d b y 31.c7!+- ) 31.c3! leaves Black struggling to stop the queenside pawns. ] 29...b8? This loses. [ Instead, 29...xe3+ 30.xe3 xa2 is roughly balanced. ] 30.c7+White wins back the piece and keeps his dangerous passers. e5 31.exd4 xf3+ 32.f2 xg5 33.c8+ xc8 34.xc8 f8 35.a4 e8 36.a5 d8 37.b7 e6 38.a6 Black resigned. While fun, 14...b5?! doesn't look entirely sound. 14...h6 or Karjakin's 14...Rc8!? should be preferred. 1-0
1267 Kramnik,Vladimir Aronian,Levon Rapid Match Yerevan ARM rapid (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A30 2772 2759 05.05.07
1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.g5 a6 10.xf6 xf6 11.f4 0-0 12.fd1 e7 13.e4 xe4 14.xe4 a7 15.d4 c8 16.b3 [ 16.ac1 c7 17.c2 f6 18.b3 b5 19.cxb5 xd4 20.xc7 xf2+ 21.xf2 xc7 22.bxa6 A.Fuhrmann-T.Nagley, IECC E m a il 2 0 0 2 ( 22.b4!? d5 23.e4 axb5 24.exd5 a7+ 25.f1 xa2 26.xb5 exd5 27.xd5 )] 16...e8 [ One alternative is 16...c7 A) 17.e3 e8 18.ac1 c5 19.d2 1263
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 19.h3 g5 20.f4 f6 was fine for Black in A.Zhuravlev-A.Ivanov, Vladivostok 1990 ) 19...d8 20.e3 d7 21.b4 c7 22.c2 g6 23.dc1 dc8= R.Vaganian-S. Dolmatov, Moscow 1985; B) 17.a4 e8 18.a2 d7 19.a5 c5 20.b1 bxa5 21.xa5 f6 22.e3 D.Zifroni-R.Bar, Israel 2002 ] [ A more recent idea is 16...f6 which has been played two of the main proponents of the Hedgehog, Adams and Ftacnik and therefore deserves particular attention. So far praxis has been kind to Black, and I'm sure we will see this line much more in the future... 17.a4 ( 17.e3 d8 18.g4 g6 19.d2 h5 20.e2 g7 21.ad1 c5 22.h4 ad7 23.h3 e7 24.f3 ee8 25.e4 d5 26.xe6! dxe4 27.xd8 e7 28.xe8+ xe8 29.d8 xd8 30.xd8 and even though W hite has won a pawn, his advantage turned out to be too little to materialise into a win, V. Anand-M.Adams, Sofia2005 ) 17...c7!? is a new idea in this position ( 17...c5 18.a2 d8 19.e3 ad7 20.b1 a5 21.ad2 g6 22.h4 K . U r b a n - R . W o j t a s z e k , K r a k o w 2 0 0 6; 17...d8 18.e3 c5 19.a2 xd4 E.Pigusov-M. Ulibin, Dubai 2002 20.xd4 ad7 21.ad2 ) 18.a5 bxa5 19.xa5 c5! 20.xc5 ( 20.a4 d5 21.cxd5 xd5 22.b1 d6= ) 20...dxc5 21.c2 d8= A. Goloshchapov-L.Ftacnik, Hamburg 2007 ] 17.a4 [ 17.ac1 c7 18.b1 c5 19.e3 d8 20.a4 a5 21.c2 d7 22.cd2 f6 23.e4 e8 24.d3 g6 25.e2 , and White has the usual space advantage in Hedgehog, and access to the b5-square. This doesn't normally amount to much more, but in the game Cifuentes Parada-Van der Werf, Wijk aan Zee 1995, White squeezed out a win when Black start losing patience. ] 17...c5 18.a2 h5 [ This is a somewhat surprising decision give n th at B la ck h a s ve ry well with t h e alternatives: 18...f6 19.ad2 c7 20.b1 e7 21.b4 h5 22.c2 ( 22.f3 e5 23.b5 axb5 24.xb5 d7 25.d4 c7 26.xb6 xc4 27.c6 d8 28.b5 L . K r e s z - S . P r u f e r , I E C G E m a i l 2 0 0 0) 22...ec8= A.Karpov-G.Kasparov, Moscow
1981 ] [ 18...d7 19.b1 a5 20.ad2 f8 21.d3 ( 21.e3 ed8 22.e4 g6 23.f3 ) 21...ed8 22.b5 a6 23.e4 g6 24.f3 b4 25.f4 d5 26.cxd5 xd5= D.Magalashvili-S. Azarov, Istanbul TUR 2006 ] [ 18...f8 19.e3 c7 20.b1 ec8 21.a5 bxa5 22.a1 b6 23.xa5 c5= B.Gibbons-M.Freeman, corr 1985 ] 19.f3 e5 20.e3 c8 21.b1 ac7 22.c2 f6 23.g2 d7 24.a2 g6 25.cd2 c5 26.e2 d7 27.a5!? bxa5 28.xa5 c5 29.c1 h5 30.d4 [ 30.h4!? ] 30...c2 [ 30...h4!?= ] 31.b4? [ This a rather big blunder that tips the balance in Black's favour. Nor does 31.b6?! work for White: c3 32.b4 d7 33.xa6 xb4 ] [ Instead 31.4d2!? b1 ( 31...g6 32.h4 ) 32.a2 xa2 33.xa2 b8= ] 31...a4! It appears as if Kramnik overlooked this move because W hite's position is immediately clearly inferior. 32.xa4 xa4 33.e2 b2 Now Black wins the c-pawn. 34.a1 f6 And now Black is win s t h e e xch a n ge . . . 35.xd6 xc4 36.dxa6 xa1 37.xa1 b8 At the moment, W hite has a pawn for the exchange, but that will only be a temporary comfort. White will lose the b-pawn eventually, and once Black manages to exchange White's remaining rook, it will go downhill in rapid fashion for White. 38.b1 a3 39.b3 b5 40.f3 g6 41.h4 c4 42.f4 c3 43.b2 a3 44.e2 c2 45.b3 e5 46.d5 xe2 47.xa3 g7 48.b3 d2 49.c7 [ 49.e4 f5 50.a3 fxe4 wins easily for Black. ] 49...c2 50.d5 a8 51.c3 c8 52.e4 8c4 53.d6 4c3 Now the exchange of the rooks has been accomplished - the rest is simple technique 54.xc3 xc3 55.b5 d3 56.c4 f6 57.f1 b3 58.d6 f8 59.e2 e7 60.c8+ d7 61.a7 b2+ 62.f3 e6 63.e4 d6 64.c8+ e6 65.a7 f5 66.exf5+ xf5 67.e3 b3+ 1264
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 68.d2 e4 69.c2 f3 70.c6 xf2+ 71.c3 f1 72.b4 c1 73.e7 f3 74.xg6 e4 75.b6 e3 76.e5+ xg3 77.d3 e2 0-1
1268 Kramnik,Vladimir Carlsen,Magnus Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (12) [Carsten Hansen]
A30 2799 2733 26.01.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 c5 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 a6 10.g5 This line is out of fashion at the moment and shouldn't really cause Black too many headaches. Kramnik may have thought that Carlsen wouldn't know the intricacies of this line because his experience in the Hedgehog is very limited. In the PGN archives you can also find examples wit h the a lte rn ative s 10 Bg5, an d 1 0 b3 , whereas 10 Be3 usually transposes to the Bg5 lines. The line played in this game, has been some sort of specialty of Czech Grandmaster Milos Jirovsky xg2 11.xg2 c6 [ 11...a7?! 12.e3! bd7 13.ge4 0-0 14.xd6 a8+ 15.f3 d8 16.de4 Wojtkiewicz, A-Jurek, J, Bern op 1993 ] [ 11...0-0 12.ce4 d5 was played in BerkesStohl, Turin, 2006 - see the PGN archives ] 12.f4 0-0 [ Black has two important alternatives at this j u n c t u r e : A ) 12...c7 13.b3 ( 13.ce4 e5 14.b3 0-0 15.xf6+ xf6 16.e4 e7 17.a3 g6 18.c1 was played in 1/ 2-1/2 Agrest, E-Hellsten, J/ Swedish Ch (Gothenburg) 2006) 13...0-0 14.a3 fd8 15.ge4 e8 16.ac1 d5 ( 16...e5! 17.f3 b7 is entirely comfortable for Black) 17.xe7 xe7 18.cxd5 xf4 19.gxf4 exd5 20.g5 with a slight advantage for White in the endgame, Jirovsky, M-Bernasek, J/ Karlovy Vary CZE 2004 ] [ B) 12...a7!? , which was given as best by John W atson in an earlier update on this website 13.ce4 ( or 13.ge4 d7 14.e3 e5 15.xf6+ xf6 16.a4 a8+ 17.g1 c6 18.xb6 b7 19.c5 dxc5 20.c4 xc4 21.xc4 xb2
22.ab1 0-0 23.xc5 a4!= Kasparov, GRibli, Z/Skelleftea 1989. This position was prepared by Ribli for this game, but it is best remembered for the fact that when Kasparov offered a draw some moves later, he did so in a won position!) 13...d7 14.xf6+ xf6 15.xh7 xh7 16.e4 h5 17.xc6 c5 18.a4 a8+! ( 18...c8?! 19.xd6 xc4 20.xd7+ xd7 21.xd7 xd7 was played in Pantsulaia, L-Markus, R/Warsaw POL 2005, which can be found in the PGN archives. Black is a pawn down, but his active pieces give him reasonable compensation and should have allowed him to save the draw. However, Black played the endgame very p o o r l y a n d l o s t .) 19.g1 c6! lead to equality in Ribli-Wahls, Bundesliga 1988/89 ] 13.ce4 [ Black doesn't have any problems after 13.ge4 A) 13...e8 also deserves strong consideration 14.b3 a7 A1) 15.f3 h6?! ( 15...d7!? ) 16.e3 ( 16.d2!? ) 16...d7 17.a3 b8?! ( 17...d5! 18.xe7 xe7 19.cxd5 exd5 20.d3 d4 is very pleasant for Black) 18.ac1 b5 19.b1 b4 20.b2 Csom, I-Stocek, J/Budapest 1998; A2) 15.b2 d7 ( 15...f5!? 16.d2 g5 17.f3 e5 18.h5 f6 19.g1 g4 with a comfortable game for Black Ingbrandt, J-Hansen, S/Sweden 2000) 16.e3? ( 16.h4= ) 16...d5! 17.cxd5 exd5 18.d2 d4 19.b1 f5 20.c1 c7 , and White is already in serious trouble, Landenbergue, C-Gavrikov, V/ Suhr 1991; B) 13...xe4 B1) Black doesn't have any problems after 14.xe4 a7! ( 14...e5!? 15.b3 c7 16.a3 g6 transposes to Agrest, E-Hellsten, J above) 15.b3 d7 16.b2 d5?! ( 16...f5! 17.c3 g5 18.f3 e5 19.h5 a8+ is a much more aggressive way to play for Black and i n d e e d a l s o a b e t t e r c o n t i n u a t i o n) 17.cxd5 xd5 18.c3 xd1 19.xd1 c8 20.e4 leaves White with a nagging initiative, which eventually was 1265
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg5 loses a piece for White) 15...axb5 converted into a win in Csom, I16.f3 ( 16.b2 is a recommendation by Kindermann, S/ Biel 1986; Ft a c n ik , b u t d5 followed by ...Qb6 leaves B2) 14.xe4 c7 15.f4 e5 Black with the better chances) 16...f5 16.ac1 fd8 17.b3 h6 18.f3 17.c3 c7 18.b2 b4 19.a4 d5 B2a) Here 18...ab8 looks like an 20.d2 f6 21.ac1 c8 is given as equal improvement for Black, since 19.g4 b y Ft a c n ik in CB M b a s e d o n t h e ga m e g6 is quite comfortable, e.g. 20.e3 Olivier, P-Prie, E/Lugano 1989, but Black's g5!? 21.f4 d5 ( 21...f6 can also be position looks favourable at this point ] played ) 22.cxd5 xf4+ 23.h1 h3! 24.dxe6 xe3 25.xd8+ xd8 15.b2 [ 15.c3 f6 ( 15...e5!? ) 16.e4 xg5 26.exf7+ xf7 , and Black has the 17.xg5 c8 18.f3 f5 19.d3 e5 better chances; 20.d4 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/ B2b) 18...d7 19.b1 f6 20.e4 2-1/2, in Rogozenko, D-Schuster, J/corr c6 21.xf6+ xf6 22.e4 xe4 1991, though White still appears to have a 23.fxe4 with a slight plus for White in slightly better game ] S a n g u i n e t t i , R - R o g o f f , K / B i e l i zt 15...d7 1976 ] [ Black has also tried 15...b5!? 16.f3 [ 13.f3 c7 14.b3 fd8 15.b2 b7 ( 16.ab1!? c8=; 16.c5 d5; 16.cxb5 ( Black can also consider 15...h5 16.e3 axb5 ) 16...a8 ( 16...bxc4!? 17.bxc4 f6 if a draw is acceptable for him, or; is considered better for White by Ftacnik as 15...e5!? with a complicated struggle it leaves White with pressure against the d6ahead. ) 16.e4 xe4 17.xe4 b5 pawn and access to the b-file. However, 18.ac1 ( 18.cxb5 axb5 19.a3 dc8= ) Black can play f5! 18.eg5 e5 19.d2 18...bxc4 19.g4 ( 19.xc4 ac8= ) c7 with a pleasant position) 17.ac1 h6 19...f8 ( 19...e5!? ) 20.xc4 d5 / \ f 5 , e 5 , e 4 | ^ [ + ] 18.ed2 ( 18.c3 , a n d B la c k h a s so lve d a l l h is o p e n in g e5!? /\ Bg5 ) 18...d7 19.g1 b7 problems, Ivanov, I-Shipov, S/Guelph 2005 ] A) 20.a3!? f6 ( 20...f6?! 21.e4 b4 13...e8! 22.xf6+ xf6 23.b2 ) 21.e4 [ This looks a little odd and somewhat (+= Ftacnik) xe4 22.xe4 c8=; passive, but it is in fact Black's best move B) 20.e4 bxc4 21.xc4 ( 21.xc4? and it off ers him a perfectly acceptable d5 22.d3 b4 23.d2 xa2 ) game. The alternatives are less impressive: 21...c7 A) 13...d5 14.xf6+ xf6 15.cxd5 exd5 B1) 22.a4!? d5 ( 22...f6 23.xf6 16.f5 g6 17.xd5 xd5+ 18.xd5 xf6 24.e4 ) 23.e5 (with an Jirovsky, M-Kristensen, K/Copenhagen initiative for White according to Ftacnik) 1993 ] xe5 24.xe5 c8! 25.xc8 xc8 [ B) 13...xe4 14.xe4 xg5 15.xc6 26.f3 f6=; ( 15.xg5 c7 16.f4 ad8 17.d2 d7 B2) 22.d3 d5 23.b1 f6 24.e4 18.ad1 fd8 19.d3 e5 Amann, G-Kranz, Wojtkiewicz, A-Ftacnik, L/Budapest 1993, A / G o e t z i s 1 9 9 7 , a n d n o w 20.g5!? ) and now d8 25.exd5 xd5= ] 15...e7 16.e3 ( 16.b3!? c8 17.b7 ) 16...c8 17.a4 a8 18.b3 c7 16.ac1 [ Here White should strongly consider 19.ac1 ab8 ( 19...c6+ 20.f3 ab8 16.f3!? b5 ( 16...f6 17.d2 xe4 21.f4 fd8 leaves White with a slight 18.xe4 c7 19.g4 g6 20.h4 fd8 initiative) 20.f4 fc8 21.e4 c6 22.f3 21.g5 e5 22.f4 Stangl, M-De Boer, Jirovsky, M-Morchiashvili, B/Batumi 2002 ] G/Tel Aviv 1987) 17.g1 bxc4 18.bxc4 14.b3 a7 a5 19.ac1 c7 ( 19...c8 20.c5 dxc5 [ Black has a good alternative in 14...b5! 21.xd7 xd7 22.xc5 b5 23.d3 15.cxb5 ( 15.a3 bxc4 16.bxc4 a5! Flumbort, A-Womacka, M/ Budapest HUN the point, now White cannot win the d-pawn, 2006 ) 20.ed2 c8 21.a3 e5 22.e3 e.g. 17.xd6 xd6 , because 18.xd6?? 1266
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f6 Adorjan, A-Rohde, M/ New York 1985, 23.c5 dxc5 24.xe5 ] 16...c7! [ A novelty. Thus far Black had only played 16...a8 , which was also considered by Carlsen during the game. Carlsen didn't find Black's position particularly attractive in the m a in lin e s a n d t h e re f o re d e cid e d o n a d i f f e r e n t s c h e m e a l t o g e t h e r 17.f3 ( 17.g1 b5 18.f3 bxc4 19.xc4 d5 20.c5 d8 21.cc1 f6 22.a4 b8 23.e5 c8 Van der Sterren, PKindermann, S/Munich 1988 24.xf6 xf6 25.b4 ) A) 17...h6 18.g4!? ( 18.e3 b7 19.g4!? is also very pleasant for White) 18...f5 19.gxf5 xf5 20.e3 d8 21.g1 b7 22.d3 ( 22.a4!? d5 23.g3 f7 24.d3 f6 25.xf6 xf6 26.e5 dxc4 27.xc4 b5 28.axb5 axb5 29.c5 ) 22...f8 23.cd1 g5?! 24.e5 h7 25.g6 f7 26.g3 1-0 Olafsson, H-Hjartarson, J/Gausdal 1996; B) 17...b7 18.g1 h6 19.d2 ( 19.d2?! f5! 20.c3 e5 21.e3 e4 22.xe4 fxe4 23.xe4 d8 Tukm akov, V-Ribli, Z/ La s Pa lmas izt 1982 ) 19...d5 20.cxd5 xd5 21.c3 b4 22.xd5 xd5 23.d4 xa2 24.c8 f6 25.ed2 b5 26.c4 c5 27.d1 Ornstein, A-Ftacnik, L/ Trnava 1983 ] 17.f3 f5! The idea behind Black's previous move 18.c3 g5! 19.d2 [ The alternative given by Carlsen is 19.e3 g4 20.d2 g5 21.xb6 a8 22.f3 b8 23.f2 e5 which "gives Black active piece play and good compensation for a pawn" (Carlsen) ] 19...g4 20.e1 [ 20.d4 g5 21.e3 e5 (Carlsen) is very pleasant for Black ] 20...g5 21.e3 ff7 22.g1 e8 23.e2 f6 24.f4 e8 [ Carlsen mentions that he considered 24...e4 , but rejected it on account of 25.xe6? ( 25.e2!? is an improvement f o r W h i t e n o t m e n t i o n e d b y C a r l s e n) 25...e8 26.xg5 xd2 27.xf7 , but as he points out himself, after e4 28.h6+ f8 29.xf5 f7 Black is
winning ] 25.c3 g7 26.b4 e4 27.b3 ge7 28.a4?! [ Carlsen claims that Rybka's suggestion of 28.f3 gxf3 29.xf3 doesn't impress him mu ch a f t e r f6 , but White does appear to be doing rather well after 30.xf6 xf6 31.h4 ] [ Instead Carlsen thinks Short's suggestion of 28.h4 is interesting for White, after which Carlsen thinks that White cannot be worse i n d e e d a f t e r xf4 29.exf4 c8 the chances are about equal in computer terms, though the weak a1-h8 diagonal can become a problem for Black in the longterm. ] 28...e5 29.xa6? [ 29.b3 is relatively best, though Black obviously is better at this point ] 29...a7 30.b5 [ This move was generously accompanied by a n o f f e r f o r a d r a w. C a r l s e n n a t u r a l l y declined because he is clearly better at this stage. 30.xb6? eb7 31.d4 f6 leaves White's queen trapped in the centre. ] 30...xb5 31.cxb5 xa2 32.c8+ f7 33.fd3 f6 34.xe5+ dxe5 [ Carlsen considers 34...xe5 as better, e.g. 35.xe5 dxe5 36.d3 f6 37.f8+ g7 38.d8 c3 39.f1 d2 ] 35.c2 ea7 36.g2 g5 Black is essentially winning at this point as the white bpawns will fall without much being able to be done about it. Nevertheless Carlsen makes it look very easy. 37.d6 e4 38.xf6 xf6 39.f1 a1 40.e2 b1 41.d1 xb4 42.g2 xb5 43.f4 c5 44.b2 b5 45.f1 ac7 46.bb1 b7 47.b4 c4 48.b2 b4 49.db1 f3 50.g2 d7! 51.h3 e5 52.e2 d2 53.hxg4 fxg4 54.xd2 xd2 55.b2 f3 56.f1 b3 57.g2 c2 0-1
1267
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1269 Kramnik,Vladimir Leko,Peter Tal Memorial Blitz blitz (32) [Carsten Hansen]
A30 2788 2741 30.08.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 a6 10.g5 Normally this move is considered fairly harmless, and this game does little to change that observation, but Kramnik has played it before. xg2 11.xg2 0-0 [ 11...c6 12.f4 0-0 was the topic of discussion in Kramnik-Carlsen, W ijk aan Zee 2008, where the Norwegian teenager pulled off one of his more surprising victories in a splendid game, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] 12.b3 [ This move is fairly harmless. A more p o p u l a r c h o i c e i s 12.ce4 which is an invention of the Austrian Robatsch. a7 ( 12...d5 was tried in Berkes-Stohl, Turin 2 0 0 6 , wh i c h c a n b e f o u n d i n t h e P G N archives.; 12...e8 13.d3 g6 14.h4 d7 15.b3 c5 16.e3 xe4 17.xe4 promises White a strong initiative for some time to come, Jirovsky, M-Ftacnik, L/ CZEchT 1994 ) A) 13.xf6+ xf6 14.g4 ( 14.e3 d7 15.e4 e7 16.f3= , and draw agreed, Taimanov, M-Csom, I/Titograd 1984 With only two pairs o f minor pieces o n th e board W hite's chances of utilizing his space advantage and building up pressure against Black's potential weaknesses are very small. In fact, it's Black who often manages to free himself completely with a timely d6-d5 or b6-b5 break.) 14...e7 15.h4 d7 16.b3 f6 17.f3 d7 18.b2 a8 19.ac1 xf3+ 20.xf3 c8 , and while White has a little more space, Black is entirely okay in this position, Adorjan, A-Lau, R/Plovdiv EUchT 1983; B) 13.d3 xe4 14.xe4 d7 ( 14...c6 15.f4 d5 16.cxd5 b4 17.f3 xd5 is another decent alternative for Black, Fauland, A-Csom, I/Budapest Elekes/1990 )
B1) 15.c3 White takes b5 and d5 under control, but also loses time. c8 16.d2 ( Stohl gives 16.b3 c6 17.f4 f6 18.ac1 as equal and therefore the better continuation for W hite. In the game , Black takes o ver the con tro l) 16...c6! 17.e4 e5 18.b3 was Agdestein, E-Adams, M/Slough 1997, and now Black could have grabbed the initiative with f5; B2) 15.f4 c6 ( or 15...c8 16.ac1 fd8 17.f3 b7 18.d2 c6 19.h4 h6 20.g1 a5 21.b4 xc4! 22.xc4 d5= Csom, I-Ermenkov, E/EU-chT Plovdiv/ 1983/) 16.f3 e5 17.xe5 dxe5 18.c3 xd1 19.xd1 c7 20.b3 c8 with approximately equal chances, Csom, I-Antonsen, M/German League 1999 ] 12...a7 [ This is a very solid, but not strictly necessary move. Black has several decent alternat ives: A ) 12...c6 13.f4 c7 14.b2 e5 15.ge4 b5 ( 15...h5!? 16.d2 ad8 intending ... f7-f5 looks quite promising for Black) 16.cxb5 axb5 17.xb5 c2 with a good game for Black, Ivanov, I Kaplun, L/ Beltsy 1977 ] [ B) 12...bd7 13.b2 ( 13.a3 c5 ) 13...c7 ( or 13...b8 14.ge4 d8 15.f3?! e8 16.d2 b5 17.cxb5 d5 , and Black is already clearly better, Zaltsman, V-Ermenkov, E/ New York 1980) 14.ge4 fd8 15.xf6+ xf6! 16.xd6? ( 16.d2 c6+ 17.f3 e5 is fine for Black ) 16...b7+ 17.g1 ( 17.f3?! e5 18.a3 g4 Ruderfer, M-Psakhis, L/URS 1980 ) 17...e5 18.a3 c6 19.e4 e7 20.d6 c7 21.c5 bxc5= is very comfortable for Black, Kovacevic, VLjubojevic, L/ Yugoslavia 1978 ] [ C) 12...c7 13.b2 d8 14.ac1 ( 14.f4 bd7= ) 14...b7+ 15.g1 b5 16.d3 h6 17.f3 bxc4 18.xc4 bd7 wit h a co m f o rt a b le p o sit io n f o r B l la c k , Maslanka, R-Pisulinski, J/Slupsk 1989 ] 13.b2 d7!? [ Another really solid move, and somewhat surprisingly, this is also a novelty. Earlier Black has tried 13...bd7 14.d2 b8 ( 14...e8!?; 14...c5!? ) 15.ge4 d8?! 1268
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 15...b5! 16.cxb5 d5 and Black has a pleasant game.) 16.ad1 c7 17.e3 ( I don't see anything wrong with taking the pawn on d6, e.g. 17.xd6 c5 18.e3 , a n d W h i t e i s a p a w n u p f o r n o t h i n g) 17...c6 18.g5 Afifi, A-Guerra, J/Dubai 1986 ] 14.ge4 e8 15.f3 h6 [ 15...c6 16.d2 f5!? is an interesting option for Black ] 16.d2 [ Here W hite can consider 16.ac1 c6 17.e3 though this is hardly life-threatening for Black. ] 16...c6 17.g1 c7 [ A sharp alternative for Black is 17...d5!? , though this is a bit unlike the standard operating procedure for both the Hedgehog and Leko. 18.ad1 ( or 18.cxd5 exd5 19.ad1 d4 ) 18...f5 19.f2 c5 20.cxd5 f6 with wonderful complications ] 18.a4 [ 18.ad1!? ] 18...b5 19.b6 d8 20.c1 bxc4?! [ This is unnecessary. Black obtains a pleasant game after 20...b7! 21.e3 b8 22.cxb5 axb5 23.c3 xb6 ( 23...a7!? ) 24.xc6 xc6 25.xc6 a8 ] 21.xc4 b7?! [ 21...b8!? 22.b6 b4 is playable for Black ] [ Also 21...f5 22.f2 g5 23.f4 f6 can be considered, though White seems to have the slightly better chances in this line. ] 22.b6! a8?! [ 22...xb6 23.xb6 a7 is a better option for Black. With a series of accurate moves White gains a large advantage. ] 23.cxd6! White sacrifices the exchange, but in return he gets complete control over the game. xd6 24.xd6 g5 25.xc6 xd2 26.d4! f6 27.c4 h7 [ 27...h8 is relatively better, avoiding tempo gaining checks from White's queen in the lines given as alternatives to White next t w o m o v e s . H o w e v e r , a f t e r 28.a3 White is very much in control of the game. ] 28.xa6?! [ Tempting, but not best. White should have aimed for Black's king which lacks sufficient protection after 28.c2+! h8 29.c7 b8
30.f7+ xf7 31.xf7 , and White is winning ] 28...d5 29.xd5?! [ Admittedly, the endgame looks rather promising for White, but keeping the queens on should definitely have been considered as well, e.g. 29.c2+! h8 30.e4 g5 31.c4 with a very obvious advantage for White ] 29...exd5 30.f5 d7 31.f2 c8 32.d4 h5 33.a4 g6 34.h4+ f7 35.f4 [ 35.b6 c1 36.f4 is another interesting option for White. ] 35...b8 36.f3 c1 [ 36...b4 is probably more solid, but Black wanted to keep the white king away from the e3-square. ] 37.b6 [ Here White can consider 37.b6!? e8 38.c5 with the better chances ] 37...d4 38.xd4 [ And here a draw was agreed upon, despite the fact that Black is finally doing rather well. The alternative is 38.xd4 which after xb6 39.xb6 xd4 leads to an interesting endgame. ] ½-½
1270 Krasenkow,Michal Short,Nigel D FIDE WCh KO Tripoli LBA (2.2) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2609 2712 22.06.2004
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f5!? A very surprising move, which I had never actually seen before, but which actually has a long history - it was first played 80 years ago! 5.g3 [ 5.xf5?? a5+ is the point. ] [ 5.c3 i s t h e m a i n a l t e r n a t i v e , g6 Black has to really defend the pawn now, ( 5...f6? 6.xf5 g6 7.e3 left White a pawn up for nothing in the initial game, Kostic,B-Richter,K/Berlin 1928 ) A) 6.e4!? is logical, fxe4 7.xe4 a5+ 8.c3 g7 9.e3 f6 but Black is doing OK, Collas,D-Khamrakulov,I/ Campillos ESP 2004; B) 6.e3 f6 7.e2 g7 8.0-0 d6 9.b3 1269
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 9.c2 0-0 10.b1 a5 11.b3 d7 Banas,J-Miezis,N/Passau 1994) 9...0-0 10.b2 g5!? 11.d5 e4 wit h a s t ra t e g ica l ly co m p le x ga m e i n Giffard,N-Miezis,N/Paris 1996.; C) 6.g3 g7 7.e3 d6 ( 7...b6!? 8.xc6 dxc6 9.xd8+ xd8 10.d2 f6 11.g2 b7 12.e4 Kengis,E-Miezis,N/ Bonn 1995 ) 8.g2 d7 9.0-0 f6 10.b3 0-0 ( 10...h5!? 11.b2 h4 Schuurman,PMiezis,N/Winterthur SUI 2001 - typical of Miezis! ) 11.b2 g5!? Jackelen,T-Miezis,N/ Bonn 1995. ] 5...g6 6.g2 g7 Black treats the position a l i t t l e l i k e a L e n i n g r a d D u t c h . 7.c2! The advantage of having delayed Nc3 is that White can play this without having to worry about a possible capture on c3. [ 7.e3 allows xd4 8.exd4 b6 w i n n i n g a p a w n , a l t h o u g h a f t e r 9.c3! xd4 10.b3 White has sufficient c o m p e n s a t i o n , e5+!? 11.e3 h6 chasing a second pawn, Johansen,D-Miezis, N/Jakarta INA 2001. ] 7...b6!? [ 7...f6 is normal, when 8.c3 0-0 9.0-0 d6 10.b3!? if this is good there is no need to waste a move by ( 10.b1 d7 11.b3 a6 12.b2 as in Engqvist,T-Bellon Lopez,J/ H a s s e l b a c k e n S W E 2 0 0 1) 10...e4 11.xe4! xa1 12.xa1 fxe4 13.c2 f5 14.e3 d7 15.b2 with excellent compensation for the exchange in Marin,MPogorelov,R/Benasque 1997, the e4-pawn is weak, and the long diagonal from a1-h8 is a serious problem. ] 8.0-0 a6!? Short's opening appears highly original, but only this move is actually new, for [ 8...b7 occurred in the game Donaldson,JBarbre,S/Las Vegas 1997, which continued: 9.e3 f6 10.c3 0-0 11.ed5 d6 12.g5 with an edge. ] 9.e3 h6!? By keeping the a1-h8 diagonal open Black hinders W hite's queenside development, f or instance b3 and Bb2 is difficult to arrange. 10.c3!? White decides to allow Black the possible capture on c3, which doubles and isolates the white pawns. 0-0 [ 10...xc3 11.bxc3 f7 is unclear, probably Short refrained from this because
his knights are a long way from the key blockading square on c5. ] 11.a4 b7 12.ed5 e6 13.b4 a5 14.xb7 xb7 15.xh6!? xh6 16.ad1 White is happy with a small structural plus the d7-pawn is backward on an open file. c5 17.a3 c8 18.d3!? b7!? [ 18...xd3 19.xd3 xc4 is also reasonable, af ter 20.xd7 f7 White's advantage is minimal. ] 19.b4 d8 20.e4!? Perhaps White should have prepared this more thoroughly, there was no rush. f8! 21.a4 The queen has to d e f e n d c 4 . g7 Now this move threatens to capture first on c3, then on e4, so W hite's p l a y i s vi r t u a l l y f o r c e d . 22.exf5 gxf5 Towards the centre, of course, Black must keep control of d5. 23.e2 d6 24.b3 a6 Planning queenside counterplay with ...b5. 25.b4 c6 Black's handling of the game ha s be e n mo st origina l, a n d qu it e go o d . 26.c5!? bxc5 27.xc5 ac8 28.xc6 xc6 29.c1 b6!? Black prefers to keep some tension in the position, although there is nothing wrong with the simple [ 29...dc8 e.g. 30.xc6 xc6 31.c1 xc1+ 32.exc1 e4 ] 30.fd1 f8 'The king is a strong piece in the endgame - use it!' I remember writing this in one of my books! 31.c5 e7 The black king defends the d-pawn, and takes up a nice central post. 32.a4 bb8 33.c2 bc8 34.dc1 xc2 35.xc2 b8 36.f3 Preparing a route for the white king. b5 37.f2 a5 38.e3 d8 [ 38...a7 to c6 was an alternative. ] 39.d3 f6 40.c4 c7! The knight heads for d5. 41.c5 a8 42.ec3 a6! 43.b5 [ 43.xa5? loses the exchange to b4+ ] 43...b4+ 44.d2 a6 45.b8+ e7 46.b7 d6+ Activity! 47.e2 c6 48.d2 h5 Positionally correct, if the pawn can go to h4 and capture on g3 White will be left with a b a c k w a r d p a w n o n g 3 . 49.f4 d4?! Aiming for g1, but [ 49...h4 50.a3 d6+ 51.e2 xc3 52.xc3 d3 was good. ] 50.a3 a6!? [ 50...xc3+ 51.xc3 d6+ 52.e2 d3 was once again possible. ] 51.b4! This leaves the black pieces 1270
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 m i s p l a c e d . axb4 52.axb4 c7 53.xc7 xc7 54.e2 a7 55.d3 d5 56.c4 White's passed b-pawn is useful, but he has to beware the black bishop coming to g1 at some point, and is therefore forced to leave his knight on e2. d6 57.c5!? A radical solution, blocking the g1-a7 diagonal. e3+ 58.b5 g4 59.h4 Now Black has some chances because of the weakness of g3. xc5 60.bxc5+ d5 61.c3+ d4 62.a4 f6 [ 62...e5 amounts to the same, for instance 63.fxe5 xe5 64.b6 e3 65.c7 f2 66.d6 d3 67.xd7 xg3 68.c6 e5+ as White should be able to draw by 69.e6! xc6 70.xf5 xh4 71.c5 ] 63.b6! Counterattacking d7. e3 64.c7 f3 65.b6 e4 66.xd7 xc5 Forcing a draw. 67.xc5 xg3 68.xe6 xh4 69.d6 g3 70.g7! White has to be careful [ 70.e5? loses, h4 71.g5 g4 and White is in zugzwang! ] 70...xf4 71.xh5+ e4 ½-½
1271 L'Ami,E Vocaturo,D 74th Tata Steel GMB (3) [John Bartholomew]
A30 2596 2545 16.01.2012
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 [ A l s o c r i t i c a l i s 9.g5 a6 10.xf6 , which we examine this month in CarlsenGashimov. ( Note that White could also play 10.fd1 if he wants to transpose to our main game. )] 9...a6 10.g5 Unlike 9.Bg5, this move is not played in order to exchange on f6. [ Most common (by more than a 2-1 ratio over 10.Bg5) is 10.b3 . To be honest, I think this move is a little less testing than the text. There tends to be less immediate pressure on d6, and the second player is more likely to slip unopposed into a typical Hedgehog middlegame. After bd7 (accurate - Black wants to meet 11.Ba3 with 11...Nc5, when
W hite has not managed to prove much) White usually plays 11.e4 , i.e. ( 11.b2 is also popular.) 11...c8 12.b2 0-0 13.e3 e8 14.d4 c7 15.ac1 ac8 with mu t ua l ch an ces in a st e re o typ ic a l Hedghog game. Kengis, E (2543)-Lutz, C (2596)/Mallorca 2004/[John Watson]. ] [ A more testing plan is 10.g5 xg2 11.xg2 , wherein White intends to put pressure on d6 via a knight maneuver e4. That maneuver is similar to the one in the 9. Bg5 a6 10. Bxf6, but here Black is safer because White has agreed to exchange light square bishops. Four years ago Carlsen demonstrated the potential of Black's position with a superb regrouping plan: c6 ( T h i s i s m o s t t r u s t w o r t h y , b u t 11...0-0 is also playable. See Kramnik, V (2788)Leko, P (2741)/[Hansen, Carsten].) 12.f4 0-0 13.ce4 e8! (a well-known idea remember it!) 14.b3 a7 (heading for d7 this too is rote) 15.b2 d7 16.ac1 c7! 17.f3 and now Black's unloaded with f5! 18.c3 g5! gaining a tremendous initiative and winning in fine style. Kramnik, V (2799)-Carlsen, M (2733)/W ijk aan Zee 2008/[John Watson]. ] [ F i n a l l y , t h e l e s s u s u a l 10.e3!? could transpose to our game, as it did in Tkachiev, V (2661)-Lie, K (2563)/ Heraklio 2007/ [Han sen, Carsten] f ollowin g bd7 11.d2 0-0 12.f4 e8 . ] 10...bd7 11.d2 This is the idea behind 10. Bg5: W hite wants to play 12.Bf4 and pressurize d6. Shipov credits this conception to "Hog hunters" Mihai Suba and Oleg Romanishin. The next few moves are standard fare. 0-0 12.f4 e8 13.ac1 c8 Forcing White to defend the b-pawn. [ In the archives you can find the immediate 13...c7 , i.e. 14.e3!? (the downside of 13...Qc7 vs. 13. ..Rc8 - the former does not force 14.b3) ef6?! 15.d5! , Tkachiev, V (2 6 6 1 ) -L ie , K (2 5 6 3 ) / H e r a k li o 2 0 0 7 / [Hansen, Carsten]. ] [ A promising semi-waiting move is 13...h6!? , which Black more commonly plays on the next move. The selling point is that White's Qd2-e3 idea now runs into ... g7-g5, trapping the bishop. Thus having defused W hite's major attacking gesture Black simply intends 1271
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to continue ...Ra8-c8/...Qd8-c7/...Nd7-c5(f6) in standard fashion. The only game to see this went 14.b3 ( White has other replies like 14.e4; or 14.g4!? ) 14...df6 , Cremers, M (2097) -Racherbaeumer, M (2260)/Oberhausen 2008, but I see nothing wrong with the usual 14...Rc8 or 14...Qc7. There isn't any real difference between 13... h6 and 13...Rc8 14.b3 h6, so just know that either is possible. ] 14.b3 c7 Sound development. [ P a s t c o v e r a g e h a s d e a l t wi t h 14...c5 15.g5 xg2 16.xg2 . Check out Ivanchuk, V (2739)-Nisipeanu, L (2670)/ Warsaw 2005/[John Watson] and Jakovenko, D (2709)-Gashimov, V (2717)/ Poikovsky 2008. ] [ As I mentioned, 14...h6 is a totally viable semi-waiting move. ] 15.e3 In past updates this idea has been adorned with a "!?", but nowadays it is completely expected. White inconveniences his opponent with the threat of 16. Nd5. df6 This is new, but White should retain an edge. [ In the source game, Gustafsson, J (2572)Prusikin, M (2519)/Pulvermuehle 2004, Black reacted coolly with 15...b8 16.d5 ( 16.h3!? has also been featured in some recent games.) 16...d8 , but after 17.h3! he found himself in an awkward spot and soon blundered. See Tony's notes in the archives. ] [ I also found two recent games with 15...c5 , e.g. 16.d3 ( 16.xc5 xc5 is a bit better for W hite since Black must solve the d6 problem, i.e. 17.b4!? d7 18.a4 ) 16...h5 ( 16...c7 just looks like a loss of time . 17.g5 xg5 18.xg5 xg2 19.xg2 e5 20.d2 b5?! 21.cxb5 b7+ 22.f3 axb5 23.e4 xc1 24.xc1 f6 25.f4 d5?! 26.c5 e7 27.e3 Mista, A (2561) -Milanovic, S (2411)/Kraljevo SRB 2011. ) 17.h3 f5? ( This doesn't pass the eye test. Something normal like 17...c5 is superior, though I'd still rather be White.) 18.e3! e5?! 19.xe5! xg2 20.xd7 xh3 21.f3 f7 22.d5+- Kovalyov, A (2601)-Rojas Keim, L (2455)/Sabadell ESP 2010. ] [ T o n y give s 15...ef6 , though 16.d5 exd5 17.xe7 fe8 18.xd6 xd6
19.xd6 xe2 20.d4 xa2 21.f5! is very strong for White. ] [ On the other hand, I still find his suggestion of 15...e5!? to be pretty interesting. This was tested in Drasko, M (2507)-Nestorovic, N ( 2 3 6 1 ) / B a r 2 0 0 6 : 16.d5!? xd5 17.cxd5 d8 18.xc8 xc8 19.c1 ef6 ( T o n y g i v e s 19...xc1 20.xc1 f5 , which looks only a tad better for White.) 20.g5 b8 21.h3! d8 22.b4 f8 23.c6 c8?! 24.a4 b5 25.xa6 . This line needs further testing. ] [ Another move that deserves investigation is 15...f6!? ] 16.h3! Quite useful. h5 Black hopes that exchanges will ease his defensive task. [ Black doesn't have a lot to do because the usual 16...b8? drops a pawn to 17.xb6 .] [ 16...h6 could be met by 17.g4 ] 17.g5 xg5 [ 17...hf6!? 18.g4 ] 18.xg5 [ 18.xg5 was definitely worth considering t o k e e p b i s h o p s o n b o a r d , i . e . hf6 19.f4 ] 18...xg2 19.xg2 hf6 20.ge4 xe4 21.xe4 Black has managed to exchange a coup le sets of pie ces, b ut h e still ha s t o untangle. h6 [ The immediate 21...f5!? wasn't out of the question, e.g. A) 22.g5 b7+ ( 22...e5 23.b4 ) 23.f3 e5 24.b4! I think White's knight is worse off on f3 than c3, but he's still for choice thanks to the queenside initiative.; B) 22.c3!? ] 22.c3?! This doesn't really do much to address Black's next move. [ White can improve with 22.f3! , e.g. f5 23.c3 ( 23.f2!? ) 23...f6 24.h4 with good play. ] 22...f5 23.d2 f6 [ 23...e5!? seems fine. White's knight isn't on a ve ry go od rou t e no t ice h o w h is 2 2 n d move deprived him of the good c3 square. ] 24.f3 b7 25.b4 g5 [ 25...e5! ] 26.h2 a5? Black should be more cautious about opening the position. 27.bxa5 bxa5 1272
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28.c5! L'Ami is quick to turn a weakness into a strength! dxc5 29.xc5 xc5 30.xc5 B l a c k ' s m u l t i p l e p a wn we a k n e s s e s a n d un co ordin at ed p ieces m a ke t his a t ou gh position to hold. c7 31.c1 f7 32.e3 d6 33.c8 f8 34.e5 Opting for a nice endgame. [ 34.e5!? was more dangerous. ] 34...xe5 35.xe5 d6 36.c6 d8 37.g2 f7 38.xe6 [ H a r d t o r e s i s t , b u t m a y b e 38.c4 was superior. ] 38...d2 39.f3?! White is aiming directly for a rook endgame, but is it winning? [ If not, then 39.c6 xa2 40.e7+ f8 41.xf5 gives more chances. ] 39...xa2 40.xf7 xf7 41.xh6 b2?! [ We have a suprisingly non-trivial rook endgame. Black is lost if White can create connected passed pawns on the kingside, but this is actually not so easy to accomplish. O n e t h i n g B l a c k a b s o lu t e l y h a s t o d o , though, is keep his rook in front of the pawn. F o r i n s t a n c e , 41...a3+ 42.e3 (it's important to force W hite to play this) a2 . Now A) A direct attempt like 43.g4 fxg4+ 44.hxg4 a4 should transpose.; B) Very easy is 43.h4?! g4+ 44.g2 ( 44.f4 xf2+ 45.g5 f3= ) 44...a4=; C) 43.a6 is most flexible. but after a4 I don't see a constructive plan for White. At some point I think he'll have to play ( 43...a4 is similar I just like having this square available to the rook.) 44.g4 ( Sure, he can try 44.h4 , but gxh4 45.gxh4 xh4 46.xa5 is an even simpler 2 vs. 1 draw.) 44...fxg4+ 45.hxg4 , when a2! will be the response. Then e v e n t u a l l y 46.e4 ( If White plays 46.g3 , then a3! is always mandatory t o s t o p f 2 - f 4 .) 46...xf2 47.xa5 when (I believe) f6 is a theoretical draw. Should someone find a win for White feel free to correct me! ] 42.a6 b5? This definitely loses. [ It's tougher now, but 42...a2! provided the best hope. ] 43.e3 g7 44.h4 gxh4 45.gxh4 c5 46.f4 c4+ 47.xf5 xh4 48.a7+ f8
49.f4 h5+ 50.f6 h6+ 51.e5 1-0
1272 Lalic,Bogdan Marzolo,Cyril (open) Metz (6) [Lalic, Bogdan]
A30 2514 2476 24.04.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 b6 4.g3 b7 5.g2 g6 6.0-0 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.e3 bd7 10.ac1 c8 11.b3 a6 12.fd1 [ 12.h4?! h6! ] 12...0-0 13.h4 c7 14.h3 [ 14.g4 h6! ] 14...b8 [ 14...e8 ] [ 14...a8? 15.xd7 xd7 16.a4 ] [ 14...c5 15.g4 ] 15.g4 [ 15.h6 ] [ 15.g5!? ] 15...a8?! [ 15...e6!? 16.g5 e8 17.e4 b5! ] [ 15...c5?! 16.g5 fe4 17.xe4 xe4 ( 17...xe4? 18.xb6 ) 18.xc5 xf3 19.xd6 exd6 20.exf3 ] 16.g5 e4 17.xe4 xe4 18.d2 c6 19.xd7 xd7 20.xb6 d5 21.cxd5 xd5 22.c4 f5 23.d4!?N [ 23.e3 e5 24.f3 b5 25.c2 ( 25.d4 xe2 26.xe5 xe5 27.d5 d6 28.f2 b5 ) 25...f6 ] 23...f6 24.gxf6 exf6 25.e3 h5 26.g3 e8? [ 26...b5 27.a4 ] [ 26...f5 27.d6 ] 27.d6 a8 [ 27...d7 28.f5 xf5 29.xc6 ] 28.g4 [ 28.c5!? ] 28...e5 [ 28...h8? 29.e6!+- ] 29.c4+? [ 29.c5! h8 30.c4! xc5 31.xc5+- ] 29...d5 30.c8 xc8 31.xc8+ xc8 32.xc8 c6 33.d8+ [ 33.d6!? b5 34.f1 ] 33...f7 34.b6 1273
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 34.d6+?! e7 35.g8 f8 ] 34...e7 [ 34...e8! 35.d6 e6 ] 35.f1 g5 36.c8 e4? [ 36...b7 ] 37.c5 e6 38.f3 b1 39.c7+ [ 39.a4?! c2 40.b4 d1! ] 39...g6 40.d5! f5? [ 40...xa2 41.e7+ xe7 42.xe7 xb3 43.e4 ] 41.e7+ h6 42.g8+ g6 43.e7+ h6 44.e4! fxe4 [ 44...d3+ 45.g1! ( 45.f2 fxe4 46.f5+ g6 47.xg7 f6 ) 45...e5 46.xf5+ g6 47.c8+- ] [ 44...e5 45.exf5!? ( 45.xf5+ g6 46.b7 xa2 47.g2 h5 48.h4!+- ) 45...xc7 46.fxe6 xh2 47.d5 d3+ 48.g2 e5 49.e7 b5 ] 45.f5+ g6 46.xg7 f6 47.e8 xf3+ 48.e1 xa2 49.b4 d5 [ 49...c4? 50.c6+!+- ] 50.g7+ [ 50.d7!?+- ] 50...f5 [ 50...h6 51.d7 f7 52.d6+ g6 53.xa6+- ] 51.xh7 a3 52.d7 [ 52.d4+- ] 52...e5 53.e7+ f4 54.f6 c6 55.h5+ [ 55.f7! ] [ 55.e6 ] 55...g4 56.g3 a5 57.e6 b7 58.b5 c3 [ 58...b3 ] 59.e7 [ 59.xe4 xe4 60.xe4+ f5 61.d4 d3 62.e5+ f4 63.d5 e4 64.d7 xd4 65.xd4+ xd4 66.b6+- ] 59...a8 [ 59...xc5 60.xb7 f3 61.b6 a4 62.f7+ e3 63.c7 b5 64.e2!+- b1+ 65.c1 xb6 66.c3# ] 60.xe4+- c4 [ 60...xe4 61.xe4+ f5 62.d4 c4 63.e5+ f4 64.d5 e4 65.d7 xd4 66.xd4+ xd4 67.b6+- ] 61.f2+ f3 62.e3+ f4 63.d3+ f5 64.e5+ f6 [ 64...g6 65.e3+- ]
65.e7+ f7 66.xg5 1-0
1273 Lalith,B Stany,G Vizag GM Open 2012 (8.6) [John Bartholomew]
A30 2540 2404 31.10.2012
T h e k n i gh t sa c ri f i ce 1 1 . Nd 5 ! ? h a s b e e n thought to be the refutation of this Hedgehog move order, but everything must be verified in the silicon era... 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 b7 4.g2 c5 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 a6 [ Most authorities (notably Sergey Shipov in " T h e Co m p le t e He d ge h o g, V o lu m e 1 " ) consider 6...e7 7.e1 d6 8.e4 a6 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 to be Black's ideal move order. Black covers the e-file and avoids any tricks with e4-e5 before castling. The position after 11.e3 bd7 12.c1 0-0 13.f4 is a quintessential Hedgehog tabiya, and readers ought to consult the archives for details on this complex line. ] 7.e1 d6 8.e4 bd7 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 [ 10...e7? is a well-known mistake: 11.e5! . I've caught probably a dozen people in this trap in blitz/casual play (never a tournament, sadly!). dxe5 ( 11...xg2 12.exf6+- ) 12.xb7 ( On several occasions White has contented himself with a positional advantage after 12.xe6 fxe6 13.xb7 a7 14.g2 , but there's no reason to decline the exchange.) 12...exd4 13.xa8 dxc3 ( 13...xa8 14.xd4 c5 15.f4 Lalith, B (2472)-Kahn, M (2139)/Vlissingen NED 2009 ) 14.g2 cxb2 15.xb2 Da vie s , N ( 2 5 0 5 )- L e m m e r s , O ( 2 3 8 5 ) / Leeuwarden 1993. ] 11.d5!? Into the breach! The possibility of this knight sacrifice is the reason why 6...Be7 is preferred. Now the critical question: can Black survive? [ If White likes, the main line could still be reached via 11.e3 e7 12.c1 0-0 13.f4 .] 11...exd5 12.exd5+ d8 [ 12...e5 is thought to be worse. After 13.f4 0-0-0 14.fxe5 dxe5 White has two good 1274
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 options: 15.f5 , i.e. ( or 15.f3 c5+ 16.h1 he8 17.g5 b8?! 18.xe5! a7 19.xf6 gxf6 20.d3 Zakhartsov, V (2586)-Gabrielian, A (2557)/Voronezh RUS 2010 ) A) 15...h5!? 16.e2! g6 Knott, S (2357)Buckley, G (2390)/ Sunningdale 2008 17.h4; B) 15...c5+ 16.e3 ( 16.h1!? ) 16...g6 17.xc5 xc5+ 18.e3 h5 19.d2 h4 20.b4 d4 21.ad1 hxg3 22.hxg3 xd2 23.xd2 Yermolinsky, A (2590)-Shabalov, A (2600)/USA 1994; C) 15...xc4 16.e3 b8 17.c1 b5 Naumann, A (2543)-Durarbeyli, V (2368)/ D r e s d e n 2 0 0 7 . N o w 18.d6! xg2 19.xg2 is promising for White. ] [ Alternatively, 12...e7? 13.f5 e5 14.xg7+ is just bad for Black, e.g. d8 15.f5 c8 16.xe7 ( or the more violent 16.xe5 dxe5 17.d6 xd6 18.g5 xf5 19.f3!+- with decisive threats) 16...xe7 17.f4+- ] 13.c6+ [ The source game for 11. Nd5!?, Wells, P (2410)-Bischoff, K (2505)/Bad Woerishofen 1989, saw 13.f4 , but it was soon discarded in favor of the text. ] 13...xc6 [ 13...c8?! Delaunay, S (2346)-Picard, R ( 2 3 2 4 ) / F r a n c e 2 0 0 6 . H e r e 14.h3! is terminal, i.e. h6 ( 14...xc6 15.dxc6 xc6 16.g2 d5 17.cxd5 b5 18.d6 b8 19.f4+- ) 15.f3 when Black doesn't have a good answer to Qf3xf6! . ] 14.dxc6 c5 15.b4 e6 16.c5 The late GM Aleksander Wojtkiewicz played this move three times from 1992-1996, scoring 3-0. [ Instead, Houdini is thrilled about 16.a4!N menacing Bc1-e3 and a4-a5. The position remains somewhat complicated, but a few short variations illustrate the danger Black is facing: e7 ( 16...a5 17.b1 axb4 18.e3!; 16...c8 17.e3 a5 18.b1 b8 19.bxa5 bxa5 20.b5!; 16...b8 17.e3 ) 17.a5 bxa5 18.xa5 with Qd1-a4 on tap. ] 16...b8! A novelty that keeps Black afloat. Other moves have led to disaster: [ An oft-cited game with 11.Nd5!? went 16...bxc5?! 17.bxc5 c8 ( 17...xc5
18.e3 e6 19.b1 b8 20.b7 xb7 21.cxb7+. Black cannot parry White's threats of Qd1-b3 and Be3-a7.) 18.b1 b8 19.b7 xb7 20.cxb7+ b8 21.c6 d5 and now the lovely 22.xe6!! fxe6 23.a4 d7 . We're following Poluljahov, A (2380)Beshu ko v, S (2 31 0)/ An ap a 199 1. Here White could have finished the game in style with 24.xa6 b6 25.b5! and despite being a rook to the good, Black is helpless against Bc1-e3 or Bc1-d2-a5. ] [ 16...e7?! 17.cxb6 xb6 18.e3 c7 ( 18...xb4 19.b1 c4 20.c7+! d7 21.c1 xc1 22.a4+ 1-0 Wojtkiewicz, A (2570)-Kalesis, N (2410)/Komotini 1993) 19.a4! b8 20.b5 axb5 21.axb5 xb5 22.a8+ b8 23.a7 c8 24.f4+Roussel Roozmon, T (2430)-Lawson, E (2393)/Montreal 2006 ] 17.e3 [ Perhaps White should play 17.cxd6 A) not 17...xd6? 18.c7+! , winning: xc7 ( 18...xc7 19.f4 xd1 20.axd1+ c8 21.c1+- ) 19.c2+ d8 20.d1 d4 21.b2+-; B) 17...xd6 18.b2 with compensation but no clear-cut win. ] 17...bxc5 18.bxc5 e7 19.a4?! [ White would have better luck with 19.c1!? ] [ or 19.d3!? . ] 19...d5! 20.ab1 c8 21.b6? This backfires quickly. [ 21.b7 xc6 22.a5+ e8 23.b6 c7 24.xa6 ] 21...xc5! 22.b3?? A terrible blunder, but W h i t e ' s a l r e a d y i n a b a d w a y . xb6 White resigned. Though Black held on in this en co u n t er, I d o n't se e a n y a d van t a ge in adopting the move order 6...a6 7.Re1 d6 8.e4 Nbd7 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Qc7. W hite can continue as normal with 11.Be3, or, if he likes, initiate complications with 11.Nd5!?. Should you choose to sacrifice the knight, it would behove you to examine Houdini's suggestion of 16.a 4!, as Black appears to be in ba d shape. 0-1
1275
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1274 Larsen,Bent Andersson,Ulf Bugojno [Nigel Davies]
A30
1982
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.g3 e6 4.f3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d3 d5! 8.cxd5 xd5 9.a4+ Typical Larsen, posing Black a problem about how to block the check. d7 [ 9...d7! was a better way, for example after 10.g4 Black can play h5 because 11.xg7 f6 traps the queen. ] 10.e4 xc3 [ 10...b4 is well met by 11.d4 0-0 12.dxc5 xc5 13.d1 c6 14.f4 with the better game for White. ] 11.bxc3 0-0 12.e1 a6 13.f4 b5 14.c2 b6?! [ 14...c8 was a better idea, keeping the knight near the kingside. ] 15.h4! A typical Larsen h-pawn push, setting about creating weaknesses in Black's kingside pawn structure. c8 16.ac1 e8 17.e2 a4? Without kings on the board this would be very nice, posting the knight on a strong outpost from where it puts pressure on the weak pawn on c3. But here the problem is that it sends it even f urther f rom Black's king position where it could have been a useful defender. [ 17...d7 would have been a better move, retracting his 14th move in the light of new information (15.h4). ] 18.h5! a5? Joining in the attack on White's c3 pawn but still underestimating the danger on the other side. [ 18...h6 would have helped cover up the dark square weaknesses with Black being well in the game after 19.e5 g5 . ] 19.h6 g6 [ 19...xc3 20.xc3 xc3 21.e5 followed by 22.Bxg7 would give White a very strong attack. ] 20.c4 b4 21.a3! A rather brilliant concept, preparing to bring the queen into the attack along the a1-h8 diagonal. And of course the break up of Black's queenside pawns renders him vulnerable on that flank as well. bxa3 22.c2 c6 23.d2 b6 24.b1 a7 25.b3 b6 26.c3 f6
[ Or if 26...f8 then 27.e5 is strong. ] 27.h3 d8 28.xa3 d7 29.a1! b7 30.g4! A very original attacking idea. White is prising open the long dark squared diagonal with g4-g5. c6 31.g5 c8 32.d4 cxd4 33.xd4 b6 34.a5 c5 35.f3 f8 In time trouble Andersson's resistance caves in. 36.gxf6 xf6? 37.xb6 xb6 38.xe6 1-0
1275 Larsen,Bent Kavalek,Lubomir Lugano [Nigel Davies]
A30
1970
1.b3 c5 2.b2 c6 3.c4 e5 4.g3 d6 5.g2 ge7 6.e3 g6 7.e2 g7 8.bc3 Transposing into a Symmetrical English. But we are about to see some more of Larsen's inventiveness. 0-0 9.d3 e6 10.d5 d7 11.h4! f5?! Opting for counterplay at the expense of placing his king in great danger. [ T h e r e w a s a c a s e h e r e f o r 11...h5 but then Black could not play ...f7-f5 without leaving a 'hole' on g5. ] 12.d2 ae8 It might have been better to put the rook on b8, anticipating W hite castling q u e e n s i d e . 13.h5 b5 14.hxg6 hxg6 15.ec3 bxc4 16.dxc4 e4 Gaining the e5 square as compensation for White's control of d5, but opening up the a1-h8 diagonal. 17.0-0-0 e5 18.f4 d8 [ In his own notes to the game Bent Larsen gave the variation 18...g5 19.xe6 d3+ 20.xd3! exd3 21.xg7 xg7 22.d5+ g6 23.f3! , which gives White a winning attack. ] 19.b1?! This could have had quite serious consequences. [ 19.g4 would have been better so that after xc4 White could continue with the demolition of Black's kingside with 20.gxf5! .] 19...f7?! [ Black should have taken this opportunity to complicate matters with 19...xc4!? 20.bxc4 xc4 when 21.e2 xb2 22.xb2 a4! gets Black right back into the game. ] 20.g4! Setting about smashing open lines on 1276
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the kingside. xg4 21.f3! exf3 22.xf3 e5 [ 22...f6 would also be met by 23.h2 , for example fe8 24.h4 leaves Black facing the horrible threat of 25.Nb5. ] 23.h2 xc4!? Right idea but way too late. [ There again Black has little choice at this stage as 23...fe8 is refuted by 24.b5! . ] 24.bxc4 xf3 25.h7+ f7 26.cd5 g8 [ After 26...e5 there follows 27.xe5 dxe5 28.xe7 xe7 29.xg6+ g8 30.h7+ f7 31.dg1 etc. ] 27.xe7 b8 28.a1! xe7 29.xg6+ f8 30.e6+ xe6 31.xg7+! [ And not 31.xe6?? b e c a u s e o f xb2+ 32.b1 a3+ with a draw. ] 31...e7 32.f8+! bxf8 [ Or 32...gxf8 33.h7+ f7 34.xf7+ xf7 35.xd6+ e8 36.xb8+ e7 37.d6+ e8 38.d8# mate. ] 33.h7+ [ Black is mated after 33.h7+ f7 34.xf7+ xf7 35.xd6+ e8 36.d8# mate. ] 1-0
1276 Makarov,Marat Dvoirys,Semen I Chigorin mem (8) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2527 2590 09.11.1999
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 0-0!? [ U n u s u a l i n t h i s p o s i t i o n , 8...d6 is the normal move, although a transposition is likely. ] 9.d1 a6 [ A reasonable alternative is 9...c6 when 10.f4 b8 11.e4 d6 12.b3 e5 13.e3 ed7 14.e2 a6 15.d4 c7 led to a typical Hedgehog position in Yermolinsky,ASalov,V/Wijk aan Zee 1997. ] 10.f4 c8 11.ac1 White's position looks ve ry p r o m i s i n g , f o r o n e t h i n g B l a c k h a s difficulty playing ...d6. c5! [ Black's preparation. In the only previous game in this line 11...c5 worked out well after 12.e1 xg2 13.xg2 c6 14.b5 a6 15.c3 d6 16.d2 d7 Dizdarevic,E-
Anastasian,A/Moscow 1989, but 12.Bd6 should maintain a plus. ] 12.d3 [ Nothing is gained by 12.d2 d5 ] 12...d5 A well-calculated equalizer. 13.cxd5 b4 14.b1 bxd5 15.xd5 [ White gains nothing from the pin on the dfile, 15.e4?! xc3 ] 15...xd5 16.b4 e7 17.g5 Hoping to give Black an isolated queen's pawn, by Bxd5- but Black moves first! xc1 18.xc1 xa2! [ A very unusual bishop deflection, if instead 18...h6?! then White achieves his aim by 19.xd5 exd5 20.f3 ] 19.c2 b1 20.b3 a2 21.c2 [ White cannot avoid the repetition, for if 21.a4?! d5 22.e4 then, once again c6 and this time Black has won a pawn for nothing. ] ½-½
1277 Malakhatko,Vadim Vakin,Sergei Chigorin mem (5) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2537 2389 06.11.1999
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.e1 [ A popular line. By playing e4 first, and only then d4, White manages to recapture on d4 with a knight instead of his queen after 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 ] 7...0-0 [ 7...d5 and ] [ 7...e4 are popular attempts to avoid the type of Hedgehog positions that can arise. ] 8.e4 d6 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c8 [ To defend the bishop against the threat of e5, and to avoid potential attacks on the queen that could arise after 10...c7 ] 11.e3 bd7 [ 11...xc4? l o s e s m a t e r i a l t o 12.e5 , one of the themes of this line. ] 12.e2!? [ An interesting alternative to the usual 12.f4 ] 12...a6 [ Black could try to exploit White's omission of f4 by playing 12...e5 13.b3 eg4 14.d2 but White's next moves will be h3, 1277
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and f4, driving the knight back with gain of tempo. Note that c5?! allows the typical 15.e5! dxe5 16.xe6 fxe6 17.xb7 ] 13.f4 b8!? An odd idea, aiming to prepare ... b5 no doubt, but it deprives the black queen of the b8-square. 14.f2 Preparing e5. e8!? [ Black decides to fianchetto his e7-bishop, but 14...c7 might have been simpler. ] [ Not 14...e8? however, 15.e5 winning a piece. ] 15.ac1 f6 16.ed1 After the change of circ ums tan ces , W h ite re alises tha t e 5 is unlikely to be a threat, so brings his rook to the d-file to pester the d6-pawn, no longer guarded by the bishop. g6 The White pieces are all well placed, what should he play next? 17.d5?! [ Very speculative, to say the least! This is a common sacrifice in this line, but seems do ub tf ul h ere. A nyway, wh y no t simp ly Advance on the queenside, or play 17.d2 and double rooks on the d-file? ] 17...exd5 18.cxd5 xd4!? [ A difficult decision to make. Black decides to give his queen for lots of pieces rather than allo w 18...c7 19.c6 a8 20.e5 with a powerful initiative, for example: e8 21.a5!? bxa5 22.xc7 ] [ or, alternatively 18...d8 19.e5 e7 ( 19...dxe5? 20.c6 c8 21.xe5 wins material) 20.c6 xc6 21.dxc6 c5 22.b4 e6 23.xa6 with plenty of compensation for the piece, once again. ] 19.xc8 [ O b l i g a t o r y , a f t e r 19.xd4 d8 Black should have few problems. ] 19...xf2+ 20.xf2 xc8?! [ Over-careful play. I would prefer 20...xc8 keeping control of the only open file, 21.h3 f5 22.exf5 gxf5 with every chance to make the material advantage count. ] 21.d4 f6 [ Directed against e5, but 21...a5 was worth a thought, to follow with ...Nc5. ] 22.c1 f7 23.b4 e7 24.f2 b7 25.h3 c8 26.xc8 xc8 27.e6+ g7 28.g4! [ White goes for the win, rather than playing 28.xd7 xd7 29.xb6 winning a pawn, but allowing the black pieces more freedom. ] 28...b7 29.g5 The point of White's plan. He
not only deprives the black pieces of space, b u t a l s o g ive s h i m se l f t h e p o ss i b i l i t y o f effecting the e5-break, by exchanging the f6pawn. f8 30.g4 f7 31.h4 [ 31.xb6?! w o u l d a l l o w fxg5 32.fxg5 when e5 is no longer possible. ] 31...b5 32.f3 d7?! [ B l a c k ' s p l a y i s p l a n l e s s , f i r s t 32...c7 should be preferred. ] 33.a7 f8 34.b6! fxg5? [ A positional error better to keep the tension, and correct his previous mistake, by 34...c7 as if 35.gxf6? d7 finally gaining some squares for the black knights. ] 35.hxg5 c8 Black's position is already critical, and there was no longer any way to stop the white breakthrough. 36.e5! f5?? [ A blunder, losing material, Black had to try 36...c7 a l t h o u g h a f t e r 37.e6+ g8 his position has worsened, it should still be tenable. ] [ Note that 36...dxe5 37.fxe5 xe5 loses a piece to 38.b8 ] 37.e6+ g7 38.d8 1-0
1278 Maletin,Pavel Andreikin,Dmitry Siberian Bank Cup (4) [John Bartholomew]
A30 2567 2723 17.11.2012
I've spilled plenty of ink on the main-line Double Fianchetto. Now for something slightly dif f erent . 1.c4 f6 2.f3 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 c6!? A development that has attracted the interest of some super-GMs in recent months. Black eschews the usual plan of .. .d7-d6 and ...Nb8-d7 in favor of rapid development. I must admit that I f ind the traditional development much more 'fluid', but on the other hand there isn't anything noticeably wrong with the text. Black may even revert to the 'normal' development at a later time, i.e. ...Ra8-c8 and ...Nc6-b8-d7 (we'll see multiple examples of this in the notes). [ Normal is 8...d6 , which invariably leads to a tabiya of the Double Fianchetto: 9.d1 1278
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 0-0 12.h4 a6 13.b3 c7 etc. Consult the archives for extensive coverage. ] 9.f4 The correct post for the queen. [ 9.h4?! i s f l a w e d b e c a u s e o f h6! . White encounters a similar problem if he rushes Qd4-h 4 in the main-line Double Fianchetto. 10.d5 c8 11.d1 ( 11.d2?! e6 12.e3 g5 13.h3 e4 Vujacic, BHecht, H (2505) London 1973) 11...a5 12.d2 b5!? ( 12...e6 is more straightforward) 13.e3?! xg2 14.xg2 b6 15.g1 0-0 Kosten, A (2519)-Bogner, S (2383) Sautron 2007 ] [ Likewise, 9.d3 lacks punch. One example: c8 10.d1 b4 11.d2 0-0 ( 11...xc4 12.e5 ) 12.b3 e4 (calling W hite's bluf f ! ) 13.xe4 xa1 14.fg5 ( perhaps 14.xb4 xe4 15.h6 g7 16.xg7 xg7 17.e5 is a better try, i.e. c5!? 18.c3 f6 19.xd7 e8 20.xe4 xe5 21.d4 and White is only slightly worse) 14...xe4 15.xe4 c6 and White's compensation was insufficient in Shchekachev, A (2528)-Vachier Lagrave, M (2686) Aix les Bains 2012, though Shchekachev went on to score an upset victory. ] 9...0-0 [ M o r e o f t e n B l a c k p l a y s 9...c8 , which could very easily transpose, i.e. 10.d1 0-0 . ] [ 9...a5 is a specialty of German IM Matthias Roeder. It is connected with the ambitious plan of 10.b3 d5?! , which is probably pushing things . Following ( White achieved an ideal position after 10...0-0 11.b2 e4 12.ac1 c8 13.fd1 d6 14.a1 xc3 15.xc3 xc3 16.xc3 in Komarov, D (2530)-Roeder, M (2445) Vendrell 1996; neither does 10...b8 11.e3 impress ) 11.d1 c8 a simple s o l u t i o n i s 12.b2N ( the only move that h a s b e e n p l a y e d h e r e i s 12.a3 , w h i c h a l s o p r o m i s e s a n a d v a n t a g e; 12.e5!? is interesting, intending dxc4 13.d5! ) 12...dxc4 13.b4 c6 14.xc4 0-0 15.ac1 . ] [ 9...b8!? is a respectable alternative, as played by Ivanchuk. Black aims for an early queen trade. 10.d1 xf4 11.xf4 0-0
12.e5 fd8 13.xc6 ( maintaining the tension with 13.ac1 looks preferable, with a tiny edge that Black will probably n e u t r a l i z e) 13...xc6 14.c7 dc8 15.xc6 dxc6 16.e5 d8= Andreikin, D (2718)-Ivanchuk, V (2771) Eilat 2012 ] 10.d1 [ 10.h4!? deserves attention. A) 10...a5 11.g5 ( 11.b3 ) 11...c8 12.b3 c5 13.ac1 h6! 14.xf6 xf6 15.f4 g7 16.fd1 d6= Kengis, E (2475)-Makarichev, S (2495) Moscow 1986; B) 10...c8 11.h6 b8 12.b3 d6 13.ad1 c5 14.xg7 ( 14.g5!? ) 14...xg7 15.d4 bd7 16.e4 a6 17.fe1 Speelman, J (2555)-Greenfeld, A (2515) Beersheba 1987; C) H o u d i n i ' s s u g g e s t i o n o f 10...h5!? deals with Bc1-h6 in somewhat unusual fashion.; D) 10...e8 11.h6 h8 12.fd1 d6 Sharma, R (2356)-Ibrayev, N (2523) New Delhi 2006 13.ac1 ] 10...c8 11.b3 A decidedly normal continuation, but probably insufficient for an edge. [ Kramnik opted for 11.d2 at this juncture. h6!? looks like the appropriate response to me, e.g. ( 11...e8!? 12.ac1 d8 13.b3 e6 14.h4 c5 15.g4 h5 was creative play in Teterev, V (2527)-Azarov, S (2622) Minsk 2010; 11...h5 12.h4 a5 13.b3 f5 14.ac1 c6 15.d5 e6 16.xd8 fxd8 17.c3 f6 18.f4 Kramnik, V (2725) -Benjamin, J (2610) New York 1994) 12.ac1 d6 13.b3 d7 ( 13...b8!? ) 14.d5 xd5 15.cxd5 e5 16.xe5 dxe5 17.h4 Ribli, Z (2605)-Spassky, B (2590) Montpellier 1985 h5= . ] [ 11.h4 a5 12.b3 c5! ensures good counterplay for Black: 13.a3 h5 14.f4 d6 15.h3 h6 16.d4 c6 17.d3 Ljubojevic, L (2605)-Christiansen, L (2515) Moron 1981 g7 18.b2 a8 ] [ White can avoid problems on the a1-h8 diagonal with 11.b1!? d6 and now On A) 12.h4!? deserves attention: a5 13.b3 c5 14.d5! xd5 15.cxd5 xd5 ( 15...xd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.g5 f6 18.b4 h6 19.h3 g5 20.xg5 hxg5 1279
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.xg5 ) 16.g5 f6 17.b4 c4 Pekarek, A (2360)-Mokry, K (2490) Prague 1985 now 18.h3 c6 19.e6! wins the exchange; B) 12.b3 , b8! 13.b2 bd7 i s a u s e f u l r e o r g a n i z a t i o n , i . e . 14.e4 Instead, B1) 14...a6?! was played twice in 1987, but 15.e5! is a strong retort : ( 15.e3?! b5 16.cxb5 axb5 Pigusov, E (2520) Rashkovsky, N (2495) Sverdlovsk 1987) 15...dxe5 ( 15...h5?! 16.e3 xe5 17.xe5 xg2 18.xg2 xe5 19.d5 ) 16.xe5 xg2 17.xd7 xd7 18.xg2; B2) 14...e8!? looks flexible and good, as 15.e5 is met by xf3! (this wouldn't have worked with the rook on f8 in view of exf6xg7xf8). ] 11...d6 12.b2 [ White is running short on opportunities to m i x t h i n g s u p . H e n c e , t h e 12.h4!? of Uhlmann, W (2505) -Ambroz, J (2430) Halle 1984 comes to mind. ] 12...d7 Solid. [ 12...b8!? 13.d2 bd7 14.e1 (a clear sign that White doesn't have much) xg2 15.xg2 c7 16.d5 xd5 17.xg7 xg7 18.xd5= Nunez, A (2340)Otero, E (2365) Hermanos Saiz 1992 ] 13.ac1 fd8 14.h4 g4 Sure, why not? Black has an optimal setup, and he's well within his right to force a queen trade. I would attribute much of the rest to the difference in class between the two Grandmasters. 15.xg4 xg4 16.h3 ge5 17.xe5 xe5 18.a4 xb2 19.xb2= The position is level. In a game played with a classical time control we'd definitely expect a draw, but the Siberian Bank Cup was contested at a rate of G/15 + 10 second increment. a5 20.a4 f8 21.c3 xg2 22.xg2 b7 23.g4 e6 24.d3 e7 25.cd1 a6 26.e3 f8 27.ed3 c6 28.e4 e7 29.d4 c5 30.c3 b8 31.e4?! There was no reason to rush this exchange. e5 32.xc5 bxc5 [ Definitely not 32...exd4? 33.xa6 a8 34.b4 c5 35.a4 . ] 33.4d3 a5 34.g5 a4 35.f3 h6! O p e n in g a s e co n d f ro n t . 36.gxh6 h8 37.bxa4 xh6 38.g3 h8 39.b1 a8
40.b7+ e6 41.f3 f5 42.fb3? [ 42.a3! holds co mf ort ab ly, i.e . ca6 43.g7 f6 44.d7 . ] 42...xa4 43.g7 xc4?! [ 43...f6! 44.bb7 xc4 ] 44.xg6+ d5 45.e3?! [ White should search for counterplay: 45.h4! .] 45...f4+ Now things get a bit messy (time pressure, surely). 46.f3 fxe3 47.fxe3 e4+ 48.f4 c2 49.g5+ c4 50.xe4 xa2 51.b1 c8 52.c1+ b3 53.g7 d2 54.b7+ a2 55.cb1?! [ 55.h4! ] 55...c4 56.1b6 a8 57.c6 a3 58.h4 h2 59.d5 xh4 60.bc7? The final error. [ 60.e4! and White is very much in the game. ] 60...d3+ 61.e6 b3-+ 62.f5 d5 63.b6+ c2 64.e6 The score ends here, but Black is winning in view of his formidable c-pawn. 8...Nc6!? puts a twist on the usual play and certainly looks viable. White should answer with 9.Qf4, perhaps with an eye to a subsequent Qf4-h4 when Black castles. 0-1
1279 Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar Karjakin,Sergey Gashimov Memorial-A (10) [Fier, Alexandr]
A30 2760 2772 30.04.2014
An d he re we ha ve t h e th ird ga me in th is variation, where Karjakin repeats the same idea with Black and in reply Mamedyarov tried the creative 18.g5 ... but Black was prepared almost until the end. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 g7 8.c3 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 0-0 12.h4 a6 13.b3 e8 14.h3 a8 Since 14...Ba8 was basically a novelty, it's good to take a look at the alternatives: [ 14...c7 this is the most played move, but it doesn't score so well for Black A) 15.h6 is not critical c5 16.g5 b5 17.d5 A1) 17...e6 18.f4 f8 ( 18...b6 wa s b e t t e r, b u t p ro b a b ly B la c k wa s 1280
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 afraid of 19.xg7 xg7 20.fxe6+ fxe6 21.xe6+ but the position is not so clear ) 19.d3 c7 20.e5 and White had pressure in Budnikov, A (2535)Hoffmann, M (2455)/Porz Citroen-Cup 1993.; A2) 17...xd5 18.cxd5 xc1 19.xc1 xh6 20.xh6 f8 and Black was fine in Wojtkiewicz, A (2567)-Stohl, I (2600)/ POL-chT 55th 1999.; B) 15.g4 this is more to the point a8 ( 15...b5 16.g5 xf3 17.exf3 b4 Black needs to avoid the knight entering d5 18.e2 e5 19.g2 fd7 but now there is much less counterplay on the queenside, so W hite was better in Giardelli, S (2460)-Yudasin, L (2600)/ Chicago op 1997.) 16.d2!? this is less p l a y e d , b u t I t h i n k i t ' s g o o d e6 ( 16...ec8? 17.g5 h5 18.xd7 xd7 19.a4 and White was already winning in Pelletier, Y (2578)- Zhao, X (2579)/Cap d 'A gd e K a rp o v qu a l 2 n d ra p id 2 0 1 3 .) 17.g5 h5 18.de4 also with a good position for W hite in Svidler, P (2727)Hermansson, E (2423)/EU-Cup 24th Kallithea 2008. ] [ 14...b8 was also played and a possible continuation is 15.h6 xf3 16.exf3 b5 17.xg7 xg7 with a double-edged position ] [ 14...c6 is a bit odd, but the rook is not a t t a c k e d b y N d 5 15.g4 f8 16.e5 but it is attacked by the other knight c8 17.g5 6d7 18.g4 and White was better in Shche kachev, A (255 4)-Sasikiran, K (2700)/Calatrava op rapid 2nd 2007. ] 15.g4 [ 15.h6 is again not critical, and the rook c a n g o a t o n c e t o c 5 c5 ( 15...xh6 16.xh6 c5 17.g5 f8 18.a4 is interesting for White) 16.xg7 xg7 and Black hasn't any problems. ] 15...b5 16.cxb5 a5 17.d2 [ 17.g5 is another alternative, but Black is also f ine trying to stay with the passe d pawns on the queenside xc3 18.xc3 xc3 19.gxf6 xf6 ( 19...xf6 20.c4 xc4 21.bxc4 c5 is also possible) 20.c4 ( 20.bxa6 c2 21.e1 d5 and it looks like Black has enough
compensation) 20...xc4 21.bxc4 axb5 22.cxb5 e4 and the pawns can't advance so easily, so the position remains unclear ] 17...xf3 18.g5 d5! It's hard to understand what is going on with so many pieces in the air, but the computer says that Black's position is always under control. [ 18...b7 is m o re h u m a n 19.gxf6 xf6 20.a4 xa4 21.xa4 e6 22.b6 d5 23.e4 and White still has some kind of pressure ] 19.xd7 [ 19.xd5 xc1 20.xc1 e5! and everything is defended somehow 21.f1 xd5 22.xd5 axb5 and Black is ok ] 19...xc3 20.xc3 [ 20.xe8 also doesn't bring any advantage xc1 21.xc1 xe2 22.d2 xa2 23.e4 xd1 24.xf7+ xf7 25.xd5+ f8 26.a8+ f7 27.d5+ with perpetual ] 20...xc3 21.xc3 xc3 22.xe8 xe2 With the exchange down Black needs to keep playing actively in order to equalize. The computer is not so worried and already shows the famous 0.00. 23.f4 Giving the rook to attack the king. [ 23.b1 d2! controlling the rook's squares, 24.b6 d3 25.b7 xb1 26.b8 e1+ 27.g2 e4+ and Black is winning 28.f3 e2+ 29.f2 xf3+ 30.g3 e5+ with mate ] 23...xd1 24.xf7+ h8 25.c6 xb3 Now the game finishes with a forced draw. 26.axb3 c1+ 27.g2 xg5+ 28.h1 c1+ 29.g2 g5+ 30.f1 c1+ 31.e2 c2+ 32.f3 d1+ 33.g2 g4+ 34.h1 d1+ 35.g2 g4+ 36.h1 d1+ 37.g2 ½-½
1280 A30 Monroy,C 2443 Vazquez Igarza,R 2565 29th Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (3.19) [John Bartholomew] Black notches another victory in the main-line Double Fianchetto! 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.c3 g6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 g7 8.0-0 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 a6 12.b3 0-0 13.h4 c7 1281
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.h3 b8 15.g5 A relatively recent try. White pressurizes f6, having in mind Nc3-d5 and/or Bh3xd7, when e7 could easily become weak. [ White has thus far been unsuccessful in proving an advantage in the crucial line 15.g4 e6 16.g5 and now: A) 16...e8 A1) 17.d4 c5 ( 17...a8!? Zh o u J ia n c h a o ( 2 6 2 5 ) -S a si kir a n , K (2703) Beijing 2012/[John Bartholomew]) 18.g3 e5 19.f4 g7 20.g2 e5 21.f3 exf4 22.xf4 f6! Bartel, M (2654)-Almasi, Z (2713) Istanbul 2012; A2) 17.g2 b5! afforded Black su f f ic ie nt co un t e rp la y in Aro n ia n , L (2724)-Kramnik, V (2744) Saint Vincent 2005/[John Watson].; B) 16...h5?! (sidelining the knight when Bh3-g4 is possible is somewhat suspicious) 17.xd6!? xf3 18.exf3 e5 19.e4 xc4 20.xb6 xe4 21.xb8 xf3+ 22.g2 h4+ 23.f1 xc3 24.xf8+ xf8 25.xc3 Kovalyov, A (2596)-Van W ely, L (2691) Leon 2012/ [John Bartholomew]. ] [ Nor has 15.h6 paid dividends. Sergey Karjakin has twice upheld the position after b5! 16.xg7 xg7 for Black, i.e. 17.cxb5 ( 17.d5?! Salgado Lopez, I (2621)-Karjakin, S (2763) Porto Carras 2011/ [John Bartholomew]) 17...axb5 18.xd7 xd7 19.b4 c8! 20.xb5 c5! 21.a4 a6 22.xc5 dxc5 23.e1 xb5 24.axb5 xb5= Topalov, V (2752) -Karjakin, S (2779) Astana 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] 15...b5! Cleanest. [ It looks weaker for Black to insert 15...xf3 16.exf3 before b5 b e c a u s e o f 17.xd7 xd7 18.d5! , e.g. bxc4?! ( 18...xd5 19.cxd5 c7 20.c6 xc6 21.dxc6 c8 22.c1 e6 23.d2 c7 24.a4 Kramnik, V (2729)-Aronian, L (2756) Turin 2006 ) 19.xf6 xf6 20.xf6! exf6 21.xf6+ g7 22.xd7 b7 23.xf8 cxb3 24.xg6 hxg6 ( 24...b2! ) 25.axb3 xb3 26.xd6 and White went on to convert his advantage in Meier, G (2668)Danin, A (2556) Dresden 2012. ] [ Interesting is the classy semi-waiting move
15...e8!? , i.e. 16.d2 ( 16.d5 xd5 17.cxd5 xc1 18.xc1 b7 19.e4 c5 ) 16...c5 17.b4 cd7 18.f1 a8 19.e3 b5! 20.cd5 xd5 21.xd5 xd5 22.cxd5 b6 Eljanov, P (2697)-Sasikiran, K (2681) Ningbo 2011. ( 22...e5!? )] 16.xd7 [ 16.d5 is critical. However, following xd5 ( 16...xd5!? is also possible, e.g. 17.cxd5 fc8 18.d4 xd5 19.xc7 xc7 20.xe7 xe7 21.xe7 f8 22.g5 with perhaps a tiny edge for White) 17.cxd5 f6 18.e4 Black offered a timely trade with c8! and after 19.xc7 xc7 20.c1 b7 21.g2 b6 22.c2 d7 23.e3 a5 24.d2 b6 25.e3 a5 26.d2 the players agreed a draw in Ftacnik, L (2562)-Rotstein, A (2505) Austria 2009. White can probably improve upon this game, but Black doesn't seem to suf fer any ill effects from parting with the bishop pair. ] 16...xd7 17.d5 [ W h it e co uld a lso pla y 17.cxb5 axb5 18.b4 , in the same vein as Topalov Karjakin (note to White's 15th move). The only difference is that here the dark square bishops remain on board, but this doesn't a f f e c t t h e a s s e s s m e n t : ( 18.xb5?? allows the well-known trick xf3-+ ) 18...c8! 19.xb5 c5! (commit this idea to memory!) 20.xf6 xf6 21.a4 c6 and Black regains the pawn and achieves complete equality. ] 17...xd5 18.cxd5 e8! Black is solid as a rock. W hite already needs to think about steering the game towards a draw. 19.e4 c7 [ 19...e6!? ] 20.xc7 xc7 21.c1 d7 22.e3 [ It looks better to play 22.h6 . ] 22...c8 23.xc8+ xc8 24.g2 c7 25.d4 This meets with a surprising response. f6! Removing any threat to e7 and significantly cutting down the scope of White's pieces. Now the difference in queen activity becomes obvious. 26.e3?! [ More stubborn was 26.f4 c2 27.e1! , as xa2 ( 27...d1 ) 28.c1 provides counterplay. ] 26...c2 27.d4 d1 28.e6 d7 29.f4 b4 30.f3 b1 31.d4?? White's sense of danger lets him down. 1282
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 31.h4 was called for. ] 31...b5! Launching a decisive attack. Amazingly, Black doesn't even need the help of his g7 bishop! 32.g4 [ 32.h4 d3 is similar. ] 32...d3 Targeting another weakness. 33.e3 f1+ 34.g3 g1+ 35.f3 c2! Black's queen and bishop function beautifully on the light squares. There is no defense. 36.f4 d1+ [ W h i t e r e s i g n e d i n v i e w o f 36...d1+ 37.e3 e1+ 38.d3 e2# . Once again W hite fails to make theoretical headway against the Double Fianchetto! An issue the first player encounters is that Black's play is often stereotyped yet highly effective (i.e. the ...b5 break), so the onus is on White to demonstrate something. ] 0-1
12...e5!? 13.xe5 dxe5 14.e3 0-0 15.b4 The only way to disturb this pawn structure. e6!? [ 15...fd8 is more natural, but White fails to make any real progress in any case. ] 16.bxc5 bxc5 17.a4 fc8 18.b1 f8 19.a3 c6 20.b3?! a6 21.f1 cb8 22.g5 h6 23.f6 g7 24.e7 f8 25.f6 g7 26.e7 ½-½
1282 Nakamura,Hikaru Carlsen,Magnus Trophee CCAS GpB rapid (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A30 2704 2786 26.10.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.b3 bd7 1281 A30 [ In two other recent games, Black tried two Morozevich,Alexander 2758 other continuations: A) 9...a6 10.a3 0-0 Grischuk,Alexander 2704 11.fd1 White scores phenomenally well in 57th ch Moscow RUS (7) 22.11.2004 this line, which is a good indication for Black [John Watson] to stay clear of this set-up against 9 b3. e8 12.e4 xe4 13.xe4 a7 14.ac1 c7 A g a m e i l lu s t r a t i n g B l a ck ' s co m f o rt a b l e 15.d4 c8 16.e3 d7 17.f5 c5 equality if White avoids committing to d4 in 18.xe7+ xe7 19.d2 a5 20.cd1 the main line of the Double Fianchetto. 1.c4 , and thanks to his better coordinated pieces f6 2.f3 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 and bishop pair, W hite is clearly better, g6 6.c3 g7 7.e1 A harmless move, Ivanchuk, V-Carlsen, M/Cap d'Agde FRA typical of Morozevich's tendency to avoid 2008 ] main lines, in this case 7.d4. That has been [ B) 9...0-0 10.a3 a6!? 11.fd1 c5 favouring W hite recently, as Tony has 12.e3 a6 13.h3 c7 14.d4 xg2 illustrated in his examples. e4 This is the 15.xg2 fe8 with a pleasant game for main problem with 7.Re1 - otherwise e4 would Blacki, Markosian, D-Solodovnichenko, Y/ have some force. 8.c2 Naberezhnye Chelny RUS 2008 ] [ Cute but ineffective is 8.xe4 xe4 9.d4 10.b5!? cxd4 10.h6!? xh6 11.xd4 0-0 [ This is obviously not the only option for 12.xe4 c6 13.ad1 c8 14.h4 g7= White. More frequently White plays 10.b2 ] as in Stohl,I-Tukmakov,V/Bled 1997 and [ and also 10.d1 is seen quite frequently. ] several other games ] 10...d5 8...xc3 9.dxc3 d6 10.f4 Apparently new. [ 10...c5 is the main line, which is No more effective was discussed in Ivanchuk-Ivanchuk, Las Vegas [ 10.e4 d7 11.g5 0-0 12.ad1 h6 1999 - see the PGN archives. ] 13.f4 c7 14.e2 ad8= in Gabriel,C- 11.f4 Mandl,R/Germany 1990. ] [ It has been established that the alternative 10...d7 11.ad1 c7 12.e4 11.cxd5 doesn't offer W hite much: xd5 [ 12.d2 0-0 13.xb7 xb7 14.f3 ad8 ( Obviously 11...xd5? 12.xg7 f6 is equally futile. ] loses to 13.d6+ e7 14.xf7+ xd6 1283
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.a3+ ) A) 12.f4 0-0 13.ac1 ( 13.c7 c8 14.ac1 b7= ) 13...c5 14.a1 e7 15.c7 xf3 ( 15...ac8 16.xd5 xd5 17.g5 is slightly better for White according to Stohl in CBM) 16.xf3 ad8= Stohl, I-Duer, A/Austria 1991; B) 12.f4 0-0 13.b2 a6 ( 13...c6?! 14.bd4 d5 15.fd1 b8 16.ac1 xf4 17.gxf4 d6 18.f5 , and White has a long-term initiative in the endgame, Stohl, I-Valiente, C/Novi Sad 1990) 14.c3 b7 15.fd1 b8 16.ac1 d8 17.xb8 axb8 18.d4 xg2 19.xg2 bc8 20.f3 b5 21.e4 e5 , and here a draw was agreed in Runting, T-Frank, M/ICCF Email 1997 ] 11...0-0 12.c7 [ White has an important alternative in this position 12.e5!? c5 A) 13.fd1 can also be considered, for instance ce4 14.b2 a6 15.d4 e8 16.cxd5 , and despite the fact the players agreed upon a draw at this juncture, 1/2-1/ 2, in Rogozenko, D-Kashlyuk, V/corr 1991, White still has some initiative, for instance xd5 ( 16...exd5 17.f5 is even better for White ) 17.f3 c5 18.e4 b7 19.c4; B) 13.ac1 a6 14.c3 ce4?! ( Black appears to be okay after 14...dxc4 , e.g. 15.xd8 fxd8 16.xb7 xb7 17.xc4 b5 18.b6 a7 19.fd1 h5 , and Black has more or less stabilized the situation, even if White still has some initiative af ter 20.a4 ) 15.xe4 dxe4 16.e3 c5 17.xd8 fxd8 18.xc5 bxc5 19.fd1 f8 20.f3 exf3 21.xf3 xf3 22.exf3 ac8 23.f2 Huzman, ABrodsky, M/Kherson 1989 ] 12...c8 13.d6 d8 In Stepanov, KVerdier, P/corr ICCF 1995, the players settled on a draw in this position. Nakamura, however, isn't a great fan of quick, bloodless draws... 14.cxd5 xd5 15.xe7 xe7 16.c7 ac8 17.xd5 xd5 18.b2 f6 Black has of course completely equalized in this position and can safely play for more. 19.xf6 7xf6 20.fc1 c3 21.f1 c7 [ 21...c5!? ] 22.c2 fc8 23.d4 fd5 [ 23...b5 24.a3 a5 25.b4 axb4 26.axb4
doesn't do anything for Black either, except fix a pawn on the square colour of White's bishop. ] 24.xd5 xd5 25.xc7 xc7 26.b5 d7 27.c1 g5 28.c4 g7 29.e4 e7 30.h3 a6?! [ 30...f5 is probably best, maintaining approximately equal chances. After the text move, White gains the initiative. ] 31.c7 d1+ [ 31...d2!? 32.a4 a5 33.e1 d7 34.e2 ] 32.e2 a1 33.c2 a5 34.a4 h1?! [ 34...b1 35.c3 g8! ( 35...f6 36.a8 e5 37.xb6 xe4 38.c4 is very good for White ) 36.e8+ ( 36.a8 f6 37.f3 d7= ) 36...g6 37.f4 h1 ( 37...b2+ 38.e3 h2 39.f5+ exf5 40.c6+ f6 41.c7 xh3 42.g7+ h6 43.exf5 xg3+ 44.e4 xb3 45.xg8 b4+ 46.d5 xa4 47.xf6 , and White is winning ) 38.f5+ exf5 39.c6+ f6 40.c7 fxe4 41.g4 h2+ 42.f1 xh3 43.g7+ h6 44.xg8 f3+ 45.e2 f5 with an unclear endgame ] 35.a8 xh3 36.xb6 Now things are ge t t in g a b it d ice y f o r B la c k, t h e ro o k i s decidedly offside on the h-file, but Carlsen f i g h t s o n . h1 37.c5 f5 38.c7 f8 39.c8 g6?! [ 39...xc8 40.xc8+ e7 41.c5 is probably better, but leaves only W hite with winning chances, so Carlsen plays the riskier move. ] 40.exf5 exf5 41.c5 f4 42.xa5?! [ 42.f5+ g7 43.xg5 b1 44.b5 should win for White ] 42...b1 43.b5 g4! 44.gxf4 xf4+ 45.e3 g2+ [ 45...h3!? ] 46.d3 h5 47.c2 f1 48.f5+ g7 49.xh5 xf2+ 50.c3 f3+ 51.b4 g3 52.a5 f4 53.g5+ f6 [ Black can actually play for more with 53...h6! 54.g4 h5 55.g7 g2 , but 56.xg2! xg2 57.a6 f8 58.d6! , a n d t h e p a wn s will sa ve t h e d ra w f o r White. ] 54.g4 d3+ 55.a3?? [ The correct move is 55.b5 , leading to a d r a w a f t e r f5+ 56.b6 g5 57.xg3 1284
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg3 58.a6 b4 59.a7 d5+ 60.c6 c3+ 61.b7 xb3+ 62.c6= ] 55...c5?? [ Black misses out on the golden opportunity that was handed to him: 55...f5! 56.b4 ( 56.xg3?? xa5# ) 56...g5 57.xg3 xg3 , and the White pawns are not far enough to give Black any real trouble. ] 56.b4 d3+ 57.a3?? c5?? and the players agreed upon a draw after repeating their dual blunders. ½-½
1283 Nakamura,Hikaru Karjakin,Sergey Gashimov Memorial-A (5) [Fier, Alexandr]
A30 2772 2772 24.04.2014
This was the first game with Karjakin's new 14...Ba8 idea in a well known position. During one week three important games were played wi t h t h i s , a n d i n a l l t h r e e g a m e s B l a c k showed amazing preparation. Apparently the position is fine for Black, but it requires a lot of precision. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 [ 10.b3 is another way to develop the bishop 0-0 11.b2 d5!? was the move played by Ka rja k in in a n o t h e r ga m e a n alyze d f o r Chess Publishing 12.d2 xc3 13.xc3 f6 Eljanov, P (2702)-Karjakin, S (2772)/ FIDE World Cup 2013 (3.7). ] 10...c8 11.ac1 a6 12.b3 0-0 13.h4 This position is well known and there were a lot of games recently. White has good control in the center, so he usually launches an attack on the kingside. Black, on the other hand, needs to find proper counterplay on the other part of the board. e8 [ 13...c7 is a thematic move. The queen can go away from d8 and after Bh3 there is n o p i n a n y m o r e 14.h3 b8 15.g5 was tried last year and analyzed by Bartholomew in Monroy, C (2443)-Vazquez Igarza, R (2565)/29th Open Cappelle la Grande FRA 2013 (3.19) ] 14.h3 [ 14.g4 was seen once before on the site,
b5! more or less the same idea as in the game, the knight on c3 is not well defended, 15.cxb5 xg4 with some complications, as seen in Filippov, V (2593)-Nikolic, P (2657)/ XVI ECC Neum BIH 2000. ] 14...a8 The idea behind this move is not so easy to guess. In some positions White has no time to play bxa6, since now the bishop won't be attacked. Another point is to wait for W h it e t o co m mit wit h so m e mo ve on t h e kingside before starting counterplay on the ot he r f lan k. 15.g4 The natural continuation, W hite wants to attack the knight on f6 and create pressure on the diagonal. [ 15.e1 is quite exotic, but avoids Black t a k i n g o n f 3 c7 16.f3 b7 17.g4 is a possible continuation c5 18.g5 fd7 19.b4 e6 20.xe6 fxe6 21.g4 with a complex endgame, but my feeling is that Black should be fine. Of course none of these moves were forced ] 15...b5! Now that White can't bring the pawn ba ck t o g3, Black imm ed iat ely sta rts h is counterplay. 16.cxb5 Facing a new position Nakamura thinks to go for the most ambitious va r i a t i o n . a5 And the bishop now is better on a8 where it can't be attacked. The position soon enters into chaos and I think Karjakin wa s p re p a re d u p u n t il m o ve 2 4 a t le a s t . 17.d2 xf3 18.exf3 e5 19.g2 g5!? A move really hard to make over the board. Black just gives the pawn in front of the king to avoid White's 20.g5! [ 19...axb5 would be much more human and the position is unclear after 20.g5 fd7 21.xd7 xd7 22.d5 Black will take two rooks for the queen, but the pieces are not s o w e l l c o o r d i n a t e d xc1 ( 22...d8 23.b4 looks better for White) 23.xa5 xd1 24.c7 c8 25.e4 c5 26.xe7 d3 27.e6 h6 and the computer comes with the habitual 0.00! ] 20.xg5 axb5 Now Black is threatening ...b4 and White's pieces are slightly in each other's way. 21.e3 White just brings the pieces back into the game. [ 21.d5!? wa s a c r i t i c a l o p t i o n xc1 22.xc1 ( 22.xa5 xd1 23.xf6+ exf6 24.e3 c8 19 looks less good than in the analysis of move) 22...xa2 23.xf6+ exf6 24.e3 d5 with a hard position to access ] 1285
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21...b4 22.e2 [ 22.g5 fg4! ( 22...xc3 23.xc3 d5 24.xd5 xd5 25.xe5 xe5 26.c4 and White can fight for something with the extra pawn.; 22...bxc3? 23.gxf6 cxd2 24.xc8 and the bishop on h3 defends the rook ) 23.fxg4 bxc3 24.xc3 xa2 and it looks like Black is fine, the bishop on h3 is not really doing a great job for the moment ] 22...d5 23.e4 xc1 24.xc1 e6 After the storm the position is now more calm and it looks like Black's opening was s u c c e s s f u l . 25.f4 White needs to remain active, so he goes into a forcing line. [ 25.d2 is quite ugly, the rook stays in the way g6 looking to the f4 square is fine for Black ] 25...f6 26.b7 exg4 27.f3 White managed to bring Black's knights to a worse position, but at the cost of an important pawn. h5 28.xd6 xa2 29.g3 xf2+ Black is happy with a draw and finds a way to exchange a lot of pieces. There was still an option to keep playing for all three results. [ 29...c8 A) 30.d2 d5 ( 30...c2 31.d8+ h7 32.d3+ h6 33.f5+ ) 31.xh5 xd2 32.xg4 e3+ 33.f3 xg4 34.xd2 f6 35.xf6+ ( 35.xg7 c3+ ) 35...xf6; B) 30.d2 b1 31.b2 e1 32.e2 b1 33.xh5 ( 33.d2 ) 33...xh5 34.xg4 g6 35.xg6 ( 35.e5 xg4+ 36.xg4 xe5 37.xh5 xf4 ) 35...xf4+ ] [ 29...h4 also should lead to a draw 30.xg4 hxg3 31.hxg3 xg4 32.xg4 xb3 33.e3 and because of the threat of 34.Bd4, White is fine c2 34.d4 e4+ 35.h2 ( 35.f3 c2+ 36.f1 d1+ 37.g2 c2+= ) 35...e5 36.b2 h7+ 37.g2 e4+ with a possible perpetual ] 30.xf2 xf2 31.xf2 h4 32.f3 hxg3 33.hxg3 Maybe White has some slight pressure, but Black had no big problems to defend. a8 34.f5 f8 35.c6 d7 And Black is safe because of the check on e5. 36.c7 c5 37.e3 a5 38.fxe6 xe6 39.c8 g7 40.f1 f5+ 41.g2 c5 42.d3 e5 43.xc5 xc5 44.b8 c3
45.c4 d4 46.xb4 f5 47.b7 e3+ 48.f2 xc4 49.bxc4 xc4 ½-½
1284 Naumann,Alexander Stefansson,Hannes Bundesliga 2003-4 (3) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2518 2567 22.11.2003
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 b6 4.g3 b7 5.g2 c5 6.0-0 a6 7.e1 This is still the most fashionable line here. d6 8.e4 e7 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 11.e3 bd7 12.f4 0-0 13.c1 fe8 A typical Hedgehog move, preparing for any opening of the e-file. In the eBook I considered that this might be the most accurate. 14.d5!? The most direct, but Black is supposed to be well-place to counter this. We looked at another sharp try, [ 14.g4!? in Chuchelov, V-Gommers,R. ] 14...exd5 15.cxd5 b8 [ 15...d8 16.c6 xc6 17.dxc6 c5 18.c7 xc7 19.e5 dxe5 transposes. ] [ 15...c5 16.b4 d7 17.bxc5 bxc5 18.c6 leads to a very pleasant Benoni position for White. ] 16.c6 xc6 17.dxc6 c5 18.e5 [ 18.c7 xc7 19.e5 transposes, but may ve more accurate as the next note is thereby impossible. ] 18...dxe5 19.c7 xc7 Best, but [ 19...c8!? is also feasible, 20.fxe5 fe4 ( 20...g4!? 21.e6 f5 looks playable) 21.b4 a7 Chuchelov,V-Jaracz,P/Ohrid MKD 2001, and now 22.c2! is good. ] 20.xa8 xa8 21.b4 exf4 [ 21...d8!? is an alternative: 22.e2 d5 ( 22...fd7!? ) 23.bxc5 bxc5 24.fxe5 xe3 25.xe3 c4 26.e4 and White has an extra pawn compared to the game. ] 22.xf4 b7! Ftacnik's suggestion he considered this an improvement over the original [ 22...a7 w h e n , a f t e r 23.bxc5 xc5+ 24.g2 b7+ 25.f3 xf3+ 26.xf3 d5 27.d2 f6 28.e2! White managed to grind o u t a win i n F t a cn ik , L - B r o wn e , W / P a n Pa cif ic 19 9 1, alt ho u gh his e d ge is tin y here.. ] 1286
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.bxc5 xc5+ 24.e3 Forced, the point of putting the black queen on the h1-a8 diagonal was to stop White playing his king to g2, and then queen to f3. f8!? Ftacnik preferred [ 24...b4 25.e2 b5 which seems more active. ] 25.f2 h5 26.h3 b5 It makes positional sense to put the black pawns on light squares. 27.c2 a5 28.c6 White heads for the endgame. xc6 29.xc6 a4 Black seems to be fine, he has two pawns for the exchange and his position is relatively compact. 30.ec1 With an exchange more it invariably pays to change the opponent's remaining rook. e4 31.e1!? White preserves his bishop, [ 31.c8 xc8 32.xc8 xf2 33.xf2 b4 must be a draw. ] 31...h7 32.c8 xc8 33.xc8 d6 34.g2 b4? Black misses a simple tactic, almost any other move should be adequate, e. g. [ 34...f5 35.a8 e5 planning ...Bc3. ] 35.xb4! xb4 36.c4 The point, now Black loses a pawn. c3 [ 36...c3? would be a good idea, exchanging the last queenside pawn, but u n f o r t u n a t e l y 37.xb4 xa2 38.c4! traps the knight (if this piece could escape the knight and 3 versus rook and 2 is a theoretical draw) a3 39.f3 and the king comes to capture the knight. ] 37.xe4 a3 38.a4 b2 This is forced, but the bishop is tied to the a-pawn which severely restricts its mobility. 39.f3 g6 40.a5 h6 41.e4 g6 42.a7 g7 43.d5 f6 44.a4 e7 45.a6 c1 46.c4 g5? Black is a young player, but this shows a certain inexperience, weakening the kingside pawns which were already on their best squares defence-wise. [ 46...b2 would force White to demonstrate a win. ] 47.d5 The king returns. f8 48.e4 g7 49.f5 g4 50.h4 [ 50.h4 b2 51.g5 wins both g and hpawns with a trivial win. ] 1-0
1285 Onischuk,Alexander Wang Zili 6th Tan Nam Cup (5) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2627 2603 13.07.2000
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.e1 0-0!? [ This might be deemed to be premature, 7...a6 8.e4 d6 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 is safer, as in the archives. ] 8.e4 d6 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 fd7!? [ An unusual a. With this particular move order, Black has to be careful about the threat of e5, e.g. 10...a6?! 11.e5 dxe5 12.xb7 exd4 13.xa8 dxc3 14.bxc3 which should certainly favour White, and ] [ 10...c8 to defend the bishop, without leaving the queen too exposed, was examined in the archives. ] [ N e v e r t h e l e s s , 10...c7!? may be the strongest, anyway, as 11.db5!? ( 11.e3 a6 transposes to the main line) 11...c6 12.g5 a6 13.d4 c7 14.c1 Speelman,J-Plaskett,J/BCF-ch Ayr/1978 doesn't gain anything. ] 11.e3 e5 [ 11...c6 12.xc6 xc6 13.c1 is similar, Shomoev,A-Iljushkin,E/Novgorod 1999. ] 12.e2! [ This new move is slightly more logical than 12.b3 bd7 13.f4 c6 14.xc6 xc6 15.c1 c8 16.e2 Diaz,A-Camina,A/La Coruna 1998, as there seems no need to play b3 until absolutely necessary. ] 12...bc6 13.xc6 xc6 14.ad1! A more aggressive post for this rook than the normal c1, made possible because of White's twelfth move, and which works well here for tactical reasons. a6 [ Played to prepare ...Qc7, of course, Black probably wanted to avoid 14...c7!? 15.f4 g6 16.b5 b8 17.d4 b7 18.f5 with powerful pressure, but ] [ 14...b8 might be more circumspect. ] 15.f4 d7?! [ This loses material to a finely judged combination, 15...g6 was forced, although 16.h4! e8 17.h5 f8 18.h6 is unpleasant for Black. ] 1287
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.e5! xg2 17.xg2 dxe5? [ A further mistake, the best chance is 17...c8 when 18.b7!? ( 18.exd6 f6 menaces the captures on c4, and c3, although White is clearly better) 18...xc4 19.exd6 f6 20.xa6 and now, c8! may offer some chances. Not, however, ] [ 17...c7? 18.exd6 xd6 19.d2 and Black loses a piece. ] 18.b7 c5 Forced. 19.xd8 xb7 20.d7 The point of White's play, winning one of the two stranded minor pieces. d6 21.xe7 xc4 22.fxe5 xe5 Black has gained two pawns, but this is wholly insufficient. 23.d1 c4 24.c1 b5 25.b3 e5 26.f4 g6 27.c7 h6 28.e4 ac8 29.dc1 cd8 30.d6 fe8 31.1c6 e5 32.xa6 e6 33.aa7 1-0
1286 Osborne,Marcus E Cox,John J Premiership International (4) [John Watson]
A30 2202 2385 31.08.2005
A k n o c k - e m , s o c k- e m f ig h t in wh i ch t h e Hedgehog with ...a6 looks suspicious and then W hite plays a little inaccurately. After that both sides mix it up. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 a6 Formerly the most popular move order in the Hedgehog, this is seldom played nowadays, 6...Be7 being preferred. 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.b3 bd7 10.g5! We have seen a number of Ng5 ideas. This particular one, without Rd1 in (or Ba3 or Bb2), looks hard to meet and may even argue against playing ... a 6 t o o e a r l y . xg2 11.xg2 c8?! We've also seen this idea of ...Rc8-c6 before, but the omission of Rd1 allows White time to achieve his goals. The best option is probably [ 11...e7 and now 12.d1 ( or 12.ge4 c5 13.b2 0-0 14.ad1 , a shade better for White ) 12...c7! is hard to gain any significant advantage against, but I'd rather be White after something like 13.ge4 0-0 14.b2 ( 14.xd6 fd8 ) 14...fd8 15.xf6+ xf6 16.e4 . In the e4 lines, simplification generally favours White. You
can forget that: "W hen you have a space advantage, avoid exchanges" nonsense! [Shameless Plug: For a complete discussion of this fallacy, see my "Chess Strategy in Action"!] ] 12.ge4 c6 [ The point of ...Rc8. It's a bit late to play 12...c5 13.g5 ( or 13.xf6+ ) 13...e7 14.xf6 gxf6 15.ad1 ] 13.a3! c5 [ 13...xe4 14.xe4 c5 15.ad1 xe4 16.xe4 c7 17.f4! e7 18.f5 is positionally disastrous. ] 14.xc5 bxc5 15.xf6+ gxf6 16.e4 c7 What else? 17.d5! [ Or 17.ad1 f5 ( 17...g7 18.g4 0-0 19.e4 ) 18.f3 g7 19.e4 fxe4 20.xe4 d7 21.d3 and Rfd1. ] 17...a7 18.e3 Not bad bu t a little slow. White could also take over the light squares and discourage castling by [ 18.f4! f5 ( 18...g7 19.h5 h6 20.c6+ e7 21.f3 f5 22.e4 a8 23.fe1 ) 19.d3 ( 19.f3 a8 20.ad1 xf3+ 21.xf3 ) 19...g7 20.ad1 d7 21.h5 ] 18...h5 [ 18...g7 19.ad1 0-0 20.f4! and Nh5. ] 19.b4?! [ Better is simply 19.ad1 h6 20.f4 f8 21.c3 ] 19...h6! 20.f4? [ 20.f4 may still yield some advantage due to the computer's sacrifice f8? ( 20...0-0 21.c3 ) 21.bxc5! exd5 22.cxd6 a8 23.c5 ] 20...a8+ 21.f3 cxb4!? Winning a pawn, although White gets immediate counterplay. There wasn't much risk in [ 21...e5! 22.bxc5 dxc5 23.c3! ( 23.ab1 0-0 24.xc5 c8 ) 23...exf4 24.xf6 h7 ] 22.b6! xf4 23.gxf4 e7!? [ 23...d7 ] 24.c5 d8 [ 24...d5!? ] 25.cxd6+ xd6 26.xb4 ad7 [ 26...b7! gets the queen back in play. ] 27.fd1 c6 28.ac1 b6 29.a3 f8 30.b1 c6 31.bc1 b6 32.b1 c6 33.dc1 W h it e is righ t ba ck in it . d5 34.b8+ 1288
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Or 34.c8+ g7 35.g1 ] 34...g7 35.cc8 [ 35.g1!? These are tough and unclear decisions. ] 35...f5 36.e3 d2+ 37.h3 d8 38.xd8 xd8 39.xd8 xd8 40.xa6? Oh no, right at time control! [ 40.c3+ g6 41.c2 ] 40...d1! 41.b7?? [ 41.g2 d2+ 42.g1 xe3+ 43.g2 d2+ 44.g1 xf4 was no fun. ] 41...f1+ 42.g3 [ 42.h4 g2 43.h3 h6! and ...Qf2. ] 42...h4+ 43.xh4 g2 44.h3 0-1
1287 Pantsulaia,Levan Gelfand,Boris WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (3.4) [John Watson]
A30 2578 2717 05.12.2005
Qxa6. ] 15.xh6 xd5 16.cxd5 xd5? [ 16...c7 17.d4 ] 17.xd5 xd5 18.g5 5f6 19.c4! It's that simple! e8 20.h4 f8 21.c6 The point, which Gelfand surely missed at move 14 or so. d5 22.xe8 xe8 23.f3 e5 24.c1 White does a good job of consolidating. d4 25.e3 d3 26.c3 8d7 27.c4 e6 28.e4 c5 29.xe5 xe5 30.xe5 fxe4 31.b4!? [ 31.d4! c3 32.d8+ g7 33.xd3 wins on the spot. ] 31...d2 32.d4 a4 [ 32...e6 33.d5 ] 33.c4 ac3 34.d8+ g7 35.xd2 f6 36.a3 a5 37.bxa5 bxa5 38.d3 A nice idea and good win. 1-0
1288 A30 Pantsulaia,Levan 2496 In the ongoing battle of English Openings Markus,Robert 2584 from this match, Black keeps choosing lines 6th EICC Warsaw POL (3) 20.06.2005 well-established as safe but has problems [John Watson] anywa y! W h it e's sacrif ice o n mo ve 14 is extremely effective. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 A standard English Hedgehog goes wrong for c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d4 Black. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 b6 4.g2 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 bd7 The bane of b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.d4 cxd4 W h i t e ' s e x i s t e n c e . B l a c k ' s p i e c e s a r e 8.xd4 d6 The starting position for hundreds perfectly placed. 10.h4 c8 As is now well- of high-level games. 9.d1 a6 10.g5!? known, the defensive idea ...Rc5-h5 quashes This move is quite unusual these days but it most attacks. 11.h6 0-0 12.b3 a6 13.ac1 contains a few threats and may confuse an opponent who hasn't seen it played for many c5 14.d5! [ A dynamic try which cuts off the rook at the years. xg2 11.xg2 c6 12.f4 a7! c o s t o f l e a v i n g t h e d - p a w n e n p r i s e . Second-rank defence is handy in this and o t h e r sim ila r p o si t io n s . 13.ce4 d7! Standard would be something like 14.xg7 ] [ 14.g5 xg2 15.xg2 a8+ 16.g1 Allowing the following trick: 14.xf6+ xf6 fc8 with the idea ..b5. ] 15.xh7! xh7 16.e4 h5 17.xc6 c5 14...xh6 I don't see a truly satisfactory move 18.a4 c8?! [ In this position Black has to play very for Black: [ 14...xd5 15.cxd5 xd5 ( 15...f6 precisely. To get counterplay for the pawn, 16.g5 ) 16.g5! forces xd1+ 17.xd1 he should play 18...a8+ 19.g1 ( 19.f3 xg2 18.xg7 xg7 19.xh7+ f6 c6 ) 19...c6!= Ribli-Wahls, Bundesliga 1988/9. ] 20.d4! and Black can hardly defend ( 20.xg2 xg5 is unclear )] 19.xd6 xc4 20.xd7+ xd7 21.xd7 [ 14...xd5 15.cxd5 xd5 looks okay, but xd7 22.f1 Black is active but a pawn is a White suddenly switches to the queenside: pawn. b5 23.h4 a5 24.b1 b4 25.b3 c2 16.xd5 xd5 17.xg7 xg7 18.c4! 26.a4!? d4 27.g5 e5 [ The natural 27...f6 fails to 28.d1 e5 with a c le ar p osit ion al a dvan ta ge a f t e r 1289
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 29.e3 ] 28.h5 f6 29.c1!? c3 30.xc3 bxc3 [ 30...xc3 31.e3 leaves Black nothing to show for the pawn. ] 31.c1! f5 Else White just centralises the king. 32.f3 e4 33.fxe4 fxe4 34.e1 e6 35.g4!? Simpler was [ 35.d1 e5 36.f4 xf4 37.gxf4 and White wins, e.g., d5 38.c2 d4 39.f5 e3 40.h6! gxh6 41.f6 ] 35...e3 [ 35...e5 ] 36.d1 e5 37.g5 f4? 38.h6 g6 39.h7 e5 [ 39...xg5 40.xe3+! ] 40.c2 xg5 41.xe3+ f5 42.b6 1-0
1289 Pavlovic,Milos Smirnov,Pavel 6th EICC Warsaw POL (1) [John Watson]
A30 2475 2624 18.06.2005
A fascinating if strange game. White plays a sort of reversed Benoni and Black throws his pieces at the opponent's king, not terribly co n vin c ingly b u t it 's e f f e ct ive . S u d d e n ly there's a resignation. I have no idea why. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.g3 d5 4.g2 c6 5.0-0 e5 6.d3 So far a reversed Yugoslav King's Indian. e7 7.g5!? Now it's a 6...Bg4 main-line KID with White a tempo ahead. Is c4 useful? d4 8.e3 [ 8.a3 0-0 9.d2 h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.c2 ( 11.a4 d7 12.b5 e7 13.xb7 b8 14.a6 xb2 15.xc6 xc6 16.xc6 xd2 ) 11...d7 12.a3 a5 13.b1 a4 14.b4 axb3 15.xb3 e7 ] 8...0-0 9.exd4 cxd4 Finally, we have a standard Benoni in which Bg5 is quite useful. Maybe [ 9...exd4 was more appropriate. Then there might follow 10.e1 h6 11.f4 (intending Ne5. We've seen this position earlier in the Vukic games, with Re1 replacing Ne5 and the extra move ...h6 in) d6 12.e5 xe5 13.xe5 xe5 14.xe5 c7 15.e1 ( 15.e2 g4! 16.f3 d7 17.e7? e6! 18.xe6 fxe6 19.xe6+ h8 20.d2
ae8 ) 15...f5 16.b3 fe8 17.d2 ab8 18.f3= ] 10.e1 c7 [ With colors reversed White sometimes plays 10...d7 [Nd2] when White's extra tempo can come in handy: 11.xe7 xe7 12.a3 ( 12.a3 a5 13.bd2 c5 14.e4 xe4 15.xe4 f6= ) 12...f6 13.c2 ( 13.b5 d8 14.d2 c5 15.e4 xe4 16.xe4 e6 17.c5! unclear ) 13...d6 14.h4!? g6 15.d2 ] 11.bd2 [ 11.a3 a6! ( 11...f5 12.b5 b8 13.fxd4! exd4 14.xc6 bxc6 15.xd4 ) 12.c2 h6 13.xf6 xf6 14.d2 ( 14.b4 f5 15.e2 b5 16.d2 ) 14...e6 15.b4 b5 16.c1 bxc4 17.xc4 ] 11...h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.a3 a5 14.c5! [ 14.c2 g4 15.h3 e6 16.c5 a4 17.c4 a5 ] 14...e6 15.c1 d5 16.c4? [ 16.xd4! xd4 ( 16...xg2 17.b5 d8 18.xg2 xd3 19.c4 with a healthy advant age .) 17.xd5 fd8 18.e4 a4 19.c4 e7 20.f3 xf3+ 21.xf3 ] 16...ad8 17.h4 g6 18.h5 g7 19.d6!? [ 19.hxg6 fxg6 20.fd2 ( 20.e2 de8 21.fd2 xg2 22.xg2 g5! ) 20...e7 21.e4 xe4 22.xe4 ] 19...b6 20.hxg6 fxg6 21.e4 e7 22.cxb6 [ 22.fd2!? b5 23.g4 a4 ] 22...xb6 23.e2 [ 23.ed2! f6 24.c4 b5 25.e2 fe8 26.fd2 xg2 27.xg2 unclear. White has a beautiful out post on e4, but Black can get rid of his worst piece by g5 28.c2 xd2 ] 23...f5 24.fd2 h5!? [ 24...xb2 25.c4 b8! 26.a4 with compensation ] 25.c4 b5 26.a4 [ 26.ec2 a4 27.e2 ] 26...b8 27.ec2 h4! 28.gxh4 xh4 29.g3 g5 [ What's going on here? Perhaps White was convinced that a combination of ... Bxg3 and . ..e4 would be decisive but at least he should have forced Smirnov to prove it. W h i t e c a n t r y t o d e f e n d b y 29...g5 30.xd5 A) 30...xg3!? 31.fxg3 xd5 32.g2! ( 32.b6 d6 33.f3 e4 34.f4 exd3 ); 1290
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 30...xd5 31.f3! Then he has threats on d5 and c6, not to mention the idea of Nd7-e4, so Black must plunge onward: ( 31.b6 xg3-+ 32.fxg3 xg3+ 33.f2 g5 34.xd5 e4 35.f1 g3+ 36.e2 f5 37.xf5 gxf5 38.xc6 f3+ 39.e1 exd3 ) 31...e4! ( 31...xg3 32.xd5 f4+ 33.f1 c8 34.d6 h3+ 35.e2 e4 36.f7+ h8 37.f8+ h7 38.f7+= ) 32.xe4 xg3 33.fxg3 xg3+ ( harmless is 33...xg3+ 34.g2 dg5 35.cc2 e5 36.xe5 xg2+ 37.xg2 xe5 38.xg5 xg5+ 39.f2= ) 34.g2 B1) 34...h3 35.f1 B1a) 35...xg2+ 36.xg2 h5 B1a1) 37.f3 leads to an ending that should be drawn following g5 38.g3 d1+ 39.h2 h5+ 40.h3 b4 41.b7+ h6 42.d7 c2+ 43.g1 c1+ 44.g2 g5+ 45.g3 h4 46.h3 xh3+ 47.xh3 xh3 48.xh3 xd3 49.xa5 c5 ( 49...xb2 50.b3 xa4 51.xd4= ) 50.g4 xa4 51.b4 c3 52.b3 d3 53.f3 g5 54.e3 d5+ 55.xd3 xb4+ 56.e4; B1a2) 37.e4 g5+ ( 37...g5+ 38.f2 f5+ 39.e1 xf1+ 40.xf1 d1+ 41.f2= ) 38.h2 ( Too close f or comf ort is 38.g2 b4 39.xg5 xg5+ 40.f2 , although White seems to draw after xd3+ 41.e2 b4 42.f4 d3+ 43.d2 g2+ 44.d1 g1+ 45.d2= ) 38...h6+ 39.g1 g5+ 40.f2 f5+ 41.e2 h5+ 42.e1 xf1+ 43.xf1 and this should also be drawn.; B1b) 35...xg2+ 36.xg2 xg2+ 37.xg2 g5+ 38.h3 f5 39.e1 b4; B2) 34...xg2+ 35.xg2 xg2+ 36.xg2 b4 37.d1 c5 38.b3 ] 0-1
1290 Pelletier,Yannick Kortschnoj,Viktor GM Biel SUI (3) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2531 2617 25.07.2001
1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 b7 4.g2 e6 5.0-0 e7 6.c3 0-0 7.e1 d5 [ 7...c5 8.e4 leads to a Hedgehog, but Black prefers a more fluid game. ] 8.cxd5 xd5 9.e4 xc3 10.bxc3 c5 11.d4 cxd4 12.cxd4 a6!? [ Black tries to take his young opponent outof-book, 12...c6 is normal and leads to a Keres-Parma Variation where the white rook is on e1, e.g. 13.b2 f6 14.b1 e8 15.h4!? h6?! 16.d5! exd5 17.e5 e7 18.e6 with some initiative, Seirawan,YTimman,J/Las Palmas 1981. ] 13.e5 Immediately exploiting the previous move's down side: the lack of control over the centre. c8 14.a3 And this move is played to restrict the offside knight, which can no longer advance. d6 15.f4 e7 16.b3 c7 17.f1!? I like this move chess is a constant striving to find the best squares for your pieces, and here the bishop is much more active, on the open f1-a6 diagonal, than on g2. fc8!? [ Interesting, although 17...b8 is safer. ] 18.a4 b8 19.xa7!? Into the lion's den! White asks Black to show that he has enough compensation for the pawn. g5!? [ 19...f6!? 20.d3 e5 21.dxe5 fxe5 22.e3 d7 23.a4 c3 is another try, Black may recuperate the a3-pawn. ] 20.e3?! [ 20.d2 Looks better, to keep the e-pawn defended by the rook on e1. ] 20...xe4? [ This allows the queen to escape, whilst t a k i n g a b l a c k p a w n w i t h h e r . 20...f6! appe ars ugly, bu t is quite good , 21.d3 ( 21.g4?! h5 22.e5!? hxg4 23.exd6 xd6 is unpleasant for White, there is a big threat of ...Qd5.) 21...d7 and now Black wins the e4-pawn, without losing his b6pawn. ] 21.xb6 xe5 [ Black is already in trouble, because of his weakened kingside, 21...c6 being met by 22.xg5 xg5 23.xe4 for instance. ] 1291
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.dxe5 f3 23.d6 White forces the exchange of queens when his bishop pair, and extra pawn, should be decisive. h6 24.ac1 c6 25.xe7 xe7 26.g2?! xg2 27.xg2 ee8 28.c5 e7 29.ec1 a8 30.1c3 d5 31.b3 xe3+ 32.xe3 e7 Presumably Black lost on time, as the position is still playable. 1-0
16.e5 e4 17.xe4 dxe4 18.e3 ] 13...h5 14.d3 Greedy. However, there was no other consistent follow-up to 13.h4. b7! 15.f3 [ 15.xg6 fxg6 16.xg6 c8 and the cpawn will fall: 17.d3 c7 ] 15...a5 [ 15...g4!? 16.xg6 fxg6 17.xg6 f6 18.c2 e4 is unclear. ] 16.b1 axb4 17.axb4 d5 18.g5 c8 19.xg6?! A natural enough move, yet White 1291 A30 cedes the two bishops in an open position and Popov,Valerij 2592 soon goes under. [ 19.a4 was a good alternative. ] Efimenko,Zahar 2666 Aeroflot Open (9) 16.02.2006 19...fxg6 20.xg6 d4! 21.e2 [ 21.exd4 xc4 ] [John Watson] 21...xc4 22.xd4 xb4+ 23.f2 a2+ Another testimony to rapid development and 24.b2 d5 25.g3 c3 26.xa2 xa2 t h e b i s h o p p a i r . W h i t e b u i l d s u p a n i c e Black hits g2 and W hite has to retreat to position out of the opening and wins space. In protect his king. Then Black's two bishops a m om en t of a mb it io n he ced es h is b est rule the board. The rest is relatively easy: bishop for a pawn and attack, but the latter 27.df3 a4 28.d3 c8 29.d1 b5 n e v e r m a t e r i a l i s e s a n d B l a c k i s s o o n 30.h2 g4+ 31.g1 f6 32.h2 c4 swarming all over his position. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 33.xc4 bxc4 34.g3 a8 35.d2 b2 36.e4 Desperation. c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.c3 b4!? [ 36.b1 c3 37.c1 b8! will win a piece. ] [ 5...f6 would be normal. The combination 36...xe4+ 37.xe4 xe4 ...c3 will follow of .. .Nc6 and ...Bb4 is rare. ] 6.d3 This is rather slow. Still, White doesn't shortly. 0-1 suffer doubled pawns as he tries to develop. [ The critical alternative is 6.db5 . Then f6 7.f4 0-0 8.c7 e7 9.d6 xd6 A30 10.xd6 d8 is held to be almost equal yet 1292 Psakhis,Lev 2611 White has a pull. ] Hovmoller,Kristian 2170 6...f6 7.a3 c5 18.07.2000 [ Black can also try to use his lead in Politiken Cup (2) development to force some concessions, e.g. [Tony Kosten] , 7...e5 8.g3 xc3+ 9.xc3 d5 10.cxd5 xd5 11.g3 ( 11.xe6?! xc3 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 12.xd8 d5 ) 11...g6 and it's hard for 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 d6 7.e1 bd7 8.e4 c7 White to get his pieces to good squares, e.g. 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 a6 11.e3 e7 12.c1 , 12.e3 ( 12.e4 f6 ) 12...0-0 13.e2 0-0 13.f4 fd8 [ The rook prepares a possible ...d5 thrust, ( 13.d3 e5 ) 13...e5 14.f3 f6! but 13...fe8 is possibly better, further with the threat ...Ne4. ] s u p p o r t i n g e 6 , 14.d5!? one of several 8.e3 0-0 moves here, 14 g4, and 14 f5, being the [ 8...d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.e2 0-0 most important exd5 15.cxd5 b8 16.c6 gives Black good activity for the IQP. ] xc6 17.dxc6 c5 18.c7 xc7 19.e5 9.e2 e5!? dxe5 20.xa8 xa8 21.b4 regaining the [ 9...d5= ] material, although play tends to equality, 10.c2 b6 11.b4 e7 12.f4! g6 13.h4?! Ftacnik, L-Browne,W/San Francisco 1991. ] Weakening g4. [ 13...fc8 was examined in the archives. ] [ 13.e4! b7 14.0-0 d5 15.cxd5 exd5 1292
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.f5 [ The most logical, attacking the e6-pawn, although 14.d5!? is also possible, exd5 15.cxd5 c5?! ( 15...b8 ) 16.b4 f8 17.f5 d7 18.bxc5 bxc5 leads to a Benoni-style position, favourable to White, Zheliandinov,V-Polajzer,D/Lvov 1999. ] 14...e5?! [ A novelty, but this is exactly what White wants, as now play resembles one of the Nd5-sac games, except that W hite hasn't had to give a piece! Black must try to hold the e6-square: 14...f8 15.e2 ( 15.h3!? is possibly more to the point) 15...e8 16.g4 h6 17.h4 6h7 18.f2 attempting to wipe Black out on the kingside, Davies,NKaiumov,D/Calcutta 1997. ] 15.d5 xd5? [ This move loses control of the c6-square, better 15...xd5 16.cxd5 c5 although White must be better. ] 16.cxd5 b7 17.c6 e8 18.g4 The simplest method of consolidating the white advantage, he further increases his enormous spatial plus. b8 19.g5 fd7 20.f6! Now White moves over to direct attack. f8 [ Black cannot play 20...gxf6? because of 21.f1! fxg5? 22.h5 and f7 is indefensible. ] 21.f1 c8 22.fxg7 xg7 23.h5 c5 24.h3 e8 25.f5 Forcing mate. 1-0
1293 Ramirez,Alej Ivanov,AV USA ch-USA 2013 Saint Louis USA (2) [Danny Gormally]
A30 2551 2529 04.05.2013
1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 c6 6.c3 g6 The double fianchetto is very ambitious way of playing the opening, but also somewhat risky. With his next move, Ramirez puts the question to Black. 7.e3! [ More common is 7.e4 but Ramirez's choice poses a real problem for Black, who is not that well placed to meet any action in the center. ] 7...g7 8.d4 0-0? Ramirez, who ended up
losin g th e play-o f f f or t he US ch am ps t o Kamsky, is quick to exploit the problem with Black's set-up: [ 8...cxd4 9.exd4 A) 9...d5? A1) 10.cxd5 xd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.e5 d6 ( 12...xg2+!? 13.xg2 xd4+ 14.f3 xe5 15.e3 0-0-0 is highly speculative but may be just about playable.) 13.a4 xe5 14.dxe5 e6 doesn't look so clear; A2) 10.e5! however is simple and strong.; B) 9...0-0 10.e1 a5 11.b3 d5 12.a3 Gives White a pleasant opening edge, but in my opinion this is an improvement for Black over what happens in the game, as at least he has the half-open c-file to play with. ] 9.d5! a5 10.d3 This is the problem. Now the Bishop on b7 is effectively buried in the game, and without a prior capture on d4, ..Rc8 now achieves absolutely nothing. e6 11.e4 exd5 12.exd5 d6 13.f4 c8 A necessary evil, to try and get the bishop back in the game, but the Knight on a5 is looking increasingly isolated. 14.b3! f5 15.d2 e8 [ 15...e4 16.xe4 xa1 ( 16...xe4 17.ae1 e8 18.g5 xg2 19.xg2 a n d t h e t h r e a t o f N e 4 i s u n p l e a s a n t) 17.xd6 Just gives White winning compensation for the exchange. ] 16.ae1 d7 17.h4 b7 18.b5! Reminding Black that he has serious problems wit h th e d -p a wn . h5 giving up on the d6 weakling without a fight, but good alternatives were already thin on the ground. [ 18...e4 19.xe4 xe4 20.xe4 xe4 21.f3 a6 22.c3 f5 23.g4 and the bishop is trapped. ] 19.xf5 xf5 [ 19...gxf5 20.h6 is a dream for White, the black kingside pawns are terminally weak. ] 20.xd6! [ 20.xd6! xd6 21.xd6 d7 22.c7!! is also winning after xc7 23.d6 d7 24.xa8 xa8 25.e7 as the d-pawn is too strong. ] 20...xe1 [ 20...a6 21.c7! axb5 22.d6 1293
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and the knight on b7 cuts a rather pathetic figure. ] 21.xe1 xd6 22.xd6 d7 23.b5 Now W hite is just a pawn up with a good position, the finish was not long in coming: a6 24.d6 d8 25.e7 f5 26.c7 f6 27.d5! xd5 28.xd5 f8 29.d7! b1+ 30.e1 f5 31.e8 xd7 32.h6 b1+ 33.g2 e4+ 34.xe4 [ 34.xe4 xh6 35.f6+ ] 1-0
1294 Ribli,Zoltan Vertetics,Attila HUN-chT2 Charousek 0708 (11) [Nigel Davies]
A30 2577 2314 18.05.2008
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.e1 d6 8.e4 e5 T h i s l o o k s s e n s ib l e e n o u gh , a p p a r e n t l y s t o p p i n g W h i t e f r o m p l a yi n g d 2 - d 4 a n d p r o d u c i n g a b l o c ke d a n d r a t h e r l if e l e s s position. But unfortunately there's a problem... 9.d4! White does it anyway! There are some quite complex variations which justify this move if Black takes and if he doesn't take he seem s t o ge t s lightly th e worst of it . c6 Probably best, the knight is ready to hop into d4. [ The critical line is 9...cxd4 10.xd4 exd4 ( 10...0-0 11.f5 is just good for White) 11.e5 xg2 ( 11...dxe5 12.xb7 bd7 13.xa8 xa8 14.b5 0-0 15.f4 b4 16.xe5 xe5 17.xe5 led to White simply winning the d4 pawn in Drenchev, P-Badev, K/Sofia 2009) 12.exf6 gxf6 13.b5 b7 14.xd4 , f o r e x a m p l e 0-0 ( 14...c6 ma y b e b e s t b ut a f t e r 15.xd6+ d7 16.g4+ xd6 17.f4+ e5 18.ad1+ c7 19.xd8 hxd8 20.g7 d6 21.f1 White has the better of it) 15.h6 h8 16.xe7 xe7 17.xf8 xf8 18.xf6+ g7 19.d8+ g8 20.e7 c6 21.xd6 h6 22.xf7+ h7 23.g5+ h8 24.d1 hxg5 25.d8 d7 26.xg8+ xg8 27.d6 c8 28.h6+ g8 29.e6+ g7 30.b4 a6 31.a4 xa4 32.b5 1-0 was Mrva, MSmolen, J/Piestany 2004. ] [ Putting the knight on d7 is less good as
after 9...bd7 10.d5 Black gets a kind of King's Indian in which both his bishops are misplaced. ] 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.d5 d7 12.h3 f8 13.a4 White has quite strong pressure here, though that's not to say that his position in indefensible if he play it well. g6 14.d1 d6 15.b4 0-0 16.bxc5 xc5 17.b2 b8 18.d2 d8 19.ad1 d6 20.f5 f8 21.xg6 hxg6?! [ 21...xg6 w a s b e t t e r w h e n 22.xe5 ( 22.h4!? ) 22...xe5 23.xe5 e6 is far from clear. ] 22.xe5 xe5 23.xe5 dd8? After this White is a good pawn up. [ 23...e6 was still the best. ] 24.f4 h8 25.h4 h7 26.b3 c6 27.h5 gxh5 28.f3 g8 29.xh5 f6 30.f5 e8 31.g2 1-0
1295 Romanishin,Oleg M Yudasin,Leonid Capodanno Reggio Emilia ITA (6) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2567 2552 01.01.2000
1.f3 c5 2.g3 b6 3.g2 b7 4.0-0 f6 5.c4 e6 6.c3 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 c6 [ This natural move doesn't have a particularly good reputation, the b8-knight is often best-placed on d7, after 8...d6 ] 9.f4 0-0 10.d1 b8 11.b3 A key idea, White is happy to allow Black to capture on f4, he will recapture with the pawn, and use this to support the f3-knight on e5. d8 12.b2 a6 Perhaps not the most accurate, the alternatives are: [ 12...a5!? or, possibly ] [ 12...d6 although Black suffered a fearful beating in W ohl, A-Gipslis,A/Biel 1996, following 13.d2!? a6 14.ad1 b5! 15.g5 bxc4?! 16.ce4! d5 17.h4! dxe4 18.xf6 xf6 19.xh7+ f8 20.d7!! xd7 21.xd7 e8 22.xf7! e7 23.xf6! gxf6 24.f7+ and the black rook and queen weren't much help to the poor black king. ] 13.ac1 h6 1294
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Black's new idea, he tries to make another useful move before he has to exchange on f4. 13...xf4 14.gxf4 might be OK after 14... Rab8, but not on a5? 15.a4! ab8 16.e5! d6 17.c3 threatening the b6pawn, Cebalo,M-Hulak,K/ Jugoslavia 1989. ] 14.a4 Again this same scheme, probing the weakened queenside pawns. b5 15.b6 xf4 16.gxf4 a7 17.e5 [ After the obvious 17.xf6 gxf6 18.xd7 xd7 19.xd7 B l a c k c a n p l a y b4 planning ...Bxf3, heading for an oppositecolour bishop ending. ] 17...b4? [ This tempting move is, in fact, a serious error, 17...h5! though 'positionally bad', allows Black to keep real chances after 18.e3 xe5 19.fxe5 xg2 20.xg2 b7 as th e b6 -knight is trappe d, p lay migh t continue: 21.d4 a3 22.c2 d6! with equal chances. ] 18.a3 xg2 19.xg2 b7 20.bxd7! xd7 21.axb4 b8? [ T h i s l o s e s t o a n e a t t a c t i c , 21...xe5 had to be tried , a lth ough a f te r 22.xd8+ xd8 23.xe5 White is certainly to be preferred. ] 22.xd8+ xd8 23.cxb5 f6 24.c8+ h7 25.xb8! Avoiding a technical endgame, the p a s s e d p a w n s a r e u n s t o p p a b l e . xb8 26.bxa6 [ 26.bxa6 a8 27.b5 followed by Bd4, and then a7, and b6, etc. ] 1-0
Hedgehog. ] 7...e7 8.b2 0-0 9.e3 White thereby definitively rejects the transposition into a Hedgehog, and prefers a Reti position, where . ..a6 may not be too useful. d5 10.cxd5!? [ White desires an ending with a slight initiative. 10.d3 would keep the tension, e.g. bd7 11.e2 c7 12.ac1 c6 13.e4 d4 14.d5!? exd5 15.cxd5 b7 16.xd4 wit h goo d co mp e n sa tio n f or t h e p ie c e , Plaskett,J-Short,N/Banjaluka 1985. ] 10...xd5 11.xd5 [ It appears for all the world like White is pursuing an exchanging strategy, aiming for a quick draw. 11.d4 is similar, d7 12.e2 xc3 13.xc3 a7!? 14.fd1 a8 15.ac1 which seems fairly level, Jirovsky,MAtlas, V/Germany 1997. ] 11...xd5 12.e2!? [ A reasonable innovation, connecting the rooks, and preparing to advance the epawn. 12.d4 had been seen before, d7 13.c1 b8!? 14.e5!? ( more ambitious than 14.dxc5 xc5 1/2-1/2 Horvath,CZhidkov,V/Sverdlovsk 1989.) 14...xg2!? ( 14...xe5 15.xd5 exd5 16.dxe5 seems safe enough for Black) 15.xd7 b7 16.dxc5! bxc5 ( 16...xf1? i s a m i s t a k e , 17.c6 c7 18.e5 with a clear plus) 17.g4 g6 18.f6+!? ( 18.xf8 is slightly better for White, without risk ) 18...xf6 19.xf6 xf1 20.e4 e5! 21.xf1 and although the attack triumphed, it is difficult to believe that White really has enough for the exchange here, Biebinger,GWerner,M/BL9091 1991. ] 1296 A30 12...f6 [ Off ering further simplif ication, 12...d7 Rustemov,Alexander 2573 doesn't solve Black's problems either: 13.d4 Bunzmann,Dimitrij 2596 cxd4 14.e4 b7 15.xd4 with a useful Bundesliga 1999-2000 (4) 07.11.1999 space advantage. ] [Tony Kosten] 13.d4 cxd4 14.e4! Instigating interesting 1.f3 e6 2.g3 b6 3.g2 b7 4.0-0 f6 complications that retain a tiny edge for White. 5.c4 c5 6.c3 By a roundabout route we d3 [ Better than 14...b7 15.e5 d3 16.e3 have reached a typical English position. a6 e7 17.ad1 ] [ Inviting transposition into a Hedgehog, 6...c6 is another possibility, intending to 15.xd3 xb2 16.ad1 The clever point of answer 7.d4 with xd4 8.xd4 xg2 White's play, recuperating the piece. f6?! [ A little careless, 16...a7! would have equalizing. ] avoide d many of th e coming pro blems , 7.b3 17.exd5 exd5 18.h3 ( 18.xd5?? [ 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 leads to a main-line 1295
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 l o s e s o n t h e s p o t , t o d7 ) 18...c6 19.xd5 and, having developed his knight, Black should be fine. ] 17.exd5 exd5 18.xd5 a7 19.e5 It would seem that this position should be e q u a l - a l l t h e c e n t r a l p a wn s h a ve b e e n exchanged, and there are opposite-coloured b is h o p s , ye t W h i t e m a n a ge s t o k e e p a n nagging edge. c8 [ 19...xd5 20.xd5 c7 is not so simple, as Black cannot develop his knight without exchanging his bishop. ] 20.c4 d7 21.a8 An unusual square for the white queen in the middlegame. xd1 22.xd1 d8 Carefully forcing further e xc h a n ge s . 23.xd8+ xd8 24.b7 b5 25.e3 e5 26.d5 c7 27.a8 g6 28.g2 g7 29.f3 Edging the king closer to the centre is often useful when the endgame approaches. d6 Defending the apawn so as to free the knight from this duty. 30.b7 d7 31.c2 Black has played well, a n d i t s e e m s t h a t a d r a w i s l i k e l y . c3 32.e2 f6 33.c6 xc6 34.xc6 e6?! [ Sloppy play, as a question of principle Black should keep his king of f the light squares when his opponent has a lightsqu are d b ish op . 34...e7 is quite equal, 35.b7 c5 36.c8 d8 and the bishop must give way. ] 35.b7 a5?! [ Losing a pawn, 35...b8 was required. ] 36.c8?! [ White plans to play an ending with a superior k night aga inst the b ishop , bu t 36.a3 b4 37.c4 simply wins a pawn. ] 36...d6 37.d3 g7 38.xd7 xd7 39.d4 xd4 [ I suppose the king and pawn ending is drawn, but Black has to be careful, 39...b4 40.c2 f6 41.e3 d8 42.c4 f5 43.d4 is also a little awkward. ] 40.xd4 d6 The white king is slightly more advanced, can this really be sufficient to win? 41.a3 f6 42.g4! c6 43.h4 d6 44.g5 fxg5 45.hxg5 e6?! [ Simplest is 45...b4! when 46.axb4 ( 46.a4 e6 47.e4 d6 ) 46...axb4 47.c4 e5 48.xb4 f4 49.c5 xg5 50.b4 h5 is fine for Black, he will queen a move after White. ]
46.e4 d6?? [ I t w a s t h e l a s t c h a n c e f o r 46...b4! , the point being that when the white king goes for the b-pawn, and the black king for the g-pawn, if the white pawn is on b4 it will be a crucial one step closer the queening square. ] 47.b4! axb4 48.axb4 e6 49.f4 d6 50.d4 e6 51.c5 [ 51.c5 Black's h-pawn is too slow after f5 52.xb5 xf4 53.c6 xg5 54.b5 h5 55.b6 h4 56.b7 h3 57.b8 ] 1-0
1297 Salgado Lopez,Ivan Karjakin,Sergey 18th European Teams (7.6) [John Bartholomew]
A30 2621 2763 09.11.2011
1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 a6 12.b3 0-0 13.h4 This is considered the absolute main line of the Double Fianchetto. [ See the archives for earlier alternatives, i.e. 13.d2!? Ivanchuk, V (2729)-Aronian, L(2752)/ Morelia/Linares 2006/[John Watson]. ] 13...c7 Black's typical maneuver, preparing to swing the queen over to a8/b8 and double rooks on the c-file. 14.h3 b8 [ 14...a8? is an instructive mistake: 15.xd7! xd7 16.a4 xf3?! 17.xb6 b7 18.exf3 Anand, V (2764)-Gomez Esteban, J (2463)/ Santurtzi 2003/[TonyK]. ] 15.h6 Exchanging bishops and enabling Nf3g5 is certainly a key idea. [ However, White may want to have a second look at 15.g4 e6 Aronian, L (2724)-Kramnik, V (2744)/Saint Vincent 2005/[John Watson]. ] 15...b5! This thematic advance appears to be the cleanest equalizer. [ 15...d8 16.g5 f8 Topalov, V (2801)G risch u k, A (2 7 1 7 ) / Mo n t e Ca rlo 2 0 0 6 . 17.e4!? ] [ Three GM-level games have proceeded 15...xh6 16.xh6 xf3 17.exf3 b5 18.xd7 xd7 , when White has a small 1296
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 edge: 19.d4 ( 19.d5 xd5 20.cxd5 c8 21.e3 dc7= Paunovic, D (2532)Cruz, C (2534)/Elgoibar ESP 2008. ) A) 19...b4 20.d5 xd5 21.cxd5 e5 22.dxe6 fxe6 23.d2! a5?! ( 23...xf3 24.xb4 ) 24.c6 Werle, J (2514)Sasikiran, K (2670)/La Roche sur Yon 2006.; B) 19...bxc4!? is probably best here.; C) 19...e6 20.f4 h5 21.h4 d5 22.cxd5 exd5 23.e2 Topalov, V (2757)Van Wely, L (2679)/Monte Carlo 2005. ] 16.xg7 White has tried other moves without success. [ 16.d5?! xd5 17.cxd5 f6 18.xg7 xg7 19.e4 c8! 20.xc8 fxc8 21.xc7 xc7 22.d4 c3 Jirovsky, M (2457)Hracek, Z (2601)/ Luhacovice 2003. ] [ 16.cxb5 xh6! 17.xh6 axb5 18.g5?! c8! Suddenly, White's pieces lack c o o r d i n a t i o n . 19.d5? xd5 20.xc7 xc7 21.xd5 c1+ 22.f1 ( 22.g2 c6-+ ) 22...a8 23.xb5 xa2 24.xf7 c6 25.g5 xb5-+ Kosten, A (2527)Babula, V (2566)/Austria 2005. ] [ 16.g5?! bxc4 17.bxc4 e5! 18.d5 xd5 19.cxd5 xc1 20.xc1 b2 Van Hoolandt, P (2237) -Estremera Panos, S (2341)/Genova 2004. ] 16...xg7 17.d5?! White should settle for equality now. [ For instance, 17.xd7 xd7 18.cxb5 axb5 ( 18...c8!? 19.bxa6 xa6 ) 19.b4 xf3 ( 19...c8!? ) 20.exf3 a8= ] 17...xd5 [ or 17...xd5 ] 18.cxd5 xc1 19.xc1 c8 20.c6 [ 20.d1 is somewhat tougher. ] 20...b7 21.xc8?! [ 21.xd7 xd7 22.xa6 b7 23.c6 xc6 24.dxc6 xc6 ] 21...xc8 Taking stock, we see that White has clear weaknesses on a2, d5, and e2, wh i l e h is r e m a in i n g p i e c e s a r e h u d d l e d uselessly on the kingside. Meanwhile, Black has a compact structure and threatens to invade down the c-file. Black has a clear advantage. 22.g5 c2 23.xd7 xe2! A nice resource. 24.g4 h5! White must return the piece. Unfortunately for him, the numerous pawn weaknesses remain. 25.xh5
xh5 26.h4?! Grasping at straws. f6 27.f5+ g8 28.e3 White admits that his m i n i k n i g h t t o u r w a s f o r n a u g h t . xa2-+ Now it's simple. 29.h4 xb3 30.h5 b1+ 31.h2 b2 32.hxg6 [ or 32.g2 xf2+! 33.xf2 e4+-+ ] 32...xf2+ 33.h1 f3+ 34.g1 e4 A flawless display from Karjakin. 15...b5! appears fully viable and will probably force White to abandon the position after 15.Bh6. 0-1
1298 Sargissian,Gabriel Pantsulaia,Levan Aeroflot Open (1) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2618 2501 17.02.2004
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 a6 7.e1 d6 8.e4 bd7 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 11.e3 e7 12.c1 0-0 13.f4 ac8!? I have covered a number of moves involving the black king's rook in this position, but this is the first time I have looked at a move with the other rook. The idea is to keep the other rook on the k i n g s i d e t o h e l p t h e d e f e n c e . 14.g4 As is often the case in this line, White uses his extra space to mount a kingside pawn storm, while Black relies on his solid structure and hopes that W hite will overstretch. c5 Attacking e4. 15.f2 g6 This prepares the h5square for the knight in case of g5. 16.f5 [ 16.g5 fares less well, h5 17.b4 d7 18.g4 ( 18.e3 d8 19.h3 g7 Black fortifies e6, and inhibits the f5-thrust Skomorokhin,R-Voitsekhovsky,S/ Kstovo 1998 ) 18...fe8 ( 18...d8!? is again a good move ) 19.h3 f8 with chances to both side, Lex, C-Becker,M/Landau 1988. ] 16...exf5 Black cannot allow White to continue with g5 and f6, so must capture, but [ 16...gxf5!? i s a l s o p o s s i b l e : 17.gxf5 ( 17.exf5 xg2 18.xg2 b7+ 19.g1 fe4 is OK for Black) 17...e5 18.c2 h8 19.h1 g8 Black is first to exploit the open g-file, 20.f3 d7 ( 20...b5 21.d5?! xd5 1/2-1/2 Epishin,V-Marin,M/Koszalin 1999, but Black is better here!) 21.e2 a4 22.b4 xc3 23.xc3 b5 White's hold on 1297
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d5 doesn't amount to much, indeed his light-squared bishop has little future at the moment, Petrosian, A-Yegiazarian,A/ Yerevan 1996. ] 17.exf5 Actually a novelty, although it looks somewhat more logical than [ 17.d5?! when xd5 18.cxd5 xg4 19.g3 ( 19.b4? xf2 20.xf2 h4+ i s v e r y g o o d f o r B l a c k) 19...d7 ( 19...g5!? ) 20.exf5 e5 21.c3 f6 B la c k 's m in o r p ie c e s h a ve f o u n d go o d squares, Navrotescu,C-Zetocha,C/ROM-ch 1992. ] 17...xg2 18.xg2 b7+ 19.f3!? A re a l e x c h a n ge sa cr if ic e f o r p o si t i o n a l compensation. [ 19.g1 is a good alternative, though: fe4 20.d5 g5 21.e3 xe3+ 22.xe3 b5!? with some counterplay, although I would prefer to have the white pieces. ] 19...xf3+ 20.xf3 d3 Black must accept, as [ 20...d8?! 21.cd1 leaves White with the better structure and more active pieces. ] 21.xe7 xc1 22.h4 e8 23.b3 This is the position White was aiming for, he has a rook on the seventh, good squares for his knights, and a strong dark-squared bishop b u t i s i t e n o u g h f o r t h e e x c h a n g e ? b5 Black looks for counterplay on the c-file, but he could also have tried [ 23...d3 to return the knight to play on e5. ] 24.d5 Planning tactics based on rook moves and then Ne7+. bxc4 25.b7?! White could have reached a fairly equal position by playing [ 25.e1! hitting the knight and menacing a f o r k o n e 7 , cxb3! 26.xb3 ( 26.e7+? h8 27.xc8 b2 wins! ) 26...xb3 27.e7+ g7 28.xc8 ] 25...h8?! Black could have gained some advantage by [ 25...c5 26.bxc4 xc4 27.e3 c5 ] 26.e7 g8 Taking the pawn by [ 26...cxb3 27.axb3 and then g8 is far from clear after 28.f6 ] 27.b6 c5 28.xc4 d3 29.f6 White tries to entomb the g8-rook. h5 30.h3 Now Black's kingside pieces seem to be very awkwardly placed, but he conjures some sharp tactics with his remaining bits. d5!?
31.xc5 [ 31.e3 e5+ 32.f4 d3+ could lead to a draw. ] 31...xc5 Both the c4-knight and the rook are attacked. 32.e5 The best move, as [ 32.xf7 is met by dxc4 33.bxc4 e4! ] 32...hxg4+ 33.hxg4 xb7 Black is a rook up, but W hite can force a perpetual check with only one knight! 34.xf7+ h7 35.g5+ h6 36.f7+ h7 37.g5+ h6 38.f7!? White decides to play for a win. h8 39.ge6 The f-pawn will queen, but then material will be level. The last few moves of the game were incorrectly noted so I will stop here! ½-½
1299 Schebler,Gerhard Rotstein,Arkadij 12th Sueder Summer (5) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2485 2499 08.08.2001
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.b3 [ This move is not the most effective against the double-fianchetto line, the normal 6.c3 g7 7.d4 was examined in Filippov,VNikolic,P. ] 6...g7 7.b2 0-0 8.c3 a6 This is the best move here, as Black wants to keep the b7-bishop's diagonal unobscured. 9.d4 cxd4 [ Actually, the main line is considered to be 9...d5 10.e5 e6 with chances to both sides, but the text is very playable. ] 10.xd4 [ For once in these Hedgehog-style positions, 10.xd4 may be best, xg2 11.xg2 c5 and now Larsen suggests 12.f3! planning e4, Qd2, and then bringing the rooks to the central files. ] 10...c5!? [ T h e k n i g h t c o m e s i n t o p l a y , 10...e4 11.e3 leads nowhere special. ] 11.fd1?! [ White overlooks the threats along the a1-h8 diagonal, 11.d2 is more prudent, c8 12.ad1 a6 13.a1 d6 White has more space, but that is all, Yanofsky,DGheorghiu,F/Lone Pine 1975. ] 11...d5! 1298
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ T h i s m u s t h a v e b e e n a s h o c k ! 11...d6 the fact that W hite has already placed his had been played previously, 12.ac1 a6 bishop on the h1-a8 diagonal mean Black will 13.d5 b5 14.h4 with advantage to always have problems: White, Bruk,O-Mashian,Y/Tel Aviv 1994. ] [ 4...a6 5.0-0 b6!? is perhaps the best bet, 12.e5 ( or 5...e7 6.c3 d6 7.d4 say with a [ Forced, putting the queen on e3 is now clear White plus) 6.d4 cxd4 ( 6...b7 7.d5 impossible, and 12.d2? drops a piece to exd5 8.h4 g6 9.c3 etc. ) 7.xd4 the fork xc3 13.xc3 e4 ] Black can still try to achieve his desired 12...xc3 13.xc3? f o r m a t i o n , a7 8.c3 b7 9.e4 [ But only this move is losing, the bishop is Black has had to place his queen's rook on saf er on c3 than b2, so 13.xc3 xg2 a7, and will probably have to waste further 14.xg2 c7 15.e3 d6 and now 16.f3 time returning it to a useful post. ] is equal. ] [ 4...c6 (to cut the route from g2 to the 13...xg2 14.xg2 c7! rook on a8) 5.0-0 b6?! 6.d4 [ 14...d6 15.e3 is nothing as the d-pawn is A) 6...b7!? was a recent try, but the pinned. ] problem with not capturing on d4 is always 15.e3 Now ...d6 really was a threat. d6 that White will push his d-pawn and obtain 16.d3 This is why the bishop should have a favourable Benoni-style position: 7.d5 gone to c3. xd3 17.xg7 Obviously forced, ( 7.f4!? ) 7...a5 Black's idea, both d5 but now Black has a 'desperado knight': xf2! and its support are attacked ( 7...exd5?! 18.xf8 8.cxd5 e7 9.e4! xe4?! 10.e1 [ 18.xf2 xg7 wins a good pawn. ] leads to a quick kill) 8.e1!? ( 8.e4!? 18...xd1 19.xe7? xe4 9.e5 is a sharp alternative) [ White tries to justify his play, but only sinks 8...b5!? ( 8...xc4 9.dxe6 xg2 10.exf7+ f u r t h e r i n t o t h e m i r e ! 19.xd1 xf8 xf7 is playable for Black) 9.b3 b6?! is objectively forced, although it is probably ( 9...bxc4!? ) 10.a3 a6 11.e4 lost. ] an d W h it e h a s re in f o rce d h is c e n t re , 19...c6+ 20.g1 c5+ 21.e3 Any king Gutman,L-Chandler,P/ Kassel 1998.; move would allow the knight to escape with B) 6...cxd4 7.xd4 b7 8.c3 c5 check. xe3 22.xd6 xf8 9.db5 White is better, because of the 0-1 weak black dark squares, 0-0 10.g5 a5 11.b3 a6 12.d6 xg2 13.xg2 c7 14.xf6 xd6 15.e4 c5 16.d2! 1300 A30 h6 17.fd1 c6 18.f3 d5 19.cxd5 exd5 20.xc5 xc5 21.b4 and White soon Seirawan,Yasser 2595 won, Tal,M-Vitolinsh,A/Riga 1981. ] Ftacnik,Lubomir 2540 op New York 1987 5.e5 [ 5.d4 is also good. ] [Tony Kosten] 5...d5 Obviously forced. 6.cxd5 xd5 [ 6...exd5 7.a4+ bd7 8.d4!? ( 8.c6 If W hite plays g3 on his second move, can c7 9.c3 b7 10.xd5 xd5 11.xd5 Black find a way to play a Hedgehog? 1.c4 c5 is also feasible) 8...c7?! ( 8...cxd4 ) 9.f4 [ 1...b6 at least puts paid to White's thoughts b5?! 10.xb5 b8? 11.xd7 xf4?? of g3, but allows 2.d4 amongst others. ] 1-0 Wegerer,F-Roeder,M/Graz 1997. ] 2.g3 f6 3.g2 e6 Black is still playing moves that would be useful in a mainline 7.c3! b7 8.a4+ This forces the win of a Hedgehog. 4.f3 This is best, because if pawn. d7 9.xd5 xd5 [ Not 9...exd5? 10.h3 c8 11.c6 b8 Black plays ...d5 W hite must be ready to 12.xf7! ] capture on d5 and immediately follow with d4, 10.xd5 exd5 11.c6 The threats are Nxd7 [ 4.c3?! d5 ] 4...b6? Black insists ! He can try to fianchetto and Qxd5. e7 12.xd7 c8 13.f6+ f8 his queen's bishop by other means, too, but 14.d7+ e8 15.f6+ f8 16.xd5 xf6 1299
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.xd8+ xd8 Black has no compensation for the pawn, and will lose. 18.b1 g5 19.b3 g7 20.b2 Strong players like an easy life: W hite exchanges pieces to assure the win without allowing his opponent any glimmer of a chance. xb2 21.xb2 he8 22.e3 e6 23.e2 ed6 24.h4 g4 25.c1 h5 26.a3 a5 27.b4! This deflects the c-pawn, and opens a route for the e and d-pawns. cxb4 28.axb4 a8 29.bxa5 bxa5 30.c5 h6 31.g5+ f8 32.gb5 g7 33.d4 a4 The passed a-pawn is easily handled. 34.d3 a7 35.a2 h8 36.c4 g6 37.b4 ha8 38.a3 Blockade! c7 39.g5+ f6 40.xh5 b8 41.b2 c3+ 42.a2 bb3 43.xb3 axb3+ 44.a3 c2 45.e4! Indirectly protecting the f-pawn. xf2 46.f5+ xf5 47.exf5 xf5 48.h5 1-0
1301 Shushpanov,Rustam Korniushin,Nikolay 6th Leg Russian Cup (6) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2370 2470 05.07.2001
1.c4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.e1 0-0 [ 7...d6 first, gives more options. ] 8.e4 d6 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c8 Not the ideal square for the queen, but the bishop had to be defended. 11.b3 a6 12.b2 bd7 13.g4!? [ An exciting move in a well-known position. Previously White had preferred 13.e2 e8 14.ac1 Csom,I-Zsinka,L/HUN 1993, or ] [ 13.f4 i.e. d8 14.f5 e5 15.c2 b5 16.e3 bxc4 17.xc4 b6! 18.xb6 c5+ 19.h1 xb6 Black is fine, Ree,HBlees,A/NLD-ch 1990. ] 13...g6!? [ Black prepares the h5-square for the knight, but perhaps 13...h6 was safer. ] 14.h3 c5 15.f4 The white kingside pawns sweep forward. e5! Black's best bet. 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.d5! Without this White might even be worse. xd5 18.exd5 d6 19.c6 e4?? [ A strange decision, opening the a1-h8 diagonal. 19...xc6 20.dxc6 d8 21.d5
is better for White, but playable. ] 20.d4 f6 21.f1 xc6 [ This loses. Perhaps Black had counted-on 21...d3 22.xf6! c5 which seems to win the queen, but W hite wins easily by 23.e7+! xe7 24.xf8+ xf8 25.h8+ f7 26.f1+ ] 22.xf6 1-0
1302 Steingrimsson,Hedinn Varga,Zoltan 1st GM Scanno ITA (4) [John Watson]
A30 2435 2525 09.11.2005
A rock-'em-sock-'em game. In the opening, the key idea is ...h5, which appears in more and more English Opening games. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 Many players are turning to this order, in part to play 3.Nc3 e5!? 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.b5!? Not even listed in Hansen's Symmetrical English, this seems too slow to be any good, although similar lines are played in other variations of the English. d6 [ 5...d5?! 6.cxd5 exd5 7.xd5 may not give Black enough compensation because the b1 knight is a good defender. ] [ The alternative of most interest is 5...f6 6.f4 ( 6.d6+?! xd6 7.xd6 e4; 6.1c3 is a main line transposition to 2...Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 e6 6.N4b5.) 6...e5 7.g5 c5!? ] 6.g3 [ After 6.f4 , my random analysis goes e5 7.g5!? f6 ( 7...xg5!? 8.c7+ d7 9.xa8 b6 10.c3 b7 11.xb6+ axb6 12.d5 is awkward if not at all clear) 8.d2 f5 9.g5 e7!? 10.xe7 xe7 11.1c3 f6 12.e3 e6= ] 6...a6 7.5c3 e7!? Plotting Black's next. [ 7...f6 8.g2 e7 would be normal. ] 8.g2 h5!? Wonderful! There's a lot of this sort of thing going around. 9.f4 [ Black has gained more than White after 9.h4 f6 since his knight has the handy g4 square available. ] 9...h4 10.0-0?! This doesn't work out. [ 10.d2 h3!? ( 10...f6 ) 11.f3 and now 1300
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e5!? is one idea of many, although naturally Black need not commit himself. ] 10...hxg3 11.hxg3 f6 12.e1!? g4! Thus ...h5-h4 is justified. I like Black already. 13.c5!? d5 [ Or 13...e5 14.cxd6 ( 14.c1 e6 ) 14...exf4 15.dxe7 xe7 16.d5 fxg3! 17.xe7 gxf2+ 18.f1 e3+ 19.xf2 xd1+ 20.xd1 xe7 ] 14.e4!? xf2!? [ A clever and well-calculated move. But clearer was 14...d4! 15.xg4 e5 16.e2 exf4 17.d5 fxg3 18.xe7 gxf2+ 19.xf2 xe7 ] 15.xf2 xc5+ 16.f1 d4 17.a4 [ 17.d5 was better. ] 17...a7 (with the dual ideas ...e5 and ...b5) 18.e5 [ 18.g4 ] 18...d7 [ 18...g5! 19.c1 xe5 ] 19.a3 g5! Beginning a long combination. 20.d2 xe5 21.xe5 f6+ 22.f3 xe5 23.xb7 c8?! [ 23...f6+ 24.e1 0-0 25.xd7 d3 ] 24.xa7 xa4 25.e1 [ 25.xa6! was the best try. ] 25...xg3 26.xd4 h4! 27.g7 g4 W hite is run around the block and finally succumbs. [ Or 27...d3+ 28.e2 d1 ] 28.e2 c5 29.g8+ e7 30.a8 f5+ 31.g1 h4 32.b7+ d7 33.b4+ f6 34.c3+ g6 35.e5 xe5 36.xe5 xe5 0-1
just transpose to the main line. ] 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 [ This is considered quite harmless, but White has a specific idea in mind. In ECO, the recommended line against Black's move order is 8.xd4 a6 9.e3 bd7 10.d2 xg2 11.xg2 c7 12.de4 e7 13.fd1 0-0 14.xd6 fd8 15.b4 a5 16.bxa5 A) 16...e5 17.d2 c5 18.cb5 c6+ 19.g1 xd6 20.xd6 fe4 21.f5 f6 22.b4 xf5 23.axb6 is given as slightly better for W hite by Zeller, but it more looks like it's winning for White, e.g. a6 ( 23...b7 24.xd8+ xd8 25.a4+- ) 24.a3 db8 25.d3+-; B) 16...c5 17.cb5 c6+ 18.f3 xa5 19.f4 Zeller-Wahls, Bundesliga 1998 ] 8...xg2 9.xg2 a6 10.a4+!? (Objectively speaking this shouldn't create any significant problems for Black as his position is perfectly solid and has yet to made a mistake. Nonetheless, there are some elements to this idea that makes it necessary for Black to watch his back) fd7 [ This is probably not Black's best. Two other more obvious choices are: A) 10...d7 A) 11.d1 A1) 11...xa4 12.xa4 bd7 13.e3 h5 14.h3 e7 15.ac1 c8 ( 15...0-0? 16.c6+- ) 16.b3 0-0 17.g5 fe8 18.e3; A2) 11...e7 12.g5 ( 12.f3 0-0 13.xd7 fxd7= ) 12...xa4 13.xa4 fd7 14.xe7 xe7 15.b3= 1/2-1/2 K.Uhlendorf-A.Goehler, Bundesliga 1996; B) 11.g5!? e7 12.f3 xa4 13.xa4 1303 A30 bd7 14.e4 c8 15.b3 0-0 16.ad1 White has more space as is common in Stojanovic,Mihajlo 2588 the Hedgehog, but Black should be okay Arsovic,Zoran 2469 in the long run; 50th TCh-SRB Cup (2) 22.05.2007 C) 11.b3 b7+ 12.f3 ( 12.f3= ) [Carsten Hansen] 12...bd7 13.e3 e7 14.a4 c5 15.a2 0-0 16.b4 cd7 17.b5 e5 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 e6 4.g3 b6 18.f4 fd7 ( 18...g6!? ) 19.e4 fc8 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 d6 ( 19...axb5 20.xb5 c6 21.fd1 [ This move is considered a slightly incorrect c5 ) 20.fc1 c5 21.xc5 xc5 move order, yet is one that Arsovic in our 22.xe5 dxe5 ( 22...xe5!? ) 23.c6 e4= m a i n g a m e h a s e m p l o ye d b e f o re . T h e 24.fxe4 h5 25.b3 f6 26.ab1 h4 normal move is 6...e7 , which prevents the was Z. Spasojevic-S.Maksimovic, Caorle continuation chosen by White in the game. 1989, and now W hite can obtain an It should be said that W hite normally will 1301
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a d v a n t a g e wi t h ( 26...axb5 27.cxb5 ) 27.e5! g5 ( 27...xe5? 28.f3!+- ) 28.f1 ] [ B) 10...bd7 is probably best, e.g. 11.d1 ( 11.e4 c7 12.e3 b7 13.f3 c8= ) 11...c7 12.e3 b7+ 13.f3 c8= ] 11.d1 [ A more critical line is 11.f4!? A) 11...g6!? prevents White's forward march of the f-pawn A1) 12.db5?! c8; A2) 12.e3 e7 ( 12...g7 13.db5 0-0 14.ad1 xc3 15.xc3 c7 16.f3 ) 13.ad1 ( 13.f5!? gxf5 14.h6 c8; 13.f2 c7 14.e4 0-0 15.ac1 b7 16.fe1 c8 17.f3= ) 13...c7 14.g1 b7 15.g4 0-0 ( 15...h5 16.g5 ) 16.f5 gxf5 17.gxf5 ( 17.h6 fxg4 18.xf8 xf8 19.c2 e5 ) 17...h8! , and suddenly White's king is under fire.; A3) 12.e4 g7 13.e3 0-0 14.f5 e7 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.xf8+ xf8 17.f1 g7 18.g1 c5 19.d1 a7 20.d2; B) 11...e7 12.f5 B1) 12...0-0 13.fxe6 c5 14.exf7+ xf7 15.d1 xf1 16.xf1 f6 17.f3 bd7 18.f4 , and White is a pawn up and has the better position.; B2) 12...e5 13.e6 fxe6 14.fxe6 f6 ( 14...b5 15.exd7+ xd7 16.cxb5 axb5 17.xb5 ) 15.exd7+ xd7 16.c6 , and White has a significant advantage.; B3) 12...f6 13.xe6 ( 13.fxe6 xd4 14.xf7 xc3 15.bxc3 b5 16.cxb5 c5 17.f4+- ) 13...fxe6 14.fxe6 0-0 15.exd7 xd7 16.d5 c8 17.e3 xb2 18.xf8+ xf8 19.d1 ] 11...e7 12.db5 0-0 13.e3 c5 14.xc5 bxc5 15.xd6 b6 16.de4 f5 17.d2 xb2 [ Black decides to take his pawn back while he has the chance. Another try is 17...c6!? , e.g. 18.ab1 f6 19.b3 ad8 20.xd8 xd8 21.d1 ( Black is okay after 21.e4 xc3 22.bxc3 e5 23.a5 xa5 24.xa5 fxe4= ) 21...xd1 22.xd1 , and although Black has some compensation for the pawn, it isn't quite
sufficient ] 18.b3 xb3 19.xb3 a7 20.a4 d7 21.a5 c7 22.ab1 [ On the next several moves, White has the option of starting real combat rather than treading water and settling for a draw. The f i r s t c h a n c e i s h e r e : 22.c6!? xc6 23.xd7 f7 24.ad1 , and White has better game a possible continuation is g5 25.f4 g4 26.f2 f8 27.xf7 xf7 28.d7+ g8 29.b7 g7 30.e3 h6 31.e2 h7 32.e4 fxe4 33.e3 g8 34.xe4 , and White retains the better chances in the endgame. ] 22...fc8 23.b3 [ Or 23.c6 f8 24.f4 e8 25.xe7 xe7 26.f3 ] 23...f7 24.b6 [ 24.c6!? f6 25.f4 e8 26.a5 e7 ( 26...f7 27.d6 ) 27.c3 f7 28.e4 g6 29.h3 g8 30.exf5 gxf5 31.c6 f6 32.d6 gc8 33.e2 xc6 34.xd7+ g6 35.bb7 ] 24...d8 25.a4 e8 26.b7 dc8 27.a5 [ For 27.f4!? - see 29 f4 below ] 27...d8 28.b7 [ 28.f4 a8 29.f3 ] 28...dc8 29.a5 [ Now instead of taking the draw as in the game, W hite could give one last go with 29.f4!? a8 ( 29...g6 30.d6+ xd6 31.xd6 c6 32.d1 ) 30.f3 ( 30.d6+ xd6 31.xd6 e7 32.d1 f6 33.db1 e4= ) 30...f6 31.c3 f7 32.e4 d7 33.xd7 xd7 34.h4 h6 35.exf5 exf5 36.d5 ] 29...d8 (The end of a rather strange game White, the significantly higher-rated player, plays a line, which looks harmless and may well be so, provided Black plays standard solid moves. However, Black instead complicates the game, gets a worse position, on ly t o se e W h it e rep ea t th e mo ve s in a better position. Hmm....!) ½-½
1302
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1304 Szabo,Bence Aroshidze,Levan Figueres op 14th (7) [Fier, Alexandr]
A30 2392 2565 16.08.2013
Aroshidze tries to innovate in a position which I c ons ide r d an gerous f o r B la ck. Af ter a n 'automatic' answer from White, Black got an improved version of normal lines. Instead, after 14.f5, I'm not convinced that Black had anything prepared. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 e6 4.g3 b6 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 a6 7.e1 d6 8.e4 e7 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 11.e3 0-0 12.c1 e8 sometimes Black tries to delay ...Nbd7 to avoid some Nd5 ideas and keep the queen in contact with the kingside. 13.f4 h5?! [ 13...f8 is the main line and it's good to take a look to understand the differences between this move and 13...h5 14.f5 critical h6 ( 14...bd7 is already bad 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.h3 c5 17.b4 ) 15.f1 e7 ( 15...bd7?! Black can't cut the connection between the queen and the kingside 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.h3! and Black had a lot of problems, as analyzed in Gelfand, B (2720)-Ivanchuk, V (2781)/2nd FIDE GP Sochi RUS 2008.) 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.h3 f7 18.d5!?N I think this idea is very dangerous ( 18.xf6 is the played move xf6 19.g4 is analyzed in Filippov, V (2639)-Shipov, S (2593)/TCh-RUS Sochi RUS 2004, when d7!? can be an option, go in g t o f 6 .) 18...exd5 19.cxd5 xe4 ( 19...h8 is more materialistic but after 20.e6 g6 21.f5 f7 22.e6 the position is much better for White since Rc7 and Bd4 are coming in devastating fashion. ) 20.e6 xe6 21.xe6 bd7 22.c7 and White is slightly better in the complications ] 14.h3 [ 14.f5! here this move is even stronger than against 13...Bf8 A) 14...c8 enters onto the bishop's diagonal, 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.h3 d8 17.d5 the White pieces start to penetrate, g4 18.xg4 hxg4 19.xg4 exd5 20.f5 f6 21.cxd5 d7 22.xb6+- and White is not even material
down; B) 14...f8 15.f1! and we reach the same position of Fillipov - Shipov but with the pawn on h5 instead of h6 B1) 15...bd7 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.h3 g4 18.xg4 hxg4 19.xg4 e5 20.h3 d7 21.f3 and Black has no compensation; B2) 15...e5 16.d5 d8 ( 16...xd5 17.cxd5 b7 18.c6 ) 17.xf6+ xf6 18.f3 threatening 19.Bg5 d8 19.g5 g6 20.xf7 xf7 21.fxg6+ xg6 22.f5 8 with mate in; B3) 15...g4 maybe this was the idea of Aroshidze, but it loses in a beautiful way: 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.h3! xe3 ( 17...d7 18.xg4 hxg4 19.xg4 transposes to 15...Nbd7) 18.xe6+ xe6 19.xf8+! xf8 20.xe6+ e7 21.xc7 xd1 22.xd1+-; C) 14...e5 looks like the best move 15.d5 d8 16.xf6+ xf6 17.e2 g5 ( 17...h4 18.c3 e7 19.d5 d7 20.g4 hxg3 21.hxg3 ) 18.c3 ( 18.xg5?! gives Black enough c o m p e n s a t i o n xg5 19.xd6 c6 with counterplay) 18...h4 19.xg5 xg5 20.xd6 hxg3 21.xb6 gxh2+ 22.h1 c6 23.cd1 and White has the advantage. ] 14...bd7 Now f5 ideas are no longer strong because the bishop can't get to h3. 15.g4 hxg4 16.hxg4 c5 Although it looks strange t h a t B la ck o p e n e d a f il e wh e re W h it e i s attacking, the central counterplay is as quick as the attack. 17.f2 [ 17.g5!? sacrificing a pawn and trying to quickly transf er the pieces would be an interesting choice fxe4 18.xe4 xe4 ( 18...xe4 19.xe4 xe4 20.c2! wi t h o u t t h e b i s h o p o n g 2 t h i s m o v e i s possible g6 21.xe6! fxe6 22.d3 c6 23.d4 with a dangerous position for Black) 19.h5 f8 ( 19...c5 20.b4! d3 21.g6 fxg6 22.xg6 the e6-pawn is hanging) 20.g6 fxg6 21.xg6 f6 22.f2 e5 with chances to both sides ] 17...d5 Just in time. 18.e5 [ 18.exd5 leaves White's position too open xf4 19.e3 xg4 ] 18...fe4 19.xe4 1303
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 19.e3 is a hard move for a human to play, [ This move is quite rare, but eventually it since the bishop was there just 2 moves ago, turn out to transpose to a more popular line but still things are not so clear afterwards, that usually arises after 10 Bg5. The main xc3 20.xc3 dxc4 21.xc4 ad8 continuations are: A) 10.g5 ] with a more comfortable position for Black, [ B) 10.g5 ] but still playable for White. ] [ C) 10.b3 as can be found in the 19...dxe4! The knight is looking at d3, not e4 Chesspublishing.com archives the games in 20.f1 ad8 All Black's pieces are already in question can be also be located via the PDF the game. Meanwhile W hite is a long way e-books. ] f r o m s t a r t i n g a n a t t a c k . 21.c3 g5! [ D) 10.e4 is also seen from time to time, but Opening the center and making space for the isn't considered particularly dangerous for king. 22.c1 g7 23.b4 d3 Black ] [ 23...h8! was even stronger 24.bxc5 e3 10...bd7 11.d2 0-0 12.f4 e8! 25.xe3 h1+ 26.f2 gxf4 27.xf4 xd4 [ According to Wahls in ChessBase 28.g2 xc5 with mate or huge material Magazine, this move equalises smoothly for losses for White. ] Black. Another try is 12...d5?! 13.cxd5 24.xd3 exd3 25.xd3 h8 26.f1 h1+ xd5 14.xd5 exd5 ( 14...xd5 15.e4 27.e2 h2 28.e3 dh8 c6 16.d4 b7 17.xe6+- ) 15.e5 [ 28...xc4 was another way to win 29.f5 ( 15.ac1!? c5 16.b4 e4 17.b2 xa2+ 30.d2 xd2+ 31.xd2 h7!-+ - Wahls ) 15...f6 16.ac1 c8 17.xc8 ( not 31...xb4? 32.xe6+ fxe6 xc8 18.c1 e6 19.c7 a8 33.xd8= )] Wojtkiewicz, A-Yermolinsky, A, New York op 29.f5 8h3 30.xh3 1991 ] [ 30.f6+ does not change anything g6 13.ac1 31.xh3 xh3 32.xh3 xc4+ 33.d1 [ 13.g5 xg2 14.xg2 c8 15.b3 c6 xb4-+ ] 16.ac1 h6 17.f3 a8 18.g1 30...xh3 31.xh3 xc4+ 32.d1 xb4 1/2, Yermolinsky, A-Adams, M/FIDE WCh/ 33.fxe6 fxe6 34.e2 c5 2000/ ] 0-1 13...c7 [ This move too gets an exclamation mark from W ahls, despite it being a perfectly 1305 A30 normal move in this position. Black has tried a couple of other things at this juncture: A) Tkachiev,Vladislav 2661 13...c8 14.b3 Lie,Kjetil A 2563 A) 14...c7 15.g5!? ( 15.e3 b8 ETCC Crete GRE (4) 31.10.2007 16.d3 h6 17.d4 xg2 18.xg2 ef6 [Carsten Hansen] 19.f3 b7 , and Black has solved his opening problems satisfactorily, Bany, J1.f3 c5 2.c4 e6 3.c3 f6 4.g3 b6 D o l m a t o v , S / P o l a n i c a Z d r o j 1 9 8 7) 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 e7 7.d4 15...xg2 16.xg2 a8+ 17.g1 df6 [ For this being the most common move in 18.d3 b7 19.ge4 d7 20.f3 h8 this position , it has been rath er u nder( 20...xe4 21.xe4 ) 21.d3 represented in these updates over the years, ( 21.xf6!? xf3 22.xd7 c6 23.xf8 but then again, there are enough top games xf8 is another option for White, but being played with the Hedgehog to provide Chuchelov clearly saw this and weighed you with 8-10 top games with this opening his move to be) 21...b5?! ( 21...xe4 alone in each update! The other main move 22.xe4 xe4 23.xe4 ) 22.xf6 gxf6 in this pos it ion is 7.e1 which we have 23.cxb5 axb5 24.e4 , and White is clearly already discussed with two games this year, better thanks to his better coordinated Carlsen-Aronian, Elista 2007 and Topalovpieces and better pawn structure, Carlsen, Morelia/Linares 2007. ] Chuchelov, V-W ukits, R/Rethymnon 7...cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 a6 10.e3!? 1304
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2003; B) 14...h6 15.e4 c7 16.h4 b8 17.g4!? ( 17.e2 has been suggested as an improvement for White, but I don't see the specific reason why this should be better than 17 g4, as Black now can play ef6 , and start thinking about reaching a n o r m a l s e t -u p , wi t h o u t W h i t e h a vi n g accomplished anything special) 17...c5 ( 17...e5?! 18.g5 hxg5 19.hxg5 g6 20.h2 c6 21.e3 , and despite White clearly having the better chances at this stage, the players agreed upon a draw, 1/ 2-1/2 Takacs, B-Ionescu, C/Predeal1988) 18.e5 Georgiev, Ki-Sokolov, A/Leningrad 1987; C) 14...c5 Black has two alternatives: 15.g5 xg2 16.xg2 h6 17.ge4 xe4 ( 17...b7!? was played in Ivanchuk, V-Nisipeanu, L/Warsaw 2005 was covered by John Watson in the July 2005 update) 18.xe4 c6 19.f3 c8 20.g4 ( 20.a4!? f5 21.f2 ) 20...b5 21.cxb5 axb5 22.a5 xc1 23.xc1 b7 24.e3 f5 25.gxf5 xf5 26.b6 xb6 27.xb6 b4 is about even, Beckhuis, G-Schulze, U/ Germany 2001 ] [ B) 13...df6?! (the purpose behind this move doesn't strike me as obvious, but it does misplace the knight, and leaves the knight on e8 without a good square) 14.b3 c7 15.h3 d8 16.e3 h5 17.g5 xg5 18.xg5 xg2 19.xg2 hf6 20.ge4 xe4 21.xe4 f6? ( What is this, Black completely exposes his king for the sake of exchanging a pair of knights. 21...b7 is better, although 22.h2 d5 23.cxd5 xd5 24.xd5 exd5 25.d2 leaves White with the kind of advantage Wojtkiewicz ruthlessly exploited in his heydays.) 22.xf6+ gxf6 23.d4+h8 24.h6 g8 25.xf6+ g7 26.g4 dg8 27.d1 d8 28.xd8 xd8 29.gd4 1-0 Wojtkiewicz, A-De Haan, E/Soest 1996 ] 14.e3!?N [ This is the first new move in the game. It seems a bit awkward, but at the same time it contains a clever little idea, which Black doesn't properly react to. Previously White has tried: A) 14.e4 A) 14...c8 15.b3 e5!? 16.e2
( 16.g5!? xg5 17.xg5 d8 18.d4 doesn't look like much for White, but the exchange of the dark-squared bishops makes the d6-pawn permanently soft, and therefore it's difficult for Black to find a good set-up that where both the d6- and b6-pawns are well-guarded and at the same time maintain a threat of playing the classic pawn-breaks ..b6-b5 and ...d6-d5.) 16...f6 17.d4 fe8 18.h3 b8 19.e3 f8 20.e1 ed7= Wojtkiewicz, A-Adianto, U/Las Vegas 2000; B) 14...d8 15.e2 ( 15.e1 ef6 16.b3 fe8 17.h3 b8 18.e2 h5 19.e3 hf6 20.f4 h5 21.e3 hf6 22.f4 , and after the repetition of the moves, the players agreed upon a draw, 1/ 2-1/2 Huebner, R-Hansen, S/Germany 2001 ) 15...ef6 16.d2 fe8 , thus far Boensch, U-Ftacnik, L/Trnava 1 9 8 8 , a n d h e r e Ft a cn ik re c o m m e n d s 17.b4 , indicating a slight plus for White. ] [ B) 14.b3 A) 14...c8 A1) 15.g5 xg2 16.xg2 df6 ( 16...b7+ 17.f3 c6 18.d3 ef6 19.ce4 h6 20.xf6+ xf6 21.e4 d8 22.xf6+ xf6 ) 17.f3 b8 18.d3 h6 19.ge4 d8 20.xf6+ xf6 21.e4 Spulber, C-Miulescu, G/ Bucharest 1992; A2) 15.e3 This is quite possibly what inspired inspired Tkachiev's play in our main game. A2a) 15...b8 16.d5 d8 17.h3 h8 ( 17...c5 18.c3 a5 (otherwise b3-b4 will follow) 19.g4!? wi t h a s t e a d y i n it i a t i ve f o r W h i t e) 18.g5! b5?? (clearly Black had forgotten his king didn't protect the f7p a w n a n y l o n g e r ) 19.xf7+ 1-0 Gustafsson, J-Prusikin, M/ Pulvermuehle GER 2004; A2b) 15...e5 16.d5 ( 16.h3!? d8 17.g5 xg5 18.xg5 ef6 19.f5 ) 16...xd5 17.cxd5 d8 18.xc8 xc8 19.c1!? ef6 20.g5 b8 21.h3 d8 22.b4 f8 23.c6 Drasko, M-Nestorovic, D/Bar SCG 2006; B) 14...d8 1305
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B1) 15.e1 xg2 16.xg2 b7 ( 16...e5 17.c2 f6 18.e4 c8 19.xe5 dxe5 20.xf6+ xf6 , and Black probably even has the better chances, Paunovic, D-Vera, R/Benidorm 2002 ) B1a) 17.a4 N c5 18.c2 a5!? This is an interesting decision, Black weakens his b5 square permanently and furthermore eliminates any opportunity for him to break with ...b6b5, however, at the same reasoning that the b3-pawn will be a permanent weakness too. B1a1) 19.b5 d5 20.cxd5 xd5 21.e3 xd1+ 22.xd1 f6 is given as equal by Stohl, but 23.c4 d5 24.d6 seems to offer White the slightly better chances; B1a2) Stohl instead recommends 19.e4 f6 20.f3 , claiming a slight edge for W hite on account of his space advantage, but that too seems disputable after d5 B1a21) 21.e5 h5 22.cxd5 exd5 23.e3 f6 ( 23...d4?! 24.xd4 xd4 25.xd4 d8 26.b5 xf3 27.f1 is unsatisfactory for Black) 24.f4 ( 24.g4? fxe5 25.gxh5 d4 i s o n l y d e s i r a b l e f o r B l a c k) 24...fxe5 25.fxe5 e6 26.b5 c5 , and Black is doing rather well; B1a22) 21.cxd5; B1a3) 19.e3 f5! with a complicated position, Ftacnik, L-Adianto, U/San Francisco 1991 S t o h l n o w in d i ca t e s 20.f4 g5 21.xc5 gxf4 22.a3 f7 with an unclear position as White's best option.; B1b) 17.d3 c5 18.f3!? xf3 19.exf3 f6 20.d2 b7 21.e3 d7 22.f4 Gustafsson, J-Ibrahimov, R/ICC INT 2004; B1c) 17.e3 df6 18.f3!? d7 19.xb7 xb7 20.a4 h6 21.f3 Romanishin, O-Brodsky, M/Kherson 1989; B2) 15.e4!? B2a) 15...e5!? 16.d4 f6 17.h3
fe8 18.e3 ed7 19.f4 b8 20.f2 a8 21.e1 c5 22.e2 e5?! ( T h e t h e m a t i c 22...d5! se em s to e qu alise clea nly: 23.cxd5 exd5 24.xd5 xd5 25.exd5 f8 26.c4 b5 27.c2 xd5 , and it is clear that Black has solved his opening problems ) 23.fxe5 dxe5 24.f5 f8 ( 24...d3 25.xe7+ xe7 26.xb6 xc1 27.xc1 dd7 28.d5 is better for W hite) 25.d5 xd5 26.cxd5 , and White has the clearly better chances, Petrov, G-Nestorovic, D/Herceg Novi SCG 2005; B2b) 15...c5 16.e2 f6 17.e5! dxe5 18.xe5 c8 19.c7 d7 20.xc8 xc8 21.e5 leaves White with a strong initiative in the queenless middlegame, Schmidt, WKruszynski, W/ Katowice 1992; B2c) 15...b8 16.e2 ef6 B2c1) 17.d2 has been suggested in ChessBase Magazine, but e5!? appears to equalise,; B2c2) 17.c2 fe8 ( 17...e5!? seems to offer Black good chances for equalising in this line as well) 18.cd2 e5 19.g5 h6 20.xf6 xf6 21.h4 g6 22.f3 Ne st e r, I -Y a re m ko , N/ L viv UK R 2006; B2c3) 17.e1 fe8 18.h3 f8 19.c2 ( 19.g4!? e5 20.g5 fd7 21.h4 leaves White with some initiative, but Black's position is of course solid) 19...h6 20.cd2 e5 21.d3 c8 22.c2 g6 23.e3 b5!? 24.cxb5 axb5 25.xb5 xe4 with a complicated struggle, Musat, A-Stefanov, P/Odorheiu Secuiesc 1993; B3) 15.h4 e5 16.c2 ( 16.g5 xg2 17.xg2 b7+ 18.f3 h6 19.h3 f6 20.a4 g6= Gritsak, O-Kukula, P/ Krakow POL 2006) 16...xf3+ 17.xf3 xf3 18.exf3 h6 19.d3 f6 20.cd1 b5 21.e4 xe4 22.fxe4 bxc4 23.bxc4 c6 with fairly even chances, Gritsak, O-Ftacnik, L/Koszalin 1999; B4) 15.g5 ef6 16.e3 fe8 17.d4 xg2 18.xg2 h6 19.xf6 1306
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xf6 20.e4 e7= Quinn, M-Brittner, S/ Turin ITA 2006; B5) 15.e3 df6 16.h3 a8 ( 16...c5 17.a4 xe3 18.xe3 b5 19.b6 ) 17.d2 b7 ( 17...d7!? ) 18.g2 d7 19.c2 ( 19.e3!? df6 20.h3 ) 19...b8 20.g5!? df6 21.xa8 xa8 22.ge4 h5 23.g5 f6!? ( 23...b7!? ) 24.e3 f5 25.g5 ( 25.g5!? ) 25...b7 26.xe7 xe7 Vojinovic, G-Popov, S/Vrnjacka Banja SCG 2005; B6) 15.c2 ef6 B6a) 16.e4 c5 17.e1 c8 18.cd1 a8 19.h4 b8 ( 19...h5!? ) 20.e2 fe8 21.b4 cd7= 1/2-1/2 Roos, D-Scholz Solis, G/FRA 1989; B6b) 16.a4 c5 17.e1 xg2 18.xg2 cd7 19.f3 e5 ( 19...h5!? 20.e3 f5 21.f2 c5 ) 20.b2 h6 21.e3 b7 22.h3 c8 23.b1 fd8 24.f4 c6 25.h4 e5 26.f2 g5 27.g2 g6 , with a complicated struggle, which W h i t e e ve n t u a l l y w o n , b u t a t t h e present time, there is absolutely nothing wrong with Black's position, Ftacnik, L-Lindberg, B/Hamburg 1999 ] 14...ef6?! [ Black immediately plays a bad move that lets W hite demonstrate the tactical reasoning behind his 14th move. The a l t e r n a t i v e i s 14...df6 15.a4!? e5 16.g5 ] 15.d5! Now White is already clearly better exd5 16.xe7 fe8 17.xd6 xd6 18.xd6 xe2 19.cxd5 xb2 Maybe Black had set his hopes up for this position to be okay for him, but his illusions were quickly squashed 20.e5! e8 21.a3 [ 21.c7!? xe5 22.xe5 xa2 23.d6 is even more convincing ] 21...xa2 22.xd7 xa3 23.xb6 d8 24.d6 b3 25.xb7 xb6 26.d7 d6 [ On 26...xb7 White wins easily with 27.c8 bxd7 28.xd8 xd1+ 29.xd1 f8 30.d7 g6 31.a7 , and with the a-pawn gone, Black will need a miracle to hold his endgame. ] 27.c6 f5 28.e1 f8 29.e8 b8
30.xb8 xb8 31.b7 1-0
1306 Tomashevsky,Evgeny Alekseev,Evgeny ch-RUS Moscow RUS (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A30 2646 2715 06.10.2008
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.g3 [ T h e i m m e d i a t e 5.b5 was covered in Steingrimsson-Varga, Scanno 2005, which can be found in the PGN archives, but a more recent game saw d6 6.f4 ( 6.g3 was Steingrimsson's choice, whereas; 6.e4 takes us to a Taimanov Sicilian - 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 e6 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nc6 5 Nb5 d6 6 c4. ) 6...e5 A) An untried idea is the provocative 7.g5!? , and now xg5 is probably best ( or 7...f6 8.c1 g4 9.h3 e6 10.e4 g6 with an interesting game) 8.c7+ d7 9.xa8 b6 10.c3 b7 11.xb6+ axb6 12.e3 with a complicated position, where Black appears to be doing okay, e.g. f6 A1) 13.h4!? f5 14.d3 e4 15.e2 c5 ( 15...e5 16.d4 is fine for White ) 16.0-0 e7; A2) 13.b3 e7 14.c5!? ( 14.xb6 b8 is too dangerous for White) 14...d5! 15.xd5 xd5 16.xd5+ c7 17.cxb6+ xb6 18.b5+ a7 ( 18...c7 19.c1 d8 ) 19.a3 e4 , and Black is doing quite well; B) 7.g3 B1) Normally Black prefers to prevent W hite's next move with 7...e7 8.e3 h6 9.f3 I don't particularly like this attempt at preserving the dark-squared bishop, but Black is under any circumstances doing fine. 0-0 10.5c3 e6 ( 10...f5!? a lso lo o ks go o d) 11.d5 xd5 12.cxd5 b8 , and Black has solved his opening problems successfully, Schandorff, L-Mamedyarov, S/Istanbul 2003; B2) 7...f6 8.h4 a6 9.5c3 e7 10.e3 e6 11.e2 0-0 12.0-0 c8 , and Black has equalised, Bu Xiangzhi1307
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Alek se ev, E/ Nizh niy No vgorod RUS 2007 ] 5...b6 6.b5 [ White has a few alternatives of interest: A) 6.c2 A) 6...e5 7.e3 c7 8.g2 xc4 9.c2 a5+ 10.c3 xe3 11.xe3 d5 12.d2 a6 13.e4 d4 14.f1 b6 15.b5 d6 16.0-0-0 , and White has the b e t t e r c h a n c e s, K o m a ro v, D-R o m e r o Holmes, A/ Yucatan 1999; B) 6...f6 7.g2 d5!? 8.0-0 dxc4 9.e3 a6 10.d2 e5 ( 10...c5 11.dxc4 0-0 is fine for Black) 11.b3 cxb3?! ( 11...c3! 12.b1 d7 13.xc3 , and Black keeps the balance. However, after the text move, Black gets himself into trouble.) 12.b2 c6 13.axb3 b5 14.dc4 d7 15.d6+ xd6 16.xd6 b4 17.xb4 xb4 18.xb7 b8 19.xa7 c6 20.xc6 xc6 21.a3 , and W hite is winning, Gustafsson, JMacieja, B/playchess.com INT 2004; C) 6...c5 7.e3 C1) 7...e5!? 8.e2 f6 9.0-0 ( 9.c3 0-0 10.f4 c6 is also fine for Black ) 9...d5 10.b4 e7 11.c5 c7 12.b2 0-0 13.d2 d8 14.d4 g6 , a n d I p re f e r B la ck, Sa ra va n a n , V Aveskulov, V/Cappelle La Grande FRA 2008; C2) 7...d5! 8.cxd5 exd5 9.g2 ( 9.xd5?! ge7 gives Black too big a le a d in d e ve lo p m e n t a n d sh o u ld b e avoided ) 9...f6 10.h3 0-0 11.0-0 d8 12.c3 f5 13.a4 a5 14.xc5 xc5 15.d4 e4 with a comfortable game for Black, Schandorff, L-De Firmian, N/Denmark 1999 ] [ In an encounter between the same two players in our main game and in the same tou rn am en t, bu t playe d two yea rs a go , White instead gave preference to the more common 6.b3 e5 7.e4 f6 8.e2 b4+ 9.d2 xd2+ 10.1xd2 d6 11.f4 c6 12.0-0-0 0-0 13.b1 e5 with chances to both sides, Tomashevsky, EAlekseev, E/Moscow RUS 2006 ] [ 6.e3!? c5 7.b3 e7 was last seen in Wojtkiewicz-Bologan, Moscow 2002, which can be found in the PGN archives. ]
6...e5 7.f4 d6 [ 7...a6!? is an important alternative for Black 8.xe5 axb5 9.e4 c5 ( 9...bxc4 10.xc4 f6 11.xf6 gxf6 12.e2 is pleasant for White ) 10.d2 ( 10.xg7 xf2+ 11.d2 d4 12.xh8 xh8 13.c2 bxc4 14.c3 c5 leaves Black with compensation for the exchange according to Ionov, but this line is definitely the best line for W hite.) 10...f6 11.f4 b4 12.g2 e7 13.0-0 g6 14.e3 xe3 15.fxe3 e5 Khalifman, A-Ionov, S/St Petersburg 1998 ] 8.d2 [ The first new move of the game. Previously White has tried two other moves: A) 8.b3 a6 9.5c3 f6 10.g2 e7 11.0-0 ( 11.a4 c7 12.bc3 b8 13.c1 0-0 is fine for Black ) 11...0-0 12.d2 g6 13.e3 c7 14.a4 d7 15.b6 ad8 16.xd7 xd7 17.c1 a5 ( 17...c8!? ) 18.e4 Werle, J-Hall, J/Germany 2002 ] [ B) 8.1c3 c6 9.e4 f6 10.e2 a6 11.d4 c7 12.c1 e7 13.b3 0-0 14.g2 b6 ( 14...d7 15.0-0 fc8!? ) 15.0-0 ( 15.d2 b7 16.f4 ed7 17.g4 is quite interesting and not without danger for Black,) 15...b7 16.h3 ac8 17.e3 ed7 18.f4 c5 with a typical Hedgehog position where the chances are about even, Bauer, C-Landa, K/Ajaccio FRA 2007 ] 8...a6 9.c3 d7 [ The obvious question that has to be asked if of course, 'why can't the pawn on b2 be taken?' As far as I can see, there isn't any outright refutation, although White can claim a slightly more comfortable position after 9...xb2 10.a4 a3 11.b6 b8 12.g2 f6 13.0-0 ( 13.xc8 xc8 14.xb7 c7 15.g2 e7 16.b3 a5 17.0-0 0-0 is quite comfortable for Black) 13...e7 14.b3 xb3 15.axb3 , and despite being a pawn down and the queens being exchanged, White has good compensation and excellent pressure on Black's position. ] 10.g2 c6 11.xc6+ [ White doesn't achieve anything with 11.0-0 xg2 12.xg2 c6+ 13.f3 g6= ] [ But 11.b3!? is of interest, for instance xb3 ( or 11...c7 12.0-0 f6 13.fd1 e7 14.c5! xg2 15.xg2 xc5 16.xb7 1308
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c8 17.xc8+ xc8 18.de4 ) 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.axb3 g6 14.g5 e7 15.xe7 xe7 16.a5 f6 17.0-0 with some pressure in the endgame for White ] 11...xc6 12.0-0 g6 [ What happens after 12...xc4 ? I'm not entirely sure, because Black seems to be a b l e t o g e t a wa y wi t h i t d e s p i t e b e i n g substantially behind in development, for instance 13.xc4 xc4 14.c1 ( 14.e4 f6 15.e1 b4 16.d2 e7 17.ac1 d8 , and Black is getting ready to play ...d6d5 with the better chances.) 14...f6 15.f3 d8 16.e4 c5+ 17.g2 b4 18.e2 e7 , and although White has compensation for the pawn, there is nothing wrong with Black's position. ] 13.e3 f6 14.d4 e7 15.e4 0-0 16.e2 d7! 17.ac1 f6 With this move, Black has solved all of his opening problems. 18.f3 ge5 19.xe5 xe5 [ T h e s o l i d m o v e , b u t a l s o 19...dxe5!? deserves consideration 20.e3 ac8 21.b3 e7 , and I actually slightly prefer Black, though the chances objectively speaking are equal. ] 20.fd1 fd8 [ Black should also be able to get away with 20...xc4 , e.g. 21.xc4 xc4 22.xf6 gxf6 23.b3 a3 24.xd6 ac8 25.dd1 fd8 26.xd8+ xd8 27.a4 d2 , a n d W h it e h a s n o t h in g sp e cia l in t h e endgame. ] 21.b3 d7 22.xf6 [ If White wants to play for more, I think he n e e d s t o p l a y 22.f4 at this juncture, e.g. ac8 23.g2 xd4 24.xd4 although Black's position is solid and isn't knocked over. ] 22...xf6 23.d4 d7 24.cd1 ad8 [ Black remains solid. A more aggressive a p p r o a c h c a n b e t a k e n w i t h 24...b5!? , though if White plays carefully it is unlikely to lead to any kind of advantage, for instance 25.a3 c8 26.1d3 e5!? 27.cxb5 axb5 28.b4 After this move, it almost looks like Black has overplayed his hand, but 'fortunately' he has the classic counterplay r e s p o n s e h a n d y : d5! 29.exd5 xd5 30.xd5 xd5 31.xd5 xd5 32.f3 White had to give his king a way out. c5+
( or 32...c6 33.xb5 c1+ 34.g2 f6 35.h3 h6+ 36.g2 c1 , and White h a s t o t a ke t h e re p e t i t io n wit h 37.h3 ) 33.g2 f6 34.xb5 c2+ 35.h3 f5+ 36.g2 c2+ 37.g1 c1+ 38.g2 c2+ , and again we have a draw by repetition. ] 25.f3 h6 Both sides are more less ideally set-up, and therefore there isn't any obvious wa y t o a d d p r e ss u r e t o t h e o t h e r s i d e ' s position without creating additional weaknesses in your own. In the game, both players realised this and agreed to a draw by repeating the moves. 26.g2 f8 27.1d2 g8 28.d1 f8 29.1d2 g8 30.d1 f8 ½-½
1307 Topalov,Veselin Carlsen,Magnus XXIV SuperGM (12) [Carsten Hansen]
A30 2783 2690 07.03.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.e1 d5 [ 7...d6 is the theoretical main line, but 7...d5 has also been seen many times, yet it is considered to be better for W hite. Other tries include 7...Nc6 and 7... Ne4 ] 8.d4!? This is a very rare move in this position on my database, I f ound less than half a dozen examples with this move [ Also 8.e5 is seen only infrequently. In ECO, the editors offer no more than a brief mention of the move. 0-0 9.d4 A) 9...e4 10.cxd5 xc3 11.bxc3 xd5 ( 11...exd5!? ) 12.e4 b7 Panno-Morovic, Vina del Mar 1988, and here Panno gives 13.d5 f6 14.f4 d7 15.xd7 xc3 16.xf8 xa1 17.xh7 as slightly better for W hite, but Black may be able to improve on this.; B) 9...cxd4!? 10.xd4 c5 is given as unclea r in E CO, qu oting Panno, af te r 11.h4 e4! Black may even be better; C) 9...bd7 10.xd7 xd7 11.dxc5 bxc5 12.cxd5 exd5 13.e4 d4 14.e5 d5 15.e4 ab8 16.g5 c7 ( 16...xg5!? 17.xg5 f5 18.e4 ) 17.h5 xe4 18.xe4 f5? ( White's resources seem 1309
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to run out rather rapidly after 18...xg5! 19.xg5 xb2 20.h4 e6 21.h5 h6 ) 19.h4 xb2 20.e4 xf2+ 21.h1 h6 22.xe7 and White is winning, Mrva-Z. Medvegy, Austrian chT 2006 ] [ 8.cxd5 is the main line, which is considered s ligh t ly b e t t e r f o r W h it e , b u t h a s b e e n documented and tested in much more detail, I found more than 300 examples on my d a t a b a s e , in clu d in g ga m e s b y L a rse n , V a ga n ia n , K ra m n ik, T im m a n , G e lf a n d , Anand, Ivanchuk, Akopian, Karpov to mention but a few of the more prominent name s. I will re turn t o t his su bje ct in a future update. ] 8...dxc4 [ 8...0-0 9.cxd5 exd5 transposes to a Queen's Indian, which obviously is not our subject here. This transposition is also possible after 8 cxd5 exd5 9 d4 0-0. ] 9.dxc5 [ 9.a4+ bd7 10.g5 0-0 ( 10...cxd4!? 11.xd4 xg2 12.xg2 c7 also looks good for Black) 11.ad1 d5 12.xe7 xe7 13.xc4 Sadkowsky-Vanderstricht, Antwerp 2000, and now ac8 gives Black a pleasant game. ] 9...xc5 [ 9...xd1 10.xd1 xc5 11.b5 ( 11.e5!? xg2 12.xg2 0-0 13.xc4 gives White the initiative in the endgame) 11...a6 12.e5 xg2 13.xg2 0-0 14.xc4 b4 15.g5 e4 16.e3 is not problematic for Black, U.Zak-R.Bar, Tel Aviv 2001 ] 10.a4+ bd7 11.xc4 [ This is Topalov's novelty, aiming to improve over 11.e5 xg2 12.xg2 0-0?! ( 12...a6!? 13.xd7 xd7 14.xc4 c6+ 15.e4 b5 16.b3 0-0 looks very comfortable for Black) 13.d1 xe5 ( N e c e s s a r y ) 14.xd8 fxd8 15.g5 ( 15.f4!? eg4 16.xc4 leaves Black with inadequate compensation for the queen) 15...a6 16.d1 dc8 17.xf6 b5 18.c2 gxf6 19.c1 f8 20.f4 g7 21.g4 g6 22.g3 b4 1/2-1/2 Garcia, R-Ricardi, P/ Buenos Aires 1995 ] 11...0-0 12.d1 c8 13.h4 As in many Catalan and Fianchetto Queen's Indians, Black seems to be okay, but W hite's latent
pressure and slight initiative makes it necessary for Black to tread carefully in order to secure full equality. e7 [ 13...e7!? can also be considered. ] 14.h3!? This move almost looks ridiculous, but White has a clever point, which we will see on the next couple of moves e8 15.d4 xg2 16.xg2 This was the idea: now the queen controls the long diagonal and can penetrate on the queenside. Did you see that coming when Topalov played Qa4-h4? And now don't lie...! e5 17.b7 c5 18.g5 fg4!? [ 18...d7 19.xd7 fxd7 20.ac1 h6 21.f4 a6 is also about even, but Carlsen plays more ambitiously ] 19.h3 c6! 20.hxg4 [ Necessary, since 20.xc6? xf2 21.e7+ h8 22.xc8 xd1+ 23.f1 xc3 24.xa7 d5 is winning for Black ] 20...xd4 21.b5 This looks rather ambitious, but peters out to a draw by repetition. b8 22.c7 c8 23.b7 b8 24.c7 c8 25.b7 ½-½
1308 Topalov,Veselin Ivanchuk,Vassily XVI Ciudad de 99 (13) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2700 2714 09.03.1999
1.f3 A common method of reaching the English which, whilst it commits W hite to playing his knight to f3, does stop Black from playing lines with ...e5. c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 Black defers the move ... Nf6 in order to accelerate his queenside play. 5.g3 b4+ A rare line, but one destined to become more popular after this game, no doubt. [ 5...f6 would transpose into more normal lines, 6.g2 c5 7.b3 for example, Topalov,V-Moroder,M/ Frankfurt 1997. ] 6.c3 Black certainly doesn't seem to have any problems after the alternative [ 6.d2 e7 7.c3 f6 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 d5 equalising, Eingorn-Dorfman/Moscow II 1986. ] 6...a5 7.db5 d5 8.a3?! This move 1310
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 doe sn't t urn o ut too we ll, p erh aps W h it e should try [ 8.f4!? e.g. e5 9.d2 dxc4?! 10.a3 xc3 11.d6+ f8 12.xc3 with a powerful initiative for the pawn. ] 8...xc3+ 9.bxc3 By keeping the knight aimed at d6, and c7, White tries to improve on the game Lerner,K-Huzman, A/Kujbysev 1986, which continued: [ 9.xc3 d4 10.b4 xb4 11.axb4 xa1 12.b5 f6!? Black an also try to hang-on to his material by 12...Kf8. 13.c7+ e7 14.xa8 d7 15.g2 xa8 16.0-0 and now, W hite's compensation f or the pawn would have been insufficient after c8 ] 9...f6 10.g2 0-0 Black is close to completing his development, and whilst White has the bishop pair as compensation for his shattered queenside pawns, is it enough? 11.b3 dxc4 12.xc4 e5! Black stakes a claim in the centre, and frees a route for his c8-bishop. 13.d6 Otherwise 13...Be6 would w i n t h i s p i e c e . e6 14.d3 e4! Black attacks before White can bring his king to s af et y. 15.xe4 xe4 16.xe4 ad8 17.c2 So far this is all forced, [ 17.e3? is strongly countered by fe8 ] 17...d4 No let-up for White! 18.b2 xe2! The exclamation mark is for beauty, as [ 18...c4 was very strong, and without risk. ] 19.xe2 fe8 A quiet move in the middle of a sacrificial attack, how can W hite defend? 20.b4 This move doesn't save White, and [ 20.e3 also fails, to g4+ 21.f3 xe4 22.fxg4 c5 ] [ but 20.f3 might be playable, i.e. f5 21.b4 and the black queen no longer has access t o h 5 , a l t h o u g h a6+ 22.f2 fxe4 is still clearly better for Black, anyway. ] 20...h5+ 21.f3 f5 Black is winning. 22.g4 h3 23.gxf5 xf5 24.c4+ h8 25.e1 At least one of the white rooks gets to make a move! xe4+ [ 25...xe4+ wins the white queen, as 26.fxe4 allows g4+ 27.f2 xh2+ and mate next move. ] 0-1
1309 Topalov,Veselin Karjakin,Sergey World Rapid Final (5) [John Bartholomew]
A30 2752 2779 06.07.2012
The present game follows Salgado Lopez, I (2621)-Karjakin, S (2763)/Porto Carras GRE 2011 until move 17. Topalov employs Salgado Lopez as a second, so it would be a mild surprise if he didn't have anything up his sleeve for this rapid encounter. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 g7 8.c3 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3 c8 11.ac1 a6 12.b3 0-0 13.h4 c7 14.h3 [ We last witnessed Karjakin's expert handling of the Double Fianchetto in Jakovenko, D (2729)-Karjakin, S (2766)/ S o c h i R U S 2 0 1 2 / [ Jo h n B a r t h o l o m e w] . Jakovenko played ambitiously with 14.g4 , but Karjakin's baffling c8!? (a double tempo loss!) turned out to be a surprisingly effective retort. Black achieved good counterplay af ter 15.h3 b5! 16.cxb5 a5! . The comments to this game are well worth reviewing in light of Black's odd yet highly revealing idea. ] 14...b8 15.h6 [ 15.g4 Aronian, L (2724)-Kramnik, V (2744)/ Saint Vincent 2005/[John Watson]. ] 15...b5! The programmed pawn break. 16.xg7 xg7 17.cxb5 The new move, but o n e wh ic h o u r p r o t a g o n i st d e f u se s wi t h remarkable ease. [ T h e s o u r c e g a m e w e n t 17.d5?! and W hite quickly found himself worse: xd5 18.cxd5 xc1 19.xc1 c8 20.c6 b7 21.xc8?! xc8 Salgado Lopez, I (2621)-Karjakin, S (2763)/Porto Carras GRE 2011/[John Bartholomew] ] 17...axb5 [ 17...xf3!? is also possible. ] 18.xd7 xd7 19.b4 c8! I had mentioned this possibility in the notes to Salgado Lopez-Karjakin. Prescience!?:) [ My other recommendation was 19...xf3 20.exf3 a8 , but Karjakin demonstrates why his choice is more accurate. ] 20.xb5 c5! Well played, Sergey! The rook is immune, and the threat of ...Bb7xf 3 is 1311
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h a n g i n g o v e r W h i t e ' s h e a d . 21.a4! Topalov's sense of danger does not fail him. [ Black's pieces are firing beautifully after 21.a3?! a8 ] [ Ot h er pit f a lls in clu d e 21.bd4? e5! 22.c2 c8! 23.fe1 e4 24.d2 dc7 (max pressure down the c-file!), ] [ 21.c3? c8 with similar consequences, ] [ and especially 21.xc5?? dxc5 22.e1 xd1 23.xd1 xf3 24.exf3 xb5-+ ] 21...a6! Black gains the pawn back. 22.xc5 Initiating mass simplifications. dxc5 23.e1 xb5 24.axb5 xb5 25.xd7 xd7 26.b4 cxb4 27.xb4 d1+ 28.e1 xe1+ I called 15...b5! a "clean equalizer" in the notes to the Salgado Lopez game, and thanks to Karjakin's continued patronage I see no reason to amend this statement. Perhaps T o p a lo v wa s sim p ly ch e c kin g K a rja kin ' s preparation? At any rate, the Double Fianchetto is alive and well! ½-½
1310 Vaganian,Rafael A Huebner,Robert Thessaloniki ol (Men) (14) [Nigel Davies]
A30 2625 2610 04.12.1984
1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.g3 b6 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.g5 a6 10.xf6 xf6 11.d3 0-0? This natural move is a serious mistake. [ Eventually they discovered that the strange looking 11...a7 is probably Black's best here, for example 12.ad1 e7 13.d4 xg2 14.xg2 c8 15.f4 d7 16.b3 g6 17.e4 c7 18.ce2 b7 19.c3 0-0 was very comfortable for Black in Gschnitzer, O-Ftacnik, L/Germany 1993/GER-chT. ] 12.fd1 e7 13.g5! xg5 14.xb7 a7 15.e4 f5 Forced because of the dual threats a g a i n s t h 7 a n d d 6 . B u t t h i s j u s t wr e c k s Black's structure. 16.g2 d7 17.f4 [ Another good way to play it for White is via 17.e4 , for example f4 18.e5 dxe5 19.e2 f6 20.e4 g6 21.c5 d8 22.xd7 xd7 23.c6 f6 24.a4 d5 25.c3 xc3 26.bxc3 f6 27.e4 e7 28.g2 fxg3 29.hxg3 c5 30.d1 led to a quick
win for White in Lalic, B-Reinaldo Castineira, R/Andorra 2000. ] 17...f6 18.e4 xc3 [ 18...fxe4 19.xe4 d5 20.cxd5 exd5 21.xf6+ xf6 22.xd5+ won a pawn and later the game in Konopka, M-Zavadsky, P/ Slovakia 1995. ] 19.bxc3 [ And here White has a good alternative in 19.xc3 , for example fxe4 20.xe4 c7 21.d3 h6 22.d2 fd8 23.e1 h8 24.g2 put Black in desperate straights in Konopka, M-Rawski, S/Karvina 1992. ] 19...a5? This doesn't help though there are no improvements for Black that are worth their salt. 20.exf5 xf5? 21.h3 [ After 21.h3 f6 22.xe6+ xe6 23.d5 de7 24.f5 White wins the exchange with an overwhelming position. ] 1-0
1311 Wojtkiewicz,Aleksander Bologan,Viktor Aeroflot Open (8) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2535 2651 09.02.2002
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.g3 b6 6.e3!? Unusual, [ 6.b3 f6 7.c3 would bring us to [A33]. ] 6...c5!? A new move in this position, [ 6...f6 is 'normal', e.g. 7.g2 e7 8.c3 0-0 9.0-0 d6 10.b3 a6 11.b2 White has a nice edge, Gritsak,O-Macieja,B/Swidnica 1999. ] 7.b3 e7 Having forced the knight from the centre, the bishop returns home. 8.g2 f6 9.0-0 0-0 10.c3 Play has returned to a more standard position, that has been seen before. d6 11.d2?! The second novelty of th e ga m e! O n e ob vio u s d isa d van t a ge o f having the knight on b3 is that the natural development of White's dark-squared bishop o n b 3 is im p o ssib le , b u t W h it e se e k s t o achieve this anyway. [ Ho we ve r t h e m o ve wa st e s t i m e , 11.e4 is more normal, to bring the bishop out on th e c1 -h 6 d ia gon a l, a lt ho u gh a f t e r e5 B l a c k c a n p r e s s u r e c 4 , 12.e2 d7 1312
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c8 11.ac1 0-0 12.h4 a6 13.b3 c7 14.h3 b8 15.g4 e6 16.g5 e8 17.d4 [ Black has adequate play after 17.g2 b5! Aronian, L (2724)-Kramnik, V (2744)/Saint Vincent 2005/[John Watson] . ] 17...a8!? A constructive retreat. Black flirts with the ideas of ... b6-b5 and ...Qb8-b7 while waiting for White to reveal his intentions. [ Zoltan Almasi's preference was 17...c5 . After 18.g3 ( 18.b4 d7 19.xe6!? fxe6 20.xe6+ h8 Vallejo Pons, F (2705)Almasi, Z (2707)/Beijing CHN 2011 here 21.f4! still requires testing) 18...e5 19.f4 g7 20.g2 e5!? 21.f3 exf4 22.xf4 f6! Black obtained good counterplay in Bartel, M (2654)-Almasi, Z (2713)/Istanbul TUR 2012/[John Bartholomew] ] 18.e4!? Seemingly encouraging ...b6-b5, but White has a covert mission in mind for this knight. [ 18.g3 c8 19.xe6? xd4! 20.xd7 b7! 21.d5 xe3 22.xe3 xd7-+ Tratar, M (2466)-Babula, V (2593)/Austria 2006. ] [ 18.g2 is also possible. ] 18...b5?! We're so used to seeing this lever open the floodgates of counterplay for Black in the Double Fianchetto, but here it appears to be an error. [ I think the principled 18...c5! is the way to deal with White's last move. Then 19.f6+ ( 19.g2!? ) 19...xf6 20.gxf6 h8 looks critical. Can W hite breach Black's solid defenses? It doesn't appear so: 21.f3 ( 21.b4 e4 ) 21...xf3 22.exf3 d7 23.g5 c5 24.b4 xg5+!? 25.xg5 xf6 with excellent positional compensation. ] 19.cxb5 axb5 20.xc7 xc7 21.c1 1312 A30 [ Not 21.xb5? c2 . ] Zhou Jianchao 2625 21...b7 22.f3! Snuffing out Black's play on Sasikiran,Krishnan 2703 the a8-h1 diagonal. Moreover, Ne4-f2-g4! is TCh-CHN 2012 (11) 22.09.2012 now on the cards. d5 23.f2 d6 24.g4 e8 25.h6+ f8? A big mistake. [John Bartholomew] [ Black's dark squares are vulnerable 25...xh6 26.gxh6 f5 , but this was a In the notes to Bartel - Almasi last month I necessary evil. ] wrote that 17.Nd4 is likely White's best try for an advantage. Luckily, we haven't had to wait 26.d2 [ White must have been tempted to go for the long for another test! 1.f3 f6 2.c4 b6 kill with 26.xf7! . This is indeed crushing, 3.g3 c5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 g6 6.c3 g7 but the variations are not easy to work out: 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d6 9.d1 bd7 10.e3
1 / 2 -1 / 2 G riva s, E -P a p a io a n n o u , I / P o ro s 1998. ] 11...d8! Pointing-out White's lack of control of d5. 12.de4 xe4 13.xe4 a6!? [ 13...d5 14.cxd5 xd5 also looks more than satisfactory for Black. ( or 14...exd5 )] 14.b3 d5! 15.cxd5 exd5 The IQP position is good for Black as White has almost no control ove r d4 , a nd c ann ot b locka de th e pa wn . 16.c3 e6 17.b2 d4 18.exd4 xd4 Now we see the point of Black's thirteenth move: firstly, on b6 Na4 would gain a tempo on the queen, and secondly Black covers e2, so that a later ...Ne2+ becomes a possibility. 19.h5 ac8 Black is very active the immediate menace is ... Rxc3, and then ... Ne2+. 20.d5? [ In a difficult position White cracks, 20.ae1 w a s t h e o n l y c h a n c e , c5 21.d1 and White is just hanging-on. ] 20...xd5! [ 20...xd5?! 21.xd5 is equal. ] 21.xd5 e2! A delightful move, deflecting the queen from d5's defence. [ 21...c5! also wins, but more prosaically: 22.xd4 xd5 23.d1 f6 winning a piece. ] 22.xe6 [ 22.xe2 xe2+ 23.h1 xd5+ 24.f3 c2 is crushing. ] 22...xh5 23.xc8 e2+ 24.h1?? W hite has had enough, and shortens the game. [ Af ter th e f orce d 24.g2 Black wins by d5+ 25.f3 d2 26.h3 xb2 ] 24...f3# 0-1
1313
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A) 26...xf7 27.xe6+ g8 ( 27...xe6 28.xe6+- ) 28.c7+-; B) 26...xf7 27.f4+ e7 ( 27...f5 28.xf5 exf5 29.c7+- ) 28.xe6 e5 29.h4 f7 30.c5! xc5 31.xc5+ d6 32.d4!+with an overwhelming attack for a small material investment. ] 26...b6 27.e3 e5? The decisive mistake in a very difficult position. [ Nor does 27...b4? bring relief : 28.xb4 xb4 29.xe6++- . ] 28.b4!+Now Black is effectively frozen. e7 [ S a s i k i r a n p r o b a b l y i n t e n d e d 28...d3 , but it's met by an attractive interference: 29.c6! , e.g. xc6 30.xd6+ e7 31.f1! e5 ( 31...b4 32.f4+- ) 32.f4+- ] 29.f4 d8 30.f1 e8 31.g8! Intruder alert! [ 31.xd6 xd6 32.xb5+ f8 33.c7! is more clinical, but c'mon - how often do you have a chance to play a move like 31. Ng8!? ] 31...ec4 Trying to confuse the issue, but it's a lost cause. 32.f6+! e7 33.bxc4 bxc4 34.a3 h6 35.h4 hxg5 36.hxg5 f8 37.h3 b8 38.b5 Black resigned. I must admit I prefer Almasi's direct 17...Nc5 to 17...Ba8!?, though the latter looks fine so long as Black follows things up correctly (18.Ne4!? Nc5!). Expect more games with 17.Nd4 in the future. 1-0
1313 Zhu Chen Bischoff,Klaus 1st Fraenkische GM (5) [Tony Kosten]
A30 2530 2544 17.01.2000
1.f3 e6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 b7 4.g2 f6 5.0-0 c5 6.c3 e7 7.e1 d6 8.e4 a6 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 c7 11.e3 0-0 12.c1 bd7 13.f4 fc8!? [ Quite a rare choice for the rook, 13...fe8 may be the most accurate, so as to be able to react in the centre. 14.f5 f8 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.h3 c5 17.b4 cxe4 18.xe4 xe4 19.xe6 with advantage, Wirthensohn,H-Rajkovic,D/Altensteig 1990. ] 14.g4 This is the most effective plan in these
positions, White gains even more space, and threatens to drive the f6-knight to e8. f8 [ This is the solid way of vacating the d7square, but 14...c5 may be superior. ] 15.g5 6d7 16.d5!? [ Whilst this type of sacrifice is absolutely thematic in this variation, it is still a striking idea. 16.h4 had been successfully employed previously, and may be stronger, objectively: d8 17.b3 g6 18.f5! xh4 19.fxe6 e5 20.exf7+ xf7 21.e6 d7 22.h3 with a powerful knight on e6, and dangerous threats, Stajcic,N-Moiseev,V/ Kecskemet 1991, 1-0 (37). ] 16...exd5 17.f5 e8?! [ It is always difficult to defend such positions, but I think I would prefer 17...g6 here, 18.d4 f8 (an important point, ...f6 is no longer necessary) 19.cxd5 d8 and Black is holding on, although W hite has a great position for his piece. ] [ 17...d8 18.exd5 g6 19.d4 f8 20.g4 seems worse. ] 18.cxd5 b8?! [ The black position crumples after this, 18...d8 19.d4 f6 is much better, as now, if 20.g4 g6 is possible. ] 19.d4 f6 20.g4! Threatening both gxf6, and Nxg7. e5 [ There is little choice, if 20...g6 then 21.xg7 xg7 22.xd7 wins. With the black queen on d8 this knight would be defended! ] 21.fxe5 fxe5 22.e3 White has reestablished material equality, and his attack continues. d8 23.f1 c8? [ 23...g6 24.h4 -h5, and Black is pushed off the board. ] 24.h5 [ There is no reasonable defence to the threat of capturing the e8-rook, i.e. 24.h5 d7 ( 24...g6 25.h6+ h8 26.f3 planning Qxf8+) 25.h6+! gxh6 26.f7+ h8 27.gxh6 ] 1-0
1314
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1314 A31 17...c8 18.d4 h6 19.ad1 [ 19.e4!? xe4 20.fxe4 xe4 21.d3 Agrest,Evgenij 2579 launches a strong attack yet Black ca n Kohlweyer,Bernd 2429 partially neutralise it by xd4 22.xd4 e5 III Open Bajada de la Virgen ESP (2) 14.06.05 23.e4 xd5 ] [John Watson] 19...e5 20.f2 [ 20.d6! w i t h t h e i d e a xd6?? 21.f4 This game illustrates yet another standard ... which wins a piece. ] b6 position/Hedgehog that can arise from Black is only slightly worse now. more than one move order. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 20...d7 f6 3.c3 b6 Now 4.g3 B b7 5.Bg2 e6 6.0-0 21.e3 c5 22.g1?! b4! 23.c2?! [ 23.d4 c5 24.d2 b4= ] Be7 7.d4 cxd4 8.Qxd4 is a standard He dgeh og b ut W hite p la ys a n orde r th a t 23...xc3 24.bxc3 xd5 25.d4 d6 theory considers more promising. 4.d4 cxd4 26.e3 c6 27.f5 e6 28.d3 xd4 29.cxd4 d7 30.b1 d5 31.f4 c6 5.xd4 b7 6.f3 To enforce e4. [ 6.g5 is an interesting option which is less 32.g3 g6 33.xh6+!? h7 34.h4 g7 35.g5 e6! 36.e4 c7 37.d5!? theoretical. ] 6...d6 7.e4 e6 8.e2 a6 9.e3 e7 10.0-0 If this breakthrough works it almost always 0-0 An extraordinarily popular position. Now a means that White is better. But giving up the standard setup is a3 and b4, Agrest chooses d-pawn can be costly as well. xd5 38.bd1 e7?! another idea that must be well-timed. 11.h1 [ 38...c5! 39.d4 e7 ] [ 11.a4 c6! is harmless. ] 39.xf7! xf7 40.xd5 xg5 11...bd7?! [ 40...xd5 41.xg6+ f8 42.xd5 ] [ 11...c7 is more appropriate. This is a a4 42.a5 ec8 43.xa4 matter of timing, since 12.a4 Nc6 is again 41.xg5 e a s i e r f o r B l a c k t o p l a y . S t i l l , B l a c k White is a pawn up with the better position. generally prefers to put his knight on d7 and The rest is technique. c1 44.g1 8c3 12.a4 ( 12.c1 bd7 13.e1 ac8 45.xc1 xc1+ 46.f2 c4 47.h4 f6 14.f2 fe8 15.b4 is a standard line 48.g3 b5 49.a2 d1 50.f4 d6 whose verdict is still unclear.) 12...c6 51.g4 d7 52.c2 a7 53.c8 f7 54.b8 [ 54.b8 c4 55.b6+ e7+ 56.e5 etc ] 13.c1 e5 14.f4 ed7 15.f5! e5 ( 15...xe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.fxe6 ) 1-0 16.d5 d8 17.b3 xe4 18.f3 could follow. ] A31 12.a4! e8 13.a5! Players of both colours 1315 need to be familiar with W hite's idea. Aronian,Levon 2741 Suddenly Black's queenside is compromised. Sutovsky,Emil 2655 d5!? ETCC Crete GRE (9) 06.11.2007 [ 13...bxa5 14.b3 gives White a serious [Carsten Hansen] positional edge but may be best. ] [ also insufficient is 13...c8 14.axb6 xb6 1.c4 15.b3! ] [ In another recent game, Black tried a 14.cxd5 similar idea to the one in our main game, [ 14.exd5 exd5 15.f5 is also good. Black but after a different move order and losing a shouldn't give White's knight the f5 square tempo in the process: 1.d4 e6 2.c4 c5 in these lines unless he's ready to kick it 3.f3 f6 4.g3 cxd4 5.xd4 e5 6.b5 out. ] d5 7.cxd5 c5 8.5c3 b6 9.e3 g4 14...exd5 15.exd5 bxa5?! 10.a4+!? ( 10.e2 as in our main game is [ 15...b4!? ] undoubtedly good as well, White has gained 16.f5 f8 17.d2 an extra tempo free of charge. However, [ 17.d6 is also promising, when g6 18.h6+ the variation chosen by W hite here also g7 19.d2 consolidates White's position. ] leaves W hite with the clearly better 1315
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.e2 can also be considered) 16...a6 chances. ) 10...d7 11.b3 xb3 12.axb3 17.b1 a5 18.f4 f6 , and White is in f5 serious trouble, Tverdohlebov, V-Foigel, I/ A) 13.d2!? c2 14.c4 bd7 15.g2 Kharkov 1980 ] d3 ( 15...xb3? 16.a5+- ) 16.e4 ( 16.d2 e4 17.f3 b4 ) 16...g4 10...xe2 [ This is the best move as indicated in the 17.e3; notes Korchnoi-Gurevich, which instead B) 13.f3 c2 14.c4 e4 ( 14...bd7 continued with 10...h3 for further details 15.e4 ) 15.a3 xa3 16.bxa3 exf3 on this, check out the June 2007 update. 17.0-0 ( 17.b5 d7 18.b2 a6 However, if Black doesn't have any 19.xf6 gxf6 20.d4 e4 21.f2 b5 improvements prior to Aronian's novelty on 22.f1 d8 23.c1 ) 17...bd7 18.xf3 move 17, then Black may be in trouble in 0-0 19.b2 , and despite his extra pawn this line. ] and obviously much better position, W hite nonetheless still failed to win in 11.xe2 e4 12.a3 [ The alternatives are 12.0-0 ] San Segundo Carrillo, P-Larino Nieto, D/ [ 12.d2 ] Ayamonte 2007 ] [ 12.g4 ] 1...c5 2.f3 f6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 [ 12.b5 , and these are all discussed in the 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.5c3 0-0 8.g3 notes to the Korchnoi-Gurevich game that I b6 have referred to a couple of times ] [ We have previously discussed this line in our June update in connection with the 12...bd7 13.d2 fe8 14.b4 f8 15.0-0 [ 15.c4 leads to fairly even chances as game Korchnoi-D.Gurevich. Of the pointed out in the notes to Korchnoia l t e r n a t i v e s a t t h i s j u n c t u r e : 8...g4 Gurevich. ] wa s disc us se d in d et ail in t he n ot es t o [ However, 15.b2 is a new development Korchnoi-Gurevich, and ] since the June update the game continued [ 8...e4 can also be found in the PGN with archives under the games Horvath-Basagic, A) 15...a5!? 16.c4 d8 17.bxa5 Izmir 2004 and Ramirez-Yurtaev, Moscow ( White can also hand the pawn back to 2003 ] Black with 17.0-0!? axb4 18.axb4 xa1 9.e3 g4 10.e2 19.xa1 xb4 20.d1 , and White has [ 10.f3?! the better chances thanks to his better A) 10...xe3? 11.fxg4 f2+ ( 11...xg4 coordinated pieces) 17...e5 can lead to 12.xe3 xe3 13.d2 ) 12.e2 xg4 massive exchanges down to an 13.h3 xg3 14.hxg4 f2+ 15.d3 c6 uncomfortable endgame for Black, e.g. 1-0 Varga, Z-Rovid, K/HUN 1995 16.e2! 18.xe5 xe5 19.0-0 xd5 20.xd5 b4+ 17.c4 b6 18.e3 c2 xd5 21.c4 dxa5 22.xe4 xa3 19.xb6 axb6 20.d3! xa1 21.xh7+ 23.fd1 f8 24.xa3 xa3 25.xa3 h8 22.e3 fe8 23.d2 f4 24.xf4 xa3 26.xb7 a8 , which Black should exf4 25.e4+ g8 26.xa1+-; be able to hold, but it is certainly not the B) 10...d7 11.e2 ( 11.d3 a6 kind of fun he was hoping for when he 12.a3 e4 13.xe4 xe4 14.fxe4 d6 threw 4...e5 on the board; 15.c3 Kotenko, G-Spitz, P/corr ICCF B) 15...ac8 16.0-0 1997 c5 16.d4 fe8 , and Black B1) 16...d8 17.ac1 b6 18.f3 clearly has the upper hand) 11...e4 ( 18.b5 a6 19.xc8 xc8 20.c3 12.fxe4 g4 13.a3 xa3 ( 13...xe3 b6 21.d1 d7 22.c4 h3 14.xe3 xe3 15.c4 xc4 16.xc4 23.d2 g4 24.f1 ) 18...exf3 a6 17.0-0-0 g4 18.d2 f3 19.xf3 bxd5 20.xd5 xd5 19.g2 ) 14.bxa3 c8 ( 14...e5!? 21.xc8 xc8 22.xf6 xd2 23.d4 15.b1 f6 16.g2 a6 and Black has c7 24.f4 d7 25.xa7; excellent compensation for the pawns) B2) 16...a5?! 17.c4 c7 18.xa5 15.d2 e5 16.f2 ( 16.h5!? f6 1316
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e5 19.b5 ( 19.fd1 d7 20.g2 b6 21.b3 , and Black has some c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r t h e p a wn s , b u t i t shouldn't be quite enough for two pawns... c4 22.ac1 e5 ) 19...d7 20.xe5 xe5 21.d4 xd5 22.c4 h3 23.d2 ( 23.f4!? exf3 24.xf3 is probably a better way to go about it, leaving W hite with an edge, although Black has compensation for his pawn) 23...g4 24.f3 exf3 25.2xf3 e8 26.c2?! ( 26.e4!? ) 26...g6 , and at this juncture Black has full compensation for the sacrif iced pawn, Kharashuta, EMuzychuk, A/Sochi 2007 ] 15...c7 16.b2 b6 17.b5!N [ This is Aronian's novelty. Previously White had tried 17.ac1 d7 18.g2 bxd5 19.xd5 xd5 with equal chances, Lainburg, V-Rotshtein, E/Arco 2001 ] 17...d7 18.d6!? [ The alternative is 18.xf6 gxf6 19.d6 e5 ( 19...xd6? 20.ad1!+- ) 20.a4 a6 21.c3 f5 22.a5 d5 23.xd5 xd5 24.c4 b5 25.fe1 d8 ( 25...xd6? 26.b6+- ) 26.h5 h6 ( 26...xd6? 27.g5++- ) 27.ac1 ] 18...fd5 19.ac1 xd6 20.xd6 xd6 21.fd1 [ 21.g4!? g6 22.xg6 hxg6 23.fd1 , and White has a solid positional advantage ] 21...e6 [ 21...g6!? ] 22.b3 f4 [ Sutovsky most likely regretted this decision af ter the gam e, b ut d urin g th e ga me in probably looked like an attractive option, but it allows W hite a strong attack. The alternative is 22...f5 , b u t a f t e r 23.d4 ad8 24.c5 e7 25.b2 g4 26.a4 f6 27.b3 White is control of the game. ] 23.gxf4! xb3 24.h1! e6 25.g1 f6 26.h5 d5 [ 26...e7 27.g3 d7 28.d4 d8 29.cg1 is somewhat similar to the game, and quite unpleasant for Black, the best defence for Black again involves placing the king on h8 and the queen on g8. ] 27.g3 h8 28.cg1 e7 29.h3 g8 30.f5 f8 31.d4 Black is stuck with a very
passive position where there is no counterplay to be found and therefore as the proverbial sitting duck, waiting for White to either catch up to him or let him slip away. Aronian does the former. b6 32.g4 c7 33.h5 e7 34.xe4 f7 35.g1 g6 [ 35...f5 36.g2 c6 37.b2 e7 38.b5 c5 39.a4 c4 40.f3 c7 ( 40...xa4? 41.g5 g6 42.h3 and it is game over for Black ) 41.e5 d7 42.e4 , and Black is completely tied up and cannot provide any decent defence to W hite's gradually improving position, e.g. A) 42...fxe4 43.fxe4 c8 44.h3 de7 ( 44...fe7? 45.xg7 xg7 46.xd7 ) 45.g4 xe5 46.xh7+ xh7 47.h4 xh4 48.xh4+ g8 49.fxe5+-; B) 42...b7 43.h3 a5 44.hg5 a7 45.h6 c8 46.exf5 - a picturesque position ] 36.e5!? [ 36.f5! also wins, but perhaps only in a more sophisticated fashion judge for yourself: gxh5 37.xg8+ xg8 38.b5 d7 39.e6 d5 40.a4 f8 41.b2 c7 42.c6 e8 43.g2 d8 44.f3 , a n d W h it e is t ig h t ly s qu e e zi n g B la c k while constantly improving his own position. However, this is not how you normally play when both players are in time trouble ] 36...c6?? [ 36...c8 is of course better, but hardly inspiring confidence: 37.e6 g8 38.e8 b7 39.xb7 xb7 40.c1+- ] 37.e8 1-0
1316 Bischoff,Klaus Jones,Gawain C ch-EU Liverpool ENG (6) [John Watson]
A31 2533 2416 11.09.2006
1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 Initiating a gambit that is of considerable relevance. This is considered an English Opening, since it usually arises via 1.c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4. 5.b5 [ 5.c2 A) 5...b5!? 6.cxb5 b7 ( an old game of 1317
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Ho d gso n 's we n t 6...a6 7.bxa6 xa6 8.e4!? b7 ) 7.e3 ( 7.c3 d5 8.g5 d4 9.b1 a5+! ) 7...d5 8.e2 d6 9.0-0 0-0 with obvious compensation, TerzicBareev, 1999; B) 5...d5 6.cxd5 xd5 7.xd5 xd5 8.e4 b4 is dully equal, so you might want to check into 5...b5!? ] 5...d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.5c3 0-0 8.e3 e4 It would be extremely interesting to see how a leading grandmaster would treat this position. It's been around for many years, and as far as I can see Black stands satisfactorily. 9.e2 The main line, or at least the most of te n played. Of the other moves, [ 9.a3 is familiar to some because of the game Palatnik-Kasparov, Frunze 1982, which continued a5 ( 9...e8 10.b4 f8 11.d2 f5 12.c4 bd7 13.b2 b6 14.xb6 xb6 with the idea ...a5 and ... Rad8 ) 10.d2 e7 11.d6!? xd6 12.dxe4 xe4 13.xe4 d8 14.xd6 xd6 15.c2 c6 with good attacking chances. ] 9...e7 [ 9...a6 ] [ 9...e8 , and ] [ 9...f5 have all been played with reasonable success. I think that 6..a6 in particular deserves more attention. ] 10.a3 d8 11.d2 White delays castling so as to avoid attack and get one more move in the centre. [ Or 11.b4 d6 12.b2 a5 13.bxa5 e5= ] 11...xd5 12.xd5 [ 12.cxe4 b6 threatens ...Bxe3: 13.c3 xe3! 14.fxe3 xe3 15.f1 c6 with attack ] 12...xd5 13.c2 f5 14.b4 b6 15.b2 c6 16.0-0 c7!? The material is even and to me, just about everything looks good (at least equal) in this position, e.g., [ 16...g5 17.h1 was MihalchishinKasparov, Frunze 1981, and Kasparov gives c8 18.ac1 dd8! ] [ or 16...a5 17.b5 e5 ] 17.fd1 c8!? 18.b3? Now the queen gets diverted, which helps Black's attack. e6! 19.a4 b5! [ For the less adventurous there's 19...f5 , with advantage. ]
20.xb5 xh2+! Initiating an attack that le a d s t o so m e wo n d e rf u l co m p lic a t io n s . 21.xh2 h4+ 22.g1 h5 23.f4! [ S h r e d d e r l i k e s 23.f3 , when Black has h2+ ( 23...h1+ 24.f2 h4+ 25.e2!? g5! 26.f1 is un clear.) 24.f2 g5! (this explains why Bischof f plays 23.f4) 25.g1 h3 26.xc6 ( 26.f1 g3+ 27.e2 exf3+ 28.xf3 g4! ) 26...xg2+ 27.xg2 xg2+ 28.e1 d8! ] 23...h2+ 24.f2 h3! [ 24...h4+ 25.g1 h1+ 26.f2 h4+ draws. ] 25.f1? [ White's defence is extremely difficult but here's one that survives: 25.xe4! g4 26.xc6 f3+ 27.e2 xg2+ 28.d3 xb2 ( 28...d8+ 29.c4! e2+ 30.c5 xe3+ 31.d4 ) 29.d5! h3 ( 29...xe3+ 30.xe3 e2+ 31.d4 b2+ 32.e3 e2+= ) 30.e1 h5 31.b3 xd5+ 32.xd5 c2+ 33.d4 b2+ 34.d3 c2+= ] 25...f3+ 26.e1 [ 26.e2 xg2+ 27.e1 f2# ] 26...xg2 27.d2 g1?! This eventually wins but there are two moves which finish things off more easily, the best being [ 27...xf1+ 28.xf1 g3+ 29.f2 ( 29.d1 xe3 threatening ...Bb3+ wins) 29...xe3+ A) 30.e2 g3+ 31.d1 ( 31.f2 e3 32.c2 xb4; 31.d2 b3 ) 31...b3+; B) 30.e2 g3! 31.c1 c3+ 32.f1 h3+ 33.g2 g3 ] 28.ad1? [ The win is not at all easy af ter 28.a6! , b u t i t ' s t h e r e . H e r e ' s o n e l i n e : xe3+ 29.e2 h3 30.d1 g4! 31.e1 h5! 32.f5 d8! 33.xd8+ xd8 34.d4 xe2 35.xe3 xf1+ 36.d2 xa6 ] 28...h3 29.a6 xe3+ 30.e2 xf1+ 31.d2 d8+ A fine sustained attack. 0-1
1318
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1317 Bischoff,Klaus Kersten,Uwe ChessOrg Open (3) [Tony Kosten]
A31 2545 2360 1998
1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 White tries to avoid a Benoni, or a Benko Gambit, and reaches a position that arises from the English. cxd4 4.xd4 e5 A sharp, and enticing possibility. Black sacrifices a pawn for quick development. 5.b5 d5 This is necessary, otherwise White will have control of d5, and maybe d6. 6.cxd5 c5 The point of Black's play, he continues his development hoping to recapture the d5-pawn later. The immediate capture is impossible: [ 6...xd5?? 7.xd5 xd5 8.c7+ and Black has lost a piece. ] 7.e3 0-0 8.5c3 e4 Taking some space on the kingside, and 'isolating' the d5-pawn. 9.e2 e8 Over protection. 10.a3 a5 An important point, Black willingly weakens the b5-square to stop White from solving his de ve lo pm e n t pro b le ms, b y b 4 , a nd B b 2 . 11.d2 f5!? This seems logical enough, Black further guards e4, ready to recapture on d5, but there is a typical tactical riposte. [ 11...a6 might be better, 12.b3 c7 13.b2 cxd5 14.xd5 xd5 and having his pawn, Black had a great position, L e s ie ge , A -B e ll o n L o p e z, J/ Ca p a b la n c a Premier 1997. ] 12.b3 f8 13.g4! Ironically, White's king is often better-off in the middle anyway, which means that White can start operations against the e4-pawn with this sharp advance. g6 14.g5 fd7 15.h4 White certainly doesn't have to worry too much about his d-pawn, none of Black's pieces are attacking it anymore! e5 16.d4 d3+ Not such an annoying check as it might appear. 17.f1 c5 18.h5 The bishop has nowhere to go, so Black must enter into the following c o m p l i c a t i o n s . xd4 19.hxg6 xc3 20.xd3 exd3 21.gxf7+ xf7 The position is hardly recognisable from that a few moves ago. 22.xd3! A powerful piece sacrifice, [ 22.bxc3 is playable, but xd5 does allow Black some play. ] 22...e5 23.f5+ g8 24.xh7+ f8
25.f5+ White can take a draw whenever he wa nt s, b ut th ree pa wns an d a n a t ta c k is normally enough to win, and so he presses on. g8 26.h7+ f8 27.f5+ g8 28.g6 Menacing mate with Qf7+. xd5 Taking a pawn, and defending f7. 29.e4 c4+ 30.g1 f6 [ 30...a6!? ] 31.e3 xe4 [ 31...a6 had to be played, to guard the c5square against a Bc5+. but 32.c1 xe4 33.h5 f8 and now 34.c7!! and White gets to play Bc5+ after all! xc7 35.c5+ and Qh8 mate, next move. ] 32.c1 Perhaps Black was hoping for a perpetual check, but it doesn't exist. g4+ 33.h2 h4+ [ 33...e5+ 34.xe5 will not change the result. ] 34.g3 Black has no move that saves his queen, without allowing Rc8, and mate. e5+ 35.f4 1-0
1318 Carlsen,Magnus Gashimov,Vugar FIDE GP Baku AZE (6) [Carsten Hansen]
A31 2765 2679 27.04.2008
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 d6 4.g2 c6 5.c3 g6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 d7 8.xc6 xc6 9.e4 g7 10.0-0 [ 10.e3 can be found covered in KramnikIvanchuk in the April update ] 10...0-0 11.g5 h6 [ 11...d7 can be found in the notes to Kramnik-Ivanchuk in last month's update ] 12.e3 a5 13.a3 fc8 14.b4 d8 Playing like this may not appeal to everybody, which is one of the reasons why the Classical Variation of the Maroczy Bond in Accelerated Dragon isn't more popular than it currently is. White gains a rather large space advantage, but Black's position is very so lid and his pieces are ideally placed considering the pawn structure. 15.c1 b6 16.e2 e6 17.fd1 e7 Black has reached his ideal setup in the centre and with his queen and minor pieces. Unless W hite d oes someth ing t o 1319
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 prevent it, Black will double his rooks on the cf ile t o p u t W h it e u n d e r p r e ss u re . 18.b5 This looks like a radical measure, but it is also an understandable one, Black is more or less forced to exchange the knight and after that White gains control over the c6-square and obtains the bishop pair. xb5 19.cxb5 xc1 20.xc1 d8 21.c6 White has a small, but clear advantage what happens next is very instructive: rather than rushing to create counterplay with ...d6-d5, which would just open the position up for W hite's bishops, Black honkers down to set-up a solid defensive position. h7 22.h3 e8! 23.d2 [ 23.d3!? and then continue with the plan he did in the game makes more sense, keeping Black's bishop passive. ] 23...d4!? 24.a4 e5 25.h4 [ Here White can consider 25.c1!? f6 26.d2 g8 27.a5 with a solid plus for White ] 25...f6 26.f3 e6 27.g2 [ White has an interesting alternative in 27.g4!? e8 ( 27...b3 28.g5 hxg5 29.hxg5 e8 30.d1 ) 28.c4 , and White is on top, though Black's position is still very solid, and White's bishops don't have any good long diagonals to work on ] 27...d7 28.c4 [ 28.a5 g7 29.g4!? ] 28...xc4 29.xc4 g7 30.c1 h5 Black cannot afford to sit passively and wait for White to decide to break through.. If Black doesn't restrain White's pawns on the kingside he will soon after g3-g4 and h4-h5 be left with no counterplay at all. 31.g5 h7 32.d2 [ 32.c1!? f6 33.f1 g4 34.e2 f6 35.xg4 hxg4 36.e3 xe3 37.xe3 e6 38.c8 leaves White with some winning ch a n c e s d u e t o t h e p o t e n t ia l t o cre a t e passed pawns on both the king- and queenside. ] 32...f6 33.c6 g4 34.e1 [ Th is is t h e b e st, if W h it e trie s 34.xg4 , things quickly become more complicated than necessary, e.g. hxg4 35.f1 f6 36.g5+ e6 37.e2 f5 38.exf5+ gxf5 39.e3 xe3 40.xe3 d5 41.c8 f7 with unclear consequences ] 34...f6 [ 34...f6 35.a5 e7 36.e2 ]
35.a5 [ 35.f1 g8 ( 35...d5 36.exd5 ) 36.e2 e7 37.c2 ] 35...d5 36.exd5 xd5 [ 36...e4 37.e2 xd5 38.c4 e7 39.axb6 axb6 40.g4 h7 ( 40...hxg4 41.xg4 f5 42.xd4 xd4 43.c3+- ) 41.gxh5 gxh5 42.xh5 f5 43.f1 f6= ] 37.d2 e7 38.g5!? [ This looks more clever than it actually is, since Black more or less can force a drawn endgame. Instead White should have opted for 38.c2! , and now Black's best is f5 39.f1 d6 40.c6 c7 41.c1 b2 , and White has no more than a tiny pull ] 38...xc6 39.bxc6 c7 40.d8 c8 41.c7 e4! Black efficiently liquidates down to a drawn endgame 42.xe4 e5 [ Similar to the game is 42...f6 43.b7 xd8 44.cxd8 xd8 45.a6 b5! ] 43.b7 xc7 44.xc7 xc7 45.a6 b5! 46.c6 d6 47.xb5 ½-½
1319 Doettling,Fabian Atalik,Suat 7th BayEM Bad Wiessee GER (6) [Tony Kosten]
A31 2519 2570 13.11.2003
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 a6!? An unusual line, covering b5 allows Black to consider both ...e5 and ...d5. 5.c3 d5 6.e3 A solid choice, but there are many alternatives: [ 6.f3 e6 7.cxd5 exd5 8.e3 c6 leads to an IQP Tarrasch position, Gheorghiu,F-Bukal,V/Mendrisio 1989. ] [ 6.b3!? is odd, but dxc4 7.xd8+ xd8 8.a5 b5 9.g3 e5 10.e3 b4 11.g2 xc3+ 12.bxc3 e4 13.0-0 gave White some compensation for the pawn, Romanishin,O-Oliwa,M/Katowice 1995. ] [ 6.cxd5 xd5 7.d2 e5 8.f3 xc3 9.xc3 xd1+ 10.xd1 f6 gives White a lead in development, but Black has space and a solid pawn structure, Vladimirov,EBarlov,D/Oviedo 1993. ] 6...e6 Black aims for a Tarrasch-style position, but he can also aim for a reasonable endgame 1320
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 by [ 6...dxc4 7.xc4 e5 8.f3 ( 8.a4+!? d7 9.b3 exd4 10.xf7+ e7 11.exd4 leads to a strong attack) 8...xd1+ 9.xd1 b4+ 10.d2 xd2+ 11.xd2 c6 12.c3 e7 13.de4 was agreed drawn in Rashkovsky, N-Tseshkovsky,V/Sochi 1976. ] 7.cxd5 [ 7.d2 c6 8.f3 d6 9.cxd5 exd5 is a good IQP position for Black, Ribera,JSuba,M/Badalona 1993. ] 7...xd5 Black keeps his structure intact, but [ 7...exd5 is perfectly reasonable. ] 8.xd5 [ 8.d2 f6 9.b3 bd7 10.e2 c5 11.c2 e5 12.b3 e6 is fine for Black, Ye Rongguang-Antonio,R/Shenzhen 1992. ] 8...xd5 9.d2 A new move, aiming for quick queenside development. [ 9.b3 xb3 10.xb3 c6 11.a3 e7 is n o t h in g f o r W h it e , P la n a s G a rcia , F Horowitz,I/Havana 1952. ] 9...d7 10.c3 e5 11.b3 xd1+ 12.xd1 f6 The position is similar to one of the above notes, and Black's solid centre hinders the c3bishop. 13.c4 b5!? Swapping the lightsquared bishop's is positionally desirable, but t h e c o s t i s t h e d o u b l e d p a wn s . 14.xb5+ axb5 15.a3 This allows Black to liquidate the doubled pawns, but [ 15.a1!? c6 16.e2 b4 17.d2 is a bit passive. ] 15...c6 16.d5 b4 17.axb4 xb4 18.b5 This gains a pawn, but [ 18.xb4 xb4 19.b5 might be more accurate, d3+ 20.e2 xb2 21.c1 and although Black has exchanged th e queenside pawns W hite has chances to invade the seventh rank. That said a draw is a very likely result. ] 18...xc3+ 19.bxc3 0-0! 20.xb7 fc8 White's c3-pawn is too weak to stay on the board too long. 21.0-0 d8 22.d7 xc3 23.d2 e6 24.e4 c4 25.d6 c7 26.xc7 xc7 ½-½
1320 Dorfman,Josif D Degraeve,Jean Marc ch Val d'Isere FRA (5) [Tony Kosten]
A31 2617 2586 23.08.2002
1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 Hardly a surprise from the French GM, who thrives on sharp tactical chess. 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.5c3 0-0 8.h3!? After his success in the game Dorfman, J-Glavina,P/ Monaco FRA 2002, with a well-timed g4, Dorfman decides to play for this move immediately. e4 9.g4 This is the point, White will try to round-up the e4-pawn with Bg2, and possibly g5. e3!? A (second) pawn sacrifice to ruin the white structure, and further weaken his kingside dark squares. [ 9...e8 10.g2 e3!? ( 10...h6 ) 11.xe3 xe3 12.fxe3 xe3 is similar, but after 13.d4 e8 14.d2 Black had very little to show f or his pawn, Raetsky,A-Urban,J/ Zillertal 1993. ] [ 9...e7 is the main alternative, although after 10.g2 e3 play transposes. ( 10...h6 is also possible, keeping the ...e3 thrust in reserve. )] 10.xe3 xe3 11.fxe3 e7!? [ 11...d6 is more usual, aiming for a check on g3: 12.d4 d8 13.e4 c6 14.e3 e5 15.d2 Black has great dark-squared control, but two pawns is two pawns! Kohlweyer,B-Liardet,F/Geneve 1994. ] 12.g2?! Returning to the line with 9...Qe7, but with this move-order [ 12.d4! is stronger, holding on to the e3pawn, d8 13.g2 c6 14.a4 and White is better, Black has enough comp for one pawn, but not two. ] 12...xe3 13.d3 [ 13.f3?! is too passive, e8 14.d2 a6 with good play, Tomaszewski,R-Kujawski,A/ Lublin 1988. ] 13...c1+ 14.f2?! A new move, but a mistake, [ 14.d1! i s c o r r e c t , a6 ( 14...h5!? 15.gxh5 xh5 16.e3 looks good for White) 15.0-0 c5+ 16.e3 and White is consolidating his extra pawn, Agirretxe,JFernandez,G/Euskadi 1999. ] 14...xb2 Black regains his other sacrificed 1321
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pawn, and restores material equilibrium . 15.d2 b6+ 16.e3 d8! The ending favours White, so Black keeps queens on the board to exploit the weakened white kingside. 17.f3 bd7 18.d4 b6!? Black can also try a dark-squared blockade: [ 18...e8 (aiming for d6) 19.g2 d6 but then 20.de4! follows, when White fights for control of d6. ] 19.d6 b8 20.e4 White advances his centre pawns, and grabs lots of space at the same time. c5 [ 20...e8!? is an exciting alternative, 21.g5 (winning a piece, and otherwise Black plays ...Ne5) e5! 22.gxf6 xf6 with lots of threats against the white king and loose queen. ] 21.e5 fd7 Black is happy to lure the pawns on, in the hope of undermining them later. 22.g3 b7?! Careless, sometimes it doesn't pay to develop your pieces! [ 22...e6! w a s r i g h t , 23.e3 f6! the point, exchanging the e5-pawn and opening the f-file, 24.exf6 xf6 25.e5 c5 and both sides have chances. ] 23.xb7 xb7 24.f3 e6 25.e3 f6 26.exf6 dc5! The best chance, the problem is that Black can no longer recapture with the knight, as the e6-knight would be hanging. This is why it was still useful to have the bishop on c8! [ 26...xf6?! 27.d5 f7 28.hf1 gives White the attack on the f-file. ] 27.ad1 [ 27.fxg7?! xd6+ 28.e5 xg7 is much too dangerous, as all the black pieces menace the white king. ] 27...xf6 28.e5 h8 29.d5 The white p i e c e s h o p i n t o t h e s q u a r e s p r e vi o u s l y vacated by the advancing white pawns. f8 30.e7 xe7?! This appears desperate, although W hite is on top now anyway. 31.c6! Maybe Black missed this intermezzo. a8 32.dxe7 The pawn that Black sacrificed on move five has made it all the way to the s e v e n t h r a n k ! e8 33.d6?! With both players short of time, the play worsens, [ 33.f3! ] 33...xe7?! [ 33...g5! is the only chance, 34.d8 xc6 but now if W hite finds 35.f1!! he wins,
ge4+ 36.g2! f6+ 37.f3 b5 38.g5 and White has blown a way through to f8. ] 34.xe7 xh1 35.xe6 xe6 36.xe6 g1+ 37.h4 The checks soon run out. f2+ 38.h5 g6+ 39.xg6+! [ 39.xg6+! hxg6+ 40.xg6 c2+ 41.f5 c6+ 42.f6+ exchanges queens. ] 1-0
1321 Dorfman,Josif D Glavina Rossi,Pablo TCh-Nat 1 Monaco FRA (1) [Tony Kosten]
A31 2602 2417 01.02.2002
In a team match it is pleasant to see your second board build-up such a big advantage so quickly! 1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.5c3 [ We have also examined the interesting 7.d6!? ] 7...0-0 8.e3 e4 9.e2 [ 9.a3 a5 should transpose. ] 9...e7 [ 9...e8 was played in the game Bischoff,KKersten,U which should be compared with this one. ] 10.a3 a5 Black automatically stops White's queenside expansion, but it may be better to aim straight for the d-pawn by [ 10...d8 11.b4 d6 12.b2 Lautier,JIllescas Cordoba,M/Linares 1995. ] 11.g4! I was surprised to see this move, as I thought that W hite does better to wait for Black's ...Bf5 when g4 will gain a tempo. However, when I discussed this game with Iosif after the game he told me that he t h o u g h t t h e m o ve wa s f a r s t r o n g e r n o w BEFORE ...Bf5, as then ...Bg6 helps defend the black kingside. [ 11.d2 d8 12.c2 f5 13.g4 g6 14.h4 h6 is a typical example, Modr,BTseitlin,M/Prague 1983. ] 11...h6!? I am loathe to weaken the kingside like this, [ 11...d8 may be superior, 12.g5 e8 13.d2 f5 14.g4! but White is better, Eshazarian-Podymov,A/Roslavl 1989. ] 12.d2!? This is the novelty, White prepares to win the e4-pawn by h4 and g5. 1322
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ In Gelfand,B-Gofman,A/Kramatorsk 1989 previously tested by a strong player. The W h i t e w a s m o r e d i r e c t : 12.h4 e5 same can pretty much be said for any of the (else g5) 13.d2 xd5 14.dxe4 xc3 alternatives: A) 7...d6 15.xc3 c6 16.d5 White was a solid A) 8.e2 g4 ( 8...bd7 9.0-0 c5 pawn up, and went on to convert his 10.d4 b6 11.b1 fe4 12.xe4 advantage. ] xe4 13.e3 d8 14.f3 Twomey, P12...bd7? Black was playing quickly, ...too Coveney, M/Cork IRL 2005; 8...a6 9.0-0 quickly, and soon finds himself with a bd7 10.e3 g4 11.d4 ge5 completely lost position. 12.xe5 dxe5 13.e3 f5 14.f3 [ 12...d8 is the best chance, 13.h4 xd5 Tarna i, K -Polt ner, J/ corr ICCF 198 2) 14.cxe4 White is still a pawn up, and will 9.e3 a6 10.0-0 c8 11.b3 c5 continue with g5, a iming f or a kingsid e 12.c1 a5 13.e1 e8 14.b5 fd7 attack - his king is quite safe in the centre. ] 15.h3 xf3 16.xf3 e5 17.e2 b6 13.h4 b6 , and here a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/ [ 13...e5 does nothing to dampen White's 2, in Tucker, A-Corkett, A/Birmingham ardour: 14.c4 e7 15.g5 ] 20 01 , alth ou gh W h it e cle arly h as t h e 14.d6! An elegant solution, although the better game; mundane B) 8.d3 g4 ( 8...a6 9.0-0 c5 [ 14.g5 fxd5 15.cxe4 is also strong. ] 10.c2 a5 11.b1 d7 12.h3 c8 14...xd6 15.g5 hxg5?! Opening the h-file is 13.e3 a6 14.d3 Groothoff, F-Thamm, very risky, O/5. Nord-West-Cup 2003 c5 15.c2 ) [ 15...fd5 16.cxe4 e5 17.gxh6 gxh6 9.h3 xf3 10.xf3 bd7 11.e2 c8 is h a rd ly in s p irin g, b u t a llo ws B la ck t o 12.0-0 a6 13.d2 e5 14.f4 e6 continue. ] 15.dxe6 fxe6 , Paasikangas Tella, J16.hxg5 h7 17.dxe4 e5 18.b3 Eskelinen, A/FIN 1996, and now Attacking on both sides at once - the knight is 16.ad1 ] hanging on b6, and there is also a threat of g6 [ B) 7...e6 8.e2 exd5 9.cxd5 d6 10.0-0 to contend with. e6 Black is obliged to go bd7 11.g5 h6 12.e3 c5 13.c1 into a bad ending with a pawn less. 19.xe6 Lugovoi, A-Jankovic, A/Solin CRO 2005 ] xe6 20.f4 xc3+ [ C) 7...a6 8.e3 ( 8.e2!? d6 9.0-0 ) [ Conceding this important bishop, but if 8...d6 9.d3 ( 9.e2 ) 9...c5 10.c2 20...c7 21.c5 is awkward. ] b6 11.b1 , Koski-Hietanen, P/corr 1986, 21.xc3 fd8 22.e4 f5 23.exf5 xf5 and now Black gets a decent game with b4 24.e3 d6? The b6-knight had to retreat, 12.e2 fe4 ] n o w B l a c k l o s e s a n e x c h a n g e a s w e l l . 8.e2 25.xb6! xb6 26.d5 e6 [ The first new move. Rather surprisingly, a J. [ 26...xb2 27.e7+ f8 28.xf5 Petronic has tested another move twice 8.d6 is even worse. ] A) 8...e4?! 9.d4 a6 10.e2 c6 27.c7 11.e3 b6 12.0-0 b7 13.b3 1-0 ( 13.xc6 xc6 14.d2 ) 13...b8 14.a4 a8 15.c5 Petronic, J-Rovid, K/ HUN 1995; 1322 A31 B) 8...c6 9.e2 b6 10.0-0 b7 11.e1 h6 12.f1 ( 12.h3 e4 13.d2 Gelashvili,Tamaz 2622 d4; 12.d3 b8; 12.a4 e4 13.d2 Safarli,Eltaj 2524 d4 14.a5 c8 15.b3 xe2+ 10th Open Dubai UAE (4) 09.04.2008 16.xe2 ) 12...e8 13.b5 e4 14.fd4 [Carsten Hansen] xd4 15.xd4 a6 16.e3 is slightly better for W hite, but Black's pieces are 1.f3 c5 2.e3 f6 3.d4 g6 4.c4 g7 decently placed, and he can by no means 5.c3 cxd4 6.exd4 0-0 7.d5 e5 be co unte d out , Pe tronic, J-Simic, R/ [ This is a very rare move, and one never 1323
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Belgrade1999 ] 8...d6 9.0-0 g4 10.e3 bd7 11.c1 [ 11.g5!? xe2 12.xe2 e7 13.fe1 a6 14.ac1 ] 11...a6 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 Black has now given up his light squared bishop, which on the surface seems to be a relatively lighthearted decision. However, in the King's Indian structures, the light-squared bishop is of ten the one Black needs to crank open W hite's position, even sacrificing it on h3. Now Black is missing the bishop and if he is to conduct a successful attack on the kingside, he may well have to use drastic measures. c8 14.e2 h6 15.b4 e8 16.a4 f5 17.f3 f4 18.f2 e4!? This is more or less a necessary measure, otherwise White will play Bd3 and make Black suf f er on the b1-h 7 diagonal 19.fxe4 e5 20.b6 [ 20.c5 f6 ( Or 20...f3 21.gxf3 g5+ 22.h2 h5 23.b3 h6 24.c2 h4 25.h1 , and White is slowly getting things under control, and soon he will be able to m a k e h is a d va n t a ge o n t h e q u e e n sid e count ) 21.f3 fd7 22.g4 f3 23.e6+ h7 24.g3 , and White has consolidated his position somewhat ] 20...f3!? Another clearing move. If Black hesitates White will gain time to consolidate an d ge t f u rt h e r a h e a d o n t h e qu e e n sid e 21.gxf3 c7 22.e3 cf7 23.c5 f4!? Again Black has to attack without consideration of material otherwise he will lose in short order on the queenside 24.xf4 xf4 25.e1 f6 26.c2 h5 27.f2 [ 27.h2 h4 28.g1 dxc5 29.bxc5 f6 30.f2 f4 31.f1 g5 32.g3 , and White has stopped Black's attack ] 27...h4! 28.d1? [ White's position is already very difficult, but this is hardly making things better, though the alternatives doesn't offer much consolation either, for example 28.h2 f4 29.f2 ( 29.f2 xh3+ 30.f1 f6 31.c6 xc6 32.dxc6 a1+ 33.g2 f4+ 34.g3 xh2 35.xh2 bxc6 ) 29...f6 30.c6 xh3 31.xh3 xh3+ 32.e1 xc6 33.dxc6 bxc6 , and Black has excellent winning chances, White's king and dark squares are frighteningly weak ] [ However, White should have opted for
28.f4! , giving away a pawn, but giving his own pieces room to breathe and thus allow Black less of the overall control of the game: xf4 29.g3 g5 30.xf4 gxf4 31.g2 f6 32.f3 dxc5 33.bxc5 d3 ( 33...xf3+ 34.xf3 d4+ 35.h2 e3 36.g2 d4 37.xe3 fxe3 38.d6 f7 39.d5 e6 40.e5 xe5 41.xe3 ) 34.c6 bxc6 35.dxc6 e1 36.e5 xe5 37.d5+ h8 38.c7! xc7 39.g6 f3+ 40.xf3 , and the game is over. These lines are obviously long, and I'm sure not entirely correct, but nevertheless they represent White's best chance. In the game White is no w a t t he lo sin g e nd o f t h e rid ic u lo u s complications. ] 28...xh3 29.f4 g3+!? [ I wouldn't be entirely surprised if Black got a little confused by the long variations to be calcu la te d, b ut it a pp ea rs t ha t 29...g3! is probably better, e.g. 30.g2 h4 31.fxe5 h1+ 32.xh1 xh1+ 33.f2 h2+ 34.e3 xe5 35.c6 f5+! 36.d3 h3+ 37.c4 e3+ , and Black wins ] 30.xg3 [ 30.f1 h4 31.xh5 h1+ 32.e2 xh5+ 33.e1 d3+ 34.xd3 xd3-+ ] 30...xg3 31.fxe5 g5 32.f3 xe4+ 33.f1 g3+ [ Or 33...f5 34.f2 xf2 35.xf2 g5 36.c8 xc8 37.e6 f8 , and Black wins ] 34.f2 f5 35.c4 xe5 36.c6 bxc6? [ Rather surprisingly, this obvious move complicates matters considerably. Instead Black could have forced the game in his f a v o u r w i t h 36...g3+ 37.e2 h2+ 38.d3 f4 39.e2 g3+ 40.f2 e4+ 41.e2 c3+ 42.xc3 xc3 43.a5 bxc6 44.dxc6 xb4 45.b3 c4+ 46.f2 f8 47.c1 c3 48.e3 e7 , and Black is winning ] 37.dxc6 g3+ 38.e2 d5! 39.e3? [ 39.xd5+ g7 40.f1 d4 41.g2 e3+ 42.xe3 xe3 43.c7 f4+ 44.e2 e5+ , and Black is winning, e.g. 45.d3 e3+ 46.c2 c3+ 47.b1 a1+ 48.c2 b2+ 49.d3 c3+ 50.e2 b6 , and the c-pawn bites the dust, and the white king is still without cover ] 39...xe3 40.xe3 f4+ [ 40...c7 41.e2 ( 41.xd5 b6+ 42.e4 1324
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g1 43.c3 b1+ 44.dd3 xb4+ 45.d5 f4 offers Black excellent winning chances ) 41...h2+ 42.d3 e5 43.c3 d4 44.b3 f8 , and Black has every chance of winning, though of course it will take a while. ] 41.e2 d4 42.d5+? [ 42.d3!? h2+ 43.d1 g1+ 44.e2 and while Black cannot lose, it isn't entirely clear whether he can win ] 42...g7 43.d3 f5+? [ 43...f6! 44.c4 e7 looks very good for Black. W hite can hardly hope to get his pieces coordinated ] 44.e4 g4? [ Wrong square now White gets to place the rook on the open f-file. Instead Black should h a ve o p t e d f o r 44...f4 45.e2 g3+ 46.c4 c3+ 47.d5 A) 47...xb4 48.xe5 b5+ 49.d6 xe2 50.c7 A1) 50...g4 51.xd4 f6 ( 51...c8 52.c6+- ) 52.c5+-; A2) 50...c4 51.c6 b4+ 52.d7+-; B) 47...c7 48.xd4 b6 49.ed2 xd4 50.xd4 g3 , and it is doubtful White can win ] 45.f1 h5 [ 45...g3+ 46.f3 e1 47.c7 d1+ 48.c4 d3 ( 48...xc7 49.d5 d8 50.c6 g1 51.xg6+ xg6 52.xg6 xg6 53.xd4 , and White is winning) 49.cf2 ( 49.xd3?? xc2+-+ ) 49...c1+ 50.d5 xc7 51.f7+ xf7+ 52.xf7+ xf7 53.xe5 d2 54.f3 , and once again White is winning ] 46.c7 xc7 47.xc7+ h6 48.c6 g3+ 49.f3 A very flawed, but at the same time very entertaining game. 1-0
1323 Gelfand,Boris Pantsulaia,Levan WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (3.6) [John Watson]
A31 2717 2578 05.12.2005
Gelfand faces one of the toughest systems in the Hedgehog and is up to the challenge. But the opening could have resulted differently:
1.f3 c5 2.c4 b6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 b7 5.c3 f6 6.f3 e6 7.e4 d6 8.e3 a6 9.e2 e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.d2 bd7 12.fd1 c7 13.ac1 ac8 14.f1 b8 15.a3 fe8 16.b4 This is the classic "long line" of the Hedgehog with and early ...b6. It can arise by various move orders. Black's next is the most popular option, although he hasn't d o n e b a d l y w i t h t h e o l d e r 1 6 . . . B f 8 . d8 17.b3 e5! Sacrificing a pawn for chances against the king. This is in the spirit of the variation. The normal [ 17...c7 could be met by 18.f4 e5 19.g3 when the kingside is reasonably well protected. ] 18.xd6!? [ 18.a4 may be better, but d5! 19.xb6 xb6 20.xb6 xc4 21.xc4 xc4 22.exd5 is messy. ] 18...c7 19.d2 [ W h e r e e l s e t o g o ? L o s i n g i s 19.d4? cd8 ] 19...h5? [ Bla ck m isse s his ch a n ce f o r 19...xc4! 20.xc4 xh2+ 21.h1 xc4= , when 22.xb6 f4 23.e2 c6 ( 23...xc1 24.xc4 leaves Black a choice whether to p l a y t h e g r e e d y xa3 (apparently safe enough) ) 24.e3 e5 is attractive for him. ] 20.c5! White establishes a passed pawn and space on the queenside. From now on Gelfand makes it look easy. b5 21.a5 a8 22.a4 g6 23.h3 cd8 24.e1 bxa4 25.xd8 xd8 26.xa4 h4 27.b6 h5 This all looks very dangerous but amounts to nothing with White's queenside dominance. 28.f2 [ or 28.xa6 ] 28...h2+ 29.h1 g3+ 30.xg3 xg3 31.c3 e5 32.c2 f4 33.xa8 There go the queenside light squares. xa8 34.c4!? [ 34.a4! ] 34...d4 35.e5 h5 36.h2 g3 37.d3 b8 38.f4 xb4 39.c6 c8 40.b1 e7 41.d6 f8 42.c7 g5 43.b8 gxf4 44.xf8+ xf8 45.c8+ g7 46.e8+ h6 47.f6 1-0
1325
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1324 Giri,Anish Kamsky,Gata 74th Tata Steel GMA (6) [John Bartholomew]
A31 2714 2732 20.01.2012
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.g3 c6 4.g2 d6 A c o m p a r a t i v e l y r a r e l i n e , a l b e i t wi t h a likelihood of transposing to common lines. Gashimov has favored this move order a few times. 5.c3 g6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 d7 Black keeps the question of a knight trade open (in defiance of the bishop on g2!). [ 7...xd4 8.xd4 g7 9.0-0 0-0 i s v e r y w e l l - k n o wn t o t h e o r y . S e e t h e archives. ] 8.0-0 g7 9.c2 It's decision time. This retreat is White's most popular and highest scoring move. [ Check the archives for 9.xc6 A) 9...bxc6 is also very interesting. 10.c5 d5 11.e4 is a critical line, as in two recent games of Le Quang Liem (one with White, the other with Black). Here Black has to make an important decision between e6?! Nielsen, P (2693)-Le Quang Liem (2714)/ B e i j i n g C H N 2 0 1 1 ( and 11...dxe4! Le Quang Liem (2714)-Wang Yue (2697)/ Beijing CHN 2011. In spite of the punctuation the Vietnamese talent prevailed in both contests. ); B) 9...xc6 10.e4 0-0 11.e3 a6 . Kasparov, G (2831) -Carlsen, M (2484)/ Reykjavik 2004/[TonyK]. White maintains s o m e e d g e i n t h e s e t yp i c a l M a r o c z y structures. ( 11...a5 Kramnik, V (2799)Ivanchuk, V (2751)/ Amber Rapid Nice FRA 2008/[Hansen, Carsten]. )] [ 9.b3 ] [ and 9.e3 are (in my opinion) less promising. ] [ Finally, 9.b3 has the same motive is 9. Nc2 but can be met by a5!? . ] 9...c8 We're entering less explored territory. [ B l a c k o v e r w h e l m i n g l y c h o o s e s 9...0-0 , but there are intriguing alternatives. ] [ For one, an opinion on the flexible yet provocative 9...c8!? has yet to be formed. W hite has tried eight different responses here with mixed results. Black has a clear plan of ...Bd7-h3 and ...h7-h5. ]
[ I n t h e s a m e v e i n , 9...h5!? deserves attention. Black commits to neither ... Ra8c8 or ...Qd8-c7 and may argue that the inclusion of rook-pawn pushes after A) 10.g5 h7!? 11.f4 ( 11.e3 h4 12.e4 f6 13.g5 xe4 14.xe4 hxg3 15.fxg3 a5 16.d2 xd2 17.xd2 b6 Lindemann, S (2394)Kalinitschew, S (2483)/Germany 2002.) 11...c8 ( 11...h4 ) 12.d5 h4 13.d2 f6 Akopian, V (2693)-Dvoirys, S (2595)/ Moscow 2005.; B) 10.h4 benefits him since Black's knight can conveniently access g4 while White's cannot easily get to g5. ] 10.d2 Developing and overprotecting c3. [ 10.b3 is a solid option. h5 11.b2 h4 ( 11...0-0 is normal-ish.) 12.d5! hxg3 13.hxg3 h5 14.xg7 xg7 15.d2 e5 16.ce3 c6 17.fd1 f8 18.ac1 g5 with an original position where W hite has the better chances. Petursson, M (2515)Conquest, S (2460)/ Clichy 1991. ] 10...h5!? A good novelty. Kamsky isn't in p a rt icu la rly st e lla r f o rm t h is t o u rn a m e n t (hopefully this changes!), but he clearly came to fight. [ 10...a5 was played in Bu Xiangzhi (2673)Dvoirys, S (2539)/Moscow RUS 2010. Here 11.d5! looks best , e.g. ( The game went 11.b5 b6 12.b3 d5!? ) 11...d8 ( 11...c5 12.c3! xc4?! 13.ce3 a6 14.xf6+ xf6 15.xf6 exf6 16.xd6 ) 12.c3 h5 13.xg7 xg7 14.d2 ] [ 10...0-0 , as in Tratar, M (2420)-Cebalo, M (2540)/Nova Gorica 1997, is par for the course. ] 11.h3 An understandable reaction. [ Per my comment to 9... h5!? 10.h4, 11.h4 sh o u ld n ' t b o t h e r B la ck a b i t . He c o u l d continue calmly with 0-0 ( or employ the plan in the game with 11...e6!? 12.e3 d7 . )] 11...e6!? Attractive - Black wins a tempo to bring his queen to d7. The initiative passes to K a m sky in t h e c o m in g se qu e n ce . 12.e3 d7 13.h2 d4 14.cd5?! [ 14.c1 was better. 0-0 is probably the best reply, with fully acceptable play. ( B l a c k m a y w a n t t o a v o i d 14...xc4 15.xc4 xc4 16.e3 c6 17.d2!? 1326
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with full compensation due to the awkward position of Black's rook. )] 14...xd5 15.cxd5 b5 A double attack on b2 and e2, but Black should be wary of pawn hunting. [ It's better to throw in 15...h4!? 16.g4 before b5 . One interesting line is 17.g5 ( Now 17.e1 xb2! is justified because 18.a4+ b5 19.a5 c2 provides Black with a handy check on e5 if necessary.) 17...d7 18.c3 xc3 19.bxc3 xe2 with plenty of compensation thanks to the powerf ul bishop and W hite's numerous pawn weaknesses. ] 16.e1 xb2?! [ 16...h4 was again preferable. ] 17.a4+ b5?? Kamsky voluntary cuts off his queen's retreat. [ 17...f8! would lead to a complex struggle after 18.ac1 ( 18.ad1!? ) 18...c5! ] [ 17...b5 18.xa7 ( Not 18.xd4?? g4+-+ ) 18...d7 is close to equal. ] 18.a5 With the bishop defended Black must face the cold reality that his queen is trapped (19.Rab1 or 19.Rdb1 are threatened). g4+ Blac k mu st s he d ma te rial. Th e f o llowin g moves are best for both sides. [ B e a t i n g a h a s t y r e t r e a t w i t h 18...b4 19.xb4 f5 20.ab1 e5 should lose s i m p l y , e . g . 21.b5+ f8 ( 21...d7 22.ec1+- ) 22.ec1+- ] [ Likewise 18...c2 19.ab1 d4 20.ec1 h6 21.f4 h4 22.xc2 hxg3+ 23.h1+is technically winning for White. ] 19.hxg4 hxg4+ 20.g1 xe2+ 21.f1 c3 22.xc3 xc3 [ 22...xc3 23.a6 0-0 24.ab1 d2 25.ed1+- traps the queen again. ] [ 22...xc3 23.ab1 also wins easily. ] 23.xb5+ f8 24.ad1 Not strictly necessary. [ White can take another a pawn with 24.xg4+- ] 24...f5 Kamsky makes the best of a bad s i t u a t i o n . 25.b1 b2 26.xb2 xb2 White is winning, but he'll have to put in some work in order to break down Black's center/ kingside pawn cluster. 27.d3 f7 28.b1 f6 29.e2 c5 30.a3 h2 31.h1 [ Giri was probably unsure of the consequences of 31.xa7 d4 32.bb7
c3 ( Not 32...xe3? 33.xe7+ f6 34.e6+ g5 35.xe3 xg2 36.g7+- ) 33.xe7+ f6 , i.e. 34.ad7 xe3 35.xe3 xe3+ 36.xe3 xg2 37.xd6+ e5 38.xg6 g1! with definite drawing chances. ] 31...xh1 32.xh1 There now follows a protracted technical phase. c1 33.g2 d4 34.d3 c5 35.d1 c3 36.d3 c1 37.d1 c3 38.d2 c1 39.f3 gxf3+ 40.xf3 f6 41.g4 g5 42.gxf5 gxf5 43.g2 f4 44.f1 a5 45.d3 a4 46.c2 d1+ 47.e2 b1 48.c4+ g5 49.d3 b2 50.c2 b4 51.d2 g4 52.h1 d4+ 53.e2 b4 54.f3 a3 55.b3 b6 56.c3 h4 57.g2 g4 58.f1 b4 59.f3 f6 60.e2 h4 61.g2 g4 62.f1 b4 63.c2 g4 64.d2 b4 65.e2 c5 66.f3 e4+ 67.d3 e3+ 68.d2 e4 69.f1 e6? A clear lapse in judgment. White has made very little progress thus far, but this exchange only makes it easier for him to target d6 and f5. Of note is the following bishop maneuver to the ideal d5 square: 70.dxe6 xe6 71.c4 e8 72.h4 e3+ 73.c2 c5 74.c4 e3 75.d5 e2+ 76.d3 f2 77.h6+ g7 78.e6 Black's king is completely cut off. f1 79.c4 d1 [ 79...b1 was more tenacious. ] 80.e1! The exchange of rooks seals it. xe1 81.xe1 g6 82.d3 a7 83.b3 g5 84.xa3 f4 85.b3 g4 86.e1 Kamsky didn't bother with a possible K vs. K+B+N scenario. Despite the result, this line poses a number of decidedly "un-Maroczy" questions that White has yet to solve. 1-0
1325 Harikrishna,Penteala Sutovsky,Emil Essent Hoogeveen NED (4) [John Watson]
A31 2673 2654 27.10.2005
The following game features a wild line that has always been considered bad for White. I wonder how much of this was prepared? Two 2650+ players slug it out in old-fashioned style. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.d4 cxd4 1327
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 4.xd4 e5 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.d6 !!? This neglect of development has long since been discredited, and in fact considered almost a blunder! Let's see what both sides have up their sleeves. 0-0 [ 7...e4 A) 8.c7+?? xc7! - White has lost this way at least 4 times! 9.a4+ c6; B) But 8.e3! looks both safe and good, for example, b4+ ( 8...xd6? 9.d5! b6 10.xe5+ f8 11.1c3 ) B1) or 9.d2 xd6 10.a3 xd2+ 11.xd2! ( 11.xd2 xb5 12.xd8+ xd8 13.xb5 e7 MeenakshiG o k h a l e , R a i p u r 2 0 0 2 14.d2! ) 11...c6 12.a5! xa5+ 13.b4; B2) 9.d2! xd2+ ( 9...xd2 10.c7+ f8 11.xd2; 9...xd6?? 10.a4!+hitting both e4 and d6(with a discovery): c5 11.xd6+ f8 12.c2 xd6 13.b4 , winning a piece.) 10.xd2 xd6 11.c2 xb5 12.xb5+ d7 13.c5! xb5 ( 13...e7 14.c8+; 13...f6 14.e4 ) 14.xe5+ e7 15.xb5+; C) 8.d5!? This is not be best although it probably gains some advantage. W hite shouldn't f all f or xf2+ 9.d1 f6 has been thought to give excellent compensation after 10. Qxe5+, but White probably intended C1) 10.xe5+ f8 11.g5 bd7 12.f4 b6 ( 12...b6 13.e3! ) 13.c7 b8 14.c3 h6 15.xf6 xf6 16.7d5 xf4 17.xf4 f6; C2) 10.c7+! f8 11.d3 and Black will have to work hard to show enough for the material. ] [ The too-easy 7...a6!? hasn't been tested much but so far has achieved even results and looked all right for Black. Definitely a spot for further study. ] 8.c7 e4 9.e3 xd6 As far as I know this is a completely new move! [ Presumably Harikrishna was ready for the complications following [beware of lengthy computer-assisted analysis here!] 9...b4+ 10.c3!? ( 10.d2? xd6 11.xa8 d8 12.e2 xd2 13.xd2 xd2+ 14.f1 c6 with ...Qb8 to follow.) 10...f6 (this is the most fun response Black s h o u l d n ' t p l a y ( 10...h4 11.c2!;
but a simple answer is 10...xc3 11.bxc3 xc3+ 12.d2 xa1 13.xa1 xd6 ) A) Black seems to have just enough resources to equalise after this. White can still play for advantage with the riskylooking 11.c2!? , for example, f5 A1) 12.d3 xc3 13.d2! xd3 ( 13...e4!? 14.c4 xd6 15.xa8 c6 16.xc3 ) 14.xd3 xd6 15.xd6 xd6 16.xa8 e4; A2) 12.d2!? xd6 ( 12...g3 13.3d5; 12...xf2 13.3d5 xc2 14.xf6+ gxf6 15.xf2 xd2 16.xa8 ) 13.xa8 g3 14.e4 xh1 15.exf5 c6 16.g3; B) 11.f3!? h4+ 12.g3 xg3 13.hxg3 xh1 ( 13...xg3+ 14.d2 d8 15.c2 xd6 16.3d5 c6+ 17.b1 , winning major material.) 14.e2 h3 15.xa8 e4! 16.f4 d7 17.d2 ( 17.c7? c5-+ ) 17...xa8 18.0-0-0 xf1 19.xf1 h3 20.xe4 xd2+ 21.xd2 e6= ] 10.xa8 b4+ 11.d2 [ 11.d2!? seems losing after h4 12.g3 f6 13.f3 xd2 14.xd2 d8 ] 11...h4 12.g3 f6 13.f3 xd2 14.xd2 d8 15.xb4 xd1+ 16.xd1 c6 17.c5 xf3 18.g1 g4 19.d2 Basically it's been forced up to this point (and pretty much to the end. There's not much point in playing [ 19.d3!? b6 ( 19...e4 20.d2 and there's no ...Nd4 trick as in the game.) 20.xb6 axb6 21.xb6 e4! 22.c5 - else ...Qb4+ f6 and White has no comfortable way to proceed. 23.g2 could be perhaps be called "dynamically equal". ] 19...d4! 20.xd4 [ 20.exd4?? e3+ ] 20...exd4 21.d3 c6! 22.g2 c1+ 23.f2 dxe3+ 24.xe3 xb2+ 25.e2 h5 26.e8+ h7 27.g1 c1+ 28.f1 h3 29.f2 xf1 30.xf1 c5+ 31.f2 c1+ 32.f1 c5+ An incredible game! ½-½
1328
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 b5 18.xd2 xc4+ 19.d3 seems to A31 consolidate. ] 2508 2372 15.xe3 xe3 16.e2 c5 17.b5 d7 06.10.2004 18.0-0-0 Not the ideal place for the white king, but the kingside was impossible as the c5bishop controls g1. b6 19.c3 e8 20.g4 21.b1 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.c4 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 Black was threatening ...f5. a5 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.g3 The bishop will W ith an exchange and pawn more W hite come to g2 to help defend the d5-pawn. 0-0 should win fairly easily. b5 22.d6 To free the 8.5c3 e4 9.g2 e8 10.a3! Best, if rare, d5-square for the knight. b4 23.d5 e6 24.b3 xd6 25.f6+ gxf6 26.xd6 White plans Nc2/c4 to control e3, [ 10.0-0 e3!? was seen in Ramirez,A- White has lost his pawn, but weakened the black kingside. c5 27.c1 f8 To menace Yurtaev,L/Moscow RUS 2003. ] 10...g4!? A new move, but rather risky, ...Bxg4. [ 27...xg4 28.g1 pins. ] Black tries to refute White's last move. [ 10...e3?! 11.xe3 xe3 12.fxe3 g4 28.e3 xe4 29.fxe4 e5 30.d4 f4 Hausner,I-Hall,J/Rilton-Cup/1988, and now 31.xb4 g7 32.d4 g6 33.c5 f1+ 34.b2 g2+ 35.a3 f1? I don't really 13.c4 is best, with advantage. ] understand why Black doesn't at least capture [ 10...a6 or ] on g4. 36.h5 [ 10...bd7 seem the most sensible. ] [ 36.f5! interferes with the defence of f6, 11.xe4! xe4! The knight defends f2 and xf5 37.xf6# ] must be eliminated. [ 11...xa3 12.bxa3 f5 is met by 13.h3 36...c1+ 37.a4 d7+ 38.xd7 c6+ xe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.hxg4 xg4 39.a3 1-0 16.d3 and White is winning. ] 12.xe4 f6? Tempting, but false. [ 12...xf2+! is the only logical follow-up, A31 13.f1 c5 and White is faced with a 1327 number of unpleasant threats, ...Bxa3 and ... Iordachescu,Viorel 2578 Qf6+, for instance, 14.f4 ( 14.h3 f6+ Nevednichy,Vladislav 2563 15.f3 f2 16.c2 a6 with a strong TCh-ROM Sovata ROM (5) 25.03.2001 attack. ) 14...f6 ( 14...g5!? ) 15.f3 f2 [Tony Kosten] 16.a4 d7 17.b3 xh1 and as 18.xh1 g5 wins for Black, White must try 1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 18 Qxb7, or 18 Kg2, which are unclear. ] 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 a6 [ 12...xf2 13.c2 leads nowhere, the rook [ T h i s a v o i d s t h e l i n e 6...c5 7.d6 on h1 is defended, and the c5-bishop is see the archives. ] attacked. ] 7.5c3 c5 8.e3 0-0 9.a3 e4 10.d2 13.f3! [ 10.b4 d6 11.b2 e8 12.d2 [ 13.f3 is also effective, as xa3 14.a4 Cifuentes Parada,R-Kuijf,H/Holland 1996, is threatens mate on e8 and allows White to similar. ] capture the bishop. ] 10...f5 11.e2 e8 12.b4 a7 13...a6 With the two bishops loose on the c[ The bishop retreats out of harm's way, file, 12...d6?! 13.c4 b5 14.xd6 xd6 [ 13...f2 is countered by 14.c2 and ] 15.b2 bd7? 16.g4! g6 17.g5 [ 13...xa3 again allows 14.a4 ] 1-0 Lesiege,A-Ortiz,W/Elista RUS 1998, the 14.e3?! A curious choice, f6-knight is lost. ] [ 14.a4 is strong. ] 13.g4!? 14...xe3 [ A typical idea, White leaves his king in the [ 14...b4+ 15.d2 xb2 looks more centre, where it may be safest and interesting, but 16.c4 xd2+ 17.e2! undermines the e4-pawn, much as in a
1326 Horvath,Jozsef Basagic,Zlatko 20th ECC Izmir TUR (4) [Tony Kosten]
1329
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 p r e v i o u s l y a n a l y s e d g a m e . 13.c4 is more solid, although Black was OK after b5 14.a5 b6 15.b3 a7 16.a2 d6 17.d2 c7 18.b2 ec8 Farago,SKaratorossian,D/Budapest 1997. ] 13...g6 14.h4 h6 15.g5!? hxg5 16.h5 [ 16.hxg5?! xd5 leads nowhere. ] 16...f5 17.b2 bd7 [ The point of White's sac is revealed after 17...xd5? 18.xd5 xd5 19.h6 and the king is in big trouble. ] 18.c4 b8 19.h6 e5 [ 19...gxh6!? 20.xh6 g7 might be playable, but is not for the faint-hearted! ] 20.d6!? W hite is intent on attack. xc4 21.xc4 xd6 22.b3 c7 23.d5 xd5 24.xd5 e5 Just as White manages to clear the obstacles between his b2-bishop and g7, another one appears! 25.c1 d7 26.c5 With lateral pressure on e5. ad8?! [ Missing the threat, 26...ac8 is safer. ] 27.xe5 xe5 28.c3?! [ T h e s i m p l e 28.xf7+ xf7 29.h7+! ( 29.xf7+ xf7 30.xe5 g4 t r a n s p o s e s) 29...xh7 30.xf7+ xf7 31.xe5 keeps a lid on any counterplay, although Black still has chances. ] 28...d6 29.xe5 xe5 30.xf7+ xf7 31.xe5 g4 The problem, Black threatens mate, and manages to bring his bishop to f3. 32.0-0 f3 33.hxg7 xg7 Black menaces ... Rh8-h1 mate. 34.h2 [ 34.xg5+ f6 35.g3 h8 36.xf3+ exf3 is drawn because of the respective kings. ] 34...f6 35.c5 h8+ 36.g3 h4 Black forces a draw by perpetual check on g4, and h4. 37.fc1 g4+ 38.h3 g2!? A risk-less winning attempt. 39.1c2 [ White must take a draw after 39.c7 g4+ 40.h4 g3! 41.xb7 ( 41.fxg3?? h2# ) 41...gxf2 42.b6+ e7 43.b7+ as well. ] 39...g1 40.c1 g2 41.1c2 g1 42.c1 ½-½
1328 Ivanchuk,Vassily Yam,Alex Edmonton 9th (3) [Kosten, Tony]
A31 2738 2299 23.06.2014
1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.c4 cxd4 4.xd4 e5!? This dangerous line became popular after a young Kasparov scored well with it over 30 years ago. It is interesting at lower levels, but is not a good choice against a strong GM as he will make the extra pawn count. 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.5c3 This move scores well. [ 7.e3 is the most played, but the text will have to be played sooner or later, so playing it now keeps more options. ] 7...0-0 8.h3!? Stopping a piece going to g4, and deterring ...Bf 5 as g4 will come with tempo at some point. [ 8.e3 is the mainline once again. ] [ We have analysed 8.g3 many times in the past, b6! to provoke e3, see Aronian, LSutovsky, E and Korchnoi, V-Gurevich, D in the PGN Archive. ] 8...b5 To displace the knight with ...b4 and capture d5. [ 8...f5 might be the best move anyway, A) 9.g4 would be answered by e4 but 10.h2!? ( 10.xe4 xe4 11.e3 b4+ ) 10...g6 Raetsky, A (2505)-Kaenel, H (2395) Lenk 1995, 0-1 (59), 11.g5 e8 12.h4 d6 13.h5 looks like fun.; B) 9.e3 e7 ( 9...bd7 10.d2 Be lt ra n de Hered ia A lo nso, J (21 29 )Barrenechea Bahamonde, G (2191) Gibraltar 2007, 0-1 (21), b4!? ) 10.d2 g6 11.a3 d8 12.c4 e4 13.b4 d6 14.b2 bd7 with fairly typical play, Black is still a pawn down but his strong point on e4 gives him kingside space and reasonable compensation, Lenic, L (2634)Borisek, J (2543) Ljubljana 2011, 1/2-1/2 (41). ] [ 8...e4 9.g4 e3!? is Dorfman, J-Degraeve, J in the Archive. ] 9.a3 [ 9.xb5 xd5 10.e3 b7 with more than enough play for the pawn. ] 9...e4 Black plays aggressively. [ 9...b4 10.axb4 xb4 scores well, but after 1330
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.d2 xc3 12.xc3 xd5 Dudas, J (2320) -Stranz, R (2323) Austria 2003, 0-1 (27), W hite should prefer 13.a5 d7 14.c3 with the bishop pair advantage, rather than capturing on e5. ] 10.e3 Actually new in this particular position, although perfectly normal, of course. [ 10.g4 e3!? a 2nd pawn sac to ruin the white structure, as in the Dorfman-Degraeve game, 11.xe3 xe3 12.fxe3 d6 13.d4 g3+ 14.d2 threatens Qf4 to e x c h a n ge q u e e n s , Ra e t s k y, A ( 2 4 5 2 ) Schwartz, Y (2281) Biel 2001, 1-0 (27). ] 10...a6 11.g4 b7 12.g2 e8 13.0-0 W h it e h a s c a s t le d a n d co n s o l id a t e d h i s position, now he threatens to roundup the e4pawn. e5 [ 13...bd7? 14.g5 ] 14.d2 e7 Black has to over-defend his e4 strong point. [ 14...xd5? 15.dxe4 ] 15.c2 [ 15.b4 d6 16.c2 bd7 17.dxe4 xe4 18.xe4 c8 19.b1 was the alternative, when the c1-bishop can go to b2. ] 15...xd5 16.dxe4 xc3 17.xc3 xg2 18.xg2 The dust has settled, White has a solid extra pawn but Black has free play for his pieces. b7+?! Provoking White to play a move he wants to play anyway. [ 18...c6 i s t h e m o s t n a t u r a l , 19.b4 ( of course, 19.e4 can be answered by d4 20.d3 d8 now. ) 19...b6 ( 19...b7 20.e4 d4 21.f3 ) 20.b2 b7 w i t h r e a s o n a b l e c o m p e n s a t i o n , 21.e4 is not so good: d4 22.d2 f5! ] 19.e4 d7 20.f3 Solid. Now White can develop his c1-bishop and has d5 f or his knight, Black's compensation is close to zero. c8 21.d1 b6 22.e2 h5 23.f4 e6 24.ac1 Getting the last piece into play, Ivanchuk's play is simple but effective. e7 25.e3 hxg4 26.hxg4 f6 27.d4 [ 27.xb6 was also good, xc3 28.e3 ] 27...g5 [ 27...xd4 28.xd4 h6 is met by 29.dd1 b8 30.h1 and there is no attack. ] 28.c2 c4?! 29.d5 ce8 Menacing ... Qxd5! 30.f2 g6? Black goes downhill very quickly now, but the game was already lost as
White has a pawn more plus better pieces. 31.b3 xa3 32.c7 b8 33.d4 f6 34.h1 c8 35.ch7! Mate in 2 is threatened, and Black can only stop this by giving up lots of material. 1-0
1329 Kasparov,Garry Carlsen,Magnus Blitz Reykjavik ISL blitz (10) [Tony Kosten]
A31 2831 2484 17.03.2004
1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 c6 5.f3 d6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 d7!? Black attempts to maintain the tension in the centre, [ 7...xd4 8.xd4 g7 9.0-0 0-0 is m u ch m o re co m m o n , t r a n sp o s in g t o [A39]. ] 8.0-0 g7 9.xc6!? The simplest way to avoid any tactical problems, [ 9.b3 0-0 10.b2 a5 11.e3 keeps the pieces on the board, Morozevich,A-Loginov, V/Togliatti RUS 2003, as does ] [ 9.c2 when a5 10.d5 xd5 11.cxd5 e5 12.d2 a6 13.c3 with more space, Akopian,V-Lerner,K/Moscow RUS 2002. ] 9...xc6 The most fluid, although [ 9...bxc6 10.e4 a5 11.d2 0-0 12.d5 d8 13.e3 seems OK for Black, h5!? ( 13...c8 14.e1 g4!? ) 14.c3 c8 15.e1 b8 16.e5! with advantage, Gelfand,B-Kramnik,V/Monaco MNC 2000. ] 10.e4 White gains space and avoids the e x c h a n g e o f l i g h t - s q u a r e d b i s h o p s . 0-0 11.e3 a6 Kamsky's recipe. [ 11...c8 12.c1 b6 13.e1 h5 14.d5 xd5 15.exd5 looks good for White with his bishop pair and e-file pressure, but Black managed to draw with his illustrious opponent, Kramnik,V-Kropp,V/Mainz GER 2001. ] 12.c1 [ 12.c5 was agreed drawn in Schandorff,LBaklan,V/Bled SLO 2002. ] 12...d7!? A new move, [ 12...a5 13.e2 d7 is similar, 14.d2 b6 15.b3 fc8 16.d5 d8 17.g5 xd5 18.exd5 f6 Kramnik,V-Kamsky,G/ 1331
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Amber-blindfold 1995, when 19.xf6 xf6 20.fe1 c7 21.a4 keeps a plus. ] 13.e2 b5!? The traditional queenside thrust. [ 13...f5 is interesting, and active, if weakening, 14.fd1 xc3 15.xc3 fxe4 16.h6 f7 17.xe4 xe4 18.xe4 looks good for White. ] 14.b4!? White prepares to capture on b5 by removing his b-pawn from the vista of the g7bishop. In a 'real' game Kasparov might have preferred [ 14.cxb5 axb5 15.xb5 ( 15.a3 b8 16.d5 xd5 17.exd5 e5 looks playable for Black ) 15...xb5 16.xb5 b8 ( or 16...xa2 17.b4 ) 17.a4 xb2 when W hite enjoys the bishop pair on an open board, and a useful passed pawn. ] 14...e5?! Provocative, [ 14...bxc4 i s s i m p l e r , 15.xc4 e5 16.b3 b5 establishing control over c4. ] 15.cxb5 axb5 16.xb5 xb5 17.xb5 b8?! This is doubtful, Black had to recapture the pawn by [ 17...xa2 ] 18.a4! Of course, [ 18.xb8?! fxb8 regains one of the queenside pawns. ] 18...xb5 19.axb5 fb8 20.b6 The two bpawns are strong, but it is difficult for White to support the front one from behind whilst the b4-pawn is in the way. g4? A blitz move, Black was still in the game after [ 20...a4! which wins a pawn back, 21.f4!? ( 21.b1? c4 and Black is back in the game; 21.c7 xb4 22.xe7 c4 also gives Black chances) 21...g4 22.b7 xb7 23.c8+ f8 24.d2 looks good, as the black pieces are misplaced ] 21.b7 [ 21.e5 a4 22.b7 is also immediately decisive. After ] [ 21.b7 xb7 22.e5 White wins an exchange. ] 1-0
1330 Kortschnoj,Viktor Gurevich,Dmitry National Open (5) [Carsten Hansen]
A31 2623 2518 10.06.2007
1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.5c3 [ Or 7.e3 e4 8.5c3 0-0 is considered the main line of this gambit, often named the Kasparov Gambit, though played and developed years before he took it up. ] 7...0-0 8.g3 [ The text move is some kind of specialty of Korchnoi's against this gambit, but Black should be fine. 8.e3 e4 is again the main line examples with this line can be found in the PGN archives, e.g. Sulypa-Brzeski, Warsaw 2006 and Bischoff-Jones, Liverpool 2006, in both cases Black is doing well. ] 8...b6! [ In my opinion, this is Black's best move Black forces White to concede weaknesses on the light squares, which Black can use for immediate counterplay. However, other m o ve s h a ve b e e n t r ie d o u t a s we ll: A ) 8...g4?! A) 9.e4 allows Black an easy game: b6 10.h3 f5 11.hxg4 fxe4 12.e3 f6 13.h2 , and now Black has three adequate continuations: A1) 13...d7!? 14.c3 ( Or 14.d2 g6 15.b4 c5 16.xc5 xc5 17.g5 f5 18.c3 ac8 19.e2 xg5 with a better game for Black, I.Hausner-J. Stocek, Czech Republic 1999) 14...g6 15.g5 c5 16.b4 was M.Tobyas-L. Knazovcik, Prague 1992, and now Black s h o u l d p l a y d3+ 17.xd3 exd3 18.h5 f5 with excellent compensation for the pawn; A2) 13...g6 14.g5 a6 ( 14...xg5 is fine for Black) 15.d2 ( 15.xa6 bxa6 16.c3 is a possible improvement for White ) 15...f5 16.h5 xh5 17.xh5 c5 18.b4 fc8 19.xc5 xc5 , Black has solved his opening problems successfully, and eventually went on to win, C.Martinez-I. Papaioannou, Mallorca 2004; A3) 13...a6 14.c3 g6 15.xa6 1332
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B3b2121) 21...xf2!? 22.xe5 bxa6 16.g5 f5 17.a4 ac8 18.d2 ( 22.xf2 xc5+ 23.bxc5 d8 19.0-0-0 g4 20.e1 xg5 f8+ 24.g1 xc5+ 25.d4 21.b1 fd8 I.Hausner-R.Mainka, exd4 ) 22...g5 23.d4 Bundesliga 1990; af8; B) 9.e3! f5 B3b2122) 21...f6 22.f3 B1) the alternatives are less convincing: ( 22.xd5? xf2+ 23.h1 10.g2 f4 11.h3 xf2 12.xf2 fxe3+ xc5 24.bxc5 ad8 25.xb7 13.e1 f2 14.g1 f8 15.d3 a6 b8-+ ) 22...ad8 23.c2 a5 16.a3 f5 , and White is in serious , and Black has the clearly trouble, J.Costa-J.Polgar, Biel 1987; better chances; B2) 10.h3 f6 11.d2 B3b22) 16...h3?! 17.g5 g2 V.Dambrauskas-H. Asauskas, Vilnius ( 17...d7 18.xh3 xh3 19.f1 1999, bd7 12.c4 a6 ( 12...e4!? ) f5 20.g2 fxd5 21.0-0 13.a4 b8 ( 13...e4 14.e2 b6 according to Stohl) 18.e6 d7 15.xb6 xb6 16.g4 leads to 19.g1 xd5 20.xf8 xf8 interesting complications) 14.e2 b6 21.c1 e6 22.f3 15.xe5 bxd5 16.xd5 xd5 B3b221) 22...h3 23.f1 d8 17.d3 d6 , and Black has (Stohl); compensation for the pawn; B3b222) 22...e4 23.xe4 B3) 10.e2 f6 xe4!? ( 23...xe4 24.fxe4 B3a) 11.0-0 a6 12.a4 bd7 13.b3 xe4 25.d4 g6 26.d1+- ) e4 14.c4?! ( 14.d2!? ) 14...b5! 24.fxe4 xe4 25.d4 e7 15.b3 b4 16.d6+ h8 17.d5 26.g2 (Stohl); xd6 M.Kantorik-J.Hudecek, Prague B3b223) 22...a6?! 23.f1 h3 1992; 24.f2 V. Korchnoi-G. B3b) 11.a3 bd7 12.b4 d6 Hernandez, Merida 1996 ] 13.d2 b6 [ B) 8...e4 9.g2 e8 10.a3 ( 10.0-0 e3 B3b1) Another and more recent try - see Ramirez-Yurtaev, Moscow 2003 in the is 14.b2 d7 15.e4?! C.LingnauP G N a rch ive s) 10...g4 - see HorvathR.Mainka, Senden 2001, and now Basagic, Izmir 2004 in the PGN archives ] ( 15.b3!? ) 15...a5! 16.0-0 ( 16.bxa5 xa5 ) 16...axb4 17.axb4 9.e3 g4 10.e2 h3?! [ The text move is in my opinion a bit too xa1 18.xa1 xb4; ambitious, and offers White more chances B3b2) 14.e4 h8 15.b2 fxe4 of an advantage, whereas Black is doing 16.cxe4!? fine after 10...xe2! 11.xe2 e4 B3b21) As indicated by Stohl, A) 12.0-0 b4 13.c4 ( 13.a3!? xc3 Black can do better with 16...fxd5 14.xc3 b3 15.b5 xb5 16.xb5 , although I don't agree with his a6 ) 13...e8 14.d4?! ( 14.d2 conclusion of this line still favouring xc3 15.bxc3 d6= (Stohl) ) 14...bd7! White: 15.xb6 xb6 16.d1 ad8 B3b211) Or 17.xd6 xd6 I.Ha usne r-I .Rogers, La zne Bohd ane c 18.c4 xc4 19.xc4 e6 1994; ( 19...f6 20.0-0 b6 21.d3 B) 12.d2 f5 22.xf5 xf5 23.c1 ad8 B1) 12...b4 13.0-0 e8 14.d1 24.e1 ) 20.0-0 c6 (+= Stohl) bd7 21.xd5 xd5 22.xe5 h1 B1a) In one of my own games in this 23.f3 ad8 24.c1 xf3 line, my opponent tried 15.a3 xc3 25.xc6 xc6=; 16.bxc3 xd5 17.xe4 c6 18.d3 B3b212) 17.c4 c7 18.0-0 7b6 19.b1 ad8 20.c4 c3? f5 19.xb6 xb6 20.c5 h3 ( 20...xc4-+ 21.c2 b4! 22.axb4?! 21.e1 1333
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 them appear to offer Black adequate xe3! ) 21.xd8 xe4 22.b2 xd1 c h a n c e s : A ) 11.g1!? d7 12.a3 a5 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, 13.d2 F.Kristensen-Ca.Hansen, Danish Corr A) Or 13...a6 14.c4 c7 15.d6 b8 Ch 1994, a possible continuation is 16.d2 was played in E.Ubilava-E. 23.xd1 xc4 24.c3 f6 25.d7 Rodriguez Guerrero, Subijana de Alava xe3 26.fxe3 xe3+ with a draw by 2001, and now d8 17.g4 b5 18.g5 perpetual; ( 18.xa5?! b4 19.axb4 xb4 ) B1b) 15.b1 c7 ( 15...d6!? ) 18...e8 19.xa5 b4 ( 19...xd6 16.d6 c5 17.b5 e5 18.d4 20.c2 ) 20.d5 xd6 21.c4 b5; ( 18.c7 xd2 19.xd2 f3+ B) 13...d8 14.g4 a6 15.c4 c7 20.h1 h5 21.h4 e5-+ ) 16.d6 b8 17.g5 e8 18.e4 e6 18...xd6 C. Lingnau-A.Kadatsky, 19.c2 B.Svensson-J.Gdanski, Pardubice 2001; Gothenburg 1989, and here xd6 20.d2 B2) 12...e8 13.a3 ( 13.b5 bd7 c7 is fine for Black ] 14.xb6 xb6 15.b3 b4 16.d2 [ B) 11.f1 xf1 12.xf1 bd7 13.g2 bxd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xb4 xb4 ad8 ( Or 13...e4 14.d2 fe8 15.b3 b4 19.e2 d3 20.ab1 ac8 21.d4 16.b2 xc3 17.xc3 xd5 18.d4 1/2-1/2 A.Karahmetovic-J.Njirjak, e6 C.Martinez-W.Rocha, Sao Paulo Djakovo 2005) 13...a5 14.c4 bd7 1998 ) 14.e2 e4 15.d2 fe8 16.a3 15.dxe4 xe4 1/2-1/2 A.Maly-O. c7 17.b1 e5 ( 17...f8!? ) 18.c4 f5 Berezin, Kharkov 2000 a possible 19.b4 f8 20.b5 xd5 21.d4 g6 continuation is 16.xe4 e5 17.e2 22.b2 f5 J.Kraschl-E.Weinzettl, Austrian ad8 18.xc5 xc5 19.e4 d4 Team Ch 1995 ] 20.0-0 d3 21.d1 xd5=; [ 11.d2 bd7 ( 11...d8!? ) 12.c4 c7 C) 12.a3 bd7 13.d2 fe8 14.b4 f8 13.e4? ( 13.a3 ) 13...b5! 14.xb5 xe4 15.c4 ( 15.0-0 c7 16.b2 b6 15.c2? xf2+ 16.d1 c5 17.xe4 f6 17.ac1 d7 18.g2 bxd5 19.xd5 , and W hite resigned, A.Alba-F.Manca, xd5= V.Lainburg-E.Rotshtein, Arco Mogliano Veneto 1994 ] 2001 ) 15...d8 16.b2 e5 17.xe5 [ C) 11.a3 xe5 18.0-0 d7 19.f4 exf3 20.xf3 A) 11...d8 12.b4 ( 12.g1!? improves ) xd5 21.e4 , so far, M.Lodhi-S.Sahu, 12...e7 13.e4 ( 13.g1 a5 ) 13...g2; Asia 1987 xc3 , and now 22.xc3 e7 B) 11...a5 12.d2 bd7 13.c4 d8 23.c4 ae8 24.af1 c7= 14.f3 b5 15.xb5 e4 16.e2 b6 appears best.; 17.xb6 xb6 18.c3 fd8 19.a4 D) 12.b5 xb5 13.xb5 xd5 xd5 20.xe4 so far L.Seres-A.Szieberth, 14.1c3 xc3 15.xc3 f5 16.e2 c6 Balatonbereny 1996, and here Black has 17.d2 e5 18.d5 ad8 , and a draw e7! with a better game for Black ] was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, P.H.Nielsen-B. [ D) 11.f3 e8 12.e4 xe4 13.xe4 g6 Gelfand, Monte Carlo 2006; 14.g4 d7 15.g1 f6 16.f3 ( 16.f3 E) 12.g4 d8 13.0-0 a6 ( Here Black ac8 17.c3 b4 ) 16...e4 J.Vegh-P. should consider 13...xd5 14.c4 a6 Chenaux, Geneve 1999 ] 15.xd5 e6 16.bc3 xg4+=; 13...c7 14.g5 xd5 15.xe4 d7 11...h5?! [ This is just a bad idea now White just gains 16.d2 ac8 17.bc3 e5 ) 14.d2 a big advantage without any form of xd5 15.dxe4 g6 16.f3 xc3 counterplay on Black's part. The alternative 17.bxc3 f8 18.g3 V.Korchnoi-B. is 11...fd7 12.d2 ( 12.g1 f5 13.gxf5 Zueger, Lenzerheide 2006 ] xf5 14.d2 h6 ) 12...f5 13.gxf5 xf5 11.g4!? 14.a3 f6 ( 14...g6 15.h5 h6 [ The text is a new move in this position, and 16.de4; 14...a5 15.h4 a6 16.b3 ) it may well be a good one. White has tried a 15.h4 , and White also appears to have the bundle of other moves at this juncture, all of 1334
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 after 11.c1 a5 12.0-0 0-0 13.e2 c5 14.fd1 A) Similar to lines in the Classical V a r i a t i o n o f t h e M a r o c zy B i n d in t h e Sicilian Accelerated Dragon, Black can play 14...b6 15.c2 a4 16.d5 xd5 17.cxd5 fc8 18.dc1 a5 19.f1 h5 , and now rather than chickening out with 20.d2 aa8 21.e3 a5 22.d2 a7 23.e3 a5 after which a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Maki Uuro, MBorisek, J/ Gothenburg 2005, W hite should tried A1) 24.e1!? aa8 ( 24...xb2?? 25.xb2 xb2 26.xa5+- ) 25.e5+-; A2) 24.d2 (this could also be played on White's move 20 and 22) A2a) 24...d8 25.b4 b8 26.xc5 ( 26.d4 xd4 27.xd4 e5 28.dxe6 xe6 29.b4 ) 26...dxc5 27.xc5 xc5 28.xc5 d6 29.b5+-; A2b) 24...aa8 25.d4 ( 25.h3!? c7 26.d4 xd4 27.xd4 f6 28.f4 g7 29.e5 ) 25...xd4 26.xd4 f6 27.c4; 1331 A31 B) 14...b8 15.d5 xd5?! ( 15...e8!? ) 16.cxd5 b6 17.c2 e8 Kramnik,Vladimir 2799 18.b3! a7 19.b5! h5 20.a3 e6 21.b4 Ivanchuk,Vassily 2751 axb4 22.axb4 , and Black's position Amber Rapid Nice FRA rapid (8) 23.03.2008 comp let ely collap ses, Nielsen, P. H, [Carsten Hansen] Hansen, Cu/Aarhus 1997 ] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 g6 11.0-0 a5 [ Black has tried a number of other moves at 5.d4 cxd4 6.xd4 d6 7.g2 d7 8.xc6 this juncture: A) 11...a6 12.c1 ( The lame [ 8.e4 usually just transposes to our main 12.c5 is akin to a draw offer, which indeed line after g7 9.xc6 xc6 10.e3 ] was the immediate outcome, 1/2-1/2, of 8...xc6 9.e4 g7 10.e3 Schandorff, L-Baklan, V/Bled 2002 ) [ W hite can also con side r 10.0-0 0-0 A) 12...d7 13.e2 b5 14.b4 e5?! 11.g5!? ( 11.e3 again leads to a ( 14...bxc4 15.xc4 e5 16.b3 ) transposition to the main line.) 11...d7 15.cxb5 axb5 16.xb5 xb5 17.xb5 ( 11...h6 12.e3 a5 was played today b8 18.a4+Kasparov, G-Carlsen, M/ (April 27th) in Carlsen-Gashimov, Baku 2008 Reykjavik rpd 2004; we will return to that game in next month's B) 12...c8 13.b4 b6 14.b5 axb5 update. ) 12.d2 a5 13.d5 e8 14.ab1 15.cxb5 b7 16.e5 xg2 17.exf6 xf6 ( 14.fd1!? ) 14...c5 15.b3 xd5 16.exd5 18.xg2 xc3 19.xc3 xc3 20.b3 f6 17.h4 d7 18.fe1 f5 19.bd1 a8+ 21.g1 a5 22.c1 c8 , and White has an uncomfortable grip on 23.xc8+ xc8 24.d5 e6 Black's position, Atalik, S-Borisek, J/Bled ( 24...d8!? ) 25.c6 , and now the game 2001 ] c o n t i n u a t i o n i s g i v e n a s xa2 10...0-0 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, [ O n o c c a s i o n , B l a c k h a s t r i e d 10...d7 Raicevic, M-Subasic, D/Vrnjacka Banja , but it has proven insufficient for equality
better chances, but it has the upside of keeping Black in the game... ] 12.g5 h7 13.g1 e7 14.g3 g4?! [ A s l i g h t l y b e t t e r c h o i c e i s 14...xg5 15.xh5 f5 16.d6 d8 17.h4 e6 18.e4 ] 15.xg4 hxg4 16.xg4 xg5 [ Black doesn't achieve anything with 16...a6 17.e4 b4 18.a3 either White is winning ] 17.e4 h6 18.xh6 xh6 19.d2 f6 20.f3 bd7 21.0-0-0+- (White is a pawn up for nothing, the rest is technique even for lesser players than Korchnoi) h5 22.h3 df6 23.b1 ac8 24.d6 g6 25.d5 xd5 26.xh5 xh5 27.xh5 b6 28.xe5 fd8 29.f3 c6 30.e7 cxd6 31.xd6 xd6 32.g5 g6 33.xf7 f6 34.e5 xf2 35.xb7 g5 36.xa7 xh2 37.a6 h6 38.a4 e6 39.g4 g7 40.e5 f7 41.c2 d5 42.xe6 xe6 43.d3 c7 44.b4 d5 45.c3 e6 46.b5 1-0
1335
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 SCG 2006, but W hite wins immediately with ( 25...g7! 26.xb6 xb6 27.xb6 e1+ 28.g2 e4+ , and a draw is u n a vo id a b l e) 26.h6 b1+ 27.g2 , and Black will have to give up his queen in order to prevent White from mating him on the next move; C) 12...a5 C1) 13.b3 fc8 14.e2 e6 15.fd1 e8 16.d2 a3 17.c2 b5 18.b1 c5 19.e3 b4? ( 19...e5 20.c5 dxc5 21.xc5 b8 22.dc1 b7 ) 20.c5! b7 21.d2 d4 22.f4 b4 , Arsovic, G-Dragovic, M/Senta SCG 2006, and now W hite's best is 23.d2 d4 24.a5 e5 25.cxd6 xc2 26.xc2+-; C2) 13.e2!? d7 14.d2 b6 15.b3 fc8 16.d5 d8 17.g5 xd5 18.exd5 f6 19.h4 ( 19.h6!? ) 19...b5 20.cxb5 xc1 21.xc1 axb5 22.h3 b4 23.xd7 xg5 24.hxg5 xd7 25.c4 b7 26.d2 , and White is at best fractionally better, 1/2-1/2, Kramnik, V-Kamsky, G/ Monte Carlo 1995 ] [ B) 11...a5 12.c1 ( 12.b3 d7 13.d2 a4 14.b4 e5 15.e2 f5 16.ac1 fxe4 17.xe4 c8 18.b5 d7 19.f4 Huzman, A-Krnan, T/ Montreal CAN 2006) 12...a4 13.e2 a5 14.fd1 fc8 15.c5 e8 16.cxd6 xd6 17.d5 xd5 18.xd5 xc1+ 19.xc1 c7 20.f4 Kasparov, GIvanchuk, V/ Manila 1992 ] [ C) 11...d7 12.c1!? ( 12.d4 xd4 13.xd4 b6 14.xb6 xb6 15.b3 a5 16.f4 d7 17.fe1 fd8 18.ad1 f8 19.h4 h6 20.d2 e8 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Kolvick, RCh i b u rd a n i d z e , M/ P h il a d e lp h i a 1 9 8 9 , though W hite has a small but clear a d v a n t a g e .) 12...a5 13.e2 c5 14.xc5!? ( 14.fd1!? transposes to Nielsen, P.H.-Hansen, Cu/ Aarhus 1997 above ) 14...dxc5 15.e5 xg2 16.xg2 c7 ( 16...b6 17.cd1 ad8 18.d5 c6 19.e4 h8 20.f4 ) 17.f4 c6+ 18.e4 xe4+ 19.xe4 b6 20.cd1 ad8 21.c3 Krivoshey, S-Teske, H/Aschach AUT 2002 ] [ D) 11...c8 12.d2 d7 13.b3 c6 14.ac1 a6 15.h3 b5 16.cxb5 axb5
17.d5 xd5 18.exd5 b7 19.xc8 xc8 20.c1 1/2-1/2 Pacheco, M-Alvarado, J/ Lima 2000 ] [ E) 11...c8 12.c1 b6 13.e1 h5 14.d5 xd5 15.exd5 e8 16.d2 h4 17.g5 hxg3 18.hxg3 Kramnik, V-Kropp, V/Mainz 2001 ] [ F) 11...b6 12.d4 c8 13.d5 e5 14.xf6+ xf6 15.e3 g7 16.d3 e7 17.fd1 Akbarinia, S-Anas Nazreen, B/ Kuala Lumpur 2002 ] 12.a3 [ Another try is 12.e2!? a6 13.ab1 ac8 14.b4 c7?! ( 14...e5 15.bc1 d7 16.fd1 ) 15.bc1 b6 16.d5 xd5 17.cxd5 b5 18.xc7 xe2 19.fc1+Sciacca, M-Leoncini, M/Celle Ligure 1995 ] 12...fc8 13.b4 [ Or 13.d4!? a6 14.b4 d8 15.d3 e6 16.fd1 c7 17.ac1 Makarov, MLeventic, I/Zadar CRO 2003 ] 13...d8 14.c1 d7 15.e2 [ White has an interesting alternative in 15.e5!? dxe5 16.xb7 xc4 17.e2 c7 18.xa8 xa8 19.f3 ] 15...g4 16.g5 h6 17.d2 a5 18.f4?! [ This ambitious move is squeezing the lemon a little more than W hite ought to. White has two solid and pleasant alternatives in 18.d5 axb4 19.xb4 ] [ 18.b5 e5 19.d5 ] 18...axb4 19.axb4 xc3 20.xc3 b6+ 21.h1 xb4 22.e1 [ Kramnik is trying to keep Black of the 2nd rank, but it is only a temporary relief. Another try is 22.f3 h5 23.h3 f6 24.e5 e8 25.cc1 b3 ( 25...b6 26.b1 d4 27.xb7 xh3 28.d1 a1 29.xa1 xa1+ 30.h2 f1 31.e3 xc4 32.xe7 dxe5 33.fxe5 d8 ) 26.h2 a2 ] 22...b1 23.h3?! [ This really doesn't accomplish anything other than perhaps forcing the knight to a better square. 23.f5 e5 24.c2 b3 25.fxg6 fxg6 26.c3 a2 27.e3 h7 ] 23...a2 24.f3 xg2 [ Black can also consider 24...f6!? , e.g. 25.e3 xg2 26.xg2 xe4+ is quite possibly stronger than the game continuation ] 1336
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 25.xg2 f6 26.b3 [ 26.e3 a2+ 27.f2 a4 28.h2 xc4 29.e5 c6 30.e2 e4 ] 26...a2+ 27.f2 a6 28.h2 [ 28.e2 xc4 29.be3 c6-+ ] 28...xc4 29.a3 c6 30.e5 e4 31.e2 dxe5 32.fxe5 g5 [ 32...e6!? 33.d3 c5 34.d2 xh3+ 35.g1 h5 ] [ Black's best is probably 32...xh3! e.g. 33.g4 ( 33.d2 g5 34.a8+ g7 35.xh3 g4+ 36.xg4+ g5+-+ ) 33...c2 34.ae3 g5 35.xc6 xe2+ 36.xe2 bxc6 37.g3 f1 ] 33.xc6 xc6 34.g4 c1 35.g3 e4+ 36.h2 g5 37.g3 e6 [ 37...e4+!? 38.h2 f5 39.exf6 exf6 ] 38.b4 [ 38.d2 d1 39.b4 g5= ] 38...g5 [ 38...c5!? should be perfectly adequate for Black ] 39.xe7 f4 40.d2 g1+ [ 40...h7!? ] 41.f2 h1 [ 41...g2+! 42.e3 g3+ 43.d4 xa3 44.xa3 xh3 45.e3 ( 45.h2 g1 46.xh6 f3+ 47.c3 xe5 is even better for Black ) 45...f4= ] 42.d8+ h7 43.f6 h2+ 44.e1 h1+ 45.d2 h2+ 46.c1 g6 47.aa8!? h1+ 48.d2 h2+ 49.c3 xh3+ 50.d4 g3?? [ Black doesn't have much to fear after 50...h5! 51.gxh5 xh5 . After the text White wins, but Kramnik must have been very short of time... ] 51.h8+! xh8 52.xh8+ g6 53.g8+ h7 54.g7+ h8 55.xg5+ h7 56.g7+ h8 57.xf7+? [ 57.g5! wins immediately ] 57...g8 58.g7+ f8 59.e6 f3 60.e5 [ 60.e7+ e8 61.g8+ f7 62.f8+ e6 63.h4 a3 64.e8+ xe8 65.xe8++- ] 60...e3+ 61.d6 d3+ 62.c7 e3 63.f7+ e8 64.e7+ f8 65.d6 d3+ 66.e5 e3+ 67.d6 d3+ 68.c7 f3 69.f7+ e8 70.d6 d3+ 71.e5 e3+ 72.d6 d3+ 73.c7 e3 ½-½
1332 Lautier,Joel Zhang Zhong 37th Olympiad (11) [John Watson]
A31 2682 2640 02.06.2006
A more or less normal Symmetrical English goes downhill fast for Black when he neglects his development. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 b6 5.b3 e6 6.c3 f6 7.g5 Just a move. White isn't trying to do much, he merely wants to get his bishop in front of the pawn chain. [ 7.g3 would transpose in to the main line of 'anti-Benoni', which is arguably the main line of the Symmetrical English. Black is doing reasonably well in that case. ] 7...e7 [ 7...b4!? 8.xf6 gxf6 is interesting. ] 8.e3 a6 9.e2 e5? Too slow. I don't know what Black is doing. If it were his move, ...Qc6 w o u l d b e e f f e c t i v e , b u t i t i s n ' t . 10.f4!? Good enough. However, I don't see anything wrong with [ 10.0-0 ] 10...d6?! [ 10...g6 11.g3 d6 ] 11.c5! c7 12.cxd6 xd6 This pin hurts B l a c k f o r t h e n e x t 13.0-0 d7 Black's development is slow and his pieces are uncoordinated, e.g., [ 13...0-0 14.xd6 xd6 15.fd1 b8 ( 15...c7 16.ac1 ) 16.c5 ] [ 13...xd1 14.fxd1 g6 15.d6 , but this may be Black's best continuation. ] 14.d2! c6 [ 14...0-0!? 15.c2 threatens Nc4. ] 15.c2 fd7 16.c4 c7 17.fd1 Now White threatens Rxd7, so Black has to create a serious weakness that Lautier is quick to exploit: f6 18.xe5 fxe5 [ 18...xe5 19.b3 f7 20.g4! ] 19.h5+! f8 [ 19...g6 20.xg6+ hxg6 21.xg6+ d8 22.g7 e8 23.xe5 . White already has three pawns for the piece and his attack is continuing. ] 20.g3 W hite has won the opening. f6 21.e2 xh5 22.xh5 f6 23.h4!? [ 23.ac1 f7 24.g4 ] 23...e7 1337
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 23...f7 24.g4 h5 25.c4 ] 24.ac1 It's getting hard for Black to find moves. a5 25.b4! Really, this wins the game. g6!? [ 25...xb4 26.xe5 is the best that Black can do, but now what? ] 26.g4 h5 [ 26...a3 27.e4! wi t h t h e id e a xe4 28.c7+ f8 29.xe6 ] 27.c4 b6 28.e4 b5 29.b3 [ 29.xb5 axb5 30.xf6 xf6 31.c5 may win, but the presence of oppositecoloured bishops is a potential problem. ] 29...hd8 30.c5!? [ 30.xf6! xf6 31.c3 xd1+ 32.xd1 c8 33.e4 has in mind Qf3+ or Rd3-f3. ] 30...d5 [ 30...xd1+! 31.xd1 d5 32.b1 b6! ] 31.b1 f7 32.e4! c6 33.b3 Finally e6 can't be defended. xd1+ 34.xd1 e8 35.d6 e2 36.xe6 g7 37.h2! d2 38.f3 d8 39.c3 d4 40.f3 d8 41.a4! xa4 [ 41...f7 42.xe5! ] [ 41...b6 42.xc6 bxc5 43.bxc5 ] 42.xb7 Either the queen or f6 falls. xe6 43.xd8 xd8 44.d3 f6 45.d5 f7 46.f3 c6 47.a2 d7 48.d5 c6 49.b3 d7 50.f2 b5 51.g3 c6 52.c5 g7 53.a2 d7 54.f4 exf4 55.gxf4 f6 56.d4+ f7 57.f5 1-0
with [ 11.d2 ] [ or 11.a3 ] 11...b8 There's no good way to stop a5, winning key squares on the queenside, since [ 11...a5 would weaken d6 too much. ] 12.a5 bxa5 13.b3 a8 14.a2 0-0 15.xa5 Apparently White has won the opening. Black has always had problems against this simple plan, and thus ...Nbd7 is supposed to be delayed so that .. ..Nc6 can be the answer to a4. c7 16.d2 d5 17.cxd5 exd5 18.exd5 d6 19.c4!? Overcalculat ion? Simply [ 19.h1 xh2 20.c6 was good. ] 19...xh2+ 20.h1 g3 21.xa6! White's got this more-or-less under control, bu t t h is kind o f d e f e n ce is a rd u o u s . d8 Threatening some move by the f6 knight. 22.g1! xd5? objectively unsound, but in a Rapids game this could be pretty tough to meet. [ 22...h5 holds onto material and covers relevant squares. ] 23.xd5 h4 24.d1 fe8 25.d4 h2+ 26.f1 xd5 [ 26...h1+ 27.g1 xd5 28.xd5 transposes ] 27.g1 h1 28.xd5 xe2 29.xe2 xg2+ 30.d3 b3+ 31.d4 f2+ 32.e3! [ 32.xf2? xf2+ 33.e4 xf3+ 34.d4 g4+ ] 32...xe3?! 1333 A31 [ 32...xe3+ 33.xe3 xb2+ 34.e4 b4+ 35.d4 e2+ 36.f4 xa6 37.xd7 Nielsen,Peter Heine 2644 h6+ . Then White's king can run over to Aronian,Levon 2752 the queenside, but this is all rather unclear Amber Rapid Monte Carlo MNC rapid (4) with White having only one pawn left. ] [John Watson] 33.c4? [ 33.xf2! xf2 34.xd7 and wins. ] An Anti-Benoni systems with 4...b6. This generally gives rise to a Hedgehog that has 33...h6?! [ 33...g6! 34.xd7 ( 34.xf2 xf2 been seen hundreds of times. But Black must threatens things like ...Qxb2 and ...Ne5+.) beware of the move-order issue that arises in 34...xg1! 35.d8+ g7 36.f6+ h6 this game, and many players of White fail to and White better take the perpetual. ] take advantage of it. 1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 b6 5.c3 b7 6.f3 e6 34.a8+ f8 35.xf8+!? [ 35.xf2 wi n s o n t h e s p o t a f t e r xf2 7.e4 d6 8.e3 a6 9.e2 bd7?! 36.xf8+ xf8 37.c5+ g8 38.d8+ [ 9...e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.a4!? c6! ] h7 39.f5+ g6 40.xf7# ] 10.0-0 e7 11.a4! A lot of times this move is skipped and White plays for a normal position 35...xf8 36.c5+ g8 37.d8+ h7 1338
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 38.f5+ g6 39.xg6+ xg6 40.xf2 xf3 41.d4 This time it's the outside passed b-pawn, which makes things easier. And there are no threats of perpetual check. h5 42.b4 h4 43.h8 g5 44.b5 g4 45.b6 h3 46.b7 decides. 1-0
1334 Ramirez Alvarez,Alejandro Yurtaev,Leonid Aeroflot Open (6) [Tony Kosten]
A31 2413 2547 16.02.2003
1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.5c3 0-0 8.g3!? This move is more ambitious than [ 8.e3 which we have considered so far, but I don't completely trust it. ] 8...e8 Black is not without reasonable alternatives here: [ 8...g4 9.e3 ( 9.e4!? b6 10.h3 f5 11.hxg4 fxe4 12.e3 f6 13.h2 is odd, but might favour White, Hausner,IMainka, R/BL 8990/1990) 9...f5 10.e2 f6 11.a3 bd7 12.b4 d6 13.d2 b6 14.e4! was better for White in Kortschnoj,VHernandez,G/Merida 1996. ] [ 8...b6 9.e3 g4 10.e2 xe2! 11.xe2 e4 12.0-0 b4 with compensation for the pawn, Hausner,I-Rogers,I/Bohdanec/1994. ] [ 8...e4!? might tra nsp ose , 9.g2 f5 ( 9...e8! i s t h e g a m e) 10.0-0 e8 11.a3!? a6 12.e3 b4 13.ab5 is go o d f o r W h it e , Ra h m a n , Z-E m m s, J/ Scarborough 1999. ] 9.g2 e4 10.0-0 White can also defer this move, [ 10.a3! plans Nc2/c4 to control e3, e3?! ( 10...a6 ) 11.xe3 xe3 12.fxe3 g4 13.c2 the critical point, b6 14.0-0!? xb2 ( 14...xe3 15.xe3 xe3+ 16.h1 leaves White a pawn up for not too much) 15.d3 b6 16.d6 Hausner,I-Hall,J/RiltonCup/1988, and as xe3? loses to 17.xe3 xe3 18.d5 Black is in trouble. ] 10...e3! 11.h1!? A new move, and quite interesting, before [ 11.f3 wa s p r e f e rr e d , h5!? ( 11...a6 is more circumspect, getting the pieces into
play ) 12.a3 a6 13.e4 A) 13...xa3 then 14.xf6+! ( 14.bxa3 xd5 ) 14...xf6 15.a4! forks the rook and bishop, and keeps White on top; B) 13...xe4 i f i n s t e a d 14.fxe4 d7 ( 14...h4!? ) 15.b3 f6 16.xe3 xe3+ 17.xe3 xd5 18.d4 f6 19.xd8 xd8 20.fd1 and White managed to make his extra (doubled) pawn count in Ubilava,E-Hodgson,J/ESP-chT 1993. ] [ but maybe 11.xe3 i s p o s s i b l e : xe3 12.fxe3 g4 13.f4 xe3 14.d3 with advantage. ] 11...exf2 12.g5 g4 13.d2 bd7 14.h3!? White was clearly worried about a queen sacrifice, but nevertheless, I feel he should play [ 14.de4! xe4!? ( 14...b6 15.xf2 ) 15.xd8 xc3 16.bxc3 xe2 17.b3 axd8 and Black is very active, although after 18.xb7 it still remains to be proved that he has quite enough comp, after all, a queen is a queen! ] 14...h5 15.g4 Now [ 15.de4?! is worse, as xe4! 16.xd8 xg3+ 17.h2 d6 18.h4 xf1+ 19.h1 e3 and White is struggling. ] 15...g6 16.h4 The point behind White's play, he wants to recuperate the f2-pawn. e5 17.xf6?! A weak move, White saw that [ 17.xf2?! xf2 18.xf2 b6 ( or 18...fxg4!? 19.hxg4 h4+ 20.g1 xg4 21.f3 h2+ 22.f1 e3+ 23.xe3 xe3 ) 19.f1 xb2 left Black in charge, as he has the better position, and isn't even a pawn down, but he should have played ] [ 17.b3! first, covering b6, c8 18.xf2 xf2 19.xf2 and now, if fxg4 20.hxg4 h4+ 21.g1 xg4 22.f3 h2+ 23.f1 Black doesn't seem to have enough for his piece, e.g. e3+ 24.xe3 xe3 25.xb7 ce8 26.f3 with advantage. ] 17...xf6 18.de4 xe4 19.xe4?? Very weak, for a number of reasons. [ 19.xe4 f4 20.e3! ( 20.xc5?? allo ws m at e b y xg4 21.hxg4 h6+ ) 20...xe3 21.e2 and White will win the f2pawn, when he is only slightly worse. ] 19...xg4 Not bad, although [ 19...h4 20.g2 xg4 is also strong. ] [ 19...xg4 20.d3 ( 20.hxg4?? 1339
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a l l o w s m a t e : h4+ 21.g2 xg4+ he did have alternatives, for example the 22.h2 d6+ ) 20...h4 21.f3 f6 amazing and wins, as the e4-bishop can scarcely [ 12.xg4!? xg4 13.a4 which regains move. ] the queen, as a6 14.xc5 b6 15.a4 0-1 forces a repetition. ] 12...xe3 The point of Black's play, [ 12...e6?? 13.a4 would lose big-time! ] 1335 A31 13.fxg4 [ 13.a4? doesn't work anymore, as f2+ Seel,Christian 2380 14.e2 xb5+ 15.xf2 d5 pins the f3Ganguly,Surya Shekhar 2541 pawn and leaves Black in control. ] Masters Catalan Bay ENG (4) 30.01.2004 13...a6 14.a4?! [Tony Kosten] [ 14.g5 might be an improvement, axb5 15.gxf6 xd6 16.xe3 xd1+ 17.xd1 1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 with rook and two pieces against the black 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.d6?! Tempting, but queen, and after d4 play is quite unclear. ] probably not very good against a wellprepared opponent. 0-0! Best, as I suggested 14...f2+ 15.e2 xb5+ 16.xf2 d5 in the notes to Vladimirov,E-Ghaem Maghami, Th is is a ll f orce d , bu t qu it e goo d . 17.g2 xg4+! 18.xg4 xd2+ 19.g1 which went [ 19.e2 d4+ forks king and knight. ] [ 7...b6!? 8.1c3 0-0 9.g3 a6 10.c7 19...xd6 So, the dust has cleared and we xc7 11.dxc7 xc7 12.g2 with a plus. ] 8.1c3 The problem is that White cannot risk see that White has a piece for two pawns, but the white king confines the h1-rook and the winning the rook: [ 8.c7?! e4 9.e3 b4+ 10.d2 black pieces are very active. Black is better. ( 10.c3 xc3 11.bxc3 xc3+ 12.d2 20.xc6? A mistake in a difficult position, [ 20.f1! is best, e3+ 21.f2 d4 22.f5 xa1 13.xa1 c6 14.xa8 xd6 is the b est chan ce , a s the a tta ck on f 7 15.c4 d7 regains the material with saves White from immediate disaster, xa4 advantage ) 10...xd6 11.xa8 d8 23.xf7+ h8 24.h3 to play Kh2, unpin the the pin on the d-file regains the material rook and menace a back-rank mate. ] with interest, 12.e2 xd2 13.xd2 xd2+ 14.f1 c6 15.c2 b8 winning the 20...e3+ Now Black wins by force. 21.g2 22.h3 h6+ 23.h4 xc6 trapped knight, and the game, Teske,H- d2+ Black threatens the knight on a4, but more Salmensuu,O/Koszalin 1999. ] [ 8.e3 might be best, to keep the c3-square importantly mate in a few moves by . ..Qg2+. 0-1 available for the b5-knight. ] 8...c6 9.g3!? I don't like this move, which is a bit too ambitious, A31 [ 9.e3 is much more sensible: f5 10.e2 1336 Suba,Mihai 2509 a6 11.c7 c8 12.0-0 e4 13.7d5 xd6 Rodriguez,Orelvis 2483 with a development advantage for Black, Dzindzichashvili,R-Alburt,L/New York 1980. ] ch-(team) Div 2 (4) 11.11.1999 9...b6!? Aggressive, but other moves are [Tony Kosten] possible, for instance [ 9...a6! 10.c7 b8 and Black will capture 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g3 d6!? on d6 next with a plus. ] [ A surprisingly rare move, Black intends to 10.e3 d8!? A novelty. fianchetto his king's bishop, but this move [ 10...g4 11.f3 f5 12.a4 b4+ 13.f2 order does allow some extra possibilities d8 14.a3 a5 15.e4 favoured White in compared to the normal 4...g6 ] Bang,A-Sandstrom,L/Copenhagen 1989. ] 5.d4!? 11.d2 Planning Na4, but Black strikes first! [ A natural reply, but 5.g2 might be more g4! 12.f3 White takes the offered piece, but accurate, permitting White to defend his f21340
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pawn by castling, if necessary, g6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 d7 8.e4!? Kasparov,GIvanchuk,V/Manilla 1992. ] 5...cxd4 6.xd4 b6 [ Putting the question to the d4-knight, 6...e5 is also reasonable, 7.xc6 bxc6 8.g2 b7 9.0-0 e7 10.a4 with a slight plus to White, Djuric,S-Barczay,L/ Tallinn 1981. ] 7.e3!? [ White refuses to retreat. 7.c2 is the move previously played here, g4 8.e3 g6 9.d5 d8 10.e2 ge5 11.f4 d7 12.0-0 g7 and Black's pieces had been forced back, Nguyen Thi Thanh An-Dumpor, A/ Budapest 1998. ] 7...g4 8.f3 d7 9.g2 g6 10.b3 [ The start of an ambitious plan that proves W h it e ' s d o wn f a ll , 10.0-0 g7 11.b3 was safer, although White will still have to solve the problem of his d4-knight, and the g1-a7 diagonal, before he can play e4. ] 10...g7 11.de2? [ Intending to play Bb2, Qd2, 0-0, and then something like Na4, forcing the black queen off the diagonal, so as to continue with e4, but it turns out to be too time-consuming. 11.0-0 was still possible, as there are no immediate tactics to be worried about, e.g. xd4 12.exd4 e4? 13.d5 xd4+ 14.e3 and White wins. ] 11...h5! Obliging White to weaken his kingside. 12.h3 d8 Setting-up the d5-thrust. 13.e4 0-0 14.d2 e6 15.b2 [ White quickly finds himself in a lost position after this, but 15.a3 was no better, b4 ] 15...d5! Opening the centre before White has time to remove his king. 16.cxd5 exd5 17.xd5?! [ 17.exd5 e6 18.d6 might have done a better job of keeping back the flood water. ] 17...xd5 18.xg7 [ 18.exd5 does not help, xb2 19.xb2 b4 wins. ] 18...e3! The point of Black's combination. 19.h6 [ White had to keep control of e3, if 19.xf8 instead, then xg2+ 20.f1 e3+ 21.e1 xf8 with a material advantage. ] 19...xg2+ 20.f1 xh3 Discovering an a t t a c k o n t h e w h i t e q u e e n . 21.c3 Threatening mate, but Black's discovered
check will be devastating. e3+ 22.e1 g2+ 23.f1 e3+ A little repetition to gain time on the clock, no doubt. 24.e1 c2+! Sacrificing this piece to gain just one move! 25.xc2 b4 26.c3 d3+ 27.d2 e5+ 28.e1 d3+ 29.d2 e5+ 30.e1 fe8! Finally settling on the winning line. 31.e3 [ 31.xh3 is no improvement, d3 32.c2 xf3+ 33.f1 f6 with a winning double attack. ] 31...f6 32.xh3 d3 33.c1 xf3+ W h i t e h a s n o c h o i c e b u t t o wa l k i n t o a discovered check. 34.f2 g5+ White has jettisoned some material, but Black's attack continues unabated. 35.f4 xh3+ 36.g2 xe4 37.f1 Resignation was a better choice, perhaps. xf4+ 38.xf4 xg3+ [ F i n i s h i n g t h e g a m e i n s t yl e , 38...b2+ 39.h1 xg3 was as effective, if rather mundane. ] 39.xg3 g5+ 40.h3 xf4 41.e1 f3+ [ 41...f3+ On 42.h2 there is: f4+ 43.h1 h3+ 44.g1 h2+ 45.f1 f3+ etc. ] 0-1
1337 Sulypa,Alexandre Brzeski,Maciej 6th Amplico AIG Life rapid (6) [John Watson]
A31 2478 2323 16.12.2006
1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.e3 0-0 8.5c3 e4 9.d2 This move used to be more popular. The recent examples tend towards delaying it for a while in favour of Be2, a3, b4, and Bb2. [ Since White is soon tied up, he might consider 9.c2 intending f5 10.d2 e7 11.b3 d6 ( 11...bd7 looks be tte r) 12.d4 g6 13.e2 compare the game. Nevertheless, Black is hardly suffering. ] 9...e7 10.e2 d8 11.a3 a5 Preventing b 4 i s l o g i c a l wh e n W h i t e l a c k s a n o t h e r positive plan. [ 11...f5 has been played. And capture of the d-pawn is unclear: ] [ 11...xd5!? 12.cxe4 xe3! ( 12...xe3? is unsound after 13.fxe3 xe3 14.b3! ) 13.fxe3 xe3 14.b3 xg2+ 15.f2 f4 1341
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with a dangerous attacking position. White may be better but it's hard to prove this, all the more so in practice. One line is 16.c4 h3+ 17.g2 f4+ 18.g3 h5+ 19.f2 c6! ] 12.c2 f5 13.0-0 bd7 14.b3!? [ 14.c4 ] 14...d6 15.d4?! [ 15.b5 e5 ( 15...xd5 16.xd6 xd6 17.d4 ) 16.3d4 is more to the point, although it's fair to call this dynamically balanced. ] 15...e5 16.g3 h3 17.d1 c5 [ or 17...ac8 . White is in quite a bit of trouble already. ] 18.b3 [ 18.f4!? exf3 19.xf3 supports e4 and d5 at the cost of exposing some weaknesses. ] 18...xb3 19.xb3 g4!? [ 19...f5! sets up an almost unstoppable attack, e.g., 20.d2 g4! 21.e1? xe2 22.xe2 h3 and wins. ] 20.c2 h5 21.h4 g5? To this point Black has played reasonably accurately (although 19... Qf5! was awfully strong) and he has at least equalit y because of the centre an d kingside light squares. But this attempt to blas t th rou gh f a ils to simp le e xch an ge s. 22.xg4 xg4 [ 22...xg4 23.xe4 gxh4 24.f3 and the knight can't move due to Nf6+. ] 23.hxg5 h8?! [ 23...xg5 24.xe4 f5 25.xf6+ xf6 26.g2 and Black's attack has dissipated as he remains two pawns down. In the game, Black sacrifices a piece with no compensation. ] 24.gxf6 g8 25.xe4 h5 26.h1 g4 27.d4 g6 28.e2 e5 29.h4 xf6 30.h6 d3 31.d2 xb2 32.e1 g7 33.c1 xc1 34.xc1 c3 35.g2 xa3 36.e2 d3 37.f4 e4+ 38.g1 b4 39.d1 a4 40.h5 g4 41.d4 g6 42.xg6 1-0
1338 Swiercz,D Meier,Geo French Top 12 2013 (9.1) [Daniel Gormally]
A31 2631 2655 07.06.2013
1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 c6 4.g3 g6 5.g2 d6 6.0-0 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d7 [ Grandmaster Keith Arkell swears by the variation 8...xd4 9.xd4 0-0 from the black side, this variation is very subtle and requires a great deal of strategic understanding by both sides. ] 9.c2 h5!? An interesting, if risky choice. Black elects to retain flexibility with his king in the center, meanwhile probing for weaknesses on the white kingside. 10.g5 [ Weaker is 10.h4?! c8 11.f4 g4! The knight has great irritation value here, as if White elects to try and kick it away with f3, then he just creates more weaknesses. 12.d2 a5 13.e4?! xd2 14.xd2 d8! Already Black is clearly better 15.c3 xc3 16.xc3 xc4 And Black went on to win in Gretarsson, H (2444)-Gustafsson, J (2647) Reykjavik 2011. Doubtless Meier had analysed this whole ..h5 idea with his countryman and good friend Gustafsson. ] 10...h7 [ 10...c8 11.e4?! I don't really understand this move, as White had enough control over the center in any case, and this just creates more targets for Black h7 12.d2 h4 13.f3 hxg3 14.hxg3 e5 15.b3 f6 16.e2 h5 17.f2? ( 17.e1 ) 17...b5 18.cxb5 c5+ 19.e3 Was Akesson, R (2448) -Maeurer, C (2266) Pardubice 2012, and now Black would be almost winning by force with the very strong d4! ] 11.f4 f8 [ 11...c8 12.d5!? Straightforward piece play in the center makes much more sense than the e4 plan h4 13.d2 f6 14.ce3 h3 15.f3 h5 16.xh5 xh5 17.g4 h8 18.ad1 e5 19.b4 xg4 20.xg4 xg4 21.c5 xc5 22.xc5 dxc5 23.c7+ xc7 24.xc7 f6 And Black has enough compensation for the exchange, although he later lost in Akopian, V (2693)-Dvoirys, S (2595) Moscow 2005 ] 1342
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.h4 e6 Re-routing the knight to e6 is an interesting idea, although you could argue it was f a irly well pla ced o n f 6 in any ca se . 13.d2 a6?! In my opinion Black's play in this phase of the game is too passive and complaint. Having first announces his desire to launch a kingside attack with ...h5, you would imagine that he would stoke up some early pressure, but he then changes horses midstream, and opts for more conventional play. Such a course of action rarely meets with success. [ Players of more a barbarian nature might well have considered 13...g5! here. 14.hxg5 h4 which would at least be consistent with h i s p r e v i o u s p l a y. B l a c k h a s p r a c t i c a l attacking chances, and in any case this is much more fun for him than what conspired in the game. ] 14.b1! White's play is straightforward and effective. He plans to expand on the queenside as much as possible, cramping Blac k b e f o re f orcin g a bre akt hro ugh . 0-0 15.e3 ed4 16.b4 b8 17.a4 e5 18.b5 e8 19.cd5 f5 [ White also retains the better chances after 19...g4 20.xg4 xg4 21.e1 axb5 22.c3 e5 23.axb5 a8 24.e3 ] 20.c1 e6 21.xf5 xf5 22.e3 d7 23.b3 a5 24.fd1 bc8 25.b6! This pawn proves to be a "bone in the throat" c5 26.a3 d7 [ 26...xa4? 27.d2+- ] [ Objectively Black should avoid what is c o m i n g w i t h 26...b8 27.g5 f8 although he remains on the defensive after 28.e3 ] 27.c7! Simple and strong. The b7 pawn falls, after which Black is in serious trouble. ed8 28.xc5 dxc5 29.xb7 b8 30.xa6! This is maybe what Black missed earlier. The bishop falls, but as a consequence Black is stuck in a deadly pin. xb7 31.xc5 xb6 32.xb7 [ 32.a5! c6 33.xb7 xb7 34.a6 Is perhaps even stronger. ] 32...xb7 33.xe7 c7 34.c5 f8 35.xd8! The final blow. xd8 36.c6 a3 [ 36...b6 37.xd7 b2 38.dd1 d6 39.c7 xc7 40.xc7 xe2 41.d8+ g7 42.dd7 Is an easy technical win. ]
37.c7 1-0
1339 Terzi,Simon Bareev,Evgeny TCh Bihac BIH (6) [Tony Kosten]
A31 2330 2698 26.08.1999
1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 5.c2 Not the most accurate move, White is obviously hoping for an equal ending. b5!? Hodgson's move, continuing in true gambit style. [ 5...d5 Equalizes immediately, 6.cxd5 xd5 7.xd5 xd5 8.e4 bett er tha n ( 8.g3?! c6 9.g2 e6 10.0-0 0-0-0! with an edge to Black, Andersson,U-Gelfand, B/Tilburg 1990.) 8...b4 9.xb4 xb4+ 10.d2 c6 11.b5 ] 6.cxb5 b7!? Black attempts to impede White's natural development. [ 6...a6 was played in the original game: 7.bxa6 xa6 8.e4 b7 9.e2?! xe4 wh ich is f a irly equ a l, S ch u lz-Ho dgs o n , Germany 1994. ] 7.e3 d5 8.e2 d6 In Hassen Fahdel,FMalmstig,E/Skelleftea 1999, Black played [ 8...bd7 instead, but after 9.0-0 d6 play was similar, the game continuing: 10.a4 e7 11.f4!? h5!? with some compensation for the pawn. ] 9.0-0 0-0 10.c3 bd7 11.b3 c8 12.b2 White has developed his pieces sensibly, but Black's strong centre will always allow him compensation. e7 13.c1 fd8 14.f4!? Once again the same idea. W hite cannot afford to wait passively while Black prepares a central breakthrough. f8 15.a4 d4! A typical thrust, releasing the pent-up force of the black set-up. 16.exd4 And not [ 16.fxe5? when xe5 17.g3 xc2! 18.xc2 xe3+ 19.f2 xg3! 20.hxg3 xg3+ 21.f1 d5 wins. ] 16...exf4 17.f3 White manages to parry the threats along this diagonal, anyway. e6 18.e1 xf3 19.xf3 d7 If Black can capture the b5-pawn, his control of d5, and better pieces will give him a plus. Meanwhile, White also has the threat of ...Ng5 to contend 1343
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with. 20.c5!? Trying to buy White off with a pawn, the alternative [ 20.b6?! allows Black to proceed with his attack: g5 21.f1 f3 and if 22.bxa7 when g4 is very strong. Otherwise, ] [ 20.e2 may be the best move, although after d5 Black should be able to recoup his pawn whenever he likes, maintaining an advantage. ( Or, alternatively, play for the attack with 20...g5 )] 20...xc5 21.dxc5 xc5+ 22.h1 g4 Black refuses to let-up, ...Nf2+ is threatened. 23.d4! A clever resource! After the 'normal' move [ 23.e2 Black can stay on top with e3 ] 23...h5!? Both protecting the g4-knight, and providing an escape square for the king. [ 23...xd4 24.xd4 xc1 25.xc1 xd4 26.xg4 allows White good drawing chances. ] 24.h3?! This allows Black to play the exchange on d4 under favourable circumstances. perhaps he should have tried [ 24.c6! i.e. f2+ 25.g1 e8! 26.f1 a s B la c k h a s n o t h in g b e t t e r t h a n d3+ allowing 27.xc5 xc5 28.xg7 xg7 29.c3+ and White has good play for the exchange. ] 24...xd4 25.xd4 xc1 26.xc1 xd4 27.hxg4 hxg4 28.xg4 e5?! Setting a trap, but [ 28...d2! i s s t r o n g , 29.f1 xa2 with real winning chances. ] 29.c8?? A terrible blunder. Defending the b5pawn with [ 29.a4 should hold the balance. e.g. e3 30.d1 ] 29...e1+ [ 29...e1+ 30.h2 g3+ 31.xg3 fxg3+ 32.xg3 xc8 wins the rook. ] 0-1
1340 Tomashevsky,Evgeny Morozevich,Alexander ch-RUS Superfinal (1) [John Watson]
A31 2564 2707 19.12.2005
Justin Horton first alerted me to Tomashevsky-Morozevich Moscow (Russian
Ch) 2005 which began 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.g3 b6 6.c2 [ [jw:] Most readers are probably unaware that the line 6.b3 e5 7.c5! c6 8.g1 is supposed to favour White! You have to love the open-mindedness of it all. One game went e6 9.f4 g6 10.g2 d5!? 11.cxd6 a6 12.e3 xd6 13.c3 d7? 14.xb7! xb7 15.xd6 with a killing advantage. Notice how nice it is to have the rook off of h1! ] 6...h5 Horton: "and Black won convincingly. The line (e.g. 3.d4 and 5.g3) is recommended in a number of places, notably Davies' Dyn am ic Re ti an d K h a lif ma n 's series o n Kramnik, but to me it's always looked as though White is short on development and I wo n d e r w h a t y o u t h i n k a b o u t i t ? " G o o d question! At first it looks as though 6...h5 doesn't have any great influence upon the opening, especially since W hite comes out with a reasonable game, only equal but with play for both sides. But if you compare it with 6...Ne4, you can see the point. Hansen says that "6.Nc2 can be answered comfortably in several ways" without mentioning any. [ Offhand, 6...e6 7.g2 d5!? 8.cxd5 exd5 strikes me as a possibility based upon what Justin says about White's development. ] [ But compare 6...e4 to the game : 7.e3 a5+ 8.d2 f5 Here 9.xe4 xe4 10.f3 has a safer appearance for White, better than arises the game. Perhaps he has an edge. In any case, here's the game: ] 7.h3 e4 8.e3 a5+! 9.d2 f5 10.f3 A key point. To try for advantage, White has to play [ 10.xe4 xe4 11.f3 ( 11.g1!? ) 11...e5 (hitting g3 this time) 12.f4 e4 13.g1 , intending Bd3, but that's a bit hard to believe. Maybe g6 14.d4 ( 14.d3 e6 15.g4 hxg4 16.hxg4 h2 ) 14...xd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.exd4 g7 is best, or at least very solid: 17.e3 d6 18.g2 d7 19.b3 c6 etc. ] 10...a5+ 11.d2 Acceding to a draw if Black wants it. [ 11.d2 xd2 12.xd2 xd2+ 13.xd2 d6 with the bishop pair ] 11...c5! 12.e2?! [ 12.b1 e5 13.b4 cd3+ 14.xd3 1344
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xd3+ 15.e2 xc1+ 16.xc1 is hard to assess. ] 12...g6?! [ 12...d6 with the idea 13.b1? f5 ] 13.b1 c7 14.d4?! [ 14.b4! ] 14...g7 15.b4 e6 16.xe6 dxe6 17.b2 xb2 18.xb2 b6= 19.b3 b7 20.c3 [ 20.0-0 ] 20...0-0 21.g1?! [ 21.0-0 e5 22.f4 ] 21...fd8 22.f4 a5 23.b5 b4 24.b3 d6 [ 24...c5 25.f2 f5 ] 25.a3? [ 25.f2 ] 25...d3+ 26.xd3 xd3 27.xd3 xd3 28.e2 xa3 29.c5 bxc5 30.c1 d8 31.xc5? [ 31.b3 c4 32.xc4 d5 33.d4 b8 ] 31...dd3! 32.c7 xe3+ 33.f2 d5 and should win. 34.d7 xg3? [ 34...h4! ] 35.xd5! exd5 36.b6 gd3 37.e2 e3+ 38.f1 a1+ 39.b1 a4?! [ 39...xh3 40.g2 ( 40.b7? xb1+ ) 40...a2 41.xa2 b3 42.d2 xb6 43.xa5 e6 ] 40.b7 a3 41.b8+ h7 42.f8 ½-½
1341 Vladimirov,Evgeny Ghaem Maghami,Ehsan 12th Goodricke Open (3) [Tony Kosten]
A31 2612 2504 08.02.2001
1.c4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e5 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.d6!? A relatively new idea, threatening to check on c7, and win a rook. However, the loss of time may prove important, can W hite really afford to play another pawn move? b6!? New, the other possibilities have all been tried: [ 7...e4?! (worth a try, but doubtful!) A) 8.d5! is st ron g, a5+ ( 8...xf2+? 9.d1 f6 10.c7+ wins ) 9.d2 xb5 10.e3 is very strong, White will take the epawn with check, and then the knight.; B) 8.c7+?? very naive, xc7 9.a4+ ( 9.dxc7 xf2# ) 9...c6 0-1 Johansen,S-
Sorensen,M/Aarhus 1994, and others. ] [ 7...a6?! this is wrong, as the b5-knight can no longer be attacked by ...a6, 8.1c3 0-0 9.e3 f5 10.a3 d7 11.e2 c6 12.b4 b6 13.0-0 ad8 14.b2 W hite has consolidated his one pawn advantage, Guseva, O-Khvostova,I/Rybinsk 1999. ] [ but 7...0-0! is best, 8.c7?! ( 8.1c3 c6 , Black has no problems) 8...e4 9.e3 b4+ 10.d2 xd6 11.xa8 d8 pin and win! 12.e2 xd2 13.xd2 xd2+ 14.f1 c6 Black is better, 15.c2 b8 winning the knight, and the game, Teske, H-Salmensuu,O/Koszalin 1999. ] 8.1c3 0-0 9.g3 a6 This way Black can kick the knight, and regain the pawn, unlike after 7...Na6, b ut h e will lo se th e bishop pair. 10.c7 xc7 11.dxc7 xc7 12.g2 d8 13.d2 c6 Black has good development, but he must achieve something concrete with it before the white bishops come into their own. 14.0-0 g4 15.h3?! e6 [ Missing a good chance, 15...d7! 16.hxg4 xd2 17.xd2 xd2 18.g5 e8 leaves Black with a very comfortable game, because of his active rook. ] 16.h2 h6 17.c1 ac8 18.d1 b5 19.e1 White has to contort his position. xd1 20.xd1 e7 [ 20...d8 21.c1 b6 keeps White passive. ] 21.a3 d8 22.c2 f5?! [ 22...f5 23.e3 d6 to c4 is an alternative. ] 23.e4 e6 24.d1 xd1 25.xd1 d7?! W h y c h a n g e t h e qu e e n s ? 26.f4 xd1 27.xd1 d7 28.e3 f6 29.c3 The endgame is pleasant for White who can utilise the long-term advantage of the bishop pair. f7 The e4-pawn will provide Black with co u nt e rpla y. 30.g1 b3 31.f2 c5 32.fxe5 fxe5 33.d5? [ A mistake, and 33.xe5?? is even worse: d3+ ] [ 33.e2 is better. ] 33...xe4+? [ Clearly, both players must have been short of time, 33...xd5 34.exd5 e7 35.e3 d6 wins the d-pawn for nothing. ] 34.xe4 xd5 35.xd5+ xd5 36.xe5 1345
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 With pawns on both sides of the board, the bishop is the stronger piece here. g6 37.f3 e6 38.g7 h5 39.e4 d6 40.f8+ e6 41.d4 f6 T o st o p K c5 . 42.h6 f5 43.d2 g5 44.e1 g4 45.h4 d7 46.b3 e6 47.d2 e5 48.f4 c6+ 49.c5 All Black's pawns are on light squares, but he cannot stop the king infiltrating on the c5square. If he had brought his king to the queenside, then the white king would have attacked on the kingside. a5 50.b4 c4 51.a4 b2 52.axb5 axb5 [ 52...d3+ 53.c4 xf4 54.bxa6 d5 55.c5 wins, the two pawns are unstoppable. ] 53.xb5 d5 54.b8 d3 55.c7 The main advantage of the bishop over the knight is that he can move and yet maintain control over the same squares, the knight cannot, and so is often Zugzwanged. d4 56.a5 d5 57.b5 c5 58.b8 d5 59.b6 c4 60.d6 1-0
1342 Wang Yue Megaranto,Susanto XV Asiad Men's Rapid rapid (2) [John Watson]
A31 2644 2492 02.12.2006
1.c4 f6 2.d4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 e5!? 5.b5 d5 6.cxd5 c5 7.5c3 0-0 A familiar gambit position. 8.e3 a6!? [ Usually 8...e4 follows at this point. See Sulypa-Brzeski in this update. Perhaps Black doesn't lose much by preparing ...b5 and securing a7 for his bishop. ] 9.a3 e7 But this looks a little inconsistent with ...a6, in that if Black wanted to play ... Rd8 he might have done so earlier, when W hite couldn't consolidate as easily. 10.b4 a7 In the main lines Black usually plays ... Bd6, but since in this position . ..e4 has yet to be played, [ 10...d6 can be answered by 11.e4 ] 11.e2 [ Now 11.e4!? is met by g4 12.a2 h4!? ( or 12...f5 )] 11...e4 12.b2 d8 13.d2 b5 V e r s u s N c 4 . 14.c2 f5 15.g4!?
Fancy, but simply [ 15.0-0 was probably better. ] 15...xg4? [ 15...xg4! 16.xg4!? xg4 17.g1 f5 18.cxe4 g6 looks good for White, but in fact he has no good entry points and the position is about equal. ] 16.xg4 [ Or 16.cxe4! xe4 17.xe4 ] 16...xg4 17.xe4 xe4 18.cxe4 White remains a pawn up. d7 [ 18...xd5 19.g1 f5 20.h3 fxe4 21.xg4 g6 22.xe4! threatens Re7, and f8 23.a4 or 23 Re6 gives White enough advantage to win. ] 19.g1 ge5 20.e2 g6 There's not much to do, so Black blocks off the rook on g1. Of c o u r s e t h i s w e a k e n s f 6 a n d h 6 . 21.ac1 ac8 22.d6 xc1 23.xc1 b8 24.b7 e8 25.h3!? [ 25.c5 or even ] [ 25.d6 is stronger. ] 25...b6 26.d6! ed7 27.b3 f5 28.d4 f7 29.xb6 xb6 30.3c5 f8 31.d1 c4 32.d7 1-0
1343 Adianto,Utut Espinosa,Rafael 34th Olympiad (3) [Tony Kosten]
A32 2583 30.10.2000
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c4 c5 4.c3 [ Allowing transposition into the English Opening, 4.d5 brings play into a Benoni. ] 4...cxd4 5.xd4 a6 6.g3 c7 Black wishes to force White to waste time defending his c4pawn, this line may well become more popular since featuring in the World Championship. 7.g2!? [ The most f un, White simply gambits the pawn hoping that his lead in development will compensate. Otherwise, 7.g5 A) taking the pawn is risky, as the queen and undeveloped c8-bishop are lined-up on the same file, but playable: 7...xc4 8.c1 b4 9.a3 a5 ( 9...b6? 10.d5! wins ) 10.xf6 gxf6 11.g2 unclear; 1346
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 7...e7 8.c1 leads to Hedgehog-style position, with equality, and the immediate defence of c4, ] [ 7.d3 is awkward, and after c6 8.xc6 dxc6 ( 8...xc6 9.e4 b6 i s a l s o r e a s o n a b l e) 9.g2 e5 '= ' K h a r it o n o v. 10.0-0 e6 11.a4!? and after this novelty a draw was agreed in Kasparov, G-Kramnik,V/London ENG 2000, ( 11.b3 is more usual, although d8 12.c2 e7 13.b2 0-0 is quite equal, Ribli,Z-Ljubojevic,L/Linares 1981. )] 7...xc4 8.f4 c6 9.b3!? [ Once again, the sharpest possibility, 9.xc6 bxc6 10.c1 b4 11.a3 b7 12.d6 led to a quick draw in Sosonko, GKavalek,L/Wijk aan Zee 1978. ] 9...d5 [ Tempting, but 9...b4 may be stronger, 10.e4 d6 with a solid set-up, Simonyi,ZIonescu,C/Odorheiu Secuiesc 1992. ] 10.0-0!? [ A novelty, but very logical, 10.a3 d4 11.d2 c5 12.a4 b5 13.c4!? e5 14.cb6 exf4 15.xa8 d6 favoured Black in Bates,R-Webster,A/Aberdeen 1994, and ] [ 10.c1 b4 11.0-0 e7 12.c7 d8 was about equal in Lesiege,A-Sagalchik,G/ Montreal 1995. ] 10...b4 11.e4!? White strikes quickly. d4 [ 11...xe4!? 12.xe4 ( 12.xe4 dxe4 13.a3 e7 14.xe4 e5 defends ) 12...dxe4 13.e1 f5 14.f3 is possible, if somewhat risky. ] 12.d5!! A piece sacrifice to open the central files against the king. exd5 13.exd5 e7 14.e1 g4?! 15.d3 [ 15.f3 f5 16.xd4 g6 17.d6 wi ll re ga i n t h e p i e c e , b u t W h it e wa n t s more. ] 15...d8 [ Perhaps Black should unpin with 15...d8 ] 16.h3 [ Black would be very happy with 16.d6?! e6 17.dxe7 xe7 ] 16...c8 17.ac1 Continuing to pile-on the pressure, how can Black continue? g5!? [ As an example of the problems facing Black: 17...fxd5!? 18.xd5 xd5? 19.xc8+ wins. ]
18.d2 d6 19.xd4 Although still a piece to the good, Black is completely lost! fxd5 [ Desperate, but if 19...g7 20.b4 ] 20.xh8 h6 21.xd5! xd5 22.xe7+ xe7 23.b4+ [ After 23.b4+ d7 24.xf8 it is now White who has an extra piece, in addition to his ongoing attack! ] 1-0
1344 Adianto,Utut Timman,Jan H Japfa Classic (4) [Tony Kosten]
A32 2584 2655 25.04.2000
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.f3 cxd4 5.xd4 Play has transposed into a Symmetrical English. b4+ 6.d2 b6 7.e3 c6 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 d8! [ A good new move, which adds force to the ...d5 move. Before, Black had often played this immediately: 9...d5 10.cxd5 xd4 ( 10...exd5 11.xb4 xb4 12.b3 d6 13.c3 xd4 14.exd4 e6 15.ac1 is f avourab le f o r W hit e, Mo ldoba ev, E Arnason,J/Moscow 1994) 11.xb4 xb4 12.xd4 xd4 13.exd4 exd5 14.c3 e6 15.ac1 allows White a pleasant advantage, because of the respective bishops, Hansen, C-Farago,I/Wijk 1988. ] 10.xb4 [ White takes play into a long, forcing, line, b u t o t h e r w i s e h e h a s n o t h i n g , 10.c3 can be met by e7 ( rather than 10...d5?! when 11.xc6 bxc6 12.xf6 is possible) 11.d2 d5 and Black will avoid the IQP. ] 10...xb4 Black allows the coming combination, he had no doubt analysed this at home. 11.xc6!? [ 11.xc6?! bxc6 12.xc6 allows Black a strong initiative after b8 13.g2 d5 ] 11...bxc6 12.xc6 xb2 The point, Black saves his own rook by menacing the a1-rook. 13.xd8 [ 13.d6 e4! forces White to exchange qu e e n s, wh e n h i s wo rse st r u ct u re is a problem. ] 13...xa1 14.d6 h6 15.a3 xa2 16.e7 White counterattacks the f7-pawn with 1347
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 his two active pieces. a6 17.xf7 f8 Wolf, V-Lau, R/Germany 1985) 11.e4 e7 18.e5 d2 19.b1 12.a3 b7 13.d6 xd6 14.xd6 b8 [ Perhaps 19.b5 was a better bet, although 15.c5 a7 16.d6 b8 17.c5 a7 xb5 20.cxb5 b8 seems OK. ] 18.d6 1/2-1/2 Dyachkov, S-Aseev, K/Elista 19...a5 20.d6?! 1996 ] [ Risky, as after this White loses his f-pawn, 9...d5 20.f4 is fine. ] [ Black has several alternatives at this 20...e4 21.d4 xf2! 22.d2 juncture: A) 9...e7 [ Rather than 22.xf2?? when e1+ wins. ] A) 10.e4 a5 11.e1 a4 12.e5 xe5 22...h3+ 23.g2 xf1 24.xf1 13.xe5 c7 14.f4 d6 15.c5 d8 [ 24.xf1?! is worse, e1 25.d2 g5 16.xc8 xc8 17.d2?! ( 17.c1!? axb3 threatening both ...Bb7+, and ...Qe2+. ] 18.b5 b8 19.c7+ f8 20.xa8 24...d5 xa8 21.xb3 ) 17...a3 18.b3 axb2 [ This doesn't come to much, but 24...b7 19.xb2 0-0 ( 19...d5! ) 20.c1 d7 peters-out after 25.d6 a1+ 26.e2 21.c4 Sanz Alonso, F-Silva, F/Barreiro h1 27.xd7 ] 2001; 25.g2! g5 26.h4 h7 27.c6 b6 B) 10.g5 0-0 11.c1 g4 12.d2 d5 28.cxd5 13.f4 f5 14.a4 b4 15.e3 d7 ½-½ 16.h3 e5 ( 16...g6!? ) 17.g4 exf4 18.xf4 e6 19.d3 de5 20.xd5 e7?! 21.e4 f5 22.e3 e6?? 1345 A32 , and Black resigned at the same time, 1-0, Ernst, S-Timman, T/ Amsterdam NED Agrest,Evgenij 2567 2006 ( 22...g6 23.xe7 xe7 Carlsson,Pontus 2514 24.d2 ); ch-SWE Vaxjo SWE (10) 08.07.2008 C) 10.f4 d5 ( 10...0-0!? 11.a3 a5 [Carsten Hansen] 12.c1 a4 13.d2 a6 14.e4 d6 15.e1 e5 16.f1 a7 17.e3 b6 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.d4 cxd4 left White with some compensation for the 5.xd4 a6 6.g3 c7 7.g2 pawn, Haroutjunian, D-Kudrin, S/ Yerevan [ In my book on the Symmetrical, I found 1996 ) Black to be doing fine after both of White's C1) 11.a3!? alternatives 7.d3 ] C1a) 11...0-0?! 12.c1 d8 13.c7?! [ and 7.g5 ] ( I'm not entirely sure why Aronian 7...xc4! d e c i d e d a g a i n s t 13.xd5 [ In my opinion, Black should definitely force which seems to offer White the better W hite to prove that he has adequate chances after exd5 14.xc4 dxc4 c o m p e n s a t i o n w i t h t h i s m o ve . A s o l i d 15.d2 ) 13...d7 14.b6 g4 alternative is 7...e7 , but Black shouldn't 15.c5 xc5 16.xc5 b5 17.e4 play like that. ] give s W h it e co m p e n sa t io n f o r t h e 8.0-0 pawn, Aronian, L-Prusikhin, M/Morso [ 8.f4 is the main line in my book, but DEN 2002; according to my analysis there, Black has C1b) 11...a5 12.c1 a6 13.e4 nothing to fear. ] , and here, way prematurely, the 8...c6 players agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2, [ 8...c7!? is also playable but less critical. ] in Tkachiev, V-Alekseev, E/Poikovsky 9.b3! RUS 2007; [ 9.xc6 bxc6 ( 9...dxc6 10.e4 e5 11.g5 C1c) 11...d4 12.d2 c5 e7 12.c1 g4 is already fine for Black) C1c1) 13.a4 b5 14.c4 e5 10.f4 b4 ( 10...d5 11.c1 b4 12.a3 15.xc6+ ( 15.ab6 exf4 16.xa8 a5 13.e4 e7 14.exd5 exd5 15.a4 xc4 is also terrible for White, b5 16.c2 , and White is already better, 1348
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 D / C h i c a g o 1 9 8 9 , a n d n o w 20.a5 Pedersen, S-Pilgaard, K/Aalborg d7 21.xc6 xc6 22.xc6 DEN 2006 ) 15...bxc6 16.xe5 g5 would leave White with an edge.; , and Black wins a piece for C2c) 12.e4 dxe4 13.c7 d5!? insufficient compensation, Sapunov, ( 13...0-0 14.e1 d5 15.xd5 exd5 E-Chuprikov, D/Tula 2002; 16.xd5 e6 17.xe4 xe4 C1c2) 13.ce4! f5 ( 13...xe4 18.xe4 ac8 19.b6 f6 14.xe4 b6 15.d6+ xd6 , Parmentier, X-Ionescu, D/ Montpellier 16.xd6 ) 14.d6+ xd6 15.xd6 FRA 2003, and here White can obtain e5 16.b3 ( 16.c1!? looks good the better chances with 20.c5! xb2 for W hite, e.g. e6 17.c4 d7 21.xe6 fxe6 22.b1 a3 23.f4 ) 18.e3! ) 16...d7 17.c4 a5 14.a3 ( or 14.xd5 exd5 15.xd5 18.xa5 xd6 19.c4 e7 0-0 16.xe4 xe4 17.xe4 f6!= ) 20.b6 e6 21.a4+ d7 14...xc3 15.xc3 b5 16.xe4 0-0 22.xd7 xd7 23.xd7+ xd7 17.c2 h5 18.f4 a5!? 19.f2 24.xb7?! ( 24.f4! is better for White ( 19.d1 e5 20.fxe5 e8 21.d4 d u e t o B l a c k ' s e x p o s e d k i n g) g4 is pleasant for Black) 19...a4 24...a7 , and if anything, Black has 20.c5 e5! 21.f3 ( 21.e1!? ) a slight pull, which he managed to 21...g4 22.xg4 xg4 23.fxe5 c o n ve r t t o a wi n i n M a k a ro v, M , and a lthough a draw was agree d Savchenko, B/ Serpukhov RUS upon at this point, 1/2-1/2, in Gelfand, 2007; B-Alekseev, E/Dortmund GER 2007, C2) 11.c1 b4 B l a c k a p p e a r s t o h a ve t h e b e t t e r C2a) 12.a3 b6 13.e4 c h a n c e s a f t e r f6! 24.f4 xf4 C2a1) 13...d4 14.a4 ( 14.d5? 25.xf4 fc8 ] exd5 15.exd5 g5-+ Ribli ) 14...a7 [ B) 9...b4!? 10.a3?! ( 10.e4!? 15.c7! ( 15.e5 d5 16.xd5 gives White excellent compensation for the exd5 ) 15...d7 16.e5 (Ribli) White pawn, whereas the text move throws away a obviously has more than adequate tempo ) 10...d6 11.c2 c7 12.e4 e7 compensation for the pawn(s).; 13.f4 d6 14.ac1 e5 15.fd1 d7 C2a2) 13...dxe4 14.xe4; 16.b1 b6 17.d4 0-0 , and Black is a C2a3) 13...xe4 14.xe4 dxe4 pawn up for nothing, Maki, J-Gurevich, D/ 15.xe4 0-0 ( 15...d7 16.e3 Las Vegas 1994 ] c7 17.c5 is mentioned by Ribli [ C) 9...b4!? 10.f4 xc3 11.c1 e4 W h i t e h a s t h e b e t t e r c h a n c e s .) 12.xe4 ( This is more or less admitting that 16.c2 h6 17.e3 ( White should White has nothing and will need to settle for of course stay away from 17.xc6? a d r a w . T h e a l t e r n a t i v e i s 12.d2!? bxc6 18.xc6 xb3 19.xa8 b7 , which after xd2 13.xd2 xa2 14.xc3 20.a7 f3-+ - Ribli ) 17...c7 0-0 15.d6 f6 leaves White with more or 18.d4 ( Here Ribli suggests 18.c5 less full compensation for the two pawns he and; 18.fd1 in both cases with has sacrificed, but is there more than that in compensation for the pawn, but quite it for him?) 12...xe4 13.xc3 d5 14.c5 possibly not much more than that.) f5 15.a4 e5 16.b6 b8 17.xc8 18...d7 19.xc6 ( or 19.xc6 , and here a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, bxc6 20.xc6 ac8 21.e4= ) in Gelfand, B-Pantsulaia, L/Khanty Mansyisk 19...bxc6 20.xc6 xc6 21.xc6 RUS 2005. ] xc6 22.xc6 fb8= Kornev, A10.f4 Balashov, Y/ Krasnodar 2002; [ Making room for the Rc1, and also C2b) 12.c7!? d8 13.xd8 xd8 preventing a kingside escape for the queen. 14.e4 dxe4 15.e1 0-0 16.xe4 After 10.g5 e7 11.c1 g4 (there isn't xe4 17.xe4 e7 18.ec4 c6 particularly many squares available to the 19.xc6 bxc6 was Levit, R-Gurevich, 1349
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 black queen, but this move both attacks the bishop and discourages e2-e4) 12.f4 0-0 13.a4 e5 14.b6 b8 15.d2 e6 16.c5 xc5 17.xc5 d4 18.c1 bd8 Blac k is su cce ssf u lly con solid at ing h is advantage, Silva, F-Galego, L/Lisbon 1993 ] 10...b4 11.a3 [ The first new move. A previous game saw 11.e1!? e7 12.e4 dxe4 13.c7! e3 14.xe3 0-0 15.h3 a7 16.c1 b5 17.a3 xc3 18.cxc3 a4 19.c1 , and White has adequate compensation for the pawn and then some, Kasparov, GKramnik, V/Moscow 2001 ] [ 11.e4 was analysed in Adianto, UEspinosa Flores, R, see the PGN Archive. ] 11...b6 12.e4! dxe4 [ 12...d4 13.a4 a7 14.c1!? ( 14.e5 d5 15.c1 e7 16.h5 also offers W hite a solid measure of compensation) 14...e5 15.xc6! g4 ( 15...bxc6 16.xe5 c5 17.xd4! cxd4 18.xd4 c7 19.e5 , and W hite is winning) 16.f3 bxc6 17.xe5 looks pretty good for White. ] 13.d2!? [ 13.xe4 xe4 14.xe4 is also playable, but the text move seeks to exploit White's lea d in d eve lo pme nt and t he sore d ark squares in Black's position. ] 13...d5 14.c4 d8 [ 14...d4!? also deserves attention ] 15.xe4 xf4 16.gxf4 e7 [ 16...c7 17.c1 e7 18.ed6+ f8 19.d3 is also quite unpleasant for Black. ] 17.ed6+ [ As obvious as it seems, it is hard to believe that this may be a mistake. Based on the analysis of the game continuation, Black seems to be more than okay after the text move. Therefore W hite may have to look in t o t h e a lt e r n a t i ve s, s u c h a s 17.xd8+ , but A) 17...xd8 18.g5! c7 ( 18...f8 19.fd1+ c7 20.xh7 h8 21.g5 leaves White with an on-going initiative.) 19.xf7 f8 20.ce5 xe5 21.xe5 b6 22.ac1 xf4 23.fd1 and White has sufficient compensation for the pawn; B) 17...xd8! 18.ed6+ e7 19.fd1 c7 20.xc6 bxc6 21.e5 xd6 22.xc6+ f6 23.xd6 b7 24.e5
hd8 is an improved version of the game from Black's perspective ] 17...xd6 18.xd6+ e7 19.c4 xd1 20.fxd1 b8! 21.xc6 [ 21.e5 f6 22.xc6+ bxc6 23.b4 b7 24.ac1 hd8 ] 21...bxc6 22.e5!? White aggressively pursues the idea that his dominant knight will provide more than adequate compensation for the pawns. However, as we will see in the a n a lysi s b e lo w, B la ck h a s s e ve r a l g o o d alternatives. [ If White tries 22.b4 , then Black obtains the better game with b7 23.ac1 c5! 24.bxc5 g6! , fixing the f4-pawn and preventing f4f5 shenanigans if Black places the bishop on d5. ] 22...xb2 23.ac1 f6! [ Black has a solid alternative in 23...e8 , e.g. 24.xc6 f8 ( 24...b7!? ) 25.c7 f6 ( 25...b7 26.xf7+ g8 27.f1 d5 28.c1 eb8 29.cc7 b1+ 30.e2 8b2+ 31.e3 b3+ 32.d2 1b2+ with a draw by perpetual check) 26.f7+ g8 27.e7 f8 28.f7+ is a draw by repetition ] 24.h4?! [ White is obviously concerned about Black undermining the knight on e5 with a ... g7-g5 a n d d e f in it e ly sh o u l d b e . Ho we v e r, h e should have given preference to 24.xc6!? , and now g5 needs careful examination because W hite chose to prevent it in the game: ( 24...b7!? also deserves consideration) 25.g4+ f5 26.e3+! xf4 27.c4 b8 28.c7 f8 ( 28...g4 29.e5+ h5 30.xf7 is very uncomfortable, but possibly okay for B la ck if h e ca n a vo id ge t t in g m a t e d . . .) 29.d6 a5 30.c4+ ( 30.c5 g4! 31.xa5 h5 ) 30...e5 31.c5+ f6 32.e4+ g7 33.xg5+ h8 34.d6 d7 35.xa5 c6 36.g5 d5 , and Black's b i s h o p h a s t a k e n o ve r t h e r o l e a s t h e dominating minor piece, leaving Black with the better chances. ] 24...b5?! [ Thus far Black has defended well by remaining active and forcing White to play accurately. The text move, however, is a step in the wrong direction, even Black is 1350
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 still doing rather well. Black should instead opt for 24...b6 25.d7 b7 26.d6 a7 27.a4 g8 28.a5 h6 29.dxc6 d7 30.c7 xc7 31.xc7 e8 32.a7 f5 , and Black is actively taking part in the game. ] [ B u t a n e v e n b e t t e r o p t i o n i s 24...h6! 25.xc6 g5! , undermining the knight on e5, 26.e1 ( 26.c4 c2 , and Black is in complete control of the game.; 26.g4+ g7! ) 26...gxf4 27.c4 g8+ 28.f1 g7 29.xf4 f5 ] 25.xc6 f8? [ This is such an obvious move, and probably one made in the early stages of time trouble, yet it is only now that Black truly ends up in difficulties. Black should instead defend the 7th rank with 25...b7! 26.dc1 ( 26.xa6 c7 27.b6 e8 28.a4 b7 29.a5 a8 followed by ...Rec8 and ...Ke7, and Black is by no means worse.) 26...d7 27.c7 xc7 28.xc7 e8 29.a7 ( 29.c8 h6!? , i n t e n d i n g 30.a8 g5! , and Black is playing for a win) 29...h6 30.xa6 g5 31.a5 gxh4 32.h2 g8 33.h3 g1 , and Black is definitely in the game, and may even be better. ] 26.dc1 b8 27.c7 a5?! [ 27...g6 28.a7 is also clearly better for White ] 28.1c5 g6 29.xa5 b1+ 30.h2 b7 31.f3 g7 32.a7 1-0
[ 6...c5 ] [ 6...a5+ and ] [ 6...b6 are all playable. ] 7.d2 e7 8.c3 0-0 9.0-0 d5 10.cxd5 xd5 This produces a double-edged game. [ 10...exd5 is also logical, since White will have a hard time getting to the isolated pawn. ] 11.xc6 bxc6 12.c2 b6 13.e4 xc3 14.xc3 This is an interesting position because White's minor pieces look excellent and Black's c-pawn could be a problem. But already the bishop pair is a balancing factor. a6 15.fd1 fd8 16.ac1 xd1+ 17.xd1 d8 18.xd8+ xd8 19.f1 b7! By keeping the bishop pair Black is able to create counterplay when his c-pawn is attacked. 20.d3 c7 21.b3 h6 22.a4 c5 23.c2 e5 24.f3 g5! Intending ...g4. 25.c3 f6!? [ 25...d4+ 26.xd4 ( 26.g2 g4! ) 26...cxd4 is obviously good, but Black may have pictured White's knight on d3 and the difficulty of making progress in that case. ] 26.xe5 xe5 27.g4 f5! 28.c4 fxe4 29.xe6+ f8 30.fxe4 xe4 31.f2 e7 32.e3 c6 33.c4 xh2 34.c3 [ 34.xc5?? g1+ ] 34...g1+ 35.e2 f6 [ 35...d7! 36.d5+ d6 ] 36.d5+ e5 37.e7 From here on out Black's use of the bishop pair is enjoyable and instructive. d7 38.f3 d4 39.g8 c6+ 40.g3 c3 41.xh6 e1+ 42.h3 d4 43.f7 d2 44.d8 e4 45.e6+ 1346 A32 c3 46.xc5 b1 47.a4 c2 48.g3 e3 Archangelsky,Mikhail 2270 49.a6 xb3 50.b5 d5 51.h3 f4 Brodsky,Michail 2566 Paralysing White's so that his own can take 10th Essent Open (1) 20.10.2006 over. 52.c5 d4 53.d7 a5 54.b6 e6 55.d7 c7 56.f6 b3 57.g2 d1! [John Watson] 58.d7 e5 59.h5 d6 One of the pawns The opening isn't tremendously significant, falls. but shows Black with the option of equalising 0-1 easily in this particular anti-Benoni System. He chooses a doubled-edged system instead. I couldn't resist showing Black's beautiful handling of the two bishops. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 c6 5.c4 cxd4 6.xd4 W e've seen this anti-Benoni Symmetrical English without Nc3 before. Black has several good replies. b4+ 1351
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e1+ 31.g2 d1 32.c7 g6 33.f3 h1+ 34.e3 a1 In the queen endgame W h it e will h a ve le ss co u nt e rp la y. 35.c2 xa4 36.xa4 c1+ 37.f3 c3+ 38.g2 a5 39.g4 [ 39.e4 might have been a better way of opening Black's king up. ] 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.g3 b4+ 6.d2 This blocks the check 39...e5 40.gxf5+ xf5 41.e8 g6 without allowing exchanges - Black won't want 42.f8 a4 43.e3 e4+ 44.g3 d3 45.h4 to give up his bishop without good reason. On a3 46.h2 f5 47.xa3 xf2+ 48.h3 the other hand the knight is quite passively f3+ 49.h2 h5 50.f8 f2+ 51.h1 placed there. c6 7.c2 e7 8.g2 0-0 g4 9.0-0 b8 A logical way of trying to exploit the 0-1 fact that White's queen's knight can't come to c3. The lack of control of the b5 square makes A32 ...b7-b5 an option, nibbling away at White's 1348 space taking c4 pawn. 10.e4 A new move Aronian,Levon 2759 with clear intent White wants to put the knight Carlsen,Magnus 2693 on d6 and he gets it away from the passive WCh Candidates s/f (11) 03.06.2007 d 2 s qu a r e . M a yb e it g ive s W h it e a li t t l e [Carsten Hansen] something. [ A previous game proceeded with the more 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c4 c5 4.g3 cxd4 sedate 10.b3 after which b5 11.b2 a5 5.xd4 b4+ 6.d2 c5 7.b3 e7 12.a3 b4 13.cxb5 xb5 14.d4 b8 8.g2 c6 9.c3 b6 10.f4 b7 11.0-0 15.c4 b7 was fine for Black in Jablonicky, 0-0 12.d6!? F (2246)-Lisko, F (2308)/ Slovakia 2006. ] [ This isn't a new move, but one that hasn't 10...b5 been played for more than half a century. [ 10...d6 was also worth considering, Interestingly enough amongst the keeping the knight out of d6. ] alternatives we find games of both Aronian 11.cxb5 xb5 12.d6 xd6 a n d C a r ls e n p l a yi n g t h e wh i t e p i e c e s . [ 12...b6 looks like a reasonable Aronian drew two games against Leko this alternative. ] year, while Carlsen back in 2004 lost to 13.xd6 b7 14.a3 b6 15.e3 xb2 Bologan and only a few months ago won 16.c5 e8 17.ab1 against Moscow, yet Carlsen must have [ 17.c4 looks good at first as after xe2 be e n suf f icie nt ly im pre sse d b y B lac k 's 18.d1 Black's rook is trapped. But he can chances in this line... A) 12.d2 turn it into a 'sacrifice' with a6 19.xe2 d5 A) 12...c8 13.fd1 ( 13.d6!? e8 20.fc1 a8 with compensation for the 14.c5 bxc5 15.xc5 d5?! 16.e4 xc5 exchange. ] 17.xc5 a8 18.exd5 e7 19.b4 xd5 17...xb1 18.xb1 a6 19.b5 xb5 20.fd1; 13.e4 d6 14.b5 e5= ) 20.xb5 c8 21.a4 h6 22.a3?! 13...a6 14.b5 d5 After Black's reply he seems to be getting on A1) 15.ac1 top. A1a) 15...e5!? 16.cxd5!? ( 16.e3 [ 22.e3 seems better when a6 23.xc6 dxc4 17.xd8 fxd8 18.xd8+ xd8 dxc6 24.b4 gives White just about enough 19.xc6 cxb3 20.axb3 g4 ) for the pawn. ] 16...exf4 17.xf4 xb5 18.dxc6 c7 22...a6 23.b2 xa4 24.xc6 dxc6 19.xc7 xc7 20.d4 a6 21.e3 25.b4 a5 It's now clear that White's d8 leaves White with a fair amount of compensation has ebbed away and he is left compensation for the piece, though I fighting for a draw. 26.xf6 gxf6 27.g4+ wouldn't recommend playing this line h7 28.xc6 d8 29.c2+ f5 30.a4 against someone as technically 1347 Aronian,Levon Carlsen,Magnus Grand Slam Final (1) [Nigel Davies]
A32 2737 2775 02.09.2008
1352
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 competent as Leko.; A1b) 15...dxc4 16.xc6 xb5 ( 16...xd2!? 17.xd2 xb5 18.xb5 cxb3 19.xc8 xc8 20.axb3 g5 21.e3 g4 22.d4 c1+ 23.g2 f6 24.xf6 xf6 25.d8+ g7 ) 17.xd8 ( 17.xb5!? cxb3 18.axb3 xd2 19.xd2 a5 20.g2 ) 17...fxd8 18.xd8+ ( 18.xb5 xd1+ 19.xd1 cxb3 20.axb3 d5 21.e5 c5 22.c4= ) 18...xd8 19.xb5 cxb3 20.axb3 d5 21.d2 h6 22.g2 b4 23.xb4 xb4= L.Aronian-P.Leko, Monte Carlo 2007; A2) 15.cxd5 xd5 A2a) 16.e4!? b4 17.g5 e8 18.e2 c7 19.a4 e5 ( 19...f6 20.e3 e5 21.ac1 ) 20.ac1 xb5 21.axb5 xb5 22.h5 a4 23.d4 c5 24.e3 f6 25.h3; A2b) 16.xd5 xb5 17.f3 ( 17.e4 xd2 18.xd2 f5 19.g2 a5 20.ad1 b4 ) 17...xd2 18.xd2 f6 19.c1 e5 ( 19...g5!? 20.d6 fd8 21.cd1 e5 ) 20.xe5 xe5 21.xc8 xc8 22.b7 b8 23.e4 g5 24.g4 c8 25.e3 g7 26.g2 c4 V.Burmakin-E.Miroshnichenko, Bad Wiessee 2005; B) 12...a5 13.xa5 xg2 14.xg2 bxa5 15.ac1 ( 15.e4!? c8 16.d3 b7 17.fd1 ac8 18.b3 b4 19.b5 fd8 20.g5 a6 21.d4 e7 ) 15...b6 16.b3 d5 17.cxd5 b4 18.e5 ( 18.dxe6 xe6 19.e3 ) 18...xc3 19.xc3 e4 20.d4 xc3 21.xb6 axb6 22.xc3 exd5 23.d1 fd8 24.cd3+- , White has a winning endgame, M.Carlsen-E.Moskow, Gausdal 2007; C) 12...d6 13.fd1 e8 14.ac1 c8 15.b5 e5 ( 15...a6 16.c3 e5 17.xe5 dxe5 18.d7 ) 16.g5 f6 17.e3 d8 18.c3 ( 18.xb7 xb7 19.c3 f7 20.d5 ) 18...xg2 19.xg2 e6 20.d5 b7 21.f3 f5 , and while W hite is better, Black has d e c e n t c o u n t e r p l a y, G . A g za m o v- O . Romanishin, Yerevan 1982 ] [ B) 12.c1 A) 12...a6 13.d2 ( 13.d6!? c8 14.a4 xd6 15.xd6 e8 16.f4 d6
17.fd1 a8 18.c5 bxc5 19.axc5 ) 13...a7 14.fd1 a8 15.c7 ( 15.a4!? d8 16.c5 bxc5 17.bxc5 d5 18.xb7 xb7 19.c5 e7 20.e4+- ) 15...b5 16.cxb5 axb5 17.xb5 xa2 18.d6 ( 18.c3 a6 19.e4 d6 ) 18...xd6 19.xd6 a5 20.xb7 xb7 is a tiny bit better for Black, A.Denk-E. Rotshtein, Vienna 1996; B) 12...d6 13.b5 e8 14.d2 a6 15.c3 B1) 15...c7?! 16.d5!; B2) 15...b8 B2a) 16.c5 e5 17.cxd6 xd6 18.d5 exf4 19.xc6 d8 20.c2 fxg3 21.hxg3 ( 21.fxg3!? ); B2b) 16.a4 d8 17.e4 c6 18.c3 f5 19.d4 b7 20.h3; B3) 15...f6 16.fd1 e8 17.e4; B4) 15...b5? 16.cxb5 axb5 17.d4 d5 18.xd5 xd4 19.xe7+ xe7 20.xd4 xg2 21.xg2 xa2 22.a1 O.Romanishin-G.Kuzmin, Alushta 2004; C) 12...c8 13.d6 ( 13.e4 d6 14.e2 c7 15.fd1 d7 16.e3 a8= V. Spinga-S.Lyly, corr 1993) 13...e8 14.xe7 xe7 15.d4 d6 16.b3 xd4 17.xd4 xg2 18.xg2= J.Horvath-E. Anka, Budapest 1995 ] [ C) 12.e4 A) 12...c8?! 13.b5 ( 13.e5 e8 14.b5 a6 15.a7 c7 16.xc6 xc6 17.xc6 xc6 18.e2 g5 19.d2 d6 20.fd1 ) 13...e8 14.e5 f5? ( 14...a6 transposes to the line after 13 e5 above) 15.xa7 xa7 16.xb7 xc4 17.d3 d5?! 18.exd6 xf4 19.gxf4 xd6 20.fd1 ( or 20.fe1+- ) 20...b8 21.g2 xf4 So far M.Boesveld-R.Van Doorn, N e t h e r l a n d s 1 9 9 5 , a n d n o w 22.h3+is simplest; B) 12...d6 13.e2 c7 ( Black can also consider 13...c8!? 14.fd1 e5 ) 14.b5 b8 15.ad1 d8 16.c5 bxc5 ( Or 16...e5 17.cxd6 xd6 18.xd6 xd6 19.e3 f8 20.xd6 xd6 21.d1 ) 17.xc5 e5 18.xb7 xb7 19.c1 a6 20.b3 ab8 21.d4 xe2 22.xe2 b4 23.c3 ( 23.d2!? dc8 24.fd1 ) 23...dc8 24.b2? ( 24.d2 ) 24...xa2 25.xa2 c2 L.Aronian-P. 1353
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Leko, Morelia/Linares 2007 ] [ D) 12.b5 a5 ( 12...d5!? 13.c1 c8 14.cxd5 xd5 ) 13.d3 xg2 14.xg2 a6 15.c3 b7 16.fd1 ( 16.f3!? d6 17.d2 c8 18.b3 de8 19.ad1 d6 ) 16...d6 17.f3 c7 , and Black is already developing some initiative, M.Carlsen-V. Bologan, Sanxenxo 2004 ] 12...a5?! [ This move is thematic in this particular line, but particularly in this position, I don't think it works. A possible improvement is 12...e8!? , e.g. 13.xe7 xe7 14.d2 c8 15.ac1 d6 with approximately even chances ] 13.xa5 xg2 14.xg2 bxa5 15.e4 [ The earlier game in this line ran 15.b3 e8 16.xe7 xe7 17.d4 d6 18.ad1 d8 ( 18...f5 19.f3 d8 ) 19.e4 f6 20.f3 P.Trifunovic-V.Sokolov, Zenica 1963 I don't see any obvious improvements for Black, so I general this line is in dire need of some solid new ideas that can help put this line back in business. ] 15...c8 16.b3 xd6 17.xd6 a4 18.e5 e8 19.d4 axb3 20.axb3 f6 21.xa7 c7 22.xc7 xc7 23.exf6 xf6 24.b5 c6+ [ Or 24...a5 25.a1 b4 26.d3 d5 27.e3 e4 28.f3 c5 29.d4 dxc4 30.xe6 xe6 31.xe6+ h8 32.xc4 d2+ 33.h1 e3 34.f1+- ] 25.f3 h6 [ Compared to the game continuation, 25...d5!? may represent a better chance, e. g. 26.e5 dxc4 27.d6 d5 28.xc4 d7 29.xd5 exd5 30.d2 and White should win in the long run, but there is a fair amount of work left to be done. ] 26.a1 h7 27.e4 d5 28.e2 dxc4 [ Or 28...g5 29.d4 b6 30.d1 dxc4 31.bxc4+- ] 29.d4 d5?! [ I don't know if Carlsen thought he could hold the endgame after an exchange of the queens, but in a rapid play game such as this, and already being on the verge on losing, I would think that a better practical approach would be to keep the queens on, although 29...d7 30.xc4 h8 31.xe6 e8 32.f4 d2+ 33.h1 g5 34.f1
hardly makes a compelling for avoiding the queen exchange, but at least Black can play for tricks for a while. ] 30.xc4 xc4 31.bxc4 c8 32.c1 e5 33.f5 f8 34.c5 g5 35.d6 [ 35.c6!? e6 36.d6 c7 37.b5 c8 38.f2+- ] 35...c6 36.h4 e6 37.e4 e7 38.h5! (White fixes Black's structural weakness and thereby securing an entry path for his king) c7 39.h3 d4 40.g4 e6 41.c2 d4 42.c3 c6 43.a3 e6 44.f5 xc5 45.c3 g6+ 46.hxg6 e6 47.xc6 d4+ 48.g4 xc6 49.h5 f8 50.xh6 e7 51.h7 1-0
1349 Blagojevic,Dragisa Akopian,Vladimir ECC Halkidiki GRE (3) [Tony Kosten]
A32 2537 2678 24.09.2002
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.f3 cxd4 5.xd4 b4+ 6.d2 I guess this might be considered to be a Catalan (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 g3 Bb4+ 4 Nd2 c5 5 Nf3 cxd4 6 Nxd4) but I think that this is much more likely to arise from the English move-order. [ 6.d2 is stronger, I think, and we have already looked at this a couple of times. ] 6...b6 This is the main problem, the d4knight is loose and Black can gain a slight initiative attacking it. 7.a3 [ 7.4f3 e4 8.e3 xd2+?! 9.xd2 xd2 10.xd2 c6 11.g1 a5 12.g2 c7 13.c3 was played as long ago as 1931 (!) in Santasiere,A-Lasker,E/New York but White is better here. ] 7...c5!? A novelty, Black intends to concede the bishop pair to make sure the white king cannot castle kingside. [ 7...e7 is solid, aiming for a Hedgehog, 8.2f3 a6 9.g2 d6 10.0-0 0-0 Djuric,S-Govedarica, R/Tivat 1995, but ] [ 7...xd2+!? has similar ideas to the text: 8.xd2 c6 9.e3 0-0 10.b4 xd4 11.xd4 c6 12.g1 d6 and the position is almost identical! Alburt,L-Adorjan,A/New York 1985. ] 1354
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.2b3 c6 9.xc5 xc5 10.e3 [ 10.b5!? 0-0 11.e3 xc4 12.d6 might be the way to go, with good comp for the pawn. ] 10...xd4 11.xd4 c6 The point, as in the Adorjan game Black forces the rook to move thus leaving the white king without a satisfactory resting place. 12.g1 d6 13.g2 c7 14.b3 e5! This is a strategically correct decision, Black constructs a barrier against the white dark-squared bishop, and opens a route for his own bishop. Note that this idea is less clear when White has a knight that can exploit the weaknesses created on d5 and f5. 15.d3 0-0 16.b2 d8 17.d2!? An imaginative way of castling, if White had won we might see two exclamation marks attached to it! e6 18.gc1 e7 Moving the queen off the c-file means that Black threatens .. .d5 anew. 19.e1 White can do nothing to stop the freeing ...d5 advance now, for instance [ 19.e4 b5! 20.cxb5 d5 and having the white king and queen on the same file as the black rook proves nasty. ] 19...d5 20.cxd5?! After this move, obvious it is true, Black exchanges the g2-bishop and attacks on the light squares, other moves were feasible, [ 20.c3 for example. ] 20...xd5 21.xd5 xd5 22.c4 [ 22.f5!? ] 22...h5!? Providing a 'luft' for the king whilst at the same time gaining the g4-square for the knight. [ 22...ad8 was also strong. ] 23.d1 Perhaps not best, [ 23.c7!? offers to exchange queens and wo u l d h a v e o b l i g e d B l a c k t o p l a y e8 i f h e w a n t s t o a t t a c k , 24.xb7 b8 25.xa7!? xb3 26.c3!? ( Black certainly has adequate compensation after 26.c2 b5! )] 23...c5 24.d3 g4 25.h3 h2! Certainly this bold move must have been unexpected, for how does the knight escape from its self-imposed cage once White covers f3? As we shall see, Black had everything finely calculated. 26.e4 [ 26.e4 e6 27.xb7 ac8 28.g2 c2 29.xh2 ( 29.c1 xb3 30.d2 d8
31.xh2 dxd2 32.xd2 xd2 33.xd2 b2+ regains the material with advantage) 29...xb3! 30.xe5? b5 wins. ] 26...e6 Aiming for h3, thence g2 or g4 to control f3 and make a knight check. 27.h4 g4 28.ac1 ac8 29.xc5 xc5 30.c1 This move seems inferior, as by capturing on c1 Black diverts the bishop from the control of d4, but W hite had almost no other moves. f3+ 31.e2 There is little to choose between the two king moves, [ 31.f1 h3+ 32.e2 xc1 33.xc1 d4+ as although material is equal here the king is kicked around the board. ] 31...xc1 32.xc1 xh4+ 33.f1 f3 34.e3 At the cost of a pawn White has freed his position somewhat, but the problems on the light squares are not going to go away. b6 35.d8+ h7 36.e7 f6 [ 36...f5! i s s t r o n g , 37.exf5 xf5 and ...Qb1+ followed by ...e4, defending the knight, and mate is on the cards. ] 37.xa7 xe4 38.xb6?? This blunder allows a forced mate, [ 38.f7 intends to take on h5+ and force a perpetual check, d3+ 39.g2 e1+ 40.h2 f5 41.c4 with some play, although something like e4! would be u n p l e a s a n t , 42.xb6? h4! with strong threats. ] 38...b1+ 39.e2 e4 Black menaces mate on both d3 and e1, and it is difficult to stop them both! 0-1
1350 Camarena Gimenez,Rufino Delchev,Aleksander XXI Open Cullera ESP (3) [Tony Kosten]
A32 2328 2629 21.07.2001
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.f3 cxd4 5.xd4 c7 6.c3 a6 7.g2 xc4 Black grabs the hot pawn, and hopes to fendoff the ensuing attack. 8.f4 c5!? [ A new idea, planning to bring the queen back to safety, at the cost of development. W e have already examined the main line 8...c6 9.b3 d5 in the brilliant game Adianto,U - Espinosa,R. ] 1355
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.c1 a5 The queen is one move from returning home. W hite is way ahead in development, but the black position is ultrasolid. 10.0-0 c6 11.xc6?! [ 11.b3 makes more sense, keeping pieces on the board, when d8 12.e4 d6 13.d2 ( or 13.e2 e7 14.fd1 ) 13...e7 14.fd1 seems to force the positional concession e5 with chances to both sides. ] 11...dxc6 Planning to solve his development problems by ... e5. 12.d6 d8! This forces the exchange of queens, and in the endgame W h it e 's p a wn le ss is a se riou s p ro b le m . 13.xf8 xd1 14.fxd1 xf8 15.a4 e7 16.e4 d7 [ Safe play, 16...e5?! 17.b6 b8 18.c5 regains a pawn. ] 17.f4 f6 18.d2 a5 19.f2 g5 Black's main problem, apart from the lack of space (which is not overly serious), is the number of pawns he has on the same colour squares as his bishop, so he gradually moves them on to dark squares. 20.e3 gxf4+ 21.gxf4 e5 22.f5 b5! 23.c3 [ 23.c5 xc5 24.xc5 b7 25.a3 fd8 and Black wins easily by swapping rooks on the d-file, playing ... Rd8-d4, and then ...Kd6 to shift the rook from c5. ] 23...b6 24.f1 d7 25.g2 g8 26.g3 h5 27.e2 h4 28.h3 h8 29.g1 h7 30.b1 e8 31.d2 f7 32.b3 a4 White has done as much as he can, but the extra queenside pawn is bound to tell sooner or later. 33.d3 axb3 34.axb3 c4! 35.f3 [ 35.bxc4? a3+ skewering the king against the rook. ] 35...a3 36.c3 d6 37.d3 xb3+ 38.c2 a3 39.xh4 d7 40.gg3 c5 The connected passed pawns are too strong. 0-1
1351 Carlsen,Magnus Polgar,Judit Blindfold World Cup rapid (8) [Carsten Hansen]
A32 2714 2708 19.10.2007
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.f3 c5 4.c3 cxd4 5.xd4 b6 6.g3 c5 7.e3 c6 8.g2!? [ Aside from this gambit continuation, White h a s t r i e d a n u m b e r o f t h i n gs : A ) 8.b3 is rather tame, and doesn't do anything to bother Black A) 8...b4 A1) 9.e2 e4 10.d2 xd2 11.xd2 0-0 A1a) 12.g2 a6 13.e2 b6; A1b) 12.e2!? d5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.0-0 ( 14.xd5 h3 ) 14...d8 15.d3 e6; A1c) 12.a3?! e7 13.c2 d6 14.g2 e5 15.d2 d7 16.0-0 ac8 17.b3 c7 is very confortable for Black, Romero Holmes, ANogueiras, J/Yucatan 1999; A2) 9.d2 e5 10.e2 0-0 11.f4 g6 12.e4 d5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.e5 g4 Granda Zuniga, J-Suba, M/ Zaragoza 1995; B) 8...e7 9.g2 ( 9.e2 0-0 10.0-0 d6 11.e4 c7 12.e3 b6 13.c1 e5= Ho e sch ele , H-S u et in, A/ G rie sk irc h e n 1998 ) 9...0-0 10.0-0 d6 11.e4 e5 12.e3 b4 13.c5 dxc5 14.a3 c4 15.c1 d8 16.d5 exd5 17.xc4 dxc4 18.d2 b5 , and Black has enough for the queen, Paunovic, T-Rogulj, B/Belgrade 1988 ] [ B) White's main alternative is likely 8.a4!? , e.g. b4+ 9.d2 a5 10.c3 xd4 11.exd4 b6 12.a3 ( 12.b5?! e7 13.f3 0-0 14.a4?! a6 15.a5 axb5 16.axb6 xa1+ 17.e2 bxc4 18.g2 a2 19.c3 d5 with a very good game for Black, Dumitrescu, D-Ionescu, D/ Bucharest 1997) 12...xc3 13.xc3 e4 14.c2 xc3 15.xc3 0-0 16.g2 d6 17.0-0 d7 18.c5 , with the better chances for W hite, Timoshenko, G-Brodsky, M/Kherson 1991 ] [ C) 8.f3 0-0 9.g2 d5 10.cxd5 xd5 11.a4 b4+ 12.d2 a6 13.f1 b5 , and Black is clearly in the driver's seat, 1356
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Meenakshi, S-Foisor, O/Triesen LIE 2007 ] 8...xd4 [ Black has tried a couple of other things a s i d e f r o m t a k i n g t h e p a w n : A ) 8...e7 9.0-0 d6 10.b3 a6 11.b2 d7 12.c1 c8 13.e4 Kiss, A-Titz, H/Szentgotthard 2001 ] [ B) 8...0-0!? 9.a4 ( 9.0-0! again invites B l a c k t o t a k e t h e p a wn , t h o u g h i n t h e inferior version as chosen by Polgar in our main game ) 9...b4+ 10.d2 a5 11.c3 c5 , Gluszko, T-Kuzmicz, K/Grodzisk Mazowiecki POL 2007, and now A) 12.a3 xc3 13.xc3 xc4 14.e2 ( 14.c1 e5 15.e2 d5 16.0-0 xe2 17.xe2 c6 18.b4 with some compensation for the pawn) 14...xe2+ 15.xe2 xd4+ 16.xd4 d5 17.hc1 , and W hite has compensation for the pawn, but not much more than that.; B) 12.xc6 dxc6 13.e2 e5 14.a3 xc3 15.xc3 a5= , Black has solved his opening problems successfully. ] 9.exd4 xd4 10.0-0 0-0?! [ This causes immediate problems for Black. The alternatives are: A) 10...e5 11.b5 ( 11.c2 is covered in the notes to Greenfeld-Ward, Jersey Open 2004 - see the PGN archives ) A) 11...c5 12.b4 ( 12.g5 is covered in the notes to the above mentioned Greenfeld-Ward; 12.e1 was GreenfeldWard ) 12...xb4 13.b1 c5 14.e1 d6 15.d2 a5 16.g5 0-0 17.xf6 gxf6 18.c3 c7 19.e2 , and White has compensation for the pawn, Ashley, MWojtkiewicz, A/Philadelphia 1989; B) 11...0-0 B1) 12.xd4 exd4 B1a) 13.b3 d5 14.b2 ( 14.a3 e8 15.c5 a5 16.b2 xc5 17.xd4 d6 18.xf6 xf6 19.xd5 e7= , and a draw was soon agreed upon, Haba, P-Sax, G/ German Bundesliga 1993 ) 14...dxc4 15.xd4 ( 15.xd4 quickly terminated down to a drawn rook endgame: cxb3 16.xb6 axb6 17.axb3 e6 18.xb7 xa1 19.xa1 xb3 20.b1 b8 21.xb3 xb7 22.xf6 gxf6 23.b5 1/2-1/2 Nogueiras, J-Psakhis, L/Szirak
1986 ) 15...a6 16.xf6 ( 16.f3 d8 17.xf6 xf6 18.xf6 gxf6 19.bxc4 e6 20.fb1 ab8 21.c5 dc8 22.b5 a6 23.xb7 xb7 24.xb7 xc5 25.xa6 a5 with a drawn endgame, although White continued to try for quite a while, Van D i j k , H - F r i t z, M / I C C F E m a i l 2 0 0 1) 16...xf6 17.bxc4 b8 18.c5 d8 19.a4 d7 20.xa7 c6 , thus far Petursson, M-Nogueiras, J/ S a in t Jo h n 1 9 8 8 , a n d n o w 21.ad1 xg2 22.xg2 leaves White with an extra pawn and decent winning chances; B1b) 13.d3 B1b1) 13...e8 14.g5 d5 15.cxd5 g4 16.ae1 h6 17.f4 ( 17.d2 h5= ) 17...xb2 18.e5 c3 19.b1; B1b2) 13...d5 14.cxd5 g4 15.h3 d7? ( 15...h5 16.f4 fd8 17.d6 e8 18.e4 xd6 19.xh7+ h8 20.e5 ) 16.d1 fe8 was played in Raetsky, A-Tunik, G/Podolsk 1992, and now 17.h2! prepares to pick up the d4-pawn, e.g. ac8 18.b3! b5 19.xd4 xd4 20.xd4 e1 21.b4! cxc1 ( 21...a6 22.b2+- ) 22.xc1 xc1 23.xb5+-; B2) 12.a4!? B2a) 12...e8!? (Ribli) 13.a5 c5 14.g5 xc4 15.d6 e6 16.xe8 xe8 17.a4! is problematic for Black, e.g. c5 ( 17...d6? 18.xd4! exd4 19.e1+- ) 18.d5 d6 19.b3 f8 20.e3! d6 21.xc5 dxc5 22.a6+-; B2b) 12...c5 B2b1) 13.a5 d8 14.e3! with excellent positional co m p e n s a t i o n f o r t h e s a c r if ic e d pawn ( 14.a6?! b8 is fine for Black ); B2b2) 13.e1!? A clever multipurpose move, threatening the e5pawn and the advance b2-b4 at the same time. a5?! Black prevents the b 2 -b 4 a d va n ce , b u t a t t h e s a m e leaves no option for kicking the b5knight away. ( 13...a6!? 14.a5 d8 15.c3 ) 14.xe5 d6 15.f4 1357
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 , White has both the initiative and the better pawn structure, Rahman, ZHossain, E/Dhaka 1999; B2c) 12...a5 13.xd4 exd4 14.b3 d5 15.c5 c6 16.xd4 f5 17.b2 fe8 18.fe1 Nielsen, P-Gelfand, B/ playchess.com INT 2004 ] [ B) 10...xc3 11.bxc3 0-0 12.a3 , and White's strong bishops along with the weak dark squares in Black's camp leaves White with more than adequate compensation ] [ C) 10...a6 11.a4 a7 12.f4 d5 ( 12...e5? 13.xe5 xe5 14.e1 /+- Greenfeld, A-Rocius, M/Saint Vincent ITA 2005 ) 13.d6 e5 14.c5 g4 15.d2 d8 16.ae1 e6 17.g5 ( 17.xe5!? xe5 18.xe5 ) 17...xd6 18.xg7 g8 19.xf6 d8 Umansky, M-Schmittdiel, E/ Austrian Tch 2002 20.d1 ] [ D) 10...e5 11.e2 b8 12.e3 d8 13.c5 0-0 14.fd1 e7 15.ac1 d8 16.b5!? ( White can improve with 16.g5! f8 (Nd5 was threatened) 17.xf6 gxf6 18.e4 h6 19.d6 xd6 20.cxd6 , and Black is completely tied up) 16...d5 17.d4 f8 18.e5 b6 19.d6 xd6 20.xd6 bxc5 21.xd5 exd5 22.xd5 Marin, M-Ionescu, C/Predeal ROM 2006 ] 11.g5 [ This is a new move. In an earlier game, W h i t e h a d p r o v e d t h a t 11.a4! is uncomfortable for Black: d6 12.f4! ( 12.e3 e5 13.e2 e7 14.fd1 d5 15.cxd5 d6 16.c3 exd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xd5 e6 19.b5 leaves White with a fair-sized initiative, Green, P-Martin, B/ Du n e d i n 1 9 8 8) 12...e5 13.e3 b4 14.xd4 exd4 A) 15.c1!? d5? ( 15...d6!? ) 16.a3 a5 17.cxd5; B) 15.b3 d5 16.a3 a5 17.cxd5 xd5 18.xd4 Bricard, E-Olafsson, H/ Reykjavik 1993 ] 11...e5?! [ 11...c5!? 12.xf6 xf6 13.e4 xc4 14.xf6+ gxf6 15.b3 b4 16.a3 b5 , and White has some compensation for the pawn thanks to Black's weakened kingside pawn structure, and problematic queenside development ]
12.c5 xc5 13.xf6 gxf6 14.d5 d6?? [ After this natural-looking move, it is play towards one goal, and Black doesn't have any defence against W hite's kingside assault. Instead Black could have defended with 14...f5! , e.g. 15.c1 d6 16.h5 xb2 17.c2 d4 18.xf5 h6 19.fc1 h8 20.e7 , and just when it looks like White is winning, Black has b2! 21.d1 d4 22.d5!? ( 22.dc1 b2!= is of course a draw by repetition) 22...e8 23.xc8 exc8 24.xc8+ xc8 25.xd7 xf2+! 26.xf2 c2+ 27.f3 c3+ 28.g4 ( 28.f2 c2+= ) 28...g6+ 29.h4 h6+ 30.g4 g6+= ] 15.h5 g7 16.e4 h6 17.ac1 xf2+ 18.g2 d4 19.h4 f5 20.f6+ g8 21.e7+ h7 22.xf5+ xf5 23.xf5+ [ After 23.xf5! it is immediate curtains e4+ 24.xf2 , and Black doesn't have anything better than xf5+ 25.xf5+ ] 23...g7 24.xf2 e4 25.c4!? [ Strictly speaking, the strongest move is 25.h5! xf2+ 26.xf2 , though the text move is more than adequate as well. ] 25...xc4 26.f6+ h7 27.f5 1-0
1352 Carlsen,Magnus Skripchenko,Almira Trophee CCAS GpB rapid (4) [Carsten Hansen]
A32 2786 2455 27.10.2008
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.f3 c5 4.c3 cxd4 5.xd4 a6 6.g3 c7 7.g2 xc4 8.0-0 c6 9.b3 d5 [ The move order in Agrest-Carlsson, Swedish Ch (Vaxjo) 2008 had Black play 9...e7 which opens up for a lot more options for White. ] [ Also 9...b4!? as discussed in the notes to the above-mentioned game is of interest. ] 10.f4 b4 [ Two other recent games in this line have seen Black try 10...e7 A) Carlsen has in his only other game in this line played 11.c1 b4 12.e4 xe4 13.xe4 dxe4 14.a3 b5 15.xe4 0-0 16.c2 h6 17.fd1 e5 18.e3 e6 1358
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.c5 xc5 20.xc5 White has full compensation for the pawn but no more than that. fd8 21.xb5 axb5 22.b6 xd1+ 23.xd1 a4 24.c2 a6 25.c5 a8 26.e4 f5 27.xc6 bxc6 28.d6 d5 29.d7 f3 30.f1 a4 31.b4 c5 32.b3 , and now instead of playing a6 , and a draw was correctly agreed upon, 1/ 2-1/2, Carlsen, M-Leko, P/Miskolc HUN 2008 ( Black could have tried 32...cxb4 33.bxa4 b3 34.d2 bxa4 , and only Black has chances of winning. ); B) 11.a3 a5 12.c1 a6 13.a4 0-0 14.b5 b6 Inviting to a repetition of moves 15.c7 a6 16.f4 b6 17.c7 a6 and now rather than taking the repetition with 18 Bf4, W hite continued 18.c5 , playing for more. xc5 19.xc5 d7 20.d6 b4! 21.xf8 xf8 In return for the sacrificed pawn, W hite has won the exchange. However, Black is now f ina lly get ting his pieces to work together. 22.d4 c6 23.e4?! e5 24.d2 b6 25.xd5 bxd5 26.exd5 d8 ( 26...xb5!? 27.axb5 xb5 28.a1 b6 looks like a very decent alternative for Black ) 27.c3 d7 28.e1 e8 29.d6 d4 30.xd4 ( 30.d1! is a better option, the chances being about even.) 30...exd4 31.xe8+ xe8 32.e4 b6 33.b3 f5 34.g5 xd6 35.d5+ f8 36.xh7+ e7 37.g5 b5 38.axb5 xb5 , and Black has the slightly better chances in the endgame thanks to his active king, but nevertheless, White managed to hold the endgame, Vitiugov, N-Alekseev, E/ Moscow RUS 2008 ] 11.e4 [ In the August 2008 update, we examined the game Agrest-Carlsson from the S we d i s h C h a m p i o n s h i p ( s e e t h e P G N archives). In that outing, W hite continued with 11.a3 b6 12.e4 dxe4 13.d2 with a complicated game. ] [ As mentioned in the notes to the Agrest g a m e , K a s p a r o v h a s t r i e d 11.e1 , which is of course still of interest. ] 11...dxe4 12.e1 [ 12.a3 b6 would have us transposing back to the Agrest-Carlsson game. ] 12...e7
[ If Black tries a more aggressive approach like 12...e5 , White also obtains adequate compensation for the pawn after 13.xe4 e6 14.xf6+ gxf6 15.e3 e7 16.c1 d8 17.h5 with a sharp position ] 13.c7 e3 14.xe3 g4 [ 14...0-0 15.f3 ] 15.f3 h3 16.d6?! [ White can obtain a pleasant game with 16.g2 , e.g. h6 17.a4!? ( 17.f4 h5 18.f3 h3 19.g2 h5 20.f3= ) 17...0-0 18.b6 This appears to be a much safer and considerably better option than the game continuation. ] 16...0-0 17.xc6?! [ Despite the fact that the follow-up to this move looks like an oversight on White's part, I cannot shake the feeling that Carlsen quite possible played like this on purpose, keeping in mind that after all, this is a rapid play game. The 'safer' alternative 17.g2 , doesn't seem all that promising, e.g. h6 18.xe7 ( or 18.xc6 xd6 19.xd6 g4 20.g2 xh2+ 21.f1 xe3+ 22.fxe3 e5 23.xe5 h3 , and Black has the upper hand. ) 18...xe7 19.a5 ed5 20.xd5 exd5 is obviously pleasant for Black ] 17...g4! 18.g2 xh2+ 19.f1 xe3+ 20.fxe3 d8 21.xe7 xd1+ 22.xd1 h6! [ Or 22...f6!? 23.f2 h5 24.d8+ f7 25.c5 f5+ 26.g1 e5 27.e4 , and White is by no means worse. ] 23.f2 h5 24.d8+ h7 25.e4+ f5 26.g2 e5 27.d5?? [ This obvious move is in fact a terrible blunder, allowing Black to create decisive threats. Instead White could have kept the balance with 27.d6 , e.g. h2 28.xe5 b6 29.d5 e6 30.d6 c8 31.c3 c6 32.d8 A) 32...xd5 33.xd5 h5 ( 33...g6 34.e5 ) 34.xf5 h4 35.h5+ h6 36.xh6+ gxh6 37.gxh4 xh4+ 38.e2=; B) 32...c8 33.d6 c6= ] 27...f7?? [ Returning the favour immediately.. Black can win wit h 27...h2!-+ with the decisive threat ...f5-f4 followed by ...Bh3!, e.g. 28.f1 f4 29.e4+ g6 30.gxf4 h3+ 31.e1 xd8 32.xd8 xb2 33.fxe5 xe5 1359
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 34.d4 g3+ 35.d1 h2 36.c7 xa2 37.e5 g4+ 38.c1 h5 , and Black's pawns decide. After the text move, W hite takes over the control of the game again. ] 28.f8 g6 29.c7? [ Throwing the advantage away again. The correct continuation is 29.b4 h5 30.d2 a5 31.a3 ] 29...b8? [ And again, Black kindly says: 'thank you, but no thanks'. Black is better after 29...f4!! , e.g. 30.gxf4 h3 31.xh3 xf8 32.xf8 c2+ 33.f3 c6+ 34.g3 xc7 ] 30.d5 Now Black is struggling to release herself from White's firm grip around her neck. g4!? 31.d6 d1 32.g8+?! [ 32.xe5 is stronger, but I imagine the players must have been in serious time tro ub le a t t h is sta ge o n a cco u n t o f t h e earlier complications in the game, and the f re qu e nc y o f errors in ju st t he la st f e w moves. One line runs: e6 33.xe6 xd5 34.xb8 xe6 35.c3+- , and White has excellent winning chances. ] 32...g6 33.xe5 [ Or 33.d5 c2+ 34.e1 b1+ 35.d2 xb2+ 36.d1 a8 37.c7 b8 38.d5 a8 with a repetition of moves probably being the correct result for both players. ] 33...f4!? [ 33...c2+ 34.g1 ( 34.f1 b1+ 35.f2 c2+= ) 34...e4 35.f4 b4 36.d8 e1+ 37.g2 e2+ , and White cannot escape Black's checks. ] 34.f7+ h7 35.g8+ g6 36.d5 fxg3+? [ In the massive complications, Black goes astray, Black should play 36...c2+ 37.e1 b1+ ( 37...f3 38.f4+ g5 39.d4 ) 38.d2 fxe3+ 39.xe3 e1+ 40.d4 d1+ 41.c5 b6+ 42.b4 e1+ 43.c3 xg3 44.a3 , and with the white king stowed safely aside on a3, it is now Black's turn to defend his king. The final result isn't immediately obvious, but White cannot be worse. ] 37.xg3 f5?? [ A terrible move that ends the game promptly. Instead Black should try 37...c2+ 38.g1 a8 ( 38...d1+ 39.f1 g4 40.f2 e6 41.xb8 xg8 42.g1 xg1+ 43.xg1 xd5 , and White is
obviously winning) 39.d4 xb2 40.d6 c1+ 41.f2 h5 42.xc8!! xc8 43.e6 e8 ( 43...xe6 44.xe6 ) 44.f4+ g5 45.e5 h5 46.xg7 and in order to prevent being mated by the minor pieces, Black has to give up the queen for White's bishop on e6. This possible end to the game is very aesthetically pleasing. ] 38.e7+ h5 39.xf5+ g5 40.xb8 c2+ 41.g3 Despite all the mistakes, this game is a very fascinating struggle. The risks taken by White against a much lower rated player are su rp risin g a n d p ra i se wo rt h y. I h o p e yo u enjoyed the game as much as I did. 1-0
1353 Dominguez Perez,Leinier Short,Nigel D 45th Capablanca Mem Elite (7) [Nigel Davies]
A32 2713 2685 17.06.2010
1.d4 e6 2.c4 f6 3.g3 c5 4.f3 cxd4 5.xd4 c7 6.c3 a6 7.g2 Offering a pawn sacrifice seems like the most ambitious line. [ W h i t e c a n a l s o d e f e n d c 4 w i t h 7.d3 but then c6 8.xc6 dxc6 looks like easy equality for Black, for example ( 8...xc6 is also possible, obtaining a Hedgehog structure ) 9.g2 e5 10.0-0 e6 11.e4 xe4 12.xe4 g6!? ( 12...c5 followed by 13...Rd8 seems simpler) 13.e3 f5 14.g2 g7 15.c5 e4 and Black had a good game in Sapis, W (2445)-Ivanchuk, V (2535)/ Lvov 1988. ] 7...xc4 8.0-0 c6 9.b3 d5 10.f4 e7 11.a3 [ 11.c1 seems less promising, for example b4 12.e4 xe4 13.xe4 dxe4 14.a3 b5 15.xe4 0-0 16.c2 h6 17.fd1 e5 18.e3 e6 saw Black reach a safe po sitio n in Carlse n, M (2 7 6 5) -L ek o , P (2741)/Miskolc 2008. ] 11...d4 [ Black has also played 11...a5 here but I do wonder about weakening the b5 square like this. After 12.c1 a6 13.a4 0-0 14.b5 b6 15.c7 a6 16.c5 xc5 17.xc5 e8 18.f4 d7 19.e4 b4 20.exd5 1360
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 exd5 21.xd5 xd5 White should probably play 22.xd5 when ( 22.xd5 f6 23.d4 h3 was fine for Black in Kraemer, M (2482) -Ro gozenc o, D (254 1)/ German y 2 009 .) 22...c6 23.g5 is still a bit awkward for Black. ] 12.d2 c5 13.ce4 xe4 [ B l a c k h a d p r e v i o u s l y p l a y e d 13...f5 but then 14.d6+ xd6 15.xd6 e5 16.c1! seems very strong, for example ( 16.b3 d7 17.c4 a5 saw Black de f e n d him s e lf in Ma karo v, M (2 5 1 8 ) Savchenko, B (2583)/Serpukhov 2007.) 16...e4 ( Both 16...d7; and 16...e6 are strongly met by 17.c4! ) 17.c2 d5 18.xe4 xe4 19.xe4+ xe4 20.xe4 ] 14.xe4 b6 15.d6+ xd6 16.xd6 d7 [ And not 16...xb2?? becau se o f 17.b1 c3 18.c1 b2 19.xc6 etc. ] 17.f4 e7 18.xc6 bxc6 19.e5 c5 20.b4 f6 21.bxc5 xc5 22.xd4 d5?! [ 22...d6 followed by 23.. .Kf7 would have been much safer, not allowing White to play e2-e4 with gain of a tempo on the queen. In this case Black would be OK I think. ] 23.c1 [ Already it seems that 23.e4! is strong, for example d7 ( 23...d6 is strongly met by 24.e5! fxe5 25.g4!; 23...xe4 24.c1 b7 25.c7+ f8 26.f3 d5 27.a4 and Qb4+ ) 24.c5+ f7 25.h5+ g6 26.h6 with strong pressure. ] 23...d8 24.c7+ d7? This slip could have had serious consequences. [ Black should have played 24...f8 when 25.c5+ g8 26.xd5 xd5 27.c1 would be equal and rather drawish. ] 25.c5+? [ Missing 25.e4! b5 ( 25...xe4?! 26.c5+ d8 27.xd7+ xd7 28.d6 wins ) 26.c5+ e8 27.h5+ g6 28.h6 xc7 29.f8+ d7 30.d6!! with a winning attack for White, for example ( Much stronger than 30.d6+ ) 30...xf1+ 31.xf1+- c1+ 32.g2 c6 33.e7 d7 34.f4 etc. ] 25...f7 26.xd5 exd5 27.xd7+ ½-½
1354 A32 Fluvia Poyatos,Jordi 2467 Iturrizaga Bonelli,Eduardo 2614 XXXIII Open Barbera del Valles ESP (6) 9.7.10 [Nigel Davies] 1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.f3 cxd4 5.xd4 b4+ 6.d2 [ This avoids the risks associated with d o u b l e d c - p a w n s w i t h 6.c3 wh i c h t ra n s p o s e s i n t o a N i m zo - I n d i a n Defence, E20. ] [ It also maintains the possibility of developing the knight on c3 which 6.d2 does not. On the other hand it does not represent a particularly effective development for the bishop as it probably like to go to either b2 (which now takes two moves to reach), e3 or f4. These latter two squares can still be reached in one move, but as they can also get there from c1 this does not represent a saving of time. ] 6...e7 7.g2 c6 8.c2 [ A l t e r n a t i v e l y W h i t e c a n t r y 8.b3 but this doesn't seem to offer much either, for example 0-0 9.0-0 b6 10.f4 b7 11.c3 d6 12.d2 a6 13.de4 xe4 14.xe4 e5 15.d4 g6 16.d2 d5 17.cxd5 xd5 18.c3 f6 19.b4 c8 was equal in Timoscenko, G (2510)Gavrikov, V (2365)/Frunze 1981/URS-ch. ] 8...0-0 9.0-0 d5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.g5 This seems to be a new move but it does not seem to offer more than the other lines White has tried: [ a) 11.e3 e4 12.c3 xc3 13.bxc3 a5 14.d4 xd4 ( 14...d8 might have been better) 15.xd4 e6 16.b3 b6 17.a4 c5 18.b5 xd4 19.cxd4 fc8 20.xa5 bxa5 and White had a small but clear advantage in Petursson, M (2560)Suba, M (2520)/Oviedo 1993. ] [ b) 11.c3 d4 12.e4 e8 13.xf6+ xf6 14.b4 g4 15.e1 xb4 16.xb4 b6 17.a3 ad8 was very comfortable for B la ck in E l De b s, F (2 3 2 5 )- V e sc o vi, G (2592)/Sao Paulo 2006. ] 11...h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.c3 This looks like a Tarrasch Defence but a pretty good one for Black. d4 14.d5 f5 15.cb4 I get the impression that White was slightly nervous in 1361
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 facing a higher rated opponent. [ 15.c1 was a more relaxed move after which c8 ( 15...e8 16.xf6+ xf6 17.xc6 xc2 18.xc2 bxc6 19.d3 would be slightly better for White) 16.xf6+ xf6 17.xc6? does not work because of xc6 18.xd4? ( Or 18.xd4? xc1 ) 18...xc2 etc. ] 15...e8 16.e1 c8 17.c1?! [ 17.xf6+ would have been better as now Black's dark square bishop starts to play a major role in the game. ] 17...g5! 18.c5? Surprisingly this loses material. [ 18.f4!? would have been better though W h i t e wa s p r o b a b l y l o a t h e t o w e a k e n himself like this. ] 18...d6 19.b5 [ 19.xc6 xc5 20.xd4 might have been the best chance. ] 19...xb4 20.xb4 [ Or 20.xb4 c1 etc. ] 20...c1 21.xc1 xc1 22.xc1 xe2 23.xd4 xb2 [ 23...e5 was also very strong. ] 24.a4 b1 25.xb1 xb1 26.b4 a2 27.b2 xd5 28.d2 e5 [ Black is also winning the a4 pawn after 28...e5 29.xd5 a1+ 30.f1 xa4 . ] 0-1
6...b6!? I'm not sure if this is an original move or not. [ 6...b4 is a good alternative, or ] [ 6...h6 7.h4 b4 ] 7.b3 [ 7.d2 is also logical, when c6 8.e3 could be slightly irritating. ] 7...b4! 8.xf6 gxf6 9.c1 c7 10.e3 [ 10.d4 e5 doesn't achieve much, but ] [ 10.c5!? threatening Qd4 is worth looking at: d6 11.d4 dxc5 12.xf6 g8 13.a3 ] 10...b6 11.d4 g8!? an interesting pawn sacrifice, especially since [ 11...e7 was quite reasonable. ] 12.xf6 b7 13.h4!? Okay, but a little greedy. But [ 13.a3 may transpose after A) 13...xc3+? 14.xc3 c6 ( 14...xg2?? 15.g1 xh2 16.xg2 xg2 17.f3 ) 15.c5; B) 13...e7 14.h6 c6 15.xh7 ] 13...c6 14.a3 e7 15.xh7 0-0-0 16.d5!? [ The right spirit, but it doesn't achieve much. I think that it was time to counterattack, e.g., b y 1 6 . N a 4 o r 16.c5!? b5 17.a4 b4 18.e4 ] 16...exd5 17.cxd5 e5! 18.dxc6 dxc6 19.e2? This is a key point. White needed to try something like [ 19.d4 ] 19...c5 White's in trouble. 20.d4 To get to f3, 1355 A32 but it's late for that. b8 21.f3 xb2 Gelfand,Boris 2717 22.b1 [ 22.c2 xc2 23.xc2 xg2 ] Dreev,Alexey 2694 WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (4.4) 08.12.2005 22...f6! [ 22...xb1 23.xb1 xg2 24.xb6 ] [John Watson] 23.f1 b5 Black is still a pawn down but his Another two leading players and another bishops are strong and White's king is stuck. calamity! Not quite a miniature, yet just as 24.a4 b4 25.h4 d2!? Brilliant but too showy. embarrassing! 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.c4 e6 Simply [ 25...g4 and ...Rdg8 was strong. ] 4.c3 cxd4 5.xd4 a6 Black avoids the 26.c4!? main lines [ 26.xd2 xg2+ 27.e1 xh1 28.f1 [ 5...c6 ] leaves W hite is poor shape (but he's [ and 5...b4 ] fighting), and another move is ] 6.g5!? considered harmless. The main move [ 26.h3! , intending Rg3 at the right is moment and stopping the immediate ...Qg6. [ 6.g3 , but after c7 , the sacrifices 7.g2 T h e n B l a c k h a s t o f i n d e6! xc4 and 7.Bg5 Qxc4 are probably with an ongoing attack. ] insufficient. See Carsten Hansen's 26...b2 27.a1?? World Class players miss Symmetrical English book. ] 1362
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 things too! 1999. ] [ 27.d1 looks best, when however White is 10.c3 0-0!? totally tied down. ] [ Ivanchuk's innovation, he sacrifices the d27...g6 Ouch. Black romps home after pawn for an initiative. 10...e6 11.e3!? [ 27...g6 28.xb2 ( 28.g1 b1+ ) ( 11.xd5!? is also playable, xd5 12.xd5 28...xg2+ 29.e1 xh1+ 30.d2 d8+ d8 13.xc6+ bxc6 forcing 14.e1 31.c2 xf3 32.e5+ d6 33.f6 e4+ ] wh e n B la ck h as so m e in it ia t ive f o r t h e 0-1 pawn ) 11...d4 12.ed5 xd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 0-0 15.b3 xb3 16.xb3 offered White a small edge, because of the 1356 A32 bish op pair, S kem bris,S -De Firmia n,N/ Vrnjacka Banja 1983. ] Gelfand,Boris 2681 Ivanchuk,Vassily 2719 11.xd5 xd5 12.xd5 e6 13.e4 f6 Rubinstein Mem (3) 19.08.2000 Black has an active position for the pawn- two good diagonals for his bishops, and files for [Tony Kosten] his rooks. 14.a4 ac8 [ 14...fe8!? ] 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 White tries to escape from the bind, f6 5.g3 Quite rare here, White delays the 15.e3! development of his queen's knight to avoid passivity could lead to disaster. xb2 [ Black accepts the challenge, although the more theoretical lines. b6 This reply is 15...a6 was a reasonable alternative. ] the most testing. 6.c2!? [ This move is the reason for the current 16.ab1 a2 17.xb7 a5 White has rid interest in this line, as 6.b3 is less strong himself of the b-pawn, but his a-pawn is weak, t h a n w i t h t h e k n i g h t o n c 3 , a s e5 and the c2-knight awkwardly placed. 18.b6 obliges White to sacrifice the c-pawn: 7.g2 e7 19.d4 c4!? [ 19...d5 20.g4 xg2 21.xg2 d5 xc4 8.0-0 with unclear compensation, seems to be strong, too, Black will ruin and ] White's kingside structure when he captures [ 6.b5 is easily countered, a6 7.5c3 e6 ] on e3. ] 6...e6 [ The most natural. 6...d6? 7.g2 g6 8.c3 20.xe6! [ This exchange sac is forced, but good. Not g7 9.0-0 0-0 10.b3 e6 11.e4 20.d3? as d8 forces 21.xe6 xd3 led to a consequent advantage for White in 22.exd3 and now b4! leaves Black in the Kramnik, V-Kamsky,G/ New York 1994, but ] driving seat. ] [ 6...e5 is a possibility. ] 20...fxe6 21.h3 h8! 7.g2 d5 [ Best, 21...e5?! seems good, but after [ Black breaks out, 7...e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.c3 22.e6+ h8 White has 23.d3! d6 is quite passive, Ivanov, M-Elsness,F/ when the c4-rook is in trouble. ] Gausdal 1996. ] 22.xe6 xe2 23.xc4 xc4 24.c2 8.0-0 e7 [ 8...dxc4!? is also an option, 9.ca3 a6 This move was foreseen by White, no doubt, 10.b3 and Black decided not to risk taking h e h a n g s - o n t o h i s e x t r a p a w n . c8! the 'hot pawn', e7 intending ... 0-0, and ... Ho we ve r, B la ck f o rce s liqu id a t io n in t o a Rd8, embarrassing the white queen, Alburt,L- drawn end game . 25.c1 xc2 26.xc2 xc2 27.xc2 d5 The point, Black will De Firmian,N/New York 1985. ] capture the a4-pawn, when the extra white 9.cxd5 exd5 [ 9...xd5!? 10.e3!? xe3 11.xe3 kingside pawn is insufficient to win. 28.a3 xb2 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.d4 b7 c3 29.d2 xa4 30.xa5 g8 31.c4 14.xg7 g8 15.c3 c5 16.c2 g6 W hite tries to make something of his extra 17.d2 c6 18.c4 b7 19.f3 pawn, but Black defends well. c5 32.b6 seems double-edged, but favoured White in d7 33.c7 f7 34.g2 e6 35.f3 d4 Topalov, V-Ponomariov,R/Las Vegas USA 36.e3 f6 37.d8 Hoping to capture the 1363
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 knight, as the knight versus bishop ending would be more difficult for Black. d5 38.c4 f6 39.a5 c3 40.d8 f6 41.b6 e7 ½-½
1357 Gelfand,Boris Korotylev,Alexey World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (9) [Carsten Hansen]
A32 2736 2600 21.11.2007
1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 c6 5.g3 e6 6.g2 b6 7.b3 b4+ 8.d2 e5 [ This move isn't mention in ECO, but seems reasonably playable. The alternatives are: A) 8...a5 A) The ECO only mentions 9.a3 d5 , and concludes here with the evaluation of unclear... 10.cxd5 ( 10.xb4 xb4+ 11.d2= ) 10...exd5 11.0-0 xd2 12.xd2 a4 13.c1 0-0 14.d3 f5 Jelen, I-Tseshkovsky, V/Ljubljana 1977; B) 9.0-0 B1) 9...xd2 10.xd2 a4 11.c1 0-0 12.d3 d4 ( 12...d6 13.c3 d7 14.ab1 a5 15.b3 axb3 16.axb3 fd8 17.fd1 c6 Franco Alonso, AGaprindashvili, V/Mondariz Balneario 1999, 18.e4!?; 12...d5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.c3 d4 15.e4 xe4 16.xe4 h3 17.fc1 fe8 18.f3 Kozlov, VObukhov, A/Alushta 2002) 13.a3 d5 14.e3 b6 15.cxd5 exd5 16.f4 d8 17.fc1 f5 Villamayor, B-Wohl, A/ Calcutta 2001; B2) 9...a4 B2a) 10.e3 a6 ( 10...c7 11.d4 xd4 12.xd4 a5 13.d2 xd2 14.xd2 0-0 15.b4 axb3 16.axb3 xa1 17.xa1 d8 18.c5 d6 19.cxd6 xd6 20.c4 b8 21.f4 Normantas, V-Sanakoev, G/corr 1993 ) 11.c5 B2a1) 11...xc4 12.xa4 ( 12.b3 b5 13.xa4 Roussel-Roozmon, TAudet-Bouchard, N/Montreal CAN 2003, 0-0 14.a3 e7= ) 12...b8 13.f4 e5 14.g5 e7 15.d2 e6 16.xf6 xf6 17.b6 0-0
18.e4 e6 19.d5 Birnboim, NVeinger, I/Rishon Le Ziyyon 1992; B2a2) 11...a5 12.d3 d5 13.xb4 xb4 14.c2 dxc4 15.a3 d5 16.d2 c3 17.xc3 xc3 18.xc3 xc3 19.bxc3 e7 20.c4 d8 21.ab1 a6 22.fc1 Palatnik, S-Kindermann, S/Trnava 1987; B2b) 10.c1 B2b1) 10...e5 11.e3 ( 11.xb4 xb4 12.d4 d6 13.a3 c5 14.xc5 dxc5 15.f4 eg4 16.c2 d7 17.d3 Brglez, F-Kiviaho, R/ corr 1981 ) 11...c5 12.xc5 xc5 13.d3 d4 14.xe5 xe5 B2b11) 15.c3 a3 16.b3 axb2 17.ab1 h5 ( 17...0-0 ) 18.xb2 h4 Steckner, J-Horvath, P/Baden 2000, 19.b4 hxg3 20.hxg3 a5 21.a4; B2b12) 15.c2 c5 16.a3 0-0 17.ad1 a5 18.d2 b6 19.c1 Abramovic, B-Mantovani, R/ Montecatini Terme 1997; B2b2) 10...e7 11.c3 e5 12.xa4 a6 13.b3 xc4 14.c3 a3 15.d3 0-0 16.e4 d6 17.c1 b5 18.b2 Raetsky, A-Kurniawan, B/Luzern 1994 ] [ B) 8...d5 9.cxd5 A) 9...xd5 10.0-0 ( 10.c3 xc3 11.bxc3 e7 12.0-0 0-0 13.c4 d8 14.c2 c7= Giorgadze, G-Strikovic, A/ La Coruna 1996 ) A1) 10...0-0 A1a) 11.e4 f6 12.e3 c7 13.a3 A1a1) 13...e7 14.c3 d8 ( 14...a6 15.c1 d7 16.a4 ac8 17.e2 b8 18.b6 Virovlansky, S - F e d o r o v, E / K a za n R U S 2 0 0 7) 15.e2 d7 16.ac1 ac8 17.f4 Raetsky, A-Meyer, H/Geneve 1999; A1a2) 13...a5 14.e2 d7 15.1d2 b6 16.c5 fd8 17.ac1 e5 18.b4 ac8 Koval, DSpanko, J/SVK 1997, 19.c4; A1b) 11.a3 xd2 12.1xd2 e5 13.e4 d7 14.d4 xd4 15.xd4 c6 16.b5 ce7 17.bd6 Dejkalo, S-Marcinkowski, K/W arsaw 1364
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1981; A2) 10...xd2 11.1xd2 0-0 12.c4 b4 13.c1 ( 13.c2 d7 14.e4 b6 15.xb6 1/2-1/2 Goetz, R-Stettler, M/ Germany 1993/ GER-chT2) 13...d8 14.a3 ( 14.d4 d7 15.a3 e7 16.xc6 xc6 17.b3 ab8 18.a5 e8 19.fd1 b6 20.c6 xc6 21.xc6 f6 22.dc1 Tukmakov, VOlivier, J/Lausanne SUI 2006) 14...e7 15.d2 d7 ( 15...b6 16.c2 xc4 17.xc4 d7 ) 16.e4 b6 17.xb6 axb6 18.e3 b5 19.c5 Ornstein, ASchneider, L/Malmo 1986; B) 9...exd5 10.0-0 xd2 ( 10...0-0 11.g5 e4 12.xd5 xg5 13.xg5 h6 14.h5 d4 15.xd4 xd4 16.c3 xc3 17.bxc3 xc3 18.ac1 a3 19.d5 e7 20.b1 Danailov, S-Ashley, M/Wijk aan Zee 2000; 10...e6 11.xb4 xb4 12.c3 d8 13.a3 e7 14.d4 0-0 15.a4 xd4 16.xd4 Pecorelli G a r c i a , H - T e s k e , H / H a v a n a 1 9 9 8) 11.xd2 0-0 12.c3 B1) 12...e6 13.a4 c7 14.ac5 ad8 15.ac1 B1a) 15...fe8!? 16.xe6!? ( For those who have studied my book, Improve Your Positional Chess, the following idea should be almost s e c o n d n a t u r e : 16.f4!? xf4 17.gxf4 c8 18.e3 with an edge for White ) 16...fxe6 17.d4 e5 18.xc6 bxc6 19.c5 Eriksson, A-Von Bahr, O/Skara 2002; B1b) 15...e7 16.d4 e5 17.b3 c8 18.fd1 fe8 19.d3 e4 20.e1 Karttunen, M-Kauppila, O/ Jyvaskyla 1999; B2) 12...d8 13.ac1 g4 14.fe1 a5 15.e3 e5 16.d4 b4 ( 16...a6 17.a3 c4 18.c2 ac8 19.b3 ) 17.a3 e7 18.h3 h5 19.f4 c4 20.f2 Stean, M-Sanz Alonso, F/Las Palmas 1978 ] [ C) 8...0-0 A) 9.0-0 e7!? ( 9...e5 10.c2 c5 11.c3 e7 12.e4 e8 13.c5 Carlsson, M-Eklund, J/corr SSKK 1989; 9...d8 10.g5 e7 11.c3 h6 12.e3 c7 13.c1 d6 14.d5 exd5 15.cxd5
xd5 16.xd5 Van Bommel, T-Guffrey, G/IECG Email 1998) 10.e4 d6 11.e3 c7 12.e2 b6 13.c3 b7 14.ac1 b8 15.f4 e8 16.g4 f8 17.g5 d7 18.f3 g6 Borges Mateos, J-Franco Ocampos, Z/Havana 2002; B) 9.c3 d8 10.0-0 d5 11.cxd5 exd5 12.a4 b5 13.xb4 xb4 14.ac5 b6 15.d3 e7 16.c1 b7 17.f4 e5 Donchenko, I-Trofimovskaya, I/Moscow 2000 ] 9.c2 d6 [ 9...xd2+ 10.1xd2 d5 11.0-0 0-0 12.cxd5 exd5 13.c5 xc5 14.xc5 b6 15.cb3 a6 16.fc1 Harasta, V-Petrik, K/ Presov 1978 ] [ 9...d5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.0-0 0-0 12.c3 d4 13.a4 d6 14.ac5 xc5 15.xc5 xc5 16.xc5 Kasparov, G-Comp Super Constellation/Hamburg 1985 ] 10.0-0 xd2 11.1xd2 0-0 [ 11...d7 12.c3 c7 13.b4 c6 14.a3 0-0 15.ac1 fd8 16.fd1 e8= Auchenberg, P-Horvath, T/Valby 1983 ] 12.ac1 c7 13.c5 d5 14.e4 dxe4 [ 14...d7!? 15.f4 eg4 16.d3 a6 17.d4 e5 ] 15.xe4 xe4 16.xe4 b8 17.fd1 d7 18.d6 g6 19.b4 fc8 20.cd1 e8 21.a5 [ 21.e4 e7 22.c3 looks very comfortable for White ] 21...b6 22.cxb6 xb6 23.xb6 axb6 24.d2 h6 25.c1 b8 26.xc8 xc8 27.c1 From here to the rest of the game, there is something wrong with the score, but the game soon ended in a draw. ½-½
1358 Gelfand,Boris Navara,David Match Prague CZE (2) [John Watson]
A32 2729 2719 10.08.2006
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.f3 cxd4 5.xd4 b4+ One of the most popular systems versus the g3 variation. 6.d2 c5 [ 6...b6 is also played. ] 7.b3 e7 8.g2 c6 9.c3 b6 1365
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 9...e5 10.c5 d5 11.cxd6 xd6 12.f4 may work out for Black but W hite has all the chances. ] [ Obviously, 9...d6 is playable. ] 10.d5!? A shot from out of nowhere! If Black can't capture the knight, he gives White the bishop pair. a6!? [ Not too awful, but giving up the darksquared bishop is unfortunate. Probably Black should screw up his courage and play 10...exd5 11.cxd5 b7 A) 12.0-0 0-0 ( 12...e5!? 13.d6 xg2 14.dxe7 xe7 15.xg2 0-0 . White has the isolated pawn to work against but Black's k nights a re active) 13.dxc6 dxc6=; B) 12.dxc6 dxc6 13.c2 0-0 14.0-0 c8= with ...c5 to come. ] 11.xe7 xe7 12.c1 [ M o r e p o i n t e d i s 12.d4! b7 ( 12...xd4?! 13.xa8 xc4 14.c1! ) 13.a4 ( 13.0-0 0-0 14.g5 h6 15.xf6 xf6 16.b5 d5!? ) 13...0-0 ( 13...c5 14.b3 f5 15.c5! ) 14.xc6 dxc6 15.xc6 xc6 16.xc6 White's bishop will be influential. ] 12...c8 13.c5 [ 13.f4!? b4+ ( 13...e5! 14.g5 b4+ 15.d2 a4 16.c3 xc4 17.d6 is u nc le a r) 14.d2 a4!? ( 14...xd2+ 15.xd2 , due to the two bishops) 15.d6! xc4 16.0-0 ] [ 13.0-0 e5 wins the c-pawn for unclear compensation. ] 13...0-0 14.0-0 d5! 15.cxd6? [ 15.cxb6 axb6 16.e1= ] 15...xd6 Now Black's active pieces more than make up for the bishop pair. In particular, White's pawn on e2 is hard to defend. So he sacrifices it to activate his bishops. 16.g5!? [ 16.f4 xd1 17.fxd1 xe2 18.d2 b5 19.dc2 d5! defends everything. ] 16...xd1 17.fxd1 xe2 18.d2 b5 19.dc2 [ 19.xf6 gxf6 20.dc2 e7 is no better. ] 19...d5 20.d2 de7 Black is a pawn up with no weaknesses. Navara shows excellent technique up to the point where they enter into a two-bishop-vs-knight-and-bishop ending, when he can't seem to make progress and then allows opposite-coloured bishops. This
may just be the result of the time control. Still, in the end he converts the point. 21.h3 fd8 22.e3 f8 23.h2 b4 24.xc8 xc8 25.xc8+ xc8 26.d4 c4 27.a3 d3 28.b3 d5 29.f1 c5 30.b4 e4 31.a4 c3 32.a5 d1 33.f4 e7 34.g1 c3 35.b8 b7 36.e5 a2 37.axb6 f6 38.b8 axb6 39.b5 c3 40.f4 d6 41.g4 e4 42.f2 d7 43.f5 exf5 44.gxf5 xf5 45.xf5 xf5 46.e3 d5+ 47.d2 c7 48.a7 xb5 49.xb6 d6 50.e3 e6 51.f2 h5 52.g3 g5 53.h2 h4 54.d4 e7 55.e2 f7 56.h5+ g7 57.f3 c4 58.e2 e5 59.c3 g6 60.d2 e5 61.c3 d5 62.b2 g6 63.g1 f5 64.f2 e4 65.f1 e6 66.c3 f5 67.g2 g6 68.g1 f5 69.h2 d3 70.f1 f4 71.d2 d3 72.xf4 xf1 73.c7 f5 74.d8 f4 75.e7 f3 76.c5 f6 77.d4+ e6 78.b6 e5 79.d8 xh3 80.xh3 g4+ 81.h2 g3+ 82.g1 f2+ 83.f1 e4 84.xh4 0-1
1359 Gelfand,Boris Pantsulaia,Levan WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (3.1) [John Watson]
A32 2717 2578 03.12.2005
Once again these opponents face off in a key Anti-Benoni line. Last time we saw Black try to get by with passive development. But here he grabs the c-pawn and White gets nothing. In general 8...Qxc4 has a terrific record and White needs something new to justify 5.g3 . 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c4 c5 4.g3 cxd4 5.xd4 c7 6.c3 a6 7.g2 xc4! This is the critical variation, with Black's centre protecting what seems like a dangerous position. 8.0-0 c6 White's attack is o p t ica lly im p re ss ive b u t B la ck h a s n o weaknesses. 9.b3 b4!? [ N e w ? I n a n e a r l i e r g a m e 9...b4 was played, leading to the better game for Black. But that was just one game. ] 10.f4!? [ 10.d2 d5!? ( 10...0-0 ) 11.c1 g4 lets Black get castled quickly. Still, 12.e4! xd1 13.fxd1 d4 14.e5! is unclear. ] 1366
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10...xc3 11.c1 e4! [ 11...d5 12.xc3 b4 13.e3 gives White definite counterplay. ] 12.xe4 xe4 13.xc3 d5 14.c5 f5 15.a4 e5 16.b6 b8 [ 16...exf4!? 17.xa8 0-0 would be interesting, with good attacking chances if the light-squared bishop gets into play. ] 17.xc8 -[ 17...xc8 18.xd5 d8 19.c5 e6 may favour Black, but the position is still risky for him. ] ½-½
( 12.g5 d5!? 13.xf6 xf6 14.xd5 d8 is level Wells,P-Emms,J/Bad W oerishofen 1996) 12...h6 13.b3 d8 14.a3 d6 15.b5 c5 16.b4 d4 17.fd1 g4 18.d2 d5! Black has good play, Manor,I-Psakhis,L/Berlin-West 1988. ] 11...c5 It makes sense to keep the darksquared bishop, although [ 11...0-0 12.xd4 exd4 13.b3 d5 14.a3 e8 is equal, Haba,P-Sax,G/Germany 1993. ] 12.e1!? A new idea, both hitting the e5pawn and preparing b4. [ 12.g5 is the old move, 0-0 13.d2 a5!? ( 13...h6?! 14.xf6 xf6 15.b4 e7 1360 A32 16.c7 b8 17.d5 and Black is in trouble, Rogers,I-Suba,M/Szirak 1986.; 13...a6!? Greenfeld,Alon 2539 is possible,) 14.ad1 a6 is a novel way to Ward,Christopher 2522 develop the queen's rook, but not bad, Vera, Open Jersey JCI (6) 27.02.2004 R-Foisor,O/Timisoara 1987. ] [Tony Kosten] 12...0-0 Otherwise, [ 12...d6 13.b4 d4 14.e3 allows White 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c4 c5 4.g3 cxd4 the initiative: xe3 15.d1! ] 5.xd4 b6!? Part of a plan to chase the knight away from d4, and weaken the white 13.b4 [ 13.xe5!? is worth consideration, xf2+ light squares (very slightly) by obliging White 14.h1 ( 14.xf2?! xf2+! 15.xf2 g4+ t o p l a y e 3 . 6.g2 c5 7.e3 Obviously wins material, although W hite will enjoy forced, some positional compensation) 14...e8 [ 7.e3? g4 ( or 7...xb2 )] 15.f4 c5 16.d2 with sufficient play for 7...c6 8.0-0!? A sharp pawn sac, but the the pawn. ] alternative doesn't offer much: 13...d4 14.xd4 [ 8.b3 b4+ 9.d2 e5 [ 14.e3 might be stronger, although it is A) 10.c2 allows d5 11.cxd5 a6!? easy to understand that W hite prefers to 12.f1 ( 12.xb4 d3+ 13.d2 xb4 get something tangible, and take the bishop 14.c3 bxd5 is pleasant for Black, pair. ] Sosonko,G-Suba,M/Tunis 1985) 12...f3+ 13.d1 b6 is unclear, Ungureanu,E- 14...xd4 15.g5 White is very carefree with his pawns! d6 16.d1 xc4 17.xd6 e6 Foisor,O/Romania 1984; B) 10.e2 d5 11.cxd5 exd5 12.0-0 g4 18.xe5 xb4 19.xf6 White decides to with active play, Flear,G-Ionescu,C/Luzern take a draw. [ 19.xf6 gxf6 20.xf6 xd6 21.g5+ 1985. ] forces a perpetual check. ] 8...xd4 [ 8...xd4?! is worse, 9.exd4 xd4 ½-½ 10.xd4 xd4 11.c3 e7 12.d1 c6 13.b3 White's dark-squared bishop will dominate, Nogueiras, J-Rodriguez,A/ Cienfuegos 1986. ] 9.exd4 xd4 10.c3 e5 The bishop's outpost must be defended, [ 10...0-0?! 11.a4 is awkward. ] 11.b5 [ 11.c2 is less ambitious, 0-0 12.b1 1367
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1361 A32 19.a4! b5 20.xb7 xa4 21.xe7 d3 Gurevich,Dmitry 2580 22.fe1!? [ HiArcs suggests 22.e4! with a winning Ishkhamov,Tigran 2364 advantage, since xa3 fails to 23.c2!! HB Global Chess Challenge (5.20) 20.05.2005 Another nearly impossible idea to find under [John Watson] time constraints. ] 1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 e6 4.g3 cxd4 22...e8 23.c5 xa3 24.ad1 f8 25.c6 5.xd4 c6 6.g2 A long-standing way to a6 26.b5 a5 27.e7 a2 28.e3?! Aiming for Rd8. Objectively this isn't pointed avoid too much theory. [ 6.c3 transposes back into the main line e n o u gh , a n d B la c k gr a b s t h e c h a n c e t o o f t h e N x d 4 S ym m e t r i c a l - s e e W e l l s - consolidate. a6! 29.bxa6 xa6? Probably some time trouble here. Jakovenko. ] [ 29...a1 30.xa1 xa1+ 31.g2 xa6 6...b4+ Perhaps not best. is fine. ] [ 6...b6 and ] 30.b7? [ 6...c5 7.b3 b4+ are valid options. ] [ The nice tactical sequence 30.d8! a1+ 7.d2 31.g2 xc6+ 32.f3 wins material after [ 7.c3! is more promising: b6 ( 7...0-0 h6 33.xf8+ h7 34.8xf7! (else ...Bd5 or 8.0-0 xc3 9.bxc3 d5 10.a3!? e8 .. .Bg4) xf7 35.xf7 Naturally this won't 11.b5; 7...d5 8.0-0 0-0 9.cxd5 exd5 win if the queen's are exchanged, but it was 10.g5 ) 8.b3 d5 ( 8...a6!? 9.c5 b6 ) worth a try. ] 9.cxd5 xd5 10.0-0 xc3 11.bxc3 0-0 with one of those strange positions in which 30...b6 31.d5 Black has enough pressure down the c-file ½-½ to claim approximate equality. I'd rather be White, however. ] 1362 A32 7...b6 8.e3 [ 8.xc6 bxc6 ( 8...dxc6!? ) 9.0-0 xd2 Hernando Rodrigo,Jose Maria 2351 10.xd2 0-0 11.c3 d5= ] Marin,Mihail 2537 8...d5 With easy equality. White even has to 2nd Open Fincas Mediterranea (7) 23.08.2005 be careful not to end up with weak pawns. [John Watson] [ 8...xd4?! 9.exd4 is promising for White. ] 9.cxd5?! The pawn grab in this game is the real test of [ 9.0-0! 0-0 10.cxd5 xd5 is about equal. ] what can otherwise be a comfortable line for 9...xd4 10.exd4 xd5 Suddenly Black has White. Black is pushed around but holds on, the advantage. 11.xb4 so it's up to W hite to prove that he can get [ 11.0-0 0-0 12.xb4 xb4 leaves the d- adequate compensation. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 pawn vulnerable. ] 3.c4 c5 4.c3 cxd4 5.xd4 a6 6.g3 c7 11...xb4 12.0-0 0-0 13.c3 d7!? Slow. 7.g2 xc4! This apparently risky pawn grab [ Simply 13...d8 is better, and ] has proven itself In general practice. Black's [ 13...c6! forces White into the solid centre seems to give him just enough discouraging choice of Bxc6 or dropping his protection against W hite's piece play. 8.f4 b-pawn. ] c6 9.b3 d5 10.a3 14.a3 c6 15.d5 e7!? [ 10.c1 runs into b4 or ( 10...b4 11.a3 [ 15...exd5 16.xd5 xb2 17.e7+! b6 )] (this is the difference of having ...Bd7 in) 10...d4! xe7 18.xd7 ] [ 10...a5 11.c1 a6 12.a4! wins b5 and [ 15...d4 16.a4 xa4 17.xa4 keeps the pressure on. ] also doesn't yield much. ] 11.d2 c5 12.ce4 xe4 13.xe4 16.dxe6 xe6 17.b4 fd8 18.f3 ac8?! a5+ 14.b4 d8 15.a4!? Black drops a pawn. [ 15.c1 e7 16.0-0 0-0 17.c5 [ 18...c6 19.fd1= ] provides some positional compensation, 1368
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 probably not quite enough to equalise. ] 15...d7 16.d6+ xd6 17.xd6 a7! 18.d1 c6 Now White has absolutely nothing for his pawn, so he goes for broke: 19.xd4!? xg2 20.d1?? [ 20.xg7 xh1 21.xh8+ d7 22.e5 f6 23.f4 b5 24.d1 d5 etc. ] 20...f6 W hite could resign. 21.e3 c8 22.g1 c6 23.c5 b5 24.d3 f7 25.b6 c7 26.e4 e8 27.g4 e7 28.g5 f5 29.g3 g8 30.d6 d7 31.e5 xd1+ 32.xd1 d7+ 33.c1 xe4 34.g6 hxg6 35.xg6 c8 36.c5 f7 37.g3 e8 38.f3 f6 0-1
[ 8.d3 is best. ] 8...e5! Black takes-up the challenge. [ 8...b4+?! 9.d2 xd2+ 10.xd2 offers an edge to White, as the c-pawn is 'untouchable', as xc4?? allows the skewer 11.c1 ] [ 8...d6? i s e v e n w o r s e , 9.b5 c6 10.xd6! xh1? 11.xe7 and Black can resign. ] 9.b5 c6! Of course, positionally Black has made a huge concession, as the e-pawn no longer controls d5 and f5, but two pieces are en prise, and W hite has no choice but to play... [ Black may also have considered 9...xc4!? A) 10.c1!? i s t e m p t i n g , b u t xb5 11.xc8+ doesn't seem to lead anywhere 1363 A32 special: d8 12.c5 ( 12.d6 exf4 13.c5 b4+ 14.d2 looks strong, but Kasimdzhanov,Rustam 2706 B l a c k h a s t h e a m a z i n g c o u n t e r d5! Ivanchuk,Vassily 2731 stopping Re5+) 12...b4+ 13.d2 e4 World Teams Yerevan ARM (3) 14.10.2001 unclear, if dangerous for Black.; [Tony Kosten] B) 10.d6+ xd6 11.c1 b4+ 12.d2 but now Black can offer his queen, c6! Ivanchuk fearlessly dives into an obscure 13.xb4 xb4+ 14.c3 which is far from mu t ua l ro o k los s, a n d e me rge s f ro m t h e clear. ] com plic at io ns wit h a winn in g po sition . A portent of things to come? 1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 10.xe5 xh1 [ 10...b4+ 11.c3 xc3+ 12.bxc3 xh1 3.g3 c5 4.f3 cxd4 5.xd4 c7 6.d2 transposes. ] Simply defending the c-pawn, whilst d e v e l o p i n g a p i e c e . W e h a v e a l r e a d y 11.c7+ d8 12.xa8 So, White has a pawn more, the black king is displaced, and considered the two alternatives the black queen is out of it, but Black's next [ 6.c3 intending to sac the c-pawn, and ] move changes the situation entirely. b4+ [ 6.b3 ] 6...c5!? Other moves are possible, but we 13.d2 [ 13.c3 xc3+ 14.bxc3 b6 15.f3 e8 have seen this sort of idea many times in a n d . . . B b 7 l e a ve s t h e a 8 -k n ig h t i n b i g related lines, Black takes time-out to drive the trouble. ] most aggressive white piece from the centre. 7.2b3 Probably best, White refuses to 13...e4 14.c3 Obviously forced. xc3 e8 The complications have not concede ground in the centre, and frees the 15.bxc3 c1-h6 diagonal so that he can develop his b e e n ki n d t o W h it e , wh o h a s n o le a d i n queen's bishop. However, the b3-knight is not development, and a caged knight. 16.xe4 particularly well-placed on b3, and the 'linked' This brings the black queen back into play, but The black white knights get in each others way. e7 ...Nxc3 was a big threat. xe4 Further, the c-pawn is again under attack. queen returns to the game, but the a8-knight 8.f4? A sharp novelty which may have been can never do the same, Ivanchuk's judgement p re p a re d b y W h it e , b u t it a p p e a rs t o b e has been exemplary. 17.b3 a6 18.0-0-0 b6 Forcing the white knight to sacrifice itself flawed. [ 8.c2 is more usual, but after c6 9.g2 f o r t w o p a w n s a n d a c o u p l e o f c h e c k s . b4+ 10.d2 xd4 11.xd4 xd2+ 19.xb6 axb6 20.xb6+ c7 21.e3 f3 12.xd2 xc4 Black has won a pawn, Although the black king is currently not too comfortable, the shattered white queenside Ivanov,S-Yudasin,L/Leningrad 1989. ] 1369
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pawns are no match for a piece in the long term. 22.b2 e6! Controlling b6 and providing a shield for the black king. 23.d3 a6 24.c5!? Played to activate the bishop. xc5 25.c4 f6 Black coordinates his pieces wonderfully. 26.b4 d6 27.d2 h1+ 28.d1 c6 The queen returns to help the queenside. 29.d5 a6 30.c4 a7 31.f4 c7 32.d4 b7 33.g4 h6 34.b2 h3 0-1
1364 Khalifman,Alexander Shomoev,Anton XIII TCh-RUS (3) [Tony Kosten]
A32 2640 2492 22.04.2006
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.g3 e6 6.g2 b6 7.c2 I have already looked at the alternatives [ 7.b5 and ] [ 7.b3 ] 7...d5 8.0-0 White offers the c-pawn. e7 [ 8...dxc4 is certainly playable 9.ba3 a6 10.b3 cxb3?! too greedy ( 10...c3!? 11.b1 e7 12.xc3 and now 0-0 is fine for Black ) 11.axb3 b6 12.e3! Black is being kicked around, Rocabert Andreu, GHernando Rodrigo, J/Montcada/1999. ] 9.c3 0-0 Now Black returns the favour. [ 9...dxc4 ] 10.cxd5 exd5 We have now transposed to the Gelfand, B-Ivanchuk, V game I analysed 6 years ago. 11.e3!? A new move. [ 11.xd5 xd5 12.xd5 ( 12.xd5 h3 13.e1 ad8 14.e4 e6 offers sufficient compensation) 12...e6 13.h5 ( 13.e4 wa s G e l f a n d , B - I va n c h u k , V - s e e t h e archive ) 13...f6 with some play, although maybe not enough, Stefanova, A-Karjakin, S/ Wijk aan Zee NED 2005. ] 11...d4 12.ed5 d8 13.xe7+! An ambitious move, White grabs the bishop pair whilst freeing Black's development. [ 13.xf6+ xf6 14.d5 was a continuation similar to a well-known Tarrasch line, but offers nothing. ] 13...xe7 14.xc6! The subtle point. dxc3 [ 14...bxc6 15.xd4 h3 16.d1
wins a pawn, with Black's light-squared play being not quite enough. ] 15.g2 d8 16.c2 cxb2 17.xb2!? A really strange choice, which I find difficult to explain. Perhaps he saw ...Rac8 coming in a couple of moves, so moved the queen off the open c-file. [ 17.xb2 is more natural, and certainly gives a White a sure edge, his dark-squared bishop is always going to be better than the black knight in such an open position. ] 17...d5! Black certainly doesn't want to allow Bg5. 18.d1 [ 18.e4 b6 just blocks the g2-bishop. Normally White will only advance his e (and f) pawn(s) when his pieces are ready to support them. ] 18...e6 19.d2 b6?! Why retreat from a strong central square? [ 19...ac8 is good. ] 20.b4 xd1+ 21.xd1 d8!? Black seeks to ease his problems with exchanges. 22.xd8+?! [ 22.xe7?? loses to the trick xd1+ 23.f1 h3 ] [ 22.d4! xd4 23.xd4 keeps a plus, White has two bishops and more space. ] 22...xd8 23.xb7?? A terrible blunder, pro bab ly bro ugh t o n b eca use W h ite wa s striving to 'prove' he was better. [ 23.c2 d4 is probably only equal anyway, as compared to the previous note it is the black queen in the centre of the board, but even so... ] 23...d1+ 24.g2 d7 Both attacking the b7-bishop and threatening ...Bh3+. 25.a6 Rather than give up this piece White prefers to be mated! h3+ 26.f3 [ 26.g1 d1+ ] 26...g4+?! [ 26...d5! 27.e4 (the only 'defence' to ... Q f 5 / g 4 m a t e ) f5+ 28.d4 f6+ skewers the king and queen. ] [ 26...g4+ 27.e3 d5+ 28.d2 xb4+ is enough to force resignation, of course. ] 0-1
1370
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1365 Lautier,Joel Leko,Peter FIDE GP Dubai UAE (2.2) [Tony Kosten]
A32 2687 2713 04.04.2002
I think that the following pawn-grabbing line is an interesting try for Black if he wants to win. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.g3 c7 6.c3 a6 7.g2 xc4 8.0-0!? W hite simply castles and allows the black queen to return to c7. I had previously concentrated on [ 8.f4 to control c7. ] 8...c7 Back to safety! 9.e4 d6 This typical move seems to be new in this position. Before Black had preferred to block the c-file with [ 9...c6 when 10.e3 e7 11.c1 0-0 12.a4!? ( 12.a3 d6 13.d5! exd5 14.exd5 xd5 15.xd5 also gave White fair positional compensation for the pawn, Ha n s e n , C-S t e m p in , P / Uzh go ro d 1 9 8 8) 12...a5 13.b6! b8 ( 13...xb6 14.xc6 obliges Black to sac his queen) 14.c4 d8 15.f4 a8 16.e5 e8 17.d3 White has excellent play on Black's weakened dark squares, Dyachkov,S-Stratil, L/Pardubice 1994. ] 10.e3 e7 11.c1 d8 The contours of the position are similar to those of the Morra Gambit, which is a Sicilian where White has sacrificed his c-pawn. 12.f4 White continues to expand. Note that by leaving his knight on b8 Black is ready to defend b6 with ...Nbd7, so the white plans in the note to Black's ninth move no longer have any effect. 0-0 13.g4 Typical Sicilian play, White will play g5, Qh5 and Rf3-h3 if he can. c6 14.g5 d7 15.h1 A typical 'safe' rapid-chess move, but W hite should be pressing-home his development and mobility advantage. [ I would be tempted to play 15.xc6!? bxc6 16.h5 planning both Rf3-h3, and f5, with dangerous attacking possibilities. ] [ or 15.b3 with the same ideas. ] 15...xd4! 16.xd4 e5 Standard defensive play, Black concedes the d5-square, but gains e5, and weakens the white pawn structure. 17.g1 White decides to sac a second pawn. exf4 18.d5 xg5 19.c3 f6! 20.b6
xd5! Black gives his queen to liquidate White's positional plusses and remains with a winning position. 21.xd8 xc3 22.bxc3 xd8 23.h5 e7?! 24.xf4 e6 Black has the safer king, material advantage, and the bette r pawn struct ure. T he mos t important aspect is that the white queen is unable to create much activity as all Black's pieces are well protected. 25.f2 ac8 [ 25...f6!? ] 26.h3! c5 [ And not 26...xh3? 27.xf7+ h8 28.xe7 ] 27.xe6! White's best chance is in the o p p o s i t e - c o l o u r b i s h o p e n d i n g . xh5 28.xf7+ f8 29.xh5+ f6 30.g4 e7 31.c4 e8 32.g2 Without rooks this would be a simple draw, but with rooks Black has ve ry go od ch an ce s. d8 33.f5 e5 34.h3 e7 Black wants to bring his king to c5. 35.f8+ c7 36.g4 b6 37.c8?! [ 37.d8 is possible, with the idea c5? 38.d7! xd7 39.xd7 xc4 40.c8 and draws. ] 37...d4! 38.d8 Too late! c5 39.d7 xe4 40.f3 e1 41.xb7 xc4 No w B l a c k i s t wo p a wn s u p , a n d t h a t i s enough to win even without rooks. 42.c7+ b5 43.d5 d1 44.c2 e5 45.e4 h6 46.f3 d4 47.e2+ b6 48.b2+ a5 49.c2 e4 50.h3 b6 51.f3 e3 52.h4 g5 53.hxg5 hxg5 54.f2 a3 55.e2 a5 56.f3 a4 57.c6+ b5 58.c2 h4 59.d5 d4 60.c6+ b4 61.e3 d1 62.f3 e1+ 63.e2 a1 Short of time Black probably didn't want to consider the consequences of the exchange of rooks, but it should win. 64.g2 f4+ 65.d3 a3 66.d5 d1+ 67.e4 a4 68.e2 e5 Black is gradually making progress. 69.e3+ b4 70.d3 xd3 71.xd3 g4 72.e4 g3 73.d3 a3 74.c2 b4 [ 74...g2?? 75.xg2 xa2 might only draw. ] 75.d3 c5 76.f3 d5 77.g2 f4 78.f3 d4 79.g2 e3 80.f3 b4 81.d5 f2 82.c2 a3 Nice and simple, the bishop is tied to d5 and White is in Zugzwang. 83.d3 b2 84.d2 a3 85.d3 e3! Forcing the king further away from the a-pawn. 86.e2 g2 87.xg2 xa2 ...Kb2 and ...a2 wins the 1371
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 might follow. ] 21.b5!? [ 21.g4 e6 22.b5 ] 21...d7? From now on the mistakes appear 1366 A32 on almost every move. On the other hand it's Lenic,Luka 2458 difficult to make complex decisions in such a Cvitan,Ognjen 2528 double-edged struggle. 22.xc6 [ There's no risk in 22.c5! attacking the d11th HIT Open A (2) 27.01.2006 pawn: e5 23.f4 ee8 24.xd5 ] [John Watson] 22...xc6?! 23.g4! ae8 [ 23...f6 would prevent what follows. ] A c o m p l e x o p e n i n g wi t h B l a c k ' s l e a d i n development compensating for the blockaded 24.h5? [ 24.c3 carefully defends e3 in advance of IQP. The game develops with various lost White's kingside attack. His bishop stands opportunities for both sides until W hite wonderfully on d4. ] demonstrates the attacking power of oppositecoloured bishops. 1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.f3 24...a6 [ Unde rest imat ing the obviou s 24...xe3! c5 4.c3 cxd4 5.xd4 b4 6.db5 25.xe3 xe3+ 26.g3 ( 26.g2 e2+ ) This has generally been considered a 26...e5+ ] harmless alternative to the main line with 25.d2 c8? Last chance for ...f6. 26.g5! [ 6.g3 ] 6...0-0 7.a3 xc3+ 8.xc3 d5 9.cxd5 From here on out White has a lot of fun. It's a exd5 An old position that has been neglected stark illustration of opposite-coloured bishops for many years. White has the bishop pair but combined with space: e6 27.h6 g6 28.c3 29.xf6 f5? h e ' s a w a y s f r o m c a s t l i n g a n d w i l l f a c e T h r e a t e n i n g Q d 4 f6 aggressively placed pieces after ...Nc6 and ... Either a typo or a total bluff in a lost position. Ultimately 'safe' move will win but it Re8. The first order of business is to stop ... 30.h4? gives away most of the advantage, and d4. 10.e3! [ 30.xe7 is re si gn a b le : e8 31.xc6! [ The original idea 10.g5 c6 ( 10...d4 (or almost any move) bxc6 32.f6 ] is premature due to 11.e4 ) 11.xf6 xf6 12.xd5 e6 gives a huge attack for the 30...e4 31.f4 [ 31.h2 ce8 32.c3 d4! is scary-looking, pawn, so W hite blockades at the cost of e.g., 33.exd4! ( 33.xd4 4e6 34.e2 development. ] xg5 ) 33...e2+ 34.xe2 xe2+ 35.xe2 10...c6 11.d4 f5 xf3+!? 36.e3! e4+ 37.f2 h5 ] [ Another idea is 11...g4 , e.g., 12.h3 h5 13.g4 g6 14.g2 e4 15.0-0 xg2 31...xf4 32.exf4 h3 33.d4 f7 34.e5 d7? A strange move. 16.xg2 xd4 17.xd4 e7 ] [ 34...e8! ] 12.e3 e4 13.xe4?! 35.xc8 xc8 36.xd5+ e6 37.d8 [ 13.c1 keeps an eye on c3. ] Needless to say White pursues his winning 13...xe4 [ Bla ck mis se s his ch an ce f o r 13...xd4! attack. c6 38.h8? This actually wins fairly 14.xd4 dxe4 15.xd8 fxd8 and White easily, but [ 38.d6! 1-0 was easier! ] can hardly prevent penetration to the seventh rank, for example, 16.c1 ( 16.e2 38...c5+ 39.g2 c2+ 40.g3 f5 41.xh7+ e8 42.g8+ e7 43.f6+ d6 ac8 ) 16...f8 17.e2 ac8 18.0-0 d2 ] 14.f3 f5 15.e2 h4+ 16.g3 h3 17.f2 44.f8+ d5 45.f7+ c6 46.c4+ fe8 It's hard to assess this position, but one 1-0 feels that Black should hurry, 18.c1 e6 19.f1 h6 20.h4!? Grabbing space yet risking attack. e7 [ 20...ae8 is consistent. Then something like 21.g4 xe3 22.xe3 xe3+ 23.g2 bishop. 0-1
1372
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1367 Nguyen,Ngoc Truongson Wang Hao TCh-CHN Shenzhen CHN (5) [Nigel Davies]
A32 2642 2715 08.06.2010
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.f3 cxd4 5.xd4 c7 6.d2 b6 [ L e s s p o p u l a r t h a n 6...c6 but the immediate development of Black's bishop on b7 has merit. ] 7.g2 b7 8.b5 c8 9.f3!? A new and very interesting move which offers the c4 pawn as bait. [ In earlier games White has usually set up a M a r o c z y B i n d t y p e p o s i t i o n w i t h 9.e4 but not done particularly well. For example a6 10.c3 e7 ( Or 10...d6 11.0-0 bd7 12.b3 c7 13.b2 g6 14.f4 g7 15.e2 0-0 16.ac1 ac8 with a solid Hedgehog for Black in Huzman, A (2591)-Hoffmann, M (2413)/Biel 2002.) 11.0-0 d6 12.b3 0-0 13.b2 bd7 14.e2 e8 15.ac1 c5 16.a3 ac8 17.b4 c7 18.f4 f8 19.h1 6d7 and once again Black had set up a t o u g h H e d ge h o g f o rm a t io n i n H a b a , P (2 5 2 4 )- H r a c e k , Z ( 2 5 9 9 ) / K a r l o vy V a r y 2004. ] [ Another possibility is 9.xb7 but after xb7 10.f3 e4 11.0-0 a6 12.c3 xc3 13.bxc3 c5 14.d3 0-0 15.e3 xe3 16.xe3 d5 17.cxd5 exd5 18.fd1 d7 19.h4 fe8 20.d2 c5 Black was doing fine in Nogueiras Santiago, J (2570)-Van der Wiel, J (2570)/Reggio Emilia 1986. ] 9...xc4 The critical line, but if 10.Nd2 proves to be a strong reply then maybe Black should look for alternatives here. [ One possibility is 9...e4 when 10.0-0 a6 11.bd4 e7 would see Black develop wit h o u t h a vin g a kn igh t la n d o n h is d 6 square. ] 10.a4 This looks logical, protecting the knight on b5. [ But the critical line seems to be 10.d2! when c8 11.c4! xc4 12.xb7 xb5 13.xa8 d5 leaves White the exchange for a pawn up but with the bishop on a8 temporarily out of play. ] 10...c8 [ Perhaps Black could do even better with
10...a6!? , f o r e xa m p l e 11.d6+ xd6 12.xd6 d5 13.xb6 c6 gives him an excellent game. But in view of the possibility of 10.Nd2 I doubt that this has any theoretical importance. ] 11.0-0 a6 12.d6+ xd6 13.xd6 c5 14.f4 xd6 15.xd6 e4 16.c7 d5 17.e5 c6 18.xe4?! After this I don't think White has anything. [ 18.xc6 dxc6 19.xe4 xe4 20.f3 d5 21.xb6 might have been better with White able to claim an edge in what is probably a drawish position. ] 18...xe4 19.c4 d5 20.xb6 a7 21.d6 b7 22.c5 f6 Preparing to bring his other rook into the game with ...Kf7. 23.f3 g6 24.fc1 f7 25.f2 e7 26.a5?! Strategically very risky as if Black gets control of the b5 square White's pawn majority will be crippled. e5 27.c5 e6 28.d1 d8 29.b4 e8 30.e4 d4 31.e1 b5 32.f2 g5 33.d2 h5 34.dc1 d3 35.a4 b5 36.b6 g4! Undermining the support for the e4 pawn. Black is better now. 37.f4 d3 38.a4?! This pawn sacrifice isn't working. [ White should defend e4 with 38.e1 . ] 38...xe4 39.5c4 [ 39.c7 was a better chance, but White is eschewing exchanges. ] 39...f5 40.c5 a7 41.xe4 xe4 42.c5 d5 43.c6 f5 44.fxe5 fxe5 45.e2 e4 46.e1 f7 47.g5 dd7 48.d2+ e3 49.xa6 f2+ 50.e2 f1 51.e1 f2+ 52.e2 xe2+ 53.xe2 d3+ 54.d2 c7 55.xe3 c2+ 56.d1 xe3 0-1
1368 Nielsen,Peter Heine Akopian,Vladimir Spanish Team Ch - Group 1 (2) [Carsten Hansen]
A32 2649 2698 21.06.2007
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.f3 c5 4.g3 cxd4 5.xd4 b4+ 6.d2 c5 7.b3 e7 8.g2 c6 9.c3 b6 10.f4 0-0 11.0-0 b7 12.d6 e8 [ 12...a5?! was tried in L.Aronian-M. Carlsen, Elista 2007, which can be found in the June update ] 1373
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.xe7 xe7 14.d2 d6 [ 14...c8 15.ac1 d6 was my recommendation in last month's update, but the text move also appears to do the trick. ] 15.d4 [ 15.f4 c8 16.e4 d8 17.e2 c7 18.d2 a6= ] 15...xd4 16.xd4 xg2 17.xg2 f6 18.fd1 fd8 19.d2 [ This allows Black to equalize without any f u r t h e r a d o . W h i t e c a n a l s o t r y 19.e4 to claim the usual space advantage, but e8 20.a4 b7 21.d2 ac8 22.ad1 d7 23.b3 a6 is solid and should be perfectly okay for Black ] 19...d5 (Black has completely equalised) 20.cxd5 xd5 21.ad1 ac8 22.xd5 xd5 23.e4 xd2 24.xd2 g6 25.h4 h5 26.a3 ½-½
1369 Nielsen,Peter Heine Lautier,Joel XLVIII TCh-ESP (4) [John Watson]
A32 2663 2682 21.11.2004
Nielsen finds a way to liven up a traditionally dull variation. 1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.f3 cxd4 5.xd4 c6 6.g2 [ 6.c3 transposes into one of the main lines of the Symmetrical English. The text has been considered harmless. ] 6...b6 7.b3 e5 8.c5!? A brave innovation that seems to have a lot of bite. W hite plays for the two bishops and pressure along the dark squares. [ Heretofore the dull 8.N1d2 or 8.Qc2 have been played, e.g., 8.c2 a6 9.c5 d5 10.cxd6 xd6 11.c3 ( 11.0-0 d7 12.c3 c8 13.d1 e7 14.f4 c4= G e l f a n d , B -I v a n c h u k , V / L vi v U K R 2 0 0 0) 11...d7 12.g5 c8 13.xf6 gxf6 14.0-0 c6= 1/2-1/2 Gelfand,B-Topalov,V/Monte Carlo 2003 ] 8...xc5 9.xc5 xc5 10.0-0 0-0 [ Possibly 10...d5 should be tried. ] 11.b3! c6! A reorganisation to limit the bishop's power. 12.a3 b4 13.c3! d5
Better than [ 13...xc3? 14.c1 e5 15.xb4 ] [ 13...a5 14.c1 intending Ne4 or simply e4. ] 14.c1 [ 14.d2 a5 15.ac1 would be similar after e7 16.e4 ] 14...e7 15.e4! White needs open line for his bishops. dxe4 16.xe4 a5 [ 16...xe4?! 17.xe4 f5 18.g2 e5? allows 19.xb4 xb4 20.d5+ h8 21.xe5 threatening Rc7. ] 17.e2 [ 17.xf6+ xf6 ( 17...gxf6 18.g4+ h8 19.h4 and Rc4 or Be4 with a clear a d va n t a g e .) 18.c7 would give plenty of compensation for the pawn but not necessarily more than that. ] 17...fd5! Lautier realises that the solidity of b4 and d5 is crucial. 18.c3 f6?! [ 18...xc3 19.xc3 d8 20.fc1 is unclear. ] 19.xd5 Not bad, but missing the chance for the paradoxical [ 19.xd5! exd5 20.xb4 axb4 21.xd5 and the b-pawn also falls: d6?! 22.fd1 ] 19...exd5 20.xb4 axb4 21.xd5 a5 22.fd1 h5!? 23.d2 g4 24.e3 h3 Black has developed his bishop but White's pieces are even more centralised. 25.f3!? [ 25.e4! is HiArcs strong suggestion White is clearly better. ] 25...g5 26.cc2 e5! 27.c1 g5 28.cc2 A draw offer. c5! White's bank rank is suddenly a problem. 29.c4 [ 29.xb7?? e8 ] 29...e5 30.f1?? Nielsen uncharacteristically cracks. [ 30.e2! with equality. ] 30...xc2 31.xc2 a1 32.e2 d8 33.c4 d1 8.c5 could invigorate this line and deserves more tests. 0-1
1374
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1370 Roktim,Bandyopadhyay Kunte,Abhijit ch-IND Visakhapatnam IND (7) [John Watson]
A32 1371 2345 Tkachiev,Vladislav 2550 Ruck,Robert 09.12.2004 TCh-2005-6 Austria AUT (9) [John Watson]
Th e o ry t rave ls ra p idly. I n t he No ve m b e r column I discussed the game P Nielsen Lautier, Spain 2004, in which White uncorked a n o v e l p a wn s a c r i f i c e i n a w e l l - k n o w n variation. In Roktim-Kunte, Visakhaptnam 2004 the idea was repeated and the players followed the stem game into the middlegame. The resulting positions were about as unclear as in the original game! 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 c5 4.c4 cxd4 5.xd4 b6 6.g2 c6 7.b3 e5 8.c5 xc5 9.xc5 xc5 10.0-0 0-0 Here's the pawn sacrifice. White hopes that his bishop pair and central pressure will compensate f or pawn. 11.b3 c6 12.a3 b4 13.c3 d5 14.c1 e7 15.e4 dxe4 16.xe4 xe4 A new move. Lautier played [ 16...a5 ] 17.xe4 a5 Still in the same mode. [ I g a ve t h e l i n e 17...f5 18.g2 e5? 19.xb4 xb4 20.d5+ h8 21.xe5 threatening Rc7. ] 18.d4 [ Heading fo r an ending seems premature. W hite could keep up the pressure by 18. Qe2 or 18.e1 , for example, e5 ( 18...d8 19.e2 f6 20.f4 wit h a b in d) 19.b1 ( 19.f4!? ) 19...d8 ( 19...f5? 20.xb4 axb4 21.d5+ f7 22.xf7+ xf7 23.xe5 d7 24.f4; 19...f6 20.e2 ) 20.e2 f6 21.f4 ] 18...d8 19.c5!? xc5 20.xc5 b6!? [ 20...f6 21.c7 e5 may favour Black somewhat. ] 21.c7! a6! 22.xa8 xf1 23.xf1 xa8 24.xb4 axb4 25.b7 g5 26.xb6 xa2 27.xb4 and the game ended in a draw. There's still much to be investigated here. ½-½
A32 2642 2540 24.03.2006
White keeps going into this line, not like the older systems, but he always seems to get into trouble. The ...Qb6/...Bc5 idea looks like a complete solution to 5.g3, assuming that 6. Nc3 is acceptable to you. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.g3 b6 6.g2 [ 6.c3 c6 7.b3 e5 is the old in line of the Nxd4 'Anti-Benoni' Variation. Black is still doing well there. ] 6...c5 7.e3 c6 8.f3 Possibly a new move. [ Tony gave a good rundown on the pawn sacrifice 8.0-0!? in a previous ChessPub game. With just a few extra notes, I think the best line goes xd4 9.exd4 xd4 10.c3 e5 11.b5 ( 11.c2 0-0 12.g5 d5!? 13.xf6 xf6 14.xd5 d8= Wells-Emms, Bad Woerishofen 1996 ) A) 11...c5 12.e1!? ( 12.g5 - see ChessPub ); B) 11...0-0 12.xd4 exd4 13.b3 d5 14.a3 e8 = Haba-Sax, Germany 1993. ( 14...e8 15.b2 dxc4 16.xd4 d6 17.bxc4 g4= )] [ The alternative 8.b3 b4+ ( 8...e7 is a good choice, keeping more pieces on the board ) 9.d2 e5 ( 9...a5!? ) A) 10.c2 d5 11.cxd5 a6!? ( 11...xd5=; 11...exd5= ) 12.f1 f3+ 13.d1 b6 unclear, Ungureanu-Foisor, Romania 1984; B) 10.e2 d5 11.cxd5 exd5 12.0-0 g4 13.f3 d7 14.xb4 xb4 15.c3 0-0 16.fd1 e6 17.d4= Flear-Ionescu, Lucerne 1985. ] 8...a6!? [ 8...d5 must be okay as well in view of Black's superior development and central control. ] 9.b3 [ 9.bd2 ] 9...d5! 10.0-0!? [ 10.bd2 0-0 11.0-0 dxc4 12.xc4 d8 ] 10...dxc4 11.b2 cxb3 12.axb3 b6 13.c3 e7 White doesn't seem to have 1375
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 enough for a pawn. 14.d2 0-0 15.c4 d8!? Not bad, but a little negative, since now White can get the d-file. [ 15...c7! prepares ...Rd8, and 16.b5 b8 doesn't help White much. ] 16.e2 d5 17.fd1 xc3 18.xc3 Now White has compensation. c7 19.b2 [ 19.g4 e5 20.h5!? ] 19...f6 20.b4 d8 This wins a tempo on the c4 knight while defending e6 but it doesn't attend to the queenside. 21.b3 d7?! 22.b6! xb6 23.xd7 f7 24.dd1 a6 25.a4!? [ 25.ac1! Black has to work to get his pieces out. ] 25...c8 26.d3 [ 26.ac1!= ] 26...f8 27.ad1 c6 28.b3 xb4 29.d7 xd7 30.xd7 a5 31.xb7 a4! This pawn helps Black work on weak queenside squares. It's two bishops versus the extra passed pawn. Black is active enough that I'll side with the pawn. 32.b2 c7 33.xc7 xc7 34.e4 d5?! Slow. [ 34...c4! looks best. Black was probably wo r ri e d a b o u t t h e b is h o p s o f o p p o s it e colours following 35.xb4 Bxb4, but he can also tak e on e4 : xe4! 36.xf8 xf8 37.b8+ f7 38.a7+ g6 and Black has enough shelter to begin stewarding his pawn home. ] 35.d4 c4 36.b1 f5 37.d3 c6 38.b8 [ 38.e4!? b4 ] 38...a3 39.b3 c1+ 40.g2 c6 41.g1 a8 42.c4 Now White is happier. At least Black's pawn has been stopped for a while and his pieces aren't as active before. f7 43.h3 e7 44.h2 f6 45.c5 e7 46.d4 a5 47.b7!? a2? Black leaves a pawn hanging, his first big mistake in trying to win this ending. He should have played [ 47...g6 or ] [ 47...g5 ] 48.b2! b4 49.xg7 c5 50.xa2!? White tries to eliminate material and expose the king, counting upon the fact that Black's hpawn is of the wrong colour. The alternative [ 50.b3! d3 51.a1 looks funny, but Bh8 is threatened, and xf2? 52.xe6+ xe6 53.xa2+ wins material. ]
50...xa2 51.xa2 xg7 52.xe6 f6 [ 52...h5 looks like a way to play for a win, but White can liquidate by 53.g4 ] 53.d7+ g6 54.e8+ h6 55.e6 e5 [ 55...e5 56.xe5 xe5 57.f4 c7 58.g2 g6 59.f3 and g4=. ] ½-½
1372 Tukmakov,Vladimir B Palac,Mladen ch-(team) Pula CRO (2) [Tony Kosten]
A32 2557 2610 10.09.1999
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.f3 cxd4 5.xd4 c7 A good move, much as in the Paulsen Sicilian. By playing an early g3 White has indicated his intention to fianchetto his king's bishop. However, this will leave the c4pawn without its natural defender, so Black a t t a c k s i t . 6.b3 A sensible move, first employed by Karpov. The main line is [ 6.d2 c6 7.b5 b6?! ( 7...b8 ) 8.g2 a6 9.c3 e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.a4 a5 12.c5 with advantage to White, Mikhalchishin,A-Lukin,A/USSR 1979. ] [ While 6.c3 is a sharper alternative. ] 6...b4+ So as to weaken White's hold on d4. 7.d2 c5 8.e3 White's only realistic try for an advantage, but it seems no better than [ 8.c3 , which offered White nothing after e4 9.g2 xc3 10.xc3 e5 11.e3 c6 Karpov,A-Mascarinas,R/Thessaloniki 1988. ] 8...b6 [ 8...0-0 9.g2 d5 10.cxd5 xd4 11.exd4 xd5 Was quite close to equalising in Flear, G-Motwani,P/ Hastings 1996. ] 9.g2 White acquiesces to equality. White's only chance of injecting some life into this position is by [ 9.b5!? b7 10.g1 but it is not for the faint-hearted, i.e. a6 11.g2 c6 12.d4 d5 13.c3 d7 14.d2 xd4 15.exd4 e7 16.g4 with sharp play, Korchnoi,VShaked,T/Cannes 1998. ] 9...b7 10.b5 c8 11.0-0 a6 12.5c3 xg2 13.xg2 b7+ ½-½
1376
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1373 Agrest,Evgenij Ivanchuk,Vassily Tch-2002-3 Sweden SWE (8) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2574 2699 01.03.2003
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 6.g3 b6 7.db5 e5 8.g2 a6 9.a3!? This move is all the rage since G e l f a n d e m p l o ye d i t a ga in s t N isi p e a n u , previously White had pinned the a-pawn with [ 9.a4 , see Pelletier,Y-Ponomariov,R, and Ribli,Z-Stevic,H. ] 9...xa3 This is best, we looked at [ 9...e7 in Gelfand,B-Nisipeanu,L/Bled SLO 2002. ] 10.bxa3 xc4 11.g5 d5 This natural move, defending c4, seems to have become the new mainline, we saw [ 11...h6 in Gelfand,B-Van Wely,L, in the notes to the Nisipeanu game, but ] [ 11...c5!? is interesting, Black moves his queen again, but there is a double threat: 12.xf6 gxf6 13.0-0!? ( 13.c1 ) 13...e3 ( t h e p o i n t ! ) 14.d3?! this doesn't look correct, ( 14.fxe3 xe3+ 15.h1 xc3 16.c1 xa3 17.d4 is far from clear, despite Black's extra 3 pawns) 14...xf1 ( 14...xg2 15.e4 e5 16.d6+ e7 17.fd1 leaves Black tied-up, the knight can b e c a p t u r e d l a t e r) 15.e4 c7?! I don't believe W hite has enough compensation after ( 15...e5! 16.d6+ e7 17.d1 xg3 18.hxg3 ) 16.xf6+! e7 17.d4 d2 18.h4 f8 19.h6+ e7 20.g5 and White forces a draw, Agrest,E-Kovacevic,A/Halkidiki GRE 2002. ] 12.0-0 White has two bishops and a lead in develop me nt f or h is pa wn , bu t th e black position is solid - can he finish bringing his queenside into play before W hite gets his attack rolling? d7 Ivanchuk's improvement on [ 12...0-0 when 13.c1 d8 14.xf6 gxf6 15.e4! a key move to undermine the centre, d4! ( 15...dxe4?! 16.g4+ f8 17.a4 ) 16.a4 b5 17.xc4 ( 17.g4+!? ) 17...xc4 18.b6 c5 19.xa8 d7 regaining the knigh t wit h a quick draw, Agrest,E-Wedberg, T/Skara SWE 2002. ] 13.e4!? An unusual plan, as White normally
captures on f6 before playing this move, [ 13.b1 a7 14.xf6 gxf6 is also possible. ] 13...xe4 This seems obvious, as now there is no threat of W hite capturing on f6 and ruining the black kingside pawn structure, nevertheless [ 13...d4!? has its points. ] 14.xe4 dxe4 15.b1 c5!? It is true that Black's dark squares are weak after [ 15...c6!? 16.e1 f5 17.h5+ g6 18.h6 but, he does have two extra pawns! ] 16.xb7 0-0! The practical point of Black's play, he is willing to return material for an easy game. 17.c1!? [ 17.xe4 xg5 18.xd7 ac8 19.e2 seems fairly level, as the white bishop is better than the knight, and the a6-pawn can be a problem. ] 17...b5 18.a4! To disco-ordinate the black pieces, [ 18.xe4 fc8 ] 18...xa4 19.xe4 ac8!? Black allows the fork on e7. If [ 19...ae8 then 20.f6!? forces a draw after gxf6 21.h6 f5 22.g5+ and ] [ 19...fc8 20.f4 leaves the black kingside looking undefended. ] 20.e7 e5 21.e1 [ 21.xf8? xe4 hits the rook on b7, and wins. ] 21...fe8!? Black prefers to swap his queen r a t h e r t h a n l o s e a n e x c h a n g e . 22.xh7+ xh7 23.xe5 xe5 Reaching an interesting position where Black has only knight and rook for the white queen, but the possibility of continuing with ...Bc6 and ...Nf3+ and attacking on the weak white light squares offers him counterchances. 24.c7 c6 25.xc8 [ 25.d6!? f3+ 26.g2 xc7 27.xc7 d4+ 28.f1 b5+ 29.e1 f3+ 30.d1 is typical of white's problems. ] 25...xc8 26.f4 This allows the white king to get to f2. f3+ 27.f2 xh2 28.d1 d5 It is important to have good squares like this for the minor pieces when playing against a queen. 29.f5 An attempt at undermining the bishop, and creating threats to the black king, which is not as well protected as it should be. 1377
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c4! Threatening ...Ng4+, Black plays for the wi n a s t h e b la c k p i e c e s e n j o y e xc e l l e n t coordination. [ 29...c3 forces an immediate draw: 30.g1 ( 30.fxe6 f3+ 31.g1 f1+ is also a draw, with the opposite-colour bishops ) 30...f3+ 31.f2 h2 etc. ] 30.h5+ [ 30.fxe6 g4+ 31.g1 fxe6 is a little uncomfortable for W hite, whose queen is tied to the back rank. ] 30...g8 31.f6?! This might be losing. g4+ [ 31...c2+! seem s e ven bet ter, 32.e3 f1+ 33.d3 d2+ 34.c3 xg3! t h e p o i n t , 35.g4 e4+ the pieces continue to hound the white king, 36.b4 b2+ 37.a5 xf6 38.xf6 g2 39.d4 xa2+ 40.b6 gxf6 41.xf6 which is similar to the game except that white has lost his a-pawn. ] 32.e1 xf6 33.xf6 gxf6 34.h6 g4 35.xf6 xg3 36.a4 g4 37.a5 Black is better , but it is difficult to win as the bishop must defend the a-pawn, and the king needs constant protection. c6 38.d2 b5 39.e3 f8 40.d8+ g7 41.f3 g6 42.d4+ f6 43.a7+ Now White forces a perpetual. f8 44.b8+ f7 45.c7+ f8 46.b8+ f7 ½-½
e8 12.f4 when Nogueiras,J-Caceres,J/ Montreal CAN 2002 continued e5!? 13.d2 f5 with sharp play. ] 9.e4 d7 10.g3 a6!? This is Black's idea, a quick attack on the c4-pawn. [ 10...b7 11.d3 transposes back to the Topalov game. ] 11.g5 With this bishop controlling e7 Black will be unable to castle kingside for a while. c7 12.c1 c8 The c-pawn is immune from capture, of course, [ 12...xc4?? 13.b5 ] 13.e2 h6 [ 13...b7!? is interesting, forcing White to sac the c-pawn: 14.0-0 ( 14.b3? c5 ) 14...xc4 15.xc4 xc4 16.b5 c6 17.fd1 but White enjoys a lot of pressure. ] 14.e3 b7 15.b3 f6 This is probably an admission that W hite's opening has been a failure, the problem is that, with the white bishop on e3, [ 15...c5? now lose s a pie ce t o 16.b4 xe4 17.xe4 xe4 18.b5 b7 19.f3 ] 16.f3 b8 17.0-0 White has completed his development while Black has achieved no compensation for his inability to castle. b7 18.fd1 a8 19.b5! White's pieces are raring to go. xe4 20.e2 c6 21.f3 h5?! An attempt to muddy the waters, [ 21...h7 22.xd6+ ( 22.c5!? ) 22...xd6 23.xd6 0-0 also favours White, with his bishops. ] 1374 A33 22.g4 [ 22.h4! seems very strong, g6 23.c5! Avrukh,Boris 2595 e7 ( 23...bxc5 loses to 24.a4 as does; Sutovsky,Emil 2657 23...dxc5?? but even more quickly: 24.c7+ ch Tel Aviv ISR (7) 01.12.2002 xc7 25.b5+ ) 24.a4 0-0 25.cxd6 [Tony Kosten] and Black can resign. ] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 22...f6 23.h4 g6 24.c5!! Again this c6 5.c3 e6 6.a3 xd4 7.xd4 b6 beautiful idea, which clears the fourth rank so that W hite can put his queen on the same 8.f4! Korchnoi's move again, stronger than [ 8.e4!? which led to my brilliancy game diagonal as the black rook and king. bxc5 25.a4 The immediate menace is Nc7+. d7 against Horvath,J at Reims 2002. ] 26.xa7 c7 27.b5 xa4 8...d6 This is a new move that might have Forced. little importance as play may well transpose Again Black has no choice, but now he finds himself an exchange down in the ending. back into a mainline later, [ 8...b7 is normal, 9.e4 d6 10.d3 d7 28.xc7+ d8 29.xe6+ Might as well have which I covered in Lautier,J-Topalov,V/ another pawn with the desperado knight. fxe6 c7 Black has a nice troop of Cannes FRA 2002, whilst Black can also try 30.bxa4 central pawns, but his is insufficient to develop his kingside immediately by ] [ 8...e7 9.e4 d6 10.g3 0-0 11.h6 compensation. 31.b5 b6?! 1378
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 31...f6 ] [ T h e i n s i p i d 13.xd5 Lead to complete 32.f4! The threat of Rxc5+ forces a equality in another game played recently: weakness. e5 33.g3 f5 34.a5 d7 xd5 14.c3 e6 15.xd5 xd5 16.0-0 35.f4! White is chipping away at the central 1/2-1/2 Papaioannou, I (2627)-Khismatullin, pawns. e4 36.xd7 xd7 37.f5 c6 D (2640)/Nakhchivan 2013 ] [ 37...xf5?? 38.xc5+ ] 13...xc3 14.xc6 bxc6 15.xc3 h4 38.b1 e3 39.b6+ c7 40.d5! c4 16.d4?! This allows Black to head for an 41.c5+ d8 42.a6! The a-pawn will easy draw by the clever use of tactics. become a queen in two moves. [ Admittedly White doesn't have a great deal 1-0 either af ter the better alternative 16.0-0 but what he does have is a better pawn structure on the queenside, which for many 1375 A33 players would be enough to make them feel very comfortable about their prospects. e6 Bacrot,E 2725 17.f3 ad8 18.c2 d5 19.g3 c4 Ragger,M 2666 20.e2 and the game continues... doubtless French Top 12 2013 (8.2) 06.06.2013 Magnus Carlsen would just be getting going [Daniel Gormally] here. ] 17.xd4 e8! 18.0-0 f6! 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 16...xd4 c6 5.c3 e6 6.a3 I must admit that I was E f f e ct ive ly kill in g t h e ga m e st o n e d e a d . surprised to see over 1000 games on my 19.xf6 xe2 20.c3 e6 21.fe1 xe1+ database from this position- I have never 22.xe1 a5 23.e5 a4 24.g5 g6 25.e5 seen this variation before! However White's f8 26.f3 e7 27.f2 d6 28.g4 f5! previous move is perfectly logical- he wants to 29.h3 c5 30.e2 fxg4 31.hxg4 h5 32.gxh5 gxh5 33.e4 b3 34.f4 e6 35.g3 e7 prevent the annoying ..Bb4 e7 36.f6+ d7 37.h4 f8 38.g5 [ 6...c5 Is an alternative. ] [ 38.xh5 d5 39.g5 e6 and White 7.e4 0-0 8.f3 a5 Black by tactical means can't make progress. ] wishes to carry out the central break ..d5, 38...d5 39.f5 g8+ 40.f4 e6 41.e5+ which he hopes will lead to rapid equality. [ 8...c7 Also seems perfectly respectable. xf6 42.xd5 g2 43.xh5 xb2 44.h6+ 9.e2 b6 10.0-0 b7 11.g5 ad8 e7 45.a6 c4 46.xa4 b3 47.a7+ d6 12.e1 h6 13.h4 d6 14.f1 e5 48.e4 c3 49.d3 c2+ 50.xc2 xf3 15.d4 b8 With a Maroczy bind type ½-½ position that is already quite comfortable for Black, who went on to win in Kovalyov, A33 A (2593)-Akopian, V (2703) St Petersburg 1376 Banusz,Tamas 2595 2012 2013 ] Georgescu,Tiberiu 2419 9.d2 03.09.2013 [ 9.d3 also allows Black to carry out his ROM-chT Mamaia (4.5) [Fier, Alexandr] strategic plan: d5! A) 10.0-0 dxc4 ( 10...d4!? 11.e2 e5 12.d2 c7 13.b4 a5! is another line 6.a3 has been a good weapon the last few that gives Black excellent counterplay) years and there is still room for improvements 11.xc4 e5 12.xe5 xe5 for both sides. 13.Qe1 is a good new move (however, first played in correspondence as is also close to equal; B) 10.cxd5 exd5 11.exd5 b4! 12.c4 usual) and Bla ck soo n got into tro uble. I d8 regaining the pawn, seems more than would take a look at 13...Na5 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 6.a3 ok for Black. ] 9...h5 10.e2 d5! 11.cxd5 exd5 12.exd5 A clever move, avoiding ...Bb4 and just trying xd5 13.d4! A new, and effective attempt t o f i n i s h h i s d e v e l o p m e n t a n d e n t e r a Maroczy style position. c5 Black pushes the to prove an advantage. 1379
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 knight back from d4 before going to e7. [ 6...e7 7.e4 0-0 8.f3 a5 is one of ma n y ide a s a nd wa s se e n in B acrot , E (2725)-Ragger, M (2666)/French Top 12 2013. ] 7.b3 e7 8.e4 0-0 9.e2 b6 10.0-0 [ 10.f4 is also possible d6 11.0-0 b7 12.c1 11 transposes to Carlsen - Polgar in the notes to move ] 10...a6 This is one of two squares for the bishop, and the most forcing one. [ 10...b7 11.f4 d6 12.c1 Carlsen, M (2848)-Polgar, J (2705)/London Classic 4th 2012, won by Carlsen in a impressive way, but not because of the opening. ] 11.f4 d6 12.e3 c8 13.e1 I approve of this move which reminds me of certain Scheveningen lines. The queen can soon go to g3 and help with e5 or f5 and makes room f o r t h e r o o k , w h i c h i s g o i n g t o d 1 . b8 Going for the thematic ...d5 break, but it looks like White is well prepared for it. [ 13...a5!? would be another Scheveningen move, exchanging one piece and opening the b-file to attack W hite's pawn structure 14.xa5 bxa5 15.b3 A) 15...a4 is possible 16.e5 ( 16.xa4 xe4 17.xa7 d5 with counterplay) 16...dxe5 17.fxe5 d7 18.xa4 xe5 19.g3 ( 19.xa7 is too greedy xc4! 20.bxc4 d7 and Black is already better) 19...f6 20.c3 with a double-edged position; B) 15...b8 p r o v o c a t i v e ! 16.b4 c8 17.b5 b7 18.xa7 xe4 19.xe4 xe4 Batrakov, A (2438)-Voll, A (2558)/ RUS-ch6 email 2010, and if White doesn't promote his b-pawn, Black should be fine ] 14.d2 d5 Going for it, this is the natural consequence of 13...Nb8 [ 14...bd7 could be playable, but doesn't lo o k lik e t h e m o st a d visa b le id e a 15.b4 and Black is slightly suffocated ] 15.cxd5 exd5 16.d1! Just in time, otherwise Black is completely fine. [ 16.e5 d4 17.exf6 xf6 18.de4 dxe3 19.xa6 xa6 20.d1 xc3 and White will never be better ] 16...dxe4 [ 16...xa3 is a kind of piece sacrifice, but since the black pawns are not together it's
hard to see enough compensation, 17.e5! xb2 ( 17...e8 18.de4! b4 19.xa6 xa6 20.xd5 is better for White since xd5? is n o t p o ssib l e 21.xd5 xe1 22.e7+! h8 23.xc8 winning ) 18.a4 xe2 19.xe2 and Black can't hold both pieces a3 ( 19...d4 sacrifices the queen instead, but it's also not enough 20.xb2 dxe3 21.e4 xe4 22.xd8 fxd8 23.xe3 c5 24.c4 and the attack on the kingside will arrive before the pawns on queenside ) 20.exf6 xf6 21.d3 ] [ 16...d4 isn't possible anymore because of 17.xa6 xa6 18.f3 d3 19.b4 and the d3-pawn is going to fall sooner or later. ] 17.dxe4 White's pieces are too active for Black to consolidate. Everything works by one tempo, which in chess is usually enough. e8 18.xf6+ xf6 19.d5! xb2 [ 19...c6 20.f3! and Black is under pressure A) 20...e6 21.f5 e5 22.f4 xb2 23.f2 ce8 ( 23...fe8? 24.xb2 xe1+ 25.xe1 xb2 26.e7++- ) 24.b4 xb4 25.xf6+ ( 25.axb4? is embarrassing d4= ) 25...gxf6 26.axb4 and all White's pieces are better placed; B) 20...fe8 21.e7+ xe7 22.xc6 xc6 23.f2 xf1 24.xf1 and White has an advantage but still in a playable position for Black ] [ 19...d8 is sad to make but not that bad either 20.xa6 xa6 21.g3 can be one way to keep attacking ] 20.xa6 xa6 21.f2 Suddenly the bishop has no good squares. f6 [ 21...xa3 22.a2 w i n s a p i e c e b4 23.xa3 c2 24.g3+- ] 22.xf6+ gxf6 23.f5 Opening the diagonal for the bishop. d8 This just loses material, but the position is already lost. [ 23...e5 24.e2 h8 ( 24...c5 leads to a beautiful end 25.g4+ h8 26.d4 e7 27.e2 d8 28.h4 c6 29.e3 g8 30.e6! xe6 31.fxe6 g6 32.xf6+ xf6 33.xf6+ xf6 34.e7+- ) 25.f3! defending the bishop, attacking the knight c3 26.g3+- ] 24.xd8 xd8 25.h6 d4 [ 25...e8 26.e2 d4+ 27.h1 3 1380
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is mate in ] 26.h1 h4 27.xf8 [ 27.e3 is also winning c5 28.f3 e4 29.xf8 xf8 30.f4+- ] 27...xf8 28.d2 c5 29.f3 Usually rook for a knight and pawn is not so clear. Here the king is a decisive factor. e4 30.e3 g5 31.f4 h5 32.h4 h6 33.e1 1-0
1377 Carlsen,Magnus Volokitin,Andrei GM Biel SUI (5) [John Watson]
A33 2675 2662 28.07.2006
Arguably the most significant game in the English Opening over the last month was this game in Biel, a tournament which confirmed Magnus Carlsen's good form and rapid ascent in his last two tournaments. But here he fell short. The opening is one of the very oldest and possibly the very main line of the Symmetrical English. Black tries something new and suddenly White's broad centre is of little use. I'll try to fill in some of the theory as we go along, but the whole variation should be studied to get a feel for both sides' plans. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 6.g3 b6 7.b3 e5 8.e4 b4 9.e2 d6 10.f4 c6 11.e3 xc3+ 12.bxc3 c7 13.g2 0-0 These moves have been seen hundreds of times before. Black has been considered to stand satisfactorily, with in fact full equality in most of the known lines. 14.0-0 [ I will give only two example of what was the m a i n m o v e f o r m a n y y e a r s , 14.c5 , because W hite lost interest after Black found the sequence dxc5 15.xc5 d8 16.e5 a5! , which is considered equal. A sample game went A) 17.exf6 xb3 18.axb3 xc5 19.e5 b6! 20.g5 ( 20.fxg7 f6! 21.xf6 e3+ 22.f1 d3+ 23.f2 d2+ 24.f3 e5! ) 20...e3+ 1/2-1/2 Drozdovskij, Y (2462)-Papenin, N (2261)/Evpatoria 2001; B) 17.b5!? xb3 18.axb3 d7 19.c4 d5?! ( 19...b5! 20.d4 c6 ) 20.xd5
( 20.d4! ) 20...exd5 21.b4 b6 22.d4 f5 23.b5 c8 24.d2 e4 25.hg1 h3 26.e2 a5 27.c1 b5 28.b2 dc8 29.g4? b4 30.g3 bxc3+ 31.xc3 h6! 32.f2? d4 33.d2 c2+ 34.a3 b6 0-1 Kachar, V (2303)-Notkin, M (2478)/Moscow 2002 ] 14...b6 15.d4 This is a known move but hasn't been supposed to lead to anything c o n s e q u e n t i a l . xd4! Apparently an innovation. After this Black always seems to have the better chances. The usual move is [ 15...b7 with what is generally thought to be equal play but leaves room for improvements, e. g., 16.b5 A) 16...b8 17.xd6!? xd6 18.e5 e7 19.exf6 xf6 20.c5 ac8!? ( 20...fc8! 21.cxb6 axb6 22.xb6 xc3 is the same idea but leaves the rook on a8 directly a t t a ckin g W h it e 's we a k p a wn o n a 2 .) 21.ab1 ( 21.cxb6 axb6 22.xb6 xc3 23.ac1 may favour White somewhat due to his bishop pair.) 21...xc3 22.cxb6 axb6 23.f2 a8 24.fc1 d3 ( or 24...a3 25.b3 a4 ) 25.xb6 e7 26.c5 xg2 27.xg2 c7 28.xe7 xe7 29.b2 d7 30.bc2 fd8 31.c8 g6 1/2-1/2 Bui Vinh (2444)-Breder, D (2438)/ Budapest 2002; B) 16...e7 B1) 17.ad1 fd8 18.c1 e8 19.a3 ( 19.e5!? a5!? ) 19...a5 20.d4 e5 21.fxe5 xe5 22.fd1?! e6 ( 22...d5!! with the idea 23.cxd5 a6 ) 23.xd6 a6?! 24.c7 xc7 25.xc7 dc8 26.h5 ( 26.c5! practically wins on the spot due to bxc5 27.d6 ) 26...xc7 27.d8+ e8 28.xe8+ xe8 29.e5 and White had work to do but ultimately won in E v d o k i m o v, A ( 2 3 5 6 ) - Z a r e z e n k o , I (2230)/ Cherepovets 2001; B2) 17.xd6 xd6 18.e5 is the last note (16...Qc7); B3) 17.fd1 e8 18.c1 (threatening e5) e5 19.a3 d8 20.d5 exf4 21.gxf4 a5 22.d4 c6 23.d5 a5 24.d4 c6 1/2-1/2 Villamayor, B (2495)-Baklan, V (2599)/Istanbul 2000 ] 16.cxd4 [ 16.xd4?! e5 , for example, 17.e3 g4!? 1381
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 17...e6 ) 18.d3 e6 ] 16...a6 This is the consistent and most aggressive move, trying for advantage. [ 16...b7 is apparently okay for equality because e4 is not easy to defend, e.g., 17.d2 ( 17.e5 xg2 18.xg2 e4 ) 17...ac8= ( 17...d5!? 18.e5 e4 19.cxd5 exd5 20.ac1 d7 21.f5 is unclear, perhaps a bit better for White. )] 17.ac1 [ White should probably bail out already by 17.e5! d5 ( 17...xc4!? 18.fc1 xe2 19.xc7= ) 18.exd6 xc4 ( 18...xd6 19.f2 ac8 20.fc1 c6 21.f1 holds, with only a mild advantage for Black) 19.xc4 xc4 20.fc1 ac8 21.xd5 exd5 22.f5! and the game looks drawish even if Black gets a bit of temporary activity. ] 17...ac8 Now the question becomes whether White has anything real for the c-pawn. [ 17...d5 18.e5 e4 19.f5! should favour White, although this still isn't clear. ] 18.e5 A huge concession, but it's hard to see any attacking chances after [ 18.c2 xc4 19.fc1 b5 ] 18...d5 19.xd5! The best try. Otherwise what's to be done? [ 19.exd6 xd6 20.f2 c7 still wins the cpawn. ] 19...exd5 20.f5 [ 20.g4 dxc4 21.f5 dxe5 22.f6 g6 transposes into the game. ] 20...dxc4!? [ 20...f6 21.e6 dxc4 is more solid, although White can fight on by 22.d5 . 20.Qg4 avoids this order. ] 21.f6 g6 22.g4? Too optimistic it would be interesting to know what Carlsen calculated. [ 22.e6 fxe6 23.h6 f7 24.xe6 gives good chances of getting to a bishopsof-opposite colour position with drawing chances, although Black has the better of it d u e t o h is qu e e n si d e p a wn s, e . g. , d7 ( 24...b5!? 25.f4 d8 26.d5 a6! 27.xd6 xf6 28.xf6 xf6 29.e5 ) 25.d5 e8 26.ce1! b5 27.h4 d8 ] 22...c6! The long-diagonal battery will prove decisive. 23.f4 dxe5 24.dxe5 b7 25.h3 fe8! 26.f2 [ 26.d4 h5! ( 26...h1+? 27.f2 xc1
28.h6= )] 26...xe5 27.cxc4 xc4 28.xc4 xc4 So White survives the immediate attack but is faced with a material deficit and a horribly exposed king. 29.d7 [ 29.h6 f5+ 30.e1 xf6 ] 29...c2+ 30.g1 c6 31.d4 d5 32.g4 h5 Mate or win of the queen follows. 0-1
1378 Delchev,Aleksander Hulak,Krunoslav TCh Pula CRO (4) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2629 2566 13.09.2001
1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 6.g3 b6 7.b3 e5 8.e4 b4 9.e2 d6 10.d2 a5!? [ An interesting alternative to the normal 10...0-0 11.0-0-0 and ( 11.f4 that we have already considered. )] 11.g2!? [ This 'normal' move seems to be new, but 11.f4 c6 12.a4! xd2+ 13.xd2 b4 14.xb4 xb4 15.d1! appears more worrying for Black, Huzman, A-Tsesarsky,I/ Ramat Aviv 1999. ] 11...a4 12.b5 [ The tricky point of White's previous move, 12.c1? d4 and White drops a pawn. ] 12...xd2+ 13.xd2 d7!? 14.f4!? eg4! [ Probably the best move, 14...g6 15.e5 dxe5 16.fxe5 xb5 17.cxb5 d5 18.c4 and the check on d6 will cause a certain amount of inconvenience! ] 15.e5 critical, White tries to blow Black off the board. dxe5 16.fxe5 xb5 Obviously forced. 17.exf6 [ 17.cxb5 e3! 18.exf6 transposes. ] 17...e3! [ Again this resource. White may have expected 17...c6?! but then 18.fxg7 g8 19.xc6+ xc6 20.0-0-0 xg7 21.e4 leaves the black king badly placed. ] 18.cxb5 c2+ 19.d1 xa1!? [ B l a c k p l a y s f o r t h e w i n , 19...e3+ should force a perpetual, as 20.c1? c5+ 21.c4 xc4 is much too dangerous. ] 20.fxg7 g8 21.e4! White plays to 1382
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.xe7 xe7 12.0-0-0 ) 11.e3 a6 Now the novelty 12.c7!? ( 12.d4 e8 13.c5 d6 14.xc6 c7 is theory, co n sid e re d e qu a l) 12...b8 13.g1!? is the computer's bizarre idea. It actually makes sense to drive back Black's pieces b e f o r e h e g e t s r i d o f t h e q u e e n : e7 ( 13...b6 14.g4! ) 14.0-0-0 ( or 14.xe7 xe7 15.g4! ) 14...xd6 15.xd6 e8 16.xe8 xe8 17.e2 . This all makes one wonder about 7...Bb4. ] 8...xd6 9.xd6 A position t has arisen in the games of Korchnoi, Kasparov, Kramnik and others! b6 [ Theory also gives 9...e8 10.e3 b6 11.b1 b4 12.xe8 xe8 13.e2 d8 14.0-0 b6= .Perhaps the n 15.a3 e7 16.c2 b7 17.bd1 d6 18.f4!? is worth a try. ] 10.d2 e8 [ This is one of two theoretical moves considered equal. 10...d4 is easier, in my opinion: 11.0-0-0 xd6 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 b6 14.e4 e5! 15.d2 b7 16.f3 fd8 17.e2 f8 18.hd1 e7= Agrest-Eigorn, Graz 1977. ] 11.de4?! Asking for it. The standard move is [ 11.b1 : xd6 12.xd6 b4 seems to favour White slightly, e.g., 13.xb4 xb4 14.a3 c6 15.d1 d8 16.e4 f8 17.e2 d6 18.0-0 , but this isn't much, e.g., Black might try e5 19.b5 e7 20.f4 ( 20.d2 e6 21.fd1 a6! 22.xd6 d4 23.c5 b3 ) 20...exf4 21.c7 b8 22.d5+ e8 23.xf4 e6 24.d2 e5 1379 A33 etc. ] Filippov,Valerij 2621 11...d5! 12.cxd5 b4! 13.d6 [ 13.dxe6?! xe6 14.a3 d8 ] Yemelin,Vasily 2530 [ 13.b3 exd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5 58th ch-RUS Semi-Final (9) 11.09.2005 b4+! 16.d2 f6 17.c4 a5 [John Watson] with plenty of compensation. ] 14.a4 d4! 15.xd4 c2+ A l i t t l e t r a v e l t h r o u g h t h e o r y t h a t i s 13...f5 supposedly worked out . The computer's idea 16.d2 xd4 17.ec3 xd6 18.d1 [ 18.e3 c6 is almost equal, but Black has after 8.Bc7 deserves attention! It makes one a central majority. ] wonder about the very soundness of a wellestablished line. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 18...c6 19.c1 d8 20.e4!? b6 21.exf5 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.b5 f6 6.1c3 b4 exf5 22.d5 b7 23.ac3 f7 [ 23...e5 looks irritating for White. ] 7.f4 0-0 Theory considers this fairly safe 24.g3 ac8 and drawish if Black plays well. 8.d6 [ 24...e5! 25.g2 g4 ] [ Players should look more closely at 8.c7 e7 9.d6 xd6 10.xd6 d8 ( 10...e8 25.g2 b4
exchange queens and then corral the a1-knight. xb5 22.xb7 [ 22.b1?! a3! 23.xa1 ( 23.b3 e5 ) 23...axb2 24.b1 is far too risky. ] 22...xb7 23.xb7 b8 24.c4! This way W hite manages to defend his bpawn . Can h e capt ure the a1 -knight an d consolidate his position, or will Black obtain too much play first? e7 25.a5 d6 26.d2 xg7 27.c3!? [ White plays for the win, and tries to get the utmost from the position, 27.xa1 f5 28.b4 gxb7 29.xb7+ xb7 30.a3 is fairly level. ] 27...g5 28.c4+ c5 29.a6 b3 30.axb3 xb3+ 31.c2 f5 32.d2 f2 33.d3 f5 Rook and pawn is a fair swap for two minor pieces in the endgame, and on top of that the rooks are actively placed, but White's position is solid enough. 34.e1 b6? [ A m i s t a k e , w h i c h . . . w i n s ! 34...d4 ke ep s t he st at u s qu o , 35.xe6 xd2+ 36.xd2 xd3+ 37.c2 and the outcome should be a draw. ] 35.c3! Unpinning the knight and keeping the k i n g o u t o f d 4 a n d b 4 . c6 36.c4 With a mate-in-one menace! b5 37.d4? [ Time-trouble, no doubt, 37.e5+ a6 38.b4 leaves White well on top. ] 37...b4 38.h4? f3! Now Black is winning! 39.g1? c5! Catching the king in a mating net! 40.e2 d5# 0-1
1383
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Again, 25...e5 aims for c4 or g4. ] xb5 17.fd1 lines-up some nasty 26.b1 xd5 27.xd5+ xd5 28.xd5 threats, 0-0! ( 17...d5? 18.f4 a8 g6?! 19.xf6 f8 20.e4 is crushing) 18.xh6 [ 28...e4 keeps some initiative. The rest is g5 is unclear; relatively uneventful. ] B) 14...d6 safest, 15.c2 b5 16.a4 29.hd1 e7 30.a4 c4 31.h4 xd5 e5 17.axb5 axb5 18.a4 bxa4 19.xa4 32.xd5+ f7 33.f4 e5 34.d5 e8 White certainly has enough compensation 35.a5 g4 36.axb6 axb6 37.h3 e2 for the pawn, as the black king is no too 38.d7+ g8 39.d8+ g7 40.d7+ g8 happy, but Bla ck mana ged to draw in 41.d8+ g7 42.d7+ Gelfand,B-Van Wely,L/ Bled SLO 2002. ] ½-½ 10.0-0 d6 11.b3 c7 [ 11...xb3 12.axb3 b8 13.b4 may slightly favour W hite, who has more 1380 A33 space. ] Gelfand,Boris 2704 12.f4 0-0 13.fd1 Black has set-up his Nisipeanu,Liviu Dieter 2613 Hedgehog formation, with which he is quite a Olympiad Bled SLO (9) 04.11.2002 virtuoso, but the fact that White hasn't played e4, and thus keeps his g2-bishop's diagonal [Tony Kosten] open, always helps him, I think. g6 14.e3 1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 White aims for a d7 15.a4 b8 16.a7 a8 17.e3 d8 Catalan. c5 4.f3 White prefers to play an Both sides fight for control of b6. 18.ac1 a5 19.b3 e7 Black manages to coEnglish to a Benoni structure after ordinate his pieces despite having little space. [ 4.d5 ] A strong move, denying the f5-square 4...cxd4 5.xd4 c6 This seems perfectly 20.g4! to Black's knight, and therefore threatening d6. natural, although Black often prefers c6!? In retrospect this might be an error, but [ 5...c7 to attack c4, or ] it must certainly have seemed na tural t o [ 5...b4+ ] Black when he played. He did have other 6.g2 [ 6.c3 would take us into the [A33] moves, [ 20...h5!? for instance. ] mainlines. ] English Opening players don't like 6...b6 Anyway! 7.b5 e5!? Very rare 21.xc6! givin g t h is p ie ce f o r a lo wly kn igh t ! bxc6 here, Black often prefers [ 7...d5 i.e. 8.0-0 dxc4!? 9.1c3 d7 22.xd6! This is the deep point, sacrificing the 10.e3 a5 11.d6+ xd6 12.xd6 exchange, but gaining a pawn and crucial 0-0-0!? unclear, Schlosser,P-Hracek,Z/ dark squares. c7! [ 22...e7 is the alternative, 23.xd7! xd7 Lippstadt GER 2000. ] ( 23...xa3? 24.cd1 xd7 25.b6 b4 8.1c3!? Gelfand's novelty, offering a pawn. 26.c5 a5 27.xa3 fd8 28.e7 [ 8.e3 c5 9.xc5 xc5 10.1a3 e7! wins material) 24.b6 g5 25.xg5 xg5 11.0-0 a6 12.c3 is more pleasant for 26.d1 with a powerful dark-squared bind. ] White, Vaulin,A-Andreev,E/St Petersburg 23.c5 xc5 24.xc5 e7 25.cd1 xd6 RUS 2002. ] 8...a6 9.a3!? Original, White allows Black to 26.xd6 a7!? [ 26...xd6 27.xd6 is the key position, if double his pawns, and win a pawn, at the cost Black does nothing the a4-knight will land on o f h i s d a r k - s q u a r e d b i s h o p . e7!? c5 a n d co m p l e t e ly d o m in a t e t h e b l a c k But he decides against it! bishop, Black will be unable to connect his [ 9...xa3! 10.bxa3 xc4 is the critical test, rooks, and White will control the d-file, so e5 and was tried a few rounds later by Van 28.f3 e6! 29.c5 fd8 (activity is Wely: 11.g5 h6!? ( 11...g4!? ) 12.xf6 i m p o r t a n t ) 30.xc6 d2 31.f2 xa2 gxf6 13.0-0 b8 ( 13...d5 14.c1 32.b1 c2 and by dominating the menacing a sac on d5 ) 14.c1 b1-knight Black retains reasonable chance. ] A) 14...xa3!? 15.d2! b5 16.xb5 1384
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 27.c5!? White prefers to bring a knight to c4, thence d6, but [ 27.xc7 xc7 28.c5 e5 29.f3 was certainly possible, and probably better. ] 27...e5 28.c4!? [ 28.f3 ] 28...f6?! [ 28...xg4! is a b e t t e r t ry: 29.f3 h3 30.xe5 e7! 31.xe7 xe7 32.d3 d8 33.f2 and I prefer Black, who has all his pieces in play. ] 29.f3 This keeps the bishop 'behind bars'. f7 30.ab6 c7 31.a5 White has complete dark-squared domination, and is about to reap t h e f r u i t o f h i s e a r l i e r p l a y . h5!? Time to complicate. 32.gxh5 h3 33.xc6 h7 Black is in real trouble now, [ 33...xh5 is met by A) 34.xc7?! g5+ 35.f2 h4+ 36.e3 f4+ 37.f2 ( 37.d3?? e4+ wins the queen ) 37...h4+ draws; B) 34.h1! cf7 35.d8 a7 36.c6 with advantage. ] 34.h1 fc8? Desperation, or time-trouble? Probably the latter, as [ 34...e4! is not so clear, 35.fxe4?! xh5 36.d4 ( 36.xc7?? xe2 forces mate) 36...g4 37.g1 xe4+ 38.f3 ff7 and who is better? ] 35.d3+ [ 35.xc8!? is also possible, as the 'trap' d7 is met by 36.8e7 xd6 37.cxd6 e8 38.b4 when the queen is dominated by the white pieces. ] 35...e4 36.xe4+ f5 37.h4 The bishop is trapped! e8 38.d4 e7 39.xh3 xc5 40.c4 d8 41.e3 f4 42.g1 Threatening Ne6. 1-0
1381 Gelfand,Boris Pantsulaia,Levan WCC Khanty Mansiysk RUS (3.3) [John Watson]
A33 2717 2578 05.12.2005
In the World Cup in Khanty Mansyisk featured a lot of English o penings. In t he 6 -gam e match between Gelfand and Pantsulaia the English scored 4-1 with no losses. This first
game recalls what we said before about the ... a6 variation of the Anti-Benoni. If, after ...Qc7, Black isn't willing to accept a gambit pawn on c4, then he will often stand worse. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c4 c5 4.g3 cxd4 5.xd4 c7 6.c3 a6 7.g2 c6 Here it is. As Hansen says, Black usually doesn't accept. But as he demonstrates and as practice shows, White usu ally d oesn't ge t e no ugh f or t he p awn following [ 7...xc4! ] 8.0-0 d6 9.g5 e7 10.c1 Now Black has to be wary about Nd5 themes, but for the moment he should just develop. Instead he brings another White piece out. xd4? [ 10...d7 would cover a4 at a later time. ] 11.xd4 0-0 [ 11...d7 12.fd1 c6? 13.d5 ] 12.fd1 The ideal position. d8 White was threatening Bxf6. 13.a4! [ Or 13.e3 with the same idea. ] 13...b8 [ 13...d7 14.b6 ab8 15.xd7! ( 15.xf6 xf6 16.xd6 ) 15...xd7 16.b6 ] 14.b6! xb6 15.xb6 d7 [ 15...h6 16.f4 e5 17.xc8 dxc8 18.e3 ] 16.c5!? Probably not best. [ 16.f4! is difficult to answer because of the d u a l t h r e a t s B x d 6 a n d c 5 , e . g . , e8 ( 16...e5 17.xd7 xd7 18.d2 ) 17.c5 e5 18.cxd6 xd6 19.c4 exf4 20.xd6 fxg3 21.hxg3 with advantage. ] 16...b5! [ 16...dxc5?? 17.xf6 ] [ 16...e8 17.cxd6 xd6 18.xd6 xd6 19.e3 and Black is running out of useful moves, since g4 20.d4 e5 21.xe5 xe5 22.c7 ] 17.f4 e5 18.cxd6 xd6 19.xd6 [ 19.g5 e7= ] 19...exf4 20.xd8+ xd8 21.gxf4 xe2 22.xb7 Now Gelfand doesn't have much in view of his shattered kingside. On the other h a n d t h e r e a r e p r o sp e c t s o f ge t t in g t wo passed pawns on the queenside. f8 23.c8 e7 24.xd8 xd8 25.d5 f3!? [ 25...h5! 26.f5 a5 ] 26.xf6 xb7 27.xh7 White can safely grab the h-pawn and live, but the ending is 1385
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 still not easy. e7 28.g5 f6 29.h3 d5 30.a3 e6 31.f1 f5 32.e2 g4 33.g1 xf4 34.d3 e5? [ 34...g5! ] 35.b4 g5 36.e3 e4 37.e2 f5 38.f4+! f6 39.c1 White wins now because the queenside pawn will decide. Black could have used that h-pawn. g6 40.b3 c6 41.c5 b5 42.e6 g4 43.c7 f1 44.a4 h5 45.f2 d3 46.g3 g6 47.b5 axb5 48.axb5 e4 49.b6 f6 50.a6 1-0
1382 Gelfand,Boris Topalov,Veselin Sparkassen Gp 1 (5) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2710 2745 10.07.2002
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c4 c5 4.c3 Many players prefer to play this, and enter calm Symmetric English lines, rather than advance in the centre, leading to a sharp Benoni. cxd4 5.xd4 c6 6.g3 b6 7.db5 a6!? A somewhat surprising novelty, not only does Black ignore the threat to bring the knight to d6, he positively encourages it! [ 7...d5 8.g2 d4 9.a4 a5+ 10.d2 b4 11.c5 0-0 12.d3 xd2+ 13.xd2 xd2+ 14.xd2 led to a small White plus in Kasparov,G-Vaganian,R/Skelleftea 1989, but ] [ 7...e5 is the key move, see both Ribli,ZStevic,H/Solin-Split CRO 2001, and Pelletier, Y-Ponomariov,R. ] 8.d6+ xd6 9.xd6 b4 This move is the point of Black's idea, immediately contesting White's control of d6. 10.xb4 xb4 11.b1 White had to cope with the threatened knight f o r k o n c 2 . d5 Black strives to keep his temporary initiative going, before White can catch-up with his development. 12.g2!? [ 12.cxd5 exd5! menaces the unpleasant ... Bf5, e.g. 13.g5 f5 14.d1 e4 ( 14...d4!? 15.xf6 gxf6 16.a4 ) 15.xe4 xe4 16.f3 f5 but I think that White should nevertheless prefer this to the text. ] 12...dxc4 13.b3!? Making the temporary pawn sac into a 'real' one, White will rely on his open lines and bishop pair.
[ 13.0-0 is less drastic, but possibly playable. ] 13...cxb3 14.xb3 c2+ 15.f1 d4 16.b4 c6 17.b1 0-0 18.e3 e5 19.a4 White has some compensation for his pawn, but his king is quite awkwardly placed, so Black has reason to continue. ½-½
1383 Graf,Alexander Atakisi,Umut Acropolis Open (7) [Carsten Hansen]
A33 2621 2388 15.08.2008
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 6.g5 This is a fairly harmless choice on White's part, but as John Watson wrote in an earlier update, Black has to prove it... b4 [ Black has several decent alternatives at this juncture, e.g. 6...e7 was the topic of Kramnik-Leko, Miskolc 2007, which can be found in the PGN archives ] [ and 6...h6 7.h4 b6 was covered in Pelletier-Bruzon, Biel 2006, which also can be found in the PGN archives ] 7.c1 a5 [ Black has a great number of alternatives available at this juncture: A) 7...b6 8.xf6 gxf6 A) 9.e3 is also perfectly acceptable for White: xc3+ 10.bxc3 d6 ( 10...c5 11.g4 is probably the better option for Black ) 11.e2 d7 12.b5 Massari, GMattedi, M/Pellestrina 1979; B) 9.b3 f5 ( or 9...a5 10.xa5 xa5 11.d2 c6 12.e3 b6 13.a3 xc3 14.xc3 e7 15.f3 b7 16.e2 ac8 17.b4 Kortschnoj, V-Furman, S/ Moscow (URS-ch) 1961) 10.e3 c7 11.d2 b6 12.a3 xc3 13.xc3 b7 14.d4 a6 15.f3 g8 16.d3 h5 17.f2 f4 18.xc6 xc6 19.0-0 b8 , White's position leave the better overall impression, but Black is not without counterplay, and actually went on to win a surprising victory over his 200-point higher-rated opponent, Agrest, E-Marholev, D/Cutro ITA 2007 ] [ B) 7...h6 is the most frequently played 1386
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 move at this juncture and also the choice of Shirov when he encountered this position: 8.h4 ( 8.xf6 is harmless: xf6 9.db5 0-0 10.a3 e7 11.e3 d8 12.e2 a6 13.d4 d5 14.xc6 bxc6 , and Black a l re a d y h a s a ve ry c o m f o rt a b le g a m e , Lautier, J-W ojtkiewicz, A/Polanica Zdroj 1991 ) A) 8...d5 9.e3 xd4 10.exd4 e7 11.cxd5 xd5 12.b5+ d7 13.xd5 exd5 14.xd7+ xd7 15.e2 0-0 16.xe7 , and a draw was predictably agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Gulko, B-Gorelov, S/ Moscow 1981, though if anything, only Black can be better in this position.; B) 8...0-0 9.e3 xc3+ ( or 9...e5 10.a3 e7 11.e2 a6 12.0-0 b6 13.g3 c7 14.f3 d6 15.xe5 dxe5 16.b4 b7 17.b3 with the slightly better chances for White, Bakic, R-Markovic, I/Belgrade 1999 ) 10.bxc3 ( 10.xc3!? looks normal and should offer W hite the better chances ) 10...e5 11.e2 g6 12.xf6 xf6 13.0-0 d6 14.a4 d8 15.fd1 d7 16.a3 e8 17.b3 e7 18.d2 with an unbalanced position and chances for both sides, though the players decided t o c a l l it a d a y a t t h is p o i n t , 1 / 2 - 1 / 2 , Psakhis, L-Har Zvi, R/ Ramat Aviv 2000; C) 8...xc3+?! is premature and leaves White with the better chances, e.g. 9.xc3 g5 10.g3 e4 11.xc6 dxc6 12.xd8+ xd8 13.e5 f6? ( or 13...xc3 14.xh8 xa2 15.f6+ c7 16.h4 g4 17.h5 d7 18.g7 ) 14.e3 fxe5 15.xe4 , and Black is strategically lost, Pelletier, Y-Karr, J/France 2000; D) 8...b6 9.xf6 gxf6 10.e3 g8 11.d2 f5 12.g3 Porat, Y-Evans, L/ Amsterdam 1964; E) 8...g5 Black's sharpest option, but not the only one: 9.g3 e4 10.db5 xg3 11.hxg3 a6 12.d6+ e7 13.xc8+ xc8 14.e3 d5 ( This looks very sharp, b u t le a d s t o e xc h a n g e s a n d a n e ve n position. Instead Black should consider 14...b6!? , which is far more difficult for White to meet one line runs 15.d2 a5 16.d1 xc4 17.xd7+ f6 18.xc4 xc4 19.0-0 xc3 20.bxc3 c7 ) 15.cxd5 xd5 16.xd5 exd5 17.a3
xc3+ 18.xc3 d4 19.exd4= , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, Gelfand, B-Shirov, A/Monte Carlo 1999 ] [ C) 7...0-0 8.a3 e7 9.e3 b6 10.e2 b7 11.0-0 a6 12.f3 c8 13.a4 c7 14.f4 e5 15.xc6 xc6 16.xc6 exf4 17.d5 xd5 18.xd5 d6 19.g3 fxe3 and 1/2-1/2 was Zueger, B-Pelletier, Y/ Switzerland 1997, though White could have considered continuing with 20.h1! e5 21.c2 ] [ D) 7...d5 8.xc6 ( 8.e3!? ) 8...bxc6 9.cxd5 cxd5?? ( A dreadful blunder that loses the game on the spot. Of course the better move is 9...exd5 , after which White can claim an edge with 10.a4 b6 11.xf6 gxf6 12.a3 c5 13.e3 ) 10.a4+ 1-0 Sigurjonsson, B-Humphrys, F/corr 1990 ] 8.xf6 gxf6 9.a3 e7 [ 9...xc3+ has also been tried, but in the one game I found with this continuation, Black just seemed to play for a draw and e n d e d u p w i t h w o r s e p o s i t i o n : 10.xc3 xd4 11.xd4 e5 12.d2 b6 13.f4 f5 ( 13...c7!? ) 14.g4 c5 15.g2 b8 16.b4 Stangl, M-Pezerovic, E/Munich 1992 ] 10.e3 e5 11.e2 b6 12.xc6 dxc6 13.f3 b7 Black has the pair of bishops, but in the current position they are not of great use nor value. White has more space, an easy to follow game plan and the overall better chances. 14.0-0 d6 15.g3 c8 16.b4 Grabbing space on the queenside and further restricting Black's bishop on b7 e7 17.c5! bxc5 18.e4 cxb4 19.xd6 xd6 20.a4 a8 [ This is an awfully passive move and exactly the kind of move Black should not play if he wants to stay in the game. 20...b3 21.fd1 ( after 21.xa7 matters are less clear, for instance c7 22.fd1 b2 23.b1 e5 24.b6 a8 25.xb2 c5 26.xa8 xa8 27.a4 f8 , and while White probably has the upper hand, Black is not without counterplay) 21...b2 22.b1 c5 23.xb2 c7 24.b4 with the better chances for White ] 21.axb4 b8 22.a3! c5 [ I don't entirely understand Black's urgency to play this move. Instead Black can play 1387
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22...hd8 , e.g. 23.b5+ c5 24.xa8 xa8 25.xc5 xc5 26.xc5+ e8 27.a1 b7 , and Black has decent chances of survival ] 23.xa8 xa8 [ 23...cxb4?? loses quickly: 24.a4 xa8 25.xb4+ d7 26.fd1+ e8 27.xc8+ xc8 28.b1 g8 29.b8 e7 ( 29...d7 30.xa7+ d8 31.xf7+- ) 30.b7+ , and the queen goes ] 24.fd1 c7 [ 24...a6 doesn't look like it accomplishes much, but compared to the game continuation it represents an improvement in Black's position, giving him slightly more space for a seventh rank defence and also taking the a6-square away from the white the queen, which may take residence up there if so allowed. 25.bxc5 c6 26.d6 ] 25.xc5 xc5 26.bxc5 c8?? [ After this blunder, Black loses immediately. Instead Black should have tried 26...d8 , e.g. 27.c6+ e8 28.c1 c8 29.c3 e7 30.b4+ e8 31.c7 with a very unpleasant position for Black, but it has the distinct advantage over the game continuation that Black is still playing ] 27.c6+ e8 28.d7 , and Black cannot prevent mate on e7, so... 1-0
[ Automatic, but 15.f4 h5 might be safer. ] 15...a6!? I thought for a long time over this move, as I wanted to play [ 15...h5! but after 16.b5 f4 I was worried about 17.f3 but I didn't see the fabulous ( 17.xf4 xf4 hits the rook on c1, 18.d1 e5 is good for Black, he controls all the dark squares, and White can never castle.) 17...e3!! when a capture by the bishop or pawn allows Nxd3+, and by the queen Nxg2+. ] [ 15...g5 is another reasonable alternative, stopping f4, 16.b5 xe4 17.xe4 xe4 18.0-0 ( 18.c7+?! xc7 19.xe4 is met by e5 pinning the queen) 18...f5 and this position looked messy to me, as although Black has an extra pawn his bishop is misplaced, 19.d3 b2 20.f4 b8 21.c2 etc. ] 16.0-0?! [ Better 16.f4! h5 17.e5 xc3 18.xc3 xe2+ 19.xe2 h5 which leads to an equal opposite-colour bishop ending. ] 16...g5! Those dark squares! 17.h1 [ I e xpe cte d 17.f3 g8! (threat ...Qg3) 18.e2 b2 19.c3 xc3 20.xc3 g4 with an attack on the g-file. ] 17...g4! 18.hxg4 [ 18.f4 h5 is also unpleasant for White, but may have offered better chances. ] 18...g3!! A nasty surprise for White! 19.e3 1384 A33 [ W hite is mated after 19.fxg3?? hxg3+ and how else can he stop ...Nxg4 ? ] Horvat,Jerko 2548 Kosten,Anthony C 2536 19...xg4! [ 19...xe3 20.xe3 xe3 ( 20...xg4 Reims (8) 02.05.2002 21.fxg3 xe3 22.f3 g4 is s i m i la r) [Tony Kosten] 21.fxe3 xg4 is very pleasant for Black, as the knight will sit proudly on e5, but the 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 text-move is more incisive. ] 5.c3 f6 6.a3 xd4 7.xd4 b6 8.e4!? 20.fxg3 hxg3+ 21.g1 xe3! Again best, [ 8.f4 is examined in Lautier - Topalov. ] [ 21...xe3+ 22.xe3 xe3 23.f3 g4 8...c5 9.d1 c7 10.d3 b7 11.e2 24.xg3 e5 is only slightly better for W hite wants to play e5, kicking the knight Black. ] away, and then Ne4. h5! So that e5 could be answered by ...Ng4. 12.h3 h4 Black has take 22.f2! The only move! [ 22.f3 xc4+ or ] n a firm hold on the dark squares, and now ... [ 22.f3 g4+ 23.f2 gxf2+ 24.f1 h2+ Nh5-f4 is a possibility. 13.b4? This is the both win vast amounts of material. ] source of all White's coming problems. [ 13.b5 b8 14.e5 h5 15.b4 e7 22...f5 [ 22...gxf2+ i s a l s o s t r o n g , 23.xf2 16.0-0 a6 17.c3 might maintain an ( 23.xf2 e5 ) 23...d5+ 24.f3 xc3 edge. ] winning material, although I didn't want to 13...e5! 14.d2 d4 15.c1?! 1388
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 allow the white queen to stay on the board, A n t we r p 1 9 9 3) 11...h6 12.xf6 xf6 whilst ] 13.db5 e7 14.ac1 a6 15.d6 b8 [ 22...g4? is a mistake: 23.xg4 gxf2+ 16.c5 b5 17.ce4 Zvjaginsev, V-Goldin, A/ 24.f1 h1+ 25.e2 xc1 26.g8+ e7 St Petersburg 1994 ] 27.g5+ picking-up the c1-rook. ] [ 10...c7 11.f4 h5 12.db5 b8 23.exf5 Forced, 13.e3 f5 14.c5 f4 15.d4 Zetterberg, S[ 23.d1 gxf2+ 24.xf2 g3 forces mate Backe, P/Borlange 1995 ] on h1. ] 11.f4 c7 23...gxf2+ 24.xf2 [ Black may also consider 11...g6 12.g5 [ 24.f1?? h1# ] d6 13.e3 c7 14.ac1 e5 15.a4 h6 24...xf2+ 25.xf2 Black has an exchange 16.b6 b8 17.xf6 xf6 18.a3 ( 18.f4 more in the endgame, and duly won. c6 19.c5 dxc5 20.xc5 xd4 21.xc7 xb3 22.axb3 d8 23.xc8 xb6 24.c3 bd8 with an equal endgame) 18...d7 1385 A33 19.a4 d8 20.b4 c5 21.b6 ] Ivanchuk,Vassily 2787 12.a4 d6 [ 12...h5 13.xe5 xe5 14.c5 xc5 Ponomariov,Ruslan 2705 15.f3 c7 16.xc5 xc5 17.ac1 f5 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (26) 22.11.2007 18.d6 f6 19.d2 ] [Carsten Hansen] 13.b6 b8 14.ac1 [ White has a very strong alternative in 14.c5! 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 , e.g. d5 ( 14...xc5 15.ac1 a5 5.g3 b4+ 6.c3 f6 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 16.d2+- ) 15.ac1 fd7 16.e4 g5 e5 9.b3 e7 17.exd5 xc5 18.xe5 xe5 19.a3 f6 [ 9...c5 has proven insufficient for Black: 20.xc5 e5 21.d6 xd6 ( 21...xd6 10.d1 ( 10.e3 d6 11.fd1 e7 12.a4 22.xc8 fxc8 23.xc8+ ) 22.f3 h6 eg4 13.xc5 dxc5 14.b5 a6 15.d6 23.e3 xc5 24.xc5+- ] xe3 16.xe3 c7 17.d2 Orlov, GHauchard, A/Novi Sad 1989; 10.c2 a6 14...fd7 [ 14...g6 15.g5 c5 16.e3 h5 11.a4 a7 12.e3 xe3 13.xe3 b8 17.f3 ] 14.b6 d6 15.fd1 c7 16.d2 S c h m i d t , J - F a r a g o , S / B u d a p e s t 1 9 9 7) 15.xd7 xd7 [ 15...xd7 16.e3 c5 17.b4 e5 10...d6 11.a4 e7 12.c3 d8 13.b3 18.bxc5 exf4 19.xf4 xc5 20.d5 ] b6 14.xb6 axb6 15.e3 Hausner, I16.c5 dxc5 17.f3 xf3+ 18.xf3 Kristiansen, J/Budapest 1980 ] [ While it doesn't look particularly logical at 10.d1 first glance, White may actually be able to [ White can also try 10.f4 g6 11.d2 improve with 18.exf3!? , e.g. e5 19.xe5 ( 11.g5 b8 12.xf6 gxf6 13.c2 a6 xe5 20.xd7 f6 ( 20...g5!? is probably 14.b3 f5 15.e3 d6 16.ac1 f6 17.fd1 best in order to prevent White from playing g7 18.e2 Amorim, G-Giuricza, G/corr f3-f4 ) 21.f4 xb2 22.xb2 xb2 23.xc5 1992 ) 11...a6 12.ac1 d6 13.fd1 fd8 24.xd8+ xd8 25.xb7 , and White Zemerov, V-Horvath, I/ Keszthely 1994 ] wins a second pawn, leaving him with very [ or 10.h3 c7 11.f4 d6 12.db5 b8 decent winning chances, because in 13.fd1 a6 14.a3 c7 15.a4 fd7 addition to the material advantage, White 16.e3 b8 17.a7 a8 18.e3 b8 can set up pressure against Black's kingside 19.a7 1/2-1/2 Pokorny, P-Voloshin, L/ with his light-squared bishop and rook, Havlickuv Brod 2005 ] wh i c h B l a c k l i k e l y wi l l h a ve t o d e f e n d 10...a6 passively against, thus allowing W hite to [ This, too me, looks more logical than the advance his passed a-pawn. ] o t h e r m o v e s B l a c k h a s t r i e d : 10...a5 11.g5 ( 11.f4 g6 12.d2 c7 18...e5 19.xe5 xe5 20.xd7 b5 21.a3 [ 21.c3!? e6 22.cd1 ] 13.ac1 1/2-1/2 Piket, J-Christiansen, L/ 1389
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21...fd8?! [ Black can maintain the balance with 21...bd8!? 22.cd1 c4 23.a5! f6! 24.c7 xd7 25.xd7 d8 26.b8 g6 27.d5 g7 ] 22.cd1 xd7 23.xd7 f8? [ This loses material on account of a petite combination. Black could hold his position reasonably together with 23...b6 24.a5 d6 25.c7 d1+ 26.g2 xc7 27.xc7 f8 28.c6 , and White has a clear advantage and an enduring initiative, but this is by far to be preferred over the game continuation ] 24.xa6 xb2 25.xf7 xf7 26.a7+ e7 27.xb8 xa2 28.xb5 ON the surface, this may not look so dramatically bad for Black, but the opposite coloured bishops and the fact that Black's king is more vulnerable than White's win an almost certainty, and I added 'almost' only because it's a blitz game. Yet Ivanchuk's play in the remainder of the game is very convincing with perhaps a few little inaccuracies here and there. Please take your time to enjoy Ivanchuk elegant exploitation of the advantage. e6 29.d3 h6 30.f5+ e8? [ Black wants to avoid losing the pawn after 30...f6 31.d5+ f8 32.c8+ d8 33.xc5+ , but ended making a big mistake. ] 31.e4? [ Returning the favour White missed a much faster win with 31.c8+ f7 ( 31...d8 32.c6+ wins a piece immediately) 32.d5+ g6 33.e6+ h5 34.f3+ g5 35.h4+ ] 31...f6 32.xh7 d4 33.e3 e5 34.g8+ d7 35.c4 f6 36.h4 e7 37.g2 d6 38.f3 e5 39.h5 f6 40.b5 c7 41.c4 d6 42.e4 e5 43.g6 d8 44.f7 d6 45.e4 c8 46.g4 e5 47.f5+ b8 48.d7 h4 49.c6 a7 50.e4 e7 51.d5 g5 52.f4 f6 53.f3 c3 54.g5 d2 55.e4 c4 56.xc4 a3+ 57.g4 e3 58.c7+ a6 59.c4# 1-0
1386 Jakovenko,Dmitrij Moiseenko,Alexander 8th ch-Euro Dresden GER (8) [Carsten Hansen]
A33 2708 2630 11.04.2007
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 6.a3 Speelman's move, which Speelman himself highlights as his biggest contribution to opening theory in Kasparov's n e w b o o k " Re vo l u t i o n in t h e 7 0 s " . xd4 This is just one of many possible continuations for Black in this position. Other tries include: 6...a6, 6...Qc7, 6...d5, 6...Bc5 and 6...Be7. The text move as introduced by Sax in his Candidates match against Kortchnoi in 1991. It is a relatively rare line, in fact our main game is the first I have seen with this line for quite a while. 7.xd4 b6 8.f4!? [ 8.f4 c5 A) 9.d2 b7 10.e3 0-0 11.d6 xd6 12.xd6 c8 13.d1 e8! ( 13...a6 14.b3 b7 15.a4 a6 16.f3 c6 17.d2 e7 18.d3 d5 and a draw was agreed upon in Kortchnoi-Sax, Wijk aan Zee m(1) 1991 ) 14.f3 c6 15.d4 a6 K a r p o v- T i m m a n , J a k a r t a W c h m ( 2 0 ) 1993.; B) 9.d3 a6 10.b4 e7 11.e4 c8 12.b5 b7 13.e5 h5 14.e3 c7 15.d1 xa3 16.d5 exd5 17.xa3 xe5 18.e2 f4 19.xf4 xf4 20.0-0 a n d W h it e h a s co m p e n sa t i o n f o r t h e pawns, Speelman-Wall, Dublin 1993 ] [ 8.e4 c5 9.d1 b7 10.d3 0-0 11.e5 e8 I.Sokolov-Lautier, Groningen 1996, and now Sokolov gives 12.b4 e7 13.0-0 d6 14.c2 g6 15.h6 g7 16.ad1 ] 8...e7 [ This move is solid. Alternatively, 8...b7 h a s b e e n p l a y e d : 9.e4 d6 10.d3! ( 10.e3 e7 11.d3 0-0 12.0-0 d7 13.g3 e5 14.e2 c8 15.b3 f6= Kortchnoi, V-Sax, G/W ijk aan Zee m (3) 1991; 10.g3!? should also be considered it is very similar to what W hite plays in the main game ) 10...e7 11.g3! ( 11.e3 0-0 transposes to Kortchnoi-Sax, m(3) above ) 11...0-0 12.h6 e8 13.d2 c8 14.0-0 f6 15.ac1 g6 16.b3 a6 1390
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Kortchnoi, V-Sax, G/Wijk aan Zee m(5) 1991, and now 17.fd1 g7 18.g5 (Kortchnoi) ] [ Kortchnoi also analyses 8...c5!? 9.e4 d6 10.e3 e5 11.g3 0-0 12.xc5 bxc5 13.d3 b8 14.0-0-0 ] [ 8...a6!? and 9.e4 c8 10.e5 g8 11.b3! e7 12.b2 g6 13.g3 h4 14.xh4 xh4 15.0-0-0 ] 9.e4 d6 10.g3 0-0 11.h6 e8 12.d2!? [ 12.d3 b7 13.d2 c8 transposes to Kortchnoi-Sax m(5) above, but 12...Bh4 spoils the fun ] 12...f6 [ 12...f5 13.exf5 xf5 14.d3 h4 15.h3 e5+ ( 15...xf2+ 16.d1 d4 17.c2 d7 18.xf5 exf5 19.d3; 15...xf2 16.g3 ) 16.e3 d5 17.0-0-0 ] 13.d1 c7 14.h6!? e8 15.d3 a6 16.c1 c8 17.d2 f6 18.0-0 d7 19.b3 [ My c o mp u t e r lo ve s 19.b5 but Black should be fine after b8 20.f4 e5 21.fd1 b7 22.b3 a6 with a typical hedgehog position ] 19...fe8 20.h1 b7 21.f4 a6 [ 21...c5 22.c2 a6 23.f5 gives White a strong initiative ] 22.h3 f8 23.b4 g6 24.e2 g7 25.c3 xc3 26.xc3 d8 27.e2 c7 28.f5!? exf5 [ 28...e5!? 29.f6 h8 30.e3 also leaves W hite with a solid plus, but the game continuation is very dangerous for Black because it opens up the position for W hite's pieces and leaves the king vulnerable. ] 29.exf5 e5? [ 29...e5 30.h6 e7 31.f6 f8 32.h4 ] 30.g4!+- d8 31.d5 [ 31.fxg6! hxg6 32.xf7! xf7 33.h7+ f6 34.f1+ f5 35.xf5 wins on the spot, although the text move essentially leads to the same. ] 31...xd5 32.cxd5 b7 33.fxg6 hxg6 34.xf7 xf7 35.h7+ e8 36.xg6+ e7 37.g7+ e8 38.f1 xd5 39.xd7+ 1-0
1387 Karpov,Anatoly Topalov,Veselin Linares [Tony Kosten]
A33 2740 2640 1994
1.d4 f6 2.c4 c5 3.f3 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 Black prepares to develop his king's bishop, and can play ...d5 at any given moment. 5.g3 The f1-bishop is best-placed on the h1-a8 diagonal. [ 5.c3 would permit transposition into Nimzo positions after b4 , and, in fact this line is often similar. ] 5...c6 6.g2 c5 Black 'wastes' a move to drive the white knight from the centre, [ 6...b6 one of several alternatives here, has the same idea. ] 7.b3 e7 8.c3 Now is a good time to play this, as Black is hardly likely to want to play 8... Bb4, and move his dark-squared bishop a third time in the opening. 0-0 9.0-0 d6 Reaching a hedgehog-structure. Note that if Black doesn't play this, then White may play c5, e.g. [ 9...a6 10.c5! threatening Na4-b6. ] 10.f4 Directly threatening the d6-pawn, as Black can never play ...e5, because of the c a t a s t r o p h i c w e a k e n i n g o f d 5 . h5 Black hopes to drive the annoying bishop back, but otherwise what can he play? [ 10...a5 for instance, can be forcefully met by 11.xa5 xa5 12.xd6! winning a pawn, as d8 fails to the queen sac 13.xe7 xd1 14.axd1 h6 15.d8+ and the black queenside is dead. ] 11.e3! A surprising, and powerful, innovation, rather than the obvious [ 11.e3 White actually encourages Black to capture his bishop. ] 11...xf4 12.exf4 Why is this position good for White? He has a good hold over the centre, due to his f4, and c4 pawns, good squares for his minor pieces, and two open files for his rooks. d7 Black's perennial problem in this line is the development of his queen's bishop. 13.d2 b8 14.fe1! A simple developing move, that just happens to menace f5, in passing. g6 15.h4 Piling-on the pressure, Whit is quick to pounce on the weakening of the black kingside. a6 16.h5 b5 17.hxg6 1391
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 hxg6 18.c5! dxc5 Otherwise [ 18...e8 w o u l d a l l o w 19.xe6!? fxe6 20.xe6 with a powerful attack. ] 19.xd7 c8 So as to answer 20 Bxc6 with 2 0 . . . R a 7 2 1 Q d 3 R x c 6 . 20.xe6! Karpov turns his attention to the black king, wh o s e p a wn c o ve r h e we a k e n e d o n h i s s e v e n t e e n t h m o v e . a7 21.xg6+ No let-up for Black. fxg6 22.e6+ g7 23.xc6 The point, material is equal, but the white pieces are clustered around the poor black king. d8 24.cxb5 f6 25.e4 d4 26.bxa6 b6 27.d1 xa6 28.xd4!? Flashy, but the mundane [ 28.xc5 b6 29.xd4 xd4 30.e5+ was also very strong. ] 28...xd4 29.f6+ g8 30.xg6+ T h e q u e e n a n d t wo m i n o r p i e c e s m a k e m i n c e m e a t o f t h e b l a c k p o s i t i o n . f8 31.e8+ g7 32.e5+ g8 33.f6+ It is always pleasant playing attacks that only involve checks, like this, as you only have to consider Black's king moves, nothing else! f7 34.e8+ The bishop wants to get involved, too. f8 35.xc5+ d6 36.xa7 Taking back one exchange. xf6 Amazingly, Black nearly has a forced draw here: [ 36...d1+ 37.g2 g1+ and now, if 38.xg1?? Black will play d1+ 39.g2 h1+! like a shot, as 40.xh1 is stalemate! However, the simple 38 Kh3 would shatter any illusions. ] 37.h5 d2 38.b3 b2 39.g2 Black has no counterplay, as f2 is well-defended, and it is only a matter of time before White queens one of his queenside pawns. 1-0
1388 Kasparov,Garry Oral,Tomas Eurotel Trophy Simul (2) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2838 2546 20.10.2001
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.g3 e6 6.g2 c5 [ I p r e f e r t h e m a i n l i n e , 6...b6 myself, although this has the same idea. ] 7.b3 e7 8.c3 d6 9.f4 0-0 10.0-0 h5 So far we have seen this all before,
11.e3!? Kasparov plays the old move, [ 11.e3 was very successful for Karpov, against Top alov, a s we have seen, bu t perhaps Kasparov knows something we don't? ] 11...e5?! [ Playing another knight move is stretching Black's luck to the limit, I think it is better to accept a disadvantage by 11...d7 ] 12.c5! Not bothering to defend the c4-square, but simply making sure that there is nothing there to capture! d5 [ 12...c4 13.cxd6 xd6 14.d4 xe3 15.xe3 leaves Black with development problems, whereas White is threatening to bring his rooks to the central files. ] 13.d4 c6 14.e4! White shows great understanding and opens the position to exploit his development and space advantages, at the cost of the bishop pair. xd4 [ P ro b a b ly b e st , 14...f6 offers a pawn: 15.xf6 xf6 16.exd5 exd5 17.xd5 a n d B la c k' s co m p e n sa t io n is n o t qu it e enough, Smyslov,V-Matulovic,M/Palma de Mallorca 1967. ] 15.xd4 dxe4 16.xe4 f6 17.e5! A powerful innovation, but one which had b e e n su gg e s t e d t we n t y ye a rs a go b y . . . Kasparov!! W hite prepares to control the central files with his rook whilst Black has serious difficulties developing his queenside, and has no sensible square for his queen. [ 17.f4?! d5 18.xd5 exd5 19.ad1 e6 allowed Black to restrict the white advantage in Mikhalchishin,A-Kasparov,G/ Baku 1980. Kasparov clearly retains the lessons he learnt as a youngster! ] 17...d7!? [ As ...Nd5 is no longer feasible- it loses a pawn for nothing- Black suffers from being unable to develop, and decides to sac his bpawn for some activity. Perhaps 17...d7 is an alternative, but it is only a short-term solution. ] 18.xb7 b8 The tricky point, Black hopes to gain compensation from his bishop pair in the ending, but the c-pawn is too strong. 19.xb8 axb8 20.a6 Necessary, to stop Black from playing ...Rfc8 and capturing the c-pawn. c8 21.b5 b7 22.c6 a8 Black is defending 1392
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 well, if he can find time to bring his rook to the c-file, and capture the c6-pawn, he will be fine. 23.fd1 b4! [ It is still not time for 23...fc8 as 24.d4 c5?! ( 24...e5 25.f5 c5 is Black's best bet, although 26.ac1 keeps an edge, as the c-pawn is still untouchable because of the resulting c-file pin.) 25.a6 c7 26.cb5 wins the exchange. ] 24.d4!! This move involves a deep, and typ ic a lly K a sp a ro via n , p ie ce sacrif ice t o e n s u re t h e a d va n ce o f t h e c-p a wn . xc3 25.bxc3 e5 26.f5! Threatening Nd6, and c7, so Black's reply is forced. xb5 27.e7+ h8 28.c7 The point, the powerful c-pawn, and weakness of the black back rank, are worth more than a piece. b7 It seems that Black has everything in order, but Kasparov's judgement is exemplary, even in a simul. 29.ab1! [ 29.d8 e8 30.xe8+ ( 30.b8! keeps a plus) 30...xe8 31.c8 xc8 32.xc8 is not much ] 29...xb1 [ 29...b6? 30.xb6 axb6 loses, as 31.d8 and now e8 is no longer sufficient as 32.f5 -d6 wins immediately. ] 30.xb1 a6 Clearly forced. 31.b8 e8 32.c4! A unique position, the laggard second doub led c-pa wn adva nces, with decisive effect. g6? A blunder, undermining the poor knight, but even after [ 32...h6 33.c5 h7 to unpin the rook, 34.xe8 xe8 35.c8 xc8 36.xc8 the knight ending is winning for W hite: a6 37.d6 and a pawn is lost. ] 33.d5 c8 34.xf6 g7 35.xc8 xc8 36.e8+ After 37 Nd6 White wins the bishop. 1-0
1389 Kasparov,Garry Van Wely,Loek ROW Match Moscow RUS (1) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2817 2651 10.06.2004
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 6.a3 So, this little move gets the Kasparov 'seal of approval', I am inclined to agree that it is the most annoying for Black at
the moment. xd4 7.xd4 b6 8.f4 e7 We have already considered [ 8...d6 and ] [ 8...b7 ] 9.e4 d6 10.g3 This is the point of White's queen manoeuvre, he puts pressure on g7. W hich is why Black had often delayed the development of his dark-squared bishop in previous games, see Lautier-Topalov f or instance. 0-0 11.h6 Not to mate (Black will notice the threat!) but to gain a tempo. e8 12.f4 Now when Black later plays ...Nf6 White will have gained a move. [ 12.d2 is co m m o n , f6 13.h6 e8 14.d2 1/2-1/2 Nogueiras,J-Hansen,C/ Istanbul TUR 2000! f6 1/2-1/2 Delchev,AYe m e li n , V / Za d a r C RO 2 0 0 2 - h a rd l y a forced draw!! ] 12...b7 [ 12...e5!? looks bad, positionally, but is playable: 13.d2 f5 (like a Kalashnikov?!) 14.d3!? ( 14.d3? allows h4 15.e3 xf2+! 16.xf2 fxe4 ) 14...e6 15.exf5 xf5 16.e3 f6 17.e2 c8 18.0-0 No gu e ira s, J -Ca ce re s, J/ Mo n t re a l CA N 2002. ] 13.d1 h4 Distracting White from d6. 14.h3 f6 15.e3 g5 the exchange of dark-squared bishops is desirable. 16.e2 xe3 17.xe3 e7 18.0-0 f6 19.d2 fd8 20.fd1 White has a typical space advantage, and pressure on the d-file, but Black is solid. c6 21.f4 h5?! This is a common move in Hedgehog positions, to hinder g4, but I think I would prefer [ 21...e5 now that there is no dark-squared bishop. ] 22.f3 Kasparov must have been tempted by [ 22.e5!? dxe5 23.fxe5 g4 24.xg4 xd2 ( 24...hxg4 25.d6 ) 25.xd2 hxg4 26.d4 which seems to win a pawn, but prefers to keep the tension. ] 22...c7 23.h3 e5 24.f5 h4?! Black must have been worried about the possibility of g4g5, but this just loses a pawn. [ 24...ac8 is better, planning play along the c-file. ] 25.f2 b7 26.b5! xc4 27.xd6 c7 28.xh4 Winning a pawn with a great position. c6 W i t h a t h r e a t . 29.g4!? That White ignores! 1393
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 29.b3! was safer, but Kasparov has seen a sharp attack. ] 29...a4 The rook on d1 cannot move without l o s i n g t h e d 6 - k n i g h t . 30.g5! xd1 The alternative is [ 30...e8?! when W hite continues 31.g6 xd6 32.xd6 xd1 ( 32...xd6 m i gh t b e a b e t t e r t r y, 33.xd6 xd6 34.h7+ f8 35.h8+ e7 36.xa8 ) 33.h7+ f8 34.f6! gxf6 (other moves allow mate) 35.h8+ e7 36.xf6+ f8 37.g7+ g8 38.h6 f6 39.h8+ f7 40.xf6+! and wins. ] 31.gxf6 Qg5 is the threat, with mate on g7. xd6? [ 31...gxf6! is correct, 32.xf6 ( 32.g2+? f8 33.h6+ e7 34.xf7! xf3 35.xd8 xg2 36.e6 c4 and Black will win! ) 32...xf3 33.g5+ f8 34.h6+ leads to a draw, but no more ] 32.g2 g6?! [ 32...c5+ 33.h2 d2 slows White down, but 34.xd2 xf3 35.g3 g6 36.xf3 will win easily enough. ] 33.fxg6 Black is a rook up, but will lose enormous amounts of material to parry the mating threats. 1-0
1390 Khismatullin,Denis Iljushin,Alexei ch-Privolzhsky Region (6) [John Watson]
A33 2548 2530 21.03.2005
6.Nb5 is one of the most straightf orward attempts to defeat the English main line of the "Anti-Benoni" systems. For years the endgame after 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 6.db5 d5 7.f4 e5 8.cxd5 exf4 9.dxc6 bxc6 10.xd8+ xd8 has had a drawish reputation. Wojtkiewicz has used it repeatedly although, as Tony points out, he seems to do so in order to draw 11.d1+ The main line. [ Theory isn't particularly enthusiastic for the move 11.0-0-0+ : d7 12.d6 xd6 13.xd6 g4 14.f3!? ( 14.d1 e7 15.d4 g5 16.g3 fxg3 17.hxg3 h5 18.g2 drawn, W ojtkiewicz-Gulko, Kona 1998.)
14...e3 15.d4 c5 ( 15...g5! 16.g3 c5 17.d3 e7 18.d5+ xd5 19.xd5 h6 20.gxf4 gxf4 21.xc5 ac8 22.xc8 xc8+ and Black has enough for a pawn.) 16.xf4 f5 17.h4 b8 18.b3 b6 19.g4 b4 20.xb4 cxb4 21.d1 xd1 22.xd1 fxg4 23.fxg4 xg4 24.h3 1/2-1/2 Wojtkiewicz,A-Zvjaginsev,V/ Tripoli LBA 2004 (24) ] 11...d7 12.d6 xd6 13.xd6 b8 14.b3 [ 14.d2 e8 15.g3 f3 16.d1 fxe2+ 17.xe2 c7 18.c1 e4 19.xe4 xe4 and the game was soon drawn in Ubilava-de Firmian, New York 1990. ] 14...b4 15.g3 e7 16.d2 c5 [ 16...d8 appears sounder. ] 17.gxf4 xf4 18.g1 g6 19.g5 c8? [ 19...f5 20.h4! ] 20.e3? [ 20.xd7+! xd7 21.h3+ d8 22.xc8 xc8 23.xc5+ yields a large advantage. ] 20...f5 21.xf5 xf5 22.f3 e6 23.b5 a5 24.a3 [ A better try was 24.d6 d8 25.c4 ] 24...d5!? [ Or 24...d7 ] 25.c4 a8 26.e4 b4 27.b6 d8 28.xd8 ½-½
1391 Khismatullin,Denis Zvjaginsev,Vadim 17th TCh-RUS Premier (4) [Nigel Davies]
A33 2657 2643 04.04.2010
1.d4 e6 2.f3 c5 3.c4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.g3 c6 6.g2 b4+ 7.c3 0-0 8.0-0 e7 I'm always somewhat sceptical of Zviagintsev's original opening play but this move has been played by other strong players including Nigel Short. Black envisages a very different set up to the standard kind of Hedgehog formation, putting his queen on e7, rook on d8 and playing for ... d7-d5 or maybe ...d7-d6 and ...e6-e5. It actually doesn't look half bad. [ T h e m o s t p o p u l a r m o v e h e r e i s 8...a6 but it ha s no t f a re d p articu la rly we ll. A classic example went 9.c2 xc3 10.bxc3 1394
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d5 11.e3 a5 12.b2 d8 13.b3 c7 14.fd1 a5 15.b4 c6 16.c5 d7 17.a3 dxc4 18.xc4 b6 19.xd8+ xd8 20.a5 c7 21.xc6 bxc6 22.a5 with a clear advantage for White in Portisch, L-Matulovic, M/Halle 1967. ] 9.a4 d8 10.a3 d6 11.b4 e5 12.b2 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 d6 15.fd1 [ An earlier game went 15.c3 e5 16.h4 e6 17.e4 d7 18.c5?! xe4 19.xe7 xe7 20.xe4 dxc5 21.bxc5 f5 22.g2 c8 with rather more than equality for Black in Atalik, S (2632)-Short, N (2677)/Turin 2006. ] 15...d7 16.b5 d5 17.cxd5 exd5 This isolated d-pawn position doesn't look too bad for Black because the advance of White's b-pawn has lef t his c4 and c5 squares v u l n e r a b l e . 18.c3 e6 19.d3 d7 20.ad1 a6 21.f3 h6 22.h4 axb5 23.xb5 c8 24.b2 f5 25.3d2 [ After 25.c3 Black can play xc3 26.xc3 e4 with approximate equality. ] 25...c5 26.g2 a8?! Leaving the c-file looks wrong. [ 26...e4 looks more logical when 27.d4 f6 28.4d2 might well lead to a draw by repetition! ] 27.c1 b6 28.d4 xb2 29.xb2 g6 30.h3 dd8 31.b3 a4 32.e3 da8?! After this Black comes very close to losing. [ 32...c4 seems better as after 33.xc4 dxc4 34.xb7 d3 Black has counterplay thanks to his passed pawn. ] 33.c8+ h7 34.xa8 xa8 35.g4 h5 36.g5 e8 37.g2 d6 [ Black can no longer avoid the loss of a p a w n , f o r e x a m p l e 37...e4 is met by 38.xb7 xa3 39.xf7 . ] 38.xd5 a5 39.xb7 xb7 40.xb7 xa3 41.h2 g8 42.g3 a1 43.f3 g1+ 44.h2 d1 45.d7 d3 46.d8+ h7 47.e8 d1 48.g2 d3 49.f8 c4 50.c6 d5 51.g3 c5 52.d4 g6 53.e4 g7 54.a8 e6 55.f4 c8 56.e3 f8 57.f4 e7? Allowing the exchange of rooks which has to favour White. [ 57...g7 was better. ] 58.a5! xa5 59.c6+ d6 60.xa5 a6 61.b3 c4 62.d4 a6 63.e3 c5 64.f4 c8 65.f3 d7 66.e5 e6 67.f5?!
Attempting to cash in, but Black holds the draw by the skin of his teeth. [ I think there was a good case for continued torture via 67.d3+ d6 68.d4 . ] 67...gxf5 68.exf5 xf5 69.xf7 d5 70.f4 c2 71.e5 e6 72.c6 g6 73.d4+ d5 74.e2 e6 75.g3 d6 76.f1 d5 77.d2 d6 78.e4+ d5 79.f6+ e6 80.e3 f5 81.d4 f4 82.d7 g4 83.e5+ xh4 84.xg6+ ½-½
1392 Kramnik,Vladimir Leko,Peter Rapid Match Miskolc HUN rapid (1) [Carsten Hansen]
A33 2772 2738 25.04.07
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 6.g5?! This is a rathe r rare choice, one which Kortchnoi has used on several occasions, yet also one that doesn't promise W hite a great deal, other than headaches that is. .. e7 [ Also 6...b6 has been tried, e.g. 7.b3 b4 8.xf6 gxf6 9.e3 e5= V.KortschnoiJ.Timman, Rotterdam 1990 ] 7.e3 a5! [ This move has seen surprisingly little air time in comparison to the main line move which is 7...0-0 A) 8.c1 d6 9.e2 a6 10.0-0 A1) 10...c7? 11.xf6 xf6 12.d5 Lautier; A2) 10...xd4? 11.xd4 c7 ( 11...b6 12.fd1 with the idea Bf6 and Ne4) 12.fd1 d8 13.a4 b8 14.b6 Lautier; A3) 10...d7 11.b3! with the threat of 12.Bxf6 ( 11.d2 xd4 12.xd4 c6 13.b4 b8 14.fd1 d8 15.a4 c7 16.a5 A.Saidy-N.De Firmian, New York 1990 ) A3a) 11...c7? 12.d2 fd8 13.xf6 xf6 14.d5 exd5 15.cxd5 Lautier; A3b) 11...e8? 12.f4 Lautier; A3c) 11...b8 A3c1) 12.c5 dxc5 13.xf6 xf6 ( 13...gxf6?! 14.a4 ) 14.xc5 ( 14.xd7?? d8-+ ) 14...e8 1395
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Lautier; A3c2) 12.d2 d8 13.fd1 e8 Lautier; A3d) 11...b6?! 12.xf6 gxf6 13.d2 a7 14.f4! ( 14.e4 c8 15.fd1 d7 ) A3d1) 14...f5 15.cd1 e8 ( 15...c8 16.f3 ) 16.e4 fxe4 17.f5! g5 18.e1 exf5 19.xf5 d7 20.fd5 Lautier; A3d2) 14...h8 15.e4 e8 16.cd1 d7 17.c3! ( 17.f5?! d5 with counterplay) 17...g8 18.f5+e5 ( 18...e5 19.d4+- ) 19.f3 a7 20.d3! (with the plan Ne4-c3d 5 f o l lo we d b y Nb 3 -d 2 - e 4 +- ) b5 21.c3 b8 22.d5 c8 23.cxb5 axb5 ( 23...xb5 24.xb5 axb5 25.c1+- ) 24.d2 b6 25.xe7! xe7 26.e4 c4 ( 26...d5 27.xf6 e4 28.d4 exf3 29.d7++- ) 27.xf6 xb2 28.xd6 xd6 29.xd6 f8 30.e2! c4 31.xc4 bxc4 32.c1 b5 33.b6 an d B lack re sign e d , J. L a ut ie r-J. Pinter, French Team Ch 1991; A4) 10...e5! 11.d2 c7 ( 11...b6? 12.f4 g6 13.c6 c7 14.xe7+ xe7 15.xf6 gxf6 16.cd1 Ribli ) 12.b3 h6 ( 12...b6= Ribli ) 13.f4 b6 14.g3 b7 15.f4 ed7 16.b4 ac8 17.a3 b8 18.f5 e5 19.b3 a8= V. Kortschnoi-L.Psakhis, Manila 1992; B) 8.e2 B1) 8...a5!? 9.h4 d8 10.b3 b6 11.0-0 d6 12.g3 e5 13.h4 e6 14.xf6 xf6 15.c1 a5 16.d2 e7 with a pleasant game for Black, A.Graf-S. Dvoirys, Barnaul 1984; B2) 8...b6 9.0-0 b7 10.xf6 xf6 11.db5 e7! ( 11...d5!? 12.cxd5 exd5 13.xd5 xb2 14.b1 e5= ) 12.b3 d6 13.fd1 c8 14.ac1 a6 15.d4 c7 16.c2 a7 17.a4 ac8 18.d2 fd8 19.b3 a8= 1/2-1/2 J.Lautier-N.De Firmian, Biel 1990; B3) 8...d5 9.cxd5 xd4 ( 9...xd5 10.xc6 bxc6 11.xe7 xe7 12.c2 b7 13.0-0 c5 14.fc1 ac8 15.a4 c6 16.a5 M.Stangl-S.Kindermann,
G a r m i s c h 1 9 9 4) 10.xd4 xd5 11.xe7 xe7 12.0-0-0 ( The alternatives also deserve attention, e. g. 12.d1!? xd4 13.xd4 e5 14.c4 c6 15.f3 e6 16.c5; and 12.b4!? a5 13.a3 g6 14.d1 ) 12...a5 ( or 12...xd4 13.xd4 e5 14.c4 c6 15.f3 e6 16.c5 ) 13.f3 c6 14.xc6 bxc6 15.a4 c5 16.d4 V.Kortschnoi-A.Suetin, USSR Ch (Yerevan) 1962 ] [ 7...a6 8.c1 h6 9.h4 0-0 10.e2 d6 11.0-0 d7 12.f3 b8 13.h3 d8 14.g3 e5 15.d4 ( 15.d4!? c6 16.d2 ) 15...a7 16.d2 ac8 17.b3 e8 18.f3 c6= K. Spraggett-L.Galego, Benidorm 1993 ] 8.h4 [ 8.db5 0-0 9.a3 d5 10.b4 d8 11.cxd5 xd5 12.xe7 cxe7 13.b3 , and here the players agreed upon a draw in H.BohmH.Ree, Leeuwarden 1980, and although I favour Black's chances after a6 14.d4 xc3 15.xc3 d7 16.d3 c8 17.b2 a4 18.0-0 d5 , the position is objectively speaking about equal. ] [ 8.xf6? xf6 9.e2 xd4 10.exd4 b6 0-1 Buechle, R-Grinfeld, A/Prague 1992/TD (15) ] 8...e4 9.xe7 xc3 10.d2 xe7 [ A f u n-lo o king a lt e rn at ive is 10...xe7!? 11.bxc3 d8 ( 11...xd4 12.cxd4 xd2+ 13.xd2 b6 14.d3 b7 15.f3=; 11...b6 12.d1 ) 12.d1 d6 13.e2 e5 14.b5 a6 15.xd6 a3 16.xc8+ axc8 17.c2= ] 11.b5 0-0 12.xc3 xc3+ 13.xc3 b6 14.0-0-0 [ I'm not sure I agree with the premise behind this move because Black will place a rook on c8 and threaten a pawn break with either ... d5 or ...b5, forcing White to take some extra precautions with his king being somewhat exposed on c1. Nonetheless, the alternatives also promise Black a problemfree road to equality, e.g. 14.d1 d8 15.b5 b7 16.d6 c6 17.f3 c8 18.e4 xd6 ( 18...f8 ) 19.xd6 f8= ] [ or 14.d3 a6 15.d1 ac8 16.b3 d5! 17.cxd5 xc3 18.xa6 xd5= ] 14...d8 15.e2?! 1396
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ This sloppy move hands Black the initiative. Trnava 1981, ( 16.d1 b4 17.e4 Instead W hite should give preference to is worth a try, White does have an extra 15.b5 b7 16.d6 c6 17.f3 c8 rook! ); 18.e2 f5= ] B2) 15...b4 16.xb4 xb4 17.g3 f8 15...b7 16.e4 f5! 17.exf5 18.gxf4 xf4 19.g1 g8 20.g6 [ The alternative 17.f3 leads to a positional hxg6 21.xg6 h4 with a very tiny edge for Black after fxe4 18.fxe4 g6 advantage to White, Stean,M-Liberzon,V/ 19.d2 e5 20.e3 ac8 ] Vienna 1980. ] 17...xf5 18.hg1 ac8 19.d2 f8 14...xd6 15.xd6 xb2 16.d2 xd2 20.g3 e7 21.e1 d6 [ 16...b4 17.g3 c4 18.d1 Andersson,U[ 21...g5 22.b3= ] T im m a n , J/ B u go jn o 1 9 8 2 , a n d n o w fxg3 [ 21...d6 22.b1 g6= ] is level. ] 22.b3 17.xd2 e7!? [ 22.d4 a6!? ( 22...g5!? 23.g4 f7 [ A sensible new move, Black wants to bring is possibly a better way to keep the game his other rook to the b-file as quickly as fluid, but White is probably okay.) 23.c2 p o s s i b l e . T h e t a c t i c a l 17...g4 b5 24.cxb5 xb5 25.g4 g8 26.xb5 was the previous choice: 18.f3! e3 19.g3 axb5 27.b4 gf8 28.f4 c6= ] g5 20.h4 h6?! ( 20...xf1+ 21.xf1 fxg3 22...b5! 23.ed1 e4! 24.xe4 xe4 22.hxg5 h5 23.gxh6 xh6 24.g1 g6 25.b2 and here a draw was surprisingly 25.e4 is fine for White.) 21.hxg5 xf1+ agreed upon. Surprisingly because Black is 22.xf1 and White is on top, Bohm,H-Rogoff, better, e.g. bxc4 26.xc4 d5 27.e2 g5 K/Amsterdam 1980. ] with a small but clear advantage for Black. 18.g3 f5! 19.g2 ½-½ [ 19.gxf4 b8 20.c1 d5 is similar to the game. ] 19...d8+ 20.c1 d5 21.xd5+ cxd5 1393 A33 22.gxf4?! [ Careless, although this was only a rapid Krasenkow,Michal 2702 game. 22.d1 is safer, c8+ 23.d2 c2+ Macieja,Bartlomiej 2536 24.e1 fxg3 25.hxg3 and White shouldn't FIDE WCh KO New Delhi IND (2.6) 02.12.2000 loses this, and a draw would have qualified [Tony Kosten] him for the next round! ] 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 22...c8+ 23.d2 c2+ 24.e3 d4+! 5.c3 f6 6.db5 The sharpest line. d5 25.xd4 xe2 Black has a pawn less, but he 7.f4 e5 8.cxd5 exf4 9.dxc6 bxc6 is very active, and the white pawn structure is loose. 26.d5!? 10.xd8+ xd8 11.d1+ [ 26.c1 xf2 27.c7+ d6 28.xg7 [ 11.d4 was analysed in the archives. ] xf4+ 29.c3 should lead to a draw. ] 11...d7 12.d6 b8!? A surprising, and 27.b3 e4+ 28.c3 xf4 rare move, but quite reasonable. 13.xf7+ 26...d6 29.d1+ c5 30.d5+ c6 31.d2 a5 e8 14.d6+ [ Why doesn't White take the rook? 14.xh8 Material is equal, but Black has a nagging xb2 leaves White facing the awkward edge. 32.d5+ c5 33.f3 g5 34.a3 h6 The pawns go to dark squares, of course! threat of ... Bb4, so A) 15.b1?! b4 16.xb2 xc3+ 35.d1 g6 36.d2 h5 37.d3 g6 17.d1 ( 17.d2 e4 ) 17...xb2 38.d2 f6 39.a8 h5 40.d5+ b6 White seems to be holding 18.c2 e5 and White will lose his h8- 41.d3 k n i g h t , s o B l a c k i s b e t t e r , V a r g a , Z - comfortably. e8 42.d4 [ Allowing the exchange of rooks, 42.e4 Nisipeanu,L/Budapest 1996.; might be surer. ] B) 15.d4! B1) 15...a5!? and now, instead of 42...d6+ 43.e3 xd3+ 44.xd3 c5 16.g4!? unclear, Cvetkovic,S-Vadasz,L/ 45.e4 d7 46.c3 h3 47.d3 d7 1397
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 48.c2 c6 49.d1 b5 50.c2 d5 51.d3 d7 [ 51...xd3 52.xd3 e5 53.e3 draws. ] 52.e4+ e5 53.b7? [ 53.c4! is th e righ t mo ve , af te r f4 54.d5 Black cannot attack the f3-pawn with his bishop without losing his a-pawn. Now White gets forced back. ] 53...b5 54.a8 h5 55.b7 h4 56.a8 f1 [ 56...f4 wins easily. ] 57.d2 d4 58.e1 b5 59.d2 c4 White is being squeezed. 60.e3 b3 61.f4 gxf4+ 62.xf4 xa3 63.g4 a4 64.xh4 b2 65.d5 a3 [ T h e a - p a w n c a n ' t b e s t o p p e d , 65...a3 66.g5 a4 67.h4 b3 etc. ] 0-1
concedes control of e5, White will be able to put pressure on e6 by Bh3, directly, thus taking advantage of his light-squared bishop's u n m o v e d s t a t e . f6 14.h3 e5 C4 seems to be a problem, but White has his sights set elsewhere. 15.fxe6 xe6 16.xe6 fxe6 17.0-0 xc4 18.g5 e7 19.d4!? The point, ng e6 before Black can complete his development, but leading to immense complications. c5 [ There are a lot of white pieces floating around. 19...xb2 is also possible, 20.b3 c5 21.ce2! ( 21.e3 c4 22.a4 a3 is worse ) 21...xg5 22.xe6 d2 is dangerous for Black. ] 20.f2 xb2!? [ Tempting, but risky, 20...xg5 21.xe6 a5 22.xg7+ d7 is similar to the game, but Black's position holds together better 1394 A33 here. ] Krasenkow,Michal 2661 21.xb2 xg5 22.xe6! e3+ It looks like Urban,Klaudiusz 2467 the black queen will take all the white pieces, 57th ch Plock POL (10) 07.05.2000 o n e - b y-o n e ! 23.f2 xc3 24.c1 e3 25.xg7+! [Tony Kosten] [ Playing for the attack, 25.c7+? d7 26.xa8 xa8 leads nowhere. ] 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 25...d7 26.f5 xe4 27.xd6 Suddenly f6 5.c3 e6 6.f4 [ Q u i t e a r a r e m o v e , 6.db5 all the white pieces are involved in the attack, and the black king is exposed. xd6?! is more common. ] [ After this Black should lose, better 6...a6 27...d5! when 28.f5 b4 29.a4+ b5 [ T o c o n t r o l b 5 , o f c o u r s e , 6...d5 30.d1+ might only be a draw. ] is more popular, when transposition into the 6 Ndb5 line occurs after 7.db5 e5 8.cxd5 28.xf6 e7 [ 28...e3+ 29.g2 e4+ 30.h3 exf4 9.dxc6 ] amounts to the same, e7 31.g4+ ] 7.g3!? [ Amazingly, such a natural move seems to 29.g4+ d8 30.d4 White regains the be a novelty, 7.xc6 bxc6 8.d6 xd6 piece, and retains his attack. f8 [ 30...d7 doesn't help, 31.d1 ] 9.xd6 b6 offers White nothing, 31.xd6+ e8 32.f1?? Rashkovsky,N-Suetin,A/Sochi 1979, and ] [ A time trouble mistake, perhaps, 32.d5! [ 7.e3 b4 8.e2 e4 9.c2 a5 10.c1 threatens to pin the queen by Re5, and wins xc3 11.bxc3 a3 also seems to be as d8 33.xd8+ xd8 34.e4+ satisfactory for Black, Lahav,E-Sindik, E/Tel is immediately decisive. ] Aviv 1991. ] 32...xf1+ 33.xf1 f7+?? 7...b6 [ Returning the compliment, there is no [ To drive the knight back, 7...d5 8.g2 immediate win visible after 33...c8! ] is the other logical alternative. ] 8.b3 g4!? Black plays very aggressively. 34.g1 c8 35.e5+ f8 36.f6 9.e3 ge5 Targeting c4, to stop Bg2. 10.e4! 1-0 d6 11.e3 c7 Play has gone into a typical Hedgehog-style position. 12.f4 d7 13.f5!? The most annoying for Black, as although this 1398
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1395 Kuljasevic,Davorin Brkic,Ante CRO-chT Cup 22nd (4.12) [Fier, Alexandr]
A33 2578 2575 24.05.2013
Kuljasevic follows in Kramnik's footsteps and reaches a fantastic attacking position. This variation was played in 3 recent games from strong players - once again Kramnik found s o m e t h i n g n e w wh e r e n o b o d y e l s e wa s looking. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 6.g3 b6 7.db5 e5 8.g2 a6 9.a4!? More fruit from Kramnik's preparation. The main idea is to use t h e we a k n e s s e s o n t h e d a rk squ a re s a s quickly as possible, although rearranging the knight is a funny way to do it. The big drawback is that c4 is not really defended, so W hite needs to be quick in order to create some counterplay. a5+ 10.bc3 [ 10.d2 actually this was the move played in the first game from this position, but it went into a modified version of 9.Na3 d8 11.a3 xa3 12.bxa3 ( 12.c5!? is a nice move to play! And somehow it looks better than the game but still hardly enough xc5 13.xc5 0-0 14.0-0 d5 and the computer evaluates this as equal, but I don't see much compensation for the pawn ) 12...xc4 13.b4 d5 is not enough since White can't keep the bishop on the a3f 8 d i a go n a l f o r e ve r , K le e s ch a e t zky, R (2220)-Holloway, T (2160)/ BL2-Nord 0809 2008. ] 10...xc4 [ 10...b8 is not better, but was tried recently 11.f4 A) 11...h5 this should be better, but W hite still get an edge by playing in a t h e m a t i c a n d e n e r g e t i c w a y 12.xe5 xe5 A1) 13.b6 is n o t sca ry a t a ll a5 14.xc8 xc8 15.d3 ( 15.xb7 b8 ) 15...f6=; A2) 13.c5! xc5 14.xc5 xc5 15.c1 and the position looks simple enou gh f or Bla ck to reorganize, bu t somehow the black pieces don't go out so easily, 0-0 ( 15...e7 16.d4 f6 17.a7 d6 sad but true 18.0-0 b5
19.xb5! axb5 20.c7 d8 21.fc1 e8 22.xb8 xc7 23.b7! e7 24.xc8 d5 25.xb5 is wi n n i n g) 16.0-0 e5 ( 16...e7 17.d4 d6 18.fd1 d8 19.e4 f6 20.a7 d7 21.xd6; 16...b4 17.a3! xb2 18.d6 a8 19.a4 f6 20.b6 is a nice way to win the game!) 17.e4 followed by 18.f4 leaves White on top.; B) 11...d6 12.c5 B1) 12...c4 is too unstable 13.0-0 e5 14.b4! xb4 ( 14...d8 15.g5 ) 15.g5 and the d5 square is decisive; B2) 12...fd7 13.cxd6 b5 14.c5 c4 ( 14...xc5 doesn't help 15.xe5 b4 16.e4 xe4 17.d7+ xd7 18.xb8 b3+ 19.f1 d2+ 20.g1 ) 15.c6 and White won quickly in Pelletier - Dubessay, French Top-12 2013. ] 11.b3 b6 Trying to exchange a piece to lower the pressure. [ 11...a3 might be be possible, but it is hard to understand what the knight is doing here. W hite can just follow normal development and he will be better. 12.0-0 d5 13.b2 ] [ 11...e5 is a normal square, but with the knight in the center White can win a tempo attacking it 12.0-0 d5 13.e4 dxe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4 e7 16.b2 0-0 17.d4 f6 18.b6! xb6 19.xb6 b8 20.a3 d8 21.ad1 ] 12.xb6 xb6 13.0-0 d5 I'm not sure if there is time for this, as Black is soon in trouble [ 13...e7 this was Gelfand's choice against Kramnik and it's natural to try to develop the pieces quickly, 14.a4 d8 15.e3 A) 15...0-0 is not so good 16.b6 e8 17.c7! a5 trying to give some space to the rook ( 17...d5 18.b6 d7 19.xa8 xa8 20.c1 ) 18.e4 White is clearly better, since the black pieces are squeezed.; B) 15...d5 16.b6 d6 17.c1 d7 ( 17...d8 18.c5 e5 and here I would like to play something simple like 19.d2 keeping the pressure on.) 18.c7 a3 19.b6 0-0 20.xa8 xa8 and I think White is better, even if Black managed to 1399
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 draw the game Kramnik, V (2801)-Gelfand, B (2739)/Alekhine Memorial 2013. ] 14.e4 xe4 15.xe4 dxe4 16.b2!? It is more important to keep the f8-bishop attached to the g7-pawn than to take the pawn at once. d7 [ 16...e3 tries to keep the second extra pawn, but later Black will suffer 17.fxe3 xe3+ 18.h1 and I don't see any decent move for Black. ] 17.xe4 b5 Activating the pieces is a good practical choice, but unfortunately White is playing in turbo mode! 18.f3! [ 18.e1 gives Black time to put the king s o m e w h e r e s a f e c5 19.c2 0-0! 20.xh7+ h8 ] 18...f5 [ 18...xf1 19.xb7 A) 19...b8 20.c6+ e7 ( 20...d8 21.d1+! ) 21.d1 is mate in 9.; B) 19...e2 20.c6+ xc6 21.xc6+ d8 22.xa8 and White is nothing down and still has some pressure f6 23.e1 g4 24.b7 ] [ 18...c5! probably the only chance 19.xg7 g8 20.f6 xf1 21.xf1 d4 22.xb7 b8 23.xd4 ( 23.c6+ f8 24.xb6 xb6 25.xa6 is interesting too) 23...xb7 24.h5 with good compensation, Black's king will never be safe. ] 19.xf5! 0-0-0 20.e5?! This looks like a killer, but Black survives with precise defence. [ 20.fc1+ b8 21.e4+is simpler, White's king is much safer and the attack will continue without problems ] 20...exf5 21.ac1+ c6 22.xf5+ d7 23.fd1 All White's pieces are looking at the black king and it's hard to believe he is still alive. d8? [ 23...c5 24.xd7 xd7 25.c2 c6 26.xc5 xc5 27.xc5 and the game will last 100 more moves. ] 24.f6+! e7 [ 24...gxf6 gives the rook but saves the king 25.xf6+ c8 26.xd7 xd7 27.xh8 b4 28.xh7+ ] 25.xe7+? [ 25.e6! was winning and beautiful, using all the pins at his disposal White does not give Black time to avoid both Rxd7 and Bxe7 b4 26.xd7+ xd7 27.d1+- ]
25...xe7 26.e5+ f7 27.f5+ e7 28.e5+ f7 29.f4+! e8 30.e5+ An interesting game and after the Kuljasevic, Pelletier and Kramnik games, it looks like the ball is very much in Black's court. [ 30.e1+! was still winning but not easy to calculate e7 31.xe7+ xe7 32.e1+ d7 33.g4+ d6 34.xg7 e8 35.d1+ d5 36.xd5+ xd5 37.d7++- ] ½-½
1396 Lautier,Joel Topalov,Veselin NAO Masters Cannes FRA (8) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2687 2739 02.03.2002
1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.f3 c5 4.c3 cxd4 5.xd4 c6 6.a3 Time to have another look a t t h i s ' a n t i - . . . B b 4 ' m o v e . xd4 We have already considered the moves [ 6...a6 , ] [ 6...e7 and ] [ 6...c7 ] 7.xd4 b6 8.f4! Korchnoi's move, played in his 1991 match against Sax, the queen aims for the kingside. b7 9.e4 d6 10.d3 d7!? A new move in this position, but quite typical in such Sicilian hybrids - the knight heads for e5, attacking c4, and relieving any pressure on d6. [ 10...e7 was tried in the original game, 11.g3 (the point of White's queen manoeuvre) 0-0 12.h6 e8 13.d2 c8 14.0-0 f6 15.ac1 White has a space advantage, Kortschnoj,V-Sax,G/W ijk aan Zee 1991. ] [ 10...c8!? aims to attack the c4-pawn, 11.0-0 a6 12.b3 g6?! 13.b2 g7 14.ad1 0-0 15.e2 the pressure on d6 is a serious problem, Speelman,J-Kinsman,A/ Hove 1997. ] 11.g3! a6 12.0-0 g6!? Very ambitious, Black wants to put his dark-squared bishop on its best diagonal, but what about the d6pawn? 13.f4 c7 Planning ...Ne5, freeing the bishop from the defence of d6. 14.c2!? The bishop aims for a4, and reminds Black that he his far from bringing his king to safety. h5!? To kick the queen with ...h4, but it is 1400
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 double-edged. [ 14...e5? is weak: 15.xe5 dxe5 16.a4+ ] 15.a4 c6 16.xc6 xc6 17.h4!? [ I wonder if this is necessary, as it weakens the kingside, 17.fd1 is simpler, h4 18.f3 e7 19.h3 might offer White a little something. ] 17...e7 18.ad1 e5 This is the problem with W hite's seventeenth. 19.xe5 dxe5 20.xe5 0-0 Black is temporarily a pawn down, but he has managed to castle, and both c4 and h4 are en prise. 21.f4? [ White decides to jettison the c-pawn, but 21.d4 is s u pe rio r, xh4 22.f4 e7 23.e5 planning Ne4, with an edge. ] 21...xc4 22.d7?! Dropping a pawn, but obviously W hite didn't want to go passive. xa3 23.bxa3 xc3 24.d6 b5 25.d1 White has a powerful control over the d-file, but he is a pawn down, and his a-pawn is weak. f6 26.g3 fc8 27.g2 c2 28.b6 White is forced to defend the f-pawn, his d-file pressure proves useless. ac8 29.1d3 8c3 Black had to stop Rf3. 30.e3 xd3 31.xd3 e5 32.f3 c4 Black has complete control of the position. 33.e3 g7 34.e2 d4 35.e5 c3! 36.b2 [ White is unable to defend both pawns after 36.xc3 xc3 ] 36...d5+ 37.h2 xe3 38.fxe3 c5 With a solid extra pawn, and dominance of the position, Black wins comfortably. 39.e4 e3 40.b4 f2+ 41.h3? Walking into a mating net, but the position was quite hopeless anyway. g1 0-1
W hite into playing the mainline (with Nb3) rather than the lines with Ndb5, which have been more popular recently. 5.b3 f6 6.c3 e6 7.g3 e5 8.e4 b4 9.e2 d6 10.d2 0-0 11.0-0-0 a5 12.f4 c6 We are back in the mainline, and this is the mo st co m mo n m o ve he re . W e h a ve als o analysed the super-sharp retort [ 12...a4 in the game Marin,M-Khamrakulov, I. ] 13.e3 a6 14.a4!? The knight has to move, but this sensible-looking move, which both stops ...a4, and aims at the hole on b6, is a novelty. Previously, White had preferred [ 14.b5 when Black continues a4! 15.d2 ( 15.c7 f o r c e s t h e q u e e n s a c : axb3 16.xa6 bxa2 when Black has good chances, 17.c2 xa6 18.g2 e5 19.f5 c5 20.b3?! d7 21.b2 d4 22.xd4? losing, but White was worse anyway, a1+! 23.xa1 xd4+ 24.c2 xa1 0-1 Gle izero v,E -Dvoirys, S / Che liab in s k 1989 ) 15...a3 16.b3 a5 17.g2 e5 18.f5 d7 19.g4 fc8 20.g5 e8 21.b1 e7 22.c1 d5! and Black is better, Tukmakov,VBerelovich,A/Donetsk 1998. ] 14...e5 This is common in these positions, Black grabs a share of the centre (d4 can be a useful outpost for a knight) and stops White from playing e5 himself. 15.f5 d7 16.c2 e7 Black has a firm grip on d5, so it is unlikely that White will be able to establish a piece there, and will play on the c-file. 17.b6 a4! Full marks for bravery! Black sacs the exchange to attack immediately, but he could also consider [ 17...c6 18.d3 ad8 ] 18.xa8 xa8!? An interesting choice, as [ 18...axb3 is also strong, 19.xb3 xa8 1397 A33 20.xb4 xe4 Black has great compensation for the exchange, and will Marin,Mihail 2556 certainly regain a pawn (both a2 and f5 are Almasi,Zoltan 2672 en prise). ] Olympiad Bled SLO (8) 02.11.2002 19.d2 a3 20.b3 c8 With the white king [Tony Kosten] and queen lined-up on the semi-open c-file A game of unrelenting attack by the Hungarian this move heralds the start of a concerted b5 GM in the Four Knights mainline. 1.c4 c5 a t t a c k o n t h e c 4 - p a w n . 21.g5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 b6 The alternative [ 21...d5!? is also possible, 22.exd5 xf5 An interesting move-order, by playing his 23.d3 xd3 24.xd3 exd5 25.xf6 queenside pieces out before ...e6 and ...Nf6 xf6 with adequate play for the exchange. ] Black avoids any weakness on d6, and forces 1401
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.xf6 gxf6 23.b1 b7 The queen moves to menace both along the h1-a8 diagonal, and the b-file. 24.d3 [ 24.g4 might be a better choice, to defend the f5-pawn (which was threatened as the e4-pawn is pinned against the loose rook on h1). ] 24...c6 Black prefers to keep the tension, rather than win a pawn by [ 24...xd2 25.xd2 xf5 which exchanges his dark-squared bishop. ] 25.f3 a5 Further increasing the pressure o n c 4 , wh ic h is cl o s e t o b re a ki n g -p o i n t . 26.a1? This move loses immediately, but it is difficult to defend such a position with such a quick time control. [ 26.d2 w a s t h e o n l y c h a n c e , xd2 ( 26...c6 only repeats) 27.xd2 xb3 or ( 27...bxc4 28.xa5 cxd3 29.xa3 xe4 ) 28.b4! ( 28.axb3 bxc4 29.xc4 xc4 30.a2 xe4 is worse ) 28...d4 29.c1! with chances of defending. ] 26...bxc4 27.bxc4 [ 27.xc4 a m o u n t s t o t h e sa m e : xc4 28.bxc4 a4! 29.d3 d5! 30.exd5 e4 winning material, as 31.xe4?? c3# ] 27...a4! A killer! 28.c1 [ 28.xa4?? is impossible, c3# ] 28...d5! The most accurate. [ 28...d5 W hite resigns as 29.exd5 e4! 30.xe4? xc4 is bone-crushing. ] 0-1
1398 Marin,Mihail Khamrakulov,Ibragim S Open Andorra AND (6) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2601 2451 05.07.2001
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 b6 5.b3 f6 6.c3 e6 7.g3 e5 Black transposes into the main variation. 8.e4 b4 9.e2 d6 10.d2 0-0 11.0-0-0 [ More accurate than 11.f4 which we have analysed before. ] 11...a5 [ Black attacks! If 11...c6 12.g4!? but ] [ 11...d7 is the best alternative: 12.f4 g6 13.g2 c6 14.b1 a5!? ( 14...ac8 15.e1 xc3!? 16.xc3 a4 17.h4 xb3
18.axb3 xb3 19.h5 White has a strong attack, Smirin,I-Maryasin,B/Givatayim 1998) 15.e3 c7 16.b5 xb5 17.cxb5 a4 18.d4 a3 unclear, Kortschnoi,V-Anand,V/ Paris 1991. ] 12.f4 a4!? [ A sharp tactical riposte. 12...c6 13.e3 a6 14.b5 a4!? allows White to maintain a plus. ] 13.fxe5 axb3 14.a3 [ Trying to keep the king's protection intact, 14.exf6? bxa2 forces 15.xa2 xa2 when White is in trouble. ] 14...dxe5! [ T h i s p i e c e s a c i s c r i t i c a l , 14...xc3?! 15.xc3 dxe5 16.xe5 leaves White with th e a d van t a ge of a st ron g b isho p pa ir, Ivanchuk, V-Khalifman,A/Elista 1998. ] 15.axb4 a1+ [ Black improves his play of just a week earlier: 15...d8? 16.b1 a1 17.c3 d7 ( 17...xd1+ 18.xd1 xe4 19.c5 xc3 20.bxc3 is also very strong for White. ) 18.xe5 a6 19.g2 a2 20.d2 The king escapes to safety on the kingside. c6+ 21.e3 a7+ 22.c5 d7 23.g4 g6 24.h4 1-0 Palac,MKhamrakulov,I/Lorca ESP 2001. ] 16.b1 a6! With a vicious threat of 17... Rxb1+ and 18...Qa2+, forcing mate. [ 16...a7! 17.d3 b5!? ( 17...a2 t r a n sp o s e s) 18.c5 b7 19.g2 a8 is also very dangerous for White ] 17.d3 a2 18.g2 e8! Planning ...Re7d7. 19.c3 e7 20.d2!? [ W hite plays for the win, 20.d8+ e8 21.d3 draws ] 20...d7 21.a3 xd1+ 22.xd1 f8 23.f3 xd3+ 24.xd3 Although the black queen is trapped, it is not so easy to attack it. d7 25.c5 b5 26.e3 e7 27.e2 a6 28.h4 f6 29.d6 c8 30.d1 a6 31.h5 White risks nothing like this, he always has the draw in hand, but has no way to win. b8 32.d3 c6 33.b1 a1 34.c2 a2 35.b1 a1 36.c2 ½-½
1402
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1399 Matiukhin,A Syromiatnikov,S Correspondence 1988 [Paul Motwani]
A33
1988
W 33: " A new mean ing o f "po st-mo rtem" : death by mail!" Symmetrical English, Code A33. Chess games played by correspondence are often of a particularly high quality because the players have more time to think than in over-the-board struggles. However, in our main featured battle below, which is a correspondence game from 1988, Black is beaten when the move-count has only just reached the teens! Clearly the loser made some serious errors, but now other players can grea tly redu ce the chance of simila r disasters befalling themselves, thanks to four fabulous new books from GAMBIT. GM Jonathan Rowson's "The Seven Deadly Chess Sins" shows how a much deeper understanding of oneself can help enormously to eliminate certain common causes of error. Also, GM Dr John Nunn's "Understanding Chess Move By Move" lucidly explains a very we l l- c h o s e n s e t o f ga m e s t o b e a u t i f u l l y illustrate a wide range of important themes which will be of inestimable value to the reader. Then, to gauge one's hopefully much higher new level after assimilating the treasure-trove of ideas in the f irst two books, there's IM Steffen Pedersen's "Test Your Chess Skills". Finally, FM Carsten Hansen's "The Symmetrical English" is particularly relevant given the opening of the following game. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 [ One of my favourite traps occurs in the line 2...c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 g6 5.b3?! g7 when 6.b2? loses instantly to xd4! 7.xd4 a5+ 8.c3 xc3+! 9.xc3 xc3+ 10.d2 xd2+ 11.xd2 and Black is a piece up. ] 3.c3 c6 [ W33.1: The game P.van der Sterren-M. Bosboom, Wijk aan Zee 1991, deviated with 3...b6 4.g3 b7 5.g2 g6 6.0-0 g7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 0-0 9.d1?! e4! 10.e5? W h it e do es n ot wan t to a llow h is p awn structure to be damaged by a capture on c3, but instead he suffers a much worse fate...
xc3 11.xc3 ( If 11.xb7 then xe2+ is a fatal check and fork) 11...xg2 12.xg2 c7 0-1, and GM Paul van der Sterren resigned because of 13.f4 ( or 13.f3 xe5 14.xa8 c6 which leaves White's queen trapped. ) 13...d6 ] 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 This position happens very frequently in practice, and so FM Carsten Hansen rightly devotes a meaty 18page chapter to discussing the most important lines stemming from it in his aforementioned new GAMBIT book, "The Symme trica l English" . 6.g3 White might consider Ndb5 now or on the next move, and Hansen does so on pages 220 and 226 of his book. b6 [ Black's most popular way of challenging W h i t e ' s c e n t r a l i s e d k n i g h t , b u t 6...c5 is reasonable too. ] 7.b3 b4 8.g2 xc3+? [ Better alternatives include 8...e5 ] [ or 8...a6 ] [ or 8...d5!? because although it's true that Black's actual move leads to a split in the opponent's queenside pawns, a much more important result is the f act that W hite's c1-bishop will very soon be able to exert terrible pressure along the a3 to f8 diagonal. ] 9.bxc3 0-0 10.a3 d8 11.d6! The bishop lands like a heavy boulder on d6, thereby preventing Black from playing the freeing move . ..d7-d5. a5?? 12.c5 b5 [ 12...a6 13.c7 xb3 14.axb3 is also "the end" for Black. ] 13.c7 Black resigned in view of 13...Nxb3 14 axb3 Re8 15 Ra5!, which traps the unhappy lady at b5. 1-0
1400 Morozevich,A Grischuk,A 20th TCh-RUS 2013 (3) [Danny Gormally]
A33 2758 2764 09.04.2013
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 6.g3 b6 7.b3 e5! 8.e4 b4 It is curious that I am not at all familiar with the theory of this variation, yet on my 1403
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xd6 17.e4 e5 ) 15...d5 16.d3 d a t a b a s e o ve r 5 0 0 g a m e s we re a lr e a d y f6! 17.xg6+ hxg6 18.d3 f7 played from this position! You start to fear for Black is already clearly better, as White th e f u t ure of ch ess. . . 9.e2 This whole has no attacking prospects anymore, and variation is very sharp, and typical of cutting his p o sit io n is ju st rid d le d with h o le s edge theory where the assessment of each 19.d2 ( 19.xc5 fxe5 20.e4 a6 line tends to swing wildly from one week to 21.g5+ g8 22.xg6 xc3+ 23.f2 the next. d4+ 24.g2 e3+ 25.f2 g4+-+ ) [ In a game played just after this one, Moro 19...c4! 20.d4 ( The endgame is not tried to improve with the interesting pawn much fun either 20.xc4 xc4 21.xc4 sacrifice 9.c5 however Topalov was having a6 22.xa5 xc3 with a much more none of it and simply declined with c6! compact and much easier to play position ( I must admit that at first glance I was for Black ) 20...b6 21.xb6 xb6 intrigued as to what exactly Moro had in 22.b1 d5 23.e4 g5 24.d2 h3 mind if Black were simply to grab the 25.f2 h5 26.b5 a4 27.h3 a6 offered bounty - the compensation for the 28.c5 b7 29.b1 c6 30.xc4 e7 pawn is not so obvious. But after 9...xc5 31.g4 hh8 32.e3 a5 33.exf6 d5+ 10.xc5 xc5 White gains very good 34.d2 gxf6 35.f4 gxf4 36.xf4 b5 chances with the simple developing move 37.xb5 xb5 38.d4 c6 11.e2! taking away the g4 square from the Black's compact chain of pawns on d7, e6 knights and threatening ideas like Be3, f4 and f6 create a pleasing impression, while etc d5?! 12.e3 a5 13.d4! ) 10.f3 by contrast all of White's pawns look weak A) Still, also not bad was 10...0-0 and vulnerable 39.g3 e5 40.c4 b8 A1) 11.g2? xc5 just looks bad..; 41.d3 b3 42.g5 e4!-+ Topalov rarely A2) 11.f2!? xc5+ ( 11...d5! 12.cxd6 p a s s e s u p s u c h c h a n c e s . 43.f4 d8 gives Black good play) 12.xc5 ( 43.xe4 xc3 and the knight will land a xc5+ 13.e3 e7 14.e2; mighty blow on e4) 43...xf4 44.xf4 A3) 11.f4 g6 12.d4 xa3 45.c5 fxg5 46.xg5 a2+ with an unclear game; 47.e3 a3 48.f4 a1 49.f5+ e6 B) 10...b6! Topalov is extremely well 50.e5+ f6 51.a5 d5 52.d4 a2 prepared and I wouldn't be surprised if he 53.d2 b5 54.xd5 d1 55.xe4 a1 already had this position on board at home 0-1 Mo ro zevich, A (2 75 8)-T o pa lo v, V 11.f4 g6 12.d6 bxc5 13.a3? (2771)/Zug SUI 2013 ] So far Moro's idea has proven to be very interesting, but now in an extremely sharp 9...d6 10.d2 [ 10.f4 Was Radjabov's choice in the recent opening position where every move is candidates tournament. However he was heightened in significance, he goes astray. thoroughly out prepared by Gelfand c6 ( I believe that any future exploration of 11.e3 xc3+ 12.bxc3 c7 13.g2 e5 this position will revolve around the move 14.c5 b6! A very strong idea, the strategic 13.f2! which introduces the threat of significance of which can be easily missed Nb5. xc3 14.bxc3 c4 15.c5 d5 by computers in preparation. Gelfand, who 16.d4 xd6 17.xc4 regaining the is very anti-computers and believes in the piece and retaining the initiative. Note this old-fashioned notion of relying on your own line is not possible as played in the game brain, shows great insight with this move, with the king on e1, as simply ..Ne5! would which immediately kills stone-dead any be very strong.) 13...xc3+ 14.bxc3 a5! aggressive ideas W hite m ay have had . ( 14...xe4? b a c k f i r e s a f t e r 15.fxe4 15.cxd6 xd6 16.0-0 0-0 17.f5 d8 xe4+ 16.f2 xh1 17.g2 xd1 18.fd1 a3! And already Black was to be 18.xd1 w i n n i n g m a t e r i a l) 15.e5 pre f erred du e t o t he much b ett er pawn Black was threatening ..c4, so this is more structure, and went on to win a fine game or less forced ( 15.xc5 is premature and in Radjabov, T (2793)-Gelfand, B (2740) runs into the nice shot d5! 16.exd5 1404
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 London 2013 ] 10...0-0! Grischuk's improvement on an earlier Moro game. [ In that game, Peter Leko chose to play the immediate 10...a5 but this is possibly less flexible, as W hite is not obliged to castle q u e e n s i d e . 11.f4 c6 12.e3 c7 13.g2 a4 14.d2 xc3 ( 14...a3 15.b5! ) 15.bxc3 b6 16.b1 d7 17.f2 b8 18.0-0 0-0 19.g4! a6 20.h4 fe8 21.f3 White has a dangerous initiative on the kingside and went on to win in Morozevich, A (2748)-Leko, P (2732) Tashkent 2012 ] 11.0-0-0 a5! Only now does Black seek counterplay on the queenside. 12.f4 a4 13.a1 c6 14.c2 a3 15.b3 d5! Blowing the position open when it's difficult for White to keep a lid on Black's counterplay. 16.g2! [ 16.cxd5? exd5 17.exd5 g4-+ ] [ 16.e5 xc3 17.xc3 e4 18.a1? f2! ] 16...dxc4 17.xc4 xc3 [ 17...d7 was tempting, to get a rook to the c-file as quickly as possible. 18.e3 ( 18.e5 xc3 19.xc3 d5! ) 18...a5 19.xb4 xb4 20.c5 xa2+ 21.xa2 fc8 22.b4 c7 however this line backfires somewhat after 23.c3! b6 24.e5 hitting too many pieces. ] [ the im mediat e 17...g4!? was certainly possible. ] 18.xc3 g4 19.f3 e5 20.f5 f6 21.g5 c5 22.b1 b6 23.xf6 gxf6 24.d5 e7 25.hd1 a5! 26.e3 d4 27.xd4 exd4 28.1xd4 xf5 29.d6 g6?! Time trouble was no doubt approaching, and mistakes begin to creep in. [ Black should have kept the pressure up with 29...c8! when the b6 pawn is taboo d u e t o t h e r e p ly . . . Q c 7 . 30.f4 e6 And Black is very well placed- in some lines ...Bxb3 becomes a threat, due to the faradvanced black a-pawn. ] 30.g4 c8 Nevertheless Black's position is much easier to play- his pieces are extremely active and his king is much safer. The a-pawn hangs over the white king like the sword of Damocles. 31.h4? h5! 32.gxh5 xh5 33.h3 e8 34.g3 e5 35.g4 h2 36.g2 xg2 37.xg2 xh4 38.c1 c8+
39.d1 g7 40.d2 c3? [ 40...h5+ 41.e1 f4! won on the spot. ] 41.xb6? [ 41.6d5! would have offered some resistance. ] 41...h5+ 42.e1 f4-+ 43.d5 e3+ 44.d2 g3 45.xh5 f2+ 46.e1 gxg2 47.d5 xa2 48.f1 af2+ 49.e1 b2 50.f1 a2 51.a6 h2 52.g1 hd2 0-1
1401 Nakamura,Hikaru Kramnik,Vladimir Tal Memorial, Moscow (5) [Richard Palliser]
A33 2775 2801 13.06.2012
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 [ If Black wants to avoid the line we'll consider here, he might do well to begin with 4...b6!? , as I covered in BUCO. ] 5.c3 e6 6.db5 In view of the sequence which follows this line has quite a drawish re pu ta t io n. Did Nakam u ra p e rh ap s t hin k Kramnik wouldn't like the resulting unbalanced position or was he for once just happy with a draw? d5 7.f4 e5 8.cxd5 exf4 9.dxc6 bxc6 10.xd8+ xd8 11.d1+ [ Subscribers will find a number of games from this position in the Archive. Another re c e n t g a m e s a w t h e m a i n a l t e rn a t i v e 11.0-0-0+ and after d7 12.d6 xd6 ( for the more dynamic 12...c7!? 13.xf7 g8 please see Pelletier-Macieja, Stepanakert 2004, as previously covered by Tony ) 13.xd6 c7 ( a new move for us Black normally goes either 13...e7; or 13...g4 - see Wojtkiewicz-Zvjaginsev, T r i p o l i 2 0 0 4 , a g a i n wi t h T o n y' s n o t e s) 14.d4 g5 15.g3 fxg3 16.hxg3 h5! Black had managed to find enough counterplay and Roeder-Istratescu, Belgian League 2012, was later drawn. ] 11...d7 12.d6 c7!? [ Again we see Black offering a pawn for activity. Actually even 12...b8!? 13.xf7+ e8 seems to be playable (see KrasenkowMacieja, New Delhi 2000, in the Archive), ] 1405
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ but Black doesn't have to sacrifice, with 12...xd6 13.xd6 b8 14.d2 e8 15.g3 solid enough for him. Now f3 is indicated, ( whereas 15...c7?! 16.g2 f5 17.gxf4! h5 18.d4 xb2 19.0-0 f6 20.c1 gave White the initiative in Nabaty-Molner, Gibraltar 2012, and if d8?? was really played here, it should have cost Black the game immediately after 21.b5+ . )] 13.xf7 g8 14.e5 b8 15.xd7 xd7 A n d s o W h it e h a s e xt r ic a t e d h i s kn ig h t , deprived Black of the bishop-pair and is a pawn up...but doesn't have any advantage, in view of his undeveloped and clamped kingside. 16.g3!? [ N a k a m u r a r e j e c t s t h e o b v i o u s 16.d2 w h e n o n e t h e o r e t i c a l l i n e r u n s b4 ( 16...e5 is also possible) 17.g3 e5 18.h3 xc3! 19.bxc3 b1+ 20.d1 d3+! 21.exd3 e8+ 22.d2 b2+ 23.c1 ee2 and perpetual check follows. ] 16...xb2 17.h3 f6 18.0-0 And so White has untangled his kingside at the cost of the extra pawn. Perhaps Nakamura hoped Kramnik's king might prove weak, but White is not yet on the c-file and Black's own pieces are hardly inactive. b4 19.c1 d8! [ Doubling makes a lot of sense (...Rc2 becomes a handy defensive measure for starters), whereas only W hit e could b e better after 19...xc3 20.xc3 d5 21.a3 .] 20.g2 dd2 21.gxf4 [ A new move. A young Postny once went 21.a3!? xc3 22.xc3 dc2 23.xc2 xc2 , but somehow I doubt Kramnik would have objected to the resulting endgame. ] 21...bc2 22.e4! Nakamura is being outplayed (or maybe was outprepared), so wisely simplifies and relies on the drawish tendencies of the opposite bishops. xe2 23.xf6 gxf6 24.xc2 xc2 25.e4 The key follow-up. Black may be going a half pawn up with two queenside passers, but White's h-pawn is not to be underestimated. xa2 26.c1 c5 27.xh7 d2 28.h4 a5 29.h5 The race is on! With his bishop stranded slightly offside, Kramnik is forced to r e c a l l h i s r o o k t o d e f e n s i ve d u t i e s . d8 30.g2 a4 31.h6 Not the only move by any means, but Nakamura is happy to simplify
further. h8 32.c2 xh6 33.xa4 h8 34.b3 d8 35.d1 Once the rooks leave the board, the game is clearly pretty dead. d2 36.a2 xf4 37.xd8 xd8 38.f3 e5 39.e4 d7 40.f4 xf4 ½-½
1402 A33 Nisipeanu,Liviu Dieter 2679 Halay,Taufik 2320 2nd Open Fincas Mediterranea (7) 23.08.2005 [John Watson] This is a game that demonstrates how powerful White's main line setup with Nb3 and B g 2 c a n b e i f B l a c k p l a ys i n a c c u r a t e l y . Nisipeanu slaughters his lower-rated player without breaking a sweat. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.c3 f6 6.g3 b4 7.g2 b6!? The equivalent of 6... Qb6 7.Nb3 Bb4, which is considered a little worse for Black. 8.b3 0-0 Normally Black tries [ 8...d5 ] [ or 8...a6!? here, coming up just short of equality. ] 9.0-0 White is actually threatening c5 with a dominant position. W e tend to forget how positionally precarious Black's situation is because we always see him making the right preventative moves. xc3 [ 9...d6 10.e3 d8 11.c2 and Rfd1. ] 10.c5! Sacrificing a pawn for the sake of the dark squares. b4 [ Maybe Black should settle for the disadvantage following 10...c7 11.bxc3 b5!? ] 11.bxc3 xc3 12.f4 a5 [ or 12...e5 13.g5 e8 14.xc6!? ( 14.c1 b4 15.d3 ) 14...dxc6 15.e7 h3 16.e1 ] 13.c1 b4 14.d6 d8 15.d2! White has the idea Nc4-b6, not to mention e4e5 and Ne4. e8 16.c4 a6 17.a3 b5 18.xc6! A clean solution. Also good was [ 18.d2 ] 18...xc6 [ 18...dxc6 19.c2! and Black's queen is trapped unless he plays a8 ( 19...xd6 20.xd6 xd6 21.cxd6 ) 20.b6 a6 1406
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.f4! f6 22.fd1! etc. ] 19.e7 b5 20.d6 xd6 21.cxd6 b6 22.c2 What a position. Naturally, White could also win by [ 22.xd8 xd8 23.c7 intending c6 24.d2! xc7 25.xa5 ] 22...a8 23.xd8 xd8 24.c7 e8 25.c5 f5 26.xb5 a6 27.xa5 xe2 28.xa8 xa8 29.xd7 xf1 30.xe6+ h8 31.xf1 a6+ 32.g1 h6 33.e8+ 1-0
1403 Nyback,Tomi Lehikoinen,Pertti Ilari 33rd Rilton Cup (3) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2497 2235 29.12.2003
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.b5 f6 6.1c3 d5 7.cxd5 I was wondering about this possibility only the other day, it is clear that W hite can grab a pawn, and that Black will get some compensation, but just how much? [ 7.f4 is normal, e5 8.cxd5 exf4 9.dxc6 bxc6 with an important mainline. ] 7...xd5 Forced, as [ 7...exd5? 8.f4 wins material. ] 8.xd5 exd5 9.xd5 'In for a penny...'! [ 9.e3 a6 10.c3 e6 is nothing for White, who has wasted time with his manoeuvre Nc3-b5-c3. ] 9...b4+ 10.d2 0-0!? Interesting, Black normally keeps queens on the board by [ 10...e7 when 11.c3 e6 ( 11...0-0 is also good, as 12.g5 c7 13.e3 e6 14.d2 a5 15.h4 g5! 16.g3 fd8 17.c2 xc3+ 18.bxc3 b4! won quickly in Suba, M-Portisch,L/Thessaloniki 1984) 12.e4 ( 12.g5!? ) 12...f5 13.b1 0-0 14.e3 ad8 is very dangerous for White, who is behind in development, Ljubojevic, L-Topalov,V/Monte Carlo 1999. ] 11.xd8 xd8 12.0-0-0!? [ 12.c3 may be stronger, d4?! ( 12...e6 continues developing) 13.0-0-0 e6 14.e3 c6 (Black has wasted two moves with his knight) 15.e2 ac8 16.a3 a5 wi t h s u f f i c i e n t p l a y o n t h e q u e e n s i d e , Bussoli,S-Schnabel,A/Cattolica 1993. ]
12...e6 13.a3?! White misses the strength of Black's next. b3! Very strong. 14.axb4 xb4 [ 14...a5 is also powerful, levering the a-file open. ] 15.c3 ac8 16.e1 White removes his rook from attack, if [ 16.g3 then Black wins material by a2+ 17.b1 xd1 18.xd1 xd2 ] 16...c2?! [ 16...c5! wins on the spot, the threat is ... R a 5 - a 1 , f o r c i n g m a t e , a n d s o 17.b1 is forced, xd2 and Black has extra material and an attack. ] 17.d1? White fails to take advantage of Black's inaccuracy, and gives him a second chance, [ 17.g5! xe1 18.xd8 xd8 19.g3 leaves White with a good position. ] 17...b4 18.e1 c5! This wins immediately. 0-1
1404 Pelletier,Yannick Bruzon Batista,Lazaro GM Biel SUI (8) [John Watson]
A33 2583 2667 01.08.2006
A nice illustration of how W hite can keep things interesting by playing a nondescript move in a standard opening. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 6.g5 This is generally considered harmless, but Black has to prove it. h6 7.h4 b6 [ 7...b4 8.db5 0-0 9.a3 xc3+ 10.xc3 d5 11.e3 d4!? 12.exd4 xd4 13.d3 is unclear, perhaps slightly better for White. ] 8.xf6 gxf6 9.b3 Generally Black's two bishops compensate for his shattered pawn structure in this kind of position, which arises quite frequently. f5!? 10.e3 g8! Preventing W hite from developing his bishop and committing to an eventual ... 0-0-0. 11.d2 a6!? [ 11...b4! is more natural, intending 12.a3 e7= ] 12.0-0-0 c7 [ 12...b4 13.b1 ] 13.b1 b6 [ Black should consider the more active 1407
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13...e5 14.a4 ( 14.e2 b4 15.c1 b6= ) 14...c6 ] 14.e4! Suddenly White opens up the position for his knights and gains a marked initiative. f4? Too loose [ 14...fxe4 15.xe4 e5! 16.g3 c7 looks better. ] 15.g3! b7!? This loses a pawn in return for some development. [ 15...fxg3 16.hxg3 leaves Black positionally bankrupt. ] 16.gxf4 g4 17.e3 xf4 18.xb6 b8 19.f3! g5 20.f2 c8 Probably not best, but Bruzon has it in mind to make the position as irrational as possible. 21.g2 g7 22.e2 f6 23.d2?! [ 23.ed4 stops the attack more efficiently. ] 23...a5! 24.f4? [ 24.ed4 xc4 25.c2 ] 24...xc4 25.d4 a5!? [ 25...gb5! keeps the attack going. Black is materially equal and has the initiative. The point is seen after 26.hd1 ( 26.e5 xe5 ) 26...d5! 27.exd5 exd5 ] 26.f3 gb5? [ T h e f a i r l y f o r c e d s e q u e n c e 26...xb3 27.fxg5 hxg5 28.axb3 g4 29.g3 xf3 30.xb8 xh1+ 31.a2 xd4! 32.xc8+ e7 33.xd4 xe4 is dynamically balanced. ] 27.e5 e7 [ 27...g6+ 28.e4 f5 29.c2 clearly favours White. ] 28.ec1 xb3 29.xb3 f6 This exposes the king, but Black has to get his bishop out. 30.c1 f8 [ 30...fxe5 31.dc4 d8 32.h5+ ] 31.dc4 b7? Suicide. But the position was lost anyway. Time trouble is obvious in the next few moves. 32.xb7 8xb7 33.c8+ f7 34.f3 g6 35.g1+ h7 36.d3+? [ 36.h5 mates in 3. ] 36...f5 37.g2 d6 [ 37...d5! 38.g3 f7 39.c5! , but Black can play on. ] 38.exd6 d7 39.cc2? [ A huge mistake. White is still winning after 39.c1! d5 40.g3 ] 39...d5 40.g3 xd6?? 40th move. [ 40...d1+! 41.c1 xd6 and it's not at all clear that White's better! ]
41.g6+ h8 42.c8+ 1-0
1405 Pelletier,Yannick Macieja,Bartlomiej Petrosian Mem (5) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2587 2653 13.03.2004
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 6.db5 d5 7.f4 e5 8.cxd5 exf4 9.dxc6 bxc6 10.xd8+ xd8 11.0-0-0+!? A less usual alternative to [ 11.d1+ as here the king goes to bolster the queenside. ] 11...d7 12.d6 c7 The most ambitious move, keeping the bishop pair. [ 12...xd6 is also possible, 13.xd6 g4 ( 13...d5!? is interesting, 14.xd5 cxd5 Ragozin,E-Portisch,L/Oviedo 1993, when 15.xd5 is met by e7 intending queenside play with ...Be6, ...Rfc8, etc.) 14.d1 c7 15.d4 g5 with active play for the weakened pawn structure, Wojtkiewicz,A-Gulko,B/Kona 1998. ] 13.xf7 g8 14.e5 f5!? [ 14...e6 is the alternative, 15.d3 ( 15.g3 d5 16.xd5+ xd5 with good play, Lesiege,A-Gershon,A/Paget Parish BER 2001 ) 15...g5 16.g3 d5 17.a4 b4 18.xb4 xb4 19.a3 e7 20.g2 Wojtkiewicz, A-Vettel,M/San Marino 1998, when b3 21.d4 ge8! 22.gxf4 f6 23.b4 xa4 24.xa4 xe2 with good chances. ] 15.d3 Pelletier's innovation, although it is a fairly standard idea, to put pressure on f4. Alternatives: [ 15.e3 is nothing special, fxe3 16.fxe3 c5 17.d3 ge8 18.xf5 1/2-1/2 Horvath, JSchneider,A/HUN-ch 1989. ] [ 15.xc6!? is a weird tactic, that might work: xc6 16.g4 this hits the bishop, and t h r e a t e n s t h e s k e w e r B g 2 + , fxg3! ( 16...xg4 17.g2+ c7 18.xa8 xf2 19.d5! xh1 20.xf5 f2 21.xf4 leaves White a pawn up) 17.g2+ c7 18.xa8 gxf2 19.d5 White is an exchange up, but the f2-pawn is strong, h8 20.e4 h3 21.e5 d7 with reasonable chances. 1408
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Still it would be interesting to see someone try this in a game. ] 15...g4!? Aiming at f2. A round later Black preferred [ 15...g5 when 16.g3 e4 17.xe4 xe4 18.g1 xd3 19.exd3 g7 20.d4 fxg3 21.fxg3 1/2-1/2 Pelletier,Y-Lautier,J/Evry FRA 2004, as after ad8 Black wins the dpawn and a drawn opposite-colour bishop ending is reached. ] 16.h3 [ 16.d2!? ] 16...xd3 17.hxg4 g6 18.g3!? fxg3 19.f4 The point, keeping his pawns together. If he can later win the g3-pawn he will be clearly on top. d6 20.f5 f7 21.xh7 e5 22.g2 ab8 Black's bishops give him real compensation f or the pawn, in particular W hite's dark squares are quite weak. 23.c2?! White drops a pawn. [ 23.g5 is better, threatening f6 or g6, f4+?! 24.b1 xg5 25.e4 f4 26.c5 bd8 27.xd8 xd8 28.xg7 with advantage. ] 23...xa2! 24.a1 [ 24.xa2? xb2+ 25.d3 d8+ wins. ] 24...b3+ 25.c1 h8!? Black wants to gain control of the h-file to support his g3-pawn. [ 25...b6 is less go-getting. ] 26.xh8 xh8 27.d2?! A mistake, White can draw by [ 27.xa7+! b6 28.a3 f7 29.a4+ b5 30.c3+ b6 31.a4+ etc. ] 27...h2 28.g1 a5 29.d3 a4 30.f3 h8 31.a1 d8+ 32.e3 e8 33.d3 d8+ 34.e3 xc3! Black correctly decides to play f o r t h e w i n . 35.bxc3 d1! 36.a3 Passive, but forced, [ 36.xd1? loses without a chance, xd1 37.e4 a3 38.b1 g2 the two outside p a w n s a r e d e c i s i v e , 39.f2 xe2 an d B lac k c a n win t he bisho p wh en h e wants by ... Bc4 and ...a2. ] 36...f1 Preparing the advance of the black king, and stopping Kf4. 37.g2 f2 38.f3 f1 Black repeats to reach the time control. 39.g2 c1! 40.e4?! [ 40.f4 is better, although c2! ( 40...xc3 41.e4 gets the white pawn phalanx going) 41.xg3 xe2 42.g5 c2 is winning, the white rook is too passive. ] 40...xc3+ 41.d3 c1 42.f3 c5
Black now has a third passed pawn. 43.xg3 c4 44.e4 c3 45.f4 d6 Coming to b4. 0-1
1406 Pelletier,Yannick Ponomariov,Ruslan 3rd Rector Cup (1) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2531 2673 18.04.2001
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 6.g3 b6 7.db5!? [ A n a l t e r n a t i v e t o t h e s t a n d a r d 7.b3 as in the archives. ] 7...e5 8.g2 a6 [ 8...xc4!? is risky, and rarely played, 9.a4 c5 ( 9...a6?! 10.xc4 axb5 11.xb5 favours White, Webb,S-Eley,B/ Clacton on Sea 1974) 10.f4 e5 11.g5 with strong pressure. ] 9.a4 Pinning the a-pawn. b8 This move, introduced by Timman, puts the question to the advanced knight. 10.e3 c5 [ Rather than 10...axb5?! 11.xb6 bxa4 when 12.c7 recovers material. ] 11.xc5 xc5 12.a3 xa3 13.xa3 White has managed to avoid losing his c-pawn, and retains a spatial plus. e7 [ 13...d6 14.f4 c6 15.0-0-0 e7 is similar, Speelman,J-Timman,J London cs 1989. ] 14.f4 c6 15.e4!? [ A new move, and why not? White assures his extra central control in the endgame. Other moves have been tried here, e.g. 15.h3 b5!? 16.cxb5 a7 17.e4 axb5 18.b4 d6 19.f2 the b5-pawn is a problem, Vaganian,R-Nickoloff,B/Toronto 1990. ] 15...d6 16.c2 White recycles his offside knight while Black is in no position to counter. d7 Defending c6, and threatening a possible ...b5. 17.0-0-0 hc8 18.d3 a5! B l a c k c o u n t e r a t t a c k s t h e c 4 - p a wn , a n d refuses to be forced into passive defence of t h e d 6 - p a wn . 19.b3 b5 20.cxb5 axb5 21.hd1 b4? [ Perhaps Black is too eager to exploit his pressure on the queenside, and the open cf i l e . T h e s i m p l e 21...c6 is a good alternative, removing the bishop from the 1409
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 exposed d-file, and keeping options open. ] 22.e5! Almost forced, but strong. g4 [ 22...xc3 23.exf6+ xf6 24.xc3 bxc3 25.xd6 is good for White as the c3-pawn is too weak. ] 23.xd6 [ 23.exd6+!? is also possible, as although W h i t e d r o p s a n e x c h a n g e a f t e r d8 24.e4 f5 25.g5 f2 all the black pawns a r e t o o w e a k , 26.d4 xd1 27.xd1 with an appreciable advantage. ] 23...c7 24.e2 b7?! [ The fork 24...e3? is impossible: 25.xd7+ xd7 26.xd7+ xd7 27.xe3 winning, but ] [ 24...bc8 25.ed4 e3 is a better chance. ] 25.b1! The point that Black may have overlooked! As the d6-rook is untouchable, W hite moves his king out of the pin. c5 26.6d4 White is a solid pawn up, and the b4pawn is weak, so Black has little hope of drawing. f6 27.1d2 fxe5 28.fxe5 xe5 29.xb4 e8 30.f4 g5 31.fd5+! A further tactic to break Black's resistance. exd5 32.xd5+ d8 33.xc7+ xc7 34.c2 The pin wins. g6 35.e4 xe4 36.xe4 ed7 37.d4 b7 What else? b4 was the main threat, so Black plans to unpin with .. .Kb8, but there is a second menace: 38.xd7+! xd7 39.xc5 The rook ending is trivial. h6 40.b2 b4 41.a4 e4 42.c2 h5 43.a3 e5 44.b4 d6 45.a5 1-0
[ Threatening Nc7+, this move is much more popular than the pawn grab 7.cxd5 xd5 8.xd5 exd5 9.xd5 when b4+ 10.d2 e7 allows Black a strong initiative. ] 7...e5 This forced move leads to a series of captures which result in Black gaining the bishop pair, at the cost of a weakening of his pawn structure, and displacement of his king. 8.cxd5 exf4 9.dxc6 bxc6 10.xd8+ xd8 11.d4 [ The main alternative is 11.d1+ d7 12.d6 when Black's best move may be c7!? with 13.xf7 g8 14.e5 b8! 15.xd7 xd7 16.d2 b4!? when the natural 17.g3 can be met by the flashy variation e5 18.h3 xc3! 19.bxc3 b1+ 20.d1 d3+!! 21.exd3 e8+ 22.d2 b2+ 23.c1 ee2 forcing a draw by perpetual check. ] 11...b7! [ Successfully played by de Firmian, and better than the previous tries, 11...c7 or ] [ 11...d7 ] 12.d1 [ The other possibility, 12.g3 has been shown to be innocuous: c5 13.f3 d6 14.g2 b8! 15.0-0-0 e7 Black has a good position, and even went on to win in Salov,V-de Firmian, N/Amsterdam 1996. ] 12...c7 13.g3 d8! [ Another key Nick de Firmian innovation, if now 13...c5 then 14.db5+ is possible. ] 14.g2 [ T h e o b v i o u s 14.gxf4? would lose i m m e d i a t e l y t o xd4! 15.xd4 c5 winning a piece. ] 1407 A33 14...xd4 [ This thematic combination seems to Reinderman,Dimitri 2525 equalise immediately, although 14...c5!? Oral,Tomas 2541 is also feasible: 15.c2 g4 16.xd8 Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (4) 02.12.1999 xf2+ 17.f1 xd8 18.f3 e5!? [Tony Kosten] 19.xf2 xf3 and the knight is untouchable. ] 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.c3 f6 6.db5 The most direct move at 15.xd4 c5 16.d5 [ 16.d5+ xd5 17.xd5 fxg3 18.hxg3 W hite's disposal, both Nd6+, and Bf4, are xd5 19.xd5 leads to a drawn oppositethreatened, exploiting Black's temporary darkcoloured bishop position. ] squared weakness. d5 [ The critical reply, and better than the 16...xd5 17.xd5 fxg3 18.hxg3 xd5 c6 This position was actually alternatives, like 6...d6 when 7.f4 e5 19.xd5+ agre ed d ra wn in th e ga m e A d ian t o ,U-d e 8.g5 favours White. ] F i r m i a n , N / A m s t e r d a m 1 9 9 6 ! 20.e4 7.f4 1410
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 W hite hopes to exploit his better pawn structure, but it well-known that rook and bishop co-operate better than rook and knight in such endings. f5 21.c3 fxe4 22.xe4 g6 23.e2 g7 24.b3 d4 25.f3 h5 26.c1 Intending Nxc5, and b4, but Black has time to liquidate. h4 [ B l a c k c o u l d a l s o p l a y o n w i t h 26...a5 but is unlikely to achieve much. ] 27.gxh4 xh4 28.b4 h2+ 29.d3 xa2 ½-½
good, Black tries to keep his centrally-placed knight safe from attack. 17.d1 Logical, making sure that Black can't play ...d5 at all. [ In Agrest,E-Emms,J/ Harplinge 1998, White preferred to kick the e5-knight at all costs by 17.h3 h5 18.f4 else Black could continue ...g4 and his knight on e5 is safe f rom p awn at ta ck. gxf4 19.gxf4 g6 and Black is fine, White has weakened his kingside, the g6-knight threatens f4 and can hop into h4. ] [ 17.0-0-0 h5 18.h4 gxh4!? ( 18...g4 is also fine) 19.xh4 g6 20.hh1 h8 1408 A33 with play on the kingside, Duncan,C-Emms,J/ Gausdal 1996. ] Ribli,Zoltan 2564 Stevic,Hrvoje 2511 17...h5 18.f3!? White has analysed games in Solin-Split CRO (5) 12.12.2001 this variation, and so is well-aware of Black's future plans. This novelty allows W hite to [Tony Kosten] answer ...g4 with f4, driving the knight from 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 the centre whilst maintaining a sane pawn 5.c3 f6 6.g3 b6 7.db5!? e5 structure. [ 18.h3 g4 19.hxg4 hxg4 gives Black no 8.g2 a6 9.a4 b8 Again we consider this problems, Holst,A-Emms,J/Copenhagen natural unpinning move of Jan Timman. 1994. ] [ 9...eg4!? is a less-logical alternative, which allows a sharp piece sac: 10.0-0 b8 18...h4 19.f2 h8 20.e3 After suitable 11.b4!? axb5 12.xb5 d5 it seems odd to preparation White will be ready to play g4, h3, a l l o w a d o u b l e c h e c k , b u t i f ( 12...e7? and then f4 with an edge, so Black decides to 13.c5 d8 14.a7 the rook is lost) react immediately. hxg3+ 21.hxg3 xh1 22.xh1 13.d6+ e7 14.c5 which is unclear. ] [ 22.xh1?! relieves the central pressure, 10.e3 c5 11.xc5 xc5 12.a3 and allows d5 ] [ 12.b4?! is worse here, as Black can sac an exchange by axb5 13.xb5 e7 14.a7 22...d6 23.g2 h8 24.g1 g8 25.f2 xb4+ 15.f1 0-0 16.xb8 xc4 White realises that he has no sensible way to with excellent compensation because of aim for an advantage, and so repeats moves. h8 the misplaced white major pieces. ] 12...b6!? Black wants White to open the b-file ½-½ for him, and improve the black structure, at the cost of allowing a swap of white knight for A33 his c8-bishop. This line is a speciality of our 1409 Romero Holmes,Alfonso 2544 own John Emms. Karjakin,Sergey 2562 [ 12...xa3 Forces the white knight offside, 27.11.2003 and should also be OK, judging from our Hotel Stars Benidorm ESP (1) analysis of Pelletier,Y - Ponomariov,R/3rd [Tony Kosten] Rector Cup Kharkov RUS (1), 18.04.2001, although the new FIDE W orld Champion 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 6.g3 b6 7.db5 e5 was soundly beaten. ] 8.f4!? An idea from Korchnoi, we had 13.d6+ e7 14.xc5 bxc5 15.xc8+ previously looked at [ 15.0-0-0 can be met by eg4 ] 15...hxc8 Black is fully developed, with an [ 8.g2 a6 9.a4 ] A normal-looking move, but perhaps extra central pawn, and play on the b-file. 8...d6 16.b3 g5!? Positionally this move must be not sufficiently forcing. 1411
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 8...fg4 is probably the best, hitting f2, 9.e3 a6! ( 9...c6 10.h3 f3+?! 11.e2 favoured Korchnoi in the original game against Greenfeld) 10.c7+ xc7 11.xg4 was messy in Anand,V-Leko,P/Wijk aan Zee 1996. ] 9.g2 e7?! The youngster finds a new move, but it loses instructively. [ 9...a6?! was even less successful: 10.a4! fd7? 11.c5! xc5? 12.xd6+ e7 13.d5+! 1-0 Hansen,L-De Firmian,N/ Denmark 1998, as Black is mated: exd5 14.e8+ xd6 15.xe5# ] 10.c5! Having seen the previous note this should be easy to find! xc5 11.e3 c4 12.b3!? The simple [ 12.xd6+ xd6 13.xd6 is crushing where will the black king go? ] 12...b4 13.c7+ d8 14.xa8 xc3+ 15.d2 b2 16.0-0 White is an exchange ahead for a pawn, but the knight is trapped on a8. c6 17.b1 a3 18.b4! The b-pawn comes to the rescue! d5 19.b5 [ 19.c2 d6 20.c1 fails to trap the black queen after d4 ] 19...e5 20.e4!? White decides to open the central files to exploit the badly-placed black king. xe4 21.f4 c3? Black has to take great care in this position, [ 21...d7 is insufficient, too: 22.xe4 dxe4 23.c2 c5 24.fd1 and only a computer could hope to defend this! ] [ H o w e v e r , t h e a m a z i n g 21...d3! might be OK: 22.b3 exf2! with messy complications. ] 22.c2 f6 Black loses a piece anyway, [ 22...xb1?? 23.c7+ e8 24.xc8+ is devastating. ] 23.b3 c5 24.xc3 [ 24.xc3?! f3+ 25.xf3 xc3 is less sure. ] 24...c4 25.g5! A neat trick, exchanging the strong bishop. e7 [ 25...xg5 26.xg7 f8 27.xg5+ is hopeless, of course. ] 26.xf6+ gxf6 White has an extra rook, but if Black could round-up the a8-knight he would have a playable position. However, that is a big 'if'. 27.b6! a6 [ 27...axb6 28.xb6 wins as the c4-knight is pinned. ]
28.c7 d7 29.e1 Pinning the e6-pawn and threatening to bring the knight out via d5. c6 30.b4 c8 31.h3 a5 If only Black could capture on b6, then on c7, but time has run out. 32.xe6! Another neat tactic submerges the young prodigy. xb4 [ 32...fxe6? is worse, 33.xe6+ f8 34.xf6+ followed by mate. ] 33.f4+ f8 34.xb4+ axb4 35.xc8 1-0
1410 Rotstein,Arkadij Sax,Gyula Open Bolzano ITA (4) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2441 2609 17.07.2000
1.c4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.g3 b6 6.c3 c6 This introduces the old main line, which leads to very sharp play, and was popular in the late seventies and eighties. 7.b3 e5 8.e4 b4 9.e2 White must defend the e-pawn. d6 [ 9...0-0 10.f4 c6 11.e5 leads to a White plus. ] 10.d2 [ Played to avoid doubled c-pawns, 10.f4 is more common, when c6 11.e3 xc3+ 12.bxc3 c7 13.g2 0-0 brings play to a sharp position. ] 10...0-0 11.f4 [ This seems natural enough, although there i s a c a s e t o b e m a d e o u t f o r 11.0-0-0 first, as W hite will have difficulty castling kingside, as his c4-pawn needs the support of the f1-bishop. a5 12.f4 c6 13.e3 a6!? 14.b5 a4! 15.c7!? axb3 16.xa6 bxa2 17.c2 xa6 offering Black plenty of compensation for the queen in Gleizerov,E-Dvoirys,S/ Cheliabinsk 1989. ] 11...c6 12.0-0-0 [ 12.g2 is met by the same idea: e5! 13.f5 d4 14.d3 xb3 15.axb3 d7 16.0-0-0 c6 with a good position, Mellado Trivino,JEstremera Panos,S/Zamora 1996. ] 12...e5! 13.f5?! [ In the game Lautier,J-Lutz,C/Baden-Baden 1992, W hite preferred 13.d5 although Black was fine following xd5 14.cxd5 xd2+ 15.xd2 b4 16.b1 d7 17.a3 1412
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a6 18.a5 c5 19.c4 c7 20.fxe5 position. The alternative is 8.d6 xd6 dxe5 21.e3 f6 ] 9.xd6 b6 10.d2 as in Filippov-Yemelin, 13...d4 This is the aggressive point behind Kazan 2005 - see the PGN archives ] Black's twelfth move. 14.xd4 exd4 15.d5 8...e7 9.d6 xd6 10.xd6 d8 [ 15.b5? xd2+ 16.xd2 e8 [ This queen retreat was first played by leaves W hite with serious problems Polugaevsky the idea is to follow up with ... defending his e and f-pawns. ] Ne8 and kick the white queen away. Also 15...xd5 16.cxd5 e8 17.f3 d7! the immediate 10...e8 has been played, [ An improvement over the sharp 17...xf5!? though this seems to offer White the slightly 18.exf5 ( 18.xf5?? loses instantly to a3 ) b e t t e r c h a n c e s , e . g . 11.xe7 xe7 18...ac8+ 19.b1 xd2 20.xd2 e1+ 12.0-0-0 d5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.e3 a6 21.d1 c5 22.c4 xh1 23.xh1 xc4 15.d4 , and although a draw was agreed 24.e4 when White soon regained the d4upon in this position in Mikhalchishin-Miezis, pawn, and drew the ending, Horvath,GW hite has the slightly better chances on Polajzer, D/AUT 1993. ] account of Black's isolated d-pawn. ] 18.xb4 a4! A surprising rejoinder! 19.b3 11.e4 [ The b4-bishop cannot be saved, 19.d2?? [ This is one of White's more critical options, ac8+ 20.b1 c2+ 21.a1 xe4 however, White has tried many other things wins material. ] at this juncture: A) 11.e3 19...xb4 20.b2 ac8 Black's queenside A) 11...e8 12.d2 e7 13.d1 f5 attack develops in leaps and bounds. 21.d3 14.e2 e5 15.0-0 f7 16.e4! a6 c3 22.xd4 xb3+! 23.axb3 xb3+ 17.d4 fxe4 18.xe4 b6 19.f4! g6 24.a1 c8 Black must prevent White from playing f4[ Not bad, but 24...a3+! 25.b1 xd1 f5. 20.f3 a7 21.fe1 c7 22.b3 26.xd1 xe4 is a killer. ] and W hite's position leaves a much 25.d3? better impression with better coordinated [ Even after the better 25.d3 c3 26.b1 p i e c e s a n d s u p e r i o r p a wn s t r u c t u r e , a3+ 27.a2 b4 Black wins Akesson, R-Wang Zili/ Copenhagen 1995; comfortably. ] B) 11...a5 Black intends to evict the 25...a3+ 26.b1 xd1 27.xd1 b3+ queen on d6 with either ...Ne4 or ...a6 first 0-1 and then ...Ne4. 12.d2 d5 At the cost of slightly inferior pawn structure, Black gets his pieces into play. 13.cxd5 exd5 ( or 1411 A33 13...xd5 14.xd5 xd2+ 15.xd2 exd5 16.d3 , and White has a slight Savchenko,Boris 2569 advantage thanks to his superior pawn Chudinovskih,Alexander 2392 structure and the presence of the lightIX EICC Plovdiv BUL (4) 24.04.2008 squared bishops (White's bishop is better [Carsten Hansen] t h a n it s b la ck co u n t e rp a rt ) G u lk o , B Kaidanov, G/Denver 1998) 14.e2 a6 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 15.d4 xd4 16.xd4 e6 17.0-0 5.xd4 e6 6.db5 b4 , a n d W h it e is o n ce a ga in b e t t e r a n d [ The text move offers more actual play than compared to the previous example, White the liquidating main line 6...d5!? 7.f4 e5 here controls the important d4-square, 8.cxd5 exf4 9.dxc6 bxc6 10.xd8+ xd8 Ivanchuk, V-Lautier, J/ Monte Carlo 1996; 11.d1+ d7 12.d6 xd6 13.xd6 b8= C) 11...b6 12.0-0-0 ( 12.d2?! d5 as in Khismatullin-Iljushin, Ishevsk 2005 13.cxd5 exd5 is already comfortable for (see PGN archives), where Black thanks to Black, Johnson, B-Collett, P/Skara SWE his lead in development has compensation 2004 ) 12...a6 for his inferior pawn structure. ] C1) 13.c5 looks like an interesting 7.f4 0-0 8.c7 option, but Black appears to be doing [ This is likely the more critical move in this 1413
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 fine a5 14.d4 e8 15.b3 d8! ( 15...xc3+? 16.bxc3 xd6 17.xd6 is punishingly passive for Black and of course much better for White) 16.f4 b6 17.d3 b8 18.xh7+ ( 18.d4 b7 19.xh7+ xh7 20.xe6 fxe6 21.xf8 bxc5 must be better for Black; 18.b1 f6 19.g4 bxc5 20.g5 b4 is similarly fine for Black) 18...xh7 19.e4+ g8 20.xc6 e7 21.f3 bxc5 22.a5 b6; C2) 13.c7!? is very provocative, because the knight isn't likely to get saf ely out of Black's position again. However, the excursion may be worth it, e.g. a7 14.g1 a5 15.g4 b5 16.g5 h5 17.7xb5 axb5 18.cxb5 d8 19.e2 , and White's compensation for the pieces is more than adequate.; C3) 13.d4 e8 C3a) 14.c5 a5 ( 14...xd6 15.cxb6 xd4 16.xd4 f5 17.c4 is better for W hite) 15.b3 d8 , and we have transposed to 13 c5 as given above; C3b) 14.a3!?; C3c) 14.g3 f6 15.d6 e8 16.g3 f6 17.h4 d5 18.cxd5 exd5 19.d3 xd4 20.exd4 e6 , and the chances are more or less equal. 21.f3 fc8 22.g4 b4 23.c2? ( 23.g5 xc3+ 24.bxc3 xc3+ 25.b1 e4 26.fxe4 b4+ 27.a1 xd4+= ) 23...xc3! 24.bxc3 xc3 25.f2 xg4 26.hf1 h3 27.g1 a1+ 28.d2 xa2 29.g3 g4 30.h3 a5+?! ( 30...c8 31.c1 b2 32.hxg4 c3+ 33.e2 e8+ 34.f1 d2 35.e1 xe1+ 36.xe1 xc2 ) 31.e2 e8+ 32.f1 c3 33.d3 b3 34.e2 e4?? ( 34...xh3+ 35.xh3 e6 is relatively best, but White does have t h e b e t t e r c h a n c e s) 35.xg4 1 -0 K h is m a t u l li n , D- P a s h i kia n , A / Moscow RUS 2005; D) 11...a6 12.d4 ( 12.c7!? ) D1) 12...a5 13.b3 g5 14.g3 f5 15.0-0-0 ( 15.d1!? ) 15...b5 16.d3 h5 17.e2 with chances for both players, Matthias, H-Farago, I/
Lippstadt 1994; D2) 12...b6!? 13.b1 e8; D3) 12...xd4 13.xd4 d6 14.d1 Wojtkiewicz, A-Sokolov, E/Bad Zwesten 1999; D4) 12...e8 13.c5 ( 13.xc6 bxc6 14.d4 d5 15.e2 f6 16.cxd5 cxd5= Kievelitz, B-Bukhman, E/Polanica Z d r o j 1 9 9 6) 13...d6 14.xc6 c7 15.e7+ xe7 16.d4 d7 17.e2 c6 18.0-0 f6 is solid for Black, though W hite has a little more space a n d t h e re f o r e a b i t o f a n e d ge , b u t nothing serious, McCambridge, V-De Firmian, N/USA 1989 ] [ B) 11.0-0-0 a6 ( 11...e8!? 12.g3 a6 13.d6 xd6 14.xd6 b5 15.e3 e7 16.e4 b4 17.a4 b7 18.c5 c6 with a comfortable game for Black, Bewersdorff, O-De Firmian, N/ Germany 2001 ) 12.d4 A) 12...xd4 A1) 13.xd4 b5 14.e4 bxc4 15.e5?! ( 15.xc4 e8 16.g3 d6= ) 15...e8 16.a3 b6 17.d2 c7 18.f4 f6 , and Black is already clearly on top, Kauppala, P-Kroll, O/corr 1997; A2) 13.xd4 b5!? 14.e4 bxc4 ( 14...b4 15.a4 e5 16.xe5 e8 ) 15.e5 e8 16.xc4 b8 17.f4 b6 18.b1 , an d W hite ha s th e init ia tive , I ze t a Txabarri, F-Suba, M/ Palma de Mallorca 1989; B) 12...e8 13.xc6 bxc6 14.d4 d6 is fine for Black as in Korchnoi, VPolugaevsky, L/Buenos Aires 1980 ] [ C) 11.g3 a6 ( 11...e8 12.d2 a6 13.d4 e5 14.b3 d5 15.cxd5 exd5 16.g2 f6 17.0-0 Benjamin, JBaczynskyj, B/Albany 1989) 12.a3 b6!? 13.b1 b4 14.xb4 xb4 15.g2 d5 A) 16.d1!? is possibly an improvement over the text move, which leads to an equal game. Now Black has to proceed a g g r e s s i ve l y , e . g . b5!? ( 16...dxc4?! 17.xc4 is like a good Catalan for White) 17.cxb5 axb5 18.0-0 a6 19.c1 ( 19.fe1 ) 19...ab8 20.fd1; B) 16.cxd5 exd5 17.d1 e6 18.0-0 fd8= Korchnoi, V-Polugaevsky, L/Buenos Aires 1980 ] 1414
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ D) 11.d1 b6 ( 11...b6 12.d2 a6 13.a3 e8 14.g3 d6 15.e3 d7 16.e2 b4 17.ab1 c8 18.0-0 c6 19.b3 e7 20.e4 c6 , Ragozin, EChudinovskih, A/Schwaebisch Gmuend 1 9 9 3 , a n d n o w 21.fd1!? is probably White's best with a tiny edge.; 11...e8 12.d2 a6 13.a3 d6 14.e3 c7 15.e2 d7 16.0-0 d8 17.h1 c8 18.e4 f6 19.c2 b6 20.e3 , and thanks to his space advantage, White has a small overall plus, Agrest, E-Lazarev, V/Porto San Giorgio 2000 ) 12.e3 ( 12.a3 is completely harmless a5 13.d6 b7 14.cb5 xd6 15.xd6 e8 16.e3= 1/2-1/2 Azmaiparashvili, Z-Illescas Cordoba, M/Ponferrada 1992, e.g. xd6 17.xd6 f6= ) 12...a6 13.a3 b7 14.e2 a7 15.0-0 a8 16.d2 e7 17.fd1 b8 18.f4 xd6 19.xd6 f8 20.g4 e7 21.g5 e8 22.6d2 , and White has more space and the initiative, though Black's position is solid and flexible, and in Ljubojevic, L-Andersson, U/ Bugojno 1982, the players soon settled on a draw. ] [ E) 11.d2?! d5 12.cxd5 exd5 13.e3 g4 ( 13...a6 14.d4 b6 15.0-0-0 e6 16.e2 ac8 17.b1 fd8 18.f3 e8 with a comfortable game for Black, Garriga Sole, J-Colls Gelaberto, E/Lloret del Mar 1997 ) 14.h3 h5 15.d4 A) 15...e8 16.b5 c8 17.0-0 e4?! ( 17...d6!? ) 18.xe4 xe4 ( 18...dxe4 19.ac1 ) 19.xc6 bxc6 20.b4 c5?! 21.bxc5 xc5 22.fc1 xc1+ 23.xc1 Dragomarezkij, E-Sadvakasov, D/Moscow 1996; B) 15...b6 16.xc6 bxc6 17.a4 c7 18.d3 d4 19.0-0 dxe3 20.xe3 fe8 21.c5 ad8 , and thanks to his better coordinated pieces, Black has the initiative and the better chances in Engqvist, TArkell, K/Isle of Man 1995 ] 11...e5 [ This is apparently a new move in this position the idea is to lay claim to the d4square for the knight currently on c6. Previously Black has tried a number o f ot h e r m ove s : A ) 11...a6 12.c7 e8 ( 12...b8 13.e2 e8 14.xe8 xe8 15.0-0 b6 16.ab1 Van der Berkmortel,
T-Stolyar, S/ICCF Email 1997) 13.xe8 xe8 14.e2 b6 15.b1 d4 16.d1 Kortschnoj, V-Gruenfeld, Y/Luzern/ 1982 ] [ B) 11...b6 12.e2 a6 13.a3 e8 14.d2 ( 14.g3!? ) 14...b7 15.d1 d6 16.0-0 c7 17.f4 d8 18.h1 f6 19.f3 e7= Johansson, P-De Firmian, N/London 1982 ] [ C) 11...e8 12.d2 a6 13.d6 ( 13.d4 c7 14.e2 b6 15.0-0 b7 16.fd1 d6 17.ac1 e5 18.b3 f6 19.f3 fd8= F i s c h d i c k , G - M u r e s a n , M / J a j c e 1 9 8 4) 13...c7 14.d1 e5 15.e2 f6 16.0-0 b6 17.f4 c5+ 18.d4 xd4+ 19.xd4 c6 , and here a draw was agreed upon, 1/ 2-1/2, in Vul, A-De Firmian, N/Copenhagen 2005, though White is decidedly better in this position, e.g. 20.dd1 xd6 21.xd6 b8 22.fd1 ] [ D) 11...a5!? 12.d2 a6 13.d6 e8 14.e2 xd6 15.xd6 b5 16.cxb5 axb5 17.0-0 b4 18.b5 b8 19.a4 bxa3 20.xa3 b4 , and here a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Kishnev, S-Dvoirys, S/ Barnaul 1984, though W hite has the some wha t b ett er cha nce s a f te r 21.xb4 xb4 22.a4 c6 23.fa1 ] 12.0-0-0 e8 13.d2 a5 [ 13...a6 14.d6 b5 ( 14...xd6 15.xd6 b5 16.cxb5 axb5 17.xb5 ) 15.xc8 xc8 16.xd7 d4 17.xc8 xc8 18.cxb5 axb5 19.b1 ] 14.b1 a6 15.d6 d4 16.f5!? [ T h e s i m p l e 16.xe8!? xe8 17.e2 xd2 18.xd2 e6 19.c3 d4 20.c5 also has some appeal, but White prefer to keep the queens on, letting Black suffer in his passive position. ] 16...xf5 17.exf5 d6 [ 17...b5 is met by 18.d5 , and now d8 ( or 18...xd2 19.xd2 bxc4 20.xc4 b7 21.b6 d8 22.d5 ) 19.c5 d6 20.e3 ] 18.g4 b5 19.f4?! [ This is very aggressive, but not necessarily best. Two other options are 19.d5 xd2 20.xd2 bxc4 ( 20...b7 21.cxb5 axb5 22.e2 ) 21.e7+ h8 22.g2 b8 23.c1 ] [ and 19.g2 a7 20.d5 xd2 21.xd2 bxc4 22.c1 ] 1415
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19...b7 [ Here Black should give preference to 19...bxc4 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.xc4 , and it is still a fight. ] 20.g2 xg2 21.xg2 b8?! [ 21...c7 22.fxe5 dxe5 23.c5 b4 24.e4 ] [ 21...c8 22.d5 xc4 23.g5 exf4 24.h3 h8 25.f6 ] 22.d5 a4? [ After this error White is winning. However, matters are far from rosy after the superior 22...h8 , e.g. 23.c5! exf4 24.f6 ( 24.c6!? ) 24...dxc5 25.fxg7+ xg7 26.h3 , and Black's king has issues. ] 23.c5! Now matters get decidedly ugly for Black. dxc5 24.fxe5 h8 [ Or 24...b4 25.e6 fxe6 26.b3 b5 27.fxe6 c4 28.hf1 , and it is game over for Black ] 25.d3 g6 26.f6 d8?? Black's position is complete toilet and his pieces are not at all playing together. However, this move ends the g a m e r a t h e r q u i c k l y . . . 27.b6! xd3 28.xa4 bxa4 29.b7 Ahem, Black will have a rather difficult time getting his pieces on f8 and e8 in play. The game is of course over. g8 30.c1 a3 31.bxa3 d8 32.a1 Beautifully demonstrating to Black that it is his turn to move, and therefore further play is pointless. 1-0
here, but the text is only very slightly worse for Black, if that. And he may have improvements (see move 9, for example). ] 8.d6+ e7 9.de4 xe4 [ HiArcs 'mentions' the strange idea 9...d4!? , which I can't find a thing wrong with! 10.e3 xe4 11.xe4 , when I think that Black should try d5 ( 11...xb2 12.b1 a5+ 13.d2 f5 14.g2 e5 15.c1! has ideas like Ba3, Rb5, and f4; but 11...e5 may be just fine) 12.cxd5 exd5 13.c3 xc3+ 14.bxc3 a5 ( 14...d8 15.h5 h6 16.a3+ e8 with the idea of ...Qa5. The bishops don't look that great.) 15.b2 e6 16.b3 ab8 17.g2 f6! 18.d1 hd8 and ...Kf 7. Actually, 11.. .Be5 might be easier. I'm not sure what White should do in this variation. ] 10.xe4 b4+ 11.d2 d5 [ I guess that this is all equal anyway, provided that Black takes care. Another route is 11...f5 12.c3 c5 13.e3 e5 14.e2 - lest ...Qc6 - xb2!? 15.a4 a3 16.c1 b4+= ] 12.cxd5 exd5 13.c3 e6 14.g2 hd8 15.0-0 f8 16.c1 e7 17.a4 b5 18.c3 a6 19.a4 xa4 20.xa4 ac8 It's unlikely that White can make anything out of t his. For on e th in g, h is e-pa wn n ee d s tending to. 21.fd1 g4 [ 21...d4!? ] 22.f1 d4 23.f3 e6 24.f4 f5 [ 24...g4 and Black may stand better. ] 1412 A33 25.xc8 xc8 26.c3 d4! 27.d5 c2 Schlosser,Philipp 2560 28.xe7 xe7 29.g4?! [ 29.xb7 xb2 30.e4 ] Ftacnik,Lubomir 2606 TCh-2005-6 Austria AUT (8) 23.03.2006 29...e3+ 30.xe3 dxe3 Now Black has a clear advantage because of the queenside [John Watson] pawns and pressure on e2. 31.f3 f5!? [ 31...xb2! 32.d3 xa2 33.xe3 d6 ] In this game we see again that White is in a dilemma as to his most promising move order 32.d3! [ 32.gxf5? xf5 ] following 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 e6. The normal 4. d4 cxd 4 5 . Nxd4 Nc6 6 .g3 isn't 32...fxg4 33.xb7 xb2 34.e4 xa2 [ 34...h6 35.xe3 xa2! ] achieving anything in the old main line with 6... Qb6 (as in this game), when 7.Ndb5 looks 35.xe3 this may be in drawing range b3 [ 35...h6 ] more and more like a temporary fix. 1.f3 [ 35...f6 ] f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.d4 36.d3+ f6 37.e5 b1 38.xb1 xb1+ [ 4.g3 seems like the way to go these days. ] 4...cxd4 5.xd4 c6 6.g3 b6 7.db5 39.f2 b3 40.a5 h3 41.xa7 g6 [ 41...xh2+ 42.g3 xe2 43.xg4 h6 c5 is worth trying. ] [ 7...e5 is by far the most popular move 1416
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 42.e4 f3+ 43.g2 xf4 44.xh7 xe4 Now the pawns are relatively useless and it's a draw. 45.a7 g5 46.a2 h4 47.b2 a4 48.c2 a3 ½-½
1413 Short,Nigel D Aroshidze,Levan 2nd President's Cup (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A33 2691 2500 05.05.2007
1.c4 c5 2.g3 f6 3.g2 e6 4.f3 c6 5.0-0 a6 6.c3 e7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 c7 9.b3 0-0 10.b2 d6 11.c1 xd4 12.xd4 d7 13.fd1 [ White tried to switch the move order with 13.h3 which made an experienced grandmaster make a mistake right away with fe8?! 14.fd1 ed8 and Black had a lost a clea r t em po , b ut W hit e so on lo st t h e momentum by floundering without a good clear pla n 15.f4 ( 15.g4!? is the normal plan in this position and this is the way W hite should go at this juncture as well W hite is better) 15...ac8 16.e4 a5 17.d2 f8 18.d4 and White had found a way to lose three tempi in the space of four moves needless to say Black is okay now, T.Salo-A.Lugovoi, Jyvaskyla 1998 ] 13...fd8 14.h3 e8 [ 14...c6? 15.d5! xd5 16.cxd5 d7 17.dxe6 fxe6 18.b6+- 1-0 Barcza, GKremer, P/Amsterdam 1954 ] [ 14...ac8 A) 15.a7 A1) 15...d5? 16.cxd5 c5 17.d6 xa7 18.dxc7 xc7 19.e4+- 1-0 Bakalar, PVltavsky, V/CZE 1998; A2) 15...c6 16.d5 exd5 17.cxd5 xd5 18.xd5 d7 19.xc6 bxc6 20.xa6 xh3?! ( Here 20...c5!? does the trick for Black and offers fairly even chances as W hite cannot guard both the h-pawn and against the threat of ...Ra8 ) 21.xc6 a8 22.b7 e6 23.a6 xe2 24.xa8 xd1+ 25.g2 xa8 26.xa8+ f8 27.a4!? ( A n o t h e r o p t i o n i s 27.e4 d2 28.d4 c2 29.b4 with a clear
advantage for White) 27...xb3 28.d4 c4 29.e3 A2a) 29...h5 30.a5 h4 31.a6 hxg3 32.xg3 ( 32.a7 gxf2= ) 32...e6 33.f3 g6+ 34.g4 b1 35.a7 g1+ 36.f4 h1 37.c8 h4+ 38.f3 h5+ 39.g2+-; A2b) 29...d5 30.a5 e4+ 31.h2 h5 32.c5 f3 33.xf8+ h7 34.e7 1-0 Greenfeld, A-Gourlay, I/Coventry ENG 2005; A3) 15...b5 16.xa6 bxc4 17.a4!? ( 17.a3 e8 18.bxc4 xc4 19.a7 d7 20.b6 d8 21.b2= 1/2-1/2 Tatai, S-Cosulich, R/Madonna di Campiglio 1973 ) 17...d5 18.bxc4 A3a) 18...a8!? 19.b6 b8 20.xb8 axb8 21.xf6 gxf6 22.c3 dxc4 23.d4 bc8 24.cd1 e8 25.b7 xd4 26.xd4 c7 27.a6 b4 28.e4 g7 ( 28...c3 29.xf6+ f8 30.d3 e7 31.xe8 ) 29.xc4 xc4 30.xc4 c6 31.f3 xe4 32.fxe4 and Black should the draw; A3b) 18...xa4?! 19.xa4 dxc4 20.xd8+ xd8 21.e3 e7 22.f1 1-0 Mo t wan i, P -G ou rla y, I/ S t irlin g 2002; B) 15.f4 b8 16.e4 e5 17.xf6+ xf6 18.d2 e6 19.a3 e7 20.h2 b5 21.cxb5 xb5 22.b4 xc1 23.xc1 b8 1/2-1/2 Miltner, A-Schuh, H/Eberbach 1980 (51) 24.a3!?; C) 15.a4 b8 ( 15...b6 16.d3 b8 17.f4 c6 18.xc6 xc6 19.cd1 f8 20.g4 d7 21.e4 c5 22.f3 xe4 23.xe4 c7 24.fd3 b5 , and Black has equalised, T.Lirindzakis-N.Kalesis, Liosia 1991) 16.a3 c6 17.e4 d7 18.b4 ( Here White starts to go seriously wrong as if he doesn't understand the po sit ion at a ll. I n st e a d 18.xd6 e5 19.d2 xd6 20.xd6 xd6 21.xd6 c5 22.xd8+ xd8 leads to approximately equal chances) 18...e5! 19.f4 xc4! 20.xc4 xa4 21.d3 ( 21.xc8 xc8 22.xa4 ) 21...xd1 22.xd1 xc1 23.xc1 c7 and Black is clearly better 24.d2 d5!? ( 24...c8!? ) 25.exd5 xb4 26.xb4 b6+ 27.e3 xb4 28.h2 b5 29.c2 exd5 30.xd5 1417
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e8 31.g4 d8 32.a2 d4 33.xf7+ f8 34.b3 d2+ 35.h1 e1+ and facing mate, White resigned, G.IlivitzkiB.Spassky, Gothenburg IZT 1955. A smooth performance by the 19 year old Boris Spassky.; D) 15.e3 b8 16.a4 ( 16.g4!? ) 16...b6 17.g4 h6 18.d3 c6 19.xc6 xc6 20.cd1 b7 21.f3 c7 22.h4 and White has the initiative, P.Zarnicki-N. Kalesis, Biel 1993; E) 15.e4 b8 ( 15...a5!? ) 16.a3 c6 17.b6 d7 18.e3 b5 19.cxb5 axb5 20.b4 , and White has a small but enduring and clear advantage, M.Sher-M. Dougherty, Philadelphia USA 2004; F) 15.g4!? b8 16.g5 e8 17.e3 f8 18.b6 ( I like 18.a4!? quite a bit, e.g. xa4 19.bxa4 , and Black has a really hard time releasing his pieces from White's pressure provided by the space advantage, bishop pair and generally more actively placed pieces: c7 20.d4 dc8 21.b1 e7 22.h4 and Black is facing a long uphill battle) 18...c6 19.e4 d7 20.a4 c5 21.h4 A.Panchenko-Z.Varga, Gyor 1990 ] [ 14...ab8 15.a4 c5 16.d3 h5 17.e4 b5 18.axb5 axb5 19.xb5 xb5 20.cxb5 xb5 21.xb5 xb5 , and Black has neutralised White's opening advantage, M. Mchedlishvili-L. Totsky, Tula 1999 ] [ 14...f8 15.f4 ac8 16.g4 ( 16.e3 e8 17.a4 b8 18.d3 c6 19.e4 b6 20.e3 f6= T.Vakhidov-S.Roy Chowdhury, Pune IND 2004) 16...b8 17.g5 e8 18.e4 e5 19.g3 e6 20.c5 dxc5 21.xe5 a7 M.Vassallo-K.Spraggett, D o s H e r m a n a s 2 0 0 0 22.e3!? xd1+ 23.xd1 e7 24.h4 ] 15.g4 [ 15.e3!? ac8 16.g4 f8? ( 16...b8!? Balashov ) 17.g5 d7 18.h4 ( 18.e4!? c5 19.f6!? d7 20.g3 xe4 21.xe4 b5 , so far the analysis has been by Balashov, who now continues with 22.d4 which he evaluates as just clearly better for W hite, but the advantage may well be even bigger than that.) 18...b8 19.h5 with a dangerous initiative and clear advantage for White, G. Garcia Gonzales-
U.Andersson, Cienfuegos 1975 ] [ 15.a4 ab8 16.a3 b6 17.d3 f8 18.f4 bc8 19.d2 b8 20.d1 b5 21.xd6 xd6 22.xd6 xd6 23.xd6 I.Csom-J.Augustin, Pula 1975 bxc4 24.b4 Csom ] [ 15.e4 ac8 16.a4 f8 17.a3 b8 18.a5 c6 19.d2 h6 20.cd1 e7 21.e3 R.Cifuentes Parada-K.Spraggett, Seville 2002 ] 15...f8 [ 15...h6 16.h4 f8 17.g5 hxg5 18.hxg5 h7 19.g4 ( Here White can also consider 19.g6 f6 20.gxf7+ xf7 21.e4 xe4 22.xe4 with a strong kingside initiative for White) 19...c6 20.g6 f6 21.h3 fxg6 22.xe6+ f7 23.xf7+ xf7 24.d5 ac8 25.a4 , and despite Black's position being a positional toilet, he nonetheless managed to somehow salvage the draw, R.Pogorelov-K.Spraggett, Madrid 2002 ] 16.g5 d7 17.e4 c5 18.xc5 dxc5 19.e5! xe5 20.xe5 The queens have come off the board and the pawn distribution is symmetrical, but W hite has a clear advantage thanks to his strong bishops, more space and Black's queenside problems e7 21.f4 [ 21.h4!? ] 21...xd1+ [ 21...f6 22.gxf6 xd1+ 23.xd1 gxf6 24.c7 c8 25.a5 b8 ( 25...c6 26.xc6 xc6 27.d7 ) 26.b6 ] 22.xd1 a7 23.b8 a8 24.c7 f8 25.f2 c6?!+[ Also 25...c8 26.e5 c6 27.xc6 xc6 28.d7 f6 29.gxf6 gxf6 30.b8 b5 31.b7 is severely problematic for Black, but after the text move Black can just sit and wait for White to finish him off ] 26.xc6 bxc6 27.a5 a7 28.f3 e8 29.c3 f8 30.h4 d7 31.h1 d8 32.h5 c7 33.g6! A simple, yet incredibly strong move that destroys what remains of Black's position and hopes hxg6 34.hxg6 fxg6 35.g1 d8 36.xg6 e7 37.f5!? exf5 38.xc6 f7 39.xa6 e7 40.b6 [ 40.f4 g6 41.e4 d3 42.e5+- ] 40...g5 41.a4 d6 42.a5 g4+ 43.g2 1-0 1418
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1414 Skalik,Przemyslaw Gritsak,Orest 55th chTeam Suwalki POL (7) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2409 2550 24.09.1999
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.a3!? Bricard's idea, directed against ...Bb4, which can prove so dangerous, but can it r e a l l y b e wo r t h a t e m p o ? f6 6.c3 White is ready to play e4, with strong central con tro l. How sh ou ld Bla ck rea ct ? xd4!? An interesting decision. Normally it is not good policy to capture like this, and bring the white queen to a powerful central square, but Black has a definite tactical idea in mind. [ The only previous time this had been played was in Bricard,E-Murrey,J/Paris 1995, which continued: 6...d5 7.g5 e7 8.e3 0-0 9.cxd5 exd5 10.e2 e6 11.0-0 wit h a s ligh t e d ge t o W h it e in t h is I Q P position. ] 7.xd4 b6! This seems innocuous enough. 8.f4 Menacing Nb5. Unfortunately for White, the obvious [ 8.e4 c a n b e m e t b y c5 which forces 9.d1 (e lse B lack p la ys . . . Ng4 ) c7 with good dark-squared control. ] 8...c5 9.d3 Now White can play this more active move, as ...Ng4 is no longer a problem. a6 10.e4 White correctly enters the complications. Not [ 10.b4?! e7 11.e4 c8 when the attack on the c4-pawn is a problem. ] 10...d5! A dangerous pawn sacrifice, exploiting the pin on the c4-pawn, but [ 10...g4!? 11.g3 f6 12.d2 d4 is also interesting. ] 11.exd5 xd5! 12.xd5 exd5 13.0-0-0! Not the ideal place for the white king, but [ 13.xd5 0-0 14.xd8 axd8 15.e2 fe8 is very awkward for White. ] 13...f6! [ 13...xc4 14.g3 f6 15.xc4 dxc4 16.he1+ f8 is similar to the game, but worse. ] 14.e1+ f8!? Playing for the maximum, but [ 14...e7 15.d2 0-0 16.cxd5 ac8+ 17.b1 xf1 18.hxf1 g6+ is also viable. ] 15.g3 White is obliged to sacrifice material.
dxc4 Trying to keep the white kingside bottledup. 16.e2 h6 Taking time-out to provide a bolt-hole for the king, but [ 16...d4 is promising: 17.f3 (what else, the b-pawn is undefendable) xb2+ 18.b1 c8 with two pawns more, albeit temporarily without the help of his king's rook. (And not ( 18...a1 as 19.d6+ g8 20.e5 xe5 21.xa8! seems to be OK for White, e.g. f5+ 22.e4 xg3 23.xf5 d6 24.e8+ f8 25.a4 with advantage.) )] 17.f3 d8 18.d1 White's compensation seems very meagre at the moment. d3!? In order to obtain a powerful passed pawn, but [ 18...d4! might be simpler, for if 19.e5 xe5 20.xd8+ xd8 21.xe5 then g5+ exchanges queens. ] 19.xd3 cxd3 20.e1 xa3? This combination looks fine, but loses the advantage. Mainly because Black is playing without his king's rook, of course. [ 20...d4 is stronger, and keeps Black on top, 21.e4 d7 and provided Black can free his rook, he should triumph. ] 21.e5 Forced, but good. If [ 21.bxa3 c3+ wins. ] 21...d2+ The point of Black's combination, wh ic h s e e m s t o sa ve t h e p i e c e . 22.xd2 b4+? This obvious move is the real culprit. I n st e a d , B la ck h a d t o a cce p t a n in f e rio r endgame after [ 22...g5+ 23.xg5 b4+ 24.c2 hxg5 25.a1 ] 23.c2 g5 This loses, but so does [ 23...f5+ 24.e4 c8+ when 25.b1 leaves Black without defence against the t h r e a t t o g7 , e . g . f6 26.d6+ xd6 27.xd6+ f7 28.d5+ f8 29.g6 and ] [ 23...g6+ is no improvement: 24.xg6 fxg6 25.a1 b5 26.xa7 when Black is hardly likely to be able to free his rook. ] 24.d6+! This move wins by force, but there is a good alternative in [ 24.c3 which wins a piece after xg3 ( (as 24...xc3? is impossible, 25.b8+ forcing mate) ) 25.xb4+ g8 26.hxg3 ] 24...xd6 25.xd6+ g8 26.e8+ h7 27.xh8+ xh8 28.f8+ h7 29.e4+ g6 30.xf7+ h8 31.xg6 And after t his long, forcing sequence, Black has no defence to
1419
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.e3 d8 19.f4 with active play for the pawn, De la Villa Garcia,J-Rojo Huerta,G/ Cala Galdana 1999. ] 14.xe5!? White takes the bull by the horns. [ 14.f3 defends the e-pawn, but then xc3+ 1415 A33 15.bxc3 xc3+ 16.f2 c5+ 17.e3 e7 Smirin,Ilia 2671 and White is unlikely to have enough comp Holzke,Frank 2492 for two pawns. ] Monarch Assurance (3) 27.09.2004 14...xe4+ 15.e2 xh1 16.0-0-0 [Tony Kosten] W hite has a lead in development, and the 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 black queen is temporarily offside, but Black c6 5.c3 e6 6.g3 b6 7.db5 e5 has a whole exchange and pawn more. xc3 8.f4 fg4! Probably best, as I mentioned in Maybe best. [ 16...0-0?! is obvious but weak: 17.xg7! my analysis of the Romero Holmes, A-Karjakin, ( 17.f3 d6 18.xg7 xg7 19.h3 S game, which went wins the queen, but Black gets enough [ 8...d6 instead. ] material for her) 17...xg7 18.g4+ h8 9.e3 a6! 19.xb4 d6 20.h4 f3 21.d3 f5 [ 9...c6 10.h3 f3+?! 11.e2 favoured 22.e7 and a draw by perpetual check is Korchnoi in his game against Greenfeld. ] likely. ] 10.c7+!? A neat tactic, the alternative is [ 16...c6!? gets the queen out, 17.xg7 [ 10.h3 when axb5 11.hxg4 xc4 12.b3 g8 18.d4 b5 preparing ...Bb7 and maybe d5 13.xc4 dxc4 14.xb5+ xb5 ...0-0-0. ] 15.xb5 b4+ 16.e2 is fairly equal, 17.xc3 xh2 18.xg7 g8 19.c3 d5!? Motwani,P-Wells,P/Port Erin IOM 2003. ] 10...xc7 11.xg4 This is the tactical point. Black offers a pawn to help his development, but just moving the queen by xc4 A critical line, but there are others: [ 19...h6+ 20.b1 g6+ 21.a1 g4 [ 11...d6 is solid, 12.e2 ( 12.xe5 dxe5 might be possible. ] 13.g2 f5 14.e2 e7 is similar, P o g o r e l o v , R - E s t r e m e r a P a n o s , S / L a 20.xd5 d7?! To get castled, but [ 20...xg3!? would justify the previous Bordeta 1999) 12...d7 13.xe5 dxe5 move, 21.h5 ( 21.fxg3? xe2 22.xe2 14.g2 e7 15.0-0 0-0 16.ac1 ac8 exd5 ) 21...xc3+ 22.bxc3 f4+ 17.fd1 fd8 18.c5!? looks OK fo r Black which looks good for Black. ] here, although White went on to win, Anand, 21.h5 g1 22.e1 0-0-0 23.xh7 V-Leko,P/Wijk 1996. ] [ 11...a5 wastes a tempo on the above, but White has recouped some material, but now avoids having the pawns doubled, 12.xe5 Black can exchange queens. b5?! [ 23...e8!? keeps the f-pawn, but leaves xe5 13.g2 a3!? 14.e2 0-0 15.0-0 the black queen in the trap. However, there e7 16.fd1 with a positional plus because is no obvious way for White to exploit this. ] of the 'Catalan bishop', Adrian,C-Karr,J/ 24.xb5 xe1+ 25.xe1 axb5 26.xf7 France 2000. ] [ 11...c6!? is the greedy option, when However, with a pawn and strong bishop for 12.xe5 xh1 13.e4 cuts the queen off t h e e x c h a n g e W h i t e i s d o i n g O K . gf8 27.xf8 xf8 28.d2 d7 29.e3 c8 on h1, and seems pretty unclear. ] 30.c3 c4 31.a3 Everything is defended. 12.d1 f7 33.g4 g6 34.f3 [ 12.xc4 xg4 leaves Black a solid pawn e7 32.f4 White is happy to draw, but ahead. ] [ 34.d4 is possible, to cross the fourth rank, 12...c6 Other moves will allow White some but then c1 35.c3 h1 36.e4 h4 i n i t i a t i v e f o r t h e p a w n . 13.e4 b4! 37.f3 h3+ and the position will be A pertinent novelty, Black goes rook hunting. repeated anyway. ] [ 13...g6 14.d2 ( 14.e3!? ) 14...b5 15.g2 b7 16.0-0 e7 17.c1 b6 the threat of mate on h7. c5+ 32.b1 1-0
1420
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 34...f7 35.e3 g6 ½-½
1416 Timman,Jan H Polgar,Judit VAM Invitational (1) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2650 2671 17.10.1999
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 6.a3 White 'wastes' a move to avoid the ...Bb4 pin, and thereby retains his hold over the centre. c7 [ One of the rarer replies here, although it shouldn't be bad. 6...e7 , ] [ 6...c5 and ] [ 6...d5 are all more popular. ] 7.db5 Just in case Black had ideas of playing ...Nxd4, and ...Bc5. b8 8.g3 a6 9.d4 xd4!? [ Ordinarily, Black tries to avoid dragging the white queen to a better square like this, but it is part of an interesting tactical idea. 9...c7 is more usual, and leads to a slight plus for W hite after 10.g2 e7 11.0-0 e5 12.f4 d6 13.c1 Salov,V-Yudasin,L/ Madrid 1992. ] [ 9...d6?! is passive, 10.g2 d7 11.0-0 e7 12.b3 0-0 13.b2 c8 14.e3 a7 15.e4 Anic,D-Koch,J/ Narbonne 1997, with an edge. ] 10.xd4 b5! This is the sharp point behind B l a c k 's p l a y . S h e p r e p a r e s t o b r in g h e r p ro b le m c 8 -b i s h o p st ra igh t t o t h e h 1 -a 8 diagonal. 11.e4! [ White plays aggressively. 11.g2 b7 12.0-0 leads to nothing for White. In fact, after the further xg2 13.xg2 b7+ 14.f3 bxc4 15.xc4 e7 16.b4 d5 Black even gain ed the upp er han d, beca use of his strong centre, in Tunik,G-Dvoirys,S/Moscow 1996. ] 11...e5! 12.e3 c7!? [ Black counters with the sharpest possibility. 12...b4 13.axb4 xb4 14.g2 b7 seems satisfactory, and less risky. ] 13.cxb5 c5 14.f3 d4 15.g5! [ Embarrassing the f6-knight, and menacing to capture this, followed by playing Nd5. 15.bxa6 xc3+ 16.bxc3 c6 is awkward. ]
15...xc3+ 16.bxc3 xe4! The point. 17.xe4 Clearly forced, but White has calculated well. b7 [ Skewering the queen against the h1-rook. 17...xc3+!? 18.e2 xa1 19.xa8 should be good for White, although his king is a problem. ] 18.b4 Threatening mate on e7, and defending c3 at the same time. f6 The double attack on g5, and h1 will regain Black's piece, but can W hite profit from the time lost capturing one of these? 19.b6 This passed pawn may turn out to be useful. c6 [ Now, Black will have to take the h1-rook with her queen, which leaves her awkwardly placed, but after the alternative 19...d8 White can use his b6-pawn to good effect, 20.e3! xh1 21.b7 b8 22.xa6 c7 23.b1 with a clear advantage. ] 20.0-0-0! White has to complete his development, and leaves his pieces to their fate. xh1 [ T h e o t h e r c a p t u r e , 20...fxg5 is no improvement: 21.h3 d5 22.he1 and White has completed his mobilisation, whereas the black king is trapped in the centre. ] 21.h3 e4 22.d6! White is not interested in the endgame, of course, he has his eyes on the opponent's king. f7! [ Taking the bishop would be suicide, 22...fxg5?? 23.xd7+ f7 24.e6+ g6 25.d5+ winning the queen. ] 23.xd7+ g6 The king tries to escape. 24.e6! hf8 [ Once more, the piece is immune, 24...xg5? 25.xg7+ g6 26.h4+ h5 27.f7 ] 25.e3 The critical position, Black has an exchange for a pawn, but her king is in the line of fire. ad8?? [ An obvious move, attacking the queen, but it loses to an ingenious, and surprising, tactic. Black should have preferred either 25...c6! trying to force the white queen off the h3-c8 diagonal, although after the further 26.d3 White will reasonable chances in this endgame because of the two passed pawns, or ] [ 25...ac8 although the line 26.b2 xc3! 27.f5+ xf5 28.xf5+ xf5 29.xc3 1421
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 should be preferable for White. ] 26.g4!! The unstoppable threat of Bf5+ wins b a c k t h e e x c h a n g e w i t h i n t e r e s t . xd7 27.f5+ xf5 28.gxf5+ xf5 29.xd7 The dust has cleared, and although material is temporarily equal and opposite-colou r bishops are on the board, White's two passed pawns, and rook on the seventh, are sufficient to win. e4 30.xg7 e6 31.b2 d8 32.b3 f5 33.b4 The king aims to support his queenside pawn's advance. f4 34.c5 d7 35.g8 Naturally White must keep his rook on the board, else the endgame would be drawn. b7 36.e8+ f5 37.c4 e4 38.a5 h5 39.b8 White menaces to kill the game immediately with Rxb7, as the b7-bishop does a better job of stopping the pawns than the rook. e3 40.fxe3 f3 41.e4+?! [ 41.xb7! xb7 42.e4+ (to stop the fpawn) xe4 43.xa6 would have been more thematic, and very simple. ] 41...xe4 [ Black takes the opportunity to remove the bishop from attack. 41...xe4? would allow 42.xb7 xb7 43.xa6 once again, i.e. b8 44.a7 g8 45.b7 ] 42.xa6 g4 43.a4 f7 44.a5 h3 [ Unfortunately for Black, winning the piece by 44...f2 45.xf2 xf2 doesn't help much, as after 46.e8 and 47 b7, White reaches a winning rook and pawn ending. ] 45.b7 xh2 46.b6 f6+ 47.a7 f7 48.a6 d3 49.c8 h3 50.b6 f6+ 51.c6 The b-pawn can no longer be stopped. 1-0
1417 Tkachiev,Vladislav Gelfand,Boris FIDE World Cup Gp D (2) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2657 2681 02.09.2000
1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 6.a3 e7 A sensible reply, Black continues his development. 7.g3 [ A typical move in these positions, but quite rare here, 7.e4 is sharper. ] 7...b6 [ Again, perfectly normal, driving the knight f r o m d 4 . T h e c e n t r a l c o u n t e r 7...d5
is met by 8.g2 when White will gain a slight edge by capturing on d5 and inflicting an IQP on Black. ] 8.f3!? [ A l r e a d y a n e w m o v e , 8.db5 seems sharper, e5 9.g2 xc4!? ( 9...a6 10.a4 b8 11.e3 seems to favour White ) 10.a4 a6 ( 10...c5!? ) 11.xc4 axb5 12.xb5 xb5 13.xb5 with a plus to W hite, Kortchnoi,V-Schlosser,P/Brno 1992. ] 8...g4!? The most aggressive reply, the knight will come to e5, to menace the c4-pawn, but meanwhile the threat to f2 obliges White to weaken his light squares. 9.e3 0-0 10.g2 ge5 11.xe5 xe5 12.b3 [ T h e b e s t w a y t o d e f e n d c 4 , 12.e2 allows the infiltration b3 ] 12...f6 Black maintains the threats to the white position. 13.a2 [ 13.b2? xc4 ] 13...d5 A thematic continuation, opening the centre bef ore the white king has castled. 14.cxd5 a6 15.f1!? [ White must guard against the threat of ... Nd3+, bu t perhap s 15.e4 was a better option, although after d8 Black has a ce rt ain pre ssure, a n d th e wh ite k in g is forced to stay in the centre a while. ] 15...f3+! The knight finds another square to check from, and simultaneously discovers the a t t a c k o n c3 f ro m t h e f 6 - b i sh o p . 16.xf3 xc3+ 17.d2 [ This seems premature, but after 17.d2 xd2+ 18.xd2 xa3 19.c4 play is level. ] ½-½
1418 Topalov,Veselin Kramnik,Vladimir FIDE WCh KO Las Vegas USA (4.4) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2690 2760 11.08.99
1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.g3 b4+ A device to break-up the coordination of the white pieces. 6.d2 e7 Black could have played this move immediately, but prefers the white queen's bishop on d2. This leaves the d4-knight is 1422
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 undefended, for one thing. 7.g2 c6 8.f4!? Topalov's preparation. Previously, [ 8.c3 was preferred, e.g. 0-0 9.0-0 d5 10.d2 b6 11.e3 with freer play for the white pieces, Yusupov,A-Gavrikov,V/USSR (ch) 1987. ] 8...0-0 9.c3 a6 In the only previous game I could find in this line, Black played [ 9...d5 10.0-0?! ( 10.cxd5 xd5 11.xd5 exd5 maintains a sound plus for White, wit h o u t ris k .) 10...b6 11.e3 xb2 with complications, Hutters,T-Romanishin,O/ Tastrup 1992. ] 10.0-0 xd4 11.xd4 d6 12.d3 c7 13.fd1 d8 14.ac1 A typical position in this line, but one which is very difficult for Black. Not only has W hite a useful space advantage, but Black has problems completing the mobilization of his queenside pieces. h5 15.d2 b8 16.e4 f6 17.xf6+ xf6 18.f4 The bishop returns to pressurise the d6-pawn. e5 This positional concession is forced, if Black doesn't want to concede his d-pawn. 19.e3 e6 20.b3 h6 21.a4 White clamps-down on the queenside. The ...b5 thrust can be a useful source of counterplay for Black. b6 22.c2 e7 23.d5 d7 24.xe6! Swapping the defender of Black's weak light squares. xe6 Naturally, Black would prefer to avoid this move, which concedes permanent control of d5,butafter [ 24...fxe6?! instead, White continues 25.g6 with a clear advantage. ] 25.f3 b5!? A desperate attempt to break the positional bind, but it grants W hite a useful passed a-pawn. 26.cxb5 axb5 27.a5 d5 The idea of Black's play, he sets his centre in motion, but is it at too great a cost? 28.b6 e4 29.xb5 Objectively speaking, White is winning. His passed queenside pawns are almost sure to triumph, however, this is a r a p i d g a m e ! d6 30.fxe4 d8! Tricky! 31.exd5!? Risky, but in a win-at-all-costs situation White has nothing to lose. [ 31.d3 xb6+ 32.axb6 is safer, but might prove difficult to win. ] 31...xb6+ 32.axb6 e3+ Black has succeeded in drumming-up some play. 33.f1 [ 33.g2?? e4+ wins a rook. ] 33...f6+
[ 33...e4 may be slightly better, e.g. 34.d3 h1+ 35.f2 dxb6 36.d7 f6+ with some play. ] 34.e1 fxb6 [ 34...f2+ 35.d2 fxb6 36.c5 is also good for White. ] 35.c5! bringing the dark squares under control. e4 36.f2 xb3 37.d6 Th is p a wn will be d if f icu lt t o st o p . 8b5? This should have hastened the end. 38.c4!! f3+ Black's last throw. [ 38...xc5 39.xe4 b8 40.d7 wins a rook. ] 39.g1?? A terrible blunder, converting a simple win into a loss. [ 39.e1 leaves all three of Black's major pieces en prise. e8 40.d7 and White wins a rook. ] 39...xe2 40.d4 b2 0-1
1419 Vallejo Pons,Francisco Karjakin,Sergey XII It I Dos Hermanas ESP (2) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2629 2547 29.03.2003
White's play in this game is very impressive, he finds lots of positional moves that create holes in the black Hedgehog set-up. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 6.a3 This move seems to get more and more popular, probably because other moves s e e m t o o f f e r B l a c k e a s i e r p l a y . xd4 7.xd4 b6 8.f4! b7 Normal, we looked at [ 8...d6 in Avrukh,B-Sutovsky,E/ Tel Aviv ISR 2002. ] 9.e4 d6 10.d3 a6 11.0-0 d7 12.g3 Making Black's kingside development somewhat problematic. c7!? This new move intends to improve on the [ 12...g6!? of Lautier,J-Topalov,V, Black defends d6 first, and then hopes to play ...g6 and ...Bg7. ] 13.e3 g6 I suppose that Black has to play this move sooner or later, there are no o b v i o u s u s e f u l w a i t i n g m o v e s . 14.d4 This is the problem, of course, for if Black had time to play his bishop to g7 he would be OK. e5 This move is positionally undesirable, of 1423
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 course, Black weakens the d5-square. [ 14...g8!? is not appealing to a human, as it precludes castling kingside, but may be playable. ] 15.e3 g7 16.d5 d8 [ 16...xd5?! 17.cxd5 is excellent for White who can play Rc1-c6 and infiltrate the cfile. ] 17.h4!? White had more positional methods of proceeding, too, but he decides to play on the kingside in unusual f ashion, h e wants t o inhibit Black's counterplay based on ...f5. 0-0 18.h5 c5 19.h6 h8 Now Black will find it very difficult to play ...f5 as the g-pawn is pinned. 20.b4! This is common in positions where one side has a space advantage, White can play on both wings at once. d7 [ 20...xd3?! 21.xb6 d7 22.xd3 wins a pawn. ] 21.g5!? White plays lots of little moves designed to provoke weaknesses in the black set-up. f6 22.e3 f7 23.e2 This is the point, the passive white bishop can now aim for e6 via g4. f8 To answer Bg4 with ...f5. 24.ad1 f5 25.exf5 gxf5 Black managed to play ... f5, but in far from ideal conditions, as now Bh5 is a big problem as the rook has no squares, and the black king is exposed on the f-file. 26.f4 xd5 Almost forced, [ 26...e4 27.h5 xd5 28.xd5 f6 29.d4 wins easily. ] 27.xd5 f6 28.d3 e4?! [ 28...e4 looks like a better chance, keeping the f-file closed. ] 29.h3 c8 30.h5 f6 31.xb6 The loose black position falls apart. xc4?! 32.fxe5 dxe5 33.xf5 c1+ 34.d1 xh6 35.e3! g7 36.f3 c3 37.h6 Wining the queen. 1-0
1420 Vallejo Pons,Francisco Polgar,Judit It Pamplona ESP (5) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2519 2671 31.12.1999
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 e6 6.a3 Following Timman everyone wants to try their chance against Judith with
this old move of Speelman's! a6 Another rare reply, although perfectly good, of course. 7.g5 [ The normal reply here is 7.e4 aiming for a Hedgehog-type position. Perhaps Black had i n t e n d e d s o m e s h a r p l i n e , l i k e b6!? 8.f3?! ( 8.b3 ) 8...c5 9.c2 g4 10.a4?? ( 10.d1 is forced, but hardly likely to offer White anything) 10...xf2+ 11.e2 d4+ 12.d2? xf3+ 13.gxf3 e3+ 0-1 Murphy,P-Suptut,J/Belconnen 1993, it's mate next move! ] 7...e7 [ A sensible innovation, in Robatsch,K-Hanel, R/AUT-chT 1991, Black played 7...d6 8.e3 e7 9.e2 ] 8.c1 [ The point of Black's new move is revealed after the obvious 8.e4? xe4! 9.xe7 xc3 with advantage. ] 8...a5 9.h4 g5?! An incredibly sharp move, very much in the younger Polgar's style, but probably doubtful. 10.b3! f5 11.g3 h5 12.e3 W h i t e t h r e a t e n s B d 3 . g4 Black continues her aggressive kingside play, and creates a strong 'luf t' f or the queen. 13.d3 g5 14.a4 White calmly plays on the queenside, Nb6 is the menace, infiltrating o n B l a c k ' s w e a k e n e d d a r k s q u a r e s . e5 15.b6 b8 16.h4! gxh3 Black must c o n t i n u e t h i s wa y , f o r i f s h e a l l o w s t h e kingside to become closed she will have no counterplay, and W hite already enjoys a considerable advantage elsewhere. 17.xh3 h4 18.d2 White is planning to play Nf3, and win the h-pawn, but Black has many tricks. g4! Teeing-up tactics on the e3 and g3 squares. [ The swap of h-pawn for g-pawn would s e e m d e s i r a b l e , b u t a f t e r 18...g7? 19.xh4 xh4 20.xh4 xg2 White gains a complete positional bind by 21.xf6! xf6 22.e4 e7 23.c5 ] 19.xc8!? [ This turns-out well, but 19.d5 might be the best move, keeping an eye on the e3square. ] 19...xc8 20.f3 g7 21.f5! [ The point of White's surprising nineteenth m o v e , a n d s u p e r i o r t o 21.xh4?! wh i c h f a l l s i n wi t h B l a c k ' s p l a n s : xh4 1424
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.xh4 xe3 23.fxe3 xh4 as the recapture of the rook allows a queen fork on g3. ] 21...d8 22.xh4 xe3! 23.fxe3 xh4 24.f3 [ If 24.xh4 then xh4 25.xh4 g3+ . ] 24...xg3+ 25.xg3 h6 26.h3 g7 27.g3 h6 28.h3 g7 It appears t Black is happy to draw, which gives White the idea that he might be better! 29.xh8+! xh8 30.e2 White retains an edge because of his superior minor piece, and the ragged black structure. e7 31.b4 h6?! Somewhere around here Black had to find a better defence, as now things start to go very wrong. 32.d1 h4 33.e4 g8 34.f5 d6? [ This loses, but the alternative 34...g4+ 35.xg4 xg4 was not too tempting, either, 36.xd7+! and White grabs a pawn. ] 35.c5! g5 [ I t i s t o o l a t e f o r t h e r e t u r n 35...d8 b e c a u s e o f 36.f1 and the rook is overloaded. ] 36.cxd6+ f8 37.h1! This exchange wins on the spot. xh1 38.xg5 The immediate threat is Bxc6 and d7, queening the pawn. c1 39.f6 c4+ 40.f2 g8 [ If 40...xe4 41.h8# ] 41.g5+ f8 42.h6+ e8 43.f5 a2+ 44.g3 Black must sacrifice her queen to avoid immediate mate by Qh8. 1-0
1421 Van Wely,Loek Hracek,Zbynek Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (4) [Tony Kosten]
A33 2629 2629 02.12.1999
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 6.g3 c5 7.b3 e7 8.g2 b6 [ A lively alternative to the traditional 8...d6 ] 9.0-0 0-0 10.f4 [ The most logical move, pointing at the w e a k e n e d b l a c k d a r k s q u a r e s . 10.d5 despite its aggressive appearance, leads to little after exd5 11.cxd5 b7 12.d6 e8 13.dxe7 xe7 14.e1 e4 Gheorghiu,FTaimanov,M/W ijk 1981, as Black is very
active. ] [ 10.d4 Otherwise, White can aim for a H e d g e h o g p o s i t i o n w i t h b7 11.e4 but White has wasted two moves with his d4knight, which must make Black's life easier ] 10...a6! [ Hit t in g t he c4 -p a wn. A lth o u gh 10...b7 is possible, it is somewhat less ambitious. ] 11.b5 [ O t h e r w i s e , W h i t e c a n t r y 11.d2 but it seems too passive. ] 11...d5! Black keeps up the pressure on the white position, even at the cost of an exchange sacrifice. 12.c7 xc4 13.d2!? [ A surprising new idea. White disdains the immediate capture of the a8-rook, which occurred in the original game Kortschnoj,VFtacnik,L/Ceska Trebova 1997: 13.xa8 xa8 14.c1 e5 ( 14...h6 seems less precise, 15.d4! xd4 16.xc4 c6 17.c1 with an edge, although Black went on to win in Vorisek,J-Orsag,M/CZE 1998) 15.g5 d8 16.e1 h6 17.xf6 xf6 and Black has a pawn, strong centre, and well-placed minor pieces for his investment. ] 13...c8 C l e a r l y f o r c e d . 14.xc4 g5! Without this resource Black would, indeed, have problems. 15.xg5 [ The alternative, 15.e5?! is worse: g4! ( and not 15...xe5 16.xe6 fxe6 17.xe5 when the black structure is loose) 16.b5 gxe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.xa7 c5 19.a4 and Black has a fine position. ] 15...xc7 16.d2 e5! Another precise move. Black's weakened kingside is more than offset by his strong centre, and activity. 17.xf6 [ Sensibly aiming for equality, the line 17.h6?! fd8 18.b3 is far too risky, and after h5 19.e3 g4 Black gains an ascendance. ] 17...xf6 18.b1 fd8 The opposite-colour bishops make this position level. ½-½
1425
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 chances. ] A33 2598 19.c5! d4 20.d3 f3 [ T h e o n l y c h a n c e , 20...f6 21.xf4 2556 leaves Black two pawns behind, and the 19.08.2000 tactical line ] [ 20...e3 21.fxe3 xe3+ 22.h1 xh3 23.xf4 xg2+ 24.xg2 xe2+ 25.f2 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 c6 xb2 fails to 26.xa4 . ] 5.0-0 cxd4 6.xd4 c5 7.b3 e7 8.c4 A f t e r t h i s m o v e p l a y t r a n s p o s e s i n t o a 21.xf3 f6 22.b4 xb4 23.xb4 xh3 After all the fireworks White has a Symmetrical English main line. 0-0 9.c3 d6 24.d1 winning ending, with a solid extra pawn. h5?! 10.f4 a6!? [ 24...d7 had to be played. ] [ A normal move in such positions, Black controls b5 so that he can continue ...Qc7, 25.c6 e6 26.xa4 b8 27.a3 g5 28.c6 29.d4 g4 30.d3 and, possibly, ...Rd8, but b6 is weakened. g7 10...h6 11.c1 e5 12.d2 e6 13.d5 White consolidates easily. c8 31.f3 c2 c8 isn't such a bad plan, as when Black 32.a4 c4 33.a5 xd3 34.xd3 e5 captures (with his bishop) on d5 White will 35.b3 g4 36.b7 h4 37.gxh4 have to recapture with his pawn, but White 1-0 always maintains a plus, Gavrikov,V-Zaitshik, G/Tbilisi 1983, ] 1423 A33 [ 10...h5 is examined in the archives. ] 11.c1! g4 Wells,Peter K 2525 [ A new idea, although the position has Jakovenko,Dmitrij 2608 already been seen in the game Petrosian,T- 6th EICC Warsaw POL (3) 20.06.2005 Bobotsov,M/ Bamberg 1968, although with a [John Watson] tempo less for W hite. Previously, 11...h6 h a d b e e n p l a y e d , w h e n 12.e4 e5 This high-level game f eatures one of the is again possible, 13.e3 a5 14.xa5 oldest main lines of the Symmetrical English. xa5 15.a4! xa4 16.xa4 but this White wins the theoretical battle but his game e n d i n g i s v e r y f a v o u r a b l e t o W h i t e , falls apart for tactical reasons. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 Azma ip a ra sh vili, Z-Ve h i Ba ch , V/ To le d o c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 1991. ] 6.g3 12.a4 Thematic, the b6-square is to be [ Little if anything was gained recently in the occupied. b8 13.h3 b5!? 6.a3 l i n e a f t e r c5 7.e3 ( 7.b3 [ Black provokes wild tactics, if 13...ge5 is the critical move) 7...0-0 8.b4 e7 9.e2 then 14.c5 is awkward, as dxc5 loses the d5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.b2 a5 exchange to 15.xc6 ] Ni Hua-Sundararajan, Dubai 2005 ] 14.cxb5 axb5 15.xc6 bxa4 It seems that 6...b6 7.db5 For many years Black has generated real counterplay. [ 7.b3 was played almost exclusively (and 16.xd6! But White has seen further! xd6 analysed to death) but the text has now 17.xd6 e5?! acquired a large body of practice as well. ] [ Unfortunately for Black, he cannot keep his 7...e5 extra exchange, as 17...b5 18.hxg4 axb3 [ 7...c5 8.g2! xf2+ 9.f1 g4 19.a4! and the rook is forced to move to an ( 9...c5 10.a4 ) 10.d6 leads to a small exposed square. Nevertheless, following the edge for White. ] further xd6! 20.xd6 a5 21.a1 d7 [ 7...a6 has also been played, but I like 22.xf8 xf8 23.a3 xa4 24.xb3 xg4 W h i t e a f t e r 8.e3 , e,g., a5 9.d6+ he has real drawing chances. ] xd6 10.xd6 e4 11.d3 xc3 18.xb8 exf4?! 12.d2! ] [ This is worse than 18...axb3 when 19.xb3 8.f4 exf4 20.hxg4 e6 maintains some [ There have been seemingly hundreds of 1422 Vladimirov,Evgeny Kunte,Abhijit Penta Media GM (6) [Tony Kosten]
1426
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 games with 8.g2 a6 9.a4 b8 10.e3 c5 11.xc5 xc5 12.a3 xa3 13.xa3 , nearly all of them drawn obviously W hite's bishop counts for something, yet Black has two centre pawns versus one and d6 is easy to defend. ] 8...d6?! A move that has failed badly in the past. [ 8...fg4 has been the main move for years, with 9.e3 a6 10.h3 ( 10.c7+ xc7 11.xg4 d6 --or 11...Qxc4-- 12.xe5 dxe5 13.e4 d7 14.d3 0-0-0= Hoover-J W a t s o n , O a k B r o o k 2 0 0 3) 10...axb5 11.hxg4 xc4 12.b3= being the main line with what I think are roughly equal chances. Bo th sid es might wa n t t o loo k in to th is va ria t io n as a p o te n tia l wa y t o ga in a n advantage. Even the end position has a number of interesting possibilities. ] 9.g2 fg4 A strange and different order, at least this is a bit better than earlier disasters. Did Black just mix up his lines? A well-known miniature was [ (a) 9...a6? 10.a4 fd7?? 11.c5! xc5 ( 11...xc5 12.e3 ) 12.xd6+ e7 13.d5+ 1-0 L Hansen-De Firmian, D e n m a r k 1 9 9 8 . M a t e f o l l o w s exd5 ( 13...xd6 14.xe5+ xe5 15.f4# ) 14.e8+ xd6 15.xe5# ] [ (b) 9...e7 10.c5! ] 10.0-0!? [ More aggressive is 10.e4! xc4 11.b3 with a strong initiative. ] 10...a6 11.a4! [ 11.d4 g6 isn't as convincing. ] 11...d8 12.a3 g6 13.d2! b8 [ 13...e7 14.b3 is only somewhat better White is still on top. ] 14.c5?! A little too fancy. Easier was simply [ 14.h3 f6 15.e3 with some advantage. ] 14...dxc5 15.c4 4e5! [ 15...b5? 16.a5! xd1?? ( 16...e7 17.xc5! ) 17.fxd1 and oddly enough White is winning with threats like Bc7 and Bc6+. ] 16.xe5 [ 16.cb6 ] 16...xe5 17.f4 c7 18.c1 b6 [ 18...d7!? 19.xc5 xc5 20.b4 b6 21.bxc5 bxc5 is also unclear. ] 19.b4 d7 20.bxc5 bxc5 21.c2! c4?!
[ Better 21...b5 22.fd1 f6! 23.c3 ] 22.fd1 b4 23.b2! f6 24.a3!? [ Very strong was 24.xe5 fxe5 25.a3 b5 26.xc4 , b a se d u p o n t h e t a c t i c c5 (threatening ...Bb5) 27.h3! This was not easy to see. ] 24...b5 25.xe5?! [ Maintaining some advantage was 25.xc4 xc4! ( 25...c5 26.b3! ) 26.xc4 xc4 27.xc4 c5 28.cd4 b5 29.d8+ f7 30.d6 ] 25...xe5 26.xc4 c5 27.d2?? [ Whit should have played 27.e4 e7 ] 27...a4-+ Suddenly the game is over. Black threatens to win a whole rook. 28.e3 xd1 29.xe6+ e7 30.xd1 xc4 31.d5 c1 32.xc1 xc1+ 33.g2 c7 34.f7+ d8 35.xg7 f8 36.xh7 f5 37.h4 e5 38.f3 f6 39.e4 h8 0-1
1424 Wojtaszek,Radoslaw Areshchenko,Alexander POL-UKR m 6th (2.3) [Fier, Alexandr]
A33 2724 2701 08.05.2014
Both players go for a slightly different kind of Maroczy. W hite played well and got some good opportunities in the middlegame, but he m iss e d s o m e t a ct ics o n t h e wa y. I t h in k Black's rook belongs on e8 instead of d8. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 6.a3 c5 7.b3 e7 8.e4 c7 A logical move which is rarely played in this position. Basically it will transpose to lines where the bishop goes directly to e7 and the queen goes to b6-c7. [ 8...0-0 is the main move and after 9.e2 b6 10.0-0 a6 11.f4 d6 12.e3 c8 13.e1 is quite interesting and was analysed by me in Banusz, T (2595)Georgescu, T (2419)/ROM-chT Mamaia 2013 (4.5). ] 9.e2 0-0 10.e3 b6 11.0-0 Both players use this faze to just finish their development. a6 This move is also thematic, putting some pressure on the c4-pawn 12.f4 d6 13.c1 ac8 14.d2 b8 15.b4 b7 16.d3 [ 16.g4 is thematic, and Black usually has 1427
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 resources to defend fe8 17.g5 d7 18.e1 a5 with chances for both players ] [ 16.b3 against this positional approach Black has a good way to reorganize the pieces a8 17.f3 b8!? 18.d3 bd7 and we have a normal Maroczy position ] 16...fd8?! I don't like this move. Black can't play ...d5 so easily and on e8 the rook usually helps the defence more. [ 16...fe8 would be my choice, and Black has an extra option of playing the thematic 17...e5 17.f3 e5 18.d5 and now Black's r o o k o n e 8 i s m u c h b e t t e r p l a c e d exf4 19.xf4 e5 20.h3 d8 with a complex position ] 17.f3 d7 [ 17...e5 now this plan doesn't make much sense 18.d5 and now the rook would be b e t t e r p l a c e d o n e 8 exf4 19.xe7+ and Black can't take with the rook xe7 20.xf4 g6 21.g5 and Black already faces serious problems ] 18.h3 f8 19.b5 White's idea is to force the knight to go far from e5 before playing 20. f5. However, there was an interesting alternative: [ 19.g4 does not work so well here because Black has time to open the center f6 20.g5 xc3 21.xc3 d5 and after this move Black has solved all his problems 22.exd5 exd5 23.f5 e5 with good counterplay ] [ 19.d5!? exd5 20.exd5 f6 21.e4 A) 21...d4 22.ce1! an amazing move, really hard for a human to find. Now White can stay with a piece down. The basic idea is to always take on e3 with a rook ( 22.dxc6 xe3+ 23.xe3 xc6 24.f5 d5 25.g5 gives White some advantage, but it's not clear ) A1) 22...e8 insists on giving up the piece, but it's a better version for White compared to 22.dxc6 23.dxc6 xe3+ 24.xe3 xc6 25.f6+!? a l r e a d y o p e n i n g t h e p o s i t i o n gxf6 26.g3+ g6 ( 26...h8 27.h6 g6 28.h3 wins ) 27.f5 e4 28.fxg6 fxg6 29.xe4 xe4 30.xf6 and Black's king is in more danger than White's.; A2) 22...xe3+ 23.xe3! d4 24.f5! and White just goes for the attack and somehow Black's position is already
hopeless! c7 ( 24...f6 25.xf6+ gxf6 26.g3+ h8 27.h6 is mate ) 25.f6 c8 26.h5 and the pressure is impossible to resist; B) 21...b2 22.c2 xa3 should not work, the bishop is out of play and White is ready for a decisive attack 23.g5 h6 24.dxc6 xc6 25.xf7! and again White has no direct threat, but Black's position is undefendable xf7 26.f5! g8 27.f6 c7 28.fxg7 xg7 29.d4 and Black's position will soon collapse ] 19...a5 20.f5 f6 [ 20...e5 is just awful 21.d5 xd5 22.exd5 a n d W h i t e wi ll u s e t h e e 4 -s q u a re wi t h pleasure ] 21.fxe6 fxe6 22.xf6! A really strong idea if W h i t e p l a ys t h e r i g h t c o n t i n u a t i o n . gxf6 23.h6? But now White misses the point. [ 23.f1 c7 24.e2! this idea is important ( 24.xf6 g7 and White loses material) 24...f7 ( 24...g7 25.g3 ) 25.f4 c5 26.h4 with some pressure ] [ 23.d5! was an amazing move. White is a full rook down, but Black has all his pieces p o o r l y p l a c e d o n t h e q u e e n s i d e exd5 24.exd5 the position is really hard to evaluate during the game. White's attack is not that fast, but with normal moves he will increase the pressure until there is no way to defend A) 24...e8 also makes sense, trying to put the rook on e5 25.g4+ h8 26.d4 e5 27.h4 and there is no good way to defend f6 c7 ( 27...g7 28.e4 just makes things worse for Black) 28.f1 e7 29.xf6 g8 30.f4 with the idea of 31.Nf3 and a nice advantage; B) 24...d7 25.e4 f7 26.d4 d7 27.f1 and finally the f6 pawn is going to fall c7 ( 27...cf8 28.xf6+ xf6 29.xf6 with the idea of 30.Rg6+ wins) 28.g4+ g7 ( 28...h8 29.e6 f8 30.xf6++- ) 29.e6+ h8 30.xd6 and Black is unable to resist the attack ] [ 23.d4 looks a bit slow, but it's also playable e5 24.e3 and White will bring the c3-knight into the game ] 23...c7 24.f1 e7 25.e5? Now Black is winning, maybe W hite overlooked the idea 28...Rxd3. 1428
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 25.e2 was still ok d7 26.f4 h8 17.hxg3 h5 gives Black good counterplay, ( 26...e8 27.h5 f7 28.xf6 xf6 Wojtkiewicz, A-Gulko,B/Kona 1998. ] 29.g5 g7 ) 27.xe6 g8 28.e3 e5 [ 14.g3 c7 ( 14...fxg3!? 15.h3 xf2 29.d4 ] 16.xd7+ e8 is messy ) 15.d4 fxg3 25...dxe5 26.de4 xe4 27.xe4 f5 ( 15...xf2 16.g1 fxg3?! 17.xg3 28.g5 a n d t h e k n i g h t i s t r a p p e d) 16.h3 [ 28.g5 xc4 and White's attack is going (menace: Rxd7+) h5 17.hxg3 f5 18.xg4 nowhere ] hxg4 19.dd1 e6 is level, Mijailovic,Z28...xd3 And now it's over, White just loses a Vratonjic,S/Kragujevac YUG 2000. ] piece. 29.xd3 fxe4 30.g3 g7 31.h4 14...e3 15.d4 c5! Computer-aided xc4 32.h6 g6 33.g5 d7 34.h4 e3 pre p a ra tio n , I be t ! P re vio u sly Bla c k h a d 0-1 defended the f-pawn: [ 15...g5 16.e4 ( 16.g3!? fxg3?! 17.hxg3 f5? loses on the spot to 18.xd7+! xd7 1425 A33 19.h3 Simutowe,A-Borisek,J/Bled SLO 2002 ) 16...h6 ( 16...e7!? 17.xg5 hd8 Wojtkiewicz,Aleksander 2559 angles for a mate on d1, W ojtkiewicz, AZvjaginsev,Vadim 2654 Gritsak,O/Zakopane chT 2000) 17.c5 FIDE WCh KO Tripoli LBA (2.3) 22.06.2004 d5 18.g3 f5 with chances to both sides, [Tony Kosten] Wojtkiewicz,A-Mulyar,M/San Francisco USA 2001. ] 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.c3 e6 6.db5 Something of a 16.xf4 f5 The point, the rook is misplaced, speciality of Wojtkewicz, although as far as I and ...g5 is on the cards, trapping the poor can see he uses it mainly to draw. d5 7.f4 creature. 17.h4 b8 At the cost of a pawn e5 8.cxd5 exf4 9.dxc6 bxc6 10.xd8+ Black has a useful bind on the white position. xd8 11.0-0-0+ d7 12.d6 xd6 18.b3 b6 19.g4 b4! 20.xb4 cxb4 21.d1 xd1 22.xd1 fxg4 23.fxg4 xg4 We looked at the more ambitious [ 12...c7 in Pelletier-Macieja, a short while 24.h3 After the exchange of bishops a drawn rook and pawn endgame is reached. ago. ] 13.xd6 g4! To my mind this move is the ½-½ most logical, asking the question of the f2pawn which is no longer defended by the 1426 A34 white king, although [ 13...e7 i s c o m m o n : 14.d4 Agrest,Evgenij 2602 simply attacking f4, d5!? ( 14...g5 15.g3 Svensson,Bengt 2377 fxg3 16.hxg3 h5 17.g2 favours White, ch Gothenburg SWE (10) 20.07.2004 B o r g o , G - V a l e n t i , G / M i l a n I T A 2 0 0 1) [Tony Kosten] 15.d1!? ( 15.xd5+ must be best, cxd5 16.xf4 hc8+ 17.d2 ab8 18.b3 c5 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 with counterplay is the point - the white xd5 5.e4 b4 6.c4 d3+ 7.e2 f4+ k i n g s i d e i s c o m p l e t e l y u n d e v e l o p e d) 8.f1 e6 9.b4 g6 We have seen this pawn 15...e6 16.g3 c5 with a good position, sacrifice before (in Vallejo Pons, F-Leko,P), Bilek, I-Jansa,V/Harrachov 1966. ] and in view of the problems Black faces when [ 13...d5!? is also possible immediately: he plays the mainline 14.xd5 cxd5 15.e3!? ( 15.xd5 e7 [ 9...cxb4 10.e2 it doesn't seem like a bad 16.e4 is critical) 15...e7 16.a6?! fxe3 idea. ] 17.fxe3 f5 18.d2 hb8 19.b3 b6 10.xe6! xe6 11.bxc5 g7 12.d4 c6 with the initiative, Ragozin, E-Portisch,L/ 13.e3 a5 Oviedo 1993. ] [ 13...c4+ 14.g1 a5 was the exact 14.f3 This weakens e3, otherwise: move-order of the Vallejo game, but this [ 14.d1 c7 15.d4 g5 16.g3 fxg3 transposes. ] 1429
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.c1 [ 14.e2 c4 15.c1 xa2 16.d5 d8 1/2-1/2 Pajkovic,V-Horvath,J/Niksic 1996, although 17.d2 xe2+ 18.xe2 d4 19.c4 looks favourable to White because of his impressive pawn structure. ] [ 14.d2?! 0-0-0 15.c1 f5 16.exf5?! gxf5 was good for Black in Ftacnik,L-Pinter,J/ Prague 1985. ] 14...0-0-0!? An important novelty. [ 14...c4+ 15.g1 0-0-0 16.b1! led to a comfortable white win in Vallejo Pons,F-Leko,P/Linares ESP 2003, see my analysis in the archives. ( 16.b1 )] 15.h3 This stops ...Bg4 when the d4-pawn would be in trouble, but [ 15.d5! i s c r i t i c a l : xc3 ( 15...g4?! 16.b3 xf3 17.gxf3 e5 18.c6 is crushing) 16.c2 f6 17.dxe6 fxe6 18.c4 and White has an edge, his king can always find refuge on g2 (after playing g3), or even e2, and meanwhile the black pawn formation is not too good. ] 15...f5! Black has to hit the white centre before White can unpin the d-pawn. 16.exf5 gxf5 17.g1 Very human play, White is worried about his king and unconnected rooks, so the king heads for h2. [ 17.e2! is superior, with indirect threats to the e6-bishop: b4 ( 17...g8 18.d3 hits f5 with gain of tempo) 18.g1 hf8 19.h6!? c4 20.e3 and White might still have a small plus. ] 17...hf8 18.e2 g8 The difference between this line and the previous note is that the black king's rook is on f8 instead of being blocked-in on h8! 19.h2 c7+ [ 19...e5!? is an alternative, 20.dxe5 xe5 opening the position for the black bishops, but White can try 21.b5!? xf3+ 22.gxf3 with threats of c6 and Nd6+. ] 20.g1 A tacit draw offer. Objectively White should play [ 20.g3 but it was understandable that he wa s wo r r ie d a b o u t t h e c o n t i n u a t i o n f4! 21.xf4 xf4 22.gxf4 xf4+ 23.g2 xd4 when his king position looks a bit 'windy'. ] 20...a5?! In view of the rating difference Black is happy to repeat moves, but he can certainly continue here with [ 20...f4! 21.d2 ( 21.b5 a5 22.d2
xa2 23.h2 a6 ) 21...xd4 22.xd4 xd4 as he can answer 23.b5 with the neat tactic f3! 24.gxf3 g3+ 25.f1 xf3 and only Black can hope to win this. ] 21.h2 c7+ 22.g1 a5 ½-½
1427 Akesson,Ralf Votava,Jan Rilton Cup Stockholm SWE (5) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2535 2497 02.01.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.d4 cxd4 [ A reasonable choice, 5...xc3 6.bxc3 g6 transposes to a Gruenfeld, of course. ] 6.xd4 xc3 7.xc3 c6 8.e4 g4 9.e3!? [ An interesting departure from the usual 9.b5 with c8 10.e3 xf3 11.gxf3 a6 12.d1 c7 13.xc6+ xc6 14.d4 and White has more freedom, Portisch,LHuebner,R/Montreal 1979, 1-0 (39). ] 9...xf3 10.gxf3 a6 To stop White from entering the previous line. 11.d1 c7 12.g1!? e6 13.a3 There was a nasty threat of ...Bb4 to deal with. d8?! [ Just how can Black complete his development? He decides that, as castling kingside is impossible because of the attack on the g-pawn, his king will head for the queenside. Perhaps he should have 'taken t h e b u l l b y t h e h o r n s ' w i t h 13...xh2!? 14.g3 h5 and there is no immediate win in sight for W hite, if 15.g5 then h2 intending to return to c7, and then push his h-pawn. ] 14.xd8+ xd8 [ Best, if 14...xd8? 15.xa6 ] 15.f4 c8 16.d3 f6? [ This attempt to develop the f8-bishop weakens e6, an alternative was 16...g8 intending ...g6, keeping the pawn structure in ta ct, a lth o ugh W hite is clea rly b e tt e r anyway. ] 17.c4 d8 18.b3 c6 19.e2! The rook must be brought into the attack. xe4 20.c1 d7 [ If 20...c6 21.b6 with the decisive threat 1430
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 of Bxa6. ] 21.f3 [ White still maintains a powerful initiative after this, but the pretty 21.b5+! axb5 22.xb5+ wins immediately, c6 23.xc6 bxc6 24.b8 followed by the march of the apawn to a8. ] 21...f5 22.b6 e8 23.d3 d5 [ 23...h3!? ] 24.c8 d6?! [ 24...e7 25.c4 d7 26.xe6 d6 is also pretty grim for Black, but still has to be won. ] 25.xb7 e7 26.xa6 xa6 27.xa6 This ending is hopeless for Black. h5 28.a4 [ 28.b5+ f7 29.c7 f8 30.d7 leaves Black completely tied-up. ] 28...h4 29.b5+ f7 30.b6 h5!? 31.xd8?! [ Falling for a trick, 31.xd8 xd8 32.xd8 would force resignation. ] 31...h8 32.a5 [ 32.xe7 xc8 33.a3 c2+ 34.e3 xh2 would allow some counterplay. ] 32...xd8 33.c6 b8 34.c4 xb2+ 35.d3 Now material is equal, but White is still winning. b4 36.a6 xh2 37.a7 d2+ 38.e3 d8 39.xe6+ e7 40.c8 The a-pawn can't be stopped. d2+ 41.e2 1-0
1428 Akopian,Vladimir Ruck,Robert 3rd Amplico AIG Life [Tony Kosten]
A34 2684 2551 20.12.2003
16.xf4 e5 Otherwise White plays Bd6. 17.c2 [ 17.c1! is possibly even better, winning a pawn, as e6 is met by 18.xc5! xc5 19.xa8 xa8 20.d4 winning material. ] 17...e6 18.xe5 This weakens the black s t r u c t u r e . fxe5 19.c4! h8 20.d5! W hite infiltrates on the light squares - the threat to the e5-pawn can hardly be parried. d4 T h e re is n o t h in g b e t t e r . 21.xc5 xe2+?! Black had been relying on this move to maintain material equality, but objectively [ 21...xc5 22.xc5 c6 23.xc6 xc6 would be best, although Black is a pawn down for nothing. ] 22.h1 fe8 [ 22...xc5? 23.xc5 xf1+? 24.xf1 attacks both rook and bishop, and as d8 25.xd7 xd7?? is impossible because of 26.f8# Black loses material. ] 23.d6 [ 23.ae1! d4 24.d6 is possibly even stronger - Rxe5 is the main threat, e.g. ab8 25.xe5! xe5? 26.f7+ forking king and queen and winning. ] 23...ab8? This is hopeless, although, to be fair, the best move [ 23...ac8 is scarcely any improvement: 24.d5 (the d6-knight was pinned) c6 25.xc8 xc8 26.f7 an White has an extra exchange. ] 24.f7 e6 25.af1 By defending the f7-rook W hite renews the menace to the e8-rook. ed8 26.7f2 The rook returns to attack the knight, and simultaneously vacates the f7square for a knight fork. 1-0
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 A34 5.g2 c6 6.c3 c7 7.d3 e5 8.d2 1429 Akopian,Vladimir 2654 d7 9.0-0 e7 10.c4 f6 11.f4 This, the Ruck,Robert 2557 sharpest line in Rubinstein's System, has 09.06.2001 already been examined in some detail in a 2nd IECC Ohrid MKD (8) previous game between these two players. b5 [Tony Kosten] 12.e3 exf4 13.f5! b4 14.xe7 xe7 15.e4 0-0? A poor novelty, we had 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 c6 4.g2 d5 previously considered the move 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c3 c7 7.d3 e5 d7 [ 15...e6 which covers c5 and f4, 16.gxf4 Th e m a in lin e Rub inst ein . 8.d2 f5! and this seems fine for Black, see the The threat of Bxc6+ had to be faced. 9.0-0 game Akopian-Ruck. W hat had Akopian e7 10.c4 f6 [ The pawn-sac line 10...0-0 is under a bit of prepared? ] 1431
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a cloud, see the archives. ] 11.f4 b5 12.e3 exf4 [ The sharpest reply, 12...c8 was also examined in the archives. ] 13.f5!? [ White exploits the tactical contours of the position. 13.gxf4 b8 14.a4 is an alternative possibility. ] 13...b4 [ Lautier's move. 13...fxg3 is risky, 14.xg7+ f7 15.f5 gxh2+ 16.h1 with attacking chances. ] 14.xe7 xe7 15.e4 [ The recapture 15.xf4!? is also playable, bxc3 16.xc7 c8 17.f4 cxb2 18.b1 0-0 19.xb2 White may even have an edge, Akopian,V-Leko,P/Ubeda 1997. ] 15...e6 [ Or 15...fxg3!? 16.f4 e5 17.c1 with a stron g initiative , e6 18.xe5 ( 18.xg3!? ) 18...fxe5 19.e3 gxh2+ 20.h1 which is quite unclear, Nikolaidis,ILautier,J/Erevan olm 1996. ] 16.gxf4 White keeps his dark-squared bishop, of course it can come to f4 after W hite continues with f5, driving the e6-knight back. f5! [ Attempting to improve on 16...0-0 17.f5 (this pawn will hinder the d7-bishop) ed4 18.g3 ac8 White's bishops give him a small plus in this strategically complicated position, Minasian, A-Grosar,A/Pula 1997. ] 17.g3 0-0 18.a3 ab8 19.axb4 xb4 Although Black's pawn structure is ragged, the c5-pawn controls the important d4-square, and his pieces have free-play. 20.a6 d6 21.e3 b6 22.a3 b4! White's e3 topped black knights from landing on d4, but now the d 3 - p a w n i s a t a r g e t . 23.xa7?! xd3 24.c2 b5 25.d1 c4? [ Black misses the simple tactic 25...exf4! as 26.exf4?? is impossible: d4+ 27.h1 f2+ ] 26.b3 b8? [ 26...c5 27.bxc4 dxf4?! drops the e x c h a n ge t o ( 27...xc4 ) 28.f2! xg2 29.a3 ] [ but the simple 26...cxb3 27.xb3 c5 k e p t t h e b e t t e r c h a n c e s f o r B la c k - h i s pawn structure is more solid. ] 27.a8 cxb3
[ 27...c7 loses the f-pawn after 28.xf8+ xf8 29.bxc4 xc4 30.xc4 ] 28.xb3 xa8?! [ Again, if 28...c7 29.xf8+ eliminates the defence of f5. ] 29.xa8 dc5?! Black must have been very short of time, as this queen sac is hopeless. 30.a3 a6 31.b4 a4 32.d5! xd1 33.xc5 f3 Black's last fling. 34.c4 1-0
1430 Akopian,Vladimir Svidler,Peter FIDE GP Astrakhan RUS (3) [Nigel Davies]
A34 2694 2735 12.05.2010
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 g7 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 c5 8.b3 b6 9.d3 [ 9.a3 is also possible here, transposing into the game Kramnik-Mamedov in which 8. Qa4 was played rather than 8.Qb3. This also doesn't look like an advantage f or W hite though Black needs to defend accurately. ] 9...c6 10.b5 d7 11.e3 a6 [ Another possibility is 11...d4 when 12.xd4 cxd4 13.e4 b6 looks fine for Black. ] 12.a4 [ 12.c4 b5 13.h4 is also quite annoying for Black. ] 12...b8 13.ac1 d4 14.xd4 [ And not 14.xd4? as after cxd4 15.xd4 b5 16.b4 a5 Black wins a piece. ] 14...cxd4 15.e4 b6 16.a3 d5 17.b3 This kind of position shouldn't be worse for Black because of his long term trumps of two bishops and space. But he has to be careful because of White's active pieces. a5 [ 17...b6 followed by 18.. .Bb7 is well worth considering. ] 18.c5 b4 19.a3 e6 20.a4 d7 [ 20...b6 would probably lead to the same result af ter 21.cc1 d7 22.b3 e6 23.a4 etc. ] 21.b3 [ 21.xa5 b6 wins material. ] 1432
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21...e6 22.a4 d7 23.b3 ½-½
1431 Anton Guijarro,David Bok,Benjamin Skopje Karpos op (6) [Fier, Alexandr]
A34 2559 2575 02.04.2014
Once again we take a look at 5.e4 in the Symmetrical English. This time White avoided the main theoretical lines with 9.b4, instead playing the slow 9.d3. Black left the opening without problems, but missed some good opportunities in time trouble. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 6.c4 The main line, White allows 6...Nd3+, s a yi n g t h a t t h e d e ve l o p m e n t a d va n t a g e compensates his king being in the center. [ 6.b5+ was seen here last month in Grigoriants, S (2574)-Volokitin, A (2674)/ 15th ch-EUR Indiv 2014 2014 (8.22). ] 6...d3+ 7.e2 f4+ 8.f1 e6 This position is known since a long time ago and it was always a bit dangerous for Black. I think if he can survive the next 10, 15 moves without any serious problems he should be better because of his control over the d4square. Of course, it's not an easy task and White has many ways to try to exploit Black's lack of development. 9.d3 A slow approach, opening the bishop and holding the center together. [ 9.b4 is the critical move, and after cxb4 10.e2 c5!? was an interesting idea ( 10...c7 is more common) 11.c2 e6 12.d4 analyzed in Schebler, G (2535)Mueller, K (2500)/Bundesliga 2006-7. ] [ 9.e5 is an immediate assault, which can lead to an quick endgame g6 10.a4+ d7 11.xd7 xd7 12.xe6 fxe6 13.xd7+ xd7 and White tries to play against the doubled pawns, but Black should be ok in this complex position, as seen in Vigorito, D-Mikhalevski, V/American Open 2003. ] [ 9.d4 is the most direct approach, and this idea does not look great, but it has some poison cxd4 10.xe6 xe6 11.xd4 c4+ 12.g1 was analyzed in Vul, A (2423)-Van Opheusden, B (2190)/Essent Open
Hoogeveen NED 2005. ] 9...g6 A natural move. [ 9...c6 was the choice of Svidler against Jakovenko last year 10.h4 h5 ( 10...ed4 11.f4 e6 is also possible) 11.g5 g6 12.xe6 xe6 13.xe6 fxe6 with chances for both sides, Jakovenko, D (2719)-Svidler, P (2740)/EU-Cup 29th Rhodes 2013 (4.1). ] 10.h4 h6 Black doesn't want to allow 11.Ng5. 11.a4 g7 12.e3 [ 12.xe6 makes little sense, the pawn is not w o r t h t h e l i g h t - s q u a r e d b i s h o p xe6 13.xc5 g4 and Black has huge compensation ] 12...c7!? A clever way to defend the pawn, the bishop on c4 has few squares, so Black prepares ...b6-b5. 13.c3 [ 13.xc5!? this was possible and would lead to an uncontrollable chaos b6 14.a4+ f8 15.h5! bxc5 accepting the challenge ( 15...g5!? would be my choice, forgetting about the piece 16.b3 d7 17.a3 b5 18.d5 xd5 19.exd5 a5 20.bd4 a6 with compensation, in an unclear position) 16.hxg6 fxg6 17.h4 e8 18.xe8+ xe8 19.xg6 h7 20.xc5 and White has 3 pawns and active play for the piece, but if Black is able to get out his pieces he can be better ( 20.g8 xb2! this is the idea 21.b1 g7 and Black is fine )] [ 13.xc5? b5 is just bad for White ] 13...e6 14.h3 c6 Now Black is supposed to be ok, there are no threats and the control over d4 is quite important. 15.g1 ed4 16.g3 e6 17.b5 Trying to create some play against Black's center. After 16... e6 the bishop was not doing much anyway and the knight on d4 is a strong piece. xb5 18.xb5 a6 19.c3 b6 20.d2 So far White is avoiding Black's castle, but the position is without much perspective. If one day the position opens the bishops are going to be more powerful than White's knights e5 A committal move, as we are going to see later, the d5-square can be a problem. [ 20...a7!? was a nice idea, just bringing the rook into the game 21.a3 d7 22.d1 a5 and Black is slightly better ] 21.a3 a5 22.d1 d4 An concrete move, but now W hite starts to have counterplay. 23.b4 xf3+ 24.xf3!? White gives the 1433
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 exchange to have the d5-square. The rook was a bit loose on g3 and the light-squared bishop is the most important of Black pieces. [ 24.gxf3 was also playable cxb4 25.d5 b8 26.h5 g5 ( 26...e6 27.hxg6 f5 is an interesting alternative) 27.axb4 0-0 28.bxa5 bxa5 and White has equalized, the other pieces compensates the bad rook on g3 ] 24...g4 25.bxc5 xf3 26.xf3 bxc5 Finally Black has a material advantage, but in the last few moves he managed to exchange both strong knights, the active bishop and he closed the long diagonal, so W hite can be happy with the beginning of the middlegame. 27.h5?! There is no need to give the d3-pawn. [ 27.d5 0-0 28.xc5 e8 29.h5 would be the same idea with a pawn on d3 ] 27...xd3 28.d5 0-0 29.d1 [ 29.c1 c4 30.c3 b1+ 31.c1 b7 is good for Black since if 32.xc4 fc8 activates the rook ] [ 29.g4 is a b e t t e r t r y h7 ( 29...g5 30.xc5 fd8 is probably the best, but White has the white squares now) 30.d1 and Black needs to take care. For example: xa3 31.f6+!? xf6 32.hxg6+ h8! ( 32...g7 33.gxf7+ xf7 34.d7+ e7 35.b7 and the attack is really strong c4 36.f5+ e8 37.g6+ f7 38.c6+ f8 39.xh6+ g7 40.g3 and White is better) 33.xh6 fxg6 34.xg6 ( 34.xf8 xf8 35.xg6 g7 36.h2 ) 34...a4 35.d6! the only move to keep the attack going e8 36.f5 e7 37.xf8 xf8 38.e6 with enough compensation for a draw ] 29...a6 Black tries to defend the f6-square, but now White can recover all the material. [ 29...xa3! was better, returning the exchange 30.f6+ ( 30.c1 c4 ) 30...h8 31.d7 c4 32.xf8 xf8 33.d7 g5! 34.xf7 d6 and Black's pawns are too dangerous ] 30.xc5 fe8 Another inaccuracy due to time trouble. [ 30...fd8 31.e7+ h7 32.xd8 xd8 33.xf7 gxh5 34.f5 f6 35.a7 and Black is still ok according the computer ] 31.hxg6 fxg6 [ 31...b7 32.gxf7+ xf7 33.g4 h7 is also good for White ]
32.c7 c6 33.b3+ h7 34.xe8 xe8 35.f7 Now White is no material down and the attack continues. c8 36.d7 xd7 A desperate try, but Black won't be able to create a fortress because of the a-pawn. [ 36...g8 wouldn't be enough either 37.d5 xd5 38.exd5 g5 39.d6 g6 40.a7 f6 41.g4 with a clear advantage to White ] 37.xd7 xc5 38.a7 c4 39.xa5 xe4 40.a4 c4 41.b5 c1+ 42.h2 e4 [ 42...f8 won't help 43.b7+ h8 44.a5 c5 45.b8+ h7 46.c7+ g8 47.a6+- ] 43.a5 c7 44.a4 a7 45.a6 h5 46.g3 h6 47.g2 f6 48.c6 d8 49.f1 a5 50.e2 h7 51.e3 g7 52.xe4 f7 53.c5 e1 54.a7 xf2 55.e5+ 1-0
1432 Aronian,Levon Caruana,Fabiano 74th Tata Steel GMA (9) [John Bartholomew]
A34 2805 2736 24.01.2012
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.e3 f6 5.d4 We last discussed this important line in December 2011. [ F o r e x t e n s i v e c o v e r a g e o f 5.e2 see Svidler, P (2755)-Nepomniachtchi, I (2730)/Moscow RUS 2011/[John Bartholomew]. ] 5...cxd4 [ 5...e4!? is more ambitious. Salvador, R (2500)-Jobava, B (2678) / Milano ITA 2011/ [John Bartholomew]. ] 6.exd4 e4 7.e5 b4 8.e2 a5 9.0-0!? This pawn sacrifice probably caught Aronian's eye when GM Rainer Buhmann used it with success midway through 2011. [ Usual is 9.xc6 , but it's notoriously difficult for White to generate winning chances here. A couple recent games have confirmed this assessment: dxc6 10.0-0 0-0 11.d2 e8 12.a3 xc3 13.xc3 g5 14.c1 g6 ( or Sulskis's 14...e3 15.fxe3 g4! , i. e. 16.f3 xe3+ 17.xe3 xe3 18.xg4 xg4 19.h3 f6 20.ae1 ae8 21.f2 xe1 22.xe1 xe1 23.xe1= Grischuk, A (2752)-Dominguez Perez, L (2712)/ Beijing 1434
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 CHN 2011. ) 15.f4 ( 15.e3 g4 Cobb, C (2405)-Cvitan, O (2491)/ Saint Vincent 2005/[John W atson].) 15...g4 16.fe1 xe2 17.xe2 h5 18.h4 f5 Heberla, B (2539)-Oral, T (2526)/Czech Republic CZE 2012. ] 9...xe5 The most direct way to accept. [ There's also 9...xc3 A) 10.bxc3 xc3 11.xc6 c o u l d t r a n s p o s e a f t e r ( 11.e3!? ) 11...dxc6 ( but definitely not 11...xa1? 12.d2! dxc6 13.a3 xf1+ 14.xf1+- ); B) 10.xc6 dxc6 11.bxc3 xc3 , which is more commonly reached via 9. Nxc6 dxc6 10.0-0 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Qxc3. W hite has superb compensation after 12.b1 , i.e. ( 12.g5!? Costello, C (1983)Bonafont, P (2135)/Ascot ENG 2011 ) B1) 12...a5 13.d2 c7 14.b4 b6 15.a4 ( 15.e1 ) 15...d7?! 16.fe1 f5 Miton, K (2616)-Jakubowski, K (2502)/ W a r s a w P O L 2 0 1 1 . N o w 17.f3 gives White a tremendous initiative.; B2) 12...0-0 13.b3 a5 14.g3!? f5 Bertholee, R (2360) -Polgar, J (2540)/ Amsterdam 1990 and now (for instance) 15.g5 ] 10.dxe5 xe5 11.d2 c5 [ 11...0-0? allows 12.xe4 ] [ 11...a5!?N creates more weaknesses in the Black position, but I think it's worth a look, i. e. 12.a3 c5 13.a4 ( or 13.b5 as in t he gam e) 13...d6 14.c3 e7 15.xc5 dxc5 ] 12.b5 0-0 13.b4 e7 [ The source game went 13...d4?! 14.xd4 xd4 15.f4! xd1 16.fxd1 b6 17.a4! (White has more than sufficient c o m p e n s a t io n ) b7 18.a5 ( 18.g4!? ) 18...d5 19.a6 c6 20.b5 d7 21.g5 e6 22.xf6 gxf6 23.cxd5 d7 24.f3 exf3 25.gxf3 fe8 26.f2 ac8 27.ac1 f8 28.d3 f5 29.g3 e7 30.d6+ f6 31.f4 Buhmann, R (2579) -Gschnitzer, O (2444)/Bonn GER 2011. ] 14.f4 e6 [ 14...exf3?! 15.xf3 just opens lines in White's favor, ] [ 14...b8!? 15.f5 ( 15.c3 a5 ) 15...d6 ( 15...d6 16.xd6 xd6 17.c3 is similar to Buhmann-Gschnitzer.) 16.f4
d7 17.xd6 a5 18.b5 d8 19.c5 xf5 20.e1 xd6 21.xd6 c8 22.g3 ] 15.e3 Aronian later insinuated that he caught Caruana in the opening, so its very likely he was still in his preparation here. [ Note the point of White's last move: 15.c7?? b6+ ] 15...xb4?! Offering material to douse an opponent's initiative can be a good practical decision, but it's tricky to pull off here. Two other moves need investigation: [ 15...e8 16.f5 ( 16.c5 d5 17.cxd6 xd6 18.a3 ) 16...f6 17.d4 h6 with an intriguing position where White has obvious compensation but nothing clear, i.e. 18.c3!? ( 18.b1 d5 ) 18...f6 19.c1 xc1 20.axc1 ] [ 15...c6 16.xa7 a6 17.b5 ( I'd rather be White after 17.xc8 fxc8 18.a3 with the bishop pair and better structure the computer thinks its close to equal. ) 17...xb4! A) 18.c7 is met by a3 when 19.xa8?! xe3+ 20.h1 a5 sees Black turning the tables. ( or 20...d5 ); B) 18.b1 a5 19.c5 c6 with highly unclear play. ] 16.c7 c6 17.xa8 b6?! [ Safer was 17...c5 , i.e. 18.xc5 xc5+ 19.h1 d6 20.b3 d7 21.xb7 c6 22.b2 xa8 when White retains an edge but Black is very much in the game. ] 18.b1 c5? Things were already pretty bad, but Black has almost no chance after this move. [ The lesser evil was 18...a5 19.xb6 axb6 20.b3 a6 when Black can still hope to complicate matters. ] 19.xc5 bxc5 [ or 19...xc5+ 20.h1 c6 21.xb6 axb6 22.b3 ] 20.b8 b7 [ 20...d6 intends 21...Nd7, but after 21.d2 d7 22.b2 b7 23.c7 xc7 24.d1 the d-pawn is lost. ] 21.xf8+ xf8 22.b3! g6 23.b1 xa8 24.b8+ g7 25.xa7 e3 White is winning, but Caruana now does an admirable job of co nf u sin g m at t ers. 26.f3 d5 27.e1 Aronian was quite unhappy with his play in the coming conversion phase, which was 1435
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 marred by mutual time pressure. 7.exd4 cxd4 8.xd4 0-0 9.c2 Holding up [ 27.b8 was the easiest win here. ] ...d7-d5. 27...d6!? 28.xa8 d4 29.a3?! [ After 9.e2 Black can free himself with d5 [ 29.g3+- ] , f o r e x a m p l e 10.cxd5 ( 10.0-0 xd4 29...xf4 30.f1 e5 31.d3 e8 32.g3 11.xd4 dxc4 12.xd8 xd8 13.xc4 a6 h5 33.g2 a4 34.a3 a5 was equal in Rasmussen, K-Mekhitarian, K/ [ 34...g4!? ] Beijing 2008) 10...xd5 11.xc6 bxc6 35.f3 a6 36.e2 a5 37.b1 d2?! 12.d2 f6 13.0-0 f5 14.c1 e8 38.e1? gave Black plenty of activity to compensate [ Several commentators pointed out that the for his split queenside pawns in Cosma, Ic o u n t e r a t t a c k 38.b7! xe2 39.e7 Ksieski, Z/Crailsheim 1998. ] wins easily. ] [ White has also tried 9.db5 though this 38...a2 39.g4?! hxg4?? Spoiling his looks like it's asking a lot of the position. biggest chance! After d6 10.f4 g4 11.f3 e6 12.d5 [ 39...xg4! would have seriously muddied xd5 13.cxd5 a5 14.e2 a6 15.c3 the waters: 40.xg4 hxg4 and after 41.g3 c8 16.e3 d7 17.0-0 f6 saw Black ( or 41.h4 f5 ) 41...f5! White can't develop excellent queenside counterplay effectively include the rook in the attack. He in Ginsburg, M-Avrukh, B/ICC INT 2001. ] may have to settle for a perpetual. ] 9...d6 This natural move appears to be new. 40.g3!+Now Aronian doesn't miss this [ B l a c k h a d p r e v i o u s l y p l a y e d 9...b6 idea. xe2 41.e5 d3 42.xf6 h6 here, for example 10.f4 ( 10.e2 b7 43.xf7 e1+ 44.g2 e2+ 45.g3 e1+ 11.0-0 c8 12.f4 e8 13.e3 c5 46.xg4 g1+ 47.h3 Black has run out of 14.e1 e5 15.ed5 xd5 16.xd5 checks, so he resigned. xd5 17.xd5 f6 gave Black counterplay 1-0 in Peralta, F-Rytshagov, M/Saint Vincent 2001 ) 10...a6 11.b4 b7 12.e2 d6 13.0-0 e5 14.e3 c8 15.c1 e8 1433 A34 16.d2 f8 17.fd1 was a bit better for White in Benjamin, J-Kramnik, V/ Groningen Aronian,Levon 2808 1993. ] Grischuk,Alexander 2747 WCh Candidates (1.7) 09.05.2011 10.e2 e6 11.e3 c8 12.0-0 a6 13.b3 a5 14.a4 b6 15.b1 c6 16.e1 [Nigel Davies] White is slightly better here because of the 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.e3 f6 weak square on d5 and the space this confers on him. But it's not easy to make anything of it 5.a3 [ Practice has shown that after the immediate in th e f a ce of Bla ck's active pieces . fd8 5.d4 Black gets a good game via cxd4 17.f3 e5 18.d5 [ White also maintains a nominal edge with 6.exd4 e4 7.g5 b4 , for example 8.d5 18.cd5 , f o r e xa m p l e xf3+ 19.xf3 xc3+ 9.bxc3 a5 10.d4 0-0 11.f3 e8 xd5 20.xd5 xd5 21.xd5 f6 22.e3 12.f2 b6 13.xe4 xe4+ 14.fxe4 h4+ . But there's a big difference between having 15.g3 xe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.d3 e8 a theoretical superiority and this producing 18.c5 b7 19.d1 xd5 20.xh7+ xh7 realistic winning chances. ] 21.xd5 e7 22.f4 b7 23.cxb6 axb6 24.a4 c5 25.a5 1/2-1/2 was Vaganian, R- 18...f8 19.b2 e8 20.a1 b8 21.e4 xd5 22.xd5 d8 23.b2! Transforming Avrukh, B/Ohrid 2001. ] his st ru ct u ra l su p e rio rit y in t o a kin gs id e 5...e7 6.d4 exd4 [ The point behind White's 5th move is that initiative. [ 23.c3 would have been an attempt to play after 6...cxd4 7.exd4 e4 8.g5 i n p u r e l y p o s i t i o n a l s t y l e b u t a f t e r b5 Black can no longer play b4 . On the other 24.cxb5 axb5 25.a5 f5 White's grip is hand 5.a3 does not do much for W hite's being shaken. ] development. ] 1436
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23...xd5 24.xd5 b5 25.be2 bxc4 26.bxc4 g6 27.g3 e7 28.d3 [ I t wa s a ls o wo rt h co n s id e r in g 28.xd6 af ter which xd6 29.xd6 ed8 30.c5 g6 31.c3! xd6 32.cxd6 f6 33.a5 keeps the extra pawn as xd6? 34.c7 wins the exchange. ] 28...d7 29.xd6 ed8 30.c5 c8 31.e5? After this Grischuk manages to slip away. [ There was a better way to play this in 31.c3! a f t e r wh ic h xd6 32.c6! c7 33.e7!! is very strong. ] 31...xd6 32.cxd6 xa4 33.f4 h6 White is still nominally better, but with the d6 pawn not going anywhere W hite's winning chances have disappeared. 34.h4 b5 35.d1 b7 36.c2 bd7 37.c7? [ It's not clear what White missed here but he has to play 37.d2 . ] 37...xd6 38.xd7 xd7 39.xd6 xd6 40.xd6 xd6 41.e8+ h7 42.e7 g6 43.a7 This endgame is a theoretical draw, but obviously Black can try a bit of torture. h5 44.g2 f6 45.f3 d2+ 46.h3 a2 47.g4 hxg4+ 48.xg4 g6 49.f4 a5 50.a8 e6 51.a7 f6 52.a8 a1 53.a7 a5 54.a6+ g7 55.h5 f5+ 56.h4 h1+ 57.g3 g1+ 58.h2 g4 59.hxg6 xf4 60.xa5 xg6 61.g2 f7 ½-½
1434 Aronian,Levon Smirnov,Pavel FIDE WCh KO Tripoli LBA (3.1) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2645 2601 23.06.2004
1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 e5 8.d3 e7 9.d2 d7 10.c4 f6 11.f4 b5 12.e3 c8 The safest, as I point-out in the eBook. 13.a4 b4 14.b5 exf4 15.xc6!? White is willing to try Lputian's sharp move conceding the important light-squared bishop. [ 15.f5!? is a go o d a l t e rn a t i ve , xf5 16.xc6+ d7 17.xd7+ xd7 18.xc7+ xc7 19.xf4 Szilagyi,P-Pinter,J/HUN 1992. ] [ 15.c4 is preferred by my computer! When
fxg3!? ( for 15...xb5 16.axb5 d4 17.xa7!? see my annotations of LautierLeko ) 16.bd6+ f8 17.hxg3 b8 18.e3 e6 19.e4 e8 20.g4 is wild, Alvarez,JDominguez,L/Holguin City CUB 2002 ] 15...fxe3! I suggested this obvious novelty in my annotations, instead [ 15...xc6 16.xa7 b7 is LputianPerunovic, see the archives. ] 16.e4!? Interesting, White prefers to keep this bishop and points it at h7, but offers to sac a pawn. [ 16.xd7+ xd7 17.xc7+ xc7 18.xe3 hopes to pressure the c-pawn, but then h5 is a bit annoying, intending ...h4. ] 16...xb5 17.axb5 xb5!? [ 17...c7 i s p o s s i b l e , 18.xe3 xb5 wh en Black is a p a wn u p , alt ho ugh h is ragged structure offers W hite reasonable comp. ] 18.xa7 0-0 19.xe3 h8 20.a1!? d6 21.f5 A curious-looking move, but from here the rook eyes c5 and d5, whilst menacing a possible attack on h7 by Rh5. d7 22.f1! The queen switches back! [ 22.h5?! is easily countered by f5 ] 22...e8 [ 22...xf5?? allows a forced mate: 23.xf5 g6 24.xh7+! xh7 25.xg6+ h8 26.h7# ] 23.d5 White uses his heavy pieces very well to infiltrate the black position. f5 Forced, [ 23...e6?! 24.f4 xf4 25.xf4 and Black is in serious trouble, e8 26.f5 xf5 27.xf5 and the c-pawn is lost. ] 24.h3 fxe4 25.xd7 xd7 26.xd7 The white rooks are now placed deep in the heart of the black position. exd3! However, the white rooks are now unable to defend the back rank! 27.exd3 [ 27.5xd6? dxe2 28.d2 ce8 29.g2 e1 30.xe1 xe1 and Black is a pawn up. ] 27...ce8 28.g5! There is nothing to be gained by capturing on c5: [ 28.xc5 e1+ 29.g2 xc5 30.xc5 e2+ 31.h3 xb2 32.b5 h6 33.d4 b3 34.db4 d8 35.xb3 d2 and the d-pawn is lost. ] 28...e5 29.e7 xe7! Absolutely correct, other moves lead to big problems: 1437
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 29...d4+ 30.xd4 xe7 31.xe7 cxd4 32.d7 ] 30.xe7 xb2 Black has only one pawn for the exchange, but it is a powerful passed pawn, and all the other pawns can be defended by the bishop. 31.f7 A little backrank trick. [ 31.xc5?? d4+ ] 31...e8 32.fd7 White's best bet is to exchange a pair of rooks, doubling on the seventh achieves nothing because the g7pawn is defended by the black bishop. d4+ 33.g2 b3 34.d8 g8 35.5d7 b2 36.xg8+ xg8 37.b7 c3 Threatening to win with ...Bb4! 38.b3 f7 39.f3 f6 40.e2 f5 41.h3 g5 42.d1 The king comes to take-over guard duties from the rook. g4 43.hxg4+ xg4 44.c2 d4 45.b6 h5 46.g6+ f5 47.g8 e5 White cannot make any progress. ½-½
see Reinderman-Bok in the PGN Archive. ( 13...b6 was my mainline in 'Dynamic English'. ); E) 8...h5!? is dangerous, see BricardBauer in the Archive. ] 8...e7 9.b2 0-0 10.c1 Simple, logical development. [ 10.e1 d7 (but maybe Black can avoid this move?) 11.d3 f6 12.f4 is possible here, too, transposing to the 8 Ne1 mainline. ( 12.c1 is the game.) 12...exf4 13.xf4 when c8 is the most common, but White will certainly not play Rc1 here (transposing to the game) but 14.e3 planning Qe2 and Rad1 followed by d4, or b6 15.cd5 e.g. d6 16.d4!? e7? 17.dxc5 xc5 18.b4! winning material, 1-0 (33 ) Vaganian, R (2530) -Lengyel, L (2410) Moscow 1975. ] 10...f6 Bo lst e rin g t he e5 -pa wn . 11.e1 Now White reverts to this plan of Nd3 and f4 that served me so well over the years. d7 S t o p p in g B xc6 , b u t m a yb e B la ck s h o u l d prefer something else. 1435 A34 [ 11...f5 was Botvinnik's preference, stopping Nd3. 12.e4 e6 13.d3 a5 Aronian,Levon 2815 14.f4 exf4 15.xf4 xf4 16.xf4 e6 Svidler,Peter 2753 17.c3 about level in Ionescu, C (2420) Norway Chess blitz 2nd (1) 02.06.2014 Farago, I (2495) Luzern 1985. ] [Kosten, Tony] [ 11...g4 also stops the knight coming to d3, as 12.d3 xd3 13.exd3 xd1 14.fxd1 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g3 d5 ad8 ] 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 e5 8.b3 The 4th most pop ular move, b ut I like it . 12.d3 It looks like White may be threatening White can develop his queenside to see what t h e c -p a wn . c8 13.f4 But this is the real B l a c k is u p t o , a n d t h e n p la y ' t h e p l a n ' : point , a tt ackin g B la ck's solid ce nt re an d opening the f-file. exf4 14.xf4 Reaching a Ne1-d3 and f4. standard position with the the inclusion of the [ 8.d3 is the mainline, by far. ] [ 8.e1 was my recommendation in moves Rc1 and ... Rc8, but as Alex pointed 'Dyn amic E nglish ', but I started ha vin g out: this "is not necessarily good for either of doubts about leaving the kingside less well th e pla yers" . e8 A novelty, clearing the dline and heading for f7. Previously Black had defended, for instance chosen either A) Moves like 8...g4 and; [ 14...h8 to avoid unpleasant checks on B) 8...f5 allowing White to capture on c6, the a2-g8 diagonal, 15.e3 e6 ( 15...b6 both score well for Black.; transposes to 14...b6.) 16.fd5 ( 16.cd5 C) and 8...d6 is also possible, see d6 Foisor, O (2425)-Lazarev, V (2445) Tomashevsky-Khismatullin.; Cuxhaven 1992 1/2-1/2 (18), 17.d3 b6 D) Instead, 8...d7 is most common, but I 18.c4!? to h4 looks dangerous.) 16...d6 like W hite after 9.d3 f6 10.b3 e7 ( 16...e5? 17.d4 cxd4 18.exd4 xd4 11.b2 0-0 12.f4 ( 12.c1 c8 19.xe7 g4 20.xc8! xd1 21.cxd1 would transpose directly to the game.) df3+ 22.xf3 xf3+ 23.xf3 xc8 12...exf4 13.xf4 with similar play to the 24.fd3 favours White, Nyback, T (2330)-Xu, game, but without Rc1 and ...Rc8, d6 1438
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 H (2235) Budapest 2001, but 1/2-1/2 (43).) 17.e4 e5 18.a3 b6 19.b4! ( 19.d4 cxd4 20.xf8 xf8 gives compensation for t h e e x c h a n g e .) 19...f5 Damljanovic, B (2549) -Perunovic, M (2477) Herceg Novi 2001, 0-1 (78), 20.f2 d6 21.bxc5 xc5 22.xc5 with an edge. ] [ 14...b6 15.e3 d6 ( 15...h8 16.cd5 xd5 Juettner, A (2200)-Jaenig, R (2081) B a d W i e s s e e 2 0 0 1 , 0 - 1 ( 3 5 ) , 17.xd5!? with a nasty threat of Qh5 or maybe even Ng6+. ) 16.e4 ( I would probably play 16.e2; 16.cd5 also has its points.) 16...e5 ( 16...xf4!? ) 17.d4 cxd4 18.exd4 xf4 19.gxf4! ( 19.xf4 d5 ) A) 19...d5? Madebrink, L (2290)Zetterberg, S (2170) Borlange 1995, 1-0 (24), 20.d6! e3 21.d3 ( or 21.e2 ) 21...xg2 22.xc8 xc8 23.xc6 h4 24.fc1; B) 19...b4 20.d6 b8 ( 20...g4! 21.xg4 xd6 22.d5 cd8 ) 21.a3 a5 22.xb4 axb4 23.c2 e6 24.f5 g5 25.c4+ winning the b-pawn, Bersutzki, GGrodetsky, T Tallinn 1969, 1-0 (49). ] 15.e3 f7?! 16.e2 Thematic, but [ 16.e4! b6 17.xc5 xc5 ( 17...b4 18.b7 ) 18.xc6 wins a pawn for nothing. ] 16...e8?! Giving White a 2nd chance, and also weakening f6. Still, this was only a blitz game. [ 16...d7 ] 17.e4! b4 [ 17...b6 18.h5! ( even stronger than 18.xc5 ) 18...d5 (to cover f6) 19.xg7! xg7 20.g5 is winning, d7 21.xf7 xf7 22.h5+ g7 23.xd5 ] 18.a3 ba6? [ 18...bd5! 19.xc5 xf4 20.gxf4 d5 gains some play for the pawn. ] 19.h5! White is already winning, it's surprising how quickly things can fall apart from Black with just one or two slight inaccuracies. d5 [ 19...xh5 20.xh5 f8 21.h3 with a decisive attack, for instance, b8? 22.f5 ] 20.g4 Bringing an extra unit into the fray. [ 20.xg7!! xg7 21.g5 is crushing, ac7 22.xf7 xf7 23.h5+ g7 24.f5 -g5+. ]
[ 20.g4! is also st ro n g: g6 21.g5! fxg5? 22.e6+ and mate. ] 20...c6 21.g5 xh5 22.xh5 g6 23.f3 f5 24.g3 Hitting d5. ac7 25.xf5! gxf5 26.xf5 f8 27.e5 Mate on both g7 and h8 is threatened, and there is really nothing Black can do to stop this. f6 28.xc6 1-0
1436 Bareev,Evgeny Xu Jun International Kings Challenge (3) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2721 2626 22.09.2003
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 c7 6.a4+ One of my recent opponents told me that he only plays the Rubinstein when W hite has already played Nf3, because he is worried about this check. d7 7.b3!? A novel idea, White plans to attack the c5-pawn as quickly as possible, we examined [ 7.f3 in Tkachiev,V-Mikhalevski,V. ] 7...e6 This is, strictly speaking, a new move, a s t h e f i r s t g a m e wi t h 7 b 3 , S o r o k i n , M Sergienko,S/St Petersburg RUS 2002, continued instead: [ 7...e5 8.a3 e7 9.c1 0-0 10.f3 c6 11.0-0 b8! and a draw was soon agreed. ] 8.a3!? b5!? White had perhaps thought that this was impossible because of the open h1-a8 diagonal. 9.xb5?! The critical line, although [ 9.f4 is possible, c6 ( 9...b4? 10.xa8 an d t he c7 -kn igh t is p inn e d a ga ins t it s brother ) 10.e4 and Black will have to play ...b4 sooner or later, when White can use the c4-square. Still, the position is far from clear. ] 9...xb5 10.xb5+ xb5 11.xc5 Gaining a second pawn to go with his rook, [ 11.xa8? xa3 is far worse. ] 11...xc5 12.c1 a6 13.xa8 Now the dust has cleared we see that White has exchanged two pieces for a rook and two pawns, which is about fair in such an endgame. However, this position seems to be clearly better for Black, although it would have been difficult for White to correctly evaluate 1439
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 this at his 9th move. e7 14.c6 d4 15.g2 d7 16.f3 Probably White would have preferred to play [ 16.e3 but his rook gets kicked around the board quite mercilessly: a3 17.c4 f5 18.d4 d6 19.c2 b4 20.c7 b5 with advantage. ] 16...a3! The bishop serves a useful role here, f o r b y c o n tro llin g c1 it st o p s W h it e f ro m doubling (or even connecting) his rooks. [ 16...c6 is a good alternative, as 17.xd4 ( 17.h4 b5 ) 17...xg2 18.g1 d5 leaves Black with two strong bishops. ] 17.c4 xf3+ 18.xf3 b5 19.c3 d6 Instructive endgame play: Black is making good use of his king. 20.e4?! This move is played to drive the black king back, but it leaves weak squares behind it which can become ideal posts for the black pieces. b4 21.e5+ d7 [ 21...xe5?? 22.c5+ ] 22.e2 b8! After this move White is nearly lost, once his a2-pawn goes his other pawns will be weak targets. 23.d1 The king comes to help the b-pawn. xa2 24.xb5+ xb5 25.f3 e7 26.e1 b2?! A slight inaccuracy, which is always possible in a rapid game, [ 26...d5! keeps the lid on the white position: 27.e4 b4 and White cannot even defend d2 without losing an exchange. ] 27.e4! The rook has escaped! b4 28.ef4 f5 29.exf6+ A small victory to White who manages to exchange his weak e5-pawn, instead of just losing it! xf6 30.c4 d7 Black is still better, as the white rooks have little real activity. 31.h4 a5 32.g4 h6 33.h3 d5 34.f4 e7 35.f5!? The more pawns White can exchange the better his drawing chances, and the more room his rooks will have to manoeuvre, but this does little for his structure. exf5 36.gxf5 f6 37.d3 e7 38.f3 [ 38.h5!? ] 38...h5 Black fixes the h4-pawn on the same colour square as his bishop. 39.e2 f7 40.d4 White wants to exchange the black rook by Rc5. e7 41.c5 b4 [ 41...xc5 42.dxc5 d4 also should win. ] 42.d5 e4+ 43.d2 d4+ 44.d3 xf5
45.xa5 xh4 46.d6 White has lost another pawn, but has managed to gain a passed pawn and some activity, but it is unlikely to prove enough. h2+!? [ 46...e6 47.d7 d4 48.xd4 xd4 49.xh5 xb3+ 50.e3 xd7 would win fairly easily. ] 47.d1 h1+ 48.e2 d4+ 49.f2 c6 50.ad5?! No doubt both players were playing at blitz speed by now, and the quality of the game suffers. [ 50.b5 ] 50...e5 [ 50...b4 51.d1 h2+ 52.g3 xd5 53.xh2 e6 wins easily, as 54.d7 d8 and ...Nb6 wins the d-pawn. ] 51.xe5?! White wins two pieces for a rook and pawn but goes into a lost rook endgame! xe5 52.d7 f6 53.d8 xd8 54.xd8 b1 55.b8 g5 Black's two connected passed pawns should win easily enough. 56.g3 d1 57.b7+ f6 58.b6+ e5 59.h6 h4+ 60.f2 d3 61.b6 g4 62.b8 g3+ 63.g2 d2+ 64.f3 f2+ 65.e3 f7 66.b5+ d6 67.g5 b7 68.f3 xb3+ 69.g4 b4+ 70.h3 White has actually managed to blockade the pawns. e4 This leaves White in zugzwang, he dare not allow the black king to cross the fourth rank, so ... 71.f5 e1 72.g5 [ 72.xh4? g2 queens. ] 72...h1+ 73.g2 h2+ 74.g1 [ 74.f3 is a better try, although it is a t h e o r e t i c a l wi n ( T h o m a s v A l e k h i n e , I believe) the black king heading for e1. ] 74...e6 75.g4 f5 76.b4 g5 Now the h-pawn is defended Black can move his rook. 0-1
1437 Bauer,Christian Timofeev,Artyom TCh-Honor Gp2 (4) [John Watson]
A34 2599 2657 16.09.2006
Here is another case of the small advantage leading slowly to a greater one. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 d5 3.cxd5 xd5 4.g3 c5 5.g2 c7 This is known as the Rubinstein System. 1440
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 It has survived attempts to refute it for scores of years. 6.a4+ This may be a bit underrated, d7 [ Perhaps Black should bite the bullet with 6...d7 7.b3!? ( 7.c4 c6 8.xc5 e5 ) A) 7...c6! 8.xb7 d4 9.b1 ( 9.e4 ) 9...e6 gives enough compensation, so 9.Qe4 is critical; B) 7...c6!? 8.xc6+ xc6 9.xb7 d4 10.b1 ( 10.e4?! f5 11.b1 e6 12.e3 c6 ) 10...e5 gives some compensation, but probably not enough. ] [ Inferior is 6...d7?! 7.f3 e6 8.d4! ] 7.xd7+ xd7 8.f3 Black hasn't fully equalised, since White's pieces control more space. e5 [ Worth considering is 8...g6 9.d4 ( 9.0-0 g7 10.d3 b6 . A bishop on g7 is a real as s e t h e re .) 9...cxd4 ( 9...g7 10.e3 cxd4 11.xd4 -Ribli ) 10.xd4 g7 11.e3 b6 ] 9.d3 [ 9.e3 has also been played. ] 9...b8 10.a4!? e6 11.b5! a6 12.a7 Now W hite has the two bishops in an otherwise equal ending. He has good prospects of winning. d6 13.d2 e7 14.e3 f5?! Awfully committal. He should just wait and see what White can come up with. 15.c4 f6 16.xc8+ hxc8 17.a5!? c7 18.e2 d8 19.d2 c6 20.hb1!? [ 20.c3! threatens Bxc6, and e6 21.f4 exf4 22.gxf4 greatly limits Black's choices, for example, g6 23.xf6! xf6 24.xc6 bxc6 25.h4 with a depressing defence in store. But Bc3 remains available for the next few moves, every time with a significant advantage. ] 20...e6 21.b4 [ 21.c3 ] 21...cxb4 22.xb4 a7?! [ 22...d8 ] 23.b3 [ Or 23.c3 b5 24.b2 ] 23...e4 24.dxe4 xe4 25.d2 e5 26.a2?! [ 26.xe4! fxe4 ( 26...xa1 27.c5+ f7 28.xb7 releases the power of the bishops) 27.h3+ f6 28.xc8 xa1 29.h3 and Black's e-pawn is weak. W hite has a s u b s t a n t ia l a d va n t a ge . No w B la ck ca n
regroup. ] 26...xd2 27.xd2 b5 28.d5+ f6 29.f3 b6! Now Black's pieces all have good range and his knight is unassailable. Although W hit e co uld def inite ly p lay on, a draw is probably the fair result. A good example of the accuracy needed to defend in the opening, and then of the accuracy needed to convert the point. ½-½
1438 A34 Bibmann,Stefan 2406 Jendrian,Michael 2399 corr 9. German Team ch - Group LI-1/B02 [John Bartholomew] A ChessPublishing.com user writes: "Hi, could yo u t a ke a l o o k a t t h i s Co rr e s p o n d e n c e game? I found it uncomfortable to play this line with Black. The novelty 12.d5 seems to be very strong. How can Black avoid this variation? Best wishes - Michael". Thanks for t h e q u e s t i o n ! I ' ve p e r s o n a l l y f o u n d t h e Grunfeld-type positions arising after 5...Nxc3 6.bxc3 g6 to be quite reliable for Black, so let's see what's in store after W hite's somewhat rare seventh move. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.d4 xc3 6.bxc3 g6 7.f4!? Korchnoi and Portisch have played this in years past, but these days it's only occasionally seen in tournament play. [ 7.g5!? was seen in Kramnik, V (2772)Van W ely, L (27 00)/Mont e Carlo 20 01 / [TonyK]. ] [ The very solid 7.e3 is most popular, ] [ while 7.e4 transposes to main-line Grunfeld. ] 7...g7 8.e3 a5 [ I suspect that 8...0-0 is the simplest path to a g o o d g a m e . A f t e r 9.e2 ( 9.d3 might be a better try) 9...cxd4 ( an old game went 9...a5 10.0-0 d7!? 11.b3 , Shaboian, V-Fejtlikher, L/Yerevan 1980. Here it looks best to play b6! with the idea of 12...Be6.) 10.cxd4 a5+ 11.d2 c6!? 12.b1 xd2+ 13.xd2 ( 13.xd2 d8 14.d3 e5 15.xe5 xe5 16.xe5 xe5 17.dxe5 f5 18.b3 d5 19.e2 xd3+ 20.xd3 xe5= ) 13...e5 14.dxe5 xe5 1441
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.0-0 Black really had nothing to complain about in Schandorff, L (2547)-Von Bahr, O (2249)/Sweden 2002. Continuing with b6= appears logical, when I don't see any hint of a W hite advantage. So, if Black wants to a c h ie ve a s o li d p o s it io n a n d a vo i d t h e course of the game, then 8... 0-0 looks the no-nonsense way to do so. ] 9.d2 f5!? This was played by Timofeev in 2009. [ 9...0-0 looks fine too, e.g. 10.b1 b6 11.d3 c6 12.0-0 cxd4 13.cxd4 ( play is balanced in the event of 13.exd4 a6 14.xa6 xa6 15.fe1= . ) 13...b7 14.e4 ac8 15.xa5 xa5 16.xb7 xb7 17.fc1 fd8 18.f1 with a nominal edge that Black easily neutralized. Stangl, M (2479)-Gustafsson, J (2506)/Germany 2000. ] 10.e5 [ 10.d3!? ] 10...0-0 11.xg7 xg7 12.d5!? The novelty in question. White's plan is to follow with c3c4 and operate with a slight space advantage in the center. This isn't anything serious, and it actually looks like the course of the game was fine for Black. [ T h e s o u rc e ga m e we n t 12.e2 d8 13.c1 c6 14.0-0 cxd4 15.exd4 e5! 16.b2 exd4?! 17.xd4 xd4 18.cxd4 , when b6! 19.xb6 axb6 turned out to b e a l it t le b e t t e r f o r B la c k i n L a n d a , K (2655)-Timofeev, A (2668)/Ulan Ude RUS 2009. ] 12...d7 [ 12...d8 13.c4 c6!? is also quite acceptable for Black. After 14.xa5 xa5 15.d2 b6 Black has a normal-looking Grunfeld structure where the knight can be repositioned with ... Na5-b7-d6. ] 13.c4 b4!? 14.a3 [ 14.xb4?! cxb4 gives Black the handy c5 square. ] 14...xd2+ 15.xd2 g5 16.f3 h6 17.e2 g6 18.f2 ad8 19.a4 e6 20.e4 exd5 21.exd5 [ But not 21.cxd5?! f5! when White's center will be decimated. ] 21...fe8 Black has no problems. 22.a5 e7 23.hc1 e5 24.c3 de8 25.f1 f5 26.b3 f7 27.b5 c7 28.b1 d6
29.b2 f4 Draw agreed. While solid, I don't believe 7.Bf4 is a truly challenging try. My personal preference would be for 8...0-0 (not fearing an early queen trade), but the more active game continuation is fine too. ½-½
1439 Bricard,Emmanuel Bauer,Christian ch Val d'Isere FRA (3) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2454 2550 21.08.2002
Whilst preparing for one of my opponents at a recent tournament I saw that she playe d Rubinstein's Variation, and that in a previous game she reached an awful position, so I was ready to repeat this when I thought I would have a look to see whether Black has found any good ideas recently, and then I came across this game! 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 e5 8.e1 h5!? Black doesn't b o t h e r t o d e f e n d a ga i n st t h e m e n a c e t o double his pawns, but instead asks White: "Do you dare concede your kingside defender?". 9.f3 A novelty, White changes tack, hoping that the h5-pawn will prove a weakness. [ 9.h3?! is a bit limp, f5 10.f4 h4 11.gxh4 exf4 and White's kingside had disintegrated, Hanley,C-Lupulescu,C/ Oropesa del Mar ESP 2001. ] [ 9.f4!? might be the best chance, obtaining some space on the kingside, h4 10.d3 hxg3 11.hxg3 c4!? played in the original game in this line, by Miso Cebalo against Nikolic, at Vrsac 1983, ( 11...exf4 12.xf4 e6 13.a4 d7 was far from clear in Mastrovasilis, A-Lupulescu,C/Kavala GRE 2002; b u t t h e F r i t z - l i k e 11...d7!? may be strongest, with the idea of playing ... Qg4, ) 12.dxc4 c5+ 13.e3 xd1 14.xd1 exf4 15.d3 f3! 16.xf3 e7 17.1f2 e6 18.e4 White has an extra pawn. ] [ Note that the normal 9.d3 attacking the epawn, is too slow: h4! 10.xc6+?! bxc6 11.xe5?! hxg3 12.hxg3 ( 12.fxg3 d4+ ) 12...g5 13.f3 h5 14.h4 g5 winning. ] 9...e7 10.h4!? This stops the onward rush 1442
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 of the black h-pawn, but weakens the white g3pawn, and makes it difficult to play f4 later. g4 11.d3 d7 12.a4 0-0 A good decision, the king is perfectly safe here. 13.d2 e6 14.c4 ed4 Black manoeuvres his pieces into good positions. 15.e3 fe8 16.e1 f8 17.a5 b4?! [ 17...ad8 seems simpler. ] 18.xd4 [ 18.a6! is interesting: xd3!? ( 18...xa6?! 19.xa6 bxa6 20.xa8 xa8 21.xe5 is the point of White's move,; 18...dc2 19.axb7 ab8 20.xa7 is a promising exchange sac for White) 19.axb7 ab8 20.xd3 xe2+ 21.xe2 xe2 22.xe2 looks rather good for White, whose b-pawn is massive. ] 18...cxd4 19.e4 ab8 20.f3 b5 21.axb6 axb6 22.d2 xf3 23.exf3 f6 24.ec1 ec8 25.d1 White has posted his knights on strong squares, but neither of them are secure as ...b5 and ...f5 are both possible. b5 26.cd2 d5 [ 26...xd3?? 27.b3+ ] 27.b3 f5 28.g5 e7 29.xc8+ xc8 30.c1 xc1 31.xc1 xg5 32.hxg5 f4 White's position has turned very passive, and his pawn structure is no jewel. 33.e1 c6 34.g2 f7 35.e2 fxg3 36.fxg3 g6 All the black pieces play their part in the game. 37.d2 e7 38.f2 f5 Black plans ...Ne3 when the g5-pawn is lost. 39.f4!? Very inventive, but it doesn't change anything. e3 [ 39...exf4? 40.xf4+ xg5 41.xd5 is level. ] 40.f8 e6 41.a8 The white queen has managed to become active. d1+ 42.g2 xb2 43.e4+ f5 44.c6+ h7 45.xb5 d1 46.f4?! Not the best, but Black was losing anyway. e3+ 47.h2 g4 [ 47...g4 48.b2 h4 mates quickly. ] 0-1
1440 Bu Xiangzhi Miezis,Normunds 21st Open Reykjavik ISL (6) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2606 2525 12.03.2004
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.d4 cxd4 [ 5...xc3 6.bxc3 g6 transposes to the Gruenfeld Defence. ] 6.xd4 xc3 7.xc3 c6 8.e4 a6!? Black stops White from playing Bb5, but this hasn't scored too well previously. W e examined [ 8...g4 in Akesson-Votava, when 9.b5 is the most common. ] 9.c4 g4!? The most active reply, but new, others: [ 9...a5 10.d2 xc3 11.xc3 e6 12.0-0 with an edge because of the better development, Kortchnoi, V-Karpov,A/Riga 1970. ] [ 9...e6 is solid, if passive, 10.0-0 d7 11.d1 b5?! 12.g5! c7 13.d5! with a strong initiative, Mikhalchishin, AHorvath,T/Pecs 1978. ] 10.0-0 White could also play [ 10.b3!? forking f7 and b7, however, after e6 11.xb7 a5 ( 11...b4+?! 12.d2 xd2+ 13.xd2 d4 14.0-0 favours W hite) 12.b5+ (forced) axb5 13.xb5+ e7 ( 13...d7?! 14.xd7+ xd7 15.e5+ ) 14.g5+ f6 15.xg4 Black can counter with b3 which wins an exchange: 16.b1 d3 17.axb3 xb1 18.0-0 with unclear play. ] 10...e6 [ 10...xf3?! is too time-consuming, 11.xf3 e5 12.b3 xc4 13.xc4 e6 14.f4 planning Rfd1. ] 11.e5 Putting paid to the possible capture o n f 3 , a n d l e a vi n g t h e g 4 - b is h o p r a t h e r awkwardly placed. xe5 12.xe5 c8 13.b3 e2?! This attempt to bring the bishop over to the queenside leaves Black in trouble. Of course Black couldn't develop his f8-bishop without losing the g-pawn, but [ 13...d6 is right, 14.g5 e2 15.e1 h6 16.e3 b5 and there is everything to play for. ] 14.e1 b5? This is even worse, and loses 1443
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to a neat combination However, [ 14...c4 15.xc4 xc4 16.g5 c8 17.ac1 is far from pleasant for Black, although f6! 18.xc4 xc4 19.b8+ f7 20.xb7+ e7 21.e3 xa2 and the game is not yet decided. ] 15.xe6! The Chinese GMs are renowned for their tactical acumen. fxe6 16.h5+ g6 Fo rc ed , as o th e r m o ves lose th e qu e e n . 17.e5 This is the neat point, winning the h8rook. f7 [ 17...g8 18.xe6+ ] 18.xh8 h4 Black menaces ...Bd6, hitting h 2 a n d t h e q u e e n o n h 8 . 19.e3! White combines defence and attack. e7 [ 19...d6 is met by 20.f3+ e7 21.g5+! xg5 22.xc8 winning more material. ] 20.d2 Obviously Whit e is winning easily, and there are several roads to victory, for instance [ 20.h3 xe4 21.xh7+ d6 22.h6 xh6 23.xc8 c6 24.f3 which also wins easily. ] 20...d7 21.a4 c4 22.h3 xe4 [ 22...xf2+ 23.xf2 c5+ 24.e1 xh8 wins a pawn, but loses a piece following 25.c1 b5 26.b3 ] 23.xh7+ c6 24.h4 [ 24.h4 d3 25.xc4+! xc4 26.c1 wins the queen to add insult to injury. ] 1-0
1441 Cabrilo,Goran Klasan,Vladimir 7th Veselin Boskovic Mem Op (2) [John Watson]
A34 2480 2220 03.10.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.d4 [ W e've seen a lot of 5.e4 b4 6.c4 d3+ 7.e2 f4+ 8.f1 in this column. ] 5...cxd4 [ 5...xc3 6.bxc3 g6 7.e4 is the Exchange Variation of the Gruenfeld Defence. ] 6.xd4 xc3 7.xc3 c6 8.e4 The most aggressive move and only real chance for advantage. W hite already discourages Black from developing his f8 bishop because of his attack on g7, and if he
can get his remaining pieces out his central superiority will give him the edge. Ne vert he less, B la ck h a s h ad th e ore tic a l equality in the main lines. e6 9.d2!? Black was threatening 9. ..Bb4, and Hansen indicates that this somewhat rare move may give White some advantage. I think that it's best. The more common moves by W hite have not cracked the barrier since som e Adams games in the late 1990s, for example, [ a) 9.a3 , e.g., d7 10.e2 c8 11.0-0 a5 12.e3 c5 13.f4 b3 14.g3!? Morzevich-Adams, Linares 1997, a game that was fairly quickly drawn ] [ b) 9.b5 d7 10.0-0 , when AnandAdams, Groningen 1997 saw b6 11.a4 c5 12.d3 d6 13.e2!? c7 14.e5 c5 15.d1 a6 16.d3 h6 17.f4 b4 18.e4 c6= ] 9...d7 10.e2 b6 [ 10...f6 11.e5 g6 12.0-0 b4 13.e3 ] 11.0-0 c8 Black's first problem is that he can't move the f8 bishop without allowing Qxg7. 12.fd1 f6 13.e3 c7 14.ac1 White is simply better here, with far superior development. e7 15.b3 Threatening the pawn on a7. b8? 16.xd7! xd7 17.c4 It's already over. e8 18.xe6 d8 19.h3?! [ 19.g8 e5 20.xh7! is more direct. ] 19...f8 20.d5 b4 21.d4 xd5 22.e6+ e8 [ 22...f7! 23.xd8+ xd8 24.d1! f8 25.xd5 with a clear extra pawn. ] 23.exd5 c8 24.e1 g5 25.d4 f7 26.xg5+ 1-0
1442 Cobb,Charles Cvitan,Ognjen 21st ECC Saint Vincent ITA (7) [John Watson]
A34 2405 2491 24.09.2005
We've seen the following line several times before. and perhaps the new 14. Bd2!? might yield some advantage. After move 14 there's nothing radically new here, but we'll look over the latest theory because the resulting assessment is so important. W hite would 1444
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 dearly like to get an advantage after 4.e3 lest Black's repertoire prove to simple to implement, namely, ...c5/...Nc6/ and ... e5 versus the Nf3 English. It's important to note that if White plays 1.c4 c5 2.Nf3, Black must play 2...Nc6 if he wants to get ...e5 in. Then 3. Nf3 e5 4.e3 gives us the critical position. If W hite can make this system work it might a n s we r r e a d e r T o r b e n K l i n k ' s q u e s t i o n regarding the ...c5, ...e5 setup: "Is this Black system really still so frustrating to counter and, if so, are there any more elegant ways around it, f or example, by allowing certain move orders which might not be so satisfying for Black?" 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.e3 f6 [ 4...f5 is another story. White generally comes out with somewhat the better game after 5.d4 cxd4 ( 5...e4 6.d5 ) 6.exd4 e4 7.e5 ] 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 e4 7.e5 [ The tactical alternative is 7.g5 b4 8.d5 e5 9.d4 e7 .Then critical is 10.e3 eg4 11.0-0-0 xe3 12.xe3 g4 13.f4 xf2 14.cxe4! ShirjaevShinkevich, Ufa 2004, which I annotated for this column. ] 7...b4 [ 7...d6 8.f4!? 0-0 9.e2 ( 9.e3 b6 10.g4!? actually looks quite good!) 9...b6! 10.e3 e7 led to equal chances in the game Mikhalchishin-Avrukh, Batumi 1999, annotated by Tony, but I think that White is still very slightly better at this point. ] 8.e2 a5 9.xc6 dxc6 [ 9...xc3+ 10.bxc3 dxc6 11.0-0 ( 11.c2 ) 11...xc3 12.b1 0-0 13.b3 a5 14.g3 f5 15.h4!? with the attack for a pawn, was Bertholee-J Polgar, Amsterdam 1990. ] 10.d2 [ 10.0-0 xc3 11.bxc3 xc3 is BertholeePolgar again. ] 10...0-0 11.0-0 e8 12.a3 xc3 13.xc3 g5 14.c1 [ Most frequently played. An intriguing move that we looked at in this column was 14.d2!? , to get the bishop to squares such as f4 and g3. Kharlov-Jakovenko, Sochi 2005 went g6 15.f4 h3 16.g3 g4! 17.xg4 xg4 18.e1 ad8 19.b3 b6 20.ad1 and I think that White was still
somewhat better. ] 14...g6 [ 14...h4 has also been played, having in mind 15.e3 g4 16.f4 h5 ] 15.e3 [ Tony Ko ste n a lre ady discu sse d 15.f4 at great length, following M Marin-Movsesian, Neum 2000 and many other games. ] 15...g4 16.ad1 [ 16.fe1 b5!? 17.b3 ab8 gave Black good chances in Pachman, L-Ksieski, Z/ Germany 1995. ] [ Tony mentioned what may be the most accurate move 16.ae1! of Thomsen-Rizzo, ICCF Email 2001. That went b5!? 17.b3 xe2 18.xe2 g4 19.g3 ] 16...xe2 17.xe2 h5! As far as I know this is a new idea. Black has well-placed pieces after ...Rad8, but they aren't going anywhere. Now ...f5 will both protect the centre and keep W hite worried about the possibility of ...f4. 18.e3 [ 18.d5?? f4 ] 18...f5 19.f4 Now there's no attack but the epawn is permanently passed. If White can get d5 in, he himself will have the e5 square for his bishop. f6 20.d5!? [ 20.fe1 ad8 21.h3 d7 is uninspiring for White, so he takes a chance. ] 20...cxd5 21.cxd5 f7?! [ 21...ad8! 22.xa7 ( 22.d6 b6 23.e5 d7= ) 22...xd5 23.xb7 xf4 24.b3+ e6 is unclear. White has the nice queenside pawns, Black the e-pawn and White's slightly vulnerable king. ] 22.d6 d5 23.d4 xc3 24.bxc3 e6 25.c4 b6 26.c5 bxc5 27.xc5 d8 28.d5 [ 28.d7!? is worth a try - White might be able to hold onto his pawn while pursuing the apawn. ] 28...g6 29.fd1 [ 29.d7! e7 30.c7 ] 29...d7!= 30.h3 e3 31.e5 xd6 32.xd6 xd6 33.xe3 b6 34.xb6 ½-½
1445
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black has no reason to be unhappy with his position, W hite's slight space advantage in the ce ntre is b ala nce d b y B lack's on th e queenside. 19.a4 h6 20.axb5 axb5 21.a7 fe8 It seems incredible that this game lasts only a few more moves, as at this point it 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 seems almost completely lifeless. [ 21...d7 would have been even simpler, I xd5 5.a4+!? A rarer alternative to w o u l d t h i n k : 22.fa1 ( 22.xd7 xd7 [ 5.e4 and ] 23.d1 c6 ) 22...fd8 ] [ 5.d4 ] 22.h3 c4 23.g4?! f8 This is OK, but I'm 5...c6 [ 5...d7 is equally possible, 6.e4 ( 6.b3 surprised that a fine tactician like Van Wely b4 7.a3 e6 is about level) 6...xc3 didn't find [ 23...e4! centralising the queen, 24.f3 7.dxc3 c6 ( 7...c6 ) 8.f4 d7 9.e4 e2! 25.xh6 c5+ 26.h2 is slightly better for White. ] A) 26...g6!? menacing to capture the rook 6.e5 c7 The safest, there are two moves on f1, is riskier, 27.c7! ( 27.aa1 xe5+ worth avoiding: 28.f4 f5 with advantage to Black, whose [ 6...d6? 7.c4 d7 8.xd5 xd5 pieces have better posts.) 27...xe5+ 9.b6 wh e n B l a c k h a s t o p l a y axb6 28.f4 e2 ( 28...d5!? ) 29.xc5! xf1 ( 9...d4? is worse, 10.xd4 xd4 30.h5! with the powerful threat of Be5 11.xa8 c2+ 12.d1 xa1 13.c7+ and Rh8 mate, which obliges Black to take and the white knight escapes, while the a perpetual check by d1! 31.e5 g1+ black one stays trapped) 10.xa8 d7 32.g3 e1+; when Black has very little to show for his B) 26...xe5+ the simplest, 27.f4 f6 material. ] 28.g5 g6 29.c7 d5 Black enjoys a [ 6...d7?! is b e t t e r, b u t 7.xf7! xc3 pleasant edge. ] ( 7...xf7 8.xd5 d4 9.d1 ) 8.xc6! c5?? losing to a neat tactic, but ( 8.c4? a5 9.f4 d5 10.f3 g4! 24.e3 11.xd8 xf3 wi n s a p i e c e) 8...xc6 a l m o s t a n y o t h e r m o v e w o u l d h a v e 9.xd8 xd8 10.bxc3 with a solid extra maintained equality, [ 24...a8 for example. ] pawn. ] 25.f3! 7.xc6 [ 25.f3 xf3 26.xc5+ is check, and wins [ 7.xd5 xe5 8.b6 is not so strong, b8 a piece. ] 9.xc8 xc8 10.e3 ( 10.g3 d5 11.g1 is also equal) 10...d5?! ( Korchnoi prefers 1-0 10...g6 ) 11.g4 e6 12.b3 with a minimal edge to White, because of his bishop pair, 1444 A34 Uhlmann, W-Kortschnoj,V/ Skopje 1972. ] 7...xc3 8.dxc3 d7 Thus Black avoids Filippov,Valerij 2639 doubled pawns on c6. 9.e4 a6!? An attempt Van Wely,Loek 2651 to inject a bit of life into this position. FIDE WCh KO Tripoli LBA (2.1) 21.06.2004 [ 9...xc6 10.xc6 xc6 is often agreed [Tony Kosten] drawn at this point! 11.f3 e6 12.a4 d6 13.e3 and sometimes here! 1/2-1/2 1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 Robatsch,K-Grosar,A/Ptuj 1995. ] xd5 5.e4 b4 6.c4 10.c4 xc6 So Black has avoided [ 6.b5+ has been more popular recently. ] exchanging the queens, perhaps a stylistic 6...d3+ 7.e2 f4+ 8.f1 e6 9.b4 i d e a a g a i n s t E i n g o r n , w h o p r e f e r s d u l l cxb4 10.e2 c7 The best move, I looked positions. 11.e3 e6 12.e2 e7 13.f3 at b5 14.e2 d8 15.f4 b7 16.e5 c6 [ 10...c5 in Miles-Hort. ] 17.xc6+ xc6 18.0-0 0-0 At this point 11.d4 e6 12.h4 A multi-purpose move, firstly 1443 Eingorn,Vereslav S Van Wely,Loek ECC Halkidiki GRE (7) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2604 2645 28.09.2002
1446
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 it can advance to weaken the black kingside, second it can be used as a base for a minor piece, but most importantly it allows the white king's rook to get into play, castling no longer being a possibility. [ 12.b2 d7 13.h4 f6 14.d3 d7 15.h5 h6 16.f4 was unclear in Psakhis,LVaganian,R/Lvov 1984. ] 12...d7 [ 12...d6 13.h5 h6 14.h4 d7 15.b2 e7 16.h3 was unclear in Huebner,RTukmakov,V/ Wijk aan Zee 1984, Black has an extra pawn, but W hite has the centre and aggressively placed bits. ] 13.h5!? Actually a new move, although quite in keeping with the position. The great Gary preferred [ 13.g5 with: e7 14.c1 b6 15.d3 f6 16.f4 a6 17.h5 and White had the makings of a strong attack in Kasparov,GGruenberg,R/Hamburg 1985. ] 13...h6 14.f4 As in the Kasparov game, but [ 14.b2 is obviously also good. ] 14...b6 15.d3 d7 16.e5 a4 17.d2 e7 18.h3 b5 Both sides find good s q u a r e s f o r t h e i r p i e c e s . 19.g3! Sharper than [ 19.e3 ] 19...xd4!? Black prefers to play the complications, rather than go passive with [ 19...f8 ] 20.xg7 f8 21.c1 f6 22.g3 xe2 23.xe2 Black has retained his extra pawn, but White might have the edge as his king is somewhat more comfortable, and his pieces more a ctive . xe5? A strange decision, the knight on e5 was annoying, but now Black loses his grip on the dark squares. [ 23...c8 was clearly superior. ] 24.xe5 c8 25.xc8 xc8?! Another mistake, Black wants to control d6 and avoid [ 25...xc8 26.d6 h8 27.xb4 when White has recuperated the pawn and enjoys a clear plus, but his choice is even worse. ] 26.g7 Of course, this wins material. a5 The rook cannot escape: [ 26...g8? 27.f6 xf6 28.xg8+ wins the knight as well. ] 27.xf8 xf8 28.d2 On top of the
exchange White has a powerful attack, Black's days are numbered. e7 29.xh6+ e8 30.g5 b6 31.h6 g6 32.h7 d4 Else White captures on g6 and queens his hpawn. 33.g1 White takes care to give his king an escape square on h2, so Black resigns with a clear conscience. 1-0
1445 Ftacnik,Lubomir Lesiege,Alexandre It Montreal CAN (3) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2602 2561 27.07.2002
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g3 d5 5.d4 dxc4!? A risky capture, but White must know how to handle it, we had previously considered the endgame following [ 5...cxd4 6.xd4 dxc4 7.xc6 xd1+ several times. ] 6.d5 b4!? Critical, [ 6...a5 7.e4 b5?! 8.xb5 xe4 9.e5 d7 10.xd7 xd7 11.a4 b8 12.c7+ d8 13.e6+ fxe6 14.xa5+ was very good for W hite in Tal, M-Timman,J/ Hilversum m/5/1988. ] 7.e4 g4 Threatening to capture on f3, and then check on c2, winning the rook. 8.xc4! Anyway! xf3 9.xf3 c2+ 10.f1 a6!? A novelty, to deprive the white bishop of the b5 square. [ 10...xa1 is obviously the move that puts W h i t e ' s i d e a t o t h e t e s t : 11.e5 a6 ( 11...d7? loses, 12.e6 fxe6 13.dxe6 threat ens m ate on f 7, and if t he knigh t moves Bb5+ would be instantly decisive) 12.exf6 c2 ( 12...gxf6 allows White to trap and capture the knight by 13.d1 , say ) 13.d6! e6 14.xb7 b8 15.c6+ d8 16.xe6! with a crushing position, Wojtkiewicz, A-Yudasin,L/New York 1991, as fxe6? 17.g5 leads to mate. ] [ 10...d7 may be Black's best: 11.d6!? e6 12.b5 f6!? Petrov,J-Sermek,D/Nova Go rica 1 9 9 8, wh en I migh t sim p ly p la y 13.xf6 gxf6 14.b1 with a plus. ] [ 10...d4 11.f4 d7 is also playable, although W hite would ha ve the slightly better position if he remembered to move his 1447
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 king to g2, however, in the game Bordas,GDeak,F/Budapest 1998, there followed: 12.a4? g5!! 13.e3? ( 13.xg5?? h3+ 14.e1 f3+ wins the queen) 13...h3+ 14.g1 g4 and White can resign. ] 11.e5! d4 [ 11...xa1 12.exf6 transposes into Wojtkiewicz-Yudasin, above. ] 12.d1 b5?! [ 12...d7 13.e6 b6 is an interesting option. ] 13.exf6 bxc4 14.e3 gxf6 15.xd4 cxd4 16.xd4 The dust has settled and we see that White has the upper hand: he has more space and a development advantage. c8 17.g2 g7 18.he1 0-0 19.g4 c7 20.ad1 d7 21.f3 f5?! An impatient move, [ 21...b7 22.e2 fb8 keeps White's plus manageable. ] 22.xe7! xe7 23.d6 d7 24.dxc7 xc7 25.d5 The problem for Black stems from his poor pawn structure, and also the strong white knight which has managed to use the square vacated by the d5-pawn. e5 26.e3 Now the knight heads for the weak f5-pawn, and the black king. xb2 27.xf5 f6?! 28.d6 e5 29.xa6 e8 30.c6 e4 31.xe4 xe4 32.f3 1-0
1446 Ftacnik,Lubomir Wohl,Aleksandar H Parkroyal Int (9) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2579 2438 15.06.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.c3 c5 4.g3 c6 5.g2 b6!? [ Black unusually tries to control d4. 5...d5 6.cxd5 xd5 leads to the Keres-Parma variation, which is quite reasonable, though not very popular at the moment. ] 6.0-0 e7 7.b3 [ Sensibly bringing the c1-bishop to b2, to bear on the d4-square. 7.d3 0-0 8.f4 d5 9.b3 d7 10.e4 dxe4 11.dxe4 fd8 12.e5 e8 13.e2 d7 14.h4 was another way to play, that also offered W hite an edge, Smejkal, J-Makarichev, S/Amsterdam 1975. ]
7...0-0 [ 7...a6?! 8.b2 b8 9.e3 d6 10.d4 0-0 11.c1 is more time-consuming, and leaves White with a space advantage, Vaganian, RArnason,J/Tallinn 1983. ] 8.b2 d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.d4! White heads for a typical Tarrasch-style position, as the dpawn is easily recuperated. cxd4 [ Black is structurally worse after 10...c4?! 11.e5 cxb3 12.a4 b5 13.xb3 xb3 14.axb3 f5 15.xc6 bxc6 16.fc1 Karason, A-Kristensen,B/Torshavn 1997. ] 11.a4 a6 12.xd4 g4 13.h3! xd4 [ 13...e6 ] 14.xd4 xe2 15.fe1 fe8 16.c3 f8? [ Black tucks the bishop away, but it is the d e c i s i ve m i s t a k e , 16...d6! is best, as 17.xe2?! can now be answered by ( 17.d2! d3 18.xd5 is preferable for White ) 17...xe2 18.f1?! e5 and Black is better. ] [ The other alternative, 16...h5? 17.xd5 d8 18.xe8+ xe8 19.e1 f6 leaves Black in all sorts of trouble. ] 17.xe2! xe2 18.f1 A winning pin. xb2 [ N o b e t t e r , n o r w o r s e , t h a n 18...ae8 19.xe2 xe2 20.d1 xb2 21.xa6 bxa6 ] 19.xa6 bxa6 20.xd5 A further blow to B l a c k ' s c h a n c e s . c2 21.xf6+ gxf6 22.d3 ac8 23.xa6 8c3 24.xf6 Black could easily resign here. c5 25.h1 c1+ 26.xc1 xc1+ 27.g2 c2 28.g5+ f8 29.f5 [ The king and pawn ending that results after 29.f5 xf2+ 30.xf2 xf2 31.xf2 , is quite hopeless, of course. ] 1-0
1447 Gelfand,Boris Kramnik,Vladimir Sanghi Nagar (m/8) [Nigel Davies]
A34 2680 2725 1994
1.c4 c5 2.c3 f6 3.g3 d5 [ If Black wants to play a semi-Tarrasch then the correct move order is 3...e6 A) 4.g2 d5 5.cxd5 exd5 6.f3 ( 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 c6 ) 6...d4 is quite good 1448
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 for Black; B) 4.f3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 c6 7.xd5 exd5 8.d4 e7 , reaching the desired variation. ] 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 e6? This looks like it should transpose into a semi-Tarrasch Defence but amazingly it loses a pawn. [ 5...c7 is better with a Rubinstein variation. ] 6.xd5 exd5 7.b3 Amazingly this just wins a pawn, and quite a few strong players have fallen for it. c6 [ Black can also choose to lose b7 with 7...e6 af ter which 8.xb7 d7 9.h3 b6 10.a6 d6 11.d3 0-0 12.f4 c8 13.a5 b7 14.0-0 e7 15.h4 left him in a more or less lost position in Garcia Martinez, S-Farago, I/Polanica Zdroj/ 1978. ] 8.xd5 [ And not 8.xd5? because of d4 9.xf7+ e7 10.c4 b5 11.d5 c2+ 12.d1 xa1 etc. ] 8...xd5 [ After 8...d4 (or 8...Nb4) White takes care of the threatened fork on c2 via 9.xd8+ xd8 10.d1 and stays a pawn up for nothing. ] [ Another possibility is 8...d6 but this also fails to give Black any compensation. After 9.f3 0-0 10.0-0 e6 11.e4 e8 12.a4 d7 13.d1 e7 14.d3 White was consolidating nicely in Jussupow, A-Zaichik, G/ Vilnius 1978. ] 9.xd5 b4 10.e4 f5 11.b1 g6 12.f3 c6 13.d3 g7 14.a3 And that's just about the end of Black's 'compensation'. White is a pawn up for nothing. b6 15.a2 b7 16.0-0 d7 [ Or 16...d4 17.xd4 xd4 18.b1 d7 19.b4 when White is starting to win. ] 17.b1 he8 18.e1 ac8 19.d2 d4 20.xd4 cxd4 21.b3 a5 22.f1 c6 23.a4 It's not easy for White to win this position but it's even harder for Black to draw. G e lf a n d gra d u a lly im p ro ve s h is p o sit io n b e f o re t ry in g t o u s e t h e e xt ra p a wn . f8 24.ec1 e5 25.c2 c5 26.xc5 xc5 27.a1 e8 28.c4 d6 29.b3 e7 30.h4 d7 31.f4 b4 32.c1 c5 33.g8 g7 34.c4 e7 35.h6 e5 36.f3!
Finally revealing his plan which is to open a file for his rook on the kingside with h4-h5. This is actually a very committal move as White is effectively crippling his extra e-pawn. e8 37.f2 e7 38.g1 d7 39.g5+ f8 40.h6+ e7 41.g5+ f8 42.h5 g7 [ One of the points behind Gelfand's last move is that after 42...gxh5 43.h1 g7 44.xh5 g6 W h i t e c a n p l a y 45.f4! intending xh5?? 46.f7# mate! ] 43.h6+ f8 44.f6 e6 45.xe6 xe6 46.g7+ f7 47.g4 c6 48.f4 e6 49.f3 c7 50.gxf5+ gxf5 51.e5 d7 52.g7 The rook is finally IN! e7 53.g3 d7 54.h4 e7+ 55.h5 d8 56.xd7 xd7 57.xd4 e6 58.e4 c7 59.g5 d8+ 60.h5 c7 61.e3 d8 62.f2 c7 63.e5 1-0
1448 Georgiev,Vladimir Yemelin,Vasily IHEM Hamburg GER (9) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2538 2540 18.06.2000
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.e3 W h it e is willin g t o p la y a se m i- T a rra s c h position. e5 [ In my opinion the most forthright move, 4...e6 5.d4 d5 is more common, with a Tarrasch. ] 5.d4 e4 6.d5!? [ Unusual, 6.e5 cxd4 7.exd4 is more common, see the archives. ] 6...exf3 7.dxc6 bxc6!? [ Black plays in similar style to the Mikenas Attack, with colours reversed, but 7...fxg2 is perfectly satisfactory, too: 8.cxd7+ xd7 9.xg2 c7 10.b3 c6 11.d5 xd5 12.cxd5 d6 with equality, Suba,MWedberg,T/Dortmund 1983. ] 8.xf3 d6!? [ An innovation, and yet perfectly logical if we compare this with the Mikenas Attack, 8...d5 9.cxd5 g4?! ( 9...cxd5 ) 10.g3 d6?! 11.f4 cxd5 12.b5+ and the black king had to move, f8 13.0-0 with the better chances to W hite, Hanauer,MSeidman,H/Ventnor City 1940. ] 1449
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.g4!? [ Th a t g-p a wn , a ga in ! T h e sim p le 9.d3 is a sensible alternative, but W hite wants more. ] 9...0-0 10.d3 b8 11.h4 e5 12.g5 xc3+ 13.bxc3 e8 [ 13...a5!? might be better. ] 14.f5 Winning material, but White has burned his boats as far as his king is concerned, and Black will always have some p o s s i b i l i t i e s a g a i n s t t h e w h i t e k i n g . g6 15.xc5 d6!? More wood on the fire! 16.xa7 g4 17.d4 f3 18.h3 c5 19.f4 h5 20.a4?! [ I don't think that this is the time to use the passed a-pawn, 20.e4 would stop Black's next move. ] 20...d5 21.cxd5 xd5 22.e4!? [ Tempting, but 22.c2 is safer, keeping the queen out of b3. ] 22...b3 23.d2 c4! 24.b1!? [ Grabbing the black king, but the position will prove very difficult to defend, despite the fact that two black pieces are out of play. Better 24.e2 b2 25.d1 xe2 26.xe2 g7 when Black has some play, but White should be able to defend. ] 24...xb1+ 25.xb1 xb1+ 26.c1 g7 The black pieces rush to the scene of the battle. 27.d2 [ To control the d-file, shutting the bishop out by 27.f3 e6 28.e3 allows the rook to come to d3, after d8 ] 27...e6 28.c2 fb8 The critical position, has White time to organise a defence before Black brings his 29.g3?! [ Not too relevant, but 29.e3 a1 30.f3 bb1 31.d2 c5 also gives Black good chances. ] 29...f4 30.d2 [ White loses quickly after this, but 30.e3 d3+ 31.xd3 cxd3 32.d2 a1 also leaves him passively placed. ] 30...e2 31.a3 xg3 [ No t b a d , b u t 31...d8+ 32.e3 e1 wins on the spot! ] 32.fxg3 d8+ 33.e3 f1 34.a5 [ If 34.e5 d3+ ] 34...f3+ 0-1
1449 Grigoriants,Sergey Tregubov,Pavel V IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (6) [Carsten Hansen]
A34 2573 2629 26.04.2008
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.e3 f6 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 e4 7.e5 b4 8.d2? [ This is a terrible idea. A couple of other ideas that are seen less frequent are: A) 8.xc6 dxc6 9.e2 0-0 10.e3 a5 11.d2 g4 12.xg4 xg4 13.h3 xe3 14.fxe3 f5 ( 14...h5 15.0-0 f5 16.a3 e7 with chances to both sides) 15.a3 d6 ( 15...xc3!? 16.xc3 a5 17.c5 a4 18.f1 e6 , and in my opinion, Black has the upper hand) 16.0-0-0 c5 17.b1 ac8 18.g4 g6 19.hf1 with the initiative for White, Hernandez, R-Rodriguez Guerrero, E/ Havana CUB 2004 ] [ B) 8.e3 a5 9.b3 0-0 10.e2 e8 11.xc6 bxc6 ( 11...dxc6 12.0-0 g4 13.xg4 xg4 14.h3 xe3 15.fxe3 xc3 16.bxc3 e7 17.c5 ae8 18.f4 with a pull for W hite, Epishin, V-Hall, J/ Germany 1999) 12.0-0 a6 13.a4 d5 14.ac1 ab8 15.d1 d6 16.b3 c7 17.g3 d7 with a complicated game and chances to both sides, Kengis, E-Hall, J/ Germany 2000 ] [ C) The third alternative, 8.e2 is the main line. ] 8...xd4 9.xe4? e7! Game over! Now W h i t e l o s e s m a t e r i a l 10.xb4 xb4+ 11.d2 xe4 and White has lost a piece on account of 12 Qxb4 Nc2+. 0-1
1450 Grigoriants,Sergey Volokitin,Andrei 15th ch-EUR Indiv 2014 (8.22) [Fier, Alexandr]
A34 2574 2674 11.03.2014
Grigoriants goes for a line which is out of f ashion , but f ull of poison. Volokitin wa s apparently not prepared for this variation and soon got punished. 12...f5 cannot be recommended. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 1450
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 5.g3 is the most played move nowadays and it was analyzed by me in Reinderman, D (2593)-Bok, B (2560)/Tata Steel Challengers 2014 (6). ] 5...b4 6.b5+ [ 6.c4 is the main move and after d3+ 7.e2 f4+ 8.f1 e6 9.b4 the position has a dynamic balance, which was seen in many games during the last 40 years ] 6...8c6 7.d4 This move has the idea of avoiding the check on d3 and of course, take the center. cxd4 8.a3 dxc3 Going into a complicated endgame, but so far everything is book. [ 8...d7 is more solid and Black has decent c h a n c e s t o e q u a l i z e 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd7+ xd7 11.axb4 e6 and White needs to do something quick 12.e3 d8 13.0-0 ( 13.xa7 xb4 brings little for White ) 13...xb4 14.d5!? this tries to shake the position a bit, but probably will just lead to a boring en dgam e ( 14.xd4 was played by Tkachiev and also has it's interest xd4 15.a4+ e7 16.b5 xe4 17.fe1 xe1+ 18.xe1 xe1 19.a3+ f6 20.d6 and Black needs to take care, but the position was ok in Tkachiev, V (2654)-Palac, M (2561)/CROchT Rabac 2003 (6).) 14...c6 15.xb4 xd1 16.fxd1 xb4 17.xa7 a6 18.dc1 and White might have a micro advantage ] 9.xd8+ xd8 10.axb4 Here Black tried several different moves. cxb2 Keeping the extra pawn for the moment, but opening the position for White pieces. [ 10...xb4 is more dangerous than ambitious 11.e2 a solid answer ( 11.bxc3 unleashes a direct attack against the king c2+ 12.e2 xa1 13.d1+ c7 14.f4+ e5! it's necessary to open the bishop's diagonal 15.xe5+ b6 16.b1 c2 17.a4+ b4 and White has compensation in this complicated endgame Hergott, D (2430)-London, D (2400)/New York Marshall/Enhance 1994 (2).) 11...cxb2 ( 11...g4 is probably better, but White can keep a small advantage after 12.bxc3 c6 13.e3 ) 12.xb2 now White has all his pieces ready to attack, and it more than compensates the two pawns f6 13.hd1+
c7 14.ac1+ c6 15.e5! precise, giving the knight to activate the bishop. Now the king has no safe square to go to fxe5 16.xe5+ b6 17.xc6 bxc6 18.b1+ a5 19.c3+ a6 20.b4 with mate ] [ 10...c2!? keeps things closed on the queenside and is playable 11.xc6 bxc6 12.e5 e8 13.d2 and I think the bishop pair can compensate the weak structure Gurevich, D (2475)-Tseshkovsky, V (2505)/ US op Somerset 1986 (10). ] [ 10...e5 is just easy for White without any m a t e r i a l l e s s 11.bxc3 f6 12.e3 with a good advantage ] 11.xb2 f6 Again Black is full of options. This move is made to close the long diagonal and play 12...e5 if possible. [ 11...e6 makes sense and it's a solid option, but Black will need to lose a tempo with ...f6 at some point. Since it was the choice of Kasparov, it can't be underestimated 12.0-0 d7 ( 12...f6 13.e5 f5 14.fd1+ c7 15.xc6 bxc6 16.c3 with a typical compensation in this line) 13.xc6 xc6 14.e5 e8 15.xc6 bxc6 and White has some pressure, but Kasparov neutralized it and he was even better in the final position, L a u t ie r, J ( 2 6 6 0 )- K a s p a ro v, G ( 2 8 2 0 ) / Tilburg Fontys 1997 (11). ] [ 11...e5 does not lose any time to free the pieces 12.xc6 ( 12.0-0-0+ is also possible and the position is level after c7 13.xc6 bxc6 14.xe5+ b7 15.c3 as seen in Miles, A (2565)-Schmidt, W (2505)/Buenos A ire s o l ( Me n ) 1 9 7 8 (7 ) .) 12...xb4+ 13.e2 bxc6 14.xe5 and Black has more problems to defend the pawns. Probably he needs to give the c6-pawn, but then the position should be easier to play for White, Szabo, L (2515)-Horvath, T/Hungary 1979. ] 12.e5! W hite needs to stop 12...e5 f5? The idea is logical, trying to keep the long diagonal closed, but Black has no time to make two moves with the same pawn. From here White's position is better. [ 12...d7 was played in some games 13.a4 e8 14.b5 ( 14.e2 was Kosten, A-Do ure rassou, J in t he P GN Arch ive .) 14...xe5 15.xe5 fxe5 16.xe5 e6 17.0-0 and White has enough activity for the pawn, but no more. Maybe Black can give 1451
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 th e pa wn ba ck st ra ight away with 1 7. . . Bc5!? ] 13.g5! This move is really annoying and Black has no time to develop anything now. c7 14.e6 h6 15.f7 g8 16.c4 Threatening 17.b5, winning. a6 17.0-0 No w we c a n s t o p a n d t a ke a l o o k a t t h e position. The rook on g8 is not doing anything, neither bishop has a square to go to at the moment and Black's king is not safe. It's hard to believe that Black aimed for this position when he played 12...f5, so I think the entire variation should not be repeated. g6 [ 17...g5 does not change much 18.d5 g7 19.xg7 xg7 20.fc1 with a clear advantage for White ] 18.fc1 [ 18.d5 g7 19.xg7 xg7 20.ac1 ] 18...g7 [ 18...b8 would be another idea, going to a slightly safer place with the king, but it's ref ut ed b y 19.d5 xb4 20.e5+ a7 21.f3! and Black just can't move xe6 ( 21...g7 22.c7 xe5 23.xe5 b6 24.xe7 and the passed pawn will be decisive ) 22.d4+ b8 23.cb1 xf7 24.xb4 and there is no way to avoid big material losses ] 19.xg7 xg7 20.d5 b6 [ 20...b8 this may be the best option for Black 21.xc6 bxc6 22.xc6 xe6 23.xe6 xf7 24.xg6 f6 25.xf6 exf6 26.h4 c7 but White has good chances to convert his advantage ] 21.xc6 bxc6 22.e5 b7 Sad but necessary. One of the big problems of having the kin g on b6 is th at a5 is neve r possible due to Nc4+. 23.d1 gg8 24.d7 ad8 [ 24...ge8 would defend the pawn, but not c h a n g e t h e e va l u a t i o n 25.c1 ad8 26.c4+ a7 27.cd1 and 28.Na5 will come next ] 25.ad1 de8 26.c1 d8 27.cd1 de8 28.c1 d8 29.c4+ a7 30.cd1 b8 31.xe7 Now it's over. c5 32.bxc5 gc8 33.d6 xc5 34.e1 [ 34.b1 was also interesting ] 34...b5 35.xb7+ 5xb7 36.xb7 xb7 37.b1+ 1-0
1451 A34 Grischuk,Alexander 2715 Shirov,Alexei 2739 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (21) 22.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 [ It almost seems that 5.a4+ here or on the previous move are the only moves to be played in the Anti-Grunfeld, but the text move is of course seen very often too. ] 5...g7 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 c5 8.a4 b6 [ Black has tried a bunch of other moves here: A) 8...c7 9.d3 c6 10.e4 e6 11.e3 cd4 12.xd4 cxd4 13.d2 d7 14.b3 c6= Podgaets, M-Vaganian, R/ Riga (USSR Ch) 1970, ] [ B) 8...b4 A) 9.d3 d7 10.d1 c6 ( 10...8c6 11.d2 d4 12.xd4 cxd4 13.a4 c6 14.c5 Lundgren, P-Cakl, M/ICCF Email 2000 ) 11.e3 b6 12.d2 d7 13.h6 c8 14.fd1 f6 15.ac1 a8 16.g5 c6 17.e3 e6 18.xg7 xg7 19.d4 Siebrecht, S-Ionescu, C/Cardiff 1997; B) 9.d4?! cxd4 10.xb4 c6 11.b3 dxc3 12.bxc3 b8 13.e3 e6 14.b2 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in Karavade, E-Gokhale, A/Calicut IND 2003, but Black is already slightly better; C) 9.a3 d7 10.b3 e6 11.a4 ( 11.d1 4c6 12.g5 c8 13.b1 h6 14.ge4 a6 15.d3 d7 16.e3 b6 17.f4 Mera Cedeno, A-Byambaa, Z/ Istanbul 2000) 11...d7 12.b3 e6 13.a4 d7 1/2-1/2 Pytel, K-Smejkal, J/ Polanica Zdroj 1972 ] [ C) 8...c6 9.c4!? ( 9.b5 b6! 10.xb6 xb6 11.d3 c4 12.dxc4 xc4 13.d2 e6 14.xc4 xc4 15.e3 fd8 16.fc1 ac8 17.ab1 xc3 18.bxc3 b6= Ljubojevic, L-Ivanchuk, V/Monaco blind/ 1993/; 9.h4 e6 10.c4 b6 11.d3 a5 12.a4 d7 13.c2 h6= Siebrecht, SGormally, D/ Cardiff 1997 ) A) 9...e6 10.xc5 c8 11.a3 ( 11.g5!? b6 12.xe6 fxe6 13.b5 d4 14.d3 b5 15.a3 ) 11...h6 12.b1 d7 13.d3 b5 14.e4 d4 15.d2? ( 15.xd4! xd4 16.xh6 fd8 1452
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Emonot, P-Martin, J/IECG Email 1998; 17.g5+- ) 15...a5 ( 15...xe2+ 16.h1 C) Stohl gives 11...d5!? as Black's best, g4 17.fe1 xf3 18.xf3 d4 ) though still claiming an edge for White; 16.bc1 Apkhaidze, N-Blazkova, P/ D) 11...h6?! 12.e3 a6 13.ac1! Guarapuava 1995 xe2+ 17.h1 xc1 ( 13.fc1 d5 14.xd5 exd5= ) 18.xc1 b4 19.xa5 a8 20.c5 xa5 D1) 13...d5 14.xd5 exd5 15.xc5 21.xd7 xd7-+; xc5 ( 15...xb2 16.b1 f6 B) 9...xc3 17.d4 ) 16.xc5 xb2 17.b1 g7 B1) 10.bxc3 b6 11.h4 b7 12.b1 18.d2 - Stohl; e6 13.c4 xh4 14.xh4 ab8 D2) 13...c4 14.d4!? intending Ne5 with ( 14...g5!? 15.f3 g4 16.e1 fd8 ) better game for White - Stohl; 15.f3 b4 16.b2 fd8 17.xg7 D3) 13...d7?! 14.d2 ab8 xg7= Kortschnoj, V-Rechlis, G/ D3a) 15.de4?! c4! 16.xb6 Beersheba 1988; ( 16.dxc4 xc4 17.xa7 a8 18.b3 B2) 10.dxc3 b6 11.g5 b7?! xa7 19.bxc4 b4= ) 16...axb6 12.e6 fxe6 13.xc6 xc6 14.xe6+ 17.dxc4 c6 Stohl; h8 15.xc6 Saigin Vladimir-Ilivitzki D3b) 15.b3 dc8 16.a5 c6 Georgi A /Vilnius 1958 ] ( 16...c7 17.f4 e5 18.e3 f5 [ D) 8...e6 9.d3 xc3 10.bxc3 xc3 19.b3 intending a4 and Nb5 with a 11.b1 f6 12.e3 d7 13.f4 c6 clear plus for W hite according to 14.xc5 e8 15.fc1 Feher, G-Spiriev, P/ Stohl ) 17.xc6 ( Stohl offers Zalakaros 1991 ] 17.xc6!? bxc6 18.b3 d5 [ E) 8...xc3 9.dxc3 d7 10.e3 c7 19.e4 ) 17...bxc6 11.ad1 a6 12.h4 f6 13.c4 b6 D3b1) Here White should try 18.f4! 14.f4 a7 15.e5 b7 16.c6 xc6 e5 19.e3 f5 ( 19...c4 20.xb6 17.xc6 Gyorkos, L-Ruck, R/Budapest xb6 21.a4 b4 22.xc4+- ) 1992 ] 20.b3 - Stohl; [ F) 8...e6 9.g5 xc3 10.dxc3 d7 D3b2) 18.b3? d5 19.d2 ab4 11.h4 h6 12.e4+- Milicevic, D-Baunok, 20.a4 ( 20.e4 xa2 21.c2 Z/Vancouver 1999 ] ab4 22.xc5 f5! 23.d6 f8! [ G) 8...d7 9.c4 c6 10.xc5 a6 24.xc8 xc5 ) 20...xa2 21.c2! 11.c4 c8 12.xd5 xd5 13.a4 b6 Kra m n ik, V -S h o rt , N/ A ms t e rd a m 14.e1 ( 14.d3!? b4 15.xb4 xb4 1993 ] 16.e1 e6 17.xd5 xd5 18.b1 ) [ 9...c4 10.d4 cxd3 11.d1 e5 12.g5 f6 14...c5 15.a3 e4 16.d3 ( 16.d3 13.xd3 e7 14.h6 g5 15.h5 f5 xc1 17.xc1 xb2 18.xe7 xc1 16.xg7 xg7 17.e4 Karatorossian, D19.xe4 xa2 ) 16...fd8 17.b4 e6 Almasi, I/Budapest 2004 ] 18.d3 f6 19.e3 b5 20.xd5 xd5 21.xd5 exd5 Manzardo, B-Brignone, R/ 10.xd8 [ 10.d3!? xh4 ( 10...c6 11.g5! f6 Limone Piemonte 2001 ] 12.h6 e7 13.xg7 xg7 14.e4 e6 9.h4 15.e3 ac8 16.e4 b4 17.d2 [ 9.c2 c6 10.d3 b4 6d5= Holfelder, H-Weisser, W/Wiesbaden 1/2-1/2 Karatorossian, D-Rat, D/Budapest 1990 ) 11.xh4 c6 12.e3 ( 12.a4 a5 1999 ] 13.xc6 bxc6 14.e3 ) 12...d4 13.ac1 9...e5 f5 14.xd4 cxd4 15.b5 d8 16.c5 d7 [ 9...e6 10.xd8 ( 10.d3! xh4 11.xh4 17.c7 ab8= Fabrizi, M-Cross, R/corr c6 12.g5! ) 10...xd8 11.d3 1999 ] A) 11...c6!? 12.e4 a4 ( 12...c4 10...xd8 11.d3 c4 13.g5 ) 13.g5 f5!; [ Black has tried a couple of other moves B) 11...d5 12.g5 f6 13.d2 c6! here: A) 11...c6 12.e3 ( 12.e4 c4 ( 13...b6? 14.d4 ) 14.a3 b6 15.b4 xc3 13.g5 f5 14.xd8 fxe4 15.xb6 exf3 16.xc3 b8 17.bxc5 bxc5 18.fb1 1453
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.xf3 axb6 17.d5+ f8 18.xc4 d4 Tatarko, J-Zagorskis, D/Karvina 1992 ) 12...d4 13.fc1 d7 14.d2 ab8 15.de4 c4 16.g5 dc8 17.dxc4 xc4 18.e3 Cebalo, M-Brnas, A/Pula 1998 ] [ B) 11...a6!? is the move the ECO prefers, and now: 12.e3 f5 13.d2 b8 14.f4 ( 14.b3!? f8 15.f4 exf4 16.xf4 d6 17.xd6 xd6 18.ac1 , and White has a small, but clear initiative, leaving Black with a lengthy uncomfortable defence.) 14...d7 15.fxe5 xe5 16.b3 a4 17.xa4 xa4 18.xc5 xc5 19.xc5 b6 20.a3 d4+ 21.h1 b5 22.b4 xb2 23.ab1= Marin, M-Akesson, R/Batumi 1999 ] 12.dxc4 [ 12.e1 c6 13.dxc4 xc4 14.d3 d4 15.c5 b8 16.b3 d6 17.b2 b6 18.d3 a6 Sedlacek, P-Szymczak, Z/ SVK 1994 ] 12...xc4 13.g5 [ This is a new move, but from what follows probably not better than what was played in the stem game: 13.g5 f6 14.fd1 d7 15.xd7 A) 15...xd7 16.c1 ( 16.d2 xb2 17.e3 b6 18.b1 2a4 19.xa4 xa4 20.d5+ h8 21.e4 ) 16...d6 17.e1 b6 18.e3 dc4 19.xb6 xb6 20.d3; B) 15...xd7 16.d2 b6? ( 16...xd2 17.xd2 c6 18.e3 ) 17.xb7 fxg5 18.d5 c6 19.xc6 d8 20.e4 f5 21.dc3+- Tal, M-Kirov, N/Sukhumi 1972 ] 13...h6 14.d5 d6 15.ge4 xe4 16.xe4 c6 17.e3 d4 18.ac1 e6 Black has at least equalised 19.b3 ac8 20.xd4 exd4 21.b5 a6 22.xc8 xc8 23.c7 e5 24.d5 g4 25.f3 h3 26.d1 e6 27.f4 xf4 28.gxf4 b6 [ 28...d7!? ] 29.c1 [ W h i t e c a n w i n a p a w n w i t h 29.e3 , though any real winning chances it will not amount to after f5 30.b1 c8 31.exd4 f7 32.f2 d5 33.d3 c3 ] 29...d6 30.f2 a5 31.c7 a4 32.bxa4 xa2 33.d3 b3 34.b5 e6 35.h4 f8 36.g3 h5 37.f2 f5 38.b7 d3!? Black decides to give up a pawn for activity
that should provide him with desired draw. 39.exd3 xd3 40.xd3 xd3 41.xb6 White's pawns are too weak for White to have any real winning chances, though, obviously, White should give it a try as only he has any chances of winning and this is after all a blitz game. Shirov nevertheless holds the draw without complications. d4 42.a5 xf4 43.a6 g7 44.a7 a4 45.b7 g5 46.hxg5 g6 47.g3 xg5 48.xf7 g6 49.b7 g5 50.f4+ f5 51.h3 a3+ 52.h4 xf4 53.xh5 e5 54.g6 d6 55.f7 c6 56.e7 b6 ½-½
1452 Grischuk,Alexander Svidler,Peter Norway Chess 2nd (6) [Kosten, Tony]
A34 2792 2753 09.06.2014
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 6.b5+ 8c6 7.d3!? Almost a novelty! [ 7.d4 "Forced, but good" I wrote in 1999, but apparently it isn't forced at all! ] [ 7.a3!? is also possible, and I prepared this for one of my games recently, based on Piket, J-Leko, P in the PGN Archive. ] [ 7.0-0 isn't as bad as I thought (I once gave it a question mark), as a6 8.xc6+ xc6 9.d3 leads to similar play to the game. ] 7...a6 Otherwise White will play a3 next go. 8.xc6+ xc6 9.e3 White controls d4 and targets the c5-pawn. The downside is that he has conceded his light square bishop, will this p r o v e a p r o b l e m i n t h e l o n g t e r m ? e5! This must be critical, clamping down on d4 and leaving the d3-pawn backward. [ 9...e6?! was played in the stem game, but Black was soon in trouble: 10.0-0 e7 11.a4! White utilises her lead in d e ve l o p m e n t b e f o re B la c k h a s t im e t o complete development. b6 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 both the e3-bishop and the a4knight are eyeing the b6-square, Black is already in some trouble. e5 ( 13...xd4 14.xd4 w i n s a p a w n .) 14.h5 f6 15.fd1 White's lead in development is already decisive! g6 ( 15...d7 is a little 1454
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 b e t t e r , b u t 16.xe6! g6 17.h3 is strong, if fxe6?! 18.xb6 a7 19.f4 f7 20.e5 e7 21.d3 and Rad1, winning.) 16.e2 c7?! 17.ac1 b7 18.xb6! xb6 19.f5 a5 20.d6+ f8 21.f4 g7 22.fxe5 xe5?! 23.h6+! no letup! g8 ( 23...xh6 24.xf7+ g7 25.xe5 ) 24.xc8 g5 25.d2 1-0 Kovalevskaya, E (2450)-Stefanova, A (2549) Dagomys 2009, Q d 8 i s t h e t h re a t , f o rc i n g m a t e in f i ve moves. ] 10.c1 [ 10.0-0 is an alternative, d6 11.d5 but e7 12.xe7 xe7 is level. ] 10...b6 Black takes care to protect the c5pawn, [ 10...e7?! 11.d5 b6 12.b4! would be awkward. ] 11.b4!? Fighting for the initiative. xb4 This leads to a f airly f orced sequence of moves. [ 11...cxb4? 12.d5 ( 12.a4 ) 12...c5 13.xc5 bxc5 14.xc5 b7 15.0-0 0-0 16.a4 c8 17.fc1 leaves Black under pressure. ] 12.xe5 d6 13.a3 xe5 14.axb4 cxb4 15.d5 0-0 16.xb6 g5 A nice resource that holds the balance. 17.0-0 h3 18.f3 g4 19.e3 No choice. xe3 20.fxe3 e2 [ 20...a5!? is not a good winning try, as 21.d4 b8 22.a1 wins the a-pawn, although e2 23.f2 d3 24.xa5 xa5 25.xa5 b3 26.b2 c2 keeps White's advantage to a minimum. ] 21.f5 f6 22.xb4 White allows an equal opposite colour bishop endgame, and a likely draw. [ 22.d4!? d6 23.c5 xc5 24.dxc5 a5 25.c6 b3 26.f2 is messy, but Black's two passed pawns look at least as dangerous as the c6-pawn. ] 22...a5 23.c6 xd3 24.xe5 fxe5 25.xe5 a4 26.a1 fb8 27.d4 Covering the a-pawn's promotion square. f7 28.f5+ g8 29.e5 f7 30.f5+ g8 31.e5 ½-½
1453 Gurevich,Dmitry Sutovsky,Emil TCh ISR (9) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2544 2656 19.04.2002
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 6.b5+ 8c6 7.d4 cxd4 8.a3 dxc3 9.xd8+ xd8 10.axb4 cxb2 11.xb2 d7 12.xc6! Piket's move, weakening the black pawn structure, and offering W hite some targets for his active pieces. xc6 13.e5 e8 14.xc6 bxc6 15.e2 e6!? Sutovsky's innovation, Shirov preferred to block the long diagonal: [ 15...f6 16.a6 e5 see the game Piket,JShirov,A/Wijk aan Zee 1999. ] 16.a4 d6 [ 16...c5!? is an alternative, 17.b5! b8 18.xa7 xb5 19.a8+ e7 20.a3 but the black pieces are awkwardly placed. ] 17.ha1 [ Rather than 17.xg7?! g8 and the gpawn drops. ] 17...b8!? 18.g3 So that the g7-pawn is really threatened. f6 19.a6 e7 [ Black cannot defend the c-pawn anyway: 19...d7 20.d1+ c7 21.c1 ] 20.xc6 d6 21.d1 Not the best, [ 21.aa6! i s s t r o n g , xb4 ( 21...hd8 22.a3! with nasty threats) 22.c7+ f8 23.b7! c5 24.c6 b6 25.xe6 the two white rooks are crawling all over the black position. ] 21...hd8 22.b5 b4 23.c7+ f8 24.xa7?! [ Winning a pawn, but allowing defensive possibilities, 24.d4! keeps the pressure on, W h i t e p l a n s B x a 7 a n d b 6 - b 7 - b 8 , ab8 25.xa7 xd1 26.xb8 when the b-pawn is ready to advance. ] 24...xa7 25.xd8+ e7 26.d4 The white pieces are not particularly wellsituated here. c5 27.c4 d6 28.c2 b7 29.e5+ The only way to keep any chances. fxe5 30.d2+ d4 31.xd4 exd4 32.xd4+ c5 Black is heading for a drawn rook ending. 33.e3 xb5 34.e4 c6 35.e5 b2 36.xe6 e2+ 37.f7 xf2+ 38.xg7 xh2 39.h4 xh4 40.gxh4 h5 ½-½ 1455
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1454 Halkias,Stelios Sutovsky,Emil 15th Vidmar mem (2) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2560 2639 19.08.2003
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 6.c4 d3+ 7.e2 xc1+!? A surprising move that doesn't have a very good reputation - Black swaps his active knight for a bishop that is still a little way from being able to move. I have looked at the mainline [ 7...f4+ in several games. ] 8.xc1 c6 The most logical, keeping a grip on d4, [ 8...e6 9.d4 cxd4 10.xd4 ( 10.b5+ c6 11.xd4 xd4 12.xd4 d7 13.hd1 was also favourable to W hite in AroninMikenas/USSR 1947) 10...xd4 11.xd4 a6 12.a4 ( Botvinnik preferred 12.e5! ) 12...d7 13.hd1 e7? 14.xe6 1-0 Botvinnik,M-Kasparian,G/ Leningrad 1938, as after fxe6 15.xe6 there is no real defence to Rxc8+ and Bxd7(+). ] 9.b5 Benko's move pins the knight to help force-through d4. [ 9.b3 e6 10.b5 is similar, ( 10.hd1 a6 11.a4 d4+ 12.xd4 cxd4 favours Black, who has the centre and bishop pair, Takacs, S-Spielmann,R/Vienna 1928) 10...d7 11.hd1 d6 12.d4 White's lead in development and central pressure is good compensation for the black bishops, Pajkovic,V-Djuric,S/ Cetinje 1990. ] 9...d7 10.d4 cxd4 11.xc6! A move that has caught-on this year. [ 11.xd4 e6 12.xc6 bxc6 13.a4 c5 14.d3 b8 is OK for Black despite the weakness on c6, Benko,P-Garcia Gonzales, G/Hastings 1974. ] 11...xc6! The first innovation of the game, Black pref ers to keep his pawn structure intact, [ 11...bxc6 allows White to profit from his better development: 12.xd4 b6 13.hd1 ( 13.xb6!? axb6 14.e5 is also awkward) 13...xd4 ( 13...xb2+ 14.d2 b7 15.e5 leaves Black in serious trouble) 14.xd4 g6 15.cd1 g4 16.c4 and Black decided to give the c-
pawn in Kryvoruchko,Y-Oleksienko,M/Lviv UKR 2003, and lost, but anyway he was worse. ] 12.xd4 d7!? Can Black really afford to m a k e a l l t h e s e b i s h o p m o v e s ? 13.d5? Direct, but [ 13.b3 is more forcing, ready to develop the king's rook, and after e6 ( 13...c8!? ) 14.cb5 c8 15.g3 the threat to make a disruptive check on c7 is difficult to stop. Still, the black bishops offer a certain longterm compensation. ] 13...c8 14.xc8 xc8 15.d3 e6 16.c3 b4 Black has negotiated his early problems, and is ready to castle, when his bishop pair should prove more than a match for the white knights. 17.c1 0-0 18.f3 a6 19.c2 d8 Completing development with a clear a d va n t a g e . 20.a3? White ignores the threat to his queen along the d-file and f1-a6 diagonal. b8? Black must still have been in an 'equalising with Black' mindset, as the curious retreat [ 20...e8! wins: 21.e3 b5+ 22.e1 d3 23.f4 xc3+ 24.bxc3 xc3 and White's position falls apart. ] 21.e3 xc3?! Why not keep both bishops with [ 21...d6 , say? ] 22.xc3 h6 23.b6 c6 24.e3!? g5?! A g gr e s si ve , b u t B l a c k we a k e n s h i s o wn kingside when he could still make progress by simply improving his pieces: [ 24...d6 25.d4 c7 26.b4 d1 etc. ] 25.g3 f5? Isn't this opening Black's own king p o s i t i o n a s m u c h a s W h i t e ' s ? 26.e5! Nicely exploiting the attack on the d8-rook. f4+!? Black's best chance may be the exchange sacrifice [ 26...xe5!? 27.xd8+ f7 28.f3 g4 with some play for the material, although 29.d4 keeps White on top. ] 27.gxf4 gxf4+ 28.f3 d6 29.xc6 bxc6 30.xa6 White is worried about the check on d1, and so prepares to intervene with his queen on e2, but the courageous [ 30.xc6! is good, d1+ 31.xf4 f8+ 32.e5 and the black checks quickly run-out, when White has some big threats of his own, like Rg3+, and Qxe6+. ] 30...e5! 31.f1 h8 Black calm ly improves 1456
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h i s p o s it i o n , a n d r e l i e s o n t h e a wk wa r d position of the white king to compensate his lost pawn. 32.c1?! g6! 33.h3 h5+!? Chasing the king to the kingside, but [ 33...g8 looks very nasty, White has to play 34.e2 (else ...Qh5+) when xe4+ 35.d2 d8+ regains the pawn whilst marinating an initiative. ] 34.g2 g8+ 35.h1 f3 [ 35...f3+ 36.h2 xe4 37.f3 and White can defend. ] 36.c3! The only defence against ...Rg2, Black may have missed or underestimated this. d8 Menacing ...Rd1, to deflect the queen from the defence of h3. [ 36...g2? meets 37.xf3! ] 37.h2 g8 38.h1 g6!? [ 38...d8 would force a draw by repetition, but Black tries for more. ] 39.a4 [ 39.d3! ] 39...d6 40.h2 g6 41.h1 h7 Once again refusing the draw! 42.a5 c5 43.b3 d6 44.h2 g6 45.h1 d6 46.h2 f7?! This allows White to rearrange his pieces. [ 46...g6 forces a repetition, as before. ] 47.c1 g6 48.e3 f6 49.c1 g6 50.c3 f6 51.c1 [ 51.d3!? might make Black regret his fighting play. ] 51...g6 52.g1?! xg1 53.xg1 g6+ 54.f1 a6+ 55.g1 [ 55.e1 xa5+ is no better. ] 55...g6+ 56.f1 ½-½
5...c6 With his knight on h6 Black can no longer stop White from opening the h-file, with h5. 6.d3 d6 7.h5 g4 8.d2!? [ O f co u r se , 8.hxg6 is possible, but White wants to open the h-file when it causes the most problems to Black. ] 8...gxh5!? [ This is might seem positionally undesirable, but there are some interesting tactical points, an d , a n ywa y, 8...xh5?? loses a piece to 9.xh6 xh6 10.g4 . ] 9.a3 White calmly plays on the queenside. f5 10.b4 h4! [ Black decides to 'return' the weak h-pawn to White, 10...cxb4?! is risky: 11.axb4 xb4 12.a4+ c6 13.b1 c8 14.xb7 ] 11.gxh4 f6 The point of Black's play, it seems that W hite cannot hold-on to the hpawn. 12.b1 So he doesn't even try! It seems odd that White attacks on the kingside with h4-5, and then completely ignores this sector. cxb4 Black wishes to keep the b-file closed. 13.d5! xh4 14.f3 xf3 15.xf3 e6! 16.xb4 fd4? [ 16...b6! i s m o r e t e s t i n g , a s 17.e3? is met by xe3 ] 17.e4 f6 18.e3 Simply defending the f2pawn, and leaving the black pieces awkwardly placed. g8 [ 18...d8 19.a4 is also clearly better for White. ] 19.xc6 bxc6 20.xd4! Winning material, the threat to f2 proves of little value. xd4 21.xc6+ e7 22.xa8 xf2+ 23.d2 [ For tactical reasons, 23.f1 is also good, as g3 24.e3 xe3 25.f3 is decisive, but one can hardly blame White for avoiding this. ] 1455 A34 23...e3+ 24.c2 The king proves to be quite Hodgson,Julian M 2640 safe here. d5 [ 'The boot is on the other foot' after Galego,Luis 2419 24...xa8 25.b7+ f6 26.f1+ ] zt 1.1 Mondariz ESP (6) 08.09.2000 25.b7+ d6 26.b1 xa8 27.b4+ e5 [Tony Kosten] 28.xf7 h6 29.e7 The noose is tightened. 1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 h6!? g4 30.d4+ xd4 31.h5+! [ 31.h5+ xh5 32.c7+ e4 33.f4# ] This unusual move, planning to clamp-down on d4 with ...Nf5, is like a red rag to a bull. 1-0 5.h4! [ A powerful innovation, 5.f3 f5 6.a3 c6 allows Black the set-up he desires, Rossetto,H-Wade,R/Havana 1964. ] 1457
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1456 Horn,Peter Trauth,Michael 2nd Open Riva del Garda ITA (6) [John Watson]
A34 2172 2233 29.12.2004
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 6.c4 d3+ 7.e2 f4+ 8.f1 e6 9.e5 The last Informant game with this variation was in 1985! As in VigoritoMikhalevski, the independent notes will be a combination of his and mine. d6 This move leads to unbelievable complications that I have no possibility of resolving here. The craziest move is 10.f4 [ But I wouldn't underestimate the potential complications of 10.a4+ c6 A) 11.b5!? ed4 ( 11...d7!? 12.xd7 xd7 13.xc6 bxc6 looks perfectly okay for Black if not advantageous) 12.c4 b8 13.xc6+ bxc6 ( 13...xc6 ) 14.d3 d7 15.d1 e5 16.b3 Sisniega-Pinter, Taxco (izt) 1985; B) 11.xc6 d7 12.d4!? ( or 12.d5!? ) 12...cxd4 13.xe6 and I'll leave it to you to decide what's happening! ] [ Also possible is 10.b5+ d7 ( 10...c6 11.xc6 bxc6 12.c4 g6 is probably about equal ) 11.c4 b8 ( 11...d3+! Smagin, when 12.g1 c7! 13.e5! d6 14.c4 d3 repeats ) 12.e2!? ( 12.d3 ) 12...c7 Smagin-W Schmidt, Dresden 1985. After 13.xd7+ xd7 14.d4 cxd4 15.f4 , Black can threaten to shut the bishop out by f6 , but that encourages sacrificial ideas like 16.c1 ( 16.xd4 e5? 17.xe5 ) 16...e5? ( 16...b6 17.xd4 b7 18.e2 ) 17.xe5 fxe5 18.xe5 c6 19.xd4 ] 10...d7 Other moves: [ (a) 10...c6 is fantastically complicated. Just for starters: 11.a4 d7 ( 11...ed8? 12.d4! cxd4 13.b5 b8 14.xd4 f6 15.dxc6 bxc6 16.f7+ 1-0 Suba-Sax, H a s t i n g s 1 9 8 3) 12.b5 ('!' Vigorito) ( 12.xd7 xd7 13.d3 ed4 14.e3 e6 15.b5 a6 16.xd4 xd4 17.xd7+ xd7 18.xd4 cxd4 is about equal. White has a small edge that means little.) 12...b8 13.xd7 xf4+! This is given as losing by Sub a and o the rs, b ut t hat just isn't so : ( 13...xd7 14.d4! exd4 15.xd4 cxd4
16.xf7 is a known line) 14.g1 xe4! ( 14...xd7 15.d4 wins because of xe4 16.d5 e1+ 17.f1 ) 15.xf8! ( 15.d4?? exd4 Vigorito-Langer, Western States Open (Reno) 2004. W e mere mortals --as opposed to Kasparov-- will do such things from time to time. Black threatens 16...Qe1+ 1 7 . B f 1 N e 2 m a t e a n d 16.d2 xd7 17.e1 c2 is hopeless; 15.b6 e1+ 16.f1 d8 ) A) 15...xf8!? isn't mentioned by Dave, p e r h a p s b e c a u s e a t f i r s t 16.c7+ se em s to win . Bu t d8 ( 16...xc7?? 17.xf7+ ) 17.xa8? ( better 17.d5 e1+ 18.f1 cd4 19.c4 when f5! threatens ...f4-f3) 17...f4 wins, so better looks 17. Nd5 unfortunately 17....Qe1+ 18. Bf1 Ncd4 is very dangerous in that case. White also has 16.Nc3, but 16...Qd4+ 17. Kf1 Qf6+ draws unless W hite risks 18. Ke1 0-0-0, which he may not want to do. So 15...Rxf8 is a serious option. In fact, W hite probably needs to play 16.h4 intending Rh3 if he is to retain winning chances. That's another wild one for you to investigate!; B) 15...xf8 16.c3 e1+ ( 16...d4+ is worth looking at, but I'm not touching it at this point.) 17.f1 Back to Dave. He says "Black has two pawn for the piece, good squares for his knights, and a solid position. Nevertheless, I prefer white's extra piece. " I think that he's right ] [ (b) 10...a6 looks very slow but may be fine: 11.d3 ( 11.b3!? ) 11...c6 12.xc6 bxc6? ( 12...xc6 ) 13.e5 c7 14.e4 b6 15.b3 b8 16.xb6 xb6 17.b3 with a winning advantage, Topchy-Blodsky, Ukranian Ch 1993 ] [ (c) 10...g6 11.a4+ c6 ( 11...d7 12.b3! both hits b7 and intends Nb5) 12.d4! (activity at all costs) cxd4 13.b5 d8 ( 13...b8 14.xd4 exd4 15.xf7+ d8 16.e3 ) 14.f5 gxf5 15.exf5 g7 16.xc6 bxc6 17.fxe6 ] 11.a4 a6 12.d4 cxd4 13.b5 c5 [ Needing more tests is 13...b8!? 14.xe6 fxe6 15.xd4 b5!? 16.xd7!? ( 16.c2 xe5 17.fxe5 g6! ) 16...xd7 17.b3 b7!? 18.xe6 c8 Shabalov-Shirov, Riga 1986. Perhaps White can try 19.g5 c4 1458
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.e3 ] 14.b4 b6 15.b2?! [ The right path was 15.f5 d8 ( 15...xe5 16.c7+ d8 17.xa8 ) 16.f4 b8! ( 16...axb5 17.xa8 bxc4 18.xc8 xe5 19.xe5 ) A) Ultimately 17.a7!! looks like the right move, threatening Nxc8: xa7 18.b5 ( t h r e a t e n i n g B x d 7 + a n d m a t e ) c6! ( 18...b6 19.xd7 xd7 20.xb8 xb5+ 21.xb5+ axb5 22.xa7+- ) 19.xc6 bxc6 20.xc6 b7 21.xb8 xe4 22.g3 xf5+ 23.g1; B) 17.xf7+!? xf7 18.xf7 B1) 18...xf7 19.b3+ e8 ( 19...f6 20.c7 threatening Ne8 e6 21.fxe6 and White wins ); B2) 18...axb5 19.b3 e5! 20.g3 ( 20.fxe6 f6 21.xh8 xe6 unclear ) 20...c6! ( 20...g8? 21.xe5 ) 21.xh8 c4+ ( 21...xe4 22.e6+ e7 23.f7+ d8 24.e1 d3+ 25.g1+- ) 22.f2 xb4 23.ab1 ] 15...f6 16.d3 b8 17.xe6 axb5 18.b3 e5! 19.xc8 [ 19.c5!? c4 20.xc4 bxc4 21.xc4 e5 looks good for Black but not overwhelmingly so. ] 19...c4 20.d7+ xd7 21.f2 e5 22.hc1 d6 [ 22...exf4!? is also worth considering. Probably White holds after 23.a4! ( 23.d1 e8; 23.xf4?? d3+; 23.c5+ xc5 24.bxc5 xc5 25.d3 bd8! 26.xd4 c6 27.xc5 xd3 28.b4 e8 and the e-pawn will fall when Black should win easily.) 23...c8 ( 23...d6!? 24.axb5 xb2 25.f7+ d8 26.xb2 d3+ 27.f1 d4 28.xg7 e8 29.c4 is unclear) 24.axb5 xb5 25.xf4 etc. ] 23.a4! hc8! [ The draw seems to be a mistake on Black's part. He's a pawn ahead with a good position, e.g., 23...hc8 24.axb5 xb5 25.g1 e7 26.fxe5 fxe5 27.f1 f8 etc. An important theoretical game. ] ½-½
1457 Istratescu,A Khalifman,A 14th Euro Indiv 2013 (9.19) [Daniel Gormally]
A34 2651 2614 14.05.2013
1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.d4!? cxd4 [ White's previous decision to explode the situation in the center, is justified by the variation 5...dxc4 6.d5 b4 7.e4! g4 8.xc4! xf3 9.xf3 c2+ 10.f1 xa1 11.e5 with a very dangerous initiative indeed. ] 6.xd4 e5 [ 6...dxc4 7.xc6 xd1+ 8.xd1 bxc6 9.g2 Would just give White an nice edge with zero risk. ] 7.xc6 bxc6 8.g2 b8! Certainly the sh a r p e s t r e p ly, wh i c h i n vi t e s e n o r m o u s c o m p l i c a t i o n s . 9.g5 White is up to the challenge, and continues to challenge the impressive black center as much as possible. [ White can grab the pawn but by doing so loses the initiative 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.xd5 xd5 11.xd5 b4+ 12.f1 e7 13.a3 c5 14.g5 f6 15.c1 d4 16.e3 And Black went on to win in the correspondence game Bishop, N (2202)Dutra Neto, A (2450) LSS email 2009 ] 9...xb2! Khalifman, true to his chess credo, plays the most principled move. Of course this entails a certain degree of risk, as the time spent in capturing this pawn enables W hite to further increase his lead in development . 10.0-0 a5 11.d3 b4 12.d1 e4 13.d4 xe2 14.e5+ f8 15.xf6 gxf6 16.xf6 g8 17.h6+ e7 18.xh7 d8 So far Black has navigated this most complex of situations extremely well, as you might expect from a former world champion. However over the next few moves he sta rts to lose his wa y a little. W hite's practical chances are certainly to be preferred here, as the black king is clearly a target, and indeed the defending player also has to show great accuracy to ensure he maintains his impressive pawn center. It should be pointed out that the European Championships is one of these official FIDE events that are played under a ferociously quick time control, 1459
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 effectively they are glorified rapid tournaments, so therefore demonstrating complete accuracy during the course of a game, becomes an almost impossible task. You just don't have the time to work everything out. (That's assuming you even have the chance to play the game, and haven't been disqualified for turning up 2 mins late to the board, due to the absolutely horrific zero-tolerance rule.) [ 18...f8 19.e3 c3 20.h5 Was another possible line, again with very sharp play. ] 19.h5 xa2 20.e5+ f8? Understand ably Black wishes to remove his King from the center as quickly as possible, to avoid the chances of any nasty checks. [ However the computer has no such fears and recommends 20...e6! 21.xa2 xa2 22.e3 a5 23.cxd5 cxd5 24.f5+ d7 25.b1 Although the situation would remain completely unclear. ] 21.xa2 xa2 22.e3 Now White is beginning to get on top. a5 23.cxd5 cxd5 24.c1! d4 25.h8+ e7 26.h4+ e8 27.c4 c5 28.xe4 e6 29.d3 a5 30.c2 c3?! In this extremely difficult position to defend, Khalifman goes wrong. This just invites W hite's next move, after which he gains a terrible attack. [ 30...a4 would have still offered some defensive chances. ] 31.e2! With huge threats of Qf6, etc d7 32.e5+ c8 33.f4?! [ 33.f6! With the threat of Bf5, was better ] 33...d6 34.f3 d5 35.f6 d6 36.e7 b6 37.xf7 h3? The final mistake. [ 37...b4 Still gave some hopes of resistance, even if White is much better after 38.e8+ c7 39.e5 ] 38.e8+ 1-0
1458 Ivanchuk,Vassily Anand,Viswanathan Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (3) [John Watson]
A34 2729 2792 16.01.2006
W hite has never been able to squeeze anything out of the opening in this game, but
Ivanchuk gains a real advantage. Then he grabs a pawn, a decision that was roundly criticised afterwards as being the losing move. In fact his judgment was fine, but the execution was wrong. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.e3 e5 5.e2 5.d4 is the critical line, investigated at some length next. d5 6.d4!? [ 6.cxd5 xd5 is a sort of Reversed Paulsen in which White's bishop belongs on b5. ] 6...exd4 [ 6...cxd4 7.exd4 e4 8.e5 b4 9.0-0 0-0 10.g5 should favour White. ] 7.exd4 e6! The proven move. Otherwise Black reaches a slight central disadvantage, e. g., [ 7...cxd4 8.xd4 c5 ( 8...dxc4 9.xc6 xd1+ 10.xd1! bxc6 11.f3 ) 9.xc6 bxc6 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.0-0 0-0 12.g5 ] 8.e3 [ 8.g5 and ] [ 8.cxd5 xd5 9.0-0 are options, both fairly harmless. ] 8...dxc4 9.a4 cxd4 [ The other move that has been played here is 9...a5 : A) 10.xa5 xa5 11.b5? cxd4 ( 11...d5! ) 12.d2!? c6 13.c7+ d7 14.xa8 d6 15.0-0 xa8 and Black had two pawns and a dominant position f o r th e exch an ge in No vo sa k-Po lo ch , Czechia 1996.; B) 10.dxc5 xa4 11.xa4 d5 12.d2 ( 12.0-0 xe3 13.fxe3= ) 12...db4 13.0-0 0-0-0 14.fd1 e7= Titov-Saltaev, Moscow 1983. ] 10.xd4 d7 11.xc4 c8 [ 11...xd4 12.xd4 ( 12.xd4!? c6 13.0-0 ) 12...e7 13.d1 0-0 14.0-0 e6 15.b5 c7 16.fe1!? a6 17.b6 xb6 18.xb6 d7 19.e3 Klinova-Kantor, Israel 1994. ] 12.0-0! d6? Why should Black expose this piece? Better but not yet equal was [ 12...xd4 13.xd4 c5 14.e5+ e7 15.xe7+ xe7 16.g5 ] [ Worse would be 12...e7 13.xc6 xc6 14.fd1 a5 15.b5! ] 13.xc6 [ Probably even better was 13.db5! b8 1460
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 13...e7 14.ad1 ) 14.c5! ] 13...xc6 14.h4 0-0 At least Black gets castled. Nevertheless his queenside is vulnerable. 15.xa7!? [ This move should have been fine in spite of the near-universal condemnation of annotators at the time who called it the losing move. However, an easier and bigger advantage was to be had by 15.f3! ] 15...b6 16.ad1 c5 17.b4!? Again, not a m i s t a k e , b u t a g a i n t h e r e wa s a n e a s i e r method: [ 17.b5! puts Black under pressure and he has to tread carefully: A) 17...a8 18.b4 e7 ( 18...d6 19.xc6 xc6 20.d4 c7 21.e4 ) 19.xd7; B) 17...c7! 18.b4!? ( 18.a4! ) 18...xa7 ( 18...e7 19.xb6 ) 19.bxc5 bxc5 20.c4 a5 21.d3 White has a positional edge but it's not much. ] 17...e7 18.d4! d6 19.c4 e6?! The advantage shifts. Anand should have played [ 19...c8 ] 20.a6 d5?! 21.xd5 xd5 22.fe1?? The real mistake. [ 22.xd5! xd5 23.xb6 wins a second pawn f or the exchange and retains two bishops, e.g., c8 24.b5! d2 25.f3 White should expect to win such a position. ] 22...g6 23.g3 xb4 24.c4 [ 24.f1 a8! is immediately decisive. ] 24...xe1 25.xd5 e7 26.a4 f6 27.f4 e3+ 28.h1 xg3 0-1
position, Black still has to deal with the fact that he has not yet found a convincing answer to this line. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.d4 This is a particularly important move, since [ 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 g6 has been considered equal for years. 6...Nc7 is also a problem for White. ] 5...cxd4 6.xd4 dxc4 7.xc6 xd1+ 8.xd1 bxc6 9.g2 d5 10.e3 a6!? [ 10...e6 11.xc4 a6 has become the main line W hite still has a nagging edge after 12.a5 , when most players wouldn't want to undertake the long defence facing Black. ] 11.xd5 cxd5 12.xd5 c8 13.d2 e6 14.e4 This may be an innovation. In the game it doesn't seem to have much significance. An earlier move was [ 14.f3 , after which the game can continue A) 14...d6 15.c3 f6 16.0-0-0 - generally you want to castle kingside or play Ke2 in this line - c5 17.d4 ( 17.e3 e7 18.b1 is a better try) 17...e7 18.xc5+ 1/2-1/2 Komarov, D-Sakaev, Ulcinj 1997; B) 14...c5 15.c3 0-0 ( 15...f6 ) 16.0-0 b5 17.fd1 fd8 18.xd8+ xd8 19.e3 f6 (it's hard to find a plan White's idea is to put pressure on the c4-pawn, whereas Black has to deal with his bishop on b5) 20.e2 b8 21.a4 a6 22.d1 b4 23.f3 b7 24.xb7 xb7 25.d8+ f7 26.c8 xc3 27.bxc3 e7 28.xc4 and White somehow converted her pawn in Xu Jun-Alterman, Yerevan 1996. Hardly forced, but that c-pawn is always a sore spot for Black. ] 1459 A34 14...c5 15.c3 0-0 16.e3 fd8 17.d1 Ivanchuk,Vassily 2748 b5 18.e2 There is no hurry. In fact, White Illescas Cordoba,Miguel 2607 seems to have all the time he wants in this Casino Masters (2) 25.10.2005 variation. a4 19.xd8+ xd8 20.c1 f5 21.f3 f7 22.e1 b5 23.e2 a6 [John Watson] 24.d2 The c-pawn again! White scoops it up, Another high-level game, this time testing an and Black is left wondering what happened. important system to some extent popularized d6 25.xc4 e5 26.b3 a8 27.a4 xc4 b8 29.b4 Simple stuff for by Kramnik's use of it. The move order is 28.xc4 crucial. Illescas returns to an older defensive Ivanchuk. g5 30.xb8 xb8 31.e2 e8 setup only to be ground down by Ivanchuk. 32.e4 g4 33.exf5 exf5 34.f4 a7 35.e3 W hether this is the result of some clever b8 36.d3 d7 37.c4 e6 38.b4 h5 moves or (more likely) an inherently superior 39.b5 axb5+ 40.xb5 d5 41.a5 e4 1461
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Black is prepared to play an oppositecolour bishop ending a pawn down. The p r o b l e m w i t h t h e i m m e d i a t e 21...b6 i s t h a t a f t e r 22.b7 d8 23.c1 White keeps a plus because of his bishops 1460 A34 and the isolated c-pawn. ] Kasimdzhanov,Rustam 2603 Berelowitsch,Alexander 2468 22.c1!? [ P a ss i ve , b u t 22.xg5 xg5 23.bxc4 VAM Open Hoogeveen NED (7) 21.10.1999 is met by b8 menacing to come to the [Tony Kosten] second rank, as 24.f4 f6 25.e3 b2 26.f2 xf2 27.xf2 should be drawn. ] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.d4 cxd4 6.xd4 dxc4 7.xc6 xd1+ 22...b6 23.b7 c7 24.a6 c4 25.bxc4 Black has successfully liquidated his 8.xd1 Not just played to avoid the xc4 displacement of the white king, but also to weak c-pawn, and retains a solidposition. bring the knight to c4, via e3. bxc6 9.g2 26.d1 f6 27.f4 ½-½ d5 10.e3 e6 11.xc4 a6 12.a5 [ Kramnik's idea, which was introduced recently. 12.b3 b4+ is the old line. ] 1461 A34 12...c8 [ A sensible innovation, defending the Kasparov,Garry 2849 attacked c6-pawn. Other possible moves Kramnik,Vladimir 2770 are: 12...d7!? and ] Braingames WCC (5) 15.10.2000 [ Ftacnik's suggestion of 12...b4+ e.g. [Tony Kosten] 13.d2 xa5 14.xa5 b8 15.b3 with an edge because of the bishop pair. ] 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 [ T i m m a n h a d p l a y e d 12...c5!? 5.g2 c6 6.c3 g6 against Kramnik, in the afore-mentioned [ 6...c7 would lead to Rubinstein's variation, game, but without success. ] but as White has played his knight to f3, and 13.d2 e7 14.c1 c5 15.b3 White plays thus reduced the pressure on d5, Black can all the obvious moves, he needs to control c4 try this logical move. ] to st op th e c5 -p awn 's o nward m arch . 0-0 7.0-0 g7 8.a4 16.0-0 White also completes his development. [ Possibly the most aggressive possibility, c7 Defending the e7-bishop, and threatening otherwise 8.d3 is a pawn sacrifice which to capture the e2-pawn, which cannot be leads to good play for White, should Black taken immediately, accept it, but Black can simply reply 0-0 [ 16...xe2?? 17.fe1 b5 18.xd5 cd8 with equality. ] and now 19.c6 ( or 19.c4 wins a piece. )] 8...b6 17.c4 [ Probably the best, although 8...0-0!? 9.c4 [ This leads nowhere, but neither does xc3 10.dxc3 b6 11.g5 c7 was OK for 17.fe1 promise much on fc8 when, by ... Black in Hertneck,G-Miles,A/Dortmund/1986, Nb6, and ...c4, Black will rid himself of his but not ( 11...b7? when 12.e6! one weakness. ] won a pawn in Uhlmann,W-Suetin,A/Halle/ 17...b6! Black must contest the well-placed 1981. )] c 4 - k n i g h t . 18.a5 xc4 19.xc4 9.b5 White's best chance, as after [ English Opening specialist Krasenkow [ 19.bxc4 d7 his c-pawn needs defence, preferred 9.h4!? to exploit Black's and Black controls the d-file. ] se n sit ive kin gsid e in h is ga m e a ga in s t 19...xc4!? This may lead to equality, but I Bryn e ll, Ma lm o 1 9 9 5 : 0-0 ( it might be feel that preferable to avoid castling, and 9...h6!? [ 19...fc8 is simpler, i.e. 20.c2 c4 ] has its points, as a subsequent ...g5 might 20.xc7 c8 21.f4 g5!? be awkward) 10.d3 f6 11.h6 e5 12.e4 42.a6 h4 43.gxh4 1-0
1462
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e7 13.ac1 d7 14.a3 although White does not have much here. ] 9...d7! [ This logical move seems to be new, 9...c4 was played in Myreng,S-Catalan,T/Gausdal 1982, but then 10.e5 xe5 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.xe5 is interesting. ] 10.d3 0-0 11.e3 d4 12.xd4 cxd4 13.e4 b6 Black has to try to nullify the white pressure on the queenside, and develop his c8-bishop. 14.a4 a6 [ T h e b e s t m o v e , 14...xb5 15.axb5 opens th e a-f ile f or W hite, a nd af te r a6 16.fc1 b8 White can infiltrate on the c-file, as well. ] 15.xb6 xb6 16.a5 d5 17.c5 It s eems tha t W h ite has real pla y on th e queenside, and the b-pawn may become a problem for Black. d8 18.d2 b8 19.c4 e6 An important move, the g7-bishop needs to f i n d a m o r e a c t i v e d i a g o n a l . 20.fc1 This would seem to grant W hite an edge, except that he cannot keep his rook here for tactical reasons. h6! 21.cb1 [ What else? 21.c2? loses an exchange to b4 ] 21...f8 22.b3 g7 Black is happy to repeat moves. 23.xd5!? White decides to try his chances with knight on c4 against the dark -square d b ish op, but he has misse d something. xd5 24.bd2 e5 [ And Kramnik offered a draw, which was immediately accepted, after 24...e5 25.b6 b5 26.xc8 ( perhaps Kasparov had intended something like 26.b4 f8 27.a4 f5 28.dc4 when Na3 threatens to trap the rook, but after e4 the rook acquires the escape square on e5, and Black is better) 26...xc8 27.c4 f8 the weakness of b4 and a5 will tie White down too much. ] ½-½
1462 Kharlov,Andrei Jakovenko,Dmitrij TCh Sochi RUS (4) [John Watson]
A34 2628 2608 22.04.2005
The latest example of a variation that seems to be ever-fruitful of new ideas. Apart from the
innovation in the main game, I've inserted an option on move 6 that comes from two postal games. Remarkably I couldn't find it in any resource, even Hansen's wonderful Symmetrical English book. But even there I haven't really found a clear way to equality for Black. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 e5 4.e3 f6 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 e4 [ The surprise variation is 6...exd4 7.xd4 b4 8.e2+!? ( White seems to have just enough time to counter Black's activity after 8.db5! 0-0 9.a3 e8+ 10.e2 xc3+ 11.xc3 h6?! 12.0-0 b6 13.f4 b7 14.f3 , although he let Black off the hook after a5 15.b5? xf3 16.xf3 xc4 17.c7 d2 18.xa8 xa8 19.xa8 xf1 20.c7 e4 21.g3 g5 22.f3 e2 23.xf1 xh2 24.e3 h5 25.g1 xb2 26.f2 b3 27.g2 g4 28.fxg4 f6 29.a2 xg4 30.d4 1/2-1/2 Vicanek- S Larsen, ICCF corr 2002. W hite seemed a little better throughout ) 8...e7 A) It looks as though White should have an easy advantage but Black's position is dynamic: 9.g5 a5 10.d2 0-0 11.a3 e8 12.0-0-0 c6 13.d3 xa3! 14.xc6 ( 14.bxa3 xa3+ 15.b1 b4 ) 14...bxc6 15.bxa3 xa3+ 16.c2 d5 with good counterplay; B) 9.d2 0-0 10.a3 xc3 11.xc3 ed5! 12.c2 xc3 13.xc3 d5 14.e2 e4 ( 14...dxc4! ) 15.c2 ( 15.e3! ) 15...f6 16.f3 f5 17.d3 dxc4 18.xc4 d6 19.b3 xd3 20.xd3 fe8+ 21.f1 xb2 22.e1 xe1+ 23.xe1 e8 24.f3 f5 25.g3 e3+ 26.g1 g4 27.c2 c1+ 28.f1 xc2 29.fxg4 e2 Lepercq-Doerdelmann, IECG email 2002 ] 7.e5 For 7.Ng5 see Shirjaev-Shinkevich. b4 8.e2 a5 9.xc6 dxc6 10.d2 [ Tony points out that 10.0-0 0-0 is safer than taking twice on c3 and subjecting Black to attack ] 10...0-0 11.0-0 e8 12.a3 xc3 13.xc3 g5 14.d2!? I think that this is new. The move makes total sense, bring the appropriate defensive piece to the kingside via f4 and g3, after which it's unlikely that Black will be able to scare up much attack. [ Tony analysed M Marin-Movsesian, Neum 1463
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 BIH 2000 some time ago. I have included some new data but nothing that seems too important: 14.c1 g6 A) 15.e3 g4 16.ae1! ( 16.fe1 b5!? 17.b3 ab8 led to a Black win in L Pachman-Ksieski, Germany 1995) 16...b5 17.b3 xe2 18.xe2 g4 19.g3 f5?! 20.h3 f6 21.xg6 hxg6 22.c1 bxc4 23.bxc4 ab8 24.a4!? 1/2-1/2 ThomsenR i z z o , I C C F E m a i l 2 0 0 1 ( 24.b4 intending Bc5 seems to keep a moderate edge. A passed d-pawn might prove useful some day. ); B) 15.f4 B1) 15...h3 16.g3 g4 17.fe1 xe2 18.xg6 hxg6 19.xe2 h5 20.ae1 f5 21.f3 f6 22.d5? ( 22.f2 ) 22...cxd5 23.xf6 gxf6 24.cxd5 ad8 25.fxe4 fxe4 26.xe4 xe4 27.xe4 xd5= Tyrtania-Von Herman, Berlin 1997; B2) 15...h5 16.fe1 ( 16.ad1 g4 17.fe1 ad8 18.g3 f5 19.h3 xe2 20.xe2 b5 21.b3 d7= 22.d5 bxc4 23.bxc4 cxd5 24.xf6 1/2-1/2 Franco Ocampos-Cheparinov, Mondariz Balneario 2003.) 16...g4 17.f1 h4 18.h3 xh3 19.xh4 g4 20.e3 h5 21.ae1 and I think that White had a minor advantage. f5 22.d5 wi t h a m e s sy a n d u n c le a r ga m e , M Marin-Movsesian, Neum BIH 2000. ] 14...g6 15.f4 h3 16.g3 g4! 17.xg4 xg4 18.e1 ad8 19.b3 b6 20.ad1 f5 21.a4?! [ 21.h3 f6 22.c7 d7 23.e5 intending c5? 24.a4! ] [ 21.c5+?! f7! 22.xf7+ xf7 23.cxb6 axb6 24.h3 f6 25.c7 d7 26.xb6 b8! ] 21...e3! 22.f3 [ 22.fxe3 xe3 23.d2 e4 ] 22...e2 23.c1 [ A fascinating line is 23.d2 h6 24.dxe2 xe2 25.xe2 f4 26.fxg4 fxg3 27.hxg3 c1+ ( 27...xd4 28.e8+ f7 29.e1 ) 28.h2 h6+ ( 28...d6? 29.e8+ f7 30.e5 h6+ 31.h5 ) 29.g1 c1+= ] 23...f4 24.h4 xh2 25.xh2 h5 26.g1 xh4 27.xc6 e7 28.e4 f6 29.d3 xd4 30.c2 de4 31.c3 4e5 32.b4
h4 33.d2 g5 34.d7 d8 35.xa7 f6 36.c5 e6 37.xe2 xe2 38.xb6 g5 In spite of this result I think that Black has not yet found the perfect answer to 4.e3. 0-1
1463 Kharlov,Andrei Korotylev,Alexey Aeroflot Open (2) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2638 2564 05.02.2002
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 c6 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 e5 8.e1 [ 8.d3 is the main move here, although I prefer the text, myself. ] 8...d7 Black defends against the positional threat of Bxc6+, shattering the black queenside pawns, but he can also dare White to concede his important light-squared bishop, by [ 8...g4!? say. ] 9.d3 d6?! [ The new threat was Bxc6, and Nxe5, but I prefer 9...f6 although White gets active play after both 10.b3 ( and 10.f4 )] 10.e4 e7 Black is forced to allow the exchange of his d6-bishop for a knight. He hopes that his space advantage will compensate. 11.b3 White brings his queen's bishop to its natural post on b2, this is more logical than [ 11.f4?! exf4 12.gxf4 f5 Heyken,E-Stein, B/ Germany 1991. ] 11...0-0 12.b2 ae8 A new move. [ 12...fe8 13.c1 a6 14.f4 exf4 15.xd6 xd6 16.xf4 Secker,M-Sideif Sade,F/Berlin 1992. ] 13.c1 b6?! [ Perhaps Black should avoid undermining c6, and play 13...a6 as in the previous note. ] 14.b4! An interesting tactic. White normally plays [ 14.f4 in such positions. ] 14...xb4 Forced. [ 14...cxb4? 15.xd6 xd6 16.xc6 xc6 17.c2 causes embarrassment along he cline. ] 15.xb4 cxb4 16.d4! The point of White's 1464
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 tactic. b5 The black pieces are in a tangle, and he must concede the e-pawn, [ 16...exd4?? 17.xd4 hits g7 and d6, and after e5 18.xe5 xe5 19.xe5 xe5 the knight is hanging: 20.xc7 ] 17.c2 e6 18.xd6 xd6 19.dxe5 b8 The smoke has cleared and material is equal, ho we ver, W hit e ha s t h e b isho p p air a n d mobile central pawns. We can conclude that h i s o p e n i n g h a s b e e n a s u c c e s s . 20.f4 F for forward! (Paul Motwani!) c8 21.d2 xc1 22.xc1 c8 Black tries to exchange the pieces, and soften the coming attack. 23.f5 xc1+ 24.xc1 c5 25.d2 c4? [ 25...a5 was better, although White's raking bishops should carry the day. ] 26.e6! f8 [ 26...fxe6 27.d4 hits g7 and c4. ] 27.d4 If the black bishop moves, e7 wins. 1-0
1464 Kosten,Anthony C Dourerassou,J TCh-FRA Top 12 2012 (5.6) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2493 2462 04.06.2012
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 I've always wanted to play this move, and would have analysed it in the 'DWFlank' book if I'd had more chapters to do! b4 6.b5+!? 8c6 7.d4 cxd4 8.a3 dxc3 Heading for the endgame. Some of my 2600+ teammates seemed to think that this was fairly easy for Black to draw. [ In my preparation for this game I also looked at 8...d7!? when I found some ways to continue the attack in the mainline after 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd7+ xd7 11.axb4 e6 12.e3 d8 13.0-0 xb4 14.xd4! xd4 15.a4+ e7 16.b5 xe4 17.fe1! xe1+ 18.xe1 xe1 19.a3+ f6 20.d6 e.g. h6! ( 20...h5 21.h4 d2 22.f3+ e7 23.c4 f6 24.a3+ f7 Tkachiev, V-Palac, M/Rabac CRO 2003, in the Archive, 25.d6+! g8 26.xb7 d5 27.xa7 with the sort of position where White can push for the win with little risk, and meanwhile Black must tak e grea t c are .) 21.h4 a5 22.g3
G l e i z e r o v - P e t r i e n k o / U S S R 1 9 8 5 , b4 23.e4+ f5 24.f3 and Black has some problems to solve. I don't think that White is actually winning in any of these lines, but it is so easy for Black to slipup (or forget the theory!) ] 9.xd8+ xd8 10.axb4 cxb2 11.xb2 f6 Aiming to close the long diagonal with .. .e5, and virtually forcing White's reply. [ I spent some time looking at the coverage of 11...d7 12.xc6! xc6 13.e5 e8 14.xc6 bxc6 15.e2 in the PGN Archive, and felt that White's nagging edge would be enough for decent winning chances. ] [ 11...e6 is the most popular move, 12.0-0 f6 13.e5 f5 14.fd1+!? with the usual initiative for the pawn, Wiemer, R (2295) Vogelmann, P/Germany 1991/GER-chT2. ] 12.e5! [ 12.xc6 bxc6 13.e5 is worse, e6! 14.0-0 d5 Ragger, M (2615)-Danin, A (2538)/Moscow 2011. ] 12...d7 [ 12...g4?! 13.xc6 bxc6 14.d4 le d t o a c r u sh i n g vi ct o r y f o r K a s p a r o v against Korchnoi, as pointed out by Giri in our post mortem: fxe5 15.xc6+ c7 ( 15...e8 16.0-0 e6?! 17.fc1 d6 18.b5 was overwhelming in Uhlmann, W (2505)S z y m c z a k , Z ( 2 4 6 0 ) / W a r s a w 1 9 8 3 .) 16.xe5 h5 17.0-0 e8 18.fc1+ b7 19.c4 e5 20.xe5 h5 21.a5+ b6 22.c7+ a6 23.c6+ 1-0 Kasparov, G (2775)-Kortschnoj, V (2655)/Skelleftea 1989, as b7 24.d8+ wins material. ] 13.a4!? This was the move I'd prepared beforehand, it's not new but almost. On a4 the bishop is protected, and now b5 becomes a threat. Alternatives: [ 13.c4 c8 ( 13...xb4!? ) 14.d1 c7 15.e6 e8 16.b5 a5 17.e2 b8 18.0-0 g6 19.c1 was the game Timman, J (2625)-Bohm, H (2410)/ Leeuwarden 1979, when W hite is a little better but Black is solid. ] [ 13.xc6 xc6 14.e6 g6 15.0-0 h6 16.d4 c7 was fine for Black in Jussupow, A (2575) -Tseshkovsky, V (2530)/Moscow 1981. ] [ 13.0-0 is the most common, but xe5! 14.fd1 ( 14.xe5 xb5 Toth, C-Soares, C/ 1465
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Cabo Frio 1984.) 14...e8 15.xd7+ xd7 16.d4 b6 Ovetchkin, R (2557)Nepomniachtchi, I (2613)/ Krasnoyarsk 2007, 17.e6!? f7 18.d8+ might repeat. ] 13...e8 Agreed drawn in Kizova, SPrudnikova, S (2412)/Budva 2003! [ 13...xe5 is critical, 14.xe5 xa4 A) 15.f7+!? is risky, e8 16.xh8 b5 ( 16...c6?! 17.0-0 g6 18.fc1 g7 19.b5! xb5 20.c7 xh8 21.e1 Black has recovered his material but now finds himself in big trouble.) 17.f4 e6 18.c3 d6 ( 18...c8 19.d2 according to Uhlmann, but d6 20.g3 a6 and . ..Ke7 looks OK.) 19.f5!? but Black will win the knight eventually and then his bishops and pawns will match the white rook.; B) 15.xa4 fxe5 16.xe5 ( I was intending to try 16.e2 instead, h5 17.d1+ e8 18.d5 with some i n i t i a t i v e .) 16...h5 17.f4 ( 17.f4 makes more sense.) 17...e5 ( 17...e6 18.0-0 a6 19.b5 a5 Pasman-Moulin/ Hallsberg 1981) 18.d2 d6 19.0-0 e7 Black has managed to develop his kingside successfully, Fabiano, G-Mora, F (2210)/Rome 1991. ] 14.e2!? After a long think. [ 14.b5 xe5 15.xe5 fxe5 16.xe5 e6 17.0-0 was another possibility. ] 14...fxe5 15.xe5 xe5 16.xe5 a6 [ I'd expected 16...xa4 17.xa4 h5 ] 17.xd7+ xd7 18.ac1 Aiming for c7. e6 19.f4 g8 Black wants to play ...g5 and then develop his bishop, so White ahs to find a way to make his initiative count as he is still a pawn down, of course. 20.h4 h6 21.a1 d8 [ 21...g5 22.fxg5 hxg5 23.h5 creates a useful passed pawn. ] 22.c7 b5 23.g4 g6 24.h3! The possibility of Re3+ stops ...Bg7. f7 25.e3 d6 26.e5?! [ 26.a7! was my original intention, keeping an eye on the a6-pawn while Black is tied down, but then I thought I saw something stronger. ] 26...e6 27.f5 gxf5 28.gxf5 b6 29.d4 d6 The only move.
[ 29...b8? 30.f6! wins, as e8 31.f3! ] 30.c5 It seems that Black will lose his epawn, but he has a resource. g2+ [ 30...d8 31.f6 ] 31.f3 dd2 The e7-pawn is untouchable because of the check on f2. 32.e4 h2 33.f6 d3+ 34.e3 xf6 35.f4+ [ 35.c6+ f7 36.f4+ g8 37.e4 d8 38.g6+ h7 39.xa6 is also level. ] 35...e6 [ 35...g7!? 36.e4 d8 37.c6 regains one pawn while retaining some attacking chances. ] 36.e4 d8 37.c6+ d7 38.xa6 g7 39.a7+ e6 40.c5 f8 [ With only two minutes to make the time control I half expected my opponent to play the 'obvious' 40...f6?? losing immediately to 41.xf6+! xf6 ( 41...exf6 42.e7# ) 42.xe7+ ] 41.a6+ d7 42.b6 h5 43.f3 a8 44.xb5 a3+ 45.e4 h6 46.f1 xh4+ 47.f5 e3 48.b7+ [ 48.f3 c1 is also equal. ] 48...c6 49.b6+ [ 49.xe7 ] 49...c7 50.e6 xc5 51.bxc5 d7 52.c6+ [ 52.c6+ c7 ( 52...e8 53.fe1 a7 54.g6 ) 53.xe7+ xc6 54.e6+ c5 55.c1+ c4 56.c6+ xc6 57.xc4+ d7 58.h4 picks off the last pawn. ] ½-½
1465 Kosten,Anthony C Schroll,Gerhard Aut chT Velden (7.1) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2507 2404 2004
1.f3 f6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 c5 4.g2 c6 5.0-0 d5 6.cxd5 xd5 The Keres-Parma Variation, a solid choice if not too popular. [ 6...exd5 7.d4 leads to a Tarrasch Defence. ] 7.c3 e7 8.xd5 I have always preferred this, although [ 8.d4 0-0 9.e4 xc3 10.bxc3 is the main variation. ] 8...xd5!? This move brings the queen out 1466
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 early and doesn't have a particularly good reputation. [ 8...exd5 9.d4 is more nor mal, when a Tarrasch-style position arises where a pair of pieces has been exchanged, and I think this favours White. ] 9.d4!? An interesting pawn sac. I also mentioned the standard [ 9.d3 0-0 10.e3 in my book, e.g. h5 11.c1 d7 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 with an edge, Petrosian,T-Borisenko,G/ Moscow 1964, but the text is more fun. ] 9...xd4 Obviously critical. [ 9...h5!? 10.dxc5 xc5 11.f4 0-0 12.c1 b6 13.h3 b5 14.c2 d4 15.xd4 xd4 16.d6 d8 17.c7 e8 18.fd1! was superb for White in Kosten,AVajda,S/Montpellier FRA 2003, the b-pawn is poisoned: xb2?? 19.a4 forks e8 and d4. ] [ 9...cxd4? is a blunder, though: 10.xd4! and as xd4?? is impossible due to 11.xc6+ so Black is in trouble. ] 10.xd4 xd4 11.c2 The point, White will gain time on the black queen, and the c8bishop has difficulty developing. The pressure on b7 is the key idea in this line (and also similar Catalan-type structures), and lasts t h r o u g h o u t t h e g a m e . 0-0 12.d1 To my great surprise this move is an innovation! [ 12.e3 f6 ( I was thinking 12...e5!? might be best, to have the option of returning to the queenside) 13.e4!? ( t o r e g a i n t h e p a w n i m m e d i a t e l y ) h6 14.xc5 e5 ( 14...xc5 15.xc5 xb2? 16.h7+ xh7 17.xf8 reveals the point behind White's 13th move) 15.fc1 xc5 16.xc5 g4 17.e3 with a 'nagging edge', Benko,P-Porath,Y/Amsterdam 1964/IZT. ] 12...f6 As above, Black prefers to bring the queen to a safe square on the kingside, but from here it does nothing to help the undeveloped queenside. [ 12...b4!? is also possible, 13.a3 b5 14.e3 c4!? perhaps, although 15.a4 e5 16.d4 regains the c-pawn with advantage. ] 13.e3 In this position Black has no obvious way of developing his queen's bishop, nor of saving the c-pawn. However, White will only want to capture this if he retains a positional
edge afterwards. a5!? A reasonable try, and played with great confidence by my opponent, t h e r o o k m a y d e v e l o p v i a a 6 . 14.d2! The b-pawn needs defending otherwise White cannot take on c5. [ 14.e4 g6 15.h6 e8 16.a4 looks very strong, but then Black has the surprising but strong b5! 17.xb5 a6 solving all his problems. ] 14...a4!? Again played confidently, Black hopes to exploit the a1-f6 diagonal by threatening .. .a3, and at the same time ...Ra5 will defend c5, but I had seen rather further. [ 14...b8 would have been my choice, but t h e n a f t e r 15.xc5 xc5 16.xc5 b6 17.b5 b7 18.xb7 xb7 White retains some advantage by 19.ad1 and then Rd6, perhaps. ] 15.xc5 xc5 16.xc5 a3 The point of Black's play. 17.c3! [ 17.b1 axb2 18.bxb2 is also good, as the b7-pawn is a constant problem. ] 17...axb2 Black has a difficult choice, capturing the queen is certainly no better: [ 17...xc3 18.bxc3 e5 19.d5 e8 20.e4 and my plan was to play c4, Rb1, then bring t h e kin g t o e 3 wit h a sign if i ca n t s p a c e advantage, added to which White has play against b7, and also a3 (by 'doubling' rooks on the third rank). ] 18.xf6 gxf6 19.xb2 The weakness on f6 is not the end-of-the-world for Black, but who knows? One day it might be possible for White to exploit it. d8 20.a4 [ 20.xb7?! b8 21.ab1 xb7 22.xb7 xb7 23.xb7 d2 regains the pawn with a likely draw. ] 20...a7 21.f4 A good positional move, a route is opened for the king, and ...e5 is i n h i b i t e d . d6 22.a5 White's plan is continuing nicely, b7 is indefensible in the long run. f8 The king's assistance is required! [ 22...da6? loses immediately to 23.d1 a8 24.d8+ g7 25.c2 and the bishop is lost. ] 23.c1? I thought this led to a win, but White should continue improving his position by [ 23.f2 e7 24.e3 when the bishop is still stuck on c8. ] 23...d7 24.c5 Defending a5 whilst 1467
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 continuing to ask the question of the b7-pawn. c6 25.xc6 bxc6 Of course, I half hoped for [ 25...xc6? 26.xb7! winning a pawn and the game, but my opponent spotted it! ] 26.f2 d5! 27.xc6 The only chance of maintaining winning possibilities, [ 27.xd5 cxd5 ( 27...exd5?! 28.b6 xa5 29.xc6 of f ers W hite some chances) 28.a2 e7 29.f3 f5! stops the king infiltrating on the kingside, and draws. ] 27...dxa5 28.c8+ g7 29.bb8 f5 30.g8+ This is the idea behind White's plan, he hopes to capture the h-pawn when he would have every chance of winning with 4 rooks on the board. f6 I had expected this, although I suspected that [ 30...h6!? was stronger - but who would dare putting his king in a potential mating net? 31.h3 a1 32.g4 7a4! 33.e3 4a2+ 34.g3 looks unpleasant, but there is no obvious way of mating, and meantime the black rooks are very active. ] 31.h8 d7 Going for counterplay, [ 31...g7!? 32.bg8+ h6 might again be best, but now 33.h3 and g4 really does look nasty! ] 32.xh7 a2 33.b1?! [ 33.b3 dd2 34.e3 was more active. ] 33...dd2 34.e1 d8 to stop the h7-rook escaping, but there are other routes! 35.h4 b8 36.g4?! Probably [ 36.h3 is better, but I was getting short of time, and wanted to avoid any possible disasters. ] 36...fxg4 37.xg4 f5 The black king gets in on the act. 38.eg1?! Time trouble! [ 38.h3 is best, e4 39.h4 with some winning chances. ] [ 38.f3?! is e ve n wo rs e : b3+ 39.e3 xh2 ] 38...bb2 39.g5+ e4 [ 39...xf4?? 40.1g4# is the stupid point of my last move, but the text just wins a pawn. ] 40.e5+ xf4 41.e3 e5 After the rush I had time to think, and, much to my surprise, realised that I still had some chances by pushing my h-pawn up the board, as the king was cut-off by the g1-rook. 42.h4 f5?! [ 42...e4 is slightly more accurate. ]
43.h5 e4 Suddenly Black realised that he had allowed the h-pawn to go a square further than he had intended, as [ 43...b6 44.h3 h6?? is met by 45.h4# which is why his innocuous 43rd move may be a slight mistake. ] 44.h6 b7 45.h3 aa7 The black rooks have been forced to take up passive defensive posts to stop the rampant h-pawn, and so White can activate his own rooks as he no longer has to worry about the e2-pawn. 46.g6 [ 46.h5!? ] 46...h7 47.h4+ e5 48.h5 Given sufficient time I wanted to play Kg3, e3, and Rb6 when Rb5+ would force the black king back and then I could put my own king on f4. af7 Black wants to simplify by bringing a rook to f6. [ 48...ac7 keeps possibilities of activity, but then 49.a6 ( m e n a c i n g R a 5 + ) c5 ( 49...f4!? ) 50.e3 d5 51.g3 c5 52.g5! hc7 53.gg6 e7 54.h4 to g5 and wins. ] 49.g3 f6? All rook and pawn endings are drawn, right? [ 49...c7 50.a6 c3+ 51.f2 f4 ( 51...c5 is like the last note) 52.a5 g4 might be a better chance, although 53.axf5 e3+ 54.g2 xh6 55.hg5+ h4 56.g3 is mighty unpleasant. ] 50.xf6 xf6 51.f4 g6 I guess my that he was winning the h-pawn and that with only one pawn left White could hardly win, but in fact it is a simple win! 52.h1?? I was so sure that the position was winning that I played this blunder immediately! [ 52.h3! w i n s e a s i l y : h8 ( 52...xh6 53.xh6+ xh6 54.xf5 e3 55.e4 g6 56.xe3 f5 57.d4 wins; 52...e3 53.xe3 and the h-pawn cannot be captured by either the rook or king as White is ready to skewer the king from both the h-file and t h e 6 t h ra n k!) 53.e3 xh6 ( 53...h7 54.h1 f6 55.a1 e7 56.a6+ f7 57.xf5 g8 58.e6 and a second pawn goes ) 54.xh6+ xh6 55.xf5 g7 56.xe4 with the opposition - I had wanted to keep the possibility of pushing my e-pawn one square or two, but it is irrelevant here. ] 52...e3! The only move. 53.g1+ What else? 1468
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 The problem is that now [ 53.h3 (say) xh6 54.xh6+ xh6 55.xf5 g7 56.e4 f6 57.xe3 e5 gains the opposition and draws. ] 53...f6 [ 53...xh6 54.xf5 b7 should also draw, although the black king is awkwardly placed. ( 54...e7?? 55.f6 )] 54.g5 xh6 55.xf5+ g6 56.f8 h3 Normally I would just offer a draw here, but I was so annoyed that I had thrown away a winning position that I kept playing on! 57.e4 g5 58.e5 Threatening to drive the king back a file g6 59.f4 g7 60.e8 f6 [ 60...f7 61.xe3 xe3?? 62.xe3 e6 63.e4 ] 61.g4 [ 61.e4 amounts to the same ] 61...h1 62.xe3 The remainder of this game has been described by team-mate Stefan Kindermann as 'Phildor's grief'! I will analyse it in more detail for a future article, but suffice it to say that Black's play was stunningly incompetent! a1 63.f4 a4+ 64.e4 a2 65.e5 a4+ 66.e4 [ 66.e4? a1 67.b5 f1+ draws too easily. ] 66...a2 67.f3 a3+ 68.e3 f5 69.h4 a1 70.h5+ g6 71.b5 f6 72.f4 f1+ 73.e4 a1 74.b6+ e7 75.h6 a4+ 76.e5 a5+ 77.f4 a4+ 78.e4 a1? [ 78...a5! draws immediately, of course, 79.e5 a1 80.f5 f1+ ] 79.f5 f1+?! Almost anything is better: [ 79...f7 for instance, 80.h7+ e8 81.e5 a6! 82.e6 a1 83.f6 f1+ drawing 'a la Philidor'. ] 80.e5 a1 81.h7+ f8? Black knows he must go to the 'short side', but this complicates matters. [ 81...e8 82.f5 a6 83.e5 b6 With Philidor again. ] 82.d7! Played to interfere with his sixth-rank defence, but it shouldn't change anything. e8?! [ 82...a6 83.d6 is the idea, but a7! 84.f5 f7+ draws 85.f6 e7! ] 83.e6 a6+ 84.d6 a4 85.e5 I'm making real progress now, but it is still a trivial draw! a1?
[ 85...h4 to check from the side, or ] [ 85...a7 to check from the front are far better. ] 86.b6 Threatening mate! f8 [ 86...a8? 87.f6 wins, f8 88.e6 e8 89.b1 f8 90.h1 g8 91.g1+ h7 92.e7 ] 87.b8+ Now the black king has to vacate the area, but it is still a draw! g7 88.d8! To interpose the rook and stop the checks from the 'long side'. a6+ [ 88...e1 seemed simpler to me during the game, to stop the king from advancing. 89.d6 f7 ] 89.e7 a5 90.e6 a7+ 91.d7 a1 [ 91...a8! is a better idea, to stop the king f rom advancing. 92.d1 a7+ 93.d7 a8 ] 92.c7!? After some thought. [ 92.d6! might be trickier: a8! now this is the only move, ( 92...a7+? 93.e8 a8+ 94.d8 a1 95.e7 wins ) 93.d8 a7+ 94.e8 f6! and draws. ] [ 92.e8+? was probably what my opponent expected: f6 93.e7 e6! 94.f8 f1+ and draws. ] 92...a2 93.d7! [ 93.e8+ f6 94.e7 a8+ 95.d7 f7 draws again ] 93...d2+?? only now is Black lost! [ 93...a8! is now the only move, 94.e7 f7 again. ] 94.e8+ g8 [ 94...f6 95.e7 and Rc6+ (which is why I put my rook on the c-file instead of the dfile!) is decisive. ] 95.e7 g7 96.c4 The bridge! a2 97.g4+ As Stefan Kindermann also said: "Philidor is rotating in his tomb!"!! 1-0
1466 Kosten,Anthony C Webb,Richard M 4NCL Nottingham ENG (8) [John Watson]
A34 2527 2313 10.04.2005
1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 c6 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 e5 8.d3 e7 9.d2 d7 10.c4 f6 11.f4 b5 1469
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.e3 exf4 13.f5 0-0?! Not a move that I'm familiar with. Black has played several moves here: [ 13...b4 14.xe7 xe7 15.e4 ( 15.xf4!? bxc3 16.xc7 c8 17.f4 cxb2 18.b1 Akopuan-Leko, Ubeda 1997) 15...fxg3!? ( 15...e6 16.gxf4 f5! 17.g3 0-0 Akopian-Ruck, Ohrid 2001, previously analysed by Tony) 16.f4! e5 17.c1 unclear, Nikolaidis Lautier, Erevan 1996 ] [ 13...fxg3 14.xg7+ f7 15.f5 gxh2+ 16.h1 xf5 17.xf5 d7 is a mess either side could be better ] [ 13...f3!? 14.xf3 0-0 15.xe7+ xe7 16.f4 e6 17.xb5?! xf4 18.gxf4 ab8 is a game from the books, but much better is 17.Nd5! followed by 18.Bd6. All in all, the 13.Nf5 idea is productive of original and complex play, something sorely needed in main line Rubinstein theory. ] 14.xf4 [ 14.xe7+ xe7 15.xf4 e6 16.d5 f7 17.d6 is the last note but with the bishop on g2 instead of f3. ] 14...xf5?? After this blunder the game loses it s t h e o re t ic a l in t e r e st b u t is f u n t o p la y through. In fact, White has a large advantage anyway. The best move is probably [ 14...c8 , when 15.xc7 xc7 16.xb5 e5 17.xe7+ xe7 18.c3 when White wins a pawn and keeps it, as he does after ] [ 14...e6 15.b3 ( or maybe 15.xb5 xf4 16.xf4 b8 17.b3+ h8 18.xc6 xc6 19.e6 ) 15...c4 16.xe7+ xe7 17.dxc4 bxc4 18.xc4 ] 15.xc6 h3 16.xc7 xc7 17.d5! e5 18.xe7+ xe7 19.xa8 xa8 20.f2 h8 21.d2 e8 22.c1 d6 23.f4 d5 24.b3 h6 25.f3 d4 26.h5 d7 27.xc5 e5 28.c7 d4 29.c3 b6 30.e4 b4 31.d2 d4 32.c4 1-0
1467 Kovalyov,Anton Cordova,Emilio IV Magistral (1) [John Watson]
A34 2381 2482 20.11.2006
1.c4 c5 2.f3 e6 3.c3 b6 A unique move order that gets W hite out of the books on move 3! Objectively it's probably not very good, but here Black comes out okay. 4.d4 [ One way to exploit Black's chosen sequence is 4.e3 : A) 4...f6 5.d4 b7 6.d5 exd5 7.cxd5 d6 8.e4 e7 9.b5+ is a known line that favours W hite, in part because Black's pieces are badly-placed to block the check, e.g., fd7 ( 9...bd7 10.e5 dxe5 11.d6 ) 10.0-0 ( 10.a4 ) 10...a6 11.d3 b5 12.f4 etc.; B) 4...b7 5.d4 cxd4 ( 5...f6 6.d5 ) 6.exd4 b4 ( 6...xf3? doesn't quite cut it following 7.xf3 c6 8.d5 d4 9.d3 f5 10.e2 ) 7.d3 f6 8.0-0 xc3 9.bxc3 0-0 10.g5 and the bishop pair is very effective. ] 4...cxd4 5.xd4 b7 6.e4 Certainly natural. Also possible is [ 6.db5 d6 (Nd6+ can't be allowed) 7.f4 e5 8.e3!? ( sounder is 8.g3 a6 9.a3 f6 10.f3 e7 11.e4 ) 8...f6 ( 8...a6 9.d5!? axb5 10.xb6 c8 11.c7+ e7! is unclear) 9.g5 a6 10.xf6 gxf6 11.a3 , a position in which the combination of ...Be6 and ... f5 is better than ...b6 and ...Bb7. ] 6...e7!? [ 6...d6 is more natural, preventing what follows: ] 7.db5!? White may get a small advantage in this way, but it allows Black to get a setup that is consistent with his development. [ 7.g4! gives White some advantage no matter how Black defends the g-pawn. The problem is that none of these options is decisively better for White, so he has a hard time choosing between them. ] 7...d6 8.f4 [ Or, again, 8.g4 with the idea f6? 9.f4 e5 10.0-0-0 ] 8...e5 9.e3 a6 10.a3 f6 Suddenly Black's whole scheme doesn't look so bad! 1470
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.f3 0-0 12.c2 White has some edge, having blocked out the b7 bishop, but it's not much. h5 13.d2 [ 13.g3 would prepare Be2 and 0-0. ] 13...d7 14.b4!? f4 15.bd5 [ White would give up the dark squares and initiative by 15.xf4?! exf4 16.xf4? h4+ ( or 16...f5 ) 17.d1 ( 17.g3? g5 with the idea 18.xd6? e7 ) 17...g5 ] 15...xd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.cxd5 [ 17.xd5 keeps the outpost, but Black gets e n o u g h p l a y f o l l o w i n g g5 18.xg5 ( 18.f2 b5!; 18.d2 xe3 19.xe3 c5 and .. .Ne6-d4) 18...xg5 19.xd6!? c5! 20.d2 e7 and ...Ne6-d4 follows. ] 17...b5 [ 17...g6!? , intending ... f5. White still has the better game because of his two good bishops targeting the queenside, but he is behind in development. ] [ Furthermore, 17...h6 immediately probably improves upon the game. ] 18.c1 h6 19.c6 b8 20.c2 d7 [ 20...g5 is consistent. ] 21.g3 f5!? A risky weakening. 22.exf5?! [ 22.h3! , f or e xample , f4!? ( 22...fxe4 23.fxe4 c5 24.f5! gives White a clear positional advantage) 23.gxf4 exf4 24.xf4 g5 25.e6+ h8 26.g3 xf3 27.e2 f8 28.h4 c5 29.f5 etc. ] 22...xf5 23.g2 g5 24.0-0 b6? [ 24...xe3+ 25.xe3 h8 26.h3 f6 with ...Nf8 in reserve is not so bad. ] 25.h3 [ White really should have seen 25.f4! exf4 ( 25...f6 26.h3 ) 26.gxf4 h4 27.h3 f8 28.e6+ h8 29.b3 with a very large advantage. ] 25...xe3+ 26.xe3 f6 27.e6+ h8 28.b3 d7! Now either ...Nc5 or ...Nf8 will challenge the bishop on e6. W hite's advantage is slimmer now. 29.h3 b4! 30.xd7?! xd7 31.e4 a5 32.g2 af8 33.ff2 f7 34.h4 h5 35.c4 f7 An instructive game. [ 35...g5 is aggressive and not too risky, in view of 36.c7 g6! ] ½-½
1468 Kozul,Zdenko Negi,Parimarjan Graz Casino op-A (9) [Fier, Alexandr]
A34 2588 2633 21.02.2014
The Rubinstein Symmetrical English with ...d5 and ...Nxd5-c7, ...e5 is one of my favourite variations. The games are usually unbalanced and the structure much more asymmetrical than any other symmetrical opening! It's hard for both players to find the right plan and here we can see some thematic ideas in a decisive last round game from the Graz Open. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 c6 6.c3 c7 7.d3 The normal path. [ 7.0-0 was seen last month, e5 8.e1 d7 9.d3 in Reinderman, D (2593)-Bok, B (2560)/Tata Steel Challengers 2014 (6). ] 7...e5 8.d2 d7 9.0-0 e7 10.c4 f6 11.f4 b5 12.e3 exf4 13.gxf4 So far we are in th e ma in lin e. Now W h it e h as t wo important options at his disposal. [ 13.f5 is the critical line when White sometimes just sacrifices all the kingside pawns. It was tried by Navara in Gibraltar this year: b4 14.xe7 xe7 15.e4 fxg3 ( 15...0-0 is not good and after 16.xf4 e5 A ko p ia n , V ( 2 6 8 4 )- Ru c k, R ( 2 5 5 1 )/ 3 r d Amplico AIG Life 2003 17.c1 White is just better. ) 16.f4 everything for quick development and the initiative e5 17.c1 gxh2+ 18.h1 c8 and White has sufficient compensation, Navara, D (2702)Gopal, G (2550)/Gibraltar Masters 12th 2014 (9). ] [ 13.xf4 tries to bring the knight to f5 without sacrificing any pawns. The drawback is that the bishop would be more active on f4 0-0 14.f5 b8 15.a4 b4 16.d5 with chances for both sides in Mladenov, P (2391)-Istratescu, A (2645)/Vaujany op-A 2nd 2011 (3). ] 13...0-0 It's still not clear where the white knights should go and which pawn can be a d va n c e d . B o t h p l a ye r s h a ve we a k a n d strong squares. This could be one of the positions where both players are worse! 14.f5 This is committal and not so popular, but White now has a clear strategy. With the pawn on f5 White can easily bring the pieces to the 1471
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 k i n g s i d e a n d B l a c k n e e d s s o m e t im e t o relocate the bishop to the a2-g8 diagonal. Also the knight can sometimes go to d5 and f4, look ing to e 6. O n th e ot her hand , all th e central dark squares are weakened. [ 14.cd5 it's not clear which knight should go to d5. With this jump White can't play e4, but the knight won't be attacked with ...b4 b8 15.xc7 xc7 16.d5 d8 17.e3 ( 17.e4 is also possible) 17...d4 18.d2 g4 with an unclear position ] [ 14.a4 tries to exchange the knight on the other side and it's interesting b4 ( 14...a6 15.ed5 was never played, but the inclusion o f a 4 a 6 c a n b e f a vo u r a b l e f o r W h i t e) 15.b5!? h8 16.c4 ( 16.f5 is again committal, mainly because of Black's answer e8! and 17...a6 is threatened 17.d4 cxd4 18.xd4 xd4 19.xd4 c8 and Black looks fine, W hite's structure is strange) 16...a6 ( 16...e8 17.d4 cxd4 18.xd4 is better with the pawn on f4, but the position is still level) 17.bd6 e8 with another position hard to access ] [ 14.ed5 is the most played move b8 15.e3 xd5 16.xd5 and we reach the same position as with 14.Ncd5 d4 17.c1 is another played move, instead of 17.Qd2, but less precise e6 and without knights Black is free to use the central files, Schwartzman, G (2500) -Hansen, L (2545)/ Hoogovens-B Wijk aan Zee 1994 (1). ] 14...h8 15.ed5 [ 15.a4 a6 16.f2 a mysterious move b8 17.d2 d4 18.axb5 axb5 19.e4 c6 and B la ck was f in e in W elin , T (2 38 2)Dragicevic, D (2298)/SWE-chT 0506 2005 (9). ] 15...xd5 16.xd5 d6 Black has free play on the dark squares and good places for his pieces. On the other hand White has a solid center and a weak spot to hit: the pawn on c5. 17.e4 [ 17.f4 is a completely different approach xf4 18.xf4 c8 19.xc6!? xc6 20.e4 trying to play with a better knight against the bishop. Still, the dark squares compensate, and both players have chances ] 17...e8 18.e3 f7 [ 18...c8 was prudent, preparing to defend
t h e c 5 - p a w n 19.c1 e5 20.f2 this plan looks strong, but Black's answer arrives in time f7 21.fc2 xd5 22.exd5 c4! and Black is fine ] 19.c1!? White doesn't care about breaking the structure. The bishop will have a nice outpost on e4, defending all the structure and the rest of the pieces are free to go to both flanks. [ 19.f4 i s n o t g o i n g a n y w h e r e e8 and Black is slightly better ] 19...xd5 [ 19...c8 was still possible, even at the cost of a pawn 20.xc5 xc5+ 21.xc5 d4 22.xc8 xc8 23.d2 ( 23.f4 leaves the a2-pawn c5 24.h1 xa2 and I prefer Black) 23...xd5 24.exd5 xf5 25.f2 d6 26.xa7 e8 and Black's knight is enough to compensate the pawn, but no more than that ] 20.exd5 d4? A natural and almost losing move. The post on d4 is just secured by the pawn on c5, which can easily be attacked. [ 20...e7 was necessary, and after 21.e1 e5 22.d4 cxd4 23.xd4 with a balanced middlegame ] 21.e4? Returning the favor. [ 21.b4! White had this idea one move later, but now was the best moment to do it e7 22.e1 and the c5-pawn will f all xf5 23.f2 c7 24.bxc5 xh2+ 25.h1 f4 ( 25...g3+ d o e s n o t h i n g 26.xh2+- ) 26.f3 and the passed pawns are going to decide the game ] 21...e7? Again missing White's idea. [ 21...a5 was better, avoiding 22.b4 22.h1 Black has a more or less static position, so I think that an attack on the kingside is called for e8 23.g1 a7 24.h5 a4 25.g4 e5!? w i t h a t r i c k y i d e a ( 25...ee7 is already dangerous for Black 26.h4 h6 27.g1 and sacrifices are going to be fatal) 26.h4 ( 26.f4 is possible, but Black has time to defend ee7 27.h4 h6 28.e3 e8 29.xe8+ xe8 30.xd4 cxd4 31.c6 d7 and everything is under control ) 26...g5! and the pawn cannot be taken ] 22.b4! Finally! ad8 Now Black is paralyzed. White can improve the queen and win the c5pawn by force. 1472
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 22...a5! was still be best move. White can 8.xb5 xe4 9.e5 M.Tal-J.Timman, win a piece, but the consequences are far Hilversum m(5) 1988 ] f rom clea r 23.bxc5 xc5 24.d6!? xd6 6.xd4 dxc4 25.xa8 xa8 26.xc5 ( 26.g4 a7 [ 6...e6 7.g2 ( 7.cxd5 xd5 8.xc6 bxc6 27.e4 is probably better, with a small 9.g2 b4 10.0-0 0-0 11.c2 b6 advantage for W hite) 26...xc5 27.g4 with chances to both sides, M.Makarov-V. d8 28.f4 c2 Black is going to take the K u p o r o s o v, R u s s i a n c h ( G o r k y ) 1 9 8 9) important a2-pawn and with this create 7...b6 8.xc6 bxc6 9.0-0 e7 10.cxd5 dangerous counterplay with the pawns on exd5 11.e4 dxe4 12.xe4 d5 13.g5 th e qu ee n s id e 29.xd4 xd4 30.xd4 0-0 14.xe7 xe7 15.c2 f5 16.ac1 b1+ 31.f2 xa2+ 32.g3 h6 fd8 17.fe1 ac8 so far A.Rotstein-C. and Black is still alive and kicking, since H e n r i k s s o n , H e l s i n k i 1 9 9 2 18.e2!? 33.xh6 is p ro b a b ly n o t e n o u gh gxh6 ( 18.c5!? Ribli ) 18...g6 19.c5 ] 34.xf6+ g8 35.g6+ h8 36.xh6+ 7.xc6 xd1+ 8.xd1 bxc6 9.g2 g8 37.g6+ and the queen on a2 defends [ 9.e3 e6 10.g2 d5 11.0-0 b8 the king well. ] 12.b3 c3 ( 12...xg2!? 13.xg2 cxb3 23.d2 g6 Desperate, but there is not much 14.axb3 b7 15.c4 leaves White with to do anymore. Qf2 is coming at any moment. enough initiative to compensate for the [ 23...a5 now it's too late 24.bxc5 xc5 pawn, but not much more than that) 13.d1 25.f2 and White wins ] xg2 14.xg2 g6 15.xc3 g7 16.f4 24.bxc5 e5 although W hite succeeded in not winning [ 24...xc5 25.f2+- ] this position, he is clearly better at this stage, 25.f2 J. Oms Pallise-J. Lacasa Diaz, Spanish [ 25.d6 was convincing e8 26.fxg6 f5 League 1994 ] ( 26...hxg6 27.f2 wins ) 27.d5 xg6+ 9...d5 28.h1 with a decisive advantage ] [ T h i s i s m o r e a c c u r a t e t h a n 9...d7?! 25...xf5 26.xf5 gxf5 27.d6 10.e3 c3 11.bxc3 e6 12.c4 d5 And the passed pawns are enough to decide 13.d2 e7 ( 13...f6 14.0-0 c5 15.a5 the game. e8 0-0-0 16.c4 b6 17.b3 a3 18.c1 [ 27...f7 28.h1 d5+ 29.f3 xa2 e7 19.e3 c7 20.a4 M. Makarov-G. 30.f2 f7 31.xf5+- ] Tunik, URS-sf Russian Ch (Gorky) 1989) 28.f3 g8+ 29.h1 g4 30.xf5 h4 14.e5 f6 15.xd7 xd7 31.c2 c6+ 32.f3 xd6 33.cxd6 xc2 A) 16.d1!? c7 17.c4 b6 ( 17...c3 34.a8+ 18.c1 ) 18.a5 e7 19.0-0 hd8 1-0 20.b1 ( 20.c5?! xd1 21.xd1 xc5 22.c1 d6 23.d1+ c7 24.c1= ) 20...c5 21.fc1 ab8 22.e3; 1469 A34 B) 16.c1! b6 17.c4 hd8 ( 17...b2 18.c2 f6 19.0-0 ) 18.0-0 ( 18.a5!? ) Kramnik,Vladimir 2772 18...ac8 19.c5 d5 20.a5 e8 21.e4 Leko,Peter 2738 c7 22.fd1+ e7 23.e5! xe5 Rapid Match Miskolc HUN rapid (5) 28.04.07 24.xc6+-; [Carsten Hansen] C) 16.0-0-0?! (This logical move isn't as strong as it appears to be at first glance 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 the king doesn't belong on the kingside in 5.d4 cxd4 this position. White should rather attempt [ According to Ribli, this is the best to exploit the vulnerable position of Black's continuation for Black, whereas 5...dxc4?! king and generating pressure with the favours White after 6.d5 a5 ( or 6...b4 rooks, bishops and the a- and c-pawns) 7.e4 g4 8.xc4 xf3 9.xf3 c2+ c7 17.c2 b6 18.f4+ e5 19.e3 10.f1 xa1 11.e5 A.Wojtkiewicz-L. e7 20.h3 hd8 , and the last traces of Yudasin, New York op 1991) 7.e4 b5 1473
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White's advantage have evaporated, A. Miles-F.Izeta Txabarri, Debrecen (EU-chT) 1992 ] 10.e3 e6 [ The text move has been called dubious by Ribli in ChessBase Magazine. Instead Ribli considers 10...a6 to be the better move, e. g. 11.xd5 cxd5 12.xd5 c8 13.d2 e6 14.f3 ( 14.e4 c5!? 15.c3 f6 16.e3 e7 17.0-0-0 b5 18.h4 h5 19.d2 a4 20.f3 c6 21.xc6 xc6 22.hd1 d6 with equal chances, J.Hjartarson-J.Arnason, Ga us d al (Nordic zt) 19 9 2) 14...c5!? ( less accurate is 14...e7 15.c3 f6 16.xf6 gxf6 17.0-0-0 e7 18.d4 L. Ftacnik-A.W ojtkiewicz, Bacolod 1991) 15.c3 f6 16.e3 e7 17.0-0-0 b5 and although W hite has a minimal pull, Black didn't have any problems of significance and rather easily held the draw in R.Vaganian-G. Kamsky, Manila 1992 ] 11.xc4 a6 12.b3 b4+ 13.d2 xd2+ [ Black has also tried the rather crude approach with 13...xc4 14.bxc4 xd2+ 15.xd2 e7 16.ab1 0-0-0+ 17.c3 c7 18.b3 b8 19.a3 b7 20.d1 a8 , so far A.Greenfeld-B. Alterman, Haifa 1993, and now 21.f4 ab8 22.b3 leaves White with a solid plus. ] [ In an earlier game this year, Leko tried 13...e7 14.c1 ( 14.xb4+ xb4 15.0-0 ac8 16.fc1 ) 14...ac8 15.xb4+ xb4 16.a3 d5 17.0-0 which leaves White with a s m a ll p lu s , a lt h o u gh B la ck re la t ive l y easily managed to neutralise it in V.IvanchukP.Leko, Monte Carlo 2007, but Leko cannot have been 100% satisfied with the outcome of the opening, since he in our main game goes in a different direction. ] 14.xd2 [ A n i m p o r t a n t a l t e r n a t i v e i s 14.xd2 which has been tested on several occasions, but it appears that Black is able to neutralise White's initiative rather easily if properly prepared: 0-0-0 15.c2 c7 16.hc1 ( 16.e5 hf8 17.f3 f6 18.d3 b6 19.a3 e5 20.b2 b5 21.c4+ c7 22.e4 1/2-1/2 Vaganian, R-Alterman, B/ Groningen 1993) 16...xc4 17.bxc4 b6 ( 17...b4+ 18.c3 a5 19.a3 a6 20.e4! f5 21.c2 g6 22.d1 e5 23.h4
c5 24.xd8 xd8 25.h5 and White eventually managed to convert his slight advantage in V.Salov-J.Timman, Moscow 1992 ) 18.c3 a5 ( 18...e5!? 19.d1?! xd1 20.xd1 b8 , and Black has the better chances) 19.d1 a4+ 20.c2 xd1 21.xd1 b8 , and Black has completely taken over the command of the game, A.Ledger-J.Emms, Norwich 1994 ] 14...b4 15.d1!? [ Gelfand's move, which looks almost absurd, giving up on the right to castle while placing the king on the only open file on the board, one which Black will occupy with a rook on his next move. But the paradoxical idea is based on his other pieces being needed elsewhere and wanting to avoid them being exposed to attack. The alternative is 15.e4!? c8 16.f4 e7 17.a3 d5 18.f3 ( 18.c1 hd8 19.b4 is a possible i m p r o v e m e n t) 18...hd8 19.e4 c5 20.c1 c4 21.b4 b5 22.f2= B.Lalic-J. Emms, Isle of Man 1994 ] 15...0-0-0 [ This looks completely logical, as it places a rook on the d-file, while bringing the king over the defend the weak pawns on the queenside. However, the black king will also be subject to attack from W hite's pieces. The problem is that the alternatives don't look particular interesting either, e.g. 15...0-0 16.a3 d5 17.c1 fc8 18.e4 , and White has the better pawn structure and better coordinated pieces, leaving him with a solid advantage ] 16.a3 d5 17.c1 b7 18.e1 [ 18.f3 is Ribli, Z-Ponomariov, R, in the PGN Archive. ] 18...e5 19.e3 [ Also 19.e4!? b6 20.h4 h5 21.c5 is worthy of attention ] 19...b6 20.f1!? [ White's bishop is blunted by the wellplaced knight on d5, so W hite takes the opportunity to off er an exchange of the bishops, which will be to W hite's to advantage. At the moment W hite's king is stuck on e1, preventing the rook on h1 from taking part in an attack on Black's royal defender of the queenside. The alternative 20.c4+ xc4 21.xc4 d6 22.e2 hd8 1474
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.hc1 e7 24.g4 leaves White with an advantage, but Black's position is solid and W hite will have problems breaching Black's defensive set-up. ] 20...b5 21.c4! White wants to exchange the light-squared bishops, but only on the right terms, and before those are on the table, W hite will ne ed to coo rd in ate h is p ie ce s optimally including activating the rook on h1. f6 22.e2 d7 23.c2 a5 24.hc1 e7 25.xb5!? [ With his pieces on all the right squares, White makes the first strike against Black's q u e e n s i d e . T h e a l t e r n a t i v e 25.a4 looks like an attractive option, but offers less after xc4+ 26.xc4 hd8 27.1c2 , and Black will have to suffer a bit before being able to put a half point on his score card, but from Black's perspective of the position on the board, this is a perfectly acceptable result. ] 25...cxb5 26.a4! White breaks the queenside open with simple, yet very effective means. hd8 [ Or 26...b4 27.e4 hd8 28.c4+ a6 29.e3 , and Black's position sucks ] 27.axb5 xb5 28.e4 a7 29.g4 h6 30.h4 b6 31.g5 [ 31.h5!? can also be considered, but Kramnik's plan appears more consistent ] 31...hxg5 [ Or 31...f5 32.c5 hxg5 33.hxg5 e4 34.e6 d6 35.xg7 g6 36.e8 xg5 37.c7 , and Black has severe problems with his king safety and piece coordination as well as keeping both pawns and pieces sufficiently guarded. ] 32.hxg5 fxg5 33.g1 c8 34.d2 c6 35.xg5 White's advantage has taken concrete form: Black will likely not be able to defend his three isolated pawns, while also keeping his pieces guarded. W ith his next move, Black tries to reduce the material to ease the defensive task, but allows White to enter a more easily won endgame. a4? [ 35...e7 36.g6 h8 37.d6 c7 38.c2 h6 39.xg7 xg7 40.e8+ b6 41.xg7 leaves White a pawn up, but may well be a better chance for saving a draw ] 36.bxa4 xa4 37.d6?! [ White keeps manoeuvring around, but the
b e t t e r c h o i c e i s l i k e l y 37.b2+ b4 38.xb4+ xb4 39.xe5 , and White sh o u ld win f a r m o r e e a si ly t h a n in t h e endgame that arises in the game ] 37...c7 38.e8 ca7 39.xg7 a2 40.xa2 xa2+ 41.f3 c5 42.f5 b4 43.g3 d5 44.e4 a8 45.f6+ e6 46.g4 d3 47.g6+ f5 48.f6+ g5 49.d6 f8+? [ With the game being a rapid game and all, Leko makes a logical move that unfortunately also is a big mistake. The correct way for Black to proceed is 49...c5! 50.d5 f8+ 51.e2 xg4 52.xc5 , and despite his pawn advantage, W hite should not be able to win or in fact even get close to winning ] 50.g3 e4 51.d5+ f5 52.f4+! G a m e o ve r ! g6 53.d4 c5 54.e5+ g7 55.c4 d3 56.xd3 exd3 57.d4 and Black had been through enough 1-0
1470 Kramnik,Vladimir Mamedov,Rauf Presidents Cup rapid (1) [Nigel Davies]
A34 2790 2639 29.04.2010
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 g6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 0-0 6.0-0 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.a4 [ Altogether more enterprising than 8.xd5 , though this might also be something of a relief for Black. ] 8...b6 9.a3 This appears to be a novelty by Kramnik. [ P r e v i o u s l y W h i t e h a s f a v o u r e d 9.h4 , for example e5 ( 9...e6 10.xd8 xd8 11.d3 d5 12.g5 f6 13.d2 c6 14.a3 f8 was not very impressive in Grischuk, A (2748)-Svidler, P (2726)/Dagomys 2009) 10.xd8 xd8 11.d3 c6 ( 11...c4 12.dxc4 xc4 13.g5 f6 14.fd1 d7 15.xd7 xd7 16.d2 gave White the initiative in Tal, M (2625)-Kirov, N (2450)/ Sukhumi 1972) 12.g5 f6 13.e3 d4 14.fc1 g4 15.xd4 cxd4 16.e4 ac8 17.f1 a4 was very comfortable for Black in Kramnik, V (2772)-Mamedyarov, S (2719)/ Moscow 2009. ] 1475
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...a6 10.d3 b4 11.e1 a5 12.e3 d4 [ 12...c4 looks like a more critical test of K r a m n i k ' s 9 . Q a 3 , f o r e x a m p l e 13.xb6 xb6 14.dxc4 e6 15.d5 xd5 16.cxd5 b5 17.f3 ac8 gives Black excellent counterplay for his pawn. ] 13.h6 e8 14.c1 h8 15.e4 Suddenly White has some pressure because of the difficulty Black has in defending his cpawn. d4 16.c3 g4 [ Here too 16...c4 was probably the right idea for Black, though now W hite has the initiative after 17.dxc4 xc4 18.b3 . ] 17.f3 xf3 18.xf3 6d5 [ E v e n h e r e B l a c k s h o u l d t r y 18...c4 though he would be under serious pressure. A sample variation is 19.e3 d8 20.xb6 xb6 21.xc4 c6 22.g2 xb2 23.c5 xc5 24.xc5 d4 25.e3 e2+ 26.h1 c3 27.a4 with strong pressure. ] 19.xc5 xb2 [ On 19...f5 White can even sacrifice a piece with 20.b5!? , for example fxe4 21.dxe4 c7 22.xb7 e6 23.b3 with a very unpleasant pin on the knight on e6. ] 20.xb2 xb2 21.b1 d4 22.c4 a7 23.a3 c6 24.d2 e6 25.xb7 Simply winning a pawn. And given Kramnik's proficiency in the endgame I would not want to bet heavily on Black's survival. e5 26.c2 xf3+ 27.xf3 eb8 28.xb8+ xb8 29.e5 f6 30.c6 b1+ 31.g2 b6 32.e4 c7 33.e7+ f7 34.c8 e8 35.xb6 xb6 36.c5 g5 37.xa5 b3 38.a7+ g6 39.f8 xd3 40.e7 d8 41.a4 a8 42.a5 g4 43.a6 1-0
1471 A34 Kramnik,Vladimir 2751 Timman,Jan H 2649 Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee NED (10) 28.01.1999 [Tony Kosten] 1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.d4 Instead of capturing on d5, White prefers to maintain the tension in the centre. [ 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 c7 Transposes to Rubinstein's Variation, which has a good reputation for Black. ]
5...cxd4 [ 5...dxc4 i s w o r s e , b e c a u s e o f 6.d5 driving the c6-knight away, and gaining space in the centre, but 5...e6 is perfectly respectable, with a Tarrasch. ] 6.xd4 dxc4 Temporarily grabbing a pawn, but not with the intention of holding on to it, as the extra pawn will be doubled, but to gain free piece-play. 7.xc6 xd1+ 8.xd1 bxc6 9.g2 d5 10.e3 e6 11.xc4 Reaching the critical position, W hite has recuperated his pawn, and enjoys the better structure. a6 12.a5! A strong new move, attempting to pin Black down to the defence of the c6-pawn, previously [ 12.b3 b4+ 13.d2 had been played, when Black had equalising chances. ] 12...c5!? 13.d2 0-0 14.c1 Further accentuating Black's problems along the c-file. Will Black's activity be sufficient to counter-balance White's structural advantage? d4 15.b4! A strong move, rather than greedily capturing the c-pawn, W hite strengthens his position, and fixes the c-pawn on c6. Kramnik knows that the pawn will not run away! b5 16.xc6 b2 17.c5 xc6 18.xc6 ac8 White has now taken both black c-pawns, and gained the bishop pair, to boot. However, the game is far from over, as Black intends infiltrating along the c-file, and t h e h 1 -r o o k h a s n o t ye t jo i n e d t h e f ra y . 19.xc8 xc8 20.xd5 A GM touch, swapping one advantage (the powerful lightsquared bishop) for another (the IQP). exd5 21.f4!! Brilliant, White wants to develop his rook, and yet keep his king actively placed in the centre, his plan is Rf1-f3-a3. a3 22.f1 c4 [ 22...c2 also doesn't help 23.f3 xa2 24.d3 picks-off the d5-pawn. ] 23.f3 xb4 24.xb4 xb4 25.a3 This is the position W hite was aiming for, Black has regained his pawn, but he is much worse. h5! Well played! Everyone knows that you must play actively in rook endgames, but many players would still have been tempted to play [ 25...b7?! 26.a5 d7 when Black is very passive, and White wins easily by playing 27.d2 and then to d4. ] 26.xa7 b2 27.a4 a2? The decisive slip, 1476
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black had to stop White's next move by [ 27...g6! and, despite the pawn he has every chance to make a draw. ] 28.f5! Now Black won't get a second chance, Black is n ow unable to activat e his king, which spells disaster. a1+ 29.f2 d4 30.a5 f6 31.f3! h7 32.a6 h6 So much effort to bring the king into the game, for nothing. 33.h4 g6 34.fxg6 xg6 35.a8 a2 36.f4! f7? Not that it changes too much, but this is the wrong square, [ 36...g7 would have avoided the coming Zugzwang. ] 37.a7 g7 38.f5 a5+ 39.e4 a4 40.d5 a1 41.xd4 1-0
30.d7+ e7 31.dxc8+ xc8 32.d5 1-0
1473 Krasenkow,Michal Protaziuk,Grzegorz 55th chTeam Suwalki POL (1) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2647 2415 18.09.1999
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 xc3 Black is clearly happy to play a Gruenfeld, and so avoids the complications of [ 5...b4 . ] 6.dxc3 I find it ironic that White, who has just indicated his intention to play one of the sharpest variations in the English, should 1472 A34 Black play 5...Nb4, should now decline the Kramnik,Vladimir 2772 Gruenfeld that would arise after [ 6.bxc3 g6 7.d4 and play a dull endgame, Van Wely,Loek 2700 instead. However, this endgame is far from Amber Blindfold (2) 18.03.2001 easy for Black, as the fact that his c-pawn is [Tony Kosten] on c5 weakens his queenside control of the light squares d5, c4, and b5. ] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 6...xd1+ 7.xd1 Curiously, the white king is xd5 5.d4 xc3 6.bxc3 g6 7.g5!? [ Black would obviously be expecting 7.e4 well-placed on d1, as it is just a step away transposing to a Gruenfeld, but White has from the strong central square c2. c6 8.c2 A subtle move. Normally White plays either other ideas! ] [ 8.e3 or ] 7...g7 8.d2!? [ 8.f4 and then brings the king to c2 later in [ A new idea from the World Champion. 8.e3 the game. By playing this immediately, 0-0 9.d2 cxd4 10.cxd4 b6 11.d1 b7 W h it e ca n wa it t o se e B lack' s re ac t io n 12.e2 is more Gruenfeld-like, Kortschnoj,Vbefore deciding on his dark-squared Reshevsky,S/Lone Pine 1979. ] bishop's best square. ] 8...a5 9.c1 h6 10.h4 f5 Black controls e4 so that White cannot effect a 8...e6 Should Black try [ 8...g6 instead, then White will revert to favourable transposition. 11.e3 c6 12.e2 normal variations with 9.e3 as the c50-0 13.0-0 fd8 14.b2 This really very pawn is no longer defended by the f8-bishop, much resembles a Gruenfeld, W hite has a e.g. b6 10.b5 d7 11.a4 g7 12.hd1 so lid ce nt re , b ut n o re a l ad va nt age . b6 (with the strong positional threat of a5) 15.a3 a5? 0-0-0?! 13.g5 hf8 14.xh7 with a solid [ Black blunders his e and c pawns, and pawn more, Rogers,I-Noble,M/Auckland brings the game's interest to an end (this 1992. ] w a s o n l y a b l i n d f o l d g a m e ) 15...d5 [ In the game Van Wely,L-Sokolov,I/ or some such move, was clearly better. ] Rotterdam NED 1999, Black tried 8...d7 16.xa5 xa5 17.xe7 dc8 18.xc5 instead, but on the further 9.a4 e6 10.f4 e6 19.b4 c4 20.e4 a5 21.e7 g5 e7 11.e2 h6 12.h4 c8 13.hd1 a6 22.d5 d7 23.fe1 b5 24.d4 e5 25.f5 14.h5 a5!? 15.e5 c6 16.xc6 xc6? xf5 26.exf5 f6 27.ed1 The d-pawn will was rocked by the powerful shot 17.b5! advance. f7?! 28.d6 e8 29.xf6 xf6 axb5 18.axb5 c8 19.xa5 winning a good 1477
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pawn. ] 9.f4! Krasenkov's new move, and better than [ 9.e3 i.e. d7 10.d2 a5 11.e2 f6 12.he1 e7 which is almost level, Vladimirov,E-Sion Castro,M/Leon 1991. ] 9...f6 10.d2 A standard plan, the knight is heading for the strong square on c4, after p r e p a r a t i o n b y a 4 . e5?! Whilst it is understandable that Black wishes to close the diagonal for the f4-bishop, in so doing he weakens his light squares, and restricts his f8bishop. 11.e3 e6 12.c4 Of course, once W hite exchanges the black light-squared bishop he can aim for a good knight v bad bishop position. f7?! For better or for worse, Black should fight for some light squares by [ 12...xc4 13.xc4 b5 ] 13.a4 Now it is too late for Black, he can only look forward to suffering. e7 14.xe6+ xe6 15.c4 b6 16.hd1 hd8 White has achieved all he wanted from the opening. Now he must decide on a plan, and the clearest is to swap a pair of rooks, and then engineer a breakthrough on the kingside. 17.xd8 xd8 18.g4 g6 19.g1 h8 20.d3 f7 21.h4 The one potential problem for White is the lack of entry squares for his king as long as the black knight can cover c4. (By answering [ 21.a3 with a5 , say) ] 21...e6 22.h5 d8+ 23.c2 g8 24.hxg6 hxg6 25.h1 So, White has obtained a file for his rook. Black's position is probably lost. d8 26.a3 c6 27.h7 c8 Now, [ 27...a5 can be met with 28.b5 forcing c6 , again. ] 28.c4 f8 29.d2 f5 Hoping to exchange some pawns. 30.h6 fxg4 31.xg6+ f6 32.xf6+ xf6 33.d3 g6 34.e3 The attack on the g4-pawn allows White time to bring his king to c4. g5 Exchanging the bishop. [ If 34...h5 35.c4 h4 36.e1 and Black cannot stop both Kd5 and Kb5. ] 35.xg4 xd2 36.xd2 g5 37.f3 f4 38.e2 a6 Black has a slight initiative for his pawn, but it is quite insufficient. 39.f6 b5 40.d5+ g5 41.c7 bxa4 42.e6+ [ 42.e6+ h4 43.xc5 wins a second pawn. ] 1-0
1474 Lautier,Joel Leko,Peter Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (1) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2638 2701 29.11.1999
1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 c6 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 e5 8.d3 e7 9.d2 d7 10.c4 f6 [ Safer than the pawn sac line, 10...0-0!? ] 11.f4 b5 [ Necessary, to drive the strong c4-knight a w a y , o t h e r w i s e 11...exf4?! 12.xf4 and White is menacing to leap into d6. ] 12.e3 c8 [ The safest line. If 12...exf4 then White can play the exciting line 13.f5!? ( as well as 13.gxf4 gaining an extra central pawn.) 13...fxg3 14.xg7+ f7 15.f5 with an initiative. ] 13.a4 Regaining the c4-square. b4 14.b5!? [ An interesting alternative to the main move, 14.cd5 when 0-0 15.c4! e8?! of Benko,P-Sherzer,A/Philadelphia 1988, and now ( 15...exf4 is superior) 16.xe7+ xe7 17.f5 with a plus. ] [ Otherwise, there is 14.e4 but this offers little. ] 14...exf4 15.c4!? [ A move that has been suggested, but never tried. 15.xc7+ is more common, xc7 ( or 15...xc7 16.d5 d8 17.gxf4 e6 18.e4 Larsen-Sax, Naestved 1988.) 16.gxf4 e6 17.c4 d7 18.h1 Hjartarson,JSokolov,A/Rotterdam 1989. ] [ 15.gxf4!? is also interesting. ] 15...xb5 [ 15...fxg3 is possible, when, after 16.bd6+ f8 17.xc8 gxh2+ 18.h1 xc8 19.f4 d4 20.e3 the outcome is far from clear. However, as Lautier is happy to allow this, he clearly has his own ideas here. ] 16.axb5 d4 17.xa7!? White goes all-out. He creates a passed b-pawn, and leaves his kingside to its own devices. g4 [ An awkward decision for Black. 17...fxg3 18.hxg3 is likely to transpose to the game, but the obvious ] [ 17...xb5!? is probably best avoided: 18.xd7! xd7 ( 18...xd7? loses after 19.a4 b8 20.xf4 ) 19.b6 d4+ 1478
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.h1 b8 21.c6+ with a powerful attack against the uncastled black king. ] 18.f2 0-0 19.b6 [ White keeps his trump card, after 19.xf4 Black can finally capture the b-pawn, xb5 ] 19...fxg3 20.hxg3 g5!? [ A surprising move, but possibly best. Black wants to control the f4-square, to avoid a variation such as 20...b5 21.a5 e6 22.b7 b8 23.f4! xc4 24.a8 d6 25.dxc4 with an advantage because of the powerful b7-pawn. ] 21.f1 b5 22.a6 b8 23.b7 d4 24.e3 c7 25.xd4 cxd4 26.d5+ g7 [ There is st ill lots of play left in this position, of course, but, it is true that, after 26...g7 27.g2 White won't be able to play Qe4 without allowing a perpetual check. ] ½-½
saunter around with his king. Or Black gets an extra tempo for protecting the pawn, but then White calmly plays Rhc1. White keeps a large positional advantage which often results in the win of material, although Black can hunker down and I wouldn't claim a win. 15.Bf3 seems the only way to get anything at all! Needless to say, it would have taken me forever to find this. As I was telling Tony, there are times when you feel that it's almost too bad chess engines exist! Anyway, here's some analysis: d6 ( 15...e7+ 16.c3! d5+ 17.b3 c7 18.ac1 b8+ 19.a3; 15...f4+ 16.e1 d5 17.xc6 d6 18.c1 d7 19.e5+ e7 20.xd5 xd5 21.c7+ d6 22.xa7 xe5 23.xa6 c8 24.f4+ f6 25.f2 c2 26.b4 dd2 27.e1 ) 16.hc1 c7 17.b3 f5 ( 17...e5 18.c5 b6 19.e1 f5 20.xa6 xa6 21.e4 fxe4 22.xe4 b6 23.c4 ) 18.c5 c8 19.e4 f6+ 1475 A34 20.e3 ] Lautier,Joel 2672 15...f4+ 16.e1 xg2+ 17.f1 d6 [ 17...e3+ 18.fxe3 doesn't help Black's Vachier Lagrave,Maxime 2527 cause because W hite's king needs to be ch-FRA Chartres FRA (9) 24.08.2005 diverted from protecting e2. ] [John Watson] 18.xc6 [ No better is 18.xg2 xe2 19.xc6+ Here's a game Webmaster Tony brought my ( 19.xc6 b7 20.a5+ b8= ) 19...xc6 attention to. In a theoretically important game 20.xc6 b7 21.c1 c8 22.a5+ b8 Black plays a risky move and White tries to 23.c6+= ] punish it by direct attack, allowing a variety of discovered checks. It's a rather amazing idea 18...b7 19.a5+ b8 20.d1 xd1+ c8 22.b4 b5 23.d2 and Black stays a (doomed) piece ahead for 21.xd1 10 moves. Can he get away with it? Only the It's amusing to see how long White allows the computer can help us this time! 1.f3 f6 knight to sit there on g2. But now Black puts 24.xe1 c1+ 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.d4 cxd4 an end to the fun. e1! 6.xd4 dxc4 7.xc6 xd1+ 8.xd1 bxc6 25.d1 c2 26.d2 c1+ 27.d1 c2 9.g2 d5 10.e3 e6 11.xc4 a6 Quite a game. On a purely theoretical level, it 12.a5 b4+ 13.d2 xd2+ 14.xd2 l o o k s a s t h o u g h W h i t e c a n k e e p t h e 0-0-0!? 15.hc1 A remarkable idea, advantage with 15.Bf3. temporarily jettisoning his bishop on g2 in ½-½ order to keep the c-pawn trained in his sights. I fed this position to a machine and A34 remarkably, the play was perfect from here on 1476 ou t . So is B la c k n o w e qu a l in th is ho t lyLavretzkij,Roman 2368 contested line? The machine coldly points out Amonatov,Farrukh 2584 inAUTOmarket Open (9) 18.07.2005 that Lautier "missed" [ 15.f3! (The machine also likes 15.Be4, [John Watson] but less and less after I played against it). 15.Bf3 was found instantly it allows every W hat happens when one of these Benko d i s c o v e r e d c h e c k , b u t W h i t e c a n j u s t Gambit look-alikes fails to discomfit the king. 1479
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.g3 e6 4.g2 d5 5.f3?! d4 6.b1 c6 7.d3 e5 Black has gained a tempo and is playing the White side of a King's Indian/ Benoni. 8.0-0 e7 9.b4?! I think that the general lesson here and in similar positions is that if White can't capture on a3 and prevent Black from castling (e.g., by Qa4xa3, then the Benko-like b4 has much less chance of succeeding. Compare the Benko Gambit itself. Thus the right move was [ 9.e3 ] 9...cxb4 10.a3 0-0 11.axb4 xb4 12.a3 xa3 13.xa3 g4 Black's king is safe and he has no weaknesses. Thus White has no compensation for his pawn. 14.h3 f5 15.h4 [ 15.b3 b8 is easy to play. ] 15...e6 16.a4 d7! 17.c2 [ No better is 17.fb1 c5 18.d1 d7 ] 17...c5 18.a3 d6 19.f3 [ 19.fb1 f5 ] 19...b6!? 20.d2 ab8 21.b4 xb4 22.xb4 a5 23.a3 d7 24.h2 f5 Black doesn't have to attack in this way but it's not bad to do so. 25.fb1 e4! 26.b3 [ 26.dxe4 fxe4 27.xe4 xe4 28.xe4 xf2+ ] 26...xb3 27.xb3 f4! 28.ab1 exd3 29.exd3 fxg3+ 30.fxg3 xh3! 31.xb6 [ 31.xh3 f2+ 32.g1 xh3 33.xf2 h2+ 34.f3 e8! ] 31...xg2 32.xg2 be8 33.1b2 f5 The e nd, a lt hou gh B lack f id dles arou nd . 34.d6 xd3? [ 34...f1+ 35.h2 e2+ 36.xe2 xe2+ 37.h3 f1+ 38.h4 g5+! leads to mate. ] 35.d5+ h8 36.e6 d8 37.d6 f1+ 38.h2 xd6 39.xd6 f2+ 40.xf2 xf2+ 41.h3 f1+ 42.h2 xc4 43.d8+ g8 44.xd4 e8 45.c5 a4 46.h3 h6 47.a3 e4 48.h2 h7 49.h3 f5+ 50.g4 c2 51.e7 d3+ 52.h4 a3 53.a7 a2 54.g5 e4+ 55.h3 h1+ 0-1
1477 Lputian,Smbat G Krasenkow,Michal Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (2) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2625 2647 30.11.1999
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g3 A perfectly valid move, avoiding the popular theoretical main lines of 4.d4, but allowing Black to free his game with ...d5. d5 5.cxd5 [ White returns to this obvious reply, now that Black seems to have several equalizing lines against 5.d4 ] 5...xd5 6.g2 g6 [ A sound alternative to Rubinstein's variation, 6...c7 ] 7.a4!? [ A tricky move, which poses more problems than either 7.0-0 or ] [ 7.d3 ] [ the point being that after the immediate 7.g5 e6 8.ge4 , Black can simply reply b6 , defending his c5-pawn in the most logical manner, so by immediately pinning the c6-knight, W hite's seventh move is aimed at avoiding this line. ] 7...g7 8.g5 Pressurizing Black along the h1-a8 diagonal. e6 Cle a rl y b e st . 9.ge4 The entire point behind W hite's play, qu e st ion in g B la ck's ab ilit y t o d e f e n d h is importantc5-pawn b6 10.b5 c4 11.b3 A. Petrosian's move, pref erring to gain a central majority than go pawn-hunting. [ 11.a4!? had been played before, to win the c-pawn, but it is very dangerous: 0-0 12.xb6 axb6 13.xc4 e5 14.d3! ( 14.c2?! d4 15.b1 f5 16.c3 e4 17.d3 b5! gave Black a powerful initiative in T a t a i , S - K a r p o v , A / L a s P a l m a s 1 9 7 7 .) 14...e6 15.g5 xc4!? ( 15...b8 16.c1 d4 is also fun for Black, Petrosian, A-Peshina,G/USSR 1979.) 16.xd8 fxd8 17.dxc4 d4 with good play for the pawn, Hjartarson,J-Malisauskas,V/Moscow 1994. ] 11...0-0 [ There is nothing to be gained by 11...a6 12.c5 f8?! because of the tactic 13.f6+! xf6 14.xb6 d4 15.bxc4! c2+ 16.d1 xa1 17.d5 and wins. ] 12.bxc4 d4 13.b1 xc4 14.0-0 The critical position for this variation, Black's 1480
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pieces are aggressively placed, but White has the strategical advantage of a better pawn structure. [ 14.d3?! s e e m s w o r s e , d6 15.xd6 xd6 16.0-0 1/2-1/2 Petrosian,A-Jelen,I/ Bled SLO 1999. Black can continue with e5! ] 14...f5 Black tries to keep hold of the initiative, but this move may turn out to be weakening. 15.c5 b6 16.b3 b5!? [ The first original move of the game, Petrosian,A-Lau,R/Lippstadt 1993, had c o n t i n u e d : 16...c6! to impede the white development, 17.d3 4e5 18.b5 d8 19.b1 c7 20.a4 a6 21.b2 a7! intending ...b5, with interesting play. ] 17.xb5 xb5 [ 17...xa1? w o u l d l o s e t o 18.xa1 defending the b5-knight, of course. ] 18.d3 b6 19.b2 xb2 20.xb2 A quick stocktaking shows that W hite has solved his development problems, and retains the better structure. On top of that, his 'English' bishop dominates its counterpart. d7 21.a3! A strong move, taking control of some queenside dark squares. a4 [ White's previous move also stops Black f r o m p l a y i n g 21...c6? as 22.d4 is strong. ] 22.ab1 a6 23.d4 ab8 24.fc1 White's play is simple, he develops his rooks to the open files, and brings pressure to bear on the black queenside. b5?! 25.c6 [ Not bad, but 25.c6 was also strong, f7?! 26.xd7 xd7 27.xb5! winning, e.g. xb5? 28.xb5 xb5 29.c8+ f7 30.f8# ] 25...xc6 26.xc6 b6 27.d6! xc6 28.xc6 The black position falls apart. c3 29.xe6+ f7 30.b2 b6 31.d5?! [ A typical human reaction, simplifying into a won position, but 31.e3! was very powerful, as Black is virtually in zugzwang, e.g. b4 ( or 31...a6 32.d7 ) 32.c4 a5 33.e8 winning the exchange in both cases. ] 31...xd5 32.xd5 a6 33.c2 Elementary, controlling the open c-file. g7 34.c6 b7 35.d4+ h6 36.b6 e7 37.e3+ xe3 38.fxe3 c7 [ 38...a7 would be very passive. ] 39.xa6 c1+ 40.f2 h1 41.h4 h5
Desperately trying for some counterplay. 42.a4 b4 43.b6 b1 44.a5 g4 45.a6 h3 46.d4 b3 47.d5 1-0
1478 Lputian,Smbat G Perunovic,Milos TCh Neum BIH (4) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2634 2478 04.06.2002
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.g3 f6 4.g2 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.c3 c7 7.0-0 e5 8.d3 e7 9.d2 Threatening to capture on c6. d7 10.c4 f6 The best move, the pawn sac line is under a cloud at the moment, see both Van der Sterren, P-Van Wely,L and Piket,JKasparov,G. 11.f4 b5 12.e3 c8 13.a4 b4 14.b5 exf4 15.xc6!? A wild novelty. Others: [ 15.xf4 goe s f o r p ie ce activity, e6 16.f5! 0-0 ( 16...xf4 17.fd6+ favours White) 17.e4 with chances to both sides, Granda Zuniga,J-Illescas Cordoba,M/ Madrid 1998. ] [ 15.xc7+ xc7 ( 15...xc7 16.d5 d8 is also reasonable, Larsen,B-Sax,G/ Naestved 1988) 16.gxf4 e6 17.c4 d7 18.h1 0-0 Black has a good position, Hjartarson, J-Sokolov,A/Rotterdam WCup 1989. ] [ 15.gxf4 a6?! 16.xc7+ xc7 17.c4 gains a tempo on the above, Bellon Lopez,JIzeta Txabarri,F/ESP-ch 1989, although it is still not very much. ] [ W e h a v e a l r e a d y l o o k e d a t 15.c4!? in Lautier,J-Leko,P. ] 15...xc6!? [ Black prepares an exchange sac, 15...fxe3 16.xd7+ xd7 17.xc7+ xc7 18.xe3 is also playable. ] 16.xa7 b7!? [ 16...fxe3 17.xc6 d7 18.a5 is again possible, Black might even consider h5!? as the white kingside is poorly defended. ] 17.xc8 fxe3 18.b6 h5! The critical position, White has a material advantage but Black has serious attacking possibilities based on his powerful light-squared bishop which 1481
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 dominates the h1-a8 diagonal. 19.xe3 [ The sharp 19.a5!? h4 20.a4+ f7 21.xe3 is also possible, but one can hardly blame Lputian for his choice. ] 19...h4 20.f2 The white king sees that there is no future on g1 with the h-file opening, and so decides to 'leg it'. hxg3+ 21.hxg3 d5 22.xd5 xd5 23.e1 e5 24.d2 xg3+ 25.f2 d6 26.e3 The white king has reached relative safety on e1, and White is still an exchange to the good. f7 27.c1 h5 28.g3 [ 28.g1! menaces Qg3. ] 28...d7 29.b3?! This move gives the black bishop an extra target. d5 30.d4 cxd4 31.xd4 h3 32.e3?! Missing Black's next. e6! Exchanging queens would normally be to W hite's advantage, but here the weakness of b3 (and if this pawn falls, a4 after it) means that Black has no problems. 33.xe6+ xe6 34.b1 c5 35.d2 d4?! [ 35...h3 is simple, and effective. ] 36.d3 c3 37.e1 [ 37.e4! would chase the bishop from d5 and relieve the pressure on b3. ] 37...h3+ 38.e3 e5! 39.xb4! A reasonable winning try - W hite offers to return the exchange to eliminate the b4-pawn and free his queenside pawns. h4 40.e1 e4+ 41.e2 h2+ [ 41...xb1? 42.xh4 ] 42.f2 g5! Rather than capture the rook Black prepares to push his g-pawn to g3, and win the white bishop. 43.bc1 g4 44.c4 f5 45.a5 Anyway, there was no defence. g3 46.a6 gxf2 47.a7 h8 Just in time, the threat was Rxe4 and a8(Q). 48.xf2 g3 49.f1 h2+ 50.d1 a2 51.a4 Without this move White could even be lost. xa4 52.bxa4 d6 53.g1 c5 54.g6+ d7? [ A careless move, 54...e5 55.a6 a8 56.d2 f4 draws. ] 55.g7+? [ 55.g8! wins a bishop: xe3 ( 55...xa7? 56.g7+ ) 56.a8 xa8 57.xa8 ] 55...d6 56.d2 b4+ 57.e2 c5 58.a5 d5 59.h7 e4 60.f7 e6 61.g7 d6 62.h7 d5 63.h6+ c7 64.a6 a8 65.d3 b7 66.f6 xa7 67.xf5 a6
The two bishops are capable of holding their own against the rook and two pawns here. 68.e4 c6 69.f6 b5 70.e5 b8 71.e6 xa5 72.e7 d7 73.c4 g3 74.h6 f4 75.g6 White can win one of the bishops for his e-pawn, of course, but rook against the remaining bishop is a draw. b5+ 76.b3 a4+ 77.c3 d7 78.c4 b5+ 79.d5 d2?? 80.g8?? [ These moves must have been played in t i m e t r o u b l e , 80.c6! allows the pawn to queen! ] 80...b4 81.a8+ b6 82.b8+ c7 [ 82...c7 83.xb5 xe7 ] ½-½
1479 Lputian,Smbat G Timman,Jan H Corus Wijk aan Zee NED (2) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2605 2655 16.01.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 c6 6.g2 g6 7.a4 g7 8.g5 e6 9.ge4 b6 10.b5 0-0! [ A n e x c i t i n g a l t e r n a t i v e t o 10...c4 , Black simply sacrifices the c5-pawn. ] 11.xc5 [ Difficult to choose between this and 11.xc5 e.g. d4 12.b5 f5 13.ed6 a4 14.c7 with unclear play. ] 11...d4 12.d3 e7 13.b3 [ Better than 13.b4 when a5 14.e3 f3+! 15.xf3 axb4 is good for Black. ] 13...e5 14.0-0 e6 Black has obtained a useful lead in development in return for his pawn. 15.b1 fc8 16.d3 xc3! 17.bxc3 xe2+ 18.h1 xc3 19.c2 c8 Black has fair compensation for the exchange, and, most importantly, he has wrecked the solid white pawn structure. 20.d2 e4 21.d4 [ White has to beware the threats along the a1-h8 diagonal, 21.dxe4? xe4 22.xe4 xb3 leaves Black a good pawn up. ] 21...b5 22.g5! e8!? [ Black prefers to keep the queens on the board, 22...xg5 23.xg5 xb3 24.axb3 f5 is only equal. ] 23.e3 f5 24.h4 d5 25.g4! To break the strong black pawn chain. d6 26.g3 bc4 1482
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 27.f4 e7 28.ac1 White has finally developed his forces, but the black pieces occupy powerful central squares. f8 29.fe1 g5 30.xd6 xd6 31.gxf5 xf5 32.c2 [ 32.h3! f8 33.c5 may be even stronger. ] 32...f4 33.ec1 h6 34.c3 [ 34.c7!? ] 34...c4 35.d2 b5 36.xc4 xc4 37.a4 a6 38.axb5 White has played excellently to avoid a disadvantage. axb5 39.e3 d6 40.d2 f6 41.a1 d8 42.a7 c7 Lining up a big threat on h2. 43.h3 f7 44.d1 g7 45.d5?! d3?! [ 45...xd5 appears perfectly reasonable. ] 46.g3? [ 46.c1! c4 47.xe4 xd5 48.c3+ gives Black plenty of chances to go wrong. ] 46...b6 47.e3 b4! Suddenly the b-pawn's march to the first rank becomes a serious possibility. 48.xb6? [ In the resulting position it is almost impossib le to stop the b-pawn, instea d 48.xc7 xc7 49.xe4 xe4+ 50.xe4 was a possible line to draw. ] 48...xb6 49.xf7+?! [ 49.a4 ] 49...xf7 50.f1 [ 50.d6 was a better bet, but after b3 51.f1 c2 52.c4+ e8 53.xb3 Black wins by t h e s u r p r i s i n g xb3! 54.b1 e3! (to play ...Bd5+) 55.xb3 e2 56.b1 xf2 ] 50...c2 51.d2 b3 52.c4 e3! 53.d6+ f6 54.fxe3 e4+ 55.g2 [ 55.g1 xe3+ is even worse. ] 55...b2 56.a2 xe3 57.h4 g4 58.d7 e7 59.h2 f4+ 60.g1 xg2 61.xg2 h5 After capturing the d7-pawn, the two passed pawns win easily, despite the opposite-colour bishops. 0-1
1480 Lushenkov,Mikhail M Tregubov,Pavel V ch-Rapid Olginka RUS rapid (10) [Nigel Davies]
A34 2441 2598 26.04.2011
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.e3 f6 5.e2 h6 This appears to be a 'novelty'. In
recent years such one square rook pawn moves have become all the rage. Of course it remains to be seen if Tregubov will play this wa y i n a n n o n - r a p i d g a m e . 6.0-0 e4 I guess this is the 'correct' order of moves, but it all looks very strange to me. [ After 6...d6 W hite can play 7.d4 e4 8.h4 intending 9.Nf5. ] 7.e1 d6 And this also seems to be 'right', pointing the bishop in the general direction of W hite's king whilst being ready to lop off a knight that lands on f4 (I suppose). In this way he can stop a White knight from establishing itself on the d5 square. 8.d3 exd3 9.xd3 0-0 10.b3 b6 11.b2 b7 12.f3 b8 13.h3 e8 14.d2 a6 15.fd1 e7 The position of Black's pieces mitigates the potential defect (d5) in his pawn structure very nicely. At this stage of the proceedings he is doing just fine. 16.xb7 xb7 17.a4 g6 18.e1 e5?! But here I think he's on the wrong track as the exchange of his dark square bishop leaves White with pressure on the a1-h8 diagonal. [ 18...e6 looks better. ] 19.f3 xc3 20.xc3 e6 21.d5 d6 22.ad1 d8 23.a1?! Here and on the next move White plays inexplicably passively and hands back the initiative. [ He should have played 23.a5! after which b5 24.cxb5 xb5 25.xc5! wins a pawn because of the pin on the d-file. ] 23...e7 24.b2?! Strange, very strange.. b8 25.5d3 b5 26.axb5 axb5 27.a2 bxc4 28.bxc4 e4 29.d2 g5 30.a6 h4 Having the knights around the king like t h i s i s a g o o d wa y t o c r e a t e c o n f u s i o n , especially when there's not much thinking time. 31.f1 e4 32.g3 f3+ 33.g2 e5 34.xe5 dxe5 35.a5 f6 36.f3 b2+ 37.d2 d6 38.g1 h7 [ 38...e4! was already very good, but Tregubov probably wanted to avoid forcing matters in the hope of teasing out another mistake. ] 39.c3 g6 40.g4 b4 41.e4 g5 42.d5 b7 43.f1? [ Missing 43.f4! xf4 44.f1 g5 45.xf7 when White appears to be doing well. ] 43...a5!? I guess White was in serious time trouble here Tregubov is sacrificing a piece 1483
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 for an attack which is especially effective against an opponent in time trouble. 44.xc5 b3 45.xa5 xf3 46.d2 [ White is also losing after the alternatives, for example 46.e1 xh3 47.h2 f4 etc. ] [ or 46.g2 h4 47.xf3 f6+ 48.e2 f2+ 49.d3 f3+ followed by mate. ] 46...h4 47.g2 ef6 48.xe5 f2 49.h1 e2 50.g2 xg2+ 51.xg2 f2+ 0-1
1481 Malakhov,Vladimir Nisipeanu,Liviu Dieter 4th IECC Istanbul TUR (10) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2672 2606 10.06.2003
Sometimes, when playing through a game, you wonder just where did one of the players go wrong. In this game, Black played lots of sensible moves, but just didn't seem to be able to avoid defeat! 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 e6 4.e4 c6 5.e2 b6 6.0-0 Or White can play the immediate [ 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 although xd4 ( if 7...b7 8.f4 is the critical test of Black's set-up, menacing Nb5-d6/c7, see Onischuk, A-Leitao,R/Poikovsky RUS 2001) 8.xd4 c5 is likely to transpose, although it may be less accurate as Black might delay . ..Bb7. ] 6...b7 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 xd4 9.xd4 c5 10.d3 c7 [ 10...b8 is similar, 11.e3 0-0 12.xc5!? bxc5 13.f4 d6 14.ad1 d8 15.f3 with an edge to White, Smirin,I-Hansen,C/ Cap d`Agde 1996. ] 11.f3 W hite threatens e5. e5 12.g3!? This is direct, White threatens Bf4. [ 12.d1 d8 ( but what about 12...g5!? as 13.xg5?! xg5 14.e5 is well met by the combination xf2+! 15.xf2 xf3 16.xf3 g4+ 17.g1 e3+ and Black is better) 13.g3 is similar, g5 14.b3 h5 15.b2 and Black had some problems along the a1-h8 diagonal e7 ( 15...g4!? 16.xg4 hxg4 17.a4 xf2+ 18.f1 xe4 19.xe5 xd3+ 20.xd3 xh2 is good for White ) 16.d2 with a plus, Lebedev,VRychagov,A/Kolontaevo 1997. ]
12...g5 T o c o n t r o l f 4 . 13.b3 d4 This is played to dissuade White from placing his bishop on b2 as in the previous note. 14.d2 [ 14.b2 is playable, though: xe4 15.xe4 xb2 16.d6+ e7 17.ad1 and White has enough compensation for the pawn. ] 14...h5!? This position is incredibly similar to my game against Horvath, that I annotated la s t ye a r - o n l y t h e wh i t e p i e ce s a r e o n notably different squares. [ In retrospect, maybe this last move is too ambitious, and Black should prefer 14...a6 ] 15.ad1 White is lining-up against the bishop on d4, and the d7-pawn, so Black must act quickly. h4! The best chance, sacrificing a piece for several pawns, Black can't stop Nb5 by [ 15...a6? as White wins by 16.xg5! xc3 17.xf6 xf6 18.xd7+ f8 19.xb7 and ] [ 15...c6 16.e2 b2 17.b1 is also rather awkward, as Rxb2 followed by Bd4 is menaced. ] 16.b5! White walks bravely into the complications, as [ 16.g4 may be playable, but is positional yuk! ] 16...hxg3 17.xd4 Obviously forced, as [ 17.hxg3?? xg3+ 18.g2 h2# ] 17...gxh2+ 18.h1 xd4 Missing a chance to sac the queen (as in my game against Horvath) by [ 18...xe4!? 19.g2! ( 19.xe4 xd4 20.xd4 xe4 seems OK for Black; 19.xe5?? xf3# ) 19...xd4 20.xd4 h5 with chances, although White's piece seems superior to the three pawns. ] 19.xd4 g4 20.g2 [ 20.e5!? gxf3 21.exf6 a6 is messy. ] 20...xe4 21.f4 a6 22.e2 b5 Black is trying to clear a path for his central pawns. 23.g3 xg3+ 24.xg3 xg2+ 25.xg2 bxc4 26.bxc4 c8 27.d4! After this move it is clear that W hite is on top, he will recuperate the h-pawn and meanwhile the black pawns have difficulty moving on to dark squares. h1+ 28.xh1 xh1 29.xh1 f5 30.d6 f7 31.c5 f6 32.b4 e5 33.b6 f4 34.xa6 f5 35.a7 e6 36.g2 The black pawns are not going very far. h8 1484
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 37.b7 a8 38.b8 The simplest. xa2 39.e8+ f6 40.xe5+ f7 41.d8 g3 42.xf4! [ 42.xf4 gxf2 43.xd7+ e6 44.d2 rounds-up the last pawn. ] 1-0
White's kingside light squares are weak. ] 18...xh3 19.xh4 g4 20.e3! [ A new move! 20.h2 was agreed drawn in Stanec,N-Bawart,M/AUT 1999. ] 20...h5 Black plays resolutely on the kingside to exploit his e4-pawn, and prepares to advance its fellow. 21.ae1 f5 22.d5 Opening the c3-bishop's diagonal. c5 23.g3?! [ 23.b4!? is worth consideration, as if f4 1482 A34 then White can sac the exchange: 24.xe4! Marin,Mihail 2557 xe4 25.xe4 xe4 26.xg4 with some Movsesian,Sergei 2666 advantage, owing to his powerful bishops XVI ECC Neum BIH (2) 25.09.2000 and passed pawn. ] [Tony Kosten] 23...f7! With a threat! 24.g2?? [ 24.d2! h8 25.b3 would allow the 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.e3 e5! This seems to queen to escape to g5. ] be a good reply, allowing Black free play. 4.c3 f6 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 e4 7.e5 24...h8 Suddenly the white queen is trapped, and Black wins! 25.xe4 f6?! b4 [ 25...fxe4 26.xe4 f6 is simple, and very [ 7...d6 is considered in the archives. ] strong. ] 8.e2 a5! [ B e t t e r t h a n 8...e7?! 9.f4 26.xf5 xf5 [ 26...xf5? would actually lose to 27.e7+ with advantage. ] g8 28.xg7+! xg7 29.xf6+ xf6 9.xc6 dxc6 10.d2 30.e7+ ] [ A n a t u r a l r e p l y , b u t 10.0-0 is worth consideration as xc3!? 11.bxc3 xc3 27.e7+ g8 28.xf6?! [ Now that the black bishop is no longer on 12.b1 0-0 13.b3 a5 14.g3 g4, the white queen should escape: 28.f4 offers White a useful initiative, Bertholee,Rwhen h5 29.h4 xh4 30.gxh4 xh4 Polgar,J/Amsterdam 1990. ] might offer some chances. ] 10...0-0 11.0-0 e8! 12.a3 White hereby obtains the bishop pair, but the temporary loss 28...gxf6 [ 28...xh4 appears even simpler, as of control over g5 allows the black queen to 29.xg7+ ( 29.xh4 is hopeless) 29...xg7 take an active post on the kingside. xc3 30.xg7 xc4 is easily winning for Black. ] 13.xc3 g5 Menacing to win the exchange 29.f4 h5 30.g2?! by ... Bh3. 14.c1 [ 30.h4 xh4 31.gxh4 xh4 32.b3 [ T h i s i s t h e s t a n d a r d r e p l y . 14.d2!? is the only chance. ] would seem more straightforward, but allows 31.g1 g4 32.e4 f8! the tactic e3! 15.fxe3 e4 16.c1 xc3 30...h3+ 17.xc3 xe3+?! ( 17...xe3 18.d2 h3 33.e3 f3 [ 33...f3 34.xf3 xf3 35.xf3 xe7 19.f3 is equal ) 18.xe3 xe3 19.f3 d7 leaves Black a rook up. ] when W hite managed to exploit his extra queenside pawn, although it should have 0-1 been a draw, Kosten,A-Karr/France 2000. ] 14...g6 15.f4 A34 [ 15.e3 g4 16.fe1 b5!? 17.b3 ab8 1483 gave Black good chances in Pachman, LMaslov Symm,Mi 2324 Ksieski,Z/Germany 1995. ] Nechepurenko,Roman V 2402 15...h5 16.fe1 g4 Naturally, the exchange ch-RUS u18 Nojabrsk RUS (3) 08.04.2005 of o ne o f W h it e's bisho ps is po sition ally [John Watson] desirable for Black. 17.f1 h4 18.h3!? [ It is possible to avoid this move, but after, 1.c4 b6 2.e4 b7 3.c3 c5 say, 18.c7 h3 19.g3 ab8 [ 3...e6 is the more-or-less normal move, 1485
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 when 4.d4 b4 is a main-line English Defence and 4.g3 f5 is generally considered okay for Black. ] 4.g3 [ 4.f3 followed by d4 leads to a normal Symmetrical English. ] 4...g6 5.g2 g7 6.ge2 We're back to the Botvinnik setup, f eatured in last month's column. c6 7.0-0 d6 8.f4 This is the first irregular move. White intends to push forward on the kingside. f6 [ 8...e6 9.d3 ge7 is a standard and reliable setup. ] 9.d3 e6!? Generally ...Nf6 and ...e6 don't go so well together but here Black is well enough developed that it's perfectly playable. 10.h3 Preparing Be3. White could also try to exploit ...e6 by [ 10.d4!? cxd4 11.xd4 xd4 12.xd4 0-0 13.d3 ] 10...d7!? [ 10...0-0 11.e3 c8 12.b3 would prepare d4, but Black strikes first by d5 ] 11.b5!? [ Better 11.e3 0-0 ( 11...d4? 12.xd4 cxd4 13.b5 ) 12.d4 leaves White a little better. ] 11...b8 12.d4 a6 13.dxc5 axb5 14.cxb5 bxc5 15.bxc6 xc6 16.c3 0-0 The tactics have cleared and Black has a nice position with pressure down the queenside files and active bishops. 17.d3 d4+ [ 17...f5 18.exf5 d4+ 19.h2 xg2 20.xg2 gxf5 is another good plan. ] 18.e3 e5 19.f2 b6 [ Or 19...c4 20.d2 b6 ] 20.d1 a6 21.d2!? b6 22.b3 a5 23.c1 f6 24.h4 ad8 25.f5 gxf5 24.h4 has prevented . ..g5. Black still owns more of the centre however. 26.xf5 d5 27.xd4 cxd4 28.b1 xd2 29.xd2 d7 30.ff1 f5!? Black is aiming for passed central pawns. Also possible was [ 30...dxe4 31.xe4 d5 ] 31.exf5!? [ 31.exd5 e4 32.xe4 ( 32.c5 ) 32...fxe4 33.xe4 ] 31...e4 32.a4? [ 32.xe4! dxe4 33.xe4 leaves White with 3 pawns for the piece and two passers on the queenside. ]
32...xf5 33.c6 c8 34.e1 g4! 35.b4 d3 36.b3 e2 [ The pawns can't be stopped for long, e.g., 36...e2 37.h3 e3 38.cc1 d4! ( 38...d2 39.xe2 dxc1+ 40.xc1 d4 41.d3 ) 39.a1 f3 40.eb1 d2 41.b5 d1+ 42.xd1 xd1 43.xd1 d3 44.a5 e2 45.e1 d6 46.b6 f5 47.xf5 xf5 48.a6 b5 ] 0-1
1484 Meier,Georg Timofeev,Artyom XLIV Capablanca Memorial Elite (2) [Jonathan Rowson]
A34 2641 2677 09.06.09
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 c6 6.g2 c7 7.a3!? A noteworthy move order. e5?! [ 7...e6 is the most solid move, waiting a while before playing e5, but then W hite might later emerge a tempo up on lines where Black plays e5 in one go. ] [ 7...g6 A) 8.b4 is playable, but not particularly scary for Black, cxb4 ( 8...g7!? ) 9.axb4 g7 is fine for Black according to Lautier.; B) 8.h4!? A cunning move with hidden depths h6 9.d3 g7 ( 9...b6!? ) 10.e3 ( 10.d2!? looks like the trickiest move to me, planning some combination of Rc1, N e 4 a n d b 4 .) 10...b6 ( 10...e6; 10...d4 ) 11.h5! g5 12.xg5! ] 8.b4! This has been known for some time to be better for White, so it is surprising that a player of Timofeev's class should walk into it. f6 [ 8...cxb4 9.axb4 xb4 10.xe5 xe5 11.a4+ ] 9.b1 cxb4 10.axb4 a6 [ 10...xb4 11.xe5 ] [ 10...xb4 11.xb4 xb4 12.a4+ ] 11.0-0 e7 12.b5 axb5 13.xb5 xb5 14.xb5 0-0 15.d3 a5 16.b3+ h8 17.e3 e6 18.b1 a2 [ 18...xb5 19.xb5 d7 20.b1 is also much better for White. b8 21.d2 d4 22.xd7 xd7 23.xd4 exd4 24.b3 b5 25.xd4 b4 26.c6! ] 1486
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.e1 a5 20.d4!? Thematic, but White had two versions of the same tactical shot that were much more decisive [ 20.h3! g8 21.b6 a8 22.xa2 xa2 23.xa5 ] [ 20.b6! a8 21.xa2 xa2 22.xa5 ] 20...exd4 21.xd4 g8 22.h5 c4 23.e4 h6?? [ 23...a5! seems to keep the balance, so missing those tricks could have cost White dearly. 24.h3 xe3 25.xh7 g4! ] 24.xh6 gxh6 25.c1 f7 26.xh6+ h7 27.xh7 f8 28.g6 g7 29.e6 1-0
1485 Mikhalchishin,Adrian Avrukh,Boris Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (1) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2552 2588 29.11.1999
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 Expressing a desire to play a Botvinnik system as Black. 4.e3 [ Trying to cut across Black's plans, 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 is more usual. ] 4...f6 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 e4 7.e5!? [ Unusual, 7.g5 b4 8.d5 e5 is more common. ] 7...d6!? [ Putting immediate pressure on e5, this is p r e f e r r e d t o t h e o l d m o v e , 7...b4 be c a u s e a f t e r 8.e2 e7?! White has 9.f4! d6 10.b5!N b8 ( 10...b4+ 11.f1! ) 11.c5! xe5? 12.dxe5 xe5 13.xe5 xe5 14.d6+ with a powerful initia tive, Sherbakov,R-Ma ksime nko,A / Yugoslavia 1996. ] 8.f4!? [ Franco's speciality, bolstering the e5outpost. 8.g4 xg4 9.xg4 0-0 10.g5 f5 is nothing for White, Vainerman,I-Zaid,L/ USSR 1985. ] 8...0-0 [ 8...c7 is likely to transpose, 9.e2 d6 10.xc6 bxc6 11.0-0 0-0 etc., Franco,ZIzeta Txabarri, F/San Sebastian 1993. ] 9.e2 b6! [ A perfectly logical, and apparently effective, new move. Previously kicking the knight
away by 9...c7 10.e3 d6 was favoured: 11.xc6 bxc6 12.0-0 d5?! 13.c5 a5 14.a3 and White advanced his b-pawn to create a passed c-pawn, Franco, ZMatamoros Franco,C/ Seville 1994. ] 10.e3 e7 Black brings the knight to the square f5. 11.0-0 b4 12.c1 f5 13.f2 b7 14.a3 xc3 Black is happy to exchange this bishop, knowing that the f2-bishop is quite restricted. 15.xc3 e8? [ I don't know about this move, taking away the f6-knight's one-and-only retreat, when a good move such as 15...d5!? is possible. ] [ or even 15...d6 16.g4 d5 ] 16.e1?! [ A cop-out, 16.g4! seems strong, as g5 will win the f6-knight, so e3!? ( 16...xd4?! 17.xd4 d6 18.xf7 is good for White) 17.e1 e4 18.gxf5 xc3 19.xc3 d6 with some compensation for the two pieces, but I prefer White. ] 16...c8 17.d5 [ Now, of course, 17.g4? is well met by e3 as the bishop can no longer retreat to e1. ] 17...e3! 18.xe3 d6 [ The shot 18...xd5! was certainly worth trying: 19.cxd5 xc3 20.d3! W h i t e ' s s a v i n g r e s o u r c e , ( if, instead, 20.bxc3?! then xe3 21.d2 xd5 22.f3 c7 and Black enjoys a solid pawn advantage ) 20...xd3 ( 20...xe3?! 21.xe3 c5 22.xh7+! wi t h a t t a c k) 21.xd3 xe3 22.xe3 level. ] 19.g4 xg4 20.xg4 h5 Black has calculated well. 21.f2 xe3 22.cxe3 xe3 23.xe3 xc4 24.xh5 White has won a pawn, but Black has seen that he will regain it by force. c1+ [ Forcing White onto the defensive, if 24...xf4?? 25.h3 ] 25.d1 g6 26.e2 f6 The point, both . .. Qxf4, and ...Qd4 are menaced. 27.d2 c4 28.g3 d4! 29.xd4 xd4 30.c3 xd5 31.xd5 xd5 The ending is drawn. 32.f2 d2+ 33.e2 d3 34.e3 d2+ ½-½
1487
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A34 promise sufficient compensation for the pawn. b6 The ninth move by this piece in the opening, whilst the other black pieces look on! 1983 14.d3 d7 15.c1 a6 16.d2 c8 Black has managed to develop his queenside without loss. 17.h4! Played both to attack on This game features a truly staggering and the kingside, and to develop the h1-rook. decisive journey from the h1-rook, whose xc1+ 18.xc1 c7 19.h5 h6 20.h4! prospects seemed quite bleak after the first Watch this piece! First, the possibility of this ten moves. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 d5 rook going to g4 inhibits Black from moving 21.f4! 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 The sharpest line. h is d a rk -squ a re d b ish o p . a4 Eyeing the f7-pawn. d6 Else Ne5 was a 6.c4 d3+ 7.e2 f4+ 8.f1 e6 9.b4 [ Probably the mainline, although in the sixth problem, but now... 22.g4 c4 23.e1! g a m e o f t h e m a t c h , M i l e s w a s a l s o a3? 24.e5! [ T h e p a w n g r a b b y 24.xa3?! bxa3 successful with the alternative 9.e5 g6 25.xa6 bxa6 26.xg7 is worse, as after 10.a4+ d7?! ( 10...d7 11.xe6 fxe6 b5 Black's two bishops are strong. Instead 12.xd7 xd7 is almost equal, the doubled White notices the disguised opposition of e-pawns are balanced by the weakness of white rook and black bishop on the fourth d4. ) 11.d4! cxd4?! 12.b5 ( actually, the rank. ] immediate 12.xf7 is even stronger, xf7 25.xa3 bxa3 26.d5! c5 13.xe6+ xe6 14.xd4 and Black must 24...e7 r e t u r n a p i e c e t o s a v e t h e r o o k , h6 27.c3! The pin on the knight renews the twin 15.c4+ f6 16.xh6 winning. ) 12...g7?! threats of Rxa4, and d6. b6 28.b4! a5 ( 12...a6 ) 13.xf7! A k i n g h u n t ! xf7 Obviously forced. 29.d6 xd3?! [ Black's only chance was 29...d7 when 14.xe6+ xe6 15.b3+ f6 16.f3+ 30.dxe7?! allows xd3 ] e6 17.b3+ f6 18.h4!? playing for the win, h6? ( better to free g7 for the king by 30.xb7! Winning. d8 [ T h e p o i n t i s t h a t a f t e r 30...xc3 18...f8 19.xd4 e5 20.g5+ g7 W hite has the in-between move 31.xe7+ 21.d1 White has a strong attack, but there d8 32.xc3 regaining the piece with a is no immediate win,) 19.g5+! drawing the decisive advantage. ] king further into the open, hxg5 20.hxg5+ The d8-bishop cannot both defend xg5 21.g3+ f6 22.f4+ e6 31.e7+! 23.xh8 xh8 24.c7+ winning the black the queen, and the e7-square. f8 32.xa5 33.xa7 The rook skewers the two queen for three pieces, but the open king is xa5 a critical factor, xc7 25.xc7 b6 26.a4! bishops and brings play to a winning ending. d7 27.a5 c8 28.g3 c4 29.xg6+ g5 34.hxg6 c6 35.xa5 f6 30.f5+ d6 31.d5+ c7 1-0 32.xc4+ b8 33.d5 1-0 Miles,A-Hort,V/ London 1983. ] 1487 A34 9...cxb4 10.e2 [ 10.d5 is examined in Piket,J-Van Wely, Mohr,Georg 2465 L. ] Haba,Petr 2524 10...c5 Aut chT B Mitte 2003-4 (2) 09.11.2003 [ 10...d7 11.xe6 fxe6 12.d4 e5 13.b3! [Tony Kosten] exd4 14.g5 favours White- DzindzichasviliPeters/USA (ch) 1984. ] 1.e4 c5 2.f3 e6 Looks like a Sicilian? 3.c4 [ 10...c7 is probably best. ] N o t a n y m o r e ! c6 4.c3 f6 11.c2 e6 12.d4 The problem with Black's This transposes to a ...c5 Mikenas, where tenth move is that this gains a tempo. cd7 White prefers 4 Nf3 to the critical 4 e5. 5.e2 13.b2 The white king is awkwardly placed, d5 This seems logical, we have previously but his strong centre, and well-placed pieces considered 1486 Miles,Anthony J Hort,Vlastimil (m/4) London [Tony Kosten]
1488
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 5...b6 to control d4, and ] [ 5...b6 ] 6.exd5 exd5 7.d4 The position looks symmetric - White has played the extra Be2, b u t i t i s B l a c k t o m o ve . e6 8.a4!? A little unusual, [ 8.cxd5 avoids having to waste a second move with the white light-squared bishop, xd5 9.0-0 e7 10.xd5 xd5 11.e3 cxd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 0-0 15.f3 fd8 and this was s o o n a g r e e d d r a wn , T a l , M - D o r f m a n , I / Marseille 1989. ] 8...dxc4 9.dxc5 xc5 10.g5!? This is the curious point of White's play. d7 [ 10...d5!? is also worth consideration, e.g. 11.xd5 xd5 12.xc4 h6 13.xd5 xd5 14.e4 b4+ when Black's active pieces more than compensate the white bishops. ] 11.xf7?! A surprising novelty! [ 11.xc4 e7 12.0-0 0-0 was agreed drawn in Shtyrenkov,V-Kaiumov,D/Karvina 1992. ] 11...e7!! Black reacts well. [ 11...xf7 12.xc4+ e6 13.xc5 d4 14.d1 is wild, but probably good for White. ] 12.xh8 b4 The point, attacking the queen, and threatening to go to f2 via d3. 13.d1 d3+ 14.f1 xf2 Both f-pawns have disappeared in the opening, the Symmetrical E n g l i s h i s n o t a l w a y s b o r i n g ! 15.d5 Other moves are no better: [ 15.e1 xh1 16.xc4 xe1+ 17.xe1 b5 18.b3 0-0-0 19.f7 e8+ with a whopping initiative. ] 15...xd1 16.xe7 f2 Black is a rook down, but better! 17.g8!? An amazing move in an amazing position! [ 17.eg6 was the only alternative, xh1 18.e5 e7 19.hf7 b5 ( 19...f8 20.xc4 ) 20.xd7 xd7 21.f3 f8 22.g5 f2 with a clear advantage. ] [ 17.g1? xe7 wins the second knight. ] 17...xg8 After this Black will have to waste time to capture the second knight - but how will it ever escape? 18.g1 d3 Black has seen a nice winning line, but [ 18...e7 was also good, 19.xc4 e4 20.h1 f8+ 21.f7 e6 winning a piece. ]
19.xd3 cxd3 20.e3 A neat trick, but there is a flaw. xe3 21.e1 0-0-0 22.xe3 d2 [ 22...h6 would pick-up the h8-knight, but this is clearer. ] 23.e2 g4+ 24.f3 h6 Black captures the f3-rook and then the knight on h8. 0-1
1488 Morozevich,A Caruana,F Makedonia Palace GP (7.6) [Daniel Gormally]
A34 2760 2774 29.05.2013
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e3 e6 6.c2 As ever, Morozevich goes his own way, trying out a line that has been rare ly seen. He wants to def e r an y central action until later, at the moment he aims for a slow manoeuvering game. [ 6.d4 Is by far the most common path for W hite here. cxd4 ( 6...c6 7.d3 e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.a3 b6 10.c2 xc3 11.bxc3 g6 12.d1 cxd4 13.cxd4 b7 14.b2 c8 15.e2 Was probably only slightly better for W hite in Le Quang, L (2687)Ivanchuk, V (2776) Havana 2011) 7.exd4 b4 8.c2 c6 9.a3 e7 10.d3 h6 11.0-0 0-0 12.d1 d7 13.e2 e8 14.c2 f8 15.h4!? With interesting play in the game Aro nian , L (274 1)-Niels en, P (2626) Heraklio 2007 ] 6...e7 7.a3 0-0 8.b3 b6 [ W h it e d o e s n o t f e a r 8...xc3 9.dxc3 ( Clearly 9.xc3? f6 10.d4 cxd4 11.exd4 c6 would be very bad) 9...c6 10.d3 h6 11.0-0 as he would then have a very nice position, with the possibility of playing c4 or b4, putting the bishop on b2 etc. ] 9.b2 a6!? A rather dry move that I would not expect Kasparov to play, but Caruana hopes to take the sting out of the position he also fears the possibility of White later gaining a kingside attack, if he were able to hold on to the light-squared bishop. The onus is now on White to prove an opening advantage, if this is at all possible. Morozevich's answer to this is not wholly convincing. 10.xa6 [ 10.c4 xc4 11.bxc4 xc3 12.xc3 f6 ] 1489
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10...xa6 11.h4 [ 11.0-0 ac7 12.fd1 f6 13.ac1 is solid, if not particularly special for White. ] 11...ac7 12.e2 f6 13.g5 g6 14.f3 Morozevich has provoked ..g6, hoping that this will prove to be a weakness. However, it is not exactly clear if this is the case, and if is not, you argue that White has just lost time. xb2 15.xb2 f6 16.b4 e5 17.bxc5 bxc5 18.c2 e6 19.0-0 It seems slightly odd to me, to play all this h4 stuff and then just give up entirely on the idea of an attack on the kingside.. especially as it's Moro's style to play swashbuckling chess?! [ 19.h5 g7 20.h4 and Black has to be careful. f5 ( 20...e7 may be more circumspect, although White can continue his initiative with 21.b1 ) 21.g4! f6 22.gxf5 e4 23.b1 gxf5 24.g3 looks very dangerous for the defender. ] 19...c8 20.ab1 d7 21.d3 [ 21.h5!? gxh5 22.h4 was certainly worthy of consideration. ] 21...fd8 22.fd1 c6 23.d2 d7 24.dc1 b6 25.h5 g7 26.b3 cd8 27.g3 d5 28.c3 c6 29.b3 d5 30.f3 c7 31.c3 d7 32.h4 [ The natural 32.e4 may well have been superior. e7 ( 32...gxh5 33.g3 a l s o g i v e s W h i t e g o o d p l a y) 33.a4 and White is making progress. ] 32...a4 33.a2 g5 34.e4 b5 35.e2 a4 36.c4 b6 37.hxg6 hxg6 Caruana has defended extremely well in a cramped position, and now Morozevich feels obliged to sacrifice material, in order to make a n y f u rt h e r p ro gre ss . 38.xg6!? xc4 39.dxc4 e8 40.h4?! [ Objectively White should now bail out into a draw with 40.h5 f3+ ( 40...xg6 41.f5+ f7 42.h6+ g7 43.f5+= ) 41.xf3 xg6 42.f5+ h8 43.d1 xd1+ 44.xd1 When it is difficult to believe, given the slightly exposed nature of the black king and the strong knight on f5, that Black would have any realistic winning chances. However this is not Moro's style, he is a fighter and chooses to keep the game going for as long as possible. ] 40...h8 41.d1 xd1+ 42.xd1 d7 43.g4 h7 44.hf5 e6 45.e3 f4
46.d5 b8 47.f1?? After a long and hard fight, White blunders the game away! One of the leaders of the "computer generation", Caruana, is hardly likely to let this chance go begging... [ 47.xf4! exf4 48.h5 b1+ 49.h2 b8 was a draw. ] 47...h3+! Ouch! The queen is caught, and although White battles on valiantly, the result is never in doubt... 48.gxh3 g7 49.fe3 xg4+ 50.hxg4 b1+ 51.g2 xe4+ 52.g3 a5 53.a4 d4 54.h4 f5! 55.xf5 xc4 56.de7 e6 57.h5 c4 58.g6+ g8 59.h6+ g7 60.f5+ f7 61.h6+ e8 62.f5 f6 0-1
1489 Movsesian,Sergei Volokitin,Andrei ETCC (Open) Warsaw POL (4.14) [Fier, Alexandr]
A34 2700 2682 11.11.2013
White accelerates the Nd2-c4 manoeuvre and the players quickly enter an exotic queenless middlegame. W hite has good chances and little by little Movsesian outplays Volokitin. Afterwards he enters a must-win situation and missed some good opportunities. 8...Be6 is not the main move, but it's interesting to see some subtleties regarding delaying 0-0 in some positions. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 c6 6.g2 c7 7.d3 e5 8.d2 e6 Trying to make a setup with ...Qd7 which is not usual in the normal variations. Personally I don't believe in this idea and I think the way Movsesian played gives White a slight advantage. [ 8...d7 this is a natural move and the most played one. Here I don't think W hite wins much by delaying castling, 9.c4 b5! now e5 is not hanging 10.e3 ( 10.xc6? is possible in the main lines, but not here, since the h1-rook will be hanging xc6 ) 10...c8 11.0-0 d4 and ok, the position is still normal and there is a lot of life, but Black has been doing well in the games played so far, Ribli, Z (2525)-Olafsson, F (2550)/Las Palmas 1974. ] [ 8...e7 was faced by Movsesian in another 1490
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 game, and again he used the fact that his king was still on e1 to bring it directly into the fight 9.c4 f6 10.f4 exf4 11.xf4 d4 ( 11...e6 is also possible) 12.xc7 xc7 13.e3 c6 14.b3 and White had the initiative in Movsesian, S (2688)-Babula, V (2585)/CZE-chT 1213 2012 (11.1). ] 9.c4 d7 10.a4 Now White goes into a forcing variation. f6 11.f4 d4 12.xd7+ xd7 An improvement over one old game: [ 12...xd7 was seen almost 30 years ago, 13.f2 exf4 ( 13...c6 14.fxe5 xg2 15.xg2 b5 16.e3 fxe5 17.f1 is also good for White with a strong place for t h e k n i g h t o n e 4 .) 14.xf4 0-0-0 and W hite had a chance to get the advantage in Lobron, E (2505)-Ivanovic, B ( 2 5 1 5 ) / Z a g r e b 1 9 8 5 w i t h 15.e4! looking for Nd6-f7. ] 13.d1!? Controlling the c2-square and I think White already has some advantage in this position. [ 13.0-0 would be another normal move, but W hite needs to check the exchange sacrifice now. b8 ( 13...b5!? is interesting, but maybe not enough for equality, 14.xa8 xa8 15.e3 exf4 16.gxf4 b4 17.e4 xe2+ 18.g2 b6 19.f5 f7 with some compensation, but W hite is still slightly better. ) 14.fxe5 b5 15.a5 fxe5 16.e3 c2 17.c6! gives White an edge. ] 13...b8 14.fxe5 b5 15.a5 fxe5 16.e3 g4+ 17.d2 All of the last few moves were more or less forced, but now Black has an important choice. f3 [ 17...d6 is also possible, since taking on d4 is still not possible 18.e4 f3+ 19.c2 hf8 20.a4 a6 ( 20...g5 is the computer move, but it's hard for any human to allow 21.axb5 21.axb5 xb5 22.c4 xe4 23.xe4 f3 24.xf3 xf3 25.d2 with advantage to White.) 21.axb5 axb5 22.h3 and White is better due to his knight on e4. ] 18.xf3 xf3+ 19.e2 g5 The black knight has no good place to go, White has no weak nes ses an d a st ron g squa re f or th e knight on e4. Because all this, White is better. 20.a4 [ 20.h4 is also possible, but White is not in hurry ge6 21.a4 a6 22.b3 ]
20...a6 21.d2 d6 [ 21...b4 was active and stopped the knight going to e4, but now the c5-pawn is much weaker: 22.d1 e4 23.f2 exd3+ 24.xd3 ce6 25.ac1 and Black is suffering. ] 22.h4 ge6 23.e4 d5 24.hf1 hf8 25.xf8 xf8 26.axb5 axb5 27.b3 dc7 28.c3 All the pieces are working in an harmonious way. d6 29.f1 And now the o n ly wa y t o a vo id 3 0 . Rf 7 + is t o give t h e central pawn. f8 [ 29...d5 30.f7+ e7 31.xd6 xd6 32.xe5+ ( 32.d2!? ) 32...xe5 33.xe7 with a pawn up. ] 30.xf8 xf8 31.xe5 Now White has a material advantage and he kept improving his position until move 47. d5 32.bd2 [ 32.g4 was interesting, avoiding Black's next move ] 32...h5 33.f3 g6 34.c3 h6 35.e5+ c7 36.a5+ b7 37.d6+ a6 38.d2 g7 It was a good plan to move Black's king far from the center. 39.df7 d8 40.b3 [ 40.e4 xf7 41.xf7 e7 42.c3 was also good for White. ] 40...xf7 41.xf7 e7 42.f3 c6 43.g5 e5 44.e6 d6 45.d4 Finally creating a passed pawn. cxd4 [ 45...c4 46.bxc4 bxc4 47.e4+- and with two united passed pawns this is much easier to win. ] 46.exd4 a5 47.b4?! Going in the wrong direction. [ 47.f4! was direct and the d-pawn suddenly becomes really dangerous: a3 ( 47...xf4 48.c5+! this is another point b6 49.xf4 c6 50.e4+- ) 48.d5 b7 ( 48...xb3 is not good since now Black can't stop the d-pawn 49.d6 a5 50.d7 winning. ) 49.d4 and with all the pieces centralized the position is just winning. ] 47...c6 48.c5+? Now Black is already ok. [ 48.f4 was still possible, but not so clear xf4 ( 48...xb4 49.d5 a5 50.d6 b7 51.d7 a5 52.g5 wins. ) 49.xf4 xb4 50.e4 with a clear advantage, although Black's b-pawn can bring some drawing chances. ] 48...b6 49.d5 [ 49.c3 e7 followed by ...Nd5 and ... 1491
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.xe6 xe6 14.b3 xb3 15.axb3 It really shouldn't be easy for W hite to lose this position though strange things can happen when you try too hard to win. c7 16.fd1 b6 17.c4 f6 18.f1 f7 19.xd8 xd8 20.b4?! A risky decision because White's b-pawns can easily become weak. [ 20.a6 followed by 21.Ke2 was a better idea, though the position is probably drawn. ] 20...cxb4 21.cxb4 b8 22.b5 d4 23.d1 c8 24.a3 e6 25.d7+ f8 26.e2 c7 27.xc7 xc7 28.d3 e7 It's looking more and more like a draw at this stage though White still wants to win. 29.c4 d6 30.c2 c7 31.a3 e6 32.b1 e7 33.c3 e8 34.f3 g6 35.g4 d6+ 36.d3 f5 37.gxf5+ gxf5 38.exf5+ xf5 39.h6 e6 40.d2 f5 41.h6 e6 42.d2 f8 Avoiding the repetition. It should still be a draw but the pressure is now on W hite. The problem is the weak b5 pawn. 43.g5 f5 44.c1 e7 45.h3 d6 1490 A34 46.h6 f5 47.e3 h4 48.d2 h5 49.b3 Nanu,Ciprian 2505 e6 50.e3? This allows Black to attack the Tregubov,Pavel V 2625 knight with his next move after which the 11th EICC Men (5) 10.03.2010 bishops come off. [ 50.e2 was the right move when I don't [Nigel Davies] see how Black can win. ] 51.d2 xd2 52.xd2 f5 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.e3 f6 50...e1 5.e2 d5 6.cxd5 xd5 7.0-0 xc3 53.e3 h4 54.b4?! [ After 54.e2 f4 55.f2 Black has e4!? This looks like a very strange decision at first wh e n t h e p a wn e n d ga m e a f t e r 56.xe4 but it becomes easier to understand the more would be lost for White. Maybe he could still you look at the position. save himself with 56. Nd5+ but it certainly [ 7...e7 8.b5 ( 8.d4 also looks very wouldn't be easy. ] reasonable, for example cxd4 9.exd4 xc3 a3 56.e2 c2 10.bxc3 exd4 11.cxd4 e6 12.b1 d7 54...c4+ 55.d3 13.a4 was equal in Blum, G-Luft, A/ 57.d5 d4+ 58.e3 xb5 59.e7+ f6 Regensburg 1998) 8...xc3 9.dxc3 xd1 60.c6 e6 61.f4 exf4+ 62.xf4 d6 10.xd1 f6 11.e4 gave White a nice edge 63.b8? c7 The knight is trapped. 0-1 in Iskusnyh, S- Filippov, V/Moscow 2002. ] 8.dxc3 d6 9.e4 Now White should be slightly better because of the 'hole' on d5, though such weaknesses are nowhere near as easy to exploit as the text books sometimes make out. 0-0 10.e3 Already a move I don't li k e b e c a u s e t h e k n i g h t m i g h t wa n t t h i s square. [ 10.d2 looks more to the point. ] 10...e7 11.d2 e6 12.c4 fd8 Kc6. ] 49...xb4 50.e4 f8 51.e3+ a6 52.d6 b7 53.c5 [ 53.c5+ was another winning attempt, but Black should be ok after c6 54.d7 e7 55.g5 xg5 56.hxg5 c7 57.e4 c6 ] 53...d3 54.d4 c6 And White just collapsed in a few moves. 55.e3 b4 56.c5 a6 57.d7 h6+ The only move and a good one . 58.d4 g7+ 59.d3 xd7 [ 59...xc5+ was probably simpler, playing the bishop vs knight endgame 60.xc5 f6 61.e4 e7-+ ] 60.e3 b4+ 61.e2 e6 62.f3 With an extra outside passed pawn, Black is already winning. c6 63.d2 d5 64.f2 b4 65.d3 b3 66.f4+ c4 67.c1 c3 68.a3 d4+ 69.e4 b5 70.d5+ d2 71.b4+ c3+ 72.xc3+ xc3 73.e3 e5 74.c4+ c3 0-1
1492
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 due to the strength of the c-pawn: 32...xb4 A34 33.xb4 c2+ 34.d4 a8 35.d6+ c7 2660 36.xe6 isn't clear yet. ] 2657 19.01.2006 33.xc6 xc6 34.xa7+ c7 35.a6 c6 [ 35...xh3 36.d6+ e7 37.c6 with the threat Bb4. White may even stand better. ] We've been through this variation more than once! 12...Bg4! is a lot more testing than 12... 36.a7+ c7 37.a6 c6! [ Not 37...xh3 38.d6+ e7 39.c6 f3? Bc4+. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 40.b4 f7 41.b5+- A wild game. White 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 6.c4 d3+ might try 13.Be3 Nc6 14.Ne2 or 14.Ne2. ] 7.e2 f4+ 8.f1 e6 9.b4 g6 10.bxc5 g7 11.xe6 xe6 12.d4 g4 The pin is ½-½ well-known but less common than [ 12...c6 13.e3 a5 , when 14.e2!? A34 is one idea, and ( 14.c1 c4+ 15.g1 1492 another )] Nepomniachtchi,Ian 2602 13.b1!? Baramidze,David 2543 [ Normal is 13.e3 c6 14.d5 ( 14.a4 8th ch-Euro Dresden GER (9) 12.04.2007 xf3! 15.gxf3 xd4 16.d1 e5; 14.e5 [Carsten Hansen] d7 15.a4 d8 16.d1 0-0=; 14.e2!? f5 15.h3 fxe4 16.hxg4 exf3 17.gxf3 1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 was Seirawan-Miles, London1982) 14...xf3 xd5 5.e4 xc3 15.gxf3 xc3 16.c1 a5 17.dxc6 bxc6 [ 5...b4!? is the main move in this position with equality. ] and leads to play that looks nothing like 13...c6 14.xb7? wh a t w e a r e a b o u t t o s e e i n t h e m a i n [ B e t t e r w a s 14.e2! xf3 15.gxf3 game. ] and White seems to have the advantage, e. 6.dxc3 g., d7 ( 15...xd4? 16.b2 e5 17.xd4 [ 6.bxc3 leads to a Gruenfeld Indian after g6 exd4 18.a4+ ) 16.d5 h3+ 17.g1 e5 ( or a Semi-Tarrasch after 6...e6 7.d4 ) 7.d4 18.g3 , e.g., h5 19.f4 h4 20.b2! ] ( White has two interesting alternatives in 14...xf3 15.xf3 7.b5+!? and; 7.a3!? ) 7...g7 ] [ 15.gxf3? c8! 16.b1 h3+ 17.e2 6...xd1+ 7.xd1 This line hardly looks like xd4+ ] anything Black should fear, but the fact of the 15...xd4! Now White has real troubles, m a t t e r i s t h a t W h i t e r a r e l y l o s e s a n d because ...0-0-0 will come with tempo. 16.b2 f r e q u e n t ly wi n s , a n d o n l y i f B la c k p la y s c4+ accurately he will equalize. This should be [ R i s k i e r w a s 16...xc5 17.a4 c2! enough warning for Black players to avoid this 18.xg7 0-0-0! ] line. One of the problems for Black is that his 17.e2 xe2+ 18.xe2 0-0-0 19.d5 p a wn s t r u c t u r e h a s we a k e n e d t h e l i g h t Forced. squares by placing the c-pawn on c5, while [ 19.b3 d4+ ] W hite's structure doesn't have similar 19...xb7 20.xg7 hg8 21.b1+ c8 problems. g6? Black should try to avoid this 22.c3 d7 This stalls White's attack, move in this particular line, becau se th e although consolidating proves difficult. 23.b3 bishop is poorly placed on the h8-a1 diagonal, f5 24.f3 fxe4 25.fxe4 b7 26.a3 d7 whereas it can me quite useful on the f8-a3 [ 26...d8! ] diagonal where it will guard the c5-pawn. 27.a6 c8 28.d3 b1?! A real mistake. [ 7...c6 is the normal move. If White now [ 28...b8! 29.a5 f8 ] continues with 8 Be3, Black will continue 29.c4! Suddenly White is extremely active. with 8...e6 with fairly even chances. In the g1 30.e5 e6 31.b4 xg2 32.h3 g3? archives, you can find the game Krasenkov[ But the obvious moves are surprising risky Protaziuk, Polish Ch 1999, where W hite
1491 Navara,David Naiditsch,Arkadij Corus B Wijk aan Zee NED (5) [John Watson]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 tests 8.c2 and after e6 9.f4 f6 10.d2 e5 11.e3 e6 12.c4 White has the initiative and gradually won an instructive, yet for this line typical, game. ] 8.e3! The exclam is perhaps a bit over the top, but it provokes another weakness in Black's structure. b6 A further weakening of the light squares. This is exactly the reason why Black shouldn't have wasted time on ... g6 earlier. 9.c4 [ A classic game in this line is AnderssonTempone, Buenos Aires 1979: 9.a4 c6 10.b5 b7 11.c2 g7 12.hd1 a6 13.c4 with a clear advantage for White who won without too much effort. In the tournament book (I think only published in Denmark and in Danish, sorry guys) Larsen made the humorous comment: "Why do the young players insist on playing endgames with Andersson in this tournament? Maybe, to learn something!" Studying games played in this line can certainly teach something about small positional imbalances and their impact. Sometimes the difference between an equal position and a clear advantage is almost imperceptible. ] 9...e6 10.e2 b7 11.b5+!? c6 12.a4 a6 Black cannot afford to exchange on b5 as White will be able to enhance the pressure against Black's a-pawn by doubling the rooks on the a-file and transferring the knight to c4, while Black has absolutely no counterplay. In addition, W hite threatens Ne5, forcing the exchange on b5. Therefore Black's choices are rather limited. Black's choice invites the exchange on c6, but also weakens the entire pawn structure on the queenside. 13.xc6+ xc6 14.d2 e7 [ I f B l a c k t r i e s 14...0-0-0 then White develops an attack on Black's king with 15.c4 b7 16.b4 cxb4 17.xb6 c8 18.hd1! ( also 18.cxb4 xb4 19.d4 g8 20.hc1 is very good for White) 18...bxc3 19.d7+ ] [ A more solid set-up is provided by 14...d6 15.c4 c7 but even so after 16.a5! b5 17.b6 d8 18.g5!? e7 19.f6 g8 20.c4! with a clearly better game for White ] 15.c4 b8 16.hd1 0-0 In retrospect, this move looks like it invites White's rook to go to d7, yet leaving the king on e8 invites other
courses of action from White, e.g. [ 16...b7 17.d6+ xd6 18.xd6 e7!? ( 18...c7?! 19.a5! tears Black's position apart ) 19.xc6!? ( if 19.ad1 c8 Black should be able to defend) 19...d7 20.xb6 xb6 21.b4 bb8 22.xc5 with a solid advantage for White ] 17.d7 b5? I'm not sure what Black missed when playing this move, because what follows is completely obvious to even rank amateurs. [ Also pretty bad are 17...fd8 18.c7 a5 19.xa5 d6 20.c6 bxa5 21.d1!+- ] [ and 17...fe8 18.f4 bd8 19.xb6 f5 20.ad1+- ] [ But 17...f6 18.ad1 fc8 19.f4 e5 20.e3 is Black's best chance, although with White completely dominating the board thanks to his control of the only open file, Black's position is rather ugly. The only positive thing that can be said about the t e x t m o ve , 1 7 . . . b 5 , i s t h a t i t e n d s t h e suffering rather quickly. ] 18.axb5 axb5 19.a5! Simple chess now Black's position falls apart very rapidly. xa5? [ While 19...bd8 A) 20.b7 xa5 ( 20...b8 21.xc6 20 transposes back to Nxc6 ) 21.xa5+-; B) 20.xc6 xd7 21.xe7+ xe7 22.xc5 c7 23.xf8 xf8 doesn't look particularly inspiring and should lose for Black, Black should nonetheless have tried this, as rook endings often have the capacity for drawing resources for the weaker party. ] 20.xa5 d8 21.aa7 b4 [ When all your possible moves suck, your position is rotten to the core, such as here when 21...b6 is met by 22.ab7 fc8 23.xf7 xb7 24.xb7+- ] [ and 21...c8 by 22.h6+- ] 22.h6!? There is something poetic about this move, as it pokes a finger into Black's side, reminding him of his mistake on move 7 and tells the rest of us not to weaken of pawn structure like that, if we don't plan to keep a bishop in the hole it leaves behind. [ Also 22.xc5! bxc3 23.xf8 cxb2 24.ab7 xb7 25.xb7 xf8 26.xb2+- ] [ and 22.f4 work for White, but the text move is possibly the most effective because in the game Black resigns after just one 1494
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xc5 18.g4 which wins back the piece with advantage. ] 15.xe4 fc8 16.e3 c7 17.e2 a6 18.g4 e6 19.a3 a7 20.f4 b5 21.b2 d6 22.f3 d8 23.a2 c4 24.bxc4 xc4 25.a1 d6 26.b1 f6 27.g5 g7 28.b6 dd7 [ Fritz 12 likes 28...f6 but then 29.gxf6 xf6 30.d4 leaves Black with a lot of pawn 1493 A34 weaknesses. ] Nepomniachtchi,Ian 2711 Kamsky,Gata 2741 29.b3 e7 30.d4 c4 31.d3 d6 32.e4 FIDE World Cup 2011 (3.2) 04.09.2011 ed7 33.e5 c8 34.c4 There's not much to be done about W hite's massive flotilla of [Nigel Davies] pawns. e7 35.c3 b5 36.cxb5 axb5 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 37.a8+ c8 38.xc8+ xc8 39.xb5 f8 xd5 5.g3 g6 6.g2 g7 7.h4!? 40.b8 c7 41.b7 [ Black is completely helpless, for example I could only find one earlier game with this 41.b7 e7 42.b4 d7 43.c5 g7 move b ut with a 10 0% score f or W h ite it 44.c4 followed by 45.Kb5 etc. ] deserves further tests. [ W h i t e ' s m o s t p o p u l a r c h o i c e i s 7.0-0 1-0 , for example 0-0 8.xd5 xd5 9.d3 a6 10.a3 h5 11.b1 h3 12.b3 b6 A34 13.c4 c7 14.xh3 xh3 15.b4 e6 1494 16.e3 ac8 17.a6 d4 18.xd4 cxd4 Nepomniachtchi,Ian 2702 19.xa7 e6 20.fe1 a8 21.b7 xa3 Kramnik,Vladimir 2796 22.g5 e5 23.f3 1/2-1/2 was 66th ch-RUS 2013 (9.3) 14.10.2013 Polugaevsky, L (2640)-Karpov, A (2540)/ [Fier, Alexandr] Leningrad 1971/URS-ch. ] 7...c6 8.h5 xc3 This was the decisive game from the Russian [ T h e o t h e r g a m e wi t h 7 . h 4 we n t 8...0-0 Superfinal and after the opening it was clear 9.hxg6 hxg6 10.g5 e6 11.ge4 b6 that both players were trying to win. I don't 12.d3 b7 13.g5 f6 14.h6 xh6 believe in White's idea but nowadays we are 15.xh6 g7 16.d2 h8 17.xh8 xh8 seeing h2-h4 being played in basically any 18.0-0-0 followed by 19.Rh1 led to a winning position! 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 f6 attack for White in Zemerov, V-Zanetti, A/ 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 g6 7.h4 Moscow 2006. ] Not a surprising move anymore g7 9.bxc3 f5 I'm not convinced this is right. [ 7...h6 was played by Svidler, but it means [ 9...e6 was worth considering when that h4 won't be punished. 8.0-0 g7 10.g5?! d5 11.e4? c4 is very nice for 9.xd5 xd5 10.d3 was a normal English Black. ] with h4 and ...h6 included. I'm not sure if it's 10.b3 b6 What else? better for either player. Still, this game was [ After 10...d7 White has the highly chaotic and brought qualification for the unpleasant 11.g5! . ] next round in the World Cup for Svidler 0-0 11.g5 xb3 12.axb3 This endgame is very 11.e3 h5 Radjabov, T (2733)-Svidler, P good for W hite because of pressure on the (2746)/FIDE World Cup 2013 (3.2). ] h1-a8 diagonal and the strength of his single 8.h5 f5 A novelty and probably prepared by pawn island. 0-0 13.hxg6 hxg6 14.e4 Kramnik for this important last game in the xe4 Giving White the bishop pair. tournament. [ B l a c k m i g h t h a v e t r i e d 14...ac8 [ 8...0-0 was played several times and after though it still looks pretty good for W hite 9.hxg6 hxg6 10.a4 e6 11.e4 after 15.xc5 b4 16.a4 c2+ 17.d1 was Wang Hao's choice but later he lost with more move. However, strictly speaking 22. Bxc5 is the strongest move. ] 22...bxc3 23.bxc3 [ 23.bxc3 b6 24.ab7 fc8 25.xf7 xb7 26.xb7 ] 1-0
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a dubious sacrifice ( 11.f1!? White has some attacking chances and the position soon beca me a mess in a re cent gam e Khenkin, I (2655)-Olszewski, M (2532)/ Bundesliga 1213 2012 (15.1).) 11...b6 ( 11...b6 is also an option) 12.eg5 cb4 wi t h a n u n c l e a r p o s i t i o n i n W a n g H a o (2752)-Naiditsch, A (2710)/Dortmund SuperGM 41st 2013. ] [ 8...xc3 was played by Kamsky against the same Nepomniachtchi. I think the knight on d5 is often useful against White's queen, so I would prefer to keep it on the board myself. 9.bxc3 f5 10.b3 b6 11.g5 xb3 12.axb3 and White's position was already more comfortable, see the PGN Archive. ] [ 8...e6 was tried by Vachier in July, but Ding went with a really original plan: 9.h6 f6 10.e4 e7 11.b4!? and even if this sacrifice is not completely sound, it worked well in Ding, L (2714) -Vachier Lagrave, M (2719)/Biel Breisacher Memorial 2012. ] 9.b3 [ 9.hxg6 I think that opening the h-file is not so interesting with Black's king in the center, hxg6 ( 9...xg6 doesn't make much sense 10.h4 ) 10.xh8+ xh8 11.g5 b6 and Black's king will be well placed on the queenside, he enjoys a good space advantage. ] 9...db4 10.f1 With his king in the center, no space and still no development W hite's position looks worse. However, in a strange way there is some potential hidden in White pieces. e6 [ 10...a5?! is a good way to illustrate W h it e 's d y n a m ic p o ss ib i lit ie s : 11.a4+! first here, d7 12.d1 then coming back with the bishop on a less active square. The knights are not so well placed on the queenside and somehow White is activating his pieces quite well, c4 for example, allows White to use a nice idea ( 12...c6 13.d3 and again the knights are doing nothing.) 13.h4 f6 14.d4! and en passant just loses the knight! xh4 15.xh4 now White has the center and good places for all his pieces, which more than compensates the exchange, 0-0 16.d5 with Bh6, Ne4, Qd4 ideas. Black's knights are really bad on the
other side. ] 11.a4 a5 A logical move. Without queens there is not much attack anymore and White's queenside is still fragile. The position is rich a n d t h e re a re p le n t y o f o p t io n s f o r b o t h players on almost every move. [ 11...d7 is not so scary, the knight can't go to anywhere really threatening 12.d3 d4 13.d1 c6 looks logical, but White can change some pieces now, 14.xd4!? cxd4 ( 14...xd4 15.b3 with the idea of a3 is better for White) 15.e4 and finally White's pieces are arranged in a harmonious way. ] 12.xa5 xa5 13.g5 d7 [ 13...f5 i s a l s o p o s s i b l e 14.d3 c4 forcing matters 15.d5!? ( 15.dxc4 d8!? 16.d5 xd5 17.cxd5 h6 18.f3 g5 is ok for Black) 15...xd5 16.xd5 e6 17.h6 e5 18.xc4 xc4 19.dxc4 c8 20.h4 with a pawn up, but pieces still placed in a strange way. ] 14.h6 d4 15.b1 [ 15.d3 would be normal, finishing bringing the pieces into the game, c8 16.d2 b6 17.c1 0-0 18.h4 with a complex middlegame ] 15...f6 Winning more space. 16.ge4 f5 [ 16...c4 is one alternative, but allows White t o m a k e a q u i c k r u p t u r e 17.b3 cxb3 18.axb3 c8 19.h4 this move is seen in basically all the lines and it's the only active squ a re f o r t h e ro o k ac6 with another unclear middlegame. ] 17.xc5 An original idea, but probably not the best. [ 17.g5 is probably better, holding the position f6 18.d3 c8 but I would slightly prefer Black. ] 17...xc5 18.a3 d3! Breaking the structure is more important than recovering the pawn, with these doubled pawns Black has a clear plan. 19.exd3 [ 19.b4 xc1 20.bxa5 ( 20.bxc5 cb3-+; 20.xc1 b3-+ ) 20...xa3 21.a6 b8 22.axb7 e5 and White does not have enough for the piece ] 19...b3 20.h4 Activating one of the few pieces free to move. [ 20.xb7 is another important possibility b8 21.d5 e6 ( 21...xc1 doesn't really work 22.xc1 xb2 23.a4! xa4 1496
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.xc5 d7 25.a5 and White has the advantage ) 22.c4 ( 22.f3 f7 and W hite still can't go out) 22...f7 but the Bishop is missing f rom the long diagonal. ] [ 20.d5 c6! 21.xc6+ bxc6 and the knight will never escape from b3. ] 20...c6 Trying to exchange the most active white piece. 21.c4 [ 21.xc6+ bxc6 22.c4 d7 23.e2 e5 24.d4 xd4 25.d3 c5 and Black has the easier game, even if the position is not clear ] 21...xg2+ 22.xg2 f7 23.e2 An ambitious move, looking for 24.Rc3. [ 23.d4 was a solid alternative, now the position is even: xd4 24.b4 this is the point of giving the pawn, the Bishop is not def ending b4 anymore, xc1 25.xc1 xc3 26.xc3 b6 27.c7 but White's activity is not enough for anything serious, hc8 28.bc4 xc7 29.xc7 a5 30.c6 d8 with an equal position. ] 23...hd8 24.c3 d4 25.xc5 [ 25.xd4 xd4 26.c7 b5 and soon Black wi l l d o u b l e r o o k s o n t h e d - f i l e wi t h a n advantage. ] 25...xe2 26.e5 d4 27.b4 c6 [ 27...ac8 is a pseudo-active move, since the rook will not really do anything on the s e c o n d r a n k , 28.b2 ( 28.c5 is also possible xc5 29.bxc5 d7 30.b2 b3 31.d4 with a slight edge for Black) 28...c2 29.c3 and everything is under control. ] 28.e3 d5 29.b2 ad8 30.c3 a6 [ 30...xd3 is not so interesting, the pawn will fall at any time but now the knight has no good square to go 31.b5 b8 32.xd3 xd3 33.b4 with the idea of 34.Ra4. ] 31.a4 a7 Avoiding b5 for the moment. 32.be1 8d7 33.e5 c6 34.xd5 xd5 35.b1 g5 Expanding on the kingside. Now White always needs to be careful about h6 (an important pawn in the future) as well. [ 35...a7 again would be possible, but it's not clear if the knight is doing anything useful from here. ] 36.e1 [ 36.b5 axb5 37.axb5 ( 37.xb5 is really committal. The Bishop can only
control the black squares, so, in this p o s i t i o n t h e k n i g h t i s s t r o n g e r : xb5 38.axb5 a7 39.b6 c8 40.d4 g6 and White is going to suffer) 37...d4 38.b6 g4 and White rook will be a bit tied to the b6pawn. ] 36...e6 37.e3 White is solid but has no active plan, so he is just waiting. e7 38.e5 c6 39.c3 e5 40.e1 [ 40.g4!? trying to break the structure is i n t e r e s t i n g g6 ( 40...f4 41.e1 and White can use the e4 square at some point e6 42.b1 xd3 43.b5 and White is fine ) 41.gxf5+ xf5 42.f3+ now there is a f ile f o r t h e ro o k g6 and it's hard for Black to find anything tangible. ] 40...g4 41.b1 g6 42.b5 Finally opening the position. [ 42.f3 gxf3+ 43.xf3 xd3+ is slightly better for Black. ] 42...axb5 43.axb5 d8! [ 43...d4 looks tempting but White has time to activate the rook, 44.xd4 xd4 45.c1! more important than defending the pawns xd3 46.c7 xd2 47.xb7 b2 48.b6 xh6 49.e7 xb6 50.xe5= Black can't make any progress. ] 44.f3 gxf3+ 45.xf3 xd3+ 46.e2 e4 The position has changed a lot and now White has some weak pawns. Still, the position looks defendable, but the task is harder now. 47.e5 e6 48.f4 If the Bishop was stable on f4, it would be the ideal square. f3 [ 48...xf4+ 49.gxf4 b6!? ( 49...xh6 50.h1+ g6 51.g1+ f6 52.h1 d7 53.h5 and it's hard to make progress) 50.c1 xh6 51.c6+ h5 52.xb6 g4 53.h6 and the position is ok for White b3 54.xh7 xb5 55.d3= ] 49.b6 [ 49.c1 b3 50.e3 xb5 51.c8 is also interesting, entering the same kind of endgame as in the game. ] 49...d4+ [ 49...xf4+ is still an option and now the variations are more complex than before: 50.gxf4 xf4 51.c1 ( 51.d3 exd3+ 52.xd3 xh6 is probably winning) 51...f3 52.c7 b3 53.xb7 xh6 A) 54.d4 is exotic but probably not working g5 55.d5 f4 56.d6 b2+ 1497
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 57.d1 e3 and the attack arrives just in time 58.xh7 ( 58.d7 e2+ 59.e1 e3 with mate ) 58...d2+ 59.e1 xd6 60.b7 b6 61.e2 b2+ 62.d3 d2+ 63.c4 d8 winning; B) 54.b8 g5 55.h8 xb6 56.xh7 h6! 57.g7+ ( 57.xh6 xh6 58.d3 exd3+ 59.xd3 g5 wins ) 57...f4 58.g2 h3 and there is no time for d3, so White is clearly worse. ] 50.e1 c2+ 51.e2 d4+ 52.e1 b3 White's position is hopeless with all the weak pawns but without rooks. 53.c1! xb6 54.c8 e6 55.e3 d6 Black is better, but White can always create some counterplay bec au se o f the h 6-pa wn . 56.g8+ f6 57.b8 d7 58.f2 e5 59.a8 f6 60.b8 f7 61.a8 g6 62.g8+ h5 63.e8 White is basically waiting and trying to disrupt Black's plans. f8 64.g2 g4 65.b8 g6 66.g8 d7 67.f2 [ 67.g7 is committal and with unclear consequences, xg7 68.hxg7 e7 69.c5 g8 70.f2 f4 71.gxf4 xf4 and I think it should be a draw, but it's a hard decision to make during a game. ] 67...h3?! This is the start of a forcing plan that is too risky. 68.g5 [ 68.g7 xg7 69.hxg7 e7 70.f4 g4 71.e3 wins a tempo compared to the above variation, here White should be ok ] 68...e5 Since Black always need to defend h7, his pieces don't have full power. 69.g7 N o w t h e r o o k e xc h a n g e i s n o t p o s s i b l e anymore b5? And Black finally crosses the line. But the position was already not so easy [ 69...g4+ is the computer suggestion, giving the h7-pawn: 70.e2 d3 71.xh7 xg3 72.g7 g2+ 73.d1 xh6! 74.xh6 xg7 75.xg7 f4 76.d4 g2 77.d3 e3 78.xe3 fxe3 79.e2 g3 80.xe3 g4 with a draw. ] 70.e2 The king will defend against promotion and the h7-pawn will fall anyway, Black is already lost. b4 71.f4 f7 [ 71...d5 72.xh7 b3 73.b7 g6 74.e3 d8 ( 74...xg3 75.g7+- ) 75.xb3 and White is probably winning. ] 72.xh7 b3 73.d1 And with the rook pinned it's just over. e3 74.xe3 c7 75.d4 g2 76.c3 f2 77.c1 a7
[ 77...a7 78.d4+ wins ] 1-0
1495 Onischuk,Alexander Leitao,Rafael Karpov It Poikovsky RUS (8) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2658 2587 08.05.2001
1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4!? The Mikenas Attack. c5 4.f3 c6 5.e2!? [ The main line, 5.e5 involves a pawn sac, but here White plays more calmly. ] 5...b6 [ 5...d5 6.exd5 exd5 7.d4 offers a slight edge. ] 6.d4 [ Aiming for Hedgehog-style play, 6.b3 b7 7.b2 b8!? 8.d3 is less logical, Krasenkow,M-Adams,M/Madrid 1998. ] 6...cxd4 7.xd4 b7 8.f4 This appears to be the critical test of Black's set-up, menacing Nb5-d6/c7. b4!? [ 8...xd4 9.xd4 c5 10.d3 is a safer line, Rublevsky,S-Zvjaginsev,V/St. Petersburg 1999. ] 9.db5! G a m b i t i n g t h e e - p a wn . xe4 10.c2! [ A new move! 10.d3 c5 11.d6+ f8 12.d2 f6 13.d1 was unclear in Pavasovic, D-Zvjaginsev,V/Portoroz 1999. ] [ 10.c7+? should be avoided, though f8 11.xa8 xc3 with advantage. ] 10...xc3 [ Now the queen would not be attacked by ... Nc5, but 10...f5!? might be possible. ] 11.bxc3 0-0? [ 11...f6 12.d2 a6 13.g5 e5 14.f4 is better for W hite, but playable, nonetheless. ] 12.cxb4 f6 13.c1 Of course, both bishop and rook are defended. xb4 14.0-0 g6 15.f3 e5 16.xe5 fe8 17.c3 Black has almost no compensation for the piece. 1-0
1498
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 open c-file. ] A34 2630 28.b4! This leads to a favourable liquidation of 2850 the queenside pawns. axb4 29.axb4 d7 02.2000 30.bxc5 bxc5 The isolated c-pawn is all that rests of Black's once proud queenside structure. 31.bb2 h6 32.a2 h7 33.a5 Black is happy to swap the c5-pawn for 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 d8 xd5 5.g3 c6 6.g2 c7 Kasparov t h e d 3 - p a w n , k n o w i n g t h a t t h e l a c k o f chooses to play Rubinstein's Variation in this queenside pawns will make a draw more important match, a measure of how highly likely. 34.xc5 xd3 35.xd3? [ A strange decision, White will have better regarded this line is. 7.d3 e5 8.0-0 e7 winning chances with the minor pieces on 9.d2 d7 10.c4 0-0 The pawn sac line. the board, 35.a7 e6 36.b2 would have 11.xc6 xc6 12.xe5 e8 13.b3 kept Black on the ropes, for instance, but in Unusual, but promising nonetheless. f6 t h i s q u i c k t i m e - l i m i t g a m e , W h i t e wa s [ At one time 13...b6 was considered good, worried about tricks involving ...Bf1+. ] but 14.c4! seems to give White an edge, planning to bring the queen to the important 35...xd3 36.xd3 xd3 37.a2 b3 h1-a8 diagonal, ( 14.e3 is the old move) 38.c2 Tantamount to a draw offer. xc2+ 14...c8! 15.e3 e6 16.d5 c7 17.f4 39.xc2 h5! 'As every schoolboy knows' this d8 18.g2 with a plus, Sarno,S-Malloni,M/ is the correct move here, in this, theoretically drawn, rook and pawn ending. 40.f4 g6 Porto S. Giorgio 1993. ] 41.e5 This particular structure offers White his 14.g4 d4!? [ Ka s p a ro v's no ve lty. No rm a lly, 14...c6 best winning chances, he will try to advance is played, 15.xf6+ xf6 and now 16.e3 his king to g5, then play e6. However, with ( 16.c4 e6 17.e3 fe8 18.ac1 d4 good defence this should still be a draw, but is equal, Ribli,Z-Chandler,M/Lugano 1985) as Black was running short of time, White has 16...e6 17.e4 f5 18.f3 is a little better real practical chances. d3?! [ This seems over-active, to me, why allow for White. ] t h e w h i t e r o o k t o t h e s e ve n t h ? B e t t e r 15.e3 41...d7 42.h3 g7 43.h4 h6 ] [ Safer than the pawn grab 15.xb7!? f5 16.e3 h5 with compensation for the 42.h3 e3 [ 42...d7 ] pawns. ] 15...xc3 16.xc3 b6 17.f3 A typical move 43.h4 g7 44.g5 e1 45.c7 e2 in this variation, White will set-up a barrier of 46.e7 Now Black is lost, White threatens e6, pawns on the light squares to impede the as the king and pawn endgame is winning. black bishop, and at the same time he can a2 [ 46...e1 47.e6 transposes to a Steanplay Nf2, to protect the d3-pawn. b5 18.f2 Hartston game from 1972, when White won d7 19.e4 It is more t to allow the c1-bishop in the following, instructive, manner: xe6 to play, rather than worry about the weakness 48.xe6 fxe6 49.h3 f7 50.h6 f6 of the d4-square, which will prove difficult to 51.g4 h4 52.g5+ f5 53.g7 xf4 exploit, anyway. e6 20.e3 a5 21.ad1 54.xg6 e5 55.h5 e4 56.g6 e3 57.g7 ad8 The black pieces have assumed good e2 58.g8 e1 59.g5+ f3 60.g4+ posts. 22.d2 c6 23.c1 b7 24.a3 d4 e3 61.e6+ exchanging queens and 25.g2 c8?! 26.b1! winning the king and pawn. ] [ A strong reply that allows White to obtain an advantage. Not 26.xd4? when cxd4 47.f5! [ Necessary, to avoid a check from the side: wins the exchange. ] 47.e6? allows a5+ 48.h4 f6 49.xf7+ 26...fd8 27.xd4! xd4?! xe6 with a draw. ] [ Not unnaturally, Black wishes to keep piece control of d4, but 27...cxd4 was worthy of 47...gxf5 48.e6 h4 49.xf7+ g8 50.f6 [ 50.f6 hxg3 51.g7+ h8 52.e7 a8 attention, 28.b3 c6 with control of the 1496 Piket,Jeroen Kasparov,Garry KasparovChess GP g/60, (4.2) [Tony Kosten]
1499
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 53.hxg3 and the e-pawn will promote. ] 1-0
1497 Piket,Jeroen Leko,Peter SuperGM Dortmund GER (4) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2649 2743 10.07.2000
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 6.b5+ 8c6 7.a3!? Given as dubious in ECO, but White wouldn't play this unless he thought otherwise. d3+ 8.e2 f4+ 9.f1 e6 White was threatening to play d4. 10.d3 [ Sensible, White renounces the possibility of playing for d4, and prefers to complete his development. 10.b4 seems more gogetting, but following g6! 11.bxc5 g7 12.e5 ed4! 13.xd4 xd4 14.b2 0-0 15.a4 h4 16.xc6 bxc6 Black had plenty of compensation for the pawn, Poutiainen,P-Tal,M/ Tallinn 1977. ] 10...g6 11.h4!? [ A typical Piket idea, see the archives. 11.e3 had previously been tried, g7 12.a4 a5 13.c4 cd4 14.xd4 ( 14.xc5!? xf3 15.xf3 also seems promising ) 14...xd4?! 15.b4! d8 16.xc5 xc5 17.bxc5 0-0 18.c1 and White has a pawn more, although his king is awkwardly placed for the moment, Sunye Neto,J-Milos,G/Bogota 1991. ] 11...g7 12.h5 0-0 Black doesn't fear the op en in g of th e h-f ile , b ut will rely on h is central counterplay. 13.hxg6 hxg6 14.c4 ed4 15.xd4 cxd4 16.d5 e6 17.f4 e5 18.a2 b6 The idea behind Black's play is the attack on White's d3-square. 19.h3 a5 20.d2 e8 21.c1 a6 22.b1 [ T h i s a p p e a r s p a s s i v e , b u t 22.e2 is no better, d7 and ...Rc8 follows. ] 22...d7 23.e2 ac8 24.xc8 xc8 25.b3 White's hoped-for attack on the h-file has come to nothing, and his rook remains offside, therefore Black is better. c6 26.g1 d7 27.d1 c5 28.f4 Now that the black knight is no longer covering g4, White can think about bringing his queen to the kingside, again. b5
[ 28...a4 is met by 29.g4 e.g. xb2? 30.xg6! and the white attack crashes through. ] 29.a2 d7! The best, Black realises that his kingside is in need of defence. 30.g4 f8 [ It is understandable that Black didn't want to risk 30...c2!? 31.xe6! ( 31.xg6 xd2 32.e7+ f8 33.xc8 c1+ 34.h2 e5+ 35.g3 xc8 36.g5 probably doesn't offer W hite enough) 31...xd2 32.xf7+ f8 33.xg6 when the black king is wide-open. ] 31.g3 d6 32.h5! There is no turning back for W hite now, he must attack! c2?! 33.f4 e5?! This wins a piece, but opens the g-file, and the a2-g8 diagonal, a very high price to pay! 34.g5 gxh5 [ 34...xb2 35.d5 e6 36.xg7 xg7 37.xe6 xe6 38.h4 is also extremely dangerous. ] 35.f5 c7 36.f6 e6 Forced. 37.xe5 e7 38.xc7? [ Missing the simple 38.xe6 when fxe6 39.f4 wins! ] 38...xc7 39.xh5 e8 40.f4 f6 41.g5?! xf4 42.g6 There is no defence to mate, except for a perpetual check. c1+ 43.h2 f4+ 44.g1 c1+ 45.h2 f4+ ½-½
1498 A34 Piket,Jeroen 2609 Shirov,Alexei 2726 Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee NED (12) 30.01.1999 [Tony Kosten] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 6.b5+ Although less direct than 6 Bc4, this line does allow W hite to castle. 8c6 7.d4 Forced, but good, [ t h e i m m e d i a t e 7.0-0? is met by a6 preparing the infiltration of the b4-knight to d3. ] 7...cxd4 8.a3 The point behind White's play, should the knight retreat then 9 Nxd4 will be strong, so: dxc3 [ 8...d7 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd7+ xd7 11.axb4 is good for White. ] 9.xd8+ xd8 10.axb4 cxb2 11.xb2 The key position, Black has grabbed a pawn, 1500
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 but his king is misplaced, and can easily become subjected to a strong attack. d7 Black's safest choice, [ not 11...xb4? 12.e2 and with the white rooks coming to the c and d-files, the black king will not survive long. ] [ 11...f6?! is stronger, although after 12.e5 Black has severe development problems. ] 12.xc6! A novelty, previously [ 12.0-0 had been played, when f6 13.c4 xb4 14.e5 c8 and Black managed to defend himself, Tal, M-Timman,J/Montpellier 1985. ] 12...xc6 13.e5 The point, White damages the black pawn structure with tempo, the immediate threat is Nxf7+, of course. e8 Forced, if [ 13...e8? 14.0-0 f6 then after 15.fd1+ c7 16.ac1+ the black king is obliged to go on a walk to his doom. ] 14.xc6 bxc6 15.e2 The best square for the king is in the centre. f6 16.a6 e5 Black hastens to develop his kingside. 17.c3 d7 18.ha1 White will n his pawn with a small advantage, because of his rook on the s e v e n t h r a n k . e7 19.xa7+ xa7 20.xa7+ e6 21.a6 d7 22.d3 The king is an important piece in this phase of the game. b8 23.c4 c7 24.d2 T h e wh i t e p o s i t i o n i s p l e a s a n t , b u t i t i s difficult to make progress. b7 25.a2 a8 26.xa8 xa8 27.e3 b7 28.g4 W hite has the better bishop, but he lacks entry squares, and needs to keep b4 defended. g5 29.c5 xc5 30.xc5 c7 31.b5 cxb5 32.xb5 Play has reached a king and pawn ending, but Black can draw easily enough. b7 33.c5 c7 34.d5 d7 35.f3 h6 36.h3 White gains the opposition, but he will need another tempo move to win the position. e7 37.c6 e6 ½-½
1499 Piket,Jeroen Van Wely,Loek zt 1.1 Escaldes AND (4) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2605 2635 09.11.1998
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 If White doesn't play d4, Black will play ...d5! 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 Nimzovich's move has its ups and downs, but will always be popular with players who strive for a sharp struggle. b4 [ 5...xc3 6.bxc3 will lead to a Gruenfeld, but ( 6.dxc3 is also possible, with a position that appeals to endgame specialists. xd1+ 7.xd1 )] 6.c4 White allows Black to waste time hopping into d3. d3+ The line [ 6...e6 7.xe6 d3+ 8.f1 fxe6 which featured in the famous Polugaevsky,LTal,M game, from the Riga Interzonal 1979, and resulted in a spectacular victory for B l a c k , a f t e r 9.g5 b6 10.e2 has been under a bit of a cloud since the early Eighties because of the line ( 10.f3 c4 11.b3 with big threats. )] 7.e2 Chasing the knight away, but losing c a s t l i n g r i g h t s . f4+ 8.f1 e6 Another knight move, but Black has to stop White from playing d4. 9.b4 Gaining control of d4 by force, but [ 9.e5 is also dangerous for Black. ] 9...cxb4 10.d5 c6 [ 10...g6 11.b2 has been more usual. ] 11.d4 Instead of the old idea of 11 Bb2, White expands in the centre, and sets-up potential tactics involving a later Pd5. g6 12.e3 g7 13.d2 This way White avoids exchanges, and builds-up behind his centre. 0-0 14.d1 a5 Having further strengthened d4, White was finally threatening to recapture the b4-pawn. 15.h4 As he can't castle anyway, White hopes to bring his rook into play along the h-file. h5 16.h6 A critical on, the white kingside constellation is starting to look very menacing. h7! Good defence, [ if 16...d7 then 17.xg7 xg7 ( 17...xg7? 18.h6 and wins. ) 18.e3 and Black is in trouble, d5 and then Nf5+ is on the cards, ripping open the black kingside. ] 17.xg7 xg7 18.g5+ g8 19.f4 1501
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Premature, perhaps, as the position is just getting exciting, e.g. [ 19.f4 e6 20.h3 ] ½-½
1500 Ponomariov,Ruslan Sutovsky,Emil 39th Olympiad Men (11.1) [Nigel Davies]
A34 2749 2665 03.10.2010
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 g7 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 c5 8.xd5 xd5 9.d4!? At first sight this move looks ridiculous, but W hite gets his pawn back without much trouble. W hether or not this leads to an advantage is an another question. cxd4 10.e3 b5 [ Black has a good alternative in 10...d8 , for example 11.xd4 h5 12.c2 xd4 13.xd4 c6 14.c3 h3 15.xc6 bxc6 16.fd1 f5 petered out to a draw in Gelfand, B (2733)-Shirov, A (2745)/Bazna 2009. ] 11.xd4 xb2 12.a4 Ponomariov is usually very well prepared so I suspect this may be White's best chance. But it's not his only move: [ a) 12.d5!? prepares to play Rb1 without losing the a2 pawn. W hite has some pressure after c6 ( 12...e6 13.b1 a3 14.g2 a6 15.d2 d8 16.c2 gives White a strong initiative for his pawn) 13.b1 a3 14.xc6 bxc6 15.xc6 f5 ( 15...h3 16.xa8 xf1 17.d5 h3 18.b3 left White with a slight initiative in Haslinger, S (2410)-Leon Hoyos, M (2303)/ Do s Herm an as 20 0 4) 16.xa8 xb1 17.xb1 xa8 18.c1 f8?! ( 18...f6 was better) 19.b7 d8 20.xa7 xa7 21.xa7 d2 22.a4 a2 23.c4 left Black in serious trouble in Badea, B (2520)-Komljenovic, D (2475)/Tucepi 1996. ] [ b) 12.a4 d8 13.b1 a2 14.b3 xb3 15.xb3 c6 16.c5 was Macieja, B (2596) -Schmidt, W (2415)/Ustron 2007 and now f5 17.xb7 d4 18.xe7 xe2+ 19.h1 f8 would have been fine for Black. ] 12...d7 13.c4 c6 14.ab1 a3
15.xb7 a5 16.b4 xb4 17.xb4 ac8 18.d1 fd8 Black's precise play has equalised. 19.b5 xb5 20.xd8+ xd8 21.xb5 c4 22.f4 e5 23.g5 d1+ 24.f1 h6 25.c5 hxg5 26.xc4 d7 27.e3 f8 The players could probably have saved themselves the rest. 28.c8 g7 29.a4 b4 30.b5 e7 31.e4 a5 32.g2 c7 33.xc7 ½-½
1501 Rapport,R Dominguez Perez,L 76th Tata Steel Masters (5) [Fier, Alexandr]
A34 2691 2754 17.01.2014
Rapport used the Tata tournament to try some unusual openings, and sometimes it worked, sometimes it didn't. In this game he used the exotic 3.g4, and even if the position went wrong afterwards, probably it was not because of this move. 8. gxh6 would make m o re s e n se . 1.c4 c5 2.c3 g6 3.g4 The idea behind this move is quite simple. Since the center is still closed, White tries to expand on the kingside quickly. It also has the same idea as 3.g3, which is to develop the bishop to g2. g7 4.g2 c6 5.d3 d6 Black continues as if nothing happened and probably this is a good setup to use, the position remains flexible and Black can play according to White's next moves. 6.g5 e6 7.h4 h5 Black finally answers on the kingside. [ 7...ge7 playing in the normal way was a l s o p o s s i b l e , a n d a f t e r 8.h5 0-0 is not so clear how White is going to make any attack ] 8.xc6+?! A committal idea that I don't agree with. White tries to weaken Black's structure, but now the kingside is closed and the pawn on c6 is easy to defend. Still, Black plays the sa m e id e a so m e m o ve s l a t e r, b u t u n d e r better conditions. [ 8.gxh6 this would be a logical move, trying to keep things moving on the kingside xh6 A) 9.h5 g5 ( 9...gxh5 is also possible, cl e a r i n g t h e p o s i t i o n 10.xh5 e7 and since W hite is not sufficiently developed the king is safe in the center 1502
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.g5+ f6 12.f4 f7 with a doubleedged position) 10.f3 g4 11.g5 f5 12.ge4 and White has found a nice place for the knight, but it's not clear who is better on the kingside; B) 9.g5 using the pawn on h4 for other purposes, B1) 9...b6 10.e4 activating and using the fact that the pawn on d6 is unprotected f5 11.f6+ f8 12.b1 a5+ ( 12...e5 13.h5 looks interesting for W hite) 13.f1 xa2 14.h5 gxh5 15.f3 with compensation; B2) 9...a5 pinning the knight and threatening to take on c3 10.h5 xc3+ 11.bxc3 xc3+ 12.d2 g7 13.hxg6 xg6 14.xc6+ now this makes more sense, since it wins an important tempo bxc6 15.f3 and White has some pressure for the sacrificed pawn. ] 8...bxc6 9.f4 e5 Black loses no time opening the position. This move is not forced, but it's quite aggressive. [ 9...e7 was also interesting, waiting some moves before the break on e5 10.f3 0-0 11.e4 e5 now this has more potential 12.fxe5 g4! 13.0-0 ( 13.exd6 xd6 14.f1 f5 and Black is already winning) 13...xe5 with some advantage to Black. ] 10.fxe5 xe5 11.f3 xc3+ [ 11...g7 in this case White can use the pawn on c6 to win a tempo 12.a4 e7 13.e4 and it's not possible to avoid the knight reaching f 6 0-0 14.f6+ xf6 15.gxf6 f5 16.e4 d4 17.xd4 cxd4 with chances for both players ] 12.bxc3 e7 13.f4 0-0 Since the position is calmer now it's time to evaluate. Black has a safer king, the e-file and a good square for the bishop on g4. White, on the other hand, has no clear plan and no good place for the king. So even if the computer doesn't see a big advantage for Black, the position is clearly better. 14.d2 d5 Black plays the position with full energy and in 5 moves he will already b e w i n n i n g . 15.a4 g4 16.h2 e8 17.b1 [ 17.0-0-0 trying to run with the king to a slightly better square was an option f5 18.e1 s a d , b u t n e c e s s a r y ( 18.xc6
is t o o o p t im i s t i c a5 19.b2 dxc4 20.dxc4 ac8 21.b5 d8 22.a1 e3 23.xe3 xe3 with a huge advantage for Black ) 18...e3 ( 18...b6 19.e4 d4 20.a3 is l e s s c l e a r) 19.xe3 xe3 20.xc6 c8 21.xd5 a5 22.b2 b6+ gives Black a strong initiative. ] 17...d7 18.f2 e6 Preparing. 19.b3? Probably overlooking Black's next move. [ 19.a6 was the computer suggestion, with the idea of cxd5 to exchange the queens ad8 ( 19...xe2 20.xe2 g4 21.e5 the difference with the game is that the rook on b1 is not hanging f5 22.xc6 xh4+ is still possible, but now White has chances to defend.) 20.c7 c8 ( 20...d7 21.b8 xb8 22.xb8 ) 21.h2 and White is holding so far f5 22.cxd5 cxd5 23.xe6 xe6 24.c4 with just a slightly worse position for White ] 19...xe2! With this strong move Black is winning. White pieces are far from the center and unable to help against the attack. 20.d2 [ 20.xe2 g4 this is the point, and with the ro o k u n p ro t e ct e d a n d t h e b isho p on f 4 hanging, W hite can't defend the position 21.h2 ( 21.e5 g1+ 22.d2 xb1-+ ) 21...f5 22.bb2 g2! a nice move to make 23.f4 g1+ 24.d2 xe2+ 25.xe2 e8+ 26.d2 f2+ 27.c1 e1# ] 20...g4 21.xc5 White takes a good pawn, but the situation in the center is impossible to control. xh4 22.e3 f5 23.xf5 gxf5 [ 23...h3 to take with the queen on f5, brings unnecessary complications 24.e4! xf5 ( 24...gxf5 25.f6+ g7 26.d4 xd3+ 27.c1 e6 28.cxd5 c5 it's still winning, but Black needs to have cold blood to make these moves) 25.cxd5 f1 ( 25...cxd5 26.f6+ f8 27.b4++- ) 26.xc6 and the position is far from clear ] 24.g6 xe3 Now it's just a mate attack. 25.xe3 e8+ 26.d2 f2 27.gxf7+ xf7 28.xa7+ g8 29.b8 xd3+ 30.xd3 e2+ With mate in 1. 0-1
1503
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g4 13.g1 The bishop rightly A34 12.e5 retreats leaving the knight on g4 awkwardly placed. dxe5 14.fxe5 c6 15.ae1 1992 Rasim lends support to the e-pawn in view of the threat .. .Bxf 3 f ollowe d by ...Nxe5 . h5 16.d4 0-0-0?! Black is concern ed about the prospect of d5 and the safety of his king so 1.e4 c5 2.c4 d6 3.c3 f6 [ 3...c6 4.f3 f6 5.d3 g6 6.e2 g7 decides to castle queenside. [ 16...cxd4! is an improvement which tries to 7.0-0 0-0 8.e3 g4 9.h3 xe3 10.fxe3 make use of the knight on g4 after 17.xd4 h6 11.d2 d4 12.d5 e6 13.c3 ( 17.xd4 h4 18.d1 xe5 is better for a5 14.g4 xe3+? Completely the wrong Black ) 17...d8 18.d1 0-0 19.h3 h6 idea! The prospect of two pieces for a rook 20.g1 ] is good for W hite and if you add on the bonus of an instant attack then Black has 17.dxc5 h6 18.b4 f5 Attacks usually officially blundered big time! 15.xe3 c2 need to be so this plodding manoeuvre of the 16.h6 xa1 17.g5 There is no need to knight is hardly likely to frighten White. 19.b5 t a k e o n a 1 w h e n m a t e b e c k o n s . d8 axb5 [ 19...d7 20.e4 intending Nd6+ is strong 18.xh7+ f8 19.xf7# 1-0 S.Seebeck-M. for White. ] Denker,Osnabrueck 1994. ] 20.xb5 xb5 4.d3 e6 [ 20...b8 21.d6+ xd6 22.cxd6 [ 4...a6?! It is a little premature to locks the black queen out of the action contemplate breaking out with ...b5 when it leaving White with an extra pawn and the is not clear where White will put his pieces. much better position. ] 5.f3 e6 6.g3 White gets on with the job of developing the queenside. e7 7.g2 c6 21.cxb5 g5 22.c6 g4 23.b6! A nice move! If 8.0-0 0-0 9.e1 b8 10.a4 d7 11.f4 the queen takes on c6 then Rc1 pins the c8 12.f3 e5 13.fxe5 dxe5 14.g5 e8 queen while 23...Qb8 allows the embarrassing 24.xf3 h4 25.f2 15.d5 xd5 16.exd5 xg5 17.xg5 f o r k 2 4 c 7 . gxf3 d8 18.h5! The queen joins in the attack S a f e t y f i r s t b u t e v e n t a k i n g t h e q u e e n when the threats to f7 and h7 are too much immediately wins after [ 25.bxc7 g3+ 26.hxg3 ( 26.xg3! hxg3 for Black. h6 19.xf7 xf7 20.xf7+ h8 27.cxd8+ xd8 28.xf7 winning ) 21.g6 e7 22.e4 g8 23.f2 e8 26...hxg3+ 27.h2 xh2+ 28.g1 c5+ 24.d6 xa4 25.xe7 1-0 S.Fernando-E. 29.e3 d3 30.fe1 and Black has run out Velasco,Villalba 1993. ] of tactics and must admit defeat. ] 5.f4 I like this approach by White who advances the f-pawn before developing the 25...g3+ 26.g1 xc6 27.c1 k i n g ' s k n i g h t . I t h a s t h e m e r i t o f l a t e r 1-0 prompting various options revolving around e5 and d5. A34 [ 5.g3 is also possible with a position similar 1503 to the Closed Sicilian: e7 6.g2 0-0 Reinderman,D 2593 7.ge2 a6 8.0-0 bd7 9.b3 b8 10.a4 Bok,B 2560 b6 11.f4 ( perhaps 11.f4!? should be Tata Steel Challengers (6) 17.01.2014 considered.) 11...e8 12.b1 g6 13.h4 [Fier, Alexandr] f6 14.b2 c7 15.d2 b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.d1 e5 18.e3 c6 19.xf6 The idea of bringing the knight to d5 via d2-c4xf6 20.g4 g7 21.e2 b7 22.fd1 e 3 i n t h e S y m m e t r i c a l E n g l i s h i s q u i t e f5 23.e3 d4 24.f4 with equal chances, common, but bringing the knight via e1-d3-f4R.Verganio-M.Maga,Manila 1991. ] d5 is considered exotic. In this game Black 5...c6 6.f3 e7 7.e2 a6 8.0-0 c7 quickly went wrong and W hite got a really 9.h1 d4 10.e3 xe2 11.xe2 d7 good position. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 1502 Rasim,N Arsov,M Bulgarian Team Ch (4) [Gary Lane]
1504
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 c6 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 e5 8.e1 The knight is going to d3, where it can attack both of Black central pawns and support f4. [ 8.d3 e7 9.d2 is by far the most played line and it was analyzed several times for Chess Publishing, see Tomashevsky, E (2 6 8 4 ) -N a j e r , E (2 6 6 9 ) / 1 6 t h T C h - RU S Premier 2009 for example. ] [ 8.a3 is also possible and analyzed in T o m a s h e v s k y, E ( 2 5 9 5 )- Ja ko ve n k o , D (2671)/ch-RUS Superfinal 2006. ] 8...d7 One of many possibilities. [ 8...h5 is direct, trying to exploit the fact that the knight is now far from the defence of the king 9.f4 h4 10.d3 hxg3 11.hxg3 exf4 12.xf4 e6 and both kings are not really safe, so the position is unclear ] [ 8...g4 avoids 9.Nd3 for the moment, but W hite has other plans 9.xc6+ ( 9.d3 xd3 is good for Black) 9...bxc6 10.a4 d7 11.d3 f6 12.f4 trying to activate with lo s in g a n y t e m p i d4+ 13.f2 xa4 14.xa4 c4 15.dc5 e6 with another complex position where both players have chances. ] [ 8...f5 is another way to avoid 9.Nd3, but the bishop is less active here 9.f4!? exf4 10.d3 d6 11.xf4 xf4 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.xf4 g6 and White can think about a small advantage. ] 9.d3 f6 [ 9...d6 is also played, trying to reach the same kind of position as in the game, but with some tempi up. Of course, White also has other ways to answer this idea 10.e4 e7 11.b3 ( 11.b4 is an ambitious gambit à la Benko, cxb4 12.a3 0-0 13.axb4 xb4 14.xb4 xb4 15.d3 and White has co m pe n s at io n) 11...0-0 12.b2 ae8 13.c1 b6 14.b4!? again this move xb4 15.xb4 cxb4 16.d4 with nice play in Kharlov-Korotylev, see the PGN Archive. ] 10.b3 e7 11.b2 [ 11.f4 can easily transpose to the game exf4 12.xf4 0-0 13.b2 and we are back ] 11...0-0 12.f4 [ 12.c1 the inclusion of these moves is not necessarily good for either of the players c8 13.f4 exf4 14.xf4 h8 with a similar
kind of position compared to the game, and it was played in Damljanovic, B (2549)Perunovic, M (2477)/YUG Cup Herceg Novi 2001. ] 12...exf4 13.xf4 d6 Black prefers to keep his options open and avoids committing his rook to any square. [ 13...c8 14.e3 b6 15.cd5 d6 16.d4 and White's pieces are better placed, sohe can claim a small advantage, as seen in Vaga nia n, R (2 530 )-L engyel, L (24 10)/ Moscow 1975. ] 14.e3 e7 15.c1 ad8 And finally Black manages to put the rook on a semi-open file, instead of c8. It looks better, but amazingly, W hite has some ideas connected with the pieces on the c-file. 16.e4!? Already using th e d e t ail of t he ro o k b e ing o n d 8 . xf4? Maybe Black was planning to play 16... b6 a ga in st 1 6 . Ne 4 a n d wh e n h e sa w t h a t i t doesn't work, he went in the wrong direction. Now White wins material by force. [ 16...e5 17.xe5 fxe5 18.d3 xf1+ 19.xf1 b6 ] [ 16...b6 would be natural, but now it doesn't work. White has a good trick 17.xd6 xd6 18.d4! cxd4 19.c2 and the knights can't be defended ] 17.exf4! A counter intuitive move, since White usually tries to answer with 17.gxf4 or even 17.Rxf4 in these positions. The point of this move is that Black's queen is now without any good squares. c8 [ 17...b6 is again not possible, because of 18.e1 e6 19.f5 ed4 20.xc5 winning. ] 18.xc5 b4 So Black has lost a pawn and White has the bishop pair in an open position. Still things are not that clear. Black can try to make a block with the knights using White's isolated pawn. The computer thinks White's advantage is almost winning, but in practice t h e r e a r e i s s u e s t o s o l v e . 19.xb7 Taking one more pawn, but now Black can activate his remaining pieces. [ 19.a3 bd5 20.b4 would be a slower way to play, and probably a better one. W hite keeps the position and just tries to improve his pieces. ] 19...xb7 20.xb7 d3 [ 20...b5 was also quite interesting 21.g2 1505
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d3 22.c2 xb2 23.xb2 d4 and the strong knight is enough to compensate at least one of the pawns ] 21.a3 xa3 22.xc7 a5 23.c2 h8 Now White has some time to breathe and find a plan. Since the king is exposed, W hite would like to exchange queens, even sometimes at the cost of one pawn. Black, on the other hand, needs to be quick in finding threats. 24.c3?! The right idea, but Black isn't forced to exchange anything. [ 24.e4 would be more forcing and White is better after b4 25.c5! xc5+ 26.xc5 xa2 ( 26...xd2 27.a3 and the knight has no good square to go ) 27.d1 ] 24...b6+ [ 24...xa2? 25.a1 b2 26.a6 wins ] 25.h1 fe8 Now things are not so clear, Black's pieces are much more coordinated than White's ones. 26.f3 e1 27.c6 [ 27.g4 is also strange, going out from the b i g d i a g o n a l h5 28.h3 ( 28.xh5? b5-+ ) 28...d3 and White still needs to take care ] 27...xf3 Correctly entering the rook endgame. 28.xb6 axb6 29.xf3 xd2 30.e3 ed8 31.ce7 h5 32.e2 h7 33.g2 xe2+ 34.xe2 White now has a pawn more and things are more clear, but Black is also active and quite often just one p a wn u p i s n o t e n o u g h t o wi n i n a r o o k endgame. g6 35.f3 f5 36.h3 d3+ 37.e3 d2 38.g4+ hxg4+ 39.hxg4+ g6 40.e6 xa2 41.xb6 b2 42.b4 f7 43.f5 g8 44.b7 b1 45.b5 b4 46.b6 h7 47.b8 g6 48.fxg6+ g7 [ 48...xg6 was also ok 49.b7 g7= ] 49.e3 [ 49.b7 b1 and White's king has no place to hide ] 49...xg4 50.d3 b4 51.c3 b1 52.d4 xg6 53.c5 f5 54.f8 g5 55.c6 f4 56.b7 g4 57.b8 xb8 58.xb8 f3 59.d5 f2 60.f8 g3 61.e4 g2 62.g8+ h2 63.f8 g2 64.xf2+ xf2 ½-½
1504 Reinderman,Dimitri Werle,Jan VAM Open Hoogeveen NED (4) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2525 2216 18.10.1999
1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 b6 Probably not the most accurate way to reach a Hedgehog. 4.e4 [ More aggressive than 4.g3 when b7 5.g2 is a main-line Hedgehog. ] 4...d6 [ Ne ce ssa ry, a s if 4...b7 then 5.e5 is awkward. ] 5.d4 cxd4 6.xd4 b7 7.e2 bd7 [ 7...e6 i s m o r e c o m m o n , w h e n 8.g4 is also possible. ] 8.g4!? [ An extremely vigorous reply, typical of R e i n d e r m a n ' s s t yl e . 8.g3 is standard, K a s p a r o v, G - S a l o v, V / B a r c e l o n a 1 9 8 9 , c o n t i n u i n g : c8?! ( 8...e6 ) 9.g2 a6 10.0-0 c7?! ( 10...e6 ) 11.b3 e6 and now 12.d5! was very strong. ] 8...h6 9.g2 g6 10.0-0 g7 11.d1 T h e d 4 - k n i g h t n e e d e d d e f e n d i n g . c8?! This piece may prove better-off on b8. 12.f4 0-0?! [ Although ugly, 12...h7 was safer. ] 13.e5! This pawn will wreck Black's kingside. dxe5 [ If 13...e8 then 14.d5 ] 14.fxe5 h7 15.e6 df6 16.d5!? [ N o t b a d , b u t 16.exf7+ xf7 17.e6 was certainly worthy of consideration, as after xg2 18.d8+ , White wins the black queen. ] 16...xd5 17.cxd5 f6 18.c6? [ A miscalculation, White could keep the a d v a n t a g e a f t e r b o t h 18.g5!? hxg5 19.exf7+ xf7 20.e6 ] [ or th e simp le 18.exf7+ xf7 19.e6 as, in both cases, his knight is a powerhouse. ] 18...xd5! 19.exf7+ h7! 20.xd5 xc6 21.e6 [ After 21.xc6 xc6 22.xe7? Black wins by f3 as the white kingside is completely open. ] 21...f3! The point that had obviously escaped White. 22.xf3?! 1506
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ White is in serious trouble after this, he had to try 22.e3 although c6 23.f1 Black might find ad8! with an edge. ] 22...xe6 23.f1 ad8 24.a4 In order to develop the a1-rook. d4+?! [ 24...f6! would win the f7-pawn immediately. ] 25.g2 d5?! [ Black is beginning to lose the thread of this game, there was still time for 25...f6 ] 26.a3 e5 27.xd5 xd5 28.h3 Now Black must be careful not to be worse! d7 29.f6! Piling on the pressure. g7! [ Best! 29...dxf7? wo uld allo w 30.xh6+ g8 31.fxg6+ ] 30.c6 fxf7 31.xh6+ h7 32.g5+ g7 33.h6 f2+ 34.g3 e4! Preparing a saving c h e c k o n f 3 . 35.hxg6+ f7 36.ge6 There was no way to avoid the perpetual check. f3+ 37.g2 f2+ 38.h3 f3+ ½-½
White tries to improve his piece coordination, when his sounder structure might be important. f6 21.cd1 c5 22.e4 xe4 23.xe4 b5 Preparing ...a5-4. 24.xd8 White decides to sue for peace. xd8 25.d1 xd1 26.xd1 h6 27.d2 a5 28.d3 ½-½
1506 Roiz,Michael Khenkin,Igor TCh-ISR 2008-9 (9) [Nigel Davies]
A34 2677 2647 15.05.2009
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 e5 4.e3 f6 [ If I desperately wanted to win as Black I'd consider 4...f5!? , for example 5.d4 e4 6.g1 f6 7.h3 d6 8.e2 g6 9.a3 g7 10.f4 0-0 11.h4 h6 12.g3 xf4 13.gxf4 cxd4 14.exd4 d5 led to complex play in Naes, F-Kortschnoj, V/Reykjavik 2000. ] 5.e2 d5 6.d4 e4!? An attempt to 1505 A34 complicate the struggle. [ 6...exd4 7.exd4 e6 has a solid Ribli,Zoltan 2586 reputation, for example 8.e3 dxc4 9.a4 Ponomariov,Ruslan 2616 cxd4 10.xd4 d7 11.xc4 c8 12.0-0 15th ECC Gp 6 (3) 13.10.1999 d6 13.xc6 xc6 14.h4 0-0 [Tony Kosten] was OK for Black in Ivanchuk, V-Anand, V/ Wijk aan Zee 2006. ] 1.c4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.d4 cxd4 6.xd4 dxc4 7.xc6 xd1+ 7.e5 dxc4 [ 7...d6 has been played here but it looks 8.xd1 bxc6 9.g2 d5 10.e3 e6 as if White has quite a strong reply in 8.a4! 11.xc4 a6 12.b3 . Accordingly Khenkin tries to improve. ] [ R i b l i r e t u r n s t o t h e o l d l i n e , 12.a5 8.a4 is the latest choice here. ] 12...b4+ 13.d2 xd2+ 14.xd2 [ Another possibility is 8.xc6 bxc6 9.xc4 w h e n p e r h a p s K h e n k i n i n t e n d e d cxd4 [ The other possibility is 14.xd2 although ( 9...e7 was played in Ruck, R-Landa, K/ 0-0-0 15.c2 is nothing special for White. ] 14...b4 15.d1!? Mainz 2007, and now 10.a4 would have been quite annoying) 10.exd4 b8!? [ Gelfand's try, 15.e4 is the alternative. ] followed by 11...Rb4. ] 15...0-0-0! There's been very little experience [ A n e w m o v e , p r e v i o u s l y 15...e7 8...e7 had been preferred, 16.a3 d5 17.c1 with the position after 8.Qa4 and this last ( 17.e4!? ) 17...ac8 18.e4 c5! move looks like a novelty. [ 8...cxd4 9.exd4 a5 10.xa5 xa5 The only move if White could put his Knight 11.d2 d7 12.xd7 xd7 13.0-0 b4 on c5, Black would be in trouble. 19.xc5 14.ad1 b6 15.xe4 xd2 16.xd2 ac8 hd8 with reasonable equalising chances, led to a draw in Maletin, P-Landa, K/ Gelfand,B-Leko,P/Vienna 1996. ] Cappelle la Grande 2007, though my 16.a3 d5 17.c1 b7 On the queenside impression is that Black needed to play the black king is ideally placed to defend the very accurately to hold the balance. ] c-pawn. 18.f3 e5 19.e1 b6 20.c2 1507
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Another possibility is 8...d7 though White does seem to be better after 9.xc4 e6 10.a4 . ] 9.xc6 bxc6 10.dxc5 0-0 11.xc4 e6 12.a4 c7 13.xe4 xe4 14.xe4 d5 15.g4 f5 16.g3 xg3 17.hxg3 xg2 18.h2 d5 19.d2 xc5 20.c1 It's now quite clear that White is better due to his more compact pa wn structure, not t o mention the f act that this position is just horrible for Black to play. Khenkin's opening play has not been a success. e7 21.c4 f6 22.b3 a5 23.e2 a4 24.b4 fd8 25.h5 g6 26.hh1 d7 27.xd5+ cxd5 28.c6 White's advantage is growing by the move. b2 29.c3 a3 30.d3 b7 31.xg6+! Nicely winning a pawn . hxg6 32.h8+ f7 33.xa8 c7 34.d2 d7 35.c8 d4 36.e4 fxe4+ 37.xe4 d3 38.c4 f6 39.b5 d8 40.d4 xd4+ 41.xd4 b6+ 42.xd3 xf2 43.g4 e6 44.c1 e5 45.c4 b6 46.xa3 f4 47.c5 a5 48.b6 xg4 49.d5 f5 50.b7 1-0
1507 Romanishin,Oleg M Oleksienko,Michailo Levikov Mem Lvov UKR (4) [John Watson]
A34 2542 2530 10.12.2006
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g2 c6 6.c3 c7 7.0-0 e5 The Rubinstein System, still a reliable d e f e n c e f o r B l a c k o n a n y l e v e l . 8.a3 This move, resembling an Accelerated Fianchetto versus the Maroczy Bind, has come back into favour. It doesn't threaten Black's system by any means - the idea is to get a double-edged game. b8 The same idea that we saw in Tomashevsky-Jakovenko last month. In that case, ...f6 was already in. Our new columnist Carsten Hansen thinks that in this precise position ...Rb8 doesn't make as much sense against 8 a3 as against other attempts by W hite. Indeed, W hite probably wouldn't play this so early in the reversed Sicilian Maroczy Bind position versus the Accelerated Fianchetto. Nevertheless, Black's
idea of a timely ...b5 has its virtues versus Qa4, and ...b6 with ...Bb7 is also in the air. The solid and thematic [ 8...f6 is a good alternative. ] 9.b1 e7 Carsten's recommendation. Instead, he quotes the game Oratovsky-Liss, Rishon Le Zion 1997: [ 9...a5?! 10.d3 d7 11.d2 f6 12.a4! e7 13.c4 e6 14.f4! exf4 15.gxf4 , which was significantly better for White. ] 10.b4!? [ A standard treatment would be 10.d3 0-0 11.d2 ( 11.d2!? ) 11...d7 12.c4 ] 10...f5 [ 10...cxb4 11.axb4 b5 looks safely equal. ] 11.b5!? Sacrificing the exchange and introducing a particularly dynamic element into the play. Can Black simply capture the rook? [ 11.d3 might lead to cxb4 12.axb4 b5 13.h4! d7 14.f5 with some interesting complications. ] 11...d4 [ 11...xb1 12.bxc6 f5 13.cxb7 ( 13.xe5 b5!? ) 13...f6 leaves White with definite compensation. He can grab a second pawn for the exchange by 14.a4+ ( 14.h4 d7 15.d3 and f4 is another route.) 14...d7 15.xa7 0-0 16.b6!? ] 12.d3 f6 13.h4 g4!? [ 13...e6= , f o r e x a m p l e , 14.e3 g5! ( 14...f5 15.h5+ g6 16.xg6 g7 17.h4 f5 18.a4! hxg6 19.b6+ f7 20.bxc7 xc7 21.xa7 ) 15.exd4 cxd4 16.e4 gxh4 17.h5+ f7 18.xh4 d5! ] 14.h3 h5? [ 14...e6 ] 15.g4 Romanishin is not a player who h e s i t a t e s ! f7 16.e3 de6 17.f5! W h i t e s t a n d s m u c h b e t t e r n o w . h5!? This is not just a counterattack it also takes away h6 from White's knight after ...g6. But the whole idea is too slow. [ 17...g6 18.h6! ] 18.a4! Pawn grabbing, but also weakening Black's position. b6 [ 18...hxg4?? 19.b6+ ] 19.xa7 hxg4 20.hxg4 g5 Black feels that he has no good choice but to attack. He comes up way short. But there doesn't seem 1508
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to be a good alternative. [ 20...g6 ] 21.d1 [ Or 21.f4! exf4 ( 21...h3+ 22.xh3 xh3 23.fxe5 fxe5 24.xg7+ ) 22.exf4 h3+ 23.xh3 xh3 24.e1 ] 21...g6 [ 21...h3+ 22.xh3 xh3 23.xg7+ f8 24.f5 ] 22.xe7 xe7 23.d4! A typical break in the Rubinstein, analogous to ...d5 in the Sicilian. W h i t e ' s a t t a c k i s o v e r w h e l m i n g . cxd4 24.exd4 h3+ 25.f1! c4+ 26.e1 e4 27.b4 d3 28.d5 d6 29.xe4+ xe4 30.xe4 h2 31.d6+ 1-0
1508 Rublevsky,Sergei Polgar,Judit vs. ROW Moscow RUS (2) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2658 2681 08.09.2002
1.e4 c5 2.f3 e6 3.c4 c6 4.c3 f6 5.e2 b6 6.0-0 e7 7.a3 0-0 8.b4!? Despite his catastrophic loss against Zhang Pengxiang, Rublevsky obviously believes in his move as he is prepared to repeat it. d6!? Judith decides to refuse the offered pawn, we considered [ 8...cxb4 9.axb4 xb4 10.e5 in Rublevsky, S-Zhang Pengxiang. ] 9.b1 c7 The queen moves off the exposed file, Black aims for a Hedgehog-style structure. 10.d4 In the English Opening White often has to play this move sooner or later if he wants any advantage, but the art is in choosing the right moment. cxd4 11.xd4 d8 12.e3 White has a nicely developed position, and is ready to play f4, Rc1 with a complete grip, so Black decides to burst out. d5!? A reasonable move in a rapid game, but probably not such a good idea in a longer game, as W hite has more time to find defensive moves. 13.exd5!? The practical approach, White gains the two bishops in an open position. [ 13.cxd5! is probably stronger, as exd5 14.db5 b8 15.xd5 e5 must favour W hite, although by freeing her game like this Black will be able to generate lively
piece play. ] 13...exd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.cxd5 xd5 16.f3 g4! 17.b5! [ 17.xg4 xd4 18.xd4 ad8 regains the piece, when the opposite-colour bishops should assure the draw. ] 17...xb5 18.xg4 d8 19.c2 d6 20.g3 A typical position, without central pawns: the white light-squared bishop should always d o m i n a t e t h e b l a c k k n i g h t . h5!? Bla ck co n t in u e s t o t ry t o co m p lic a t e t h e position. 21.e2 d5?! [ 21...e5 22.xh5 a5! is more in tune with the position, 23.b5 d4 24.g4 e6 wit h so me play a ga inst th e awk wa rd lyplaced white pieces. ] 22.xh5 d4 23.g4 e5 24.bc1 e7 25.e4 [ 25.fe1! is natural, and leaves Black a pawn down for nothing. ] 25...f5 26.g2 f4? 27.xd4?! White misses the nice tactic [ 27.c8! to deflect the supporter of the d5rook, 5d7 28.xd8+ xd8 29.gxf4 and another pawn bites the dust. ] 27...xd4 28.fe1 e5 29.xe5 xe5 30.f3 fxg3 31.hxg3 b6 Although Black is a pawn down, and his king is exposed, her pieces are more active, and the pressure on f2 is very annoying for W hite. 32.xb7 d3 This double attack on a3 and g3 regains a pawn. 33.f3 xa3?? How could Black miss the simple [ 33...d2! 34.f1 xf2! 35.xf2 e1+ 36.h2 xf2 drawing, or was she playing for a win? ] 34.h1? Ditto! White misses a chance to explode from his defensive cover: [ 34.c8+! f7 35.h5+! xh5 36.b7+ e6 37.c6+ f5 38.d7+ and the end is not too far off for the poor black king. ] 34...d3 Ba ck t o d e f e n d . 35.e4 h5+ 36.g1 d2 37.f1 With the white pieces again passive, and opposite-colour bishops on the board, a peaceful result again seems oddson. d4?! Why move this piece from its best square? 38.b1 e2 Black couldn't take the pawn anyway: [ 38...xb4? 39.a8+ f7 40.a2+ wins. ] 39.h3 g4?! [ 39...d6! ] 1509
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 40.a2+ f8 41.h8+ Suddenly the lack of [ Understandably, 13...h6 14.d3 f5 p a w n c o v e r i s t h e d e c i s i v e f a c t o r . e7 15.g4 h6 16.gxf5 hxg5 17.f6 was not to 42.e1+ e4 43.xe4+ xe4 44.xg7+ Black's taste, but now he is committed to d6 45.f6+ d7 46.f7+ d6 47.c4 sacrificing his knight. ] Now even the exchange of queens won't help 14.h3 The g4-knight has nowhere to go! Black. e1+ 48.g2 xb4?? 49.f8+ dxe5! 1-0 [ A good pragmatic decision, 14...h5 15.f3 h6 16.xh6 gxh6 17.f4 leaves the black kingside looking like the proverbial Swiss cheese! ] 1509 A34 Rublevsky,Sergei 2639 15.xg4 xd4 Black has three pawns for his Zhang Pengxiang 2487 piece, and a good square on d4, in other f5 CHN-RUS Summit Men (4) 10.09.2001 words, sufficient compensation. 16.f4!? 17.h5 d8 18.fxe5 White plays actively to [Tony Kosten] undermine the knight but Black has some Touche! 1.e4 An atypical start for Flank Openings! c5 tactica l ide as o f h is o wn . b5! 19.g6? 2.f3 e6 3.c4 c6 4.c3 f6 5.e2 [ White's position rapidly goes downhill after [ 5.e5?! g8 6.d4 would transpose to the this attempt to generate an attack, 19.cxb5 main Mikenas variation, but 5...Ng4! is a could be tried, c2 20.f3 b7 21.b3 problem. ] d5 22.b2 xa1 23.xb4 c4! 5...b6!? The critical response, Black stops is not entirely clear, but just favours Black. ] W hite from playing d4, with a Sicilian/ H e d g e h o g p o s i t i o n . 6.0-0 e7 7.a3 19...xc4! [ 19...bxa4 20.h5 b7 21.g5 Deprived of the possibility of his natural thrust allows White some chances, but it is difficult in the centre, White looks to the queenside, to believe that he is not worse here, with and the possibility of embarrassing the black best play. ] queen on the b-file. 0-0 8.b4!? [ A s h a r p n e w p a w n s a c . 8.b1 20.h1 [ 20.h5? e2+ 21.f2 ( 21.h1? g3+ is the previous try, a5!? ( 8...d6 9.b4 cxb4 22.hxg3 xf1+ ) 21...xc1 brings White's 10.axb4 xb4 11.a3 a5 12.d4 attack to a full stop. ] is unclear, but White's strong centre offers compensation.) 9.d3 d6 10.h3 d7 20...c6 21.f3 The queen must defend the 11.e3 and White is ready to play d4, f1-rook. xe5 Everything falls apart. 22.b2 xf3 23.xc4 h4 24.b6 b7 25.xa8 Chuchelov,V-Barsov,A/Le Touquet 1997. ] xg2+ 26.g1 xh3 White is temporarily 8...cxb4 9.axb4 xb4! [ Black takes the bull by the horns, 9...xb4 five pawns down f or a rook, but so many 10.e5 e8 11.d4 leaves White with a lot of white pieces are en prise, that he is, in effect, five pawns down with the worse position! extra space. ] 10.e5 g4 With the other black knight still on 27.a3 xa3 c6 this gains time by threatening the e5-pawn. 0-1 11.a4 This is necessary, else White couldn't play d4 without leaving the knight hanging. A34 c7 12.d4 d6 Best, Black attacks the white 1510 centre immediately. 13.g5!? Salvador,Roland 2500 [ White tries to profit from the wayward knight Jobava,Baadur 2678 by starting a kingside attack, but 13.h3 h6 XXXII Crespi Memorial (4) 06.12.2011 14.exd6 xd6 15.xh6 gxh6 16.c5! [John Bartholomew] fully justified his play, e.g. f4 17.d5! exd5 18.b6 and Black must concede an 1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 e5 4.e3 f6 exchange, as b8? 19.xd5 wins. ] 5.d4 13...h6!? [ F o r e x t e n s i v e c o v e r a g e o f 5.e2 1510
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 , see Svidler-Nepomniachtchi in this update. ] 5...e4!? Jobava is known for his outstanding opening preparation, and he plays this with an eye towards the full point. [ It's more usual to play this advance after 5...cxd4 6.exd4 , but it can be hard to generate winning chances in the line e4 7.e5 b4 8.e2 . ] 6.e5 The usual reaction. [ The counterpunch 6.d5!? was examined in Geo rgiev, V (25 38)-Ye melin, V (25 40)/ Hamburg 2000/[TonyK]. ] [ 6.g5 cxd4 7.exd4 b4 transposes to 5... c x d 4 6 . N g 5 . S e e S h i r j a e v, A ( 2 2 9 4 ) Shinkevich, V (2470)/Ufa 2004/[John W atson], and Vaznonis, V (2291) Jakubowski, K (2497)/Warsaw 2006/[John Watson]. ] 6...d6!? A recent innovation of Vladimir Georgiev. In the archives you can find the game Mikh alch ishin, A (25 52)-Avru kh, B (2588)/Batumi 1999/[TonyK], in which Black essayed this bishop move after the initial 5... cxd4 6.exd4. [ Once more, 6...cxd4 7.exd4 transposes to 5...cxd4. ] [ 6...g6!? is Grischuk's idea, introduced against Kramnik in the Candidates in May. The players were in the rapid tiebreak, and I suspect Grischuk had doubts about the quality of this move in the standard timecontrol games. Vlad responded with A) In the Russian Championship three months later, Nepomniachtchi (a clear 3... e5 fan!) stepped to the plate and repeated Grischuk's line versus the former W orld Champ. 7.e2 g7 8.0-0 0-0 9.b3 cxd4 ( 9...e7!? ) 10.exd4 e8 11.f4 d6 12.xc6 bxc6 13.c1 d5 14.d2 a6 15.fd1 c8 16.h3 dxc4 17.bxc4 Kram nik , V (27 81)-Nep omn iach tch i, I (2711) /Moscow RUS 2011. Only these two games have been played in the 6... g6!? line, so it's quite early to give an assessment.; B) 7.b1!? , which was undoubtedly a practical decision to counter Grischuk's preparation. Kramnik, V (2785) -Grischuk, A (2747)/Kazan RUS 2011. ] 7.g4 Trying to exchange the defender of e4.
[ Georgiev's game saw a quick transfer to the endgame after 7.xc6 dxc6 ( 7...bxc6!? is more combative and definitely playable.) 8.dxc5 xc5 9.xd8+ xd8 10.h3 a5 11.b3 c7 12.d2 d8 13.0-0-0 h5= Manea, A (2413)-Georgiev, V (2559)/Sunny Beach BUL 2011. ] [ 7.f4!? was played in the aforementioned Mikhalchishin game and it's a legitimate try here. T he ou tcome o f the o pe nin g wa s satisfactory for Avrukh in that game, so note that cxd4 8.exd4 could transpose. ] 7...cxd4 [ The computer finds the intriguing 7...xg4!? 8.xg4 0-0 , when White really doesn't h a v e t i m e t o c a p t u r e o n e 4 . 9.dxc5 ( 9.xe4?? f5-+; 9.xe4?! cxd4 ) 9...f5 10.d1 e5 ( Definitely not 10...xc5?? 11.d5++- )] 8.xf6+ This leads to forcing play and a highly interesting middlegame. [ Maybe White should prefer 8.exd4 , i.e. 0-0 ( 8...xg4 9.xg4 0-0 is no longer so desirable due to 10.h6 f6 11.e3 ) 9.xf6+ xf6 10.e3 g6 . Now 11.g3 with the easy plan of 12.Bg2 and 13.0-0 looks a bit more pleasant for White. ] 8...xf6 9.xe4 b4+ 10.d2 g6 11.xb4 xb4 12.a3! xe4 13.axb4 dxe3 14.e2 0-0 15.xe3 c2 [ 15...g6!? ] 16.d3 xb2 17.0-0 xb4 The preceding moves were very logical for both sides. White has now sacrificed two pawns, for which he has adequate compensation in the form of initiative and development. It's tough to assess - a sort of dynamic equality permeates the position - but the onus is on White to prove it. 18.fb1 [ Bailing out with 18.xa7?! xa7 19.xa7 e8 isn't a good option. Black is behind in development and wouldn't hesitate to return one pawn to catch up. ] 18...d6 19.a5 [ A menacing rook lift, but maybe 19.e4!? was superior, preventing ...b6-b7 and asking Black how he intends to develop. ] 19...g6 20.d5 e6! 21.g3?! [ 21.d4! ] 21...e8 22.h4 b6 One can sense the urgency: White hurries to generate an attack, 1511
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 while Black rushes to complete development. and White still has well-placed pieces and a Unfortunately for Salvador, Jobava is winning mobile centre, but after f6 it's about equal. ] the race. 23.h5 b7 24.d6 e5 13.g5! Fo r c i n g a q u e e n t ra d e . 25.xe5 xe5 [ As Tony reported on this site, Miles-Hort, 26.hxg6 hxg6 27.xd7 White regained a London 1983 went 13.b2 b6 14.d3 pawn, but must now defend an unpleasant d7 15.c1 a6 16.d2 c8 17.h4 pawn-down ending. c6 28.c7 c5 29.a1 xc1+ ( Black seems to be doing fine here a5 30.b1 b8 31.e2?! a4 32.f3 e4! 17...a4! may be as good or better: 18.xc8 Basically forced, but still a spectacular shot. xc8 19.a1 f6 20.h5 e7 ) 18.xc1 c7 33.xb6?! ( 18...f6 ) 19.h5 h6 20.h4! a4 [ 33.xc5 xb1 34.b5 d3 35.b4 ( 20...c4! 21.c2 d6 ) 21.f4! d6 gave more chances of holding out. c2 ] 22.g4 c4 23.e1 a3?! 24.e5 ( or 33...xb6 34.xc5 xf3 35.gxf3 a6-+ 24.xg7 ) 24...e7 Simple chess: Black gets behind the passed A) or 25.d5 with the idea exd5 26.xa3 pawn. 36.d5 a3 37.d1 a2 38.a1 f8 d7 ( 26...bxa3 27.xa4 ) 27.xb4 xb4 39.f1 e7 40.e2 d6 Black will win the 28.xb4 with a winning game; c-pawn easily, then go collect the f pawns. B) 25.xa3 bxa3 26.d5 c5 27.c3 White resigned. b6 28.b4 a5 29.d6 and White went 0-1 on to win. ] 13...e7 [ 13...f6 is met by 14.xe6! fxg5 15.xg5! ] 1511 A34 [ 13...c7 14.c1 c6 15.d5 ] Schebler,Gerhard 2535 14.xe7 xe7 [ 14...xe7 15.d2! ] Mueller,Kristin 2500 Bundesliga 2006-7 (4) 19.11.2006 15.xe6 0-0 [ 15...fxe6?? 16.xc8+ d8 17.xb7 ] [John Watson] 16.b3 c6 17.e5!? b6 18.e4 a5 A quick look at a new Nimzowitsch 5 e4 game, 19.d5 xb3 20.axb3 It's hard to argue with a n d a r e m i n d e r t o t h o s e wh o a re n o t s o White's position. c5? 21.d1? [ 21.g5! g6 22.h4 h5 23.e4 acquainted with its theory: 1.c4 f6 2.f3 is almost winning due to c2! 24.f6+ c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 g7 25.d4! ] 6.c4 d3+ 7.e2 f4+ 8.f1 e6 W e've see n this m any t ime s b ef o re . 9.b4 21...d7 22.g5 g6 23.h4 h5 24.e4 cxb4 10.e2 And this. c5!? But not this! c2 25.c1 [ 25.f6+ g7 26.d4? b5! ] Black plays logically the point is that the once proud knight on e6 has become one of his 25...d3 26.f6+ g7 27.d4!? b5 worst pieces, so he lures White's queen to the 28.xd3 xd3 29.e1 a5 30.d2!? [ 30.c7 ] c-file and then gets out of the way. Naturally 30...xe2 31.xe2 a4 32.bxa4 a5 this takes time. 11.c2 e6 xa4 and White's centre pawns [ 11...c6 12.d4 d7 13.xf7+! xf7 33.hd1 may be as good as Black's on the queenside, 14.b3+ launches a serious attack. ] 12.d4 cd7?! Now the knight has gotten off but 34.d4 [ 34.d3 c3+ 35.e3 is much more the poor square e6 but it has taken a few accurate. Even Rxc3 may follow. ] tempi and ended up cramping Black's 34...c3+ 35.d3?! a3! 36.d2 a2+ position.. [ Better was 12...ca6! 13.b2 ( 13.g5 37.d3 e2 and Black went on to win with e7 14.h4!? ) 13...d7 (with the idea ...b5) his extra material. But White obviously had ( 13...e7 14.h4 c7 15.h5 h6 16.c1 the better of it out of the opening. Still, this keeps the initiative.) 14.f4 ( 14.d5 c5; is quite an interesting defensive try if Black 14.h4 c6 15.h5 a5 ) 14...c7?! puts his knight on a6. 38.c7 xd4 39.xd4 15.h5! b5 16.b3 xc2 17.xc2 xf2 40.e4 e2 41.e6 b3 42.xb7 b2 1512
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 43.d6 b1 44.xb1 fxe6 45.b7+ g8 24.xf6+ f7 25.d7 46.e7 f4 47.xe6 f7 48.e7+ f8 with a substantial advantage for White; 49.d3 e1 50.d4 f5 51.e6 d1+ B2) 14...g6! 15.f4 c5 16.e3 f6 52.e3 g5 53.h3 fd5 54.g3 f7 55.e7+ 17.g3 g6= Morozevich-Moska g6 56.g4 h4 57.e6+ f7 58.e7+ f8 orozevich-Moska orozevich-Moskalenko, 59.e6 1d3+ 60.e2 a3 61.f6+ e8 Alushta 1993 ] 62.e6+ d7 63.e7+ c6 64.c7+ b6 [ 12.e3 c5 13.f4 b3 14.g3 xc1 65.e7 xh3 66.d7 c7 67.f6 d4 15.axc1 0-0 16.e5 f6 17.xd7 xd7 68.e8 hd3 69.c8+ b7 70.g8 h3 18.b3 h8 19.c4 e5= Topalov, V71.e4 h2 72.h8 a3 73.c5+ c6 Adams, M/Linares 1997 ] 74.e6 xd7 75.xg5 a2+ 76.f3 d1 12...a4 0-1 [ 12...e7 13.b4! ( or 13.e3 ) 13...c6 ( 13...c4 14.d4 b6 15.h6 f6 16.e5 c6 17.exf6 xd4 18.xd4 gxh6 1512 A34 19.xc6 bxc6 20.ac1 ) 14.b2 0-0 15.ac1 f6 16.fd1 ] Schlosser,Philipp 2562 [ 12...c6 13.e3 The white queen is Rotstein,Arkadij 2545 idea lly place d o n e 3, in t he cen tre an d TCh-AUT 2006-7 (11) 11.03.2007 threatening to win a piece with b2-b4. Ribli [Carsten Hansen] m a k e s t h e f o l l o wi n g o b s e r va t i o n , t h a t despite the symmetrical pawn distribution 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 d5 4.cxd5 a n d s t r u ct u re , B l a c k i s p r e t t y f a r f r o m xd5 5.d4 cxd4 6.xd4 xc3 7.xc3 equality. a4 making room for the knight on c6 8.e4 e6 9.a3!? a 4 t o r e t r e a t ( 13...b6? 14.b4 xe3 [ The main alternative is 9.b5 but it has 15.xe3 b3 16.ab1+- ) 14.b4 b3 become apparent that this is probably not ( Ribli also gives the following alternatives the place White should look for an edge in 14...c4 15.xc4 xc4 16.xa7; this variation. d7 10.0-0 b6 11.a4 c5 14...c6 15.b2 ) 15.d1 c5 12.d3 d6 13.e2 c7 14.e5 c5 ( 15...xd1 16.xd1 xa1 17.d3+- ) 15.d1 a6 16.d3 h6 17.f4 b4 18.e4 16.b2 b5 17.bxc5 ( 17.e1 d3 c6 was equal in Anand-Adams, Groningen 18.e2+- ) 17...xc5 Z. Izoria-Maze, 1997 ] Warsaw 2005, and here Ribli gives: 18.f4! 9...d7 10.e2 c8 11.0-0 a5 12.d3 xf1 19.xf1 0-0 20.e5+- ] [ The alternatives don't offer much hope of obtaining an advantage for White: 12.e5 13.xd8+ '!?' Ribli. [ 13.e3 c5 14.f4 b3 15.g4 xc1 b3 13.b1 ( 15...xa1 16.xg7 f8 17.b4 d6 A) 13...c7?! 14.xc7 xc7 15.f4 c8 18.xa1 (Ribli) ) 16.axc1 0-0 17.e5 b3 16.e5 ( 16.fd1 h6 17.d4 xd4 18.c3 b6 19.h4 ce8 20.g5 18.xd4 ) 16...a4 17.fe1 A.Winter-S. W h i t e a l r e a d y h a s a wi n n i n g a t t a c k h6 Wolf, 3.Bundesliga 1993 c5=; 21.e4 e7 22.f6+ h8 23.e4 B) 13...f6 14.g3 ( 23.h3! is even stronger, the threat is 24 B1) Ribli offers the following line: Qg5 followed by 25 Rxh6+ c2 24.g5 14...xc1 15.bxc1 xc1 16.xc1 h7 25.xh6 gxh6 26.xh6 xf6 27.d3 xb2 17.b8+ e7 18.d1! ( 18.e1 and game over) 23...g6 24.xe8 xe8 g6 19.e5 b6 Ribli ) 18...xe2 25.f3 a4 26.xf7 xb2 27.h3 g5 19.d6+ f6 = according to Ribli 28.xg6 xe5 29.f4 1-0 Weinzettl-Penz, 20.e5+ e7 21.d4! b5 22.e5 Austrian chT 2002 ] Black cannot safely prevent the loss of the pie ce h e h as just wo n, a nd wit h 13...xd8 14.e3 b3 [ 14...a6 15.ac1 ] Black's king unable to castle and being [ 14...b6 15.ac1 d6 16.e5 e7 17.c7 far behind in development, Black is in Ruck-Grosar, Bled 2002 ] s e r i o u s t r o u b l e e8 23.xd7 f6 1513
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 14...c6 15.b3 ( 15.fc1!? a6 16.b6 a8 17.c3 e7 18.ac1 0-0 19.e5 ) 15...xb3 16.fb1 a4 17.xb7 d6 18.xa7 d7 19.xd7 xd7 Roussel Roozmon-Maly, Montreal CA N 2003 20.e3 ] 15.ad1 This is a bit strange since it has been established that White obtains a better game after [ 15.d1!? A) 15...b5?! 16.xb3! xb3 17.fc1 Black has major trouble getting his bishop on b3 out of harm's way. His main problem is that thanks to his premature ...b7-b5, it cannot retreat that way. ( White had less success with 17.d4 c4 18.fd1 c5 19.c6 c8 20.xc5 xc6 21.xa7 b3 and although White is a pawn up, the conversion will be rather difficult, due to the opposite coloured bishops and the blocked nature of the queenside pawns, and in fact in the game Matamoros FrancoN.Delgado, Havana 1999, W hite didn't succeed. ) 17...e5 18.xe5 a6 19.c6+Anand-Kortschnoj, Tilburg 1998; B) 15...a6 16.xb3 xb3 B1) 17.fc1 d6 18.b6 a8 B1a) 19.a4 e5 20.c7 e7 21.xd6+ ( 21.xe5 ac8 22.xd6+ xd6 23.f4 f6 ) 21...xd6 22.c3 e6 23.d1+ e7 24.xe5 ac8 J. Donaldson-Bartholomew, Connecticut 2004 25.cd3; B1b) 19.c7 e7 20.a4 f6 21.e5 ( 21.d2!? xb2 22.xb3 xa1 23.xa1 c8 24.d6 ) 21...d8 22.xf6 gxf6 23.a5 e7 24.f1 c8 25.e2 1/2-1/2 Donaldson, J-Langer, M/Oklahoma USA 2003; B2) 17.ac1 d6 18.b6 a8 19.d4 a4 20.c4 d7 21.d1 0-0 22.e5 b5 23.xb5 axb5 24.e4 e7 25.d7 Kramnik-Van Wely, Monte Carlo 1998 ] 15...c5 16.xd8+ xd8 17.xc5 xc5 18.e5 [ 18.g5 e7 19.c1 d7 20.f4 f6 21.f3 c6= ] 18...d7 19.c1 c6 20.d4?! [ Now White just loses a pawn without compensation. However, Black has already
more or less entirely equalised. Nonetheless, it is weird that a strong grandmaster like Schlosser didn't fully appreciate the consequences after the text move. After 20.b4!? e7 ( 20...d5 21.a4 ) 21.b5 d5 the chances are completely even ] 20...xe5 21.c5 d5 22.f4 c6 23.xc6+ xc6 24.f2 e7 25.g3 h6 26.h4 d6 27.b4 b6 28.c3 d5 29.a6 g5! being a pawn down makes it a very questionable decision to exchange your last rook willingly 30.c8?! xc8 31.xc8 gxh4 32.gxh4 b5! A very remarkable idea. Now Black fixes White's queenside pawns on dark squares where they cannot be guarded by the bishop and furthermore, the white bishop is at some risk of being trapped behind the black pawns. 33.e3 c6 34.d4 f6 35.e3 d5 36.d3 e5 37.fxe5 xe5 38.e3 f5 39.a6 f4+ 40.d3 d7 41.b7 e6 42.c6 c4+ 43.c3 f1 44.f3 c4 45.c6 d5 46.xb5 f3 47.f1 f4 48.d4 b3 49.c3 d1 50.d3 g3 51.e3 a4 52.d3 f2 53.f1 h5 0-1
1513 Shirjaev,Alexandr Shinkevich,Vitaly Ufa [John Watson]
A34
2004
1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 e5 4.e3 A move which has had considerable popularity over the last 15 years. Tony has covered several games here. Black still has to prove th at h e h as a co m plet ely reliab le wa y t o equality, e.g., f6 [ One interesting idea after 4...f5 5.d4 e4 is 6.d2!? ( Tony has dealt with 6.d5 exf3 7.dxc6 fxg2 8.cxd7+ xd7 9.xg2 xd1+ 10.xd1 f6 11.b3 d6 12.b2 f7! , about equal, although I'd rather be White.) 6...f6 7.b3 cxd4 8.xd4 xd4 9.exd4 b4 10.b3 with some advantage ] 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 e4 7.g5 The alternative is 7.Ne5, as in the Kharlov-Jakovenko game. b4 8.d5 e5 [ 8...xc3+ 9.bxc3 a5!? has been tried but is difficult after 10.a3 d6 11.a4+ 1514
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d7 12.b4 ] 9.d4 e7 This is the main line, which has been holding up well for Black. No longer. 10.e3 eg4 11.0-0-0 xe3 12.xe3 This line, analysis by Burgess cited by Hansen, was considered better for Black after g4! 13.f4 xf2 14.d6 Qf6, favouring Black. But in our game W hite played the dynamic 14.cxe4! xe4 There are no good choices: [ 14...xh1 15.d6 f8 16.c5! f6 17.c4 and Black's position is resignable ] [ or 14...xd1 15.d6 f8 ( 15...c5 16.xd1; 15...xd6 16.xd6+ f8 17.gxf7 e3+ 18.xe3 xe3 19.xh8 ) 16.c5! h6 17.c4! hxg5 18.xg5 etc. ] 15.xe4 f5 (Otherwise d6 and a3/c5 is overwhelming) 16.xf5 d6 17.h5+ [ or 17.f3! , e.g., d7 18.d3 0-0-0 19.g3 ] 17...g6 18.f3 f8 [ M u c h b e t t e r wa s 18...f5! , an option allowed by 17.Qh5+ ] 19.b3 a5 20.d3 g4 21.a3! xd1 22.xd1 d8 It's all over now. [ 22...c5 23.xc5 dxc5 24.e1 ] 23.axb4 axb4 24.c2 b5 25.xb4 bxc4 26.b6+ c7 27.xc7+ xc7 28.xc4 ae8 29.d3 f4 30.e1 e5 31.b4 b6 32.d4 ff5 33.a1 f4 34.d3 c7 35.a7+ 1-0
1514 Smyslov,Vassily Miles,Anthony J Tilburg [Tony Kosten]
A34
1977
Miles outplays Smyslov in purely positional style, sending a white knight to the side of the board where it stays a complete bystander for the rest of the game. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 g6 6.g2 g7 7.0-0 c6 8.g5?! [ 8.a4 achieved little in Kasparov,GKramnik,V/London ENG 2000. ] [ 8.xd5 is the main line, see Hansen,CSutovsky,E/Esbjerg DEN 2001 in [A38]. ] 8...e6 9.ge4 b6 10.d3 [ 10.a4!? i s t r i c k i e r , d7! 11.xd5
( 11.d6+? e7 12.b7 b8 traps the erra nt kn igh t) 11...exd5 12.c3 e7 13.f4 c6 Timman,J-Polugaevsky,L/Breda 1979. ] 10...0-0 [ Tony also did well with 10...b7 11.g5 f6 12.d2 d7 against A.Sokolov, Bugojno 1986. ] 11.g5 f6 12.d2 the weakening of e6 has no particular consequence, Black's space advantage is the most important factor here. de7! I like this move, Black prepares to drive the white pieces further back, and avoids any exchanges, which aid the side with the least space, in general. 13.a3 f5 14.g5 h6 15.h3?! Hoping to recycle this piece on f4, but it is too ambitious. b7 16.b4 The typical pawn break in such positions. cxb4 17.axb4 d7 18.a4 fd8 Black plays simple but effective moves. 19.f4 g5! The knight is give n n o re st ! 20.h5 h8 Leaving the knight high-and-dry, the immediate threat is ... Qe8. 21.h3 d4! With the white knight stuck on the rim, the easiest means of exploiting this is by exchanging into an endgame, and u s i n g t h e a d va n t a g e o n t h e q u e e n s i d e . 22.d1 xg2 23.xg2 ac8 [ White has dropped his queen back to d1 so a s t o a n s w e r 23...e8 with 24.e4 although this is still clearly good for Black because of the white central weaknesses. ] 24.c1 d5 Black continues his policy of exchanging pieces, the less pieces there are on the board, the more White will suffer the u s e l e s s n e s s o f h i s h 5 k n i g h t . 25.xd5 xd5+ 26.f3 xc1 Again, it is interesting to contrast Black's play with his twelfth move. 27.xc1 c8 28.e3 a2 29.h4 c2 30.f2 f4! 31.xd4 [ If 31.gxf4 f5 hits e3 and h4. ] 31...xd4 32.gxf4 White hopes to use his knight to mount a kingside attack, and so has offered the exchange. b2 [ Black will finish his opponent off with a mating attack, and prepares ...Rc1, but 32...gxf4 was also sufficient, as 33.xf4 e3 w i n s a p i e c e , 34.h3? c1 or the queen. ] 33.fxg5 xf2 34.xf2 c1 35.f6+ f7 36.a4 d4+ 37.g3 [ White can avoid immediate mate by 37.e3 1515
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 n o t t h e g a m e : xh4+ 39.g3 g1+ 40.f4 xg5+ ] 37...g1+ Mate follows. 0-1
38.g2 h1+ 22...xb2 23.d1 g6 24.g3 g7 25.g2 h4+ 41.e5 d6 26.d3 e5 27.d2 d7 28.h3 h5 29.f3 d6 30.c7 e7 31.xd6 xd6 32.d5 Queen and knight are supposed to be alright, but here Black's bishop is very strong. W hite meanwhile needs to protect his king and look after that a-pawn. e5 33.g4 [ I'd have been more inclined to prevent 1515 A34 Black from having the possibility of ... h5-h4 Sulskis,Sarunas 2564 by playing 33.h4 myself. Now White needs Nabaty,Tamir 2581 to watch out for incursions on h2. ] 1st Lido Adriano Open (4) 05.04.2011 33...h4 34.d3 c5 35.a4 d4 36.f3 a5 [Nigel Davies] 37.f4 e8 38.b3? A time trouble error? [ 38.e2 followed by 39.Nc3 seems just 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 e5 4.e3 f6 about OK still. ] 5.e2 d5 6.d4 cxd4 [ 6...exd4 7.exd4 e6 is thought to be the 38...e4+ 39.f3 c2 Winning the a4 pawn solid way to play this, though there seems and the game. 40.g5 xa4 41.d5 a1 little in the way of winning chances for Black 42.f3 a3+ 43.g2 b4 44.f3 a4 if White is sensible. Here too Black gets a 45.d8 e5 46.d5 d4 47.a5 a3 solid enough position but with White being 0-1 the one who is pressing for something. ] 7.exd4 exd4 8.xd4 c5 A34 [ Another possibility is 8...b4 , for example 1516 9.0-0 xc3 10.xc6 bxc6 11.bxc3 0-0 Svidler,Peter 2755 12.g5 e6 13.a4 h6 14.cxd5 cxd5 Nepomniachtchi,Ian 2730 15.e3 e4 was about equal in Pavlov, S- 6th Tal Memorial (7) 23.11.2011 Kovchan, A/Kyiv UKR 2011. ] [John Bartholomew] 9.xc6 bxc6 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.b5+ d7 12.xd7+ xd7 13.0-0 0-0 14.g5 f5 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 One of the 15.xf6 xf6 16.c1 principles lines in the Three Knights. 4.e3 [ This is more precise than 16.xd5 d4 If you plan to construct a repertoire for White when Black will get enough for a draw. ] or Black in the Symmetrical English, I 16...b6 17.xd5 ad8 18.b3 So White recommend that you prioritize the study of win s a p a wn b u t t h e r e a re co n s id e ra b l e e a r l y e 2 - e 3 l i n e s . P r e p a r i n g t h e d 2 - d 4 technical difficulties. A particular problem is a d va n c e i s n ' t t h e m o s t c o m m o n wa y o f the vulnerability of f2 thanks to Black's strong treating these positions, but it is a direct and d a r k s q u a r e d b i s h o p . d4 19.d5 critical test of many Black setups. Just last This looks obvious enough but I think it lets m o n t h we s a w A r o n i a n wi n a n ic e g a m e his advantage slip. applying this strategy (in the 3...g6 4.e3 line). [ 19.ce1 followed by 20.Re2 was probably [ Nepomniachtchi had already struck pay dirt better. ] with 3...e5 in round one of the Tal Memorial, 19...e6 20.fd1 dealing Kramnik a rare loss with White after [ White would love to get rid of the bishop 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 (see the November with 20.xb6 but after xb3 21.axb3 axb6 update). ] it's difficult to imagine him winning the rook 4...f6 5.e2 Developing and inviting Black endgame. ] to play 5...d5. 20...d8 21.xd4 xd4 22.c4?! [ White has struggled to prove much in the It looks strange to just return the pawn as now main line beginning 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 e4 Black will be level on material and have what 7.e5 b4 . See (for instance) the notes to chances are going. Cobb , C (2 405)-Cvita n, O (2 491 )/S ain t [ 22.c3 was a better idea. ] Vincent 2005/ [John Watson]. Grischuk and 1516
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Dominguez debated this position in December, and the result was a balanced affair: 8.e2 a5 9.xc6 dxc6 10.d2 0-0 11.0-0 e8 12.a3 xc3 13.xc3 g5 14.c1 e3 15.fxe3 g4! (a recent find of Sulskis) 16.f3 xe3+ 17.xe3 xe3 18.xg4 xg4 19.h3 f6 20.ae1 ae8 21.f2 xe1 22.xe1 xe1 23.xe1= Grischuk, A (2752)-Dominguez Perez, L (2712)/ Beijing CHN 2011. The game was soon drawn. An alternative for Black is the highly interesting 5...e4!?, which we examine this month in Salvador-Jobava. ] 5...d5 Challenge accepted! [ 5...h6 seems rather meritless to me, though we saw it work in Lushenkov, M (2441)-Tregubov, P (2598)/Olginka RUS 2011/[Nigel Davies]. Black definitely has to h a v e s o m e t h i n g p r e p a r e d a g a i n s t 6.d4 (in the game White played 6.0-0). ] 6.d4 Now the tension in the center produces a great number of possibilities. [ 6.cxd5 xd5 is a different kettle of fish. See Nanu, C (2505)-Tregubov, P (2625)/ Rijeka CRO 2010/[Nigel Davies]. ] 6...exd4 [ We're most interested in determining whether Black can equalize with straightforward exchanges, but there's a lot of f ertile ground in t he variatio n 6...e4!? 7.e5 , as Nigel examined in Roiz, M (2677)Khenkin, I (2647)/ Israel ISR 2009/[Nigel Davies]. ] [ 6...cxd4 7.exd4 exd4 ( 7...e4 8.e5 is s im i l a r t o 6 . . . e 4 ! ? a n d c o u ld i n f a c t transpose. dxc4 9.a4 e7 is ) 8.xd4 transposes to the game. ] 7.exd4 cxd4 Nepomniachtchi follows a policy of utmost clarity by way of mass exchanges. [ The accepted antidote to the 5.Be2 line is 7...e6 . However, at the European Team Ch am pion s hips last m on th , G erma ny's Georg Meier was able to squeeze the full point from Fabiano Caruana after 8.cxd5 ( You might remember the exciting KramnikGrischuk clash in the Candidates this past May. Kramnik played 8.e3 , to which I refer you to John W atsons's notes to Ivanchuk, V (2729)-Anand, V (2792)/W ijk a a n Z e e 2 0 0 6 .) 8...xd5 9.0-0 e7 10.dxc5 xc3 11.bxc3 xd1 12.xd1
xc5 13.g5 0-0 14.f4 , a line in which Black has tallied a dismal +0, =3, -6 score. No doubt Black should draw with perfect play, but he is facing a stereotypical "White is a GM and will play for 100+ moves to try and beat you" scenario. After fe8 15.f1 ad8 16.xe6 xe6 17.xd8+ xd8 18.d1 c6 19.d5 Meier milked the b i s h o p p a i r a n d f u l l y c a p i t a l i ze d o n a subsequent mistake from Caruana. Meier, G (2659) -Caruana, F (2727)/Porto Carras GRE 2011. ] [ The forgotten 7...e7 shouldn't be bad at all. I think it's psychologically tough for the second player to accept protracted symmetric play and almost zero possibilities for a result greater than half a point. Indeed, of 51 games Black has only won 3 from here, bu t W h it e h a s o n ly wo n 9 ! You get t h e picture. Here's one GM-level game where W hite managed something: 8.e3 cxd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4 dxc4 11.0-0 0-0 12.xc4 b6 13.e1 b7 14.a4 c7 15.h3 fd8 16.ad1 Rublevsky, S (2660)Chuchelov, V (2533)/Eupen 1999. ] 8.xd4 dxc4 Continuing to chop wood. [ It's also questionable whether White has anything against 8...c5 , e.g. 9.xc6 bxc6 10.cxd5 cxd5 . See the archives: Sulskis, S (2564)-Nabaty, T (2581)/Ravenna ITA 2011/ [Nigel Davies]. ] 9.xc6 xd1+ 10.xd1 White is at a brief crossroads here, though the text is by far the most popular recapture. [ John Watson gives 10.xd1 bxc6 11.f3 as slightly better for W hite, but practical results are lacking and Black doesn't appear particularly troubled. b7 ( 11...d7 also looks fine, e.g. 12.0-0 Farago, I (2520)Jelen, I (2340)/Ljubljana 1992. Here 0-0-0 is completely acceptable.) 12.0-0 0-0-0 13.g5 ( 13.e3 b8 14.a4 d5 15.c5 xc5 16.xc5 b4 Fro g, I (2 4 3 0 )- G o rin , I (2 3 5 5 )/ Mo s c o w 1998. ) 13...e7 14.ac1 Green, E (2320)Stuart, P/New Zeeland 198298. he8= ] [ Likewise, 10.xd1 is in no way terrifying, e. g. bxc6 11.xc4 g4+ 12.f3 ( 12.c2 f5+ 13.d3 xd3+ 14.xd3 0-0-0+ 15.c2 c5 16.f3 d5= Mazur, S (2144)K a n m a z a l p , O ( 2 2 6 4 ) / K e m e r 2 0 0 7 .) 1517
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12...0-0-0+ 13.e2 e8+ 14.f1 e6 15.a6+ c7 16.f4+ b6 17.e2 d5 18.d2 xc3 19.xc3 f6= Bistric, F (2434)Sadathajafi, M (2189)/Teheran 2006. ] 10...bxc6 11.xc4 b4+ 12.d2 xd2+ 13.xd2 Black can all but force this endgame after 6.d4. Thus, the critical question: does White have an appreciable edge? Theoretically and practically, the answer is no. Black should draw, and I believe the draw is easier to come by than in the 7...Be6 line. W h it e h a s a n o m in a lly b e t t e r qu e e n sid e structure, but can't really point to much else. As usual, though, W hite runs little risk of losing and can thus push Black to show his technical skill. e4+ [ T h e r e ' s n o t h i n g w r o n g w i t h 13...0-0 either. I'd feel more comfortable keeping my king closer to the weakened queenside structure, but this is personal preference. Black should just be wary of piece e x c h a n g e s . 14.e3 e8 ( 14...g4?! this is exactly what I'm talking about - Black shouldn't hurry to simplify. The black knight is an annoyin g piece f or W hite, and it s exchange only Black's defective queenside structure more noticeable. 15.xg4 xg4 16.he1 fe8 17.c3 f8 18.f3 h5 19.ad1 Horvath, J (2551)-Kavcic, Z (2290)/Feffernitz 2008.) 15.he1 e6 This exchange is OK though. Black's bishop has few prospects and is comparatively wo rs e th a n W h it e's. 16.c2 ( 16.xe6 xe6 17.c4 ae8 18.xe6 xe6 19.h3 f8 20.d1 1/2-1/2 Feletar, D (2391)S e rm e k , D (2 5 2 4 )/ S ib e n ik CRO 2 0 1 0 .) 16...e4 17.f3 d6= Gavrikov, V (2430) Sveshnikov, E (2525)/Yerevan 1982. ] 14.c2 [ 14.e1 d6 15.e2 e6= Alavkin, A (2397)-Novozhenin, V (2092)/Murom 200001. ] 14...0-0 [ Black can make a small improvement here with 14...f5!? , intending to castle long: 15.d3 ( or 15.e1 0-0-0 16.e3 g6 17.f3 d6+ 18.c3 he8= ) 15...0-0-0 16.e1 ( 16.e3 g6 17.f3 c5 18.xg6 hxg6= ) 16...g3!? 17.xf5+ xf5= . It's really tough for White to shake things up with both kings on the same wing. ]
15.e1 d6 16.d3 b5 17.b3 d8 18.c3 e6 19.ad1 d4+ 20.b2 White retains a slight edge. c5 21.e4 ac8 22.g5 g6 23.xe6 xe6 24.c4 xd1 25.xd1 d4 26.c3 a5 [ Black could take the open file with 26...e8 , since 27.b4 d8! is a good response. 28.bxc5?? b5+ ] 27.a3 f8 28.e1 f5 29.e4 d6 30.h4 h5 31.d3 e7 32.a4 Svidler is poking and prodding. a8 33.d2 f5 34.h4 f6?! 35.b4! cxb4 36.axb4 b7 Now it becomes tough for either side to improve his position. White is still pushing, though. 37.g3 g5 38.f4 gxf4 39.gxf4 g6 40.a3 f6 41.a1 e6 42.a4 f6 43.a3 e7 44.e3 f6 45.b5 Sooner or later White had to try this. e8+ 46.d4 d8+ 47.c4 e6 48.e2 c8+ 49.d4 d8+ 50.e3 b8 51.xh5 Maybe W hit e ca n delay th is capture an d co n t in ue m a n eu ve rin g, b u t I d o n 't s e e a decent way forward. h8 52.f3 d6 53.e2 xh4 54.xa5 d5! Black's activity secures the half point. 55.a6 c4+ 56.f3 [ The ending after 56.xc4+ xc4 57.c6+ xb5 58.f6 c5 59.xf5+ d6 is drawn. ] 56...h3+ 57.g2 b3 58.xc4+ ½-½
1517 Tkachiev,Vladislav Mikhalevski,Victor 2nd IECC Ohrid MKD (3) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2672 2523 03.06.2001
1.c4 c5 2.g3 I like this move, which leads to 'pure' English positions. f6 3.g2 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.c3 c7 6.a4+!? [ 6.f3 c6 would lead to typical Rubinstein Variation play, but by delaying th e d e ve lo p m e n t o f t h e g1 -kn igh t , a n d maintaining the h1-a8 diagonal open, White has several extra possibilities. ] 6...d7 [ Best, 6...d7 7.b3 is awkward. ] 7.f3 [ More accurate than 7.xd7+ xd7 8.f3 e5 with approximate equality, Zifroni,DNisipeanu,L/Siofok 1996. ] 1518
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...xa4 [ I am not sure that it is a good idea to bring th e wh it e k n igh t t o a 4 , a s th e c5-p a wn p ro ve s a p ro b le m . 7...c6 8.0-0 e5 leads to normal positions, except that the black queen is slightly misplaced, 9.a3!? f6 10.e3 e6 11.h4 e7 12.f4 led to sharp and interesting play in Minasian,A-Ravi,T/ Dubai UAE 2001. ] 8.xa4 d7 [ An attempt to improve on 8...e6?! 9.b3! c6 10.a3 b4 11.d1! this odd move is very strong, Nxc5 is the immediate threat, a5 12.b6 b8 13.xc8 xc8 14.e5 b8 15.c4 b6 16.b2 d8?? 17.e5 1-0 Ivanchuk,V-Van Wely,L/ Frankfurt GER 2000. ] 9.d4 A simple solution to the position, White exploits the pressure on b7. cxd4 10.xd4 e5 11.b3 b4+ 12.d2 xd2+ 13.xd2! The best way to maintain the initiative. b6? [ This concedes control of c5, and allows the white knights to advance, better 13...0-0 although 14.hc1 e6 15.ac5 keeps a plus. ] 14.hc1! e6 15.ac5 b8 16.a5 xc5 17.xc5 f6 18.ac1 White has complete c o n t r o l o f t h e q u e e n s id e . 0-0 19.c7 T h e b 7 - p a wn ' s d a ys a r e n u m b e r e d . e6 20.b3 fd8+ 21.e1 d5 22.xd5+ xd5 23.xb7 xb7 24.xb7 d7 25.c8+ f7 26.c5 With a good extra pawn, and the b e t t e r p o s it i o n , t h i s i s a t r i via l wi n . b6 27.c6 e7 28.e4 d7 29.b7 Exchanging knights would allow some drawing possibilities in the ensuing rook endgame. f8 30.d6+ g6 31.c8 e8 [ 31...d7 32.a6 wins the a-pawn anyway. ] 32.xa7 a8 33.a6 e6 34.a5 g5 35.c6 Returning a pawn, but exchanging rooks, when the connected passed pawns decide. xa5 36.xa5 xe4 37.c4 f5 38.f3 c3 39.a4 e6 40.d2 a2 41.b2 d5 42.d3 d4 43.a5 c3 44.c5! b1+ 45.c1 c3 46.e6+ e3 47.c7 e2+ 48.b2 d4 49.a6 c6 50.b4 1-0
1518 Tkachiev,Vladislav Palac,Mladen TCh-CRO Rabat CRO (6) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2654 2561 12.09.2003
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 6.b5+ 8c6 7.d4 cxd4 8.a3 d7!? A little-played attempt to avoid the line [ 8...dxc3 9.xd8+ xd8 10.axb4 cxb2 11.xb2 which we have looked at a couple of times, when White has a useful initiative for the pawn. ] 9.xd4 [ 9.axb4 dxc3 10.bxc3 gives Black no particular problems, i.e. g6 11.0-0 g7 12.b3 c7 13.e3 0-0 14.ac1 e5! A zm a ip a ra sh vil i, Z -K a m sky, G / B ru s s e l s 1992. ] 9...xd4 10.xd7+ xd7 11.axb4 e6 [ 11...e5?! allows 12.d5 with a clear advantage, as Be3 will eliminate the black knight while the white one will reign supreme. ] 12.e3 d8 13.0-0 White plays for the attack, [ 13.xd4!? xd4 14.a4+ d7 15.e2 a6 16.xd7+ xd7 17.b5 axb5 18.xb5 ga ve W h it e so m e ch a n ce s in K a lla i, G Horvath,J/Balatonbereny 1996. ] [ 13.xa7 xb4 14.xd4 xd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.xb7 xe4+ is equal. ] 13...xb4 Black attempts to bring his king to safety as quickly as possible, as [ 13...a6?! allows 14.xd4! ( 14.b5 axb5 15.h5 g6! 16.e5 f6 17.xf6 g7 18.g5 b4 19.a4 0-0 is fine for Black, S c h m i t t , A - G i e r t z , N / M a r b a c h 1 9 9 4) 14...xd4 15.a4+ d7 ( 15...e7 shuts the bishop in ) 16.b5 with advantage. ] 14.xd4! xd4 15.a4+ e7 Forced, as [ 15...d7? 16.b5! wins. ] 16.b5!? The start of a sharp tactical line that nets the black queen. xe4 17.fe1! xe1+ Else Black will have problems defending the b4-bishop. [ 17...xe1?? loses, of course, to 18.xe4 ] 18.xe1 xe1 The first key position, Black has a material advantage (2 rooks and 2 pawns for the queen) but his king is exposed, 1519
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a n d i t i s W h i t e ' s g o ! 19.a3+ f6 The king is drawn into the open, [ 19...e8 i s w o r s e , a s 20.d6+ w i n s a n e x c h a n g e , e7 ( 20...d7? 21.f1 d2 22.xf7 ) 21.xb7+ f6 22.xd8 xd8 23.f1 d2 24.xa7 with good winning chances. ] 20.f3+ A simple repetition to gain time on the clock. [ 20.d6! first, is the normal move, but transposes to the 22nd. ] 20...e7 21.a3+ This position was agreed drawn in Mellado Trivino,J-De la Villa Garcia,J/ Zamora 1996. f6 22.d6! The second key position, the knight approaches the black king can it survive? h5! A strong innovation, and no doubt a case of computer-aided home preparation (my Fritz finds this move in a few seconds!) [ Other moves: 22...a5? (actually played with 2 moves less each) 23.e4+ e5 24.g5 f6 25.h4! b4 26.f3+ e7 27.xf7+ d6 28.xb7 e5?! 29.xg7+ d5 30.f7 1-0 Uhlmann,W-Lukacs,P/Berlin-Ost 1982. ] [ 22...h6! is also a good move, stopping the white knight from going to g5, and preparing a square for the king, 23.h4!? ( 23.f3+!? e7 24.c4 keeps some initiative) 23...a5 24.g3 e7 ( 24...b4! ) 25.xb7 d5! with unclear play in Gleizerov-Petrienko/ USSR 1985. ] [ 22...d7? 23.e4+ e5 24.e3 wins. ] 23.h4 White prepares the g5-square for the knight. d2 24.f3+ e7 Forced. 25.c4 [ 25.xf7? hf8 ] 25...f6 The king needs the f7-square. 26.a3+ f7 27.xa7?! [ 27.d6+ g8 28.xb7 d5 29.xa7 h7 is better, but fine for Black. ] 27...d7 [ 27...b4! 28.xb7+ e7 is good for Black. ] 28.xd2 xd2 29.xb7+ g8 30.e4 f7 [ 30...f7 31.b7+ repeats. ] ½-½
1519 Tomashevsky,Evgeny Jakovenko,Dmitrij ch-Superfinal (4) [John Watson]
A34 2595 2671 06.12.2006
We haven't seen many Rubinstein Variations for Black recently, but it's still a sound line. Here W hite doesn't solve the problem of breaking down Black's queenside. 1.f3 [ 1.e4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 g6 5.c4 g7 6.e3 f6 7.c3 0-0 8.e2 ( or 8.c2 ) 8...d6 9.c2 is the reversed system, as recommended in 'Experts Against the Sicilian'. White probably gets a small edge there, which is a good indication that Black may be okay in the game continuation. ] 1...f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 e5 8.a3!? [ 8.d3 would be the Accelerated Fianchetto Sicilian Reversed, as seen in PiketKasparov, Lautier-Leko, Akopian-Ruck, and others in the ChessPublishing archives. ] [ I recommended 8.e1 almost 30 years ago and I still believe that it's as good as anything else, intending a combination of Bxc6+, b3 and Nd3 with pressure on Black's pawns. Nevertheless, see TomashevskyKhismatullin in this month's column for a pretty good solution. ] 8...f6 9.b1 Too slow, especially if White can't get b4 in! b8! 10.d3 [ 10.a4 , to enforce b4, was probably White idea, but now it runs into b5! ] 10...e6 11.e3 d7 12.d2 b6!? [ 12...e7 leaves Black with a simple space ad va n ta ge a nd sh o ws W h it e 's op e nin g strategy to be lacking. The text is risky before castling. ] 13.a4 [ 13.f4 is an interesting and probably better choice. The text forces Black to make a move he'd like to play anyway nevertheless, W hite is counting upon a newly-created weakness on c5. ] 13...b5 14.c2 c8 15.ce4 d5!? [ 15...a6 is safe and sound, asking White what his plan is. ] 16.fc1 [ 16.xc5 xc5 17.xc5 d4 forces 1520
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.xd4 xc5 19.xc5 f7 and the material is about equal, but Black is more active than White. ] 16...xe3 17.fxe3 d8 [ Another idea is 17...a5 18.b4 b7 ] 18.b4! White has to move quickly now that Black has the bishop pair. cxb4 19.xc8 xc8 20.xc8 xc8 21.axb4 f5?! [ 21...e6 22.c1 d7 leads to complicat ions f ollowin g 23.c5 xc5 24.bxc5 a5 25.c6 c8 ] 22.c3! [ 22.c1 b7 23.c5 xg2 24.xg2 c6= ] 22...a6 23.d5 d6 24.c1 b7 25.b3 [ 25.c7+! pretty much forces d7 26.xb7 xb7 27.xa6 a8 28.c5+ xc5 29.bxc5 and Black will penetrate along the afile, but a pawn is a pawn. ] 25...xd5 26.xd5 xb4 27.a1 a5 28.xa5 c5 29.d4! b6 [ 29...exd4 30.b3 e7 31.xd4 and W h ite scof f s u p a pa wn wit h som e advantage. ] 30.b3?! [ 30.c6! exd4 31.a6! forces c7 32.xd4 and White can be happy with the turnaround of events. ] 30...d7 31.a6 c7 32.c5 h5!? 33.d7 h6 34.xb6 xb6 With the disappearance of the opposite-coloured bishops both sides have more winning chances, but especially Black with his passed pawn. 35.a7+?! [ 35.xb6 xb6 36.dxe5 c5 37.e4 is unclear. ] 35...d6 36.b3 e6! Suddenly White has real difficulties. 37.f7 [ 37.xe6 xe6 38.xg7 (threatening ... Rg6+) d5 must favour Black. ] 37...exd4 38.xf5 dxe3 39.xh5 c5 40.g8 b8 41.f7 [ 41.d5+ c6 42.f7 b4! ] 41...e6 42.g2 b4 43.g6 f8 44.b5 [ Defending the e-pawn is no better: 44.d3 f2+ 45.g1 d4! ] 44...f2+ 45.h3 xe2 46.xb4 f2 47.h4 e2 48.e4 d5 49.e3 d4 0-1
1520 Tomashevsky,Evgeny Khismatullin,Denis ch-Superfinal (6) [John Watson]
A34 2595 2583 09.12.2006
Another Rubinstein Variation. Over the years, White has never really cracked this, and here Black's position is satisfactory for most of the game. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 e5 8.e1 d6 A logical move that isn't mentioned in the books. It simply protects the e-pawn against Bxc6+ and Nd3. [ 8...d7 is very common, as in KharlovKarotlylev in the ChessPublishing archives. ] 9.xc6+ This is the most ambitious move. [ There are many ideas here such as 9.b3 0-0 10.b2 ( 10.a3!? is flexible; 10.d3 f5 11.e4 e7 looks all right for Black, since 12.xd6? xd6 13.e1 ad8 ties White down ) 10...f5!? 11.c1 ] 9...bxc6 10.a4 0-0! [ I like White after 10...d7 11.e4 e7 12.d3 h3 13.xe5!? d5 14.xc6+ xc6 15.xc6 xf1 16.xf1 ] 11.b3!? [ 11.xc6 h3 12.g2 is dangerous, but not clear. ] 11...h3 12.g2 e6 13.a3!? d4 14.ad1 e7 15.f3 f5 16.e3 b5?! [ 16...e6 17.xc6 fd8 is again unclear. ] 17.xb5 cxb5 18.xb5 f4 19.f2?! [ 19.exf4 exf4 20.g4 looks solid. White is a pawn up with ideas of Rfe1 and Qc4+. ] 19...h8?! [ 19...ab8 20.e2 fxg3 21.hxg3 d7! intending ...Bc6 gives compensation for the pawn. ] 20.gxf4 [ 20.exf4 exf4 21.g4 ] 20...exf4 21.e4 f6 [ 21...ad8! , t o s t o p d 4 : 22.d4? cxd4 23.xd6 xd6 ] 22.d4! b8 23.a5 xg2 24.xg2 cxd4 25.xd6 xd6 26.g5!? [ 26.g4 is perhaps good probably White was afraid of the d-pawn. ] 26...f7!? [ 26...xg5 27.xg5 threatens Rf5 and Rxd5, so Black decides to keeps the queens 1521
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 on. g6 28.d5! ] 27.e5 [ Again, 27.g4 is critical. This time, g6 28.d5 xg4+ 29.fxg4 e7 is a little messy. ] 27...bd8 28.d3 e6 29.c5 d7 30.g5 f8 31.c5 d8 ½-½
1521 Tomashevsky,Evgeny Najer,Evgeniy 16th TCh-RUS Premier (6) [Jonathan Rowson]
A34 2684 2669 09.04.2009
1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 e5 8.d3 e7 9.d2 0-0 10.c4 d7 [ 10...f6 is in reasonably good shape, whether White takes on c6 or plays f4. ] 11.xc6 xc6 12.xe5 e8 13.b3 b6 [ 13...b5! 14.e3 h8 15.ac1 f6 16.f3 c6 17.e4 c4! This is more like it- Black opens up the position to reveal the power of his unopposed bishop. 18.c2 f5 19.ed2 d5 20.dxc4 xe3 21.fxe3 c5 With excellent compensation in Almasi, Z (2640)-David, A (2595)/Bastia FRA 2005 ] [ 13...f6 14.g4 d4 15.e3 xc3 16.xc3 b6 17.f3 b5 18.f2 d7 19.e4 e6 20.e3 a5 21.ad1 ad8 22.d2 was just a little bit better for White, but after c6 23.c1 b7 24.a3 d4 25.g2 c8 26.b1 fd8 27.xd4 xd4 28.b4! Black faced a grim defence and eventually lo s t a d r a wn r o o k e n d ga m e in P i ke t , J (2633)-Kasparov, G (2851)/Internet 2000 ] 14.e3 [ 14.c4!? intending to centralise the queen with Qe4 is recommended by Ribli. ] 14...h8 15.ad1 f6 16.f3 f7 17.c2 d5 18.d4! xe3 19.fxe3 c7 20.d5 d6 [ 20...a6! seems to give Black much better prospects of counterplay in the long-term. 21.h4 d6! ( 21...g6 22.e4! ) 22.f5 e5 and White will have to play very well to keep control of the position. 23.a4! b5 24.g4 g6 25.h6! does seem to keep some initiative however. ] 21.b5 d7 22.xd6 xd6 23.e4 g6
24.c4 ae8 25.e5 fxe5 26.g5 f5 [ 26...xf1+ 27.xf1 g8 is a stiffer test of W hite's idea. After 28.e4 h6 29.f3 White has a large structural advantage, but will have to be creative to make progress. ] 27.e4 h6 28.xf5 xf5 29.exf5 hxg5 30.g4! g8 31.h5 [ 31.xg5 is simpler. ] 31...f8 32.xg5 c4 33.g2 b5 34.g6 b4 35.e6+ f7 36.e8+ f8 37.xf8+ xf8 38.g4 The rook ending should be winning because White's king has a clear path to e4. e7 39.d6+ d7 40.f3 f6 41.d5 a6 42.e4 h6 43.xe5 xd6 44.d5+ c6 45.d2 h4 46.f4 b4 47.g3 h8 48.d4 c5 49.d7 c8 50.xg7 c3 51.bxc3 bxc3 52.e7 c2 53.e1 d4 54.c1 e5 55.f3 c4 56.h3 c3+ 57.e2 f4 58.d2 xh3 59.f1+ xg4 60.f6 h2+ 61.c1 h8 62.f7 f8 63.xc2 g5 64.b3 g6 65.a4 1-0
1522 Topalov,Veselin Caruana,Fabiano Sinquefield Cup 2nd (1) [Kosten, Tony]
A34 2772 2801 27.08.2014
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 [ The similar 7.a3 g6 8.0-0 g7 9.d3 0-0 10.e3 e6 11.c1 d7 12.d2 c8 13.c4 ed4 led to another crushing victory for Caruana in Malakhov, V (2707) Caruana, F (2796) Tromso 2013, 0-1 (27). ] 7...e5 8.a3!? According to the ChessPub Guide this move 'doesn't threaten Black's system by any means - the idea is to get a double-edged game.' b8 This move is the choice of strong players, Black stops b4 and moves the rook from the h1-a8 diagonal. 9.d3 [ 9.b1 is more common, and scores better, White pursues his plan to play b4. There are a couple of examples in the PGN Archive. ] [ The tactical point of Black's previous move is shown by 9.b4?! cxb4 10.axb4 xb4 11.xe5? xe5 12.a4+ c6 13.xc6+ bxc6 and the bishop on b4 is defended by the rook. ] 1522
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...e7 10.e3 [ 10.d2 is more common, d7 11.c4 and this seems more logical as White wants to p la y f 4 a n d re ca pt u re o n f 4 wit h h is bishop, so why play Be3 first and then Bxf4? T h e r e a s o n i s t h a t a f t e r f6 12.f4 Black doesn't capture on f4, but prefers b5! 13.e3 and only then exf4 see Xiu DeshunZhou Jianchao in the PGN Archive. ] 10...0-0 11.c1 d7! Probably best, solidly defending the knight on c6 ready to play ...b5. [ 11...b6 is more popular, and scores better, but allows 12.b4! still, after cxb4 13.axb4 xb4 ( 13...xb4 14.xe5 b7 is not so bad for Black, Pantsulaia, L (2461)-Timofeev, A (2575) Rethymnon 2003, but 1-0 (33).) 14.a2 c5 15.xc5 bxc5 16.xc5 d6 ( 16...d4? 17.xe5 ce6 18.xd4 xd4 19.a1 Huebner, R (2595)Tuerk, H Hamburg 1978, 1-0 (36).) 17.c1 ( 17.c2 b2? 18.xb2 xc5 19.c1 d6 Goganov, A (2577)-Krush, I (2492) B a k u 2 0 1 3 , 1 / 2 - 1 / 2 ( 2 8 ) , 20.c3 with a clear advantage.) 17...b7 18.c4 play is roughly equal, Pantsulaia, L (2611)Perez Campos, A (2232) Benasque 2007, 1-0 (30). ] 12.d2 [ 12.e4!? b6 13.b4 cxb4 14.axb4 xb4?! ( 14...b5! is better, 15.c4 c8 16.a4 bd4 Nisipeanu, L (2686)-Nagy, G (2434) Pardubice 2014, 1-0 (75), 17.b5 xe2+ 18.h1 cd4 19.xc8 xc8 20.xa7 xb5 21.a1 and Qxe5. ) 15.d4! exd4 16.xd4 is a wkwa rd f o r B la ck , a5?! 17.g5 f6 18.f4 c8 19.d6! xd6 20.xd6 a4? leading to a forced loss, but B la c k wa s a lo t wo rse a n ywa y, 21.xa4 xd6 22.f5 e6 23.g4 g6 24.d5! the queen is lost after either capture, 1-0 Panjwani, R (2450)-Bykhovsky, A (2502) Saint Louis 2013. ] 12...d4 13.c4 White provokes ...f6 before playing f4. [ 13.f4 f5 14.f2 exf4 15.gxf4 h4 is f in e f or B la ck, Va silko va , S (2 3 31 ) Romanko, M (2226) Dimitrov 2007, 1-0 (44). ] 13...f6 14.f4 exf4 Actually new in this exact position, but perfectly normal, of course. [ 14...b5 is the obvious alternative: 15.d2
( 15.a5 ) 15...h8 16.ce4 ( 16.fxe5 ) 16...d5 17.f2 f5 18.xc5 de3 19.e1 xc5 20.xc5 xf1 21.xf1 exf4 22.gxf4 with compensation for the exchange, Petr, J (2247)-Pokazanjev, N (2443) Pardubice 2007, 1-0 (38). ] 15.xf4 de6 16.d2 b6 17.g4!? A m ove tha t su rprised everyb ody, W h it e intends to bring his bishop back to the h2-b8 diagonal via e1. [ 17.e3 intending Nf5 or Ned5 would be more normal. ] 17...e8 18.e1 b5 19.e3 d6 20.cd5?! There doesn't seem to be much point exchanging Black's passive knight on c7. [ 20.e4 f4 21.f2 left everything to play for. ] 20...xd5 21.xd5 f7 22.f5 e5 Threatening b2. 23.d2 Caruana thought this was the losing move, but its not easy to find anything better. [ 23.c3 g6 24.h6+ g7 25.xf7 xd5 26.xe5 fxe5 27.b4 f4 for instance. ] 23...d4! 24.xf7+ xf7 ...Nb3 is threatened. 25.d1 [ 25.xd4? xd4+ forks the king, g4 and b2. ] [ 25.b1 at least holds onto the b-pawn. ] 25...xf5 26.gxf5 d4+ 27.f2 g4+ 28.h1 c4! 29.c2 e8! White is lost, h2, f5 and e2 are all in the line of fire. 30.dxc4 h5 31.h4 [ 31.g1 loses to xh2! 32.xh2 xe2 ] 31...g4 32.d3 bxc4 33.e3 [ 33.f3 xf3+ 34.exf3 xb2 ] 33...fe7 34.b3 b2 Not a good advert for White in the Rubinstein System, but maybe Topalov was tired? He certainly played better after this. 0-1
1523 Vachier Lagrave,Maxime Lagarde,Max 87th ch-FRA 2012 (3) [John Bartholomew]
A34 2686 2505 15.08.2012
W it h 5.. .e 5! ? B la ck lo oks to tran sf e r th e weight of this Symmetric struggle to the flanks, but Vachier Lagrave's 8.b4! sharply changes 1523
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the character of the game. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.e4 c5 4.f3 c6 5.e2 e5!? An occasionally trendy move. Black loses a tempo but argues that it isn't too significant with a newly-closed center. [ T h e l e a d i n g c o n t i n u a t i o n 5...d5 invites something of a tabiya after 6.exd5 exd5 7.d4 e6 8.cxd5 xd5 9.0-0 e7 10.dxc5 xc5 11.g5 xc3 12.bxc3 xd1 13.xd1 0-0 14.f4 . This has been a fairly popular position in GM vs. GM play since 2009, and for good reason: W hite som etimes wins, b ut Bla ck's def ensive resources are considerable. In the past few m o n t h s B l a c k h a s h e l d f i r m : fe8 ( 14...ac8!? Le Quang Liem (2693)Muzychuk, A (2606)/Amsterdam NED 2012. ) 15.f1 ( 15.xe6 xe6 16.f1 ae8 17.f3 b6 18.e1 xe1+ 19.xe1 xe1+ 20.xe1= Fressinet, L (2714)Vachier Lagrave, M (2686)/Pau FRA 2012.) 15...ad8 16.xe6 xd1+ 17.xd1 xe6 Andreikin, D (2715)-Jakovenko, D (2722)/ Moscow RUS 2012. Here W hite has tried three different moves (18.Bf3, 18.Rd5, and 18.Rd1) Andreikin chose 18.f3 and Black eventually drew without much suffering. ] 6.d3 h6 Preventing 7.Bg5, though White doesn't usually opt for that bishop development anyways. [ 6...d6 is more common. ] 7.0-0 g6 8.b4! I really like this move. White will have good compensation for the pawn, and Vachier Lagrave is putting his opponent to the test. xb4?! [ Black should probably accept with 8...cxb4 , i.e. 9.d5 g7 ( 9...c5 10.xe5!? ) 10.a3!? ( Houdini prefers 10.e3 0-0 11.h3 preparing 12.Qd1-d2 )] 9.xe5 d6 10.a3!? Vachier Lagrave is forcing the pace. [ White could content himself for a positional edge after 10.a4+ d7 11.xd7 xd7 , i.e. 12.a3 c6 13.b1 b6 14.d1 g7 15.b5!? 0-0 16.f4 ] 10...dxe5 11.axb4 cxb4 12.d5 xd5 13.cxd5 b6 14.d4!? More fuel on the fire! exd4 [ 14...xd4? is p o o r in vie w o f 15.b5+ , for instance d7? ( 15...d8 16.f3! ) 16.xd7+ xd7 17.g4+! followed by 18.
Be3 with a huge attack. ] 15.f4 c5 [ 15...g7!? 16.c1 0-0 17.c7 f6 18.e5 f4 19.g3 e4 20.f3 f5 21.e1 ] 16.e5 f5 17.c4 A highly non-standard position. White is down two pawns, but it's not easy to see how Black should consolidate with his vulnerable king. g5 18.g3 h5?! [ It was time to bite the bullet with 18...0-0! . ] 19.e6! Forward patrol! fxe6 20.dxe6 e7 21.f3!? af8 22.d5! c6?! 23.e5 h4? A blunder in a difficult position. [ 23...f6! wa s n e ce s sa ry, e . g . 24.fc1 ( 24.d5? d6! would ensure a queen trade ) 24...d6 25.xd4 d8 , though White still retains the initiative. ] 24.d5 b5 [ Now 24...d6 is simply met by 25.g7++- ] 25.c7+ [ I t ' s m a t e i n s e v e n a f t e r 25.g7+ . The text is also more than sufficient. ] 25...f6 26.e5+ g6 27.xh8 [ Black resigned. 27.xh8 xh8 28.f7+ is hopeless. 5... e5!? is certainly playable, and both sides have lots of room for creativity. In a strictly theoretical sense, I'm ve ry cu rio u s t o se e if W h it e ca n p ro ve anything in the discussions surrounding the main line, 5...d5. ] 1-0
1524 Vachier-Lagrave,Maxime Svidler,Peter ETCC (Open) Warsaw POL (9.6) [Fier, Alexandr]
A34 2742 2752 17.11.2013
Once again we take a look at the fashionable 7 h4. This time Vachier plays an interesting idea trying to improve on the Nepomniachtchi Kramnik game. Svidler reacts well and managed to equalize without any big problems. Still, Black needs to be careful, since a more direct approach like 13...c4 can bring huge complications. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 g6 7.h4 g7 8.h5 f5 9.b3 db4 10.f1 e6 11.a4 a5 12.xa5 xa5 Until here we are on the same path as the game we saw in Ch e ss P u b lish ing la st m on t h . 1 3 . d 3 is a 1524
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 natural move and is certainly not worse than 13.Ng5. But I still believe that Black should be fine here with one or more precise moves. 13.d3 [ 13.g5 was the subject of Nepomniachtchi, I (2702)-Kramnik, V (2796)/66th ch- RUS 2013 (9.3). ] 13...c8 A simple and good approach. [ 13...c4 is more forcing, but somehow Black can't defend the c7-square in a proper way. I couldn't come to a clear verdict on this p o s it io n , f o r s u r e t h e r e is a l o t o f li f e . 14.b5! A) 14...d7 is not ideal, White now has time to bring the bishop to the long diagonal 15.d2 ac6 16.c3 and Black has problems with the knights xc3 17.bxc3 c2 ( 17...a6 18.d4 wi t h b ig a d va n t a g e) 18.d1 cxd3 19.xd3+ c8 20.hxg6 and Black's pieces are all misplaced. W hite has a clear advantage.; B) 14...0-0-0 15.g5 ( 15.xa7+ is a ls o p o s s ib le b8 16.b5 cxd3 17.f4+ c8 18.c1+ ) 15...cxd3 16.xe6 fxe6 17.d2 and even if Black can keep the extra pawn there is enough activity for W hite to give him an advantage; C) 14...cxd3 would be good if White takes the rook, but it's not the case 15.c7+ d7 16.xe6! ( 16.xa8 allows counterplay dxe2+ 17.xe2 c4+ 18.d1 d3 19.e3 xa8 with compensation) 16...fxe6 ( 16...xe6 gets problems with the knight 17.g5+ d7 18.xf7 ) 17.f4 d5 18.d1 dxe2+ ( 18...xf4 19.gxf4 is also good for White. ) 19.xe2 c6 20.h3 with good compensation.; D) 14...c8!? is an ingenious sacrifice in order to open the a-file 15.xa7 a8 16.b5 d7 D1) 17.d2 b3 this is the difference! 18.d1 ( 18.c3 is a complete mess xa1 19.xg7 hg8 20.e5+ d8 21.hxg6 hxg6 22.xc4 xa2 with a really unclear position. ); D2) 17.dxc4 xc4 18.d2! and White can take the pieces off just in time xa2 ( 18...xb5 19.xb4 c6 20.c3 xc3
21.bxc3 gives Black some compensation, but not enough for the pawn since White is always threatening hxg6.) 19.a3 b3 20.h4! activating the pieces without defending the pawn on b2 xb2 21.b1 xa3 22.xa5 xa5 23.xb3 d6 ( 23...b8 24.e5+ xe5 25.xa3 c1 26.c4 xe2 27.f3 wins the knight, but there are not so many pawns lef t f or W hite so it sho uld be draw.) 24.xb7+ e6 25.hxg6 fxg6 with better chances f or W hite in the endgame. ] 14.f4 b6 Black just consolidates the position and is in no hurry with any pawn break 15.h3 Exchanging the bishops means Black has no problems, because one of W hite's typical ideas is to chase this Bishop on e6, since it doesn't have a good square. [ 15.g5 is thematic and possible here f5 16.a3 h6!? ( 16...c2 17.c1 d4 18.h6 f6 19.ge4 gets the bishop pair) 17.xf7 xf7 18.axb4 cxb4 19.hxg6+ xg6 20.b5 c2 and Black is fine. ] 15...xh3+ 16.xh3 Bringing the knights back to life. c2 17.c1 d4 Black has no reason to be worse, but after a long endgame V a c h i e r h a d c h a n c e s t o f i g h t f o r a wi n . Probably there will be more games in this variation since it's a chance to play chess in rich positions. 18.e5 [ 18.xd4 cxd4 19.h6 f6 20.e4 xc1+ 21.xc1 e5 is also equal. ] 18...xe5 19.xe5 g5 Avoiding any hxg6 idea. Now that the dark-squared bishops are exchanged there is no problem in putting the pawns on dark squares. 20.g4 [ 20.e3 dc6 21.xc6 xc6 22.e2 is almost the same. ] 20...f6 21.c4 ac6 [ 21...xc4 22.dxc4 c6 23.b3 d8 24.d1 and after the rook exchanges the position will be drawn. ] 22.e3 e6 23.e2 f7 24.hh1 hd8 25.hd1 c7 26.e4 d5 27.a4 db4 28.a5 b8 29.axb6 axb6 30.a1 d5 31.c3 d7 32.b5 bd8 33.a3 h6 34.b3 e6 35.d4 cxd4 36.xd4 xd4+ 37.xd4 xd4 38.exd4 d5 39.f3 e7 40.e3 f4 41.e4 d6 42.a3 h3?! After this move Black needs to be slightly 1525
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 careful. 43.d5! Now the knight can have the f5-square. xf2+ 44.f3 h3 45.a7+ [ 45.dxe6!? with the rooks on there are more chances xe6 46.f5 d2 47.b3 f4 48.xb6+ e5 49.b5+ e6 50.xh6 with chances in the endgame. ] 45...d7 46.xd7+ xd7 47.dxe6+ xe6 48.f5 f4 49.e4 Now Black can trap White's knight. d5! 50.xh6 e7 51.b3 b5 52.f3 [ 52.b4 c6= ] 52...f5 53.xf5 xf5 54.gxf5+ xf5 55.g3 b4 56.f3 ½-½
1525 Vallejo Pons,Francisco Leko,Peter XX SuperGM Linares ESP (12) [Tony Kosten]
A34 2629 2736 07.03.2003
1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 6.c4 d3+ 7.e2 f4+ 8.f1 e6 9.b4 This flanking blow is the mainline. g6 Black sacrifices a pawn himself. [ W e lo o k e d a t t h e a cce p t a n ce , 9...cxb4 in Piket,J-Van W ely, L/Escaldes AND 1998. ] 10.bxc5 g7 11.xe6! White concedes his important light-squared bishop so that he can construct a big centre. xe6 12.d4 c6 13.e3 A key position, has Black enough compensation for the pawn and centre, will W hite's light squared weaknesses and awkwardly-placed king cost him dear? c4+!? A new move, previous lines: [ 13...g4 14.e2 f5 15.h3 fxe4 16.hxg4 exf3 17.gxf3 d7 18.b1 0-0-0 19.b3 favoured W hite in Seirawan, Y-Miles,A/ London 1982, whilst ] [ 13...a5 14.d2?! ( 14.c1 c4+ 15.g1 0-0-0 16.h3 f5 is given as 'unclear' by Stohl ) 14...0-0-0 ( 14...c4+ 15.g1 0-0-0 16.c1 is a very old Kasparov-Shirov game from 1987) 15.c1 f5 16.exf5?! gxf5 17.e2 b4 with advantage to Black, as the d-pawn is lost, Ftacnik,L-Pinter,J/Prague 1985 ] 14.g1 a5 15.c1 0-0-0 Thus transposing to the analysis of Stohl. 16.b1! Probably a
prepared move, the knight uncovers an attack on the black light-squared bishop, and prepares to break the pin on the d-pawn. a6 After this the black pieces find themselves short of squares, [ 16...xa2! was the alternative: 17.bd2 d3 18.d5 b4 the black pieces are forced to go around the centre, 19.e1 b5 ( 19...a6!? 20.c6 bxc6 21.c5 xd5! 22.exd5 xd5 might be playable) 20.b1 a5 and the black pieces are safe. ] 17.d5 White advances his centre, threatening to ca p t ure th e kn ight on c6 o n ce h e h a s unpinned the d-pawn. f5 Black attempts to undermine the d-pawn from the side, [ 17...e6 is similar, 18.xc4! xc4 19.bd2 xa2 20.dxc6 bxc6 ] 18.xc4!? This is probably simpler than [ 18.bd2 e2 19.b3 a5 20.b4 fxe4 21.xe4 d3 22.xe7 f6 23.f7 when White has two pawns, but the black pieces are active. ] 18...xc4 19.bd2 Breaking the pin by tactical means. xa2 20.dxc6 bxc6 21.g3 Once the white king gets to g2 he will be safer than his counterpart, and the two white pieces should dominate the black rook. d3 22.g2 fxe4?! This move, played for tactical reasons, concedes the e4-square to a white knight. [ 22...hd8! 23.b1 xb1 24.xb1 is better for White, but the black rooks may prove effective in the endgame. ] 23.g5 f8 [ 23...h6 24.g4+ e6 25.c4!! xc4 26.xe4 when the bishop is under attack, and Nd6+ is threatened, winning the black queen. ] 24.gxe4 Now White is really on top, his pieces are well-placed and his pawn structure is healthier. e5 25.e1 h5 26.h4 fd8 27.b1 White elects to play the endgame, which is very pleasant for him. xb1 28.xb1 c7 29.c4 8d5 30.a1 b7 31.a4 [ 31.g5! is even better, aiming for e6 immediately: f5 32.e6 d7 33.g5 and the white pieces are crawling all over the black position. ] 31...d7 [ 31...f5! 32.g5 f6 keeps an eye on e6. ] 32.g5 3d5 33.e6 White has a powerful 1526
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 hold on key light squares. f5 Else White 19.f4 Tukmakov's two knights and extra plays Nf8xg6. 34.d4 p a wn t ri u m p h e d a ga in st t h e t wo b la c k [ 34.d4! is crushing, a6 35.f4 and Black bishops, in his game against Berelovich,A/ h a s h a r d l y a n y m o v e s , a7 36.f3 Koszalin 1998. ] with a complete bind. ] 14.f3 c6 34...f6 35.b4+ a6? This is a very [ The point behind Black's thirteenth move, exposed square for a king, bu t ke e p in g t h e kin gsid e ligh t s qu a re s [ 35...c8 keeps the game going. ] covered by 14...f7 might be safer, 15.a4 36.b1 d5 37.c2 Threatening a nasty d5 16.ac1 b6 17.xd5 xd5 18.b3 check on b4. d7 38.b4+ b5 39.d2 b7 19.g4 although White is better, a4 40.e4 e6 41.c3+ a5 42.c2 anyway, Zaichik,G-Alburt,L/Philadelphia Menacing Ra1 mate. a6 43.d4 1993. ] [ 43.d4 f6 44.e4 f8 45.xc6 15.b3+ h8 16.d4! is crushing. ] [ If it's legal, then why not? Previously, 1-0 16.fd1 had been successfully played: d5 17.d4! Notice that allowing Black to capture on e3 like this often helps White to ease his 1526 A34 position. xe3 18.fxe3 c7 19.ac1 d6 20.b5 with considerable advantage, Sher, Van der Sterren,Paul 2535 M-Baikov,V/ Moscow 1990. ] Van Wely,Loek 2629 Bundesliga 1999-2000 (3) 06.11.1999 16...xf3?! [ Aiming to devalue White's extra pawn, but [Tony Kosten] t h is b ish o p is t o o im p o rt a n t a p i e c e t o exchange so lightly. 16...d5 is probably 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 best, when White can always play 17.fd1 5.g2 c7 This is the best retreat for the if he wants, transposing into the Sher game, knight. Black plans to play ...e5 with a or try something else. ] reversed Maroczy structure. 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 e5 8.d3 e7 9.d2 Threatening to ruin the 17.exf3 cxd4 18.ad1 This pin assures the black pawn structure, by capturing on c6, return of the d-pawn, when White will enjoy followed by bringing the d2-knight to the m o r e s p a c e , a n d t h e b e t t e r p i e c e s . c5 s t r o n g h o l e t h e r e b y c r e a t e d o n c 4 . d7 19.c4 a6?! [ Black overlooks the tactic at the end of the 10.c4 0-0!? game. Better to play 19...e7 20.xd4 [ The pawn sacrifice line, long considered xd4 21.xd4 ad8 although Black will be more than adequate for Black. However, hard-pressed to defend this. ] Tukmakov has been enjoying success with White recently, so it may be better to play 20.xd4 xd4 21.xd4 b6 22.a4! a5 23.d5 The black queen is in trouble. b4?! the solid 10...f6 ] [ 23...c7 24.xc7 xc7 25.d7 11.xc6 xc6 12.xe5 e8 The powerful is scarcely better. ] light-squared bishop must be retained. 13.e3 24.xb4 xb4 25.b5 xa2? 26.a1 Thus reaching the main turning point. f6?! [ A rare move, kicking the knight from e5 so The knight is lost. as to return the e8-bishop to c6, but, on the 1-0 strength of this game, not the best. 13...e6 is the main line, taking control of d4, whilst ] [ 13...d6?! also seems doubtful, 14.f4! e6? 15.xf7! d4 16.e3 f6 17.e5 winning quickly, Tukmakov,V-Kallai,G/Biel 1998. ] [ 13...d5 is another well-regarded move, although after 14.b3! xe3 15.fxe3 b5!? 16.d5 xd5 17.xd5 d6 18.f3 c6 1527
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A34 21.e7 e4 22.xb7 [ or the safe 22.e1! ] 2291 23.xa7 xc3 24.c7?! 2497 22...e8 17.12.2006 Greed has its limits. [ 24.c1 is simple enough. ] 24...b1?! [ 24...f6! threatens ...Ne2+ or . ..Nxd5, and Black's most ambitious setup with ...c5 and ... W hite's rook lacks a good square: 25.c1 e5 is the one in which he plays both within the xa2 26.d1 g4! 27.f3 xf4 28.fxg4 first few moves. The play becomes forcing, as e3+ 29.h1 c3 with the initiative ...Ne4seen in this example. 1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 f2+ is a theme. ] 3.f3 e5 4.e3 f6 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 e4 25.xd6?? From now on we have a case of 7.g5 [ 7.e5 was featured in Cobb-Cvitan, Saint the influence of the Rapid Play time control. [ 25.xd6 does the trick: e1 26.b4 d1 Vincent 2005. I concluded that White gets a 27.e5 ] small advantage. ] 7...b4 8.d5 e5 9.d4 d6!? 25...xd6 26.xd6 e1 Now it's getting very d i f f i c u l t . 27.b4 d1 28.f3!? The king A pawn sacrifice for activity. [ Th e t ra dit io n a l m o ve ha s b e e n 9...e7 moves into action to support the pawns. In , when we saw that 10.e3 eg4 11.0-0-0 view of ...Bd3, W hite could his pawns right xe3 12.xe3 g4 13.f4 xf2 away: [ 28.c5 d3 29.h4 xf1+ 30.h2 14.cxe4! of Shirjaev-Shinkevich, Ufa 2004 , although Black may be able to hold after favoured White. It seems that there should d2! 31.xf1 xf1+ 32.g1 c4 33.d6 be many alternatives for Black, but in fact b5 , e.g., 34.a4 xa4 35.xf1 f6 ] W h it e s e e m s t o h a ve so m e a d va n t a g e 28...d3 29.f2 xf1?? Black must have regardless. ] been short of time. 10.gxe4 xc3+!? [ 29...xf1+ 30.e3 xc4 31.d6 b5 ] [ Black seems to be flailing about. Surely 10...xe4 11.xe4 0-0 makes more sense, 30.d6?? [ 30.c5! will win. The difference between this with ideas of ...Qf6 and ...Bf5, or ...f5-f4. ] and 28 c5 is that White's king takes part. ] 11.bxc3?! [ The natural 11.xc3 appears safe enough. 30...xc4 31.d7? Last chance to keep Black White is still a pawn up, and e7 ( 11...0-0 working: [ 31.a4 ] 12.e2 e8 13.0-0 ) 12.e2 ( or 12.e3 eg4 13.e2 xe3 14.xe3 ) 12...g4!? 31...xd7 32.xb1 xa2 Okay, the game may be best, but leaves White clearly better: was a disaster, but W hite had a pawn for 13.0-0 xe2 14.xe2 c8 15.g5! 0-0 nothing out of the opening. 16.b3 with the idea xc4? 17.xf6 gxf6 ½-½ 18.g4+ h8 19.bxc4 ] 11...0-0 1528 A34 [ 11...xe4 12.xe4 0-0 ] 12.e2 Vigorito,David [ 12.g5! ] Mikhalevski,Victor 12...xe4 13.xe4 f6 14.0-0 f5 15.d4 American Open (4) 28.11.2003 g6 Finally Black has some (undeserved) [John Watson] play. 16.f4 d7!? Heading for c5. [ 16...b6 intending ...Rac8 may be better. ] The following classic English Opening lines 17.fe1 fe8 was advocated by Nimzowitsch: 1.c4 f6 [ 17...c5 18.h4! h5 19.xh5! xh5 2.f3 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 20.xd6 d7 21.xf8 xf8 22.c5 . The great thinker didn't mind the holes in his gives White too many pawns! ] position nor lack of castling privilege which 18.f1 c5 19.e3 xe3 20.xe3 h6 arise after b4 6.c4 d3+ 1527 Vaznonis,Vytautas Jakubowski,Krzysztof 6th Amplico AIG Life rapid (11) [John Watson]
1528
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 6...e6 is another old move it has gone out of style, a key variation being 7.xe6 d3+ 8.f1 fxe6 9.g5 and now: A) 9...b6 10.f3 c4 11.b3! e5 ( 11...h6 12.bxc4 xc1 13.f7 g8 14.e5+- ) 12.g3!? bd7 13.bxc4; B) 9...c6 10.xe6 d7 11.xc5 xc5 12.h5+ g6 13.xc5; C) 9...d7 10.f3! e5 11.h3 d3+ ( 11...bc6 12.xe6 c8 13.f4 ) 12.xd3 xd3 13.e2 ( 13.xe6; 13.g3 ) 13...f4+ 14.f3 e5 15.d4! c6 16.dxe5 g6 17.e6 ] 7.e2 f4+ 8.f1 e6 This position has never been resolved and all kinds of new things are still being discovered, e.g., by the Spanish star Paco Vallejo. IM Dave Vigorito has become an expert on the Nimzowitsch System and an advocate for the White side. The first player has tried many moves here such as 9.d3, 9.b4!?, and 9.h4!?, but Vigorito prefers to return to the old line. His own notes and recent games provide the basis for what follows. 9.e5 A key position in which Black has several basic tries. In this game he plays the move that originally drove 9.Ne5 out of business, i.e., 9...g6. But it may turn out that o t h e r o l d e r m o v e s n e e d m o r e t e s t s . g6 There a huge split at this point: [ (a) 9...d7? runs into the pretty 10.xf7! xf7 11.xe6+ xe6 12.b3+ d6 ( 12...f6 13.d5+ f7 14.c7+ g6 15.e6+- ) 13.d4 e6 14.dxc5+ e7 ( jw: 14...xc5?? 15.d1+! wins Black's queen in two moves, and; 14...c7 15.xe6! wins ) 15.g5+ f6 16.e5 ] [ (b) 9...d6 verges on madness. I'll examine that line in Horn-Trauth. ] [ (c) 9...c6 is usually answered modestly by 10.xc6 bxc6 11.a4!? ( I prefer 11.d3 d4 12.h5! e6 13.e5 intending Ne4. White's knight might be misplaced on a4 in some lines.) 11...d6 12.d3 d4! ( 12...g6 13.e3 d4 14.c1 with the idea Nxc5) 13.e3 ( or 13.h5!? e6 14.e5 c7 15.f4 ) 13...e5! 14.c1 g6 15.d2 e7 16.a5!? h5 17.xd4 exd4 ( 17...cxd4!? 18.b6 h6 ) 18.xc5 xc5 19.b3 0-0 20.xc5 Piket-Ljubojevic, Monaco 2002. ] [ (d) 9...d4 used to be considered a solution, now White looks somewhat better
in several ways: A) even better is 10.a4+! d7 11.xd7 xd7 12.xe6 fxe6 13.xd7+ xd7 14.e5! and Black's bishop is in danger of being shut out of the play: c6 ( 14...g6 15.e4 b6 . Now White is actually a full tempo ahead of our main line, because Black played ...Qd4 and then ...Qxd7. T h u s h e h a s 16.d4! cxd4 17.h4! - Hovde- and the bishop is completely trapped in view of c6 18.f4 h6 19.g3 ) 15.e4 b6 ( 15...xe5 16.xc5+ c6 17.d4 ) 16.f4 Hovde-Rosenquist, corr 1988 and now Hovde gives the idea for Black of g6 17.g3 h6 18.h4 hf8 19.e2 xf4 20.gxf4 xf4 , just to get the bishop out, but 21.d3 still clearly favours the piece over the pawns; B) 10.f4!? B1) 10...c6 11.b5! ( 11.e2 d6 12.xc6 xc6 13.d3 is Suba's line. He likes White, but this advantage would be miniscule at best) 11...d8 12.xf7! xf7 13.f5 and White's bad king position is more than made up for by Black's, but this should be looked at.; B2) 10...xf4 11.a4+ d7 ( 11...d7 12.xf7 d3 13.e2 ) 12.xf7+ d8 13.xd4 cxd4 14.g3! and White is much better ] 10.a4+ d7 [ 10...d7? i s t o o s l o w : 11.d4! cxd4 ( 11...g7 12.xf7! ) A) irrelevant but brilliant was 12.b5 g7 13.xf7 xf7 14.xe6+ xe6 15.b3+ f6 16.f3+ e6 17.b3+ f6 18.h4!? (amazing) h6? 19.g5+! hxg5 20.hxg5+ xg5 21.g3+ f6 22.f4+ e6 23.xh8 xh8 ( 23...xh8 24.c7# ) 24.c7+ xc7 25.xc7 and White was clearly better due to Black's king position, Miles-Hort, London 1983.; B) 12.xf7! xf7 13.xe6+ xe6 14.xd4! , winning - Black has no defense. ] 11.xd7 [ 11.xe6 fxe6 transposes after 12.xd7 xd7 ] 11...xd7 12.xe6 fxe6 13.xd7+ xd7 14.e5 '!?' Vigorito [ 14.d3 c6 ( 14...g7 15.e3 b6 16.e2 1529
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c6= ) 15.e3 b6 16.e2 ( 16.h4 g7 17.h5 af8 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.e2 d4 20.af1 e5 Larsen-Timman, Bugojno 1984 and now ) 16...g7= ] 14...g7 15.e4 xe5 [ A wild game that may be key to this va r ia t io n we n t 15...b6 16.f4 (note the similarity to the note to 9...Qd4 10.Qa4+ above. That was a clearly better line for White, whereas this is complex) f8 17.d4! c6 ( 17...cxd4 18.e2 and the bishop m a y n e v e r g e t o u t) 18.g3 xd4 (threatening ...Bxe5) 19.g2 c6 20.d2 ( 20.h4!? ) 20...d5 21.c3+ c6 22.e4 d5 23.c3+ c6 24.h4 h6 25.ad1 g5 26.fxg5 ( 26.hxg5 hxg5 27.h7 g8 ) 26...hxg5 27.xg5 xe5 28.e4 g8 ( 28...d5 29.he1; 28...f5!? ) 29.hf1 f5 30.b3 a5 31.a4 f6 32.fe1 d4 ( 32...xg5 33.xg5 g6 34.d3 d4 ) 33.h3 d6 34.xd6 xd6 35.f4+ d5 36.e5+ d6 37.e2+ d5 38.e5+ d6 39.h5 af8 40.g5+ c6 41.xg8 xg8 42.e1 d5 43.g4 e5 44.c1 e4 45.g5 f8 46.h6 f3+ 47.g4 f2 48.e3 g2+ 49.h3 xe3 50.h7 0-1 Vallejo PonsFernandez Romero, Dos Hermanas 2002 ] 16.xc5+ d6 17.xb7+ d5 18.a5 d7 [ Vigorito: 18...c8 19.d3 with the idea Nc4. This seems to favour White. ] 19.d3 b6 20.e2 hc8 21.d1 [ HiArcs likes throwing in 21.f4! because that protects the king from checks on f3 ] 21...c2+ 22.d2 xd2+ 23.xd2 [ 23.xd2!? ] 23...xb2 24.b1 d4 25.b5+ d6 26.b4+ [ Vigorito: 26.b3 , and indeed f6 27.c5 seems to cement a large positional advantage. ] 26...d7 27.xe7? A big mistake after nearperfect play. With hindsight one might expect that grabbing such a worthless pawn couldn't be right. [ Again 27.b3 was strong. ] 27...xf2! [ 27...c8! 28.h4 c2+ 29.f3 xa2 30.b3 is also reliably equal. ] 28.xf2 xe7 29.c6+ [ White can play on a bit, but it's hard to
believe that, for example, 29.c6+ d6 ( 29...f6 30.a5!; 29...d7 30.e5+ d6 is also good enough) 30.xa7 xa7 31.xb6+ d5 32.b2 d4 33.e2 a3 can be won. Quite a game! ] ½-½
1529 Vul,Arkadi Eremeevich Van Opheusden,Bas Essent Open Hoogeveen NED (2) [John Watson]
A34 2423 2190 22.10.2005
I found this game at the last minute, hunting around the latest TW IC. Maybe everyone knows about it, but in this old and exhaustively analysed variation I've never seen Vul's 9th move! It looks both fascinating and consequential. Is 5.e4 causing even more trouble for Black? 1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.e4 b4 6.c4 d3+ 7.e2 f4+ 8.f1 e6 9.d4!? What's this?? cxd4 [ A quick analysis: 9...xd4 A) 10.b5!? bc6 11.fxd4 cxd4 12.b3 e6 ( 12...e6? 13.f4 ) 13.xe6 fxe6 unclear; B) 10.f4! bc6 ( 10...e6 11.d5 xf3? 12.b5+ ) 11.d5 e6 12.xd4 xd4 13.c7+ ( 13.b4!? ) 13...xc7 14.xc7 xc4+ 15.e1 e2 16.c1 f6 17.f4 e6 18.f2 ] 10.xe6 xe6 [ 10...fxe6 11.xd4 ( or 11.xd4 )] 11.xd4 c4+ [ Certainly the reason that no one took 9.d4 seriously. Should 11...d7 be considered? It's hard to believe that the check is wrong. ] 12.g1 with the idea Qa4+. c6 [ A few more thoughts: 12...d7 13.a4 a6 14.e3 e6 15.d1 e7 16.f3! ] [ 12...a5 13.d2 ( 13.b3 c7 14.d5 ) 13...b6 14.a4+ c6 15.xc4 xd4 16.b3 d7 17.e3 ] 13.xc6 [ 13.e3 sees better, because A) 13...e5 14.xc6 xd1+ 15.xd1 bxc6 16.b3 a6 ( 16...e6 17.a4 ) 17.a4 ( 17.h4 b4 18.a4 b5 19.c5 ) 17...b5 18.c5 a5 19.h3 a4 1530
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.h2; B) 13...xd4 ] 13...xd1+ 14.xd1 bxc6 15.e3 e6 16.f3 [ 16.b3 d3 17.f3 a3 ] 16...e7 17.b3 b5 18.c1 a3 19.c2 0-0 [ 19...0-0-0! 20.f2 d3! 21.xc6+ b7 22.c3 b4 23.c1 a3= ] 20.b2 a5 21.c4 a4! 22.f2 fd8?! [ 22...b4 ] 23.xa3! axb3 24.xb5 bxc2 25.d4 xa2 26.c1 c5 27.xc2 f6 28.f4 f7 29.f3 c4? 30.b4 White was much better before, but now he's winning. b2 31.xc4 g6 32.h3 d1 33.c2 h5 34.h4 [ 34.g4! ] 34...f1+ 35.e2 h1 36.f2 c1 37.d2 f1 38.e3 [ 38.e3! is still easier. ] 38...c1 39.d2 [ 39.d3! ] 39...f1 40.e3 h1 41.e2? No reason to risk anything. [ 41.c3 a2 42.c6! xh4 43.b3 a8 44.d4! ] 41...xh4 42.f3? Time pressure I'm sure. [ 42.f5+! f7 ( 42...exf5 43.exf5+ xf5 44.xh4 xc2+ 45.f3 ) 43.fxe6+ xe6 44.f3 ] 42...h1 43.d4 h4 44.f5+ exf5 45.xf5? The last mistake. f1+ 46.g4 xg2+ 47.h3 e2 48.xh4 xf5 A sad end, but a fantastic new idea to consider. ½-½
basically because everybody was trying to beat Grischuk from this position 5.d4 e4 6.e5 g6 7.b1 A very deep move, introduced by Kramnik during the Candidates. White avoids any tactics on the diagonal and it's important to have the bishop on b2 defended sometimes. [ 7.g4!? is another new idea and can bring interesting positions A) 7...cxd4 8.exd4 g7 looks interesting, but I'm not sure if Black has enough for the pawn after 9.g5 h5 10.xe4 0-0 ( 10...xe5 takes the pawn back, but loses some time to do it, and afterwards the stru cture is dam age d 11.dxe5 a5+ 12.d2! avoiding ...Nf4 in some variations xe5 13.g2 0-0 14.0-0 and White has the better prospects ) 11.g2 A1) 11...xe5 12.dxe5 xe5 13.0-0 d5!? again sacrificing a pawn 14.cxd5 ( 14.xd5 c7 ) 14...e8 and White has a slight advantage in this complex position; A2) 11...d6 12.xc6 bxc6 13.e3 and White is better; B) 7...h6 this is the most prudent move an d it wa s trie d in so m e ga m e s 8.g2 g7 B1) 9.0-0 e7 forcing White to make decisions 10.f4 exf3 B1a) 11.xf3!? sacrificing a pawn in o r d e r t o w i n a t e m p o xg4 t h i s s h o u l d b e c r i t i c a l ( 11...0-0 i s p l a y a b l e 12.d5 d8 13.d2 with complications) 12.d5 d8 13.d2 d6 14.h3 f6 15.xf6+ 1530 A34 xf6 16.e4 e7 and I have the feeling that Black is fine, but still White Wang,Hao 2735 has some initiative for the pawn; Grischuk,Alexander 2783 B1b) 11.xf3?! now Black has good SportAccord Rapid Men 2013 rapid (7.3) prospects 0-0 12.xc6 dxc6 13.h3 [Fier, Alexandr] h5 and White needs to take care to avoid losing control immediately. Black W ang Hao tries a new idea against one of is already better, Fridman, D (2602)Grischuk's specialities, but got nothing after a Almasi, Z (2707)/ Corsica Masters Ko series of strong moves, which makes me 17th rapid 2013 (3.2).; wonder if he was still in Grischuk's preparation. B2) 9.h4 again trying to take the e4Apparently Black's position is holding well. pawn For White, maybe 7.g4 can be an interesting B2a) 9...d5 could be another idea to surprise. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 e5 ke e p t h e c1 -b ish o p clo se d f or t h e 4.e3 f6 This was one of the most played moment lines in the Candidates Matches in 2011, 1531
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B2a1) 10.cxd5 xd5 11.xe4 xe5 ( 11...xc3 12.xc6 xd1 13.xd8 xd8 14.xd1 xg4+ and Black is o k) 12.xd5 cxd4 13.exd4 xg4 is double edged; B2a2) 10.g5 hxg5 11.hxg5 xh1+ 12.xh1 h5 13.cxd5 xe5 14.dxe5 xg5 and finally we see the point of playing 9...d5 directly, in this messy position Black should be fine; B2b) 9...cxd4 10.exd4 d5 11.g5 hxg5 12.hxg5 xh1+ 13.xh1 h5 was Movsesian, S (2699) -Ponomariov, R (2743)/FIDE World Blitz 2013. and here 14.xd5 can bring some advantage for W hite xe5 15.dxe5 xe5 16.xe4 with a pawn up ] [ 7.e2 this move was also played sometimes g7 8.0-0 0-0 9.b3 e7 with the idea of 10...d6 was fine for Black in Ding, L (2702)-Vachier Lagrave, M (2705)/ Saint Louis SPICE Cup 6th 2012 (9). ] 7...g7 Probably the best move, just developing the pieces. [ 7...h5 was Grischuk's first try when he faced 7.Rb1, but it's a highly committal move and Kramnik could take advantage of it, 8.e2 e7 9.b3 cxd4 10.exd4 d6 11.xc6 bxc6 12.g5 and Black still had s o m e p r o b l e m s t o so l ve in K ra m n i k, V (2785)-Grischuk, A (2747)/Wch Candidates Rapid tiebreak rapid 2011 (2.7). ] 8.xc6 dxc6 9.dxc5 xd1+ 10.xd1 A novelty and a logical one, trying to bring the king to c2. The move played before was not so impressive. [ 10.xd1 makes little sense, since White will take more time to develop his pieces d7 A) 11.b4 keeps the pawn for some moves, but Black has a good initiative a5 12.a3 axb4 13.axb4 0-0 14.e2 e5 15.b2 e6 16.d4 ( 16.xe5 trying to keep the p a w n , b u t a f t e r xe5 White is just dominated ) 16...xc4 and Black is better; B) 11.d2 xc5 ( 11...a5 12.c3 xc3+ 13.xc3 was drawn in Buhmann, R (2578)Hamdouchi, H (2602)/ FRA-chT Top 12 2 0 1 3 ( 6 . 3 ) .) 12.c3 ( 12.b4 d7 13.c3 e5 ) 12...0-0 13.d4 b6 and Black has nothing to worry about ]
10...0-0 11.e2 e8 12.c2 e5! This is an important move and after 13.b4 White is not able to defend the pawns on the k i n g s i d e i n a p r o p e r wa y. 13.b4 g5 White has some ways to try to keep the extra pawn, but in all the lines White will be passive and Black has all his pieces in the game. Whether this is enough for the pawn or not is not clear, but in the game it worked well for Black. 14.g3 [ 14.g1!? is a really passive way to play, but it looks like W hite can keep the extra pawn for the moment h3 15.f1 ( 15.b5 trying counterplay is also possible xg2 16.xg2 xg2 17.bxc6 bxc6 18.b7 e8 and the position is unclear) 15...e6 16.d2 b6 ( 16...a5 17.a3 and Black still has to prove the compensation) 17.cxb6 axb6 18.a4 and Black has a lot of active pieces, but nothing concrete for the moment ] 14...h3 15.f1 [ 15.d2 f5 16.f1 g4 17.h3 f3 18.g1 d7 and the knight is going to e5, keeping the White pieces cramped ] 15...e6 16.b2 Now Black can recover the pawn by force [ 16.h3 f5 17.h2 h5 with the idea of 18...Ng4 forces White to come back with the rook ] 16...f5 17.d1 g4 18.e2 h5 [ 18...xf2 was also possible 19.f1 xd1 20.bxd1 with the same kind of position as in the game. ] 19.h4 [ 19.xg4?! hxg4 20.xg7 xg7 21.c3 b6 and White has too many weak pawns and squares. ] 19...xf2 Clearing the situation. [ 19...a5 was another option, but it's not clear if the opening of the a-file is better for White or Black 20.a3 axb4 21.axb4 xf2 22.f1 xd1 23.bxd1 xf1 24.xf1 A) 24...a2 25.b1 xb2 26.xb2 a3 ( 26...xb2+ 27.xb2 f8 28.c3 e7 29.d4 f5 30.e5 is similar to the game ) 27.b3 a8 and maybe Black can try something on the kingside, even if the most probable result will be a draw anyway; B) 24...g4 is the computer suggestion a n d q u i t e a m b i t i o u s 25.b1 f5 1532
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Trying to expand on the kingside. The plus 14.f4 xf4 15.xf4 ) 10.e1 g6 11.d3 is that the rook cannot enter on the d-file e6 12.a4 d7 13.b5 xb5 14.xb5 anymore, but the bishop on g4 can also be b8 15.c4 Svidler, P (2739)misplaced. ] Nepom niach tchi, I (2 711)/ RUS-c h 64t h 20.f1 xd1 21.bxd1 xf1 22.xf1 xb2 Moscow 2011 (6) . ] 23.xb2 f8 Now that everything is under [ 8...e6 9.b4 ( 9.a4 f6 10.d3 e7 control it's time to evaluate the position. Black 11.e3 ) 9...cxb4 10.axb4 a6 11.a4 d7 recovered his pawn and has a slightly better 12.g5 ( 12.a3 f6 13.e4 b5 14.c5 structure, since White can't make a passed xc5 15.bxc5 0-0 ) 12...g4 13.d3 h6 ] pawn. White's rook and king are more active, 9.d3 but the bishop has no good prospects. After [ 9.b4 is not sufficient for the moment cxb4 all the position is equal. 24.c3 e7 25.b5 10.axb4 xb4 11.xe5 xe5 12.a4+ c8 26.a4 d8! After this the position is a c6 13.xc6+ bxc6 and the bishop is dead draw. defended ] [ 26...cxb5 is unnecessary 27.axb5 xc5 [ 9.b1 was played a lot of times and is the 28.a1 and Black can't defend the a-pawn most logical move, following the plan of a6 29.bxa6 bxa6 30.xa6 c7 and White expansion on the queenside f6 ( 9...e7 got a passed pawn for free ] 10.b4 f5 11.b5 was analyzed by Watson 27.xd8 xd8 28.d4 f5 29.e5 e7 in Romanishin, O (2542)-Oleksienko, M 30.a5 a6 31.e2 d7 32.bxa6 bxa6 (2530)/Levikov Mem Lviv UKR 2006 (4).) 33.d1 e6 34.a4 d7 35.b3 e6 10.d3 ( 10.b4?! still does not really work, 36.a4 d7 even if the computer thinks that White has ½-½ c o m p e n s a t i o n cxb4 11.axb4 xb4 12.xb4 xb4 13.d4 a5 14.dxe5 xd1 15.xd1 f5 and Black is better) 10...e6 1531 A34 11.e3 d7 12.d2 e7 ( 12...b6 13.a4 b5 14.c2 c8 was a battle Xiu Deshun 2571 between two talented Russians in Zhou Jianchao 2565 T o m a sh e vsk y, E ( 2 5 9 5 )- Ja ko ve n k o , D ch-CHN 2014 Xinghua CHN (6) 17.03.2014 (2671)/ch-RUS Superfinal 2006 (4).) 13.b4 [Fier, Alexandr] cxb4 14.axb4 b5 and the position is double edged, but I believe Black was doing fine in W hite tries a triple pawn sacrifice to keep Ding, L (2714)-Nepomniachtchi, I (2717)/ Black's king in the center. The idea is Biel Breisacher Memorial 2013 (9). ] interesting, but after a big inaccuracy on move 9...e7 10.d2 18 the extra material made all the difference. [ 10.b1 would probably transpose to the 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 lines with 9.Rb1 ] xd5 5.g3 c6 6.g2 c7 7.0-0 e5 W e analyzed 8.d3 and 8.Ne1 lately, so it's 10...d7 11.c4 f6 [ 11...b5 was played recently, and to give the time t o ta ke a loo k a t th e ot he r po ssib le pawn is thematic, but far from necessary a l t e r n a t i v e . 8.a3 White makes one useful 12.xc6 xc6 13.xe5 a8 14.e4 move and accelerates things on the and W hit e went to win in m ore tha n 9 0 queenside. In this game he tried to enter the moves in Svane, R (2425)-Bok, B (2527)/ same position as in the main line, but with Haarlem BDO-A 9th 2013 (2). ] one tempo on the queenside for each players. Compared to the normal line, the pawn On balance I believe Black's move is more 12.f4 useful than 8.a3. b8 In almost all the lines on a3 is doing less than the rook on b8. It it's important to remove the rook from the long doesn't mean that Black is already better, but dia go nal. W ith th is mo ve Black also ca n the position is supposed to be less scary like this. b5 13.e3 exf4 answer some Rb1 b4 ideas with ...b5. [ 13...0-0 would also be possible, but it's [ 8...f6 9.e3 d3 ( 9...e7 10.d4 cxd4 thematic for Black to take on f4 first 14.fxe5 11.exd4 exd4 12.e2 e6 13.b4 d3 1533
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xe5 15.f5 xf5 16.xf5 d4+ 17.h1 and the knight can make some good work from e5 instead of d4. Both positions are playable and here I have no preference ] 14.ed5 White goes all-in. There was nothing wrong with 14.Rxf4, but this ambitious move also has some poison. White quickly actives all the minor pieces and if Black takes the pawns, his king will be stuck in the center for a long time. [ 14.xf4 was ok and we can reach a typical position after d4 15.ed5 0-0 16.xc7 xc7 17.d5 d8 18.e3 e6 19.f1 both players have weaknesses. White has more active pieces for the moment, but they can easily be repelled, so the position is level ] 14...fxg3 15.f4 gxh2+ 16.h1 I think this is good, the king is better on h1. [ 16.xh2 is another option. It looks like it's late to try to recover the pawns, and it's better to keep h2 as a shield for the king, but Black is not really attacking f or the moment. xd5 17.xd5 b4 18.e4 with a similar position as in the game ] 16...xd5 17.xd5 b4 [ 17...b6 18.e3 b4 19.axb4 shows a good difference compared with the game, the bfile is closed and the a-file is open now. This was the game between Berescu, A (2495)-Tsakiris, H (2154)/Plovdiv Tringov Memorial 35th 2013 (5). and here I suggest cxb4 20.e4 f5 21.f3 with an unclear position ] 18.e4? After this move White's idea is insuf ficient. It was necessary to take the exchange first and then the position is unclear. [ 18.xb8 for sure this was the move and now Black should take care xb8 19.axb4 cxb4 20.e4 and it's not clear how Black's k i n g i s g o i n g t o f i n d s o m e wh e r e s a f e . Several moves are playable, but I couldn't find any advantage for the second player. A) 20...e5 is unclear after 21.b3 b6 22.a2 and the queen is doing it's job well on a2; B) 20...d4 21.c1! the queen belongs on the a2-g8 diagonal, so there is another way b5 ( 21...xe2? 22.e3 g1 23.xa7 and White wins) 22.c4 xc4 23.dxc4 and the endgame is dangerous
for Black, since both a7 and h2-pawns are probably going to fall; C) 20...e5 21.b3 d4 22.c4 and again the a-file will be decisive. I don't see how Black can defend here; D) 20...b5!? this is the most active way for Black to play 21.b3 f5 22.d2 d6 23.f3 and Black can use a nice plan of bringing the king to d8 and the rook to e8, but even so the position is far from clear ] 18...b6 [ 18...bxa3 was less good, White can still take the exchange here 19.xb8 axb2 20.d6+ ( 20.d6 bxa1 21.xa1 and Black should be better with 4 pawns up ) 20...f8 21.b1 xb8 22.f7 g8 23.g5 g6 and the position is not so better for Black, even if he has 5 pawns for the exchange, White's pieces are active enough to bring some compensation. ] 19.e3 [ 19.axb4 xb4 this is the difference, and Black wins an important tempo 20.c4 a8 21.xh2 d5 and Black is winning ] 19...c8 20.a2 f5 21.g3 b7 [ 21...bxa3 opening the file at once also can't be bad 22.bxa3 g6 23.e4 d4 24.exf5 b7+ 25.xh2 b2+ winning ] 22.xh2 b3!? A dynamic move, giving one pawn to activate the rook on b6. Also, after W hite takes it, the queen is tied to the defence of the bishop on b3. [ 22...d7 would be a solid choice, just defending the pawns 23.h5 d8 24.c1 g6 25.g3 bxa3 26.bxa3 h5 and White is helpless ] 23.xb3 [ 23.xf5 looks tempting but Black is also winning here 0-0! ( 23...bxa2?? 24.xg7+ d7 25.g4# is mate ) 24.xb3+ h8 and White's position is defenceless 25.xe7 ( 25.g3 g5 with an amazing 10 points advantage for Black) 25...xe7 and it's kind of funny, but Black has 8 points advantage! 26.e4 g6 and Black will have an attack and an extra piece. ] 23...d7 24.f2 h5! The right plan, Black's pawns are dangerous and White's king is too exposed. 25.e4 g5 26.xf5 A last desperate try. [ 26.c1 is a sad move to make and allows 1534
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B l a c k t o u n l e a s h a h u g e a t t a c k xb3! fail to understand the point of this move! I 27.xb3 d4 28.d1 d6 and with both guess the idea is to protect the a-pawn, so bishops pointing in the king's direction it's th a t Rb1 be com e s a direct t h re a t . b4! im p o s s ib le f o r W h it e t o s u r vi ve 29.g2 13.b1 a5 14.b3 c7 15.c5 c6 xg3 30.xg3 h4+ 31.g2 fxe4 16.a4 d8 17.fd1 d6 White has and Black will mate soon ] adequate compensation for the pawn, but no 26...gxf4 27.e6 c7 Now with a full piece more, Ragger, M (2614)-Sutovsky, E (2692)/ up, the game is over. 28.c1 e5 29.g7+ Aix-les-Bains 2011. ] f8 30.g2 f3 31.g3 g4+ 12...d7 13.c4 c8 0-1 [ 13...c6 Is an attempt to equalise the game. 14.ab1 a3 15.xb7 ( If there is an improvement for W hite, I expect it lies 1532 A34 with 15.xc6 xc6 16.xc6 bxc6 17.b7 when W hite will inevitably get one pawn Yevseev,Denis 2536 back, at the very least) 15...a5 16.b4 Goganov,Aleksey 2556 xb4 17.xb4 ac8 18.d1 fd8 19.b5 St Petersburg-ch 86th (9) 19.03.2013 xb5 20.xd8+ xd8 21.xb5 c4 [Danny Gormally] now it's dead equal, Ponomariov, R (2749)Sutovsky, E (2665)/Khanty-Mansiysk 2010. ] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 c3? A tactical enterprise which 5.0-0 c5 6.c3 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.xd5 14.d3 xd5 9.d4!? A dangerous idea that White backfires badly on Black. [ although perhaps a little too late, it was has been doing quite well with. Black is forced essential to complete development with to solve difficult problems early in the game14...c6! 15.fb1 xd4 16.xb2 xb2 something not everyone is comfortable with. 17.d1 c7 with chances to hold the game cxd4 10.e3 b5 for Black (if you are not playing a technical [ 10...d8 Is a solid approach. Black doesn't player on the same level as Kramnik.) ] look to grab the pawns that are on offer- just to get on with sensible development and say 15.ab1! xd3 16.xb2 xd4 [ 16...xd4 17.xb7 xe3 18.exd3 d4 to White- "what have you got?" Gelfand was 19.xd7! ] not able to find a convincing refutation of Shirov's idea 11.xd4 h5! 12.c2 xd4 17.xb7+- a4 18.d2 c3 19.c2 e5 13.xd4 c6 14.c3 h3 15.xc6 bxc6 20.xa8 f5 21.d2 g7 22.c1 a6 W hite's only real advantage is his better 23.d5 b4 24.b3 a6 25.c4 c6 pawn structure. However, with the opposite 26.a4 colour bishops this is unlikely to be enough 1-0 to win the game, Gelfand, B (2733)-Shirov, A (2745)/Bazna 2009. ] 1533 A35 11.xd4 xb2 12.a4 Aronian,Levon 2802 [ 12.a4 Is a more leisurely way to play, Stevic,Hrvoje 2612 W hite will always have pressure on the 06.11.2011 queenside so there is no need to hurry. d8 18th European Teams (4.8) 13.b1 a2 14.b3 xb3 15.xb3 c6 [John Bartholomew] 16.c5 White has excellent pressure for the c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 g6 pawn, it's not easy to neutralise his initiative. 1.c4 d4 17.xb7 xb7 18.xb7 ab8 Past coverage on ChessPublishing.com has 19.a6 h5 20.fc1 b6 21.d3 f6 c a s t d o u b t u p o n t h i s m o ve o r d e r - t h i s , 22.a5 xb1 23.xb1 d7 24.a6 despite the fact that 3...g6 is easily the most 1-0 Macieja, B (2596)-Schmidt, W (2415)/ popular move in practice! [ I examine 3...e5 this month in Kramnik, V Ustron 200709 ] (2800)-Nepomniachtchi, I (2730)/Moscow [ 12.d5 has been played on a number of RUS 2011, ] occasions, but I must admit that I completely 1535
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ while 3...d4 is also tough to crack. Check the archives for Nigel Davies's guide to this and o th er alte rna tive s ("S ym met rica l 3 Knights - Various 3rd, 3...Nd4"). ] 4.e3! I'm in agreement with Tony and Nigel that preparing the d4-d5 advance is the best way to exploit Black's move order. W hite intends to chase the c6 knight. [ The immediate 4.d4 is well-met by cxd4 5.xd4 g7 6.c2 xc3+ 7.bxc3 d6 i.e. Van Wely, L (2646)-Kramnik, V (2758)/ Monte Carlo 2000. ] [ White also plays 4.g3 quite frequently, with a Pure Symmetrical after g7 5.g2 etc. ] 4...f6 [ There can be overlap with the King's Indian/ Benoni here. For example, 4...g7 5.d4 d6 6.e2 is more typical "E61" type play. ( or 6.d5 )] 5.d4 cxd4 [ Tony in the archives: 5...g7 6.d5 a5 7.e4 d6 "is a KI or Benoni position, similar to the Panno versus the Fianchetto, except that the white bishop is still on f1 (instead of g2), defending c4. This renders the a5knight quite useless, White is better." ] 6.exd4 d5 7.cxd5 [ S t e v i c f a c e d t h e a l t e r n a t i v e 7.g5 a decade ago. I believe this to be slightly inaccurate because it allows Black to play A) In the archives we see typical hangingpawn play after 7...e4 8.cxd5 xc3 9.bxc3 xd5 10.e2 Smirin, I (2702) S t e v i c , H (2 4 8 5 )/ P u l a 2 0 0 1 / [ T o n yK ] . ( 10.b3!? ); B) 7...e6! with a transposition to a reliable line of the Panov. ] 7...xd5 8.b3 xc3 [ Through various move orders, the position after 8...e6 has been subject to debate at GM level. My impression is that White can h o l d a n a g g i n g i n i t i a t i ve i n t h e s e I Q P positions. Some recent examples: A) 9.b5 g7 A1) After 10.e5 d7 11.xd7 xd7 12.0-0 0-0 13.xd5 xd5 ( 13...exd5= ) 14.xd5 exd5 15.xc6 bxc6 16.e3 fc8 17.ac1 f8 ( 17...a5! ) 18.fe1 ab8 19.b3 b6 20.c5 a series of small inaccuracies allowed White to score the full point in
Pap, G (2492)-Predojevic, B (2643)/ Paks HUN 2011.; A2) 10.0-0 0-0 11.d1 h6 12.xc6 ( 12.d2; or even 12.e3!? look more challenging.) 12...bxc6 Capablanca was the first to demonstrate that the c6/d4 structure isn't necessarily disadvantageous for Black (everything else being equal). 13.e4 b6 14.c5 e5! Kramnik, V (2785)-Gashimov, V (2746)/Monaco MNC 2011.; B) The toothless 9.xd5 exd5 10.b5 g7 11.a3 e7+ 12.xe7+ xe7 13.xc6 bxc6 14.f4 f6! saw Black getting gradually outplayed in Vallejo Pons, F (2716)-Anand, V (2817)/Sao Paulo/ Bilbao BRA/ESP 2011.; C) 9.g5 f6 10.d2 g7 ( 10...f7!? Christiansen, L-Spacek, P/Teeside 1973.) 11.d3 0-0 12.0-0 ce7 13.fe1 Gashimov, V (2719)-Topalov, V (2803)/ Nanjing CHN 2010. ] 9.c4 Aronian plays with his customary energy. [ 9.bxc3 has also presented Black with some problems. ] 9...e6 Black wants to get in ...Bf8-g7 and ... 0-0, but there is a downside. [ Black should seriously consider the sequence 9...d5 10.xd5 e6 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.0-0 , reaching a position that has been seen dozens of times. I will save a full analysis of this line for another day, but let me say that despite the pair of bishops Black must defend accurately due to his lagging development and various weaknesses (c6/c5 and the dark squares, specifically). Still, this may have been a su p e rio r co n t in u a t io n co m p a re d t o t h e game. ] 10.bxc3 g7 [ B l a c k h a s n o t f a r e d we l l w i t h 10...d7 11.d3 ] [ and 10...a5 11.b5+ d7 12.a4 either. ] [ Note that 10...e7 11.h6 f8 12.xf8 xf8 could transpose to the game. ] 11.a3! Preventing Black from castling. f8 Black will have to lose time walking his king to safety. 12.xf8 xf8 13.0-0 [ 13.h4!? Kovalyov, A (2615) -Ramakrishna, 1536
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 J (2246)/Mumbai IND 2010. ] 13...g7 14.b5!? The first new move. Black was threatening 14...Na5. [ Quite similar to the game is 14.b2 , e.g. A) 14...c7 15.fd1 a5 16.f1 b6 17.c4 d8 18.d5+ g8 ( 18...f6 was necessary.) 19.e5 exd5 20.cxd5 b7? 21.ac1 d6 22.g4+Burtasova, A (2146)-Muhren, M/Chalkidiki 2001.; B) 14...e8 15.fe1 a5 16.d3 b6 17.ad1 b7 18.e5 f6 19.g4 Moreno Gracia, D (2101) -Abdullayev, E (2148)/Aviles 2006.; C) 14...b6 15.d3 b7 16.e4 A standard maneuver, but it gives Black time to consolidate. ( 16.fe1 ) 16...c8 17.c4 f6 18.fe1 hd8 19.c5 a8 20.cxb6 b8 21.c3 xb6 22.e5 xe5 23.dxe5 e7 24.xa8 xa8 25.ad1 ab8 26.g3 1/2-1/2 Prasad, D (2435)-Shankar, R (2394)/ Nagpur 1999. ] [ 14.c2 b6 15.e2 c7 16.ac1 b7 17.fe1 ac8 18.a6 White gives up any t r a c e o f a n e d g e w i t h t h i s m o v e . xa6 19.xa6 hd8= Hoefker, M (2270) -Lazarev, V (2500)/Recklinghausen 1997. ] [ 14.d3!? It's not completely clear which square is best for the queen, so this move definitely makes sense. White immediately frees up c4-c5. b6 15.ad1 White has many different ways to arrange his rooks. b7 16.b2 a5 17.e5 c8 18.fe1 ( 18.d2!? ) 18...c7 Baeumer, L-Iven, S/ Germany 1992/TD. Now 19.c4 f6 20.d5! wo u ld i n i t i a t e in t r igu in g co m p li ca t i o n s because fxe5 21.xe5 g8 ( 21...xc4 22.xc4 xc4 23.xe6+ c3 24.e7+ f6 25.xc3+ xc3 26.xb7 a3 27.d2 ) 22.xe6 gives White a strong attack. ] 14...c7 [ 14...a5 15.b2 can be compared to 14. Qb2. Black doesn't gain much from his extra mo ve - in f a ct , it m igh t be a h in dra n ce because the normal b6 runs into 16.d5! a move Black would meet with ...Nc6-a5 if his queen didn't occupy that square. Note that exd5 17.xd5 xd5?? 18.c4+ is simply disastrous for Black. ] 15.e2
[ 15.d3!? ] 15...d8 16.fd1 Again, White has great flexibility with his rook placement. Aronian decides on the logical c1/d1 squares, supporting the c3-c4/d4-d5 pawn pushes. b6 17.c4 e7 [ 17...f6 ] 18.b2 [ Aronian isn't interested in a positional treatment with 18.a4!? . The Black king is a more tempting target! ] 18...g8?! Naturally, Black wants to sidestep problems on the a1-h8 diagonal. [ However, preventing Nf3-e5 with 18...f6 was a better way of accomplishing this. White has a small edge after 19.e1 d6 ( 19...b7 20.d5! intending exd5 21.d4 ) 20.d3 d7 , i.e. 21.e3 intending to double rooks on the e-file and menace d4d 5 , b u t B la ck h a s a d e qu a t e d e f e n s i v e resources. ] 19.e5 h5 Preventing the unpleasant 20. Ng4. [ 19...b7 20.d5! is a recurring theme. After exd5 21.g4 d4 (fairly forced) 22.xd4 xd4 23.xd4 f5 24.b2 g7 25.d1 The threats begin to pile up. One beautiful line is d8? 26.f6+ h8 ( 26...f8 27.a3++- ) 27.d7!! xd7 28.e8+- ] 20.ac1 b7 [ 20...f6 would be inconsistent with 18...Kg8, but maybe it was best. ] 21.d5! The maestro at work! Watching guys like Carlsen and Aronian play, one is consistently impressed with their sense of timing and the initiative. 21.d5! isn't a terribly difficult move for a strong player to find, but Aronian's subsequent buildup and efficiency i n e x e c u t i o n i s h i g h l y i n s t r u c t i v e . exd5 22.cxd5 d6 [ On 22...b8 White has a simple solution available: A) 23.d6 is enticing, but Black seems to survive with "only" moves: xd6 24.c4 ( I don't see a clear knockout after 24.d7 xd1+ 25.xd1 f4 ) 24...d5 25.b3 d8 26.f3 ( 26.xg6 fxg6 27.xd5 xd5 28.xd5+ xd5 29.d1 f8 30.xd5 e7 and Black should be fine.) 26...f6 27.xd5 xd5 28.xd5 xd5 29.xd5 e8 30.f3 d6 31.b3 e7 1537
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White faces a conversion task that ought to be fruitless against decent defense.; B) 23.c6! xc6 24.dxc6 c7 25.f3 ] 23.c4 f4 24.d6 f5 25.d7! No respite for Black. g5 [ The computer votes for the forcing line 25...xg2 26.xg2 h4+ 27.h1 xd7 28.xd7 f3 29.xf3 xf3+ 30.g1 g4+ 31.f1 h3+ , but the conversion following 32.e1! ( 32.e2? e8+ 33.e3 xe3+ 34.d2 xd7+ 35.xe3 e6+ is actually a perpetual, as Houdini kindly informs us!) 32...xd7 33.e3 sho uld n't be o verly dif f icult. W hite ha s weak pawns, but Black has a lot of tactical threats to parry versus the Q+N combo because he can't realistically survive a queen trade. ] 26.g3 h4 27.g4! g7 Black hasn't much else. 28.e5?! Trading queens is the only decision of Aronian's I can really question. [ 28.e5! is m o r e r u t h l e ss , i . e . e6 29.c4 f4 30.xe6 fxe6 31.c4 f6 32.g5!+- and Black is unable to defend. ] 28...e6 29.xg5 xg5 30.e5 Even the small inaccuracy on move 28 hasn't relieved Black of his problems. The d7 pawn prevents him from coordinating properly, and Aronian is in complete control. g7 31.c3 e6? Probably the decisive mistake. 32.e3! c5 [ 32...f8 33.xf7! xf7 ( 33...xf7 34.xe6 d8 35.b5+- ) 34.c4+- ] 33.g5 f6 Hastening defeat, but Black can barely move. 34.d6 [ This is given as the concluding move, but it's safe to say Aronian threw in 34.gxf6+ xf6 before 35.d6+ , which would indeed encourage resignation! ] 1-0
1534 Bruzon Batista,Lazaro Bologan,Viktor 13th Karpov GM (5) [John Bartholomew]
A35 2713 2712 02.10.2012
More ideas are cropping up in the line 8...Nxc3 9.Bc4 Nd5 10.Bxd5 e6 11.Bxc6+ bxc6 12.0-0. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 g6 4.e3 f6
5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.b3 xc3 9.c4 d5 10.xd5 e6 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.0-0 f6!? Short's idea...a move sooner than last time!? [ Of course, I'm referring to Nigel's innovative 12...d5 13.c3 f6!? in Pantsulaia, L (2575)-Short, N (2698)/Istanbul TUR 2012/ [John Bartholomew]. Black scored a nice victory in that encounter, so Bologan gives ... f7-f6 a whirl one move earlier. ] 13.e3 Black will likely continue with the standard-issue ...Qd8-d5 (and he does), but for the moment White has a wide choice. With the text White eyes h6 and plans to fianchetto his dark-square bishop. Other possibilities: [ 13.e1 (very flexible) d5 14.c2 f7 15.f4 e7 with normal-looking play ] [ 13.f4 g5!? ( 13...d5 would transpose to 12...Qd5 13.Bf4, a line that's been played many times ) 14.g3 d5 ] [ 13.c2!? (not the usual place for the queen, but definitely possible) ] 13...d5 14.b3 e7 15.h6 f7 The queen's presence on h6 doesn't bother Black too much. 16.b2 b7 [ 16...a5!? ] 17.fe1 ad8 18.e2 f8 19.f4 d6 20.h6 h5 Playing for the win! White hasn't achieved anything from the opening, so 12... f6!? can be considered a success in its debut. [ 20...a6 also comes to mind. ] 21.e3 White prefers to keep the queens on board. [ 21.xh5 gxh5 is level. Black's pawns may be wrecked, but he's got plenty of open files in addition to the almighty bishop pair. ] 21...he8 22.h3 c5?! Hard to resist, but this move could use a little preparation. [ Better is 22...f5 and Black is slightly for choice. ] 23.dxc5 xc5? [ 23...xc5! was necessary. ] 24.c3?! [ Here 24.f4! is very powerful. Black would be practically forced to sacrifice a rook with f5 ( 24...e7? 25.e5 f5 26.ae1+- ) 25.c7+ e7 26.xd8 xf3 27.gxf3 xf3 28.d2 g3+ 29.f1 xh3+ 30.e2 White should escape the checks (although things are not yet 100% clear). ] 24...e7 Now Black is fine. 25.ae1 d6 1538
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.d2 ed8 27.e3 a6 28.e4 f5 29.h6 g5 30.h5+ g6 31.f3 d7 32.c3 f5 33.a4 b6 34.a5?! c6 35.e3 xa5 [ 35...f4! ] 36.h4 h6 37.a1? White is drifting in this super complex position. [ After 37.hxg5 hxg5 38.g4! (menacing Qe3h3) the game is still very much up for grabs ] 37...f5 38.xa7 cc7 39.a4?! d1+ 40.h2 [ Similar is 40.e1 cd7! . ] 40...cd7! The threat of a rook coming to d3 is too much for White to handle. Indeed, the computer indicates "-3.5" at this point! 41.f3 7d3 42.a7 xe4! Simplest. 43.axe4 d7! 44.a4 d6+ 45.g3 c5 White resigned. Material is still dead equal, but his position has completely collapsed. A strange, dynamic middlegame where any result was possible. For our purposes, the unorthodox 12...f6!? certainly looks as playable as it did in Pantsulaia-Short, though I doubt it's any better than the normal 12...Qd5. 0-1
White has a small lead in development and chances to target Black's slightly worse pawn structure. Black will have to take special care of the dark squares, particularly c5 and e5. On the other hand, Black possesses a longterm asset in the bishop pair, and, in some cases, the possibility of a kingside pawn storm. The light-square bishop stands poorly in this line, so Black will be looking for ways to make this piece relevant ... c6-c5! would be ideal if h e c o u l d e v e r m a n a g e i t . d5 Useful centralization. [ 12...g7 is often played, too. It seems to me that this is slightly less accurate, as it gives White a couple additional options, i.e. 13.g5 ( or 13.f4 ) 13...d5 14.a3!? . ] 13.c3 [ White has tried many moves here, with 13.f4 being the most notable alternative. One recent game saw a good example of Black's chances on the kingside: A) another illustrative encounter went 13...e7 14.fc1 f6 15.h4!? d7 16.e3 c8 17.c3 0-0 18.h6 fe8 19.ac1 xa2 20.h5 d5 21.hxg6 hxg6 22.c5! (an attractive exchange sac) xc5 ( Black should have declined with 1535 A35 22...a2! ) 23.xc5 d6 24.d3 f7 25.e5+! fxe5 26.f3+ g8 27.f6 Fressinet,Laurent 2714 e7 28.xg6+ h8 29.f6+ h7 Parligras,M 2618 30.f8 xf8 31.xf8 e8 32.c3 exd4 40th Olympiad Open (10.12) 07.09.2012 33.h3+ g6 34.h6+ 1-0 Wells, P [John Bartholomew] (2480)-Emms, J (2545)/Southend 2000.; B) 13...f6!? 14.fc1 g5 15.g3 h5 The Three Knights with 9...Nd5 has 16.h4 gxh4 17.xd5 cxd5 18.xh4 e7 established itself as the strongest 19.c7 d8 20.c3 g8 21.ac1 d7 counterargument to 4.e3, and the continuation Ruck, R (2579)-Bologan, V (2665)/ 12...Qd5 is particularly popular at present. Warsaw POL 2011. ] Let's get the lay of the land in this topical line. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.e3 g6 13...g7 [ The novel 13...f6!? is examined this month 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.c4 in Pantsulaia, L (2575)-Short, N (2698)/ xc3 9.b3 d5 I believe this is the best Istanbul TUR 2012. Our present game was way to return the knight. played a few days after this encounter, but [ Levon Aronian won a sparkling game at the Parligras prefers the normal continuation. ] European Team Championship against the alternative 9...e6 10.bxc3 g7 11.a3! 14.f4 0-0 15.e3 This is connected with f8 12.xf8 xf8 13.0-0 g7 14.b5!? the plan of Bf4-h6. [ 15.fc1 i s l o g i c a l . b7 ( 15...d8!? ) . See Aronian, L (2802)-Stevic, H (2612)/ 16.e3 fd8 17.g5 f6 18.h6 xh6 Porto Carras GRE 2011/[John Bartholomew] 19.xh6 d7 20.h4 f7 21.c5 d7 .] 22.e1 e8 23.f4 Cvitan, O (2539)10.xd5 e6 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.0-0 Edouard, R (2404)/Biel 2006. ] The contours of the battle are discernible. 1539
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15...b5 [ Nils Grandelius played 15...d8 earlier this year, and I think it's a little better than the text. 16.h4 b7 17.fe1 ac8 ( 17...xd4 18.xd4 xd4 19.g3 ) 18.b4 c5!? ( 18...a5!? ) 19.dxc5!? xa1 20.xa1 d3 ( 20...c4! ) 21.d6 xe3 22.fxe3 Sargissian, G (2674)-Grandelius, N (2545)/ Plovdiv BUL 2012. ] 16.h6!? Fressinet pitches a pawn to spur his initiative. [ The simple also 16.b3 comes to mind. For example, a5 17.a4 b6 18.d6 d8 19.c5 c7 20.e5 a6 21.fc1 ] 16...xb2 17.fb1 c2 18.c1 b2 19.h4 [ Na t u ral, b u t 19.xg7 xg7 20.e5 seems more problematic for Black. ] 19...f6! Shoring up the dark-square weaknesses around the Black king. 20.h5 gxh5 [ 20...xh6 21.xh6 g5!? ] 21.xg7 xg7 22.ab1 xa2 23.a1 d5 24.c5 d7 25.xh5 h8 26.aa5?! W hite enjoys a clear initiative for the twopawn deficit, but this move lacks decisiveness. [ More forceful measures were necessary, i. e. 26.h4!? g7 ( 26...g8 27.h6 ) 27.e4 g8 28.a3! ] 26...b8! Now Black succeeds in activating his pieces. 27.h4 g7 28.f4 b1+ 29.h2 b5!? Returning a pawn back, but unshackling the light-square bishop. 30.axb5 cxb5 31.xb5 b7 32.c5 d5 33.g3 g8 34.c7? A significant error. [ White needed to immediately reroute the poorly placed knight, e.g. 34.g2 g5 35.xg5 fxg5 36.e3 and White should hold. ] 34...g5 35.g2 a5! 36.xg5 fxg5 37.e3 a8! Rook behind the passed pawn! I doubt White can save the game at this point. 38.g4 f8! 39.g1 a4 40.c3 b3 41.e5 a8!-+ Returning to the a-file with decisive effect. 42.f7+ g8 43.c7 a3 44.h6+ h8 45.f7+ g7 46.e5+ g8 W hite resigned. W hite held an undeniable initiative into the middlegame, but one wonders whether a less risky approach like 15. Rfc1 or 16.b3 was more prudent. I must say I was rather impressed with Black's resilience and defensive resources, which bodes well for
9...Nd5 as a whole. 0-1
1536 Giri,A Smith,Ax Reykjavik Open 2013 (3.1) [John Bartholomew]
A35 2722 2485 20.02.2013
Anish Giri picks a rare continuation on move 13 yet fails to achieve more than an equal ending. From there he shows why he's a 2700+, though! 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 g6 4.e3 f6 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.b3 xc3 9.c4 d5 10.xd5 e6 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.0-0 d5 13.e3!? A rare move at this important juncture. We've already examined a couple different approaches for White: [ M o s t p o p u l a r i s 13.c3 , i.e. f6!? ( 13...g7 Fressinet, L (2714)-Parligras, M (2618) Istanbul 2012/[John Bartholomew]) 14.f4 g5! 15.g3 e7 16.fe1 f7 17.ac1 b7 18.e3 he8 19.b3?! c5 Pantsulaia, L (2575)-Short, N (2698) Istanbul 2012/[John Bartholomew] ] [ W hite can simplify with 13.xd5 cxd5 , but after 14.f4 f6 15.fc1 h5 16.h4 h7! 17.e1 b7 18.d3 d7 19.c2 a5 20.ac1 a4 21.c7 aa7 22.xb7 xb7 23.c7 xc7 24.xc7 Black began to grind away with the bishop pair in Kraai, J (2514)-Kacheishvili, G (2607) ICC INT 2012/ [John Bartholomew]. ] 13...xb3 Not strictly necessary, but certainly understandable. [ There are a couple games out there with 13...f6 , i.e. 14.fc1 d6 A) 15.c4 d7 ( 15...b7; or 15...0-0!? look preferable to me) 16.d2 xc4 17.xc4 c7 18.d2 b8 19.a3 b5 ( 19...b3! ) 20.b4 h5 21.g3 f7 22.c5 a6 23.c3 Wirthensohn, H (2411)-Arkell, K (2477) Saas Almagell 2005; B) 15.d2 f7 16.c2 d8!? 17.xc6 b7 18.xd5 xd5 19.c4 e7 20.f3 g5! 21.d2 dc8 22.e4 xc1+ 23.xc1 c8 Kreisl, R (2404)-Erdos, V (2645) Vienna 2012 ] 1540
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 13...e7 is of course possible as well. ] 14.axb3 b7 15.fc1 d6 16.e5 This looks logical at first blush. However, it turns out that Black can effectively offload the c-pawn and counterattack down the b-file. [ More ambitious alternatives include 16.g5!? (intending Ng5-e5 and possibly Ne4-c5) ] [ and 16.h6!? . ] 16...e7! 17.xc6+ xc6 18.xc6 a5! 19.d2 Guaranteeing further simplifications. W hite hardly had anything better, though. hb8 20.xa5 xa5 21.xa5 xb3 22.c2 [ 22.c3 is met by the convenient shot a3! , equalizing completely. ] 22...d3 23.d2 b3! 24.f1 b4 25.xb4+ xb4 26.e2 d6 27.c2 Axel Smith has played excellently to achieve a level ending against his super-GM opponent. Unfortunately he soon begins to make a few technical mistakes that eventually snowball into a loss. d5 [ Not yet a mistake, but Black could have already restored the material balance with 27...xd4 because White cannot win the pawn ending after 28.d2 c5 29.xd4 xd4 . ] 28.c7 e4 29.xf7 xb2+ 30.e1 d3! 31.f3+ xd4 32.f7 e4 33.g3 b1+?! [ 33...h5! would secure the draw without a problem, e.g. 34.f6 g5 35.xe6+ f3 36.e5 b1+ 37.d2 b2+ 38.e1 b1+= . ] 34.e2 b2+ 35.f1 e5?! [ More tenacious is 35...g5 36.xh7 g4 , ensuring that White will have to trade his 'f' or 'h' pawn. ] 36.xh7 f6 37.h4 b5 38.g2 a5? Amazingly, this is the decisive mistake! [ Black needed to play 38...e5 , immediately freeing up the e6 square. Then 39.g4 b4 40.g5+ e6 should ultimately be drawn. ] 39.g4! Hard to believe, but Black's g-pawn is now indefensible. e5 [ Now 39...a4 fails to 40.g5+ f5 41.f3 wh e n t h e p la n o f K g2 -g3 a n d Rf 7 -f 6 is impossible to parry. ] 40.f3 e4 41.g5+ e6 42.fxe4 e5 43.g7 xe4 44.xg6+This ending is a win (the tablebase says mate in 53!), and Giri successfully navigates the slight technical
problems. f5 45.f6+ g4 46.h6 f5 47.f2 a2+ 48.e3 a3+ 49.d4 a5 50.c4 e5 51.b4 d5 52.c3 c5+ 53.d3 a5 54.d4 b5 55.g6 f6 56.h5 g7 57.h7+ g8 58.e4 a5 59.f4 b5 60.g4 b4+ 61.g5 b5+ 62.h6 b8 63.d7 a8 64.d5 b8 65.g5 a8 66.h6 b8 67.h7+ g7 68.d7+ h8 69.h6 b7 70.g7# . One must feel for Smith, but Giri's technique in the rook ending was really very impressive. From a theoretical point of view I don't think 13.Be3 is a challenge to Black. 1-0
1537 Izoria,Zviad Palac,Mladen 6th EICC Qualification (4) [John Watson]
A35 2602 2574 02.07.2005
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 d4 This used to be a sure equalizer, but no more . 4.e3 xf3+ 5.xf3 g6 6.b3 g7 7.b2 d6 All normal so far. White goes along with the modern solution: 8.g4 Here we go again! The interesting thing about many of these contemporary g4 thrusts is that they have no piece target but have as their goal space capture and prophylaxis. b8 9.g2 a6 10.g5! [ 10.0-0-0 might have run into a dangerous attack after ...b5, so W hite keeps his options open. And ] [ 10.h4?! b5 11.e2? bxc4 12.xc4 b4 wins the g-pawn. ] 10...b5 11.e2 h6 [ Now 11...bxc4 12.xc4 b4 13.e2 is pointless. ] 12.h4! hxg5 13.hxg5 xh1+ 14.xh1 e6 15.f4 The logical follow-up to White's cramping strategy. a5 [ 15...b4 16.a4 xb2 17.xb2 e7 18.0-0-0 leaves Black with more weaknesses and some question as to king position, although this is hardly fatal. ] 16.0-0-0 bxc4 17.xc4 b4 18.d3! d5 This works out badly, but isn't necessarily losing, and [ 18...e7 19.f3 and Rh1 was no fun. ] 1541
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.xd5! exd5 20.xd5 f5! Black's position is on the edge. [ 20...xb2+ 21.xb2 was worse, for example, g4 22.h1 ] 21.e4?? An amazing blunder and counter blunder by two highly-rated players. Conceivably the score is wrong, but the result is the same. [ Best was 21.xa6! xa6 22.c7+ f8 ( 22...d7 23.xa6 xb2+ 24.xb2 b5 25.d4! ) 23.xg7+ xg7 24.xa6 b5 25.d4 cxd4 26.xd4 e7 27.e4 , but the two queenside passers are probably too much to deal with in the long run. ] 21...c4?? Losing more material. [ 21...xb2+ 22.xb2 xe4 wins, since 23.xa6 xa6 24.c7+ d7 25.xa6 d6 or 25...Rxf4 is easily winning. ] 22.e3 xb2+ 23.xb2 e6 24.xb4 xb4 25.f5 d7 and Black resigned. This seem a little premature. Nevertheless, [ 25...d7 26.fxg6 fxg6 27.c3 ( 27.d4 ) 27...xc3+ 28.xc3 cxb3 29.axb3 followed by d4 is very depressing. ] 1-0
1538 Kovacevic,Blazimir Sax,Gyula 15th Open Ljubjana SLO (8) [Tony Kosten]
A35 2478 2535 15.07.2004
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.e3 e5 4.c3 f5 5.d4 cxd4 This opens the c1-h6 diagonal and gives White some extra options, I prefer [ 5...e4 6.d5 as in Vaganian-Kalinitschew (see the archives). ] 6.exd4 e4 7.g5 One of many possibilities here: [ 7.e5 f6 8.e2 b4 9.0-0 0-0 10.c5 d5 11.f4 with a plus in Kharitonov,AIljushin,A/Novgorod RUS 1999. ] [ 7.d5 exf3 8.dxc6 dxc6 ( 8...fxg2!? 9.cxd7+ xd7 10.xg2 c6 ) 9.xf3 f6 10.d3 the f5-pawn is a bit exposed but this lo o k s f a i rl y e q u a l, Ca l o t e s cu , C -S t i ri , A / Oropesa del Mar ESP 2001. ] [ 7.g1!? f6 8.ge2 g6 9.f4 with a nice grip on d5, Salo, T-Rantanen,Y/
FIN-chT 1994. ] [ 7.d2 f6 8.d5 e5 9.b3 d6 1/2-1/2 Tratar, M-Podlesnik,B/Krsko 1997. ] 7...b4 An innovation, and it looks best. [ 7...f6 8.d5! e5 9.d4 Butnorius,AH u l t i n , J / O s l o 1 9 9 2 , b u t i n s t e a d ( 9.d6! looks good )] 8.e2 f6 9.0-0 0-0 10.d5 This works well, but instead White could try [ 10.c5!? which may just win an exchange, i. e. d5 11.cxd6 h8 12.c4 xd6 13.f7+ xf7 14.xf7 but after xd4 Black has fair compensation. ] 10...h6?! This inaccuracy leads to tactical problems, [ 10...xd5! is best, 11.cxd5 a5! ( 11...e7? loses to 12.d6! xd6 13.c4+ h8 14.xh7! ) 12.f4 ( 12.a3 e7 13.h3 b6 and the knight comes to d6 via b7. ) 12...b6 and Black seems to be OK. ] 11.xb4! xb4 12.b3 hxg5 [ 12...c6 13.c5+ d5 14.cxd6+ h8 15.f7+ xf7 16.xf7 wins a good exchange. ] 13.xb4 f4 14.d6 e8?! [ 14...e8 is stronger, planning to evict the queen with ...Re6, so 15.c5 h7 16.c4 b6 White is better, but Black's kingside pawns are useful. ] 15.h4?! White tries to break-up the black structure, but this weakens his own kingside, as well. [ 15.c5 lo o ks ri g h t , o n c e a ga i n , e6 16.e5! and now the g5-pawn is en prise, so Black has real problems. ] 15...f3! Black seizes his chance to ruin the white king's pawn cover. 16.gxf3 gxh4 17.h2 h5?! [ 17...g6! menaces the win of White's queen, and then after 18.c5 exf3 19.xf3 ( 19.c4+?! h7 is good for Black now, as 20.xf8?? a llo ws m a t e in o n e : g2# ) 19...g4+ 20.xg4 xg4 with chances to both sides, if Black can get his bishop to b7 he may well win. ] 18.c5 Freeing the c4-square. exf3 19.c4+ h7?? An inexplicable blunder, Black had no choice but to play [ 19...f7 when 20.e3 g4+ 21.h1 should be good for W hite, but Black has some practical chances due to his kingside 1542
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 possibilities, e.g. h7 22.xf7 ( 22.d3+!? g6 23.g1 g7 24.ae1 may be superior) 22...xf7 23.ae1 b6 24.b4 b7 25.g1 f5 and Black is better, ...Nxf2+ and ...Qh3 mate is the immediate menace. ] 20.xf8 d5 21.g1! [ 21.g1 g4+ 22.xg4 xg4 23.d3+ g6 24.f7+ h8 25.xg6 kills the game ] [ 21.d3+? w o u l d b e a m i s t a k e , f5 22.xa8 xd3 23.e3 g4+ 24.h1 xf1 25.xf1 xe3 26.fxe3 f5 and amazingly, Black is better, despite being a whole rook down! For example 27.h2 c2+ 28.h3 g2+ 29.xh4 xf1 ] 1-0
against Pantsulaia. [ Another Short game (from 1981!) saw 14...e7 , which also looks reasonable: 15.fc1 f6 16.c7 g5 17.ac1 d7 18.g3 d8 19.b7 b6 20.b8?! ( 20.d6! ) 20...e7 21.xa7 xa7 22.xb6 xa2 Christiansen, L (2575)-Short, N (2440)/Hastings 1981. ] 15.fc1 h5 Meaningful expansion, and the prelude to an inventive rook lift. 16.h4 h7! The rook will enter the fray via b7. 17.e1!? The knight has nothing to do on the kingside, so Kraai dispatches it to d3. From there it can monitor b2 and jump to c5 at a moment's notice. b7 18.d3 d7 19.c2 a5! 20.ac1?! [ Better was 20.b3! , intending a4 21.b4= . ] 1539 A35 20...a4 The cramping effect of this pawn will Kraai,J 2514 now be a constant source of misery for White. Kacheishvili,Giorgi 2607 21.c7 Exchanging rooks only ensures White US Chess League 2012 (4) 24.09.2012 a long defense in a 2B vs. N+B ending, but he really doesn't have much to do. There are no [John Bartholomew] available pawn breaks, and his pieces already This game f inished second in the United occupy their ideal squares. [ The opposite-color bishop game after States Chess League's "Game of the Week" 21.c5 xc5 22.dxc5 c6 is even worse. voting (W eek 4). Kacheishvili's endgame Black's central pawns will advance determination was quite impressive to behold, unopposed while White's 3-to-1 queenside and his efforts were rightly lauded by the majority is completely stymied. ] judges. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 g6 4.e3 f6 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 21...aa7! 22.xb7 xb7 23.c7 xc7 Black has to be very satisfied with 8.b3 xc3 9.c4 d5 10.xd5 e6 24.xc7 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.0-0 d5 13.xd5 the outcome of the opening, as he now he An early queen exchange won't cause Black gets to press an ending with almost zero risk any sleepless nights, but he should have an of losing. It's still early, but I'd estimate the idea of what to do. It's worth mentioning that chances of a Black win or draw to be roughly t h e t e xt h a s b e e n p l a ye d b y so m e g o o d 50/50. I'll keep my notes to a minimum while players, including the aggressive-minded we watch Kacheishvili turn the screws. b5 25.f4 f7 26.a3 h6 27.f3 g5 28.hxg5 American Grandmaster Larry Christiansen. [ Last month we investigated White's main xg5 29.f2 h4 30.g3 hxg3+ 31.xg3 attempts at an advantage in the line 13.c3 c4 32.d6 h6 33.f2 g5 34.g3 b3 g7 Fressinet, L (2714)-Parligras, M (2618)/ 35.f2 c2 36.e2 h6 37.f4 e8 Istanbul TUR 2012/[John Bartholomew]. 38.e3 d7 39.b8?! [ 39.b4 ] ( We also had a look at 13...f6!? , a novel approach that brought Black success in 39...c6 40.c3 b3 [ The immediate 40...f8! was stronger. ] Pantsulaia, L (2575)-Short, N (2698)/ 41.f3 f8 42.f5 exf5 43.f4 d7 44.b5 Istanbul TUR 2012/[John Bartholomew]. )] 13...cxd5 14.f4 f6 White now has an e7 45.c3 d8 46.b8 a5 47.f4 e6 appreciable queenside majority, so in turn 48.f3 b6 49.e3 f7 50.e2 a5 Black aims to mobilize his center/kingside 51.f4 c4 52.d6 e1 53.c7 h4 preponderance. Short used this strategy to 54.d2 f2 55.c3 e1+ 56.c2 e7 goo d ef f e ct in t he a f o re men tion ed gam e 57.g6+ e6 58.f4+ d7 59.b8 g3 1543
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 60.c3 b3 61.d3 c6 62.e3 b5 63.c7 h2 64.d3 c4+ 65.c2 a2?! 66.xd5! Kraai has been defending patiently for 40+ moves, and now he spots a chance to reach the coveted draw. xc7 67.xc7+ c4 68.d5 [ 68.e6! would have achieved the goal a lot quicker, i.e. b3+ 69.d2 d5 70.c5 xd4 71.xb3+ axb3 72.e2 f4 73.f3 d3 74.a4 c2 75.a5 xb2 76.a6 c1 77.a7 b2 78.a8 b1 79.xf4= ] 68...b3+ 69.d2 c5 70.e3 d6 71.e8+?! xd5?! [ 71...e5! ] 72.xf6+ c4 73.h5 c2 74.d2 e4 75.f4 f3 76.d3 d5 77.f4 f7 78.g2?! d4 79.f4 c4 80.h5 e4 81.f6+ e5 82.d7+ d4 83.f8?? White falters under the persistent pressure. [ A d r a w w a s s t i l l p o s s i b l e w i t h 83.f6 . In fairness, it wasn't easy to find a clear path for the knight (especially in time pressure). ] 83...f4-+ The passed pawn will cost White his knight. 84.g6 [ Or 84.e1 e3-+ . ] 84...f3 85.h4 f2 86.f3+ c5 87.h2 f1 88.xf1 xf1 89.c2 Unfortunately for W hite, he still has "a" and "b" pawns remaining! Kacheishvili now demonstrates why this is significant. c4 90.b1 b3 91.a1 c2 92.a2 c4+ 93.a1 g8 Zugzwang! 94.b4 axb3 White resigned. A great example of Black's long-term prospects with the bishop pair and kingside pawn roller. 13.Qxd5 has not found many followers for good reason. 0-1
1540 Krasenkow,Michal Lautier,Joel ol (men) Elista RUS (12) [Tony Kosten]
A35 2655 2625 11.10.1998
One advantage for White is that he can now capture with the bishop, as opposed to the line 4 e3 Nxf3+ when he must take with his queen. d6 8.h4 Attempting to inject some life into the position. h5 9.b3 h6 Sensible, bringing the knight to f4 to dissuade White from expanding in the centre by d4, but a Larsen, or Andersson would prefer [ 9...xc3!? perhaps, with play against the doubled pawns. ] 10.b2 g4 Otherwise this piece couldn't be developed without first defending the b7pawn. 11.xg4 xg4 12.e2 White is planning to castle long, and then advance the kingside pawns. This is clearly best, for if he should castle short he will be unable to drive the g4-knight away from its advanced post without seriously compromising his own king's defences. d7 13.0-0-0 f5 14.f3 e5 15.e4 0-0? Even the very best players sometimes 'castle into the attack'. Perhaps Black was lulled into a false sense of security by the fairly innocuous look of the opening. 16.hf1 a6 17.d4 As is often the case in the English, the def erral of the central pawn advances only serves to increase their force. The active black knight is driven from the ce n t r e , a n d f r o m t h e co n t r o l o f g 4 . cxd4 18.exd4 c6 19.g4 The White attack develops 'a tempo'. a5 20.d5 e5 21.b1 Defending the a2-pawn, and killing Black's last hope for counterplay. hxg4 22.fxg4 b5 23.c5! With the dual purpose of keeping the queenside closed, and undermining the e5knight. dxc5 24.h5 Menacing 25 h6 Bh8 26 h7+, winning the e5-knight, but [ 24.g5 was also strong, Black's position is so bad. ] 24...c7 25.h2 Pinning the black knight, and threatening unpleasantness along the hfile. fc8 26.hxg6 xg6 27.d6 exd6 28.g5 Black can only fend-off mate by discarding excessive amounts of material. 1-0
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 d4 4.g3 g6!? Black prefers to keep his steed on d4 rather than devalue the White pawn structure, by [ 4...xf3+ 5.exf3 ] 5.g2 g7 6.e3 xf3+ 7.xf3 1544
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is also good, as after e8 31.xg8+ d7 A35 32.d3 bxa2 33.xf7 forces mate. ] 2661 2538 30...f1+ 31.g3 g1+ 32.h3 f1+ 04.05.2000 33.g2 a8 34.b7! [ 34.xf1? would allow Black to replace his queen by bxa2 ] 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 d4 4.e3 1-0 xf3+ 5.xf3 g6 6.b3 g7 7.b2 d6 8.g4!? A35 [ Krasenkow's games are amongst the most 1542 interesting in the English at the moment, and Mastrovasilis,Athanasios 2513 here he plays one of his favourite ideas, the Banikas,Hristos 2646 swift advance of the g-pawn with a closed GRE CupT final 32nd (4.2) 05.07.2014 centre, as demonstrated in last month's [Tony Kosten] games. 8.g3 is normal, but doesn't offer W hite a great deal, b8 9.d1 h6 1.c4 c5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 c6 4.e3 g6 10.g2 0-0 11.0-0 which soon led to 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.b3 equality, Ftacnik,L-Miles,A/Manilla 1990. ] e6 "A reliable move that has exploded in 8...b8 9.g2 d7 10.e2 popularity in 2012." - Bartholomew. [ Opening the centre by 10.d4?! does not [ We've examined the main 8...xc3 9.c4 l o o k r i g h t , cxd4 11.exd4 a5 d5! in a number of games, see Fressinet, ( 11...xd4!? ) 12.f4 h6 13.g3 g5 L-Parligras, M for example. ] 14.e4 xg4 15.d5 with unclear play, 9.b5 Pinning the knight decreases the Pomes Marcet,J-Bellon Lopez,J/Barcelona pressure on d4, and introduces the positional 1990. ] possibility of capturing this knight and leaving 10...a6 11.g5! b5 Black gets his queenside Black with a poor light square bishop. counterplay in motion. 12.d3 a5 13.c1 h6 [ 9.g5 f6 10.d2 g7 11.d3 0-0 12.0-0 [ 13...e6 14.0-0! threatens Ne4. ] leads to a more normal IQP position, when 14.h4 The g5-pawn is a real problem for Black, the e6 weakness must give W hite a plus, who cannot develop his knight on f6, and who Gashimov, V (2719)-Topalov, V (2803) / doesn't wish t o play .. .e6, as this would Nanjing CHN 2010. ] weaken his dark squares. h7!? 15.a1 9...g7 10.e5 This move scores well, hxg5 16.hxg5 xh1+ 17.xh1 b4 18.e4 although it hasn't been played much. a3 19.d2 xa1 20.xa1 c8 21.d4 [ 10.0-0 0-0 11.d1 ( 11.xd5 xd5 An original position, W hite has some 12.xd5 exd5 13.xc6 bxc6 14.f4 g4 advantage because of the g8-knight, and 15.e5 xe5 16.xe5 f6 17.g3 fe8 expands in the centre to accentuate this. c6 is obviously drawish, Medvegy, Z (2547)22.dxc5 xe4 23.xe4 xc5 24.f4 a5 Gonda, L (2524) /Hungary 2014.; 11.xc6 25.d4 Menacing Qg7, with an immediate bxc6 12.a4 a6 13.e1 b6 14.c5 win. f8 26.f2 a4 27.f3! The king is c4 15.c3 d5 16.e5 White's knights safest behind its pawns. a5?! are we ll p la ced , bu t so is B la ck 's 'ba d ' [ Black's queenside attack is well on its way, bishop, Aronian, L (2816)-Caruana, F (2773)/ but W hite simply brings his forces to the Sao Paulo/Bilbao 2012.) 11...a5 ( 11...h6 kingside. In view of what follows, guarding 12.xc6 bxc6 13.e4 b6 14.c5 e5 t h e b a c k r a n k b y 27...c8 15.c4 exd4 16.xd4 e8 17.h3 b8 is more circumspect. ] Kramnik, V (2785)-Gashimov, V (2746)/ 28.h1 axb3 29.h7 c1 Monte Carlo 2011.) 12.a3 xc3 13.xc3 [ 29...f6 also loses to 30.d5 ] a6 14.e2 d7 15.g5 Nikcevic, N (2429) 30.b6 Brynell, S (2481)/Sweden 2014, when b6 [ The double threat to the rook and to the seems perfectly satisfactory. ] back rank wins, but the natural 30.g7+ [ For 10.g5 b6 11.a3 f6 see Vorobiov, 1541 Krasenkow,Michal Macieja,Bartlomiej 57th ch Plock POL (7) [Tony Kosten]
1545
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 E-Grigoriants, S in the Archive. ] [ 10.xd5 exd5 11.e5 transposes below. ] 10...d7 [ 10...de7 is also reasonable: 11.xc6+ xc6 ( 11...bxc6!? 12.e3 0-0 13.0-0 c5 14.fd1 Szmetan, J (2405)-Perez Cascella, J (2255)/Mar del Plata 1994.) 12.xc6 bxc6 13.0-0 b6!? risky, ( 13...0-0 ) 14.a3! xd4 15.e4 c5 16.d1 e5 17.h6 b7 18.xd4! exd4 19.xc5 0-0-0! best, 20.c1 c6 21.f4 d5 Black's position is precarious but he keeps finding only moves, 22.b4?! ( 22.e4 ) 22...e8 23.b5?? xc5 24.bxc6 c3! 0-1 Ivanov, O (2390)Rogoznikov, A/Voronezh 1991. ] 11.xd5 [ 11.xd7 xd7 12.0-0 0-0 13.xd5 xd5 ( 13...exd5= ) 14.xd5 exd5 15.xc6 bxc6 16.e3 Pap, G (2492) -Predojevic, B (2643)/Hungary 2011, equal after, say fb8 17.ab1 b4 18.b3 a5 ] 11...exd5 [ 11...xe5!? 12.dxe5 exd5 13.0-0 xb5 14.xb5+ d7 15.b4 e7 16.d2 xb4 17.xb4 d7 might also be OK for Black, Gaponenko, I (2448)-Symoens, D/ La Fere 2004. ] 12.0-0! [ 12.xc6 xc6 13.0-0 0-0 1/2-1/2 Bogdanovski, V (2435)-Palac, M (2593)/Skopje 2012. ] 12...0-0!? A bold new move, offering a pawn for the initiative. [ 12...xe5 13.dxe5 transposes back into the Gaponenko game just above. ] 13.xd5 xe5 14.dxe5 e6 15.xd8 [ 15.c5 c8 16.xa7 xe5 also gives adequate play for the pawn, e.g. 17.xb7 b8 18.a6 b6 19.a5 xh2+ 20.xh2 b8+ ] [ 15.xb7 xe5 16.f3 f6 17.xf6 xf6 with play against b2. ] 15...fxd8 16.f4 f6 17.e1 [ 17.exf6 xf6 18.e1 d5 19.a4 ac8 with good compensation as W hite can't develop his queenside without losing the bpawn. ] 17...fxe5 18.fxe5 ac8 Play is level. 19.f4 d4 20.g3 b4 21.a4 a6 22.d3 xb2 23.ab1 xb1 24.xb1 d5 25.e2 e8
26.f3 xf3 27.gxf3 xe5 [ 27...xe5 28.xe5 xe5 is equal. ] ½-½
1543 Miles,Anthony J Oral,Tomas Mem Elite Varadero CUB (4) [Tony Kosten]
29.xb7
A35 2579 2540 10.05.2000
1.f3 c5 2.g3 c6 3.c4 e5 The solid Botvinnik System. 4.c3 g6 5.a3 g7 [ 5...a5 is also good, confining White's queenside play, 6.d3 g7 7.g5 f6 8.d2 ge7 9.g2 0-0 10.0-0 d6 11.e1 e6 12.d5 b8 13.c2 b5 regaining control of b5, 14.xe7+ xe7 15.cxb5?! a4! fixing b3, with advantage, Vaganian,RFilippov,V/Elista RUS 1998. ] 6.b4!? [ Is this really possible? Certainly it is with the white bishop on g2, instead of the knight on f3, but this position gives Black extra resources. 6.b1 ge7 7.g2 a5 8.d3 0-0 9.g5 f6 10.d2 d6 11.0-0 e6 12.e1 is almost identical to the previous note, and Black is fine, Petrosian,T-Radulov, I/ Amsterdam 1973. ] 6...e4 [ D r i v i n g t h e k n i g h t t o t h e r i m . 6...cxb4 either now, or on the next move, is probably worse, 7.axb4 e4 8.h4 xb4 9.a3 e3!? 10.fxe3 xc3 11.dxc3 c6 is unclear. ] 7.h4 d6 [ 7...xb4!? is also possible, 8.b2 c6 9.c2 and W hite wins the e-pawn, f5?! allowing 10.xe4 ] 8.b2 f5 Black consolidates his e-pawn, will it serve as a strength, or a target for White, as he has planned? 9.d3 f6 Again Black is not lure d b y t he b-p awn , b ut instea d t rie s t o complete his development. 10.dxe4 [ White has problems finding a satisfactory move here, as the natural 10.g2? g5 is more than a little awkward, winning the knight. ] 10...xe4 11.c1 [ 11.xe4 xb2 12.b1 xa3 13.xd6+ 1546
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e7 14.bxc5 a5+ 15.d2 b4 wins material. ] 11...0-0 12.g2 d4 13.a2? [ This move is unnatural, and overly ambitious, W hite had to play the obvious 13.xe4 fxe4 ( 13...b3 14.d1 xb2 15.d5+ g7 16.b1 regains the piece w i t h a n e d g e) 14.xe4 e7 15.f3 w i t h r e a s o n a b l e c h a n c e s , e . g . b3!? 16.e3 xa1 17.d5+ e6 18.xe6+ f7 ( 18...h8?? 19.xg6+ hxg6 20.h6# ) 19.xf7+ xf7 and Black has compensation for the pawn. ] 13...e6 The white c-pawn is a weakness. 14.xe4 fxe4 15.xd4 [ This allows Black to weaken the white k i n g s i d e b y f o r c e , b u t 15.xe4 cxb4 16.axb4 b6 is also unpleasant for White. ] 15...xd4 16.e3 f6 17.xe4 xh4 18.gxh4 xh4 19.xb7 ab8 White is in serious trouble, his king is stuck in the centre and his pawns are vulnerable. 20.g2 xc4 21.c2 cxb4 22.d2 [ 22.xc4? is impossible, xf2+ ] 22...bxa3 23.d5+ xd5 24.xd5+ g7 25.0-0 f5 26.e6? Either both players were in time trouble, or the score is incorrectly noted, as this allows mate. h5? [ 26...g4+ forces mate, Black must have been in severe time trouble to miss this, if he really did. ] 27.f4 hb5?? Another mistake. 28.d7+? [ 28.c7+ h8 29.d7 h6 30.c8+ xc8 31.xc8+ g7 32.d7+ forks king and rook. ] 28...h6?? [ 28...f8 is the only possibility, with equality after 29.c8+ xc8 30.xc8+ e7 31.c7+ f8 ] 29.cf2?? [ 29.c7 wins! ] 29...b1 Now the game returns to its proper course. 30.g2 xf1 31.xf1 a2 32.xa7 b1+ 33.g2 a1 [ 33...g4# ] 0-1
1544 Pantsulaia,Levan Short,Nigel D Kolkata op 19th (8) [Fier, Alexandr]
A35 2606 2674 25.03.2014
This line sometimes brings Black some headaches because of the offside knight on a5, but Short finds an original way to get rid of it. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 g6 4.e3 g7 5.d4 d6 6.e2 [ 6.h3 is an important option, White avoids ideas with ...Bg4 f6 7.d5 a5 8.e4 0-0 9.d3 e5 10.a3 b6 11.g4 playing on both wings was the subject of Hess, R (2572)Bologan, V (2693)/Moscow Aeroflot op-A 10th 2011. ] 6...f6 [ 6...g4 can be played now, immediately hitting d4 7.0-0 the pawn of d4 is protected since b7 is also hanging cxd4 ( 7...f6 8.d5 a5 9.d2 0-0 10.b3; 7...xf3 8.xf3 cxd4 9.exd4 xd4 10.xb7 b8 11.e4 and W hite has an advantage due to the b ish o p p a ir a n d t h e q u e e n sid e p a wn s) 8.exd4 h6 since Black took on d4 this makes sense. From f5 the knight has good control over d4 9.d5 xf3 10.xf3 e5 A) 11.e4 is an interesting move, controlling f5 since c4-pawn is not hanging 0-0 ( 11...xc4?? 12.a4++- ) 12.b3 and Black has no good way to exploit the diagonal because the h6 knight will be undefended; B) 11.e2 0-0 12.d2 c8 13.b3 with a level position in Arsovic, Z (2468)Ardeleanu, A (240 5)/Senta op-A 13t h 2009. ] 7.0-0 0-0 8.d5 a5 9.a3 [ 9.e4 some people like this move to have the chance to recapture with the e-pawn in case of ...e6 and ...exd5 e5 but now this is more appealing, if White takes on e6 the d4square is not controlled anymore, otherwise Black can start some counterplay on the kingside more easily 10.a3 b6 11.b4 b7 was seen in some games like Savchenko, S (2 5 7 4 )- M o i s e e n k o , A ( 2 5 7 3 ) / UK R - c h T Alushta 2000. ] 9...e6 [ 9...b6 Black prefers to play without this 1547
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 move 10.b4 b7 11.d2 ( 11.b2 a5?! Black usually tries to play on the queenside, so this move is not good 12.b3 c7 and W hite is better because of his space advantage. If Black changes on b4 twice, the b6-pawn will be an easy target )] 10.d2 a6 Black goes for an interesting piece sacrifice. The idea is good, but I think there is a better way to go for it. [ 10...exd5 11.cxd5 b6 is a Benoni way to play the position 12.b4 b7 the knight can be strange on b7, but it helps on the queenside. It's harder for W hite to play something with a4-a5 without giving the c5 square 13.b1 a6 with a normal, level position ] [ 10...d7!? I like this idea, Black tries to sacrifice the knight in an improved version of the game 11.b4 ( 11.b1 prepares one more move and now threatens 12.b4 exd5 12.cxd5 c8 and Black has time to improve his pieces to defend against the idea of b4 13.b3 a6 is ok ) 11...xc4 A) 12.dxe6 is possible, but then White is not winning any material xd2 ( 12...cxb4 is too much 13.xc4 xe6 14.b5 e4 15.d4 and W hite stays a piece up) 13.exf7+ xf7 14.xd2 e6 15.b2 b6 and Black is fine; B) 12.xc4 xd5 13.xd5 xa1 this is the main difference, in this position the knight on d5 has no good square to go 14.xd6 ( 14.f4 d5 15.d2 c4 is better for Black, with two strong pawns controlling the center) 14...exd5 15.xb7 b6 16.xc5 e6 and White has some compensation, but for sure it's not enough for any advantage ] 11.b4 xc4 [ 11...xd5 is another way to sacrifice the piece, but less effective 12.cxd5 xc3 13.b1 b5 14.bxa5 exd5 15.b2 and White manages to change the strong bishop xb2 ( 15...xa5 16.f3 an d B la ck h as p ro b le m s d e f en d ing d 5) 16.xb2 e6 and here I think the compensation is not enough. At some point the d5-pawn will be in trouble ] 12.xc4 xd5 13.xd5 exd5 [ 13...xa1 now this move doesn't work because of the weak point on b6 14.db6
b8 15.xd6 xd6 16.xd6 cxb4 17.axb4 and Black's position is hopeless, the bishop on c8 has no squares ] 14.b2 e6 After some forced moves White now has time to breathe. If W hite can reorganize his pieces he will be better, but so m e h o w t h e re i s n o go o d wa y t o d o i t . Pantsulaia chooses to give the piece back to have a small advantage which proved insufficient for a win. 15.f3 The most solid. [ 15.a4!? is a strange move, but frees the a3square for the rook c4 16.a3 a5 17.b5 c8 18.f3 b6 and White can't take the d5pawn without losing the piece back 19.xd5 c3 20.xe6 cxb2 21.xb2 fxe6 22.xg7 xg7 23.d3 d5 24.e4 with a better structure ] [ 15.b1 tries to keep the piece up, but after c4 16.g4 c8 17.xe6 fxe6 18.c2 b5 Black's pawns are strong. The position is balanced ] 15...c4 16.xd5 c3 17.a2 [ 17.xe6 would change the structure cxb2 18.xb2 xb2 19.a2 fxe6 20.xb2 d5 21.c2 and we reach a worse version of the 15.a4!? variation. I think Black has equal chances here. ] 17...cxb2 18.xb2 xb2 19.xb2 Now we enter the technical part of the game. White has a small advantage because of the isolated pawn, but compared to the classical position with the pawn on d5 there are a few differences: First the pawn is easier to defend from the third rank, and also by the king in case of some queen exchange. For White, he has more space and a nice post on d5 is usually stronger than d4. In the game it looks like Black defended without many problems. I have the feeling that White might have more chances if he exchanges the bishops. d7 20.d2 fd8 21.f3 [ 21.f3 xd5 22.xd5 would be a slightly better plan, but Black remains solid with the e6-square at his disposal now ] 21...ac8 22.a1 g4 23.d5 e7 24.h3 e6 25.fd1 c7 26.f3 b3 27.c1 a4 28.xc7 xc7 29.f6 c6 30.d1 [ 30.xc6 again this would change the character of the position. Now Black can bring one more pawn to the center bxc6 31.h4 h5 32.g3 and it's hard for White to 1548
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 improve his position ] 30...d5 31.b3 d6 This gives an interesting opportunity to White. [ 31...d6 32.d4 would continue on the same path ] 32.d4 [ 32.f3!? probably the best chance for W h i t e i n t h e g a m e d7 ( 32...g7 g i vi n g t h e p a w n i m m e d i a t e l y i s b e t t e r 33.xd5 xd5 34.xd5 xd5 35.xd5 c1+ 36.h2 b5 37.e5+ White wins the pawn, but the fight will continue for a long time g8 38.a4 bxa4 39.e8+ g7 40.xa4 and I'm not quite sure just how real W hite's chances are to convert the advantage ) 33.e4! and f7 is the problem dxe4 ( 33...d4 34.f4 and White made progress g7 35.e5 g5 36.g3 h6 37.f4 with a much better position) 34.xf7+ and the rook falls xf7 35.xf7+ xf7 36.xd6+- ] 32...d7 33.c2 d8 34.d2 f8 35.g4 e7 36.f4 h4 37.h2 h5 38.g3 xg3+ 39.xg3 hxg4 40.hxg4 g5 41.f3 g7 42.f2 f6 43.d4 e7 ½-½
[ or 15...g4!? , but Short exercises restraint. ] 16.fe1 f7 The king is pretty safe here. 17.ac1 b7 18.e3 he8 19.b3?! [ White should harass the h7-pawn without d e l a y , i . e . 19.c2! g8 ( 19...f5?? 20.b3! i s a w f u l f o r B l a c k , i . e . c8 21.e5+! fxe5 22.f3+- ) 20.h4!? g4 21.e1 planning Ne1-d3. ] 19...c5! Executing the ideal pawn break right on time. 20.c2 [ 20.dxc5 xb3 21.xb3 d5 is similar to the game. ] 20...f5 21.dxc5 xc2 22.xc2 ec8 23.ec3 e4 24.c1 xf3! An unexpected decision th at pays imm ediate d ividen ds . 25.xf3 [ White probably saw that 25.gxf3 is met by e5! , when White has an eternally buried bishop. The engine isn't so fearful of this, but I could see why a human wouldn't want anything to do with this line. ] 25...xc5 26.xc5 xc5 An objectively equal ending has arisen. Equal, but not yet drawn! From here Short succeeds in outplaying his opponent. 27.c3 [ White's g3 bishop is a bit clumsy, so repositioning it with 27.e5 e7 28.f1 g6 29.c3= looks like a good idea. ] 1545 A35 27...d4 28.c7+ g6 29.b3 f5 30.d6 Pantsulaia,Levan 2575 d8 31.e7 d5 32.f1 b6 33.c2 g4 f4 35.e2?! White's game Short,Nigel D 2698 34.b4 40th Olympiad Open (7.9) 04.09.2012 deteriorates after this inaccuracy. [ 35.f3! holds the balance. ] [John Bartholomew] 35...h5 36.h4?! gxh3 37.gxh3 xh3 38.f3 Nigel Short blazes a trail with 13...f6!?. 1.f3 f5 39.a4 e5 40.c6 e4! 41.fxe4+ xe4 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 g6 4.e3 f6 5.d4 42.c4+?? A very unfortunate check. [ 42.c5! preserved saving chances. ] cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.cxd5 xd5 8.c4 xc3 9.b3 d5 10.xd5 e6 11.xc6+ bxc6 42...d5 [ White resigned upon noticing that 42...d5 12.0-0 d5 13.c3 f6!? A novelty. Black 43.xf4 is met by e3+ , picking up the often needs this move, so why not now? One bishop. Short's 13...f6!? has definite appeal, aspect to note is that Black is now far more so expect more games to roll in with this line. likely to place the dark-square bishop on d6/ Prospective W hite players should devote e7 with the long diagonal closed. extra attention to frustrating Black's ...c6[ The normal continuation 13...g7 14.f4 c5 advance. ] 0-0 is examined in Fressinet, L (2714) 0-1 Parligras, M (2618)/Istanbul TUR 2012. ] 14.f4 g5! It transpires that Short's last move is also useful in grabbing a little kingside space. 15.g3 e7 [ It's possible to take the kingside concept further with 15...h5 ] 1549
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1546 Pigusov,Evgeny Arnason,Jon L 15th ECC Gp 2 (2) [Tony Kosten]
A35 1547 2609 Rapport,Richard 2529 Dezelin,Milan 25.09.1999 SRB Central-ch op-A 7th (1) [Tony Kosten]
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 d4 4.g3 xf3+ 5.exf3 f6 6.d4 e6 7.g2 d5 Black reacts in the centre, where he does have an extra pawn. 8.cxd5 xd5 9.xd5 xd5 10.e3 cxd4 11.xd4 b5!? Stopping White from castling short. [ This is more aggressive than 11...xd4 12.xd4 b4+ 13.e2 b6 14.f4 ( 14.xg7 a6+ 15.e3 c5+ 16.d4 xd4+ 17.xd4 0-0-0+ allows Black a powerful i n i t i a t i v e .) 14...a6+ 15.e3 d8 which is level, Vaganian,R-Gulko,B/ Novgorod 1995. ] 12.0-0-0 d7 13.f4 e7! Black finds a radical way to develop his kingside. 14.xg7 c8+ 15.b1 f5+ 16.a1 f6 The point of Black's combination. 17.g4! A strong resource, and one that was planned by White when he took the g7-pawn. [ 17.h6? would walk into a powerful attack after xb2+! 18.xb2 c2+ 19.a1 c3+ 20.b1 c4 ] 17...xg7 Forced. 18.gxf5 c2 19.e4 c4 Not falling for the trap: [ 19...xb2? 20.d4 xd4 21.xd4 e2 22.hd1 when the threat of Rxd7, and then Rd8+, wins material. ] 20.d3 b4 21.d2 b6 22.a3 a4 23.fxe6 fxe6 24.b1 Black was menacing ...Rxa3+. W hite has won a pawn, but his singleton, doubled, f-pawns might not prove too useful. e7?! A logical move, but one that loses a second pawn. 25.c1 c8 26.xc8 xc8 27.xh7 a5 28.g6 f6 29.e4 e7 30.f3 f5 31.g4 b5 32.h4 b7 33.c1 e4 Now White enjoys a two-pawn advantage, but the active black pieces will make the realisation of this problematic. 34.e2 f5 35.h5 f8 36.d3? xd3 37.xd3 h8 38.f5 exf5 39.g5+ f6 40.xf6+ xf6 41.d7 xh5 [ 41...xh5 if 42.xa7 h2 43.a6 xf2 44.xb6+ e5 the f-pawn is at least as strong as the a and b-pawns. ] ½-½
A35 2701 2298 04.07.2014
1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 [ 2...g6 3.g4!? is seen in Rapport, RDominguez Perez, L, annotated by Alex. ] 3.d3 A subtle waiting move?! g6 4.g4!? Only now, after ...g6. "Since the center is still closed, White tries to expand on the kingside quickly. It also has the same idea as 3.g3, which is to develop the bishop to g2." Alex. [ 4.h4 is perhaps less unusual, f6 5.e4 d6 6.ge2 g7 which looks like a Botvinnik (and could transpose if White plays g3), but: 7.f3 e6 8.e3 0-0 9.d2 now White plays a Yugoslav Attack-style, Maximov, A (2 1 7 8 )-S h a gd u ro v, D (1 6 9 9 )/ Ula n Ud e 2010. ] 4...d6 5.h3 [ 5.g5 g7 6.g2 e6 7.h4 h5 would actually transpose to the Rapport game mentioned above. ] 5...g7 6.g2 Mike Basman (of course!) was the first to play this position, but he reached it from 1 h3! h5!? Not surprisingly ... a novelty! [ 6...e6 solid, but A) 7.d2 ge7 8.b3 0-0 9.b2 d5 10.a4 xb2 11.xb2 a5 12.xa5 xa5 13.e3 ac6 14.e2 Vojinovic, J (2307) -Richard, E (99)/Mulhouse 2014.; B) 7.f3 c7 ( 7...ge7 8.f4 Sieranoja, A-Hintikka, E (2170)/Jamsa 1996. ) 8.d2 f6 9.a3 a6 10.b4 d4 11.b1 b8 12.bxc5 dxc5 13.c1 0-0?! 14.f4 xf3+ 15.xf3 e5 16.g5 e6 17.xf6 xf6 18.d5 ( 18.h4! ) 18...h4 19.0-0 g7 20.xe6 fxe6 21.e4 with the clea rly superior minor piece , Belezky, A (2402)-Suarez Pozo, J/Seville 2005.; C) 7.xc6+ this is most in the spirit of this line, bxc6 Dolezal, C (2410)-Demaria, J (2242)/Buenos Aires 2003, when 8.d2 followed by b3 and Bb2 looks right, much as in the main game. ] [ 6...d7 stops White capturing on c6, and was played in the stem game, 7.f4!? a6 8.f3 b8 9.a4 e6 10.d2 f5 11.e4?! 1550
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ge7 12.g5 b4 13.e3 c6 (with a threat!) 14.h4? which was missed! xc3+! 15.bxc3 xd3+! 16.xd3 fxe4 17.e2 exf3 18.xf3 xf3 19.xf3 and White was totally busted, Basman, M (2350)-Plaskett, J (2470)/London 1993. ] [ 6...e5 is logical, 7.xc6+!? this is slightly worse with the pawn on e5, but still, ( 7.e3 ge7 8.ge2 e6 Rieber, R (1872)Fiedler, W (1997)/Bayern 2011, 9.d5!? ) 7...bxc6 8.f3 ( 8.d2 as in the main game. ) 8...e7 9.g5 f6 10.d2 0-0 11.a4 c7 12.e4 a5 with an interesting position, Dolezal, C (2392)-Albarran, G (2283)/Buenos Aires 2001, 13.g1!? ] 7.g5 h4!? [ 7...e6 8.h4 would actually leave White a tempo down on the Dominguez-Perez game! ] 8.d2 e5 9.xc6+ Again this same idea, muc h b elove d o f Larsen , and since t he n players like Bauer, Bricard. bxc6 10.b3 e6 11.b2 White is better here: he will play Ne4 when the knight will be difficult to dislodge as the g-pawn impedes ...f5, and ...d5 will lose t h e c - p a w n . h5! The logical follow-up to B l a c k ' s s e v e n t h . 12.e4 a5?! Missing White's threat. [ 12...f8!? 13.f3 e7 and ... Bf5xe4 wo u ld b e in te re st in g, ta rget in g t h e g5 pawn. ] 13.f4! Black's proud centre is being put under maximum pressure. f5 14.gxf6 h6?! [ 14...xf6 15.f3 h6 was better, but 16.e3 xe4 17.dxe4 still favours White. ] 15.g5? [ 15.e3 just looks crushing, i.e. xf6 16.g2 xe4 17.xg6+ f7 18.xe4 ] 15...xf6 16.1f3 d7? [ 16...e7 is correct, so White can't capture on e5. ] 17.fxe5! Of course, now things go rapidly downhill for Black. dxe5 18.g1 xh3 19.e3 e5 is dropping. d7 20.xe5 e7 21.e4! Taking the opportunity to unpin the g5-knight. xg5 22.xg6+ f7 23.xg5 xg6 24.xg6 White has only won a pawn, but a count of the respective pawn islands tells the complete story. e7 25.g7 a4 26.f6 c8 27.g5 Menacing mate in one. g4 28.bxa4 h3 29.b1 h2? 30.g8+
[ 30.g8+ d7 31.b7+ d7 33.dxd7# ] 1-0
1548 Smirin,Ilia Stevic,Hrvoje TCh Pula CRO (5) [Tony Kosten]
d6
32.d8+
A35 2702 2485 14.09.2001
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 g6 This particular move-order has long been considered doubtful, because of the reply: 4.e3! [ Intending d4-d5, gaining time on the knight. 4.d4 is worse, as we have seen. ] 4...f6 5.d4 cxd4 [ 5...g7 6.d5 a5 7.e4 d6 is a KI/Benoni position, similar to the Panno versus the Fianchetto, except that the white bishop is still on f1 (instead of g2), defending c4. This renders the a5-knight quite useless, White is better. ] 6.exd4 d5 7.g5 [ The alternative, 7.cxd5 xd5 8.b3 xc3 9.c4! d5 10.xd5 e6 leads to a slight advantage for White after 11.xc6+ ] 7...e4 8.cxd5 xc3 9.bxc3 xd5 10.e2 g7 11.0-0 0-0 12.e1 White prepares to combine an adva nce of h is cent ral pawn couple, with pressure on the e-line. e8 [ This move may be too passive, 12...f5 13.b3 e4! (Black should avoid the exchange on b3, which only increases the value of the white pawns) is almost equal, Smejkal,J-Hernandez,R/Siegen 1970. ] 13.b3 [ This quite thematic move, is actually a novelty. 13.f4 was played previously, but after f5 , Tindall,B-Jap Tjoen San,L/Wijk aan Zee 1997, White should probably play 14.b3 anyway. ] 13...e6 14.c4 f5 15.e3 White is ready to further advance his hanging pawns, and Black must find some counterplay soon. b5?! [ A d a r i n g p a w n s a c . A l t h o u g h 15...b6 16.ad1 leaves White on top, the game still has a long way to go. ( 16.d5? a5 )] 16.xb5 xb5 17.cxb5 b4 18.ec1 xa2?! 1551
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ A bad decision, 18...ac8 19.xc8 xc8 20.a3 d5 gives some compensation for the pawn, if not enough. ] 19.c7 Black has regained his pawn, but the strong rook on the seventh, and weak a-pawn, leaves Black with almost insoluble problems. ec8 20.xe7 d5 21.f1?! [ 21.e5! is more natural, and would have saved W hite a lot of trouble later-on, f8 ( 21...c3 22.d3 ) 22.d7 e6 23.b7 and Nc6 is coming. ] 21...f8 22.e5 c3 23.d2 xf3 24.gxf3 g7 It seems that Black has almost got back into the game, White's rook is attacked, and his pawns weak, but his next move shatters any illusions. 25.b6! xe5 [ 25...axb6 26.xa8 xa8 27.xc3 xe5 28.dxe5 is not completely clear, a3 29.d4 b3 30.g2 b5 31.f4 the position is difficult for Black, e.g. b4? 32.e6 fxe6 33.c4 b1 34.xe6+ f8 35.c5+ g7 36.a2 wins the b-pawn. ] 26.dxe5 The threat of b7 is oddly difficult to stop. c6!? [ 26...axb6 27.xa8 xa8 28.xc3 transposes into a previously examined line, and ] [ 26...ab8?! 27.bxa7 a8 28.f4 ( after 28.c1 d5 29.xc8+ xc8 30.c4 b6 31.d3 a8 32.e3 c8 Black will have to return the exchange, but might have some drawing chances.) 28...d5 29.g2 c5 30.a6 spells the end for Black. ] 27.f4!? [ W h it e wish e s t o a vo id t he lin e 27.bxa7 d5 28.a5 e7 29.e3 c7 30.f4 c8 when his winning chances are reduced, but the line played is even worse. ] 27...d5 28.bxa7 [ 28.b7 b8 29.a5 e7 30.xa7 b6 31.a6 xa6! 32.xa6 xb7 should draw. ] 28...c7? [ 28...c2! 29.e1 xf4 is almost equal, the knight stops the white bishop from going to g2. ] 29.a5 d7? [ Black overlooks another pawn push, 29...e7 30.e3 c8 and ...Raxa7 as above. ] 30.h3 axa7 Obviously expecting 31 Bxd7 Rxd7, but... 31.e6! xa5?!
[ I don't think Black can draw the position after 31...fxe6 32.xe6+ f8 33.xd5 xd5 34.xd5 but it was a better try. ] 32.exd7 a8 33.a5 Ouch! xf4 34.g2 xg2 35.xg2 f5 36.d8+ xd8 37.xd8 Finally, Black finds himself in a position which is quite without hope, even the rooks pawn is the right one. f4 38.f3 f7 1-0
1549 Vaganian,Rafael A Kalinitschew,Sergey Bundesliga 2003-4 (3) [Tony Kosten]
A35 2623 2519 22.11.2003
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.e3 f5!? Very aggressive, [ 4...f6 is most common, when we have considered 5 d4 in some detail. In my game against Valeri Beim, in the Austrian League at Graz last month, my opponent preferred 5.a3 (after some repetitions, I should mention, as my first choice was 3... Nd4) d5 6.cxd5 xd5 7.b5?! ( 7.c2 is best ) 7...xc3 8.bxc3 d6 with a pleasant position for Black. ] 5.d4 e4 6.d5 No concessions! [ 6.g1 is possible, f6 ( 6...cxd4?! 7.exd4 f6 Illescas Cordoba,M-Polgar,J/Pamplona ESP 2000 can be met by 8.d5! e5 9.d6 planning Nb5-c7) 7.h3 d6 8.e2 g6 9.a3 g7 10.f4 0-0 with a complex position, Naes,F-Korchnoi,V/Reykjavik ISL 2000. ] 6...exf3 [ 6...b8!? 7.d2 f6 Gritsak,OKrasenkow,M/ Lubniewice POL 1998, looks good for White after 8.f3 ] 7.dxc6 fxg2 Continuing the series of captures, [ 7...bxc6?! 8.xf3 g6 9.e4 e7 10.e3 leaves W hite with some advantage, Engelmann,N-Miezis,N/Bonn 1998. ] 8.cxd7+ xd7 9.xg2 [ 9.xd7+ is rare, but not so illogical, xd7 10.xg2 0-0-0 11.0-0 f6 12.d1 e7 13.b3 c6 14.b2 looks fairly level, Marosi, G-Tornai,I/ HUN 1995. ] 9...xd1+ 10.xd1 f6 [ 10...e6!? 11.xb7 d8+ 12.d5 1552
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 12.e1!? xc4 13.b3 d3 14.b2 ) 12...f6 13.e2 xd5 14.cxd5 xd5 15.xd5 xd5 16.b3 f7 17.a3 e7 is level, Drexel,M-Lochte,T/Bayern 1999. ] 11.b3 d6 12.f4!? A new move, stopping Black from playing ...f4 or ...Be5, at the cost of weakening the e-pawn. However, [ 12.b2 l o o k s b e t t e r : 0-0 ( 12...f7! as in the game) 13.d5 ( 13.f4 is a similar idea to the game, f7 14.e2 f8 15.d5 e4 16.hg1 h8 17.ad1 which looks favourable to W hite, Lobron,E-Breder,D/ Gelsenkirchen GER 2000) 13...e4 14.e2 b5? suicidal, 15.f3 g5 16.f4 e4 17.hg1 g6 18.ad1 f7 19.c3 winning material, Mellado Trivino,J-Moyano Morales,F/Barbera del Valles 1995. ] 12...f7! This is better than automatically castling. 13.d5 e4 14.g1 e6 15.xe4 fxe4 16.b2 hg8 With the king on f7 it is easier to defend the g-pawn. 17.c3 f5 18.c2 ad8 19.ad1 g6 The black e-pawn is a bit weak, but Black's two bishops keep him in the game. 20.d5 e7 21.c3 e6 22.xe7 xe7 This last exchange brings opposite-colour bishops, and a likely draw. 23.e1 xd1 24.h4+ f7 [ 24...g5?! l o s e s a p a w n t o 25.xg5 despite Black having an extra rook! ] 25.xd1 c8 26.d8 c6 27.c3 h6 28.d2 f5 29.a3 e6 30.a4 f5 31.a5 e6 32.b4 cxb4+ 33.xb4 d6 34.xd6+ xd6 With the removal of the rooks from the board a draw becomes a certainty. 35.c3 d7 36.f6 c6 37.d4 b6 38.d8 b5 39.h4 h5 40.cxb5+ xb5 41.d5 a6 42.c7 ½-½
1550 Van Wely,Loek Akopian,Vladimir It Enghien les Bains FRA (5) [Tony Kosten]
A35 2670 2654 16.04.2001
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 d4 4.e3 xf3+ 5.xf3 g6 6.b3 g7 7.b2 d6 8.g4 f6! [ A logical improvement, 8...b8 is seen in the archives, and after a later g5 by White
the g8-knight was stuck. ] 9.g5 d7 After Black's simple eighth move the knight has a reasonable future. 10.h4 [ 10.e4 h6 ( or 10...e5 11.f4 ) 11.h4 e5 12.f4 c6 is also fine for Black. ] 10...e5 11.g2 g4 12.e2 xe2 13.xe2 c6 14.ab1?! [ An odd idea, surely 14.h5 is right? ] 14...h5! Of course, k exploits White's inaccuracy, and by stopping the opening of the h-file, can castle. 15.d5 0-0 16.f4 xb2 17.xb2 e6!? Black has no complex about allowing the knight in to f6, as the white pieces are unable to support it in time. 18.f6+ g7 19.a3 b8 20.b4 cxb4 21.axb4 e7 22.a1 a6 23.b5 White has developed a useful initiative on the queenside, but his loose king position still gives cause for concern. axb5 24.xb5 g8 25.e4 [ If instead 25.xg8 xg8 26.a7 then c8 provides counterplay. ] 25...c7 26.d3 d5!? Black opens a route to the white king. 27.cxd5 d7 28.aa5!? [ 28.c3 fc8 29.dxe6 fxe6 30.b3 keeps everything intact. ] 28...bc8?! [ Why not 28...b6 29.dxe6 fxe6 with good chances, e.g. 30.e1 bxa5 31.b2+ h7 32.xb8 xb8 33.xb8 xd3 ] 29.f3 b6 30.dxe6 xd3 Black has bought some activity, but at a high cost. 31.d5 [ 31.b2+ h7 32.f2 is another strong possibility. ] 31...b1 32.ab5 e1 33.xb6?! [ White must surely have been in Zeitnot, as 33.d7! intends Qb2+, and should win. ] 33...e7 34.b2+ h7 35.f6+ h8 This looks optically strong for White, but he has left his king short of defenders. 36.xh5+!? [ 36.e4+ f6 37.d3 f5 is also rather awkward. ] 36...c3! Black's first real threat of the game, and it is a good one! 37.d2?? [ T h i s l o s e s o n t h e s p o t , a n d 37.d7? a l s o l o s e s , a s xe3+ 38.g2 gxh5 39.xe7 f3+ 40.g1 f6! breaks the pin on the c3-rook, and wins. ] [ However, 37.b8! xe3+ 38.g2 xb8 39.xb8+ h7 40.f6+ g7 41.e8+ provides a perpetual check, and draws. ] 1553
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 37...xe3+! 10...f6 11.g2 b6 12.g5 [ 37...h1+ 38.g2 xe3+ is also rather [ 12.xb6 axb6 13.xb7 a5 is OK for convincing. ] Black, who has two open files to pressurize 38.xe3 xe3+ 39.xe3 xd5+ 40.d4 the white weakling pawns. ] xb6 41.f6 fxe6 42.e5 d5 White has 12...0-0 13.0-0 lost all his forces. [ 13.xf6 exf6 14.xf6 xc4 15.0-0 0-1 gives W hite nothing after ae8 16.fb1 c5 17.e3 b6 ] 13...xd4 14.cxd4 xc4 15.xb7?! [ 15.fc1!? d5 ( 15...xe2 16.e1 a6 1551 A35 17.xe7 ) 16.e4! is worth a try. ] Van Wely,Loek 2646 Kramnik,Vladimir 2758 15...ab8 16.f3 g7 Play is equal, White Amber Blindfold (6) 22.03.2000 has the bishop pair, but Black has the open bfile. 17.fb1 h6 18.d2!? [Tony Kosten] [ 18.xf6+ xf6 19.a3 might be simpler. ] 18...g5 19.h3 fc8 20.a4 e6 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 g6 4.d4 [ 20...xb1+ 21.xb1 xe2 22.xe2 c2 [ 4.e3 intending to play d4-5, is generally 23.xg5 hxg5 24.f3 c4 25.a5 xd4 considered to be more promising for White. ] 26.b7 is not too clear. ] 4...cxd4 5.xd4 g7 6.c2 xc3+ The point of Black's move order, seriously 21.g4!? [ 21.g2 ] damaging W hite's pawn structure, albeit at the cost of exchanging Black's important dark- 21...d5 [ Black obtains the positionally desirable squared bishop. 7.bxc3 d6 8.g3 exchange of bishops, although 21...xb1+ [ This line scores very well for Black, 22.xb1 c4 23.b4 c2 also seems whether White plays this, or 8.e4 e.g. f6 slightly better for Black. ] 9.f3 a5 10.d2 ( 10.e2!? xc3+ 11.d2 e5 12.b1 a6 13.0-0 22.xb8 xb8 23.xd5 xd5 24.e4 f4 a l l o ws W h i t e s o m e p l a y f o r t h e p a wn , 25.xf4 gxf4 26.g2 b4 Black has the Valdes, L-Jimenez,J/Costa Rica 1997.) sl ig h t l y b e t t e r ch a n c e s i n t h i s e n d ga m e e5 10...e6 11.e3 c8 12.d5 d7 because of his greater activity. 27.f3 13.e2 ce5 14.b3 c5 and Black's 28.dxe5?! [ 28.d5 would avoid many of the problems knights dominate, Bareev,E-Huzman,A/ that occur later-on, as, because of the weak Haifa ISR 2000. ] d6-pawn, W hite would always have the 8...e6!? possibility of activating his rook by playing [ The interesting thing about this game is Rc1-c6. ] that Black resolutely refuses to play the habitual 8...a5 to attack the c3-pawn, but 28...dxe5 29.a5 b3+ 30.g2 a6 31.a4 which allows White a strong pawn sac, e.g. b5 32.a3 f6 33.f3 g6 34.g2 h5 9.g2 xc3+ 10.d2 e5 11.e3 f6 35.gxh5+ [ A key point, White cannot play passively 12.d5 xd5 13.cxd5 d4 14.0-0 0-0 with 35.a2 as g5 36.f3 hxg4 37.hxg4 15.e3 f5 16.c1 with advantage to White, b3 forces zugzwang: 38.f2 h4 39.g2 who threatens to infiltrate with Rc7, and c3 40.f2 h3 etc. ] then take control of the a1-h8 diagonal with Bc3, Stefansson,H-Tolnai,T/ Debrecen 1992/ 35...xh5 36.f3 g5 37.g2 f5 38.exf5 e4 39.h4+ xf5 40.h5 Hoping for some EU-chT. ] counterplay, but things are looking pretty grim 9.d4! xd4 [ T h e c - p a w n i s p o i s o n e d , 9...xc4?? for White. g4 41.f3+!? [ 41.h6 f3+ 42.g1 f4 is also hopeless, 10.xc6 bxc6 11.d4 forking two pieces. ] Black will win the h-pawn whilst maintaining 10.xd4 his advantages, 43.h7 g5+ 44.f1 h5 ] [ If 10.cxd4?! Black really can capture the 41...exf3+ 42.xf3 xa5 43.h6 h5 44.a3 pawn: xc4 ] 1554
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xh6 45.a5 b6 46.a2 d6 47.f2 h6 Threatening to win the rook. 48.a5 f6 49.a2 f5 50.f3 e5 51.d2 e6 52.d4 a5 53.e4+ d6 54.a4 f5 55.g4 e6 56.e4+ f6 57.c4 g6 58.f3 g5 59.c5?? A blindfold bluff? xc5 0-1
but Black wants more. ] 26.xc5 dxc5 27.xc5 White has achieved a favourable exchange, but the weakness of his pawns is still a problem. W hen Black captures the a4-pawn, his b-pawn will become passed and dangerous. f8 28.a5? This gets the knight into trouble, better to ditch the a-pawn immediately by [ 28.b5 xa4 29.c3 when at least the white knight is in play. ] 1552 A35 28...e6 29.dxe6 xe6! Obviously, capturing Van der Sterren,Paul 2550 the black queen by 30 Rxe6? would lose a Timman,Jan H 2635 piece after 30...Bxc5, as both white pieces d7 ch-NED Rotterdam (9) 1998 w o u l d b e e n p r i s e . 30.c3 Black controls the knight's escape squares. [Tony Kosten] 31.e3 g7 There is no good defence 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 d4 4.g3 against ...Bd4xa7. 32.c5 [ Perhaps 32.f5 d4 33.d2 xa7 34.fxg6 xf3+ 5.exf3 If Black could establish piece hxg6 35.d1 was the best chance, although control over d4, weakened by W hite's last the ending after xf2+ 36.xf2 xd2+ move, this would be a serious concession for is very difficult. ] White to make, however, White's next move 33.b5 d8 34.g2 xa7 will be d4, and after he will play f4 with good 32...d4 The two pawns represent poor control of the central squares. f6 6.d4 cxd4 35.xb7 7.xd4 The first part of the plan is easily compensation for a piece. c5 36.a6 a7 d6 38.c8+ g7 39.e8 achieved. g6 8.g2 g7 9.0-0 0-0 10.f4 37.c6 In one move White takes a firm grip of both e5, Desperation, as there is no real threat. d5+ and d5. d6 11.d2 a6 Of course, although 40.g1 d1+ 41.g2 d5+ 42.g1 d7 [ 42...d7 forces 43.e1 when d4 44.f1 he has less space, Black also has reasons to e7 finishes the game quickly. ] be pleased, for one, his structure is more flexible than W hite's. In particular, W hite's 0-1 kingside pawns will have difficulty advancing without creating weaknesses. 12.ac1 b8 A35 13.a4?! A normal method for containing 1553 Vorobiov,E 2594 Black's queenside play, and gaining space, Grigoriants,S 2578 but the weakening of the queenside dark squares will prove White's downfall. 34th Rashid Nezhmetdinov Cup (8.3) 03.10.12 [ 13.d3 is better. ] [John Bartholomew] 13...e6 14.d3 d7 15.b4 a5! T h e im m e d i a t e co n s e q u e n c e o f W h i t e ' s The following line with 8...e6 has been seen thirteenth move, Black frees c5 for his knight. multiple times this year. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 16.b5 axb4 17.xb4 c5 18.a3 a6 3.c3 g6 4.e3 f6 5.d4 cxd4 6.exd4 d5 The knight is forced to flee, but this is only a 7.cxd5 xd5 8.b3 e6 A reliable move that temporary measure. The holes in the white has exploded in popularity in 2012. [ The tabiya after 8...xc3 9.c4 d5 pawn formation will never be repaired. 19.d2 d7 20.fe1 fc8 Another downside of 10.xd5 e6 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.0-0 d5 W hite's a4-move, the c4-pawn is isolated. has also been subjected to extensive play and analysis in recent months. See, for 21.d5 xd5 22.cxd5 xc1 23.xc1 c5 The knight returns! 24.e3 c8 25.a7 instance, Kraai, J (2514)-Kacheishvili, G A device to force the exchange of the black (2607)/ICC INT 2012 this month, as well as September's update. I want to note that knight. a8 Necessary, [ 25...c7 26.b5 c8 could lead to a draw, if Black intends to take on c3, then it 1555
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 doesn't matter whether White plays 8.Qb3 or 8.Bc4 otherwise, there IS independent value in both moves. For instance, 8...Nb6 scores well against 8. Bc4, thus, many players prefer 8.Qb3 (as in this game). ( We also take a look at the fresh 12...f6!? in Bruzon Batista, L (2713)-Bologan, V (2712)/ Poikovsky RUS 2012. )] 9.b5 The most popular. [ Another option is 9.g5 e7 ( 9...f6!? is more combative, i.e. 10.d2 f7 11.d3 b6 12.c4 cb4 13.e4 d7 14.0-0 Zhao Zong Yuan (2556)-Zhou Jianchao (2625)/Hangzhou CHN 2012.) 10.h6 , though after ( 10.xe7 dxe7 11.d1 Ortiz Fernandez, V (2178)-Millara Gonzalez, A ( 1 7 4 6 ) / O v i e d o 2 0 0 7 . H e r e 0-0= is a very reasonable IQP position for Black.) 10...f8 the four games to reach this position have all ended in quick handshakes after ( more direct than 10...a6 , Wang Yue (2690)-Zhou Jianchao (2609)/Zaozhuang CHN 2012 ) 11.g5 e7 12.h6 f8 etc.! Black obviously has a solid position after 13.xf8 xf8 , but I'd be curious to see if anybody could eke out an edge here, i. e. 14.b5 g7 15.0-0 and there's definitely plenty to play for. ] [ There's also minor options in 9.c4 ] [ and 9.xd5 , continuations we may revisit in the future. ] 9...g7 10.g5 Again, critical. This sortie makes more sense when Black has already played ...Bf8-g7. [ Theory is somewhat haphazard here, so there are plenty of alternatives. A brief ro u n d u p : A ) 10.0-0 0-0 11.xc6 bxc6 12.a4 a6 13.e1 was the high-level game Aronian, L (2816)-Caruana, F (2773)/ Bilbao ESP 2012. Here the computer likes b8 , with roughly equal chances. ] [ B) 10.e5 d7 ( 10...de7 11.xc6+ xc6 12.xc6 bxc6 13.0-0 b6 14.a3! xd4 15.e4 c5 16.d1 e5 Ivanov, O (2390)-Rogoznikov, A/ Voronezh 1991.) 11.xd7 xd7 12.0-0 0-0 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 exd5 15.xc6 bxc6 16.e3= with an equal ending in Pap, G (2492)Pred oje vic, B (2 64 3)/ P aks HUN 2 01 1 , though White eventually ground out a win. ] [ C) 10.xd5 exd5 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.a3
e7+ 13.xe7+ xe7 14.f4 f6 15.c1 d7 16.d2 1/2-1/2 Cvek, R (2549)Bernasek, J (2487)/Brno CZE 2012 ] [ D) 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.a3 b6 12.0-0 b4 13.b3 a6 14.d1 0-0= Hansen, C (2505)-Tayeb, S (2210)/Thessaloniki 1988 ] 10...b6 [ Not 10...f6?! 11.h6 ] 11.a3 White has developed quickly while managing to keep Black's king in the center. Black's next move is crucial. f6! Currently, this looks like a total equalizer. [ 11...xc3?? 12.e7# would be a nasty surprise! ] [ 11...f8?! covers e7, but after 12.xd5! xa3 ( nor does 12...exd5 13.e3+ e6 14.xc6+ bxc6 15.f6! b4+ 16.f1 look like much fun for Black) 13.xb6 b4+ 14.d2 ( or 14.e2 axb6 15.e5 d7 16.xd7 xd7 17.hd1 ) 14...xd2+ 15.xd2 axb6 16.c4 Black is seriously struggling. ] 12.xd5 [ White must keep pace, as he could easily f ind himself worse af ter something lik e 12.e3 xc3 13.xc6+ xc6 14.bxc3 f8! 15.b3 b6 . ] 12...exd5 13.xc6+ bxc6 14.0-0! Again, the initiative is the most important thing. [ 14.f4?! a6 ] 14...f7 [ T a k i n g l o s e s i n s t a n t l y : 14...fxg5?? 15.fe1+ f7 16.xg5++- ] 15.fe1 Still the most forcing. White does have a few choices, though: [ 15.f4 e8 16.d6 a6 17.xa6 xa6 18.fc1 b7 19.c3 e2! 20.b3 a6 21.c5 g5 was balanced and later drawn in Nepomniachtchi, I (2718)-Leko, P (2720)/ Sochi RUS 2012. Coincidentally, this B+N vs. 2B ending is common in the 8...Nxc3 line as well. ] [ 15.e5+!? has yet to be played, but Black shou ld def init ely kno w what to do. Th e critical position is fxe5 16.e7+ g8 17.e8+ f8 18.f6 and now ( 18.h6 b4! ) 18...b7! is a nice rejoinder, i.e. 19.xh8 ( or 19.xe5 d7! 20.xh8 e8 , transp osin g) 19...d7 20.xe5 e8 21.f6 e7! with the cool idea of ... Rf7 and 1556
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 then ...Rf5! (provided White retreats to e5) t o r e g a i n t h e p i e c e . A n a l yz i n g s u c h a complicated variation requires constant attention to the engine, so players venturing this line for either color should most definitely cross-check these lines. ] 15...f8! This allows Black to force a draw. [ Instead, 15...b7 is a winning attempt, but in Ragger, M (2655)-Volokitin, A (2695)/ Jenbach AUT 2012 Black got the worst of it after 16.f4 f5 17.d2! (a strong knight maneuver) he8 18.b3 xe1+ 19.xe1 e8 20.xe8 xe8 21.d6 d7 22.b4 g5 23.h3 a6 24.a5 and went on to lose. ] 16.e3 fxg5 [ 16...d6!? would be the last winning a t t e m p t , t h o u g h a f t e r 17.f4 b4 (n e a r ly f o rc e d ) 18.e5+ the computer's e v a l u a t i o n s i s s t i l l ' 0 . 0 0 ' ! ( same with 18.g5 )] [ Definitely not 16...b4?? 17.xf6+- . ] 17.e8+ [ White runs the risk of losing in case of 17.xg5+? g8 . ] 17...g7 [ 17...g8?? 18.e7+- ] 18.e7+ xe7 19.xe7+ g8 20.e1 [ 20.e8+ was immediately agreed drawn in G e r zh o y, L (2 4 6 9 )-A m a n o v, M ( 2 4 9 8 ) / SPICE Cup Open 2012. I witnessed this game first-hand, and I can attest to the speed with which Black was playing comparatively, White had used gobs of time to reach the draw! ] [ Another path to the half point: 20.xg5 b7 21.e8+ g7 22.e5+ g8 23.e8+ g7 24.e5+ 1/2-1/2 Potkin, V (2642)-Nepomniachtchi, I (2716) /Havana CUB 2012. ] 20...f5 21.xg5 f8 22.e6 xe6 23.xe6+ f7 24.e8+ f8 25.e6+ f7 26.e8+ f8 Theoretically, there appears to be nothing wrong with 8...e6, as Black has repeatedly held up excellently in the sharp variation 9.Bb5 Bg7 10.Bg5. I don't know wh e th e r 8 . .. e 6 will ove rt a ke 8 .. .Nxc3 in popularity, but the second player can take comfort in knowing that both lines are doing very well at present. ½-½
1554 Wang Hao Anand,V Supreme Masters 2013 (9.4) [Daniel Gormally]
A35 2743 2783 18.05.2013
1.c4 c5 2.c3 g6 3.f3 g7 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 c6 6.e3 A solid choice, Wang Hao is not looking to play anything particularly ambitious in this game. f6 7.e2 [ 7.c2 0-0 8.e2 d6 9.0-0 e6 10.e4 c8 11.b1 a6 12.b3?! b5! And Black had very good play and went on to win in Kortschnoj, V (2625) -Christiansen, L (2560) Cologne 1990 ] 7...d5 However Anand is playing for a win, and immediately get's some action going in the center. [ 7...0-0 Is by far the most common choice. ] 8.cxd5 xd5 9.xc6 bxc6 10.a4 Black has an obvious weakness on the queenside, but this is balanced by the pressure down the b-file and the piece activity he enjoys. 0-0 11.0-0 f5 12.g4 A doubleedged choice, as while this drives the bishop back to an awkward spot, at the same time White is incurring kingside weaknesses that may become relevant later on. [ 12.d2 Was a very understandable choice, trying to get pressure on the c6 weakling as quickly as possible. However Black was able to demonstrate equality in this case: b8 13.c1 d6 14.d1 f6 15.f3 e5 16.c4 ( 16.xc6 b4 17.xb4 xb4 gives Black obvious compensation for the pawn ) 16...b6 17.xb6 xb6 18.c3 b5 19.xb5 cxb5 20.ac1 c8 21.xg7 xg7 22.f1 b4 23.e1 And the game was agreed drawn in Landa, K (2587) Atalik, S (2570) Bad Wiessee 2003 ] 12...e6 13.e4 b4 14.c5 xa2 Like I said, Anand is out for blood, but with the benefit of hindsight this is just too optimistic. Black is not so much trying to gain a pawn, as gain some useful squares for his pieces, but White's smart response firmly puts him on the back foot. [ 14...d6 15.e3 ] 15.a4! d4 16.a5 fd8?? But this is a serious tactical error, which enables White to win on the spot. Just a couple of words about 1557
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Anand, who is clearly a player of the very highest class and in fact someone we have been lucky enough to enjoy in the chess world over the last 20 years or so. It has become clear to everyone that Anand's play has fallen markedly from the heights he has shown in the past. I think it's true that as a player gets into his forties then bad results, and bad games in general often become much more common. Clearly Vishy is making many more mistakes than he would have done in the past and motivation plays a part in that as well. Personally speaking I think the W orld championship crown has become rather a burden to Anand- I think it would actually do him a favour if he was to lose his crown to Carlsen- he can then take the shackles off. At the moment it seems to me that he plays with fear and trepidation- not having the responsibility of the world title would perhaps enable him to demonstrate the free-flowing play of his youth. Of course all this is conjecture and if Anand were to see these words I no doubt he would completely disagree- however I just wonder. [ 16...e5! 17.d1 xh2+! 18.g2 c7 19.xd4 xa5 20.xb4 xb4 21.a6 and the game goes on! ] 17.g2?! [ Wang Hao may well have seen the line 17.d1! xd1+ 18.xd1 xd1+ 19.g2 c2 But perhaps missed the killer blow 20.a4! e1+ 21.g3 And although the position remains complex, W hite is e s se n t ia ll y ju st win n i n g . Ne ve rt h e le s s Black's situation is now so bad that even an arguably inferior choice is still winning easily. ] 17...c4 18.d1 xe2 19.xd4 xd4 20.e3 c4 21.e1 xg4 22.b3 White wins more material, and the game is more or less over. xc5 23.xc5 d3 24.e3 xc5 25.xc5 e5 26.d3 c8 27.xa7 f8 28.b7 c5 29.d5 f6 30.d2 e8 31.a2 e7 32.b6 f7 33.f3 h5 34.a8 g7 35.xf8 xf8 36.xc5 g5 37.b4 a8 38.b5 The b-pawn will cost Black his rook. 1-0
1555 Bacrot,Etienne Vaisser,Anatoli ch-High Pool (10) [Tony Kosten]
A36 2653 2556 13.08.2001
1.c4 c5 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c6 5.e3 I have always felt that, in many ways, this is White's best move, but there is one major problem: can W hite avoid a draw if Black adopts a copy-cat strategy? e6 6.ge2 ge7 7.0-0 [ Andersson has tried the immediate 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d5 9.cxd5 xd5 10.xd5 xd4 the point being that ( but 10...exd5 is fine for Black) 11.c3 c6 12.xd8+ xd8 13.d2 gives White the tiniest of pluses in the endgame. ] 7...0-0 8.d4 [ One way to avoid the symmetry is 8.f4!? , stopping ...d5, but it also removes White's support for d4, and to be frank the knight is not especially well-placed here. ] 8...cxd4 9.xd4 xd4 [ 9...d5! is more accurate: 10.cxd5 xd5 11.xd5 ( Ivanchuk has tried 11.e1!? xd4 12.exd4 s e e b e l o w .) 11...xd4 12.exd4 exd5 13.b3 e6 and play is c o m p l e t e l y e q u a l , 14.xb7 xd4 as just below. ] 10.exd4 d5 11.cxd5 xd5 12.b3! [ This is White's best try for an advantage out of the opening. 12.xd5 exd5 13.b3 e6 ( or 13...b6 equal ) 14.xb7 xd4 15.f4 b6 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 fd8 18.f3 xb2 19.ab1 f6 with complete equality, Gufeld,E-Gipslis,A/Tallin 1969. ] [ 12.e1!? b6 13.xd5 exd5 14.xd5 xd4 15.e3 xe3 16.xe3 xb2 17.b1 f6 18.f3 e7 19.e3 f6 20.b4 W hite tries to achieve something, simply capturing the b-pawn leads to a draw. d8! 21.f3 A) 21...e5!? 22.xf7+ g7 23.c1 ( 23.xd8 e1+ 24.g2 h3+ 25.xh3 xd8 is good for Black ) 23...f8 is level.; B) 21...f5!? 22.xb7 ab8?! ( 22...h8! ) 23.xb8 xb8 Ivanchuk,VKramnik,V/Monte Carlo 1995, and now White could gain a plus by 24.g4! xg4 ( 24...g5 25.xf7+ xf7 26.d5+ g7 1558
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 27.e5+ and the rook is lost) 25.xf6 xd1 26.xf7 ] 12...xd4! [ The best. 12...e7 13.d1 gives White a useful IQP position, ( 13.d5?! exd5 14.g5 h6 15.xe7 xe7 16.xd5 e5 is nothing, Forintos,G-Sapi,L/HUN/ 1969. )] 13.xd5 [ 13.h6 g7 ( 13...e8?! 14.ad1 is very risky for Black) 14.xg7 xg7 15.xd5 will transpose. ] 13...exd5 14.h6 g7 [ 14...e8?! 15.ad1 f6? loses a piece to 16.a4 forking d4 and e8. ] 15.xg7 xg7 16.xd5 f6!? [ When I had this position against Florian Gheorghiu, in a rapid game once, he preferred 16...a5! intending ...Ra6-b6, to develop the rook and protect the b-pawn. Indeed he had already played this position bef ore, against Ulf Andersson, Moscow 1981: 17.ac1 ( 17.xb7 xb7 18.xb7 b8 19.f3 xb2 20.c3+ f6 21.xa5 xf2! is almost a forced draw.) 17...a4 18.c3+ f6 19.xf6+ xf6 20.c7 a5! 21.d1 b5 22.b3 axb3 23.xb3 e6 24.xe6 xe6 although the great Ulf still managed to squeeze something out of the position after 25.d3! b2 26.a3 ] 17.fe1 [ An innovation, but not a particularly effective one. As the black queen has gone to f6, to stop Qc3+, it seems logical to aim f or the c7-square, now undef ended, b y 17.fc1! e8 18.c7 e6 19.xe6 xe6 20.xb7 ae8 21.f1 b6 22.xa7 xb2 23.a4 despite the pawn less, I feel that Black should have reasonable chances here, by playing .. .Ra2, and ...Re4 if possible, but in the game Semenova,L-Nepeina Leconte, M/ Moscow 1990, White finally won. ] 17...a5! This looks like the right plan here, as well. 18.c3 a6! 19.e5 d6 20.ae1 White strives to maintain some small edge, but it is hard work against precise defence. fd8!? [ 20...b6 is simpler. ] 21.xa5 h3 22.g2 [ After this the game peters-out, 22.xb7!? b6 23.d5 xb2 24.f4 could be tried, although the weakness of White's second
rank is worrying. ] 22...d2 23.5e2 xe2 24.xe2 d1+ 25.e1 b6 26.b4 xe1+ 27.xe1 xg2 28.xg2 xb2 29.a4 d4 30.b1 ½-½
1556 Bauer,Christian Sebenik,Matej AUT-chT 1213 (9.2) [Danny Gormally]
A36 2639 2543 22.03.2013
1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.d3 d6 6.d2!? A slightly odd looking move, but with a clear plan in mind. White wants to fianchetto the bishop on b2 so as to contest the long diagonal. Often some of the problems with these flank openings is that if White drifts he can end up without a clear goal. f6 [ 6...e5 7.b3 ( The extremely direct 7.xc6+!? bxc6 8.b3 is also playable, slightly ruining Black's queenside structure, followed by normal play with Bb2, f4, O-O-O etc. The advantage of the two bishops is not really an issue f or the moment, but White would have to play very accurately to claim any edge- they are a fearsome asset in the long run.) 7...ge7 8.b2 e6?! The problem is that this provokes White's n e x t m o v e , 9.d5! xd5 Before Black could have captured with the knight, but of course this is no longer possible. 10.cxd5 b4 11.e4 a5 12.c3 b6 13.h3 0-0 14.0-0 f5 15.h1 f4 16.g5! White is already much better, Bricard, E (2450)-Wirig, A (2422)/Mulhouse 2004. ] [ 6...e6! Is perhaps the most logical reply, as Black announces the intention to play ..Nge7, followed by ..d5, solving all his problems. I think this is an effective counter to Qd2 and essentially forces White to give up the two bishops. 7.xc6+ White is having none of this and returns to the strategical idea we discussed earlier bxc6 8.f4 e7 9.b3 e5 10.b2 0-0 A) 11.fxe5?! dxe5! ( 11...xe5? 12.f3 ) 12.e4 f5 13.xc5 h6 is too risky a pawn-grab; B) 11.0-0-0 exf4 12.gxf4 f5! 13.b1 ( 13.f3 d4 looks quite good for Black, 1559
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 he has easy play with ..Re8 and ..Bg4) 13...e7 14.e4 d4 15.h4 g4 16.f1 f5! 17.h5 There's an element of desperation about White's play already Spragget did not repeat his experiment with Qd2, gxh5 18.h2 a5 19.e3 fxe4 20.dxe4 ae8 Spraggett, K (2540)Villavicencio Martinez, A (2320)/El Corte Ingles 1990. ] 7.b3 0-0 8.b2 d7 9.e3 b8 10.ge2 a6 11.0-0 b5 12.ad1 e6 13.c1 b6 [ Black is drifting without a plan. As he lacks space, it would be logical to exchange some p i e c e s wi t h 13...b4 14.e4 ( 14.b1?! a5! ) 14...e7 15.a1 e5 Thus minimizing the damage. ] 14.a1! A very standard idea in such situations. White now exerts huge potential pressure along the a1-h8 diagonal, forcing Black to retreat, thus ceding the strategical battle. e8 15.d2 e7 16.cxb5 axb5 17.d4?! A mark of a class player in my eyes is the ability to change the character of the position. Bauer would fall into this category, but here he is perhaps overeager, and give's Black a chance to take back the initiative. cxd4 [ Black also had a chance to keep the position closed- 17...c4! 18.bxc4 bxc4 19.d5! A) 19...exd5 20.xd5 xd5 ( 20...xb2 21.xb6 xa1 22.xd7+- ) 21.xg7 xg7 ( 21...xe3 22.d4+- ) 22.xd5 With a nice edge for White- the black cpawn is weak and there are still potential problems along the a1-h8 diagonal, if a white knight were to ever land on d5.; B) 19...e5! However prevents all these shenanigans when I believe Black to be perfectly well placed- the black c-pawn is a potential long-term weakness, but for the moment chances would be balanced. ] 18.xd4 d5 [ 18...e5!? 19.c2 b4 20.a4 b5 ] 19.c1 d6 20.c2! ef5?! Played with the intention of protecting the bishop on g7, but this is a shaky defense. [ 20...h6! Would have been a better way to defuse the idea of the sacrifice on d5. ] 21.b4 [ 21.g4! b4 22.xd5 exd5 23.gxf5 xb2
24.xb2 xf5 25.xd5 Was a good alternative but perhaps not without it's own element of risk- the White kingside would be somewhat weakened. ] 21...fc8? Underestimating the danger he is in. [ 21...d4 22.exd4 h6 23.f4 bc8 24.e4 xe4 25.xe4 g7 gives Black good compensation for the pawn- in any case this was absolutely forced. ] 22.cxd5! Now the Black position crumbles like a pack of cards. xc1+ 23.xc1 exd5 24.xd5 d8 25.e4?! [ 25.g4! c8 26.a1 xb2 27.xb2 e8 28.gxf5 xf5 29.a4 was more clear-cut, with a huge advantage. ] 25...c8 26.a1 xb2 27.xb2 g7 28.h4! [ Perhaps Bauer had missed in advance that t h e o b vio u s " c ro wn in g g lo ry" 28.f6+?? only leads to a shocking turnaround after xf6! 29.xf6 c1+ 30.f1 h3-+ ] 28...de8 29.a3 a8 30.e7? [ 30.b4! Followed by e5 basically looks winning, instead of this White hands Black an extra tempo. ] 30...e6! 31.b4 Nevertheless White is still better, as his initiative is so obvious and strong. g7 32.c3+ g8 33.h2 c8 34.e3 c6 35.e5 a6? Finally Black cracks under the relentless pressure. 36.b4! 8c7 37.xa6 xa6 38.a7 b8 39.d6 c7 40.xc7 xc7 41.b4 f8 42.b6 ba6 43.a3 e7 44.b7 b8 45.e4 ba6 46.f3 h5 47.g2 e6 48.f2 c8 49.c6 d7 50.xd7 xd7 51.g4 1-0
1557 Bu Xiangzhi Ye Jiangchuan Torch Real Estate Cup (3) [John Watson]
A36 2630 2648 22.04.2005
1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.e4 d6 4.g3 c5 5.g2 c6 6.ge2 g7 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 We have arrived at one of the most common positions in the Symmetrical English. It's difficult for either side to successfully expand on either flank, but White has more chances in 1560
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 t h e c e n t r e . b8 9.h3 a6 10.a4 e8 White's compensation is sufficient, Gurevich, The manoeuvre . ..Ne8-c7-e6 is designed to M-Yudasin,L/Haifa 1995. ] control d4 by unmasking the g7 bishop and 11...xd5 12.a3 d7! then bringing up the knight for reinforcement. [ Suggested by John Watson in his review of 11.e3 d7 Here Black indicates that he will my 'Dynamic English' book, and probably allow d4 and then fight back on the queenside. strongest, Black brings his queen's bishop In fact he does something else. 12.d4 c8?! immediately to c6 to shore-up the A double threat on h3 and c4. Unfortunately, queenside. 12...f8 13.xf8 xf8 14.b3 White can grab pawns as well. le d t o a n e m p h a t ic wi n f o r K ra se n k o v , [ 12...cxd4 13.xd4 c7 14.de2 e6 against Brynell/Copenhagen 1996. ] would resemble our other game Ye [ A couple of years ago I discussed the Jiangchuan-Wang Zili. ] possibility of pushing the queenside pawns 13.dxc5 xh3 14.xh3 xh3 15.f4 c8 by 12...a5 when a game of mine against my 16.fd5 e6 17.b6 c7 18.cxd6 xd6 computer went: 13.d3 d7 14.xd5 exd5 19.c5 White is fast achieving a real advantage 15.xc3 c6 16.0-0 g5? 17.fb1 d8 in space and on the dark squares. e8 18.xb7! xb7 19.b5 and Black is lost, i. [ 19...c8 would challenge the b6 knight. ] e. c8 20.c1 ] 20.e2 d4 21.c4 f3+ 22.g2 e5 13.b3 23.e2 f6 24.f4 eg4 25.g1 h5 [ Not 13.e4?! e7 14.xc3 c6 ] 26.ad1 fd8 27.b4 All these moves are 13...c6!? logical yet soon White's pawns will overrun [ A sensible new move, recommended by Black's position. f8 28.f3 xd1 29.xd1 W atson. Previously: 13...b6 14.xd5?! d8 30.e5 d7 31.c4 b8 32.d6!? ( 14.c2!?; 14.a2!? ) 14...exd5 15.xb6 [ 32.xd8 xd8 33.xb7 ] axb6 Kaspret,G-Fabisch,C/AUT 1993, when 32...c6 33.b5 axb5 34.axb5 a5 16.xc3 f8 17.b2 is not too clear, Black 35.ce4 a8 36.a1 xd6 37.exd6 d8 has the bishop pair, but his structure is 38.d4 c4 39.xa8 xa8 40.e2 a4 very static. ] 41.c3 White made it look easy. [ 13...a5!? 14.0-0 b5 15.c2 a4 1-0 16.b1 b5 is a third alternative that deserves a try. ] 14.0-0 b6 15.a2!? f8 Naturally, Black 1558 A36 tries to solve his biggest problem- having his xf8 Delchev,Aleksander 2629 king stuck in the centre. 16.xf8 White must obtain some real Tukmakov,Vladimir B 2604 17.ab1 TCh Pula CRO (8) 17.09.2001 compensation before Black tucks his king away on g7, and connects his rooks. b4 [Tony Kosten] [ Otherwise, 17...d8 18.e4!? f6 19.d5! exd5 20.fd1 and White has a powerful 1.c4 c5 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c6 initiative. ] 5.a3 e6 6.b4!? This line leads to a Benkostyle position where White obtains queenside 18.a3 a5 19.xc6 This shatters the black pressure at the cost of a pawn, plus strong p a w n s , a n d g i v e s W h i t e t h e p o s i t i o n a l play on Black's weakened dark squares. xb4 compensation that he needs. bxc6 20.xc3! [ Critical. 6...cxb4?! 7.axb4 xb4 8.a3 Capturing with the knight seems more natural, ( 8.b3!? c6 9.f3 ge7 10.0-0 but by playing this way White keeps the black is also possible) 8...xc3!? 9.dxc3 c6 king from reaching safety. e7 [ Obviously Black didn't want to bring his king White has plenty of comp, Renet,O-Yudasin, t o t h e c e n t r e a g a i n , b u t 20...g7!? L/ Ostende 1988. ] allows the annoying 21.d5+ ] 7.axb4 cxb4 8.d4 bxc3 9.e3 e7 10.e2 21.f4 b5 22.fd1 hd8 23.d3 ab8 d5 11.cxd5 Black still has an extra pawn, but his [ This is currently preferred to 11.xc3 dxc4 24.c5 12.0-0 0-0 13.a3 and it is not clear that pawns are weak while White enjoys a perfect 1561
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 structure. e2!? 25.b3 d5 19 9 6 , wh ich I give (wit h f e w n o t e s ): b6 [ This loses the extra pawn immediately, but ( 15...d7 16.xd5 exd5 17.xb7 eve n a f t e r 25...a4 26.c5 b5 27.a1 is Tony's suggested best course of play; d5 White will win the a-pawn after but not 15...b6?? 16.xd5 with the idea 28.a3 ] exd5 17.xb6 ) 16.e4 f6 17.e5 d5 26.c5+ f6 27.xa5 g7 The king 18.xc3 b7 19.b5 (with the d6 square reaches safety, at last, but Black's feeble c6promising c-file control, White has enough pawn gives serious cause for concern. 28.c5 for a pawn, as the game demonstrates:) e5!? Freeing the position. 29.e1 f3?? b8!? ( 19...a5 ) 20.fc1 a6 21.d6 d8 [ After managing to fend-off White's pressure 22.a3 a7? 23.a2 a8 24.xd5! xd5 for so long, Black cracks. 29...xb1 30.xb1 25.ac2 b5 26.c8 b6 27.xd8 xd8 e8 keeps White's positional plus to a strict 28.c8 e7 29.c1! a8 30.c7 f8 minimum. ] 31.f4 h8 32.xf7 d8 33.h6 g8 30.e6+! Completely 'out-of-the-blue'! fxe6 34.c7 1-0. In view of f8 35.xh7+ xh7 31.xb8 xb8 32.a7+ Winning the 36.xf8+ g8 37.f7+ h7 38.h6# ] exchange, and the game. h6 33.xb8 e4 13.0-0 34.e5 [ ( a ) M i g u e l : 13.b3 as in Delchev1-0 Tukmakov 2001 seems to be better. This, however, allows Black to play ...Qb6 now or later'. (jw:) Indeed, b6 seems to cut into 1559 A36 White's winning chances, at the very least. Play might continue 14.c2 or ( 14.xd5 Domingo,Miguel 2190 exd5 15.xb6 axb6 16.xc3 c6 Alekseev,Evgeny 2644 a n d B l a c k h a n g s o n t o h i s p a wn , e . g . , German Corporate Championship 2006 (3) 17.d2 d7 18.hb1 a6 19.c1 ha8 ) [M. Domingo] 14...a5 ( or 14...c8; perhaps best is 14...a6 and White might as well try 15 e4, 1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 c6 since 15.0-0 a4 16.b1 c2 17.b2 5.a3 e6 6.b4 xb4 7.axb4 cxb4 8.d4 b5 is undesirable) 15.0-0 a4 16.b1 bxc3 9.e3 e7 10.e2 d5 11.cxd5 c8 17.xb7 c7 18.b8+ d7 ] [ Not strictly necessary. In fact, given the [ ( b ) T h e i m m e d i a t e 13.e4 should be problem that arises in the game, it may be considered. Again, however, e7 14.b3 that 11.xc3!? is best: dxc4 ( 11...c7 b6 15.xc3 c8 16.d2 b3! 12.b5; 11...0-0 12.a3 dxc4 13.0-0 with the idea ... Rc2 causes some and Black is tied up. White will recapture the problems. ] c4 pawn with fair compensation) 12.0-0 0-0 13.a3 a6!? 14.e2 c7 15.fc1 13...b5!N Played after 12 minutes. [ This is a novelty over Thiede-Heinemann wa s d y n a m i ca ll y e q u a l in M G u r e vic h 2002: 13...c6 14.e4 e7 15.b3 0-0 Yudasin, Haifa 1995, which continued a7 ( 15...d7! with the idea 16.fd1? a4 ) 16.b2 e8 17.c5?! ( 17.e4! d5 16.fd1! d7 17.xc3 b6 18.d5 exd5 18.d6 d8 19.xc4 ) 17...a8 19.exd5 b7 20.a2 and White won a and Hansen suggests 18.e4 , but 17 Ne4 nice game with the plan Rad2, Ne4 and was clearer, in view of d5 19.d6 d8 Bb2. ( jw: 20.b2! looks more to the point 20.xc4 xc5 ] and hard to meet )] 11...xd5 12.a3 d7 The innovation, with 14.e1 the idea ...Bb5. [ Miguel: 14.c2 c8 [ The main line has been 12...f8 13.xf8 A) 15.fb1 a6; xf8 14.b3! - see the next game, where B) 15.fd1 d7; Domingo got a substantial advantage after C) 15.e4 e7; 14...b6. Instead, Tony Kosten gives g7 D) May be 15.fe1 is better see the game, 15.0-0 in his book 'The Dynamic English', move 15. [jw:] This is hard to believe. following Krasenkov-Brunell, Copenhagen 1562
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black can still play d7 ( or 15...a6 White will probably win one pawn back but h a ve le s s t h a n co m p e n sa t i o n f o r t h e other. ); E) 15.fc1 This seems natural as the c3pawn may become very annoying if White p l a y s e 4 / d 5 wit h o u t e xc h a n ge o f t h e bishop Bg7 (as in the game). d7 16.d1 a4 17.e1 c2 18.e4 b6 with the threat Nc4. It seems as if White would not have enough compensation. [jw: White is two pawns down, and if 19.c5 , simply xc5 20.dxc5 xa1 21.xa1 c8 22.c3 c6 keeps the material. ] 14...c8 15.b3? Miguel: This allows Black to bring his bishop to the optimal square c4 without loosing a tempo. [ Better is 15.c2 A) 15...d7 16.e4 e7 17.d5 A1) 17...0-0 18.f4 A1a) jw 18...g5!? 19.h5 e5 20.c1 ( 20.f4 gxf4 21.gxf4 d4+ 22.h1 exd5 ) 20...h6 21.h4; A1b) 18...c4 19.h3 White has one extra tempo with respect to the game (see move 20) Black cannot play Qb7 now.; A2) 17...xe2 18.xe2 b5!? 19.h3 c4 20.ee1 0-0 ( 20...d4 ) 21.ad1 b4 22.b3 c2 23.c1 fc8 24.dxe6 fxe6 25.xc2 c3 26.xc3 bxc3 27.d1 c6 28.xe7 c2 29.c1 xe4 30.a3 Fritz: = d8 31.b2 a5 32.f1 b4 33.xe6+ f8 34.a3 d1 35.xd1 cxd1+ 36.xd1 xe6 37.f3+ g8 38.xb4 axb4 39.a8+ f7 40.f3+ Perpetual check.; A3) 17...a4 18.a2 b5 19.h3; B) 15...c4!? [also strong] 16.xc3 xc3 17.xc3 d5 18.b4! xg2 19.xg2 d7 20.ec1 xc1 21.xc1 f8 22.c3 xa3 23.xa3 b6 24.g1 f6 25.a1 f8 ( 25...a5 26.b1 c6 27.c1 d7 28.b3 b5 29.c5 ) 26.xa7 xa7 27.xa7 f7=; C) 15...xe2?! 16.xe2 ( 16.xe2?! d7 17.e4 c7 18.d5 b5 ) 16...d7 17.ec1 ( 17.e4?! c7 18.d5 b5 ) 17...b6 ( jw: or 17...a6 ) C1) jw: 18.e4!? e7 19.d5 0-0 20.h3 h6! 21.dxe6 ( 21.a2? xc1 22.xc1
f5 23.dxe6 a4 ) 21...fxe6 22.a2 f7 23.d1 d2 24.c1 fd8 [jw: the burden of proof is on White]; C2) 18.d3 f8 19.xd5 exd5 ( 19...xd5 20.xf8 xf8 21.xa7 b3 22.e4! ) 20.xc3 xa3? ( 20...xc3 21.xc3 f5 followed by .. Kf7. ) 21.xc8+ xc8 22.xa3 [ j w : y e s , b e c a u s e a5? 23.d6 threatens two pawns as well as Qe5+] ] 15...d7 16.e4 [ 16.xd5?! xd5 17.xd5 exd5 18.f4 c4! 19.ec1 c6-+ ] 16...c4 An ideal position for the bishop: it can support the march of the b-pawn and defend the critical squares d5-e6-f7. 17.c2 e7 18.d5?! Tempting, but bad. [ [Miguel:] Stronger is 18.xe7 xe7 19.e5 Limits the bishop Bg7 and prepares Nxc3. ( 19.xc3? d7! 20.b4 xe2 21.xe2 xd4 22.b5+ c6 23.a6 d7 24.xc6 xc6 25.a5 d4-+ ) 19...xe2 20.xe2 ( 20.xe2 b5 ) 20...a6 21.e3 Avoid Nh6. 0-0 22.ec1 c2 23.a2 b4! 24.axc2 xc2 25.xc2 d8 26.c7 xd4 27.xd4 xd4 28.c8+ f8 29.xb7 a5-+ The pawn cannot be stopped. For example: 30.a6 a4 31.c4 d1+ 32.g2 a3 33.a4 d2 34.c4 c5 ] 18...0-0 19.h3 b5 20.f4 b7-+ The threat is now b4. White has no compensation, so he will have to grab the exchange. But Black has three passed pawns. 21.b4 [ 21.xe6 fxe6 ( 21...b4? 22.xg7! ) 22.xe6+ h8 23.xc8 xc8 White really h a s n o t h i n g h e r e : j w 24.b4 xd5! 25.exd5 xd5-+ . The move ...Bh1 follows. ] [ 21.dxe6 b4 22.exf7+ xf7 23.xc8 xc8 24.ab1 c6-+ ] 21...exd5! Again, the exchange means very little when Black's pawns are so powerful. 22.exd5 [ 22.xc8 xc8 23.exd5 xd5 24.xd5 xd5 25.e7 c6 26.axa7 h1!-+ ] 22...xd5 23.xd5 xd5 24.e7 c7 25.ae1 xe7 26.xe7 c6 27.f1 [ 27.xa7 e4 28.c1 c2 with the idea 29.xf8 b2! ] 27...e8 28.e2 xe7 29.xe7 h5 30.d3 c2 CONCLUSION: I tend to like Black in these 1563
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 lines. He has no important weaknesses, good pawns on the queenside, and play on the light squares. Maybe 11 Nc3!? should be looked into. [ 30...c2 31.xc2 h1 32.f3 ( 32.f1 xc2 ) 32...xf3 ] 0-1
1560 Domingo,Miguel Bachmann,Andreas Corporate Championship 2004/05 (6) [M. Domingo]
A36 2190 2225 7.2.05
A nice game for White, who wins the opening and whose technique proves superior. Notes by Migu e l Do min go (wit h a litt le e d itin g) unless indicated otherwise. 1.c4 g6 2.g3 c5 3.g2 g7 4.c3 c6 5.a3 e6 6.b4 xb4 7.axb4 cxb4 8.d4 bxc3 9.e3 e7 10.e2 d5 11.cxd5 xd5 12.a3 f8 13.xf8 xf8 14.b3 b6N [ jw: 14...g7 15.0-0 b6 is KrasenkowBrynell of the preceding game, and ( 15...d7!? is analysed there. )] 15.e4 [ Miguel: 15.0-0 b7 Now White cannot achieve e4-e5 as in Krasenkow-Brynell 1996. A) 16.e4?! A1) 16...e7 17.xc3 ( 17.xc3! ) 17...g7 ( 17...xd4? 18.fd1 c5 19.d7 [jw: This still isn't convincing after c6! 20.dxa7 xa7 21.xa7 b5! , so 17...Qxd4 is likely strong and 17 Qxc3! should be played, with decent prospects.) 18.fd1 followed by d5 and play on the dark squares.; A2) 16...f6! 17.f3 g7 18.xc3 with a structure similar to Nyback-Bilek 2002.; B) 16.xc3 g7 17.e4 ( 17.a3!? d7 18.e4 hd8 with the idea a5 and Nb4. Black does not seem to have any problems.; 17.b2 e7 ) B1) 17...e7?! 18.fd1 ( 18.d5? exd5 19.exd5 f5 20.fd1 d6 and Black consolidates his position.) 18...d7 19.d5 exd5 20.exd5 with a structure sim ilar t o T h ie d e-He ine m a n n 2 0 0 2 .
f5?! 21.e4; B2) 17...xc3 18.xc3 d6! 19.d5+ f6 The black position seems to be solid: 20.fe1 hc8 21.b2 e5 ( jw: 21...exd5 22.e5! is unclear) 22.f4 e8 23.f1 a6 24.f2 b5 25.af1 e7 ] [ 15.xc3 b7 16.b5? ( 16.0-0 ) 16...a6 17.a3+?? ( 17.c3 ) 17...g7 18.d6 xe3!-+ [a clever tactic based upon 19.xb7 xg2+ 20.f1 d5 ] 15...c7?! [ 15...f6 ] 16.e5 [ 16.xc3 g8 17.0-0 a6 18.fc1 xe2 19.xc7 xc7 ( 19...xd4 20.e5 f8 21.a2! d3 22.xa7 b5 White is better, but it is not clear whether more than a draw can be reached.) 20.xc7 a6 21.d5 exd5 22.exd5 g7 23.d6 ad8 24.d7 b5 25.d1 f5 ( jw: 25...a5 ) 26.c6 xc6 27.xc6= ] [ Maybe 16.0-0 is more precise than the game continuation (which allows Black to return to Krasenkow-Brynell 1996) [jw: see t h e p re ce d in g ga m e ] a6?! ( 16...b7 17.fd1 ) 17.xa6! xa6 18.a3+ g7 19.xa6 with advantage for white similar to the game. ] 16...a6?! [ 16...d5 17.xc3 b7 18.b5 b8 19.0-0 g7 20.fc1 transposes to Krasenkow-Brynell 1996. ] 17.xa6! xa6 18.a3+ [ 18.xa8 xa8 19.0-0 g7 20.xc3 c7 ] 18...g7 19.xa6 b8?! The beginning of a wrong plan. [ 19...c8 20.0-0 ( 20.xa7 b5 ) 20...c7 21.c1 c4 22.b7! ( 22.xc4? xc4 23.xc3 xc3 24.xc3 c8 25.b5 c1+ 26.f1 a6 ) 22...c2 ( 22...c7 23.xc3 xa6 24.xa6 ) 23.f1! The king is important to control the black pawns on the queenside. c7 24.xc4 xc4 25.e1 b5 26.d2 ] 20.xa7 [ 20.d3 b5 21.xc3 b4 22.b3 b6 23.0-0 hc8 24.a1 a5 25.d5 [jw: White looks considerably better to me. Also possible is the conservative ( 25.e4 )] 20...c8 21.0-0 1564
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 21.a1?! d8! ( 21...c2? 22.d2! d7 23.c1 hc8 24.b2 b5 25.xc2 ) A) 22.xc3?! a6! ( 22...xc3+? 23.xc3 xd4 24.e2 b5 25.b1 ) 23.f4 a2 24.f2 dc8 25.b4 c2 26.f3; B) 22.xc3 B1) 22...xd4?! 23.b5! d3 ( 23...b4 24.d6 ) 24.e4 b3 25.d6 c5 26.0-0 a3 27.c1; B2) 22...c4! 23.e2 b5 ( 23...b4+ 24.f1 with the idea Bf3 and Kg2.) 24.b2 d3 25.0-0 b4 ] 21...b5 22.d5! d8? A serious mistake: Black forgets to def end the dark squares around his king. [ 22...b4 23.d4 b7 ( jw:? 23...b7 ) 24.xb7 xb7 25.dxe6 b6 26.exf7 [jw: with the idea] b3 27.e6 ] 23.e7! [ 23.d6? c2 ] 23...g8 [ 23...exd5 24.f4 th rea t en s B h 3 . e8 25.f6+ h6 ( 25...g8 26.xd5 c7 27.e6+- ) 26.h5!! threatens 27. Qg7+ Kxh5 28. Qxh7+ Kg5 29. f4+ Kf5 30.Qh3. g8 ( 26...a8 27.g7+ xh5 28.xh7+ g5 29.f4+ ) 27.g7!! threatens 28.e6 fxe6 29. g 4 a n d m a t e f o l l o w s . g4 28.f4+Threatens now h3 with capture of the queen. ] 24.f4?! [ Much easier was 24.dxe6 xe6 ( 24...fxe6 25.h3 e8 26.b4 ) 25.xe6 fxe6 26.xc3 b4 27.e4 b3 28.b1 b2 29.d6 f8 30.f1 d7 31.e1 c7 32.d2 ] 24...e8 25.h4?! I play only on an attack a ga in s t t h e k in g . A d u b i o u s d e ci sio n , i n particular because I did not see most of the following variation at this moment of the game. [ Better was 25.b4 exd5 ( 25...c2 26.c1 ) 26.xd5 xe5 27.f4 e2 28.f3 e6 29.f5 gxf5 30.e7+ xe7 31.xe7 ] 25...d8 [ 25...c2!? 26.h5 A) 26...c1?? loses: 27.f6+ f8 28.xh7 xf1+ ( 28...exd5 29.xd5 xf1+ 30.xf1 e6 31.xe6 fxe6 32.d7+ e8 33.xb8+- ) 29.xf1 A1) 29...e7 30.d6+ d8 31.xf7
c6 32.xe8 b7 ( 32...d7 33.f6+ xe8 34.h8+ ) 33.c7-+; A2) 29...exd5 30.xd5 f5 31.exf6 b7 ( 31...b7 32.f7 xf7 33.h8# ) 32.c7 Fritz: Mate in 10!; B) 26...gxh5 27.g5+ f8 28.d6 d7! with the idea f5. White does not seem to have more than perpetual. [jw: but White has a wonderful position on the kingside, s o h e c a n t r y w i t h o u t r i s k : : ] 29.f6! ( 29.e4!? (threatening Bxh7 but also trying to pick up the c-pawn) f5 30.exf6 ec8 31.h6+ g8 32.c1! b4 33.xc2 b3 34.f7+ xf7 35.xh7+ xh7 36.xc8+ xc8 37.xe6+ g7 38.xc8 b1+ 39.g2 e4+= ) 29...g8 30.e4 ec8 31.g5+ h8 32.xh5 f5 33.exf6 threatens f7, so f8 ( 33...c1 34.f7 ) 34.c1 b4 35.xc2 b3 36.c7 ] 26.h6 threatens Nh5. e7 27.h4? [ 27.d6 f8 28.g5 h6 ( 28...b4 29.h5 ed8 30.f6+ g7 31.e3 ) 29.g4 g7 30.d3 ] 27...exd5 White must now struggle not to lose. 28.xd5 [ 28.e1!? f8 29.g5 f6 30.g4 fxe5 31.xd5! b4 32.g5 ] 28...xe5 29.b3 bc8 [ [jw:] 29...b4 ] 30.a1? [ 30.c1 b4 31.h5 g7 32.g5 e5?! ( 32...e5= ) 33.g4 ce8 34.hxg6 hxg6 35.xg6! e1+ 36.xe1 xe1+ 37.g2 c2 38.c8+ h7 39.f8+ xf8 40.xf8 c1 41.xf7+ h6 42.f8+ The black king cannot stay on the kingside because he would be checkmated. White can therefore win t he b -pa wn wit h ch e ck a n d f o rce a queen exchange, e.g. g6 43.f7+ f6 44.g8+ e5 45.e7+ d4 46.xb4+ e5 47.e7+ d4 48.d6+ c3 49.c5+ d2 50.xc1+ and White wins. ] 30...c7? [ 30...g7! 31.g5 ( 31.xg7+ xg7-+ ) 31...c2-+ ] 31.c1 b4 32.h5 g5? [ 32...g7 33.g5 gxh5 34.xh5 h8 35.b5 f8 36.d3 ] 33.d5?? [ 33.c2 g7 34.d6 e5 ( 34...cc8!? 1565
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 t e m p o r a r i l y p i c k u p a s e co n d p a wn a n d establish a strong centre while White recovers one of them. 25.a6 d4! 26.e2 xh3+!? [ 26...xe4 should be fully equal. ] 27.g2 g5 28.fd1 [ 28.f3! f5 29.ad1 with Qd2 next, e.g., c5 1561 A36 30.d2 h6 31.exf5 gxf5 32.xd6 xd6 Esen,Baris 2464 33.xd6 ] Vovk,Andrey 2474 Levikov Mem Lvov UKR (6) 12.12.2006 28...xe4+ 29.xe4 xe4 30.f3 g5 31.ac1 The game is level. d8 32.c6 d5 [John Watson] 33.c5 e4 34.cxd5? [ 34.fxe4 xe4 35.cxd5 is equal. ] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.ge2 c5 7.h3 c6 8.d3 a6 34...xd5 35.xd5 xf3 Suddenly it looks 9.a4 b8 I think that this is a promising way to difficult for White if Black advances his pawn c o u n t e r t h e B o t v i n n i k f o r m a t i o n . 10.e3 as quickly as possible. 36.f2 b3? [ Black is very close to winning after 36...h5 e8!? Now we're back to the knight transfer, 37.b5 ( 37.d7 ) 37...d4 38.b7 which should afford White some advantage. ( 38.xb4?? e3+! and White will lose his [ I've mentioned the plan 10...b4 11.0-0 rook. ) 38...f6 39.c7 f5 40.b7 e3+ d7 in such positions, which can counter 41.f3 White's central play at least for a while, for A) 41...e5!? 42.xf7 ( 42.xb4?? example, 12.d4? cxd4 13.xd4 c8! d4+ wins on the spot) 42...d4 43.d7+ with a double attack on c4 and h3. In the c4 44.e2 b3; meantime Black can play for ...b5 or in some B) 41...b3 42.b6+ e5 43.b5+ d6 cases ...e6 and ...d5. ] 44.b7 g5 45.xf7 g4+ 46.e2 e5 ] 11.d4 cxd4 12.xd4 c7 13.0-0 37.e3 f5 38.b5 Once the b-pawn falls [ 13.de2 can be met by b5 ] W hite is fine. f6 39.xb3 g5 40.b6+ 13...xd4 e5 [ 13...e6 14.de2! ] 14.xd4 b5 Black achieves his break, albeit ½-½ at some cost. 15.xg7 xg7 16.cxb5 axb5 17.a5 b4 18.d5 a6 A36 [ 18...xd5 19.exd5 adds to Black's 1562 problems because e7 becomes a target. ] Felgaer,Ruben 2581 19.e1 e5! Berrocal,Jorge 2317 [ 19...e6 20.d2 hits the b-pawn, and if VIII Open Sants ESP (3) 27.08.2006 b3 , then 21.b4 b7 22.ec1 ] [John Watson] 20.b6 [ now 20.d2 xd5 21.exd5?! f5 Once again the Botvinnik setup produces a gives Black definite counterplay. ] nagging e dge . Bu t the n ot es sh ow s om e [ 20.xc7 xc7 21.d2 will control the c- better ways for Black to handle this type of file, especially since h4 and Bh3 is in the position. 1.c4 f6 2.g3 c5 3.g2 g6 cards. ] 4.c3 c6 5.e4 d6 6.ge2 g7 7.0-0 0-0 20...e6 21.f1 xf1 22.xf1 g5 8.d3 a6 9.h3 b8 A solid system against the 23.a4!? This move provokes Black into an c4 / e4 se t u p. Bla ck t hre at e n s . .. b 5 . 10.a4 exchange sacrifice. Better looks d7!? There are several plausible options [ 23.d3 xh3+ 24.g2 g5 25.ad1 ] here: 23...xb6!? [ This is an exceptional case where [ 23...xe4 24.xb4 ( 24.c6 d2 10...d4!? 11.xd4 cxd4 12.e2 e5 25.fd1 b3 26.xd6 e7 ) 24...f5 isn't bad, because Black has real queenside is unclear. ] play, e.g., 13.f4 ( or 13.a5 b5 14.axb6 24.axb6 xb6 Now Black will at least xb6 15.f4 d7 ) 13...d7 14.g4 b5 35.d5 ) 35.h6= ] 33...e6 The white queen is trapped. 0-1
1566
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.axb5 axb5 16.cxb5 ( 16.fxe5 dxe5 17.c5 b4!? 18.g5 h6 19.xf6 xf6 20.a6 g5 ) 16...xb5 17.f5 d7 18.g5 f6 with unclear complications. ] [ The alternative 10...b4 11.d4 cxd4 12.xd4 d7 13.b3 leaves White slightly better due to his central control. ] [ 10...d7 is in some ways the most consistent move because it develops and prepares ... b5. Then 11.e3 e5!? 12.f4 d4 is reasonable, answering 13.g4 with exf4 14.xf4 b5 ] 11.b1 d4?! [ 11...b4 makes more sense than before in view of 12.d4 ( 12.e3 e5 ) 12...cxd4 13.xd4 c5 with excellent squares for the knights and approximate equality. Even the idea of ...f5, and if exf5, ...Bxd4 and ...Bxf5 might come into play. ] 12.b4! cxb4 13.xb4 a5?! [ 13...xe2+ 14.xe2 e5!? prepares moves such as ...Qa5 and ...Nc5-e6-d4, and looks easier for Black to play than what follows in the game. ] 14.d5! c6 [ 14...e6 15.e7+ h8 16.d2 will give White the bishop pair. ] 15.b1 e6 16.d2 d8 17.b4 c7 [ 17...xb4 18.xb4 c7 19.d4 starts White's centre rolling. ] 18.c1!? [ Better is 18.f4! with the idea c5 19.xc6 bxc6 20.a5 a7 21.xb8 xb8 22.d4 . T h i s wo u ld e s se n t ia lly re f u t e B l a ck' s opening plan. ] 18...c5 [ 18...xb4 19.xb4 c5 20.e5! ] 19.xc6 xc6? [ The obvious 19...bxc6 20.xb8 ( 20.a3 xb1 21.xb1 e5 ) 20...xb8 looks fine, e. g., 21.a3 e5 ] 20.e5! c7 [ 20...xa4 may have been Black's idea, but 21.d4 is strong: d3!? ( 21...d7 22.b4; 21...b3 22.c2 dxe5 23.xb3 ) 22.c3 xe5 23.dxe5 xe5 24.b4 ] 21.d4! xa4 22.exd6 xd6 [ 22...d8? 23.c5 threatens moves like Qa3 and c6. ] 23.b4 c7 24.xf8 xf8 Now Black has some definite compensation for the Exchange,
bu t W h it e 's pie ce s a re a ctive e n o u gh t o maintain some advantage. 25.c5!? [ 25.e3! with the idea xc4?? 26.fc1 a2 27.a1 b2 28.xa4 ] 25...d7 26.c6! bxc6 27.xb8 xb8 28.xc6 xc6 29.xc6 b5! The only chance. In what follows Black almost holds his own but slips at the end. 30.c2! [ 30.c1 xe2 31.xa4 is still not easy, because White's d-pawn will fall if he takes the a-pawn. ] [ 30.xb5 axb5 31.d1 b6 32.c1 d5 33.b3 and Ra1 reorganizes but again White needs a concrete plan. ] 30...b6 [ 30...a5 31.b1 b4 32.c1 ] 31.b1 c4!? a bluff? 32.d2 [ 32.xc4 xc4 33.c1 should eventually win. ] 32...d5 33.f4 b4 34.b2? [ Better 34.d3 xd3 35.xd3 a5 36.xb4 axb4 37.f1 ] 34...a5 35.xd5 xd5 A great blockader, alth ou gh na tu ra lly W hite st ill ha s a ll t h e chances. 36.c1 h5 37.h4 d6? [ 37...g7 ] 38.c8+ g7 39.d8 a4?? Must be time pressure. Black still had [ 39...f6 40.b6 e7 , although White must be winning. ] 40.b6 a3 41.xd6 a2 42.f8+ h7 1-0
1563 Fridman,Daniel Psakhis,Lev ACP Blitz Prelim4 blitz (15) [Tony Kosten]
A36 2594 2545 15.04.2004
1.c4 c5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e3 xc3!? A move that was touted (his word) by John W atson in one of his early books, the idea is to play a sort of Nimzo position, but the drawback is that Black has wasted 3 moves to exchange the knight on c3, and weakened his kingside. 6.bxc3 f5 This is important, positionally-speaking White should be aiming to play d3 and e4, so Black tries to hinder this plan. [ F o r t h i s r e a s o n 6...b6 is not as good: 1567
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7.e2 ( I would play 7.e4 im me d ia te ly) 7...b7 8.d3 d6 9.0-0 d7 10.e4 f5 ( W a t s o n p r e f e rr e d 10...0-0-0 ) 11.f4 0-0-0?! 1/2-1/2? Speelman, J-Commons,K/ Lone Pine 1978, as 12.exf5! gxf5 13.d5 e5 14.d4 is crushing. ] 7.h4! Sharp, but logical. When Tony Miles surprised me with 5.. .Bxc3!? at the British Championships, Hove 1997, I first played [ 7.e2 b6 an d on ly th e n 8.h4!? f6 9.h5!? A) 9...xh5 is risky, but playable 10.xh5 gxh5 11.f4 ( 11.d4!? aims to force a draw after cxd4 12.xh5+ f8 13.xf5+ etc. ) 11...0-0 12.d5+ h8 13.xh5 e8; B) 9...f7 10.d3 b7 11.g1!? aiming for g5, c7 12.f3 ag8 13.e4 fxe4 14.g5+ e8 15.xe4 with unclear play. ] [ 7.f4?! is positionally wrong, with the bishop pair White should be putting his pawns on light squares, not dark! f6 8.f3 b6 9.0-0 b7 10.d3 a5 11.e2 c7 and White will have difficulty playing e4 or d4, Mednis, E-Larsen,B/New York 1990. ] 7...f6 8.h5! A new move, and very logical [ 8.d3?! first may transpose, but is less accurate: d6 9.h5!? xh5!? ( 9...g8 would transpose to the main game) 10.xh5 gxh5 11.xh5+ d7 this is the reason 8 h5 is better, after playing ...d6 here Black can escape to the queenside 12.xf5+ c7 13.h5 g8 14.e2 g7 15.d4 g4 Black is better, Fraschini,M-Adla,D/Buenos Aires 1993. ] 8...g8 [ 8...f7 is possible, as in my game against Miles above, but now the white knight can head for g5 directly, thus saving two tempi: 9.f3 and if xh5 10.e4 fxe4 11.g5+ g7 12.xe4 d6 13.d4 e8? 14.xh5 gxh5 15.xh5 winning. ] [ Note that 8...xh5? 9.xh5 gxh5 10.xh5+ f8 11.xf5+ allows White a p o we r f u l a t t a c k f o r ve r y l i t t l e m a t e r i a l investment. ] 9.hxg6 hxg6 10.d3 Now that White has gained the h-file and further weakened the black kingside, he can revert to 'the positional plan'. d6
[ 10...b6 11.f3 b7 might be better, avoiding weakening e6. ] 11.f3 g 5 b e c k o n s . d7 12.g5 b6 Black follows the Larsen schema. 13.e4 b7 [ 13...fxe4?! 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4 targets g6. ] 14.exf5 This works-out very nicely, but [ 14.e2 is more accurate, aiming at e6. ] 14...gxf5 Black misses a neat tactical chance: [ 14...e5! when 15.e4 xe4 16.xe4 gxf5 17.h5+ d8 18.xf5 c6 with the point that 19.e4? xd3+ wins. ] 15.d5!? Surprising, and difficult to counter in a blitz game. d8 This defends e6, but there was a case for the move [ 15...xd5 16.cxd5 e5 17.c4 ( 17.h5+ l e a d s n o w h e r e , d8 18.e6+ c8 and to defend both d5 and d3 White should play 19.f4 e6! 20.dxe6 g7 winning an exchange ) 17...0-0-0 18.f4 de8 a n d , u n f o r t u n a t e l y f o r W h i t e , 19.e6 is met by f3+! 20.xf3 xe6+ 21.dxe6 xf3 with good play. ] 16.h7!? Another shock, White piles on the pressure, but [ 16.h6 was certainly better, when xd5 17.cxd5 looks promising for White. ] 16...xd5 [ 16...xh7?? 17.h5+ f8 18.xh7+ leads to mate. ] 17.cxd5 b7? Black gives his king an escape square, but the knight was doing a good job defending the e6-square. [ 17...b7! is critical, allowing the king out via d7, 18.c4 xh7 19.h5+ d7 20.xh7 f8 21.b2 ( 21.g7?! e8 22.g6 is met by e6! opening the e-file, 23.h7 exd5+ 24.d1 e5! winning ) 21...c8 (intending ...e5) 22.g7 e8 23.e6 xe6 24.xf5 with unclear play Black has an extra exchange but his rooks have little scope. ] 18.e6 c4?? A big mistake, Black should admit the error of his last move and play [ 18...d8 when 19.e2! xh7 20.h5+ f7 21.xh7 h8 22.xf5 and the powerful knight on e6 cuts the black position in two. ] 19.d4? A blitz move, of course, probably played instantly. [ 19.g5! wins on the spot, the knight cannot 1568
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 be defended, and after xg5 ( 19...xh7?? 20.h5+ mates ) 20.h8+ f7 21.xg5+ g6 22.xa8 Black is a lot of material down. ] 19...c8? [ 19...d8! was still best! ] 20.g5! xg5 Forced. 21.xg5 xh7? [ 21...b5 offered some chances - both ... Qxd5 and ...Qb2 are on the cards. ] 22.h5+ d8 23.e6+ Winning the black queen and the game. xe6+ 24.dxe6 f6 25.xf5 c7 Of course there are always more chances in a blitz game - Black might win on time - but normally he would resign this. 26.0-0-0 a5 27.h1 c6 28.g4 d5 29.f3 e8 30.xd5 d6 31.h7 f8 32.d2 f4 33.e3 f6 34.f4 f8 35.f5 g8 36.f4 f8 37.g5 The g-pawn's advance is inexorable. 1-0
1564 A36 Gonzalez Zamora,Juan Carlos 2517 De la Paz Perdomo,Frank 2442 XIX Carlos Torre Mem (4) 16.12.2006 [John Watson] The Botvinnik System is very popular on every level. In this game W hite space and central control should have been decisive factors, although things got out of control. There are some opening issues that I haven't touched upon previously. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.e4 The anti-Gruenfeld order otherwise 3 g3 might be answered by 3...d5. But this has some funny consequences, so I'd prefer the immediate 3 g3 anyway. d6 4.g3 g7 [ (a) 4...c5 doesn't impress except as a transposition, in view of the independent try 5.g2 c6 6.ge2 e5!? 7.d3 g4 8.h3 f3 9.0-0 and I prefer White. ] [ (b ) A t h o u gh t : 4...c6!? might be antiBotvinnik-ish: A) 5.ge2 e5! ( 5...g4 6.g2 d4 7.h3 f3 8.xf3 xf3+ 9.f1 c5 10.g2 d4 ) 6.f4 ( 6.g2? d3+ 7.f1 g4! 8.f3 gf2 9.c2 g7; It's obligatory to mention 6.d3?? f3# ) 6...g4 ( 6...c5 ); B) Best is probably 5.d4 , but this may not
appeal to Botvinnik System lovers after e5 ( or 5...g7 6.g2 e5 7.ge2 exd4 8.xd4 xe4!? ) 6.d5 d4!? ( or 6...e7 ) 7.e3 g7 8.xd4 exd4 9.xd4 0-0 with plenty of compensation.; C) 5.g2 d4 6.ge2 xe2 7.xe2 g7 8.0-0 c5 ( 8...e5 ) 9.d3 0-0 ( or 9...g4!? 10.h3 e5 11.e3 c6 )] 5.g2 0-0 6.ge2 c5 7.0-0 c6 8.d3 Back to normal. Now Black enters into the traditional manoeuvre: e8 [ 8...b8 9.e3 a6 ] 9.e3 c7 10.d4 cxd4 11.xd4 e5 This primitive move offers Black a way to contest the centre, but he ends up with a pretty normal-looking position. 12.b3 g4 13.c1 e6 [ 13...d7 14.h3 e6 ( 14...e5 15.e3 and Black has gained nothing.) 15.de2! ( 15.xe6 fxe6!? covers d5 and introduces the trap 16.b2? xf2! 17.xf2 b6 and wins ) 15...e5 16.e3 c5 17.c2 a5 18.ad1 ] 14.de2! c5 15.h3 e5 16.e3 c6 [ Perhaps 16...a5 is best, with ...a4 in mind. Black should undertake something. ] 17.d2 e6 18.ad1 A little slow. One option is simply [ 18.f4 a5 19.f5 d7 20.h6! ] [ Or 18.ab1 ] 18...a5 19.b1!? a6?! 20.fc1 d8?! Black's la st two mo ves were u nins pire d . 21.d5 c8 22.b4! e5 23.d4 e6 24.e3 f5 Losing even more squares, but Black has to do something to counter White's p a w n r u s h . 25.exf5 gxf5 26.f4 f7 27.xg7 xg7 28.d4 [ Or 28.c5 dxc5 29.c3+ f6 30.xf6+ xf6 31.b5 c7 32.xc5 ] 28...c7 29.c5 d5 30.b5 e8 31.e1 h5 32.xd5?! OK, but perhaps too fancy. Simply [ 32.c3 g8 33.ec2 reduces Black to complete passivity. ] 32...exd5 33.exf5+ h8 34.e7!? [ It may be better to continue the attack by 34.e6 f6 ( 34...xe6 35.xe6 d4 36.d1! ) 35.xd5 , which keeps the pressure on. ] 34...f6 35.c3 h6 36.e5? [ 36.g6+ h7 37.xf8+ xf8 38.c6 has the idea e4 39.cxb7 xb7 40.c7+ 1569
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f7 41.xf7+ xf7 42.bc1 . That is still not completely clear but must favour White. ] 36...f7 A t t a c k i n g e 7 . 37.be1 xh3 Sudde nly W hite has to ta ke th e mat eria l imbalance seriously. 38.f5!? h7 39.e6 d4?? Time control again! [ 39...e4! threatens e7, and 40.1xe4? ( 40.xd8 xc3 41.xf7 xf7 looks fine for Black, perhaps in his favour) 40...xe7 41.f6 xf6 42.g5+ xg5! 43.xg5 dxe4 gives Black material and attack. ] [ 39...xe7?? 40.g5+ ] 40.d2 d7 41.g5+ h8 42.xh3 The re st is easy. hg4 43.g6+ g7 44.g5 d3 45.xf7 d4+ 46.h1 xf7 47.g5 h7 48.h8+ f8 49.e7+ g8 50.f7+ 1-0
1565 Graf,Alexander Othman,A Moussa Open Dubai UAE (5) [Tony Kosten]
A36 2623 2367 19.04.2002
1.c4 f6 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 0-0 5.e4 c5 6.ge2 c6 7.d3 d6 8.0-0 a6 9.h3 b8 10.a4 b6!? An interesting choice, allowing White to force d4, if he wishes. [ 10...d7 11.b1 e8 12.e3 would have transposed into my game against Tkachiev, V/ France 1999, which is worth a look. ] [ 10...e8 is more normal, heading for d4 via c7 and e6, 11.e3 d4 stopping White from playing d4. ] 11.e3 e6!? An innovation, previously Black had preferred [ 11...b7 Paladini,J-Romano,T/Caorle 1982, or ] [ 11...d7!? 12.d2 ( 12.d4? actually loses a pawn here: c8 13.h2 cxd4 14.xd4 xd4 15.xd4 xc4 but White can always play; 12.h2 first, and then d4.) 12...a5 Galic, Z-Kiroski,T/Pula 1991. ] 12.d2 [ 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 is also perfectly reasonable - White has a pleasant Maroczy position. ] 12...a5?! 13.ab1 Black was threatening to fork White's queen and rook. c6 If this is
Black's best then why put this piece on a5 on the previous move? 14.f4 White decides that Black's ...e6 encourages a kingside attack with f5. b7 15.f5!? [ O b j e c t i v e l y 15.d4 should be best, but White has another plan involving g4-g5, and maybe f6. ] 15...d5!? A good practical try, and following the old adage about countering a wing attack with a push in the centre. 16.exd5 exd5 17.xd5!? Obviously played for tactical reasons, as White knows that conceding his important light-squared bishop is risky. [ 17.xd5 is more natural, but after xd5 18.xd5 b4 ( 18...e5?! 19.c3 allows W hite to maintain a piece on d5) 19.xb7 xb7 20.d4 e8 Black has good p i e c e p l a y f o r t h e p a wn a n d t h e wh i t e position is a bit loose. ] 17...xd5 18.xd5 e7! This must have come as a shock for White, as at first glance it seems to lose a piece. 19.f6 This is not forced, but it is the logical follow-up to White's 17th. [ 19.f4!? xd5 20.xb8 xb8 21.cxd5 d6 also offers Black respectable compensation, this time for the exchange. ] 19...xd5 20.fxg7 e8 Forced, and good. 21.h6 [ 21.cxd5? xd5 22.f2 (what happened to my light-squared bishop?!) f3+ 23.e1 xe3 is crushing for Black. ] 21...f5!? A curious move, [ 21...g5?! is tricky, but after 22.xg5 xe2 23.xe2 xg5 24.cxd5 xg3+ 25.g2 defends. ] [ However, 21...d7 looks good, the knight i s s t i l l s a f e , 22.h2 b4 with good chances. ] 22.g4! Threatening to take on d5, as now Ng3 is possible defending h1 and g2 (with the queen). h4!? [ 22...e7 is a safer choice, but Black insists on sacrificing his knight! ] 23.cxd5 xh3?! A slip. [ 23...xd5 24.f4 xh3 25.g3 bd8 gives lots of play for the piece - Black will always have practical chances against the exposed white king. ] 24.c3! This keeps the b7-bishop from taking on d5 and therefore keeps the long diagonal 1570
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 closed, which is much more important than the kingside pawns. xg4+ 25.g2 d4+ Black doesn't want to play the ending. 26.h2 b5?! Played to displace the knight, but it is too slow. 27.f2! White tries to force-off queens, always a useful resource for a defender. g4 28.f4 xf4+ 29.xf4 b4 30.e4! Without this the position wouldn't be too clear. fxe4? 31.bf1 Rf8+ is unstoppable. 1-0
1566 Gurevich,Mikhail Anand,Viswanathan 10th Corsica Masters KO (2.2) [John Watson]
A36 2648 2779 05.11.2006
How does Anand treat the 'Pure' Symmetrical versus a top-class player? Carefully! 1.c4 c5 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c6 5.a3 At on e p o in t , p eo p le like S e ira wa n we re making us feel that this was some kind of refutation of the Symmetrical! Now it's just an ot he r mo ve . b6 A solid response. 6.b4 b7 7.bxc5 [ 7.b2?! c8 ] [ 7.b5 a5 8.xb7 xb7 9.b2 is a good idea. ] 7...bxc5 8.b1 c8! 9.e4!? Generally t h e s e e a r l y e xp e d i t i o n s d o n ' t b r i n g a n y advantage in the Symmetrical English. Development by [ 9.f3 i s f i n e , a n d e5 10.d5! threatens Rxb7. ] 9...d8! 10.f3 [ Or 10.c2! with the idea f5? 11.b2! ] 10...c6 [ 10...b8 ] 11.h3 e6 [ Or 11...f5 12.c3 xc3! 13.dxc3 f6 ] 12.0-0 f6 13.eg5!? [ 13.d3 is preferable, with the idea xe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.dxe4 0-0 16.f4 These are hard positions to play, and I could easily be wrong in some of these notes. ] 13...xf3 [ 13...d4 14.xc6 xc6 15.e3! h6!? 16.exd4 hxg5 17.xg5 ( 17.d5? a6 ) 17...cxd4 18.d3 with the idea Qf3 - perhaps
a touch better for White? ] 14.xf3 0-0? 15.d3 b8 16.f4 [ 16.xb8 xb8 17.f4 ] 16...d6 17.a4 d7 18.a6? What's the point? The first real mistake of the game. h6 Threatens ...g5-g4. 19.e3 [ 19.d2? g5 wins a piece. ] 19...g5 20.d2 g4 21.g2 f5 [ T h e c o m p u t e r ' s m o v e 21...b2! is surprisingly deadly, with ...f5 to come, and ...Rb6 if needed. ] 22.xb8 xb8 23.b1 xb1 [ 23...b2! ] 24.xb1 d8 25.d2 c6+!? Black doesn't have much to work with after this, but his pieces are more active. 26.xc6 xc6 27.f3 f6 28.c3 d7 29.f2 b6 30.fd1 d4 31.e3 Uh-oh. [ 31.g4! ] 31...e6 32.b5 xb5 [ Or 32...d5 . Suddenly Black has a sure if limited lead. ] 33.cxb5 d5 34.a5 a4 35.f1 f7 36.d1 e5 [ 36...c4 37.dxc4 dxc4 38.e3 c3 39.c2 ] 37.e1 e7 38.d2 f4!? 39.g4! d6 40.c2 d4! 41.d2 e5!? [ 41...c4 42.dxc4 dxc4 with the idea 43.e3? fxe3 44.xe3 xe3 45.xe3 c5 ] 42.e3 fxe3 43.xe3 xe3 44.xe3 d4 45.d2 d5 This looks winning but allows White to escape. Better [ 45...b6 46.b3 d5 47.c2= ( 47.c4 e3+ 48.b3 f1 )] 46.b3! b6 47.a4 c4+ 48.dxc4+ xc4 49.b4 d6 [ 49...e3? 50.a5 ] 50.a3!? [ 50.xd6 xd6 51.b4 d5 52.a5 d6 53.c4 d7 54.d3 d6 55.c4= ( 55.e4?? c5 )] 50...c4 [ 50...b7 51.c2 c5 52.a5 ] 51.b4 d6 52.h3? This seems to lose! Black gains a key tempo. White had to play. [ 52.xd6 xd6 53.b4 c7 54.a5 b7= ] 52...b7! 53.f8 [ 53.c2 c4 54.f8 c5 55.xh6? e4! 56.fxe4 d3+ 57.d1 xe4 ] 1571
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 53.a3 c5+ 54.xc5 xc5 and wins. ] 53...c5+ 54.c2 e6!? [ 54...c4 is a fairly easy win. ] 55.xh6? [ 55.a3 c4 ( 55...c5 56.a5! ) 56.d6 ] 55...c4 56.d2 b4 57.d3 xa4 58.c4 a5 0-1
1567 Gurevich,Mikhail Kasimdzhanov,Rustam Turkish Bank Chess League 2012 (8) [John Bartholomew]
A36 2596 2690 18.7.12
Rustam Kasimdzhanov displays profound handling of a rare Nimzo-ish line of the Pure Symmetrical. 1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 c6 5.e3 [ N o t q u i t e a s p o p u l a r a s 5.f3 , but certainly a very major line of the Pure Symmetrical. ] 5...xc3!? "A move that was touted by John Watson in one of his early books. The idea is to p la y a s o rt o f Nimzo p o sit io n , b u t t h e drawback is that Black has wasted 3 moves to exchange the knight on c3, and weakened his kingside." - Tony Kosten (in his notes to Fridman-Psakhis). Despite the positive statistics (Black scores 60% in limited testing) and alluring alteration of play offered by 5... Bxc3!?, it has never really caught on a serious weapon. Thus, it's extremely enlightening to see how a world-class player like Kasimdzhanov handles this line. See the guide "Pure Symmetrical W ithout Nf3" for coverage of superseding lines (i.e. 5...e6, 5... e5, etc.) 6.bxc3 [ Capturing away from the center with 6.dxc3 has been tried in several games, but the text is undoubtedly more natural. One entertaining game went b6 (Black has many other options) 7.h4!? f6 8.e4 b7 9.e5 h5 10.g4 g7 11.h6 e6 12.e2? c7?! ( Black missed a shot: 12...cd4! 13.cxd4 xg2 14.h2 xd4 ) 13.0-0-0 0-0-0 14.f4 g5!? with bizarre play. Flores, D (2579)-Felgaer, R (2561)/La Plata ARG 2009. ] 6...b6 Playing for a queenside fianchetto gives
White a free hand in the center, but Black is counting on the inherent solidity of his setup. [ In the afore mentioned Fridman-Psakhis game Black played 6...f5 , hindering White's ability to play for e3-e4. The idea of ... Bg7xc3 and a subsequent ...f7-f5 is reminiscent of the "Dzindzi Indian" (1.d4 g6 2.c4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c5 4.d5 Bxc3+ 5. bxc3 f5). White employed an idea that is effective in t h a t l i n e a s we l l : 7.h4! f6 8.h5! obtaining nice play. Fridman, D (2594)Psakhis, L (2545)/ playchess.com INT 2004/ [TonyK]. ] 7.d3 [ White could also play 7.e4 without delay. ] [ Another alternative is 7.h4!? , i.e. f6 8.e4 b7 9.e2 d6 10.d3 d7 11.g5 g4 12.d4 a5! 13.h5 f6 14.c1 g5 Groszpeter, A (2485)-Schlosser, P (2465)/ Lippstadt 199199. ] 7...b7 8.e4 d6 9.f3 [ 9.h4!? is again a legitimate attempt. A few examples: h6 ( 9...f6!? 10.h6 d7 11.h3 c7 12.f4 c8 13.g4 e6 14.f3 0-0-0 15.e2 b8 Stark, L (2430)Tereick, B (2404)/Germany 200709.; 9...h5 10.g5 d7 11.d2 0-0-0 12.e2 e8 13.0-0 b8 14.ad1 e5 15.e3 f6 with chances for both sides, Schwarz, M (2409)-Wintzer, J (2349)/Germany 2008.) 10.h5 g5 11.f4 gxf4 12.gxf4 f5!? (a cool move!) 13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 c7 15.f4 0-0-0 16.e2 f6 17.f3 g4 18.0-0-0 e6 19.he1 a5 Contin, D (2396) -Postny, E (2572)/Lodi 2006. ] 9...d7 The ideal square for Black's queen in conjunction with the queenside fianchetto. Tony refers to this as the "Larsen schema" in homage to the great Dane who successfully employed this setup. 10.0-0 0-0-0 11.d4 e5! Any Nimzo player worth his salt would play this instantly! One admires the overriding positional theme: trade off a bishop, then erect a pawn blockade on the same color as the departed cleric. 12.d5!? White could have deferred this decision, but evidently he felt that his central play wasn't going anywhere. The game now shifts to the flanks. [ In light of what transpires, a waiting strategy looks preferable, i.e. 12.e2!? . ] 12...a5 13.d2 a6 14.e1 b8 1572
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Kasimdzhanov secures his king before undertaking anything active. Smart strategy in a closed position! [ Not 14...xc4?? 15.f1+- ] [ 14...xc4?! 15.xc4 xc4 16.f1 a5 17.c4 is also ill-advised. ] 15.f1 a8 [ 15...f5!? is a more energetic approach. ] 16.a4 [ O f c o u r s e t h e i m m e d i a t e 16.b3!? comes to mind. W hite probably wanted to rule out a4 , i.e. 17.xa5 xd1 ( 17...xa5 leaves the queen very out of play. ) 18.xd1 bxa5 with a position similar to the game (minus queens). Play could continue 19.f4 exf4 20.gxf4 ( or 20.xf4 f6 ) 20...e7 and Black can hope to execute the same maneuver as in the game (...Ne7c8-b6). White will likely be obliged to open the game with e4-e5 in search of counterplay. ] 16...e7 17.b3 f6! Kasimdzhanov is unperturbed! Your engine will no doubt leap at the chance to inflict double isolated pawns upon the Black position, but matters are far f r o m c l e a r . 18.xa5 bxa5 A deceptive position. White cannot really utilize the b-file or attack the a5-pawn, so he switches to kingside play... 19.f4 c8! ...and Black is the one who shows up on the queenside! The knight will be very irritating on b6, and White will have to deal with pressure on a4 and c4 f o r t h e re s t o f t h e ga m e . 20.d3 b6 21.fxe5 fxe5 22.h6 h3!? 23.g5 b8 24.a2 h6 25.c1 hf8! Black is not in a hurry t o co llect t he c4-pa wn. He in st ea d prefers to retain full control of the position [ 25...xc4?! 26.xc4 xc4 27.d3 b6 28.b5 ] 26.f1 xc4 27.xc4 xc4 28.xf8 xf8 29.e2 b6 Black has won a pawn, and the unpleasant threat on f1 keeps Gurevich very tied down. 30.b2 c4 31.e3?! [ 31.b5! was a better try. ] 31...xa4 32.c2 [ 32.xc4 f1+! 33.xf1 xf1+ 34.xf1 xb2 ] 32...h5! An excellent resource. White was all set for Qe2xc4, but this counter brings him back to reality. 33.e1 [ 33.xc4? d1+-+ ]
33...g5 34.f2 xf2 35.xf2 b7 [ 35...e8! was a better consolidating move. The game now becomes a little sloppy, so I assume time was a big factor. ] 36.xa7 d1+ 37.g2 g4 [ 37...g4! ] 38.f7+ a6 39.d7? [ 39.c7! presented more problems, as f3+ 40.g1 xc3 41.f2 can no longer be met by ...Na4-b6. ] 39...e2+ [ 39...f3+! 40.g1 xc3-+ ] 40.f2 xe4+ 41.g1 b6 42.xd6 b1+ 43.g2 a4 44.xb6? [ 44.b8! was correct, i.e. a3 45.xb6 xb6 46.a8+ (this is the point) a7 ( 46...b5 47.xa3 ) 47.c6+ A) 47...a5 48.d6= ( or 48.d6= ); B) 47...b6 48.a8+= ] 44...xb6 45.d7 a5 46.xg4 a3 47.xc4? The final mistake in an extremely tricky position. [ Ne c e s sa ry i s 47.c8! intending a2?! ( 47...a4! ) 48.a8+ a6 49.b8! when the constant threat of mate on b4 allows W hite to escape with a perpetual: b5 50.a7+ a6 51.c5+ b5 52.a7+= ] 47...b2+ 48.h3 a2-+ 49.d6 a1 50.d7 d1! 51.c5+ [ 51.c7+ a4 52.d8 f1+ is similar. ] 51...a4 52.a7+ b3 53.b8+ a2 54.a8+ b1 55.d8 f1+ 56.g4 be2+ 57.h4 xh2+ 58.g4 hh3# The pace of play can slow significantly after the uncommon 5...Bxc3!?. Both sides ought to be well versed in the motifs demonstrated in this game. 0-1
1568 Gurevich,Mikhail Kasimdzhanov,Rustam EUR-ASIA Rapid Match rapid (2) [Tony Kosten]
A36 2633 2704 17.09.2001
1.c4 c5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e3 e6 6.ge2 ge7 7.f4!? As I mentioned last month (September 2001), this is White's only serious attempt at keeping 1573
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 some tension in the position. a6 [ Black aims straight for queenside counterplay, 7...0-0 8.0-0 a6 9.b3 b5 10.b2 b8 is similar, and quite viable too, Miles,A-Akesson,R/Las Vegas 1999. ] 8.b1 b5! [ There is no need to prepare this by 8...b8 altho ugh af te r 9.b3 b5 10.b2 bxc4 11.bxc4 the position was almost identical in Bursteinas,R-Eriksson,J/Paide EST 1999. ] 9.b3 [ 9.cxb5?! axb5 10.xb5 0-0 ( 10...xa2?! 11.d6+ ) 11.c3 a6 12.d3 d5 presents Black with a strong initiative. ] 9...0-0 10.b2 bxc4 11.bxc4 b8 12.a1 xb1 13.xb1 White has skilfully defended against Black's queenside initiative, and the position is equal. e5 14.d3 d6 15.0-0 d7 16.b7 c8 17.b3 d7 18.b1 c6 19.e4?! [ A better way to avoid the exchange of the bishops was by 19.e4 . ] 19...d7 20.b6 White tries to make something out of his b-file domination. a8 21.h3 h8! Black prepares ...g5, when the f4knight would be obliged to give-up its defence of d3. 22.d1?! [ After this move White loses control of the bfile, better 22.b2 as g5?! 23.h5 xd3?! 24.d2 forks d3 and g5. ] 22...c8! 23.b3 b8 24.c2 d7 25.fe2 This highlights my distrust of 7 Nf4: the knight does nothing particularly useful here (except stop Black from playing ...d5) and will only have to come back at some stage. 5c6 26.d2 g7 27.c1 d8 28.d1 a5 29.b1 xb1 30.xb1 b4 31.c2? [ 31.c1 d4 32.xd4 cxd4 33.e2 maintained equal chances. ] 31...d4! 32.xd4 cxd4 33.b1?! [ The ensuing endgame is hopeless, a l t h o u g h i f i n s t e a d 33.b1 e1+ and the queen infiltrates the very heart of the white position. ] 33...c6 34.xb4 xb4 35.e2 xa2 [ 35...e5 36.c1 h6 37.f4 exf4 appears to be good too. ] 36.xd4 xd4 37.xd4 b4 38.b3 [ The problem for White is that if he defends h i s d - p a wn b y 38.f1 then the a-pawn is
difficult to stop: a5 39.b5 ( 39.b3 a4 40.a1 a3 41.d4 a2 42.c5 e5! 43.dxe5 dxc5 creates a second passed pawn.) 39...a4 40.d4 xb5 41.cxb5 a3 42.c4 a2 43.xa2 xa2 44.b6 b4 45.b7 c6 and the knight returns just in time. ] 38...xd3 39.f1 e5 40.c5 a4 41.a5 b5+ 42.g1 dxc5 A second pawn drops and White can resign. 43.f4 d3 44.f1 c4 45.e5 f8 46.g2 b2 47.f2 c3 48.e2 e7 49.e3 d8 50.xb5 axb5 51.d4 a4 Stopping the white king from approaching. 52.d3 c5+! 'Trapping' the white knight. 53.xc3 c7 54.d4 b6 55.g4 xa5 0-1
1569 Hansen,Carsten Meredith,Derek US Amateur Team East (3) [Carsten Hansen]
A36
21.02.2007
1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.a3 e6 6.b1 Also the gambit 6 b4!? can be considered, but I had another idea in mind. a5 7.xc6!? A new move in this position, but the idea is known with the colors reversed after 1 c4 c5 2 Nc3 Nc6 3 g3 g6 4 Bg2 Bg7 5 e3 Bxc3!?, which has been played in several Grandmaster games, hereunder Mednis Larsen, New York 1990, where my compatriot quickly obt ained a clea r a dvant age. Th e circumstances after the text move are somewhat different, but at the board I found the idea worth a try. dxc6 I'm not sure this is Black's best a better choice is most likely 7. . bxc6 followed by ...d6 and ...e5. 8.d3 e7 9.h4!? This simple-looking move has several ideas behind it. The obvious one is to push the pawn to h5 to open the h-file, another is to provoke Black to play ...h5 himself, leaving Black severely weakened on the dark squares on account of his many pawns fixed on light squares. e5 10.h5 0-0 This looks a bit daring, but White doesn't have any immediate threats against the king. 11.hxg6 hxg6 [ 11...fxg6 12.g5 is pleasant for White. ] 12.e4!? [ 12.h6 xh6 13.xh6 f5 14.h2 1574
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is also better for White, but I wanted to keep his knight on e7 contained, in fact it stayed there throughout the rest of the game! ] 12...d6 13.e3 b6 14.d2 d8 15.d1 a6?! Black wanted to connect this rooks and prepare the ...b6-b5 break, but the bishop doesn't belong on this square. Although Black after the game was worried about cutting the queen off from the defense of the kingside, Black should have give preference to 15...Be6 or 15... f6. 16.h6 f6 [ 16...f6 is probably better. ] 17.e3 a7 18.b3 [ 18.xg7 xg7 19.b4!? also looks good. ] 18...ad7 19.e2!? This is not strictly necessary, but I wanted to provoke Black to play ...b6-b5, which looks like a natural way to create counterplay, but in fact speeds up the fall of Black's position. xh6 20.xh6 b5? A s h o p e d a n d e xp e c t e d , it g o e s q u i ck l y downhill from here. A better move is 20...Qg7, leaving W hite with a more tolerable advantage. 21.f3! From this point onwards up to and including move 31 was calculated i n a d v a n c e . a4 Black still thinks he is doing okay and proceeds according to plan. 22.h7+ f8 23.h8+ xh8 24.xh8+ g7 25.xd8 xd8 26.bxa4 bxc4 [ R e l a t i v e l y b e t t e r i s 26...b4 27.a2 with just a clear advantage for White. ] 27.xe5 cxd3+ 28.xd3 b8 Black had pinned his hopes on this move, expecting to penetrate on the queenside. 29.d2! b3 30.c2 Oops, now 30. ..Rxa3 is met with 31. Kb2 and the rook is trapped. b8 31.xc5 c8 32.d8 f5?! In desperate time trouble, Black tries a last trick, not realizing he is b e in g s e t u p . 33.e5 f4 34.g4! f5+?! With seconds left on the clock, Black sees the light at the end of the tunnel. However, 34... Ra 8 3 5 . f 3 wa s t h e m ise ra b le , b u t b e t t e r a l t e r n a t i v e . 35.gxf5 xd8 36.e6+ , and the game is over. 1-0
1570 Hautot,Stephane Benkovic,Petar European Junior Ch (6) [Gary Lane]
A36 2085 2310 1998
1.e4 c5 2.c4 One of the advantages of playing 2 c4 is that Black will no longer be able to play sharp lines against it. This is because the positions tend to be similar to an English or a Closed Sicilian where the pawn on c4 helps to limit Black's usual plan of queenside pawn expansion. c6 3.c3 d6 4.g3 [ 4.d3 f6 ( 4...g6 5.f4 g7 6.f3 f6 7.g3 0-0 8.g2 g4 9.0-0 d4 10.e3 d7 11.d2 xf3 12.xf3 led to equal chances in F.Riegel-C.Koepke, Friedrichroda 1997.) 5.g3 g4 6.ce2 W e l l , t h i s i s p o s s i b l e b u t I p r e f e r ( 6.f3 when the bishop will retreat and later f3-f4 will b e p la ye d wit h o u t lo sin g a n y t im e) 6...d4 7.g2 g6 8.h3 xe2 9.xe2 d7 10.0-0 The position reminds me of a Closed Sicilian. b8 11.e3 b5 12.d2 g7 13.ab1 a5 14.f4 0-0 15.g4 e8 16.f5! With the centre closed White can get away with advancing his kingside pawns. Black is already under pressure giving W hite the better position. e5 17.g3 b4 18.g5 ( 18.g5 f6 19.h4 is good for White) 18...f6 19.h6 g5 20.xg7 xg7 21.f2 f7 22.h1 g7 23.h4 h6 24.h2 b7 25.bh1 when White has the better prospects of making a breakthrough and eventually won after over 100 moves in V. Belan-I. Zaitseva, Serpukhov 1999. ] 4...e6 [ 4...f6 5.g2 e5 6.ge2 e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 d4 9.h3 d7 10.f4 b5 11.xd4 cxd4 12.xb5 xb5 13.cxb5 b6 14.a4 a6 15.bxa6 xa6 16.b3 b8 17.a3! This st ro ng m oves u nd ermine s Blac k's ambitions of active piece play by threatening 18 fxe5 when the d6 pawn will be pinned. exf4 18.e5 d7 19.exd6 xd6 20.xd6 xd6 21.xf4 e6 22.b1 c5 23.h2 d7 24.c2 e6 25.f2 c8 26.e2 Things have become a little clearer. White has a material plus together with passed a and b pawns. All he needs to do is make 1575
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 sure that Black's pieces are not allow to conjure up any tactical threats before making progress. a7 27.h4 and White was better in O.Lesnov-R. Melentiev, Kazan 1997. ] 5.g2 f6 6.ge2 e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.d4 Hautot wishes to open up the position to use his space advantage. Instead, 8 d3 intending f4 is similar to a Closed Sicilian. cxd4 9.xd4 e5 Black takes aim at the c4 pawn but to avoid losing time when White inevitably plays f4, he should have something else planned f o r a f t erwa rd s . 10.b3 a6 11.h3 c7 Black is hoping to play ...b5 based on the pin on the c-file. 12.f4 ed7 13.a4 White has emerged from the opening with the much more comfortable position. The space advantage will allow him to easily manoeuvre his pieces and start a kingside pawn storm. Black has a fairly solid position but his lack of q u e e n s i d e d e ve l o p m e n t i s a wo r r y . e8 14.g4 b6 15.a3 b7 16.c1 g6?! This weakens the dark-squares around the king and is a natural response to the threat of f4-f5. In a passive position it is a miserable task to adopt a policy of wait and see. However, in this situation is appropriate so Black should considered [ 16...c8 17.f5 e5 18.d5 d8 19.e2 is to white's advantage. ] 17.f5 g7 18.d2 fe8 19.g5! White is well placed to attack so takes the opportunity to t hre aten th e de cisive f 5-f 6 in o rde r t o provoke further concessions from Black. gxf5 20.exf5 xg2 21.xg2 exf5 [ 21...e5 22.f6 exd4 23.d5 b8 24.xe7+ f8 25.e4 threatening Qxh7 winning. ] 22.d5 c8 23.c6 xg5 [ 23...xc6 loses the queen after 24.xe7+ xe7 25.xc6 ] 24.xg5 xc6 25.b2 At last the bishop is brought back into the action which finishes Black's resistance. e5 26.f6+ h8 27.h6 1-0
1571 Hulak,Krunoslav Filipovic,Branko Open Pula CRO (3) [Tony Kosten]
A36 2553 2442 13.05.2002
Black leaves his a-pawn en prise for almost the entire game, but White could never take it, and then the a-pawn suddenly surged up the board to decide the game! 1.g3 c5 2.g2 c6 3.c4 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e3 e6 6.a3 ge7 7.b4!? Strictly speaking a novelty, although this is highly reminiscent of the line 5 a3 e6 6 b4!? when, after 6...Nge7, I have suggested 7 e3!?, which would transpose into th is ga m e . 0-0 8.ge2!? White persists in offering the b-pawn. xb4 [ A standard tactic, although in this exact position 8...cxb4!? is interesting: 9.axb4 d5 10.cxd5 xb4! 11.d4 bxd5 White has so m e c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r t h e p a wn , b u t possibly not enough. ] 9.axb4 cxb4 10.d4 bxc3 11.xc3 Normally in these lines Black hasn't castled and so White hasn't been able to recapture th e c3 -p awn so e asily - see Delch ev, A Tukmakov,V, for example. d5 12.cxd5 [ 12.0-0!? dxc4 13.a3 would transpose to the game Gurevich,M-Yudasin,L/Haifa 1995, but the text is more natural. ] 12...xd5 13.xd5 exd5 14.b3 e6 Black is obliged to return a pawn. 15.xb7 c8 16.b3?! [ A bit too ambitious, 16.xc8 fxc8 17.d2 White's better structure offers him a small plus. ] 16...b8! 17.a3 c4! Black exploits the fact that the white king is still in the centre, and tries to keep it there. 18.f1 [ 18.xa7? fc8 19.d2 b2 is not playable for White, the black initiative is too strong. ] 18...c6 19.e2?! [ Probably White should admit that he has not gained anything from the opening and play 19.g2 c4 20.f1 with a repetition. ] 19...h3! Continuing the theme. 20.f3 fe8 21.a4 [ White is already in some trouble, as 21.f2? loses to the pretty xd4! 22.exd4 xe2+! 23.xe2 c2+ 24.d2 e8+ ] 1576
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21...e6 22.f2 h6 23.f4 Black has a solid [ White is trying to create/provoke further initiative and White must already have been weaknesses in Black's camp before finishing regretting his earlier decisions. bc8 24.d2 up his own development. In the only other f5 25.hc1 e4 Now White's light squares game I found with W hite's startling 10th are a concern. 26.f1 move was Zueger, B-Gheorghiu, F/Vienna [ 26.g4!? would have kept the black queen 1986, which proceeded with 11.c2?! f6 away, if only temporarily. ] 12.d3 0-0 13.f3 h3 Based on White's 26...g4 27.xc8 xc8 28.c1 xc1 play in the stem game, I'm not sure I 29.xc1 f8! To win Black will need all his understand what he had in mind as the pieces. 30.e1 logical follow-up to the 10th move. At this [ The a-pawn is still undefended, but still point, he just looks clearly worse and he c a n n o t b e c a p t u re d : 30.xa7?? f3+ h a s n ' t b e e n p a rt i c u l a r ly a g g r e s s i v e i n 31.g1 h1+ 32.f2 xh2+ 33.e1 pursuing the positionally ambitious idea he b4+ ] launched. 14.g5 g2 15.g1 d5 16.f3 30...f3 31.b5?! d7 17.e3 a8 18.f2 a3 , and it is [ 31.e8! must be tried, stopping the darkpretty obvious that White's opening hasn't squared bishop from participating. ] been particularly successful ] 31...h1 32.e2 a5! White is tied-up and 11...e5 can do little to hinder the a-pawn's advance. [ This is probably not a bad move, but I find 33.d2 a4 34.c3 a3 35.g4?! f3 36.f2 that it allows White the kind of play that he xg4 37.g2 f3 38.xh1 xh1 39.b5 is angling for. Black should probably just e4 40.a4 f6 The extra pawn wins easily. have played a simple move like 11...f6!? 41.h4 f7 42.d1 g5! Creating another , e.g. 12.e4 0-0 13.c5!? ( Both passed rook's pawn on the other side of the 13.xf6+ exf6; and 13.xf6 exf6 board. 43.fxg5 fxg5 44.hxg5 g6 45.c1 are decidedly better for Black.) 13...d5 xg5 46.a5 d6 47.d8+ g4 14.f3 d8 15.e4 c4 16.c1 xc1+ 0-1 17.xc1 a8 with an interesting game ahead. ] 12.e4 Karlsson immediately hones in on the 1572 A36 weak dark squares in Black's position. d5 Karlsson,Lars 2485 13.f3 Ugly, but part of the plan. e7 [ Here 13...f6 intending ...Nd7 looks like a Ernst,Thomas 2450 reasonable idea. ] Swedish Team Ch (5) 2007 [ I b e l i e v e , 13...f5 was suggested in the [Carsten Hansen] notes to the game, but this weakens Black's position further and this shouldn't 1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 be this f ar u p on Black's agenda in th e 5.a3 opening. ] [ In the July update we examined 5.b1 b6 ] 5...a6 6.b1 b8 7.b4 cxb4 8.axb4 b5 14.c5 0-0 15.e4 A dual purpose move, White kicks the queen away from the a2-g8 9.cxb5 axb5 10.xc6!? [ In my database I found a bit more than 200 diagonal, but more importantly takes squares games with the position after Black's 9th away from Black's minor pieces, particularly move, but only one featured the main move the knight on e7, maybe a good reason why in this game. The main alternatives are the knight shouldn't have been placed on e7 in 10.f3 (which is part of the repertoire the first place. d6 [ Initially, my computer likes the awkward recommendation in "The Dynamic English" 15...a2 , but it doesn't look particularly by Kosten) ] convincing or even good after 16.c2 f5 [ 10.e3 ] 17.a1 f7 18.a7 with a pleasant game [ 10.h3 ] for White ] [ and 10.e4 ] 16.d3 f5?! 10...dxc6 11.b2!? 1577
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Black plays into White's hands, and I really don't understand Ernst's moves, aside from the fact that he may have been thrown off balance by White's unorthodox opening play. Both 16...e6 ] [ and 16...d8 look like reasonable ideas. ] 17.b3+ h8 18.h4!? [ White plays with a delightful disregard of ru l e s a n d a i m s t o re s t r a i n r a t h e r t h a n develop his remaining pieces, starting with 18.e2 , however, this may be explained by the fact that g5 19.h4 gxh4 20.xh4 a8 while better for White is quite complicated. The text move instead aims to prevent any Black activity. ] 18...fxe4?! [ This doesn't make too much sense why open files that only W hite can reasonably expect to make use of? Instead the wait-andsee move 18...a8!? suggests itself, improving one of the worst placed Black pieces, and also giving the rook the option of participating in the defence of the kingside from a7. ] 19.dxe4 g8 Now you're really left wondering why the d-file needed to be opened... 20.d1 f6 21.h2! h6 22.hd2 ...and now the dfile is all white f7 23.f4 [ My computer gives preference to 23.d7! xd7 24.xd7 , and White completely dominates the position, and an attempt to break free with g5 is coolly met by 25.hxg5 xg5 26.f4 f7 27.f3 g6 28.f2 , and White is winning. ] 23...g4 24.f3 e7? [ Black walks into the execution as if he has nothing better to do. W hy not activate a piece that isn't doing anything anyway? For instance, 24...a8 at least makes an attempt at continuing the game: 25.xe5 xd1 26.xd1 ae8 27.cd7 e7 28.xf8 xe5 29.e6 c4 30.xg7+ g8 31.c5 xg7 32.e5 , and White is a pawn up with what should be a winning position, but at least Black is playing. ] [ T h e s a m e c a n b e sa id a b o u t 24...be8 25.d7 e7 ( 25...xd7 is also problematic for Black 26.xd7 e6 27.xe6 xe6 28.a7 h6 29.dd7 ) 26.xf8 xf8 27.c3 g8 28.fxe5 xf3 29.xf3 xe5 30.b3 , and White is
winning ] 25.d7! Penetration. xd7? [ After the text move, White has several ways to win the game, but you cannot really fault Ern st f o r n o t b e in g in sp ire d b y 25...e8 26.xe5 xd1 27.xf7+ xf7 28.xf7 xf7 29.xf7 xb2 30.xd1 , which ] 26.xd7 e8 27.g5!? [ This is the simple solution, but according to my silicone friend, White has a somewhat more accurate move available in 27.fxe5! , e.g. d8 28.e6 xd7 29.exd7 b8 30.e6 xg3+ 31.d1 , and White will soon have an overwhelming material advantage. ] 27...xg5 28.hxg5 g8 29.xg7! This move completely dissolves any hope Black may have had left. The pin along the long a1-h8 diagonal guarantees that White will get his investment back with interest. xg7 30.xe5 a8 31.e6 aa7 32.xg7 xg7 33.a2 f8 34.e2! and Black resigned the best he can get is a lost pawn ending. 1-0
1573 Khairallah,Faisal Bu Xiangzhi 7th Open Dubai UAE (2) [John Watson]
A36 2298 2630 05.04.2005
Bu Xiangzhi plays the Botvinnik system as White (c4, d3, e4 with Nc3 and Bg2). Here he tries the same thing as Black and demonstrates how to time each move to exert maximum pressure. 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c5 3.g3 c6 4.g2 g6 5.a3 a5 6.d5!? White uses his outpost before the knight can be exchanged. He has a particular idea in mind. g7 [ You never know when someone will carelessly play 6...ge7?? 7.f6# ] 7.h4!? h6 [ 7...ge7 8.d3 xd5 9.cxd5 e7 10.h5 d6 11.hxg6 fxg6 12.g5 is double-edged. ] 8.h5 [ 8.d3 ge7 9.e3 d6 10.h5 g5 11.c2 xd5 12.xd5 0-0 13.0-0-0 and both sides will attack with about equal effectiveness. ] 8...g5 9.b3!? 1578
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ A more subtle setup would begin with 9.d3 ge7 10.d2 ( 10.f4!? ) 10...d6 11.c3 ] 9...d6 10.b2 ge7 11.e3!? [ 11.d3 ] 11...xd5 12.xd5 e7 13.g2 b8! Now ...b5 is a strong idea. White would have avoided these weaknesses by Bd2-c3. 14.f4 gxf4 15.gxf4 g8 16.e2 b5! 17.c3 [ 17.cxb5 xb5 favours Black, who has ideas like ...Be6, ...Qb6, and/or ...Bg4. ] 17...e6 18.cxb5 f6 19.g1 d7! 20.a4 h4+ 21.f1 h3 Suddenly most of Black's pieces are devoted to the attack on the king. 22.fxe5 xg2+ 23.xg2 h3 24.f4 h1+ 25.e2 xg2+ 26.xg2 xg2+ 27.d3 d5+ 28.c2 dxe5 Black has a piece for a pawn, The rest is not difficult. 29.h1 f6 30.e4 e6 31.xa5 c6 32.c3 b4+ 33.b2 d3+ 34.c2 c4 35.b4 e7 36.b1 c8 37.a5 d7 38.g1 xb5 39.g8+ f8 40.h2 a4+ 41.b1 d1+ 42.a2 xb4+ 43.xb4 a4+ 0-1
1574 Kosten,Anthony C Bijaoui,Manuel Montpellier [John Watson]
A36
07.2006
Someone has been saying that Tony is playing 1 e4, but players are always spreading vicious rumours. 1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.ge2 c5 7.0-0 c6 8.d3 We're in a main line of t h e S y m m e t r i c a l E n g l i s h ve r s i o n o f t h e Botvinnik attack. a6 I think that this is a pretty good system. [ Incidentally, has anyone tried to emulate W hite's plan in the reversed position in which he plays 8...g4 A) 9.f3 e6!? - v e r s u s d 4 - ( or here 9...d7 ); B) 9.h3 xe2 ? That is generally considered equal with colours reversed, because (in our position) Black's knights control the dark squares and ...b5 will eventually happen. I'm not sure that things have changed much with a tempo less. ] 9.h3 b8 10.a4 e8
[ In my opinion, 10...d7 is the best move here Michael Rhode played it against me ye ars a go , b ut no t m an y p la yers d o s o today. ] 11.e3! d4 12.b1! Now b4 is coming. Th is is th e sta n da rd p la n t ha t B lac k h a s played for years, and here the tempo counts for something. c7 13.b4 ce6 14.bxc5 [ 14.f4!? ] 14...xe2+ [ 14...dxc5 secures d4, but then f4-f5 becomes an issue, for example, 15.f4 d7 ( 15...f5 16.e5 ) 16.f5 ( or 16.e5 ) 16...xe2+ ( 16...c7 17.g4 ) 17.xe2 d4 18.xd4 xd4 19.xd4 cxd4 20.g4!? with the idea a5 21.c1! xa4?! 22.a1 b5 23.e5! and moves like f6, Qh6/f4, or even Ra2-f2 are getting serious. ] 15.xe2 dxc5 16.f4 d4 17.e5 [ or 17.g4 , but after e5, Black has to be careful that White doesn't simply capture on d4 and make that pawn a permanent target. ] 17...f6 Already a little nervous? 18.xd4 cxd4 19.exf6! xf6 Now Black's pawn structure is crippled, but he won't like [ 19...exf6? 20.d5+ h8 21.xd4 xh3 22.f2! , and Ba7 threatens, but so does g4. ] 20.d2 f5 21.b3 h5 22.fe1 The professional move. [ 22.a5 is an option, but why risk that the fluky ...e5 might free Black's game? ] 22...h8 23.a5 d7 24.h2 fe8 25.a3! making the way for the rook. e5 [ Sitting around would lead to death: 25...g7 26.b6 h7 27.eb1 etc. ] 26.b6 d8 27.c6! Winning. A perfect technical game by the Master of the W eb. Strange, however, that Black keeps walking into the same bad position (literally, the same position) in the opening. xc6 28.xc6 bxc6 29.b4 c7 30.d6 xd6 31.xd6 exf4 32.xd4+ g8 33.xe8+ xe8 34.gxf4 h4 35.d6 e2+ 36.g1 xh3 37.xg6+ 1-0
1579
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1575 Kosten,Anthony C Chabanon,Jean Luc TCh-FRA Top 16 (9) [Tony Kosten]
A36 2501 2411 05.05.2006
1.c4 f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.ge2 c5 7.0-0 c6 8.d3 On our previous game together we had the same position, except with colours reversed! I couldn't resist the joke! d7 9.h3 b8 10.e3 [ 10.b1 might be more accurate, so that a6 11.a4 and White is ready to answer any move by the c6-knight with b4. e8 12.e3 is m y game aga inst T kachiev - see th e archives. ] 10...a6 11.d4? I don't know why I played this move! I thought of quickly offering a draw in the hope that my opponent would accept without looking at the position! But then it occurred to me that a draw offer would look a bit suspicious so early. [ 11.a4 is right, and I have played it before in similar position s, but I wa s pe rsua din g myself that Black could profit from the fact that he hasn't played . ..Ne8, by playing a5 12.b3 b5 say, but 13.axb5 axb5 14.cxb5 xb5 15.b4! cxb4 16.xb5 xb5 17.a4 is quite awkward for Black. ] 11...cxd4 12.xd4 xd4?! After playing my eleventh move I suddenly realised that it was a mistake, and, while my opponent was away from the board, feverishly tried to find a good line for me after [ 12...c8! and the only move I could see was 13.a4! ( 13.h2?! xd4 14.xd4 xc4 15.xf6 xf6 16.d5 xb2 leaves Black material ahead, Aarland, SDiesen, B/Norway 1990, and; 13.h4 xd4 14.xd4 e6 15.b3 xe4!? 16.xe4 xc3 likewise, Calin, M-Daillet, E/France 1989.; 13.d5 managed to save a draw in Mueller, A-Hohlfeld, M/Wuerttemberg 1993, but after the xd5 14.cxd5 xd4 15.xd4 xh3 16.xg7 xg7 17.c1 d7 18.d4+ f6 19.xh3 xh3 20.c7 f7 of the game, 21.b6 fd8 22.xb7 xb7 23.xb7 h5! Black has a dangerous attack. ) 13...b5! ( 13...xh3 14.b6 c7 15.xh3 xb6 16.e6; 13...xd4
14.b6! ) 14.cxb5 axb5 15.xc6 xc6 16.b6 but now e6! ( 16...b7 17.d5 e6 18.xf6+ xf6 Reuben, S-Neese, H/ Dresd en 20 0 3, an d n o w 19.h6 fd8 20.e2 keeps the game level) 17.e1!? ( 17.f3 d5 18.b3 dxe4 19.xe6 fxe6 is a bit miserable) 17...xe4 18.c1 b7 19.f3 xg3 20.f4 xa2 21.xg3 winning a piece for a lot of pawns. At least this is better than the other tries! ] 13.xd4 Now White is OK. c8 [ 13...c8 is met by A) 14.xf6 xf6 15.d5 xh3 ( 15...xc4 16.xf6+ exf6 17.xd6 is a little better for W hite Konjkova, LYurieva, R/Dagomys 2004) 16.xf6+ exf6 17.xh3 xh3 18.xd6 be8 with e qu alit y, La rsen , F-A bild lu nd , J / Denmark 1993; B) 14.e5! (obvious, yet never played!) dxe5 15.xe5 a8 16.xf6!? xf6 17.d5 xh3 18.b6 c5 19.xa8 xg2 20.xg2 xa8 21.e2 Black's position is solid, but an exchange is an exchange! ] [ 13...e5 14.a7!? ( 14.e3 ) 14...c8 15.xd6 xc4 looked equal in Kron, VTregubov, P/Voronezh 1991. ] 14.d3 [ 14.b3?! allows b5 as 15.cxb5? e5 wins a bit. ] 14...e6 15.b3 d7 16.xg7 xg7 17.f4 I was very happy with my position now, a nice space advantage, and no obvious counterplay for Black. f6 Else f5 wins the bishop. 18.h2 c5 19.e3 Planning Rad1 and e5, attacking on the colour complex where Black appears strongest. c7 20.d5! This is not forced, but the resulting position is clearly better for White without any risk. xd5 21.exd5 b5? This was played 'Ã! tempo', Black tries to justify his preceding play by opening the queenside. However, I thought the only move was [ 21...a5 to keep the knight on c5. ] 22.cxb5! axb5 23.b4 a4 24.ac1 d7 25.c6! it seems like Black has opened the queenside, ... for White! a8 26.fc1 a7 27.1c2! This stops ...Nb2 and keeps the knight stuck on the rim. b8 28.h4 ab7 29.h3 f5 30.d4+! Maybe this move is not 1580
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 10.h3 i s s t a n d a r d , e8 11.e3 can be answered by d4 ( or 11...e5!? as seen in Romero Holmes, A-Hebden, M/ Du b lin 2 0 1 2 .; 11...c7 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 see Esen, B-Vovk, A in the Archives. ) 12.b1 c7 and Black has a vo i d e d m a ki n g a m o ve wit h h is l i gh t s q u a r e d b i s h o p , 13.b4 see Kosten, ABijaoui, M in the PGN Archive. ] 10...d7 11.h3 Now that Black has moved her bishop White must prepare to play Be3 and d4. e8 Black has also been careful not to lose a tempo, waiting for White to play h3 bef ore sta rt ing t he st an da rd kn ight to ur. 12.e3 c7 [ Now 12...d4 can be answered by 13.b4 c7 14.bxc5 ( 14.a5 ) 14...dxc5 15.f4 intending e5, Kovacevic, B (2473)Vedmediuc, S (2396)/Timisoara 2008. ] 13.d4 cxd4 [ Normal, although the Petrosian-like 13...b6 is certainly possible, 14.b3 ( 14.f4 a5 15.b3 Webster, A (2417)-Bates, R (2357)/ W i t l e y 2 0 0 0 .) 14...e5 see Kosten, ATkachiev, V, in the PGN Archive. ] 14.xd4 b5! This is the advantage of having t h e b i s h o p o n d 7 , B l a c k e xc h a n g e s t h e queenside pawns and equalises. [ 14...e6 15.de2 a5! 16.b3 b5 is another good line, Hruska, T (2200)Arnason, J (2410)/Prague 1980. ] [ 14...xd4 15.xd4 xd4 ( 15...b5 16.xg7 xg7 17.b4 bxa4 18.xa4 Tisdall, J (2425) -Hellers, F (2565)/ Skei 1993. ) 16.xd4 b5 17.cxb5 transposes. ] 1576 A36 15.cxb5 [ 15.xc6 xc6 16.axb5 axb5 17.c5 Kosten,Anthony C is n o t h in g , dxc5 18.xc5 Valkesalmi, K Foisor,C (2366)-Hentunen, A (2327)/Finland 2009, Rhone 06.07.2010 e8 ] [Tony Kosten] 15...xd4 16.xd4 xd4 17.xd4 axb5 1.c4 g6 2.c3 g7 3.g3 c5 4.g2 c6 18.axb5 This is almost invariable played here, 5.e4 Although I knew that objectively this and a draw is soon agreed. [ 18.a5?! b4 19.d1 e6 20.d5 b5 Botvinnik setup didn't give W hite any 21.d2 xa5 is certainly no improvement, advantage, I had been playing it a lot against Lowsky, S (1858)-Jimenez, J (2191)/ KID players, and scoring very heavily as they Cenfotec 2003. ] never really seemed to know what they were [ H o w e v e r , I d i d c o n s i d e r 18.b3!? doing! a6 6.ge2 b8 7.a4 d6 8.0-0! f6 which might offer better chances to obtain 9.d3 0-0! 10.b1 Battling for a tempo, I some advantage. ] wanted to wait for Black to move her bishop 18...xb5 This position was actually agreed before I played h3. the best objectively, but it gives Black a very difficult choice to make. [ 30.f1 was tempting, targeting the weak bpawn and stopping the knight returning via b6, as the trick b6? loses to 31.d4+ h6! ( 31...g8?! 32.xb5 xd5 33.xd5+ is check! ) 32.xb5 xd5 33.b6! and wins a piece. ] 30...f7 31.h5! There is no point trying to win on the queenside when you can mate your opponent! d8 What else? Pawn to h6 is a devastating threat, and [ 31...g8 32.h6! menaces the exceedingly nasty move 33 Rc8!, and so, af ter bb8 33.c7 d8 34.e3 and Qe6+. ] [ 31...gxh5 is also hopeless, 32.d3 g6 33.e2 f8 34.e6+ f6? 35.xf5+ ] 32.g4 When you have a space advantage it is well known that you can switch your forces to either side more easily than the defender. Here the white pieces flood to the kingside and the black pieces can only watch from afar. h8 33.e3 fxg4 [ 33...f6? 34.g5 a1 35.e6+ g7 36.h6+ f8 37.c8+ mates. ] 34.e6+ g7 35.c8 Trapping the queen in an unusual manner. gxh3 36.xh8 xh8 Material is level, but the white attack persists, in fact, I had already analysed till the end of the game some moves before. 37.hxg6 hxg6 38.f5! gxf5 39.c1! Now mate is unavoidable. h6 40.g1+ 1-0
1581
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 drawn in Gurevich, M (2585)-El Taher, F (2445)/ Tanta 1997! [ 18...xb5 is not quite as accurate, 19.fd1 e6 20.e3 c4 ( 20...b6 Cummings, D (2341) -Bjarnason, S (2092)/Reykjavik 2012, 21.xb6 xb6 22.d5 b7 23.e5! ) 21.e5 b3 22.d2 b6 23.exd6 xe3 24.fxe3 exd6 25.xd6 winning a pawn, although Black has plenty of compensation, Grefe, J (2425)-Ghizdavu, D (2410)/ Mentor 1977. ] 19.xb5 xb5 Black has one pawn island, White two, and while he has a passed b-pawn this will not go very far. [ 19...xb5 is similar, 20.b4 b6 21.xb6 xb6 22.fc1 fb8 23.c7 1 / 2 - 1 / 2 W e d b e rg, T ( 2 4 5 5 ) -H e lle rs, F (2565)/ Sweden 1993. ] 20.fd1 Nominally a new move, but [ 20.fc1 is just as good, and maybe very slightly better, b6 ( 20...d7 21.a1 fc8 22.xc8+ xc8 equal, Heine, R (2 0 2 4 ) - L e m l i , T ( 2 0 9 9 ) / M u e n s t e r l a n d 2003. ) 21.xb6 xb6 22.c7 1/2-1/2 Flores, D (2514)-Gruenfeld, Y (2478)/ Tarragona 2006. ] 20...b6 21.b4 xd4 22.xd4 fc8 23.f1! c2 24.xb5 xb5 25.d5! Fighting not to be worse! b6 26.b5 f8 27.g2 And I here offered a draw, seeing that it was next to impossible to advance my bpawn any further. e8 I was surprised that my opponent played on here, perhaps she was hoping to improve her abysmal score against me, but I wasn't too worried as the last time we had played she had lost a totally drawn rook and pawn ending very quickly. 28.d4 c5 29.db4 d7 30.1b3 c8 31.f4 h5 32.f3 There is not that much that White can do here, but wait to see how Black manages to move the rook from b6 without letting the b-pawn advance. f6 33.g4 h4!? 34.e3 g5 35.f5 d7 36.d4 e5+ 37.fxe6+ xe6 38.b1 e5 39.4b2 d7 40.b4 c7 41.c4+ d7 Deciding to repeat. [ I had expected 41...b7 when I was ready to switch to the f-file: 42.f1 ( 42.bc1 bxb5 43.c7+ i s a l s o p o s s i b l e .) 42...exb5 43.xf6 b3 44.f7+ a6 45.f5 xh3 46.xg5 which should be drawn, but I would be happy to have the
nicely centralised king here. ] 42.cb4 c5 43.1b3 e7 44.b1 e6 45.1b2 e5 46.2b3 c5 47.b1 d7 48.1b2 e5 49.2b3 c5 ½-½
1577 Kosten,Anthony C Kengis,Edvins Golden Cleopatra (8) [Tony Kosten]
A36 2545 2581 09.06.2003
This is the shortest game I have ever annotated for ChessPublishing.com, but led me to a profound reflection on the merits of t h i s l i n e ! 1.g3 My opponent is a specialist in the English Defence (1...b6) so this is a good way of bringing him to my territory! g6 2.c4 c5 3.g2 g7 4.c3 c6 5.e3 I normally avoid this, as it is very drawish, but decided to try it armed with a couple of new ideas in the mainline. e6 6.ge2 ge7 7.d4 [ 7.0-0 0-0 8.d4 transposes. ] 7...cxd4 8.xd4 d5 9.cxd5 exd5! After the game my opponent told me that Kasimdzhanov had once revealed to him that Black should recapture this way, as "Black frees his queen's bishop, and meanwhile the bishop on c1 has no squares". Impeccable logic! He also told me that he felt that White always retains a small but nagging advantage after [ 9...xd4 10.exd4 xd5 , which transposes to Bacrot,E-Vaisser,A/ Marsailles FRA 2001, and was the line I had expected, when I now intended 11.0-0 0-0 12.b3 xd4 13.xd5 exd5 14.h6 g7 15.xg7 xg7 16.xd5 f6 all as in the Bacrot game, and now ( 16...a5 17.ac1 a4 18.c3+ f6 19.xf6+ xf6 20.c7 offers White a tiny edge, as in Andersson,U-Gheorghiu,F/Moscow 1981) 17.fc1 e8 which has been seen before, followed by my new idea, the surprising 18.e1! when Black has no better than e7 19.xe7 xe7 20.c3+ g8 21.e1 with advantage. ] 10.0-0 0-0 [ 10...xd4 11.exd4 0-0 12.g5 f6 13.e3 is pleasant for White. ] 1582
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.b3!? I was still hoping to transpose into my preparation, but perhaps I should have preferred [ 11.b3!? e6 ( 11...b6!? is interesting, 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5 b4 14.g2 e6 wh e n t h e t h re a t o f . . . Nxa 2 re ga in s t h e pawn ) 12.c5 b6 13.xe6 fxe6 14.d2 d7 when White has the bishop pair, but the black position looks quite attractive to me , G e orgad ze ,G -No rwo o d ,D/ Ca lcu t t a 1994. ] [ 11.de2 has the idea of playing against an I Q P , b u t B l a c k i s v e r y a c t i v e : g4!? ( 11...f5!? 12.xd5 xd5 13.e4 xe4 14.xe4 db4 15.c3 e8 16.g2 d3 is also fine, Gufeld,E-Ubilava,E/Tbilisi 1980) 12.h3 xe2 13.xe2 b6! planning Rd8, d4. ] 11...xd4 And this was accompanied by a draw offer, and as I was already feeling a little guilty about p laying this (d rawish) line, I accepted. [ After 11...xd4 12.exd4 Black intended c6 ( or 12...f5 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 xd4 15.g5 h3!? 16.ad1 xg2 17.xg2 e6 18.e7 fc8 which looks fairly level, but White went on to win, Benko, P-Geller,E/ Wijk aan Zee 1969; 12...xd4?! 13.h6 transposes to the note to move nine. ) 13.xd5 A) or 13...xd4 14.g5 b6!? ( 14...xd5 15.xd5 transposes to the Benko game ); B) 13...xd4!? 14.xd8 ( 14.g5 b6 ) 14...xd8 15.g5 f6 16.f4 f5 with complete equality, Doda,Z-Donner,J/ Havana 1965. ] ½-½
d4. 5.e4 White decides to play a Botvinnik System, this is a solid system, W hite shouldn't lose, but it can be difficult to win. It is an ideal weapon to have in your repertoire for situations where a) You need to make a draw to win the tournament, and b) You wish to make a d raw a gainst a mu ch st ronge r opponent. This game, an important cup match where the first board (this one) counts for mo re , co m e s in t o ca te go ry b ). I wa s t h e ' n e u t r a l i s e r ' ! c5 The best answer , in my opinion, Black controls d4, but keeps the a1-h8 diagonal open. 6.ge2 c6 7.0-0 a6 8.d3 b8 Black is looking for action on the queenside. 9.a4 It might sound crazy, but this move, which seems to concede control of b4, actually helpsforcethemoveb4! d6 10.b1 d7! Once again the most precise, the immediate [ 10...e8 allows W h it e t o p la y 11.e3 without preparation. ] 11.h3 Otherwise Be3 would be answered by ... Ng4. e8 Now is the time to set-off on the journey through c7, and e6, to the crucial square d4. 12.e3 White threatens d4, with a Maroczy-style position. c7 Best, [ occupying d4 by 12...d4 might look right, b u t it a llo ws 13.b4! and as mentioned on move nine, it is White who gets to play this move, xe2+ 14.xe2 cxb4 15.xb4 although even this is not mu ch af te r b5 Lauvsnes,A-Bjerke,R/NOR ch 1989. ] 13.d4 White has to play this now, before Black brings a further piece to bear on d4 by ...Ne6. b6!? Black tries to preserve the tension in the position, as the responsibility on him to win was great. [ 13...cxd4 Is the normal move, but after 14.xd4 xd4 15.xd4 b5! Black liquidates the queenside, 16.xg7 1578 A36 xg7 Tisdall,J-Hellers,F/Skei Masters 1993, with a certain draw. ] Kosten,Anthony C 2502 14.b3 e5 Black's idea, he wants to establish a Tkachiev,Vladislav France 06.1999 piece on d4. 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.d5 e6 17.f4 I decided to start undermining d4 [Tony Kosten] straight-away, the d5-knight is untouchable, of 1.c4 g6 2.g3 A tricky move order, where course. exf4 18.gxf4 ed4 19.xd4 xd4 W hite avoids the Hedgehog Defence. g7 20.b4 Attacking the other support of d4. e8!? 3.g2 f6 4.c3 0-0 A common problem I had assumed that [ 20...a5 was the only move against the for 'English' players who don't wish to play threat of a5, undermining the black darkmain line King's Indians- how to avoid playing 1583
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 squared pawn chain, when I intended 21.e5 because f5? is impossible owing to 22.bxa5 xe3 23.xe3 and capturing the a-pawn loses a piece. ] 21.e5 At the last minute I decided to play this anyway, although I liked the look of [ 21.a5 bxa5 22.bxc5 because the c-pawns appear more useful than the black a-pawns, but xb1 23.xb1 e2+ 24.h2 g5!? appeared very messy. ] 21...h4 Pestering the loose white kingside. 22.f2 h6 23.xd4 [ 23.c7 is decentralising, and after ed8 ( or 23...xf4 ) 24.xa6 bc8 25.bxc5 bxc5 26.xc5 f5 Black has excellent play for the pawns. ] 23...cxd4 24.xd4 xh3 25.b3 The rook is needed to protect the white king. The position may be equal, but I felt that the powerful d5-knight was likely to prove more useful than the black bishop. xg2 26.xg2 h4 Rh3 was the menace, winning the black queen. 27.h3 g4+ Avoiding the little trap: [ 27...xe5?? 28.d1 and Black drops a piece. ] 28.g3 e6 29.b5! Otherwise Black would u n d e r m i n e t h e d 5 - k n i g h t b y . . . b 5 . axb5 30.axb5 b7 31.f2 Consolidation. h5!? A time-trouble decision, Black wants to hit the rook with ...h4, and then play ...Qg4+, but there is a flaw. [ I was hoping for 31...a8 32.e4 c8?! when 33.f5! a4 34.fxg6 fxg6 leads to a strong attack, i.e. 35.xg6!! hxg6 36.xg6 xc4 37.f6+ f8 38.e6! and Black must find some good moves to avoid defeat. ] 32.f5! xe5 Best, neither [ 32...gxf5 with 33.f6+ f8 34.xg7! winning, or ] [ 32...xe5? 33.e4 c8 34.fxg6 with the same result, are feasible. ] 33.xe5 xe5? Zeitnot, [ 33...xe5 was forced, 34.fxg6 h4 35.gxf7+ xf7 36.xf7 xf7 37.f3+ e6 38.xb6 and although Black has some work to do, he must have good drawing chances. ] 34.e3? Also short of time, I commit an inaccuracy, I couldn't see any diff erence between this move and [ 34.e2! but there is an important one: now h8 loses 35.fxg6 f6 36.xf6 f8 37.g7+
winning material. ] 34...g7? [ 34...h8! permitted Black to continue, 35.fe2 f6 36.xf6 and now f8 the point! 37.d5 d4 38.e4 c5 39.fxg6 g7 with drawing possibilities. ] [ Not 34...f6 because of 35.xf6+ ] 35.f6+ h6 36.fe2 The bishop is lost. c8 37.xe5 xc4 38.e7 The rest is too easy for W hite. b8 39.xf7 c5 40.c7 b7 41.ee7 c2+ 42.f3 And the moral of this game is that: 'playing for a draw often wins'! [ 42.f3 b8 43.h7+ g5 44.f7 ] 1-0
1579 Larsen,Bent Tal,Mihail Bugojno [Nigel Davies]
A36
1980
1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.e3 c6 5.e2 d6 6.bc3 d7 7.b3 a6 8.b2 b5 9.d3 b8 10.d2 a5 [ The natural move was 10...f6 though Tal might not have liked 11.d5 . ] 11.0-0 f6 12.ad1 e6?! This seriously weakens the dark squares and allows Larsen a powerful reply. [ 12...0-0 when White has an interesting line in 13.xc6!? xc6 14.d5 d8 15.xf6+ xf6 16.xf6 exf6 17.e4 f5 18.exf5 f6 19.f4 , which seems to be a bit better for him. ] 13.d4 0-0 [ 13...bxc4 14.dxc5 xc5 ( 14...d5 15.e4 ) 15.a4 ] 14.dxc5 [ 14.d5 is also worth considering here, for example exd5 15.xd5 xd2 ( 15...xd5 16.xg7 xg7 17.b2+ f6 18.xd5 is also very good) 16.xd2 e8 17.xg7 xg7 18.c1 gives White the better endgame. ] 14...dxc5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.a4 This leads to the break up the duo of pawns on b5 and c5 and opens the b2-h8 diagonal. bxa4 17.xa4 b4! 18.e5 [ And not 18.xf6? xf6 19.xd7 b e c a u s e o f fd8 20.xc5 ( 20.b6 1584
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is necessary, but better for Black after he takes it with his queen) 20...xc5 21.a4 xd1 22.xd1 c2 23.e1 d2 24.f1 d3 25.b1 c2 winning material. ] 18...bd8 [ In his brilliant youth Tal might well have played 18...xa4! a f t e r w h i c h 19.xb8 xb3 20.a1 e4 21.xa5 xd2 22.d6 e8 23.xc5 d3 24.c1 xc5 25.xc5 xf1 26.xb3 b8 27.xf1 xb3 se e s B la c k t h re a d his wa y t hro u gh t h e complications to equality. ] 19.b2 xa4 20.xd8 xd8 21.bxa4 e8 [ After 21...d3 22.c3 xc3 23.xc3 d5 24.xg7 xg7 25.a1 White is better because of the passed a-pawn. But this might have been better than the game. ] 22.xg7 xg7 23.c3 d3 24.c2 b4 A sub optimal move in time trouble. 25.e4?! [ White in turn should probably have played the sensible 25.b3 . ] 25...d3 26.c4 e5 27.b3 c4 28.c2 f5?! [ 28...f5 would have been much sounder, the text weakens Black's kingside. ] 29.b1 d3 30.c1! e8 31.b2 d6 32.e2 b3 33.d4 d3?! [ 33...df7 was better. ] 34.a1 d2 35.d4! d3? [ And here Black should play 35...f7 . ] 36.c6 c7 [ 36...xc1 37.xc1! makes it impossible for Black to defend his rook. ] 37.b1 xf2 38.b8+ f7 39.d8+ e8 40.c6+ 1-0
[ Perhaps White should go all out to frustrate ... Nc7-e6 by playing 8.f4 d6 ( 8...c7 9.f5 ) 9.d3 c7 ( 9...f5 ) 10.f5 b8!? ( 10...e5 11.g5! h6 12.e3 g4 13.d2 d7 14.h3 e5 15.c2 ) 11.g5 a6 12.d2 ] 8...c7 9.e3 [ Before the knight gets to e6, White could try 9.f4 f5 ( One line after 9...e6 is 10.f5 ed4 11.xd4 xd4 12.g5! intending Nd5, and if h6 , 13.xe7!? xe7 14.f6 e5 15.fxg7 xg7 16.d2 d6 17.d5 ) 10.e3 d6 11.exf5 xf5 12.d4 ] 9...e6 10.f4 d6 Black holds off on ...Ned4 until he can see what his opponent is doing. 11.d2 ed4 12.ab1 b8 13.b3 a6 14.h3 b5 15.h2 b4 16.d1 xe2 17.xe2 d4 18.xd4!? xd4 19.e3 Apart from this outpost Black can always play ...f5 if needed. a5 20.c2 c3 21.e3 b6 The move d4 is W hite's only counterplay. 22.f5 [ 22.bd1! a4 23.d4 a5 and Black is making more progress. W hite can try to neutralize bishops now that he has d4 in: 24.dxc5! ( 24.f5 axb3 25.axb3 a2 and ...Qxb3. W hite has nothing to do and Black is already mopping up the queenside.) 24...dxc5 25.e5 axb3 26.axb3 f5 . This is a reasonable plan for White even if he now has to play passively by. 27.f2= ] 22...a4 23.h4 axb3 24.axb3 g7 25.f3 b7 26.e3 d4 27.h3 a8 28.f2 d8 29.f4 e5 30.g4 d4 Black's bishops and a8 rook are better than W hite's pieces but he's looking for a way through. You have to play on both sides of the board in this kind 1580 A36 o f p o s i t i o n . 31.f4 c6 32.bf1 d7 Laylo,Darwin 2444 33.g2 e5 34.f3 a3 35.b1 e6! De Firmian,Nick E 2626 36.h1? [ 36.g4 c3 37.fxe6 fxe6 38.e3 d4 HB Global Chess Challenge (7.28) 21.05.2005 39.h6+ h8 and any attack that White [John Watson] had as vanished. The rest is pretty obvious. ] Last time we talked about c4, d3, e4 structures in The Symmetrical English. This 36...gxf5 37.exf5 c8 38.f1 ...Bc6 couldn't t i m e w e s e e t h e s t a n d a r d d e f e n s i v e be stopped c6 39.f6+ h8 40.h5 d4 maneuver against it. Can White prevent this? 41.d5! a8 42.e7 a1 43.xa1 xa1+ 1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 44.h2 xg2 45.xg2 g1+ 46.h1 f2+ 5.e4 f6 6.ge2 0-0 7.0-0 e8!? 47.h2 xf6 0-1 Heading for d4! 8.d3 1585
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1581 Makarov,V Zherebukh,Yaroslav TCh-UKR Alushta UKR (2) [John Watson]
A36 2262 2159 08.04.2005
1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.d3 e6 6.e4 ge7 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 d6 9.a3 Since the kingside is so solid for Black, White tries the queenside. b6 10.b1 b7 11.b4 d7 All these moves are standard and have been played many times. But now White embarks upon a useless kingside expansion. 12.h1 d4 13.f4 ad8 14.xd4 cxd4 15.e2 f5 16.b3 h8 17.e1 [ White is drifting. It may time to try to force the pace and stabilise matters via 17.b2 fxe4 18.dxe4 e5 19.d3= This position arises in the game anyway. ] 17...fxe4!? [ 17...c8 18.b2 e5 intending ...b5 would keep some pressure on White. ] 18.dxe4 e5 19.g1!? with the idea Bh3, but White has to watch his e-pawn. b5!? 20.cxb5 xb5?! The right idea, but Black misses the chances for the immediate [ 20...d5! 21.fxe5 dxe4 ] 21.a4 d7 22.f3 d5!? 23.xe5 Else the centre collapses. xe5 24.fxe5 dxe4 25.e6! c8 26.g5?! Now Black's pawns crash through. Better was [ 26.h6! and if e3 , 27.xf8 xg2+ 28.xg2 a8+ 29.g1 xf8 30.f1 ] [ 26.b2!? pinning the dangerous d-pawn is n o t s o c l e a r a f t e r f2! ( 26...e3?? 27.xe3 ) 27.xe4 a8 28.d3? ( 28.g1 xb2! ) 28...xe4+ 29.xe4 ( 29.xe4 d2! ) 29...f1+ 30.g2 xe4+ 31.xe4 xb1 32.xd4+ g8 etc. ] 26...e3! 27.e2! [ 27.xe7 xg2+ 28.xg2 b7+ 29.g1 f2! 30.f6+ xf6 31.f1 xf1+ 32.xf1 e2 33.e1 d3 and the pawns roll home. ] 27...f2? Black should pursue his advantage by [ 27...xg2+ 28.xg2 ( 28.xg2 f5! 29.xe7 b7+ 30.g1 xe7 and White can hardly move. )] 28.xf2 exf2 29.b2? [ 29.f1 ] 29...f8?! Black should simply keep the bind
by At this point W hite resigned, quite prematurely. He should play [ 29...xe6 intending 30.xf2 xg2+ 31.xg2 f5! ] 30.f4 , e.g., xg2+ 31.xg2 c6+ 32.xf2 g5 33.xd4+ g8 34.e1 , although the piece for two pawns leaves Black better after something like gxf4 35.gxf4 c2+ 36.g1 xa4 37.c5 e8! 0-1
1582 Markowski,Tomasz Iotov,Valentin IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (5) [Carsten Hansen]
A36 2598 2531 25.04.2008
1.g3 c5 2.g2 c6 3.c4 g6 4.c3 g7 5.b1 Without a2-a3 thrown in first, this move looks odd, but of course it invites Black to enter the usual lines after 5...Rb8 6 a3 a6 - a line which we will return to in next month's update thanks to fascinating new idea I came across this summer... b6 6.e3 [ White has tried a number of other things at this juncture: A) 6.a3 b7 7.b4 ( 7.d3 c8 8.e4 f6 9.ge2 0-0 10.b4 d6 11.0-0 d4 12.h3 d7= Juhasz, L-Vratonjic, S/ Senta SCG 2006) 7...cxb4 8.axb4 c8!? 9.d5?! ( 9.e4 seems to prevent some of th e h e a d a ch e s W h ite e n co u n t e r in t h e game continuation after the text move, but Black can sharpen the game further with f5!? 10.ge2 fxe4 11.xe4 f6 with an unclear position) 9...e6 ( 9...d4!? ) 10.e3 d4 ( 10...e5!? ) 11.f3?! ( 11.f3 xf3+ 12.exf3 e7 13.b2 xb2 14.xb2 0-0= ) 11...e7 12.h3 0-0 13.b2 b5 Raicevic, V-Forintos, G/Novi Sad 1974 ] [ B) 6.d3 b7 7.e4 A) 7...e6 has lead to a couple of quick draws in games by the Swiss IM Zueger, though he always seems to be slightly better 8.ge2 ge7 9.0-0 0-0 10.e3 d6 ( 10...d4 11.d2 ec6 1/2-1/2, Zueger, B-Stohl, I/Prague 1996, and now 12.g5 c7 13.h6 ) 11.d4 e5 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.xd8 axd8 14.d5 1/2-1/2 Zueger, B-Gheorghiu, F/SUI 1997; 1586
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 7...d6!?; C) 7...d4?! 8.ge2 xe2 9.xe2 e6 10.b5 d6 11.0-0 e5 12.f4 e7 13.f5 Barczay, L-Forintos, G/Kecskement 1975 ] [ C) 6.h3!? b7 7.f4 ( 7.0-0 d6 8.d3 d7= ) 7...d6 8.0-0 d7 9.d3 h6 10.d2 f5 11.a3 h5 12.h4 e6 13.e4 e5 14.b4 c6 Cummings, D-Davies, N/ Copenhagen 1982 ] [ D) 6.e4 e6 7.ge2 ge7 8.0-0 0-0 9.a3 d6 10.b4 b7 , and the chances are about e ve n , J a c qu e s, R-S p ir id o n o v, N/ T o rc y 1991 ] [ E) 6.f3!? b7 7.0-0 , and now Black starts getting a little too creative... h5?! ( Black should probably give preference to moves like 7...f6; or 7...d6 ) 8.e3 h6?! 9.d4 a5 10.b3 xf3?! 11.xf3 c6 12.b2 , and Black's position is decidedly uncomfortable, Tomashevsky, E-Zvjaginsev, V/ Moscow RUS 2005 ] 6...h6 [ This is new, but it doesn't really accomplish anything if White can still play d2-d4 or d2d3-d4, and as you will see below that is in d e e d t h e c ase . P re vio u sly B la c k h a s played 6...b7 7.ge2 c8 8.0-0 ( 8.d3 h5 9.0-0 h4 10.b3 d6 11.b2 e5 12.e4 hxg3 13.hxg3 f6 14.d4 cxd4 15.xd4 d7 16.d5 is comfortably better for White, Azma ip aras hvili, Z-W olf f , P/ Gron in ge n 1993 ) 8...e5 9.d3 xg2 10.xg2 b7+ 11.e4 d6 12.a3 ( 12.f4 c6 13.f5 appears to be an attractive option for White, but Black may send the king in the opposite direction with 0-0-0 after which the play is rather unclear, e.g. 14.a3 e5 15.b4 ) 12...f6 13.b4 ( 13.g5 e6 ) 13...0-0 14.g5 h6 ( 14...e6!? looks like an obvious improvement) 15.xf6 xf6 16.d5 g7 17.f4 g4 18.ec3 f6 19.xf6+ xf6 20.d5 d4 21.f5 , and White controls the game, Oll, L-Kudrin, S/Marchena 1990 ] 7.ge2 f5 8.0-0 b7 9.d3 0-0 10.b3 d6 11.b2 [ This is a little sedentary for me, though of course perfectly playable. Instead I would undoubtedly have opted for the "sharper" 11.d4!? , e.g. cxd4 ( 11...e6 12.d5 ) 12.xd4 d7 13.xf5 xf5 14.b2 ] 11...d7 12.d2 White's set-up looks
decidedly non-threatening, but it is far easier t o p la y W h it e , a n d t h e kn ig h t o n f 5 is n ' t particularly well-placed. As we will see in the game continuation, White has a light initiative that in some cases can be converted into a small, but concrete advantage. ae8 [ 12...e6!? 13.e4!? e5! is almost equal. ] 13.d5 e5 14.a3 fe7 15.b4 xd5 16.cxd5 d8 17.e4 f5 18.bxc5 dxc5 19.a4 [ 19.f4!? f7 20.bd1 ] 19...f7 20.a5 [ 20.f4!? ] 20...d6 [ White the game continuation is a text book blockading move, Black should have c o n s i d e r e d 20...b5!? with a sharp game, where I think Black should be okay. ] 21.axb6 axb6 22.c2 c4?! [ This is an unfortunate decision, but thankfully W hite responds with an, albeit logical, error. Instead Black should have o p t e d f o r t h e d o u b l e - e d g e d 22...a6!? 23.a1 b5 ( 23...b5? 24.c3 xd3 25.c1 b7 26.d1 c4 27.f1 b3 28.a3 b4 29.c2 c4 30.a4 c5 31.a3 ) 24.fe1 fxe4 25.dxe4 g5 with a sharp, complicated position, where I prefer White, but the chances may be more or less balanced. ] 23.a3?! [ After carefully building up an advantageous position, White rapidly, almost systematically, throws all of it away within a few moves, starting with the text move. White can keep the advantage with 23.dxc4 c8 24.a3 xc4 25.b3 , and now b5 26.c3 leaves W hite with excellent winning chances. ] 23...cxd3 24.xd3 fxe4 25.d1? [ This queen move looks entirely logical, intending Nc3xe4 with a small, but clear advantage. Unfortunately for White, Black has right to move as well, and with his next moves Black highlights the problems with W hite's idea. Instead W hite should have tried 25.xe4 , giving up the light-squared bishop for the gain of the exchange after xe4 26.xf8 xf2 27.xf2 xf8 , and now W hite's best is 28.xb6 c5 29.xg6+! A) 29...h8 30.gf6 xd5!? ( 30...xd5 1587
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 31.c3 d4 32.xd5 xd5 33.f5 c5 34.g2 xf2 35.f7 , and a draw is around th e corner.) 31.xd5 xd5 32.c3 a8 33.f1 xf2 34.xf2=; B) 29...hxg6 30.xg6+= with a perpetual check. ] 25...e3! 26.xb6? [ Now things really fall apart for White. The lesser evil is 26.fxe3 , e.g. xf1+ 27.xf1 c4 28.c1 xd5 29.xd5+ xd5 30.c3 e6 31.xc4 xc4 32.xb6 c8 , and Black has the initiative and the advantage in the endgame thanks to the bishop pair and more active pieces, but White may be able to defend. ] 26...exf2+ 27.h1?! [ Things are bad, but this just makes it worse. Somewhat better, though certainly not a bed of ro s es is 27.xf2 xf2 28.xf2 c4 29.b3 e4 , and Black is having a ball. ] 27...c4 28.xf8 xf8 29.b4? [ 29.b3 is White's best chance, e.g. xb6 30.xb6 f6 31.d6 e4 32.f4 xd6 33.xf2 e7 , though this too mostly sucks. ] 29...e3 30.b3 xf1 31.xb7 d2!? [ 31...g4! is even more convincing: 32.d6+ h8 33.d3 xh2! , and now 34.xh2 leads to an elegant end h5+ 35.h3 xh3+ 36.xh3 f1+ 37.g4 h5+ 38.h4 f6# ] 32.xd7 xb3 33.f1 d2 34.g2 c4 and with ...Ne3 coming, the game is over. 0-1
[ Julian Hodgson has been successful with 6.h4!? of course! ] 6...a5 7.e3 f5 8.ge2 d6 9.b3 Simple play f rom W hite, he develops his c1-bishop, and refrains from 0-0 to soon, just in case Black counters with ... h5. 0-0 10.b2 d7 11.0-0 b8 12.b5! Playing ...a5 is the normal method of hindering White's thematic b4 advance, but it does weaken the b5-square. Notice that Miles waits for Black to play his rook from the a-file before playing this move, as otherwise Black could reply ...Na7, e x c h a n g i n g t h e s t r o n g b 5 - k n i g h t . xb2 13.xb2 e5 14.ec3 [ 14.d4?! cxd4 15.exd4 xb5 would dissipate some of W hite's advantage. ] 14...xb5 15.xb5 a4?! [ This leaves a weakness on a4, better 15...c6 although White has a clear edge on 16.d4 cxd4 17.exd4 ] 16.d4 c6 17.b4 Something has gone wrong wi t h B l a c k ' s c o n t a i n m e n t s t r a t e g y i f o n consecutive moves W hite manages to play both d4,andb4! cxd4 18.exd4 b6 19.d2 fd8 20.e1 d5 21.c5! [ W hite takes even more space, 21.xd5? e6 22.xc6 bxc6 and Black is back in the game. ] 21...a6 [ 21...xb5?? i s i m p o s s i b l e , 22.f1 and the queen is trapped. ] 22.f1 a8 23.c7 a7 24.b5 W hite gains time on the clock, and shows Black just how helpless he is. a8 25.g4 g7 26.c7 a7 27.b5 1583 A36 [ 27.f3 e6 28.b5 a8 29.d6 is also quite good. ] Miles,Anthony J 2635 Arencibia Rodriguez,Walter 2515 27...a8 28.d3! With the black pieces stuck mem-A Cienfuegos (12) 1996 out-of-play it is clearly time to remind him of his king! e6 29.xe6! Killing the only [Tony Kosten] defender. fxe6 30.c7 a7 31.xe6 e8 With simple, logical, moves Tony reduces a 32.h3 d8 33.e1 [ 33.f3 xe6 34.xd5 is also crushing. ] strong GM to utter passivity, and then 34.e5 xe6 Obviously forced. polishes him off! 1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 33...b5 g7 4.c3 c6 5.a3 One of the reasons I 35.xe6+ g7 36.d3 [ After 36.d3 the immediate threat is Rxh7+, always like this move so much was seeing all mating, and on h8 ( 36...g8 37.e5+ M i l e s ' p o w e r f u l v i c t o r i e s w i t h i t ! h6!? f8 38.xh7 forces mate.) 37.e5+ g8 Planning to bring this to f5, clamping-down on 38.f3 Black must play d7 (to stop Qe6+) d4, but this eventually fails as White gets to play d4 anyway. 6.b1 1588
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 but then 39.xb8+ follows. ] 1-0
1584 Mohr,Georg Tratar,Marko Ljubljana op (8) [Tony Kosten]
A36 2495 2405 1995
I remember making a mental note of this sharp system during an Italian tournament, many years ago, but never got around to examining it in any depth. 1.g3 g6 2.g2 g7 3.c4 c5 4.c3 c6 5.e3 e6 6.ge2 ge7 7.f4!? Again this move, stopping Black from playing ...d5, but making it more difficult for White to play d4. [ The immediate 7.h4?! simply allows d5 8.h5?! , Ervin,R-Roy,D/Ventura 1971, when dxc4 ( or 8...e5 favours Black. )] 7...0-0 [ An automatic response, although 7...a6 is safer, 8.b1 b5! gaining Queenside play before castling, as analysed in the game Gurevich,M-Kasimdzhanov,R/Batumi GEO 2001. ] 8.h4!? [ The point - W hite plays for mate! 8.0-0 would return to more normal lines, as in Hentunen, A-Nevanlinna,R/Helsinki 1988. ] 8...h6 The most careful reply, Black makes sure that White cannot open the h-file, as h5 is answered by ...g5. [ Can Black ignore this? In Godes,D-Zifroni,D/ Israel 1996, he tried 8...a6!? 9.h5 b5 10.hxg6 hxg6 11.cxb5 ( 11.xb5?! axb5 12.cxb5 d5 13.bxc6 is also possible, but v e r y r i s k y a f t e r a6; 11.g4!? l o o k s d a n g e r o u s , a l t h o u g h a f t e r bxc4 12.h4 e8 13.e4 f8! Black defends.) 11...axb5 12.e4 ( 12.xb5!? is critical, the knight aims for d6.) 12...d6 13.h5!? (u n e xp e c t e d ! ) gxh5 ( 13...f5!? 14.g5 gxh5 15.xh5 f6 16.h7+ f8 17.h5 d5 looks good for Black) 14.xh5 f6 15.h7+ f7 16.h6 d5 17.g6+ ( 17.xf6+!? xf6! 18.xf6 xf6 probably favours Black) 17...g8 18.h7+ f7 19.g6+ g8 draw. ] 9.a3 Now White must look to developing his
queenside, [ 9.b1!? first, is the alternative, as this both prepares a3 and b4, and also removes the rook from the a1-h8 diagonal, so that b3 becomes feasible. d6 10.b3 b8 11.b2 b6 12.0-0 ( 12.d3 and g4 would be my choice, as in the main game,) 12...b7 13.e2 d7 14.fd1 White is slightly better, De la Villa Garcia,J-Outerelo,M/ Albacete 1989. ] [ 9.b3?! seems natural, but allows d5! 10.cxd5 xd5 11.fxd5 exd5 12.xd5 ( a s t h e c 3 - k n i g h t i s p i n n e d ) b4 when W hite's h4-move doesn't look very useful! ] 9...d6 10.b1 a5!? This is committal. 11.b3 b8 12.b2 b6 13.d3 b7 14.g4! Having developed his queenside White could castle, but instead goes for Black's throat! The immediate threat is g5, followed by Ne4 when white pieces start dropping into f6! e5 Black closes the a1-h8 diagonal, but the problem is that in this line there are a number of white knights ready to occupy d5. 15.fe2!? [ 15.fd5 xd5 16.xd5 looks very pleasant for White, but he has other ideas. ] 15...c8 16.g3 Now g5 and Ne4 is possible, as is h5, under certain circumstances, as W hite's knight controls f5. e6 17.d5! This is al ways a good time to play the knight to d5, wh en Black cann ot cap tu re wit h a knight. d7 18.g5 f6! Black fights for the f6square. [ 18...h5? loses: 19.f6+ xf6 20.gxf6 c8 ( 20...f5? 21.xh5! ) 21.d2! eyeing h6, ( 21.xh5!? is still possible, g4 22.d2 xh5 23.xc6 xc6 24.e4 h7? 25.c1 mates. ) 21...h7 22.c1! h8 23.d4! winning. ] 19.gxf6 [ 19.gxh6!? xh6 20.h5 g5 is not very pleasant for Black, either. ] 19...xf6 20.xf6+ xf6 21.e4 White has gained the bishop pair, and the e4square, but Black has managed to avoid the worst. [ Perhaps White could try 21.f4!? aiming to soften the long diagonal, ff8 22.h5 exf4 23.exf4 g4 24.d2 gxh5 25.xh5 when the black king is more exposed than 1589
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.d3 e5 9.ge2 ge7 Play has returned to more normal lines, although the bishop on f5 is not on its optimal square. 10.b5 0-0 11.ec3 d7 12.e4 White has found an interesting solution to the problem of the 'linked knights'. c8 13.h3 h6 14.g4! This shows-up the exposed position of the f5bishop. e6 15.g5 Played to assure the e4square for the knight. h5?! 16.b3 d8 17.b2 6a7 18.bc3 b8 Aiming for queenside counterplay with ...b5. 19.f4!? [ White starts an energetic dark-squared attack, although the calmer 19.0-0 b5 20.f4 exf4 21.xf4 also seems promising. ] 19...exf4 20.f6+! xf6 21.gxf6 xf6 [ Black must eliminate the pawn on f6, for, as Psakhis once said to me, about a similar pawn, "it is worth at least a rook". 21...fxe3? 22.0-0 c6 23.e1 d4 24.xe3 and the threat of Qh6-g7 is decisive, f5 ( 24...h7 25.c1 wins ) 25.d5 e6 26.h6 winning. ] 22.0-0 d8 23.f3 h4 Black had to stop the queen capturing on f4. 24.d5 xd5 25.xd5 The position is a graphic example of the difference between knights and bishops. e7 26.exf4 b6 27.f3 c6 28.f5 d4 At le ast o ne of the bisho p's d iagon als is blocked. 29.xd4 cxd4 30.be1 f6 31.fxg6 xg6 [ The endgame doesn't save Black, 31...xf3 1585 A36 32.xf3 fxg6 33.e6 and White regains his sacrificed pawns with interest. ] Onischuk,Alexander 2627 Hracek,Zbynek 2612 32.f4 d7 33.h2 The bishop is unpinned, Bundesliga 2000-1 (5) 08.12.2000 the g-file opened, and the end is near. c5 [ 33...e5 34.e4 g7 35.g1 g6 [Tony Kosten] 36.xd6 is also hopeless. ] 1.c4 c5 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c6 34.e7 [ 34.e4! xe4 35.g1 is clearer. ] 5.a3 d6 [ One of the best replies, preparing to play a 34...e6 [ 34...be8 does nothing to help: 35.e4! Botvinnik set-up, as the immediate 5...e5 xe4 36.xe8 xe8 37.g1 allows 6.b4! ] and the resulting queen versus rook and 6.b1 a5 7.e3 knight position is trivial for White. ] [ I r e c o m m e n d 7.f3 in my book The 35.xd6 Black's position has fallen apart. Dynamic English, but this is just as good. ] 1-0 7...f5!? [ Remarkably, this sensible move seems to be an innovation! 7...e5 is normal, 8.ge2 ge7 9.0-0 0-0 10.d3 b8 with a complex st rat e gic a l p osit io n , Re e, H-P o rtisch , L / Amsterdam 1971. ]
White's. ] 21...f7 22.d2 bf8 White can no longer castle, of course, so the pressure on the f-file is a little annoying. 23.d4?! White eyes the h6pawn, but opening the centre with an u n c a s t le d k i n g i s a ri s ky b u s i n e s s . exd4 24.exd4 d5 25.cxd5 xd5!? [ 25...xd5! s e e m s s t r o n g , 26.dxc5 ( 26.xh6 f4 l o o k s n a s t y) 26...f4 27.xd7 xg2+ 28.f1 xd7 29.xg2 g4 and the black position is the more pleasant to play. ] 26.dxc5 g4!? 27.xh6 [ 27.c3 h7 28.h3 might be safer. ] 27...h7 28.g5 e6 29.f3? [ This should lose, 29.e3 f5 30.d3 is forced. ] 29...bxc5? [ Missing 29...xe4 30.fxe4 xb3 when ...Qc2 is next, hitting b1, b2, and f2. ] 30.0-0 Now White is back on track, he has a pawn more and two bishops. xe4 31.fxe4 xf1+ 32.xf1 xb3? 33.f6 f7 34.e5 d4 [ 34...xf6 35.exf6 hits one of the linked knights, and wins a piece. ] 35.d5! xd5 36.d8+ g7 37.xf7+ xf7 38.xd5+ 1-0
1590
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1586 Ponomariov,Ruslan Vachier Lagrave,Maxime Sportaccord WMG Rapid rapid (5) [John Bartholomew]
A36 2723 2710 10.12.2011
1.c4 f6 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 0-0 5.e4 c5 6.ge2 c6 7.0-0 d6 8.d3 e8 Initiating the familiar ...Ne8-c7-e6-d4 maneuver to clamp down on the central dark squares. [ The other common moves 8...b8 ] [ and 8...a6 prepare immediate queenside expansion. They have a tendency to transpose to one another (and even into the t e xt ) - s e e Ni g e l Da vie s 's gu i d e " P u r e Symmetrical - Without Nf3" in the archives. ] 9.e3 d4 [ In complete contrast, 9...c7 allows d3-d4. It's nearly as popular as the text, though. 10.d4 cxd4 11.xd4 d7 Ye Jiangchuan (2648)-Wang Zili (2501)/Jinan 2005/ [John Watson]. ( 11...e5 Gonzalez Zamora, J (2517)-De la Paz Perdomo, F (2442) /Merida 2006/[John Watson]. )] 10.b1 [ I had some recent experience in the United States Chess League with Marin's suggestion, 10.d2 . My opponent replied with the f lexible a6!? , which is a kind of hybrid with the early .. .a6 systems. After ( T h e n a t u r a l 10...c7 is Marin's sole offering in "GM Repertoire 4: The English Opening - Vol. 2".) 11.ab1 ( 11.h6 is premature, Kungel, S-Weiss, R (2275)/ Ge rm an y 19 94 . xe2+ 12.xe2 xh6 13.xh6 b8 with ...b7-b5 coming.) 11...g4 12.f3 d7 13.b4 xe2+ ( The solid 13...b6 is possible,) 14.xe2 cxb4 15.xb4 b5 16.cxb5 axb5 17.c3 c7 ( I saw 17...xc3 18.xc3 xa2 19.h6 b6+ 20.h1 during the game, but overlooked the nice c5! , when 21.b3 a4 22.xa4 bxa4 23.b7 f6 24.xf8 xf8 gives Black excellent compensation be c au s e o f th e da n ge ro us a -p a wn a n d White's bad bishop.) 18.c1 a6 19.bb1 b8?! ( 19...a5! ) 20.f1 e6 21.d4 a5 22.xb5 xd2 23.xd2 xb5 24.xb5 xd4+ 25.g2 c5 26.a4 I obtained a better endgame but was unable to win.
Bartholomew, J (2440) -Bartell, T (2342)/ICC INT 2011. Bartell's concept was interesting, and I think it merits further practical trials. Move 16 is probably the place to improve for White. ] 10...g4!? Inducing f2-f3 (or h2-h3), as we saw Bartell do in the game above. [ More popular are 10...a5 , trying to hold up b2-b4, and ] [ 10...c7 continuing the knight's journey. Official theory is rather chaotic in both cases. In general, this e ntire syste m is on e in which plans and ideas take priority over concrete lines. Thus, taking a look at Nigel's guide and playing through several of the associated games in the archives is highly recommended. ] 11.f3 [ 11.h3 keeps the long diagonal open, but gives Black a couple extra options. A) 11...xe2 12.xe2 xe2+ 13.xe2 c7 was a pure dark-square strategy in Grant, J (2261) -Weiss, C (2460)/ Heraklio 2007. After 14.b4 b6 White should have played 15.bxc5 dxc5 ( or 15...bxc5 16.e5 ) 16.e5 c8 17.f4 , when Black's bishop is somewhat shut out of the proceedings.; B) 11...f3!? 12.xf3 xf3+ 13.g2 d4 14.b4 b6! 15.a4 ( 15.f4 might be preferable, intending c7 16.f5 ) 15...c7 16.xd4 cxd4 17.d5 e6 18.xc7 xc7= Cvek, R (2488) -Jacko, V (2163)/ Michalovce CZE 2011.; C) 11...d7 12.b4 b6 Solid. 13.f4 c6 14.f5!? d7 15.g4 e6 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.xf8+ xf8 18.d2 c7 19.a3 g8 20.f1 f8 21.xf8+ xf8= Tortarolo, M (2026)-Drei, A (2156)/Caorle 1984. ] 11...d7 12.b4 b6 Black's optimal pawn a r r a n g e m e n t . H e e n j o ys ze r o st r u c t u r a l defects, so W hite must go about creating them! 13.d2 c7 [ A couple earlier games continued 13...c8 14.f4 c7 . Now 15.f2 was rather mysterious in Li Shilong (2510)-Vallejo Pons, F (2674)/Khanty Mansiysk 2005, as was the reply ( I like the look of 15.b5 better, i.e. e6 16.a4 f5?! 17.exf5 gxf5 18.xd4! cxd4 19.a2 e5 20.b4 Mensch, E (2366)Maze, S (2573)/ Biel SUI 2010.; 15.f2!? 1591
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is another good idea, intending to double on the f-file.) 15...h8 ! Based on some of the remaining moves, I'm thinking the score might be inaccurate. The game continued 16.d5 xe2+ 17.xe2 e6 and now 18.e5! was best. ( The database gives 18.d2 d4 19.h1?! g8?! , which seems weird. )] 14.h3 Pono is taking his time. [ It's debatable whether Vachier Lagrave would have responded to 14.f4 with g4 , b u t P o no m a rio v d e cid e s t o pre ven t it anyways. ] 14...c8 15.f4 f5?! Not always a bad idea, b u t i n t h e g i v e n i n st a n c e W h i t e i s we l l prepared for this thrust. 16.bxc5! Excellent timing. dxc5?! [ 16...bxc5 is more advisable. White still has a nice pull after 17.exf5 xf5 18.h2 ] 17.e5 Now Black loses his grip on d4 and has a difficult time getting his dark square bishop to participate. xe2+ 18.xe2 e6 [ 18...e6!? ] 19.a4 A dream position for White. One can already envision the a4-a5 and d3-d4 pawn breaks... properly prepared, of course! b8 20.a5 a6 Black has little else in the way of counterplay. 21.axb6 axb6 22.d4 [ I'd prefer 22.fd1 first, getting the last piece involved. ] 22...cxd4 23.xd4 c5 24.fd1 c7 25.b5 xb5 26.cxb5 fd8 27.c4 f8 28.c6 White completely dominates the light squares. Black may already be lost here. f7 29.g2 h6 30.e3 bc8 31.h4 e7 32.a1 g5?! As so often happens in difficult positions, the defending side gets tired of waiting and gambles on complications. [ 32...xd1 33.xd1 c7 was technically a more stubborn defense. It's hard to blame Black given his position and the time control. ] 33.hxg5 hxg5 34.fxg5 g6 35.xc5! Removing the only decent defender Black had. xd1 36.xd1 xc5 37.d7+- f8 38.xe6+ h8 39.h4+ h7 40.d7 [ Even faster was 40.f4 ] 40...xh4 41.gxh4 e8 42.xf5 xe5 43.d3 e3 44.d8+ g7 45.h5 1-0
1587 Rogers,Ian Sadler,Matthew Bundesliga 1999-2000 (13) [Tony Kosten]
A36 2562 2630 26.03.2000
1.e4 c5 2.c4 An unusual route to playing the English Opening! c6 3.c3 g6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 Play has transposed into Botvinnik's System. a6 A sharp line where Black intends to sacrifice his b-pawn to expose W hite's weakened light squares (d3, for instance). 6.a4 [ The best reply, after 6.ge2 b5 7.cxb5 ( White can always decline the pawn, but after 7.d3 b8 8.0-0 e6 Black has no reason to be unhappy, Parr,F-Speelman,J/ Portsmouth 1976) 7...axb5 8.xb5 a6 9.ec3 a5 10.f1 f6 11.a4 0-0 B la ck h a s p l e n t y o f p la y f o r t h e p a wn , Leosson,T-Kristensen,B/Gausdal 1994. ] 6...e6 7.ge2 ge7 8.0-0 b6!? [ A new move in this particular position, previously 8...0-0 had been played, 9.d3 d6 10.b1 c7 Korstin,M-Shishkov,A/Keres mem open, Tallinn EST 1998, and no w White could have shown that his concession of b4 was only temporary, by 11.e3 d4 12.b4 ] 9.d3 b7 10.b1 c7 11.e3 d4 The standard reply in such positions, firstly, Black doesn't want W hite to play d4, and secondly, White will not want to capture on d4 with his e2-knight now, as it loses a piece. 12.f4!? [ An unusual treatment of this structure, normally 12.b4 would be played, with cxb4 ( 12...d6 can be met by 13.a5!? ) 13.xb4 ec6 14.b1 and White has a slight plus, because he has both succeeded in weakening Black's hold on d4, and has exposed the b6-pawn. ] 12...xe2+ 13.xe2 d6 14.b4 0-0 15.b3 [ 15.bxc5 bxc5 16.xd6 xd6 17.xb7 is quite possible, but White's extra pawn is useless. ] 15...fb8 16.a5!? A provocative attack on the black pawn chain. bxa5 17.bxc5 e5!? [ Black acquiesces to an inferior endgame, 17...xc5 leads to interesting complications after 18.d4 c7 19.c5!! xe4 20.xb8+ 1592
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xb8 21.cxd6 ] 18.a3! xc5 [ Not 18...exf4 19.cxd6 d7 20.dxe7 with advantage. ] 19.xc5 dxc5 20.e3 c6 21.xc5 The protected passed pawn on c4 looks to give White the advantage. b4 22.c3 f8 [ Black makes a favourable minor piece exchange. 22...xd3? loses the exchange to 23.d6 d8 24.c7 ] 23.xf8 xf8 24.fd1 c6 25.d5? [ Missing a simple tactical point, 25.d4 exd4 26.xd4 c2 27.xb8+ xb8 28.d6 appears somewhat stronger, although Black is only slightly worse here. ] 25...a4 26.d2?! [ 26.f1 c2 27.a1 xd3 is barely an improvement. ] 26...xd5! 27.xb8+ xb8 28.exd5 b1+ 29.f1 b3 The point, the white bishop is in an awkward pin, and the a-pawn is difficult to stop. 30.e2 a4 31.xe5 a3 32.d6 White's only chance, he can't stop the a-pawn, so must try to use his own passed runner. a4 [ Another, simple, way of winning the game was offered by 32...a2 when 33.d7 a1 34.d8+ g7 White has no more checks, 35.e8 xf1+ and wins. ] 33.a5 a2 34.xa4 a1 35.xa1 xa1 36.c5 a5 Now this pawn cannot be stopped. 37.c6 e8 [ 37...e8 38.g2 can be piquantly met by xf1 39.xf1 a4 when the white king is outside the square. ] 0-1
1588 Rogule,Laura Jakubowski,Krzysztof 6th Amplico AIG Life rapid (9) [John Watson]
A36 2337 2497 17.12.2006
1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.e4 f6 6.ge2 d6 7.0-0 d7 Unusual. Black has a special purpose by playing this retreat now. [ Note the main line 7...0-0 8.d3 e8 9.e3 c7 10.d4 ] 8.d3 f8! A remarkable idea! Black finds a way to transpose to a well-known position but
saves a tempo by not castling. 9.b1 [ The 'normal' procedure would be 9.e3 , b u t a f t e r e6 , White can't enforce d4. Black's path ...Nf6-d7-f8-e6 is similar to ... Nf6-e8-c7-e6, except that the latter plan requires ...0-0 to allow for ...Ne8. ] 9...e6 10.a3 [ A line that reminds one of a Closed Sicilian is 10.f4 ed4 11.h3 0-0 12.g4 e6 with no problems. The move ... f5 may come later. ] 10...a5 [ I wonder if this is one of those cases in which Black should allow b4, for example, by 10...b8 11.b4 b6 ] [ 10...0-0 11.b4 b6 . Then White's idea of Nb5 would not impress. ] 11.b5! [ After 11.e3 ed4 , White can challenge Black's outpost by 12.b5 xb5!? ( or 12...xe2+ 13.xe2 a4!? ) 13.cxb5 d4 14.xd4 cxd4 15.d2 0-0 , when it's hard for White to come up with a convincing path to advantage. ] 11...0-0 [ B l a c k c a n e q u a l i z e a f t e r 11...ed4 12.exd4 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 ] 12.d2 d7 13.c1 e5?! Beginning to drift. The knight obviously belongs on c6. 14.c2 b6 15.a4 c6 16.c3 b4 17.d2 ae8 18.bd1 xb5 19.axb5 d4 20.xd4 xd4 21.h1 [ 21.h6! ] 21...e6 22.g4 d5!? 23.f4!? An alternative is to win the d-pawn by [ 23.exd5 exd5 24.xb4 axb4 25.xd5 . White's extra pawn (on b2 or b5) doesn't mean much. ] [ 23.h6 was still a good try. ] 23...dxc4 24.dxc4 d8 25.f5 e5? [ Black achieves a practical equality after 25...xc3 26.xc3 xd1 27.xd1 d8 ] 26.f6? [ 26.h6! threatens f6, so f6 will likely follow. The White has the key move 27.d2! (threatening Bg5) g7 28.h4! ] 26...xc3! 27.h6 xf6 28.xf6 xd1+ 29.f1 d2! With a rook, knight, and pawn for the queen, Black's better-placed pieces should win without much trouble. 30.h3 f4
1593
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 31.f3 fd8 32.g2 8d2+ 33.h3 xh2# 0-1
1589 Romero Holmes,Alfonso Hebden,Mark Dublin Easter e2e4 op (8) [Tony Kosten]
A36 2501 2514 09.04.2012
1.c4 g6 2.e4 g7 3.e2 d6 4.bc3 f6 5.g3 0-0 6.g2 c5 7.d3 c6 8.0-0 a6 In my opinion this is definitely the right way to play this position as Black, he first aims to play ...b5. 9.h3 [ 9.b1 b8 10.a4 ] 9...b8 10.a4 White has to stop ...b5 to hope for any advantage, but this has disadvantages as it is difficult to play b4 now. e8 11.e3 e5!? Mark Hebden's speciality, stopping d4 once and for all. The position is closed, but Black has two pawn breaks (...f5 and ...b5) to White's one (f4). [ 11...c7 12.d4 cxd4 13.xd4 see Esen, B-Vovk, A in the Archives. ] [ 11...d4 12.b1 c7 and Black has a v o i d e d m a k i n g a m o ve wit h h is l i gh t s q u a r e d b i s h o p , 13.b4 see Kosten, ABijaoui, M in the PGN Archive. ] 12.d2 Is a 'normal' move in the Botvinnik, but seems a bit planless here to me. [ 12.f4 was my choice in this position, and I feel it must be critical, if W hite can't play this then he must simply react to Black's moves. exf4 forced, I would have thought, ( 12...c7?! allows 13.f5 of course, d4 14.g4 b5 15.axb5 axb5 16.cxb5 cxb5 17.d5 xe2+ 18.xe2 f6 19.b4 cxb4 20.xb4 d7 21.d5 h8 22.fc1 f7 1/2-1/2 Claesen, P (2380)-Dgebuadze, A (2562)/Eupen 2008, but W hite was being kind here, he can play on both sides of the board. ) 13.gxf4 f5 14.d4 ( 14.d2 d4 15.ae1 c7 16.b4 Peacock, M (2101)He b d e n , M ( 2 5 2 0 ) / L i ve rp o o l 2 0 0 8 , b6 ) 14...cxd4 15.xd4 b6!? this was played by Mark against me at Kilkenny in 2009, he told me after that it was suggested to him by John Emms. ( 15...f6 Claesen, P (2410)Emm s, J (2 58 5)/Esca ld es 19 98 , 16.exf5 xd4 17.xd4 xf5 18.d5 with perhaps
a small plus.) 16.a5!? ( 16.d5 xd4 is obviously the point, 17.xb6 xe3+ 18.h2 xb6 I would definitely prefer to be B l a c k h e r e .) 16...xb2 ( 16...xa5? 17.xf5 ) 17.a4 b4 18.e5 dxe5? and now ( 18...xd4 19.xd4 e6 20.d5 f7! 21.fb1 dxe5 and Black survives.) 19.b1 xb1 20.xb1 exd4 21.f2 is close to winning, Black has enough for the queen, but the threat to c6 is difficult to counter. ] [ 12.d5 occupies the empty d5-square ... but then what? c7 A) 13.d2 b5 ( 13...e6 14.a5 ed4 looks wrong, 15.xd4 xd4 16.xd4 cxd4 17.b4 with a small plus to White, Grant, J (2259)-Hebden, M (2521)/Cork 2005.; 13...xd5 14.exd5 b4 15.a5 f5 followed by ...b6 looks more promising.) 14.axb5 axb5 15.b3 e6 is fairly dull, Grant, J (2261)-Hebden, M (2542)/ Heraklio 2007.; B) 13.b6 e6 14.xc8 xc8 15.c3 b8 16.d5 f5!? 17.exf5 gxf5 18.b1 e8 19.f4 exf4 Markowski, T (2505)Hebden, M (2585)/Cappelle la Grande 1998, when 20.xf4 seems logical. ] 12...c7 13.a5 d4 14.xd4 [ Houdini prefers 14.d1 and I'm inclined to agree, but this means that W hite's 12th move is not good. ] 14...cxd4 15.d5?! [ 15.a4 ] 15...xd5 16.exd5 b5 I think Black is already better, he has the bishop pair, and where is the e2-knight going? 17.axb6 xb6 18.fb1 b4 19.d1 h6 Bad bishop? 20.c3! Full marks for solving that problem! d8 [ 20...dxc3? 21.bxc3 skewers the queen. ] 21.a4 d7 22.f1 a5 23.a3 dc8 24.h4 White is desperately trying to keep everything together, but this is not the type of position y o u w a n t t o p l a y a g a i n s t M a r k ! d2 Going for a nice edge in the endgame, but [ 24...f5 is a bit more ambitious. ] 25.xd2 xd2 26.d1 h6 27.da1 b4 28.e2 xa4?! Grabbing a pawn, but exchanging the bishop for a knight on the rim with no moves is a strange decision. [ 28...f5 29.d1 e4 keeps all the 1594
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 advantages. ] 29.xa4 xb2 30.1a2 xa2 31.xa2 a8 32.d1 f5 33.c2? Allowing the black bishop to relocate. [ 33.f1 and it is not obvious how Black will make progress here, the opposite-colour bishops are a major handicap. ] 33...d2! 34.a4 c3 35.f3 g7 36.f2 f6 37.a3 b4 38.a1 c8 39.e2 h5 40.f1 b8 41.b1 g5! Opening a second front. 42.hxg5+ xg5 43.f2 h8 44.g1 c5 45.b1 h4 46.g2 hxg3 47.xg3 b4 Intending ...Bd2-f4+ and then ...Rh2. 48.f4+?! [ 48.d1 looks forced, when Black still has some work to do. ] 48...exf4+ 49.g2 f3+ [ Or 49...g4! 50.d1+ f3+! 51.xf3+ f4 and . ..Ke3 with a decisive advantage. ] 50.g3! d2 [ 50...f4+ is also good, but requires some calculation: 51.f2 h2+ 52.xf3 h3+ 53.e4 e3+ 54.xd4 c5+ 55.c3 f3 ] 51.b7?! [ 51.f1 f4+ 52.xf3 h3+ 53.e2 when e3+ c a n b e a n s w e r e d b y 54.d2 as there is no good discovered check. ] 51...f4+ 52.xf3 h3+ 53.g2 xd3 Now Black has 3 passed pawns, so the win is n o t f a r o f f . 54.g7+ f6 55.g8 f7 56.a8 a3 57.xa5 Putting the bishop into a nasty pin, but there was nothing better. f6 58.a6 d3 59.f3 d2+! 60.e2 [ 60.xf4 xa4 ] 60...a1 0-1
1590 Short,Nigel D Jones,Gawain C ch-Commonwealth Open (8) [Nigel Davies]
A36 2682 2596 30.06.2011
1.c4 I suspect Short played this way partly out of respect for Jones' great ability in sharp positions, and partly because of a certain discomfort he has shown in Flank Openings. f6 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 5.e4 d6 6.ge2 c5 7.0-0 c6 8.d3 b8 9.h3 e8 10.e3 d4 11.b1 d7
I'm not convinced this developing move best addresses the needs of the position and the pawn play on the queenside. Other moves are more common here: [ a) 11...c7 12.b4 b6 13.c1 ( 13.b5 a6?! 14.bxa6 xa6 15.a4 d7 16.xd4 cxd4 17.d5 xd5 18.exd5 gave White a solid edge due to the weakness of b6 in Voloshin, L (2522)-Markos, J (2459)/Czechia 2004 ) 13...e6 14.h6 xe2+ 15.xe2 xh6 16.xh6 f5 17.d4 cxb4 18.xb4 fxe4 19.xe4 d5 was about equal in W illiams, S (2421)-Turner, M (2478)/ Scarborough 1999. ] [ b) 11...a5 12.d2 ( 12.xd4 cxd4 13.b5 e5 14.b4 axb4 ) 12...c7 13.f4?! b5 14.d5?! xe2+ 15.xe2 e6 16.f5 d4 17.g4 e6 was looking quite nice for Black in Sunye Neto, J (2555)-Leitao, R (2565)/Sao Paulo 2000. ] [ c) 11...xe2+ 12.xe2 ( Or 12.xe2 b6 13.d4 cxd4 14.xd4 b7 15.e1 f6 16.g5 h6 17.c1 c7 18.b3 was just nominally better for White in Jakubowski, K (2 4 9 7 )- T a l la , V (2 4 1 3 )/ L e gn i ca 2 0 0 6) 12...c7 13.d2 e6 14.b4 d4 15.h2 d7 16.f4 b6 17.bxc5 dxc5 18.e5 led to complex play in Kashljak, A-Anjuhin, A (2401)/St Petersburg 2002. ] 12.b4 [ Of course the former challenger for the World Championship knows what to do in such positions. The attempt to attack on the kingside with 12.g4 c7 13.f4 is too crude, for example b5 14.f5 c6 15.d2 e5 16.b3 a5 17.a4 bxa4 18.bxa4 b4 19.c2 a6 20.bd1 c6 21.c1 d4 saw W hite's pieces get driven back after which he was just left with weaknesses in Filguth, R (2335)-Andersson, U (2560)/Sao Paulo 1979. ] 12...b6 13.a4 a5 14.xd4 cxd4 15.b5 e5 16.bxa5 bxa5 17.d2 c6 18.f4? Old habits from being a lifelong 1.e4 player? [ Up to this point it seemed as if White was better, but maybe he should wait with this fpawn advance and instead opt for 18.c1 intending 19.Nb3. ] 18...f6 19.f5 d7 20.a1 c5 21.a3 f6 Black's dark square bishop is getting a c t i v e n o w . 22.fxg6 fxg6 23.h4 b7 1595
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.c1 g5 25.b3 xb3 26.xb3 gxh4 27.gxh4 bf7 Missing his chance. [ There seems to be no good reason why Blac k c an 't pla y 27...xh4 , for example 28.xf8+ xf8 29.b1 g3 30.e2 g7 l e a v e s B l a c k a p a wn u p wi t h a s t r o n g attack. ] 28.h6 xh4?! Now this is wrong and White equalizes. [ 28...g7 was better when he's still in the driving seat. ] 29.xf7 xf7 30.xd6 f6 31.xh4 xd6 32.c5 f8 33.b8 xb8 34.xf6 c7 35.h2 xa4 36.h3 e8 37.c6 f7 38.e6 xe6 39.xe6+ f8 40.f6+ e8 41.e6+ d8 42.f6+ e8 43.e6+ ½-½
1591 Thiede,Lars Filippov,Valerij ECC Rethymnon GRE (2) [Tony Kosten]
A36 2440 2630 29.09.2003
1.g3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.a3 e6 6.b4!? I liked this pawn sac enough to recommend it in my Dynamic English book, let us see how a top GM reacts with the black pieces. xb4 7.axb4 cxb4 8.d4 bxc3 9.e3 e7 10.e2 0-0!? A sensible move, bringing t h e k in g t o s a f e t y. I h a d o n ly p re vio u sl y analysed [ 10...d5 where Black tries to grab a second pawn, see Delchev, A-Tukmakov,V. ] 11.xc3 d6 The best move, Black is going to 'tough it out'. [ 11...d5!? returns the pawn to finish d e v e l o p m e n t : 12.cxd5 xd5 13.xd5 exd5 14.b3 e6 the only way to defend d5, but the b7-pawn is en prise, 15.xb7 c8 a i m i n g f o r a n e n d i n g , ( 15...a5!? is an alternative, getting the a-pawn going, 16.0-0 e8 17.a3 b8 18.a7 a8 19.b7 b8 20.a6 White is right to refuses the repetition as he has a far superior pawn structure, Ptacnikova,L Kasparov,S/Olomouc CZE 2003) 16.b3?! ( 16.xc8 fxc8 17.d2 looks nice to me, the a-pawn is more of a weakness than a strength ) 16...b8 17.a3 c4!
stopp ing W hite f rom cast ling, Hulak,K Filipovic,B/Pula CRO 2002. ] 12.a3 White enjoys Benko-style queenside play on the two open files, plus a central space advantage - more than enough compensation for a pawn. [ 12.0-0 a6 13.a3 i s s i m i l a r , c7 14.d2!? ( 14.b3 transposes to the game ) 14...b8 ( 14...xc4? 15.xd6 e8? 16.a4 wins ) 15.fc1 Wirig,A-Plachetka,J/Pardubice CZE 2002. ] 12...c7 13.b3 Logical, although [ 13.b5!? is interesting, xc4 14.xd6 c3+ 15.e2 d5 16.c1 aiming for a very promising endgame - the d6-knight is fantastic. ] 13...a6 14.0-0 b8 Played to defend the bpawn and free the c8-bishop, [ 14...d8 is the alternative, adding support to the sensitive d-pawn , 15.fc1 b8 16.ab1 b6 ( 16...f5 17.b6! White is not afraid of the ending, xb6 18.xb6 h5 19.cb1 winning the b-pawn with advantage, Du n n in gt o n , A -S lu t zkin , U/ S e villa 1 9 8 9) 17.e4 ( 17.a4!? wi n s t h e b -p a wn) 17...c6 18.d5! White's initiative grows all th e t im e, Ivarsso n, S -B ecker,J/ SW E-c h 1979. ] 15.ab1 e5?! A new move, but I think it is weak, [ 15...d7 is stronger, 16.b6!? ( 16.e4 c8 17.c5 d5 18.c6 wins an exchange for two pawns ) 16...xc4 Masculo, J-Gurevich, D/ Ne w Yo rk 1 9 9 1 , wh e n 17.e4 c6 18.xd6 looks good. ] [ 15...d8?! is worse, 16.b6! xb6 17.xb6 f5 18.g4 winning the d-pawn. ] 16.dxe5 Not bad, but [ 16.e4! is clearly the right move, d8 17.b6 xb6 18.xb6 with a clear advantage, as Bxd6 is difficult to counter, i. e. f5 19.g4 h4 20.xd6 ] 16...xe5 [ 16...dxe5? 17.d5 xd5 18.xf8 ] 17.f4 g7 18.fd1 d8 19.e4 The point of White's play, putting great pressure on d6. f5!? Black offers an exchange for good play on the light squares. [ 19...f5 is also playable: 20.xd6 xd6 21.xd6 xb1 22.xb1 with a small plus. ] 20.b2 The most sensible reply, as 1596
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 20.g4!? h4 21.xd6 is met by xd6 22.xd6 xg4 23.d3 xg2 24.xg2 c6+ with fair chances. ] 20...e7 Covering the f6-square. 21.xg7 [ 21.b6!? keeps a positional bind, and after e6 22.xg7 xg7 White regains his pawn by 23.xd6 ] 21...xg7 22.c3 e8 A bit passive, but the e4-knight must be kept from f6. 23.b6 f5 24.d4 White plays good positional moves, placing his pieces on strong dark squares. xe4 25.xe4 c7?! [ 25...g7 26.xd6 e8 is fairly equal. ] 26.xb7 xb7 27.xb7 White recovers his pawn but retains positional advantages: the better minor piece and more active major pieces. a5 28.c6 e6 29.e4 [ 29.b6! keeps Black under pressure. ] 29...c7 30.d5 c5 The knight lands on a strong square, which balances the powerful bishop on d5. 31.d4 a4 Black relies on the passed a-pawn to generate counterplay. 32.e4 [ 32.f5! is dangerous, opening the f-file to make full use of the bishop, d7 33.h4 e5 34.f6 h5 35.g5 h7 36.e4 with an attack. ] 32...e8 33.f1 b3 34.c3 e7 35.h1 a7 36.b4 [ 36.f5! is even stronger here, as the black knight is far from the kingside. ] 36...e3?! [ 36...c5! is best. ] 37.xa4? Time trouble, I suspect. [ 37.f5! is now crushing, gxf5 38.b8+ g7 39.exf5 and Black can resign. ] 37...d2 38.a1?! [ 38.a8+ g7 39.a1+ is better. ] 38...xe4 The black pieces have found aggres s ive p ost s a ro u nd t he whit e kin g. 39.a8+ g7 40.a3 d4 41.f1?! [ 41.c1 is a better chance, f2+ 42.g2 d1 and now White can play 43.a1! when e2+ 44.h3 b2 45.g1 hangs on. ] 41...f2+ 42.g2 d1! Cutting communication along the first rank and stopping Qa1. 43.h3 e2 The white king is looking very exposed. 44.xd1 Forced. xd1 45.a7 White's only chance is the counterattack on f7. f1+! 46.g4 h5+ 47.g5 e5+! All other moves allow White to mate Black! 48.h4
[ 48.fxe5? f5+ 49.h4 g4# ] 48...g5+ 49.fxg5 f5 50.d4 xg5+ 51.h3 f6 52.d2 f1+ 53.h4 f5 54.d1?? A blunder, [ 54.d4 keeps the game going, although White is lost, of course. ] 54...f2! 55.h3 e2 0-1
1592 Ye Jiangchuan Wang Zili Torch Real Estate Cup (4) [John Watson]
A36 2648 2501 23.04.2005
1.c4 c5 2.c3 f6 3.e4 d6 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.ge2 c6 7.0-0 0-0 8.d3 e8 The main line: Black starts out for e6 via c7. 9.e3 c7!? Conceding the move d4. More common is [ 9...d4 ] 10.d4 cxd4 11.xd4 d7 12.b3 e6 13.de2! A key move. Now it will be difficult for Black to activate any pieces. W hite can and does tie his opponent down and slowly improve his position. b8 14.b1 a6 15.a4 b4 16.d2 a5 17.f4 f5 18.exf5 gxf5 19.d5 xd5 20.xd5 h8 21.a7 a8 22.f2 c5 23.d4 e6 24.g2 c6 25.xg7+ xg7 26.c3 xg2 27.xg2 Black has done well, although his e6 and d6 pawns are still weak. The opening phase is well past, and now White takes some chances t o t r y t o m a k e p r o g re s s . a6 28.b4!? This is of course anti-positional, creating pawn weaknesses. It nevertheless opens lines f o r W hit e's ro oks. axb4 29.xb4 f6 30.fb1 f7 31.b6 xa4? 32.xa4 xa4 33.c2 a6 34.xb7 xb7 35.xb7+ g6 36.e2 a5 37.b6 e7 38.d2 a4 39.d4 g7 40.xd6 a2+ 41.g1 xd4+ 42.xd4 c2 White handles the ending very skilfully. 43.h3 h5 44.f1 h4 45.gxh4 h5 46.e1 xh4 47.d1 c3 48.d2 xh3 49.c5 g4 50.c6 h8 51.c7 c8 52.c4 f3 53.d3 g3 54.e2 g4 55.f2 h5 56.e3 g4 57.c1 e5 58.g1+ h5 59.fxe5 xc7 60.f4 h6 61.xf5 c2 62.e6 f2+ 63.e5 e2+ 64.d6 1-0 1597
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1593 Almasi,Zoltan Felgaer,Ruben 39th Olympiad Men (2.11) [Nigel Davies]
A37 2707 2597 22.09.2010
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.g3 [ This move order is worth noting White can also try 4.e3 . ] 4...g6 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 d6 7.a3 a5 8.e1 e6 9.d3 ge7 10.c2 d5 11.cxd5 xd5 12.e3 de7 13.c4 Both sides are playing qu it e l o gi c a l ly h e r e , B l a ck g o in g f r o m a Botvinnik formation to setting up a Maroczy Bind whilst W hite is looking f or the weak squares this space gaining play leaves behind. Despite it being a quiet 'flank opening' we follow precedent for quite a way. 0-0 14.g5 f6 15.e3 b6 16.a4 c7 17.f4 W h i t e ' s k e y p a wn l e ve r . B l a c k d a r e n o t capture on f4 so he contracts an isolated epawn. ab8 18.fxe5 xe5 19.xe5 fxe5 20.g5 h8 [ Or 20...f5 21.d5 d6 22.e4 d4 23.e3 1/2-1/2 as in Kovalyov, A (2557)Moiseenko, A (2682)/Montreal 2009, though White is a bit better in the final position. ] 21.xf8+ xf8 22.f1 b8 23.e4 f5 24.d5 d6 25.xe6 xe6 26.c4 W hite has a small but clear advantage because of his better bishop. xc4 27.dxc4 e4 28.g4 d4 29.a4 e8 30.f7 e6 31.e7 [ 31.e3 seems better and isn't easy for Black, f or example f8 32.e7 xc3 33.xe6 xb2 34.xb6 d4 35.xd4+ cxd4 36.d6 wins a pawn. After the move played in the game White is equal at best. ] 31...xe7 32.xe7 g8 33.xe4 xb2 34.e3 f7 35.h4 f8 36.d8 d7 37.d6+ e6 38.c8 e5 39.xb6 d7 40.a7 xc4 [ 40...xg4!? 41.xc5 e5 was worth considering with Black going for the win. ] 41.xc5 c1 42.f2 b2 43.a3 d1+ 44.e2 xa3 45.xd1 c5 46.b5 xe3 47.e2 ½-½
1594 Andersson,Ulf Van der Wiel,John TH Hoogovens Wijk aan Zee (5) [Nigel Davies]
A37 2635 2530 01.1983
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.c3 d6 6.0-0 h6 7.d4 cxd4 8.xh6 xh6 9.xd4 d7 This looks like the most solid option for Black, though W hite has a quite dangerous reply. [ 9...xd4 is the main alternative. ] 10.c5! dxc5 [ After 10...g7 W hite can play 11.xc6 xc6 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.a4 , but this may only be enough for a draw. For example after xc3 14.xc6+ f8 15.bxc3 c8 16.a6 xc5 17.xa7 c7 ( 17...xc3?? 18.d4 wins a whole rook) 18.xc7 xc7 19.fb1 ( 19.fc1 g7 20.a4 a8 21.a3 c4 22.a5 a6 23.f3 d5 also held for Black in Loginov, V (2505)-Csom, I (2475)/ Bu da pe st 19 9 3) 19...g7 20.a4 a8 21.a3 c5 22.b4 f6 held for Black despite his pawn minus in Marin, M (2511)I l l e s c a s C o r d o b a , M (2 6 2 6 ) / S a n x e n x o 2004. ] 11.xc6 xc6 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.c2 d2?! Deliberately exchanging queens looks like a mistake here because Black is suffering in the endgame. [ The natural move is 13...0-0 , for example 14.a4 c7 ( 14...c4 15.fd1 a5 16.xc4 b5 17.c2 fd8 18.b3 d6 19.e3 was also a bit better for White in Konopka, M (2480)-Vokac, M (2495)/Lazne Bohdanec 1999) 15.xc5 fd8 16.d3 ac8 17.c4 d5 18.h4 h5 19.e4 d7 20.ad1 was just a bit better for White in Sowray, P (2339)-Sherwin, J (2255)/ Sunningdale 2006. ] 14.xd2 xd2 15.e4 0-0-0 16.ad1 h6 17.xc5 Black now has a deeply unpleasant endgame, all the more so when an endgame artist of Ulf Andersson's calibre is playing White. d5 18.d3 c7 19.f4 Gaining space on the kingside whilst blocking the bishop's attack on c1. Now White can put his rooks on the c-file so as to gang up on the weak Black c-pawn. g7 20.c1 a5 21.a3 b5 22.c2 hb8 23.b4 a5 24.fc1 8b6 1598
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.b4 ac8 17.e4 f6 18.e3 b6 lef t Black very solidly placed in Granda Zuniga, J-Spangenberg, H/ Buenos Aires 1993. ] 14.e4 xd5 15.xd5 e7 16.c3 [ Trying to keep some chances after 16.xe7+ xe7 17.b4 f5 there would be nothing in it. ] 16...c6 17.e3 f5 18.f3?! I think this is more risky with the knights still on. [ 18.exf5 gxf5 ( 18...xf5 19.f3 gives White the e4 square, so again I claim a small edge for White) 19.f4 is a bit better for W hite because of the potential vulnerability of Black's e5 and f5 pawns. ] 18...f4 19.g1 h5 Now I don't like it for White because Black will always be able to open lines in the kingside. 20.d5 f7 21.g4 hxg4 22.fxg4 cf8 23.f3 f6 24.f2 [ 24.b4 looks like a better try for counterplay. ] 24...h7 25.xf6+ Stopping the bishop from coming to h4, but it would have been with a heavy heart that Aronian took this bishop off. xf6 26.h1 g5 27.h3 b6 28.h2 d8 1595 A37 29.b3 e6 30.f1 b5 Black now dominates Aronian,Levon 2808 the entire board and it remains to be seen Grischuk,Alexander 2747 h o w e xa ct ly h e 'll p u t t h e b a ll in t h e n e t . WCh Candidates (1.5) 09.05.2011 31.g2 a5 32.hh1 f8 33.hc1 b8 34.h1 b4 35.h2 a4 36.h1 a8 37.g1 [Nigel Davies] axb3 38.xb3 a4 39.bb2 a3 40.bg2 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.g3 g6 a4 41.h4?! c3 42.f1?! a3 43.hxg5?! 44.f2 xh2+! 45.xh2 xg5 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 ge7 7.e1 d6 8.c2 c1 e6 9.e3 0-0 10.d3 d7 11.ed5 h3 With the d3 pawn dropping off this is the end of the road for White. 46.h1 xd3 47.h4 12.b1 xg2 [ A n o t h e r p o s s i b i l i t y i s 12...ab8 h3+ , f o r e xa m p l e 13.g5 xg2 14.xe7+ 0-1 xe7 15.xg2 f6 16.d2 f5 17.b4 b6 wasn't really anything for White in Karlsson, 1596 A37 L-Movsesian, S/Malmo 1999. ] 13.xg2 ac8 A new move, though not one Bacrot,E 2705 Jansa,Vl 2451 that seems revolutionary. 03.02.2013 [ Prior to this game everyone had exchanged Bundesliga 2012-13 (8) k n i g h t s h e r e . F o r e x a m p l e 13...xd5 [Tony Kosten] 14.cxd5 e7 ( 14...d4 15.e3 b5 16.a4 xc3 17.bxc3 e4 18.c4 exd3 1.c4 g6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 g7 4.g3 c6 was Karlsson, L-Ernst, T/Uppsala 1985, and 5.g2 e5 6.a3 a5 Not immediately now 19.a5 c3 20.d2 was probably best necessary as White is not yet threatening to w i t h W h i t e f o r c h o i c e b e c a u s e o f t h e play b4 - Black should wait for Rb1 before pressure he may generate on the b-file) playing ...a5 if he can. 7.0-0 d6 8.e1 e6 15.g5 ( 15.e4 looks more natural) 15...f5 9.d3 ge7 10.c2 d5 11.cxd5 xd5
25.g2 e6?! This takes a valuable flight square away from Black's king. [ H e s h o u l d h a v e p l a y e d 25...d5 after which 26.bxa5 xa5 27.b4 d7 28.xc6 xa3 29.d1+ e6 (the point) 30.e4 is very unpleasant for Black. But he's still fighting. ] 26.bxa5 xa5 27.b4 c5 [ With the Black e-pawn on e6 Black can't play 27...d7 because of 28.xc6 xa3 29.d1+ c7 ( 29...e8 30.d8# ) 30.e5+ followed by 31.Nc4, forking Black's rooks. ] 28.xc5+ xc5 29.xc5+ b7 30.c4 f8 31.f3 b5 [ 31...d6 might have been a bit better but it's very unpleasant for Black after, say, 32.e4 . ] 32.c6 d5 33.a4 d1 34.e5 f6 35.d3 h5? [ 35...f5 would have been a bit tougher. ] 36.e4 Black's e-pawn is also falling. 1-0
1599
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.e3 de7 13.c4 0-0 14.g5 f6 15.e3 b6 16.a4 Attacking the pinned knight and further controlling Black's weak light squares. c8 [ 16...c7 17.f4 ab8 18.fxe5 xe5 19.xe5 fxe5 is examined in Almasi, Z (2707)-Felgaer, R (2597)/Khanty Mansiysk RUS 2010 (47) ] 17.b5 The problem, now it's difficult to defend the b6-pawn. xc4 Forced. [ 17...d4 18.xb6 xb6 19.xb6 b8 20.xd4 cxd4 21.ca4 h6 22.b4 lef t W hite a solid pawn up in Ivanov, M (2395)-Bauer, A (2152)/Emmendingen 2012, and he went on to win. ] 18.dxc4 The most popular, the pawn covers b5 and d5. [ 18.xc4+ h8 19.b5 f5 20.g5 d4 21.xe7 xe7 ( 21...xb5 22.xd8 xc3 23.xb6 xe2+ is equal. ) 22.xb6 b8 23.a6 xb2 was fairly equal in Kramnik, V (2788)-Navara, D (2672)/Prague 2008. ] 18...d4 19.xd4 [ 19.a6 h6 20.b4 axb4 21.axb4 cxb4 had already occurred for Black in Cvek, R (2563)-Jansa, V (2454)/Kouty nad Desnou 2012, but 22.xd4 exd4 23.a4 would have favoured White. ] 19...exd4?! I don't like this move. [ 19...cxd4 i s m o r e a m b i t i o u s , 20.a4 ( 20.d5 xd5 21.xd5+ h8 22.b4 keeps some small advantage as White has the more useful bishop and a queenside majority, but the opposite-colour bishops are a problem.) 20...b8 21.c5 bxc5 22.xc5 f5 was fine for Black in Marin, M (2583)Edouard, R (2597)/Benasque 2009, ...e4 is coming. ] 20.a4 b8 21.b4 axb4 Obvious and new, but Black is still in difficulty after this move. [ 21...e8? 22.bxa5 xb5 23.cxb5 bxa5 Gomez Jurado, L (2339)-Llaneza Vega, P (2207)/Barcelona 2010, was pretty much winning for W hite after, say, 24.b6 c4 25.b7 fd8 26.ab1 and Nc5-a6. ] [ 21...c7?! 22.bxc5 bxc5 23.xc5 xc5 24.xc5 fc8 25.b7 xc4 26.xa5 ] 22.axb4 cxb4 23.ab1 Black is temporarily a pawn up, but White will take on b4 then b6. e8 24.xb4 f5 25.b2 d3!? An interesting strategic decision sacrificing the
d-pawn to gain the d4-square and open the a1-h8 diagonal, but Black was in trouble otherwise. [ 25...f8 26.fb1 and White can capture the b6-pawn when he likes. ] 26.d5+ h8 27.exd3 [ 27.xd3! xd3 28.exd3 was a good alternative. ] 27...c7 [ 27...e7!? i s t r i c k y : 28.xb6 e3!? 29.fxe3 xe3+ 30.h1 xb6 31.xb6 xb6 but then 32.c5 and the g7-bishop is too passive to block the white pawns. ] 28.c6?! I don't understand why White is suddenly in a rush to exchange queens. [ 28.fb1 ed8 29.e4 looks good, as b5 30.cxb5 d4 is met by 31.c6 ] 28...xc6 29.xc6 ed8 30.e4 d4 [ 30...h6!? threatens ...f 5, 31.d5 f5 32.xb6 xb6 33.xb6 d4 34.a8 d7 and White will have problems converting. ] 31.xb6 [ 31.fb1! ] 31...f5?! [ 31...xb6 32.xb6 f5 33.d5 transposes while avoiding the next note. ] 32.d5?! [ 32.xb8 xb8 33.g2 might be more accurate. ] 32...xb6 33.xb6 b3 [ 33...e2+! 34.g2 c3 could have been played when the threat of ...Bd4 is annoying. ] 34.d1 [ White avoids 34.a4 d4 35.b1 c5 36.xc5 xc5 and it is not easy to see how W hite will advance his two extra central pawns. ] 34...d4 35.a8 Keeping the knights on the board. e8? [ 35...d7! simply stops the knight escaping. ] 36.f3? This must surely have been a Sunday morning game, there are just too many imprecisions! [ 36.c7! and the knight escapes to e6 or b5. ] 36...e7! 37.g2 a7 Black is still two pawns down, but his pieces are excellently placed and ... he may not even be worse! 38.b1 a2? Tricky, but faulty. The worst 1600
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with a draw! f5 Trying to stop d4 and keep m o re t e n sio n in t h e p o sit io n . T h is m o v e scores very well for Black indeed. [ 7...0-0 8.d4 cxd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.exd4 d5 transposes to the drawish 5 e3 mainline in A36. ] 8.e4 Not that common, but it makes good sense. [ 8.d4!? has never been played, but might be worth a punt, cxd4 9.exd4 fxd4 10.xd4 xd4 11.e3 f5 12.c5 d6 13.a3 0-0 14.e4 with compensation. ] 8...d6 [ 8...b6 also defends c5, 9.d4 d5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.c3 cxd4 Paunovic, D (2465)Kovacevic, A (2462)/Jahorina 2000, 12.xd5!? dxe3 13.a4!? ] 9.d4! T h e p o i n t . cxd4 10.xd4 cxd4 11.exd4 0-0 [ 11...d5 l o o k s s a f e s t : 12.cxd5 exd5 1/2-1/2 Hernandez Onna, R (2465)-Browne, W (2550)/Buenos Aires 1978, 13.c3 0-0 14.xd5 xd4 15.e3 White has a small lead in development. ] [ 11...xd4 is met by 12.g5 b6 13.f6+ f8 14.a4 c6 15.ad1 h6 16.xc6 bxc6 ( 16...xc6? 17.xd6; 16...hxg5 17.xb7 xf6 18.xa8 ) 17.c5! xc5 18.e3 f5 19.xc6 xf6 20.xa8 ] 12.g5! [ 12.f4 h6 13.d5 e5 14.d2 c7 15.c1 b6 16.b4 Novikov, S (2503)-Sivokho, S (2494)/St Petersburg 2003, with a position typical of certain Sicilians - White might be a little better as he has the c5 break. ] 12...b6!? New, and critical. [ 12...c7 is the sensible alternative, 13.g4 ( 13.c1! develops another piece and keeps a l l t h e t h r e a t s , xd4 14.f6+ xf6 15.xf6 e5 16.d2 ) 13...h6 ( 13...xd4 14.f6+ xf6 15.xf6 e5 might be possible. ) 14.f6+ h8 15.d3 g8 1597 A37 16.xh7 xh7 17.h3+ h6 18.xh6 xh6 19.g5 h8 ( 19...xc4!? ) 20.gxh6 Bejtovic,J 2387 e7 21.fe1 d7 22.e3 with advantage, Grandelius,N 2593 Appel, R (2481)-Kveinys, A (2533)/Essen TCh-SWE Elite 2012-13 (3) 07.10.2012 2001. ] [Tony Kosten] [ 12...f6?! is ugly, 13.d2 b6 ( 13...xd4 14.c3 f5 15.d3 with more than 1.f3 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c4 c6 enough for the pawn.) 14.c3 d5 15.cxd5 5.c3 e6 6.0-0 ge7 7.e3 exd5 16.c5 d8 17.e1 the weakness of A very reasonable move ... if White is happy
defect of this combination is that it allows White to remove the drawish opposite-colour bishops from the board. [ 38...c5! 39.b8+ g7 keeps the darksquared bind, and the threat to attack f2, 40.d8 xd3! 41.e2 e1+ 42.f1 f6 wit h o n l y o n e p a wn le s s a n d e xce l le n t drawing chances. ] 39.xb3 xf2+ 40.h3 xf3 41.c7 Now W hite has two passed pawns plus a knight that can contest the dark squares and will win. e3 42.b8+ g7 43.d8 b2 [ 43...xd3?? 44.xd4 xd4 45.e6+ ] 44.g2?! A strange choice - perhaps the players were down to 30 seconds a move?! [ 44.d7+ f8 45.c5 looks strong. ] [ 44.d4 likewise. ] 44...e2+ 45.g1 g5 [ 45...h6 46.d4 c1 47.c5 e3+ 48.f1 xh2 49.c6 f2+ 50.e1 c2 51.d5 f2+ 52.d1 c4 looks messy. ] 46.c5 Finally White sets his pawns in motion. c2 47.d4 g6 48.e6 h5?! Tempting, but the threat to go to g4 is easily parried. [ 48...c1! intends ...Be3+, and maybe ... f4. ] 49.h3 f4?! 50.d6 Menacing Ng7 mate! g6 51.xf4+?! f5 52.d3 a3? [ 52...a1 Keeps some chances, 53.f2 ( 53.c6 e4 54.c5+ f3 is awkward.) 53...d2 54.f1 xd4 55.e1 xf2 56.xd4 g2 ] 53.f2! White quickly stops the black king from entering via e4. c1 54.g2! h5 [ 54...e3?? is met by 55.g4+ f4 56.f6# ] 55.g4+ hxg4 56.hxg4+ f4 57.e6 And the threat of mate on e4 forces large material gains. 1-0
1601
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d5 and e6 ensure W hite has a big plus, Odendahl, S (2275)-Gruchacz, R (2400)/ Lone Pine 1978. ] 13.c5! White is not willing to let go of the initiative. dxc5 14.dxc5 xb2 15.b1 xa2 Grabbing a 2nd pawn and hoping to defend. [ 15...e5 16.e1 c7 17.g4 is no better. ] 16.g4 h6? [ 16...d4 17.f6+ xf6 18.xf6 e2+ 19.h1 f4 is a better try, but White has full compensation. ] 17.e7! e8 18.f6+ xf6 19.xf6 Black's dark-squared weaknesses are awful, and on top of that his queen is misplaced and his queenside under pressure. e5 [ 19...c4 20.h3 xc5 would win another pawn, but 21.d2 f8 22.g5 wins the knight. ] 20.h3 e6 21.g5 g7 22.d5! d7 23.f3 Qf6+ is menaced and it becomes clear that Black is already completely lost. e6 24.xb7 [ 24.fd1! ] 24...xb7 [ 24...b8 25.c6 ] 25.xb7 c6 26.xh6+ xh6 27.xf7 I can't understand why Black didn't resign here (or even before), maybe his opponent was short of time. f6 28.xh7+ g5 29.b3? [ 29.g7! is an immediate killer - Qh5+ is threatened. ] [ 29.b4 likewise, h4 mate is the threat. ] 29...af8 30.g3? [ 30.e3 keeps a clear win. ] 30...f3?? Returning the compliment! [ 30...6f7! almost traps White's queen! 31.h4+ f6 32.h6 e7 and the game goes on. ] 31.h4+ f4 [ 31...f6 32.g5+ e6 33.xg6+ ] 32.h6+ e4 33.e1+ d5 34.d1+ e4 [ 34...xc5 35.c1+ ] 35.xf3 xf3 36.d6 e8 37.d2 Forcing mate. f7 38.b4+ c4 39.xc4# 1-0
1598 Beliavsky,Alexander G Ponomariov,Ruslan ECC Panormo GRE (4) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2659 2684 26.09.2001
1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.f3 e5 The Botvinnik System is also a good set-up to employ with Black. 6.a3 a5! This concedes control of b5, as well as d5, but experience indicates that Black cannot afford to allow White to play b4. 7.d3 ge7 8.g5!? A sneaky move, White wants to weaken Black's hold over the light squares by exchanging his dark-squared bishop for the knight. f6! A positionally forced reply. 9.d2 d6 10.0-0 0-0 11.e1 A standard plan, the k n i g h t h e a d s f o r e 3 , t o c o n t r o l d 5 . e6 12.c2!? [ This allows Black to play ...d5 , 12.d5 i s m o r e c o m m o n , b8! 13.c2 b5 (the most accurate, Black regains control over b5, and undermines d5) 14.b3 xd5!? 15.cxd5 d4 16.b1 f5 17.e1?! a4 18.bxa4 bxa4 gaining b3 for the knight with a black advantage, Shalimov,V-Gasanov,E/ Alushta UKR 2000. ] 12...d5 13.cxd5 [ Perhaps White can play in 'Petrosian style' by 13.b3!? ] 13...xd5 14.e3 de7! Black knows exactly wha t he is doing: in the Maroczy position that has arisen the player with the most space should avoid exchanges- they only help his opponent. 15.c4!? [ Using the knight on this outpost, logical as it appears, is actually a novelty here, as b e f o re W h it e h a d p la ye d 15.e4 b6 16.b4!? axb4 17.axb4 xa1 18.xa1 cxb4 19.a4 , Landenbergue,C-Mainka,R/Prague 1990, when d4 20.e1 b3 must be good for Black. ] 15...b8 16.b5 Otherwise ...b5 will drive the c4-knight back home. f5 17.c3 b6 18.e3? It appears that W hite is doing well with his two knights 'sitting pretty' on c4 and b5, and he simply wishes to counter Black's positional threat of playing ...Nd4, but he overlooks a powerful positional exchange. xc4! 19.dxc4 xd1 20.fxd1 e4 This is the point, the pawn chain cuts the influence of the g2-bishop, 1602
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and by exchanging his own two bishops and simultaneously creating good squares for his knights on e5 and d3, Black assumes the driving seat. 21.xg7 xg7 22.d6 fd8 23.ad1 xd6 24.xd6 e5 25.f1 7c6 W hite has control of the d-file, but this is temporary, the weakness of c4, d3 and f3 is p e r m a n e n t . 26.c3 b7 27.e2 d7 28.xd7+ xd7 29.h4 ce5 30.f1 f6 31.e1 e6 32.d5 d6 The king comes to defend b6, and free the d7-knight, and meanwhile there is a passing threat of ...b5, u n d e r m i n i n g t h e w h i t e k n i g h t . 33.a4 Putting another pawn on a light square, but White hopes to set-up a solid wall. c6 34.b3 b4 35.c3 Naturally White doesn't want to play with his lone bishop against a rampant black knight. e5 36.d2 White is solid, but passive, but Black has a lot more space and the better minor pieces. The question is: how to convert this into something more tangible, and Black answers this by advancing his kingside pawns. f8 37.b5 [ White is loathe to create weaknesses on g3 and e3 by 37.f4+!? exf3 38.xf3 and instead, tries to sit-it-out. ] 37...h6 38.c3 g5 39.hxg5 hxg5 40.d1 d7 41.c3 f6 42.b5 White is simply saying to Black, you have no entry squares for your king, how are you going to beat me? f4 43.gxf4+ gxf4 44.exf4+ xf4 45.a7 W h it e re m i n d s B l a c k t h a t h e a l so h a s a weakness, on b6. d7 46.c3?! [ 46.c8 c6 47.d1 is not especially promising, but may permit White to hold-out longer. ] 46...e5 47.c8 ed3! Swapping the b6pawn for the f-pawn, and creating a strong passed e-pawn. 48.xb6 xf2 49.d5+ e5 50.e3 h3 51.d1 g5 52.h5 e6 53.d1 d4 54.g2 f3 55.e3 h4 56.g4+ f5 57.e3+ f4 58.d5+ e5 Black is in no rush, and wants to examine several possible plans before committing himself- and perhaps gain time on the clock. 59.b6 f5 60.d7+ d6 61.f6 g3 62.g4 e6 63.d2 f5 64.e2 c6 65.f1 e5 The die is cast, Black forces the exchange of a pair of knights and wins against the sad white bishop. 66.e3 f3+ 67.e2 3d4+ 68.f2 xe3 69.xe3 e5
[ 69...e5 70.h3 f5+ 71.d2 f4 72.d1 d4 Black can simultaneously pickoff the queenside pawns, and advance his king, and e-pawn. ] 0-1
1599 Bocharov,D Neverov,V Dvorkovich Mem 2013 (9.4) [John Bartholomew]
A37 2614 2499 23.01.2013
Dmitry Bocharov curbs Black's play in the 6... Nh6 line with a pawn sacrifice. 1.c4 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 c5 4.c3 c6 5.f3 d6 6.0-0 h6 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4!? Extremely rare, but worth a look. [ Far more common is 8.xh6 xh6 9.xd4 , as Luke McShane used to defeat Magnus Carlsen at the London Classic a couple years back. Black has a few different replies here: Carlsen's choice was the combative A) Perhaps the safest continuation is 9...xd4 10.xd4 0-0 . Now 11.fd1 g7 12.e3 xc3!? (Black eliminates the knight in view of Nc3-d5 and/or c4-c5) 13.xc3 c7 was seen in Loginov, V (2540)-Stanec, N (2460) Aschach 1994/ [ N i g e l D a vi e s ] . H e r e N i g e l m e n t i o n s 14.d5!? ( a n o t h e r i d e a i s 14.d4!? , flirting with Rd4-h4 ideas) 14...b8 15.h4 h5 16.e3 b6 17.h6 e6 18.f3 b7 19.xb7 xb7 20.ac1 with a minimal advantage for White in Bartels, H (2335)Frias Pablaza, V (2480) London 1994; B) M o s t c o m m o n i s 9...d7 10.c5!? (an attractive pawn sacrif ice W hite is attempting to debilitate Black's structure) and now B1) Black may want to consider 10...g7!? 11.xc6 xc6 12.xc6+ bxc6 which has yielded him four draws in four games thus far, e.g. 13.a4 0-0!? ( better than 13...xc3 14.xc6+ f8 15.bxc3 c8 16.a4 xc5 17.xa7 c7 18.xc7 xc7 19.fb1 Marin, M (2511)-Illescas Cordoba, M (2626) Sanxenxo 2004; 13...c8!?N ) 14.ac1 dxc5 15.c2 c7 16.c4 xc3 17.xc3 fd8 18.xc5 d6 1603
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with only a symbolic advantage for White Tikkanen, H (2566) -Enchev, I (2419) Albena 2012; B2) 10...dxc5 11.xc6 xc6 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.c2 d2?! (Black should keep the queens on the board) 14.xd2 xd2 15.e4 0-0-0 16.ad1 h6 17.xc5 d5 18.d3 c7 19.f4! led to a classic technical demonstration in Andersson, U (2635)-Van der Wiel, J (2530) Wijk aan Zee 1983/ [Nigel Davies].; C) 9...e5 , b u t a f t e r 10.b3 0-0 11.fd1 d7 12.a3 a5 13.b4!? a6 14.b5 a8 15.e3 a4 16.ab1 g7 17.e4 b6 18.c6!? White owned the initiative in McShane, L (2645)-Carlsen, M (2802) London 2010/[Nigel Davies]. ] 8...xd4 9.xh6 xe2+!? Black responds ambitiously. [ With 9...xh6 10.xd4 0-0 he could transpose to 9...Nxd4 (above). ] 10.xe2 xh6 11.fe1 g7 12.ad1! Of course - what could be more natural? [ I could find only one other game where Black was brave enough to snatch the pawn on move nine. That contest continued with t h e i m m e d i a t e 12.c5 , b u t a f t e r 0-0! 13.ad1 e5 14.b5 a6 15.b3 a5! 16.d5 xc5 17.c1 a5 18.xe7+ g7 19.xc8 axc8 20.xb7?! b8 21.d5 b5! 22.d3 xb2 Black was in the driver's seat in Dittmar, P (2327)Antoniewski, R (2607) Triesen 2010. ] 12...xc3! A l s o c o r r e c t . 13.bxc3 c7 14.d4 Bocharov opts for controlled aggression, trusting in his long-term compensation. [ 14.e3!? also looks good, eying both win gs and ke eping th e d 1 rook f lexible (maybe it will swing to b1?). ] 14...e6 15.e3 c8 16.e4!? [ It's possible to bail out with 16.d5 , i.e. xd5 17.cxd5 0-0 18.e4 xc3 19.xc3 xc3 20.xe7= , but with the White pieces and a 100+ po int rating a dvantage this probably didn't appeal to White! ] 16...a5?! Gifting White an unnecessary opportunity. [ Black should call White's semi-bluff with 16...b6! 17.h6 ( 17.xb6 axb6 18.b1?? would be awful in view of f5-+ )
17...xc4 , e.g. 18.4e3 c7 19.g7 f8 20.xh7 xa2!? and White will have to prove compensation for the two pawns. ] [ Another decent option is 16...c5 17.h6 c7 18.g7 f8 . ] [ 16...0-0?? 17.h6 followed by Re4-h4 should be averted, of course. ] 17.h3! c7 18.d4 f8 19.xe6 fxe6 20.xe6 c5 21.d2 [ White must have assessed the double rook end gam e a f te r 21.xd6 xd4 22.xd4 to be drawish, which it very much is. ] 21...d8 Black is still fine, but his king's future is a bit uncertain and White has regained the sacrificed pawn. 22.1e4 d7 23.e2 f7 24.h4 e8 25.d4 f8?! [ Stronger was 25...f5! , preventing White's next. ] 26.d5 b6? Black is quickly losing the thread. [ 26...c6 ] 27.c5! b1+ 28.g2 f5?? Oh no! Black deprives his queen of her only flight square. In Neverov's defense, it was already bad. 29.d1 Black resigned, as his queen is ensnared. 8.Nxd4!? has some independent value, though I doubt White can expect much if Black defends precisely after nabbing the pawn with 8...Nxd4 9.Bxh6 Nxe2+!?. 1-0
1600 Braun,Arik Petrosian,Tigran L IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (7) [Carsten Hansen]
A37 2529 2616 27.04.2008
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 g6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 h6 This move doesn't have the best reputation, but isn't entirely terrible and has been played by several strong players over the years. 6.0-0 [ White plays the tamest available continuation. The critical lines are 6.d4!? ] [ and 6.h4!? ] 6...0-0 7.d3 a6!? [ Black continues to play sharp and provocative moves. The alternatives are: 7...d6 ] [ 7...f5 ] 1604
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ and 7...b8 ] 8.b1 f5 9.a3 b5!? [ My initial reaction to this gambit is scepticism, but at closer inspection it appears to have some merit. The alternative is 9...b8 A) 10.e4 d6 11.d2 b5 12.b3 ( 12.c3!?= ) 12...c7 13.e3 e5 14.c2 b4= Soederborg, B-Drimer, D/Leningrad 1960; B) 10.d2 b5 11.cxb5 axb5 12.b4 b6 B1) W hite can improve with 13.bxc5!? xc5 14.e4 fd4 ( 14...xc3 15.c1 ) 15.xd4 xd4 16.b3; B2) 13.g5 cxb4 14.axb4 e6 15.ge4?! ( 15.e4 fd4 16.f4 e5 17.e3 b7 ) 15...d5 with a pleasant game for Black, Pastorini, M-Gladischev, O/Ceske Budejovice 1997 ] 10.cxb5 axb5 11.xb5 b6 12.a4 a6 13.g4!? [ The first new move of the game. In an earlier game in this variation, W hite tried 13.e4!? fd4 ( 13...d6!? 14.xd6 exd6 15.f4 b4 offers Black a fair amount of compensation for the pawn) 14.bxd4 xd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.b3 fb8 17.c2 a7 , Kristensen, B-Schmittdiel, E/Gausdal 1994, and now White should probably opt for 18.e3!? intending Rfc1, when I doubt Black has enough for the pawn ] 13...h6 14.h3 [ Initially my computer likes 14.xh6 xh6 15.c3 g7 , but 16.d5 d8 offers Black excellent compensation for the pawn ] 14...f5 [ Of course Black can get the pawn back immediately with 14...xb5 15.axb5 xb5 , but Black is in no rush. ] 15.h2 [ My silicon friend endorses 15.b3+ e6 16.g5 f7 17.e3 which indeed appears to be more critical than the game continuation, but Black should be more or less okay after something like fb8 18.fc1 xb5 19.xc5 a5 20.axb5 xb5 21.c2 b4 22.xb4 xb4 23.d4 ab8 24.e3 b6 ] 15...e6 16.e3 f4 17.d2 xb5 18.axb5 xb5 19.g5 f5 20.xf4 h4 [ Black wants to remove the guardian of
W hite's kingside, but Black can also consider 20...a2!? and ] [ 20...d5 in both cases with excellent compensation for the pawn. ] 21.d2 d5 22.g4 a2 23.c3 d4 24.d2 xg2 25.xg2 c4 [ 25...xb2 26.c1 xb1 27.xb1= is fine for White ] 26.dxc4 xc4 27.f3 e7 [ After 27...e5!? 28.xe5 xe5 , W h i t e ' s b e s t i s p r o b a b l y 29.c1!? though Black has a long-term initiative on account of the weak squares and loose pawn structure around White's king. ] 28.f2 f5 [ At this point Black should give consideration to 28...d5!? 29.e1 b5 30.e4 b6 with a comp lica ted gam e, b ut prob ably better chances for Black ] 29.c1 a6 [ This loses a tempo over the game continuation. Therefore Black should play 29...b5 , e.g. 30.c7 fa8 31.f4 2a7 32.c2 a2 33.e4 ] 30.c7 b5 31.f4 aa8 32.c1 f7 33.c4 b6 34.h2 e8 35.a4 d8 36.c5 e3 37.g3 xg4+ 38.hxg4 e5 39.c6 [ 39.g2!? b7 40.b4 e7 41.f1 ] 39...e7 [ 39...ef8 40.xe5 xg5 41.xg7 e3 42.g2 xg7 43.d5 with an interesting position without minor pieces W hite has the clearly better chances thanks to his safer king and extra pawn. ] 40.g2 ef8 41.b4 xg5 42.e6 d8 43.b5 [ Or 43.xe5!? e8 44.c7 xe6 45.xd8 ] 43...e8 44.c4 e7 45.f1 e6 46.xe6 xe6 47.fc1 b7 48.c8+ f7 49.1c7+ e7 50.c5 h5 51.gxh5 gxh5 52.8c6 e4 53.fxe4 [ White should let Black exchange the pawn and instead play 53.b6! , which offers White excellent winning chances ] 53...xe4 54.c7+ xc7 55.xc7+ g6 56.b6 [ White can also try to make life difficult for Black with 56.c2 e3 57.b6 b3 58.c7 , but d3 59.c6+ f7 60.exd3 d4 1605
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 61.f3 xb6 62.xb6 xd3+ results in the same endgame as in the game continuation, though in a slightly more passive position for Black in this line ] 56...e5! Black sacrifices his bishop to reach a theoretically drawn endgame 57.e7 xe2+ 58.f1 b2 59.xe5 xb6 60.xd4 W hile this endgame theoretically is an u n c o m p lic a t e d d ra w f o r B la ck, it ca n b e difficult to defend over the board. In the latest two issues of the American Chess Life magazine, Benko has vividly illustrated how strong grandmasters over and over again fail to draw this endgame. ½-½
W hite, he is a tempo down in a symmetric position! 13.b3 b4 14.e4 d8 15.f3 c2 16.b1 e5 17.g5 e8 White has cleverly played his way out of the worst of the trouble. 18.fc1 d4 19.d3?! A risky decision, the simple [ 19.xd4 exd4 20.f4 should be fine. ] 19...d7 20.e3 b5 21.d2 ad8 22.xd4 exd4 23.c5 The point of White's play, he wishes to establish the knight on the blockading square d3. a5 24.d3 c8 25.d1?! a4 26.dc1 b5 27.d1 White seems to be happy to repeat now, but Black decides to try for more. c4 28.b3 A f t e r t h is m o ve t h e c 3 -s qu a re b e c o m e s available for the black rooks. b5 29.f4? R e l e a s i n g t h e b l o c k a d e . d3! 30.d5 1601 A37 The d-pawn is untouchable, of course: [ 30.xd3? ed8 31.f1 c3 ] Bunzmann,Dimitrij 2596 Sutovsky,Emil 2587 30...d4!? 31.bc1 Perhaps greed was the Rubinstein Mem (6) 22.08.1999 right choice here, [ 31.xa5!? c2 32.d2 c6 is good for [Tony Kosten] Black, but perhaps tenable. ] 32.xc1 c6 Threatening to 1.c4 g6 2.c3 g7 3.g3 c5 4.g2 c6 31...xc1 5.f3 e6 6.d4 xd4 7.xd4 cxd4 8.b5 capture on d5, and then play ...Re2. 33.c4 b6 9.e3!? This obvious move had been b2 Black removes the d3-pawn's blockader. 34.xb2 considered weak. The normal move is [ 34.xd3 b5 ] [ 9.a4 see the archives. ] 9...e7! A sensible reply in the face of a 34...xb2 35.e3 f5! After this it becomes clear that White is lost. 36.d1 certain case of White preparation. [ 36.exf5?? xe3 37.fxe3 d2 ] [ 9...d5 is commonly considered to be the r e f u t a t i o n o f W h i t e ' s n i n t h m o v e , b u t 36...g7 37.f3 fxe4 38.fxe4 b5 39.c7 po ss ib ly wit ho ut f o un da tion , e. g. 10.0-0 Curiously, this move loses the rook, but [ 39.c1 wa s h a r d ly a n y b e t t e r , d4+ e7 ( 10...dxc4!? might be better, 11.xd4 40.h1 c6 winning the e-pawn, and d7 12.b3 although White has a strong clearing the e-file for the black rook. ] initiative.) 11.b3! 0-0 12.a3 e8 13.exd4 f5 14.c5 and White holds the advantage, 39...d4+ 40.h1 c6 Amongst the many threats are ...Bb6, and ...Be5. Krivokapic,R-Sibarevic,M/Yug ch 1991. ] 10.xd4 Obviously the point behind White's 0-1 ninth move, [ 10.0-0?! can be met by the awkward f5 ] 1602 A37 10...0-0 Chatalbashev,Boris 2526 [ 10...b4+ is very greedy, White will simply Costantini,Roberto 2314 play 11.d2 offering Black a choice of pawns. ] Reggio Emilia ITA (6) 05.01.2002 11.0-0 d5 Once more, eminently sound play [Nigel Davies] by Black. 12.cxd5 What else? [ 12.b3?! would be forcibly countered by 1.g3 c5 2.g2 c6 3.c4 g6 4.c3 g7 5.f3 e5 6.a3!? ge7 After this White has d8! ] 12...xd5 A simple glance at the position a promising gambit line. [ 6...a5 is Black's most popular choice here, shows that something has gone wrong for 1606
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 but that can mean that options such as playing for ...b7-b5 become for more difficult. ] 7.b4 cxb4 [ Black can also decline the pawn offer with 7...d6 but achieving b2-b4 so early must surely be a nice gain f or W hite. Indeed practical examples favour him, for example 8.b1 b8 ( 8...0-0 9.d3 b8 10.d2 b6 11.h4 d4 12.h5 b7 13.e3 xf3+ 14.xf3 f5 15.hxg6 hxg6 16.xb7 xb7 17.e4 was quite nice for White in Loginov, V (2550)-Doery, J (2340)/ Hungary 1995) 9.d3 e6 ( 9...b6 10.h4 h6 11.d2 e6 12.b5 d4 13.h2 d5 14.cxd5 xd5 15.h5 g5 16.e3 f5 17.0-0 fe7 18.xd5 xd5 19.e4 favoured White in Loginov, V (2525)Titz, H (2300)/Velden 1995) 10.g5 g4 11.h3 e6 12.g4 c8 13.bxc5 dxc5 14.ge4 f5 15.gxf5 gxf5 16.xc5 e4 17.d2 and Black had little compensation for his pawn in Loginov, V (2527)-Lavrik, D (2262)/St Petersburg 2005. ] [ A f a r m o r e ch a l le n g in g id e a i s 7...d5!? , f o r e xa m p le 8.bxc5 0-0 9.0-0 dxc4 10.b1 a5 11.d3 cxd3 12.exd3 g4 13.h3 d7 14.g5 h6 15.e3 c6 16.e2 f5 was fairly balanced at this st age in G eo rgie v, K (26 45 )-Jo ba va , B (2664)/Barcelona 2008. ] 8.axb4 xb4 9.a3 bc6 [ 9...ec6 10.0-0 0-0 11.b1 a5 12.d3 d6 13.d2 f5 14.d5 xd5 15.xd5+ h8 16.e3 a6 17.g2 gave White promising Benko Gambit style play for his pawn in Soppe, G (2408)-De Leo, A/Olavarria 2006. ] 10.b5 [ A n o t h e r p r o m i s i n g l i n e i s 10.g5 , for example 0-0 11.ge4 b6 12.d5 b8 13.d6 b7 14.ef6+ xf6 15.xf6+ g7 16.d5 was wonderful for White (and indeed led to a major upset) in Troyke, C (2360)-Chekhov, V (2535)/Dresden 1996. ] 10...0-0 11.d6 b6 [ 11...a6 12.c7 would win the Black queen. ] 12.b1 a5 13.0-0 [ Missing an even stronger line in 13.a1! b6 14.c7 b8 15.d5 xd5 16.cxd5 e4 17.b1 , when White is winning
material. ] 13...a6 14.a1 axb5 [ Or 14...b6 15.c7 a7 16.c5 b4 17.a4 b2 18.e1 threatens 19.Nd3 and is horrid for Black. ] 15.xa5 xa5 16.c7 [ Again missing a stronger line in 16.cxb5 xb5 17.g5 , for example h6 18.e4 b6 19.c3 a5 20.xc6 xc6 21.xf8 adds to W hite's growing collection of material. ] 16...bxc4 [ 16...b6!? was a better attempt to free Black's game. ] 17.xa5 xa5 18.a4 ec6 19.g5 b3 20.xc4 xd2 21.a2 xf1 22.xf7! Detonating Black's king position. W hite is winning now. xf7 23.d5 d8 24.a8 e6 25.xc8+ f8 26.xf1 b5 27.b8 b4 28.xe5 f5 29.e4 g7 30.f4 c7 31.d4+ h6 32.g8 g7 33.xb4 f8 34.d4 e8 35.e4 f6 36.xd7 g7 37.e5 b6 38.d8 b1+ 39.g2 c5 40.g5# 1-0
1603 Cuenca Jimenez,Jose Francisco Farago,Sandor FSIMC Augusta [John Watson]
A37 2350 2280 2005
1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.f3 e6 6.0-0 ge7 7.d4 cxd4 8.b5 Thus far as seen in the game GharamianH o u s i e a u x . f5 Housieaux played 8... 0-0, giving back the pawn. 9.g4 a6 10.a4 [ Hansen's analysis goes 10.gxf5 axb5 11.cxb5 e5 Then the only game I can find went 12.xd4 ( 12.xe5 xe5 'is fine for Black' Hansen.) 12...gxf5 13.a4 g6 14.a3 f4 ( 14...d5!= ) 15.e3 fxe3 16.xe3 with some advantage K Petrosian-Buturin, Belgorod 1989. No one mentions 10.Qa4, which looks like a clear improvement. ] 10...b8 [ 10...a5!? 11.gxf5 axb5 12.cxb5! ] [ 10...h6? 11.d6+ ( 11.g5 f6 12.xh6 xh6 13.d6+ f8 14.c5 ) 11...f8 ( 11...e7 12.a3 ) 12.g5 f6 13.xh6 1607
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xh6 14.c5 ] 11.gxf5 axb5 12.cxb5 a5 [ 12...e5 13.f4! ( 13.xd4! is easiest) 13...d6 14.a7 d7 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.xe5 xe5! 17.xe5 ( 17.g5 xg5 18.xb8+ e7 19.xb7 f4 20.fc1 d5 ) 17...dxe5 18.c5 f6 19.f4 exf4 20.d6 ] 13.xa5 Best, and clearest, although White can also try [ 13.c4!? e5 14.c5 xf3+ 15.xf3 with the idea d8 16.h6! xh6 17.e5 ] 13...xa5 14.fxe6 dxe6 15.f4 a8 16.ac1 [ 16.b4? c4 But now b4 is threatened, winning a piece. ] 16...d3?! [ 16...b6? 17.c7 0-0 18.e5+- ] [ 16...d7 17.b4 xb5 18.bxa5 0-0 19.c5! xe2 20.b1 a6 21.e5 ] 17.b4 dxe2 18.fe1 d7 19.bxa5 xb5 20.e5 The rest is easy. f6 21.d4 a6 22.g3 h6 23.c2 d8 24.xe2 d2 25.d1 xa5 26.xd8+ xd8 27.d4 e7 28.c7 b4 29.b6 d6 30.b3 e5 31.f1 xf1 32.xf1 a8 33.a5 e4 34.h3 a6 35.b2 e5 36.b3 e6 37.e2 g5 38.e3 f5 39.a4 d6 40.d4 h5 41.c4 g4 42.b5 a8 43.xb7 e5 44.c5+ d5 45.hxg4 fxg4 46.b1 c3 47.d1+ e5 48.c7+ f5 49.d5+ g6 50.xe4 g7 51.g5+ h6 52.f4 f8 53.f5+ g6 54.xf8 xf8 55.a5 f5 56.a6 1-0
8.d3 ge7 [ Black can attempt to get back to normal lines by 8...h6 , when 9.e1 a5 ( 9...ge7 10.b4!? ) 10.c2 ge7 11.e3 0-0 12.ed5 may favour White somewhat because he didn't have to take an extra tempo to play Rb1. But that would have to be proven. ] 9.b1 [ A test of Black's move order would be 9.g5 c8 ( 9...d7 10.ge4 with the double ideas of Nxd6+ (in collaboration with Nb5) and b4.; 9...f5!? ) 10.f4 h6 ( 10...f6 ) 11.f3 e6 ( 11...0-0 12.fxe5 dxe5 13.e3 b6 14.c1 with the idea h7 15.b4! cxb4 16.axb4 b7 17.b5 ) 12.fxe5 dxe5 13.e3 b6 14.b4 and White has the better prospects. ] 9...a5 10.d2 [ Again 10.g5 should be considered. ] [ I a l s o w o n d e r a b o u t t h e 10.d2 idea that I've given for Black in the last game (with colours reversed). Then 0-0 11.de4 h6 12.b5 c8 13.f4 f5 14.ec3 is more promising than what White normally gets in these positions. Some new ideas are needed against the Botvinnik. ] 10...0-0 [ 10...h6 ] 11.b5!? [ The last chance for 11.g5 ] 11...h6! 12.e1 d7 13.b4?! White plays to get to Black's potential weakness on b7, but he can't justify the loss of his d2 bishop and the centre at the same time. axb4 14.axb4 xb4 15.xb4 cxb4 16.c2 d5! 17.cxd5? 1604 A37 This leads to a tactical disaster for W hite Delchev,Aleksander 2628 because his knight gets trapped on b5. He Jakovenko,Dmitrij 2671 might have tried [ 17.e3!? dxc4 18.dxc4 , for example, 22nd ECU Club Cup (3) 10.10.2006 c6 19.xd7 xd7 20.fd1 , although [John Watson] Black still has a distinct advantage. ] H e r e w e h a v e a n o t h e r s u c c e s s i n t h e 17...xd5 18.xb4 xg2 19.xg2 d5 Botvinnik centre for Black, but with some 20.b1?! [ But 20.b2 a5 ( or 20...e4 21.b3 unusual opening move orders and W hite's fd8 ) 21.ca3 fa8 22.b3 a4! overambitious queenside play. 1.c4 c5 2.g3 is also bad. ] c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.f3 d6 6.0-0 21.b4 It's hard to find another e5 7.a3 e6!? Normally Black doesn't play 20...a2 this until he can secure the bishop's position move. xb4 22.xb4 c8 23.g1 [ 23.b3 (to get the knight back to c3) cc2 versus Ng5. The standard line is is extremely strong, with the idea 24.c3? [ 7...a5 8.d3 ge7 ] 1608
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c6+ ] [ Not much better is 23.d4 d5+ 24.g1 cc2 ] 23...a5 24.b3 [ 24.b1 c5 wins the knight. ] 24...f8 Black wins the exchange and the game is over. 25.b1 xb4 26.xb4 a6 27.a3 b5! 28.g2? [ Or 28.xb5? b6 ] [ or 28.b3 c5 29.c2 e6 ] 28...d5+ 29.f3 a2 The knight falls after all! 0-1
1605 Foisor,Cristina Adela B Calzetta Ruiz,Monica IEWCC Istanbul TUR (11) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2395 2253 14.06.2003
'Krugman' wrote on the Forum: "I just got the new book from John Watson and he talks a lot about this line, and he seems to like it, while Tony K doesn't seem to hold it in high esteem!" and then: "in the e-book Tony only mentions 8. Nb5 while Watson gives 8.Ne4! with good compensation for White!" So, time to have another look at it then! 1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 e6 5.f3 c6 6.d4!? It is true that this line is very enticing for W hite, if he can make it work! He gains exciting attacking chances in a rather dull line, bu t is it c o rre ct ? xd4 7.xd4 cxd4 8.e4!? The point of this move is to play Nd6+, as after the main move [ 8.b5 which we have considered in other games, such as Markowski-Macieja, but w h e r e a s h e r e b6 is a good move, defending d4 and controlling d6, after 8 Ne4 this would be impossible because of 9 c5. ] 8...e7!? This is not the strongest, Black allows his king to be displaced, and W hite regains his pawn. The critical line should be [ 8...d5 9.cxd5 ( 9.a4+ will transpose after 9 . . . K f 8 , b u t d7!? 10.xd7+!? is also possible, Lehtinen,H-Nemeth,Z/ Budapest HUN 2000) 9...exd5 10.a4+ this is the point, as if the knight had to move Black would be better, f8! ( 10...d7 11.d6+ f8 12.xd7 xd7 13.xb7
regains the pawn with the better structure) 11.c5 ( 11.a3+?! e7 12.d6 allows d3! 13.0-0 e5 14.b5 xa3 15.xa3 Chernin,A-Macieja,B/Budapest HUN 2000, and now dxe2 must favour Black) 11...e7 12.0-0 h6 Black has an extra pawn, but it is o n l y d o u b l e d , a n d h i s d e ve l o p m e n t i s awkward, 13.d2 ( 13.d1 g8 14.b3 d7 15.b4 a5! 16.e1 a4 stops White regaining the pawn, Pihlajasalo,ANevanlinna,R/FIN 1998; 13.e3!? is tempting, but then b6 14.d3 f5 and Black is doing well, Rosskothen,A-Kistella,R/Goch 1996) 13...g8 14.ac1 h7 Black has brought his kin g t o sa f et y, an d can t h in k a bo u t completing his development, Markowski, TMacieja,B/Warsaw POL 2002. ] [ 8...d6 is also playable : 9.a4+ e7 10.d2 aiming for b4, of course, ( 10.g5+!? f6 11.d2 should be similar, Fancsy, IHocevar,N/Balaton 1996, whilst; 10.c5!? d5 11.d6 f8! 12.0-0 e7 13.e4 dxe3 14.xe3 h6 15.ad1 offered just enough compensation for the pawn in McNab,CCh a n d ler, M/ B la ckp o ol 1 9 9 0) 10...a5 11.a3 f5! 12.g5+ f6 13.xf6+ xf6 14.xf6 xf6 15.0-0 b6 is not too clear, Schwartzman,G-Fedder,S/ Copenhagen 1990. ] [ Other moves that allow the knight into d6 are worse, e.g. 8...c7 9.c5 e7 ( 9...d5!? 10.cxd6 b6 ) 10.f4 a5+ 11.d2 c7 12.d6+ f8 13.c1 White has an important bind, Chernin,A-Parameswaran,T/ Bangalore 1981. ] 9.d6+ f8 10.xb7 The simplest move, although [ 10.b3! has its points, c6 11.0-0 b6 L a r s e n , S - H o r va t h , G / G yo r 1 9 9 0 , wh e n 12.f4 looks interesting, as if e5 13.d2 e7 14.a3 White threatens Bd5xf7. ] 10...c7! This new move makes more sense than [ 10...xb7 11.xb7 b8 although 12.g2 g8 13.0-0 h6 14.b3 d5 is almost level, Gurevich,D-Dlugy, M/New York 1989. ] 11.d6 b8 12.xc8 xc8 13.0-0!? White offers the c-pawn rather than defend it by [ 13.b3 when d5 14.cxd5 d3 is messy. ] 13...xc4 14.f4 c2 Exchanging queens 1609
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 makes sense. 15.c1 xd1 16.fxd1 f5 17.b7 xc1 18.xc1 e5 Black has two extra central pawns, and White's bishops and control of the c-file don't quite seem to offer sufficient compensation. 19.d2 f7 20.c7 e6 21.b4 b8 Black activates the rook, and finds that her king is also actively placed. 22.a3 f6?! Black misses the threat to the apawn, [ 22...a5! leaves her well in charge. ] 23.a6! b6 The best, it was impossible to defend a7 by [ 23...c6?? as 24.c4+ d5 25.xc6+ wins a piece. ] 24.xa7 Now White has two passed pawns, although they are a long way back for the moment. c6?! [ 24...c6! 25.c4+ d5 26.a6 xa6 27.xa6 e4 leaves everything to play for. ] 25.g2 d5?? A bad blunder, [ 25...c2 26.d3 c8 is still unclear. ] 26.b5! c2 [ 26...b6 27.e8 is also winning, as Bc5 will come next. ] 27.e8 The king will be mated in mid-board! d3 28.exd3?! [ 28.a6+ c6 29.xc6 seems somewhat s i m p l e r , a s m a t e i s o n c e a g a in o n t h e cards. ] 28...e4 29.a6+ e5 30.d4+ xd4 31.xf6 e3 32.xe7 xf2+ 33.h3 xb2 34.e6 xa2 35.g5 The three pawns are no match for two bishops. 1-0
17.c1 xb4 18.xd4 d3+ 19.exd3 xd4 20.c6+ [ As a comment upon Steenbecker's original a n a lysis, T o n y K o s t e n h a s o f f e re d t h e following line: 20.e2+ e7 21.e3 f6 22.c6+ d7 ( I (JW) think that 22...f8 is Black's best option, intending ...Kg7 and/ or ...b4, for example, 23.0-0 b4 24.fe1 g7 and in this position there's still plenty of play for both sides) 23.xd7+ xd7 24.0-0 and White seems to have the better position. I agree with Tony (although this isn't much), so 22...Kf8 should be looked at. ] 20...d7 21.e2+ e5 22.xd7+ [ 22.d4!? was discussed in Thiede-Cox in the January column, a game analysed by Steenbekkers. ] 22...xd7 23.d4 xd4 [ 23...f6 24.0-0!! xh6 25.fe1 ] [ 23...xh6 24.dxe5 h5! A) JW: 25.0-0 comes into consideration, but Black seems to maintain a balance, e. g., xe5 26.b2 ( 26.d2 e8! 27.c6 e6 28.c3 f6! 29.c8+ xc8 30.xc8+ d8= ) 26...e8 27.f4 b6+ 28.f2 e6 29.f5 gxf5 30.h8+ e7 31.h4+ f8 32.h8+ etc.; B) 25.d1 a5+ 26.f1 b4 27.f4 W hat do you think of this endgame??] ( JW: after 27.xd6+ e7 28.f4 b3! is equal, I think - with White's rook on h1 out of the attack White hasnothing. )] 24.g4+ e8 25.xd4 xh6 26.g7 h5 27.0-0 f5 28.fe1+ Steenbekkers also mentions [ 28.fd1 . Then play might go something 1606 A37 like A) or 28...e7 29.b2! ( 29.e1+ d7 Franz Steenbekkers Suggestion transposes to 28.Rfe1+; 29.a1 h8! ) Analysis 29...e5 30.c6 b6! 31.c2 ( 31.dxd6 Free Chess Server xd6 32.xd6 e1+ 33.g2 xd6 [John Watson] 34.xb5= ) 31...b4 32.f4 e6 33.dc1 b7; Franz Steenbekkers continues with his B) 28...d7! 29.b2 b4 ( 29...f6 question/analysis from the January Update. 30.a3 e8 31.xd6 ) 30.g4 f4= ] He is still trying to make Tony's Dynamic [ His other ideas are 28.c2 ] English line of the Symmetrical English work [ 28.h3 ] to White's advantage. 1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 [ and 28.a1 Play is similar in all these lines, 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.a3 a6 6.b1 b8 which I can't assess. Someone else may 7.b4 cxb4 8.axb4 b5 9.cxb5 axb5 10.f3 want to give this a try. ] e5 11.d4 exd4 12.d5 f6 13.g5 h6 14.xf6+ xf6 15.f4 d6 16.xh6 f5 28...d7 Steenbekkers: I don t see a win or a 1610
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 good plan for advantage for white do you see?? JW: The immediate concrete problems are ..Qh8 and ... Qf6, forcing the exchange of queens. This means that White doesn't have time to double rooks on a file, so he should try to harass Black with his queen first. Then there aren't any entry points, so his main chance is g4 at some point, to force Black's rook onto an exposed square. I don't know whether that can be done by force but it will put pressure on Black, for example, here are some lines that work for White: 29.b2! b4?! Not the only move at all. This forces the pace a bit and tries to demonstrate that White has no way of infiltrating except to try g4. Probably Black shouldn't allow a timely Qa4+, however. [ S o m e n i c e g e o m e t r y f o l l o w s 29...b6 30.g4! f4 31.e2! d8 (to cover e7) 32.a1 b7? ( 32...c4 33.a7+ c7 34.e3 bc8 35.b3! ) 33.h3 g5 ( 33...a4? 34.f3 ) 34.a7! xa7 35.xb5+ and White will win. ] [ O n e g o o d - l o o k i n g d e f e n c e i s 29...c8 30.a1 f6 31.a7+ c7 32.a2 d4! ] 30.g4! [ 30.c2 b6 31.a4+ b5 ] 30...a5 [ 30...f6 31.a1 a8 ( 31...e6 32.a7+ e8 33.xe6+ fxe6 34.c7 ) 32.d4 ] 31.c2 c8 32.e2 e8 [ 32...d8?? 33.f3 ] 33.f3 c5! 34.a1 f8 35.a7+ c7 36.xc7+ xc7 37.d5 etc.
1607 Fressinet,Laurent Yu,Yangyi Tromsoe ol (Men) 41st (10.3) [Kosten, Tony]
A37 2708 2668 12.08.2014
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 g6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 e6 6.d4!? A surprising choice for such an important game: France and China were vying for the gold medals in this match with o n l y o n e m o r e r o u n d t o p l a y . cxd4 The most popular. [ 6...xd4 7.xd4 cxd4 is the alternative, see the PGN Archive. ] 7.b5 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 This sensible move
"avoids the complications, accepting the isolated pawn. So far it's not clear White has any advantage but still there are some elite players trying to prove it" -Alex Fier in his October 2013 update. [ 8...a5+ is the mainline, see the Archive for some examples. ] 9.0-0 ge7 10.bxd4 [ 10.f4 0-0 11.c7 b8 12.b5 forces a repetition. ] 10...0-0 11.e3 e8 12.c1 As Alex said, this position "looks a bit more comfortable for White". It is important that the pressure on c6 restricts Black's options. [ 12.d2 i s s i m p l y c o u n t e r e d b y f5 13.xf5 xf5 when Black is fine, in fact he has scored rather heavily here, Stryjecki, M (2448) -Ulibin, M (2562)/Koszalin 1999. ] 12...f5 Best. [ 12...g4 13.h3 xf3 14.xf3 ( 14.xf3! ) 14...e5 15.b3 xf3+ 16.xf3 McNab, C (2406)-Guseinov, G (2513)/Bled 2002, 1-0 (44), d7 17.g2 c6 is equal. ] 13.xc6 The only decent try, creating hanging pawns. [ 13.xf5 xf5 looks nice and active for Black, A) 14.c5?! d4 15.xd4? xd4 16.xc6 ( 16.d5 xe3 ) 16...xe3 17.d6 e7 18.fxe3 xe3+ is a disaster for White, Nogueiras Santiago, J (2455)-Barbero, G (2305)/Thessaloniki 1984, but 1/2-1/2 (33).; B) 14.d2 d4 15.h6?! ( 15.f4 ) 15...f6 ( 15...h8 16.g5 Adianto, U (2615)-Gheorghiu, F (2455) /Biel 1998, 1-0 (45).; but what about 15...xe2! 16.xe2 xh6 when it is far from obvious how W hite counters the advance of the dpawn. ) 16.fe1 e4 is nothing, Schandorff, L (2535)-Nielsen, P (2515)/ Denmark 1998, 1/2-1/2 (23). ] 13...bxc6 14.d4 xd4 [ 14...a6 15.e1 xd4 16.xd4 xd4 17.xd4 xe2 18.xc6 c4 19.a1 a5! 20.h4 e1+ 21.xe1 xe1+ 22.h2 xa2 i s a l s o p l a ya b l e , M a l a k h o v , V ( 2 7 1 3 ) Bologan, V (2695)/Eilat 2012, 1/2-1/2 (42). ] 15.xd4 b6 So far this is all very natural, Black's bishops and activity compensate his inferior pawn structure. 16.e3?! A novelty, 1611
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 presumably Fress wanted to keep a slight but sure advantage without risk, but this move fails miserably. [ 16.xc6 is best, xb2 17.c2 f5 so far, so forced, A) 18.d2 is safe, xc6 ( 18...ac8 19.xa7 c5 20.b3 ) 19.xb2 e4 20.d2 with a small plus.; B) 18.xd5!? xc2 19.xc2 f6 20.c4 f8 21.e4 White has sufficient lightsquared compensation for the exchange, but no more. ( or 21.f4 b2 22.e4 ) 21...ac8 22.a4 g7 23.g2 c7 24.a5 xc6? ( 24...b2 can't possibly be worse for Black.) 25.xc6 xa5 26.b1 d4 27.b3 h8?! ( 27...c5 ) 28.b7 c5 29.xc5 xc5 30.xf7 xf2?? amazing! 31.xf2 g7 32.xa7 1-0 Malakhov, V (2709)-Maletin, P (2567)/Novosibirsk 2012 .] 16...xd4 [ 16...d7 17.a4 xd4 18.exd4 xb2 is also possible. ] 17.xd4 xd4 18.exd4 e2 [ 18...d7 19.fe1 xe1+ 20.xe1 f8 is also quite good for Black, despite the 'bad bishop', as he will play ...Rb8-b4. ] 19.b4!? [ 19.xc6 xb2 20.c5 e6 21.a4 d8 22.d1 is surely equal. ] 19...e6 [ 19...xa2?! 20.b5 ] 20.xc6 [ 20.a3 a2 21.xc6 xa3 22.c5 is slightly better than the game. ] 20...xa2 Funnily enough White's pawns are more exposed than Black's ... as his bishop defends the pawn on d5! Meanwhile d4 and b4 will need a rook to defend them, so White m u s t t a k e c a r e . 21.d6? Neither player distinguishes themselves in this rook endgame, but Laurent plays particularly badly, was it due to lack of time or the pressure of the situation? [ Better 21.c5 so that b8 22.b5 defends the b-pawn, b2 23.xd5 xd5 24.xd5 8xb5 25.xb5 xb5 26.a1 is a straightforward draw, of course. ] 21...b8 22.xd5 xd5 23.xd5 xb4 Now the situation is totally different as there are 4 rooks on the board but Black is more
active. 24.d8+ g7 25.d5 d2 26.d6 A i m i n g f o r c o u n t e rp la y, o b vi o u s ly if t h e f1-rook moves Black will double on the 2nd rank. h5 [ 26...bb2 was more accurate. ] 27.h4?! [ maybe now was the time to ditch the fpawn: 27.a1! bb2 28.a8! xf2 29.d7 g2+ 30.f1 and Black must take the perpetual, gf2+ 31.g1 ] 27...bb2 28.g2?! [ 28.d7 b7 29.a1 bxd7 30.xd7 xd7 is defendable. ] 28...a2 29.d7 [ 29.f3 a6 30.e3 axd6 31.xd6 xd6 32.a1 again. ] 29...ab2?! [ 29...f6 -e7 wins the d-pawn for nothing. ] 30.a1? Why do this when the f-pawn can be taken with check?? [ 30.g1! ] 30...xf2+ 31.g1 g2+ 32.h1? The final, decisive, mistake. [ 32.f1 bf2+ 33.e1 d2 34.xa7 is still not so clear. ] 32...h2+ 33.g1 bg2+ 34.f1 d2 The threat of mate gains a tempo. 35.g1 hg2+ 36.f1 xg3 37.e1 xd7 And China went on to win the Gold medal ... France finishing well down the list after a last round defeat to Russia. 0-1
1608 Gharamian,Tigran Housieaux,David 4th Open La Fere [John Watson]
A37 2410 2325 2005
1.f3 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 c5 4.0-0 [ 4.c4 c6 5.c3 e6 6.d4!? is a rich a nd e xc i t e m e n t - f i l l e d va r i a t i o n t h a t i s s t i l l unresolved after years of practice. The order in our game, with 0-0 and ...Nge7 included, has never been considered that dangerous for Black. On the other hand, a refutation doesn't exist and it bears further investigation. ] 4...c6 5.c4 e6 6.c3 ge7 7.d4!? As mentioned above, this sacrifice is more 1612
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 frequently played on the 6th move. One can argue that in a tactical situation the extra move ...Nge7 is worth more than 0-0. cxd4 [ A key line is 7...xd4 A) 8.e4!? is also unclear, e.g., 0-0 ( 8...d6 9.xd4 cxd4 10.g5 ) 9.xc5 ( 9.g5!? f6 10.e3 ef5 ) 9...xf3+ 10.xf3 d5 11.cxd5 xd5 Ruck-Adorjan B u d a p e s t 1 9 9 5 12.e4 b4 13.f4! with some kind of dynamic balance.; B) 8.xd4 This isn't in the books that I'm aware of, but it has been played a number of times and was analysed by Tony in the game Kretchetov-Lakdawala, Costa Mesa 2003: cxd4 ( 8...xd4? 9.b5 ) 9.b5 B1) Other moves are also interesting, for example, 9...b6!? 10.a4! intending d5 11.c5! d8 ( 11...xc5? 12.f4 e5 13.c1; 11...c6 12.b4 d7 13.xd4 ); B2) 9...f5 10.g4 ( 10.e4!? dxe3 11.xe3 0-0 12.xa7 xb2 13.b1 f6 Fiorito,F-Zarnicki,P/Boca 1997 and a s l o w m o v e l i k e 14.d2 would have o f f e re d s o m e co m p e n sa t io n f o r t h e pawn ) 10...a6 ( 10...h4!? 11.d6+ f8 12.b3!? xg2 13.xg2 h4 14.h3 was the Lakdawala game, with advantage for W hite) 11.a4 b8! 12.gxf5 axb5 N McDonald-Predojevic, Budapest 2003 13.xb5! intending gxf5 14.f4 a8 15.d6 ] 8.b5 0-0 Giving the pawn back for the sake of development. But this is rather accommodating and White comes out with a very small plus. [ 8...f5 is Cuenca Jimenez-Farago. ] 9.bxd4 d5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.e3 Firming up d4. W hite should have a small advantage here. e8 12.e1 [ 12.b3!? prevents the development of the c8 bishop and prepares Rf d1, so Black should act quickly: a5 13.b4 ec6 14.xc6 xc6 ( 14...bxc6 15.d4 ) 15.d2 d4 16.h6= ] 12...g4 13.b3 [ 13.c1 is more direct. ] 13...d7 14.c1 ac8 15.d2 f5 16.xf5 xf5 17.h6 f6 18.g5 [ 18.ed1 d4 19.b4 can also be tried, to drive Black's knight away from control of
d4. ] 18...g7 19.f4!? e4 20.h4?! xg2 21.xg2 d4 Black now exerts some pressure along his open files and diagonal. 22.e3 b5 Threatening ...Bc3. 23.d3 c3 24.c2 d4 25.f4 h6 26.h4 [ 26.e3 ed8 27.exd4 xd4 also leaves Black more active. ] 26...g4! 27.c1? Black also retains the advantage, but not such a decisive one, after [ 27.f3 h3 ] [ 27.e3 is bad due to dxe3 28.xe3 ed8 ] 27...xe2! 28.exe2 xe2+ 29.xe2 xc1+ 30.h2 d7 31.e4 c6 32.f4 c2 33.b8+ h7 34.xc2 xc2 35.xb7 xf2 36.d5 h5 37.h3 f1 38.h2 d3 39.f4 f2+ 40.g2 xg2+ 41.xg2 d4 0-1
1609 Ghasi,Ameet Palliser,Richard 4NCL: e2-e4 - White Rose (10.3) [Richard Palliser]
A37 2416 2461 06.05.2012
1.f3 c5 2.g3 As expected, although I wasn't too sure how Ameet would follow up, as he hadn't faced 1...c5 since making his comeback around about a year ago. [ A rare move which I neglected to cover in BUCO is 2.e3 and after c6 3.b5 ( 3.d4 d5 would lead to a Colle or Tarrasch) 3...d6!? 4.c4 ( 4.d4!? cxd4 5.exd4 a6 6.a4 b5 7.b3 f6 would quickly lead to o r i g i n a l p l a y) 4...e5 5.b3 ( 5.d4! must be the way to challenge Black's ambitious decision to aim for a Botvinnik setup after e4 6.d5 a6 7.a4 b5!? the position is messy, but likely in White's favour ) 5...ge7 6.b2 g6 7.0-0 g7 8.c3 0-0 White's bishop was a little misplaced (Bxc6, ...bxc6! gives Black control of the key d5-square), and Black enjoyed a comfortable position in S.Jones-R.Palliser, Huddersfield (rapid) 2012, played just a week before our main game. ] 2...c6 3.g2 e5 4.c4 [ This can, of course, be delayed until after 4.0-0 g6 5.d3 g7 , but taking play into a line of the English is the invariable choice 1613
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 of strong players when countering Black's Botvinnik formation. ] 4...g6 5.c3 g7 6.0-0 ge7 7.d3 0-0 Both sides develop along standard lines and now White thematically turns his attention to the queenside. 8.b1 d6 9.a3 a5 10.d2 [ Back in his 'first life', Ghasi had initially preferred 10.e1 and after e6 11.c2 ( 11.g5 f6 12.e3!? was the recommendation of a certain rather p o p u l a r wo r k o n t h e E n g l i s h O p e n i n g) 11...d5! 12.b3 ( rare, but 12.cxd5 xd5 13.e3 de7! has long been known to give Black a decent version of the Maroczy Bind) 12...f5!? ( 12...b6 followed by ...Qd7 and if Bg5, ...f6 would be a calmer, logical approach ) 13.g5 d6 (trying to keep White's knight from the pivotal d5-square, b u t t h i s i s r a t h e r a m b i t i o u s ) 14.e3 ( strong and so too might be the unstereotyped 14.e4!? ) 14...d4 15.b5 d7 16.d5! White had seized the initiative in Ghasi-Ianocichin, Heraklion 2002. ] 10...b8! [ An important prophylactic move Black wa n t s t o m e e t N d 5 wi t h . . . b 5 . Q u i t e a c o m m o n re a c t io n a t a l l le ve ls i s 10...h6 11.e1 e6 , but this is slow and White has definite chances to seize the initiative here, such as with 12.c2 ( or 12.d5 b8!? - Black hits on the right idea, just two moves too late - 13.c2 b5 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 with a pull f or W hite in Ghasi-Ganguly, British Championship, Edinburgh 2003, as it isn't so easy for Black to ease the tension here ) 12...d5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.e3 de7 15.a4! . ] 11.e1 White has nothing better than to send his knight on its favourite journey to the d5square, but in comparison with Ghasi-Ganguly, above, Black is clearly better off, having not spent a tempo on ...h6. e6 12.d5 [ White has no advantage here and really needs to look for an advantage earlier in my view. The alternative at this juncture is 12.c2 , but having not lost time on ... h6, Black is again well placed to meet this with d5 13.cxd5 xd5 . White might liquidate and open the queenside, but 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5 xd5 16.b4 ( improving over 16.e3?! e6 17.c1?! d4 18.e1
b3 19.c2 a4! 20.bd1 b5 21.c1 f5 , which saw B lack's initia tive sweep all before it in Teske-De Firmian, Hamburg 1993, as noted in BUCO - it's safe to say that White must pay more attention to the pawn breaks!) 16...axb4 17.axb4 cxb4 18.xb4 xb4 19.xb4 fc8 soon led to a draw in Paunovic-Cuenca Jimenez, Ro qu e t a s d e Ma r 2 0 1 2 if W h it e t ra d e s queens on b3, Black can invade on c2, but otherwise the second player should have enough counterplay, with ... Bf8-c5 one idea, aiming for ...e4 another. ] 12...b5 13.b3 [ Sensibly keeping it tight at the back, as in his game with Ianocichin. Instead 13.b4?! axb4 14.axb4 bxc4 15.dxc4 xb4 16.xb4 cxb4 17.xb4 c7 leaves c4 loose, ] [ and 13.xe7+ xe7 14.cxb5 xb5 15.b4 axb4 16.axb4 c4! also gives Black any advantage which is going. ] 13...h6 [ This little advance was inaccurate earlier, but now it makes sense to prepare ...f5, since 13...f5?! 14.g5! is not what Black wants to do White increases his hold on the d5-square while setting up potential good knight versus bad bishop scenarios. ] [ I was on my own by this point, but later discovered that the text was actually my recommendation in BUCO! In any event it makes sense to expand on the kingside, since Black can't really do anything on the other wing: for instance, 13...b4 14.axb4 axb4 15.xe7+ xe7 16.a1 and White is the side most likely to benefit from the open a-file. ] 14.c2 f5 15.f4! [ It makes sense to hold up Black's advances on the kingside, just as we often see Black doing when the position is reversed i. e. a Closed Sicilian is on the board. White has also tried 15.b4?! , but axb4 16.axb4 bxc4 17.dxc4 e4! cut out the bishop on g2, with advantage to Black in Gershon-Eljanov, Kharkov 2002. ] 15...exf4!? [ A double-edged decision. Black reduces the immediate pressure on his centre and hopes that W hite's king position will one 1614
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 day prove vulnerable, but in the meantime gra n t s W h it e a ce n t ra l m a jo rit y. I n t h e Closed Sicilian one sometimes sees the idea of Bf 2, f acilitating an exchange of knights, but here I wasn't convinced by 15...f7 16.fxe5! when dxe5 17.e4 leaves Black's queenside looking a little overextended. ] [ Consulting the database, one finds that on the few prior occasions this position was reached, Black often preferred another move I was considering, namely the semiu s e f u l , s e m i - w a i t i n g m o v e 15...h7!? . F o l l o w i n g 16.e1?! ( I wasn't too sure durin g th e gam e ab ou t th e p osit io na lly complex position arising from 16.e4 fxe4 17.xe4; and White might also follow suit with 16.h1!? ) 16...a4! the point of Black's play becomes clear White's pawn chain has been undermined. Espig-Borosova, Pardubice 2010, continued 17.bxa4 bxc4 18.dxc4 e4 (again we see this motif) 19.ce3 xd5! 20.xd5 ( or 20.cxd5 d4 with some initiative for the pawn) 20...xd5 21.cxd5 e7 22.b5 xd5 by when Black had regained her pawn and the experienced German Grandmaster was a little fortunate to later hold. ] 16.gxf4 f7 [ Creating the possibility after all of a timely exchange of knights. Flicking on a couple of engines, I can't help but be unimpressed with their suggestion of 16...e8 . Yes, rook to the open file, but Black is hardly attacking e2 here. Following 17.e4 b4 18.a4 d4 19.h1 xd5 20.cxd5 f7 Black is apparently 'better', but I would definitely take White here, despite the hole on d4 and the backward pawn on b3. The problem is finding a good plan for Black, solid though h e is , wh e re a s W h it e ca n t ry t o slo wl y advance on the kingside, perhaps beginning with 21.e1 . ] 17.h1 [ Ghasi decides to place his king on a safer square, while freeing up the possibility of attacking with a rook down the g-file one day. After 17.e4 fxe4 18.dxe4 I was hoping that t h e t h e m a t i c , u n d e r m i n i n g t h r u s t a4 w o u l d p r o v e s t r o n g , ( and had in reserve 18...bxc4 19.bxc4 xd5 20.cxd5 d4
when Black's light-squared bishop is misplaced, but W hite might prove to be overextended - compare the game. )] 17...bxc4! [ Another big decision, but the correct one I believe. Black needs to obtain some counterplay and the computer's suggestion of 17...xd5 18.cxd5 e7?! would not be the way to go. It may produce an assessment of '-0.21' (a hard term to fathom in any case in my view) , but just look at Black's minor pieces! White is undoubtedly somewhat for choice after 19.e4 . ] 18.bxc4! [ The logical and most challenging recapture. Instead 18.dxc4 xd5 19.cxd5 d4 20.xd4 ( 20.e3 e8 21.e1 b5! is also pretty pleasant for Black) 20...xd4 21.e3 f6 , while still quite solid for White, would have been quite comfortable for me. Black's king is quite safe and he can aim to combine pressure on the b-file with a timely advance of the a-pawn. ] 18...a4! The battle has sharpened and turned into a battle for outposts on the b-file. I move quickly to secure control of the b3 point. 19.c3 [ As an example of how the position can suddenly flare into life, just consider the line 19.c3 d7!? ( 19...xb1 20.xb1 a5 would be the simple approach) 20.xa4 xb1 21.xb1 b8 22.a2 a5 23.c3 d5! 24.cxd5 b3 with complications that might turn out to leave both members of W hite's royalty embarrassed. Ghasi first p re f e rs t o e xch a n ge o f f B la ck' s ra k in g bishop. ] 19...xd5 There was no going back by now having said 'A' and 'B', and started on the path of activity and counterplay, Black must say 'C'. 20.xg7 xg7 21.cxd5 a5 And so Black's knight is set to land on b3, but will it radiate inf luence there or prove misplaced as the centre opens up? I wasn't entirely sure during the game, but hoped that the possibilities of ...Nd2 and ...Nd4 would at least carry some nuisance value. 22.xb8 xb8 23.a1+ h7!? [ A provocation. Black's king can easily prove misplaced here should he go ...g6-g5 or the position open with e4 fxe4 Bxe4, but 1615
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 improves and leads to a rather unclear with my opponent beginning to run low on situation after 31.h3 g3 32.e1 ) 29.dxe4 time I wanted to avoid the potential early halt leaves White set to exploit the open kingside to proceedings which was available with lines. ] 23...g8 24.f6 ( of course, White too can [ I was also worried about White's active continue the struggle here, such as with i d e a s a f t e r 26...fxe4! 27.dxe4 e8! 24.g1 b3 25.c3 d8 26.e4 ) 24...e8 , but improving the bishop while hitting f4 25.e6+ f7 26.f6 . ] thus was likely correct. Then, for instance, if 24.b1 28.f1 ( 28.f5 gxf5 29.exf5 d7! 30.e3 [ This may only seem to help Black's queen g5 is at least OK for Black) 28...g5! 29.f5 and knight, but White no doubt wanted to f6 30.xf6 xf6 31.e3 b5 avoid 24.e4?! b3 when 25.e1 g8! and while all three results remain, Black is a neat retreat to leave White's structure must be slightly for choice thanks to his more of a weakness than a strength. ] current blockade. ] [ Of course, 24.f6? xd5 25.e7+ f7 27.f1! had to be avoided ] [ This strong prophylactic move came as a [ and 24.c3 b3! 25.xa5 xc2 26.c7 surprise, but since it didn't stop my intention xe2 27.xd6 was a line I was frantically I wasn't too unhappy... I had been expecting calculating. Indeed, I was a little scared 27.e3 h4 28.c4 when the calm d8 a b o u t t h e d - p a wn h e r e , b u t a f t e r g8! should hold Black's position together: for B l a c k ' s k in g si d e i s s e c u re a n d 28.xc5 example, 29.f1 d4 30.xd6!? xd6 xd3 should be good for him, since the d31.xc5 e2! 32.xd6 g3+ 33.g1 pawn is actually rather weak: if 29.d6?! d8 e2+ and it's perpetual check. ] .] [ However, White is undoubtedly a little 27...c4! [ This is nowhere near as strong as I hoped it worse in the game and while he may be might be during the game, but was in any already, perhaps he would have done better case esse ntial. Black must seize som e here with 24.g1!? b3 25.c3 d8 counterplay he would just be squashed after 26.e4 when the rook is at least more actively 27...e7? 28.e3 d4 29.c4 , and if placed than in the game. ] b7 30.a5! xa5 31.xa5 when White's 24...b3 25.c3 d8! central pawn mass should prove somewhat [ The position has various Benoni the more relevant. ] characteristics, so putting the queen in touch with the h4-square while preparing to 28.dxc4 [ Already down to his last five minutes, Ghasi halt e4-e5 due to ...dxe5 fxe5 Bxd5 felt right. plays the obvious capture, and perhaps he I wasn't convinced by 25...c7 26.e4 b8 hadn't seen the undermining thrust coming? , although I had missed the idea of 27.e5? Critical must be 28.exf5!? when best play ( 27.f6! does, however, look quite scary) might continue 27...d4! . ] A) during the game I was mainly looking at 26.e4 The battle really is hotting up. Will White 28...gxf5?! , although I didn't have time to have time to go Ne3-c4 and blow Black away wo rk o ut th e lin e 29.dxc4 ( somewhat in the centre, or can the second player grab stronger is the useful intermediate move enough counterplay and show that his 29.g1! ) 29...h4 before Ghasi moved restricted bishop isn't any worse than its Black has definite practical chances here, opposite number? e8?! a s s h o w n b y t h e t r a p 30.d4 f6! [ Played in preparation of my next, but this 31.d1? h5; re s t ri c t ive m o ve f e e ls wro n g, a n d wit h B) 28...cxd3 29.xd3 gxf5! ( Black can hindsight we can definitely say that it was. get away with this, although I suspect had M y i n i t i a l i n t e n t i o n h a d b e e n 26...h4 this position arisen I might have punted , but I suddenly became worried by 29...c5 30.fxg6+ xg6 31.c3 f5 27.e3!? xf4 28.c4 when fxe4? with some practical chances, such as after ( 28...d4 29.f1 g4 30.xd6 f4! 1616
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 32.e3 d3 , but objectively surely not e n o u g h c o m p e n s a t i o n) 30.h3 ( 30.xf5+? g6 wins the knight) 30...f6 31.xf5+ ( or 31.xf5+ xf5 32.xf5+ g7 and d5 falls) 31...h8 and White is not particularly well coordinated, allowing Black good counterplay with, say, 32.g4 c5 33.d1 e4 . ] 28...fxe4 29.e3 h4!? Probing. 30.b4?! [ The start of a bad plan, but White had li k e l y u n d e re st i m a t e d t h e f o r t h c o m i n g exc h a n ge o f qu e e n s. W it h lit t le t im e it wasn't easy to evaluate the consequences of 30.f5! b8 and then whether to trade or push, but this would have been more challenging to face. ] 30...c5 31.b6 d8! 32.xd8?! [ After 32.b2!? d3 33.d4 h4 34.a7 e7 35.xa4 b7 the initiative is undoubtedly with Black, although the mac hine f e els tha t W h ite can clin g on , beginning with 36.a8 . ] 32...xd8 33.b1 The position Ghasi must ha ve in it ia lly a sse sse d f a vo u ra b ly. Ye s, Black's knight is well placed, but his passed pawn is superbly blockaded and his rook and bishop inferior to their counterparts. Thankfully before whisking my queen back to d8, I had realised that Black had one main advantage, a favourite one of Bronstein at that - the move. g5! Breaking out. Suddenly White has to be careful that Black's king doesn't march across and take up a great post on e5. 34.fxg5 hxg5 35.b6 h5?! [ Time trouble begins to take its toll. C o n s i s t e n t w o u l d h a v e b e e n 35...g6 when the king is on its way and after 36.h3 f6 37.g4+ e7 38.e3 g6 39.f5 h5 White has some defending to do, and must avoid 40.g4? xg4 41.xg4 f8 with some initiative for Black. ] 36.h3! White seizes the chance to activate his long dormant bishop. g6! [ I s a w t h a t 36...g6 would keep things under control, but then spotted a way to activate my king and having spent most of my final couple of minutes on it, went for it! ] 37.f5 g4 The point of Black's play. He will lo s e d 6 , b u t h i s k in g wi ll a d va n c e wh i l e White's bishop is driven backwards. 38.xd6 g5 39.f1 g3! Jettisoning another pawn to
prevent White from placing his bishop on an effective square, e2. Almost from nowhere Black has seized a powerful initiative. 40.hxg3 e3 41.g4? [ Played after long thought. This rather smacks of panic, although it's possible that Ghasi couldn't fully believe in the strength of the following king march. I was somewhat more concerned with 41.g1! f8 42.b2! when White's defences are tight and I was surprised Ghasi didn't play this. Perhaps he d id n 't lik e f3 followed by ...Kg4, but after 43.h2 ( 43.e2 g4 44.xf3+ xf3 45.b5 is another idea, aiming to sacrifice the knight for the e-pawn, such as with b3 46.c3 d2 47.b7 xc4 48.b4 c8 49.xa4 when I doubt Black can win) 43...g4 44.b5 xg3 45.d4 White maintains a firm blockade of the e2square and I haven't been able to find a great continuation for Black, although he is most certainly not worse and still has some practical chances after g4 46.g2+ f4 47.e2+ xe2 48.xe2 e4 . ] 41...f8! Hitting the bishop and enabling Black to capture on g4 without losing the rook to a fork. 42.f5 xg4 43.xe3+ f3 The point of Black's play - his king wants to join in the mating attack! 44.c2 There were two alternatives: [ a) 44.g2 f2 costs White a piece and after 45.b2+ xf1 46.e3+ e1 Black should be able to win. ] [ b) 44.d1 g3 , and if 45.e3 f3 46.h6 g4! also costs White a piece. ] 44...f2 45.h3! Again, Ghasi finds the best defence... g4? [ ...and I falter, despite having plenty of time left. The text was actually played after some thought, but I should have looked deeper. Indeed, 45...h8! would have done the trick: 46.f6+ f3+ 47.h2 e4 and the threat of ...Nd2-f1 is decisive, which is I fear the point I missed. ] 46.h6! [ An d no t, o f co urse , 46.xg4?? h8+ followed by mate. ] 46...g3 47.g2 The only move, but a good one. Of course, the bishop was taboo due to mate on f1. e8 [ I wanted to control the e3-square, as well as 1617
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e2 and e1, and so avoided 47...b8 48.e3 . Here I don't think that Black is winning (and neither is he after the text!), although White would still have to defend with care after b3 49.f1+ f4 50.c6 d7 , with 51.c5 xa3 52.c7! being an active and good start. ] 48.g6 [ The obvious defence. White will return the exchange to buy his king some breathing space. A move which completely escaped my attention during the game was 48.f1!? , but this is pretty logical, keeping the rook out of e2. Following e4 ( if 48...f2 49.h3 ) 49.h2 g5 50.d6 f3 51.g2+ f4 52.xg4+! xg4 53.g2! White's king is safe and his extra pawns give him enough to draw. ] 48...d3! [ The best try. Ghasi had prepared to meet 48...e2 with the fiendish 49.f3! . After h2+ 50.g1 xc2 51.xg4 c1+ W hite has only one move, but it's a good one: 52.d1+ f4 53.f6+ e5 54.f1 xc4 and Black hasn't any winning chances. ] 49.d6 f4 50.xg4+! [ The only move. It doesn't take long to re a l is e t h a t 50.g7? f2 is completely hopeless for W hite: 51.h7 xg2 52.d7 d8 with an easy win. ] 50...xg4 51.c5?? [ After such a complicated endgame, Ghasi was again down to under two minutes (until move 60), and collapses. The right move was 51.c6! when after h8+ ( even here 51...e2? is well met by 52.f3+!; and if 51...d8 52.d7 White's d-pawn is secure and his king safe enough: for instance, g3 53.g1 e6 54.xa4 c5 55.c6 and Black hasn't really anything better than xd7 and a draw offer) 52.g1 g3 53.d7 ( 53.d4 f8 54.d7! should also do the trick ) 53...e6 ( or 53...f8!? when White h a s o n ly o n e m o ve , b u t i t ' s s u f f i c ie n t : 54.f1! ) 54.f1 c5 55.b4 it's hard to believe that Black has any winning chances whatsoever. ] 51...g3! Possibly White had underestimated this. The king returns to the fray and Black wins, even though White can force home one
of his pawns. 52.d7 d8 53.h3!? [ It's too late for 53.c6 on account of e2 followed by mate on the h-file, ] [ and 53.c6 e2 also decides. ] 53...xh3 54.c6 f8 [ 54...h8 55.c7 f2+ 56.g1 h1# would also have done the trick. ] 55.e3 f2! Black either mates on h2 or f1. 0-1
1610 Gonzalez Zamora,Juan Carlos Mekhitarian,Krikor Sevag American Continental [John Watson]
A37 2545 2215 2005
Black defeats his much higher-rated opponent. This takes a bit of luck, but the opening was classically played and reasonably good for him. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 d6 7.d3 ge7 Black's setup here has always been popular. Either White plays slowly and allows ...d5 or he has to face the dual ideas of ...b5 and ...f5. But we shall see in the next few games that he has his own resources. 8.a3 0-0 9.b1 a5 10.e1 A standard ea, shifting White's knight to c2 where it can hump to e3 or support b4. But other plans are also important, i.e., [ (a) 10.g5!? A) 10...h6 11.xe7! xe7 12.e1 ( or 12.b4; or 12.d2 ) 12...c6 13.c2 with b4 or Ne3-d5 next; B) 10...f6 11.e3!? , slowing down the ... d5 plan ( or 11.d2 e6 12.e1 The Be3 plan (Ulf Andersson's) is insufficiently tested but extremely interesting. )] [ (b) A recent game went 10.d2 b8 11.a4 b6 12.b5 d5 13.fd1 b7 14.b4 d4? ( 14...axb4 15.axb4 a8 16.b3 xb4 17.xb4 cxb4 18.xb4 and White may have the barest of advantages based upon his active piece play) 15.bxc5 bxc5 16.g5! (Threatening Ne4) c8 17.xc6 xc6 18.xa5 with a pawn more, Markowski-Kadziolka, Warsaw 2005. ] 10...e6 11.d5!? Else ...d5 follows. But that might not be so bad - see the next games. b8! Black threatens ...b5 to loosen White's 1618
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 grip on the centre. White proceeds according to plan: 12.c2 [ 12.d2 b5 13.c2 may transpose. ] 12...b5 13.b3 [ 13.ce3 f5 intends ..f4. ] 13...bxc4 [ Or 13...b4 14.axb4 ( 14.a4 d7= . I n f a c t , B l a c k m a y h a ve a ve ry s m a l l advantage!) 14...axb4 15.e3 with mutual chances. Later a-file control will be critical. ] 14.dxc4 f5!? [ 14...d4 is another try. Play might go 15.ce3 ec6 16.d2 f5 17.f4 ] 15.g5! h6 16.xe7 xe7 17.d2 e4 18.ce3 c6!? Either brilliant or an accident, probably the latter. Black seems to lose a pawn, but achieves surprising counterplay. Instead, one equaliser was [ 18...xd5 19.xd5 h7 ] 19.f4 f7 20.xg6!? xg6 21.d5+ h8 22.xc6 So White has won a pawn, owns the d - f i l e a n d d 5 . W h a t c o u l d b e e a s i e r ? f4 23.gxf4 [ 23.d5 f3 24.exf3 exf3 25.h3 xb1 ] 23...xf4 Suddenly Black has a ready-made a t t a c k b y . . . B e 5 , . . . Q h 4 e t c . 24.bd1?! Shaken, White allows this without resistance. Perhaps better was [ 24.d5 f8 ( 24...h4!? ) 25.e3 , threatening e4 and offering a repetition. ] 24...e5 25.d5?? But the alternatives are depressing, for example, [ 25.d2 e8! 26.d5 h4 27.h3 d7 ] [ 25.h3 h5 26.d2 g5 27.b4 bf8 , threatening ...Rxf2. ] 25...e8 26.a6 a8 The queen is trapped. 27.xd6 [ 27.b7 f7 ] 27...xd6 28.b7 b8 29.d5 f7 30.d2 e7 31.d1 e5 32.h3 e6 33.xa5 g8 34.b6 f6 35.b4 xh3 36.xc5 xc5 Okay, Black's attack was serendipitous, but his opening was sound and at least equal. 0-1
1611 Harika,Dronavalli Lahno,Kateryna Tashkent FIDE GP (Women) (7) [Fier, Alexandr]
A37 2475 2532 25.09.2013
6.d4 is an interesting sacrifice and is back in fashion lately. It has been extensively analyzed on Chess Publishing before, but still, it's always good to re-check what is going on in the variation. W hen I was analyzing this game 9.Qa4+ caught my attention and I think it could be a good surprise! 1.c4 g6 2.c3 c5 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c6 5.f3 e6 6.d4!? The most forcing move, since it's not so easy to defend the d6-square without opening the position. [ 6.d3 is the main line, and after ge7 7.h4 is not a surprise for anyone anymore, see Radjabov, T-Ivanchuk, V and Ipatov, ACmilyte, V in the PGN Archive. ] 6...xd4 [ 6...cxd4 is also possible and often played: 7.b5 d5 8.cxd5 A) 8...exd5 avoids the complications, accepting the isolated pawn. So far it's not clear W hite has any advantage but still there are some elite players trying to prove it, 9.0-0 ge7 was seen in the World Cup, ( 9...f6 10.bxd4 0-0 11.b3 e4 12.b2 enters a Tarrasch kind of position, as seen in Jianu, V (2550)- Volokitin, A (2688)/ROM-chT Mamaia 2013 (2.1).) 10.f4 ( 10.bxd4 0-0 11.e3 e8 12.c1 looks a bit more comfortable for White ) 10...0-0 11.c7 b8 12.b5 a8 13.d2 g4 and Black didn't have many problems in Kramnik, V (2784)Areshchenko, A (2709)/FIDE World Cup 2013 (3.1).; B) 8...a5+ this is more entertaining, but White has a lot of options B1) 9.d2!? opens the diagonal, xb5 10.dxc6 e7 11.a4 b6 ( 11...b4 12.b3!? this is the problem with the queen going to b4 xc6 13.a3 a5 14.0-0 and Black needs to be careful) 12.c4 b4+ 13.d2 xc4 14.cxb7 xb7 15.xb7 b8 and here both 16.c1 ( or 16.b3 are possible c5 17.c1 b6 18.e4 with an unclear 1619
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 position ) 16...a2 17.a6 xb2 18.b5+ xb5 19.axb5 xb5 20.b1!? ( 20.0-0 was Hracek, Z (2612)- Sutovsky, E (2685)/EU-Cup 28th Eilat 2012 (5.6).) 20...c6 21.0-0 0-0 22.b4; B2) 9.f1?! it will be hard to rearrange the pieces later, xb5 10.dxc6 xc6 I d o n ' t k n o w wh y t h i s m o v e wa s n ' t played before 11.xd4 ( 11.f4 e7 12.e5 a6 13.xd4 f6 14.c4 0-0 and W hite pieces are not well placed) 11...d7 12.e3 e7 is ok for Black.; B3) 9.d2 is the most played move, also the most solid xb5 10.dxc6 xc6 11.0-0 e7 12.xd4 b6 13.b3 0-0 a n d B l a c k wa s c l o s e t o e q u a l i t y i n Maletin, P (2527)- Gashimov, V (2658)/ Cappelle op 23rd 2007. ] 7.xd4 cxd4 8.e4 Going to the center with the knight leaves the a4-e8 diagonal open. On the other hand, it will take much more time to regain the d4-pawn. [ 8.b5 was played a lot of times but Black is holding well lately b6 9.e3 ( 9.a4 wa s an alyzed by T on y in Ma rkowski, T (2525)-Macieja, B (2490)/ch-POL (playoff), Warsaw POL 1998.) 9...e7 10.0-0 d5 11.xd4 0-0 and Black is fine, Hera, I (2558)-Solodovnichenko, Y (2555)/Bergamo op 12th 2013. ( 11...dxc4 is also tempting. )] 8...d5 Other moves suffer problems with the d6-square: [ 8...e7 9.d6+ f8 10.xb7 ( 10.b3!? c6 11.f4 can be tested too) 10...c7 11.d6 b8 12.xc8 xc8 13.0-0 with compensation, Foisor, C-Calzetta, M in the Archive. ] [ 8...d6 9.a4+ is annoying e7 ( 9...f8 10.a3 w i n s t h e p a w n) 10.c5 with an attack. ] [ 8...c7 9.c5 with Bf4 and Nd6 ideas, the queen is under fire, Markowski, T-Genov, P, again in the Archive. ] 9.cxd5 This is by far the main move and it's a correct one, but I have the feeling that Black has enough time to coordinate his pieces while White is busy recovering the pawn. In this game W hite couldn't generate any serious problems. [ 9.a4+!? this move looks like a strange version of the main line, but it's not without
poison! Without the exchange on d5 the efile is still closed and in some variations this makes a lot of difference: A) 9...d7 doesn't make much sense, 10.d6+ f8 ( 10...e7 11.b5 ) 11.a3 and Black's queen is not well placed.; B) 9...f8 10.a3+!? B1) 10...e7 11.cxd5 exd5 12.d6 and the knight on d6 is more active than on c5 h6 ( 12...b6 13.g5 Black is already under pressure) 13.0-0 f6 14.e4!? and White's activity is enough for a plus.; B2) 10...e7 11.d6 and here, without the e6-pawn, Black has the good resource 11...d3!. Now it's not possible B2a) 11...e5 12.f4!? exchanging the bishop so Black can't defend d4 anymore ( 12.c5 g7 13.0-0 followed by 14. f4 is also possible) 12...xf4 13.gxf4 g7 ( 13...dxc4 14.d1! and White is probably going to t a k e b o t h p a w n s w i t h p r e s s u r e .) 14.cxd5 exd5 15.xd5 with another unclear position.; B2b) 11...dxc4 12.g5 f6 ( 12...xg5 13.xc8+ e7 14.f4 f6 15.b6! d8 16.xc4 with compensation in a complicated position. ) 13.f4!? a hard move to make over the board! h6 ( 13...xg5 14.fxg5 and 15.0-0 is coming. Black is already lost here.) 14.xf6 xf6 15.d1 d3 16.exd3 c3!? 17.0-0 and Black still has problems finishing his development. ] 9...exd5 10.a4+ f8 11.c5 [ 11.a3+ e7 12.d6 is less attractive now, g4 13.f3 ( 13.0-0 e5 ) 13...d7 and Black is fine ] 11...f6 Played by Krasenkow, to quickly bring the king to g7. [ 11...e7 12.0-0 h6 to go with the king to h7 is the alternative. ] 12.b3 [ 12.f4 is possible, bringing the rook to c1 g7 13.c1 e7 but I feel that the position is close to equality ] 12...e7 13.h6+ g7 14.xg7+ [ 14.d2 was Ivanchuk's idea but it doesn't 1620
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 change the evaluation, f6 ( 14...b6 15.b4 g8= Ivanchuk, V-Krasenkow, M in the Archive. )] [ 14.f4?? would be nice if it was possible a5+-+ ] 14...xg7 15.0-0 Now Black is close to finishing development. White will take the d4pawn and the question is whether he has enough for any advantage. b6 16.ac1 d8 17.fd1 f6 18.f3 c6 19.xf6+ xf6 20.b3 Now the position is just equal. [ 20.b4!? was a try for a small advantage, a6 ( 20...xb4 21.xd4 c6 22.xd5 with some pressure on the queenside) 21.a3 and the queenside is more advanced. Still, it's not clear that White has anything. ] 20...e6 21.xd4 xd4 22.xd4 dc8 23.dd1 e7 24.f1 c6 White still tried for few moves, but nothing serious happened. 25.e1 ac8 26.d2 a5 27.a3 d6 28.xc6+ bxc6 29.c3 f5 30.b4 a8 31.b2 b8 32.c3 a8 33.b2 b8 34.c3 ½-½
1612 Heberla,B Juptner,J TCh-CZE Extraliga 2012-13 (2.6) [John Bartholomew]
A37 2536 2364 04.11.2012
Most players knows that Nf3-e1-c2-e3-d5 is a key m ane uver f o r W h ite in t he B otvin nik System. Shockingly, Black often sits back and allows this to happen! 1.c4 g6 2.c3 g7 3.g3 c5 4.g2 c6 5.f3 d6 6.0-0 e5 7.a3 a5 8.e1 A little test: can White sneak his knight in to d5 by dispensing with d2-d3? ge7?! As it transpires, he can! The text has been played by Gelfand, Polgar, Sokolov, and a number of other exceptional players, but it appears to be inaccurate. [ 8...e6! is correct, forcing White to take a time-out for d2-d3. After 9.d3 ge7 10.c2 Black gets in d5 , when 11.cxd5 xd5 12.e3 de7 is a stereotypical Botvinnik System where W hite has no guaranteed foothold in the center. ] 9.c2 e6 [ Let's see how our ChessPublishing.com
administrator handled W hite's position: 9...0-0 10.d3 b8 11.g5!? (interesting Tony doesn't seem to mind parting with his dark-square bishop) h6 12.xe7 xe7 13.b1 d7 14.b4 cxb4 15.axb4 b5 16.d2 bxc4 17.dxc4 c7? ( 17...axb4 18.xb4 ) 18.bxa5 xa5 19.xb8 xb8 20.xd6 f8 21.e4 a4 22.a1 1-0 Kosten, A (2535)-Sulypa, A (2400)/ France 1997 ] 10.e3 0-0 11.ed5 White's knight has reached its ideal square totally unopposed. This isn't a disaster for Black, but sooner or later he'll need to address the monster on d5. b8 12.d3 d7 Aiming purely for 13... Nxd5. Black has tried no fewer than 10 different moves in this position, so here's a sampling of the best alternatives: [ A recent game proceeded 12...h6 13.b1 d7 and now 14.e4 is similar to the game a t h a n d A f t e r ( mass exchanges result from 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 xd5 16.xd5 xb4 17.xb4 cxb4 18.xb4 though White retains risk-f ree pressure) 14...xd5 15.cxd5 d4 16.xd6?! ( preferable is 16.e3 f5 17.b4 ) 16...g4 17.f3 xf3 W hite erred wit h 18.exf3?! . ( 18.xf3 xd6 19.g2= ) 18...xd6 19.f4 fe8 20.h1 h5! 21.e1 a4 22.f2 d7 23.e3 exf4 24.xf4 b6 25.xd4 xd4 Tikkanen, H (2549)-Sachdev, T (2411)/Wijk aan Zee NED 2012 ] [ 12...d4 13.e3 ( I would prefer 13.g5 f6 14.xe7+ xe7 15.d2 ) 13...df5 14.b1 xd5 15.cxd5 d7 16.b4 b5 17.bxc5 dxc5 18.a4 b4 19.e4 c7 20.b2 d6 Flores, D (2611)-Bachmann, A (2551)/Asuncion PAR 2011 ] [ 12...f5 (again, preparing to capture on d5) 13.g5 f6 14.xe7+ xe7 15.d2 d7 16.b1 ( White should seriously consider a d v a n c i n g t h e b - p a w n a t o n c e : 16.b4 axb4?! 17.axb4 cxb4 18.b5 xb5 19.cxb5 ) 16...c6 17.e4!? ( 17.b4 xg2 18.xg2 axb4 19.axb4 b6 20.a4 ) 17...d7 Narman, G (2076)-Esen, B (2534)/ K e m e r T U R 2 0 1 2 . H e r e 18.b4 axb4 19.axb4 b6 20.b5 b7 21.e2 is a bit more promising for White. ] 13.e4 [ In Evdokimov, A (2544)-Sachdev, T (2417)/ 1621
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Philadelphia USA 2012 W hite played 13.g5 (this looks stronger to me than the t e x t ) a n d a f t e r f6 14.d2 xd5 each recapture has merit. Evdokimov chose 15.cxd5!? d4 16.e3 f5 ( 16...b5!? ) 17.b4 axb4 ( 17...b6 looks safer) 18.axb4 b6 19.b3 h6 20.a7 and the opening concluded in his favor. ] 13...e6 Returning to e6 is a little timid. [ Black should play 13...xd5 14.cxd5 d4 15.e3 f5 with a reasonable game. Compared to Evdokimov - Sachdev (above) White hasn't played Bc1-d2 and Black has refrained from the weakening move ...f7-f6, and these differences benefit Black. ( 15...b5!? 16.a4 f5 17.d2 c7 18.c4 e7 19.d4 )] 14.g5 xd5 [ 14...h6!? ] 15.cxd5 a7? This is clearly an undesirable square for the knight. [ 15...d4 16.b4 ] 16.b4! f5 17.d2 b5 18.bxa5 [ Possibly even stronger is 18.bxc5! dxc5 19.b3 , as d4 20.a2 xe2+?! 21.h1 is perilous for Black with threats of d5-d6(+) and Nd2-c4 (hitting e2) in store. ] 18...e4 19.dxe4! h6 20.xe7 xe7 21.c1 [ 21.b1!? c3 22.c2 xb1 23.xb1 ] 21...c3 22.e1 fxe4?! [ The computer thinks 22...bd8 is best, though I'd characterize that as a totally inhuman move! In addition to overprotecting d6, the idea is 23.c4 ( 23.exf5 xe2+ 24.h1 de8 ) 23...xe4 with a worse but tenable position. ] 23.c4 f6 24.e3 be8 [ 24...xd5 25.xe4 e7 26.d2 ] 25.xc3! Heralding the demolition of Black's position. [ 25.f3! is strong too. ] 25...xc3 26.xc3 xc3 27.xd6 a8 28.xe4 xa5 [ 28...g7 i s a l s o g r i m : 29.xc5 xa5 30.xb7 xa3 31.d1+- ] 29.xc5+- White has two connected passers, active pieces, and isn't even down material. The complete disorder in the Black ranks seals the deal. b5 30.b1 fb8 31.d7 d8 32.e5 c3 33.c6 f8 34.b3 e1 35.f4 g5 36.d6 g7 37.f1 a5 38.xb5
d8 39.d4 xa3 40.e6+ f7 41.xf8 Black resigned. Though innocent, I think 8... Nge7?! is a pretty poor choice of move orders for Black, after which he will have to deal with the knight landing on d5. It pays to be accurate, so choose 8...Be6! instead. 1-0
1613 Ipatov,Alexander Cmilyte,Viktorija Turkish Bank Chess League 2012 (3) [John Bartholomew]
A37 2581 2525 13.7.12
Recently crowned W orld Junior Champion Alexander Ipatov produces a wonderful game in the 7.h4!? line of the Pure Symmetrical. 1.c4 g6 2.g3 c5 3.g2 g7 4.c3 c6 5.f3 e6 6.d3 ge7 7.h4!? [ Normal is 7.0-0 , but the immediate d5 scores very well for Black. ] [ M a r i n ' s r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o f 7.g5 in "GM Repertoire 5 - The English Opening vol. 3" bears many similarities to the text. ] 7...h6 8.d2 b6 9.a3 White goes about preparing b2-b4. [ A memorable game from the 2011 FIDE World Cup featured the piece sac 9.h5!? g5 10.xg5! hxg5 11.xg5 . Radjabov, T (2744)-Ivanchuk, V (2768)/ Khanty-Mansiysk RUS 2011/[John Bartholomew]. Radjabov's concept probably wasn't fully sound, but it yield ed him a striking 2 8-move vic tory! Interested readers should definitely check the notes to this game, as I delve into a full discussion of the nuances surrounding 7. h4!?. ] 9...b7 10.0-0? 0-0? 11.b1 d5 [ Black has the usual choice between the text and the super-solid 11...d6 . I faced the latter in a game last fall: 12.b4 d7 13.e3 fd8 14.e2 ac8 15.fd1 e5= Bartholomew, J (2440)-Shahade, G (2449)/ Arlington USA 2011. It's quite hard for White to establish a clear advantage against 11... d6 , b ut in re tro sp e ct I pro ba bly s h ou ld have probed for something with 12.Qc1/13. Qc1. To me, Shahade's move (and ...d7-d6 in general) affords Black a greater margin for error than ...d7-d5, as he can develop 1622
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 calmly behind a wall of pawns before initiating a central clash. ] 12.c1! This tempo-gaining move is often crucial in lines where White has induced ...h7h6. White builds additional threats against the Black king, and a timely Rf1-d1 could be a difference-maker. h7 [ I think 12...h5! is preferable. The reason is revealed after 13.b4 cxb4 14.axb4 dxc4 15.dxc4 d4 16.xd4 xg2 17.xe6 . Compared to the note to Black's 15th, here Black isn't forced to immediately recapture on e6. Instead, d7! solves all of Black's pro b le m s , i. e . 18.xg2 ( not 18.xf8? h3! ) 18...xe6 19.c5 ac8! when Black has excellent counterplay because 20.cxb6?? axb6-+ is suicidal (Black's threats include ...Ne7-d5, ...Bg7xc3, and ... Qe6-c6+). ] 13.b4 cxb4 14.axb4 dxc4 15.dxc4 f5?! Black needs to take great care upon opening the center. Her position is slightly less coordinated than White's, and it's remarkable how fast Ipatov punishes this small mistake. [ 15...d4! is correct. After 16.xd4 xg2 17.xe6 fxe6 18.xg2 c8 19.b5 a6 20.a3 f5 Black has quite reasonable play for the pawn. ] 16.c5! The threat is now b4-b5 and c5-c6. bxc5?! Opening the b-file only creates more problems. 17.bxc5 a6 18.a3 c8 [ After 18...xc3 19.xa6 xd2 20.xc6 c8 21.b5 Black is very much in trouble. ] 19.fc1 White has built an impressive attacking position. d8?! 20.e4! d5 [ Black's last chance was 20...xe2 , i.e. 21.d6 a6 22.xa6 xa6 23.xf7 dc8 , but it's questionable whether this could even save her. ] 21.c3!!+Amazingly, Black is now totally busted!! A "middlegame zugzwang" sort of position has arisen where any Black move results in a decisive loss of material. I can't recall ever seeing a position quite like this, and one can only marvel at the unique set of c i r c u m s t a n c e s o n b o a r d . cd4 Black understandably tries something active. [ A few variations to convince you of Black's h e l p l e s s n e s s : 21...e5 22.fg5+ g8 23.xf7 xf7 24.d6+ xd6 25.cxd6+- ]
[ 21...xc3 22.xc3 (threatening 23.Nf6+) d8 23.f6+ h8 24.e1! guarding e2. Black is utterly helpless, i.e. b8 25.xb8 xb8 26.g4 g7 27.e3+- ] [ 21...xe2 22.xg7 xf3 ( 22...xg7 23.b2++- ) 23.xf3 xg7 24.d6+- ] [ 21...b8 22.xb8 xb8 23.xg7 xg7 24.b2+ f8 25.h8+ e7 26.f6+ f8 27.d6!+- ] 22.xd4 xd4 23.xd4 xd4 [ or 23...xd4 24.d6+- ] 24.e3 g7 25.d6 c6 26.xd5 exd5 27.b4! Ipatov is precise till the end. f8 28.a4 A beautiful game where Ipatov exploited his chances to the maximum. Black should seriously consider the solid option with 11...d6 if there's any doubt about opening the center. 1-0
1614 Isonzo,Davide Manik,Mikulas Mitropa Cup Leipzig GER (7) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2360 2410 09.05.2002
1.c4 g6 2.c3 g7 3.f3 c5 4.g3 c6 5.g2 e5 6.0-0 [ T h i s g a m e in d ic a t e s t h a t a qu i c k 6.a3 is more accurate, as W hite should force B l a c k t o p l a y a5! now, rather than allow Black to make-do without this. See Beliavsky, A-Ponomariov,R/Panormo GRE 2001 and the [A37] eBook. ] 6...ge7 7.d3 d6 8.g5 f6 9.d2 [ I think White should try 9.e3 here, as the pressure on c5 inhibits ...d5. ] 9...e6 10.a3 0-0! [ White is not threatening b4, as it would lose a pawn, so Black avoids 10...a5 when 11.e1 0-0 transposes to the game Beliavsky,A-Ponomariov,R/Panormo GRE 2 0 0 1 , wh i ch I h a ve e xa m i n e d i n s o m e depth. ] 11.b1 a5! Now Black plays this, when White h a s wa s t e d a n e xt ra m o ve ( a 3 a n d R b 1 instead of just a3). 12.e1 d5! White's loss of time proves costly, as Black can play this advance before White can stop it with Nd5. 13.cxd5 1623
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ W h i t e c a n a l w a y s t r y t o p l a y 13.b3 in Petrosian style, but Black has at least equalised. ] 13...xd5 14.b3!? [ This must be critical, otherwise Black has achieved a good Maroczy-style position for n o t h i n g , e . g . 14.c2 f5 15.e3 , Mozetic,D-Markovic,I/Herceg Novi YUG 2 0 0 1 , a n d n o w I w o u l d p l a y de7 keeping all the pieces on the board. ] 14...a4! [ 14...d4? allows White to grab three p ie c e s f o r t h e qu e e n : 15.xd5! xb3 16.xe6+ h8 17.xb3 with advantage. ] 15.xb7!? [ Into the lion's den! Capturing the other pawn by 15.xa4!? allows d4 16.d1 xe2+ 17.xe2 xa4 but White can obtain adequate play by 18.f4 , McNab,C-Ravi,L/ London ENG 2001. ] [ With 15.c4!? White goes for the c5-pawn: f4 16.xc5 d4!? ( Wow! The simple 16...xg2 17.xg2 d4 gives Black excellent play for the pawn) 17.gxf4 b3 18.e3 h6 19.f3 xf4 20.e4 xd2 21.bd1 xc3 22.bxc3 d6 23.d4 xa3 24.dxe5 e7 unclear, Schlinkert,K-Wenzel, R/ Germany 1988. ] 15...a5 16.b5 b3 17.c6?! Not a great innovation! [ 17.e3 allows Black to grab the exchange by xe3 18.fxe3 b8 19.xa4 d2 although White has two pawns, Matamoros Franco,C-Bellon Lopez,J/Havana CUB2001. ] [ The other alternative, 17.f3 can be met by d6! 18.e4 c7 with the threat of ... Rfb8. ] 17...d4 18.xc5? White was forced to part with his queen, but this is not the best way to do it, both [ 18.xe6+ xe6 19.xd5 d7 20.xa8 xa8 and ] [ 18.b7 b8 19.xd5 xb7 20.xb7 give W hite rough material equality: rook, piece and pawn for the queen, but Black is better in both cases. ] 18...a5 Winning the queen for a mere rook. 0-1
1615 Istratescu,Andrei Brunner,Nicolas SUI-chT Switzerland (4.4) [Kosten, Tony]
A37 2672 2449 15.06.2014
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 e5 4.g3 g6 5.a3 g7 6.b1 a5 7.g2 d6 8.0-0 ge7 9.e1 e6 10.d3 0-0 This is just about the key position in the Symmetrical Botvinnik, if both players play the most accurate moves. 11.g5 [ 11.c2 is by far the most common, but allows d5 12.cxd5 xd5 which we covered quite a bit, see McShane, L-Jones, G in the PGN Archive, for instance. ] [ 11.d5 is also pretty popular, but I like Black after this, see Gonzalez Zamora, JMekhitarian, K. ] 11...f6 12.e3 This manoeuvre is Ulf Andersson's idea, and "was the recommendation of a certain rather popular work on the English Opening" - Palliser. Yes, I liked this way of playing as it hinders ... d5 and keeps the d5 hole for the white pieces. b8 This thematic move is really popular here, moving the rook off the h1-a8 diagonal and preparing to answer Nd5 with ...b5, however it is not the best by any means. [ 12...d7 is my favourite, keeping the rook on the a-file, and answering 13.c2 with a4! 14.b3 axb3 15.xb3 and now Black has a choice : fb8 was the original game Andersson, U (2635) -Seirawan, Y (2600)/ Linares 1983. ( 15...a7 is John Watson's preference.; 15...ab8 see Johannesson, IKosten, A in the PGN Archive. )] [ 12...b6 is also good, threatening ...d5, but allowing the interesting 13.b4!? i.e. axb4 14.axb4 xb4!? 15.xa8 xa8 with compensation for the exchange, G e o r g i e v, V ( 2 5 6 3 ) - E l j a n o v, P ( 2 5 9 6 ) Geneve 2004, 1/2-1/2 (27). ] 13.c2 So this is the problem, White threatens b4 and Black can react with neither ...a4 or ...d5, so must go on the defensive. d7 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 cxb4?! In my opinion this is a positional error, Black opens the b-file for White which leaves his b7pawn backward and exposed. [ 15...b6 h a s t o b e b e st , wh e n 16.d5 1624
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 16.c1!? is interesting, planning e3 and b5, or b5 and Ne3-d5, while answering d5 with 17.a3 ) 16...d4 ( 16...h3?? 17.b5 xg2 18.bxc6 h3 19.xe7+ f7 20.d5 is a rout, Caputi, N (2005)-Delfino, L (2119) Valenzano 2006, 1-0 (38).) 17.xe7+ xe7 Byron, A (2192)-Palliser, R (2445) England 2010, 1/2-1/2 (42), 18.xd4!? exd4 19.e3 dxe3 20.xe3 is strong, aiming for a good knight v worse bishop after Bd5. ] 16.xb4 xb4 17.xb4 d5 This freeing mo ve is t h e p oin t o f B la ck's p la y. 18.c5 Aiming for more than [ 18.cxd5 xd5 19.xd5 xd5 20.xd5+ xd5 21.b3 xb3 22.xb3 f5 23.fb1 f7 when Black will have to suffer, but might be able to hold. ] [ 18.a4! is also tempting, heading for c5 with the knight instead, f7 19.b6 d6 20.b5 dxc4 21.c5 is the tactical point. ] 18...fd8 [ 18...dxc4 19.dxc4 fd8 20.xd7 xd7 21.fb1 wins material. ] [ 18...d4 19.a4! is equally unpleasant. ] 19.xe7 White is happy with a clear strategic plus. [ 19.b1! (or 19 Qb3) dxc4 20.dxc4 c6 21.d1 was more ambitious. ] 19...xe7 20.b3 There is no time to capture on d 5 a s b 4 is h a n gin g. dxc4 21.dxc4 W hit e's plan is t o e xch ange light square bishops with Bd5, put his knight on d5 and triple on the b-file. h8 22.d5 h3!? Keeping the bishop pair on the board. It is difficult to imagine Black being able to make a draw following [ 22...f5 23.b1 e4 24.xe6 xe6 25.d5 c6 even though he is not losing material immediately. ] 23.b1 f5 24.xb7 [ 24.b5!? e4 25.xb7 keeps more tension. ] 24...xb7 25.xb7 a3?! [ 25...xb7 26.xb7 e4 27.a4 f8 would at least force White to work a bit to win. ] 26.b5 c5?! [ 26...f8 ] 27.c7 Now Ne6 is a powerful threat. f4 28.e6! W i n n i n g m o r e m a t e r i a l . fxg3
29.hxg3 f8 30.e3 1-0
1616 Ivanchuk,Vassily Krasenkow,Michal TCh-Honor Gp1 (4) [Nigel Davies]
A37 2734 2635 09.09.2006
1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 c6 5.f3 e6 6.d4!? A sharp attempt to exploit the dark squares Black weakened with his 5... e6. It has been covered in earlier Chesspublishing.com updates xd4 7.xd4 cxd4 8.e4 [ Deviating from the more popular 8.b5 and Ivanchuk's patronage deserves our attention. ] 8...d5 [ Other possibilities here are 8...c7!? ] [ 8...e7 ] [ and 8...d6 which were well covered by Tony Kosten in an earlier update. ] 9.cxd5 exd5 10.a4+ f8 [ 10...d7 11.d6+ f8 12.xd7 xd7 13.xb7 regains the pawn with advantage. ] 11.c5 [ 11.a3+?! e7 12.d6 is met by d3! 13.0-0 e5 14.b5 xa3 15.xa3 as in Chernin, A-Macieja, B/Budapest HUN 2000 when dxe2 favours Black. ] 11...f6 Preparing to regroup his king to g7. [ 11...e7 12.0-0 h6 13.d2 g8 14.ac1 gave White compensation for the pawn in Markowski, T (2538)-Macieja, B (2584)/ Warsaw 2002. ] 12.b3 Targeting the d5 pawn like this is new in this particular position. [ 12.0-0 g7 13.f4 g5 14.d2 e7 was much more comfortable for Black than this in Franciskovic, B (2260) -Pogorelov, R (2451)/Budva 2009. ] 12...e7 13.h6+ [ 13.xb7? c7 leaves the knight on b7 trapped. ] 13...g7 14.d2 [ Here too 14.xb7 c7 traps the knight on b7 and after 15.c1 xb7 16.xb7 xb7 17.xg7+ xg7 18.c7 there would follow a6 19.xe7 he8 20.xe8 xe8 21.f3 1625
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xe2 22.xe2 d3 etc. ] 14...b6 15.b4 [ 15.c1 looks like an interesting alternative and might be seen in some future game in this line. ] 15...g8 16.d3 f5! 17.xe7 e8 18.a3 [ White may well have been tempted by the line 18.xb6!? axb6 19.f4 xe7 20.xd5 e6 21.d2 with what may well be a small edge. ] 18...xd3 19.xd3 xe7 20.0-0 xb2 21.xd5 xe2 [ And not 21...xe2?? because of 22.ab1 c2 23.xf7+ xf7 24.xb7+ g8 25.f3 with a winning attack. After the text Black is 'better' but there's no way he's going to win the opposite colour bishop ending against Ivanchuk. ] 22.xe2 xe2 23.ae1 xe1 24.xe1 f6 25.e8+ g7 26.xh8 xh8 27.xb7 d3 28.f1 c3 29.a6 d2 30.e2 g7 31.c4 g5 32.g4 f6 33.b3 f8 34.f4 e7 35.fxg5 fxg5 36.c2 h6 37.h3 d6 38.d3 a5 39.d4 c6 40.a4+ d6 41.b3 c6 ½-½
Shushpanov, V (2385)/St Petersburg 1996. ] 10.a3 b7 11.c1 [ It's always worth noting the praxis of Bent Larsen in this line as he had a great understanding of the positions. 11.b1 d5 12.cxd5 xd5 13.c1 h7 14.b4 d4 15.xd4 cxd4 16.xd5 c8 17.b2 xd5 18.xd5 xd5 19.fc1 h5 20.c2 d7 21.bc1 b5 22.f3 fe8 23.g2 g8 was Larsen, B (2550)-Chandler, M (2585)/ London 1990, though on this occasion the maestro only managed a draw. ] 11...h7 12.b4 cxb4 13.axb4 d5 14.b1 dxc4 15.dxc4 c8 [ 15...a5 might be a better move, though White is better after 16.b5 b4 17.g5+ hxg5 18.xb7 b8 19.g2 . This, no doubt, is why Black chose to defend his bishop on b7, but now he has other problems. ] 16.e4 c7 17.c5 d8 [ Although it would surrender the bishop pair 17...bxc5 18.xc5 a6 would have been a more solid option. ] 18.f4 e5 19.xe5! g5 Shock sets in and Black tries to bluster his way out. [ After 19...xe5 there follows 20.f6+ g7 21.xh6+ xf6 22.g5+ e6 23.xf8 xg2 24.xg2 with a material advantage for White and precariously placed Black king. 1617 A37 But this would have been a better chance. ] Jobava,Baadur 2669 20.g6! gxf4 21.xf8+ xf8 22.c6! c8? [ 22...xc6 23.b5 was the best chance, but Pogorelov,Ruslan 2451 hardly great for Black. ] 10th EICC Budva MNE (1) 06.03.2009 23.f6+ g6 24.e8 e5 25.d1 f5? [Nigel Davies] [ 25...e6 was a better chance, but Black is still lost. ] 1.c4 c5 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c6 26.c7 e6 27.xa8 xb1 28.xb1+ f5 5.f3 e6 6.0-0 [ A much quieter approach than the explosive 29.a1 xa1 30.xa1 a5 31.bxa5 bxa5 32.xa5 6.d4 . White wants to play a chess game. ] 6...ge7 7.d3 0-0 8.g5 Recommended by 1-0 Marin. h6 9.d2 b6 [ After 9...d5 White should probably play A37 10.a3 b6 11.b1 b7 12.b4 , for example 1618 dxc4 13.dxc4 cxb4 14.axb4 c8 15.c1 Johannesson,I 2337 ( 15.c5 bxc5 16.bxc5 a5 17.b5 xf3 Kosten,Anthony C 2498 is only equal, Gulko, B-Dlugy, M/USA (ch) 4NCL 2011-12 (8.26) 01.04.2012 1991, 1/2-1/2 (22).) 15...f5 16.c5 bxc5 [Tony Kosten] 17.bxc5 a8 18.d1 e7 19.b5 fd8 20.a3 a6 21.xa6 xc5 22.dc1 f8 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 Curiously the 23.e4 was nominally better for White but day before I was preparing to play this line as alrea dy drawish in Makarov, M (2 56 0)- White, but my opponent preferred something 1626
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 else, and it seemed a shame to waste my opening prep, so I thought I might as well play the black side! 4.g3 g6 5.a3 g7 6.b1 a5 7.g2 ge7 8.0-0 d6 9.d3 0-0 10.e1 e6 11.g5 f6 12.e3 Well, I was certainly s u r p r i s e d t o s e e t h i s l i n e , a s i t wa s m y recommendation for White in 'The Dynamic English'! I wrote: "This is an interesting idea of Andersson's, by putting pressure on the c5 pawn, White forces Black to play ...b6 before he can play ...d5, and this offers White extra options." d7 13.c2 a4 14.b3 axb3 15.xb3 Here the line finished in the book: "White has pressure on b7 and will later play B d 2 a n d N e 3 - d 5 , A n d e r s s o n - S e i r a wa n , Linares 1986." At the time I wrote the book this line had only been tried once, but since then it has become quite popular, although W hite hasn't scored very well at all! ab8 Black has a big choice of ways to protect b7, I prefer to keep my king's rook on the f-file. Others: [ 15...fb8 keeps the queen's rook on the afile, although I'm not convinced that the a3pawn is that weak: 16.b1 A) 16...a7 is similar, 17.b2 ( 17.f4!? f5 18.f2? Marin, I (2261)-Baciu, A (2165)/ Eforie Nord 2009, when exf4 would be awkward, as 19.gxf4 a5 wins material Black actually saw this idea several moves later! ) 17...d4! 18.xd4 exd4 19.e4 c8 to play ...b6, Maletin, P (2429)Khismatullin, D (2534)/Samara 2004.; B) 16...h5!? 17.e4 Donaldson, JBraylovsky, G/ICC INT 2005.; C) 16...a6 C1) 17.d5 xd5 18.cxd5 a7?! to play ...b5, but the knight is never going to be a good piece here. ( 18...d4 ) 19.c1 a5 20.d2 a4 21.e3 b5 22.d1 a6 23.c3 ab6 24.c1 Van der Elburg, F (2269)-Ulibin, M (2521)/Hoogeveen 2008.; C2) 17.b6 c7 18.b2 b6 19.d2 d8 20.a4 f5 21.e3 b4 22.xb4! cxb4 23.xb4 with plenty of compensation for the exchange in the original game Andersson, U (2635) Seirawan, Y (2600)/Linares 1983. ] [ 15...a7 keeps the a-rook on the a-file and p r o t e c t s b 7 , 16.b5 ( 16.b1 b8
transposes to 16...Ra7 above.) 16...d4 17.b6 b8 18.a4 d8 19.b1 d5 20.a3 b6 21.cxd5 xd5 22.xd5 xd5 23.xd5+ xd5 24.xd4 cxd4 25.c4 b5 1/2-1/2 Donaldson, J (2396) -Lazarev, V (2478)/Stratton Mountain 2000, although 26.e4! dxe3 27.xe3 d7 28.b3+ h8 29.axb5 ab7 30.b6 xb6 31.xb6 xb6 32.xb6 can only favour White. ] 16.b1 Normal, White plans tripling on the bfile, but [ 16.d2 is also perfectly natural, d4 17.b6 d5 18.cxd5 ( 18.fb1 pins the d5pawn, as dxc4 19.e4 i s a w k w a r d .) 18...xd5 19.xd5 xd5 20.xd5+ xd5 21.fb1 f5 22.xd4 exd4! ( 22...cxd4?! 23.b4 ) 23.f4 ( 23.a4! and Na3-c4 must b e c o r r e c t .) 23...be8 fairly equal, Larochelle, M-Roussel Roozmon, T (2434)/ Montreal 2004. ] 16...d4 A typical move - I remember JeanLuc Chabanon playing it against me in a similar position once, but new here, although it was mentioned by John W atson in an old update. [ 16...h6 prepares ...f5, but might not be necessary, 17.b6 ( 17.b2 f5 18.b1 e4! is the point of Black's play, opening the lo ng diago na l, 19.d2 Pham Le Thao, N (2314)-Chan W e Xuan, T (2344)/Ho Chi M i n h C i t y 2 0 0 9 , d5! with a clear advantage.) 17...f5 18.d5 1/2-1/2 Maletin, P (2516)-Safin, S (2445)/ Nizhnij Tagil 2005, which is in the PGN Archive, f4 19.d2 g4 with kingside play. ] [ 16...f5!? if this is possible immediately it might be best, 17.g5 ( 17.b2 e4 ) A) 17...e4! l o o k s s t r o n g , 18.xe7 ( 18.dxe4?! xc4 ) 18...xe7 19.d5 xd5 20.cxd5 a5 21.b5 exd3 22.exd3 c7 and Black has the better bishop.; B) 17...c8 Black is worried about Bxe7, but 18.d5 ( 18.d2 is more circumspect.) 18...f4 19.gxf4 h6 forcing 20.f5 when Black has a choice of interesting recaptures on f5, Dannevig, O (2356)-Ekeberg, C (2066)/Bergen 2000. ] 17.xd4 exd4 18.d5!? [ I had expected 18.e4 h8! the king l e a v e s t h e a 7 - g 8 d i a g o n a l . ( 18...h6?! 1627
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 also prepares ...f5, but 19.b6! is strong, the point being that c8 20.xd6! xd6 21.xc5 e7 22.xe6 is crushing.; 18...h6?! weakens f6, 19.b6! again, and now c6 20.xf6+! xf6 21.xc6 is the problem.) 19.b2 h6!? threatening ...f5. ] 18...xd5 [ I thought long and hard about 18...xd5 19.cxd5 b5 , which was definitely the line I wanted to play as the backward b-pawn is now anything but a liability. The reason I didn't was simply that I couldn't see any perspective f or my knight whatsoever where will it go? ] 19.cxd5 f7 20.b6 To st o p . . . b 5 . f5 Opening the g7-bishop's diagonal and r e m i n d i n g W h i t e o f t h e k i n g s i d e . 21.e3! This move had to be played, otherwise where is the c2 knight going? fc8! Daring White to open the c-file. [ 21...dxe3 22.xe3 and the knight will land on c4. ] 22.exd4 c4!? [ My first idea was 22...cxd4 intending ...Rc3, the problem is that after 23.b4! c3 24.xd4 xd4 25.xd4 xa3 play is equal, the b-pawn will never be able to advance. ] 23.dxc4 xc4 24.b3 c7 25.b4 f4! Definitely the right move, Black combines play on the c-file with play on the kingside. 26.gxf4 f5 27.e3 xf4 28.d1 g5! The second point of ...f4, the light-squared bishop must be a c t i va t e d ! 29.c4 A good move, by now my opponent was beginning to get very short of time - there is no increment in the 4NCL, so t i m e s c r a m b l e s a r e s t i l l p o s s i b l e ! e7 30.dc1 be8 [ 30...f8!? ] 31.d1! Intending to calm Black's kingside aspirations by swapping queens on f3. g6 After some thought, Black clearly has more than enough compensation for a pawn, but h o w t o w i n ? 32.f3 xd4 I couldn't see anything better, so I decided to go into an equal ending - it is always better to be on the safe side in team matches. [ 32...f8 33.xf4 gxf4 34.c2 f6 might offer more, but 35.e1 fe8 36.f3 keeps everything together. ] 33.xf4 Forced. gxf4 34.xd4 fxe3 35.fxe3
xe3 Black has a nominal advantage as he h a s d o u b le d ro o ks o n t h e e -f ile a n d t h e slightly superior bishop, but this must be drawn, of course. 36.b4 8e7 37.b6 d7 38.a4 g7 We shouldn't forget to use the king in the endgame! 39.a5 a3 40.a6?! Actually, Black wasn't even really threatening the a-pawn, e.g. [ 40.f1 xa5 41.h3 f7 42.xd6 ] 40...bxa6 Keeping more pieces on the board. [ 40...xa6 41.xa6 bxa6 42.c6 a7 43.xd6 a5 didn't look very promising to me, 44.f1 a4 45.c4 a3 46.a2 but h5 47.c6 e7 48.c2 f6 would leave White with some problems to solve. ] 41.f1 f6!? 42.xa6 xa6 43.xa6 e4 44.f2 e5 Rounding up the d5-pawn. Naturally I didn't really expect to win this, but didn't see any immediate reason to offer a draw, either. 45.e2 xd5 46.g1 e4?! Sloppy. [ 46...a7! kept some advantage. ] 47.e3 d5 48.d3! With the exchange of b i s h o p s t h e d r a w g e t s e v e r c l o s e r . d4+ 49.d2 a7! Finally the right move, and with a little trick, too! 50.xe4 [ 50.e1?? loses to a2+ 51.d1 a1+ ] 50...xe4 51.g4+ d5 52.h4 c4 53.h6?! Needlessly complicating. [ I was expecting 53.h3 cutting the king with the classic Philidor draw (albeit with an extra pawn each). ] 53...a2+ 54.c1? White had to find [ 54.e1! c3 55.xh7 a1+ 56.f2 d3 57.c7+ d2 58.h4 and the h-pawn saves White. ] 54...c3! The threat of mate stops White taking the h-pawn. 55.b1 [ 55.c6+ d3 56.h6 is no better, but would at least force me to find some good moves: a1+ ( or 56...g2 57.xh7 g1+ 58.b2 d2 59.h4 g6!! 60.h5 b6+ 61.a3 d3 62.h6 e6! 63.h8 e2 64.h7 e7 and wins. ) 57.b2 a7 58.c1 f7! 59.h4 f1+ 60.b2 e2 61.xh7 d3 62.e7+ d1 63.h5 h1 64.e5 d2 65.b1 e1 and White can resign. ] 55...a7 56.c6+ d2 57.c2+ e3 58.g2 d3 59.g3+ d2 60.g2+ c3 61.g3 f7 0-1 1628
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.cxd5 f5 19.a3 [ 19.e4 looks tempting, just stopping Black on the kingside. The a2-a3 lever can wait. ] 19...bxa3 20.xa3 c8 21.c2 f4 22.c4 h3 23.e4 h6 24.c3? Older GM syndrome. [ 24.c1 f3 25.exf3 b4 26.e2 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 is fine for White. ] 5.c3 e5 6.d3 d6 7.d2 ge7 8.f1 A great and somewhat humorous way of using 24...f3 25.exf3 f4! Ouch, White must have the fact he hasn't castled. There's a similar missed that. 26.gxf4 xf4 27.xf4 exf4 case in the Italian Game when White plays 1. 28.xa6 xf3 29.a7 g4+ 30.h1 h3 e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d3 a6 6. 31.e1 xd3 32.f6 xd5+ 33.g1 b7 0-1 Bb3 d6 7.Nf1 etc. a6 [ It seems that Karlsson has been playing 8. Nf1 for at least a quarter of a century. For A37 example 8...0-0 9.e3 b8 10.d2 a6 1620 11.c1 b5 12.b3 b4 13.cd5 f5 14.f4 Khismatullin,Denis 2572 h8 15.0-0 xd5 16.cxd5 d4 17.c4 Firman,Nazar 2471 exf4 18.gxf4 gave him slightly the better 6th EICC Warsaw POL (6) 23.06.2005 game in Karlsson, L (2480)-Eriksson, A [John Watson] (2265)/Malmo 1986. ] 9.g5 Teasing Black into playing .. .f7-f6 but 1.c4 e5 2.c3 c5 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 committing himself to an arguably less then 5.a3 a5 6.f3 c6 7.d3 ge7 8.d2 0-0 optimal developing move with the bishop. 9.f1 Compare the de Firmian game. White [ So W hite might want to consider 9.e3 d e c i d e s n o t t o s p e n d t i m e c a s t l i n g , b u t when b8 10.h4!? h6 11.a4 b4 bypasses the Ne1-c2-e3 plan by substituting 12.ed5 bxd5 13.xd5 e6 14.d2 0-0 Nd2-f1-e3 ! But Black manages to scrounge 15.a5 f5 16.b1 f4 17.xe7+ xe7 18.b4 around in an inferior position and create a fxg3 19.fxg3 e4 20.xe4 e5 21.xh6 brilliancy. b8 10.b1 f6 22.d2 c3+ 23.c2 xb4 24.d2 [ Or 10.e3 ] d7 25.a1 b6 26.f1 e5 1/2-1/2 was 10...d6 11.d2 f5 12.e3 f4 13.ed5 d4 the exciting continuation of Vaganian, R 14.gxf4 ef5!? A crazy move. Black doesn't (2590)-Dominguez Perez, L (2719)/Almaty want to end up worse after 2008. ] [ 14...exf4 15.xf4 ] 9...f6 10.d2 e6 This looks natural enough [ or 14...xd5 15.xd5+ h8 16.e3 e6 but when White puts a knight on d5 it can be 17.fxe5 h4 18.e2 ] difficult to get rid of (if Black takes with his 15.e4 S i m p l e , r i g h t ? h4! 16.e3 knight on e7 then cxd5 forks his knight on c6 Expecting a knight retreat. exf4!? 17.xf4? and bishop on e6). [ White should gather his courage and [ Accordingly there's quite a good case for accept the offer: 17.exd4! xd4 18.g1! 10...b8 intending ...b7-b5, and after 11.a4 d7 ( 18...f3 19.e3! xh2 20.d2 h6 b4 12.e3 e6 13.a5 0-0 14.0-0 f5 21.e1 ) 19.b5 xb5 20.cxb5 f3 15.a4 f4 16.c2 xc2 17.xc2 c6 ( 20...be8 21.g4! ) 21.e3 xh2 18.d5 d4 Black got much more 22.d2 ] promising counterplay in Storland, K (2282)- 17...xe3! 18.xe3 g4 19.c1 be8 Hall, J (2501) /Panormo 2001. I would have 20.ce2?! tried hard not to play 11.a4. ] [ 20.h3! f3 21.xf3!! xe3+ 22.xe3 11.e3 b8 12.0-0 0-0 13.ed5 b5 14.b3 c2+ 23.e2 xe3 24.fxe3 and White Looks like Karlssson f eels the same way has both material and an overwhelming about a2-a4 for White as I do. b4 15.xe7+ position. ] xe7 16.d5 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 20...g5 1619 Karlsson,Lars Garcia XXXVI Open Sitges ESP (4) [Nigel Davies]
A37 2449 2508 25.07.2010
1629
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Sadly, Firman misses he shot 20...xe4! A) 8...f5 9.d5! ( 9.e2 0-0 10.b1 21.dxe4 xe2 22.xe2 xe4 23.g1 a5 11.b3 e4 12.b2 c6 13.d2 h6! and there's no good defence. ] is fairly equal, Majorovas,V-Dorfman,J/ 21.g2 h3 C a n n e s 1 9 9 2) 9...a5 10.d3 0-0 [ 21...xe2 22.xh4 xc1 23.xc1 gxh4 11.d2 c8 12.b3 with a space 24.d2 , about equal. ] advantage, Sunye Neto,J-Silva,S/Sao 22.g1 h5 23.h4! f5 24.xf5 xf5 Paulo 1993.; 25.d1 f7! Born of desperation. 26.h3 B) 8...cxd4 was the move that worried me, d4 27.hxg5 f3+ 28.f1 h5 29.gf4 9.exd4 f5 10.f4! ( 10.d5?! a5 g4 30.b4 and W hite has problems defending c4) [ 30.d5 d4 31.hf4 is killing. ] 10...0-0 ( 10...fxd4? 11.xd4 xd4 30...axb4 31.axb4 d4 32.e2 cxb4 seems to win a pawn, but then comes 33.d5 c3 34.xc3?? After all that work, 12.b5 xb2 13.c7! c8 14.e2 W hite allows a drawing combination, and when the double threat of Nd6+ and Qxb2 Black seizes it. wins a piece) 11.d5 cd4 ( 11...a5!? [ 34.f6+! wins immediately: xf6 35.gxf6 12.d3 c8 13.b3 xc3 14.xc3 xd5 threatening Rg1 as well as several other 15.ad1 should favour White, who has the winning moves. ] important dark-squared bishop) 12.xd4 [ 34.d1 and ] xd4 13.c1 d6 14.e1 e8 15.b3 a6 [ 34.d1 are two other clear wins. ] 16.e4 chasing the knight from d4 with an 34...bxc3 35.c1?? Oh no! Nightmare time. edge, Pogorelov,R-Gonzalez Intelangelo, [ White had to play 35.d1 xe3! 36.xe3 G/Las Palmas ESP 1999. ] h4 37.c1 g2+ 38.e2 g4+ 39.f1 7...h6 Black must keep the pin along the g2+ etc. with perpetual check. ] a1-h8 diagonal. 8.b2 0-0 35...d2+ 36.e1 g2 37.g1 f3+ [ 8...f5 could transpose, 9.d3 0-0 10.d2 38.d1 xh3 39.f1 xg1 40.xg1 ( 10.b1 e6 11.e4 is similar, Pytel, K[ 40.xg1 xe3 41.fxe3 f1+ is one win. A Miralles,G/Chanac 1989) 10...e6 11.e4!? wild one for the books. ] h e a d s f o r B o t v i n n i k - s t y l e p l a y , fe7 0-1 ( 11...fd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.e2 is equal ) 12.fe1 d6 13.ad1 b8 14.a3 1 / 2 - 1 / 2 T a i m a n o v, M - K e n g i s , E / P r a g u e 1621 A37 1993. ] f5 Black has to stop White from Kosten,Anthony C 2507 9.e3 Bauer,Christian 2599 p la yin g d 4 . 10.b1! This move defends the TCh-Nat1 GpB (6) 03.04.2004 b ish o p a n d p re p a re s Ne 2 a n d d 4 . I a ls o considered [Tony Kosten] [ 10.a4 but after xb2 11.xb2 the knight is not particularly well placed, e6 1.g3 g6 2.g2 g7 3.c4 c5 4.c3 c6 12.d3 f6 13.e2 d5 and , if anything, I 5.f3 b6!? This was a surprise for me, wo u ld p ref e r t o ha ve t h e b la ck p ie c e s , whereas I had actually intended to surprise Orlowski,J-Ermenkov ,E/Bad Kissingen my opponent after 1990. ] [ 5...e6 with 6.d4!? ] Black prepares counterplay in the 6.0-0 b7 7.b3 White aims to counter the 10...e6 pressure on the long diagonal. I wanted to centre, but he has alternatives: [ 10...c8 11.e2 c7 12.xg7 xg7 play looks pleasant for White, Wirthensohn,H[ 7.e3! to continue d4 before Black gains Miles,A/Biel 1983, as White can play 13.c3 complete control over d4, and this is clearly d6 14.d4 with the better central presence. ] critical, h6 ( 7...f6 8.d4 a5 9.e2 [ 10...b8 11.d1 e6 12.e2 e5!? 13.c3 0-0 10.d1 cxd4 11.xd4 xg2 12.xg2 ( 13.d4?! exd4 14.exd4 e8 15.d3 d5 ) is nothing special for W hite, Portisch,L13...a6 and Black's Botvinnik formation is Keene,R/Moscow 1977 ) 8.d4 1630
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 quite reasonable, Szmetan,J-Larsen,B/ Buenos Aires 1983. ] 11.e2 d5 An innovation, as previously Black had played the blunder [ 11...e5? which loses a pawn on the spot: 12.xe5 e8 (as the c6-knight is pinned) 13.f3 d5 14.xg7 xg7 15.cxd5 xd5 16.b2+ g8 17.d4 with a solid extra pawn, Vadasz,L-Davies,N/Budapest 1993, a l t h o u gh N ig e l e ve n t u a l l y m a n a ge d t o draw! ] 12.xg7 xg7!? My opponent regretted this move afterwards, preferring [ 12...xg7 13.b2+ f6 14.xf6+ xf6 a l t h o u g h a f t e r 15.cxd5 exd5 16.fd1 White will play d4, with an edge. ] 13.cxd5 exd5 14.d4 e6 15.d1 f6 16.b2!? It seemed odd to pin my own dpawn, but I wanted to control e5. [ 16.d3 is the alternative, fd8 17.ac1 with a pull. ] 16...fd8 17.d2 ac8 18.ad1 The d5-pawn is coming under fire W hite's advantage is that he can capture on c5 and e x p o s e d 5 w h e n e v e r h e w a n t s . a6! A precise reply, cutting across White's plans. 19.dxc5 Perhaps [ 19.e5 is stronger, but xe2 ( 19...xe5? 20.dxe5 f5 21.xd5 w i n s a p a w n) 20.xe2 cxd4 21.exd4 a6 seems reasonable for Black, as ( 21...exd4? is a blunder 22.xd4 xe5? fails to 23.f4 ) 22.xc6 xc6 23.e5 can be met by dc8! ] 19...xb2 20.xb2 bxc5 A critical position, W hite has created hanging pawns, but the black pieces are active and he can always produce a dangerous passed pawn by ...d4. 21.f1!? Played to free the rook from the defence of the e2-knight. [ 21.bd2 d4 22.exd4 xe2 23.xe2 cxd4 ( 23...cxd4!? ) 24.ed2 xf3+ 25.xf3 xd2 26.xd2 d4 27.g2 seemed fairly level. ] 21...b7 [ 21...d4 is more aggressive, 22.bd2 dxe3 23.fxe3 xd2 24.xd2 c4 25.bxc4 xc4 26.ed4 with a drawn position after a few more exchanges. ] 22.g2 a6 23.f1 b7 both sides are happy with a draw in the context of the match
situation. ½-½
1622 Kosten,Anthony C Chabanon,Jean Luc TCh-Nat1 GpB (1) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2507 2449 30.01.2004
1.c4 c5 2.c3 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c6 5.f3 e5 6.0-0 The exact move order is perhaps not so important here, [ 6.a3 a5 7.0-0 ge7 8.e1 would transpose. ] 6...ge7 This seems logical, developing a piece, but on reflection [ 6...d6 may be stronger, as it cuts-down on W hite's options, e.g. 7.e1 e6 8.d3 ge7 and Black is ready for ...d5 before the white knight gets to e3. ] 7.e1!? The knight heads straight for e3, to control d5. Another option I considered was [ 7.a3 a5 and now 8.d4!? which is like Miles' move against Kudrin, played a move later. It may be worse here, though! ] 7...0-0 Black can no longer force White to occupy d5 with a piece: [ 7...d6 8.c2 e6 is met by 9.e3 defending c4 and controlling d5. ] 8.c2 d6 9.d3 b8 10.a3 The knight on c2 is also useful for supporting the b4 thrust. [ 10.e3 b6 11.ed5 b7 12.b1 xd5 13.xd5 e7 and Black managed to combat W hite's control of d5, Bisguier,AR e s h e vs k y, S / C h i c a g o 1 9 7 4 . A f t e r t h e su b se qu e n t d o u b le e xch a n ge o f m in o r p ie ce s W h it e wa s le f t wit h t h e s l igh t l y better bishop, but it doesn't amount to too much. ] 10...a5 Standard, and best, Black shouldn't allow b4 when White can add his queenside pressure to his control of d5. [ 10...e6 11.b4 b6 ( 11...e4?! 12.xe4 xa1 13.xa1 is horrible for Black, as the white dark-squared bishop will dominate the long diagonal) 12.b5!? ( 12.g5 f6 13.d2 is also sensible) 12...d4 13.e3 d7 14.ed5 ( 14.a2 would avoid any tactics along the a1-h8 diagonal, and prepare Nd5) 14...xd5 15.cxd5!? h3 16.xh3 xh3 1631
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.e3 with the better minor pieces, Bellon Lopez,J-Granados Gomez,M/Cala Galdana ESP 1999. ] 11.g5 I like this move, as it forces Black to play a weakening pawn move (...f6) and if he doesn't it allows W hite to exchange his g5bishop f or t he kn ight a nd aim f or a goo d knight (on d5) versus bad bishop (on g7) position. [ 11.b1 e6 12.d5?! ( 12.e3 ) 12...b5 and Black is at least equal, Kural,S-Sodtholt, D/ Graz 1981. ] 11...f6 [ 11...h6? is a known positional error: 12.xe7 xe7 13.b1 d7 14.b4!? cxb4 15.axb4 b5 16.d2 bxc4 17.dxc4 c7?! 18.bxa5 xa5?! 19.xb8 xb8 20.xd6 f8 21.e4! a4 22.a1 1-0 Kosten,ASulipa, A/France 1997, which is a good memory for me! ] 12.d2 e6 The normal square for the bishop in this system, [ 12...d4!? 13.xd4 exd4 14.d5 ( 14.b5!? ) 14...e8 15.b4 axb4 16.axb4 xd5 17.xd5+ e6 18.f3 b6 19.bxc5!? bxc5 ( 19...dxc5? 20.f4 ) 20.a6 f8 21.a1 c8 22.a7 b6 23.a2!? b3 24.a5 b7?? 25.a3 won the black queen in Georgiev,V-Handke,F/Bad Woerishofen GER 2003. ] 13.e3 d4 14.ed5 xd5 15.xd5 [ 15.xd5 was tempting, xd5 16.xd5 b5 17.e3 e6 but Black will be able to fight for control of d5 by .. .Nc7, so I preferred to keep more tension. ] 15...a4!? A neat tactic which occurs a lot in this line, but I had prepared a strong reply. [ If 15...b5 then 16.e3 is a little awkward: f5 ( 16...c6 17.cxb5 xb5 18.a4 a7 19.c3 looks nice for White) 17.c2 and now Black is unable to contest control of d5 by e7? because of 18.xa5! ] 16.b4! This may have been a little unexpected for my opponent - what about the en passant rule? axb3 [ 16...b3 17.b1 and as Black doesn't really want to capture the bishop, his knight may turn-out to be awkwardly placed. ] 17.e3 The point, the knight is driven back, and then the pawn will be captured. c6 [ 17...c2? is a m is t a ke : 18.b1 xa3
19.xb3 a8 20.c1 wins a piece. ] 18.xb3 Now White has the open b-file to play with. Note that in such positions the b7p a wn i s m u ch m o r e vu ln e r a b le t h a n t h e isolated a3-pawn. e7 19.b6 f5 20.ab1 g5 Black looks for counterplay on the kingside. 21.f4 gxf4 22.exf4 This weakens control of d4, but maintains a better king position. c6 23.d1!? I wanted to play on both sides of the board. [ 23.e3 d4 24.xd4 cxd4 25.a4 is also feasible, at some point W hite will play Bd5 to obtain his long-term positional objective: good knight on d5 against g7bishop. ] 23...d4 24.h5 h8 [ 24...f7 25.d5 ] 25.d5 xd5 26.xd5 b5?! Positionally desirable, but doubtful. He should have tried [ 26...e4!? perhaps. ] 27.fxe5 dxe5?! [ 27...xe5 28.g5 e8 29.xe8 fxe8 avoids material loss, as after 30.c7?! g8 Black gains time on the bishop. However, any other 30th move leaves White on top as f4 and f5 are weak. ] 28.g5 e8 What else? [ 28...d7?! 29.e7 fe8 30.f6 wins, i.e. xf6 31.xf6+ g8 32.g5+ f7 ( 32...f8 33.xe5 xe5 34.f6+ ) 33.g7+ e6 34.h6 and the end is near. ] 29.xe8 fxe8 30.c7 ec8 31.xb5 White has won a pawn. e4 32.dxe4 fxe4 33.g2 a8? Short of time Black misses White's threat. 34.d6 c6 35.xe4 h6 [ 35...xa3?? 36.b8+ ] 36.f6 xf6 37.xf6 ca6 38.b7 8a7 39.b8+ g7 40.g8+!? I spent most of my little remaining time looking at the alternative [ 40.h5+ thinking that there must be a clear win following h7 41.ff8 ( 41.c8 xa3 42.xc5 might be simplest) 41...xa3 42.h8+ g6 43.f4+ and certainly this does look very good for W hite, as he will pick-up the h-pawn, still, when I didn't see a mate I went for the text. ] 40...f7 41.h8 g7 42.h7+ g6 43.xa7 xa7 44.e4 xa3 45.xc5 Reaching an ending that seems simple enough: White has two extra pawns, but there 1632
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 were a lot of technical difficulties to overcome. f5 46.f4 h5 Black wants to weave a mating net with ...Ne3-g4 and ...Ra2. 47.d7 e3+ 48.h3 g4 49.h4! This is pretty much forced, although I didn't really want to lo s e m y h - p a wn . xh2 50.e5+ g7 51.f7+ g8 52.f5 c3 53.g5+ I wanted to play [ 53.h3 c2 ( 53...g4 54.g5+ f8 55.xg4 hxg4+ 56.xg4 win s e asily.) 54.c5 as it seems that none of the black pieces can move very much, but after g7 I couldn't see any way to improve the white position, for instance 55.xh5 ( 55.c6? g4! ) 55...f1 and the knight escapes. ] 53...f8 54.xh5 e7 55.g6 f1 56.g4 e3 57.c6+ d7 58.c5 Everything seemed to be going smoothly here, although my time was disappearing fast! c3 59.e5+ Completely natural, but the weird [ 59.b8+! i s s t r o n g e r c8 60.a6 and c6-c7 is threatened. Still, the knight on the rim looks so stupid to our eyes that it is easy not to consider this! ] 59...e7 60.c6?! [ 60.c6+ ] 60...c5 61.g5 g3+ 62.h4? [ 62.h6 e4 63.h5 is far better. ] 62...e4 63.f5 [ 63.g6+ d6 64.xc5 xc5 65.g5 xc6 66.f5 d7 67.f4 is almost certainly drawn. ] 63...e6? The mistake is returned! [ 63...c1?! is also doubtful: 64.g5 e6 65.d3! h1+ 66.g4 and wins, as g1+ 67.f4 f1+? 68.xe4 xf5 69.f4+ ] [ but 63...d6! draws: 64.f7+ ( 64.g5 e6 65.g4 d6 win s t h e kn igh t) 64...xc6 ] 64.f3! c4 [ 64...xf5 65.d4+ d5 66.gxf5 and now xd4 allows White to make a queen by 67.c7 d6 68.f6 e5 69.f7 xf7 70.c8 ] 65.g5+ xg5 66.xg5 Black is unable to capture the c6-pawn because of the skewer. d6 67.f6+ e7 68.f5 c1 [ 68...xg4 69.xg4 xf6 70.c7 ] 69.g5 1-0
1623 Kosten,Anthony C Gordon,Stephen J GBR-ch 100th (8) [Kosten, Tony]
A37 2458 2521 06.08.2013
1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 c6 5.f3 d6 [ Actually, at this point I was expecting a Botvinnik System, 5...e5 which I'd already encountered twice in the Championships: A) I also tried 6.d3 ge7 7.d2 d6 8.f1 0-0 ( 8...a6 9.g5 is KarlssonGonzalez Garcia in the PGN Archive.) 9.e3 which gets control of d5, but after a6 10.ed5 xd5 11.xd5 b8 12.0-0 I d id n 't th in k W hit e h ad very m u ch in Kosten, A (2458)-Varnam, L (2107)/ Torquay 2013.; B) 6.0-0 d6 7.a3 ge7 8.b4! 0-0 ( 8...e4 9.e1 f5 10.b2 0-0 11.d3 is t he critical main line , bu t th is c ould t r a n s p o s e .) 9.b1 f5 10.e1 ( not 10.d3?? e4 ) 10...e4 11.b2 B1) 11...e6! is best, 12.d3 e5 ( 12...exd3 13.exd3! ) 13.a1 b8 14.dxe4 xc4 15.exf5 gxf5 16.c1 cxb4 17.axb4 f4 18.d3 fxg3 19.hxg3 b5 20.e4 1-0 Kosten, A (2507) -Bellin, R (2385)/West Bromwich 2004.; B2) 11...cxb4!? a n e w m o ve , 12.axb4 xb4?! ( 12...d5!? ) 13.xe4! d5 ( 13...fxe4 14.xg7 xg7 15.xb4 ) 14.xg7 xg7 15.g5!? ( 15.c5 ) 15...a5 16.a4 a6! 17.c2! ec6 18.cxd5 xg5 19.dxc6 xc6 20.d4 White has the better structure and now I decided to push my passed d-pawn, d8 21.d5 e7 22.e3 ( 22.fc1!+- ) 22...f6 23.fc1 d7 24.f4! b5 25.c7 t h e p o in t . b6 26.d6 c8? ( 26...xc7 wa s f o rce d , 27.dxc7 f8 28.d1 c6 29.xc6 xc6 30.d7 f6 31.xb5 but Black has some drawing chances after c8 ) 27.c6! 1-0 Kosten, A (2458)-Mercs, P (2109)/ Torquay 2013 ] 6.0-0 f5!? A complete surprise, I have never seen this more before! [ 6...e5 was still possible, of course. ] 7.b3 After a long thought. In fact I didn't really 1633
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 see any decent way for White to play, as both e3 and d4 are impossible so it is not easy for White to play in the centre, and meanwhile Black is going to play ...Qd7 and ...Bh3. [ 7.d3 is the most popular, but appears slow, d7 8.b1 ( 8.d5 f6 9.d2 0-0 is obviously fine for Black, Schlosser, P (2579)-Wagner, D (2456)/Germany 2013.; 8.d2 h3 9.b1 xg2 10.xg2 f6 likewise, Medvegy, Z (2561)-Nielsen, P (2662)/Germany 2013.; 8.e3 would get d4 in n e x t g o , b u t W h i t e h a s l o s t a t e m p o .) 8...h3 9.xh3 xh3 10.d5 d7 11.a4 c8 12.a3 e6 13.e3 ge7 14.b4 0-0 15.b2 xb2 16.xb2 b6 17.d4! cxd4 18.xd4 was pretty logical play from White, but after fd8 it is difficult to speak of any advantage, Zhou Jianchao (2668)-Malakhov, V (2732)/Ningbo 2010. ] 7...d7 Technically a novelty, although it is perfectly natural. [ 7...xc3!? 8.dxc3 d7 9.e1 h3 10.h1 h6 11.b1 ( 11.b4! ) 11...f5 12.b2 f6 13.b4 d8 14.a4 a6?! 15.bxc5 dxc5 16.d2 e6 17.xd8+ xd8 and White was well on top in Jobava, B (2644)-Malakhov, V (2690)/Benidorm 2007, he could even consider 18.xh6! as xh6? 19.g5 wins. ] 8.b2 h3 [ 8...f6 and ...0-0 was perfectly acceptable, although White can play 9.d4 ] 9.e3! Now that the black bishop can't go to d3. h5!? 10.d4 xg2 11.xg2 h4 12.dxc5 hxg3 13.fxg3 Forced, although it somewhat weakens my structure, and this would haunt me throughout the game. h3+ 14.g1 dxc5 15.e2 f6 [ I was more worried about 15...0-0-0 as 16.g5?! is answered by h5 17.xh5 xh5 18.xf7? d2 and wins. ] 16.d5 0-0 17.g5! h8 [ 17...h6 might be safer, 18.xf6+ xf6 19.xf6 exf6 20.e4 f5 21.xc5 fe8 with fair compensation for the pawn. ] 18.xf6!! This set Stevie into a long think, and he started looking quite depressed! xf6 [ 18...exf6? 19.e4 h3 ( 19...e5 20.xe5 fxe5 21.e7+ h7 22.g5+ h6 23.g4 f6 24.xf7+ xf7 25.xg6# ) 20.dxf6+ h8 21.f1
with a crushing attack. ] 19.xf6+ After a little thought I decided to keep the long-term advantage of the bishop. [ However, 19.xf6! might be best, exf6 20.e4 A) I wondered whether Black could simply play 20...fe8 here, 21.exf6+ g7 22.xe8+ ( Ho ud ini sa ys th a t 22.f1 is stronger, though, e5 23.f4 g5 24.f1 and it thinks W hite is winning.) 22...xe8 and White's extra e3-pawn is weak.; B) 20...f5 21.ef6+ g7 22.b2 appears very strong, although Black looks like he is hanging on after h6 23.f1 fe8 24.f4 e4 25.xe4 fxe4 still, 26.g4+ h7 27.df6+ g7 28.xe4+ g8 29.gf6+ keeps the pressure on. ] 19...exf6 20.e4 e5 21.f1 f5 22.xc5 fe8 23.xb7 h6 24.d6 e6 25.c5 So far this all looked very natural and I had assumed that my powerful knight, raking bishop on the long diagonal, and passed pawns would give me a fairly simple win. I was also way ahead on the clock at this stage. g4 26.e4 An important point. f8 [ For some odd reason I had only analysed 26...e3+ as I assumed Black would need t o e x c h a n g e q u e e n s , 27.xe3 xe3 28.exf5 xd6 29.cxd6 xf1 30.f6 e3 31.d7 which should be a fairly straightforward win. ] 27.f4 h5 28.b4 Around here I started wa st in g a l o t o f t im e l o o ki n g f o r a c le a r winning method. [ 28.a3 (to push the c-pawn) d8 ] 28...f6 29.b5? A horrible blunder, but it doesn't throw away the game just yet. [ As my opponent suggested after the game 29.h4! is strong, freeing the queen from the defence of h2, g7 30.d4 and White can win at his leisure. ] [ M y o t h e r t h o u g h t w a s 29.d4 simply keeping control of the position. ] 29...fxe4!! I'd completely missed this! By undefending d5 I allowed Black to free the pin on his knight. 30.xg4? Now I started getting very short of time, and my brain went 'blank'! [ 30.a3! had to be played, to defend c5, f5 31.c6 a n d B l a c k h a s t o f i n d h8! w h e n t h e c o m p u t e r g i v e s 32.xf5! 1634
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 32.c7?? d4+ ) 32...xf5 ( 32...gxf5? 33.xg4+! ) 33.c7 c3 34.xg4 xf4 35.xe6+ g7 36.gxf4 e1+ 37.g2 e2+ with a perpetual check. ] [ 30.d4 was also possible, d5 31.xe4 xd4+! 32.xd4 xe2 33.xg4 when White is not worse. ] 30...xc5+ 31.f2? [ 31.g2 f5 32.h4 xd6 33.h6 f7 34.f1 planning Rc1 and White still has plenty of play for the exchange. ] 31...f5 Black's saving resource. 32.h4 Threatening mate in one. xd6 [ Strangely I had only analysed 32...xd6? when 33.h6 f7 34.d2 looked like fun. ] 33.h6 f7 34.g7+ e8 35.g2 Now W hite is completely lost. e3! 36.e2 d5+ 37.h3 f4! 38.e5+ xe5 39.xe5 f3 40.xe3 e6 0-1
13.a3 d5 [ 13...f5!? ] 14.ac1 c3 15.fe1!? A novelty, Tony Miles had preferred [ 15.e3 against me at Palma 1989 (see the archives), but I was wondering about the c o n t i n u a t i o n a6!? 16.xd4 xa3 ( 16...xd4? 17.xc3! ) 17.xc3 0-0 although White should be better after, say, 18.c7 ] 15...d7?! The advantage of White's previous move is that it is less forcing, and so Black has to find a good plan from a multitude of alternatives: [ 15...e5 16.e3 e6 17.g5 is good for White. ] [ 15...a6!? is still possible, when 16.xd4 xa3 17.xc3 0-0 18.d3 offers White an edge, the immediate threat is Nb5-d6. ] 16.e3 c6?! [ 16...dxe3? can now be met by 17.xe3 forcing b5 18.c5 d8 19.d3 1624 A37 and Black is in big trouble. ] [ 16...e4 might be the best bet, 17.c2 Kosten,Anthony C 2519 dxe3! 18.xe3 ( 18.xe4? exf2+ ) Ivanov,Jordan 2395 18...a6!? 19.xe4 xa3 20.c7 c8 Sautron (3) 24.10.2004 21.c2 0-0 22.e5 menacing Nxf7 with a [Tony Kosten] powerful initiative. ] 1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 17.exd4 d5 [ 17...xf3?! 18.xf3 b5 is interesting, as 5.f3 e6 6.d4!? I felt in the mood to play this Black has the neat tactic 19.c5 xd4 pawn sac, as after all I have analysed many but now White wins by 20.g2 d8 21.b4 games played with it! cxd4 7.b5 d5 d7 22.cd1 ] 8.cxd5 a5+ 9.d2 I decided to try the White has regained his pawn, has a move Tony Miles had played against me, the 18.e5 lead in development and the black king is alternative [ 9.d2 was seen in Markowski,T-Macieja, marooned in the centre. f8 Nc4-d6+ might be threatened, and after B. ] [ 18...xe5 19.dxe5 0-0-0 White wins by 9...xb5 10.dxc6 xc6 My opponent 20.d6 ( 20.c5 a6 21.f1 suggested is also strong.) 20...c7 21.f4 d7 [ 10...e7! after the game, and it might be 22.e2 and the doubling of the rooks on the simpler: 11.xd4 b6 12.cxb7 ( 12.e3!? c-file. ] bxc6 13.b3? a6 favours Black, Fishbein,AJansa,V/Herning 1991) 12...xb7 13.xb7 19.xd5! This leads to a forced win. xd5 [ 19...xa3 20.xc6 bxc6 21.xc6+ e7 xb7 14.f3 0-0 15.0-0 fd8 22.xa8 xa8 23.g5+ f6 24.h4 with sufficient initiative to compensate the wins, as h8 25.xg6+ hxg6 26.xh8 ] pawn, Foisor,O-Ungureanu,E/Tusnad 20.f4 f5 There was no other possibility to 1997. ] defend f7. 21.xf8 xf8 22.h6 There is no 11.0-0 b6 12.b3 e7 [ 12...f6!? 13.xd4 ( 13.a3?! e4 wa y t o co u n te r Q xh 7 f o llo we d by Rc7 o r 14.d3 d6 and Black can castle) 13...0-0 Qxg6+.. 1-0 14.b2 is fairly level. ] 1635
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1625 Kramnik,Vladimir Carlsen,Magnus 4th London Chess Classic (3.1) [John Bartholomew]
A37 2795 2848 03.12.2012
I had the pleasure of sitting in on the postmortem between these two legendary players (it's available online as well). Kramnik dominated the discussion, and I was blown away by the depth and clarity of his evaluations as he reeled off variation after variation. Carlsen was comparatively relaxed, as you might expect. He would occasionally chime in to correct Kramnik or add something to the assessment (needless to say, he was always dead-on accurate). Both players made a great impression on the London audience. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 ge7 Interestingly, Carlsen opts for a move order that I deemed inferior in last month's update. [ The position is in fact slightly different compared to Heberla-Juptner in that update, but 6...d6 still has merit. The main idea is that 7.e1 e6! A) if White really wants to establish a knight on d5, then 8.d5!? ge7 9.c2 0-0 10.b1 is the way to go, but I like Black's play here, e.g. a5 ( or 10...b8 11.d3 b5 12.g5 f6 13.d2 f5 14.b3 h6 15.e3 d7= Socko, B (2629) Khenkin, I (2669) Leiden 2012) 11.ce3 b8 12.b3 f5 13.f4 h6 14.b2 g5 15.d3 g6 16.d2 exf4 17.xg7 xg7 18.gxf4 h4 Margvelashvili, G (2531) Kacheishvili, G (2589) ICC INT 2011.; B) 8.d3 ge7 9.c2 allows Black to b r e a k wi t h d5 , when 10.cxd5 xd5 11.e3 de7 has proven to be quite reliable for the second player. ] 7.a3 a5 8.e1 d6 9.c2 0-0 [ Last month we examined 9...e6 10.e3 0-0 11.ed5 b8 12.d3 , with a rich position where White has somewhat better chances. See Heberla, B (2536) -Juptner, J (2364) Czechia 2012/[John Bartholomew]. ] 10.d3 b8?! Carlsen: "[This] is just stupid, of course". [ Indeed, 10...e6 should be preferred, threatening the immediate ...d6-d5 and
coaxing White to play 11.e3 . Then b8 12.ed5 transposes to the above game. Carlsen insinuated that he forgot why 10... Be6 was important in luring White's knight to e3. ] 11.b1 [ 11.g5!? h6 12.xe7 xe7 13.b1 d7 14.b4 cxb4 15.axb4 b5 16.d2 bxc4 17.dxc4 c7? ( 17...axb4 18.xb4 ) 18.bxa5 xa5 19.xb8 xb8 20.xd6 f8 21.e4 a4 22.a1 1-0 Kosten, A (2535)Sulypa, A (2400) France 1997 ] 11...e6 12.b4! Kramnik was pleased with his game here. The knight proves to be more useful on c2 than e3. axb4 13.axb4 cxb4 14.xb4 xb4 15.xb4 d5 16.cxd5 Best. The simplifications bring White closer to establishing a long-term siege on the b7pawn. [ Kramnik also mentioned the possibility of 16.a3!? , whereupon Carlsen promptly demonstrated a neat variation he had in mind: e8 17.a4 dxc4 18.dxc4 xd1 19.xd1 e4 20.xe4 and now the kicker ( 20.b5! ) 20...b5!= i n v i e w o f 21.cxb5? b3 . Easy stuff, right!?:) ] 16...xd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.b5! xg2 [ T h e p l a y e r s a g r e e d t h a t 18...c6! was better. After 19.xc6 bxc6 20.c5 Carlsen commented that it was "better to have a weak pawn on c6 than one which will be certainly lost [on b7] ". ] 19.xg2 d7 20.b3 fc8 21.b2 [ B o t h p l a y e r s d i s m i s s e d 21.e3!? b e c a u s e o f c3 , though they may have missed the response 22.d5! , when Black is still most certainly suffering. ] 21...d6 22.b1 White has an ideal position. Moreover, positions like these are Kramnik's bread and butter. c5 23.b6! c6 [ Also unpleasant is 23...d5+ 24.xd5 xd5 , e.g. 25.a3 d7 ( 25...f8 26.xf8 xf8 27.xb7 xb7 28.xb7 is a dreaded 5-vs-4 endgame even Kasparov has lost a 4vs-3! ) 26.1b5 . ] 24.xb7 xb7 25.xb7 Kramnik has a clear extra pawn. Big Vlad would surely win this against almost any other Grandmaster, but Carlsen's resourcef ulness eventually yields a rare escape! b6 26.c8+ f8 27.d7 h5! A fantastic defensive move. 1636
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Carlsen improves his position a bit, confident t h a t t h e t a c t i c s f a vo r h i m . K r a m n i k wa s astounded at the resiliency of Black's position after this move, in spite of the tempo this appears to hand him. [ I t w a s n e c e s s a r y t o a v o i d 27...b8? 28.c1+- . ] 28.e4 [ 28.c1 suggests itself, but Kramnik (and presumably Carlsen as well) considered the position after xb2 ( Magnus may have also opted for 28...a8+ 29.e4 h7 , highlighting the wisdom of his 27th move) 29.c8 xe2 to be drawish. ] 28...d6 29.e8+ f8 [ Not 29...h7? 30.xe5+- . "That would be a dream, of course" - Kramnik. ] 30.d7 [ On 30.a4 , b4 is a good response. ( T h e s u b t l e c o m p u t e r m o v e 30...d8! is even better! )] 30...d6 31.xd6 Kramnik was of the opinion that the position is now objectively drawn. xd6 32.d1 f5! There's still plenty o f wa y s f o r W h it e t o p r e s s , b u t C a r ls e n proves he's up to the defensive task. 33.f3 fxe4 34.fxe4 b6 35.c3 b3 36.a1 f7 37.f3 e6 38.h3 h6 39.e2 g5 40.g1 h6 41.h4 d6 42.d1 [ Kramnik regretted the fact that he didn't play 42.g4 , e.g. f4 43.gxh5 gxh5 44.g6+ d7 45.a6 , with some small chances. ] 42...e6 43.f1 b4! Excellent. Carlsen doesn't allow even a hint of play with d3-d4. 44.d1 b3 45.g1 f6! [ Avoiding 45...d6 , after which Kramnik said he would have tried 46.g4 after all. ] 46.h1 [ Now 46.g4 hxg4 47.xg4 a3! is unequivocally drawn. ] 46...e6 47.d1 f6 48.d4 e3+ 49.f2 xe4 50.dxe5+ f5 51.d7 g4 52.d6 e3+ 53.e2 f4+ 54.d3 e3+ 55.c4 xe5 56.xg6+ f3 57.xe5 xe5 58.g5 e4+ 59.d5 g4 60.e5 xg3 61.xh5 xh4 62.xh4 xh4 Drawn. Carlsen's move order with 6...Nge7 can be queried, though 10. ..Rb8?! was undoubtedly the real source of his opening troubles. Black needs to be alert in the first 6-7 moves in the Botvinnik System
thus, 6...d6 may be preferable here. ½-½
1626 A37 Kramnik,Vladimir 2766 Leko,Peter 2749 Amber Rapid Monte Carlo MNC rapid (7) [Carsten Hansen] 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 d6 7.a3 a5 [ This is necessary, as for example shown after 7...ge7 8.b4! e6 9.g5! xc4 10.d3 e6 11.bxc5 dxc5 12.xe6 , and Black's position was a positional toilet in P e t u rss o n -A rn a so n , Re yk ja vik m (3 ) 1989. ] 8.e1 e6 9.d3 ge7 10.c2 d5 [ Black forces this central advance through before W hite's knight arrives on e3 and prevents the idea, such as would be the case after 10...0-0!? 11.e3 Both ideas for Black: letting W hite prevent ...d6-d5 and Black playing ...d6-d5 before W hite can prevent it are seen, although the latter is a positionally somewhat flawed plan due to numerous structural weaknesses in Black's position, such as the light squares around the a5-, c5- and e5-pawns. Counting in Black's favour is that he has more space, well-coordinated pieces and active play. As long as Black is able to control the pressure White is placing on Black's weak squares and pawns, he will be okay, although this can be a lot easier said than done. ] 11.cxd5 xd5 12.d2!? [ This is an interesting choice of continuation by Kramnik. Let's take a look at the alternatives for W hite at this juncture. By the way, if you ever doubted the validity of the name "The Swedish Variation" for this line, please note the names of the players in t h e f o ll o wi n g s e gm e n t : He ll e r s , E r n s t , Cramling, Schuessler, Schneider, Wedberg, Degerman and Hall are all Swedes, and Bellon is married to Cramling! I think, I made my point... A) 12.e4 b6 13.g5 c8 14.e3 de7 A) White hasn't been able to prove 1637
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 anything after 15.c4 0-0 16.d2 h6 17.e4 e6 18.a4 f5!? ( or 18...b8 19.c1 d4 20.e3 dc6 21.e2 f5 22.ed6 d7 23.fd1 d5 with approximately even chances, Ribli, ZHellers, F/Tilburg 1993) 19.c3 a7 ( 19...e4!? should be considered, e. g. 20.f4 g5 21.d6 xc4 22.dxc4 xc3 23.bxc3 f6 24.xe7 xe7 and Black has the better chances) 20.b3 b7 21.b5 d7 22.c3 d5 23.ad1 h7 24.c2 db4 25.b1 e4! , and Black completely dominates W hite, and eventually won the game, Uhlmann, W Cramling, P/ Valby 1991; B) 15.a4 d7 16.d5 ( 16.c4 0-0 17.b3 b8 18.d6? d4 , and Black win s at lea st a pa wn , Gaya Yo dra, JBellon Lopez, J/Linares 1991) 16...d4 17.c4 0-0 Azmaiparashvili, Z-Schussler, H / R e y k j a v i k 1 9 9 0 18.xe7+ xe7 19.xa8 xa8 20.e1 b5 21.a2 c2 and Black gets the exchange back with the clearly better chances to boot ] [ 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.e3 e6 15.d2 0-0 16.a4 fd8 17.f3 d4 18.c4 b6 19.c3 d7 is about even, Denker, A-Ernst, T/New York 1990 ] [ B) 12.e3 ('!' by Ribli) de7 A) 13.e4 b6 14.a4 ( or 14.g5 (this is possibly W hite's only chance for equality after 13.Ne4!) d7 15.c4 0-0 16.f4 h6 17.f3 exf4 18.xf4 e6 is equal according to Ribli in CBM, Yermolinsky, A-W edberg, T, New York open 1991 ) A1) 14...c8!? 15.b4?! ( 15.c4!? is met by 0-0 16.ed6 d4! 17.xc8 xe2+ 18.h1 xc8 and Black has the better chances; 15.g5?! d7 16.h4 d4 17.e1 ef5 18.xf5 xf5 ) 15...axb4 16.axb4 cxb4 17.c4 0-0 18.e3 d4 ( 18...a8!? 19.xa8 xa8 20.xa8 xa8 21.xb6 a2 must be better for Black) 19.xd4 exd4 20.ed6 b8 21.xb4 d5 22.xd5!? xd5 23.b5 Loginov, V-Degerman, L/ Budapest 1993, and now xc4 24.xc4 e8! would have promised Black at least even chances; A2) 14...0-0 15.xc5 bxc5 16.xc6
xc6 17.xc6 c8 18.a4 f5 19.c4 f4 20.xa5 g5 21.f3 e4! with a dangerous initiative, which is evidenced by the continuation 22.a6 h3 23.xf4 xf4 24.dxe4 d4+ 25.h1 cf8! 26.fd1 xe4! 27.fxe4 h5 28.e3 xe3 29.c4+ g7 30.c3+ d4 31.xd4 cxd4 32.xd4+ f6 33.a7+ h6 34.e3+ g5 35.g1 f7 , and White gave up, 0-1 Wojtkiewicz, A-Bellon Lopez, J/ Ter Apel 1991. A wonderful game by Black.; B) 13.d2?! 0-0 14.e4 b6 15.c3 a4 16.h1 d4 17.e1 ( 17.g5?! b3 18.d2 f6! is quite awful for W hite) 17...d5 18.d1 h6 19.xd5 xd5 20.e3 c6 21.f4?! f5 and White is already in serious trouble, Bratvold, TErnst, T/Gausdal 1990; C) 13.c4 (Also '!' by Ribli) C1) 13...b8?! gets Black in trouble 14.g5 f6 (this is necessary as White will otherwise exchange the bishop on e7 and drop the c4-knight back to e3 with over the d5-square) 15.e3 b6 (both 14...f6 and 15...b6 have weakened the light squares in Black's position further, which now is ripe for attack from W hite's pieces) 16.a4! d7 17.b4 axb4 18.axb4 xc4 ( or 18...xb4 19.xb6! xb6 20.xc5 b8 21.xb4 xa4 22.xa4 d7 23.d6+- Cu. Hansen) 19.dxc4 xb4 20.xd7+ xd7 21.a7+ e8 22.d1! A simple, yet incredibly strong move: White marches undisturbed into Black's position. A powerful display of positional superiority. f8 23.e4 f7 24.d6 g7 C1a) 25.h6!! is even stronger, e.g. C1a1) 25...xh6 26.xf6+ g8 ( 26...e8 27.d6+ d8 28.h3! and Black will lose half of his army trying to prevent mate ) 27.xe7+-; C1a2) 25...hg8 26.xg7 xg7 27.xf6+-; C1b) 25.dd7 bc6 26.g5+!? ( 26.d6+! e6 27.f5! (I know, I didn't see this myself, but it is rather beautiful) xf5 28.h3+ e4 29.g4! a n d B l a c k c a n n o t p r e v e n t m a t e) 1638
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26...e8 27.xc6 xc6 28.xg7 xa7 29.e4 c6 30.d6+ f8 ( 30...d8 31.f7++- ) 31.h6 1-0 Kaidano v, G-Ernst , T/Gausda l 1991; C2) 13...0-0 14.g5 C2a) 14...b6? 15.a4! c7? ( 15...f6 16.xc6 c8 17.xf6 xf6 18.e4 ) 16.b5!+- d8?! 17.c3?? c7? 18.b5! d8?? 19.c3?? 1/2-1/2 Hall, J-Ernst, T/Sweden 1993. This was obviously a pre-arranged draw for which the players should be scolded. If you want to make it look like something that came about during play, at least make it look realistic. White wins material on move 17 and 19 with Bxc6, because the e7-knight is pinned. Pathetic!; C2b) 14...f6 15.e3 b6 16.a4 c7 17.b5 d8 18.c3 c7 19.fc1 ab8 20.ab1 Kaidanov, G-Ilinsky, V Gausdal 1991 ] [ C) 12.b1 0-0 A) 13.d2 b8 14.e4 b6 15.b4 ( 15.g5 c8 16.b3 b7 ) 15...axb4 16.axb4 cxb4 17.xb4 cxb4 18.xb4 xb4 19.xb4 f5 20.c3 e4 21.b5 e7 22.b1 a8?! ( 22...exd3 23.exd3 f4! ) 23.dxe4?? ( 23.d4! a1 24.b2 a2 25.b1 d5 26.dxe4 fxe4= ) 23...a1 0-1 Hanssen, G-Ernst, T/Gausdal 1994; B) 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.b4 cxb4 16.axb4 a4 17.b5 d4 18.xd4 xd4 19.a3 fc8 20.b4 a7 21.c4 f8 Hakulinen, E-Schneider, L/Eksjo 1990 ] 12...0-0 13.b1 f5 [ 13...h6 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5 xd5 and draw agreed (1/2-1/2) was the uninspired effort in Meduna, E-Hausner, I/ Trnava 1985 ] [ 13...b8 reaches by transposition HanssenErnst above ] 14.e3 b6 [ This is a rather odd square for the knight. Black wants to play ...a4, but W hite can counter this plan with the obvious b2-b3. I would probably give preference to 14...de7!? followed by 15...Rb8 and 16...
b6, and I wouldn't mind playing Black. ] 15.b3 b8 16.c4 d7?! [ 16...xc4 17.bxc4 e4 can also be c o n s i d e r e d , e . g . 18.dxe4 xc4 with chances to both sides ] 17.b5 a8 18.e3 [ 18.c2!? ] 18...b6 [ Leko apparently really likes this square for the knight, but it really isn't the ideal square for the pony. Yet 18...f6!? 19.c2 e7 20.b6 ab8 21.fc1 fd8 22.a4 also leaves White with the upper hand. ] 19.cd6 b8 20.c2 d7 21.b4!? [ 21.f4!? exf4 22.gxf4 followed by Bc3 looks quite attractive for White ] 21...axb4 22.axb4 a2 23.c1 cxb4 24.xb4 xb4 25.xb4 a6 26.c7! This move and the f ollowing sequence of moves up to and including move 32 must have been considered by Kramnik when he played 21 b4!? xd6 27.xb7 d8 28.xe6 xe6 29.d5 fe8 30.xe6+ xe6 31.c4 f8 32.a1 d6 33.ba7?! [ Here 33.aa7! looks both attractive and like the right move, e.g. f6 34.f7! d8 35.c8! b6 36.g7+! h8 37.gb7 c6 38.b8 c1+ 39.g2 c6+ 40.e4! e8 41.f7 c5 42.b7 and it is curtains for Black. Kramnik instead tries to exchange a pair of rooks, knowing that the rook and pawn will likely have the upper hand against the undynamic duo of knight and bishop. ] 33...c6 34.b3 White wants to keep the queens on the board, but it soon transpires that this isn't possible. b6 35.d5 c6 36.b3 b6 37.c4 c6 38.1a6! No draw! xc4 39.dxc4 f6? [ 39...xa6 40.xa6 d7 intending ...Nc5 makes for a better defensive chance, although White also wins after 41.d6 c5 42.d5 and White can systematically push the pawn forward if the knight now leaves c5, and if Black guards it with his bishop, White picks up a second pawn. a6?! 43.c5 b4 44.d8+ f7 45.d7+ f8 46.b7 c6 47.b6 d8 48.c6 e6 49.b7 e8 50.c7 d7 51.c8+ xc8 52.e7 , and White wins a piece and with that, the game. ] 40.c5 xa6 41.xa6 d8 42.a8 c7 1639
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 43.c8 a5 44.c6 Now Black loses a piece, and the game is over f7 45.c7 xc7 46.xc7+ f6 47.f4 exf4 48.exf4 h6 49.c6+ e6 50.h4 f7 51.f2 g7 52.c7+ f6 53.f3 e6 54.h7 f8 55.a7 [ 55.xh6?? g7 56.xg6+ xg6 57.h5 e7 58.g4= ] 55...e6 56.e3 g5 57.h5 [ Or 57.fxg5+ hxg5 58.h5 f4+ 59.gxf4 xf4 60.h6 g6 61.e4 g4 62.h7 h8 63.f4 g3 64.xg3 g6 65.g4 f6 66.h5 followed by Kh6 and Kg7 ] 57...gxf4+ 58.gxf4 g7 59.a6+ e6 60.a8 g7 61.a7+ g8 62.e7 g7 63.d4 [ White can also win with the simple 63.xg7+!? xg7 64.d4 A) 64...f6 65.d5 f7 ( 65...e7 66.e5 f7 67.xf5 g7 68.e6+- ) 66.e5 e7 67.xf5 f7 68.e5 e7 69.f5 f7 70.f6 f8 and now the textb ook t riangulation de cide s 71.f4! e8 72.e4! f8 73.e5! f7 74.f5 f8 75.g6; B) 64...f7 65.d5 f6 66.d6 f7 67.e5 e7 68.xf5 f7 69.e5 e7 70.f5 f7 71.f6 f8 72.f4! with the same triangulation ] 63...xh5 64.e5 g3 65.f6 f8 66.h7 and Black resigned as he will lose both of his pawns 1-0
something of a ChessPublishing.com specialty! See the archives. ] [ 6...ge7 7.b4 still looks promising for White. Chatalbashev, B (2526)-Costantini, R (2314)/Reggio Emilia 2002/[Nigel Davies]. ] 7.0-0 ge7 8.b4 e4 This is an important test of W hite's early a2-a3 and b2-b4. If Black succeeds in defusing this entire idea, then there is no need to commit to 6... a5. [ 8...cxb4?! led Black to an early demise in Roma nishin , O (2 578 ) -Maksim enk o, A (2495)/Ordzhonikidze 2000/[TonyK]. See the archives. ] [ 8...0-0 9.b1 ] 9.e1 f5 10.b2 0-0 [ 10...e6 11.d3 0-0! transposes to the game. ( Castling is stronger than 11...exd3 , e.g. 12.xd3 xc4 13.a4 0-0 14.xg7 xg7 15.bxc5 d5 16.ab2 Romanishin, O (2580)-Short, N (2500)/ Lvov 1984. )] 11.d3 e6! [ Less promising is 11...e5 Shchekachev, A (2551)-Degraeve, J (2575)/Bethune 2002/ [TonyK]. ] 12.dxe4 Releasing the central tension makes B la ck 's t a s k m u ch e a s ie r, s o we s h o u l d investigate the main alternative: [ 12.b1 White doesn't resolve the tension in the center, but anticipates the opening of the b-file. A) 12...exd3 A1) Better than 13.xd3 xc4 14.bxc5 dxc5 15.xc5 , which results in equality provide d B lack displays som e c are : xd1 16.fxd1 1627 A37 A1a) 16...ad8 17.dc1 d2 18.d1 xb2 19.xc4? ( 19.xb2= ) 19...b5! Kramnik,Vladimir 2800 Le Roux, J (2551)-Butkiewicz, L (2394)/ Nepomniachtchi,Ian 2730 Cappelle la Grande FRA 2011.; 6th Tal Memorial (1) 16.11.2011 A1b) 16...fd8 17.xb7 xd1+ [John Bartholomew] 18.xd1 b8 19.xg7 xg7 20.c3 a6 21.c5 xb1+ 22.xb1 xe2= 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.g3 g6 Dizdar, G (2495)-Cramling, P (2530)/ 5.g2 g7 6.a3 d6 Debrecen 1992/EU-chT.; [ 6...a5 is recommended by Nigel Davies in A2) 13.exd3! d4? ( 13...f4 his ChessPub guide "Pure Symmetrical 5 is a better try.) 14.f3 ( 14.e2 ) Nf 3 other Black 5th moves". It puts the 14...f4 15.xd4 xd4 16.e4 c6 brakes on the b2-b4 advance, so W hite 17.bxc5 dxc5 18.xd4 xd4 19.xb7 typically resorts to positional measures like Loginov, V (2540)-Iskusnyh, S (2505)/ o c c u p y i n g t h e d 5 s q u a re wi t h 0 - 0 a n d Togliatti 2003.; Ne1-c2-e3 etc. There is one exception: the B) 12...b8 13.dxe4 xc4 Prusikin, M sharp pawn sacrifice 7.d4!? , which I think is 1640
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 (2527)-Bosiocic, M (2564)/Graz AUT 2011. 14.exf5; C) 12...e5!? Now is a more appropriate time for this move compared to S h c h e k a c h e v - D e g r a e v e . 13.a1 Kosten, A (2507)-Bellin, R (2385) /West B r o m wi c h 2 0 0 4 . H e r e b6! deserves attention, having in mind the exchange sacrifice 14.dxe4 xc4 15.exf5 xf5! 16.xa8 ( D e c l i n i n g w i t h 16.d3!? is better. ) 16...xa8 ] 12...fxe4 13.xe4 xc4 14.c2?! A new move that doesn't change the assessment of the position. [ 14.d3 d5 15.g2 xd3 16.exd3 ( 16.xd3!? was mentioned by GM Alejandro Ramirez as a possible improvement. He gives the line c4 17.d1 d4 18.e4 . Now b5! seems balanced, with Black's unassailable center fully com pen sat ing f or W hite's bishop pa ir.) 16...cxb4 17.axb4 xb4 18.b3 a5 19.a3 c8 20.xb4 axb4 21.xd5 xd5 22.xd5+ h8 23.ab1 c3 24.xb7 b8 25.a6 1/2-1/2 Zubarev, A (2546)Borovikov, V (2580)/Poltava UKR 2008. ] [ 14.g2 cxb4 15.axb4 xb4 16.d2?! ec6 Romanishin, O (2530)-Agzamov, G (2570)/Sochi 1984. ( 16...d5 )] [ 14.bxc5N dxc5 15.d3 d4!N was also mentioned by GM Ramirez. ] 14...d5! 15.g2 d4?! Straightforward play from Nepomniachtchi, but it's a bit generous to allow Kramnik's knight to e4. [ Black can maintain his center with 15...b6 , conveniently restricting White's play, ] [ or try to create some minor problems with 15...b3!? ] 16.e4 xe2 Initiating tactical play that leads to simplifications. [ 16...b6 is once again possible because of 17.bxc5 bxc5 18.xc5?! b6 with a slight initiative for Black. ] 17.xe2 d3 18.g4 xb2 19.ad1 c8! 20.xc8 axc8 21.xd3 cxb4 22.axb4 [ 22.xb4 xb4 23.axb4 fd8 is similar. ] 22...cd8 The game is close to equal. 23.xd8 Nepomniachtchi later called this and Kramnik's next couple of moves "unprofitable". [ Truthfully, White can't do a whole lot because the common-sense alternative is
23.fd1 leading to further exchanges: xd3 24.xd3 d8 etc. ] 23...xd8 24.b1 g7 25.h4 b5= 26.f1 a6 27.c5 Allowing the rook to d2 deserves a "?" from a practical point of view. Kramnik isn't yet worse, but he must now display some serious accuracy to justify this knight raid. d2 28.e3 d4 29.e4? [ 29.xa6 was necessary, but we must remember that Kramnik is human too! Now e5 30.xb5 xe3 ( or 30...f5 31.xf5 gxf5 when White would have to find 32.f1! ) 31.fxe3 f5 is critical, when 32.f1 is the only move to keep the balance, e.g. xe3 33.f2 d1+ 34.f1 when Black cannot win. ] 29...b2 30.xb2 xb2 31.c2 d5 W hite loses the b-pawn. 32.c5 dxb4 33.xb4 xb4 34.d3 Heading for a deceptive opposite-color bishop ending! [ Many spectators were debating the merits of 34.xa6 xa6 35.xb5 . Holding this ending will be an incredibly difficult task, even for a player of Kramnik's defensive abilities. For one thing, Black can poke and prod forever. I'd say the chances of Nepomniachtchi's success would be about 70%. ] 34...xd3 35.xd3 We're accustomed to seeing opposite-color bishop endgames end peacefully, but W hite's problem here is the relative activity of the kings. Black's is rushing to support the advance of the a + b duo, and he proves a bit faster. Much analysis has already been done on this ending, and I'm confident there will be more to come. Thus, I'll limit my comments to the critical variations. The consensus is that W hite is within the bounds of a draw, but needs to be accurate. f7 36.f4 e6 37.f2 d5 38.e2 c5 39.d2? Nepomniachtchi pinpointed this move as leading to White's downfall. [ G M R a m i r e z i n d i c a t e s t h a t 39.f5! would have drawn. His main line runs gxf5 40.xf5 a5 41.xh7 a4 42.d3 e5 43.f5 xg3 44.d7= , when White's bishop only has to switch back to the a2g8 diagonal at the appropriate moment to secure the draw. Ramirez provides a decent amount of analysis of this interesting ending, so I refer the readers to his elaborations on 1641
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the ChessBase site. ] 39...a5 40.f5? Now this definitely loses. [ According to Ramirez, 40.g4 a4 41.c2 is the last chance to hold. ] 40...a4!-+ Nicely ignoring White's "threat". 41.c2 [ The point is that 41.fxg6 just loses to b4! , when the a-pawn rolls through, i.e. 42.gxh7 b3 ( or 42...c3+; just not yet 42...a3?? 43.c2 ) 43.c2 b4! followed by ... a3-a2a1=Q. ] 41...a3 42.b1 [ 42.b3 gxf5-+ ] 42...gxf5 43.c2 b4 44.a2 e5 45.e6 a2 [ or 45...h5-+ ] 46.xa2 xg3 47.h5 h6 48.d3 a3 49.d5 b4 50.c2 e5 51.b3 f4 52.d5 f6 53.b1 b3 Black will play ...b3-b2 then bring his king to the aid of the f-pawn, winning. White resigned. 0-1
1628 Kretchetov,Alexandre Lakdawala,Cyrus ch-SCCF Costa Mesa USA (9) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2335 2435 27.07.2003
Can White play the d4 Symmetric pawn sac a move later? Yes, but it seems to favour Black. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 g6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 e6 6.0-0 Last month we considered [ 6.d4!? xd4 7.xd4 cxd4 8.e4!? ] 6...ge7 7.d4!? The pawn sacrifice delayed! Normally White prefers [ 7.d3 here, although the position is level. ] 7...xd4 8.xd4 cxd4 9.b5 So, the position is similar to the position after 6 d4!? except that Black can now castle, and as White has already castled he doesn't have to worry about checks. f5 This seems the most obvious, covering both d4 and d6. [ O t h e r w i s e : 9...d5 10.cxd5 xd5 11.xd5!? exd5 ( 11...xd5?? 12.c7+ ) 12.xd4 ( 12.f4?! 0-0 13.c7 h3 ) 12...0-0 13.e3 Jussupow,A-Cordes,H/Graz 1 9 7 8 , w h e n h3 must offer Black good play. ] [ 9...0-0 is also playable , 10.xd4 d5
11.cxd5 xd5 (completely symmetric!) 12.e4 b6 13.b5 ( 13.e3?! c4 ) 13...xd1 14.xd1 d7 15.d6 c6 with good chances, i.e. 16.f4?! fd8 17.e5 xg2 18.xg2 c4! the knight is pinned, 19.d4? xe5! winning quickly, Bergmann, T-Angantysson,H/Reykjavik 1984. ] 10.g4 The critical reply, attempting to chase the knight from its post, although [ 10.e4!? is also possible, dxe3 11.xe3 0-0 ( 11...xe3?! 12.d6+ e7 13.fxe3 with an attack) 12.xa7 xb2 13.b1 f6 14.c5 a5 15.b6 xa2 16.e4 White has some compensation, Fiorito,FZarnicki,P/Boca 1997. ] 10...h4!? Obvious, but new, and probably not best, [ 10...a6! i s c r i t i c a l , 11.a4 ( 11.gxf5?! axb5 12.fxe6 fxe6 13.cxb5 0-0 leaves White with the weaker kingside, Lim, J-Nickoloff,B/Thessaloniki 1988) 11...b8! ( 11...h4!? 12.d6+ f8 13.xc8 xc8 14.b4+ g8 15.xb7 b8 pinning the bishop, with reasonable chances because of the weakness on g4, Steiner-Tukmakov,V/ Orel 1966, the first game in this line) 12.gxf5 axb5 13.cxb5 ( 13.xb5!? ) 13...d5! 14.fxe6 fxe6 15.e3 0-0 16.exd4 McDonald,N-Predojevic,B/Budapest HUN 2003, which is quite unclear, although the lack of a white g-pawn is again a problem. ] 11.d6+ f8 12.b3!? xg2 13.xg2 h4 14.h3 The problem for Black is how to evict the powerful knight on d6, and then develop h i s q u e e n s i d e . h5? This leaves the black queen without a retreat, better to play [ 14...f5 ] 15.g5 Forced but good. d3 Else White would simply win the queen by playing f4, and then Bd2-e1. 16.e3! White keeps the black queen trapped. e5 [ 16...dxe2 17.xe2 xa1 18.xa1 and how can Black stop Rd1-d4 ? ] 17.xd3 f4 [ 17...xa1 18.xa1 is no help, b6 19.f4 and again Qe4 followed by Bf2 is winning. ] 18.xf4 xf4 19.g3! xg3+ 20.fxg3 Black has managed to extract his queen, but at too great a positional cost as the knight paralyses the black position. h7 21.e4 b6 22.e5 The black position is hopeless, he can 1642
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 do nothing against the doubling of rooks on the f-file. 1-0
1629 Larsen,Bent Chandler,Murray G Hastings 9091 (3) [Nigel Davies]
A37 2545 2560 1990
1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.0-0 e6 6.c3 ge7 7.d3 0-0 8.f4 d6 [ B la c k h a s a m a jo r a lt e rn a t ive i n 8...d5 which Larsen has faced several times, for example 9.cxd5 xd5 10.xd5 exd5 11.d2 g4 ( 11...e8 12.ac1 b6 13.h6 f6 14.xg7 xg7 15.fe1 a5 was Larsen, B (2560)-Boissonet, C (2400)/ Buenos Aires 1991, and now White should p r o b a b l y p l a y 16.d4 with an interesting game in prospect) 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 e8 14.g2 d7 15.ab1 e6 16.fe1 b6 17.h4!? h5 18.h3 f5 gave White the better chances because of Black's weaknesses in Larsen, B (2585)-Browne, W (2540)/Buenos Aires 1980. ] 9.d2 a6 Probably not the best. [ There's a good case for 9...f5 in order to prevent White's next. ] 10.h6 b8 [ A n d h e r e B l a c k s h o u l d p l a y 10...xh6 11.xh6 f6 followed by 12...e5, putting his pawns on the opposite colour to his remaining bishop. After the text W hite is able to switch plans and play in the centre. ] 11.xg7 xg7 12.d4! b6 [ 12...cxd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4+ would leave the d6 pawn very weak. Chandler evidently decided that it was better to let the pawn push on to d5, but that also has its problems. ] 13.fd1 c7 14.ac1 b7 15.d5 exd5 16.xd5 [ 16.cxd5 also looks pretty good. ] 16...xd5 17.cxd5 e7 18.c3+ f6 19.g5 c8 20.b4 f5 21.e4 h6 22.e6+ Setting up a passed pawn on e6. Black probably allowed this in the belief that he would be able to blockade this pawn and also stop him breaking through on the dark
squares. But ultimately this does not prove to be the case. xe6 23.dxe6 fd8 24.f4 g8 25.g4 c8 26.f5 g5 27.g3 c7 28.d2 e7 29.h4 gxh4 [ After 29...h6 there follows 30.hxg5 hxg5 31.cd1 c8 32.e5! , for example fxe5 33.f6+ xf6 34.f1+ xe6 35.b3+ d7 36.f7+ with a winning attack. ] 30.xh4 c6 31.g5 fxg5 32.xg5+ h8 33.f6 There's not much to be done about White's duo of passed pawns. g8 34.f4 g6 35.f7 g7 36.f1 f8 37.xd6 d4 38.e7+ xe7 39.xd4 1-0
1630 Lie,Kjetil A Fedorov,Alexei Politiken Cup (6) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2459 2620 28.07.2004
1.c4 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 c5 4.c3 c6 5.a3 a5 6.f3 e5 7.d4!? Tony Miles ' interesting move. W hen I asked Kasparov about its merits many years ago he simply told me that there was no point playing this as W hite is better if he plays more simply because of the weakness on d5! cxd4 8.b5 d6 9.e3 ge7 Probably the simplest move, B l a c k a l l o ws W h i t e t o r e g a i n t h e p a wn , preferring to finish his development. Other moves: [ 9...h6 with similar ideas, 10.exd4 0-0 11.d5 e7 12.h3 f6 13.d2 f7 14.e4 f5 15.0-0 with a small plus, Miles,AHeyken,E/Germany 1990. ] [ 9...e6 is the most awkward reply, hitting t h e l o o s e c - p a w n , 10.b3 dxe3?! ( 10...a4!? ) 11.xe3 e4?! 12.xd6+ f8 13.xe4 and White will have more than enough comp for the exchange, Chilingirova, P-Horn,E/Dresden GER 2004. ] [ 9...g4 was seen in the seminal MilesKudrin game, see the archives. ] 10.exd4 0-0 11.0-0 When I had this position I preferred [ 11.d5 to force the knight to an inferior square, a7 12.xa7 ( 12.c3 is logical, leaving the black knight on a silly square ) 12...xa7 13.0-0 a8 14.d2 f5 1643
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.e4 xe4 16.xe4 f5 17.g2 c7 18.b3 Kosten,A-Viatte,R/FRA 1993, when e4 looks fine for Black. ] 11...a4!? An innovation, fixing the hole on b3, and depriving the c-pawn of possible pawn defence. [ 11...g4 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 f5 aims to get a knight on d4, 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.e3 fd4 16.xd4 exd4 and despite the opposite-colour bishops, W hite has a plus, Salaun,Y-Lecuyer,C/Bescanon 1999. ] 12.e1 Again White prefers not to close the centre with d5. f5 However, Black would like to force W hite to make a decision! 13.g5 b6 [ 13...f6 would just take the pressure off d4. ] 14.d5 cd4!? An interesting choice, other knight moves were also possible, for instance [ 14...ce7 as if 15.g4 f6 ] 15.fxd4 xd4 16.xd4 exd4 Black accepts an isolated pawn, but hopes to obtain play against W hite's slightly ragged qu e e n s i d e . 17.c1 f5 Black prepares to push the d4-pawn. [ 17...xb2 i s p l a y a b l e , 18.e7 e8 ( 18...xa3!? ) 19.xd6 f5 is unclear. ] 18.g4!? W hite has to play sharply. d7 19.e7 ad8 20.f3 h6 21.f4 xb2 22.ce1 White has had to shed a pawn, but his pieces are very active. c3 Heading for the endgame, [ 22...b6 is met by 23.g3 and d6 is weak. ] 23.xc3 dxc3 24.xd6 xg4 25.c5 A wild position has arisen where both sides have their trumps. c2?! [ 25...b6! is stronger, 26.c7 bxc5! 27.xd8 xd8 when Black's c-pawns and bishops are better than the exchange. ] 26.c1 d1 27.xb7 Both regaining a pawn and stopping ...Bb2. xd6!? [ 27...fe8 28.e7 xe7 29.xe7 b2 was another possibility, but then 30.xc2 xc2 31.e2 regains the piece and White remains with two powerful passed pawns. ] 28.cxd6 e5 Black threatens . ..Bf4, forcing the continuation. 29.e4 f4 30.xc2 xc1 31.xd1 xa3 32.d7 Material is almost equal and opposite-colour bishops roam the board making a draw likely, but nonetheless White has real chances due to his d7-pawn.
d8 33.xa4 f8 34.b3 c5 35.c3 b6 36.c6 a5 37.d6 g7 38.c4 f5 39.c5 b4 40.c8 a5 41.c2 b4 42.e2 xd6 43.e8 c7 44.f1 g5 45.e2 g4 46.d3 h5 47.c4 h4 Black is planning to exchange some kingside pawns, and create a passed pawn of his own. 48.d5 f7 49.c5 [ 49.c6? breaks the control of e8, and after xe8 50.dxe8+ xe8 51.xc7+ e7 52.d7 f6 53.d6 g3! 54.fxg3 hxg3 55.hxg3 g5 56.e5 g4 the last pawn goes and Black draws. ] 49...h3 50.b3+ f6 51.c6 White has made serious progress, his king is advanced and Black is still very passive. a5 52.e6+ g5 53.e5 c3 54.e8 a5 55.d6 f6 56.e6+ g5 57.e5 b6 58.c6? [ 58.e6! seems obvious and strong, f8 59.e7 and White wins, the f-pawn is lost. ] 58...xf2! 59.e8 b6 Of course, White must have missed this. 60.d6 [ 60.xb6 xd7 61.e2 g3 62.hxg3 d3 and now it is Black who has serious winning chances! ] 60...f6 61.e6+ g5 62.e8 f6 63.e6+ g5 64.e8 Both sides are happy to repeat. f6 65.e6+ ½-½
1631 Loginov,Valery A Stanec,Nikolaus Donau op 03rd [Nigel Davies]
A37 2540 2460 1994
1.f3 c5 2.g3 c6 3.c4 g6 4.g2 g7 5.c3 d6 6.0-0 h6 7.d4 cxd4 8.xh6 xh6 9.xd4 xd4 This may well be Black's simplest and most economical choice, but it still leaves White with some pressure. [ 9...d7 is Andersson, U (2635)-Van der Wiel, J (2530)/Wijk aan Zee 1983. ] 10.xd4 0-0 11.fd1 g7 12.e3 This looks like the most effective post for the queen keeping the d-file open for the rook on d1, supporting c4-c5 and putting pressure on e7. This is quite unpleasant for Black who feels obliged to part with his dark square bishop in order to develop his queen o t h e r w i s e h e ' d b e h i t b y N c 3 - d 5 . xc3 1644
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.xc3 c7 [ 13...b6 has also been played, for example 14.d5!? ( 14.a4!? a5 15.d5 may be a better way of doing this) 14...b8 15.d4 e6 16.b3 a5 17.d2 bc8 18.h4 f5 19.d5 xd5 20.xd5+ g7 21.d2 f7 held on for Black in Srinivasa Rao, M (2244)-Satyapragyan, S (2403)/ Hyderabad 2006. ] 14.ac1 [ Another move is 14.d5 , for example b8 15.h4 h5 16.e3 b6 17.h6 e6 18.f3 b7 19.xb7 xb7 20.ac1 was just a shade better for White in Bartels, H (2335)Frias Pablaza, V (2480)/London 1994. ] 14...e6 15.c5 Trying for more than just a slight space advantage. [ 15.d4 would have been another way to play it. ] 15...xc5 16.xc5 dxc5 17.b3 ad8 18.xb7 xd1+ 19.xd1 c4 20.d5 xd5 21.xd5 cxb3 22.axb3 b8 Equal, dead equal. ½-½
weakness of the b-pawn can be the more serious one. 14.b4 axb3 15.xb3 ab8 [ 15...a7! 16.b1 d4 ] 16.b1 What else? h6 [ 16...d4! shows how easy Black's position is to play. ] 17.b6 f5 18.d5 [ 18.d5 xd5 ( 18...g5?! 19.xe7+ xe7 20.xb7 f4 21.d2 d5 with some but not enough compensation) 19.cxd5 d4 20.xd4 exd4= ] ½-½
1633 Markowski,Tomasz Genov,Petar EuTCh Plovdiv BUL (1) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2610 2494 11.10.2003
It is funny how natural moves can sometimes be inaccurate, letting slip appreciable advantages. 1.g3 c5 2.g2 g6 3.c4 g7 4.c3 c6 5.f3 e6 6.d4!? It is nice to see a really strong player try this gambit. xd4 7.xd4 cxd4 8.e4!? White deviates from 1632 A37 the main move, [ 8.b5 ] Maletin,Pavel 2516 Unusual, we examined the two Safin,Shukhrat 2445 8...c7!? Stone Flower (4) 09.12.2005 principal lines, [ 8...e7 and ] [John Watson] [ 8...d5 plus other lesser lines, in Foisor,CMore pure theory. This line used to be thought Calzetta,M. ] to be promising for White (by me, for example). 9.c5 The problem, White will install his knight Now it looks completely harmless. 1.f3 g6 on d6. e7 10.f4 a5+ 2.g3 c5 3.g2 g7 4.c4 c6 5.c3 e5 [ 10...e5? loses to 11.d6+ ( 11.xd4? 6.a3 d6 7.b1 a5 8.d3 ge7 9.0-0 0-0 looks strong but is met by f5! winning! ) 10.e1 e6 11.g5 f6 12.e3 11...d8 ( 11...f8 12.b3 and Black The now-standard maneuvre: White prevents cannot defend f7 ) 12.xf7+ ] ...d5 and hopes for a queenside attack. A 11.d2 c7 12.d6+ f8 13.c1 f5! couple of moves and it proves harmless. d7 The best move, and an innovation. in the 13.c2 To support b4. I don't think that o r i g i n a l g a m e i n t h i s l i n e , C h e r n i n , A anything is that great here but I suppose Parameswaran,T/ Bangalore 1981, Black White might try preferred [ 13.a4!? ] [ 13...h5 but after 14.a4 d5!? ( 14...f5 13...a4! A simple equaliser. 13...Bh3 had been 15.a5 b8 16.b3! ) 15.xd5 exd5 played before leading to what I think is a 16.a3 g8 17.0-0 f5 18.f4 small White advantage. Now White's a-pawn with a considerable advantage - Black can will be as bad as Black's b-pawn, which is hardly move. ] only obvious once you see it, since in the 14.b3 e5!? Black plays logically and Benoni and King's Indian, for example, the attempts to remove the powerful white knight. 1645
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.c4 f6 Perhaps Black should concede the bishop by [ 15...g7!? although after 16.xe5 xe5 17.e4! White is better. ] 16.0-0 The sort of 'obvious' move that is sometimes bad, White misses [ 16.a5! b8 17.d6 xd6 18.cxd6 Black cannot capture the pawn because of Bb4, skewering the queen against the king, and meanwhile Bc7 is the threat, so ... a6 19.c7 a7 20.b6 b8 21.d3 with advantage, as the d4-pawn is dropping. ] 16...g7 The king gets to safety, and now Black must try to develop his queenside. 17.a3 Careless, White should play more dynamically: [ 17.e4! dxe3 18.fxe3 with the nasty threat of g4 and a strong attack along the f-file. ] 17...e7 18.b4 [ 18.b4!? would stop Black's next move. ] 18...d5! 19.b6!? [ 19.f4 c6 20.b6 might be more accurate. ] 19...axb6 Obviously forced, [ 19...b8? loses on the spot: 20.f4 e5 21.xd5 ] 20.xa8 bxc5 21.bxc5 d7 [ 21...xc5!? ] 22.a7 Black has a pawn and a strong centre for the exchange. b5 23.fe1 [ 23.c6!? is interesting, xc6 24.g4 h4 25.xd4+ which looks unclear. ] 23...c4 24.b4 h5 25.f3 e5 26.a3 c8 B la ck ' s c o m p a ct ce n t re a n d we ll- p la ce d pieces seems more important than the slight material disadvantage. 27.g2 d7 28.c2 Maybe it is time to break in the centre by [ 28.e4!? dxe3 29.fxe3 g5 30.h3 which is difficult to assess. ] 28...b5! Time to round-up the c5-pawn. 29.c6 xc6 30.xe7 xe7 31.b8 The white queen is awkwardly placed and must try to return to a more meaningful post. e6 32.cc1 The white rooks are deprived of open files and activity. c6 33.c8 e7 34.b1 a6 35.f4? Desperation. [ 35.f1 is awkward, but better. ] 35...d3! This is strong, although [ 35...xe2 is simple enough. ] 36.e3 Unfortunately, if
[ 36.exd3?! then xd3 menaces the rook on b 1 , a n d a ls o . . . B f 5 , t ra p p in g t h e wh it e queen. ] 36...d2 37.ed1 xa3 The white position falls apart. 38.xd2 xe3+ 39.f2 d4 40.bb2 exf4 41.gxf4 c1+ 42.f1 e1 Mate will follow quickly. 0-1
1634 Markowski,Tomasz Macieja,Bartlomiej ch Warsaw POL (12) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2605 2633 06.05.2004
1.g3 c5 2.g2 g6 3.c4 g7 4.c3 c6 5.f3 e6 6.d4 I am very happy to have a loo k a t this excit ing line , a s I h ave b ee n t e m p t e d t o p l a y i t m y s e l f s e ve r a l t i m e s recently (but my opponent's played other fifth moves each time). cxd4 [ 6...xd4 is the major alternative. ] 7.b5 d5 8.cxd5 a5+ 9.d2!? [ 9.d2 was unclear in Miles,A-Kosten,A/ Palma de Mallorca 1989. ] 9...xb5 Best, although [ 9...exd5 i s p o s s i b l e : 10.d6+ e7 11.xc8+ xc8 12.0-0 f6 13.b4!? more in the spirit of the opening than ( 13.b3 b6 14.e3 he8 15.exd4 f8 an d B la ck is O K , Re n e t , O-O la f ss o n , H/ France-Iceland m 1993) 13...xb4 14.b3 a6 15.xd4 e4 ( 15...hd8 ) 16.xe4! dxe4 17.g5+ f8 18.c1! xc1? 19.e6+!! ouch! fxe6 ( 19...xe6 20.d8+ e8 21.e7+ g8 22.xe8+ ) 20.d8+ f7 21.e7+ g8 22.xc1 c6 23.e8+ f8 24.h6 a3 25.xe6# 1-0 McNab,CColeman,D/Eastbourne 1990, very pretty! ] 10.dxc6 e7 Black takes care with his development, [ 10...bxc6 11.a4 a6 12.e4 is a little annoying for Black, e7 13.d6+ f8 14.0-0 d5 15.e4! with a useful attack, Voiska,M-Bertino,P/Salsomaggiore Terme ITA 1999. ] 11.a4 b6 This is normally preferred to [ 11...b4?! when 12.b3 xc6 13.a3 keeps the black king in the centre, a5 14.0-0 f8 15.c4 with more than enough 1646
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 play for the pawn, McNab,C-Wojtkiewicz,A/ London 1990. ] 12.c4! [ 12.cxb7 xb7 13.c4 transposes. ] 12...b4+ 13.d2 xc4 14.cxb7 xb7 15.xb7 b8 White has regained his pawn, and has the bishop pair, but Black has a better central presence, and has progressed with his development. 16.b3 [ 16.c1 forces a draw: a2 17.a1 c4 ( 17...xb2 18.b1 ch a n ge s n o t h in g) 18.c1 a2 1/2-1/2 Lopushnoy,D-Zakharov, V/Novosibirsk 1998. ] 16...c5!? Less common than [ 16...c7 17.g2 ( 17.f3 0-0 18.0-0 is similar, Fancsy, I-Horvath,T/Hungary 1996 ) 17...0-0 18.0-0 fd8 19.c1 b6 ( 19...d6 allows 20.a5 dc8 21.d3 followed by b4-5 getting the queenside pawns going, Markowski,T-Sriram,J/Calcutta IND 2001 ) 20.b4 d5 21.xd5 xd5 22.b5 both sides have reason to be happy with their respective positions, Graf, JTitscher,L/Odessa 1990. ] 17.b4! Surely this obvious move is the problem with Black's last move, and yet this is a novelty! [ 17.g2?! allows d5 when b4 is hindered, and 18.c1 is easily countered by c3 19.0-0 b6 20.e1 0-0 Black is clearly on t o p , M a r k o w s k i , T - B o l o g a n , V / K o s za l i n 1999. ] [ 17.c1!? i s b e t t e r , b6 18.e4 0-0 ( 18...xb3 19.xb3 xb3 20.c7 regains the pawn) 19.b4 fd8 20.0-0 d5 21.xd5 xd5 22.b5 reaching the same position as in the Graf game, above, Sulava, N-Hauchard,A/Gonfreville 1999. ] 17...f5 This is the reason behind Black's sixteenth move, he can place the queen more aggressively, and aim to balance W hite's queenside plus with a kingside advance. 18.f3 d5 [ 18...0-0 seems simpler. ] 19.b3 c3 [ 19...d3!? 20.c1 dxe2 is interesting. ] 20.c6+ f8 The king has to move, but White also has to waste time defending the e2pawn. 21.c4 h5 22.b5 f6?! 23.c1?! White misses a good chance: [ 23.xc3! dxc3 24.e4 e5 25.d1
and there is a nasty threat of f4 and e5 to deal with, when the c3-pawn drops. ] 23...g7 24.0-0 bc8 [ 24...h4 would be the practical choice, aiming for kingside play. ] 25.e3 Of course, the knight is undermined. d5 26.fe1! [ 26.exd4 h4 is fine for Black, the white lightsquared bishop is cut-off from the king's defence, and so W hite must play 27.e2 when hxg3 28.fxg3 xd4+ 29.h1 xh2+ 30.xh2 h8+ 31.g2 h3+ forces a draw. ] 26...dxe3 [ 26...h4!? is again tempting, 27.e4 f3 wit h n a st y t h r e a t s, b u t W h i t e c a n p la y 28.e2 ( 28.exd5?? g e t s m a t e d : hxg3 29.fxg3 xh2! 30.xh2 h8+ 31.g1 h1# ) 28...xe2 29.xe2 ] 27.fxe3 e5 28.e4 b6 29.b3 cd8 30.e3 h4 A key move that gains real counterplay for Black. 31.c5 [ 31.c5 b8 32.e5 e7 33.cc1 hxg3 34.hxg3 h5 is messy, but both players have reason to continue. ] ½-½
1635 Markowski,Tomasz Macieja,Bartlomiej ch-(playoff), POL (2) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2525 2490 1998
1.f3 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c4 White has preferred developing his kingside first, and only transposes into the English now. c6 Taking hold of d4 to stop White from e x p a n d i n g i n t h e c e n t r e . 5.c3 e6 A popular move, Black wants to develop his king's knight to e7, rather than play [ 5...f6 when 6.d4 is possible, and good. ] 6.d4!? White tries to force this move through, anyway. This pawn sacrifice aims to enliven a dull position, and claimed a number of victims (including myself) when it was first played, before good antidotes were found for Black. xd4 7.xd4 cxd4 8.b5 The point, White targets the weak d6-square, and hopes to t h e r e b y r e c o v e r t h e d 4 - p a w n . b6 Defending both squares, d6 and d4. 9.a4 1647
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Otherwise Black will chase the knight away, by ...a6. a6 Black has to take great care, as the obvious developing move [ 9...e7? is hit by the thematic 10.f4 e5 11.c5! xc5 12.c1 and Black is lost. ] 10.e3 d3 Otherwise White will simply capture on d4: [ 10...e7?! 11.xd4 0-0 12.0-0 with an edge to White, Santacruz,F-Fauland, A/Novi Sad 1990. ] 11.0-0 Chernin's suggested improvement over his game a gain st W o lf f , New York 1989 , which continued: [ 11.a3?! f8 12.b4 d5! 13.0-0 f6! 14.c3 dxc4 and Black had a clear advantage. ] 11...e7 12.d1 axb5! Of course, to ease the pressure on his position Black simply sacrifices the exchange. In return he obtains an impressive pawn chain. 13.xa8 bxc4 14.b1 0-0 15.d2 d5 One glance at the position should be enough to see that White's opening has been refuted. 16.dc1 c7! T o f r e e t h e b 7 - p a w n . 17.a3 d7? Black is over-careful, the simple [ 17...c6 18.b3 b5 kept all Black's advantage intact. ] 18.b3 b5 19.c5 f5 20.a4 White is trying hard to break-up the black pawn chain. a6 21.b6? White permits a surprising idea, that leads to a further deterioration of his position, he should have gone for [ 21.axb5 when c8 22.b6 xb5 is only slightly better for Black. ] 21...bxa4!! 22.xa6 axb3 Black has now sacrificed a whole rook, but look at those pawns! 23.a5 b8 24.c3 b5 Black decides that the endgame is the best place to exploit his passed pawns, and he is right- the less pieces on the board, the more difficult it will be for White to stop the pawns advancing. 25.xb5 xb5 26.xg7 xg7 27.f1 d6 28.f3 b4? Black is being too cautious again, and has forgotten the old adage: 'passed pawns must be pushed', [ 28...d2 29.d1 c3 wins at a canter, the three pawns will win both rooks. ] 29.b2 White is not giving-up, and, in fact, was probably encouraged by Black's previous play. b5? A simple tactical blunder, [ 29...e5 followed b y ...e4, and the further
a d va n c e o f t h e p a wn s , i s s t il l wi n n i n g comfortably. ] 30.xd3! cxd3 31.d1 Picking-off the d3pawn , an d re ducing the num ber of b lac k passed pawns to one, and then White will take that one too. a3 32.xd3 c4 33.dxb3 xb3 34.xb3 d2 35.b4 xf3+ 36.f2 After all the excitement, a drawn position is reached. e5 37.e2 g5 38.e4 dxe4 39.xe4 I suppose Black was playing for the win here, but neither player has any serious chances whatsoever. g6 40.e3 h5 41.a4 f5 42.a6 f6 43.a4 g4 44.a6 h4 45.gxh4 xh4 46.f4 g2+ 47.g3 e3 Black has managed to effect a favourable change in the pawn structure, but W hite hastens to swap-off his weakling hpawn, and the position is a theoretical draw. 48.h3 gxh3 49.xh3 f4 50.h2 f5 51.g1 e5 52.f2 g4+ 53.g2 e3+ 54.f2 g4+ 55.g2 e4 56.a5+ f6 57.a6+ g5 58.a3 White is ready to sacrifice his rook for the two pawns, should Black play 58... f3+, for example. An even simpler drawing method is to place the rook behind the pawns, on f8, or e8. h6 59.f2 f5 60.a4 e3+ 61.f3 h4+ 62.e2 g4 63.a8! Finally, White finds the right plan. g6 64.e8 65 Rxe3 cannot be stopped. f5 ½-½
1636 McNab,Colin Anderson Rowson,Jonathan Glasgow (4) [Jonathan Rowson]
A37 2470 2622 10.11.2008
1.f3 c5 2.c4 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c6 5.c3 d6 6.0-0 [ 6.d3 It is a different story when White plays d3, because Black has more time to get organised. d7!? An old Larsen idea. Black intends ...b6, Bb7 and probably Nh6-f5, trying to keep as much tension in the position as possible. 7.a4!? Ambitioustrying to stop b6 but ultimately running into ...a6 and ...b5. b8 8.b1 a6 9.d2 f6 10.a3 0-0 11.b4 b5 12.cxb5 axb5 A) 13.xb5 d4 14.c3 xa4 15.xa4 1648
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c2+ 16.d1 xa3 17.b3 cxb4 ( 17...e6!?; 17...g4 ) 18.xb4 d7 19.b6 c6; B) 13.b3 d4 14.xd4 cxd4 15.d5 e8!? ( 15...xd5 16.xd5 h3! ); C) 13.d1 d4 14.0-0 ( 14.e3 xf3+ 15.xf3 b7 16.e4 ) 14...b7 15.e3 xf3+ 16.xf3 xf3! ( 16...fc8 17.e4 ) 17.xf3 fc8 0-1 C McNab (2420)-J Rowson (2585)/Marymass 2002/[JR] (35) ] 6...d7?! I recommend this move (and the associated idea of taking on c3) in Chess for Zebras, but now that I have actually played it I am much less confident that it is a safe way to unbalance the game. 7.e3 xc3!? 8.bxc3 [ 8.dxc3!? f6 ( 8...f5 9.e4 fxe4 10.g5 f6 11.xe4 xe4 12.xe4 also probably favours W hite.) 9.e1 b6 10.e4 b7 11.d2 intending Nd2-f1-e3 is also probably better for white. ] 8...f5 9.e4!? fxe4 [ 9...f6 10.exf5 xf5 11.d4 might be viable for Black, but I no longer trust it. ] 10.g5 f6 11.xe4 xe4 12.xe4 b6 13.e2! b7 14.d5 d8 15.e1! e5 16.d4 xd5 17.cxd5 f7 18.f4 0-0 It is a sign of my over-confident state that I felt I was fine here. In fact I have to work hard to keep my disadvantage to a manageable level. 19.dxe5 dxe5 20.fxe5 xe5 Here I made an optimistic draw offer. I have played enough Grunfelds to know that White's d-pawn ('Delroy') is a serious asset here. 21.f4! f7 [ 21...g4 is more tenacious- the knight will ultimately be happiest if it can safely blockade the d-pawn on d7. ] 22.e6 ad8? Careless, but it's already pretty bad. 23.h6! xe6 [ 23...fe8 24.xd7 xe1+ 25.xe1 xd7 26.e8# ] 24.dxe6 xh6 25.e7 d7 26.exf8+ xf8 27.ad1 b7! 28.d5 f5 29.g2 f7 30.g4 e7 31.d6 c8 32.f1+ e7 33.df6 d6 34.g5 Perhaps I can resist harder here, but it was a weekend congress and the clock was ticking rather fast. d7 35.d1 b5 36.d5 c4 37.f3 a5 38.f4 b4 39.cxb4 axb4 40.e5 e8 41.f7+ xf7 42.xd7+ g8 43.b7 b3 44.a4 c7
45.a5 1-0
1637 McShane,Luke J Carlsen,Magnus London Chess Classic 2nd (1) [Nigel Davies]
A37 2645 2802 08.12.2010
1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 c6 5.f3 d6 Waiting for White to castle before developing his knight to h6. [ The point is that after the immediate 5...h6 White can play the dangerous 6.h4 , for example d6 7.d3 f5 8.h5 fd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.f4 a6 11.d2 b8 12.hxg6 hxg6 13.xh8+ xh8 14.0-0-0 with W hite having all the chances in Dizdarevic, E (2540)-Gyorkos, L (2435)/ Solin 1993. ] 6.0-0 h6 Now he does it. Carlsen is clearly trying to unbalance the position as befits his rating advantage, but this is a risky business. 7.d4 cxd4 8.xh6 xh6 9.xd4 e5?! Continuing in very ambitious style, but White can counter this 'threat' to his c4 pawn whilst improving his position. [ It turns out that this is a 'new move', the known alternatives being 9...d7 ] [ and 9...xd4 . ] 10.b3 0-0 11.fd1 d7 12.a3 a5 13.b4!? [ An old timer like myself would probably be happy with 13.e3 followed by 14.Rac1, with a nice edge for White (the way forward is to systematically advance the a- and bpawns). Of course a young thrusting GM like Luke McShane may feel more acrobatically inclined. ] 13...a6 14.b5 a8 15.e3 a4 Preventing W hite from putting his knight on a4 which would take away the queenside dark squares (a5, b6, c5) from Black's pieces. 16.ab1 [ And not 16.xa4? because of c5 . ] 16...g7 17.e4 b6 18.c6!? e8 19.b4 f5?! Another move that seems rather too active for Black's state of health. [ 19...a5 would have been better when it's not easy to breach Black's position. ] 20.c3 Maybe not the best. 1649
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ There seems to be a strong case for 20.d5! d8 21.g5 , for example c5 ( 21...f6 22.b6 xd5 23.cxd5 makes it very difficult for Black to meet the threat of White just putting his d1 rook on c7) 22.b6 b8 ( 22...d7 23.c7 wins the exchange) 23.c7 f8 24.b5 creates intolerable pressure, for example f6 25.xh7 xh7 26.xc5 looks winning for White. ] 20...c5? Mistakenly offering the a4 pawn as it turns out that White can take it. [ 20...a5 was better when there's still not much in it. ] 21.xa4! a7 22.a6 Cold blooded and strong. Now White is threatening c4-c5 which forces Black's hand. bxa6 23.b6 xb6 24.xb6 b8 25.c5 e6 26.db1 dxc5 [ 26...c7 is answered by 27.c6 when the cpawn is a monster. ] 27.b7 xb7 28.xb7 a8 29.xc5 c8 [ 29...f7 i s a n s w e r e d b y 30.xe7! , discovering an attack on Black's queen from the bishop on g2. ] 30.xa6 f7 31.c6 d8 32.d7 xd7 [ Or if 32...e6 then 33.b6 xd7 34.xd7 xd7 35.b8 , winning Black's queen. ] 33.xd7 c1+ 34.f1 xf1+ [ After 34...c2 White has 35.b1 when the queens will come off anyway. ] 35.xf1 c4+ 36.g1 xa2 37.a4 e5 38.f3 h6 39.b3+ There are some fortress p o s i t io n s wi t h j u st 3 p a wn s e a c h o n t h e kingside but four will mean it's hopeless for Black. 1-0
heading for e3. [ Tony recently faced a recommendation of h i s o wn f r o m " T h e D y n a m i c E n g l i s h " : 11.g5 f6 12.e3 , pressurizing c5 and a t t e m p t in g t o in d u ce B la ck t o p l a y t h e weakening move ...b7-b6 before ...d6-d5. After d7 13.c2 a4 14.b3 axb3 15.xb3 the players reached a very rich position in Johannesson, I (2331)-Kosten, A (2492) England 2012/[TonyK]. Spend some time with Tony's notes to this one - I promise you'll learn something! ] [ White can also insist upon preventing ... d6d 5 b y w a y o f 11.d5!? . However, I wouldn't recommend this in view of b8! 12.c2 b5 with good counterplay, e.g. 13.b3 bxc4 14.dxc4 f5!? 15.g5 h6 16.xe7 xe7 17.d2 e4 , Gonzalez Zamora, J (2546)-Mekhitarian, K (2218) Buenos Aires 2005/[John Watson]. ] 11...d5 12.cxd5 xd5 13.e3 de7! The stock reply, keeping the knights in touch with one another. [ Weaker is 13...xe3?! 14.xe3 d4 a s in Me e n a ksh i, S (2 2 7 3 )-P h ilip p e , C (2411) La Fere 2005. Here W atson recommends grabbing the pawn: 15.xb7! b8 16.g2 with advantage to White. ( 16.a6!? is interesting )] 14.c4 b8 Black is ready for ...b7-b5. Should he achieve this break, he'll have no problems. 15.g5 Typical. White wants Black to weakens his kingside a bit before retreating to e3. f6 [ Nobody has tried 15...h6!? , though I'm not entirely sure why. Principled is A) White could of course back up with 1638 A37 16.e3 , but b5!? 17.d2 d4 18.a4 bxa4! ought to yield Black fine play.; McShane,Luke J 2713 B) 16.xc6 hxg5 17.b5 ( 17.g2 Jones,Gawain C 2644 b5! ) 17...f5 doesn't really impress 4th London Chess Classic (6.4) 07.12.2012 either.; [John Bartholomew] C) 16.xe7 xe7 when White can establish a good grip on the light squares Neither Luke McShane nor Gawain Jones with 17.b5 , but surely Black has a were at their best in the 2012 London Chess reasonable game, i.e. f5 ] Classic, but they both played fighting chess. Here they tangle in a theoretical line of the 16.e3 b6 The most usual and positionally Botvinnik System. 1.c4 c5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 sound decision. Black does have a couple of g6 4.f3 g7 5.c3 e5 6.0-0 ge7 7.a3 other moves: [ 16...d4!? 0-0 8.d3 d6 9.b1 a5 10.e1 e6 11.c2 A) 17.f4?! b5! (White always has to be The most consistent continuation, simply 1650
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 mindf ul of this advance ) 18.d2 f5 ( 18...h6!? ) 19.c1 a4 20.f3 exf4 21.xf4 Anastasian, A (2587)-Zhou Jianchao (2551) Moscow 2007. Here b4! is powerful for Black, for instance 22.xa4 ( 22.xb8 bxc3 23.f4 b3 24.e1 cxb2 25.b1 xf3+ 26.xf3 d5-+ ) 22...b3 23.d2 xf3+ 24.xf3 xa4 25.xb8 xb8 .; B) 17.a4 ec6 18.b5 f5 19.c1 b6 ( 19...f4!? 20.xd4 xd4 21.xd4 exd4 ) 20.f4 xc4 21.xc4 xb5 22.xc6 d4 23.g2 e8 with balanced play. Malakhov, V (2725)-Bosiocic, M (2557) Sibenik 2010. ] [ 16...b5!? (if this works, then why not?) 17.d2 d4 18.a4! (this is usually the best reaction to ...b7-b5 plans) b4 ( 18...bxa4 19.xa4 b5 20.c4 is perhaps a tad more comfortable for White, though Black is i n n o d a n g e r) 19.ce4 with a complex game in Docx, S (2360)-Hautot, S (2395) Lommel 2012. Here the computer unearths an enterprising temporary pawn sacrifice: d5! 20.xc5 xe3 21.fxe3 h6! 22.xe6 xe3+ 23.h1 xe6 24.c4 h6 with rough equality. ] 17.f4 Likely White's only try for an advantage. [ 17.a4 c7 ( or 17...d4!? ) 18.fc1 h8 19.d1 d8 1/2-1/2 Ruck, R (2489)Huzman, A (2574) Istanbul 2000 ] [ 17.e1 (slow) h8 ( 17...d4 ) 18.b5 d7 19.d2 fd8= Gurevich, M (2612)Steingrimsson, H (2562) Reykjavik 2011 ] 17...f5!? This is a novelty. Gawain is striving for activity. [ 17...d5 18.f5!? is an idea worth remembering , though after ( 18.d2 f5 19.h1?! xc3 20.xc3 xc4 21.dxc4 e4 22.a4 c7 23.bd1 xc3 24.bxc3 bd8 Kolev, A (2510)-Gdanski, J (2480) Budapest 1993) 18...gxf5 19.xd5 xd5 20.xd5+ xd5 21.xf5 e7 ( or 21...e6 22.f1 e4! ) 22.f2 e6 23.b3 d5 24.d2 a4! Black was certainly holding his own in Kovalyov, A (2619)-Wang, R (2307) Calgary 2012. ] [ 17...h6!? (looking to exchange the dormant dark-square bishop in the event of f4xe5) 18.h1 exf4 19.gxf4 d7 20.e1 d4 21.g1 a4! Hickl, J (2600) -
Maksimenko, A (2545) Vienna 1996 ] 18.fxe5 xe5 19.f4 xc4! Sacrificing the exchange under good circumstances. 20.dxc4 xc4 21.xb8 xb8 22.a4 e6? A nearly imperceptible yet very significant mistake. [ 22...f7! is better. That way after 23.bd1 d4+! (a key check, making the dark-square bishop relevant) 24.h1 ( 24.xd4 cxd4 25.xd4 d8= ) 24...e5 25.e4 Black can capture fxe4 without fear of a r o o k t r a d e . F o l l o w i n g 26.xe4 f5 B l a c k h a s p l e n t y o f a c t i v i t y . ( Even 26...d5!? 27.xf8+ xf8 looks good... those are tremendous bishops! )] 23.bd1 e5 [ B la ck co u l d t r y 23...d4+ , though the analogo us lin e 24.xd4 cxd4 25.xd4 d8?! ( 25...c7 ) 26.e3! pinpoints the reason why f7 was a superior square. ] 24.h1 c4 25.e4! McShane seizes his chance. c5 26.de1 d4 27.d1! d8? A fatal error. [ Black simply had to do something with the light-square bishop, e.g. 27...f7 . ] 28.exf5 xf5 29.e2 c8 30.g4! Black's pieces are caught wrong footed. d3 [ Or 30...d7 31.e4 b5 32.d1 with decisive threats, e.g. g7 33.c3 c5 34.xd7!+- ] 31.e6+ h8 32.f7 d6 33.d7 xd7 34.xd7 f6 35.d1 [ 35.e6! was a quicker kill, though M c S h a n e w o u l d h a v e h a d t o f i n d g5 ( 35...f2 36.xd6 and Black has no checks ) 36.a2!+- , i.e. xg4 (there isn't much else) 37.e8+ xe8 38.xg4+- . ] 35...d4! Centralizing is a good bid for counterplay. Unfortunately, Black is still lost. 36.g5! f5 37.e8+ xe8 38.xe8+ g7 39.gxf6+ xf6 40.e3 Black's compensation for the piece is clearly insufficient. d7 41.g1 b5? Hastening the end. 42.a7! d6 43.f2 d2 44.h3 g5+ 45.g4 h5 46.xd7+ h6 47.d4 h7 48.h4 xh4 49.a7+ h6 50.e3+ h7 51.d7 b4 52.axb4 axb4 53.b5 c3 54.bxc3 bxc3 55.d3 d8 56.c5 h4 57.xc3 g3+ 58.f1 h4 59.c8 Black resigned. Despite the result, Black is alive and well in the crucial line 11.Nc2 d5 12. 1651
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 exd5 Nxd5 13.Ne3 Nde7!. The second player 0-1 ] is not lacking opportunities for counterplay for 13...xe3?! Now all of White's pieces gain example, the less popular alternatives on a ct ivit y. T h e t ra d it io n a l so lu t io n in s u c h move 16/17, or even the hitherto untried 15... positions is h6!?. [ 13...de7! , protecting all of the key 1-0 squares and retaining control of the centre. T h e n p l a y c a n p r o c e e d 14.d2 b6!? ( 14...b8 15.b5!? d7 16.c4 b6 intending ...Rfd8) 15.a4 ( 15.b4!? cxb4 1639 A37 16.axb4 axb4 17.e4 a2 18.b2 b3?! Meenakshi,Subbaraman 2270 19.c3 e4 20.xe4 b5 21.xb3 xb3 Philippe,Christophe 2410 22.xb3 with compensation, Budnikov-U 4th Open La Fere 2005 ibin, St Petersburg 1993) 15...a7 16.b4 [John Watson] cxb4 17.axb4 b5 18.c5 a2 19.bxa5 xb1 20.xb1 xa5 21.xb5 This is the same opening as Gonzalez with compensation for the exchange, SturuaZamora-Mekhitarian, but White allows ... d5. Rogers, London 1990. These are lines and 1.c4 c5 2.c3 c6 3.f3 e5 4.d3 g6 assessments by Curt Hansen in his great 5.g3 g7 6.g2 ge7 7.0-0 0-0 book on the Symmetrical English. ] [ Black can try to gain a tempo by 7...d6 8.a3 a5 9.e1 e6 10.c2 d5 11.cxd5 xd5 14.xe3 d4! Using dynamic means to gain 12.e3 de7! , as Tony discussed at some some counterplay. [ 14...e7 (to protect c5) loses a pawn and length while analysing the game Smirinis positionally awful after 15.xc6 bxc6 Karjakin, Moscow 2002: 13.e4 b6 14.h4!? 16.e4 ] ( 14.g5 d7 15.d2 0-0 16.c4 h6 17.e4 e6 18.a4 "led to a quick draw in 15.b4?! [ W hite should accept the gift by 15.xb7! Ribli,Z-Hellers, F/Tilburg 1993, although I b8 16.g2 and his extra pawn is worth prefer Black") 14...h6 ( 14...a4!? ) 15.a4 more than Black's temporary activity. ] 0-0 16.c4 c7 17.d2 ad8 with double15...cxb4 16.axb4 c7! 17.xd4? exd4 edged and roughly balanced chances. ] 8.b1 d6 9.a3 a5 10.e1 e6 11.c2 18.e4 a4?! This is a natural attempt to use Instead of 11.Nd5, which allowed ...Rb8 and ... t h e p a s s e d a - p a w n , b u t i t d o e s n ' t w o r k tactically. The b-pawn would also be passed b5 in the above-mentioned game. d5 [ White is looking to get b4 in, e. g., 11...d7 and Black would have open lines and some 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 f5 A Gunnarsson- advantage after [ 18...axb4 19.xb4 a7 ] W e b e r , G o t h e n b u r g 2 0 0 5 14.d5! 19.c5 a3 with an edge ] [ Or 19...a7 20.xa4 ] 12.cxd5 xd5 13.e3!? Is Black's centre strong or weak? This is the critical test, rather 20.xe6!? [ Again, White should grab the b-pawn: than the recent game Tsarouhas-Solak, Greek 20.xb7! a7 21.xe6 fxe6 22.f3 ] Ch 2005, in which White floundered about and 20...fxe6 21.b3 e5? soon stood much worse: [ 21...f6 22.a1 c3 ] [ 13.e4 b6 14.g5 c8 15.e3 de7! 16.d2 h6 17.f3 e6 18.b3 f5 ( or 22.xb7 At last. Now White's own b-pawn is a 18...d7 ) 19.c2 g5! 20.h3 c8 21.c3 m a j o r p l a y e r , a n d h i s b e t t e r b i s h o p d4 22.b2 g4 ( 22...e4! 23.dxe4 fxe4 accentuates his pawn advantage. a7 23.e4 24.h2 d7! with a terrific attack) 23.hxg4 c8 24.b5 c3 25.b6! a5 [ 25...xb3 26.bxa7 wins immediately. ] fxg4 24.h2 ( 24.h4 looks tougher) 24...h5 25.f3 ( 25.c4 d5 26.xd4 cxd4 26.a2 a6 27.b7 b8 28.b5 f8 29.h4 and . ..Nc3) 25...h6 26.c4 ef5 27.fxg4 f7 30.h5 c5 31.d2 b6 32.xb6 xb6 xg3 28.xf8+ xf8 29.xd4 exd4 33.h6 gxh5 34.xh7+ f6 35.g6+ e7 30.f3 g7 31.f2 hxg4 32.g1 e3+ 1652
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 36.g5+ d7 37.b5+ 1-0
1640 Miles,Anthony J Kosten,Anthony C Palma de Mallorca [Tony Kosten]
A37 2580 2500 1989
1.g3 c5 2.g2 c6 Black is happy to transpose into a Symmetrical English. 3.c4 g6 4.c3 g7 5.f3 e6 I remember being happy to play this line, which has always had a good reputation. 6.d4 Ouch! This was a shock, it was new at the time, and I certainly hadn't seen it before! cxd4 [ There is nothing wrong with this move, although 6...xd4 is generally preferred these days. ] 7.b5 d5! 8.cxd5 a5+ [ Black wishes to avoid the IQP after 8...exd5 9.bxd4 although here he has sufficient activity to compensate. ] 9.d2 [ Some players prefer 9.d2 but after xb5 10.dxc6 e7 Black is at least equal. ] 9...xb5 10.dxc6 xc6 11.0-0 b6 So far Black has played well. 12.b3! e7 [ 12...d3? leads nowhere after 13.b2 ] [ but 12...f6! is stronger, as after 13.a3 e4 the knight gains a tempo on the queen and comes to c3 a move earlier. ] 13.a3 Trapping the king in the centre. d5?! Hoping to play ...a5 and ...Nb4, or ...Nc3, but it is too ambitious. [ 13...f5 might be best, deterring White from Rac1 (because of ...Bh6) and preparing ...Bd7-c6. ] 14.ac1 c3 [ 14...a5? is too slow, because of 15.c5 ] 15.e3! Undermining the knight and opening the central files. dxe3 [ At first sight 15...a6 looks tempting, but (unfortunately for me) 16.xd4! is strong, xd4 17.xc3! xc3? 18.xc3 and the dual threats of Qxh8+, and Qc5 are decisive. ] 16.fxe3 a6 17.b2! [ Now 17.xc3?! xa3 leads nowhere, as Black still has his g7-bishop. ]
17...e4 [ There is no choice, 17...e2+?! 18.h1 xc1 loses to 19.xg7 g8 20.f6 d3 21.e5 and the knight is lost. ] 18.c2 f6 [ This isn't satisfactory, but Black is already in severe difficulties, 18...xb2 19.xb2 0-0 20.e5! Threatens both the knight on e4, and the manoeuvre Ng4-h6, i.e. d6 21.g4 d8 22.h6+ f8 23.h8+ e7 24.f6+ ] 19.g5 e5 To give the f6-knight lateral support. 20.c5! White refuses to let Black's k i n g e s c a p e . e6 The only serious try, but despite my resourcefulness, Black is helpless against White's attack. 21.xf6! [ 21.xe6 fxe6 22.a3 f8 23.xe5 is also quite effective. ] 21...xf6 22.f1 The point, White needed to free this square for the bishop. c8 [ O b j e c t i v e l y t h e o n l y c h a n c e , 22...b6 is hopeless, 23.b5+ d7 24.xd7+ xd7 25.d5+ e8 26.xf7+ d8 27.e6+ mates in short order. ] 23.b5+ c6 A curious picture! 24.e4 e7 [ 24...g7 25.xe5 ] 25.xe5 f6 Black has to keep attacking the queen to stop his own one being captured. 26.xc6!? [ 26.xf6+ would also have forced resignation. ] 26...fxe5 [ 26...bxc6 27.xe6 xb5 28.d6+ forces mate on the next move. ] 27.xa6+ f7 28.xa7 d5 29.c4 After all the excitement White has an extra piece and pawn in the endgame. 1-0
1641 Miles,Anthony J Kudrin,Sergey Los Angeles [Tony Kosten]
A37 2555 2530 1991
1.g3 g6 2.g2 g7 3.c4 c5 4.c3 c6 5.f3 e5 By taking further control of d4, Black surely stops White from playing d4, ...or does he? 6.a3 a5! 7.d4!? [ T o n y ' s i n t e r e s t i n g i n n o v a t i o n , 7.d3 1653
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is examined in Beliavsky, A-Ponomariov,R. ] 7...cxd4 8.b5 The point, attacking d6. d6 9.e3 As Black cannot capture on e3, because of the ensuing catastrophe on d6, and he cannot chase the knight from b5, he must allow White to recapture on d4. g4 [ One of my opponents tried 9...ge7 but 10.exd4 is pleasant for White. ] [ 9...e6! is probably the reason for this variation's demise: 10.exd4 xc4 11.a4 xb5 12.xb5 d7 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.e3 d8 and White's compensation is barely sufficient, Urban,K-Umanskaya,I/MK Cafe Cup, Koszalin POL 1998. ] 10.h3 xf3 By exchanging the f3-knight Black protects his d4-pawn, but on the down side he loses control of a lot of light squares! 11.xf3! ge7 12.exd4 exd4 13.f4 e5 [ Black is loathe to return his pawn, but 13...0-0 might be the practical choice. ] 14.h6 f5 15.d2! The unexpected retort, W h i t e a l l o ws t h e e x c h a n g e o f h i s d a r k squared bishop, but ensures that the black king stays in the centre. a4!? Planning ...Na5, with pressure on c4 and b3. 16.0-0 a5 17.ae1!! Wonderful! xc4 [ 17...b3? is clearly worse, 18.b4 xh6 19.xd6+ f8 20.xe5 with a clear advantage. ] 18.b4 xh6 19.xb7! [ Another shock, Black probably expected 19.xc4 when 0-0 is fine. ] 19...0-0?! [ It was better not to give an exchange, as after 19...b8! 20.c6+ f8 21.xc4 b6! the b5-knight is awkwardly placed. ] 20.xa8 d5 Back is relying on this, cutting the bishops' retreat, and defending c4. 21.c6 Intending an eventual Qc5, winning first d5, then d4. c8? [ This tempting attacking line fails against a c c u r a t e d e f e n c e , t h e n a t u r a l 21...f5 was f ar better, as af ter 22.c5? d2 wi n s t h e e x c h a n g e b a c k , e . g . 23.xe5? f3+ ] 22.xd5 xh3 23.g2 h5 ...Ng4 is the menace, but... 24.e4! Ay, there's the rub, if the knight goes to g4 White will simply take it. e3 This is all a bit hopeful. 25.fxe3 xg3 26.f3 h2+ 27.f2 b8 28.xd4! Attack is the best form of defence! g5
[ 28...xb5? loses the queen to 29.d8+ ] [ and 28...xb5?? is even worse: 29.d8+ g7 30.f8# ] 29.c4 f5 30.c5 g3+ 31.g1 [ Forced, but sufficient, there was still the possibility of going astray: 31.e2?? xb5! 32.xb5 d4+ ] 31...e1 32.e5 [ 32.e4! wins another piece. ] 32...d8 33.d4 g3 34.xg3 T h e s i m p l e s t . xg3 35.xg3 xg3 36.xa4 h5 37.a8 1-0
1642 Milov,Vadim Sermek,Drazen zt 1.2 Pula CRO (1) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2653 2517 11.04.2000
1.c4 c5 2.f3 g6 3.c3 g7 4.g3 c6 5.g2 e6 6.h4!? An unusual idea that has been played on-and-off for some decades, but has attracted more attention this last year or so. h6 [ The soundest reply, White is hoping for 6...h5 no doubt when he can exploit the g5square more easily than Black can the g4square, but even so, after 7.a3 d5 8.b1 ge7 9.0-0 0-0 10.d3 b6 11.d2 b7 12.b4 cxb4 13.axb4 d7 14.cxd5 xd5 15.xd5 xd5 16.g5 d7 White had no real advantage, Pribyl, J-Eising,J/Siegburg, Bad Godesberg 1969. ] [ 6...d5 is also perfectly reasonable, 7.h5 ge7 8.cxd5 exd5 9.d3 h6 10.hxg6 fxg6 11.d2 g5 and although the black position is a bit loose, he is active, Ribli,Z-Sosonko, G/Amsterdam 1980. ] 7.a3!? [ A new move. Various ideas had been tried before, one of the more successful being 7.b3 when ge7 8.b2 b6 9.b1 e5?! 10.d5 b8 11.h5 d6 12.hxg6 fxg6 13.h4! g5 14.g6 f5 15.e4 left Black's light squares chronically weak, Fe d o ro wicz, J- S h a m ko vich , L / H a s t in g s 1977. ] 7...d5 8.b4 A typical flank blow to expose Black's dark squares. dxc4 1654
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ If 8...cxb4 9.axb4 dxc4 10.b5 d4 11.xd4 xd4 12.e3 g7 13.a4 will regain the c-pawn with advantage. ] 9.0-0 ge7 10.bxc5 a5 11.b2 0-0 [ The greedy 11...xc5?? loses on the spot to 12.e4 ] 12.c2 e5 13.e4 e6 14.fc1 f5!? [ Taking play into a promising endgame, but 14...d4 15.xd4 exd4 is also a sensible continuation. ] 15.d6 xc5 16.xc4 xc4 17.xc4 xc4 18.xc4 e4 The important point, swapping one of White's bishops, and gaining space. 19.xg7 xg7 20.e1 c8?! [ Bringing the knight to a good square, but 20...b5! was more to the point, 21.c3 d4 22.f1 d5 with all the play. ] 21.d3 d6 22.c5 ad8 Play is level. 23.e3 d7? [ 23...exd3 24.d5 e4 is simpler. ] 24.d1 fd8 25.h5! exd3 [ Unfortunately, 25...gxh5 26.dxe4 fxe4 27.cd5 leaves White in charge of the dfile. ] 26.xc6 bxc6 27.xd3 gxh5 28.f3 The position has been transformed, and the black structure has worsened considerably. f7 29.xd7 xd7 30.d4 d5 31.xc6 a5 32.g2?! [ 32.e6+! f6 33.f4+ e7 34.c7+ f6 35.xh5+ g5 36.f4 leaves White a solid pawn to the good. ] 32...g5 33.c7+ f6 34.c6+ g7 35.a4 e4 [ 35...xa4? is impossible, 36.xf5+ f7 37.xh6+ ] 36.c7+ f6 37.c6+ Judging from these pointless repetitions, White appears to be in time trouble. g7 38.c4 f6 39.b3 d5 40.d4 a5 41.b3 d5 42.b4 d1 Black stays active, and the possible attack on f2 is annoying for White. 43.b5 g6 44.a5 [ B l a c k ' s l a s t m o v e p r e v e n t e d 44.d4? which now faces d2 45.xf5?? xd4 ] 44...h4!? 45.gxh4 d3 46.c5 [ 46.d4!? d2 47.h5+! xh5 48.xf5 xf2 49.f3 offers excellent winning chances, despite the temporary material equality, as both black pawns are weak. ] 46...d5 47.a6+ d6 Black's moves are forced. 48.xd6+ xd6 49.g3 c4
50.f4 f6 51.f3 e5 52.a5 g6+ 53.g3 e7 54.a6 d5 55.e4 fxe4 56.fxe4 b4 57.f4 c6 58.d3 e6 59.e3 Despite the sound extra pawn this p o s i t i o n p r o v e s d i f f i c u l t t o e xp l o i t . d6 60.f3 b8 61.g4 White pins his hope on a two v one pawn race. xa6 62.h5 c7 63.xh6 a5 64.g6 a4 65.f6? [ Probably a mistake, allowing the a-pawn to advance, 65.b2! e5 ( 65...a3 66.c4+ e6 67.xa3 ) 66.xa4 xe4 67.h5 e6 68.h6 should be winning, e.g. f4 69.c5 ( 69.h7? f8+ ) 69...g5 70.e4! ] 65...a3 66.c1 e8+ 67.f5 [ 67.f7 e5 68.xe8 xe4 is completely equal, W hite cannot stop the black king from capturing the h-pawn. ] 67...e7 68.e5 f7 69.a2 g7+ 70.e4 W ith his knight stuck on a2 W hite can no longer make any progress. e6 ½-½
1643 Molina,Jo Almeida Quintana,O Hotel Carilo GM (6.5) [John Bartholomew]
A37 2163 2520 27.10.2012
Theory in the Botvinnik System stretches quite deep these days, and the exchange sacrifice with 19.bxa5! is a principled attempt at cracking the Patriarch's setup. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 g6 4.g3 g7 5.g2 d6 6.0-0 e5 7.d3 ge7 8.a3 0-0 9.b1 a5 10.d2 h6 [ Richard Palliser attaches an exclamation point to 10...b8 in Ghasi, A (2400)-Palliser, R (2447)/Hinkley ENG 2012/[Richard Palliser]. The idea is to meet Nc3-d5 with ... b7-b5 and possibly forego ...h7-h6 (a n e b u l o u s m o ve i f W h i t e p l a ys 1 1 . N e 1 anyways). After 11.e1 e6 12.d5 b5 13.b3 h6 (Palliser explains that this makes more sense now that Bd2-g5 is a bother) 14.c2 f5 15.f4! exf4!? 16.gxf4 f7 a double-edged position came about. Both 10...Rb8 and 10...h6 look sound to me. ] 11.e1 e6 12.c2 d5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.e3 de7 This retreat is usually the correct reaction to White's challenge on d5. 1655
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black keeps the knights in contact and thereby guarantees the integrity of his structure with . ..b7-b6. 15.a4! Probably the only move to cause Black problems. [ 15.c4 is defused by b8! , i.e. 16.b5 (otherwise Black is ready to push ... b7-b5) b6 A) 17.f4 d4 18.c3 Haag, E (2338)Taskovits, I (2351)/ Hungary 2000. Here exf4! 19.xf4 b5! is a promising exchange sacrifice, e.g. 20.xb8 xb8 21.d2 ( 21.xa5?! b6 22.b7 df5 a n d W h i t e h a s p r o b l e m s wi t h t h e e 3 squ are, as . ..B g7 -d4 + is also in p la y) 21...ef5 .; B) 17.c1!? is worth consideration.; C) 17.b4 axb4 18.axb4 d5! ( 18...cxb4 19.xb4 xb4 20.xb4 d7 21.b1 c6 Stanec, N (2504)-Schwarz, M (2389)/ Austria 2002 22.xc6 xc6 23.c1 ) 19.bxc5 bxc5 20.e3 db4 21.c3 d4 De Santis, A (2326)-Rotstein, A (2512)/Forni di Sopra ITA 2012. ] 15...b6 16.b4 cxb4 17.axb4 b5 [ B a a d u r J o b a v a h a s f a c e d 17...b8?! on two locations. Both games continued 18.bxa5 bxa5 19.c5 xb1 20.xb1 and here they diverged: A) 20...d6 21.xe6 xe6 22.c4 b8 23.d1 ( or 23.a2 ) 23...f5 24.xa5 Jobava, B (2704)-Kunin, V (2537)/St. Veit AUT 2012; B) 20...c8 21.c4 c7 22.e3 f5 23.c1! b8 24.c2 ( 24.a1!? ) 24...d8 25.a4 and Black was under significant pressure in Jobava, B (2715)Sharapov, E (2498)/ Alushta UKR 2010. The text is definitely more reliable. ] 18.c5 a2 [ I'm surprised that 18...a4!?N has yet to be tried. It seems quite natural to create a protected passed pawn, and I suspect some well-prepared players have already analyzed and vetted this move (it IS the engine's top re com m e nd a t io n , a f t er all). A f te r, sa y, 19.xe6 fxe6 20.c2 c8 Black's play looks fully adequate. ] 19.bxa5! Willingly parting with the exchange in pursuit of an advantage. This concept was tested as early as 2003. Other moves lead to nothing:
[ 19.b2?! axb4 20.e4? d6 21.b7 d4 22.c1 Moliboga, V (2322)-Kruglyakov, P (2238)/Kiev 2006 f5! 23.g2 e4-+ ] [ 19.b7 c7 20.xa5 xb1 21.xb1 d4!? 22.xa8 xe2+ 23.g2 xa8 Tonoli, W (2285)-Pirisi, G (2380)/Sas van Gent 1990 ] 19...xb1 20.xb1 d4! I think Black can equalize with this precise move. [ A recent Bundesliga game saw 20...a7?! 21.xb5 (compared this to the note to White's 21st move here Black hasn't kept the b-pawn) d4 22.b6 c8 23.xd8 xe2+ 24.h1 xd8 25.c4 d4 26.b1 f8?! 27.b7 e8 28.e3 f6 29.f4 and White prevailed in a complicated battle in Bindrich, F (2532)-Tregubov, P (2601)/ Muelheim GER 2012. Bindrich was forfeited in his subsequent game against GM Sebastian Siebrecht on suspicion of cheating (he refused to surrender his smart phone to an arbiter during play), so his win a ga in st T r e g u b o v wa s a ls o c a l le d i n t o question. Unfortunate for the parties involved, but on the bright side this game helped advance theory in this crucial line of the Symmetric English, so Tregubov can take some solace in that! ] [ The older move is 20...b8?! , which looks unnecessarily passive. After 21.c1 xa5 22.a6! ( The source game for 19.bxa5 co n clu d e d pe a ce f u lly: 22.xa5 xa5 23.d7 bc8 24.xf8 xc1+ 25.xc1 xf8 26.d5 xd5 27.xd5 b6 1/2-1/2 Bui Vinh (2469) -Flumbort, A (2471)/Budapest 2003) 22...c8 23.xb5 xc1+ 24.xc1 c8! (Black would be in big trouble without this move) 25.a3 ac6 26.xc6 xc6 27.d5! h7 28.xf8 d4 29.c4 xf8 30.c3 White has a solid extra pawn in Jobava, B (2651)-Bu Xiangzhi (2664)/Taiyuan 2006. ] 21.e1 [ Winning back the exchange leads to nothing: 21.xa8 xe2+ 22.g2 xa8+ 23.f3 d4= ] 21...ec6?! This, however, is an imprecision. [ Superior is 21...a7 , avoiding the self-pin. After A) 22.c2 xc2 23.xc2 b8 with . . .Rf8-c8 to come; 1656
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 22.f1 was played in Shoker, S (2365)Robles Garcia, C (2256)/Condom 2008. Here both d6 ( and 22...b8 are playable. ); C) 22.b3 d6 ( 22...ec6?! 23.xd4 xd4 24.d5 b8 Zilka, S (2419)-Ivanov, M (2450)/ Brno 2007 25.b6 ) 23.xd4 exd4 24.c2 b8 I don't see any problems for Black. ] 22.b3 [ Centralizing with 22.d5! is stronger, e.g. xa5 23.e3 f5 24.xb5 and Black will have to tread carefully in view of W hite's hyper-active minor pieces. ] [ 22.xc6 xc6 23.xb5 d4 24.a4 is also possible. ] 22...b8?! 23.xd4 xd4 24.b4 [ 24.d5! ] 24...e8 25.c2?! White is exchanging too many pieces. e6 26.xd4 exd4 27.b3 f8 28.f3?! xb4 29.xb4 d6 30.b3 c7 31.d5?! a6 [ 31...xa5-+ ] 32.a1 g7 33.e3? Things were bad, but there was no reason to accelerate defeat like this. xa5-+ 34.xa5 xa5 35.exd4 a1+ 36.g2 xd4 37.xf7 f8 38.d5 xf2+ 39.h3 h5 White resigned. Black can equalize after 19. bxa5! with accurate play (20...Nd4! 21.Re1 Ra7), but you may want to save yourself the trouble and have a look at 18...a4!?. 0-1
1644 Nalbandian,Tigran Khismatullin,Denis 6th EICC Warsaw [John Watson]
A37 2505 2570 2005
Here's a great example of two high-rated players duking it out in our line featured line. 1.f3 c5 2.g3 c6 3.c4 e5 4.c3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 d6 7.e1 e6 8.d3 ge7 9.c2 d5 10.cxd5 xd5 11.e3 de7 Compare the other games that we have seen. There the ...d5 break occurred with the moves a3 and . ..a5 in, with Black having castled. Nalbandian tries to take advantage of this by a radical manoeuvre. 12.e4 b6
13.b4!? xb4! [ 13...cxb4 14.a3! is a kind of Benko Gambit i d e a , e . g . , 0-0 ( 14...bxa3 15.xa3 ) 15.axb4 xb4 16.a3 ] 14.g5 d7 15.xa8 xa8 Black has the bishop pair, light squares and a pawn for the exchange. That's more than enough. 16.a4 [ 16.d2 bc6 achieves nothing, so White aims for a5. ] 16...h6 17.e4 h3 18.a5 c6 19.axb6 axb6 20.a4 xf1 21.xf1 f5 Slightly risky. Simply [ 21...xa4 22.xa4 0-0 was safe and strong. W hite has little if anything for his pawn. ] 22.d6+ d7 23.ec4 [ 23.dc4? b5 24.a7+ e6 and the threat of mate on h1 wins a piece. ] 23...e4?! Black gets greedy when he should be consolidating, e.g., by [ 23...b8! 24.xc6+ ( 24.a7+ e6 25.g1 d8 ) 24...exc6 25.b5 e4 and again Black has an extra pawn with superior activity. ] [ Also not bad was making life simple by 23...xa4 24.xa4 b8 ] 24.dxe4 b5 25.xb5 fxe4? [ He h a d t o t r y 25...xa1! and suffer the attack: 26.a7+ ( 26.a5 b6 27.d4+ d8; 26.xa1? xb5 27.xh8 xc4 ) 26...e6 ( 26...d8?? 27.xa1 ) 27.c7+ f7 28.xa1 g8! 29.b2! h7 and Black seems to be surviving. ] 26.a5! f6 [ 26...b6 27.d6+!! e6 ( 27...xd6 28.c4+; 27...bc6 28.ac4 b8 29.xe4! ) 28.xe4 ] 27.b3 c6 28.e3 xa1 29.xc5+ d8 30.xa1 f8 31.a5+ e8 32.xb4 f5 33.g2 1-0
1645 Radjabov,Teimour Ivanchuk,Vassily FIDE World Cup 2011 (5.2) [John Bartholomew]
A37 2744 2768 10.09.2011
1.f3 c5 2.g3 g6 3.c4 g7 4.g2 c6 5.c3 e6 6.d3 1657
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ White isn't obliged to just mechanically castle at this juncture. In fact, we'll see that Radjabov's idea works well because his rook remains on the h-file. The sharp 6.d4!? has also been investigated. Check Nigel Davies's guide in the archives for the latest coverage. ] 6...ge7 A popular position in modern practice. 7.h4!? [ 7.g5 is Marin's recommendation in "GM Repertoire 5 - The English Opening vol. 3". Both 7.Bg5 and 7.h4 encourage Black to soften up his kingside with ...h7-h6, so the ideas often overlap. ] [ Standard is 7.0-0 (either here or on move six), but Black has outstanding results with d5 ( 7...0-0 is equally reliable. )] 7...h6 8.d2 [ If White is dead-set on sacrificing his bishop on g5, we ought to ask whether 8.h5!? g5 9.xg5 hxg5 10.xg5 is more direct. This was actually tested in a high-level encounter f r o m t h e l a t e 7 0 ' s : f6 ( 10...a5!? is an attempt to profit from the absence of ... b7-b6. ) 11.e3 d6 12.h6 f8 13.g4?! ( 13.h7 g7 14.f3!? ) 13...e5 14.f3 d7 15.e4 7g6 16.d2 c6 17.f2 d5 Ro m a n i s h in , O (2 6 1 0 )- Rib li , Z ( 2 5 8 5 ) / Amsterdam 1978. ] 8...b6 [ Following 8...0-0 there's a good chance that Radjabov would have executed the same idea with A) E a r l i e r t h i s m o n t h I t r i e d 9.a3 , but the inclusion of h2-h4 and ... h7-h6 isn't particularly constructive should White refrain from further play on that wing. b6 ( 9...d5! equalizes immediately and probably just trivializes 9.a3. ) A1) O n t h e i m m e d i a t e 10.c1!? Black could try a5!? , threatening a fork on b3. After ( 10...h5 is fine too, as o n 1 1 . Q c 1 h 5 b e l o w .) 11.xh6!? ( Safer is 11.c2 b7 12.b4 ac6 13.bxc5 bxc5 14.0-0 with a very slight edge. ) 11...b3 12.d1 xa1 13.xg7 xg7 14.xa1 White has compensation, but no more.; A2) 10.b1 b7 A2a) 11.c1!? is more interesting. Ma rin e xa min es a ne arly id e nt ica l
position on pg. 93 of "GM 5" the only difference is that here W hite has an extra move with h2-h4, having avoided the time-wasting Bg5-d2. You'd be forgiven for automatically assuming think this benefits White, but Black can stop W hite's kingside ambitions cold with h5! , a move that makes way more sense wh en W h ite's pa wn is already on h4 (otherwise h2-h3 and g3g4 might be on the cards). After 12.0-0 W hite will switch back to queenside play with b2-b4, though Black has fine play, e.g. f5 ( 12...d5!? ) 13.b4 d6=; A2b) 11.0-0 Too routine to cause any real issues. d6 12.b4 d7 13.e3 fd8 14.e2 ac8 15.fd1 e5= Black had absolutely zero problems. Bartholomew, J (2440) -Shahade, G (2449) /Arlington USA 2011.; B) A couple of games have seen 9.c1 h7 e.g. ( I think 9...h5! is better for the reason I gave in 9.a3 b6 10.Rb1 Bb7 11. Qc1 h5 above. ) B1) 10.b1 b6 ( 10...d5! ) 11.a3 b8 12.b4 d6 13.0-0?! ( 13.h5 ) 13...b7= Khismatullin, D-Erzhanov, A (2181) / Serpukhov 1999.; B2) 10.e4 d6 11.h5 g5 12.c3 ( 12.xg5!? hxg5 13.h6 d4 14.xg5 g6 15.xd4 xd4 16.d2! ) 12...f6 13.g4 ( Better is 13.c2 , x-raying the Black king and preparing queenside castling. ) 13...e5 14.h2?! e6 15.e3 d7 Averkin, O-Forintos, G/Hungary 1969.; C) 9.h5!?N g5 10.xg5 hxg5 11.xg5 The obvious justification is that Black has committed his king to the danger zone. xc3+ This exchange makes more sense h e r e t h a n i n t h e g a m e . ( 11...d4!? en co u ra ges W h ite to b lock t h e c 1-h 6 diagonal before a capture on c3. 12.e3 xc3+ 13.bxc3 f6 ) 12.bxc3 f6 13.f4 I'm going to refrain from a ton of lengthy analysis here, as there are many possible paths and the basis for W hite's compensation is similar to the game. In practice any result is possible. ] [ 8...d5 scores very well, yet hasn't been played in over a decade! It's a reliable option 1658
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 if Black wants to avoid the g5-sacrif ice business, and it might be objectively best. 9.cxd5 exd5 10.c1 g4 11.0-0 ( 11.d1?! d4! Hausner, I (2400)-Szekely, P (2450)/Trnava 1985.) 11...c8 ( 11...h5! with...0-0 to come is far simpler. Black has good play.) 12.e1 f8 ( Again 12...h5 i s e a s i e r .) 13.f4 Lobron, E (2405)Sosonko, G (2595)/Bad Kissingen 1981. ] 9.h5!? It's difficult to determine what punctuation to attach to White's 9th and 10th moves. The sacrifice is certainly intriguing, and the execution shows great courage! [ On two previous occasions White chose 9.a3 . Both games continued b7 10.0-0 0-0 11.b1 , when we have transposed to my game with Shahade above. Again, White isn't going to achieve much with this straightforward approach. ] 9...g5 10.xg5! hxg5 11.xg5 White has a d a n g e r o u s h - p a wn , a p a ir o f p o we rf u l bishops, and a knight that may jump to d6 or f6. He also enjoys a compact structure and a safer king. Black must solve certain problems (the advance of W hite's h-pawn, most urgently), but his overall position is sound p e r h a p s e v e n b e t t e r wi t h c o m p u t e r - l i k e d e f u s i n g o f W h i t e ' s i n i t i a t i v e . xc3+? Ivanchuk surrenders the dark squares without a fight. This shouldn't lose, but it quickly puts him in a precarious position and also strikes me as a poor practical decision. At least three alternatives deserve attention: [ 11...e5 seems most promising. This move preempts 12.h6 and prepares 12...f6 wi t h o u t l o c k i n g i n t h e b i s h o p . 12.e4!? Inhibiting 12...f6. ( 12.d2 f6 13.f4 xc3!? 14.bxc3 e5 15.e3 b7 is an im proved version of the game f o r Black. ) A) 12...c7 13.f6+ xf6 14.xf6 gives White what he wants.; B) 12...xb2 seems greedy, but after 13.b1 d5! Black appears fine, e.g. ( 13...e5 14.f4 ) 14.cxd5 exd5 15.xb2 dxe4 16.f6 h6 17.g5 h8 ( Black can continue at his own risk with 17...d4!? 18.d2 ) 18.f6=; C) Simply 12...b7!? is possible.; D) 12...d5!? Taking the bull by the horns! Others: 13.f6+ xf6 14.xf6 h6
15.g5 ( 15.g7 h7 16.h6 looks shaky to me. ) 15...h7 16.h6 d6 when Black will coordinate with ...Bc8-b7 and ...0-0-0. ] [ 11...b7 12.h6 e5 13.e3!? ( 13.f4 d4 14.e3 xe3 15.f6 d4! 16.xh8 xh8 f a vo rs B la ck .) 13...c7 14.f4 xc3+ 15.bxc3 h7 Your computer will favor Black, but this is not at all easy to manage for the second player. The strong central cluster and dark square control gives White compensation similar to the game. ] [ 11...c7 the queen is a little exposed here with White's knight remaining on the board. 12.d2 b7 13.b5!? ( 13.h6 xc3 14.bxc3 ) 13...b8 14.h6 d4 and now ( 14...e5 15.f4 ) 15.e4!? controls h7 and menaces Nb5xd4 followed by Bg5-f6. The position remains unclear, i.e. f5 16.f3 ] 12.bxc3 b7 [ Maybe 12...c7 13.d2 h7 is a better attempt, but there's no doubting W hite's c o m p e n s a t i o n a t t h i s p o i n t . ( 13...b7 14.f6 transposes to the game. )] 13.d2 c7? Hurrying to complete development when White is already poised to strike. [ Drastic measures were required: 13...f5! 14.f6 h7 when Black at least controls a few more squares and has some hope of dislodging the f6 bishop. 15.g4! ] 14.f6 0-0-0 [ 14...h7 fails: 15.e4! g8 ( 15...a5 16.xh7 xh1 17.xe7 xe7 18.g5+ e8 19.f3+Black's bishop will soon be rounded up.) 16.g5! xf6 17.xf6 d8 ( 17...e5 18.xh7 xh1 19.f4+- ) 18.xd8+ xd8 19.xh7 xh1 20.f3 ] 15.0-0-0 [ I t w o u l d p a i n m e t o p l a y 15.xh8 , though it's not bad either! ] 15...hg8 [ 15...he8 16.h6 ( 16.f4!? ) 16...e5 17.xb7+ xb7 18.f4 ] 16.xc6! dxc6? Black is mince-meat after this recapture. [ Groveling with 16...xc6 17.xe7 de8 18.g5 xh1 19.xh1 was necessary. ] 17.h6 g6 18.h7 Time to cash in. xf6 19.h8 xh8 20.xh8+ d7 21.d4! Giving Black no respite. It's remarkable how natural White's play has been since move 12. 1659
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d6 [ More tenacious (but likely futile) is 21...xf2 22.dxc5+ d5 23.e3 f5 ] 22.g5+- f5 23.h4 cxd4 [ 23...c7 24.dxc5 xc5 25.e8 f6 26.h7+- ] 24.xd4 d5 [ 24...d5 25.d8# is a picturesque Epaulette mate. ] 25.cxd5 a3+ 26.b1 cxd5 27.h7 xc3 28.xf7 A powerful display. Radjabov's sacrifice may not be 100% correct, but it presented even a world-class player with too many problems to solve. 1-0
1646 Romanishin,Oleg M Maksimenko,Andrei zt 1.9 Ordzhonikidze UKR (1) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2578 2495 09.06.2000
1.c4 c5 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c3 c6 5.a3 d6 6.f3 e5 7.0-0 ge7 8.b4 A more sensible moment to play this than seen previously. cxb4?! [ A risky pawn grab, that opens lines for W h i t e o n t h e q u e e n s i d e . N o w , 8...e4!? can be met by 9.e1 when the e4-pawn is exposed. f5 ( 9...e6!? 10.b1 cxb4 11.xe4 xc4 12.axb4 d5 13.c3 a6 14.b2 is interesting, Podzielny,K-De Firmian,N/Essen 1999.) 10.b2 e6 11.d3 exd3 12.xd3!? xc4 13.a4 with good play for White, Romanishin,O-Short,N/Lvov 1984. ] [ 8...0-0 is perhaps, safer, although White's qu e e n s id e p r e s s u r e i s a l re a d y f u r t h e r advanced than normal. ] 9.axb4 xb4 10.a3 ec6!? [ A novelty, Black attempts to maintain his knight on b4 to block the a3-f8 diagonal. Previously 10...a6 11.e4 c5 12.fg5! c7 13.xd6+! xd6 14.e4 was very pro mis ing f o r W hit e, ind eed , B lack f elt compelled to sacrifice his queen: xe4!? 15.xd6 xd6 16.a4+ f8 17.b4 with advantage, Martinovic,S-De Firmian,N/ Bor 1984. ] 11.a4 Forcing the knight to retreat. a6
[ 11...a5?! 12.xb4 axb4 13.xa8 bxc3 14.dxc3 is good for White. ] 12.e4 f8 13.d4 A natural reaction, now that the black king is trapped in the centre. f5 14.c3 d7 15.b5 e4 16.d2 f5 Black defends well, but the white initiative is very durable. 17.e3 f6 [ T h i s s e e m s n a t u r a l , a n d 17...b8 is no better. ] 18.f3! [ Opening the f-file, and stronger than the tempting 18.xe4?! when fxe4 19.xe4 f3! 20.exd6+ xd6 21.xd6+ f8! and White has no useful discovered check, as 22.xb7+ g8 23.xa6?? loses on the spot to h3 ] 18...exf3 19.xf3 e7 20.d5 Just in time to stop Black from castling. g5? [ Black forgets the pin along the f-file, 20...g5 is necessary, although 21.ae1 leaves White on top. ] 21.e4 g6 22.exd6+ 1-0
1647 Shchekachev,Andrei Degraeve,Jean Marc Open A Bethune FRA (6) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2551 2575 29.12.2002
A lovely example of how difficult it can be to control W hite's queenside pressure, which rapidly spread to the rest of the board! 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e5 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.0-0! d6 7.a3 ge7 I always prefer [ 7...a5! ] 8.b4! e4 The critical move, we analysed [ 8...cxb4?! in Romanishin,O-Maksimenko, A. ] 9.e1 Normal, but there is also [ 9.g5!? h6 10.gxe4!? sacs a piece, ( 10.h3 d5 ) 10...f5 11.bxc5 fxe4 12.cxd6 xd6 13.xe4 with unclear play - White has swapped his piece for a massive three central pawns, Pavlovic,M-Rogers,I/Valle d'Aosta ITA 2002. ] 9...f5 10.b2 0-0 Or Black can defer this in favour of [ 10...e6 11.d3 exd3 12.xd3 xc4 13.a4 0-0 14.xg7 xg7 15.bxc5 1660
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White has a plus, Romanishin,O-Short,N/ Lvov 1984. ] 11.d3 e5!? A new move, which certainly appears logical, Black hopes to dissuade the capture on e4 as he can reply ...Nxc4, hitting the b2-bishop. [ 11...e6 12.b1 ( 12.dxe4 fxe4 13.xe4 xc4 14.g2 cxb4 15.axb4 xb4 favoured Black in Romanishin,O-Agzamov,G/ S o c h i 1 9 8 4) 12...exd3 13.xd3 xc4 14.bxc5 dxc5 15.xc5 is almost level, Dizdar,G-Cramling,P/ Debrecen 1992. ] 12.c1 e6 13.a1 Both protecting the bishop, and making sure that a later . ..Nxc4 will not gain a tempo. exd3 14.xd3 xc4 15.f4! More in tune with the spirit of the opening than, say [ 15.xe5 dxe5 16.bxc5 as instead of regaining his pawn White places his pieces on powerful squares. ] 15...f7 Black must take care with his light squares, [ 15...b8? loses to 16.cd5 xd5 17.xd5+ xd5 18.xd5+ f7 19.e6 ] 16.b5 Putting Black under further pressure. c4?! 17.xg7 xg7 18.xc4! A powerful exchange sacrif ice, W hite turns f rom his original aim of attacking on the queenside to the centre and kingside. xc4 19.xd6 g5 It is difficult to know what else to suggest, [ 19...f7 20.bxc5 ( 20.a1+ g8 21.xb7 d4 22.bxc5 xa1 23.xa1 might have allowed Black to hold-out for lo n g e r a l t h o u g h t h i s e n d g a m e i s m o s t unpleasant for him.) 20...b8 21.a4 with a powerful initiative. ] 20.bxc5! gxf4 21.d4+ f6 22.xc4 c7?! White is loathe to capture on g3 and allow White to open the f-file, but this is an admission of defeat. [ 22...fxg3 23.fxg3 b8 ( 23...xd6!? 24.cxd6 xd6 25.c3+ f6 26.xf6+ xf6 27.b1 and White wins a good pawn) 24.g4 with a strong attack - the knight on d6 is a monster. ] 23.xf4 xc5 24.g5+! [ 24.g5+ g6 25.e4! is the nasty point forking f6 and c5 as the f-pawn is pinned. ] 1-0
1648 Short,Nigel D Jones,Gawain C 98th ch Sheffield ENG (7.1) [Nigel Davies]
A37 2687 2606 01.08.2011
1.c4 c5 2.g3 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 5.f3 e5 This is a solid move for Black though it needs to be handled accurately. 6.d3 ge7 7.g5 Trying to remove one of the pieces that protects the d5 weakness so as to ultimately occupy it. Black can stop this of course but in doing so he moves his f-pawn a little earlier than he might like. f6 8.d2 d6 9.0-0 e6 10.a3 d7 [ 10...0-0 11.b1 a5 is standard, then 12.e1 d5 is Isonzo, D (2360)-Manik, M (2410)/Leipzig 2002, in the PGN Archive. ] 11.b1 0-0 12.b4 cxb4 This is a mistake when Black is not geared up for playing ... b7b5 afterwards, he should just keep the tension. And there are a couple of decent ways of doing this: [ a) 12...ab8 13.a4 b6 14.b2 h6 15.a1 f5 16.b5 d4 17.xd4 exd4 18.d5 xd5 19.cxd5 f7 was already lo o k i n g q u i t e n i c e f o r B l a c k ( p o t e n t i a l pressure on the e-file) in Gregory, D (2127)-Lazarev, V (2461)/ Saint Affrique 2002. ] [ b) 12...b6 13.e1 cxb4 14.axb4 d5 15.b5 d8 16.c2 c8 17.cxd5 xd5 18.xd5 xd5 19.xd5+ xd5 20.e3 e6 21.a4 f7 22.fc1 fc7 23.xc7 xc7 24.c1 xc1+ 25.xc1 f7 was just a bit better for White in Jakobsen, O (23 8 5)-S ch m id t , W (2 4 65 )/ Na e st ve d 1988. ] 13.axb4 d5 14.b5 d8 15.a4 f7?! Keeping the light square bishop on the board turns out to be more trouble than it's worth. [ Black should have played 15...dxc4 when 16.c5 c7 17.xe6 xe6 18.c1 is better for White but not fatally so. ] 16.b4 e8 17.d2 b6 18.xe7 xe7 19.c3 e4!? The best chance to complicate, but Short stays in control. 20.xd5 xd5 21.cxd5 exd3 22.d6! dxe2 23.b3+ f7 Losing, but what else? [ After 23...f7 there might follow 24.xa8 exf1+ 25.xf1 h8 26.d5 f8 27.c4 1661
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 followed by 28.Bc6. ] 24.dxe7 exf1+ 25.xf1 e8 26.c6 xe7 27.xe8 xe8 28.a1 The next target is the pawn on a7, but Black has to be softened up a bit f irs t . d7 29.d1 e8 30.c1 d7 31.e3 f5 32.d5 e5 33.c7! xc7 Hoping to set up some kind of blockade with the two minor pieces against White's queen. [ Of course 33...xc7 34.f6+ wins the queen for just a rook. ] 34.xc7 xc7 35.a2 d6 36.xa7 c5 37.d7 g7 38.e6 d4 39.g2 c5 40.f3 h5 41.h3 d4 42.c4 c5 43.c3+ h7 44.f6 d6 45.f1 Zugzwang! And when Black's knight gets forced to a passive square White's king gets to march straight in. e8 46.f7+ g7 47.e2 d4 48.d3 f2 49.g4 fxg4 50.fxg4 c5 51.e4 g1 52.e5 e3 53.d7 h6 54.f6 g5+ 55.f7 hxg4 56.hxg4 1-0
bishop can go to h 3 (and maybe e6) t o control the h3-c8 diagonal - remember, Black has carelessly conceded his light square defender. ] 8...a5 [ A s w e l e a r n e d l a s t m o n t h 8...0-0 is more accurate when b4 is not a threat, 9.b1 and now ( 9.b4?? e4 ) 9...a5! gains a tempo (White has played Rb1). ] 9.e1 e6 10.c2 [ 10.d5! keeps control of d5. ] 10...d5 11.cxd5 xd5 12.e3 de7! Thematic, Black avoids exchanges when he has extra space. 13.e4 b6 14.h4!? [ An unusual novelty. 14.g5 can be played straight-away: d7 15.d2 ( 15.c4 0-0 16.f4 h6 17.f3 Yermolinsky, A-Wedberg,T New York op 1991) 15...0-0 16.c4 h6 17.e4 e6 18.a4 led to a quick draw in Ribli,Z-Hellers,F/Tilburg 1993, although I prefer Black. ] [ After 14.a4 0-0 the tactical operation 15.xc5!? bxc5 16.xc6 xc6 17.xc6 1649 A37 is risky, White's light-squared bishop is an important piece, c8 18.a4 f5 19.c4 f4 Smirin,Ilia 2685 20.xa5 g5 21.f3 e4! with a powerful Karjakin,Sergey 2489 attack, W ojtkiewicz,A-Bellon Lopez,J/Ter FIDE GP Moscow RUS (1.1) 01.06.2002 Apel 1991. ] [Tony Kosten] 14...h6 [ Black decides to 'play safe' and stops White 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 from playing h5, and hxg6, to gain control of 5.0-0 We have already seen that this move g5, but 14...a4!? must have been tempting, may be inaccurate, White should first attend fixing the weakness on b3. ] to his queenside play, see Isonzo,D-Manik,M/ This must be played if White wants to Leipzig GER 2002. e5 6.c3 d6 7.d3 ge7 15.a4 plant his knight on c4. 0-0 16.c4 c7 8.a3 [ Subscriber Noel Aldebol sent in the 17.d2 ad8 Black has more space, which is following game: 8.e1 0-0 9.c2 f5?! typical of such Maroczy positions, but White premature, 10.e3 ( 10.g5! looks right, has good squares on c4 and b5. 18.c1?! [ 18.c3 might be safer, avoiding Black's h6 11.xe7 xe7 12.e3 b8 13.b1 combination. ] c6 14.a3 f4?! 15.ed5 g4 16.h3 e6 19.c3 xc4! 20.dxc4 e4 17.b4 White has complete control of d5, the 18...f5 light squares, and his queenside action is At the cost of his light-squared bishop Black u n d e r wa y , F re i sl e r, P - T ra p l , J/ P r a g u e frees his other bishop, gains a powerful pawn 1986. ) 10...e6 11.ed5 xd5?! chain and good dark squares for his knights. 12.cxd5?! ( 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5+ 21.b5 e5 22.c3 [ 22.c2 xb2 23.xb2 xb2 24.xh6 is surely simpler - why not use d5 f or a xc1 25.xf8 xf8 26.xc1 d2 piece? ) 12...b8 13.f4 d7 also favours Black. ] Blades-Behrouz/Internet Chess Club 2002, 23.c2 b4 24.c1 xb2 a n d n o w I l i k e 14.e4 trying to open the 22...e6 position for the bishop pair. In particular, if Winning a pawn whilst retaining all the plusses Black captures on e4 the light-square d of the position. 25.b1 g7 26.c1 h5 1662
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 27.f4 d7 28.f3 exf3 29.xf3 fd8 30.b3 h7 31.g2 f6 32.g5 f7 33.e4 White is attempting to gain light-squared play for his f3-bishop. d3 34.c2 f4?! [ 34...f6 unpins the knight and keeps Black on top. ] 35.xd3?! [ Hardly necessary, 35.e2 b4 36.b1 d2 37.f2 leaves Black's f-pawn pinned. ] 35...xd3 36.xf4 Winning a pawn for the exchange, but W hite was already a pawn down! 3d7 37.f2 c6 38.e5!? Freeing the f3-bishop. d4? [ Simply 38...xe5! is strong, 39.xe5 xe5 A) 40.g4?? is met by xf2+! 41.xf2 ( 41.xf2 d2+ ) 41...hxg4 and ...Rd2 is unstoppable; B) 40.xh5 e6 41.f3 d3 Black has extra material and dominates the position. ] 39.xd4 xd4 40.g5? [ These moves are typical of rapid chess, 40.xh5 gives White real play. ] 40...f8 41.e3 xc4 42.d3 b4 43.xh5 e6 44.f3 b3 45.d2 xe5 46.f4 d4 47.e2 If the queens are exchanged White can resign. b2 48.d2 d8 [ G o o d e n o u g h , b u t 48...xf3! 49.xf3 d5+ was the clearest. ] 49.e4!? W o r t h a t r y ! ! xd2 50.xg6+ xg6 51.e6+ h7?? [ Throwing away the win! Everything else w o n , a n d e v e n 51...f6 is good, as the white rook is pinned. ] 52.f5+ h8 53.h5+ h6 [ 53...g8 54.f7+ ] 54.xh6+ g8 55.e6+ g7 56.f7+ h8 57.h5+ g8 58.f7+ h8 Black can't avoid the checks - a lucky escape for Smirin! ½-½
wa s b r o u g h t t o o u r a t t e n t i o n b y F r a n c k Steenbekkers, who points out that the game challenges White's best opportunity in one of the oldest "Pure Symmetrical" variations. 1.g3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.g2 g6 4.c3 g7 The game position can also arrive via 1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7. 5.a3 a6 6.b1 b8 7.b4 cxb4 8.axb4 b5 9.cxb5 axb5 10.f3 e5 11.d4 Tony made a strong case for this underrated move in his 'Dynamic English' book. Steenbekkers notes that this game challenges the previous verdict and looks for other moves. exd4 12.d5 f6 13.g5 h6 14.xf6+ [ Steinbeckkers, skeptical of the ensuing play, a s k s " W h a t d o y o u t h i n k o f 14.xf6 ? " T h e n a s a m p l e l i n e m i g h t b e xf6 15.c1 ( 15.0-0 0-0 16.xf6+ xf6 17.d2 g7 is equal, e.g., 18.fd1 e8 19.f1 b7 20.xd4 xd4 21.xd4 xg2+ 22.xg2 xd4 23.xd4 xe2 24.xd7= ) 15...g7 ( 15...f8 16.0-0 g7 also looks equal) 16.c5! f8! 17.c2 g7 18.e4+ f8 19.0-0 d6 and it's hard to believe that White has anything ] 14...xf6 15.f4 d6 16.xh6 f5!? 17.c1 xb4 " ! Novelty" according to Steenbecker. "I think it is good enough for an even game!" Tony's book quoted a game with the continuation [ 17...e4 ] 18.xd4 d3+ 19.exd3 xd4 20.c6+ [ Or 20.e2+ e7 21.e3 f6 22.c6+ f8! intending ...Kg7. ( 22...d7 23.xd7+ xd7 24.0-0 looks more pleasant for White )] 20...d7 21.e2+ e5 [ 21...e7?! 22.xd7+ d8 ( 22...xd7?? 23.c7+ ) 23.xe7+ xe7 24.xb5 xh6 25.a4 with an extra pawn, although even here White has only a small advantage. ] 22.d4? xc6 23.dxe5 dxe5?! [ 23...xh6! 24.xc6 a5+ 25.f1 a1+ 1650 A37 26.g2 xe5 and Black's extra passed p a wn wo u ld gi ve h im t h e o n ly wi n n i n g Thede,Hendrik 2440 chances. ] Co,A 2308 EUCup 19th Rethymnon 2003 24.0-0!? xh6 25.xe5+ f8 26.fd1 e8 [ 26...d7 27.c7! ( 27.xd7 xd7 [John Watson] 28.xb8+ g7 is not convincing )] A rather important if somewhat technical 27.d6+ g8 28.xc6 h5 29.c7 e5 Symmetrical English appears in this game. It 30.g2 b4 31.f6 f5 32.h4 g5!? 1663
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Draw. Actually, Black might as well have played on with his passed b-pawn, e.g., [ 32...g5 33.d4 b3 ] [ or 32...b3 Steenbeckers says: "Maybe 10... e5!? gives black an easily drawish game." . It's hard to disagree. ] ½-½
outpost on d5 and retain his good bishop, but th a t 's n o t ve ry im p ressive in t h e f a c e o f Black's space advantage. The game should be equal. e7 20.xe7+ xe7 21.b3+ f7 22.bc1 d6 23.e3 b6 24.c4 [ 24.f4 doesn't achieve much after f5 ] 24...f8!? [ 24...d8 is preferable. The opening and early middlegame are over, and what ensues is outside of the topic of this 1651 A37 discussion. It turns out that the good and Timman,Jan H 2607 bad bishop do matter in securing W hite's Hermansson,Emil 2432 advantage. ] 13th Sigeman & Co (5) 20.04.2005 25.f4 aa7 26.f5 g5 27.c3 a4 28.b3 d7 [John Watson] 29.e6 g7 30.xb6 b7 31.e6 axb3 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 e5 4.g3 32.xd7 fxd7 33.b1 b2 34.f2 b5 This leads to a standard Symmetrical English 35.e2 a7 36.d2 ba5 37.xb2 xa3 fianchetto position. The alternative 4.e3 is 38.xc5 xc5 39.xc5 a2 40.c7+ h6 looked at in Shirjaev-Shinkevich, Ufa 2004. g6 41.xa2 xa2+ 42.e3 g4 43.f7 xh2 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 d6 7.d3 ge7 8.a3 a5 44.xf6+ g5 45.f7 h5 46.g7+ f6 9.g5 This may be the only move that truly 47.g6+ f7 48.d4 exd4+ 49.xd4 h3 tests Black's ultra-solid Botvinnik setup. The 50.e5 xg3 51.e6+ e7 52.g7+ d6 53.e7 d7 54.f6 earliest approach was [ 9.e1 , but e6 ( 9...0-0 10.c2 e6 1-0 11.e3 , but then) 10.d5 ( 10.c2 d5 11.cxd5 xd5 12.e3 de7 ) 10...b8! 1652 A37 prepared ...b5 with equality. ] 9...f6 Van Wely,Loek 2681 [ 9...h6 10.xe7! wins the light squares and Gelfand,Boris 2737 gains time to attack down the b-file, e.g., Amber Rapid Nice FRA rapid (4) 18.03.2008 xe7 11.d2 0-0 12.b1 c6 13.d5 [Carsten Hansen] etc. ] 10.d2 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 [ H e r e t h e m o v e 10.e3!? has enjoyed 5.c3 e6 6.a3!? some success. The idea is to prevent ...d5 [ This move is a favourite of Grandmaster (Bxc5) and tempt Black into blocking off his Lo gin o v. O th e r m o ve s in clu d e : A ) 6.0-0 own attack by f5?! ( 10...0-0 11.e1 f5 ge7 7.d4 ] is normal ) 11.d2 ] [ B) 6.d4 ] 10...0-0 11.e1 e6 12.c2 [ C) 6.h4 all of which can be cross [ 12.b1!? d5!? ( 12...b8 ) 13.cxd5 xd5 referenced with the PDF eBooks and the 14.b3! is old Informant analysis, although PGN archives ] a4! 15.xb7 ( 15.xa4? d4 16.d1 6...ge7 7.b4 xe2+ ) 15...a5 16.b5 b3 traps the [ Loginov often prefers 7.b1 but after trapper. ] Black's next move, the result is the same 12...d5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.e3 de7 position ] A well-known position, considered equal. 7...b6!? 15.b1 c7!? [ This move was introduced by Leko. The [ 15...b8 and ] alternative is 7...cxb4 8.axb4 xb4 9.a3 [ 15...b6 are normal. ] ec6 which leaves White with more than 16.ed5!? xd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xd5 adequate compensation for the pawn. Too f7 19.e4 White idea is to gain a temporary dangerous for Black is ] 1664
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 7...xb4?! 8.axb4 cxb4 9.b5 xa1 10.d6+ f8 , and now 11.a4 f6 12.xb4 leaves White with ample compensation, Pavlovic-Fominyh, Novy Smokovec 1990 ] 8.b1 0-0 9.0-0 [ While Van Wely isn't exactly the player that strike you as one with extensive experience on the White side of the English Opening, he does play it with regularity, and somewhat surprisingly, he actually has played against Black's line of choice before. On the previous occasion, he went instead for (A) 9.bxc5 bxc5 A) 10.0-0 a6! 11.e4 ( 11.a4 a5!; 11.b5 d5! ) 11...xc4 12.xc5 a2!; B) 10.e4 d6 11.b2 f5! 12.c3 ( 12.xg7? fxe4 13.xf8 exf3 14.xf3 xf8 15.a4 d7 Leko ) 12...b8 13.c2 ( 13.0-0 a5 ) B1) 13...d4!? 14.xd4 cxd4 15.b5 b6 16.0-0 e5 17.c1! e6 ( 17...a6 18.c3 c7 19.d5; 17...c5 18.a4! ) 18.e3 c5 19.d3 Leko; B2) 13...a6 B2a) 14.e3? e5! 15.0-0 ( 15.d3 e4! 16.dxe4 a5! ) 15...e4 16.e1 e5 Leko; B2b) 14.0-0 B2b1) 14...b7 15.e3! Leko ( 15.a4!?= ) 15...e5 16.g5 xg2 17.xg2 d7; B2b2) 14...d4! 15.xd4 cxd4 16.a2! c7 17.a1! d7 18.b4 b6! ( 18...a5 19.a2! fc8 20.e3; 18...a7 19.e3 a5 20.d3 Leko ) 19.e3 dxe3 20.dxe3 xa1 21.xa1 a5 ( 21...c6? 22.d5! ) 22.d3 c6! 23.c5 xg2 ( 23...b5?! 24.fc1 xd3 25.xd3 dxc5 26.c3 Leko ) 24.xg2 B2b21) 24...c6 25.c4!? ( 25.cxd6= ) 25...dxc5 26.f4 Leko; B2b22) 24...dxc5 25.xc5 xc5 ( 25...c6 26.e5= ) 26.xc5 c8 27.fc1 bc6 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, Van Wely, LLeko, P/Wijk aan Zee 1996 ( 27...bc6 28.b3 a4 29.xc6 xc6 30.d4 b6 31.c1 e5
32.f3 b3 33.xe5 xa3 34.c7= Leko )] [ B) 9.a4 cxb4 10.axb4 d5 11.b5 a5 12.cxd5 xd5 ( 12...exd5!? ) 13.e4 c7 14.d4 b7 15.c3 a6 16.bxa6 , and a draw was prematurely agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, Huzman, A-Zagorskis, D/Pula 1997, though White has a pretty decent position xa6 ( 16...xa6 17.xb6 b8 18.xb8 xb8 ) 17.0-0 c8 18.d2 c4 19.f4 f6= ] [ C) 9.h4 d5 10.h5 cxb4 11.axb4 a5 12.bxa5 xa5 13.hxg6 hxg6 14.cxd5 exd5 15.a4 ( 15.b5!? d7 16.d3 ) 15...f5 16.g4 h6 17.g5 g4 18.f4 Loginov, V-Smirnov, A/St Petersburg RUS 2005 ] 9...d5 [ Black also has a fully playable alternative in 9...d6 , and now White has tried A) 10.c2 b7 11.d3 d7 12.bxc5 dxc5=; B) or 10.e3 b7 11.b3 ( 11.d4!? ) 11...c8 12.d3 d5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.b2 ( 14.e2!? ) 14...a6 15.fd1 xd3 16.bc1 c4 17.c2 cxb4 18.e4 f6 19.h3 c7 El Ghazali, Y-Horvath, C/ Cairo 1997; C) 10.a4 d7 11.d3 b8 12.b5 d4 13.d2 a6 14.c3 axb5 15.cxb5 c8 16.b2 b7 17.xb7 xb7 18.e3 df5 Kraehenbuehl, G-Arnason, J/Zug 1983 ] 10.bxc5 bxc5 11.a4 [ 11.a4 d6 ( 11...f5 12.d3!? ) 12.d3 a6 13.cxd5 xd5 14.b2 A) 14...d4!? 15.g5!? ( 15.d2!? b5 16.e1 ) 15...b5 16.e1 ( 16.e3 xa4! 17.xa4 c3! 18.xc3 e2+ 19.h1 xc3 20.h4 h5 21.e4 xe4 22.xe4 ab8= ) 16...ab8 17.e4 xa4 18.xa4; B) 14...xb2 15.xb2 ab8 ( 15...ac8!? ) 16.c2 b3 17.c1 Konietzka, L-Breuer, M/Recklinghausen 2000 ] 11...d7 12.a6 c8 13.a4 d7 14.a6 a5 15.xa5 xa5 16.cxd5 exd5 17.e1 c6 [ 17...ad8!? ] 18.d3 d4 19.e4 c4 20.b4 ab8 [ 20...b7!? ] 1665
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.d3 f5 [ 21...c3 22.f4 bc8 ] 22.g5 xe4 23.dxe4 fe8 24.fc1 [ 24.fd1!? ] 24...c3 25.e3 h6?! [ 25...dxe3!? 26.xe3 ( 26.fxe3!?= ) 26...fxe4 27.xe4 c4 28.xa7 xa3 29.b3 b5 30.a1 c2 31.c1 d8 32.xc2 xc2 33.xc2 a8 34.c5 c6 35.b1 ab8= ] 26.f4 [ 26.xe7!? xe7 27.exf5 dxe3 28.d5! ee8 29.xb8 xb8 30.f6 ] 26...bc8 27.exd4 xd4 28.xh6 c4 29.c2 b6 30.d1 fxe4 31.xe4 f5 32.xf5 gxf5 33.f1 f7 [ 33...e6 34.f4 ] 34.h4 e5?! [ 34...e6 35.c1 ce8 ] 35.b5 g4 36.xf5+ e6 37.fd5 [ 37.g5!? xf2 38.g6+ f5 39.dd6 e4 40.g4+ e5 41.d3 ] 37...xf2 38.d6+ f7 39.d7+ e7 40.g5 xd7 41.xd7+ e6 42.e7+ d5 43.e2 g4 44.f4 [ 44.b4+!? d4 45.h5 c5 46.f7 with excellent winning chances ] 44...c4 45.f3 f6 46.g4?! [ 46.c1! b3 47.e2 , and White has the somewhat better chances ] 46...d5 47.e4+?? [ 47.f7! b3 48.e1 xf4 49.xf4 xa3 50.g5 , and White is actually doing pretty good. After the text move, he is in serious trouble, if not completely lost. ] 47...b3 48.b4 [ 48.e1 f8-+ ] 48...xf4! 49.xf4 a5 50.d3 c2 51.f6 d4 52.d6 c3? [ 52...c3! wins on the spot ] 53.c1 c5 54.d5 f8+ 55.g3 f2+ [ Also 55...xa3 is perfectly good: 56.e2+ b2 57.xa5 e8 58.b5+ a1!-+ ] 56.h3 e3 57.e2+ b2?! [ Here 57...c4! 58.d7 f3+ 59.g2 f2+ 60.g3 xe2 is the easier win ] 58.b5+ a2 59.g5 f2 60.g6 h6?? [ 60...xe2! 61.g7 c1 62.g8+ a1 63.h8+ b2-+ ] 61.e5?? [ Warning: The following line has been
worked out, more or less in its entirety, by computers. The ideas are several times well above my otherwise finely tuned head... Enjoy! 61.c1+!! xa3 ( 61...xc1 62.g7+- ) 62.xa5+ b4 ( 62...b2 63.d3+ b3 64.c1+!! b2 65.d3+ ) 63.a2 A) 63...c3 64.a7 f8 65.c7+ d2 ( 65...b2 66.d3+ b3 67.g4 f1 68.h5 d2 69.c5+ b2 70.g7 g1 71.d3+ b3 72.c5+ b2 73.d3+= ) 66.b3+ d1 67.d7+ e1 68.e7+ d1 69.d7+=; B) 63...xc1 64.g7 h2+!! 65.xh2 f4+ 66.g2 c1 67.g8 c6+ 68.f2 c5+ 69.f3 e3+ 70.g2 e4+= ] 61...xa3 62.c1 f1 63.xa5+ b4 64.a1 b5 65.g2 d1 66.f3 c6?? [ 66...g7!-+ ] 67.h5?? [ 67.e4 g7 68.a2 xc1 69.d3= ] 67...d6?? [ 67...g7! 68.h6 xa1 69.g7 d8-+ ] 68.a6+ [ 68.e4!? xc1 69.g7 d4+ 70.xd4 b2+ 71.d3 xa1 72.xc2= ] 68...e5 69.a5+ f6 70.a6+ g5 71.a5+ h4 72.c5 xc1 73.e2 g4 74.c4+ xh5 75.d3 xg6 76.xc2 And we have one of the notorious KR vs KRB endgames on the board. To Van Wely's credit, he never slips up once, so I will leave the rest without annotations. g1 77.c5 g7 78.e4 e1+ 79.d3 f6 80.a5 e6 81.a6+ f5 82.a5+ e5 83.a4 d1+ 84.e3 c1 85.d2 c3 86.b4 h3 87.a4 e6 88.e2 d5 89.d2 d4 90.c2 e4 91.c4 h2+ 92.b3 d3 93.b4 c3 94.b5 h1 95.d5+ d4 96.b5 h2 97.b4 c3 98.b5 d4 99.a4 c4 100.b4+ d3 101.b5 h8 102.b3 d8 103.b7 d4 104.b5 c8 105.b4 c1 106.b5 c5 107.a4 c4 108.b4+ d5 109.b2 a1+ 110.b5 a8 111.b3 d4 112.h3 b8+ 113.c6 b6+ 114.c7 g6 115.h5 d6+ 116.d7 e5 117.h7 d5 118.f7 a6 119.e7 f6 120.f7 e5 121.e8 e6 122.e7+ f5 123.b7 d6 124.d7 e6+ 125.f7 a6 126.d5+ e5 127.d7 e6 128.e7 h6 129.d7 d6 130.g7 g5 1666
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 131.f7 f6+ 132.g8 e6 133.f7 f5 134.b7 e5 135.e7 h6 136.d7 d6 ½-½
1653 A37 Wang Yue 2697 Nepomniachtchi,Ian 2718 8th RUS-CHN Summit Men Rapid (9) 08.07.12 [John Bartholomew] Ian Nepomniachtchi scratches and claws his way to another victory in his preferred line of the Pure Symmetrical. 1.c4 g6 2.g3 g7 3.g2 c5 4.c3 c6 5.f3 e5 6.0-0 ge7 7.a3 d6 Passing on the chance to prevent b2-b4. Nepomniachtchi is rather fond of this counter-punching approach, having successfully used it to defeat Kramnik at last year's Tal Memorial. [ 7...a5 is discussed in the ChessPub guide "Pure Symmetrical - 5 Nf3 other Black 5th moves". ] 8.b4 e4 [ T a k i n g t h e p a w n w i t h 8...cxb4?! is not advisable. See Romanishin, O (2578)Maksimenko, A (2495)/Ordzhonikidze 2000/ [TonyK] for the gory details. ] 9.g5!? Adventurous, and critical to boot. Wang Yue is willing to sacrifice this knight if provoked. [ Kramnik preferred the more common and sedate retreat, 9.e1 . However, after f5 10.b2 0-0 11.d3 e6! Black's play was e n t i re ly a d e qu a t e . K r a m n i k, V ( 2 8 0 0 ) Nepomniachtchi, I (2730)/Moscow RUS 2011/[John Bartholomew]. ] 9...h6 Challenge accepted! [ The alternative is 9...f5 , i.e. 10.b2 0-0 ( 10...h6 11.h3 g5!? ) 11.d3 h6 12.h3 exd3 ( 12...g5!? ) 13.exd3 ( 13.f4!? dxe2 14.xe2; 13.xd3!? ) 13...g5 14.b5 d4 15.f4 g4 16.f2 b8 17.a2 b6 18.e2 b7?! 19.xd4 cxd4 20.a1 xg2 21.xg2 d5 1/2-1/2 Leski, M (2440)-De Firmian, N (2595)/Las Vegas 1996. White agreed to a draw prematurely, as 22.d1! would have won the d-pawn. ] 10.gxe4 The knight will perish on this square, but White obtains three pawns and interesting play in return.
[ 10.h3 certainly looks craven. White was successful in the recent game Berescu, A (2494)-Solak, D (2602)/Skopje MKD 2012, though it didn't have much to do with the opening: g5 11.b1 xc3!? ( 11...f5!? ) 12.dxc3 f5 13.b2?! and here Black missed ( 13.bxc5 dxc5 14.xd8+ xd8 15.b2 looks better) 13...c8! when the once brazen knight is now thoroughly embarrassed! ] 10...f5 11.bxc5 fxe4 12.cxd6 xd6 13.xe4 e6 [ 13...c7 has been played a couple times, but maybe Black should avoid this in view of 14.d4!?N , trying to get in Bc1-f4. ( 14.b1 Lehtinen, H (2339)-Mertanen, J (2193)/ Tampere 2001. )] 14.b1 0-0 15.d3 b6 16.b2 This position had been reached twice before. xb2 [ 16...b8 A) The pawn sac 17.d4!? is possible, and perhaps best. For example, xc4 18.d6 e6 19.xc8 xc8 ( 19...bxc8? 20.d5+- ) 20.d5 xb2 21.xb2 d8 22.e4! e5 23.c2 d7 24.f4 g4 25.d4; B) 17.xg7 xg7 18.b5 b7 19.a1+ g8 20.h4 with double-edged play. Georgescu, T (2416)-Szabo, G (2553)/ Bucharest ROU 2012. ] [ 16...d7 A logical developing move that also connects the rooks. 17.xg7 xg7 18.b5?! (the same rook lift as above, but it doesn't accomplish much) e5 19.b2 c6 20.a1 h7 21.c1 f7 22.a4 g4 23.f3 e3 24.c5 7d5 Jatoba de Oliveira Reis, P (2438) -Barbosa, E (2412)/Campinas BRA 2011. ] 17.xb2 b8 18.c5 d8 19.d2 g7?! [ Safer is 19...f5 . ] 20.fb1 Unexpectedly, White has generated significant pressure. d5?! 21.c3! ce7 22.e4 xc3 23.xc3+ f6 24.e5 e6 25.c6 The threat of c6-c7 puts Black in a desperate situation. d5! Nearly forced, but still a good fighting response. 26.c7?! [ White should keep the pawn on c6 for the time being. Thus, better is 26.xd5 xd5 27.c4 , though Black can still resist after f7! intending ... Bc8-e6. ] 26...a8 27.d4 d7 28.c1 c8 29.b4? 1667
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 29.xd5 xd5 30.d3 c6 ] 29...b5 30.d2 xb2 31.xb2 d5 Black has succeeded in stopping the c-pawn without incurring any material loss. Still, White's central mass remains dangerous, so t h e p o i n t r e m a i n s u n d e c i d e d . 32.xd5!? xd5 33.c3 h3 34.c6 xc6 35.xc6 d7 36.c1 e6 37.c6 f7! 38.f4 d7 39.c1 e6 40.f2? Allowing Black to construct a full blockade. [ W hite must active his rook with 40.d5+! . Then xd5 41.d1+ e6 42.d6+ e7 43.xg6 xc7 44.xh6 results in an unbalanced ending where Black's chances are only slightly higher. ] 40...d5 41.e3 h5! Every single White pawn is relegated to a dark square! Black will begin the collection with ...Bd7-c6. 42.c2 c6 43.h3 d7! 44.g4 hxg4 45.hxg4 xg4 46.c1 d7 47.c2 f5 48.c1 h8 49.a4 a5 50.f2 xd4 51.c6 c8 52.g3 d5 While I doubt 9.Ng5!? h6 10. Ngxe4 is 100 percent sound, Black definitely has to be on guard (16...Bd7 looks like the way to go). Nepomniachtchi played a few routine moves and quickly found himself in trouble. 0-1
1654 Wohl,Aleksandar H Motylev,Alexander VII Anibal Open (3) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2440 2532 09.01.2000
1.c4 g6 2.c3 g7 3.g3 c5 4.g2 c6 5.f3 e6 6.0-0 [ This system has a very good reputation for Black, certainly now that 6.d4 has been shorn of most of its terrors. ] 6...ge7 7.d3 0-0 8.g5 h6 9.d2 d5 10.cxd5 [ Personally, I am not sure that this is a good decision, as White thereby exposes his e2pawn on the open e-file. 10.a3 b6 11.b1 b7 12.b4 is better, although dxc4 13.dxc4 cxb4 14.axb4 c8 15.c5 bxc5 16.bxc5 a5 17.b5 xf3 is only equal, Gulko,BDlugy,M/USA (ch) 1991, 1/2-1/2 (22). ] 10...exd5 11.a3 b6 12.b1 b7!
[ A n o b v i o u s n e w m o v e , e v e n i f 12...d4 13.a4 a6 14.b4 cxb4 15.axb4 b5 16.b2 d5 -d3, also gave Black the advantage, Kupka,S-Smejkal,J/Bratislava 1967, 0-1 (33). ] 13.b4 cxb4 14.axb4 d4 15.a4 d5 16.b5 White has been allowed to advance his b-pawn, and fix the black queenside, but it se e m s irre l e va n t . ce7 17.b3 d7 18.fc1 White plays all the natural moves, and yet is worse- this is not a good advert for the system! f5 Black plans to bring a rook to the e-file, and stops White from playing e3/e4. 19.g4 [ This weakens the kingside, but what else? If 19.e1 fe8 followed by doubling rooks on the e-file. ] 19...fe7 [ 19...d6! is more accurate, stopping Rc4. ] 20.h3?! [ White should have chosen 20.c4! xg4 21.h3 d7 22.xd4 eradicating the annoying d4-pawn, with reasonable chances. ] 20...h5!! A far-sighted move, exposing the wh i t e k i n g . 21.gxh5 gxh5 22.e4 dxe3 23.fxe3 g6 24.b2 [ Perfectly normal, the knight moves to a better square (c4), and yet storm clouds we re ga t he ring o ve r th e wh it e k ing, s o 24.f1 is more circumspect. ] 24...ae8 25.c4 df4! This surprising move wins quickly. 26.exf4 Forced. xf3 27.xf3 xh3 28.f2 [ 28.g2 d4+ 29.f1 g3 is devastating. ] 28...h2+ 0-1
1655 Zhou,Weiqi Wei,Yi Danzhou 5th (9) [Tony Kosten]
A37 2601 2634 04.07.2014
1.c4 g6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 g7 4.g3 c6 5.g2 e6 If White wants to win this line is a real problem. 6.e3 [ 6.0-0 ge7 7.d3 is the most popular, but is ju st to o e a sy to p lay f o r B lac k . ( 7.e3 1668
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 would transpose after 0-0 8.d4 )] 6...ge7 7.d4 [ 7.0-0 f5!? ( 7...0-0 8.d4 cxd4 9.xd4 xd4 10.exd4 d5 as below. ) 8.e4 d6 9.d4! see Bejtovic, J-Grandelius, N, in the Archive. ] 7...0-0!? Extremely rare. [ 7...cxd4 8.xd4 xd4 9.exd4 d5 10.cxd5 xd5 is the very drawish mainline, although this normally arrives from a Nge2 line, rather than Nf3 as here, see Bacrot, E-Vaisser, A in the PGN Archive. ] 8.0-0 White is happy to transpose. [ 8.d5 a5 9.d2 b8 10.a4 d6 11.0-0 exd5 12.cxd5 gave Black a perfectly reasonable Benoni position in Landgren, P (2182) -Tikkanen, H (2232)/Hallsberg 2000. ] [ 8.dxc5 a5 ] 8...b6!? Black continues to search for a more interesting game. [ 8...cxd4 9.xd4 xd4 ( or 9...d5 ) 10.exd4 reaches the mainline once again. ] [ 8...d6 is also possible, and scores well, 9.e1!? ( 9.b3 f5 ) 9...e8 10.b3 b8 ( 10...e5!? ) 11.b2 cxd4 12.exd4 d5 13.cxd5 exd5 14.e5 with a small plus to W hite in Grischuk, A (2783)-Dominguez Perez, L (2754)/Beijing 2013. ] 9.b3 New. [ 9.dxc5 bxc5 10.e4 a6! 11.a4 a5 12.xa5 xa5 De Andrade, W (2250) Bruzon Batista, L (2488)/Sao Bernardo 1999, 13.d1 equal. ] [ 9.d5 a5 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.e5? d5 12.f4 xe5 13.fxe5 xc4 14.xf8+ Marinangeli, M (2143)-Arjona, J/ Olavarria 2002, xf8! 15.xd5 xd5 16.xd5 d8! 17.f3 xd1+ 18.xd1 b7 and ...Nxe5. ] [ 9.e1 a6 10.a4 b7 is nothing, Quirico, P (2118) -Bergero, S (1707)/Torino 2013. ] 9...d5 The position is almost entirely symmetrical with W hite to move. The only difference is the placement of the respective kingside knights, but if anything this favours Black as the f3-knight masks the g2-bishop. This suggests that White would be better off with his knight on e2 instead, food for thought! 10.cxd5 exd5 11.a3 g4 The d4-pawn is pinned. 12.h3 cxd4! 13.exd4
[ 13.xe7 xe7 14.exd4 xf3 15.xf3 f5 is 'equalish' but only Black can be better. ] 13...xf3 14.xf3 xd4 15.d3 It seems strange that W hite can play good logical moves from the beginning of the game, and already be struggling to regain his pawn and hold a draw! Where did he go wrong? c8 Threatening ...Rxc3. 16.ac1 [ 16.xe7?! xe7 ( 16...xc3 17.xc3 xe7 18.ae1 e2+ 19.xe2 xe2 wi t h a p a w n m o r e , a l t h o u g h a d r a w i s likely. ) 17.ae1 a3 18.xd5 c2 with advantage. ] 16...e8 17.h1 h6 18.fe1 h7 19.h2 d7 20.xe7! White chooses the perfect time to liquidate. xe7 21.xe7 xe7 22.xd5 d7 23.xc8 xc8 Now the position is a total draw, although the game continues a bit. 24.f4 c5 25.e3 c2 26.d5 f5 27.e2 xe2 28.xe2 d4 29.xd4 xd4 30.xf7 xf2 I suppose there must have been a no-draw rule of some sort, as playing on here is totally absurd, of course. 31.g2 e1 32.f3 g7 33.e8 f6 34.g4 g5 35.e4 e7 36.b5 f6 37.c4 e7 38.a6 d6 39.f5 c5 40.a4 b4 41.c4 a6 42.g6 b5 43.axb5 axb5 44.g8 c5 45.xh6 h4 46.g6 d6 47.f5 c5 48.f7 d6 49.b4 c6 50.e8+ b6 51.d7 a6 52.e8 b6 53.d7 a6 54.e8 b6 ½-½
1656 Akopian,Vladimir Shulman,Yuri 2nd IECC Ohrid MKD (4) [Tony Kosten]
A38 2654 2551 04.06.2001
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 c5 5.c3 c6 6.d4 a5!? [ A speciality of Shulman, 6...0-0 7.d5 a5 8.d2 leads to an inferior KI position, Akesson,R-Hammar,B/SWE-ch 1980, ] [ but 6...cxd4 7.xd4 is the main move, leading to a Yugoslav KI position. ] 7.d5! [ Best. 7.0-0 cxd4 8.xd4 c5 is the point, p e s t e ri n g t h e c 4 - p a wn , 9.xc6 dxc6 1669
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with near equality, Ippolito,D-Shulman,Y/ Philadelphia USA 2000. ] 7...e4!? This is Black's idea, obviously any move of the c6-knight would allow W hite a f a vou rab le K in g's In d ia n p o sit io n . 8.dxc6 xc3 9.d2 Pinning the knight, and winning, right? b4 Wrong, the piece is still untouchable, and so the black queen defends herself. 10.0-0 e4 [ 10...a4!? is worth a thought. ] 11.d3 d6 12.f4! White plays for the in it iat ive . dxc6 13.xd6 exd6 14.xd6 xb2!? [ S h u l m a n ' s i m p r o ve m e n t o ve r 14...e6 15.ad1 b6 16.g5 d8 17.f4 with a slight white plus, in the previous game between these two players in Las Vegas USA 2001. ] 15.ad1 f6 Back in time to defend. 16.xc5 e7 17.d6 Obviously White does not want to play an endgame where Black has the two bishops. 0-0 18.xc6 After this play peters-out. xe2 19.c7 b6 20.a3 f5 21.e1 d3 22.xd3 xd3 23.e5 xe5 24.xe5 ac8 25.xa7 xc4 ½-½
1657 Alekseev,Evgeny Kurnosov,Igor 17th TCh-RUS Premier (2) [Nigel Davies]
A38 2700 2674 02.04.2010
1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 xd5 5.g3 g7 6.g2 0-0 7.0-0 c5 8.xd5 The quietest of White's alternatives with a justifiably drawish reputation. xd5 9.d3 c6 10.e3 d7 11.d4 d6 12.xc6 xc6 13.xc6 xc6 14.c1 e6 15.xc5 xa2 16.b5 I have to say that this is a pretty dull choice of variation in which W hite k eeps a draw in han d and aims t o attack Black's big toe in a drawish endgame. b6 17.b3 [ 17.a1 was played in Karpov, A (2725)Ribli, Z (2610)/Amsterdam 1980, and now rather than exchange queens Black should h a v e p l a y e d e6 . The choice of 17.Qb3 gets Black to put his queen on a less active s quare if he wishes to a void th e
exchange, though I find myself yawning in any case. ] 17...a6 18.b4 fb8 [ 18...a5 19.a4 e5 20.fa1 xb2 21.xb2 xb2 22.1a2 b5 23.b4 c3 24.xb5 was slightly better for White in Valdes, L (2362)-Minero Pineda, S (2440)/ San Jose Julio 2005, but can he really get more than a draw out of this? ] 19.c1 c8 20.bc4 b7 21.a3 xc4 22.dxc4 h5 [ 22...d8 might have been a better move. A s t h e g a m e g o e s B la c k d r i f t s i n t o a n inferior position because of the emergence of a White passed c-pawn. ] 23.b4 d8 24.f3 [ T h e i m m e d i a t e 24.c5 was also worth considering. ] 24...d6 25.f2 c6 26.a4 f8 [ 26...h7 was probably better. After White's reply Black is suddenly in trouble. ] 27.c5 bxc5 28.xc5 e6 29.e8 xe3 30.c8? The wrong choice that might have been influenced by the relentless ticking of the clock. [ 30.xe3 xb4 31.b5 looks winning for White. ] 30...xe2+! White's king is unable to find safety now. 31.xe2 a6+ 32.d2 a2+ 33.c3 a1+ 34.b3 d1+ 35.c4 e2+ 36.c5 f2+ 37.b5 b6+ 38.a4 a6+ 39.b3 d3+ 40.a4 a6+ 41.b3 d3+ 42.a4 ½-½
1658 A38 Bacrot,Etienne 2695 Savchenko,Boris 2583 World Blitz Moscow RUS blitz (15) 21.11.2007 [Carsten Hansen] 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.0-0 d6 6.c3 f6 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 d7 9.c2 0-0 10.b3 a5 11.b2 It's quite amazing that this line, while played several times, is largely ignored in published theory. Neither the ECO, nor Cummings' book on the Symmetrical English, nor my book on the same topic, nor earlier updates here on Chesspublishing.com, cover this line. I get 1670
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 closest in my book, but not through this move order, but after 5...Nf6 6 Nc3 0-0 7 d4 cxd4 8 Nxd4 d6 9 b3 rather astounding I have to say, though it is a testament to how notoriously transpositional the Symmetrical English is. a6 [ This move is slightly unusual in conjunction with a ...Qa5 from Black, but has previously been played by Judit Polgar. Of course, Black has tried other moves in this position: A) 11...h5 A) 12.e4 g4 13.f3 h3 A1) 14.xh3 xh3 15.e2 a6 16.ad1 d7 17.a4 xb2 18.xb2 with about even chances, Hartoch, RSavon, V/Skopje 1972; A2) 14.e2 xg2 15.xg2 a5 ( 15...d7 16.ad1 a5 17.e3; 15...a6!? 16.ad1 ) 16.e3 ac8 17.fd1 fe8 18.cd5 xd5 19.xd5 xb2 20.xb2 Nikolaidis, K-Petraki, M/ Kavala 1996; A3) 14.f2 xg2 15.xg2 a5 16.d2 fc8 17.c1 a6 18.e3 d7 19.a3 d8 20.cd5 f8 21.b4 xb2 22.xb2 ce5 23.d4 e6 24.f4 exd5 25.fxe5 xe5 26.xd5 b5 27.c5 ab8 28.f6+ h8 29.d7 h6 30.cxd6 xc1 31.xe5+ g8 1-0 Richter, MLindemann, S/Germany 2002/CBM 88 ext; A4) 14.d5 xg2 15.xg2 xd5 16.xg7 f4+ 17.gxf4 xg7 18.d5 e5!? ( 18...f5?! 19.d4 xd4 20.xd4+ h6 21.e5 1-0 Orlov, VJakhin, R/Moscow 1964) 19.f5 ( 19.b4 ac8 20.ad1 fd8 ) 19...gxf5 20.h1 h8 ( 20...fxe4! 21.fxe4 e2 22.g1+ h8 23.g2 f3 ) 21.xd6 f6 0-1 Wenner, T-Holfelder, H/ Wiesbaden 1993/GER (31); B) 12.f3 h3 13.e4 xg2 14.xg2 e8 15.b1 c7 16.d5 xb2 17.xb2 ac8 18.ce3 1-0 Eliskases, E-Roess, L/ Bad Elster 1939/HCL (39) ] [ B) 11...e4 12.a4 ( 12.xe4 xc3 13.xc3 xc3 14.g2 ab8 15.e3 e6 16.c1 a5 17.c2 Casagrande, H-Titz, H/Werfen 1998; 12.b4 xc3 13.xc3 c7 14.xg7 xg7 15.c1 e6 0-1 Mohamed, H-Htun Lynn Kyaw/Istanbul 2000 16.d2 ) 12...xb2 13.xb2 f6 14.d3 f5
15.e1 xe1 16.fxe1 e4 17.f3 xd3 18.exd3 e6 19.f4 1-0 Olafsson, H-Larsen, B/Espoo 1989 ] [ C) 11...fc8 12.e3 ( 12.d5 xd5 13.xg7 c3 14.xc3 xc3 15.e3 e6 16.d5 1/2-1/2 Hansen, C-Petursson, M/ Reykjavik 2000; 12.c1 a6 13.a4 ab8 14.a1 b4 15.d4 c6 16.c2 e6 17.e4 d7 18.e3 c5 19.ed5 xd5 20.xd5 xa1 21.xa1 1-0 Ianov, VKozakov, M/Bijeljina 2001 ) 12...ab8 A) 13.b1 g4 14.xg4 xg4 15.d3 h5 16.f3 e6 17.f4 a6 18.a4?! ( 18.d5 xd5 19.cxd5 b4 20.e4 xa2 21.f3 f5 22.xe7 c2 23.xg7 c5+ 24.h1 xg7 25.e4= ) 18...d4 19.d5 xd5 20.xd5 xe2 21.xe2 xe2+ 0-1 Gretarsson, HPetursson, M/Gardabaer 1996 (40); B) 13.d2 a6 14.fd1 ( 14.fc1 b5 15.cxb5 axb5= Garcia-Valerga, Pena City 1996 ) 14...b5 15.cd5 ( 15.cxb5 axb5 16.cd5 xd5 17.xd5 xd2 18.xd2 xb2 19.xb2 f8= Smyslov-Bertok, Zagreb 1970) 15...xd5 16.cxd5 xd2 17.xd2 xb2 18.xb2 (1/2-1/2 Schandorff-J.Polgar, Vejstrup 1989) d4 19.d2 f5 20.h3 c7 1/2-1/2 Boshku, H-Mastrokoukos, G/Nea Makri 1990 ] [ D) 11...g4?! is very aggressive, but not very good in the fashion it thus far has been played by Black: 12.d2 h5 ( 12...e6 is untried but a solid and worthy alternative to the main line 12...Qh5, e.g. 13.h3 ge5 14.g4 ac8 15.e3 d7 16.ad1 ) 13.h3 A) 13...h6 A1) 14.g4! is best and transposes to the lines after 13...Nf6: xg4 ( 14...h4 15.e1 ) 15.hxg4 xg4 16.fd1 h2+ 17.f1+-; A2) 14.h4?! g4 ( 14...f5?! 15.d5! ) 15.ab1 ( 15.g5 xg5 16.hxg5 has also been played, and does have some merit as it immediately kills Black's counterplay (though at the cost of killing most of the excitement in the position at the same time), leaving White with a space advantage, Novkovic, MH e i m , E / B a d e n 1 9 9 6) 15...h6?! ( 15...h6 16.d5 xb2 17.xb2 e5 18.bb1 ) 16.d5?! ( 16.e3!? g5 17.f3 1671
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f6 18.hxg5 xg5 19.d5 g7 20.xf6+ xf6 21.xf6 xf6 22.d4 ) 16...g5! ( 16...xd5 17.xd5 ) 17.h3 ( 17.e4 e6 18.b5 f5 ) A2a) 17...e3 18.xe3 xh3 19.e4 White has to sacrifice material in order to centralize all of his remaining pieces. ( 19.hxg5 xg5 20.xg5+ xg5 21.g2 f6= ) 19...xf1 20.f5 fd8 ( 20...xe2? 21.xe7+! xe7 22.f6++- Hazai ) 21.xf1 (Hazai) ( 21.xe7+ xe7 22.f6+ f8 23.xh7+ g8 24.f6+= is only a draw by perpetual check - Hazai ); A2b) 17...f6 18.h1 g4?! Black wants to keep the white Q in a passive position. ( 18...xh3 19.xh3 g4 20.g2 g6 ) 19.g2 s o f a r D i zd a r e vi c , E - E r d o g d u , M / Plovdiv 2003, and now Hazai gives g6 20.e4 xe4 21.xe4 f5 22.xf5 xf5 23.d4 xd4 24.xd4 b6 with approximately even chances.; B) 13...f6 B1) 14.d5 xh3 15.xf6?! ( 15.f4 h6 16.xh3 e5 17.g2 exf4 18.xf4 ) 15...xf6 16.xf6+ exf6 17.e3 xg2 18.xg2 e5 19.ad1 Koneru, H-Saravanan, V/Guntur, AP 2000; B2) 14.g4 h4 15.e1 e5 16.f4 exg4 17.hxg4 xg4 18.f3 h5 19.d5 e5 20.fxe5 h6 21.exd6+Schmittdiel, E-Moldner, J/Luxembourg 1990 ] [ E) 11...ac8 12.b1 a6 13.e4 b5 14.e3 e5 15.cd5 xd5 16.xd5 d8 17.f4 c6 18.xg7 xg7 19.cxb5 axb5 20.d2 1-0 Bauer, C-Degraeve, J/Nantes 1993 (31) ] 12.a4 [ Two alternatives are: A) 12.d5 xd5 13.xg7 A) Or 13...c3 14.xc3 xc3 15.e3 b2 ( 15...e6 16.d5 xd5 17.cxd5 ) 16.d5 g4 17.c1 was BrenninkmeijerJ.Polgar, W ijk aan Zee 1990, and here Hazai gives xc1 18.axc1; B) 13...xg7 14.cxd5 e5 15.h3 g5!?
16.d4 ac8 17.e1 c7 18.e3 g4!? 19.hxg4 xg4 Abramovic-Mozetic, Niksic 1997 ] [ B) 12.h3 ab8 13.d5 xd5 14.xg7 c3 15.xc3 xc3 16.e3 e6 17.c1 ( 17.d5!? b2 18.e3 ) 17...a5 18.c2 fc8= Cvitan-Martic, Porec 1998 ] 12...ac8 13.b1 e6 [ One alternative is 13...h5!? 14.e3! g4 15.xg4 xg4 16.e1 ] 14.e3 [ 14.d5!? g4 15.xg7 xg7 16.e3 ge5 17.b4 d8 18.a3 , and White has a significant spatial plus ( 18.c5 dxc5 19.bxc5 a5 20.xb7 fd8 )] 14...d7 [ 14...h5 15.cd5 xd5 16.xd5 xd5 ( 16...g4 17.h3 xb2 18.xb2 e5 19.d2 f6 20.f4! e6 21.d3 , and W hite has a very comfortable plus) 17.xd5 xb2 18.xb2 a5 19.d2 ] 15.cd5 xb2 16.xb2 xd5 17.xd5 e6 18.b4 d8 19.e3 c7 20.d2!? [ 20.d2!? a5 21.bxa5 xa5?! ( 21...c5 22.d1 fd8 23.b5 ) 22.b5 b6 23.d1 e5 24.xd6 xd6 25.xd6 axc4 26.xc4 xc4 27.d1 ] 20...xb4 21.xd6 e5 22.d4 fd8? [ 22...bc6! 23.xc6 xc6 24.f4 a5 25.c5 xc5 26.g4 f5 27.h6+ h8 28.xe6 c7 ] 23.c5 bc6 24.d2?! [ 24.b2!? xd6 25.cxd6 xd6 26.xb7 c7 27.b6 ( 27.xa6!? a7 28.b6 d4 29.b1 xa4 30.f4+- ) 27...c8 28.xa6+- ] 24...d7?! [ 24...a5!? ] 25.xc6?!= [ 25.c3! a5 ( 25...cb8 26.fd1 xc5 27.b2 c3 28.xc3 xc3 29.xb7 a5 30.a6+- ) 26.xa5 xa5 27.fd1 c7 28.g4 f8 29.e5 e7 30.c6 bxc6 31.xc6+ xc6 32.xc6 ] 25...xc5 26.xd8+ [ 26.d4!? bxc6 27.c3 e7 28.xd8+ ( 28.c4 d7 29.xc6 xc6 30.xc6 c5= ) 28...xd8 29.g4 e5 30.c1 xa4 31.xc6 h5 32.f6+ g7 33.xh5+ gxh5 34.xa4 f6 35.a1 d6 36.e4 ] 26...xd8 27.c3?! 1672
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.c5 , e.g., g4 9.b3 ] 8.xd4 0-0 [ 8...d6 transposes to the main line after 9. 0-0, but offers W hite some unique move orders, for example, 9.d2 ( 9.0-0 0-0 10.d2 e6! is a good response to the Qd2 idea, because of 11.xb7 b8 12.g2 xc4 ) 9...0-0 ( but here 9...e6 10.xb7 b8 allows 11.c6+ ) 10.b3 ] 9.c5 Here's the starting point of the variation, use d su ccessf u lly b y S e rgio G ia rd e lli o f Argentina and a few others. By not castling, White has gotten c5 in before Black's ...d6. If Black has to accept an isolated d-pawn after ... d6, cxd6, and ...exd6, the would of course be a victory for White. And of course there are ot h e r id e a s. Ne e dle ss t o sa y, B lac k h a s advantages as well. Here's a mini-theoretical survey: d6 [ 9...e8!? is a seemingly illogical move that tries to delay ...d6 until it can be supported. Giardelli-Taverna, Rosario 2000 continued A) 10.d3?! a5 11.e3 d6 12.cxd6 xd6 shouldn't cause Black the slightest problem, e.g., 13.d2 f5 14.e4 e6 15.d5 d8 16.b1 c8 ( 16...f5! ) 17.0-0 e8 18.fe1 c4= Jahnke-Bakalarz, Muenster 1992; B) 10.e3!? is much more interesting: d6 11.c6!? (An interesting shot that nets a pawn. Other moves are ( 11.0-0 dxc5 1659 A38 12.xc5 d6 13.d1 intending Bf4 and at least creating a few problems.; and Giardelli,Sergio Carlos 11.cxd6? xd6 12.0-0 e6 --or 12...Bf5!Lipiniks,Leonardo - 13.d1 a5 14.d5 f5 15.f4 Asu 2003 xd5 16.xd5 ad8 Jahnke-Fiori, [John Watson] Germany 1995) 11...bxc6 12.xc6 b8 13.xa7 e6 14.0-0 Black has some John Donaldson brought to my attention a queenside pressure but it doesn't look particular position from the old Main Line of sufficient to compensate for a pawn.; the Symmetrical Variation. It can only be C) 10.b4 b8 ( 10...c7 11.0-0 a6 arrived at slightly unusual move orders in 12.a3 b8 13.d1 was very nice for which White delays 0-0, for example, 1.c4 White in Knezevic-Keller, Cava de Tirreni [ Or 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 g7 4.g3 c5 1973 ) 11.0-0 ( 11.e3! ) 11...d6 12.d1 5.f3 cxd4 6.xd4 c6 7.g2 ] a5 13.h4 c7? 14.h6!? ( 14.cxd6! 1...c5 2.f3 exd6 15.g5 f6 16.e3 ) 14...f6? [ 2.c3 c6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.f3 15.a4! e8 16.xa5 with a winning f6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 is another mover game. ] order, and there are several others. ] 2...f6 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.c3 c6 10.cxd6 e8! [ 10...exd6 11.0-0 is awkard for Black, as 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xd4 is ] [ 7...0-0 can be met by the unique sequence [ Here W hite should have played 27.b2! rather than on the next move as in the game o n e c o n t i n u a t i o n i s bxc6 ( 27...xc6 28.g4 e4 29.h6+ f8 30.h8+ e7 31.g8+ xg8 32.xg8 c3 33.e1 xa4 34.c8 c6 35.xc6 bxc6 36.g2 d5 leaves Black with two pawns for the exchange, but W hite has the winning chances. ) 28.g4 e5 29.xe5 xe5 30.xe5 e8 31.f4 f6 32.g4 f7 33.c1 xa4 34.xc6 e6 35.c7+ e7 36.c6= ] 27...e4 28.b2?!-+ [ White is hoping that the weak dark squares around Black's king will provide him with compensation for the missing pawn. This, h o we v e r , t u r n s o u t t o b e a f i g m e n t o f White's imagination. Instead 28.c2 xc6 29.xc6 bxc6 30.c1 c8 31.f3 f6 32.c4 leaves White with a better chance of holding the draw. ] 28...xc6 29.g4 c3 30.e5 c5 31.g4 d4 32.h6+ g7 33.xb7 xe2+ 34.g2 xh6 With Black a piece up, the rest of the game will be left without any further comments 35.xf7 e4+ 36.f3 f5 37.e7 d2 38.f2 e5 39.g4 f4+ 40.g3 xf2 41.h4+ h5 0-1
1673
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 10...xd6 11.xd6 exd6 12.0-0 d8 13.e3 d5 14.fd1 ] 11.b4 There are several other ideas for White: [ (a) 11.c5 has been played a couple of times. For one thing Black can't win a tempo with ...a5 as he does in some lines after 11. Qb4. xd6! ( 11...xd6 12.e3! ) 12.f4 A) This hasn't been played. I like it better than 12...b6 13.a3 ( 13.e3 b7 14.xb7 xb7 15.d1 e8 16.h6 d8 17.xd8 xd8 18.xg7 xg7 19.0-0 is a bit better for White, who has Rd1 and Nd5 as ideas) 13...c4 14.b4 e6 15.xa8! ( 15.d1 e8 16.d5 xd5 17.xd5 1/2-1/2 Kustar-Moraru, S z e g e d 1 9 9 8) 15...xa8 16.f3 and while Black undoubtedly has some compensation I doubt that it's quite enough.; B) 12...e6! 13.d1 ( 13.xd6 exd6 gives Black way too much activity, e.g., 14.b4 a5 15.a3 b6 16.0-0 b4 ) 13...c8 14.xd6 ( 14.xc8 axc8 15.xd6 exd6 16.xd6 xc3+ 17.bxc3 xc3 18.d2 a3 is equal or better for Black ) 14...exd6 15.xd6 xc3+ 16.bxc3 xc3+ 17.d2 xd2+ 18.xd2 ac8= ] [ (b) 11.h4 xd6 12.0-0 ( 12.d5 f5 13.b4 e6 14.c3 d4 Choma-Poecksteiner, Dos Hermanas 2003) 12...d7 ( 12...e6! ) 13.e4 e5 14.xd8 axd8 15.b3 b5= Kubicek-Poulsson, Dresden 1969 ] [ (c) 11.f4 xd6 12.0-0 e6 13.d1 c8 14.d5 c4 15.e3 b6 16.a3 c2 17.d3 c8 18.b1 xd5 19.xd5 c7 20.g5 f5 21.b4 e5 22.f4 f6 23.bc1 d4 24.c7 e6 25.xe6 xe6 26.a6 e5 27.xe5 xe5 28.xc8 0-1 Sulava,N-Cucancic,S/Pula 199900 ] [ (d) 11.d3 xd6 12.0-0 f5! 13.e4 e6 14.d5 c8 15.b1 c4 16.d1 b6! 17.xb6 xb6 18.e3 a5 with good piece activity, Carvalho-C Martinez, Sao Paulo 2002 ] 11...xd6 [ 11...a5?? loses to 12.dxe7 ] [ But 11...xd6 is a serious option: A) 12.0-0 a5! 13.f4 d7 ( 13...e6 14.d1 1/2-1/2 Savon-Fish, Alushta 1993)
14.d1 c8 15.e3 c4! 16.g5 f5 and W hite's queen was trapped in Scarella-Torella, Vicente Lopez 1993; B) 12.d5 e6 ( or 12...e6! ) 13.c3 a5! 14.b3 f5 15.0-0 d4 16.d1 b8 about equal, was P W ells-Parkanyi, Zalakaros 1998. ] 12.xd6 xc3+? Now White gets the bishop pair for free. Much better must be [ 12...xd6 , e.g., A) 13.d5 e6 14.e7+ h8 15.f4 ( Now 15.xc8 axc8 and ...Rc2 is too b i g a p r i c e t o p a y f o r t h e b i s h o p s) 15...xb2 16.d1 f5! 17.xc8 axc8 18.xb7 c2=; B) 13.f4 c4 14.0-0-0 xc3 ( 14...e5 ) 15.bxc3 e5 and Black has plenty of counterplay although White can certainly pursue this too. One sample is 16.h6 e8 17.d5 e6!? ( 17...b6 ) 18.xb7 ab8 19.a6? a3! ] 13.d2 xd2+ 14.xd2 d6 15.0-0 d7 16.fd1 c6!? Black gives his opponent a huge positional edge but otherwise he was under great pressure. Now Giardelli begins to grind his opponent down. 17.xc6 bxc6 18.ac1 ab8 19.b3 b6 20.c2 c8 21.e3 b7 22.f4 e8 23.dc1 b6 24.e3 a6 25.d1 [ 25.c5! . White has a dominating position but he lets some of his advantage slip over the next ten moves. ] 25...f6 26.a4 f7 27.c5 c7 28.a1 b7 29.b4 c7 30.c4 e6 31.e3 c7 32.d2 e5 33.a5 d5? [ 33...b5! would have made things more difficult. ] 34.ac1 e7 35.f1 e6 36.e4! d7 37.e2 [ 37.f4! ] 37...c8 38.4c2 d6 39.f3 b5 40.d3 b7 41.c4 d6+ 42.d3 b7 43.f4 c5 44.fxe5 fxe5 45.f1? [ 45.bxc5 ] 45...cxb4? [ 45...d6+! 46.e3 e6! 47.bxc5 xc5 ] 46.f7+ e6 47.cc7 Winning. c5+ 48.c4 axa5 49.xb4 d6 50.fd7+ e6 51.xa5 xa5 52.d5 a4+ 53.xc5 xe4 54.d6+ f5 55.xh7 a5 56.f7+ g5 57.d5 e2 58.ff6 a4 59.xg6+ 1674
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h5 60.h4 1-0
1660 Halkias,S Biriukov,O Chigorin Memorial (4.38) [John Bartholomew]
A38 2581 2327 30.10.2012
W hite has had difficulties proving a theoretical advantage in the Symmetric line 4. g3 d5 5.cxd5. Here Stelios Halkias shows how White may want to play against the kingside fianchetto (6...g6). 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 [ W hite can also play 5.d4 , which was Alexander Khalifman's recommendation in his groundbreaking "Opening f or W hite According to Kramnik" series. White players prefer 5.cxd5 by a 3-to-1 majority, though 5. d4 scores significantly better. ] 5...xd5 6.g2 g6 Black commits to a kingside fianchetto. [ T h e m o s t f l e x i b l e m o v e , 6...c7 , allows Black to set up a reversed Maroczy with 7.0-0 e5 ( 7...g6 could transpose back t o o u r p r e s e n t g a m e) 8.d3 e7 . Black generally does well in t his line , though some variations become quite sharp. S e e " S y m m e t r i c - 2 N c 3 - Ru b i n s t e i n ' s Variation" in the archives. ] 7.d3 [ A calm alternative is 7.0-0 g7 8.xd5 xd5 9.d3 0-0 10.e3 . Greater than 50% o f ga m e s in t h is li n e e n d in d ra ws se e Alekseev, E (2700)-Kurnosov, I (2674)/ Dagomys RUS 2010/[Nigel Davies]. ] [ 7.a4!? may be worth investigation. Check Lputian, S (2605)-Timman, J (2655)/ Wijk aan Zee 2000/[TonyK]. ] 7...g7 8.d2 0-0 9.0-0 [ 9.c1!? (White can also play this on the n e x t m o v e ) b6 ( 9...xc3 10.bxc3 e5 11.0-0 c4 12.dxc4 e7 13.g5 f6 14.e3 e6 15.d2 Durarbayli, V (2543)-Parligras, M (2614)/ Plovdiv BUL 2012) 10.h4 h5 11.h6 b7 12.xg7 xg7 13.0-0 c8 14.g5 e6 15.e1 e8 16.ge4= Topalov, V (2801)-Nielsen, P (2644)/Monte Carlo 2006. ]
9...c7 10.c1 b6 11.h4!? Black is practically unassailable on the queenside, so it makes sense to probe for weaknesses on the kingside. The text is also the prelude to a nifty attacking idea. [ The hackneyed 11.a3?! , trying for b2-b4, cannot be recommended. White is fishing in t ro u b le d wa t e rs o n t h e qu e e n sid e : b7 12.a4 d7 ( or 12...d4 13.xd4 xg2 14.xg2 cxd4 ) 13.b4 cxb4 14.axb4 b5! 15.c4 (very optimistic, but White doesn't have many other good ideas) ac8 16.h4 cd4! 17.e4? xf3+ 18.xf3 c2 19.h6 xh6 20.xh6 d4 21.e3 e2 22.g5 xa4-+ Zalkind, K (2370) -Kantsler, B (2495)/Israel 1997. ] [ 11.a4!? is more interesting, but also fine f o r B lack. b7 ( 11...d7 12.h4 e5 Shchekachev, A (2537) -Soppe, G (2474)/ ICC Internet 2001) 12.h4 e5 13.g5 f6 14.h6 f7 15.xg7 xg7 16.a3 e6= Karb owiak, A (224 9)-Jaroch, K (20 50)/ Sepolno Kraj 2006 ] 11...b7 12.h5 d4 [ Not bad, but Black could also stay flexible with 12...d7 . ] 13.xd4 xg2 14.xg2 xd4 15.hxg6 hxg6 [ 15...fxg6!? ] 16.h1 e6 17.g1! A cool concept! White directs his heavy pieces to the open h-file, correctly judging that Black has no major counterplay elsewhere. f5! Nice response. 18.h4 d7 19.h2 f7 20.h6 h8 21.xg7 xg7 22.h1 xh4 23.xh4 White has a slight initiative, but Black does well to neutralize it. g8! 24.e4 f8 25.d5 f7 26.e1 [ 26.b4!? is interesting, with the idea of cxb4 27.c1 . ] 26...g7 27.f4 e6 28.e3 xd3 29.g4 g5?? "One bad move nullifies forty good ones" - I.A. Horowtiz. [ 29...d7 ] [ or 29...d4 both maintain equality (other moves do too). ] 30.c7+ [ B l a c k r e s i g n e d , a s 30.c7+ g6 (other king moves are met by 31.Nf6+/) 31.e5+ f6 32.xg7+ xg7 33.xd3+is curtains. I'm fond of Halkias's play in this 1675
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 game, particularly the concept of h4-h5xg6 19.e4 xd4 20.xd4 xd4 21.xd4 followed by Rh1-h4 and Qd1-g1-h2. That d8 22.e3 i s h o p e l e s s) 19.e3 said, Black was only ever marginally worse, the move he had missed! d8 20.e4 and only lost because of a blunder. White xd1+ 21.xd1 d8+ 22.e1!? a5+ players should heed my advice about 23.f1 xa2 24.f3 and White avoiding play on the queenside (it's very e ve n t u a l l y m a d e h i s e xt r a e xc h a n g e tempting to play a2-a2/b2-b4, but it's not count. ] correct!). ] 7.0-0 0-0 8.xd5 xd5 9.d3 c6 10.e3 1-0 d7 [ This leads to a long, semi-forcing variation. 10...xb2!? is possible, if risky 11.b1 f6 1661 A38 12.a4 d7 13.xc5 d4 14.d1 xf3+ 15.xf3 White has pressure on the Hansen,Curt 2626 queenside, Tal,M-Pribyl,J/Tallinn 1973. ] Sutovsky,Emil 2651 16th North Sea Cup (1) 06.07.2001 11.d4 d6 12.xc6 xc6 13.xc6 xc6 14.c1 e6 15.xc5 xa2 16.b5 [Tony Kosten] Karpov's idea, which resuscitated this line. b6 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.cxd5 17.a1 e6! [ This is all well-known, 17...xa1?! 18.xa1 xd5 5.g3 g7 6.g2 c5 fb8 19.a6 left Black with problems in the [ After 6...0-0 instead, I tried the wild 7.h4!? classic game Karpov,A-Ribli,Z/Amsterdam against K.Shirazi, Montpellier Masters, just 1980, f8?! 20.b4 e5 21.ba4 b5 a w e e k a g o ( J u l y 2 0 0 1 ) , w h e n h6!? 22.a2 b7 23.b3 b8 24.c5 e8 stopping the opening of the h-file, turns-out 25.d4 d7 26.e4 e6 27.b4 Black is being to be new, ( 7...e5 8.h5 xc3 9.bxc3 e4 bull-dozed. ] 10.d4 is promising for White, Podzielny,KGutman,L/Kleve GER 1999, and; 7...c5 8.h5 18.a4 fc8 19.b4 [ 19.a1 h5 20.e4!? xe4 21.dxe4 c2 c6 9.hxg6 hxg6 10.a4 planning the 22.xb6 xe2 23.f1 xb2 24.xb2 xb2 crude Qh4-h7 mate, likewise, Sunye Neto, J25.xa7 xa7 26.xa7 draw, Ivanov, IFtacnik,L/Hastings 1980) 8.b3 e6 9.d4 Benjamin,J/St Martin 1992. ] c5!? 10.dxc5 a6 ( 10...xc3 11.bxc3 a5 12.0-0 and the c5-pawn is immune 19...d5!? [ A n e w m o v e , 19...h5!? 20.a1 f6 f rom capture: xc5? 13.a3 ) 11.xd5 21.a2 d7 was quickly drawn in Bagirov, exd5 12.a3 e8 13.e3 e4!? 14.d1! V-Mikhalchishin,A/Tbilisi 1980. ] b4 15.b3 c6!? Black fights for the 20.a1 h5 The point of Black's play, White initiative, ( I had expected 15...f5 16.0-0 c2! w h e n t h e t a c t i c 17.xd5 e7 is f orced to return to def end his e-pawn. d5 Effectively a draw offer. 18.xf5!? is tempting, xe3 19.xf7 xf7 21.d1 b5!? A typical tactical Sutovsky 20.xf7+ xf7 21.g5+ e8 22.xe4 22.aa4!? xf1 23.d6+ e7 24.xf1 and White solution. 23.xa7 xa7 24.xa7 h6 h a s a l o t o f p a wn s f o r t h e e xc h a n g e .) The point, Black menaces the white queen. 16.xd5 e7 17.d4!! ( 17.0-0 xe3! 25.e3! [ The simplest, if 25.e3 e5 threatens to 18.fxe3 xe3+ 19.h2 e6 gives good round-up the bishop on a7 which has no play for the exchange ) flight squares. ] A) now 17...xe3?! is insufficient: 18.fxe3 26.fxe3 c5 27.f1 c6 xe3 19.xc6 xg3+ 20.f1 bxc6 25...xe3 21.xc6 b8 22.d8+ h7 23.d6! Black has compensation for the pawn: his and Black is forced to allow the exchange more active pieces, and safer king. 28.f3 of qu een s, a s ( 23.e8 h5 24.xc8? c1+ 29.g2 c2! 30.f4! [ White sees the danger, 30.xb5?! e1 xc8 25.xc8?? d4 mates! ) 23...e5? 31.f2 d1 leaves him on the edge of a 24.f8 is horrible.; precipice. ] B) 17...xd4 18.xd4 g4 ( 18...e6 1676
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 30...e1 31.f2 d1 This appears to be 13...bxc6 14.xc6 h3 15.xa8 xa8 winning, but W hite has seen a nice trick. 16.e1 c3 with a good game for Black ] 32.a8+ g7 33.xf7+! xf7 34.d5+ 12...d7 The black pieces are too far away to aid their [ 12...b4?! the idea is to play 13...Bd7 but king- White forces a perpetual. f6 35.d4+ the complications don't favour Black 13.d2 f7 36.d5+ f6 37.d4+ e5 38.d6+ d7 14.xd5 xa4 15.xb7 ab8 f7 39.d7+ f6 40.d6+ f7 41.d7+ 16.xc5 xb7 17.xb4 xb4 18.xb4 f6 with an extra pawn. ] ½-½ [ 12...d6 is playable, but now all the ideas with Nd4 lose strength, 13.d2!? ( 13.fc1 b6 14.d4 xd4 15.xd4 cxd4 16.f4 e5 1662 A38 17.xa8 f5! 18.c6 e7 19.h6 xa8 20.bxb6 d7 is fine for Black) 13...d4 Jakovenko,Dmitrij 2724 14.xd4 xd4 15.xd4 cxd4 16.xb7 Cheparinov,Ivan 2678 b8 17.xc8 fxc8 18.c4 with a position Poikovsky Karpov 14th (6) 03.09.2013 that all 1.c4 players would enjoy playing. ] [Fier, Alexandr] 13.b5 [ 13.xc5 The Poikovsky Tournament is always a source A) 13...d4 i s p r e m a t u r e 14.d1 of good games and this one was a surprise as ( 14.xd7 xe2+ 15.h1 xd7 I discovered that it had all been played before 16.xe7! xe7 17.xb7 ) 14...xf3+ until move 20! Black is holding well so 13...b6 ( 14...c6 ) 15.xf3 was much more can probably be repeated in strong comfortable for W hite in Tal, M (2625)tournaments. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 Pribyl, J (2450)/Tallinn 1973; c6 4.g3 d5 5.cxd5 xd5 6.g2 g6 7.0-0 B) 13...b6! 14.xb6 d4 15.d1 g7 8.xd5 xd5 9.d3 0-0 10.e3 xb2 and we get the same position as 13...Nd4 [ 10...d7 is supposed to be the solid but with this bishop hanging on b6 axb6 variation, but is not Cheparinov's style, who 16.xd4 xa2 17.b3 ( 17.c6 d6= ) played an amazing game against Sutovsky 17...d2 18.b4 a2 19.b3 some rounds later. 11.d4 d6 12.xc6 was drawn in Nakamura, H (2708)-Leko, P xc6 13.xc6 xc6 14.c1 e6 15.xc5 (2739)/Corus Wijk aan Zee 2010. ] xa2 16.b5 b6 and now 17.a1 was analyzed in Hansen, C (2626)-Sutovsky, 13...b6!? [ 13...e6 was played 4 days later but I E (2651)/16th North Sea Cup 2001 ( and prefer 13...b6 14.xc5 xa2 15.d2 d8 17.b3 was seen in Alekseev, E (2700)A) 16.e4 g7 ( 16...xe2!? 17.xf6+ Kurnosov, I (2674)/17th TCh-RUS Premier exf6 18.d4 ) 17.fe1 with the same kind 2010. )] o f p o si t i o n , a l so p l a ye d t h i s y e a r , i n 11.b1 In exchange for the pawn White has Malakhov, V (2709)-Popov, I (2627)/RUSall his pieces aiming at the black queenside chT 20th 2013; and an important b-file. It looks like a good B) 16.fe1 and White has some pressure deal, but Black has also some targets. f6 as seen in Rogozenco, D (2515)-Parligras, [ 11...g7 is the alternative 12.a4 d7 M (2560)/ROM-chT Mamaia 2013. ] 13.xc5 b6 14.e3 ( 14.xb6 d4 These Nd2 ideas are always more 15.xd7 xe2+ 16.h1 xd7 is fine for 14.d2 Black ) 14...d4 15.d1 b7 16.xd4 powerful with the bishop on f6. Still, as seen xg2 17.xg2 xd4 18.xd4 xd4 in this game, Ne4xf6 is not always a problem was drawish in Kramnik, V (2801)-Grischuk, f o r B l a c k . b7 Now we enter a more or less A (2761)/Moscow Tal Memorial 7th Blitz forced sequence. 15.e4 [ 15.xc5 this could be an option for White, 2012. ] but over the board it looks strange to take 12.a4 with bishop if you can play 15.Ne4. fd8 [ 12.d4 does not win an exchange, since 16.fc1 ac8 17.e4 d4 looks like Black xa2 13.xc6 ( 13.a1 b2 14.b1= ) 1677
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is losing something in the exchanges, but in fact there is nothing to worry about, 18.xd7 xe2+ 19.f1 xd7 20.xf6+ exf6 21.xb7 xb7 22.xe2 xc5 23.xc5 e7+! and maybe White has some really small pressure. Of course, this is not all forced, but it is a logical sequence. ] 15...ab8! Otherwise 16.Nxc5 16.f4 c8 Unpinning the knight 17.xb8 d4 18.xf6+ exf6 19.b2 xg2 20.xg2 c6+ And here we finally have a novelty! But it doesn't change the evaluation of the position. [ 20...b7+!? the main idea is to keep the rook active on the e-file without waiting 21.f3 e8 22.be1 xb8 23.e3 f5 and with t h e we a k p a wn s i t 's h a r d t o m a ke a n y progress, e3-e4 will always leave a hole on d4, and c5 controls any d3-d4 idea, Dos Santos, M (2422)-Cunha, E (2111)/CADAPch22 sf04 email 2008 ] 21.f3 xb8 The position has cleared and for the exchange Black has a strong knight on d4, and if e3 then the knight will put pressure on the pawn from f5. White's rooks have no good files and any pawn move is committal. Black is ok! 22.e3 f5 23.f2 Trying to kick the knight with 24.g4. h5 24.g1 e8 25.fe1 It's true that Black doesn't have much to do either, but puttin g pre ssure on the whit e center is already enough to hold the balance e6 26.b2 e8 27.be2 d7 28.d2 e7 29.de2 d7 30.d2 e7 31.de2 ½-½
problem is that afterwards there is still some pressure against the a and b-pawns. [ 10...d7 is the main line and enters an endgame after 11.d4 d6 12.xc6 xc6 13.xc6 xc6 14.c1 e6 15.xc5 xa2 which was analyzed for ChessPublishing in Hansen, C (2626)-Sutovsky, E (2651)/16th North Sea Cup 2001. ] [ 10...xb2 was also seen on Chess Publishing recently, 11.b1 f6 12.a4 d7 and Black held with some good home preparation in Jakovenko, D (2724)Cheparinov, I (2678)/Poikovsky Karpov 14th 2013. ] 11.c1 d4 12.xd4 cxd4 13.d2 At first sight its not so easy to understand that White can be better here, but there are small nuances that makes Black's life not so easy af ter all. The f irst p oint is the dif f erenc e between the bishop on g2 and the bishop on g7. Secondly, the slight advantage in development. Black might have some problems to develop the bishop on c8. One advantage for Black is that if the b7-pawn falls, there are good chances that the pawn on b2 is also going to fall. So Black wastes no time. e6 [ 13...g4 would also be possible, but there are probably not many differences between this line and the game 14.h3 e6 15.a4 d5 16.b4 e6 17.xd5 xd5 18.xe7 fe8 19.c7 and White holds the extra pawn. ] 14.a4 Also looking at the a7-pawn. b6 [ 14...d5 15.b4 e6 16.xd5 xd5 1663 A38 17.xe7 fe8 18.c7 is similar to the note to Black's 13th move. W hite also has the McShane,Luke J 2697 advantage here ] Maze,Sebastien 2550 Bundesliga 1314 (15.1) 06.04.2014 15.b3 [ 15.b4 is also possible, and here also [Fier, Alexandr] W h i t e h a s s o m e s m a l l p r e s s u r e xa2 16.a1 e6 17.xb6 axb6 18.xb7 xa1 Black tries 10...Qd6 which is not so usual. It 19.xa1 and Black will need to defend the looks like this line enters a position close to b6-pawn ] equality, but W hite always has some Black brings the bishop to help on annoying pressure. 1.c4 f6 2.g3 g6 3.g2 15...e5 g7 4.c3 0-0 5.d3 c5 6.f3 c6 7.0-0 the queenside. W hite needs to be quick, d5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.xd5 xd5 10.e3 otherwise Black will hold the position. 16.a5 [ 16.e4!? this is a completely different idea. d6 Black's idea is quite simple, just taking W hite has the chance to expand on the the queen away from the long diagonal and kingside also! d6 ( 16...dxe3 17.xe3 neutralizing the pressure on the c5-pawn with a n d B l a c k c a n ' t h o l d t h e p a w n d6 1 1 . . . Nd 4 . I n t h e o ry i t 's a ll go o d , b u t t h e 1678
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.xb7 ad8 19.e4 with advantage) 17.f4 f6 18.e5!? an energetic idea fxe5 19.fxe5 xf1+ 20.xf1 xe5 21.e1 and Black has too many pieces to defend f6 22.a5 d6 23.b5 f5 24.xb7 b8 25.xa7 b5 and White has a pawn more, but Black finally activated his pieces, so the position remains unclear ] 16...a6 17.c7 White goes for the most solid continuation, to enter on the 7th rank [ 17.b4!? looking at the pawn on e7 xa4 18.bxa4 A) 18...xa2 19.xe7 fe8 20.c5 ab8 ( 20...eb8 21.a5 a6 22.a1 e6 23.fb1 c8 24.f4 and Black's position is just sad ) 21.xa7 a8 22.a1! and White keeps the pawn up; B) 18...ab8 19.xe7 fe8 20.c5 ( 20.a3 xa2 21.a5 b5 22.axb6 xb6 ) 20...b6 ( 20...xa2 21.xa7 a8 22.c5 xa4 23.xb7 with a solid advantage ) 21.b4 xa2 22.c6 B1) 22...ec8 doesn't work 23.f4 c7 ( 23...f6 24.d6 ) 24.d7; B2) 22...ed8! to bring the bishop to e7 23.e7 dc8 24.f4 c7 25.a3 bc8 26.fxe5 xc6 27.xc6 xc6 28.f4 c2 29.xd4 h5 30.f2 and White has good chances in the endgame ] 17...xa4 18.bxa4 xc7 19.xc7 fc8 Since one pawn is going to fall, Black needs to activate at any cost. [ 19...ac8 was probably better 20.xe7 a5! 21.xb7 c2 22.b5 ( 22.f3 xa2 23.a7 xa4 24.b1 a2 25.g4 can be another try) 22...xe2 23.xa5 xa2 and Black has good chances to hold ] 20.xe7 ab8 21.xb7 c5 22.f3 [ 22.a6! this would pose more problems b2 ( 22...a5 23.b5 a6 24.a7 and the rook is trapped) 23.e1 xa2 24.xa7 xa4 25.a8+ g7 26.b7 b4 27.f3 and White will have a lot of work ahead, but has a healthy pawn up ] 22...a5 23.c1 xa4 24.g2 xa2 25.g4 W h it e ' s p la n is t o p u t b o t h ro o ks o n t h e seventh rank and to expand on the kingside. Black needs to create some counterplay with the a-pawn during this time. a5 26.a7 a4 27.c6 d8 28.g3 b3 29.g5 a1 30.b6 c1 going to the wrong side
[ 30...g1+ 31.f4 f1 32.c6! probably Black was afraid of this move A) 32...xf2 33.c1 h6 ( 33...xh2 34.g3 ) 34.g3 xf3+ 35.xf3 hxg5 and White has good chances 36.c5; B) 32...h6! and the rook finds a place to go 33.gxh6 xf2 34.h4 ( 34.c1 xh2 35.g3 xh6 this is the idea) 34...f1 35.h5 gxh5 36.g5 and White is still fighting, but Black can hold ] 31.h4 c5 [ 31...g7 32.f6 will probably transpose ] 32.f6 g7 33.c6 h6?! Weakening g6 is not a good idea. [ 33...e5 34.xa4 xa4 35.xa4 ( 35.fxf7+ g8 36.g7+ f8 37.xh7 b3 ) 35...xe2 ( 35...h6 36.a7 f8 37.g4 xe2 38.h5 gxh5+ 39.xh5 hxg5 40.xg5 e1 41.g6+ h8 42.d6 ) 36.a7 f8 37.f4 and Black can play ...h6, bring the rook to f5 and liberate the other rook to try to draw. ] 34.f4 [ 34.e4! w i n s a p a w n g8 ( 34...hxg5 35.xg6+ f8 36.xg5 ) 35.gxh6 ] 34...hxg5 35.hxg5 c1 36.xa4 d5 [ 36...a1 37.d7 xd7 38.xd7 ] 37.d7 e8 The last try. [ 37...xd7 38.xd7 ] 38.xd5 e3+ 39.f2 h1 40.xd4 1-0
1664 A38 Nagle,Sean 2376 Perelshteyn,Eugene 2579 HB Global Chess Challenge (4.24) 20.05.2005 [John Watson] 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xd4 8.xd4 The old Main Line of the Symmetrical English. Now White tries out a move played in a few games (see my references a few columns ago). 0-0 9.c5 d6 10.cxd6 e8! 11.b4 xd6 12.0-0 a5 13.b3 e6 14.d5 a4 Black decides to find out where White's queen is going. 15.b4!? [ 15.d3= ] 15...xd5 16.xd5! a5! White can't avoid the exchange and Black's pieces come out 1679
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 quickly: 17.xa5 xa5 18.d1 c8 19.f4? 16.fd1 d4 looks fine, because 17.e3 Searching for activity, but the stodgy g4 18.f3 e6 gives Black the initiative. ] [ 19.b1 c2 20.f1 would have held on. ] 14.g5! c2 15.xe7 xe7 16.xe7 e8 19...a3! 20.ab1 axb2 21.b3 b5! 17.ac1 d4 18.a3 xe2+ 19.xe2 22.d2 g5! 23.e3 c1+ 24.d1 xb1 xe2 20.f3 0-1 [ jw: 20.fd1! f6 ( 20...xb2?? 21.d8+ g7 22.f8+ ) 21.c7 and you have to like White's chances. ] 1665 A38 20...d2 21.fd1 xd1+ 22.xd1 f6 Naundorf,Maik 2066 Drawn(??) [ Apparently W hite got cold feet. 22...f6 Pruess,Wilfried 2130 23.b3! and Black st ill has problems getting MM SVR VL I Ruhrgebiet (4) 06.11.2005 his bishop out without the simple loss of his [John Watson] b-pawn. Perhaps a5 24.e1 e6 25.xb7 d8 could be tried, but White is still a pawn O u r f r i e n d M a i k N a u n d o r f s e n d s u s ye t up after the simple 26.f3 ] a n o t h e r g a m e wi t h a l i n e f o r W h it e t h a t doesn't seem to be going away. Here we ½-½ re vis it o u r o ld Fe b ru a ry 2 00 5 co lu mn b y examining an early deviation in the old mainA38 line Symmetrical English. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 1666 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.c3 c6 6.d4 cxd4 Shchekachev,Andrei 2592 7.xd4 0-0 8.c5 This is the move we looked Gharamian,Tigran 2239 a t i n s o m e d e t a i l . B l a c k h a d b e t t e r b e 2nd Open La Fere FRA (4) 30.06.2003 prepared! xd4 9.xd4 To repeat a clip of [Tony Kosten] what I said there: Here's the starting point of the variation, used successfully by Sergio 1.f3 f6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 c5 4.d4 cxd4 Giardelli of Argentina and a few others. By 5.xd4 c6 6.g3 g7 7.g2 0-0 8.c2 not castling, W hite has gotten c5 in before [ 8.0-0 is the mainline, but this move makes Black's ...d6. If Black has to accept an positional sense as with more space White isolated d-pawn after ...d6, cxd6, and ...exd6, should theoretically want to keep more the would of course be a victory for White. d6 pieces on the board. ] 10.cxd6 e8! 11.h4 In that column I 8...d6 9.b3 a5 A typical plan, as the queen discussed, along with 11.Qh4, the moves 11. o f t e n h e a d s f o r h 5 t o p l a y . . . B h 3 , a n d Qc5, 11.Qf4, 11.Qd3, and 11.Qb4. All were possibly ...Ng4, but here Black has another f o u n d t o b e s a t i s f a c t o r y f o r B l a c k w i t h idea in mind. accurate play. xd6 12.0-0 [ 9...f5 (to provoke e4 and shut the g2[ 12.d5 f5 13.b4 e6 14.c3 d4 bishop's diagonal) 10.e4 g4 11.d2 a6 Choma-Poecksteiner, Dos Hermanas 2003 ] 12.e3 a5 13.b2 e6 14.0-0 12...f5!? Maybe not best, although playable leads to a position where White has a nice (see the next note). spatial edge, Portisch,L-Stein,L/Mar del [ A g o o d m o v e i s 12...e6! . It's hard to Plata 1966. ] believe that W hite has much if anything 10.d2 g4!? Is this tactical innovation here. ] preparation? Certainly my Fritz likes it a lot, at [ Also adequate proved 12...d7 13.e4 ( But first. 13.d1! is critical) 13...e5 14.xd8 axd8 [ 10...h5 i s a n o t h e r i d e a , 11.h3 15.b3 b5= in Kubicek-Poulsson, Dresden (to stop ...Bh3) e5 12.c1 b8 13.e3 1969 ] b6!? Black allows White to embarrass his 13.b4 d4? queen, 14.f4 b7!? Nenashev, A[ 13...a5!? might help in lines with b3 (...a4!) Khalifman,A/Tashkent 1987 and now White and Black can also play for ...b5: 14.a3 should grab the piece by ( if 14...ed7 b8! 15.f4 ( 15.d1 d7 ) 15...e5 15.d4 looks promising for White) 15.g4! 1680
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 exg4 16.hxg4 xg4 17.xb7 g3+ 18.d2 xb7 as now he has the most incredible tactic: 19.xh7!! the point being, that xh7 20.h1 (attacking the b7-rook) d7 21.g1 wins the queen! ] [ 10...a6?! occurred in a previous Shchekachev game, 11.d5 d8 12.c3 xd5 13.xg7 a5+!? 14.d2 xd2+ 15.xd2 xg7 16.cxd5 and White is well in control, as he will gain use of the c-file in t h is e n d in g, S h c h e k a c h e v, A -L ju b i c, J / Salzburg AUT 2001. ] 11.d5! Well played! White offers a purely positional exchange sacrifice, he could have avoided this by [ 11.a4 f5 12.f3 f6 13.0-0 but his pieces look a little awkward. ] 11...c5 H i t t i n g f 2 a n d a 1 . 12.ce3!? Whenever I see Shchekachev's games I am always a little suspicious, as he is incredibly talented, but often very drunk!! At least, the one time we played together he spent most of his time in the toilet, but played well and then spoiled everything with a one-move blunder! [ 12.0-0! i s s i m p l e a n d s t r o n g : xa1 13.xa1 and Black is in trouble, i.e. f6 14.c3! threatening b4, when the black queen is unable to escape! ge5 15.e3 a5 16.xa5 xa5 17.c7 regaining the e x c h a n g e w i t h a d v a n t a g e , a s b8? 18.xa7 ] 12...xa1 13.xa1 f6 14.c3 f7?! Black decides to cover the e7-pawn with his king, but [ 14...a5 is a simpler way of stopping b4. ] 15.0-0 d4 16.c1 White has to keep queens on the board, as he hopes to gain time on the black queen which is stuck far from d8. xe3 17.xe3 g4!? [ 17...e5 is a better square. ] 18.c7! b8 19.d5+ e6 Obviously forced, [ 19...g7?? 20.h6+ drops a rook. ] 20.f3 Having created a weakness, the bishop returns with gain of tempo, which is why g4 was not the best square for the black queen. f5?! 21.b5 It is clear that the d6pawn will soon be lost. d8? This should lose on the spot, [ 21...h3 was necessary, to cover h6, alth ou gh a f t e r 22.xd6+ g7 23.d2 White has a superb position. ]
22.c5? Played to obstruct the c5-square, but [ 22.g4! e5 23.xc6 bxc6 24.f4 wins the hapless black queen! ] 22...h3! And not [ 22...dxc5? when 23.g4! e5 24.f4 wins. ] 23.xd6+ g8 24.e4 The white pieces run rings around the black rooks. f8 25.g2 h5 26.f3 h3 27.d1 e5 28.h6 f7 29.g2 h5 30.d6 The threat to capture on f 6 wi n s t h e g a m e , a s i t i s i m p o s s i b le t o defend. e6 A desperate resource. [ 30...f5 31.c4 pins the rook and wins f6 anyway. ] 31.xe6 d4 This forks e2 and e6, but White has seen further. 32.f3! [ 32.f3 xe2+ 33.xe2 xe2 34.xf6+ le ave s W h ite a h ea d o n m at erial with a crushing attack. ] 1-0
1667 Zhou Jianchao Yu,Yangyi Danzhou 4th (5) [Fier, Alexandr]
A38 2607 2675 24.05.2013
Yu Ya n gyi sim p ly cop ie d h is o p p o n e n t 's moves, and this idea can't be underestimated! Instead, black players with a taste for adventure can try the dxc4 lines, while White also has an interesting alternative to 9.Ne5. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g3 d5 5.d4 g6!? An interesting and almost never played alternative. Black tries to keep the tension in the center and holds the symmetry. [ 5...cxd4 is the main move, and after 6.xd4 dxc4 7.xc6 xd1+ 8.xd1 bxc6 9.g2 d5 10.e3 e6 11.xc4 a6 it is not clear if Black can fully equalize. ] [ 5...dxc4 is a bit dubious 6.d5 b4 7.e4 g4 8.xc4! xf3 9.xf3 c2+ 10.f1 was Ftacnik, L (2602)-Lesiege, A (2561)/ Montreal 3rd 2002, when xa1 11.e5 is quite good for White. ] 6.g2 [ 6.dxc5 d4 7.b5 e5 8.g5 xc5!? is basically Ftacnik's position with reversed colours! ( 8...e7 9.xf6 xf6 10.d6+ 1681
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 looks promising but Black creates some f8 11.g2 ) 9.xf6 xf6 10.c7+ f8 good counterplay with the pawns a6 12.c6 11.xa8 e4 with a strong attack ] axb5 13.cxb7 xb7 14.xb7 bxc4 6...g7 15.c6+ f8 16.xa8 xa8 17.0-0 d5 [ 6...dxc4 7.d5 a5 ( 7...b4?! 8.e5 with chances for both sides ) g7 9.xc4 ) 8.0-0 g7 9.h3 b6 10.e4 A) 11...xd4 12.exd4 xd4 13.c6 b7 11.f4 0-0 12.c2 enters a typical and this pawn makes all the difference position with compensation for the pawn. xc4 ( 13...b8 14.e3 xc4 15.c1 Here some people like to try to push these b4+ 16.d2 b5 17.c7 a8 18.0-0 white pawns and some people think Black is 0-0 19.b3 xb3 20.axb3 is just lost for just a pawn up, it depends a lot on personal Black. The pieces are tied because of the taste. In this correspondence game White c7-pawn. ) 14.b3 ( 14.cxb7 xb7 won, but the game finished in a position that 15.xb7 b4+ ) 14...xb3 15.axb3 b8 is n ot c lea r at all, so m aybe B lac k ju st 16.xa7 bxc6 17.xc6+ f8 18.h6+ s t o p p e d p la y in g i n Ha n se n , M ( 2 5 1 0 ) g8 19.d2 with complete domination; Veinger, I (2605)/ Bozidar Kazic mem corr B) 11...0-0 12.0-0 xd4 13.exd4 xd4 1998. ] 14.e3 xc4 15.c1 a6 16.c3 xa2 7.dxc5 A solid option, but Black can keep the 17.h6 g7 18.xd3 xb2 19.b1 position level by simply copying White! a2 20.cc1 and with the c6 ideas [ 7.0-0! 0-0! and here White needs to finally together with the pressure on the d o s o m e t h i n g ( 7...dxc4 8.d5 a5 queenside White is clearly better. ] transposes to 6...dxc4 ) [ 7...a5 playing in Grunfeld style looks A) 8.cxd5 xd5 9.xd5 xd5 10.e3 good but White has a strong resource transposes to a Grunfeld Fianchetto! Here A) 8.0-0 dxc4 9.a4 xa4 10.xa4 Black has different plans, but a funny one f5=; was f5!? ( 10...cxd4 is normal 11.xd4 B) 8.cxd5 xd5 9.xd5 xc3+ 10.bxc3 c4 12.xc6 bxc6 ) 11.h4 e4 12.f3 ( 10.d2 xd2+ 11.xd2 xc5 12.c1 f5 13.f2 c8 Mochalov, E (2428) b6 ) 10...xc3+ 11.d2 xa1 12.0-0 Nepomniachtchi, I (2632)/EU-Cup 25th 0-0 13.b2 xa2 14.a1 c4 15.h6 Ohrid 2009; f6 16.g5 f7 17.xf7 xf7 and after B) 8.dxc5 d4 ( 8...dxc4 9.a4 a5 all Black has nothing to complain about; 10.xc4 e6 11.h4 xc5 12.g5 f5 C) 8.d4! other moves bring no problems looks dangerous for Black but it's still ok, for Black: 13.e4 c8 14.e3 c4 15.d5 h6 C1) 8...e4 is strongly refuted by 16.xf6+ exf6 17.f3 e8 ) 9.b5 9.xc6 bxc6 10.0-0 xc3 11.bxc3 e6 h5 10.e3 dxe3 11.xe3 ( 11.fxe3 d7 12.cxd5 exd5 13.xd5! otherwise 12.fd4 f6 13.c3 and the position is everything would be ok cxd5 ( 13...xc5 interesting for both players, maybe White 14.f3 0-0 15.e3 c4 16.d3 can keep the extra pawn, but if not the a n d W h i t e h a s a c l e a r p a w n u p) structure is not good at all.) 11...xb2 14.xd5 b8 15.d6 b7 16.c6+ 12.b1 f6 13.bd4 c7 14.xc6 bxc6 e7 17.f4 with a crushing attack; 15.d4! d8 16.f3 xd4 17.xd4 C2) 8...xd4 9.xd4 h5 10.d2 h3!? ( 17...xd4 18.xc6 xc6 dxc4 11.c6! again this annoying move 19.xc6 ) 18.c3 xg2 19.xg2 g7 b8 12.0-0 0-0 13.d5 xd2 with some pressure for White. ] 14.xe7+ h8 15.xd2 bxc6 16.c3 7...dxc4 xb2! 17.xb2 xb2 18.xc8 xc8 [ 7...d4 is 'ideal', but not possible, 8.b5 19.ad1 c3 and the evaluation of this h5 ( 8...e5? 9.d6+ ) 9.e3 with 0-0 for position is crucial to the entire 7...Qa5 both sides included the position is not so line. I think that with precise play White problematic for Black, but now W hite can must have a good advantage. ] take on d8 with check in case of 9...dxe3 d3 10.fd4 xd4 11.xd4 is better ( 11.exd4 8.xd8+ 1682
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 8.a4 a5 ( 8...0-0 will probably transpose to early 0-0 lines) 9.xa5 xa5 10.f4 d7 is not so scary ] 8...xd8 9.e5 Going for the pawn. [ 9.0-0 has potential d7 ( 9...f5 10.d4 d7 11.db5 0-0 12.d1 c6 13.g5 fd8 14.d2 keeps some pressure) 10.e5 c8 11.d1 an ambitious try ( 11.e3 g4 12.xg4 xg4 planning to play with ...Bxc3 and ...Bxe2 looks satisfactory for Black) 11...xc5 12.xd7 xd7 13.e3 a5 14.d2 ( 14.d5 xd5 15.xd5 b6 16.xb6 axb6 17.xc4 xc3 18.bxc3 d7= ) 14...b6 15.ad1 e6 16.xb7 0-0 ] 9...d7 [ 9...e4 is kind of funny, but why not? If the position stays almost symmetrical until the dust has settled Black should be fine, 10.xe4 ( 10.xe4 xe5 11.c3 e6= ) 10...xe5 11.e3 e6 12.0-0-0 using the only difference between the white a n d b l a c k p i e c e s ! c8 13.d2 c6 14.hd1 0-0 ( 14...f5 15.g2 f7 16.d5 hd8 17.f4 ) 15.d5 fe8 16.f4 getting the bishop pair. ] 10.xc4 xc3+ [ 10...xc5 11.e3 ( 11.b5 de6 ) 11...ce6 12.a5 d4 13.0-0-0 4c6 ] 11.bxc3 xc5 12.e3 e6 [ 12...a4 is maybe still playable, but worse t h a n t h e t e x t 13.a5 0-0 ( 13...xc3 14.d4 ) 14.c4 d7 15.b1 b8 16.b4 b6 17.c5 xc5 18.xc5 e6 19.xe7 bxa5 20.xb8 xb8 21.f6 can be unpleasant for Black. ] 13.xc5 [ 13.a5 c8= ] 13...xc4 14.a4 a6 15.b1 c6? Just blundering a pawn, and even if it's hard for White to win after this, there is no reason to play this way. [ 15...0-0 was natural and I don't see any real problems with Black's position 16.d2 ( 16.xe7? e8; 16.0-0 e8 17.b2 c8 18.xa7 xc3= ) 16...c6 17.hd1 fc8 18.e1 c7 ] 16.xc6+ bxc6 17.xa7! c8 18.b8 xb8 19.xb8 d7 White would have really good winning chances if the bishop reaches c5. Unfortunately there is no time for this.
20.a7 b7 21.a5 [ 21.c5 is n o t go o d b e ca u s e o f a8 and the pawn has no protection ] 21...a8 22.b6 c5 23.f3 c6 Now the bishop protects d8, but Black's king is well placed. Since there is no way to attack c5, W hite needs to go for the kingside. 24.f2 a6 25.g4?! I don't like this move, as now Black can play ...h5 and if g5 the position is too closed [ 25.e4 was natural, followed by Ke3 and expansion on the kingside. ] 25...h8 26.d1 h5 27.g5 b8 28.e4 c4 29.h4 e5 30.e3 a8 31.d8 a7 32.a1 Now the position is a dead draw. d7 33.f6 d3+ 34.f2 xc3 35.xe5 c2+ 36.e3 a2 37.xa2 xa2 38.c3 b3 39.f4 The king has no time to get to e5, since it's attached to the f3-pawn, and after f4 Black just needs to defend against the f5 break. d1 40.e3 b5 41.f4 c2 42.d2 c6 43.e1 b1 44.c3 c2 45.f6 b5 46.c3 c6 47.e1 b1 48.d2 c2 49.e1 b1 ½-½
1668 Berkes,Ferenc Gharamian,Tigran BL 0809 SC Remagen - SC (1.3) [Carsten Hansen]
A39 2645 2560 04.10.2008
1.c4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.0-0 0-0 7.d4 cxd4 8.xd4 xd4 9.xd4 d6 10.d3 b8 [ This move is fairly rare compared with a con tinu ation like 10...a6 . Other options include 10...Bf5, 10...Nd7, 10... Be6 and 10... Qa5. ] 11.f4 [ White has a number of decent moves available at this juncture, but the text move is d e ci d e d ly u n c o m m o n . T h e o n ly li n e m e n t i o n e d i n t h e E C O i s : 11.e3 (this also happens to be the most popular move) a5 ( 11...f5!? 12.d2 b6 13.d4 c8 14.b3 ) 12.d4 f5 13.e4 e6 14.fe1 fe8 15.h3 ( 15.d5!? ) 15...a6 16.e5 dxe5 17.xe5 bd8 18.e2 wi t h a s l i g h t p l u s f o r W h i t e , P s a k h i s 1683
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Alterman, Israel 1991. ] 11...a5 [ Black has a couple of alternatives at this point: A) 11...b6 is the more popular option, e.g. 12.ac1 A) 12...d7 13.fd1 b7 14.b3 xg2 15.xg2 b7+ 16.f3 a6 17.g5 fc8 18.d5 xd5 19.cxd5 h6 20.e3 Contin, D-Diaz Gonzales, J/Andorra 1995; B) 12...e6 13.b3 c8 ( 13...d7 14.d5 ) 14.d5 e8 15.g5 xd5 16.cxd5 g4 17.d2 ec8 18.c6 Calotescu, A-Akcan, U/Izmir 2002; C) 12...b7 13.e4 C1) 13...d7 14.fd1 fd8 15.e2 Demangho n, J-Mou lin, S/Montluco n 1997; C2) 13...c8 14.b3 c6 15.fd1 c7?! ( 15...d7 16.d5 ) 16.d5 xd5 17.cxd5 d7 18.c6 Rotstein, A-Verdes Nadal, R/Balaguer ESP 2007; C3) 13...d7 C3a) or 14.e2!? c5 ( 14...e5 15.fd1 d7 16.d5 fc8 17.b3 ) 15.fd1 c8 16.b4 e6 17.e3 c6 ( 17...d7 18.d5 fc8 19.g4 ) 18.d5 b7 19.f4 Krivoshey, SLecoq, J/Creon 2005; C3b) 14.fd1 c8 15.b3 c5 16.e2 c7?! ( 16...e6 17.e3 d7 18.d5 c7 19.g5 fe8 ) 17.d5 xd5 18.exd5 Yermolinsky, A-Skodzek, A/ Bad Zwesten 1997 ] [ B) 11...a6 A) 12.c5!? is given as bad by corr-GM He em s ot h, bu t it is a ct ua lly pe rf e ct ly playable. Heemsoth's intended refutation is e5 , but ( 12...h5 13.e3 dxc5 14.xc5 xd3 15.exd3 is the better option for Black) 13.g5! dxc5 14.xd8 xd8 15.e4 is clearly better for White.; B) 12.fd1 d7 13.e3! b6?! ( 13...e8 14.ac1; 13...e5 14.d5 e6 15.ac1 ) 14.d5 e8?! ( 14...e5 15.xe5 xe5 16.f4 f6 17.xf6+ exf6 18.a3 e7 19.f3 ) 15.b4! with a substantial plus for W hite, Quist, V-Papudzinski, H/corr 1991 ] 12.ac1 e6 13.b3 a6 14.c2!? [ A new move in this position. Previously
W hite has tried: A) 14.h3 fc8 15.d2 a3 with equality and here the players agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2, Hoffmann, MTeske, H/Germany 1996 ] [ B) 14.fd1 d7 ( 14...fc8!? ) 15.d2 b5?! ( 15...fc8!? ) 16.cxb5 ( 16.d5! d8 17.b4! is much better for White) 16...fc8 17.d5 xd2 18.xc8+ xc8 19.xe7+ f8 20.xd2 xe7 21.bxa6 , and White's queenside pawns are worth more than the piece, Topalov, V-Arnaiz Yanez, M/Tenerife (simul) 1997 ] 14...fc8 15.fc1 b5 16.d5!? This leads to a number of exchanges, resulting in a s l i g h t l y b e t t e r p o s i t i o n f o r W h i t e . xd5 17.xd5 bxc4 18.xe6 fxe6 [ 18...cxd3?? 19.xc8+ xc8 20.xc8+ f8 21.h6 ] 19.xc4 xc4 20.xc4 f7 21.h4!? [ White can obtain a slightly better endgame with 21.c7! xc7 ( or 21...b5 22.g2 f6 23.c4 ) 22.xc7 e5 23.e3 ] 21...b4? [ O n e s q u a r e t o o f a r . W i t h 21...b5! , Black can keep the balance, e.g. 22.c8 xa2 23.xd6 f8 24.d8 f5 25.c8 b1+ 26.g2 e4+ 27.g1 b1+ with a draw by repetition. ] 22.c8! xa2?! [ With this move, Black allows White to start the decisive penetration of Black defensive set-up on the 7th rank. However, the alternative 22...xf4 also leaves White with a c o n s i d e r a b l e a d va n t a g e , e . g . 23.gxf4 xa2 24.c2 a5 25.g2 with a clear advantage for White, though the conversion will take considerable effort. ] 23.xd6! xb3? [ After this move, Black is lost. A somewhat better option is 23...d4 , although White also h as a su bst an tial ad va nt a ge a f t e r 24.xe7 xe2 25.c5 d1+ 26.h2 h6 27.c4 g5 28.b7+ g8 29.e3 , and White should win. ] 24.d7 f8 [ This doesn't look good, but 24...f6 25.c8 is even worse. ] 25.c8 b1+ 26.h2 f5 27.c5?! [ This move is good enough to maintain a winning advantage, but White can force an immediate win with 27.f3! , e.g. e3 28.g4 1684
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xe2+ 29.g3 f6 30.g5 g7 ( or 30...f5 31.xf8+ xf8 32.xe7+ g8 33.d8+ g7 34.f6+ an d it 's ove r) 31.e8+ g8 32.xe7 , and Black can resign. ] 27...b5 28.e3 [ 28.e4!? f6 29.g2 g7 30.c6 also wins for White. ] 28...b3?! [ 28...h5 is slightly more complicated, but White nevertheless still has a direct way to won endgame: 29.c6 b2 30.a8 g7 31.g8 xe2 32.e8+ f6 33.g5+ e5 34.b8+ e4 35.a8+ d5 36.xd5+ xd5 37.xg7 xf2+ 38.g1 , and White wins without too many headaches. ] 29.d4?! [ 29.d8! - see note after White's 31st move. ] 29...b4 30.e3 b3?! [ After 30...e4 31.d8 g8 32.g1 xe3 33.fxe3 b1+ 34.f2 f5+ 35.e1 b1+ 36.d1 b7 37.c1 White is also winning, though it will take quite a few more moves to see it to its conclusion. ] [ However, 30...a5 looks more complicated, but after 31.a8 g7 32.d2 f7 33.d8 , and White is winning. ] 31.f4?! [ White can force Black to enter the game continuation with 31.d8! g8 32.d4 winning immediately. ] 31...g8? [ 31...b2 32.d4 e5 33.d5+ e6 34.a8+- ] [ 31...h6 32.d4+- ] [ 31...b1 32.d8 g8 33.e4 f6 34.d3 b2 35.e5 g7 36.g2 , and Black is left to wait for the execution. ] [ 31...b4 32.d8 g8 33.d2 ] 32.d4 Guarding the f2-pawn and threatening Bh6. f7 Preventing Bh6, but allowing something even more devastating... 33.h8 1-0
1669 Bistric,Faruk Kovalev,Andrei EuTCh Plovdiv BUL (2) [Tony Kosten]
A39 2503 2572 12.10.2003
1.f3 f6 2.g3 c5 3.g2 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 g6 6.c4 g7 7.0-0 0-0 8.c3 xd4 9.xd4 d6 10.d3 a5 An interesting alternative, planning to swing t h e q u e e n o v e r t o t h e k i n g s i d e . 11.h3 The best answer, ready to chase the black queen away from h5. e6 12.d2 h5 Black provokes a kingside weakness. 13.g4 e5 14.b3 Solid, although other moves are possible: [ 14.ac1 d7 15.b3 c5 16.c2 f5 with good counterplay in Schmidt,W-Dvoirys, S/Dortmund 1991. ] [ 14.xb7!? is untried, but has its plus points, ab8 15.d5 and Black cannot capture on b2 as f4 will win his queen, which is short of squares, so xd5 16.cxd5 d7 but White's kingside weakness offers good prospects to the black light-squared bishop. ] 14...d7 15.f4! A new and logical move, [ 15.e4 h5 16.f4!? led to weird complications after c5!? 17.fxe5 xd3 18.exd6 d4+ 19.h1 hxg4 20.dxe7 fe8 21.hxg4 xg4 a little better for Black, Gottschlich,C-Mattick,L/Seefeld 1996. ] 15...c5+ 16.h1 With the threat of f5 hanging in the air. c8!? Black vacates the c 5 - s q u a r e f o r t h e k n i g h t . 17.ac1 White moves the rook off the a1-h8 diagonal, which is very logical but why not play [ 17.f5! as after the nearly forced moves c5 18.f3 d7 19.d5 d8 20.g5 f6 21.e3 White has a serious advantage. ] 17...c5 18.e3 e8 19.b4 d7 20.f5!? White goes for some interesting complications, but they might not be correct, so [ 20.d5 is best, with a small plus. ] 20...xc4 21.d5 Here is the point, e7 is attacked and there is a nasty pin along the cfile. e5!? A good positional move, but no better than the tempting [ 21...e6 when White can play 22.fxe6 fxe6 23.g5! h8 ( 23...exd5 24.xd5+ favours White) 24.e3 d5 25.xc4 dxc4 1685
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 when his bishops offer adequate compensation for the pawn. ] 22.xe7+?! White misevaluates the resulting position, he had a number of decent alternative s, for instance [ 22.fxg6 hxg6 23.c3 e6 24.f6+ xf6 25.xf6 which looks a bit dangerous, although d8 26.cf1 e7 defends. ] 22...xe7 23.f6 e8 Best, although [ 23...xf6!? i s p o s s i b l e , 24.xf6 d7 and White's compensation seems slight. ] 24.fxg7 xg4! [ 24...d7 is also feasible, the knight on e5 balances the white dark-squared bishop. ] 25.d4 e5 26.xd6 [ 26.f4 b5 27.xd6 e6 28.d4 c6 is OK for Black, as the g7-pawn is useless. ] 26...d8 Aiming for an endgame, as the superior pawn structure outweighs the white bishop pair. 27.f6 xe2 28.xb7 [ 28.h6!? is a better try. ] 28...b8 29.g2 xd6 30.xd6 c4 31.d7 xd2 32.xd2 xg7 After the tactics Black has a solid extra pawn. 33.a3?! Too passive for my taste, [ 33.c7 xb4 34.xa7 c4 35.a4 offers reasonable practical chances as the apawn could prove dangerous. ] 33...bd8 34.xd8 xd8 35.c7 a6 Now there is no threat to f7 and it is difficult to create a passed pawn. 36.e7 d1+ 37.h2 d2 38.g3 b5 39.e3 h5 Black has all the advantages necessary to win. 40.b7 g5 41.c3 d7 As next move Black will exchange rooks with ...Rd3+. 0-1
a specialty of several Yugoslavian Grandmasters (Kurajica, Paunovic, Strikovic, and now Bogosavljevic). [ 8.c3 is played nearly automatically. See the guide entitled "Pure Symmetrical - 5 Nf3 Nf6 6 0-0 0-0 7 d4". Usually the only time White can achieve c4-c5 in the event of a poor more such as a6?! , i.e. 9.c5! c7 10.b3 b5 11.f4 d8 12.d2 b7 13.fd1 a7 14.e4 a8 15.ac1 Ruck, R (2535)-Krasniqi, N (2167)/Zuerich 2005. ] 8...g4!? [ Black more often tries to equalize with the s t r a i g h t f o r wa r d 8...xd4 9.xd4 d6 . Now there are two options: A) T h e r e f i n e d 10.b4!? is probably a better try for an edge, though Black is OK here, too: a5 11.a3 dxc5 12.xc5 b6 13.a3 a7 14.c3 e6 ( 14...a6 Kurajica, B (2520)-Cebalo, M (2540)/Pula 1991. 15.d1; I think 14...b7! is the way to go, e.g. 15.d1 a8 ) 15.d1 d7 16.g5 h6 17.xd7 xd7 18.xf6 ( 18.f4! ) 18...xf6 19.d1 c8 20.d5 e6 21.b3 xd5 1/2-1/2 Kurajica, B (2554) -Mohr, G (2480)/ Sibenik 2007.; B) 10.cxd6 e8 11.b4 and now ( 11.d3 is harmless: xd6 12.c3 e6 13.f4 b6 14.xd6?! ad8 15.b5 exd6 16.ab1 d5 0-1 Mozny, M (2385)Brunner, L (2460)/Clichy 1991.) 11...xd6! i s e a s i e s t , f o r i n s t a n c e ( 11...xd6 12.a5! is a little better for White) 12.c3 a5 13.b3 (other queen moves have b e e n p l a ye d , b u t 1 3 . . . B e 6 i s a g o o d universal response to all of them) e6 1670 A39 14.d5 a4 15.b4 xd5 16.xd5 a5 17.xa5 xa5 18.d1 c8 19.f4?! Bogosavljevic,B 2497 ( 19.b1= ) 19...a3 20.ab1 axb2-+ Antic,De 2476 0-1 Nagle, S (2397)-Perelshteyn, E TCh-SRB Prem 2012 (3.1) 19.09.2012 (2507)/Minneapolis 2005. ] [John Bartholomew] 9.b3 Consistent in discouraging ...d7-d6. [ 9.e3!? is an alternative, i.e. d5 10.cxd6 This miniature caught my eye for two reasons: exd6 11.c3 , with a very small advantage 1) White scores very well with the move 8.c5!?, against the IQP. ( 11.xc6 bxc6 12.xc6 and 2) it's a welcome change from the mass b8 )] of theory beginning with 8.Nc3. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.0-0 c6 9...b6 [ 9...a5!? 10.a4 b6 was seen in 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 0-0 8.c5!? A cramping Radusinovic, L (2290)-Blesic, V (2412)/ move - White plays to inhibit ...d7-d6. This is 1686
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Belgrade SRB 2011. Here 11.xc6! dxc6 12.xd8 xd8 13.cxb6 looks promising, as Black has some difficulties collecting the pawn, i.e. a6 14.d2! and a5 becomes a target as well. ] [ P o s s i b l e i s 9...d6 10.cxd6 exd6 , though most wouldn't be willing to accept an isolated pawn so freely. ] 10.c3 [ Weaker is 10.cxb6 Rohrbach, F (2025)Kraft, H (2045)/Germany 1996. After axb6 11.c3 a6 Black has zero problems and is actually slightly for choice. ] 10...bxc5 [ 10...a6!? ] 11.xc5 b8! 12.e3?! Natural, but this hands Black the initiative. f6 [ 12...h5!? ] 13.b3 c7 [ Black can snipe a clean pawn with 13...d5! 14.xd5 ( 14.xd5 xc3 15.b1 a5 16.a4 a6 ) 14...xc3 15.b1 b4 16.c4 xa2 . ] 14.b2 d6 15.d3 a6= The game is equal. 16.c1 d7 [ 16...fc8= ] 17.e2 b7?? A massive blunder. [ 17...b4 18.xb4 xb4= ] 18.xf6! Unexpected, yet totally decisive! xf6 19.c5 Black resigned, as he's losing a piece. An abrupt ending, but hopefully this sheds some light on the unheralded 8.c5!?. The game continuation looks fine, and Black should also be able to equalize with 8...Nxd4 9.Qxd4 d6. 1-0
problem in this line is that he can easily end up in a passive position without any kind of counterplay. 9.e3 d6 10.b3 [ This is main line, but White has a number o f a l t e r n a t i v e s a v a i l a b l e , e . g . 10.ce2 which is my own invention, but not particularly critical, while ] [ 10.de2 ] [ and 10.h3 look better for White as can be seen in the archives (for references see the PDF eBook) ] [ Finally, White has also tried 10.xc6 ] [ and 10.xc6 , but as can be seen in the PGN archives, these lines are not critical for Black ] 10...xd4!? [ This is Black's most popular move and also t h e b e s t i n t h i s p o s i t i o n . 10...ge5?! was played in Timman-Palo, Malmo 2005, which can be found in the PGN archives. ] [ 10...h6?! ] [ 10...a6?! ] 11.exd4 h6 12.b2 [ 12.d2!? is possibly best, and is an old suggestion of Watson's from his first book on the Symmetrical English ("English 1...PQB4') one game went f5 13.d5 a6 14.a4 d7 15.e1 b8 16.f1 Hansen, CuHellers, F Amsterdam 1990. But it is still only played infrequently. ] [ 12.xh6!? is ECO's recommendation. ] 12...f5 13.d5 d7 [ 13...a6 A) 14.a4!? b8 15.b1 d7 16.e1 ( 16.e4!? xb2 17.xb2 b5 18.axb5 axb5 19.c5 dxc5 20.xc5 Landa, KTimofeev, A/Tomsk RUS 2006) 16...b5 17.axb5 axb5 18.xb5 xb2 19.xb2 1671 A39 xb5 20.cxb5 xb5 21.h3 g7 22.b4 Isajevsky, A-Timofeev, A/ Togliatti RUS Bologan,Viktor 2663 2003; Grigoriants,Sergey 2583 B) 14.a4 b5 15.xg7 xg7 16.b2 Aeroflot Open (6) 19.02.2008 b8 17.e1 e8 , Frare, F-Neubauer, M/ [Carsten Hansen] Santos BRA 2003, and now 18.d2 b6 19.ac1; 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 g7 4.g2 0-0 C) 14.d2 5.c3 c5 6.f3 cxd4 7.xd4 c6 8.0-0 C1) 14...b8?! 15.e4 b5 16.xg7 g4 This move is a bit artificial and has been xg7 17.ac1 bxc4 18.bxc4 f5 denounced by both Tony and John in earlier 19.c5 dxc5 20.xc5 Gallardo Garcia, updates, but it remains a popular option for A-Garcia Carbo, M/Cala Mendia 2001; Black. I share the opinion of my predecessors, C2) 14...b5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.fe1 d7 but matters are not 100% cut and dry. Black's 1687
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.cxb5 axb5 21.xc8 xc8 22.c1 b7 17.e2 a5 18.xa5 ( 18.b4!? a7 23.d4+ Lazic, M-Cheparinov, I/Pancevo 19.xg7 xg7 20.g4! h4 21.d4 YUG 2003 ] wi t h t h e b e t t e r c h a n c e s f o r W h i t e) 18...xa5 19.xg7 xg7 20.f4 fa8 14...a5!? [ Black has also tried 14...a6 on several Arkell, K-Hartoch, R/Charlton 1983; occasions, but it is a bit slower than the C3) 14...a5!? 15.fd1 b5!? 16.e4 game continuation, and W hite should be xd2 17.xd2 bxc4 18.bxc4 b8 b e t t e r , e . g . 15.e4 ( 15.e2 xb2 19.xg7 xg7 20.c5 dxc5 21.xc5 16.xb2 b5 17.cxb5 axb5 18.d4 b6 d8= Kaliksteyn, A-Finegold, B/ 19.xf5 xf5 20.fc1 Gallus, GPhiladelphia 2001 ] Szalanczy, E/Budapest 1992) 15...xb2 [ 13...b5 14.cxb5 a5 15.a4 xb2 16.xb2 b6 16.xb2 xb5 17.e1 e8 18.d2 b7 A) Or 17.ac1 d4 18.e2 fc8 19.ac1 Goldin, A-Shabalov, A/ 19.fd1 e5 20.f4 g7 21.f2 ab8 Philadelphia 1998 ] 22.d2 b6 23.e1 c7 Marchik, N-Fish, 14.d2 G/ Alushta 2000, and now 24.a4!? ( 24.g4 [ 14.b1 d4 15.h3?! c8 16.e4 b5 h6 25.g5 f5 26.a4 is also worthy of Silman, J-Cleghorn, P/San Francisco 1977 ] consideration ) 24...h6 25.f3; [ 14.d3 a6 15.d1 ( 15.a4 h5 16.d1 B) 17.fd1 fc8 18.ac1 a5 19.d3 xb2 17.xb2 c8 18.fc1 b5 19.b4 d8 20.d2 f8 21.a4 h6 22.f4 g7 b6 20.cxb5 axb5 21.a5 Labensky, I23.g5 with a depressing position for Krivoshey, S/Rovno 2000) 15...b5 16.xg7 Black, Damljanovic, B-Rajkovic, D/Niksic bxc4 17.xc4 xg7 18.e1 e8 19.e3 1996 ] b6 , Khasin, A-Vratonjic, S/Belgrade 1988, [ Another option is 14...b8 15.e4 xb2 and now 20.g4 ] 16.xb2 b5 17.c5 dxc5 18.xc5 b4 [ 14.b1 a5 ( 14...c8 15.e2 h5 19.fc1 b5 20.d2 ( 20.a3!? is quite 16.e4 xb2 17.xb2 b5 18.fc1 b6 strong, for instance a5 21.axb4 axb4 19.d2 fe8 20.g5 d4= 22.a6 xa6 23.xa6 d7 24.e5 1/2-1/2 Ahman, L-Westerlund, B/corr SSKK , and White dominates) 20...a5 21.a3 d6 1999/MegaCorr3 (27)) 15.d3 ac8 16.a4 22.axb4 axb4 23.xb4 f1 24.e4 xg2 a6 17.fc1 ( 17.e4!? b5 18.xg7 xg7 25.xg2 fd8 26.a7 h5 27.h3 ( 27.b4!? 19.c5! f5 20.g5 dxc5 21.fe1 ) 17...b5! xd5 28.xd5 xd5 29.a6 b6 ) 18.cxb5 axb5 19.xb5 xb2 20.xc8 27...b5 28.b4 xd5 29.xd5 xd5 xc8 21.xb2 c1+ 22.f1 d4 23.g2 , and Black is over the worst problems, and xb5 24.e3 ( 24.axb5 a1 25.d2 in fact went on to win the game, Drasko, Mxf1-+ ) 24...xf1 25.xf1 h3+ 26.g1 Petronic, J/ Niksic 1997 ] d4 27.f4 xd5 28.f2 g2+ Ulibin, M15.fd1 Bradbury, N/Hastings 1990 ] [ White should keep his queen guarded to [ 14.e1 b5 ( 14...e8 15.e2 c8 avoid any number of problems with pins of 16.c1 a6 17.e4 b6 18.xg7 xg7 all kinds. The alternatives are: A) 15.fe1?! 19.d2 a5 20.a4 Munoz Moreno, Flooks logical, but Black has several good Torrecillas Martinez, A/Lleida 1991; 14...c8 continuations: 15.c1 b6 16.c2 a5 17.a1 b4 A) 15...fe8?! isn't sufficiently aggressive: 18.e4 e5 Schlemermeyer, W-Zude, E/ 16.e4 b5 17.cxb5 xb5 18.b4 b6 Germany 1992/GER-chT2) 15.cxb5 c8 19.xb5 xb2 20.xb2 xb5 21.d2 16.c1 a5 17.d3 c5 18.a3 xb5 Becker, M-Koch, H/Trier 1997; 19.d2 h6 20.f4 b6 21.h1 g7 B) 15...ac8!? 16.e4?! ( 16.ad1!? ) 22.b4 c7 23.xb5 xc1 24.xc1 xb2 16...b5! 17.ae1 bxc4 18.bxc4 e5 25.xb2 xb5 26.d2 Ivanov, I-Olafsson, 19.dxe6 xe6 20.f1 , Bergstrom, CH/New York 1991 ] Sjodahl, P/Sundsvall 1989, and now d5 [ 14.e2 c8 15.fc1 d4 16.d1 a6 21.e5 c5 22.cxd5 17.ab1 b5 18.xb5 xb5 19.xg7 xg7 1688
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B1) 22...b8 23.a1 xe5 ( 23...d7 24.f4 bc8 25.e4 ) 24.xe5 d7; B2) 22...d7! 23.d3 d6 24.e7 f5! , and White is in trouble; C) 15...b5!? C1) 16.cxb5 ac8 17.ac1 h6! 18.f4 g7! 19.a4 ( 19.d3 c7 followed by ... Rf c8 is highly unpleasant f or W hite) 19...b4 20.e4 ( 20.h1 fe8 ) 20...fe8 is a very good version of a Benko Gambit for Black; C2) 16.f1!? is probably best, but Black is fine after bxc4 17.xc4 d4 18.g2 fe8 ( 18...e5!? ) 19.e4 e5 20.dxe6 xe6 with chances to both sides; C3) 16.e4?! bxc4 17.xc4 fc8 18.b4 b6 19.xc8+ xc8 20.a3 d4 21.xd4 xd4 , and Black is completely in control over the game, Jensen, KQuattrocchi, G/ ICCF Email ] [ B) 15.ad1 is White's main alternative to the game move, and now fc8?! ( 15...b5!? 16.xb5 xa2 17.xg7 xd2 18.xd2 xg7 19.c3 fb8 20.b1 a5 21.e4 h5 22.c2 ) 16.fe1 a6 17.g4 A) 17...h4?! 18.xe7 d8 19.de1 xg2 20.xg2 xg4 ( 20...f8 21.g5! e6 22.dxe6 xe7 23.xe7 xe7 24.d5+- ) 21.a4 xb2 22.xb2 c7 23.f6 is also pretty ugly for Black; B) 17...h6 is relatively best 18.h3 e8 19.e2; C) 17...h6? C1) Also 18.d3! is strong, e.g. h4 19.h3 g5 ( 19...xg2? 20.xh6!+- ) 20.xe7 d8 21.xd7! xd7 22.e4+-; C2) 18.e2 h4 19.xe7 xg2 20.xg2 g7 ( 20...xg4 21.e4!+- ) 21.xd7 xc3 22.xc3 xc3 23.xd6 , and Black is down two pawns for no compensation, Klicnar, M-Bawart, M/ Budapest 1999 ] 15...ac8 [ In an earlier game Black tried 15...fc8 16.e4 ( 16.e4!? like in our main game makes more sense) 16...ab8 17.xf5 xf5 18.b5 xd2 19.xd2 a6 20.d4 xd4 21.xd4 b5 , and solved his opening problems, Vukic, M-Miljanic, B/Belgrade
1998 ] 16.e4!? xd2 17.xd2 xb2 [ 17...b5!? 18.xg7 ( 18.f1 xb2 19.xb2 t r a n s p o s e s t o t h e g a m e c o n t i n u a t i o n) 18...xg7 19.f1 bxc4 A) or 20.bxc4 h5!? ( 20...c7 21.b1 h6 22.f3 f5 23.d3 leaves White with a tiny plus due to Black's oddly place knight on h6) 21.b2 c7 22.g2 h4 23.g4 h6 24.g5 h3+ 25.g1 f5 wi t h a c o m p l i c a t e d e n d g a m e , w h i c h appears to be fine for Black; B) 20.xc4 b8 21.e1 fc8 22.f3 , and W hite has more space and a position that is somewhat easier to play. ] 18.xb2 b5 19.f1 bxc4 20.bxc4 c7 21.f3 e3 22.e2 fc8 [ This move looks active, but really doesn't do anything to improve Black's position. Instead 22...f5!? 23.d2 f4!? should be strongly considered, for instance 24.ab1 c8! 25.f2 g5 26.d3 h6 , and Black is at worst at a fractional disadvantage ] 23.d2 g7 24.f2 f5 25.g4 h6 26.ab1 f5! Otherwise Black's knight and the rest of his position is left in an awful, passive bind. 27.g5 [ 27.h3 is also possible, but after g5!? W hite is at risk of having his own pawns fixed on light squares. ] 27...f7 28.f4 h6!? 29.h4!? [ 29.gxh6+ xh6 30.h4 is another option to leave the g6-pawn more vulnerable, but the text is the normal move, leaving Black with a fixed weakness and White with an intact pawn structure. ] 29...hxg5 30.hxg5 e5! With this timely break, Black brings his pieces back to life. If Black delayed the pawn break much longer, White would have the opportunity to further strengthen his position by activating his king to d4 and claim a much larger advantage. 31.dxe6 xe6 32.b5 d7 33.a5!? [ 33.b7!? d8 34.xc7 xc7 35.f3 c6 36.b8 e6 37.e3 xf3 38.xf3 f7= ] 33...d8 34.f3 e6 35.g3 c5 36.a3 e8 37.f2 a4? [ 37...e6! 38.g3 ( 38.b7 xb7 39.xb7 xf4 40.xa7 d3+ 41.f3 e7 , and Black is fine ) 38...c5= ] 38.e3?! 1689
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ I don't fully agree with the decision to swap a pair of rooks of the board. I feel that on account of White's more active pieces, he should have kept the pieces on the board. In fact 38.d3!? looks very interesting, e.g. e6 39.d5 e8 40.g2! , and now it looks like White isn't making any progress after e6 , but then White's real plan emerges: ( 40...c8! 41.h1 ce7 42.f3 e6 43.a3 d7 44.b3 is a better option for Black, but nevertheless still better for White ) 41.h1 b6 42.dh3 (this move wasn't possible with the bishop on f3, which is why the manoeuvre Bf3-d5-g2 had to be played) e8 43.h7+ f8 44.1h6 ( 44.a4!? ) 44...d5 45.a4! dxc4 46.a5! (White wants Black to remove his knight on b6 t o a llo w t h e b ish op to go to d5 wit h devastating effect) c3 47.b3 c2 48.c1 c4 49.d5 , and it is goodnight to Black. The continuation in the game is a typical time trouble move. ] 38...xe3 39.xe3 White has a slight advantage in this endgame or as Flear calls it in his excellent "Practical Endgame Play Beyond the Basics", a 'NQE' (not quite endgame) on account of his more active pieces and the fact that Black's kingside pawns are fixed on light squares, the colour of his light-squared bishop. Nevertheless, Black's position is quite solid and very difficult to break down as we shall see. However, Bologan is rarely deterred by such matters and continues searching for an advantage, and is rewarded for his effort, only to miss the opportunity handed to him... b6 40.d4 e6 41.e2 f8 42.h1 g7 43.a3 f8 44.h3 g7 45.c3 f8 46.h3 g7 47.e3 f7 48.b3 e6 49.b4 d7 50.d1 e6 51.a4 c5 52.b3 f8 53.f3 [ Also 53.b1!? is worthy of consideration, e. g. e7 54.c3 , though Black should hold the balance after d7 55.d1 e6 56.e2 d7 ] 53...e7?? [ This perfectly normal-looking move is in fact a clear mistake that allows White an option to capitalize on an over-burdened pawn, the one on d6 to win at least a very crucial pawn. Instead 53...f7! would have been right: 54.e1 e8 55.d3 a5 56.c5 dxc5+
57.xc5 c6 , and White has a slight initiative, but no more than that. ] 54.e1?? [ White returns the favor my missing the very strong 54.e5! dxe5+ ( at first glance 54...f7 looks like it will hold up, but after 55.a5! a8 56.b8! c7 57.b7 White wins easily, e.g. e8 58.d3 c6 59.a4 , and it is closing time for Black) 55.xc5 d7+ 56.c6 exf4 57.b7 f3 58.d1 f2 59.e2 , and the last-ditched hopes for Black have evaporated. ] 54...d7 From here onwards, the balanced equality doesn't tip to either side 55.d3 a5 56.c5 dxc5+ 57.xc5 c6 58.d3 xa4 [ 58...xa4?? 59.e5+- ] 59.xa4 xa4 60.xa4 xa4 61.e5 e6 62.xg6 b6 63.e5 d5 64.d3 e7 65.c5+ d6 66.b7+ e6 67.c5+ ½-½
1672 Bu Xiangzhi Zhang,Ziyang zt 3.5 Shandong CHN (2) [Carsten Hansen]
A39 2656 2323 29.04.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 g6 6.g3 g7 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 xd4 9.xd4 d6 10.d3 a6 11.d2 b8 12.ac1 d7!? [ 12...b5!? is in my opinion the most active and best option for Black A) The alternative is 13.c5 A1) or 13...b4?! 14.a4 a5 15.b3 f5 16.e4 d7? ( 16...e6 17.c6 ) 17.c6+S.Minero Pineda-A.Murillo, Costa Rica 1994; A2) 13...f5 14.e4 dxc5 ( also 14...e6 15.d5 dxc5 16.xc5 d7 17.c2 e5 , N.Krogius-S. Martinovic, Sarajevo 1968, and now 18.b3 d7 19.f4 leaves White with the better chances ) 15.xd8 bxd8 16.e3 ( 16.g5 e6 17.e5 g4 18.xe7 xe5 19.xd8 xd8 20.fd1 , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2, in A. Dokutchaev-V.Filippov, Moscow 1994 Black has adequate compensation for the exchange.) 16...e6 17.xc5 1690
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.c7 is one random line; fe8 18.fd1 d7 19.b4 e5 A2b) 17.b4 xg2 18.xg2 d7 ( 19...c8!?= seems more solid and 19.c2 fc8 20.fc1 xc2 21.xc2 better to me) 20.d5 g4 ( 20...xd5 h5= D, Anic-N.Spiridonov, Montpellier 21.exd5 f6 22.h3 ) 21.xe7+ h8 1991; 22.xd8 xd8 23.a5 d3 24.c3 B) 15.g5 h6 16.e3 b4 17.d5 e6 ( Now 24.c6! e8 25.d5 18.f4 d5 19.fd1 e5 ( 19...d4!? looks good f or W hite his pie ces are appears to improve, e.g. 20.d2 e5 ac t ive a n d we ll-p la ce d) 24...xb2 21.b1 a6= ) 20.d2 a6 21.c5 e8 25.xd8 xc3= G.Beikert-A.Kosten, 22.xb4 b7 23.c5+- C.Grushka-F. Naujac sur Mer 2004; Pierrot, Buenos Aires 1991 ] B) 13.cxb5 was covered in Damjanovic[ 13...b6 14.fd1 b7 15.e4 f5 16.e2 Ma c ie j a a s c a n b e f o u n d i n t h e P G N c5 17.exf5 xf5 , so far D.Majer-T. archives ] Weiland, Giessen 1994, and here 18.xb7 13.b3 c5 xb7 19.b4 d7 20.f4 is just better for [ Black has a couple of other alternatives that White ] also deserve attention at this juncture: A) 13...e5 14.c2 ( or 14.e4 b5 15.cxb5 14.c2 [ This appears to be White's best line, axb5 16.h4 f6 17.b4 e6 18.d5 alth ou gh W hite h as t ried several o th e r xd5 19.xd5 d7 20.c2 M.Labollita-P. things: A) 14.b1 b5 ( Or 14...d7 15.b4 B a r r i o n u e v o , T r e s d e F e b r e r o 2 0 0 3) a4 16.xa4 xa4 17.c3 c6 18.xg7 14...c6 ( also 14...d7 leads to a better xg7 19.fd1 c7 B.Golubovic-O.Jovanic, game for White, e.g. 15.h3 c6 16.e4 f5 K a s t a v 2 0 0 1 20.e4 ) 15.cxb5 axb5 17.f4 d7 , J.Sekanina-L.Jokl, Moravia 16.d5 b7 17.g5 xd5 18.xd5 d7= 1994, and now 18.ce1 ) 15.fd1 d7 W.Uhlmann-J.Smejkal, Arandelovac 1976 ] 16.e3 a5 17.d2 e6 18.d5 xd2 [ B) 14.e3 19.xd2 fd8 20.f4 L.Meinberger-F.Ullrich, A) 14...e6 15.fd1 e8 16.h4 h5 German Bundesliga 1982 ] 17.e4 xe4 18.xe4 c7? ( 18...c8 [ B) 13...b5 14.cxb5 axb5 19.c3 ) 19.xg6+- R.Skrobek-P.Delekta, A) 15.d5 The idea behind this move is Slupsk 1992; to put the knight on b4 and from there B) 14...d7 15.d5 ( 15.fd1 b5 take control over the c6-square, but Black 16.cxb5 axb5 17.d5 e6 18.b4 b6 appears to have adequate resources: e5 19.c3 xc3 20.xc3 V.Moret-C. ( 15...b7 is an important alternative Claverie, Epinal 2002) 15...e6 16.b6 16.b4 c5 17.e3 xg2 18.xg2 d4 17.fe1 xb6 18.xb6 g4 d7= M.Tempone-P.Zarnicki, Buenos 19.f1 c6 20.b4 A.Panchenko-A. Aires 2003 ) 16.e3 Dominguez Matito, Badalona 1997; A1) or 16...e6 17.b4 b7 18.xb7 C) 14...f5 15.fd1 e8 16.e4 xe4 ( 18.c6 doesn't amount to anything for 17.xe4 xe4 18.xe4 b6 19.c3 White: xc6 19.xc6 xc6 20.xc6 xc3 20.xc3 b4 21.d4 bc8 c8 21.fc1 xc6 22.xc6 a8 22.f3 R.Tiggelman-C.Hibbard, ICCF 23.xd6 xa2= I.Snape-A.Corkett, Email 2001; West Bromwich 2004) 18...xb7 19.c2 D) 14...b5 c7 20.fc1 c5 21.h3 d7 22.d3 D1) 15.cxb5 axb5 16.d5 xc2 23.xc2 b8= A.Poluljahov-I. D1a) 16...e6 is suggested by Ribli, Smikovski, Tomsk 2001; but with no f urther analysis given , A2) 16...b7 however, W hite seems to be able to A2a) 17.a7!? aims to penetrate on obtain a rather clear advantage in the weak dark squares on the Black's more than one way: 17.b4 ( both queenside e6 18.a5 ( 18.b4!? ) 17.b4!? d7 18.c3 fc8 19.xg7 18...a8 19.xd8 xa7 20.b6 a6 xg7 20.fd1; and 17.c2 d7 21.e7+ h8 22.xb7 xb6 1691
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.fc1 xd5 19.xd5 e6 20.g2 fc8 21.b4 leave White with a small but clear advantage ); D1b) 16...e6?! (this move is called dubious by Ribli because it weakens Black's pawn stru cture, but Ribli's suggested improvement - see next note - is far from ideal. Therefore the text appears to represent best play f r o m B l a c k ) 17.b4 b7 18.c6 ( 18.xb7 has proven fruitless: xb7 19.fd1 a8 20.f3 d7 21.f4 xf3 22.exf3 b7= , and Black shouldn't have any problems responding to the remainder of White's p r e s s u r e , M . K r a s e n k o w- K . A r k e l l , Hastings 1993) 18...xc6 19.xc6 b6 20.g2 a6 21.c2 b4 22.fc1 b5 23.f4 e5 24.h4 a5 25.h6 , and White has the initiative, Z. Velickovic-E.Bukic, Portoroz 1994, for example b8 26.e7 b6 ( 26...xa2? 27.xa2 xa2 28.c7 e8 29.xc5 loses for Black) 27.d1 c8 28.e3 a7 29.h4 , and White continues to apply pressure on Black's position; D2) 15.b4 e6 16.a7 d7 17.cxb5 axb5 18.e3 h8 19.fd1 f5 20.a5 e8 21.a7 c8 22.d5 xc1 23.xc1 . A. Dunnington-L.Cooper, Walsall 1997, f4 24.b6; D3) 15.d5 e6 D3a) 16.fd1 xd5 17.cxd5 ( 17.xd5 b4= ) 17...b4! 18.h3 a5 19.c4 b5 20.dc1 b8 is c alle d e qu al by E CO a s p er t h e game Ki. Georgiev-J.Gdanski, Budapest 1993, but I nonetheless still think White's chances are preferable; D3b) 16.c3 xc3 , and the players agreed upon a draw, 1/2-1/2, J.BanyW .S ch mid t, Po zn an 19 84 th is ca n hardly be called a test of White's 16th move, which appears to leave White with the slightly better chances 17.xc3 xd5 18.cxd5 b4 19.d4 d7 20.e4 f6 21.c4 a5 22.f4 g4 23.e3 , and White's pressure has become evident; D3c) 16.b4!? is a suggestion of
Ribli's that has yet to be tested, but it will likely end up transposing to the main line; D3d) 16.cxb5!? axb5 17.b4 d7 18.c3! (White exchanges the darksqu a re d b ish op s, wh ich will le a ve Black's king-side permanently weakened) xc3 19.xc3 bc8 20.fc1 D3d1) 20...h3? is much worse, e. g. 21.d5+- ( or 21.xh3 xh3 22.d5+- ); D3d2) 20...c7 21.d4 fc8 ( 21...h3 22.d5 ) 22.h4! with significant pressure for White in B.Kantsler-A.Blees, Tel Aviv 1999 Black's problem is that a natura l move like ...h7-h5 know weakens the kingside even further, this is an issue that is even more evident after the departure of the dark-squared bishops ] 14...b5 [ Or 14...f5 15.e4 e6?! ( 15...d7 ) 16.d5 f5 17.b4 d7? 18.f4+, and the wheels are falling off Black's game in rapid fashion, M.Erdeljan-P.Klaic, corr 1971 ] 15.b4 [ White has two other attractive possibilities: A) 15.cxb5 axb5 16.d5 e6 17.fd1 xd5 18.xd5 b4 19.c4 a5 20.a4 e6 21.c6 fc8 22.b5 V.Loginov-H.Beck, Oberwart 1994 ] [ B) 15.d5 e6 16.f4 A) or 16...b7 17.xb7 xb7 18.fd1 b4 ( 18...bxc4 19.xc4 b8 20.e3 ) 19.d3 a5 20.xc5 xc5 21.e3 c6 22.d2; B) 16...b4 17.d3 xd3 18.xd3 b7 19.fd1 xg2 20.xg2 a5 21.a4 P. Bielak-J.Szczepaniak, corr 1992 ] 15...e6 [ 15...d7 16.cxb5 axb5 17.d5 e6 18.xc8 xc8 19.xc8 xc8 20.e7+ h8 21.xc8 xc8 22.c1 xc1+ 23.xc1 C.Adelman-A.Gillen, Ireland 1992 ] 16.cxb5 axb5 17.e3 [ Also 17.d3 offers White excellent chances of an advantage: d4 1692
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A) or 18.e3 f5?! ( 18...e5 19.d5 e8 20.fe1 ) 19.d2 e5 20.g5 b6 ( 20...d7 21.d5 is quite unpleasant for Black, e.g. e6 22.e3 f6 23.xf6 xf6 24.exd4 e4 25.xf6+ xf6 26.c7+- ) 21.d5 a6 22.e3 e6 23.e7+L.Espig-G. Wall, Berlin 1994; B) 18.e3 f5 19.e4 e6 20.d5 a8 ( 20...xd5 21.exd5 a8 22.e3 f5 23.c2 xe3 24.xe3 a4 25.a3 ) 21.a3 a7?? 22.e3 xd5 23.exd5 , and Black resigned, 1-0, G.Tantsis-N. Solidakis, Kavala 1999 ] [ 17.e3 b7 18.d5 e8 19.c3 c8 20.b3 xc3 21.xc3 xc3 22.xc3 L.Kwatschewsky-H.Beck, Austria 1995 ] 17...b7 18.d5 d4 19.xd4 xd4 20.d2 f5 21.e4 xd5 22.exd5 b6 23.fe1 (Black's position still looks more or less playable, but he has serious long-term problems on the kingside where W hite can launch an attack with the combined forces of his queen, bishop, a rook and the kingside pawns, while Black will have a hard time transferring any of his pieces to the defence. Therefore, at this juncture, W hite is clearly better) fc8 24.h3 d4 25.e3 c4 26.a3 c7 27.xc4 xc4 (While exchange s will normally ease the defender's burden, in this case White's attacking potential remains t h e s a m e a n d B l a c k st i ll d o n 't h a ve a n y pieces that can assist the king in the u p c o m in g b a t t le f o r t h e k in gs id e ) 28.d1 e2+ 29.g2 c3 30.d4 c7 31.g4 a8 32.f3 xa3?? [ This throws the game in the toilet. A better choice is 32...e8 33.h6 e5 34.dxe6 fxe6 ( or 34...xe6 35.c1 d5 36.d3 c6 37.g5 ) 35.d3 e5 36.d2 e4 37.xc3 exf3+ 38.xf3 and White has a substantial advantage thanks to Black's open kingside and weak pawns. ] 33.h4 (All of a sudden, Black doesn't have any defense against White's threat of Qh6) h5 34.xh5! b1 [ Or 34...gxh5 35.g5+ f8 36.xh5 e8 37.h8+ d7 38.f5+ e6 39.xf7# ] 35.h6 c3 36.xg6 1-0
1673 Damljanovic,Branko Macieja,Bartlomiej EuTCh Plovdiv BUL (5) [Tony Kosten]
A39 2589 2635 15.10.2003
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 g6 4.g2 c6 5.0-0 g7 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 xd4 8.xd4 0-0 9.c3 d6 10.d3 a6 11.d2 This move seems to be taking over from [ 11.e3 as the mainline. ] 11...b8 Planning ...b5. 12.ac1 Normal, but I prefer [ 12.c5! look at my analysis of Vaganian,RHeinemann,T. ] 12...b5! This is the problem. 13.cxb5 [ 13.b3 might be simpler, f5 14.e4 d7 15.h3 bxc4 16.xc4 Shneider,A-Kasparov, G/Lyon 1994, and now Kasparov should have playe d b6 - this was a famous loss against a player rated at 2500! ] 13...axb5 14.xb5 f5 15.e4 [ 15.c4 e6 16.a4 ( 16.d3 f5 repeats ) 16...d7 17.c6 xc6 18.xc6 d7 19.fc1 h3 is awkward for White, his pieces are far away from the kingside. ] 15...xe4! This is the tactical justification. 16.xe4 xe4 17.xe4 xb5 A weird position has arisen - which is more important, the two passed queenside pawns or the strong central pawns? 18.b4 d5 19.d3 b7! Gufeld's suggestion, and improving on [ 19...d7 20.a4 bb8 ( 20...b7 21.b5 is similar, Minero Pineda,S-Barrios,C/Costa Rica 1997 ) 21.b5 e5 22.c6 and the white pawns got there first in Georgiev, K-Gufeld, E/Calcutta 1992. ] 20.a4 Now this move doesn't gain a tempo on the black rook. e5 21.c5!? White tries to get behind the black pawns, but [ 21.b5 is still possible: e4 22.c2 e8 23.c6!? with chances to both sides. ] 21...e4 22.a6 [ 22.xd5? drops a piece to d7 ] 22...b6 23.a5 d4 The black pawn s are further advanced than the white pawns, but where will they go next? 24.d5 This doesn't seem to lead anywhere, perhaps [ 24.e1 f5 25.b5 is better. ] 24...f6 25.d7 e6 26.d5 h5!? 1693
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 The advance of the h-pawn combined with a possible ...e3 will help weaken the white kingside. 27.f4 h4 28.b5 h3 29.g5 Probably the safest, without queens there is little chance of W hite getting mated on g2. xg5 30.xg5 e3!? 31.fxe3 dxe3 32.e1 fe8 33.d3 e2 34.f2 White seems to have taken the sting out of the black pawn's advance, now he has to get his own pawns going. e4 35.e3! White cannot hang on to his a-pawn: [ 35.a3?! d4+ 36.f3 c5 37.a2 f6! 38.c1? g5 planning mate in one with ... g4. ] 35...xa4 36.xe2 b4 37.b6 White seems better, his b6-pawn is passed while the f7pawn is not too important yet. e5 38.c2 f6 39.c6?! [ 39.g4! is good, planning Kg3xh3, as if xg4? White makes a queen: 40.c8+ g7 41.b7 g2+ 42.e1 g1+ 43.e2 g2+ 44.d1 b5 45.b8 xb8 46.xb8 xh2 47.d4 and White should win. ] 39...g7 40.f3 f5+ 41.e2 e5 42.d1!? risky, White could accept the repetition by [ 42.f3 f5+ ] 42...a5 [ 42...b1+ 43.c1 b2 looks equal. ] 43.c2 g5 44.c5 The bishop is needed to d e f e n d b 6 . bb5 45.f2 a1+ 46.e2 h1!? Black has to balance the control of the b6-pawn with his attempt at counterplay. 47.f3 f6 The pawn is poisoned: [ 47...xh2?? 48.d4+ ] 48.e3 [ 48.c5! is stronger, White can then win the h3-pawn by Kg4. ] 48...b4! Stopping the king from getting to g4. 49.c7? [ 49.c5 is again best, White loses his sense of danger. ] 49...g5 W i t h a n a s t y t h r e a t . 50.dd7?? A bad blunder, [ 50.g4 is obligatory, xh2 51.dd7 h1 52.xf7+ g6 53.f8 h2 54.g8+ h6 55.g2 holds the game. ] 50...g4+ Now the white king is caught in a mating net. 51.e2 b2+? Letting the king escape, no doubt both players were in time trouble as otherwise Black would have found
[ 51...b3! 52.xf7+ g6 53.b7 xh2+ 54.f1 b1+ 55.c1 e5 and White can resign. ] 52.d3 d1+ [ 52...g6! ] 53.e4 xd7 54.xd7 xh2 55.d1?! An odd choice, [ 55.f5 b2 56.xg4 h2 57.d1 should lead to a draw. ] 55...g6! 56.f4? What about the old 'rook behind pawn' adage? [ 56.b1 b2 (forced) 57.xb2 xb2 58.g1 f6 59.f4 h5 60.h2 e5+ 61.f5 looks like a draw as Black cannot make any progress, e.g. c3 62.f4 ] 56...b2 Black knows it! 57.c7 e7!? [ 57...c3! 58.d5 a5 59.c6 b3 is strong, Black will be able to take on b6 with his bishop and then on g3 with his rook when his 3 pawns will be far advanced. ] 58.d5 g5! 59.c6 It looks like White is back in the game again, but he has a nasty surprise awaiting him! c2+ 60.d7 b2 61.c8 h2 62.b7 e3 The only move, the threat to play ...Bg1 gains Black time to stop t h e b -p a wn . 63.h1 a7 64.b8 xb8 65.xb8 f5 White has won a piece, but it turns out that he is quite lost, he can't stop ... Ke4-f3-g2! 66.a7 e4 67.f1 g2 68.d7 xg3 69.h1 d3+ 70.e7 g3 71.b8 f3 [ 71...g2 is a ls o s im p l e , 72.e1+ e3 73.xe3+ xe3 74.xh2 f5 ] 0-1
1674 Gelfand,Boris Krasenkow,Michal EuTCh Leon ESP (4) [Tony Kosten]
A39 2701 2592 09.11.2001
Sometimes you see a game where Black played reasonable moves- and lost easily anyway! This game gives the strong impression that Black's tenth move should be avoided in the future. 1.f3 c5 2.c4 c6 3.d4 cxd4 4.xd4 f6 5.g3 g6 6.g2 g7 7.0-0 0-0 8.c3 g4 [ An interesting alternative to the 'normal' 8...xd4 ] 9.e3 d6 1694
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 9...xd4 10.exd4 h6 , planning to pressure the d-pawn, by ...Nf5, had a bout of popularity a few years go, but 11.xh6! xh6 12.c5 d6 13.b4 guarantees White a plus, with his powerful queenside pawns. ] 10.b3 [ The best move, preparing to develop the queen's bishop. 10.xc6 bxc6 11.xc6 b8 12.f3 e5 13.e2 gave Black good chances in a game Saadi-Fischer, Mar del Plata 1960. ] 10...h6!? Very unusual. [ 10...xd4 11.exd4 h6 is more effective now, than a move earlier, and gives Black reasonable play, and ] [ 10...a6 11.b2 xd4 12.exd4 b8 was a favourite line of Topalov some years ago. ] 11.de2! With his extra space White prefers to keep all the pieces on the board. [ 11.b2 xd4 12.exd4 b8 is perfectly satisfactory for Black, who can obtain good play by playing ...a6, and ...b5. ] 11...g4 Threatening to win a piece, of course. 12.b2 d7 Strictly speaking, a novelty, but this is more logical than [ 12...c8 13.d2 h3 14.d5 xg2 15.xg2 of Baginskaite,K-Higatsberger,M/ Katowice 1993, as the black queen is more active on d7 than c8. ] 13.d2 h3 14.d5! xg2 15.xg2 Black has exchanged one bishop, and will soon remove the other from the board, but W hite's space advantage will allow him a s m a l l e d g e . f5 This looks weakening, but it serves two purposes: firstly, to be able to play . ..e6 and evict the d5-knight Black needs to control the f6-square, and secondly, it stops White from playing e4 at some point. 16.xg7 xg7 17.ad1!? An interesting choice of rook, does Gelfand really think he needs to keep his f2-pawn defended? e6 18.b2+ f7 19.dc3 The knight has served well on d5, and only leaves after having provoked a weakening of the black pawn structure. [ 19.f6+? g8 20.h4 exd5 21.cxd5 leads nowhere. ] 19...ad8 White gains a clear advantage after this, but what else? [ Stopping the knight from going to b5 by 19...a6 allows 20.d2 ad8 21.c5 when
d5? 22.e4 hits the knight on h6. ] [ and freeing the f7-square for the knight by 19...g8 20.b5 f7 21.xd6! xd6 22.c5 c4 23.bxc4 e7 24.d6 is also pretty gruesome. ] 20.b5 e7 21.a3 d5 22.cxd5 exd5 23.xe7+ xe7 Black has managed to limit his disadvantage to an IQP in an ending, but his pieces are quite passively placed at the moment. 24.f4 g5 [ Another weakening move, but forced as 24...a6?! 25.c3 wins the d-pawn. ] 25.d3 c6 [ Probably Black's position is beyond help, 25...a6 26.d4 b6 (to stop Nc5) 27.c1 and White infiltrates by the c-file, as c8? 28.e5+ is disastrous- there are knight forks everywhere. ] 26.h4! Now White strikes on the kingside! gxh4 [ 26...g4 27.f4 a6 28.c7 and the dpawn is lost again. ] 27.h1 g4 28.xh4 Positionally Black is finished, his four pawn islands just provide too many targets for the active white pieces. f6 29.b4 d4? [ At least 29...xb4 30.xb4 a5 31.f4 g6 avoids immediate loss of material. ] 30.xc6 bxc6 31.hxd4! Winning two pawns, and avoiding [ 31.xd4?? c5 ] 1-0
1675 Grachev,Boris Khalifman,Alexander 65th ch-RUS HL (6) [John Bartholomew]
A39 2680 2651 21.06.2012
The pawn offering with 8...d6 has traditionally been regarded with suspicion. What does the 1999 FIDE W orld Champion and noted theoretician have to say on the matter? 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 c6 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 0-0 8.0-0 d6!? The pawn sacrifice in question. [ The main line of the Pure Symmetrical is 8...xd4 9.xd4 d6 . Refer to the archives. ] 9.xc6 bxc6 10.xc6 b8 11.g2 1695
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 By far the most popular continuation. "White immediately 'adjusts his position' by retreating his bishop to a safe square" - Mihail Marin in "Grandmaster Repertoire 5 - The English Opening vol. 3". [ Marin notes that the alternative continuation 11.a4 h3 12.d1 is under a cloud in view of a5! , as played in Vasilev, M (2469)Solak, D (2630)/ Plovdiv 2008. Black introduced the idea of ...Rb8-b4 and gained excellent play after 13.b5 b6 14.h1 g4 ] 11...a5 12.c2 This move has won the approval of every theoretical manual I've seen, but the present game strongly suggests that it is not best. [ T h e p r i n c i p a l a l t e r n a t i v e i s 12.b5 . The ending after b7 ( more combative is 12...d7!? , as in the recent game Amanov, M (2518)-Ramirez, A (2593)/Wheeling USA 2012. ) 13.xb7 xb7 14.d2 a6 15.c3 c8 ( 15...c6!? ) 16.b3 d5 17.xf6 xf6 18.xd5 xa1 19.xa1 has been seen s e ve r a l t i m e s , t h o u gh n o t s in c e 2 0 0 3 . "Slightly better chances f or W hite" is a safe verdict, but see "Main Symmetric with 8...d6 - Reader's Mailbag" by John Watson. ] [ I think 12.d2!? deserves further investigation. It's certainly a crude way to defend b2 and c3, but the upside is that White's queen cannot be harassed on this square. He intends to complete development with b2-b3 and Bc1-b2, impervious to a ...Nf 6-e4 shot because Nc3xe4 will hit Black's queen on a5. Results have thus far been mixed. ] 12...f5! Khalifman deviates from a recent recommendation of...himself! [ In the 2011 rerelease of "Opening for W hite According to Kramnik vol. 4", Khalifman writes that 12...b7 "...creates maximal problems for W hite..." but ultimately claims an edge for the first player. ] 13.e4 The following exchange sacrifice had been considered advantageous to White for quite some time. e6 14.b3 xe4! 15.xe4 xa1 16.g5 This is the critical position. f5!N An excellent reply that went unnoticed in Khalifman's and Marin's works. It turns out that Black can solve his problems purely by
tactical means. [ 16...f6 is Marin's main line, when 17.e3 e5 18.f4 b2 19.b1!!+- was dire for Black in both Wojtkiewicz, A (2530)-Wahls, M (2555)/ Geneve 1995 and Lukov, V (2425)-Ivanov, Y/Varna 1995. ] 17.xe7 White's bishop was loose on g5. [ 17.xa1? xe4 18.xe4 xg5 is the point. ] 17...fe8 18.xd6 bd8 19.xa1 [ On 19.c5!? a likely continuation is e5 20.xe5 xe5 21.c6 xe4! 22.xe4 d2 wh e n W h it e m ust b e ca re f ul in vie w o f Black's activity. ] 19...xd6 20.c3 Begrudgingly played, but this is the only meaningful way to escape the pin. xc3 21.xc3 de6! White's chances would be greatly improved with his rook on board, so Black hurries to exchange it off. 22.d5 e1+ 23.xe1 xe1+ 24.g2 c1 25.b5 b1 Khalifman is content to liquidate White's queenside majority. [ 25...a6!? 26.d6 e6 is an attempt at more. ] 26.xa7 xa2 27.c6! Hastening to make a draw. xb3 28.e5 g7 29.xf7 xc4 30.xc4 xc4 31.g5 With all the pawns on the same wing, Black's chances of victory are slim to none. h6 32.f3 f6 33.h4 f5 34.d2 c3 35.f1 e4 36.h2 c6 37.f3 c3 38.h2 c8 39.f3 d8 40.g1 f8 41.h3 f7 42.f1 f6 43.e2 a6 44.f1 d3 45.g2 f6 46.g1 e4 47.h3 f5 I would be extremely surprised if White finds an antidote to Khalifman's 16...Bf5!. This tactical aboutf a ce p u t s t h e wh o le lin e wit h 1 2 . Q c 2 in question, so White ought to investigate other alternatives. ½-½
1676 Hammer,Jon Ludvig Goganov,Aleksey Rilton Cup 43rd (6) [Fier, Alexandr]
A39 2612 2581 02.01.2014
Black tries a line which is back in fashion lately but with dif ferent intentions. W hite sacrifices two pawns to get a nice grip and 1696
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 then enters a winning position by taking a bishop that never managed to leave its initial square. 1.f3 f6 2.g3 c5 3.g2 g6 4.c4 g7 5.d4 cxd4 6.xd4 0-0 7.c3 c6 This is the old and main move. [ 7...c7 this has also been played a lot lately. The idea is that with 8.b3 the knight on c3 is unprotected 8.b3 d5 9.db5 a5 10.d2 dxc4 11.bxc4 was played this year b y R o d s h t e i n i n W o j t a s ze k , R ( 2 7 1 1 ) Rodshtein, M (2682)/Basel op 2014. ] 8.0-0 a5 [ 8...xd4 9.xd4 d6 10.d3 is the main l i n e a n d wa s a n a l yze d m a n y t i m e s o n Chess Publishing, for instance in Berkes, F (2645)-Gharamian, T (2560)/BL 0809 SC Remagen - SC Eppingen 2008. ] [ 8...g4 is another option and was analyzed in a game between two W orld Champions 9.e3 d6 10.h3 ge5 11.b3 Karpov, A (2668)-Carlsen, M (2698)/GpB Cap d'Agde FRA rapid 2006. ] 9.b3 This and the next move are the critical line in the position. [ 9.e3 b4 was Stojanovic, M (2504)Kojovic, D (2352)/17th Belgrade Trophy 2004. ] 9...h5 10.c5 I like this move, challenging Black's setup. [ 10.d5 a pseudo-active move, the knight is not threatening anything on d5 and in some games it is quickly rearranged d6 11.f4 e5 12.d3 ( 12.e1 also makes sense a5 13.a4 e6 14.d2 f5 15.d5 and despite his eventual loss, Black doesn't has many problems in this position, Adams, M (2740)-W ang, H (2752)/Dortmund SuperGM 2013.) 12...h5 13.d2 d7 14.f4 f5 it's not clear if the knight going and coming back is really useful Wang, Y (2723)-Le Quang, L (2703)/Beijing Sportaccord blitz 2013. ] 10...a5!? Not a new idea, but in this exact position it was never played. Black tries to push the pawn or force White to do something about it. [ 10...d5 11.cxd6 d8 12.e4 g4 ( 12...xd1 13.xd1 xd6 ) 13.f3 e6 14.e2 Baburin, A (2520)-Van Kampen, R (2606)/Riga Tech op 3rd 2013. ( 14.e1! is smart with a subtle idea xd6 15.g4
and suddenly the queen has no squares. )] [ 10...d8 is another plan and despite the l o s s , t h e p r o b l e m wa s n o t e xa c t l y t h e opening 11.e4 d6 12.xh5 xh5 13.d1 Grischuk, A (2779)-Zvjaginsev, V (2659)/ FIDE World Blitz 2013 blitz 2013. ] 11.e3!? Now the next moves are basically forced. [ 11.a4 is not a move White would like to make. After this Black can try to continue with d6 12.cxd6 d8 going into a slightly improved version of Baburin - Van Kampen ] [ 11.a4 d6 12.b6 a6 13.xc8 xc8 14.cxd6 exd6 and Black is active enough to compensate the weak pawn ] 11...a4 12.xh5 xh5 13.d4 Otherwise moves like ...Ra5 and ...a3 are coming. xd4 14.exd4 xd4 15.d5 Now Black has a decision to make. To compensate the pawn, White has a strong knight and light squared b i s h o p . A ll t h e p i e c e s h a ve p o t e n t i a l t o improve and Black has problems developing the bishop on c8. This compensates one pawn for sure, but two? The answer is probably yes, W h ite ha s e n ou gh com p en sat ion f o r t h e p a wn s , b u t n o m o re t h a n t h a t . S t i ll , t h e position is complex and it's easy for both sides to go wrong. e6 [ 15...xc5 to accept the sacrifice was another option 16.h6 g7 17.ac1 a5 trying to defend in a concrete way ( 17...d6 18.xe7+ h8 19.d5 e6 20.fd1 and W hite has compensation, Black can also have problems on the dark squares here; 17...d6 18.b6 b8 19.c2 followed by 20.Rfc1 wins a piece) 18.d2 hides a nice idea ( 18.b4 after this move it looks like Black is holding, even if W hite wins an exchange. A possible continuation could be axb3 19.axb3 d6 20.b4 b5 21.c2 b6 22.fc1 b7 23.c3 and Black needs to find a nice resource to stay in the game h5! 24.xg7 xg2 25.xf8 f3 and the bishop on f8 has no squares 26.b5 xf8 27.xd6 exd6 28.d2 with a probable draw) 18...b5 19.b4! axb3 ( 19...d6 20.a3 and the weird p o sit io n o f B l a ck' s p ie c e s g ive s W h it e enough compensation) 20.a4 b2 21.axb5 bxc1 22.xc1 e6 ( 22...b6 23.e3 f5 24.xc5 bxc5 25.xc5 and the passed 1697
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pawn is dangerous) 23.g5 f6 24.e3 keeping the initiative. ] 16.e3 [ 16.b6 is less to the point, but also playable a5 17.d2 xc5 18.b4 b5 19.xf8 xb6 20.a3 d5 and Black should be fine ] 16...xe3 [ 16...xb2 17.ab1 exd5 ( 17...g7 18.e7+ h8 19.fd1 and it's hard to escape from White's grip) 18.xb2 f6 19.d4 a6 20.d1 with the structure d a m a g e d a n d t h e d a r k s q u a r e s we a k , White's chances are preferable ] 17.xe3 a5 18.fc1!? [ 18.ac1 this is less precise, since Black can play ...b6 and open some space for the bishop b5 19.c2 b6 20.c6 dxc6 21.xc6 a5 and Black should be fine ] 18...b5 19.f1 Here is the difference, the rook can't stay on the b-file xb2 20.c4 b4 [ 20...b5 was also possible, and after 21.d6 a5 22.ab1 f6 23.g2 the position is unclear ] 21.d6 g7 So far both players are playing in an active way and the position never stops. With any piece exchange W hite's pressure decreases but it looks like Black misses one move to be fine. 22.ab1 xb1 23.xb1 f5 24.b5 g7 The idea is good, trying to bring the king to help, but it's next move will be a big mistake. [ 24...xd6 this is the right idea, I think Black shouldn't leave White's knight against the bis hop on c 8 25.cxd6 g7 26.f4 f6 27.f2 ( 27.a5 e8 28.xa4 e5 and Black can finally open the position) 27...e8 28.g4! and Black still can't get out from the cage, but at least his position is solid ] 25.d3 f6? [ 25...xd6 this was the last chance to exchange the knights 26.cxd6 f6 27.f4 e8 28.a5 ( 28.g4 g7 29.f2 f6 and soon ...e5 will come) 28...e5 29.xa4 exf4 30.xf4+ g7 and White still has compensation, but Black should be ok ] 26.xf5 exf5 27.a5 Now the bishop on c8 will fall. e5 28.xa4 d5 [ 28...b6 tries to bring the pawn to the c-file,
but leaves the a-pawn passed 29.a8 bxc5 30.xc8 xc8 31.xc8 d5 32.f1 and White should be winning. ] 29.a8 xc5 30.xc8+ xc8 31.xc8 b5 32.f1 c6 33.e2 c7 34.e7 d6 35.g8 e5 36.e3 h5 37.f4+ e6 38.d4 1-0
1677 Ivanchuk,Vassily Vachier Lagrave,Maxime Gibraltar Masters 12th (10) [Fier, Alexandr]
A39 2739 2745 06.02.2014
This game was played in the last round at Gibraltar, on board one. Ivanchuk was probably ok with a draw, and I don't know if he played this line because of the possible perpetual, but Black was fine. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.0-0 0-0 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 c6 8.c3 a5 This move is becoming more popular in the last months and I already took a look at this position in the January update. 9.b3 [ 9.c2 is a slower approach and was also tried this month d6 10.d2 h5 11.e4 xd1 12.axd1 with a level endgame. It looks like an Accelerated Dragon. Erdos, V (2661)-Maze, S (2550)/Bundesliga 1314 2013 (8.1). ] 9...h5 10.h3 This move probably leads to a draw by force if both players know their stuff. In this game Vachier tries something slightly different and Ivanchuk keeps the option of playing for all three results. [ 10.c5 was played this month by Aronian in a b l i t z g a m e b6?! I don't believe in this move ( 10...a5 is interesting 11.e3 a4 was analyzed last month on Chess Publishing in Hammer, J (2612)-Goganov, A (2581)/Rilton Cup 43rd 2013 (6).; 10...d5 i s a l s o p o s s i b l e) 11.e4 bxc5? m i s s i n g W h i t e ' s r e p l y . ( 11...xd1 was better, but Black is under pressure after 12.xd1 b8 13.f4 b7 14.e5 ) 12.f3! h3 13.e5 and the knight can't go away because of 14.Bg4 winning the queen xe5 14.g2 f5 15.xa8 a6 16.g2 xf1 17.xf1 and Black didn't have enough for 1698
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 rank for the rook and stopping ideas of ... the piece in Aronian, L (2812)-Anand, V Nxf2. Now Black should be really careful to (2773)/Zurich Chess Challenge Blitz 2014 not miss his chance g6! Black needs to (1). ] control the h3 square, so the knight on f4 is 10...d6 The next few moves are quite forced. a s t r o n g p i e c e ( 17...f6 18.c3 Black will sacrif ice a piece a nd la unch a a n d W h i t e d e f e n d s; 17...f4 18.c3 dangerous attack against White's king. 11.g4 is also good for White ) xg4 12.hxg4 xg4 13.f4 e5 A) 18.d5+ e6! deviates the queen Exchanging one of the main defenders of 19.xe6+ ( 19.f3 f4 20.c2 f6 White's position. 14.d2 g5! Forcing White 21.e3 af8 with good compensation) to exchange, and bring the other knight to the 19...h8 20.d5 f4 21.f3 ae8 party. 15.xe5 cxe5 16.fc1 f5 22.c2 e4 23.c1 ( 23.e3 xg2 And finally we have a novelty. I'm not sure if 24.xg2 h2+ 25.f1 e5 26.g2 Black played this move because he was trying h5 27.d4 h4 and the attack is too to win or because he didn't know of the other strong ) 23...fe8 and it's hard to believe games played in this position. Anyway, after that White can survive; this move White has some interesting options. B) 18.c3 is probably more reasonable [ 16...xc4 was played before and the main and after f4 19.g3 h8 20.f3 f6 idea is to bring the knight to e3, where it and for sure Black has compensation, but cuts the communication between the it's not so clear how to increase the queenside and the kingside pressure; A) 17.d3 is solid, threatening to bring C) 18.xb7 is the computer suggestion, th e que e n t o h 3 ce3 18.fxe3 h4 but almost impossible to play for a human and it's not possible to avoid the perpetual C1) 18...e6! another hard to make move, 19.d5 ( 19.e4 f5 is winning for Black but it avoids a lot of problems with the 20.xg5 h2+ 21.f1 g3 22.h3 f4 checks on d5. It's really not easy to find with a mate attack) 19...f2+ 20.h1 a good defence for White now and the h4+ 21.g1 Zhou, J (2572)-Matlakov, M computer starts to like Black's position (2665)/Universiad Men 27th 2013 (7).; 19.f3 does not work either ( 19.xa8 B) 17.d4 was played by correspondence can't really work xa8 20.e3 h3 ce3 18.fxe3 h4 19.e4 ( 19.e4 21.d4 h4 22.f4 h8 followed by f2+ 20.h1 h4+ 21.g1 ) 23... Rg8 and mate. The White rooks are B1) 19...f5 20.xg5 h2+ 21.f1 e5 really not useful here; 19.e3 ab8 ( 21...g3 22.d5+ that's one 20.f3 h2+ 21.f1 h4 22.c6 dif f eren c e be twe en 1 7. Qd 3 a nd 1 7 . b6 with a decisive advantage) 19...f4 Qd4 ) 22.d5+ h8 23.e1 g3+ 20.d4 f6 with problems for White; 24.d2 xe3+ 25.c2 xg5 26.b1 C2) 18...f4 is direct and it's hard to e3 27.d2 and White has the king know what is going on. A possible more or less safe, even if the position variation could be 19.e3 h3+ 20.f1 remains completely unclear; f4 ( 20...ab8 is another alternative) B2) 19...d5!? with the same idea as ...f5, 21.d5+ g7 22.c3 fxe3 23.xe3 but without opening the king 20.bc5 xe3+ 24.xe3 ae8 25.d4 e5 dxe4 21.xe4 ( 21.xe4 ad8 22.c3 with an unclear position, the attack is not h2+ 23.f1 d5 wins ) 21...f2+ so scary anymore, but Black doesn't 22.h1 g3 23.g1 f5 24.e6+ h8 much of a material deficit now either. ] and with just one piece less the attack is [ 17.f1 h4 18.d1 ( 18.d4 c6 too dangerous and Black went to win in 19.d5+ e6 20.xe6+ h8 21.d1 f4 Popov, V (2210) -Vecek, M (2292)/WS/ with ideas of ...Ne3 and Black is better) M/362 ICCF 2012. ] 18...f4 19.c3 is another way to defend, 17.d4 with a complex position ] [ 17.d1!? an important alternative, defending the c4-pawn, opening the third 17...h2+ 18.f1 xf2 The most forcing. 1699
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.xf2 [ 19.f3 was the last chance for White to keep playing xf3 A) 20.exf3 e4 21.e3 ( 21.fxe4? fxe4+ 22.e1 g1+ 23.e2 xg2+ wins ) 21...g4 22.c2 g3+ 23.e1 f4 with an unclear position; B) 20.xf3 g4 21.d5+ ( 21.xg5+ h8 22.xg4 h6! 23.xe7 ae8 24.xf8+ xf8 25.f3 g3 with chances for both sides) 21...g7 22.xg4 fxg4+ 23.e1 f4 with good compensation ] 19...g4+ 20.f1 f4 21.d3 The only move, to liberate the d2-square for the king. h4 22.d1 [ 22.e4 was another way to draw e3+ 23.g1 g4 24.f2 h4+ ( 24...xg2+ 25.e1 and Black's king is more exposed than White's. ) 25.g1 g4= ] 22...e3+ 23.xe3 fxe3+ 24.g1 f2+ And there is no way to avoid the repetition. 25.h1 h4+ [ 25...f4 will still be drawn 26.f3 h4+ 27.xh4 xh4+ 28.g1 f2+ ] [ 25...f6 fails to 26.f5 xf5 27.f1 h4+ 28.g1 and the attack is over ] 26.g1 f2+ 27.h1 h4+ ½-½
1678 Jobava,Baadur Tomashevsky,Evgeny Aeroflot Open (8) [Carsten Hansen]
A39 2650 2624 21.02.2007
1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 0-0 8.0-0 xd4 9.xd4 d6 10.d3 a6 11.e3 g4 12.d4 e5 13.d1 e6 14.xb7 [ For some reason a fair share of players, including several very strong Grandmasters, have chosen to chicken away from taking the offered pawn, instead preferring 14.b3 and therefore letting Black get away with this accelerated development of his pieces. Now: b8 A) 15.c1 makes perfect sense since Black sooner or later will play ...b7-b5 and then the white rook will be on the open cfile.
A1) 15...b5?! is almost too accommodating: 16.cxb5 axb5 17.d5 ( 17.f4 g4 18.xg7 xg7 19.d4+ g8 20.d5 xd5 21.xd5 b4! 22.f3 e5!? is more or less okay for Black ) 17...h5 ( 17...b4!? ) 18.f4 g4 . so far Keitlinghaus-Roessig, Porz 1989, and now 19.xg7 xg7 20.d4+ h7 21.b4 and White is clearly in control; A2) 15...h6 16.f4 c6 17.f2 a5 18.e4 g7 19.d2 bc8 20.e3 h8 ( 20...fe8!? looks a bit passive, but is perfectly acceptable for Black) 21.f2 ( 21.f5!? d7 22.c5 looks like it should be better for W hite) 21...b5 22.cxb5 axb5 , and here a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/2 Soppe-Bitelmajer, Buenos Aire s 2 0 0 3 t h is d o e sn 't m a k e m u c h sense to me, as White is considerably higher rated and has the better position, e.g. 23.f5! A2a) or 23...b4 24.a4 d7 ( 24...gxf5 25.exf5 d7 26.h6 is even worse) 25.b6 c3 26.d5 and White is more or less winning; A2b) 23...d7 24.d5 xd2 25.xd2 ce8 26.b6 b8 27.c7 and things look rather disastrous for Black; A3) 15...a5 16.f4 c6 17.xg7 xg7 ( 17...c5+ 18.h1 xg7 19.d2 f6 20.d5 ) 18.e4 ( this looks normal, but it weakens the dark squares a great deal. Therefore the more modest 18.e3 bc8 19.e2 f6 20.fd1 may be better, leaving White with a pleasant edge) 18...fc8 19.h1 f6 20.e2 b5 21.d5 bxc4 22.xc4 b4 23.xc8 xc8 24.xb4 xb4 25.e5!? ( White is playing for a win 25.xa6 c2 26.a7 f8 gives Black adequate compensation for the pawn; and 25.f5 d7 26.xa6 c2 27.a7 xg2 28.xg2 xe4+ 29.f2 c6 and Black has at least equality on account of White's open king) 25...dxe5 ( 25...b5!? 26.exf6+ xf6 27.e3 f7 28.e1 d7 ) 26.fxe5 f5 ( 26...b6 27.exf6+ exf6= ) 27.xa6 f7 28.e2 h5 29.h4 c5 30.h2 c3 31.e1 d4!? 1700
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( Rather interestingly, White is almost in zugzwang at this point, and will lose the extra pawn at any moment after 31...a5!? , threatening ...Rxa2, 32.d1 xe5 and Black is by no means worse) 32.f3 c3 33.g2 ( also 33.d1 c5 34.g2 e3 35.f2 xe5 looks rather good for Black) 33...d3 34.f1 g7!? I have a feeling that White was in time trouble at this point, which makes the text move particularly cunning, because White has to make sense of it, and while perhaps not being able to, he still has to find a decent move while being tied hand and foot 35.f2 d4 36.e2?! ( 36.c2 xe5 37.xc3 xc3 38.e2 f7 ) 36...f4! 37.e4??-+ fxg3+ 38.xg3 d3 39.f4 g4 40.g2 d2+ 0-1 Petrosian, A-Zheliandinov, V/ Ptuj 199500; B) 15.f4 g4 ( 15...c6 16.xg7 b6+ 17.h1 xg7 18.d5 c5 19.d2 ) 16.xg7 xg7 17.d4+ f6 18.e4 b5 19.cxb5 axb5 20.d5 xd5 ( 20...d7 21.b4 ) 21.exd5 h5 M.Becker-Pieri, Forli 1991 22.e4!?; C) 15.d5 b5 16.cxb5 C1) 16...xd5?! 17.xd5 axb5 18.d2 e6 19.g2 d7 ( 19...e7!? ) 20.fd1 fd8?! ( 20...d5 21.b2 f6 22.e4! c6 23.exd5 xd4 24.dxe6 xe6 25.xd4 is much better f or W hit e) 21.b2! threatening f2-f4 f5 22.ac1 g5 23.c2 ( 23.d2 g4 24.g5 h8 and now the s i m p l i f i c a t i o n a f t e r 25.c6 xc6 26.xg7+ xg7 27.xg7+ xg7 28.xc6 a8 29.dxd6 xd6 30.xd6 xa2 31.xe6 leaves White a pawn up, though winning it is another matter, as getting W hite's king to become an effective player can be quite difficult wi t h o u t c o m p r o m i si n g t h e k in g s i d e pawns. ) 23...f7 24.c1 g4 25.c7 d7 26.c8+ xc8 27.xc8+ f8 28.a6 White is close to having a technically won position at this point b8 29.c1 c7 30.xc7 xc7 31.xb5 f3+? 32.exf3 xd4 33.fxg4 c1+ 34.f1 e1 35.e2! my computer completely disagrees with Dautov and me in this being the best practical
decision in the endgame, while acknowledging there are opposite coloured bishops, is easily won for White who can create passed pawns on both wings (there are already two on the aand b-files), which usually is more than adequate to win unless the counterpart has counterplay, and here he doesn't. xe2 36.xe2 fxg4 37.xg4 f7 38.f1 d5 39.f4! f6 40.f3 f5 41.e2 g1 42.a4! e5 ( 42...xh2 43.f2 ) 43.fxe5 xe5 44.a5 d6 45.h4 h6 46.b4 c6 47.g4 b5 48.g5 hxg5 49.hxg5 xb4 50.g6 , and Black can't contain both passed pawns, 1-0 R. Dautov-M.Becker, Rostock 1987; C2) 16...axb5 17.b4!? a5 18.d2? ( 18.a3!? ) 18...fc8?! ( 18...c4! 19.bxc4 xd4 20.ad1 f6 21.cxb5 xb5 22.d5 xd5 23.xd5 fc8 ) 19.ad1 d7 20.d5 xd2 21.xd2 f8 22.b4!? ( 22.fd1!? ) 22...c6 23.xg7+ xg7 24.xc6 xc6 25.c1 d7 26.dc2 e6 ( 26...xc2 27.xc2 c8 28.xc8 xc8 29.a4 bxa4 30.bxa4 is unpleasant for Black) 27.f1 f6 28.e1 Azmaiparashvili-Yurtae zmaiparashvili-Yurtae zmaiparashviliYurtaev, Pavlodar 1982 ] 14...b8 15.xa6 xb2 [ After 15...a5 16.b5 fc8 Black has absolutely no compensation for the pawn, yet resigning at this point was a bit premature, though that is what happened, 1-0 Kirov, N-Schmidt, W , Polanica Zdroj 1974 ] 16.d5 b8 17.a4 Here the ECO ends its coverage with the verdict: W hite is clearly better h3!? [ 17...h6 18.b1 d7 19.b5 d8 20.f4 d7 21.e4 , and it is quite obvious that Black has absolutely no compensation for the pawn, M.Vukic-Gufeld, Odessa 1975. This is the game ECO bases its verdict on. ] 18.e1 g5!? preventing White from playing Nd5-f4, kicking the bishop away, but it is also a bit weakening 19.b5?! [ I don't see why White didn't go for 19.f4!? gxf4 20.gxf4 d7 and now 21.a3! , e.g. g6 22.b5 e6 23.xg7 xg7 24.e3 f5 25.d3! xd3 26.xd3 , and Black's 1701
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 compensation for the pawn is definitely no longer obvious ] 19...e6! 20.b4 e7 [ 20...c7 21.a3! ( 21.a6? b7 22.f3 a8 ) 21...bc8 ( 21...b7 22.e4! g4 23.c1 h6 24.xe5 xe5 25.c6+- ) 22.e4 xc4 23.c3 xd4 24.xc4 c5 25.h5 g4 26.g5+ h8 27.f6+ g8 28.c6 ] 21.xe5 xe5 22.c6 b7 23.a3 fc8 24.g4! xc6 25.xc6 xc6 26.xh3 xc4 27.d3 [ also 27.e4!? b4 28.h5 f4 provides Black decent compensation for the exchange as W hite's pieces are quite uncoordinated. ] 27...xg4+ 28.h1 f8!? [ 28...h5? 29.g1+- ] [ 28...h6 29.xh6 xa4 30.h5 g4 31.f3 ] 29.xh7 f4 White is an exchange up, but Black's active pieces provide decent compensation 30.g2 c8 [ 30...d5!? ] 31.b1 [ 31.f3! xf3+ 32.xf3 c4 33.a5 f4+ 34.g2 a4 35.b1 gives Black serious problems to think about, e.g. g8 36.h5 f6 37.b8+ g7 38.a8 ] 31...g8 32.a5 f5 33.h3 c3 34.b8+ g7 35.b7+ g6 36.b5 c8 37.b4?? [ 37.e7!? f6 38.b7 g4+! 39.g3 e4+ 40.xe4 fxe4 41.d7 xg3 42.hxg3 c6 is fine for Black ] 37...c4?? [ Black can win with 37...d4! 38.f3 g4+ 39.g3 e4+ and White loses at least a rook 40.f3 ( 40.f1 c1+ ) 40...g4 ] 38.b5 c8 39.b3 e4+ 40.f3 c4 41.b1 [ 41.a6!? c6 42.e4!? xa6 ( 42...xe4 43.a7 ) 43.b6 c8 44.exf5+ exf5 ] 41...h4 [ 41...g4+ 42.g3 xe2 ] 42.h3 g4+ 43.g3 xg3 44.f3 d4 45.hxg3 e5 46.a2 a4 ½-½
1679 Karpov,Anatoly Carlsen,Magnus GpB Cap d'Agde FRA rapid (1) [John Watson]
A39 2668 2698 27.10.2006
An ageing and youthful heavyweight toe off in one of the oldest of Symmetrical lines. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.g3 g6 4.g2 g7 5.0-0 c6 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 0-0 8.c3 g4 I've never liked this move much, but it has had a certain popularity over the years. 9.e3 d6 10.h3 This move hasn't been seen a great deal. Has Black ever found a way to equality following [ 10.de2 ? I haven't seen it. Even Kasparov used that move (in Blitz) versus Kramnik, so you'd think it would get more attention. Instead, ] [ 10.b3 has been the most popular move over the years, and it was played in two ChessPublishing contests, neither with the theoretically crucial lines. ] 10...ge5 11.b3 xd4!? This may be new. Previously [ 11...a6 had been played, waiting for White to commit his queen's bishop. That seems better, and less cooperative. ] 12.exd4 c6 13.e3 d7 If this is all that Black has, the whole line must be somewhat better for White. A more interesting try would be [ 13...a5 14.c1 ( 14.d5 e6 ) 14...h5 , intending ...Bf5. ] 14.d2 a5 15.fd1!? [ 15.ac1 looks both more natural and better, as Black must deal with d5. Compare the game continuation, for example, here you might see ac8 16.d5 b4 17.b1 b6 18.a3 a6 19.xa5 bxa5 20.xa7 c5 21.xc5 dxc5 22.fe1 and White's rook is much better placed. ] 15...ac8 16.ac1 fe8!? 17.d5 b4!? The only active idea. [ 17...b8 18.h6 or 18 Bd4 and Black is cut off from kingside defence. Moves such as h4-h5 and Ne4 can become very dangerous. ] 18.b1! b6 Both protecting against the loss of a piece by a3 and threatening .. .Nxa2. 19.a3 a6 20.b4! 1702
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 20.xa5 bxa5 21.xa7 is to White's advantage but not by much (this is where Rfe1 is sorely missed!). Black gets a lot of c o m p e n s a t i o n a f t e r c7! ( 21...c5 22.xc5 dxc5 23.c3 b8 24.e4 d4 ) 22.e3 b8 23.d2 a4!? ( 23...b2 ) 24.b4 b2 , when 25.a1! xa1 26.xa1 is worth trying. ] 20...a4 21.d4 xd4 22.xd4 b5?! 23.xa7! c5 24.xa4 xa4 25.cxb5 b2!? [ 25...xb5 26.e1 (again that move) f8 27.f4 ( 27.f1 xf1 28.xf1 b6 ) 27...b6 ( 27...b2 28.f1 ) 28.f2 keeps White well on top. ] 26.e1 d3 27.xc8 xc8 28.d1? A terrible or for someone of Karpov's strength (going for the repetition, that is). He must have been out or very short of time. The move [ 28.xe7 should win fairly easily after c1+ 29.h2 ( 29.f1 is objectively even better, but would have needed extra calculation after xb5 30.d2 d1 31.b7 xd2 32.xb5 xf2 33.a4! ) 29...xb5 30.b7 e8 31.d2 xf2 32.f3 ( or 32.b6 . The passed pawns decide. )] 28...b2 29.e1 d3 30.d1 [ 30.xe7 still wins, of course, transposing to the last note. ] ½-½
[ 10.xc6!? bxc6 11.xc6 is for computers only, b8 12.f3 e5 13.e2 a6 14.b3? xc4! Black is already clearly better, Saadi,J-Fischer,R/Mar del Plata 1960. ] [ 10.xc6!? is even more dicey, conceding White's important defender of the kingside dark squares: bxc6 11.xc6 d7 12.d4! which was mentioned by John W atson in his Symmetric book, ( 12.d5 is 'trappy', e8 13.f3 b7! 14.cxe7+?! f8! and Black will gain two pieces for a rook, with advantage, Hobuss,W -Rechmann,P/ Do r t m u n d 1 9 9 1) 12...e5 ( 12...f6?! 13.e4 b7 14.f3 allows White to set-up a barrier on the light squares, Almasi, I-Madl, I/Budapest 1997) 13.b3 b7 14.f3 f5 with reasonable chances for the pawn. ] 10...a6 Black prepares his queenside play, which almost invariably involves ...Rb8, and ... b5. We examined the line [ 10...h6 11.de2! in Gelfand,BKrasenkow,M. ] 11.b2 xd4 This is the last chance for this important simplification. 12.exd4 h6!? A co m m o n th e m e in t his lin e , t h e k n igh t comes to pressure d4 from the strong square on f5 (there is no longer a white e-pawn to harass it there!) However, the immediate [ 12...b8 is more common, 13.e1 h6 ( Topolov suggested 13...b5!? ) 14.d5!? ( 14.a4 f5 15.d5 e6 16.e3 xe3 17.xe3 b5 was fine for Black in de Boer,G1680 A39 Hartoch,R/ W ijk aan Zee/1985.) 14...e6 15.e3 b5 16.e2 bxc4 17.xc4 Khalifman,Alexander 2690 was slightly better for White in Timman,JMinero Pineda,Sergio 2396 Khalifman,A/Amsterdam 1995. ] Olympiad Bled SLO (1) 26.10.2002 13.d2 The prophylactic [Tony Kosten] [ 13.a4 is also common, b8 14.a5 f5 15.d5 b5! 16.b6 ( 16.axb6 e6 17.e3 A very smooth game from Khalif man who is equal, Huebner,R-Topalov,V/Polanica employs a very effective plan - bring a knight Z d r o j / 1 9 9 5) 16...bxc4 17.bxc4 xb6! to c6 and win! 1.d4 f6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 g7 18.axb6 xb6 19.b1 xd4 Black has two 4.g3 0-0 5.g2 c5 6.0-0 cxd4 7.xd4 pawns and a sound position for the c6 8.c3 g4 Again this move, which was exchange, 20.e1 ( 20.d3 f5 21.e4 tried by the great Bobby, and has the merit of is level, but not now c6? 22.xd4! xd4 avoid ing b ringing th e white qu een t o th e 23.xc6 xb1 24.xd4 winning, Khalifman, centre by A-Topalov,V/Elenite 1994) 20...a7 21.c3 [ 8...xd4 9.xd4 which is the old h5 with good chances, Smirin, I-Ristic,N/ mainline. ] Krynica 1997. ] 9.e3 d6 10.b3 This is the best move, to 14.e4!? A novelty from the excomplete the queenside development. Pawn 13...f5 FIDE champion, with a very neat plan in mind, grabbing by 1703
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 14.d5 b8 15.fe1 e6 16.e3 xe3 17.xe3 b5 gave White nothing in Dietzel,JRistic,N/Germany 1996. ] 14...d7 15.d5 xb2 16.xb2 b5 Black has to play this sooner or later, otherwise W hite's space advantage, and pressure along the open e-file will count. 17.c5! dxc5 18.xc5 d6 At first glance Black seems to be OK, his knight has reached the excellent blockading square on d6, and the white d-pawn is isolated, but White has seen somewhat further. 19.d3! This plan is worth remembering for all English Opening players, with the bishop on g2 supporting the d5-pawn W hite can bring his knight to the powerful outpost on c6. c8 20.e5 b4 21.a3 bxa3 22.xa3 b5 23.e1 c7 24.c6 The knight arrives, and although Black is loathe to exchange it, and create a powerful advanced c-pawn, how else to cope with the threats to e7? xc6 [ 24...e6 doesn't succeed in exchanging the d-pawn: 25.aa1 fe8 ( 25...exd5?? 26.e7+ w i n s t h e q u e e n !) 26.f6 and Black is obliged to capture on c6 a n y w a y , a s exd5? loses the exchange to 27.e7+ ] 25.dxc6 a8 26.e5 a7 27.a4 W hite turns the screw. b8 28.b4 b5 29.e3 e6?! Black wanted to take the pressure off e7, but this weakens the d6knight, which was blocking the d-file, probably he should prefer a waiting move like [ 29...b6 ] 30.d1 b8?? Either this is another example of a blunder caused by the over-quick time control, or it is mistaken, but Black was in a bad way anyway. 31.a2? [ 31.xd6 xd6 32.xa7 wins immediately, as d1+ 33.f1 xa4 34.xb8+ ] 31...e7? [ 31...c4 32.c5 b6 33.ad2 should also win, but hangs on much longer. ] 32.e5 Pin and win! [ 32.e5 d8 33.ad2 wins the knight. ] [ 32.xd6 also wins. ] 1-0
1681 Ricardi,Pablo Lopez Silva,Hugo Andres II Copa ENTEL (6) [John Watson]
A39 2547 2386 17.03.2005
T h i s ga m e f e a t u re s a ve ry o l d a n d s t i ll respected system for Black, but White plays a lesser-known move that I think casts Black's choice of opening into doubt. This is a good weapon for White to know about. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 g6 6.g3 g7 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 xd4 9.xd4 d6 10.d3 a6 11.d1 I think that this lesserplayed move presents a major challenge to Black's system. The immediate idea is c5. a5 [ 11...d7 12.c2 ( 12.b3!? c5 13.e3 ) 12...b8 13.e3 ] [ 11...f5 12.f3! b8 13.c5 with a large advantage was one of my early games with the 11.Rd1 idea. ] 12.h3!? The obvious move, to discourage ... Qh5. I recommended this years ago, but there may be better: [ (a) 12.d2 h5 is what Black wants, intending ... Be6 and ...Rfc8. ] [ (b) Perhaps best is the standard idea 12.e3! f5 ( 12...h5 13.d4 , e.g., f5 14.d2 ac8 15.xf6 xf6 16.d5 ) 13.d2 with the threat of Nd5 and/or Bd4, e. g., b4 14.ac1 fc8 15.b3 ab8 16.h3! w i t h a s u b s t a n t i a l a d v a n t a g e ( Instead, 16.a7 a8 17.d4 ab8 18.xf6 xf6 19.d5 xd2 20.xf6+ g7! 21.h5+ h6 - - o r 2 1 . . . g xh 5 - - 22.xd2 xh5 is a well-known idea. With no weaknesses B l a c k s h o u l d b e o k a y .) 16...h5?! (but otherwise 17. g4) 17.a7! a8 18.d4 ab8 19.xf6! xf6 20.d5 xd2 21.xf6+ exf6 ( 21...g7 22.xh5+ ) 22.xd2 a n d B l a c k i s r e d u c e d t o b5 23.xd6 bxc4 24.bxc4 b2 25.xa6 xe2 26.c5 with no real chance to hold the ending. This illustrates how Black's ...Qa5 doesn't quite fit in with his position and thus emphasises the effectiveness of 11.Rd1. ] 12...b8 13.d2 [ Now 13.e3 is poorly timed due to e6! 14.ac1 b5! with an unclear position. ] 13...e6 1704
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 13...d7 is also possible in view of 14.d5 d8 then 15.c3 xd5 16.xg7 xg7 17.xd5 keeps an edge due to the alsostandard ideas of h4-h5 and Qc3+. ] 14.b3 [ W hite gains some advantage by 14.b5 d8 15.d4 d7 16.b3 , when b5?! 17.cxb5 axb5 18.ac1 leaves White very active on the queenside. ] 14...fc8 15.ac1 d8 16.a4 d7 17.e3 [ Or 17.d5 c5 18.e3 ] 17...c5 18.b1 d7 19.a2!? intending b4. a5 20.d5 e6 21.f4 I think that [ 21.g5! is more effective, e.g., f6 22.d2 b6 23.c2 with ideas like h4-h5 and Bc3. White's space ensures him the advantage in these positions. ] 21...d7?! [ 21...d7 ] 22.h2 [ Or simply 22.xe6! xe6 23.c2 ] 22...h6? 23.c3? [ 23.d2! hits the pawn on a5, and b6? 24.xe6 wins a piece. ] 23...g7 24.d4 h6!? 25.xc5!? Unnecessary. xc5 26.xe6 xe6 [ 26...fxe6 27.h4 prepares Bh3, but White doesn't have much then. ] 27.d5 e5!? [ Interesting. Instead, 27...d7 28.cd3 bc8 is solid, On e5 or f6 the queen is exposed. ] 28.cd3 b6 29.d4 f6 30.g2 bc8 31.h4!? 8c7 32.b1 e5 33.f3 g7 34.4d2 f5 35.e4 [ 35.xf5 xf5 is fine. Both sides are joc ke ying a rou nd , bu t W h ite 's h 4-h5 is progress of a sort. ] 35...g4 36.h1 h6 37.f3 f5 38.d3 f6 39.h5 g7 40.hxg6 hxg6 41.d5 e5? 42.d1 [ 42.xf7! with the idea xe2 43.xd6!+- ] 42...e6 43.f3 d5 44.d4 g5 [ 44...dxc4? is met by the cute tactic 45.xh6! xh6 46.h1+ g7 47.d8 ] 45.cxd5 c1 46.d3 7c3 47.e4 xe4 48.xe4 xh1 49.xh1 exd5 50.e5 f6 51.xd5 xb3 Black has equalised but loses h i s wa y a n d e ve n t u a l ly d r o p s t h e p o in t . 52.g2 b4 53.d7 e6 54.b7 d8 55.c6 f6 56.f4 g5 57.d7 e7 58.f5+
f7 59.f3 f8 60.e4 c5 61.g4 d4 62.d5 e8 63.b7 d8 64.h5 d6 65.g6 e5 66.xb6 xa4 67.xf6 xf6 68.xf6 d4 69.g7 d2 70.f6 f2 71.e5 f5 72.e6 f2 73.b3 f3 74.f7 xg3 75.e6 e3 76.f8 g4 77.e7+ c7 78.e8 xe8+ 79.xe8 c6 80.h5 1-0
1682 A39 Rivas Pastor,Manuel 2496 Sanchez Guirado,Francisco Javier 2407 Spanish Team Ch Gp1 (1) 20.06.2007 [Carsten Hansen] 1.c4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.f3 g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.xd4 c6 6.g3 g7 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 xd4 9.xd4 d6 10.g5 e6 [ 10...h6 11.d2 e6 12.d3 d7 ( 12...d7 ) 13.fd1 ( 13.e4 h3 ) 13...a6 ( 13...h3 14.h1 g4 15.b3 ) 14.b3 ab8 15.a4 g4 16.ac1 e5 17.e3 b6 18.e1 fc8 19.f4 g4 20.f3 R. Redolfi-S.Henri, corr 1991 ] 11.h4 a5 [ 11...b6 12.b3 fe8 13.ac1 ab8 14.h3 a5 15.fd1 a6 16.d2 a3 17.c2 ec8 18.a4 b5 19.c1 b4 20.d2 a3 21.c1 1/2-1/2, A.Whiteley-D. Wright, Southend 1968 ] [ 11...c8 12.b3 c5 A) 13.ac1 h6 14.xf6 ( 14.d2 b5 15.d5 xd5 16.cxd5 g5 ) 14...xf6 15.e4 A1) 15...b6 16.d3 g7 17.b5 a6 18.d4 d7 19.c2 ( 19.fd1!? ) 19...b5 20.e3 b8 21.cxb5 xb5 C.Bouton-D.Collas, France 1997; A2) 15...xc3 16.xc3 b5 17.fc1 bxc4 18.bxc4 c7 G.Sigurjonsson-J. Jonsson, Reykjavik 1981; B) 13.e4 xe4 14.xe4 xa1 15.xe7 A.Kosten-V. Mencinger, Velden 1994; C) 13.d5 xd5 14.cxd5 c2 15.a4 a6 16.f3 c5 17.ac1 a5 18.b4 xa2 19.xb7 a5 20.c7 b2 21.fc1 b8 , Wang Rui-Li Chao2, Suzhou 2006 22.xe7 xb3 23.a6 b6 24.xb6 xb6 25.c6 ] 1705
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 11...c7 12.b3 A) 12...fe8 A1) 13.ac1 a6 14.h3 ab8 15.e4 ( 15.d5!? ) 15...a5 16.c2 , U.Cerasi-E.Cardinali, Italy 1997 b5 17.d5 bxc4 18.d2 d8 19.bxc4 d7; A2) 13.b5 b6 , S.Wastney-R.Smith, Auckland 1997 14.e3 a5 15.xb7 ab8 16.c6+-; B) 12...ac8 13.ac1 a6 14.fd1 fe8 15.d5 xd5 16.cxd5 a5 17.a4 xa4 18.bxa4 b5 19.c6 B.Larsen-A. Pomar Salamanca, Las Palmas 1977 ] [ 11...b8 12.ac1 a6 13.fd1 a5 14.d2 h5 15.xh5 xh5 16.b3 f6 17.d5 xd5 18.cxd5 fc8 19.a5 J.Nogueiras-F.Castella, Havana 1992 ] [ 11...h6 12.xh6 xh6 13.xh6 xc4 14.ad1 b6 15.b3 e6 16.e4 I.Almasi-A.Szeberenyi, Budapest 2004 ] 12.ac1 [ 12.b5 ac8 13.b3 c5 14.a3 h6 15.xh6 h5 16.xg7 xh4 17.xf8 xf8 18.gxh4 d7= V.Savon-V. Osnos, Moscow 1966 ] 12...fc8 [ Though this looks so normal, you would think it is main line, Black has two important alternatives, the latter of which - the rarest line of the three - may well be the best. A) 12...ac8 13.b3 A) 13...b8 i s n ' t a s g o o d : 14.h6 ( 14.f4 fc8 15.d2 a6 16.e3 b5 17.a7 a8 18.xa8 xa8 19.e3 bxc4 20.e4 xd2 21.xd2 cxb3 22.xb3 D. Donchev-L.Popov, Bulgaria 1975 ) 14...xh6 ( 14...fc8 15.xg7 xg7 16.d4 a6 17.c2 c5= L.Shamkovich-I.Ivanov, New York 1983) 15.xh6 fc8 16.fd1 a6 17.e3 c5 18.xc5 xc5 19.a4 b6 20.f3 c7 21.d5 xd5 22.cxd5 bc8 ( 22...c5! 23.b4 xc1 24.xc1 a5= ) 23.c6 xc6 24.dxc6 W. Dietze-G.Moehring, Freiberg 1970; B) 13...c5 B1) 14.b5?? is an incredibly elementary blunder that loses material on the spot: a6 15.a3 h6 16.xf6 xf6 17.b4 xh4 18.bxa5 axb5 ( 18...g5
19.f4 f6 20.c3 xa5-+ ) 19.cxb5 xb5 20.gxh4 xa5-+ S.Webb-W. Hartston, Oxford 1967; B2) 14.d5 xd5 15.cxd5 xc1 16.xc1 xa2 17.c4 a6 18.h3 h6 19.e3 b5 20.d3 d8 21.d4 d7 22.xg7 xg7 23.c3+ f6= P.Ricardi-R.Garbarino, Buenos Aires 1988; B3) 14.d2 B3a) 14...c7 15.d5 d7 16.g5 xd5 ( 16...xd5 17.cxd5 xd5 18.xc5 dxc5 19.d1 d4 20.xe7 xg2 21.xf8 c6 22.xd4 cxd4 23.h6 f6 24.c5 d8 25.f4 d3 26.c4+ g7= ) 17.cxd5 xc1 18.xc1 c8 , J.Pacovsky-V.Mitura, K a r v i n a 1 9 8 5 , a n d h e r e 19.d4 xc1+ 20.xc1; B3b) 14...a3 15.c2 f5 16.e4 e6 17.f4 ( 17.f3 a6 18.d1 ) 17...fc8 18.h3 b5 ( 18...g5 19.e3 g4 20.hxg4 xg4 21.e2 a6 22.d5 ) 19.cxb5 xe4 20.xe4? ( 20.b1! xc2 21.xa3 xd2 22.xe4 xa2 23.c4+- ) 20...xc3 21.xc3 xc3 22.xc3 xc3 23.a8+ c8 24.b7 xa2 25.d5 ( 25.xe7 xb3 26.e1 f8 27.xd6 xb5 ) 25...xd5?? ( 25...xh3! 26.e1 d2 27.xf7+ xf7 28.xe7+ f6 29.f7+ e5 30.e7+ d4 31.h4+ d3 32.xh3 c1+= ) 26.xc8++M. Konopka-J.Marschner, Berlin 1991; B3c) 14...h5 15.f4 B3c1) 15...g4 16.d5 xa2 17.xe7+ h8 18.xd6 xh2 ( 18...xb3 19.h3 e5 20.c3 ) 19.fd1 g4?+- 20.d5 xd5 21.cxd5 xb3 22.f3 a4 23.b4 a2 24.xg4 1-0 E.Paciencia-R. Bancod, Greenhills 1996; B3c2) 15...f5 16.h4= , and a draw was agreed upon, 1/2-1/ 2 L.Verat-G.Grimberg, Clichy 2003 ( 16.d4!? ) 16...h5 17.f4; B3c3) 15...h6 16.d4 xd2 17.xd2 B3c31) 17...h3 18.xh3 xh3 1706
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.f3 h5 B3c311) or 20.e4 b5 21.cxb5 xb5 22.d4 b4 23.f2 bb8 24.a4 fc8 25.c2 d7 26.fc1 b6 27.xb6 xc2 28.xc2 xb6 ( 28...axb6!? ) 29.xb6 axb6 30.a4 L.Brunner-O.Magyar, Budapest 1993; B3c312) 20.c2 a6 21.e4 c8 22.d5 c5+ 23.f2 e5 24.b4 a7 25.xf6+ exf6 26.xd6 R.Krant-J.Waitzkin, New York 1992; B3c32) 17...b5 18.cxb5 xb5 19.fd1 c5 20.b2 b8 21.f3 b4 22.e3 bc8= V. FaibisovichM.Podgaets, Rostov 1967 ] [ B) 12...a6!? is quite possibly the best option for Black, though it has yet to be properly examined A) 13.b3!? ab8 14.e4 ( 14.fd1 b5 15.cxb5 axb5 16.b4 a7= ) 14...b5 15.d5!? xd5 16.cxd5 fc8 ( 16...xa2 17.e5! dxe5 18.d6 exd6 19.xf6 xb3 20.c6 e6 21.xg7 xg7 22.d1 ) A1) 17.c6 xa2 18.fc1 e8 19.e5 d7 20.e6 e5 21.b4 ( 21.exf7+ xf7 ) 21...f6 22.e3 xc6 23.dxc6 , a n d W h i t e s h o u l d h a ve a d e q u a t e compensation for the exchange; A2) 17.h3 xc1 18.xc1 f8 19.h4; B) 13.fd1?! ac8 (this is already problematic for White) 14.d5 ( 14.d4 c7 leaves White's pieces awkwardly placed 15.d5 fc8 16.d2 xd5 17.xd5 c5 ) 14...xd5 15.cxd5 b5 16.a3 c4 17.d4 fc8 F.HenneberkeE.Scholl, Leeuwarden 1973 ] 13.b3 ab8 14.fd1 a6 15.d2 a3 16.e3 [ 16.h3!? may well be White's best chance f or an ad van tage xh3 17.xh3 c5 18.c2 h5 19.g2 c5 A) I like the aggressive 20.g4!? e.g. e5 ( 20...h4 21.h3 g5 22.e3 a5 23.d5 ) 21.e4 ( 21.g5 h5 22.e4 f5 23.gxf6 xf6 24.e3 c6 25.d5 xd5 26.exd5 c7 27.d4 ) 21...c6
22.f4 e6 23.f5; B) 20.dc1 h6 ( 20...e6 21.g4 h4 22.h3 ) 21.xh6 xh6 22.d5 , and White is clearly better thanks to the ridiculous rook on h6, D.Summermatter-J. Faure, Geneve 1988 ] 16...g4 17.xe7 [ 17.g5 f6 18.c2 b5 19.cxb5 axb5 20.dc1 c5= ] [ 17.d2 f6= ] 17...xe3 18.fxe3 b5 [ 18...e5 is wonderfully complicated and probably also okay for Black one line runs 19.d5 e8 20.c7 b2 21.e4 a3 ( 21...xc3 22.c2 a3 23.xc3 xa2 24.xd6 xe2 25.d2 xd2 26.xd2 b5= ) 22.c2 b5 23.d5 bxc4 24.xc4 ec8 25.d3 , and the chances are about even despite White's extra pawn ] 19.xd6 xd6 20.xd6 bxc4 21.b4 f8 [ 21...xb4 22.xa6 b2= ] 22.xa6 xb4 23.f2 c5 24.b1 cc8 25.c1 d8 26.e4 g7 27.c2 [ 27.a4 Or xc3 ( 27...d2 28.b5 g4 29.d4 c3 30.f3 ) 28.xc3 b2= ] 27...bc8 28.b6 b8 29.a6 bc8 [ T h e a c t i v e 29...f6!? can also be c o n s i d e r e d 30.d5+ e5 31.xb4 xb4= ] 30.b6 b8 31.xb8 xb8 32.b2 [ 32.d5!? may even be better fo White ] 32...f6 33.a3 d6 34.xb8 xb8 35.d5 d6 36.e4+ e5 37.xd6 [ 37.xe6 xe4 38.xc4 xa3 39.xf7 c5= ] 37...c3 38.e1 [ 38.e4 xd6 39.c2 c5 40.e1= ] 38...xd5 39.b5 c4 40.d4 d7 (I'm not familiar with the time control in the Spanish Team Ch, but I will imagine - judged on the execution of the remainder of the game by both players - that we have now reached the sudden death phase of the game. The endgame is if anything loaded with mistakes, from dubious moves to outright blunders) 41.d1 a4+ 42.c1 d5 43.c2? [ 43.f3 appears to defend, e.g. h6 44.e1 c4 45.d3 b3 46.e5 e8 47.a4 xa4 48.c2 b4 49.d3+ c4 50.e5+= ] 43...h5? 1707
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Here 43...e4 constituted a better winning chance 44.b1 h5 45.c1 f5 A) 46.h3 e4 47.b1 ( 47.g4 h4-+ ) 47...d7 48.h4 a4 and Black's king marches in anyway; B) 46.d4+ g4 47.f3 h3 48.e4 f6 49.b1 g5 50.e5 fxe5 51.xg5+ xh2-+ ] 44.b4+ c4 45.c2 [ 45.d3 b3 46.e5 e8 47.d3= ] 45...b3 46.e4 c4 [ 46...e8 47.e3 b5 48.c2= ] 47.e1 [ 47.e3+ is a safer try b3 48.d5 c6 49.h4 a4= , and Black will not win ] 47...d4 [ 47...b3!? 48.c2 e8 49.e5 d7 is objectively speaking a better try, although White in the game finds a way to blow the game in one fell swoop ] 48.f3+?? [ 48.d3! ho ld s t h e ga m e b5 49.e5= , and White should be okay ] 48...xe4 49.g5+ [ 49.e1 e3 50.d3 xe2 51.c5 e8 52.c2 f3 53.xc3 g2-+ ] 49...e3 50.xf7 xe2 51.g5 [ Or 51.h8 g5 52.f7 g4 53.e5 f2 54.d3+ g2 55.f4+ xh2 56.xh5 g2 , and it is becoming clear that White l o s e s , e . g . 57.b1 f3 58.c1 b3 59.b1 f7 60.f6 g6+ 61.c1 xg3 62.a4 f3 63.xg4 xg4 64.a5 f4 65.a6 e3 66.a7 e4 ] 51...f1 52.e4 g2 53.xc3 c6 54.e2 xh2 55.d2 g5 56.e3 g2 57.d4 d7?= [ Black could have won with the brilliant 57...xg3!! 58.xc6 h4 59.b4 h3 60.d3 h2 61.f2 g4 , and White cannot stop both pawns any longer, e.g. 62.a4 g2 63.a5 g3 64.a6 gxf2 65.a7 f1 66.a8+ g1 67.g8+ g2 68.h7 h1 ] 58.f3 g4 [ Black is playing for a win. The alternative is 58...xg3 59.xg5 c6 60.e6 h4 61.f4 with a draw ] 59.e5 e8 60.f4 h3 61.d3 d7 62.f2+ g2 63.e4 e8 64.f6 f7 65.a4 h4?? [ This loses the game instantly. Black could
have saved the game with 65...h3 66.e4 e8 67.a5 b5 68.f2+ g2 69.xg4 hxg4 70.xg4 e2+ ] 66.gxh4 h3 67.h5 g3 68.h6 g6 69.h7 xh7 70.xh7 1-0
1683 Stojanovic,Mihajlo Kojovic,Dragan 17th Belgrade Trophy (2) [John Watson]
A39 2504 2352 23.11.2004
1.d4 f6 2.f3 g6 3.c4 c5 4.c3 cxd4 5.xd4 g7 6.g3 c6 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 a5!? Black is trying to avoid lines like [ 8...xd4 9.xd4 d6 10.d3 8...Qa5 may well be underrated ] 9.e3 [ Ancient theory recommended 9.b3 h5 10.e4! , but perhaps Black can just develop, since he has no weaknesses: d6 11.xh5 xh5 12.d5 g4 13.f3 e6 with a solid game. ] 9...b4! 10.b3 [ 10.e2!? may be a better move in view of e5? ( better is 10...b6 11.d1 d6 ) 11.f4! xc4?? ( 11...c6 12.b1 ) 12.a3 c5 13.b4 c7 14.cb5 and Qxc4. ] 10...xb3 11.axb3 e8? Pitching a pawn, when the game loses its theoretical interest. The position begs for [ 11...b4 , when it's not easy to show that W h i t e h a s a n a d v a n t a g e , e . g . , 12.d1 ( 12.cb5 a6 13.c7 b8 14.a4 d3 ) 12...d6 13.cb5 g4 14.f3 d7 15.xa7 xa7 16.xa7 a8 17.ab5 ( 17.db5 c6! 18.xc6 bxc6 19.c3 b8 ) 17...e5! 18.c7 a1 19.e2 e4! (intending ...Nd3) 20.fxe4? g4 21.f2 xc1! 22.xc1 d3+ 23.g1 xe2 ] 12.d5 e6 13.xc6 bxc6 14.e7+ h8 15.xc8 xc8 16.xa7 d5 17.e4! Black lacks compensation, and White shows excellent technique: dxc4 18.bxc4 d4 19.d7 e5 20.h6 g7 21.b4 g8 22.h3 a8 23.c7 fb8 24.b1 c5 25.b5 e8 26.c6 a2 27.e3! xe3 28.fxe3 g7 29.b6 [ 29.xc5 d6 30.c7 xe4 ] 1708
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 29...f6 30.c8 b7 31.c7 b8 32.xc5 xe4 33.c8 xc8 34.xc8 d2 35.b7 f3+ 36.f1 d2 37.g4! [ 37.b8?? xh2+ 38.g1 f3+ 39.f1 ( 39.h1 h2# ) 39...h2+ 40.e1 f3+ etc. ] 37...xh2+ 38.e1 d8 39.e2 b8 40.c5 1-0
1684 Svidler,Peter Kramnik,Vladimir FIDE Candidates 2014 (3.3) [Fier, Alexandr]
A39 2758 2787 15.03.2014
One of the few games where it's possible to see Kramnik caught without any good preparation. Svidler leaves the opening with the better position and Kramnik had to find some truly amazing resources to hold the game. 1.c4 c5 2.f3 f6 3.c3 c6 4.g3 g6 5.d4 cxd4 6.xd4 g7 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 xd4 [ 8...a5 is more popular nowadays and was seen last month on Chess Publishing 9.b3 h5 10.c5 was analyzed in Hammer, J (2612)-Goganov, A (2581)/Rilton Cup 43rd 2013 (6). ( 10.h3 was Ivanchuk, V (2739)Vachier Lagrave, M (2745)/Gibraltar Masters 12th 2014 (10). )] 9.xd4 d6 10.d3 Now there are plenty of moves f or Black. e6 One of the possible ideas. I show some of the other possible moves: [ 10...f5 11.e4 e6 12.b3 ] [ 10...a5 11.h3 e6 12.d2 a6 ] [ 10...d7 11.b3 c5 12.d2 b8 ] [ 10...b8 11.e3 a6 12.a7 is thematic a8 13.d4 b8 ] [ 10...a6 11.d2 b8 is the main line and was well analyzed in Bu Xiangzhi (2656)Zhang Ziyang (2323)/zt 3.5 Shandong CHN 2007 (2). ] 11.d2 [ 11.xb7!? this obviously should be critical. In the main variation Black recovers the pawn, but I think White has good chances to get an advantage b8 12.g2 a5 13.b3 xb3 ( 13...g4 Black can play for an attack, but this move is hard to believe
14.d2 h5 15.h4 and White has no problems defending the king) 14.axb3 xa1 15.b5 ( 15.d2 a6 16.b5 c8 is a better version for Black compared to the game ) 15...a2 ( 15...f5 16.d4 xd4 17.xd4 and White has the advantage due to Black's a-pawn) 16.d4 d7 17.d2 a6 18.b4 g4 19.b5 and I prefer White's position ] 11...c8 I'm not that convinced about Black's idea. In the game it looks like W hite has a solid space advantage, but Black has no clear plan. [ 11...d7 was played against Kramnik in a blitz game and I think this is a better square for the queen. Black still has the plans with ...Bh3 and the rook can go to c8 without any t e m p o l o s s 12.fd1 g4 13.b3 e5 14.e4 was Kramnik, V (2772)-Anand, V (2788)/Wch Blitz 5th blitz 2009 (3). and here I wo u l d s u g g e s t c6 15.ac1 ac8 with a solid position ] 12.b3 h3 13.ac1 xg2 14.xg2 c6+ 15.f3 [ 15.e4 was also possible, but we can see in the game that Svidler was not in hurry to play this move ] 15...e6 Avoiding any idea with Nd5, but leaving the weak pawn on d6. In a few moves this pawn is going to be the main theme of the game. [ 15...d7 tries to keep the pawn on e7 and transf er the knight to a better position, opening the diagonal for the bishop 16.d5 fe8 17.g5 c5 18.d2 d7 and sooner or later Black will need to play ... e6 in order to find a plan ] 16.fd1 ad8 17.f4 with the queen on c6 Black is not able to play 17...d5, so W hite slowly improves all his pieces. [ 17.g5 would be another idea, to provoke ...h6, but it's not so clear it's necessary h6 ( 17...d7 l o s e s a p a w n 18.d4! e8 19.xa7 and White is winning) 18.f4 d7 and it would be more or less similar to the game ] 17...d7 18.e3 Preparing to triple on the dfile. [ 18.e4 would be another setup, but Svidler prefers to stay with the queen between the ro o ks o n th e d -f ile b6 19.c2 fd8 1709
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.cd2 e8 with the usual advantage for White ] 18...b6 19.d3 c8 20.d2 e8 [ 20...g4 could be an alternative to release the pressure at the cost of the d6-pawn, but it's not even clear that White needs to take it 21.xd6 ( 21.b5 cd8 22.g5 f6 23.e4 is also reasonable) 21...cd8 22.f4 xd3 23.exd3 e5 24.xe5 xe5 25.e2 and Black managed to activate his pieces, but still it's not enough to fully compensate the pawn ] 21.e4 Finally White is ready to advance the epawn. a6 22.e5!? Now the game becomes sharp. h6!? A brave decision, Black tries to bother W hite's bishop and to create counterplay in the center. The problem is that now he always needs to take care of some quick attack on his king, since all the pieces are focused on d6. [ 22...cd8 would be a similar idea, compared to the game 23.d1 b5 24.c5 again this move is strong d5 ( 24...xc5 25.e4 a7 26.xd6 xd6 27.xd6 xd6 28.exd6 d7 is better for White) 25.b4 and Black is cramped ] 23.h4 I like this move, keeping the pressure on the position. [ 23.xh6 was not clear and Black can even give the fianchettoed bishop for the c3knight xe5 24.g5 f6 25.f4 xc3 26.cxc3 e5 27.e3 c7 and Black's position is free, even if White can still keep an edge ] 23...cd8 24.d1 b5 Forcing matters. [ 24...h7 Black could try to hold the tension for one more move 25.a4 ( 25.e4 d5 26.a4 is unclear) 25...f6!? 26.exf6 xf6 27.e2! and White forces Black to move one of the pawns d5 ( 27...e5 28.e3 ) 28.e3 e4! this is an important resource, but even with this shot, Black will suffer 29.xe4 dxe4 30.xd7 exf3+ 31.xf3 xd7 32.e2 h5 and White's position is better, but Black has chances to hold ] 25.c5! White finds the best move and the position is really dangerous for Black. [ 25.cxb5 axb5 26.xh6 xe5 is similar to the game, but in a worse version for White ] [ 25.exd6 bxc4 26.bxc4 e5! Black will recover the d6-pawn, and c4 is also hanging
27.xh6 xd6 28.d5 xc4 29.g5 8d7 and Black is fine ] 25...xc5 [ 25...d5 26.b4 a5 27.a3 axb4 28.axb4 is much better for White ] 26.e4 b6 Now White needs to decide between 3 tempting ideas, and this is s o m e t i m e s n o t s o e a s y . 27.xd6?! The simplest of the options, but also the least ambitious. Now Black has only got to care about the passed pawn. [ 27.e3 wins an exchange by force b8 28.c5 and Black has no way to defend the rook. Still, Black has a pawn for the exchange and a good center xe5 29.xd7 xd7 30.xh6 f6 31.e1 Followed by 32. Bf4 gives White an edge ] [ 27.xh6! this was the best move, but it was not so easy to see the idea when compared to the other two variations. White doesn't care about winning material much and goes d i r e c t l y f o r t h e k i n g xe5 28.h5! the last move is linked with this idea, which is easy to overlook or misevaluate. Black's pieces are badly placed and there is no time t o d e f e n d t h e k i n g s i d e p r o p e r l y f6 ( 28...c8 29.hxg6 fxg6 30.g5 f7 falls into a beautiful idea 31.xe5! dxe5 32.xd7+ g8 33.e7 and White's pieces a r e t o o a c t i ve , B l a c k i s h e l p l e s s . F o r example: c6 34.dd7 a5 35.xe8+ xe8 36.f6+ h8 37.g7# ) 29.xf6+ xf6 30.g5 xg5 31.xg5 and White will win the g6-pawn and open Black's king ] 27...f8 28.h5 [ 28.xh6 is chaotic, but Black is holding tactically xd6 29.xf8 e4 30.fxe4 xd3 31.h6 xg3+! 32.xg3 xf8 33.h5 c5 34.f4 g7 and White's king is also exposed ] 28...xd6 29.exd6 g5 30.e5 c8?! Both players are short of time and practical decisions are required. W ith one rook exchanged the position is apparently better for White. One of Black's rooks should block the d-pawn and the other one take care of the last rank. [ 30...g7 was interesting, without the bishops the pawn on d6 is more vulnerable 31.xg7 xg7 32.b4 c8 with an unclear position ] 1710
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 31.c1! xc1 32.xc1 b7 33.g4 Now Black's pieces are too passive. b4 [ 33...g7 was still possible, but less good t h a n 3 0 . . . B g7 34.xg7 xg7 35.c3+ g8 36.b4 and White has good chances ] 34.c4 g7 35.g3 b5 36.e1?! Now White gives Black the chance to activate the queen. [ 36.xb5 White can change the queens to get the b4-pawn axb5 37.f4! White need to h i t t h e h 6 - p a w n ( 37.e1 c3 give s n ot hin g) 37...gxf4 38.xf4 f8 39.d2 e8 ( 39...c3 now drops the h6pawn ) 40.xb4 a7 41.a3 d7 with a healthy pawn up for White ] 36...e5 37.g3 e2+ 38.f2 f8 39.xa6 e5 A quite risky decision! Black goes for counterplay instead of trying to take the d6pawn. [ 39...e5 was enough for equality 40.c8 xd6 41.b8 d5 42.xe5 xe5 43.d8 f5= ] 40.c4 xa2 41.c6 The last mistake of the game, just after the time control. W hite's position looks winning after the move from the game, but Black has an amazing resource at his disposal. [ 41.xb4 a6 42.d5 xd6 43.xe5 was still better for White ] 41...e4! 42.fxe4 e2 43.f3 xd6 44.e8 f6 45.e5 This was White's plan, Black cannot take the pawn. f5! First this. [ 45...xe5 46.xe5 fxe5 47.xf8+ xf8 48.c5 e7 49.xb4! and Black is hopelessly lost ] 46.gxf5 f6! And Black is back to the game, he threatens 47...Rxf5. 47.g3 e4 48.c5 e1+ 49.f2 e4 50.c5 e1+ 51.f2 ½-½
1685 Timman,Jan H Palo,Davor 13th Sigeman & Co (1) [John Watson]
A39 2607 2525 15.04.2005
1.c4 c5 2.f3 c6 3.c3 f6 4.g3 g6 5.g2 g7 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 0-0 8.0-0 g4 Tony has examined a few games with this move in the archive. I've never quite
believed in it, and Timman's handling is one of several that seem effective. 9.e3 d6 10.b3 [ 10.xc6!? bxc6 11.xc6 and ] [ 10.xc6 bxc6 11.xc6 are speculative and not worth it in practice. They are both give n a b r ie f re vie w b y T o n y - s e e t h e archives. ] 10...ge5 [ The material on ChessPublishing about 8... Ng4 d oe sn 't sho w mu ch p osit ive ab ou t Blacks position. Regarding the move 10...a6 , we see 11.b2 xd4 12.exd4 b8 13.e1 h6 14.d5!? e6 15.e3 b5 16.e2 bxc4 17.xc4 as slightly better for White in Timman,J-Khalifman,A/Amsterdam 1995. Later we see Khalifman taking the White side and getting a clear advantage against Minero Pineda. Bled 2002. With 10... Nge5, Palo tries another approach but he still lacks space and targets: ] 11.b2 xd4 12.exd4 c6 13.d5 e5 14.h3 a6 What to do? This concedes every advantage to White, but [ 14...f5 15.g4 d3!? 16.gxf5 xb2 17.c2 a5 18.ac1 a3 19.fxg6 hxg6 20.b1 xc4 21.b5 loses a piece for too little compensation. ] 15.e2 b8 16.fe1 [ 16.f4 d7 17.ae1 is also good, but it's wiser to build up the pressure. ] 16...b5 17.c5!? A strange move. [ Cashing in by 17.f4 d7 18.cxb5 axb5 19.xe7 can't be bad. ] 17...dxc5 18.xb5 f3+ 19.xf3 xb2 20.xb2 axb5 21.h4! This is a standard mode of attack. The other approach is [ 21.ac1 xh3 22.xc5 ] 21...d6 22.e3 [ Or 22.e5 ] 22...b7 [ Maybe Black should just stop the h-pawn advance with 22...h5 ] 23.h5! fd8 [ Last chance for 23...gxh5 ] 24.h6 f6! [ 24...f6? 25.ae1 e8 26.e2 xd5 27.xd5+ xd5 28.xe7 xe7 29.xe7 f7 30.xc5 will win. ] 25.xf6 exf6 26.d1 f8 27.d6 xf3 28.xf3 f5 29.c3 bc8 30.d5 b4 31.cxc5 xc5 32.xc5 xd6 33.g2 1711
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 13...e6 is the alternative, 14.cxd6 e8 15.d5!? ( 15.f4 xd6 16.fd1 is interesting) 15...xd6 16.f4 xd5 17.xd5 xb2 18.ad1 c8 which was soon draw, Tal,M-Neverov,V/Moscow 1990. ] 14.xd8 bxd8 [ Black never manages to get enough compensation for the exchange after the alternative capture, i.e. 14...fxd8?! 15.f4 e6 16.xb8 xb8 17.ac1 d7 18.fd1 Barcza,G-Gufeld,E/Tallinn 1989, 1-0 (41). ] 15.g5! [ Vaganian's that wins the exchange. He was less successful with the old 15.e3 A) 15...e6 is possibly better, 16.xc5 d2! ( 16...d7 17.fd1 drawn, Braga,CTsuboi,E/BRA-ch m 1991) 17.xe7 e8 18.a3 g4 19.ad1 ( 19.h3? xf2! 20.xf2 d4 21.d1 d8 is good for Black ) 19...xc3 20.bxc3 xa2 1686 A39 with good play, Danailov,S-Outerelo,M/ Ponferrada 1991; Vaganian,Rafael A 2618 B) 15...c8!? 16.xc5 fe8 17.fd1 e5 Heinemann,Thies 2479 18.b6 xd1+ 19.xd1 f8 and White's Bundesliga 1999-2000 (14) 08.04.2000 advantage is slight, Vaganian, R[Tony Kosten] Heinemann,T/Germany 1998/GER-chT. ] 1.f3 c5 2.c4 f6 3.c3 c6 4.g3 g6 15...c8!? [ To defend the b7-pawn, 15...e6 16.e5 5.d4 cxd4 6.xd4 g7 7.g2 This position d5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xe7 xe5 can equally arise from the Yugoslav Variation 19.ad1 also favours White. ] of the King's Indian, and while it offers White a theoretical advantage, Black often obtains 16.e5 g4 17.xe7 xe5?! [ An important moment, the black knight plenty of tactical possibilities based on the ... becomes misplaced af ter this, so Black b5-break. 0-0 8.0-0 xd4 9.xd4 d6 should try 17...xe5 when he has a pawn, 10.d3 a6 11.d2 and some compensation for the exchange. ] [ 11.e3 is the main line, but the text is also 18.h3 h6 19.xd8 xd8 20.ad1 f8 good. ] [ Black is forced to concede the d-file, as if 11...b8 12.c5 20...d4 then 21.e2 is good, but after this, [ This move is set to become more popular, I White's win, knowing Vaganian's technique, feel, as the alternative 12.ac1 allows b5! is a simple question of time. ] 13.cxb5 axb5 14.xb5 f5 15.e4 xe4! 16.xe4 xe4 17.xe4 xb5 21.a4 b5 22.d5! [ Stronger than 22.xc5 xb2 ] with an unclear position. ] 22...d4 23.xc5 xb2 24.fd1 f5 12...f5 As is well-known in such positions, [ C o n s i d e r e d s t r o n g e s t 12...dxc5!? 25.d8 is normally rejected because of 13.xd8 where one side is an exchange ahead, it is xd8 14.f4 a8 15.a4 but this doesn't important to liquidate the remaining rook. e7 look like the end of the world to me, e.g. 26.xf8+ xf8 27.d2 c3 28.d8+ g7 g4!? 16.xb7 a7 17.xc5 xe2 29.e8 f6 30.g4 h5 31.f3 a5 32.e4 hxg4 33.hxg4 d7 34.a8 18.fe1 which seems equal. ] [ This is even simpler than 34.xf6 xf6 13.e4 dxc5 Somehow one feels that things should have been even easier for White. Perhaps [ 33.b5 a6 34.xb4 would gain a tempo and allow xa2 35.b8+ e7 36.h8! f6 37.xh7 a8 38.b4 b8 39.g7 , as in the game. ] 33...a6 34.b5 xa2 35.xb4 a6? [ 35...e7! is clearly a better move as shown by the line 36.b8 b2! Anyway, the game n o w e n d s q u i c k l y. I t ' s n o t c l e a r t o m e whether Black still had chances, but he shouldn't have missed this one. ] 36.b8+ e7 37.h8 f6 38.xh7 a8 39.b4 g5 40.b5 f8 [ 40...g6 41.g7+ xh6 42.xf7 g6 43.c7 ] 41.g7 g4 42.b6 h8 43.b7 b8 44.f1 e8 45.f3 gxf3 46.g4 1-0
1712
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 35.g5+ e6 36.g4+ d6 37.d8 f5 38.xf5 gxf5 ] 34...b2 [ T h e a - p a w n i s l o s t , a s a f t e r 34...a4? 35.a7 e6 36.g5 Black loses a piece. ] 35.xa5 d4 36.d6 b6 37.a8 c5 38.e8+ h6 39.f6 e6 40.g5+! g7 [ 40...xg5 41.e4+ f4 42.xc5 xf3 43.xe6 fxe6 44.b8 wins easily, for after White captures the b-pawn his a-pawn will be unstoppable. ] 41.e2 b4 42.d1 c8 43.g4 xg4 44.xg4 b6 45.b8 a4 46.f6 f8 The only move to stop mate. 47.e4 b2 48.g2 d3 49.c8 f4+ 50.f3 e6 51.g4 e7 52.b8 d4 53.b7 f8 54.f6 e6 55.b8+ [ 55.b8+ d8 56.d5 e8 57.xe7 xe7 58.xb4 is hopeless, of course. ] 1-0
17.cxb5 xb5 ( 17...axb5 18.b4!? ) 18.ac1 These sorts of lines are depressing for Black. We now know that it doesn't help Black much to achieve ...b5 . ] 14...xb2 15.xb2 a6 16.d4 d7 17.a4? Weakening. Better was simply [ 17.b4 a4 18.b3 ] [ or 17.d2 b5 18.cxb5 axb5 19.b4 ] 17...b6! 18.ab1 fc8 [ Or 18...a5= ] 19.fd1 e6!? [ A good solution was 19...e5! 20.c2 f5 ] 20.e3 d8 21.d2 [ The other idea is 21.xe6 xe6 22.d4 b5 23.cxb5 axb5 24.f1! bxa4 25.bxa4 , although this really isn't much. ] 21...b6 22.h4!? A standard idea in these positions. c5 23.e4 [ 23.h5!? ] 23...f8 24.g5?! Allowing the typical He d ge h o g b re a ko u t : e5! 25.c2 b5! 26.axb5 axb5 27.b4?! 1687 A39 [ Approximate equality was still to be had by 27.cxb5 xb5 ( 27...xb5 ) 28.b4 a4 Werle,Jan 2514 29.d2 ] Van der Wiel,John TH 2505 Corus C Wijk aan Zee NED (8) 22.01.2006 27...bxc4 28.bxc4 [ 28.d5 cxb3 29.e7+ g7 30.xc8 [John Watson] xc8 with an obvious advantage. ] A test of the old main line of the Symmetrical 28...e6 [ Or 28...a4 ] Variation. White should have come out on top in the opening, and in fact Black's problems in 29.d5 xd5! 30.cxd5 h6 31.e3 [ 31.f6 d7 ] this line have never been adequately solved. 1.f3 f6 2.c4 c5 3.c3 c6 4.g3 g6 31...g7 32.h5 xb1 33.xb1 b8 34.f1 [ Th is se e ms p re m a tu re ly d ra wn : 34.f1 5.g2 g7 6.d4 cxd4 7.xd4 0-0 8.0-0 b3! gains the initiative as White's bishop is xd4 9.xd4 d6 10.d3 d7 White has bad, for one thing. ] genera lly done well after this move. 11...a6 or even 11...Qa5 are more common. Still, they ½-½ both fall short of complete equality versus accurate play. 11.b3 c5 12.d2 e6 1688 A40 An unusual move although logical enough. Abdulla,A 2405 [ 12...d7 13.b2 c6 14.e4 is given by Murshed,Niaz 2435 Taimanov, and ] 19.03.2003 [ 12...a5 13.b2 e6 14.d5 xb2 6th United Insurance (12) 15.xb2 b8 16.fd1 ( 16.h4!? ) 16...b5 [Glenn Flear] 17.cxb5 xb5 18.ac1 favoured White in 1.c4 e6 2.d4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c2!? Vukic-Zivkovic, Yugoslav Ch 1974. ] 13.b2 b8 Black has the same idea but A move favoured by experienced English GM without ...a5. 14.b5!? Trying to exploit the Jonathan Levitt. White defends the e4-pawn lack of ...a6, but this doesn't seem necessary. but retains flexibility in the placement of his m i n o r p i e c e s . f6!? This could be a new White gets the advantage following [ 14.fd1 a6 15.d5 xb2 16.xb2 b5 move! Black has generally preferred moves 1713
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 such as [ 4...h4 or ] [ 4...g6 but the text intends a rapid response in the centre. ] 5.f3 [ 5.e5 is met by e4 6.d3 f5 with complex play. ] 5...c6 6.e3 [ White is in danger of becoming overextended after 6.e5 g8 7.e3 d6 ] 6...e5! With this fine move Black guarantees some say over th e central dark squares. 7.e2 exd4 8.xd4 c5!? An interesting idea but I prefer [ 8...b4+ 9.c3 xd4 10.xd4 e7 11.0-0-0 c5 retaining all the advantages of a solid pawn structure, with equal chances in my opinion. ] 9.xc6 xc6 10.xc5 bxc5 11.c3 0-0 12.0-0-0 White has a solid centre but he will have to expand to make something of it. Black has no pawn breaks and lacks counterplay, so I b e l i e v e t h a t W h i t e h a s a n e d g e . e7 13.d3 d6 14.he1 [ A n o t h e r p l a n s t a r t s w i t h 14.g4!? and should be followed by a general kingside pawn advance. ] 14...d7 15.f4 g6 16.g3 ab8 17.e5!? [ An interesting pawn offer to shatter his o p p o n e n t ' s s t r u c t u r e . I n s t e a d 17.h4 preparing to soften up the kingside also makes sense. ] 17...dxe5 18.e4 xe4 19.xe4 e6 20.d5 fd8 [ 20...xd5 21.xd5 b6 22.xc5 exf4 23.gxf4 leaves White with a persistent initiative despite the simplified position. ] 21.xe6 fxe6 22.fxe5 f7 23.b5 b7 24.d2 Black has the inferior structure and is somewhat tangled, however he is able to hold on. a6 25.c3 e7 26.ed1 bb8 27.e4 xe5?! This loses/ sacrifices a pawn. I prefer [ 27...a5! which is less risky in my opinion, for instance 28.b3 xe5 29.xd8 xd8 30.xd8 xd8 31.xc5 e7 with near equality. ] 28.xd8 xd8 29.xd8 xd8 30.xc5 e7! [ 30...xc4 leads to serious problems after 31.xe6+ c8 32.f8 e.g. e3 33.xh7 f1 34.f8 g5 35.h4! ]
31.xa6 d6 32.c5+ [ Unfortunately, White's knight is locked out of play after 32.b3 c5 but he can then still try and make something out of his queenside majority with 33.c2 f3 34.h3 g1 35.a3 xh3 36.b4 ] 32...c6 33.c2 f3 34.h3 [ After 34.h3 Black becomes sufficiently active to hold after b7! ( 34...g5?! 35.b4 xh3 36.a4 f2 37.b5+ ) 35.b4 g5 36.h4 e4 37.c6+ b6 38.g4 c5 ] ½-½
1689 Abdulla,Alr Rahman,Ziaur 1st ONGC Cup (10) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2477 2557 05.03.2006
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.h5+!? Hoping to provoke looseness in the Black pawn structure but enabling Black to place his bishop on g7. I'm convinced that [ 5.c3 b4 6.h5+ is more logical. ] 5...g6 6.e2 c6 [ The old game Forintos, G-Ornstein, A Kirovakan 1978 continued 6...f6 7.g5 h6 8.xf6 xf6 9.f3 c6 10.e5 f7 11.c3 a6 and Black was fine. Rahman's alternative plan also involves Black obtaining the bishop pair. ] 7.f3 b4 8.c3 xd3+ 9.xd3 f6!? [ I think Black has a reasonable game after 9...fxe4 10.xe4 f6= but the text retains a pawn on f5 and greater influence on the e4-square. ] 10.exf5 gxf5 11.g5 g7 12.0-0-0!? White's turn to make an interesting choice. Instead [ 12.0-0 also seems playable. ] 12...0-0 13.d5 c8 14.he1 So White has brought his rooks to the centre quite rapidly with some pressure, but as his king is slightly vulnerable on the queenside Rahman decides to mix it. b5!? 15.dxe6 dxe6 16.xf6 [ Inferior is 16.xb5?! e4 17.e3 a6 18.a3 ( 18.bd4? f4 ) 18...e5 with good practical compensation for Black. ] 16...xf6 17.cxb5 [ I think White should try 17.xb5! as e4 1714
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is met by 18.xe4! After 17 Nxb5 White should have sufficient control of the centre and thus gives Black problems to get his bishops going. ] 17...c6 18.b6 Not wanting to open his own king at the cost of a pawn, White plays for the initiative. axb6 19.e5 b5?! Dubious. More sensible is [ 19...f8! (it looks odd on f6 doesn't it?) when the rook can soon come to d8. ] 20.d7 b4 21.a4! [ But not 21.xf6+?! xf6 22.e2 when xa2 is too strong. ] 21...xa4 22.b6 f8 23.xa4 c5 24.d8 [ Not bad, but 24.c4 might also be good. ] 24...e4 25.f4!? In order to avoid the consequences of ...Bh6+, but it I suspect that it 's wro n g a s B la ck n o w ge ts in t e re st in g counterplay. Instead [ 25.d6! h6+ 26.d1 leaves White favourite in a highly complex tussle. ] 25...e5! 26.xe4?! Tempting but erroneous. Instead the wild-looking [ 26.g4! aiming to dissolve the Black centre should enable W hite to retain the advantage. ] 26...fxe4 27.xc5 e3 28.fxe5 [ Otherwise 28.d5+ h8 29.fxe5 is refuted by f1 ] 28...e2! 29.d5+ f7 30.e1 h8 31.d3 [ If 31.xe2 then c7 ] 31...c8+ 32.b1 f1 33.e4 a6 34.c2? [ 34.xe2? loses a piece to xe1+ 35.xe1 xd3+ ] [ but White still has hope after 34.e6! b3!? ( 34...xd3+? 35.xd3 xe1+ 36.c2 c1+ 37.b3 e1 38.d8+; 34...f6! 35.e7 xe7 36.e5+ g8 37.c2 a4+ 38.d2 d1+ 39.e3 f8 40.d5+ i s u n c l e a r) 35.axb3 xd3+! 36.xd3 xe1+ 37.a2 a1+ 38.xa1 e1+ 39.a2 a5+ ( 39...xe6 40.d8+ g8 41.xg8+ also looks drawish.) 40.b1 f6= ] 34...a4+ White resigned as 35.d2 d1+ 36.e3 h6+ 37.d4 f4 loses the queen. 0-1
1690 Adorjan,Andras Spassky,Boris V Interzonal Tournament 1 [Paul Motwani]
A40
1982
B28: "Splattered by Spassky!" 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 5.d3 f5! 6.h5+ [ 6.c2 happened in game B23. ] 6...g6 7.e2 f6 8.f3 c6! [ 8...fxe4 9.fxe4 xc3+ 10.bxc3 xe4 works great in the case of 11.xe4? h4+ b u t in st e a d 1 1 Nf 3 ! wo u l d l e a ve B la c k precariously placed in terms of development and dark-square weaknesses. ] 9.e5? [ White should prefer 9.e3 although it's true that Black still has an excellent position after fxe4 10.fxe4 e5 11.d5 d4 ] 9...xd4!! 10.f2 h5 Oops! White now sees too late that 11 Qxd4 Bc5 traps his queen. He struggled on until move 23 before finally throwing in the towel. 0-1
1691 Akesson,Ralf Plaskett,Jim Bergsjo [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2305 2405 1981
An important new idea - when one diagonal closes another opens, and the ...g6 systems breathed new life into the English Def. Jimbo is the youngest of the English heroes. 1.c4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.d5 e6 4.a3 g6 5.f3 g7 6.e4 e7 7.e2 0-0 8.c3 f5 9.exf5 xf5 10.0-0 e7 11.g5 f7 12.c2 a6 13.b4 c5 14.dxc6 xc6 15.ad1 ac8 16.e4 c7 17.d6 xd6 18.xd6 xf3 19.xf3 b5 20.d3 d4 21.a4 f5 22.xd4 xd4 23.e7 f7 24.xd7 xc4 25.d1 g7 26.h3 e5 27.d6 xf2+ 28.xf2 c2+ 29.g1 e3+ 30.h1 xf3 0-1
1715
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1692 Aleksandrov,Aleksej Beliavsky,Alexander G 36th Olympiad (5) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2659 2660 19.10.2004
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.f3 In the English Def ence the move f 2-f 3 is generally played in order to defend the e-pawn o n e 4 . He re A l e xa n d ro v d o e s n 't c o m m i t himself to an early e2-e4, but keeps this possibility in reserve. In the meantime Black's typical pressure on the a8-h1 diagonal (and particularly the e4-square) is hindered. d5 This queen's gambit-style idea is unusual after an early queenside fianchetto. However it makes sense here as the pawn on f3 denies White the natural plan of Ng1-f3-e5. [ Another way to handle the position is to react in Dutch-style with 4...f5 e.g. 5.e3 g6 6.d3 g7 7.ge2 h4+ 8.g3 h6 9.0-0 0-0 10.ge2 e7 11.c2 h8 12.a3 d5!? with a tense struggle in prospect, Ibanez,E-Hamdouchi,H Sitges 1994 ] 5.cxd5 exd5 6.h3 d6? A poor move. Black should keep an eye on the e4-square with [ 6...f6! 7.g5 e7= (it's akin to a QGD Tartakower system where White's knight on h3 and pawn on f3 look a little odd) whereupon he has comfortable equality. ] 7.e4! Taking the opportunity to occupy the centre. Beliavsky's previous move proves to b e t o o p ro vo c a t ive dxe4 8.fxe4 c6 Hitting the centre but not that successfully as White keeps control. 9.e3 [ Also good for White is the direct 9.e5 b4 10.a3 ] 9...h6!? Artificial- looking, but normal development is difficult to achieve in the face of W hite 's cent ral cou ple t on d4 and e4 . 10.h5 d7 11.e2 [ Capturing on h6 is tempting but Black can get some play on the dark-squares in return f o r h i s d a m a ge d st r u ct u r e e . g . 11.xh6 gxh6 12.0-0-0 0-0-0 but White is still better after 13.xh6 f8!? 14.h5 xd4 15.g5! ] 11...0-0 12.0-0 [ Here again 12.xh6 gxh6 ( 12...xd4? seems lacking in view of 13.0-0-0 xe2+
14.xe2 gxh6 15.e5 ae8 16.h5 xe5 17.xe5 ) 13.0-0-0 could be tried. Perhaps the lesser evil for Black would then be f6 14.xh6 g7 with some dark-squared in f l u e n c e f o r t h e p a wn , b u t n o t n e a r l y enough. ] 12...f6 13.d5 [ Alexandrov must again have considered 13.xh6 gxh6 14.ad1 xd4 ( or perhaps 14...g7 ) 15.xd4 xh2+ ( 15...c5?? loses on the spot to 16.xc5 ) 16.xh2 xd4 17.xh6 which is messy but given a choice you'd have to take White. ] 13...f5 14.ad1 White can play [ 14.e5! as the resource xe5 goes down to ( 14...xd4 is a ls o re f u t e d b y 15.c4! ) 15.c4! h8 16.xh6 a5 17.dxe5 xc4 and now 18.f6!! winning at least the exchange. ] 14...g4! F i g h t i n g b a c k ! 15.xg4? Letting the advantage slip. instead [ 15.f4! remains complicated but White is ye t a g a i n o n t o p e . g . xd4 ( 15...g6 16.h4 ) 16.c4 h8 17.xd6 xd6 18.g5 It so often happens that when faced with several ways to get an advantage, that we search for something really big, manage to get confused, go wrong and get nothing at all! ] 15...fxg4 16.g5 h6 17.e5 xf1+ An important intermezzo. White is left with an unpleasant choice. 18.xf1 Best but chances of an advantage are gone. [ 18.xf1? f8+ 19.g1 e7 20.xe7+ xe7 and the knight on g5 is embarrassed. ] 18...xe5! This works now that White's rook has been moved away from d1. 19.f7 xd5 20.xg4 [ 20.dxe5?? goes down to xe5 due to the threat of mate. ] 20...xd4 21.xh6+ h7 22.f5 xe3+ 23.xe3 e5 24.f5 [ Another way to draw was 24.h4+ g8 25.c4+ h7 26.h4+ ] 24...f8 White was probably shaking his head wondering where his advantage (and piece!) had gone. At least he still has a draw. 25.h3+ g8 26.b3+ ½-½
1716
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1693 Ambarcumjan,Armen Pixton,Aaron ch Seattle USA (6) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 13...f7 14.dxe6 [ Here again 14.b4 is ineffective e.g. ce4 2388 15.xe4 xe4 16.xe4 fxe4 17.dxe6 2432 dxe6 and the bishops compensate for the 10.01.2002 doubled pawns. ] 14...dxe6 15.d3 [ 15.xb7 xb7 16.d3 d6= 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 f5 4.c3 b7 5.d5 ( 16...xc3?! 17.xc3 d8 e7 6.e3 a5 A natural reaction, but see is less appropriate due to the hole on e5.) Sagalchik-Pixton for a more promising setup. 17.a4 is well met by e5! as 18.xa7?! [ 6...f6 7.ge2 0-0 8.f4 e5 9.d3 d6 is rendered dubious by a5 as Black wins 10.e2 a5 11.0-0 bd7 12.f4 e4 13.f2 back th e p awn with int ere st as W hite's c5 14.b3 d7 15.b2 a6 16.g4 g6 queen is off-side. ] 17.g5 e8 18.cxe4 fxe4 19.d4 f6 20.gxf6 xf6 21.h3 h5 22.xe4 xe4 15...d6 16.xc5 xg2 17.xg2 bxc5!? 23.xe4 f7 24.d4 h7 25.d3 c8 V o l u n t a r i l y d o u b l i n g h i s o w n p a w n s t o 26.h2 c5 27.c2 f5 28.e4 xe4 stabilize the queenside. [ T h e o b v i o u s r e c a p t u r e i s 17...xc5 29.xe4 xb3 30.d1 1-0 Bischoff,Kbut I presume that following that 18.b4 d6 Fiekers,C Fuerth 1999. ] 19.b5 didn't appeal to Mamedyarov. ] 7.ge2 a6? It's easy not to be on red alert at this stage of the game, but sometimes... 18.f3 h5 19.e3 e5 Black's initiative just 8.f4 c5 9.h5+ f8 10.g6+ hxg6 about compensates the coming pressure on his pawns. 20.b5 f4 11.xh8 f6 [ 20...e6 is met by 21.b4! with pressure on [ 11...b3 12.b1 f6 is probably a bit c5 , d 6 a n d c7 e . g . cxb4 22.c5 e7 better but the b3 square is not compensation 23.axb4 and White's queenside threats offer for an exchange. ] him the better chances. ] 12.d2 b3 13.d1 xd2 14.xd2 xc3 15.bxc3 e7 16.dxe6 dxe6 17.e2 xa3 21.xd6 cxd6 22.gxf4 exf4 23.g1? 18.0-0 xc3 19.d4 c6 20.f3 xf3 Not a great square! [ White can and should go for the f-pawn with 21.gxf3 c5 22.d6 f6 23.xb6 a4 23.xf4! g4 24.d5! and following h4 24.fb1 a3 25.b8+ xb8 26.xb8+ e7 ( but not 24...xf4? 25.xh5 e3+ 27.xg8 wh ich f ails t o 26.g3 xc2 27.xf4 ) 1-0 25.f5! xf5 26.xf5 xe2+ 27.g1 f6 h e m a y b e a b l e t o c l a i m a n e d g e wi t h 28.b4 ] 1694 A40 Atalik,Suat 2541 23...e6 24.d2 Now White is tied down and Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar 2660 i t ' s B l a c k w h o h a s a l l t h e c h a n c e s . d7 'Saccing' a pawn to stop Black's 36th Olympiad (5) 19.10.2004 25.d5 ambitions against his king. xd5 26.xd5 [Glenn Flear] b6 27.d2 xc4 28.c2 e3+ 29.xe3 A clear pawn in an ending. White has 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 xe3 f6 6.g3 a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 some hope as there are only rooks on the 9.0-0 e5 10.c2 0-0 11.d2 e7! board, but still Black would hope and expect to Black has previously tried several moves here win. 30.b4! f5 [ Another idea is 30...xa3 31.bxc5 dxc5 such as the 11...Nfe4 of Georgiev,Ki.-Sharif, 32.xc5 e8 ] M French League 2003 but the text just aiming to c om plet e de ve lo pm en t ma ke s a lo t o f 31.bxc5 xc5 32.a2 e6 33.f2 h6 34.h1 For the moment White is tied down, sense. 12.ad1 ae8 13.f4 [ 13.b4 g e t s n o w h e r e a s a f t e r ce4 but Black's loose-looking pawns aren't that 14.xe4 xe4 15.dxe6 Black can equalize d a n g e r o u s . a5 35.a4 f7 36.h4 a6 37.b2! White doesn't want to die slowly and by recapturing either way. ] 1717
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 getting active play is the only hope. The apawn is lost but Black can't hold onto all his booty. xa4 38.b7+ f6 39.d7 d4 [ Black will also have significant technical difficulties after 39...e6 40.xg7 a5 41.a7 as all his remaining pawns are isolated. ] 40.a7 g6 [ Black could have tried 40...a4 41.d7 h5 trying to bring the rook back into the fray as the adventure on the h-file hasn't helped Black. However White should hold even here with 42.xd6+ e7 43.b6 e5 44.g1 g6 45.b7+ f6 46.xh7 a2 47.e1 a5 48.h8 g7 49.c8 a4 50.c4 ] 41.xa6 h5 42.a7 h6 43.h7 d2 44.h8 g7 45.e8 g5 46.g2 f7 47.e4 Mamedyarov has turned up the pressure on White's position, but he can't run the rook on the e-file out of room. In consequence White holds easily. d5 48.e5 d4 49.hxg5 xg5+ 50.xg5 hxg5 51.h7+ e6 52.f1 The only move but sufficient. d3 53.exd3 xd3 54.e2 e3+ 55.f2 a3 56.g7 f6 57.g8 a5 58.g2 e5 59.f2 ½-½
defends potential hotspots b7, e6 and c7. Although White maintains his pawn wedge on d5, apart from that it's hard to see how he inte nds to pressurize the black po sit ion . 12.e3 The start of the wrong plan. I prefer [ 12.f4 with ideas of h2-h3 followed by Bc1-e3, or Ra1-b1. ] 12...g4 13.g5 xg5 14.xg5 a4! With the dark-squared bishops having been exchanged, the knight on c5 can stay for the duration. Fixing the b3-hole (and the queenside pawns in general) shows that .. .a5 is n o t a l igh t we ig h t id e a . 15.e4 d8! The knight on g5 is invited to retreat and the queen prepares for a more active role. 16.h3 f6 17.e2 b3 18.ab1 c5 White now has to exchange off his advanced d-pawn or allow a knight to install itself on d4. So he chooses the lesser evil... 19.dxc6 xc6 20.exf5 xf5 21.e4 [ 21.xc6 dxc6 22.d6 hits two pawns but is easily refuted by e5! when the threat of ... Nd4 leaves White is serious trouble. ] 21...a5! This dynamic deployment of the rook with visions of coming to e5 or even ultimately h5 shows who is running the show. 22.e1 d4 23.d3 f3+ 24.xf3 [ Bad, but exchanging queens is not much better: 24.xf3 xf3 25.xf3 xf3 as Black has all the trumps e.g. 26.e2 h5 1695 A40 27.hg5 and now xh2! 28.xf3 xf3+ 29.g2 d2 wins at least a pawn and Avrukh,Boris 2652 probably the game. ] Grabliauskas,Virginijus 2448 a neat move that wins the 21st ECC Saint Vincent ITA (1) 18.09.2005 24...e5! exchange. 25.f6+ xf6 26.xe5 [Glenn Flear] Hopeless but what else? xe5 27.xc6 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 dxc6 28.d1 f5 29.e3 e5 30.g2 b5 f6 6.g3 e7 Less common than ... Bd6 but 31.c5 d8 32.xd8+ xd8 33.f3 d4 Grabliauskas has a new move order in mind. 34.e2 xc5 35.d3 e4! Opening lines to 7.g2 a5 8.h3 a6 Although the idea of ... increase the power of the rook. 36.fxe4 f8 a5 and ...Na6 (keeping any White queenside 37.f4 e5 38.c2 f6 39.h4 d6 ambitions in check) is known from analogous 40.h3 d4 41.e2 d1 positions, this is the first record I have of this 0-1 actual position. 9.0-0 c5 Defending the bishop on b7 is important as White was ready for a d5-d6 trick e.g. [ 9...0-0?? 10.d6 xg2 11.dxe7 xe7 12.xg2 and White emerges with an extra piece. ] 10.c2 0-0 11.d1 c8 The queen sid est ep s t o a saf e squa re f rom wh ich it 1718
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1696 Avrukh,Boris Krakops,Maris Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (7) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 1697 2588 Avrukh,Boris 2530 Mikheev,S 06.12.1999 37th Olympiad (1) [Glenn Flear]
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 A tricky move order - by delaying the development of the knight on g1 white avoids lines with an early ...Ne4and keeps open the option of another route for the horse. e7 [ 6...c5 is the good old English move. 7.g2 0-0 8.h3 a5 9.0-0 a6 10.e4 ( 10.b3 e8 11.b2 e5 12.e4 g6 13.c2 g4 14.exf5 xf5 15.e4 af8 16.g2 xf2+ 17.xf2 e3+ 18.h1 xc2 19.xf8+ xf8 20.xg6 xa1 21.xh7+ xh7 22.xa1 c5 23.d1 xb3 24.xe5 d2 25.xc7 xc4 26.c3 xa3 27.g5+ g6 28.ge4 b5 29.xb5 xd5 30.bc3 c6 31.g1 b4 0-1 Stean,M-Miles,A/ London 1980/MCD (31) ) 10...g4 11.f4 f6 12.exf5 exf5 13.d3 ae8 14.f4 d6 15.b5 e7 16.xc5 xc5 17.b4 axb4 18.axb4 a6 19.b1 g5 20.c1 e5 21.f4 gxf4 22.gxf4 g4 23.d4 g7 24.e6 xe6 25.dxe6 e3 26.xe3 xg2+ 27.h1 g3+ 28.d5 xd5+ 29.cxd5 xe3 0-1 Pagden,M-Plaskett,J/London 1982/ MCD (29) ] 7.g2 0-0 8.h3 e8 9.0-0 d6 10.f4 a6 11.b4 f6 12.xd6 cxd6 13.c1 c7 14.e4 xc3 15.xc3 b5 16.c2 h6 17.exf5 bxc4 18.xc4 xd5 19.fxe6 dxe6 20.f4 xf4 21.xb7 b8 22.a6 d5 23.e4 h8 24.c4 [ 24.xe6?? c7 ] 24...xb4 25.axb4 d5 26.xe6 dxc4 27.xc4 d2 28.b5 b2 29.e7 xb5 30.xa7 bf5 31.a2 b6 32.e2 f3 33.e4 3f6 34.b1 c5 35.e3 c6 36.f4? xf4! 37.gxf4 g6+ 38.g3 xb1+ 39.e1 b4 40.f1 e4 41.f3 f5 42.h3 d8 43.f2 d6 ½-½
A40 2633 2384 21.05.2006
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 e7 I consider this method of development to be insufficiently challenging even though White failed to get an advantage in this game. This bishop is more active on d6 so the main line has these days crystallized as [ 6...a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6! ] 7.g2 0-0 8.h3 a5 9.0-0 c8 Black's development is rather slow and now W hite correctly reacts quickly in the centre. [ Some folk have been known to fall for 9...a6?? 10.d6! and White wins a piece. ] 10.e4!? The natural way, but it may be that just building up slowly with [ 10.c2 a6 11.d1 could be more likely to maintain an edge due to a space advantage. ] 10...fxe4 11.g5 [ A lso p o s sib l e i s 11.xe4 for instance Foisor, C-Ionica, I Romanian ch. 2005 then c o n t i n u e d w i t h exd5 12.cxd5 xd5 ( 12...a6! ) 13.d6 xd6?! ( 13...cxd6! 14.xd5+ h8 15.g5 xg5 16.xg5 xd5 17.xd5 c6 keeps White down to a small edge.) 14.xd5+ h8 15.g5 xd5 16.xd5 c6 and now instead of the optimistic 17 Qe4 White should just take the exchange with 17.f7+ ] 11...a6 Black's best way of defending. 12.e3 c5 13.xc5 xc5 14.cxe4 xe4 15.xe4 exd5 16.cxd5 e8!? [ The simplest way to equalize is 16...a4! 17.e1 d6 ] 17.c1 f7?! A poor move in my opinion. [ After 17...d6 White has 18.b4 axb4 19.axb4 xb4 20.xc7 and Black is left with broken pawns. ] [ Interesting is 17...e5! when 18.xc5 bxc5 19.xc5 a6 is messy. ] 18.d2 This obvious move defends f2 and threatens b2-b4 exposing the c7-pawn. Black now opts for activity at the cost of a pawn. ae8 19.xc5 bxc5 20.xc5 a6 21.d6! [ Mikheev was probably expecting 21.e1 xe1+ 22.xe1 e8 with more than 1719
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 adequate counterplay e.g. 23.c3? e2 24.f3 g6 25.c1 e8 and Black wins! ] 21...cxd6 [ After 21...c6 22.e1 xe1+ 23.xe1 e8 Avrukh had prepared 24.e5 snuffing out Black's counterchances. ] 22.d5! Leaving both rooks en prise, but targeting the opponent's queen. e6 23.xa5 xf1 24.xf1 h8 25.a6 There's no hurry to retake the exchange. h5 26.xe6 dxe6 27.g1 c5? So White has emerged with an extra pawn. Black's active queen means that White has to be careful but it's a technical win for a player of Avrukh's class. [ More accurate is 27...f5 threatening to check on b1 followed by e4 but White keeps control with 28.c6 ] 28.b4 Not bad but even stronger is [ 28.xd6! as after xf2 then 29.b4! wins. ] 28...e5 29.xd6 a1+ 30.g2 xa3 31.xe6 h5 32.h4 f3+ 33.g1 a8 34.e1 f7 35.b5 a2 36.e8+ h7 37.e4+ 1-0
1698 Babula,Vlastimil Likavsky,Tomas 10th Open Valls d'Aosta ITA (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2551 2415 11.02.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 g6 4.c3 g7 5.f3 e7 6.f4 d6 7.e3 d7 8.e2 White's modest set-up is not without its dose of concealed poison. This is not so surprising, since black of ten gets nagging problems when playing a swift ... e5 in King's Indians where white plays like this. e5 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.g3 f5 After making sure that Qd5 does not cause problems this must have seemed like a convenient way to grab the bishop pair. 11.a4! 0-0 [ 11...xg3 12.hxg3 b7 13.d1 and black has difficulty completing development. ] 12.c6 b8 13.d1 b7 14.d3 xg3 15.hxg3 b8 16.a4 e8 17.c2 W hite still has a pleasant initiative as it is very dif ficult f or black to develop without c r e a t i n g n e w we a k n e s s e s . a5 18.c5!
A strong move that ensures a continuing positional initiative - not only that, it activates the Bd3 and keeps the Nb8 from entering the game in a meaningful way. bxc5 19.a4 d7 20.g5 h6 21.e4 b8 22.0-0 e7 23.b3 Threatening to capture on c5 as black no longer has the counter-offer .... e 4 h i t t i n g b 2 a n d a c t i va t i n g t h e B g 7 . c4 Black makes sure he has a pawn as payment for his suffering. 24.xc4 xa3 25.ec5 xc5 26.xc5 Can white have more than enough for a pawn here? The main threat is Nd7, when the answer will be yes, with most of black's pawns weak and most of his pieces passive. f5?! A pure waste of time in my opinion. [ 26...e4!? feels right to me - with the Bg7 active black's queen will re-enter the game, but the pressure on f7 is still very unpleasant. 27.d7 xd7 28.xd7 be8 29.xc7 e7 improves his defensive chances though. ] 27.e4 c8 28.d7 xd7 29.xd7 b4?! [ 29...c6 looks more stubborn 30.fd1 f6 ] 30.xc7 f6 [ 30...b7 looks like it was the reason for black's last move, so it is a bit puzzling that it wasn't played. ] 31.d1 d8 32.cd7 e7 33.e2 b6 34.e3 g5 35.f4 f6 36.1d5 bb8?! [ 36...exf4 37.gxf4 a4 38.bxa4 e6 looks far more logical, activating and s i m p l i f y i n g . 39.d3 xa4 40.e5 still favours white's greater activity, but his own king is hardly fully clothed here either. ] 37.5d6 g7 [ 37...b7 38.xf7 ] 38.f2 Despite the frailty of black's kingside, t h e r e d o e s n o t a p p e a r t o b e a kn o c k o u t punch: [ 38.a7 e7! ] [ 38.fxe5 xe5 39.e6 bd8! ( 39...c3 40.xc3 xc3 41.ee7 ) 40.xd8 fxe6= ] 38...e7? [ 38...b7! keeps defending. ] 39.fxe5! xd6 40.f6+! h7 41.xf7+b6+ 42.h2 e7 43.xg6+ g8 44.h7+ xh7 45.xe7+ 1-0
1720
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1699 Babula,Vlastimil Speelman,Jonathan S Bundesliga 2000-1 (15) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2563 2594 29.04.2001
he may just hate having to make a decision against black's ultra-flexible set-up. And when it is Miles playing black, then there is also the possibility that a creative non-theoretician like him might just make the whole odd opening l o o k g o o d . 11.e3 g5 Now it is kind of a 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 d e l a ye d B a s m a n r e v e r s e d G r o b k i n d o f f6 6.g3 g6 7.g2 g7 8.h3 0-0 9.0-0 creature, and black prepares to stake out the c8 A new move - the more natural ...a5 and f4 square. 12.c1 c5 13.d5 g6 14.c2 . . . N a 6 h a v e b e e n p l a y e d b e f o r e w i t h e7 15.d2 0-0 16.cd1 de5 17.xe5 xe5 solving the problem of the d6-pawn. reasonable success. 10.d2 a6 Black now has a reasonably solid position, [ 10...c6!? ] and some potentially aggressive possibilities 11.b4 c5 12.b3 d6 13.ab1 h8?! on the kingside. 18.d3 f6!? 19.a4 ab8 [ 13...exd5 14.cxd5 c4 ] 14.b5 e8 15.f4 ac7 16.dxe6 xg2 20.xb6 c8 21.a4 d7 22.c3 b3 23.b1 fb8 24.d1 exd5 25.cxd5 17.xg2 xe6 18.f3 d4 [ 25.exd5?? xd3 26.xd3 f5 ] [ 18...8c7 19.xc7! ( 19.xd6? d7 ) 25...f4 26.xf4 gxf4 27.c2 xh3!! 19...xf4+ 20.xf4 xc7 21.d5 ] Holy Morphy! 28.gxh3 h8!! 29.f3 19.xd4 cxd4 20.e3?! [ 29.e3 g8+!! 30.g4 xg4 31.hxg4 f3 [ 20.e6 seems to guarantee a white plus if 32.d1 xg4+ 33.f1 g1+! 34.xg1 black doesnâ []t have some clever way to g6+ ] get compensation for the exchange - but I 30.h1 h4 A classic cannot see anything convincing for black in 29...g8+ the lines xe6 21.xa8 xe2 ( 21...f6 performance from Miles in every respect audacious opening, wily pawn sacrifice and 22.f3; 21...xc4 22.bc1 ) 22.be1 ] 20...f6 21.bc1 g5!? Now Speelman breathtaking, old-fashioned sacrificial finish, uncoils with typical creativity. 22.d5 g4 with an elegant quite move as icing on the 23.f4 b7 24.xd4 d7 25.d3 e5 cake. 26.e2 ac8 27.e4 fe8 28.c3 f3 0-1 29.b2 xe4 30.xg7+ xg7 31.xg7+ xg7 32.e3 f6 33.fd1 e6 34.h3 A40 e5 35.hxg4 xg4 36.xg4 fxg4 37.h1 1701 cxc4 38.h6+ d5 39.h5+ e5 40.d1+ Baburin,Alexander d4 41.xd4+ xd4 42.xh7 d5 43.xa7 Miles,Anthony J d3 44.a4 d4 45.a5 bxa5 46.bxa5 e2 4NCL, 2000 England 2000 47.a6 d3 48.b7 d2 49.a7 a5 50.e7+ [Paul Motwani] d3 ½-½ B 1 6 : " E m p h a t ic E n gli sh De f e n ce wi n b y England's first GM!" A.Baburin-A. Miles, 4NCL, England 2000. English Defence, Code A40. 1700 A40 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 This move characterises Baburin,Alexander 2590 the English Defence, which has gained greatly Miles,Anthony J 2584 in popularity through being played by top 4NCL Birmingham ENG (2) 24.09.2000 grandmasters such as Nigel Short, Julian [Jon Tisdall] Hodgson, Jonathan Speelman, Tony Miles, James Plaskett, Daniel King, Aaron 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e4 Summerscale, and others. 3.a3 e7 6.f3 b7 7.d3 d6 8.0-0 d7 [ A c o m m o n c h o i c e , s i n c e 3.c3 would allow the pin b4 ] 9.e1 h6 10.h3 a6 Black has set up the array. This can be terribly annoying for white, 3...g6!? Basically, Black is letting his opponent who feels compelled to either punish black, or put pawns in the centre of the board because 1721
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 he intends to strike at them soon, with the help of a powerful pair of bishops which are about to be fianchettoed at g7 and b7 4.c3 g7 5.e4 e7 6.f3 [ B16.1: Deviating from the super-GM encounter J. Piket-N.Short on 7 December 1999 at the European Team Championships in Batumi, Georgia, where the dif ferent continuation 6.f4 d5 7.cxd5 exd5 8.e5 c5 9.f3 bc6 (followed shortly by ...0-0 and ... Nf5) also gave Black an excellent game. ] 6...b7 7.d3 d6 8.0-0 d7 9.e1 h6 With ideas of ...g5-g4 to hit White's f3-knight w h i c h i s p r o t e c t i n g t h e d 4 - p a w n . 10.h3 B16.2: A very similar position occurred on 4 August 2000 in another super-GM clash: Xu Jun-N. Short at the FIDE W orld Cup tournament in Shenyang, China, where White had played the moves Bc1-e3 and Qd1-d2 instead of 0-0 and Rf1-e1. That game continued 10 0-0 (so, note that white's h-pawn is still on h2 here) 10...g5! 11 d5 Ng6 12 Bd4 0-0 13 Bxg7 Kxg7 14 Ne2 c5 15 dxc6ep Bxc6 16 Bc2 Nde5 17 Nxe5 dxe5 18 Qxd8 Rfxd8 19 Rfd1 Kf6, and Black utilised his firm control of the dark squares to achieve victory at move 52. a6 Black plans to soon play ... c7-c5 without letting his d6-pawn be troubled by any Nb5 from W hite. 11.e3 g5 12.c1 c5 13.d5 g6 14.d2 e7 15.c2 0-0 16.cd1 de5 17.xe5 xe5 Black is again master of the dark squares, just as in the aforementioned Xu Jun versus Nigel Short game. 18.d3 White is already struggling to find a truly constructive plan, but he has come up with the idea of next playing Na4 without allo win g . . . b 6 -b 5 . f6 19.a4 ab8! 20.xb6 c8! 21.a4 [ 21.a5?? loses to d8 ] [ whereas 21.xc8 is met by xb2 ] 21...d7 22.c3 b3 Black is in no desperate hurry to win back a pawn, because h e c l e a rl y h a s m o re t h a n e n o u gh a ct ive compensation for the one unit that he sacrificed deliberately so as to open up the bfile for his rooks. 23.b1 fb8 Steadily increasing the pressure instead of playing to immediately get back small amounts of material. 24.d1 exd5 25.cxd5 f4! 26.xf4 [ 26.xa6 loses quickly to xg2! 27.xg2
xh3+! 28.xh3 ( or 28.g1 f3 29.f1 g4+ 30.h1 xf1 intending 31.xf1 ( o t h e r m o v e s a r e h o p e l e s s t o o ) h3+ 32.g1 h2# ) 28...f3# ] 26...gxf4 27.c2? White's position was clearly extremely difficult, but this move lets Black deliver an instantly-crushing blow. xh3!! 28.gxh3 h8 29.f3 [ Another possible finish was 29.f1 g8 (menacing 30...f3 31 Re3 Bxh3+ 32 Ke1 Rg1) 30.e2 f3+ 31.d3 b5+ 32.e3 f4# ] 29...g8+ 30.h1 h4 White resigned, thereby "escaping" from horrific lines such as 31 Rg1 Qxh3+ 32 Qh2 Qxf3+ 33 Rg2 Bh3. 0-1
1702 Bacrot,Etienne Short,Nigel D Bosna SuperGM (9) [Neil McDonald]
A40 2594 2683 26.05.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 So against the French prodigy Short prefers this solid move to the more adventurous 4...f5 or 4...Bb4+. Black acquires the two bishops almost by force but on the other hand White keeps his centre intact. 5.e2 b4 6.bc3 xd3+ 7.xd3 g6 [ Instead Short tried 7...d6 8.0-0 e7 9.d5 d7 10.f4 g6 11.d4 against Gelfand at Novgorod 1997. White soon over pressed and lost, but at the moment I like his central bind here. ] [ Another possibility was 7...b4 when 8.0-0 e7 9.a3 xc3 10.xc3 0-0 11.g5 Surely h e sho uld p la y ( 11.d5! ) 11...f6 12.h4 d5! equalised easily in ChuchelovTeske, Cappelle 1998. ] 8.h4! This is an excellent response to Black's fianchetto. [ An interesting alternative after the natural 8.0-0 g7 was 9.h3!? aiming to play Bh6 a t so m e p o i n t a f t e r t h e b la c k kn i gh t i s developed from g8. Of course more solid would be the standard ( 9.e3 )] 8...h6! If [ 8...h5 9.g5 is awkward- e7? 10.f6 ] 9.h5 g5 10.f4! gxf4 11.xf4 d6 12.0-0-0 1722
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White has emerged from the opening with a slight but very pleasant advantage. His action on the kingside has meant that Black's natural bid for freedom with an ...f5 break is no longer attractive: it would just lead to the disinte gration of Black's p awn structure . Meanwhile White has an obvious plan to build up pressure on the f file. d7 13.d5 0-0-0 14.e3! Having shut one of Black's bishops out of the game with his last move, Bacrot now prepares to challenge the active one. At the same time he clears the f file for his rooks to attack f7. g7 15.df1 e5 16.d4 h7 17.xe5 dxe5 18.g3 exd5 19.cxd5 f6 Black's position looks miserable but Short def ends very accurately and succeeds in holding the draw against a not very ambitious opponent. 20.e3 g7 21.g3 b8 22.f2 g5 23.f5 f7 24.e2 c6! This counterattack proves sufficient to distract W h it e f ro m h is kin gsid e b u ild u p . 25.dxc6 xc6 26.d1 d7 27.g4 f8 28.c4 xd1+ 29.xd1 c8 30.e3 d7 31.xc8+ xc8 32.g2 e7 33.e2 g7 34.f3 e6 35.f2 a6 36.g3 f7 37.a3 c7 38.c2 d6 39.d2+ c7 40.c2 b7 41.d2 c7 42.e2 f8 43.f3 c6 44.d5+ b7 45.e3 c7 ½-½
of minor pieces. However now that Black no longer has the bishop pair, his lack of space constitutes a distinct disadvantage. 9.xc3 e7 10.b3 [ Another way to gain further space is with 10.d5 as the bishop on b7 risks becoming reduced to the role of spectator. For example after d6 11.f4 d7 12.f5 exf5 13.exf5 0-0-0 14.g5 de8 15.ae1 h6 16.d2 Gual Pascual,A-Teran Alvarez,I Spanish tch. 1999, W hite had all the trumps. ] 10...0-0 11.a3 d6 12.f4 c5 ...competing for s p a c e b u t . . . 13.f5! The f-pawn advance c r e a t e s p r o b l e m s f o r t h e d e f e n d e r . c6 14.f6! A bold blow that rocks Black's position to it's roots. One of the advantages of the line with 7...Ne7-g6 and ...Be7 is that there Black has minor pieces to defend his king, here he hasn't. gxf6 [ 14...xd4 allows a winning attack with 15.g3 g6 16.g5 h8 17.f4 g8 18.h4 f8 19.c1 etc. ] 15.f4 Black's king feels the draught. xd4 16.h4 f5 17.g3+ h8 18.h3 g5 There is no immediate mate but Black's queen will soon struggle to be the sole defender against the combined efforts of White's forces. 19.xh7+ g8 20.f1 [ Black's king runs to safety after the naive 20.h8+?! g7 21.h7+? f6 ] 1703 A40 20...g6 21.h6 g7 22.c1 xe4? Bareev,Evgeny 2709 Loses immediately but there isn't a miracle Chernyshov,Konstantin 2531 defence to be found e.g. [ 22...f6? 23.h5 and Rg6. ] TCh Sochi RUS (1) 19.04.2005 [ 22...fe8 23.f4 Not the only way, but [Glenn Flear] go o d e n o u gh . xe4 24.f2 A sign that Black is helpless! b7 ( 24...c2 25.xe4 ) 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 25.fh4 f8 26.h7 g6 27.4h6 g4 A positional alternative to 4...f5. 5.e2 b4 28.xg4 fxg4 29.g5 and it's all over. ] 6.bc3 xd3+ 7.xd3 b4 [ I recommend the principle alternative 23.xe4 fxe4 24.g5! Threatening to come 7...e7 e.g. 8.0-0 d6 ( 8...d5!? is slightly to f6. f6 [ 24...xg5 allows mate in two. ] more risky but after 9.cxd5 exd5 10.e5 d7 11.f4 0-0-0 12.e1 g6 13.a4 a5 25.xf6 xf6 26.fxf6 14.d2 b8 Kalinitschew-Bischoff,K 1-0 German Blitz ch 2004 Black held firm.) 9.d5 d7 10.f4 g6 11.e3 g7 12.d4 e5 Willsch,M-Kengis,E Bundesliga 2004 with equal chances. ] 8.0-0 xc3 One way of avoiding congestion due to limited space is to exchange off a pair 1723
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A40 6.f1 f6 7.a3 Pushing back the bishop 2010 before getting on with development. [ White has several other alternative tries. In 2164 each case, the big issue is that despite 26.12.2000 being a pawn up the awkward situation of his king gives W hite some practical problems. 7.f3 0-0 8.c3 (played like 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 this, Black has the option of capturing on c3) 5.d3 f5 6.h5+ g6 7.e2 f6 8.g5 h6 exf5 9.xf5 xc3 10.bxc3 e4 9.xf6 xf6 10.f3 c6 11.e5 Not a great (with enough for the pawn) 11.xe4 xe4 line. 12.g5 f5 13.g4 g6 14.h4 f6 15.h2 [ 11.0-0 0-0-0 12.e5 g7 13.d5 e7 h6 16.h5 hxg5 17.hxg6 xg6= Palliser, R14.b5 a6 15.a3 axb5 16.axb4 exd5 Edouard, R British league 2014. ] 17.cxd5 xd5 18.xb5 e7 19.a7 xb4 [ 7.c5 is forcing: bxc5 8.a3 c4 9.xc4 e7 20.fa1 c5 21.1a4 b8 22.e1 c6 ( It's porbably better to drop back to a5 e.g. 23.xc6 xc6 24.a3 he8 25.b4 d5 9...a5 10.fxe6 dxe6 11.a4+ c6 26.a1 b7 27.b5 d6 28.xb7+ xb7 12.f3 0-0 13.c3 h8!= with dynamic 29.a7+ c8 30.e6 xe6 31.d4 xd4 play, T errie ux, K -B u nzma n n, D Fren c h 0-1 Gamota,A-Karasev,V Moscow 1996. ] league 2005) 10.fxe6 0-0!? 11.c3 dxe6 [ 11.a3 xc3+ 12.bxc3 0-0 13.0-0 ae8 12.h3 ( 12.xe6+!? h8 13.f3 14.fe1 e7 15.ab1 e5 16.exf5 exd4 when Black has two pawns to try and claw 17.c2 dxc3 18.fxg6 fe8 19.ec1 e5 back ) 12...d5 13.xd5 exd5 14.f4 f7 20.xe5 xe5 21.xc3 xg2 22.e2 15.h4 c6 Chatterjee, D-Reefat, S Dhaka xg6 23.g3 g5 0-1 Saidy, A-Root,D 2012, with some compensation. ] USA 1990. ] [ 7.d2 xd2 8.xd2 0-0 9.gf3 c6 11...g7 12.a3 10.g1! h5?! ( Black should attack the [ 12.c1 0-0 13.a3 xc3+ 14.xc3 g5 centre with 10...b4! 11.b1 c5 ) 11.fxe6 15.d5 e7 16.0-0 g6 17.e1 c5 dxe6 12.e4 f6 13.a4 Kislik, E18.dxc6 xc6 19.c2 g4 0-1 Martin Luis, Sochacki, C Pardubice 2013, and White was C-Boudre,J Tenerife 1999. ] better. ] 12...xc3+ 13.bxc3 e7 14.0-0 g5 15.d2 7...d6 The more active square. g6 16.f3 h5 17.fd1 g8 [ 7...e7 (this may seem passive, but at [ 17...g4!? ] least the bishop is less exposed than on d6) 18.e3 f4 19.f1 h6 20.g3 g6 8.c3 0-0 9.d5!? ( complex, but calmly [ 20...h4 21.g4 ] k e e p i n g m a t t e r s s i m p l e w i t h 9.f3 21.d3 0-0-0 22.a4 f4 23.e4 must be slightly bet ter f or W hit e if on e [ 23.a5!? ] compares with analogous positions arising 23...g4 24.f2 fxg3+ 25.hxg3 h4-+ 26.fxg4 from ...Bd6) 9...h8 10.h3 exd5 11.cxd5 hxg3+ 27.e1 f4 28.c2 g6 a6 ( the logical continuation would be 0-1 11...xd5! 12.xd5 xd5 13.f4 f7 ) 12.b4 d6 (Ha! Ha! So it's the best square a f t e r a l l ) 13.e2 e8 14.g5! g8 1705 A40 15.e3 e5?! 16.xa6 xa6 17.xa6 Batchuluun,T 2521 xc3 18.c4 Sammalvuo, T-Nelis, J Eilat Kunin,V 2575 2012, and White was winning. ] 18th Voronezh Master Open 2014 (8.10) 8.c3 0-0 9.ge2!? [Glenn Flear] [ See the archives for 9.f3 e8 10.g5 exf5 11.c5! e7 12.xf5 Likavsky, T1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 Bunzmann, D German league 2008, where 5.exf5 b4+ White retained the better chances. ] [ N o t m a n y r e a l l y b e l i e v e i n 5...xg2?! 9...g4 10.h3 anymore, see the archives for the details. ] 1704 Baron,I Igla,B ch-ISR Women (9) [Neil McDonald]
1724
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Previously 10.f3 has been seen: exf5!? ( 10...xh2+ is p layable) 11.fxg4 fxg4+ 12.g1 f6 13.e3 xg2! 14.g3 xh1 15.xh1 c6?! ( 15...h4 16.g1 xg3 17.xg3 xg3 18.hxg3 c6= ) 16.xg4 ( 16.f5! blocks off Black's play) 16...f3+ 17.xf3 xf3 18.e1 xg3 19.hxg3 xg3 Bednar, M-Vavra, P Prague 2010, when White (with two minor pieces) should be the one press ing, b ut Black (with ro ok an d pawns) went on to win. ] 10...h4 11.g3 h5 12.d5!? White has to do something about the long diagonal pressure. [ The major clear-out with 12.f4! xf4 13.xf4 xh1 14.xg4 xg4 15.hxg4 leaves W hite with only one pawn for the exchange, but Black's pieces could well prove to be difficult to coordinate. So it's not clear, noting that the computer prefers White slightly. ] 12...e5 Now however, Black has a handy square on e5 for his knight. 13.f4 exf5 Recuperating the investment. [ The invasive 13...f3 fails to 14.e4 ] 14.d4 Simplification eases the pressure. xd1+ 15.xd1 xd3 16.xd3 xf4 17.gxf4 a6 A reassessment is in order: W hite's space advantage (and Black's hemmed-in bishop) suggest that W hite is slightly ahead, but probably not by much as Black is solid and not that cramped. 18.g1 c5 19.dg3 f7 20.b4 Before Black has time for ...a5. e4 21.xe4 fxe4 22.e2 h8 23.e3 c6 It's necessary for Black to get the bishop into play... 24.dxc6 dxc6 25.c5! ...and for White to keep it quiet! a5!? 26.f5 [ Capturing on b6 is strong, as first of all it distracts Black's attention... 26.cxb6! axb4 27.axb4 a3+ 28.d2 ( 28.xe4 c5+ ) 28...a6 29.f5 xb6 30.e6 ...thus giving W hite time to obtain attacking chances against Black's king. ] 26...axb4 27.axb4 bxc5 28.bxc5 e7?! [ Instead 28...c8! 29.xc6 ( 29.xe4 a4 gives Black excellent counterplay) 29...xf5 should be about equal. ] 29.b1 d7 30.xe4 [ 30.e6! ] 30...e8+ 31.e6 g6 32.e3 a6 33.f4
c4 34.be1 gxf5 35.e5 d2 36.f3 d5 37.xf5!? Deciding to use the white monarch to go on the attack! [ More solid is 37.1e3 in order to maintain the f-pawn, when W hite maintains some pressure (f5 is weak and Black's king is still a problem). ] 37...xf3 38.f6 d5 39.f7 This is about as close as one king can get to mating another without help! Despite appearances, there is no real way for W hite to deliver a knock out blow, so the struggle carries on. a8 40.f5 g2 41.e7 gg8 42.xd5! The passed c-pawn will be a nuisance for Black who is still playing without his king. cxd5 43.c6 a3 44.c7 c8 [ Here 44...xh3? fails to the attractive move 45.d8! (threatening mate and promotion at the same time). ] 45.h1 c3 46.d7 g8 47.d1 g6 [ Now 47...xh3 is playable, as 48.c8 xc8 49.xc8 should lead to a draw. ] 48.e1 g8 49.d1 g6 [ 49...xh3!? ] 50.e1 g8 51.h4 d4! 52.xd4 g7+ 53.d6 gxc7 White now has a combination to win a rook, but it isn't enough to be able to win! 54.e8+ g7 55.e6+ f7 56.f8+ g6 57.xc7 c4 The loss of the h-pawn means that Black has a book draw, but it still has to be played out. In the real world, there are always chances that the opponent won't defend accurately. 58.d5 xh4 59.f4+ g5 60.e5 g4 61.e4 g3 62.e3 g4 63.f7 g8 64.h5+ h4 65.f6 a8 66.f4 h5 67.g7 a1 68.e4 f1+ 69.e3 e1+ 70.f3 f1+ 71.e2 a1 72.d2 h3 73.f3 h4 74.g1+ h2 75.f2 h3 76.f3+ h1 77.h7 a2+ 78.g3 h2 Tricky-looking, but it's still drawn. 79.b7 g2+ 80.f4 b2! 81.d7 g2 82.g7+ h1 83.g5 f2+ 84.e3 g2 85.f4 xg5 86.xg5 g2 87.f4+ f2 88.h7 g2 89.xh2+ xh2 90.e4 ½-½
1725
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A40 10...d7 11.f3 gf6 12.f4 Alternatively: [ a) 12.d2 b6?! ( 12...b6!?; 12...a4!? ) 2232 13.e4 a6 14.e2 0-0-0 ( 14...a4!? ) 2468 15.0-0 h6 16.a4 g5 (A.Santos-S.Rocha, 31.07.2008 Lisbon 1994) and now W hite could have c a u s e d t r o u b l e w i t h 17.d4! e5 18.c2 ] 1.d4 g6 2.c4 g7 3.c3 c5 4.d5 xc3+ [ b) 12.h6!? 5.bxc3 f5 6.g4!? This is yet another violent A) Black should definitely consider attempt against the Dzindzi-Indian, although it opening up the queenside with 12...b5!? is less popular than either 6 e4 or 6 h4. fxg4 13.cxb5 and now b8 ( or even 13...a6 ); 7.h3 g3! A typical response, borrowed from B) 12...b6?! 13.e4! This is an excellent similar positions in the Dutch Defence. Black gambit. xe4 14.g2 f6 ( 14...xc3? returns the pawn immediately, to prevent 15.d2; 14...xc3+? 15.xc3 xc3 White from favourably opening lines. 16.g7! ) 15.0-0 with very good [ 7...gxh3?! 8.xh3 followed by Ng5 or Nf4 compensation for the pawn, M.Vlasenko-A. gives White excellent compensation for the Shimanov, Alushta 2008. Black still has to pawn. ] be wary of possible e2-e4 gambit ideas by [ If Black wants to keep hold of the pawn, a White. ] better way to do so is 7...d6 8.hxg4 xg4 , a l t h o u g h W h i t e c l e a r l y g e t s s o m e 12...a4 [ If 12...b6 13.e4 Black can safely take: compensation here too, e.g. 9.h3 f6 xe4! because after 14.g2 Black can play 10.f3 xh3 11.xh3 a5 12.b3 bd7 xc3+! - compare with 12 Bh6, above. ] 13.g5 , B.Ruecker-P. Constantinou, 13.e3 Birmingham 2006. ] [ 13.e4!? ] 8.fxg3 Strangely enough, we now get a the same pawn structure as in the 6 e4 fxe4 7 f3 13...b6 [ 13...b5!? ] li n e s , b u t t h e g a m e l o o k s li k e a s li g h t l y d7 15.0-0 0-0-0 16.g2? favourable version for Black, if nothing else 14.e2 because White's advanced g- and h-pawns A critical moment. [ White should prevent Black's next move are slightly weakened. with 16.h6! when it's not clear how Black [ 8.f4!? has been played a few times, but gains counterplay. ] feels very artificial, e.g. f6 9.d3 a5 17.h2? A further mistake, after 10.d2 h5 11.a4 f8 12.e3 d6 16...h5! wh i c h B la c k i s b e t t e r b e c a u s e h e g a i n s M. Dlugy-I.Ivanov, New York 1992. ] 8...a5 9.d3 d6 10.g4!? This feels like a kingside action, basically free of charge. With more logical attempt to justify W hite's play White also saddled with weaknesses on the than 10 e4, which leads to positions similar to queenside, it becomes impossible to hold everything together. 6 e4 lines (but not so good for White). [ Trying to keep the kingside closed with [ 10.e4 f6 17.g5 allows the undesirable f5! 18.d1 A) 11.g2 bd7 12.f4 b6 e4 ] ( 12...h5!? ) 13.f3 a4 14.e5 f5? [ so White's best bet is to try to fight back on ( 14...h5! ) 15.e2 dxe5 16.xe5 the kingside and enter the complications of was S.W ehmeier-T. W essendorf, 17.h4! hxg4 18.xg6 gxh3+ 19.h1 ] Germany 2008, but Black missed 17...hxg4 18.hxg4 h7 19.g5?! f8 improvements; B) 11.d2 bd7 12.f3 e5! 20.h1 fh8 21.af1? xa2 22.f2? (a strategy we've seen before) 13.xe5 xh2+! 23.xh2 xh2+ 24.xh2 xg4+ xf2 26.xf2 g4 27.xe7 dxe5 14.g2 c7 15.0-0 d6 16.ab1 25.g3 b6 17.b2 h6 18.e3 d7 19.c2 g5= xe2+ 28.xe2 xe2 29.xe2 d7 P . S a n S e g u n d o C a r r i l l o - R . White's 6 g4 is dangerous, but probably not Dzindzichashvili, New York 1990. ] 1706 Bazart,David Okhotnik,Vladimir Creon op 13th (6) [John Emms]
1726
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 as critical as 6 e4 or 6 h4. 0-1
1707 Beliavsky,Alexander G Short,Nigel D FIDE-Wch k.o. (4.1) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2710 2660 17.12.1997
Theoretically important brawl between big boys. I seem to remember Nigel actually being better at some point vs Beliavsky, near the time control, but cannot remember where. It is interesting to note that despite W hite winning material and the game, the line has not been particularly popular since. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.e2 0-0 8.c5 bxc5 9.a3 a5 10.dxc5 d5 11.f3 xf5 12.b4 xb4 13.axb4 xb4 14.b2 a5 15.h4 d5 16.b3 a6 17.c3 xc5 18.c2 f5 19.h3 e7 20.g1 af8 21.f1 d6 22.g5 h6 23.g4 hxg5 24.gxf5 xf5 25.g4 f4 26.f3 gxh4 27.h2 g5 28.xh4 d3 29.h8+ f7 30.g3 c5+ 31.h2 xc3 32.h4 f6 33.h7 c2+ 34.h3 xf3+ 35.xf3 f4+ 36.g3 xb2 37.g8+ g6 38.h7+ f7 39.g8+ g6 40.e8+ f5 41.xb7 g5 42.h6 c3+ 43.f3 e2+ 44.g2 f4+ 45.h1 d5 46.f7 1-0
1708 Beliavsky,Alexander G Timoscenko,Gennadij 5th HIT Open (7) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2640 2519 07.02.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 5.f3 b4 6.0-0 e7 7.g5 New or ver y rare, but hardly earth-shattering. The contours of the struggle ahead remain the same, a nagging space advantage for white balanced against the equally nagging danger that black will eventually exploit his bishop pair. [ 7.c3 xd3 8.xd3 g6 9.a3 1/2-1/2 Sosonko,G-Miles,A/Tunis 1985/IZT (9) ( 9.e1 e7 10.d5 0-0 11.e3 e5 12.ac1 c8 13.d2 a5 14.a3 d6 15.b4
f5 16.f3 h4 17.h1 f6 18.c5 bxc5 19.bxc5 g6 20.g1 a6 21.c2 f4 22.f2 h6 23.a4 e8 24.b5 f5 25.h3 xb5 26.axb5 e3 1/2-1/2 Mednis, E-King,D Stavanger 1989.; 9.g5 e7 10.xe7 xe7 11.d5 0-0 12.ad1 c6 13.d6 f6 14.c5 e5 15.e3 a6 16.fe1 fb8 17.b4 c4 18.d2 e6 19.b5 c8 20.bxc6 xc6 21.d5 d8 22.c7 b8 23.xe6 fxe6 24.b3 bxc5 25.xc5 bc8 26.b3 b6 27.xb6 axb6 28.g3 h8 29.d2 f7 30.f3 c2 31.a4 8c6 32.a1 2c5 33.ab1 g5 34.h3 xd6 35.b4 g7 36.eb1 cc6 37.b5 f6 38.g2 c4 39.xb6 xb6 40.xb6 xa4 41.d2 d4 42.b2 d6 43.f3 h5 44.c2 d3+ 45.e2 a3 46.c4 xc4 47.xc4 h4 48.gxh4 gxh4 49.f3 a2+ 50.e3 h2 51.c7 e7 52.c5 d6 53.c8 xh3 54.h8 h1 55.h5 h3 56.f2 c5 57.xe5+ d4 58.h5 d5 59.exd5 exd5 60.f4 h2 61.f5 e5 62.f6+ xf6 63.g2 g1+ 64.xh2 d1 65.g2 1/2-1/2 Dreev,A-Speelman,J/Geneva 1996 )] 7...h6 8.h4 xd3 9.xd3 d6 10.d5 g5 11.g3 g7 12.c3 d7 A very difficult position to assess. Things can very quickly turn into a structure very similar to the King's Indian, but totting up the various plusses and minuses is a baffling equation. Black has expanded a little quicker than usual on the kingside, and his f-pawn is ready to roll. The bishop on b7 is very strangely placed, but how intelligent is the one on g3? Is the black kingside pawn structure aggressive or exposed? 13.fe1 0-0 14.h4!? This creates quite a bit of kingside blockage, and increases white's chances of accomplishing something on the other flank first. g4 15.h2 e5 16.b4 a5 17.a3 White is ready to increase the pressure with c4-c5 and seems re a d y t o t a k e p o ss e ss io n o f e 4 a f t e r a n eventual ...f5. Black embarks on a typically King's Indian sequence, and hand-to-hand fighting ensues. f5 18.exf5 axb4 19.axb4 xa1 20.xa1 e4! liberating most of his forces, but the cost is scattered pawns and the a-file. Nevertheless, black is so active, and white's kingside so strange, I find it hard not to believe that it is not white who needs to be careful here. 21.c2 xf5 22.a7 e3?! 1727
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 I assume that black is going for broke - this move leads to enormous complications, but it is hard to understand why the natural course was not tempting: [ 22...xg3 A) 23.xb7 xc3 24.fxg3 ( 24.xc3?? e2+ ) 24...d4+ 25.h1 a8-+; B) 23.fxg3 c8 ( 23...d4+ 24.h1 c8 25.b5 ) 24.xe4 ( 24.b5 f5 looks very dangerous for white, who must face . ..Be5 in a second. White's position looks extremely random and the queenside pawns far less relevant than black's coordinated forces and passed epawn. ) 24...b5!? is just one idea - black's bishop pair must be extremely good value for a fairly worthless pawn. ] 23.e2 Bolstering the kingside, but was it necessary? [ 23.xb7!? exf2+ 24.xf2 g3 25.b5 gxf2+ 26.xf2 and black doesn't seem to have a decent punch as white threatens to rebuild his kingside with Nf3 and has the other flank under control. xb5 27.cxb5 d4 28.xc7 and white has a clear ad va n t a ge in t h e e n d in g. T h e t ra p g3 hoping for perpetual check after Qxd4 fails to th e p ro sa ic Nf 3 o r t he mo re e lega n t 29.g7+ ] 23...c8 24.fxe3 e7 25.d3 xh4 [ 25...xe3 26.f2 f5 27.g3!? ] 26.c5 bxc5 27.bxc5 f5 28.f4 h5 29.f1! [ 29.e4 e8! 30.exf5 xe2 31.xe2 xe2 32.a8 e8 33.cxd6 d4+ 34.f1 cxd6 35.xd6 f7 and only black can be better with white's sorry kingside constellation. ] 29...h4 30.c4 Now white has achieved a big head start in the weakness hitting contest, and black's position is very unpleasant. f7 31.b4 e5 32.a8 f8 33.xe5 xe5 34.xg4+ h7 35.f4 g7 36.h3 e5 37.cxd6 cxd6 38.a7+ 1-0
1709 Benitah,Yohan Kinsman,Andrew PH 2nd White Int (5) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2397 2399 28.01.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 5.d3 f5 6.f3 h4+ 7.g3 h5 8.ge2?! allowing the long light-squared diagonal to open a bit more is not advisable, though black has quite an interesting and dynamic position at any rate. [ 8.e5 e7 9.a3 xc3+ 10.bxc3 0-0 11.h4 d6 12.f4 dxe5 13.xe5 ec6 14.xc7 a6 15.f4 e5 16.e3 exd4 17.cxd4 ae8 18.f2 xe3 19.xe3 h6+ 20.f2 xd4 21.e2 e6 22.h3 ac5 23.c1 f4 24.xf4 xf4 25.gxf4 b3 26.c3 xa1 27.xa1 xf4 28.c3 e8 29.h5 h6 30.h3 h8 31.d3 c8 32.g3 f5 33.d1 e3+ 34.f1 h7 35.g6 xe2+ 36.xe2 xe2 0-1 Borg,G-Pavlovic, M/ Panormo 1998 ] 8...fxe4 9.fxe4 f6 10.0-0 A scary place to be. c6 11.e5? [ 11.b5 looks advisable, to make a threat and have an extra piece to interpose on d4 in an emergency. ] 11...xe5!-+ An early bone cruncher . The game is already over. 12.f4 [ 12.dxe5 c5+ 13.f2 f3 ] 12...f3+ 13.xf3 xf3 14.xf3 xf3 15.b5 0-0-0 16.xa7+ b8 17.b5 e5 18.dxe5 c5+ 19.f1 g4 20.e2 xe5 21.xf3 xf3 22.b4 xb4 23.d5 c5 24.bxc7 b7 25.a4 hf8 26.g2 d4 27.a5 bxa5 28.e3 c2 29.b1+ c6 30.f4 a4 31.b5 a8 32.xa8 xa8 33.c3 a3 34.a2 a4 35.d2 xc4 36.b8 d4 37.c3 b5 0-1
1710 Berkvens,Joost Minnican,Alan William XVIII Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (3) [Neil McDonald]
A40 2461 2175
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.e2 0-0 8.c5 1728
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 bxc5 9.a3 a5 10.dxc5 e4 11.b4 f6 12.a2 d5 13.b2 c6 14.d2!?N A natural novelty - the Ne4 is a real troublemaker for white, and the languishing Nb1 a recurring problem. d4? Seems to be a waste of time. [ 14...ab8!? 15.xe4 xe4 16.f3 ( 16.d2 xf5 17.f3 )] [ 14...xf5 15.xe4 xe4 16.f3 xb4 17.axb4 xb4 18.e3 a5 ] [ 14...c3 15.c2 xb4 16.axb4 a5!? ] 15.xe4 xe4 16.f3 xf5 17.h4 e5 18.h3 f7 19.d4 c6 20.c3 White has made considerable progress and t h e B a 5 r e m a i n s b a g g e d a n d d o c i l e . e5 21.e3 af8 22.g5 f6 23.g4 g6 24.h5 Since ...Qe8 allows Qd3. Not the real test white's novelty deserved. 1-0
12.e1 a6 Black wins a pawn. Nevertheless W hite can create some problems for his disorganized opponent following 13.g5 f5 14.b3 ] 10...e8! [ 10...a5 is more natural but the text is the most dynamic ] 11.0-0 xe2 12.axb4 a6! [ T o o sl o w i s 12...cxb4 as after 13.e1 xe1+ 14.xe1 xe1+ 15.f1 White should be on top. Although Black has just about enough material compensation for his queen his bishop is locked out of the game by White's supported d-pawn. ] 13.b5?! [ Black has no particular worries following 13.bxc5 xc5 14.e1 d3 but White's position is then healthier than the game. ] 13...b4 14.d1 xd1 15.xd1 a6 It looks at first sight as if Speelman is just a i m in g t o e q u a l ize , b u t in f a c t h e h a s a 1711 A40 devilish trap up his sleeve... 16.bxa6 xa6 Berry,N 2289 17.xa6 xa6 18.b3 fxd5! A dramatic Speelman,Jonathan S 2539 b l o w t h a t W h i t e p r o b a b l y s a w t o o l a t e . 4NCL 2005-06 (7) 04.03.2006 19.cxd5 e2 20.e1 d3 Black regains his invested material with a clear advantage as [Glenn Flear] both the b3 and d5 pawns are weak. 21.f1 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c2 b4+ xe1 22.xe1 d1 23.e3 xb3 24.b2? [ 24.f1 looks forlorn but at least there 5.d2 c5! This strong move has been would be a slight chance, whereas now... ] recommended by me before, but Speelman 24...xd5 Adding insult to injury! 25.d3 e6 adds his own twist. 6.d5 e7!? [ 6...f5 was successful in the game 26.e5 d5 27.c7 d4 Mikhalevski, V-Young, A Santa Monica 2004. 0-1 Speelman finds another way to embarrass the advanced White centre. ] 1712 A40 7.e2 exd5 8.exd5 Berry,N 2293 [ If 8.cxd5 then f5! is strong: 9.exf5 xd5 Ward,Christopher 2513 10.gf3 xf3 11.gxf3 c6 and White's 4NCL Telford ENG (5) 08.03.2003 position is a shambles. ] [Chris Ward] 8...f6 9.gf3 [ W h i t e s h o u l d t r y 9.a3! as if a5 then I quite like 10.f1! when the threat of 1.f3 c5 2.c4 g6 3.e4 Still arguably outside N-b3 will obtain a concession from Black. I the realms of this site, a more applicable suspect that Speelman would then have move order would have been 1 e4 c5 2 Nf3 g6 3 c4. g7 4.d4 b6 Rather than capture gone for complications with b5 ] immediately on d4 transposing into a 9...0-0 10.a3 [ T h e m o s t n a t u r a l w o u l d b e 10.0-0 standard Accelerated Dragon, Black deploys as the bishop cannot be taken immediately, the queen in an interesting manner. Both 4... but after xd5 ( I prefer 10...xd5! 11.cxd5 Qa5+ and 4...d6 have been seen before too. xe2 12.e1 a6 when I doubt that White Although this was my first ever venture with has enough compensation) 11.cxd5 xe2 the text, I had often wondered about it. The 1729
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 queen pressurises d4 and also yes up White's b2-pawn, note preventing 5 d5. 5.dxc5 [ This is the standard response although 5.c3 cxd4 6.d5 is a different way to try and mix things up. ] 5...xc5 6.d3 White has seve ral ways to deploy his minor pieces and that's one of the things that makes the ensuing middlegame so interesting and yet less theoretical. White may be wary of the water muddying 6 Nc3 Bxc3+ whilst 6 Be2 is arguably more natural than the text. d6 7.0-0 In view of Black's next move, there is an argument for 7 h3. However upon 7... Be6 White would still have to take time out to defend his c-pawn. g4 8.bd2 f6 Not surprisingly both 8...Nc6 and 8...Nd7 have previously been employed here too. It's s i m p l y a m a t t e r o f t a s t e . 9.h3 d7 In my opinion the bishop had fulfilled its role regards the f3-d1 pin. In threatening to lure ou t t h e whit e que e n, a b ish op f o r kn igh t concession would have guaranteed my knight control of the e5 and d4 squares. Hence White was prompted into 8 Nbd2 but in truth the white knights are on the wrong track as they really desire the d5-square. 10.e1 [ During the game I had assessed 10.b3 c8 11.e5 dxe5 12.xe5 0-0 as being okay for Black and later I discovered that 13.e2 c6 14.xd7 xd7 15.g5 a5 16.ad1 a4 17.c1 c5 18.b1 ended in a draw in Sadvakasov,DWojtkiewicz,A Liepaja 2001. ] 10...0-0 11.b3 c7 12.e3 c6 I was pleased with the concept of relocating this bishop to pressurise White's e-pawn and things certainly work out well. 13.d4 e5!? Typically an anti-positional move, here I felt that it was perfectly justified as White's minor p i e c e s a r e p o o r l y c o - o r d i n a t e d . 14.c3 Specifically the white knights are far from d5 and the c4-pawn is as much of a target as the backward d6-pawn. Furthermore as W hite was forced to retreat his bishop to c3 in order to leave the rook protecting the e-pawn, Black can also activate the now bad bishop on the h 6 - c 1 d i a g o n a l . bd7 Black plans now include hitting the white e-pawn further via ... Nc5, ...b6 and ...Qb7 or razzing the a-pawn down the board or angling for the standard ... f5 or ...b5 breaks. 15.bd2 c5 16.c2 a5
Preventing b4 and clamping W hite's queenside. 17.h2 b5 18.b3 White chose not to take for fear of an invasion on d3 and a possible .. .d5 counter-punch. b4 19.b2 h6 [ I did won de r a bo u t 19...h5 to prevent White's next move but I wanted to keep that square vacant for my knight. ] 20.g4 xg4 21.hxg4 b7 22.f3 White has gripped the f5-square and has e4 well pro te ct ed. T he do wn sid e is ob viou s though. His pieces are still very defensively placed and his kingside is full of holes. b6 23.h1 e6 24.f1 fd8 25.e2 a4 Naturally I was very happy with my position as Black and it's not easy to pick a particular moment where W hite went wrong. 26.ed1 c5 27.e1 g5 28.c1 axb3 29.xb3 xc1 30.dxc1 g7! Black seems to have everything and with the white king stranded, the h-file beckons. 31.e3 h8 32.f2 h5 33.g1 f4 [ Okay I now found myself in a bit of time trouble but frankly that is no excuse for not being able to f inish this game of f . Very c o n v i n c i n g w o u l d h a v e b e e n 33...hxg4 34.xg4 d4 with all sorts of problems for White but soon my over-confidence was my downfall. ] 34.d1 h7?! [ Again 34...hxg4 35.xg4 e2+ 36.f1 d4 would have proved problematic. This time though ...Rh1+ comes into play. ] 35.g5! Yes I wanted my cake to eat! Never in his right mind would White allow me to double rooks on the h-file before trading on g4. h4 36.g4 h5 37.xc5 dxc5 38.xe5 Suddenly it had all gone wrong! W ell I suppose that it could have been worse but I hadn't really intended trading queens and dropping my e5-pawn certainly wasn't part of the master plan! e8 39.d3 e2+ 40.f2 c3 41.h1 d8 42.e3 [ 42.xc5 xg5 43.a6 d2+ obviously offers Black good play but after the text I felt that I was probably going to have to work hard just to get a draw. Indeed but for a glimmer of hope (for the win) a little later, that's exactly the way things turned out! ] 42...xg5 43.f4 a8 44.f2 a3 45.d5 a4 46.xc3 bxc3 47.xa4 xa4 48.xh4 1730
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e5 49.hh1 e8 50.hc1 a3 51.c2 d8 52.ac1 d2+ 53.e3 f6 54.xd2 cxd2+ 55.xd2 xa2+ 56.c2 a3 57.c3 a2+ 58.c2 a3 59.c3 a2+ 60.c2 ½-½
1713 Bischof,Detlef Sielecki,Christof 72nd ch Seebad Heringsdorf GER (1) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2192 2424
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b4 4.e4 b7 5.d3 f5 6.h5+ g6 7.e2 f6 8.f3 c6! This move has a much better reputation than grabbing the e-pawn, which is very dangerous indeed. A quick overview: [ 8...fxe4 9.fxe4 A) 9...xe4 10.xe4 xc3+ 11.d1 d5 12.xg6+ ( 12.xd5!? ) 12...hxg6 13.xe6+ e7 14.xe7+? ( 14.xg6+ ) 14...xe7 15.bxc3 dxc4 16.f3 xf3+ 17.gxf3 h3 18.e2 d7= (1/2-1/2, 55) Gillani,T-Williams,S Norwich 1994.; B) 9...xc3+ 10.bxc3 xe4 11.f3 d6 ( 11...f6 12.0-0 e7 13.g5 f8 14.e5 g7 15.d5! c8 16.dxe6 dxe6 17.ad1 fd7 18.xg6 xf1+ 19.xf1 g8 20.h5 f6 21.xf6 hxg6 22.xg6+ d7 1-0 Marinelli,T-Krajina,D Vinkovci 1989.) 12.0-0 0-0 13.h6 xf3 14.xf3 xf3 15.xf3 c6 16.f1 e7 17.g3 f5 18.xf5 exf5 19.xf5 a5 20.e5 f7 21.e1 c6 22.e4 d6 23.h4 d7 24.e3 f7 25.f4 e8 26.f8+ xf8 27.xf8 xf8 28.e6+ h8 29.d7 d8 30.xc7 f7 31.xa7 g7 32.xb6 a8 33.c5 dxc5 34.dxc5 xa2 35.c6 e5 36.d4 1-0 Cardoso, R-Chandler,M W ellington 1978. This game is still one of the best e xa m p le s o f b la ck' s t ro u b le s d e sp it e sensible defensive efforts. ] 9.d5N New apparently, though that is a little hard to believe. The move is not dangerous, but looks natural. [ 9.e3 fxe4 10.fxe4 e5 11.d5 d4 12.d1 ( 12.xd4 exd4 13.a3 a5 14.b4 dxc3 15.bxa5 e7 16.e5 h5 17.e4 0-0 18.f3 c5 19.d4 f4 20.f1
xa5 21.c1 xa3 22.xc3 c5 23.g3 xd5 24.cxd5 xf3 25.xc5 bxc5 26.xc5 e3+ 27.d2 xe5 28.c4 d6 29.xc7 xd5 30.c1 a5 31.b7 a4 32.xd5+ xd5+ 33.e3 e8+ 34.f4 f5+ 35.g4 f7 0-1 Paschall,W-Czebe,A Budapest 1998.) 12...xe4 13.xe4 h4+ 14.f1 xc3 15.bxc3 xe4 16.xd4 exd4 17.xd4 0-0+ 18.f3 ae8 19.f2 e2+ 20.g3 e4 21.he1 xd4 22.xe2 xc4 23.e7 xd5 24.xd7 xf3 25.gxf3 xc3 26.f1 f7 27.d8+ g7 28.f2 a5 0-1 Burger,K-Ehlvest,J St Martin 1993. ] [ 9.e5 xd4 10.f2 h5 11.xd4 c5 12.xc5 bxc5 13.e3 h4+ 14.g3 xg3 15.f2 f4 16.e4 0-0-0 17.0-0-0 e2+ 18.gxe2 xf2 19.hf1 e3+ 20.d2 d5 21.d1 xd2+ 22.xd2 dxe4+ 23.c2 g5 0-1 Adorjan,A-Spassky,B/Toluca 1982/ IZT (23) ] 9...fxe4 [ 9...e5!? ] [ 9...xc3+!? ] 10.fxe4 e5 11.f3 xf3+ [ 11...xc3+!? 12.bxc3 xd3+ 13.xd3 exd5 14.cxd5 e7 with good chances. ] 12.xf3 exd5 13.exd5?! [ 13.cxd5 ] 13...e7+ 14.d1?! 0-0 15.h6 xc3! [ 15...f7 16.f1 ] 16.xf8 [ 16.bxc3 xd5! ] 16...xf8 17.bxc3 xd5 18.g3 xc3+ 19.c2 e4 20.he1 g7 [ 20...b4! ] 21.xe4 xe4+ 22.b3 d5 23.ad1 dxc4+ 24.xc4 f7+ 25.c3 f6+ [ 25...xa2! 26.xe4 a3+ 27.d2 ( 27.c2 f2+ 28.xf2 a2+ should win handily. ) 27...d8+ 28.e1 a5+ 29.e2 a2+ 30.e1 xd1+ 31.xd1 b1+-+ ] 26.b3 e6+ 27.a3 e7+ 28.b3 f5 29.a4 f7+ 30.b2 [ 30.a3 f8+! 31.b3 d5+ 32.c2 b4 ] 30...f6+ [ 30...f2+! is even better. ] 31.b3 d5+ 32.xd5 xd5 One assumes that white resigned here. ½-½
1731
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1714 Bjelobrk,Igor Garbett,Paul Anthony 107th ch Auckland NZL (2) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2112 2360 29.12.1999
1.c4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.f3 Another "footnote" game, where we can file another unimpressive white idea. e5 4.dxe5 h4+ 5.g3 xc4 6.e4 b4+ 7.d2 d4 8.xb4 xb4+ 9.d2 e7 10.c3 xe5 11.0-0-0 f6 12.f4 c5 13.g2 xe4 14.e2 f5 15.b1 d5 16.xe4 dxe4 17.c1 d5 18.xc7 a6 19.e1 0-0 20.h3 c6 21.g4 ac8 22.xc8 xc8 23.f2 d3+ 24.xd3 xd3+ 25.a1 d4 26.d1 xd1+ 27.xd1 e3 28.b1 e2 29.e1 fxg4 30.d5+ f8 31.e4 h5 32.g6 h4 0-1
1715 Bosiocic,Marin Zaja,Ivan 20th Croatian Cup (4.22) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2558 2485 20.05.2011
1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 5.e2 b4 6.bc3 xd3+ 7.xd3 d6 A non-committal mo ve and a reasonable alternative to the main ideas. [ As I've mentioned (in the archives) 7...g6 tends to provoke 8.h2-h4 (however see Ivanisevic-Berg, in the notes to game 1, where Black defended successfully starting with 8...h5). ] [ The problem with 7...b4 is that Black will probably end up giving up this bishop for a knight, and then not have any real c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r a n i n e vi t a b l e s p a c e disadvantage. ] [ Otherwise 7...e7 is rather slow, and 8.h4 (anticipating ...Ng6) still comes into consideration. ] 8.0-0 [ Also combative is the immediate 8.d5!? f o r e x a m p l e d7 ( possibly 8...e5!? as in such positions f2-f4, e5xf4 may just give Black a ready-made outpost on e5) 9.f4 e7 10.d4 g6?! ( sluggish, whereas it was instead time to hit back with 10...c5! )
11.dxe6 fxe6 12.h3! e5 13.e6 exf4 14.d5! Strunski, A-Polak, T Banicky Kahanec 2009, with some unpleasant problems for Black. ] 8...f6 [ Otherwise one could settle on the e7square for his knight (especially now that W hite has castled short and will be less likely to opt for any h2-h4 advance): 8...e7 (safer) 9.d5 d7 10.f4 g6! (there is time for this) 11.e3 g7 12.d4 e5 13.e3 f5 as in Willsch, M-Kengis, E German league 2004, when Black was fine. ] 9.d5 d7 10.f4! e7 The problem is that Black is not well-placed to meet the e4-e5 advance. 11.e5! Critical, White acts before Black is truly ready. Now matters become rather sharp. dxe5 12.fxe5 g4 13.g3 h5 [ After 13...exd5 14.cxd5 the threat of e5-e6 virtually forces ...h5 anyway. ] 14.h3 c5+ 15.h1 exd5 White isn't threatening to capture the knight (yet), because the open h-file would spell disaster, but it's something Zaja will have to kee p taking into consideration. 16.cxd5 a6 [ Capturing the d-pawn is tempting but certainly doesn't ease the defence: 16...xd5 17.g5 (castle either way is impossible, as going to the kingside costs the knight) c6 18.ad1 e6 is murky. Then the principled continuation is 19.b4! f2+ ( 19...xb4 20.d4! c4 21.xc6 xc6 22.d5 and Black can't cope with all the threats) 20.xf2 xf2 21.xf2 xh3+ 22.g1 g4 23.d4! b7 24.e6! when White again seems to be on top. ] 17.g5! Keeping the king in the centre. xe2 [ The best practical chance involves sacrificing a pawn rather than snatching one e.g. 17...f6! 18.exf6 ( 18.e6 e7 19.f4 0-0-0 with fair chances in this complex m i d d l e g a m e) 18...gxf6 19.xf6 xf6 20.g6+ f7 21.xf6 xf6 22.xf6 0-0-0 and, with two bishops against two knights, Black can certainly put up a fight. ] 18.xe2 xd5 19.c3 c6 20.ae1 The storm clouds are gathering: White is fully mobilized whilst Black's king is still stuck in the centre. d4 [ 20...h6? fails to 21.e6 fxe6 22.xh6 ] 21.f4 f2+ 22.h2!? 1732
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Also good is 22.xf2 xf2 23.xf2 as 0-0 ( f i n a l l y ! ) 24.h4 (with attack!) won't give Black an easy ride. ] 22...d7 [ 22...c5 drops a piece to 23.h4 ] 23.e6! d6 [ After 23...fxe6 24.b5 just about all Black's pieces are en prise. ] 24.xd6 [ Eve n mo re in cisive is 24.exf7+ d7 25.xf2 xf2 26.d1 ] 24...cxd6 25.b5 f6 [ Zaja resigned without waiting for White's reply. Bosiocic is able to win a whole piece with 25...f6 26.xd4 d3 27.e3 ] 1-0
move. [ For example 7.ge2 0-0 8.0-0 e8?? A bad oversight ( better is 8...xc3 although 9.bxc3 fxe4 10.xe4 xe4 11.xe4 a6 still favours White slightly) 9.b5 a6 10.a3 and the bishop is embarrassed Sharayazdanov, A-Zhuravliov, V St. Petersburg 1993. ] 7...0-0 8.ge2 fxe4 9.fxe4?! [ White should have opted for 9.xe4 xe4 10.xe4 when he keeps a small pull. ] 9...e5! Now White's centre comes under pressure. 10.a3 xc3+ 11.xc3!? [ Allowing doubled pawns (like in the NimzoI n d i a n d e f e n c e ) h a s t h e a d va n t a g e o f reinforcing the d4-square. White's bishops ma y co m p e n sa t e h im f o r a n y p o t e n t ia l weaknesses, but a final judgement may 1716 A40 come down to the assessment of the following variation i.e. 11.bxc3 g6 12.e3 Brant,J 2403 h4+ 13.g3 d6 and now 14.c5!? Shabalov,Alexander 2578 with messy play in prospect. ] 111th US Open (9) 08.08.2010 11...g6 12.d5 c6 Hitting at the centre and [Glenn Flear] o p e n i n g s o m e l in e s a s W h i t e 's k i n g wil l 1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 always have problems to feel totally secure 5.c2 e7 A practical choice (I suppose) if wherever it goes. [ Black could also go for 12...f6 13.e3 you don't know the theory, but avoiding the h4 when White's best is 14.0-0-0 xg2 complications following 5...Qh4 is otherwise a 15.d2 with some practical chances (lead in surprising decision, as it has a good development, safe king, bishop pair, open greputation. file) despite the loss of a pawn. ] [ 5...h4! (the most challenging) 6.d3 Not best by any xc3+ 7.bxc3 f5 8.g3 h5 9.f3 c6 13.h4! I m a g i n a t i ve . h6? New and dynamic. ( Black however has also means. [ Not 13...xh4? as after 14.xe5 xg2+ done well with 9...fxe4 e.g. 10.xe4 xe4 15.d2 White's attack is stronger. ] 11.xe4 c6 Kolvick, R-Yermolinsky, A [ Possible however are 13...d6! (solid) Asheville 1995, and now 12.d5 f6 13.e3 14.g5 e7 15.0-0-0 d7 followed by ... a5 14.dxe6 0-0-0 with compensation, as Nf6. ] suggested by Yermolinsky) 10.f4 fxe4 [ and 13...f6!? the latter of which looks 11.fxe4 e5 12.e2 f7 13.dxe5 ge7 slightly risky due to 14.g5 f2+ 15.d2 14.f3 g6 15.d2 0-0 16.d5 a5 d6 16.h5! ] 17.xf7+ xf7 Pechenkin, V-Kraai, J 14.h5 f4 15.xf4 Edmonton 2010, and Black was on top. ] [ Not 15.xe5?? xd3+ ] 6.d3 [ 6.ge2 f5 7.f3 c5 8.d5 fxe4 9.fxe4 g6 15...exf4 16.d2 [ White may just be better following the 10.d2 0-0 11.0-0-0 a6 12.a3 a5 surprising 16.0-0! g5 17.e2 when the Chabanon, JL-Wohl, A Lido Estensi 2003, bishops and better development are more seemed fine for Black in the game important than suffering from a draughty continuation. Both sides have some kingside. ] problems to solve when it comes to 16...cxd5 17.exd5 e7+ 18.d1 achieving harmonious development. ] 6...f5 7.f3 Maybe White can do without this Naturally heading for c2 1733
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ H o we v e r e v e n 18.f1 is plausible with Black's development lagging so badly. ] 18...a6 19.c2 ac8 20.ae1 d6 21.b1?! Too slow. [ White needs to get some pressure going and this can be achieved with 21.h4! f6 ( 21...xd5? 22.g4 f7 23.d4 w i n s f o r W h i t e a s c6 is killed off by 24.c3 ) 22.g4 and White is on top e.g. b5 ( 22...c5 23.xf4! ) 23.e6! and wins. ] 21...b5 22.d4?! [ White should still be aiming for 22.h4! ] 22...bxc4 23.c3 f6 24.xc4 c5 25.b4!? [ T h e l a s t c h a n c e t o p l a y 25.h4 in promising circumstances. ] 25...a5!? Mixing things nicely. 26.xa5 f3! 27.h4 [ After 27.gxf3 Shabalov no doubt intended f4! when White's best would be 28.e4 xe4 29.fxe4 c5 30.xc5 xc5 31.d2 xe4 with insufficient compensation for the exchange. ] 27...f2 28.f1 a6 29.xf2? [ W h i t e s h o u l d c o m e b a c k w i t h 29.b4! when best play could be xc4 30.xc4 f5 31.g4 xd5 32.xd5+ xd5 33.xc5 dxc5 34.xf2 xh5 35.d4 with a riskless edge for White. ] 29...xf2 30.xf2 d3! A killer that came from nowhere! 31.c2 [ 31.xd3 loses to xd3+ 32.a1 c1+ 33.a2 xd5+ 34.b3 c2+ ] 31...e5 32.b3 xc4 33.bxc4 [ 33.b4 is we ll m e t b y xb4! 34.axb4 d3 ] 33...xa3 34.c3 b8+ 35.b2 d3! 0-1
1717 Browne,Walter S Miles,Anthony J Tilburg (7) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2550 2565 1978
A landmark game - the first where the positional rook sacrifice was introduced, and a key idea in trying to bash the defence flat. 1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 xg2 6.h5+ g6 7.fxg6 g7 8.gxh7+ f8
9.e2 xh1 10.g5 f6 11.h4 c6 12.f4 f7 13.g6+ e7 14.h5 f8 15.d2 e5 16.0-0-0 xd4 17.xh1 e6 18.f4 d6 19.e4 xg5 20.xg5 h6 21.h4 g7 22.fxe5 dxe5 23.f1 d7 24.exf6+ xf6 25.xf6+ c8 26.e4 c6 27.h3+ b7 28.xc6+ 1-0
1718 Bunzmann,Dimitrij Kengis,Edvins Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (6) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2500 2586 28.02.2001
1.c4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.e4 b4 5.f3 h4+ 6.g3 e7 After this play gradually turns into an odd NimzoIndian structure, where black has wasted a bit of time and white has posted his bishop on the strange square g2. [ 6...h5 is much more in keeping with usual English procedure of probing for weaknesses and trying to undermine the wh it e ce n t e r , a s we s e e h e r e f r o m y e t another English GM. 7.g2 xc3+ 8.bxc3 f5 9.e5 c6 10.h3 a5 11.f4 f7 12.c5 e7 13.0-0 g5 14.d3 f4 15.f2 f5 16.gxf4 gxf4 17.xf4 g8 18.h1 0-0-0 19.cxb6 axb6 20.e2 h4 21.af1 g7 22.g3 f5 23.f4 dg8 24.e1 xd4 25.cxd4 xf4 26.d2 h4 27.f4 xg2+ 28.xg2 xg2 29.xg2 h3 30.e2 c6 31.e4 g6 32.e3 g3 33.e1 f3 34.d5 exd5 0-1 Vaidya,A-King, D Dhaka 1993. ] 7.g2 xc3+ 8.bxc3 d6 9.h3 f6 10.0-0 e5 11.g5 bd7 12.a4 0-0 13.ae1 h6 14.c1 c5 15.d5 a6 16.b3 b5 17.a4 b4 18.cxb4 cxb4 19.xb4 c5 20.a3 a5 21.e3 fd7 22.b1 a6 23.fc1 fb8 24.f1 d8 25.f2 xb1 26.xb1 b8 27.xb8 xb8 28.d3 b1 29.xc5 xc5 30.xc5 b6 31.f4 f6 32.fxe5 fxe5 33.g2 xc5 34.xc5 ½-½
1734
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1719 Bunzmann,Dimitrij Okhotnik,Vladimir FRA-chT2O 0203 (2.1) [John Emms]
A40 2484 2451 16.11.2002
1.d4 g6 2.c4 g7 3.c3 c5 4.d5 f5 [ Or, with the usual move order, 4...xc3+ 5.bxc3 f5 6.h4!? This is another highly aggressive way to meet the Dzindzi-Indian. The h2-h4 lunge is seen in a few Leningrad Dutch lines, and here it's more enticing as Black no longer has his dark-squared bishop. ] 5.h4 xc3+ 6.bxc3 f6 [ If 6...a5 White usually ignores the c3pawn and presses on: 7.h5! , e.g. d6 ( 7...xc3+ 8.d2 doesn't look much fun for Black ) 8.d2 ( 8.hxg6?! hxg6! 9.xh8 xc3+ is Black's idea) 8...gxh5 9.e3 f6 10.e2 bd7 11.g3 e5 12.xh5 e4 13.e2 R.Knaak-A. Zapata, Cienfuegos 1984. ] 7.h5 g8! [ If 7...xh5 W h i t e ' s i d e a i s 8.e4! threatening to take on h5 ( also interesting is of course 8.xh5!? gxh5 9.e4 ) 8...f6 ( 8...d6 9.exf5 a5 10.fxg6 xc3+ 11.d2 e5+ 12.e2 L.Remlinger-M. Ashley, New York 1995; 8...a5 9.exf5 xc3+ 10.d2 e5+ 11.e2 0-0 12.fxg6 - Speelman) 9.exf5 gxf5 10.g5 with good compensation, e.g. a5 11.xf6 exf6 12.d2!? d6 13.d3 d7 14.h5+ d8 15.xf5 A.Sorin-W.Lombardy, Buenos Aires 1994. ] 8.hxg6 hxg6 9.g4!? White is refusing to quieten down! [ 9.a4 and other moves are considered in Shishkin-Klimov, St Petersburg 2008. ] 9...a5! Black declines the pawn and instead focuses on developing quickly. The evidence of this game suggests that this is a good idea. Previously Bunzmann had twice won quickly when Black took on g4: [ a) 9...fxg4 10.d6! It seems like White is only moving pawns, but this is enough to trouble Black! a5 11.d3 c6 12.f4 b6? 13.g2 b7 14.dxe7 d5 15.xd5 xd5 16.cxd5 c4 17.e3 xd5 18.h7! g5 19.c7 g6 20.d1 e6 21.d2!
1-0 D.Bunzmann-J.Gdanski, Saint Vincent 2000. ] [ b) 9...xg4 10.g5 b6 11.d6! (again we see this disruptive advance) xd6 12.xd6 exd6 13.g2 e5 14.h7 f7 15.f6 a6 16.d5 f8 17.g7 g8 18.h3 c7 19.xf7+ xf7 20.g5+ e8 21.f6 f8 22.e7+ d8 23.f7+ 1-0 D.Bunzmann-R.Antoniewski, Leinfeld 2002. No doubt there are some improvements for Black in these lines, but Okhotnik's choice does seem a whole lot safer. ] 10.g5 e4 11.d2 d6 This looks fine for Black. 12.g2 xd2 13.xd2 d7 14.h7!? Sacrificing the c-pawn. [ 14.f4 b6 15.d3 d7 ( 15...a4! ) 16.f3 a4 17.b1 xc3 18.d2 xa2 19.xa2 xa2 20.xb7 b4 21.h7 d8 22.e5 dxe5 23.fxe5 e8 24.d6 c6 25.bxe7 xg2 26.xe8+ xe8 27.e6 f8 28.h8+ g7 29.xa8 c2+ 30.f2 xa8 31.d7 1-0 D.Pluemer-V. Okhotnik, Aschach 2001, was certainly entertaining. But improvements for Black are easy for find, a n d cle a rly O kh o t n ik wo u ld h a ve b e e n happy to face 14 f4 again. ] [ 14.f3 b6 15.h4 d7 looks fine for Black too. ] 14...e5 15.f4 xc4 16.d3 b5 17.f3 d7 18.h4 0-0-0! It's messy but Black is probably better in this final position. [ If 18...0-0-0 19.xe7 then de8! 20.xg6!? ( 20.xe8+ xe8 and ...Re3) 20...xg6 21.xe8+ xe8 22.h3 c7 23.xf5 g7 ] ½-½
1720 Burmakin,Vladimir Miezis,Normunds 7th HIT Open (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2564 2498 02.02.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.a3 f5 5.f3 f6 6.d5 d6 [ 6...e7 7.dxe6 dxe6 8.a4+ ( 8.xd8+ xd8 9.g5!? is primitive but it might be worth a punt - if black is to preserve his bishop pair he must put his pieces on 1735
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 slightly clumsy squares.) 8...d7 9.xd7+ bxd7 10.f4 d6 11.xd6 cxd6 12.d1 e7 13.e3 a6 14.e2 hc8 15.0-0 xf3 16.xf3 a7 17.e2 e5 18.d4 c6 19.d2 a5 20.fd1 xc4 21.xc4 xc4 22.xd6 d7 23.xd7+ xd7 24.d4 xd4 25.exd4 d6 26.f1 e5 27.dxe5+ xe5 28.e2 c4 29.d1 d5 30.d3 b5 31.c3 a5 32.d3 g5 33.c3+ c5 34.d1 h5 35.c3 d5 36.d3 e5+ 37.c3 f4 38.b3 g4 39.c2 b4 40.axb4 axb4 41.d2 d4 42.h3 f3 0-1 Moynihan, K-Speelman,J/Bunratty 1997 (42). An in st ru c t i ve e xa m p l e o f h o w va lu a b le a small advantage can eventually become. ] 7.g3 0-0 [ 7...a5 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 a6 10.b5 exd5 11.xd6 cxd6 12.h4 e4 13.cxd5 e7 14.e3 b5 1-0 Rohde,M-Kengis,E/ Tilburg 1992 (40). ] [ 7...e7 8.g2 c6 9.0-0 a6 10.dxe6 dxe6 11.d4 d7 12.a4 c5 13.xc6 xc6 14.xc6 xc6 15.xc6 b3 16.b1 d7 17.b4 ac8 18.d1 e7 19.d3 xc4 20.e3 hc8= 1-0 Efimov, I-Mordiglia, R/Asti 1996 (77). ] 8.g2 c6N 9.dxe6 dxe6 10.0-0 e7 11.e4!? fxe4 12.g5 c5! 13.cxe4 xe4 14.xe4 e5 15.g5 c7 [ 15...f7 16.d6 xd6 17.xb7 xb7 18.xd6 e8 19.b4! ( 19.fe1 c6! )] 16.g4 f5! [ 16...xb2!? 17.a2 d4 18.xe6+ h8 19.e2 and the white knight should reach d6 and exert uncomfortable pressure on the black position. ] 17.ab1 c6 [ 17...d7!? ] 18.b4 cxb4 19.axb4 af8 [ 19...a5!? ] 20.c5 d4 21.d6! xf2+ [ 21...xf2 22.xe6+ ( 22.xf2 xf2+ 23.h1 Black's position is precarious, with e6, b7 and c6 weak. ) 22...h8 ] 22.xf2 xf2 23.xe6+ h8 24.xb7 d4!? [ 24...xg2+ 25.xg2 xb7 26.b5!! d4+ 27.c6 xe6 28.cxb7 ] 25.e7 xg2+ 26.xg2 c6+ 27.h3 e8 [ 27...c8+ 28.g4 h5 ( 28...f3+ 29.h4 ) 29.e4 hxg4+ 30.g2 ]
28.f7 e6 29.f6 g8 [ 29...f4+!? 30.g4! h5+ 31.h4! g2+ 32.g5!+- ] 30.d6 f4+ 31.g4 d3 32.h4 a8 33.c6 h6 [ 33...xc6 34.xg7+ xg7 35.f8+ g8 36.f7# ] 34.g6 1-0
1721 Burnett,Ronald Kraai,Jesse ch-USA San Diego USA (6) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2444 2425 30.11.2004
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5!? Sharp. 5.exf5 xg2 Very sharp! 6.h5+ g6 7.fxg6 g7 8.gxh7+ f8 This controversial line has stimulated theoretical interest over the years but any conclusions are still open to doubt. However I think we can safely state that it's a brave option! The main alternatives 4...Nc6 and 4...Bb4+ are fairly solid and don't require as much preparation. 9.hxg8+ [ Consensus has it that 9.g5 is the most critical move ] 9...xg8 10.g4 xh1 11.g5 f8 12.h4 c6 13.h5 Defending the d-pawn is slow. White prefers to create strong threats with the h-pawn. xd4 14.h6 f3+! Now we're on virgin territory! Jedynak, R-Rausis,I Cappellela-Grande 2003 continued [ 14...f5 15.hxg7 xg7 16.f3 h2 17.f4 g2 with complications that eventually led to a draw. Black's activity just about compensated for the locked-in bishop, but Kraai obviously prefers to solve the bishop's problems first. ] 15.xf3 xf3 16.xf3 xf3 17.hxg7 h1+ 18.f1 g2 19.d2 xg7 The smoke clears and we find that Black has a rook and pawn for two pieces. W hite has yet to get organized but even when he does the rooks have open lines to play with and the pawns are solid so therefore Black is probably OK. At this point the jury would need more time to sift the evidence about the strength of Kraai's 14...Nf3+ but if looks sufficiently solid to merit the label 'improvement'. 20.f4 d6 21.e2 1736
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ah8 22.g3 Denying access to h4. 8h5 Keeping the tension due to the pin along the first rank and finding an active role for this rook. [ Instead 22...a5 has it's points. ] 23.c1 g5 24.c3 xf1+ Finally! 25.xf1 g4?! I consider the position after 25...a5 to be equal. White can't use his minor pieces to chip away at the Black structure and has no real threats. However in comparison the text a l l o w s W h i t e s o m e c h a n c e s . 26.b4!? The best try if one is trying to generate an edge. f7 27.d2 h5 28.a3 [ If 28.b5 (in order to prepare R-a3) then a5! copes with any queenside threats bearing in mind that 29.bxa6?! is nullified by a5 ] 28...a5 29.bxa5 xa5 30.xa5 bxa5 31.d3 e7 32.b3 [ I prefer 32.a4! fixing the a-pawn to a dark square. Then af ter d7 33.b3 g5 34.f4 f5 35.e3 White has winning chances. ] 32...a4 33.d4 c5 34.e2 d5! Not waiting until White reorganizes. 35.f4 d7 36.c3 dxc4 37.b2 [ 37.a3 e7 38.g2 d4 39.e3 d3+ 40.xc4 xa3 41.xc5 looks drawn. ] 37...e5 38.e2 e6 39.a3? Unnecessarily risky. White has obviously underestimated the danger. [ As an improvement, Fritz suggests the rather p recariou s-lookin g 39.c3 e4 40.xa4 e3 41.c3 when White isn't worse. ] 39...d5 40.xa4 g8! 41.a3 b8! The white king is suddenly stuck on the edge. 42.f4 [ 42.f3 f8 43.f4 e4 44.fxe5 f3 loses material and ] [ 42.h4 e4 43.f6 b7 leaves White close to being fatally zugzwanged. ] 42...e4 43.f5 [ Equally hopeless is 43.fxe5 f3 44.e6 a8+ 45.b2 xe2 46.e7 d3 ] 43...d3 44.f6 xe2 45.xe5 a8+ 46.b2 d3 0-1
1722 Bykhovsky,Avigdor Botvinnik,Ilia It Tel Aviv ISR (8) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2467 2405 28.03.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.a3 f5 5.h3 f6 6.f3 White declares his hand - he is going to play to force through e4 on his terms. g6!? A thematic reaction. White has invested time in preventing Bb4, and has also adopted a plan that takes less care of d4, so Black develops to take aim at this point. 7.g3 g7 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 c6 10.e4 fxe4 11.fxe4 e5 As quite often happens in the more obscure double fianchetto lines of this defence, positions with some kindred ele me nts t o t he K ing's In dian arise. It is always to good to have some idea of redeeming features for Black as a bishop on b7 tends to be an utter waste of time in such positions. Here there are a number of unusual factors, the primary one being the d4 square, which may compensate for the soon to be misplaced E nglish bish op . 12.d5 d4 13.e2 c5 14.xd4 cxd4 15.a4 h6 16.b3 d6 17.f2 c8! 18.a5 b5! 19.a3 Shame - things were just getting interesting. W hite is a bit restless about the pressure about to mount on c4, and Black's bishop will cause trouble on a6. The d3 square beckons to white's knight, but this piece must also keep an eye on its counterpart entering e3, via g4. [ 19.cxb5 a c c o m p l i s h e s n o t h i n g : d7 20.e2 e8 ( 20...b8 21.b6 axb6 22.a6 e8!? )] ½-½
1723 Cardon,Helmut Fridman,Daniel TCh-NED 2005-6 (8) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2397 2559 25.03.2006
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.d5 f6 Once Black plays this move (rather than the usual ...f5) play may well have similarities with a Queen's Indian. 4.g3 b7 5.g2 b5! Development can come later, Black first tries to undermine 1737
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the white centre. This idea doesn't crop-up in a QID but is analogous to a position from the English Defence where White has the extra moves a3 and Nc3 (but not Bg2) and Black the pawn on ...f5. For instance after 1 d4 e6 2 c4 b6 3 a3 Bb7 4 Nc3 f5 5 d5 Nf6 6 g3 b5!? 6.b3?! White sportingly chases the b-pawn seeking a direct refutation. [ Objectively better is 6.cxb5 when Black can happily recapture with either piece on d5 or even tempt 6...a6!?. ] 6...a6 7.c3?! [ After 7.xb5 simply b8 will give Black plenty of tactical chances for his pawn and there's every chance of quickly restoring material parity. However this would have been a more satisfactory try for White as the text has a hidden refutation. ] 7...c5 8.xb5 a5? [ After 8...c6 White's queen is in trouble. After 9.dxc6 a6 although White can muddy the waters by capturing on b7, he still loses his queen! ] 9.f4 d6 White now seeks to liberate his damsel in distress. 10.xd6 cxd6 11.b4! axb4 12.xb4 e7!? [ Black can also complete development with 12...0-0 13.h3 e7 14.0-0 fb8 with full compensation due to pressure both on the queenside and against the centre. ] 13.f3 exd5 With the sneaky threat of ... Nd3+. 14.0-0 dxc4 15.xc4 White's queen can finally feel safe but at the cost of allowing Black to regain his pawn. 0-0 16.fd1 fc8 17.d4 d5 Black's doubled pawns are not actually as weak as they are ugly. He can easily defend them and even use the squares around them for his pieces. Nevertheless he still has the worse structure. 18.ac1 [ Also possible is 18.ab1 eyeing up Black's bishop. ] 18...e6 19.d2 a3?! [ I prefer 19...c5 defending the d-pawn and keeping the rooks flexible. ] 20.b5!? This tricky move doesn't lead anywhere. So instead White should try [ 20.h4! e.g. g6! Stopping any back rank problems as well as avoiding the knight hopping to f5. ( 20...e4?! 21.xe4 dxe4 22.xc8+ xc8 23.xd7 a8 24.e7 gives White a promising position) 21.xd5
xd5 22.xc8+ xc8 23.xd5 xd5 24.xd5 c2! 25.f1! ( 25.e3?! xa2 26.xa2 xa2 27.xd7 g5 and Black is suf f iciently active to hold.) 25...xa2 26.xd7 b2 27.d3 and Black will have a difficult defensive task ahead. ] 20...xa2 21.xc8+ xc8 22.xa2?! After this White doesn't get anything for the loss of the a-pawn. Instead he could go for [ 22.d6 xd2 23.xd2 as a6 24.a1 wouldn't be that clear. ] 22...xa2 23.d6 a6 Now of course with the rook on a2 (instead of a8) Black has the initiative plus an extra pawn (well doubled and isolated it may be but it's still 'extra'). 24.e5!? [ After 24.e3 e4 hitting f2 25.xe4 dxe4 26.e5 d5 Black significantly improves his structure and could then claim to have a clear extra pawn. ] 24...xe2 25.b1 a6 26.f5 He can't capture on f7: [ 26.dxf7? d6 ] [ 26.exf7? h5 ] 26...g6 27.b8+ f8 28.e7+ g7 29.xd5 Losing but there was already nothing r e a l l y p l a y a b l e . xd5 30.xd5 d6 Picturesque. All eight plausible squares are useless - the knight is lost! 0-1
1724 Chabot,Roland Schleifer,M COQ Open Quebec CAN (5) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2225 2369 24.07.2001
1.d4 c6 2.d5 e5 3.e4 e6 4.dxe6 [ 4.f4 g6 5.dxe6 dxe6 6.xd8+ xd8 7.f3 ( 7.e3 f6 8.c3 b4 9.d3 xc3+ 10.bxc3 d7 11.h3 g4 12.d2 c6 13.g5 e7 14.0-0 e5 15.f5 f8 16.c4 h6 17.ae1 f6 18.c1 fxg5 19.xg5+ d6 20.f6 gxf6 21.xf6+ c5 22.d3 g4 23.xf8 hxf8 24.e7+ b6 25.b1+ a5 26.b4+ a4 27.b3 1-0 Barlov,D-Seyb,D Nuremberg 1990. ) A) 7...f6 8.c3 b4 9.d3 d7 10.h4 h5 11.e5 f8 12.xg6 fxg6 13.0-0 c5+ ( 13...e7 14.g4 f6 ) 14.h2 1738
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d6?? 15.e5 e7 16.g4+xh4 17.gxh5 gxh5 18.e3 g6 19.ad1 a6 20.c5 f7 21.h3 e7 22.e4 b6 23.xe7+ xe7 24.c4 c6 25.g5 ff8 26.xh7 fd8 27.g5 d7 28.d3 g8 29.f2 c6 30.c4 d7 31.fd2 c8 32.c3 f8 33.g3 b5 34.b3 b8 35.c2 g8 36.e4 b4 37.f6 g7 38.d8 bxc3 39.e8+ f7 40.dd8 d7 41.xd7# 1-0 Levitt, J-Watson,I Torquay 1982.; B) 7...c5!?; C) 7...b4+!? 8.c3 ( 8.c3!? Not fearing structural damage and aiming to transpose into known theory may be better.) 8...c5 9.b4 b6 10.h4 h5 11.a3 f6 12.g5 e7 13.c4 g4 14.xb6 axb6 15.a4 f6 16.f3 d7 17.b5 a7 18.a3+ f7 19.d1 e8 20.d4 xf4 21.e5 d5 22.exf6 gxf6 23.d3 xc3 24.g6+ d8 25.xh5 xb5 26.xg4 xd4 27.xd4 xa4 28.b2 e5 29.xd7 xd7 30.f3 a2 31.c1 xg2 32.h5 e6 33.f1 c2 34.e3 c5 35.h6 b5 36.e1 c4 37.d3 b6 38.e2 c2+ 39.f3 f5 40.f2 f4 41.c1 c3+ 42.e2 f5 43.d2 g3 44.h5+ g5 45.h2 h7 46.d3 b4 47.c1 e4 48.h4 b3 49.b2 c4 50.e1 b5 0-1 Crouch,C-Barle,J London ENG 2001. ] 4...fxe6 5.f4 g6!? Incredibly, I cannot find any gam es wit h this natura l move in my, apparently flawed, database. It is surely the most natural move, keeping up some pressure on f4, and black manages to develop easily and aggressively in this game. 6.f3 c5 7.c3 8e7 [ 7...h6!? ] 8.d3 0-0 9.g3 [ 9.a4!? ] 9...d5 10.e5 a6 11.e2 a7 12.h4!? f5 13.h3 c5 14.h5 ge7 15.xf5? [ 15.g4 c4!? 16.xc4 dxc4 17.gxf5 xf5 looks nice for black with two strong bishops and potential domination of the light squares. ] 15...exf5 16.h6 g6 17.g5 b5 18.d2 d4 19.d1 d5 20.b3 b7 21.h2 c4 22.bxc4 bxc4 23.c3 d3 24.f1 fe8 25.e3 c6 26.b1 ab8 27.b4 a8
28.c1 xb4 29.cxb4 d8 0-1
1725 Cheparinov,Ivan Romero Holmes,Alfonso Corus Reserve Group (6) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2089 2483 26.01.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 b5!? 7.xb5 exd5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.f3 a6 [ 9...c5!? was very tricky but not completely c o n vi n c i n g : 10.g5! c6 11.xf6 gxf6 12.e3 ( 12.b4!? ) 12...b6 13.b4 xe3 14.fxe3 xe3+ 15.e2 xe2+ 16.xe2 cxb5 17.0-0 a5 18.d4 axb4 19.axb4 xa1 20.xa1 0-0 21.xb5 1/2-1/2 Hofman,R-Grabuzova,T/Groningen 1994. ] 10.c3 b7 11.g2 c5 12.b4 e6 13.0-0 a5 14.b5 c5 15.b3 e7 16.e3 0-0 This should just be an interesting and fairly balanced struggle and indicates that black's 6th move may be a fully viable alternative in this variation. 17.h4 xg2 18.xg2 f7 [ 18...e4!? 19.xf5?? f7! ] 19.c2 g4 20.d5 d6 21.b2 g5? [ 21...ab8!? to freshen things up with ...c6 soon was a more natural alternative. Black's move gashes himself so badly that he must be pleased to reach an unpleasant queenless middlegame. ] 22.f3 d4 23.xd4 xd5 24.a2 xa2 25.xa2 h6 26.a4 f6 27.e5 ae8 28.d3 e4 29.c2 f7 30.c5 Now black can only regret the sins of his youth - his spattered pawns allow white to improve his position by the simplest means. xc5 31.xc5 d6 32.d4 e7 33.c6+- a8 34.fc1 e6 35.xc7 xc7 36.xc7 g4 37.b6 b8 1-0
1739
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1726 Chernuschevich,Alexei Sharif,Mershad National I Montpellier FRA (1) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2486 2473 31.01.2003
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.f3 It's generally considered more precise to wait with the knight that may be better placed going from h3-f4. So 6 g3 is a better try. e7 7.g3 e4 8.xe4?! [ 8.d2 f6 ( 8...c5 9.e3 a5 10.g2 a6 11.e5 d6 12.d3 worked out better for White in Adorjan-Miles, Biel 1983 ( t o o m a n y b i s h o p m o v e s ! ) .) 9.c1 looks more logical. ] 8...fxe4 9.d4 exd5 10.cxd5 0-0 11.b3 c5! Black already has the most active pieces (except for his queen's knight). 12.e3 f6 13.0-0-0 e5 [ I can't see anything wrong with 13...f7 either. ] 14.c6!? Hoping for complications but Sharif i s n ' t i m p r e s s e d . xe3+ 15.fxe3 d6 16.xb8 [ After 16.g2 a6 White cannot capture on e4 e.g. 17.xe4?? c5 18.b4 xe4 19.xe4 dxc6 20.dxc6 xc6+ 21.xc6 xc6 when White can resign. ] 16...axb8 17.g2 be8 18.c4 f2 [ Probably the best way to increase his a d v a n t a g e i s 18...b5! 19.xb5 a6 followed by ...Bxe2. The text is not bad but allows his opponent to get organized. ] 19.xe4 c5 20.xc5 bxc5 21.f3 xe3 22.d2 d6 Material i s equal and White has escaped to an ending. However Black's active rooks still put him under pressure. 23.d1 a6 24.g4 [ 24.e1?? fxf3 ] 24...c4 25.e1 f6 26.f1 f7 27.e6+ e7 28.xf6 xf6 29.f2 b3 30.c2 b5 31.h4 h6 Black will improve his pieces, particularly his king, whilst White has to wait developments. 32.g4 e5 33.f3 d7 34.g4 [ Passive defence doesn't help e. g. 34.e1 f5 35.d2 c4 36.f2 a5 37.e3 c3 38.bxc3 xc3 39.a2 e4 and Black wins a pawn and with it probably the game. ] 34...g5 35.h5 a5 36.e1 d4 37.f2 c4
38.e1 a4 39.d2+ e3 White has been squeezed so much the pips are about to burst out! 40.c2 It's Zugzwang, so there was no satisfactory alternative. xa3 41.c1 [ 41.xc4 a1+ 42.c1 xc1# ] 41...a2 42.c3+ d4 43.e3+ c5 44.e2 b3 45.xc4 A combination offering only a temporary respite from the inevitable. xc4 46.b3 xd5 47.xc4 c5 48.d1 b2 49.c3 e4 50.c1 e2 51.c4+ f3 52.a4 xe3 53.c2 e4 0-1
1727 Chernyshov,Konstantin Kraai,Jesse FSGM May Budapest HUN (4) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2524 2454 06.05.2003
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 [ Exchanging off a pair of bishops reduces t h e b i t e o f W h i t e ' s c e n t r e s o 4...b4+ is an important alternative. 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 h6 Now White has three principle options. 7.e2 A nuance. ( 7.h5!? f6 8.gf3 c6 9.e5 f4 10.g3 g4 11.xg4 xg4 12.0-0 f6 13.h3 h6 14.exf6 gxf6 15.a3 Petursson,M-Wauthier, P St.Bernadino 1991 left W hite with his usual space edge but nothing concrete.; 7.gf3 0-0 8.0-0 f6 9.b4 c6 10.b3 e7 11.d5 e5 12.c5 Space isn't everything...read on. d6 13.fc1 g5 14.cxd6 cxd6 15.b5 c8 16.c6 b8 17.b5 The bishop outpost doesn't really inconvenience Black. g6 18.a3 e7 19.c4 g4 20.e1 bd8 21.h3 c8 with a draw Kishnev,S-Bischoff,K Bundesliga 2001.) 7...0-0 8.0-0 c6 9.a3 f5! 10.c2 h8 11.ad1 f4!? 12.f3 f7 13.h1 e5 14.d5 e7 15.c5 d6 16.cxd6 xd6 17.c1 c6 Lautier,J-Sharif,M Clermont-Ferrand 2003 doesn't give White more than a small initiative. ] 5.f3 b4 One of Black's most solid lines. Black banks on his bishop pair being more of a factor long-term than W hite's space and temporary lead in development. 6.0-0 xd3 7.xd3 d6 8.c3 g6 9.a4!? [ 9.g5 d7 10.ad1 g7 11.fe1 h6 1740
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.c1 e7 13.b3 0-0-0!? ( 13...0-0 also looks OK) 14.d5 he8 15.d4 g5 16.b4 xd4 17.xd4 f5 led to adequate counterplay for Black in Paschell,W-Ivanov, Alex Pan American ch. 1998 ] 9...g7 [ 9...a5 comes into consideration, to hinder further pawn expansion. ] 10.a5 e7 11.d5 h6 12.d4 e5 13.a6 c8 [ Play after 13...exd4 14.axb7 b8 15.b5 xb7 16.xa7 will favour White, who will have plenty of time to pick up the loose dpawn, and after ] [ 13...xd5 14.exd5 exd4 15.b5 0-0 16.xd4 White has a comfortable space advantage. ] 14.c6!? An interesting choice leading to an unusual pawn structure. xc6 15.dxc6 0-0 16.b4 e6 17.e3 f5 18.f3 e8 19.d5 f7 20.b5 f4 21.f2 g5 The position is now blocked-up on all fronts. 22.fd1 f6 23.h3 f8 24.f1 Time to quit the sector where Black has aggressive intentions! g7 25.e2 af8 26.d2 d8 27.c3 h5 28.b3 g6 29.e1 e8 30.b4 g7 31.d2 h8 32.c3 g8 33.e2 f7 34.b3 h7 35.d3 g6 36.c2 h6 37.b2 h7 38.a4 h6 39.d2 h7 With the time control at hand White finally decides that it's time to go for gold. 40.c5!? dxc5 41.xc5 bxc5 42.xc5 White will win the a-pawn and thus obtains a powerful passed pawn for his piece. Clearly Black cannot wait any longercounterplay is essential. g4! 43.hxg4 hxg4 44.xa7 gxf3 45.gxf3 g7 46.c5 [ Stopping the rook coming to g2 with 46.f2? is a terrible blunder as after xd5 neither recapture is satisf actory 47.exd5 ( 47.xd5? g2 ) 47...e4+ ] 46...g2 47.xg2 xg2+ 48.c2 f1 [ T h e e n d in g a f t e r 48...xc2+ 49.xc2 xd5 50.exd5 e7 51.a7 a8 52.b6! cxb6 53.c7 is untenable. ] 49.a7 xb5+ 50.a2 h4 51.a8 xa8 52.xa8 g7 White has an extra exchange b u t B la c k ' s k in g is le ss e xp o se d . 53.b3 e2+ 54.a3 e7+ 55.a4 e6 56.a5 [ 56.a5! is the best chance to try and win. The king finds a relatively safe square and it's hard to see how Black can continue his
harassment. ] 56...e1 57.c3 d1+ 58.b5 e2+ 59.c4 b2+ 60.a4 a3+ 61.b5 b2+ 62.a4 a3+ ½-½
1728 Chetverik,Maxim Czebe,Attila FSIMB Budapest HUN (6) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2316 2480 08.08.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c2 b4+ 5.d2 This may sound incredible, but I cannot find this move before. Even if this is not 100% accurate, it is remarkable that such a natural move can be so rare. e7 [ 5...a6!? ] [ 5...xd2+ 6.xd2 h6!? could be a more flexible version of the game - it is not clear that the foray to b4 with the queen is so profitable. ] 6.xb4 [ 6.c3 d5!? ] 6...xb4+ 7.d2 [ 7.c3 looks more natural. ] 7...h6 8.d3 0-0 [ 8...f5 ] 9.gf3 f5 10.0-0-0 [ 10.0-0 is safe and solid. ] 10...c6 11.d5 [ 11.a3!? e7 ( 11...a5 12.he1 ) 12.d5 exd5 13.exd5 e5 should be roughly equal. ] 11...e7 12.he1 [ 12.a3!? is tempting to toss in when Black's que en mu st go t o a5 - presu ma bly t his would make it harder for the queen to return to centralized action. ] 12...g6 13.exf5 exf5 14.g3 c6 [ 14...b5!? looks more promising, preparing to ventilate the queenside and activate the Bb7 as well. ] 15.dxc6 xc6 16.d4 a5 17.xc6 dxc6 18.b1 Now the pressure on f5 gives White the initiative. Much of the rest of the game does not make sense, implying input error from the source material. The opening po ssibilit ie s f o r bo t h sid es ha ve alrea d y passed - the first verdict must be that this 1741
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 system seems like a sensible option for White, the Keres Defence. 3.d2 a5! and why it has been so untested is a major [ 3...e7 4.e4! promises White some kind mystery. ae8 19.h3 xe1 20.xe1 f7 of edge, for example c6 5.f3 f6 21.f4 d6 22.c5 bxc5 23.e6 d8 24.b3 6.d3 xd2+ ( or 6...d5 7.e5 e4 8.0-0 c7 25.xc5 f8 26.e5 f7 27.e2 xd2 9.bxd2 xd2 10.xd2 , Jelen-B. 0-1 Kovacevic, Zagreb 1997) 7.bxd2 d6 8.0-0 d7 9.a3 f6 10.d5 e7 11.b4 g6 12.e1 (Kotov-Bronstein, Riga 1958) ] 1729 A40 4.c3 There's an argument for saying that this is actually White's most accurate moveChristiansen,Larry Mark 2596 Bricard,Emmanuel 2461 order. Alternatively: [ a) 4.e4 - see Vareille-Winants, France 19th Open Reykjavik ISL (4) 08.04.2000 2003 (ECO code A40). ] [Jon Tisdall] [ b) With 4.f3 White shows he or she is happy to transpose into the Bogo-Indian 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.f3 b7 4.c3 b4 proper after 4...Nf6, albeit one where Black 5.g5 xc3+ 6.bxc3 f6 7.h4 d6 is committed to an early ...a7-a5. However, I can understand that when a second big guy with the 1.. .e6, 2...Bb4 move order Black comes and plays this offbeat variation that has independent possibilities based on the there is an urge not to repeat oneself. But g8-knight developing to h6 rather than f6 black seems to fall between two stools here, see Morris-Legky, Lucerne 1994. ] alternating solid with extravagant and getting 4...f6 I guess one way of looking at this into trouble. position is to say that we have transposed into [ 7...e7 ] 8.d2 d7 9.e4 e7 10.f3 h6 11.d3 a kind o f Nimzo-In dian whe re W hite h a s 0-0 12.0-0 g5 This seems like a very odd played the unusual Bd2 and Black has played time to decide to fling the kingside forward. the silly ...a5! [ Black can delay the development of the f613.f2 f5 14.exf5 exf5 15.c5 d5 kn ight in f a vo ur o f 4...d6 , playing for a [ 15...dxc5 16.b3+ and Rae1 is very scary quick ... e6-e5. Now White should continue for black. ] 5.e4! f o r e x a m p l e , ( HÃ1/4bner assesses 16.a4 c6 5.a3 xc3 6.xc3 f5!? 7.e4!? fxe4 8.g4 [ 16...bxc5 17.dxc5 e5 18.fe1 f6 9.xg7 g8 10.h6 d5 as unclear) ( 18.ae1 )] 5...f6 6.d3 e5 7.a3 xc3 8.bxc3! e7 17.ae1 f6 18.c4 bxc5 19.cxd5 b6 9.f3 bd7 10.e2 (Stohl-Eingorn, Austria 20.b3 c4 21.xc4 cxd5 22.xb6 axb6 1999). It's now a SÃNmisch pawn structure 23.e5 fe8 with White's bishop looking a bit strange on [ 23...d6!? planning ...Ra3 looks more d2. However, the most misplaced unit is troublesome. ] Black's pawn on a5 - this would now much 24.b1 f7 25.xb6 prefer to be back on a7, giving b6 support in [ 25.xb6 xb6 26.xe8+ xe8 27.xb6 case of c4-c5 and also vacating the a5is just too gruesome. ] square for a possible ... Nc6-a5. It's 1-0 revealing that against Cmilyte, Eingorn was not prepared to repeat this position. ] 1730 A40 5.e4! d5!? [ 5...xc3?! 6.xc3 xe4 7.g4 xc3 Cmilyte,Viktorija 2480 8.xg7 f8 9.bxc3 looks good for White, Eingorn,Vereslav S 2587 while 5...d6 transposes to the previous Open A Hamburg GER (4) 04.10.2005 note. ] [John Emms] 6.e5 e4 [ 6...xc3 7.bxc3 e4 8.e3! is better for 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b4+ This game is particularly W hite as the knight on e4 is vulnerable. interesting as Eingorn is a real specialist of 1742
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Note here that xc3? 9.c2 e4 10.f3 h4+ 11.g3 xg3 12.f2! wins for White. ] 7.xe4 dxe4 8.a3 xd2+ 9.xd2 0-0 10.0-0-0 It's not that easy to assess this position. The pawn on e4 is vulnerable, but for the moment it prevents W hite from developing his kingside the way she would wish to. Should be better for White, though. f6 11.f4 b5!? If Black develops "normally" then the weakness of e4 is a major problem. It could be protected by playing ...f6-f5, but the problem with this move is that it takes all the pressure off White's centre and gives White the possibility of a future pawn lever with g2g4, opening up a file against Black's king. 12.e2 Preparing to meet 12...bxc4 with 13 Nc3. [ However, it's not clear to me that Black really has enough compensation for the p a wn a f t e r 12.cxb5 b7 13.e2 d7 14.c3 b6 ] 12...b4! 13.a4 White is quite rightly reluctant to ope n u p t he que enside to o m uch . b7 14.e3 d7 15.g3? After this move Black surprisingly comes out on top. [ Given what happens in the game, there's an argument for playing 15.c5!? , keeping Black's knight out of the game. ] 15...fxe5 16.fxe5 c5! 17.xe4 cxd4 18.xd4 xe4! 19.xe4 c7 20.d3 c5 21.h4 h6 What's happened? White is a pawn ahead, but everything else is in Black's favour. The knight has become a monstrous piece on c5, while W hite's king is certainly shakier than Black's. 22.b1 ad8 23.g4 d7 [ Fritz spots the funny perpetual checking sequence with 23...xe5!? 24.xe5 b3+ 25.c2 a1+ 26.c1 b3+ , but unsurprisingly Black is now after more than a draw. ] 24.b3? [ 24.-- Black was threatening f2! 25.xf2 b3+ 26.c2 d3# ] [ However, 24.c2 b3 25.b1 was White's best chance of survival. ] 24...xb3+! 25.b2 d2+ 26.xd2 xd2 27.c2 f2 28.c1 h5 29.h4 c8 30.xh5 xc4 31.h7+ f7 32.xc4 xc4+ 33.b3 d2+ 34.b2 g6! 35.h3 g7 36.c1 c4 It's all gone horribly wrong
for W hite: the bishop is trapped on h7 and Black's b-pawn is a runner. 0-1
1731 Cmilyte,Viktorija Kengis,Edvins Keres Mem Open (9) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2464 2572 31.07.2001
1.d4 [ 1.e4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.d3 e6 4.f3 g6 5.c4 g7 6.c3 d6 7.0-0 d7 8.e3 e7 9.d2 h6 10.h3 g5 11.e2 c5 12.d5 g6 This seems to be the most "in" way to play the Hippo these days against a c4/d4/e4 pawn centre - play ... c5 to avoid being squashed on the queenside, and hurry a N to g6 without committing the king to ca st li n g t o o e a r ly. W h it e gi ve s u p a n y pretense of standing better quite early in this game, but that is likely down to the large rating differential. 13.e1 ( 13.g3!? ) 13...e5 14.f3 f6 15.e1 e5 16.f3 f6 17.e1 de5 18.f4 gxf4 19.xf4 xf4 20.xf4 g5 21.e2 xf4 ( 21...e7!?; 21...g6!? ) 22.xf4 g5 23.d3 xf4 24.xf4 xd3 25.xd3 e7 26.af1 af8 27.e2 f6 28.g4 c8 29.dxe6 hg8 30.1f3 xe6 31.a3 a8 32.xe6 xe6 33.h4 g6 34.h5 ag8 35.g4 8g7 36.f2 h7 37.f3 b7 38.a4 h7 39.g3 e7 40.ff5 f7 41.f4 e5 42.hf5 h5 43.h4 hxg4 44.hxg4 xf5 45.xf5 e6 46.h5 g7 47.g3 a6 48.f4 b5 49.axb5 axb5 50.b3 bxc4 51.bxc4 a7 52.h6 g7 53.h8 1/2-1/2 Hermansson,E-Bezold,M Panormo GRE 2001. ] 1...e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e4 e7 6.f3 0-0!? This is an alternative Hippo approach which packs a lot of logic - Black prepares to strike back in the centre quickly with ...f5. By keeping the B on c8 he may win a great deal of time as the B must often be rerouted here if the centre closes with d4-d5. 7.g5 h6 8.e3 f5 9.exf5 [ 9.d3 Tried to put off the concession of t a ki n g o n f 5 , b u t K e n gi s b r o u g h t m o r e pressure to bear on the centre: b7 10.d5 1743
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 This helps black bring up the reserves - he should wait with something like ( 10.c2!? ) 10...a6 11.exf5 xf5 12.xf5 xf5 13.d4 e5 14.f3 f5 15.d4 f8 16.g4 exd5 17.cxd5 ( 17.xg6 e8 ) 17...e8 18.0-0 f7 19.ad1 ae8 20.db5 d6 21.c4 c5 22.xa7 a6 23.cb5 d7 24.xc5 bxc5 25.b3 h7 26.a4 b7 27.d3 e5 28.c3 f7 29.ab5 fe8 30.h3 h5 31.h1 8e7 32.d2 h6 33.d3 f4 34.c4 f6 35.d3 f7 36.c4 f5 37.g1 f4 38.d3 g7 39.c2 e5 40.fe1 g7 41.e2 h4 42.d3 f5 43.de3 xc2 44.xc2 b4 45.a2 f4 46.ac3 ef7 47.f1 d4 48.ee2 xc3 49.xc3 b4 50.e4 xe4 51.xe4 xd5 52.d2 f6 53.c4 f8 54.c3 b8 55.d2 e6 56.g3 b4 57.e2 d7 58.e3 g5 59.c4 xc4 60.bxc4 xa4 61.gxh4 gxh4 62.f3 e6 63.g4 d5 64.e3+ f6 65.f3+ g6 66.f5 xc4+ 67.f4 d4 68.g5+ f6 69.f5+ e6 70.e5+ d6 71.e1 c4 72.g5 c3 73.f5 c2 0 - 1 N a rv a , J - K e n g is , E P u h a j a r ve E S T 2001. ] 9...xf5 Black must already have a very pleasant position. 10.e2 b7 11.d2 c6 12.0-0-0 a5 13.c2 xf3 14.gxf3 h4!? [ 14...d5!? ] 15.hg1 g5 16.g4 xh2 17.f4 c6? [ 17...h3!? must be better. ] 18.e4 gxf4 19.h1 d6 20.xh2? [ 20.f3! fxe3 21.xg7+! h8 22.g8+! xg8 23.g4++- ] 20...xe4 21.xe4 fxe3 22.fxe3 h8 23.g3 f7 24.h5 g8 25.xg7 gxg7 26.xh6+ g8 27.xg7+ ½-½
1732 Cooper,John Grantley Mah,Karl 4NCL Birmingham ENG (1) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2341 2411 23.09.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.a3 g6 5.e4 g7 6.f3 e7 7.h4 h6 8.f4 d6 9.c2 d7 10.0-0-0 c6 11.d5 ce5 12.d4 e7 13.g3 0-0 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.h3 c5
16.xe5 dxe5 17.b3 xb3+ 18.xb3 xf2 19.c5 xc5 20.b1 h8 21.xe6 e3 22.d5 xd5 23.xd5 af8 24.d3 f1+ 25.xf1 xf1+ 26.a2 c1 27.e6 f8 28.xg6 f1 29.d1 c4+ 30.a1 a5 31.d7 f1+ 32.b1 g8 33.xc7 f6 34.g4 h7 35.e2 [ 35.d7! ] 35...d8 36.c1 d4 37.c3 f2 38.b5 d2 39.a2 f2 40.g4 0-1
1733 Cramling,Pia Koneru,Humpy 6th Women GP (3) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2516 2607 24.02.2011
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 9.f4!? An unusual move order as White usually plays this after castling. [ If however White castles 9.0-0 Black can try placing the bishop on e5: e5!? ( 9...0-0 10.f4 gets back to the main game) 10.c2 0-0 11.d1 ( or 11.d2 e7 12.ad1 ae8 13.f4 f7 14.dxe6 dxe6 15.d3 d6 16.xc5 xg2 17.xg2 bxc5!? Atalik, S-Mamedyarov, S Calvia Olympiad 2004, was fine for Black) 11...e7 12.b1 a5?! ( s i m p l e s t i s 12...xc3 13.xc3 ce4= ) 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 ce4 Miron, L-Ciobanu, Au Romanian championships 2011. In the game 15.xe4 fxe4 16.g5 led to Black shedding his epawn, although then his active bishops gave him some compensation. ] 9...0-0 10.0-0 e5!? This seems to be new in this position. [ Black has however been reasonably successful when keeping the central tension: 10...e7 11.c2 a5 12.b5 e5 13.e3 c6 14.dxc6 xc6 15.d3 b8 16.ad1 c8 17.xc5 bxc5 18.g5 d5= Foisor, C-Jossien, A Bethune 2006. ] [ Or similarly 10...e5 11.c2 a5 12.e3 g5 13.d3 xd3 14.xd3 g4= Snape, I-Flear, G British league 2004. ] 11.d3 xd3 12.exd3!? [ Black has a dynamic position following 1744
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.xd3 e4 13.c2 c6 ] 12...c6 13.d4 Both sides strive for the initiative in the centre. c7 14.dxe5 xe5 15.d2 [ 15.d3 followed by Bd2 looks more to the point. ] 15...f4! Just as in the Dutch defence, the idea of ...f5 is to, eventually, go further! 16.e2 fxg3 [ The queen doesn't look totally at ease on e2, but after 16...ae8 it can go to the more comfortable d3-square: 17.d3 ] 17.hxg3 cxd5 18.b5 Hoping to create disharmony in the black ranks. b8 19.cxd5 a6 [ 19...xb2?? 20.f4 ] 20.c3 d6 [ There is a case for 20...d6 linking the rooks immediately. ] 21.e3?! There is a certain risk in moving the bishop as White is inviting Black to damage her structure. b5 22.ad1 xc3! [ A well reasoned winning try, as 22...c7 23.d4 keeps things symmetrical and, in the long-term, more drawish. ] 23.bxc3 c7 24.d4? [ Better would have been 24.d3 ac8 25.f4 with chances for both sides, as fd8 26.h3 xd5 27.fe1 isn't so clear, despite the fact that Black is likely to pick off another pawn or two. ] 24...ae8 25.d3 f7 [ Black can get away with 25...xd5! as 26.xd5+ ( White sheds a pawn after both 26.xf6 xg2 27.xg2 xf6; and 26.b6 xb6 27.xd5+ h8 ) 26...xd5 27.xg7 is strongly met by f4! ] 26.xf6 xf6 27.c4 bxc4 28.xc4 e5 With a slight initiative but this shouldn't be too worrying for White. 29.d3 f7 30.d4 f5 31.d2 c8 32.b6 f6 33.c2 The wrong rook, as the one on f 1 remains distinctly passive. [ I prefer 33.c1 h5 34.c4 g4 35.b4 when White keeps things shipshape. ] 33...h5 34.c4 g4! Threatening ...Be2. 35.f4!? [ White loses a pawn after 35.e1?! f3 36.xf3 xf3 37.e3 xd5 ] 35...xf4 36.gxf4 White's king is exposed, but Cramling is nevertheless able to keep
things together. g6 37.e3 h5 38.c1 h4 39.h2 e8 40.d4 f5 41.g1 h6 The struggle continues, with time trouble no doubt influencing some of the following play. 42.d2 h5 43.e1 f8 Exchanging rooks would give no real winning chances. 44.e7 f6 45.e3 g4 46.f3? [ A better defence would have been 46.a7! g6 47.a8+ h7 48.f3= ] 46...xf3 47.xf3 h7 Winning the f-pawn. 48.g4 xf4 49.h3 f5 [ Holding onto the g-pawn could well have given Bla ck he r b e st win nin g cha n ce s : 49...g5! 50.e6+ h8 51.d7 e4 52.xd6 xf2 53.g4 g2+ 54.h5 g7 55.g4 h3! ] 50.xf5 xf5 51.xh4 xd5 In rook endgames an extra pawn is often difficult to exploit when the opponent's rook is so active. 52.d7 h7 53.f4 g6 54.g4 f6 55.f3 d3+ 56.e4 xa3 57.xd6+ e7 58.b6 f7 59.f5 a1 60.b7+ g8 61.a7 The rook is ideally placed behind the passed pawn. a5 62.f4 a4 63.g5 [ Otherwise 63.g3 a3 64.g2 a2 65.h2 is a book draw. ] 63...a3 64.g6 White creates some counter threats... just in time! g1+ 65.h5 a1 66.g6 g1+ 67.h5 g3 68.h4 b3 69.g5 f8 70.f6 gxf6+ 71.xf6 e8 72.e5 d8 73.d4 c8 74.c4 b8 ½-½
1734 Crouch,Colin S Kinsman,Andrew PH 4NCL Birmingham ENG (6) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2407 2401 20.01.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 5.f3 b4 6.c3 xd3+ 7.xd3 d6 This doesn't necessarily commit black to trying a kind of Hippo double fianchetto, but it is interesting that most players start with this the few times they go on to play ...g6. One thought is that it gives black the option of playing ...Qd7 in reply to a Bg5 probe - there are arguments to be made that ...f6 is not an ideal reaction, and tucking the queen away on c8 is less appealing. 8.0-0 e7 1745
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 8...g6 9.g5 A) 9...f6 10.e3 d7 11.d2 g7 12.d5 e7 ( 12...e5!? ) 13.dxe6 xe6 14.d5 d7 15.d4 0-0 16.f4 xd5 17.exd5 f5 18.f3 c5 19.dxc6 xc6 20.xg7 xg7 21.d4 e4 22.d2 f7 23.ac1 d5 24.c5 bxc5 25.xc5 fc8 26.fc1 xc5 27.xc5 e8 28.b4 b7 29.c3 a6 30.c7 xa2 31.e2 1-0 Iljushin,A-Nalesny,I Novgorod 1999.; B) 9...d7 10.ad1 g7 11.fe1 h6 12.c1 e7 13.b3 0-0-0 14.d5 he8 15.d4 g5 16.b4 xd4 17.xd4 f5 18.exf5 xf5 19.d3 f7 20.dxe6 xe6 21.xe6 xe6 22.e2 xe2 23.xe2 e8 24.c3 g4 25.f1 h5 26.f4 h4 27.d5 e4 28.g5 f5 29.c5 bxc5 30.bxc5 e5 31.f4 xc5 32.xh5 g7 33.xg7 xg5 34.e6 h5 35.d4 a6+ 0-1 Paschall,W-Ivanov,A San Felipe 1998. ] 9.e1 [ 9.d2 g6 10.b4 g7 11.a4 a5 12.b5 0-0 13.fe1 h6 14.ad1 f5 15.c1 g5 This seems unnecessary to me - black had reasonable play without this. 16.c5 fxe4 17.xe4 d5 18.h4 g4 19.h2 f5 20.g3 xd4 21.cxd6 cxd6 22.xg4 e5 23.c3 e6 24.xh6 c8 25.e2 c4 26.b1 c5 27.xf8 xh4 28.gxh4 xh4 29.g6+ xf8 30.f6+ xf6 31.xf6 b4 32.d7+ e7 33.xb6 g8+ 34.f1 g4 35.xc4 xc4 36.c1 1-0 Flear,G-Bricard, E Chartres 1990. ] 9...g6 10.g5 g7 11.f4 0-0 12.c2 d7 Black has every reason to be satisfied - he has the bishop pair and an interesting, dynamic position. W hite centre lovers will probably also be ready to fight. 13.ad1 f5 [ 13...f6!? 14.h4 d5 is another option. I would have been nervous about allowing white Bxe7 under certain circumstances. ] 14.e5 d5 15.cxd5 [ 15.xe7!? is the kind of circumstance that would have worried me. dxc4 ( 15...xe7 16.cxd5 exd5 17.b4 looks more attractive for white than the game to me, but black is solid. ) 16.xc4 xe7 17.d5 ] 15...xd5 16.f2 f7 17.e3 f8 18.exd5 xd5 Black's grip on the d5 square and d-file guarantee him a fair share of the
action, but his position is rather passive - the bishop on d5 looks gorgeous, but it doesn't have much to do - the position is balanced, and big risks will have to be taken to tip the scales. 19.fd2 c8 20.f6 c6 21.g3 g7 22.xg7 xg7 23.h4 h5 24.h2 a8 25.f2 d8 26.d3 dd7 27.g3 d8 28.g5 h6 29.e2 b7 30.g3 g7 31.b3 d5 32.c4 c5 33.b4 gd7 34.bxc5 bxc5 35.dxc5? [ 35.c3 xd4 36.xd4 cxd4 37.xe6 must have been tempting, and might have been assumed good - but after g7 38.b5 d5 white is worse. The speculation in the game is tricky but apparently unsound. ] 35...xd1 36.xe6 g7 37.g3 h7 38.xf5 [ 38.xh5 c8 ] 38...f8!-+ [ 38...c8?? 39.xh5+ ] 39.xg7 xf4+ 40.g3 xh4+ 41.h3 [ 41.h3 f2 ] 41...xh3+ 42.xh3 xg7 43.a3 a6 44.b3 d5 45.b6 c1 0-1
1735 Crouch,Colin S Plaskett,Jim 4NCL Birmingham ENG (11) [Neil McDonald]
A40 2424 2515 01.05.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 b7 4.d5 [ If 4.f3 Black could try xf3!? 5.exf3 b4+ which turned out very well for him in Yermolinsky-Speelman. Alternatively he could play 4...f5 or 4...Nf6, but who would want to play a Daring Defence just to end up in the Queen's Indian? ] 4...b5! A logical move which aims to undermine d5 before White can bring up his major pieces to support his extended centre. 5.e4 This is probably too committal. [ Instead 5.b3 a6!? 6.g2 ( A nice point is 6.xb5 c6!! 7.xb7? c5 8.b4 d3+ winning W hite's queen!) 6...b4 7.cxb5 xd5 8.xd5 xd5 9.e4 is Tregubov-Shtyrenko, Volgograd 1994, and now df6 looks best with unclear play. ] 1746
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 5...f6 6.e5 White's pawns are rushing forwards, but where are the pieces to defend them? e4 7.g2 f5! Black makes a claim for a large stake in the centre. 8.exf6 [ 8.dxe6 c5 9.h3 xf2!! 10.xf2 xg2 gives Black a dangerous initiative. ] 8...b4+ 9.d2 xf6 10.gf3 exd5 11.cxb5 e7+! 12.e2 xe2+ 13.xe2 a6! White's opening strategy has suffered a fiasco. Taking on a6 obviously leaves his king exposed to a big attack, but after his next mo ve b ein g a p a wn do wn isn 't m uch f u n either. 14.b6 cxb6 15.a3 d6 16.b3 The best chance was [ 16.e1 when at least his king gets to safety after 17 kf1. ] 16...a5 17.e3 a6+ 18.d1 c6 19.h3 0-0 20.bd4 e4 21.f1 xd4 Here White resigned as 22.xd4 xf2+ is curtains. 0-1
1736 A40 De Haan,Eric 2283 Sielecki,Christof 2416 Belgian Interteams 1999-2000 (10) 20.02.2000 [Jon Tisdall] 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 f5 4.c3 f6 5.f3 b7 6.g3 e7 [ 6...e4!? 7.d2 e7 8.d5 f6 9.c1 c6 10.dxe6 dxe6 11.xe4 fxe4 12.g1 xb2 13.b1 e3 14.xe3 c3+ 15.d2 xd2+ 16.xd2 xd2+ 17.xd2 c5 18.f3 c6 19.h3 d8+ 20.e3 e7 21.hc1 d6 22.c3 hd8 23.g5 h6 24.f3 f6 25.g4 d4 0-1 Hess, R-Kengis,E/Germany 1993/GER-chT2 (25) ] 7.g2 0-0 8.d5 e4 9.d2 f6 10.c1 c6 [ 10...a5 11.0-0 a6 12.e1 ac5 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 xc3 15.xc3 xc3 16.xc3 e4 17.c1 f6 18.d4 e7 19.e5 ac8 1/2-1/2 Hegeler,F-Rabiega,R/ Germany 1999/GER-chT2 (19) ] 11.dxe6 dxe6 12.0-0 c5 13.c2 xd2 14.xd2 xg2 15.xg2 c6 16.e3 e7 17.f4 ad8 This game is reminiscent of Sasikiran - Rahman from this month, but with one noticeable difference - black's bishop is better posted and unopposed., and this gives him a small but lasting advantage. 18.f3 h6
19.h3 b7 20.cd1 g5 21.h2 g7 22.xd8 xd8 23.d1 g4 24.xd8+ xd8 25.hxg4 xg4 26.g2 h5 27.f2 f7 28.a4 h4 29.gxh4 xh4+ 30.xh4 xh4+ 31.e2 h2+ 32.d3 e5 33.d5? [ 33.e2 ] 33...xb2 34.e7+ h7 35.xf5 e4+ 36.xe4 b1+ 37.f3 xf5 38.xa7 f6 39.a4 g6 40.b7 e5+ 41.g3 c6 42.xc6+ xc6 43.g4 a5 44.f5+ f6 45.f4 xc4 46.e4 e5 47.e3 Now black starts working very hard to drop half a point. d7 [ 47...g5-+ ] 48.d3 e5 49.c4 xe4 50.f6 e5+ [ 50...e5 ] 51.b5 d4 52.xb6 d7+ 53.b7 c4 54.a5 c3 55.a6 c2 56.a7 c1 57.a8 h1+ 58.a7 a1+ 59.b7 c5+ 60.b8 b2+ 61.c8 b5 62.a1+ d5 63.h1+ d6 64.h2+ e6 65.h3+ xf6 66.h6+ e7 67.g7+ d6 68.c7+ e6 69.b6+! ½-½
1737 Dorfman,Josif D Miezis,Normunds 5th OIBM Bad Wiessee GER (7) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2599 2501 02.11.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 g6 5.e4 g7 6.f3 e7 7.d3 d6 8.e3 d7 9.d2 h6 [ 9...0-0 10.0-0-0 a6 11.h4 h5 12.h6 f6 13.xg7 xg7 14.g5 c6 15.e2 e7 16.f3 b5 17.c3 bxc4 18.xc4 d5 19.b3 a5 20.e5 d7 21.f4 d8 22.b1 c5 23.c1 a4 24.a2 cxd4 25.xd4 c6 26.e3 dxe5 27.he1 f6 28.xc6 xc6 29.fxe6+ fxe6 30.xe6+ h7 31.g5+ h8 32.e6 f7 0-1 Karner,H-Kengis,E Tallinn EST 2001. ] 10.d5 [ 10.0-0 g5 11.d5 g6 12.d4 0-0 13.xg7 xg7 14.e2 c5 15.dxc6 xc6 16.c2 de5 17.xe5 dxe5 18.xd8 fxd8 19.fd1 f6 20.f3 h5 21.f2 f4 22.g3 xe2 23.xe2 g4 24.e3 gxf3 25.xf3 d4 26.b3 a5 27.xd4 exd4 1747
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28.e2 e5 29.f1+ g6 30.d3 f6 31.d2 d7 32.c1 h4 33.c5 bxc5 34.xc5 hxg3 35.hxg3 a7 36.c4 g5 37.e2 g4+ 38.f2 h7 39.xa5 h2+ 40.e1 f3 41.d3 g4 42.a6 h6 43.f2 h2+ 44.e1 f5 45.g6+ h5 46.exf5 e4 47.g8 a2 48.xe4 xe4 49.g4+ h4 50.d8 d3 51.d4 e2+ 52.d1 g5 0-1 Xu Jun-Short,N Shenyang CHN 2000. ] 10...c6!? It would be nice if this worked. [ 10...g5 11.h4!? g4 12.d4 c5? ( 12...e5 ) 13.dxc6 xc6 14.db5 de5 15.e2 f8 16.d1 a5 17.f4! a6 ( 17...axc4 18.xc4 xc4 19.d4 e5 20.xc4+- ) 18.e3 f6 19.d4 e7 20.b3 b8 21.h5 g7 22.g3 0-0 23.xg4 f5 24.e2 fxe4 25.xh6 ac6 26.xg7 xg7 27.xg7+ xg7 28.xe6+ 1-0 Ep is hin , V -Rivas P ast o r,M L ogro n o 1991. ] 11.dxe6! [ 11.dxc6 to pressure d6 quickly as in the game above looks more critical, but black seems ready to react. A) 11...xc6 12.b5 c5 13.c2 e7 ( 13...xb2?? 14.a2 ) 14.d1; B) 11...xc6 12.d4 ( 12.c2!? ) 12...b7 13.db5 c8 14.c2 e5= ] 11...fxe6 12.c2 Black's pawns prove terribly difficult to defend without exposing himself to further danger. a6!? [ 12...c7 13.d1 ( 13.d4!? ) 13...a6 14.xd6 xd6 15.xd6 xc4 16.d2 a6 17.xe6 d8 18.d6 e5 19.d4 f8 ( 19...xd6 20.xh8 e5 ) 20.xe5 xe5 21.xd8+ xd8 ] 13.xd6 e5 14.xd8+ xd8 15.xe5 xe5 16.0-0 A mysterious (to me) and minimalistic decision - surely it must be more promising to give black a bit of activity but keep the extra pawn with something like [ 16.c5!? ] 16...xc4 17.fd1 f7 18.h4 g7 19.f4 xc3 [ 19...f6 is fine for black. ] 20.bxc3 c5 21.f2 c6 22.g4 a5 23.h5 b3 [ 23...gxh5 24.gxh5 ] 24.xb3 xb3 25.ab1 a5 26.hxg6 xg6 27.f5+ exf5 28.gxf5+ f6 29.xd8
xd8 30.h1 c4 31.xh6+ g7 32.f4 e8 33.g6+ h7 34.h6+ g7 35.g6+ h7 36.f3 xa3 37.h6+ g7 38.g6+ h7 39.h6+ g7 40.g6+ h7 41.e5+c4 42.e6 a5 43.e4 a4 44.d5 f8 45.xc4 xf5 46.g4 1-0
1738 Efimov,Igor Caposciutti,Maurizio Masters Monaco MNC (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2537 2344 23.02.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 5.e2 b4 [ 5...g6 6.h4 ( 6.bc3 g7 7.e3 ge7 8.c1 d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.e5 d7 11.0-0 0-0 12.f4 a6 13.e2! (1/2-1/2, 41) Yrjola,J-Kengis,E Erevan 1996.) 6...g7 7.e3 h5 8.bc3 ge7 9.d2 d5 10.0-0-0 b4 11.cxd5 xd3+ 12.xd3 exd5 13.f3 d7 14.g5 f6 15.f4 dxe4 16.fxe4 f5 17.exf5 xf5 18.c4 0-0-0 19.b5 h6 20.xh6 xh6 21.h3 b8 22.f4 g5 23.a4 a6 24.hxg5 axb5 25.b4 c6+ 26.c3 xd4 27.g6 e2+ 0-1 Kaunas,K-Kengis,E/Riga 1995/CBM 47 (27) ] [ 5...e5!? 6.d5 b4 7.0-0 e7 8.bc3 xd3 9.xd3 g6 10.g3 e7 11.f5 0-0 12.g3 d6 13.h4 f6 14.g2 c8 15.h1 e8 16.d2 a6 17.a4 d7 18.ag1 b8 19.h5 f8 20.h6 g6 21.g7 xg7 22.hxg7 xg7 23.h6+ g8 24.f4 f6 25.f5 e7 26.d1 xa4 27.e3 e8 28.g4 d7 29.f1 g5 30.xg5 g7 31.h6 xg4 32.f3 g5 33.xg5 fxg5 34.h6 f6 35.fh1 c5 36.a3 a5 37.b4 e7 38.bxa5 bxa5 39.xa5 b2+ 40.g1 b7 41.6h2 b1+ 42.g2 b2+ 43.h3 g4+ 44.h4 h6 0-1 Lobron, E-Speelman,J/ Germany 1997/GER-chT (44) ] 6.bc3 [ 6.0-0 xd3 7.xd3 d6 8.bc3 f6 9.d5! e7 10.d4 d7 11.b3 ( 11.f4 exd5 12.cxd5 h5?! 13.a4 h4 14.h3 0-0 15.b3 Anastasian,A-Kengis,E/Katowice/ 1993/ ) 11...c6 12.dxc6 xc6 13.a3! Epishin,V-Ehlvest,J/Novosibirsk/1993/ ] 1748
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 6...xd3+ 7.xd3 b4 8.g3!? An interesting attempt to liven up the position. It must be said though that white's spatial advantage suggests that stodgy play is more likely to bring concrete results than randomizing the game. [ 8.0-0 e7 9.a3 xc3 10.xc3 0-0 11.g5 ( 11.d5 d6 12.g5 d7 13.ad1 ae8 14.b5 a6 15.d4 1/2-1/2 Franco,ZTeske,H/Havana 1998/CBM 65 (15)) 11...f6 12.h4 d5 13.f3 d7 14.fd1 a6 15.b3 ad8 16.f2 dxc4 17.bxc4 c6 18.b5 e5 19.c3 xc4 20.xc4 xb5 21.c3 f7 22.dc1 e8 23.h3 h6 24.b4 c6 1/2-1/2 Chuchelov,V-Teske,H/Cappelle la Grande 1998 ] 8...xe4 9.xg7 f6 10.g3 g6 [ 10...b7!? ] 11.xc7 xg2 This leaves black's pieces the wrong way around. Although that makes it riskier, it is far from clearly inferior. Black ends up with a slightly unsafe king but the position is extremely random. [ 11...xc3+ 12.bxc3 xg2 13.g1 f3 and black's king is much safer than it looks. 14.g3 ( 14.a3 d3 ) 14...h1+ 15.d2 ( 15.g1= ) 15...g6! ] 12.g1 e4 13.e3 e7 14.0-0-0 b7 15.e5 g6 [ 15...g8!? ] 16.b5 e7 17.d5 f3 18.g3 xe2 19.xe2 c8 20.b1 a6 21.b3 b5 22.c5!? A bold decision. Black has handled the complications well and has a sensible position. Now comes some serious randomization. [ 22.c1 c7= ] 22...xc5 23.h4 This is very confusing - black has trouble coordinating his forces and must beware of loosening g6/e6 (a risk involved with playing ...h5), watch out for Nc3-e4 if the black squared bishops come off, many things. A n d w i t h t h e c l o c k t i c k i n g . . . xe3?! I would prefer to keep this piece if possible, as now f6 and d6 are sensitive. 24.xe3 e7 25.c3 c4 [ 25...f5 26.e5 f6 27.xf6 f8 28.e5 xg3 29.dxe6 is obviously hazardous for black. ] [ 25...f8 26.dxe6 ( 26.e4!? ) 26...fxe6 27.g7 f5 28.xe6+ dxe6 29.xb7 ]
26.e5 f8 27.e4 xe4 [ 27...f5 28.xf5!+- ] 28.xe4 xd5 29.xh7 White's material advantage is decisive. b4 30.a1 e7 31.h5 a5 32.g7 a4 33.h6 b3 34.xf8+ xf8 35.h7 b4 36.h8+ e7 37.h4+ 1-0
1739 Eljanov,Pavel Delchev,Aleksander TCh-FRA Top 16 Gp B (7) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2655 2661 02.04.2006
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 a6 7.g2 c5 8.f3 [ Against Black's early knight manoeuvre White usually reacts with 8.h3 d6 9.0-0 as in the next game. ] 8...ce4! White is now faced with an awkward decision as it's hard to avoid damage to his pawns following ...Nxc3. 9.0-0 [ After 9.dxe6 xc3 10.exd7+ xd7 11.xd7+ xd7 12.bxc3 e5 13.xe5 xg2 14.g1 b7 15.f4 e7 16.d3 0-0-0 Goldin, A-Paschall, W Foxwoods open 2003 Black had adequate play for his (halfa) pawn. ] 9...xc3 10.bxc3 c5 11.d4 Black's three remaining minor pieces are well-placed to pressurize White's ragged-looking centre, but he has to find a way to cope with the threat to his e6 -pawn . 0-0! Quick development is the answer. [ 11...exd5? plays into White's hands after 12.xf5 hitting both g7 and d5. ] [ whereas 11...e7?? is just a crass blunder refuted by 12.d6 followed by Bxb7. ] 12.dxe6 xg2 13.xg2 e7 14.exd7 xd7 White's extra pawn is far from secure as Black has the better structure and active pieces. 15.d3 e4 Threatening to capture on c3. 16.b3 a4!? Seeking play against White's broken queenside. 17.xc5 xc5 18.d5+ h8 19.e3 c6 20.d6 [ Otherwise 20.f3 can be easily met by either xc4 ( or 20...b3 21.ad1 xc4 ) 21.xc6 ac8 22.f3 e4 ] 20...e4 21.b4 c2 22.c5 b5 With both the e2 and c3-pawns en prise Black will regain 1749
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 his material and White must fight to hold the balance. 23.d4 a5 24.b1 xe2 25.e1 h5 26.d1 f7 27.f3 g5 28.d2 e6 29.e2 xd4 Delchev settles for equality. [ In a more ambitious mood he may have gone for 29...ad8!? 30.ae1 xd4 31.cxd4 f4 when Black may keep a pull. ] 30.cxd4 fe8 ½-½
1740 A40 Eljanov,Pavel 2693 Ponomariov,Ruslan 2726 11th Rector Cup Match of Champions (1) [Glenn Flear] 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 Black hits the d-pawn and intends ... Nb4 to obtain the bishop pair. 5.e2 White generally develops his king's knight at this point, either to here or f3. [ However if White really wants to keep both b i s h o p s h e c o u l d c o n s i d e r 5.e2!? a move that has been suggested before but perhaps never played. ] 5...b4 So Black is able to eliminate one of W hit e's bish ops. In com pen sation W hit e s e e k s t o c o n s o l i d a t e h i s c e n t r e . 6.bc3 xd3+ 7.xd3 Several strong players have been willing to play this line with Black, a sign that they are happy with the bishop pair and a certain solidity, whilst facing down W hite's centre. I remember for example in my youth losing as White against Miles and not really knowing where I went wrong! So I also have a healthy respect for Black's potential. e7 8.h4 A thematic move if Black intends playing either ...Ng6 or ...g6 to free his bishop, so Ponomariov changes tack. [ White can also play more solidly at this point: 8.0-0 d5!? ( 8...g6 would seem to be less dangerous for Black now that White has gone short, but after 9.h3 g7 10.h6 0-0 11.xg7 xg7 12.ad1 d6 13.f4 g8 14.e3 e7 15.fe1 ad8 16.e5 fe8 White kept up the pressure in Kohlweyer, B-Gulko, B Geneva 1997 with 17.d5 ) 9.cxd5 exd5 10.e5 d7 11.f4 0-0-0 12.e1 g6 13.a4 a5 and although it was only a Blitz game Black seemed to
demonstrate a plausible route to full equality in Kalinitschew, S-Bischoff, K Internet Blitz 2004. ] 8...d5! A central counter seems appropriate. 9.cxd5 exd5 10.e5 d7 11.h5 By denying Black's knight access to the g6-square Black has to make alternative arrangements in order t o d e v e l o p h i s b i s h o p . c6 12.a3 Now Ponomariov decides that he has to justify the slightly awkward placing of his knight by hitting back directly at the centre. f6! 13.exf6 gxf6 14.f4 0-0-0 15.c1 d6 With the centre open and another pair of minor pieces ready to come off Black's king is hardly in danger on the queenside. Chances are balanced. 16.xd6 xd6 17.h4 b8 18.f1 dg8 19.g1 g5 20.g3 hg8! 21.ce2 [ 21.xh7?? would allow the killing xg3 22.fxg3 xg3 ] 21...f5! Well-judged as the hole on e5 isn't an issue. Black can't really expect to be able to breakthrough on the kingside as things stand, but he is at least limiting White to 'cautiousmode'. 22.c3 c8!? Recycling the bishop as from here it at least defends the f5-pawn. 23.f4 a5 Now the knight comes to a fine square on c4. 24.c2 c4 25.cf3 e7 It's remarkable to see how impotent White's pieces have become. 26.c1? Making things worse. e1+ 27.h2 d2! 28.d3 [ After 28.e3 Black finishes off with f1+ 29.xf1 xh5+ 30.g1 h1+! ] 28...xf3+ 29.xf3 f1! 30.f4 White's knights are able to keep things welld e f e n d e d f o r t h e m o m e n t , b u t t h e e xt r a exchange will become significant once Black reorganizes. [ 30.xf1? xg2+ 31.h1 g1+ 32.h2 8g2+ 33.h3 f4+ mates! ] 30...c4 31.d2 g4 32.c3 a4 33.ge2 a6 34.g1 b5 [ If Black continues with 34...h4+ 35.gh3 gg4 36.g1 b5 37.c1 it's not clear what he has achieved. ] 35.g3 [ After 35.c1 Black has a forcing line to a decisive advantage: f1 36.xf1 xf1 37.g3 xf4! (Capablanca's principle: When an exchange to the better give it back for a clear pawn-up advantage.) 38.gxf4 g2+ 1750
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 39.h1 xf2 and a second pawn is ready for the box. ] 35...e8 36.f3 e4 37.e5 Finally getting t o e 5 , b u t B l a c k h a s i t c o ve r e d . . . gxf4! ... It had to happen eventually! 38.gxf4 e2 39.c1 xf2+ 40.g3 e2 41.g1 xb2 42.e3 f1 An excellent demonstration by Ponomariov. 0-1
1741 English Defence Ideas N,Archana [Glenn Flear]
6.d3 xd2+ 7.xd2 f5 8.f3 g4 9.e5 xg2 10.0-0-0 fxe4 11.e2 'seems to lead to a White advantage'. This is far from sure and frankly hasn't been tested very often, but I can understand one's reticence to enter into such a risky variation! Webster,A-Adams,M Prestwich 1990 continued f6 12.e3 h3 13.dg1 c6 14.g3 f5 15.g5? [ 15.xc6 xc6 16.g5 h3 17.g3 gives White a draw if he wants it. Another reason not to play this way with Black! ] A40 15...xd4 and Black is better but the game ended in a draw. These ideas are available to all if you hunt around the site, or get hold of my e-book on the English Defence.
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 Chris from Germany has written a long e-mail with a number of questions about the English Defence. For instance he wants to know what I recommend for White! I have played the a2-a3 with d4-d5 system and it seems many top GMs do the same. In this way W hite maintains a slight space advantage and obtains comfortable development. For those who prefer to play more ambitiously and are willing to play e2-e4 and then hold out against all the pressure, then fine. But I feel that this is what Black wants: A clear target to get counterplay rolling. However a positional way of doing this is 3 e2e4 followed by 4 Bd3, (which I've also tried) but then 4...Nc6 is annoying. 3.e4 [ 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 is perhaps the main line. Space and central control give White the easier game but Black should be able to get very close to equalizing. ] 3...b7 4.d2 [ 4.c3 b4 5.f3!? can be met the sharp 5...f5 as well as more positional ideas such as 5...Ne7 and ...5.. . Qh4+ 6 g3 Qe7. ] [ 4.c2 f6 5.f3 c6 6.e3 e5! is interesting. ] [ 4.d3 c6 5.f3 b4 obtains the bishop pair although White then maintains a slight central preponderance. ] 4...b4 5.c2 h4!? [ 5...c5! could be good. It might even equalize immediately, which isn't such a surprise as I consider Nd2 and Qc2 to be somewhat artificial. ]
1742 Englund Gambit N,Archana [Glenn Flear]
A40
1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 c6 3.f3 e7 This still seems to be the best move. Playing a pu re gam bit with eith er 3.. .d6 or 3. ..f 6 seems to be insufficient: [ 3...f6 4.exf6 xf6 5.g5 c5 6.e3 h6 7.h4 d5 ( 7...g5 8.g3 d6 9.c3 e7 10.d2 g4 11.b5 xf3 12.gxf3 0-0-0 13.xc6 bxc6 14.0-0-0 RaskolnikovStumme askolnikov-Stumme askolnikovStummer,K Corr 1993) 8.c3 e6 9.b5 a6 10.a4 0-0 11.0-0 Sonnhoff,W-Siegel, R W i e s b a d e n 2 0 0 1 e8? A blunder. ( 11...g5 would be a better chance) 12.xf6 gxf6 13.xd5 and Black has a hopeless position. ] [ 3...d6 4.g5 d7 5.exd6 xd6 6.e4 ( 6.c3 b4 7.xd7+ xd7 8.e3 xc3+ 9.bxc3 ge7 10.0-0-0 f6 11.f4 0-0-0 12.c4 g5 13.g3 f5 14.e4 xg3 15.hxg3 g4 16.xd8+ xd8 17.d2 Kolev,A-Stickler,R Lenk 1991) 6...g4 7.bd2 d7 8.h3 e6 9.c4 g6 10.e2 f6 11.e3 0-0-0 12.0-0-0 e8 13.d4 Mascaro March,P-Astorga Talavera, F Mallorca 2000 and Black has nothing for the pawn. ] 4.f4 The most well-known move but perhaps not the best. [ 4.d5! forces Black to gambit the pawn. 1751
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White loses a tempo with his queen but with Black's queen on e7 (blocking the bishop on f 8 ) t h i s d o e s n ' t se e m t o b e s e ri o u s : f6 5.exf6 xf6 6.b3 d5 7.g5!? ( or 7.e3 g6 8.e2 g7 9.0-0 c5 10.c3 d7 11.xb7 b8 12.xc7 Olsen,N-Chaplin,E Lyngby 1991 and Black didn't get enough.) 7...d7 8.c3 ( 8.e3 is also good, but p re s u m a b l y W h i t e d id n 't wa n t t o a llo w complications with d4!? ) 8...0-0-0 9.bd2 f5 10.d4 xd4 11.cxd4 d6 12.a3 b6 13.a2 A bit slow but adequate to keep the advantage. d7 14.xf6 gxf6 15.e3 d6 16.b4 e8 17.e2 f4 18.0-0 Veingold, A-Kiltti,J Helsinki 1997 and Black's active-looking gestures haven't produced anything concrete. ] 4...b4+ 5.d2 xb2 6.c3! [ I suppose somebody could still fall for the ancient trap: 6.c3?? b4 7.d2 xc3 8.xc3 c1# ] 6...b4! [ 6...b4 7.d4 c6 ( 7...c5? 8.b1 a3 9.db5 a5 10.a3 b6 11.e3 1-0 Flear,G- Tonnaure,C Ales 2003) 8.e4! c5 9.b1 a3 10.b3 1/2-1/2 Suarez,AMenendez Rubeira,A Asturias tch. 1997 but after a6 11.xa6 bxa6 12.c1 b4 13.d3 White is clearly better. ] 7.b1 a3 8.b3 a5 9.a3 xc3 [ 9...xa3? i s b a d a f t e r 10.xa3 xa3 11.b5 c5 12.xc7+ etc. ] 10.xc3 c5 11.e3 [ Here 11.e4!? is slightly more loosening but after a6 12.d2 ge7 13.e6 f6? ( but Black has a fair game after 13...fxe6! 14.xg7 g8 ) 14.exd7+ xd7 15.xb7 Lahjo,K-Susi,E Finland 1972 W hite was clearly on top. ] 11...a6 [ 11...ge7 12.a1?! ( 12.d3! is more precise e.g. g6 13.a1 e7 14.h4!? Kampmann,L-Vogel,R Dreifluesse open 1999 and W hite retained the initiative.) 12...d5!? ( 12...a6!? ) 13.b2 ( 13.e6 f6! ) 13...xc2 14.d2 a6 15.d3 c5 with an unclear struggle ahead e.g. Peredy,F-Lohage,A Balatonbereny 1996 ] 12.d3 ge7 13.0-0 g6 Best played after W hite has already castled. 14.a1 0-0 15.d1 e7 16.e4 e8 17.h3 b8
18.xg6 hxg6 19.b2 d8 20.d4 e6 21.g4 b6 Andre, K-Reinhard,H corr. 1986 and Black seems to be OK to me. [ Black also has 21...b5 Schwammberger,RGrob,H corr. 1966 ]
1743 Englund Gambit thoughts [Glenn Flear]
A40
1.d4 e5 2.dxe5 c6 [ 2...d6 3.f3 ( 3.exd6 xd6 4.f3 f6 gives Black easy development for the pawn, so he would at least obtain some practical chances ) 3...c6 4.g5! gaining a tempo for development, looks as if it dampens Black's hopes e.g. d7 5.exd6 xd6 6.c3 g4 7.e4 f6 8.h3 h5 9.e3 g4 10.e2 0-0-0 11.d5 e5? 12.xe5! xe2 13.e6+ 1-0 Kopylov-Faika, Hamburg 2012. ] 3.f3 f6 [ 3...e7 is the main line. See the updated archives game for how I suggest that White should play. ] 4.exf6! [ Giving back the pawn with 4.e4 fxe5 5.c4 is tempting, but Black survives with f6! ( 5...f6?! 6.g5 ) 6.0-0 h6 7.c3 ge7 8.d3 d6 9.b5 d8 (the king is silly, but everything else holds together) 10.a3 a6 11.c3 g5 and life goes on. ] 4...xf6 5.g3 A really solid choice. [ 5.g5 followed by e3 also looks sensible. ] 5...d5 6.g2 c5 7.0-0 0-0 8.g5 This position strongly reminds me of a Blackmar-Diemer Gambit reversed. Indeed this line (with a kingside fianchetto) is one where even with reversed colours the pawn s a c r i f i c e i s a b i t d o d g y . e6 9.c3 In the case of reversed colours, with an extra tempo (in the Blackmar-Diemer), the queen would already be on e8, thus allowing 9...Qh5 with some practical chances. Here Black hasn't anything positive he can do. a6 [ 9...d4 10.e4 e7 11.xf6+ xf6 12.d2 and there isn't much to show for the pawn. ] 10.e1 [ 10.xf6!? xf6 11.g5! ] 1752
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10...e7 11.d3 d6 12.xf6 xf6?! 13.e4 d4 14.e5!+- Kludacz-Savary, Rennes 2008.
1744 Epishin,Vladimir Barle,Janez 7th HIT Open (5) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2599 2375 04.02.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 5.e2 b4 6.0-0 e7 7.f4 A very odd form of development. g6 [ 7...xd3 8.xd3 d6 could lead to the Hippo structures that are reasonably popular these days. ] 8.g3 e7 [ 8...h5!? is an interesting alternative, to get better access to the g-file and g2. I would be a bit nervous about the text continuation since black loses control over the f5 square. Probably black did not think white could risk exposing the g2 square so quickly. ] 9.f4 xd3 10.xd3 0-0 11.f5 exf5 12.exf5 h4 13.bc3! g6 [ 13...xg2 14.d5 h4 15.e4 is terrifyingly dangerous for black, with the Nh4 in real danger. ] 14.xh4 xh4 15.f4 h8!? The beginning of a neat regrouping that seems to give black dynamic play. 16.h3 [ 16.g3 g5 17.ae1 looks more likely to achieve something - white keeps a strong central presence. ] 16...g8 17.d5 e7 18.ad1 gxf5 [ 18...g5!? to play ...g4 and double on the efile is an interesting alternative. ] 19.xf5 af8!? [ 19...g5 looks more natural, and very playable for black. Achieving ...f5 is not without its drawbacks. ] 20.d3 f5 21.h1 White must have the better prospects now, unless he caves in on t h e lo n g ligh t -s qu a re d d ia go n a l. He ca n gradually take control of the e-file and p r e s s u r e f 5 . g4 Now I start to lose my comprehension of the game. 22.ce2 [ 22.g3 looks like it wins material f6 ( 22...g5 23.h3 ) 23.xf5 ] 22...g5 23.b3 h4
[ 23...h6 would give black a clean retreat f or the Rg4 a nd allow him to pro tect f 5 longer. ] 24.h3 e4 25.g3 e3 26.c2 Now f5 is terminally weak. f6 27.xf5 d6 28.ff1 c8 29.f4 e5 30.fh5 g8 31.f2 xg3 32.xg3 g4 33.de1 xe1 34.xe1 g7 35.e3 b2 36.h3 d7 37.h2 e8 38.f4 g8 39.f1 e5 40.f7+ h8 41.xd7 1-0
1745 Erdos,Viktor Mateuta,Gabriel TCh-ROU Superliga (1) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2551 2498 13.10.2007
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 b4+ If W hite plays 'the game' and accepts the exchange of a pair of bishops, then this leads to an easing of Black's space problem. 5.d2 [ More challenging is 5.f1!? e.g. f8 6.c3 g6 7.h4 g7 8.f3 c6 9.g5 Ulibin, M-Pluemer, D Biel 2004 when White had an initiative, which is a more important f ea ture of th e p osition th an the loss o f castling rights. ] 5...xd2+ 6.xd2 c6 [ In 2005, English GM Jonathan Speelman experimented a couple of times with 6...h6 and achieved a couple of draws against high-ranking opposition e.g. 7.gf3 d6 8.0-0 d7 9.b4 0-0 10.a4 e5 11.a5 bxa5 12.bxa5 a6 13.c2 c5 with full equality, Dreev, A-Speelman, J Gibraltar 2005. As a general rule, Speelman likes to stay flexible in the opening and react accordingly. ] 7.e2 f6 8.f3 g5!? The sort of moves t h a t r a i s e s a f e w f r o wn s ! B l a c k a i m s t o challenge his central space disadvantage indirectly with a wing thrust. I am not sure if this is objectively correct, but I like this move. Black at least gains influence on the kingside and dark squares and the move doesn't seem to be that weakening. 9.d5!? [ After 9.e5 g7 the fianchettoed queen surveys the kingside. W hite retains extra space but the question of how to use it remains. ] 1753
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...e5 10.fd4 Keeping some tension even at the cost of allowing Black to confirm his grip on the dark-squares. e7?! [ More prudent would be 10...a6! 11.0-0 e7 when White doesn't have a convincing plan. If White then dallies Black continues with ...N7g6 before deciding what to do with his king. ] 11.b5!? Well if Black leaves a pawn to it's fate... 0-0 12.xc7 ac8 13.d6 7g6 A strange position. White has won a pawn but in the game Black is able to generate interesting play with his pieces. 14.c3 [ S i m p le s t i s 14.0-0 as Black has nothing better than xd3 ( 14...h4 isn't leading a n ywh e r e a f t e r 15.f3 ) 15.xd3 xb2 16.ab1 e5 17.f3 f5 with an interesting struggle ahead. ] 14...h4 15.g1? An ugly and frankly not very good move. [ N o w a l t h o u g h 15.0-0 is met by f4! with dangerous threats. White shouldn't then p a n i c , b e s t p l a y b e i n g p r o b a b l y 16.g3 hf3+ 17.g2 d2 with chances for both sides. ] 15...f4! 16.c2 [ 16.e2 can also be met by the aggressive f5 ] 16...f5 [ Also good for Black is 16...hf3+! 17.gxf3 xf3+ 18.f1 xh2 19.e2 f5! with a decisive attack. ] 17.e2 Insufficient, but it is already too late to l o o k f o r p l a y a b l e a l t e r n a t i v e s . xd3+ 18.xd3 xf2+! Flashy, but not that surprising. 19.xf2 fxe4+ 20.e1 exd3 21.c3 f5 Black has an extra pawn and by f a r th e mo re a ct ive p ie ce s. T he gam e is effectively over. 22.d1 xd6 23.xd3 xc4 24.xd7 e5 25.e7 g6 26.d7 c6 Efficient. 0-1
1746 Ezat,Mohamed Mahmoud Rausis,Igors Golden Cleopatra (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2309 2466 09.04.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b4 4.e4 b7 5.d3 f5 6.d5?! A line with a bad reputation. We will take a quick look to make sure nothing has changed this assessment. fxe4 7.xe4 h4 8.e2 f6 9.f3 0-0 [ 9...a6 has the best track record in this generally discredited variation (for white), t h o u g h t h e t e xt m o ve a l s o h a s a go o d r e p u t a t i o n . 10.dxe6 xc4 ( 10...d5!? 11.a3?! xc3+ 12.bxc3 xc4 13.c2 e4 14.e3 c6 15.e2 e5 0-1 Kostin, S-Grabuzova,T/Moscow 1996. (22) ) 11.exd7+ ( 11.g5 xe2 12.xh4 xf3 13.xf3 xc3+ 14.bxc3 dxe6 15.0-0-0 bd7 16.he1 c5 17.d4 0-0-0 18.xe6 d3+ 19.b1 xe1 0-1 Mikanovic,G-Burnett,R/Montreal 1999. (30) ) 11...xd7 A) 12.d2+ is very risky: c8 13.xa8 e8+ 14.d1 d8!? ( 14...g4!? ) 15.b7+ xb7 16.xd8 g4+; B) 12.g5!? leads to an improved version of the game above and ] 10.g3!? d4 11.d2 exd5 12.0-0-0 A critical moment. e8 This natural move is probably an inaccuracy. [ 12...c5!? Deserves attention, trying to get t o t h e t h r e a t e n i n g a 5 s q u a r e . 13.b1 ( 13.e3 a5 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5 xa2 is the idea, a huge difference over the game. ) 13...a6!? and white's position is already under terrible pressure. ] 13.e3 e5 14.xd5 xd5 15.xd5! f6 16.d3 c6 17.h5 g6 18.d5+ e6 19.h4 d6 20.d1 Now black takes over the initiative as white loses time with his queen and has not solved the problem of returning his wandering rook into play. [ 20.d2 ] 20...e5 21.e2 b8 22.d5 b4 23.xb7 [ 23.xe6+ dxe6 24.f3 d8! even better than capturing on b2 - and black has overwhelming compensation for the exchange - white can neither develop his kingside nor protect his king. ] 1754
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23...xb7 24.f3 [ 24.b3 d6! ] 24...xb2+-+ A pawn up with the better position, the game loses most of its interest. 25.b1 e5 26.d1 f5+ 27.c1 c6 28.a3 a2+ 29.xa2 xf3 30.c5 f7 31.cxb6 axb6 32.a4 e8 33.c2 b5 34.g4 e7 35.d3 e6 36.e2 c5 37.h4 b4 38.axb4 xb4 39.xb4 cxb4 40.f3 c4+ 41.d2 c3+ 42.e2 b3 43.d5+ xd5 44.xd5 b8 45.d1 b2 46.b1 f7 47.d3 f6 48.c2 e6 49.g4 d5 50.h5 gxh5 51.gxh5 e4 52.h6 d5 53.d2 f3 54.d3 e5 55.e3 a8 56.c2 a1 57.c5 d4 0-1
1747 Farago,Ivan Kharlov,Andrei 90th LSK Metalka Trgovina (9) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2500 2638 28.01.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 g6 7.g2 g7 8.h3 0-0 9.0-0 a6 [ 9...a5!? ] 10.b4 [ 10.c2 c5 11.e3 fe4 12.xe4 xe4 13.dxe6 dxe6 14.g5 xg5 15.xb7 f4 16.ad1 1/2-1/2 Drasko,MFilipovic,B/Niksic 1997. ] 10...h5!? An interesting new move, but it does not seem to shake the impression that the ...g6 plan does not quite equalize against the Nh3 system. [ 10...xd5 11.xd5 exd5 12.xd5+ xd5 13.xd5+ h8 14.g5 e8 15.ad1 f7 16.f4 c6 17.d3 h6 18.d6 e4 19.f4 xd3 20.xd3 e8 21.b5 b8 22.e3 1/2-1/2 Farago,I-Varga,Z/Pecs 1998. (35) ] 11.b3 h8 12.g5 c8 13.e4!? Very energetic. fxe4 14.xe4 b5 [ 14...xa1 15.xa1 d6!? adopting a grab and suffer policy might have been better, though it is clear that it will take massive efforts to revive black's minor pieces in this kind of position, especially while managing his perforated kingside. ] 15.cxb5 xd5 16.d1 b8 Black puts a
priority on trying to get his queenside activated, but there is still a lot of work to do. 17.g4! xe4 [ 17...xa1 18.xa1+ g7 19.h6 gives white more than enough compensation for the exchange - black's pieces are paralyzed and white's Nh3 will enter the game with powerful effect. ] 18.xe4 d5 19.gxh5 [ 19.g2!? f6 ( 19...xa1? 20.xa1+ g7 21.h6 d7 22.g5 e8 23.e1 wi t h a c r u s h i n g i n i t i a t i v e .) 20.c1 is at least a small advantage f or white, probably more. ] 19...dxe4 20.hxg6 f3 Now white's exposed kingside gives black reasonable counterchances. 21.g2 d7 22.e3 h6 23.g1 f6 24.c1 xg6+ 25.h1 e5 26.c5?! [ 26.h5 e8 27.h4 ] [ 26.h3!? ] 26...d3 27.h5 b7 28.e2 f8 29.g3 xf2+ 30.xf2 xf2 31.xf2 e3+ 32.g1 exf2+ 33.xf2 f6+ 34.g1 f3 35.xf3 xf3 36.g2 xa3 37.c5 c3 38.e4 xc5 39.xc5 f8 40.xe6 d6 41.h3 h7 42.f3 g6 43.e4 h5 44.f3 h4 45.g2 h5 46.d4 g5 47.c6 f4 48.xa7 xb4 49.c6 c5 50.b8 ½-½
1748 Farago,Ivan Miles,Anthony J 7677 Hastings (6) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2425 2505 1976
THE game that put the opening on the MAP. I remember watching this, and being bowled over, awestruck by the power and audacity of t h e i d e a s b e h i n d T o n y' s p l a y . A d e e p l y impressive and original game. 1.d4 b6 2.c4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.e4 b4 5.c2 h4 6.d3 f5 7.g3 h5 8.e2 f7 9.f3 fxe4 10.fxe4 f6 11.d5 0-0 12.f3 g6 13.d3 h5 14.0-0 a6 15.a3 xc3 16.bxc3 c5 17.e3 xd3 18.xd3 exd5 19.exd5 xd5 20.cxd5 xf3 21.xf3 xf3 22.d1 a6 23.d2 c4 24.f4 d6 25.h4 f8 26.h2 e2 27.g1 e8 28.g2 c4 29.f2 e4 1755
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 30.d4 xd5 33.g4 c4 0-1
31.xe4
1749 Feller,Sebastien Istratescu,Andrei Kaupthing Open (5) [Glenn Flear]
xe4
32.h5
h6
A40 2540 2628 13.05.2008
Sebastien Feller is a young French player who has been going from strength-to-strength recently. The setback in this game may have been caused partially by the psychological difficulty of playing against his former coach. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.e5?! White plays for even more space! However he soon realises that he has bitten off more than h e c a n c h e w ! d6 5.f3 d7 6.a4 Conveniently using the pin to keep hold of the centre and stop any ...Bb4+ ideas. [ However 6.e2 looks more solid. ] 6...dxe5 [ Black could also consider 6...xf3 7.gxf3 c5 damaging White's structure and eroding the centre. ] 7.dxe5? [ Or 7.xe5 d6 ( 7...gf6 8.c6 ) 8.c3 ( 8.c6 h4 ) 8...xe5 9.dxe5 h4 10.e3 e7 with chances for both sides. ] 7...e7 8.e2 c6! Unpinning releases Black's pieces from any constraints. 9.c2 g6 The e-pawn is now rather difficult to defend. 10.0-0 [ T h e m a i n p r o b l e m w i t h 10.c3 is that Black can even play xf3 11.xf3 gxe5 as 12.xa8? loses to b4! 13.xb4 d3+ ] 10...dxe5 11.d1 d6 White doesn't seem to be able to punish Black's pawn grabbing. Not so surprising as White doesn't even have a lead in development. 12.d4 b7 13.b5 0-0 14.f4? Putting salt in his own wound! c5+ 15.h1 h4 16.f1 [ 16.f1 White resigned without waiting for h3! ] [ 16.fxe5 would have been met by f2 e.g. 17.d3 xg2# ] 0-1
1750 Fridman,Daniel Christiansen,Larry Mark 1999 Budapeste [Paul Motwani]
A40
1999
B23: "Hu ngry he ad-h unte rs in Hunga ry! " English Defence, Code A40. Looking back recently over my 37 official competitive chess games since July last year, I found that I've scored 19 wins, 17 draws, and one loss (as Black) in that period. Taking the analysis a stage further revealed that the tally of 27.5/37 was reached with the following colour-split: 17/ 20 playing White, which converts to a much higher percentage than my 10.5/17 with Black. So, one of my aims in 2001 is to work on improving my results as Black. Things already seemed brighter this week as I admired the g l o s s y b l a c k c o ve r o f " F r a n k f u r t C h e s s Classic 2000, Premiere der Top Ten!", a beautif ul new 360-page German book by Harald Fietz, IM Hartmut Metz, and super-GM Artur Yusupov. Even without understanding German, one can still derive lots of benefit and enjoyment from the fascinating analysis accompanying the feast of top-level games in the book. Numerous colour photos of chess celebrities starring within the pages of this very high-quality production make it all the more attractive, and I'm confident that it's destined to become a true classic. Right now, though, let's have an extra double dose of inspiration as we witness two hungry headhunters in Hungary notching up the kind of ultra-speedy victories with Black that I'm hoping to soon get too! 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 The English Def ence provides enormous scope for creative play, as there is relatively little theory published about it. Not so long ago, Dr Colin McNab and Jonathan Rowson, my two fellow-Scottish grandmasters, had an interesting tussle which began with the moveorder 1 c4 b6, but note that the similar-looking 1 e4 b6 is actually called Owen's Defence. 3.c3 [ B23.1: A y ear earlier in the same location where the current game was played, the encounter D.Brunk-F. Berebora, Budapest 1998, went 3.e4 b7 A) If 4.d3 then Black's options include 1756
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the wild f5!? ( and 4...c6 with ideas of ... Nxd4 or ... Nb4 ); B) 4.c2 h4! This is a highly noteworthy method by which Black can often exert uncomfortable pressure on an over-gro wn wh it e pa wn -ce nt re in th is p a r t i c u l a r o p e n i n g ) 5.d3 c6! The dual threats of ...Nxd4 and ...Nb4 already put W hite in a critical situation 6.d5 ( If 6.f3 then Black plays g4 ) 6...b4 7.e2 f6 8.e5? Now White's pawn-centre is definitely over-extended g4 and White was in triple trouble at d3, e5 and f2. ] 3...b7 4.e4?! [ 4.a3 is advisable, to prevent the very unpleasant pinning move which Black now plays... ] 4...b4 5.d3 f5! 6.c2 [ "f for forward!" is a favourite attacking motto of mine, and here it is supported by the tactical point that 6.exf5? xg2 would cost White his h1-rook. ] 6...f6 7.f3 c6 After a mere seven moves, Black has a large lead in piece-development! 8.ge2 fxe4 9.fxe4 e5! 10.d5 d4 An energetic leap forward, made possible by Black's strong previous move. 11.d1 0-0 With terrible threats such as 12...Ng4. 12.0-0 c5! A perfectly-timed change of direction by the black bishop. 13.h1? [ White had to try 13.xd4 so that his queen covers the g4-square... ] 13...g4! ...which Black now gets to! 14.xd4 xf1+ 15.xf1 [ 15.xf1 f2+ would be "the end" for White, but the actual game will soon be over too. ] 15...xd4 16.d1 h4 [ Even deadlier than 16...xh2 intending 17.xh2 h4# ] 17.h3 g3! White resigned in view of 18 hxg4 Qh4. 0-1
1751 Gagunashvili,Merab Bunzmann,Dimitrij WJun Yerevan ARM (6) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2321 2484 24.09.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c3 b4 5.c2 h4 6.d3 f5 7.g3 h5 8.f3 c6 9.e3 [ 9.d5 seems to induce black into massive sacrifices - the results have been good, but I wonder if black's idea would stand up to a computer's scrutiny. d4 10.f2 fxe4 ( 10...c5!? is a sane alternative.) 11.xd4 exd3 12.xg7 0-0-0 13.xh8 exd5 14.e3 e8 ( 14...e7 15.f6 f5 16.g5 e8 17.d2 d4 18.xd4 xd4 19.xd3 d5 20.xd4 dxc4+ 21.xc4 xc3 22.g4+ b8 23.xc3 e3+ 24.b4 c5+ 25.b3 d3+ 26.a4 c6# 0-1 Bromberger, S-Conquest,S/ Groningen 1997.) 15.0-0-0 h6 16.xe8+ xe8 17.xh6 dxc4 18.d2 d5 19.h3 d4 20.e4 c3 21.f4 xe4 22.fxe4 a4 23.xd3 xa2 24.c2 a4+ 25.c1 cxd2+ 26.b1 a5 27.hf1 b3 28.c1 dxc1+ 29.xc1 d3 30.f2 c4+ 31.b1 d2 32.fxd2 xd2 33.xd2 xe4+ 34.c1 c4+ 35.d1 a5 0-1 Kryzius,KPiesina,G/Radviliskis 1995. ] 9...fxe4 far simpler than [ 9...e5!? 10.d5 d4 11.xd4 exd4 12.a3 fxe4 13.fxe4 xc3+ 14.bxc3 dxc3 15.xc3 f6 16.e2 h6 17.f3 d6 ( 17...0-0 offers a simpler life.) 18.e5 dxe5 19.xe5+ d7 20.e2 ac8 presumably a typo for Rae8 21.f5+ d6 22.0-0 e3+ 23.g2 hf8 24.a2 xd5 25.c5+ bxc5 26.b1 xf3 27.xb7 xf1 28.a6+ c6 29.xf1 f8+ 30.e1 b8 31.d2 b1+ 32.d1 b2 33.c4 e5 34.c1 g5 35.g4 f6 36.a1 c3 0-1 Kharlov,AGretarsson,H/Leeuwarden 1995. ] 10.xe4 f6 11.0-0-0 xc3 12.xc3 [ 12.bxc3 xe4 13.xe4 ( 13.fxe4 a5 ) 13...a5 14.c2 a3+ 15.b1 a5-+ ] 12...xe4 13.fxe4 b4! 14.xb4 xe4 15.h3 [ 15.g4 xg4 16.f3 xf3 ] 15...xh1 16.f4 [ 16.g5!? created some surprisingly 1757
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 dangerous threats. c5 17.dxc5 and white has an amazingly potent attack considering he seems to just hoping for a mate on e7. A) 17...c6 18.cxb6 f7 ( 18...f7? 19.b7 b8 20.d6 xb7 21.xc6! ) 19.f1+ g8 20.b7 b8 21.d6 e8 22.e7; B) 17...xh3! Fa lse tra ils: 18.c6 f7 19.cxd7 f3 20.d8 axd8 21.xd8 xd8 22.e7+ ( 22.xd8 f1+ 23.d2 d1+ 24.e3 e2+ 25.d4 e4+ 26.c3 e1+ 27.b3 d1+ ) 22...g6 23.xd8 f1+ 24.d2 e2+ 25.c3 ( 25.c1 e4 ) 25...e5+-+ ] 16...xh2 17.xe6 dxe6 18.g5 d7 19.e7+ c6 20.d5+ exd5 21.cxd5+ xd5 22.xd5 g1+ 23.c2 [ 23.d1 c5+ ] 23...f2+ 24.c3 ae8 25.d7+ b7 26.f4 f3+ 27.c2 e2+ 28.c1 h1+ 29.d1 c6+ 0-1
1752 Gelfand,Boris Short,Nigel D Novgorod (7) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2700 2690 19.06.1997
The most sensible method of meeting the OKI'll-have-the-entire-centre-thanks, variation. The trade-off of bishop pair for grip is the central issue - White seems to keep small plus but bla ck has plenty to pla y f or a nd loo k forward to. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 5.e2 b4 6.bc3 xd3+ 7.xd3 d6 8.0-0 e7 9.d5 d7 10.f4 g6 11.d4 0-0-0 12.b4 g7 13.b5 xd4+ 14.xd4 f5 15.e1 he8 16.b2 fxe4 17.xe4 g8 18.c3 f7 19.e3 exd5 20.xd5 xe3 21.xe3 xd5 22.cxd5 xd5 23.a4 b8 24.a5 xb5 25.axb6 axb6 26.d4 c6 27.c1 b7 28.f5 gxf5 29.g5 e8 30.h5 e4 31.f2 f6 32.f7 e7 33.a2 g4 34.a1 e4 35.a7+ c8 36.c1 b7 37.a4 e7 38.b3 0-1
1753 Georgiev,Ki Khairallah,F 40th Olympiad Open (4.15) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2682 2308 31.08.2012
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 [ The logical continuation with this move order is to play ...f5 here, obtaining a stake on the e4-square. However, some people prefer to play with the more cautious 4...f6 Here is an example: 5.d5 ( 5.f3 d5 transposes to the Queen's Indian Defence (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3 d5) ) 5...d6 6.f3 0-0 7.e4 This type of position is also known from the QID, except that here the bishop is on the more active d6 (rather than e7). ( 7.g3 a6 8.d2 exd5 9.cxd5 e5 10.g2 e8 11.f3 c6 Savina, A-Edouard, R Antwerp 2011, and Black already had the initiative) 7...exd5 ( otherwise 7...e8 8.e2 e5!? 9.0-0 a5 10.c2 h6 11.g3 c5 12.b1 a6 13.h4 c6 14.f5 Bachmann, Ax-Lenic, L Istanbul ol 2012, wasn't bad by any means, but White kept a space advantage) 8.exd5 a6 9.e2 c6 10.g5 This annoying pin ensures that W hite holds onto his central preponderance. e8 11.0-0 h6 12.h4 cxd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.cxd5 c5 15.b4 ce4 16.a6!? Navara, D-Dizdarevic, E Istanbul ol 2012, when the computer considers the position to be equal. In the ga m e h o we ve r W h it e wa s a b l e t o t a k e advantage of his extra space to keep some pressure. ] 5.d5 f6 6.g3 a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 9.0-0 0-0 [ 9...e5 10.c2 0-0 transposes ] 10.c2 e5 A tabiya of the main line of the a2-a3 system. 11.d1 e7 12.e3 [ 12.d2 is plausible but there haven't been any recent games. ] [ 12.f4 ae8 13.e3 ce4 14.xe4 fxe4 15.dxe6 dxe6 16.c5 g5 17.h3 h6 Enchev, I-Cheparinov, I Panagyurishte 2012, and Black's ugly structure was compensated by his general activity and W hite's sidelined knight. ] 12...ab8 This avoids any tricks along the long diagonal, by defending the bishop. 1758
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Alternatively Black can hit at the d5-wedge: 12...c6 13.dxe6 dxe6 14.ac1 xc3 ( o r p e r h a p s 14...ad8! 15.b4 cd7 16.f4 g4 with a tense position) 15.xc3 ce4 16.xe4! xe4 17.e5 c5 18.f3 f6 19.d6 Delchev, A-Paci, C French league 2012, with slight but durable pressure. ] [ A solid way of handling the black pieces is with 12...xc3 13.xc3 ce4 14.b3 c5 15.dxc6 xc6 16.b4 d6 17.g5 ad8 Sedlak, N-Zaja, I Zupanja 2007, when any White edge (two bishops) is nominal. ] 13.d4= Keeping matters simple. White has more space, and Black's chances for counterplay are thus reduced. Nevertheless this trade could also be interpreted as easing Black's defences, as it's of ten difficult to decide what to do with the bishop on e5. Here i t ' s e a s y ! xd4 14.xd4 a5 15.b4?! Trying to make something out of not very much, but this is premature. a6! [ Kiril Georgiev may well have intended to 'greet' 15...axb4 16.axb4 a6 with 17.d6!? e.g. A) however 17...d8 18.xb7? ( necessary is 18.dxc7! xc7 19.xb7 xb7 20.b1 when White is restricted to a small edge, due to his better structure) 18...xb4 19.b2 c5 turns the tables; B) 17...cxd6? 18.xb7 xb7 19.xa6 and wins. ] 16.bxa5 bxa5 17.dd1 c5 Back again, but now W hite will struggle to shift this piece. 18.f4 a6 19.b5!? Sacrificing a pawn to expose some weaknesses. xb5 [ Maybe Black could be more ambitious i.e. by continuing with 19...e5! 20.d3 e4 21.f4 e5 with excellent pieces. ] 20.cxb5 xb5 21.c4 fb8 22.dxe6 xe6 23.xe6 xe6 [ Why not 23...dxe6!? you may wonder? White however, can regain the pawn thus: 24.ac1 c5 25.c6 b3 26.a4 b2 27.f1 when White keeps a pull (as a5 is a w e a k n e s s ) e . g . c8 28.xc5 xc5 29.xc5 e4 30.b5! ] 24.xc7 d5?! [ I quite like 24...xe2! breaking up White's kingside phalanx. I don't see any particular problems for Black e.g. 25.e1 ( 25.f1
is well met by e5! ) 25...d2 26.ad1 b2 27.a4 5b6 which is far from clear, despite W hite having the superior minor piece. ] 25.ac1 h6 A sign that the inexperienced Lebanese player has run out of things to do. [ 25...xe2 26.f1 ] 26.f3 e4 27.g2 Georgiev solidifies his ki n g s i d e g i vi n g B l a ck n o t a c t i c a l s h o t s . Meantime the weaknesses on a5, d5 and f5 aren't going to run away. 5b6 [ 27...h8 is the natural waiting move, moving to a dark square! ] 28.c5! h7 [ 28...xc5?? fails to 29.xd5 ] 29.cxd5 Black is helpless to watch White increase the threats. g5 30.d7 g8 31.e5 f8 32.1d5 Note the relative e f f e c t i ve n e s s o f t h e r o o k s . W h i t e ' s a r e dominant. xf3 33.exf3 a4 34.c7 [ After 34.f4 White will be able to grab a second pawn, as both a4 and f 5 are en prise. ] 34...e8? [ 34...8b7? 35.d8! ] [ 34...6b7 is the lesser evil, but simply 35.xb7 xb7 36.a5 xa3 37.xf5+ g6 38.e4 followed by picking off the a-pawn should win. ] 35.xg7+ 1-0
1754 Georgiev,Ki Rombaldoni,Ax 13th Bergamo Open 2014 (5.3) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2631 2505 20.07.2014
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 9.0-0 0-0 [ The other main way of handling Black's game involves 9...e5 (on this or the next m o v e ) wh e n 10.c2 0-0 11.d1 e7 12.f4 xc3 13.xc3 ce4 ( 13...exd5 14.cxd5 xe2 15.b4 is double-edged) 14.e5 d6 15.xe6+ xe6 16.dxe6 fe8 G e o r g ie v, K i. - G e o rd i e vs ky, D K h a n t y Mansiysk rapid 2013, was close to equality. W hite's bishop pair may however offer a 1759
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 nominal edge. ] 10.c2 a5 11.d1 e7 12.e3 [ Recent experience suggests that 12.b1 doesn't offer W hite any advantage: ae8 ( in a later game, Black varied with 12...exd5 13.cxd5 ce4 14.f4 xf4 15.xe4 fxe4 16.xf4 e5 17.bc1 ac8= Ris , R-G on d a , L Ge rm an lea gu e 2 0 1 4) 13.e3 ce4 14.xe4 fxe4 15.dxe6 xe6 16.c5 bxc5 17.xc5 xc5 18.xc5 e5= Postny, E-Gonda, L German league 2013. ] 12...exd5 [ B l a c k h a s a l s o p l a y e d 12...ab8 and then captured on d5 next move. However the rook doesn't need to defend the bishop and so the text move seems to be more precise. ] 13.cxd5 g4 14.g5 f7 15.f4 h5!? [ Those with a more prudent disposition would perhaps opt for 15...xf4 16.xf4 a4 when Black doesn't have any problems. ] 16.d4 [ With 16.xd6 cxd6 17.d4 White compromises Black's pawns, but after ac8 the open c-file suits Black fine. ] 16...f6 17.ad1 af8 Rombaldoni seems single-minded in his determination to engineer a k i n g s i d e a t t a c k . 18.b4! Otherwise the experienced Bulgarian has no counterplay. axb4 19.axb4 e4 20.xe4 Winning a pawn, but the open f-file will give Black (at least some) compensation. fxe4 21.xe4 [ O t h e rwis e W h it e h a s 21.xd6! cxd6 22.xe4 xf2 23.c4 but Black has resources: b5! 24.d4 xg2+! 25.xg2 f6 26.f4 f7 (with practical chances, but nevertheless after...) 27.h4! ( 27.e3 g5! is unclear) 27...h6 28.h5 White has an edge, as Black can't get his bishop into the game. ] 21...xf4 22.gxf4 c5! The idea is to d e s t a b i li z e W h it e a s m u c h a s p o s s i b l e . 23.bxc5 bxc5 24.a4 g5? Black was relying on this sharp move, but it seems to have a serious downside. [ Inst ead af te r 24...b6 Black avoids any immediate problems with his bishop, but the kingside attack is not as strong. He has some chances to keep life complicated, but probably can't claim enough
compensation. ] 25.b1? [ Georgiev missed a strong idea here: 25.b1! (gaining a tempo against the bishop whilst ferrying the queen to a safe square) a6 ( if 25...c8 26.fxg5 xf2 White has the strong continuation 27.xg4 xg4 28.xf2+- ) 26.d6 xe2 27.a2+ (no peace for the bishop) e6 28.e1 with deadly pressure. ] 25...xf4! 26.xf4 [ Les hair-raising is 26.c2!? xa4 27.xa4 c8= ] 26...xf4 [ 26...xh2+ 27.f1 xf4 28.e8+ f8 29.e7 xf2+ transposes to the game. ] 27.e7 [ Otherwise 27.h3 xe4 28.xe4 leaves Black with both minor pieces en prise. B e s t p l a y t h e n l e a d s t o a d r a w : xf2! 29.e7! xh3+ 30.xh3 xh3 31.xb7 g3+ 32.f1 f4+ and perpetual check. ] 27...xh2+ 28.f1 xf2+ 29.e1 g1+ 30.d2 xb1 31.xg4 [ B e t t e r t h a n 31.xg5+ g6 32.xg4 xg5+ 33.xg5+ and White finds himself a pawn down in a simplified position. ] 31...h6 With both kings wide open it's not surprising that perpetual check soon ends the game. 32.f3 f1 33.e8+ g7 34.xd7+ g8 35.e8+ g7 36.e7+ g8 ½-½
1755 Georgiev,Kiril Miezis,Normunds 26th Speed Chess Open (9) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2676 2532 28.01.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.a3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 b5 A line well worth exploring. 7.g2 [ 7.b3 a6 8.e3 g4 9.xb5 c5 10.xc5 xc5 11.h3 b8 12.c3 A) 12...0-0 13.g2 c6 14.b4 e7 15.d4 cxd5 16.cxd5 f6 17.0-0 xd5? ( 17...xd5 is an obvious improvement black overlooks a neat tactic.) 18.xf5! xg2 ( 18...exf5 19.xd5+ xd5 20.c4 ) 19.xe7+ xe7 20.xg2 1760
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 (1-0, 61) Kovacevic,B-Lovric,B Zagreb 1999.; B) 12...c6 13.b4 e7 14.d4 cxd5 15.g2 dxc4 16.xb7 xb7 17.xc4 e5 18.b3 b6 19.e3 a5 20.b5 c6 21.bxc6 xb3 22.cxd7+ xd7 23.xb3 xb3 24.a4 b4+ 25.f1 c8 26.g2 e5 27.hd1+ e6 28.g5+ f6 29.f3 c2 30.e1 xe1 31.xe1 bb2 32.f1 e6 33.ad1 a2 34.a1 xf2+ 35.xf2 xa1 0-1 Zaja,I-Lovric,B Montecatini Terme 1999. ] 7...bxc4 8.h3 exd5 [ 8...a6 9.0-0 c5 10.f4 d6 11.dxe6 xg2 12.xg2 xe6 13.a4+ d7 14.xc4 d5 15.d3 xf4+ 16.xf4 c6 17.b4 d6 18.e3 0-0 19.ac1 e4 ( 19...xf4!?; 19...g5!? ) 20.b5 xf4 21.bxc6 xc6 22.xe4 fxe4 23.xc6 exd3 24.exf4 fc8 25.d6 d8 26.xd8+ xd8 27.d1 f7 28.xd3 e6 29.d4 d6 30.a4 d7 31.f3 e7 32.f5 e5 33.g4 c7 34.e3 c3+ 35.d2 c7 36.d3 b7 37.f4+ d6 38.d4 c6 39.h4 b1 40.a6+ b5 41.xa7 d1+ 42.e3 e1+ 43.d2 g1 44.xg7 c4 45.f6 d4 46.e2 a1 47.g5 1-0 Gorbatow,AMessner,H Bad Wiessee 1997. ] 9.xd5 xd5 10.xd5 c6 11.xc4 d5 12.a2 d6 13.f4 0-0 14.xd6 xd6 15.0-0 d7 16.f4 ae8 17.b4 g5 18.d3 f4 A very interesting position that deserves a more serious test than a blitz game. 19.c1 f6 20.gxf4 gxf4 21.h1 h8 22.g1 e4 [ 22...e7!? ] 23.c2 d4 Very tempting, but it creates vistas for both of white's minor pieces. But the logic is that if white really wants to provoke this he can can play the annoying Qa1+ sometime. 24.f3 c3 25.f1 f6 26.c4 c8 27.g2 f5 28.d2 g6 [ 28...e4 29.b2 ( 29.c2 c3 ) 29...g6 looks just double-edged. ] 29.c5 e3?? 30.d7 e7 31.xf8 xf8 32.xd4 f6 33.d7 e8 34.g5 f8 35.f7 e4 36.fxe4 xe4+ 37.g2 xg2+ 38.xg2 f3+ 39.exf3 1-0
1756 Georgiev,Kiril Sharif,Mershad National I Besancon FRA (5) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2647 2473 05.04.2003
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 The main line these days. W hite invests a tempo to avoid the annoying...Bb4 pin. b7 4.c3 [ 4.d5 f5 5.g3 f6 6.g2 a6 7.h3 d6 8.0-0 0-0 9.b4 c6 10.dxe6 dxe6 11.c2 e7 12.d2 e5 13.b1 c5 14.xb7 xb7 15.f3 d6 16.b5 c7 17.b2 a6 18.a4 axb5 19.axb5 e4 20.xe4 xe4 21.fd1 fd8 22.e5 xe5 23.xe5 e8 24.f4 f7 25.d3 e7 26.b2 a2 27.f3 g5 28.f2 f7 29.dc1 g6 30.c2 da8 31.bc1 ed6 32.h4 8a4 33.e3 b7 34.c3 2a3 35.f2 bd6 36.e5 c8 37.xf7 xf7 1/2-1/2 Jakobsen,O-Kraai,J/Budapest HUN 2003 ] 4...f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 d6 7.g2 e5 8.d2 0-0 [ In a recent rapidplay game Flear,G-Vargas, G Bilbao 2003 W hite kept an edge after 8...e4 9.xe4 fxe4 10.xe4 exd5 11.cxd5 xb2 12.a2 f6 13.c2 e7 14.h3 a6 15.0-0 ] 9.h3 a6 10.0-0 c5 11.c2 [ Instead 11.c1 a5 12.f4 a4 13.dxe6 xg2 14.xg2 dxe6 15.e3 e8 Cramling, P-Speelman,J, Katrineholm 1999 led to a balanced game. ] [ The impatient 11.b4?! is even worse, as after xc3 12.xc3 ce4 13.b2 exd5 14.f3 d6 15.cxd5 e7 16.f4 c4 Y.Zimmerman-C.Paci, Budapest 2001 Black was favourite. ] 11...fe4! An improvement on [ 11...xc3 12.xc3 fe4 13.fd1 exd5 14.cxd5 xc3 15.xc3 a5 16.d6! xg2 17.dxc7 xc7 18.xg2 which gave White a sm a ll ed ge d u e t o h is pre f era ble p a wn st ru ctu re , Ce b a lo ,M-S a rga c, D Bizo va c 2003 ] 12.xe4 xe4 13.ad1 exd5 14.cxd5 xd2 [ 14...xd5?? blunders the house after 15.g5 xg5 16.xd5+ ] 15.xd2 d6 16.h1 A calm positional 1761
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 approach from the experienced Bulgarian. He knows that he has the better structure and just prepares expansion in his own time. This tends to provoke the opponent to try and mix it! In comparison, Black has the bishop pair and a solid enough game, but must avoid becoming too passive. a5 17.f4 g6 18.f2 a6 19.e1 g5! Well provoked! Clearly Black shouldn't wait for White to simply take control with e2-e4. 20.e4 fxe4?! [ Crit ic a l i s 20...gxf4! when Black is doing well e.g. 21.e5 fxg3 22.hxg3 e8 ] 21.fxg5 xg5 22.xe4 e5 23.dd1 ae8 24.d2 With e1 adequately defended the knight is ready to leap to c5 with a deadly d i s c o v e r e d a t t a c k . g7? Leading to a damaged structure and ultimately the loss of a pawn. Instead [ 24...c8 is not pretty but holds on for now. ] 25.b4! axb4 26.xd6 cxd6 27.xe8 xe8 28.xb4 e2 29.e1 b5 30.xd6 c3 31.b4 e3 32.f4 xf4 [ 32...xa3? fails to 33.xe2 xe2 34.g4+ ] 33.gxf4 f7 34.g1 White just has enough time to get to his d-pawn. Black is then left with no chance as his b-pawn is stuck on a light-square. c4 35.xe8 xe8 36.f2 e7 37.e3 d6 [ Or 37...d6 38.d4 e2 39.e4 h6 40.f5 e7 41.d3 etc. ] 38.d4 e2 39.e4 h6 40.d3 xd3 41.xd3 f6 42.c3 1-0
1994.; 8...c6 9.dxe6 dxe6 10.e5 c5 11.f4 e7 12.gf3 0-0 13.d3 bc6 14.e4 ad8 15.0-0-0 a6 16.a3 a5 17.b3 b5 18.cxb5 xb5 19.b2 b8 20.c1 a4 21.c3 xb3 22.xb3 c4 23.fd2 cxb3 24.xb3 fd8 25.hc1 d4 26.e1 d5 27.xd5 xd5 28.ee3 db5 29.a2 h5 30.h3 g6 31.hd3 h4 32.g4 g5 33.fxg5 g7 34.d2 xe5 35.d4 e2 36.h3 c6 37.a4 d5+ 0-1 Sjodahl,P-Kengis,E Vienna 1996.) 9.exf5 exd5 10.gf3 e7 11.g4 h5 12.g1 dxc4 13.xc4 hxg4 14.xg4 bc6 15.d3 0-0-0 16.b4 df8 17.b5 d8 18.h4 f7 19.f4 d6 20.0-0-0 dxf5 21.xf5 xf5 22.g6 e3 23.dg1 xg4 24.xg4 d8 25.c4 d5 26.ce5 e6 27.g3 hg8 28.a3 d6 29.c6+ d7 30.xf8+ xf8 31.xa7 xf4 32.b8+ c8 33.c6 f1+ 34.b2 f2+ 35.b1 f5+ 36.c1 g6 37.a4 xh2 38.a8+ d7 39.d8+ e6 40.e8+ f6 41.f8+ g7 42.e8 c2+ 43.d1 c4 44.e7+ f6 45.xc7 c2+ 46.d2 xa4 47.d7 e6 48.e7+ f5 49.d3 c5 50.d4+ g5 51.b7 xb5+ 52.d2 d5 53.e3 g4 54.xb6 c4 55.c6 f1 56.c1 e5+ 57.f2 e4 58.d1 c4 59.d2 d5 60.c2 f4 61.e1 d4 62.g2+ g4 63.e1 f4+ 64.g2 f1+ 65.g1 g3 66.g2 xg2 67.xg2+ f3 68.f1 e4+ 69.e2 f5 70.g1 g5 71.a1 g4 72.a5+ e4 73.a3 f3 74.a4 f4 75.xd4+ g3 76.a4 h3 77.e4 f8 78.e1 g3 79.e7 g2 0-1 Rahman,Z-Speelman,J Calcutta 1998. ] 6...c6 1757 A40 [ 6...f5!? ] Gladyszev,Oleg 2345 7.h3 Reserving the f3 square for his bishop, Gara,Ticia 2322 but this kind of song and dance is not about 17th Spring Festival (5) 20.03.2001 to produce an advantage for white. The game and its notes corroborate that this line holds [Jon Tisdall] no dangers for black. exd5 8.exd5 f6 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d5 b4+ 9.0-0 cxd5 10.f3 xd2 11.xd2 0-0 12.c3 a6 13.cxd5 d6 14.fe1 d7 5.d2 e7 6.e2 [ 6.xb4 is very common, but not impressive 15.e2 c7 16.f4 fe8 17.h3 a6 at all f or white : xb4+ 7.d2 xd2+ 18.h5 xh5 19.xh5 xe1+ 20.xe1 8.xd2 f5 ( 8...e7 9.g3 a6 10.dxe6 e8 21.c1 f5 22.f3 e5 23.a4 b7 dxe6 11.0-0-0 d8 12.f3 c6 13.h3 24.a5 bxa5 25.a1 a6 26.xa5 e1+ e7 14.e2 d4 15.he1 b4 16.a3 27.xe1 xe1+ 28.h2 f8 29.a4 e5 bc2 17.h1 e3 0-1 Hiebel,J-Lau,R Binz 30.b4 xd5 31.b8+ e7 32.c8 xf3 1762
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 33.xc7+ d8 34.xf7 c6 35.xg7 d5 36.g4 d7 37.d4 d6 38.b4 e1 39.f4 e3 40.d1 e4 41.xe4 dxe4 42.e3 e8 43.g3 c6 44.f5 b5 45.f4 xb4 46.xe4 a5 47.g4 a4 48.d4 b3 49.c4 f7 50.d2+ b2 51.c4+ b3 52.d2+ b2 53.f6 c2 54.c4 b3 55.d2+ c2 56.c4 ½-½
bishop pair, although W hite is then able to consolidate his central grip. 5.e2 b4 6.bc3 xd3+ 7.xd3 g6 Black has various ways of continuing his development, but he mainly plays some combination of ... Ne7, ...g6 and ...d6 is various move orders. [ There are however other ways of handling the Black pieces. For example, delaying touching the g-pawn and castling long looks r e a s o n a b l e : 7...e7 8.g5 ( 8.h4!? was played earlier this year in Eljanov1758 A40 Ponomariov, see the archives) 8...h6 9.h4 d6 10.0-0-0 d7 11.d5 0-0-0 12.g3 g5 Gleizerov,Evgeny 2520 13.h4 g7 14.hxg5 hxg5 15.e3 hg8 Radziewicz->Rajlich,Iweta 2395 16.h7 de8 17.d2 f5 and Black had Rilton Cup Stockholm SWE (3) 29.12.1999 equalized in Banikas, H-Henrichs, T Aghios [Jon Tisdall] Kirykos 2008. ] [ Less merit worthy is the plan of exchanging 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 off the dark squared bishop i.e. giving up 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.f3!? A rare and the trump card of the bishop pair to ease perhaps very underrated variation. 0-0 8.a3 development. 7...b4 8.0-0 xc3 9.xc3 d6 9.c3 c6 10.g5 e7 11.fxe6 dxe6 e7 10.b3 0-0 11.a3 d6 12.f4 c5 13.f5 12.e2 d7 13.e1 e5 c6 14.f6! and White had a strong attack in [ 13...h6 14.xf6 xf6 15.e4 f4 16.c5 Bareev, E-Chernyshov, K Sochi 2005. ] bxc5 17.dxc5 xf3 18.cxd6 xd3 19.xd3 A natural reaction against an early ...g6. c6 20.g1 d5 21.h3 cxd6 22.h2 f8 8.h4 23.f3 a5 24.d1 d8 25.he1 e8 h5 9.g5 e7 10.e3 [ White could also contemplate playing in 26.d2 a4 27.c3 f6 28.d4 e5 gambit-style: 10.d5 xg5 11.hxg5 xg5 29.xa4 c6 30.h4 h8 31.e4 xe4 12.b5 0-0-0 13.xa7+ b8 14.b5 32.fxe4 h5 33.d2 f6 34.ed1 c6 xg2 15.g1 h2 16.0-0-0! (the initiative 35.b4 d7 36.b5 c3 37.a4 b4 38.f2 is the highest priority) xf2 17.gf1 h2 d5 39.exd5 e4 40.h4 c4 41.d3 18.ed4 exd5 19.cxd5 f5? ( 19...e7 1-0 Goldin,A-Gofshtein,L/Rishon Le Zion 20.xf7 c8 21.f3 f2 would have been 1998 ] unclear according to Stohl) 20.a3 c8 14.xf6 gxf6 15.e4 xe4 16.xe4 g6 21.d6 with a winning attack, Stohl, I-Czebe, 17.h4 g7 18.h3 h8 19.dxe5 xe5 A Slovakian tch. 2004. As Gonda probably 20.h5 f5 21.c2 f4 22.g3 f7 23.xe5 knew of this game in his preparation, he xh5 24.g1 ae8 25.d2 xg2 26.f7+ probably decided that Czebe had an xf7 27.d4+ improvement up his sleeve and decided to 1-0 play in a more circumspect manner. ] 10...d6 11.0-0-0 d7 12.b1 a6 [ T h e m o s t p r u d e n t w o u l d b e 12...0-0-0 1759 A40 but it seems that Czebe wanted to sharpen Gonda,Laszlo 2522 t h e s t r u g g l e e v e n wi t h h i s k i n g i n t h e Czebe,Attila 2472 centre. ] XXVII Open A (3) 15.06.2009 13.a1 b5?! [Glenn Flear] [ S u re ly t h e r ig h t a p p ro a c h i s 13...0-0-0! when the onus is on White to find a chink 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 in Black's armour. ] Black opts for a solid positional approach rather than the wild complications that follow 14.c5 b4?! I believe that pushing the b-pawn 4...f5. This move is aimed at obtaining the in this way is premature. Black should have 1763
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 completed development first of all. 15.b1 Now we understand 13 Ka1, White freed up a retreat square for the knight. Black's early action on the queenside may rebound on him as there are now various potential holes in his position. b5 16.cxd6 cxd6 17.d5 e5 18.xe7 xe7 19.f4! Black's undeveloped state means that he now struggles to cope with the opening of a new front. f6 20.df1 The threats are starting to appear along the ffile. 0-0-0?! Finally getting out of the way, however... [ 20...0-0 was possible but the kingside is hardly rock-solid either. ] 21.fxe5 fxe5 22.a7! ...the king doesn't find sanctuary on the queenside after all! d7 23.c1+ d8 24.e3 Back to the other wing. Black's pieces are really quite poorly placed and can't resist the two-winged onslaught. Note how well W hite's queen directs operations from e3 where she keeps an eye o n t h e d a r k s q u a r e s o n b o t h f ro n t s . c7 25.d2 c8 T r y i n g a g a i n ! 26.c4! Black must have missed this pretty idea. d8 [ 26...xc4 27.xc4+ xc4 28.c1 as (next move) in the game. Black doesn't have enough for his queen. ] 27.a7! A familiar theme. Black would have been fine if he had made it to b8, but now with the threat of N-b6+ something has to give way. xc4 28.xc4+ xc4 29.c1 xc1+ 30.xc1 c7 31.f2! There are too many soft spots for Black to cover, so it's just a question of time before W hite breaks down any attempted fortress. a5 32.b3 a8 33.f7 d8 34.f6 a6 35.xa5!? [ 35.c5! dxc5 36.d6 is even stronger. ] [ and 35.f8+ d7 36.b8 c8 37.b5+ c7 38.xa5 is more straightforward. ] 35...xa5 36.xd6+ e8 37.b6 Black is forked. 1-0
1760 Govciyan,Pavel Caposciutti,Maurizio Masters Monaco MNC (5) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2207 2344 24.02.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 [ 4.d5 f5 5.g3 f6 6.g2 a6 ( 6...g6 7.c3 g7 8.h3 0-0 9.0-0 a5 10.b1 a6 11.b4 axb4 12.axb4 c5 13.bxc5 xc5 14.e3 a5 15.f4 a6 16.dxe6 xc4 17.exd7 fxd7 18.d5+ xd5 19.cxd5 e5 20.xb6 xb6 21.xd8 xd8 22.xc5 a4 23.b4 b5 24.d3 c3 25.e7 db8 26.xb5 xb5 27.c1 f7 28.g5 e6 29.f1 b3 30.h4 a3 31.c2 d5 32.d2 c4 33.xc3 xc3 34.g2 d4 35.f4 e5 36.b2 a7 37.b6 e7 38.c6 e4 39.f3 d6 40.c5+ 1-0 Piket,J-Short,N/Wijk aan Zee NED 2000; 6...e4 7.f3 c5 8.0-0 f6 9.d3 0-0 10.bd2 exd5 11.cxd5 e8 12.b1 xf2 13.xf2 e3 14.c2 xe2 15.xc5 bxc5 16.xe2 xd5 17.b3 c6 18.b2 d6 19.be1 d4 20.xd4 cxd4 21.xd5+ xd5 22.e5 c6 23.xd4 f8 24.c4 d6 25.e7 f7 26.e8+ f8 1/2-1/2 Jakobsen,O-W ard,C/Copenhagen 1998 (26) ) 7.h3 d6 8.0-0 0-0 9.b4 e5 10.a2 exd5 11.cxd5 e4 12.d3 c6 13.xe4 fxe4 14.xe4 f6 15.d6 e8 16.xe8 axe8 17.d1 c5 18.b5 b8 19.g5 xg5 20.xg5 f5 21.h3 e4 22.c3 c4 23.d3 g5 24.f3 g4 25.f4 gxf3 26.exf3 d4 27.ad2 xf3 28.xd4 cxd4 29.xd4 a6 30.a4 c5 31.d3 g4 32.e3 f8 33.fd5 axb5 34.axb5 e6 35.xb6 f7 36.f2 h5 37.ba4 c4 38.f3+ g7 39.f4 c8 40.e3 g6 41.d2 g7 42.d3 g6 43.b6 e8 44.d4 f7 45.e4 e6 46.d5 g7 47.e7 1-0 Anand,V-Sadler,M/Monte Carlo 1998 ] 4...f5 5.d5 a6 6.f3 f6 7.g3 g6!? This seems much safer now that white has committed his knight to f3. If instead white plays Nh3 Black's non-g6 systems are reliable then. 8.g2 g7 9.0-0 0-0 10.f4?! This bishop has nothing to do here. Van der S t e rre n 's p la n a g a i n st Ru st e m o v i n t h i s month's selection is more challenging. c5 1764
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 10...e4!? is also promising. ] 11.d4? h5 12.dxe6 xg2 13.xg2 dxe6 14.db5? White's position is already unpleasant with the Bf4 exposed and black's pieces all more actively placed, but this bit of pseudo-activity is literally a dead-end for the Nb5.0 xf4+ 15.gxf4 a6! 16.xd8 fxd8 17.xc7 ac8-+ 18.7d5 exd5 19.xd5 f7 20.ad1 b5 21.cxb5 axb5 22.b4 e6 23.e3 d4 A humorous final touch, showing that white's last N is not too nimbler either. 0-1
1761 Granero Roca,Antonio Gonzalez Velez,Fermin ch-(team) Div 1 (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2388 2344 10.11.1999
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c3 b4 5.f3 e5!? A remarkable novelty tat may open a new branch in this variation. 6.a3 [ 6.dxe5 h4+ 7.g3 e7 is presumably the idea. ] 6...xc3+ 7.bxc3 e7 8.d3 c6 9.e2 h4+ 10.g3 h3 11.e3 f5 12.d5 a5 13.exf5 e7 14.c2 a6 15.g1 h5 16.g4 h4+ 17.f2 f6 18.e2 xc4 19.g3 xd5 20.h5 f7 21.h4 0-0-0 22.0-0 de8 23.ae1 ec6 24.d2 b3 25.g5 c5 26.b1 hg8 27.g3 d6 28.f2 c4 29.e4 d5 30.xd5 xd5 31.xg7 f7 32.f6 b8 33.f5 ef8 34.h5 h6 35.h4 d7 36.f4 exf4 37.xf4 de5 38.xe5 xe5 39.g7 c4 40.e4 xc3 41.a4 g3+ 42.f1 d3+ 43.ee2 h3+ 44.g2 h1+ 45.g1 xh4 46.f2 h3+ 47.gg2 c4 48.g1 e3 0-1
1762 Gretarsson,Helgi Ass Miezis,Normunds Open Reykjavik ISL (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2520 2498 10.03.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 b5 7.xb5 exd5 8.f4 Van Wely's novelty. a6 9.g2 e4
[ 9...c6 led to great complications in the stem game: 1-0 Van W ely,L-Lputian,S/Moscow RUS 2001. (30), annotated in this section of the site. In the notes there is one juncture where black has an interesting try to improve. Miezis does not seem to have a new idea, except to just play on a pawn down. ] 10.cxd5 c5 11.h3 f6 12.0-0 b6 13.b4 Black has no compensation for the pawn. 0-0 14.b3 h8 15.ad1 f7 16.a4 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xd5 c6 19.xd7 cxb5 20.a5 d8 21.g4 f6 22.gxf5 ae8 23.xa7 xb4 24.e3 d3 25.d1 dc5 26.c7 b4 27.b1 c3 28.g5 xf5 29.xe4 xe4 30.xe4 xa5 31.c6 d8 32.g2 h6 33.e4 d4 34.g3 c5 35.d5 xc7 36.xc7 d2 37.f4 d3 38.d6 1-0
1763 Gupta,Abhijeet Bauer,Christian Kaupthing Open (7) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2521 2619 15.05.2008
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b4+ I don't normally cover this pseudo-opening (sometimes called the Keres), but just look what happens... 3.c3!? [ Both 3.d2 ] [ and 3.d2 have similarities with the BogoIndian and are thus out of my domain. ] 3...b6!? [ Here 3...f6 would lead us immediately into a Nimzo-Indian. Christian Bauer instead wants to steer the game into his beloved English Defence. ] 4.e4 b7 5.d3 f5 Black hits back at the White centre, now we are into a fully-fledged English Defence. 6.d5?! A controversial move. White takes more of the central arena whilst easing the pressure along the a8-h1 diagonal. fxe4 7.xe4 f6 Not bad, but not best. [ The strongest move is certainly 7...h4! as advocated by Odessky (English Defence, Chess University 2008) and also by Christian Bauer himself (Play 1...b6, Everyman 2005). He told me that he overlooked something in his calculations at the board, so decided to settle for the solid alternative. Best play could then be 8.e2 1765
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f6 9.f3 0-0 10.dxe6 c6! with dynamic play (and some advantage) for Black Kaplan, J-Miles, A Sao Paolo 1977. Later games haven't changed this assessment, for example 11.g3 d4 12.d2 a6 13.exd7 xc4 14.e3 xd7 15.0-0-0 ae8 16.f4 e5 17.h4 e6 Marchand, F-Gulko, B Geneva 1997 and Black was more or less winning. ] 8.f3 xc3+ 9.bxc3 0-0 10.e2 e5 11.g3 d6 Black shouldn't have any particular problems in this position. He is solid and White lacks any dangerous pawn breaks. 12.0-0 bd7 13.e2 [ White didn't achieve any advantage after 13.e3 e8 14.e1 a6 15.e2 c5 16.xc5 bxc5 17.d3 d7 18.c2 g6 19.a4 e7 20.a5 ab8 in Hauchard, ARechlis, G French tch. 1998. ] 13...e8 14.f4!? An attempt to open the game for the bishop pair. The best chance to upset Black's composure. a6 15.c2 h8 16.d2 c8?! [ Christian Bauer told me that in the postm o r t e m W h i t e wa s t h e o n e f i g h t i n g t o equalize after 16...c5! A) 17.ae1 could be met by c6 ( or even 17...e4 ); B) 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.f5 b7! ] 17.ae1 Black has run out of useful waiting moves and now has to make a decision as to h is m id d le ga m e p la n . c5?! Aiming for activity at the cost of allowing an isolated epawn. [ I s u s p e c t t h a t t h e i m m e d i a t e 17...c6! is better e.g. 18.f5 g6! with the tactics seeming to just work for Black, for example 19.fxe5 dxe5 20.d1 xd5! ] 18.fxe5 dxe5 19.f5 c6 20.g5! This leads to White capturing on f6, taking the sting out of Black's play and saddling him with a weak structure. cxd5 21.xf6 gxf6 [ 21...xf6 may be a slightly lesser evil. ] 22.cxd5 g6 23.ef1 [ More straightforward is 23.xa6! xa6 24.f2 as xc3 can be met by 25.exe5! c5 26.e3 when White's position is the sounder of the two. ] 23...b7!? 24.d2 cd8 25.c4 c8 26.h5 g7 27.5f2 e6 Black is doing his best to keep as active as possible but White's knight
just arrives in time to cause problems in Black's camp. 28.f5 g5 [ White would have good practical compensation for the exchange after 28...d7 29.h6 ( 29.g4!? ) 29...f4 30.xf4 exf4 31.xf4 ( or 31.g6 )] 29.xg5 xg5 30.g3 It's pretty clear that Black's kingside couplet (e5, f6) is weaker than W hite's central pair (c4, d5). In f act Black soon loses a pawn. g7 31.h4 [ 31.e2! also seems to lead to the f-pawn dropping off. ] 31...f7 32.xf7 xf7 33.h5+ g6 34.xf6 c7 The last chance for some counterplay, but White has everything under control. 35.h5+ g7 36.e4 [ Or possibly 36.e1 ] 36...xc4 37.f7+ g8 38.g5 The biggest threat is h5-h6 followed by mate involving Rg7+ and Nf7. g4 [ Or if 38...f4 39.1xf4 exf4 40.h6 d7 41.xd7 xd7 42.f2 g4 White has the most active king after 43.g3 and is thus probably winning. ] 39.e6 [ Ot he rwise te mp ting is 39.xh7 g7 40.f8+ xf8 41.xf8 ] 39...xe6 40.dxe6 e8 41.h6 b5 42.1f5 [ Following 42.1f5 Black has no way to put up any resistance: f4 ( 42...e4 43.e7; 42...g6 43.e7 ) 43.g5+ h8 44.g3 xf7 45.exf7 f8 46.xe5 ] 1-0
1764 Gurevich,Dmitry Kraai,Jesse ch Seattle USA (9) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2544 2442 13.01.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 9.0-0 e5 10.c2 0-0 11.d1 e7 12.b1?! Another new move, and apparently neither player was overly impressed with the objective merits of Kaidanov's 12. Bd2 from the first round. xc3 13.xc3!? [ 13.bxc3 leaves white with a very badly mangled queenside - he prefers to punt a pawn at once to keep the rest of his 1766
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 position intact, rather than face a future of clinging to a whole cluster of weaknesses. ] 13...exd5 14.cxd5 xe2 15.e3 fe4 16.d4 [ 16.xe4 regains the pawn but one should be suspicious of surrendering such a valuable piece so cheaply: fxe4 17.xc5 bxc5 18.xc5 d6! 19.xc7 c8! a n d t h e e xp e ct e d d isa s t e r o n t h e ligh t squares arrives. ] 16...d6 creating a square on c4 for the queen and one on e4 for the less stable knight on c5. 17.b3 h5 [ 17...ae8 looks very natural but 18.f4 looks natural and annoying. However, after a2 white has trouble keeping his queenside under control, as odd as it may seem. 19.b4 b5 forces the exchange of queens under very comfortable circumstances. Though it has to be admitted that the game continuation is a lot more understandable during real battle conditions. ] 18.b4 ce4 [ 18...b5 19.b2 e4 20.f4 f7 21.bc1 can be very similar to the game. One difference is that black can consider g5 here, though it looks very risky - an assessment of extremely messy is probably closer to the truth though: 22.e2 xd5 23.a4 ( 23.xe4 xe4 24.xg5 ) 23...bd6 24.xc7 ( 24.e5 b3 25.d4 g6 a n d wh i t e h a s n ' t m a d e t h e l o n g d a r k squared diagonal work. ) A) 24...e8 25.cc1; B) 24...fc8? 25.xd5! xc7 ( 25...xd5 26.xd7+- ) 26.xd6; C) 24...h6 25.e5 e8 26.xe4 xe4 ( 26...fxe4 27.xd5 xc7 28.d4 h7 29.xe4+ g8 30.xd7!+- ) C1) 27.dxd7 xc7 28.xf7 ( 28.xc7? ad8! ) 28...xf7 29.d6; C2) 27.cxd7 f6 All in all ...g5 does not look worth the trouble. ] 19.a4 f7 20.bc1 ac8 21.f4 fd8!? A rather mysterious move - the e-file seems more useful unless black is gong to chip open the centre somehow. But patience is a virtue here as it is hard for white to find a way to justify his pawn deficit, and the move chosen creates the chance that advancing the c-pawn
to c5 or c6 will gain in strength. 22.a5?! [ 22.h4!? cementing the Nf4 looks more useful than advancing on the other flank, which just softens white's own position. ] 22...a6 23.a1 c4 24.f3 [ 24.d4 c5 ] 24...f6 25.d4 xd5 26.xd5 xd5 27.xg7 xf3 28.xf3 xg7 29.a2+ h8 The slight exposure of black's king was not worth the second pawn, but it does raise the randomness potential of the position, which is about all white can hope for. 30.axb6 axb6 31.d5 e8 32.d2 f6 33.d4 e6 34.d5 e2! 35.d3 [ 35.f4 e4! 36.xe4 xe4 37.xe4 d4+-+ ] 35...ce8 36.f4 b2 37.xc7 [ 37.d4+ xd4+ 38.xd4 e1+ 39.xe1 xe1+ 40.f2 c1-+ ] 37...d2 38.f1 xd5 39.xd7 c3 40.h4 [ 40.h4 e1 and the capture on h7 is irrelevant. ] 0-1
1765 Gurevich,Mikhail Bischoff,Klaus Bundesliga 1999-2000 (5) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2643 2509 11.12.1999
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 The "Modern English", as seen in the Piket-Short bout. g6 4.c3 g7 5.f3 e7 6.g5 h6 7.h4 d6 8.e3 d7 9.c2 b7 10.0-0-0 0-0 [ 10...g5 11.g3 f5 is an alternative approach. There are definite advantages with not committing the king just yet. ] 11.e2 a6 12.d5 xc3 13.xc3 exd5 14.cxd5 g5 15.g3 xd5 16.c2 5f6 17.h4 g4 18.d4 xg2 19.hg1 e4 20.d3 e7 Black banks on his central control enabling him to fend off the looming kingside attack. 21.f4 Putting the h- and gp a wn s u n d e r p r e s s u re a n d c r e a t in g t h e possibility of f3 as well. c5 This more or less guarantees that the queens will come off, but he has to return his booty to achieve this. 22.xe4 xe4 23.xh6 xc2+ 24.xc2 fe8 25.f3 e6 1767
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 25...h7 26.g5 d5 27.f5 e5 28.e4 f6 29.c1 e7 ( 29...gxf3!? 30.xd5 f2 31.f1 xe4 32.xe5 fxe5 33.d3 an d bla ck d o esn't h ave e no ugh f or t h e piece. ) 30.xe7 xe7 31.xg4 and white is slightly better. Black prefers to get an outpost on e4, but the f-file proves to be an important attacking factor for white. ] 26.f5 h7 27.fxg4 g8 28.g5 e4 29.df1 f6 30.e7 ge8 31.d5 fxg5 32.hxg5 g6 33.f6 xf6 34.xf6+ h7 35.h1 g8 36.g6 e7 37.hf1 ae8 38.f7 d5 39.d2 h8 40.1f5 c6 41.d1 g8 42.5f6 h8 43.c1 g8 44.d2 h8 45.b3 g8 46.d1 h8 47.f5 g8 48.d2 h8 49.c3 g8 50.a4 h8 51.b4 g8 52.a3 h8 53.b2 g8 54.a2 h8 55.a3 g8 56.b4 h8 57.a5 b5 58.c3 g8 59.b4 h8 60.xe7 xe7 61.f7 1-0
1766 Gurevich,Mikhail Clemens,A 10th Essent Open (1) [John Watson]
A40 2648 2323 20.10.2006
1.c4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.c3 e6 Officially, this is a queen-pawn game (and the province of Daring Defences), which I forgot while analysing it. But since the English Defence arose as a defence against 1 c4, and is still almost always used that way, it is of special interest to players of 1 c4.1 d4 b6, for example, allows 2 e4, as does 1 d4 e6, when 2 e4 is a French Defence. So I'll take the liberty of presenting a game from 1 c4 expert Gurevich and be more careful next time. 4.a3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 g6!? [ The old way to handle this position was 6...d6 (with the idea of ...Be5) 7.f3 a5 8.g2 ( 8.b5 c5 9.f4 a6 ) 8...a6 , thinking about ...Nc5-e4.6...g6 has the logic that once W hite has cut off the diagonal of Black's bishop on b7 he has also opened up the long diagonal for Black's other bishop. ] 7.g2 g7 8.b1! A good, flexible move that not only prepares b4 but gets off the critical
a1-h8 diagonal. [ 8.f3 isn't bad but fails to cover e4 ] [ 8.h3 0-0 9.0-0 c8 is BabulaSpeelman, Bundesliga 2001 from ChessPub. O t h e r m o v e s a r e 9 . . . a 5 , ( 9...e5!? (this cuts the knight on h3 off from the action, with the drawback that it releases Black's pressure on d5) and; 9...a6?! 10.b4! is Piket-Plaskett, annotated on this site )] 8...0-0 9.h3 c8 [ Or 9...e5 10.0-0 a5 11.b4 with the advantage. ] 10.0-0 c6 11.f4 [ 11.d6 c5 gives Black excellent squares for his pieces. ] 11...a6 12.c1 e8 13.d6 c5 14.xc5!? This lets Black get some play. A straightforward way to keep the advantage is [ 14.b4! ce4 15.xe4 xe4 16.xe4 fxe4 17.dxe6 xe6 ( better 17...dxe6 18.c5 f6! , although White is definitely ahead after 19.f4! ) 18.c5 d8 19.f4 e8 20.b3+ h8 21.f7! ] 14...bxc5 15.dxe6 xe6 [ A key decision. Black also has 15...dxe6 16.d6 ( 16.f4!? e5 17.d3 ) 16...f8 17.d2 e5 18.e4 fxe4 19.g5 h6 ( 19...f5? 20.h3 e3 21.xe3 g4 22.xg4 xg4 23.ge4 with two beautiful knights against two awful bishops) 20.h4 d8 21.cd1 ( 21.e2 e7 22.xe4 h5 23.a4! ad8 24.cd1 d4! ) 21...xd2 22.xd2 ed8 23.xd8+ xd8 24.cxe4 xe4 25.xe4 f8 26.h3 d4 27.e1 h6 28.e6+ g7 White has much the better pieces, but he needs a plan to break through Black's position. ] 16.f4 e8 17.d6 [ 17.a4 f8 18.h4!? ] 17...b8?! [ Giving up a pawn. Black misses the simple b u t n i c e t a c t i c 17...f8! with the idea 18.xf6 e7 19.e5 f8 20.f6 e7= ] 18.xc5 d6 19.a5 e5 20.a4 There's really no reason that White with his pawn and well-placed pieces shouldn't win this position, and he does. c7 21.b4 a6 22.fd1 f8 23.b3 f7 24.a4 e4 25.e3 ee8 26.b5 axb5 27.axb5 cxb5 28.xb5 ab8 29.d3 ed8 30.c3 c5 31.e2 xg2 32.xg2 g7 33.b5 e5 34.d5 1768
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e4 35.c2 a8 36.a2 b7 37.b1 38.xa2 a8 39.c2 a6 40.b4 41.d3 d8 42.f3 c5 43.d5+ 44.f4 f6 45.xd6 a7 46.h3 47.c6 f2+ 48.g2 a2 49.f7+ 50.xf5+ 1-0
1767 Gyimesi,Zoltan McShane,Luke J Rilton Cup Stockholm SWE (4) [Jon Tisdall]
xa2 a4 g7 e4 h6
A40 2539 2480 30.12.2000
1.d4 b6 [ 1...e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 g6 4.c3 g7 A) 5.e4 b7 6.f3 e7 7.e2 d6 8.0-0 d7 9.e3 a6 10.d2 h6 11.h3 g5 12.ac1 c5 13.fd1 b8?! 14.b4 cxb4? Beginning a series of line opening decisions that first create weaknesses and then invite white in to massage them. ( 14...c7 was the natural alternative.) 15.axb4 f5 16.exf5 exf5? 17.d5 g6 18.d4 xd4 19.xd4 0-0 20.a2 f4 21.f1 c8 22.e1 e8 23.b1 xe1 24.xe1 f8 25.a4 b5 26.cxb5 axb5 27.xb5 f7 28.c3 xc3 29.xc3 xd5 30.f1 xg2 31.d1 c6 32.a2+ f8 33.e6 h4 34.xd6+ xd6 35.xd6 e7 36.xh6 f3+ 37.h1 d2+ 38.g2 xg2+ 39.xg2 e4 40.d4 1-0 Seres,L-Preziuso,T Basle SUI 2001. A game that indicates that this kind of wait and see opening may not have been Black's cup of tea. One should also remember that an unusual opening is not a license to play bizarrely for the sake of it, something I occasionally forgot in my youthful adoption of the Modern Defence. Once one gets used to provocation, it is easy to believe that almost anything is possible.; B) 5.f3 b7 6.g5 This doesn't seem likely to be life-threatening - black will get to play ...h6 with tempo, which is one of his stock moves, and the B will be waiting for retirement on h4. e7 7.e3 h6 8.h4 d6 9.c2 d7 10.d1 a6 11.d5 g5 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.g3 f5 14.d4 xd4!
15.exd4 e7 16.f3 e3 17.g6+ f7 18.xf7+ xf7 19.d2 xf1 1/2-1/2 Babula,V-Kengis,E Bad Go d esb erg G E R 2 0 01 . A very lo gic a l performance from ...b6 specialist Kengis. He made the opening look almost classically sensible. ] 2.c4 [ 2.e4 b7 3.d3 e6 4.f3 d6 5.c4 e7 6.c3 g6 7.e3 g7 8.c1 d7 9.0-0 0-0 10.d5 h6 11.b4 c5 It is worth noting that this is the recipe to expansionist policy on the queenside by white - if ...c5 is not possible, and played in time, bad things are very likely to occur. Barricading the queenside in this way slows white down greatly. 12.b5 c8 13.a3 g5 14.h3 a6 15.c3 e7 16.b1 exd5 17.exd5 1/2-1/2 Gleizerov,E-McShane,L/Stockholm S W E 2 0 0 1 . I t s e e m s t h a t e ve n h i g h l y rated technically inclined Russian GMs have respect for the opening (and or young Luke of course). ] 2...b7 3.c3 e6 4.a3 Black is probably quite pleased to see this - it is not a terribly useful move against the ensuing Hi p p o p o t a m u s t yp e s t r u c t u r e , b u t wh i t e invests in not allowing black to steer the game into normality by playing some Nimzo-like position with ... Bb4. e7 5.e4 g6 6.g3 g7 7.g2 0-0 8.ge2 d6 9.0-0 c5! Again this action. Neither of the light-squared bishops will be terribly well placed on the long diagonal, but black will achieve an active dark-squared bishop for his slight deficit in space. 10.d5 exd5 11.exd5 d7 12.b3 a6 13.a4 Annoying to have to move this pawn again... f5 14.d2 e8 15.b2 f6 16.h3 c8! A very good move that would probably have been played even if white had not provoked it by threatening f5. Not only is this a clearly better post than b7, it clears the rank for the manoeuvre Ra7-e7 of Benoni fame. 17.g2? A horribly clumsy move - I would be tempted as white to take on f5 and play f3 - the white squared bishop is rapidly becoming a liability a n d su c h a p la n wo u l d l e a ve wh i t e wi t h decent minor pieces, chances to play g4 and restrict the Bf 5, and also prevent black's bishop from poking its head out at h6 at an inconvenient moment. a7 18.ae1 ae7 1769
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.c1 h4+! good for a draw, and maybe more. 20.gxh4 xh3+ 21.xh3 d7+ 22.g2 g4+ 23.h1 e4 24.xe4 [ 24.c2 f3+ ] 24...f3+ 25.g1 xe4 26.xe4 xe4 27.h3 xh3 28.f3 [ 28.f4 xb2 29.xb2 e3-+ ] 28...h6! [ 28...xh4 29.xg7 h1+ 30.f2 h2+ 31.e1 xf1+ 32.xf1 xd2 33.h6 is worse, when white's pieces are better placed than in the game. ] 29.g2 e3+ 30.f2 xf2+ 31.xf2 [ 31.xf2 xh4 32.g2 f5 ] 31...xh4+ 32.g3 xg3+ 33.xg3 e1 34.f2 h1 It is clear that white's bishop is far more limited in this version of the endgame. 35.e2 b1 36.f6 f8 37.c3 xb3 38.e4 b4 39.xd6 xa4 40.c8 b4 41.e2 White is still fighting thanks to his passed pawn and aggressive pieces. a5 42.e7 e8 43.c6 xc4 44.e3 a4 45.d6 a3 46.d7+ xd7 47.e5+ e6 48.xc4 xf6 49.xa3 e6-+ The knight cannot cope with so many far-flung pawns. 50.b5 h5 51.c3 d6 52.e4+ d5 53.g5 f5 54.h3 c4 55.f4 h4 56.xg6 h3 57.f2 b5 58.e7 f4 0-1
1768 Handke,Florian Bauer,Christian XVIII Open Metz FRA (6) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2413 2517 20.04.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.e3 f5 5.ge2 f6 6.d5 a6 7.g3 c6 8.g2 cxd5 9.cxd5 b4 10.f4 e5 11.d3?! An unfortunate novelty. Energetic measures are called for: [ 11.a3!? exf4 12.axb4 fxg3 13.fxg3 xb4 14.0-0 0-0 15.xf5 ( 15.b3 xc3 16.d6+ h8 17.xb7 b8 18.xa7 e5 19.xf5 g4 20.d3 xd6 21.g2 e5 22.xf8+ xf8 23.f1 e7 24.a8 xa8 25.xa8 g4 26.c4 h5 27.c8+ h7 28.c2+ g6 29.e4 e6 30.b3 c5 31.g2 d5 32.f3 xe3+ 33.xe3 xe3 34.xh5 g1+ 35.h3 f1+ 36.g4 f6 37.h3
f1+ 38.g4 f7 39.h3 f1+ 40.g4 f7 41.h3 1/2-1/2 Maric,A-Matveeva,S M o s c o w 1 9 9 4 .) 15...c5 16.a4 d6 17.xc5 bxc5 18.e4 c8 19.f4 a6 20.d2 a7 21.c3 e8 22.f3 f7 23.f1 ef8 24.e2 h6 25.d2 d7 26.e5 dxe5 27.xe5 h8 28.d6 e8 29.xc5 b5 30.e1 xe1+ 31.xe1 c7 32.c3 d7 1-0 Giorgadze, G-Romero Holmes,A/Elgoibar 1997/CBM 63 (32) ] 11...e4 12.f4 d6 13.0-0 a6 14.fe2 0-0 15.b3 d3 This piece is familiarly known as an octopus. The rest of the game makes the reasoning behind this quite clear as the knight takes a firm stranglehold on eight key squares. 16.d2 c8 17.a4 e7 18.b5 xb5 19.axb5 c7 20.f4 xf4 21.exf4 fc8 22.a3 f7 23.e3 xd5 24.d4 c3 25.h1 xb3 26.e7 xb5 27.e3 d5 28.h4 d4 29.e2 c2 30.d1 b2 31.b1 xf2 0-1
1769 Handler,L Kozul,Zdenko 18th Graz Open (2) [John Emms]
A40 2301 2541 28.08.2011
1.d4 d6 [ Our move order would be 1...g6 2.c4 g7 3.c3 c5 4.d5 xc3+ 5.bxc3 f5 6.f3 a5! (a key move, seen time and time again in the Dzindzi-Indian) 7.c2 d6 , but the game's move order shows that Black can play ...Bxc3+ in more than one position. ] 2.f3 g6 3.c4 g7 4.c3 c5 5.d5 xc3+ 6.bxc3 f5 7.c2 a5 White's quiet approach with Nf3 doesn't seem critical in any way, but here Kozul provides a good demonstration of what Black can do in the Dzindzi-Indian if he remains unchallenged. 8.e3 [ 8.g3 f6 9.g2 bd7 10.0-0 b6 11.d2 d7 12.e4 0-0-0! is another e xa m p l e o f B l a c k ' s s t r a t e g y i n a c t i o n . 13.b2 fxe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4 he8 16.fe1 a4! This is similar to the Nim zo -I nd ia n , wit h B la ck t a rget in g t h e weakness on c4. 17.ec1 e6! 18.h4 1770
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 exd5 19.xh7 e2 20.h6 xc4 21.xc4 xc4 and Black won, S.Grainger-O.De la Riva Aguado, Buenos Aires 1992. ] 8...f6 9.d3 bd7 10.0-0 b6 11.d2 [ 11.a4! If White wants to play this quiet line, I feel that this a-pawn advance is usually vital. Crucially, Black's next move is prevented and Black doesn't get it all his own way on the queenside. d7 12.d2 0-0-0 13.fb1 with an unclear position. xa4? 14.b5! xb5 15.cxb5 xd5 16.xa4 is good for White, R.Wojtaszek-T. Schunk, playchess.com 2005. ] 11...a4! An excellent positional move. With the structure the way it is, W hite certainly doesn't want to exchange queens... 12.b3 ...unless of course Black agrees to straighten out White's pawns. There's no way Kozul will do that, though, and the tension of the queen's opposing each other works in Black's f avour here . e5! Another good move. White must either capture, making the c4-pawn weaker, or accept that the position is likely to become very closed - bad news for White's bishops. 13.dxe6 xe6 14.e1 [ In an earlier game, White attempted to open the position more quickly with 14.e4 , but Black is ready for this: fxe4 15.xe4 xe4 16.xe4 0-0-0! 17.g5 d7 ( 17...xc4!? 18.xa4 xa4 19.xd8 xf1 20.f6 f8 21.e7 e8 ) 18.d5 xd5 19.cxd5 e8 20.f4 e2 21.f2 e4 22.xe2 xe2 23.a4 e4 24.a5 xd5 25.a6 b6 26.d1 e3 27.d2 g4 28.h3?? e1# 0-1 V.Iotov-D.Barlov, Pontevedra 2002. ] 14...0-0-0! You've probably guessed by now that Black castles queenside in this line! 15.c2 a6! Still refusing to straighten out White's pawns. 16.e4 Now the position open up, but Black simply exploits his superior development. he8! 17.d3 fxe4 18.xe4 xe4 [ 18...f5 is also very good. ] 19.xe4 xc4! Winning a pawn. 20.xc4 xc4 21.xe8 xe8 22.g5 e2 23.g3 c7 24.h4 xb3 25.axb3 a6 26.f1 e8 27.g4 c6 28.g2 c4 29.bxc4 xc4 30.f4 e2+ 31.f1 c2 32.f5 gxf5 33.gxf5 xc3 34.f6 e5 35.e2 d5 36.f1 c7 Black wins many games in a similar fashion to
this, when W hite plays without suf f icient energy, which helps explain why players are attracted to the Dzindzi-Indian. 0-1
1770 Hedman,Erik Kraai,Jesse Czech Open Pardubice CZE (7) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2354 2445 26.07.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.f3 f6 6.d5 e7 7.g3 e4 This line is very closely related to the systems where Black fianchettos his B on g7, but here Black acts very quickly to dissolve the White centre. The variation is very sound and has the stamp of approval of specialists Kengis and Speelman. 8.d2 [ 8.xe4 fxe4 9.e5 0-0 10.g2 c5 11.0-0 exd5 12.cxd5 e8 13.c4 a5 14.b3 b5 15.e3 e7 16.d6 f6 17.dxc7 bxc4 18.cxb8 xb8 19.c1 c3 20.d4 c8 21.b4 e6 22.xf6 gxf6 23.b5 c5 24.a4 c4 25.c2 f5 26.e3 d5 27.fd1 c5 28.e2 b3 29.d4 a4 30.h5 d5 31.b4 c2 32.g5+ h8 33.b6 c4 34.xc4 dxc4 35.b7 d6 36.f4 xf4 37.gxf4 g7 38.f3 b8 39.fxe4 xb7 0-1 Wells,P-Kengis,E Dresden 1996. ] [ 8.g2!? xc3 9.bxc3 a6 10.d4 0-0 11.0-0 c5 12.c2 d6 13.a4 f6 14.a5 exd5 15.cxd5 a6 16.d1 c4 17.b2 ae8 18.axb6 axb6 19.f4 xf4 20.gxf4 e4 21.a7 d6 22.e3 c5 23.b4 xd5 24.b5 c6 25.xc7 c8 26.xc5 bxc5 27.d5 f7 28.c4 f8 29.b6 d8 30.c7 e8 31.c8 f6 32.f3 c3 33.d3 a2 34.a7 b4 35.d2 e7 36.f2 d6 37.xc6+ xc6 38.xc6 dxc6 39.xd8 xd8 40.h3 g6 41.e4 d3+ 42.g3 b2 43.f1 e7 44.e2 f6 45.f2 a4 46.d1 b6 47.b3 1/2-1/2 Chiburdanidze,M-Cramling,P Groningen 1997. ] 8...f6 [ 8...0-0 9.g2 f6 10.c1 c6 11.dxe6 dxe6 12.0-0 c5 13.c2 xd2 14.xd2 xg2 15.xg2 c6 16.f3 e7 17.fd1 1771
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g5 18.e3 g4 19.e1 e5 20.e2 f7 21.f4 g5 22.h3 gxh3+ 23.xh3 b7+ 24.f3 xh3 25.xh3 h8 26.f2 g8 27.d3 e5 28.h1 g7 29.g2 ag8 30.h3 d8 31.e1 f4 0-1 Gormally,DSpeelman,J Torquay 1998. ] 9.c1 c6 10.dxe6 dxe6 11.g2 c5 12.0-0 c6!? [ 12...xd2 is very comfortable for Black: 13.xd2 xd2 14.xd2 xg2 15.xg2 c6 16.f3 0-0-0 17.h4 a5 18.b4 b3 19.c2 d4 20.xd4 cxd4 21.a2 d3 22.d2 dxe2 23.xe2 d3 24.xe6 xa3 25.e2 f4 26.gxf4 d8 27.b5 d4 28.b4 xf4 29.d1 g4+ 30.f1 d4 31.xd4 xd4 32.c2 d3 33.e8+ d7 34.a8 xf2 35.xa7+ d6 36.b4 d2 37.d5 d4 38.c7 c2 39.h5 e5 40.b4 f2+ 41.e1 h2 42.d1 xh5 43.xg7 c5 44.d3+ d4 45.xc5 xc5 46.xh7 xc4 47.c2 xb5+ 48.b2 g5 1/2-1/2 Gutman,G-Bokros,A Pardubice CZE 2001. ] 13.xe4?! This leads to a big central initiative f or Black, but it does of f er the prize of a superior pawn structure if the storm is weathered. fxe4 14.e1 d4! [ 14...xb2!? ] 15.c2 e5 16.c1 0-0 17.h3 d7 18.g2 f7 19.c3 ae8 Black has fallen back, but he can now regroup with Nc6-d4 W h it e c on t in u e s t o su f f er f ro m a la ck o f central space. 20.b4 c6 21.bxc5 bxc5 22.b2 [ 22.xf6!? was worth considering, though either recapture has its attractions. White tries to just rid himself of the Bf6. ] 22...d4 23.e3 c6 24.g4 h5 25.xf6+ gxf6 26.xd4 cxd4 27.g2 f5 28.d2 e5 29.a5 f4 Black's attack looks the most relevant aspect of the position, but things will now loosen in both camps. 30.gxf4! h8 [ 30...xf4!? ] 31.c5! [ 31.fxe5 g8 32.h1 xg2! mates: 33.xg2 g8+ 34.h1 g6 ] 31...f6 32.fb1! e3 33.b8?? [ 33.f3! would have completed a series of active, accurate moves and left Black's attack under question. The looming invasion
on b8 will defang the worst of what Black would like to do here. ] 33...exf2+ 34.xf2 xf4+ 35.g1 [ 35.f3 xf3+ 36.exf3 xf3+ 37.e1 h1+ 38.f2 xh2+ 39.e1 g3+ 40.d1 ( 40.d2 e3+ mates. ) 40...f3+ 41.c2 e4+ 42.d1 g1+-+ ] 35...xg2 36.xe8+ xe8 37.xg2 g6+ [ 37...g6+ 38.h3 g4# ] 0-1
1771 Heurtebize,Olivier Plaskett,Jim Jersey Open St . Helier JCI (5) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2200 2515 24.02.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.f3 b4+ A surprisingly tame choice from one of the most swashbuckling people I know. The whole game suggests that Plaskett must have had something other than his usual uncompromising brand of chess on his mind this day. [ 4...f5 5.exf5 h6 6.fxe6 f5 7.d3 ( 7.e2 d6 8.h4 0-0 9.bc3 f6 10.c5 e7 11.exd7 f7 12.b3 xb3 13.axb3 xd7 14.b4 xh4+ 15.d1 fd8 16.c2 f6 17.b5 f8 18.xc7 ac8 19.b5 a6 20.a7 a8 21.c6 xa7 22.cxb7 xb7 23.xa6 e6 24.b1 h6 25.g4 fxd4 26.xd4 xd4 27.a8+ f7 28.c8 b5 29.h5 g5 30.h2 xc1 31.xc1 xb4 32.d3 d4 33.e4 e7 34.c2 f6 35.b3 d3 36.xe6 xe6 37.f2 b4 38.c2 ee3 39.f4 b3+ 40.b1 d6 41.ff1 g3 42.c3 xc3 43.bxc3 d2 44.c4 g2 45.g5+ hxg5 46.fxg5+ xg5 47.c1 f6 48.c3 b2 49.e3 g5 50.c5 h2 51.c6 g4 52.c3 h8 53.xb2 e6 54.c2 g8 55.c7 c8 1/2-1/2 Ree,H-Miles,A/Wijk aan Zee 1979 is one of the classic early games of the English Defence.) 7...h4+ 8.f1 xd4 9.e4 xe4 10.xd4 c5 11.exd7+ f7 12.d2 d3+ 0-1 Pergericht, DBoudre,J/Val Maubuee 1988. Gambits can be rewarding. ] [ 4...e5!? 5.d5 c5 6.c3 a5 7.ge2 a6 8.g3 e7 9.h3 0-0 10.a4 b4+ 1772
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.ec3 c8 12.a3 e7 13.0-0 c5 14.e3 a6 15.b3 xa4 16.xa4 b5 17.cxb5 xb5 18.f2 xa4 19.bxa4 d6 20.f4 b6 21.fxe5 xe5 22.c1 d6 23.b3 b8 24.b5 f6 25.fc2 g5 26.f4 xf4 27.gxf4 f6 28.f2 d4 29.xa5 xa4 30.d2 xe4 31.xc7 c5 32.g2 b1+ 33.f1 xf1+ 34.xf1 b1+ 35.f2 e4+ 36.xe4 b6+ 37.e3 xc7 38.h3 g6 39.f5 e7 40.f3 h4+ 41.g2 b8 42.c2 g5+ 43.h3 e8 44.e4 h5 45.fxg6 fxg6 46.a4 g4+ 0-1 Pytel,K-Piasetski,L/Buenos Aires 1978/MCD (46) ] 5.d2 xd2+ [ 5...h4+ 6.g3 xd2+ 7.xd2 h6 8.c3 ( 8.f2 ) 8...xd2+ 9.xd2 d6 10.d3 e7 11.f4! a6 12.f3 f6 Sosonko,GBohm,H Wijk aan Zee 1977 (1/2-1/2, 54) ] 6.xd2 h6 7.d3 [ 7.c3 0-0 8.0-0-0 f5 is a more exciting continuation, which is not surprising considering the players involved. 9.h3 c6 10.d5 e5 11.f4 eg4 12.e2 fxe4 13.xe4 exd5 14.cxd5 f6 15.c3 a6 16.f3 f5 17.f2 e7 18.d6 xd6 19.xd6 xf3 20.xf6 xf6 21.xf3 c6 22.g3 d5 23.d3 h6 24.f2 e6 25.d4 ad8 26.d3 c5 27.e5 f7 28.e2 d4 29.e5 e6 30.e4 d3 31.xd3 c4+ 32.d2 fe8 33.e1 xa2 34.c3 c4 35.c1 a5+ 36.c2 d5 37.a2 b5 38.ac3 f7 39.c1 b4 40.d1 a5 41.df2 a4 42.g4 c3 43.bxc3 bxc3 44.ef6+ gxf6 45.xh6+ f8 46.xf7 xe2 47.xe2 xf7 48.c2 c8 49.e4 a8 50.xc3 a3 51.e1 g6 52.a1 f5 53.b3 g4 54.xa3 b8+ 55.c3 h3 56.a2 f5 57.d4 e8 58.d5 e1 59.a6 xh2 60.g6 g2 61.g5 f3 1/2-1/2 Korchnoi,V-Speelman,J New York 1995 (61) ] 7...0-0 8.e2 f5 9.bc3 c6 10.0-0 h4 11.e1 g5 12.d1 fxe4 13.xe4 ae8 14.g3 xg3 15.xg3 a5 16.b3 ½-½
1772 Hollas,Roar Moen,Geir N TCh-Qualifier (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
A40
2002
London System: The London really shows its teeth in the following encounter and W hite brings in the full point with the minimum of fuss. 1.d4 b6 2.f3 b7 3.f4 e6 4.bd2 c5 5.e3 f6 6.h3 c6 7.c3 cxd4 8.exd4 e7 9.d3 c8 10.0-0 d5 11.e1 0-0 12.b1 A bizarre choice of square for the queen. She certainly eyes the h7 square, but otherwise looks misplaced here. However, there is some poison contained within this move and Black has to defend carefully. [ 12.e5!? is the thematic move. ] 12...e8 13.e5 f8?! Automatic, but this leads to a critical weakening of the kingside dark squares. [ 13...h6 should be considered here. ] 14.g5 g6 The only way to defend h7. [ 14...h6 15.h7+ picks up the Black queen. ] 15.df3 g7 16.g4 White has a very unpleasant bind on the kingside. c7 17.h4 h6 [ 17...h5 looks more natural, but falls foul of: 18.xf6+ xf6 19.xg6 xg5 20.h7+ with a winning position. ] 18.xh6+ xh6 19.xh6 White has won a key pawn and his initiative continues undiminished. h5 Losing on the spot, but as so of ten happens, it's hard to offer Black sensible advice here. [ 19...e7 20.e5 is obviously very good for White, but as yet, there is no knockout blow. ] 20.xg6! The rest is simply carnage. fxg6 21.xg6+ g7 22.g5 d6 23.h7+ 1-0
1773
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 13...d6 14.f4 and doubtless black didn't A40 feel weakening e6 helped matters. ] 2115 2398 14.f4! xe4 15.xe4 xe4 16.xe4 c6 14.05.2001 17.d5 exd5 18.cxd5 e7 19.ae1! [ 19.d6 d5 ] [ 19.xe7 e8 ] 20.c4 White's strong bishop and 1.d4 This game is not strictly of theoretical 19...d6 interest as black's option on move 6 has a kingside pawn majority give him the better very good track record. On the other hand, chances. f5 [ 20...af8!? ] white plays a sensible new move here to cast a bit of doubt on this sideline. e6 2.c4 b6 21.d3 g6 [ 21...h4!? looks like a more efficient way 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 5.d3 f5 6.c2 h4 of restraining white. ] [ 6...f6 7.d5 ( 7.f3 c6 8.ge2 fxe4 9.fxe4 e5 10.d5 d4 11.d1 0-0 12.0-0 22.b2 [ 22.g4!? ] c5 13.h1 g4 14.xd4 xf1+ 15.xf1 This leaves the black king without xd4 16.d1 h4 17.h3 g3 22...e7? 0-1 Rachmadi,H-Tian Kuan Kuan Canberra defence. [ 22...g3!? ] 1999. ) 7...fxe4 8.xe4 exd5 9.f3 c6 xe7 24.f5 g5 25.e4+10.cxd5 d4 11.d3 e7+ 12.e3 xf3+ 23.xe7 13.xf3 xc3+ 14.bxc3 xd5 15.0-0 xf3 White threatens Qe6 followed by f6 against 16.gxf3 0-0 17.fe1 f7 18.d4 d5 just about everything. d2 26.e6+ h8 19.e5 d6 20.ad1 f4 21.xf4 xf4 27.f6 f5 28.fxg7+ xg7 29.xg7+ xg7 22.d5+ f7 23.e3 ae8 24.g2 g6 30.f7+ 25.d4 xd5 26.xd5 xe3 27.fxe3 f5 1-0 28.d4 c5 29.c4 a5 30.d2 f7 31.f2 a3 32.c2 f6 33.e2 g5 A40 34.f2 h4 35.f4 g4 36.e2 h6 1774 37.f2 g5 38.fxg5 hxg5 39.e2 f5 Ippolito,Dean 2351 40.f2 g4 41.d2 g5 0-1 Van Parreren, Shabalov,Alexander 2566 H-Speelman,J Roskilde 1998. ] VII Anibal Open (6) 12.01.2000 7.f3 g4 8.0-0 xc3 9.h3 h5 10.bxc3 [Jon Tisdall] f6 11.d2 [ 11.d5? fxe4 12.xe4 0-0 13.a3 d6 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 14.ad1 bd7 15.d4 exd5 16.f3 f7 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.e2 0-0 8.c5 17.b5 e5 18.xd5 xd5 19.cxd5 a6 bxc5 20.xd6 cxd6 21.xd6 d7 22.xb7 [ 8...c6 9.a3 xd4 10.axb4 xe2 xb7 23.fe1 ae8 24.e4 f7 25.c4 11.xe2 g4 12.d4 h4 13.h3 xf5 g6 26.e2 xc2 27.xc2 c8 28.d4 14.g3 e7 15.hxg4 d5 16.h5 xd4 f7 29.f4 d7 30.e2 c5 31.g3 f8 17.xd4 f6 18.e3 g6 19.c3 xg4 32.e5 fc7 33.f2 d7 34.ee4 e8 20.h4 g6 21.d1 a5 22.c6 dxc6 35.d6 c6 36.f3 xe4 37.xe4 f7 23.bxa5 d8 24.d2 c5 25.c6 e8 38.g4 e6 39.f5+ f6 40.h4 h6 41.g5+ 26.d8 a6+ 27.g2 d3 28.c6 e5 hxg5 42.hxg5+ xg5 43.d5 c8 44.e6 29.f3 e4 30.fxe4 xe4+ 31.xe4 xc6 c5+ 45.e7 xf5 46.a4 a5 47.d1 g5 32.f3 h6 33.d3 g5 34.g4 h8 48.f1+ e4 49.g1 d3 50.xg5 xc4 35.d2 h5 36.c3+ h7 37.d7+ h6 51.g4+ b3 52.d4 h8 53.f7 c3 38.g7+ h7 39.c3+ h6 40.g7+ h7 54.g4 b3 55.d4 xa4 56.d7 c3 41.c3+ h6 42.g7+ h7 43.c3+ 57.d8 xd8 58.xd8 a4 59.e6 a3 1/2-1/2 Ippolito, D-Hodgson,J/Mermaid 60.h8 a2 0-1 Dengis,E-Grodent,G Huy Beach 1998 ] 1992. ] 9.a3 a5 10.dxc5 e4!? I hope no one will 11...fxe4 12.xe4 0-0 13.a3 f7 be too offended if I reserve comment on this.
1773 Iotov,Valentin Bojkov,Dejan 65th ch Tsarevo BUL (4) [Jon Tisdall]
1774
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 I have been waiting to see what the big idea might be in this variation as people stopped playing it as white despite some nice results. Shabalov is an amazing player, and his ideas can be baffling - you can never be quite sure if they are sound, and you can't even be sure they would work for you if they were. I don't see why white necessarily has to rush to try and win material. But it is also hard to criticize white too much, since grabbing things looks tempting as black's compensation seems too vague to be true. The problem is that vague t h re a t s c a n a ls o b e ve ry h a rd t o d e f e n d against. [ 10...d5 11.f3 f6 ( 11...xf5 12.b4 xb4 13.axb4 xb4 14.b2 a5 15.h4 d5 16.b3 a6 17.c3 xc5 18.c2 f5 19.h3 e7 20.g1 af8 21.f1 d6 22.g5 h6 23.g4 hxg5 24.gxf5 xf5 25.g4 f4 26.f3 gxh4 27.h2 g5 28.xh4 d3 29.h8+ f7 30.g3 c5+ 31.h2 xc3 32.h4 f6 33.h7 c2+ 34.h3 xf3+ 35.xf3 f4+ 36.g3 xb2 37.g8+ g6 38.h7+ f7 39.g8+ g6 40.e8+ f5 41.xb7 g5 42.h6 c3+ 43.f3 e2+ 44.g2 f4+ 45.h1 d5 46.f7 1-0 Beliavsky,A-Short,N/ Groningen 1997/ CBM 63 (46)) 12.c2 h6 13.h4 c6 14.fxe6 dxe6 15.bd2 xd2 16.xd2 d7 17.g1 a5 18.f1 a4 19.h3 a6 20.xa6 xa6 21.c1 a5 22.g3 xc5 23.d2 a7 24.c2 a5 25.g6 f5 26.xf5 xf5 27.d4 e7 28.g3 d5 29.xh6 g6 30.e3 e5 31.xc6 1-0 Galianina,J-Matveeva,S/ Moscow 1999 ] 11.b4 [ 11.f3!? ] 11...f6 12.a2 d5 13.b2 c6 14.bxa5 ab8 A piece and a pawn sacrificed, and now the scene shifts to the queenside. it seems amazing that there is no way f or white to return some material for an easy life, but it takes a very long time for him to catch up in development, and black is constantly making big threats. 15.xb8 xb8 16.d3 [ 16.d2 xf5 17.xe4 xe4 and white has some difficulty defending b1 and completing development, though whether black really has enough is far from clear. White's move in the game has its logic - it
eyes b1 and prepares to develop the kingside. ] 16...a1 17.e2 [ 17.fxe6!? might seem a little to greedy, but it destabilizes black a bit. Maybe white feared getting some heat down the d-file after A) 17...xb1 18.xb1 c4+ ( 18...xb1 19.exd7 ) 19.e1; B) 17...dxe6 18.d2 d8 ( 18...c3 19.e1 )] 17...b3! 18.e1 xc5 19.d2 xd3 20.xd3 e5 21.c3 xb1 22.xe5 c4-+ and just like that white is lost. He cannot protect his harassed paralyzed pieces, and he is just as far from getting his pieces working as ever. Black magic. 23.c3 a2 24.d2 xd2 25.xd2 b1+ 26.e1 b2 27.fxe6 xe2+ 28.g1 b1 0-1
1775 Izeta Txabarri,Felix Lima,Darcy 1st Mario Covas (9) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2448 2544 06.02.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d5 e7 Not a terribly inspiring new idea conventional replies are more natural - the posting of the N on g6 is not very effective and white plays the game very sensibly and very well. 5.c3 g6 6.d3 a6 7.ge2! A strong deployment - Black is not at all well deployed to cope with gradual expansion with f4. It may be that black's setup may be reasonable against an early Nf3. e7 8.0-0 0-0 9.a3 c5 10.c2 a5 11.f4 d6 12.e3 f6 13.b4 d7 14.d2 e7 15.ad1 fd8 16.b5 df8 17.ed4 Black's position is just passive. White has taken care not to allow ...c5 and now gradually expands further. xd4 18.xd4 e5 19.f5 d7 20.c3 f6 21.g3 e8 22.c1 c8 23.e3 exf4 24.gxf4 h4 25.e1 h5 26.g3 axb4 27.axb4 fg6 28.de1 f5 [ 28...f8!? ] 29.b2 a2 30.d4 fxe4 31.xe4 f5 32.xf5 xf5 33.xf5 xf5 34.e7 d7 35.xd7 xd7 36.f5 e5 37.xe5 dxe5 1775
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 38.xe5 d6 39.e8+ f8 40.e6+ h8 41.f6 gxf6 42.xf6+ g7+ 43.xg7+ xg7 44.e1 f7 45.e6 a4 46.c6 xb4 47.f2 b2+ 48.e3 xh2 49.xc7+ e8 50.b7 h6 51.d4 d8 52.c3 c8 53.f7 h1 54.b4 b1+ 55.a4 h5 56.h7 b2 57.xh5 b1 58.h7 b2 59.h1 c7 60.a3 d2 61.b4 b2+ 62.c3 g2 63.h7+ c8 64.e7 g4 65.b4 d8 66.b7 1-0
[ 14...f3+! 15.xf3 xf3 16.xf3 xf3 17.hxg7 h1+ also comes into consideration. Here Black keeps his bishop in play so I prefer this to the game continuation. ] 15.hxg7 xg7 16.f3! Even if White is not in a position to pick up the bishop on h1, at least he has the satisfaction of keeping it imprisoned. h2 17.f4 g2 [ 17...xg4 18.fxg4 g2 19.e2 xg4 20.xc7 c8 should also be playable for Black ] 18.xg7+ xg7 19.f1 f8 20.d2 d6 1776 A40 21.e1 e5 22.xf5 xf5 23.e3 Material is Jedynak,Radoslaw 2432 more or less equal. Black's rooks are active Rausis,Igors 2537 but his bishop cannot escape from the corner. Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (2) 23.02.2003 g2+ 24.f2 h5 25.e4 f7 26.g5+!? hxg5 27.xg5 xg5 28.e4 h1 29.h4 [Glenn Flear] Black decides to finally surrender the bishop 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 but obtains enough compensation in the form 5.exf5!? One of the sharpest variations in the o f t h r e e g o o d p a w n s f o r a k n i g h t . g2+ English Defence. xg2 6.h5+ g6 7.fxg6 30.f1 xb2 31.xh1 g6 32.e2 xa2 g7 8.gxh7+ f8 9.hxg8+?! Natural but 33.f2 c2 34.h4 a5 35.e3 a4 36.d3 probably not best. I write "probably" as all Arriving just in time to stop the a-pawn. b2 conclusions are rather tentative in such a 37.c3 a3 38.h8 f2 39.e3 c2 40.d3 f2 41.e3 c2 weird line! ½-½ [ Sacrificing the rook with 9.e2 or ] [ 9.g5 f6 10.h4 xh1 11.e2 (which will probably transpose), are critical. A40 Funnily enough there hasn't been much 1777 Jelen,Igor 2374 interest in the last couple of years or so. ] Beliavsky,Alexander G 2649 9...xg8 10.g4 xh1 11.g5 f8 [ K e e n e r e c o m m e n d e d 11...e8! 90th LSK Metalka Trgovina (9) 28.01.2002 in the 1970's. This also seems good e.g. [Jon Tisdall] 12.h4 c6 13.c3 xd4 14.0-0-0 f7 15.f4 ( if 15.e4!? then xe4 16.xe4 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 Allcock-Hardy, Loughborough 1973 and now 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.e2 0-0 8.c5 9.a3 a5 10.dxc5 d5 c6 ) 15...c6 I.Polovodin- A.Janturin, bxc5 Chigorin Memorial 2000. The queen on e8 Very interesting that Beliavsky chooses this keeps an eye on the h5-square and thus older move - ...Ne4 is newer a nd h as a n impressive track record so f ar - see also stops White's h-pawn push. ] Johannessen - Halkias Linares 2002 in this 12.h4! The best practical shot. Instead f6!? An interesting [ 12.c3 c6 13.0-0-0 f7 14.h4 f8 i n s t a l m e n t . 11.f3 15.ge2 f3 was clearly insufficient for choice, and presumably Beliavsky has done W hite in M.Tournier-C.Esplana, Pan Am reams and reams of homework - not just because he usually does, but because he Junior 2001 ] 12...c6 13.h5 The h-pawn is used as a was involved in the seminal game, worth quoting in full: battering ram. xd4 [ 11...xf5 12.b4 xb4 13.axb4 xb4 [ Instead after 13...b4 14.g6 c5 15.a3 14.b2 a5 15.h4 d5 16.b3 a6 c6 White renews the threats with 16.d3 ] 17.c3 xc5 18.c2 f5 19.h3 e7 14.h6 f5 1776
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.g1 af8 21.f1 d6 22.g5 h6 23.g4 hxg5 24.gxf5 xf5 25.g4 f4 26.f3 gxh4 27.h2 g5 28.xh4 d3 29.h8+ f7 30.g3 c5+ 31.h2 xc3 32.h4 f6 33.h7 c2+ 34.h3 xf3+ 35.xf3 f4+ 36.g3 xb2 37.g8+ g6 38.h7+ f7 39.g8+ g6 40.e8+ f5 41.xb7 g5 42.h6 c3+ 43.f3 e2+ 44.g2 f4+ 45.h1 d5 46.f7 1-0 Beliavsky,A-Short,N/Groningen 1997 (46). ] 12.fxe6 [ 12.c2!? c6 13.g5 xf5 14.xf5 xf5 15.b4 cxb4 16.axb4 xb4 17.b5 c6 18.d3 ff8 and black will get a third pawn - adequate compensation but nothing more: 1/2-1/2 Kachiani Gersinska,K-Kengis, E/Berlin 1999 (42). ] 12...a6!? 13.c2 ae8!? 14.exd7 xe2 Wow - nothing but development and threats. But with buckets of extra material and the d7 pawn as at least a distraction, this looks a bit hard to believe. 15.xe2 [ 15.xe2!? is probably the critical test. xc5 16.g5 g6 ( 16...c6!? ) 17.g1 xd7 Black has threats and activity, and is banking on the unopposed light-squared bishop creating nasty pressure - but is it enough for the material? 18.bd2 ( 18.h4!? is better ) 18...xd2 19.xd2 f4 20.xf4 xf4 is very dangerous, so again it is not easy for white to develop in natural fashion. ] 15...e6+ 16.e3?? [ 16.f1!? is far from clear. White threatens Qxh7+ among other things, and black must be ready to meet b4, winning even more material, with a sufficient onslaught. xd7 17.b4 OK - this is asking for it, but for the sake of argument and enlightenment, it has to be examined. xf3 18.gxf3 h3+ A) 19.e1 axb4 20.axb4 xb4 21.c4+ d5 22.xd5+ ( 22.g4 c2+ 23.d1 xg4 24.fxg4 xa1 ) 22...xd5+ 23.xa5 xf3; B) 19.e2 axb4 20.axb4 a6+ 21.e1 xf3 ] 16...f4+ 17.d1 [ 17.f1 xf3-+ ] 17...e4! 18.a4 xc5 19.b5 d3! A devastating win by black, but one which raises a lot of questions. A fascinating line,
with the soundness of the sacrifice murky enough to attract players to both sides of the position. [ 19...d3! 20.xa5 b3+ 21.e1 xg2+ 22.d2 c2# ] 0-1
1778 Jianu,Vlad Cristian Roisman,Dmitry Artek ol U16 (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2293 14.09.2000
1.d4 c6 2.c4 e5 3.d5 ce7 4.c3 g6 5.f3 b4 6.b3 xc3+ [ 6...e7 7.a3 c5!? led to murky play after ( 7...xc3+!? ) 8.a4 b6 9.e4 f6 10.c2 a5 11.g3 d6 12.g2 d7 13.xc5 bxc5 14.d2 a4 15.0-0-0 0-0 ( 15...h6!? ) 16.h4 h5 17.h2 h6 18.c3 ab8 19.df1 b3 20.f3 f6 21.d1 c6 22.e2 b6 23.h5 h8 24.c2 h7 25.f4 e8 26.e1 a6 27.f1 f6 28.e3 d8 29.f3 c8 30.d1 g4 31.xg4 xg4 32.e3 cxd5 33.cxd5 xh5 34.d3 aa8 35.h4 xg3 36.xh5 xf4+ 37.d2 g4 38.hh1 g6 39.dg1 d7 40.f3 c4 41.c3 ec8 42.d1 cb8 43.g3 b7 44.h5 ab8 45.b4 1-0 Mah,K-Quinn,M GBR 1999. A game which just goes to show how much play there is in these relatively unexplored openings. ] 7.xc3 d6 8.e4 8e7 9.h4 h6!? [ 9...f5!? ] 10.e3 f8 [ 10...f5 11.h5 f8 12.d3 h7!? ( 12...fxe4 13.xe4 d7 14.h4 )] 11.d2 h7 12.c5! 0-0 13.c4 f5 14.cxd6 cxd6 15.a3! White has played to ref ute black's opening is on the verge of succeeding - d6, a7 and b6 are all terribly weak. f6 16.xa7 [ 16.b6!? axb6 17.xa8 looks less likely to allow counterplay, but the game continuation is equally lethal. ] 16...f8 17.b6 xa7 18.xa7 fxe4 19.e2 xf2 Loses more l, but this is a game of uninhibited youth - better to have a chance at a few threats... 20.xc8 xe2+ 21.xe2 xc8 22.ad1?! 1777
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 22.hc1 ] 22...c4+ White no longer has an easy escape route to the kingside and the longer his king must float in the centre, the greater his chances of being swindled. [ 22...xd5!? ] 23.e1 b4+ 24.d2 f6 25.a3 b6 26.b3 c5 27.c3 b6 28.f1 e3 29.d3 e4 Taking on d5 would only allow the knight to be annoyingly pinned. Aggression is the main ingredient of a good swindle. 30.c1?? [ 30.a3 preventing a queen check was still promising. ] 30...b4+ 31.e2 [ 31.d1 f2+ 32.xf2 exf2 33.e2 b5!-+ ] 31...g3+ 32.xe3 e4+ 33.d2 [ 33.d2 xg2+ and white must give up his queen to prolong the agony. ] 0-1
1779 Johannessen,Leif Erlend Halkias,Stelios Anibal Open Linares ESP (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2427 2546 03.03.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.e2 0-0 8.c5 bxc5 9.a3 a5 10.dxc5 e4 11.b4 f6 [ 11...xf5!? is an interesting option that worked the only time it was tried. In the s p i r i t o f t h i s s a c r i f i c e i t s h o ws a t o t a l disregard for material and assumes that compensation will endure in view of the fact that white 's king a nd kingsid e roo k are looking at development in a geological time scale. 12.f3 c6 13.bxa5 e5 14.e3?! ( 14.bd2!? ) 14...g4 15.bd2 xe3+ 16.fxe3 d5 17.c1 xd2+ 18.xd2 g5 19.f3 xe3 20.e1 a6+ 21.c4 xc5-+ 0-1 Georgiev,V-Damaso,R/ Algarve 1999 (50). ] 12.a2 d5 13.b2 c6 14.f3 ab8 15.c2 This asks a very direct and natural question - how does black plan to get the most for his now doomed bishop? [ 15.fxe6 dxe6 16.h4 xc5! 17.c2 e4 18.bxa5 d4 19.d3 b3 20.c2
( 20.e3 xc1 21.xb8 xb8 22.xc1 b2 23.xc7 xb1+ 24.e1 f8! ) 20...bc5 21.xc5 xc5 22.c2 e4 23.xc5 xb1 0-1 Khenkin, I-Shabalov,A/ Koszalin 1999. An impressive and energetic execution by black. ] 15...xb4 16.axb4 xb4 White's position is already critical. 17.a4? This succumbs to the kind of b-file related violence that we have seen from Shabalov. [ 17.d1!? had to be tried. Nevertheless, after seeing these positions go wrong, it seems to me that black has already so much energy on the queenside and f-file that this must be a treacherous version of the variation for white. Not to mention that his kingside is still an era or two away from coordination. ] 17...a2! 18.xa2 [ 18.c2 xc1 19.xb8 xb8 20.xc1 b2 21.xb2 xb2 22.a3 a2 23.b1 a1 24.d3 c4! 25.xc4 xb1+ 26.e1 d2+ ] 18...xb1 19.c2 b3 20.xe4 xc2 21.xc2 a1 22.e1 xc1 23.d2 xf5-+ 24.f3 d5 25.b4 b1 26.h4 g5 27.f2 e5 28.f4 e4 29.fxg5 e5 [ White was praying for 29...b2?? 30.f6= ] 30.c6 d5 0-1
1780 Kachiani Gersinska,Ketino Radziewicz->Rajlich,Iweta 34th Olympiad Women (7) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2448 2379 04.11.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.f3 b7 4.g3 b4+ A very in te rest in g m o ve wh ich ta k es f u ll advantage of the delayed development of the Ng8 to create novel threats. 5.d2 [ 5.bd2? xf3 6.exf3 f6! A) 7.d5 exd5 ( 7...xd2+!? ) 8.cxd5 e7; B) 7.b3 c6 8.g2 xd4 9.d3 c5 10.f4 d8 11.0-0 xd2 12.xd2 e7 13.c3 ec6 14.fd1 0-0 15.d2 a5 16.ad1 d5 17.cxd5 exd5 18.e1 d6 19.dd1 fe8 20.a3 e6 21.b4 axb4 22.axb4 de8 23.e3 g6 24.b5 c4 1778
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 25.b1 xe3 26.xd4 xd4 27.fxe3 e2+ 28.f2 c3 0-1 Muslija,I-Sulava,N Pula 2000. ] 5...xd2+ 6.xd2 xf3 7.exf3 f6 [ 7...f6 8.c3 d5 is a solid alternative, preparing to build up slow pressure on the dfile. 9.b3 0-0 10.d1 c6 11.f4 e7 12.g2 d7 13.0-0 ad8 and white was moved to change the position radically with 14.c5!? bxc5 15.dxc5 b8 16.b1 and although black's position looks very solid, it is very hard to do anything without loosening it - white in the meantime, finds it rather easy to improve things around the home. c6 17.b4 e8 18.fe1 c7 19.f1 fd8 20.a4 a6 21.d3 b7 22.b2 db8 23.eb1 and white is clearly better, though breaking through is another matter. Time tro uble d ra mat ics (app are ntly) le d t o a rather random finish. a7 24.c2 h5 25.e2 g6 26.e5 ab7 27.h3 f8 28.e2 a7 29.g4 hxg4 30.hxg4 g7 31.g5 f6 32.g2 e5 33.gxf6+ xf6 34.fxe5 f4 35.h1 e6 36.f1 a8 37.e3 d4 38.h3 dxc3 39.e2 g8 40.xg6 f8 41.c2 d5 42.g1 xg1+ 43.xg1 f3 44.xf3 xf3 45.e4 d5 46.g2 g5 47.d4 f4+ 48.f1 fh3 49.e1 xf2 50.d1 f4 51.b3 c2+ 0-1 Chetverik,M-Horvath,P Harkany HUN 2000. ] 8.c3!? A lively, drastic decision which I doubt will become popular in the materialistic "a pawn is a pawn" circles, but it does get a hefty lead in development and create ideas of Nb5. The natural [ 8.g2 c6 9.d5 ( 9.f4 0-0-0 ) 9...e5+!? was also very interesting. ] 8...xf3 [ 8...c6!? ] 9.g1 c6 10.e2 f5 [ 10...f6!? ] 11.d5 b4 12.c1 f6? This natural move leads to grave danger. [ 12...a5!? ] 13.g4 Now black must tread carefully as all her developed pieces are very unstable. e5 [ 13...g6 may be better, but that is an indication of lack of sensible squares for pieces at black's disposal. ] 14.f4 d3+?!
[ 14...d6 15.g5 c5! 16.f1 g8 17.a3 a6 18.b4 gives white a massive initiative, with black's pieces scurrying to hide in little holes in the board. But the piece sacrifice is hopeless. ] 15.xd3 xf4 16.d1 h5 17.gxh5 xh2 18.c2 xh5 19.dxe6 [ 19.h1 xh1 20.xh1 xh1 21.dxe6 was another way - in any event black has lost too much material. ] 19...h3 [ 19...dxe6 20.h1 g2 21.cg1 f2 22.xh5 xh5 23.f3 ] 20.exf7+ e7 21.d2 xf7 22.cf1 d6 23.xd6 cxd6 24.g2 c8 25.e4 f8 26.xf6 gxf6 27.xf6+ e7 28.fg6 h7 29.g7+ xg7 30.xg7+ e6 31.d3 h8 32.g4+ e5 33.e7+ f4 34.e4+ g3 35.xd7 h1 36.c6 d1+ 37.c2 1-0
1781 Kaidanov,Gregory S Kraai,Jesse ch Seattle USA (1) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2596 2442 05.01.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 9.0-0 e5 10.c2 0-0 11.d1 e7 12.d2!? This seems to be a new move, remarkably enough, or perhaps my database is not what it used to be. In either case, I find it extremely hard to believe this is a threat of any sort to black. [ 12.e3 ce4 13.xe4 xe4 14.ac1 c5 ( 14...exd5 15.cxd5 d6 16.xe4 fxe4 17.g5 f5 18.xe4 (1-0, 36) Gelfand,BHamdouchi,H Cap d'Agde 1994.) 15.dxe6 dxe6 16.f4 f6 17.d3 e5 18.e3 g5 19.cd1 ad8 20.xd8 xd8 21.xd8+ xd8 22.d3 h6 23.g4 xd3 24.exd3 d6 25.xb7 xb7 26.f3 e4 27.gxf5 exd3 28.f2 xb2 29.xd3 xa3 30.h4 d6 31.hxg5 xc4 32.f4 hxg5 33.xg5 d6 34.f6 c4 35.e5 c3 36.f2 f7 37.c4 c5+ 38.e3 c2 0-1 Sher,MLempert,I Erevan 1996. ] 12...c6 [ 12...a5!? is one natural alternative. Another 1779
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 very pertinent question is why not ] [ 12...ce4!? If 13.e1 exd5 looks a very natural and strong reply. 14.xd5 xd5 15.cxd5 f6 and black has at least equal chances. ] 13.dxe6 dxe6 14.ab1 Now white's position is a bit more comfy, as black's minor pieces are rather unstable and he must watch out for pawn expansion on the b-, c- and e-files. Nothing serious though, he is still solid and res ilient . ad8 15.b4 a6 16.f4 d4 I don't understand the point of this probe. [ 16...d6!? 17.e4 ( 17.b5 b8 ) 17...e5 18.c5! ] 17.e3 e5 18.d3 b8 19.c5 e5 20.e4 c8 [ 20...f4!? 21.gxf4 exf4 22.cxb6 axb6 23.xf4 g4 looks like very good entertainment value for a pawn. ( 23...e5 24.ce2; 23...xd2 24.xd2 e5 25.ce2 this looks a bit tempting, but h2 falling will not be the end of the world, and Qa2 and using the e6 square will have more impact. )] 21.cxb6 axb6 22.g5 h8 [ 22...h6 23.xf6 xf6 24.b5 ( 24.exf5 xf5 25.e4 g6 26.e1 d4 ) 24...cxb5 25.d5 ] 23.exf5 xf5 24.e4 [ 24.xc6 d6 25.xf6 looks possible, but one tends to be sceptical of tactical adventures that involve possibly misplacing all o n e 's p iece s f o r a p awn . T h e ga m e continuation is solid and good. ] 24...c8 25.bc1 a7 Motivated by understandable concerns about his queenside, this is nevertheless so drastic a migration that more trouble is certain to follow elsewhere. [ 25...e6 26.xf6 gxf6 27.a4! ] [ 25...f7!? 26.xf6 gxf6 27.e2 is similarly unpleasant due to black's exposed queenside, but is a lesser evil. ] 26.xf6 gxf6 27.e2 c5 [ 27...e6!? to try and plug gaps with Bd5 and to entertain a later dream of mobilizing the kingside, looks better. ] 28.b5 xe4 29.xe4 c7 30.xe5! Black's king is naked, and misses his wife a lot. xb5 [ 30...fxe5 31.d7 ] 31.d7 c7 32.f7+!
[ 32.f7+ xf7 33.d8+ ] 1-0
1782 Kallio,Heikki Blatny,Pavel GMB Bermuda BER (2) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2474 2475 26.01.2003
1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.d4 e6 4.e4 b4 5.d3 f5 6.h5+ f8?! This is a new one on me, but why play such a crazy novelty when the natural alternative offers a good game? I presume that Blatny wants to avoid weakening his dark squares, but his king is now misplaced. [ Only 6...g6 is mentioned in the e-book when 7.e2 f6 8.f3 c6! is dynamic for Black. ] 7.f3 c5 8.d5 [ 8.dxc5 f6 9.g5 fxe4 10.xe4 h6 is murky ] 8...g6 Playing ...g6 anyway now that White has committed his centre. 9.h3 exd5 10.cxd5! The fluid centre doesn't bode well for the exposed Black king especially as he isn't able to obtain comf ortable development. Clearly Black's opening experiment hasn't worked. [ Instead 10.exd5 doesn't impress after the Nimzo-style xc3+ 11.bxc3 f6 12.e2 d6 13.0-0 d7= ] 10...c4 11.c2 [ 11.xc4? is just bad after c7 ] 11...a6 12.ge2 c5 Keeping White's king in the centre and threatening ...Nb4 13.a3 fxe4 14.fxe4 e7 15.f4 g7? [ 15...d6 is possibly a lesser evil but even so the position smells as if it's gone off. ] 16.d6! e8 [ 16...xd6 17.xd6 xd6 18.d1+- and ] [ 16...e6 17.xe6 dxe6 18.e5+ f6 19.f1 also look hopeless ] 17.f1 h6 18.e5+! The most incisive. xe5 19.xd7+ e7 20.xb7 xd6 21.d1 xh2 22.d7! Strong but [ 22.xa6 is obviously not bad either. ] 22...h4+ 23.g3 g5 24.d5 ad8 25.xe7+ [ 25.df4! is even stronger with the point 1780
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 that e5 26.d5 xd5 27.exd5 wins immediately as xd7 28.e6+ g8 29.f8+ h7 30.f7+ g8 31.g7# mates in style. ] 25...xe7 26.xa6 he8 27.xc4 d6 28.f3 e5 29.f2 c8 30.d3 h5 31.a4 f8 32.ef4 Again the e6-weakness is exposed. h6 33.e2 g4? [ 33...xb2 would at least make a fight of it. ] 34.e3 g5 35.e6 e7 36.xf8 xf8 37.d2 xf3 38.f5+ 1-0
1783 Karpov,Anatoly Morozevich,Alexander NAO Masters Cannes FRA (8) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2693 2742 02.03.2002
1.c4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.a3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 9.e3!?N The former world champion comes up with a new move that poses subtle questions, but it does not look dangerous enough to be truly threatening. e5 10.xc5 bxc5 11.0-0 exd5 [ 11...b8!? ] 12.cxd5 b8 13.d3 g6 14.e4 xc3 15.bxc3 fxe4 16.xe4 0-0 17.g2 e7 Though black's queenside structure might a p p e a r t o b e we a k a t f ir st sigh t , wh it e ' s queenside pawns can quickly become targets. 18.ab1 d6 19.c4 a6 20.fe1 [ 20.xb8!? xb8 21.e1 e8 ] 20...xb1 21.xb1 e5= ½-½
1784 Kempinski,Robert Kengis,Edvins Bundesliga 2000-1 (11) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2543 2586 11.03.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b4 4.b3 This rather rare variation tends to turn back into positions that are very similar to the Nimzo-Indian. c5 5.d5!? [ 5.a3 xc3+ 6.xc3 cxd4 7.xd4 f6 8.g5 c6 9.h4 h6 10.f3 h7 11.xf6
xf6 12.xf6 gxf6 13.e3 g7 14.c1 d6 15.d2 b7 16.f3 e7 17.f2 e5 18.e2 f5 19.hg1 c8 20.h3 c7 21.g4 fxg4 22.hxg4 g6 23.f4 d7 24.b4 f6 25.f3 a6 26.a4 g8 27.b5 c8 28.a5 bxa5 29.a1 d5 30.g5 hxg5 31.fxg5 h7 32.g6 f6 33.cxd5 c2 34.e2 exd5 35.xa5 d7 36.xa7 xg6 37.xg6 fxg6 38.d1 c3 39.e4 d6 40.exd5 xb5 41.e4+ xe4 42.xe4 g5 43.g7 e3 44.f5 g3 45.e6 e5 46.e1 g2 47.h3 c2 48.d1 h2 49.e6 e2+ 50.d2 d4 51.xg5 d3+ 52.e1 e2+ 53.d1 c3 54.g1 e3 55.g4 e4 56.d6 d3+ 57.e1 xd6 58.g3+ 1/2-1 /2 Lo rsche id,G-Varga ,Z Bu dapes t 1998. ] [ 5.f3 c6 6.a3 a5 7.e3 f6 8.d3 0-0 9.0-0 d5 10.d1 xc3 11.xc3 cxd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 a6 14.cxd5 xd3 15.xd3 xd5 16.e4 f6 17.f3 c7 18.g5 e5 19.xf6 xf6 20.xf6 gxf6 21.ac1 fd8 22.g3 xd1+ 23.xd1 c8 24.d7 c2 25.b4 a5 26.bxa5 bxa5 27.a7 c4 28.xa5 xe4 29.c5 a4 30.c3 h5 31.f1 f5 32.e2 f4 33.d2 fxg3 34.hxg3 h4 35.gxh4 xh4 36.c2 f4 37.f3 e5 38.b3 e4 39.fxe4 xe4 40.c8+ g7 41.a4 f5 42.a5 e7 43.c4 g6 44.a6 a7 45.a4 f4 46.xf4 xa6 47.a4 xa4 48.xa4 1/2-1/2 Sokolov, ISpeelman,J Leeuwarden 1997. ] 5...f6 6.g3 b5!? A fairly common them in the Nimzo when white plays an early d5 in some of the slightly offbeat lines. It is a little surprising to see black sacrifice this pawn with loss of tempo, but neither Qb3 nor g3 fit into normal development methods in this position type. 7.dxe6 fxe6 8.cxb5 b7 9.f3 a6 10.bxa6 d5 11.d1 e4 12.d2 xc3 This will leave white's a-pawns so weak that the gambit pawns are almost certain to fall quickly, but white will get some time in return. 13.xc3 [ 13.bxc3 f6 ] 13...xc3 14.bxc3 f6 15.d3 xa6 The threat of Nb4 convinces white to give up monitoring his extra a-pawn. 16.d1 c4 17.e3 c7 18.g2 0-0 19.0-0 [ 19.d2 a3 20.c2 fa8 ] 19...xa2 20.e5 d8 21.fe1 d6 22.f3 1781
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d7 23.h4! White's long-term pressure against d6 and e6 compensates for his own pawn targets. In the meantime he acquires a bit of u se f u l sp ace to cre at e play o n th e kingside in case black gets too ambitious trying to target the pawn on c3. h6 24.a1 a4 25.xa2 xa2 26.h5 b8 27.h2 a5 28.c1 b6 29.d4 c5 30.g4 b2 31.a1 xg2 32.xg2 e5 33.f5 xe3 34.xe3 xe2 35.xc4 [ 35.f3!? ] 35...d5 36.e3 d4 37.cxd4 exd4 38.f5 e6 39.a7 e4 40.f3 e1 41.d7 f8 42.xd4 xd4+ 43.xd4 f7 44.f4+ g8 45.e4 a1 46.f4 a2 47.f3 f7 48.f5 a3 49.f4 a6 50.e5 b6 ½-½
1785 Khenkin,Igor Bunzmann,Dimitrij 4th OIBM Bad Wiessee GER (6) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2633 2484 02.11.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.f3 This move seems to have replaced the more ambitious 7. Be2, which seems to win more material but allow a considerable amount of p a n d e m o n i u m ( s e e B e l i a vs k y- S h o r t a n d related games). The more modest approach is doing quite well recently, and black is having trouble proving compensation for a pawn. [ 7.c5 bxc5 8.a3 c4 9.xc4 a5 10.fxe6 dxe6 11.f3 ( 11.e2 0-0 12.f4 h8 13.c3 d6 14.e2 xc3 15.bxc3 e4 16.h5 e5 17.dxe5 c6 18.f7 xf7 19.xf7 d7 20.e3 f8 21.e6 xc3 22.c1 d2+ 23.e2 b2 24.d3 b5 25.xd2 a6 26.c3 c5 27.hc1 b6 28.d6 e8 29.xc5 b3 30.5c3 c4+ 31.e2 a2+ 32.1c2 1-0 Markus,RCzebe,A Budapest HUN 2000.; 11.a4+ c6 12.f3 0-0 13.c3 h8 14.e3 b6 15.d1 e8 16.a6 xa6+ 17.xa6 g4 18.e2 e5 19.dxe5 xe3+ 20.fxe3 xe5 21.d5 d8 22.xb6 xd1+ 23.xd1 axb6 24.e2 c6 25.f2 g4+ 26.g3 f6 27.h4 h5+ 28.f2 f6 29.d1 g4+ 30.g3 h6 31.d3 f6
32.d2 f5+ 33.h3 h6 34.e4 d6 35.g4 e8 36.f4 e6+ 37.h2 xe3 38.xe3 xe3 39.c2 c5 40.g3 g8 41.f2 b3 42.d2 1/2-1/2 Meins,GBuhmann, /Seebad Heringsdorf GER 2000. ) 11...0-0 12.c3 h8 13.g5 d6 14.e2 bd7 15.xe6 xd4 16.e3 h4 17.d1 ae8 18.d4 h5 19.f7+ g8 20.h6+ h8 21.f7+ g8 22.h6+ 1/2-1/2 Nenashev,A-Bunzmann,D Seebad Heringsdorf GER 2000. ] [ 7.e2 0-0 8.f3 c6 9.c5 a6+ 10.e2 bxc5 11.a3 xe2+ 12.xe2 a5 13.dxc5 e4 14.f3 exf5 15.b4 f6 16.a2 ab8 17.g3 e5 18.b2 e6 19.a1 xf3 20.xf3 c6 21.g2 c7 22.e1 h6 23.h4 a5 24.c1 f6 25.a2 axb4 26.axb4 xb4 27.d2 xc5 28.a3 b5 29.c2 d6 30.c4 b3 31.e3 xe3 32.xe3 e4 33.xd6 xd6 34.d2 e8 35.f4 e5 36.h2 h6 37.xd6 xd6 38.c4 d5 39.xe5 c5 40.f3 c4 41.d4 c3 42.c2 d3 43.b4 b5 44.h5 h8 45.g1 c2 46.a2 d5 47.c1 d1+ 48.g2 xh5 49.b8+ h7 50.b5 d6 51.d3 d1 52.xf5+ h8 53.d3 1/2-1/2 Bock,J-Gara,A Budapest 2000. ] 7...0-0 8.a3 d6 9.c3 e8 Bunzmann is a true devotee, so it is interesting to note that he puts a top priority in getting this piece over to the kingside and avoiding Bg5 pins. [ 9...c6 10.g5 e7 11.fxe6 dxe6 12.e2 d7 13.e1 h6 14.xf6 xf6 15.e4 f4 16.c5 bxc5 17.dxc5 xf3 18.cxd6 xd3 19.xd3 c6 20.g1 d5 21.h3 cxd6 22.h2 (1-0, 41) Goldin,AGofshtein,L Rishon Le Ziyyon 1998. ] [ 9...exf5 10.xf5 c6 11.g5 e8 12.xf6 xf6 13.e4 a6 14.a4 b7 15.e1 h5 16.b5 h6 17.g5 af8 18.d5+ h8 19.e4 f4 20.xh6 gxh6 21.xd6 cxd6 22.b4 a6 23.e3 b5 24.cxb5 axb5 25.g3 4f5 26.e4 xd4 27.xb7 xf3 28.g2 d5 29.d1 e5 30.f4 c6 31.c3 d8 32.c5 1-0 Sherbakov,R-Volzhin,A Koszalin 1999. ] 10.e2 exf5 11.xe8 A spectacularly conservative move [ 11.xf5 certainly deserved attention. h5 ( 11...xe2+ 12.xe2 xf3+ 13.gxf3 c6 1782
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.e3 does not look like enough compensation.) 12.g5 h4!? might be the idea. ] 11...xe8 12.e2 xf3+! Black needs to create some counterplay in the centre and he ne e d s t o d o it a t sp e e d . 13.xf3 c6 14.e2 a5 [ 14...f6!? looks correct, aiming to harass the king, which is his main trump. Ruling out the expansion with b4 makes sense though, as long as he gets back on track. ] 15.g3 e7 [ 15...f6!? 16.xf5? e8 ] 16.g2 d6 17.d1 h8?! 18.e3 ab8 19.ab1 e4 20.xe4 fxe4 21.c3 be8 22.xe4 xa3 23.d5 a7? [ 23...b8 ] 24.bxa3 xe4 25.c5 c8 26.d6 bxc5 27.dxc7 d6 28.b8 g8 29.xc5 c4 30.xd6 xc5 31.xc8 xc8 32.d8+ f7 33.xc8 e6 34.e8+ d7 35.c8+ xc8 36.xc8 xc8 37.f3 d7 38.e4 c6 39.d4 b5 40.c3 A bad day at the office for Bunzmann - on the whole this game fits the category of raising more questions than it answers. 1-0
1786 Khenkin,Igor Miezis,Normunds Bundesliga 2008-9 (2) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2647 2552 05.10.2008
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 b4+ As Bauer points out 'the drawback of this move is that it doesn't challenge the white centre.' 5.d2 e7 6.f3 f5!? A critical idea to get the bishop on b7 working but Black hasn't scored well in practise. [ Black's position was solid (rather than 'dynamic') in Grabliauskas, V-Speelman, J Roskilde 1998, following 6...f6 7.e2 xd2+ 8.bxd2 d6 9.0-0 e5 ] 7.exf5 White has also done well with [ 7.e2 maintaining the centre and ] [ 7.e5 gaining space. ] 7...exf5+ 8.f1 xd2 [ Another way of defending the f-pawn with 8...e4 failed to impress in a recent
encounter: 9.g5 f6 10.a3 d6 11.c3 0-0 12.e2 c5 13.xe4 fxe4 14.xf6 xf6 15.xe4 and Black was basically a pawn down, Javakhishvili, L-Grabuzova, T Dagomys 2008. ] 9.bxd2 h6 10.e2 Simple chess. Khenkin hopes to rely on an edge due to his centre and solidity. xe2+ 11.xe2 c6 12.he1 0-0-0 13.f1 d5! Miezes typically tries an active solution. [ A reasonable way of handling Black's position is 13...b4 14.b1 he8 15.xe8 xe8 16.a3 c6 17.d3 d6 but White retains a pull due to his extra space, for example with 18.b4 ] 14.c5 b4 15.b1 bxc5 16.dxc5 d4? Black increases the scope for his pieces. This is the right idea but it would have been better to have first played [ 16...he8! and met 17.e5 with ( 17.xe8 xe8 18.a3 a6+ 19.g1 d3 is fine for Black) 17...d4 with chances for both sides. ] 17.a3 d5 Consistent. [ Instead 17...c6 18.d3 leaves Black's minor pieces with little potential. ] 18.xd4 Critical. f4 Complex. 19.2f3! Consolidating (or trying to!). g5 Combative (but insufficient!). [ Here 19...xg2 is tempting but Mieses probably didn't think much of Black's chances after 20.c6 xe1 21.cxb7+ xb7 22.xe1 he8+ 23.e2 where the two pieces will be stronger than a rook and pawn. ] 20.xf5 a6+ 21.g1 e2+ 22.h1 g4 Black threatens mate in one and Khenkin tries no t t o f o rget wh ilst givin g a f e w ch e c k s ! 23.e7+ b7 [ Or 23...d7 24.f5+ xe7 25.xg4 and Black's threats come to an end. ] 24.e4+ c6 25.f1 A meek looking move but apart from this passive rook White is happy with life: he is a couple of pawns to the good and Black's pawn on c6 is about to drop. d4 26.xd4 xd4 27.xc6+ c7 28.fe1 Back again, but now check on f2 isn't mate. xf2+ 29.g1 d3 30.e4 dd8 [ White has everything under control after 30...xe4 31.xe4 xc5 32.c1 d6 33.f5+ e5 34.xc5+ xe4 35.g3+ ] 1783
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 31.b4 hf8 32.b5 xc5 Desperate but any hopes of mixing it are rapidly disappearing. 33.bxa6 xe4 34.xe4 de8 35.d5+ d6 36.c3 e5 37.xh7 Why not? c8 38.e4+ e6 39.g4! A good technical move a s W h it e n o w h a s a n o u t p o st o n f 5 . c6 40.f5+ e7 41.xg5 xa6 42.f2 ea5 43.e1+ f6 44.e4+ g7 45.a4!? Not totally necessary, but the idea is that Black loses co-ordination after snatching the pawn. xa4 46.c5 a2+ 47.g3 c6 48.d7 h6 49.h3 g7 50.e7+ h8 51.e5 With Ng6+ followed by Be6+ in prospect, it's time to call it a day. 1-0
1787 Khudyakov,Alexander Krivoshey,Sergei Osen II Alushta UKR (13) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2365 2507 05.10.2003
1.c4 e6 2.c3 b6 3.d4 b7 4.e4 b4 5.f3 f5 The most popular at this point but [ 5...h4+ softening up the long diagonal, w i t h t h e i n t e n t i o n o f m e e t i n g 6.g3 w i t h e i t h e r h5 or 6...Qe7 also makes sense. ] 6.exf5 exf5 7.h3 c6 8.g5 f6 9.a3?! I don't like this loss of time. Better is [ 9.e2+ f7 10.0-0-0 xc3 11.bxc3 e7 12.b2 as in Piket,J-Timman,J Wijk aan Zee 1999 with a tense struggle in prospect. ] 9...xc3+ 10.bxc3 h6 11.d2 e7+ 12.f2 0-0-0 13.d3 g6 14.e1 f7 Black has harmonious development and the better pawn structure to fully compensate the bishop pair. 15.a4 a5 16.c5? [ Underestimating the danger. Instead 16.g1 was necessary when the critical variation a6 17.e5 d5 18.ae1 d7 19.f4 is not clear as White threatens tricks based on Nxg6 and Bxf5. ] 16...e4+! Exploiting White's king position. 17.xe4 [ 17.fxe4 fxe4+ is also bad news. ] 17...fxe4 18.f4 g5! 19.ab1? Again not the best but White was still reeling from Black's 16th. Instead the blockading [ 19.e3 keeps him in the game. ]
19...e3+! 20.xe3 [ 20.xe3 a2+ is carnage. ] 20...g4 [ 20...g4 21.g1 xf4+ 22.e2 would be too much to bear. ] 0-1
1788 Kishnev,Sergey Bischoff,Klaus Bundesliga 2000-1 (12) [Jon Tisdall]
xh2
A40 2489 2552 31.03.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 b4+ 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 h6 7.gf3 [ 7.h5 f6 8.e5 f4 9.e2 g4 10.xg4 xg4 11.f3 h6 12.g4 c6 13.0-0-0 0-0-0 14.hg1 d6 15.g5 g8 16.exd6 xd6 17.g4 e5 18.dxe5 xd3 19.f4 e7 20.xf7 f5 21.f4 d7 22.xd7 xd7 23.e4+ e7 24.d3 a6 25.b3 c5 26.d2 f8 27.e2 b7 28.4c3 h4 29.f4 g2 30.h3 f7 31.b5 g6 32.d6 c6 33.f5+ exf5 34.e6 f4 35.e7 h8 36.c3 e3 37.d5 xd5 38.cxd5 e8 39.xe8 1-0 Flear,GWauthier,P Brocco 1991 ] 7...0-0 8.0-0 f6 Bischoff's pet line. [ 8...f5!? ] 9.b4!? [ 9.e1 f7 10.f1 c6 11.c1 e7 12.g3 g6 13.d2 c5 14.f1 c7 15.ed1 d6 16.d5 e5 17.e1 c8 18.d3 h6 19.e1 d7 20.e2 a5 21.f4 exf4 22.xf4 xf4 23.xf4 ae8 24.d3 e5 25.f1 d8 26.c2 e7 27.cf2 e8 28.d2 g6 29.a4 f7 30.f4 e8 31.b3 g5 32.e1 f5 33.h4 fxe4 34.c2 e3 35.c3 f7 36.xg6 hxg6 37.d3 g5 38.hxg5 xg5 39.e2 h6 40.ef1 g5 0-1 Ellers,H-Bischoff,K Schwerin 1999. A nice example of Bischoff's patient, reactive handling of the position - quietly stifling white's bishop and waiting to choose his plan according to white's decisions. ] 9...c6 10.b3 e7 11.d5 e5 12.c5 d6 13.fc1 g5 14.cxd6 cxd6 15.b5 c8 16.c6 b8 17.b5 A drastic decision - the bishop is not going to do much for the rest of 1784
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the game. [ 17.a4!? ] 17...g6 18.a3 e7 19.c4 g4 20.e1 bd8 21.h3 c8 One gets the impression that neither player liked their position. White probably disliked his bishop and the chances for black to build up an attack on the kingside. Black presumably was not thrilled with facing t h e o p e n i n g o f t h e a -f i le . A n in t e re st in g position for further testing.. . ½-½
1789 Knaak,Rainer Kalinitschew,Sergey Bundesliga 1999-2000 (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2505 2524 07.11.1999
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.a3 f5 5.d5 e7 Some interesting alternatives: [ 5...f6 6.h3 d6 7.g3 e5 8.d2 a6 9.g2 c5 10.0-0 0-0 11.c1 a5 12.f4 a4 13.dxe6 xg2 14.xg2 dxe6 15.e3 e8 16.xc5 bxc5 17.d3 xc3 18.xc3 e5 19.c1 f4 20.f3 fxg3 21.hxg3 e4 22.f4 c6 23.d5 ae8 24.g5 h8 25.e3 h6 26.h1 xd5 27.cxd5 exf3+ 28.exf3 b6 29.xe8 xb2+ 30.h3 xe8 31.g4 d4+ 32.f4 e4 33.h5 e2+ 34.h4 g5+ 0-1 Cramling,PSpeelman, J/Katrineholm 1999/CBM 71 (34) ] [ 5...a6 6.g3 c5 7.g2 f6 8.h3 a5 9.0-0 d6 10.b5 0-0 11.xd6 cxd6 12.a4 exd5 13.cxd5 e8 14.f4 ce4 15.e3 g5 16.d3 xd5 17.d4 e6 18.e1 e8 19.b3 c6 20.e3 h5 21.ad1 ae8 22.c1 f8 23.xb6 df6 24.f3 f2 25.xf2 xh2 26.e4 h5 27.e2 xe4 28.fxe4 xe4 29.h1 xe2+ 30.xe2 xg3+ 31.d2 xg2+ 32.c1 xh1 33.c7 f3 34.xd6+ g7 35.e5+ h6 36.d6+ h5 37.xf3+ xf3 38.xd7 h6 39.a7 f4 40.xa5 g3 41.b4 g4 42.f6 f5 43.c5 h5 44.c8 d5 45.d8 c4 46.c8 e6 47.e8 f3 48.d2 f2 49.e2 g3 0-1 Stohl,IChernyshov,K/Pardubice 1997 ] 6.g3 f6 7.g2 [ 7.d2 seems to me to be a more reliable
method. Knaak is quite happy in NimzoI n d ia n t yp e p o sit io n s wh e re h e h a s a n initiative to compensate for pawn structure b u t t h i s i s n o t t o e v e r y o n e ' s t a s t e . c6 ( 7...e7 8.g2 0-0 9.h3 g6 10.0-0 c6 11.c2 a6 12.e4 c7 13.ad1 c8 14.f4 cxd5 15.exd5 xf4 16.xf4 e5 17.e3 e8 18.xf5 d6 19.g4 xc4 20.e4 h8 21.c1 xe3 22.fxe3 d8 23.xf6 gxf6 24.e4 d6 25.xh7 xd5 26.h5 1-0 Gurevich,D-Gorbatow,A/ Cappelle 1995 (26)) 8.dxe6 dxe6 9.g2 d7 10.h3 e5 11.b3 d7 12.0-0 0-0-0 13.g5 h6 14.xd7+ xd7 15.xf6 xf6 16.fd1 e8 17.xd7 exd7 18.f4 g5 19.d3 d8 20.e4 fxe4 21.xe4 xe4 22.xe4 c7 23.e1 d6 24.f3 f8 25.e3 f6 26.f1 a5 27.e1 a6 28.b2 b5 29.cxb5 xb5 30.a4 a6 31.e2 xe2 32.xe2 e5 33.f3 f8 34.d3 d7 35.d2 f6 36.b2 d5 37.c4+ e7 38.d3 b4 39.e3 d8+ 40.e2 d5 41.e5 h5 42.f4 gxf4 43.gxf4 h4 44.xa5 f6 45.xd5 cxd5 46.b7 e5 47.c5 exf4 48.a5 c6 49.a6 e5 50.b4 a7 51.d3 d4 52.c4 f3 53.b5 c8 54.d3+ e4 55.f2+ e3 56.d1+ e2 57.xd4 f2 58.xf2 xf2 1/2-1/2 Gabriel, C-Bunzmann,D/Germany 1998/GER-chT (58) ] 7...xc3+ 8.bxc3 f6 9.h3 a6 10.a4 c5 11.a3 0-0 12.xc5 bxc5 13.0-0 b8 14.d3 a6 15.fe1 h8 [ I believe black should be fine after 15...exd5!? 16.xd5+ h8 Black can get cpawns if white dares take the f-pawn, and his position is quite dynamic. In the game black's pawn structure has less appeal. ] 16.dxe6 dxe6 17.f4 e7 18.e4! Th e p re ssu re o n t he e -f ile give s wh it e a lasting edge. fxe4 19.xe4 f7 20.f3 b6 21.e3 d7 22.g4 xc4 23.ad1 g5 24.h3 h6 Tactical blow alert. 25.xd7 xd7 26.xc5 fb8 27.xc4 b1 28.f1 h7 29.g2 c2 30.xe6 xa4 31.d5 c2 32.xb1 xb1 33.a6 g7 34.e6 b6 35.f7+ 1-0
1785
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 gain time against White's queen.) 12.a3 A40 d6 13.bxc3 xh1 would remain unclear. ] 2374 2567 11...0-0 12.f1? [ Following 12.bxc3 xc3+ 13.f1 xa1 06.07.2007 Black's pieces will be the most effective, W hite having difficulty in developing his kingside. So he has excellent compensation 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c3 for his queen. ] T h e r e i s n o t h i n g wr o n g w i t h t h i s m o ve . Now Black has too many threats. However White has to be careful over the next 12...e4! few moves as Black creates pressure against 13.f3 d6 14.b5 c6 15.b3 xf3! Bla ck soo n e merges with mo re mat erial. White's centre. 16.gxf3 d2+ 17.e2 xb3 18.axb3 a6 [ I personally prefer 4.d3 ] 19.xa6 xd8 20.xa7 f8 The bishop pair 4...b4 5.d3 f5 6.e2 [ There is also a case for 6.h5+ g6 7.e2 will dominate as W hite's rooks are largely impotent. softening up Black's kingside. ] 0-1 6...f6 7.g5 [ The main alternative is 7.f3 to bolster the e4-pawn. Then Black can obtain good play A40 with c6 8.e3 fxe4 9.fxe4 e5! 1791 as in Nyback, T-Bokros, A Hengelo 2002. ] Koch,W 2335 7...fxe4 8.xe4 Jackelen,Thomas 2373 [ Instead 8.xf6 exd3 9.h5+ g6 10.h4 Bundesliga 2000-1 (2) 15.10.2000 e7 is already very good for Black and in [Jon Tisdall] Razmyslov, A-Kengis, E Bad Zwesten 1997 th e d 3-p awn e ve n tu a lly cost W h it e t h e 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.f3 b7 4.g3 b4+ exchange. ] 5.d2 xf3 6.exf3 xd2+ 7.xd2 d5 8...xe4!? Ambitious! 8.c3 e7 9.cxd5 [ The position after 8...xe4 9.xf6 xf6 [ 9.f4 0-0 10.xe4 has been investigated on several A) 10.g2 c6 11.cxd5 ( 11.b3 d6 occasions, one of them being Starostits, I12.0-0 d7 13.ad1 fd8 14.fe1 f6 Bunzmann, D Yerevan 1999 when Black 15.h3 ab8 16.d3 g6 17.e3 b7 continued calmly with xc3+ 11.bxc3 0-0 18.c5 d7 19.b4 bxc5 20.bxc5 db8 12.f3 c6 13.0-0 f5 which is roughly 21.d3 c7 22.e3 f5 23.xf5 gxf5 equal, but in the game Bunzmann 24.f3 b2 25.e2 xe2 26.xe2 a5 maintained the better pawn structure 27.d2 a3 28.c1 b4 29.c2 c4 throughout and went on to win the ending. ] 30.f2 d7 31.d1 xc2 32.xc2 h5 9.xd8 xc3 10.h5+ 33.h4 g7 34.c3 a5 35.e2 a4 [ Anyone tempted by Black's play should 36.b1 f6 37.c2 b4 38.c3 b1 seriously consider 10.bxc3! xc3+ 11.f1 39.a3 e8 40.b4 c2 41.b7 f8 e.g. xa1 12.xc7 0-0 13.d6 f7 42.xc6 b3 43.a8 xa3 44.c6 d6 14.d1 b2 15.e2 when with rook and 45.xa4 c7 46.c1 e7 47.d3 f6 bishop for the queen he almost has enough 48.g2 f7 49.h3 g6 50.g2 f7 material to justify his sacrifice. However 51.f2 g6 52.e3 f7 53.d2 g6 the bishop on b2 lacks a safe haven and the 54.e2 f7 55.f1 g6 56.g1 f7 d6-bishop limits Black's options such as 57.h1 g6 58.h2 f7 59.h3 g6 doubling on the f-file, so White would have 60.c5 h6 61.b7 e7 62.a5 e5 good chances to consolidate his 'material 63.fxe5 fxe5 64.d2+ f4 65.dxe5 xe5 advantage'. ] 66.xf4+ xf4 67.gxf4 d4 68.c5 g6 10...g6 11.e5? 69.g2 f6 70.f2 f5 71.g3 d5 [ Much better is 11.h4! when xg2!? 72.d3 e6 73.f5+ d6 74.f6 xf6 ( now after 11...0-0 12.a3 Black cannot 75.f4 xc6 76.e5 d5 77.xd4 1790 Kobylkin,Evgeni Pilavov,Georgy Summer GM Lugansk UKR (9) [Glenn Flear]
1786
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e7 78.e4 d6 79.f4 c5 80.e5 c6+ 81.f6 d4 82.e6+ e3 83.f4 e4 84.f5 e5 85.g5+ f4 86.e6+ e4 87.f8 f3 88.g6 d4 89.e7 f3 90.g7 xh4 91.f6 f3 92.h6 e5 93.xh5 f4 1/2-1/2 Hedman Senarega, J-Nogueiras,J/CUB-ch 1993/TD (93) ) 11...cxd5 12.0-0 bc6 13.h3 d6 14.fe1 fc8 15.ac1 a5 16.b5 d7 17.a3 g6 18.f1 f5 19.a6 xc1 20.xc1 a4 21.b5 xd4 22.xd4 xd4 23.c7 a6 24.d3 b5 25.b1 c4 26.b3 d6 27.d2 c8 28.xc8+ xc8 29.f1 f8 30.e1 e7 31.d1 a7 32.a3 ac6 33.c1 d6 34.b2 a5 35.c3 c5 36.b2 e5 37.fxe5 xe5 38.f1 g4 39.f3 xh2 40.g2 e2 0-1 Luyks,M-Damaso, R/POR-chT 1994 (40); B) 10.cxd5 exd5 11.h3 c6 12.0-0 c8 13.b4 d6 14.a4 a6 15.b5 cxb5 16.axb5 c7 17.d3 f5 18.fe1 e4 19.f1 d7 20.xe4 dxe4 21.c3 h8 22.c6 fd8 23.ed1 xc6 24.bxc6 d6 25.d5 g6 26.a6 ad8 27.b7 a5 28.db1 xd5 29.xb6 d1+ 30.xd1 xd1+ 31.g2 a4 32.b4 a3 33.a4 a1 34.c8 a2 1/2-1/2 Gamundi,ARomero Holmes,A/ Spain 1995 ] 9...exd5 10.g2 0-0 11.f4 [ 11.0-0 d7 ( 11...c6 12.b4 d7 13.a4 f6 14.fd1 d7 15.ac1 a6 16.a5 b5 17.e2 e8 18.f4 d6 19.h3 a7 20.c3 c4 21.d3 c8 22.xc8 fxc8 23.c5 e8 24.e1 d6 25.xe8+ xe8 26.e1 c8 27.e5 h6 28.e3 f8 29.f4 e8 30.f5 a8 31.d7+ g8 32.e7 d6 33.f4 1-0 Misanovic,VMatveeva,S/Kishinev 1995 (33)) 12.f4 f6 13.ac1 d7 14.c2 ac8 15.b1 c5 16.d2 cxd4 17.d3 a4 18.a3 c6 19.b3 e4 20.fd1 g6 21.f3 c3 22.bxc3 xb3 23.f5 e5 24.e2 xf3+ 25.xf3 xc3 26.f4 f3 27.xd4 xf5 28.f4 h5 29.d3 a2 30.e3 g5 31.d3 b2 32.xf5 xc1+ 33.f2 b2+ 34.f1 g7 35.fxg5 b2 36.xd5 c8 37.e2 xa3 38.g6 c1+ 39.g2 c6 40.e8+ xe8 41.gxf7+ xf7 0-1 Boesveld,MShabalov,A/ Amsterdam 1996 (41) ] 11...d6 12.0-0 c6 13.d3 d7 14.fe1
fd8 15.ad1 f6 16.h3 g6 17.g4 d6 18.f3 b5 19.g5 b6 20.e2 e8 21.g3 c5 22.dxc5 xc5 23.c1 d6 24.ed1 ad8 25.b3 c6 26.d2 b4 27.d3 d6 28.e2 a3 29.b1 c4 30.bxc4 xh3 31.cxb5 e7 32.d3 h5 33.d4 f5 34.xf5 gxf5 35.dd1 e4 36.g3 d4 37.d3 de6 38.g2 h6 39.h4 h7 40.cd1 e2 41.xd4 e3 42.h2 g4+ 43.f1 h3 44.g2 e2+ 45.g1 xh4 46.f3 e3+ 47.f1 hxg5 48.d7 g4 49.xf7+ g6 50.fd7 h3 51.7d3 xf4 52.1d2 e5 53.d1 xb5 54.g1 c5+ 55.f1 b5 56.g1 e1+ 57.xe1 xd3 58.f1 e3+ 59.f2 xf3 60.xe3 xe3 0-1
1792 Kramnik,Vladimir Carlsen,Magnus Botvinnik Memorial rapid (5) [Nigel Davies]
A40 2791 2823 03.09.2011
1.f3 b5 An exotic and rather risky looking way to play against someone as strong as Kramnik. 2.e4 b7 3.xb5 This simple approach is quite challenging for Black. Those of us who were brought up on hypermodern ideas have often been keen on exchanging a flank pawn for one in the centre, but the half open e-file and White's lead in development overturn the numerical central pawn count. xe4 4.0-0 f6 5.d4 e6 6.c4 e7 7.c3 b7 8.d5! It's important to play this before Black prevents it. [ For example after 8.e1 c6 9.a4 0-0 Black's position would be very comfortable. ] 8...0-0 9.f4 This eminently sensible move has been played very little though I don't particularly like Black's game af ter other moves either: [ a) 9.a4 a6 10.a3 ( 10.e1 b4 11.g5 c5 12.c2 xc3 13.bxc3 d6 wasn 't very clear in Eingorn , V (24 75)Semeniuk, A/Soviet Union 1984) 10...c5 11.c2 a5 12.e3 see Wojtkiewicz, A (2560)-Bronstein, D (2400)/Reykjavik 1994. ] [ b) 9.a3 (Wojtkiewicz evidently considers this important) c6 10.dxc6 xc6 11.f4 a6 12.a4 a5 13.b4 f5 14.g3 1787
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 was pleasant for W hite in W ojtkiewicz, A (2535) -Hecimovic, I (2230)/Pula 1998. ] 9...a6 [ 9...h5 10.e3 f6 11.e1 e8 12.a4 was none too promising for Black either at this stage in Jovanovic, V (2153)-Stojanovic, A (2119)/Dimitrovgrad 2003. But he did go on to win that game.. ] 10.e1 c8 11.d4 b4 12.g5 e8 13.e3!? A good old fashioned rook lift, taking aim at Black's kingside. [ But Fritz pointed out a less grandiose way to win the game via 13.a4 c6 ( Or 13...xc3 14.xd7 c5 15.xc8 xa4 16.xb7 ) 14.dxc6 dxc6 15.xa6 xa6 16.xc6 xc3 17.e7+ etc., a veritable triumph of butchery. ] 13...c6 14.xa6 xa6 15.h5 f6 [ 15...g6 16.h4 also gives White a massive attack. ] 16.h3 fxg5 17.xh7+ f7 18.h5+ g8 19.h7+ Kramnik employs a tactic more commonly seen in endgames, repeating the position to gain time on the clock and clarify it in his mind. f7 20.e4 No draw. xc4 21.h5+ e7 22.xg5+ f7 23.h5+ Another repetition. At one time we liked to try and win in under 25 moves to qualify games for the 'miniature' category. e7 24.g5+ f7 25.dxe6+ dxe6 26.f3 g8 27.h4 xf3 28.h7+ 1-0
Staking out space or reaching a solid Hedgehog type of position. 12.dxc6 xc6 13.b3 [ 13.xc6 xc6 14.a5 0-0 15.axb6 axb6 doesn't make much of an impression on black. ] 13...0-0 14.a3 b7 15.db5 fd8 16.ad1 c6! Now white's queen is awkwardly placed and black prepares to set up a favourable Hedgehog by driving white back and leaving him without compensation for the bishop pair. 17.g3 [ 17.f3 d7!= ] 17...xe4 18.xe4 xe4 19.xd6 xd6 20.xd6 g6 21.c7 xd1 22.xd1 c8 23.a5 b5 24.xg6 [ 24.cxb5?? c2-+ ] 24...hxg6 25.d8+ ½-½
1794 Kristjansson,Stefan Bunzmann,Dimitrij WJun Athens GRE (7) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2380 2509 23.08.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 b5 7.b3?! This doesn't threaten to take on b5 and so only exposes white to trouble. a6 8.g2 [ 8.e3 is more consistent but black has plenty of resources: g4 9.xb5 c5 10.xc5 xc5 11.h3 b8 12.c3 c6 1793 A40 13.b4 e7 14.d4 cxd5 15.g2 dxc4 Kramnik,Vladimir 2809 16.xb7 xb7 17.xc4 e5 18.b3 b6 Ivanchuk,Vassily 2717 19.e3 a5 20.b5 c6 21.bxc6 xb3 Amber Rapidplay rapid (9) 26.03.2002 22.cxd7+ xd7 23.xb3 xb3 24.a4 [Jon Tisdall] b4+ 25.f1 c8 26.g2 e5 27.hd1+ e6 28.g5+ f6 29.f3 c2 30.e1 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 xe1 31.xe1 bb2 32.f1 e6 33.ad1 5.e2 b4 6.0-0 xd3 7.xd3 d6 a2 34.a1 xf2+ 35.xf2 xa1 8.bc3 f6!? Oddly enough this may be a 0 -1 Z a ja , I -L o vric, B Mo n t e ca t in i T e rm e novelty, which just goes to show that there is 1999. ] always room in Daring Defences for [ 8.xb5? c5! ] traditional development. 8...c5 9.a2 exd5 [ 8...e7 9.d5 d7 10.f4 g6 11.d4 [ 9...bxc4 10.xc4 b8!? looks very 0-0-0 12.b4 g7 13.b5 xd4+ 14.xd4 co m f o rt a b le f o r b la ck , t ryin g t o c a u s e f5 0-1 Gelfand,B-Short,N/Novgorod 1997 trouble quickly on the queenside. ] (38). ] 10.xd5 ce4 11.f4 xd5 12.cxd5 f6 9.d5 e7 10.d4 d7 11.a4 c5! 13.h3 c5 14.c1 d6 15.f3 g5 16.fxe4 1788
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 gxf4 17.xf4 fxe4 18.f1 0-0 19.xe4 e3 20.xc7 fc8 21.xh7+ h8 22.g6+ xg6 23.f8+ xf8 24.xg6 ac8 25.xc8 xc8 26.f1 f8+ 27.e1 [ 27.g2 f2+ 28.h3? c8+ ] 27...c8 28.f1 f8+ 29.e1 A remarkable way to draw a game. ½-½
1795 Kujovic,Michal Kos,Toni Mitropa Team Cup (2) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2244 2400 26.11.2000
1.d4 c6 2.d5 e5 3.e4 e6 The most popular move, and I can understand why defenders are not too afraid of the queenless middlegame that ensues - though it does seem to favour white a bit. More in keeping with the spirit of the opening is [ 3...g6!? which is much rarer - it has a reasonably good track record, but there is little evidence in. That is probably encouraging to most of the people who tinker with offbeat defences though? 4.e3 ( 4.c3 e5 5.f3 c5 6.e3 e7 7.xc5 xc5 8.g3 h5 9.h4 h6 10.d2 b4 11.0-0-0 d6 12.e1 d7 13.f3 0-0-0 14.d3 d4 15.e1 f5 16.f4 xd1+ 17.xd1 exf4 18.gxf4 fxe4 19.xe4 f5 20.h3 gxh4 21.xf5 xf5 22.e1 de8 23.g1 b6 24.f2 e2 25.h2 e3 26.e4 xh2 27.xh2 xd5 28.c4 e3 29.b3 h4 30.g1 f5 31.h2 d4 32.f2 c5 33.xd6+ c7 34.e4 h3 35.g3 h2 36.h1 e8 37.d1 c6 0-1 Marchand,E-Guthi,I USA 1990.; 4.g3 e5 5.g2 c5 6.e2 d6 7.0-0 f5 8.exf5 xf5 9.h1 f6 10.f4 d7 11.bc3 g4 12.e1 0-0 13.e4 b6 14.2c3 exf4 15.gxf4 ae8 16.g3 e7 17.d2 fe8 18.h3 h6 19.ae1 c6 20.h2 d4 21.g5 xe1 22.xe1 xe1 23.xe1 xc2 24.e6 f6 25.f2 f5 26.xa7 xe6 27.dxe6 xe6 28.g3 d7 29.f3 f8 30.a4 d5 31.a5 e7 32.e2 c5 33.b6 f5 34.f2 e6 35.g4 g6 36.g3 xf4 37.a6 bxa6 38.b8+ d8 39.xf4 d6 40.f3 xg3+ 41.xg3
xg3 42.xg3 b8+ 43.f4 xb2 44.e6+ g7 45.f7+ h6 46.f8+ g7 47.f4+ g5 48.e3 d4 49.xd4 cxd4 50.xd5 a5 51.f3 h5 52.e4 h4 53.e6 h5 1/2-1/2 Mont Reynaud,J-Lawson, K Reno 1994.; 4.h4 h5 5.e2 f6 6.c3 e5 7.dxe6 dxe6 8.xd8+ xd8 9.g5 c6 10.0-0-0+ c7 11.e5 d5 12.e4 xe5 13.c4 f6 14.cxd5 exd5 15.xf6 gxf6 16.xf6 h6+ 17.g5 g4 18.f3 f5 19.h3 ae8 20.d2 g7 21.f4 xh3 22.xh3 hf8 23.g5 c4 24.xc4 dxc4 25.h1 c3 26.bxc3 xc3 27.d3 b4 28.hd1 e2 29.a3 a5 30.d8+ xd8 31.xd8 xg2 32.1d7+ b6 33.b8 e1 34.bxb7+ c5 35.h7 d4 36.xh5 c5 37.d7+ c4 38.d1 c3 39.g5 a2 40.f4 d4 41.g3 a1+ 42.e2 a2+ 43.f3 xa3+ 44.g2 xg3+ 45.xg3 a5 46.a7 b5 47.f3 c4 48.e4 xa7 0-1 Quinn,J-Dunn,A London 1994.) 4...f6 5.d2 e6 6.c4 b4 7.f3 0-0 8.a3 xd2+ 9.xd2 d6 10.d3 e8 11.0-0-0 e5 12.b1 b5 13.cxb5 exd5 14.exd5 xd3 15.xd3 e5 16.b3 f5+ 17.a1 e8 18.d4 xd5 19.xf6 xb5 20.c3 gxf6 21.e1 e5 22.h3 xh3 23.gxh3 e7 24.f4 e6 25.hg1+ h8 1/2-1/2 Rufer,M-Greten,W Germany 1990. ] 4.dxe6 [ 4.f4 g6 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.d3 c5 7.f3 d6 8.g3 d7 9.c3 h6 10.e2 g4?! This loses a bit of time, especially since the main danger does not involve white striving to castle kingside, but rather him storming f o r w a r d o n t h i s f l a n k . ( 10...f7!? planning ...Qe7 and 0-0-0 was interesting.) 11.f1 e7 12.g5 f6 13.e5 d5 14.xd5 exd5 15.e6 c6 16.xh7 f8 17.xf8 xf8 18.g6+ e7 19.f5 f6 20.h4 xh4 21.gxh4 xh4+ 22.d1 d4+ 23.d2 h8 24.c3 1-0 Vioreanu,B-Vujic,M/ Bucharest ROM 2000. ] 4...dxe6 5.xd8+ xd8 6.f4 g6 [ 6...c6 7.f3 f6 8.d3 c5 9.c3 a5 10.e2 e5 11.fxe5 g4 12.g5+ e8 13.f4 f2 14.f1 xd3 15.xd3 e6 16.bd2 h6 17.e3 xe3 18.xe3 a4 19.b4 axb3 20.axb3 e7 21.b4 b6 22.b5 a5 23.d4 hd8 24.a4 ac8 25.fa1 1789
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c5 26.f5+ xf5 27.exf5 c4 28.e4 d5 29.f4 g5+ 30.fxg6 fxg6 31.xa5 bxa5 32.xa5 g5+ 33.f5 f8+ 34.f6 xf6+ 35.e4 1-0 Miles,A-Mestrovic,Z Lone Pine 1978. Interesting that Miles chose such a quite line as white, but this was a long time ago - and he has always had a penchant for grinding away without queens. ] 7.f3 f6 [ 7...b4+ 8.c3 c5 9.d3 f6 10.e2 a5 11.g3 e7 12.bd2 a4 13.e5 d5 14.e4 b6 15.d2 a5 16.b4 axb3 17.axb3 d7 18.b4 1-0 Karpov, ABerlandier,L Cannes 1998 simul. Black's knight is trapped. Asking white to play c2-c3 was probably not very clever as queenside expansion with b4 seems to be one of his goals. Still, it is always interesting to see a player of Karpov's caliber in our scruff y little section. ] 8.d3 d7!? Trying to arrange Bb4 in reply to the reflex Nc3. [ 8...c5 9.e2 ( 9.c3 d7 10.e5 d5 11.xd5 exd5 12.d2 e7 13.0-0-0 c6 14.c4 h6 15.b4 b6 16.c5 c7 17.d4 g6 18.h3 f5 19.xf5 xf5 20.xf5 gxf5 21.g4 fxg4 22.hxg4 e7 23.h4 a5 24.a3 axb4 25.axb4 a1+ 26.c2 xd1 27.xd1 f8 28.c3 g8 29.e2 d8 30.xh6 xg4 31.h8+ g8 32.h1 e7 33.f3 c7 34.e1 e6 35.h6+ d7 36.h7 e6 37.f5+ xe5 38.xf7 d8 39.g3+ d4 40.xb7 c4 41.e5 g5 42.b6 d2 43.xc6 xb4 44.f6 b5 1/2-1/2 Trettin,U-Porth,D Germany 1994.) 9...d7 10.g3 Unnecessary. e8 11.e3 ( 11.g5!? always deserves a look as the weakness of f7 and h7 might mean a pawn grabbing raid.) 11...xe3 12.xe3 e7 13.c3 f8 14.ad1 ad8 15.d2 c6 16.h3 a6 17.hd1 e5 18.f5 e7 19.c4 xd2 20.xd2 b5 21.d3 b4 22.e2 xf5+ 23.exf5 e4 24.ed4 exd3+ 25.xd3 e4+ 26.c4 d5+ 27.xb4 b8+ 28.a5 c5 29.c4 e4 30.b3 xf3 31.xc5 e4 32.d7+ e7 33.xb8 xd2 34.b3 e4 35.b6 xg3 36.xa6 xf5 37.c5 d6 38.d3 f5 39.c5 c8+ 40.c7 a7 41.a4 g5 42.b4 e2 43.f2 h5 44.b5 xb5+ 45.axb5 xb5 46.b6 e8 47.c6 g4 48.hxg4 hxg4 49.c5 g3
50.c7 d7 51.h3 g2 52.d4 xc7 53.e5 c6 54.g1 e4 55.f4 d6 56.e2 e6 57.g1 d5 58.e2 c4 59.e3 b3 60.f2 c2 61.d4+ d3 62.xf5 1/2-1/2 Cole,R-Wall,T Newport 1997. ] 9.a3 c5 10.c3 c6 [ 10...e8 11.g5!? ] 11.e2 a6 [ 11...a5!? ] 12.g3 e7 13.b4 a7? [ 13...b6 not interfering with his Ra8. ] 14.a4! hd8 [ 14...he8 15.b5 planning Ba3+ ] 15.b5 axb5 16.axb5 d7 Now black gets shoved off the board. 17.f5 f8 [ 17...exf5 18.exf5 with the idea of Ba3+ and Rhe1. ] 18.e5 d5? [ 18...g8 isn't pretty, but sometimes a man has to do ... 19.a4!? is one way to demonstrate white's better musculature. ] 19.xd5+ exd5 20.e6 e8 [ 20...fxe6 21.g5+ ] 21.a3+ 1-0
1796 Kveinys,Aloyzas Miezis,Normunds zt 1.7 Mezezers LAT (12) [Neil McDonald]
A40 2496 2481 17.06.2000
1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.d4 e6 4.a3 f5 5.d5 f6 [ Black failed to equalise after 5...a6 6.g3 f6 7.g2 d6 8.h3 0-0 9.0-0 c5 10.b1 a5 11.b4 axb4 12.axb4 e5 13.bxc5 xc3 14.cxb6 cxb6 15.e3 in Logothetis-Skourtis, Athens 2000. ] 6.g3 b5 The familiar counterattack against c4. Other moves haven't turned out very well, e.g. [ 6...g6 7.g2 g7 8.h3 0-0 9.b1 a5 10.0-0 a6 11.c2 exd5 12.cxd5 c5 13.e3 was good for White in FiglerDelaune, World Open Philadelphia 2000. ] [ Or 6...c6 7.g2 cxd5 8.cxd5 a6 9.h3 e5 10.0-0 d6? 11.e4 fxe4 12.g5 c7 13.gxe4 e7 14.f4 and White soon had a decisive attack in Anapolsky-Rogovski, 1790
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Ukraine 2000. ] 7.g2 Naturally White has to support his d5 point. He can regain the pawn on c4 later. bxc4 8.h3! exd5? [ This makes things very easy for White, who is guaranteed long term pressure. Much more dynamic was 8...c5 or perhaps ] [ 8...e5 ] 9.xd5 c6 10.e3 g6 [ Risky is 10...d5 11.xf5 ] 11.xc4 d5 12.g5! bd7 13.b3 a6 14.d2 b6 15.c1 c8 16.0-0 g7 17.e3 xb3 18.xb3 e4 19.c2 Black appears almost to have equalised, but in fact the pressure on c6 is highly awkward. In the game continuation Black is unable to prevent the loss of the pawn af t er which defeat becomes inevitable. c4 20.a5 b5 21.d1 0-0 22.d4 fe8 23.xg7 xg7 24.b3 ef6 25.e3 e5 26.a4 d3 27.b2 e4 28.g5 h6 29.xe4 fxe4 30.c2 c5 31.b7 c6 32.xc5 b6 33.c7+ f8 34.c5 e7 35.c8+ e8 36.xe8+ xe8 37.f1 e7 38.b5 d6 39.a6 d3 40.h3 d7 41.f4 7c5 42.xc5 xc5 43.xd3 xb3 44.e2 xe3 45.f2 c3 46.b1 d4 47.b8 a3 48.c8+ d6 49.e8 d3 50.d1 a1 51.e1 d5 52.d2 b1 53.d8+ c5 54.g4 h5 55.e6 b2+ 56.c3 c2+ 57.b3 g2 58.d5+ c6 59.c3 c2+ 60.d4 e2 61.d7+ c7 62.b5 e1 63.e5 e3 64.g4 hxg4 65.hxg4 e1 66.g5 b6 67.a5+ c7 68.d7+ c8 69.d4 b7 70.e8 1-0
1797 Lambert,Andreas Toscano,John CM-2000-0-00125 [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2240 2171 2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 xg2 6.h5+ g6 7.fxg6 g7 8.gxh7+ f8 9.e2 f6 10.h4 xh1 11.g5 e7 [ 11...f3 12.f4 c6 13.d2 g4 14.g6+ f7 15.e5+ xe5 16.dxe5 f5 17.xf5 exf5 18.exf6 xf6 19.h5+ g7
20.h6+ f7 21.h5+ g7 22.h6+ 1/2-1/2 Yermolinsky,C-Miles,A/ Philadelphia 1999 ] 12.f4 f7 [ 12...e8?! 13.d2 d6 14.0-0-0 b7 15.e1 c8 16.h5 bd7 17.xe6 xe6 18.xg7+ e7 19.xe6 xe6 20.d5+ f7 21.h6 1-0 Elsness,F-Antoniou,A Istanbul OL 2000. ] 13.g6!? [ 13.d2 c6 14.g6 xh7 15.xh7 xh7 16.xh7 xd4 17.g6+ e8 18.h8 f3+ 19.f1 xg5 20.h4 f3 0-1 Vegh,E-Zlatilov,I Sankt Augustin 1990. ] [ 13.c3 b7 14.0-0-0 c6 15.g1 e7 16.h6 xh6 17.xh6+ e8 18.g7 f8 19.g6 g4 20.h5 f6 21.h6 g4 22.h5 f6 23.h6 g4 24.h5 f6 25.h6 1/2-1/2 Shirov, A-SutterCane/ Internet USCF 2000 ] 13...xh7 [ 13...e7 invites repetition. ] 14.g3!? By comparison with Vegh-Zlatilov one deduces that taking the rook should not be dangerous for black, but it is surprising that ignoring an extra rook can be such an i m p r o v e m e n t . g8 15.c3 A critical theoretical moment: [ 15.a3+!? is a very bizarre idea suggested by Fritz, and once one considers it, one can't help noticing how interesting it is. c5! ( 15...d6 16.e3! e5 17.dxe5 dxe5 18.a3+! c5 19.d3!+- ) 16.dxc5 c6 17.cxb6+ e7 18.f3!? and the passed bpawn and Bh1 give white very dangerous compensation still. ] 15...h8 [ 15...b7!? may be an improvement - it makes sense of black's position, but the game also goes his way. ] 16.f3 c6 17.0-0-0 e7 [ 17...xd4? is very slightly attempting as a forcing way to clarify things, but it seems to just expose black too much: 18.xd4 e5 19.cd5!! exd4 20.e1! xd5 ( 20...e8 21.xe8+! xe8 22.e7# ) 21.xd5+- ] 18.xh1 h6! Now black takes over the in it ia t i ve . 19.xh6+ xh6 20.g1 h8 21.b5 e8 [ 21...c8 22.xa7 a8 23.b5 xa2 24.b1 ] 1791
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.xe8 xe8 23.d3 g6 24.f4+ f6 25.xc7 This looks very risky, but white peels off enough of Black's pawn cover to make it worth a shot. c8 26.xd7 xh2 27.e1 xc4+ 28.b1 f5 29.d8+ g7 30.b3 c2 31.d5 exd5 32.e8 h6 33.xd5 [ 33.xd5 xa2 34.g5+ h7 35.h8+ xh8 36.xf6+ g8 37.d8+= Toscano gives the rather hair-raising variation f7 38.d6+ e6 39.f4+ xf4 40.c8+ d5 41.e4 xf3 42.c3+ d6 43.d8+ e6 44.e8+ f5 45.f8+ g4 46.g7+ h5 47.xa2 but there are quieter ways to conclude a sensible peace. A very interesting game with a couple of key moments for the theory of this variation. ] [ 33.d4 c3 ] ½-½
1798 Lamprecht,Frank Speelman,Jonathan S Bundesliga 2001-2 (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2406 2596 24.11.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 5.f3 [ 5.e2 b4 6.0-0 e7 7.bc3 xd3 8.xd3 d6 ( 8...g6!? 9.g5 g7 10.f4 f6 11.h4 0-0 12.d5 a6 13.ad1 e8 14.d4 exd5 15.exd5 f7 16.b3 c5 17.db5 xb5 18.xb5 f5 19.f2 d6 20.g4 a6 21.c3 h6 22.h3 d7 23.de1 ae8 24.xe8 xe8 25.e1 f5 26.g5 f7 27.xe8+ xe8 28.e2 f8 29.xe8+ xe8 30.e1 1/2-1/2 Arlandi, EEfimov,I Asti 1995.) 9.d5 d7 10.d4 g6 11.dxe6 fxe6 12.d1 ( 12.h3!? ) 12...g7 13.h3 xd4 14.xd4 0-0-0 15.g5 df8 16.d2 c6 17.h6 f7 18.b3 b8 19.e1 e8 20.e3 g8 21.g5 e5 22.h3 f8 23.h6 e7 24.g5 f8 25.h6 c8 26.f4 c6 27.g5 ff8 28.h6 e8 29.f4 e5 30.g5 d4 31.d5 g7 32.g3 e6 33.e3 f7 34.h4 h6 35.xh6 h8 36.g3 g5 37.xg5 xg5 38.xg5 xd5 39.cxd5 fh7 0-1 Arlandi,E-Krakops,M EuroTeam Leon ESP 2001. ]
5...b4 6.d5 A bit early to play this, so early t h a t i t s e e m s t o b e a n e w m o v e . xd3+ 7.xd3 b4+ [ 7...e7!? ] 8.d2 [ 8.bd2 exd5 ] [ 8.c3!? ] 8...xd2+ 9.bxd2 e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.fe1 g6 Black has a very comfortable position. 12.c3 e7 13.f1 c6! Sim ple an d sen sib le , b lack m et hod ica lly increases the scope of the bishop. [ 13...f5!? was more entertaining, but also grants white activity on the e-file. ] 14.dxc6 dxc6 15.g3 fd8 16.ad1 c5 17.c1 h6 18.e2 xd1+ 19.xd1 d8 20.d2 xd2 21.xd2 h5 22.xh5 xe4 23.e3 xf3!? [ 23...b7 to keep the improved bishop looks more promising in the long run to me, but Black prefers to trade to gain an extremely active queen. 24.e5 d6 ] 24.xf3 g5 25.d1 e5 26.b3 b2 27.a4 d4 [ 27...h7!? ] 28.b1? [ 28.xd4 looks like early the lesser evil the knight ending looks playable with white centralizing his king quickly. ] 28...e5 29.g3 d3 30.c2 g6 31.f1 g7 32.h3 b4 33.e2 c3 34.d2 c6 35.e3 xe3 36.fxe3 f5 37.f2 [ 37.e4!? ] 37...f6 38.e2 e5 39.b1 e4 40.g3 e5 Now black has a very nasty advantage as white is tied to watching his weak b-pawn w h i c h k e e p s h i m v e r y p a s s i v e . 41.h4 I believe white should have defended passively - this allows black to open a second front more easily. f6 42.d2 g5 43.c3 g6 44.b5 gxh4 45.gxh4 h5 46.d6 e7 47.a5 xh4 48.b5 c6 49.axb6 axb6 50.c7 g3 51.e2 a5 52.d5 xb3 53.xb6 c1+ 54.d2 f2 55.xc1 f4 56.d7 fxe3 57.f6 e2 58.g4+ g3 59.d2 xg4 60.xe2 f4 0-1
1792
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.fe1 fe7 27.h1 Since black is finally in a p o s i t i o n t o t r a d e q u e e n s o n c 5 . c5 28.d1 d7 29.g5 f7 30.e3 c7 31.d4 [ 31.d4!? ] 31...h6 [ 31...f4!? cedes e4 but has the attraction of 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 creating counterchances on the kingside. ] 5.e2 b4 6.bc3 xd3+ 7.xd3 d6 8.0-0 f6 9.f4!? A more spirited response 32.a5 bxa5 33.c5 fe7 34.c6 c8 35.d2 than Kramnik's restrained 9.d5. A very tough g5 36.a4 f4 37.xe5 xe5 38.xe5 dxe5 f5 40.e4 xe4 41.xe4 position results which should get the testing it 39.c5 A very unpleasant position for black - white's deserves. e7 [ 9...d5!? 10.cxd5 exd5 11.e5 e4 pawns are more dangerous and his king is safer. d6 42.d3 g7 43.c4 c8 12.f5 ] 44.e4 c7 45.a4 h5 46.xa5 g4 10.e5 d7 47.xa6 g3 48.a1 f6 49.b4 c8 50.b5+[ 10...g4!? ] c5 51.e1 e8 52.b1 b8 53.d3 e7 11.f5 exf5 54.h7+ f6 55.h6+ f5 56.e6+ e4 [ 11...dxe5!? 12.fxe6 fxe6 13.h3 A) 13...f8?! 14.dxe5 d7 15.e3 57.e1+ e3 58.g6+ d4 59.xe3 fxe3 b la c k wil l f in d i t d if f icu lt t o co m p l e t e 60.c7 f8 61.xg3 e2 62.h2 xd5 A very interesting struggle. The de velo p me n t, a nd t he at t ract ive ligh t 63.d3+ squared bishop does not compensate for result is more a reflection of the speed and fighting than a real blow to the variation. this.; B) 13...exd4 14.xd4 ( 14.xe6 f6 ) 1-0 14...c5 15.e3 ( 15.xe6+ e7 16.xe7+ xe7 17.e3 af8= ) A40 15...xd4 16.xd4 e7 17.ae1 0-0-0 1800 18.xe6 black's queen has no decent Legky,Nikolay A 2498 square.; Phillip,Robert 2204 C) 13...d6!? 14.xe6+ ( 14.h5+!? QC Open Montreal CAN (8) 19.07.2002 is much more dangerous: g6 15.g4 [Jon Tisdall] e7 16.g5 h5 17.h4 g7 18.h3 ) 14...e7 15.xe7+ xe7; 1.d4 c6 2.d5 e5 3.e4 e6 4.dxe6 fxe6 D) 13...f6 14.xe6+ ( 14.dxe5!? xe5 5.c3 g6? There is no obvious reason to 15.f4 ) 14...e7 15.xe7+ xe7 retreat, and this square is not necessarily 16.d5 ] optimal either. 12.xf5 0-0 13.exd6 cxd6 14.f4 [ 5...b6!? 6.f3 xf3+ ( 6...f7!? 7.c4 White has a nagging initiative thanks to a bit b7 8.e2 a6 9.b3 f6 10.e5 g4 more space and central control. Black is solid 11.f4 c5 12.0-0-0 e7 Crouch,Cand has definite prospects with a bishop pair Karpatchev,A Cappelle la Grande 1993.) and his kingside majority - a complex, double7.xf3 b7 8.g3 f6 9.d3 c5 10.e5 edged position. a6 g8 11.xg7 h4 12.g3 h3 13.f1 [ 14...f6!? 15.d5 g6!? It would be nice to 0-0-0 14.xh8 f8 15.e3 f6 16.g7 reach the kind of structure in the game, h5 17.h6 b4 18.0-0-0 1-0 Spacek,Pbut without .. . f5 included. ] Gross,G/ Trier 1997 (18) ] 15.a4 c7 16.b3 ae8 17.d3 f5 18.d2! 6.f3 c5 7.h4! f6 8.g5 f7 9.d2 d6 Clearing f4 for a knight. The weaknesses on 10.h5 f8 d 5 a n d e 6 in c r e a se t h e va lu e o f wh it e ' s [ 10...6e7 ] knights. g6 19.f4 g5 20.ae1 xf4 11.a4 b6?? A sad necessity. 21.xf4 f6 22.d5 g4 [ 11...d7 ] 23.d4 c8 24.h3 e5 25.e2 f7 1799 Lautier,Joel Ivanchuk,Vassily FIDE GP Dubai UAE (5.2) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2687 2717 08.04.2002
1793
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 right plan. Also, it doesn't look right to use the Rf on d8 as the Rb8 has no future where it is. ] 21.a4 d6 [ 21...e5 ] 1801 A40 Lesiege,Alexandre 2572 22.a5 d4 23.b3 e4 [ 23...e5 ] Herder,David A 2251 ch Richmond CAN (5) 24.03.2002 24.axb6 axb6 25.a7+ f8 26.e3 c3 27.xc3 xc3 28.c6 Now the bishop is out [Jon Tisdall] and white's rooks are infiltrating. d1 29.a3 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 xf1+ 30.xf1 b1?? [ 30...e4 had to be played. ] f6 6.g3 d6 7.g2 a6 8.f3 31.d3 e7 32.e2 d8 33.xd8 xd8 [ 8.h3 has a better track record. ] White can now put his B on f1 and 8...c5 9.0-0 ce4!? A very direct 34.d3 round up the knight. e5 35.d5 e4+ 36.c2 continuation. e7 37.xb1 g5 38.g4 [ 9...a5!? or ] [ 9...0-0 are common reactions. What 1-0 follows is worth noting, as the potential tactical weakness of the Bb7 is exploited A40 here in startling fashion. It is also worth 1802 remembering that the active early invasion Levitt,Jonathan 2438 of e4 looks promising - by capturing on d5 McShane,Luke J 2490 when possible black could have saddled Redbus KO Southend ENG (2.2) 14.04.2001 white with a burden on d5 and sidestepped [Jon Tisdall] the tactical tricks. ] 10.d2 0-0 1.d4 b6 2.c4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.a3 e7 [ 10...exd5!? 11.cxd5 0-0 looks very 5.e4 g6 6.e3 g7 7.d2 d5 This leads to comfortable for black - the d5 pawn is a a rather different type of position than we long-range target. ] have seen in the wait-and-see Hippo so far. 11.g5 xd2 T h e m o t i va t i o n i s t o p r e ve n t t h e s i m p l e [ 11...exd5 12.cxd5 xd2 ( 12...e7 )] exchange of dark-squared bishops 12.xd2 Black has gai ned the bishop pair but presumably white is still too flexible for ...h6 forfeited his central influence, a transaction to be a decent cure. Black stakes out some that favours white. h6 13.f7!! An idea that space in the centre and it is worth noting that is understandably easy to miss. The good delaying the development ...d6/Nd7 in favour thing is that it does not accomplish anywhere of ...e6/Ne7 keeps the advance of the d-pawn near as much as the psychological points possible in one move. Doubtless there are gained for being able to play it, but black does scenarios where black would wish to keep the suddenly face difficulties. xf7!? chance of playing e7-e5 in one move. 8.cxd5 [ 13...e7 14.xd6 xd6 ( 14...cxd6 exd5 9.e5 f5 10.f4 c5 11.f3 c6 15.b3 ) 15.b5 c5 16.ac1 exd5 12.b5 c4 Black slows the pace of the game 17.b4 c6 18.d4 with a very dangerous and stakes out the queenside. The position is initiative. ] sharp, unusual, and hard to judge - just what 14.dxe6+ dxe6 15.xb7 b8 16.g2 e5 we wa n t in DD. Mc S h a n e i s r e lu c t a n t t o 17.c2 xc3 Understandable, with the commit his king just yet, and Levitt puts a high spectre of Nb5-a7-c6 looming, but the B vs N price on evicting the Nf5. 13.g4 duel that results is dangerous. [ 13.f2!? h5 was the slower route, hoping [ 17...d4!? was more complicated. ] to eventually push black back after 18.xc3 c5 19.b4 c7 20.b5 fd8 connecting rooks, and then playing g3,h3, [ 20...e5 to reduce the scope of the bishop, g4. ] now or in the near future, looks like the 13...xe3 14.xe3 d7 15.g1 0-0-0 12.xb6 axb6 13.e5!+- dxe5 14.d8# 1-0
1794
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 7.h5+ g6 8.e2 h6 9.gf3 f6 10.0-0-0 c6 11.e5 e7 12.a3 a5 13.h3 c5 14.he1 0-0 15.b1 ac8 16.g3 g7 17.a2 c7 18.c1 fc8 19.dxc5 bxc5 20.e3 c6 21.c2 b7 22.c3 d8 23.b1 cb8 24.g1 b6 25.e2 a8 26.c1 c6 27.a1 c7 28.d1 f4 29.g4 f7 30.d3 g5 31.h4 h6 32.hxg5 hxg5 33.e4 d4 34.exc5 f3 35.h1 f8 36.a4 c6 37.c5 a6 38.xf3 xf3 39.c4 d5 40.xa6 b3 41.c3 xe5 42.xd5 exd5 43.xe5 1-0 Forintos,G-Chetverik,M/Zalakaros 1996 ] 7...h6 8.0-0 0-0 9.e2 c6 10.ad1 f6 [ 10...fxe4 11.xe4 f5= ] 11.b1 ae8 [ 11...xd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.b3 f6 14.xd7 f7 15.fd1 e5 looks comfortably equal for black. By putting off a resolution in the centre Black eventually only gets trouble, but for our purposes, the opening is definitely worth a try for the daring defender. ] 12.fe1 e7 13.f1 g5 14.d2 f4 15.e5 g7 16.c3 g4 17.3d2 d6 18.exd6 cxd6 19.e4 f5 20.d5 e5 21.xd6 xd6 22.xe5 xc4 23.d6 d7 24.xe6 xc3 25.bxc3 fd8 26.d4 xd6 27.exd6 1803 A40 xd6 28.xf4 c8 29.d4 g7 30.e3 Li Wenliang 2444 h5 31.f5 a6 32.a4 xf5 33.xf5+ f6 Burnett,Ronald 2437 34.e3 e2 35.xa7 d2 36.h4 gxh3 FSGM February (13) 17.02.2000 37.gxh3 f3 38.h4 b2 39.h2 b1 40.g3 c6 41.c7 a8 42.h7 e5 [Jon Tisdall] 43.xh5+ e4 44.h8 c6 45.h6 a8 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 b4+ 46.h8 c6 47.c8 g1+ 48.h2 g6 Not very popular, but perfectly playable. 5.d2 49.h5 h6 50.g3 b7 51.b8 a6 52.g4 c6 53.f3+ d5 54.h6 d3 xd2+ 6.xd2 f5 [ 6...h6 7.h5 f6 8.gf3 c6 9.e5 55.d8+ f4 10.g3 g4 11.xg4 xg4 12.0-0 f6 1-0 13.h3 h6 14.exf6 gxf6 15.a3 f7 16.b4 0-0-0 17.fe1 g5 18.xg5 fxg5 19.d5 A40 exd5 20.cxd5 b8 21.d6 de8 22.xh7 1804 e6 23.xe6 dxe6 24.e4 d5 25.dxc7 Liascovich,Lucas 2407 xc7 26.xd5 exd5 27.f3 xh3 Tristan,Leonardo 2317 28.xg5 h6 29.f4 c6 30.d1 d6 Mar del Plata op 38th (4) 02.04.2007 31.f3 d7 32.f2 e7 33.g4 a6 [John Emms] 34.h4 f7 35.f5 d8 36.c1 h8 37.c7+ f6 38.d4 d8 39.f3 g6 1.d4 g6 2.c4 g7 3.c3 c5 4.d5 xc3+ 40.b7 d7 41.f5 1-0 Petursson,M- 5.bxc3 f5 6.e4 fxe4 7.f3 f6 Black can Wauthier,P/Brocco 1991. ] also try ...e5, either here or the next move: 7.gf3 [ a) 7...e5 8.c2 ( the idea is 8.dxe6 c6! 16.0-0-0 h5 17.h3 hxg4 18.hxg4 a6 19.a4 h3 Black now appears to be getting a grip on both flanks, but white's central pawn wedge and black's still slumbering bishops make the position hard to assess. 20.c2 b8 21.f5 gxf5 22.xf5 [ 22.gxf5?? h6 graphically illustrates a more subtle aspect of the position, that is, that white must make stifling black's bishops an inherent part of his strategical planning. ] 22...c7 23.g5 hh8 24.h1 e7 25.c2 c8 26.h4 e6 27.f4? White hopes to start exchanges on f5 and leave black with the stunted Bg7. [ 27.b1!? ] 27...f6! 28.f3 fxe5 29.xe5 hf8! Black needs to keep both rooks on to keep chances against the white king in the ending. 30.g3 xe5 31.xe5 xe5 32.dxe5 d4 33.h6 g4 34.g1 dxc3 35.bxc3 f5 36.xb6+ c7 37.f6 Otherwise painful p e n e t r a t i o n o c c u r s o n t h e f - f i l e . xc2 38.xc2 d5 An odd finish - black is clearly better - since it is a KO event, maybe a draw was enough for black to go through. ½-½
1795
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 developing quickly; 8.d6!? c6 9.h3 a5 10.c2 b6 11.fxe4 b7 12.d3 0-0-0 13.0-0 looked nice for White in M. MolinaroliA.Istratescu, Senden 2003) 8...d6 9.fxe4 f6 10.f3 h6 11.d3 g5 12.0-0 e7 13.f2 bd7 14.h4 g4 15.e1 g7 16.g3 f8 17.e3 g8 18.xf8+ xf8 B.Posedaru-G.Grigore, Bucharest 2011. ] [ b) 7...d6 8.fxe4 e5 9.f3 d7 10.d3 df6 11.0-0 f8 12.h4 g7 13.f3 e7 14.b1 G. Battaglini-A.Istratescu, Caleta 2010. This (and also the previous example) is a bit like the Hübner Variation of the Nimzo-Indian, except Black's kingside structured is compromised by the early ... g6. ] 8.fxe4 d6 9.f3 bd7 Black employs a similar strategy to the one we saw in Onischuk-Sokolov, but this time he keeps his queen at home. This certainly has some logic, given that in a few ...Qa5 lines Black's queen was having to rush back to c7 or d8 to defend some central squares. [ 9...a5 10.c2 bd7 11.d3 wo u ld t ra n s po se t o On isch u k-S o kolo v, Viernheim 1995. ] 10.d3 g4 [ T h e i m m e d i a t e 10...e5!? is possible again. 11.xe5 ( 11.0-0 g4! is an example of Black being favoured by the omission of the move pair Qc2 and ... Qa5 ) 11...dxe5 12.0-0 ( 12.h6!? ) 12...h6 13.a4 a5!? 14.a2 d6 15.h3 d7 16.e3 f7 17.e1 g7 18.h2 b6 19.g3 af8 ( 19...g5!? intending ...Be8-g6) 20.ff2 c7 21.b1 b8 22.f1 e8 23.g2 d7 ( 23...g5!? ) 24.fb2 1/2-1/2 A.Braun-K. Bischoff, Altenkirchen 2001. Black successfully consolidated in this game. ] 11.f4! [ 11.h3 ge5 12.e2 xf3+ 13.gxf3! ( 13.xf3 e5 is fine for Black - White has wasted too much time) 13...f6! 14.d3 a5 15.e3 A) Lukacs gives 15...h5! 16.e5 ( 16.f4? xf4! ) 16...dxe5 17.xe5 0-0 18.h6 f7 and "unclear"; B) 15...0-0 16.d2 e5 17.dxe6 xe6 was agreed drawn in P. Lukacs-G.Seul, Budapest 1995. Lukacs prefers White in
t h i s f i n a l p o s i t i o n a f t e r 18.h4 but the computer claims Black is fine here with a6 intending 19.h5 xh5 ] 11...0-0 12.d2 de5 13.xe5 xe5 14.0-0 This certainly feels better for Black than Onischuk-Sokolov, but it's still not that easy to consolidate, as the game shows. b6 [ The problem with 14...d7? is that after 15.xe5! dxe5 16.g5 Black cannot protect both e5 and e7. ] 15.h6 [ The immediate 15.e2 would reach the position we get at move 18, and might be the most accurate, but W hite tries something different first. ] 15...f6! 16.g5 f7 [ 16...xf1+!? 17.xf1 a6 18.f4 e8 ] 17.f4 f8 Now we are back where we were after 14...b6. 18.e2! Introducing ideas of d5d 6 a n d B e 2 - g 4 l a t e r o n . a6? This is definitely a mistake. Black needs to be very careful here, but if he is, he might be just about able to equalise. [ T h e d e s i r a b l e 18...d7? still runs into 19.xe5 dxe5 20.g5! winning a pawn. ] [ 18...b7 19.xe5 dxe5 20.xf8+ xf8 21.g4! is awkward for Black. ] [ 18...g4 19.xe5 xe2 20.xf8+ xf8 21.xe2 dxe5 22.g4 ( or 22.f1 )] [ 18...f7!? might be Black's best bet, preparing ....e5. ] 19.xe5! Now this is strong. dxe5 20.xf8+ xf8 21.f1 g7 [ If 21...d8 there's 22.h6! intending h4h 5 , a n d i f d6? then 23.g4! is immediately decisive. ] 22.d6! e6 The only good way to defend against Qd5+. 23.d7? [ 23.g5! e8 ( 23...h6 24.f6 ) 24.f6! spells trouble for Black. ] 23...d8?? Missing White's idea. [ After 23...e7! White would have regretted pushing the d-pawn so quickly ] 24.d6! [ W hite wins af ter 24.d6 xd7 ( or 24...xd7 25.b8+ ) 25.f8+! Bischoff's 10...Ne5 looks solid, and at the moment I feel that Black is better off without ...Qa5 in this particular line. ] 1-0
1796
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1805 Likavsky,Tomas Bunzmann,Dimitrij TCh-AUT 1st Bundesliga 2007-8 (4) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2494 2518 10.01.08
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 b4+ Bunzmann has played this line for many years and obviously isn't put off by i t ' s s l i g h t l y d u b i o u s r e p u t a t i o n . 6.f1 White has to move his king in the opening is this only a minor inconvenience or a basis for some Black compensation? f6 7.f3 0-0 8.a3 d6 9.c3 e8 [ Black also suffered after 9...exf5 10.xf5 e8 11.e3 h5 12.g5 Jaworski, MKalinitschew, S Barlinek 2006 ] [ and for that matter 9...c6 10.fxe6 dxe6 11.e2 d7 12.e4 a5 13.xf6+ xf6 14.g5 f7 15.b4 b3 16.b1 Berczes, D-Seres, L Budapest 2006 ] 10.g5 exf5 [ Varying from 10...h5 11.d5 (blocking the long diagonal) exf5 12.b5 e4 13.xd6 cxd6 14.e3 a6 15.c1 ae8 16.b4 when White had a positional advantage (as black's queenside pieces are out of play) in Schlosser, P-Totsky, L Pardubice 2007 ] 11.c5! A strong novelty. [ After 11.xf5 h5 12.h4 h6 Black is very active e.g. 13.g1 xf3 14.xf3 xf3 15.gxf3 hxg5 16.hxg5 e8 and White was able to just about obtain enough compensation for his piece in Khenkin, IBunzmann, D Polanica Zdroj 1999. ] 11...e7 [ Following 11...bxc5? 12.dxc5 xc5 White picks off a piece with 13.b3+ f7 14.xb7 ] 12.xf5 White is relatively better placed than in the Khenkin game as Black's bishop is not as dynamic on e7. h8 Now Black threatens to capture on c5, so White decides to release the tension. [ Perhaps Black should continue with the thematic 12...h5!? anyway. ] 13.cxb6 axb6 14.h4 Enabling the rook to develop to h3. a5!? Black has also angled to develop a rook along the file!? [ Simplifying with 14...d5 15.xd5 xd5 16.d3 h5 17.h3 leaves Black bereft of
compensation. ] 15.c2 d6 16.g1 h5 The queen finally makes it to h5 but under inferior circumstances to the above-mentioned game a g a i n s t K h e n k i n . 17.h3 c6 Black develops his final piece, but the impression is that he doesn't have sufficient pressure to justify the pawn deficit. The game continuation confirms this. 18.xf6 gxf6 [ 18...xf6 is even worse after 19.e4 ] 19.e4 f4 20.eg5! g4 [ After 20...fxg5 21.hxg5 e8 ( 21...f7 is strongly met by 22.g3 d6 23.g6 ) 22.xh7+ g8 23.d3 the attack is really too strong. ] 21.d3 f5 22.e1 White's harmonious forces a re t a kin g o ve r co n t ro l. B la ck n o w s o o n collapses but his position is very difficult in any case. d5 23.b3 d6 24.d5 a5 25.a2 h6 26.b4 g8 27.bxa5 hxg5 28.hxg5 1-0
1806 Likavsky,Tomas Czebe,Attila TCh SVK (10) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2409 2520 17.03.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 There was quite a lot of recent activity in the less reputable lines for white from this position, and their reputations did not improve: 4.d2 [ 4.f3 d5!? A new approach, striking back directly in the centre instead of banking on the undermining thrust ...f5. 5.c3 dxe4 6.fxe4 e5 7.d5 c5 8.b4?! xb4! 9.a4+ c6! 10.d2 xc3 11.xc3 h4+ 12.d2 xe4 13.f3 ( 13.dxc6 xc6 14.c2 f4+ 15.e1 0-0-0 ) 13...f6? ( 13...0-0-0!-+ ) 14.e2?? ( 14.e1 ) 14...xd5-+ 0-1 Henry, R-Blatny,P Framingham USA 2001. ] [ 4.d3 f5 5.c3 b4 6.e2 f6 A) 7.f3 is more common but also rather unpleasant for white. c6 8.e3 fxe4!? is a new and natural idea that worked out well for black. ( 8...f4 9.f2 e5 10.dxe5 xe5 11.d2 0-0 12.ge2 e8 13.a3 c5 14.xc5 bxc5 15.d5 h4+ 1797
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.d1 xd5 17.exd5 d6 18.b3 ae8 19.c2 xd3 20.g3 fxg3 21.xd3 g2 0-1 Barbafiera,L-Brancaleoni,M Bratto 1999. ) 9.fxe4 e5 10.d5 d4 11.d1 0-0 White has troubles completing his development. 12.a3 c5 13.g5 a5 14.f3 e8 15.b5 xb5 16.cxb5 xd5! and black should have been well o n t h e wa y t o vi c t o r y. 17.c2 b7 18.0-0-0 h8 19.h3 g6 20.he1 d6 21.b1 h5 22.d2 f4 23.xf4 exf4 24.h4 f6 25.f5 e5 26.e2 ae8 27.g4 c8 28.f3 d5 29.c2 d4 30.d3 d8 31.g4 fxg3 32.xg3 f2 33.f1 xf1 34.xf1 e6 35.f5 f8 36.h4 g6 37.g3 h6 38.h5 e3 39.f3 g8 40.hxg6 hxg6 41.e2 g7 42.g2 g5 43.xe3 xe3 44.f5+ xf5 45.exf5 h6 46.h2+ g5 47.fxg6 d3 48.g2+ h6 49.h2+ xg6 50.g2+ h7 51.h2+ g7 52.g2+ f8 53.f1+ e7 54.xd3 xd3 55.xd3 d6 56.a2 c5 57.e2 g2 58.d3 f2 59.b3 a4+ 60.c3 g2 61.b3 axb3 62.xb3 g3 63.c3 1/2-1/2 Viktorov,G-Bojkov,D Pamporovo BUL 2001.; B) 7.g5?! A dubious alternative - white has no noticeable improvement in this game, but the background is worth noting. fxe4 B1) 8.xe4 xe4 ( 8...xe4 9.xd8 xc3 10.h5+ g6 11.e5 0-0 12.f1 e4 13.f3 d6 14.b5 xd8 15.e1 f8 16.h4 c6 17.xe4 xb5 18.cxb5 f4 19.e3 a6 20.h5 axb5 21.g3 f5 22.g4 f4 23.hxg6 hxg6 0-1 Kansky,P-Janturin,A Decin 1998.) 9.xf6 xf6 10.xe4 xc3+ 11.bxc3 0-0 12.f3 c6 13.0-0 f5 14.fe1 xe4 15.xe4 f5 16.d1 a5 17.d5 exd5 18.xd5 xd5 19.cxd5 f8 20.f1 e8 21.e5 e7 22.f4+ e8 23.d3 b7 24.h4 d6 25.f3 e3 26.d4 f5 27.f2 xd4 28.xe3 f5+ 29.e4 xh4 30.g3 g6 31.c4 e7 32.f4 h8 33.c5 bxc5 34.xc5 f7 35.a4 g6 36.g4 h6 37.f5 d6+ 38.f4 gxf5 39.gxf5 e8 40.e4 f6+ 41.d4 h5 42.d3 d6 43.f4 a6 44.a5 h4 45.c4 e5 46.g6+
xf5 47.xh4+ e4 48.d6 cxd6 49.g2 g4 50.e1 e5+ 51.c3 d5 0-1 Starostits,I-Bunzmann,D Yerevan 1999.; B2) 8.xf6 exd3 9.h5+ g6 10.g5 e7 11.xe7 xe7 12.xe7+ xe7 13.f3 Better than the previous game, but still short of equality. ( 13.d5 a6 14.a3 af8 15.f3 f4 16.d2 f5 17.0-0 exd5 18.ae1+ d8 19.cxd5 h5 20.c4 c5 21.e3 f4 22.d1 a5 23.fe1 hf8 24.f3 a4 25.a2 a6 26.b4 b5 27.f1 d4 28.g3 d2 29.e3 h4 30.e2 xe2 31.xe2 b3 32.h3 c4 33.exd2 xd2 34.xd2 e8 35.a2 e5 36.c3 e7 37.f2 d6 38.f1 f6 39.f2 f5 40.f1 f6 41.f2 e7 42.d1 g5 43.e3 c5 44.d4 b5 45.f4 gxf4 46.d1 exd5 0-1 Razmyslov,AKengis,E Bad Zwesten 1997.) 13...c6 14.d5 e5 15.b3 exd5 16.cxd5 c6 17.d2 cxd5 18.e1 f6 19.f4 g4 20.f3 f2 21.hf1 e4+ 22.xe4+ ( 22.xd3 a6+ ) 22...dxe4 23.d4 ac8 24.g4 c5 25.h4 hc8 26.g5+ g7 27.f5 f8 28.f6+ f7 29.e3 fc8 30.g1 h6 31.b4 d5 32.gxh6 d2 33.d1 c3+ 34.xd2 h3 35.c2 xh4 36.h1 dh5 37.xh4 xh4 38.b5 c6 39.xa7 a4+ 40.c1 xd1 41.xd1 xf6 42.c8 b5 43.d6 e3 44.e2 xb4 45.xe3 g5 46.e4+ g6 47.h7 xe4+ 48.xe4 xh7 0-1 Joppien,A-Kalinitschew,S Kiel GER 2001. ] [ 4.c3 b4 5.f3 This is still a critical position, and one that does not get a lot of testing these days. f5 6.exf5 h6!? This gambit was popular in the early days of t h e E n g l is h D e f e n ce , b u t st i ll re m a i n s relatively unexplored. Simply recapturing on f5 has become more often seen in recent games. 7.fxe6 0-0 8.h3 ( 8.e3!? f5 9.d2!? dxe6 10.d3 c6 11.ge2 xe3 12.xe3 h4+ 13.f2 h6 14.a3 e7 15.e4 ad8 16.d1 d7 17.0-0 fd8 18.c2 a5 19.a4 xc4 20.xd7 xd7 21.b1 e5 22.b4 e3 23.dxe5 xf1 24.xf1 a5 25.2g3 axb4 26.axb4 xb4 27.a2+ d5 28.a7 c6 1798
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 29.b8+ f8 30.e6 e5 31.f5 xe6 32.d4 e8 33.xb7 e7 34.d5+ h8 35.c6 f7 36.g5 f4 37.ge6 e3+ 38.h1 f7 39.h3 h6 40.g1 d6 41.e8+ f8 42.g6 g8 43.f5 e5 44.f4 e4 45.g5 1-0 Kristensen,KAndersen,I Copenhagen 1993.) 8...f5 ( 8...h4+!? 9.f2 g4 10.c2 c6 11.d2 ae8 12.d5 c5 13.ce4 xf2 14.xc5 xh1+ 15.g3 xg3 16.hxg3 xg3+ 17.f2 xf2+ 18.xf2 bxc5 19.exd7 d8 20.dxc6 xc6 21.e2 xd7 22.e3 f5 23.f4 d8 24.g4 f6 25.b3 a5 26.g1 a4 27.d1 axb3 28.xb3 h6 29.c2 a8 30.a1 g5 31.a4 b8 32.a2 f7 33.d3 b3 34.e2 gxf4 35.xc5 f3 36.f1 b7 37.d4 g6 38.e5 c5 39.d2 c6 40.a5 a3 41.c7 a1 42.e5 xa5 43.d6 a1 44.xc5 g2+ 45.xg2 fxg2 46.e2 g1 47.xg1 xg1 48.d6 g6 0-1 Arbakov,VMihalko,J Budapest 1991.) 9.g5 e8 10.d2 xe6+ 11.e2 h6 12.f4 g6 13.d3 e8+ 14.e2 c6 15.a3 d6 16.xd6 cxd6 17.b5 g6 18.d3 a6 19.xf5 xf5 20.xd6 e6+ 21.e4 xc4 22.d1 ae8 23.d5 xe4+ 24.fxe4 xe4+ 25.e2 h4+ 26.g3 xh3 27.dxc6 xc6 28.f1 a8 29.f4 b5 30.e4 c8 31.d2 c1+ 32.d1 c8 33.d2 d6 34.f5 e8+ 35.d1 a4+ 36.b3 xb3+ 37.c1 xf5 38.xf5 d5 39.b2 c4 40.f3 b5 41.c3 a5 42.h4 h7 43.d4 e7 44.df4 b7 45.d4 b4 46.axb4 axb4 47.f7 b6 48.3f4 g6 49.b7 xg3 1/2-1/2 Palliser,R-Bunzmann,D Athens GRE 2001. ] 4...b4 5.d3?! A very rare or new continuation and a risky one, for reasons analogous with the white N on c3 - white's centre comes under quick and fierce pressure. f5 6.h5+ g6 7.e2 f6 8.f3 c6 9.d5 d4 10.e3 fxe4 11.fxe4 0-0!? [ 11...c5 ] 12.xd4 g4 13.gf3 xf3 14.gxf3 h4+ 15.d1 [ 15.e2 c5 16.xc5 bxc5 17.fxg4 xg4+ 18.e1 exd5 19.cxd5 xd5 20.exd5? e8+ 21.f2 ( 21.f1 h3+ ) 21...d4+ ] 15...f2+ 16.c2 xh1 17.g1 f2
18.g3 xg3 19.hxg3 exd5 20.cxd5 xd3 The bishop pair and development edge give black a clear superiority. 21.xd3 c6 22.dxc6 dxc6 23.c4 b5 24.e3 d8+ 25.e2 a5 26.g4 e7 27.e3 b4 28.c1 a6+ 29.e1 b5 30.b6 a8 31.c5 h5 32.e3 f6 33.c2 d8 34.f2 d3 35.f4 d4 36.xd4 xd4 37.e5 f7 38.g2 a4 39.g1 d1+ 40.h2 a1 41.b3 axb3 42.axb3 b1 43.d2 xb3 44.d6 d3 45.f6+ g7 46.f5 gxf5 47.f4 d7 48.g6+ f8 49.e6 g7 50.f6+ e7 51.xf5 b3 52.e5 b2 53.e1 h4 ½-½
1807 Lipinsky,Fabian McShane,Luke J Bundesliga 2000-1 (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2362 2480 10.12.2000
1.d4 b6 2.c4 b7 [ 2...e6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 g6 5.e4 g7 6.f3 e7 7.d3 d6 8.0-0 d7 9.e1 h6 10.e3 g5 Clearly Baburin was as impressed as I was by his loss to Miles in this opening. Perhaps this falls into the experimental category - I would occasionally ta ke up o p en in gs I d idn 't t ru st bu t h a d disappointing results against, just to see how it was sitting on the other side. Often, this kind of educational odyssey only demonstrated that there are some positions one should try to completely steer clear of. And whether Baburin now feels armed as white, or just totally annoyed, we will have to wait and see. 11.c1 a6 In the game Baburin-Miles (look it up in the last instalment - a modern classic) W hite had played h3, black ...a6 and Miles reacted to Rc1 with ...c5 - this turns out to be a vast difference as black needs not only some kind of foothold in the centre, he needs to stop white just setting up with d5/Nd4, which puts a cramp in. 12.d5 g6 13.d4 e7 14.b4 ge5 15.f1 c8 16.f3 h5 17.a4 h4 18.h3 f8 19.c5 bxc5 20.bxc5 c6 21.dxe6 fxe6 22.b3 1-0 Ehlvest,J-Baburin, A Istanbul OL 2000. ] 3.f3 g6 4.g3 Not a critical line - there is 1799
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 nothing wrong with non-confrontational tactics as white, and often they can provide a quiet, minimal advantage - but they also cannot provide a serious threat to offbeat systems, and allow black to achieve his aim of original, playable positions without theoretical baggage. g7 5.g2 e6 6.c3 e7 7.d5 a6 8.d4 e5 [ 8...exd5!? planning quick pressure with ... Nb4 was definitely worth considering. ] 9.f3 0-0 10.0-0 f5 Black can be satisfied with a complex and dynamic position. He can try to play a King's Indian on the kingside, and a Q u e e n ' s I n d ia n / E n gl is h o n t h e o t h e r . 11.b5 e4 12.g5 h6 [ 12...c6? 13.d6 cxd5 14.xb7 c7 15.cxd5 xb7 16.d6 planning f2-f3. ] 13.h3 g5 14.f3 c5 [ 14...exf3!? 15.exf3 g6 ] 15.fxe4 xe4 16.f2 a6 17.xe4 axb5 18.c3 bxc4 [ 18...xc3!? may be better - the Bg7 will soon be torn away from the kingside at any rate, and this seems a superior version. 19.bxc3 bxc4 20.d6 c6 and black is much better coordinated than in the game. ] 19.d6 c6 20.b5 e5 21.d5+ g7 22.dxc7 [ 22.xc7 a5 ] 22...xc7 23.xc7? [ 23.xf5 must give white an advantage black's pawns are very weak and even xf5 24.xf5 e7 25.xg5! works out well for him. ] 23...xc7 24.xc4 e5! 25.d2 a6! 26.d5 xd5 27.xd5 xe2 28.fe1 fe8 29.f2 d3 30.ad1 xe1 31.xe1 b5 32.c3+ g6 33.g2 a7 34.a3 White's bishops give him full compensation for the pawn. f7 35.d5 c4 36.xf5+ e7 37.f6 e6 38.xh6 g4 39.h4 gxh3 40.xh3 a4 41.xe6 dxe6 42.h4 a8 43.g4 d6 44.h1 e5 45.g3 g8 46.h6+ d5 47.h4 e4 48.g3 e3 49.f3 e2 50.xe2 xg4 51.f3 g1 52.h5+ c4 53.h4+ d5 54.a4 c5 55.h5+ d6 56.h6+ c5 57.e3 g4 58.h5+ d6 59.b3 c7 60.d3 b4+ 61.xb4 xb4 62.c3 g4 63.d5 c6 64.d4 g3+ 65.c4 g5 66.b4 g1 67.b5+ c7 68.h4 c1+ 69.d5 d1+
70.d4 h1 71.c4+ b7 72.e4 d1+ 73.e6 c7 74.e5 d4 75.f5 xa4 76.f7+ b8 77.d5 h4 78.f8+ ½-½
1808 Ma Yu Bokros,Albert Young Masters (5) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2375 2405 23.12.1999
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 5.d3 f5 6.e2 f6 7.e5? A novelty that should not see the light of day too often again. White believes that the bishop will not emerge from h1, but this proves to be optimistic. A ga m e f o r t h e t h e o re t ica l f o o t n o t e s . xg2 8.exf6 xf6 9.f3 xh1 10.f2 c6 11.ge2 e5 12.f1 xc3 13.xc3 e4 14.d5 xd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.xc7+ f7 17.xa8 exd3 18.c7 c8 19.f4 xf3 20.f2 h5 21.h4 xc7 22.xc7 d2 23.e5 c6 0-1
1809 Maia,Jose Eduardo Limp,Eduardo Thelio II ch-Semi-Final (6) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2232 2480 26.11.2000
1.d4 b6 2.f3 b7 3.c4 e6 4.c3 b4 5.c2 f5 6.g5 f6 7.e3 h6 8.xf6 xf6 9.d3 [ 9.a3 e7 10.d5 0-0 11.e2 c6 12.0-0 a6 13.ad1 cxd5 14.cxd5 fc8 15.d4 c5 16.b1 e5 17.f3 ab8 18.b4 a6 19.fe1 c4 20.dxe6 dxe6 21.c6 xc6 22.xc6 xc3 23.bxc5 xa3 24.c1 xc5 25.d7 f7 26.a1 b5 27.a6 b6 28.a1 a5 29.b1 a4 30.xc4 bxc4 31.xb6 xb6 32.xa4 a3 33.c2 b2 34.e2 f6 35.f3 c5 36.d1 b1 37.e1 xe3+ 38.xe3 xd1+ 39.f2 d2+ 40.f1 c2 41.f4 g5 42.fxg5+ hxg5 43.e1 g4 44.a1 c3 45.a5 d2 46.c5 c2 0-1 Guzik,J-Matveeva,S/Warsaw 1999 ] 9...c5! Black has a pleasant variety of options as to how he prefers to disrupt white's pawn 1800
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 structure now. 10.0-0-0 xc3 11.bxc3 [ 11.xc3 xf3 12.gxf3 c6 is also unpleasant for white - pressure on the c-file will occur even faster. ] 11...xf3 12.gxf3 c6 13.f4 0-0 [ 13...cxd4 was perhaps more accurate - it would be nice to know the c-file will open. ] 14.hg1 [ 14.d5 was probably better, keeping things closed as long as possible on the queenside. ] 14...cxd4 15.cxd4 ac8 16.a4 c7 A ve ry u s e f u l m o ve , wh i ch a lso ke e p s a watchful eye on his only real weakness on g7. 17.b1 d6! Well assessed - black could try just loading up on the c-file, but this central expansion exposes white more, and does not grant white the counterplay one might expect. 18.g3 e5 19.fxe5 dxe5 20.d5 a5 21.dg1?! perhaps based on a long miscalculation. [ 21.c1 ] 21...e4 22.e2 c3 23.d6 [ 23.c1 d2 as white will be hard pressed to preserve a full set of his pawns. ] 23...xc4! 24.xc4+ xc4 25.xg7+ h8 26.h7+ [ 26.h7+ There is no mate on g7 after xh7 27.d7+ ] 0-1
1810 Mail Bag English Defence,E N,Archana [Glenn Flear]
A40
After the moves 1.d4 b6 2.c4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.e4 b4 Bob Cochran asked about the move 5.g4 I've found two ideas for Black. He can either defend the g-pawn with his queen or play the more combative 5...Nf6 e.g. f6 [ 5...f6 6.a3 ( 6.e5 g6 7.xg6 hxg6 8.d2 e7 should also be reasonable for the second player.) 6...xc3+ 7.bxc3 g6 8.xg6 hxg6 Kaczorowska, B-Borysiak,B W arsaw 1997 when Black's superior structure compensates for the bishop pair. ] 6.xg7 g8 7.h6 g6 8.h3 xe4 9.ge2 c6
[ or 9...f6 10.e3 c5!? ] 10.e3 f6 was fine for Black in Ellison,DBlackburn,G Port Erin 2002
1811 Malakhatko,Vadim Flear,Glenn C open Marseille (3) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2540 2489 27.06.2004
1.d4 b6 2.c4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.a3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 d6 7.f3 A move that Malakhatko has used before. One way for Black to avoid this slightly annoying line is to delay the bishop's development until W hite has committed his king's knight e.g. 6...Na6!? (rather than 6...Bd6) and if 7 Nh3 then 7...Bd6, or after 7 Nf3 to play 7...Nc5, with ideas of ... Be7 and ...Nfe4. a6 [ 7...c6! is the most precise at this point e.g. 8.dxc6 dxc6 9.g2 0-0 10.0-0 e7 11.e4 fxe4 12.g5 c5 13.cxe4 xe4 14.xe4 and a draw was agreed in Comas Fabrego,LArizmendi Martin,J Mallorca 2001 presumably because Black is equal after e5 Black's queen's knight can then be de ve lo p e d t o t h e m ore u se f u l c6 o r d 7 squares. ] 8.g2 c6 9.dxe6 dxe6 10.0-0 c5? Based on an oversight. Black should play [ 10...0-0 when 11.e4! leads to a small edge f o r W h i t e w i t h fxe4 12.g5 e7 13.cxe4 ] 11.a4+ e7 [ 11...d7? gets into serious trouble after 12.b5! ] 12.d1 e8 13.c2 Naturally White keeps the queens on. Now it's difficult for Black to defend against all the threats. c7 [ or 13...d8 14.b5 b8 15.f4 and the dark squares creak very loudly! ] 14.xd6! xf3 15.f4 [ After 15.xf3 xd6 16.f4+ e5 I couldn't see anything clear for White at the time but Fritz suggests 17.d2+ e6 18.xe5! ] 15...xg2 16.xg2 g5 Bad but unfortunately so is the natural [ 16...d8 e.g. 17.ad1 xd6 18.xd6+ f7 19.xc7 c6+ b e c a u s e o f 20.e4! 1801
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and White wins a pawn. ] 17.xg5 [ If 17.e5 I was relying on g4 but here a ga in Fri t z f in d s a s t ro n g co m b in a t io n starting with 18.d5+! xd5 ( 18...exd5 19.xf5 ) 19.cxd5 and wins. ] 17...xd6 18.xf6 f8 19.d3+ c6 20.f3+ d7 21.d1+ c8 22.b5! [ T h e o n l y w a y t o p l a y o n a f t e r 22.b5 is with xb5 23.cxb5 xf6 24.c6 f7 25.d6 e7 but Black is virtually in zugzwang and W hite can win however he likes. Bringing up his king for instance with 26.h3 b8 27.h4 a8 28.g5 etc. should do the trick. I'd had enough by this stage, so I didn't seek further humiliation by playing on! ] 1-0
1812 Malakhatko,Vadim Kulesza,Mateusz Open Mielo POL (2) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2562 2301 11.06.2005
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 g6 Hitherto White had just continued development with Bg2, then N out followed by castling short. Malakhatko comes u p w i t h a s t a r t l i n g n e w i d e a . . . 7.e4?! Great surprise value but I don't believe it's fully sound. fxe4 8.h4 This reminds one of some anti-Leningrad Dutch attacks, that are known to be dangerous, but here Black has already fianchettoed his queen's bishop. If this piece can have a significant influence then W hite's at tack will be t oo slow. e7 9.g5 a6?! This misses the point. [ I'm not sure that I'd fancy defending Black's position after 9...f7 10.h5 xh5 11.xh5 gxh5 12.e2 g8 but the immediate ] [ 9...h6! 10.xf6 xf6 avoids any problems due to h4-h5 which can always be met by ... g5. After the further 11.c2 g7 12.g2 0-0 13.xe4 ( or 13.h3 exd5 14.cxd5 e3! ) 13...exd5 White's king is at least as vulnerable as Black's. ] 10.h5 h6 Now this comes at the cost of concessions on the flank. 11.hxg6 g7 12.e3 exd5 13.cxd5 c5 14.h3 d3+?!
[ Black should prefer the principle alternative 14...0-0-0 but after 15.c1 b8 16.f4 it's hard to see where his counterplay is coming from. ] 15.xd3 exd3 16.xd3 g4 17.0-0-0 xe3 18.de1 0-0-0 Now Black finally castles after spending several tempi to just lose a pawn! White is on top but two bishops can sometimes hold off two knights and an extra pawn in open positions. 19.xe3 c5 20.f4 f6 [ 20...he8 is a slightly lesser evil as the plan of putting the bishop on g5 just leads to it's exchange under unfavourable circumstances. However after something like 21.b1 xe3 22.xe3 d4 23.e2 the presence of the g6-pawn will ensure a White victory. ] 21.b1 g5 22.e4 a5 23.xg5 hxg5 24.xh8 xh8 25.g7 g8 26.f5 c5 27.f7 The g-pawn s Black's fate. Note how the fianchettoed queen's bishop had virtually no effect on play! 1-0
1813 Marin,Mihail Botvinnik,Ilia It Tel Aviv ISR (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2555 2405 23.03.2000
1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.a3 b7 4.d5 f5 5.c3 f6 6.g3 c6!? 7.g2 [ 7.dxe6 dxe6 8.xd8+ xd8 9.f4 bd7 10.f3 h6 11.g2 g5 12.e5 xe5 13.xe5 c7 14.g6 h7 15.xf8 xf8 16.f4 g4 17.d1 gxf4 18.gxf4 d8 19.h3 f6 20.f2 g7 21.f3 d4 22.c5 xf4 23.c1 d4 24.d3 d7 25.cxb6+ axb6 26.b4 d6 27.b2 e5 28.d1 xf3+ 29.exf3 xd1+ 30.xd1 g2 31.f2 c5 32.bxc5 bxc5 33.d3 b6 34.f1 c2 35.f4 a6 36.f3 c3 37.e5 xf3 38.xf3 b5 39.e5 a4 40.g6 xa3 41.h4 b7 42.f8 c4 43.xe6 c3 44.c5 c2 45.d3 e4 46.c1 h5 47.e2 b3 48.c1+ c3 0-1 Sergeev,VRogovski,V/Presov 1997 (48) ] 7...cxd5 8.cxd5 d6 9.e4 e5 10.ge2 fxe4 11.xe4 xd5 12.xf6+ xf6 1802
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.xd5 exd5 14.xd5 c6 15.0-0 0-0-0 One would have thought that black's king position gave cause for concern, but white does not manage to prove this. 16.b1 he8 17.b4 e6 18.d1 xd5 19.xd5 f6 20.e3 e5 21.bd1 xd5 22.xd5 e8 23.f4 e4 24.f1 c4 25.e2 ½-½
1814 Markos,Jan Halkias,Stelios 34th Olympiad (10) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2327 2502 07.11.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 f5 4.c3 f6 5.f3 b7 6.d5 a6 7.g3 g6 8.g2 g7 9.0-0 0-0 10.f4 c5 [ 10...e4 11.xe4 fxe4 12.g5 exd5 13.cxd5 c5 ( 13...xb2!? deserves testing, and may well be playable.) 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4 d6 16.b1 d7 17.g2 a6 18.e1 ae8 19.e4 h6 20.h4 1-0 Dziuba, M-Hindermann,F Chalkidiki 2000. ] 11.c1 fe4 12.e5 h6 13.e3 d6 14.d4 e5 15.xc5 xc5 [ 15...xc3!? 16.xc3 bxc5 gives black good chances of using his dark squared bishop to pressure b2/a1. ] 16.b4 d7 17.a4 a6 18.e1 g5 19.c5 g4 20.h4!? The N has few prospects here except to be sacrificed on f5, but this is a very interesting idea. e4 Black is about to get a grip with Ne5, so... [ 20...g5 21.xf5 xf5 22.xg4 ] 21.xf5 xf5 22.xg4+ g5 23.xe4 [ 23.xg5+ xg5 24.cxd6 cxd6 25.xe4 e5 ] [ 23.h3 xg4 24.xg4 f7 25.e6 e5 is very complicated, but black's initiative is probably worth most here. One romantic variation is 26.xf7+ xf7 and now white n e e d s t o b e a b l e t o p l a y 27.cxb6 but black's attacking chances seem to be m o s t r e l e v a n t : f3+ 28.h1 xe1 29.xc7+ g6 30.bxa7 xe3 31.fxe3 f8 32.h4 f1+ 33.h2 f2+ 34.g1 d2! mating. ] 23...f7 24.cxd6 [ 24.f4 looks best, mobilizing the pawn mass
with great complications. I feel the unopposed dark-squared bishop must give black the better chances though. ] 24...cxd6 25.c7 e7 26.h4? This makes white's pawn mass more passive as further advances are likely to simply expose his own king. g7 27.c2 e5 28.c1 f8 29.xe7 xe7 30.c7 f6 31.f4 g6! N o wh i t e i s b a d l y o u t n u m b e r e d a n d h i s position caves in. 32.e7 xg3 33.e6+ h8 34.h3 g7 Putting fun above material is often efficient, but not necessarily most correct. There was nothing wrong with [ 34...f3+ 35.h1 xh4 winning greedily. ] 35.fxe5 xe5 36.c3? [ 36.h1 b5 ( 36...g8!? ) 37.e6! allows white to fight on. ] 36...b5 37.e6 g7 38.c6 g8 0-1
1815 Markus,Robert Short,Nigel D TCh Neum BIH (4) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2532 2712 01.06.2004
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b4 4.e3 An sensible choice if one is experienced in the 4 e3 Nimzo for W hite. xc3+!? If Black is going to give up his bishop, then now is the logical moment as the pawns are doubled. After [ 4...f6 play transposes to the NimzoIndian, but more in the spirit of the English Defence would be ] [ 4...b7 5.ge2 f5 6.a3 e7 ( 6...d6 7.d5 f6 8.g3 is similar to the variation where White plays an early a2-a3 and Black goes directly to d6 with his bishop. White's extra tempo has been employed by playing e2-e3 which allows the solid development Ng1-e2 reinforcing the other knight and thus the centre. W ith the centre well-covered Black has less chances for counterplay than in the normal main lines, so I prefer White slightly here.) 7.d5 f6 8.d4 c8 9.e2 0-0 10.0-0 a6 11.b4 c5 12.bxc5 xc5 13.b2 with a pull to White, Vladimirov,EMiezes,N Dubai 2004 ] 1803
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 5.bxc3 b7 6.e2 [ 6.f3 f5 7.a3 f6!? ( 7...f6! with ...d6, ...Nbd7 and ... Ne4 is more solid.) 8.c5 e7 9.e2 bc6 10.c1 Meulders later criticized this move, but it's understandable that he didn't want to castle until Black committed himself to the kingside. 0-0 11.0-0 f7 ( 11...h6 intending ... Rf6-g6 is an idea suggested by Meulders) 12.c4 g6 13.d2 ce7 14.b2 f4 with complications, Meulders,RTimman,J Brussels 1987 ] 6...d6 7.g3 h4!? [ Black went on to win after 7...e7 8.e4 0-0 9.d3 f5 10.exf5 xf5 11.0-0 d7 12.g4 f6 13.d2 c5 14.ae1 g6 15.e4 xe4 16.xe4 ac8 in Pritchett ,CArkell,K Blackpool 1988 but at this point White's bishops probably offer him an edge. Short's move is more dynamic but has it's downside as we shall see... ] 8.c5! Aiming to improve the pawns and play on the queenside as Black's queen is visiting other climes. dxc5 9.dxc5 c6 [ Black can try for early castling with 9...e7 but then has to take 10.d4 into account ] 10.b5 a6 The pin is annoying but 10...Ne7 still looks OK. 11.e2 b5 12.a4 Continuing to soften up the Black pawns before he can get organized. b4 13.0-0 f6 [ 13...bxc3?! isn't so constructive after 14.b3 ] 14.cxb4 xb4 15.a3 c6!? A fine square in p ri n c i p le f o r t h e b is h o p a s it ca n 't b e attacked by the white knight, but it quickly gets undermined in a neat way. [ T h e a l t e r n a t i v e 15...bd5?! 16.c6! ( 16.c2 c6 looks very solid for Black, but the pawn sacrifice to open up the a3-f 8 diagonal would probably have put Short off 1 5 . . . N b d 5 .) 16...xc6 17.c1 is very dangerous. What's Black's king going to do? ] 16.e4! Cutting the communication of Black's queen with the other wing. [ Instead after the cheeky 16.xb4 xb4 17.xa6 Black regains his pawn after the straightforward 0-0 ( but not 17...xa6? 18.b1 etc. )] 16...a5 17.xb4 axb4 18.b5 xb5 19.axb5 xa1 20.xa1 0-0 Finally getting
t h e k i n g t o s a f e t y. U n f o r t u n a t e l y i n t h e meantime White's initiative on the queenside has made inroads into his defences. The bpawn is very weak for instance and the queen is still sidelined. 21.d4 b3 [ If 21...e5 playing for tricks, White keeps the a d v a n t a g e w i t h 22.d2 b3 23.f3 followed by Rb1 picking off the b-pawn. ] 22.b1 h5 As if to say 'OK the queenside is a shambles but let's mix things up elsewhere'. 23.f3 g5 24.f1 h4 25.xb3 The pawn falls but Short isn't ready to give up without a fight. h3 26.g3 c1 27.b6 cxb6 [ 27...c2 is refuted by 28.b2 ] 28.cxb6 b8 29.b7 c7 30.b6 d7 31.f2 White would like to put further pressure on the blockading rook by bringing up his knight, but wants to avoid any mating tricks first of all. h7 32.e2 a4 33.d2 e8 34.d3 Now everything seems to be in control. g5 35.e5?! I don't like this move as the win now becomes more difficult. [ If 35.d8! xd8 36.xd8 Black has some annoying checks but White should be able to wriggle out a6+ 37.e3 a3+ 38.d4 a7+ 39.c3 and Black is lost. ] 35...a1 36.d8 xe5+ 37.f2 f6 38.xb8 xb8 39.c6 a7+ 40.e2 d5 41.c2+ h6 42.b3 b8 43.c4 e7 44.b5 f5 45.f2 e7 46.a5?! [ The prophylactic 46.e1!! wins. If f5 then ( or 46...d5 47.d6! ) 47.e5! xb7 48.h8+ g6 49.e5# ] 46...a7+ 47.f1 b8 48.d7? [ 48.c4! f5 49.e5 still wins. ] 48...e5! 49.xe7 b5+! Incredibly White can no longer win. 50.f2 b2+ 51.e1 c1+ 52.e2 c2+ 53.e1 ½-½
1816 Mchedlishvili,Mikheil Kalinitschew,Sergey Open Dutch Champ (9) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2518 2517 05.08.2004
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 f5 4.c3 b7 5.f3 e7 6.g3 White avoids the d4-d5 advance but Black is now able to obtain a comfortable game. f6 1804
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 6...xf3!? is always a controversial choice in such positions. The lack of a lightsquared bishop gives Black more serious problems in the long-term than any structural damage to White e.g. 7.exf3 f6 8.d5 0-0 9.g2 e5 10.f4 e4 11.0-0 d6 12.b5 c5 13.dxc6 xc6 14.c3 a5 15.b3 c8 16.b2 h8 17.e1 a6 18.c1 e8 19.h3 g6 20.f3 Bugajski,R-Nagrocka,E Warsaw 1994 and White was on top. The way I see it, it's risky to play ...Bxf3 once ...f5 has already been played, unless Black is able to secure a central outpost for his knight. ] 7.g2 e4 8.d2 f6 9.0-0 0-0 10.c1 c6! Other moves have been tried here but this seems to be the logical choice. 11.e3 [ Black obtained a fine game after 11.e1 e7 12.b4 a6 13.xe4 xe4 14.c3 b5 15.d2 xg2 16.xg2 e8 17.e3 g6 18.f4 bxc4 19.xc4 d5 Chernuschevich, A-Bauer,C French cup 2003 ] 11...e7 12.b4 [ After 12.b3 Black aimed for a Benoni setup with xd2 13.xd2 xg2 14.xg2 c5!? ( 14...c6!= ) 15.d5 exd5 16.cxd5 d6 17.e4!? in Oms Pallise,J-Romero Holmes,A Palencia 1999 but W hite got the better of the complications that followed. The safer option is 14...c6 intending ...d5. ] 12...c5 [ 12...a6!? a la Bauer, preparing ... b5 to install a piece on the d5-square, comes into consideration, but the text is also good. ] 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.b5 d5! 15.cxd5 exd5 16.b3 h8 The central hanging pawns and strongly placed knight on e4 give Black a pleasant game. The bishop on d2 is awkwardly placed which doesn't help White's aim to pressurize the centre. 17.fd1 c8 18.e1 e8 19.a4 h5 20.e2 g5! Controlling the f4-square. 21.a5 b8 22.a3 fc8 23.b1 f7 24.d2 g6 Black retains his grip and has ideas of ...Ne5 o r e v e n . . . f 4 . 25.f4 gxf4 26.gxf4 W hite covers the e5-square but has been obliged to expose his kingside. h4 27.xh4 xh4 28.xe4 fxe4 29.b6 a6 The pawn structure is rather unbalanced with W hite even having two protected passed pawns. However being dominant in the centre ensures
that Black has the most trumps up his sleeve. 30.b2+ f6 31.d2 g8 32.g3 h5! The knight will soon be invited to move away. 33.h1 h4 34.e2 d4! Keeping White guessing as to where the next blow will come from: The centre or the kingside. 35.g1 [ 35.exd4? lo s e s i m m e d i a t e l y t o xg2 36.xg2 e3+ ] 35...bd8 36.bd1 h5 White can only wait whilst Black's pieces and pawns become even more menacing. 37.h3 d3 38.c3 g3 39.h2 dg8 40.xe4 A desperate try for freedom, but Black had it all worked out. [ White can't just sit there and expect to survive e.g. 40.c1 d4! 41.ce1 ( or 41.exd4 e3 42.b2 xg2+ ) 41...f5 42.d1 c8 43.f2 xe3! 44.xe3 xf4+ etc. ] 40...xe4 41.xe4 f3 Winning material. 42.xg3 [ 42.xg3 hxg3+ is even worse. ] 42...hxg3+ 43.g1 xe4 44.xd3 f3! There would be some technical difficulties in the ending but now the extra piece, attacking ch a n c e s a n d p a s s e d p a wn s wi l l q u i c k l y decide. 45.f1 c4 46.d2 [ 46.a3 e2 ] 46...c3 47.d3 c6 White can't do anything much whilst Black uses his passed pawns to create further threats. 0-1
1817 Meister,Peter Chernyshov,Konstantin 13th OIBM Bad Wiessee GER (9) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2396 2536 07.11.2009
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.f3 b7 4.a3 f5 5.c3 f6 6.g3 e4 The most direct, but Black has other plans. [ 6...e7 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 e4 is a more restrained version than the game. This looks more as if it has arisen f rom a Queen's Indian Defence than an English. The move a2-a3 perhaps looking slightly slow!? 9.d2 f6 10.c1 c6 11.e3 e7 12.b4 c5 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.b5 d5 Mchedlishvili, MKalinitschew, S Dieren 2004, led to a doubleedged struggle. ] 1805
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 6...g6 7.g2 g7 8.0-0 0-0 seems solid enough, but needs following up correctly e.g. 9.d5 a5?! Black should prefer quick piece d e v e l o p m e n t . ( 9...a6! 10.f4 c5 11.c1 fe4 12.e5 h6! Markos, JKalkias, S Istanbul Olympiad 2000, was dynamic for Black) 10.b1 e7 ( 10...a6 11.f4 with a pull) 11.f4 a6 12.d6! d8 13.dxc7 xc7 14.d6 e8 Bareev, EBacrot, E Blitz 2007, and White was better due to his grip on various central squares. ] 7.d2 c6 8.d5 a5!? [ 8...exd5 9.xd5 e7 10.c3 g6 11.g2 g7 12.c2 0-0 13.d1 was (up to here) fine for Black in a game from last year. d5?! Asking for trouble! This seems to just create weaknesses in Black's camp and can't be r e c o m m e n d e d . ( m o r e s o l i d i s 13...d6 14.0-0 d7= ) 14.g5 c5?! ( maybe 14...d6!? but I now prefer White) 15.e3 Neverov, V-Szabo, G Bucharest 2008, and Black had problems. ] 9.xe4 [ 9.e3 f6 should be fine for Black who has already taken up an aggressive posture. ] 9...fxe4 10.xa5 bxa5 Broken pawns are a small price to pay for lots of potential activity on the dark-squares. 11.d4 f6 12.dxe6 c5?! Daring stuff indeed and in the spirit of the English defence, but probably not sound. [ However there is nothing wrong with 12...dxe6 13.a4+ f7 14.d7+ e7 when Black's broken structure is compensated by his bishops and of course by his lead in development. ] 13.exd7+ d8 14.e3 f8 Black's king may look slightly ridiculous, b ut he has som e dangerous threats. White for example has a problem to defend f2. 15.f4!? [ 15.d2? xd4 16.exd4 e3 costs White his rook. ] [ 15.b3! is best. White gives away his fpawn but then it turns out that his attacking chances are better than Black's: A) 15...xf2+ 16.d1 b8! ( 16...xd4 17.xb7 xe3 18.xa8+ xd7 is bad because W hite has the most dangerous attack after 19.h3+ ) 17.e6+ xd7 ( 17...e7 18.xf8 xe3 19.e2 clearly favours White) 18.xc5+ e7 19.c3! f7 20.h3 g8 21.c1
and Black has no compensation for his piece; B) 15...b8 After all that effort, this simple mo ve se em s t o o f f er mo re ho pe th a n capturing on f2. 16.0-0-0 xd4 17.exd4 ( 17.xd4 f3 18.g1 xf2 19.h1 f3 with a curious repetition) 17...xd7 ( 17...xf2 18.h3 ) 18.b5+ and White should be better although the position remains quite complicated. ] 15...exf3 16.f2 The white king uses the fpawn as a shield. b8 17.b4? An oversight. [ 17.d2! intending to follow with Rd1 is more solid. Then the critical continuation xd4 18.exd4 c6 19.b4!? (otherwise Black has no problems) axb4 20.axb4 xb4 21.xa7 b1! wouldn't be clear. ] 17...e4! 18.a2 [ 18.bxc5?? b2+ would be catastrophic for White. ] 18...axb4 19.axb4 xb4 20.d2 b6 21.h3 f6! Stopping N-e6+ being a problem. White maintains the pawn on d7 but otherwise Black has no particular reason to complain about his lot. 22.c3 xd4?! [ Missing the strong 22...h6! 23.g4 b1! when W hite's king comes under a pincerattack. ] 23.xd4 xd4 24.exd4 xc4 Black simplifies to a superior ending. He just needs to eliminate the d7-pawn and everything will be hunky dory. 25.e1 f5 26.f1 xd4 27.xa7 xd7 28.c1 d2+ 29.xf3 The only chance. c2+?! [ Also possible and more reliable is 29...c2! 30.xc2 xc2+ 31.e2 g5 with a promising endgame a clear passed pawn to the good. ] 30.e3 xh2 31.a2? With a two pawn deficit White's best chance would have been to act iva t e t h e ro o ks wit h th e te m p ora ry sacrifice of his bishop. [ 31.d3! e6+ 32.f3 xd3 33.cxc7+ a n d B la ck h a s n o t h in g b e t t e r t h a n d6 34.d7+ e5 35.xd3 when a draw looks probable as two v one (on the same flank) in a single rook ending is generally unwinnable. ] 31...e6+ 32.d4 e4+ 33.c3 e3+ 34.d4 xg3 The threat of mate in two starting with ...Rh4+ is very strong. 1806
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ After 34...xg3 if 35.b5+ c6 36.xc6+ then xc6 37.axc2+ xc2 38.xc2+ d6 39.e4 h5 40.f4 h4 is a book win. ] 0-1
1818 Mikhalevski,Victor Bunzmann,Dimitrij Weihnachtsopen (5) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2516 2596 29.12.1999
1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 e7 6.g3 f6 7.d2 c6 8.e4 A unnecessarily messy move, as we have seen, there are far more testing alternatives against black's plan. cxd5 9.exd5 a6 10.h3 c5 11.f4 e7 12.g2 exd5+ 13.f1 dxc4 14.fd5 d8 15.e2+ f8 16.f4 xc3 17.d6+ f7 18.xc5 c8 19.d6 f6 20.e1 b5 21.d2 h5 22.h4 c6 23.f4 g6 24.c7 f8 25.xf5+ xf5 26.e4+ e6 27.f4+ e7 28.h7+ e5 29.xe5+ f7 30.g6+ f6 31.f5+ e7 32.e5+ f6 33.f5+ ½-½
1819 Mikhalevski,Victor Kraai,Jesse Gufeld Memorial (8) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2548 2443 26.11.2003
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c2 h4 5.d2 b4 6.d3 xd2+! At first sight this gives the impression of being premature. However Kraai wants to avoid the possibility of White recapturing with the knight on d2 e.g. [ 6...f5 7.gf3 g4 8.0-0 xd2 9.xd2 f6 10.f3 h4 11.c3!? and White m a in t a in e d h is ce n t ra l grip in V igu s, JMorgan,B British ch. Millfield 2000 ] [T h e a l t e r n a t i v e 6...g4!? has the advantage of dashing White's hopes of castling 7.f1 f5 8.h3 g6 9.gf3 e7 10.exf5 exf5 11.d5 c6 12.e5 f6 13.df3 h6 14.e3 cxd5 15.d4 bc6 with double-edged complications, Sher, MBurnett,R New York 1999 ] 7.xd2 f5 8.d5
[ The point of Black's move order is that if 8.f3 g4 leaves both g2 and e4 en prise. This then forces 9.e5 xg2 10.0-0-0 fxe4 with complications. ] [ 8.g3 e7 9.f3 avoids any immediate problems but the long-white diagonal is in danger of giving way at some point. ] 8...fxe4 [ 8...f6 forces White to advance in the centre, but after 9.e5 g4 10.f4 exd5 11.f3 he seems to be able to cope and I then prefer W hite who is ahead in development. ] 9.xe4 exd5 [ Now 9...f6! comes into consideration as White loses time. The text is however safer as 10.f3 exd5 11.0-0-0 leads to murky complications, although Black should then still be doing OK. ] 10.xd5 xd5 11.cxd5 f6 12.f3 e4+ 13.xe4+ xe4 14.e3 a6 15.0-0-0 0-0-0 The queenless middlegame seems respectable for Black and chances are balanced. W hite now tries to prove that his bishop is the superior minor piece but doesn't get very far. 16.g5 de8 17.h4?! [ 17.xe4 xe4 18.a3 is not that ambitious but would maintain equality. ] 17...hf8 18.he1 [ After 18.xh7 Black has xf2! for instance 19.xf2 xf2 20.he1 xe1 21.xe1 d3+ ] 18...d6! The knight is well placed here c o v e r i n g s o m e k e y s q u a r e s 19.d4?! Losing the thread. He should settle for [ 19.xh7 h8 20.g5 xh4 21.g3 with approximate equality ] 19...c5 20.dd1 ce4 21.xh7 h8 22.g5 xh4 23.f3?! White continues to play for a win, but with both Black's knights well centralized this isn't objectively correct. hh8 24.d4 f6 25.e2 Black now exploits the cramped nature of the W hite pieces f5 26.f4 g5! 27.xg5 e4 28.e3 xe3 29.fxe3 f2 30.f4!? [ 30.d2 xe3 31.f1 saves the exchange but with split pawns Black would be somewhat better. ] 30...xd1 31.xd1 c6 32.dxc6 dxc6 33.e2 d8 34.c1 b7 35.c2 h1 36.a3 dd1 37.f3 It's not obvious how 1807
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Blac k will m ake progress as his majo rit y s e e m s t o b e a l o n g wa y f r o m b e c o m i n g threatening. But he has time to get himself organized. hg1 38.e4 d7 39.f3 gd1 40.e2 a5 41.e4 1d4 42.e3 c5 43.d5 d6 44.f4 d7 45.d5 f7 46.b4!? It's often a difficult decision in an inferior ending. Do I just sit there or should I lash out? If White doesn't touch his pawns then Black will come round the back with his f7-rook, either threatening to win the e4-pawn or at least force White to play passively to defend it. Then Black will be able to get the queenside going under favourable circumstances, so W hite decides to take positive action. c6 47.b2 b5 48.g4? [ I 'm c o n vi n c e d t h a t 48.c2 is a better chance e.g. c4 ( 48...axb4 49.axb4 c4 50.xc4 bxc4 51.bxc5 xc5 52.g4 ) 49.xc4 bxc4 50.bxa5 a7 51.a4 xa5 52.c3 with chances to hold. ] 48...c4 49.g5 d6! Now Black's pieces are ready to cause havoc in the white camp. 50.g6 [ If 50.bxa5 then the cool e5 ] 50...g7 51.g2 axb4 52.axb4 cxb4 53.d3 e6 54.h2 a7 55.h8 a3+ 56.d2 g3 57.e8+ d6 0-1
1820 Mikhalevski,Victor Vallejo Pons,Francisco Palace Hotel GM (2) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2632 2675 19.03.2008
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 c5!? An interesting way of complicating the struggle. 4.d5 exd5 5.cxd5 g6 The pawn structure is reminiscent of the Modern Benoni as White has a central pawn majority whereas Black has 3 v 2 on the queenside. [ Black could also try and exploit this particular move order by playing 5...a6!? when White may be less inclined to play an ea rly e 2 -e 4 (a s h e wo u ld th e n lose h is castling rights). Here are a couple of examples: 6.c3 d6 ( 6...g6 7.g3 d6 8.g2 g7 9.f3 f6 10.0-0 0-0 11.e1 bd7 12.f4 e8 13.c1 e5!?
Poldauf, D-Tischbierek, R DDR-ch 1990) 7.g3 g6 8.a4+ d7 9.c2 g7 10.h3 e7 11.a4+ f8 12.f4 xc3+ 13.bxc3 g7 14.g2 f6 15.d1 when a rather premature draw was agreed, Farago, I-Barle, J Ljubjana 1997. ] 6.c3 d6 7.f3 f6 8.g5 g7 9.d2! Here the position is exactly as in a Modern Benoni, except for the additional moves a2-a3 by White and ...b7-b6 by Black. Of these ...b6 is marginally more use. h6 10.h4 0-0 [ Probably more to the point is the continuation associated with the 'normal' Benoni i.e. 10...g5 11.g3 h5 12.c4 xg3 13.hxg3 0-0 14.e3 ( not 14.e4? b5 15.cxd6? f5 ) 14...e7 with a tense struggle ahead. ] 11.e4 a6 This idea (a t least using the virtually extra move ...b6) doesn't seem to upset White's harmony. [ 11...a6 followed by ...Nc7 is another idea. ] 12.xa6 xa6 13.0-0 d7 14.a4 g4 15.c4 e5 Black again aims to exchange a pair of minor pieces. 16.xe5 xe5 17.d2 g7 18.f4! The central majority starts to roll forward whereas nothing much is happening elsewhere. f5! Fighting back. [ After 18...fe8 simply 19.f5 could prove to be annoying. ] 19.e5 dxe5 20.fxe5 g5? White's centre proves to be too strong after this. [ So Vallejo should have settled for 20...xe5 21.xh6 g7 with a reasonable position. ] 21.e6 e7 22.fe1! Mikhalevski would really like to play d5-d6 with a pawn 'stampede', which would certainly be worth a piece. ad8 23.b5! [ The centre starts to crumble following the inferior 23.f2?! c7 24.ad1 xc3 ] 23...gxh4 24.d6 fe8 It looks shaky but Black has an extra piece for his troubles. The central pawns in themselves won't break him down, so Mikhalevski aims to open up a new front... 25.a5 b4 [ After 25...b7 White has the time to bring his queen into the fray with decisive effect e. g. 26.e2 h7 27.e7 d7 28.h5 ] 26.axb6 a6 27.xb4! Flashy but not the only way forward. [ The alternative 27.f4 g5 28.xg5 hxg5 1808
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ If 9.b2 then e7 10.d6 f6 11.e5 g6 favours Black who has an extra pawn and threats against g2. ] 9...f6 10.d2 a6 11.xa5? This could be a move order mistake. Instead unclear is [ 11.c5! immediately e.g. xc5 12.xa5 bxa5 13.xc5 xe4 14.d4 0-0 with pawns and development for a piece. ] 11...bxa5 12.c5 b3! 13.c3 [ 13.xb3 xc5 14.b5 fxe4 leaves White's position in a total shambles. ] 13...0-0 14.c6 A bit desperate but 1821 A40 [ 14.f3 exd5 15.e5 e7 16.e2 h5 also looks great for Black. One could say Mikhalevski,Victor 2550 th a t B la ck h a s gre a t co m p e n sa t io n f o r Yung,Allan 2390 White's double-pawn sacrifice! ] Invitational (7) 17.05.2004 14...dxc6 15.e5 e4 [Glenn Flear] [ 15...xd5 is also natural and good. ] 16.xb3 ac5 17.a2 cxd5 Black has a 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c2 b4+ [ 4...h4!? 5.d2 b4 6.d3 g4 lead in development and well-placed pieces. ( See the December 2003 update to see He also has a couple of pawns more so it's how I was impressed by 6...xd2+! ) 7.f1 not surprising that he wins quickly. 18.f3 a4 g6!? Is this new? The point becomes clear 19.b4 b3 20.xf8 This just hastens the a f t e r B l a c k ' s n e xt m o v e . 8.df3 f6 end but mentally White had probably given up A f lexible idea to give some luf t f or the already. xf8 21.d3 a5+ 22.f1 xa1 queen. White now goes for surrounding the 23.xa1 c8 24.d4 d2 25.xe6+ e7 bishop on b4 but winning a piece doesn't 0-1 necessarily yield an advantage... 9.c5 a5 A) I prefer 10.a3! as bxc5 ( or 10...c6 A40 11.d5! ) 11.dxc5 c6 looks suspicious for 1822 Morris,Charles F Black; Legky,Nikolay A B) 10.a4!? xe4 11.xe4 xe4 12.b4 1994 c6 13.bxa5 bxc5 14.e2 e5 15.a3 Lucerne cxd4 16.e1 d3 17.g1 d8 18.h4 [John Emms] b8 19.h3 b5 20.xb5 xb5 21.f8 h6 with chances for both sides in 1.d4 e6 Before anyone gets too carried away Mikhalevski,V-Kraai,J/Santa Monica 2004 with this 1...e6 system, it should be pointed out that Black needs to be ready to play the (round 1) ] 5.d2 Again Nd2 and Qc2 seem to go French Defence after 2 d4. On the other hand, together. c5!= Hitting at the centre quickly is at lea st the Trom powsky is avoided ! 2.c4 Black's duty in this line. However no one b4+ 3.d2 a5! This is the choice of GMs seems to have done it in quite this fashion such as Epishin, Gulko and Eingorn and looks before. 6.d5!? The centre: Extended or over- like Black's best bet here, chiefly because Black doesn't have to be afraid of 4 e4 (see extended? Less risky are V a r e il l e - W i n a n t s , Fr a n c e 2 0 0 3 ) . Fe l l o w [ 6.dxc5 xc5 and ] [ 6.gf3 cxd4 7.xd4 but then White's ChessPublishing.com host Chris Ward began centre is much less imposing and in each playing this line full time after Mickey Adams recommended it to him and only eventually case Black has many options. ] 6...f5! I prefer Black already as the centre is changed to the main lines for the sake of creaking! 7.a3 a5 8.b4?! Mikhalevski really some variety. [ 3...e7 4.e4! promises White some kind likes to harass this bishop! cxb4 9.b3 29.c7 also looks promising. ] 27...cxb4 28.dxe7 xe7 29.xa6 xb2 30.a7 f6 31.f1 White's pair of passed pawns now prove to be too much for Black to handle. b3 32.xe7 xe7 33.a7 c5 34.e7! e8 35.c8 xc8 [ No b e t t e r i s 35...xb6 36.d6 xe7 37.xe7 b2 38.e1 etc. ] 36.e8+ xe8 37.xe8+ f7 38.b7 1-0
1809
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 of edge, for example c6 5.f3 f6 6.d3 xd2+ ( or 6...d5 7.e5 e4 8.0-0 xd2 9.bxd2 xd2 10.xd2 , Jelen-B. Kovacevic, Zagreb 1997) 7.bxd2 d6 8.0-0 d7 9.a3 f6 10.d5 e7 11.b4 g6 12.e1 (Kotov-Bronstein, Riga 1958) ] 4.f3 With this move White shows he is happy to transpose int o the Bogo-India n proper after 4...Nf6, albeit one where Black is committed to an early ...a7-a5. However, with the 1.. .e6, 2...Bb4 move order Black has independent possibilities based on the g8knight developing to h6 rather than f6. d6 [ After 4...d5 5.c3 f6 White can play the outwardly surprising 6.g5! , reaching a kind of Queen's Gambit Declined in which Black's extra move (... a7-a5) is less of a help than a hindrance to Black. For example, h6 7.xf6 xf6 8.e3 0-0 9.c2 c5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.a3 xc3+ 12.bxc3 c4 13.b2 when Black would probably prefer to have his a-pawn back on a7, Lobron-Short, Dortmund 1995. ] 5.g3 c6 6.g2 e5! [ 6...f6 7.0-0 e5 transposes to a rare line of the Bogo favoured by the Russian IM Nikolai Vlassov, but by delaying the development of the g8-knight Black can arrange ...e6-e5 a move earlier and an thus can force White to make a decision over the d4-pawn. ] 7.d5 xd2+ Alternatively: [ a) 7...ce7 8.xb4! axb4 9.bd2 f6 10.0-0 0-0 11.e1! (intending to hit the b4pawn with Nd3) c6 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.d3 b8 14.c5! with a nice position for White Black's structure is a bit weak - in PortischKorchnoi, Skelleftea 1989. ] [ b) 7...b8 8.c3 f6 9.c2 0-0 10.0-0 bd7 11.b3 c6 12.dxc6 bxc6 13.e1 b7 14.d3 c7 15.fd1 h6 16.a4 xd2 17.xd2 fd8 with a roughly level position, L.B. Hansen-Gulko, Esbjerg 2000. ] 8.xd2 The usual move, as White's queen's knight is much more active on c3 than on d2. [ However, 8.fxd2!? , clearing the way for the g2-bishop and also for f2-f4, has also been played a few times. For example, b8 9.c3 h6 10.a3 0-0 11.b4 f5 12.c1?! ( S h i r o v s u g g e s t s t h e i m m e d i a t e 12.c5 as an improvement) 12...d7!? and now
13.c5?! axb4 14.axb4 dxc5 15.bxc5 xc5 16.b5 a6 (Shirov) sees White struggling to justify his pawn deficit. ] 8...b8 This is the most logical retreat, as the knight is on a good route, heading for the c5square and thus making good use of the early move ...a7-a5. [ Out of 34 games after 8 Qxd2 on my database, I can find only one with 8...ce7 . Th a t said , th is cert ain ly wa sn 't a b a d advert for the move: 9.e4 ( 9.c5!? ) 9...f5! 10.c3 f6 11.0-0 0-0 12.e1 f4! 13.gxf4 exf4 14.d3 ( 14.xf4 fxd5 ) 14...g6 15.e2 g4 16.f3 e3 17.f2 xc4 18.c1 ce5 0-1 Lacrosse-Barsov, Leuven 2002. ] 9.c3 [ Given the attack on e5, White can also play the immediate 9.c5!? , although in DouvenGelf and, Amsterdam 1989 Black was comfortable enough after f6 10.cxd6 cxd6 11.0-0 a6! 12.a3 c5 . Indeed following 13.fc1?! b6! 14.c4 0-0 15.h4 fe4 16.c2 f5 Black was even slightly better. ] [ Another idea for White is to delay Nc3 so that Black cannot play ...Na6 without leaving the a5-pawn en prise: 9.0-0 h6 10.e1!? ( 10.c3 a6 reaches the main game) 10...0-0 11.d3 d7 12.c3 f5 13.a4 b6! 14.b3 f6 and Black was doing okay in Rychagov-Gavrilov, Moscow 1996. ] 9...a6! This knight is coming to c5, making sense of Black's previous play on the q u e e n s i d e wi t h . . . a 7 - a 5 . 10.0-0 h6 This move, which has already cropped up a few times in the previous notes, is what gives this line an independent flavour. Instead of putting the knight on f6 as in the Bogo-Indian, Black keeps the path open to move his f-pawn up the board. 11.e4 [ One of Chris Ward's games in this line continued 11.e1 c5 12.d3 b6! (so that Black can recapture on c5 with the bpawn, keeping a rock-solid structure) 13.f4 exf4 14.gxf4 f5! 15.f2 0-0 16.b3 d7 17.ab1 h4 (Black has comfortably equalized) 18.a3? a4! 19.b4 b3 20.d3 xf4 and Black went on to win in VokacWard, Barcelona 1993. ] 11...0-0 12.h4?! This doesn't work very well, 1810
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 especially with Black's knight on h6 covering the f5-square. As an improvement, Legky suggests the typical plan of Ne1-d3, perhaps preparing f2-f4. c5 13.ae1 g5!? 14.f3 f6 Black's position is very solid - he has easy equality here. 15.e2 h8 16.e1 g8 17.h1 Legky preferred the immediate 17 Nd3. e8! 18.d3 xd3 19.xd3 h5 20.f3 f5 21.exf5 xf5 22.d2 g6 23.e4 b6 24.f4?? A blunder al lowing a powerful queen sacrifice that finishes the game. After any normal move White is just a tiny bit worse. gxf4 25.gxf4 xg2+! 26.xg2 xe4 27.ff2 xg2! 28.xg2 g8 0-1
1823 Moskalenko,Viktor Rahal,Michael It A Paretana ESP (5) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2471 2397 02.01.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 5.e5!? A rather unusual move that probably deserves more testing. Though it makes the "English" bishop very powerful, it does stake out some useful space on the kingside and its few outings have looked more promising for white than one might first expect. xc3+ [ 5...h4 6.f3 xf3 7.xf3 c6 8.f4 c8 9.g3 e7 10.0-0-0 xc3 11.xc3 b4 12.c2 a5 13.d5 exd5 14.cxd5 b4 15.c4 e7 16.d2 c5 17.a3 a4 18.g2 b5 19.e4 b3 20.axb4 cxb4+ 21.b1 c4 22.e3 xe4 23.xe4 0-0 24.d4 c8 25.c1 xc1+ 26.xc1 g6 27.e3 a4 28.g4 g7 29.e6 fxe6 30.dxe6 dxe6 31.c2 a5 32.d7 b3 33.xb3 e1+ 34.d1 f6 35.g5+ f5 36.c1 d5 37.d2 f1 38.xa7 e5 39.xh7 c4+ 40.c2 f1+ 41.d1 xf2 42.h4 c5+ 43.b1 d4 44.c1 c4+ 45.c2 f1+ 46.d1 b4 47.b7 a6 48.b8 a7 0-1 Murrey,J-Garcia Gonzales, G/Moscow 1982/IZT (48) ] 6.bxc3 d6 7.g4 f8 8.f3 d5 9.a3+ e7 10.g5 h6 11.h5 e8 12.d3 d7 13.xe6+! [ 13.xe6+ fxe6 14.g6 d8 15.f3+ ] 1-0
1824 Moskalenko,Viktor Stefanova,Antoaneta 3rd Open Malaga ESP (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2518 2495 28.02.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 5.e5 Moskalenko used this in a recent event and won a quickie. The move is probably better than it looks (can it really be sensible to satisfy the Bb7 by evacuating the long diagonal?) but ... that might not mean very much. e7 [ 5...xc3+ 6.bxc3 d6 7.g4 f8 8.f3 d5 9.a3+ e7 10.g5 h6 11.h5 e8 12.d3 d7 13.xe6+! 1-0 Moskalenko, VRahal,M/Paretana ESP 2000/[jt] (13) ( 13.xe6+ fxe6 14.g6 d8 15.f3+ )] [ 5...h4 6.f3 xf3 7.xf3 c6 8.f4 c8 9.g3 e7 10.0-0-0 xc3 11.xc3 b4 12.c2 a5 13.d5 exd5 14.cxd5 b4 15.c4 e7 16.d2 c5 17.a3 a4 18.g2 b5 19.e4 b3 20.axb4 cxb4+ 21.b1 c4 22.e3 xe4 23.xe4 0-0 24.d4 c8 25.c1 xc1+ 26.xc1 g6 27.e3 a4 28.g4 g7 29.e6 fxe6 30.dxe6 dxe6 31.c2 a5 32.d7 b3 33.xb3 e1+ 34.d1 f6 35.g5+ f5 36.c1 d5 37.d2 f1 38.xa7 e5 39.xh7 c4+ 40.c2 f1+ 41.d1 xf2 42.h4 c5+ 43.b1 d4 44.c1 c4+ 45.c2 f1+ 46.d1 b4 47.b7 a6 48.b8 a7 0-1 Murrey,J-Garcia Gonzales, G/Moscow 1982/IZT (48) ] 6.f3 d6 7.exd6 An admission of defeat, but black was simply developing and creating central pressure. xd6 8.e2 g6 9.0-0 xc3 [ 9...f4?? 10.xf4 xf4 11.a4+ c6 12.d5+- ] 10.bxc3 f4 11.xf4 xf4 12.e5 0-0 13.g3 f6 14.f4 e7 15.f3 xf3 16.xf3 d7 17.c6 a3! 18.f2 White is not too keen on the idea of ...Qa4 coming, probably after ...Rae8 first. ½-½
1811
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1825 Narciso Dublan,Marc Rombaldoni,Ax Oslo GM Open 2012 (3.2) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2523 2458 30.09.2012
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 xg2?! Not as fashionable these days as it was a generation or two ago. However the standard theory seems to contain many unfathomable variations, which were often developed in the pre-computer era. I've had a close look at these lines and summarized the key variations in the notes to this game. See if you agree with my conclusions! 6.h5+ g6 7.fxg6 g7 8.gxh7+ f8 9.g5 [ The alternative 9.e2 l e a d s a f t e r f6 10.h4 xh1 11.g5 c6 12.d2 by transposition to lines covered below. ] 9...f6 10.h4 c6 [ Capturing on h1 immediately is also possible and may transpose if Black follows up with ...Nc6: 10...xh1 11.e2 A) Or 11...c5 (gives Black a central presence, but is too slow) 12.f4 c6 13.d2 xd4 14.0-0-0 c6 15.h5 Akobian, V-Kiewra, K Wheeling 2010, and Black cannot cope with the pressure.; B) Analyzed in England in the seventies and taken up f or a while by Miles was 11...f3 but it's now known to be dubious: 12.f4 c6 13.d2 g4 B1) 14.g6+ f7 15.e5+ ( better than 15.xh8+ xh8 16.xf6 xf6 17.xg4 xd4 ) 15...xe5 16.dxe5 f5 17.xf5 exf5 18.exf6 xf6 19.h5+ g7 20.h6+ f7 Baginskaite, C-Miles, A Philadelphia 1999, and although White took a draw, she could have won with 21.f3! e8+ 22.f1 g7 23.h4 e4 24.h5+ f8 25.e1 xh7 26.xh7 xf3 27.e3 g4 28.h4 xc4+ 29.g1 (Odessky), and the checks run out; B2) 14.xf6 xf6 15.xg4 xd4 16.f3 xb2 17.d1 with a continuing attack, Lower, S-Marshall, D corr. 1999.; C) 11...e7 12.f4 f7 13.g6+ ( if 13.g6? then xh7! and Black fights back 14.xh7 xh7 15.xh7 xd4 ) 13...e8 14.e5 f8 15.c3 d6
16.0-0-0! ( 16.g6+ e7 17.f7 i s l e s s c l e a r a s a n a l y z e d b y B a u e r) 16...dxe5 ( 16...b7 17.g6+ e7 and now I suggest simply 18.e4! xe4 19.xe4 dxe5 20.dxe5 bd7 21.exf6+ xf6 22.g1 with a winning attack) 17.dxe5 bd7 18.g6+ e7 19.f4 Gerbich-Kazantsev, e-mail 2009, and White is winning. ] 11.e2 xh1 12.d2 b5! [ The weakening 12...d5? is condemned by commentators, but no less a player than Andreikin tried it in a high-level Blitz game: 13.f4 xd4 14.0-0-0? ( simply 14.g6+! f7 15.e5+ e7 16.xd4 should be winning ) 14...f3?? ( 14...e4! ) 15.xf3 xf3 16.xe6+ e7 17.xd8 xd1 18.c6+ d6 19.xf6 1-0 Eljanov, PAndreikin, D Moscow Blitz 2010. ] [ The old 12...e5 is refuted as follows: 12...e5?! 13.0-0-0 e4 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4 xh7 16.f4 f7 17.2c3 in Magerramov, E-Psakhis, L Riga 1980. Nobody has been able to revive Black's fortunes here. ] 13.0-0-0? I think this is simply wrong. [ 13.f4!? This is better than the move played in th e ga me . xd4? ( 13...bxc4 14.xc4 xd4 15.g6+ e8 16.xd4 xh7 17.ge5 h3 is given by Odessky, who thinks that Black is alive, but then 18.g6+ f8 19.0-0-0 b7 20.c5+ g8 21.f7+ h7 22.xe6 doesn't look tenable ) 14.g6+ f7 15.e5+ e8 16.xd4 d6 17.g6+ e7 18.f7 and Black is in trouble e.g. d7 19.xh8 xh8 20.f3 e5 21.h4 g2 22.e4 e6 23.f2 Boor, C-Kraai, J Lindsborg 2004, with an easy win. ] [ Maybe the strongest move was introduced by yours truly thirty years ago (it feels like yesterday): 13.cxb5! b4 14.g6 b7 15.f4 e7 16.h5 f8 17.d5! bxd5 18.e4 Flear, G-Plaskett, H Torquay 1982, and White has strong pressure. Some books have analyzed it to a win, but I only drew the actual game. ] 13...bxc4 14.b1 b4 Originally suggested by Basman. [ 14...d5!? 15.f4 b8 ( possibly 15...b4!? is the key move, see below in the 1812
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 note to Black's fifteenth) 16.g1 Flear, GPlaskett, H England 1982 c3! 17.g6+ e8 ( 17...f7 18.xh8+ xh8 19.bxc3 a5 20.c4 xc4 21.xc4 xc4 22.xf6 xf6 23.h5+ f8 24.c5+ and White wins, Odessky) 18.xh8 xh8 19.bxc3 e7 20.xf6 xf6 21.xf6 xf6 22.c4 Odessky stops here, but after f7! 23.cxd5 exd5 Black is fine. The advanced h-pawn is not going to be a problem. ] 15.f4 [ If 15.xh1 then d3+ 16.xd3 cxd3 17.f4 xh7= (Odessky) . ] 15...d3+? [ Here 15...d5! has been previously rejected because of 16.h5 but Black has a r e s o u r c e . . . xa2+!! deviating the bishop. The f ollowing moves are f orced 17.xa2 xh7 18.xf6 xf6 19.xf6+ xf6 20.xf6 f7 when a typical continuation such as 21.fe4 c3 22.xc3 xa2 23.xa2 xf2 could well be even better for Black! So this resource may make Black's position playable after 13.0-0-0. ] 16.xd3 cxd3 17.g6+ f7 18.e5+ e8 19.xh1 White is now only down the exchange, but the pressure continues. xh7?! Releasing the tension. [ W ha t a bou t 19...d6 as an improvement? 20.g1 ( 20.xd3 d7! (unpinning 'safely' due to the threat of ...Qc6+ forking the rook in the corner) 21.e1 xh7 which looks far f r o m c l e a r) 20...dxe5 21.dxe5 xh7 22.xh7 xh7 23.xd8 xe5 24.h4 b8 25.c4 f4+ ( 25...xh2 26.g7 ) 26.d1 is messy, with White still being favourite. ] 20.xh7 xh7 21.xd8 xd8 22.g1 Material is now equal, but White still has the initiative. The d3-pawn is not likely to survive for long either. f8 23.df3 d6 24.xd3 d7 25.d2 f7 26.e2 Black has finally organized his forces, but will have to play the e n d g a m e w i t h a p a w n d e f i c i t . f5?! A loss of time. [ More resistant is 26...h6! but with 27.b4 White starts to probe on the queenside. ] 27.c1 f7 28.c6 e7 29.f4 f7 30.a6 In order to save the a-pawn, Black is n o w f o r c e d t o w e a k e n h i s s t r u c t u r e . c5 31.dxc5 dxc5 32.b3 e5 Desperately seeking some freedom. 33.d5 d7 34.c3 f6?
A blunder, but otherwise, if the white knight can install itself on e4, then White would be well on the road to converting his advantage. 35.xe5+ e7 36.xd7 xd7 37.xa7+ d6 38.xg7 d5 39.xd5 e5 40.g5+ d4 41.e3 c3 42.xc5+ d4 43.c4+ 1-0
1826 Navara,David Rozmbersky,David CZE-chTJ 0102 (1) [John Emms]
A40 2499 2182 2001
1.c4 g6 2.d4 g7 3.c3 c5 4.d5 xc3+ 5.bxc3 f5 6.e4!? This e-pawn advance is one of W hite's more aggressive tries. He treats the position like a Dutch, and plays a Staunton-type gambit. fxe4 7.f3 exf3?! This capture is probably just too greedy. With W hite's extra space and Black having weakened his kingside, this looks like a very favourable version of the Staunton Gambit. White has a near-perfect score in this line. 8.xf3 d6 [ 8...f6 9.d3 0-0 10.h6 looks horrible for Black. ] 9.d3 g4 Two more examples: [ a) 9...f6 10.0-0 g4 11.c2 ( 11.h6 ) 11...xf3 ( 11...bd7 12.xg6+! ) 12.xf3 d7 ( 12...0-0 13.xg6 ) 13.f4 f8 14.e2 c7 15.e1 bd7 16.xe7 xe7 17.xe7 ae8 18.e6 with advantage White, M.Vokac-G.Pirisi, Dortmund 1989. ] [ b) 9...a5 10.c2 f6 11.0-0 bd7 12.f4 d8 13.g5 c7 14.ae1 e5 15.xe5 dxe5 16.xe5 d7 17.xe7 ae8 18.xf6 1-0 J.Alcala Valiente-D.Bosch Porta, Terrassa 1996. If Black is having to rely on fleeing to c7 with his king, things are not looking rosy! ] 10.0-0 d7 11.f4 xf3 [ 11...gf6 12.c2 again leaves Black with problems over g6, e.g. 0-0 13.h6 ] 12.xf3!? [ 12.xf3 gf6 13.c2 is simple, and nice for White. ] 12...gf6 13.g3 a5 Black's king wants to flee to the queenside, but Navara's next move thwarts this plan. 14.xd6!? exd6 15.ae1+ 1813
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d8? The wrong choice. fxe4 14.dxe6 xe6 15.g5 xc4 16.xd6 [ Black should take his chances with xe2 17.xf6 xf6 18.xd7 c6 19.d4 15...f7! 16.xd6 d8 If 17.g4 e8 af8 20.a4 h6 21.ae1 d3 22.d1 b3 18.e6 Black has the surprising resource 23.d2 8f7 24.xe4 xe4 25.xe4 f3 a5! intending ...Ra6. ] 26.d8+ f8 27.c4+ h7 28.c2+ f5 16.xf6! xf6 17.xd6+ d7 18.e7 c7 29.xf5+ xf5 30.xf8 xf8 31.c1 f5 19.e6 c8 20.d6 d8 21.e4 b8 22.g4 32.c7 a5 33.b7 f6 34.g2 d6 35.b3 [ 22.d5! intending Qe4 followed by Be6 is h5 36.f4 h6 37.b8 g6 38.h3 g5 immediately decisive. ] 39.h8+ g7 40.xh5 gxf4 41.g5+ h6 22...h6 23.h4 a6 24.a4 42.gxf4 d3+ 43.g3 d4 44.e3 b5 [ 24.h5! gxh5 25.f5 ] 45.e6+ g7 46.axb5 b4 47.e3 xf4 24...g8? 48.e7+ f6 49.a7 g5 50.xa5 f3+ [ 24...g8? 25.xd7 xd7 26.xg8+ d8 51.g2 xb3 52.f2 f4 53.h4 b2+ 27.e6+ d7 28.xg6 wins. ] 54.e1 e3 55.d1 d4 56.h5 c5 [ 24...f8 25.g5 hxg5 26.hxg5+57.e1 h2 58.f1 b4 59.a7 xh5 and Black is running out of moves. Overall, 60.b6 h8 61.b7 b8 1/2-1/2 Rivera,Athis is definitely a pawn grab to avoid as Teske,H Havana 1998. ] Black. ] 7...c6!? 8.g5 0-0 9.g2 h6 1-0 [ 9...e7 10.0-0 as in the game, black has problems developing and dealing with white p la yin g e 4 - n o t t e rrib le p ro b l e m s , b u t 1827 A40 e n o u g h t o k e e p w h i t e o n t o p . ( 10.e4? exd5 )] Nemet,Ivan 2427 Miezis,Normunds 2501 10.xf6 xf6 11.dxc6 dxc6 12.0-0 a6 1st Chess Week (8) 12.10.2001 13.e4 f8 [ 13...f8 14.e5 c7 15.e2 ] [Jon Tisdall] 14.xd8 xd8 15.ad1 e8 16.d4 fxe4 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 17.xe4 f7 18.fe1 e5 19.c2 c5 20.d6 xd6 21.xd6 ef8 22.b4 f6 6.f3 [ 22.e2 b3 ] [ 6.g3 e7 7.g2 0-0 8.h3 a5 9.0-0 a6?? 10.d6 1-0 Cebalo,M-Pantaleoni,C 22...xf2 23.e3 b3 24.g4 c2 [ 24...d2 25.xd2 xd2 26.xe5 ] Bratto ITA 2001. An accident worth remembering. It is also worth noting that it 25.xe5 e8 26.d7 [ 26.b5!? ] is more flexible for white to fianchetto the 26...c8 27.d3 bishop first, then commit the Ng1. ] [ 27.xa7 d4 28.a8 e2+ 29.h1 6...d6 7.g3 ( 29.f1!? f8+ 30.f3 ) 29...xe5 [ 7.d4!? e7 8.g3 a6 ( 8...c6!? 9.g2 30.xc8+ h7 black's rooks are so active g6?! 10.g5 0-0 11.0-0 e5? 12.dxc6 that white must take great care, despite his dxc6 13.db5! d8 14.d5 cxd5 15.xf6 other advantages. ] xf6 16.xd5+ g7 17.xb7 c5 18.c2 c6 19.xa8 xa8 20.b4 f8 27...c1 28.xc1 xc1 29.e3 d7 30.f1 21.ad1 h8 22.c5 bxc5 23.bxc5 a6 b3 31.f2 c8 32.xc6 f8+ 33.e1 24.c7 c8 25.d5 e6 26.b6 d4 b7 34.e7+ f7 35.f5 f6 36.d6 27.xd4 xc5 28.c4 xb6 29.xc5 d4 37.d3 [ 37.xb7 c2+ 38.d2 xe3 xc5 30.a4 h5 31.e3 f4 32.c1 a3 39.xe3+- ] 33.c8+ g7 34.c7+ xc7 35.xc7+ 38.b5 d8 39.e4+ xe4 h6 36.exf4 exf4 37.a7 fxg3 38.hxg3 37...c6 h4 39.gxh4 h5 40.xa6 e7 41.a5 40.xe4 c8 41.d3 c5 42.f2 c8 xh4 42.e6 1-0 Rothen,H-Forintos,G 43.g4 g6 44.g3 g5 45.h4 c7 46.hxg5+ E k s jo 1 9 8 1 .) 9.g2 c5 10.0-0 0-0 hxg5 47.f2 e6 48.h3 f4 49.h6+ 11.db5 ce4 12.xd6 cxd6 13.xe4 e5 50.f1 d7 51.h8 d2+ 52.f3 a2 1814
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 53.e8+ d6 54.e3 e6 55.d3+ e5 56.e3+ f6 57.e4 f4 58.d4 a1 59.f3 e6 60.d3 d6 61.f1 e1 62.d3 d1 63.c3 c5 64.f1 e1 65.d3 c1+ 66.d2 a1 67.f1 d4 68.c5 bxc5 69.b6 axb6 70.b5 a2+ 71.c1 c4 72.a4 g2 73.d7 d3+ 0-1
1828 Neverov,Valeriy Georgiev,Kiril 2nd IECC Ohrid MKD (5) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2562 2676 05.06.2001
This game is really a survey of the latest developments in the surprisingly popular 'Modern Hippo', with several other interesting games embedded in the notes. 1.d4 [ 1.e4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.d3 ( 3.c3 e6 4.d3 g6 5.f3 g7 6.g5 e7 7.d2 h6 8.f4 d6 9.0-0-0 d7 10.h4 White rules out the standard position type where Black flicks in g5. a6 11.he1 c6 12.d5 ce5 13.xe5 dxe5 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.e3 e7 Black has a solid position. 16.b1 f6 17.f3 h5 18.g4 f4 19.xf4 exf4 20.e5 0-0-0 21.e2 xh4 22.xa6 xd1+ 23.xd1 d8 24.xb7+ xb7 25.e4+ c8 26.xd8+ xd8 27.xf4 h4 28.a4 e1+ 29.a2 xe5 30.f7 f6 31.e8+ b7 32.a5 xf3 33.a6+ xa6 34.c8+ b7 35.xe6 xc3 36.bxc3 h5 37.gxh5 gxh5 38.e2+ 1/2-1/2 Wang Rui-Yu Shaoteng HeiBei CHN 2001. ) A) 3...g6 4.h4 g7 5.f3 h6 6.c3 d6 7.e2 d7 8.a4 White invests some time making some off-centre pawn thrusts as well. a6 9.bd2 e6 10.c4 gf6 ( 10...e7!? ) 11.0-0 e7 12.e1 0-0 13.e5 g4 14.h5 dxe5 15.hxg6 f5 ( 15...fxg6 leads to sharp play - Black's 13th-15th moves are all unnecessarily pro vo c a tive , h e h a d se vera l se n sib le options at each turn.) 16.cxe5 dxe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.dxe5 h4 19.c4 h8 20.f4 ( 20.xe6!? ) 20...g3 21.xe6 xg2 22.f2 xg6 23.xg2 xe6 24.e3 g8 25.h1 ad8
26.ad1 xd1 27.xd1 xe5 28.d5 xd5+ 29.xd5 g7 30.xf5 e8 31.d4 xd4 32.cxd4 g7 1/2-1/2 Dos Santos,R-Garcia Palermo,C Rosario ARG 2001.; B) 3...e6 4.f3 B1) 4...e7 5.g5 h6 6.h4 d6 7.0-0 d7 8.d5 e5 ( 8...exd5!? ) 9.c4 g5 10.g3 g6?! Premature - guarding f5 is not a bad thing for the time being. ( 10...h5!? ) 11.e1 h5 12.f3 h6 13.c3 f6 14.c2 g4 15.fxg4 xg4 16.f3 f4 17.h3 g5 18.e2 e3+ 19.xe3 xe3 20.xf7+ d8 21.f6+ xf6 22.xf6 g8 23.f2 xg2 24.xg2 h4 25.e1 f4+ 26.h2 xd3 27.xh4 xb2 28.c5 bxc5 29.b1 c4 30.xb7 c8 31.b3 d2 32.e3 b8 33.e1 b2 34.xd2 xd2 35.a3 c4 36.f2 d7 37.ef3 b8 38.f7+ c8 39.f8+ b7 40.xb8+ xb8 41.g3 a2 42.h4 xa3+ 43.f3 a1 44.h5 a5 45.g4 a4 46.h6 a3 47.xa3 1-0 Iordachescu, V-Chernyshov,K Ohrid MKD 2001.; B2) 4...d6 5.c4 d7 6.c3 g6 7.h4 h6 8.e3 g7 9.e2 gf6 10.0-0-0 A very interesting set-up for White. Black plays too od dly f or this to rank as a decent theoretical test of the position. g4 11.d2 h5 12.g5 b8 13.c2 b5 14.xb5 0-0 15.e1 c6 16.xd6 xd6 17.f3 h6 18.d2 h7 19.e5 c7 20.g4 c5 21.gxh5 cxd4 22.hxg6+ fxg6 23.h5 f5 24.hxg6+ xg6 25.h6 xe5 26.g5+ f7 27.xf5 exf5 28.xf5+ f6 29.xd4 c6 30.f4 b7 31.g5 e8 32.e6+ d8 33.xf6+ c8 34.h7 xf6 35.e8+ c7 36.dxd7+ xd7 37.xd7+ 1-0 Gallagher, J-Shchekachev, A Lausanne SUI 2001.; B3) 4...g6 5.g5 c8 6.c4 g7 7.c3 c6 This makes it a bit easier for White to open the game later. ( 7...h6!? ) 8.d5 e5 9.xe5 xe5 10.d2 g7 11.0-0-0 Castling long seems to be in for White against the Hippo. This particular flavour is a bit grim for Black. The early knight exchange has made it harder for Black to keep the position closed and he 1815
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is not well placed to castle or complete development. In any event, the combination of Bg5, c4 and 0-0-0 seems to be a very sensible one. h6 12.h4 e5 13.d6 g5 14.g3 cxd6 15.b5 f8 16.c2 f6 17.xd6+ xd6 18.xd6 h7 19.b1 c5 20.d2 0-0-0 21.h4 d6 22.f3 g7 23.b3 g4 24.f2 c7 25.h5 c6 26.h4 b7 27.he1 f7 28.c5 xh5 29.f2 gxf3 30.cxb6 fxg2 31.a5 a6 32.c4 a8 33.xd6 e7 34.d5 xd5 35.xc6 d8 36.c5 h1 37.g1 h4 38.c1 xe1 39.xe1 xc6 40.exd5+ xd5 41.c3+ b7 42.f3 gd7 43.xg2 f5 44.a3 e4 45.e3 5d6 46.a4 a5 47.g8 d5 48.f4 xb6 49.c8 d1+ 50.a2 7d3 51.c7+ a6 52.c6+ a7 53.c7 1-0 Rublevsky,SChernyshov,K Ohrid MKD 2001. ] 1...e6 [ 1...b6 2.c4 b7 3.c3 f6 4.f3 g6 5.e4 g7 A new move - other Black players have felt the need to play ...d6. 6.e5 g8 In the heydays of the Modern such things were considered staple fare - early advances let Black start the task of chipping away at White's centre and bouncing back to occupy the holes created. 7.f4 d6 8.f3 d7 9.g5?! A wa s t e o f t i m e . dxe5 10.dxe5 h6 11.e3 e6 12.d2 e7 13.0-0-0 d8 14.ge4 ( 14.b5 0-0! ) 14...0-0 15.d3 g4 White's queen is t e r r i b l y m i s p l a c e d . 16.b1 h6! Black makes this hypermodern stuff look gooood. 17.he1 xe3 18.xe3 xe5 19.g3 xd3 20.xd3 xd3 21.xd3 d8 22.e2 g7 23.g4 d4 24.g5 h5 0 -1 Ra m o n , D -S h ira zi, K Fo u rm i e s FR A 2001. ] 2.c4 b6 3.f3 b7 4.a3 g6 5.c3 g7 6.e4 d6 7.d3 e7 8.0-0 d7 9.e1 h6 10.e3 g5 I never thought I would see the day a classical, theoretical animal like Kiril Georgiev would be playing the main line of the Hippo. 11.c1 g6!? A new move. [ 11...a6 12.d5 g6 13.d4 e7 14.b4 ge5 15.f1 c8 16.f3 h5 17.a4 h4 18.h3 f8 19.c5 bxc5 20.bxc5 c6 21.dxe6 fxe6 22.b3 1-0 Ehlvest,J-Baburin,A Istanbul OL 2000. ]
12.b4 [ 12.d5!? ] 12...0-0 No extremist waiting around, Black has set up and now completes development. 13.d2 c5 Black's preferred method of seizing a share of the centre. 14.dxc5 dxc5 15.b3 e7 16.bxc5 xc5 17.xc5 bxc5 This is at least equal for Black - actually his position is slightly preferable due to his grip on relevant dark squares - his pieces are more actively placed as well. 18.a4 ac8 19.b1 a6 20.b3 fd8 21.ed1 d4 22.e2 f6 23.xd4 cxd4 24.b2 e5 25.a4 f4 26.f1 b7 27.f3 a5 28.g3 g6 29.d3 c7 30.b5 a8 31.g2 b8 32.a4 c6 33.c2 e5 34.xe5 xe5 Georgiev has used his fearsome technique to slowly increase his grip on the game. He has now whittled away the minor piece population, leaving the pair with the greatest contrast in powers behind. 35.xb8 xb8 36.f1 d6 37.c5 e5 38.d3 f5 39.e1 fxe4 40.fxe4 [ 40.xe4 d3 ] 40...f8 41.f1 xf1+ 42.xf1 White must defend patiently, but his problems are not major, just annoying passivity. f7 43.e1 e7 44.d2 h5 45.c1 d8 46.b1 c7 47.a2 a4 48.b1 d8 49.a2 e7 50.b1 h4 51.gxh4 gxh4 52.f2 xc5 53.xh4+ d7 54.h7+ d6 55.g7 c3 56.c2 e1+ 57.b2 c3+ 58.b1 c4 59.g3+ d7 60.g7+ c8 61.g8+ b7 62.d8 [ 62.g7+ ] 62...c5! 63.h4 e5 64.f6 xa3 65.xe5 d3 66.b2+?? [ 66.d1 ] 66...xb2+ 67.xb2 a3+ 0-1
1829 Neverov,Valeriy Short,Nigel D 2nd IECC Ohrid MKD (8) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2562 2676 09.06.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 b4+ 5.d2 c6!? A rather rare option that looks to be very playable. 6.e2 1816
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 6.d5 xd2+ 7.xd2 e5 8.c3 h6 9.f4 xd3+ 10.xd3 f5 11.e5 g5 ( 11...d6!?; 11...h4+!?; 11...e7!? ) 12.ge2 e7 ( 12...f7 ) 13.0-0-0 ( 13.b5 ) 13...0-0-0 14.b5 exd5 15.cxd5 c5+ 16.b1 a6 17.d6+ cxd6 18.xa6+ b8 19.c3 c8 20.a3 c5 21.a6 c8 22.a4 a6 23.a3 f7 24.e6 dxe6 25.dxe6 xe6 26.xa6 d5 27.he1 c6 28.e7 d6 29.a7+ c8 30.xd5 1-0 Boden,S- Owen,J London 1858, wh ic h illu s t r a t e s t h a t t h i s d e f e n c e h a s been English since the dawn of time. ] [ 6.f3 xd2+ 7.bxd2 f6 8.e5 f4 9.g3 h6 10.0-0 f5 ( 10...f6!? ) 11.d5 ce7 12.e1 exd5 13.cxd5 xd5 14.c1 c6 15.xf5 ge7 16.e4 f7 17.h4 0-0 18.g5 g6 19.g2 h8 20.e6 d5 21.xd5 xd5 22.xc6 h5 23.b3 f6 24.de4 f5 25.c2 h6 26.e7 xe7 27.e6 1/2-1/2 Nogueiras, J-Velez,N Cienfuegos 1983. - A very messy game, though in the final position Black is better after . ..Bf7. ] 6...f6!? Black gains an important concession with this - W hite must either open the long li gh t -s qu a re d d ia go n a l o r s u r r e n d e r t h e bishop pair to keep his centre strong. 7.xb4 [ 7.d5 xd2+ 8.xd2 e5 is not worrying for Black. ] 7...xb4 8.bc3 xd3+ [ 8...0-0-0 9.b1 ] 9.xd3 a6?! This allows Black to keep his king in the centre a bit longer, but it was certainly worth considering castling queenside at once. It is hard to see how it helps Black's cause to play ...a6 so early if he is going to castle long. 10.0-0 e7 11.f4 Otherwise Black can entertain moving his queen and playing ...f5 himself. g6 12.f5! exf5 13.f4 g5 14.exf5 0-0-0 [ 14...xf5?? 15.xf5 xf5 16.fd5+- ] 15.e4 h6 16.g3 My computers don't agree, but I feel this position must favour White, though Black is not without play. It is just that Black's pieces seem to have restricted prospects and his king position is not totally secure. d5 17.ac1 [ 17.c5!? ] 17...g5 18.f6! gxf4 [ 18...xf6?? 19.xd5 d6 20.e4+- ]
19.fxe7 d7 20.f5 dxc4 21.d2? [ 21.xc4 g6 22.e2 and Black will lose his f4 pawn without compensation. ] 21...g6 22.xf4 b5 It's not pretty, but Black needs to keep the material balance and things in front of his face. The difference between this position and the previous note is clear White has missed a, if not the, boat. 23.b3 [ 23.a4!? ] 23...cxb3 24.axb3 e8 25.c5 d5 26.c2 b7 27.b4 c6 Now the light-squared bishop is an adequate defensive shield. 28.h3 e6 29.c3 d5 30.c2 e6 31.c3 ½-½
1830 Nielsen,Peter Heine Bischoff,Klaus Bundesliga 2001-2 (1) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2593 2541 06.10.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 g6 4.e4 g7 5.f3 e7 6.d3 d6 7.c3 d7 8.0-0 h6 9.e3 b7 10.c1 This type of plan, with white playing to expand with d5 and b4, has been seen before, but usually with the insertion of moves like Re1 and/or h3 (see Baburin-Miles, Ehlvest-Baburin and Neverov-Georgiev in earlier Daring Defences). Naturally, white's plan contains new dangers in accelerated form. g5 [ 10...c5!? ] 11.d5 g6 [ 11...c5!? ] [ 11...c6!? ] 12.d4 e7 13.cb5 c5 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.b1 xd4 [ 15...a6 16.h5 axb5 17.xg6+ f7 18.xf7+ xf7 19.cxb5 ] 16.e5!? or perhaps !! - white wants to guarantee maximum prospects of line-opening. But it seems to me to be simply an interesting sacrifice rather than a definite body blow. 0-0-0?! [ 16...xe5!? 17.xg6+ d8 18.b4 g7!? ( 18...d7 19.c5 looks very dangerous for Black, though perhaps playable since c6 can still be answered by ...Ba6.) 19.c2 looks more promising for white than the straightforward Now mind-boggling 1817
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 complications arise after either ( 19.bxc5 xg6 20.cxd6 e4 21.dxc7+ c8 22.f3 xf3 23.gxf3 a6 ) 19...b3 ( or 19...d7 20.c5 bxc5 21.bxc5 dxc5 22.fd1 d5 looks frightening but could be defensible for black. ) 20.e4!? ( 20.b1!?; 20.cd1!? )] 17.exd6 cxd6 18.xd4 h4 19.f3 hg8 Black's attacking idea is clear. 20.b4 e5 21.f2 xg2!? 22.bxc5 [ 22.xg2!? g4 23.g1 is more defensive, but not necessarily inferior. ] 22...dxc5 23.xa7+ b8 24.a4 e6 25.b5 [ 25.xg2!? ] 25...f4! 26.e4 this seems to snuff out b l a c k ' s a t t a c k . g7? but a mechanical assistant will pose the question: why not [ 26...g4+!! An incredible resource. 27.g3 ( 27.fxg4 e2+ 28.g2 xe4+ 29.h3 f4+ 30.g3 d3+ 31.e3 mates xe3+ ) 27...h3+ 28.h1 ( 28.g2 d2+ ) 28...xe4 and it is white who must take care. ] 27.a7+ c8 28.xb7+ xb7 29.a8+ b8 30.e4 Without his light-squared bishop black can only hope for tricks. d2 31.ce1 b7 32.g3 h3 33.f2 xf2 34.c6+ d8 35.d1+ d7 36.xd7+ xd7 37.xd7+ xd7 38.xf2 d3+ 39.e2 b2 40.xe5 xc4 41.g7 1-0
1831 Nikolic,Predrag Bunzmann,Dimitrij Bundesliga 2000-1 (10) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2652 2500 10.03.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 f5 4.g3 b7 5.d5 b5!? This is more usual with Nc3 + Nf6 inserted. 6.cxb5 f6 7.g2 xd5 8.b3 c8 Preparing ...a6 and recapturing on a6 with the knight, which looks like a nice way of achieving quick activity on the queenside, and exploiting white's early queen sortie. Unfortunately white doesn't suffer very much from this, perhaps because it takes black a bit of time to set it up. [ 8...c6!? ] 9.h3 a6 10.0-0 axb5 11.xb5 d6
[ 11...a6 12.b3 doesn't accomplish anything as the e-pawn is not to be taken. ] [ 11...a6 perhaps more flexible. ] 12.b3 a6 13.d2 0-0 14.c4 e7 15.g5 c5 16.c2 f6= Both sides have chances, and the position is unbalanced and dynamic - there is no reason for black not to repeat this variation. 17.b4 e4 18.xe4 cxe4 19.f4 d5 20.e5 a6 21.fc1 c5!? A bold decision. [ 21...d6!? 22.b2 fb8!? ( 22...fc8!? 23.f3 ec3 )] [ 21...fc8!? ] 22.b2 cxb4 23.axb4 b5 24.xg7 xa1 25.xa1 c8 26.h6 dc3 Black has exposed his king but received a powerful initiative in return. 27.d2 f6 28.xe4 fxe4 29.g2 e3 30.a5 b7+ 31.f3 a8 32.h5 xe2 33.c4 d4 34.xd4 e2 35.g4+ h8 36.d2 f8 37.e4 1-0
1832 Nikolic,Predrag Kengis,Edvins Bundesliga 1999-2000 (11) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2659 2574 20.02.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 g6 4.c3 g7 5.f3 [ 5.e4 e7 6.h4!? An understand able reaction, though Black gets sufficient co u n t e rp la y via t h e cla ssica l r e c ip e o f striking back in the centre. W hite's plan might have more punch if delayed - so that he were slightly more developed and after black had played .. .Bb7. It seems to me the bishop is better placed to react to this flank aggression from c8. d5 7.cxd5 exd5 8.e5 c5 9.b5+ d7 10.g5 xb5 11.xb5 0-0 12.f3 bc6= 13.h5 a6 14.c3 cxd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.xd4 f5 17.d2 e8 18.0-0 d4 19.d5 xe5 20.xb6 a7 21.fe1 e3 22.xe3 dxe3 23.xe3 d4 24.a5 xb2 25.d1 d4 26.a4 a2 27.c3 c4 1/2-1/2 Krasenkow, M-Kengis, E Gausdal 1991 ] 5...e7 6.g3 Not the most ambitious. A survey of alternatives suggests that black's most solid course is to be ready to react to 1818
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 central expansion with a well-timed ...d5. The ambitious continuation is to counterpunch with plans involving ...f5 which are much more double-edged. [ 6.e4 0-0 ( 6...b7 7.h4!? If white wants to play like this then this seems to me to be the most logical time to do it. h6 8.d3 d6 9.e3 d7 10.e2 a6 11.c1 c5 12.d5 e5 13.h5 f6 14.hxg6 fxg6 15.d2 c8 16.f3 h5 17.d1 h6 18.c2 xe3 19.xe3 eg8 20.g5 h6 21.g4 e7 22.e3 h7 23.gxh5 xh5 24.e2 a7 25.f4 g4 26.fxe5 xe5 27.cg1 gf6 28.h4 xe2 29.xe2 g7 30.xh7 xh7 31.xg6 f5 32.h3 d4+ 33.b1 f8 34.g8 f7 35.g2 e8 36.c8+ e7 37.h5 1-0 Milov,V-Miles,A/New York 1997 ) 7.e2 ( 7.d5 d6 8.d3 exd5 9.exd5 c6 10.0-0 cxd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.cxd5 g4 13.h3 xf3 14.xf3 d7 15.d1 a6 16.a4 c5 17.a3 h4 18.c2 fe8 19.g4 ac8 20.g2 a5 21.d3 xd3 22.xd3 h5 23.g3 xg3+ 24.xg3 hxg4 25.hxg4 e4 26.b3 e5 27.f4 d4 28.d3 c2+ 29.f3 f5 30.gxf5 gxf5 31.a3 c5 32.xc5 bxc5 33.g1+ f7 34.g5 f6 35.h5 ee2 36.h6+ e7 37.h7+ e8 38.h6 f2+ 39.g3 g2+ 40.f3 cf2+ 41.e3 h2 42.xh2 xh2 43.f3 f7 44.g3 e2 45.f3 e4 46.d2 b4 47.d3 e7 48.g3 d7 49.f3 e7 50.e3+ d7 51.f3 d4 52.h4 xd5 53.g5 c6 54.g3 1/2-1/2 Jasnikowski,Z-Kengis,E/ Cappelle 1994 (54)) 7...b7 ( 7...d5 8.exd5 exd5 9.g5 c6 10.0-0 e6 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.e1 bc6 13.a6 h6 14.f4 c8 15.a4 xa6 16.xa6 f5 17.e5 fxd4 18.xd4 xe5 19.ad1 h4 20.h3 ae8 21.xd5 g4 22.f1 1/2-1/2 Avshalumov, A-Kengis,E/ Luxembourg 1990 (22)) 8.d5 ( 8.0-0 f5 9.e5 h6 10.e1 g5 11.d5 g6 12.f1 g4 13.d4 xe5 14.dxe6 f6 15.xh6 e8 16.db5 dxe6 17.d2 c6 18.g5 e7 19.xe5 f7 20.ee1 a6 21.ad1 axb5 22.cxb5 ce5 23.xf6+ xf6 24.e3 f7 25.c4 h8 26.g3 d6 27.a2 f3 28.h4 xh4 29.d5+ f7 30.d4 h6 31.d3 exd5 32.xe7+ xe7 33.e3+ d7 34.gxh4 xh4 35.xf3 gxf3 36.f6
g4+ 37.f1 e6 38.d8 xb5 0-1 Hellsten,J-Miles,A/Malmo 1996. A truly remarkable game.) 8...a6 9.d2 f5 10.exf5 xf5 11.0-0 c5 12.dxc6 xc6 13.b4 c7 14.c1 c8 15.g5 e8 16.d2 h6 17.e3 e5 18.fd1 e6 19.b5 xb5 20.cxb5 xc1 21.xc1 e4 22.e1 xe3 23.xe3 f4 24.g4 d5 25.g3 h5 26.gxf4 hxg4 27.xd5 h7 28.g2 e6 29.d2 f7 30.e3 xf4 31.d7 f7 32.xf7 xf7 33.xg4 b3 34.d7 xa3 35.f6+ h6 36.xe4 e5 37.d2+ g7 38.g5 f6 39.g2 b2 40.d8+ f5 41.f3 f6 42.d5+ f4 43.c4+ f5 44.h3 c3 45.f7+ 1-0 Novikov,I-Kengis,E/Koszalin 1998 ] [ 6.e3 b7 7.e2 0-0 8.0-0 d5 9.cxd5 xd5 10.d2 d7 11.c1 c5 12.dxc5 xc5 13.b4 d7 14.xd5 xd5 15.c3 xc3 1/2-1/2 Li Wenliang-Miles,A/Beijing 1996/CBM 55 (15) ] 6...b7 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 d5 9.cxd5 xd5 10.g5 xc3 11.bxc3 c8 Black has a solid position with a slight Gruenfeld feel to it in his ability to create counterplay with ...c5 against white's pawn structure. He also has a grip on e4 reminiscent of the Queen's Indian kind of positions akin to the English Defence. 12.e1 e4 13.d2 d7 14.f4 [ 14.h6 may be more accurate. Provoking the move ...f5 does not appear to have drawbacks for black. ] 14...f5 15.h6 xh6 16.xh6 f6 17.h3 c5 18.g5 cxd4 19.cxd4 d7 20.ad1 [ 20.xe4 xe4 21.e3 fd8 22.ed1 ac8 gives black enough to do on the queenside. ] 20...d5 21.d2 [ 21.f3 is the most likely way to sharpen the game. One potential drawback is the unfortunate configuration of White's minor pieces, and black has at least the solid a lt e rn a t ive b3 22.d2 g7 ( 22...e5 looks far too risky after either 23.e4 or 23. d5 ) 23.xg7+ xg7 24.b2 h6 25.xb3 hxg5 ] 21...e4 [ 21...ac8 looks better - the c-file and the c3 square beckon. ] 22.xe4 fxe4 23.f3 exf3 24.e4 f7 25.f2 c4 26.c1 b5 1819
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 26...e2 27.c6 ae8 28.g4 and black ha s too many weak pawns - to undertake something active he will have to leave something vulnerable. ] 27.g4 f6 28.e3 ad8 29.e5 e7 30.xf3 xf3 31.xf3 d7 32.d1 ½-½
1833 Novikov,Igor A Paschall,William M Rotary Open Lindsborg Kansas USA (7) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2592 2463
Th e E n glish Def e nce is st a rt ing to ge t a following amongst a number of strong players. On the basis of recent games Black seems to be getting a satisfactory game, but... Black should try and play for a fair share of the centre and not be tempted by visions of a kingside attack, especially against the White's kingside fianchetto. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 [ 3.e4 b7 4.f3 ( 4.c3 b4 5.f3 e7 6.d3 0-0 7.ge2 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.e5 c5 10.a3 cxd4 11.axb4 dxc3 12.bxc3 g6 13.xg6 hxg6 14.0-0 d7 15.f4 c8 16.d4 c6 17.e3 e7 18.a3 a5 19.d2 axb4 20.xa8 xa8 21.cxb4 c8 22.b5 c4 23.c1 c7 24.h3 f5 25.xf5 xc1+ 1/2-1/2 Bogdanov,O-Lau,R/ Aschach AUT 2002) 4...g6!? ( Black has several alternatives: 4...h4+!? 5.g3 h5 intending ...f5 is suggested by Miles; 4...f5!?; Blatny recently tried 4...d5; and perhaps the most solid of all is 4...b4+ to exchange a pair of bishops.) 5.c3 g7 6.e3 f5 7.d3 f6 8.h3 0-0 9.0-0 c6 10.e5 e8 11.f4 e7 12.d5 h6 13.dxe6 dxe6 14.e2 c5 15.f3 xd1 16.axd1 xf3 17.xf3 c6 with a slight space edge to White, Onischuk-Kraai, Lindsborg Kansas USA 2002 ] 3...b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 d6 [ The precise move-order is unimportant here. The main idea for White is to develop the knight to h3 from where it can come to d4 e. g. 5...f6 6.g3 a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 9.0-0 e5 10.c2 0-0 11.d1 ( 11.f4 e7 12.d2 is recommended by ECO on the basis of a game I. Sokolov-
Rah man , I sta nbu l o l 2 000 wh ere Blac k played 12...c6 but safe enough seemed the following game... f7 13.ad1 ce4 14.xe4 xe4 15.c1 ae8 16.dxe6 dxe6 0.5-0.5 Franco-Romero Holmes, Mondariz 2002 ) 11...e7 12.e3 A) 12...ab8 13.ac1 ce4 14.xe4 xe4 15.f4 c5 16.dxc6 xc6 was OK for Black in Kasparov-Morozevich, Frankfurt 2000; B) 12...ce4 13.xe4 xe4 14.f4 ae8 15.ac1 g5 ( 15...c5! ) 16.d3 f6 17.a4 a6 18.b3 b8 19.c2 bc8 20.xe4 fxe4 21.b4 a5 22.a2 exd5 23.cxd5 In Prakesh-Reefat, Kelamabakkam 2000 Black played 23...c5 but this proved weakening, but after d6 24.c3 xc3 Black should be OK.; C) 12...c6 13.f4 ( After 13.dxe6 dxe6 14.ac1 a6 15.b4 c5 16.xb7 xb7 17.b5 b8 18.g5 e7 19.f3 bd7 20.g5 c7 21.e4 as in M.GurevichBauer, Clichy 2001 Black created interesting complications starting with f4!? ) 13...cxd5 14.cxd5 ce4 15.xe4 xe4 16.dxe6 dxe6 17.b3 xf4 18.xf4 d5 19.e3 f6 20.f3 c5 21.e5 f7 22.ac1 White has slight pressure but it proves insufficient against fine defence. fc8 23.c3 d7 24.dc1 xc3 25.xc3 xe5 26.xe5 e8 27.h3 h6 28.e4 fxe4 29.fxe4 a2 30.b3 f6 31.xf6 gxf6 32.f2 f7 33.e3 f5!? ( 33...e7 is perhaps safer) 34.exf5 exf5+ 35.f4 e4+! 36.f3 ( 36.xf5? b1 is t o o d a n g e r o u s) 36...f6 37.g4 e5 38.gxf5 h5 39.c7 f4+ 40.e3 ( 40.g3 h4+ 41.g2 xb3 ) 40...h4 41.e7+?! 1/2-1/2 Sh ulm an, Y-K raa i,J/Linds borg K a n s a s U S A 2 0 0 2 ) ( 41.e7+ f6 42.e6+ f7 43.g2 xb3 is even better for Black )] 6.f3 f6 7.g3 0-0 8.g2 a6 9.0-0 c5 10.d4 [ 10.b5 a5 11.xd6 cxd6 12.d4 e7 13.dxe6?! ( 13.b3 exd5!? 14.xf5 e5 15.d4 dxc4 16.f4 h5 is u n c le a r) 13...xg2 14.xg2 dxe6 15.b3 b7+ 16.g1 d5 17.b2 dxc4 18.bxc4 ad8 Black had good play in Kahn-Bagirov, Bad 1820
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Wildbad 1997 ] 16.bxc5 exd3 17.xd3 bxc5 18.cxd5 10...e8 xd5 19.xd5+ xd5 20.b2 c6 [ Simplest is 10...e7 keeping the queen in 21.0-0-0 ad8 22.c2 f4 23.xd8 xd8 the centre. ] 24.g1 de6 25.e5 xg2 26.e1 xf2+ 11.cb5 h5?! This plan seems ineffective. 27.b3 e3 28.g3 e2 29.c3 c4+ 12.xd6 cxd6 13.b5 H i t t i n g d 6 e8 30.a4 d5 31.a5 a6 0-1 Chabanon, J14.c3 c8 15.f3 Now the knight on c5 is Teske,H/Karlsruhe 1991/GER (31) ] denied it's most active square. e5 16.b4 a6 6...h5!? 17.b3 White is positionally winning as the [ 6...e7 7.d3 c5 8.ge2 c6 9.0-0 0-0 Black forces are cut in two. The black minor 10.b3 d6 11.c2 b8 12.h3 e7 pieces are seriously restricted. ac7 18.a4 13.h1 g6 14.b1 cxd4 15.exd4 d8 f4 A desperate attempt for some activity, this 16.e3 c8 17.d2 b8 18.c5 e8 m o v e m a k e s m a t t e r s wo r s e a s W h i t e i s 19.b4 h4 20.f2 h6 21.f4 xf4 handed the e4-square on a plate. 19.e4 a6 1/2-1/2 Piket,J-Adams,M/Linares 1997/CBM 20.b5 a5 21.e3 fxg3 22.hxg3 g6 23.a3 57 (21) ] h6 24.a2 g6 25.af2 a8 26.f4 7.h3 g6 8.e2 g7 9.d3 c6 10.d2 Resignation is not that premature as Black is f4 11.0-0-0 playing without his queenside pieces. [ 11.0-0!? looks sounder. This and white's 1-0 next move beg for trouble. ] 11...0-0 12.exf4 xd4 13.g4 h4!? A youthfully innovative way of handling the 1834 A40 position - a solid approach was: [ 13...b3+!? 14.c2 ( 14.b1 xd2+ Ogaard,Leif 2435 15.xd2 xc3 16.bxc3 f6 Miles,Anthony J 2565 with an absolute structural ruin for white.) Reykjavik 1978 14...c5 15.e3 f6 and black's superior [Jon Tisdall] piece coordination must be worth a clear advantage. ] A good example of black's piece activity and how easy it is f or even a strong sensible 14.gxh5 xh3 15.hxg6 h6 16.e4 d5 player to go to pieces when faced with active 17.cxd5 xd5 18.c3 c5 This also is very offbeat stuff. Worth remembering to highlight difficult for white to play - his structure and the Qh4 possibilities. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.d5 activity are less than ideal and black hides cxd4 h4 4.e3 f6 5.a3 b7 6.f3 h5 7.dxe6 behind the white g-pawn. 19.xd4 fxe6 8.e2 g6 9.h4 h6 10.f3 c6 20.b1 xf4 21.c1 f5 22.a1 f8 11.g3 g5 12.e4 e5 13.g2 g7 14.f4 23.c7 e5 [ 23...xe4!? 24.fxe4 xe4 25.xg7+ gxh4 15.fxe5 g4 16.f4 0-0-0 17.c3 ( 25.d1 xh1 26.xh1 d3-+ ) 25...xg7 c5 18.d2 xe5 19.b4 h3 26.xd4+ e5-+ ] 0-1 24.hc1 xe4 25.fxe4 xe4 26.f1 e1 27.g2 xc1+ [ 27...e3-+ ] 1835 A40 Olsson,Linus 2116 28.xc1 e3 29.c4 d3 30.b1 d2 Hanley,Craig 2294 31.a2 e1 32.g4 f2 33.e4 d1 EuYCh B16 Halkidiki GRE (6) 07.10.2000 0-1 [Jon Tisdall] 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.e3 f6 6.f3 [ 6.f3 e7 7.d3 0-0 8.c2 c5 9.e4 cxd4 10.xd4 c5 11.f3 fxe4 12.xe4 xe4 13.xe4 d5 14.d3 e5 15.b4 e4 1821
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1836 Onischuk,Alexander Short,Nigel D 13th Karpov GM (3) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2672 2698 30.09.2012
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.f3 g6!? Experimental and probably inferior, but the sort of move that co uld conf use a lesse r player. [ The wild 4...f5 is often prescribed, and should be compared to the analogous position with the additional moves N-c3 by W hite and ...Bb4 by Black: 5.exf5 h6 6.fxe6 ( 6.xh6?! gives Black great compensation: h4+ 7.g3 xh6 8.d2 c6 9.e2 b4 10.bc3 xd2+ 11.xd2 a5 12.f4 xf3 Semkov, SBricard, E Sofia 1990) 6...f5 7.e2 d6 8.h4 ( th e ou trageo u s 8.exd7+ xd7 9.bc3 h4+ 10.d2 f4+ 11.c2 xc1 12.xc1 0-0-0 should give Black enough play ) 8...0-0 9.bc3 Ree, H-Miles, A Wijk aan Zee 1979, and now simply dxe6= ] [ A calmer way of getting in ...f5 is 4...b4+ 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 h6 7.c3 f5 e.g. 8.0-0-0 0-0 9.d3 c6 10.ge2 fxe4 ( 10...b4!? 11.b1 fxe4 12.xe4 xe4 13.xe4 d5!? 14.cxd5 xd5 should be a shade better for W hite) 11.xe4 a5 Dlugy, M-Kengis, E Liepaja rapid 2001, which is more or less equal, although White has a nominal space advantage. ] 5.c3 d6 [ Black attacks the centre directly with 5...g7 6.e3 f5 7.d3 f6 but 8.h3! holds the white edif ice together. If on e compares this with a typical analogous position (where White has the same set-up, but the black dark-squared bishop is on b4, rather than g7), Black now lacks effective pressure on the e4-square. 0-0 9.0-0 c6 10.e5 e8 11.f4 e7 12.d5 Onischuk, AKraai, J Lindsborg 2002, and Black was being squeezed short of space. ] 6.d3 [ I wonder if 6.e3 h6!? 7.xh6 h4+ 8.g3 xh6 crossed the players' minds. Trading a pair of minor pieces eases any p r o b l e m s a s s o c i a t e d wi t h h a vi n g l e s s space. ]
6...h4+ Short is well known for going his own way in the opening. So note that tricky offbeat systems are not the exclusive domain of club players. However, when they do go wrong, not everyone has Nigel's defensive technique! 7.g3 f6 8.e3 h6 9.f4! Onischuk avoids the trade, preferring to increase his central bind. e7 10.f3 f5 One understands why g2-g3 was provoked - pressure along the long light-squared diagonal. In many ways this is what the English Defence is all about! 11.0-0! f6 12.exf5 exf5 13.e1 White has more space, and is even ahead in development, but there is no crisis yet for the Englishman. 0-0 14.d5 d7 15.d4 [ Maybe 15.d4! is more unpleasant to face. The fact that a knight is about to invade the e6-square is not good news for Black. Then after a6 16.e6 f7 17.c2 c5 O n i s c h u k c o u l d h a v e p l a y e d 18.xc5 if he wants to promote the power of knights over bishops in this relatively closed middlegame. ] 15...c5 16.xf6 xf6 17.e3 The game remains closed and the e-file is going to be White's. a6 18.e2 c7 19.e1 [ If 19.e7 then d8 followed by ...Bf8, so the rook's stay on e7 will be short-lived. ] 19...f7 20.c2! Aiming to improve his leasteffective piece. af8 21.a4 d8 22.h4 a6 23.e8!? A surprising lunge into the black camp. g7 [ Short decides to avoid simplification, as 23...xe8 24.xe8 xe8 25.xe8+ xe8 26.xe8+ f8 27.e6! d8 28.e7 a8 29.a7 enables the White rook to cause havoc along the seventh. Black is not ready to create counterplay either. ] 24.c6 a8 25.xb7 xb7 26.g5 xg5 27.hxg5 Exchanges can often reduce the problems for a defender, but if his remaining pieces are still passive, then difficulties won't necessary be over yet. Short's next move looks as if he is seeking some sort of activity, but in fact it turns out to be a ruse to stop W hite doing anything positive on the q u e e n s i d e . b5! 28.b3 b8 29.a4 b4! Definitively blocking the wing, shows that Nige l S h o rt d oe sn 't b e lie ve t h a t W h it e 's domination of the e-f ile is that much of a problem. 1822
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ The downside of the 'pseudo-active' 29...bxc4 30.bxc4 b4 is that after 31.b1 it's W hite who can best benefit from the open b-file. ] 30.d1 gf7 31.f2 c8 32.g2 a5 33.d3 d7 34.h3 c8 35.g2 d7 36.h3 c8 37.f2 d7 38.h2 d8 39.h3 c8 40.d3 d8 41.g4 Onischuk waits for the time control before t r y i n g t h i s , h i s o n l y p a w n b r e a k . fxg4+ 42.xg4 h6!? Deciding not to allow White a free hand. The threat is .. .Rxf4+ followed by .. .Qxg5+. A practical decision, but I can't see a breakthrough for White if Black just 'sits on his hands' and waits. 43.gxh6 f6 44.g3 h7 45.g4 [ Passively defending the pawn with 45.h1 allows g5! with complications that may leave White's king short of cover. ] 45...xh6 Risky-looking. 46.h4+?! [ Rybka suggests an amazing manoeuvre: 46.f2! f5 47.e4 ( 47.h3 is also promising) 47...xg4+ 48.xg4 xf4+ 49.g3 and White will regain his pawn with interest e.g. 4f7 ( 49...e8 leads to a family fork after 50.h1+ g7 51.g5 ) 50.xd6 d7 51.e4 and Black is in trouble. ] 46...g7 47.xf6+ xf6 48.e4 [ White still retains winning chances with 48.f2! 6f7 49.e4 d7 50.g5 ] 48...6f7 49.1e3 d8 50.f2 Late is better than never! However here Black is better organized and is able to meet the threats. f8 51.h3 dd7 52.g5 fe7 Just in time! 53.e6+ xe6 54.xe6 xe6 55.xe6 e7! Activating is often the best way to defend in strategically inferior rook endgames. [ Avoiding 55...f7? 56.h4 e7 57.xe7+ xe7 58.g5 f7 59.f5 gxf5 60.xf5 when White has the opposition and wins. ] 56.f6+ [ Nor does 56.xg6 e3+ 57.g4 xb3 58.xd6 c3 59.f5 xc4 look better than a draw. ] 56...g7 57.xd6 e3+ 58.f2 xb3 59.c6 c3 60.xc5 b3 61.xa5 xc4 62.b5 xf4+ 63.e3 xa4 64.xb3 ½-½
1837 Onischuk,Alexander Sokolov,Andrei Viernheim (3) [John Emms]
A40 2575 2585 1995
1.d4 g6 2.c4 g7 3.c3 c5 4.d5 f5 If Black chooses this move-order, delaying ... Bxc3+, he has to be ready to meet 5 Qc2 which prevents the idea. [ 4...xc3+ 5.bxc3 f5 6.e4 is the normal move-order. ] 5.e4 xc3+ 6.bxc3 fxe4 7.f3 f6! This looks much wiser than grabbing on f3. [ For 7...exf3?! see Navara-Rozmbersky, Czechia 2001. ] [ 7...a5 8.c2 f6 9.fxe4 transposes to the main game. ] 8.fxe4 a5 [ 8...xe4?! 9.d3 f6 10.f3 is similar to Navara-Rozmbersky ] [ but 8...d6 is a key alternative. See Liascovich-Tristan, Mar del Plata 2007. ] 9.c2 d6! [ Again Black can take on e4 with 9...xe4 , this time using tactics on c3. But once more 10.d3! f6 ( 10...xc3+?? 11.xc3 xc3 12.b2+- ) 11.f3 is a very promising gambit for White. ] 10.d3 bd7 11.f3 e5 Black wants to occupy the e5-square. He just has to decide whether to do so immediately, as Sokolov does, or play ...Ng4 first. [ 11...g4 12.0-0 de5 13.xe5 ( 13.f4 d7 14.h3 0-0! 15.xe5 xe5= and Black is slightly better coordinated than usual, A. Maksimenko-S.Lorenz, Germany 1998) 13...xe5 14.f4 d7! ( Black should avoid 14...xd3? 15.xd3 d7 16.e5! , G.Marcotulli-A.Hanegby, email 2001; while if 14...0-0 Black's position doesn't hold together after 15.xe5! dxe5 16.xf8+ xf8 17.f1+ g7 18.f2! ) 15.xe5 dxe5 16.ab1 b6 ( 16...0-0-0 17.f7 de8 18.b2 b6 19.bf1 Nisipeanu, Stoica) 17.d2 h6 18.b3 g5 19.e2 T.Ghitescu-O.Foisor, Romania 2003. I prefer W hite's activity to Black's structural edge here. ] 12.0-0 [ 12.xe5 dxe5 13.0-0 h6 14.b1 1823
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 14.d6!? ) 14...c7 15.f2 ( 15.a4 ) 15...d7 16.b2 b6 17.c2 f7 18.a4 ab8 19.a5 g7 20.e3 d6 21.h3 g5! 22.h2 e8! 23.d3 g6 24.c2 hf8 25.axb6 axb6 26.b5 a8 27.fb1 a6 28.1b2 e8 29.d2 xb5 30.xb5 a1 31.f2 h5 32.e3 a2 33.e2 xf2 34.xf2 f4 35.f1 0-1 L. Delorme-A. Skripchenko, France 2009. Black slowly consolidated in this game, improved her position and then assumed control. I suspect there are improvements which would make B la c k ' s lif e m o re d if f icu lt , b u t e ve n s o Onischuk's choice of 12 0-0 looks more flexible. ] 12...xf3+ This accelerates White's development. [ 12...fg4 would transpose to 11...Ng4. Given what happens in the game, this might be Black's best bet. ] [ Ideally Black would like to hold with 12...d7 , but here 13.xe5 dxe5 14.d6 might be annoying. ] 13.xf3 g4 14.f4! Now I can't see a way for Black to fully solve his problems. d7 [ 14...e5 15.xe5 dxe5 16.af1 looks like a more favourable version (for White) of Ghitescu-Foisor, above. ] [ 14...0-0 can be answered the same way as i n t h e g a m e : 15.e5! dxe5 ( 15...xe5 16.xe5 xf3 17.xg6 ) 16.g5! xf3 17.gxf3 f6 18.xg6! ] 15.e5! This is very strong. xe5 [ Or 15...dxe5 16.g5! ] 16.xe5 dxe5 17.e1 c7 18.fe3 d6 19.xe5 f8 20.xe7+! xe7 21.c1 f7 22.d6 xe1+ 23.xe1+ f8 24.e5 g8 25.xc5 e8 26.h3 c6 27.d4 e1+ 28.h2 d1 29.e3 f8 30.c5 e8 31.c4+ g7 32.f2 e4 33.b3 de1 34.f7+ h6 35.d5 1-0
1838 Ostriker Juegel,Marcel ICCF masterclass [Jon Tisdall]
A40
2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c3 b4 5.f3 f5 6.exf5 exf5 7.h3 c6 8.g5 f6 9.e2+ f7 10.0-0-0 xc3 11.bxc3 h6 12.h4 g5N [ 12...e7 13.b2 g5 14.f2 a5 15.e1 f8 16.e5 f4 17.f5 g8 18.d3 a6 19.xf4 gxf4 20.h4 g5 21.xg5 hxg5 22.h4 h6 23.e1 gxh4 24.e2 f8 25.e7+ g8 26.xf6 xf6 27.xd7 g7 28.e8+ f8 29.e7 f7 30.e6 f6 31.e8+ 1-0 Piket, J-Timman,J/Wijk aan Zee 1999/CBM 69/[Stohl] (31) ] 13.f2 f8!? A very interesting attempt to simply win a tempo over the stem game . 14.c2 a5 [ 14...a3+!? looks more to the point - I assume that Piket wanted to prevent this incursion, and black must work quite hard to g e t a c c e s s t o a 3 a g a i n - t h o u g h wh a t happens is also worth exploring. ] 15.b2 [ 15.xf5!? a3+ 16.b1 a6 ] 15...a6 16.xf5 xc4 [ 16...xc4+!? ] 17.f4 [ 17.d5!? xf1 18.d4 c4+ 19.b1 e7 20.hxf1 both kings look terribly exposed with f4 coming, and perpetual check seems a likely result. ] 17...e6 18.c2 g4 19.d5!? xd5 20.g5+ hxg5 21.fxg5 e6 [ 21...e4!? 22.d3!? d5! 23.gxf6 c4+ 24.a1 xd3 ( 24...a3 25.xe4 dxe4 26.d7+ ) 25.xd3 d8 26.g3 ] 22.gxf6 b5!? 23.a1 a3 24.b1 a4 25.xa4 bxa4 26.b5 c4 27.xc4 xc4 28.c5 e6 29.xc7 h5 Black has dangerous compensation thanks to chances a ga i n st t h e wh it e k in g a n d t h e p o we r o f arriving on the second rank with a rook. 30.c4 a3 31.c5 e5 32.h4? A very serious error, passing black's g-pawn. e2 33.xa3 xg2 34.b2 e2 35.g1 g3 36.c5 g2 37.e5 d2 38.h5 g8 39.c1 c2 40.b2 xc4 41.h7+ e6 42.e7+ f5 43.a3 f2 1824
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 44.e5+ f4 45.ee1 d6 46.c1 f7 47.c7 d5 48.f7 b8 49.d1 g3 A game that begs for more theoretical testing, though the line in general does not seem attractive for white. 0-1
1839 Ovsejevitsch,Sergei Bunzmann,Dimitrij 1st Integrata GM (8) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2526 2484 13.01.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 f5 4.c3 f6 5.g3 b7 6.d5 b5 7.f3 bxc4 8.dxe6 dxe6 9.a4+ d7 10.xc4 c6?! A dubious novelty. [ 10...c6 11.g2 d6 12.b4 e7 13.0-0 ed5 14.b2 0-0 15.d4 f7 16.ac1 f4 17.c6 a6 18.e4 xe4 19.xe4 ae8 20.d3 h5 21.d4 f6 1/2-1/2 Mohr,SBischoff,K/Germany 1996/GER-chT (21) ] 11.a2! Not the most natural move, but very logical - in fact white's odd queen outpost is vastly superior to black's. c5 12.g2 0-0 13.0-0 h8 14.f4 bd7 15.ac1 e5 16.d2 d6 17.b4 b6 18.b5 e7 19.g5 xg2 20.xg2 e4 [ 20...c5 21.e6 xe6 22.xe6 fc8 23.d6 c6 24.g5 h6 25.b5! ] 21.xe4 fxe4 22.xc7 ac8 23.e6 d8 24.d5 d4 25.e3 xc1 26.xc1 f6 27.xd4 e8 28.f7 xd5 29.c5 f6 30.e3 a6 31.c7 g8 32.g5 1-0
1840 Parligras,Mircea Savchenko,Boris TCh-TUR 2011 (8) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2626 2630 04.07.2011
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 5.f3 b4 6.0-0 e7 7.c3 xd3 8.xd3 h6!? This could be a novelty. Now that he has castled, White may feel reticent to reply with h2-h4, although this still comes into consideration. [ Playing in the centre didn't solve Black's
problems in the following: 8...d6 9.e3 g6 10.d2 e5 11.fd1 e7 12.f3!? exd4 13.xd4 0-0 14.d5 h4 15.f5 e5 16.c3 Thaler, T-Wohl, A Biel 2005, with an edge to White. ] [ The most common move over the years has been 8...g6 f or example : 9.g5 e7 10.xe7 xe7 11.d5 0-0 12.ad1 c6!? 13.d6 f6 14.c5 e5 Dreev, A-Speelman, J Geneva rapid 1996, and Black was fine. White's advanced pawns don't give Black any space problems here. ] 9.d5 [ After 9.h4 g6 ( 9...g6!? is possible, but may give White something to bite at) 10.h5 h4 11.e1 the precarious nature of the knight doesn't seem to be a problem: f5! 12.e5 g8! 13.g3 g6= as Black saves his piece by tactical means. ] 9...g5! Boris Savchenko doesn't play in the same manner as many a Grandmaster of the same strength. W hite has created a pawn we d g e o n t h e li gh t - squ a re s t o ca lm o n e fianchettoed bishop, so Black aims to concentrate his counterplay on the other c o l o u r c o m p l e x . 10.e3 g7 11.d4 Played before Black has time to organize ... N g 6 ( f o l l o w e d p e r h a p s b y . . . g 4 ) . f6 Opting to avoid the trade to keep his darksquares covered. Now, from White's point of view, he is better organized, but this is only a t e m p o r a ry st a t e o f a f f a irs , s o t h e r e i s a natural urge to 'do something' before Black completes development. 12.e5 f5 13.d6 c8!? [ The move that Black wants to play is 13...g6 but then 14.dxc7 xc7 15.b5 is annoying. ] 14.b5 c5 The structure becomes even weirder. The exchange is on offer, but this isn't the type of position where rooks are necessarily better than minor pieces. 15.c7+ f7 16.c3 b8 17.d2 e7! The knight heads for g6 after all! 18.g4!? [ Parligras decides to force Black to make a decision. He was probably influenced by the fact that after 18.f3 g6 19.ae1 f4 20.e3 h5 Black has no worries. ] 18...f4 Keeping the king safe, but there is no access to f4 now. 19.f3 g6 20.ae1 h5! 21.d5!? The knight is doing very little on c7, 1825
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 especially with the h-file likely to be opened up against his king. [ Instead 21.h3 hxg4 22.hxg4 h4 23.f2 h8 lets Black have all the fun. ] 21...h6! [ It's murky to capture: 21...exd5 22.cxd5 ( 22.f5+? g8 23.xg6 h6 24.f5 d4 ) 22...h6 23.e6+ with more than enough compensation, as Black's pieces are not so well placed if White is powering-through in the centre. ] 22.f2 b5! Finding an opportune moment to open the b-file for the other rook. 23.b3 hxg4 24.fxg4 bxc4 25.bxc4 exd5! Finally the moment has come to grab the piece. 26.cxd5 g8 27.f3 [ After 27.e6 a6 White's queen is unable to do everything at once. ] 27...c4! Open lines for Black's pieces is what is required. 28.xc4?! [ 28.e4 h4 29.d4 keeps some practical chances alive. Black has an extra piece, cert, but has to live with his forces split in two. ] 28...c8 29.b3 b6 Trading queens rather dampens W hite's chances of creating any serious counterplay. 30.xb6 [ Also pretty grim is 30.a3 h3 ] 30...axb6 31.e6 Desperately hoping to get a pawn through (in the time scramble?). xc3 32.c1 e5 33.xc3 xc3 34.xe5 c1+ 35.f1 xf1+ 36.xf1 xd5 37.e7 e6 38.xd7 f7 It's a whole rook for nothing. 0-1
1841 Partos,Charles Czebe,Attila Hilton Open Basel SUI (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2386 2472 02.01.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c3 b4 5.f3 f5 6.exf5 h6 7.fxe6 f5 8.ge2 [ 8.exd7+ xd7 9.f4 h4+ 10.g3 e7+ 11.e2 g5 12.d3 f8 13.d2 0-0-0 14.0-0-0 e5 15.b1 xd4 16.d5 xd5 0-1 Hager,F-Lempert,I/Werfen 1992 (16) ] [ 8.f4 dxe6 ( 8...h4+ 9.g3 e7 10.d2 xe6+ 11.e2 d5 12.0-0-0 0-0 13.a3 d6 14.xd6 cxd6 15.xd5 xd5
16.cxd5 xd5 17.h3 c6 18.c3 a5 19.b1 ac8 20.d3 c4 21.c1 b5 22.f4 xd4 23.xd4 xd4 24.xc4+ bxc4 25.hd1 xf3 26.xd6 fd8 27.xc4 xh2 28.xd8+ xd8 29.c7 f1 30.xa7 d1+ 31.c2 e3+ 32.b3 g5 33.e6 h6 34.a4 d3+ 35.a2 c4 36.g7+ h8 37.c7 a5 38.c5 b3 39.c3 xc3 40.bxc3 a5 41.a3 g8 42.b4 c6+ 43.c5 b8 44.d6 f7 45.c4 f6 46.g4 h5 47.gxh5 g4 48.f4 1-0 Szeberenyi,A-Czebe,A/ Budapest 1997) 9.a4+ c6 10.0-0-0 fxd4 11.h3 ( 11.b5 0-0 12.xc7 e7 13.xd4 xd4 14.xd4 c5 15.d7 g5+ 16.c2 ac8 17.h3 g6+ 18.d2 e8 19.xg7+ xg7 20.e5+ g8 21.xe8 cxe8 22.d3 d8 23.c3 xf3 24.xh7+ xh7 25.g5+ h6 26.xf3 g8 27.g3 df8 28.f4+ h5 29.e5 d6 30.e1 f5 31.d3 xf4 32.xf4+ g4 33.xe6 h8 34.e2 b5 35.b3 bxc4 36.xc4 c8+ 37.b4 f3 38.d2 a5+ 39.a4 e3 40.e2+ f3 41.d2 e3 42.e2+ f3 43.b2 e3 44.a3 d4 45.d2+ c3 46.d7 c2 47.d5 f3 48.b4 axb4 49.axb4 a8+ 50.b5 b8+ 51.c6 f2 52.b5 xh2 53.b6 h6+ 54.c7 bxb6 55.xb6 g6 56.d5 xg3 1/2-1/2 Sadler,M-Kengis,E/Koge 1997 (56) ) 11...0-0 12.b1 e5 13.e3 a6 14.d2 c8 15.d3 xc3 16.bxc3 xf3 17.f2 e7 18.c2 h6 19.h7+ h8 20.e4 xe4 21.xe4 g5 22.xg5 hxg5 23.hf1 xf2 24.xf2 e8 25.b2 c6 26.f3 g4 27.xg4 e4 28.g3 e5 29.f4 f6 30.h5+ g8 31.d5+ f8 32.xc7 c8 33.d6+ e8 34.xe4+ d7 35.d3 f2+ 36.a3 1-0 Conquest, S-Plaskett,J/Hastings 1987 (36) ] [ 8.g4 Though I seriously doubt people will be flocking to play this, it is not as stupid as it looks, and the guy who played it isn't either. h4+ 9.e2 g3+ 10.hxg3 xh1 11.f2 d6 12.g2 h2 13.ce2 dxe6 14.h3 d7 15.a4 h5 16.gxh5 xh5 17.hf4 f5 18.e3 h6 19.d5 exd5 20.cxd5 0-0-0 21.e6 c5 22.xc5 xc5 23.xh6 xa4 24.h3 gxh6 25.xf5+ b8 26.b3 c5 27.f4 xd5 28.d1 c6 29.e4 c7 30.xd5 cxd5 31.b4 1826
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1-0 Van W ely,L-Groffen,H/NLD-chT 1996 (31) ] 8...dxe6 [ All out gambiteering has scored well: 8...0-0 A) 9.b3?! c5! 10.exd7 xd7 11.d5 e5 12.f4?! ( 12.a3 d3+ 13.d2 f2 14.g1 a5 15.c2 ) 12...h4+ 13.d1 d4 14.a4 xf4! 15.g3 h5 16.xf4 xf3+ 17.d2 xh1 18.d1 xh2+ 19.c1 g6 0-1 Ree,HMorozevich,A/Tilburg 1994/CBM 44/ [ChessBase] (19); B) 9.d3 dxe6 ( 9...h4+ 10.d1 dxe6 11.c2 c6 12.d5 ) 10.a3 c5 11.e4 xd4 12.xc5 bxc5 13.g3 bc6 14.e2 e5 15.c3 xf3 16.gxf3 exf3+ 17.f2 g1+ 18.e1 gxe2 19.xe2 f3 20.d2 h4+ 0-1 Rasmussen,K-Nielsen,P/ DEN 1997 (20) ] 9.a4+ [ 9.f4 0-0 10.d2 h4+ 11.g3 d6 12.xd6 cxd6 13.ce2 c6 14.0-0-0 cxd4 15.xd4 xg3 16.hxg3 xh1 17.xe6 f6 18.f4 h6 19.e1 g5 20.d3 af8 21.c2 h6 22.f2 c8 23.e4 f5 24.b3 xe4 25.xe4 c5 26.e2 d5 27.xd5 b5 28.e7+ h8 29.cxb5 d6 30.a4 c1 31.c4 b1 32.d4 xd4 33.xd4 e1 34.d6 e8 35.c6 h6 36.d4 d1+ 37.b4 d2+ 38.b3 a5 39.f4 0-1 Panno,O-Miles, A/Buenos Aires 1979/MCL (39) ] 9...c6 10.a3 [ 10.d2 0-0 11.0-0-0 fxd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.c2 h4 14.e4 h5 15.xe6+ h8 16.d5 f5 17.d3 d8 18.d5 f7 19.e2 a6 20.xb4 fxd5 21.xd5 xd5 22.xd5 h6 23.c3 c8 24.d2 f5 25.hd1 b5 26.cxb5 xa2 27.d3 a1+ 28.c2 a4+ 29.b1 xb5 30.xf5 xf5+ 31.a1 g8 32.d7 g5 33.xc7 b5 34.d6 f1+ 35.a2 c4+ 36.b1 f1+ 37.a2 c4+ 38.a1 1/2-1/2 Stone, R-Hergott,D/CAN-ch 1995. ] 10...xc3+ 11.bxc3 0-0 Not a terribly pleasant position for white, who suffers from an appalling lack of development. 12.c2 a5 13.f4?! This adds more weight to the potential power of the thematic ...e5. [ 13.g3 c5!? ( 13...h4 14.f2 d6!? )]
13...h4+ 14.f2 e7 15.d3 e5 16.e2 [ 16.dxe5 b3! 17.b1 xe5+ 18.e2 xc1 19.xc1 e3 20.e4 g4! ] 16...e4 17.fxe4 [ 17.xe4 xe4 18.fxe4 xe4 ( 18...d6!? )] 17...xd4! 18.e3 [ 18.xd4 b3 ] 18...db3 [ 18...xe2 19.xe2 ae8 was perhaps simplest. ] 19.a2 c5 20.g3 xd3+ 21.xd3 ad8 e4 and c4 are weak, but most importantly, the white king is never, ever going to be safe. 22.c2 [ 22.e2 a6 ] 22...xc4 23.b3 d5 24.e2 a5 25.b1 c4 26.e3 b3 27.f3 c5-+ The barbarians are inside the gates. 28.xf8+ xf8 29.g5 d3+ 30.d1 f2+ 31.c1 xa3+ 0-1
1842 Peregudov,Nickolai Chernyshov,Konstantin Moscow Open E (4) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2415 2597 01.02.2011
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.f3 b7 4.a3 f5 5.c3 f6 6.d5!? Black has plenty of options with this move order as W hite has already committed his knight to the f3-square. d6 [ Black's other main plan involves 6...e7 when this position will be activated on the f6square. Here's an example from last year: 7.g3 e4 8.d2 f6 9.c1 c6 (hitting the ce n t re be f o re W h it e is we ll o rga n ize d ) 10.dxe6 dxe6 11.g2 c5 12.0-0 0-0 13.c2 xd2 14.xd2 xg2 15.xg2 c6 16.e3 e5 17.f3 xf3 18.xf3 e7 19.g2 ad8 was equal in Almeida Quintana, O-Nogueiras, J Havana 2010. ] 7.g3 0-0 8.g2 a5 [ Although 8...a6!? is playable, this tends to mean that Black has to play a quick . .. Nc5 and then ...a5 (anyway!) in order to stabilize his position on the queen's wing. Nevertheless after 9.0-0 c5 10.d4 a5 11.b3 e8 12.c2 h5 13.e3 Black was 1827
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 fine in Khismatullin, D-Sale, S Abu Dhabi 2007, but soon went astray ... exd5 14.cxd5 f4?! ( 14...ce4! may even be better than equal ) 15.exf4 xd5 16.cb5 f6 17.xd6 xd6 18.b2 and White went on to win but even here Black is probably OK. ] 9.0-0 a6 10.e4?! Premature as Black's pieces are ready to meet such a crude attempt. [ I'm not sure how Black should meet his bishop being attacked from b5, for example 10.b5 e5 11.xd6 cxd6 12.a4 e4 13.h4 f6 14.xe4 fxe4 15.e3 c5 16.c2 g5 17.g2 g6 18.a3 ac8 19.c3 a6 20.b3 with a durable advantage as Black's bishop is locked out of play, Ovsejevitsch, S-De Francesco, K Bad Wiessee 2010. ] [ The following may give a clue: 10.d4 c5 11.cb5 e8!? Why not? 12.f3!? a4 13.e3 exd5 14.cxd5 a5 15.xd6 xd6 16.d2 a8 17.g5 e8 18.f4 e7 Burmakin, V-Chernyshov, K Russian league 1999, with a balanced position. White has his bishops but Black's pieces are well dugin. ] 10...fxe4 11.g5 exd5 12.cxd5 c5 13.gxe4 cxe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4 e8 16.e1 f7 17.e3 ae8 Black has harmonious development and White has to be careful about his king. 18.f3 [ Black is better after 18.g2 e.g. xe3! 19.fxe3 ( 19.xe3?? xf2+ ) 19...xg3! 20.f1 ( 20.hxg3? f2+ 21.h2 f6 ) 20...f2+ 21.h1 a6 ] 18...e5 19.d3? [ The best chance was 19.f4 c5+ 20.g2 h5 21.d6 when at least Black's pawns will be b ro k e n if h e wa n t s t o win o n e : xe4 22.xe4 cxd6 23.d3 with a playable, albeit inferior, position for White. ] 19...xd5 [ The opportunity would be gone following 19...g6? 20.ad1 when White consolidates. ] 20.xh7+ h8 21.f4 [ 21.e4 is well met by xe4 22.fxe4 f3 ] 21...xe1+ 22.xe1 xf4 23.g6 [ A l s o b a d i s 23.gxf4 f o r e x a m p l e c4 24.c2 xf4 25.e4 xf3 26.xc4 d5 ] 23...f6 24.gxf4 xf3! Not the only good
move, but perhaps the most depressing for White. 25.f5 [ Or 25.xf3 xg6+ etc. ] 25...g5+ 26.f2 g4 0-1
1843 Piket,Jeroen Plaskett,Jim zt 1.1 Mondariz ESP (1) [Neil McDonald]
A40 2649 2525 03.09.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 This seems to be White's preferred move order at the moment. He rules out any ideas of an early Bb4 [+]. b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5! White carries out his most natural and strongest plan. f6 6.g3 g6 7.g2 g7 8.h3! This is the best way to develop the knight. It heads for f4 to put more pressure on the black centre and doesn't get in the way of the defence of d5 as occurs after the stereotyped [ 8.f3 ] 8...0-0 9.0-0! Piket saves a tempo by showing that he can live without [ 9.b1 though this also proved good for White after a5 10.0-0 a6 11.c2 exd5 12.cxd5 c5 13.e3 etc. in Figler-Delaune, W orld Open Philadelphia 2000. Perhaps Plaskett had come armed with a new idea in this line. This and other variations are given in the analysis to DD427, Kveinys-Miezis. ] 9...a6?! [ More sound was 9...a5 ] 10.b4! This refutes Black's opening strategy. e4?! This leads to a hopeless position but if Black does nothing active he will just be left with a knight stranded on a6 and a bishop shut in on b7. 11.xe4 fxe4 [ If 11...xa1 12.g5 is horrible. ] 12.b1 exd5 13.cxd5 e7 14.g5 Now Black loses a pawn for no compensation at all. h8 15.xe4 ae8 16.b2 f5 17.d6! Players over 2600 always play winning positions extremely precisely. f8 18.f6! xg2 19.xe8 xb2 20.xg2 1-0
1828
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1/2-1/2 Hansen,C-Short,N/ Cap d`Agde A40 1996 ] 2633 2683 4...f6 [ 4...a6!? ] 27.01.2000 [ 4...g6!? ] 5.g3 b7 6.g2 g6 [ 6...a6 7.h3 d6 8.0-0 0-0 9.b4 e5 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 f5 4.d5 White delays 10.a2 exd5 11.cxd5 e4 looks like a fully the development of the Nb1. As we can see playable plan for black, though his follow-up from the references, black has a wide variety is questionable. 12.d3 c6 13.xe4 fxe4 of interesting plans in this kind of position. 14.xe4 f6 15.d6 e8 16.xe8 axe8 [ 4.c3 f6 17.d1 c5 18.b5 b8 19.g5 xg5 A) 5.d5 c5 ( 5...a6!? 6.b3 g6 7.b2 20.xg5 f5 21.h3 e4 22.c3 c4 g7 8.g3 0-0 9.g2 e4! 10.c1 23.d3 g5 24.f3 g4 25.f4 gxf3 26.exf3 xc3 11.xc3 xc3+ 12.xc3 f6 d4 27.ad2 xf3 28.xd4 cxd4 29.xd4 13.d2 b7 14.f3 a5 15.0-0 a6 a6 30.a4 c5 31.d3 g4 32.e3 f8 16.d4 ae8 17.dxe6 xe6 18.xf6 33.fd5 axb5 34.axb5 e6 35.xb6 f7 fxf6 19.d4 xg2 20.xg2 d6 21.e3 36.f2 h5 37.ba4 c4 38.f3+ g7 f8! 22.h4 e7 23.b1 f8 24.c2 c6! 39.f4 c8 40.e3 g6 41.d2 g7 25.f3 c5 1/2-1/2 Salov,V-Short,N/ 42.d3 g6 43.b6 e8 44.d4 f7 Madrid 1997(32)) 6.g3 0-0 7.g2 b7 45.e4 e6 46.d5 g7 47.e7 8.e3 a5 9.ge2 e8 10.c2 a6 1-0 Anand,V-Sadler,M/Monte Carlo 1998 ] 11.0-0 b8 12.b3 a8 13.b2 h5 14.f4 h6 15.d3 d6 16.b5 e7 7.c3 g7 8.h3 0-0 9.0-0 a5 10.b1 17.ad1 c6 18.dxc6 xc6 19.e5 xg2 a6 11.b4 axb4 12.axb4 c5 [ 12...g4!? to put the N on e5 is interesting 20.xg2 bd8 21.d4 c5 22.xc5 the text move frightens me a bit due to the xc5 23.b4 axb4 24.axb4 ce4 25.f3 chance of being saddled with long term g5 26.d6 h3+ 27.g1 a8 28.a1 weaknesses on the b-file. ] h6 29.g2 h3+ 30.g1 h6 31.d3 h5 32.d4 h6 33.b5 xa1 34.xa1 13.bxc5 xc5 14.e3 a5 15.f4 a6 e8 35.xe8 xe8 36.d1 a8 16.dxe6 xc4 17.exd7 fxd7 18.d5+! 37.xd7 h3+ 38.h1 a2 39.xe6+ xd5 19.cxd5 Threatening to annex the bh7 40.g4 f2+ 41.xf2 h3 42.xf5+ p a w n , s o m e t h i n g t h a t c a n n o t r e a l l y b e g8 1/2-1/2 Makarichev,S-Miles,A/ stopped. e5 20.xb6 xb6 21.xd8 xd8 22.xc5 a4 23.b4 b5 24.d3 Moscow 1990/TD (42); B) 5.g3 c6!? Odd Stonewall Dutch, c3 25.e7 db8 26.xb5 xb5 27.c1 28.g5 e6 I have a feeling black anyone? 6.g2 d5 7.f3 e7 8.g5 f7 0-0 9.0-0 b7 10.c1 h6 11.xf6 xf6 should just fall back, perhaps with [ 28...b7 and prepare to suffer. The king 12.e3 d7 13.cxd5 exd5 14.b4 a6 march makes it trickier for black to stay in 15.e2 g5 16.d3 g7 17.a4 e7 touch with his pawns. ] 18.b3 a5 19.b5 c5 20.d2 f7 21.a2 ab8 22.dxc5 xc5 23.c2 29.f1 b3 30.h4 a3 31.c2 d5 bd8 24.f3 f4 25.gxf4 gxf4 26.xf4 32.d2 c4 33.xc3 xc3 34.g2 d4 e5 36.b2 a7 37.b6 d4 27.xd4 xg2 28.xg2 xd4 35.f4 29.exd4 xd4 30.xf7+ xf7 31.e3 A s t h e t i m e s c r a m b l e c o m e s t o a n e n d xa4 32.d5 d7 33.c6 h7 B l a c k ' s p r o b l e m s r e g a i n i n g d e f e n s i v e 34.xb6 g4+ 35.h1 e5 36.d6 f3 coordination increase. e7 38.c6! e4?! 37.d7 g7 38.b1 a4 39.h3 e4 39.f3 d6?! [ 39...d2 40.e3 is paralysis for black. ] 40.xf7+ xf7 41.a1 b4 42.xa4 xb5 43.f4+ g6 44.c4 e5 40.c5+ Black must lose more material. 45.xe5+ xe5 46.g2 e1 47.f8 1-0 g7 48.a8 g6 49.a5 f6
1844 Piket,Jeroen Short,Nigel D Corus Wijk aan Zee NED (10) [Jon Tisdall]
1829
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 31...d6 32.h2 gxf5 33.gxf5+ h8 34.c4 d7 rather an unlikely move. Quite possibly Re7 was played. 35.e4 [ 35.c3+ mates. ] 35...e5 36.g5 f8 37.e4 c5 38.e6 c2 39.h6? [ 39.xc2 dxc2 40.xf8 c1 41.xd7 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 g6!? Provocation, h5 and black holds on. ] and Short picks his opponent well, Piket being [ 39.xe2 dxe2 40.xc2 e1 a straightforward, aggressive type that might and the threat of ...Rd2+ prevents white overreact a bit. 4.c3 g7 5.e4 e7 6.f4 mischief. ] d5 7.cxd5 exd5 8.e5 c5 With quite nice activity against the White center. The bishop 39...f3+ 40.g1 d1+ 41.f2 xf5 is better placed on c8 than b7, a sign that This multi purpose move completely kills Black has played the opening with maximum Whiteâ []s attack while revving up his own. flexibility. The move ...b6 instead has been 0-1 used to support ...c5, and White's a3 is now fairly irrelevant. 9.f3 bc6 10.e3 0-0 A40 11.e2 f5 12.f2 cxd4 13.xd4 cxd4 1846 14.xd4 e6 15.0-0 f6! Very instructive Polugaevsky,Lev 2620 one would be tempted to try and arrange to Kortschnoj,Viktor 2645 gain the bishop pair before doing this, but in csf Evian (6) 1977 fact there are two other important factors here - [Jon Tisdall] the bishop on d4 is actually hindering white from mounting pressure against the only T h e h i g h p o i n t o f r e s p e c t a b i l i t y f o r t h e target, the d5-pawn, and the knight on f5 is a opening? Another dazzling display of Qh4ism, colossus, and works terrifically well with the with the clear English angle from seconds isolated, but passed, d-pawn. 16.exf6 Keene, one of the grounding fathers of the [ 16.f3 fxe5 17.fxe5 g5 eyes e3, e5 defence, and Stean. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 and prepares to put a rook on the d-line. ] b7 4.c2 h4 5.d2 b4 6.d3 f5 16...xf6 17.xf6 xf6 18.d2 7.gf3 xd2+ 8.f1 h5 9.xd2 f6 [ 18.xd5 f7! threatens destruction on the 10.exf5 xf3 11.gxf3 c6 12.c3 0-0 d-file, and the knight must guard the e3- 13.e1 h3+ 14.e2 ae8 15.d1 e5 square. 19.g4 xd5 20.gxf5 xf5 16.dxe5 xe5 17.e2 xf3 18.d3 xe2 and white's king position gives cause for 19.xe2 g2 20.he1 xe1 21.xe1 xh2 concern. ] 22.e7 g1+ 23.e2 g4+ 24.e1 h5 18...ad8 19.g4 e3 20.xe3 25.g3 xg3 26.fxg3 f7 27.xf6 gxf6 [ 20.xe6+ xe6 21.fe1 d4 22.d1 28.e8+ h7 29.f2 h6 30.b4 g5 fe8 ] 31.a8 xf5 32.xa7 d6 33.a4 e6 34.a5 20...xg4 21.d2 d4 22.e4 c6 23.f2 bxa5 35.xa5 f5 36.c5 h7 37.cxd6 cxd6 f5 24.ac1 d5 25.fe1 fe8 26.h3 d3 38.b5 h4 39.gxh4 xh4 40.a8 b4 41.b8 27.g4 A bold move that allows white to d5 42.f3 b3+ 43.f4 c5 44.c8+ surround the d-pawn. The rest of the game xb5 45.xf5 e3 46.f4 e1 47.d8 does not make a lot of sense, and since the c5 48.c8+ d4 49.f3 d5 50.f2 e5 s c o r e s o f m a n y o f t h e g a m e s f r o m t h e 51.a8 c3 52.a3+ b4 53.a1 d4 E u r o p e a n T e a m c h a m p i o n s h i p w e r e 54.c1 d3 55.c8 d2 56.b8+ c3 misrecorded, I think it is best to assume that 57.c8+ d3 58.d8+ c2 59.c8+ d1 m u c h o f w h a t f o l l o w s i s f i c t i o n , t h o u g h 60.c7 f5+ 61.g2 e2 62.e7+ d3 outrageous time pressure might be to blame. 63.d7+ e3 64.e7+ d4 65.d7+ d5 But I doubt it. e4 28.e3 h1 29.g3 f3 0-1 30.c3 e2 31.f5 [ 31.xd3 looks playable. ] 1845 Piket,Jeroen Short,Nigel D Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (9) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2635 2675 07.12.1999
1830
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1847 Porper,E Short,N 8th Edmonton Int (1.1) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2424 2682 23.06.2013
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c2 c6!? Short opts to diverge from the main theoretical lines. [ T h e m a i n m o v e 4...h4! is critical, for example 5.d2 ( 5.d3 f5 6.d2 f6 7.gf3 g4 8.exf5 xf3 9.gxf3 g2 10.f1 c6 Mikhalevski, V-Roussel Roozmon, T Montreal 2005, and Black was d o in g we l l) 5...f5 6.exf5 c6! 7.gf3 xd4 8.xd4 xd4 9.fxe6 0-0-0 10.c3 g4 11.exd7+ xd7 12.f3 f6 Postny, E-Greenfeld, A Beersheva rapid 2013, with more than enough compensation for the pawn. ] [ The text move varies from 4...b4+ 5.d2 c6 6.f3 f6 7.xb4 xb4 8.d2 c5 9.c3 e7 which was played by the same pair exactly one year ago: Porper, E-Short, N Edmonton 2012, but then 10.d1 d8 11.e2 would have kept White on top. ] 5.d5 Gaining space, but at the cost of weakening his dark-squared control. [ White could also try 5.f3 here: b4+ 6.c3 e7 ( maybe 6...f6!? 7.a3 xc3+ 8.bxc3 e5 with a sort of Sämisch Variation of the Nimzo-Indian) 7.d2 f5 8.exf5 f6?! ( 8...exf5+ 9.e2 f6 is simpler with a reasonable-looking game) 9.0-0-0! 0-0-0 10.d3 Le Quang Long-Bu Vinh, Ho Chi Minh City 2010, when Black lacked compensation for the pawn. ] 5...e5 [ Another way to pursue a dark-squared strategy is with 5...d4 6.d3 c5 7.e3 f6 8.c3 e5 ] 6.e2 c5 7.f3 f6 8.0-0 xf3+ 9.xf3 e7 After the trade of one pair of knights White's extra space has less importance, as Black's pieces all find good squares. 10.e3?! An anti-positional decision. White's damaged structure will haunt him throughout the rest of the game. [ Instead White should settle for routine development with 10.c3 0-0 11.d2 g6 12.ad1= ]
10...xe3 11.fxe3 g5 Side-stepping any tricks down the f-file. Now the main issue is the presence of a ready-made outpost on e5 for Black's knight. 12.f2 g6 13.d2 0-0 14.ac1 c5! Fixing White's pawns on lightsquares, the same colour as the bishops. 15.c3 d6 16.e2 ae8 17.f3 e7 18.g3 exd5 19.exd5 c8 Improving his least effective piece. The bishop redeploys to a more useful square on d7 where it eyes up two important diagonals. 20.d1 a6 21.a4 d7 22.c2 f5 Apart from a possible trick with timely ...f4, this fixes the e3-pawn as a semi-permanent weakness. 23.g5 xg5 24.xg5 e5 25.h3 h6 26.f3 g5 27.d2 [ Otherwise 27.xe5 is rather passive e.g. xe5 28.b3 g7 ( 28...fe8 allows some counter chances with 29.e4 fxe4 30.f6 ) 29.g3 fe8 30.f2 b5! with continuing pressure. ] 27...g7 28.b1 a5 As if to say "No, I don't want White to get any counterplay with b2-b4". 29.f1 h5 30.b3 h6 31.h2 g6 Short angles for a breakthrough. 32.f2 h4 33.f1 g4 Not the only way, but certainly a nuisance for White. 34.g3 As the perception is that the big squeeze (starting with ...g3+) would be asking for trouble. gxh3!? [ Simpler is 34...g5 just keeping the bind in place. ] 35.d1?! [ A better chance is 35.gxh4 e.g. f4 36.xg6 fxe3 37.xf8 xf8 38.xe3 and whichever piece Black decides to capture there would still be chances to put up a fight. ] 35...hxg3+ 36.xg3 f4 Short liquidates to leave himself with a 'big' pawn to the good. 37.exf4 xf4 38.xf4 xf4 39.f3? Hopeless. [ I t h a d t o b e 39.f3! g4 ( 39...g5 40.c2 e1 41.e4+ g4 42.f2 and life goes on) 40.xf4 xd1 41.e4 xb3 42.xd6 g5! with good winning chances for Black, but White is still on the board. ] 39...e1 40.e4 e2 41.d3 f5 [ White resigned in view of the line 41...f5 42.e3 d4! 43.xe1 xf3+ etc. ] 0-1
1831
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1848 Prakash,GB Miezis,Normunds 5th United Insurance (1) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2453 2532 19.02.2001
Nb5 then one needn't fear a capture on d6 black wastes quite a bit of time not getting this right, but on the other hand, provoking f4 does give black a nice outpost on e4. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.h3 a6 [ 6...d6 7.g3 e5 8.d2 a6 9.g2 c5 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 10.0-0 0-0 11.c1 a5 12.f4 a4 13.dxe6 f6 6.g3 b5 7.g2 b4!? A new idea from xg2 14.xg2 dxe6 15.e3 e8 16.xc5 this line's specialist. This does put pressure bxc5 17.d3 xc3 18.xc3 e5 19.c1 f4 on white's centre, though capturing on c4 20.f3 fxg3 21.hxg3 e4 22.f4 c6 looks more natural and led to interesting 23.d5 ae8 24.g5 h8 25.e3 h6 complications in an earlier game: 26.h1 xd5 27.cxd5 exf3+ 28.exf3 b6 [ 7...bxc4 8.h3 a6 9.0-0 c5 10.f4 29.xe8 xb2+ 30.h3 xe8 31.g4 d6 11.dxe6 xg2 12.xg2 xe6 13.a4+ d4+ 32.f4 e4 33.h5 e2+ 34.h4 d7 14.xc4 d5 15.d3 xf4+ 16.xf4 g5+ 0-1 Cramling,P-Speelman,J/ c6 17.b4 d6 18.e3 0-0 19.ac1 e4 Katrineholm 1999/CBM 71 (34) ] 20.b5 xf4 21.bxc6 xc6 22.xe4 fxe4 23.xc6 exd3 24.exf4 fc8 25.d6 d8 7.g3 c5 8.g2 d6 [ 8...a5 9.0-0 d6 10.b5 0-0 11.xd6 26.xd8+ xd8 27.d1 f7 28.xd3 e6 cxd6 12.a4 exd5 13.cxd5 e8 14.f4 29.d4 d6 30.a4 d7 31.f3 e7 ce4 15.e3 g5 16.d3 xd5 17.d4 32.f5 e5 33.g4 c7 34.e3 c3+ e6 18.e1 e8 19.b3 c6 20.e3 h5 35.d2 c7 36.d3 b7 37.f4+ d6 21.ad1 ae8 22.c1 f8 23.xb6 df6 38.d4 c6 39.h4 b1 40.a6+ b5 24.f3 f2 25.xf2 xh2 26.e4 h5 41.xa7 d1+ 42.e3 e1+ 43.d2 g1 27.e2 xe4 28.fxe4 xe4 29.h1 xe2+ 44.xg7 c4 45.f6 d4 46.e2 a1 30.xe2 xg3+ 31.d2 xg2+ 32.c1 47.g5 1-0 Gorbatow,A-Messner,H Bad xh1 33.c7 f3 34.xd6+ g7 Wiessee 1997. ] 35.e5+ h6 36.d6+ h5 37.xf3+ 8.axb4 xb4 9.h3 0-0 10.0-0 a5 11.a2 xf3 38.xd7 h6 39.a7 f4 40.xa5 g3 c5 12.f4 a6 13.c3 e8 14.dxe6 41.b4 g4 42.f6 f5 43.c5 h5 44.c8 Now white can count on a tiny, though not d5 45.d8 c4 46.c8 e6 47.e8 f3 particularly th re ate ning ad van ta ge . xg2 48.d2 f2 49.e2 g3 0-1 Stohl,I15.xg2 dxe6 16.xd8 xd8 17.b5 e8 Chernyshov,K/Pardubice 1997. ] 18.b3 9.b5 e5 10.0-0 0-0 11.f4 d6 12.b4 [ 18.d3!? ] 18...b4 19.b2 c6 20.fd1 xd1 21.xd1 ce4 13.dxe6 dxe6 14.g5 d7?! [ 14...c8! must be the correct move - by cxb5 22.d8 f7 23.xb8 bxc4 24.bxc4 protecting b7 black mobilizes the Ne4 - he c6 25.d3 d6 26.a8 xc4 27.xa5 also protects e6 and prepares to use the cc2 28.a7+ c7 29.a6 c2 30.h3 g5 f ile in case of a ca pture on d6. Bla ck's 31.a7+ c7 32.xc7+ xc7 position looks fully playable then. ] ½-½ 15.b2 ad8 16.c2 g4? [ 16...a8!? ] 1849 A40 17.xe4 e3 18.c3 xg2?! The knight is Prakash,GB 2435 not getting out alive in any event, so he might Reefat,Bin Sattar 2379 as well have taken a bigger piece. 19.g5 h6 Goodricke Open (8) 13.02.2000 20.xd6 cxd6 21.f3 1-0 [Jon Tisdall] Black gets this a bit muddled - experience shows that when you put the bishop on e5 it should be stopping Nb5 - If white plays a fast 1832
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1850 Rachmadi,Herman Tian,Kuan Kuan Doeberl Cup op (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 h8 56.f6 d1 57.g5 e1+ 58.f7 h1 59.g7 xg7 60.xg7 g1+ 61.f7 h1 62.g6 d7 63.c6+ e6 64.c7 g1+ 04.04.1999 65.h6 h1+ 66.g7 g1+ 67.f8 1-0
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 5.d3 f5 6.c2 f6 [ 6...h4 ] 7.f3 c6!?N Black has had discouraging results from this position but this may change that and revive this line. 8.ge2 fxe4 9.fxe4 e5 10.d5 d4 11.d1 [ 11.xd4 exd4 12.a3!? ] 11...0-0 12.0-0 c5 13.h1 g4 14.xd4 xf1+ 15.xf1 xd4 16.d1 h4 17.h3 g3 0-1
1852 Raetsky,Alexander Hindermann,Felix ch Scuol SUI (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2452 2203 14.07.2001
The main game is not of blistering theoretical interest but it does illustrate some useful and common themes while showing an underdog really work a higher rated opponent over. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.a3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.f3 This move order rules out options like: [ 6.g3 b5!? Miezis' favourite procedure in 1851 A40 these variations. ( 6...a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 9.0-0 e5 10.c2 0-0 11.f4 Radjabov,Teimour 2476 e8 12.d2 ce4 13.ad1 xd2 Czebe,Attila 2520 14.xd2 xc3 15.xc3 e5 16.d3 d6 FSGM December (4) 06.12.2000 17.f4 e4 18.b4 c8 19.b3 b5 20.d4 [Jon Tisdall] a5 21.c2 bxc4 22.bxc4 d7 23.e3 c5 24.h3 g6 25.h1 h5 26.b1 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e4 a6 27.b2 h7 28.fb1 g6 29.g1 e7 6.f3 d6 7.d3 d7 8.e3 b7 g7 30.d2 a4 31.b3 c5 9.d2 h6 10.0-0 f5 According to our 1/2-1/2 Milos,G-Lima,D Sao Paulo BRA growing number of games with this position, 2001. ) 7.xb5 exd5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.f3 the "normal" response would be ...g5. The c5 10.g2 a5 11.0-0 0-0 12.g5 c6 choice in the game is not without interest, 13.c3 e4 14.c1 e7 15.xe4 fxe4 though there is a very creepy feeling always 16.d2 d5 17.c2 a7 18.c3 a4 19.e3 about the e6 and g6 pawns. 11.ae1 f6 h6 20.f4 1/2-1/2 Gavrikov,V-Miezis,N 12.exf5 xf3 Tallinn EST 2001. Another successful recent [ 12...xf5!? ] outing for the Miezis variation. ] 13.gxf3 xf5 14.h1 0-0 6...g6 Results favour Black establishing a [ 14...f7!? ] 15.xf5 exf5 16.xh6 d7 17.g1 f7 p r e s e n c e o n t h e l o n g d i a g o n a l b e f o r e 18.g5 ae8 19.xe8 xe8 20.xg6 committing the N to a6. [ 6...a6 7.b4 exd5 ( 7...g6 8.b2 g7 xg6 21.xg6 e1+ 22.g2 h5 23.d2 9.c2 e7 10.d1 0-0 11.g3 ae8 e8 24.g5 f6 25.xf5 c6 26.f4 f7 12.g2 exd5 13.cxd5 e4 14.0-0 d6 27.xd6 g6 28.f4 h6 29.h4 g5 15.d4 f4 16.b3 f7 17.f3 e5 30.h3 c1 31.g3+ f7 32.b4 xa3 18.cb5 f6 19.xd6 cxd6 20.g4 f7 33.e4 a5 34.bxa5 xe4 35.fxe4 xd6 21.a1 c7 22.c1 c8 23.fd1 g7 36.f3+ e6 37.axb6 g8+ 38.f1 c5 24.a4 ff8 25.c2 fe8 26.dc1 a6 39.e5 e7 40.b3 cxd4 41.b7 b8 42.b5 27.xc8 xc8 28.xc8 xc8 29.c3 b7 g5 43.h4 f4 44.e2 xe5 45.h5 c7 30.c4 f7 31.c3 e7 32.b5 xc3 46.d3 d6 47.h6 h8 48.xd4 c6 33.xc3 d8 34.b5 e5 35.g2 h5 49.h7 b8 50.h5 xb7 51.d5 c7 36.h3 hxg4 37.hxg4 g5 38.xa7 c7 52.e6 a7 53.f4 d4 54.f5 d8 55.c5 1833
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 39.b5 xd5 40.a5 bxa5 41.bxa5 e7 42.d4 d8 43.a6 a8 44.a7 b7 45.b5 a8 46.d4 b7 47.g1 a8 48.b3 1-0 Inkiov,V-Bauer, C Besancon 1998. ) 8.cxd5 c5 9.dxc6 dxc6 10.b3 d6 11.e3 e7 12.d4 e5 13.xf5 d7 14.d4 0-0-0 15.e2 c5 16.f3 xc3+ 17.xc3 e4 18.c2 g5 19.b2 he8 20.0-0 f5 21.d4 g6 22.f3 b8 23.bxc5 exc5 24.xg6 hxg6 25.f2 c7 26.ad1 d5 27.e4 a4 28.a1 dc3 29.b5 xd1+ 30.xd1 c5 31.xe8 xe8 32.h3 a6 33.c6+ c7 34.b4 b5 35.f6 f8 36.e3 e6 37.e5+ b7 38.d6 e8 39.d5 a4 40.f6 a5 41.d3 c8 42.d6 c6 43.xc6 xc6 44.e5 e8 45.c4 a6 46.d6 d7 47.f7 b5 48.xg5 c5 49.d8 a4 50.d4 c6 51.e7 b3+ 52.c3 c1 53.f7 e8 54.e5+ b5 55.g5 b3 56.c4 c6 57.d8 c1 58.xb6 e2+ 59.b4 f4 60.g3 d3+ 61.c3 c1 62.d2 b3+ 63.e3 1-0 Vaisser,A-Halkias,S Ohrid MKD 2001. ] 7.g3 g7 8.g2 0-0 9.0-0 a6 10.e3 e7 11.d4 c5 12.c1 a5 [ 12...fd8 13.b4 ce4 14.xe4 xe4 15.xg7 xg7 16.d4 c5 17.xg7+ xg7 18.dxe6 dxe6 19.g5 xg5 20.xb7 ab8 21.g2 bc8 22.c2 c7 23.fc1 f6 24.f4 f7 25.f2 d4 26.e3 d3 27.c3 d2+ 28.f1 cd7 29.e4 d1+ 30.xd1 xd1+ 31.f2 d2+ 32.g1 fxe4 33.xe4 d6 34.d3 e5 35.fxe5+ xe5 36.f1 e4 37.bxc5 bxc5 38.b3 a2 39.g4 f4 40.h3 e4 41.g2 d2 42.c3 e5 43.e3+ d4 44.e7 xc4 45.d7+ e5 46.xa7 e3 47.e7+ d4 48.d7+ c3 49.e4 c4 50.xh7 g5 51.g7 d4 52.h7 g2+ 53.h1 g3 54.h2 f1+ 55.h1 xa3 56.g2 e3+ 57.f2 d5 58.xg5 xh3 59.h5 a3 60.g5 a2+ 61.f3 a3+ 1/2-1/2 Kaabi,M-Hamdouchi,H Tunis 1997. ] 13.dxe6 dxe6 14.c2 fd8 15.cd1 fe4 16.e5 a4!? 17.xd8+ xd8 18.xa4 [ 18.xg7 xg7 19.d1 xd1+ 20.xd1 is grovelly but perhaps better. ] 18...xe5 [ 18...xg3!? is a neat tactical trick that exploits the various dangling pieces.
19.hxg3 e4 20.c1 xa4 ( 20...xf3= ) 21.xg7 xg7 ] 19.xe5 d2 20.c1 b3 21.b1? [ 21.e1 d6 22.f3 c2 23.d1 xd1 24.xd1 c6 and Black will regain his pawn but White's active rook and access to e5 give him very rea l cou nte rp lay. Th e game continuation is just horrible for White. ] 21...d6 22.f3 xe2 23.c3 xc3 24.bxc3 xa3 25.d3 xf3 26.xf3 d2 27.e3 d6 28.b1 d3 29.e2 d2 30.d5 xd5 31.cxd5 xb1 32.dxe6 xc3 33.c4 d1+ 34.g2 d5+ 0-1
1853 Rahman,Taibur Rahman,Ziaur 6th United Insurance (12) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2300 2542 19.03.2003
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 An annoying move as White is faced with two threats: the d-pawn and ...Nb4 gaining the bishop. 5.e2 [ 5.d5 meets both threats but is not worrisome Ahundov,R-Bagirov,V Yerevan 1996 continued e5 6.e2 f5 7.exf5 exf5 8.h3 b4+ 9.d2 f6 10.a3 d6 with active play for Black. ] 5...e5!? An interesting try forcing White to commit his centre. This move can be compared with a similar idea in game 2, which was coincidentally played in the same round of the same tournament! [ The standard 5...b4 has been the choice of players such as Ivanchuk, Short and Gulko. ] 6.d5 b4 7.bc3 xd3+ 8.xd3 e7 9.0-0 g6 10.g3 c5 Not only does Black have the bishops but he can now go to a more active square, as Black earned access to c5 as a result of his innovative fifth move. 11.e3 A natural exchange is proposed as otherwise it's hard to live with Black's wellposted bishop. xe3 12.fxe3!? Sharper than th e ro u tin e re ca p t ure wit h t he que e n . d6 13.b4 0-0 14.fc1?! A case of "why this rook?". The other rook looks more natural but White presumably didn't want problems on the 1834
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a-file or a6-f1 diagonal after ... a5. g5 15.a3 h4 16.c5 dxc5! 17.bxc5 ad8 Black's pieces are now fully activated, especially with ...f5 in the air. White's rooks now look even more inappropriately placed. 18.c6!? xc6 19.d1 a8 20.xc7 f5! 21.exf5 xd5 22.b3 h8 23.f2 [ 23.e4 also favours Black after d4 24.f2 xe4 25.fxe4 xe4 ] 23...xf5 24.e4 d4 25.b4 dd8 26.e7 [ 26.xa7?? l o s e s t o b o t h c2 ( and 26...c6 )] 26...xe7 27.xe7 c6 28.c7 c8 29.xc8 xc8 30.c1 Sixteen moves too late! g6 31.g4 b7 Black consolidates the e x t r a p a wn . 32.f2 d8 33.e3 g7 34.e2 h5 35.f2 d7 36.c3 a5 37.d5 [ 37.a4!? is more robust. ] 37...b5! 38.c5 c4+ 39.e2 xa3 40.d3 xd5 41.exd5 f6 42.b4 a5 43.c6 a4 44.d3 f5 45.c3 e4 46.d6 xd6 47.xe5+ f4 48.g3+ g4 49.d4 b1+ 50.d3 d2 0-1
1854 Rausis,Igors Reefat,Bin Sattar 5th United Insurance (9) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2525 2458 28.02.2001
1.c4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.a3 e6 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 9.0-0 e5 10.d2 This move is hardly about to crease this particular variation. [ 10.c2 is the most popular move - black is f i n e a f t e r 0-0 11.e3 ce4 12.xe4 xe4 13.fd1 f6 14.ab1 exd5 15.cxd5 ae8 (1-0, 60) Cramling,P-Gulko,B Pamplona 1996. ] [ 10.b5!? is the most interesting option. 0-0 11.f4 d6 12.xe5 dxe5 13.b4 ce4 14.dxe6 e7 15.c2 a6 16.c3 xe6 17.xe4 fxe4 18.g5 g4 19.h3 a5 20.ad1 h5 21.f3 axb4 22.axb4 a3 23.fxe4 e3 24.c1 b3 25.d2 c8 26.f2 e6 27.c5 bxc5 28.bxc5 fb8 29.f3 e8 30.d3 c4 31.g5 xd3 1/2-1/2 Shneider,A-Lempert,I St Petersburg
1993. ] 10...fe4 11.xe4 xe4 12.b1 0-0 [ 12...exd5!? ] 13.b4 e8 14.f3 d6 15.f4 f6 16.xd6 cxd6 17.e4 c7 18.d3 c5+ 19.f2 ac8 [ 19...a6!? ] 20.b3 [ 20.exf5 exd5 21.xd5+ xd5 22.cxd5 d4 ] 20...fxe4 [ 20...exd5!? ] 21.xe4 exd5 22.cxd5 [ 22.xh7+!? f8 ( 22...h8 23.f5 /\\Qh3 ) 23.cxd5 e3 24.b4 xd5 25.xd5 xd5 26.bd1 ] 22...h6 23.bd1? A serious oversight, as white does not manage any real kingside activity for the pawn. [ 23.b4 ] 23...xa3 24.g4 c5+ 25.f2 c3 26.xf6+ xf6 27.e2 c3 28.h7+ f8 29.xe8+ xe8 30.e1+ d8 31.e4 f7 32.f5 c5 33.g6 xd5 34.xd5 xd5 35.b4 b5 36.e8+ c7 37.e7 xb4 38.xg7 a5 39.e8 c6 40.f5 a4 0-1
1855 Rogozenco,D Blatny,Pavel 34th Olympiad (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2531 2535 31.10.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 f5 4.c3 f6 5.g3 b7 6.d5 a5 7.g2 a6 8.h3 Most popular, though the straightforward development to f3 has its merits. [ 8.f3 A) 8...c5 9.0-0 d6 10.b5 0-0 11.xd6 cxd6 12.d4 fe4 13.b5 a6 14.e3 xb5 15.cxb5 e5 ( 15...a4 ~~/+/= ) 16.b4 c3 17.c2 5a4 18.fe1 f6 19.d2 ( 19.xb6!? ) 19...e4 20.ac1 fc8 21.b3 d4 22.c2 axb4 23.axb4 xd5 24.xd5+ xd5 25.ec1 xc2 26.xc2 a7 ( 26...f7!? ) 27.g4 c7 ( 27...g6 28.gxf5 gxf5 29.h3 f4 30.g2 ) 28.xc7 xc7 29.gxf5 d5 30.f3 xb5 31.fxe4 dxe4 32.xe4 f7 1835
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 33.d3 ac3 34.e3 f6 35.xb6 e5 36.e3 d5 37.g2 d4 38.f3 dxe3 39.xe3 d4+ 40.xd4+ xd4 41.f6 gxf6 42.xh7 e5 43.g4 f5+ 44.xf5 d5 45.g5 xb4 46.h4 d6 47.h5 e7 48.h6 f8 49.e6 c6 50.f6 d8 51.g6 1-0 Serper,G-Hodgson,J Oslo 1994.; B) 8...d6 9.0-0 e7 10.b5 0-0 11.xd6 xd6 12.f4 c5 13.c1 e4 14.d4 e7 15.b5 d6 16.e3 ae8 17.c2 f7 18.dxe6 xe6 19.d4 e7 20.cd1 h5 21.c1 ac5 22.f3 g5 23.xf5 ef7 24.e4 a4 25.e3 c6 26.h1 xf3 27.xf3 xe4 28.g4 g3+ 29.g2 xf5 30.gxh5 xe3+ 31.g1 xf3 32.xa4 xd1 33.xd1 f5 34.h4 xd1 35.xd1 h6 36.b4 f4 37.e1 h8 38.e7 4f7 39.e2 f5 40.e4 8f7 41.e8+ h7 42.g2 (0-1, 57) Gurevich,M-Teske,H Germany 1992. A remarkable game, though the decision to lose the f5 pawn could hardly be correct. ] 8...c8!? A new idea - I must confess, I don't understand it at all. OK, protecting the Bb7 allows for the development of B on e7 (by ruling out tactics with d6 later) but ... I still don't see the point. [ 8...d6 9.0-0 0-0 10.e4 e5!? ( 10...fxe4 11.xe4 c5 12.xd6 cxd6 13.e3 a4 14.xc5 bxc5 15.b3 axb3 16.xb3 b8 17.c2 exd5 18.cxd5 a5 19.g5 c4 20.fc1 bc8 21.e4 xe4 22.xe4 c5 23.e3 fe8 24.xc5 xc5 25.ab1 a8 26.c3 ec8 27.b4 f7 28.f4 xd5 29.xd5+ xd5 30.bxc4 xc4 31.xc4 d2 32.c3 d5 33.f3 a2 34.e3 d4 35.d3 1/2-1/2 Farago,I-Teske, H Graz 1996.) 11.exf5 xc3 12.bxc3 exf5 13.c2 e4 14.xe4 fxe4 15.xe4 c5 16.g4 e7 17.e3 e4 18.xe4 xe4 19.fe1 ae8 20.g5 d6 21.c5 c4 22.c6 dxc6 23.f4 cxd5 24.e6 f7 25.xc7 xe1+ 26.xe1 d7 27.b5 a6 28.c7 g5 29.e8 f7 30.xg5 xa3 31.f6 d6 32.g4 c4 33.e7+ g6 34.f4 c6 35.h6 f6 36.c1 c8 37.e8 e6 38.g4 f7 39.b8 e6 40.g2 e1 41.f4 e4 42.c1 e1 43.f4 d4 44.xf7 xf7 45.c8 b5
46.cxd4 a4 47.d5 a3 48.d6 d1 49.c7+ e8 50.e7+ d8 51.xh7 xd6 52.a7 c4 53.h4 d7 54.a8+ e7 55.h5 b4 56.h6 e6 57.g5 f5 58.f8+ e4 59.g6 a2 60.g7 a1 1-0 Tal,M-Miles,A Niksic 1983. ] 9.0-0 e7 10.e4 fxe4 11.xe4 0-0 12.c3 d8 Another option created by ...Qc8 which I must say escaped me completely, and confuses me about as much. Black grovels to a half point after spending much time in the d e a d zo n e . 13.e1 exd5 14.xd5 c5 15.hf4 a4 16.e3 e6 17.c2 xf4 18.xf4 d6 19.ad1 a5 20.d2 a7 21.c3 xd5 22.cxd5 f5 23.xf5 xf5 24.h3 f8 25.e6+ h8 26.e4 c5 27.dxc6 xc6 28.d5 d7 29.b4 f6 30.xd6 c8 31.b4 b5 32.e1 d8 33.c5 a6 34.b7 e6 35.xe6 xe6 36.xb5 b3 37.a5 xb2 38.a8 xa8 39.xa8 g8 40.f1 f7 41.e2 e6 42.c6 g6 43.d3 f6 44.e4 g7 45.f4 b2 46.h4 d5 47.g4 xe4+ 48.xe4 h5 49.e3 hxg4 50.e4 f6 51.b4 d8 52.c3 e7 53.b2 d8 ½-½
1856 Rogozenco,D Bunzmann,Dimitrij Bundesliga 1999-2000 (7) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2562 2502 08.01.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 e7 More solid alternatives to this move were offered in the last instalment of Daring Defences in the notes to Knaak-Kalinitchev. 6.g3 f6 7.d2 c6 8.g2 cxd5 9.cxd5 [ 9.b5!? as in Wang Lei-Breier elsewhere in this instalment, may be the critical move. ] 9...e7 10.h3 e5 [ 10...xd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.xd5 exd5 13.c3 was the lesser evil, with a very slight advantage for white. ] 11.0-0 d6 [ 11...e4!? ] 12.e4 Now black has a very ugly Indian position, with weaknesses on c6 and e6 and not particularly intelligently placed pieces. 0-0 13.f4 a6 14.exf5 xf5 15.fxe5 xe5 1836
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.g5 d4? 17.h5! h6 18.e4 and n ow simp ly t rad in g qu een s give s Now white crashes through. f6 19.g6! Black the better game: xf3 19.xf3 The most convincing. hxg5 20.h7+ f7 xc4 20.g5 c5 21.f4 d5 ] 21.g6+ e7 22.xf6! d7 7.e2 [ 22...xf6 23.xg5+! xg5 24.e4+ g4 [ Four days later, Chernyshov tried his 25.h5# ] novelty again: 7.gf3 c6 8.e5 f4 23.f5+ Now play varied from Hawkins-Williams (see [ 23.f5+ xf5 24.xf5+ c7 25.b5+ ] the previous note) with 9.b3 f6! 10.exf6 1-0 xf6 11.0-0 0-0 12.d2 h5! 13.fe1 a5 ( 13...a5! may be even better for Black e.g. 14.xa5 xf3 15.xf4 xf4 16.f1 xg2 1857 A40 17.xg2 xg2 18.xg2 bxa5 and the double-rook ending favours the Romanko,M 2402 second player) 14.e3 h6 15.e4 f4 Chernyshov,Konstantin 2552 16.d5 exd5 17.xd5+ h8 18.e4 ad8 Czech GM Open A (3.25) 24.07.2011 19.bd4 xd4 20.xd4 c5 21.d2 xe4 [Glenn Flear] 22.xe4 d5 ( 22...f6 23.e3 d5 with an edge to Black) 23.cxd5 xd5?? 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 b4+ A b l u n d e r . 24.xf4! 1-0 Stefansson, H5.d2 xd2+ Trading a pair of pieces Chernyshov, K Pardubice 2011. ] arguably reduces problems associated with a lack of space. 6.xd2 f6 New at this point. 7...c6 8.f3 So a knight goes to f3 anyway! A dramatic solution. Black threatens the Chernyshov's idea however can be considered g5 as something of a transpositional tool rather disruptive ...g4 as well as giving his queen m o r e r o o m . 9.e5 This advance, despite the than a surprise novelty. [ Black has tried several other moves here, gain of time, is not worrying for Black. [ Otherwise White has tried 9.d5 e.g. e5 for example 6...h6 7.gf3 d6 8.0-0 0-0 10.fd4 e7 11.b5 0-0 12.0-0 7g6 9.b4 a5 10.a3 c6 11.d5 e7 12.c2 13.xc7 ac8 14.b5 a6 15.b3 xb5 g6 13.fe1 Erdos, V-Chernyshov, K 16.cxb5 g4 Gordon, S-Szabo, G Novi Sad Harkany 2009, when a draw was agreed. 2009, and Black had enough play for his W hite h as a sp ace pull, b ut Black isn't pawn. ] particularly inconvenienced by this. ] [ The queen has already been placed on f6 in 9...g7 10.a4 In order to dissuade Black this line, but usually somewhat later: 6...c6 from castling long. In this line it isn't evident, 7.gf3 f6 (this transposes to the next note, for the players of both colours, to decide what and has been played by Simon Williams on to do with their monarchs. g4 11.d2 f6! Underminin g the cent re is of t he highes t at least a couple of occasions) A) 8.d5!? b4 9.e2 ...and now priority. 12.exf6 xf6 13.c5? A strange c a p t u r i n g t h e p a w n i s r i s k y . . . xb2 move that does more harm than good. [ Pushing the c-pawn would make more 10.b1 a3 ( 10...c2+ 11.f1 xa2 s e n s e a f t e r 13.0-0 0-0-0 and only now 12.c1 ) 11.b3 a5? ( 11...a4 14.c5! but with b8 the position would 12.b1 would give White good remain in the balance. ] compensation) 12.a3 and Black was in t r o u b l e i n C a r r o n , J - W i l l i a m s , S 13...bxc5 14.0-0 cxd4 15.xd4 xd4 0-0 Of course! The king is happy L e n z e r h e i d e 2 0 1 0 , b e c a u s e o f a6 16.xd4 enough on the kingside. Black's pawns will 13.a1 f6 14.b5 a4 15.d1; B) 8.e5 f4 9.g3 h6 10.0-0 g5!? perhaps require some defending, but White 11.e4 g4 12.h4 ( 12.d5 b4 13.d4 d o e s n ' t r e a l l y h a v e v e r y m u c h f o r h i s is a plausible alternative) 12...f5! 13.exf6 investment. 17.ac1 d5 18.xg7+ xg7 xf6 14.xf6+ xf6 15.e4 0-0-0 19.e4 c6! Denying White any real targets. 16.xc6 dxc6 17.xg4 xd4 18.f3 The bishop can be redeployed later. 20.fe1 [ 20.c4 is comfortably met by a6 ] Hawkins, J-W illiams, S Hastings 2009, 1837
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20...f6 21.d3 ab8 22.b3 c8! Not very pretty, but effectively defending! 23.c5 f7 Anticipating R-a5, when Black can then safely move the d-pawn. 24.ec1 b6 25.a5 d6! The central phalanx starts to advance. White seems powerless to prevent this for any significant length of time. 26.c2 e5 27.e2 f8 28.c2 e6 Black's forces are gradually activated, whereas W hite is flailing about trying to find something relevant to do. 29.d2 fb7 30.b3 e7 31.a4 d5 32.f1 d6 What superb harmony in the b l a c k c a m p . 33.g3 e4 The expansion continues. 34.a6 c7 35.e2 c5 36.d2 e5 37.a5 d4 38.d1 d5 39.e2 d3! The most convincing way forward. 40.c3 c4 41.xd5 xd5 42.bxc4 xc4 43.f3 Desperate. b1 44.fxe4 xe4 45.f2 e3 46.b3 g3+! [ T i m e t o r e s i g n a s 46...g3+ 47.xg3 ( 47.hxg3 g4# ) 47...f1+ costs White dear. ] 0-1
1858 Rustemov,Alexander Buhmann,Rainer Bundesliga 2000-1 (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2534 2416 09.12.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.f3 b7 4.a3 f5 5.g3 f6 6.g2 e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.d5N and not a terribly inspiring one - it is hard to see how this can be an improved or even interesting version of the similar sacrifice in the Queen's Indian (without the moves a3 and f5). Here, white has no chance of kicking the eventual black Nd5 since e4 is impossible, and ends up having to give up his Bg2 to inflict structural damage. exd5 9.e1 c6 10.cxd5 xd5 11.xd5+ cxd5 12.e3 e8 13.g2 h8 14.c3 c5 15.b5 xe3 16.xe3 e5 17.d4 xd4 18.xd4 c6 19.fd1 e7 20.d2 g6 21.ad1 a6 22.d3 ac8 23.b3 f6 24.f3 g7 25.f2 c5 26.bd3 f8 27.g2 e8 28.h3 c8 29.g4 fxg4 30.hxg4 d6 31.b3 c4 32.f4 cc8 33.d3 c6 34.c1 b7 35.bc3 f8 36.h1 g7 37.cc1 d6 38.xc8 xc8 39.g5 a5 40.e5 a6 41.xd7 f5
42.xb6 e8 43.e3 xd4 44.exd4 e2+ 45.g3 xb2 46.xd5 b5 47.c7 xg5+ 48.f2 c8 49.e1 h5 50.e8 h3 51.d5 g2+ 52.e3 a2 53.e7+ f6 54.d6 xa3+ 55.d4 xf3 56.d5+ g5 57.d7 xd7 58.xd7 h4 59.e4 f8 60.e3 f4+ 61.d3 h3 62.e2 h2 63.d1 h4 64.h1 a4 65.f1 a3 66.xh2 h5 67.f2 a2 68.g2 b4 69.f3+ g4 70.h4+ f5 71.xb4 a1 72.g3 c3 73.f4+ e6 ½-½
1859 Sachdev,T Chernyshov,Konstantin FSGM May Budapest HUN (10.3) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2416 2564 14.05.2011
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 5.e2 [ White generally develops the king's knight in this position. However the only way to maintain the bishop pair is the odd-looking 5.e2!? (however the loss of this tempo shouldn't concern Black) e5! 6.f3 exd4 7.xd4 xd4 ( 7...c5= ) 8.xd4 f6 9.c3 c5 10.e5+ e7 11.xc7 xe4= with a comfortable game for Black. ] 5...b4+ A rare sideline, that doesn't feel to be the logical follow-up to Black's previous move. The knight on c6 isn't really ideally placed, so the natural plan seems to be to exchange it for White's bishop. [ So 5...b4 is then normal, see game 2. Black's plan is to take the bishop pair and then stay flexible on the question of his king's destination e.g. 6.bc3 xd3+ 7.xd3 g6 8.h4 h5 9.g5 e7 10.xe7 xe7 11.0-0-0 d6 12.d5 e5 13.b1 f6 14.f3 d7 Ivanisevic, I-Berg, E Tromsö 2 0 1 0 , wi t h c o m f o r t a b l e p l a y f o r B l a c k despite W hite's space advantage. Black eventually castled long. ] 6.d2 f6!? 7.c2 New. White defends the d-pawn with tactics. [ The main alternative is 7.xb4 e.g. xb4 8.bc3 xd3+ 9.xd3 a6 10.0-0 e7 11.f4 g6 12.f5 (seeking an attack) exf5 13.f4 g5 14.exf5 0-0-0 (castling to the safer side), Neverov, V-Short, N Ohrid 2001, 1838
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and Black rode the storm. It's quite typical that W hite retains a central grip in these lines, but Black doesn't present any easy targets. ] 7...a6 Continuing to press against the centre with his active pieces. 8.a4!? ge7 [ Capturing on c4 seems to be too d a n g e r o u s : 8...xc4 9.xc6 xd2+ 10.xd2! ( or after 10.xd2!? xe2 11.xd7+ xd7 12.xe2 xd4 13.0-0-0 e7 White has compensation for the pawn following 14.f3 ) 10...dxc6 11.c3 b5 12.b3 and Black will regret his greed e.g. xe2 13.xc6+ e7 14.c5+! d7 15.xe2 a6 16.c1 with a clear advantage for White. ] 9.b5 Four moves to make it to this square! b7 Three moves to make it make here. So Sachdev has lost time, but nevertheless is able to keep her centre together. 10.0-0 xd2 11.xd2 0-0 12.bc3 Black now needs to counter White's pawn front quickly. a6 13.a4 a5 14.d3 d5! Ensuring that Black will at least gain access to some squares. 15.cxd5 exd5 16.e5 g6 17.d1 Opting to retain queens and seeking to gain control of the b1-h7 diagonal. [ Trading queens was possible, as a p la u s ib le c o n t i n u a t i o n su ch a s 17.xg6 hxg6 18.c2 g5 19.b3 feels slightly better for White (space, better bishop), especially as c5 can be met by 20.a4! ] 17...c5 18.c2 h6 19.f4 f5! A key decision. This 'ugly but useful' move keeps W hite's kingside initiative in check. 20.d3 ac8 21.g3 [ After 21.b3 ac6 22.a3 Black has d8! heading for the ideal blockading-square on e6. ] 21...c4 22.b3 b2? A big surprise. The knight is condemned, but Chernyshov hopes to ge ne ra te e no ugh act ivit y on t he c-f ile before his valient steed is lost. [ Better is 22...a3!= when White will not be able to keep everything under control, for example 23.d1 c6 24.c1 cxd4 25.xd4 b5! ] 23.d2 cxd4 24.xd4 c6 25.f3 [ Also quite testing is 25.ge2!? e.g. c5 26.xc5 xc5 27.ab1 as there is nothing better than d4 in reply, and then 28.xd4
xc3 29.xb2 doesn't give Black enough for the pawn. ] 25...c5 26.ge2 c7 [ White should also be better after 26...c6 27.xc5 bxc5 28.b1 ] 27.b1 c6 28.f2?! [ Humans would be naturally reticent to open up Black's pieces with 28.xd5+ h8 29.xb2 but Rybka considers White to be effectively winning after the further moves b4 30.d4 xc2 31.xc2 xf3 32.gxf3 as two knights and a pawn are superior to a rook. ] 28...d4! 29.xb2 xe5! Suddenly, Black is fighting back. 30.h3 [ Murky is 30.fxe5 xf3 31.xd4 xe2 32.xe2 fd8 but White shouldn't be worse following 33.c4+ ] 30...g4? [ C o r r e c t i s 30...dxc3 31.xc3 c6 escaping without any serious damage. ] 31.h4 [ The d-pawn is en prise: 31.xd4 h8! 32.d2 cd8 33.d4 d6 34.ce2 and Black has some practical chances for the piece, but objectively not enough. ] 31...f6 32.xf5?? Getting carried away with attacking intentions. [ Simply 32.xd4! c5 33.ce2 d5 34.g3 defends everything and leaves White with an extra piece. ] 32...dxc3 33.xh7+ f7 Black's king is actu ally qu ite saf e h ere . 34.xc3 e7 White's king is now the one most vulnerable! 35.h3 A sign of failure, but White already lacked a decent defence [ e.g. 35.xc8 xc8 36.f1 d7 37.b1 d5 ] 35...xc3 36.xc3 c5+? [ Correct is 36...xh7 37.xh7 ( 37.xe7+ xe7 38.e2+ d6 39.d2+ c7 leaves White with a miserable endgame, but is the best practical chance) 37...e3+ 38.f2 xc3 and now it's Black with an extra piece! ] 37.h2 xc3? [ B e s t i s t h e f o r c e d d ra w wi t h 37...xh7 38.xh7 xc3 39.c2 f6 40.c7+ e8 41.h5+ f7 42.xb7 xf4+ with perpetual check. ] 38.c2 d4 39.f5?? 1839
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ White can win with 39.c7+! e6 40.xb7 19.c2?! Not the most incisive as h8 fails to ( 40...xh7 41.f5+ e5 [ 19.d4 looks more testing as it is 42.e7+ ) 41.f5+ d5 42.xd4+ xd4 surprisingly difficult to protect e6 since b6 is 43.g6 with a winning endgame. ] also soft. f6 looks awkward, but seems to 39...d6 40.e2 e8 The fortieth move is b e f o r c e d : ( 19...d7? 20.a4 c8 completed, and so the players can reflect on 21.xf5; 19...c8?! 20.a4 ) 20.f4 their error-strewn time scramble. White's two should be better for white as black's pieces pawns don't compensate for the piece minus. have lost their coordination. ] 0-1 19...c5 [ 19...e5 was an alternative, but rather c o m m i t t a l - t h e e 6 - p a wn d o e s a g o o d 1860 A40 defensive job, shielding the a2-g8 diagonal and watching d5. ] Sagalchik,Olga 2130 Pixton,Aaron 2432 20.bxc5 xc5 21.b5 c6 22.ed4 d7 ch Seattle USA (8) 12.01.2002 23.xd6? [ 23.f4!? looks the only way to keep up the [Jon Tisdall] pressure, though this must be calculated properly if it is to be more than just a few 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 f5 4.c3 b7 5.d5 temporary jabs followed by losing the e4 e7 6.e3 A very rare line that has had good square. a6 ( 23...de4?! 24.xe4 fxe4 suc ces s f or white in it s f ew out ings, se e 25.c6 xc6 26.xd8 xd8 and black has Ambarcumjan - Pixton from the same event. some compensation.) 24.c6! by cutting off The rationale behind white's setup is that it is control of b5 white creates the threat of better to have the knight on e2 than h3. f6 capturing on d7 and d6 and then putting the 7.ge2 e7 8.g3 0-0 back knight into d4, and this is not so easy [ 8...b5!? looks like an entertaining to meet. ( 24.c6 xc6 25.xc6 c8 alternative. ] 26.g2 d8 27.xd6 xd6 28.b2 9.g2 c8!? I must confess to having a soft xd1+ 29.xd1 a2= ) 24...ce4 25.xd6 spot for this manoeuvre. Black now manages xd6 ( 25...xd6 26.xe4 fxe4 27.xe4 to develop very comfortably and this plan c8 with some compensation thanks to longseems very well suited to meet this e3 line. range domination of the light-squares.) The pressure against c4 fixes white's 26.d3 ( 26.e2!? is also very dangerous queenside pawns and allows black to develop the rook on a6 is loose and the pressure on comfortably on this flank - it also seems a the d-file and b6 is very unpleasant in both very logical way to exploit the absence of cases. )] white's light squared bishop. 10.b1 d6 23...a4 24.d2? 11.b3 a6 [ 24.b3 xd6 ( 24...xb3 25.xf5! d4 ) [ 11...a5!? looks like a sensible alternative, 25.a3 xb3 ( 25...e7 26.c3 to try and reach the game continuation. ] and white's position is unpleasant, but he 12.0-0 c5 13.f3 avoids immediate material loss. The text is [ 13.b4!? ce4 ( 13...a6 14.d3 c5 an admission of blunder and now white can would be possible, but is not as promising only hope to wriggle out with help.) 26.xb3 as in the game.) 14.xe4 xe4 15.f3 d6 xb3 27.xd6= ] 16.dxe6 dxe6 17.c2 looks slightly better 25.6b5 a4 26.f4 e4 for white, who has several ways to creep 24...xd1 27.xe4 fxe4 28.c3 forward. ] [ 28.xe6 xd2 29.xd2 fc8 ] 13...a5 14.b4 a6 15.d3 axb4 16.axb4 c5 Black could also try to just mount pressure 28...f6 29.xa4 [ 29.xe6 xc3! 30.xc3 d1+ 31.g2 on white's queenside with f6 32.d4 d7-+ ] [ 16...e7!? ] 29...xd4 30.c2 c5 31.xc5 bxc5 17.dxc6 dxc6 18.d1 e7?! 32.xe4 d1+ 33.f2 a2+-+ 34.b2 [ 18...f7 should give black no problems. ] 1840
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d2+ 35.f3 xb2 36.xe6+ h8 37.xb2 xb2 38.e7 c8 39.d7 b8 40.d6 b6 41.e5 c6+ 42.e4 e8 43.d5 xd5 44.cxd5 c4 45.e5 c3 46.e3 c8 0-1
1861 Sakaev,Konstantin Bauer,Christian 24th ECC Kallithea GRE (5) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2640 2592 21.10.2008
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 An ambitious try by Bauer. 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.e2 Beliavsky's move where White threatens both Bh5+ and c4-c5. [ If White tries the immediate 7.c5 then after bxc5 8.a3 Black has the resource c4! when his bishop isn't squeezed for space. A typical continuation would then be 9.xc4 a5 10.fxe6 dxe6 11.e2 0-0 12.f4 d6 13.c3 h8 14.e2 e8 15.e5 c6 Pirisi, G-Bunzmann, D French tch. 2005 and Black was fine. ] 7...0-0 [ Black can avoid getting his bishop trapped with 7...exf5!? 8.c5 bxc5 9.a3 a5 10.dxc5 c6 but this gums up his queenside development. In a recent encounter Black managed to provoke complications in which he survived: 11.f3 d5!? 12.cxd6 b6 13.g5 e4 14.xe4 fxe4 15.b3 f6 16.e3 xe3 17.xe3 0-0 18.c3 d7 19.xe4 xb2 Ionov, S-Merzliakov, E St. Petersb urg 20 08, bu t he was f ishing in troubled waters. ] 8.c5 bxc5 9.a3 Now Black's bishop is well and truly locked in by W hite's pawns. a5 10.dxc5 e4 Bauer considers this to be the most accurate in his book (Play 1...b6, Everyman 2005). [ However there are a couple of other moves t h a t s h o u l d b e m e n t i o n e d : 10...c6 saves the bishop but then the queenside development is going to really be a problem. No-one has tried this anti-positional move. ] [ In the initial game Beliavsky, A-Short, N Groningen 1997 Black tried 10...Nd5 which has the point that 11 b4? is not playable.
Here is a brief outline: 10...d5 11.f3 ( S h e r b a k o v a n d S t o h l g i v e 11.b4? as being refuted by f6 12.a2 xf5 13.d3 a6! 14.xa6 xb1 15.b2 e3+! Splat! ) 11...f6 ( the original game continued 11...xf5 12.b4 xb4 13.axb4 xb4 14.b2 a5 15.h4 d5 16.b3 a6 17.c3 xc5 with a mess that was eventually won by White, Beliavsky, A-Short, N Groningen 1997) 12.fxe6 a6 13.c2 ( W h i t e h a s o t h e r o p t i o n s h e r e : 13.c6 as proposed by Odessky and; 13.a4 xc5 14.xa5 b3 15.b5 xa1 16.xb7 given by Sherbakov, who feels that White is objectively better) 13...ae8 14.exd7 xe2! Jelen, I-Beliavsky, A Ljubljana 2002 and Black won after some wild complications. Is 10...Nd5 sound? Maybe it is, maybe it isn't, but it generates a fascinating struggle that offers Black decent practical chances. ] 11.f3 [ I wonder what Bauer had up his sleeve to improve on 11.b4 f6 12.a2 d5 13.b2 c6 14.d2 ab8 ( possibly 14...xf5 15.xe4 xe4 16.f3 xb4 17.axb4 xb4 ) 15.xe4 xe4 16.f3 xb4 17.axb4 xb4 18.d3 Van der Stricht, GBunzmann, D Bethune 2003, when White was somewhat better. ] 11...xf5 [ After 11...f6 O d e s s k y g i ve s 12.a4 when Black doesn't have a satisf actory continuation e. g. xc5 13.xa5 b3 14.b5 xa1 15.xb7 etc. ] [ If Black instead punts 11...xc5 then 12.g5 e8 13.b4 e4 14.bxa5 xg5 15.xg5 xf5 16.h4 looks good for White. ] 12.b4 f6 13.a2 d5 14.c2 [ After 14.b2 c6 15.bxa5 xc5 Bla ck la cks m ate rial com pe nsa tion bu t W h it e h a s p ro b le m s t o co -o rdin a t e h is forces. Your computer will prefer White but in practise these positions are f ar f rom clear. ] 14...c6 [ 14...b3 is probably not in Black's interest as after 15.d3 xc2 16.xc2 although he only cedes two pieces for a rook (rather than a piece), White's bishop pair are likely to become very strong. ] 1841
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.b2 g6 16.bd2 xb4 Picking up a 21.f3 f7 22.e4 h8! couple of pawns for the piece and staying [ 22...fxe3 23.xe3 g5 also gives lively. 17.axb4 xb4 18.c1 af8 19.xe4 excellent attacking chances, but here white xe4 has the e4 square and some piece activity. [ T h e c r i t i c a l c o n t i n u a t i o n i s 19...xe4 Black's path in the game means it is far 20.xd7!? d5 21.xc7 d3! more difficult for the Bb7 to ever see daylight, with interesting play for the piece. but the flip side is that W hite is terribly Unfortunately, the players copped out here passive. ] so we c a n 't be su re if B lack re a lly h a s 23.e2 g8 24.h1 fg7 25.g1 g5! e n o u g h , b u t S a k a e v o b v i o u s l y wa s n ' t [ 25...h3!? 26.b1 h4 to bring the confident enough in a team match to take knight into the attack via h5 is very tempting, any risks with White! ] but without being able to bring the Bb7 into ½-½ the f ray, it is no t ob vio us h ow to b rea k white down after he eventually defends with Nf1. Sulskis finds a way to activate both 1862 A40 rooks, and by maintaining cavalry pressure on e4, he keeps more tactical possibilities Sakalauskas,Vaidas 2403 open. ] Sulskis,Sarunas 2499 ch Vilnius LTU (7) 31.03.2000 26.c3 8g6 27.d1? It is very risky to give up influence over d3 and e4... d3!? [Jon Tisdall] [ 27...cxe4!! is pointed out by the friendly Fritz, though he(?) modestly refrains from 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 a d d i n g e x c l a m a t i o n m a r k s . 28.fxe4 f6 6.f3 d6 7.g3 a5 8.g2 a6 9.0-0 ( 28.xe4 h6; 28.xe4 h6 ) 28...xh2+!! 0-0 10.b3 29.xh2 h5+ ( 29...g4+ 30.h1 h5+ [ 10.b5 exd5 11.xd6 cxd6 12.h4 31.h3 xh3+ 32.g2 e3+ 33.f2 e4 13.cxd5 e7 Black's central presence xd1+ 34.xd1 xc3 and Black's extra and target on d5 look to assure him good pawns should be enough arrange the play, but white also has trumps. 14.e3 b5 successful liberation of his bishop. )] Black's bishop is more or less required to b e c o m e a b i t w o r s e . 15.d4 ac5 28.b1 g3?! Black is tempted by the cheap 16.ad1 a4 17.f3 b3 18.d3 ec5 thrill of threatening to sacrifice his queen on 19.xc5 xc5 20.b1 f4 21.h3 g5 h2, and misses a harder blow: [ 28...h6! 22.f5 g6 23.xg6 hxg6 24.xg6+ xg6 A) 29.h3 xg1+ 30.xg1 ( 30.xg1 25.xg6 fxg3 26.xf8 gxh2+ 27.xh2 xh3 31.xb6 g6 32.xb7 h5-+ ) xf8 28.g3 e7 29.h1 g8+ 30.f2 30...xh3 31.xd3 g6+ 32.h1 b4 31.axb4 a6 32.e4 xb4 33.d4 a6 h5-+; 34.xa4 c8 35.h7+ f6 36.a1 c2+ B) 29.f1 xe4!! 30.xd3 xh2+ 37.e3 xb2 38.ah1 g2 39.xd7 c5 31.xh2 g3# ] 40.h6+ 1-0 Rohde,M-Kengis,E/Tilburg 29.d1 g4? One assumes that time 1992/CBM 32 (40) ] 10...c5 11.b2 e5 12.b5 e8 13.b4 pressure has lifted its famously ugly head here ce4 14.xd6 cxd6 15.b5 A very clear - instead of calmly getting the attack back on strategic argument arises - if Black cannot track black sacrifices his able-bodied forces break down c4 or liberate his bishop tactically, and is left with little to show for it. [ 29...h6 30.f1 c5 threatens to take on he is effectively down a piece. On the other e4 and probably to sacrifice on f3 as well. ] hand, this structure leaves white with very little to do, and black can gradually mount a 30.fxg4 xg4 31.f3 xg2 32.xd3 h3 kingside attack. I find it very hard to believe 33.f1 6g3 34.d1 h6 35.ef2 h5 that such an rigid, primitive formation can be 36.e2 xf3 37.xg2 e3 38.f2 xc3 promising for white. c8 16.c1 g5 17.d2 39.fg1 xa3 40.g8+ h7 41.8g7+ h8 c5 18.c2 h5 19.fe1 f4 20.gxf4 gxf4 42.g2 xg2+ 43.7xg2 Execution day for 1842
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the Bb7 has arrived. 1-0
1863 Sammalvuo,T Short,Nigel D 18th European Teams (8.15) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2492 2698 10.11.2011
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 A solid option where Black's plan is to gain the bishop pair. 5.e2 b4 6.bc3 xd3+ 7.xd3 d6 Perhaps Black's most flexible possibility at this point. He will only decide what to do with his kingside minor pieces after White shows his hand. 8.d5 d7 9.d4?! This loses time. [ I mentioned in a previous update that after 9.f4 e7 10.d4 Strunski, A-Polak, T Prievidza 2009, Black should react with c5! e.g. 11.f3 exd5 12.cxd5 g6 13.0-0 g7 when this double-edged Benoni structure should be fine for Black. ] 9...e5 10.de2 So Sammalvuo has invested two tempi in order to provoke ...e5, which is, to be frank, hardly a major concession. With the centre now closed play naturally switches t o t h e f l a n k s . e7 11.g3 h5! Dynamic play. 12.a4 [ Although 12.h4 looks natural enough, W h it e wou ld t h en h a ve to live wit h t h e potential weakness of the h4-pawn. Here are some sample ideas: g6 13.g5 g7 14.a4 ( 14.0-0 f6 15.e3 g4 16.b5 d7!? ) 14...a5 15.b5 ( 15.0-0 f6 16.e3 g4 17.b5 d7 ) 15...f6 16.e3 h6!? 17.xh6 xh6 18.0-0 h8 19.f4 0-0-0= noting that the g4-square can also be a nagging problem for White. ] 12...h4 13.f1 g6 14.a5 Here the Finnish player has made progress, but elsewhere S h o r t h a s m a t t e r s u n d e r c o n t r o l . bxa5 15.xa5 e7 16.f3 c6! Challenging White's space grip and opening up play, at least partially, for the bishop pair. 17.e3?! As White is only vaguely threatening the a7pawn, this move isn't really the most useful one available. Instead, he should have settled for [ 17.e3 when, with 0-0 to follow, he would
have retained equality. ] 17...d8 18.a3 [ White would also hand the initiative to Black after 18.xa7 xa7 19.xa7 a6 ( or here even the more ambitious 19...cxd5 20.cxd5 f4 )] 18...cxd5 19.cxd5 a5! Aiming to place the light-squared bishop on a6. As there is not much White can do about this, he is likely to play the rest of the game with his king in the centre. 20.d2 a6 21.g4 A desperate strike into thin air. b8 22.a2 b4 23.b3 0-0 As if to emphasize that Black's king is nice a n d c o m f o r t a b l e , t h a n k yo u ve r y m u c h , whereas W hite's... 24.a4 b5 25.c3 b7 26.e2 h3! White is helpless after this fine move which prevents castling. Indeed, Short's handling of his rook's pawns has been instructive throughout the game. [ After a slower continuation such as 26...e7? (or similarly 26...Bc7) White could still escape with 27.0-0 ] 27.xh3 [ 27.0-0? loses a piece to h4 ] 27...a4! Opening lines and ensuring access to the a5-square. 28.xa4 xa4 29.bxa4 a5 Threatening ...Qb1+. 30.f1 xd2 31.xd2 b1+ White drops more than a piece. 0-1
1864 Savchenko,Stanislav Bunzmann,Dimitrij 1st Integrata GM (2) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2579 2484 09.01.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.f3 0-0 8.a3 d6 9.c3 e8 10.fxe6 Not many people take this pawn, but a little greed is always worth considering. [ 10.g5 exf5 11.xf5 h5 12.h4 h6 13.g1 xf3 14.xf3 xf3 15.gxf3 hxg5 16.hxg5 e8 17.h7+ f7 18.d5 g6 19.h6 g7 20.xg6 c6 21.d1 d8 22.g2 e7 23.xe7 xe7 24.e4 h8 25.dh1 xh6 26.xh6 d6 27.h7+ f8 28.h8+ g7 29.h7+ f8 30.h8+ 1/2-1/2 Khenkin, I-Bunzmann,D Polanica Zdroj 1999. ] 1843
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10...dxe6 11.g5 c6 12.e3 h6 13.ge4 xe4 14.xe4 f4 15.d2 xe3 16.xe3 d8 17.d1 a6 18.b3 e5 19.dxe5 [ 19.xc6 xc6 20.xe5 ( 20.dxe5 xd1+ 21.xd1 b5; 20.d5 is safest, and I can't help feeling a handy technician would be e n d i n g b l a c k ' s a c t i v i t y r a t h e r s o o n .) 20...xc4+ 21.bxc4 xc4+ 22.e2 de8 23.h5 doesn't seem to work for black, though he pin is very hard to break, and is a risky procedure for white. ] 19...xd1+ 20.xd1 xe5 21.g3 h8 22.h3 [ 22.g2 g4 and Nf6 gives black counterplay. ] 22...xc4+! 23.g2 [ 23.bxc4 xc4 24.e2 xe4!-+ ] ½-½
1865 Semrl,Marjan Sale,Srdjan Ljubljana op 7th (1) [Eric Prié]
A40 2150 2440 1996
1.d4 e6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 [ 3...f6 4.f3 A classical position of the Nimzo -Lond on.. . b6 5.c3 ( 5.a3! however in this order of moves.) 5...c6 6.b1!? ] 4.c3 f6 5.b1!? I dare formulate a guideline from the previous 7 games: - when Black retains the possibility of advancing his pawn to d5 in one go, White should definitely get rid of the concern of his hanging b-pawn by op t in g f o r Rb 1. - A lte rna t ive ly, W h it e should employ the idea Bb5+, a2-a4 whenever it is possible against an early ...d7-d6. An exception is the Murey game because of the early exc han ge on d4, allowing W h ite t o concentrate on development in gambit style because of the disappearance of the Nh5xf4 concern. cxd4 [ 5...c6 6.f3 h5?! ( 6...d5? 7.b5 ) 7.dxc5 ( 7.d5!? For having a rook on b1 is more useful than a pawn on c3 against this black idea. xf4 8.exf4 d4 9.g3 g6 10.g2 g7 11.0-0 ) 7...xc5 ( 7...xc5 8.d6 xd6 9.xd6 1/2-1/2 Weitzer, S (2274)-Hoepfl, T (2356) Germany 2008)
8.c7 b4 9.e5 c6 10.b4!? xb4 11.b5 ] 6.exd4 b4 7.f3 0-0 8.d3 a5 9.0-0! xc3?! 10.bxc3 This position looks eminently dangerous for Black... d5 [ 10...xc3 11.e5 c6 12.xf6 gxf6 13.b3 a5 14.xh7+! xh7 15.e5! xe5 16.h5+ g7 17.g3+ g6 18.xa5+- ] 11.b3 [ 11.e5! xc3 12.b3 a5 13.g5 e4 14.xe4 dxe4 15.f6!! ] 11...c6 12.e5 xe5 13.xe5 d7? [ 13...d8 14.c4 ] 14.xh7+! xh7 15.h5+ g8 16.xg7! Just as in the books! f5 [ 16...xg7 17.g5+ h7 18.c4 ] 17.g6 f7 18.h6+ 1-0
1866 Shipov,Sergei Chernyshov,Konstantin 54th ch Elista RUS (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2640 2536 03.05.2001
Sometimes chess games can be good things in small packages. This short draw has an original move order combined with an original idea - and the result is a cool, comfortable position against a very strong player. A game well worth jotting down in the notebook. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.d5 f5 5.c3 e7 6.g3 f6 7.d2 e7 So far a rare but not co m p le t e ly f o re i gn i d e a . 8.g2 c8!? But this is very original, and very clever black finds a novel way to get his pieces to optimal squares quickly. 9.h3 d6 10.b3 a6 11.c1 c5 12.b4 ce4 13.0-0 exd5 14.cxd5 xd2 15.xd2 0-0 Black has a fine position. ½-½
1844
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1867 Shirov,Alexei Suttercane Simul Internet USCF [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2746 23.10.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 xg2 6.h5+ g6 7.fxg6 g7 8.gxh7+ f8 9.e2 xh1 10.g5 f6 11.h4 e7!? For maniacs disposed to play either side of this line, this move seems to be state of the art. Black's results in the whole variation are rather encouraging theoretically, wi t h d ra ws b y re p e t it io n a n d b l a c k wi n s featuring most often. 12.f4 f7 13.c3N [ 13.d2 c6 14.g6 xh7 15.xh7 xh7 16.xh7 xd4 17.g6+ e8 18.h8 f3+ 19.f1 xg5 20.h4 f3 0-1 Vegh,E-Zlatilov,I/Sankt Augustin 1990. ] 13...b7 [ 13...c6!? deserves serious consideration it is not immediately clear why Shirov's move should be more to the point than in the previous reference. ] 14.0-0-0 c6 15.g1 e7 16.h6 xh6 17.xh6+ e8 18.g7 f8 19.g6 g4 20.h5 f6 21.h6 g4 22.h5 f6 23.h6 g4 24.h5 f6 25.h6 ½-½
1868 Shishkin,Vadim Klimov,Sergey St Petersburg [John Emms]
A40 2493 2483 31.01.2008
1.d4 g6 2.c4 g7 3.c3 c5 4.d5 xc3+ 5.bxc3 f5 6.h4 f6 7.h5 g8 8.hxg6 hxg6 9.a4!? This certainly isn't the first move that comes to mind, but it has been played by one or two very strong players. White's main idea, it seems, is to prevent ... Qa5(!), although the queen also usef ully prevents ...d6. It's quite unusual to see the most powerful piece used in this "restrictive" role. Against most other moves by White, it seems that ...Qa5 is a decent response. [ 9.g4 a5! - see Bunzmann-Okhotnik, France 2002. ] [ 9.f3 a5 10.c2 d6 11.g5 bd7
12.e3 ( 12.d2 e5 13.b1 b6 14.e3 d7 15.e2 0-0-0 N. Josephsen-T. J a k s l a n d , D e n m a r k 1 9 9 5) 12...b5!? ( 12...e4 ) 13.xf6 xf6 14.g5 bxc4 15.xc4 a6 ( 15...b8!? ) 16.xa6 xa6 17.c4 A.Shneider-T. Abergel, Paris 2000. ] [ 9.d6!? a5 10.h3! (a creative way to defend c3!) c6 11.dxe7 xe7 12.e4!? fxe4 13.g5 b6 14.b1 c6 15.d2 with reasonable compensation for the pawn, A.Dekker-T. Balogh, Bratislava 2001. ] 9...b6 [ 9...c7 is an alternative: 10.g3 e4 11.f4 b6 12.c1 g5 13.e3 f6 14.g2 f4?! (M.Zivanic-J.Stopa, Richardson 2008) and now Zivanic gives ( 14...a6!? - Zivanic ) 15.gxf4! gxf4 16.xe4 fxe3 17.fxe3 intending Kd2, Nf3 and Rcf1 ] [ 9...e4?! can be met simply by 10.f3! as g3 ( 10...xc3 11.b3 traps the knight) 11.h7 looks promising for White. ] 10.f3 a6 [ The evidence from this game suggests that Black needs an improvement somewhere, and 10...e4 definitely looks like a place to look. For example, 11.g5 f6 12.xe4 fxe4 13.c2 d6 14.b1 d8!? ( 14...d7 15.xe4 xc3+ 16.d2 ) 15.e3 ( 15.g4!? ) 15...c7 16.g3 d7= K . S a k a e v- D . R e i n d e r m a n , C a p p e l l e l a Grande 1995. ] 11.xa6! Normally White is reluctant to swap queens in this line, for obvious reasons. Here, though, the situation is quite different. Black's army isn't fully coordinated, and the knight on a6 is on a poor circuit. [ 11.b3 d6 12.g5 ( 12.g5 bd7 13.d2 b6 14.a4 d7 15.a5 0-0-0! 16.a2 a8 17.g3 h8 18.h4 c7= M. Baekgaard-S.Siebrecht, Ohrid 2009) 12...bd7! (calmly allowing the knight in) 13.e6 a5 14.f3 e5 15.b1 f7 16.d2 b8 (threatening ...Bxe6 and . ..Nd8, so White feels obliged to retreat his knight) 17.g5 d7 18.e4 xg5 19.xg5 fxe4 20.xf6 exf6 21.fxe4 f7= M.Franic-M. Vokac, Prague 1990. ] 11...xa6 12.d6! Again this move causes considerable disruption. Black will struggle to both develop his queenside in time and hold things together on his shaky kingside. 1845
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 12.g5 d6 13.d2 f7 14.e4 fxe4 15.xf6 xf6 16.xe4+ worked out well for W hite in S.Volkov-A.Eliseev, St Petersburg 2010, but Shishkin's choice looks stronger. ] 12...exd6 13.f4 e4 14.g5! xg5 15.xg5 c7 16.h7 e6 17.f6 [ 17.e7+ is le ss a ccura te d ue t o f8 18.f6 g7! ] 17...g5 18.0-0-0 g6 19.e7 b6 [ 19...f8 is better, when Black faces a grim and probably unsuccessful defensive task after 20.xf8 xf8 21.e3 ] 20.g4!+- b7 [ 20...fxg4 21.g2 ] 21.gxf5 g7 22.xg7 xg7 23.xg5 e4 24.xd6 xf5 25.g2 c8 26.f6 e6 27.d5 b5 28.h6 White's 9 Qa4 is more challenging than it initially looks. It seems that Black should try 10...Ne4 or, a move earlier, 9...Qc7. 1-0
1869 Siebrecht,Sebastian Bunzmann,Dimitrij 8th OIBM Bad Wiessee GER (4) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2366 2544 02.11.2004
1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.e2! A paradoxical move at first sight, but White wants to play c4-c5 and meet ... bxc5 with a2a3 to harass and perhaps trap the errant darksquared bishop. The second idea is to play t h e a n n o yin g B -h 5 +, wh ich is wh y B la ck doesn't make the effort to retreat the bishop back to safe ground. Note that with the bishop on d3 Black would have the freeing resource ... c5-c4. [ T h e m o r e n a t u r a l - l o o k i n g 7.f3 is also known. ] 7...0-0 [ Black was basically a pawn down after 7...d6 8.h5+ f8 9.fxe6 dxe6 10.f3 Meessen-Bunzmann,D Leuven 1998 ] 8.c5 bxc5 9.a3 a5 10.dxc5 The threat is 11 b4 killing off the bishop, so Black has to react fast. Playing the tame 10...c6 makes the o t h e r b is h o p lo o k u gly. S o B l a ck's m o s t
critical are 10... Nd5 and 10...Ne4 seeking a tactical solution. e4 [ 10...c6?! 11.b4 c7 12.fxe6 yields White a pawn plus a positional advantage. ] [ One idea behind the principle alternative 10...d5 is that 11 b4 is then bad. 11.f3 ( 11.b4? f6 12.a2 xf5 13.d3 a6 14.xa6 xb1 15.b2 e3+ ) 11...f6 12.fxe6 a6 13.c2 ( Here White can refute the black set-up with 13.c4! dxe6 14.c6 c8 15.xd5 ) 13...ae8 14.exd7 xe2 15.xe2 e6+ with sharp complications, Jelen,I-Beliavsky,A Ljubjana 2002 ] 11.b4 f6 12.a2 d5 13.b2 c6 14.f3 [ W hite has been doing well with 14.d2 e.g. ab8 ( 14...d4?! 15.xe4 xe4 16.f3 xf5 17.h4 led to Black getting nothing for the piece in Berkvens,J-Minnican, A Cappelle-la-Grande 2002) 15.xe4 xe4 16.f3 xb4 17.axb4 xb4 18.d3 favoured W hite in Van de Stricht,GBunzmann,D Bethune 2003 ] 14...ab8 15.h4! Apart from freeing the king's rook and avoiding potential back rank problems it also constitutes a sensible waiting move. [ Instead 15.c2 invites an interesting piece sacrifice (can one really call it a 'sacrifice' wh e n t h e b ish o p is lo st a n ywa y? ) xb4 16.axb4 xb4 17.a4 a2 with unclear complications, Johannesses,L-Halkias,S Linares 2002 ] 15...e5 16.bd2 Challenging the e4-knight. [ Now that the other knight is no longer in a position to sacrifice on b4 White could also try 16.c2 ] 16...c3 17.c2 xe2 18.xe2 exf5 19.f1 Scurrying away to safety. There's no hurry to capture on a5, White must first avoid any tricks. a6+ 20.g1 d3 [ If 20...xf3+ 21.xf3 xf3 22.gxf3 g6+ 23.h2 (using the extra space generated by 15 h4!) h5 24.c4+ h8 25.f4 Black runs out of ideas. ] 21.b5! A tactical shot that leads to very favourable simplification. e1 [ Hopeless is 21...xb5 22.xd3 ] 22.bxa6 xc2 23.xc2 fe8 24.d4 Covering the e2-square. It's looking more and 1846
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 more like a whole piece for nothing. xd2 25.xd2 e4 26.xf5 e6 27.e3 b1 28.d1 b3 29.e1 d5 30.cxd6 cxd6 31.f3 It's not entirely necessary to give back some material, but it's probably simplest. [ 31.d2 xe1+ 32.xe1 d5 33.b4 is also good. ] 31...xc1 32.xc1 xe3 33.f2 d3 34.he1 a4 35.e7 1-0
1870 Skoberne,Jure Chytilek,Roman Mitropa Cup Men (5) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2407 2392 11.09.2006
1.c4 b6 2.c3 b7 3.d4 e6 4.e4 b4 5.d3 f5 6.e2 c6!? A rare move. Instead Black normally prefers to develop the other knight first e.g. [ 6...f6 7.f3 and only now c6 e.g. 8.e3 fxe4 9.fxe4 e5 10.d5 d4 11.xd4 exd4 12.a3 dxc3?! ( riskily varying from 12...a5 13.b4 dxc3 14.bxa5 0-0 15.f3 e7 16.0-0 c5+ 17.h1 d6 Nyback, T-Bokros, A Hengelo 2002 when a draw was agreed.) 13.axb4 cxb2 14.xb2 e7 15.f3 d6 16.0-0 0-0 17.e5! dxe5 18.xe5 b5 with counterchances but W hite has the stronger initiative as in Sebenik, M-Bokros, A Bundesliga 2006 ] 7.f3 fxe4 8.xe4 [ White has better chances of keeping an edge with 8.xe4 f6 9.g5 ] 8...f6 [ Fritz suggests the simplif ying 8...xc3+ 9.bxc3 b4! 10.e3 xd3+ 11.xd3 f6 with equality. This seems simpler than the game where W hite's queen is annoyingly active. ] 9.h4 0-0 10.0-0 e7 11.h3 xc3 Time to simplify before White starts to attack with Bg5. 12.bxc3 e4 13.xe4 xe4 14.a3 f6 [ After 14...xc3 15.g5 Black gets into difficulties due to threats against h7, e6 and his wayward knight. ] 15.ae1 d6 16.e5 g6 17.c1 Trying to probe on the other diagonal with the
t h r e a t o f B g 5 . f7 18.d3 c8! W ith everything more or less stable on the kingside it's time to seek counterplay with ... Qa6 hitting W hite's soft queenside. 19.f4! a6 20.g4! All in! xc4 21.f5 exf5 22.gxf5 f8 23.f4 So White has active play, some open lines and attacking chances for his pawn, but is it enough? d6 24.h5 f7 25.h6! e8 [ After 25...gxh6 26.g2+ White picks off the rook on a8 ] 26.xg7 xg7+ [ Here taking off a pair of rooks with 26...xe1 27.xe1 xf5! seems adequate f o r B l a c k . T h e n a f t e r ( 27...xg7+?! allows W hite a strong attack with 28.xg7 xg7 29.g3+ h8 30.e5+ g8 31.e3 ) 28.xf8 xf8 29.h4 g8+ 30.g3 g5 31.f4+ f5 32.h4 a draw by repetition seems to constitute best play. ] 27.xg7 xg7 28.g3+ f7? [ Superior was 28...h8! when there doesn't seem to be anything more than a draw: 29.xe8 xe8 30.e5+ g7 31.f6 ge6 32.f7+ g7 33.e7 ge6 34.f6+ g7 35.e7 etc. ] 29.f6 e6 [ After 29...g6 then 30.h3 is strong. ] 30.xe6 xe6 31.e5+ f7 32.h5+ e6 33.f7 [ T h e f l a s h y 33.xe8+?? xe8 34.f7 fails to xf1+ 35.xf1 xf7 ] [ 33.g4+ can, surprisingly enough, be met by d5 ] 33...xf1+! 34.xf1 f8 35.e2 e7 36.h4+ e6 37.xh7 xf7 38.g6+ e7 With the p assed h-pawn being supported by White's queen one gets the impression that it's only a matter of time before White collects the whole point, but Chytilek has other ideas... 39.h4 f6 40.g7+ f7 41.h5 b5! The barrier on the h6-square is supplemented by the creation of a fortress on the other flank. 42.d5 a6 43.g3 c6 44.e3+ f8 45.b6 d6 46.b8+ [ 46.xa6 doesn't look easy either after xd5 ] 46...e7 47.dxc6 xc6 48.d3 d6+ 49.c2 h6 50.h2 e6 51.b3 h6 52.b4 c6 53.a5 e6 There doesn't 1847
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 s e e m t o b e a n y wa y t o c r e a t e a s e co n d pass ed p awn or a king invasion . 54.h4+ e8 55.h1 e7 56.g1 h6 57.e3+ e6 58.c5+ e8 59.c8+ e7 60.xa6!? A brave but forlorn winning attempt. xa6+ 61.xa6 d6 62.a5 f6 63.b4 g5 64.c5 e4+ 65.d4 d2 66.c5 e4+ 67.xb5 xc3+ 68.c4 xa2 69.d5 xh5 70.d6 g6 71.xd7 ½-½
1871 Snape,Ian Summerscale,Aaron ch Millfield ENG (1) [Neil McDonald]
A40 2170 2459 31.07.2000
1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.a3 b7 4.d5 e7 [ Instead 4...f5 5.c3 f6 would transpose to lines considered in DD427, KveinysMiezis, which have turned out poorly for Black. The game move intends to put the bishop rather than the knight on f6. This is a very interesting and active arrangement of the pieces. ] 5.c3 f5 6.g3 f6 7.d2 a5! Black wants to create a safe outpost for his knight on c5. 8.g2 a6 9.h3 c5 10.0-0 [ Instead 10.b4 axb4 11.axb4 xa1 12.xa1 b3 would be good for Black. ] 10...a4 11.e4 e7 12.dxe6 dxe6 13.e5 This leads to a murky tactical battle that seems to last right until the end of the game. On a positional level, the exchange of White's e pawn for the black a pawn must be counted a success for Black, who will have an extra pawn in the centre. xe5 14.xb7 xb7 15.xa4 0-0 16.c3 xd1 17.fxd1 d6 18.b3 c6 19.g5 fe8 20.f3 e5 21.d5 ca5 22.xa5 xa5 23.c3 White tries to escape the pressure with a pawn sacrifice. xa3 24.xa3 xa3 25.d7 [ If 25.xe5 b2 wins a piece. ] 25...c5 26.xc7 xb3 27.d5 c5 28.h4 f8 29.e7+ h8 30.hxf5 White has regained his pawn, but he is still in deep trouble as the black bishop is the dominant minor piece and exerts terrible pressure on f2. Summerscale now attacks in vigo ro u s s t yle t o wra p u p t h e p o in t . d2
31.e3 e4 32.7d5 xf2 33.g2 e4 34.g4 h5 35.xe5 f2+ 36.h3 h7 37.d7 g5+ 38.h4 e6 39.xh5 xc7 40.xc7 xh2+ 41.g4 c2 42.f5 xc4 43.g4 d4 44.xc5 bxc5 45.g5 c4 46.g6+ h6 47.e6 d1 0-1
1872 So,W Jobava,Ba ACP Golden Classic 2014 (6.3) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2744 2713 18.07.2014
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 b4+ 5.f1 e7 Now that White can no longer castle, Black can afford to bring his bishop to a sensible square. The loss of time can be justified if White is obliged to spend time of his own sorting his king and rooks out. [ A really 'Daring Defences' try is 5...e5!? gambitting a pawn. If White refuses the offer he will have to give away the c5-square, so the acid test is taking the offrand: 6.dxe5 c6 7.f4 ( 7.f3 ge7 8.a3 c5 9.b4 d4 10.xd4 xd4 11.e3 dc6 12.f4 d6 13.exd6 xd6 14.c3 0-0-0 15.d5 f5 Mann, G-Bokros, A Hungarian league 1999, certainly yields interesting play for Black ) 7...d6 8.a3 c5 9.exd6 xd6 10.c3 0-0-0 ( 10...d4!? ) 11.d5 ce7?! ( Correct is 11...f5! 12.e5 e6 and then ...Nge7 with decent compensation) 12.f3 f5? (too late!) 13.b4 a n d B la c k d ro p p e d a p i e c e i n H o l t , C Berczes, D Dallas 2013. ] 6.c3 d6 7.f3 [ In Turov, M-Totsky, L Pardubice rapid 2008, White was successful with a 'Sämisch' setup 7.ge2 f6 8.f3 0-0 9.e3 see the archives. ] 7...f6 8.g3 Castling by hand, and in cid e nt a lly no t wo rryin g ab o ut an y lo n g diagonal tricks. [ White has a wide choice as to how to continue: 8.h3 bd7 9.e3 e5 10.d5 c5 11.c2 a5 12.b3 0-0 13.g1 e8 14.a3 a6 15.b1 g6 (White has a promising K i n g ' s I n d i a n m i d d l e g a m e ) 16.d2?! ( 16.b4! with a space advantage and a 1848
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 q u e e n s i d e i n i t i a t i v e) 16...f5 ( trading bishops with 16...g5! would keep White's advantage to a minimum) 17.exf5 gxf5 18.f4 Zhu Chen-Grabuzova, T Moscow Blitz 2010, with an edge for W hite. Comp are d t o a sta nda rd King's Ind ian , Black's pieces are not that well placed. ] [ White's extra space is noticeable in the following 8.b3 c6 9.a3 d7 10.b2 0-0 11.c2 g6 12.d1 f5?! a panicky attempt at obtaining some breathing space, Tala, FDiaz Re ye s , M W arsa w 1 99 1 , an d n o w White is better following ( instead 12...f6 leaves Black with a solid game) 13.exf5 exf5 14.h4! ] 8...0-0 9.g2 bd7 10.e2 The centre is well defended and not easy to undermine. Black has to make a decision as to how to strike back. c5 [ 10...e5 11.d5 c5 12.c2 a5 could lead to play similar to the Zhu Chen-Grabuzova game segment above. White's extra space gives him the more interesting options. ] 11.d5 e8 Jobava decides to keep the tension. [ Possible is 11...exd5 12.exd5 ( 12.cxd5 a6 13.a4 c7 with a sort of slightly passive Benoni (the bishop would be more actively placed on g7 rather than e7)) 12...e8 wi t h a s o l i d a l b e it s o m e wh a t cr a m p e d position. ] 12.d1 f8 13.dxe6!? A committal decision, but So doesn't want to allow Black to have all the options as to how to resolve the central pawn structure. fxe6 [ Although your computer may prefer 13...xe6 the danger then is that Black is just stuck with a 'static' structure with no counterplay. ] 14.c2 a6 15.f4 c7 16.d2 By piling up on d6, So intends provoking his opponent to commit himself. e5 [ Unfortunately 16...ad8 17.ad1 b8 doesn't work: 18.e5! dxe5 19.xd8 xd8 20.xe5 and Black is set to lose his e6pawn. ] 17.ad1 c6?! A positional error. [ More dynam ic is 17...c6!? (hoping to keep the structure flexible) when capturing on d6 comes at a price: 18.xd6 xd6 19.xd6 d4! (cutting the communication)
20.6xd4 cxd4 21.xd4 with full compensation for the exchange, but Black is OK. ] 18.xe5! dxe5 19.a4 Trading light-squared bishops leaves Black with a poor structure and a bishop blocked by it's own pawns. xa4 20.xa4 A moment of decision: Should Black try and complicate the game or simply stay s o l i d ( a n d s u f f e r ! ) t o t r y a n d h o l d ? b5? Understandable, but objectively not best. Although White has control of the d-file there is no entry square available, so Black should 'temporize' in order to see if White can find anything concrete. [ A sample line: 20...e7 21.c3 ad8 22.xd8 xd8 23.c2 e7 24.a4 a8 25.g5 c8 and for the moment, everything is covered. ] 21.cxb5 axb5 22.xb5 c4 [ A lt e rn a t i ve l y 22...eb8 23.c4 b4 only fails because 24.xe6+ is check. ] [ 22...xe4 23.e2 and Black's weak pawns are exposed. ] 23.c2! ec8 24.b3 Defending the loose knight and attacking the c-pawn. It's clear that Jobava's attempted activity has f ailed to deliver. b8 25.xb8 axb8 26.bxc4 xe4 27.xe5 b4 28.b2 A two pawn advantage is too much. c5 29.f4 e7 30.bd3 a4 31.xc5 xc5 32.b1 c8 33.c5! Black loses a piece if he captures. g5 [ 33...xc5 34.bc1 a5 35.d3+- ] [ 33...xc5 34.b8++- ] 34.c6 d6 [ Alternatively 34...gxf4 35.c7 d6 36.b8 xb8 37.cxb8+ xb8 38.c8+ g7 39.xb8 xa2+ 40.h3 fxg3 41.hxg3 and t here may o nly b e o ne wh it e p awn remaining, but it's enough to guarantee victory at this level. ] 35.d7 gxf4 36.b6 f3+ 37.f2 1-0
1849
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A40 comfortable way to return his pawn. xb5 2637 20.xb5+ f7 21.xc5 g6 [ 21...c6!? ] 2461 06.04.2000 22.a6 hd8 23.bd1 [ 23.f4!? is more random, but feels justified surely livening things up on this flank has the best chance of reviving the Bg3 and 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.f3 b7 4.c3 b4 creating threats against the black king. ] 5.g5 xc3+ 24.c6 d6 25.c5 d7 [ 5...f6 6.d2 ( 6.h4 e7 7.e3 g6 23...f7 8.g3 0-0 9.h4 e7 10.d3 f5 11.f1 Now black is very solid again, and even takes a4 27.b4 a5 xc3 12.bxc3 h6 13.h5 d6 14.b1 d7 the initiative. 26.c1 15.b3 h8 16.d1 e8 17.e2 f6 28.d5 xd5 29.exd5 c6 [ 29...xa2!? 30.c4 c6 was possible, 18.d2 c6 19.a3 d7 20.f3 a5 aiming to trade the a-pawn for white's c21.b1 b8 22.b2 h7 23.f4 c8 pawns to be, and emerge with an edge, but 24.h2 f7 25.h1 b7 26.h2 e8 the game continuation is simple and 27.b1 a8 28.b3 g8 29.g3 gf6 strong. ] 30.d1 g4 31.h1 df6 32.g1 e4 33.h4 h8 34.h3 f4 35.e1 fxe3 30.dxc6 xc6 31.e3 c4 32.f4 d3 36.f3 gf2 37.fxe4 xh3+ 38.gxh3 xe4 33.f2 e4 34.f5+ g7 35.f4 ad8 [ 35...e8!? ] 39.d5 exd5 40.cxd5 c8 41.a4 e5 42.g4 f8 43.c2 f4 44.g3 xg4 36.fe1 a4 [ 36...8d5!? ] 45.hxg4 f3 0-1 Kranz,A-Topalov,V/ Dornbirn 1990 (45)) 6...f5 7.e3 f6 8.d3 37.b1! xc3 38.b7 c2 39.b6 d4+ xd4 41.h2 Black has great 0-0 9.0-0 xc3 10.xc3 e4 11.c1 d6 40.xd4 12.d2 g5 13.xe4 fxe4 14.e2 d7 difficulty securing his king. f8 42.a7 e8 15.g4 ae8 16.d5 c5 17.b4 d3 43.b1 d7 44.xa4 e5 45.xe4 f7 18.xe6+ xe6 19.dxe6 xc1 46.xe5 fxe5 47.xe5 dd2 48.g1 d3 1/2-1/2 Kanikevich, A-Kengis,E/Sydney 49.ge1 xa2 50.e7+ f6 51.7e6+ xf5 52.1e5+ f4 53.e4+ f5 54.6e5+ 1991/CBM 23 (19) ] [ 5...f6 Would be a slightly offbeat f6 55.xh5 g3+ 56.h3 dd2 57.h6+ theoretical line that Sokolov is very fond of. g7 58.b6 xg2 59.e7+ f8 60.c7 Black of course prefers the more uncharted h2+ 61.xg3 he2 62.h5 e7 63.f6+ p a t h - wh y p l a y a d a r i n g d e f e n c e a n d g7 64.g6+ f7 65.c3 a1 66.f3+ e8 67.g8+ d7 68.b8 g7+ 69.h2 transpose back to mundane stuff? ] gg1 70.b5 h1+ 71.g3 ag1+ 72.f4 6.bxc3 f6 7.h4 g5 A feisty continuation. h4+ 73.e3 gh1 74.f7+ e6 75.f3 [ 7...e7 ] [ 7...h6 both look more solid and fully xh5 76.xh5 ½-½ playable. ] 8.g3 h5 9.h4 g4 10.d2 d6 [ 10...f5!? is another approach, thumbing A40 one's nose at the Bg3's prospects to set-up 1874 the English bishop in style. ] Sokolov,Ivan 2611 11.e4 d7 12.d3 e7 13.c5! A typical Rahman,Ziaur 2421 pawn offer, but it feels quite precise here - not 34th Olympiad (5) 01.11.2000 only does it increase the scope of most of [Jon Tisdall] white's force, it pre-empts black from playing .. .c5 and congesting the position. bxc5 14.b1 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 c6 15.0-0 b6 16.e2 e5 17.dxc5 dxc5 f6 6.g3 18.b3 h6 19.b5! This clears the way for [ 6.f4 e7 7.f3 0-0 8.g3 e4 9.c1 an invasion of this flank by the white queen, f6 10.e5 c6 11.dxe6 dxe6 12.xd8 and black is well advised to look for a xd8 13.xf6 gxf6 14.g2 xc3 15.xc3 1873 Sokolov,Ivan Bricard,Emmanuel 19th Open Reykjavik ISL (2) [Jon Tisdall]
1850
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c5 16.e3 c6 17.e2 f8 18.h4 e7 19.h3 d6 20.d1 xd1 21.xd1 d8+ 22.e2 d7 23.c1 d6 24.g4 fxg4 25.hxg4 a6 26.xc6 xc6 27.a4 c8 28.b3 b7 29.f3 g8 30.f2 d8 31.e2 g8 32.f2 d8 1/2-1/2 Halkias, S-Lima,D Istanbul 2000. ] 6...a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 9.0-0 [ 9.b5 e5 10.f4 ( 10.f4 d6 11.xe5 dxe5 12.b4 ce4 13.f4 0-0 14.fxe5 g4 15.xe4 fxe4 16.f4 exd5 17.cxd5 xf4 18.gxf4 h4+ 19.d2 xd5 20.c3 h3+ 21.b2 e3 22.d4 c5 23.bxc5 bxc5 24.c3 b8 25.a4 a6 26.a3 g2 27.xe3 xh1 28.a1 xh2 29.d1 c4 30.c3 axb5 0-1 Rychagov,A-Lempert,I Moscow 1996 .) 10...d6 11.f2 exd5 12.xd6+ cxd6 13.cxd5 a5?! ( If black is to exploit the weakness of d5, he should do it fast. In this context the move a5 not only wastes time, but it weakens b6. 13...e7!? ) 14.b3 0-0 15.b2 e7 16.0-0 e3 ( 16...ce4 17.xe4 fxe4 18.xf6 ) 17.b1! ow black is ejected and never fully solves the problem of his interred Bb7. g4 18.d4 xf2 19.xf2 e7 20.xc5 bxc5 21.b4 axb4 22.axb4 c4 23.d4 fc8 24.c1 a6 25.e4 fxe4 26.e2 b5 27.xe4 f6 28.xf6 gxf6 29.f1 a4 30.b1 f8 31.f2 a2+ 32.e2 ca8 33.c1 a1 34.xa1 xa1 35.c2 b1 36.xc4 xb4 37.xb5 xb5 38.d2 b3 39.g2 f5 40.h3 f7 41.h4 g6 42.d4 b2 43.h3 b3 44.a4 d3 45.a7 xd5 46.xd7 d1 47.a7 d4 48.a5 f6 49.a7 g6 50.b7 c4 51.d7 d4 52.d8 d1 53.g8+ f7 54.g5 f6 55.g4 fxg4 56.hxg4 d5 57.f5+ g6 58.e5 d4 59.f5+ f6 60.e6+ f7 61.g5 d3 62.h6 g7 63.d6 d2 64.d7+ g8 65.f6 h6 66.g6 1-0 Gyimesi,Z-Gawehns,K Bad Wiessee GER 2000. ] [ 9.f4 xf4 10.xf4 e5 11.d3 xd3+ 12.xd3 g6 13.0-0 d6 14.b4 0-0 15.c2 f4 16.c5 c8 17.ac1 f5 18.d2 g5 19.cxd6 cxd6 20.b5 e8 21.a4 a6 22.a3 d7 23.c6 xc6 24.dxc6 f6 25.c4 b8 26.a5 bxa5 27.bxa5 b5 28.b6 d8 29.c1 g7 30.h3 f6 31.d7 h6 32.f5 c7 33.d3 e8
1/2-1/2 Savchenko,S-Gerstenberger,H Bad Wiessee GER 2000. ] 9...0-0 10.c2 e5 11.f4 e7 12.d2 A new move. I don't see that it is an improvement, however. [ 12.e3 ce4 13.xe4 xe4 14.ad1 A) 14...c5 15.c1 ( 15.b3 xf4 16.xf4 exd5 17.cxd5 ae8 18.fe1 f6 19.c1 a6 20.b2 g6 21.f3 g5 22.b4 d6 23.f4 e4 24.a4 c4 25.bxc5 b5 26.xa7 xc5 27.f3 f7 28.b6 fe7 29.e5 dxe5 30.xc5 e4 31.g2 d7 32.a4 d6 33.xd6 xd6 34.axb5 xb5 35.h3 g6 36.g4 d7 37.gxf5 xf5 38.xf5 gxf5 39.f2 ed8 40.g1+ f7 41.g5 xd5 42.dg1 8d7 43.g8 5d6 44.1g7+ f6 45.g5 d8 1/2-1/2 Chiburdanidze,MMatveeva,S Niksic 1997.) 15...g5 16.d3 d4 17.e3 g7 18.f3 d6 19.e4 d4+ 20.h1 g4 21.exf5 gxf3 22.xf3 xf5 23.f4 af8 24.g2 exd5 25.cxd5 g7 26.b4 8f6 27.bxc5 bxc5 28.fe1 h6 29.e2 xh2+ 30.xh2 f2 31.h3 h5 32.d3 xd5 33.b3 c4 34.c3 xe1 35.xg7+ xg7 36.xe1 d3 37.b2+ f8 38.xd7 d5 39.f4 d2+ 40.e2 xe2+ 41.xe2 f7 42.g1 e7 43.a4 e4 44.d4 1-0 Naumkin,ILempert,I Moscow 1994.; B) 14...a5 15.c1 ae8 16.h1 f7 17.dxe6 dxe6 18.d3 d6 19.b4 axb4 20.axb4 c5 21.bxc5 bxc5 22.b2 c7 23.f3 f6 24.c3 e5 25.f2 f4 26.e4 fxg3 27.hxg3 h5 28.h2 e7 29.c1 c8 30.h3 a6 31.g4 c8 32.e3 xh3 33.xh3 e6+ 34.h2 g6 35.e1 a8 36.f5 xf5 37.exf5 f6 38.e4 a2+ 39.d2 g5 40.xa2 xg3+ 41.h1 h3+ 42.g1 g3 43.d5+ 1-0 Franic,M-Doric,N Porec 1994.; C) 14...g5 15.d3 g7 16.c1 c5 17.f3 d6 18.e4 d4+ 19.h1 g4 20.exf5 exd5 21.fxg4 xc4 22.f4 f7 23.b3 d6 24.xd4 cxd4 25.c7 e7 26.xd5 e2 27.xd6 ae8 28.g1 c2 29.e7+ xe7 30.xb7 c5 31.d5+ h8 32.f4 e2 1-0 Petrosian, A-Khachian,M Yerevan 1994. ] 12...c6 1851
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 12...a5!? seems like a fully reliable reply - a solid, natural and useful move. I don't see why black should not be equal here. ] 13.dxe6 dxe6 14.ad1 ad8 15.b4 xc3?! [ 15...a6 ] 16.xc3 ce4 17.a1 c5 18.b2 cxb4 19.axb4 c8 20.e5 fe8 21.xe4! Not a natural move, but a strong one - white destroys a defender and concentrates his efforts on the pressure exerted by his other bishop. Key is the access to the d6 square. xe4 22.f3 b7 23.d6 xc4 24.xe6 f7 25.d1! [ 25.xf5 xe6 26.xe6 xe6 27.xe6 xb4 ] 25...xb4 26.xe8+ xe8 27.d8 c6 28.f2 Now white threatens to creep forward slowly - this subtle attack is very hard to meet. b5? [ 28...h6 29.e6 h7 30.c3!+- ] [ 28...b1!? 29.d4 h6 A) 30.d6 A1) 30...b5 31.e6 h7 ( 31...h5 32.h4 ) 32.d5!; A2) 30...a4! 31.e6 h7 32.f8+=; B) 30.e6 h7 31.xe8 xe8 32.xg7 b5!? ( 32...b5 33.e6+-; 32...d1 33.xf5 f8 34.d6 ) 33.xe8 xe8 34.xe8 a5 This looks roughly equal to me - it is likely the queenside pawns will cost white a piece. There are dif f icult decisions for both players at each turn of these variations, but black should probably hold with care. ] 29.d6 c5 30.e6 c1 31.xg7 [ 31.xg7! xa1 32.xe8 xe8 33.e5+- ] 1-0
1875 Soppe,Guillermo Hofman,Andre ch-Najdorf mem (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2448 2524 22.11.1999
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.f3 b7 4.a3 f5 5.c3 f6 6.d5 d6 I would recommend [ 6...e7 as it seems to have the stamp of approval of the initiates. A) 7.g3 e4 8.d2 ( 8.xe4 fxe4
9.e5 0-0 10.g2 c5 11.0-0 exd5 12.cxd5 e8 13.c4 a5 14.b3 b5 15.e3 e7 16.d6 f6 17.dxc7 bxc4 18.cxb8 xb8 19.c1 c3 20.d4 c8 21.b4 e6 22.xf6 gxf6 23.b5 c5 24.a4 c4 25.c2 f5 26.e3 d5 27.fd1 c5 28.e2 b3 29.d4 a4 30.h5 d5 31.b4 c2 32.g5+ h8 33.b6 c4 34.xc4 dxc4 35.b7 d6 36.f4 xf4 37.gxf4 g7 38.f3 b8 39.fxe4 xb7 0-1 Wells,P-Kengis,E/ Dresden 1996) 8...0-0 ( 8...f6 9.c2 xc3 10.xc3 exd5 11.cxd5 xd5 12.xf5 xc3+ 13.bxc3 f6 14.xf6 gxf6 15.g2 a6 16.h4 xg2 17.xg2 c5 18.f4 c6 19.c4 f7 20.f3 he8 21.f2 e5 22.a4 d8 23.a3 e6 24.d3 a5 25.c1 e8 26.c2 h5 27.h4 a5 28.e4 e7 29.d2 d8 30.d1 c7 31.d2 e7 32.d1 a6 33.d2 c5 34.xc5 xc5 35.d4 g7 36.a2 a5 37.dd2 e7 38.g2 e6 39.f2 e8 40.d4 g8 41.f4 1/2-1/2 Ionescu,C-Speelman,J/ Erevan 1996 (41)) 9.g2 f6 10.c1 c6 11.dxe6 dxe6 12.0-0 c5 13.c2 xd2 14.xd2 xg2 15.xg2 c6 16.f3 e7 17.fd1 g5 18.e3 g4 19.e1 e5 20.e2 f7 21.f4 g5 22.h3 gxh3+ 23.xh3 b7+ 24.f3 xh3 25.xh3 h8 26.f2 g8 27.d3 e5 28.h1 g7 29.g2 ag8 30.h3 d8 31.e1 f4 0-1 Gormally,D-Speelman,J/Torquay 1998; B) 7.b4?! is a hyperactive response that le a d s t o t h e su m m a ry e xe cu t io n o f a normally strong and sensible player. a5! 8.b5 e4 9.a4 f6 10.b1 e7 11.c2 d6 12.e3 d7 13.dxe6 dc5 14.xc5 xc5 15.d2 xe6 16.b3 e4! 17.a2 0-0-0 18.d2 he8 19.c1 d3+ 20.xd3 xd3 0-1, K rasen kow-B ischo f f , B rn o 1 99 4 . 21.g1 a4 22.a1 h4 23.c2 ( 23.g3 f3 ) 23...xe3+ 24.xe3 xe3+ 25.d1 ( 25.f1 xf2 26.h1 e4-+ ) 25...d4+ 26.d2 xd2+ 27.xd2 g5+-+; C) 7.dxe6 dxe6 8.a4+ d7 9.xd7+ bxd7 10.f4 d6 11.xd6 cxd6 12.d1 e7 13.e3 a6 14.e2 hc8 15.0-0 xf3 16.xf3 a7 17.e2 e5 1852
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.d4 c6 19.d2 a5 20.fd1 xc4 hxg5 38.hxg5 a1 39.f4 xa2 40.g6+ 21.xc4 xc4 22.xd6 d7 23.xd7+ e7 41.d2 c4 42.e3 f6 43.g2 a5 xd7 24.d4 xd4 25.exd4 d6 44.c2 c5 45.f2 d5 0-1 O'Connell,G26.f1 e5 27.dxe5+ xe5 28.e2 c4 Luther,T Elista 1998. ] 29.d1 d5 30.d3 b5 31.c3 a5 10.ab1 32.d3 g5 33.c3+ c5 34.d1 h5 [ 10.d2 e5 11.d5 0-0 12.ab1 a5 35.c3 d5 36.d3 e5+ 37.c3 f4 13.b5 d6 14.a3 a4 15.c2 c8 38.b3 g4 39.c2 b4 40.axb4 axb4 16.bc1 f5 17.f3 f7 18.b1 g5 41.d2 d4 42.h3 f3 0-1 Moynihan,K19.xg5 xg5 20.1c3 f4 21.h1 h5 Speelman,J/Bunratty 1997 (42) ] 22.cd1 h4 23.f2 h3 24.g3 g2 25.e2 7.g3 0-0 8.g2 e7 9.0-0 c6 10.g5 e3 26.e1 xe2 27.exe2 f4 28.d1 cxd5 11.cxd5 h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.e4 fxe4 g5 29.g4 a6 30.xg2 hxg2+ 31.xg2 14.xe4 xd5 15.xf6+ xf6 16.d2 g7 32.dc3 g6 33.f2 d7 34.g1 xg2 17.xg2 e5 18.c1 c6 19.c4 f7 35.h3 e8 36.h2 h7 37.h4 gxh4 d4 20.b4 f8 21.e2 f5 22.f3 f6 38.xh4 xh4 39.xc7+ d8 40.xa8 23.cd1 e7 24.d3 f5 25.f4 d6 xc4 41.xb6 b3 42.b5 d1 43.g2 26.fd1 e5 27.f3 g6 28.h1 e4 29.ff1 xf3+ 44.xf3 h3+ 45.g2 b3 h5 30.fe1 e8 31.d2 c3 32.c4+ d5 46.xd6 xb2+ 47.f3 b3+ 48.e2 33.xc3 h4 34.f1 hxg3 35.xg3 h4 xb6 49.c4 b3 50.g5 g3 51.xe5 36.xd5 f3 37.e2 g4 38.d1 xf4 xa3 52.d3 f3+ 53.d2 xd3+ 54.xd3 39.c4+ h8 40.d5 e3 41.h5+ f2 55.e2 f1+ 56.xf1 a3 0-1 Takac,Z1-0 Barle,J Ljubljana 1998. ] 10...0-0 11.d5 f6 12.a3? xc3 13.xc3 f5 14.exf5 xf5 15.d4 h5 16.dxe6 h4 1876 A40 17.h3 xg2 18.f5 xf5 19.xg2 dxe6 Starcic,Tadej 2248 20.bd1 e4+ 21.f3 h4+ 22.h2 xf3+ Zorko,Jure 2108 23.g3 af8 24.d7 5f6 25.g5 xg5 ch Grize SLO (2) 02.10.2001 26.xf6 xf6 27.d8+ f8 28.d2 e5+ 29.g4 h5+ [Jon Tisdall] 0-1 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 5.f3 b4 6.0-0 xd3 7.xd3 e7 1877 A40 8.c3 g6 9.e3 e7 Sundararajan,Kidambi 2433 [ 9...b4 is a more direct way of preparing Rahman,Ziaur 2465 the plan in the game. White loses time in the stem game and we get similar structures in ch Udaipur IND (5) 14.01.2000 the end. The advantages of ...Be7 are that [Jon Tisdall] waiting for white to commit to d, and the B may be better waiting on e7 if white avoids 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c3 b4 the capture on c3. But the thing to note is 5.f3 e7 6.d3 bc6 7.ge2 Flavour of that the plan of taking on c3 and breaking the month. xc3+ 8.bxc3 d6 9.0-0 d7 with ...f5 is logical and effective. 10.ac1 10.e3 [ 10.a3 a6 11.c5 xd3 12.xd3 dxc5 ( 10.e2!? ) 10...0-0 11.fd1 xc3 12.xc3 13.ad1 a5 14.c2 c6 15.d5 exd5 f5 13.d5 fxe4 14.xe4 c5 15.g4 f6 16.g5 exd5 17.cxd5 f5 18.h5 h6 16.exd5 d7 17.c4 0-0 18.b2 f5 19.g4 f4 20.xf4 xf4 21.h3 f7 19.f4 ae8 20.fe1 xe1+ 21.xe1 e8 22.e4 d6 23.c3 f6 24.xe8+ xe8 22.xf7+ xf7 23.g2 e8 24.e3 fe7 25.f3 f7 26.f4 e5 27.a3 a6 25.e6 axc4 26.xc7 e2 0-1 Gropp,A28.g3 e1 29.d2 g1+ 30.g2 e5 Ruzele,D/Berlin 1997 ] 31.f3 xd5 32.xd5 xd5 33.xa6 b5 10...0-0-0 34.d6 e6 35.f2 h1 36.h4 b4 37.g5 [ 10...a6!? looks annoying for white. ] 1853
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.c1!? This leads support to the queenside attack. This position looks quite promising for white now, though far from clear. f5 12.b3 df8 13.a4 f4 14.f2 g5 15.a5 hg8 16.axb6 axb6 17.e2 g4 18.fxg4 e5 19.c5?! [ 19.d5 d8 20.c5 ] 19...xg4 20.f3 exd4 21.cxd4 dxc5 22.a6 fg8 [ 22...xa6!? 23.xa6 fg8 24.a8+ b8 25.dxc5 xg2+ 26.h1 c6 ] 23.xb7+ xb7 24.xc5+! bxc5 25.a3 xg2+ 26.h1 a5! 27.xa5 c6 28.a7+ c8 29.a8+ xa8 30.xa8+ d7 31.xg8 xg8 32.dxc5 e6 W hite must beware the more active king. 33.h4? g6 34.g5?! e5 35.h4 h5 36.d1 xe4 37.c6 f3 38.d7 e8 39.xc7 e1+ 40.h2 e5 Making the time control doesn't help. 0-1
1878 Surjadnji,Aleksei Sulava,Nenad Golden Cleopatra Open (2) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2431 2526 03.05.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b4 4.c2 b7 5.e4 h4 6.d3 f5 7.g3 h5 8.f3 c6 9.ge2 fxe4 10.fxe4 f6 11.a3 This looks like a loss of time, but removing the pressure to d4 is the idea - still, it does not change the general impression that white is not terribly comfortable in this variation. [ 11.0-0 d6 12.g2 b4 13.d1 xd3 14.xd3 0-0 15.f4 e5 16.dxe5 g4 17.h3 xe5 18.xe5 xe5 19.f4 g5 20.fe2 h5 21.xf8+ xf8 22.f1 xf1 23.xf1 h4 24.gxh4 f6+ 25.g2 xh4 26.xd7 xe4+ 27.xe4 xe4+ 28.f2 xb2 29.xc7 f5+ 30.g2 g6+ 31.f2 f6+ 32.g2 g5+ 33.f2 h4+ 34.g2 e4+ 35.f2 f5+ 36.g2 1/2-1/2 Wiedenkeller,M-Berg,M Sollentuna 1995. ] 11...xc3+ 12.xc3 [ 12.bxc3 e5 13.d5 a5 14.c5? b3! 15.b1 ( 15.xb3 f3 ) 15...xc5 0-1 Komarek,D-Chetverik,M Policka 1996. ]
12...0-0 13.f4 e8 14.0-0 e5 15.d5 d4 White's position is already very unpleasant - black just plans to play Qh5 and funnel his pieces over to white's perforated kingside. 16.g2 c5 17.h3 h5 18.e3 d6 19.f5?? [ 19.xd4 exd4 20.d2 A) 20...g4 21.e2 ae8 ( 21...e3+ 22.xe3 xh3+ 23.xh3 dxe3 24.g2 ); B) 20...c8!? ] 19...xf5 20.exf5 xd5! Not that white had h o p e s o f co m p e n sa t io n a n ywa y. 21.cxd5 xd5+ 22.g1 xh3 23.d2 b7 24.b4 h8 25.f1 e4 26.e2 xf5 27.xd6 xf1+ 28.xf1 f5 29.bxc5 bxc5 30.xc5 xc5 31.xc5 a6 32.h3 d8 33.g4 d2 34.b4 b2 35.c5 d5 36.h5 a2 37.e8 e3 38.f1 c4+ 39.g1 a1+ 0-1
1879 Svorobovic,J Lasinskas,Povilas ch Vilnius LTU (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2183 27.03.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 5.d3 f5 6.d5 A footnote variation - this rather desperate reaction ensures that more of white's centre will be dissolved. But white h a s a l re a d y c h o se n a ra t h e r su s p ic io u s looking way to handle the opening, letting black strike so cheaply with ...f5. [ 6.f3 h4+ 7.g3 h5 8.e5 e7 9.a3 xc3+ 10.bxc3 0-0 11.h4 d6 12.f4 dxe5 13.xe5 ec6 14.xc7 a6 15.f4 e5 16.e3 exd4 17.cxd4 ae8 18.f2 xe3 19.xe3 h6+ 20.f2 xd4 21.e2 e6 22.h3 ac5 23.c1 f4 24.xf4 xf4 25.gxf4 b3 26.c3 xa1 27.xa1 xf4 28.c3 e8 29.h5 h6 30.h3 h8 31.d3 c8 32.g3 f5 33.d1 e3+ 34.f1 h7 35.g6 xe2+ 36.xe2 xe2 0-1 Borg,G-Pavlovic, M/Panormo 1998 ] [ 6.c2 f6 7.d5 fxe4 8.xe4 exd5 9.f3 c6 10.cxd5 d4 11.d3 e7+ 12.e3 xf3+ 13.xf3 xc3+ 14.bxc3 xd5 15.0-0 xf3 16.gxf3 0-0 17.fe1 f7 18.d4 d5 19.e5 d6 20.ad1 f4 1854
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.xf4 xf4 22.d5+ f7 23.e3 ae8 24.g2 g6 25.d4 xd5 26.xd5 xe3 27.fxe3 f5 28.d4 c5 29.c4 a5 30.d2 f7 31.f2 a3 32.c2 f6 33.e2 g5 34.f2 h4 35.f4 g4 36.e2 h6 37.f2 g5 38.fxg5 hxg5 39.e2 f5 40.f2 g4 41.d2 g5 0-1 Van Parreren,H-Speelman,J/Roskilde 1998 (41) ] 6...f6 [ 6...fxe4 7.xe4 h4 8.e2 f6 9.f3 0-0 10.dxe6 c6 11.e3 e4 12.0-0-0 xc3 13.bxc3 a3+ 14.b1 dxe6 and white's king position does not look like it will inspire many followers. 15.c2 c5 16.xc5 bxc5 17.e2 ab8 18.a1 xc4 19.e4 xf2 20.xh7+ h8 21.d2 h4 22.g6 bf8 23.b1 a8 24.g3 xd2 25.xd2 e5 26.c2 d5 27.f2 d7 28.e2 g8 29.d3 f6 30.e3 c4 31.b3 g4 32.d2 f4 33.xf4 xf4 34.xd5 exd5 35.b8+ h7 36.b7 xh2 37.xc7 g4 38.f5 d4 39.cxd4 cxd4 40.c4 xg2 41.xd4 f3 42.d7 a5 43.d3 e5 44.h3+ g8 45.g3 xg3 46.xg3 c4 47.b1 f7 48.c2 e6 49.c3 d6 50.b3 d5 51.a4 c4 52.h5 g5 53.b5 d4 54.f6 d3 55.h7 1/2-1/2 Kaplan,J-Miles,A/ Sao Paulo 1977 (55) ] 7.d2 [ 7.e5 had to be tried e4 8.xe4 fxe4 9.g4 e7 is sharp, but white's creaking center does not inspire confidence. ] 7...0-0 8.ge2 fxe4 9.xe4 exd5 10.xb4? goes down without a fight. For better or worse, scary greed was called for: [ 10.xf6+ xf6 11.xb4 xf2+ 12.d2 c5 13.a3 dxc4 14.xc4+ d5 when black will have three pawns activity and attacking chances for the bishop. ] 10...dxe4 11.xf8 exd3 12.xd3 xf8 13.0-0 c6 White has nothing to show for the material deficit. 14.fe1 e5 15.g3 d6 16.b3 e4 17.e3 xf2+ 18.xf2 xf2 19.xf2 d3+ 20.g3 xe1 21.xe1 e8 22.f2 a5 23.d1 xg2 24.d4 b7 25.d2 g5 26.g3 g7 27.g4 g6 28.g3 h5 29.f2 g4 30.b5 e7 31.d4 g5 32.d3 f7+ 33.g1 h4 34.e3 h3 35.e8 g2 36.e1 g3 37.hxg3 g4
38.e2 e7 41.xe1 h2 0-1
39.f2
1880 Taranenko,Oleg Karasev,Vladimir I White Nights (4) [Jon Tisdall]
f3
40.f4
xe1
A40 2257 2420 12.06.2001
1.d4 b6 2.e4 b7 3.d3 e6 4.c4 b4+ 5.c3 f5 6.h5+ g6 7.e2 f6 8.f3 fxe4 This has long had a dubious reputation. [ 8...c6 9.e5? xd4! 10.f2 h5 11.xd4 c5-+ is an old trap. ] 9.fxe4 xc3+ 10.bxc3 xe4 11.f3 xc3!? Forward! For some reason this has never been tried before, with retreats leading to excellent White compensation for a pawn. [ 11...f6 12.0-0 e7 13.g5 f8 14.e5 g7 15.d5! c8 ( 15...a6 16.xd7 xd7 17.xf6+- ) 16.dxe6 dxe6 17.ad1 fd7 18.xg6 xf1+ 19.xf1 g8 20.h5 f6 21.xf6 hxg6 22.xg6+ d7 1-0 Marinelli,T-Krajina,D Vinkovci 1989. ] [ 11...d6 12.0-0 0-0 13.g5 ( 13.h6 xf3 14.xf3 xf3 15.xf3 c6 16.f1 e7 17.g3 f5 18.xf5 exf5 19.xf5 a5 20.e5 f7 21.e1 c6 22.e4 d6 23.h4 d7 24.e3 f7 25.f4 e8 26.f8+ xf8 27.xf8 xf8 28.e6+ h8 29.d7 d8 30.xc7 f7 31.xa7 g7 32.xb6 a8 33.c5 dxc5 34.dxc5 xa2 35.c6 e5 36.d4 1-0 Cardoso,RChandler,M Wellington 1978.) 13...xf1+ 14.xf1 f6+ 15.g1 f5 16.f2 g7 17.g4 d6 18.f4 c6 19.e3 f8 20.f1 e7 21.f3 a5 22.e5 e8 23.f2 a6 24.g5 d6 25.c5 bxc5 26.dxc5 xe5 27.xf8+ xf8 28.xe5 xd3 29.h8+ 1-0 Becker,F-Pajewski,O Germany 1995. ] 12.e5 0-0 13.d5 f6 14.xc7? [ 14.xf6 xf6 15.b2 xf3 16.gxf3 a4 gives Black enough for the exchange, but it must be a better try â (+) White will have a big advantage in development while his pawns are dropping off. ] 14...a6! Access to the c5 square turns the 1855
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ga m e i n B la c k 's f a vo u r . 15.e5 c5 16.xf6 xd3+ 17.d2 e4+ 18.xd3 xf6 19.a3 fc8 The dust settles and Black is a pawn ahead with better position the theoretically important moments have passed. 20.d6 xf3 21.gxf3 c6 22.ac1 f8 23.hd1 h5 24.e3 f5 25.d4 a5 26.c3 g7 27.d3 f5 28.e4 xd6 29.d4 f7 30.f4 d6 31.c2 d5 32.f5 e5 33.xd5 xd5 34.cxd5 xc3+ 35.xc3 gxf5 36.e7 f4 37.d3 f3 38.e3 e4 39.h4 d6 40.f4 f7 41.f2 e7 42.h4 h5 43.g1 d7 44.f2 c7 45.g1 a6 46.f2 b5 47.c5 a5 48.a3 d7 49.e3 b7 50.d4 f2 51.xf2 d6 52.e3 xd5 53.f6 b4 54.axb4 axb4 55.f4 c5 56.e3 b3 57.d2 a4 58.g5 c4 59.h6 c3 60.c1 d5 61.b2 e3 62.c1 d3 0-1
1881 Tregubov,Pavel V Miezis,Normunds Schachbundesliga 2010-11 (9) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2598 2519 06.02.2011
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 b5!? This ambitious try is typical of No r m u n d s Mi e ze s's d a ri n g- st yle . 7.xb5 exd5 8.f4 a6 9.g2 c6 10.d4!? A new move. [ V a r y i n g f r o m 10.d6+ which has been played s everal t imes, f o r example xd6 11.xd6 c7 12.cxd5 cxd5 13.f3 e4 14.xc7 xc7 15.0-0 0-0 16.c1 d6 17.e3 ab8 18.d4 c6 and, despite appearances, Black's position turned out to be rock-solid in Moradiabadi, E-Miezes, N Calvia Olympiad 2004. ] 10...dxc4 This defends the f-pawn by tactical means. 11.gf3 [ Not 11.xf5?? a5+ 12.d2 xf5 ] 11...c5 12.0-0 Tregubov calmly continues his development and leaves his opponent with a weird set of pawns. Black's pawn 'advantage' is hardly noticeable and proves to b e t e m p o ra ry . d5! Seeking to give White some problems. [ I n a n y c a s e a f t e r 12...g6 13.e5
White regains the pawn. ] 13.e5 [ After 13.g5?! Black reacts with e7 14.xe7 xe7 and holds his position, and extra pawn, together. ] [ Otherwise, Black should be OK following 13.xf5 f6 14.c2 xf4 15.gxf4 d5 16.e3 g6 etc. ] 13...xf4 14.gxf4 f6 15.xc4 e7 16.e5 d8 [ For the moment, Black dare not castle, as 'going long' looks too risky whereas 'going s h o r t ' f a i l s t a c t i c a l l y : i . e . 16...0-0? is refuted by 17.b4 e6 18.xe6 dxe6 19.d7 ] 17.b4 e4 18.c2 g5! Another fighting move from Miezes. 19.xf5 xf5 20.xe4 xf4 21.ad1 xe4 22.xe4 d5 23.f3 0-0 Considering that Black introduced a sharp line to derail White on move 6, it's something of a surprise that he himself was only able to castle on move 23! However his position seems to be fine as W hite's slight lead in development should be containable, esp ecia lly a s Bla ck h as th e bisho p pa ir. 24.c1 f6 25.h3 g7?! [ A more trustworthy way of continuing involves 25...d6! 26.d3 ( 26.xc6? xc6 27.xc6 h2+ 28.xh2 xc6 and Black shouldn't be worse) 26...g7 27.g2 g6 as if 28.c5 c8 29.d3 d7 30.g4 e8! there are no problems for Black. ] 26.g2 e6 27.d3 Tregubov is in his element here (slight pull and general control) whereas Miezes is not (he is by nature a tactical player who is happier when having active play)! One problem for Black is that he has difficulty in adequately defending the c7square. a6?! Too ambitious perhaps? [ It's not too late for 27...f6 28.g4 d6 ] 28.g4 f6 29.e5 dd6 30.c2 b5 31.a4! An excellent move that demonstrates th at t h e bish o p ma n oe uvre to b 5 h ad it s downside. xa4 [ B l a c k i s a l s o i n t r o u b l e a f t e r 31...a6 32.fc1 b7? 33.b5! cxb5 34.c7 ] 32.a2 b5? [ Instead Black can limit any damage with 32...h5! e. g. 33.xh5 ( 33.xa4 hxg4 34.xg4 fe6 35.e3 d7 ) 33...b5 1856
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 34.xa7 de6 35.d3 ( or 35.d7 f4 36.c5 e5 37.d3 xd3 38.exd3 xb4 w h i c h s h o u l d b e p l a y a b l e f o r B l a c k) 35...h6 36.g4 e4 and the extra pawn will be tough to exploit. ] 33.xa7 fe6 Grim, but all moves lose at least the exchange. 34.xe6 xe6 35.f3 xe2 36.c1 Threatening N-d4. xf3+ 37.xf3 The weakness of the c6-pawn is now the main reason f or Black's undoing. f7 38.c7 h5 39.1xc6 xc6 40.xc6 xb4 41.h6 h4 42.b6 e7 43.a6 White intends to march his king on the lightsquares into the heart of Black's position. b4 [ 43...f6 44.d6 d4 45.e4 g6 46.f3 a n d B la c k is a l re a d y i n Z u g zwa n g , f o r example f7 47.f5 and something has to give. ] 44.g4 d4 45.xg5 e7+ 46.g4 d3 47.a1 c5 48.d1 e6 [ 48...xf2? 49.f1 ] 49.f4 1-0
1882 A40 Turov,Maxim 2584 Totsky,Leonid 2492 19th Czech Open Synthesia Rapid rapid (3) [Glenn Flear] 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 b4+ [ Instead 4...c6 is for those seeking solidity whereas ] [ 4...f5 is for folk who like to flirt with crazy complications. ] 5.f1!? White give s up his castling rights but leaves the bishop on b4 biting on air. This is more challenging for Black than the routine 5 Bd2. e7 [ Here even retreating the bishop further with 5...f8!? has been played a few times. The fianchetto however has its downside: 6.c3 g6 7.h4 g7 8.f3 c6 9.g5 c8 10.e5 ce7 11.h5 and White had the better chances in Ulibin, M-Pluemer, D Biel 2004. ] 6.c3 d6 7.ge2 [ 7.g4 is the macho move, but does it really do a great deal after f6 ? ] 7...f6 8.f3 0-0 9.e3 White's 'Saemisch'
set-up gives him a firm grip on the centre, so Black seems perfectly justified in trying to shake things up before W hite has time to reorganize his major pieces (and of course place his king into safety). d5!? [ Another approach is 9...bd7 10.f2 c5 11.d5 ( 11.e1 cxd4 yields a 'hedgehog' for Black: White has more space but it's tough to find any tangible weaknesses in the black camp. ) 11...e5 12.f4 d7 White has a space bind and Black d oesn't have th e usual counterplay typical of the English Defence (for example down the long lightsquared diagonal), but at least he's solid. ] 10.cxd5 exd5 11.e5 e8 12.c2 g6 Black's pieces are a little sluggish in getting going, so Turov switches to attacking mode... 13.h4! c5 [ It's far too risky to snatch the pawn: 13...xh4?! 14.g3 g5 ( 14...e7 15.h6 g7 16.d2 ) 15.f4 e7 16.f5 with a strong attack. ] 14.h5! Offering a piece for attacking time. c4 15.xg6 fxg6 16.hxg6 h5 Black must slow down W hite's attack as much as possible. 17.xh5 [ My computer prefers 17.h6 e.g. g7 18.xg7 xg7 which further denudes the black king, f or e xa mp le 19.xh5 h8 20.f4 xh5 21.xh5+ (simp les t ) h6 22.f2 and Rh1 is coming. ] 17...g7 18.h7 f5 Gaining a tempo that com plica tes W h it e's ta sk. 19.f2 e8 20.f4 g5 [ 20...xd4 21.xd4 xf4 22.e2 is another unpalatable option for Black. ] 21.xb7 xf4 22.xd5 Black's extra piece is hardly relevant, his position is falling to pieces. c6 23.e4 [ 23.g7! wins on the spot, for example xg7 24.e7+ ] 23...g5 24.g7 Still winning, but not quite as c l e a n l y a s o n t h e p r e v i o u s m o v e . xg7 25.xb8! axb8 26.e7+ xe7 27.xc6 Black's king is very open and White's sea of pawns and rampant queen eliminate any chances of resistance. b5 28.d5 fc8 29.g6 c5 30.e6 1-0
1857
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1883 Urban,Klaudiusz Macieja,Bartlomiej 58th ch Warsaw POL (11) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 1884 2429 Uribe,Mauricio 2578 Buhmann,Rainer 29.03.2001 Heroes Day Cup Masters (4) [Glenn Flear]
1.c4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.a3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.h3 b5 A rather dubious novelty - I think. 7.dxe6 bxc4 8.g5 Sometimes primitive can be effective. d5!? [ 8...e7 9.a4 and c4 will fall without compensation. Black's choice looks like a better practical punt, with chances to get a pawn and confusion for the exchange. ] 9.f7 e7 10.xh8 xe6 11.e3?! Passive. [ 11.f4 ] 11...c6 12.b5 0-0-0 13.e2 c5 14.0-0 xh8 15.d4 xd4 16.exd4 e4 17.g5 [ 17.e3!? f4 18.f3 f5 19.c1 g5 ] 17...xd4 [ 17...xd4!? 18.e1 xe2+ ( 18...e8 19.f1 xe1 20.xe1 xe1 21.xe1 e4 22.f4 ) 19.xe2 d4 ] 18.xf6 gxf6 19.f3 d8 20.e1 xd1 21.axd1 e5 22.e2 g8 [ 22...f4!? prepares to lose some material in order to keep the N on e5 and create ta c t ica l c ha n ce s: 23.d4 f3 24.xf3 ( 24.gxf3 c5 25.h4 d4 ) 24...c5 25.h4 ( 25.d2 xf3+ 26.gxf3 g8+ 27.f1 c3 ) 25...xf3+ 26.gxf3 d4 ] 23.f4! Now white gives up a pawn to get active. g6 24.f3 xf4 25.e7 h6 26.d4 g6 27.h7 c5 28.xd5 cxd4 29.xg8 c3 30.e6+ b8 31.bxc3 dxc3 32.xf5 h4 33.c2 xg2 34.xb7+ xb7 35.xg2 c6 36.f3 d5 37.f4 d4 38.h4 h5 39.f5 e3 40.xf6 f4 41.d1 a5 42.g6 e3 43.xh5 d2 44.a4 1-0
A40 2416 2582 29.04.2009
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 5.d3 In my experience Black gets adequate counterplay against this move. [ An interesting and perhaps better a lt e rn a t ive i s 5.e5!? e7 6.f3 h6 ( instead of this rather slow move I recommend the immediate 6...d6 7.exd6 xd6 8.e2 g6 9.0-0 xc3 10.bxc3 f4 11.xf4 xf4 12.e5 0-0 which led to equality and a quick draw in Moskalenko, V-Stefanova, A Malaga 2000) 7.d3 xc3+ 8.bxc3 d6 9.0-0 d7 10.f4 d5 11.cxd5 xd5 12.d2 c5 13.e2 Bjelobrk, I-Roy Chowdhury, S Sydney 2009 and White was sitting pretty with his bishop pair. ] 5...f5 6.h5+ g6 7.e2 f6 8.g5 [ Black has good chances following 8.f3 c6 9.e3 fxe4 10.fxe4 e5! ] 8...fxe4 9.xe4 xe4 [ Po ssib le is 9...xe4!? 10.xd8 xc3 11.bxc3 xc3+ 12.f1 xa1 Gruenfeld, YPrie, E Paris 1990 with a position which is difficult to judge. However it's not really necessary to seek obscure complications as the text seems to lead to clear equality, so the text move is more popular. ] 10.xf6 xf6 11.xe4 0-0 [ 11...c6 12.f3 xc3+ 13.bxc3 0-0 14.0-0 transposes. ] 12.f3 White has no real alternative at this point with f2 hanging. c6 13.0-0 xc3 14.bxc3 ae8 The alternative plan is do ub ling ro oks on t h e f -f ile . I n an y ca s e W hite's space advantage compensates for his slightly compromised pawns. [ Black has plenty of opportunities to play for more than half-a-point e.g. 14...f4 15.e2 ( if 15.fe1 then xe4 16.xe4 f5 17.d1 af8 18.d5 d8!? isn't clear) 15...ae8 ( 15...f5!? ) 16.fe1 e5 17.d5 a5 18.d2 b7 19.e4 d6 20.d2 e4 with an edge to Black, Gonzalez Velez, F-Zvjagintsev, V Terrassa 1996 ] 15.ad1 f5 16.fe1 a5?! This may not be such a good idea as the knight can never 1858
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 come to c4 under favourable circumstances. If Black doesn't commit himself so early it's difficult to see how White can be better. 17.c5 xe4 18.xe4 c6!? [ 18...c4 looks natural but then White has an edge with 19.e5 xe5 20.dxe5 e7 21.a4 ] [ After 18...bxc5 19.dxc5 b7 20.c6 Black will have the worse pawn structure. ] 19.e5 d8 20.b1 The idea is to obtain a concession from Black. d5!? A surprise! Black changes radically his structure and is thus left with some shaky pawns but on the p o s i t i ve s id e h e f re e s h is r o o k f r o m t h e def ence of the d7-pawn. 21.cxd6 xd6 22.g3 c8 23.be1 c5 Counterplay! 24.f3 cxd4 25.xd4 [ 25.cxd4!? c6 ( 25...c2!? ) 26.xe6 xd4! doesn't quite equalize e.g. 27.xd4 xd4 28.e7 a4 29.b7 xa2 30.ee7 and W hite will have the draw in hand in the complications. ] 25...d7 [ 25...xc3?? 26.b5 ] 26.xe6 xc3 27.f4 c8 Well noticed! White's initiative has run out of steam and the game looks fairly balanced. 28.g5 f8 29.fe4 h6 30.e6 e8 31.f4 xe4 32.xe4 f7 33.h4 b7 34.h5!? [ 34.e2 is the most solid. ] 34...gxh5 35.xh5 c5 36.g4?! [ Safer is 36.e2 but even here Black is at least equal e.g. e6 37.g2 b5 ] 36...e6 37.e4 d2 38.a4? [ Necessary was 38.f4! c5 39.e2 ] 38...a5 39.g2 d4? [ 39...g6 40.f4+ xf4+ leaves Black clearly on top. ] 40.a3 a4 41.f3+ e7 42.f6 Now with his knight back in the game White should be OK. g5 43.g8+ d6 44.f6+ c5 45.xh6 b5 46.f5+ d5 47.f4 e6 48.xd5+ xd5 49.f5 b4 50.e3+ d4 51.f5?! Giving away some squares to Black's knight. [ 51.f3 b3 52.axb3 axb3 53.d1 looks playable. ] 51...g5 52.f2 d3 53.f6?? A blunder. [ 53.g4! should still hold e.g. b3 54.axb3 a3 55.d5! d4 56.b4 c3 57.a2+ xb3 58.c1+ and Black can't win. ]
53...e4+ 54.e1 56.axb3 axb3 0-1
xf6
1885 Vallejo Pons,Francisco Bunzmann,Dimitrij 1st ch-Europe (11) [Neil McDonald]
55.f5
b3
A40 2528 2502 14.07.2000
1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.a3 f5 4.g3 b7 5.d5 b5! 6.b3 [ Philidor would have been delighted: White b e g i n s w i t h s i x p a w n m o v e s ! 6.b3 was an interesting alternative. ] 6...f6 7.g2 bxc4 8.bxc4 a6 9.h3 d6 10.0-0 0-0 11.c3 c5 12.b1 b8 13.e3 a6 14.xb8 xb8 15.xc5 xc5 16.a4 b6 17.b1 d6 18.f4 White appears to have the edge, but whereas the black bishop on a6 is pretty miserable, his brother in arms on c5 will prove capable of generating some fearsome counterplay. d4 19.dxe6 dxe6 [ Not 19...xc3 20.c5 ] 20.d3 c5 Again [ 20...xc3 21.c5 regains the piece with advantage. ] 21.b5 xb5 22.xb5 f4! This is just the sort of thing Daring Defenders love: so far W hite has been having all the fun on the queenside but now he is suddenly rocked back by an attack aimed directly at his king. 23.xf4 g4 24.f3 [ Believe it or not 24.e3? xe3! 25.fxe3 d2 leads to mate in five moves! ] 24...xf2 25.g2 h8 26.xa7 e3 This clears the way for the black queen to enter the att ack. It is qu ite possible tha t objectively speaking White is doing very well, but in a practical game against a time limit it is no surprise that the threats to his king soon lead him into big trouble. 27.b6 d2 28.xe6 g8 29.b1 d1 30.b3 c3 31.b2 e1 32.h3 This begins a hair raising journey. White is lucky he isn't playing a computer here! f1+ 33.g4 h5+ 34.f5 h3+ 35.e5 e8 36.d5 d4+ 37.d6 e4+ 38.d7 f6+ 39.d6 e4+ 40.d7 f6+ 41.d6 f5 42.xd4 cxd4 43.b7 1859
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e4+ 44.xe4 e5+ 45.d7 e7+ 46.c8 d6 9.b5 e7 10.f4 a6 11.c3 0-0 e8+ 47.d7 e7+ 48.c8 xb7 49.xb7 12.h3 d6 13.0-0 e5 14.d2 c7 15.b4 d3! 50.exd3! White has to give up the rook, h8 16.b3 h6 17.ad1 e8 18.c1 but remarkably he is still able to save himself. f7 19.h1 ae8 20.d2 d8 21.fd1 xb2 51.c5 This passed pawn, supported by g4 22.b1 f6 23.c3 g4 24.c2 king and bishop, proves to be as powerful as f6 25.cd2 1/2-1/2 Babula,V-Bunzmann,D the black queen. xa3 52.c6 f8+ 53.d7 Germany 1999. ] f5+ 54.c7 e5+ 55.c8 g8 56.a6 6.b3 a5 57.b7 b4+ 58.a7 d6 59.b7 [ 6.b3 a6!? ( 6...c8 ) 7.xb5? ( 7.e3 b4+ He cannot let the passed pawn advance. b8! 8.xa7 bxc4 9.b5 c6! 10.dxc6 A sad end for Black would be xc6 11.xa6 b5! 12.b6 xb6 13.a7 [ 59...d5?? 60.c4 ] c6 14.f3 xb2-+ ) 7...c5! ] 60.a7 c5+ 61.b7 b4+ 6...bxc4 7.bxc4 a6 ½-½ [ 7...exd5!? leads to sharp and interesting play - worth investigating for next time... ] 8.g2 d6 9.h3 f6 10.0-0 0-0 11.c3 1886 A40 c5 12.b1 b8 13.e3 a6 14.f4 e5 Vallejo Pons,Francisco 2554 15.d3 xd3 16.xd3 e4 17.d4 g4 18.f4 xf4 19.gxf4 f6 20.xf6 xf6 Krakops,Maris 34th Olympiad (11) 08.11.2000 21.e3 d6 22.b4 a5 23.a4 a6 24.c1 d7 25.xa5 [Jon Tisdall] ½-½ 1.c4 b6 2.d4 e6 3.a3 b7 4.d5 f5 5.g3 b5!? An interesting new idea, and typical of A40 the English Defence. We have seen the more 1887 typical treatments before, and there is nothing Vallin,Guillaume 2359 wrong with them either. Buhmann,Rainer 2498 [ 5...f6 6.g2 a6 ( 6...e4 7.f3 c5 EuChJun Boys (2) 17.07.2001 8.0-0 f6 9.d3 0-0 10.bd2 exd5 [Jon Tisdall] 11.cxd5 e8 12.b1 xf2 13.xf2 e3 14.c2 xe2 15.xc5 bxc5 16.xe2 These two games are rather classical as far xd5 17.b3 c6 18.b2 d6 19.be1 as English Defences go, - that is, they are so d4 20.xd4 cxd4 21.xd5+ xd5 close to Queen's/Nimzo-Indians that they are 22.e5 c6 23.xd4 f8 24.c4 d6 almost "beyond the scope" of this section 25.e7 f7 26.e8+ f8 1/2-1/2 Jakobsen, but they are neat new game that illustrate e6 O-Ward,C Copenhagen 1998.) 7.h3 d6 useful types of positions to know. 1.d4 8.0-0 0-0 9.b4 e5 10.a2 exd5 11.cxd5 2.c4 b6 3.f3 [ 3.a3 g6 4.f3 g7 5.g3 e7 6.g2 0-0 e4 12.d3 c6 13.xe4 fxe4 14.xe4 7.c3 a6 8.a4 d5 9.cxd5 xd5 f6 15.d6 e8 16.xe8 axe8 17.d1 c5 18.b5 b8 19.g5 xg5 20.xg5 f5 Taking with the pawn is less logical compa red t o a Q ueen's Ind ian t he Ne 7 21.h3 e4 22.c3 c4 23.d3 g5 24.f3 blocks quick pressure on the e-file and is far g4 25.f4 gxf3 26.exf3 d4 27.ad2 xf3 28.xd4 cxd4 29.xd4 a6 30.a4 from using the e4 square. 10.g5 c8 c5 31.d3 g4 32.e3 f8 33.fd5 11.d2 xc3 12.bxc3 b7 13.e4 c5 axb5 34.axb5 e6 35.xb6 f7 36.f2 14.0-0 d7 15.xd7 xd7 16.e5 xg2 17.xg2 cxd4 18.cxd4 f6 19.exf6 xf6 h5 37.ba4 c4 38.f3+ g7 39.f4 c8 40.e3 g6 41.d2 g7 42.d3 20.f3 d5 21.fe1 f7 22.d2 f6= g6 43.b6 e8 44.d4 f7 45.e4 23.h4 ac8 24.ac1 a5 25.h1 h5 26.he1 fe8 27.h3 g8 28.g5 g7 e6 46.d5 g7 47.e7 1-0 Anand,VSadler,M Monte Carlo 1998. ] 29.d2 f6 30.g5 g7 31.d2!? xd4 32.e4 xc1 33.xc1 e5 34.c6 b8 [ 5...c6 6.g2 cxd5 7.cxd5 f6 8.c3 1860
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 35.d6 c3 36.f6+?! ( 36.d7+= ) [ 7.g2 bxc4 8.h3 a6 9.0-0 c5 36...g7 37.d6 f8 38.e6 xf2 10.dxe6 xg2 11.exd7+ xd7 12.xd7+ 39.e7+ g8 40.h6? ( 40.e8+ f8 xd7 13.xg2 b3 14.b1 d6 15.g5 41.e6 ) 40...e4 41.e8+ h7 42.g5 he8 16.d1 h6 17.f3 e4 18.xe4 e3 43.xe3 xe3 44.xe3 d5 45.e5 xe4 19.e3 g5 20.d2 xd2 21.xd2 g4 f6 46.e4 xe4 47.xe4 b2 48.a4 22.h3 gxh3+ 23.xh3 g8 24.c3 e6 b4 49.e6 g7 50.d6 xa4 51.xb6 25.d4 xd4 26.xd4 c5 27.c3 e5 g4 52.a6 a4 53.e6 f7 54.e5 f6 28.xe5 xe5 29.c1 d5 30.c2 b8 55.e8 b4 56.g2 f5 57.f3 b3+ 31.g4 c3 32.bxc3 fxg4+ 33.xg4 c4 58.g2 a3 59.a8 e4 60.a6 d3 34.f4 d3 35.h2 e4 36.xh6 g8+ 61.xg6 c2 0-1 Kaspret,G-Tratar,M 37.h5 xe3 38.c6 xf4 39.xc5 e3 Ljubljana SLO 2001. ] 40.c7 d3 1/2-1/2 Ftacnik,L-Kengis,E 3...b7 4.c3 b4 5.b3 a5 6.a3 xc3+ Leon ESP 2001. ] 7.xc3 f5 8.g3 f6 9.g2 0-0 10.0-0 a4 7...exd5 8.f4!?N This incredibly natural 11.b4 axb3 12.xb3 c6 13.b2 a5 move seems to be a novelty. 14.c2 e4 15.c3 b5! Thematic conquest [ 8.cxd5 has been the overwhelming of useful light squares. 16.cxb5 d5 17.e1 preference, and black has not had problems c4 18.c1 a4! 19.e5 xg2 20.xg2 holding his own: xd5 ( 8...xd5 9.f3 a8! 21.g1 xe5 22.dxe5 b8 23.c5 c5 10.g5 c6 11.xf6 gxf6 12.e3 b6 a5 Black's patience has been rewarded as 13.b4 xe3 14.fxe3 xe3+ 15.e2 he regains his investment while having kept xe2+ 16.xe2 cxb5 17.0-0 a5 18.d4 the superior minor piece. 24.ab1 xb5 axb4 19.axb4 xa1 20.xa1 0-0 21.xb5 25.c2 h6 1/2-1/2 Hofman, R-Grabuzova,T Groningen [ 25...c5!? 26.b3 b5!? ] 1994. ) 9.f3 c5 10.c3 xc3 11.bxc3 26.fc1 c5 27.e3 a6 28.d1 c4 29.d4 e7 12.g2 f6 13.0-0 e4 14.e3 c7 b3 30.g4 fxg4 31.bd1 a8 15.e1 xg2 16.xg2 c6 17.f4 0-0 [ 31...b5 looks more natural, but Black is 18.d5+ xd5 19.xd5 a6 20.ab1 d6 doubtless concerned about Rxg4 and Qg6, 21.fd1 ab8 22.xb8 xb8 23.xf6+ and wants his Q ready for defence on f8. ] xf6 24.f4 f7 25.xd6 d7 26.a4 e6 32.xc4 xc4 33.xb3 c6 34.d4 xd4 27.f1 e4 28.a5 c4 29.c7 e7 35.xd4 e7 Despite the reduced material 30.d3 f6 31.f3 e8 32.d8+ e6 White's king position is precarious. 36.b8+ 33.e3+ d7 34.g5 f6 35.e5 xc3 h7 37.d6?? 36.xf6 gxf6 37.xf5 e6 38.h5 a6 [ 37.b1+ f5 ] 39.h4 c2 40.xh7 a2 41.c7 xa5 37...c1+ 38.g2 f5 39.xd7 h4+ 42.h5 d6 43.c8 b5 44.a8 a5 45.f2 40.g3 g1+! c4 46.h6 h5 47.a6+ e7 48.h7 f7 [ 40...g1+! 41.xh4 ( 41.f4 g6+ 49.xa5 1-0 Zimmerman, Y-Gara,T 42.e4 b1# ) 41...g2! ] Budapest 1999. ] 0-1 8...a6 9.g2 c6 10.d6+ xd6 11.xd6 b6 12.cxd5 e4 [ 12...g4 13.h3 cxd5 14.f4 1888 A40 Bla ck' s ch ron ic p ro ble m in t h is t ype o f position is that even if he manages to trade Van Wely,Loek 2714 the weakling on d5 for, say, the pawn on b2 Lputian,Smbat G 2618 (which will be hard to arrange safely), his FIDE WCh KO Moscow RUS (2.2) 30.11.2001 remaining pawn structure is so bad that [Jon Tisdall] wh i l e wi l l h a ve a n e t e r n a l a d va n t a g e . ( 14.xd5?? a5+ )] 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 b5 Lputian needs to win with black 13.xe4 fxe4 14.h3 c5!? Given the to avoid elimination in the FIDE KO world considerations above, black strives to regain d5 without compromising his pawn structure, championships. 7.xb5 1861
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.cxd6 cxd6 21.c2 d7 22.e2 c5 23.c3 b3 24.b1 a4 25.c4 c7 26.b4 c5 27.f1 f4 28.xc5 fxe3 29.c4 xb1 30.xb1 c8 31.fxe3 xc5 32.xc5 xc5 33.b4 h6 34.e4 e3+ 35.h1 c1 36.g2 c2+ 37.h1 c1 1/2-1/2 Mednis,E-Plaskett,J/Luxembourg 1990 (37) ) 11.e1 xg2 12.xg2 bd7 13.c2 e5 14.dxe5 xe5 15.d5 f7 16.ad1 ae8 17.gf4 h8 18.xf6 xf6 19.c5 dxc5 20.bxc5 c4 21.xc4 xc4 22.xf6+ xf6 23.d7 c6 24.fd1 e5 25.d8 xd8 26.xd8+ g7 27.cxb6 axb6 28.a4 c4 29.c8 c6 30.b8 xa4 31.xb6 a7 32.e6+ f6 33.d4 c7 34.f4 d7 35.xc6+ xc6 36.xc6 h6 37.f2 c5 38.f3 b3 39.e3 c5 40.b4 e6 41.d5+ f7 42.h3 g5 43.f3 d4+ 44.f2 e6 45.c3 f6 46.e3 b3 47.f3 g6 48.e2 c5 49.d5 e4 50.f3 d2+ 51.g2 e4 52.e7+ f6 53.c6 gxf4 54.gxf4 g6 55.d4 d6 56.e2 h5 57.g3+ g6 58.f3 c4 59.e2 f6 60.d3 b2+ 61.e2 c4 62.f1 d6 63.d2 e6 1889 A40 64.d3 e8 65.c4 f6 66.b3 h5 67.d4+ f6 68.e2 e6 69.c5 g7 Van der Sterren,Paul 2526 70.d4+ f6 71.d6 e8+ 72.c6 g7 Rustemov,Alexander 2553 73.d7 f7 74.d6 f6 75.e2 e6 Bundesliga 1999-2000 (11) 20.02.2000 76.c3 d8 77.d5+ g6 78.c7 e6+ [Jon Tisdall] 79.d7 c5+ 80.d6 d3 81.e6 c5+ 82.e7 a6 83.d6 h5 84.e7 1.c4 b6 2.d4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.a3 f5 5.f3 1-0 Afifi,A-Russek,G/Dubai 1986/TD (84) ] f6 6.g3 g6 7.g2 [ 7.d5 g7 8.dxe6 dxe6 9.xd8+ xd8 8...0-0 9.0-0 a6 10.b1!? c5 11.d2!? 10.g2 c8 11.0-0 e4 12.xe4 xe4 W h it e com b in e s t h e id e a o f a n e ve n t u a l 13.g5 xg2 14.xg2 d7 15.d1+ e7 expansion with b4 and restricting the orbit of 16.f3 c6 17.g5+ e8 18.ab1 h6 the black Nc5. exd5 [ 11...a5 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 a6 14.b3 19.e3 g5 20.b4 d8 21.b5 a5 22.dc1 must be playable for black - in the game he g4 23.e1 d4 24.xd4 xd4 25.c5 h7 seems very intent on not having to retreat to 26.d3 e4 27.c2 d7 28.b4 ed4 a6 with the N, but with the exchange of a29.cxb6 cxb6 30.e5 d2 31.c3 7d6 pawns, black has more counterplay on the 32.e4 e2 33.c8+ e7 34.g6+ f7 qu e e n sid e a n d it is n o t su ch a t e rrib l e 35.exf5 dd2 36.f8+ g7 37.fxe6 xe6 square for the horse. In the game black 38.f4 e1 39.a8 dd1 40.h5+ g6 could get a more comfortable version of this 41.xg4+ xh5 42.ag8 1-0 Adianto,Ukind of position. ] Hamdouchi,H/Moscow 1994 ] 12.cxd5 e8 7...g7 8.d5 [ 12...e7 13.c2 ac8 14.b4 ce4 [ 8.0-0 0-0 9.b4 e7 10.b2 d6 ( 10...a5 15.dxe4 fxe4 16.g5 e5 17.xf6 xf6 11.b3 d6 12.ac1 bd7 13.fd1 e4 18.xe4 xd5 19.xf6+ xf6 20.e4 ] 14.e3 df6 15.xe4 xe4 16.d5 xf3 17.xf3 e5 18.c5 bxc5 19.bxc5 ab8 13.c2 d6?! A kind of admission of defeat but this will involve a great deal of time and risk. [ 14...cxd5 15.e5 0-0 16.f4 ] 15.e5 0-0 16.f4 f5 17.c3 c7 [ 17...g5!? is hideous, but produces the kind of total randomization needed - white is kept off balance, and black brings swift pressure to bear on f2 and d5, at the cost of exposing his king. The game continuation is more mature, but probably less promising. 18.h5 af8 ] 18.a4 e3 [ 18...xd5 19.xd7 xc3 20.xf5 xb2 21.0-0 ] 19.fxe3 xd5 20.xd7 xc3 21.xf5 xh1 22.bxc3 Black has absolutely no compensation for the sacrificed material white's extra pawns give him needed king cover and allow him to attack without inhibition. e8 23.d1 c6 24.d6+- c4 25.e6 e4 26.g4 b1+ 27.d1 b7 28.c5 a8 29.d7 g6 30.xc4+ 1-0
1862
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 this self-inflicts some structural damage, and c6 and c7 will now be a constant source of concern. [ 13...a5 14.b4 axb4 15.axb4 a6 looks like an improved version of a position examined earlier - black's rook is already clear for action on the e-file and white must lose a tempo with his queen if he decides b3 is the square for her. This s e e m s t h e l ik e ly p la ce t o c o n t in u e t h e theoretical debate next time. ( 15...ce4 16.dxe4 fxe4 17.g5 )] 14.b4 cd7 15.b3 a6 16.d1 e7 17.d4 f8 18.g5! This move guarantees white a lingering central grip on the position. H e r e m o v e s o n e o f t h e f e w p i e c e s wi t h potential in the black camp, and prevents ... Ne4 which would undermine White's contact wit h t h e d 5 p a wn . ac8 19.bc1 f7 20.xf6 xf6 21.e3 f7 22.c6 The knight does not do a great deal here, but it cramps black a bit further. W hat is most unpleasant about black's position is that the threats he faces are rather vague, and it is hard to see how to improve his position. He doesn't want to sit there while white builds up behind the Nc6 he doesn't want to take the Nc6, when the absence of the Bb7 makes the queensid e more vulnerab le. But the Bb 7 doesn't really have much to do except take the Nc6... Just not much fun, this position for black. xc6 23.dxc6 h8 24.d5 e6 25.f4 a8 Preparing for eventual probes on the queenside, and actually preparing ...a5, which will either create a square for the N on c5, or open the a-file, which black controls. 26.b3 a7 27.f1 b8 28.e1 a5 This allows white to regroup. Perhaps black should have just waited to see how white intended to improve his position . 29.c3! A p o we rf u l re t rea t . No w wh it e th re a t e n s Nb 5 x c 7 ! e xp lo i t in g t h e p i n o n t h e a 2 -g 8 diagonal and also the annoying Bc4. xc3 30.xc3+ g7 31.b3 f8 32.e4 The beginning of the end - Black's pieces are too passive and uncoordinated to cope with the position opening. axb4 33.axb4 ba8 [ 33...d4+ doesn't accomplish anything as the e4 pawn cannot be held. 34.h1 fxe4 35.c4 f2 36.c3+ g8 37.cxe4+- ] 34.d5 a4 35.c4? There was no reason
to rush [ 35.b1 would have left black struggling to find something to do. ] 35...b5? Probably both players are short of time. Black presumably avoided [ 35...xb4! 36.exf5 gxf5 for fear of ( 36...a5 37.f6 ) 37.e7?? which meets with the desperate but winning xc4! ] 36.xb5 xb4 37.c4 ba4 38.exf5 xc4? [ 38...gxf5 was better since Re7 is still not a real threat. ] 39.xc4 a1 40.cc1 xc1 41.xc1 gxf5 42.xf5 d4+ 43.h1 g6 44.e6 e5 45.f6+ g8 46.fxe5 e4+ 47.g1 e3+ 48.g2 [ 48.g2 xc1 49.d8+ leads to an easily winning queen ending. ] 1-0
1890 Vareille,Francois Winants,Luc France [John Emms]
A40
2003
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b4+ 3.d2 a5 4.e4 It's very natural for W hite to claim all that available space in the centre with this move, but I don't think it's too frightening for Black, whose main option is the typical ...d7-d6 and ...e6-e5 plan. [ Another idea for White is to clarify the situation over the bishop on b4 with 4.a3 xd2+ 5.xd2 N o w f o l l o w i n g f6 we return to Bogo positions in which both sides have made moves their a-pawns. This probably favour Black slightly, e.g. 6.c3 d6 7.f3 bd7 8.g3 0-0 9.g2 e5 10.d1 exd4! 11.xd4 a4! , fixing White's b-pawn - Black will continue with ...Nc5, Singer-Eingorn, Oberwart 2000. ] 4...d6 [ 4...d5 is a sound alternative for Black: 5.a3 ( 5.cxd5 exd5 6.e5 e7 7.c3 0-0 8.d3 f5 9.g5 xd3 10.xd3 d7 11.f3 f6 12.exf6 xf6 13.0-0 d7 looked okay for B l a c k i n N i k o l i c - L a r s e n , N i k s i c 1 9 8 3) 5...xd2+ 6.xd2 c6 ( or 6...dxe4 7.xe4 f6 8.c3 0-0 9.f3 b6 10.e2 b7 11.0-0 bd7 12.e1 e4 13.xe4 1863
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xe4 14.d3 with perhaps a very slight edge for W hite, Summerscale-W ard, Swansea 1995.) 7.gf3 ge7 8.e2 0-0 9.0-0 dxe4 10.xe4 f5 11.d5 exd5 12.cxd5 ce7= Bagirov-Eingorn, Minsk 1983 ] 5.f3 The most obvious move, but perhaps not the best. [ I believe White has more chances of k e e p i n g a s m a l l p l u s a f t e r 5.c3! , f o r e x a m p l e f6 ( or 5...e5 6.a3! - the point of White's previous move - xc3 7.xc3 exd4 8.xd4 f6 9.f3 c6 10.f2 with an edge) 6.d3 e5 7.a3 xc3 8.bxc3!? quite paradoxical - White accept the doubled pawns! The position after 8 bxc3 occurred in I. Sokolov-Dizdarevic, Sarajevo 1998. It's now a SÃNmisch pawn structure with White's bishop looking a bit strange on d2. However, the most misplaced unit is Black's pawn on a5 - this would now much prefer to be back on a7, giving b6 support in case of c4-c5 and also vacating the a5-square for a possible ... Nc6-a5. Stohl gives the continuation ( 8.xc3 exd4 9.xd4 c6 10.c3 0-0 doesn't look bad for Black, who will follow up with ...Qe7/... Re8 and ...Ne5) 8...b6 9.e2 b7 10.f3 with an edge for White, although of course Black's position is certainly playable. ] 5...f6 6.d3 [ 6.xb4 axb4 doesn't give Black anything to worry about, for example: 7.bd2 0-0 8.c2 e7 9.e2 e5! 10.dxe5? now White has problems with his d4-square ( 10.0-0 is stronger, although even here after exd4 11.xd4 e8 12.fe1 a6 13.f1 c5 - Atalik - Black can be pretty happy with his position) 10...dxe5 11.0-0 c5! 12.fe1 c6 13.b3 b6! with an ideal position for Black, Sherwin-Atalik, Chalkidiki 2002. ] [ 6.c2 can also be met by e5! , as after 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.xe5 Black can win his pawn back with a comfortable position with d4! ] 6...e5! Using tactics due to the undefended d3bishop in order to play this desirable advance without any further preparation. In my opinion Black has already equalized. 7.h3 Understand ably W hit e wis hes to preve nt .. .Bg4, bu t expending a tempo on this is hardly
threatening. Nevertheless, alternatives also don't amount to much: [ a) 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.xe5 d4! 9.xb4 ( or 9.a4+ b5! 10.xb5+ bd7! ) 9...axb4 10.f3 xb2 11.bd2 c6 12.0-0 d7 with an edge for Black (Atalik). ] [ b) 7.c3 g4 8.a3 xc3 9.xc3 ( maybe White could play a la Sokolov with 9.bxc3!? ) 9...exd4 10.xd4 c6 11.c3 (Kishnev-Mainka, Germany 1997) and now e5 looks equal ] [ c) 7.0-0 g4 8.d5 bd7 9.h3 h5 10.c2 0-0 11.a3 xf3! 12.xf3 xd2 13.xd2 a4! (Pieniazek-Eingorn, Cuxhaven 1993) and Black will follow up with .. .Nc5. ] 7...0-0 8.0-0 xd2 9.xd2 c6 10.c2 [ Or 10.d5 b4 11.c3 xd3 12.xd3 h5 followed by ...Nf4, ...f7-f5 etc. ] 10...h5! 11.c3 f4 12.d5 e6! 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.e3?! This is too accommodating and Black now takes control. [ 14.a4 looks like a better bet. ] 14...cd4! 15.xd4 xd4 16.fc1 c6 17.c3 e6 18.d3 h4 Black has control of the d4-square and a definite edge here. 19.e2 ad8 20.d1 h6 21.g3?! g6 22.e1? xh3! 23.xa5 g4 24.e1 g5 25.c3 h5! 26.f1 h4 27.e2 xe2 28.xe2 d7 29.c5 e6 30.ad1 fd8 31.b4 f4 32.f3 d2 33.xd2 xd2 34.c4 d8? [ 34...d4! ] 35.c3 h3 36.g3? [ 36.xe5! ] 36...h2+ 37.xh2 xf2+ 38.g1 h3+ 39.h1 g5 40.f1 xf1+ 41.xf1 f2+ 42.g2 xe4 43.d3 f5 44.e3 f6 45.d3 e4 46.c4 g4 47.d4 f3+ 48.g1 xg3+ 49.f1 e3+ 50.e2 f3+ 51.d2 xc4+ 52.xc4 e3+ 0-1
1891 Varga,P1 Bunzmann,Dimitrij ch-FRA National 1 (11) [Glenn Flear]
A40 2432 2540 08.05.2005
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5!? 5.exf5 b4+!? Over the years, Bunzmann 1864
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 has stuck with this move through thick and thin but I'm not convinced about it's soundness. 6.f1 f6 7.c5!? A sharp idea that threatens to trap Black's bishop. bxc5 8.a3 c4 In order to stop his bishop being overwhelmed by a pawn phalanx. [ 8...a5? 9.dxc5 followed by b2-b4 favours White. ] 9.xc4 a5 10.fxe6 dxe6 11.e2 [ Otherwise 11.a4+ c6 12.f3 0-0 13.c3 h8 14.b5 ( 14.e3 b6 ) 14...xc3 15.bxc3 d6 16.c2 e5 17.a4 e4 18.xc6 xc6 19.e5 a6+ 20.g1 e6 21.a3 also proved to give White the better game in Terrieux,K-Bunzmann,D Lille 2005. ] [ Nobody has dared grab the e-pawn with 11.xe6 although there is no obvious refutation. W hite has two extra pawns for the moment, but is tangled up, and after say a6+ 12.e2 d6 13.d5 c6 14.g1 cxd5 it's only one pawn in an unclear position. ] 11...0-0 12.f4 d6 13.c3 [ I can't see anything wrong with 13.xe6! e.g. c6 ( 13...a6? is dubious after 14.e2 ) 14.c5+ h8 15.f3 and the two pawn deficit isn't compensated for in my opinion. ] 13...h8!? [ More solid is 13...xc3 14.bxc3 d5 bu t t h e t e xt is m o re in t h e sp irit o f t h e opening. ] 14.e2 e8 15.e5 c6 16.xd6 cxd6 17.e3 [ It's curious how White never got round to taking the e-pawn in this game. Now it's too late... 17.xe6? xc3 18.bxc3 a5 19.c7 ( 19.a2? a6+ 20.g1 c4 wins the knight as W hite's back rank is vu ln e ra b le .) 19...xc4 20.xa8 xa8 and Black is much better. ] 17...xd4!? [ Otherwise after 17...e5 18.dxe5 xe5 19.e2 Black has active piece play as compensation for the pawn. ] 18.xd4 e5 19.b4 exd4 20.b5 d5 21.d3 b6 22.d6 e7 23.xb7 xb7 It may be equal material but computers will prefer W hite in this position due to Black's doubled d-pawns. However Black's pieces now become active: The rooks on the open 'e'
and 'c' files and his knight hops about to cause random mischief. Black may be able to use some key squares such as c3, c4 and e4 and W hite's pieces are in general lacking mobility in the central arena. So things are in fact far from clear. 24.g3 c7 25.g2 e8 26.hd1?! The start of a misguided plan as chasing the front d-pawn turns out be wrong. Instead [ 26.he1 xe1 27.xe1 c3 28.h4 xa3 29.e7 is double-edged. ] [ K e e p i n g t h e k n i g h t o n f 4 w i t h 26.h4 also comes into consideration. ] 26...g5 27.e2 g4 28.h3 e5 29.b5?! [ 29.a2 would hold things together for now but Varga clearly still hadn't realized that he was in such danger. ] 29...f8 30.xd4? A fatal error. Instead [ 30.f4! gxf4 31.gxf4 would be playable but Black should be somewhat better after c4 ] 30...c2! A shattering blow that must have come as a terrible shock to White. 31.h1 [ If 31.xc2 then xf2+ 32.h1 f3 mates as in the game. ] 31...fxf2 32.xc2 f3 0-1
1892 Vladimirov,Evgeny Rahman,Ziaur Goodricke Open (2) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2586 2465 07.02.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.c3 b4 5.f3 e7 [ 5...h4+ is the most English alternative in this variation of the English Defence. 6.g3 h5 A) 7.h3 e5 ( 7...f5 8.f4 f7 9.d5 fxe4 10.fxe4 e5 11.g2 f6 12.d3 xc3+ 13.bxc3 d6 14.c5 bxc5 15.0-0 0-0 16.g4 e8 17.b1 c8 18.h3 bd7 19.g5 g6 20.e3 b6 21.h4 e8 22.f5 xf5 23.xf5 a4 24.xa4 xa4 25.g5 h5 26.b7 xc3 27.xc7 g3 28.xf8+ xf8 29.g2 h5 30.d7 d1 31.c1 f2+ 32.g1 f4 0-1 Borges Mateos,J-Arencibia,W/ Havana 1998/CBM 65 (32)) 8.d5 e7 9.f2 0-0 10.e2 g6 11.d3 xc3+ 1865
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.bxc3 d6 13.g4 d7 14.e3 c5 15.f2 f6 16.h4 e8 17.b1 a5 18.h2 a6 19.d2 g6 20.h5 f4 21.xf4 exf4 22.xf4 a4 23.d2 xc4 24.xc4 xc4 25.b2 a4 26.d4 a3 27.c2 b5 28.c4 a4 29.d3 e8 30.he2 a4 31.f2 g5 32.hxg6 hxg6 33.g2 g5 34.e1 xd3 35.xd3 e5 36.h1 g7 37.b3 aa8 38.c3 h8 39.xh8 1/2-1/2 Sashikiran,K-Speelman,J/ Torquay 1998; B) 7.g2 xc3+ 8.bxc3 f5 9.e5 c6 10.h3 a5 11.f4 f7 12.c5 e7 13.0-0 g5 14.d3 f4 15.f2 f5 16.gxf4 gxf4 17.xf4 g8 18.h1 0-0-0 19.cxb6 axb6 20.e2 h4 21.af1 g7 22.g3 f5 23.f4 dg8 24.e1 xd4 25.cxd4 xf4 26.d2 h4 27.f4 xg2+ 28.xg2 xg2 29.xg2 h3 30.e2 c6 31.e4 g6 32.e3 g3 33.e1 f3 34.d5 exd5 0-1 Vaidya,A-King,D/ Dhaka 1993 (34); C) 7.d2 f5 8.exf5 xf5 9.b5 xd2+ 10.xd2 a6 11.0-0-0 e7 12.d3 f6 13.h3 xf3 14.g5 h5 15.hf1 h6 16.f7 0-0 17.g4 h4 18.c2 f5 19.gxf5 b4 20.d2 xd3+ 21.xd3 xf7 22.fxe6 xf1 23.xf1 dxe6 24.g6 e4 25.f7+ h7 26.xc7 xh2 27.f2 g1+ 28.d2 g6 29.f4 c8 30.e2 b1 31.xe6 xb2+ 32.e1 b1+ 33.f2 f5 34.g3 xf4+ 35.xf4 d3 36.g2 g5+ 37.e5 xc4 38.d5 g6 39.f2 h5 40.d6 e8 41.f6 b5 42.f7 c4 43.f6 xe6 44.xe6 d8 45.e7 g4 46.d7 g3 47.e6 g4 48.e8 xd7 49.xd7 h5 50.g8+ f3 51.f8+ e3 52.e8+ f3 53.f8+ g4 54.g8+ h3 55.e6 g2 56.f5 h2 57.h8 g1 58.xh5+ g3 59.g5+ f2 60.xg1 xg1 61.e5 f2 62.d5 1/2-1/2 Ree,H-Miles,A/ Amsterdam 1978/MCL (62) ] 6.d3 bc6 7.ge2 xc3+ Putting a Nim zo type sp in on th e p osition. B lack's record in this line has been quite encouraging, though there has not been too much experience here yet. [ 7...0-0 8.0-0 f5 9.e3 fxe4 10.fxe4 xf1+ 11.xf1 g6 12.e5 xc3 13.xc3 b4 14.xg6 hxg6 15.b1 h4 16.xg6
f8 17.d1 f5 18.g3 xg3 19.hxg3 a6 20.b3 f8 21.g4 f7 22.e4 e8 23.d2 f8 24.g5 b7 25.a3 c6 26.b4 e7 27.b5 a6 28.a4 g6 29.f2 xf2 30.xf2 axb5 31.axb5 e7 32.d2 c6 33.b4+ e8 34.e4 d8 35.d6 a8 36.g3 cxb5 37.xb5 e4 38.e3 g2 39.d6 f1 40.c7+ e7 41.d6 h8 42.c8+ e8 43.xb6 f7 44.d5 g2 45.d4 f3 46.a4 xg4 47.c3 f3 48.e4 e2 49.a5 e7 50.b4+ e8 51.c3 g4 52.b5 h3 53.c7+ d8 54.a5 e7 55.b4+ d8 56.a5 e7 57.e4 f5+ 58.d4 h3 1/2-1/2 Shamkovich,L-Stean,M/New York 1977 (58) ] 8.bxc3 d6 9.0-0 d7 10.f4 a5 11.f5 exf5 12.g3 Simply recapturing did not offer a sufficient solution to white's weak c-pawns: [ 12.exf5 0-0-0 13.d5 a6 14.c5 xd3 15.c6 e8 16.xd3 xd5 17.xd5 xe2 18.xf7 hf8 19.d5 de8 20.f4 e4 21.xe4 xe4 22.g4 xc6 23.g2 c4 24.f3 h5 25.h3 hxg4 26.hxg4 g6 0-1 Hodgson,J-Bischoff,K/Linares 1996 ] 12...fxe4 13.xe4 d5 14.g5 dxc4 15.xh7 I find it extremely hard to believe that offering pawns to do strange things like this c a n b e a p e r c e n t a g e i n v e s t m e n t . d5 Black is e n route to having a solid extra pawn. For the record, computers are very enthusiastic about the insane [ 15...c5 which no human would play. ] 16.c2 f6 17.e4 0-0-0 18.f4 c6 19.g3 b7 A logical precaution - Black does not want to worry about possible accidents with Bf5 and also prefers not to have his king stuck on c8 if white has time to insert Rb1. 20.b1 a8 21.d2 d5 22.f2 df8 [ 22...de8!? ] [ 22...b7!? ] 23.be1 b7 24.h3 d6 25.f4 xf4 26.xf4 g5?! An impatient move that creates targets in his own camp. It does not spoil anything, just makes things a bit trickier. [ 26...e8 ] 27.d2 d5 28.e2 c6 29.e7 e8 30.xe8+ xe8 31.e2 b7 [ 31...g7!? ] 32.f5 e6 33.xe6 xe6 34.f2 f8 35.g6 d6 36.e2 d7 37.e7 c8 1866
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 38.h3 d8 39.g7 b5 40.e1 e8 41.c2 f7 42.g8 e7 43.f1 d7 44.f5+ c6 45.g3 creating the option of a passed h-pawn. d6 [ 45...d7 46.xd7+ xd7 47.h4 ] 46.c2 d7 47.g4 [ 47.h4 h3+ 48.f2 g4 looks risky for white: 49.f1 e2+ 50.f2 d3 51.d1 f5!? with attacking chances. ] 47...e3 48.h8 b7!? 49.d2 f3+ 50.e2 c6 51.e1 a5 52.a4 f5 [ 52...b5!? ] 53.gxf5 xf5 54.xf5 xf5 55.h7 f3 56.h5 xa4 Black should try to preserve rooks to avoid a technical disappointment most precise is probably [ 56...d3 57.xg5 xh3 58.g3 xa4 ( 58...h7 59.e5!? ) 59.g7 a6! ] 57.xf3 d1+ 58.e4 xh5 59.d2 g4 60.hxg4 xg4 61.d5 c5 62.dxc6+ xc6 63.g5 d6 64.d4 e2 65.e3 d3 66.d2 d7 67.c1 b5 68.b2 b4 69.cxb4 [ 69.cxb4 axb4 70.d2= ] ½-½
1893 Wang Lei Breier,Andreas Young Masters (1) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2440 2227 19.12.1999
e2 57.xd4 f2 58.xf2 xf2 1/2-1/2 Gabriel,C-Bunzmann,D/Germany 1998/GER-chT (58) ] 8...cxd5 9.b5!? This very blunt move poses Black remarkably awkward problems - the bishop on d2 is ideally placed to join the quick of f e nsive . d6 10.b4 e7 11.cxd5 e5 12.c2 [ 12.a4!? is probably even stronger. ] 12...a6 13.xf5 f6 14.xd6+! xd6 15.e6+ e7 16.xe7+?? [ 16.xd6 xb4 17.xe7+ xe7 18.axb4 xd5 and black has some compensation due to his lead in development and white's somewhat vulnerable queenside pawns. ] 16...xe7 17.xd6+ xd6 18.0-0-0 c5 19.f3 a6 20.b1 ac8 21.e4 d3+ 22.a2 c2 23.d2 b3 24.f2 d4 25.h3 b3+ 26.b1 c2 27.c1 hc8 28.cxc2 xc2+ 29.a2 h6 30.g1 d7 31.h3 f8 32.f1 b3+ 33.b1 c5 34.c1 c4 0-1
1894 Watson,John L Wolski,Thomas Falkoner International Team (2) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2357 2305 13.03.1999
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.c5 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 [ 7.fxe6 0-0 8.e3 dxe6 9.a3 ( 9.h3 bd7 e7 6.g3 f6 7.d2 c6 8.g2!? 10.f3 e5 11.xe5 xe5 12.dxe5 e4 [ 8.dxe6 dxe6 9.g2 d7 10.h3 e5 13.g1 xf2 14.xh7+ xh7 15.h5+ 11.b3 d7 12.0-0 0-0-0 13.g5 h6 g8 16.xf2 xf2 17.xf2 d4+ 14.xd7+ xd7 15.xf6 xf6 16.fd1 '0 -1 ,K leinp lat z, S-Le m pe rt , I/ Hye re s o p e8 17.xd7 exd7 18.f4 g5 19.d3 1992' ) 9...d6 10.c3 bd7 11.f3 e8 d8 20.e4 fxe4 21.xe4 xe4 22.xe4 12.g5 h6 13.ge4 e7 14.e2 d8 c7 23.e1 d6 24.f3 f8 25.e3 f6 15.e1 h8 16.g3 c5 17.d5 exd5 26.f1 a5 27.e1 a6 28.b2 b5 18.cxd5 xd5 19.xd5 xd5 20.xh6 29.cxb5 xb5 30.a4 a6 31.e2 xe2 gxh6 21.xe7 xe7 22.xe7 f6 23.e2 32.xe2 e5 33.f3 f8 34.d3 d7 a5 24.f3 b3 25.e1 d5 26.e6 f6 35.d2 f6 36.b2 d5 37.c4+ e7 27.xf6 xf6 28.e4 xe4 29.fxe4 d4 38.d3 b4 39.e3 d8+ 40.e2 d5 30.f1 xe4 31.d2 g7 32.f3 f7 41.e5 h5 42.f4 gxf4 43.gxf4 h4 44.xa5 1/2-1/2 Bereolos,P-Shabalov,A Philadelphia f6 45.xd5 cxd5 46.b7 e5 47.c5 USA 1999. (32) ] exf4 48.a5 c6 49.a6 e5 50.b4 a7 [ 7.e2 d6 8.h5+ f8 9.fxe6 dxe6 51.d3 d4 52.c4 f3 53.b5 c8 10.f3 c6 11.c3 e8 12.ge2 d8 54.d3+ e4 55.f2+ e3 56.d1+ 13.a4 f7 14.b5 f8 15.xd6+ cxd6 1867
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.g5 g8 17.e1 g6 18.h4 e4 19.h3 a5 20.d5 xg5 21.hxg5 exd5 22.cxd5 xg5 23.e4 h6 24.b4 de8 25.d3 c8 26.h5 xf3 27.xf3 d2 28.c3 xa2 29.g1 c4 30.xc4 xc4 31.h4 b5 32.f3 f5 33.f2 b2 34.c1 c8 35.d4 c2+ 36.g3 f7 37.e2 xc1 38.xb2 f6 39.f2 e5 40.dd2 c4 41.b3 a6 42.g4 c8 43.g3 d7 44.e3+ f6 45.de2 xb4 46.e7 c8 47.c7 c4 48.ee7 a5 49.xg7 e5 50.xc4 bxc4 51.c7 a6 52.a7 b5 53.xa5 c3 54.f4+ d4 55.h4 c2 56.a1 e8 57.g5 hxg5+ 58.xg5 f7 59.f6 xd5 60.e7 c3 1/2-1/2 Meessen,R-Bunzmann,D/Leuven 1998 (60) ] 7...bxc5 8.a3 c4 9.xc4 e7 10.fxe6 0-0 11.exd7+ h8 12.e3 bxd7 13.f3 b6 14.e2 bd5 15.d2 e4 16.c3 xd2+ 17.xd2 f4 18.d1 d7 19.h3 f5 20.d5 f6 21.d4 xd4 22.xd4 xd5 23.g4 f7 24.xd5 xd5 25.d2 ad8 26.g1 h5 27.d1 g6 28.f3 g3 29.f2 h4 30.xg3 hxg3 31.h4 e6 0-1
[ I've always preferred 6.xd2 (covering the dark squares and preparing N-c3) as this seems a more harmonious development to me. ] 6...h6 7.gf3 c6 8.a3 0-0 9.c2 f6 Cagey, trying to make it difficult for White to f in d a t a rge t . T h is t h e m e re m in d s m e o f Rahman's critical last-round game against McShane from the 2002 British Championship in Torquay where the Indian had a whole row of pawns along the third rank! Instead [ 9...f5 10.0-0-0!? fxe4 11.xe4 f5 12.d5 proved to be better for White in Prestel,OWilm,G Untergrombach 1999 ] 10.0-0 e7 11.b4 g6 12.g3 f5! Much st ron ger now th at W hite h as f elt it n e ce s sa r y t o s t o p . . . Nf 4 wi t h a s li g h t l y weakening move (12 g3). 13.exf5 xf5 14.e4 Covering the long diagonal but exchanges ease Black's defence. Chances are balanced. xe4 15.xe4 f6 16.e5 ad8 17.f4 It's gives a nice feeling playing such moves, maintaining a strong point and enhancing the space advantage, until the opponent hits back and then we're not quite so sure. .. d5! 18.cxd5 xd5 Black is biting back at the centre. The d5-square being a superb outpost for the rook. 19.df3 xe5!? 1895 A40 Liqu idat ing the e5-o utpo st a t th e co st o f Wells,Peter K 2481 a l l o wi n g W h i t e ' s d - p a wn t o i m p ro v e i t ' s Rahman,Ziaur 2521 placement. [ With the benefit of hindsight I suggest ch Edinburgh SCO (9) 23.07.2003 19...fd8= as being less committal ] [Glenn Flear] 20.dxe5 d8 but Black relies on his control of the d-file to keep his position comfortable. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 [ 3.c3 b7 4.e4 b4 5.d3 f5 21.g4! The only way to punish Black is to push is a line that isn't easy for White to handle, the knight away. Peter Wells rarely flinches in as the following reference shows 6.e2 f6 the face of a challenge. d4 22.g5 g6 With hindsight probably not the best 7.g5 0-0 8.f3? fxe4 9.xf6 exd3 23.h1 10.xd8 dxe2 11.xc7 xf3 12.gxf3 c6 square. [ I would bravely judge the position after 13.xe2 xd4+ 14.d3 xf3 Derjabin,I23.g2 to be unclear. ] Ivanova,S Mariupol UKR 2003 and Black 23...e7 24.ad1 c5 has a clear extra pawn. ] [ If 24...fd8 imm ed ia te ly t he n 25.d3 [ 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 b5!? (aiming to come to h3) is annoying. ] is known to be messy but White handled it well in the following example: 7.xb5 exd5 25.h4 [ After 25.d3 Black could consider the 8.cxd5 xd5 9.f3 c5 10.g2 a5 positional queen sacrifice xg5! 26.fxg5 11.g5 e4 12.xf6 1/2-1/2 Touzane, Oxf1+ 27.g2 c1 when (as his remaining Miezis,N Montpellier 2003 a bit timid of pieces are so well placed) he seems to be White as he has a pleasant edge. ] OK. ] 3...b7 4.d3 b4+ 5.d2 xd2+ 6.xd2 1868
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.f5 g8 21.f7 1-0. Conclusion: 13... fxe4 is refuted!; B) 13...xe4! 14.ac1 c5! ( Following Gelfand, B-Hamdouchi, H Cap D'Agde 1994 14...exd5 15.cxd5 d6 16.xe4 s e e m s t o f a v o u r W h i t e .) 15.dxe6 ( Bauer describes 15.dxc6 xc6 16.f3 f6 as at least playable for Black.) 15...dxe6 16.f4 f6 17.d3 e5 18.e3 g5 with a fine game for Black, Sher, MLempert, I Yerevan 1996 ] 11...e8 [ T h e r e ' s n o t h i n g w r o n g w i t h 11...e7 12.ad1 ae8 as in Atalik, S-Mamedyarov, S Calvia ol 2004 but Christian Bauer often pre f e rs t o p ut h is qu e e n o n e 8 in s u c h positions as it's less tactically exposed. ] 12.ad1 a5 Gaining further influence on the wing. White's slow development doesn't really stop Black obtaining a comfortable game. 13.f4 ce4 14.xe4 xe4 15.c1 [ In such positions, exchanges with 15.xe4 fxe4 16.xe4 xb2 generally favour Black. ] 15...a4 Fixing the queenside is a slight nuisance for White who has no option now but t o e l im i n a t e t h e a n n o yi n g k n i g h t o n e 4 . 16.xe4 fxe4 17.xe4 xf4 [ Fritz seems to quite like playing for a Dutch1896 A40 style attack with 17...d6!? 18.d3 f6 but this would be risky in a team game. ] Wojtaszek,Radoslaw 2605 Bauer,Christian 2627 18.xf4 exd5 19.c2 [ O b j e c t i v e l y b e s t i s p r o b a b l y 19.xe8 TCh-Top 16 Gp A (6) 01.04.2006 axe8 20.fe1 when White may be able to [Glenn Flear] snatch a pawn e.g. dxc4 21.xd7 f7 22.xf7 xf7 23.xc7 although the 1.d4 b6 2.c4 b7 3.c3 e6 4.a3 f5 5.d5 presence of opposite bishops would make f6 6.g3 a6 7.g2 c5 8.h3 d6 this extremely drawish. ] 9.0-0 e5 10.c2 0-0 11.d2 [ Christian Bauer in his recent Everyman 19...c5 20.cxd5 h5 21.e4 Holding onto the book 'play 1...b6' considers 11.d1 e7 extra pawn but allowing a straightforward draw... xf4 22.gxf4 g4+ 23.h1 f3+ 12.e3 'to be critical'. Then ce4 13.xe4 A) Although Bauer considers 13...fxe4?! 24.g1 g4+ to be a valid alternative, the recent game ½-½ Adrian, C-Pucher, O Nancy 2006 seems to put the move under a cloud. That game continued 14.g5 exd5 15.cxd5 xd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.xe4 f6 ( 17...xe3? 18.d5+ 1-0 was the abrupt end to Hof f man, M-Kraai, J Budapest 2003. ) 18.xh7+! h8 19.g6 d5 ( 19...ad8 is n o b ette r a f te r 20.c4 ) 25...fd8 26.g2 A better option but meantime Black has become better organized. c4 27.h5 c6 [ 27...gxh5 is met by the menacing 28.h1 ] 28.hxg6! h6! [ 28...xd1? 29.xd1 xd1 30.gxh7+ g7 31.xc6 is hopeless for Black ] 29.h7?! [ 29.f7! xd1 30.xd1 xd1 31.xc6 looks dubious for Black. ] 29...xd1 30.f6+ f8 31.xd1 xd1 32.xc6 d8! This move invites White to bail out with the draw. A resource not available after 29 Nf7. 33.g7+ [ 33.g3!? is a risky try to "play-on" for a win. Note that d3+? ( Best is 33...c3! when 34.b7 d3+ 35.h4 d7! 36.c6 c7 37.xe6 g7 38.g3 c2 39.h5+ h8 40.g7+ xg7 41.xh6+ h7 42.c6 c7 43.h6+ h7 leading to a draw after all!) 34.h4 xg6 can be met by 35.a8+ e7 36.xa7+ f8 37.b8+ e7 38.c7+ f8 39.c8+ e7 40.xc4 and White stays on top. ] 33...xg7 34.b7+ f8 35.h7+ g8 36.f6+ f8 37.h7+ g8 38.f6+ ½-½
1869
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18...f5 19.xg7 xg7 20.d4+ f6 21.xf6 xf6 22.c3 g8 23.f4! Taking his time and just depriving Black of the e5 square. f7 24.b4 d7 25.a4 f6 26.c6 b8 27.b5 xc6 28.dxc6 Ultimately there's not really much to be done 1.f3 b5 This was one of Bronstein's last about White's queenside pawns but care is tournaments with his love of experimentation still required. d5 29.ad1 d6 30.a4 a8 continuing to the end. Noting Wojtkiewicz's 31.e5 a3 32.xd5 xa4 [ 32...xd5 33.xd5 is every bit as hopeless generally well worked out opening repertoire for Black. ] he probably wanted to try something a bit different. But here too Wojtkiewicz turned out 33.xf6+ xf6 34.d8+ f8 35.e8 c5+ to know exactly what he was doing. 2.e4 b7 36.h1 b4 37.xf8+ xf8 38.xc7 xb5 b8 40.d7 c5 41.c7 f8 3.xb5 xe4 4.d4 f6 5.0-0 e6 6.c4 b7 39.h3 7.c3 e7 8.d5! An important space gaining 42.d5+ xd5 43.xd5 f7 44.d8 1-0 manoeuvre. 0-0 9.a4 [ In a subsequent game Wojtkiewicz preferred 9.a3 perhaps wishing to escape A40 the possibility of preparation, or maybe 1898 because he simply didn't remember the Xu Jun 2668 earlier encounter. The game continued c6 Short,Nigel D 2677 10.dxc6 xc6 11.f4 a6 12.a4 a5 FIDE World Cup Gp B (4) 04.08.2000 13.b4 f5 14.g3 ac8 15.c5 fd8 [Neil McDonald] 16.c1 f8 17.e1 e7 18.e5 ed5 19.xd5 xd5 20.c4 xc4 21.xc4 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 g6!? This move is a n d B l a c k wa s in d e s p e ra t e t ro u b le i n strategically well motivated. After all, White Wojtkiewicz, A (2535) -Hecimovic, I (2230)/ has denied the black bishop an active post on Pula 1998. ] b4 and evidently plans d4-d5. So what could 9...a6 10.a3 Here too White plays this calm be more natural than to clear the g7 square, prophylactic move. as the diagonal a1-h8 is bound to be opened [ Actually I think there's a good case for it as sooner or later by the opponent? 4.c3 g7 after 10.e1 b4 11.g5 c5 12.c2 5.e4 e7 6.f3 xc3 13.bxc3 d6 14.h4 h6 15.d4 exd5 [ In m y o pin io n m ore f le xib le wa s 6.e3 16.f5 cd7 the position was much more f o r e x a m p l e b7 7.d2 h6 8.d3 messy in Eingorn, V (2475)-Semeniuk, A/ keeping the option of Ne2 or maybe f2-f4. ] Soviet Union 1984. ] 6...b7 7.e3 d6 8.d2 h6! The dark 10...c5 11.c2 a5 Securing the knight squares would become grim for Black if he let against W hite's threatened b2-b4. 12.e3 White play Bh6 and exchange bishops. 9.d3 exd5 d7 10.0-0 All this could pass as a game [ Perhaps it would have better to wait with between Paul Morphy and the Rev. Owen in 12...e8 , though in any case I find Black's the mid 19th century. Though I suspect a position deeply unappealing. ] positional genius like Morphy would have 13.cxd5 g6 14.e1 h5 15.e5 g7 found a way to get in the advance f2-f4 before 16.d4 a4 With his position getting worse by re a ch in g t h is p o in t in t h e ga m e - s e e f o r t h e m o v e B r o n s t e in o f f e r s a p a wn in a n example the suggestion at move six. Xu Jun attempt to mix it up. But Wojtkiewicz plays a has an impressive centre but it isn't easy to series of accurate moves which leaves his f i n d a c o n v i n c i n g w a y t o c o n t i n u e . g5! illustrious opponent a pawn down for nothing. This is a good all purpose move. It clears g6 17.xa4 d6 18.g4 for the knight, increases his grip on f4 and in [ 18.xc5 dxc5 19.c3 would also have some lines plans the disruptive g5-g4. 11.d5 been strong. ] g6 12.d4 0-0 13.xg7 xg7 1897 Wojtkiewicz,Aleksander Bronstein,David I Reykjavik op (8) [Nigel Davies]
A40 2560 2400 1994
1870
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Since White has weakened his e5 square with d4-d5 and f4 is also in Black's hands, the exchange of dark squared bishops is not unwelcome for Black. The only fault in his game is now the 'dead' bishop on b7, but Short finds a clever way to bring it back to life. 14.e2 c5! 15.dxc6 This frees the black bishop, but W hite had no wish to concede another dark square- d4- to his opponent. xc6 16.c2?! [ Safer was 16.ed4 ] 16...de5 17.xe5 This is an unhappy exchange for White, but he was compelled by the hanging c4 pawn. dxe5 18.xd8 fxd8 19.fd1 f6 The endgame is much better for Black: he has the superior bishop and more compact pawn structure, notably control over d4. Short now demonstrates his world class technique by grinding down his opponent. 20.f3 h5! 21.f2 f4 22.g3 xe2 23.xe2 g4 24.e3 gxf3 25.xf3 d4! 26.b3 a5 27.xd4?! exd4 28.e2 e5 29.f1+ g6 30.d3 f6 31.d2 d7 32.c1 h4 33.c5 bxc5 34.xc5 hxg3 35.hxg3 a7 36.c4 g5 37.e2 g4+ 38.f2 h7! 39.xa5 h2+ 40.e1 f3 41.d3 g4 42.a6 h6 43.f2 h2+ 44.e1 f5! 45.g6+ h5 46.exf5 e4 47.g8 a2 48.xe4 xe4 49.g4+ h4 50.d8 d3 51.d4 e2+ 52.d1 g5 The king comes to e3 with decisive mating threats. 0-1
1899 Yermolinsky,Alex Blatny,Pavel Frisco Masters (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2601 2512 01.04.2000
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 b4+ 6.f1 f6 7.f3 [ 7.g5 0-0 8.a3 d6 9.c3 exf5 10.d5 h6 11.d2 a6 12.b4 c6 13.dxc6 dxc6 14.b1 xb4 15.axb4 xb4 16.xb4 xd3+ 17.ce2 e4 18.e1 c5 19.b1 xc4 20.a2 xa2 21.xa2 a5 22.f3 a4 23.f4 d6 24.f2 b5 25.ge2 b4 26.a1 fc8 27.d1 b5 28.d7 c6 29.e7 e8 30.xe8+ xe8 31.d3 a3
32.xc5 a2 33.xb4 a1 34.xa1 xa1 35.g4 a2 36.e3 d6 37.h4 c4+ 38.d4 xe2 39.xc4 f2 0-1 Brondum,EPlaskett,J Copenhagen 1981. ] 7...0-0 8.a3 d6 9.c3 exf5 [ 9...e8!? 10.g5 exf5 11.xf5 h5 12.h4 h6 13.g1 xf3 14.xf3 xf3 15.gxf3 hxg5 16.hxg5 e8 17.h7+ f7 18.d5 g6 19.h6 g7 20.xg6 c6 21.d1 d8 22.g2 e7 23.xe7 xe7 24.e4 h8 25.dh1 xh6 26.xh6 d6 27.h7+ f8 28.h8+ g7 29.h7+ f8 30.h8+ 1/2-1/2 Khenkin,I-Bunzmann,D Polanica Zdroj 1999. ] 10.xf5 A typically obscure gambit type of English Defence. Clearly white has long term inconvenience to face due to his king position but it is not so clear how black intends to use that time to build up threats. Blatny's next move is a surprising idea. It guarantees him active pieces and easier access along the ff ile, while in cre a sin g wh it e 's cha n c es o f co o r d in a t i n g h i s f o rc e s m o r e qu i c k l y b y playing Kg2 soon. xf3!? [ 10...c6 11.g5!? e8 12.xf6 xf6 13.e4 is perhaps the kind of position Blatny was trying to avoid - where the "English" B on b7 faces long-term unemployment. a6 14.a4 b7 15.e1 h5 16.b5 h6 17.g5 af8 18.d5+ h8 19.e4 f4 20.xh6 gxh6 21.xd6 cxd6 22.b4 a6 23.e3 b5 24.cxb5 axb5 25.g3 4f5 26.e4 xd4 27.xb7 xf3 28.g2 d5 29.d1 e5 30.f4 c6 31.c3 d8 32.c5 1-0 Sherbakov,R-Volzhin,A Koszalin 1999. ] 11.xf3 c6 12.e3 g6 13.c2 g7 14.g3 h5 15.g2 g4 16.e4 f6 17.d5 f7 18.f4 ae8 19.d3 [ 19.xg6+ xg6 20.xg6 ( 20.xg6? xf4 ) 20...xe3 21.xf8 e2 ] 19...e7 [ 19...xf4 20.xf4 d5!? is an alternative method of creating counterplay, but black assesses more defensive forces around g6 is more important than a bit of pressure against d4. ] 20.ae1 f5 21.d2 xf4 22.xf4 d5 23.b3 h4 24.f3!? An interesting tactical decision. W hite decides to rule out the adventures arising from something like 1871
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 24.xe8 A) 24...xe8 25.f1 ( 25.h3? xf2! ) 25...dxc4 26.bxc4 and black's initiative is running out of gas.; B) 24...h3+!? 25.f3 dxc4 26.bxc4 ( 26.xf8?? d5+ 27.e4 xd4+ 28.xg4 h5# ) 26...xe8 ( 26...xe8 ) 27.xg4 d7 28.e5+ g8 29.f4 h4+! ] 24...xd4 25.xg4 xc2 26.c1 [ 26.e2!? looks strong, to keep the e5 square under control - black has real problems to solve with his wandering knight. ] 26...e7 27.h6+ xh6 28.xc2 e4+ 29.xe4 dxe4 30.e1 f3 31.xe4 xg3+ 32.hxg3 xe4 33.d2 hxg3 34.xg3 a5 35.a4 e6 36.f4 c5 37.f3 g7 38.d5 f6 39.g4 e7 40.f4 f6 41.g4 e7 ½-½
1900 Yermolinsky,Alex Speelman,Jonathan S Premier Hastings (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2560 2620 1995
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 b7 4.f3 b4+ 5.d2 xf3!? Black decides that weakening White's pawn structure is more important than the bishop pair. 6.exf3 xd2+ 7.xd2 f6 8.f4 c6! 9.f3 e7 The point of this knight manoeuvre is to get a f irm grip on the d5 square and so restrain White's centre. 10.g2 0-0 11.0-0 c6! Black treats White's bishop with great caution. 12.c1 b8 13.e5 c8 14.e2 d6 15.f3 c7 16.h3 Wherever this bishop looks he is facing a wall of black pawns. fe8 17.c3 cd8 18.fc1 g6 19.c2 c5! Having established a solid position in the centre Black now becomes ambitious and strives to seize the initiative in the centre. His first task is the elimination of t h e d 4 p a wn . 20.d1 c6 21.e3 d5 22.dxc5 bxc5 23.cxd5 xd5 24.ee1 cb4 Black enjoys an initiative as the white bishop isn't involved in the centre struggle. 25.c4 b6 26.b3 a5 27.e5 a4 28.f3 c2 29.xd8 xd8 30.c1 d4 Finally Black has conquered the d4 square for
his knight. 31.e4 d5 32.g2 White is very uncomfortable as he hasn't any centre pawns with which to expel the black cavalry. b6 33.c4 a6 34.h3 b6 35.f1 xc4 36.xc4 a7 37.g2 b6 38.xa4 xb2 39.h4?? [ A losing blunder, though White is also seriously worse after say 39.e3 c2 planning ...c4. ] 39...e2+ 0-1
1901 A40 Yermolinsky,Camile->Baginskaite Miles,Anthony J 2609 World op Philadelphia (2) 28.06.1999 [Jon Tisdall] I received word via the new ChessPub PGN service that a reader had claimed a main variation was busted. Unfortunately the new system had not retained the analysis, but I was able to get in touch with "SutterCane", who I have chatted with before. I was aware that his claims were certain to be backed up with hard analysis, and he has generously reposted this to me. I have forwarded it to Big Tony (Miles) himself, and hope to hear from him as well. In the meantime, I have been p o r i n g o ve r t h e va r i a t i o n s wi t h m y l i t t l e computer modules ticking away in the background, and offer up SutterCane's conclusions and some supporting variations. I could only find one subvariation that looked worth exploring as a possible counter argument to SC's analysis, and this seems to f all a s well. Th ough the line d id no t loo k t e r ri f yin g a t f i r s t , c lo s e r e xa m i n a t i o n o f White's attacking ideas make it hard to argue wit h t h e c la i m t h a t t h is va r ia t io n s h o u l d probably be scrapped for Black. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 f5 5.exf5 xg2 6.h5+ g6 7.fxg6 g7 8.gxh7+ f8 9.g5 f6 10.h4 xh1 11.e2 f3 An old idea of Otto Hardy's which claimed to be sufficient for equality and which this game seemed to bear out. 12.f4 c6 13.d2 g4 14.g6+ f7 [ 14...e8 15.xh8 xh8 16.g6+ e7 ( 16...f8 17.e4 xd4 18.h6+ e7 1872
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.xf6+ xf6 20.xf6 ) 17.xg4 ] 15.e5+ xe5 16.dxe5 f5 17.xf5 exf5 18.exf6 xf6 [ 18...e8+ 19.f1 xf6 20.h5+ g7 21.h6+ f7 22.f3 e6 23.d1 d6 24.d4 ] 19.h5+ g7 [ 19...f8 20.h6+ e7 21.0-0-0 ] 20.h6+ f7 21.h5+ [ 21.f3!! SutterCane - rather remarkable. It does of course bring an annoying piece into the attack, but it seems unlikely to provide enough firepower with White's king sitting in the centre and so his rook not contributing. But a closer look shows that this has no bearing at all on the attack. e8+ 22.f1 g7 ( 22...e6 23.e1 xc4+ 24.e2 ) 23.h4 A) 23...e6!? jt/fritzie - this seems to be the most likely place to look for improvements, but solving Black's basic developmental problems remains a Herculean chore. 24.d1!? Actually this is b e t t e r t h a n " ! ? " - W h it e e i t h e r wa n t s pressure on d7 or a weakness created on d6, whereupon he will revert to the more natural invasionary route via the e-file. d6 ( 24...g6 25.e1 d6 26.f4 d3+ 27.g2 xh7 28.g3+ ) 25.e1! now this is very strong - thanks to the nudging forward of the d-pawn, White gets in on the e6 square. A1) 25...e5 26.h6 f6 27.h5+ g6 28.g5+ f6 29.h4 f4 30.f3+ e6 ( 30...f5 31.d4+! ) 31.xf4+-; A2) 25...g6 26.d8 f6 27.xf6 xf6 28.g5+ f8 29.e6 g7 30.f4+-; B) 23...e4 24.h5+ f8 25.e1 xh7 ( 25...xc4+ 26.e2 and Black must surrender material to prolong the game, for example f7 27.e7+ xe7 28.xe7 xe7 29.h4 and W hite should win.) 26.xh7 xf3 27.e3 h1+ 28.e2 b1 29.h6 xb2+ 30.f1 xh6 31.xf5+ g8 32.d5+ h7 33.e4+ g7 34.g3+ f7 35.f3+ g7 36.xa8 and here SutterCane ends his main line. "SutterCane", who seems to be one of the leading specialists on this line, tells me that 11...Qe7! is Black's only and
best move, but that this solves all of the opening problems. I hope to have more on this and reactions from Tony Miles on this as well, in our next episode. ] 21...g7 22.h6+ ½-½
1902 Zaja,Ivan Filipovic,Branko Open Pula CRO (9) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2459 2442 19.05.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 b7 4.c3 f5 5.d5 f6 6.g3 b5 7.xb5 exd5 8.cxd5 xd5 [ 8...xd5 9.f3 c5 10.c3 xc3 11.bxc3 e7 12.g2 f6 13.0-0 e4 14.e3 c7 15.e1 xg2 16.xg2 c6 17.f4 1-0 Zimmerman,Y-Gara,T Budapest 1999. (49) ] 9.f3 c5 [ 9...a6!? is more reliable and led to interesting play: 10.c3 b7 11.g2 c5 12.b4 e6 13.0-0 a5 14.b5 c5 15.b3 e7 16.e3 0-0 1-0 Cheparinov,I-Romero Holmes,A/Wijk aan Zee NED 2000. (37) ] 10.g5 c6 11.xf6 gxf6 12.b4 I don't know if I was the first, but this was recommended in my notes to the Romero Holmes game, and looked like a small but distinct edge at the time. 0-0 [ 12...xf3 13.exf3 cxb5 14.bxc5 a5+ ( 14...c6!? ) 15.d2 xd2+ 16.xd2 c6 17.xb5 d4 18.ab1 ] 13.c3 xf3 14.exf3 e7+ 15.e2 b6 16.f4 Ruling out ...f4 ideas that might improve black's kingside structure. a5 17.b3+ h8 18.0-0 A terribly unpleasant experience for black. Development needs to be completed and the f5 pawn is doomed. White does not need to exert himself to gain a clear advantage. axb4 19.axb4 xa1 20.xa1 d5 21.d3 d7 22.xf5 b8 23.a4 d6 24.d1 f8 25.h4 d8 [ 25...g6 26.e2 e7 27.b1 c7 28.c2 g6 29.d4 ] 26.b5?! [ 26.e4! gains c5 and looks even more c o n v i n c i n g s i n c e xb4 ( 26...xb4 27.xd6 xa4 28.f7+ ) 27.xc6 dxe4 1873
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28.xd8 wins. ] 26...c5 27.d4 xd4 28.xd4 cxb5 29.xd5 g7 30.h5 Looks nice to restrict the Nf8, but this pawn can become a target. [ 30.b4! ] 30...a5 31.b4 d8 32.xd8?! [ 32.c6! xd4 33.xd4 h6 34.g4 ] 32...xd8 33.d3 h6 34.g4?! e6 35.d5 b4 36.xb4 [ 36.c4 a5 and Nc5 will create counterplay. ] 36...xf4 37.f5 g5 38.xh7 xg4 39.h6 g5 ½-½
1903 Zhu Chen Short,Nigel D Queens v Kings (4) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2505 2682 25.07.2002
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.a3 a6!? 4.e4 d5 5.cxd5 [ 5.d2 dxc4 ( 5...c6?! 6.gf3 f6 7.c2 dxc4 8.xc4 xc4 9.xc4 e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.d1 c7 12.g5 Lytchak,AB u n zm a n n , D A p o l d a 1 9 9 7 .) 6.xc4? ( 6.xc4 f6 ) 6...b5! ( 6...xd4 7.gf3 d7 8.e5 c8 9.a4+= ) 7.e2 xd4 8.gf3 d8 9.a4 b4 10.xa6 xa6 11.e2 c5 12.e5 a6 Hastings,JEhlvest,J Philadelphia 1993. ] 5...xf1 6.xf1 exd5 7.e2! e7 8.c3 dxe4 9.xe4 c6 10.g5 h6 11.xe7 xe7 12.e1 White has managed to use his odd king position to get black to follow suit and uncastle. The net result is a rather typical Queen's Gambit structure where Short is very much at home. f8 13.f3 d7 14.g3 f6 15.c2 g6 16.g2 g7 The c6 and d4 weaknesses balance out but Short has vast experience with this kind of position and is happy to play on. 17.a4 e8 18.e2 b5 19.a6?! This looks slightly helpful. [ 19.c2 ] 19...b6 20.xb6 axb6 21.he1 f8 22.c2 ad8 c6 is a tad harder to get at than d4, so black has the tiniest of advan tages . 23.a2 d6 24.ec1 d7 25.e5?! Forcing matters - black gets the
initiative now. xd4 26.xc6 xc6 27.xc6 d2 28.1c2 ee2 29.xd2 xd2 30.c3 xb2 31.d5 e5 32.xb6 g4 33.h3 [ 33.g1 xf2 34.a4 h3+ 35.h1 ( 35.f1 f2+-+ ) 35...g5 36.xb5 a2 ] 33...xf2 34.a4? d3+ 35.f3 bxa4-+ 36.a6 b3 37.a8+ g7 38.c7 a3 39.h4 a2 40.e4 b4 41.e8+ f8 42.f6+ e7 43.d5+ xd5 44.xd5 xg3 45.xa2 g4 46.h2 h5 47.e5 f5 48.h1 e4+ 49.d5 f6 50.h2 g5 51.hxg5+ xg5 52.g2+ f4 53.h2 g4 54.g2+ f3 55.g5 f4 56.xh5 e1 57.d4 g4 58.h8 f3 59.f8 g3 60.g8+ h2 61.f8 g2 62.g8+ f1 63.d3 f2 64.d2 e5 0-1
1904 Zhukova,Natalia Grabuzova,Tatiana 2nd ch-EUR Women (7) [Jon Tisdall]
A40 2460 2375 29.04.2001
1.d4 e6 2.c4 b6 3.e4 b7 4.d3 c6 5.e2 b4 6.bc3 xd3+ 7.xd3 d6 8.0-0 e7 9.f4!? [ 9.d5 d7 10.f4 g6 11.d4 0-0-0 12.b4 g7 13.b5 xd4+ 14.xd4 f5 15.e1 he8 16.b2 fxe4 17.xe4 g8 18.c3 f7 19.e3 exd5 20.xd5 xe3 21.xe3 xd5 22.cxd5 xd5 23.a4 b8 24.a5 xb5 25.axb6 axb6 26.d4 c6 27.c1 b7 28.f5 gxf5 29.g5 e8 30.h5 e4 31.f2 f6 32.f7 e7 33.a2 g4 34.a1 e4 35.a7+ c8 36.c1 b7 37.a4 e7 38.b3 0-1 Gelfand,B-Short,N/ Novgorod 1997/CBM 60 (38) ] [ 9.h3 d7 10.e3 g6 11.d5 a6 12.dxe6 xe6 13.h4 g7 14.b3 0-0 15.d4 f6 16.ad1 ae8 17.fe1 c5 18.e3 f5 19.h6 xh6 20.xh6 fxe4 21.g3 f5 22.xf5 xf5 23.e3 1/2-1/2 Bareev,E-Kengis,E/Pula 1997 ] 9...g6 [ 9...d5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.e5 g6 12.d2 h5 13.f5 xf5 14.f4 g7 15.f2 e7 16.cxd5 d7 17.e6 fxe6 18.xc7+ xc7 19.xe6 d7 20.e1 f7 21.xg7 xg7 22.d5 he8 23.c3+ h7 24.d1 1874
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ad8 25.f6 c8 26.b4 e3 27.d2 ce8 28.g5 3e5 29.d6 5e6 30.c1 c8 31.a1 xd6 32.e1 d4 33.a3 c7 34.a2 d1 35.fe2 d4+ 36.h1 d5 0-1 Mussoni,M-Kutuzovic,B/Nova Gorica 1998 (36) ] 10.g3 d7 11.f5 exf5 12.exf5 0-0-0 13.g5 gxf5 14.d5 g8 15.xe7 xe7 16.xf5 h4 17.ge4 g7 18.af1 b8 19.b5 dg8 20.g3 d8 21.d4 e8 22.f6 xf6 23.xf6 e5 24.e2 xb2 25.xf7 xf7 26.xf7 e8 27.f2 a1+ 28.g2 xa2 29.f4 a1 30.e6 e5 31.e2 h5 32.h3 g6 33.f3 c8 34.d4 xe2+ 35.xe2 f6 36.c6+ b7 37.a2 a6 38.b4 a5 39.c6 d7 40.b1 xc6 41.dxc6+ xc6 42.e4+ c5 43.xh7 b2+ 44.f3 c3+ 45.g2 d2+ 46.f3 c3+ 47.g2 c6 48.g4 a4 49.f5+ b4 50.f4 a3 51.xd6+ b3 52.xc6 a2 53.xb6+ c2 54.g6+ c1 0-1
1905 Bilobrk,Franjo Mestrovic,Zvonimir TCh Neum BIH (8) [Jon Tisdall]
A41 2355 2402 07.06.2002
1.d4 c6 2.f3 d6 3.e4 f6 4.d5 e5 5.xe5 dxe5 6.c3 [ 6.b5+ is more popular and was examined in Vujakovic,B-Mestrovic,Z/Pula CRO 2001. The text move is sensible as well, and poses black problems. ] 6...a6 7.f4 d6 8.f3 d7 [ 8...exf4 9.xf4 b4 is messy, but looks very risky. ] 9.f5 [ 9.g3 g6 ] 9...g6 10.e3 gxf5!? 11.exf5 h6 12.0-0-0 xe3+ 13.xe3 h5 14.b1 f6 The targets on f5 and potentially d5 give black play, but the long-term pressure on the e -f il e s t i ll s e e m s t o give wh i t e t h e m o r e pleasant position. 15.d3 d7 16.he1 xd5 [ 16...g8 17.g3 g4 18.e2 is also unpleasant - black must watch for Ne4 as well as the pressure on the e-file. ]
17.xd5 xd5 18.e4! [ 18.xe5 xe5 19.xe5 f6 20.e2 ] 18...b5 19.d5 b6 20.xb6 cxb6 21.xe5 f6 22.xb7 fxe5 23.xa8 f7 24.b7 f6 25.xa6 c6!? A tenacious move, black combines active play on the kingside with a policy of restraining the white bishop. 26.g3 h4 [ 26...b5 27.c4 b4 28.c2 ] 27.b3?! [ 27.g4!? is greedy and critical - white presumably feared the chance of his entire kingside dropping off. d8!? keeps black reasonably active for the pawns. ] 27...b5 28.c4 b4 29.b5 xb5! 30.cxb5 hxg3 31.hxg3 xf5 32.g4+ f4 33.g5 e4 [ 33...b8 34.g6 xb5? 35.g7 b8 36.f1++- ] 34.b6 [ 34.g6 g8 35.g1 e3 and black's e-pawn a n d kin g a re a s st r o n g a s wh i t e 's s p li t passed pawns. ] 34...b8 35.g6 xb6 36.g1 b8 37.g7 g8 38.c2 e3 39.g5 e5 40.d1 f4 41.g1 White is trying to check and transfer his rook to the 7th rank. f5= 42.e2 f6 43.g4 xg7 44.xe4 g2+ 45.f3 xa2 46.xb4 e6 47.e4 d6 ½-½
1906 Carneiro,C Oratovsky,Michael Summer Festival Open (2) [Jon Tisdall]
A41 2177 2486 22.08.2000
1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.d5 a5 [ Or 3...e7 when in the following extract it soon became clear that White wasn't sure how to play the position: 4.c3 f6 5.f3 0-0 6.h3? ( This just wastes a whole tempo. Instead 6.e4 was the natural move.) 6...a6 7.c2 c6 8.e4 d7 9.e3 c8 10.dxc6 xc6 11.d1 a5 12.d2 c7 13.e3 c5 14.d3 xd3+ 15.xd3 xe4! 16.xe4 f5 17.xd6 e4 18.b5 a5+ 19.d2 xa2 20.e3 f4 21.d4 exf3 and Black soon won in Kobin-Van der Wiel, Neum 2000. ] 4.c3 e7 5.g3?! As in the game in the 1875
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 notes above, White hesitates to play [ 5.e4 Perhaps he had never studied the King's Indian Mainline and so wasn't happy to enter the standard pawn structure, even with the black bishop on e7. ] 5...f5! 6.f3 f6 7.g2 0-0 8.0-0 a6 9.b1 d7 10.b3 e8 11.a3 c5 Black has encounter ed no problems at all in equalising and can now think about a direct attack on W hite's king. His opponent's passive p lay makes it very easy f or him . 12.e3?! [ He should strive for activity with 12.b4 axb4 13.axb4 ce4 14.b2 ] 12...ce4 13.d2 h5 14.e1 xd2 15.xd2 f4 16.e4 f5 17.xf6+ xf6 18.c1 h6 19.h4 xh4? This sacrifice is unnecessary when a continuation like [ 19...g5! would win easily. ] 20.gxh4 g4 Here White resigned. After 21.f3 [ If 21.f3 xf3 22.exf3 xh4 23.fe1 h2+ 24.f1 g6 wins. ] 21...xh4!? 22.fxg4 [ 22.f2!? ] 22...h2+ 23.f2 e4! Black probably has a winning attack, but W hite should still have played on to see what happened. 0-1
1907 Kludacz,Magdalena Malaniuk,Vladimir P Bank Pocztowy Open [Jon Tisdall]
A41 2260 2570 2000
problems. ] 7...d7 8.h3 xh3 9.xh3 f6 10.b2 [ If 10.g4 h5! 11.g5 f5 followed by Nd7 and Ng6 looks nice for Black. ] 10...h6 11.0-0-0 c7 12.d2 e7 13.e4? This weakens the d4 square. The correct idea was still [ 13.g4! when if xg4 14.g1 would give White active play. In the game, White fails to find a decent plan and is gradually outplayed. ] 13...f7 14.hd1 ad8 15.g1 h5! 16.f3 b4 17.e1 g5 18.f3 h4 19.d3? [ He had to keep the kingside closed with the ugly 19.g4 ] 19...hxg3 20.hxg3 h3 21.g4 e6! The knight heads for the hole on f4, after which White falls into a positional bind. 22.a3 xc3 23.xc3 f4 24.c2 This loses a pawn, but W hite was under such pressure that material losses were inevitable sooner or later. c5! 25.xd8 xb3+ 26.d1 xd8 27.c3 c7 28.b2 c5 29.b4 ce6 30.d2 c5 31.c3 d4 32.xd4 cxd4 33.c2 c6 34.b3 c5 35.d3+ xd3 36.xd3 g5 37.a4 a5 A gruesome zugzwang. 0-1
1908 Mikhalevski,Victor Davies,Nigel R Rishon le Zion (2) [Nigel Davies]
A41
1995
If W hite plays 4.Nf3 my method of 1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 dxe5 4.xd8+ counterattack is to pressure the knight with 4... xd8 5.c3 e6! Black keeps an eye on Bg4 and then undermine d4 with 5...c5. All in the g4 s qu are. He a voids tran sp osing t o aid of breaking open the h8-a1 diagonal. 1.d4 Epishin-Salov with d6 2.f3 g6 3.c4 g7 4.c3 g4! 5.e3 [ 5...f6 6.f3 fd7 7.b3 f6 when 8.g4! [ After 5.g3 I quite like Alexander Ivanov's gives White chances for advantage. He also d7!? with Winer - Ivanov, Washington avoids the similar ] 1999 going 6.g5!? ( 6.h3 can be met by [ 5...d7 6.f3 f6 7.g4 and again White xf3 7.exf3 c6 8.d5 d4; and 6.g2 by can put pressure on Black's kingside with h3 ) 6...c8 7.h3 d7 8.g2 f6 9.e4 g5. ] e5 10.f3 exd4 11.xd4 0-0 12.e3 e8 6.b3 c6 7.g3 when the p on was quite awkward for White [ A critical line is 7.f3 f6 8.g1 d7 9.g4 because the attack on h3 meant that he had h5! 10.h3 ( 10.g5 f5 ) 10...hxg4 11.hxg4 to play g3-g4 before castling. ] h6 12.g5 f5 and Black has no 5...c5 6.dxc5 The most forcing move. 1876
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ In my experience White usually plays the solid 6.e2 cxd4 7.exd4 ( 7.xd4 xe2 8.dxe2 f6 9.0-0 0-0 was pretty much equal in Lahav - Davies, Tel Aviv 1990) 7...c6 8.0-0 ( 8.e3?! h6 9.d5 xf3 10.gxf3 e5 11.f4 d7 12.h4 f5 13.h5 c5 gave Black an excellent game in Zilberman - Davies, Herzliya 1993) 8...h6 9.d5 xf3 10.xf3 e5 11.e2 0-0 12.f4 d7 13.e3 a5 14.b1 fc8 produced a complex game in Murdzia - Davies, Hamburg Open 1995 ] [ 6.d5 produces a Benoni-type position in which White will want to move his e-pawn a second time. f6 7.e2 0-0 8.0-0 a6 9.a4 e6 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 c7 intending ... Nbd7 produces a tough, doubleedged position. ] 6...xc3+! It is important that Black damages White's structure while he still can. [ 6...dxc5 7.xd8+ xd8 8.d2 would put him in a difficult position. ] 7.bxc3 dxc5 8.xd8+ xd8 9.e5 e6 10.e4 f6 11.b1 True to his style, Mikhalevsky goes for active counterplay. [ After 11.f3 bd7 12.xd7 xd7 Black would already be threatening to pick up the c4 pawn with ...Nb6 or ...Ne5. ] 11...xe4 12.xb7 d6 13.b1 d7 14.f4 b6 15.e2 f6 16.d3 c8 17.xd6 exd6 18.f4 f7 19.0-0 c7 20.fd1 b8 21.b3 xc4 Putting Black a good pawn up. White's active pieces make it difficult for Black to win, but I have no excuse for what actually happened. 22.a1 he8 23.f3 d2 24.a3 xf3+ 25.gxf3 b7 26.d1 g5 27.d5+ xd5 28.xd5 c6 29.d2 ee7 30.g2 d5 31.f4 gxf4 32.f3 b6 33.a4 b1 34.xf4 e6 35.a4 e7 36.f4 e6 37.a4 b5 38.xa7 c1 39.xd5 xc3+ 40.g4 c2 41.f5 ee2 42.b7+ c6 43.f7 xa2 44.5xf6+ d5 45.d7+ e5?? 46.dd6 e4+ 47.g5 h6+ 48.xh6 1-0
1909 Prie,Eric Steinhart,Christopher 5ème open International (8.3) [Eric Prié]
A41 2513 2034 19.04.2007
1.d4 d6 2.f3 d7 3.f4!? [ 3.e4! is more precise, actually, as we saw last month. Then it is time to talk about A) 3...gf6? 4.e5 dxe5 ( 4...g4 5.h3; 4...d5 5.c4 5b6 6.c3 With the uncommon idea g6 7.e3 g7? 8.c5 winning the Nb6!) 5.dxe5 g4 6.f4 g5 7.e6! gxf4 ( 7...fxe6 8.xg5 de5 9.xd8+ xd8 10.h3 h6 11.hxg4 hxg5 12.xh8 ) 8.exf7+ xf7 9.g5+ f6 ( 9...e8 10.e6; 9...g8 10.e6 e8 11.c4 f7 12.xg4+ g7 13.xg7 xc4 14.f5+ f7 15.g7+ e6 16.d4+ d6 17.xh8 ) 10.xg4 e5 ( 10...c5 11.xf4+ ) 11.e4+ e7 12.g5+ e8 13.h5+ e7 14.c4 e8 15.g5+; B) 3...e5 4.c4 I have known from my early years of chess that this old version of the Philidor is almost unplayable for Black due to a known tactical trick. B1) 4...e7 5.dxe5 xe5 ( 5...dxe5 6.d5 ) 6.xe5 dxe5 7.h5; B2) 4...gf6 5.dxe5 xe5 ( 5...dxe5 6.g5 ) 6.xe5 dxe5 7.xf7+ xf7 8.xd8 b4+ 9.d2 xd2+ 10.xd2; B3) 4...exd4 5.xd4 when there is no Nc6...; B4) 4...c6 5.0-0! e7 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.g5! B4a) 7...xg5 8.h5 e7 9.xg5! gf6 ( 9...xg5 10.xg5 With the limpid and strong plan a4, b3, f3, and then bring the Nb1 to c4 heading for d6 after the bishop has moved, hence 5.0-0! instead of 5.Nc3. As for White's queen's bishop, it will exert its domination over the dark squares from e3, or even better a3 via c1.) 10.xg7 O r f o r a q u i e t e r l i f e : ( 10.b3 b5 11.a3 b4 12.b2 0-0 13.a3 c5 14.d2 h6 15.e3 ) 10...g8 11.h6 c5 12.f3 e6 13.e2 0-0-0 14.c3 g6 15.h4 dg8 16.f2; 1877
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B4b) 7...h6 8.e6! fxe6 9.xh6 b6 ( 9...gxh6 10.h5+ f8 11.xe6 e8 12.xh6# ) 10.h5+ g6 11.e2 xc4 12.xc4 d4 13.xd4 exd4 14.g7 g8 15.xd4 ] 3...g6 [ 3...c6 4.e4 c7 5.e5! dxe5 6.dxe5 gf6 A) 7.g3 g5 ( 7...d5 8.e6 a5+ 9.d2 ) 8.xg5 xe5 9.e2 a5+ 10.c3 g6 11.d2; B) 7.g3!? e4 8.e6 a5+ 9.c3! ( 9.b4 xb4+ 10.c3 b2! ) 9...fxe6 10.bd2 xg3 ( 10...ef6 11.d3 c5 12.c2 a6 13.b1 ) 11.hxg3 f5 12.e2! c2 ( 12...g6 13.d4 e5 14.xe6 f7 15.e4!? xe6 16.f4+-; 12...e5 13.e3 f6 14.d3; 12...c5 13.e3 g6 14.g4 d5 15.c4 d6 16.0-0-0 ) 13.c4 xe2+ 14.xe2 g6 ( 14...b5 15.ce5 b7 16.xd7 xd7 17.e5+ c7 18.g6 g8 19.g4 c8 20.xh7 ) 15.d3 f7 ( 15...g7 16.xh7 ) 16.ce5+ xe5 17.xe5+ g8 18.0-0-0 g7 19.f3 f6 ( 19...f7 20.g5+ f6 21.xh7+ ) 20.xg6 g7 ( 20...hxg6 21.d8+ f7 22.dxh8 ) 21.c2 e5 22.de1 e6 23.xe5 ] 4.e4 g7 [ After 4...gf6 5.c3 White must be ready to meet ...c7-c5 and if dxc5 the recapture by the knight at any moment. ( 5.e5?! d5 6.g3 h6 7.c4 f4 ) 5...g7 ( 5...c5 6.dxc5 xc5 7.e5 ) 6.d2 ( 6.h3 c5 7.dxc5 a5 8.d2 xc5 ) A) 6...c5 7.dxc5 xc5 8.e5 fe4 ( 8...ce4 9.d3 dxe5 10.xd8+ xd8 11.xe5 ) 9.xe4 xe4 10.b4! ( 10.d5 c5 ) 10...dxe5 11.xe5 d6 12.b5+ f8 13.0-0-0; B) 6...0-0 7.0-0-0 ( 7.h6 e5 ) 7...c5 8.dxc5 ( 8.h6!? ) 8...xc5 9.e5 fe4 10.xe4 xe4 11.e3 d5 12.b1! ( 12.d3 b6 ) 12...b6 ( 12...f5 13.d4; 12...g4 13.h3 xf3? 14.gxf3; 12...f6 13.d3 fxe5 14.xe5 xe5 15.xe4 f4 16.xd5+ ) 13.xb6 axb6 14.e3 Thanks to Kb1, the a2 pawn does not hang. e6 15.a3 c5 16.b5 ] 5.e5! dxe5 [ 5...b6 6.c3 ]
[ 5...h6! 6.c3 ( 6.d2 g4 7.exd6 cxd6 8.h3 gf6 9.c3 0-0 ) 6...f5 ( 6...g4 7.e2 ) 7.c4 c5 The critical move... 8.g5 And the critical response. e6 ( 8...0-0? 9.xf7 xf7 10.e6 ) 9.xe6 fxe6 10.xe6 a5 ( 10...e7 11.d5 ) 11.0-0 cxd4 ( 11...dxe5 12.dxe5 xe5 13.e1 xf4 14.xf4+ f8 15.g4 d4 16.e6+ f7 17.xd4 cxd4 18.xd4 f6 19.c4+ g7 20.e7+ h6 21.f7 ) 12.b4 xb4 13.d5 c4 14.ec7+ f7 ( 14...d8 15.g5+; 14...f8 15.exd6 b8 16.e1 ) 15.e6+ g8 16.d3 xd3 17.cxd3 b8 18.g4 h4 19.e7+ f8 20.xd6 ] 6.dxe5 e6 7.c3 e7 8.d2 0-0 [ 8...c6 9.e4 0-0 10.0-0-0 d5 11.h6 ] 9.0-0-0 c6 10.g5!! Black can resign. e8 [ 10...f6 11.exf6 xf6 12.xf6 xf6 13.e4 f5 14.d6 ] 11.e4 xe5 12.xe5 xe5 13.f6! The point. c7 14.g4?? An idle mind is the devil's workshop. [ 14.g5! d5 ( 14...f5 15.c3 f6 16.xf6+ xf6 17.xf6 e7 18.h8+ f7 19.g4 ) 15.g3! ( 15.xd5?? exd5 16.h6 f4+ 17.xf4 xe4 18.h6 e1# ) 15...e5 16.h6 ] 14...d5 15.b1 Alas the pawn cannot retreat... So White has to win the game for a second time. Fortunately there is genuine compensation for the pawn. f4 16.e2 b5 17.h4 h6 18.g5 h5 19.d4 d7 20.g2 e8 21.f3 e5 [ 21...c7 22.f6+ xf6 23.xf6 e5 24.xh5 ] 22.c5 e6 23.xd5! cxd5 24.f6+ h8 25.xd5 a6 26.xe8 g4 27.f3 xe8 28.fxg4 d8 29.d1 hxg4 30.e7 d7 31.f6+ h7 [ 31...g8 32.xf7+! xf7 33.d8+ f8 34.d3 xd8 35.xg6+ f8 36.g7+ e8 37.e7# ] 32.h5 1-0
1878
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1910 Reader Question Modern Defence / 1...Nc6 [John Watson]
A41
Here's a question from Dominic Bennett about a game of his in the Pirc Defence: The opening was a Modern Defence, which I had "prepared" at 6am that morning, using Nigel Davies 1. ... d6 Universal DVD. The opening moves were: 1.f3 d6 2.d4 g6 3.c4 g7 4.c3 g4 5.e4 xf3 6.gxf3 c6 7.e3 e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 "This is where my theory ran out, because at this point on the DVD Davies says Black plays his knight into d4 and gets a very good game (no mention of White's next move)." 9.a4 "A logical move, and a good one! What to do about the coming 10.Rd1? I think I found a reasonable solution over the board, but have looked in vain for some theory on this. NCO doesn't cover it, I can't find any games with this exact move order on ChessBase and Speelman and McDonald's book on the Modern doesn't cover it either. I looked on ChessPublishing today but can't see it there either, hence this email." ge7 [ B l a c k a l s o s t a n d s p o o r l y a f t e r 9...d6 10.d1 ( or 10.c5 ) 10...b4 11.xb4 xb4 12.b5 ] 10.d1 b8!? "At this point White possibly diverges from best play. Has black played the best moves? What is the queen doing on b8?! What I'd like to know is how Black should play after 9.Qa4." [jw: your 10... Qb8 is a good move in principle as I'm sure you reasoned, the queen is on b8 because you don't want to go to c8 and get hit by Bh3 ] [ [jw: But 10...c8 may be just a little better (or maybe not it's simply more ambitious) it allows Bh3, but stops a rook from getting to d7 and has the idea of ...f5. In my opinion, White then has some advantage: A) 11.d5 0-0 12.xe7+ xe7 13.h4 ( 13.d7 c6! 14.h3 b8! 15.0-0 d8= ) 13...d8 14.h5 xd1+ 15.xd1 c6 16.hxg6 hxg6 with a small edge; B) 11.h4 0-0 12.h3 f5 13.h5 d4 (the key square for Black, and W hite's main source of difficulty) 14.hxg6 xg6! 15.exf5 f4 and White has the advantage, albeit a limited one, for example, 16.d5
( or 16.g4!? ) 16...xd5 17.f6! b6 18.xd4 xa4 19.xc8 axc8 20.fxg7 f7 21.d2 b6 22.b3 xg7 23.c5 d7 24.c6! bxc6 25.e2 and Black's pawns are very vulnerable. ] 11.h4 [ jw: 11.c5 is a good option, e.g., 0-0 A) 12.d7!? e8 13.d5 xd5 14.cxd5 d4 15.xd4 exd4 16.d6 ( 16.c4 f8 ) 16...cxd6 17.c4 f8 18.b3 and if there 's any advantage, it's White's, but this doesn't look dangerous for either side; B) 12.d5 e8 13.xe7+ xe7 14.h3 b6 15.e3 White has the bishop pair and stands better, although this isn't the end of the world for Black. ] [ Another idea to be investigated is 11.h3 0-0 12.f4!? ] 11...0-0 12.h5 d8 [ [jw:] Probably 12...d4! is the way to go. Then White can simply defend f3 if he wants by 13.g2 but at least c6 keeps White's knight out of d5. ] 13.hxg6 xg6 14.d5? [ 14.e2 xd1+ 15.xd1 ] 14...d4 15.g2 c6 16.c3 a5 17.d2 e6 . Black st ands well here, but obviously had somewhat the worse of it in the opening. Do m in ic co nclu de s th a t 9 Qa 4 d e s erve d mention on Davies CD, and indeed I can't see a clear-cut way to equality.
1911 Schoen,Antoni Adasiak,Leszek World Seniors (10) [Jon Tisdall]
A41 2059 22.09.2000
1.c4 d6 2.d4 e5 3.d5 f5 4.c3 f6 5.c2 This doesn't turn out well, but if [ 5.g3 g6 6.g2 g7 7.e3 0-0 8.ge2 bd7 9.b1 e4! 10.0-0 e5 11.b3 g5 12.d4 d3 13.d2 ( 13.f4!? ) 13...g4 14.e6 xe6 15.dxe6 ge5 left White in a horrible bind in McMahon-Fernando, Mondariz 2000. He tried to break out but was quickly routed: 16.d5 e8 17.g4 xg4 18.xe4 dxf2 19.f3 xe4 20.xf5 xd2 21.xg4 xf1 22.xf1 c6 1879
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.f7 cxd5 and White resigned. ] 5...e7 6.e4 fxe4 7.xe4 xe4 8.xe4 0-0 9.d3 f5 10.e2 e4! [ Instead 10...xd3 11.xd3 would be OK for W hite. It is essential that Black keeps the dynamism in his set up. ] 11.c2 [ The tactical justification for Black's pawn offer is seen in the line 11.xe4 xe4 12.xe4 h4! 13.e3 xf2+! 14.xf2? e8 winning the queen. ] 11...d7! The knight heads for the d3 square. W hite's biggest problem is that he cannot efficiently develop his kingside. 12.e3 e5 13.0-0-0 The king will soon face a big attack on the queenside, but no where on the board offered it a safe sanctuary. d3+ 14.xd3 exd3 15.d2 c6 16.d4 cxd5 17.cxd5 c8+ 18.c3 b5! As usual, a pawn stab is needed to convert positional pressure into victory. 19.b1 b4 20.d4 c2 21.e3 g5 22.f4 e8 23.f3 d2 24.b3 c3+ 0-1
1912 Tarasov,Mikhail Zhukov,Klim White Nights Open (5) [Jon Tisdall]
A41 2401 28.06.2000
1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.f3 d7 This is a solid alternative to [ 3...e4 ] 4.c3 g6 5.g5 Of course he could simply play [ 5.e4 but White tries to exploit Black's move order. ] 5...f6 More or less forced, as [ 5...gf6? loses a pawn after 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.xe5! while ] [ 5...e7? 6.dxe5 dxe5 7.d5 looks awkward. ] 6.e3 White will later regret this move when he wants to develop his king's bishop with e2e3.Interestingwas [ 6.d2!? ] 6...g7 7.h4 [ As White intends to castle queenside I would suggest 7.g4!? as a bold attac king idea. Then the bishop on f1 could be
deployed to g2 or possibly even h3 in the future. ] 7...h5 8.c2 e7 9.d2 More or less necessary if he wants free his king's bishop. 0-0 10.e3 c6 11.0-0-0 a6 12.e4 c7 13.dxe5 xe5 14.b4 c5 15.xe5? W hite shouldn't part with his dark squared bishop, even if [ 15.c3 f5 is an unpleasant pin. ] 15...cxb4! 16.d3 f5 17.g3 g4 18.d2 a5 19.b1 b5! Suddenly Black has the ma kin gs o f a h u ge at t ack. 20.f4 b3! 21.axb3 c6 22.d5 e6 23.c3 f5! This unleashes the king's Indian bishop with deadly effect. 24.xd6 b4 25.d2 fd8 26.ge2 bxc4 27.bxc4 xc4 28.xd8+ xd8 29.d4 a2+ 30.c1 xd4 31.exd4 b3 32.d3 xd4 33.e3 xd3+ 34.b1 d8 35.g4 f4 0-1
1913 Utnasunov,Alexander Balashov,Yuri S IV Russian Cup Final (3) [Jon Tisdall]
A41 2257 2575 21.08.2000
1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 dxe5 4.xd8+ xd8 5.f3 This natural move may be inaccurate. If White leaves his knight on g1 he has the option of a later Bh3 to exchange bishops though Black is still perfectly OK for example [ 5.c3 e6 6.b3 d7 7.g3 c6 8.h3 xh3 9.xh3 h6!? Black avoids the obvious ( 9...f6 -which was given in KludaczMalaniuk as he wants to keep the f6 square for his knight and also avoid being besieged by a later g4-g5.) 10.b2 gf6 11.f3 c7 12.f2 c5 and Black was perhaps slightly better in Fernandes-Ftacnik, Lisbon 2000. ] [ Meanwhile 5.e4? is a positional mistake: c6 6.e3 f6 7.c3 e6 8.d3 d7 9.ge2 c5 10.d2 e7 11.a4 a5 12.b3 c8 13.c3 b4 14.a3 xc3+ 15.exc3 e7 16.c2 d6 17.e2 hd8 18.hd1 b5 19.cxb5 cxb5 20.b2 ac8 and White was losing material in Braun-Polishchuk, Kiel 2000. ] 5...f6 6.c3 e6 7.b3 d7 8.g3? 1880
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 W hite makes no effort to set his opponent any problems and just develops passively. He had to try to arrange the customary flank attack on Black's centre with g4-g5. Here for example [ 8.g1 would immediately prepare g2-g4. ] 8...c6 9.g2 b4 10.d2 h6! Whereas White is just playing 'natural' moves, Blac k is t re a tin g t he p o sit io n in a s u bt le manner. The knight will have more options by he a d in g f o r d 6 via f 7 t h a n it wo u ld a f t e r theroutine [ 10...e7 ] 11.0-0 f7 12.fd1 a5 13.e1 f5 Now Black provokes White into weakening his dark squares 14.e4? [ This leaves a big hole on d4. Much more sensible was 14.e4 ] 14...g4 15.f3 c5+ 16.h1 e6 17.a4 d4 18.c3 xc3 19.xc3 e7 20.d5+ White is being slowly outplayed and so tries to force matters, but Balashov is ready with a fine strategical response. cxd5 21.cxd5 f5!! This temporary pawn sacrifice leaves Black dominant on the dark squares. 22.exf5 d6 23.g4 hc8 24.ac1 b6 25.f4 W h ite at t em p ts to f re e h is bisho p , b ut it allows Black to create a passed pawn that eventually wins the game. e4! 26.c2 c3 27.d4 xd5 28.xc3 xc3 29.c1 c8 30.a4 g6 31.fxg6 hxg6 32.f5 gxf5 33.xf5+ xf5 34.gxf5 c5 35.e1 d6 36.h4 e5 37.h2 xf5 38.g3 e5 39.h5 f5 40.h6 c8 41.h7 h8 42.h1 d5 43.f2 b6 A test book example of how to play this line as Black. 0-1
1914 Voltolini,Giuseppe Tomescu,Vlad op Cesenatico (6) [Jon Tisdall]
A41 2279 2432 07.09.2000
1.d4 c6 2.f3 d6 3.d5 e5 4.xe5 dxe5 5.g3 e6 6.c4 exd5 7.cxd5 f5 [ 7...f6 8.g2 c5 ( 8...b4+ 9.c3 0-0 10.0-0 h6 11.b3 e7 12.h3 a6 13.e3 d7 14.ac1 d6 15.a4 fb8 16.c5 b5 17.c2 a5 18.fd1 a4 19.a3 e8
20.d2 b6 21.d3 e4 22.b4 e3 23.xe3 xg3 24.fxg3 xe3+ 25.h2 b5 26.xc7 xe2 27.c6 xc6 28.dxc6 xb2 29.f4 e8 30.d4 xa3 31.c7 ac8 32.xb6 h7 33.b1+ g8 34.f5 b2 35.c2 b6 36.c5 b3 37.dd2 h5 38.c3 b1 39.a3 e1 40.c1 e5 41.c5 e3 42.dc2 d3 43.d2 a6 44.a5 d3 45.5c3 d1 46.xa4 e1 47.a6 ee8 48.d3 e1 49.b7 h4 50.gxh4 e5+ 51.g3 b5 52.xc8 e4 53.d7 xd7 1-0 Jelling,EKroll,O Aarhus 1989.) 9.0-0 0-0 10.c3 d7 11.c2 c8 12.g5 e7 13.fd1 e8 14.a4 1/2-1/2 Bekker Jensen, DBekker Jensen,S Hamburg 1999. ] 8.e4 f6 9.c3 fxe4 10.g2 c5 11.xe4 xe4 [ 11...b4+!? ] 12.h5+? A greedy moment that shows a complete lack of appreciation of the vital matter of king safety. [ 12.xe4 0-0 13.0-0 ] 12...g6 13.xe5+ f7 14.xe4 e8 15.f4+ f5 16.f3 g8 Now the relative security of the kings has become clearer, and white's need to protect e4 means his king must live in the war zone. 17.d1 xe4 18.fxe4 d7 19.b3 g7 20.e5 xe5 21.xe5 xe5 22.f4 xd5+ 23.c2 b4 24.a3 c5+ 25.b1 c3 26.a2 e5 27.d2 d8 28.e1 d3 29.e3 xe3 30.xe3 c3 31.xa7 xb3+ 32.c2 c3+ 33.d1 b6 34.a4 c5 35.d2 f7 36.d7+ e6 37.xh7 a5 38.b8 xa4 39.h6 g4 40.e2 d7 41.f3 a4 42.xg6 a8 43.xb6 cxb6 44.xe5 a2 45.h4 b5 46.g4 b4 47.h5 e6 48.d4 b3 49.h6 h2 0-1
1915 Vujakovic,Branko Mestrovic,Zvonimir TCh Pula CRO (1) [Jon Tisdall]
A41 2372 2428 10.09.2001
1.e4 c6 2.f3 d6 3.d4 f6 4.d5 e5 5.xe5 dxe5 6.b5+ d7 7.e2 A quick survey of this variation, which has 1881
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.d2 g7 10.c4 h5 11.g4?! f4 tremendous potential to just be a safe and 12.xf4 exf4 13.0-0-0 0-0 ( 13...a4!? ) enduring positional plus for white: e6 14.e5 e6 15.d6 cxd6 16.xd6 a4 [ 7...g6 17.b1 f3 18.xf3 xe5 19.he1 xd6 A) 8.0-0 g7 9.xd7+ xd7 10.c4 0-0 20.xd6 ac8 21.b3 a5 22.ed1 c5 11.c3 h5 12.g3 c5!? ( 12...a6 23.1d2 b5 24.h4 a5 25.6d3 e5 13.e3 e8 14.f3 f5 15.f2 f6 16.b4 26.e2 h2 27.h5 g1+ 28.b2 a4 g7 17.b5 h5 18.bxa6 xa6 19.ab1 29.a3 b4 30.axb4 a8 31.ed2 axb3 a8 20.b2 b6 21.c5 bxc5 22.xc5 32.d1 h2 33.xb3 e5+ 34.c3 g5 e8 23.b8 xb8 24.xa6 d6 35.f3 fe8 36.d4 ed8 37.a3 ab8 25.b1 e8 26.c6 d8 27.a7 fxe4 38.e3 xb4+ 39.a2 f6 40.xd8+ 28.b8 xb8 29.xb8 xb8 30.fxe4 xd8 41.h6 d5+ 42.b3 a4+ 43.b2 b4 31.xc7 g5 32.a4 e3+ 33.f1 a8 44.f4 e5 45.b4 d8 46.c5 f7 34.d1 d4 35.c2 c4 36.e2 d1 47.a7 c8 48.c3 f8 49.d3 b6 37.a2 g7 38.f3 a5 39.c2 e1 50.e3 a5 51.a3 b8+ 52.c1 b6 40.e2 d6 41.f3 c4 42.e2 c7 53.c3 e7 54.e3 h4 55.b3 d4 43.d3 d6 44.c7 b3+ 45.c2 c8 56.b2 f6 57.b6 e7 58.b3 b7 46.c6 b8 47.d7 f8 48.e6 e4 59.f4 c7 60.b7 xf4 61.d5 e3 xe4 49.xg6 f6 50.h6+ f7 62.a7 f6+ 0-1 Rasic,D-Mestrovic,Z 51.e3 b2+ 52.d1 f2 53.g5 e6 Pula CRO 2001. ] 54.d6 d2+ 55.c1 d3 56.d7 c3+ [ 7...a6 looks like the most sensible option 57.b1 xd7 58.xh5+ e7 59.c2 it has by far the best record of the d6 60.f7 c8 61.a3 c5 62.c4+ alternatives. Here is a typically dramatic c6 63.e7 b8+ 64.c2 b4 Mestrovic performance. 8.xd7+ xd7 65.d6+ b7 66.xe5 xa4 67.c6+ 9.0-0 e6 10.c4 exd5 11.cxd5 d6 12.d2 a7 68.d7 a2+ 69.d1 b7 0-0 13.c4 e8 14.b3 b5 ( 14...f5!? 70.c8 xh2 71.b8+ a6 72.c7 looks fine and safer.) 15.xd6 xd6 a7 73.c4 b6 74.xb6 xb6 16.a3 f5 17.exf5 xf5 18.ac1 f7 75.xe6+ c7 76.g4 d6 77.g5 h8 19.c6 g5 20.d1 d7 21.dc1 h3 78.g6 e8 79.f6 1-0 Mokos, J22.g3 f5 23.xe5 h5 24.xc7 h6 Mestrovic,Z/Zadar 1995) 13.dxc6 xc6 25.c8+ xc8 26.xc8+ h7 27.c7 14.e3 e6 15.b4 f5 16.b5 e8 17.c5 xh2+ 28.f1 g5 29.d6 h3+ 30.e1 f7 18.f3 b6 19.d6 d7 20.ad1 c8 g6 31.f8 xg3 32.fxg3 xg3+ 33.e2 21.c5 bxc5 22.c4 f6 23.xe5 cd8 h2+ 34.d3 xa2 35.d7 1/2-1/2 Cvitan, 24.xd7 xd7 25.xg7 xg7 26.f4 e7 O-Mestrovic,Z Pula 1999. ] 27.exf5 exf5 28.d5 e6 29.c3+ h6 30.g4 fxg4 31.d2 e4 32.f5+ g5 8.dxe6 fxe6 9.g5 [ 9.0-0 d6 10.g5 0-0 11.d2 e8 33.e1 xf5 34.e7 f6 35.d5 h5 12.xd7 xd7 13.ad1 f6 14.c4 d8 36.f5 f8 37.xc5 b6 38.xb6 axb6 15.b3 d7 16.xf6 gxf6 17.xd6 cxd6 39.g7+ h6 40.f5+ g6 41.e7+ 18.c4 h8 19.d3 g8 20.fd1 e7 f6 42.c6 d2 43.f1+ g7 44.e5 21.f3 b6 22.h5 gd8 23.f3 f7 g6 45.f7+ g8 46.f5 d1+ 24.3d2 g6 25.g3 g7 26.b4 f7 0-1 Barle, J-Mestrovic,Z Krsko 1997.; 27.a3 f8 28.c5 bxc5 29.bxc5 d5 30.c6 B) 8.xd7+ is the latest game here, but d6 31.c7 c8 32.exd5 exd5 33.xd5 not the most impressive. Although xd5 34.xd5 xc7 35.g2 e6 36.d8+ maestro Mestrovic has not had a bad run g7 37.a8 h6 38.h4 c6+ 39.xc6 with ...g6, the positions he gets worry me xc6 40.d3 g6 41.f3 c4 42.e3 slightly - I am not terribly convinced that a4 43.c3 h5 44.d2 f5 45.f3+ e6 there is any real compensation for the 46.c2 f5 47.c3 f4 48.d2 f5 49.e2 clogged structu re - th ough it must b e g4 50.gxf4 exf4 51.f1 xh4 52.g2 c o n c e d e d t h a t t h i s wa y o f p l a y i n g i s g4 53.b3 c4 54.b7 f3+ 55.h2 a5 p ro b a b ly t h e m o s t c o m p li ca t e d . xd7 1882
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 56.g7+ f5 57.f7+ e4 58.g3 h4+ 59.g4 a4 60.xf3 e5+ 61.g5 e4 62.h3 f4 63.e3+ e4 64.h3 f4 65.xh4 1/2-1/2 Bubalovic,D-Mestrovic,Z Tucepi 1996. ] 9...c5 [ 9...b4+ 10.c3 d6 11.d2 0-0 12.0-0 a6 13.xd7 xd7 14.c4 b5 15.fe1 h6 16.xd6 cxd6 17.xf6 xf6 18.ad1 b6 19.d2 d8 20.e3 c6 21.ed1 f7 22.h3 f6 23.g4 c5 24.h3 h7 25.e2 g8 26.e3 c6 27.d3 f4 28.f3 f7 29.1d2 b5 30.h1 c7 31.a3 f7 32.h2 c7 33.f4 exf4 34.xf4 f7 35.h4 b6 36.g4 f1 37.xe6+ h7 38.d4 e1 39.f2 c5 40.f7 e2 41.d5 e3 42.f5+ h8 43.f8+ xf8 44.xf8+ h7 45.f5+ h8 46.xd6 g5 47.xg5 hxg5 48.b4 xe4 49.xa6 c4 50.g6 xc3 51.xg5 xa3 52.xb5 b3 53.h4 h7 54.g3 g6 55.h3 f6 56.g4 g6 57.f4 e6 58.g4 f6 59.b6+ f7 60.g5 1-0 Grivas,E-Wall, T Cappelle la Grande 1995. An instructive example of how black's pawns structure can simply spell suffering, even when optically repaired (by ...cxd6) . ] 10.d2 0-0 11.0-0 c6 12.c4 e8 13.ad1 b5 14.b3 c8 15.f3 h5 16.h3 a5 17.a3 a4 18.a2 h6 19.e3 e7 20.b6 c5 A desperate attempt to confuse mat ters - a ll of b lack's wriggling h as no t m a n a g e d t o s o l ve o r d i s g u i s e h i s b a s i c structural problems. 21.xb5!? [ 21.c7!? ] 21...a6 22.c6 xf1 23.xf1 h7 24.xe6 e8 25.xe5 xc6 26.xc6 d6 27.a5 xe4 28.c4 ae8 29.d7 e7 30.c6 b8 31.e1 f4 32.g3 f6 33.xe7 xc4 34.c3 h8 35.g2 h5 36.f3 g5 37.f7 e5 38.a8 g4+ 39.hxg4 xg4 40.d5 xc3 41.f8+ g7 42.g8+ h7 43.xc4 e5+ 44.e2 xc4 45.g5 xb2 46.xh5+ g6 47.xc5 xa3 48.a5 b1 49.d3 a3 50.c7 f7 1-0
1916 Gurevich,Mikhail Banikas,Hristos Rapid Match Rapid rapid (5) [Andrew Martin]
A42 2640 2520 2002
1.d4 g6 [ 1...d6 2.g3 g6 3.g2 g7 4.c4 d7 5.c3 e5 6.f3 e7 McNab always adds his own little twist to the Modern. 7.e4 0-0 8.0-0 exd4 9.xd4 c6 10.de2 a6 11.f4 e8 12.b1 b8 13.a4?! b4 14.e3 f5 15.a7 a8 16.d4 f6 17.e5 dxe5 18.xe5 e7 19.b3 e6 20.d4 c5 21.ce2 g4 22.xg7 xg7 23.h1 f7 24.c3 g8 25.f3 xc4 26.c1 xc3 27.bxc3 d5 28.f1 de3 29.h3 d5 30.hxg4 fxg4 31.g1 gxf3 32.dxf3 xf1 0-1 Richardson, J-McNab,C/4NCL, Birmingham ENG 2002 (32) ] 2.c4 g7 3.e4 d6 4.c3 f5!? An original idea of Hungarian GM Istvan Bilek. Of course Black loosens his position but in return he gets considerable tactical counterplay. Ideal for rapidplay in other words. In my opinion, White does best to play positionally and not t ry t o r e f u t e 4 . . . f 5 i m m e d i a t e ly, wit h f o r instance 5 exf5 Bxf5 6 Bd3 ?! Bxd4 7 Bxf5 Bxc3+ 8 bxc3 gxf5 9 Qh5+ etc - that just gives Black what he wants- a mess! [ 4...c6 5.e3 e5 6.ge2 ( 6.d5 ce7 7.d3 f5 8.f4!? Mayhem fxe4 9.xe4 f5 10.xf5 xf5 11.d2 exf4 12.xf4 f6 13.ge2 0-0 14.0-0 e4 15.xe4 xe4 16.d4 f5 17.ae1 h4 18.e6 xe6 19.dxe6 ae8 0-1 Sterijov,S-Veleski,R/XI MKD-Cup, Stip MKD 2002 (68)) 6...f6 ( RR 6...d7 7.d2 exd4 8.xd4 ge7 9.0-0-0 0-0 10.h4 h5 11.e2 f5 12.f3 fxe4 13.xe4 f5 14.g5 e8 15.d3 f7 1/2-1/2 Ivanchuk,V-Efimov,I/Batumi 1999); RR 6...ge7 7.d5 b8 8.d2 d7 9.h4 h5 10.g5 a5 11.f3 c5 12.0-0-0 d7 13.g3 b6 14.g2 a4 15.b1 a5 16.hf1 c8 17.c1 g8 18.f4 g4 19.fxe5 xd1 20.xd1 xe5 21.f3 Luukkonen,T-Tusa,T/Jyvaskyla 2001) 7.f3 exd4 8.xd4 xd4 ( RR 8...a6 9.e2 0-0 10.0-0 d7 11.d2 e8 12.ac1 e5 1/2-1/2 Holl,R-Bernhoeft,E/Bad W ildbad 1993 (12) ) 9.xd4 0-0 10.e2 h6 11.0-0 1883
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h5 12.g3 h3 13.e1 g5 W h a t a n i n t e r e st i n g a n d d i r e ct wa y o f wh ipp in g u p a n a t ta ck! 14.d5 xg3 15.f6+ xf6 16.hxg3 g5 17.f2 e6 18.f4 d8 19.b3 d7 20.d3 b6 21.f3 f5 22.d3 ae8 23.e5 dxe5 24.fxe5 f4 25.ad1 g4 26.e2 xd1 27.xg4 c2 28.f3 fxg3 29.xg3 f5 30.d5+ h8 31.xf5 gxf5 32.h4 g7 33.e6 f6 34.g3 e7 35.f2 f4 36.h2 h4+ 37.f1 xe1 38.xe1 0-1 Pazos Gambarrotti,P-Frometa,Z/Capablanca Mem Mixto, Havana CUB 2002 (38) ] 5.exf5 xf5 6.ge2 [ 6.f3 h6 7.e2 0-0 8.0-0 a6 9.d5 c5 10.g5 c7 11.d3 has been the recommendation of theory for some time . Black's position does not appeal in fact it looks like a Leningrad Dutch gone wrong. The e6 beckons and White can pressurise along the e file. Doubtless there will be tacticians who mention the f file and the po s s ibilit y o f . .. b 7 -b5 b u t m o st st ro n g players would prefer W hite. It's a bit surprising Gurevich doesn't go for this but then again, he was probably surprised by the Greek's audacious choice. Which brings us conveniently to 6 Nge2-not a bad move at all , intending perhaps Ng3 h4-h5, Bd3 or maybe d5,Nd4. It all takes time. Black can cope. ] 6...h6 7.g3 0-0! Relying on the slowness of White's idea and the vulnerability of d4 to compensate for the loss of the bishops. 8.e2 So Gurevich is patient. c6N 9.e3 e5! More or less forced . Black has to play very actively with such obvious long-term positional defects. 10.dxe5 xe5 11.d2 hg4 12.g5 d7 13.0-0 e6 14.b3 h6 15.e3 xe3 16.xe3 f7 17.d2 ae8 White has fiddled around a bit too much. He hopes to create some sort of endgame where the Bg7 shoots into thin air, but as you can s e e , t h e re a re n o cu r re n t d if f i cu lt ie s f o r Banikas. 18.ae1 d8 19.f4 d7 20.f3 b6 21.d5 xe1 22.xe1 xd5 23.xd5 e8 24.d2 f6 25.e1 xe1+ 26.xe1 xd5 27.e6+ h7 28.cxd5 h4 The aforementioned ending but White has at least as many problems as Black. His king is less secure and the knight is a very long way
from the outpost on e6.White could try 29 f5 but then 29... Qd4+ is at least a draw 29.f7 g4 30.f2 d1! 31.e2 h8 32.e8+ [ 32.xg6 xd5 33.g4 h1= ] 32...h7 33.e4 d2 34.a4 f6 35.g3 g7 36.c4 f8 37.f3 [ 37.xc7?? d4+ ] 37...e8! Interesting and cold-blooded. White still hopes to make his better structure count but his winning chances are problematic-he will have to take a risk. 38.f5 gxf5 39.f4 c3+ 40.xc3 xc3 41.e6 d7 42.f4 c5 43.xf5 I guess this is what Gurevich saw bef ore 3 8 f 5 bu t the en dgame cannot b e better for White. Black's passed pawn on the queenside will see to that. a6 44.e4 [ 44.g6 d2 45.f4 b5 46.axb5 axb5 47.f5 xf4! demonstrates graphically how badly things can go wrong for White if he gets too frisky. ] 44...b5! 45.axb5 axb5 46.g4 f6 47.h3 c4 48.bxc4 bxc4 49.f4 c7 50.h4 b6 Producing a position which, if one is very short of time, will be difficult to defend. [ 50...xh4 51.d4 f6+ 52.xc4 is a complete draw. ] 51.g2 c5 52.g5?? [ 52.h5 g5 53.e1 b4 54.f3 c3 55.d3 b3 56.d4+ b2 57.c2 f4 58.e1= is the right circuit. ] 52...hxg5 53.hxg5 xg5 54.e1 b4 55.f3 d2 56.c2+ c3+- 57.a3 b3 58.b5 c3 59.e2 c2 60.xd2 b2 61.xd6 c1+ 62.d3 c5 63.c4+ b3 64.e3 c3+ 65.e4 b4 66.d6 d2 67.d5+ c5 68.e3 xd6 69.f5 e6+ 70.f4 f6 71.g4 d5 72.g3 e5 73.h3 g5 74.e2 h5+ 75.g3 xe2 0-1
1917 Lautier,Joel Speelman,Jonathan S Dutch Open Blitzchess blitz (7) [Nigel Davies]
A42
24.02.2001
1.d4 d6 2.c4 g6 3.c3 g7 4.e4 c6 5.d5 d4 6.ge2 c5 7.e3 b6 Black tries to keep the knight on d4 for as long as possible. 1884
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 7...xe2 8.xe2 is just nice for White, who has a gained a lot of time compared with normal Benoni positions. ] 8.a4 The simplest and most solid route to t h e b e t t e r g a m e . a5+ 9.d2 d8 Black has tried two alternatives, but neither of these has brought himequality: [ a) 9...a6 10.xd4 xd4 11.c3 d7 12.d3 f6 13.h3 h6 14.c2 b6 15.b1 g5?! 16.e2 e5 17.g3 g8 18.b4 a6 19.f4 gxf4 20.gxf4 d4 21.xd4 cxd4 22.e5 h5 23.f2 0-0-0 24.hg1 with a large advantage for White in Lerner, - Buchal, Bad Wiessee 2000 ] [ b) 9...c7 10.c3 e5 11.dxe6 xe6 12.xg7 xg7 13.ac3 d7 14.d2!? ( Simply 14.g3 followed by 15.Bg2 is also better for White) 14...c6 15.0-0-0 d8 16.g4!? a6 17.f3 b5 18.f4 b4 19.cd5 a5 20.b1 e6 21.e2 h6 22.h4 e7 23.f4 and White soon developed a strong attack in Agrest - Helin, Rilton Cup, Stockholm 1999 ] 10.xd4 [ Alternatively White can get an edge with 10.c3 e5 11.dxe6 xe6 12.xg7 xg7 13.ac3 f6 14.g3 ( 14.d2 followed by 15.0-0-0 may be possible here too) 14...0-0 15.g2 a6 16.d2 e6 17.b3 e7 18.0-0 ab8 19.a4 fd8 20.h3 d7 21.ad1 c6 22.fe1 Golod - Hoi, Copenhagen 2000, White has space and pressure on d6. ] 10...xd4 11.c3 d7 12.d3 f6 [ B l a c k s h o u l d p r o b a b l y p l a y 12...g7 first, though for me this is just a bad form of Benoni. ] 13.e2 0-0 14.xd4 cxd4 15.0-0 e5 16.g5 g7 17.f4 Nasty. The following moves are forced, with Black's king ending up in the frying pan. h6 18.fxe5 hxg5 19.exf6+ h7 20.d2 h8 21.xg5 g8 22.e5 h5 23.g3 h8 [ Or 23...xe5 24.xg6 etc. ] 24.e6 e8 25.ae1 b5 26.exf7 xf7 27.e7 g8 28.xf7 xf7 29.xg6 1-0
1918 Levitt,Jonathan Davies,Nigel R Redbus KO Southend ENG (1.1) [Nigel Davies]
A42 2427 2515 02.04.1999
4...a6!? carries provocation to the extreme and has a number of subtle effects. On the face of it Black is playing for ...b7-b5, but depending on White's reply he can also play in the centre. 1.d4 d6 2.c4 g6 3.e4 g7 4.c3 a6!? A provocative looking move with a number of interesting ideas in mind. Does Black want to expand on the queenside with .... c6 and ... b5? Maybe. 5.e3 [ When I tried my line against Zviagintsev in Calcutta 1997, the young Russian showed it c o n s i d e r a b l y r e s p e c t b y p l a y i n g 5.h3 after which f6 6.f3 ( 6.g5 0-0 7.a4?! a5 8.f4?! c6 9.f3 h5!? 10.d2 d5!? 11.d3 g3 12.g1 dxe4 13.xe4 a6 wa s g o o d f o r B l a c k i n N e f f e - D a v i e s , Owens Corning 1995) 6...0-0 7.e3 c6 8.d3 b5 was OK for Black. ] [ One of the cute points of 4...a6 is that 5.f3 can be met by g4 6.e2 c6 7.e3 e5 8.d5 xf3 9.xf3 d4 10.xd4 exd4 leaves the b5 square unavailable for W h i t e ' s k n i g h t a n d 11.e2 h6 looks quite good for Black. ] 5...c6 6.c5 b5 7.cxb6 xb6 8.d2 f6 9.f3 This position might also be reached via a Saemisch King's Indian. Black has very little to worry about here. 0-0 10.c4 a5 11.ge2 a6 12.xa6 xa6 13.0-0 bd7 14.a4 b6 15.xb6 xb6 16.ac1 fc8 17.b3 a6 18.c3 ab8 19.a4 d7 20.c2 b6 21.xb6 xb6 22.fc1 b4 23.c4 xc4 24.xc4 b5 25.d5 c5 26.f2 h5 27.a4 a8 28.e2 b6 29.c4 a7 30.g3 h7 31.g2 h6 32.f4 g7 33.e2 e6 34.d3 exd5 35.xd5 b5 White's superior pawn structure is balanced by the exposure of his king. 36.f2 d7 37.f5 h6 38.xh6 xh6 39.g2 e7 40.c4 f6 41.e5 dxe5 42.xc5 e7 43.d8 e4 44.f8+ h7 45.fxg6+ xg6 46.g8+ h6 47.f8+ g6 48.g8+ h6 49.f8+ ½-½
1885
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1919 Polajzer,Danilo Davies,Nigel R Graz [Nigel Davies]
A42
1981
7...c5 steers the game into an unusual type of Czech Benoni in which Black hasn't blocked his f-pawn with ...Ng8-f6 and White's g2-g4 is arguably rather early. 1.d4 g6 2.c4 g7 3.c3 d6 4.e4 c6 My early preference in this position, hitting d4. [ I later discovered the more flexible 4...a6!? ] 5.e3 [ 5.d5 d4 ( 5...e5!? ) 6.e3 ( 6.ge2 c5 7.xd4 cxd4 8.b5 b6 9.c5 dxc5 10.f4 f8 11.c1 a6 12.c7 f6 13.a3 b5 14.xc5 d3 15.xd3 xb2 was not at all clear in Azmaiparashvili Davies, Albena 1986, though this variation was later 'annotated by result' as good for White. ) 6...c5 7.ge2 ( 7.dxc6 xc6 8.d2 f6 9.e2 0-0 is a version of Maroczy Bind in which White's knight is still on g1. ) 7...b6 8.xd4 ( 8.a4 a5+ 9.d2 c7 10.c3 e5 11.dxe6 xe6 12.xg7 xg7 13.g3 f6 14.g2 0-0 15.0-0 d7 16.ac3 may be slightly better for White as in Tisdall - Davies, Oslo 1988 for example.) 8...cxd4 9.a4 a5+ 10.b4 ( 10.d2 c7 11.c5 f6! is unclear.) 10...xb4+ 11.d2 a3 12.c1 b4+ 13.d2 a3 14.c1 1/2-1/2 Danailov Davies, Albena 1986 ] [ 5.ge2 e5 6.e3 ( 6.d5 ce7 7.g3 c5 8.a3 h5 9.e2 h4 10.f1 was Larsen Davies, Hastings 1987-88 and now h6 looks logical.) 6...h6! 7.d5 ( 7.f3 f5 is also OK for Black - the h6 knight drops back to f7.) 7...e7 8.c1 g4 9.g5 f6 10.d2 f5 11.f3 f6 12.b4 0-0 13.h3 fxe4 14.fxe4 h5 15.a4 f4 16.c2 f5! gave Black the initiative in Bellon Lopez Davies, Portugal 1986 ] 5...e5 6.d5 ce7 7.g4 This is probably W hite's best, attempting to prevent Black from expanding on the kingside. [ The main alternative is 7.c5 after which I h a v e p r e f e r r e d f6 with M.Trifunovic Davies, Vrnjacka Banja 1988 went ( 7...f5 is the 'book' move, but to me it seems a bit
lo o se n in g.) 8.b5+ d7 9.cxd6 cxd6 10.h4 f5 11.exf5 gxf5 12.h5+ f8 13.h6 g8 14.g5 f7 15.h5+ f8 16.xg7+? White could and should have repeated the position xg7 17.xd7 xd7 18.f3 h6 with a good game for Black. ] 7...c5!? Once again my own treatment, going for a kind of Czech Benoni structure in which White has played g2-g4 quite early. [ The standard 7...f5 8.gxf5 gxf5 9.h5+ g6 10.exf5 h4 may be OK for Black, but it has been quite heavily analysed. ] 8.h4 f6 [ In Bagirov - Davies, Portugal 1986 I varied with 8...f5 with the game continuing 9.gxf5 gxf5 10.h5+ is better for Black after ( 10.f3 is better ) 10...f8 11.h3 f6 12.d1 b5! with ferocious counterplay. ] 9.g5?! Giving Black's knight access to f4 from where it is later supported by some tactical byplay. h5 10.e2 f4 11.f3 0-0 12.ge2 f5! 13.d2 a5 14.0-0-0 [ After 14.xf4 exf4 15.xf4 there follows fxe4 16.xe4 xc3 17.bxc3 xf4 18.xf4 xc3+ 19.e2 xc4+ etc. ] 14...b8! 15.xf4 exf4 16.xf4 fxe4 17.xd6 [ The variation 17.xe4 xc3 18.bxc3 xf4 19.xf4 xc3+ 20.b1 ( 20.c2 f5 21.d2 a1+ ) 20...b5! 21.xd6 b6 22.d8+ f7 shows the point of putting the rook on b8. ] 17...xf3 18.xb8 xc3+ 19.b1 e3 20.fxe3 f5+ 21.a1 c2 As White captured the rook on c2 his flag fell. [ After 21...c2 22.xa5 White gets mated with xb2+ 23.b1 d2+ 24.e4 xe4# ] 0-1
1920 Ward,Christopher McShane,Luke J GB CH Millfield (11) [Andrew Martin]
A42
11.08.2000
1.d4 g6 2.e4 g7 3.c4 d6 4.c3 d7 5.e3?! e5 6.d5 e7N [ 6...h6! Mc Shane seems unaware of this excellent move-probably because it was popular long before he was born! Ward's 5 1886
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Be3 is inaccurate . 7.xh6 ( 7.d2 xe3 8.fxe3 a6 9.f3 h5 10.h3 g5 11.0-0-0 f6 12.b1 g6 13.f2 gf6 14.b4 h4 15.d3 h5 16.e2 a5 17.a3 axb4 18.axb4 a4 19.e1 df6 20.c2 a3 21.d3 xd3 22.xd3 xe4 23.xg5 xg5 24.xe4 xe3 25.c2 g3 26.xg3 xe1+ 27.xe1 hxg3 28.c5 f5 29.e3 f4 30.a3 0-0 31.f3 xh3 0-1 Roberts, D-Trevelyan,C/Cardiff 1994) 7...xh6 8.d2 g4 9.h3 gf6 10.d3 a6 11.ge2 e7 12.a3 c6 13.b4 cxd5 14.cxd5 0-0 15.g3 b6 16.0-0 d7 17.e3 a4 DRAW ! Ivkov-Panno Caracas 1970 An oldie and a goldie. ] [ 6...a5 7.d3 A) 7...c5 8.c2 d7 9.f3 f5 10.exf5 gxf5 11.ge2 h6 12.xh6 xh6 13.d2 f6 14.0-0-0 0-0-0 15.g3 hg8 16.f4 e4 17.ce2 g4 18.d4 b8 19.h3 h6 20.c3 h4 21.ge2 xg2 22.xa5 b6 23.c3 dg8 24.b4 a4 25.xa4 xa4 26.a3 e8 27.c5 dxc5 28.bxc5 e7 29.d6 cxd6 30.cxb6 8g7 31.d2 d5 32.c3 2g6 33.c2 b7 34.d2 xb6 35.hc1 a4 36.c8+ ( 36.c8+ xc8 37.xc8+ b7 38.f8 f7 39.xf7+ xf7 40.xf5 b2+ 41.e3 xa2 42.c3 a3 43.d4 d7 44.xd5 a4+ 1/2-1/2 Bodrogi,L-Francsics,E/Hungary 1999 ) 36...xc8 37.xc8+ b7 38.f8 f7 39.xf7+ xf7 40.xf5 b2+ 41.e3 xa2 42.c3 a3 43.d4 d7 44.xd5 a4+ 1/2-1/2 Bodrogi,LFrancsics,E/Hungary 1999; B) 7...h6 8.d2 xe3 9.xe3 c5 10.0-0-0 d7 11.c2 e7 12.f4 f6 13.g3 0-0 14.f3 ae8 15.f5 gxf5 16.exf5 g4 17.e2 e4 18.d4 xf5 19.b1 d7 20.h3 e5 21.g4 Westerinen,H-Larsen,B/Helsinki 1969 ] [ 6...h5 7.d2 a5 8.d3 c5 9.c2 d7 10.ge2 h6 11.0-0 xe3 12.xe3 f6 13.f3 f8 14.b3 g7 15.a3 a6 16.fb1 b8 17.b4 a7 18.xa7 xa7 19.c5 aa8 20.c6 bxc6 21.dxc6 e6 22.a4 axb4 23.axb4 hb8 24.b5 c5 25.ec3 xa4 26.xa4 xa4 27.xa4 e8 28.c3 a8 29.a4 f8 30.f2 e7 31.e3 d8 32.g3 c8 33.b3 a3
34.xe6+ fxe6 35.d2 d5 36.exd5 ( 36.exd5 exd5 37.xd5 xf3 38.e7+ b8 39.xg6 e4 40.e5 a3 41.c4 d3+ 42.c2 f6 43.d1 f3 44.d8+ 1-0 Kraidman,Y-Suttles, D/Skopje 1972) 36...exd5 37.xd5 xf3 38.e7+ b8 39.xg6 e4 40.e5 a3 41.c4 d3+ 42.c2 f6 43.d1 f3 44.d8+ 1-0 Kraidman,Y-Suttles,D/Skopje 1972 ] 7.g4 f5 [ 7...b6 8.e2 a5 9.a4 0-0 10.c2 f5 11.gxf5 gxf5 12.g5 c5 13.f3 e8 14.b5 d7 15.0-0-0 g6 16.f1 f7 17.e3 fxe4 18.fxe4 g4 19.e2 xe2 20.xe2 ac8 21.g3 f3 22.xc5 Markl,M-Pourvoyeur,K/Kufstein 1999 ] 8.f3 Holding the position , giving White's game a certain stability. Typical Ward ,who loves the Samisch structure. [ 8.gxf5 gxf5 9.h5+ g6 10.exf5 h4 11.g5 f6 12.g3 f4 13.b5 d8 14.xh4 xh4 15.f3 f6 16.0-0-0 c5 17.xf4 exf4 18.h3 d7 19.hg1 e5 20.g5 a6 21.d4 e7 22.b3 g8 Huebner,R-Mohr,S/Germany 1990/GERchT ] 8...h5?! Very risky. If Mc Shane wanted to go ...h7-h5 he had to block first e.g. [ 8...f4 9.f2 h5 Even here, thanks to White's long-term plan of 0-0-0, Kb1, Nc1-b3, Rc1, c4-c5!, Black is worse, but at least it's not too serious. The game move encourages White to open the kingside- very, very risky. ] 9.gxf5 gxf5 10.d2 f6 11.0-0-0 f4 12.f2 g6 13.h3 h4 14.f5 g8?! Playing for five thousand pounds, Mc Shane oversteps the mark. [ 14...df8 was more solid, with White still for choice. ] 15.h3 b6 16.hg1 f8! 17.xb6!! A superb idea, which seventy people in the commentary room failed to spot. Ward wins a pawn in a very unstereotyped fashion. [ 17.c5! was expected. ] 17...axb6 18.xg6 xh3 19.xh5 [ 19.f5! xf5 20.xg8+ xg8 21.exf5 a suggestion of Speelman, might be even better. ] 19...g5 20.xg5 xg5 21.g4 xg4 22.g1 f7?! There are two unsatisfactory 1887
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 queen sacrifices. Black can thrash around in time trouble though, with practical chances. [ 22...xf3 23.xg5 xg5 24.f2 h5 25.g2 f6 26.h3 f7 27.b5 ] [ 22...h3 23.xg5 xg5 24.b5+- c8 25.c3 ] 23.xg4 h5 24.g2 f6 25.h4 e7 26.b5 c6 27.c3+- It took two moves to expose the Achilles heel, first on c7, leading inexorably to e6. d7 28.g7+! xg7 29.xg7+ c8 30.f8+ c7 31.xa8 xf3 32.dxc6 Mopping up nicely- Chris Ward has calculated everything and deserves his big pay packet. e3+ 33.c2 bxc6 34.b4! f3 35.b5 f2 36.bxc6 1-0
1921 Winants,Luc Abolianin,Arthur Belgian Interclubs [Paul Motwani]
A42
2000
Curiosity of the Month Consider game W 5, the encounter L.Winants-A.Abolianin in the Belgian Interclubs on February 20th. The openings moves in the Modern Defence were 1.d4 g6 2.e4 c6 3.c4 g7 [ 3...d5 merits serious consideration, at least as an attempt to challenge White's spatial advantage ] 4.c3 d6 5.e3 In practice it's quite common to see a similar position with the white queen on d2 and the c-pawn still on c2, but GM Luc W inants has been allowed to establish an even stronger version with more space due to the pawn on c4 f6 6.e2 P r e v e n t i n g . . . N g 4 a6 Black is already struggling to find a truly constructive p u r p o s e f u l p l a n 7.f4 This case of "f for forward!" further cramps Black a5 8.d2 b6 9.e5 dxe5 10.fxe5 g8 Black is in a me s s , a n d t h e m o ve -cou n t h a s o n ly ju st r e a c h e d d o u b l e f i g u r e s ! 11.f3 White certainly does not mind leaving the b2pawn "en prise", since Black is so underdeveloped that he can hardly afford a precious tempo to take it! g4 this shows one reason why Black didn't play 10...Nd7 before, but of course White's position is too powerful
anyway 12.c5 c7 13.a4 Black is cl early in really dire straits, but the game now ended most abruptly as W hite was suddenly 'a wa r d e d ' a wi n o n t h e gr o u n d s t h a t h i s opponent's mobile phone started ringing at this point during the match, thereby breaking one of the more curious rules of Belgium's national interclubs team competition!! 1-0
1922 Wright,D Ward,Christopher league London [Chris Ward]
A42
2011
1.f3 c5 2.c4 It is via the symmetrical English that I have obtained the majority of my Accelerated Dragons but as you will soon see, in this game something a little different was going to occur. g6 3.e4 g7 4.d4 d6 [ Yes rather than simply entering a standard M a r o c z y B i n d v i a 4...cxd4 5.xd4 , I thought I'd try something else. Previously I've annotated one of my games on this site with 4...Qb6 but this a first for me with this move. ] 5.c3 [ Instead 5 d5 is not unlikely to enter more of a Benoni type position when ... e6 inevitably c o m e s a n d a f t e r 5.dxc5 although many might be tempted to respond with 5...Qa5+, actually in practice the endgame after dxc5 6.xd8+ xd8 has in practice been fine for Black e.g. 7.e2 c6 8.0-0 g4 9.bd2 ( or 9.d1+ e8 10.c3 xc3 11.bxc3 f6 12.h3 xf3 13.xf3 e5 14.f4 xf3+ 15.gxf3 d7 16.ab1 b6 17.a4 g5 18.g3 e5 19.d5 f6 20.bd1 d8 21.h4 h6 22.g2 e7 23.h3 b8 24.g4 c6 25.h5 hg8 26.xd8 xd8 27.xh6 gxh4 28.h7 g5 29.f4 g4 30.fxe5 hxg3 31.exf6+ xf6 32.fxg3 f7 33.f1+ e7 34.a5 f8 0-1 as in Pogorelov, R (2429)-Minasian, A (2567) Ubeda 2001.) 9...f6 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 d7 12.b3 d4 13.xd4 xd4 14.b1 c7 15.f4+ e5 16.d2 a5 17.d1 a4 18.g4 f6 19.f3 h5 20.fc1 hd8 21.c2 d6 22.b4 axb3 23.axb3 da6 1888
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.e1 a1 25.cc1 xb1 26.xb1 a2 27.f1 g5 28.g4 h4 29.d1 d7 30.d3 f8 31.d2 e6 32.e2 c6 33.e1 a1+ 34.d1 xf2+ 35.xf2 xd1 36.d5 b1 37.xe5 b2 0-1 Uhlmann, W (2440)Pavasovic, D (2581) Austria 2002. W hite could maintain the tension by developing a bishop but the text developing move looks obvious too. ] 5...c6 It was still my intention to avoid the standard Maroczy Bind positions and as this was a relatively fast paced time limit London League game, at the time I was happy to give t h i s a w h i r l ! 6.d5 Let's face it, there are subscribers out there who will question what this is doing on the Dragons site, but although I don't intend to feature this sort of thing too often, I think it is important to note that Black d o e s h a v e a l t e rn a t i ve s t o a cce p t in g t h e Maroczy Bind when he adopts the HyperA c c e l e r a t e d D r a g o n m o v e o r d e r . d4 7.xd4 cxd4 8.b5 At this point though I suddenly started having memories of having played this position a long time ago with the other colour and being a main line Queen's pawn player against a Modern Defence I had liked the position as White! Hence I slunk into deep thought hoping to come up with something tricky just in case my opponent w a s f a m i l i a r w i t h t h i s v a r i a t i o n . f6 And this was it, seemingly only having been played once before. What had come flooding back to me was [ 8...b6 9.c5! dxc5 ( or 9...xc5 10.d2 with the white rook destined for c1.) 10.f4 w h e n a f t e r f8 White has at least a repetition by attacking the rook whilst 11.c7 ( Rather than 11.c7 b8 12.b5 a8 13.c7 etc. ) 11...f6 is dangerous e.g. 12.a4 h4 13.d3 f6 14.g3 h6 15.0-0 c4 16.xc4 xe4 17.d6 e5 18.f3! with a winning position for White in Cebalo, M (2460)-Arapovic, V (2360) Medulin 1983. ] 9.xd4 0-0 So basically rather than travel down the previously mentioned theoretically ropy variation I had chosen to sacrifice a pawn for a lead in development and a bit of play! 10.e2 g4!? [ 10...e6 11.d3 exd5 12.cxd5 d7 13.xd6 c5 14.g3 e7 was the only
other example of 8...Nf6 that I have since located but Szuk, B (2340)-Seres, L (2470)/Budapest 1997 didn't turn out well for Black. ] 11.f3! [ I was hoping for 11.xg4 xg4 12.d3 a6 13.c3 e5 14.e2 c8 with serious pressure on the queenside but in fairness my opponent played some accurate moves. ] 11...d7 12.c3 e6 Seeking to open some lin e s a n d o f co u rse t h re a t e nin g . .. Nxd 5 . 13.dxe6 xe6 14.e3! [ Because ...Nd5 was again in the air, the white queen had to retreat and definitely i n f e r i o r w a s 14.d3 c8 15.b3 b5! with strong pressure against c4 and c3. ] 14...c8 15.0-0 [ Sadly for my opponent over the next three moves he has the opportunity to grab the pawn on a7 and he definitely picks the worst of the three. In truth I had the feeling that he wouldn't fancy 15.xa7!? with his king still in the centre. ] 15...xc4 16.xc4 [ A g a i n t h e i m m e d i a t e 16.xa7!? looks critical when I had ideas of breaking w i t h . . . d 5 b u t xe2 17.xe2 d7 is logical looking to activate this knight and the bishop as well as the obvious ...Rc2. Now ( 17...d5 18.e5 d7 19.f4 f6 looks a little murky too.) 18.xb7 c2 clearly offers Black some compensation but whether it's enough I'm not sure. ] 16...xc4 17.xa7? [ I had assumed that White had given up on this pawn and was instead going to c o n t i n u e p o s i t i o n a l l y w i t h 17.d1 Of course he is no longer a pawn up but there remains an outpost on d5 and obvious pressure in both the short and long term against the isolated pawn on d6. Still Black has play elsewhere and White still has to figure out a way of getting his bishop out. ] 17...xe4! Yes White is a tad vulnerable along the g1-a7 diagonal and luring the black rook to c4 didn't help his cause! 18.d1 [ Upon 18.xb7 d4+ 19.h1 Black should settle for 19...Nf2+ rather than seeking fame via g3+? 20.hxg3 c5 as 1889
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.d5! foils the h-file mating plans. ] 18...xc3 19.bxc3 xc3 And suddenly I was a pawn up! However although I also possessed a troublesome knight, I was of course wary of the dark squared holes around my king. 20.e1 h4 This might not be the be st o pt io n a va ilab le to t he qu ee n bu t it seemed to fit in with my aggressive strategy. 21.e3 b5! The priority was ensuring that I didn't get mated on g7 but other than that I wanted everything protected so that I could get on with advancing my d-pawn. 22.d2 b4 23.e7 xe7 24.xe7 g7 Obviously with this I could have been setting myself up for a fall with tactics along the b2-g7 diagonal but I also didn't want to get chained to the back rank. 25.d7 a8 26.xd6 b3 27.b6 [ I did briefly wonder whether 27.xc3+ xc3 28.d2 c2 29.xc2 bxc2 30.f2 xa2 31.c1 f6 was actually winning but also 28...Rc2 isn't forced. ] 27...xa2 28.xc3+ xc3 29.b1 cc2 Now White resigned before the black rooks wreak havoc on the seventh rank. 0-1
1979. ] 8.b3 g6 [ 8...d6 9.e4 g6 10.d3 g7 11.0-0 0-0 12.b2 f5 13.c4 c7 14.exf5 xa1 15.xa1 gave White excellent co m p e n s a t io n f o r t h e e xch a n g e in t h e game Sukharisingh-Suhl, Groningen 1996. ] 9.d2?! Preparing a disruptive check on e3, but White may well be advised to play as in the last note with e2-e4. d6 10.e3+ e7 Now the bishop has been forced to an inferior square (e7 rather than g7), but W hite has spent time to force this concession and now l a g s b e h i n d i n d e v e l o p m e n t . 11.h6 Going after a very hot pawn... d7 12.g7 f8 13.xh7 f5 14.h6 f6 15.e3+ d8! White's last few moves has seen his queen travel from e3 to win the h7-pawn and t h e n re t u rn b a ck t o e 3 . in t h e m e a n t im e Black's pieces have co-ordinated and the bishop has reached its favourite diagonal. 16.d1 b6 17.h6 Back we go again! h8 18.f4 c7 19.xb6 axb6 Both of Black's rooks have found activity on their original squares. W hite has still to develop his kingside. 20.e3 c3+ 21.d2 xa2 Black has regained the pawn and is fully in 1923 A43 control. 22.d3 a6! 23.xa6 [ Now 23.0-0 xd3 24.cxd3 xd2 Arkell,Keith C 2481 nets a piece for Black, so W hite's king is Summerscale,Aaron 2459 forced to stay in the centre. This is the British Rapidplay rapid (11) 19.11.2000 final contribution towards White's downfall. ] [John Emms] 23...xa6 24.f3 a2 25.c4 [ 25.0-0 e5 wins for Black. ] Is there another headache for White after 3... 25...xc2 26.b5 White threatens b5? 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g5 b6 So far we have concentrated on the c o u n t e r p l a y w i t h Q c 6 + , b u t . . . d8! revival of 4...Ne4, but Black also has another T h e k i n g r u n s b a c k t o t h e s a f e t y o f t h e alternative in Summerscale's chosen move. kingside. 27.xb6+ e7 28.c7+ f6 29.xd6+ g7 30.e2 c4 31.bxc4 a2 5.c3 [ The main alternative for W hite is 5.xf6 32.f4 ha8 33.d6 xd2+! The final tactic. f o r e x a m p l e xf6 6.c3 d6 7.e4 a6 It's mate after [ 33...xd2+ 34.xd2 xd2+ 35.e1 a1# 8.a4!?N b4 9.cxb4 xb2 10.bd2 xb4 An excellent game by Summerscale ] 11.b1 with good compensation for the pa wn in Ko ma ro v-Ize ta T xa ba rri, P aris 0-1 1996. ] 5...b4 6.a4 a5 7.xf6 exf6!? This looks like a better bet than 7...gxf6. [ 7...gxf6 8.b3 f5 9.e3 d6 10.d3 g7 11.b1 a6 12.h4 e6 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.h5+ e7 15.0-0 was better for White in the game Browne-Evans, Philadelphia 1890
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 dealing with the threat to the f5-pawn. ] A43 gxf5 20.xf5! This is a neat 2517 19.h1 2440 combination, based on the idea of Qg4+ and 15.02.2000 the weakness of e7. xf5 [ 20...xf5 21.xf5 xf5 22.g4+ wins for White ] A D i s r u p t i v e C h e c k : W h i t e e m p l o y s a n 21.xe7 [ 21.g4+ runs into the defence g5! ] interesting line against the Schmid Benoni: [ but 21.xe7 d7 22.xf5 xf5 23.xd6 An early check which cause some also looks very strong ] inconvenience to Black. 1.d4 c5 2.d5 d6 3.e4 f6 4.c3 g6 5.f3 g7 6.b5+ 21...f6 [ 21...f6 puts up more resistance, but White This check is slightly disruptive, as neither the is still in control after 22.e2 d7 23.f1 ] c8-bishop nor either knight necessarily want to go to the d7-square. In particular, after the 22.xc7! xf4 [ 22...xc7 23.xf5 xh4 24.g4+ more common 6 Be2, Black often develops wins for White ] with a later ...Nb8-a6-c7, supporting the ...b7[ 22...xh4 23.g4+ g5 24.xh4 xc7 b5 advance. bd7 7.a4 Otherwise Black will 25.fxg5 is also lost for Black. ] expand on the queenside with ...a6 and ...b5. 0-0 8.0-0 a6 9.e2 b6 10.e1 e8 23.g3 g4 24.h7+ f8 25.xd6+! xd6 So here it's this knight which goes to c7. 26.xc8+ xc8 27.xg4 The tactics have finished and White is two pawns up with an 11.g5 [ 11.f4 c7 12.f1 b7 13.d2 f6 overwhelming position. 14.ad1 d7 was drawn in Dumitrache- 1-0 Vajda, Timisoara 1994, the players preferring a day off rather than fighting out A43 a Schmid Benoni. Of course there is still lots 1925 to play for in the final position. ] Baburin,Alexander 2593 11...c7 12.d2 b8 13.c4! Preparing to Rustemov,Alexander 2573 meet ...b6-b5 with Na5, when the threat of Bayern-chI Bank Hofmann 3rd (9) 31.10.1999 N c 6 i s v e r y a n n o y i n g . e5 14.e3! [John Emms] White refuses to exchange pieces and thus free Black's position. Now W hite aims to 1.d4 g6 2.e4 g7 3.c3 c5 4.d5 d6 e x p a n d i n t h e c e n t r e w i t h f 2 - f 4 . h6?! 5.f3 g4 6.e2 f6 7.0-0 0-0 8.d2 This looks a natural enough move, but in my xe2 9.xe2 fd7!? 10.c4 opinion it simply chases the bishop to a safer [ Or 10.a4 a6 11.c4 b6 12.e3 c7 square. The immediate transposing. ] [ 14...b5 may well be stronger, for example 10...b6 11.e3 a6 12.a4 c7 13.h1 15.axb5 axb5 16.f4 d7 17.e5 f6! Preparing f2-f4. 18.exf6 exf6 19.h4 e8 and Black's [ In M.Michna-K.Rohonyan, Chisinau 2005, position isn't so bad. Also worth a punt W h it e ch o se 13.d1 d7!? ( 13...a5!? ) looks 14...f5, when the knight is ready to 14.a5 c8 15.c4 b8 ( 15...b5 16.axb6 retreat to f7, where it will gain time on the xb6= ) 16.a3 b5 17.axb6 xb6 ( if bishop. ] 17...axb6 18.ab5! with a bind) 18.f4 a6 15.h4 f5? Now this just leaves Black with a and Black had equalised. W hite can play terribly weak pawn, which is virtually lost by 19.e5 here, and indeed this was played in force. Stronger is the game, but it's obviously double edged in [ 15...b5 16.axb5 axb5 17.f4 d7 18.e5 view of Black's pressure against the d5b6 19.e4 ] pawn. ] 16.f4! f7 17.exf5 d4 18.d3 h8!? [ Another option is 13.a5 d7 14.c4 [ 18...xf5 19.xf5 gxf5 20.h5 d7 . It's important to realise that the Nc4/a5 set21.h1 leaves Black with big problems up is less scary if Black hasn't committed to 1924 Aseev,Konstantin N Alekseev,Vadim Petroff Mem Open (8) [John Emms]
1891
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ... a6, since ...b5 is easier to engineer. For example, here Black can play it immediately: b5 ( another possibility is 14...e5 , e.g. 15.xe5 xe5 16.f4 g7 17.f5 e6!? ) 15.axb6 xb6= Black doesn't have to worry about 16.a5 b e c a u s e a f t e r d7! excellent counterplay is ensured with either ...f5 or ...e6. ] [ 13.f4!? ] 13...e8 Preparing ...e6, which is Black's only source of action if W hite avoids a4-a5 and Nc4. [ If 13...d7!? 14.f4 the pawn grab ( 14.a5 c8 15.f4 ) 14...xc3 15.bxc3 xa4 looks a bit too risky to me. ] 14.f4 [ Black again gets sufficient counterplay on 14.a5 d7 15.c4 b5! 16.axb6 xb6 ] 14...e6! 15.a5 [ Objectively 15.dxe6 might be stronger, and White can still fight for an edge after fxe6 ( if 15...xe6 16.f5 d4 17.f2 I feel W hite's control of d5 gives him an advantage ) 16.d3 ] 15...bxd5! An excellent piece for two pawns sac, which guarantees Black a full share of t h e c h a n c e s . 16.exd5 exd5 17.b5 The only move, otherwise Black regains his piece with advantage, by playing ...d4. d4 18.xc7 xc7 19.d5! xe2! [ If 19...c6? 20.f3! ( rather than 20.e7+?? f8 21.xc6 xe2-+ )] 20.xc7 c8 21.d5 c4 I'm not totally sure about this move, as now White's knight can protect the vital c2-pawn with Nb4. [ 21...ce8!? threatens ...Rxc2 and if 22.c7 Black can repeat moves at the very least. ] 22.d1? It's unclear what White's best move is here, but it's certainly not this. [ Either 22.a6 b6 23.b4 ] [ or the immediate 22.b4 look better. ] 22...f5? Missing a chance. [ After 22...ce8! Black guards against Ne7+ s o . . . R x c 2 b e c o m e s a t h r e a t . I f 23.d2 Black has f2! threatening to double rooks on the seventh. Only Black can be better here. ] 23.g1! f7 24.f1! Just in time! Crucially, Black gets his rook trapped if he takes on c2, so White is a bit better now. The game soon s im p lif ie s in t o a t e ch n ica l e n d in g wh e re
W hite's knight is worth slightly more than Black's three pawns, and Baburin's excellent technique prevails. e4 [ 24...xc2 25.b4! ] 25.d2!? e6 26.b4 c3 27.c1 d3!? 28.xd3 cxb2 29.xb2 xb2 30.xb2 xf4+ 31.g1 xc2 32.d3 d4 33.ab1 c3 34.e1+ f6 35.f2 c7 36.e2 d5 37.be1 e5 38.d3 xa5 39.e6+ f7 40.xd6 e7 41.c1 a4 42.c2 ae4 43.f2 b6 44.g3 4e6 45.d5 b7 46.h4 ee7 47.h5 bc7 48.d2 a5 49.f4 c6 50.d8 gxh5 51.2d5 c2+ 52.f3 c5 53.5d6 c3+ 54.g2 h4! 55.gxh4 b3?? [ 55...c2+ 56.f3 c3+ 57.d3 e6 ] 56.h5? [ 56.d5! wins. ] 56...c7 57.6d7+ xd7 58.xd7+ f6 59.xh7 b2+ 60.g3 b3+ 61.f2 b2+ 62.e3 b3+ 63.d2 f3 64.d3 h3 65.f4 f3 66.d5+ g5 67.h8 f4? Losing. [ 67...b3 68.h6 ( 68.c7 h3 69.e6+ f6 ) 68...b5 69.e7 a4 70.h7 h6 ] 68.h6 f2+ 69.d3 h2 70.h7 1-0
1926 A43 Bareev,Evgeny 2714 Van Wely,Loek 2617 Amber Rapid Monte Carlo MNC rapid (3) [John Emms] 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 This can lead to an a n t i-B e n o n i sys t e m a f t e r 3 . . . e 6 4 Nc 3 ! ? (instead of 4 c4), while a transposition to the S ch m id B e n o n i is a l so p o s sib le if B l a c k simply continues with 3...g6 4 Nc3 Bg7. b5 Black's opts for something more ambitious. 4.g5 This is White 's most critical choice. 4 a4 is well met by 4...Bb7, but White does have the option of transposing to the Benko Gambit Declined with 4 c4. e4 This line has become popular since its successful introduction by the Bulgarian GM Veselin Topalov. 5.h4 This is certainly not the only move here. [ 5.d3 is interesting, but not that threatening for Black (see Golod-Topalov, Bugojno 1999, in ChessPub - ECO code A43). ] 1892
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ For 5.f4 see Hebden-Hodgson, Millfield 2000. ] 5...b7 [ Topalov's improvement over the old 5...a5+ 6.bd2 b7 7.a4 xd5 8.axb5 c7 9.a4! , which was good for White in Kasparov-Miles, Basle 1986. ] 6.d3 Attacking both b5 and e4. Again we have already covered other options for White on this site: [ 6.a4!? - see Summerscale-Mannion, British League 2001 ] [ 6.e3 - see Cosma-Repkova, Leon 2001. ] 6...f5 7.g4!? Wow! This looks like a direct attempt at refuting Black's ambitious play. The idea behind this shocking lunge is simply to undermine the knight on e4. [ 7.bd2 can be seen in the game Sarakauskas-Feuerstack, Hamburg 2003 ] [ while 7.xb5 xd5 looks okay for Black. ] 7...a5+ 8.bd2 e6 Trying to dismantle White's centre. [ 8...xd2 9.xd2 fxg4 10.g2 and with White's pawn on d5 secure, Black will find it very difficult to develop effectively. ] 9.gxf5 exd5 10.c3 d6 11.e3 d7 12.xe4 dxe4 13.g5 This knight will be a monster on e6. d5 14.e6 d4 15.g3 dxc3 [ Or 15...e3 16.g2! ] 16.bxc3 I think White missed a big chance here: [ 16.0-0-0! xa2 ( 16...c8 17.xg7+ is devastating; 16...cxb2+ 17.b1 c6 18.xf8 xf8 19.d6 ) 17.c7+ f7 18.xd7+ g8 19.xc3 looks winning for White. ] 16...f6 17.g2 White keeps his monster on e6. [ 17.c7+ f7 18.e5 e7 19.xa8 xa8 gives Black obvious compensation for the exchange. ] 17...d6! Now the position is totally unclear and Black is no worse. 18.h3 e5 19.0-0 xc3 20.xc3 xc3 21.ac1 b4 22.fd1 c8 23.d6 g8 24.cd1 c6 25.e3 e5?! [ 25...a4! looks good for Black for example, 26.d8+ e7 27.xg8 xg8 28.c1 c4 ] 26.d8+ xd8? [ 26...e7! ] 27.xd8+ f7 28.g5+! e7 29.xg8
xg8 30.xe4+ d7 31.xc5+ White has overturned the pawn deficit, although winning will still be difficult due to Black's queenside pawn majority. d6 32.xc6 xc6 33.d3 c3 34.f1 a5 35.e2 a4 36.f3 b3 37.axb3 axb3 38.d1 b5 39.c1 c4 40.b2+ xb2+? [ 40...b4 offers good drawing chances. ] 41.xb2 d3 42.e4 e3 43.e5 xf3 [ White also wins after 43...f4 44.e6 xf5 45.e7 xe7 46.xe7 f4 47.xb3 xf3 48.c4 g2 49.d6 g5 50.d4 g4 51.e4 h5 52.f5 h3 53.g3! h4 54.f4!! ] 44.g5! g4 45.f6 gxf6 46.exf6 xf6 47.xf6 1-0
1927 Bates,Richard Short,Nigel D 4NCL Div1 [Eric Prié]
A43 2367 2690 2003
1.d4 e6 2.f3 c5 3.g3 cxd4 4.xd4 b6!? Larsen's idea [ 4...c7 White will not play c4 but... A) ... 5.c3 a6 instead transposes into a pure Kan Sicilian. ( 5...d5? 6.db5 b6 7.f4 ); B) 5.g2 a6 6.0-0 f6 7.b3 ( 7.b3 d5! 8.b2 e5 9.f3 c6 10.bd2 c5 11.c4 d4 12.a3 a5 Tikkanen,K-Chernin, A Skelleftea 2000 0-1(39)) 7...c6 8.f4 d6 9.c4 e5 10.1d2 g6 11.g5 e7 12.c1 h6 13.xf6 xf6 14.c5 d5 15.e4 e7 16.c2 0-0 17.exd5 exd5 18.f3 f5 19.d2 e4 20.fd4 fe8 21.e1 ( 21.xe4!? dxe4 22.e1 c6 23.f5 ) 21...xd4 22.xd4 c6 23.d2 xg2 24.xg2 d4 25.xe8+ xe8 26.xd4 1/2-1/2 Harikrishna,P-Xu Jun Jodhpur 2003 ] 5.g2 [ 5.b3 c6! 6.f3 d5 ] 5...c5 6.e3 c6 [ 6...f6 7.b3 e7 8.c4 c7 9.e2 d6 10.c3 a6 11.e4 bd7 12.0-0 0-0 13.e3 e5 14.d2 eg4 15.f4 e5 16.g5 h6 17.xf6 xf6 18.fc1 b6 1893
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.f1 e6 20.e3 fc8 1/2-1/2 Mecking, H-Short,N Buenos Aires 2001 ] 7.b3 e7 8.e4 f6 9.c3 d6 Black has transposed into a classical g3 Sicilian , with the "little center" e6, d6 but has managed to drive the active Knight away from d4 to the less active square b3 and not e2, at the same time avoiding the problems resulting from the captureonc6! 10.0-0 0-0 11.e2 d8 12.a4 c7 13.f4 d7 14.fd1 a6 15.a5 e5 16.d4 ac8 17.f1 c6 18.ad1 h6 19.g2 White's main problem, possibly because as a d-pawn player he is not well acquainted with such a position, is that he does not seem to know what to do.. . e8 20.f1 fd7! a5 is the weakness. 21.e3 c5 22.xc5 dxc5 23.xd8 xd8 24.f4? [ 24.f4 xd1 25.xd1 f6 26.a1 d8 ] 24...c6-+ 25.xd8 xd8 26.h5 xa5 27.c4 d8 28.e5 [ 28.xc5 g6 29.xe7 d4+ 30.g2 gxh5 ] 28...b5 29.d3 c4 30.e4 f5 0-1
the line I refer to later. ] 2.c4 c5 3.d5 exd5 4.cxd5 d6 5.e4 [ 5.c3 g6 6.e4 g7 7.d3 is an attempt to reach the Modern Main Line, but Black can go his own way with e7!? - see YrjolaEfimov, Batumi 1999. ] 5...g6 The thing about delaying ...Nf6 is that... 6.d2!? White doesn't have to play Nc3! Beliavsky doesn't play on autopilot but i n s t e a d s h o ws s o m e i m a g i n a t i o n i n t h e opening and is rewarded with a very pleasant position. f6 [ 6...g7 7.c3 xc3+ 8.xc3 ] 7.c3 g7 8.d3 0-0 9.e2 b5 10.a3 bd7 11.0-0 a6 [ 11...e5!? ] 12.b4! b6 13.d2 b7 14.h3 ac8 15.c1 fe8 This reminds me very much of a variation of the Modern Main Line (see above). In fact if you look closely you can see that Black has exactly the same piece configuration after 15 moves in Ikonnikov-Cox. W hite's set-up is of course different: outwardly less active but not necessarily worse and perhaps even better. The point is that White sometimes finds it difficult to find a really useful role for the dark-squared bishop 1928 A43 in the MML, but here I think it is ideally placed Beliavsky,Alexander G 2646 on c3. Eventually Black in this game felt there Efimov,Igor 2446 was nothing better than to offer an exchange ETCC Crete GRE (1) 28.10.2007 of dark-squared bishops and usually this helps W hite. Also in the MML the c3-knight [John Emms] sometimes hops via e2 to g3 but the e4-pawn 1.d4 e6 With this move order Black must be is sometimes a problem when considering this idea. Here White doesn't have that problem prepared to play the French. [ T h e p r o b l e m wi t h 1...c5 2.d5 e6 and White is ready to play Ng3. 16.b1 e7 is that White is not forced to play c2-c4, and 17.h2 ce8 18.g3 h5 19.f3! h7? indeed 3.c3! is a bit of a pain for Black. This makes White's plan too easy. [ Black has to annoy W hite with 19...h6 Fo r e xa m p le f6 4.e4 d6 ( 4...exd5?! 20.d2 and now back with g7! ] 5.e5! is good for White - see Wohlfahrtd8 21.xg7 xg7 22.c3 Grooten, Boeblinger 2003.) 5.b5+! d7 20.d2 6.dxe6 fxe6 7.c4! e7 8.f3 b5!? Now W hite has a definite advantage... f6? 9.xb5 xb5 10.xb5 a5+ 11.c3 ...which quickly reaches decisive proportions. xe4 12.0-0 xc3 13.bxc3 xc3 14.b1! 23.h4! f7? 24.xg6! xg6 25.e5+ f5 with some advantage f or W hite, Atalik- 26.e6 ff8 27.xf5 [ 27.xf5 xf5 28.g3+ g5 29.f4 Nurkic, Bosnia 2005. ] and Black loses everything. ] [ 1...f6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.c3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.f3 g6 7.e4 a6 8.h3 b5 1-0 9.d3 g7 10.0-0 0-0 11.a3 e8 12.e1 bd7 13.f4 b6 14.d2 b7 15.b4 ac8 (see Ikonnikov-Cox, Port Erin 2006) is 1894
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A43 34.xa6 xa6 35.xa6 xb4? [ 35...dxe4 36.xe6+ d7 37.xe4 xb4 2425 and W hite will find it hard to convert the 2374 pawn advantage. ] 18.11.2001 36.xe6+ f7 37.d6 dxe4 38.fxe4 b2+ 39.d3 xg2 40.d7+ Now the connected 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g5 e4 passed pawns are a killer. g8 41.d8+ f7 T h i s l i n e h a s b e c o m e p o p u l a r s i n c e i t s 42.d7+ g8 43.e5 xh2 44.e6 f6 successful introduction by Topalov. 5.h4 45.f7 g7 46.b7 f6 47.d5 h1 48.xb5 a1 49.b8+ g7 50.b7+ g8 b7 6.d3 f5 7.bd2 [ 7.c3 see Lodhi,M-Ghaem Maghami,E/ 51.h6 a8 52.f7 e5 From this point on I I s t a n b u l O l y m p i a d , T u r k e y 2 0 0 0 i n d o n ' t h a ve a c o rre ct sco r e o f t h e g a m e . Suffice to say that W hite's two monsters in ChessPub (ECO code A43) ] the middle of the board were sufficient for 7...a6 [ 7...c4 8.d4 a6 9.c3 transposes victory. ( 9.0-0-0 b4 see Hasidovski,A-Greenfeld, 1-0 A/Ramat Aviv ISR 2000 in ChessPub (ECO code A43). )] 1930 A43 8.c3 c4 9.d4 xd2 10.xd2 [ 10.xd2 has also been played. ] Bu Xiangzhi 2637 10...b6 11.e5 c5 12.xf5 g6 Zhou Jianchao 2516 13.e5! This move seems to cause Black zt 3.3 Beijing CHN (9) 25.10.2005 problems. [John Watson] [ 13.xg6+ hxg6 14.g5 xd5 15.f3 e5 16.e4 c6 17.e2 e7 was a quick draw Bu Xiangzhi is not only an improving star but in Hu e b n e r, R- T o p a lo v, V / I st a n b u l T U R a devoted player of the English Opening. Here 2000. ] he grabs a pawn that traditionally would have 13...d6 14.d4 h5 15.b3 cxb3 seemed too risky to accept, then consolidates [ 15...c8 16.bxc4 bxc4 17.f3 xd5 relatively easily. But Black had better. 1.c4 c5 18.xc4 c6 19.e4 and White was a bit 2.f3 g6 3.e4 g7 4.d4 d6 This can also better in Bocharov,D-Shinkevich,V/Tomsk arise from an Accelerated Fianchetto Dragon RUS 2001. ] or a 1.d4 opening, but I'll cheat and include it 16.axb3 xd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.e4 c6 here as something aggressive 1.c4 players 19.b4 e6 20.a6 d7 21.f3 Black has may want to know. 5.d5 e6 6.c3 e7 r e g a i n e d h i s p a w n b u t W h i t e h a s t h e A standard position in which W hite usually advantage due to the weaknesses on a7 and plays slowly. No one tries to refute Black's b5. g6 22.b3 g7 23.d2 hc8 24.a3 opening until: 7.dxe6!? xe6 e8 25.f2 d7 [ 7...fxe6 8.f4 d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.d2! ] [ 25...a6 26.d4 xd4 27.cxd4 b7 8.f4 bc6?! A natural move that counts 28.d3 c7 29.h4 and White still keeps an upon Black's rapid development to make up niggling edge. ] for a pawn, but in the end White seems to get 26.d4 a6 27.e3 xd4 28.cxd4 e6 the better of it. A better way to gambit is 29.d3 c4 30.c2 e6 31.ha1 c6 [ 8...a5! 9.d2 ( 9.b3 bc6 10.xd6 32.d3 d5 0-0-0 11.0-0-0 g4 with some [ 32...d7!? 33.xc4 xc4 34.xa6 xa6 compensation.; 9.d2 0-0 ) 9...bc6 35.xa6 xd4 36.xd4 xd4+ 37.c3 10.e2 ( 10.xd6 0-0-0 ) 10...0-0-0 c4+ 38.b3 ] Black has no problems. Apart from ...Bxc3, 33.xc4 xc4? the ideas of ...Ne5 or ...Bg4 with control of [ 33...dxc4 must be played. White is better d4 give him plenty of play. ] after 34.c3 but there is no obvious way 9.xd6 Very daring! And through. ] [ 9.xd6! may be even better, e.g., a5 1929 Bocharov,Dmitry Grachev,Jurij ch-NR Novosibirsk RUS (6) [John Emms]
1895
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 9...b6!? 10.b3; 9...d4 10.xc5 xf3+ 11.xf3 a5 12.e3; 9...xc3+ 10.bxc3 a5 11.b3 0-0-0 12.0-0-0 ) 10.b3 0-0-0 11.0-0-0 g4 12.e2! xf3 13.xf3 d4 ( 13...he8 ) 14.xd4! cxd4 15.b5 ] 9...xc3+ 10.bxc3 a5 11.d2 d8 12.b2 0-0 13.d2 [ White tries to avoid something like 13.e2 d4!? 14.xd4 cxd4 ] 13...a6?! Too slow. A better continuation was [ 13...f5 ] 14.b5 a3 15.b3 a6 16.e2 Now it begins to look like a matter of technique. d7 17.0-0 fd8 18.fd1 f6 19.h4 c8 20.f1? [ Simply 20.b5! ruins Black's plans, since a3 fails to 21.b3 xd1+ 22.xd1 xd1+ 23.xd1 ] 20...a5? [ 20...xd1! wins the c4-pawn (White must ha ve o ve rlo o ke d t h is): 21.xd1 xd1 22.xd1 b6! ( 22...xc4 23.e2! ) 23.e3 xc4 24.e2 xb3 25.xa6 xa2 26.xb7 d8 27.a6 e6 and White would be clearly better if he could coordinate. However, 28.d2 a4 29.c4 b2 ties White down. ] 21.a3 [ or 21.b5 ] 21...xd1 22.xd1 xd1 23.xd1 b6 [ 23...xc4 24.xc5 ] [ 23...xc4 24.xc5 c6 25.e3 ] 24.a4 c6 25.e3 b1 26.b5 xb5 27.cxb5 Now it's easy. e5 28.a4 d6 29.c2 g7 30.f1 h6 31.e2 g5 32.g3 b6 33.f3 f8 34.d2 e7 35.d5+ xd5 36.exd5 ec4+ 37.e2 f5 38.f4 g4 39.h5 f7 40.h4 a3 41.d1 e4 42.d3 b1 43.e1 g3 44.c4 a3 45.b3 f6 46.xg3 xh5 47.h2 1-0
1931 Chuchelov,Vladimir Gashimov,Vugar Schachbundesliga 2010-11 (11) [John Emms]
A43 2565 2719 27.02.2011
1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 d6 4.c3 g6 5.e4 g7 6.e2 0-0 7.0-0 g4!? Exchanging the light-squared bishop is of course a logical idea, and one seen many tim es in Ben on is. Ind ee d, in t he Mod ern Benoni Classical Variation ...Bg4 is the main choice for Black, while in the Modern Main Line White prevents it with h2-h3. Interestingly, though, in the Schmid Benoni, 7...Bg4 is less popular than both 7...Na6 (the commonest choice) and 7...e6. [ 7...a6 can transpose to ...Bg4 lines, e.g. 8.f4 c7 9.a4 g4 ( 9...b6 ) 10.h3 ( 10.d2 ) 10...xf3 11.xf3 d7 12.d2 a6 reaches the note on 10 Bf4, below. ] 8.h3 [ 8.d2 is covered in Swiercz-Kempinski, Warsaw 2010, and Baburin-Rustemov, Bad Wiessee 1999. ] 8...xf3 9.xf3 a6 Black's knights will sit on d7 (to uncover the g7-bishop and protect e5) and c7 (to facilitate ...b5). [ The alternative is 9...bd7 . For example, 10.f4 a6 ( Black can return to Plan A with 10...e8 and ...Nc7) 11.a4 b6 ( 11...b8 ) 12.d2 b8 13.fe1 ( 13.e2!? b5 14.axb5 axb5 15.xb5 xe4 16.e3 ) 13...b5 14.axb5 axb5 15.ad1 b4 16.e2 e8 17.b3 e5= A.Volodin-S.Kasparov, Peterhof 2008. ] 10.e1 Alternatively: [ a) 10.e3 b8 11.a4 c7 12.a2 b6 13.b5!? ( or 13.e2 a6= Milic ) 13...d7! 14.xa7 cxd5 15.exd5 xa7 16.c4 b5! and Black was at least equal in G.Barcza-G. Tringov, Leningrad 1967. ] [ b) 10.f4 is the more natural bishop move. d7 11.d2 c7 ( 11...c4!? ) 12.a4 a6 13.e2 b8 A) 14.a5 b5 ( 14...b5 ) 15.axb6 xb6 16.a4 b4 17.c3!? xe4 was A.Aleksandrov-A.Kovchan, Smolensk 2000, and here 18.f3 ( 18.g3 xd5! was the game) 18...xf4 19.xf4 e5 gives Black reasonable compensation for 1896
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the exchange; B) 14.h6 b5 15.xg7 xg7 16.d1 f6 17.f3 e6! 18.axb5 axb5 19.e3 exd5 20.exd5 e8 21.a7 e5= A.Karpov-W.Browne, Madrid 1973. ] 10...d7 11.e2 An advantage of choosing ... Na6 and ...Nfd7 (as opposed to ...Nbd7 and ... Nf6-e8-c7) is that there are some situations where Black can play more actively. [ F o r e x a m p l e , i n t h e e v e n t o f 11.f4 Black could consider c4!? intending ...Nac5, ...Qa5, ...b5, etc. ] 11...c7 12.a4 a6 [ 12...b6 to cut out a4-a5 after ...a6 is possible, but a bit slow if you compare it to the main game. 13.g5 h6 14.e3 h7 15.d2 f6 ( more consistent would be 15...a6 followed by ...Rb8) 16.f4 e6 17.dxe6 fxe6 18.f3 d5 19.e5 d7 with some advantage to W hite, S. Prudnikova-E.Borulya, German League 1997. ] 13.g5 Chuchelov allows Black to play ...b5 unhindered, hoping to gain activity when the afile opens. His rooks do end doubling on the afile, but find that not a great deal is achieved by this. [ The other option for White, and perhaps a better one here, is to induce a split in the pawn structure with 13.a5 . For example, b5 ( Black is more or less committed to ...b5 anywa y, bu t 13...b8 , ...b5 and ...Rxb6 is another way to carry it out) 14.axb6 xb6 15.g5 d7 16.a5 fb8 ( both 16...f5!?; and 16...e6!? are more active) 17.d2 c8 18.b3 b4 19.d3 d8 20.ea1 M.Mitkov-Z.Stanojoski, Struga 1993. ] 13...b8 14.d2 [ A g a i n W h i t e e s c h e w s 14.a5 b5 ( 14...b5!? is also possible here, now that the bishop no longer defends b2.) 15.axb6 xb6= ] 14...b5 15.axb5 axb5 16.a7 e8! Usefully protecting against both Bxe7 and Bh6 ideas. 17.ea1 White has achieved his objective, and his pieces look active, but what next? c4! Black begins to create counterplay, with ...Nc5 coming next. 18.e1? A clear sign that something has gone horribly wrong in White's planning. [ 18.d1 c5 19.f3 is much more
consistent, and better: b6 followed by ... Ra6 with a roughly equal position. ] 18...c5 19.f1 b4! Suddenly White's pieces are driven backwards, whereas Black's knights move forward and he grabs what turns out to be a decisive initiative on the q u e e n s i d e . 20.d1 b5 21.a2 c3! 22.c1 cxb2 23.xb2 c3 24.a7 5xe4 25.e3 xg5 26.xg5 f6 27.d2 c8 28.c4? b5! 29.a5 c3 30.d1 xe1 31.xe1 c3 32.e3 c7 33.a7 c5 34.xc5 dxc5 35.d6 exd6 36.xd6 e1 37.f3 d8 A very smooth win by Gashimov. W hite should probably play a4-a5 bef ore Black plays ... b5. 0-1
1932 Cosma,Elena Luminita Repkova,Eva EuTChw Leon ESP (2) [John Emms]
A43 2357 2330 07.11.2001
1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g5 e4 5.h4 [ 5.d3 is interesting, but not that threatening for Black (see Golod-Topalov, Bugojno 1999, in ChessPub - ECO code A43). ] 5...b7 Topalov's move, which has made this whole variation popular for Black once again. [ 5...a5+ 6.bd2 b7 7.a4 xd5 8.axb5 c7 9.a4! is good for White, KasparovMiles, Basel 1986. ] 6.e3 [ 6.d3 f5!? see Hasidovski,A-Greenfeld,A/ Ramat Aviv ISR 2000 (in ChessPub - ECO code A43). ] 6...b6 Covering the attacked b5-pawn. [ 6...g6 see Timman,J-Topalov,V/ Wijk aan Zee NED 2001 (ChessPub ECO code A43). ] 7.a4 a6 8.axb5 axb5 9.xa8 xa8 10.d3 At t a ckin g b o t h e 4 a nd b 5 , bu t B lac k will remain equal on material due to the weakness on d5. f5 11.xb5 xb5 12.xb5 xd5 Black has no problems in this ending. Material is equal and Black has a nice compact pawn structure. 13.bd2 g6 14.0-0 g7 15.c3 d6 16.a4 e5 17.d1 f7 18.e4 e6 1897
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.exf5 gxf5 20.b3 a6 21.g5 xg5 22.xg5 f7! Making use of the fact that d7 cannot be taken due to ...Bxb3. 23.e3 c4 24.d6!? cxb3 25.xa6 f4 26.c5 e4 27.g3 e5 Despite the lack of pieces the situation is quite unclear now. Black's pawns are well advanced but it's not clear whether they are strong or weak. 28.a7 c8 29.b4 d4! 30.a5 [ 30.cxd4?? allows c1+ 31.g2 f3# ] 30...b6 31.a6 e3 Again Black uses tactics. 32.fxe3 [ 32.xb6 e2 33.c4 xc4 is winning for Black - the pawn on e2 is too strong. ] 32...xe3+ 33.g2 d5+ 34.h3 f3 35.xd7 b7 36.e6+ g7 Now White is a pawn up but that pawn on f3 is looking d a n g e r o u s . 37.a1 c6! 38.xb3? A mistake. [ W h i t e is s t i ll in t h e ga m e a f t e r 38.d7 although h6+ 39.g4 xh2 leaves Black well on top. ] 38...c8+ 39.g4 [ 39.h4 h6# ] 39...f2 White has no good way of avoiding mate with ...Rh6. 0-1
[ 5...d6 is Black's safest move, leading to the main line of the Schmid Benoni (see JE93, Kozul-Ponomariev) ] 6.e5! I believe it was the American Grandmaster Alex Yermolinsky who first came up with this idea. [ 6.e2 b5 7.xb5?! ( 7.e5 g4 ) 7...xe4! 8.xe4 a5+ is the main point of Black's idea ] 6...g4 Logically attacking the e5-pawn [ 6...e8?! 7.h4! d6 8.e6! fxe6 9.h5 gave White a strong attack in YermolinskyKhmelnitsky, US Ch 1995. ] 7.g5 This is the point of Yermolinsky's idea. White goes for a very quick attack, which is surprisingly effective. d6 Other moves also promise White a strong initiative: [ 7...h6 8.h4 f6 9.ge4N f7 10.h5! f5 ( 10...xe5 11.hxg6 hxg6 12.f4 f7 13.g4 ) 11.g5 xg5 12.xg5 with a very powerful attack for W hite in Huzman-Minasian, Pula 1997. ] [ 7...xe5?! 8.f4 f6 9.xh7! xh7 10.fxe5 fxe5 11.d3 threatening Qh5+. ] [ 7...h5!? is given in NCO as Black's best chance, with no further analysis given. This could be a move for future debate. ] 8.e6 h6 9.h4 fxe6 10.h5! White's attack is crud e , b ut ve ry st ro n g n evert he les s. It 's 1933 A43 possible that Black is already losing. exd5 De Vreugt,Dennis 2511 11.xh7! g4 [ 11...xh7 12.hxg6+ xg6 13.d3+ f7 Al Sayed,Mohamad Naser 2370 14.h5+ ] WJun Yerevan ARM (8) 26.09.2000 12.xd5+ e6 13.xb7 a5 [John Emms] [ 13...d7 14.xf8 simply leaves White material ahead. ] In this game Black plays an interesting line of the Schmid Benoni. delaying the advance of 14.d2 b4 15.xa8 Black doesn't have the d-pawn. However, this way of playing is enough compensat ion f or the rook . xb2 presently under a cloud due to a discovery for 16.b1 xc3 17.d3 [ But not 17.xc3?? xc3# ] White by the American GM Yermolinsky. 1.e4 In this particular game we reach our position 17...e5+ 18.e4 xe4+ 19.xe4 xh7 20.hxg6+ g8 21.xh6 via a Sicilian Defence [ The same position can be reached via the 1-0 move order 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e4 ] 1...c5 2.f3 g6 3.d4 g7 4.d5 f6 5.c3 0-0 This is an ambitious move, aiming to attack White's centre with a quick ... b7-b5. To gain that extra tempo Black leaves out ... d7-d6, but of course this gives W hite extra possibilities. 1898
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1934 Douven,Rudy C Gelpke,Peter chT Leeuwarden NED (5) [John Emms]
A43 1935 2389 Ehlvest,Jaan 2379 Williams,J 18.03.2000 Las Vegas [John Emms]
A Useful Trick: 1.d4 c5 2.d5 d6 3.e4 f6 4.c3 g6 5.f4 This is a vicious alternative to 5 Nf3. (for that move see Kozul-Ponomariov g7 6.f3 It's very possible that this natural move is a mistake. [ The preferred line is 6.b5+ which causes a slight disruption in the Black camp. fd7 ( 6...bd7?? 7.e5 wins a piece; 6...d7 7.e5 is also strong for White.) 7.a4 0-0 8.f3 a6 9.0-0 c7 10.d3 a6 11.e1 b8 12.f5! is given as a slight advantage to White, according to NCO. ] 6...0-0 7.c4 7 Be2 is probably stronger, but Black could still play 7...b5!? b5! This is a useful trick to know. 8.xb5 [ 8.xb5 xe4! the point! 9.xe4 a5+ 10.c3 xc3+ 11.bxc3 xb5 and Black is better, for example 12.f2 d7 13.e1 e8 14.f5 f6 15.fxg6 hxg6 16.g5 a6 17.d2 h7 18.c4 b2 19.e3 c3 20.e2 f6 21.g1 xd5! and Black went on to win in Charbonneau-Day, North Bay 1998. ] 8...xe4 The exchange of the b-pawn for the e-pawn favours Black, as now he need not worry about facing a central pawn avalanche. Overall Black can be fairly happy about the outcome of the opening. The rest of the game is not particularly important, but note that the lack of an e-pawn really does effect White's chances of creating a decisive pawn break 9.0-0 a6 10.a3 b7 11.d3 f6 12.e1 bd7 13.d2 a7!? 14.ad1 e8 15.b1 a8 [ 15...a8!? ] 16.b3 b6 17.a5 b8 18.xb6 xb6 19.c3 b7 20.h3 c8 21.g4 d8 22.f5 d7 23.h4 h8 24.fxg6 hxg6 25.d2 g8 26.e4 xe4 27.xe4 f6 28.f3 g5 29.de2 g6 ½-½
A43
2003
1.d4 c5 2.d5 f5 3.c3 f6 4.f3!? Another direct approach from W hite, which was recommended by Richard Palliser in Play 1 d4!. White intends a very quick e2-e4, and when compared to analogous positions in the Dutch, here Black is in no position to prevent this with ...d7-d5. e5 Claiming some space in the centre. Black has a couple of alternatives here, but White should keep an edge: [ a) 4...d6 5.e4 fxe4 6.fxe4 a6!? 7.f3 ( 7.a4 g6 8.e2 g7 9.f3 0-0 10.0-0 g4 was not so bad for Black in StefanovaMiton, Bajada de la Virgen 2005) 7...g4 ( maybe 7...b5 here, although then 8.e5 does rather suggest itself even so, perhaps Black's position is just about playable after dxe5 9.xe5 e6!? ) 8.e2 xf3 ( o t h e r w i s e N g 5 i s i n t h e a i r ) 9.gxf3! (Ward) when White will follow up with f3-f4. ] [ b) 4...g6 5.e4 fxe4 ( 5...d6?! 6.b5+ d7?! 7.exf5 gxf5 8.h3! , intending Nf4, gave W hite a clear plus in Izoria-Ehlvest, Batumi 2002 obviously Ehlvest was impressed enough to switch sides a year later ) 6.fxe4 d6 7.f3 g4 (ThesingBie nhu els T hesing-B ien hue ls Th esingBienhuels, Munsterland 2003) and now probably White should opt for 8.e2!? xf3 9.gxf3! again. ] 5.e4 [ 5.dxe6?! is met by d5! ] 5...f4 Trying to achieve a bind on the kingside. In some ways Black would prefer to keep the tension, but this is easier said than done. For example, [ a) 5...g6 6.d6! and White is preparing both Nb5 and the possibility of Bg5 with Nd5. ] [ b) 5...d6 6.b5+! blocking on d7 allows White to play 7 exf5. ] 6.h3!? Hitting f4 in preparation of g2-g3 naturally White wants to try and force Black to relinquish his space advantage on the kingside. Another point of Nh3 is that in some line the knight can go to g5, especially if Black weakens the e6-square with ...d7-d6. 1899
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ W hite can also play the immediate 6.g3 , e.g. d6 7.h3 xh3 8.xh3 h5 9.g1 ( IM Tsesarsky suggests 9.e2!? ) 9...h6 10.e2 a6 11.gxf4 h4+ 12.f2 xf4 13.xf4 xf4 14.g4 f7 15.0-0-0 with an edge for W hite, AkhsharumovaZayac, Kuala Lumpur 1990. ] 6...h5? Trying to prevent g2-g3, but this meets with a powerful response. That said, it's not that easy to suggest an alternative for Black here. [ a) 6...a6 7.g3!? ( 7.d6 c6 8.xf4!? exf4 9.xf4 was unclear in Ortega-Gentilleau, Mo n t e c a t i n i T e rm e 1 9 9 7; Tsesarsky assesses 7.a4 as an edge for W hite) 7...h5 8.d6! looks good for White. One nice line here is fxg3 9.hxg3 xg3 10.c4! xh1 11.g5 b6 12.d5 and White mates. ] [ b ) P e r h a p s B l a c k ' s b e s t h e r e i s 6...d6 even if 7.g5!? looks very enticing for White. ] 7.d6! Splitting Black's position in two and t h r e a t e n i n g b o t h N b 5 a n d N d 5 . B l a ck i s already in big trouble here. h4+ [ Both 7...a6 8.d5! xd6 9.dxf4 xf4 10.xd6 xh3 11.xe5+ ] [ and 7...f6 8.b5! a6 9.c4 are not very encouraging from Black's point of view. ] 8.f2 c6 9.g3! f6? Now Black simply loses a piece. [ 9...fxg3? 10.hxg3 also drops the knight on h5 ] [ the only way to stay in the game was with 9...g5 ] 10.g4! Trapping the knight on the edge of the board. The rest is very easy for White. g3 11.d5 xd6 12.hxg3 fxg3 13.h3 d4 14.c3 e6 15.e3 b6 16.a4 g6 17.g2 b5 18.c2 b7 19.d1 c6 20.f4 d6 21.0-0 h5 22.e2 hxg4 23.xg4 exf4 24.hxf4 h6 25.h3 h8 26.e5 1-0
1936 Elsness,Frode Ber,Yves Moss GM turnering (9) [Berg, Emanuel]
A43 2460 2594 18.04.2010
1.d4 e6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 exd5 4.cxd5 d6 5.c3 g6 Black is playing a Benoni, trying to do without ...Nf6 depending on how W hite re acts. Th e N migh t a lways go t o f 6 a n d transpose back to the main lines. 6.f3 g7 7.g3 h6 An original idea. This move has only been played twice before according to Mega Database 2010. 8.g2 [ 8.h4 can be answered with f6 9.h5 g5 a n d t h e h - p a wn a t t a c k h a s n ' t b r o u g h t White anything, but is rather a weakness for him. ] [ 8.f4 f6 9.a4+ is an interesting option, when Black has some coordination problems. ] [ 8.g5? is simply a loss of tempo compared to the game. Black likes to play ...f6 in any case and now he will get it for free. f6 9.f4 f7 10.g2 a6 11.h4 0-0 is similar to the game, but with Black having an extra tempo. 12.0-0 c7 13.a4 e7 14.e1 d7 15.b1 f5 16.e4 g4 17.d2 xf3 18.xf3 g5 19.e3 gxh4 20.gxh4 f5 21.exf5 xh4 22.g2 e5 23.g5 h5 24.e4 xf5 25.f4 f3+ 26.xf3 xf3 27.xd6 h5 28.g3 xd5 29.f4 xf4 30.xf4 a6 31.e7 f8 32.e3 f7 33.e8+ f8 34.e7 b8 35.f1 b4 36.e2 a6 37.g1 f8 38.c7 e8 39.f3 c6 40.e2 f5+ 41.f4 e7 42.xe7 xe7 43.xc5 xb2 44.e1 f6 45.g4 g5+ 46.h3 f7 47.e3 b5 48.axb5 axb5 49.b1 d5 50.xd5 xd5 51.b4 c3 52.f4+ g6 53.g4+ f5 54.g5+ e6 55.xd5 xd5 56.f4 b4 57.c1 b3 58.f5 h5 59.h4 e4 60.xh5 xf5 61.h4 e4 62.g3 d3 63.f2 c2 64.a3 b4 65.xb4 b2 66.e3 b1 0-1 Kashlinskaya, A (2344)Stetsko, L (2067)/Moscow 20091 Extra ] 8...0-0 9.0-0 a6N [ 9...f5 has been tried earlier and also looks reasonable, but I had an other idea in mind. 10.g5 b6 11.b1 e8 12.f4 d7 13.d2 e5 14.xe5 dxe5 15.a4 1900
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d8 16.e3 d7 17.b3 b5 with an interesting battle in 1/2-1/2 Dydyshko, V (2525)-Kostenko, P (2466)/ Istanbul 2000 ] 10.f4 White puts some pressure against the d 6 - p a w n a n d p r e p a r e s t o p l a y Q d 2 . f6 Preparing ...Nf7 where the Knight protects the d6 pawn and also can support the advance of the pawns on the kingside. Later on this N might end up on e5. 11.b1 White prepares the b4 advance and is ready for a3 and b4. In case of . ..Nc7 b4 might come right away. f7 Black prepares slowly the advance of ... g5 and ...f5, but has no concrete threat yet. 12.h4?! An unnecessary weakening of the position for W hite. Now Black's plan of advancing the kingside pawns can soon be seriously considered. [ Better was 12.a3 followed by b4. ] 12...f5! A forcing move. Now White must either weaken his position with e4 or move the R from b1, which would complicate the advance of a3, b4. 13.e4 g4 Black has a nasty pin against the N on f3 and already t h r e a t e n s t o p l a y . . . g 5 . 14.d2 d7 Black activates the Q, threatens to take space on the queenside playing ...b5 as well as p r e p a ri n g . . B h 3 i n s o m e va r ia t io n . 15.a3 Now White is ready to meet ...b5 by b4. g5!? Black starts an attack on the kingside before White gets time to create counterplay on the queenside. 16.e3 [ 16.hxg5 xf3 17.gxf6?? ( 17.xf3 fxg5 18.e3 e5 ) 17...xg2 18.fxg7 f3! 19.gxf8+ xf8 is winning immediately for Black, because White is unable to prevent the mate threat s withou t huge materia l losses. 20.e3 g4!-+ ] 16...xf3 17.xf3 gxh4 18.gxh4 e5 [ I n c a s e o f 18...h3 19.g2 xh4 Black is a pawn up, but here Whit gets good counterplay with 20.f4 when Black lacks activity. ] 19.g2 f5 Black will soon exchange off his weak f-pawn and open further lines for the coming attack against the White King. 20.f4 h8 Getting the g-file ready for the Rooks. 21.h1 [ 21.g3!? was perhaps a better way of defending the White position. ] 21...fxe4 22.xe4 g4!
[ I w a s t e m p t e d t o p l a y 22...f3 but the move is rather pointless if W hite d o e s n ' t t a k e . 23.e3 and White has no problems. ] 23.xe5? This Bishop is far too important for White, even though he can force exchange of Queens by this move. [ A b e t t e r d e f e n c e w o u l d b e 23.g3 when Black should play f3 24.e2 ae8 25.be1 d4! in order to keep the initiative. ] 23...xe5 24.g5 g8 25.xg4 xg4 W hite is about to loose a pawn, but even more important his King will be in great danger as well as the B and N. White's chances rely o n t h e p a ss ive B l a ck N o n a 6 . I f h e c a n create counterplay before that N comes into the game he might have survival chances. 26.g5 xh4+ 27.h3 c4! A strong move that gives a route for the N a6 to get into the game. Now also the P b2 becomes a serious weakness. 28.f4 f6 29.a4 White tries to prevent Black from playing ...b5 and so to we a ke n t h e P c4 . B u t n o w W h it e c re a t e another weakness that Black immediately makes use of b4! The N is heading for d3 and the c4-pawn can still be protected by ... Rc8 if necessary. 30.fe1 d3 31.e6 xb2 32.h2 c3 The c-pawn is unstoppable and White resigned. 0-1
1937 Fressinet,Laurent Tregubov,Pavel V ChIP Paris FRA (6) [John-Paul Wallace]
A43 2646 2599 12.07.2007
1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g5 b6 5.c4!? This is an extremely rare and paradoxical move - f irstly because W hite takes play back into a Benko, which is what he was trying to avoid in the first place, and secondly because in most lines in the 4.Bg5 variation White tries to prove an advantage by gaining piece control of the c4 square. Nevertheless, when such a strong player as Fressinet tries it on there has to be a point, so let's try and make sense of it. Well, we have reached a Benko where both sides have an 1901
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 extra move thrown in, W hite has Bg5 and Black Qb6, so clearly Fressinet thinks this will help him. If Black captures on c4 now, the obvious move, White can continue in gambit style with 6.Nc3, which was my first thought although I am not sure how good it is. However, it is also possible to capture on f6 and play Qc2. Finally, Black may play ...b4 and it is here that, I feel, Fressinet's concept at least makes the most sense, because in this case I am not sure what good the queen do e s o n b 6 . b4N A new move, although the position after 5.c4 has only occurred 5 times before, and none of those games were in GM practice. [ 5...bxc4 A) 6.xf6 xf6! ( 6...gxf6 7.c2 b4+ 8.bd2 a6 9.e4 h6 10.a3 a5 11.c3 xc3 12.bxc3 xd2+?! 13.xd2 d6 14.xc4 xc4 15.xc4 and White had a very pleasant endgame in Lymar, I (2350)-Georgiadis, I (2038)/Korinthos op 7th 2004 (3)/1-0) 7.c2 ( 7.c3!? ) 7...g6 8.e4 g7 9.c3 a6 10.xc4 b8 11.0-0 b6 12.b3 0-0 Black is already at least equal here, with a powerful darksquared bishop. 13.a4?! a5 14.ac1 d6 with a nice game for Black in Djurkovic, M (2220)-Cepon, D/SLO-ch Slovenia 1991/ 1-0; B) 6.c3 xb2 7.d2 b6 8.e4 d6 B1) 9.b1 d8 10.xc4 e5 11.dxe6 fxe6? ( 11...xe6! looks like an i m p r o v e m e n t , f o r e x a m p l e : 12.xe6 fxe6 13.g5 d7 ) 12.g5! e7 13.e5!+- d5 ( 13...dxe5 14.f3 e4 15.gxe4+- ) 14.xd5 exd5 15.xd5+Matthiesen, M (2322)-Vistisen, L (2199)/ Politiken Cup 21st 1999; B2) 9.xc4 g6 10.0-0 g7 11.e5 dxe5 12.xe5 0-0 13.e2 e8 14.fe1 d6 15.d3 f5 and I already prefer the Black position, it is solid and he is a pawn up. White has a slight lead in development but that is all. 16.ab1 d8 17.xf5 xf5 18.c4 d6 19.e2 xe5?! ( 19...e8!; 19...c8! ) 20.xe5 c4 21.e2 xd2 22.xd2 d7 a n d W h i t e n o w h a d e n o u gh p la y i n Martin, B (2320) -Levi, E (2300)/
Auckland 1992 (10)/1/2-1/2 ] [ 5...g6 6.c2 ( 6.bd2 ) 6...g7 7.e4 bxc4 8.c3?! This move is probably a bit premature, and loses the option of Nbd2 with control over the c4 square. ( 8.xc4! d6 9.0-0 and White is still slightly for preference.) 8...d6 9.xc4 a6 10.xa6?! ( 10.d2! ) 10...xa6 11.e2 0-0 and Black is already better in Haataja, RMartynov, P (2455)/Haapajarvi op 1999 (5)/ 0-1 ] 6.bd2 d6 7.e4 bd7 8.d3 h6 9.xf6! This works out very well for White! [ 9.h4?! g5 10.g3 h5= ] [ 9.e3!? g4 10.f4 g5 11.g3 g7 ] 9...exf6!? [ 9...xf6 10.e5! dxe5 11.xe5 and W hite has a dangerous lead in development. ] 10.0-0 g6 [ 10...e7 11.h4 g6 leads to the game ] 11.h4! after this move it is clear that White has emerged from the opening with a big advantage. He plans to play f4 and Black has problems gaining any decent squares for his minor pieces. e7 [ 11...g7 12.f4 0-0 was perhaps some improvement, although White can either play 13.f5 immediately, or build up, in both cases with a big edge . 13.f5!? ( 13.f3 f5?! 14.exf5 d8 15.g3 )] 12.e1?! this finesse was unnecessary, because Black was not in a position to play ... f5. [ 12.f4! f5 13.e1! fxe4 14.xe4 f6 15.e2+- ] 12...b7 13.f4 0-0-0 14.hf3 de8 15.f2 f8 16.a3 a5 17.axb4 axb4 18.c2 The position is horrible for Black, as all of his minor pieces are still struggling! g7 19.a4 e7 20.fe1 he8 21.f5! h5 22.e5!? [ 22.fxg6! the computer's solution forces W hite into a nasty self pin, but probably works well: fxg6 23.h4!+- f5 24.xg6 d4 25.xe7+ xe7 26.e3! d8 27.h1 ] 22...fxe5 23.fxg6 e4 [ 23...fxg6 24.e4 is positionally very bad for Black ] 24.gxf7 xf7 25.xe4 fe7 26.eg5 xe1+ 27.xe1 xe1+ 28.xe1 e5 1902
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 29.xe5 xe5 30.f7+Now White is winning although technique is required. b3 31.xe5 dxe5 32.c3 f6 33.e3 f5 34.xb3?! [ 34.xc5+! b8 35.h4 b1+ 36.h2 xb2 37.b6+- ] 34...f4 35.c3 a6 36.b3 e4 37.g3 g4 38.e3 d8 39.b4?! g7 suddenly now it is somewhat tricky for White, as his king and queenside pawns are shaky. 40.b3 a1+ 41.f2 b2+ 42.e1 b1+ 43.d2 b2+ 44.c2 xb4+ 45.d1 xc4 46.xe4 a4+ 47.c2 d4+!= now Black has finally managed to gain a drawn position. 48.xd4 cxd4 49.h4 e7 50.d2 c4 51.g6 xd5 52.xh5 e4 53.e2 f6 54.g4 [ 54.e1 e5 55.f2 f5! 56.g4 xg4!= ] 54...e5 55.g5 f4 56.d3 d5 57.g6 g4 58.g7 xh4 59.e4 g8 60.d3 g5 61.xd4 f6 62.d5 xd5 63.xd5 xg7 64.e4 A disappointing game for Fressinet, who had Tregubov close to resignation, but credit to the second player for his resilience under pressure. Fressinet's 5.c4 was a great success in it's first GM outing, although I think that Tregubov's 5...b4 was too accommodating, and that future attempts should focus on 5...bxc4. ½-½
1938 Gazarek,Danko Rogulj,Branko TCh Pula CRO (2) [John Emms]
A43 2354 2460 11.09.2001
1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 This can lead to an a n t i-B e n o n i s ys t e m a f t e r 3 . . . e 6 4 Nc 3 ! ? (instead of 4 c4). However, Black's choice has been very fashionable of late. b5 4.g5 4 a4 can be met by 4...Bb7. It should also be mentioned here that White can transpose into the Benko Gambit Declined with 4 c4. e4 5.d3 This is interesting, but it's not the most critical test of Black's idea. These are 5 Bh4 and 5 Bf 4. xg5 6.xg5 b6!? 'White's idea is seen after the bizarre sequence' [ For 6...g6 see Golod-Topalov, Bugojno 1999 in ChessPub (ECO code A43). ] [ 6...h6 7.h7! as played in the game Wells-
Buckmire, Oakham 1986. White will chop on f8 and keep an edge. ] 7.d6!? [ 7.xh7 h6 is interesting, for example 8.xf8 c1+ 9.d1 xb2 10.d2 xf8 and I quite like Black's position - the rook on h8 has a nice semi-open file to look at. ] 7...c6 8.f5 d8 9.xh7 e6!? Black goes for an enticing exchange sacrifice. [ 9...xd6 is the solid option. ] 10.h5 xd6 11.f6+ gxf6 12.xh8+ e7 13.d2 b7 14.e3 c6 15.g7 b4 16.d3 xd3+ 17.cxd3 a5 18.h4 W hite aims to queen this pawn. He is successful but still loses the game! c4 19.h5 c3 20.bxc3 xc3 21.e2 b4 22.ad1 It seems that W hite has everything under control... c8 23.h6 b2 Now the threat of . ..Rc2 looms large. 24.g4 [ 24.h4 a5 25.h7 c2! ] [ 24.h7 c2 25.e4 xd2+ 26.xd2 xd2+ 27.f3 xd3+ 28.g4 xe4+ 29.h3 f5+ 30.h4 c5! and Black wins, for example 31.h8 ( 31.f1 xg2 32.xg2 xh7+ 33.g3 d5 with a winning advantage ) 31...xf2+ 32.g3 e4+ 33.g4 xh1+ 34.h3 xg3+ 35.xg3 e1+ 36.g4 e4+ 37.g3 e3+ 38.h4 g5# ] 24...c2 25.xb4+ The only way to avoid an immediate catastrophe. xb4 26.h7 g4+ 27.e1 xg2 28.h8 xh1+ 29.xh1 xh1 Black, with a two pawn advantage, wins t h e e n d g a m e . 30.f3 g2 31.f2 h3 32.g3 f5 33.e4 g6 34.a3 a2 35.e1 xd2 0-1
1939 Gelfand,Boris Ponomariov,Ruslan World Cup Khanty Mansiysk RUS (7.8) [Mikhail Golubev]
A43 2758 2739
This is the last rapid game between Gelfand and Ponomariov, in a must-win situation for Black. 1.f3 g6 2.d4 g7 3.e4 d6 4.c4 c5 5.d5 e6 Intending ...Ne7!?. Polish GM Heberla is probably the main expert for Black in this system. 6.c3 1903
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ It is curious that Morozevich also used " T h e K i n g' s I n d i a n wi t h . . . Ne 7 " , a l b e i t without success, in his must-win game from the second round: 6.d3 e7 ( 6...exd5 7.exd5 g4 8.0-0 e7 9.h3N xf3 10.xf3 d7 11.c3 0-0 12.d1 e5 13.e1 e8 14.f4 a6 15.a4 b6 was OK for Black in Urban-Hracek, Warsaw Ech-rapid 2009) 7.0-0 h6 ( 7...0-0 8.h3 exd5 9.cxd5 a6 10.a4 f5N 11.c3 d7 12.g5 h6 13.d2 f4 14.b1 and here the draw was agreed in Kempinski-Heberla, W arsaw Ech-rapid 2009) 8.c3N 0-0 9.e3 exd5 10.xd5 bc6 11.d2 g5 12.h3 xd5 13.cxd5 e7 14.ae1 b6 15.b4 b8 16.h2 g6 17.g4 xg4 18.hxg4 d7 19.f3 . Black has a playable position but he spoiled his chances over the f o llowin g mo ve s: a4!? 20.b1 fc8 ( 20...a5!? ) 21.fc1 d4?! ( Morozevich was probably afraid of b4-b5, but 21...e5 looks better than the text) 22.xd4 cxd4 23.f1 a3? ( clearly a lesser evil was 23...e5 24.xd4 xa2 ) 24.c6!+Laznicka-Morozevich, Khanty-Mansiysk 2009 ] 6...e7 7.e2 Ponomariov already tried this setup in a game against W ang Yue at the Aeroflot open 2005, where White played 7.h3. 0-0 8.0-0 exd5 9.exd5 h6 [ The plan with ...g5 is somewhat risky strategically, but it gives Black practical chances for serious counterplay. Instead, 9...g4 transposes to Iljushin-Morozevich, Russian Ch 2003 and Timman-Topalov, Corus 2004 ] 10.h3 g5 11.e1N [ In Vijayalakshmi-Heberla, Kavala 2006 White played 11.d3 ] 11...d7 12.e4 f6 [ After 12...b6 White has 13.g3! , planning Nh5 (Ponomariov). ] 13.xf6+ xf6 14.d3 g7 15.c2 b5 Otherwise it is not clear what should Black do: . . . N g 6 we a k e n s t h e f 5 s q u a r e . 16.cxb5!? xd5 [ M o r e a m b i t i o u s t h a n 16...b7 with a somewhat better position for White. ] 17.d2 [ An interesting option, which I overestimated in my notes in Chess Today, was 17.e4!?
b4 ( 17...e6? 18.d1! ) 18.a4!! d5 19.b1 threatening 20.a3. Now I see that after g4 20.hxg4 xg4 21.h2 ( if 21.a3 xf3 22.gxf3 d4 23.axb4 xf2+ 24.xf2 h4+ ) 21...e8 22.xh6+! xh6 23.xg4+ g7 24.xe8 xe8 25.f5 xb2 Black is in the game, more or less. ] 17...b8 18.ad1 a6 Black is trying to complicate matters at all cost. 19.a4?! [ Here Gelfand missed a strong move 19.c4! with a clear advantage: e6 ( if 19...c7?! 20.a5! axb5 21.e4 h8 22.c6 b7 23.e4+- ) 20.xe6 fxe6 21.e4 h8 22.xe6 ( not bad is also 22.bxa6 ) 22...c7 23.f5 ] 19...axb5 20.axb5 e6 21.c4 e8 22.xg5 [ More precise was 22.xd5! xd5 23.xe8 xe8 24.xg5 hxg5 25.xd5 xb5 - White is somewhat better and should not risk losing, at least ] 22...hxg5 23.xd5 xb5 24.b3 [ Gelfand could try 24.xe6!? fxe6 25.e5 xe5 26.xe5 w i t h t h e i d e a o f f6 27.xd6! xe5 28.d7+ f6 29.h7 e1+ 30.h2 e5+ and here 31.g1 secures the desired draw for W hite. ( W h i t e c a n p l a y f o r a w i n b y 31.g3 where Black possibly holds: xb2 32.g2 bb8 33.h4 g8 )] 24...xd5 25.xe8 xb3!? [ After 25...xe8 26.xd5 White is very solid. Ponomariov's move led to a chaotic fight where Black eventually succeeded. ] 26.e4?! [ Better was 26.e2! xd1 27.xb5 c7 ] 26...d5! 27.e2 d7 [ Interesting is 27...c4!? with the idea of 28.xc4?! dxc4! 29.exd8 xd8 30.xd8? c3! ] 28.e1 c4 29.e3 [ A good, probably better alternative was 29.d2!? ] 29...d4! 30.c1 d3 31.a3 h7!? 32.a8?! d3! 33.c1 d5!? 34.ae8? [ S p o i l i n g h i s l a s t c h a n c e s : 34.a6!? with a trap c4?? 35.xf6 xf6 36.a1+ g6 37.e5+ ] [ Or 34.c8!? with the idea of f5 35.c7 xh3 36.gxh3 xf3 37.xf7+ xf7 38.c4+ g7 39.xb5 xh3 40.b7+ 1904
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g6 41.d5= ] 21.c2 h6 22.g3 b7 23.b1 h5 24.h4 34...c4!-+ 35.a3 d2! 36.d1 c3 37.f8+ c6 25.g2 d3 26.f1 d5 27.b3 g6 38.c8 b3 39.c6 xd1+ 40.h2 [ 27.exd5 xd5 28.e1 xe1! 29.xd5 xf3! 41.gxf3 d1 xb1 30.xf7+ xf7 31.xb1 c6 0-1 is very strong for Black, with the two bishops far outweighing rook and pawn. ] 27...c5 28.exd5 xd5 29.bxc4 bxc4 1940 A43 White has managed to simplify the position Golod,Vitali 2568 so m e wh a t , b u t n o w t h e p a wn o n c 3 i s a xg2 Topalov,Veselin 2690 p e r m a n e n t w e a k n e s s . 30.g5 15th ECC Final (2) 30.10.1999 31.xg2 d5+ 32.gf3 xc3 33.c2 xd2 34.xd2 e5 35.a1 f5 This pin on [John Emms] the knight is decisive. 36.e3 e5 The Retreating Queen: White tries an unusual 0-1 queen move early on, but this only leads to later problems. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 A43 This can lead to an anti-Benoni system after 1941 3...e6 4 Nc3!? (instead of 4 c4). However, Gonda,Laszlo 2359 Topalov's choice is also very playable for Fogarasi,Tibor 2445 Black. b5 4.g5 4 a4 can be met by 4.. . Bb7. FSGMA April Budapest HUN (2) 03.04.2002 It should also be mentioned here that White [John Emms] can transpose into the Benko Gambit Declined with 4 c4. e4 5.d3 This is interesting, but 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 d6 4.c3 a5 p e r h a p s i t 's n o t t h e m o s t c rit ica l t e st o f 5.d2 Black's idea. [ ECO gives the reference 5.d2 b5 6.e4 [ 5.h4 a5+ 6.bd2 b7 7.a4 xd5 b6 7.xf6+ exf6 8.e4 e7 9.a4 bxa4 8.axb5 c7 9.a4! led to a very good 10.c3 with a slight edge to White, position for White in the game KasparovSkembris-Papaioannou, Thessaloniki Miles, Basel 1986. It would be interesting to 1997. ] see what improvement Topalov had lined up 5...b5 6.e4 a6 against this. ] [ The immediate 6...b4 is also possible ] 5...xg5 6.xg5 g6 7.a4 White immediately strikes on the [ White's idea is seen after the bizarre queenside and forces Black to move the b5sequence 6...h6 7.h7! as played i n the pawn. Thus th e knight on c3 is f orced t o game Wells-Buckmire, Oakham 1986. White retreat but White will obtain the powerful c4will chop on f8 and keep an edge. ] outpost. 7.e4 In the next few moves White has several [ Also possible is simple development, for chances to nab a pawn on b5, but chooses example: 7.e2 g6 8.0-0 g7 9.f4 bd7 not to. Naturally Black will get counterplay, 10.f3 0-0 11.e2 b4 12.d1 b5 13.c4 but the question has to be asked, "W hat's bxc3 14.xc3 xe2 15.xe2 b6 16.c4 white's queen doing on d3, if it's not taking a xc4 17.xc4 b8 18.b1 e8 pawn?" g7 8.c3 0-0 9.e2 e6!? 10.f3 and Black was okay in Huzman-Van der exd5 11.xd5 b6! 12.bd2 Werf, Wijk aan Zee 1993. ] [ Obviously 12.xa8 b7 traps the white 7...b4 8.cb1 queen. ] [ 8.e2 g6 9.g3 g7 10.c4 c7 12...b7 13.b3 c4 14.d1 d6 15.a4 a6 11.d3 0-0 12.f4 ] 16.axb5 axb5 17.xa8 xa8 18.0-0 d7 8...g6 9.e2?! After this White has problems White's queen has finished its lengthy circuit with his e-pawn. and has ended up back on d1. Black's extra [ I prefer 9.c4 c7 10.d3 g7 11.0-0 space and bishop pair are good enough for a and White can follow up with Bf4, h2-h3 (to healthy advantage. 19.e1 c5 20.f1 e8 give the bishop an escape square on h2 if 1905
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 harassed by ...Nh5), and Nbd2. ] 9...c7! A clever prophylactic measure. Now Nd2-c4 doesn't come with tempo, so W hite will have to protect e4 first. 10.b3 g7 11.b2 0-0 12.0-0 e6! Pressurising the centre before White has time to consolidate wi t h f 2 - f 3 a n d N d 2 - c 4 . 13.dxe6 xe6 14.d3? d5! 15.xf6 A very sad move to have to make, but [ 15.exd5 g4! 16.g3 xb2 17.a2 xd5 18.xg4 g7 is also very strong for Black. ] 15...xf6 16.a2 c6 17.exd5 xd5 18.e4 d4 19.c4! Otherwise the rook on a2 would never be able to enter the game. e6 20.g5 ad8 21.xe6 fxe6 22.e2 xf2+! A powerful sacrifice in order to open up the wh it e k in g. 23.xf2 xf2 24.xf2 f4+ 25.e1 [ 25.g1 d4+ regains the bishop. ] 25...c1+ 26.f2 f8+ 27.g3 f4+ 28.h3 h6+ 29.g3 g5+ 30.h3 Black has a draw by perpetual check if he wants it, but there are greater rewards on offer. d4 31.g4 e3+ 32.g3 f3! Threatening 33. ..Qh6+ 34 Kg4 Qh5 mate. White's reply is forced. 33.xg6 [ 33.gxf3 xf3 wins the white queen. ] 33...g1+?? Spoiling all the previous good work. [ 33...h6+! w i n s a f t e r 34.h5+ h8 35.gxf3 ( 35.g4 g1+! 36.h4 f4 ) 35...xh5+ 36.g2 g8 and White's rook and knight are no match for the black queen. ] 34.g4 xg3+ 35.xg3 hxg6 36.f2 The material is level but Black's knight is stuck on a horrible square and is in constant danger of being trapped. From a winning position a few moves ago, Black is now lost. d8 37.d2 d3+ 38.f4 g7 39.e5 e3+ 40.d6 e2 41.xc5 a5 42.b5 d4+ 43.xa5 xb3+ 44.xb4 c1 45.b5 d3 46.f3 e5+ 47.b6 c5 48.a3 d7+ 49.c7 f6 50.a5 e2 51.f3 c2 52.e5 d5+ 53.d6 b4 54.a6 1-0
1942 Gupta,Abhijeet Koneru,Humpy 5th ch-Asian (3) [John Emms]
A43 2404 2540 08.10.2005
1.d4 e6 2.c4 c5!? Recently we've looked at the Keres Defence with 2...Bb4+, but Black has another option in this Pseudo Modern Benoni in which Black can delay or even omit ...Nf6 in favour of ...Ne7. 3.d5 exd5 4.cxd5 d6 5.c3 g6 [ 5...e7!? is also interesting, Black playing with a Modern Benoni structure, but developing the bishop to f6 and the knight to g6 - see Harstad-Tissir, Catalan Bay 2004. ] 6.e4 g7 7.f3 Alternatively: [ a) For 7.d3 see Yrjola-Efimov, Batumi 1999 (ECO code A43). ] [ b) White can try to play in Flick-Knife Attack style with 7.f4 but with the knight still on g8, an early e4-e5 in no longer such a threat, and Black has other ways to play the position. For example, a6 8.f3 g4 9.d3 d7 10.0-0 e7 (AulanderConquest, Germany 2002) ] [ c) If White wants to play in Modern Classical style then the most accurate move is 7.h3 Of course Black can transpose to the Modern Benoni proper with 6...Nf6, but e7 is also playable and gives Black new options: 8.f3 0-0 9.d3 a6 10.a4 and now perhaps 10.. .f5!? or 10...h6!? followed by ...g6-g5 and ...Ng6 ] 7...a6 8.a4 g4! The same rules still apply: ... Bg4xf3 is a good trade for Black. 9.b3!? [ If White is looking to play the position q u i e t l y t h e n 9.e2 is the way to go, although Black has no real problems after xf3 10.xf3 d7 11.0-0 e7! and indeed he has scored very well from this position. One practical example continued 12.e2 0-0 13.a5 f5! 14.g5?! h6 15.d2 f4! 16.g4 e5 17.e6+ h8 18.h1 f3 with very good play for Black, M. Gurevich-A.Ivanov, Philadelphia 1989. ] 9...xf3! [ 9...c7?! 10.d2! leaves the bishop looking silly on g4. ] 10.xb7! [ After 10.gxf3 Black can still offer the b1906
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pawn with 10...Nbd7, but there's also no reason not to play c7! when it's unclear what W hite has achieved with his early Qb3. ] 10...xg2!? This desperado keeps the m a t e r ia l s it u a t io n b a l a n c e d a t a co s t o f accelerating White's development. [ Black can make it a real pawn sacrifice with 10...d7 11.gxf3 when 11...Ngf6 transposes to the very similar line arising from the Modern Benoni (see Crouch-Povah, Portsmouth 2003 - ECO code A70), while of course Black still has the option of e7 , e.g. 12.f4 0-0 13.e2 f5 14.e5 b8 15.xa6 dxe5 16.d6 c8 17.0-0 b6 18.c4+ h8 with a very complex position (I think I'd take Black), Borges MateosChatalbashev, Mondariz Balneario 2003. ] 11.xg2 d7 12.g5? This allows Black to reach a very favourable ending. Alternatively: [ a) 12.c6? is no good on account of e7! when White embarrassingly has to move the queen back to b7 - 13.xd6?? sees it being trapped after e5! ] [ b) 12.f4 can be met effectively by 12... Ne5 or e5 ] [ c) 12.0-0 is probably best, when Black continues with 12...Ne7 and ...0-0. ] 12...b8! 13.xd8 There's no choice. xb7 14.a5 e5! Simply threatening to trap the bishop with ...Nc4. 15.f1 f3+ 16.d1 xb2 17.xa6 f6 In the long term White's passed a-pawn could become a major player, but at the moment it's Black who has all the activity. With the next move White decides to get rid of that annoying rook on b2, but at a cost of dropping the e4-pawn. 18.a2? xa2 19.xa2 xe4 20.e2 d4+ 21.e3 f6 22.b7 d7 23.b1 b8! Threatening to capture on d5. 24.c3 g4+ 25.d2 e5! Now ...Nc4 is coming and that bishop on a5 is looking very poorly. 26.d1 c4 27.c6+ xc6 28.dxc6+ c8 29.b5 xa5 30.xd6+ c7 31.xb8 xb8 32.c7+ White regains the piece, but there's a sting in th e t ail. . . xc7 33.e8+ d7 34.xg7 e7! There's no way out for the knight! 35.h4 f8 For those who don't mind playing the French, 1...e6 and 2...c5 looks like a worthwhile option. 0-1
1943 Harstad,Christian Tissir,Mohamed Masters Catalan Bay ENG (9) [John Emms]
A43 2113 2436 04.02.2004
1.d4 e6 2.c4 Obviously Black must be prepared to play the French Defence after 2 d4, but is there any advantage in delaying the development of the g8-knight? c5! 3.d5 exd5 4.cxd5 d6 5.c3 e7!? Black plays with Modern Benoni structure, but develops the bishop to f6 and the knight to g6. As we shall see, there are certain advantages in playing this way. [ 5...g6 is also possible, after which the game could easily transpose into Modern B e n o n i, a lt h o u gh B la ck a lso h a s o t h e r options here. For one thing, the knight can still be developed at e7 - see the game Yrjola-Efimov, Batumi 1999 in ChessPub (ECO code A43). ] 6.e4 f6 7.f3 a6 8.a4 e7 9.h3 W hite plays in the Modern Classical style. g6 10.d3 0-0 11.0-0 d7 This reminds me somewhat of Watson's ...Nh5 line against the Modern Classical in the 'real' Modern Benoni. But the knight is less vulnerable on g6 (as opposed to h5) and has extra options of going to e5 and h4. So perhaps this is actually an improvement for Black over that line. 12.e1?! Another advantage over the real Modern Classical Variation is that White doesn't have the option of Bg5. [ 12.e3 looks stronger, ready to meet de5?! 13.xe5 xe5 with 14.f4 ] 12...de5! In the real Modern Classical with ... Nh5 White usually replies to this move with Bd3-e2 and following an exchange on f3, Black has to do something about the threat to h5. Here, however, there is no such problem! 13.xe5 [ 13.e2 xf3+ 14.xf3 e5! intending ... Qf6, or ...Qh4 and ...f5 with good counterplay. ] 13...xe5 Black's position is already more than pleasant. The move ...Qh4 is coming and at the right time ...f 7-f5 will augment the obvious activity on the kingside. Perhaps the Modern Classical isn't the way forward against ...Be7-f6 and ... Ne7-g6. 14.h5 f4 1907
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 14...a5!? ] 15.xf4 xf4 16.e2?! After this move W hite gets in a real tangle and Black soon builds up a winning position. [ White should probably try to get motoring on the kingside with 16.g3 g6 17.e2 e5 18.g2 (intending f2-f4) d7 19.f4 d4 , although I still prefer Black. ] 16...g6 17.f3 e5 18.e3 h4! 19.c2 d4 20.e1? A final mistake, although 20 Qe2 Bd7, followed by ...Rae8 and . ..f7-f5, is ra t h e r u n p le a sa n t t o p la y a ga i n st . xh3! 21.gxh3 g3+ 0-1
of
[ 5...a5+ 6.bd2 b7 7.a4 xd5 8.axb5 c7 9.a4! as in the game Kasparov-Miles, Basel 1986. ] 6.d3 f5!? 7.bd2 c4 8.d4 a6 9.0-0-0 [ 9.xe4 fxe4 10.xe4 b4 11.0-0-0 a5 seems reasonable enough for Black, e s p e c i a l l y a s 12.a3 can be answered by xd5! 13.xd5? e6! ] 9...b4 10.xe4 fxe4 11.g5 b6! 12.xe4 xa2+ 13.b1 b4 We've reached a somewhat unusual position, in which only one central pawn (W hite's dpawn) has actually moved. White can try and attack Black's weakened kingside, while Black can attempt to do the same on the other wing. 1944 A43 14.c3 [ 14.xh7 xd5 15.xd5 xh7 16.xh7 Hasidovski,Arnold 2177 xd5 17.e4 f7 is an amusing line, which Greenfeld,Alon 2563 looks roughly level. ] Israeli League (8) 31.03.2000 14...h6! [John Emms] [ 14...xd5 15.xd5 e6 now fails to 16.xh7! ] GAME OF THE MONTH: Beware of the Rooks!: An impressive game by Black, who 15.cxb4 hxg5 16.xg5 a5! Excellent pla y develops in quite an original manner. This by Black, who is a pawn down , but has a could well breathe some new life into the 3... raging attack on the queenside. Somehow, b 5 s y s t e m . 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 Black has managed to activate both rooks on e6!! This can lead to an anti-Benoni system after t h e i r o r i g i n a l s q u a r e s ! 17.e3 3...e6 4 Nc3!? (instead of 4 c4). However, Another shocking move, after which Black Black's choice is more ambitious. b5 4.g5 takes control of the position. 18.xe6 [ 18.dxe6 xe4+ 19.c1 dxe6 is better for This is W hite's most critical choice. 4 a4 is Black ] well met by 4...Bb7, but White does have the option of transposing to the Benko Gambit 18...dxe6 19.bxa5 exd5 20.b6 e5 21.e3 White has remained a pawn ahead, but Declined with 4 c4. e4 5.h4 Once again h6 B l a c k i s extremely active, and has an this is considered to be W hite's sharpest impressive pawn umbrella on the queenside. response. [ 5.d3 is interesting, but not that One idea Black has is to simply round up the d4! threatening for Black (see Golod-Topalov, a5-pawn with ... Bf8-b4xa5. 22.e2 23.exd4 This allows a winning combination Bugojno 1999, in the theory section). ] 24.c1 xb6!! 25.axb6 b4 [ White's other main try here is the retreat 5 e4+ Bf4. 5.f4 for example, b7 6.d3 f5!? Suddenly W hite cannot avoid mate. 26.b3 Mate with ...Ra1 is imminent. An 7.bd2 c4 8.d4 a6!? 9.c3 ( 9.xe4 c3 fxe4 10.xe4 b4!? ) 9...ac5 10.xe4 extremely original game from Greenfeld. xe4 11.g4 e6 12.gxf5 xd5 13.h3 f6 0-1 14.xf6 gxf6 15.fxe6 dxe6 and Black was fine in the game Mittelman-Avrukh, Israeli League 2000. ] 5...b7! This looks like a new attempt to reach a playable position for Black, and certainly in this game it works very well. It's well known that White is better after the "book response" 1908
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.h3 with an unclear position, although I A43 prefer White. ] 2505 2640 13.h4 [ 13.xe4!? must be the critical move here, 11.08.2000 for example e5 14.dxe6 0-0-0 ( 14...dxe6 15.d1! ) 15.d2 ( 15.c5 xd4 16.cxd4 dxe6 17.e3 xc5 18.dxc5 d5=; 15.e7!? ) In this game we see a continuation of the 15...xd4 16.cxd4 dxe6 and it's true that revival of 3...b5!?. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 Black has play for the pawn, but this deficit b5!? This move is currently enjoying some still has to be justified. ] popularity at the moment, but whether this will remain we shall have to wait and see. 4.g5 13...h6 14.g3 [ Again 14.xe4!? must be critical. ] This is W hite's most active choice. 4 a4 is well met by 4...Bb7, but White does have the 14...f6 15.xe4 xd4 16.cxd4 xd5 option of transposing to the Benko Gambit 17.g2 e6 18.0-0 e7 19.fd1 0-0 Now Black is slightly better, nut Julian only Declined with 4 c4.' e4 5.f4 [ For 5.h4 see the game Hasidovsk- required a draw to retain the championship so... Greenfeld. ] [ 5.d3 is interesting, but not that ½-½ threatening for Black (see Golod-Topalov). ] [ A more recent 5 Bh4 encounter went 5.h4 A43 b7 6.d3 f5 7.bd2 c4 8.d4 a6 1946 9.xe4 fxe4 10.xe4 a5+!? 11.c3 b4 Heinzel,Olaf 2347 12.c2 bxc3 13.bxc3 c5 14.e3 xd5 Khenkin,Igor 2572 15.e2 e4 16.c1 g5 17.g3 d3+ 5th Bayern-Ch Bad Wiessee (6) 2001 18.xd3 xd3 19.d4 e5 20.f3 a3 [Eric Prié] 0-1 Gazarek-Shinkevich, Pardubice 2000. ] 5...b7 6.d3 f5 7.bd2 c4 8.d4 a6 1.d4 e6 2.f3 c5 3.c3 c6 4.f4?! Black uses the same idea as in Hasidovsk- This is the main advantage of the move order: Greenfeld. White can grab a pawn on e4, but The "London System player" cannot get in his then Black achieves excellent counterplay with standard development (d4, Nf3, Bf4 or g5, e3, ...Na6-b4. 9.c3 c3). Yet, there exists a multi-purpose waiting [ 9.xe4 fxe4 10.xe4 b4!? 11.0-0-0 move in this position: 4.a3! which I would a5 12.a3 xd5 13.xd5 e6! fancy playing as White. The idea is b4 and is favourable for Black. ] t h e n B i s h o p o u t m u ch l i k e m y f a v o u r i t e 9...c7!? The first new move of the game, Chameleon Slav! and perhaps a good one. [ 4.g5 b6 5.b3 xb3 6.axb3 cxd4 [ 9...ac5 10.xe4 xe4 11.e5!? 7.xd4 xd4 8.cxd4 d5 9.c3 b4 looks like an important improvement. It's 10.e3 ( 10.a4 a5 ) 10...d7 ] not clear how Black should proceed here. 4...cxd4! 5.cxd4 b6 6.d2 ( In contrast 11.g4 e6 12.gxf5 xd5 [ 6.b3 Thematically loses a pawn after 13.h3 f6 14.xf6 gxf6 15.fxe6 dxe6 xd4 7.xb6 xf3+ 8.exf3 axb6 ] wo r k e d o u t we ll f o r B l a c k in t h e g a m e 6...f6 7.c3 d5 Mittelman-Avrukh, Israeli League 2000. )] [ 7...b4 8.e3! ( 8.a3 e4 9.c2 a5 10.xe4 fxe4 11.xc7 10.c1 xc3+ 11.bxc3 d5= ) 8...e4 [ 11.g5 xd5 12.xe4 b6 looks fine for 9.c2 a5 10.c1 d5 11.d2 ] Black. ] 8.e3 e4! There is no need for long 11...xc7 12.g5 f4 comments in this game. I think the moves and [ Black can also try the extremely ambitious the variations speak for themselves. 9.c2 12...e6!? here, for example 13.dxe6 d5 d7! 10.e2 14.f7 g8 (planning ...Bc5) 15.e3! c5 [ 10.xe4 b4 11.b1 dxe4 12.xe4 16.d1 g6 17.e2 e7 18.g4 h5 c8 ] 1945 Hebden,Mark Hodgson,Julian M ch Millfield ENG (11) [John Emms]
1909
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10...c8 11.0-0 e7 12.d2 [ 12.xe4? xd4 ] 12...g5! 13.g3 [ 13.dxe4 gxf4 14.d2 fxe3 15.fxe3 g5 16.f3 xd4! 17.exd4 xd4+ 18.h1 xd2 ] 13...xg3 14.fxg3 [ 14.hxg3 h5 is also bad. ] 14...h5 15.b3 f5 16.d1 g4 17.a4 c7 18.ac5 g5 19.d2 h4 20.gxh4 [ 20.xd7 xd7 21.xg4 fxg4 22.f7+ e7 23.c5+ e8 24.xe6 d6-+ ] 20...xh4 21.f4 Black was menacing Mate in t wo wi t h a t h e Q u e e n s a c r if i ce o n h 2 f o l l o we d b y F f 2 ! g5 22.xd7 xd7 23.b5 e7 24.xc6 xf4 25.exf4 xc6 26.e1 b6 27.e3 d6 28.c1 c2 29.d3 h7 30.e5 d8 31.b3 c7 32.b4 e7! 33.xe7+ [ 33.a4 h4 ] 33...xe7 34.d3 d2 0-1
1947 Khmelnitski,Alexander Provotorov,Ivan 6th Open Voronezh RUS (4) [John Emms]
A43 2460 2307 15.06.2002
1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e4 0-0?! Until a few years ago this was considered to be a clever move order for Black. The idea is that after 6 Be2 Black can complicate with 6...b5! (7 Bxb5 Nxe4!). Black a ls o a vo id s t h e va ri a t io n 5 . . . d 6 6 B b 5 + . However, a discovery then cast a severe shadow over this variation as far as Black is concerned. [ For 5...d6 see Shabalov-Wojtkiewicz, Philadelphia 2000 in ChessPub (ECO code A43). ] 6.e5 g4 The most logical move, attacking the e5-pawn. [ However, it's possible that the more passive 6...e8 is actually stronger, for example 7.h4 d6 8.e6 fxe6 9.h5 gxh5!? 10.g5 exd5 11.d3 ( 11.xh7 xh7 12.xh5+ g8 13.h7+ f7 14.d3 g8 15.xd5 e6 16.h5+ f8 17.g5 (De VreugtMalakhov, Lausanne 2000) and now xg5!
18.xg5 c3+! wins for Black.) 11...f6 12.xh7 xh7 13.xh7+ xh7 14.xh5+ g8 15.h7+ f7 16.h5+ g8 with a perpetual check, AdrianovYermolinsky, Las Vegas 1999. ( 16...e6 17.g4+ f5 18.xg7 looks good for White. )] 7.g5! h6 [ 7...xe5 8.f4 and the knight is trapped in m i d - b o a r d : f6 9.xh7 xh7 10.fxe5 looks nice for White: ] 8.h4! c7 I can't find any earlier examples of this move, which doesn't alter the general consensus that Black is in big danger. Just to illustrate how much trouble Black is in from White's crude but effective attack, here are a couple of miniature wins for White [ 8...f6 9.ge4 f7 10.h5 f5 11.g5 xg5 12.xg5 xe5 13.hxg6 hxg6 14.d6! (making way for Qd5 or Bc4) f6 15.xf6 xf6 16.c4+ e6 17.d2 f8 18.d5! exd5 19.xd5+ e6+ 20.xe6+ dxe6 21.g5 d7 22.0-0-0 e8 23.d8 1-0 Huzman-Minasian, Pula 1997. ] [ 8...xe5 9.h5 g7 10.xh7! xh7 11.hxg6+ fxg6 12.xh6 h8 ( 12...xh6 13.d2 g5 14.xg5 f6 15.d3+ ) 13.d2 g8 14.0-0-0 d6 15.d3 f8 16.xg7 xg7 17.xh8 xh8 18.e1 f7 19.g5 f6 20.xg6+ 1-0 Mikac-Prevot, Dresden 2000. Scary stuff! ] 9.f4 f6 [ Or 9...xe5 10.b5! a5+ 11.d2 b6 and W hite simp ly p resse s f o rward wit h 12.h5! ] 10.d6! exd6 11.c4+ h8 12.exf6 xf6 13.xd6 e8+ 14.f1 Black's already taking a sever beating and he does well to last as long as he does! b6 15.b5 f5 [ Or 15...a6 16.f3 f5 17.h5! ] 16.f7+ g7 17.h5 There was also not much wrong with 17 Nc7. e6 18.hxg6 hxg6 19.g4 c6 20.h2 xd6 21.bxd6 e5 22.xe6 xh2 23.d5 a6+ 24.c4 c6 25.d2! Coming into h6. Black's sorry looking queenside are no help. xd6 26.h6+ f6 27.h8+ e7 28.d8# 1-0
1910
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Spencer-Berry, Stirling 2002. ] A43 2451 9...d6 10.0-0 0-0 11.e4? Now this is too 2366 late - it simply accelerates Black's attack on 03.04.2004 t h e kin g sid e . I t 's s u rp r isin g h o w qu ic k l y W hite's position goes downhill from here. d4! 12.exd5 g4! 13.xh7+ [ Or 13.xd4 xh2+! 14.h1 h4 15.f3 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 e6 4.c3 xf3! and Black wins. ] W hite is not obliged to enter the Modern Benoni with 4 c4. With 4 Nc3 White hopes to 13...h8! [ Stronger than 13...xh7 14.g5+! g8 get a small edge after the typical continuation 15.xg4 exd5 ] 4...exd5 5 Nxd5 Nxd5 6 Qxd5. This is not bad for Black, but a bit dull and it's very difficult 14.g5 It looks suicidal to give up the h-pawn, to generate counterplay. W ith this in mind, but alternatives were hardly promising for V a v r a o p t s f o r s o m e t h i n g a l i t t l e m o r e example: [ 14.e4 exd5! 15.xd5 xf3+ 16.xf3 a m b i t i o u s . b5 Offering a pawn sacrifice for xh2+ 17.h1 h4 and Black wins. ] control of the centre. This gambit can be [ 14.xd4 xh2+! 15.h1 h4 16.g5!? compared to the Blumenfeld (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 xg5 17.f3 h6 18.d3 e5+ 19.g1 3 Nf3 c5 4 d5 b5!?). 5.dxe6 Accepting the xf3 and Black mates. ] gambit. [ White can also decline, preferring to 14...xh2+ 15.h1 exd5 16.f3 [ 16.g6 also loses after f4! 17.xf4 xf4 c o n t i n u e w i t h d e v e l o p m e n t w i t h 5.g5 18.h3 d6! (threatening both the bishop - see Sakaev-Volkov, New Delhi 2000 in on g6 and to uncover an attack on h2) 19.g3 ChessPub (ECO code A43) ] ( 19.xf4 xf4 20.g3 h6+ mates on h2) 5...fxe6 6.xb5 d5 19...xg6! 20.gxf4 h5 21.g2 e3+! [ 6...a5+ 7.c3 d5 8.d2 b6 22.fxe3 xh3+ 23.f2 ( or 23.g1 g6+ ( 8...d8!? ) 9.e4 d4 10.a4 c6 11.e5 24.f2 g2+ 25.e1 xc2+ ) 23...h4+ was unclear in Yermolinsky-Alburt, New 24.g1 g3+ with mate next move. ] York 1993, but ECO gives 8 e3 as a slight 16...d6 17.fxg4 xg4 18.d3 edge for White. ] [ Or 18.f3 f4! and the attack is 7.e3 devastating: 19.xf4 xf4 20.d3 xf3 [ 7.c4 , adding pressure to the centre, is 21.gxf3 h4+ 22.g2 h2# ] certainly an alternative for White. ] 7...a6 Forcing the knight back to c3 so that 18...c4 19.f4 xf4 [ 19...xf4 Black wins after 20.xd4 h6+ White cannot arrange an early c2-c4. On the 21.h3 and now simply xh3 ] other hand, White now has options of e3-e4, so it's difficult to know whether this is better 0-1 than simple development with 7...Nc6, offering W hite the chance to play 8 c4!?. A43 8.c3 c6 9.d3 I'm not sure about this 1949 move. Kozul,Zdenko 2612 [ White can actually play e3-e4 without any Ponomariov,Ruslan 2616 p r e p a r a t i o n : 9.e4!? d4 ( 9...dxe4 ch-(team) Bled SLO (4) 11.11.1999 10.xd8+ xd8 11.g5 is very pleasant [John Emms] f o r W h i t e - B la c k's p a wn s a re a m e s s) 10.e5! g4 11.e4 d5! ( 11...gxe5 8 captures: A long tactical sequence leaves 12.xe5 xe5 13.h5+ f7 14.c4 e7 White on top. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 d6 15.0-0 gave White a very nice position in 4.c3 g6 5.e4 g7 6.e2 0-0 7.0-0 Toth-Salles, Rio de Janeiro 1991) 12.fd2 This is the main line position of the so-called gxe5 ( I prefer 12...cxe5 , preparing to "Schmid Benoni", which is can compare with answer 13.f4? with e3! ) 13.f4! g6 the Modern Benoni, except that Black has a 14.c4 d8 15.0-0 and White was better in pawn on e7 and W hite has one on c2. The 1948 Konopka,Michal Vavra,P1 TCh-Extraliga 2003-4 (10) [John Emms]
1911
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 young Ukrainian Grandmaster Ponomariov has been experimenting with this line recently, with mixed results. e6 The other main moves for Black include 7... a6, 7...Bg4 and 7...Na6. 7...e6 puts early pressure on the d5-pawn. 8.d2! The knight heads for the excellent c4 square. exd5 9.exd5 a6 [ More normal is 9...bd7 intending to meet 10.c4 with b6 ] 10.c4 c7 11.a4 b6 12.f4 a6!? Now there's a scuffle of tactics. Black can avoid giving up the d6-pawn with 12...Nfe8, although then he remains rather passive. 13.xd6 xc4 14.xc7 xe2 15.xd8 xd1 16.xf6 xc2 17.e7 The position has simplified, Black has the bishop pair, but the passed d-pawn remains an important player. fb8 18.d6 b7 19.a5 b5 20.d5 b3 21.c7 c8 22.ae1 d4 23.g5 Threatening d7. Black is forced to sacrifice m a t e r i a l t o g e t r i d o f t h e p a w n . bxc7 24.dxc7 xc7 Black's bishop pair provide some compensation for the exchange, but Kozul's endgame technique is very good. 25.e8+ g7 26.f4 d7 27.e3 Offering to exchange off one of Black's prized bishops. a6 28.h3 b4 29.b8 c2 30.e1 b3 31.c1 d5 32.g4 g5 33.c8 h6 34.g2 d3 35.ee8 c4 36.cd8! xd8 37.xd8 e5 38.c8 f5 39.f3 f4 40.c6 W hite has completely stifled all of Black's counterplay and now the a6-pawn is ready to be captured. f7 41.xa6 e7 42.a8 c3 43.bxc3 xc3 44.a6 [ 44.a6 b2 45.xb2 xb2 46.a7 wins for White. ] 1-0
1950 Kozul,Zdenko Topalov,Veselin 34th Olympiad (8) [John Emms]
A43 2611 2707 05.11.2000
position. So far we've studied 5 Bh4, 5 Bf4 and 5 Qd3 (see the theory section). 5 h4!? can be compared to 3 h4 in an analogous position in the Trompovsky (after 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 Ne4). This early h2-h4 would certainly get the seal of approval f rom Trompovsky king Julian Hodgson, who has used Topalov's line with success himself(see Hebden-Hodgson). g6 6.bd2 xg5 7.hxg5 g7 8.e4 In similar positions in the Trompovsky White can bolster his centre with f2-f4. Here however, the knight is already committed to f3, so thei plan is no longer available [ 8.c3 is also possible ] 8...a6 9.a4 [ Once again White should consider 9.c3 ] 9...xb2 10.axb5 c7 [ O f c o u r s e n o t 10...xa1? 11.xa1+and White wins. ] 11.a2 g7 12.c4 d6 13.b3 e6 14.d3 f8! This is a very far-sighted move. Instead of castling, Topalov just sticks his king on f8, where it is perfectly safe. Meanwhile Black will break later with ...h7-h6, in order to get his rook into the game. Black is already more than comfortable. 15.a3 exd5 16.exd5 a6 17.0-0 [ 17.b6? b8 followed by ...Na8 and black will win the pawn. ] [ 17.h4!? may offer White more chances than the text move. Now Black can attack down the h-file. ] 17...b8 18.e1 h6! 19.gxh6 xh6 20.e4 b6! 21.a2 g4! suddenly Black has an attack down the h-file 22.eg5 f6 23.d2 h5 24.a5 a8 25.e4 [ 25.bxa6 xg5-+ wins for Black. ] 25...xf3 26.gxf3 d4 27.f1 h2 28.e2 [ Or 28.bxa6 f5-+ ] 28...f5 29.d2 xf2 30.ea1 e3+! 31.xe3 g5+ [ 31...g5+ 32.f4 g3+ 33.f3 f2# An impressive display by Topalov. ] 0-1
In this game we witness Topalov's speciality of 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 c5 3 d5 b5!?. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g5 e4 This is Topalov's speciality, and the main reason why there has been an upsurge in interest in 3...b5. 5.h4!? As far as I can see, this is a new move in this 1912
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1951 Lodhi,Mahmood Ghaem Maghami,Ehsan Olympiad, 2000 [Paul Motwani]
A43 1952 Lputian,Smbat G Zvaginsev,V 2000 Mem Karpov Poikovsky (8) [Eric Prié]
Quick Tricks and Traps 1) B19: "For W hite, no fortune in this fourteen-mover!" M.Lodhi-E. Ghaem Maghami, Istanbul Olympiad, Turkey 2000. Trompovsky Attack (variant), Code A43. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g5 The same position can be reached via the Trompovsky Attack move-order 2 Bg5 c5 3 d5 b5 4 Nf3, although in that case White might prefer 4 f3 intending 5 e4. Equally, Black could deviate earlier with 3...Qb6 or 3...Ne4, for example. e4 5.h4 [ B19.1: 5.h4 g6 6.bd2 xg5 7.hxg5 g7 was also fine for Black in the game Z. Kozul-V.Topalov played exactly one week earlier at the Olympiad. ] 5...b7 6.d3 f5 7.c3 [ B19.2: 7.bd2 a6!? (menacing ...Nb4) 8.c3 c4 9.d4 xd2 10.xd2 b6 11.e5 c5!? 12.xf5 g6 13.xg6+ hxg6 14.g5 xd5 posed Black no problems in the super-GM encounter R. Huebner-V.Topalov, which also occurred at the Istanbul Olympiad. ] 7...c4 8.d4 a5 9.e3 [ W h i t e c o u l d w e l l c o n s i d e r 9.d2 t o b re a k t h e u n p le a sa n t p in o n h is c3 knight. ] 9...e6! 10.dxe6 dxe6 11.0-0-0 The threat of 12 Qd8+ looks very dangerous, but the Iranian no.1 has a complete answer prepared... d5!! 12.xe4 [ 12.xd5 c6! 13.f6+ xf6! leaves White's queen in terrible peril ] [ as does 12.e5 c5 ] 12...fxe4 13.e5 xa2 14.xc4 [ Desperation from White. The 'trick' 14.xe4 A) backfires against 14...a1+ 15.d2 a5+ ( or 15...xd1+ 16.xd1 xe4 ); B) 14...xe4?? with the idea of 15.d8# ] 14...c6 IM Mahmood Lodhi resigned in view of 15 Qc3 bxc4 or 15...Bb4 16 Qxg7 Qa1. 0-1
A43 2607 2627 2001
1.d4 e6 2.f3 c5 3.g3 c6 [ The same idea one move earlier is also interesting. 3...a5+!? 4.c3 ( 4.c3 cxd4 5.xd4 d5!? (5...Nc6 6.Nxc6 is the difference)) 4...f6 5.g2 d5 6.0-0 c6 7.g5 e7 8.dxc5 h6 9.e3 xc5 10.xc5 xc5 11.e4 0-0 12.exd5 exd5 13.e2 b6 14.b3 f5 15.c3 fe8 16.ed4 e4 1/2-1/2 Cosma,I-Lalic,B Cappelle la Grande op 1998 ] 4.g2 [ 4.c4 cxd4 5.xd4 b6 is known for being n o t ve ry go o d f o r W h i t e wh o wi ll h a v e problems with the c4-pawn and the long open diagonal. ] 4...a5+!? The young Russian is one of the most inventive players on the circuit. 5.c3 Of course not 5.Bd2?! Qb6 6.Bc3 Nf6 with a great position for Black already. [ 5.d2 b6 6.c3 f6 ] 5...cxd4 6.xd4 xd4 7.xd4 f6 8.b4! Otherwise Black plays ...Bc5 with a good game. b6 [ 8...c7!? ] 9.e3 xd4 10.xd4 d5 11.d2 e7 12.e4 0-0 13.0-0 d8 14.a3 f8 15.fe1 a6 16.b6 d6 17.d4 d8 18.ac1 h6 19.b6 d6 20.d4 d8 21.h3 d7 22.exd5 exd5 23.b3 [ 23.xf6 xf6 24.xd5 xh3 ] 23...e6 24.a5 [ 24.c5 xc5 25.xc5+ g8 26.e7 d7 27.xf6 gxf6 28.cd1 ] 24...d7 25.c4 dxc4 26.xb7 b8 27.xf6 xf6 28.xa6 b2 29.xc4 xa3! 30.c8+ [ 30.c8+ xc8 31.xc8 c7 32.xe6 xb4 33.e2 xa5 34.d5 is dead drawn. ] ½-½
1913
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A43 the bishop on g7). Naturally Black keeps this 2360 bishop as capturing on h6 would be virtually 2586 suicidal. 23.e2 d7 24.h1 ac8? [ 24...f7! prevents the following sacrifice, 10.08.2002 after which I suspect that Black is better. ] 25.xg6! The only way forward for White. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 g6 4.c3 g7 xg6 26.h7+ f8 [ 26...f7?? loses to 27.h5 ] 5.e4 0-0 Until a few years ago this was Now Black has to do something considered to be a clever move order for 27.xg6 Black. The idea is that after 6 Be2 Black can about the deadly threat of Rh7. He plays the 28.e5?? After this complicate with 6...b5! (7 Bxb5 Nxe4!). Black o n l y m o v e . xc3! a ls o a vo id s t h e va ri a t io n 5 . . . d 6 6 B b 5 + . b l u n d e r B l a c k i s w i n n i n g . W h i t e w a s However, a discovery then cast a severe attempting to close the long diagonal but shadow over this variation as far as Black is overlooks a deadly counterattack. [ 28.h7! is best. Black has to find a series concerned. See the game Khmelnitski, Aof 'only moves' to stay in the game: xc2+! Provotorov,I/Voronezh 2002 (ECO code A43) 29.xc2 a4+! 30.b1 d4 31.e5! for more about this variation. 6.e5 g4 g1+ 32.c2 c8+ 33.c4 xc4+! 7.g5 h6 8.h4 f6 34.xc4 d4 ] [ Khmelnitski,A-Provotorov,I/Voronezh 2002 28...dxe5 29.h7 xc2+! 30.xc2 c8+ continued with 8...c7 ] [ 30...c8+ 31.d1 xd5+ 32.e1 c1+ 9.ge4 f7 10.xc5 33.f2 d4+ 34.g3 xf4+ 35.h3 [ 10.h5 looks like a critical test of Black's h1# is mate ] position. Indeed, it would take a very brave player to take this on with Black: f5 11.g5 0-1 xg5 12.xg5 xe5 ( 12...h6 loses to 13.hxg6! hxg5 14.h8+!! xh8 15.h5 A43 f7 16.gxf7+ g7 17.e2 and White will 1954 follow up with 0-0-0 and Rh1) 13.hxg6 hxg6 Moradiabadi,Elshan 2540 14.d6! (making way for Qd5 or Bc4) f6 Tregubov,Pavel V 2599 15.xf6 xf6 16.c4+ e6 17.d2 f8 ChIP Paris FRA (4) 10.07.2007 18.d5! exd5 19.xd5+ e6+ 20.xe6+ [John-Paul Wallace] dxe6 21.g5 d7 22.0-0-0 e8 23.d8 and Black was forced to resign in Huzman- 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g5 b6 Minasian, Pula 1997. ] 5.c3 This move has become a very popular 10...xe5 11.f4 f7 12.h5 f5 13.hxg6 continuation after Dreev's spectacular victory hxg6 14.f3 h6 15.d2 b6 16.d3 d6 against Tregubov last year. b4 6.a4 a5 17.0-0-0 d7 18.e1 Despite not playing the 7.b3 d6! most dangerous line, White has achieved a [ 7...e4 8.f4! d6 9.d2 xd2 10.xd2 strong position from the opening and has h6 11.a3 a6 12.axb4 xb4 13.c3!! pressure down both the e- and h-files. e8 the start of some amazing play by W hite 19.e3?! This is the beginning of a dubious wh ich wa s su re ly h o m e p re pa ra t io n b y transaction whereby White gives up his darkDre ev, eithe r tha t o r is o ne of th e b es t squared bishop for the knight on h6. opening concepts I have ever seen! xb3 [ 19.f2 , preparing g2-g4 looks simple and 14.e4 g5 15.e5!! dxe5 16.xa6 xa6 strong, for example f6 20.b5! d7 17.xc5 and White emerged from the 21.xd7 xd7 22.g4 and White is doing opening with a clear advantage in Dreev, A very well. ] (2673)-Tregubov, P (2563)/XIII TCh-RUS 19...a5 20.d4?! xd4 21.xh6 f8 2006 (2)/1-0 ] 22.h3 g7 Now Black has a good defensive 8.d2!? set up and , more importantly, has control [ 8.xf6 exf6 9.a3 f5 10.d2 d7 over the dark squares (White cannot opposes 11.c4 c7 12.axb4 cxb4 13.d2 b8 1953 Milicevic,Goran Degraeve,Jean Marc GPA Open Ontario CAN (6) [John Emms]
1914
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.g3 e7 15.e3 this move loses some time, but the idea is that the Black knight is not so well placed on f6 so it may be ok. f6 16.g2 b5 17.0-0 0-0 and Black had full counterplay and went on to win in Riazantsev, A (2621) -Tregubov, P (2615)/ TCh-RUS Sochi RUS 2007 (4)/0-1 ] 8...bd7 9.e4 g6 10.b2!? [ 10.d3 For some reason this move has not been tried before, although it is very natural. W hite gets on with his development and figures that the Na4 can be brought back into play later. g7 11.0-0 c7 12.a3 a5 13.c3 bxc3 14.xc3 0-0 15.b5 b8 16.a4 Now the position is a Benko, and if W hite can consolidate he will have a big advantage as he has already gained control over b5 and c4. However, af ter Black's correct reaction in the centre the assessment of the opening battle is still yet t o b e d e t e rm in e d . e6! 17.dxe6 fxe6 18.c4 ( 18.f4!? intending to meet ...d5 with e5 deserves serious attention.) 18...d5 19.exd5 exd5 20.cd6 e5?! ( 20...a6!? 21.xc8 xc8 looks a bit better for White, but is probably ok for Black.) 21.e1 fg4 22.e2! and White took hold of the advantage in Khamrakulov, I (2545)Reinaldo Castineira, R (2452)/TCh-ESP Honor Gp2 2007 (3)/1-0 ] 10...g7 11.bc4 c7 12.a4?!N A new move, although this position has only been reached once before. I don't see the point of a4, while on the downside White loses the chance of opening the a-file with a3. [ 12.e2 b6 13.0-0 xc4 14.xc4 0-0 15.e1 the start of a unique regrouping. g4 16.d1 e5?! this move is based on a misunderstanding of the position, as now W hite gains a favourable version of the Kings Indian. With either 16...a5!? or 16... Ne5 Black could have gained good counterplay. 17.f3 f6 18.g4 e8 19.h1 f6 20.h6 g7 21.e3 and White had a typical opening advantage in Veingold, A (2425) -Nyysti, S/Naantali op 1996 (3)/1-0 ] 12...0-0 13.e2 b7 14.0-0 e6! Black now takes over the initiative. 15.f4 [ 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.f3 d5 17.exd5 exd5 18.e3 e5! 19.h4 h6-+ ] 15...exd5?! This is very tempting, but Black
had a simple way to gain a big advantage here: [ 15...e8! 16.c1 the problem for White is that if 16.dxe6 f xe6 his Bf4 is hanging. ( 16.f3 xa1 17.xa1 e5-+; 16.dxe6 fxe6 17.g3 xa1 18.xa1 e5 19.f4 and White's compensation is speculative.) 16...exd5 17.exd5 df6 ( 17...xd5 )] 16.xd6 d8 17.xf8 xf8 18.e3?! Now White will come under heavy pressure and it will be difficult to defend in a practical game, instead there was a way out here: [ 18.exd5! xd5 19.c1 c3 20.e1 g5 ( 20...a2 ) A) 21.g3 e8 22.e3 xe2+ 23.xe2 d5! 24.xd5 ( 24.f3 xe3 25.xe3 d4-+ ) 24...xe2-+; B) 21.f3! xf3 22.xf3 xc1 23.xc1 e2+ 24.h1 xc1 25.xc1= and White can hold the ending. ] 18...dxe4 19.c4 8d7 20.e2 h5 21.ad1 d4 22.d5?! [ 22.f5?! g5! 23.xe4 xf5 24.d6 f4-+ ] [ 22.g3! after this the game continues, although it is preferable to play Black. ] [ 22.g4?! this move only loses time... g7 23.g3 f5 24.e3 g5 ] 22...e5! 23.e3? An unfortunate retreat, as White can not afford to give Black two tempi in such a sharp position. The computer finds a remarkable defence here: [ 23.xe4 g7 24.b1!! f6 ( 24...f5 25.e2 xd5 26.xd4 xc4 27.xc4 xc4 28.xc4= ) 25.e2 xd5 26.xd4 cxd4 27.xe5 xc4 28.bxc4 and White can probably hold the position. ] 23...f4 24.e1 g5 25.g3 c3 26.h1 h3 27.e2 d8 28.a5 h5 Black's attack plays itself now... 29.b5 d4 30.dc4 g4 31.a6 a8 32.g2? A blunder in a difficult position, with 32.Rde1 White could have continued to put up resistance. [ 32.de1 ] 32...f4+ A complicated fighting game, which naturally produced errors from both sides. It looks like this variation is holding up for Black, thanks to Tregubov's efforts, although the onus is still on Black to equalise after 10. Bd3. 0-1
1915
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1955 Nikolic,Predrag Johansen,Darryl Keith op Gold Coast (5) [Eric Prié]
A43 2659 2494 2000
1.d4 e6 2.f3 c5 3.g3 The third possibility with a "d pawn specials spirit" this is favoured by such players as White here in this game, who use this order of moves almost whatever Black does! He is ready to play a kind of Gruenfeld, with colours reversed, where his opponent has already lost some flexibility with ...e6. There is a plethora of lines to combat this interesting although non-critical idea. cxd4 For other possibilities on move 3 see the next game. 4.xd4 c6 5.g2 b6 6.xc6 The only justif ication of W hit e's openin g according to me. [ 6.b3 d5 7.0-0 f6 8.e3 c7 The opening is a complete success for Black who has not even lost a tempo with the Queen in the process of dislodging the knight from d4 since the bishop on e3 will also have to move again. 9.f4 e5 10.g5 e4! The point 11.xe4 dxe4 12.c3 f6 13.d2 h3 14.e1 f5 15.d5 f7 16.c4 d6 17.c2 0-0 18.ad1 ae8 19.c3 e6 20.c5 b8 21.f3 exf3 22.exf3 f4 23.e4 fxg3 24.hxg3 g6 25.f2 ( 25.h2 h6 26.g1 h5 ) 25...f5 26.e2 g4 27.d3 e4! 0-1 Den Boer,BM o t w a n i , P C h T - B E L 2 0 0 1 ( 27...e4 28.xe4 xg3+ 29.xg3 xf3+ )] 6...dxc6 7.0-0 e5 8.a4! a5?! [ 8...f6 9.a5 c7 leaves no target. Then White has 2 plans: c3 immediately and then quickly bring the Queen to a4 to threaten a6 and attach the Bishop to d7 then probably B g 5 Nd 2 , o r p l a y B g5 , Nd 2 , c 3 Q c 3 t o complete development with good control over the light squares. ] 9.d2 e6 10.e4 d8 Black seems to have easily equalized but that is more of an optical illusion: He will soon have to cope with a strong initiative. 11.e1 b4 [ 11...d5 12.c3 f6 13.e3 a6 ( 13...b4 14.fd1 ) 14.c5 ] 12.c3 e7 13.e3 c7 [ 13...xb2 is highly risky : 14.b1 c2 15.xb7 d5 16.b1 xa4 17.b6 a8
18.c5 xe4 19.b8+ xb8 20.xb8+ d7 21.xe7 xe7 ( 21...xg2 22.d6+ ) 22.h3+ f5 23.xh8+- ] 14.b4 f6 15.bxa5 d5 [ 15...xa5 16.b1 d7 17.b6 a6 18.c5! xc5 19.xc5 With a very strong a t t a ck. Fo r in st a n ce t h e n i ce lin e xe2 20.a5 d5 ( 20...c4 21.a6!; 20...a6 21.e1 d8 22.f1 a8 23.a6 ) 21.a6! bxa6 22.xd5!! A) 22...cxd5 23.b8+ d8 24.c7 d7 25.c8+ d8 26.c6+ d7 ( 26...d7 27.d6 And Mate on e7 ) 27.fb1; B) 22...xd5 23.c4 the point xc4 ( 23...f3 24.e1 ) 24.b8+ d8 25.xe5+ e6 26.ad1 b3 27.c7 ] 16.d2 0-0 17.a6! [ 17.c4 f6 18.e3 d7 19.c3 is not as decisive. ] 17...b6 [ 17...bxa6 18.c4 b6 19.a5 xc4 20.c3 d5 ( 20...xe2 21.fb1 b8 22.e3 c4 23.xc7 xb1+ 24.xb1 xe3 25.fxe3 ) 21.fb1 b8 22.c5! ( 22.b2 d8 ) 22...xg2 23.xg2 a7 ( 23...d5 24.xc7 xb1 25.xe5 ) 24.xb6 xb6 25.xb6 xb6 26.d7+- ] 18.axb7 c4 19.c1 xd2 [ 19...f5 20.g5 xd2 21.xe6 ] 20.xd2 xb7 21.c2 a6 22.fe1?! [ 22.f3 f6 23.fb1 wins time ] 22...f5 23.f3 e4 24.d4 c4 25.eb1 c5? [ 25...c5! 26.b5 e3 27.fxe3 ( 27.f4 d2 ) 27...h6 With serious counterplay ] 26.e3! Now it is over h8 [ 26...a7 27.f1 xf1 28.xf1 d5 29.fd1 ] 27.f1 d3 28.b3 xd4 29.cxd4 f4 Despair but what else? Such attempts hardly work against top class grandmasters. 30.xd3 exd3 31.d1 c5 32.xd3 c4 33.a3 f3 34.h3 e6 35.h2 f6 36.g1 h5 [ 36...h6 37.g4 ] 37.ab1 c8 38.b5 f5 39.c1 h4 40.g4 xb5 41.axb5 d5 42.b4 b8 43.xc4 xb5 44.f8+ g8 45.c8 1-0
1916
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1956 Oliveira Fernandes,Antonio Open, 2000 Lisboa [Paul Motwani]
A43 and the chances are it just doesn't work, assuming W hite plays accurately. But it's possible that it still holds some surprise value, 2000 and so against certain opponents it might be worth a punt. [ 5...d6 see Shabalov-Wojtkiewicz, Philadelphia 2000 in ChessPub (ECO code B20: " Black's having f u n, an d winn ing in A43). ] 'lucky' 21!" Queen's Pawn Game (by transposition), Code A43. 1.f3 f6 2.d4 6.e5! The best move. [ Black's idea behind delaying ...d6 is to c5 3.d5 b5 The same position was reached answer 6.e2 with b5!? intending 7.xb5?! in game B19 via the move-order 1 d4 Nf6 2 ( 7.e5 is stronger here too) 7...xe4! Nf3 c5 3 d5 b5. 4.a4 8.xe4 a5+ ] [ White chose 4.g5 in the aforementioned 6...g4 game B19. ] [ 6...e8 was covered in Timoshenko4...b4 5.c4 e6 6.dxe6 Malakhov, Halkidiki 2002. ] [ This is too submissive and timid for my liking. I would prefer 6.g5 to at least make 7.g5! xe5 [ Against 7...h6 White immediately begins a fight for the initiative. ] a n a t t a c k w i t h 8.h4! - see the notes to 6...fxe6 7.g3 b7 8.g2 e7 9.0-0 0-0 Milice vic-De grae ve , O nt ario 2 00 2, a n d 10.bd2 Clearly not an active developing Khmelnitski-Provotorov, Voronezh 2002. ] move, but White's queen's knight has nowhere else to go! c6 11.b3 e8! Black's queen is 8.f4 The knight is trapped in mid-board. Black hea ding f a st f o r h5 , f ro m whe re sh e ca n can save the piece, but at some cost. f6 [ After 8...h6 9.h3 Black does lose a quickly generate serious threats towards h2. piece ( 9.ge4 f5 10.fxe5 fxe4 11.g4 12.b2 h5 13.c2 d5 14.cxd5 exd5 h7 12.xe4 (Broomfield-Calzetta Ruiz, 15.ad1 h8 A little safety measure, Genova 2004) is also good for White. )] because Black's king was slightly exposed on 9.xh7! xh7 10.fxe5 This looks promising the a2 to g8 diagonal. 16.fe1 ac8 17.d3 [ White really had to seek some activity via from White's point of view, who will just castle queenside and then storm with h4-h5. f5! 17.e4 ] [ 10...fxe5 11.d3! is even worse for 17...a5! Now preventing e2-e4, and at the Black. ] s a m e t i m e t h r e a t e n in g . . . c 5 - c 4 . 18.b5? This looks like a good pawn sacrifice. Missing Black's clever response... a6! 19.d3 11.f4 [ If 19.xa5 then d8 neatly traps White's b6 12.d2 d6! [ I don't rate Black's chances of survival after queen. ] 12...xb2 13.b1 a3 14.h4! ] 19...c4 20.e3 c5 21.d4 [ 21.e5 loses to c3 ( or 21...xf2+ 13.0-0-0! [ 13.exd6? xb2! ] 22.xf2 g4+ )] 21...g4 White resigned in view of 22 Qe6 13...dxe5 [ Maybe 13...d7 14.exd6 exd6 15.h4 f6 Bxd4 23 Nxd4 Qxh2+ 24 Kf1 Rxf2. , although even here Black's position looks 0-1 precarious after 16.h5 e4 ( or 16...gxh5 17.d3 d7 18.g4!? ) 17.hxg6+ g8 18.e3 ] 1957 A43 There might be a better defence for Pert,Nicholas 2528 14.g5 Ehlvest,Jaan 2609 Black than the one chosen by Ehlvest, but League Gibraltar ENG 05.03.2008 even so maybe Black is just simply losing this position. e4 15.h4! This is much more to the [John Emms] point than 15 Bxe7. d7 16.h5 e5? [ 16...f6 17.hxg6+ xg6 18.c4 ] 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e4 0-0!? This move is highly provocative 17.xe7 e8 18.hxg6+ g8 19.d6 e6 1917
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.h7 [ 20.g5! is also good enough. ] 20...xg6 21.xg7+! xg7 22.g5 xe7 [ 22...-This was forced, as White was threatening 23.f6+ h7 24.c4 xc4 25.h1+ g8 26.xg6# ] 23.dxe7 e8 24.g4! [ A nice finish. Black's defences collapse after 24.g4 fxg4 ( or 24...xe7 25.gxf5 ) 25.xe4 xe7 26.f6+ h7 27.g5+ h6 28.g2 followed by Rh1. A very nice attack by Nick Pert, which on this evidence seems to more or less refute 7... Nxe5. ] 1-0
1958 Reinaldo Castineira,Roi Rocha TCh Lanzarote ESP (6) [John Emms]
A43 2405 2335 11.05.2003
1.e4 d6 2.c3 f6 3.f4 g6 4.f3 g7 5.d4 c5 6.d5 In this game we have arrived at this position from a Pirc Defence, but it could have easily arisen from the Benoni via 1 d4 c5 2 d5 g6 3 e4 Bg7 4 Nc3 d6 5 f4 Nf6 6 Nf3. 0-0 7.d3 [ 7.c4? has been played quite a few times, but it allows Black a neat tactic: b5! 8.xb5 xe4! 9.xe4 a5+ 10.c3 xc3+ 11.bxc3 xb5 and Black has regained the material and has a nice position (the d5pawn is weak and White cannot castle). ] 7...e6 Attacking the centre immediately. Other worthwhile options include 7...Bg4 and 7...Na6, intending ...Nc7 to support an eventual .. .b7b5. 8.dxe6 xe6 9.f5 White immediately harasses the e6-bishop and gains valuable space on the kingside. The quieter option was 9 0-0. d7 [ The old ga me Matanovic-Vidmar, Ljubljana 1951 is an illustration of how difficult Black's position can become in this line and also has a very neat finish: 9...c8 10.0-0 c6 11.h1 g4 12.d5 e8 13.h3 ge5 14.xe5 xe5 15.f6 f8 16.b5 e6 17.e1 a6 18.e2 b5 19.h4 b7 20.g5 d7 21.ae1 xd5 22.exd5 e5 23.g4 xe1 24.xe1 h6? (White was clearly better but this is suicide) 25.xh6
xf6? 26.g5 g7 27.e8!! and Black resigned. ] 10.0-0 c6 11.f4! A very good move, preventing Black from developing effectively with ...Nbd7. e8? Logical, but also extremely risky. It's only natural to put more pressure on White's weak spot - the e4-pawn. However, this move does leave the f7-pawn extremely vulnerable to attack. [ Black can contemplate the ambitious 11...b6 ] [ or play 11...a6 12.a4 c7 (preparing ... Nb d 7 ) , wh i c h l o o k s o k a y, f o r e x a m p l e 13.fxg6 hxg6 14.d2 h5 15.e3 d7 ] 12.fxg6 hxg6 [ Black already has to be very careful: 12...fxg6?? loses to 13.c4+ h8 14.g5 ] 13.g5! Now Bc4 is a nasty threat. d5 Black tries to counter in the centre but it's unsurprising that White should have a forced win after this - the f7-square is too weak. [ 13...h7 14.xh7 xh7 15.f3 is clearly better for White, although there's no forced win. ] 14.e5! c4 The only try. [ 14...h5? loses after 15.xf7! b6 ( or 15...xf7 16.g5+ ) 16.xg6 xf4 17.xf4 xb2 18.h5! xa1+ 19.f2 and Black has no way to prevent the mating threats, for example xc3 20.h6+ xh6 21.f7+ g7 22.g6+ f8 23.xh6+ e7 24.d6# ] 15.exf6? This complicates unnecessarily. [ The calm 15.e2 leaves Black suffering: h7 16.xf7! b6+ 17.h1 d4 18.xc4! dxc3 19.d6+ h8 20.xe8 xe8 21.d5 and White wins. ] 15...xf6 16.xf7! xf7 17.xg6+! [ Black survives after 17.g5 d7 18.e2 g7 19.xf6+ xf6 ] 17...xg6 18.g4+ h7? The losing move. [ M u c h m o r e r e s i l i e n t i s 18...f7! , f or e xa mp le : 19.g5 ( 19.h5+ g8 20.xb8 xb8 21.g6+ g7 22.f7+ h8 23.h5+ g8 24.f7+ is a draw by perpetual check) 19...d7 20.h5+ e6 21.ae1+ d6 22.xe8 xe8 23.xe8 xe8 24.xf6 xf6 25.xf6+ and White is a pawn up in the endgame but after either 25...Ke5 or 25...Kc5 Black has some compensation in the form of a very active 1918
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 king and the idea of ...d5-d4. ] 19.g5! Now Black has no defence d7 [ Or 19...xg5 20.h5+ g8 21.g6+ h8 22.f7 , which is similar to the game. ] 20.f3! xg5 [ Or 20...e5 21.h5+ g8 22.xf6 ] 21.h5+ g8 22.g6+ h8 23.f7 Black cannot avoid mate. 1-0
1959 Sakaev,Konstantin Delchev,Aleksander 2nd IECC Ohrid MKD (9) [John Emms]
A43 2637 2584 10.06.2001
Nice work if you can get it. Konstantin Sakaev scores a very easy point. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g5 a5+ [ 4...e4 has been the move in the recent revival of this line - see for example the game Timman-Topalov in the theory section. ] 5.c3 e4 6.h4 b7 7.e3 [ 7.d3 f5 8.bd2 e6 9.xe4 fxe4 10.xe4 xd5 11.f4 was a bit better for White in Sale-Zelic, Solin 1996. ] 7...e6?! Naturally Black strikes back at the centre, but Black may well be in trouble after this move. [ 7...g6!? ] 8.dxe6 dxe6?? Disaster strikes! [ 8...fxe6 9.e5 is a problem for Black as White threatens Qh5+, but the chosen move is even more of a nightmare! ] 9.xb5+! Of course! The bishop cannot be taken. c6 [ 9...c6 looks like a better defence, after which White is "only" a clear pawn up with a good position. But I guess Black was still recovering from shock. ] [ 9...xb5 10.d8# is the idea. ] 10.e5! Now Black loses even more material, for example. A very nice easy point for Mr Sakaev in a tournament where there were very few "easy points". [ 10.e5 c7 ( 10...xb5 11.d7# ) 11.a4 ] 1-0
1960 Sakaev,Konstantin Delchev,Aleksander European Individual Ch [Paul Motwani]
A43
2001
W 47: "Black in double trouble even before he's into double figures!" I'm always curious to see exactly what happened whenever I notice a top player losing quickly, and so I can safely say that the following 10-move defeat for GM Alexander Delchev, rated 2584, counts as my 'Curiosity of the Month'!! 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g5 We could class the opening as a form of the Trompovsky Attack, since the same position can be reached via the move-order 1 d4 Nf6 2 Bg5 c5 3 d5 b5 4 Nf3. a5+ [ Black was much more successful with 4...e4 in game B19. ] 5.c3 e4 6.h4 b7 7.e3 e6? 8.dxe6! dxe6? [ Black could fight on longer after 8...fxe6 b u t e v e n t h e n 9.e5 is still highly unpleasant for him, as W hite's queen threatens to shoot out to h5 (or f3). ] 9.xb5+! c6 [ 9...xb5 10.d8# was another way for Black to exit. ] 10.e5! White threatens Qd7 as well as putting Black's c6-knight in double trouble--which rapidly becomes triple trouble in the case of 10...Qc7 11 Qa4!. So, GM Alexander Delchev resigned. 1-0
1961 A43 Sakaev,Konstantin 2627 Volkov,Sergey 2554 FIDE WCh KO New Delhi IND (1.4) 29.11.2000 [John Emms] 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 e6 4.c3!? So far we have concentrated solely on 4 c4, b u t wi t h t h e m o ve o r d e r t h a t W h i t e h a s chosen he is certainly not obliged to enter the Modern Benoni. After Sakaev's choice Black n o rm a lly p la ys 4 . . . e xd 5 , wh ich p ro b a b l y grants W hite a tiny edge. Here Volkov tries something more ambitious. b5 Offering a 1919
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pawn sacrifice for contol of the centre. This gambit can be compared to the Blumenfeld (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 c5 4 d5 b5!?). 5.g5 [ White can also accept the gambit with 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.xb5 Then a5+ 7.c3 d5 8.d2 b6 ( 8...d8!? ) 9.e4! d4 10.a4 c6 11.e5 was unclear in YermolinskyAlburt, New York 1993, but ECO gives 8 e3 as a slight edge for White. ] 5...b4 [ 5...a5 6.xf6 gxf6 7.e4 g7 8.d2 0-0 9.xb5 f5 10.b1 led to a win for White in Rakic-Messing, Yugoslavia 1969. ] 6.a4 [ 6.e4 is also possible, and led to a brief encounter in the game Figler-Sideif Zade, correspondence 1983. This continued b7 7.c4 bxc3 8.xc3 ( 8.xf6 gxf6 9.xc3 f5 10.e3 g7 11.c4 a6 is unclear, according to Sideif Zade) 8...xd5 9.xd5 exd5 10.xf6 xf6 11.xd5 xb2 12.d1 c4! 13.e4+ d8 14.d2 b4 15.xa8 xd2+ 16.xd2 b1+ 17.d1 b4+ 18.d2 c3 19.xa7 c2! 20.xb8+ xb8 21.xc2 h5 and White resigned. ] 6...a5 7.xf6 gxf6 8.b3 f5 9.e3 [ 9.e4!? led to a quick win for White in the game Urday-Correa, Sao Paulo 1995, after g7 ( 9...fxe4!? ) 10.b1 b7 11.c4 fxe4 12.g5 0-0 13.h5 h6 14.xe4 a6 15.0-0 c7? 16.exc5 xd5 17.b7 and the black queen is trapped. ] 9...g8 10.e5 b7 11.h5 g7 12.dxe6 dxe6 13.b2 c6 14.bc4 c7 15.xc6 xc6 16.d1 d5 Black has come out of the opening with a reasonable position, having the two bishops and a half-open g-file on which to operate. Nevertheless White is still well in the game, until his next move that is! 17.e2?? xg2 18.g1 f3! Did White miss this? 19.xf3 xg1+ 20.f1 d8 21.xd8+ xd8 Black is an exchange and a pawn up, with a completely winning position. Not a sever test for 5...b5, but still a point is a point! 22.a8+ e7 23.f4 g7 24.f2 g6 25.g2 e5 26.d5 exf4 27.g8 fxe3+ 28.e2 f6 29.h4 f4 30.e8 h6 31.e5 f3+ 32.xf3 g7 33.e2 f6 34.g4 f4 35.xf6 f2+ 36.d3 f1+ 37.e4 xf6 38.c4 xh4+ 39.d5 g5+ 40.c6 f5 41.d3 g5 42.b7 d5+ 43.xa7 g5
44.c4 f5 45.b6 h5 46.b5 h4 47.c6 h3 48.h1 f4 49.d3 0-1
1962 Sarakauskas,Gediminas Feuerstack,Aljoscha HSK IM Hamburg GER (2) [John Emms]
A43 2428 2196 13.10.2003
1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 This can lead to an a n t i-B e n o n i sys t e m a f t e r 3 . . . e 6 4 Nc 3 ! ? (instead of 4 c4), while a transposition to the S ch m id B e n o n i is a l so p o s sib le if B l a c k sim p ly co n t in u e s wit h 3 . . . g6 4 Nc 3 B g7 . However, in this game Black's opts for the m o s t a m b i t i o u s c h o i c e . b5 4.g5 This is White 's most critical choice. 4 a4 is well met by 4...Bb7, but White does have the option of transposing to the Benko Gambit D e c l i n e d w i t h 4 c 4 . e4 This line h as become popular since its successful introduction by the Bulgarian GM Veselin Topalov. 5.h4 This is certainly not the only move here. [ 5.d3 is interesting, but not that threatening for Black (see Golod-Topalov, Bugojno 1999, in ChessPub - ECO code A43). ] [ For 5.f4 see Hebden-Hodgson, Millfield 2000. ] 5...b7 Topalov's improvement over the old [ 5...a5+ 6.bd2 b7 7.a4 xd5 8.axb5 c7 9.a4! , which was good for White in Kasparov-Miles, Basle 1986. ] 6.d3 Attacking both b5 and e4. Again we have covered other options for W hite (see ChessPub): [ 6.a4!? was played in SummerscaleMannion, British League 2001 ] [ 6.e3 was seen in Cosma-Repkova, Leon 2001. ] 6...f5 7.bd2 [ 7.xb5 xd5 looks okay for Black. ] 7...c4 8.d4 a6! This knight is ready to jump quickly to b4. 9.xe4 Or: [ 9.c3 - see Bocharov-Grachev, Novosibirsk 2001. ] [ 9.0-0-0 - see Hasidovski-Greenfeld, Ramat Aviv 2000 . ] 1920
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...fxe4 10.xe4 b4 Attacking d5 and also preparing ...Qa5. 11.d1!? There's a subtle point to leaving the king on e1 rather than castling queenside. [ 11.0-0-0 a5 seems reasonable enough f o r B l a c k , e s p e c i a l l y a s 12.a3 can be answered by xd5! 13.xd5? e6! , t h e v a r i a t i o n 14.f4 xd5 15.e5 failing to the simple e1# ] 11...xd5 12.xd5 a5+ 13.d1? White continues with the 'trick' but this is a mistake. [ White should play 13.c3 xa2 ( 13...e6?? loses to 14.f4 xd5 15.e5! ) 14.d4 xd5 15.xd5 b1+ 16.d2 xb2+ 17.d1 when Black should probably keep checking with b1+ ] 13...e6? Black falls headlong into the trap. [ 13...xa2! , however, looks very strong, for example 14.f5 ( 14.d4 c3! ) 14...e6 15.e5 ( or 15.f4 xd5 16.e5 b1+ 17.d2 b4+ ) 15...b1+ 16.d2 b4+ 17.c3 xb2+ 18.d1 a1+ 19.c2 xc3+ and Black is winning. ] 14.f4! b4 [ Of course 14...xd5 again loses to 15.e5! so Black remains a piece down. His activity provides some compensation, but not enough. ] 15.g5 f8 16.c1 c3 17.bxc3 xc3 18.e4 xe4 19.d3? Giving Black a chance. [ 19.e3 xf3+ 20.gxf3 b4 21.xb5 is winning for White: b1+ 22.e2 xh1 23.xe6+ ] 19...b4? [ After 19...xd3! 20.cxd3 xf3! 21.gxf3 a4+ 22.c2 xh4 23.xb5 d4 Black is back in the game. ] 20.g4! xf3+ 21.gxf3 d6 22.e2 d5 23.e3 1-0
Court Variation, so named after a block of flats in London where the English GM Jonathan Levitt lived for over 20 years. As well as Levitt, this line has been used sporadically by grandmasters such as Ehlvest, Tukmakov and Summerscale. Black aims for a kind of Dutch/Benoni hybrid without allowing so m e o f t h e t r ic k y a n t i - Du t c h l in e s . F o r example, if White plays c2-c4 here, Black will continue a la Dutch Leningrad with ...g7-g6, ... B g7 , , . . . N f 6 a n d . . . 0 - 0 wi t h a p e rf e c t l y playable position. 3.e4!? A direct attempt at refutation - White plays in Staunton Gambit fashion. fxe4 4.c3 f6 5.g4! The critical line. It compares favourably to the g2-g4 line in the real Staunton Gambit. After 1 d4 f5 2 e4 fxe4 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 g4 h6 Black is ready to support his e 4 pawn with . ..d7-d5 . Here , however, that option is obviously out of the question. h6 It's natural that Black wishes to take the sting out of the possibility g4-g5, but it's possible that Black has an improvement here (see line 'c'): [ a) 5...d6? doesn't solves Black's problems at all: 6.g5 fd7 ( after 6...g4? the check with 7.b5+ is very annoying for Black ) 7.xe4 b6 8.f4 e5 9.dxe6 d5 10.f6+! was already almost winning for White in Rajkovic-Martinovic, Tivat 1995 as gxf6 allows mate in 2 with 11.h5+ e7 12.f7# ] [ b) 5...g6 6.g5 h5 7.xe4 ( GM Boris Kant sler suggest s th e ve ry d irec t 7.e2 g7 8.h4! ) 7...d6 8.g3 xg3 9.hxg3 (A.Matros-J.Ehlvest, Stockholm 1999) and here I prefer W hite's pawn structure and the possibility to use the half-open h-file (even if Ehlvest did win this game and has play the Clarendon Court since). ] [ c) I quite like the look of the challenging 5...e6!? A) 6.g5 xd5 7.xd5 exd5 8.xd5 c6 looks okay for Black, e.g. 9.d2 1963 A43 e7! 10.xc5 ( or 10.xe4 d5 ) 10...d5 11.0-0-0 c6; Schlosser,Philipp B) 6.dxe6 h6! (planning ...d5!) 7.g5 hxg5 Bischoff,Klaus 8.xg5 e7 9.ge2 c6 10.g2 dxe6 Austria 1997 11.xd8+ xd8 12.0-0-0 e7 13.g3 [John Emms] d7 14.gxe4 xe4 15.xe4 xg5+ 16.xg5 e7 17.h3 1/2-1/2 Buturin1.d4 c5 2.d5 f5!? This provocative-looking Trushnikov, Lvov 1996. ] opening is generally known as the Clarendon 1921
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 6.g2 e6 [ After 6...d6 White can transpose to the ma in ga m e wit h 7 h3 e 6 8 Nge 2 , wh ile 7.xe4!? xg4 8.h3 f6 9.xf6+ exf6 10.h5+ d7 gave White obvious compensation for the pawn in Fahnenschmidt-Scheuermann, St Ingbert 1998. ] [ 6...b6 has also been played: 7.ge2! ( 7.xe4?? loses a piece to xe4 8.xe4 b4+! ) 7...d6 8.h3 g5 9.xe4 xe4 10.xe4 b4+ 11.c3 g7 12.d2! xb2 ( against 12...xc3?? White has the simple intermezzo 13.g6+! ) 13.b1 a3 14.b3 a6 15.b5 and White's initiative is worth more than a pawn, Conquest-Becerra Rivero, Cienfuegos 1996. ] 7.ge2 [ 7.dxe6? d5! gives Black everything he wants. ] [ H o w e v e r , t h e a m b i t i o u s 7.d6!? may be even stronger than the text: b6 8.f4! xb2 9.ge2 (Bigg-Farley, Witley 2001) doesn't look like much fun for Black. ] 7...d6 8.h3 bd7? Black runs into big trouble after this move. [ 8...e7 9.f4! is also unpleasant for Black, ] [ but 8...exd5! looks like it minimizes White's e d g e , e . g . 9.xd5 c6 10.ec3 e6 11.e3 ( 11.0-0!? ) 11...xd5 12.xd5 d7 13.xe4 0-0-0 14.c3 (VaisserSarmiento Alfonso, Las Palmas 1996) and here I think Black should challenge White's authority over d5 with e7! ] 9.dxe6! e5 10.xe4 xe6 11.f4! f7 This loses a pawn for no compensation, but [ 11...c4 12.b3! a6 13.e6! e7 14.xf6+ gxf6 15.d5 is painful for Black too. ] 12.xf6+ xf6 13.xb7 b8 14.g2 g5 15.d5 d8 16.0-0 g7 17.e3!? g6 18.c6+ f8 19.d5 xd5 20.xd5 xb2 21.xb2 xb2 22.f4! Black has regained his pawn but at the expense of allowing a winning attack. xf4 23.xf4 gxf4 24.xf4+ g7 25.f3 e7 26.f1 [ M y d a t a b a s e a c t u a l l y g i v e s 26.d1 here, but I'm convinced that White played the text move, otherwise the end makes no sense. ]
26...b7 27.e4 g5 28.h4 g6 [ Or 28...xh4 29.g5! xg5+ 30.g4 ] 29.h5 1-0
1964 Shabalov,Alexander Wojtkiewicz,Aleksander National Chess Congress (5) [John Emms]
A43 2601 2581 28.11.2000
Here Shabalov tries an unusual move early on in the Schmid Benoni, and is rewarded with the full point after a tactical melee. 1.e4 c5 2.f3 g6 3.d4 g7 4.d5 f6 5.c3 d6 6.e2 Here the Schmid Benoni has been reached via the Sicilian move-order. Benoni players would reach the same position after 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 c5 3 d5 g6 4 Nc3 Bg7 5 e4 d6. 0-0 7.0-0 This is the main line position of the so-calle d "S chmid B enon i", which is ca n compare with the Modern Benoni, except that Black has a pawn on e7 and White has one on c2. e6 The other main moves for Black include 7...a6, 7...Bg4 and 7.. .Na6.7...e6 puts e a r l y p r e s s u r e o n t h e d 5 - p a w n . 8.f4!? This move is quite rare, but certainly not bad, White puts direct pressure on the vulnerable d6-pawn. [ For 8.d2 see Kozul-Ponomariov in the theory section. ] 8...exd5 9.exd5 a6 [ 9...g4!? aiming for exchanges, looks a reasonable way for Black to continue. ] 10.d2 c7 11.c4 b5!? After this move there are great complications, but they seem to work out in White's favour. [ 11...ce8 12.f3 b6 13.b5 a6 14.a4 xb5 15.axb5 c7 16.e1 gave White an edge in Bistric-Cebalo, Kastel Stari 1997. ] 12.xd6 b4 13.a4 fxd5 14.g3 The centre has opened completely and now the activity of the pieces becomes paramount. d7 [ 14...d4!? ] 15.xc5 xb2 16.f3! c6? After this move W hite is able to of fer a very strong queen sacrifice. [ Black has to go for the material with 16...xa1 17.db7 e7 18.xa1 c6 1922
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and if 19.d6 then Black will happily give the exchange back with g5 ] 17.b1! c3 18.xc6! xd1 19.fxd1 At the moment W hite has only two minor pieces for the queen, the multitude of other threats leaves Black in a bleak position. f6 [ 19...g7 20.de4 c8 21.b7 b8 22.d7 picks up a third minor piece on c7. ] 20.d7 c3 21.xa8 [ 21.xa8 xa8 22.e5 leaves White with a winning advantage. ] 1-0
1965 Speelman,Jonathan S Paulsen,Dirk Bundesliga 2000-1 (2) [John Emms]
A43 2623 2431 15.10.2000
In this game Black tries a truly "weird" variation of the "W eird Benoni", but Speelman's direct play seems to pretty much refute the idea. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 c4?! I'm not sure if this defence has a name (it's not mentioned in the Oxford Companion to Chess). It's certainly not been played very often. Black's idea is to follow up with ...Qa5+ and ...b7-b5. 4.c3 [ 4.e4 is another direct way of meeting B l a c k ' s i d e a . A f t e r xe4 5.xc4 W h ite mu s t b e b e tt e r, f o r e xam p le g6?! ( ECO gives 5...b5 6.d3 a5+ 7.bd2 f6 8.0-0 b7 9.c4 bxc4 10.xc4 xd5 11.b3 a6 12.e3 e6 13.fd1 b4 as clearly be tter f or W hit e in the gam e Tukmakov-Trauth, Zurich 1994, but maybe Black's has some improvements in this line. Certainly 4...b5 looks a better bet than 4, ,, g6 ) 6.c3 f6 ( 6...xc3 is probably better, although White is still doing well after the zwischenzug 7.d4! ) 7.d6 e6 8.b5 a6 9.f4 b6 10.e5 b7 11.d4 g7 12.c7+ xc7 13.dxc7 e7 14.d6 h5 15.d3 f6 16.a6 xb2 17.xb7! and Black resigned in Dautov-Telljohann, Bremen 1998 ( 17.xb7 xa1+ 18.e2 f4+ 19.xf4 xh1 20.d6! and Black is lost )] 4...a5 5.d4!? [ Nunn's Chess Openings gives the line
5.d2 xd5 6.e4 xc3 7.xc3 c5 8.d4 ] 5...a6 [ 5...b5 6.g5 a6 7.e4 b7 8.e2 e6 9.xf6 gxf6 10.xf6 g8 11.e5 led to a very quick win f o r W hite in th e game Ruppert-A.Mueller, Germany 1988. ] 6.e4 b4 7.d1 After this move it's true that White has given up the right to castle, but he is way ahead in development and the c4-pawn is ripe for picking. [ 7.d2 xe4! 8.xe4 xc2+ is Black's trick. ] 7...e6 8.a3 a6 [ 8...exd5 9.exd5 bxd5 10.xd5 xd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.xc4 c7 gives White a clear advantage, although at least Black is still on the board. ] 9.xc4 c5 10.d2 b5? This is refuted quite easily. 11.xb5 xd2+ 12.xd2 g4 13.e2! exd5 14.xd5 b8 15.c4 0-0 16.b4 b6 17.b2 xf2 18.hf1 g4 19.d6 h6 20.xf7! [ 20.xf7 xf7 21.xf7 xf7 22.f1 is winning for White. ] 1-0
1966 Summerscale,Aaron Mannion,Stephen R 4NCL Birmingham ENG (7) [John Emms]
A43 2513 2369 17.03.2001
Here's yet another look at Topalov's antiBenoni line with 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 c5 3 d5 b5. After much success for Black it now seems that White is finally getting his own back. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g5 e4 This move is still popular owing to the success of Topalov, but it now seems that W hite is finding new ways to combat the idea. 5.h4 [ White's other main try here is the retreat 5 Bf4. 5.f4 for example, b7 6.d3 f5!? 7.bd2 c4 8.d4 a6!? 9.c3 ( 9.xe4 fxe4 10.xe4 b4!? ) 9...ac5 10.xe4 xe4 11.g4 e6 12.gxf5 xd5 13.h3 f6 14.xf6 gxf6 15.fxe6 dxe6 and Black was fine in the game Mittelman-Avrukh, Israeli League 2000. ] 5...b7 1923
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 5...a5+ 6.bd2 b7 7.a4 xd5 8.axb5 c7 9.a4! is good for White, KasparovMiles, Basel 1986. ] 6.a4!? This looks like a natural way to exploit Black's ...b7-b5 lunge. [ For 6.e3 see Timman-Topalov, Wijk aan Zee 2001. ] 6...b4?! This doesn't work out too well here in particular, Black doesn't have tricks involving hitting W hite's queen on d3 with ...c5-c4. Perhaps Black should look at the alternative [ 6...a6 , although after 7.d3 a5+ 8.c3 f5 9.bd2 e6 10.xe4 fxe4 11.xe4 xd5 12.f4 c6 13.e4 b3 14.e2 bxa4 15.0-0 e7 16.xe7 xe7 17.e5 f8 18.g3 g6 19.c4 White had good compensation for the pawn in BurmakinAvrukh, Ubeda 2001. ] 7.d3! f5 8.bd2 a6 9.b3 xd2 10.xd2 c7 [ 10...g6 11.e4 xf1 12.xf1 also looks p r o m i s i n g f o r W h i t e , f o r e x a m p l e h6 13.c4 g5 14.f3 0-0 15.h5 and Black's in some trouble. ] 11.e4 xf1 12.xf1 f4 13.c4 Black's situation doesn't look too healthy â (+) his only developed piece is the queen and the prospects don't look too good for the rest of his pieces! His knight only has the a6 square at the moment and the bishop cannot move at all. Meanwhile, W hite's knight has found a very nice outpost on c4. Already White has a winning position. e5 14.h3 d6 15.f5! Simply preventing Black from castling. The rest is gruesome viewing for Black. a5 16.g3 Forcing Black to open up lines for the h1-rook. fxg3 17.hxg3 a6 18.g5 h6 19.g6+ f8 20.h5 Black can hardly move a piece. g8 21.e8+ f8 22.xe5 h7 23.f4 b6 24.f7 b7 25.xh6 1-0
1967 Swiercz,Dariusz Kempinski,Robert ch-POL Warsaw POL (1) [John Emms]
A43 2474 2617 09.01.2010
1.d4 c5 2.d5 d6 3.e4 g6 4.c3 g7 5.f3 g4 6.e2 f6 7.0-0 0-0 8.d2
T h e m a in re s p o n se t o . . . B g4 . T h e lig h t squared bishops are exchanged and White's knight heads for the all-important c4 outpost. xe2 9.xe2 fd7!? A very rare move, but it looks like a clever one to me. Black is still aiming for the typical set-up with his knights (...Nf6-d7 and ...Nb8-a6) but in contrast to the main move here, 9...Na6, Black is in a position to immediately challenge White's knight with ... Nb6 if it goes to c4. This is important because it means White doesn't have time to play Nc4, Bf4 (or Bg5) and then Ne3 in response to ... Nb6. Instead W hite must either accept that the c1-bishop gets blocked in after Ne3, or choose the less optimal square a3. [ 9...a6 and other moves are covered in Yevseev-Efimenko, Moscow 2006. ] 10.a4 [ White has also played the immediate 10.c4 , as in Baburin-Rustemov, but a transposition is likely, e.g. b6 11.e3 a6 12.a4 ] 10...a6 11.c4 b6! A key move. Any d e la y wo u l d a l lo w W h it e t o a c t i v a t e t h e bishop with Bg5 or Bf4. Now assuming White wants to avoid exchanges he must choose between Ne3 and Na3. 12.a3 [ 12.e3 is covered in Baburin-Rustemov, Bad Wiessee 1999. ] [ Typically Black is happy to ease his position via an exchange of minor pieces: 12.f4 xc4 13.xc4 c7= ( or 13...a5= )] 12...b4 13.g5 [ 13.a5!? must be a consideration here. After d7 14.c4 Black chooses either e5 ( or 14...f5!? )] 13...h6 14.h4 Try to guess Black's next move... a5!? A "rule-breaker", with an identical motive to the one we see in Tregubov-Akopian, Aix-les-Bains 2011 (in the Modern Benoni). Black is ready to gift White the b5-square it means he can safeguard the b6-knight in order to control c4 and prevent W h i t e ' s p l a n o f a 4 - a 5 f o l l o we d b y N c 4 . Furthermore, Black has a clear plan of activity involving ...Qd7 and ...f5. 15.ab5 d7 16.g3 [ 16.f4!? looks more challenging. White might well play f5 if Black doesn't, and f5 leads to unclear complications which White should probably aim for given what happens 1924
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 i n t h e g a m e . 17.e5 ( 17.ad1; 17.exf5 xf5 ) 17...dxe5 18.fxe5 6xd5 19.ad1 e6 20.xd5 xd5 21.c4 fd8 22.xe7 xe7 23.xd5= ] 16...f5! 17.exf5 [ 17.f3 ] 17...xf5 18.ad1 Too passive. [ White needed to hit the e7-pawn quickly, with 18.fe1 to try and compromise Black's coordination. That said, maybe Black can ignore the attack with af8 ( the point is 18...4xd5 19.xd5 xd5 20.ad1 with pressure) 19.xe7 because xc2 20.xd7 xd7 21.xd6 h5 might just be good for him. ] 18...af8! Now Black is most certainly in time to play ...Rf7 in response to Re1, and the key f e a t u re in t he p o sitio n b eco m e s W h it e 's severely weakened d5-pawn, which soon drops off the board. 19.fe1 8f7 20.d2 [ T h e p r o b l e m f o r W h i t e i s t h a t 20.e4 , protecting d5, allows xa4! ] 20...4xd5 Black is much better here because White has little or no compensation for the pawn, but Kempinski drifts somewhat and his advantage has disappeared by the end of the game. 21.e4 c6 [ 21...xa4 looks good, e.g. 22.c4 f4 23.xf4 xf4 24.b3 b6 25.xc5 c6 26.d3 4f5 ] 22.c4 f4 23.xf4 xf4 24.b3 d7 25.f3 e5?! [ 25...e5 ] 26.d3 4f5 27.d2 h5 28.g3 g5 29.e4 h5 30.g3 g5 31.e4 Th e rare 9 . .. Nf d 7 lo o ks like a p rom isin g option for Black and it will be interesting to see some more games with this move. ½-½
1968 The Hawk N,Archana [John Emms]
"The Hawk". 4.c3 a5 5.d4!? a6 [ 5...b5!? 6.g5!? ( 6.e4 is the main line according to Buecker.) 6...a6 7.e4 h6! Buecker ( 7...b7 8.e2 e6 9.xf6 gxf6 10.xf6 g8 11.e5 led to a very quick win for White in the game Ruppert-A.Mueller, G e r m a n y 1 9 8 8 .) 8.h4 ( 8.xf6?! (this allows Black to develop more comfortably) exf6! and Black has ideas of ... Bf8-c5/ b4. This looks very promising for Black. ) 8...g5 9.g3 g7 10.e5 h5! and this position looks very unclear to me. Maybe White should consider playing 6 e4 after all. ( 10...b4?! 11.exf6 xf6 12.e5 bxc3 13.bxc3 xe5 14.xe5 gives White a clear plus )] 6.e4 b5!? This move was suggested by Speelman as an improvement. [ 6...b4 7.d1 was played in SpeelmanPaulsen, which was a very quick win for White ] 7.e5 b4 8.exf6 bxc3 9.fxg7 cxb2+ 10.d2 c3!? [ Black can also consider 10...xg7 11.xg7 bxa1+ 12.xa1 c3! 13.xc3 b4 which looks very unclear ] 11.gxh8 bxa1+ 12.e2 b5+ 13.e3 b6 At this point Shirov joined in the analysis 14.xb6 axb6 15.xc3 c1+ 16.d2 c7 17.g7 xd5+ 18.f3 a3+ 19.d3 e6 20.c4 c5 21.e4 [ 21.e5 also looks good ] 21...f5 22.xd5 xd5+ 23.g3 f4+ 24.h4 analysis ends here
1969 Timman,Jan H Topalov,Veselin Corus Wijk aan Zee NED (3) [John Emms]
A43 2629 2718 16.01.2001
A43
Finally a reverse for Topalov in the AntiBenoni line which he is making his own. On this occasion Timman produces a rare but natural move to claim an edge out of the 1.d4 f6 2.f3 opening. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 [ 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e4 "the Vulture", was 4.g5 e4 5.h4 a n o t h e r o n e o f B u e c k e r' s [ 5.d3 is interesting, but not that recommendations, ] threatening for Black (see Golod-Topalov, Bugojno 1999, in the theory section). ] 2...c5 3.d5 c4 Buecker named this variation 1925
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ White's other main try here is the retreat 5 Bf4. 5.f4 for example, b7 6.d3 f5!? 7.bd2 c4 8.d4 a6!? 9.c3 ( 9.xe4 fxe4 10.xe4 b4!? ) 9...ac5 10.xe4 xe4 11.g4 e6 12.gxf5 xd5 13.h3 f6 14.xf6 gxf6 15.fxe6 dxe6 and Black was fine in the game Mittelman-Avrukh, Israeli League 2000. ] 5...b7 [ 5...a5+ 6.bd2 b7 7.a4 xd5 8.axb5 c7 9.a4! is good for White, KasparovMiles, Basel 1986. ] 6.e3 I can find only one other example of this move on my database, which is surprising as it looks very natural. White moves a central pawn, prepares to develop his bishop and attacks b5. [ Also possible is 6.a4!? a6 ( 6...b4 ) 7.d3 a5+ 8.c3 f5 9.bd2 e6 10.xe4 fxe4 11.xe4 xd5 12.f4 c6 13.e4 b3 14.e2 bxa4 15.0-0 e7 16.xe7 xe7 17.e5 f8 18.g3 g6 19.c4 and White had good compensation for the pawn in Burmakin-Avrukh, Ubeda 2001. ] [ For 6.d3 see the game HasidovskiGreenfeld, Ramat Aviv 2000**. ] 6...g6 7.c3 a5 [ 7...b6 8.a4 b4 9.a5 d6 10.c4 e6 11.a6!? xa6 ( 11...xa6!? ) 12.bd2 xd2 13.xd2 g7 14.e4 e5 was unclear in the earlier game GauselSvedenborg, Oslo 2000. ] 8.bd2! xd2 [ 8...xd5 grabbing a pawn, is obviously critical. 9.b3 ( 9.a4 xd2 10.xd2 b4 11.c4 xc4 12.xc4 bxc3 13.0-0 is also interesting) 9...xb3 10.axb3 b6 11.d3 ( 11.d5 c6 is okay for Black) 11...d6 12.g3 b4 13.e5 and White has some pressure. ] 9.xd2 g7 10.e4 d6 11.d3 d7 12.0-0 My feeling is here that White's centre gives him and advantage. In particular the bishop on b7 is rather shut out of the game. a6 13.fc1 c8 14.h3 b6 15.f1 f6 Shielding the e7-pawn in anticipation of castling. 16.e1 0-0 17.a4! fe8 18.a5 c7 19.c4 b4 20.e5 dxe5 21.xe5 h5 22.g4 d4 23.ad1 e6 24.e4!? Now the game becomes very complicated. [ 24.dxe6 xe6 25.xe6 fxe6 is not clear -
Black has a glaring weakness on e6, but his pieces are very active. ] 24...f5 [ 24...exd5 25.xd4! cxd4 26.xd4 is good for White. ] 25.h6+ g7 26.xe6 xe6 27.dxe6 f4 The knight on h6 has no squares. 28.e1!? [ 28.g3 xh3+! 29.h2 ( 29.gxh3 xg3+ wins ) 29...f4 30.xh3 fxg3 and White's king is more vulnerable than Black's ] 28...xh6 29.g3 g5 30.h4 Now Black has an extra piece, but pins along the h2-b8 and c1-h6 diagonals are very annoying. e8 31.e7 e4 32.hxg5+ xg5 33.h1 xe7 this walks into another pin. [ 33...e5 34.f3 b7 looks good for Black. ] 34.f3 e6 35.h2 [ 35.fxe4 h6+ 36.h2 leads to the same ] 35...h6 36.fxe4 g6?? Black slips at a crucial time [ 36...xh2+ 37.xh2 d6! threatening b o t h . . . Q h 6 + a n d . . . B g 1 + 38.e3 the only move fxe4 and Black may even be better. ] 37.g3 h5 38.exf5+ [ 38.exf5+ g7 39.g5+ is terminal. ] 1-0
1970 Timoshenko,Georgy Malakhov,Vladimir ECC Halkidiki GRE (2) [John Emms]
A43 2528 2668 23.09.2002
1.e4 c5 2.f3 g6 3.d4 g7 4.d5 f6 5.c3 This game starts off as a Sicilian Defence but the position could have been reached via the Benoni move order 1 d4 Nf6 2 N f 3 c 5 3 d 5 g 6 4 N c 3 B g 7 5 e 4 . 0-0 We've already seen this move order once or twice be f ore on this site. Bla ck's ide a o f delaying ... d7-d6 is seen in the sequence 6 Be2 b5! (7 Bxb5 allows Nxe4!). Black also avoids the variation 5...d6 6 Bb5+. However, there is one big problem in that it allows White's next move. [ For 5...d6 see Shabalov-Wojtkiewicz, Philadelphia 2000 in ChessPub (ECO code A43). ] 6.e5 e8 1926
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ So far we have only seen examples of 6...g4 . See, for example MilicevicDegraeve, Ontario 2002. ] 7.h4 d6 8.h5 The logical and natural way forward for White. [ The alternative is 8.e6 but this has worked out okay for Black in practice: fxe6 9.h5 gxh5!? 10.g5 exd5 11.d3 ( 11.xh7 xh7 12.xh5+ g8 13.h7+ f7 14.d3 g8 15.xd5 e6 16.h5+ f8 17.g5 (De Vreugt-Malakhov, Lausanne 2 0 0 0 ) a n d n o w xg5! 18.xg5 c3+! wins for Black.) 11...f6 12.xh7 xh7 13.xh7+ xh7 14.xh5+ g8 15.h7+ f7 16.h5+ g8 with a perpetual check, Adrianov-Yermolinsky, Las Vegas 1999. ( 16...e6 17.g4+ f5 18.xg7 looks good for White. )] 8...dxe5 9.hxg6 hxg6 10.h6 More direct play which, I have to say, comes very easily to White in this line. Black's defensive bishop has to be exchanged. xh6 11.xh6 g7 12.d2 d6 [ 12...f6 was more successful for Black: 13.xe5 bd7 14.xd7 xd7 15.0-0-0 c7 16.c4 h8 17.dh1 b6 18.xh8 xh8 19.xh8 xh8 20.h6+ h7 21.d6 xd6 22.xf7 g5 23.xd6 exd6 and Black managed to draw in GasanovZubarev, Alushta 2000. However, my overall feeling is that W hite was better here and this line should be consigned to the dustbin as far as Black is concerned. ] 13.xe5 d7 14.c4 f6 15.0-0-0 d7 16.d3 xc4 17.xc4 h8 18.dh1 b6 19.g5! d6 [ 19...f5 would prevent White's next but would only delay the attack. White can play 20.f3 and follow up with g2-g4. ] 20.d3! Threatening a devastating capture on g6. g4 21.xh8 xh8 22.xh8 xh8 23.e4 Winning the crucial e7-pawn and breaking Black's resistance. h2 24.xe7 f4+ 25.b1 g7 26.xc5 h2 27.a3 xg2 28.xa7 f5 29.d4+ f6 30.d6 e5 31.xf6! e6 [ Or 31...xf6 32.f4 ] 32.e8+ f7 33.b3 1-0
1971 Vallejo Pons,Francisco Vaisser,Anatoli TCh-FRA Top 16 GpA (1) [John-Paul Wallace]
A43 2679 2554 09.02.2007
1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 This is an interesting idea, and is usually employed by frustrated Benko Gambit players who have been cheated out of their favourite opening by W hite's sneaky move order. It has never found favour amongst the World's elite players, although Tony Miles used it a few times. The problem is, of course, that White will not play c4, but a4 (or Nc3 in order to provoke ...b4) instead, after which he will usually gain the c4 square and this can be enough for a positional advantage. On the other hand, from Black's point of view, he has succeeded in forcing White out of normal, 'boring' d4 theory and the unusual positions that result can provide him with reasonable chances. On the whole, however, I must confess to being a supporter of the White side of this variation, because it seems that Black usually needs to struggle to find counterplay while White can play more easily thanks to his positiona l assets. In other words, more so than in other openings, I think this is a difficult defence for Black to play. The one time I tried it was against Australian Master Craig Laird and I seemed to gain a horrible position right from the opening, with Craig just playing normal developing moves! Nevertheless, GM Tregubov has been employing it regularly with excellent results, so perhaps it is time to stop ph ilo so p hisin g a nd le t t he mo ve s d o t h e talking! 4.g5 This move is clearly the correct response. Now Black needs to deal with the possibility of doubled pawns. The key moves for Black now are 4...Ne4, 4...d6 and 4...Qb6, with the latter beginning to take over as the modern main line. d6 With this move Black decided to get on with normal development, and he is ready to play 4...Nbd7 to prevent the doubled pawns if White does not take the chance on his next move. Now almost always White does take on f6 here, but Spanish GM Vallejo has won 2 games very convincingly th is yea r with a d if f e re n t a pp roa c h : 5.e4! This move has only been played a dozen 1927
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 times or so, and yet the benefits are very clear. After the alternative, 5...Bxf6, Black always has the possibility of the dark-squared bishop becoming a very strong piece, and that helps to counterbalance W hite's extra space and outpost on c4. With 5.e4 however, White is playing much more ambitiously - he wants it all! Space advantage, the c4 square and both his bishops. On the other hand Black can take on e4, though he usually avoids this move. a6 [ 5...xe4 6.xb5+ d7 7.d3 f6?! practice had already shown this move to be incorrect, and this game was no exception. ( 7...xg5 8.xg5 e5!? 9.dxe6 xg5 10.exd7+ xd7 worked out well in BoersmaErmenkov Amsterdam 1985, although no doubt Vallejo had something up his sleeve here. ) 8.0-0 g6 9.xf6 exf6 10.d2 h6 11.e1+ e7 12.a3 f8 13.e3 f5 14.c4 f6 15.xd6 xb2 16.ae1 f6 17.e8 b6 18.c4 g5 19.d6 and Black was already forced to resign in Vallejo Pons, F (2676)-Lostuzzi, M (2406)/TCh-ITA Palermo ITA 2007 (4)/1-0 ] [ 5...a5+ is an interesting alternative. ] 6.bd2 bd7N This move is a novelty, and while '?!' may be a bit harsh, it is probably not the most accurate. The point is that W hite has shown with 5.e4 that he is not interested in doubling up the Black pawns, and so it just loses options for Black to play this move. Specifically, Black loses the option of exchanging the Bc8 (often a bad piece in Benoni structures), or at least forcing White to waste a move with h3 in order to prevent this. [ 6...g6 7.a4 b4 8.d3 g7 A) 9.h3 a5! I like this idea - see the comments to Vallejo's 8th move 10.0-0 0-0 11.c4!? ( 11.c4 ) 11...bd7 and Black had full counterplay in Bernard, C (2295)-Desmoitier, J (2140)/FRA-ch Acc Montpellier 1991; B) 9.c4 g4!? 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 0-0 According to Golod this is dubious because of W hite's next move. ( 11...bd7!? 12.a5! and White still has the advantage.) 12.h4 bd7 13.h5 xh5 14.xh5 f6! and now instead of the courageous but not quite correct 15.Rxh7 Huzman suggests 15.Rh2 with an advantage to White. ( 14...gxh5? 15.e5!+-
and White's attack is too strong.) 15.xh7 xh7 16.e5 fxg5 17.h5+ g8 18.xg6 f4! Golod, V (2591)-Shevelev, A (2364)/ISR-chT Israel 2001 (1)/1/2-1/2 ] 7.a4 b4 8.a5! Excellent positional play by Vallejo. It is important for White to keep minor pieces on the board, and the text prevents either ...Nb6 exchanging off a White Nc4, and ...a5 and ...Ba6. g6 9.d3 g7 10.c4 c7 11.0-0 0-0 12.d2 White has already won the opening advantage - he is better mobilised and enjoys a spatial advantage to boot. Here we see the idea behind the rare 5. e4: usually we have this same structure with Bxf6 exf6 thrown in and while White tends to gain a small edge Black's dark-squared bishop ca n be a re al asse t . e8 13.h3 b7 14.f4?! Black's only hope of counterplay is to play ...e6 so White takes steps against this. However, ironically enough is a mistake, because Black will force through ...e6 in any case. The solution instead was to develop so that when Black does play ...e6 White is well prepared to meet it, and to that end 14.Rad1 looks good. [ 14.h6!? this move is also interesting, it swaps off a defender of the Black monarch which means that W hite may have some tactics when Black plays ...e6. ] [ 14.ad1! e6?! ( 14...ad8!? ) 15.f4! and W hite gains the advantage, for example: exd5 ( 15...e5 closing the position gives W hite a definite positional edge.) 16.xd6 e6 17.xb7 xb7 18.exd5 xd5 19.e4!+- ] 14...f8! Certainly not a move you want to make, but completely correct. Vaisser knows full well that he can't just sit there and wait for Vallejo to build up at leisure, so for better or for worse he aims for ...e6. It turns out, in fact, that he should have gained good play. 15.h2 [ 15.ad1 e6 16.dxe6 xe6 17.fe1 d8= ] 15...e6 16.e5?! This is a typical moment in master play - I suspect at this point Vallejo re a lised t h a t t h in gs h a d go n e wro n g b u t decided to pull a 'semi-bluff' as is known in Poker. The idea is that Vaisser, psychologically, probably felt under pressure here, and his position does not look good. Yet 1928
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 it is actually fine for him, and if Vallejo plays correctly with 16.dxe6 then after 16...Rxe6 he will have pro blem s wit h his own e-pawn . T h e re f o re , o n t h e b a l a n c e , h e p r o b a b l y decided to go for the aggressive and incorrect option, as Vaisser was probably not in the right frame of mind to find his chance. [ 16.dxe6 xe6 17.fe1= ] 16...exd5? and Vallejo is immediately rewarded! The computer finds the refutation quickly: [ 16...xe5! A) 17.cxe5 dxe5 18.xe5 ( 18.xe5 d6!-+ ) 18...d8 19.dxe6 xe6 and White is in difficulties.; B) 17.fxe5 exd5! this move is the point! Now W hite is in trouble. 18.b6 dxe5 19.xa8 xa8 ] 17.xd6 xd6 18.exd6 Now, on the other hand, Vaisser's position is bankrupt, with no dark-squared bishop to protect the weaknesses in front of his king, and a huge W h i t e d - p a w n a t h o r n i n h i s s i d e . c6 19.fe1 e4 20.f4 f6 21.h4 e6 22.d2 c4 23.xe4! xe4 [ 23...dxe4?! 24.xc4+- ] 24.xe4 dxe4 25.e2 g7 26.d1 c3 27.b3 c5 28.g4 f8?! The final error he could have put up resistance with 28.. .Bc6, but now the d-pawn decides. [ 28...c6! ] 29.d7+- xa5 30.d6 h5 31.h3 d5 32.e7 e6 33.g3 d8 34.d6 A good game by Vallejo, although objectively he won the game with his incorrect 16th move! From the theoretical point of view 5.e4 looks like an excellent idea, and Black failed to equalise in both of Vallejo's games this year. 1-0
1972 Van Wely,Loek Topalov,Veselin Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (4) [John Emms]
A43 2681 2780 15.01.2008
1.d4 e6 Topalov doesn't normally play the French, but then neither does Van W ely so perhaps he felt if was safe enough to offer. 2.c4
[ In any case there's always 2.e4 c5!? ] 2...c5 3.d5 exd5 4.cxd5 d6 Looking at games reaching this position, by far the most popular move here is 5 Nc3, but recently in one or two games it has been shown that there are some advantages to delaying this knight development, and some might even argue that 5 Nc3 is premature! 5.e4 [ 5.c3 g6 6.e4 g7 7.d3 e7 8.f3 0-0 9.0-0 a6 10.a4 g4! 11.h3 xf3 12.xf3 d7 13.e2 c7 14.f4 ae8 15.f3 f5! is a good example of Black justifying a ...Ne7 development - see the annotations to Yrjola-Efimov, Batumi 1999. ] 5...g6 6.f3 [ Recently in the game Beliavsky-Efimov, Crete 2007, we saw 6.d2!? with White reaching a not unfavourable set-up after f6 7.c3 g7 8.d3 0-0 9.e2 b5 10.a3 bd7 11.0-0 a6 12.b4! b6 13.d2 b7 14.h3 ac8 15.c1 fe8 . But White can also develop normally with the exception of leaving the knight on b1 f or the time being. ] 6...g7 7.d3 a6 I'm not a real fan of .. .a6 in this particular position, because ...b5 isn't really a possibility and so White can ignore the idea. [ I think that Black is better off completing kingside development and then deciding what to do. 7...e7 8.0-0 0-0 and now: A) 9.e1 g4! turned out well for Black in Cramling-Ponomariov, San Sebastian 2006: 10.bd2 d7 11.e2 ( 11.c4 b5! 12.xd6 xf3 13.gxf3 c4 14.f1 b6 ) 11...h6 12.c4 xf3 13.xf3 b5! 14.e3 ( 14.xd6 b6 ) 14...c4 15.a4 a6 16.axb5 axb5 17.xa8 xa8 18.c2 a4 19.d4 c5 20.e3 b4 21.e2 d3 was a typical Benoni success story for Black.; B) 9.h3!? preventing ...Bg4 looks more challenging, but at least when compared to the main game Black is better placed, although I'm not saying W hite has no advantage. h6 ( 9...d7; 9...f5!? ) 10.e1 g5 11.bd2 d7 12.c4 f6 and now when compared to the game ( 12...b6!? ) 13.d2 no longer threatens Ba5.; C) 9.-- ] 1929
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.h3! [ There's no need for 8.a4 and here g4 9.bd2 d7 10.b3 c7 11.0-0 e7 12.e1 e5 13.h3 xd3 14.xd3 e2 15.e1 xd3 16.xd3 0-0= was equal in Krivoshey-Priehoda, Komarno 1997. ] 8...e7 9.0-0 h6 Planning ...g5 and ...Ng6. [ The game Jankovic-Zelcic, Cannes 2005, is worth seeing, as White is very creative with his a1-rook!: 9...0-0 10.e1 d7 11.a4 f5 12.bd2 h6 13.a3!? f6 14.e5 dxe5 ( 14...fxd5!? ) 15.xe5 h7 16.c4 fxd5 17.d3 c7 18.df3 b4 19.d6 c2? ( Black had to play 19...f6 although 20.d8 is strong ) 20.xg6! xg6 21.g5+! a n d B l a c k r e s ign e d o n a cco u n t o f hxg5 22.h5+ ] [ 9...b5? is premature and allows White to justify delaying moving his b1-knight: 10.a4! c4 ( or 10...b4 11.bd2 d7 12.a5 0-0 13.c4 ) 11.e2 and Black cannot keep his pawns intact, e.g. b7 12.axb5 axb5 13.xa8 xa8 14.a3 d7 15.d4 ] 10.e1 0-0 11.a4 g5 12.bd2 d7 13.c4 f6 14.d2 Now there's the annoying idea of Ba5 so Black has to lose more time. Perhaps around this stage Topalov was beginning to regret playing 7...a6. b8 15.c3 g4 This already hints of desperation, and illustrates just how uncomfortable Black's position already is. [ 15...b5 is soundly refuted by 16.xd6 intending xd6 17.e5 b6 18.a5! ] [ 15...g6 is better, but White is still dominating after 16.xd6 ( or 16.b4 b6 17.a5! ) 16...xd6 17.e5 d8 18.exf6 xf6 19.xg6 fxg6 20.e5 ] 16.hxg4 xg4 17.e5! dxe5 18.xe5 exd5 [ Of course Black can save his rook by 18...c8 but his position is a mess, and W hite has various ways to keep a strong advantage, even by direct means such as 19.xf6 xf6 20.d6 c6 21.d2 g7 22.fe5 ] 19.xb8 xb8 20.ce5 In reality Black has little or no compensation for the material loss. Topalov battles very hard for the rest of the game, but in the end Van W ely is able to c o n v e r t h i s u n d o u b t e d a d v a n t a g e . e6 21.b3 e3 22.b6 ed5 23.xc5 c8
24.d4 g4 25.ad1 b5 26.axb5 axb5 27.e4 df6 28.e2 b6 29.b1 h5 30.d2 e8 31.d3 h6 32.d4 b8 33.dd1 g7 34.d2 b6 35.d4 b8 36.d2 b6 37.xg4 hxg4 38.d4 b8 39.g5 b3 40.c1 d8 41.e3 d5 42.cd1 e8 43.d3 xe1+ 44.xe1 c4 45.e3 h6 46.e5 xe5 47.xe5 g3 48.fxg3 g4 49.c5 g7 50.e4 f6 51.h1 d7 52.f5 f6 53.c2 g4 54.b3 e3 55.c5 e2 56.f3 f1 57.d4 xg3+ 58.h2 f4 59.xe2 xe2+ 60.h3 d4 61.g4 d2 62.d5 e3 63.e4 f6 64.h5 d2 65.d5 e3 66.f5 b4 67.d3 g7 68.d7 f8 69.e4 e8 70.b7 d2 71.d5 f6 72.h5 f5 73.g4 e7 74.e6 f8 75.b8+ g7 76.e8 c6 77.g8+ h7 78.c8 e5 79.c7+ h8 80.b7 e1 81.g5 This was a convincing answer to ...Ne7 by Van Wely. 1-0
1973 A43 Vera Gonzalez Quevedo,Reynaldo 2481 Duarte,Leonardo 2420 42nd Capablanca Mem Abierto (9) 27.05.2007 [John-Paul Wallace] 1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.g5 e4!? along with 4...d6 and 4...Qb6 this is Black's main alternative here. Now White most often chooses 5.Bh4, but there is another interesting and sharp option. 5.f4 [ 5.h4!? ] 5...b7 6.d3 f5 An unusual opening position has arisen, and although Black's position looks rather loose the tactics tend to wo r k o u t q u i t e w e l l f o r h i m . N o w W h i t e chooses a continuation that is very rare, although it has been played before. 7.c3!? [ 7.bd2 this move is the main line - and the jury is still out on the assessment of the position. c4 8.d4 a6 ( 8...f6!? )] 7...c4 8.d4 a5N A novelty which appears to be playable, although perhaps not better than 8...Na6 which has been tried a few times already. [ 8...a6 A) 9.xe4 fxe4 10.xe4 b4 1930
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and we have reached a position that can also occur after the much more common 7. Nbd2 Na6 8.Nxe4, although I should point out that in this case Black has the additional option of 7...Nf6, as is sometimes seen in practice. 11.c3 xd5 A1) 12.e5 d6 13.g3 d7 14.c2 e5 15.0-0-0 g6 16.e4 h6+ 17.b1 f6 18.xe5 A1a) 18...c7?! 19.xc4! ( 19.xc4!? bxc4 20.xd6 ) 19...bxc4! ( 19...dxe5 20.xb5+ Ogloblin, N (2429)-Grishchenko, S (2229)/RUS-ch sf Tula 2003 (3)/1-0) 20.a4+ d7 21.xc4; A1b) 18...e6 19.c6? xc6 20.xd6 xd6 21.xd6 xe4-+; A2) 12.d4 e6 13.g5 b6 14.xb6 xb6 15.d4 a6 16.f3 e5 17.c2 d5 Garcia Paolicchi, R (2273)-Cramling, P (2470)/ ESP-chT fin Sanxenxo 2003; B) 9.0-0-0!? This very risky continuation d e s e r v e s s e r i o u s c o n s i d e r a t i o n ! a5 10.xe4 fxe4 11.g5 xa2 12.xe4 a1+ 13.d2 a5+ and now in position it looks like an important improvement exists for W hite: 14.c1 ( 14.c3! a2 15.e5! xb2+ 16.e1 ) 14...b6?! and now it seems as though White could have gained the advantage in a couple of ways: ( 14...a1+ Black could have played this, if she was satisfied with a draw, although here too White could still try 15.Kd2 Qa5 16. c3!) 15.d6! also looks good for White. ( 15.xb6 axb6 16.c3 c5 17.b1 a6 and now White has to play the computer's solution: Goczo, M (2201)-Gara, T (2296)/HUN-ch (Women) 2000 (3)/0-1 18.c7! b4 19.xb6 bxc3 20.xc5 b8 21.d4 xb2+ 22.c1 )] 9.g4!? b4 [ 9...xc3 10.bxc3 fxg4 A) 11.e5?! xd5! 12.g1 e6 13.xg4 ( 13.xg4 c5 14.d2 d6-+ ) 13...c6 and although the position is quite random, it looks doubtful for White.; B) 11.d2 d6 12.e4 d7 13.e2 and White has compensation, although it is unclear how much! ] 10.xe4 fxe4 11.d2 xd5 12.xd5 xd5 13.g2 e6
[ 13...c6 14.xe4 e5 15.g3 e6 16.g5 xg4 17.xe5 h6 18.f3 is also more pleasant for White. ] 14.xe4 c6 15.e3 e7 16.0-0 the position has stabilised, and White has a small advantage - he will generally gain the advantage of the two bishops, while he has a v e r y s l i g h t l e a d i n d e v e l o p m e n t . 0-0-0? this was a very dubious decision, as after kingside castling White can only gain a light advantage. [ 16...0-0 17.ad1 ad8 ( 17...xe4 18.xe4 d5 19.xd5 exd5 20.xd5+ h8 21.xc6 only gives W hite chances.) 18.xd5 exd5 19.g5 h8 20.xd5 xg5 21.xg5 c8 and again the exchange sacrifice gives W hite some chances, although Black can hold. ] [ 16...xe4 17.xe4 d5 18.g2 f6 19.e4! W hite needs to react sharply, otherwise B l a c k w i l l h a ve n o p r o b l e m s . ( 19.ab1 e5= ) 19...0-0 ( 19...d4 20.h1 xc2 21.ac1 b3 22.axb3 cxb3 23.exd5 xb2 24.b1 e5 25.g3 ) 20.g3 ad8 21.ad1 ] 17.d6+! [ 17.fd1 d6 18.a3 also gives White some edge, but less than in the game. ] 17...xd6 18.xd6 xg2 19.xg2 Now White has a serious bind over the Black p o sit io n . No w o n ly i s t h e B d 6 a t h o rn i n Black's side, but White will be able to switch between pressurising Black on both wings. a5 20.a3 b7 21.axb4 axb4 22.a4 a8 23.fa1 xa4 24.xa4 b6 the alternative, swapping the last pair of rooks, probably loses by force. [ 24...a8 25.xa8 xa8 26.f3! and I think White can win by transferring his k i n g t o g 5 , t h e n p l a y i n g B f 8 . ( 26.h4?! first advancing the pawns is a mistake, as it allows the Black king to make it back to f7 after which he can hold the position. b7 27.h5 c8 28.f3 d8 29.f4 e8 ) 26...b7 27.f4 c8 28.g5 d8 29.f8 g6 30.h6 and the position looks winning for White. ] 25.b3 b5 26.f4 h5 27.g5 g6 28.e4 g8 29.h4 cxb3 30.cxb3 a5? Black loses his patience, although ultimately his position was probably lost. 1931
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 30...g7?! 31.a8! ] [ 30...c8 31.g3 e8 32.f2 ( 32.f5?! exf5 33.exf5 gxf5 34.f4 is too speculative.) 32...c8 33.e3 e8 34.d3 c8 ( 34...g8 35.a2 a5 36.c2 ) 35.a2 and White is close to winning, for example: a5 36.c2 xc2 37.xc2 c6 38.d3 d8 39.f5 exf5 40.exf5 gxf5 41.g6 e6 42.e5+- ] 31.xb4+ c6 32.b8 g7 33.e5 f7 34.c8+ b5 35.g8 xb3 36.xg6 d2 37.g8 A well played game by Vera Gonzalez. Nevertheless, Black's 8...Qa5 novelty might be ok, although in this game White emerged from the opening with a slight advantage. Perhaps af te r 9. g4 Nxc 3 10 . b xc3 f xg4 sho uld b e explored, as although White has compensation only practice will be show what the real assessment should be. 1-0
1974 Wohlfahrt,Rainer Grooten,Herman 20th Open Böblingen GER (5) [John Emms]
A43 2127 2390 28.12.2003
Including this game is basically just for a bit of fun. Black plays a very dodgy opening and his position is resignable after seven moves. However, White doesn't play the most precise refutation and before we know it Black has tremendous compensation for the piece. 1.d4 f6 2.c3 c5 3.d5 e6 [ 3...d6 4.e4 g6 is a Schmid Benoni ] 4.e4 exd5?! This is a well-known mistake. [ Black must play 4...d6 ] 5.e5! e7? Only compounding his earlier error. [ The abject retreat 5...g8 is relatively best. ] [ 5...d4? loses material to 6.exf6 dxc3 7.e2+ ] 6.e2 e4?? This loses immediately. [ Again Black must suffer the consequences after 6...g8 7.xd5 d8 ] 7.xd5 xe5 8.c3? Winning a piece for two pawns, but not the best way to punish Black for his errors. [ After 8.c4! , threatening Bf4, Nf3 and f2-f3,
should cause Black to resign immediately! ] 8...d5 9.f3 f5 10.fxe4 fxe4 11.f3 f5 12.h4? After this mistake Black begins to get back into the game. [ I prefer 12.g5 e7 ( or 12...h6 13.xd5! xd5 14.h5+ e7 15.b5! and Black's in some trouble) 13.h5+ g6 14.h6 and here f8 can be met by 15.h3! ] 12...f7 13.f2? Funnily enough, the trade of queens doesn't seem to help White. [ 13.d1 e7 14.g3 e6 15.b5+ c6 16.f1 f6 17.e3 still looks good for White. ] 13...xf2+ 14.xf2 e7 15.b5+ [ Is it even t ime to b ail out wit h 15.xd5 xh4+ 16.e3 here? ] 15...c6 16.g3 [ 16.xc6+ prevents a later ...Nd4, but bxc6 17.g3 0-0+ 18.e1 d4 19.e2 h3 still looks rather unappetising for White. ] 16...0-0+ 17.e1 [ Or 17.g2 e6 , threatening ...g5 ] 17...d4! 18.a4 e6 Suddenly White's position is a real mess - Black's compensation f or t he p iece is enormous. 19.e2 g5 20.xd4 cxd4 21.c3 [ 21.g2 loses to b4+ 22.d1 g4# ] 21...dxc3 22.g2 cxb2 23.xb2 b4+ 24.e2 [ Or 24.d1 f2 ] 24...g4+ 25.e3 c5+ 26.d2 f2+ 27.c3 c8 0-1
1975 Yevseev,Denis Efimenko,Zahar Moscow Aeroflot op-A (7) [John Emms]
A43 2557 2666 14.02.2006
1.d4 c5 2.d5 g6 3.e4 g7 4.f3 d6 5.e2 f6 6.c3 0-0 7.0-0 g4 8.d2 White's most popular choice has been 8 Nd2, and this is followed by 8 h3. However, there's no obligation to commit so quickly to either move. [ If 8.f4 White is ready to play Nd2-c4 with the bishop already developed. For example, a6 ( 8...fd7 9.d2 xe2 10.xe2 a6 11.c4 c7 12.a4 b6 13.e3! 1932
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 sees White's plan in action, although even here I feel Black can minimise White's edge by a5! (this paradoxical move again!) 14.d2 d7 , as played in H.Berti-M. Zuccotti Bozzano, ICCF email 2008.) 9.d2 ( 9.h3 xf3 10.xf3 d7 11.d2 c7 12.a4 a6 returns to 8 h3 and KarpovBrowne (see the notes to ChuchelovGashimov) ) 9...xe2 10.xe2 c7 11.a4 e6!? ( this is the most active way to combat White's idea, and adds quick pressure to d5 especially when Black's f6-knight hasn't m o v e d i n s t e a d 11...d7 is again met by 12.c4 b6 13.e3 ) 12.d3 ( 12.dxe6 xe6= ) 12...exd5 13.exd5 ( 13.xd5!? ) 13...h5 14.e3 f5 15.f3 f4 16.d2 f5 with decent counterplay, V.Bronznik-X. Montheard, Metz 2005. ] 8...xe2 9.xe2 a6 The most popular choice in practice, but Black has struggled to gain equality with this move. Alternatively: [ a) For 9...fd7!? , perhaps Black's most challenging move, see Swiercz-Kempinski and Baburin-Rustemov. ] [ b) 9...bd7 10.c4! ( 10.a4 e8 11.c4 b6 12.e3 c7 transposes to BaburinRustemov ) 10...b6 11.e3 e8 12.a4 e6 13.dxe6 xe6 14.a5 bd7 15.f3 b8 16.d1 L.Stein-I.Bilek, Moscow 1967. ] [ c) 9...e8 10.c4 e6 11.f3 exd5 12.exd5 bd7 13.f4 e5 14.xe5 dxe5 15.fe1 J.Diez del Corral-L.Stein, Las Palmas 1973. ] 10.c4 c7 [ 10...b8 11.b5 c7 12.a4 a6 13.xc7 xc7 14.a5 is an edge for White, as indicated by Tukmakov. For example, fe8 15.d3 g4 16.f4! e5 17.xe5! xe5 (White's knight outweighs Black's bishop) 18.f4 g7 19.ae1 bd8 20.e5 H.Dietz-V.Kuklin, German League 2007. ] [ 10...d7 11.f4 c7 12.a4 transposes to 8 Bf4. ] 11.a4 a6 [ 11...e6 12.g5! exd5 13.xd5 cxd5 14.exd5 d7 15.xf6! xf6 16.f3 g7 17.c3 was V.Moskalenko-G.Kuzmin, Alushta 1994, another example of White's c4-knight being stronger than Black's darksquared bishop. ] 12.a5 b5!? Efimenko's move, a novelty at
the time of the game, exchanges Black's a6pawn f or W hite's e4-pawn. Normally this wo u ld b e a f a vo u ra b le t r a d e , b u t i n t h i s instance W hite is very active and Black is very passive. In fact, I'm not convinced 12... Nb5 is any improvement at all over previous theory. [ The stem game for this line went 12...d7 13.a4 b5 14.c3 c7 15.f4 ae8 16.ad1 e5 17.dxe6! ( if 17.d2 Tukmakov gives f5 18.f3 d8= intending Qh4 ) 17...xe6 18.d3 with an edge for W hite, V.Tukmakov-T. Giorgadze, Decin 1977. ] 13.xb5! [ 13.a4 is also possible and has been played by Romanishin, but 13 Nxb5 looks stronger. ] 13...axb5 14.b6 a6 15.xb5! [ White must avoid 15.f3? d7! ] [ and 15.g5 d7! is fine for Black. ] [ If 15.e5 dxe5 an d o n ly n o w 16.xb5 Bla ck ca n sa f e ly p la y xd5 in view of 17.d1 c3! ] 15...xe4 16.e1 f6 17.g5 h6 18.d2 [ 18.xf6 xf6 19.a4 c7 20.ae4 g7 21.h3 d8 22.c3 g8 23.1e3 d8 24.b4 , a s p l a ye d i n M . S t e p a n o v-C. Hu m e a u , Corsica 2008, also looks good. Black is struggling for any breathing space in these positions. ] 18...e8 19.b3! [ Not giving Black the opportunity to confuse t h in g s, wh ich h e wo u ld d o a f t e r 19.e2 xb6! 20.axb6 xd5 ] 19...d8 [ If 19...d7? then 20.c4! wins. ] 20.b5 e8 21.b3 d8 22.e2 e8 Yevseev was clearly in a generous mood on this occasion, or perhaps content to gain rating points from his higher-rated opponent. [ After 22...e8 23.ae1 Black's position looks extremely uncomfortable. Overall, Black is struggling to find equality or any real counterplay after 9...Na6. ] ½-½
1933
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1976 Yrjola,Jouni Efimov,Igor Eu Team Ch Batumi GEO (7) [John Emms]
A43 2412 2445 06.12.1999
Game of the Month: "It's not always f6": Black finds another square for his king's knight to develop. 1.d4 e6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 exd5 4.cxd5 d6 5.c3 g6 6.e4 g7 7.d3 So far it looks as if we will reach a main line of the Modern Benoni, via an unusual move order, but what happens if instead of ...Ng8-f6, Black plays... e7!? This is a very interesting idea. The diagonal is kept free for the bishop and Black can also consider an early ...f7-f5. 8.f3 0-0 9.0-0 Perhaps White should take time out to prevent ...Bg4 with h2-h3, as in the Modern Classical Variation. a6 10.a4 g4 11.h3 xf3 12.xf3 d7 13.e2 c7 14.f4 ae8 Once again White has expanded in the centre, but on this occasion Black is ready to hit back with ...f7-f5. 15.f3 f5 16.g4 c4 17.c2 fxe4 18.xe4 c5 19.c2 b5! Black's play is very logical and energetic. Black expands on the queenside, preparing to meet 20 axb5 axb5 21 Nxb5 with 21...Qb6!, hitting the knight and preparing a discovered check. By playing ...f7-f5 Black has isolated the white pawn on d5, which is now quite vulnerable. 20.axb5 axb5 21.e3 b4 22.b5 d7 23.d4 b3! The pawn chain marches on. If Black can round up the d5-p awn , t hen he will b e winn ing. 24.d1 d3! Preparing a very efficient exchange s a c r i f i c e . 25.e6 xd5 26.xf8 b5! For the moment White is a rook up, but the knight on f8 is trapped. Notice also that the b2-pawn is also ripe to be eaten. If this one goes then Black gets an irresistible trio of passed pawns. 27.e6 xe6 28.a8+ f8 29.d4 5xf4? This allows White a chance t o t u r n t h e t a b l e s wi t h a b r i l l i a n t q u e e n sacrifice. [ 29...3xf4! would have kept Black in control. ] 30.c8? White misses his big chance. [ 30.xd3!! cxd3 31.xf4 would have left Black in all sorts of trouble, as e8 loses to 32.xe8 xe8 33.xb3+ and White mates. ]
30...d5 31.g5 b7 32.d8 e4! Now Black has assumed control once more and the result is not in doubt. 33.f6 b6+ 34.h1 e3! W h i t e h a s n o g o o d wa y t o c o n t i n u e , a s moving the queen allows ...Rxh3. 35.xf4 xf4 36.xf4 e1+ 37.g2 g1+ It's mate after 38 Kf3 Re3. A very entertaining game. 0-1
1977 Ziyaev,Negmat Smerdon,David 36th Olympiad (6) [John Emms]
A43 2295 2425 20.10.2004
1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.d5 e6 4.c3 Of course W hite is certainly not obliged to enter the Modern Benoni and 4 Nc3 is a very serious choice for White - and a bit of a pain for Black. The 'main line' is 4...exd5 5 Nxd5 Nxd5 6 Qxd5. It's true that this line is not bad for Black in a theoretical sense, but it's a bit dull and it's very difficult to generate counterplay. b5!? This is the move to play if Black wants more action, though of course it's far riskier than 4...exd5. Black offers a pawn sacrifice for control of the centre in a similar way to the Blumenfeld Gambit - 1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 e6 3 Nf3 c5 4 d5b5!?. 5.dxe6 [ White can also decline, preferring to con tinu e with d evelop me nt wit h 5.g5!? - see Sakaev-Volkov, New Delhi 2000 in ChessPub (ECO code A43) ] 5...fxe6 6.g5!? This seems to be a bit inconsistent - if W hite wants to decline the pawn then it looks more logical to play 5 Bg5 and keep some presence in the centre. And after capturing on e6 it looks normal to grab the pawn. That said, White doesn't get a bad position in the game so it's probably not so bad. [ Konopka-Vavra, Czech Rep 2004 continued 6.xb5 d5 7.e3 a6 (Forcing the knight back to c3 so that White cannot arrange an early c2-c4. On the other hand, White now has options of e3-e4, so it's difficult to know whether this is better than simple development with 7...Nc6, offering W hite the chance to play 8 c4!?.) 8.c3 c6 1934
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.d3 (I'm not sure about this move) ( 9.e4! is probably stronger) 9...d6 10.0-0 0-0 11.e4? d4! 12.exd5 g4! and Black had a very strong attack - see ChessPub (ECO code A43) for the rest of this entertaining game. ] 6...b4 7.e4 d5 8.xf6+ gxf6 9.h4 A strange position: Black has f ive pawns developed but nothing else W hite has two pieces developed but no pawns! e7 10.e4! A good move - W hite has to make an impression on Black's pawn structure. [ 10.e3?! 0-0 11.e2 c6 12.0-0 b7 gives Black a very easy life. ] 10...dxe4 11.d2 d5! [ Trying to hang onto the e4-pawn smacks of g r e e d i n e s s : 11...f5?! 12.h5+ f8 13.h6+ f7 14.xe7 xe7 15.0-0-0 and it looks like W hite has made a good investment. ] 12.c4 [ Also possible is 12.g4 , for example b7 13.c4 f5 14.xe6 , which looks fairly level. ] 12...f5 13.e2 c6 14.b5 b7 15.xe4 0-0-0 16.c3 hg8 17.g3 e5 Black's position looks quite loose, but it's very possible that he has the advantage due to his very active pieces. It's a very difficult one to call. 18.a6 c4! 19.xb7+ xb7 20.0-0 d3 21.cxb4? The first move of a double error which hands the game to Black. It was absolutely crucial for W hite to try and undermine the knight on d3, which holds Black's position together. [ For that reason, there's a big argument for the move 21.b3! Now if Black plays in the game with h5 White has 22.bxc4 h4 23.ad1! hxg3 24.xd3 gxh2+ 25.h1 and White may well be better. ] 21...h5! 22.c5+? After this White is definitely losing. [ 22.h4 is the best chance, even though after d4 23.f3 g6 no one would disagree that Black is on top. ] 22...xc5! 23.bxc5 h4 24.xh4 [ 24.d6 is more resilient, but the position after xd6! 25.cxd6 xg2+! 26.xg2 ( 26.h1 d5! ) 26...f4+ 27.f3 xe2+ 28.xe2 d3+ 29.e1 xd6 should be winning for Black. ]
24...xg2+! 25.h1 d5! 26.e3 xf2+ 0-1
1978 Cramling,Pia Gregoire,Sylvain TCh-FRA Top 16 Gp A (2) [John Emms]
A44 2515 2261 04.02.2006
1.d4 c5 2.d5 [ The illogical-looking 2.dxc5 , "giving up the centre", is not as bad as it first looks and has been played by a handful of GMs (White plays a sort of Queen's Gambit Accepted Attack!). Now there's nothing wrong with 2... Nf6 or 2...Na6, but I guess the most obvious m o v e h e r e i s e6 with the intention of an immediate recapture on c5. White does best to give the pawn back immediately (3 b4? runs into the convincing 3...a5!)with 3.c3 answering xc5 with 4.e4! If the bishop moves W hite can continue with Nd6+ so Black should play d5! 5.xc5 a5+ 6.c3 xc5 with a roughly level position. Note here t h a t a f t e r 7.e4!? Black should continue simp ly wit h e7! ra th e r th a n ( 7...dxe4?! 8.g4! )] 2...e5 Black can play also 2.. .Nf6, 2...g6 and 2. ..e6, all reaching some kind of Benoni position. With 2... e5 Black prepares to keep it all stodged up just like in the Czech Benoni (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e5). 3.e4 d6 4.c3 [ 4.f4!? is very direct - see Roghani, AHamad, A/Fajr 2001 in the archives (ECO code A44). ] [ 4.c4 is another main move, immediately giving the Czech Benoni structure. With 4 Nc3 W hite prefers to keep the c4-square free. This does mean that White has less space on the queenside than normal, but on the other hand the c4-square could end up as a useful outpost for a knight. ] 4...a6 Black position is rife with possible different move orders here - I won't bore you by listing all of them. The main point of 4...a6 is to cut out annoying Nb5/Bb5+ ideas for W hite, and of course ...b7-b5 is virtually always handy if Black - time permitting - is a llo we d t h is a d va n ce . 5.f4! The robotic reaction is 5 a4 (see Davila-Castillo, San Jose 1935
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2004 in the archives), but I'm all for the way Pia Cramling plays it here. If 4...a6 has a weakness, it's that it doesn't really help out in the development stakes, so why not try to blow a few holes in the centre? When I was younger someone told me that playing f4 in these positions is risky because it gives Black the e5-square, but it looks like a whole lot more fun than the turgid 5 Nf3. exf4 6.xf4 g5!? I would really love it if Black were able to get away with playing moves such as this, but sadly I suspect in reality it's too weakening to work against someone who knows what he or she is doing. I really like the concept, though: Black gains time on the bishop and plans to do battle for the all-important e5-square with ...Bg7 [ If Black is looking for a sounder way to contest e5 then I can recommend 6...e7! , intending ...Ng6. For example 7.f3 g6 8.g3 e7 and, if allowed , Black's next few moves will be ...0-0, ...Qc7, ...Nd7, ...Bf6 and ... Nde5 when it's clear he or she has won the battle for the e5-square. In Azmaiparashvili-Rashkovsky, Strumica 1995, White unsurprisingly circumvented this basic plan of Black's by playin g 9.e5 dxe5 10.xe5 and following the game's 10... 0-0 11 Nxg6 hxg6 12 Be2 12 Be2 Bh4 13 Qd2 Re8 14 0-0 I quite like the look of White's position - the passed d-pawn looks strong to me. That said, I believe Black missed a trick here with xe5! 11.xe5 0-0 the point being to answer 12.d3 with h4+! 13.g3 e8 ] 7.g3 g7 8.f3 g4 9.d2! White's quite happy to recapture on f3 with the g-pawn. It might seem that W hite is merely targeting Black's g5-pawn, but just watch where White's queen ends up in just five moves time. xf3 10.gxf3 e7 All logical stuff: Black plans ...Nd7 with total control of the vital e5square... 11.h4! h6 12.hxg5 hxg5 13.xh8 xh8 14.h2!! I find this move very appealing. It's true that Black often gets into trouble with the d6-pawn in the Benoni, but I can't recall a queen and bishop battery exploiting it as blatantly as this, certainly not so early in the opening. d4? Suicide. [ I think I would have covered d6 with 14...e5 and accept the monster d5 passer
after 15.xe5 xe5 16.xe5+ dxe5 Funnily enough, this position has actually occurred before! Mochalov-Rumiancev, Polanica Zdroj 1994continued 17.h3 d7 18.f2 e7 19.g1 f6 20.d6! g6 21.d5 when White was beginning to dominate. So 6...g5, as well as being a bit on the dodgy side, doesn't even has the distinction of being original. ] 15.xd6 White doesn't need asking twice. Typically with the loss of the d6-pawn, Black's position collapses, and Pia Cramling finishes off with style. f6 16.e2! xb2 17.e5 xf3 18.g2 f5 [ Another pretty line is 18...c3+ 19.d1 e3 20.xc3 xc3 21.h8! xa1+ 22.e2 d7 23.h3+ and White forces checkmate. ] 19.h8! g6 [ I f B l a c k g r a b s t h e r o o k w i t h 19...xa1 White has 20.xg8+ d7 and now 21.h3! f o r c e s m a t e : xh3 22.xf7+ d8 23.e7+ c8 24.c7# ] 20.b1 [ Moving the bishop from b2 allows the rook t o c o m e d o w n t o b 7 wi t h d e va s t a t i o n . 20.b1 a3 and now the deflector 21.e4! is one of many wins: xe4 allows mate in two after 22.xg8+ d7 23.xb7# ] 1-0
1979 Davila,Carlos Castillo,Rommel zt2.3.c2 San Jose CRC (5) [John Emms]
A44 2339 2118 08.09.2004
1.d4 c5 Playing ...c5 as early as move one is certainly very playable for Black, and it gives both sides some extra options not normally available after 1...Nf6 2 c4 c5 2.d5 [ Another idea is to grab the pawn with 2.dxc5 Following e6 White does best to give the pawn back immediately (3 b4? a5!) with 3.c3 answering xc5 with 4.e4! If the bishop moves White can continue with Nd6+ so Black should play d5! 5.xc5 a5+ 6.c3 xc5 with a roughly level p o s i t i o n . N o t e h e r e t h a t a f t e r 7.e4!? Bla ck sho uld co ntinue simply wit h e7! 1936
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( rather than 7...dxe4?! 8.g4! )] 2...e5 Naturally Black can play also 2...Nf6, 2... g6 and 2. ..e6, all reaching some kind of Benoni position. With 2...e5 Black prepares to keep it blocked just like in the Czech Benoni (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e5). 3.e4 d6 4.c3!? This makes use of the fact that White hasn't committed his pawn to c4. Instead W hite keeps this square open for a piece (Nf3-d2-c4 is on e p lan ). 4 c4 wo u ld b rin g a bo u t t h e Czech Benoni pawn structure. [ 4.f4!? is very direct - see Roghani,AHamad,A/Fajr 2001 in ChessPub (ECO code A44). ] 4...a6 5.a4 f5?! Even though this move has been played by a world champion (the earliest example I can find is a game of Alekhine's) I don't trust this move. It's understandable that Black might want to get some early activity but this leaves too many weak squares in Black's position for my liking. [ A more sober move is 5...g6 , for example 6.e2 h5!? 7.f3 h6 8.0-0 xc1 9.xc1 (Sokolov,I-Morozevich,A/Amsterdam 1996). Black has managed to get rid of his socalled 'bad bishop' but White's still probably a bit better. ] 6.exf5! [ Stronger than the 6.f4!? of Euwe-Alekhine, Netherlands 1934. ] 6...xf5 7.ge2! Planning to harass the bishop with Ng3, which also eyes up the juicy outpost on e4. f6 8.g3 g6 9.h4! [ 9.d3 is very pleasant for White, but given the speed of Black's demise in this game, it's extremely difficult to argue with the text move. ] 9...e7 10.h5 f7 11.f5 0-0 12.g4! I ro n ic a l ly B la c k p la ye d . . . f 7 -f 5 f o r so m e activity, but it's W hite who is doing all the attacking. Now Black must play 12...Ne8 to avoid what's coming. bd7? 13.g5 e8 [ 13...xh5 14.xh5 xh5 15.xe7+ xe7 16.xh5 is not a great option, although as far as Black is concerned it's still preferable to the game. ] 14.g4 g6 [ Allowing g5-g6 is just a s b ad : 14...h8 15.g6 ef6 16.h6!! xg4 17.hxg7+ g8 18.gxh7# - nice work if you can get it! ] 15.h6+ g7 16.xf7 xf7 17.hxg6 hxg6
18.h4 ...and that's the end of that! There's no good answer to the threats of Qh8 and Qh7. 1-0
1980 Graf,Alexander Muranyi,Karl Jasmin ch-GER Osterburg GER (4) [John Emms]
A44 2604 2359 06.02.2006
1.d4 c5 2.d5 e5 3.e4 d6 [ 3...a6!? ] 4.b5+!? Opting for this slightly disruptive check before Black has the chance to prevent it with ...a7-a6. d7! I like this move much more than 4...Bd7. Having already consigned the f8-bishop to a prospectless life, I'd really prefer to keep my other bishop alive. 5.f4! Here we go again! exf4 6.xf4 Now I see one of the points of 4 Bb5+: Black would like to play th e typical ... Ne7-g6 he re, b ut o f course 6...Ne7 simply drops the d6-pawn. [ I guess White could also play in King's Gambit fashion with 6.f3 g5! 7.h4! g4 8.g1 ] 6...b6 This queen move seems very cheeky to me, but it certainly does the business in this game. 7.a3 [ Perhaps White should consider sacrificing b2 in another way: 7.c3 a6 8.a4 xb2 9.ge2 and now Black must spend more time retreating his queen as b5? 10.b1 a3 11.b3 sees it being trapped. ] 7...a6 8.xd7+ xd7 9.f3 [ 9.c4? b4+! ] 9...xb2 10.c4 f6! Black is not letting his d6-pawn go without a fight. [ 10...b4+ 11.fd2! ] 11.xd6!? c3+! Perhaps Graf missed the strength of this outwardly surprising move [ 11...xd6 12.e5 xe5 13.cxe5 followed by 0-0 looks very appealing from White's point of view: the d-pawn is strong and Black has problems developing normally. ] 12.fd2 xd6 13.xd6+ The d6-pawn goes and Black is forced to move his king. I must admit I thought this was absolutely terrible for B l a ck a t f i r s t . I wa s sh o c ke d b y B l a c k ' s 1937
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 counterplay. e7 14.6c4 [ After 14.xb7 b5! the knight on b7 is lacking a retreat square, while Black goes on the attack and already threatens the decisive ...Qe3+. ] [ 14.f5+ looks reasonable, but following xf5! 15.exf5 f6 16.0-0 hd8 Black's kin g will safely tuck itself in the corner. I even reckon that Black is better h e r e - I f I we r e W h i t e I wo u l d b e a b i t nervous about losing that d5-pawn. ] 14...b5! Suddenly White's knights find themselves in a bit of a pickle. Graf decides it's time for drastic measures (not that I could f in d an y quiet way to p lay t his posit io n). 15.b1! xc4 16.xb7+ f6 17.c6+ e5! Always attack with the king when possible! One of Black's ideas is ...Kd4-e3, threatening mate with ...Qxd2. 18.c7+! [ I've come to the conclusion (with a little bit of help from my silicon friends) that snaffling the rook in the corner seems to lead to a forced win for Black: 18.xa8? xa1+ 19.f2 (take my rooks!) A) 19...xh1?? runs into a mating sequence: 20.b8+ f6 ( or 20...d4 21.b2# ) 21.d6+ g5 22.f3+ h5 23.e5+ h6 24.g5#; B) 19...d4+! (no thanks!) 20.e1 f6! (you t a ke m y roo ks! ) 21.xh8 a1+ 22.f2 xe4+ ( 22...xh1?? allows a visual mate in two after 23.b8+ d4 24.b2# ) 23.xe4 d4+ 24.f3 xe4+ 25.g3 e3+ 26.h4 ( 26.g4? allows the bishop to join the action with devastation: e2+ 27.h4 f4+ 28.h3 g4# ) 26...h6+ 27.g3 g5+ 28.h3 xd5! 29.e1+ d4! 30.d1+ c3! 31.xd5 (th ere 's not hin g e lse ) xd5 when the queen ending must be winning for Black, e.g. 32.xg7+ xc2 33.xh7+ d3+! 34.xd3+ xd3 and the c-pawn promotes. ] 18...d4! 19.f4!? f6! [ There is still not time to gather 10 points of material: 19...xa1+?? 20.f2 xh1 21.e3+ e5 22.g3+! f6 ( 22...d4 23.c3# ) 23.d6+ g5 24.f3+ etc. ] 20.d1? [ a) White's problem is twofold: his knight is pinned and the rook on a1 has been
hanging for a while. He could eliminate t h e s e w i t h 20.0-0-0 which incidentally threatens a discovered double check and mate with Nf3 or Nb3. Unfortunately Black gets in first with his own mating attack: a3+! 21.b1 xa2+ 22.a1 b3+! 23.b1 a2+ 24.c1 xc2# ] [ b) 20.f2+? looks tempting but in fact B l a c k ' s k i n g c a n t i p t o e b a c k w i t h e5 21.f5+ d6 22.e5+ c7 23.d6+ d8 when W hite's attack has run out of gas: 24.exf6 e8+ and it's White's king who is getting mated. ] [ c) 20.e5+ is an obvious try, but xd5 21.xc4+ xc4 22.xc4 xc4 23.exf6 is clearly favourable for Black - look at that active king. ] [ Shredder 9 gives 20.d6 as White's best move here. It looks a bit irrelevant at first (typical computer move!) but the idea is to play Qf2+ and then capture on c5, when it's check. One line is xa1+ 21.f2 xa2! ( 21...xh1?? 22.e3+ e5 23.xc4+ e6 24.h3+ mates ) 22.f3+ c3 23.d2+ b2 24.c1+ c3 25.d2+ when White can settle for a perpetual check. I'll leave the readers to decide whether analyse the multitude of other possibilities. ] 20...he8! Threatening ...Rxe4+ and forcing White's hand. Maybe Graf missed that 21 Kf2 co uld be a n swered b y 2 1. .. Ng4+! . 21.e5+ xd5 22.f2 d4+! 23.xd4+ cxd4 24.exf6 e2+ 25.f3 e3+ 26.f4 g5+! Winning. 27.xg5 g8+ 28.f4! [ 28.h6? runs into a forced mate: e5! (threatening ...Rg6+) 29.g4 g6+ 30.xh7 xg4 31.h6 g6+ 32.h7 h5# ] 28...xg2? It's quite possible with all the complications so far that time trouble was playing a major part in the game here. [ Black has a forced win with 28...e6! 29.g4 xf6+ 30.g3 e2! 31.de1 xg4+ 32.h3 h6# ] 29.xc4 f2+! This intermezzo is vital: [ 29...xc4? allows 30.xd4+! xd4 31.d1+ ] 30.g5 xc4 With his superior rooks and king, Black is obviously looking to win this position, but Graf puts up terrific resistance and is rewa rded as Bla ck lose s t he p lot . 31.h4! g3+ 32.h6 xf6+?! 1938
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 32...xc2 33.a4 d3 34.xh7 d2 35.h2! d3 36.h5 a5 37.h6 e3 38.h8 c8+ 39.h7 d8 40.hh1 It looks like Black should have some way of winning here, but I can't find it! ] 33.xh7 g2 34.h5 c6? This move must have been influenced by time trouble - the rook is worse here than on f6. 35.dg1! xc2 [ Or 35...xg1 36.xg1 c3 37.g2! ] 36.h6! f5 37.g7 Now White is winning! b2 38.c1+! [ Much stronger than the impetuous 38.h7 b7+! 39.h8 when White's king is again stuck in front of its pawn. ] 38...d5 39.xc6 xc6 40.h7 b8 41.h8 xh8 42.xh8 d5 43.f6! [ 43.a8 f4 44.xa6 d3! 45.h6 f3 46.a4 d2 47.h1 e4 48.a5 d3 49.a6 e2 50.a7 d1 51.xd1 xd1 52.a8 f2 i s a t h e o r e t i c a l d r a w : 53.f3+ e1 54.e3+ f1 55.g6 g1 56.g5+ h2 57.f4+ g1 58.g3+ h1! ] 43...e4 44.e8+ f4? [ 44...f3! forces White to be more accurate, b u t it 's win n in g if W h it e u se s h is kin g: 45.a8! ( 45.xf5? d3! ) 45...d3 46.xa6 f4! 47.f5! d2 48.d6 e3 49.g4! f3 50.g3 f2 51.e6+ d3 52.xf2 d1 53.d6+ c2 54.xd1 xd1 55.a4 ] 45.e6 a5 46.e5! d3 47.xf5+ e4 48.e5+ [ 48.e5+ d4 49.xa5 d2 50.a8! d1 51.d8+ and White wins. An incredible game! ] 1-0
1981 Leimeister,Erhard Siebrecht,Sebastian 20th Open Böblingen GER (3) [John Emms]
A44 2182 2435 27.12.2003
as the main move. ] 4...e7 5.f3 a6!? Black doesn't commit himself on the kingside just yet, so he leaves the option open of playing ...Bg4xf3 and ... Bg5. [ 5...f5?! looks a bit risky and was punished by some excellent play in the game Rustemov-Bachin, Russia 2001: 6.e4 f4 7.g3 g5 8.gxf4 exf4 ( 8...gxf4 9.xe5! dxe5 10.h5+ f8 11.xe5 f6 12.xf4 d7 13.d2 is clearly better for White Rustemov ) 9.e5! g4N ( 9...dxe5 10.xe5 f6 11.h4! ) 10.e6! gxf3 11.xf3 b6 12.d2! f6 13.0-0-0 , when Black's position is literally cut in two. ] 6.e4 c7 7.d3 a6 8.a4 b6 [ I would be tempted to forego this move to play the immediate 8...g4 ] 9.b1 [ And here I think White should avoid ...Bg4 with 9.h3! ] 9...g4 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 g5 12.g3 The beginning of a dodgy queen venture. [ 12.0-0 xc1 13.fxc1 is better. ] 12...xc1 13.xg7? This cheeky pawn grab is neatly refuted. g5! 14.xh8 d2+ 15.f1 e7 16.xh7 [ P e r h a p s W h i t e m i s s e d t h a t 16.e2 allows Black to trap the queen with f6 17.g7 g8 ] 16...xd3+ 17.g1 f4 Black's two minor pieces clearly outweigh the rook and pawn. White decides to end his misery as quickly as possible. 18.g3? xg3! 19.fxg3 xg3+ 20.f1 f3+ [ Black wins after 20...f3+ 21.g1 f6 and ...Rg8. ] 0-1
1982 A44 Roghani,Arash 2210 Hamad,Ahmad 2226 1.d4 c5 2.d5 e5 3.c4 d6 4.c3 Open Fajr IRI (7) 09.02.2001 [ 4.e4 is another main move, immediately [John Emms] giving the Czech Benoni structure. One p o s s i b l e i d e a f o r B l a c k h e r e i s e7 This games not particularly important in a , preparing to trade the traditionally 'bad' theoretical sense, but White's decisive attack bishop with ...Bg5.W hite can prevent this at the end does have a nice flow to it. 1.d4 c5 with 5.f3 but Black can renew the 'threat' Playing ... c5 as early as move one is possible, with g4 . E C O n o w g i v e s 6.bd2 and it gives both sides some extra options. 1939
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2.d5 [ Another idea is to grab the pawn with 2.dxc5 e6 ( 2...a6 3.a3 xc5 4.b4 e4 5.f3 ef6 6.e4 c7 7.b2 e6 8.c4 d6 9.c3 a6 10.f4 e7 11.f3 g6 12.d2 e7 13.d3 0-0 14.0-0 occurred in BauerBezo ld, France 1 999 .) 3.c3 xc5 4.e4!? d5 5.xc5 a5+ 6.d2 xc5 7.g5!? f8!? 8.e3 f6 9.d3 c6 10.e2 e5 11.0-0 g4 12.f3 h6 13.h4 e6 14.a3 e7 this position looks reasonably level here but White won quickly after 15.b4 0-0 16.b2 d7 17.g3 f6 18.f4 e4 19.b5 fc8 20.a4 a5 21.b5 c5? 22.bxc6 xa4 23.xf6! 1-0 MilovMantovani, Saint Vincent 2001. ( 23.xf6 xf6 24.cxb7 wins )] 2...e5 Naturally Black can play also 2...Nf6, 2... g6 and 2. ..e6, all reaching some kind of Benoni position. With 2...e5 Black prepares to keep it blocked just like in the so-called Czech Benoni (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 e5). 3.e4 d6 4.f4!? This is very direct. exf4 5.xf4 e7 6.b5+ d7 7.xd7+ xd7 Black is forced to capture this way as he must keep the dpawn protected. 8.f3 [ 8.d2 g6 9.g3 e7 10.gf3 0-0 11.0-0 f5 12.exf5 xf5 13.c4 a6 14.c3 c7 15.b3 b6 16.fe5 xf1+ 17.xf1 xe5 18.xe5 dxe5 19.d6+ e6 20.dxe7 xb3 21.axb3 d5 22.d1 xe7 23.xe5 c6 24.c7 was drawn in D.GurevichGheorghiu, Geneva 1995. ] 8...g6 9.g3 c7?! Vacating the d7square for the b8-knight, but surprisingly this move lands Black into early trouble. [ Also played has been 9...b5! 10.bd2 e7 11.a4 a6 12.f2 d7 13.e1 f6 14.e2 xe2+ 15.xe2 ge5 with a completely level position, LericheLuce, France 1991. ] 10.0-0 e7 11.a3 a6 [ 11...0-0 is safer, but 12.b5 b6 13.a4 a6 14.a3 c7 15.c4 is pleasant for White. ] 12.c4 b5 [ 12...d7 is answered by 13.e5 gxe5 14.fxe5 xe5 15.xe5 dxe5 16.d6 ] 13.xd6+! xd6 14.e5 xe5 [ 14...f8 keeps the extra piece, but after 15.g5 White's attack is pretty awesome. ]
15.xe5 0-0 Black can be forgiven for thinking he is over the worst now, but... [ 15...xe5 16.xe5 xe5 17.e1 wins for White. ] 16.xf7!! xg3 [ 16...xf7 17.xf7 xf7 18.h5+ and White wins after g8 19.e8+ ] 17.h6+! gxh6 18.g4+ g7 and Black resigned without waiting for [ 18...g7 19.xf8+ xf8 20.f1+ g8 21.c8+ ] 1-0
1983 Roghani,Arash Hamad,Ahmad Fajr Open 2001 [Paul Motwani]
A44
2001
W32: "Old Benoni looking older as White gets bolder!" Old Benoni, Code A44. 1.d4 c5 2.d5 [ A fascinating alternative is 2.dxc5 e6 3.c3 xc5 4.e4!? intending d5 ( or 4...e7 5.d6+ ) 5.xc5 a5+ 6.d2 xc5 7.g5! as was played recently by super-GM Vadim Milov, whose opponent chose f8 ( rather than falling for 7...f8?? 8.d8#! )] 2...e5 [ 2...f6 3.c4 e6 would transpose to the Modern Benoni Defence, whereas in the act ua l ga me we se e a n old f o rm o f th e Benoni. ] 3.e4 d6 4.f4! A particularly potent case of "f f o r f o rwa rd " ! A b o u t t we n t y ye a r s a go i n Dundee, I also played 4 f4 in several training games against fellow-Scot Dr David Findlay, and White scored 100% in those encounters. exf4 5.xf4 e7 Black plans ...Ng6 to fight for control of the central e5-square, but White gets in a disruptive check first... 6.b5+! d7 [ 6...d7? drops the d6-pawn ] 7.xd7+ xd7 8.f3 g6 9.g3 c7?! Black's top priority should be ...Be7 and ...0-0, with king-safety in mind. 10.0-0 e7 11.a3! The knight may soon leap forward to b5 or c4, depending on exact circumstances at the time. a6 12.c4 A big position al threat now is the advance a2-a4-a5 with a powerful grip on the queenside, but we'll soon see that White has 1940
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 spotted a deadly tactical possibility too... b5 D (2185) - Simons,M (2145) 4NCL 1998 13.xd6+!! xd6 14.e5 xe5 ( 19.f4! )] [ If 14...e7 then White has the luxury of 15.hxg3 c5 16.d2 xd4 17.cxd4 f5 being able to choose between 15.e6 ( or 18.f4 xg3 19.g1 xf1+ 20.gxf1 d6? 15.d6 )] A mistake. 15.xe5 0-0 [ 20...d8! Black must hang on to the pawn [ Of course 15...xe5 loses quickly because at all costs! 21.d5 ( 21.h1! Therefore of 16.xe5 xe5 17.e1 but in the actual wi t h t h e p l a n a 2 - a 3 , R a g 1 i n o r d e r t o game Black is now quite safe...right? ] provoke . .. g7 -g6 an d t he n Rhh 6-Rgh 1 16.xf7!! Wrong! xg3 winning the pawn back is, indeed, uneasy [ If 16...xf7 17.xf7 xf7 ( 17...xf7 for Black to face!) 21...a6 22.g1 g6 18.xd6 ) 18.h5+ then the key point is that 23.gc1 ( 23.a4 d6 24.b4 Just fails to e6 g8 loses instantly to 19.e8+ ] 25.b5 a5 26.xb6 c7 ) 23...d6 24.c7 17.h6+! gxh6 18.g4+ Black resigned in A) 24...e6 25.xb7 c8 ( 25...xd5 view of 18...Kh8 19 Rxf8 or 18...Qg7 19 Rxf8+ 26.b8+ ) 26.xb6 xb6 27.xb6+ b7 Kxf8 20 Rf1+ Kg8 21 Qc8+ Qf8 22 Qxf8. 28.a4; 1-0 B) 24...a5 25.ac1 e6 26.xb6; C) 24...e8! 25.ac1 e6 26.b4 a7 27.d5 d7 28.e4 h5 ] 1984 A45 21.d5 a5 22.xb6 e6 23.a4 h5 24.d5! a6 Ackermann,Daniel [ 24...xd5? 25.b4 ] Koermer,Jens Peter White effective ly just plays a clear GER jub50 qJVH02 corr 1996 25.a5 exchange up with no pawn as compensation: [Eric Prié] Black's queen's rook will never see the light of 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ day again! d7 26.b4 d8 27.g1 h7 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 28.e3 h4 29.f2 f6 30.f4 h3 31.g3 f5 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 32.f3 h2 33.h1 g5 34.fxg5 And here it seemed that Black resigned. exf4 12.d4 d5 13.g3! e3 [ Following 34.fxg5 xb6 ( 34...h4 35.gxf6 [ 13...c5! And this is the point of Black's xb6 36.g8+ d7 37.f7 e4+ 38.g3 12th move as it transposes into the main line xh1 39.f8 ) 35.axb6 h4 36.e3! with 12...Bc5. Incidentally, it makes me ( 36.gxf6? e4+ 37.e3 xh1 38.g8+ think that despite the oddness of moving the d7 39.f7 e4+; 36.g6? e4+ 37.e3 same (and indeed the only developed) piece xh1 38.g7 xd5 ) 36...e4 37.xh2 xh2 two times in the opening it is therefore not 38.xe4 The rook ending should be won yet clear cut which is better, in the end, 12.. . more because of the particular pawn Nd5!? or the acknowledged 12...Bc5! configuration (with the confinement of the 14.h3 leads to a well known transposition ( black king on the bottom ranks allied to his that occurred, by the way in the game given counterpart's activity, capable of decisively in t h e n ot e! ) se e ne xt t wo ga me s . xd4 hitting d6 while preventing any transposition 15.cxd4 a4 16.xf4! xf4 17.gxf4 xd4 into any pawn ending) than because of the 18.e3 ] extra (doubled) pawn on its own. 14.h3! fxg3! A) 38...xe2+ 39.f3 d2 40.e3! [ 14...c5 15.d2 xd5 ( 40...b2 41.gxf6 b3+ 42.f4 A) 15...c4+ 16.c2 xd4 ( 16...e3+ xb4+ 43.f5 ) 41.g6 e5+ 42.f4 e8 17.d3 Black cannot take on g3 43.f5 e7 44.e3+ d7 45.xe8 anymore. ) 17.cxd4 fxg3 18.hxg3 e3+ xe8 46.xf6; 19.d3 Of course instead of 19.Kd2 this B) 38...fxg5! would transpose into the actual game.; B1) 39.e3!? h4+ 40.f5 xb4 B) 15...xf1+ 16.hxf1 fxg3 17.hxg3 41.xg5 xb6 42.e6 a6 ( 42...b3 xd4 18.cxd4 d6 19.f2 1/2-1/2 Gunter, 1941
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 43.xd6 xe3 44.g8+ e8 45.xe8+ xe8 46.c7 ) 43.g8+ c7 44.g7+ c8 45.d7 b5 ( 45...a3 46.xd6 a6+ 47.e7 a3 48.e4 e3 49.d6 xe4 50.e7! ) 46.xd6 xd6+ ( 46...a4 47.e5 ) 47.xd6 b4 48.e7 b3 49.d6 b2 50.d7+ b7 51.d8 b1 52.d5+ c7 53.c4+ b7 54.e4; B2) 39.f5 I hesitate about what is best xe2 ( 39...h4 40.g4 e7 41.xg5 h2 42.e4 b2 43.h4 xb4 44.h7+ d8 45.xb7 xe4 46.b8+ d7 47.b7 b4 48.f8 xb7 49.f7+ c8 50.xb7 xb7 51.f6 b6 52.e7 c5 53.e6 ) 40.xg5 d7 41.g7+ c8 B2a) 42.c7+ d8! 43.xb7 e5+ 44.f6 c8! ( 44...xd5? 45.e6 ) 45.c7+ b8=; B2b) 42.f6! e5 43.g5 e8 ( 43...e4 44.b5 ) 44.g7 Or any rook move on the g-file leads to Black's zugzwang. ( 44.b5? d8 45.g7 e5 46.g8+ d7 47.g5 xg5!! 48.xg5 e8 49.f6 f8 50.e6 e8 51.xd6 d8 52.e6 e8 53.d6 d8= ) 44...e5 45.g8+ First attract the king on the 7th d7 46.g5 e4 47.g7+ c8 48.c7+ d8 ( 48...b8 49.e7 ) B2b1) 49.b5 e5 50.g7 ( 50.xb7 c8 ) 50...c8!; B2b2) 49.xb7 xb4 50.e6 ( 50.b8+ d7 51.b7 c7 ) 50...c8! 51.c7+ b8 B2b21) 52.d7 xb6 53.xd6 b1 54.d8+ b7 With the king on the short side this position is drawn.; B2b22) 52.xd6 xb6+ 53.d7 h6 54.d6 h1 55.c4 ( 55.e6 h6+ 56.d5 h1 ) 55...h7+ 56.c6 c8 57.g4 c7+!; B2b23) 52.c6! b7 53.xd6 b1 Neither my own knowledge nor my documentation being sufficiently adequate in endings I still have a doubt about whether this is won in spite of the two extra pawn s. In this ca se, th e quee n
ending with the extra central pawn and the centralized queen introduced by the 39th move alternative could represent the best option and explain why Black resigned so abruptly. ] 1-0
1985 Adams,Michael Gelfand,Boris GpA Cap d'Agde FRA rapid (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2725 2703 26.10.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.d5 b6 5.c1 g6 Another possibility generated by W hite's "uneconomical" order of moves, in terms of opening pre paration, and let u s remind ourselves that this system is largely secondary to 4.f 3 in importance, except, apparently, amongst top grandmasters! Be that as it may, it can therefore represent a su r p r i s e we a p o n , n o t l a c k in g in v e n o m , against poorly prepared opponents. 6.f3 d6 The logical complement to the previous move as first played in 87 by the imaginative GM Granda Zuniga. It is a strange to see that GM Finkel considers it to be dubious whereas his ChessBase colleague GM Hertneck awards it an exclamation mark! GM Rotstein, as for him, contents himself with a sober "interesting" appreciation for its f irst appearance (n~/ =55-1992 ) in the pages of the Informant... The latter is probably right and both the fact that it has been played recently by prominent GM theoreticians like Lalic, and Vadim Milov, or that Finkel is NOT a KID player (rather Grünfeld and Nimzo) and therefore probably little acquainted with the dangerousness of the massive SÃNmisch center, militate in favour of that opinion. 7.e4 g7 8.c3 f5 9.exf5 xf5 10.d3 A Novelty that shall not go down in history unless further analysis proves he could have taken the pawn on move 15. For the ultra-radical [ 10.g4!? ! See the next game. ] 10...0-0 11.xf5 xf5 12.ge2 c4! 13.g3 f8! [ 13...xc3+ 14.bxc3 e5+ 15.e4 a5 16.d6 exd6 17.f4 e6 18.xd6 xc3+ 1942
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.f2 With excellent prospects for the vodkas, taking three moves to undevelop his pawn considering the state of development d a r k s q u a r e d b i s h o p . H o we v e r , s o m e of Black's queenside and his frightening subtle positional factors are at work. White holes on the dark squares. ] will gain time to build a big center with f3 14.e2 a6 15.a4 followed by e4. In the resulting Benoni-like [ 15.xc4 d6 Next ...Bd7, provides Black positions, the Black queen is inefficiently with supplementary options along the open placed on b6, as it obstructs the b-pawn, c - f i l e t o t a k e a d va n t a g e o f h i s l e a d i n one of Black's main sources of development against the uncastled opposing counterplay. ] king. ] 4...f6 An unusual system. Black is trying to 15...b4 16.a5 d4 17.a4 xd5 keep the game as simple as possible. 18.xd5 xd5 19.xc4 xc4 20.xc4 [ 4...a5+ Is an important alternative, when: f6 Black precisely managed the opening 5.c3 f6 phase and even emerges out of it with a slight A) 6.d2 Is a totally different kettle of fish. advan tage tha nks t o his pa ir of bishops. White hopes to build a big pawn center, 21.0-0 c6 22.e4 e6 23.c3 a6 24.a4 h o w e v e r , w i t h : cxd4 7.b3 b6 b6 it appears that Black has little to fear, after [ 24...b5!? With the idea ...Rb8, .. .b4. ] either: 8.xd4 ( 8.cxd4 c6 9.e4 e5 ) 25.e3 xa5 26.xa5 bxa5 27.a1 b8 8...c6; 28.xa5 xb2 29.xa7 The liquidation of the B) 6.d5 is normal. e has a space queenside has somewhat ironed out a position advantage, whilst Black hopes to cause that White will now hold without difficulty. b7 problems with moves such as: Qb6 and e6. 30.d4 e5 31.c5 f8 However, after Qb6, for example W hite [ 31...d5 32.b4 c6 33.a6 b5 34.b6 has the opportunity to play the cheeky Bc1, c4 35.b8+ f7 36.b7+ g8 yet again. ] 37.b8+= ] 5.d5 32.xf8 xf8 33.a5 d6 34.a7 e7 [ 5.dxc5 A useful move against opponents 35.e4 h6 36.c4! e6 37.c3 c2 who don't usually play the Sicilian Defence 38.xb7 xc3 39.c7 h5 40.h4 c2 against 1.e4. a5+ 6.c3 xc5 7.e4 ½-½ Bla ck h as b ee n f o rce d in to a n un us ua l Sicilian, where his queen is slightly exposed and W hite is poised for a kingside pawn 1986 A45 storm. g6 Black opts a Dragon formation, a risky strategy as W hite is well placed to Adams,Michael 2630 carry out the lethal Yugoslav Attack. 8.d2 Georgiev,Kiril 2660 d6 9.0-0-0 White adds the finishing touches Burgas 1993 to his barbaric plan of marching the h-pawn [Adams,M] up the board and tearing the Black king limb f r o m l i m b . g7 10.h6 0-0 11.h4 59/81 TROMPOWSKY ATTACK: The 2..Ne4 Once the h -file has been ripped open, Black 3.Bf4 c5 main line. The 3...c5 variation is an will have trouble keeping the wolf from the ambitious attempt by Black to wrest control of door. e6 12.h5 As usual in such situations, the initiative from White. But (and this is a big material considerations are low on the list of but), if Black fails to take advantage of his priorities. xh5 It is inevitable that the h-file early pressure, White's space advantage will will be opened and Black decides that he begin to tell. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 may as well have a pawn for his troubles. This is one of Black's most ambitious 13.xg7 xg7 14.g4 f6 15.h6+ approaches against the Tromp, especially White's plan has been successful, all that when combined with an early Qb6. 4.f3 remains is to eliminate the key kingside [ 4.d5 b6 5.c1 Is one of my favourite d e f e n d e r o n f 6 . g8 16.ge2 f2 lines in the Tromp. At first sight, it seems White was threatening 17.g5 Nh5 18. Ng3, as though W hite has had a few too many 1943
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with a winning attack. Black prevents this, but only by allowing W hite another nice tactical possibility. 17.e5! A common theme in the Dragon, White frees the e4 square for h is k n i gh t , e f f e c t i ve ly f o rc in g B la ck t o sacrifice a piece. c8 ( 17...dxe5 18.e4 Would be abysmal for Black.) 18.exf6 exf6 19.d5 Black could already resign, as White is a piece up, with a raging attack! Instead, he continues for a few pointless moves, allowing the humiliation to be complete. xd5 20.xh7+ f8 21.h8+ Black's rook i s n e x t o n W h i t e ' s s h o p p i n g l i s t ! e7 22.xc8 xf3 23.h8 Ouch! e3+ 24.b1 1-0 Adams,M-Leko,P/Places 9-10, Cap D'Agde FRA 1996 (24) ] 5...d6 A number of players who are unfamiliar with the Tromp, instead of challenging it head on, choose to implement a quiet set up. 6.e4 g6 7.c3 White's strategy here is similar to that in the legendary 150 Attack. The aim is to exchange dark squared bishops and launch a ma ting a tt ac k . g7 8.d2 0-0 9.h6 Stage one complete. xh6 10.xh6 e6 This is a reasonable try at defence against W hite's automatic kingside attack. Black allows himself the possibility of defence along his second rank. 11.0-0-0 exd5 12.exd5 a6 13.ge2 As an immediate kingside pawn storm is unlikely to be successf ul, W hite s e n s i b l y c o n c e n t r a t e s o n im p r o vi n g t h e position of his pieces (for the time being!). b5 Black's queenside counterplay is more of a demonstration than a counterattack. 14.g3 e8 15.ce4 e4 is an ideal stepping stone for the White knights on their way to the kingside. xe4 16.xe4 f5 This kingside weakening is forced, due to the threats of Qf4 and Ng5. 17.g5 e7? An unfortunate choice of square for the queen, allowing White a forced win. However, even after the improvement 17... Qc7, White has an excellent position after 18. Bd3 intending Rhe1. 18.xb5! The refutation of Black's previous move. The bishop is taboo. e3+ [ The alternative 18...axb5 loses quickly to: 19.he1 ] 19.b1 e7 20.e8! [ 20.e8 A fantastic winning move! Black is powerless against the threat of Rhe1 f o l l o w e d b y B f 7 + , f o r e x a m p l e : aa7
21.he1 xe1 22.f7+ Winning the Black queen. ] 1-0
1987 Adams,Michael Smirin,Ilia PCA-op New York (10) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2640 2615 1994
TROMPOWSKY ATTACK: The 2...Ne4 3.Bf4 d5 main line. Inspired by his friend Hodgson's enormous success with the Tromp, Britain's No. 1 Michae l Ada ms ha s b ecome a f u lly fledged member of the Tromp fan club. The message for Black, when Hodgson or Adams are playing the W hite side is "be afraid, be v e r y a f r a i d " . 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 This is the main line of the Trompowsky. Black avoids any danger of White damaging his pawn structure and poses an immediate q u e s t i o n t o t h e W h i t e b i s h o p . 3.f4 This is the current preference of most Tromp aficionados, which Hodgson has modestly named after himself! It is a much more solid m o v e t h a n t h e w i l d 3 . h 4 o r 3 . B h 4 . d5 An extremely sensible approach, Black grabs a fair share of the center and tries to anchor his Ne4. 4.f3 [ 4.e3 Adams and Hodgson have recently shown a preference for this solid move. The aim is simply to capture Black's knight on e4 (Bf1-d3xe4) and then go about attacking t h e r e s u l t i n g s e n s i t i v e e 4 p a w n . c5 Continuing Black's policy of central occu p at io n . ( 4...f5 can be met by: 5.f3 f6 6.c4 when White will continue with Nc3 and a general kingside pawn storm.) 5.d3 b6 Black continues to play aggressively. By targeting b2, he hopes to force a concession from White on the queenside. 6.xe4 dxe4 7.c3 White ignores Black's threat on the queenside and obstinately continues his plan of targeting e4. xb2 8.ge2 g4 Black may well have been pinning her hopes on this move, which gives her the option of exchanging queens with Q xc 3 + . B u t : 9.xe4 this excellent riposte dashes Black's hopes. W ith a big lead in development, White does not mind his king 1944
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 b e i n g s l i g h t l y i n c o n v e n i e n c e d . xe2 10.xe2 cxd4 11.d3! White covers any potential route to his king and prepares to go on the offensive with Rb1. f5 Black panics u n d e r p r e s s u r e . W h it e ' s i n i t i a t i ve wa s substantia l anyway, but this move only serves to create weaknesses for W hite to l a t c h o n t o . 12.g5 c6 13.e6 The White knight reaches a splendid post, a direct consequence of Black's 11th. c8 14.hb1 c3 15.xc3 Normally the exchange of queens would give Black some hope of salvation, however, in this case, White's extremely active pieces guarantee h i m a l a r g e e n d g a m e a d v a n t a g e . dxc3 16.xb7 f7 17.d4 The Nc6 is Black's best defensive piece, so W hite logically arranges it's removal. f6 18.c7 xd4+ 19.exd4 White's accurate play has left him with an important outpost on e5 for his dark squared bishop. a6 20.a7 e6 21.b1 White's last inactive piece prepares to join the attack, ready to inflict the final hammer blow to the Black position. e7 22.e5+ 1-0 Adams,M-Xie Jun/Premier, Hastings ENG 1997 Black must lose a piece, after 22...Kf7 23.Rbb7 Rhe8 24.Bd6, and so gave up the ghost. ] 4...f6 5.c3 A more ambitious approach, which will appeal to players who like gambits is: 5.e4, when W hite achieves a BlackmarDiemer with an extra tempo. e6 6.e4 b4 Black pins White's knight in the style of the French Winawer. [ 6...e7 and ] [ 6...c5 are interesting alternatives. ] 7.e5 fd7 8.a3 e7 Black decides to keep the bishop pair after all, however, Bxc3+ deserves a test. 9.e3 The bishop gets out of the way of the f-pawn, a common idea in this v a r i a t i o n . c5 10.f4 White has achieved a p o s it i o n s i m il a r t o t h e S t e i n it z va r ia t io n a g a i n s t t h e F r e n c h D e f e n c e . cxd4 Black takes the opportunity to exchange on d4, before W hite can recapture with a knight. 11.xd4 c6 12.d2 dxe5?! Black lashes out, giving the game an original twist, but opening lines for the White attack. 13.fxe5 d4 14.0-0-0 dxe3 15.xe3 Black has acquired the bishop pair and has left White with a potential weakness on e5, but
at the same time has accelerated W hite's development. a5 16.f3 0-0 [ 16...d7 Intending 0-0-0 would perhaps have been more circumspect, although White would keep the advantage with Nb5 and Nd6+. ] 17.h4 White prepares a welcoming committee for the Black king. d8 18.d3 The White pieces are pointing ominously at the Black king. g6 A concession that would have been forced anyway in the very near future. 19.h5 b6 20.f4 White had no intention of swapping off his queen, right in the middle of h i s a t t a c k . d7 21.hxg6 fxg6 22.e4 The inclusion of this knight in the assault stretches Black's defences to breaking point. Notice how ineffective the Black queenside p i e c e s a r e . d8 23.fg5 Black has no defence to the coming invasion on the f-file. a5 24.df1 xg5 25.xg5 There is no good defence to Qf8. 1-0
1988 Agababean,N Baklan,Vladimir 3rd ACP Blitz Prelim1 blitz (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2216 2615 31.05.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 f5 6.c3? After this, Black does not even have to provoke this move with ...Bg7 to we a k e n t h e s u p p o r t f o r t h e d 5 p a wn . I f necessary, his bishop will go directly to h6 to be exchanged against the f4-knight to win W hite's central pride! a6! 7.e3 c7 8.c4? [ 8.c4 was the only move, which casts a harsh light on the uncalled prophylactic weakness of White's 6th move. g7 9.c3 d6 10.d3 a5 11.ge2 b5 The loss of a tempo in this Benko type structure with c2c4... is good news for Black with a great bishop on g7, but W hite, who would be simply lost strategically if Black had his pawn on g6 rather than f5, can still resist. ] 8...d6 9.d2 b5 10.e2 b7 11.a3 xd5 12.f3 xd2+ 13.xd2 b8-+ Well, the rest is not particularly interesting, full of inaccuracies typical of a blitz game. 1945
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.d1 g7 15.c2 b4?! Giving the c4 square for the poor Na3. [ 15...e4+! For instance, followed by d5, e6, f5 in case of the exchange, and then b4 was absolutely crushing. ] 16.cxb4 cxb4 17.c4 d5 18.a5 a8 19.b1 0-0 20.e2 fc8 21.c1 b5 22.f4 e6 23.d3 d6 Another one... [ 23...f8 ] 24.xc8+ xc8 25.c1 d6 26.c7 b5 27.c1? [ 27.d7 With the idea Bh5 ] 27...f8 28.c6 xc6 29.xc6 d6 30.e5 b7 31.h5 g7 32.g4 fxg4 33.xg4 c4 34.c8 e7 35.b3 d2+ 36.c2 e4 37.d3? [ 37.c6 ] 37...f5 38.e5 xf2+ 39.e2 e4 40.c6 f6 41.e8 c3+ [ 41...b6! 42.xe6 a6! ( 42...c5 43.d6 e5 44.xd5 ) 43.f1 xa2 44.xb4 xh2 45.e8 g5! ( 45...d2+ 46.g1 f3+ 47.f1 h4 48.d3 ) 46.xd5 d2+ 47.e1 ( 47.g1 f3+ 48.f1 h4 And Rf2 mate unavoidable!) 47...h4+ 48.d1 xb3 49.e7+ h8 And Rd2 mate. ] 42.f3 xa2 43.xe6 c3? [ 43...c1 ] 44.f4 e4 45.xf5 a1 46.e8? [ 46.e7+! With excellent drawing chances! Impressive, considering Black's rating... ] 46...d6+ 47.e6 xe8 48.e7 c7+ 49.d6 b5+ 50.e6 xe7+ 51.xe7 d4 52.e8 c7 53.b5 dxe3 0-1
7...e6 8.e4!? An offbeat and highly tactical variation where White is ready to sacrifice his h-pawn and lose the right to castle in order to move the struggle onto the field of doubleedged complications. [ 8.c4 is critical with this set-up. See the November update. ] 8...exd5 9.exd5 [ 9.e5? e6 ] 9...d6! This is the problem! Black takes advantage of the capital b8-h2 dark diagonal, deserted by W hite, to develop swiftly and aggressively. 10.a3 0-0 11.c4 [ 11.e2 a6!? ( 11...e8 12.h3 What else? The Bc1 cannot move because o f b 2 h a n g i n g . a6! My proposal. Development is the most important factor in this line with an open centre. 13.c4 c7 14.a4 b6 has yet to be tested in practice.) 12.c4 c7 13.a4! b6 If White plays a4a5 it will be impossible for Black to develop his queenside. ( 13...xh2? Even loses by force : 14.d6 g3+ 15.f1 c6 16.h3 b5 17.axb5 axb5 18.xa8 xa8 19.b6 a6 20.xc8 xc8 21.xg3+- ) 14.g5 b7 15.xf6 gxf6 16.h3 e8 17.d2 f8 18.0-0 ( 18.d6!? c6 ) 18...b5 19.axb5 axb5 20.xa8 ( 20.d6 d8 21.xa8 xa8 22.a3 xd6 23.xb5 ) 20...xa8 21.a3 c4 ( 21...b4 22.b5 e5 23.c4 ) 22.xb5 c5+ 23.d4 xd5 24.f2 White looks slightly better. Tu Hoang Thong(2507)-Sadorra,J Singapore op 2002 1-0 (49) ( 24.f4 h6 )] 11...e8+ 12.e2 c7 13.g5 [ 13.a4 b6! The point of Black's set-up. The real target is not h2 but d5 while hampering White's kingside development. ] 1989 A45 13...b5! 14.xf6 bxc4 15.g5 xh2 Agababean,N 2216 However, when d5-d6 is not possible, this is Golubev,Mikhail 2532 another story! [ 15...f4 16.xf4 xf4 17.h3 e3 3rd ACP Blitz Prelim1 blitz (2) 31.05.2004 18.d2 ] [Eric Prié] 16.d2 g3+ 17.d1? Even if White 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ m i s c a l c u l a t e d t h e c o n s e q u e n c e o f h i s 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6! 7.c1 Almost every following rook sac [ 17.f1! is better on principle, threatening experience I have seen in my chess practice f3-f4. e5! ( 17...b7 18.xc4; 17...a6? of an early In t h is ca se ? 18.f4! h6 19.d6! b6 [ 7.b3 when the queen bishop was not to be 20.xh6 gxh6 21.h3 wins the piece back developed on the long diagonal have in a winning position.) 18.xc4! ( 18.f4 e3 appeared to me little encouraging... ] 1946
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.xe3 xe3 20.h3 h6 21.f3 hxg5 22.xg3 gxf4 ) 18...h6 19.xh6! gxh6 20.e2 g7 21.xg3 xg3 22.xh6 g7 23.d6 is surprisingly not that clear. ] 17...b7! 18.xc4? Well... though it was played in an important event this year and d o e s s u p p o r t t h i s ra re va ri a t io n ( 8 . e 4 ! ? instead of 8.c4) it is not worth more, ultimately, than an Internet blitz game.... [ 18.f4 h6 19.d6 c6 20.f3 a4+! ] 18...e1+ 19.c2 xa1-+ 20.d3 g6 21.f6 [ 21.e3 e1 ] 21...f4 22.e2 xf6 23.xa1 c7 24.h1 a6! 25.xa6 xa6 26.g4 e8 27.g5 f5 28.xf5 gxf5 29.d3 c4+ 30.d2 c5 31.d4 e5 32.f4 xd5 33.e3 e6 34.h6 xf4+ 0-1
22.fxe5 xd5 23.ad1 " W i t h co m p e n sa t io n " G M I g o r S t o h l i n CBM62 (who as one can see is a lot more circumspect, (Should I say respectful?) in his assertions than his substitute. Indeed in those times the programs were not that 'strong', and one could not, or would not dare, rely on their judgment, even with 3 pawns up after 23... Qxa2, to thrust forward a definitive assessment of such an incalculable line in practice. Now, my opinion is that this position 'smells' for Black who plays without his queenside. But seeing the resource xa2 24.g5 a6! I also 'feel' that Black should be able, somehow, to defend. For instance 25.h5 g6 26.h4 d5 27.exd6 d7 ) 22.d6! "Now White has space and attacking chances for only one pawn." Stohl e6 And instead of 23.e4 Speelman,J (2630)-Kazhgaleyev,M (2500) W ch T L u ze rn 1 9 9 7 W h i t e sh o u ld h a v e 1990 A45 continued by ( 23.ae1 b6 24.c2 xe5 25.fxe5 Speelman. You can find the rest of Agdestein,Simen 2590 this great game, commented on in one or Bacrot,Etienne 2613 the other source given above. )] Bundesliga 0001 (11.7) 11.03.2001 13.ge2 [Eric Prié] [ 13.f4!? I do not trust this 9.Nc3 line, but this could be an improvement. exd5 14.xd5 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ xd5 15.xd5 e7 16.c3 0-0 17.f3 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.c1 e6 8.c4 b4+ e6 18.0-0 ] "! by GM Murtas Kazhgaleyev,M. The explicit addition: "This move's idea is very simple: to 13...e7 14.a4 e5 15.g4?! h5! 16.g5 h7 grab the pawn without any fear of phantoms" I 17.g1 d7 18.e3 d8 19.d2 0-0 g6! The way Black will convert his guess this reveals the sharp judgment of 20.h4 T s e s a r s k y . 9.c3 Dubious according to material advantage, attacking precisely on the Speelman in INF 71, whilst commentating the wing where his opponent looks the strongest Unfortunately for second game that saw Black taking up the is very ed if ying. 21.c1 gauntlet of the pawn sac, as far back as 97 ... White, as it cedes the e5 and g4 squares, his a n d t h a t i s s o m e t h i n g ! I n d e e d , a l w a y s only plan in this position is somehow to play privilege the opinion of the game authors who f4. [ 21.f4 exf4 22.xf4 e5 23.xe5 dxe5 were confronted to the strategical stakes 'as 24.d1 d6 25.b5 g4 And f6 again. ] they occurred' rather than that of the commentators, especially when this opinion 21...f6! 22.gxf6 xf6 23.g2 Better seemed [ 23.d3!? hf8 24.0-0-0 Because f3 was e m a n a t e s f r o m a p r o m i n e n t p l a ye r l i k e not 't hat' h anging. xf3 25.e2 f7 Speelman. xc4 10.e4 b4 11.d2 b6 26.xh5 with complications. ] 12.c4 d6 [ 12...exd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 c6 23...df8 24.d3 f7! 25.0-0-0? [ 25.f4 xh4+ 26.d2 exf4 ( 26...f6 15.f4?! Speelman ( 15.e2 c4!? 27.fxe5 xe5 28.xe5 dxe5 29.xc5 ) Kazhgaleyev) 15...b4 16.f3? ( 16.c4 27.xf4 g4 ( 27...xf4 28.xf4 g5 d5 17.exd5 f5 Speelman ) 16...xd5 29.af1 f6 30.c2 xf4 31.e2; 17.exd5 e7 18.e2 d6 19.0-0 0-0 27...f6 28.e5 g4 29.e6 "Big advantage 20.c3 f6 21.e5 e7 ( 21...xe5 1947
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 for Black" is the line given by Tsesarsky without mentioning, prudently, where the rook should go... W ith similar humour, I would like to reply "Ask what the Bc8 thinks of it!" ) 28.c2 g5 29.xg5 xg5 30.e5 At worst, White will establish a nail on e6 by way of compensation for the 2 pawns. ] 25...xh4! 26.xe5 [ 26.f4 exf4 27.xf4 g4 28.df1 g5 ] 26...dxe5 27.d6 f6! The safest, while threatening Be6... There is no special premium in Chess to 'overwin' a game and 2 bishops against a rook, while eliminating the opponent's attack is usually more than enough. That said 28.xf7+ [ 28.b1 e6 29.xe6 xe6 30.xg6+ g7 31.xh5 g5 With a piece for a pawn, is possibly trickier than the rest of the game but Black can also play something less direct. ] 28...xf7 29.xc5 e6 30.b1 c8 31.xa7 c6 32.d7 xd7 33.f4 exf4 34.e5 f5+! 35.a1 a5 36.exf6 xa7 37.d5+ e6 38.e4 xf6 39.xf4 c4! All the potentially dangerous elements of White's play have disappeared and Black's counter attack is terrible. 40.d6 xc3! 41.bxc3 xa4+ 42.b2 b3+ 43.c1 xc3+ 44.b1 b3+ 45.c1 c4+ 46.b2 a2+ 47.c1 [ 47.c3 e4+ ] 47...f5 48.c7+ 8d7 49.ge1 a1+ 50.d2 b2+ 51.e3 g4+ 52.f4 [ 52.f3 f2# ] 52...h2+ 0-1
Open circuit come from an uncanny ability to d isp a t ch su b 2 6 0 0 l e ve l o p p o sit io n wit h apparent ease, as the following game shows. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 6.d2 a6 As we have seen before, an early Nb5 by white can have devastating consequences in the Tromp. So Black sensibly rules it out from an early stage. 7.f4 g5 8.f5 When Black menaces the White fpawn, it is often a good idea to shove it up the board, even if this involves the sacrifice of a pawn, as the White pieces are well placed to exploit the resulting open lines. exf5 9.d5 d8 10.exf5 xf5 Forced, due to the threat of Qe3+. 11.f2 Taking aim at the weak spot on f6. c6 12.xf5 cxd5 13.0-0-0 With the opening still not yet over, White has a commanding advantage. The poor Black kin g is st u ck in t h e ce nt re a n d h is p a wn structure leaves much to be desired. c6 14.d3 White is in no hurry to take the weak d5 pawn and instead concentrates on completing his development. e7 [ 14...xd4 is the alternative but still leaves B l a c k i n t r o u b l e a f t e r 15.xd5 b6 16.e1+ ] 15.e2 d7 16.f2 An excellent practical decision. White has absolutely no intention taking on d5 and allowing Black to exchange the dangerous light squared bishop by Nb4, and instead chooses to leave Black's king in a quandary. d8 17.c3 Illustrating another reason to not take on d5 with the queen. White wants that square for his knight. c6 18.de1 e6 19.f5 Without even regaining his pawn, W hite's advantage has reached de cisive pro po rtio ns. B lack is u ltim at e ly unable to get his king to safety and pays the 1991 A45 highest price of all. d8 20.xd5 a4 Akopian,Vladimir 2640 21.xe6 A mini combination to finish Black off. Iliushkin,Evgen 2405 The rook is taboo as after 21...fxe6 22.Qg6+ Open Novgorod RUS (5) 23.03.1999 Kd7 23.Nb6+ the Black queen is dead. I find the most impressive element of White's play [Aaron Summerscale] in this game is how Black was never ever Grandmaster Akopian sounded a warning given any counterattacking chances. salvo to the GM elite by reaching the finals of 1-0 the recent FIDE world championships in Las Vegas. He often leads his opponents into u n f a m i l i a r t e r r i t o r y , w h e n h i s a we s o m e creative and calculating skills can take effect. His many successes on the International 1948
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 19.c7! g3+ 20.d1 d3+ 21.c1 A45 c4+ 22.d1 ( 22.d2 xa2+ ) 22...d3+ 2627 23.c1 ] 2431 20.f2 c4! Now drastically 16.07.2006 19...d2+ reducing the expenses to an exchange for a pawn because of the recurrent mating theme. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5! Naturally, Needless to say that with the state of White's this is the 2nd most critical line, after 2...c5, development, the game will soon be over. against the Tromp. 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 21.a3 0-0 22.c7 b2 23.a7 [ 23.c3 e5 24.c1 d4+ 25.g3 e3 6.d5 b6 7.e4 xb2 8.d2 xc3 9.c7 26.c3 ( 26.d1 e5+ 27.f4 xe4 ) Everything has been said about this gambit 26...d2 Completing the surrounding of the that was destined to sign a Tromp revival, rook. 27.xc4 xc4 28.xc4 e1+ h o w e v e r . . . d6! Of course, this is the move! 29.h2 xh4-+ ] Rather than ...b7-b6 as in Pavlovic-Alexandrov With an unstoppable threat... or ...g7-g6 in the infancy of the line, Black 23...e5! increases his square control with the opening 24.xe7 [ 24.a5 d4+ 25.g3 e3 26.h2 b4 of the c8-h3 diagonal for his queen's bishop 27.a7 e1 28.xe7 ( 28.g3 f4 and diminishes the activity of his counterpart 29.xb6 xg3+ 30.g1 c3 ) 28...f6 29.g3 by closing the b8-h2 diagonal! 10.e2 e3! f2+ 30.g2 xe2 31.xd6 c3 ] 11.c4 h6! 12.xb8? White wins back (little) material but will have to face some 24...xd5! 25.exd5 b6+ 26.e1 xa7 serious worries on the dark squares with his 27.h5 e3 28.d1 c3 There seem to be a king stuck in the centre after the abandon of curse hanging over the no.1 Byelorussian with this variation! Indeed, as Alexander Grishuk his most valuable piece. [ 12.a5 b5 13.d2 g5 14.a5 h4+ told me last year at lunch in some kebab restaurant in Clichy during the final phase of 15.g3 h5 ] 12...xb8 13.a4+ d7 14.xa7 g6 our league championship, his team mate Good enough for a draw and probably the Alexa nd rov wa s t h e f irst to la u gh at th is ridiculous move Bc7 and kid him after his loss easiest to opt for over the board. [ 14...b5! 15.a5 g6 16.b1 ( 16.c6 b7 to Chernyshov in this variation. The man from 17.a5 b6 18.xb5 xd5 19.a5 Minsk must have laughed on the other side of c7 ) 16...g7 17.c6 b7 18.a5 0-0 his face when he got crushed by Pavlovic Black has managed to castle without giving some time after. Did he think after that he back too much material, thus... 19.xe7+ might as well play it with the other side? h8 20.xc8 xc8 21.xb5 xb5 0-1 22.xb5 b8! 23.xd7 e3 24.d1 b1+ 25.c2 b2+ 26.d1 d2# ] 1993 A45 15.b6 xb6 16.xb8 e3! [ 16...g7 17.b1 0-0 18.xb6 ] Aleksandrov,Aleksej 2535 17.b1 Frolov,Denis 2315 [ 17.c7 g7 18.c1 c4 19.xc4 0-0 ] St Petersburg op (9) 1994 17...h6 18.h4? A very strange move which [Eric Prié] does not even parry the following mating threat. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 [ 18.xb6? d2+ 19.f2 e3+ 20.g3 5.c1 f5 6.c4 h6 7.e3 f4 8.exf4 xf4 e1# ] 9.xf4 xb2 10.e2 xa1 11.ec3 d6! [ 18.h3 And Black has to take the perpetual 12.d2 g8! The obvious check. ] [ 12...f5 funnily f ails to 13.e2! xb1 18...f4! 19.b3? Crossing the line. 14.0-0 Winning back the piece and, one [ 19.xb6? d2+ 20.f2 e3+ 21.g3 move later, the black queen! It is because of e1+ 22.h2 xh4# ] such variations that Van der Wiel played 11... 1992 Aleksandrov,Aleksej Danin,Alexandre Inautomarket Open (7) [Eric Prié]
1949
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Qb2 allowing 12.d6! in his famous encounter against Mr Tromp... a few months later! ] 13.g3 a5!? I have put the games in chronological order rather than according to theoretical importance but clearly the previous one has to be considered as the key game in the 6.c4 sub-line. And it is not even sure, in an op en t ou rn am en t, t ha t Mr Fro lo v wa s aware that the number one Byelorussian had p l a y e d t h i s v e r y va r i a t i o n e a r l i e r i n t h e tournament, except if he witnessed the game by chance. So was that stubbornness bluff? Or had he really found anything against 13... a6! I would be really curious to know about it, a n d s o wo u ld L a jo s P o rt i sch I p re s u m e ! Anyway, by analogy, neither is it clear, back in those days of Internet infancy, that "Mr Tromp" knew about these 2 games when he participated in the Amsterdam open in the summer. 14.d3 h3 15.f4! If this possibility of activating his king's rook did not exist, W h it e wo u ld ju st b e a n e xch a n ge d o wn , without any piece capable of attacking the enemy queen. a6 16.f2 b6 17.e1 b2? [ 17...b2!? 18.c2 d7 ( 18...b4? 19.e2 d8 20.a4 a6 21.a3 ) 19.e2 A) 19...a1 20.e3 e6 21.d2! is very dangerous for Black for instance c1 ( 21...h1? 22.f1 b2 23.e4+- ) 22.dxe6 fxe6 23.d5 b2 24.c3!! Mu c h s tro nge r t h an 24 . Nf 6 + K d 8 d8 ( 24...xc2 25.f6; 24...h1 25.xb2 xh2+ 26.e1 xg3+ 27.d1 g1+ 28.e1 g4+ 29.c1 ) 25.xa5+ e8 ( 25...b6 26.a8 c8 27.e7+ c7 28.a7+ d8 29.xg8 c6 30.b7 xc2 31.f6 c8 32.xb6+ e7 33.d5+ ) 26.e4 c6 27.ef6+ f7 ( 27...f8 28.a8+ ) 28.c7; B) 19...d8! 20.e3 e8! With the idea ...Qb4, attacking c4 followed by ...a5-a4, eventually getting the Black queen out of p ris o n via a 5 , wh e re I se e n o m a t in g attack but rather a difficult ending... for W hite, after ( 20...e6 21.xh7 ) 21.a4 xa4 22.xa4 d4 23.xe8 xe8 ] 18.c2 f5 19.a3 xc2 20.xc2 b2 21.e3!! Certainly, when Black chose to play the rook on b2 instead of the queen, he must
have overlooked this fantastic move... e6 22.e2 As a result, White gets a strong attack against the black king left in the center, in return f or only one pawn, which is to say almost nothing if you compare the respective activity of the pieces and consider that this very pawn lies on b7... g4 [ 22...xc2 23.dxe6! c6 24.d5! A) 24...g6 25.c7+! e7 26.f5 e5 27.g2! ( 27.fxg6?? g4+ ) A1) 27...g4 28.f6+! xf6 29.h6+ g6 ( 29...e7 30.d5+ e8 31.exf7+ xf7 32.f6+ g8 33.e7# ) 30.f2+ e7 ( 30...f3 31.f4+ g7 32.xf7+ h6 33.xf3; 30...f5 31.h4+ g7 32.xb2 ) 31.h4+ f8 ( 31...f6 32.xh7+ d8 33.e7+ xc7 34.e8+ b6 35.d8+ a6 36.a8+ b6 37.hxb7# ) 32.d8+! Mate in 6 moves! g7 33.e8+ h8 ( 33...h6 34.h4# ) 34.f6+ g7 35.g8+ h6 36.xh7+ g5 37.h5#; A2) 27...fxe6 28.fxg6 hxg6 29.b5 d7 ( 29...xa2 30.xd6 ) 30.h3! a4 31.h2 In order to avoid Be4+ on Nb5a3 or stronger, if possible Qe3-f2 taking advantage of the pin along the second rank and therefore winning the bishop , moves that Black cannot avoid anyway. b1 32.a3 f1 33.f2 xc4 34.f4 xf2+ 35.xf2 xa3 36.f7+ d8 ( 36...c6 37.f3+ ) 37.f6+ c7 38.c3; B) 24...d4 25.xd4 cxd4 ( 25...xd4? 26.f6+ f8 27.e7+ g7 28.xg8 ) 26.xc2 f8 27.exf7 xf7 28.b2 b8 29.e2 ] [ 22...g6 23.e1 b6 ( 23...b4 24.b5 e7 25.xd6 xd6 26.e5+ ) 24.f3 g4 ( 24...f8 25.h4 h6 26.g2 g4 27.f2 Threatening f4-f5.) 25.dxe6 xe6 26.d5 d8 27.d3 xf3 ( 27...c6 28.b2 xf3 29.xh7! ) 28.xf3 c6 29.xe6+ fxe6 30.h5+ f8 31.h6+ f7 32.xh7+ f8 33.e3 ] 23.d2 c1 24.g2 g6 25.f2! The comment given above about the extreme fragility of Black's material advantage takes all it s se nse no w whe n W h it e of f e rs a n d somehow forces the exchange of queens... [ 25.e4 h3+!! 26.xh3 f1+ 27.h4 1950
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h6+ 28.g5 h3 29.xd6+ ( 29.f6+ xf6! 30.xf6 h6# ) 29...f8 30.f5 e5! 31.xe5 f6+ 32.xf6+ xf6 33.xf6 h6+ 34.e5 xd2-+ ] 25...xe3 [ 25...b2? 26.f5! xf5 27.e1 b4 28.xf5 xc4 29.f4 a6 30.f3+- ] 26.xe3 d7 [ 26...f5 27.xf5 exf5 28.b2 d7 29.xb7 d8 30.a4! As Russian trainers like to say: "In such a position it is urgent to be patient!" Indeed, when the opponent is deprived of any counter-play, improve the position at much as possible first, before starting to 'harvest' the weaknesses... c8 31.b5 With the idea of Nc3-d1-e3, prot ecting c 4 wh ile hitt ing f 5, and the n Rxa5 without fearing ...Nd7-b6. ] 27.h3 f5 28.g4 g7 [ 28...g8 was no better. 29.h2 g6 30.f5 exf5 31.gxf5 h5 32.e4 e7 33.g3 ( 33.b2 ) 33...g5 34.h4 ] 29.h2 g6 [ 29...d3 On the other hand, to deviate the White rook from the f-file, was slightly more t e n a c io u s . 30.b2 ( 30.d2 g6 31.f5 exf5 32.gxf5 h5 33.e4 f3 34.g3 h5 35.f2 h4 36.xf3 hxg3+ 37.xg3 ) 30...c8 ( 30...e7 31.xb7+ d7 32.a7 g8 33.xa5 b8 34.b5 a8 35.a4 ) 31.d2 g6 32.b5 ] 30.f5! exf5 31.gxf5 h5 32.e4! Wins the entire bishop, this time, and not only the exchange since 32.. .Ke7 is impossible because of the fork 33.f6+. 1-0
is crucial for the validity of the whole 6.c4 line in the 3.Bxf6 main line of the 2...c5 variation! Which let us not forget, is the most important chapter, when taking into account all the thematic strategies, f or a practical, deep understanding of the Trompowsky. Quite surprisingly, the 6.c4 sub-line also represents one of the highest average ELO ratings (2375) of the Tromp from a sample of 100 games... 10.e2 xa1 11.ec3 d6! 12.d2 Resolutely trapping the opposing queen. g8! 13.g3 a6! 14.c2 [ 14.g2 b5 15.0-0 b4 16.a4 d7 ( 16...d4 17.xd4 cxd4 18.b6 b7 19.xa8 xa8 20.d1 d7 21.xd4 a5 ) 17.bc3 bxc3 18.xc3 xf1+ 19.xf1 b8 ] [ 14.d3 A) 14...b5?! 15.cxb5 axb5 16.xb5+ d7 17.d3 ( 17.e2!? ) A1) 17...a6 18.0-0 b4 19.a3! xf1+ 20.xf1 xa3 21.b2 xc3 ( 21...a8? 22.a3 a6 23.xa6 xa6 24.b8+ c8 25.xc8# ) 22.xc3 xd5 23.b3 b4 24.a3 c6 25.b7; A2) 17...h3 18.h6! c8 ( 18...g2? 19.g1 f3 20.xh7 f8 21.f5 ) 19.d2 ( 19.xh7 f8 20.0-0 b2 ) 19...d7 ( 19...h3 Draw ?!? ) 20.0-0 e5 21.e2 ( 21.f4 xd3 22.xd3 a6 23.xh7 f8 24.e1 b2 ) 21...a6 22.f4; B) 14...d7! Having his most powerful piece trapped in the heart of the enemy camp, and threatened to be captured in a few moves, is usually a very stressf ul situation for the player concerned, who 1994 A45 tends, then, to nervously focus all his energy and attention on this 'worry': "how Aleksandrov,Aleksej 2535 to get out of this place", and forgets about Zhelnin,Vladimir V 2420 the rest. However, one should not forget St Petersburg op (3) 1994 that a queen, even trapped, remains a [Eric Prié] queen! First of all immobilizing a lot of material for her confinement, most of the 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 time at least equivalent to her value (white 5.c1 f5 6.c4 h6 7.e3 f4 8.exf4 xf4 Queen and 2 knights in our example) and 9.xf4 xb2 It is quite true that this particular second potentially capable of causing very continuation is of minor theoretical interest to big damage when infiltrated in the enemy the Trompowsky theory since it concerns only camp. This is a very complex strategic about 0,5 % of its corpus, i.e. about 100 theme, more frequent and useful in games in my database. On the other hand, it 1951
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 practical play than the majority of endings. However, in comparison to some studylike examples when the material sacrifice, usually a rook or an exchange and the consecutive 'shutting in' policy worked out smoothly, the history of chess is littered with games where it just failed... With even more games where analysis proved it wrong! But where the defender eventually succumbed to a direct attack against his king for having wanted to bring back home, as quickly as possible, his greedy princess, instead of having maintained the pressure right inside the enemy camp! The game Hodgson-Van der Wiel is just the perfect illustration of that important statement and this game its exact antithesis. By the way, the knowledge of that little tip served me well last year for I should have scored 1,5 points out of two against strong opposition in a hot line of the 4.. .a6 Slav, in the forefront of theory, when I found myself with my queen stuck on a1 after having grabbed the a2 pawn! 15.0-0! ( 15.f4 b5! 16.cxb5 axb5 17.xb5 a6 Ernst ) 15...e5 16.e2 h3 17.c1 b5 18.a3 xc1+ 19.xc1 b4 20.e4 bxa3 21.f4 d7 22.xa3 A complicated struggle ensues, certainly no worse for Black with 2 rooks against a queen. ] [ 14.e2 h3! 15.h6? f5-+ ] 14...f8! A great mo ve, protecting the g8rook in case of 15.Qxh7 which then allows 15... Qb2 and removing the king from a check on b5 when the right to castle is useless for Black in such a position. 15.b3 [ 15.d3 b5 16.cxb5 axb5 17.xb5 No check! Black therefore won the tempo for a6 18.xa6 xa6 19.a3 b8 ] [ 15.xh7 b2 ] 15...d7 16.e2 b5! 17.cxb5 [ 17.0-0 b4-+ ] 17...axb5 18.xb5 e5 19.e2 [ 19.0-0 f3+ 20.g2 d4-+ ] 19...c4 20.b6 [ 20.xc4 xc4 21.xc4 b2 22.0-0 a6 23.c6 b7 ] 20...f5 21.0-0 xa2! The simple st. This is the problem when you have sacrificed material for a long term initiative, far out of possible calculation: most of the time there is a way,
somehow, f or the opponent to return the material and emerge with a comfortable game, like the Lemberger in the BDG for instance o). That is always what the defender should seek in such situations rather than hang onto the material, exhausting his energy in calculation attempting to keep all of it, which is a source of b lun d e rs in t he e n d . 22.xa2 xa2 23.e1?! In the process of annihilating the opposing initiative Black has even managed to keep a valuable passed pawn and should be quietly winning. Nevertheless, a bit more resistant was [ 23.c3 d2 24.b4 g4 25.d1 c2 26.xg4 xg4 ] 23...b3! 24.d8+ Eventually, after having lost the conduct of affairs, i.e. that famous 'initiative', W hite starts to 'attack' and gets the satisfaction of flinging his sole check of the game! [ 24.e3 xe3 25.fxe3 g7 26.c3 b8-+ ] 24...g7 25.xe7 xb1 26.h5 [ 26.xd6 e8! ] 26...g6 27.xd6 [ 27.xe5 dxe5 ( 27...xh5 Intending 28.xh5 d1+ Wins as well.) 28.xe5+ f6 29.e7+ h6 30.xf6 b1+ 31.g2 f5-+ ] 27...d3 28.xg6 hxg6 29.e7 When your op p on e n t d o es n ot resign in a de a d lo s t position, you should ask yourself why. Maybe he has seen a blunder you could commit? f8! Avoiding the last trap [ 29...b2? 30.xf7+! xf7 31.d7+! f6 32.d6+ f5 33.e6+ g5 34.e7+= h6 ( 34...f6? 35.h4+ f5 36.g4+ xg4 37.xf6 ) 35.h4+ g7 36.e7+= ] 30.c6 b2 0-1
1995 Andreikin,Dmitry Aronian,Levon Khanty-Mansiysk Candidates (13.1) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2709 2830 29.03.14
1.d4 f6 2.g5 Recognising that his opponent had to win to have any hope of qualifying for the world championship match, 1952
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Andreikin sensibly avoids excessive theory and settles for an old favourite of his. g6 [ This surprised me when I flicked through the games later that evening. Presumably Aronian wanted to fight in a very unusual position or had perhaps already given up on qualification. I would have expected 2...c5 ] [ or 2...e4 3.f4 c5 from a player striving to win as Black. ] 3.xf6 exf6 4.c4 White often moves his epawn one square or fianchettoes first, but there's nothing wrong with this natural advance. b4+!? [ An extremely rare move and one which doesn't f it particularly well with Black's second move. Aronian really is after uncharted waters. Instead, 4...g7 5.e3 0-0 6.c3 f5 7.g3 d6 8.g2 brings about something of a tabiya, in which a recent e xa m p le s a w c5 ( 8...c6 9.ge2 d7 10.0-0 f6 11.b4 is fairly pleasant for White - see Kessler-Kolus, Budapest 2002, as covered by Aaron in the Archive) 9.ge2 cxd4 10.xd4 c6! 11.de2! ( 11.xc6 bxc6 12.xc6 b8 regains the pawn, as if 13.b1 xb2! 14.xb2 xc3+ ) 11...e6 12.b3 (Wells ended his analysis here in his classic Trompowsky work, concluding quite l o g i c a l l y t h a t W h i t e h a d a n e d g e ) a5 13.c1 ( 13.d2! would have avoided what follows ) 13...b4 14.0-0!? ( a choice that smacks of the ludicrously fast FIDE time control used in Dubai, 90 minutes for the whole game plus 30 seconds a move that said, by now White really had to employ the text if he wanted to win, as 14.d2 d5 15.cxd5 xd5! is a strong temporary piece sa c rif ic e : f or exa mp le , 16.xd5 fd8 17.f4 ac8 18.0-0 xd5 19.fxd5 xc3 20.xc3 xc3 21.xc3 xd5 , regaining the piece with a drawn ending) 14...xa2 15.xa2 xa2 16.f4 a3 17.b1 b4 18.d5 . This was Rahman-Prince, Dubai 2014, where White undoubtedly had some positional compensation, but surely not enough after something sensible like fe8 19.d3 a5 . ] 5.d2! [ Amazingly this is already a novelty. An d re ikin wa nt s t o win t he bisho p -p a ir without allowing his pawns to be doubled.
Moreover, after 5.c3 c5 6.d5 0-0 7.e3 xc3+ 8.bxc3 d6 9.d3 f5 Black's doubled f-pawns begin to look quite useful in this rather Nimzo-like position. ] 5...c5 6.a3 xd2+ [ Aronian might have liked to keep his bishop, but 6...a5?! 7.dxc5 would have left him coming up short. ] 7.xd2 cxd4?! [ Aronian is in too much of a hurry to simplify. He should have preferred 7...d6 when 8.e3 wo u l d r e t a i n a s m a l l p l u s i n m y v i e w , ( but not 8.dxc5 dxc5 9.xd8+ xd8 10.e3 e6 when Black is OK as White cannot easily get his knight to d5. )] 8.f3 c6 9.xd4 xd4 10.xd4 a5+ 11.b4 e5 Black must remove the queens and try to show that W hite's last was potentially weakening. 12.0-0-0?! [ This doesn't lead anywhere, but it was round 13 of a gruelling tournament so we shouldn't be too tough on the players. As pointed out by various annotators, including Matthew Lunn in the forthcoming May issue of 'CHESS', 12.d1 would have given White an edge. The threat is simply to place the bishop on a great diagonal after g3 and b6 ( 12...a5 13.b5 doesn't especially help Black since he is a fair way from attacking c4) 13.h4! xd4 ( to avoid 13...b7? 14.xd7+ f8 15.h5 ) 14.xd4 b7 15.h3 leaves W hite with a very pleasant edge indeed. ] 12...a5! 13.b5 d6 14.xe5+!? [ This will likely be criticised by your engine, but Andreikin had undoubtedly seen the line which occurs in the game and trusted in his queenside majority. Instead, 14.e3 e6 15.f4 xd4 16.xd4 e7 17.b2 ac8 18.e2 f5 19.hd1 hd8 is surely just going to be a draw. ] 14...dxe5 15.g3! e6 16.g2 xc4?! Critical, but Black didn't have to go in for this and I wouldn't be surprised if Aronian later rejected his decision. The alternatives: [ a) 16...b8!? 17.c5 c4 18.d2! was pointed out by Lunn, but after xb5 19.b1 d8+ 20.e3 c6 21.xc6+ bxc6 22.b6 e7! perhaps it's just going to be a draw: for example, 23.hb1 c8 24.a6 b8 25.bb6 xb6 26.cxb6 b8 27.d3 1953
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d6 28.c4 f5 and White doesn't have enough pawn moves. ] [ b) 16...c8!? 17.xb7 xc4+ 18.d2 d7 19.c1 xb5 20.xc4 xc4 21.c1 e6 22.c5 "and White emerges with a passed a-pawn, but Black should hold this with ease" (Lunn). ] 17.xb7 b8 18.c6+ f8 19.a4! b3 20.b2! A great concept. Andreikin is happy to give up the exchange to have his bishop entrenched on a fine square and to preserve his queenside majority. xa4 [ This leads to a highly unpleasant endgame, but one doesn't need to be 2800 to realise that 20...xd1 21.xd1 g7 22.c3 ( 22.d7 hd8 isn't so clear) 22...f5 23.d7 isn't at all pleasant for Black. The engine indicates hd8 24.a7 d1 25.xa5 c1+ 26.d2 b1 27.a7 when White is all set to advance his majority and Black may well not be able to find a precise sequence to activate his rooks in time. ] 21.d5 e7 [ This soon loses time, but 21...g7 22.a3 ( 22.c1? hc8 suddenly equalises due to the queenside pins) 22...c2 23.d2 f5 24.a4 was no improvement. ] 22.a3 c2 23.d7+ f8 24.e4 Black is suffering. Indeed, one wonders if Aro n ia n was re gre t t in g n o t gra b b in g t h e exchange and hoping to launch a desperate counterattack. W hite has far the superior bishop and king, as well as complete control over the position. a4 25.c1 [ Not the only promising approach. Indeed, White might have regained his pawn with 25.d5 g7 ( 25...xb5? 26.xf7+ e8 27.c7 picks up material) 26.xf7+ h6 27.b4 while retaining a large advantage. ] 25...b3 26.d5! Perhaps a surprising decision, but like Fischer, Andreikin knows full well that it's what stays on the board that matters, not what goes off. xd5 27.xd5 g7 28.c7 b6 29.c6 White is still nominally a pawn down, but this endgame is extremely dif f icult f or Black to def end, if indeed it is possible. b7 [ White's king arrives first on the scene in t h e e v e n t o f 29...xc6? 30.bxc6 c8 31.c5 f8 32.xa4 e7 33.b5 . ] 30.xa4?
[ Having been a pawn down for so long, there was no hurry to regain it. Indeed, 30.b6! followed by Rdd6 would have left White in full control. ] 30...a8+ 31.a6 c8! Aronian is an exce llen t p ract ical player and se izes his opportunity to go active with both hands. 32.b6! c2 33.b5 xf2? [ Bagging a pawn, but now White's king gets in. Much more challenging would have been 33...b8! , retreating so that Kc6 doesn't come with tempo. I must admit that I haven't f o u n d a wa y f o r W h i t e t o win h e re : f o r example, 34.f3 ( 34.d7 b2+ 35.c6 c2+ is just a draw, as if 36.d6 f8 ,; so White might try 34.d1!? xf2 35.b1 , although even here it seems that Black can hold, such as with xh2 36.a7 g2 37.b7 xg3 38.c6 c3+ 39.d6 d3+ 40.c7 dd8 ) 34...f8 35.h4 b2+ 36.c6 c2+ 37.d7 e8! and Black's second rook arrives just in the nick of time. ] 34.c6 e7 35.aa5! Aronian must have missed this. The rook returns almost from the dead and now ...Rc2+ will achieve little. e6+ 36.d6 e7 37.dd5 e6+ 38.c7 e7+ 39.c8 e8+? [ Either on the previous turn or here, Black had to go 39...xh2 , although after 40.b7 xb7 41.xb7 e2 42.c6 xe4 43.d7 I'd be surprised if he could hold, despite the four pawns for the rook, as f7 is falling. ] 40.d7 f8 41.b7 e7+ [ White has a much improved version of a position we saw in the notes to Black's 33rd. There simply aren't enough good checks on the e-file, but if 41...b2 42.ab5 . ] 42.c6 e6+ [ 42...xb7 might still have been tried, although after 43.xb7 xh2 44.a7 e2 45.d7 this time the resulting endgame is just an easy win for White. ] 43.c7 e7+ 44.b6 The b-pawn will cost Black a rook. Fine play in general from Andreikin. 1-0
1954
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 good central control. Taking on e5 helps A45 Black to unravel. ] 2397 2520 10...dxe5 11.e3 [ 11.cxe5? xe5 12.xe5 xg2 13.f3 16.12.2005 xf3 14.xf3 0-0 is NOT what the Doctor ordered. ] 12.f5 d8 Black defends 1.d4 f6 2.g5 The Trompowsky has come 11...0-0 a long way in the last 20-30 years to become c o m f o r t a b l y . T h e r e t r e a t w i l l o n l y b e e6 14.c4 f6 almost at the forefront of modern chess theory. t e m p o r a r y . 13.e2 White can no longer rely on the opening as a 15.g4!? I am suspicious. [ But it must be said that 15.0-0-0 b6 surprise weapon he must work for his points. 16.d3 e6 is at least unpromising. ] e6 3.e4 15...b6 16.b3 a5 17.h4 Yes, it's one of [ I feel that both 3.e3 and ] [ 3.d2 hold more promise these days. They those positions where White feels he has to are not so well known and do not commit be going somewhere, but where in reality he W h i t e t o g i v in g u p t h e t wo B is h o p s . A has nothing. xf5 18.exf5 a4 19.c2 a3 humorous trap follows: e7 4.c3 d5 5.e3 20.e4 [ 20.b3 e4 21.d4 c5 22.b5 drags the bd7 6.gf3 c5 7.d3 b6 8.a4 0-0 Knight of fside and af ter the further d5 9.e5 xe5 10.dxe5 d7 11.h4 h6 only Black can be better: 23.g5 ( 23.c4 12.xe7 xe7 13.xe7 1-0 Stefanovaa5! 24.0-0-0 xc3 25.xc3 xc3 26.g5 Morales Ortega Spain 2005 Make sure that hxg5 27.hxg5 xg5+ 28.b1 d4 ) you don't fall for that one! ] 23...hxg5 24.hxg5 xg5 25.xe4 f6! 3...h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 6.d3 26.xd5 fd8 27.xb7 d2+ ] [ 6.d2 e5! ] 6...g6!? A very interesting move which 20...axb2 21.xb2 c4 [ 21...a4 22.c2 d6 23.g5 c5 ] disrupts the natural flow of White's development. Basically White wants to play 22.xb7 a4 23.b5 b6 24.d3 d6 N e 2 , 0 - 0 a n d f 4 - f 5 a n d s o B l a c k p u t s a The game has the smack of time-trouble, spanner in the works. 7.f3!N Offering a more for White than Black, as the next move shows: 25.xd6?? because 25... Rxe4 wins. gambit and a good, spirited reply. [ Instead 7.f3 protects the pawn, but now What to say about 6...Qg6!? Definitely good White has to make sense of his pieces: e5! for confusing purposes and may well force Why not? 8.h3 e7 9.e2 h4 ( Just W hite to sacrifice. I believe in Black's two 9...0-0 was indicated, after which Black is Bishops! fine. ) 10.d2 c6 11.b5 d7 12.d5 0-1 e7?! ( 12...b8 13.xd7+ xd7 14.c1 g5= ) 13.xd7+ xd7 14.0-0 ( 14.g3 A45 g5 15.c4 h5 16.h4 h6 17.e3 1997 af8 ) 14...g5 15.g4+ ( 15.b3 ) Aronian,Levon 2648 15...f5 16.exf5 xf5 17.a4+ c8 Short,Nigel D 2702 M o r e n o R u i z , J - A y a s F e r n a n d e z , A / Rapid Reykjavik ISL rapid (2.2) 19.03.2004 Ayamonte 2002 An odd game, which Black [Eric Prié] eventually won in 76 moves. ] 7...d7 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3! c5 [ Point being that 7...xg2 8.g1 h3 5.d3!? f6! 6.dxc5?! c6! 7.b5 9.g3 h5 10.bd2 leads to a t position I u s u a l l y h a v e a d i a m e t r i c a l l y o p p o s e d for Black, who faces the easy plan of Qb3, punctuation to Wells who blesses this move 0-0-0 with no clear reply. ] with an exclamation mark. However, since I 8.bd2 e5 9.c4 e7!? 10.dxe5 proved unable to find an undisputable [ I prefer 10.e3! 0-0 11.c2 c6 12.a4 advantage for Black in Schaefer-Peredy after wit h a d e f in i t e e d ge t o wh it e , wh o h a s the improvement 7...Qa5+! 8.Nc3 a6! 9.Bxc6+ 1996 Argandona Riveiro,Inigo Mirzoev,Azer GM Elgoibar ESP (8) [Andrew Martin]
1955
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 bxc6 10.Qd4 e6! 11.b4 Qa3 12.Nge2! a5 13. b5 Bxc5 14.Qa4! 0-0!? 15.bxc6 Ba6 16.Rb1! I see myself constrained to revise my contentious impulsions. In any case, I am persuaded that we shall soon witness new developments from the position after 14.Qa4 and it is the reason I did not judge it op p o rt u n e t o que st th e u lt im a te t rut h b y analysing it too much here. e6 Wells: "I am very surprised that the take up rate on 6 dxc5(!) has been so low, since so far as I can see it should come close to winding up the debate on the passive 5 ...Nf6." And if there was a concrete reason behind that, with the wiser chessplayer well advised to mistrust dynamism? [ 7...a5+! 8.c3 a6! 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.d4 e6 11.b4 a3 12.ge2! a5 13.b5 xc5 14.a4 ] 8.b4 a5 9.xc6+? Remember: "The worst bish op is st ronger t han the best knight! " Kasparov bxc6 10.c3 a6! [ 10...e4? 11.f3 xc3 The formal European champion is very imaginative but sometimes quite optimistic... 12.xc3 axb4 13.a4 a6 14.b6 a7 15.d4 f6 16.xb4 e5 17.g3 b5 18.f2 a6 19.c3 d4 20.exd4 exd4 21.e1+ f7 22.b3+ g6 23.a4 d3 24.axb5 xc5+ 25.f1 a3 26.c4 d2 27.d1 e8 28.c2+ f7 29.c4 d3 30.d6+ xd6 31.xd3 xg3 32.c4+ e6 33.hxg3 cxb5 1-0 McShane, L (2649) - Sutovsky, E (2646) Pamplona 2003 ] 11.e2 d7 12.d2 e5 13.g3 h5 14.f3 f6! 15.h4 e7 16.0-0 f5 17.e1 0-0 18.a4 fc8 White has managed to avoid every trap and complete development but is still lef t with a contorted position without activity or any plan to make use of his extra (doubled) pawn. 19.b5 b7 20.ed4 exd4 21.exd4 f6 22.d2 By a flick of a divining rod, White has transformed his position into a splendour. Regrettably though, if one discerns the abnormal constitution of the bit of wood on b7 one will perceive that its counterpart in the white camp is absent, and this is normally decisive at this level of chess consecration. f8 23.e5 g6 24.xf6 xf6 25.e3 e8 26.ae1 xe3 27.xe3 xh4 28.xh4 xh4 29.e5 f8 30.e2 g6 31.e7 c8
32.bxc6 f6 33.c7 f5 34.b5 g5 35.b7 h4 36.b8 c1+ Just to be able to place the kind of hazy pun I love so much, I will leave the last word of this cardinal update on dxc5?! to Wells: "In short, this is one of the Chapters that leaves the Trompowsky looking like a very good opening!" Well, we'll see, but it is not exactly the impression Short gave me in this game... 0-1
1998 Atalik,Suat Moldovan,Daniel Ciocaltea mem (11) [Eric Prié]
A45 2500 2420 1995
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 a5+ The ide a to t ake th e p awn ba ck wit h th e queen is more logical when W hite has already captured on f6, in order to reserve the dark-squared bishop for the long diagonal. 4.d2 e4 That is why this attempt to profit from the situation of the Bg5 is bluntly dubious. 5.e3! e6? [ 5...xc5 6.c3 c7 7.gf3 d5 was almost forced 8.xc5!? ( 8.b3 ) 8...xc5 9.e4 dxe4 10.xe4 b6 11.c4! W ith a promising lead in development in return for the concession of the bishop pair. ] 6.c3! Black will never see the pawn back! xd2 7.b4! [ 7.xd2 xc5 8.b4? xe3 ] 7...xf1 [ 7...c7 8.xd2 b6 9.cxb6 axb6 10.f3 is not very attractive for Black, though I find it impossible to judge which position of the two is "less worse"! Still, the latter was probably easier to handle, for the chess player usually has a sensible idea (as well as the experience!) of what to do a pawn down, without compensation, whereas he generally sees his estimation blurred and lacks markers to find his bearings with the kind of material disequilibrium of the game. Actually, approximately 90% of the positions of the basic ending queen against 2 light pieces are won. To opt for one or the other alternative depends, above all, on the knowhow and the personality of the player. But 1956
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 m y f e e li n g i s t h a t t h e f a c t t h a t , in t h i s precise case, W hite has the certainty of having W ON the queen, rather than the opponent having SACRIFICED it, this will give him a helpful feeling of confidence that will make him play better. To sum up, I would say that Black having assessed that to part with his most powerful piece was his best chance (and that may be true, but it is not the point), already signs, unconsciously, the admission of defeat in his mind. So I think that, psychologically, this decision was wrong: However the game turns-out White will have very few occasions to doubt. I n a d d i t io n , s t r o n g p la ye rs r a r e l y l o s e concentration in "one way" games, when they are "completely winning" like here. In my belief, they even tend to be more motivated. Indeed, it is annoying not to win with an extra pawn but it happens. On the other hand, what a shame to get "swindled" a queen up! ] 8.bxa5 xe3 9.fxe3 xc5 10.f3! The struggle of 2 bishops against queen is not a lways in f avou r o f th e side wit h th e material advantage. Just give Black a5 and e3 in this position and despite the very unf avou ra ble co un t, he will no t be m uch worse! Contrary to the bishop and knight couple, two bishops "mechanically" cooperate well, so the evaluation of the position mainly depends on the activity of the queen. White is well aware of that, as "confidence" is not a synonym of relaxation, and he will finish the game in a very energetic way. c6 [ 10...xe3 11.d6 ] 11.a6 b6 12.d3 0-0 [ 12...b8!? 13.d1 ( 13.d4 See the further comment. ) A) 13...xa6 14.e4 c6 ( 14...d5 15.xd5 b7 16.d8+ xd8 17.xb7 ) 15.e5 c8 ( 15...d5 16.a4 ) 16.xd7; B) 13...0-0! ] 13.d4 b8 Intending ...Ne5 without fearing Qe4. [ 13...b8 Such moves are difficult to play but it was necessary to take on a6 and develop the queen's bishop. 14.0-0 xa6 15.e4 d5 16.g4 ] 14.b5! e5 15.b3 xe3 16.d1 f5 17.d6?! White must have thought that, in this
way, his opponent was completely tied up, forgetting about the possibility of the 18th move, otherwise he would have played: [ 17.d3! f4 ( 17...c5 18.xc5 bxc5 19.xc5 b1+ 20.d1 xd1+ 21.xd1 xa6 22.d2 b8 23.d1 ) 18.d2 h8 19.e4+- ] 17...f4 18.h4 d8! [ 18...h8 19.h5 h6 20.h4 f5 21.d3 e7 ( 21...g5 22.g6 ) 22.xh6+!! This is the main pitfall lying in wait for the d e f e n d in g s id e i n o p e n sit u a t io n s wit h queen against insufficient material. "Her majesty" has such a potential that it is easy for the strong side to invest material for liberating its 'mightiness'. gxh6 23.d6 f3 24.exf3 g5 ( 24...c6 25.g4 xa6 26.g6; 24...a8 25.xe7 xa6 26.xd7 ) 25.g4 a8 26.xg5! hxg5 27.xe7 xa6 28.g4 ff8 29.xe5+ h7 30.e4+ h8 31.d4+ g8 ( 31...h7 32.xd7+ ) 32.d5+ h8 33.d4 ae8+ 34.d2+- Black is completely dominated, g5 is doomed and the knight is ready to "jump" to f5. ] 19.xe5 f7 20.d5 xa6? [ 20...h8! 21.h5 h6 ( 21...xd6 22.xd6 xa6 23.h6 gxh6 24.e5+ g8 25.h4 ) 22.g6 xa6 Offered some chance of resistance. ] 21.xd7 bd8 Facing such a dominating queen in the center, the Romanian Master is now lost. Most probably he had overlooked the following strong simplifying manoeuvre. 22.xf7+! xf7 23.xd8+ f8 24.xf8+ xf8 25.d4 b7 [ 25...g6 26.f1 e7 27.c2 ] 26.f5! xg2 [ 26...c1 27.0-0 d2 28.d1 xc3 29.d8+ f7 30.d6+ e7 31.xb7 ] [ 26...c5 27.f1 g6 28.d4 xg2 29.xf4+ e7 30.f3! d6 31.g4 h3 32.e4+ d7 33.g5 f5 34.a4 a5 35.xh7+- ] 27.h2 d5 28.xe3 fxe3 29.a3 1-0
1957
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1999 Atea,Saad Shehata,Aly Golden Cleopatra (2) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2000 2309 Avila Jimenez,Javier 2152 Rojas Keim,Luis Alberto 08.04.2002 XXXII Open Barbera ESP (5) [Eric Prié]
Trompowsky Attack: The Black attempts to avoid Tromp theory backf ire badly in the following game. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d6 Avoiding any theoretical debate and heading for a Pirc formation. 4.f3 f6 5.e4 g6 6.c3 g7 7.d2 This is certainly White's most aggressive way of playing, and he hopes for an early Bh6 and h4-h5. 0-0 8.h6 c6 9.0-0-0 c7 A step in the wrong direction. In this variation the Black queen is better placed closer to her monarch on e7. [ Either 9...bd7 or ] [ 9...b5 were better options. ] 10.h4 e5 11.ge2 b5 12.h5 a5 Black's queenside offensive is all mouth and no trousers. Unlike W hite, he lacks clear targets. 13.xg7 xg7 14.g3 h8 15.f4 Preparing to open some lines towards the B l a c k k i n g . e7 16.dxe5 dxe5 17.f5 Charge! gxf5 18.xf5 xf5 19.exf5 a7 20.e2 a4 21.d6 White finds the simplest way to take advantage of the Black weaknesses on both sides of the board. Black was almost ready with his queenside counterattack, so an exchange of queens is the most prudent course. e8 22.xe7 axe7 23.d6 Giving the knight a real headache. b4 What else? [ 23...g8 24.e4 is also miserable for Black. ] 24.xf6 bxc3 25.bxc3 d8 26.h6 Completing e bind. Black's resignation may seem a bit premature, but he has nothing to do except sit and wait for his execution. White on the other hand knows exactly how to wield the axe - Bc4 and Rh1-h4-g4-g7. 1-0
A45 2212 2453 08.07.2009
Now some topicality: 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6 3.d2 b6 4.gf3 xb2 5.e4 d5 [ 5...c3 6.d3 h6 ( 6...d5 7.0-0 dxe4 8.xe4 xe4 9.xe4 is already an improvement on the main game because of the awkward position of the queen on c3 with Bd2 coming. Still, 7.e5!? as in the previous game, remains a serious option.) 7.e3 a6 8.0-0 ( 8.a3 g4 9.0-0 xe3 10.fxe3 d6 11.e5 d5 12.b1 With the ideas Rb3 and c2-c4 or Qe2-f2 with threats against f7, when the defence ...Be6 is not possible with b7 hanging.) 8...b4 9.c4 xd3 10.cxd3 b5 ( 10...xe4? 11.c1 ) 11.c1 b4 12.b1 a4 ( 12...c3? 13.b3 ) 13.xa4 bxa4 14.b2 Hodgson, J (2640)-Lisanti, A (2300) Bundesliga 2001 1-0 (79). The fact that 3. Nd2! was the move selected by "Mr Tromp" to combat 2... c6 should act as a strong signal to everyone! ] 6.d3!? xe4 7.xe4 dxe4 8.xe4 This position also looks dangerous for Black but he has the disruptive b4+! 9.d2 d6 10.0-0 g6 11.c1 g7 12.f4 Too straightforward. W hite has some compe nsation f or th e pawn bu t nee ds t o mobilize all his forces first. [ 12.e1 0-0 13.c3 c7 ( 13...d7 14.f4 ) 14.b1 ] 12...d8 13.b1 d7 14.d5 cxd5 [ 14...f6 15.dxc6 xe4 16.d1! A nice intermediate move. a5 17.cxb7 ] 15.xd5 b6 16.e4 0-0 17.d1 e8 18.h6 a4 White's initiative has backfired. 19.xg7 xg7 20.b2+ f6 21.d4 a5 22.bd1 f5! And when the opponent starts to have tactics in his favour himself, it is a bad sign. 23.b4 [ 23.xb7 ab8 24.e4 d5 25.a1 ( 25.xd5 xd5 ) 25...c3 ] 23...xe4 24.xe4 f7 25.d4 e5 26.e6+ h8 27.b3 e7 28.h4 ae8 29.d8? [ 29.d6 c8 30.d5 b6 ] [ 29.d8 c5 Intending ...Qc7. ] 1958
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 29...xd8 30.xd8 d2! 31.d3 Saving the knight but equivalent to resignation. [ 31.e6 d6 ] 31...xd3 32.cxd3 d7 33.e6 xd3 34.c5 d1+ 35.h2 d4! Accurately calculated. [ 35...d2-+ ] 36.f3 [ 36.xd4 exd4 37.g1 d5 38.xb7 d3 39.f1 f4! ( 39...c3 40.e1 xa2 41.d2 b4 ) 40.e1 xg2+ 41.d2 xh4 ] 36...d2 [ 36...d5 37.xb7 xe4 38.fxe4 c3-+ ] 37.xb7 The last micro chance was [ 37.a3 a2 ( 37...d5 38.a4 f4 39.xa7 xg2+ 40.h1 g3 41.xb7 xf3 42.a4 a3 Should win too.) 38.f4 exf4 39.xf4 f5 40.f3 c4 41.c3 b5! ( 41...xa3 42.e6 g8 43.c7 e2 44.g7+ h8 45.e7 h6 46.e8+ h7 47.g5+ hxg5 48.xe2 ) 42.a4 a6 43.xa6 xa4 44.c7 d6 45.h5 c4 ] 37...xa2 38.g3 d5 39.h2 f4 40.c4 xg2+ 41.h1 d2 42.c7 e6 43.c6 d4 0-1
[ A common enough raid in the French, but rather a rare choice at this point. As will become clear, though, the move doesn't have to have any independent benefits and 7.d3 would actually lead straight into the game, but with both sides saving a couple of moves on the scoresheet. ] [ At the tail-end of last year, one of our former resident columnists was White here and pref e rre d 7.f3 c5 8.dxc5 xc5 9.d3 c6 10.0-0 0-0 ( 10...a6 re ce ived a n exclam f ro m Eric, with t h e important line 11.bd2 d7 12.b3 b6 being considered by him in HutchinsonWard, Scarborough 2004 - see the Archive) 11.c2 , a tricky retreat which I mentioned back in my 'Starting Out' book. However, after the calm c7!? ( 11...f6 12.exf6 xf6 13.d3 g6 leaves Black with only two pawns unmoved, but he is strong on the dark squares and in the centre) 12.e2 ( I'm not so sure about this, but then again even 12.e1 f6 13.exf6 xf6 14.bd2 b6 15.b3 is unlikely to be anything for White) 12...a5 13.bd2 ( 13.a3!? was worth c o n s i d e r a t i o n , s i n c e xa3?! 14.bxa3 , while ugly, should favour the first player with Qd3 next up: for example, f5 15.exf6 xf6 16.c4 , with pressure in the centre for W hite and Black rather missing his dark2001 A45 squared bishop) 13...b6 14.d3 (White has won the b5-square and kept the bishops on, Bacallao Alonso,Jorge 2522 but has, of course, lost time in the process) Dvirnyy,Daniyl 2560 a4 15.ac1 a7 16.b4 axb3 17.axb3 Capablanca Premier, Havana (6.2) 14.05.2014 (Summerscale-Vachtfeidl, London 2013), I [Richard Palliser] can't believe that Black would have been doing too badly after d7 18.b4 e7 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 , and if 19.b5 a5 20.d4 c5 5.c3 d5 with rough equality. ] [ A solid choice and a move which often appeals to those with some experience of 7...g5!? [ A new move and one which sends White's the French. More common, however, is, of queen scurrying back since he hardly wants course, 5...d6 , as we've seen on plenty of to grant Black a half-open file. Previously, occasions of late. ] 7...h5 8.g3 g5 9.d2 c5 10.b5+ c6 6.e5 11.e2 d7 had led to a very early draw in [ The more traditional approach, if one can Meduna-Juptner, Czech League 2011. That describe anything within the Trompowsky said, I wouldn't mind playing W hite here as "traditional". Instead, 6.d2 is the more after 12.0-0 with f2-f4-f5 very much an modern choice and Richard Pert's idea. ] recommendation in his 2013 work on the [ However, I do wonder what Bacallao's idea opening. ] was after 7...c5! . With ...Qb6 high on the 6...d8 7.g4 1959
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 agenda, presumably 8.dxc5 was it, but here g5 is even more annoying than in the game: 9.xg5 hxg5 10.b4?! a5 11.f3 axb4 12.cxb4 d7 13.c3 c6 14.b5 a4 15.d6+ xd6 16.exd6 g4 17.d2 xb4 is a quick sample line to show how White can quickly find himself being pushed back. Indeed, I do wonder if his 7th move should simply be denoted as dubious. ] 8.d1 Back we go. Now one would imagine that Black might wait for Nf3 before retreating in kind, but perhaps the Italian Grandmaster was hoping for a quick draw. d8 9.d3 [ Once again Bacallao chooses a rare move r a t h e r t h a n t h e s t a n d a r d 9.f3 , as we covered above. ] 9...c5 10.e2!? [ White doesn't want to exchange on c5 and i s d e t e r m i n e d t o b e c r e a t i ve . A n o t h e r a p p r o a c h i s 10.f3 b6 11.e2 , but af ter d7 it's not so easy to solve the problem of the knight on b1. 12.dxc5 xc5 13.b4 e7 14.bd2 does get it out, but after c7 Black will surely obtain sufficient counterplay on the queenside. ] 10...c6 [ Dvirnyy is far from his best in this game. On c e a ga in , 10...b6! must be the critical move. I presume 11.b3 was White's idea, but after ( 11.d2!? xb2 12.0-0 a3 shouldn't be enough compensation in a longplay game ) 11...c4 12.xb6 axb6 13.c2 b5 Black surely just has easy counterplay. Admittedly due to the king's knight's development the f-pawn is unimpeded, but 14.0-0 b4 15.cxb4 xb4 16.bc3 c6 17.f4 0-0 18.f5 fails to really threaten anything d7 followed by ...Ba5 and arranging ...b5 just looks rather nice for Black to me. ] 11.0-0 d7 [ On ce a ga in 11...b6 looks more critical, although here White might gambit: 12.d2!? cxd4 13.cxd4 xd4 ( or 13...xb2 14.b3 a3 15.f4 with easy play on the kingside and definite compensation) 14.xd4 xd4 15.b5+ d8 16.e2 with decent, MilnerBarryesque compensation. ] 12.d2 b6 Finally the queen emerges, but W hite has long solved the problem of his queen's knight and now puts that piece to
good use. 13.f3 cxd4?! [ The first definite slip on what is a sudden road to ruin. Critical must be 13...c4! 14.c2 xb2 15.a4 ( 15.d2 a3 16.f4 might even be met by b5!? 17.h5 b4 ) 15...b6 16.f4 when White has freed his position and obtained some potential kingside pressure (and queenside should Black go long) for the pawn, but after the calm g6! I remained unconvinced that it would have been fully sufficient. ] 14.exd4 xd4 [ He must exchange if he wants to bag b2 14...xb2? 15.b5 would just be rather embarrassing. ] 15.xd4 xb2!? [ Dvirnyy probably couldn't believe that he'd allowed White to untangle and fully develop, but the attempt to bag a pawn and refute B a ca ll a o 's a p p ro a ch wa s a r isky if n o t unsound one. After the somewhat saner 15...c5 Black would still have been very much on the board, although I slightly prefer White on account of his kingside prospects after 16.g4 0-0 17.b3 . ] 16.b1! [ The most scary try. 16.b5 xb5 17.b1 xc3 18.xb5+ d8 may displace Black's king, but ...Qc7 is next up and W hite appears to be running a little too low on minor pieces with which to attack. ] 16...xc3 17.xb7 c5 18.b5!? [ Continuing to roll the dice. Otherwise, 18.b5 xb5 19.f3!? is a neat idea, since going short would cost Black his queen, but after xd3 20.xf7+ d8 White has to force perpetual with 21.c7+ e8 22.f7+ .] 18...xd4?? [ A terrible blunder. It really wasn't Dvirnyy's day. It's not totally impossible, though, that h e o v e r l o o k e d 18...0-0 19.e2 b4 when White can take on d7 in two different wa ys, b u t ne it h er wins m a te ria l. 20.c6 is a better choice, but after xc6 21.xb4 xb4 Black enjoys full material compensation for the queen and may even be for choice with those unopposed bishops. ] 19.xd7+ [ A strange moment to resign you might think, 1960
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 but one doesn't have to be a grandmaster to realise that 19.xd7+ d8 leaves White with a number of ways to win, since Black c a n ' t re a l l y sh i f t t h e r o o k f r o m b 7 : f o r instance, 20.a4 ( 20.h5 is also rather effective ) 20...c4 ( this doesn't help, but 20...xe5 21.xe6 would f o rce mat e) 21.xc4 dxc4 22.d1 b6 23.b5+ c8 24.a6 and it's complete carnage. ] 1-0
2002 Bakalarz,Mieczyslaw Dzagnidze,Nana Kaupthing op (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2361 2443 10.05.2008
1.d4 f6 [ 1...d5 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.c3 f6 ( 4...e6 5.b5 a6 ) 5.b5 a6 ] 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.c3 e6 5.a3 d5! Probably best then. 6.b5 a6 As a result of t h e m o ve o rd e r, W h ite h a s ju st lo st a tempo compared with the side line 1.d4 d5 2. Bf4 c5 3.e3 Qb6?! 4.Nc3 Nf6 or 4...e6 5.Nb5 forcing 5... Na6 after which there are 2 ideas: take on c5 (6.dxc5) and expand later on the queenside against the Na6 by c2-c3, a2-a4, b 2 -b 4 -le t B la c k p la y . . . c5 -c4 (t h e re f o r e weakening the position of the Nb5) starting with 6.c3 or 6.a4 and continue with the other move. In no case we see the moves a3 or Rb1 anyway... 7.dxc5 [ 7.b1 d7 8.c3 c8?! ( 8...d6= ) 9.f3 a5 ( 9...d6 10.e5 ) 10.d2? ( 10.e5 e4? 11.xd7 xc3 12.bxc3 xc3+ 13.d2+- ) 10...c4 Pirs, M (2329)Diehl, K (2108) Mehlingen 2000 1/2(29) ] 7...xc5 8.b4 e7 9.d4? [ 9.f3 d7 10.c4 dxc4 11.c3 xb4! 12.axb4 xb4 13.e5 d5 14.c1 f6 15.d4 d6 ] [ 9.c4! was logical and best. ] 9...0-0 10.xb6 axb6 11.c3 d7 White has lost a lot of time and it is not clear how he can save himself now... 12.d3 [ 12.f3 e4 ] [ 12.f3 fc8 ] 12...e4 13.e2 ec5! But all because of this trick! 14.bxc5 xc5-+ 15.c7 xd3+
16.d2 xf2! Much stronger than [ 16...xf4 17.xa8 xe2 18.xb6 b5 19.ab1 a6 20.c4 ] 17.xa8 e4+ 18.c2 a4+ 19.b2 xa8 White cannot prevent ...Nd2-c4+ or ...Nf2-d3+ with fatal consequences for him. 0-1
2003 Barron,David Eames,Robert Ron Banwell Masters (6) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2068 2333 23.08.2001
After1.d4 Nf6 The move 2.g4 is undeniably cheeky. White gambits a pawn in order to lure Black away from his main defences and to set up a big pawn centre. If this sounds like a good deal to you, take a look at the following game, which may whet your appetite. 1.d4 f6 2.g4 An interesting gambit, although my gut feeling is that it simply can't be sound. White gambles that building a big pawn centre i s w o r t h t h e m a t e r i a l i n v e s t m e n t . xg4 The only real test, as White was threatening to play g5 followed by e4 anyway. 3.e4 d6 4.e2 White, getting himself in the spirit of the gambit, develops as quickly as possible, gaining time in the process by attacking the Black knight. f6 5.c3 c6 By delaying his development, Black is simply playing with fire. [ 5...e5 striking back in the centre was much more sensible. ] 6.f4 a5 The only consistent follow up to his previous move. 7.d2 b6 8.f3 g4 [ 8...xb2 9.b1 a3 10.b3 a5 wins another pawn, but W hite has a dangerous initiative after: 11.e5 ] 9.e5 dxe5 10.fxe5 d5 11.a4 White is naturally keen to avoid exchanging pieces. d8 12.g5 An excellent attacking thrust, aiming to take advantage of Black's potentially vulnerable kingside light squares. f5 [ 12...xe2 Was the safer course, although White has undoubted compensation after: 13.xe2 h6 14.e4 ] 13.e6 A typical pawn lever in such positions. The Black pawn formation is considerably we a k e n e d a n d h i s d e v e l o p m e n t f u r t h e r 1961
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 retarded by this second pawn sacrifice. fxe6 14.c5 c7 15.f4 The Black posit ion is under heavy fire. He simply cannot defend all his weak points at once. ba6 A sensible decision. Development is the most pressing matter. 16.xb7 d5 An unfortunate choice of square for the queen, where she looks active, but in reality is about to be used as target practice. [ 16...c8 17.xc7 xb7 18.e5 Is more pleasant for White, but there is still a long way to go. ] 17.0-0 h6 18.c4 White misses his best chance. [ 18.xc7 Decisively opens the f-file for the White rook. xc7 19.c4 d7 20.h5+ g6 21.xf5 is absolutely crushing. ] 18...d7 19.e5 [ 19.f3 Intending Ne 5, was a very strong alternative, after which White is still firmly in the driving seat. ] 19...g8 20.xf5 White gets carried away with this final error. It was still possible to win with the spectacular : [ 20.xg7 xg7 21.h5+ g6 22.f3 xd4+ 23.h1 when Black has no good def ence against the threats Qxc6+ and Qxf8+. ] 20...exf5 21.h5+ g6 22.xg6+ xg6 23.h5 White has bet the bank on this attacking thrust, but it is neatly parried. e6 White's early sacrifice of his g-pawn comes back to haunt him. The knight on g5 cannot captu re t he queen as it is pinned . 24.e1 d7 25.d5 Desperation. The Black king is making his getaway and W hite tries a last l u n g e b e f o r e g i v i n g u p t h e g h o s t . cxd5 26.d1 xg5+ 27.h1 b6 Adding insult to injury, Black rounds up the W hite knight. 28.a4+ c6 0-1
continuation than the advance to d5. cxd4 7.b3 d8 [ Two very important alternatives are 7...b6 ] [ and 7...f5!? . Indeed, the solid text move has never been seen on these pages before, albeit partly because the other two options already "seemed sufficiently critical" and fine for Black to Eric. ] 8.cxd4 d5 [ Quite common at this point, although 8...e6 9.e4 c6!? , as played by Kotronias, can by no means be dismissed out of hand. ] 9.e3 e6 [ Mark Hebden has employed various lines against the Trompowsky over the years, and it's interesting that he once opted for the solid queen retreat to d8. However, after 9...c6 10.d3 g6!? 11.e2 g7 12.0-0 0-0 13.d2 e8 14.ac1 e5 15.dxe5 xe5 16.b5! e7 17.ed4 a6 18.e2 White enjoyed an edge in Shepley-Hebden, Denham 2011. ] 10.g4!? [ A tempting gain of space. Black would be very happy with 10.d3 c6 11.e2 h5! ,] [ but one can make a decent case for 10.c1 . Indeed, after b4+ ( 10...c6 11.b5 d7 12.e2 b4+ 13.f2 is s im ila r) 11.f2 0-0 12.d3 c6 13.e2 , while Black was pretty solid, W hite was slightly for choice in Vamos-Xu, Kecskemet 2012. He might play on the queenside with Nc5 and/or Bb5, but needless to say an advance of the g-pawn is always on the agenda too. ] 10...d6 [ This sensible move appears to be new. In my 'Starting Out' work I just gave 10...c6 11.e2 d7 12.c3 e7 13.d3 h4+ 14.e2 a6 15.g3 with an edge for White in Rizzo-Helbich, correspondence 2005. ] 2004 A45 [ I'd also slightly prefer to take White after 10...b4+ 11.f2 0-0 12.d3 d6 13.e2 Bartel,Mateusz 2619 , although the further c6 14.g5 e8 Shomoev,Anton 2561 15.b1?! xf4 16.exf4 d6 17.h4 d7 European Championship, Legnica (11.40) 18.h5 e7! showed that the kingside attack [Richard Palliser] do e sn 't ju st p la y it se lf in S rb is-Ze lb e l, Pardubice 2009. ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 Arguably a more positional 11.xd6 1962
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ Bartel doesn't want to block his king's bishop by developing the knight to e2, but 11.g3!? should always be considered in such positions, since it's extremely rare that Black would want to exchange on g3 and so open the h-file. After, say, c6 12.b5! 0-0 13.xc6 bxc6 14.c1 White can surely claim a pull on account of his plusses down the c-file. ] 11...xd6 12.g5 g8! Refusing to gum up his development by retreating to d7. Moreover, the knight will do a good job of restraining White's kingside pawns from e7. 13.f4 [ After this it's no longer clear that White can fight for the advantage. Development with 13.d3 appears preferable and after h6 ( 13...e5 may have put off the Polish Grandmaster, but White can calmly continue to develop in response or even go 14.dxe5!? xe5 15.d2 xg5 16.0-0-0 , with some compensation for the pawn thanks to his lead in development) 14.g6 f6 15.e2 the position is hard to assess. Black's king will be safe enough on the kingside, but on the other hand, it looks more likely that Ng3 and e4 will cause more problems than any ... e5 push. ] 13...h6! I really like this well-timed kingside challenge. Shomoev immediately threatens to wi n a p a w n a n d c l e a r l y W h i t e i s n ' t i n a position to push his own h-pawn in response. 14.g6?! [ This asks too much of White's position. C o r r e c t w a s 14.d3 hxg5 15.g4! a n d a f t e r , s a y , c6 16.xg5 b4+ 17.d2 f8 there would have remained everything to play for. ] 14...f6 [ Rightly keeping lines closed, rather than allow W hite obvious compensation for his pawn after 14...fxg6 15.d3 e7 16.f3 .] 15.e2 e7 16.g3 If the pawn wasn't on f4 I wouldn't mind White's position, but with it there the coming ...e5 push will come with extra impact. Indeed, Bartel is already looking rather overextended on the kingside. bc6 17.d3 e5 18.dxe5 [ 18.fxe5 fxe5 19.0-0 would have prevented Black from castling, but that's the end of the good news: e4 20.e2 xg6 21.h5 h3
22.f4 f8 surely doesn't give White enough for a pawn. ] 18...fxe5 19.0-0 There was nothing better, but, of course, the white king would prefer to have slightly less air around it. h3 20.f2 0-0 21.h5 exf4 22.exf4 d7 23.af1 Bartel has defended aggressively and well thus far, and now hopes to land a blow with f5f6. h8! [ Prophylaxis against White's main idea and possibly Shomoev realised that 23...b4 24.b1! ( 24.e2? b6 is much less effective for White) 24...b5 25.e1 ae8 26.f5 was by no means so clear, with both f6 and Qg4 followed by Nh5 very much on the agenda. ] 24.d2?! [ I certainly haven't fully grasped this move. Presumably Bartel didn't like 24.f5 g8 ( 24...e5 25.e2! ae8 26.d4 reveals one reason for keeping the knight on b3 ) 25.h4 f6 , but after 26.b5 ac8 27.c2 White is not without his trumps, even if the long-term health of his king remains a cause for concern. ] 24...b4 Now Black is fully within his rights to le a p f o rwa rd a n d so se ize t h e in it ia t ive . 25.b1 b5 26.de4? [ 26.e1 d3 27.f5 xb1 28.xb1 b6 29.g2 would have left White grovelling, but the text is simply a blunder. ] 26...xg6 Did Bartel really miss that this was possible with White lacking a good discovery from the b1-bishop thanks to his hanging pieces? 27.xg6 xg6 28.c5 xf1 29.xg6 The best try, but unsurprisingly White has nowhere near enough for a pawn and the exchange here. h3 30.a3 c6 31.xb7 e7 32.d3 ac8 There's to be no letting up from Shomoev. 33.e2 xf4! 34.e1 c6 35.d6 e5! Continuing to torment White over his back-rank weakness. The tactics are all in Black's favour and Bartel now elects to be mated rather than resign: 36.xe5 c1+ 37.f1 cxf1+ 38.xf1 xf1# 0-1
1963
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xd4 19.e2 d2 20.e1 d7 21.c7 A45 c6 22.f1 xc2-+ ] 2361 2259 8...0-0 9.0-0 bd7 10.a4 b6 11.a2 c4! 01.05.2011 Again this problem, appearing to refute the white setup with Bf4. 12.d6 e6?! [ 12...e6 13.dxe7 xe7 14.d6 d8 15.xf8 xf8 ] 1.d4 f6 2.f4 g6 3.c3 d5 4.f3!? [ 12...exd6! 13.a5 ( 13.xd6 e8 14.a5 [ 4.d2 is normal. It is the Vorotnikov-Koganbd5 15.xd5 xd6 ) 13...e6 14.axb6 He b d e n A t t a c k o f t h e B a r ry wh e r e t h e xb6+ 15.h1 xb2 16.d2 g4 17.b1 absence of the knight on f3 provides White a3 18.c1 xc1 19.fxc1 d5! with interesting and new features. I have 20.xb7 d4 21.a4 c3 22.xe6 cxd2-+ ] myself some experience with it and shall 13.g5? focus on it some time. ] [ 13.e5 bd5 ( 13...fd5 14.xg7 4...c5!? xg7 15.d4+ f6 16.e4 ) 14.d4 [ 4...g7 5.e4 dxe4 6.fxe4 c5 7.d5 ( 14.xc4 e3 15.d3 xf1 16.xf1 ( 7.b5 0-0 8.c7? h5 ) 7...b6 b6+ 17.h1 d7 ) 14...b4 15.ad1 ] is the critical line of this "Barva" variation 13...h6 14.h4 bd5 15.xd5 exd5 against the King's Indian however. ] 16.xf6 xf6 17.xd5 e6 18.d2 xb2 5.e4 dxe4 [ 5...cxd4 6.xd4 c6 7.b5 g7 8.exd5 19.ae1 g7 20.xe6 The best practical 0-0 9.d2 b4 10.c4 f5 11.b3 a5 attempt but Black will not falter. fxe6 21.xc4 b6+ 22.h1 ad8 23.d1 h7 24.d3 12.a4 ] c5 25.d7 6.d5 exf3 7.xf3 [ 25.h4 f7 26.xe6 f6 ] [ 7.xf3!? g4 8.e3!? ( 8.b5+ bd7 9.e3 g7 10.d6 ) 8...xd5 ( 8...g7 25...e7 26.h4 f5 27.e4 [ 27.g4 f4 28.h5 xg4 29.hxg6+ h8-+ ] 9.h3 a5 10.hxg4 xd5 11.b5+ c6 28.g3 xd7 29.d3 xf3! 12.xc6+ bxc6 13.f3 xc3 14.xc6+ ) 27...e5 9.xd5 xd5 10.xb8! g7! ( 10...xb8 30.xg6+ g8 31.c4+ f8 32.xd7 xd7 33.g2 f6 34.h7 c6+ 11.b5+ d7 12.d1 )] In conclusion to the 1st part, the answer to 7...g7!? [ 7...a6 8.d2 g7 9.0-0-0 0-0 10.h6 b5 the forum question "What is the current status 11.xg7 xg7 12.e3 c7 13.e4 bd7 of the Morris gambit?" is: Good for White in 14.e2 xe4 15.xe4 f6 16.e3 b7 its accepted form with an appealing surprise Van Almsick, G-Arnold, B Zuerich 1989 value. Indeed, theory seems to have become beset by a lack of white followers 4 years ago 0-1(40) ] but Black has forgotten it was because of 3... 8.c4 [ 8.b5? 0-0! ( 8...a6? Trifonov, D (2291)- Nc6! and not 3...dxe4 4.d5! In any case the Urban, K (2464) Barlinek 2007 0-1(44)) BDG approach does not improve the white 9.c7 h5 10.d2 xf4 11.xf4 e5! prospects. A special mention to this game for 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.g3 c6 14.xa8 the disorientation Black will have to cope with ( 14.d1 d4 15.xd4 cxd4 16.xa8 out of his pet King's Indian if he is unprepared! a5+ 17.d2 h6 18.d3 e5 19.c4+ 0-1 h8 20.b4 a3-+ ) 14...xb2 15.d1 c3+ 16.e2 a5 It looks rather problematic to repatriate the Na8. In the mean time, with all Black's pieces attacking White's draughty king, White will have lost too many pawns. 17.f2 ( 17.g5 xa2 18.f2 xc2+ 19.e2 d4 20.e3 d7 21.c1 xe2+ 22.xe2 xe2 23.xe2 b4 24.c7 c8 ) 17...d4+ 18.xd4 2005 Barva,Attila Farkas,Tibor HUN-chT 1011 (10) [Eric Prié]
1964
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.d5 c5 17.e1 ] A45 2633 13...e8 [ 13...h4! 14.g3 e6 ] 2241 30.04.2011 14.0-0 b6?! [ 14...g7 15.a5 e6 16.b6 a7 17.d5 c7 18.c3 e5 19.d2 With the idea Qe3 against the Ra7. ] 1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.c3 cxd4 5.exd4 d6 6.b5+! I like this idea in relation 15.ec3 g7? [ 15...a7 16.e1 f5 17.xf6+ exf6 to the intervention of the a-pawn in the game. 18.d2 g7 ( 18...ae7 19.xe7 xe7 [ 6.d2!? f5 ( 6...xb2 7.b1 a3 20.d5 e6 21.b4 ) 19.d5 8.b5+ d7 9.f3 a6 10.xd7+ bxd7 W ith a practically decisive advantage for 11.xb7 ) 7.b5+ bd7 8.f3 ( 8.ge2!? White. ] a6 9.a4 ) 8...e6 9.0-0-0 e4!? Neuberger, G (2126)-De Boer, S (2342) 16.xe7+ 1-0 Triesen 2006 0-1(52) ] 6...d7 [ 6...c6? 7.d5 a6 8.a4 b4 ( 8...xb2 A45 9.ge2 b5 10.b1 a3 11.c1 c5 2007 12.e3 a3 13.b3 ) 9.ge2 b5 10.a3 Bauer,Christian 2602 a5 11.b4 b6 12.e3 b8 ( 12...c7 Le Roux,Jean Pierre 2480 13.xb5 ) 13.xb5 axb5 14.dxc6 ] 6th Masters Belfort FRA (1) 15.12.2003 7.a4! [Eric Prié] [ 7.xd7+ bxd7 8.b1 e6 9.f3 e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.e1 fc8= Vujic, B (2360)- 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c6!? Hansen, C (2633) Germany 2004 (33) ] The idea of this move is to control the e5 7...a6 8.c4!? square and be able to use the Ne4 before it is [ 8.a5 c7 9.xd7+ bxd7 10.f3 e6 chased away in order to get rid of W hite's 11.0-0 e7 12.d5 e5 13.e3 ] Trompovsky bishop when the whole idea of 8...g6?! the "modern" 4.e3 variation is to reserve the [ 8...c6 9.f1! ( 9.e2 xg2 10.f3 g6 possibility of driving away the black knight 11.d2 c6 12.ge2 ) 9...b6 10.a5! with the move f2-f3, rather than exchanging it b4 ( 10...xb2 11.d2 Threatening Ra2, with Nbd2, which would only lead to equality. Nb5-c7+ e6 12.f3 Threatening Na4... It is well illustrated after the natural d5 13.b1 a3 14.xd5 xd5 15.c4 [ 4...f5 5.f3 ( 5.c4?? e5 6.dxe5 b4+ ) c3 16.b3 xd1 17.xa3 b2 5...f6 6.c4 e6 7.b3 b6 8.c3 c6 9.g4 18.a2+- ) 11.f3 c6 ( 11...e4 12.d3 g6 10.h4 With a nice position for White. ] xc3 13.bxc3 xc3+ 14.d2 c7 [ Still, 4...c5 is the main move (See 15.g5 ) 12.d2 xd4 13.b5 xf3+ Radjabov-Polgar for instance), but 4...c6 14.xf3 c5 15.xb7 c8 16.e3 c6 5.d3 d6 may well be the most solid. ] ( 16...xc2 17.c1 ) 17.xc6 xc6 18.d4 5.d3 f5 c7 19.xa6 e5 20.e2 d5 ( 20...xc2 [ 5...g5 6.g3 h5 7.xe4 dxe4 8.h4 ( 8.h3 21.b7 ) 21.c3 xe3 22.fxe3 ] h4 9.h2 f5 10.c3 e6= ) 8...gxh4 [ 8...e6! Then must be the move, with a 9.xh4 g4 ( 9...e5 10.xe4 ) 10.f3! similar configuration to the next game or ( 10.d2 e5!? ) 10...exf3 11.gxf3 ] the intrepid ] 6.c3! An original and quite effective way to [ 8...xb2!? 9.ge2 b4 10.d3 ] get rid of the knight on e4 while keeping the 9.g5! g7 10.xf6 xf6 11.d5 c6 square f3 for the Ng1 with an eye on e5. e6 12.b3 0-0 13.e2 [ 6...a6 7.xe4 dxe4 ( 7...fxe4 8.h5+ g6 [ 13.f3!? f5 ( 13...g4 14.h3 xf3 9.xd5 ) 8.d5 is annoying. ] 15.xf3 d7 16.a5; 13...e8 14.0-0 g7? [ 6...xc3 7.bxc3 e6 8.f3 d6 9.0-0 0-0 15.g5!+- ) 14.0-0 e4 15.xf6+ exf6 10.c4 White may have a more 2006 Bauer,Christian Bressac,Stephane 8th Balagne Open (7.2) [Eric Prié]
1965
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 sophisticated way to play this variation but, on p rin c iple , he is n o t af ra id o f ha vin g altered his structure when it is fairly easy to undouble the pawns against a black pawn on d5. ] 7.xe4 dxe4 [ 7...fxe4!? 8.b5 b4+ 9.c3 a5 10.h5+ g6 11.h6 e7 Intending ...e6e5. ] 8.b5 d6 [ 8...b4+ 9.c3 a5 10.h5+ g6 11.h6 e7 12.0-0-0 e5 13.g5 f7 14.d5 b8 15.d6 ] 9.h5+ g6 10.h6 e7 11.xd6+ [ 11.0-0-0 e5 12.xd6+ cxd6 13.g5 f7 aiming at a2. ] [ 11.e2 looks more accurate. b4? 12.0-0 xc2 13.ac1 b4 14.xd6 cxd6 15.c7+ ] 11...cxd6 12.e2 d7 [ 12...b4!? ] 13.d5! exd5 14.c3 e6 15.0-0-0 0-0-0 [ 15...c8 would have indirectly (and momentarily!) protected the pawn on d5 but was compromising in the long term because of the exposure of the king left in the center. 16.b1 or 16.f3 or 16.h4 ( 16.xd5? xd5 17.xd5 f7! 18.hd1? b4; 16.b5 e5 17.xd6+ xd6 18.g7 g8 19.xe5 xe5 20.xe5 e7= )] 16.g5 f8 17.xf8 dxf8 18.xd5 d7? W h i t e e v e n t u a l l y e m e r g e s wi t h a c l e a r advantage out of the opening because of the opposing black squared weakness, comprising the d6 pawn. Yet [ 18...h6 19.f4 d8 was more resistant. ] 19.f4! e5 20.c3 c6 [ 20...f7 21.xd6 xd6 22.b5 c6 23.xd6+ xb5 24.xe6 ] 21.xd6+! xd6 22.d1+ e7 [ 22...c6 23.xe5 hg8 24.d6+ ] 23.xe5 a6 24.a4! There is no reason to waste a tempo taking on h8 right away. g5 25.d4! hg8 26.d6+ f6 27.xf8 xf8 28.b4 f7 29.d2 [ 29.e2 e5 30.d4 d5 31.b6 f4 32.d2 amounts to the same thing, more or less. ] 29...d7+ 30.e1 This way Black cannot even dream of any counterplay on the f-file. c7 31.b6 e5 32.e2! d7 33.d4
xa4 34.e6+ d5 35.b3 d7 [ 35...c6 36.h6 f7 ( 36...b5 37.c4+ bxc4 38.bxc4+ c5 39.e6+; 36...e7 37.xf5 ) 37.e6! The signal of a mating a t t a c k ! E v e n s t r o n g e r t h a n ( 37.h5 which would have simply won the (extra!) pawn back while having created some new weaknesses in Black's camp.) 37...g4 ( 37...e7 38.c4+ e5 39.xg5 ) 38.c4+ e5 39.d8 f6 ( 39...e7 40.xc6; 39...d7 40.e6# )] 36.c4+ c5 37.e7 d6 38.xh7 c5 A p a rt f r o m sp e ci f i c c a s e s, e n d i n g s wit h knights, a pawn up, against a bishop, with pawns on both wings, are reckoned by theory to be the most difficult ones to defend for the sid e h a vin g t h is kin d o f m a t e ria l d e f ic it , because of the manoeuvring ability of the kn igh t a llo win g, in ge n e ra l, t o ra is e a n y blockading situation. 39.g7 f4 40.d2 b5 41.g6+ c7 42.xa6 bxc4 43.b4 e5 [ 43...c3+ 44.c2 c4 45.b3 c2 46.xc2 ] 44.a5 1-0
2008 Belikov,Vladimir Golubov,Saveliy Alushta (7) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2473 2228 07.09.2013
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 [ W e 'l l e xa m in e P e r t 's p r e f e r e n c e , 5.c3 , in Fier-Rozum. ] 5...d6 6.d2 a6 [ Black hints at queenside play, but this move i s d e f i n i t e l y s e c o n d b e s t t o 6...c6 in my view. ] 7.0-0-0 [ Going long can hardly be bad, but the immediate 7.f4 has rightly been praised be f o re on Che ssP ub : f or e xam ple , g5!? ( this must be critical instead, in PalliserBritton, York 2004, 7...d7 8.f3 d8 9.0-0-0 gave White quite a pleasant set-up before c5? 10.d5 e5 11.fxe5 xe5 12.xe5 dxe5 13.d6 e6 14.c4! turned into something of a massacre) 8.f5! 1966
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 exf5?! 9.d5 d8 10.exf5 gives White a strong early initiative, as shown by Aaron in both Akopian-Iliushkin, Novgorod 1999, and Wells-Britton, Bradford (rapid) 2002. ] 7...d7 [ Here 7...g5!? makes even more sense to me. Indeed, following 8.e5 ( White might first try to soften up Black's kingside with 8.h4!? g7 9.hxg5 hxg5 10.xh8+ xh8 11.f3 g4 and only then go 12.e5 ) 8...d8 9.f4 ( and here too 9.h4 might be tried, and if dxe5 then 10.f3!? g7 11.e3 exd4 12.xd4 with some initiative for the pawn) 9...gxf4 10.xf4 dxe5 11.dxe5 g5 12.xg5?! hxg5 13.e4 d7 Black was already better in Konenkin-Belous, Moscow (rapid) 2013. ] 8.f4 Now White is back on track along the lines of Palliser-Britton, above. b5 [ 8...d8 9.f3 would have directly transposed to that aforementioned game, but at least this would be solid for Black something which the game continuation cannot be described as. ] 9.e5 d8 10.d5! [ With such a lead in development, it must be right to strive to open the position. In an earlier game White had had similar thoughts, but 10.f3 b7 11.d3 dxe5 12.f5?! xf3! 13.gxf3 g5 allowed Black to get the queens off with rough equality in Rodriguez Vila-Vasquez Schroder, Villa Martelli 2008. ] 10...b6 [ Slightly to my surprise, 10...dxe5 11.dxe6 fxe6 wouldn't have been fatal for Black, although it's not hard to see who is calling all the shots after 12.e2 d6 ( or 12...g6 13.f3 g7 14.xe5 ) 13.h5+ f8 14.e4 e7 15.f3 . ] 11.dxe6 xe6 12.f2 [ The Russian Grandmaster logically pins Black down the d-file, although he might first have gone 12.f3 , and only then dxe5 13.f2 . ] 12...f5?! [ Black lacks time to move the bishop to an undef ended square. Many club players would have tried to close the centre with 12...d5 , but White has a few good ideas here, including just placing his bishop on d3 and 13.b1 g6 14.h4 h5 15.f3
followed by Ng5. ] [ Presumably Golubev didn't like the fact that 12...e7!? permits 13.f5 , but d7 may not be so terrible for Black, tempting for White though 14.f6! gxf6 15.exd6 xd6 16.e4 e5 17.f3 does look. ] 13.f3 e7 14.d4 [ Belikov decides to pursue a central initiative a good plan, as was 14.d3 xd3 15.xd3 0-0 16.g4 . ] 14...d7 15.f5! Here we go. Suddenly Black's position begins to look rather suspect, although actually matters remain far from clear since he has a number of defensive resources. dxe5 16.e6! Of course, this was the main idea behind his previous move. My machine takes a little while to appreciate the move, but W hite will emerge with excellent play for a pawn. fxe6 [ The machine may, however, be correct that 16...h4!? was a better defence. That said, e ve n h e r e a f t e r 17.g3 ( 17.c5 fxe6 18.fxe6 g5+ 19.b1 xe6 isn't so clear, since 20.xc7 0-0 21.xb6 g6! suddenly leaves Black quite well c o o r d i n a t e d) 17...fxe6 18.fxe6 g5+ 19.b1 xe6 20.gxh4 e7 21.g2 f8 22.c6+ d7 23.g2 White can hardly be worse , wit h e asy p la y a nd Black's k in g trapped in the centre. ] 17.fxe6 g5+ [ Black needed to break out as he does. 17...f8 18.g3 would be even tougher to try and defend. ] 18.b1 f6 19.exd7+ xd7 20.g3 [ Belikov wants to destabilise Black's temporary kingside defence with h2-h4, but he must also have been sorely tempted by 20.e2!? , and if 0-0-0 21.g3 . ] 20...b6?! [ Matters take another downturn for Black af ter this move. It would have require d strong nerves to go in for 20...0-0-0 21.h4 f4 22.h3 f7 , but he really had to take o n s u c h a k i n g p o s i t i o n , a n d i f 23.f3 return the extra pawn with e4 24.xe4 b6 in a desperate bid to simplify. ] 21.h4 f4 22.f2 Suddenly there's a rather large threat t o trap th e bishop on f 4 an d Golubev fails to find a defence. g6 [ No better would have been 22...b4 23.e4 1967
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c6 ( or 23...f5 24.xb6! ) 24.f3 . ] 23.c5 Black may have saved his bishop, but just look at his king position. The end is nigh. d7 24.xc7 d8 25.g3! A neat way to conclude. White gives up a pawn to enable his bishop to finally develop and with tempo. xg3 26.h3 f7 27.xd7+ 1-0
2009 Bellon Lopez,Juan Manuel Candela Perez,Jose ch Linares (5) [Eric Prié]
A45 2490 2380 16.08.1998
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 e4 4.e3 e6 5.g3 xc5 [ 5...xc5? 6.xc5 xc5 7.d4 g5 8.f4 c6 9.c3 f5 ( 9...d5 10.xg7 f8 11.f3 ) 10.xg7 f8 11.a3 is hardly enough for the pawn. ] 6.g2 [ 6.c4 b6! 7.d2 c6 8.f3 e4 ] 6...d5! 7.c3 Qb6 is not really a threat when Black cannot push .. .d5-d4 after the deviation of the white queen to c1, and W hite has to play for c2-c4, so I would rather have opted for [ 7.f3 and if b6 ( 7...c6 is better ) 8.c1 c6 9.0-0 e5 10.c3 threatening b2b4 followed by pressure on the d5 pawn, and even ] [ 7.c4!? immediately with the idea dxc4 ( 7...b6 8.cxd5 xb2 9.d4 ) 8.xd8+ xd8 9.d2 c3 10.bxc3 ] 7...c6 8.d2 e7 9.gf3 0-0 10.0-0 b6 11.a4 b7 Black has equalized. The 2 knights on the c-file look well placed. 12.b4 The Spanish Grandmaster has a reputation for always playing without any compromises! Yet, with his bishops aimed at the queenside, it is logical to play like this. Only later will the weakness of c3 reveal its serious c h a r a c t e r . d7 13.a5 c8! This is the advantage of a harmonious development. The good moves come by themselves... [ 13...bxa5 14.b5 ce5 15.xe5 xe5 16.d4 c7 17.a4 ] 14.b3 [ 14.a6 a8 15.b5 a5 White has given up many squares and c3 is very exposed.
16.xa5 bxa5 17.xa7 b6 18.a1 c7 19.xb6 xb6 ] 14...f6 And their coordination follow naturally. 15.a6 a8 16.b5 e7 17.d4 e5 18.c1 This could have been an interesting concept with Black's queen bishop "walled in" on a8, if only b5 was not so weak. [ 18.e3 xc3 followed by d5-d4 liberating the bishop was disastrous. ] 18...exd4 19.cxd4 c4 The desire to keep this rook active on the queenside can provide W hite with some combinational motives. I think it was be tt er to con cen trat e o n th e regrouping plan starting with [ 19...xc1 20.xc1 ( 20.xc1 c8 21.d1 d6 is similar to the position commented on White's 21st move.) 20...f5 21.a2 d6 22.c3 e4 ( 22...c7 23.b3 ) 23.d3 e7 which does not look very joyful for White. ] 20.e3 [ 20.d3 was more tricky. b4 ( 20...c8 21.fd2 d6 22.xc4 dxc4 23.xc4 xg2 24.xg2 xc4 25.xc4 e8; 20...c7 21.fd2 c8 22.xc4 dxc4 23.b1 xg2 24.xg2 d6 25.d2 xd4 26.fd1 ) 21.bd2 c8 22.h3! A) 22...g6 23.c3 xb5? ( 23...e7! ) 24.xc8 xc8 25.xc8 xc8 26.xd7; B) 22...e7? 23.f5! ] 20...f5 21.fd2? [ 21.d3 was at least setting a trap. d6 22.bd2 b4? ( 22...xc1 23.xc1 e8 with the plan ...Nf8, ...Ne6, ...Nc7 which should tie W hite up completely, then possibly improving the position with moves like . .. g6, ...h5, ...Kg7, ...h4 to open the hfile or ...Qd7, ...Be7, Bf8 ...in order to play ... Nd6-c4 to liberate the bishop under the most favourable circumstances.) 23.a3! wins the piece back. ] 21...b4 Now White's position collapses. 22.c2 [ 22.b1 e7! Prophylaxis teaches us to ant icip at e th e op po ne nt 's t hrea ts e ve n b e f o re t h e y m a t e ri a lize a n d Dvo re t s k y generalizes the concept by saying: "If your opponent has no threats, always take time to improve your position before executing your main idea"... or something like that. 23.c3 f6 24.b1 d6 25.d2 xb1 1968
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.xb1 d7! White can resign. 27.d3 9.ge2 c6 10.f4 xc5 11.0-0-0 ( 27.b3 c8 28.xd5 xd5 29.xd5 W h it e 's kin gsid e ch a n ce s sh o u ld m o s t xd5 30.xd5 xb5 ) 27...c8 28.b1 certainly not be underestimated) 8...cxd4 c7! There again! As a principle, it is good to 9.b5 c6 10.f3 0-0 11.bxd4 d5! ensure the domination of the c-file before 12.exd6 xd6 13.e4 d5 Black was thinking of putting a knight onto the 4th rank. close to equality in I. Schneider-Kolbus, 29.e2 ( 29.f3 fe4 30.e2 c4; Hamburg 2011. ] 29.d1 c8 30.e2 c2 31.h3 c7 )] 6...c5!? 22...d6 23.a1 xb5 24.c1 c5! [ A thematic counterstrike on the dark 25.a2 a4 26.fc1 xa6 27.f1 d7 squares. For the solid, reliable alternative 28.b2 a3 Understandably, White, who is 6...d6 7.a3 a5 the interested subscriber already a piece and a pawn down, does not should consult the Archive ] want to witness, in addition, the consequences [ and Black can also play in French style here of the opening of the long diagonal for the too with 6...d5 . In one recent test 7.e5 d8 resurrected a8-bishop. 8.a3 e7 9.f4 c5 10.dxc5 ( 10.f3 c6 [ 28...a3 29.c3 c4 ] 11.0-0-0?! would not be advisable on 0-1 a c co u n t o f c4! ) 10...xc5 11.f3 c6 12.0-0-0 a5 13.b1 was prematurely agreed drawn in Tristan-Saldano Dayer, 2010 A45 Buenos Aires 2011. After 0-0 14.f5 exf5 15.xd5 xd2 16.xd2 e6 Black would Bellon Lopez,Juan Manuel 2422 have been pretty comfortably placed, since Jussupow,Artur 2569 17.c7 ad8 18.xe6 fxe6 19.c4 f7 Gibraltar Open (9.25) 01.02.2012 can only favour him with e5 isolated. ] [Richard Palliser] 7.e5!? [ Bellon Lopez is arguably the most prolific of 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 all the leading Trompowsky practitioners, so 5.c3 b4 we must take his choice seriously, but this [ A reliable choice. 5...d6 is hardly a bad is pretty ambitious. That said, after 7.a3 alternative and has received quite a good xc3 8.bxc3 d6 Black has decent Nimzopress of late, but just a quick reminder that l i k e c o u n t e r p l a y i n a n y c a s e , wi t h 9.f4 last month in Palliser-Griffiths we saw that w e l l m e t b y e5! . Here 10.b5+ d7 W hite has begun to fight back in the line 11.b1 was considered a fair while ago by 6.d2 c6 7.f4 e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.f5 b4 Aaron Summerscale in his notes to Hall-De 10.f3 d7 11.a3 a5 12.b4! . ] Firmian, Malmo 1999, but he didn't consider 6.d2 exd4! 12.cxd4 cxd4 13.f3 c6 14.0-0 [ The main line, but I still prefer an idea 0-0 (Wells) at this point when White can which first came to prominence when Peter regain his pawn with equality, but nothing Wells considered it in his classic work on more than that. ] the Tromp, namely 6.d3!? . Following c5 ( one of my fellow columnists preferred 7...d8 [ A new move for the site. Previously we've 6...0-0!? in J-L.Weller-Jones, British seen that 7...e7 8.a3 cxd4?! 9.axb4 Rapidplay Championship, Halifax 2010, dxc3 10.xc3 0-0 11.b5 gave White a where 7.0-0-0 d5 8.ge2!? xf2 9.exd5 pleasant edge in Ubezio-Mazzariol, Novara exd5 10.xd5 d6 11.e3 xe3+ 2002, ] 12.xe3 c6 13.c4 c7 14.c3 d7 [ but 7...f5!? hasn't been seen either and 15.d5! gave both sides chances, but my yet is quite promising for Black in my view, suspicion is that giving up f2 wasn't especially after 8.d3?! g4 . ] entirely correct) 7.e5 d8 ( 7...e7! has been more common) 8.0-0-0 ( 8.dxc5! 8.a3 [ White is happy to simplify against his was advo cated b y W ells and still looks illustrious opponent. A more unbalancing p r o m i s i n g f o r W h i t e t o m e a f t e r a5 1969
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and arguably preferable option was 8.dxc5!? c7! 9.f4 ( 9.f3?! xc5 10.d3 c6 leaves e5 quite vulnerable) 9...xc5 10.f3 c6 11.0-0-0 with a complicated game ahead, albeit one where it's hard to believe Black doesn't have good counterplay g5!? already being possible for starters. ] 8...xc3 9.xc3? [ A surprising mistake. He would have done much better to retain the queens with 9.bxc3 .] 9...cxd4 10.xd4 a5+! [ A strong move. I doubt Yusupov knew that 10...c6 had previously been seen in one fairly obscure game, where W hite didn't need to blunder a pawn away and might have fought with 11.c5!? b6 12.e3 . ] 11.c3 [ Not what White wanted to do, of course, but after 11.b4 c6 he would have had to consent to the exchange of queens under even less favourable circumstances. ] 11...xc3+ 12.bxc3 b6 Taking stock we can see that Black has emerged from the opening with an ideal Nimzo position. The queens are off and White's structure pretty sickly to say the least. How Bellon Lopez must have been regretting his misguided 9th move. This is exactly the sort of position one doesn't want to play against a man with Yusupov's technique . 13.f3 b7 14.d4 Avoiding f u r t h e r s t r u c t u ra l d a m a ge a n d go i n g f o r counterplay, but sooner or later a pawn is going to drop. c6 15.xc6 [ Suboptimal, but 15.f4 would have been well met by g5! and if 16.b5 just e7 17.d6 ab8 . ] 15...xc6 16.a6!? [ 16.f3 would have maintained the material balance for now, but after e7 17.d3 ac8 followed by ...Bd5 and ...Rc5 the front c-pawn would not have been long for this world. ] 16...xg2 17.g1 e4 I presume that Bellon Lopez didn't overlook this (the rook will be trapped by ...Bg6 if it captures g7), but rather sacrificed g2 out of desperation. 18.0-0-0 g5 19.d4 c6 Black is simply a clear pawn to the good and still with the better structure. W h it e do es h is b est to f ight b ack on t h e kingside, but it's clear he's facing an uphill
task. 20.h4 gxh4 21.xh4 e7 22.d1 ag8 23.hd4 h5! And why not push the passed pawn? 24.b7 Yusupov had no doubt seen this coming and the resulting simplification only helps him, but it's not clear what else the veteran Spanish Grandmaster could have tried. d8 25.xc6 dxc6 26.h1 xd4! A classy decision. Many players would not have wanted to improve White's structure, but Yusupov knows that the single rook ending is the easiest way to win with W hite's remaining rook so passively placed. 27.cxd4 h4 28.h3 f6! Opening lines for the king, which will infiltrate via g6. 29.d2 fxe5 30.dxe5 f7 31.e3 g6 32.e4 g5 33.f4+ g6 [ Keeping it simple. Yusupov must have realised too, though, that 33...g4 34.h1 g3! was also very strong for Black, who wins t he race a f t er, sa y, 35.f5 exf5+ 36.xf5 h3 37.e6 h2 38.e7 g2 39.xh2+ xh2 40.e6 g2 41.d7 f3 42.e8 xe8 43.xe8 e3 44.d7 c5 . ] 34.h1 h3 35.g1+ f7 The king may have been driven backwards, but thanks to zugzwang it cannot be kept from f5 i n d e f i n i t e l y. 36.f3 h2! 37.h1 g6 38.g4 b5 [ The finish might have been 38...b5 39.f3 f5 40.g3 h7 41.f3 h3+ 42.g2 h4 43.g3 g4+! winning f4 with check or forcing the white king to a bad square in the event of 44.h3 g6 . ] 0-1
2011 Bellon Lopez,Juan Manuel Martin del Campo,Roberto Guillermo Garcia mem Premier, Villa Cla [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2455 2485
TROMPOW SKY ATTACK: The wild 3.Bh4: After 2...Ne4 3.Bh4 is the most provocative response. Right from the start Black is encouraged to go for wild complications. Against a mad hacker, this would be like showing a red rag to a bull, but if played against a sedate player, there is a greater chance of success. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 This leads to some of the sharpest lines 1970
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 in the Tromp. Like the h4 Tromp, it cannot be considered completely sound, but it is great fun for attacking chess. c5 The most incisive response. Black opens the gateway for his queen to attack White's vulnerable queenside. 4.f3 g5 Best! Black seizes the ideal moment to gra b the b ish op pa ir, whe n W hite ha s weakened his dark squares. 5.fxe4 gxh4 6.e3 It is imperative for White to try and regain some control of the dark squares. b6 [ Black has a strong alternative in: 6...h6 when White could consider the rarely played Qd3, and should probably avoid the main line: 7.f2 when apart from the shock value of the move, W hite's position has little to recommend it. ] 7.c3 White's main idea is to manoeuvre the knight to the aggressive d5 square, where it will have great influence over the entire board. g7 This falls directly in with White's plan of Nd5. Any moves that allow Nd5 should be avoided. Much more sensible would be 7... e6. 8.d5 d6 9.g4 Black's co-operative play has allowed White to build up an impressive attacking position. f8 Black was obviously reluctant to castle kingside, because of his compromised pawn structure. 10.f3 e6 11.xh4 It is testament to the strength of White's position that he is already threatening mate. c6 12.e5 b8 [ 12...xd5 13.c4 superbly wins the Black queen in the center of the board! ] 13.f6 The discoordinated Black pieces make a pathetic sight, and White proceeds to home in on the Black position. d6 14.b5 dxe5 15.xc6 bxc6 16.xe5 The impressively posted W hite knights dominate the Black position. b4+ This is simply a spite check and only has mild irritation value. 17.c3 xb2 18.0-0 The Black position is a wretched sight, just look at the difference in piece activity, king safety, and pawn structure in comparison with the White setup. xc3 The equivalent of resignation. Black walks straight into a killer tactic, the quickest way to end his misery and suffering. 19.d5 White has almost too many threats to count. The most serious being mate on d8. f6 20.xf6 Black threw in the towel, and not before time. 1-0
2012 Benjamin,Joel Yermolinsky,Alex ch plof United States (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2610 2590 1994
TROMPOW SKY ATTACK: The 2...e6 variation. 2...e6 poses an interesting problem to the Tromp player. He needs to rapidly exploit his central advantage, before Black can cash in on the superiority of his bishop pair. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 2...e6 is one of the most challenging variations against the Tromp. Black dares W hite to build up a big pawn center at the expense of the bishop pair. W hite must opt for an aggressive set up, hoping for a decisive attack before Black can o p e n t h e p o s i t i o n a d v a n t a g e o u s l y . 3.e4 The move most in keeping with the spirit of the Tromp. It is possible to wimp out with a moves such as e3 or Nd2, but e4 is the most u n c o m p r o m i s i n g . h6 4.xf6 xf6 W e now have an important parting of the ways. 5.c3 [ 5.f3 leads to positions that could arise from the Torre attack. There is nothing wrong with this fairly solid approach, but recently, White has been trying to extract even more from the position. ] [ 5.c3 This is one of the latest ideas in the Tromp. I believe we will be seeing quite a lot more of this move. Although it looks quite unassuming on the surface, the plan associated with it is extremely dangerous. d6 6.d3 The first important point. The bishop can go to d3 without fear of losing the d pawn. d7 7.e2 The second and more important point. The W hite knight swings to e2 to allow the f pawn to advance freely. Once W hite castles and plays f4, with ideas of following with either e5 or f5, he will have a very imposing attack. The b1 knight can aim to land on e4 and the queen will often manoeuvre to g3 via e1.This could be the future of the whole variation. ] 5...g6 This move is unnecessarily passive, as it allows White to carry out his attacking plan with ease. [ More forthright is the plan beginning with: 5...d6 6.d2 g5 At first sight it looks strange to weaken the kingside like this. 1971
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 However, Black is trying to stop W hite's natural plan of f4 and attempts to thwart it have been quite successful in practice. The fact that a positional genius such as Karpov uses it, is testament to it's viability. The best test of the defence was seen in the FIDE world championship match between Anand and Karpov, where White continued playing for f4 with Bc4, Nge2 and 0-0 with an interesting battle. ] 6.d2 d6 7.f4 White's central space clamp already gives him the advantage. e7 8.f3 g7 9.0-0-0 This is exactly the sort of position White is aiming for in the Nc3 variation. The advanced f pawn will be used as a battering r a m a g a i n s t t h e o p p o n e n t s k i n g s i d e . a6 10.d3 d7 11.f5 Charge! White invites Black to open the center, when his king and queen would be uncomfortably exposed, but: e5 Black must keep things as closed as possible, due to W hite's enormous lead in development. 12.d5 d8 One of t h e main plus points of the 2...e6 variation (obviously only from White's point of view) is that Black often has to waste several moves retreating his exposed queen. 13.dxe5 xe5 14.hf1 c6 15.e3 The white knight has managed to e f f ic ie n t ly r e gro u p t o a m o re d a n ge ro u s location. White has a clear advantage here, as Black's position is riddled with weaknesses a n d h i s d e v e l o p m e n t i s r e t a r d e d . 0-0? In an admittedly difficult situation Black walks into a simple tactic. 16.xe5 xe5 [ Taking with the pawn is no better after: 16...dxe5 17.fxg6 Black is in a terrible mess as: fxg6 18.c4+ wins material decisively. ] 17.g4 Black must lose at least a pawn, le a vin g W hit e m at e ria l u p, wit h a st ro n g kingside attack to boot. In this Super Grandmaster clash, Black decided to show his opponent the proper respect and called it a day. 1-0
2013 Berg,Klaus Navara,David Morso It (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2418 2531 11.02.2002
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.d3 c6 6.xe4 dxe4 7.d5 e5 8.g3 e7 9.c3 f6 10.h5+! This disruptive move practically refutes the whole line for Black taking into consideration, of course, what happened in the previous game. [ 10.xe4?! xd5 11.xe5!? f5! ( 11...fxe5? 12.h5+ With a winning attack according to Boris ALTERMAN.) 12.g3 e6 13.e4 ( 13.c3 xc3 14.xd8+ xd8 15.bxc3 e7 With good compensation for the pawn.) 13...b4 14.c3 ( 14.f4 xd1+ 15.xd1 0-0-0+ 16.d2 Although not quite satisfactory, looks better than the game. At least W hite has 'something' to hang on to for it is not that simple for Black, this time, to capture on a2 and then get 'it' back into play.) 14...xd1+ 15.xd1 xa2 16.1e2 xc3+ 17.xc3 0-0-0+ 18.e2 a6 19.hd1 d6 20.d5 Black is slightly better because of his 2 bishops but White managed to hold thanks to his strong centralized knight Liang Chong-Dizdar,G Wch Las Vegas m(1) 1999 1/2 (43) ] 10...g6 [ 10...g6 11.h4 grabs a hot pawn since xd5? i s i m p o s s i b l e . 12.0-0-0 e6 13.xe4 ] 11.0-0-0 a5 12.f4! exf3 [ 12...exf4 13.exf4 f5 14.b1 e7 15.xe4! That is why a2 had to be protected first. ( 15.d6 f6 16.d7+ xd7 17.xd7 xd7 18.xf5+ e8 ) 15...fxe4 16.f5 0-0 17.fxg6 hxg6 18.xg6 f5 19.h5 ] 13.xf3 c7 14.b5? The young suede falls into a clever 'defensive' trap set by the new 18-year-old Czech number one player (on t h e Ja n u a ry list ). A n d o n e qu e st io n wa s whether or not it was possible to award a question mark to a move actually winning a piece? If the position had been more co m p li c a t e d a n d n o t s o o ve rwh e l m i n g l y advantageous looking, as it really is, then I probably would not have. But the truth is that 1972
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the moves are almost forced, easy to work out and that White only erred through great haste. [ After 14.hf1! bringing the ultimate piece into the attack, Black had no moves, in general, and specifically against the threat Bxe5 and Nh4. A) 14...f7 15.g5 d7 16.e6 ( 16.xh7 g4 17.xg4 xg4 18.xf8 xf8 19.d2 ) 16...a6 17.e4; B) 14...a6 15.xe5 fxe5 16.h4 d6 17.e4 b6 18.d6; C) 14...d7 15.xe5 g4 16.xg4 xg4 17.g3; D) 14...c4 15.xe5! fxe5 16.h4 b6 17.xg6! xg6 18.xe5+ d8 "Everything wins here" but there is also a s i m p l e w a y 19.d6 e6 ( 19...e6 20.g5+ d7 21.b5 ) 20.d5 d7 ( 20...xd5 21.xf8+ xf8 22.e7+ c8 23.c7# ) 21.f6+! The fastest ( 21.c7 d8 22.b5+ c8 23.xe6 xe6 24.c5+ d7 25.c7+ e8 26.d7+ xd7 27.c8+ e7 28.xd7+ xd7 29.f7+ xf7 30.xd7+ ) 21...gxf6 22.b5+ d8 23.xb7 c8 24.d7+- ] 14...d7! 15.h4 Now White cannot back away in front of the double threat of losing his Nb5 and seeing his own queen getting "mated" by her lady colleague. g4! 16.c7+ f7 17.xg4 xg4 18.xa8 xd1 19.xd1 xh4 20.xh4 d6 21.e4 [ 21.c4 e4! 22.g3 xg3 23.hxg3 xa8 ] 21...xa8 [ 21...b5? 22.a4! bxa4 ( 22...b4 23.b3 xa8 24.d2 g6 25.d3 f5 26.exf5+ xf5 27.f1+ ) A) 23.d3 c4! "Demoniac" Fritz... 24.c3 c8 25.b3 xa8 26.xc4 ( 26.bxc4? b4 27.d3 c8 ) 26...axb3 27.cxb3 e7 28.f2; B) 23.d2! xa8 24.a1 b8 25.xa4 xb2 ( 25...b7 26.g4 g6 27.b3 ) 26.xa7+ g6 27.f2 b4 28.d3+- ] 22.f1 [ 22.c4! a6 23.c2 ( 23.d3 b5 24.b3 h5 ) 23...b5 24.c3 Was keeping interesting options on the queenside as it is clear that W hite should not allow his opponent to gain space on the kingside and play ...f6-f5 under good conditions, but on principle has play on both flanks to hope for
s o m e t h i n g . bxc4? 25.b1 b8 26.a3 b3+ 27.xc4 e3 28.e1+- ] 22...b5 Now it is drawn as Black can bolt the queenside. 23.g4 h6 24.g3 a5 25.d2 c4 26.a3 a4 27.c3 h8 28.h4 g5! A classical defensive move in minority attack situations which, in our case, builds a fortress after 29. Rh1 Kg7. ½-½
2014 Berg Jensen,Joachim Gausel,Einar Troll Masters (5) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2231 2481 08.01.2001
Trompowsky attack: The bishops strike back! We all know that Bishops love open lines. In this game, we see the White king receiving a right religious rollicking. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 6.d2 g5 7.0-0-0 g7 8.g3 c6 A critical position in this line. White's next is the most obvious, but perhaps not the best. 9.b5 [ 9.b5 is an interesting idea of Julian Hodgson's. On: 0-0 10.f4 is the idea, with e5 to follow. ] 9...0-0 10.xc6 bxc6 11.f4 c5 12.ge2 Ooooh, do I not like this. This strange move, lets Black have things all his own way. [ Much more testing was: 12.dxc5 b7 ( 12...dxc5 13.e3 ) 13.e3 ] 12...cxd4 13.xd4 b7 14.fxg5 hxg5 15.hf1 g6 Bishops don't get much more g r o o vy t h a n t h i s . F e e l t h e p o we r o f t h e bishops as they rake across the entire board. This awesome force gives Black a clear edge. 16.e3 ab8 17.g4 e5 18.e2 g7 I don't know about you, but if I were White, I'd be very nervous about the fate of my b2 pawn. 19.f2 a5 20.h1 Preparing a half-hearted counterattack. a4 21.a3 c5 22.de2 a6 B l a c k 's t h r e a t s b e g i n t o r e a c h a la r m i n g p r o p o r t i o n s . 23.h4 gxh4 24.h3 b7 Very calm! There is absolutely no need to rush, as W hite has no hope whatsoever of d e f e n d i n g h is p o si t i o n . 25.dh1 fb8 26.xa4 xe2 27.xe2 a7 [ 27...f4+ 28.d1 d4+ was equally as effective. ] 1973
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28.c3 g5+ 29.d1 xb2 With his [ 12...g4 13.h3! xe4? 14.xe4 xh3 queenside in gruesome tatters, White finally 15.xf6# ] called it a day. 13.f4! b7 14.b1 xd5 15.xd5 0-1 [ 15.exd5 This recapture is thematic in the Sicilian but here it allows Black to equalize f5! 16.f2 ( 16.d3?? g7 17.e1 f6 ) 16...g7 ( 16...b6 17.d2 ) 17.d3 b4 2015 A45 A) 18.b3 e4! 19.d2 d4 20.xd4 Berkes,Ferenc 2349 ( 20.d3? f8 ) 20...xd4 21.g3 c5 Tolstikh,Nikolay 2405 22.h3 e6=; Kupa 18th Zalakaros (6) 17.05.1999 B) 18.c3 e4 19.a3 f8 20.g1 a5! [Eric Prié] White does not have the time for the plan g2-g3, Qc2 and Bg2 which, under other 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 circumstances, would have offered him a c6 5.h4 b5 6.e4 a6 substantial advantage. ] [ 6...b4 7.d5 ] 7.0-0-0! h6 At first I was not sure that this key 15...c8 [ 15...b4 16.f5 ] theme was the most appropriate one at this [ 15...g4?? 16.xg4 e1+ 17.d1 ] stage, but after some analysis I had to admit that White is very fast in developing a strong 16.f2 [ 16.f5!? ] initiative in the center and that the combined pressure exerted by his queen and bishop is 16...c5 17.e2 [ 17.xc5 dxc5 18.g3 c7 19.e2 very annoying, preventing Black from using his W as obviously unpleasant for Black e-pawn to control the d5 square. For instance because of the possibility, for W hite, to [ 7...d6 8.f4 d7 ( 8...b4 9.xf6 gxf6 open lines on the uncastled enemy king or 10.d5 f5 11.e5! ) 9.f3 a5 ( 9...b4 win the d5 square after the sequence 19... 10.xf6 gxf6 11.d5 f5? 12.h5 ) 10.b1 e7-e6 20.f5, as well as on the other flank c8 11.d2! ( 11.d3 b4; 11.e5 b4! with a2-a4, when Black is handicapped by a 12.exf6 bxc3 13.fxe7? b4! 14.exf8+ poor structure, and pawns on f7 and a6 as xf8 15.b3 a3; 11.d4 xd4 12.xd4 potential targets. c4 ] xc3! 13.bxc3 e6 ) 11...d4! 12.d3 With the idea Qf2 without fearing Nxc2 and I 17...c7 18.hd1 e6 19.5d2 [ 19.xc5! xc5?! 20.f3 With the idea f5 would rather be White in this position which is even worse for Black than 19...dxc5. very much resembles a Sicilian RichterSee previous comment. ] Rauzer where the plan Qd2-e1-h4 is not 19...f5! Getting rid of the doubled pawns such a rare occurrence. ] [ 7...e6 8.f3 now is appropriate. b4?! means a significant improvement of Black's position. Now his bishop has some 9.d5! ] 8.f3 g8 9.xf6 gxf6 10.d5 d6 perspectives and White has to weaken his gBlack wants to make some natural use of the pawn while limiting the activity of his own opened g-file against the enemy queen after bishop to support the f4-f5 thematic thrust. having compelled White to double the pawns 20.exf5 xf5 21.g4 c5 22.f5 e5 23.f3 on f6. Another interesting plan seemed to be c5 24.h4 g5 25.fxe6 fxe6 26.g3 27.e1 In the absence of serious to chase the Nd5 away, but unfortunately for g7 Black it appears easier said than done to put structural problems for the opponent, little by little White's advantage is fading away as the into practice. [ 10...g7 11.g3 d6 12.b1 And it is attacking chances against the opposing king difficult for Black to play ...e7-e6 because diminish... xe1+ 28.xe1 e7 29.e4 d5 30.g6+ d7 31.d1 g7 32.a3 b4 of the weakness of d6. ] [ 10...b7 11.f4 c8 12.h4 followed by 33.d3 bxa3 34.xa3 xa3 35.bxa3 d6 And now Black is even slightly better. 36.d3 Nf5. ] c7 37.c1 c3 38.d1 c5 39.e2? 11.d4 xd4 12.xd4 a5 1974
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 39.e2 e5? 40.h3 ] 39...e5?? This must be mutual time trouble. [ 39...e5! The same trick! 40.d1 xh2 ] 40.xd5 xd5? Black collapses. On principle, the drawing tendency of endings with opposite-coloured bishops is higher than those with rooks but here, in addition, the exchange of bishops spells the end of the h6 pawn. 41.xc3 a5 [ 41...d4 42.d3 ] [ 41...e7 42.c6 ] 42.h3 d5 43.xh6! When preparing against him, as a coach, in last year's World Und er 18, I ha d a lre ady no ticed th at th e f utu re c hamp ion, ra ted 2616 in Octo ber, enjoyed playing endings... xa3 44.g5 a5 45.g6 e6 46.h4 a4 47.h5 h3 48.g7+ f7 49.g6 g8 50.h6 Black is a tempo short : [ 50.h6 a3 51.b6 h7 52.b8 g3 53.h8+ g6 54.g8+ ] 1-0
2016 Berkes,Ferenc Volokitin,Andrei Wch U12 Cannes (9) [Eric Prié]
A45
1997
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 e6!? Black is ready to use the most direct means to cut loose the pressure on the h4-d8 diagonal, the main strategical stake in this line. 5.0-0-0 h6 6.h4 g8 7.xf6 [ 7.d2 d5 8.f3 ( 8.e4 d4 9.b5 a6 10.e5 axb5 11.exf6 xf6 ) 8...c6 ( 8...e7 9.f4 ) 9.e4!? d4 ( 9...g5!? ) 10.e3 e5 11.xe5 xe5 12.xd4 ] 7...xf6 8.xf6 gxf6 9.e4 e7 10.d6+ xd6 11.xd6 e7 12.d2 b5! After the natural 12...d5, W hite will have the time to play g3 and Bg2 nullifying the action of the Rg8 along the semi open file, then prepare e2e4 or c2-c4 against Black's d-pawn. 13.e4 [ 13.g3 b7 14.f3 xf3 15.exf3 a6 16.f4 c6 17.g2 ac8= ] 13...b7 14.f3 a6 15.e2 d6 16.g3 d7 17.e2 e5 18.hd1 ad8= 19.b3 h5! [ 19...b4 20.b2 a5 21.c3 ] 20.xh5
[ 20.f4 g4 21.xg4 xg4 22.e5 fxe5 23.fxe5 d5 ] [ 20.f1 h4 21.e2 h3 ] 20...xg2 21.f4 g6 22.f5 [ 22.f3 xd2 23.xd2 f5 ] 22...e5 23.d3 xd2 24.xd2 h8 25.f4 h4 26.f2 g4 27.e2 xh2 28.fxe6 xf4! [ 28...fxe6?? 29.g6+ ] 29.xh2 xe6 [ 29...fxe6?? 30.h7+ ] 30.h8 xe4 31.d2 f5 32.e8+ d5 33.a8 f2+! With 2594, the Ukrainian too has reached the top of the ELO hierarchy. Still, wh e n you th in k o f t he le ve l o f t he s e t wo unrated youngsters, it makes you wonder... 34.e1 [ 34.e3 f3+ 35.e2 h3 36.xa6 h2+ 37.d1 Was the most resistant. ( 37.e3 e5 38.xb5 f4#; 37.f1 d4 38.xd6+ e3 39.xe4 fxe4 40.f6 xc2 41.xf7 xa2 42.f5 b4 43.b5 a3 44.xb4 f3 ) 37...xd3 38.cxd3 f4 39.a4 f3 40.e1 d4 41.a7 bxa4 42.bxa4 f5 43.a5 a2 44.f1 e3 45.e7+ xd3 46.d7 e3 47.e7+ f4 48.d7 d5 49.xd5 g3 ] 34...h2 35.xa6 d4! 36.xd6+ e3 37.xb5 f4 38.f1 f3 The threat of f2+ and Rh1 is unavoidable. 0-1
2017 Bigg,Andrew J James,David J 4NCL Telford ENG (11) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2292 2253 05.05.2003
Trompowsky: One of the main points behind the h4 tromp is to open the h-file for the White rook. Once achieved W hite can often look forward to dangerous attacking chances. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 h6 The most solid. 4.f4 e6 I'm not sure about this one though. [ 4...d5 or ] [ 4...c5 would be my preference. ] 5.d2 xd2 6.xd2 d5 Stopping White from expanding in the centre, but at the cost of blocking in his light squared bishop. 7.f3 b6 8.0-0-0 a6 9.g4 Not falling in with 1975
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.xe3 xg3+ 13.hxg3 dxe3 14.xe3 d6 Threatening ...Qb4+ ] [ 9.xe5 b4 ] 9...b4 10.ge2 exf3 [ 10...0-0! Winning a tempo in every case. 11.fxe4 e3 12.xd8 xd8 13.c1 c5! 14.xc6 ( 14.g1 b4 15.a4 c6 ) 14...xg2+ 15.f1 e3+ 16.f2 xc2+ 17.g2 e3+ 18.f3 g4+ 19.f4 h5 20.xb7 g2+ 21.g5 e7# ] 11.gxf3 f5 12.d4 xc3 [ 12...xc2!? 13.0-0 xc3 14.bxc3 ( 14.xb4? xe2+ ) 14...a3 ] 13.xc6+ bxc6 14.xb4 xe2 15.xe2 b8 16.c3 [ 16.a3 d4! 17.b3 xc2 18.ac1 d3+ ] 16...0-0 17.ad1 Not the most urgent, especially when Black wants to open the position with ...f7-f6 anyhow. In general, it is not very advisable for the rhythm of the game to force the opponent to play good moves he intended to make in any case... [ 17.b3 Followed by Kf2 while asking a question of the c6-pawn, with approximate equality. ] 17...e7 18.a3? But this is the guilty one which seriously weakens the situation of the white queenside. [ 18.f2! b5 ( 18...f6 19.he1 fxe5 2018 A45 20.xe5 f7 21.e3 ) 19.d2 with the idea fb8 20.b3 c5 21.e3 xc2 22.xc2 Bigg,Andrew J 2275 xc2 23.c1 f5 24.xc6 ] Palliser,Richard 2411 Specsavers YM (4) 21.07.2004 18...b5 19.d4 [ 19.d2 fb8 20.b4 c5 ] [Eric Prié] 19...f6 20.b4 [ 20.a4 fxe5 21.xa7 g6 ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.f3 f6 5.e4 dxe4 6.c3 d5! This is therefore the 20...fxe5 21.xb5 cxb5 22.xe5 [ 22.xe5 f7 23.xb5 xc2 24.c6 only original way to profit from the White set( 24.f1 d8 Followed inevitably by ...Bd3.) up. The acceptance of the pawn is far too 24...a4! 25.e4 ( 25.b7 c4+ ) risky â (+) see the Kasparov game! 7.g3 25...e8 26.e5 e6 27.xa4 ( 27.f4 [ 7.d2 xf4 8.xf4 xd4 9.d1 e5 c6 ) 27...xe5+ 28.d1 b8 ] 10.xd4 exf4 11.xe4+ d8= Dunworth, C (2293) - Buckley, D (2140) Monmouth 2000 22...xc2 23.g1 [ 23.xc7! g5 24.f4 g2+ 25.e3 b3 1/2(33) ] 26.f1! Followed by Rf2 and this position 7...c6 8.b5 looks more tenable than the one White got [ 8.fxe4? e3 9.d2 xf1 10.xf1 xd4 in the game after the simple ] 11.xd4 xd4 12.d5 e6 13.xc7 d7 23...f7 defending c7. 24.f4 g6 An extra 14.g3 c8 15.c3 c5 ] pawn, better king, structure and pieces. Black 8...e5 9.dxe5 [ 9.fxe4 e3 10.e2 exd4 11.d5 d6 sh o u l d wi n t h is e a s i l y. O n ly t h e n a t u r a l Black's plan of trading light squared bishops and creating some chances on the kingside. d7 10.g5 d6 [ 10...h5 can be met by the disruptive. 11.g6 fxg6 12.h3 ] 11.g2?! Careless. hxg5 [ 11...xe2 Deserved serious consideration. 12.de1 a6 And Black has good chances to consolidate his extra pawn. ] 12.hxg5 xh1 13.xh1 e7 14.e5 Now W hite is back in control. f8 15.e4 Breaking open some lines. b7 16.exd5 exd5 17.h3 Keeping the Black king in the centre for now. e6 18.e1 f8 [ 18...0-0-0 19.xf7 ] 19.h1 With no chance of the Black king escaping to the queenside, White turns his evil eye back to the h-file. g6 20.e3 g7 21.g4 Missing a nice shot. [ 21.xg6! xg6 22.xe6 fxe6 23.d3+ ] 21...xf4 22.xf4 xe5 After this Black is doomed. [ 22...e8 wa s e s s e n t i a l . 23.d7 d8 and Black can hope to survive. ] 23.dxe5 e8 24.e6 With the dark squares a r o u n d t h e B l a c k k i n g o p e n in g u p h e i s doomed. 1-0
1976
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 drawing t ende ncy of th e op posite-c olou r bishops could make this task problematic in an ending... [ 24...f5 25.b3 e6 26.xb5 ] 25.d4 c5 26.d5 d7? [ 26...b7 27.xc5 d7 ] [ 26...h8!? ] 27.xd7? Here we are so I think I had better stop commenting this game here. [ W h a t w a s t h e p o i n t a f t e r 27.xc5 by the way? ] 27...xd7 28.h4 c4 29.g5 c2 30.c3 a6 31.f5 h6 32.g6 a7 33.d4 d7 34.e3 xf5 35.xa6 e7+ 36.f3 d7 37.a7 c6+ 38.g3 d7 39.c7 f7 40.a4 bxa4 41.xc4 f5 42.c5 f7 43.c7 h7 44.b7 e7 45.b3 axb3 46.xb3 e4 47.f2 g6 48.c3 b4 49.d3 f5 50.d4 b5 51.f4 c8 52.c4 b7 53.c5 b4+ 54.g3 b3+ 55.h2 b2 56.g3 b3+ 57.h2 f3 58.a5 d3 59.c5 d5 60.c7 d2 61.g3 d3+ 62.h2 f6 63.c3 d1 64.g3 f5 65.e3 b1 66.e7 b3+ 67.e3 b4 68.e1 g4+ 69.h3 g1 70.f2 f1 71.g3 g5 72.hxg5 h5 73.e1 h4+ 74.xh4 xf2 75.g3 g2+ 76.h3 xg5 77.f1+ e5 78.f8 e6+ 79.h4 g4+ 80.h5 g3 ½-½
2019 Bistrikova,Elena V Lomakina,Galja Rudenko mem w (2) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2139 2160 09.12.2001
T ro m p o ws k y A t t a ck: T h e S icilia n T ro m p against 2...c5 is one of the least explored of White paths. If you fancy having a go at your opponent, why not give it a try? 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 The Sicilian Tromp. A powerful way to take your opponent out of his "book". cxd4 4.xd4 c6 5.h4 The W hite queen never enjoys such early unrestricted movement in the Sicilian proper, largely due to the e4 pawn. a5 6.0-0-0 b5 B l a c k t a k e s a t h re a t e n i n g s t a n c e in h e r majesty's territory, but he lacks the development to really make this dangerous for
White. 7.b1 b7 8.e3 There is no reason to give Black a target on e4. a6 9.f3 c8 10.xf6 gxf6 11.d5 The knight takes up a dominating post and Black cannot afford to leave it unchallenged for long. e5 12.xe5 fxe5 13.e2 Unlike his opponent, White has no problems completing his development. xd5 14.xd5 c7 Threatening mate in 3! However, this is easily parried. 15.d2 e6 [ 15...g7 was objectively best, although Black comes under severe pressure after: 16.g4 f6 17.hd1 d6 18.a4! ] 16.f6 g8 17.h5 Uh-oh! Storm-clouds are g a t h e r i n g a r o u n d t h e B l a c k K i n g . g7 18.hd1 d8 Black decides to evict the qu e e n f ro m h e r t h re a t e n i n g p o st o n t h e kingside, using a tactical trick. Unfortunately, White has seen further. [ 18...e4 19.g4 Also leaves White firmly in the driving seat. ] 19.xe5 g5 Black was relying on this double attack to get out of jail, but... 20.xf7+! Ouch! xf7 21.xd7+ e7 22.xg5 Not a bad twosome. White has: 1. a winning a t t a c k a n d 2 . a m a t e ri a l a d va n t a g e . f8 23.h5+ g8 24.g4+ f7 25.e4 There is no longer any defence or hope for Black. h6 26.xe7+ A nice illustration of White's attacking possibilities in the Sicilian Tromp. 1-0
2020 Bouaziz,Slim Labib,Ibrahim Hasan Arab-ch 4th Beirute (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2383 2426 14.08.2000
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e6 8.b1 c7 9.b5+ d7 The 'natural' move, in comparison with 9...Nbd7 discussed in September, that I would have reckoned best, a t f i r s t s i g h t . 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.c4?! White has to exchange on d7 as in the next game. It must be the idea behind the bishop check to then try to take advantage of the weakness of the light squares in the enemy camp. e7 Black enjoys an extra tempo compared to Puschmann-Adzic last 1977
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 September, and had better play [ 11...a6 12.a4 c6 13.f3 e7 A) 14.g5 d4 15.f5 d5! 16.fxe6 ( 16.exd5? exd5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xd5 e5+-+ ) 16...dxc4 17.exd7+ xd7 18.e5? ( 18.0-0 0-0 ) 18...f5! 19.exf6 xc2+ 20.xc2 ( 20.e2 d4+ 21.e1 xf6 22.ge4 0-0 With a winning black attack. ) 20...xc2 21.fxe7 b5!; B) 14.0-0 ] 12.f3 c6 13.0-0 xe4!? [ 13...a6 14.g5!? d8 15.f5 ] 14.xe4 d5 15.xd5? [ 15.c3!? dxc4 ( 15...dxe4 16.e5 0-0-0 17.xd7 xd7 18.xd7+ xd7 19.xe6 ) 16.xg7 g8 17.e5 xe5 18.xe5 0-0-0 19.e2 ] 15...exd5 16.c3 e6 17.g5? The first ever African Grandmaster does not seem very inspired in this game, at least he could have tried [ 17.f5! xf5 ( 17...f7 18.g5 xg5 19.xg5 0-0 ) 18.xd5 d7 19.xe7 xe7 20.g5 xd1 21.bxd1 leading to a more uncertain position. ] [ 17.e1 d7 18.e2 f7 ] 17...xg5 18.b5 d7 [ 18...e7! 19.fxg5 0-0-0 ] 19.h5+ [ 19.fxg5 a6! ( 19...0-0-0 20.f4 e7 ) 20.c3 b5! Followed by long castles, putting an end to W hite's initiative. ( 20...0-0-0 21.a4 e7 22.f4 b5 23.c4!! Fritz dxc4 24.f3 b7 25.fe1 )] 19...g6 20.xg5 0-0-+ Because of the massive opposing centre and extra pawn, White has no way to take advantage of the holes on the dark squares around the enemy king whilst his position is just a ruin. 21.c4 f5 [ 21...f5 22.g3 dxc4 23.c3 d4 W it h two goo d e xt ra pa wn s t his way o f closing the long diagonal looks even clearer. 24.e3 d5 ] 22.be1 d4 23.h3 a6 24.a3 ae8 25.g4 d3 26.xe8 xe8 27.f2 b6 As c5 was hanging, [ 27...e7! was decisive, practically forcing the exchange of queens. 28.d5+ h8 29.f5 gxf5! ( 29...e4 30.f6 ) 30.gxf5 g8+ 31.g2 ( 31.h2 e4 32.f6 c7+ 33.f4
g2+! 34.xg2 xf4+ 35.g1 xd5 ) 31...xg2+ 32.xg2 xf5-+ ] 28.f5 e7 Better [ 28...e5 29.f6 f7 30.f4 a4 31.c1 b5 ] 29.f6 f7 30.f4 Although the strong protected enemy passed pawn is blocked in the least economical way, Black should still be winning because of his other assets: better light pieces keeping the Na3 out of play and of course the extra-pawn, but things shall become more complicated. e6 31.g5 e5 32.g3 e4 33.f4 d3 The game abruptly stops here. Although [ 33...d3 does not immediately appear decisive, White has some concrete reasons to call it a day: 34.d2 xf4 35.xf4 h6 36.h4 f5! With the idea Re4. For instance. 37.b8+ A) 37...e8 The exchange of queens probably wins but Black has to be careful: 38.xe8+ xe8 39.b2 hxg5 ( 39...e3 40.xb6! hxg5 41.hxg5 xa3 42.b8+ f7 43.b7+ e6? 44.f7 ) 40.hxg5 e6 ( 40...e5 41.xb6 e4 42.xa6 xg5+ ) 41.f2 f7 42.e2 d3! 43.xe6 xe6 44.e1 d6 45.d2 f5! 46.c2 e6 47.d3 e5 48.e1 f4 Cleans off White's kingside.; B) 37...e8! T h e f a s t e s t . 38.d6 ( 38.xb6 e1+ 39.h2 e8 40.xc5 b8+ leads to mate.) 38...e1+ 39.f2 e8 40.f4 e3+ 41.xe3 xe3 42.c2 h3-+ ] 0-1
2021 Boyd,Tristan Humphrey,Jonathan Australian Open (6) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45
05.01.2003
Trompowsky: I feel that the versatility of the Tromp is one of its main strengths and as such, the reason that so many strong players continue to employ it. Black can easily end up in strange variations of the French, Benoni or Queens Gambit, to name but a few. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 d5 An unusual way of meeting the Tromp and it seems not a 1978
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 particularly satisfactory one. 4.e5 The critical response. h6 5.e3 fd7 6.f4 Reaching a position similar to that of a French Classical. However, there are a couple of critical differences. Firstly, W hite can support his centre with his c-pawn. Secondly, the Black pawn on h6 weakens Black's kingside, which makes it harder for Black to contain White's initiative there. c5 7.c3 c6 8.f3 f5 9.exf6 White can exploit Black's weaknesses better by opening the position. xf6 10.d3 d6 11.e5 The White knight finds an excellent post. 0-0 12.0-0 cxd4 13.cxd4 d8 14.c3 f6 15.g4 Charge! e7 16.g5 e8 [ 16...hxg5 is much worse, as it opens the hfile for White's queen. 17.fxg5 and Black is not long for this world. ] 17.gxh6 gxh6 18.h1 Preparing the d e c is i ve in f il t ra t i o n a lo n g t h e g -f i le . f5 19.g1+ eg7 20.h5 h4 21.xg7+! The Black knights are the key to his king's defence. They must be removed at any cost. xg7 22.g6+ h8 23.xf5 Rg1 is coming with devastating consequences. 1-0
7...xb2 8.d1 d6 9.b5+ d7 10.xd7+ bxd7 11.ge2 White has insufficient compensation here. 0-0 12.g3 a3 13.0-0 a6 14.f4 b5 Black's extra pawn starts to make its presence felt. 15.c1 a5 16.a3 b4 17.b1 a4 Now White cannot save his structure. 18.axb4 [ 18.d2 e5 19.f4 c4 wins. ] 18...xc2 19.bxc5 desperation. [ 19.a3 xe4 leads to a hopeless ending. ] 19...xb1 20.c3 b3 21.c6 c5 22.fe1 e8 A piece down, White has no reason to continue the struggle. 0-1
2023 Breutigam,Martin Gauglitz,Gernot Bundesliga 1999-2000 (10) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2343 2390 19.02.2000
The h4 tromp continues to do good business at all levels. I would guess that Black players sim p ly d o n 't t a ke t h e m o ve h 4 se rio u s l y enough until it's too late! In the following game, W hite demonstrates, to good ef fect, how 2022 A45 tactically sharp the h4 variation can be. 1.d4 Boyd,Tristan f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.d5 d6 Xie,George 2225 A solid approach, avoiding the over-ambitious Australian Open (7) 07.01.2003 pawn grab lines that occur with 4...Qb6. 5.d3 [Aaron Summerscale] xg5 6.hxg5 b6 Black, seeing no particularly appealing way to defend h7, goes Trompowsky: From the games posted on this into counter-attack mode. Unf ortunately, site, you might get the impression that Black White has been better organised that Black, should never take the "poisoned" pawn on b2. from as early as move 4. 7.d2 The macho This game helps to redress the balance. 1.d4 m o v e ! G i v i n g u p t h e q u e e n s i d e f o r t h e f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 g6 4.c3 g7 5.e4 initiative. h6 A sneaky move, which the Tromp specialist [ 7.c3 is an interesting alternative ] should be wary of. 6.h4?! The wrong way! 7...xb2 8.b1 xa2 9.e4 a5 [ 6.f4 is stronger. The support of the bishop B l a c k , a l t h o u g h a l r e a d y b e h i n d i n will be needed later to help the e5 pawn development, feels strangely obliged to waste break. ] more of his valuable developmental time 6...b6 7.f3?! Too ambitious. For once, bringing his queen back to safety. 10.g6 fxg6 Black can get away with taking the poisoned 11.g3 Sneaky! This tactic is frequently seen pawn on b2. in the h4 Tromp, W hite threatens Rxh7 [ 7.d2 can lead to similar problems, followed by Qxg6+. d8 The king heads for especially if White goes for the plausible- t h e h i l l s . 12.gf3 c3 13.d3 d7 looking : xb2 8.b1? xe4! 9.xb2 At last. Black finally manages to bring another xc3 winning. ] minor piece into the game. 14.g5 e5 1979
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.f4 c4 With his king horribly trapped in the center, Black has little choice but to try a n d f o r c e a n e n d g a m e . 16.f2 xd2 17.xd2 xd2+ 18.xd2 c7 19.f7 g8 20.xh7 g5 Black embarks on a desperate bid activate his dark squared bishop. But the price paid, as we shall see, is way too high. 21.xg5 a5 22.e5 White is obliged to play actively. If Black is allowed time to organise his position, th e bishop pair an d outsid e passed pawn might swing the balance in Black's favour. g6 [ 22...e6 23.g6 is very powerful. ] 23.exd6+ xd6 24.e4+ xd5 25.b6 The "active" Black king suddenly finds himself in no-mans-land, totally out-numbered and out-gunned. c4 26.c3+ d4?? The Black king rushes to his doom but the alternative was not much better. [ 26...c5 f a l l s f o u l o f 27.a4+ d4 28.c3+ d5 29.xg6 xg6 30.xg6 f5 31.h5 when White is simply winning. ] 27.b5! F o r c i n g m a t e . cxd3 28.cxd3 Mate is inevitable on either e2 or d5. 1-0
2024 Bricard,Emmanuel Nevednichy,Vladislav Open Montpellier FRA (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2456 2593 09.07.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 The 1993 French Champion must have been slightly surprised: Before this game his Romanian opponent was well-known as the strongest advocate of the move 2...c6! 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 e5 7.f4 d6 8.f5 As recommended by theory W hite opts for the kingside bind rather than the protected passed pawn. h5! 9.f3 bd7 10.d3 a6 11.e2 e7 12.d1 c4! If White plays c4 followed by a4, it will be practically impossible to make good use of the extra b-pawn while still having to face some disagreeable pressure on the other flank. This way, Black equalizes and prevents the opponent from being able to focus his attention on the part of the board where he is the strongest. In the long term, he has even better prospects thanks to his superior pawn
s t r u c t u r e . 13.xc4 c5 14.f2 d7 15.d3 c8 16.0-0 c7 17.fc1 b5 18.a4!? After a useful prophylactic move like 18.Kh1, Black would have had to show his intentions. Possibly with the plan of transferring the king's Bishop to b6 in order to improve the position of the only piece that may not be already on its best square. bxa4 [ 18...xa4? 19.c4 ] 19.b4 a7 20.h1 a5 21.a3 0-0 22.d2 xd3 Black could have waited for this exchange but he didn't want to see a knight on c4 e xcept with th e 2 roo ks of f . 23.xd3 [ 23.cxd3 xc1+ 24.xc1 c8 25.c4 b5! ] 23...b5 24.c4 a6 25.h3 [ 25.b2 Would have thwarted Black's plan. ] 25...d7! 26.c2 [ 26.xh5 e3 ] 26...c7 27.g4 fc8 28.ac1 hxg4 29.hxg4 g5! Showing deep understanding of the position. It is important to deal with the cpawn first. 30.xd6 xd2 31.xd2 xc4 32.xc4 xc4 33.xc4 xc4 34.xe5 [ 34.f2 b6 35.e7 b3 36.g2 a3 37.xa5 a2-+ ] 34...xe5 35.xe5 e7 36.d6? [ 36.f4 ] 36...xe5 37.d7 xe4+ 38.h2 If White's queen moves from d2, Black will just need a tempo to be winning. For instance [ 38.g2 b1+ 39.h2 b8+ 40.h1 ( 40.g1 a7+ 41.h2 xd7 ) 40...d8 41.c6 a6! 42.g2 ( 42.xa4 a8+ 43.g1 d5; 42.xa6 xd7 43.xa5 d1+ 44.h2 xg4 ) 42...a3 43.xa6 xd7 44.xa5 d3-+ ] 38...e5+ 39.h3 [ 39.g1 g3+ 40.g2 e3+ 41.f2 ( 41.h2 h6+ 42.g1 b6+ 43.h1 d8 ) 41...d3 ] [ 39.g2 d5+ 40.f2 d6 ] 39...f1+ 40.h4 e7+ 41.g5! f6 [ 41...xd7?? 42.f6 g6 43.h6 ] [ 41...e1+ 42.h5 ] 42.d2 d8 43.d5+ h7 44.g3 c4 45.h1+ [ 45.c6 b8+ 46.g2 b2+ 47.g3 c3+ 48.g2 d2+ 49.g3 d5 ] 1980
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 45...g8 46.c6 b8+ 47.f2? The king has nowhere to go. If he stays on the kingside, a timely ...Bd5 will be f atal. If he tries to escape on the other side, he will collide with natural activity of the bishop on c4 supported by the a-pawns. [ 47.f3 h7!! ( 47...b3+ 48.f4 ) 48.xc4 b7+ 49.e3 xd7 With the long but surely won endgame, Black has been striving to obtain. ] 47...h2+ 48.e3 g1+ 49.d2 d4+ 50.c2 d3+ [ 50...d3+ 51.c1 ( 51.b2 a3+ ) 51...c3+ ( 51...e3+ 52.b1 d3+ 53.b2 d2+ 54.a1 e1+ 55.b2 a3+ 56.xa3 b4+ 57.a2 c4+ 58.a1 a3+ 59.b1 d3+ ) 52.d1 ( 52.b1 d3+ 53.a2 b3+ 54.a1 b1# ) 52...b3+ 53.e2 xc6 ] 0-1
2025 Brumen,Dinko Kinez,Ivo Open Pula CRO (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2403 2091 16.05.2000
Trompowsky Attack: Another Black player falls victim to the Rxh7 idea in the Tromp. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 g6 5.e5 An interesting alternative to the more common 5 Bd3. W hite f orces Black to weaken his kingside. f6 6.g3 g7 7.d3 xg3 8.hxg3 e5? Black falls for a tactic that will be familiar to those who have played the h4 Tromp. [ 8...f5 would put a temporary stop to White's tricks. However, with the g4 and c4 pawn breaks still to come, W hite retains a pleasant position. ] 9.xh7! Bang! This must have come as a shock. e4 What else? [ 9...xh7 10.xg6+ f8 11.xh7 ] 10.xh8+ xh8 11.f1 e6 12.d2 White is clearly better, due to his extra pawn, but the matter is not trivial. Black has more space and the advantage of the bishop pair. White sets out to engineer his most promising pawn break: c4. d7 13.e2 e7 14.c4 dxc4 Black gives up the center, but he hopes
to activate his bishops. 15.f4 f7 16.xc4 xc4 17.xc4 h7 18.g4 A brave and well calculated move. White dares Black to go ro o k m un chin g, in t he gra n d o ld st yle o f nineteenth century attacking chess. 0-0-0 [ 18...h1+ would have been the exciting way to exit after: 19.d2 xa1 20.xg6+ f8 ( 20...e7 21.h7+ e8 22.g6 i s t h e e n d .) 21.e6+ e7 22.xc7 leaves Black unable to adequately defend against all the threats to his king. ] 19.c1 g8 20.d5 b8 21.xe4 Another pawn bites the dust and Black can resign. f7 22.a5 f5 23.f3 c6 24.f4+ e5 25.dxe5 xd5 26.e6+ e5 27.c4 A piece is going west, so Black finally calls it a day. 1-0
2026 Brumen,Dinko Polak,Tomas 8th Cvitanovic Mem (6) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2371 2463 03.05.2003
T r o m p o ws k y: W h i t e i s r e w a r d e d f o r h i s offbeat approach to the 2...e6 Tromp. Watch out for his nice finish. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e3 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.f4 An interesting attempt to set up a stonewall, without the t r o u b l e s o m e d a r k s q u a r e d b i s h o p . g5 The critical response. 6.fxg5 hxg5 7.c3 b4 8.d2 b6 9.0-0-0 b7 10.a3 xc3 [ 10...d6 is interesting here. 11.b5 xh2 12.xh2 xh2 13.xc7+ d8 14.xa8 xa8 15.e1 leaves chances balanced. ] 11.xc3 c6 12.b1 White prepares to expand in the centre. 0-0-0 13.e4 h6 14.e2 dh8 Black is making serious inroads on the kingside, so it is time for W hite to develop so me co unterplay. 15.f3 g4 16.e5 xe5 17.dxe5 g6 18.b5 The d-file is the most likely source of initiative for White at the moment. c6 19.d4 g5 20.d6 xh2 21.hd1 Black is a pawn up with the better structure, but the initiative is what counts here. Black must proceed with extreme caution. d8?? This natural looking move is the decisive mistake. [ 21...e7 was essential when: 22.f1 c7 1981
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.d2 d8 24.f4 leaves White better but no more. ] 22.xc6! Crunch! xc6 23.xd7! 1-0
f2 37.b5 xf3 38.c4 h3 39.b6 b3 40.c6 g5 ) 30...xg2 31.xb6 d2+ 32.e5 d7 33.c4 f8 34.f6 e8 35.c5 d8 36.g7; B) 29.xd4! b2 B1) 30.g4 xh2 31.d6 f2 32.e3 c2 33.d3 f2=; 2027 A45 B2) 30.d7 xg2 31.xb7 xh2 Bruzon Batista,Lazaro 2602 32.xb6 h5 33.c4 h4 34.c5 ( 34.a6 Flores,Diego 2448 h1 35.d4 h3 36.a2 h2 37.c5 XII Guillermo Prem I (1) 21.05.2004 f8 38.e2 g5 39.b5 f5 40.b6 ) [Eric Prié] 34...h1 35.c6 c1 36.d2 B2a) 36...c4 37.e2 h3 38.f2 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ c2+ 39.g1 f8 40.b5 e7 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 41.b8 d6 42.d8+ e7 43.c8 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 b2 ( 43...d6 44.b6 xc6 45.b7 ) exf4 12.d4 c5 13.h3 More or less 44.c7+ d8 45.d7+ c8 46.b7 forcing d5 And now f6 47.b6 g5 Anyway is still equal.; [ 13...xd4? 14.cxd4 a4 15.xf4 xd4 B2b) 36...h3! 37.xc1 h2-+; 16.e3 ] B3) 30.d6 xg2 31.xb6 xh2 14.e4! fxe3 32.xb7 h5 33.c4 In this way White has [ 14...e3?! Transposes into the Leroy-Le won several tempi in the race and is Quang note in the game Marzolo-Mamedov ] ready to launch his c-pawn. h1 15.c4 c7 16.f4 0-0 B3a) 34.c5 c1 35.d2 ( 35.c7 [ 16...xd4 17.cxd4 0-0 18.e2 e8 h4 ) 35...c4 36.e2 h4 37.f1 c2 19.hc1 ] 38.b6 f8 39.c6 h3 40.g1 e7 17.0-0-0 d5 41.b5 d6 42.b7 f6 43.d7+ c5 [ 17...b5 18.xb5 xb5 19.xb5 xa2 44.b7 d6=; 20.b1 a7 21.xd7 b5 22.xc8 xc8 B3b) 34.a7!! h4 35.d4 h3 36.a2 23.d5 "White has a clear plus. Blacks h2 37.c5 f8 38.e2! g5 39.b5 f5 pawns on e3 and b5 are weak and the white 40.b6 g4 41.fxg4 fxg4 42.b2!+pieces control important squares in the The final touch. ] centre." Boris Alterman for ChessBase. Well, e3 eventually fell signing Black's defeat in 24.xf5 a3 25.g1! The point of the trap that Black must have overlooked! g6 Hodgson,J-Sutovsky,E York 1999 ] [ 25...d2+ 26.e1 b2 27.d5 ] 18.xd5 xd5 19.xd5 d8 20.e2 f5 21.he1 White is slightly better, intending 26.e5 d2+ 27.e1 c5 28.d4 d3 Ng3-e4 for the same reason as exposed in the 29.e2 xc3 30.d1 a b o v e g a m e o f H o d g s o n ' s , b u t m o r e 1-0 importantly sets a cunning trap for the opponent. xd5?! 22.xd5 xa2 23.d1! 2028 A45 xb2? [ 23...g6! i s t h e o n l y c h a n c e , 24.d4 Bruzon Batista,Lazaro 2603 ( 24.b4? c2+! 25.c1 d3 26.xd3 Nijboer,Friso 2586 a1+ 27.c2 xe1 ) 24...a1+ ( 24...xd4 GMB Wijk aan Zee NED (3) 13.01.2004 25.xd4 xb2 26.g4 e6 27.xe3 xh2 [Eric Prié] 28.b4 Then may be the best defensive attempt. ) 25.e2 d3+ 26.xe3 xe1+ 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 27.xd3 b1 28.b4 xd4 5.d2 b6 6.e4 e5 7.f4 d6 8.f3 bd7 A) 29.xd4 b2 30.d6 ( 30.d8+ g7 9.fxe5 dxe5 10.c4 This is the normal move 31.b8 d2+! 32.c4 xg2 33.xb7 for which there are pros and cons, for instance xh2 34.xb6 h5 35.c5 h4 36.a6 ...Nb6 at some point attacking the bishop. In 1982
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 our previous reference game, Kanep developed this bishop to e2!? (after Rb1, Qd8) which was a novelty enabling the typical use of the c4 square for the Nf3, via d2, but also the counter sacrifice ...c5-c4 for the opponent. e7 If Black wants to play this move, which means that he will first use his queen as a blockader against White's d-pawn in order to avoid the problems resulting from the pin on the d8-h4 diagonal, I reckon he has to try [ 10...a6!? First. 11.0-0 e7 ( 11...c7 but Black will have to constantly watch out f o r t h e p a wn m o ve d 5 - d 6 d a n g e r o u s l y opening the Bc4's diagonal... as in this game! ) 12.b1 d6 13.a4 0-0 14.h4?! b6 15.a2 ( 15.e2 fxd5! 16.exd5 xh4 ) 15...c4! ( 15...fxd5?? 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 xh4 18.g5! xg5 19.xf7+ xf7 20.xd6+- )] [ 10...d6 11.h4! 0-0 ( 11...g6 12.0-0 W ith the idea Qf3) 12.f5 a6 13.0-0 Bruzon,L ] 11.b1 d8 12.g5 h6? [ 12...d6 As I have already said, and as we have seen some months ago, White's space advantage and the strong protected passed pa wn o f f e r him go o d co m pe n sa t io n , in practical play and this assessment will not be drastically altered by the loss of a tempo in a closed position. I don't know if this tempting variation will be acknowledged by theory as White's best choice against the critical (and wild) 2...c5 Tromp in the future, (Personally I prefer the calmer waters of 3. dxc5...) but I am pretty sure that a change in the deeply unclear character of the position is not just around the corner! ] [ 12...a5 13.d2 a6 14.0-0 0-0 15.a4 Is t h e d e f e n ce in d ica t e d b y t h e Cu b a n player. ] 13.d6!! hxg5 14.xg5 0-0 15.0-0 b6 [ 15...xd6 16.xd6 b6 ( 16...e8 17.d5! xd5 18.xd5 f6 19.xf6 ) 17.xf7+ h8 18.xe5 d4+ 19.xd4 cxd4 20.e2+- ] 16.dxe7 xe7 17.xb6!! Preparation? axb6 18.d5! xd5 19.h5 xg5 Black has to give up the queen to avoid mate and that would be OK for him, considering the material a n d t h e s t ru c t u r e , wit h go o d b l o cka d in g
possibilities, if only W hite did not keep a surprising mating attack somehow. [ 19...f6 20.xf6 ] 20.xg5 f4 21.xe5 e6 22.xf4! xc4 23.h5 xa2 24.h4 a1+ 25.f2 f5? [ 25...f6 26.h7+ f7 27.g4 g8 28.e5! This lateral attack of the bishop is the key idea. f1+ ( 28...e6 29.g6! Threatening Rxf6+ fxe5 30.xe6 xe6 31.xg8+; 28...b5 29.xc4! bxc4 30.e6+ f8 31.g6 ) 29.g3 e6 30.g6+ f8 ( 30...e7 31.d3! xg4 32.xg4! f2 The rook hangs and 32...Re1 leads to the same finish as in the main line. 33.d6+ f7 34.d5+ g6 35.xg8+- ) 31.d3 xg4 ( 31...e1 32.d6+ f7 33.c7+ f8 34.a4 ) 32.xg4! e1 33.d8+ f7 34.d5+ f8 35.e6 g6 36.d7 g7 37.d8# ] 26.h7+ f7 27.exf5 1-0
2029 Buckley,Simon T Rayner,Francis Open Portsmouth ENG (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2266 2216 22.02.2003
Trompowsky: White shows the right way to get to grips with this increasingly popular offbeat try for Black. The thrust of the e-pawn leaves Black's structure in tatters. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 c5 4.d5 The correct approach. d6 5.c3 e7 6.b5+ A useful check, simply designed to weaken Black's structure. d7 7.dxe6 fxe6 8.e5!? Splitting Black's structure in two. dxe5 9.e2 c6 10.0-0-0 P r e s s u r e i s t h e n a m e o f t h e g a m e . d5 11.h5+ g6 12.xe7 xe7 13.f3 d4?! [ 13...f8 looks stronger here. ] 14.xd5 exd5 15.xd7+ xd7 16.f6 Now the second player's position begins to look very shaky indeed. f8 17.xe5+ e6 18.e1 d7 19.c3 After this simple White move, his opponent must lose at least a pawn. f7 This attempt to trap White rebounds, but there was a lack of good alternatives. [ 19...xe5 would have been the safest, but the ending after: 20.xe5 e6 21.xd5+ holds no joy for Black. ] 1983
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.cxd4 ae8 21.f3 The White queen cannot be safely captured, which leaves White in the pleasant situation of being a piece ahead. 1-0
2030 Buhmann,Rainer Van Veen,Oscar ch U20 op Hengelo (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2416 08.08.2000
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e6 8.b1 c7 9.b5+ I know it is theory, or more exactly I discovered it was, but despite some impressive successes (like this present game), I do not fully understand the utility of this move if W h ite want s to ta ke on e 6 lat er. According to me, it only gives Black a free tempo in developme nt and I would much rather play 9.dxe6 even if it gives Black's queen knight the c6 square which did not prove very effective in the game PuschmannAdzic last month. bd7 10.e2!? [ 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.f3 a6 12.g5? For the other alternatives, see the next game. axb5 13.xe6 c6 14.d5 a4! The key move, like in the Sveshnikov! 15.0-0 xe4 16.dc7+ e7 17.e1 b4 18.xb4 cxb4 19.xb4 c5 20.f5 xe6 21.xe6 xe6 0-1 Bondarenko,V-Scherbin,D RUS ChT Podolsk 1993 ] 10...a6 11.e5 The critical moment. axb5? [ 11...dxe5 12.dxe6 ( 12.fxe5? xd5 13.xd5 exd5 14.e6 fxe6 15.xe6+ e7 16.g5 d6-+ ) 12...fxe6 13.fxe5 A) 13...axb5 Now! 14.xb5 c6 15.exf6 xf6 16.f4! ( 16.f3 d6 17.c3 0-0 ) A1) 16...d5 17.e5! ( 17.h5+ g6 18.e5 g8 19.c4 xf4 20.c7+ d8 21.d1+ d7 22.xa8 xg2+ 23.f2 h4 ); A2) 16...xa2 Obviously more with the idea of absconding from the fork, while preparing some possible counter play along the 2nd rank, than counting material. 17.c7+ ( 17.c3 d5 18.xa2 xf4 ) 17...f7 18.f3 a4
19.0-0 xc2 20.d2 I do not like the look of this position for Black, but probably White has not enough for the 3 p a wn s a f t e r ( 20.g5+ g8 21.f3 d7! 22.xb7 xg2+! 23.xg2 xg2+ 24.xg2 c6+ 25.g1 xb7 ) 20...d6; B) 13...d5 14.xd5 exd5 15.e6 axb5 16.exd7+ xd7 17.f3 d6 18.0-0 e8! ( 18...b4 19.e5+! xe5 20.f7+ c6 21.xc7+ xc7 22.c4 ) 19.xb5+ c6 20.b2 c7 21.xg7+ b8 A strange position! Somehow, Black managed to d e ve l o p a l l h i s p i e c e s , i n c l u d i n g h i s queen's rook directly along its original file!! Consequently, and despite the still wild character of the position, he should be slightly better with his 2 bishops and his predominance in the centre. ] [ 11...xd5? 12.xd5 exd5 13.exd6+ A classic and the idea behind White's 10th move ] 12.xb5 b8 [ 12...d8 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.exd6! f7 15.c7 xa2? ( 15...b6! 16.xb6 xa2 ) 16.xe6+ g6 17.f5+ h5 18.e2+ g4 19.h3 h4+ 20.g3! In order to open the h file with check. xg3+ 21.d1 leads to a quick mate. ] 13.exf6 xf6 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.f3 h6? With his queen exiled and stalemated (!), far away from the center of the action (even if, at the moment, his pawns seem to provide a barrier against the attack), you do not need to be a genius to realize that this position is highly hazardous for Black! And in such a situation every tempo is precious. [ 15...xa2 16.g5 xc2 ( 16...a4 17.c3 ) 17.xe6 xe6 18.xe6+ e7 19.d1! The black rook is trapped! xd2+ 20.xd2 ] [ 15...e7! Obvious development could have saved Black: 16.g5 0-0 17.xe6 xe6 18.xe6+ f7 19.c3! ( 19.0-0? d5 ) 19...c8 20.xc8+ ( 20.b3? c4 ) 20...xc8 21.xf6 xf6 22.0-0 a8 is about equal. ] 16.d3! f7 17.0-0 e7 Too late. 18.c3!! Disaster is now unavoidable after a knight's bound onto the 5th rank, opening the f file... d8 As Black first had to parry the rather 1984
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 original threat: [ 18...d5 19.e5+! dxe5 ( 19...g8 20.g6 h7 21.xe7+ xe7 22.xd6 ) 20.xe5 Wins the black queen as the 'stale' has gone! ] [ 18...xa2 19.e5+! ( 19.g5+? hxg5 20.fxg5 d5 ) 19...dxe5 20.fxe5 A) 20...a6 21.f3 c4 22.h5+! g6 23.xf6+! xf6 24.f3; B) 20...d8 21.h7!; C) 20...c4 21.d4 Anything wins 21.Qxc4, Qf3 while this one looks like the most precise. xc2 ( 21...d8 22.h4 c5+ 23.h1 e3 24.h5+ ) 22.exf6 gxf6 23.xf6+! e8 24.g6 f8 25.xc4 d7 26.c7+ d8 27.xe6+ xe6 28.xe6+-; D) 20...h5 With the idea of the lateral defence Rh6, Black's position is hopeless anyway 21.exf6 gxf6 22.xf6 xf6 23.d6+ e7 24.xf6! xd6 ( 24...xf6 25.f1+ e7 26.f7+ d8 27.xc8+ xc8 28.d7# ) 25.f7+ xf7 26.xd6+- ] 19.g5+! And the 'echo variation'... hxg5 20.fxg5 h8 21.gxf6 gxf6 22.xf6! xf6 23.xd6+ e7 24.xf6 1-0
2031 Carlsen,Magnus Aronian,Levon FIDE WCh KO Tripoli LBA (1.4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2552 2645 20.06.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 [ 5.d2 d5 ( 5...c6!? 6.f3 b4 7.c3 e7 )] 5...b4! In my opinion this is the big problem of this important line of the Tromp for White. "I have never trusted this bishop move for Black as it more or less commits him to it's exchange when he will struggle to find c o m p e n s a t io n f o r W h it e ' s ce n t r a l sp a c e advantage" (Aaron Summerscale). And that statement was well demonstrated in the only game (Vegh-Forarasi FSGM Budapest 2000) he ventured to comment on this line, when Black duly won in 29 (long) moves... W ell,
tastes and colours anyway, at least I and Mrs Theory radically disagree on that statement! 6.d2 d6 [ 6...c5 is also interesting but compels Black to give back the bishop immediately while reinforcing W hite's center. 7.a3 xc3 8.bxc3 b6 ] 7.ge2 A novelty at this stage. White 'waits' for Black's next move hoping that this prophylactic strategy will limit his options. [ 7.a3 a5 is 'theory' and on 8.f4 xc3! The antidote which was found only 5 years ago. 9.bxc3 e5 Note that when Black plays this move, which is nothing less than his go a l in t h is l i n e , t h e n o t i o n o f ' c e n t r a l predominance' becomes 'relatively relative'. 10.g3 0-0 Black has equalized effortlessly and a possible continuation is 11.f3 g4! 12.dxe5 e7 13.g2 xf3 14.xf3 dxe5 This is mainly the reason why White had to explore new paths like Hodgson's 5.c3 in the 2...e6 Tromp. ] 7...c6! The choice had been reduced but there was still this excellent move as White's main idea was to transpose into: [ 7...e5 8.a3 a5 ( 8...exd4 9.axb4 dxc3 10.xc3 xc3+ 11.xc3 ) 9.b4! b6 10.d5 d8 11.d1 exd4 12.xd4 Like in a game of Spanish specialist Romero Holmes, convincingly won by the latter. ] [ And there again on 7...c6 8.a3 a5 The knight taking back on c3 dissuades Black from exchanging on c3 even more. 9.b4! c7 10.a4 0-0 11.a5 With a big advantage for White according to German GM Rainer Knaak. ] 8.a3 xc3 9.xc3 9.Nxc3 is of course impossible because d4 is hanging and likewise 8.0-0-0 because of f2. 0-0 10.f4 e5! 11.dxe5 [ 11.d5 d4 12.xd4 exd4 ] 11...dxe5 12.f5 g6?! I do not like this plan. [ 12...d8 With the idea ...b6, ...Ba6 or ... Bb7, leaving W hite to cope with the development of his kingside on his own looked more simple... 13.g3 b6 14.d3 b7 15.0-0 d6 ] 13.g4 h5!? 14.h3 [ 14.g3!? hxg4 15.xg4 ] 14...d8 15.e3 b6 16.g5?! Now that e4 was protected, Why not 1985
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 16.fxg6! xg6 17.gxh5 xh5 18.g1+ Where the opening of lines on the kingside seems more dangerous for the black king than for his homologue left in the center. ] 16...d6 17.c3 d4! 18.xd4 xd4 19.0-0-0 gxf5 20.c4 g7 [ 20...f4! 21.g6 ( 21.d5 e6 ) 21...e6 And White has no compensation whatsoever for the sacrificed pawn. ] 21.exf5 xf5 22.hf1 f8 23.h4 c6 [ 23...xc2 24.de1 b3 ] 24.e2! xe2+ 25.xe2 g6 It was impossible to defend h5 and prevent the intrusion of the rook on d7, synonym of counter chances. 26.d7 ad8! 27.xa7 d4 28.h1 fd8 29.e7 8d5? [ 29...d2 30.d3 xd3 31.cxd3 ( 31.xd2? e4+ ) 31...f2 ( 31...8xd3 32.f1 )] 30.d3? [ 30.c4! d7 ( 30...c5? 31.b4 ) 31.xe5 d2 32.d1 ] 30...xd3 31.cxd3 f4 32.d2 e4 33.e3 f3+ 34.e2 dxd3 35.xe4 b3 36.a4 c5 37.e7 f4 After all these ups and downs, and twists and turns, we would have liked to say "And the rest is just a matter of t e c h n i q u e " . . . W e l l , n o ! 38.b7 xb2+ 39.e3 bb4? [ 39...xa4 40.f1 b3+ 41.d2 a2+ 42.c1 a1+ 43.c2 xf1 44.xb3 b1+-+ ] 40.g1 be4+ 41.d3 d4+ 42.e3 de4+ 43.d3 g4? [ 43...xh4 44.g6 hg4 45.xg4 xg4 46.gxf7 xa4 47.xb6 xf7 ] 44.f1 gf4 45.xf4 xf4 46.xb6 xa4 47.c6 xh4 48.xc5 g4 49.e3 g6 50.f3 xg5 51.c6+ f6 I know that this ending with 2 pawns f and h should be a theoretical draw, but, (like Carlssen?) I never got to seriously study its details. 52.c4 g1 53.c8 g4 54.g8+ f5 55.h8 g5 56.h6 e5 57.h8 f5+ 58.e3 d5 59.a8 e6 60.a7 b5 61.f4 b4+ 62.f3 f5 63.a5+ g6 64.a8 h4 65.a5 b3+ 66.g4 h3 67.g5+ f7 [ 67...fxg5? is stalemate! ] 68.h5 e6 69.h8 c3 70.f4 f7 71.g4 g6 72.f4 c2 73.g3 h2 74.f3 f5 75.h5+ e6 76.h8 e5
77.e8+ d4 78.d8+ c3 79.h8 d2 80.g3 d3 81.f3 c2 82.g3 d1 And this is the way the young Norwegian prodigy, only 13 years old, who had gained his presence in Tripoli thanks to the (fully legitimate) attribution of a wild card, was eliminated, in the first round, in the tiebreak rapid games, by the 2002 W orld Junior champion. 0-1
2032 Cebalo,Miso Brkic,Ante TCh-CRO Rabat CRO (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2482 2427 25.06.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 exf4 12.d4 Instead of the classical compensation, for one pawn, of a lead in development and the initiative combined with a completely repaired structure after 11... dxc6!? 12. Bxe5 Be6 (that we thoroughly examined recently and against which I have found no riposte so much so that it made me drop the Tromp in my latest games!) , here Black generally opts for active play generated by a strong pair of bishops and his opponent's worries on the dark squares to make up for his horrible pawn structure. d5 A natural move: Black prevents any Nh3 attacking his f4 pawn and gains space. 13.g3 This entire variation revolves around one and only theme of undermining Black's nail on f4, but this move, in this configuration, is clearly inferior to 13.e3! as we shall see next and such a fine ending specialist as the former no.1 Croatian player got nothing (and even less than that...) with it twice. d6 14.b5 e5 15.gxf4 xf4 16.e3 e5 17.h3 Alternatives: [ 17.f4 b8 18.h3 0-0 19.xc8 xc8 20.f3 e8 21.d2 g4 22.bd4 ( 22.he1 xe3! 23.xe3 xf4 24.ae1 xe3 25.xe3 e8 ) 22...xe3 23.f5 f4 24.d3 c4 25.c2 e5 26.h3 xf3 27.xf3 e3 1/2-1/2 Cebalo,M (2475) Isonzo,D (2336) St Vincent op 2004 ] [ 17.d3!? 0-0 18.e2 e8 19.f2 d7 1986
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.ed4 ( 20.bd4!? c6 21.g3 d7 22.hd1 c5 23.c2 a4 24.xa4 xa4 25.d2 ) 20...c6= Curien,N (2218) -Cebalo, M (2527) Davos op 2004 1/2 (69) Quite funny to note that consecutive to his last fruitless experience with the line, he adopted it with Black no less than 2 months later! ] 17...e6 18.xe6 fxe6 19.f4 b8 20.f3 0-0! [ 20...d7 21.g1 g6 22.a3 e8 23.0-0-0 e5 This plan also seems to work quite well with the king in the centre. 24.fxe5 xe5 25.b1 d6 26.xd6 xd6 27.c4? ( 27.d3= ) 27...xe3 28.g5 f8 29.cxd5 e5 Turner,M (2491)-Ftacnik, L (2608) Hastings 2000. ] 21.g1 e8! 22.bd4 White is not in a position to prevent the forthcoming pawn b r e a k , w h i c h i s e q u a l i z i n g , a t l e a s t : e5 23.fxe5 xe5 24.xe5 xe5 25.c2 a4! 26.g2 h4 27.0-0-0 eh5 28.dd2 f7 I guess Black is already slightly better... [ 28...g4 29.c4! dxc4 30.d8+ f7 31.d7+ With counter play ] ½-½
enemy pieces. [ 16...g6 ] 17.dxe6 fxe6 18.0-0 f6 19.e3 e7 20.a4 c7 [ 20...g5 21.h3 h6 22.fd1 ] 21.fd1 b5 22.xb5! xb5 23.xb5 b8 24.c6 b7 25.c7 d5 26.exd5 exd5 27.xd5 xd5 28.xd5 b1+ 29.f1 e6 30.c8+ e7 31.g5+ f6 32.e5 Just as good as the mate in 2 since provoking the same abrupt interruption of the game! 1-0
2034 Cebalo,Miso Tseshkovsky,Vitaly World Seniors (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2483 2552 03.11.2009
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6!? 3.xf6 exf6 4.c4 f5!? Experimenting with 2...c6 ... 5.c3 a6 6.e3 b5 7.a3 g6 8.g3 bxc4 So White will not expand and advance his pawn to c5 as in the f irst game . 9.xc4 d5 For aesthetic reasons, I would have loved that this move be a reasonable one the go before... and also if 2033 A45 White's best reply had then been specifically d6 Cebalo,Miso 2505 c4-c5 instead of c4xd5... ! 10.e2 Guido,Flavio 2323 11.f3 d7 12.c1 0-0 13.a4 b6 XXVI Open A Bratto ITA (3) 21.08.2006 14.c5 e7 15.0-0 h5 16.e1 a5 17.b3 b8 18.c3 It is the weakness of his a-pawn [Eric Prié] rather than the backward c-pawn that 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ eventually questions the viability of Black's 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.e4 xb2 8.d2 original concept. g5 xc3 9.c7 d6! 10.e2 e3! 11.c4 [ 18...a8!? 19.b3 a4 ( 19...a4 g5?! Similar reasoning to the next game 20.a5 ) 20.xc6 d7 21.c2 with 10...Qe5 instead of 10...Qe3. For better ( 21.xd5?? b6 22.b7 fb8 ) or for worse, the sole more or less stable 21...fb8 ] square of retreat for the black queen is h6. 19.h4 f6 20.g2 g7 21.a6 12.a5! a6 13.d2 g6 14.f4 g5 [ 21.a6! And Black's position collapses. [ 14...h6 was better on principle, keeping b7 22.xc6 ] the possibility of ...g7-g5. 15.h4 d7 21...xc5 16.b1 ] [ 21...f4 ] 15.b1 d7 22.xc8 fxc8 23.dxc5! [ 15...h6!? Still and possibly White has no [ 23.xc5 c4! ( 23...a4? 24.c2 more than a perpetual against the black xb2 25.hxg5 fxg5 26.xf5 )] queen. ] 23...c4 24.b3 e5 16.e2 e5? Now, the opening of the position [ 24...xa3 Put some pressure on White, is fatal to Black who will rapidly lose d6 which however 25.d3! f4 26.exf4 gxf4 27.d4 opens a boulevard towards his king for the W ith the threat Nf5, Ne7+ h8 28.f5! 1987
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 To improve your chess (over the board...) you have to be able to detect the existence of such winning attacking possibilities and analyse its mechanism. For instance fxg3 29.xc6!! gxf2+ ( 29...a8 30.e7 h6 31.e5! fxe5 32.xe5+ g8 33.xd5+ h8 34.e6 g7 35.xh5+ g8 36.g6 ) 30.xf2 xc6 ( 30...a8 31.e7 h6 32.e5 d2+ 33.f3 ) 31.xh5+ h7 32.e8+ xe8 33.xe8+ g8 34.xc6 ] 25.xe5 fxe5 26.hxg5 e8 27.h1 f7? [ 27...xg5 Was the most resistant. 28.h4 g6! The b3 weakness could also be hit f r o m t h i s d i a g o n a l w i t h Q b 1 + 29.ch1 ( 29.c2 g7 30.ch1 f4; 29.xa5 xb3 30.a4 b2 31.ch1 f4 32.exf4 eb8 W ith the horrible threat . ..Rxf 2 + 33.f1 8b3 34.h3 ) 29...f4! It seems this is bound to fail with such a weak black king, ... b u t t h e c e n t re , t h e a ct i vit y . . . ! 30.xh5 ( 30.1h3!? d4 31.exd4 e4+ 32.h2 e2 33.c4+ xc4 34.bxc4 exd4 35.xf4 d3 36.xh5 Stopping the promotion because of a mate in 2 threat... g7 37.g4+ f6 38.h6+ e5 And nothing is clear 39.d6 ed8 40.gd4 xd6 41.xd6 b3 42.a4 e4 ) 30...e4+ ( 30...fxg3 31.f3 ) 31.f3 xe3 32.h8+ ( 32.c2 e4 33.g5+ f7 34.f5+ g7 ) 32...f7 33.1h7+ f6 34.h6+ f5 ( 34...e7? 35.8h7+ f8 36.xa5 Black gets mated immediately when the white queen comes into play, missing the perpetual by one tempo.) 35.h5+ f6 36.8h6+ f7 Keeping the g-file available for a black rook is essential 37.h7+ f6 38.5h6+ g5! ( 38...f5? 39.f7+ g5 40.gxf4+ exf4 41.g7# ) 39.gxf4+ xf4 40.xc6 g8! ( 40...d4? 41.g7+ h5 42.e1 ) 41.f2! g6! And the game continues in an ocean of complications. ] 28.h4 d4 29.exd4 xb3 30.c4 xc4 31.xc4 e4 32.c2 d3 33.xh5 xd4 34.h6 Now its over. e3 [ 34...c8 35.d6 d5 36.f1 f7 37.e2 e7 38.xd5 cxd5 39.e3 ] 35.e2 d2 36.f3 xe2 [ 36...exf2 37.xe8+ f7 38.g2 xe8 39.xc6 f7 40.f6+ g7 41.xf5 c2 42.c6 a4 43.f4 ]
37.xe2 exf2+ 38.xf2 b8 39.f3 g7 40.xc6 b3+ 41.f4 xa3 42.a6 a4 43.xf5 f3+ 44.e6 a3 45.g4 d3 46.e5 g3 47.d5 f7 48.g6+ g7 49.c4 xg4+ 50.b3 With a g-pawn to take and another white pawn outside 'the square' on c5, Black cannot play the king ending. g1 [ 50...g5 51.b4 like in case of 50...Rg3+ ] 51.xa3 xg6 52.c4 f7 53.e3 1-0
2035 Chakov,Plamen Todorov,Todor chT Varna (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2355 2315 1995
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e6 8.b1 Compared to the previous game which saw [ 8.dxe6 immediately, where the provenance of the games was split 50-50 between the proper 7...e6 and the confusing 7...e5. After 6...d6, the theory seems different for these two moves - the latter provoking the i n t e r m e d i a t e r o o k ' s m o ve i n t h e g r e a t majority of cases! Maybe it has something to do with the different psychological impression caused by the 2 moves, one pawn reaching the 5th, the other one not? With the white player's state of mind feeling more 'full of drive' with Black's queen bishop momentarily blocked by the pawn? Well, this a kind of a mystery to me anyway, for I have always been told, not to chase away (and therefore replace...) an enemy piece that was misplaced. And the black queen seems, he re , t o co rre sp o n d t o t h is ca se . . . fxe6 9.e5!? On general grounds, I would rather advise direct play to profit from the fact that the Black queen does not control e5. dxe5 10.fxe5 A) 10...fd7 Does not allow White to activate his queen but accentuates the development problems. 11.f3 ( 11.d3? xe5 12.h5+ f7 13.f3 g6 ) 11...e7 12.c4 0-0 13.0-0 c6 14.e2 b6 15.g5! With big worries for Black. Look at his queenside!; 1988
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 10...d5 11.d3 g6 12.g4 B1) 12...b4 13.xg6+ hxg6 14.xg6+ d7 15.d1! ( 15.0-0-0 c7 16.f6 c4! 17.xh8? d3+! 18.cxd3 a3+ 19.c2 b2# ) 15...c7 16.f6 xc2+ 17.f1 h7 ( 17...g8 18.f7+ ) 18.xf8 d7 is less clear; B2) 12...d7 13.b1 c7 14.f3 On the other hand, is really perilous for Black who was lost at some point in the game Arduman,C-Gombac,J Nova Go rica 2 0 01 o p 0 -1 (4 9 ) ho we ver. . . ( 14.xd5!? exd5 15.xg6+ d8 )] 8...c7 9.dxe6!? fxe6 10.f3 a6 11.e5?! Seems a bit strange now, in connection with Rb1 and I would not recommend this move at this stage but rather 11.Bc4 as in the last ga m e o f t h e u p d a t e . I n co m p a riso n wit h Arduman-Gombac, given in the notes, this move does not have the same effect now for, with a knight already developed on f3, the W hite queen cannot 'weigh' on Black's k i n g s i d e i n q u i t e t h e s a m e w a y . . . dxe5 12.fxe5 fd7! The pressure on White's e5 changes the evaluation. 13.e2 [ 13.d3 xe5 ] 13...e7! 14.0-0 0-0 15.g5 xg5 [ 15...xf3 16.xe7 xc3 17.d6 d8 18.d3 is not that clear. ] 16.xg5 xe5 17.ce4 c6 18.d3 xf1+ 19.xf1 f6! 20.f3! [ 20.xf6+ gxf6 21.xh7 f5! The point 22.g5 e3+ ] 20...h6! [ 20...d4 21.xf6+ gxf6 22.h5 A) 22...xg5? 23.xh7+! ( 23.e8+ g7 24.e7+ g8 25.e8+= ) 23...f8 24.g6 f3+ 25.h1 e5 26.h8+ e7 27.e8+ d6 28.d8+ d7 ( 28...d7 29.d1+ c6 30.e4+ b5 31.xa8 ) 29.d1+ c6 ( 29...e5 30.c7# ) 30.e4+ b5 31.xb7! xb7 32.xd7+ b6 33.b1+ a5 34.xb7+-; B) 22...f3+ 23.xf3 xg5 24.d1 Black is actually two pawns up but it is not easy to see how he will develop his queen's bishop... ] [ 20...c4? 21.xc4! d4+ 22.h1 xc4 23.xf6+ gxf6 24.xf6 e5 25.f1 d7 26.f7 xf1+ 27.xf1 f8 28.h6+ g7
29.c1 f4 30.h3! xh6? 31.g3 ] 21.h3? [ 21.xf6+ Still offered an occasion for Black to go astray: A) 21...xf6? 22.h5 d7 23.f1! d4+ ( 23...e8 24.g4 e7 25.xe6+! xe6 26.h7+ h8 27.f8+ g8 28.xg8#; 23...xg5? 24.f7+ h8 25.f8+! xf8 26.xf8# ) 24.h1 e5 25.f3 xf3 26.xf3 g6!! The incredible 'Fritzian' defence freeing the g7 square for the queen! 27.xg6 h8 28.xb7 g8; B) 21...gxf6! 22.e4 f5 23.f2 b4 ] 21...xe4 22.xe4 c4-+ Unless the game a c t u a ll y s t o p p e d h e re , wh ic h i s e n t i re l y plausible to me, the rest is not available and this has absolutely no importance whatever the result (...1-0) in the base is. Black wins a piece and the opposing attack is gone. 0-1
2036 Chernyshov,Konstantin Bae,Torstein Olomouc (9.5) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2534 2420 07.08.2012
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 c5 [ It's worth comparing what follows with 3...h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d5 6.e5 d8 . If you look this position up in the Archive you'll see that White invariably continues A) but presumably Chernyshov would have gone 7.f4!? . After c5 White is pretty much a whole tempo up on our main game, but I still don't entirely buy his ambitious concept: for example, 8.f3 c6 9.bd2 ( 9.d3 b6 , and if 10.d2 d7 , is a typical inconvenience in such French positions) 9...g5! when it already feels like Black has seized the initiative, since the e5-pawn rapidly becomes rather weak if White tries 10.fxg5 hxg5 11.dxc5 xc5 12.b3 b6 .; B) 7.f3 , ] 4.xf6?! An amazing move and one which I've never even considered before. White, of course, usually pushes either centre pawn forwards and to give away the bishop-pair without waiting for h6 does look like madness. 1989
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Chernyshov is a fan of a number of offbeat systems and, as here, he does well enough with them, but still every bone in my body tells me this move must be a mistake. xf6 5.c3 d5 By no means the only move, but heading for a French-like structure makes good sense when compared with the massively more established variation I mentioned above. 6.e5 [ One might have thought that 6.exd5 exd5 7.f3 was White's idea, aiming for some sort of French Tarrasch where Black may have the bishop-pair, but probably isn't yet better. Chernyshov, however, has something more ambitious in mind. ] 6...d8 7.f4 [ Again, the most ambitious choice and technically a novelty. In a predecessor game 7.a3 c6 ( 7...b6 8.d2 c6 9.f3 c4!? was hardly a shabby alternative) 8.f3 d7 9.e2 f6 10.exf6 xf6 11.0-0 cxd4 12.cxd4 d6 13.c3 g5! had seen Black seizing the initiative in K.Meyer-Joachim, Bad Zwesten 2002. ] 7...g5?! [ The desire to punish White's seemingly ridiculous opening is understandable, but Bae quickly regrets this rush of blood to the head. Simple and strong would have been 7...c6 8.f3 b6 when 9.d2 leaves the knight on b1 struggling a little to develop ( a n d n e i t h e r i s 9.b3 exactly going to scare Black. In either case he will develop rapidly with some combination of ...Bd7, ...Be7, .. .0-0, ... Rac8 and ...f6, obtaining at the very least easy equality and quite probably more. )] 8.h3! Having lured his opponent into a wild, original position, Chernyshov the Grandmaster begin to play. I rather fancy Black may even have missed this move, but once you see it, it makes very good sense. gxf4 [ Black is quickly worse after this, so perhaps 8...g4!? deserved attention, when 9.f2 ( 9.xg4 cxd4 10.h5 e7 looks more ambitious than good for W hite) 9...h5 10.dxc5 xc5 11.d3 b6 would result in some unusual piece placements, with the chances likely roughly level. ] 9.b5+! d7 [ Easy to criticise when one sees what
follows, but 9...c6 10.0-0 b6 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.f2 echoes the game and also looks rather dangerous for Black to me. Not only is he vulnerable on f7, but that lightsquared bishop may struggle to influence the struggle for quite a few moves. ] 10.xd7+ xd7 11.0-0 b6 12.f2 0-0-0 [ Clearly 12...h6? 13.h5 had to be avoided, ] [ but perhaps 12...cxd4 13.cxd4 xe5!? 14.dxe5 c5 wasn't as ridiculous as it may at first appear. After, say, 15.e2 0-0 16.c3 xf2+ 17.xf2 f6 18.exf6 xf6 Black's position is a little loose, but at least his rooks have some files to use on the kingside. ] 13.b3! Another excellent move from the Russian Grandmaster. If the queens come off Black will struggle for counterplay (...f6 would leave e6 very weak), and W hite will slowly increase the pressure on the kingside. c7 14.a3 a6 15.xf4 f6! An essential break for freedom and to keep Black very much in the game. 16.exf6 d6 17.f3 xh2+ 18.h1 hg8 19.e1 The position is rapidly becoming critical. Black can point to White's two knights on the rim and the fact that the white king is down to a pawn shield of just one, but will those factors compensate for the p r e s s u r e d o w n t h e c e n t r a l f i l e s ? xf6! 20.xf6 xg2!? [ In this most critical of positions Bae once again plumps for the most ambitious continuation. The alternative was 20...g7 when 21.f2 ( or 21.c2 xf6 22.xh2 cxd4 23.cxd4+ b8 followed by placing a rook on the c-file) 21...g3 22.c2 xf2 23.xf2 df8 would have left the black major pieces quite actively placed and with everything to play for. ] 21.fxe6? [ Underestimating his opponent's threats. Correct was 21.xg2 g3+ 22.f1 d3+ 23.e2 xh3+ 24.e1 h4+ 25.ff2 whe n W h it e is a ro ok ah ea d, bu t ba dly pinned. Best play from here appears to be f8! ( 25...g3? 26.b6 doesn't give Black enough ) 26.b6 ( 26.c2? g3 t h r e a t e n s a r a t h e r n a s t y c h e c k o n h 1) 26...f6 when 27.xc5+ b8 28.b5! axb5 29.e7 g3 30.d8+ a7 31.a5+ 1990
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 sees White prudently forcing a draw. ] 21...d6?? [ And this is horribly overambitious. Black had to be consistent and keep going forward with 21...g1! when 22.6e5 (the only real defensive try he must block the diagonal a n d t h r e a t e n t o c a p t u r e o n g 1 ) g7 23.xg1 xg1+ 24.xg1 h6+ 25.g2 g8+ would have left Black two pieces in arrears, but with a huge attack: for example, 26.f3 ( if 26.f2 h2+ ) 26...f6+ 27.e3 g3+ 28.e2 xg1 29.xd5 f1+ 30.d2 d1+ 31.e3 g3+ 32.f2 g1+ 33.e2 h2+ 34.d1 d3+ 35.e1 g1+ 36.e2 d1+ 37.f2 d2+ 38.g3 g1+ 39.f4 f2+ is an extremely long engine-assisted sequence which ends with W hite having to give up his queen, since it's mate after 40.e4 e1+ 41.d3 f1+ 42.e4 e2# . ] 22.xg2 g7+ 23.f1 f8+ 24.f2 I wondered what Black had missed around here. He is a rook and piece in arrears and e ve n a f t e r a f u r t h e r sa cr if ic e t h e re 's n o p e rp e t u a l. xf2+ 25.xf2 f7+ 26.g2 g7+ 27.h1 g3 28.c2 The queen returns with some effect. 1-0
2037 Chernyshov,Konstantin Grischuk,Alexander RUS-ChT Dagomys [Eric Prié]
A45 2531 2724 2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.e4 Instead of [ 7.c1 , that we studied some time ago, or the unappealing and weakening ] [ 7.b3 ] 7...xb2 8.d2 This double gambit is not new in itself, but it never previously offered, by far, adequate compensation for the huge amount of sacrificed material. xc3 9.c7!? Can this move, cutting the a5 retreat square off from the black queen, represent the future of the 2...Ne4 line? Indeed, W hite is struggling to demonstrate any advantage at t h e m o m e n t , a n d t h i s i d e a t o wh i c h t h e paternity seems to belong to the Voronezh
leader of the white pieces in this game, could therefore revolutionize the Tromp by directing Black towards other second moves that I personally find more convenient to meet. g6 10.c1 e3+ 11.e2 a6 Natural... [ 11...h6? See next game. ] 12.c4 Obviously not falling into the nasty trap [ 12.f4? b4! 13.xe3 d3# ] 12...h6 13.f4 g7 [ 13...g5! Though compromisin g this must be the critical move for at least two reasons if we consider the f uture course of this game: it enables ...Qg6 in one go and on 14.e5 Allows ( Better 14.e3! ) 14...d6 ] 14.a4!! g5 15.e5 g4 16.f4 g6 17.g3 g8 18.e3 b4 After White's fantastic 14th move, the actual World no. 12 just could not find a way to develop his pieces. He now resigns himself... to sacrifice a piece for 3 bad p a wn s n o t s im p ly b e ca u s e i t is h i s b e s t practical chance but because otherwise he was more or less threatened to be mated before long! [ 18...h5 19.xa6 bxa6 20.xc5 h4 21.c4!! b7 ( 21...d8 22.c7+ e8 23.b8 b7 24.c8+ xc8 25.xc8# ) 22.b4 c8 23.b8! d8 24.a5+ e8 25.xc8# ] 19.a3 c6 20.dxc6 dxc6 21.e2 d7 22.0-0 With f7 in the line of fire after the opening of the f-line. After the simple [ 22.c7! however, it is impossible for Black to get out of this and survive more than 10 moves in such a ruin. ] 22...xe5 23.fxe5 h6 24.b3 e6 25.c3 b6 26.cd1 xe3+ 27.xe3 g5 28.c3 d8 29.f5 h5 30.a4 [ 30.c4! h4 ( 30...g6 31.xd8+ xd8 32.d1+ c7 33.d3 xc4 34.d7+ b8 35.xe7 ) 31.b3 With a winning attack xd1 32.xd1 xc4 33.xc4 e6 34.a6! exf5 35.c8+ e7 36.d7+ e6 37.xc6+ xe5 38.d5+ xe4 39.d1+ e3 40.d5! closing the mating net. ] 30...h4 31.a5 xd1 32.xd1 xf5 33.d3! f8 34.exf5 f4 35.d8+ g7 36.xe7 xf5 [ 36...e3+ 37.h1! xe2 38.g5+ h7 39.h5+ g7 40.f6+ f8 41.d8# ] 37.xh4?! Time trouble as 1991
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 37.f1 Obviously wins on the spot. e6 ( 37...g6 38.f6 b1+ 39.f1 f8 40.e6 ) 38.xe6 fxe6 39.axb6 axb6 40.xg4 c8 ( 40...e8 41.f6 b5 42.xe6 xe6 43.xe6 c4 44.f2 ) 41.f6 b5 ( 41...c4 42.xe6 e8 43.xc4 ) 42.xe6 c4 43.e7+ f8 44.h7 ] 37...e8 38.f1 xe5 39.xg4+ f8 40.c4 e7 41.f4 e1+ 42.f1 e5 43.g3 e6 44.h4 b5 On principle, it was good for W hite not to exchange on b6 and keep a potentially decisive 'good colour' apawn! 45.d8+ g7 46.d7 f6 47.g4+ h6 48.d2+ [ 48.c8!! Fritz e3+ 49.g2 f3+ 50.h3 xf1+ 51.h4 h7 52.g8+ h6 53.h8# ] 48...h7 49.d3+ h8 50.e4 d5 51.c3! Now the win is only a matter of elementary technique. d6 52.f4 g7 53.f2 c4 [ 53...d4+ 54.xd4 cxd4 55.xf6 xf6 56.f3 e5 57.h4 b4 58.h5 f5 ( 58...c5 59.h6 f6 60.g4 c4 61.g5+ xg5 62.h7 ) 59.h6 f6 60.xf5 ] 54.e4 c5 55.e3 d4+ [ 55...e6 56.xf6+ xf6 57.xf6 xf6 58.d5 c3 59.d3 b4 60.b3 e7 61.c4 ] 56.xd4 cxd4+ 57.xd4 a6 58.d5 f6 59.g4+ h8 60.c5 xa5 61.b4 a1 62.xb5 c3 63.c4 c1 64.b4 c2 65.h4 a5+ 66.b3 This game does not appear in the database but had been apparently published in Chess Today issue no. 1631 and posted on the section's forum by Geoff Strayer where I spotted it some time ago. 1-0
2038 Claverie,Christophe Rajlich,Vasik G FSGM Sept Budapest HUN (5) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2392 2338 11.09.2002
complications. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.dxc5 An unusual alternative to the main lines. This is the choice for those who want to explore less frequently visited avenues of attack. a5+ 5.d2 e5!? A radical reaction t o W h i t e ' s c h o i c e o f o p e n i n g . 6.xe5 White accepts the challenge. xf2 7.xf2 xc5+ 8.e3 xe5 9.gf3 xb2 The smoke has cleared, leaving Black with a clear extra pawn and the bishop pair. However, White has a significant lead in development as compensation. 10.b1 f6 11.e4 h6 12.b5 A novel way of making the most of his developmental lead. The White rook enters the fray in the most direct way possible. c6 13.d5 e7 14.d6+ xd6 15.xd6 The first fruits of White's labour are revealed, as he wins control of the central dark squares and makes completing development difficult f o r B l a c k . g6 16.h4 0-0 17.g5 White begins to increase the pressure against Black's disorganised position. f6 18.e4 g7 19.h3 White certainly makes good use of his rooks in this game. Activity is always the key. e5 20.h5 f5 Black is relying on this counter to escape his problems, bu t unfortunately there is a rather unfortunate tactical f law. 21.hxg6! Giving up the knight with check! fxe4+ 22.g1 f3+ [ 22...g5 also leads to disaster after: 23.xh7+ g8 24.d5+ f7 25.gxf7+ xh7 26.xg5 ] 23.h1 d2 However, Black lacks good alternatives. 24.a1+ g8 25.xh6 xf1+ 26.xf1 xf1 27.gxh7+ Black is in no position to stop the h-pawn, ouch! 1-0
2039 Collins,Sam Paschall,William M FSGM October (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2412 2351 05.10.2008
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6!? 3.xf6 gxf6!? Interesting although I believe this recapture is Trompowsky: In the Sicilian-Tromp, Black not what gives t he most value to Black's finds a way to mix things up from the very second move... Indeed, we have already beginning. However, Tromp specialists are observed (in the previous games with 3... n o t n o r m a l l y o n e s t o s h y a w a y f r o m e xf 6 ! ) t h e c l o se r e l a t i o n sh i p t h a t e xi s t s 1992
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 between 2...c6 and 2...d5. Af ter 3...gxf6, however, the answer to 4.e3 or 4.c4 is clearly 4...c5! despite the fact that Black, with his second move, has already pushed this pawn one square... 4.e3 [ 4.c4! is more precise I reckon, see after. ] 4...b6 5.b3 d5 6.f3 g4?! [ 6...e5! With one extra pawn in the centre and the necessity to activate his bishops in order to make up for his altered structure, Black needs to challenge the opposing darksquared control. A) 7.dxe5 fxe5 8.xe5 g7 9.h5 ( 9.d4 c7 10.f4 d7 ) 9...c7 10.f4 e6 11.c3 ( 11.d2 d7 12.df3 a5+ 13.f2 f6 14.h4 e4+ 15.g1 c3 16.e1 xc2 ) 11...xe5 ( 11...d7!? 12.xd7 xd7 ) 12.xe5 xe5 13.fxe5 d7; B) 7.e2 e4 ( 7...g8!? 8.g3 h3 9.dxe5 g2 10.g1 xf3 11.xf3 fxe5 ) 8.h4 f5 9.g3 c5! 10.c3 c6 11.0-0 e6 12.g2 B1) 12...cxd4 13.cxd4 c8 14.f4 d6 15.c3 xf4 16.a4 ( 16.gxf4? xd4 ) 16...d8 17.gxf4 h4 18.h1 e7; B2) 12...d6 13.a3 ( 13.dxc5! Black should have denied his opponent this possibility by taking on d4 before, as soon as he had prevented the development of White's queen knight to c3. xc5 14.b4 b6 15.a3 a6 ) 13...cxd4! ( 13...a5 14.dxc5 xc5 15.b4 b6 16.d2 e5 17.c1 Followed by Nb3.) 14.cxd4 c8 15.h1 e7 16.d2 a5 17.f3 0-0 18.g4 ( 18.fxe4 fxe4 19.f4? From g2 the knight defends e3! xf4 20.xf4 c3 ) 18...exf3 19.xf3 1/2-1/2 Bui Vinh (2448)-Varga, Z (2496) Budapest FSGM 2008 ] 7.h3 xf3 8.xf3 d7 9.d3 e6 [ 9...e5 10.f5 exd4 11.xd7+ xd7 12.xf6 ] 10.0-0 f5 11.c4 a5 12.c1 d6 13.c3!? [ 13.a3 0-0 14.c3 Was also favourable for White with prospects on the queenside but also on the other flank by g2-g4. ] 13...a3 14.c2 b2 Winning a piece??!! 15.b4!?
[ 15.xb2 xc3 16.e2 f6? 17.b4! ] 15...a3 16.b1 xc3 17.b3 a4 18.cxd5!! [ 18.bxc3 xb4 ( 18...dxc4! 19.xc4 b6 20.c5 xb4 ) 19.cxd5! ( 19.b3 e1+ 20.h2 dxc4 21.xc4 b6 is a lot less clear. ) 19...cxd5 20.b3! ( 20.c8+ e7 ) 20...e1+ 21.h2 b6 ( 21...b6 22.g3 ) 22.b5 a6 ( 22...e7 23.c7 hd8 24.h5 xf2 25.xd7 xd7 26.xd7+ xd7 27.xf7+ c6 28.c3+ b5 29.d7+ b4 30.b3+ c4 31.b5# ) 23.xd7+ xd7 24.h5! hf8 25.xb6+- ] 18...xb4 Black takes his chance. [ 18...cxd5 19.bxc3 ( 19.cxc3 xa2 ) 19...xb4 20.b3 ] 19.dxc6 bxc6 20.xc6 0-0 21.a6 a5 22.b5 a3 23.f1 xa2 24.bxa5 b1 25.xa7 I selected this game to appear as a main game in the update, rather than the much more pertinent game given in the note to move 6, because of the uncommon fight between the black queen and the 2 rooks on the queenside, but now White emerges out of this skirmish with an extra pawn in a better position... xa7 26.xa7 d8 27.c6 b6 28.xb6 xb6 29.e2 d7 30.a6 d5 31.f3 f4 32.a3 g7 33.d3 fxe3 34.fxe3 f5 35.f2 f4 36.e4 b4 37.d2 c6 38.d5 e5 39.d1 f6 40.g4 xg4+ 41.hxg4 exd5 42.xd5 xd5 43.exd5 e5 44.f3 xd5 45.xf4 d4 46.g5 d3 47.g4 1-0
2040 Conquest,Stuart Garcia,Gildardo mem-A Cienfuegos (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2540 2525 1996
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 c6 5.h4 e6 6.e4 e7 [ 6...b4!? This may explain why White castles first in the majority of cases. ] 7.f3 Initiating the interesting plan of gaining co n t ro l o ve r t h e e 5 sq u a r e f o r a k n i gh t . Unfortunately, it implies parting with the lightsquared bishop in the critical line. a5 [ 7...d6 8.0-0-0 a5 9.b5 The necessary 1993
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 complement to the plan. d7 10.e5!? ( 10.he1 ) 10...xe5 11.xe5 xb5 12.g4 c6! ( 12...g8 13.xe7 xe7 14.g5 f5 15.e3 h6 16.g4 c6 17.xf5 xf5 18.xf5 exf5 19.xd6 ) 13.xf6+ xf6 14.xf6 gxf6 15.xf6 g8 16.f4 ( 16.xd6 g5+ 17.xg5 xg5 18.g1 e7 19.d3 xg2 20.xg2 xg2 21.g3 c6 22.h3 h8 ) 16...d8 17.he1 g6 18.h8+ e7 19.xh7 xg2 20.h4+ e8 21.g1 c5 22.b1 b5 23.h8+ e7 24.h4+ e8 25.h8+ e7 26.h4+ 1/2-1/2 Kosanovic,G-Zakic,S/ Vrsac 2000 ] 8.b5 d6 9.0-0 [ 9.e5 dxe5 10.xe5 0-0 11.xc6 bxc6 12.xc6 b8 13.0-0 xb2 14.e4 f5 ( 14...xc2? 15.xf6+ xf6 16.e4 ) 15.xf6+ xf6 16.xf6 xf6 17.xf6 gxf6 18.a4 e5= ] 9...d7 [ 9...0-0!? ] 10.fe1 a6?! [ 10...0-0!? ] 11.xc6 xc6 12.e5! dxe5 [ 12...xf3? 13.exf6 gxf6 14.xf6 g8 15.xe7 xg2+ 16.f1+- ] 13.xe5 c8 [ 13...0-0 14.xc6 ( 14.e3 b4; 14.g4 xg4 15.xe7 fe8 16.ad1 f5= ) 14...bxc6 15.e4 f5 16.xf6+ xf6 17.xf6 xf6 18.xf6 gxf6 19.ad1 ] 14.ad1 0-0?! Black had to play [ 14...b4! 15.g3 ] 15.d3! A dangerous reinforcement to the attack, protecting the c3-knight at the same time. Quoting Alexander BABURIN : "This game shows an attack on a king castled on the same wing. Usually such an attack can be successful if there is a space advantage on t h i s f l a n k , wh i c h a l l o w s t h e a t t a c k e r t o accumulate an advantage in force on that particular sector" b4 [ 15...h6 16.xh6 ] 16.f4 b6+ 17.h1 xb2? [ 17...fd8! 18.g3 f8 With some strong counterplay based on the forthcoming Qf2. ] 18.g3 h8 [ 18...xg2+ 19.xg2 ( 19.xg2? xc3 ) 19...xc3 20.eg1 h8 21.xf6 xf6 22.xf6! Flashy but 21.Bh6 was winning too.
gxf6 23.g8+ xg8 24.xf7# ] 19.h6! g6 [ 19...gxh6? 20.xh6 e8 21.xf8+! xf8 22.xf7# ] 20.g5! g7 [ 20...h5 21.xe7 xg3+ 22.hxg3 xc3 23.f6+ g8 24.h6 xe1+ 25.h2 ] 21.h6+ g8 22.xf6! [ 22.xf6 xf6 23.h3 fd8 24.xh7+ f8 25.xf7# ] 1-0
2041 Cordova,Emilio Granda Zuniga,Julio E Torre ENTEL PCS (8) [Eric Prié]
A45 2440 2631 27.03.2006
1.d4 f6 2.g5 Having trained and formed some of the best French players (Bacrot, Fressinet...) with a method based on theoretical preparation, I have acquired a certain knowledge in the domain of fundamental opening mechanisms. That is why I only cover what seems relevant to me at the moment I do it in this section, at a topical average level of over 2400, although my own games may not always reflect this... and so people may complain that they don't see their pet line treated in these columns more often. Thus in January of this year, apart from a digression on 2...Ne4 3.h4, I had not dealt with the Tromp for almost a year and a half, which coincided with my dropping of the line in August 2005. Why? The first reason is that I lost faith in the variation after an impressive series of setbacks of which I will show some examples in the updates to come. And faith is the most important thing when you deal with not entirely correct openings (i.e. the totality of the d-Pawn Specials corpus) since one has to realise that if the World's top chessplayers play 2.c4 or 2. Nf3 and 3.c4 there must be a reason...! Faith brings you confidence in what you play, and confidence makes you play better, which is essential in non-mainstream openings. That is why you should not analyse them too deeply and rather concentrate on ideas, and a feeling for the position. Because if you do analyse too much it can only bring 1994
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 you questions and then doubt hangs over your head like the sword of Damocles in some critical lines. Then it is time to change openings and look for something 'new', or rather fresher, which is easy in the static dPawn Specials f amily. Coming and going between the Tromp, the Torre and the London approaches: this is the way I understand my devotion towards the d-Pawn Specials universe. The second reason is a lot more concrete: today White is experiencing problems everywhere in the Tromp. Problems I had anticipated... and previously mentioned in this section. And the very first of these problems, which has always been my main concern and the reason why I dealt with it so extensively in these columns, trying to p e r s u a d e m ys e lf I co u ld f in d a p l a ya b l e position according to my standards, remains 2...c5!: c5! 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e6 8.b1 [ 8.b5+ d7 9.dxe6 fxe6 10.e5 dxe5 11.fxe5 d5 12.xd5 exd5 13.xd7+ xd7 14.f3 a6! ] [ When a variation faces problems, sometimes you need to go far back to find a n i d e a t o r e h a b i l i t a t e i t , b u t t h i s wi l l probably not be 8.f3 exd5 9.e5 dxe5 10.fxe5 e4! As in McShane-Ni hua I mentioned on the occasion of my very first effort for ChessPublishing on the 2...c5 Tromp! ] [ 8.dxe6 xe6 9.b1 c7 10.f3 ( 10.f5 d7 I referred to this improvement in Ippolito-Baginskaite but without giving the key idea hereafter:) 10...e7! Wells, P in "W inning with the Trompowsky" Batsford 2003, with the excellent idea of keeping the c6 square f or the bishop, especially as White tends to follow-up with f4-f5 to install h is k in g's b is h o p o n c4 , o n t o h is m o s t a c t ive d ia go n a l, a n d t h e n . . . Nb d 7 wit h minimal compensation for White. ] 8...c7 9.b5+ I have said everything about this position and I pointed out in PuschmannAdzic that 9.dxc6 fxe6 10.Nf3, although giving Black the better square c6 for his queen's k n i g h t a n d t h e r e f o r e n o t s o l vi n g a l l t h e interrogations of this line from the white point of view, was probably more promising for White. bd7! 10.dxe6
[ 10.e2!? a6 11.e5 Is Buhmann-Van Veen that saw 11...axb5? when I gave the improvement dxe5 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.fxe5 axb5 ( 13...d5 14.xd5 exd5 15.e6 axb5 16.exd7+ xd7 17.f3 d6 18.0-0 e8 19.xb5+ c6 20.b2 c7 21.xg7+ b8 is good too.) 14.xb5 c6 15.exf6 xf6 16.f4 xa2 17.c7+ f7 18.f3 a4 19.0-0 xc2 20.d2 d6 ] 10...fxe6 11.f3 a6 12.c4 b6 13.xb6 xb6 14.e5?! [ I s u g g e s t e d 14.g5 in MamedjarovAroshidze. Then instead of 14...d5 15.exd5 Be7 16.dxe6 0-0 17.f5 with compensation for W hite, the straightforward and 'hairraising' b4!? is also opened to investiga tion . 15.e2 ( 15.xe6 xe6 16.xe6 d7 17.f5 xe4 18.0-0 ) 15...b5 16.xb5 ( 16.xe6 xe6 17.xe6 d7 18.g5 c4 ) 16...b1+ 17.f2 xh1 18.c7+ e7 ] 14...dxe5! The improvement on the aforementioned game. [ 14...d5 15.exf6 gxf6 16.e5 !! Wells, P As for me, I had just given: ( 16.e2 c4 17.f5! ) 16...fxe5 17.h5+ d7 18.xe5 g8 19.xd5! exd5 20.xd5+ c7! The first line of today's engines not to give d 6 t o b e t a k e n w i t h c h e c k ! ( 20...d6 21.xg8 b1+ 22.f2 xh1 23.e6+ c6 24.d5+ c7 25.a5+ b6 26.xb6+ xb6 27.xd6+ "This is a mating attack" Wells', P "This long and complex line could be of great theoretical value"...) 21.xg8 b1+ 22.f2 xc2! 23.f7+ ( 23.d5 e6! ) 23...d7 24.e2 e8 ( 24...xd2? 25.d1 ) 25.d1 d6 Rybka shows it is completely equal and Fritz even prefers Black now! ] 15.fxe5 g4! Wells only considers [ 15...d7 that still awaits the test of practice by the way! I guess he is not to blame for this o mission. Co nside ring t he st ate o f theory when he wrote the book, his coverage of what he calls "the really sharp way to tackle Black's challenging second move" after 3.d5!? is really rather outstanding. ] 16.h3?! [ 16.h4 xe5 17.h5+ f7 18.0-0 g6 19.f3 ( 19.xg6 hxg6 20.xg6 c7 1995
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.xe6 xh2+ The opening of the h file... ) 19...c7 ] [ 16.0-0 e7 17.h4 d8! 18.xg4 d4+! 19.xd4 cxd4 Excellent preparation from the no. 1 Peruvian, but surprisingly, with an extra exchange in the ending, things are only beginning! 20.e4 xh4 21.d6+ d7 22.f7+ c6 23.xg7 d7 24.d3 ( 24.xb7 ag8 25.f7 f8 26.a5+ c7 27.xe6 xf7 28.xf7 f2+! 29.xf2 f8 ) 24...af8 25.g3 hg8 26.e4+ c7 27.a5+ b6 28.xb6+ xb6 29.xd7 g5 30.xh7 e3+ 31.g2 f2+ 32.h3 b8 The black rooks are very active, his king now stands better than his counterpart, in ad d it io n , t h e p re sen ce o f t h e o p p o sit e coloured bishop renders the hypothetical u t ili za t i o n o f t h e 2 e xt ra p a wn s o n t h e kingside even more complicated... ] 16...h6 17.xh6 gxh6 18.0-0 [ 18.d2 c7! 19.h5+ ( 19.0-0 xe5 ) 19...f7 ] 18...d7-+ Thus the case is clear: Black will manage to castle either side as appropriate with a pawn an exchange and the two bishops in the pocket! 19.e2 e7 20.b1 c7 21.e4 0-0! 22.d6 [ 22.e3 b5 23.d3 c4 24.e2 c6 ] 22...b5 23.d3 c6 24.e4 ad8 25.xc6 xc6 26.e4 f4 27.e1 c4 28.e3 xe4! 29.xe4 xe4 30.xe4 d1+ 31.e1 [ 31.h2 a1 ] 31...xe1+ 32.xe1 b4 33.f3 c3 34.f2 a5 The fact that Black has unsightly doubled h-pawns does not matter: they are just good eno ugh to hold t he opponent's kingside. What does matter is the balance of power on the other wing, decisively in his favour. 35.e2 [ 35.e3 a4 36.e4 b4 37.d4 a3 38.b5 b2 39.f4 b3 40.cxb3 cxb3 41.xa3 bxa2 ] 35...a4 36.d1 a3 37.g4 g7 38.h4 h5 39.gxh5 h6 40.c1 f7 41.d1 e7 42.c1 d7 43.b1 c6 44.g5 hxg5 45.hxg5 xe5 0-1
2042 A45 Corrales Jimenez,Fidel 2507 De la Paz Perdomo,Frank 2433 ch-CUB Open Santa Clara CUB (6) 15.01.2007 [Eric Prié] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 [ 2.c3 d5 3.f3 c5! 4.e4 cxd4 5.xd4 c6 6.b5 d7 7.xc6 xc6 8.e5 d7 9.g5 b6! And I already prefer Black, to be examined later on. ] 2...e4 3.f4 d5 4.f3 f6 5.c3 Designed to avoid the inconvenience of the previous month's manoeuvre with ...Nf6-d5. However, it offers Black one tempo of respite which allows him to attack the centre with c5! naturally. 6.e3 [ 6.e4 cxd4 7.xd4 c6 8.b5 d7 9.xc6 xc6 10.exd5 xd5 A) 11.0-0-0 e6 12.ge2 xf4!? ( 12...b6 Quite similar to that refutation of trying to force Black into the acceptance of the BDG as shown in the note above. 13.e5 xc3 14.xc3 c5 15.he1 xe5 16.xe5 f6 17.d6 f7= ) 13.xf4 f6 14.c4 e7 15.d4 c8 16.xc6 xc6 17.a4 a6 18.b1 e5!; B) 11.xd5?! xd5 12.xd5 xd5 13.0-0-0 e6 14.b1 c5 15.e2 e7 16.a3 hd8 Nordenbaek, J (2251) Kuljasevic, D (2408) San Marino op 2006 0-1(38) ] 6...e6 7.a3 [ 7.b5!? a6 8.h3 h5 9.d2 ] 7...a6 8.g4 With a pawn committed to f3 White is very much concerned by the idea ... Nh5 but pushing his kingside pawns only seems to weaken his position. I have the impression that only Chigorin or Baltic experts with the reverse colour would know how to handle this delicate position as White... c6 9.d2 b5 10.h4 a5 11.ce2 b6 12.g5 h5 13.h2 g6 14.c3 cxd4 15.exd4? [ 15.xd4 b7= ( 15...a5 16.e5 g7 17.xg7 xg7 18.f4 )] 15...a5! 16.d3 d6 Black is not really interested in making the opponent lose the right to castle queenside after [ 16...b3!? 17.d1 d6 as he wants to attack there in fact! ] 1996
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.h3 c4 18.b1 [ 18.0-0-0 a5 ] 18...xh2 19.xh2 d6 20.g2 [ 20.f2 Intending f2-f4 e5 ] 20...0-0 21.g4 e5 The truth is that contrary to his counterpart, the W hite king did not have anywhere to go and will soon feel unwell as the centre opens. 22.dxe5 xe5 23.d4 g7 24.d1 f5! 25.xf5 [ 25.xd5 xd5 26.xd5 xg4 27.fxg4 e4 ] 25...xf5 26.f4 ae8 27.f2? [ 27.d2 c5 28.h2 ( 28.d4 c4+ 29.c1 fe3 ) 28...e3 29.b1 5c4+ 30.c1 f1 31.g2 fd2 32.a1 b3+ What a cavalry!! ] [ 27.f2 b6+ 28.d4 c4 29.b3 ce3 ] 27...d3+ 0-1
2043 Curi Milia,Gabriel Rodriguez,Santiago ch Montevideo URU (8) [Aaron Summerscale]
attractive advantage of the bishop pair in an open position. 13.xc5 a5+ 14.c3 xc5 15.e2+ e6 It's hard to offer Black constructive advice here, but damage limitation with: [ 15...f8 was almost certainly better. ] 16.xe6 fxe6 17.xe6+ f8 18.0-0-0 e8 19.b3 All White needs to do here is tidy up his position. He can then look f orward to collecting the full point. g5+ 20.b1 g6+ 21.a1 Black gave up, although somewhat prematurely, he probably wanted to avoid hours of torture, with the result always going against him. [ After 21.a1 A possible continuation would have been: dxc3 22.c5+ e7 23.xc3 When Black, a pawn down, with his pieces i n a m e s s , d o e s n ' t h a ve m u c h t o l o o k forward to. ] 1-0
A45
22.04.2000
2044 Czap,Bernhard Fernandes,Antonio 8th ch-Euro Dresden GER (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2204 2448 05.04.2007
W hite sharpens the struggle right from the s t a r t i n t h e f o l l o wi n g g a m e . O n c u r r e n t 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 evidence, the Bh4 Tromp where Black plays 5.c1 g7 6.g3 d6 7.c3 f5 8.g2 d7 3...d5 just looks good for White. 1.d4 f6 9.h3 2.g5 e4 3.h4 d5 4.f3 This is White's [ 9.d2 e5!? There are many games at a most ambitious approach, hinting at a quick high level in the database with the natural e4 break. d6 5.c3 c5 Rather than just ( 9...f6 but the issue basically remains the give up the centre Black fights back with a same: Black initiates some kingside action pawn s ac rif ic e. Th is ga me ca sts seriou s and improves his structure at the same time, d o u b t s o n t h e so u n d n e ss o f t h is a ct io n . with ...h5-h4, as soon as he sees an 6.dxc5 o p p o s i n g k n ig h t o n h 3 t h a t m a k e s t h e [ Not 6.xd5 when f5 wins a piece! ] blockade by h2 -h4 impossible, th en h e 6...f5 7.f2 d4 8.e4 quietly plays ...Bd7 with the idea of [ 8.e4 is interesting here. ] castling queenside and often retreats the 8...e5 9.g4 White fights for the initiative. queen to c7 (rather than a6) in order to Control of e3 is important to White's plans. better meet White's only plan of bringing a h6 knight to e3 (via c4 or f1) and Qc2, hitting f5. [ 9...e3 is the most consistent with Black's Eventually the move ...e7-e6 should come plan, but I feel that Black will have difficulty as the crowning of his strategy...) 10.gf3 regaining his pawn after: 10.xe3 dxe3 g6 Another original idea which firstly aims 11.xd8+ xd8 12.0-0-0+ ] at preventing the installation of a strong 10.e3 c6 11.exd4 exd4 12.c4 xc5 white knight on f4 and secondly at soothing B la c k h a s p a i d a ve r y h igh p ri ce f o r t h e the weakness of f5 after the creation of the recapture of his pawn. W hite now has the pawn duo e5 and f5 by taking the h4 square 1997
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 away from any enemy knight, and with the further idea of ...h5-h4, while if White plays h4 h im se lf t he n .. .f 5-f 4 u nd ou blin g th e pawns more effectively. 11.e3 e5 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.0-0 0-0 14.c2 d5 15.ad1 h8 16.h4 e5 Marville, G (2031)-Czap, B (2204) EU-Ch Dresden 0-1(49) ] 9...h5! Peter Wells who "would have been pleased to find a more generic answer to the ad va n c e o f t he h -p a wn wh ich re t ain s it s vitality" treads gingerly with his supposed 'solid repertoire' for W hite in his book "Winning with the Trompowsky" (published by Batsf ord in 2003). He also concludes the dedicated chapter with these prophetic words, referring to Valeri Popov's [ 9...e5!? depriving the knight on the edge of the board of the f4 square: "I am not saying that W hite has problems, but this does in t ro d u c e a wh o le ne w se t o f st ra t e gic problems and a caref ul study would b e advisable before tackling this from either side." Tongue in cheek, we know what this means... Contrary to what he states, most RECENT sources suggest that White is not even "slightly better" after giving up his bishop for free, in the case of both 2...c5! and 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5! 3.Bxf6 alike. My idea is that this is because of the extensive use of engines in preparation and analysis which have nowadays become inhumanly strong when assessing the global dynamic aspects of t he po sitio ns, in ge ne ral, an d , mo re specifically, with the handling of the bishops. ] 10.c2 e5! Covering the c4 square 11.d2 d7 12.f4 [ 12.f1 0-0-0 13.e3 b8! 14.0-0-0 Protecting b2 but the white king is much weaker on this side. e6 ( 14...a5 15.b1 f6 Leaving f5 in return for a strong initiative against the enemy long castle is also interesting.) 15.g5 ( 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.f4 f7; 15.b1 f6 16.f4 h4 And Black has everything under control.) 15...h4! 16.f4 f6 Is also fine for Black for this tactical reason. 17.h3 c4 18.d2 g4 19.xg4 fxg4 20.g5 xg5 21.fxg5 hxg3 22.hxg3 xh1 23.xh1 f2 24.e3 xg3 25.h7 f8! A little tactic should always come along to help out impeccable
strategy. 26.g6 fxg6 27.dxe6 ( 27.xd7? f2 ) 27...xe6 28.xb7+ c8 ] [ 12.f3 c4! ] 12...h4 13.h3 g4 [ 13...e6 14.e4 ] 14.e4 fxe4 [ 14...hxg3! Opening the pin on the f-file. 15.hxg3 0-0-0 16.exf5 b8! Freeing the Ng4 17.f1 f2 has to be protected. f6 And White is helpless against the following manoeuvre. 18.0-0-0 h6 19.g2 xf4 20.gxf4 h4 ] 15.c4 c7? [ 15...a6! 16.xe4 hxg3 17.hxg3 f6 W hite does not have time to castle queenside because of the double threat a g a i n s t c 4 a n d h 1 . 18.xd7+ xd7 19.f5+ c7 20.xh8 xh8 ] 16.xe4 f6 [ 16...hxg3 17.hxg3 0-0-0 18.xg4 xh1+ ( 18...xg4 19.xh8 xh8 20.g6 ) 19.xh1 xg4 20.h7 ] 17.xd7+ xd7 18.f3 f8!? [ 18...hxg3 19.hxg3 0-0-0= ] 19.0-0 h6 20.g2?? A climb-down difficult to explain. [ 20.e3 ] 20...g5 21.ce3 h3 22.e1? Self-weaving the mating net. [ 22.fe1 hxg3 ( 22...xe3 23.xe3 hxg3 24.hxg3 ) 23.xg3 xe3 24.xe3 ( 24.xe3 g8 ) 24...xg3 25.fxg3 xd5 ] 22...xe3 23.fxe3 hxg3 24.g2 gxh2+-+ 25.h1 xg2+ 26.xg2 h3 27.c4 [ 27.f4 xe3 28.xh2 g7 29.g1+ h6 30.ae1 g4+! 31.g2 xe1 32.xe1 e5 ] 27...e4 28.f4 g3+ 29.g2 h1+ 30.xh1 xh1 0-1
2045 Danielian,Oganes Hellsten,Johan Hallsberg op 9293 U18 [Eric Prié]
A45 2440 2315 1993
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6 3.d2! Controlling e4 and therefore more precise than 3.Nf3. b6 4.gf3 Of course, we have witnessed more 1998
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 dubious gambits in this section... xb2 5.e4 This position is obviously very dangerous for Black. Actually all the criteria of 'gambitability' are respected by White: 1st of all it is a side pawn that will allow a white rook to immediately join the fight for free, 2nd White has gained a big lead in development that will offer him at least a lasting initiative, 3rd he has more space thanks to his centre which is ready to get moving, and finally, and the most important to my eyes: W HEN ACCEPTED, THERE IS NO SIMPLE WAY TO GIVE BACK THE PAW N TO ACHIEVE EQUALITY which is sometimes quite pleasant, as in the case of the Lemberger against the BDG... Hence: d5 6.e5! It is in this first game played with this gambit (according to my database) that you find the answer! e4 [ 6...h6 Is the best defence according to the computer. But it is true that they still have to make progress in the evaluation of such positions in the long term... 7.e3! ( 7.h4 h5; 7.xf6!? gxf6 8.exf6 ) 7...g4 8.f4 g5 ( 8...f5 9.h3 xc2 10.c1 ) 9.g3 h5 10.h3 h6 11.b1 ( 11.e6!? ) 11...xa2 12.xg5 f5 13.e6 With a strong attack ( 13.d3!? xd4 14.0-0 )] 7.xe4 dxe4 8.b1 xa2 [ 8...c3+ 9.d2 a3 10.g5 ] 9.d2 a5 10.e2 g6 [ 10...f5 11.0-0 g6 12.f3! exf3 ( 12...d8 13.c3 ) 13.xf3 g7 14.c4 ( 14.c1! Heading for the a3 square to prevent Black from castling because of the weakness of e7. ) 14...c7 15.e6 b5 16.a2 a5 17.d5 a6 18.h4 b4 19.xf5 gxf5 20.h5+ d8 21.d6? ( 21.bd1 cxd5 22.f7 ) 21...xd6 22.bd1 d4+ 23.h1 xa2 24.xd4 xd4 25.d1 xd1+ 26.xd1+ c7 27.xe7 b7 0-1 Howes, T-Artner, W ICCF Email 2000 ] 11.h4!? [ 11.0-0 f5 12.f3 ] 11...g7 12.h5 h6? For better or for worse, Black had to live with the idea h5-h6 hanging over his head. 13.e3 g5 14.0-0 Now White ge t s e 4 b a c k . O n ly o n e p awn f o r s u ch a massive position is a true gift! b5 15.xe4 [ 15.c4!? b4 16.xe4 f5 17.d3 ] 15...f5 16.d3 d7 17.f6+! exf6 [ 17...xf6? 18.exf6 xd3 19.fxg7 ]
18.xf5 c7 [ 18...fxe5 19.xd7+ xd7 20.dxe5+ c7 21.f4 ad8 22.f3 ] 19.e6 b6 20.exf7+ xf7 21.g6+ g8 22.g4 f8 [ 22...d5 23.e6+ f8 24.d2 With the deadly threats Re1-e8 and Ba5. ] 23.f4 The decisive reinforcement. Black's position is ripe for explosion. g7 [ 23...e7 24.be1 ] 24.fxg5 hxg5 25.xf6! [ 25.xg5 fxg5 ( 25...e7 26.xf6+ xf6 27.e4+ f7 28.g6+ e7 29.xf6+ ) 26.xg5 e7 27.f7+ xf7 28.d3+ Was also mate. ] 25...xf6 26.xg5+ g7 [ 26...e6 27.f5+ e7 28.f7+ d6 ( 28...d8 29.e8# ) 29.f4# ] 27.e8+ 1-0
2046 A45 Danilov,Ilie Vladimir 2363 Perez Fungueiro,Manuel Antonio 2300 V Open Vila de Marin ESP (4) 24.08.2005 [Eric Prié] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 dxc6 12.xe5 e6 13.e4!? The new tendency: Rather than enduring pressure because of the weakening of the b3 square in connection with the plan ...b5-b4, White returns the pawn immediately, relying on his kingside majority and easier development to insure himself a minimal advantage in the ending. b5 14.d3 d7 15.d4 xa2 In this way the benefit of the open a-file for Black is just annihilated [ 15...xa2? 16.b1 ] 16.xa2 xa2 17.e2 c5 Surprisingly to me with this structure it is not so convenient for Black to undouble his pawns [ 17...c5 18.e3 c4 19.c2 b4 20.cxb4 xb4+ 21.d2 ] [ 17...c4 18.xc4 ( 18.d2!? ) 18...bxc4 19.d2 ] [ 17...e6 18.f4 b3 19.d2 b4 20.a1 ] 1999
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.c2 b3 19.f2 f6 20.e3 [ 20.c1 xd4 21.cxd4 c4 ] 20...d6 21.xb3 The only way to make progress. Alas, it should not prove enough because of the possibility for Black to exchange the strong enemy knight against his dark-squared bishop thus reaching a drawish o p p o s i t e - c o l o u r e d b i s h o p e n d i n g . xb3 22.d4 c4 23.d1 f8 [ 23...e5! or 23...Bc7 looks safer 24.f5 g8 25.d6+ xd6 26.xd6 f8 27.g4 f7 ] 24.b3 f7 25.b4 g6 26.a1 The advance of development is bouncing back after having changed sides! d7 27.a7 c7 28.a8 g8? What a silly move! [ 28...g7 29.xh8 xh8 30.h6 f5 31.exf5 xd4+ 32.cxd4 gxf5 33.e3 d6 34.f4 e6 is a 'no sweat' draw. ] 29.f4+ d6? One mistake calls for another. Black could still save his skin with the uncommon defensive manoeuvre [ 29...b6 30.d8 c4! ( 30...e7 31.d7 e8 32.e3+- ) 31.d7 g7 32.c7+ a7 33.d8 e7 34.e8 c5= ] 30.xd6+ xd6 31.xg8 xg8 32.e3 Now, it is difficult. White is the equivalent of a pawn up and Black has a bad bishop as far as his difficultly improvable queenside structure can tell. c4 33.h4? In order to maximize his winning chances, the first thing White had to think of was being provident with the recycling of his knight. [ 33.f4! b6 34.g4 c5 35.f3 Black may still have chances to further establish a blockade but at least W hite will have a free rein on the kingside. ] 33...b6 34.g4 [ 34.f4 c5 35.f3 e6 ] 34...c5 35.c2? [ 35.e2! h6 36.f4 e6 ( 36...g5 37.g3 e6 38.hxg5 hxg5 39.e5+ fxe5 40.e4+ e7 41.f5 ) 37.f5 ( 37.g5 hxg5 38.fxg5 fxg5 39.hxg5 e5 40.f4 f7 41.d3+ d6 42.f4 e8 43.e5 e6 44.g4 d7 45.f6 c6= ) 37...gxf5 38.gxf5 f7 39.f4 ] 35...h6 36.f4 g5 37.hxg5 hxg5 38.e1 b3? [ 38...gxf4+ 39.xf4 e6 40.f3 ( 40.g5? fxg5+ 41.xg5 e5 ) 40...e2 41.e3
d1 And White cannot make progress be ca u se of t h e we akn e ss o f t h e d 1 -h 5 diagonal. ] 39.fxg5 fxg5 40.f3 d1 41.xg5 xg4 42.f4 c8 43.f7+ e7 44.e5 d6 45.g4 e6? This has to be the square for th e kin g an d B la ck will pro b a bly h old b y oscillating from e6 to d5 with the white pawn on e5. 46.e5+ The kind of opportunity one must not miss! e7 [ 46...d5 47.e3+ c6 48.g5+- ] 47.f6 a2 48.e4 cxb4? One mistake too many! [ 48...d5! 49.d6 ( 49.f5 e6+ 50.g5 d5 51.d6 e6 52.f4 c6 53.c8 b7 54.xb6 c4 is a 'mirror'.) 49...c6 50.c8+ e6 51.xb6 cxb4 52.cxb4 b7 All of a sudden, White is in zugzwang and has to give up his extra e5-pawn in order to liberate his knight!! ] 49.cxb4 b1 [ 49...e6 50.c3 ( 50.g5+ d5 51.e6 d6 52.f5 e7 53.e5 b3= )] 50.g5 c2 51.e3 b3 52.d4 Free access to this square has not really worsened Black's structure but makes a big difference in the estimation of the position! a2 [ 52...c4 53.e4 f1 ( 53...e6 54.d6 f1 55.c8 ) 54.f6 And Nd5+ takes b6. ] 53.e4 c4?! Unfortunate, but Black was lost anyhow. [ 53...d7 54.d6 c6 55.e4! b1+ ( 55...e6 56.f5 d7 57.d4 c4 58.f5; 55...b3 56.f5 d5 57.f6 a2 58.xb5 c4 59.e6 xb5 60.e7 ) 56.f4 d3 57.g5 d5 58.f6 e2 59.f5 c4 60.e6 xb4 61.e7 h5 62.g7+- ] 54.d6+- f1 55.c8+ d7 56.xb6+ c6 57.d5 h3 58.e7+ d7 59.g8 e6 60.f6 f5?! Same comment, same punctuation. For a non trivial win, the bishop had to stay on the f1-b5 diagonal. [ 60...f1 61.e4 e2 62.c5+ e7 63.d3! f1 64.f4 c4 65.c5 f1 66.c6! c4 67.e6! Zugzwang f1 68.d5 f6 69.d6 ] 61.e4 d7 [ 61...h3 62.g5+ ] 62.d6 h3 63.xb5 f1 64.c3 e6 65.d5 d7 66.c5 e6 67.e3 a6 2000
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 68.c4 b7 69.b5 1-0
2047 A45 De la Villa Garcia,Jesus Maria 2458 Herraiz Lopez,Herminio 2415 TCh Barcelona ESP (8) 12.08.2000 [Aaron Summerscale]
23.a4 The knight's arrival on b6 spells the end of Black's resistance. ] 23.a8+ d7 24.d1+ d6 25.xa6 Black must lose more material after: 25...Rc6 26.Qb7+ Rc7 28.Rd6 +! Kd6 29 .Nb5+, s o Black called it a day. 1-0
2048 A45 In one of the most debated main lines, Black De la Villa Garcia,Jesus Maria 2500 takes a slight liberty with his move order. And Miezis,Normunds 2505 as we know, slight liberties are always ripe for Elgoibar (4) 1995 pu n is h me n t . 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 [Eric Prié] This remains one of the most topical and important variations of the Trompowsky. The 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 key question is, does the Black bishop pair c6 5.h4 d6 6.e4 e6?! Black wants to f u l l y c o m p e n s a t e h i m f o r h i s s p a c e prevent the opponent from long castling...or disadvantage. h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 at least frighten him a bit. Nevertheless, it [ Bucking the recent trend for: 5.c3 ] does not help in solving his chronic problem 5...d6 6.d2 g5 The most aggressive o f h o w t o d e v e l o p h i s f 8 - b i s h o p w h e n treatment which carries the Karpov stamp of refraining f rom playing ...e6 at all. W hite approval. 7.0-0-0 a6 A slow move which enjoys some space advantage which gives d o e s n o t h i n g t o co m b a t W h i t e ' s p l a n o f him more development flexibility. 7.d3 central expansion. Better is Bg7 followed by [ 7.0-0-0 a5 8.a3 c8 ] Nc6. 8.g3 h5 9.e5 h6 10.f4 Here we can 7...c8 8.ge2 e5 9.f4 xd3+ 10.cxd3 ta ke st o ck of t h e p ositio n. W h it e c a n b e b6 11.f5 d7 12.0-0-0 Failed! h6 13.b1 happy with results of his opening. He has a g8 14.xf6 gxf6 15.d5 a6 16.ef4 bind on the dark squares and a substantial a4 17.c1 c6 18.f2 d8 19.c3 xc3 lead in development . gxf4 11.gxf4 d7 20.xc3 a6 21.cd5 h5 22.c2 c6 12.f3 c6 13.g5 If Black was allowed The idea turns out to be a complete fiasco for 0-0-0, then he would certainly have a fighting Black, so he takes the practical decision of chance. So consequently, W hite starts to sacrificing a pawn to avoid suffocating to make things difficult for the Black King. e7 death. 14.h4 f8 15.d5! With the Black king as yet [ 22...c6 23.d2 With the ideas Rc1 and unable to find sanctuary, W hite naturally Qa5+ takes a7. ] opens up the centre. b4 16.g2 0-0-0 23.xh5 h6 24.hf4 d7 25.g3 g5 Finally the King makes a run for it, but White 26.a3 has cleverly prepared an unpleasant [ 26.b4 b5 27.xc6 bxc6 28.e2 ] welcoming party on the queenside. 17.d4 26...c8 27.c1 e6 The idea of having the c5 18.dxc6 xc6 bishop on g5. 28.fxe6+ fxe6 29.h4! xf4 [ 18...xc6 is no better after: 19.xb4 xg2 30.xf4 b5 31.e2? 20.hg1 c6 21.exd6 ] [ 31.d4 e5 ( 31...g8 32.d5 ) 32.e2 exd4 19.b6 The queen finds an ideal home in the 33.xd4 e5 34.xc6 xc6 35.d3 ] heart of the Black king position. Notice the 31...e5 32.f4 g8 33.f2 f5 34.exf5? difference in the respective positioning of the Quite sim ilar t o his regre tt ed com pa trio t queens. The Black queen remains a casual Mikhail TAL and, making due allowance, the bystander. dxe5 20.xd7! Wallop! This blow Latvian player (to whom I once lost 4 pawns completely dismantles the Black defences. u p ! ) i s a so rt o f " m a gi ci a n " i n t h e a r t o f xd7 21.xc6 bxc6 22.xc6+ c7 reversing compromised situations. [ 22...d8 Looks better until you see: [ 34.e2! fxe4? 35.f7+ ] 2001
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 34...xf5 35.e3? The game has turned sour for the Spaniard who could still retrieve the situation with the clever [ 35.a1!! e5 36.xc6! bxc6 ( 36...xc6 37.f3+ c7? 38.d5+ ) 37.xa7+ e8 38.b8+ f7 39.c7+ f8 40.xd6+ f7 41.c7+ f8 42.d8+= g7 43.g5+ xg5 44.e6+ g6 45.hxg5 f5 46.c5 xg5 47.e4 ] 35...e5 36.e2 f3 37.d2 b5 38.c3? [ 38.d1! e4?! White is so tangled-up that B l a c k c a n h o p e f o r m o r e t h a n a d r a w. 39.dxe4! xe4+ 40.a1 xe2 41.xd6+ A) 41...c8 42.c1+ c6 43.xc6+! bxc6 44.xc6+ b8 ( 44...d8 45.a8+ ) 45.d6+ c8 ( 45...b7? 46.d5+ ) 46.c6+=; B) 41...e8 42.d5 e1+ 43.d1 ( 43.a2? c4+ ) 43...e2 "The equilibrium of terror", both sides have to repea t moves. ( 43...e7? 44.d5; 43...e4? 44.d4 e1+ 45.a2; 43...e3? 44.b8+ f7 45.xb7+ )] 38...e4 39.c1 e3! 40.c2 c6 41.e2 f8 42.a2 f7+ [ Better 42...d5+ 43.b3 f2 44.b2 ( 44.d4 f3 45.h7+ c8 46.g8+ c7 47.h7+ b6 ) 44...b5!! 45.c2 g2 46.c7+ d8 47.c8+ e7 48.c7+ e6! When the knight stays pinned, the black king can safely go to this square. ] 43.b3 e6 44.b2 [ 44.d4 f2 45.h7+ d8 46.h5 ( 46.c2 g4 47.f4 xc2+ 48.xc2 xg3; 46.h8+? e8 ) 46...d5 47.h8+ c7 48.xe3 b5 49.h7+ b6 50.c2 g2-+ ] 44...f2 45.c2 g4 46.d4? [ 46.b1 b5 47.h8! c6 ( 47...xe2? 48.c8+ e7 49.xg4 ) 48.d4 ] 46...xd4! 47.xd4 b5! A nice finish. The Nd4 is completely dominated. [ 47...b5 48.a1 xd3 49.c1 e2 Followed by Rf1. ] 0-1
2049 Degraeve,Jean Marc Chuchelov,Vladimir Le Touquet op [Eric Prié]
A45 2425 2530 1995
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 f5 8.xb8 xb8 9.xd4 b6 10.e4 f4 11.h3 c7 12.e5 g8 13.0-0-0 e6 14.g5! The most precise move order with the direct intention of Ne4-d6+ and recapturing with the queen in order to maintain pressure against d7. [ 14.f4 f5!? 15.e2 h6 16.hg1 e7 17.g4 fxg4 18.xg4 0-0 19.d3 is the famous game Salov,V(2685)-Nunn, J(2615), Amsterdam 1995 1/2 (42) - White is slightly better because of the annoyance of the backward opposing d-pawn. According to the leader of the black pieces in this game (in INF 64/54), play should have continued: b5 20.b1 ] 14...e7 [ 14...f5? 15.exf6 xf6 16.b5!+The idea behind the move order: Black is p o we rl e ss t o p a rr y t h e f a t a l t h r e a t c5 17.xe6 ] 15.f4 f5 If Black could complete d e ve l o p m e n t t h is wo u l d b e a n e xc e lle n t square for the knight, controlling d6. Unfortunately he is so behind in development that, on f5, it only becomes a target adding even more problems to the second player. 16.f2! Controlling as many squares as possible. [ 16.d2 h6 17.f3 b7 18.fd4 xd4 19.xd4 a6 20.g1 e7 21.g3 0-0 22.g2 fd8= Nguyen Ngoc Truongson(2466)-Ilincic,Z(2520), FSGM Budapest 2004) ] 16...e7 17.d3! h6 Practically forced [ 17...xg5 18.fxg5 e7 19.hf1 0-0 20.h4 g6 ( 20...g6 21.xg6 hxg6 22.d3 xe5 23.h3 f5 24.gxf6 xf6 25.xf6 xf6 26.h8+ f7 27.f3 ) 21.de1! Guarantees White a winning attack b7 22.e3 xg2 23.f2 d5 24.h3 h5 25.gxh6 xe5 ( 25...xb3 26.h7+ h8 27.f6# ) 26.e2 ( 26.xe7?? e1+ 27.c2 xf2+ ) 26...g5 ( 26...d6 27.f6 ) 27.g3 f6 28.xg5+ g6 29.g3 h8 2002
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 30.f2+- ] 18.f3! Threatening g4 winning the knight. h5 19.xf5! exf5 20.fd4 g6 21.b5 c4 22.d6+ xd6 23.xd6 White is strategically winning. In order to link his forces, Black will be compelled to give up the d7 pawn or put all his pieces in awkward defensive positions, which is just the start of his worries, which are soon over anyway. b7 24.hd1 a4 [ 24...d8 25.1d4 c7 26.h4! xg2 ( 26...0-0 27.g5 fe8 28.xg6+! fxg6 29.xg6+ f8 30.f6+ g8 31.d3 h4 32.xh4 d6 33.g3+ g7 34.xg7+ xg7 35.f6+ g8 36.d4 ) 27.e6! fxe6 28.g5 e4 29.xg6+ f8 30.xe6! dxe6 31.f6++- ] 25.xd7? The French Grandmaster usually excels in calculation. [ 25.b1! c6 26.1d4 a6 27.d2 was of course fine for White, intending h3g4 in case of Black castling but is, as it turns out, less decisive! ] 25...xa2 26.e6 0-0 [ 26...xb3 27.exf7+ f8 28.d4 h7 29.d6+ g7 30.f8# ] [ 26...e4 27.exf7+ f8 28.d4 b1+ 29.d2 xb2+ 30.e1 ] 27.e7 xb3? The quickest way to resignation. [ 27...fe8! 28.d8 A) 28...c8 29.xc8 xc8 30.d8 d7 31.xd7 xb3 32.d8 b5 33.d4 is worse, f6 34.xf6 f1+ 35.c2 e2+ 36.d2 ( 36.b3 b5+ 37.a2 a4+ Leads nowhere.) 36...xe7 37.xg6+ f8 38.xf5+ g8 39.g6+ f8 40.xh5 e4+ 41.b3 e6+ 42.d5 Some 15 moves ahead, not bad... However; B) 28...a8!! defends, B1) 29.d4 xb3 30.d7 ( 30.xa8 xa8 31.d7 c6! 32.xc6 xe7 ) 30...axd8 31.exd8 xd8 32.xd8+ h7 f7 is protected from long ranged and Be4, threatening mate, on c2, or Qa2, b1+ is coming. Despite the extra exc ha nge , W hite migh t n ot even b e better! 33.f8 e4 34.d2 a2 35.d1 b1+ 36.e2 d5! 37.xd5? e4+;
B2) 29.xa8 xa8 30.d8 c6 31.d4 a1+ 32.c2 a4+! B2a) 33.d3 b1+ 34.c4 a2+ 35.d3 b1+= 36.c4 a2+ 37.b3?? ( 37.b4?? a5# ) 37...xf2 38.bxa4 a2+ 39.b4 g7 40.xe8 f6-+; B2b) 33.b3 a2 34.xe8+ xe8 35.d4 a4! 36.xa4 xa4 37.d3 f6 38.d4 f7 39.c4 xe7 40.d5 Because of the opposing kingside doubled pawns, White cannot lose this. Still, a pawn down, I doubt he can win it after B2b1) 40...e8? 41.c6+ d7 ( 41...xc6+ 42.xc6 g5 43.b7 d6 44.xa7 c6 45.g3 h4 46.b4 b5 47.b7+- ) 42.xa7 c7 43.c4 f7+ 44.b4; B2b2) 40...a5! Holding on. ] 28.exf8+ xf8 29.d4 g8 30.e5 Wins another piece. 1-0
2050 Delchev,Aleksander Kohlweyer,Bernd Karpos Open, Skopje (8.20) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2638 2416 04.04.2014
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 [ Normal, but I can't help but feel that 5...d5 is due for a revival. ] 6.d3 e5 7.e2 g6 8.0-0 g7 9.f4 e7 An important tabiya and one where White has a strong advance, as advocated by Pert. 10.f5!? [ The critical advance. White can also begin with 10.d2 when A) Instead, 10...exd4 11.cxd4 0-0 12.f5 g5 13.e5!? dxe5 14.f6 xf6 15.g3 gave W h ite a certa in init iat ive f or his pawns in Lindberg-Fransson, Swedish League 2012, as we've seen before,; B) while 10...d7 looks a little strange. Perhaps it's not too bad though and 11.dxe5 ( 11.f5! f6 12.fxg6 fxg6 13.b3 is Pert's consistent recommendation, transposing to a position 2003
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 we'll consider in the notes to Black's 12th m o v e , b e l o w) 11...dxe5 12.f5 f6 13.fxg6 fxg6 14.h3?! ( t o o s l o w ) e6 15.a4+ c6 16.b3 a5! saw Black seizing the upper hand in Cebalo-Opl, European Senior Team Championship, Sibenik 2014.; C) 10...0-0 is indicated, as we've noted before. ] 10...d7 [ Pert's main move. Instead, we saw 10...c6!? 11.c4!? in Fier-Rozum, Izmir Open 2013. ] 11.fxg6 fxg6 12.d2 [ Delchev is normally well prepared, but why he preferred this to 12.b3 isn't clear to me. I'd certainly want to activate the queen and after f6 13.d2 play has transposed to the next note. ] 12...f6!? Rather than activate his bishop, Black wants to walk his king to relative safety on g7. This may seem, on top of creative, a little extravagant, but in any case Black just seems to be a bit worse. [ Pert focuses on 12...f6 13.b3 when c6 was tried by the aforementioned Cebalo in Ru s e v-Ce b a lo , Za d a r 2 0 0 7 , b u t it 's n o wonder that he was quick to switch sides w h e n o n e c o n s i d e r s 14.c4! e6? 15.xb7! (Pert). ] [ The text is actually a novelty, with 12...f8 having been preferred in another earlier game, where 13.b3 b6 14.a4! e6 15.d5 c8 16.a5 d7 17.a6 left White for choice, Kanep-Chuiko, Moscow 2005. ] 13.b3 f8 14.a4! [ It's not clear what White's up to on the kingside after 14.f2 g7 15.af1 f8 , so Delchev undertakes a logical gain of space while further cramping Black's position. ] 14...g7 15.a5 g5 [ It must be right to activate the bishop. Instead, 15...f8 16.a6 bxa6 just looks quite pleasant for White after 17.xa6 ( or 17.c4!? . )] 16.c4 f6 17.h1 Both sides have played pretty well up to h ere and no w the gam e begins to hot up. h5!? [ Ambitious. Black might just have moved his rook to the h-file, but Kohlweyer has designs
on t he kin gsid e. A f t e r 17...g4 18.h3 the knight would have had to go back as e3? 19.xe3 xe3 20.f3 g5 21.af1 just plays into White's hands. ] 18.a3 c5!? [ A bold way of breaking the pin. Moreover, the re was no th ing wro ng with th e so lid 18...e8 , and if 19.g1 exd4!? 20.f3 f4 21.cxd4 xe4 22.xe4 xe4 23.ae1 c6 when White is just short of a killer blow from what I can see. ] 19.b4! [ Delchev is quick to pursue his queenside initiative. Instead, 19.d5 g4 20.h3 e3!? reveals the sort of line that Kohlweyer was no doubt dreaming about. After 21.f3 f2+ 22.h2 g4+ neither side can really avoid the repetition. ] 19...cxd4 20.b5?! [ A scary move, but objectively he should really have preferred the simple 20.cxd4 . ] 20...e6? [ The bluff is rewarded. I'm sceptical that White has quite enough compensation after 20...dxc3 21.xc3 ( 21.xd6 c7! is the other line, but W hite is surely struggling af ter 22.c4 e6 23.xc3 g4 ) 21...d8 . ] 21.xe5! More wood is thrown on to the fire. Many grandmasters are good at randomising the position seemingly out of nothing and then out-calculating their shocked opponents. dxc3 [ 21...g4 is a logical try to sidestep what follows, but I wouldn't be surprised if even here Delchev was considering 22.xg6!? xg6 23.e5+ h6 24.exd6 g7 25.xd4 with three pawns and a right mess for the piece. ] 22.xg6! The tactics are far from over. xg6 23.e5+ g7 24.exf6+ xf6 25.ae1 It's time to take stock after a short, f airly forced passage of play. White is a pawn down, but his rooks radiate power down the open files. One might have thought that W hite would have at best enough for his pawn, but Delchev's earlier judgement was excellent. Indeed, the position is simply pretty unpleasant for Black. e5?! [ It's logical to block the e-file, but now White will regain his pawn. That said, even after 25...ae8 26.c1! ( 26.f4 d7 2004
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 unpins and there's no killer blow) 26...e5 27.d4 it's hard not to like White's initiative, based on the point xd4? 28.xe6! xe6 29.g5+ followed by mate. ] 26.f4 f7 27.xc3 ae8 [ Black would have lost serious material after 27...xc3? 28.xe7 , ] [ but perhaps he would have done better with 27...ac8!? , and if 28.d2 ( 28.d4 c1!? is a neat way to try and reduce W hite's firepower ) 28...c5 . ] 28.d2 h6 The machine doesn't like this, but deeper exploration reveals that it's not so bad. Kohlweyer's problem is that his king is far too exposed. 29.h3! [ 29.e3 f6 30.ef3 looks simple and strong, but Delchev wants to avoid exchanges while activating his knight. ] 29...e6?! [ It would have remained most unpleasant, but Black would still have been on the board after 29...f8 30.g5 d5 . ] 30.g5 d7? [ Collapsing. Black had to grovel with something like 30...g8 , and if 31.f3 f8 32.e3 h4 . ] 31.f7 [ I presume this wasn't actually played and was just a sloppy input error. W hite has nothing after 31.f7?? xf7 32.g5+ g6 ,] [ but 31.f3! leaves Black defenceless, as if now f7 32.g5+ g6 33.h4 . ] 1-0
relative security here protected by a strong wall of pawns. [ 6...cxd4? A) 7.c7+?? d8 8.xa8 c3+ 9.e2 b6 10.xd4 a6+ 11.f3 ( 11.d1 xd4+ 12.exd4 xf1 ) 11...b7+ 12.e2 xc2+ 13.d2 xd2+ 14.xd2 xa8; B) 7.b1 xa2 8.c7+ d8 9.xa8 a5+ 10.d2 xd2+ 11.xd2 dxe3+ 12.fxe3 b6 13.e2 b7 14.f3 c6 15.xb6 axb6 16.xb6 c7 17.b3 e6 18.e2 d5 19.hb1 a5? 20.c3+ c6 ( 20...c4+ 21.xc4+ dxc4 22.xb7+ ) 21.d4 g7 22.xb7+ xb7 23.xc6+- ] 7.c4 [ 7.f3 e6 8.b1 xa2 9.xf6 cxd4 10.exd4 a5+ 11.d2 b4 12.fe4 d5 13.c3 xc3 14.xc3 xc3 ] [ 7.b1 xa2 8.dxc5 a5+ ( 8...e6 9.c3 a5 10.d4 e7 11.b5 a1+ 12.b1 a5 13.b5 a1+= 14.b1 a3 15.a4 c6 16.f4 ) 9.c3 xc5 10.b5 d6 11.h5 a6 12.b2 ( 12.b6 c6 13.xf7 e5 ) 12...b5 13.xf7 c6 14.f3 e5 15.xe5 xe5 16.d2 d6 Threatens Be6. 17.b4 b7 ] 7...e6 8.b1 [ 8.xf6 c3+ ] 8...a3 9.b3 a5+ 10.c3 d5 11.dxc5 d7 12.xd5 White cannot back away: [ 12.b5 xc5 13.d4 e7 14.b1 e4 15.ge2 c5 16.a4 ( 16.d3 b4 17.b3 a6 ) 16...xa4 17.xa4 e7-+ ] 12...exd5 13.xd5 xc5 14.xf7 b6! 15.ge2 a6 16.d4 c4 17.e6+ xe6 2051 A45 18.xe6 c8! Great defensive skill. White Depasquale,Chris 2315 cannot avoid the exchange of queens. 19.0-0 [ 19.b5 c4 20.h3 a6 21.d4 b4+ Solomon,Stephen J 2385 22.d1 c5 23.f5 ( 23.b1 e4 ) Masters Melbourne (9) 2001 23...xb3 24.axb3 f7 ] [Eric Prié] 19...e5 20.xe5 fxe5-+ 21.d1 e8 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.e3 b6 22.e4 c5 [ 22...xc2! 23.bd3 c5 ( 23...c7 5.c3 At first, this looks the best since it will 24.xd7 xd7 25.f6+ e7 26.xd7 deprive Black of the right to castle if he takes g7 W ins too. The knight is trapped.) the pawn, but this attacking knight might just 24.d8+ ( 24.xc5 bxc5 25.a3 e7 as well become a target that forces White to 26.xa7 f8 ) 24...f7 25.xc5 bxc5 perf orm acrobatics in order not to lose a 26.8d7+ e7 27.xa7 d8 28.b1 dd2 second pawn. xb2 6.d5 d8 If it was not 29.a4 b2 30.f1 e6 ] the only move it could be granted an e xc la m a t io n m a rk! I n f a ct , t h e kin g is in 23.c3 e7 24.xc5 xc5 25.xc5 xc5 2005
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.d5 f7 27.d7+ g6 28.xa7 d8 29.g4 d2 30.a4 xc2 31.a5 b5 [ 31...a2 32.axb6 xa7 33.bxa7 xa7 34.g2 b6 ( 34...g5 35.f4+ ) 35.h4 d8 36.g3 c7 ( 36...e7 37.f4 e4 38.f5+ ) 37.f3 d8 38.e4 xh4 39.f4 ] 32.b7 b4 33.b5 [ 33.a6 a2 34.b5 ( 34.c7 b3 35.b7 b2 36.g2 xe3 ) 34...e7 35.b6+ f7 36.f1 e4 37.g5 a5 38.h4 c5 39.b7+ g6 40.c7 b3 41.b7 xa6 42.xb3 h5 ] 33...e7? [ 33...g5 34.h3 h4 35.g2 xe3 36.f3 d4 37.xb4 xh3 ] 34.g2 e4 35.h4? [ 35.a6! a2 36.b6+ f7 37.g3 With a draw in sight. ] 35...xh4 36.xb4 xf2+ 37.g1 [ 37.h3 d8 38.g3 ( 38.xe4 c7 ) 38...f3+ 39.g2 xe3 ] 37...a2 38.xe4 g5! It is more important to keep the white king cut off. 39.a6 f2+ 40.f1 [ 40.g2 xe3+ 41.f3 f4 42.e7 a3+ 43.e2 h6 ] 40...g3 Black has made his task really difficult, but the 2 pawns for the bishop and the "wrong" h-pawn prove insuf ficient for White to succeed in drawing. 41.a7 [ 41.e7 h6 42.g7+ f6 43.h7 g6 44.a7 d6 45.a8 c5 46.e4 g5 47.g8+ f4 48.g6 f2+ 49.e1 h2 50.g7 e3 51.f1 ( 51.d1 d3 52.d7+ d4 53.e1 h1# ) 51...f2+ 52.e1 a2 53.f1 xa6 ] 41...h6 42.e8? [ 42.c4 d6 43.c6 e7 44.c7 f6 A) 45.c4 xa7 46.g2 a2+ 47.f3 ( 47.h3 e5 ) 47...h4; B) 45.f7 a1! ( 45...b2 46.g2! xg4? 47.f2 ) 46.h7 b2!-+ 47.g2 ( 47.e1 c1; 47.f7 xg4 48.f2 a1+ 49.g2 e5; 47.e4 d4 ) 47...g7+ 48.f3 g6 ] 42...xa7 43.g2 h4 44.g8 [ 44.e6 a2+ 45.f3 f2+ 46.e4 g5 47.c6 f7 48.a6 e1 49.c6 b4 50.d5 f8 ] 44...a6 45.f3 f6+ 46.e4 c7 47.d5 [ 47.g7 d6 48.d5 a3 49.g8 c1
50.e5 b6 51.e4 e6+ ] 47...b6 48.e4 e3 49.e5 f1 50.e6 g5 51.d6 d1+ 52.c7 e1 53.d7 xg4 54.xg5+ hxg5 55.e7 f5 56.e8 xe8 57.xe8 g4 0-1
2052 Dimakiling,Oliver Laylo,Darwin 3rd Dato Arthur Tan (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2463 2428 23.08.2006
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4!? d5 Back to the my favourite study which on more general grounds I find crucial in the d-pawn specials universe: W here is that white queen's bishop best placed with the structure d4 against d5? On f4 where he can often be attacked and taken by the opposing knight from h5 therefore requiring the protective tempo h2-h3? Or g5 where it is also subject to direct harassment by the knight from e4 but cannot be captured without the commitment ... g5? And then, where to retreat it? On f4 or h4, the shorter diagonal where it pins the opposing e-pawn, or even staying on g5 after the support of a pawn on h4 in the typical case o f t h e T r o m p ? 4.f3 Somehow providing coherence to this update... [ 4.d2 however. Against Black's last move this more static approach is also possible and the Latvian player is supposed to be the W orld's nu mber 1 specialist of this Tromp sub-line and more generally of the strategic theme of an early sortie of the queen's bishop with the structure d4-d5 as in the Baltic defence for example. That is why 3...c5! must be the critical line here. f5 5.e3 xd2 6.xd2 c6 7.c4 d7 8.f3 e6 9.e2 f6 10.0-0 e7 11.d3 xd3 12.xd3 a6 13.fe1 0-0 14.g3 fe8 15.e4 f8 16.h3 ad8 17.b3 h8 18.e2 dxe4 19.xe4 e5 20.c2 exd4 21.xd4 f7 22.ad1 xd4 23.xd4 c5 1/2-1/2 Rausis, I (2510) - Malisauskas, V (2510) Liepaja Rapid 2006 ] 4...d6 Arguably the main line [ 4...f6 5.c3 c5 6.e4 dxe4 7.dxc5 a5 8.d2 e3 9.xe3 d5 10.d2 xc3 2006
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.xc3 xc3+ 12.bxc3 e6 13.f2 e7 14.b5+ d7 15.b1 c6 16.e2 0-0-0 Hennig, D (2385)-Pribyl, J (2379) Bayern op 2005 0-1(60) ] [ As for the manoeuvre 4...g5 5.fxe4 gxh4 6.exd5 xd5 7.c3 Followed by e2-e4, it appears unatt ractive f or B lack with th e preliminary move ...d7-d5 ] 5.c3 f5 6.f2 e5 7.dxe5 d4 8.e4! dxc3 [ 8...dxe3 9.xd8+ xd8 10.0-0-0+ d7 11.e1! Keeping the bishop. c6 12.f4 g5 13.g3 gxf4 14.gxf4 ce7 15.ge2 c6? ( 15...c8 16.h3 e6 17.e4 ) 16.h3 c7 17.xd7+! xd7 18.d4 h6 19.g3! g6 20.ce2! No counterchances. c7 21.xf5+- Obsivac, J (2335)Freisler, P (2350) Olomouc op 1995 1-0(50) ] 9.xd8+ xd8 10.0-0-0+ e8 11.exf5 cxb2+ 12.xb2 xf5 13.e2 c6 14.g3 [ 14.c3 a6 15.f4 Is it possible that White had forgotten the opponent could not castle queenside anymore?! ( 15.d5!? c8 16.f4 e6 17.e2 b4 18.c4 Looks even stronger. ) 15...d8 16.e2 h5 17.f3 h6 18.d5 d7 Carlsen, M (2552) - Lie, K (2430) NOR-ChT Trondheim 2004 0-1(44) ] 14...e6 15.b5 a6 16.xc6+ bxc6 17.e2 b8+ 18.a1 a3 19.b1 e7 20.d4 d7 21.c3 c5? [ 21...c5 22.h4+ f6 23.he1 xb1+ 24.xb1 ] 22.c2 xb1+ Incidentally, an Internet blitz game between Mamedyarov (2595) Nestorovic (2424) stopped here with W hite winning as well in 2004... 23.xb1 f5 24.xa3 xb1 25.xb1 b8+ 26.c2+e6 27.xc5 xe5 28.c4 g6 29.b1 h5 30.c3 c6 31.h4 b7 32.e2 e6 33.d4+ d7 34.a4 b8 35.a5 e8 36.d2 e5 37.b3 g5 38.g3 gxh4 39.gxh4 f5 40.e3 1-0
2053 Dishman,Stephen Matikozian,Andranik National Open (5) [Eric Prié]
A45 2321 2469 10.06.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.d3 b6 I think I mentioned this possibility some time ago but never actually dedicated a game to this obviously critical line, characteristically hitting b2 in the "d-Pawn Specials". In this peculiar case however, it looks quite risky for Black due to the more open character of the position, as also acknowledged by Wells in his book "Winning with the Trompowsky" Batsford 2003: "The evidence suggests that this ambitions queen sortie is probably asking just a bit too much. I have already had occasion to refer to the scepticism of IM Ilya Tsesarsky who writes on Trompowsky topics for ChessBase Magazine, and seems to have particularly little sympathy with a number of those cases where the White cause has to take on a gambit element. This is a case in point as (admittedly in 1997) he attached the highly optimistic marking." [ 5...cxd4 basically does not change the character of the position which in fact relies on the soundness of the main game's co u rse in a n y ca se , e xce p t t h a t it m a y provide W hite with the extra possibility 6.xe4 dxe4 7.xd4!? which, between us, could well be countered by ( 7.exd4 b6 8.c3 Transposes further where it is unclear that the black queen is best developed on b6 if it turns out that she cannot take the b2-pawn, in the end...) 7...c6!? Intending 8.xd8+ xd8 To be examined later in all cases when topical games become available. ] 6.xe4 dxe4 On [ 6...xb2 The Michael Adams exchange sacrifice is the historical reference after 7.xd5 ( Nevertheless 7.d2 dxe4 8.e2 may well be as good and there have been a couple of examples with the 2 alternatives since W ells' book came out...) 7...xa1 8.f3 ] 7.c3 xb2 Exactly the same remark as above when Black's idea is rather [ 7...cxd4 8.exd4 ( 8.xd4! c6? 9.xb6 2007
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 axb6 10.xe4? e5 11.g3 f5 ) 8...c6 ( 8...xb2 however, is especially important for the overall assessment of the line in order to avoid W hite's next great intermediate move. Then the most accurate m o m e n t t o e x e c u t e t h i s m a n o e u vr e i s probably as soon as on move 5 as Wells as well correctly points out. 9.ge2 g4 ) 9.ge2 g4 Intending to bring a rook to d8 to put the d4-pawn under pressure rather then take the b2 pawn. Then 8.Qxd4! is evidently an improvement compared to the previous note not only because of the extra tempo Nc3, leaving Black's e4-pawn under attack, but also because the exchange of the queens on b6 rather than d8 after 8... N c 6 ? , f o r i n s t a n c e , g r a ve l y a l t e r s t h e op p o s in g s tru ct ure t o a se em in gly lo st position after 9.Qxb6 axb6 10.Nd5! ] 8.ge2! [ 8.d5? a6 ] 8...g4 [ 8...cxd4 9.b1! Now naturally. See the next game. ] 9.xe4! xe2 10.xe2 cxd4 [ 10...b5+ 11.d3 xd3+ ( 11...c4 12.c3 ) 12.cxd3!? cxd4 13.ab1 W ells, P "W ith continuing pressure. ( 13.hc1 c6 14.ab1 e5 15.xb7? d8 Wells, P ) 13...b6 14.hc1 d7 ( 14...dxe3? 15.c8+ d7 16.xb8 ) 15.exd4 followed inevitably by Rc7. ] 11.d3! Interesting what Wells says at this stage: "This seems to be what Black overlooked, or at least underestimated. By denying Black's queen the b5 square, White at a stroke creates huge embarrassment in the opp os it io n ca mp. I d on 't know if Xie Ju n simply assumed that Adams would recapture, but if her calculations fell down for this reason she would find herself part of a very long illustrious tradition! Assumptions of recaptures have been responsible for some memorable mistakes at absolutely all levels." b6 The supposed improvement of Xie Jun's play, at last, and apparently a Novelty on the board although it was suggested by Tsesarsky in CBM 58, some 10 years ago... [ 11...f5 "Black panics under pressure. White's initiative was substantial anyway, but this move only serves to create
weaknesses for W hite to latch onto." Summerscale, A referring to Adams, M(2685) - Xie Jun(2510) Hastings 1996 1-0 (22). More cautious this time then the last month about a 22 move old achievement, I found this game had not escaped the nonchalant sagacity of my predecessor but to my immense surprise he only slipped it in as a note inside his commented version of... Adams-Smirin New-York PCA 1994! ] 12.hb1!? Avoiding leaving a2 hanging in some lines, while keeping the rook on the appropriate file for the idea a4-a5 if Black plays ...b7-b6 to soothe the pressure against b7. [ 12.ab1 c6 13.exd4 e6 14.c4 d7 15.d5 a6 16.f1 ( 16.he1 xa2+ 17.f1 c5 18.xc5 xc5 19.e2 a6 20.dxe6 0-0 ) 16...e5 17.e2 d8 18.g5 f6 19.h4 c5 20.h5+ f8 21.e2 d4 Tsesarsky, Since then, the engines have somewhat improved... ] 12...c6 13.exd4 e6 14.c4 d7 15.d5 a6 16.dxe6!? [ 16.f1! e7 ( 16...e5 Following Tsesarsky 17.e3 c8 18.b5! e7 19.d6 d8 20.c5!; 16...exd5 17.xd5 0-0-0 18.xf7 ) 17.d6 d8 18.g1 0-0 19.b5 ] 16...fxe6 17.d1 c6 18.d6+ xd6 19.xd6 c8! Not falling into the trap [ 19...xc4+? 20.e1 c6 21.ac1 when the opening of the c-file decisively helps White. xd6 22.xd6 b5 23.c7 a5 ( 23...a6 24.a3 d8 25.d6 ) 24.b7 ( 24.a3 d8 25.d6 b4 ) 24...b4 25.xb4 axb4 26.dxd7 xa2 27.xg7+- ] 20.ac1 f8 21.g5 [ 21.e3 b6 ] 21...f6 22.f3 f7 [ 22...xd6 23.xd6 f7 24.e3 b6 25.c5 e7! 26.d3 d5 And Black holds on. ] 23.a3 c5 24.a4+?! [ 24.xc5 xc5 25.e3 a5 26.c2 c7 ] 24...f8! 25.e3 e5 The picture has changed as it is clear now which king is the most e xpo sed .. . 26.b4+ g8 27.d6 d e f e n d i n g h 2 . h5 28.c5? Only giving squares as White will have no time to get rid of his weakness by c5-c6. [ 28.f1= ] 2008
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28...e8! [ 28...e5 29.e6 e8 30.h3 xh3 31.gxh3 Not very aesthetic but probably tenable for White. ] 29.c4 [ 29.c6 bxc6 30.xc6 d7 31.g3 b5+ ] 29...d7 [ 29...e5! With the double threat e5-e4 and Qxh2 was strong too. ] 30.xd7 [ 30.g3 xd1 31.xd1 f5 32.e2 b1 ] 30...xd7 31.xd7 e5 32.g4 g6 33.g5? [ 33.f2 leaving the Black queen imprisoned in a way. ] 33...h4! [ 33...xh2 34.xb7 e4 35.f4 ] 34.g4 [ 34.xb7 c4+ 35.f2 e4 36.f4 xa2+ 37.g3 e2 ] 34...f6! 35.h4 [ 35.xb7? a6+ ] 35...b6 36.d6 e7 37.h5 bxc5 38.c6 [ 38.xc5 c7 39.a3 ( 39.b4 e4! 40.hxg6 c4+ 41.f2 xb4 42.gxh7+ h8 ) 39...e4! 40.xe4 xe4+ 41.fxe4 c2+ ] 38...b7 39.xc5 e4 40.hxg6? b2+? [ 40...exf3+! 41.f2 ( 41.gxf3 b2+ 42.f1 xe3 43.gxh7+ h8! 44.c8+ xh7 45.c7+ h6 46.c6+ h5 47.c5+ e5 ) 41...xe3! 42.gxh7+ h8 43.xe3 e7+ 44.d4 d7+ 45.c3 xg4 ] [ Possibly White lost on time at this stage since the position is now absolutely unclear due to the unhappy position of the black queen on the a1-d4 diagonal. 40...b2+? 41.f1 exf3? ( 41...b1+ 42.c1 d3+ 43.f2 h5 44.xe4=; 41...hxg6 42.xg6+ f7 43.g4 exf3 44.f4+ e6 45.e4+ d6 46.d4+!= xc5 47.d2+ xe3 48.xb2 ) 42.gxh7+ f7 ( 42...h8? 43.d4+; 42...xh7? 43.h5# ) 43.f4+ e6 ( 43...g6 44.g5+! ) 44.gxf3 ] 0-1
2054 Dmitrenko,Viktor Gavrish,Leonid Kaissa Open Kharkov UKR (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2324 2030 25.01.2002
Tro mpo wsky att ack: Bla ck on ce again is severely punished for his greed in the Tromp. And as a result, his eighth move innovation is unlikely to catch on. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 Ambitious, if a little foolhardy. 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 bd7?! Asking for trouble. Practice has shown that Black has only one way of trying to stem the tide. [ 7...e5 is best. ] 8.f3 c7 A new move, but not one likely to increase the popularity of Black's 7th move. 9.b5 Highlighting Black's plight in this line. The advance e5-e6 is very hard to stop. a6 10.xd7+ xd7 11.e2 b5 12.e5 We can see that White's central pawn mass gives him a dangerous initiative. Meanwhile, the Black king is a long way from reaching safety. b7 13.0-0 b4? A strange decision. The White knight is already heading for e4, so why drive him there? 14.e4 dxe5 15.fxe5 xd5 [ 15...xe5 i s w e l l m e t b y 16.f4 when the pin is awkward to meet. ] 16.d6+ d8 17.xf7+! A temporary piece sacrifice, in order to open more lines on the kingside and in the centre. xf7 18.e6 h5 19.ad1! Clever play! There is no rush, the poor knight is effectively dead, as the vicious threat of Bf4 stops it from running away. c6 20.f4 a7 21.e5! This double attack on h5 and b8 decides matters quickly. xf3 [ 21...b7 22.xh5 xe6 23.g5 is also hopeless. ] 22.b8+ c8 23.xa7 c6 Black defends as best he can, but with his kingside pieces so utterly redundant, it is hardly surprising that he has no hope of saving the game. 24.xd7+! xd7 25.d1 1-0
2009
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2055 Dombai,Istvan Berczes,David Spring Festival (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 4.d4 The only idea. [ 4.e3 xc5 5.d2 g6 6.b3 g7 7.xc5 2214 a5+ 8.c3 xc5 9.d4 a5 10.e5 d8 2146 11.g3 0-0 12.d3 d6 Certic, B (2421)18.03.2002 Pa p, G (25 0 8) Po rto Sa n G iorgio 20 1 0 1-0(39) ] Trompowsky Attack: Black tries a tricky new 4...a5+ 5.c3 Unfortunately for White on [ 5.c3?! There is xc5! ( 5...xc5? 6.e3 idea in one of the main lines of the Tromp. xd4 7.exd4 b4 8.0-0-0 bd5 9.xd5 White makes one slip in unfamiliar territory xd5 10.d2 e6 11.g3 e7 12.g2 and is immediately terminated. 1.d4 f6 1/2-1/2 Boguszlavszkij, J (2258)-Galyas, M 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 (2406) Budapest 2002) 6.b4? ( 6.d2 6.d5 b6 7.b3 e6 8.e4 exd5 9.exd5 d6 b6= 7.b4?! ce4 8.xb6 axb6 9.b5 10.g5 0-0 A relatively unexplored idea, a4 ) 6...e6 ] which could give the unprepared Tromp player quite a bit to chew over. 11.xf6 The natural 5...xc5 6.e3 xd4?! [ 6...h5 7.e5 d6 8.xa6 bxa6 9.xc5 retort, after which White is forced to gum up dxc5 10.c4 b7 11.f3 ] his natural development. e8+ 12.e2 [ 6...a5!? 7.f3 d6= ] [ 12.f2 f4! is the point, when White c a n n o t h a n g o n t o h i s e xt r a p i e c e , f o r 7.exd4 b6 8.d2 b7 9.gf3 g6 10.c4 example: 13.h4 ( 13.g3 is relatively best, g7 11.0-0 c8 12.fe1 c7 13.d6!? but leaves Black very comfortable after: e6 14.a3 c7 15.e5 a6 16.b3 b5 17.df3? The knight is badly placed here in e3+ 14.g2 xf6 ) 13...c4+ And wins. ] [ 12.e2 is also possible, when one viable sight of the b7-bishop [ 17.b4 d5 18.a5 c8 19.g3 d6 continuation is: gxf6 13.d2 e5 14.c2 20.d3 ] f5 15.c4 h6 Black has good darksquared control, in order to make up for 17...d5 18.d3 d6 19.b4 df4! 20.d5 c5 21.ad1 a5! his kingside weaknesses. ] [ 21...xb3 22.axb3 a5 23.c6 xc6 12...gxf6 13.d2 c7 14.g3 Losing on the 24.xd6 ( 24.dxc6 0-0 ) 24...xd5 25.xd5 spot to Bxg3+, so White, realising the game xd5 26.xc7 a4 27.bxa4 bxa4 ] was up, resigned without further ado. [ 14.e4 is critical, when Black's best is 22.c6 xc6 [ 22...xb3 23.xd6 d7 24.xf4 ] probably e5 15.d2 d6 16.f4 d4 with a very complicated position. If you're in 23.dxc6 xc6 24.xc5 xc5 25.xd6 a4 the market for an offbeat idea against the 26.c2 a3 27.a6? [ 27.bxa3 xc3 28.e3 e5 29.a6 Tromp, you should certainly explore this ( 29.xe5 exd6 30.d3+ d7 31.xc5+ position thoroughly. ] dxc5 32.a4 b4 33.b3 e6; 29.d2 b2!! 0-1 30.e1 c3 ) 29...xc2 30.xe5 c1+ 31.e1 xe1+ 32.xe1 d7 33.a4 b4 34.b6? d5 ] 2056 A45 Dorner,Matthias 2243 27...axb2 28.a8+ d7 29.a7+ c7 Philipowski,Robert 2298 White must have wrongly evaluated this move NRW Class1 0304 (9.3) 25.04.2004 but [ 29...d6 30.exe7 xc3 31.ad7+ c5 [Eric Prié] 32.c7+ b4 33.e4+ a5 was also problematic. ] 1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 And now, to be exhaustive, some black options of lesser 30.xe7+ xe7 31.xc7+ d6 32.xf7 e6 importance. 3.dxc5 a6 [ 32...c8! 33.xg7 xc3 would have [ 3...e6 4.d6 At last one advantage of spared White some 80 moves! ] having the bishop on f4! ] 33.b7 c8 34.d2 xc3 35.e4+ d5 [ 3...b6!? ] 2010
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 36.xb5+ d4 37.f1 f4?? 38.g3?? Time trouble?! [ 38.b3! d3 ( 38...d2 39.xb2 c1 40.b4+ ) 39.d6!! ( 39.xc3?? xc3 40.xd3 xd3 41.xb2 c1# ) 39...c5 ( 39...b4 40.xb4+ xb4 41.xc8 ) 40.b5+ c4 41.xc3+ xb5 42.xd3+ ] 38...d3?? [ 38...d5 ] 39.e2?? Wow [ 39.xc3 xc3 40.xd3 xd3 41.xb2 ] 39...c1+ 40.d1? The least but the last. [ 40.f1 xa2 ] 40...d8! 41.b6 [ 41.b1 c4+ 42.c2 xb5 43.xc3+ b4 44.xb2 d2+ 45.xc1 xc3 ] 41...e5+ 42.d6 xd6+ 43.xd6 xd6-+ 44.b1 c5 45.h4 d4 46.g4 d3 47.e2 e5 48.f3 c4 49.h5 gxh5 50.xh7 hxg4 51.fxg4 d2 52.d1 b1+ 53.xb1 xb1 54.c2 a3+ 55.b3 c4 56.a4 a5 57.b5 e5 58.c5 f4 59.d5 xg4 60.e4 g5 61.d3 e1 62.e4 f6 63.d5 f5 64.d4 e6 65.e4 d6 66.d4 c6 67.d3 b5 68.e2 b4 69.d3 a4 70.c2 a3 71.b1 d6 72.a1 c4 73.b1 e3 74.a1 e5+ Black cannot be bothered [ 74...b4 75.b1 d2 76.a1 c2+ 77.b1 b4 78.a1 xa2 79.b1 b3 80.a1 c1 81.b1 a3 82.a1 b2+ 83.b1 c3# ] 75.b1 c4 76.c2 xa2 77.d3 b3 78.e4 c3 79.d5 d3 80.c5 e3 81.c6 c4 82.b6 d5 83.b5 d6 84.b6 f5 85.b5 d4+ 86.b6 f4 87.b7 d6 88.b6 d2 89.b7 a5 90.a7 c7 91.b7 d7 92.a7 c6 93.a8 e6 94.a7 c5 95.a8 d7 96.a7 b6 97.a6 b8 98.a5 d5 99.a4 c5 100.b3 b4 101.c3 f4 102.b3 d2 103.a4 c2 104.b3 d4+ 105.a4 c4 106.a3 b5 107.a2 b4 108.b2 e3 109.a2 c1 110.b1 a3 111.a2 a4 112.a1 b3 113.b1 b5 0-1
2057 Drazic,Sinisa Inkiov,Ventzislav open Cesenatico (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2508 2421 28.10.2000
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 a6 4.c3!? xc5 5.f3 d6 Black accepts entering a Scheveningen Sicilian-type position, English Attack style with his queen's knight not on c6. It is quite original because W hite's king's knight will not go to d4 but rather support a surge of pawns on the kingside. [ 5...b6!? is critical and fully justified in reaction against the weakening of the dark squares initiated by W hite's last move. 6.d2 xb2 7.b1 a3 8.e4 With compensation. ( 8.b5 xa2 )] 6.e4 e6 7.d2 e7 8.h4 [ 8.b5+ d7 As suggested by the winner of this game in Informator No. 80, is not an impressive alternative because, whatever White plays now, 9.a4, 9.Rd1, 9.Ne2, 9.Nh3, Black will reply 9...a6 forcing the exchange on d7 with a recapture of the c5-knight where these two moves, ...a6 and ...Nbd7, are part of a normal setup of Black's. Furthermore, this exchange of bishops, with the pawn on c2 does not weaken Black's position and if proved troublesome, would have been easy to avoid on move 6 with ... a6 instead of 6...e6. ] 8...h6 9.e3 a6 10.0-0-0 Threatening 11.e5. c7 11.b1 b5 [ Black could have started the thematic "ra ce " wit h 11...d7 12.g4 b5 13.h3 c6! ( 13...b4 14.e2 b4 is now hanging while the Nf6 does not have the square d7 after W hite's g5.) 14.g5 hxg5 15.hxg5 fd7 16.a3 Which is typically double edged after 16... Qb7 or 16...Rb8. Evidently, 16.a3 is not the only move the aggressive line 16. Qd4 e5 17.Qd2 Nb6 can be considered, but the thing is that the c4-square has to be guarded by the Bf1, otherwise the idea of bringing a knight to it will be very strong for Black. ] 12.xb5+!? In normal positions with reduced material, it is generally interesting to have 3 connected passed pawns supported by a bishop and a king, against a knight, a bishop 2011
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 OF THE OPPOSITE COLOUR and a king, for the s im ple rea son t ha t the b ishop o f th e attacking side not only strongly supports the advance of his infantry on the squares of his colour but also threatens the enemy knight trying to blockade the pawns on the squares of the other colour, with the help of his bishop. So, White's plan is clear. axb5 13.xb5 c6 [ 13...a5 14.xa5 ( 14.xd6+ xd6 15.xd6 xa2+ 16.c1 a1+ 17.d2 cxe4+ ) 14...xa5 15.xd6+ xd6 16.xd6 e7 17.d2 a6 18.h3 b8 with the same characteristics as in the game is undeniably an improvement. Fritz even gives the surprising line ] [ 13...b7 14.xd6+ xd6 15.xd6 cd7 16.c5 g8 17.d4 h7 as the best! This is far from clear, but on the other hand, it is true that Black has firm control over the light squares and that the presence of the black queen "strongly" prevents the white pawns, in front of it, from mobilizing. ] 14.xd6+ xd6 15.xd6 xd6 16.xd6 a6 [ 16...a4 17.e2 e7 18.d2 a6 19.c1 hb8 20.b3 With the idea Bd4 Drazic,S ] 17.e2 e5 [ 17...e7 is awarded an exclamation mark by the Yugoslav grandmaster who considers t h e p o s i t i o n t o b e e q u a l a f t e r 18.d2 pro ba b ly be cau se o f d8 which allows Black to keep an active rook on the queenside while controlling the key square d6 annihilating the enemy pressure along the d-file. ] 18.hd1 e6 19.b3 0-0?! It was better to keep the king closer to the center with 19... Ke7. 20.c3 fb8 21.b2 White does not have to fear anything against his queenside castling with the queens swapped off. b4 22.1d2 e8 [ 22...c8 23.a3 a6 24.a4 ] 23.b6 White enjoys a big advantage as the good placement of his forces authorizes him to exchange the right pieces in order to be able to set in motion his queenside majority. xb6 24.xb6 c6 25.a4 b8 26.e3 f5 27.c5 c8 [ 27...f7 28.exf5 xf5 29.c4 ] 28.exf5 xf5 29.c4 This a typical situation
where the three pawns are much superior to the piece, a knight in this case which has no square to lean on but this statement mainly results from positional advantages like the pawn structure and the activity of the pieces. f7 30.c3 e7 [ 30...a8 31.a4 b8 32.g4 e6 ( 32...h7 33.d7+ ) 33.h5 ] 31.a3 c7 [ 31...a8 was the last chance to slow down the steamroller. ] 32.b4 a8 Too late! 33.a4 e6 34.g4 h7 35.b5 cd4 36.xe6 xe6 37.xd4 exd4+ 38.xd4! Good judgment. [ 38.b4 d3 is less clear ] 38...xa4 39.b6 a1 [ 39...a3+ 40.b4 xf3 41.b7 A) 41...f1 42.d6+ xd6 ( 42...e7 43.b6 ) 43.b8+ e7 44.h8; B) 41...f8 42.c5 e5 43.c6 xd4 44.c7 ] 40.b4? Time trouble probably. [ 40.c5 b1 41.d6+ e5 ( 41...e7 42.c6 ) 42.d7 f1 43.b7 xf3+ 44.b4 f8 45.c6 e4 46.c5 ] 40...c2 41.c5 a4? [ 41...a5+ 42.c6 a4+ 43.b7 ( 43.c7 c5+ 44.d8? c6 ) A) 43...e8 44.h5! d7 Black has nothing to do. ( 44...c5 45.a6 ) 45.f4 e7 46.f5 d8 47.d5; B) 43...b3 B1) 44.b8 c5 45.b7 xc4 46.a7 c7 ( 46...a5+ 47.b6 b5+ 48.c6 ) 47.b6 ( 47.xc4?? xc4 48.b8 a4+ 49.b6 b4+ 50.c7 xb8 51.xb8 e5-+ ) 47...xb7+ 48.xb7 d5+ 49.c7 xf3 is not a clear win, and even a theoretical draw if g5 is exchanged against h4!; B2) 44.f4!! e7 ( 44...c5 45.a7 a5+ 46.b8; 44...h5 45.gxh5 xh5 46.a6 ) 45.b8 c5 46.b7 xc4 47.a7 a5+ 48.b6 b5+ 49.c6 f1 50.d1 c4 51.c1 b4 ( 51...e2 52.e1 ) 52.c7+- ] 42.b7 1-0
2012
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2058 Drazic,Sinisa Krejic,Igor 3rd Open Backa Palanka YUG (6) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2059 2474 Dresen,Ulrich 2231 Berg,Michael 07.05.2002 BL2-West 0506 (5.5) [Eric Prié]
Trompowsky: Some King's Indian players will go to any lengths to achieve their favourite fianchetto. However, the resulting positions resemble the Pirc more than anything, and the well prepared Tromp specialist can feel right at home. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 g6 This move is ama zingly popular, despit e Black's poor results with it. I suspect that most Black players are trying to get back to their beloved King's Indian. However, in the Tromp, things are rarely so simple. 4.f3 f6 5.e4 d6 6.c3 g7 7.d2 This is certainly W hite's m ost aggre ssive way of playing. W hite prepares to exchange dark squared bishops. c6 8.0-0-0 bd7 9.e5 Impressively direct play, putting Black on the back foot. dxe5 10.dxe5 h5 11.e6! Excellent play, opening up the Black king. fxe6 12.h6 a5 13.h3 [ 13.xg7!? ] 13...0-0 [ 13...xc3 should have been given serious co ns id erat io n . 14.xc3 xc3 15.bxc3 gives White compensation for the pawn, but no more. ] 14.xg7 xg7 15.c4 b6 16.b3 d5 17.d4+ White begins to pile on the pressure. hf6 18.e4 b6 The first signs of panic start to emerge, as Black desperately tries to exchange queens. [ 18...c7 would have been much better, preparing to block the a1-h8 diagonal with e5. ] 19.e5 c7?? A horrible blunder, born out of Black's anxiety to exchange queens. [ 19...g8 is relatively best, escaping the pin. ] 20.xd5 1-0
A45 2296 2341 15.01.2006
1.d4 f6 2.g5 d5 3.e3! Accepting the transposition into the 2...Ne4 Tromp of the 1st two games without giving up the bishop as in the last 3 games! e4 4.f4 This is why I am so ve ry in t ere st e d in th is p osit io n wh ic h embraces two of the major Tromp problems: 2...d5 and 2...Ne4 3.Bf4 d5. c5 5.d2!? Considering the numerous questions left in suspense with [ 5.d3 And other lines than f6 or ( 5...c6 6.xe4 dxe4 7.d5 or their introduction (to these questions...) in the 2 previous games, this move, alleviating the possible problems against b2, represents a decent alternative to Bd3 in my opinion, provided that Black has already committed himself with ...c7-c5. )] 5...xd2 [ 5...f6 6.c3 ] 6.xd2 c6 [ 6...cxd4 7.exd4 c6 8.f3 A) 8...f5 9.h4 ( 9.d3 xd3 10.xd3 e6 11.0-0 1/2-1/2 Kosanovic, G (2428) Szeberenyi, A (2411) Budapest 2002) 9...e4 10.f3 e5 ( 10...xc2! see below ) 11.dxe5 xh4+ 12.g3 e7 13.fxe4 dxe4 14.g2!? ( 14.0-0-0 d8 15.e3 xd1+ 16.xd1 ) 14...d8 15.e2 d4 16.xe4 f5 ( 16...b4+ 17.c3 xb2 18.0-0 c5 19.h1 xc3 20.g5 ) 17.xb7 xc2+ 18.e2; B) 8...b6?! 9.c3 f5 10.h4 The key move in this line. g4 11.h3 h5 12.g4 g6 13.xg6 hxg6 14.h4 0-0-0 15.0-0-0 e6 16.d3 d6 17.xd6 xd6 18.h5 Lputian, S (2590) - Alexopoulos, G (2255) Washington DC 1994 ] 7.f3 g4 High rated Black players have often erred in this position by being afraid of getting their queen's bishop outside of the pawn chain and playing the timorous 7... e6 (Chekhov, Andres Gonzalez, A) or the useless [ 7...b6 8.c3 Is a move that actually helps White when the control of the b5-square can be achieved in a more economical way than 2013
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 by posting the queen on this passive square. cxd4 ( 8...g4? 9.dxc5 xc5 10.b4 b6 11.xd5 ) 9.exd4 f5 10.h4 e4 ( 10...d7 11.d3 e6 12.e2 e7 13.f3 h6 14.0-0 Legky, N (2453) - Imbert, C (2136) Montigny le Bretonneux op 2005) 11.f3 g6 12.xg6 hxg6 13.d3 e6 14.0-0 I prefer Lputian's long castling just above... 0-0-0 15.b4 d6? ( 15...e5! ) 16.xd6 xd6 17.a4 dd8 18.a5 c7 19.g3 Giessmann, S (2287) - Schebler, G (2480) Hoeckendorf 2004 0-1(47) ] [ 7...cxd4! 8.exd4 Unless Black plays the sharp line with 5...Qb6!? 6.Nxe4 dxe4, which is largely overestimated by Wells (I guess because he had the preconceived notion of advocating the other questioning of the black knight on e4 by e3 and Bd3...) from the black point of view as we shall see later, you will likely obtain this fixed Caro-Kann structure in this 5.Nd2!? line, unless of course Black shuts his queen's bishop in with ...e7-e6, in order to protect c5 or take the risk of sacrificing that very pawn, at the risk of never seeing it back, as could have occurred in the main game... A) 8...g4!? 9.e5 xe5 A1) 10.dxe5 a6 11.d3 ( 11.d4 e6 12.a4+ b5 ) 11...e6 12.0-0 e7 13.e3 0-0 14.g3 h5; A2) 10.xe5 b6 11.c3 ( 11.d3!? f6 12.f4 e6+ 13.e3 ) 11...d7 12.e2 b5 13.0-0 xe2 14.xe2 e6 15.h5! Xf7 Kosanovic, G (2442) Prelevic, D (2358) TS10 GM(8) Belgrade 2001; B) 8...f5! The right place for the bishop. 9.c3 ( 9.h4 then is critical, however... e4! 10.f3 xc2!! The fantastic idea of leaving the queen on d8 to eye the h4 square. 11.xc2 e6 Regaining the piece with interest. 12.g3 g5 13.e5 xe5 14.dxe5 a5+ 15.f2 c5+ 16.g2 gxh4 ) 9...e6 10.d3 xd3 11.xd3 d6 12.xd6 xd6 13.0-0 1/2-1/2 Kosanovic, G (2442)-Nestorovic, D (2428) TS10GM Belgrade 2001 3 rounds before. Clearly, if White cannot profit from the having kept his king's knight (who besides, momentarily hampers his own realization of the minority attack by f2-f4-
f5) to harass the enemy bishop as soon as it extracts himself out of the pawn chain, then the advantage generated by the extratempo Qd2 has to be qualified. Nevertheless, this position is ultra solid for White and a player used to the subtlety of this structure, as in a reversed O r t h o d o x E xc h a n g e , wo u l d n o t m i n d continuing it for a while after 13... 0-0 14. a4... ] 8.e2 [ 8.dxc5! xf3 ( 8...e6 9.d4! xc5 10.xc6 bxc6 11.c3 b6 12.xg7 f8 13.xg4 xb2 14.d1 c3+ 15.e2+-; 8...f6 9.b4 e5 10.g3 a5 11.c3 ) 9.gxf3 e5 ( 9...e6 10.0-0-0 xc5 11.c3 f8 12.g1 ) 10.g3 xc5 11.0-0-0 d4 12.exd4 exd4 13.e1+ e7 14.c4 appears somewhat unpleasant for Black. ] 8...e6 9.0-0 cxd4 10.exd4 d6 11.fe1 0-0 12.c3 xf3 In Kosanovic's footsteps, It seems that this unsuspicious variation is auspicious to peacefulness! ½-½
2060 Dresen,Ulrich Spiekermann,Michael NRW-Liga I 9293 [Eric Prié]
A45 2270 1993
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 e6 7.e4 exd5 8.exd5 [ 8.e5?! This well known theme does not pro m ise a n yt hin g f o r W h it e in t his lin e because of h5 hitting the bishop. Laurent Fressinet told me had been through this line as well during his prep. 9.c1 d8! 10.g3 c6 11.f4 g6 12.xd5 a6? A waste of time with serious consequences. ( 12...d6!= without fearing 13.b5 b6 14.a3 e6 ) 13.f3 d6 14.g5! e7 15.c4 e6 16.xe6 fxe6 17.xd6! xd6 18.exd6 e5 19.0-0 xd6 20.f5! f8 21.fxg6 xf1+ 22.xf1 hxg6 23.e3 White has a pair of b i sh o p s i n c l u d in g a s u p e r- s t r o n g l ig h t squared bishop, better pawn structure , wing majority and good prospective (e4 and c4) squares for the knight. Schenk,A(2325)Ananjev DLM-chT Bad Homburg 2000 1-0 2014
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 (37) ] 8...b5? This game is just a curiosity. Indeed, this b-pawn thrust is thematic in such Benoni positions to undermine the support of White's strong d5 pawn but here it does not tell us more than what we already know... 9.a3! [ 9.d6 b7 ( 9...a6 transposes to a further note. ) 10.e2+ d8 11.xb5 xb5 12.xb5 forcing e8 was another immediate and obvious way of showing what was wrong with 8...b5? ] 9...c4? [ 9...a6 10.d6 c6 11.e2+ ( 11.d2 d8 ) 11...d8 12.d2 ] 10.d6 a6 11.d4!! Black could have resigned here: As a result of pushing his qu e e n s i d e p a wn s h e o n l y s u c c e e d e d i n completely destroying his own position. b8 [ 11...d8 12.g5! Another idea behind White's previous move. ] 12.e5+ d8 13.xc4! a4 14.b3 bxc4 [ 14...b4 15.cxb4 xb4+ 16.d2 still traps the queen. ] 15.bxa4 1-0
2061 A45 Dubov,Daniil 2622 Sutovsky,Emil 2673 European Championship, Legnica (11.16) [Richard Palliser] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 e6 [ Let's not forget Eric's view: "This has sometimes been considered the poor r e l a t i v e o f B l a c k ' s m a i n m o v e , 6...b6 , but I'm not convinced that it's so bad." Pertinent words, indeed, as we shall see. ] 7.e4 exd5 [ An alternative is to retain the tension with 7...d6!? and after 8.dxe6 ( 8.d2 usually transposes to note 'a' to White's 9th move in our main game after exd5 9.exd5 ) 8...xe6 9.a3 d5 10.xb8 ( 10.b3!? was suggested by Eric in a joint annotation with leading French Grandmaster Laurent Fressinet, they continued b6 11.xb6 axb6 12.b5 a6 13.e5 d7 and commented "with complicated play",
which is fair, although in Saldano DayerFlores, Buenos Aires 2010, 14.h3 e7 15.g3 h5! 16.d6+? f8 17.xb7 h4 18.f4 c7 19.d6 xh3 20.gxh3 e6 21.e3 xe5 saw White being completely outplayed ) 10...xb8 11.b5+ e7 12.e5 a critical position arises. W hite has displaced the black king, but Black can point to the bishop-pair and potential queenside expansion with ..b5 as trumps. At this stage A) M u c h m o r e r e c e n t l y 12...e8!? was tried, preparing to drive White back with ... Nc7 and after A1) deviating from the earlier 13.f4 c7 14.d3 b5 ( 14...c4 15.e2 e8 16.c2 g5!? could well be fun, and for b o t h s i d e s) 15.c2 d4? 16.b4! of Shantharam-Muralidharan, India 1994, but, of course, Black's play isn't so hard to improve here; A2) 13.xe8 xe8 14.e2 e7 15.0-0 d8 16.f4 ( White's problem is his knight on a3 and it's hard to believe that 16.f4 b6 could be too troubling for Black ) 16...g6 17.g3 d4 18.c4 b4 19.d3 g8 chances were roughly balanced in a clash between two rising stars, Zherebukh-Lenderman, Wheeling 2013.; B) 12...d7 was seen in FressinetDominguez, W ijk aan Zee 2004, as annotated by Fressinet in collaboration with Eric. ] 8.exd5 d6 9.e2+ Criticised by Eric before and not without some reason. The alternatives: [ a) 9.d2 e7 10.c4 d8 11.c3 0-0 looks a little passive for Black, but isn't so bad for him, partly because W hite's king position and kingside development aren't entirely ideal. See my notes to V.PopovNedilko, European Championship, Plovdiv 2012. ] [ b) 9.a3 e7 10.c4 d8 11.a4 0-0 12.e2 e8 is another line where practice has shown that Black's chances are by no means inferior. ] 9...e7! 10.xd6 xd5 11.a3!? I don't believe that this should bring White the advantage, but it does seem that the move ha s b e e n n e gle ct e d . I n de e d , t he o ry h a s 2015
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 tended to focus instead on: [ a) For Eric's notes to 11.e5?! c6 12.xd5 e6! see the game Neihs-Cvitan, Oberwart 1993, in the Archive. ] [ b) 11.xb8 xb8 12.e5 b6!! is another important point - see Eric's notes to Moelder-Engl, correspondence 2002. ] [ c) I suggested that White might have nothing better than 11.xe7 xe7 12.b5+ in my 'Starting Out' guide, but this is hardly inspiring for him and after bc6 13.xa5 xa5 14.b5+ d8 15.d2 c7 16.e2 a6 17.d3 d8 Black obtained sufficient cou nt erplay in Zivan ic-B ece rra Rive ro , Richardson 2011. ] 11...e6 [ Logically blocking the e-file. In the only previous test of this position which I could find, Black employed a temporary piece sacrifice, 11...0-0 12.xe7 e8 , but after 13.0-0-0 xe7 ( 13...xe7? 14.b5! xb5 15.xb5 e6 16.c4 wins a piece) 14.b5 (Stefanova-Zdebskaja, Beijing (blitz) 2008) bc6 15.xa5 xa5 16.b5 White has a small initiative, even if one would favour Black to hold after, say, f8 17.c7 b8 18.d3 f5 19.e2 bc8 20.b5 cd8 21.f4 . ] 12.xe7 xe7? [ The cause of Black's difficulties and I'm at a loss to explain why Sutovsky rejected 12...xe7 . Possibly he just didn't want to allow a 'dull' queenless middlegame after the check on b5. However, that would hold no fears for Black and yet W hite should probably take it: 13.c4 ( 13.b5+ bc6! is at least equal for Black, since he easily meets 14.xa5 xa5 15.b5 with d5 ) 13...c7 14.0-0-0?! 0-0 really doesn't look like something the first player should be doing Black's attack will be much the faster with ...b5-b4 already a threat. ] 13.c4 c7 14.h3! Bringing the knight straight into the fray and exploiting the fact that Black can no longer exchange on h3 due to his misguided 12th move. e8 [ At f irs t t h e m a ch in e in d ica t e s 14...c6 15.g5 ad8 , but even here White is for choice: 16.g3 b5 17.h3! and after bxc4 18.xe6 fxe6? ( 18...e5 really has to be tried ) 19.xe6+ f8 20.0-0-0 d7
21.e4 White's initiative will enable him to regain the sacrificed material with interest. ] 15.g5 f8 Sutovsky has almost managed to castle by hand, but at the cost of a lot of time and, indeed, now Dubov is able to castle long without fearing a sudden counterattack. 16.0-0-0 c6 [ And not 16...b5? 17.xd5! , with the idea of xd5 18.xh7+ g8 19.xe8+ xh7 20.d3+ g6 21.xb5 . ] 17.f2! [ Wisely getting off the e-file rather than grab a pawn. Indeed, after 17.xh7+? g8 18.g5 b5! ( even stronger than regaining t h e p a wn wi t h 18...f5 19.e4 xe4 20.fxe4 f6 ) 19.d2 b4 Black would suddenly have obtained a strong initiative. ] 17...ad8 [ 17...f4+ 18.d2 ad8 was an alternative, but after 19.xf4 xf4 20.xd8 xd8 I dare say Dubov would now ha ve gra bb ed : 21.xh7+ e7 22.g5 f o llo wed b y g3 if ne e d e d wh e n Bla c k 's compensation should be insufficient. ] 18.xe6+ fxe6 19.d3?! [ One would prefer not to grab pawns against such a legendary attacking player as Emil S u t o vs k y , b u t 19.xc5+ g8 20.d3 looks like a safe enough extra pawn from what I can see. ] 19...b5? [ Typical Sutovsky, but this asks too much. Correct was the calm 19...b6 when White would presumably have improved his position, such as with 20.g3 , after which he could have claimed a pleasant edge ( but not 20.xh7? f4+ 21.d2 e3 22.de1 c4 23.e2 xd2 24.xd2 g6! 25.xg6 e5 with very dangerous counterplay. )] 20.xc5+ g8 21.e3 [ Keeping it safe, although it seems that White might have grabbed: 21.xb5!? b8 22.c5 f4+ 23.d2 , and if ec8 24.d6 .] 21...b4 22.he1 bxc3 23.xd5 xd5? [ I've little doubt Sutovsky saw the following tactic, but this desperate exchange sacrifice was never really going to save him. After 23...cxb2+? 24.b1 exd5 25.xe8+ xe8 26.b5 it would have been a classic case of 2016
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pin and win, ] [ but 23...exd5 24.xe8+ xe8 25.bxc3 ( 25.b5 is no longer so clear on account of f4+ 26.b1 b4! ) 25...f4+ would at least have kept the game going. ] 24.xh7+! xh7 25.xd5 exd5 26.xe8 f4+ 27.e3 cxb2+ 28.b1 c4 Taking stock we can see that White's king is experiencing a little discomfort, but to a player of young Dubov's class there is no real danger and , ind ee d, he con solid at es we ll. 29.a3! d4 [ U n f o r t u n a t e l y f o r B l a c k , 29...d4? only leads to him being mated after 30.e4+ h6 31.h8+ . ] 30.d2 a5 31.e1 h8 32.e8+ h7 33.b8! Having repeated to gain time on the clock, White finds the best way to remove the thorn in his side from b2. f5 [ 33...b3 may look strong until you spot 34.c2+ xc2+ 35.xc2 . ] 34.xb2 c7 35.b5 e5+ 36.a2 e3 37.xa5 Netting a second pawn. The game is up for the amiable Israeli Grandmaster. e6 38.d3+ f5 39.g4 d4+ 40.b2 1-0
2062 Dunworth,Christopher Borriss,Martin EUCup 17th Panormos (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2289 2445 24.09.2001
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.c1 e6 8.c4 "?, big advantage for Black, losing or sacrificing a pawn - it is not important. In any case, W hite hasn't compensation for pawn lack." IM Ilya Tsesarsky Ilya (2416) Gee! Fritz or Junior, in the case of the dedicated Israeli Chessbase commentator for the Trompowsky, could not have 'said' it better! "Space, development, initiative. These words mean nothing to some players, who will do anything for an extra pawn. Will they ever learn?" GM Aaron Summerscale (2483) in the introduction of Wells-Boriss. What a dilemma! Who should I trust? And how to express my reservations for both of these contradictory, yet 'strong', statements in a diplomatic way, as, conversely,
they both lack analytic rigour for sounding so inadequately nuanced? ... I prefer when Peter Wells comments games on the Tromp! b4+ 9.c3 xc4 From what we have seen, the c4 pawn sac may not be very good for Black but what, with reversed colours ? 10.e4 b4 11.d2 b6 12.c4 d6 13.ge2 e5! "B la ck is d e sp e rat e ly t ryin g t o clo s e t h e position." Summerscale I like the "desperately"... 14.f4 bd7 15.0-0 a6 16.g3 d8! This stubborn hardworking German player... who improves his game against Wells just a few months afterwards! When it seemed from Aaron's comments that he never had a chance... 17.a4 g6 18.a3 [ 18.f5 was obligatory h5!? The Ng3 is badly placed compared to f3 and not at all in his "most aggressive position". ] 18...h6! 19.f5 xd2 20.xd2 g8! 21.fxg6? Any move other than this, keeping some tension in the position was more tenacious. But it is quite true that W hite's compensation appears very slim, if not clearly insufficient, when you consider that Black is threatening ...g6-g5 closing the position. That would leave him with a more difficult task of converting his material advantage, though. fxg6 22.d1 f8! 23.af3 g8! The rest of the game, although quite instructive, does not need further comment. It just sees W hite despera tely t rying t o jam the met hodica l progress of the technical realization of a good extra pawn, and in a better position because of the poor c4-bishop. 24.h3 xf3 25.xf3 df6 26.c3 [ 26.b4 b6 ] 26...d7 27.f2 f7! Thumbing his nose at White! 28.h1 g7 29.g4 h6 30.f1 b6 31.b3 f8 32.f2 d8 33.fd1 a5 34.e3 h7! 35.xf8 xf8 36.d3 h7 37.g2 gf6 38.g3? xc3! 0-1
2017
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2063 Duquesnoy,Jean Philip Sakaev,Konstantin TCh-Top 16 Gp A (4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2242 2649 30.03.2006
1.d4 f6 [ 1...d5 2.f4 f6 3.e3 c5 4.dxc5 c6 5.b5 Suddenly unveiling the "pot aux roses": Yes, it is exactly the same position, with a 2 move difference, that we know is bad for White from the 1...d5 Neo-London!... See the Shaefer-Peredy game for further developments on this matter. d7 6.c3 e5!? A) 7.xc6 xc6 8.xe5 d4 9.exd4 xg2 10.e2 e7 ( 10...e7!? 11.b5 d8 ) 11.xf6 gxf6 12.0-0-0 xh1 13.h3 d7! ( 13...c6 14.d5 d7 15.f4 0-0 16.d6 ) 14.xh1 0-0-0 15.d1 xh3 16.xe7; B) 7.g5? d4 8.exd4 xd4 9.xd7+ xd7 10.xf6 gxf6 11.ge2 0-0-0 12.xd4 exd4 13.e2 d5 14.0-0 g8 15.g3 xc5 16.d3 h5 17.fe1 h4 18.e4 f5 19.e3 A finger mistake or a bad transcription, White probably intended 19.Qh3 which is unclear. dxe3 0-1 Zivic, SHuzen, P Email 2001 ] 2.g5 d5 3.e3! e4!? 4.f4 Of course there are also the transpositions 4.Bh4?! and 4.h4!? in the case of the 2...Ne4 move order that I will not f orget when I complete the jigsaw on the alliance of ...Nf6-e4 and ...d7-d5. c5 [ 4...c6!? 5.d3 d6 Intending ...Bf5 and all the positions with the idea ...Ne4-d6 also represent a problem but possibly a minor one compared to the text move. ] [ I also examined 4...e6, 4...Nc6 at the time but not 4...f5 5.f3 ( 5.c4?! e5 ) 5...d6!? This does not look critical but would deserve a g a m e s o m e t i m e . ( White has a super score on 5...f6?! 6.c4 )] 5.d3!? More surely than 5. c3 at that stage [ 5.d2 Is the alternative that will be relevant only in case there happens to be a gap with the move 6.c3! after the black knight's back kick. ] 5...f6! [ 5...cxd4 On the other hand should not
represent a problem but probably not b e c a u s e o f 6.xe4 dxe4 7.xd4 I mentioned like walking gingerly in PriéN o r d h a l b e c a u s e o f c6! which I had missed at the time, but rather because of 7. exd4 to be seen quite soon and 8.Nc3 in case of the badly reputed 8...Qb6. ] [ 5...b6 neither because of 6.xe4 dxe4 ( 6...xb2 7.xd5 xa1 8.f3 Probably wins by force, after all it is only an exchange! ) 7.c3 cxd4 Has to be considered a less precise way to reach the same position in case of 8.exd4 because of 8.xd4! Th is t im e . xb2? 9.d5 xd4 10.c7+ d7 11.exd4 Winning at least an excha nge .. .bu t wit h the quee ns of f th e board! ] [ 5...c6?! Is the 4th term of the alternative on which I have already focused around Radjabov-Polgar, J Benidorm 2003. 6.xe4 dxe4 7.d5 ] 6.dxc5?! [ 6.f3 b6 ( 6...c6 7.0-0 g4 8.c3 e6 9.bd2= Wells, P (2515) - Sutovsky, E (2575) Oxford GMA 1998 0-1(39)) 7.dxc5 ( 7.c3? c4 8.e2 xb2; 7.b3 g4 8.0-0 My Fritz starts to get really excited here by the ephemeral W hite's advance of d e ve lo p m e n t b u t I kn o w it , a n d h o w t o moderate its ardour... cxd4 9.exd4 c6 10.c3 e6 11.e2 e7 12.e3 0-0 13.e5 xe5 14.xe5 h5 15.h3 g6 16.xg6 hxg6 17.d2 ac8= ) 7...xb2 ( 7...xc5? 8.c3 ) 8.bd2 c6 9.0-0 g6 10.c4 g7 ] [ 6.c3! Is the move of course, to be seen next month. It is a pity the Englishman so often gave the impression of repudiating Caissa and "normal chess" in his aggravating attempt to justify the title of his book: "Winning with the Trompowsky"... ] 6...c6! 7.b5 d7 8.xc6?! Never freely give your bishops against knights! [ Thus, with little suspense until the next game, from a third order of moves... 8.c3 e6 ( 8...e5!? 9.xc6 xc6 10.xe5 d4 11.exd4 xg2 12.e2 See above in the London move order.) 9.xc6 xc6 10.d4 a5?! ( 10...a5 11.b4 a3 12.d6 xd6 13.cxd6 a5 14.b5 d7 15.e4 b4 16.ge2 xd4 17.xd4 c8 18.d2? 2018
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e5 19.f3 d4; 10...d7 11.b4 e7 Golod in INF89/31) 11.f3 d7 12.d6 f6 13.0-0-0? ( 13.xf8! ) 13...xd4 14.exd4 xd6 15.cxd6 f6 16.he1 f7= Skembris, S (2439) - Golod, V (2544) Zurich op 2003 0-1(62) ] [ 8.e2 e6 9.xc6 xc6 10.d4 d7 11.b4? ( 11.bc3 xc5 12.0-0= ) 11...a5 12.c3 e7 ] [ 8.c3!? Seems to be the only move then. e5?! ( 8...e6 9.b4 a5 Transposes into Winants-Carlsen.) 9.xc6 xc6 10.xe5 d4 11.f3 dxe3 12.xd8+ xd8 13.fxe3 xc5 14.d4 ] 8...xc6 9.f3 a5+ 10.bd2 xc5 Black has gained the centre and the 2 bishops. Since it is easy to catch up in development, I see no other plan for the opponent than trying t o e s t a b l is h s o m e b l o c ka d e o n t h e d a r k s qu a re s . S o m e t h in g t h a t p ro ve d n o t t o o difficult to lift with the continuation of the game... 11.0-0 e6 12.e5 [ 12.b3 b6 13.d4 ] 12...e7 13.a4 0-0 14.b3 b6 15.a5 [ 15.d3 d7 ] 15...a6 16.g5? [ 16.xc6 bxc6 ( 16...xc6 17.d4 d7 18.a6 b6 19.e2 Securing a good b5 square for the Nd4.) 17.d3 xd3 18.cxd3 d7! And Black seizes the control of operations, intending ...e5, ...Rb8. 19.d4 c5 20.c6? f6 21.d6 fc8 22.e7+ xe7 23.xe7 ab8 ] 16...b5 17.e1 d6 18.d4 a6 19.d3 [ 19.f4 d8 With the idea Bd6, Qc7. ] 19...ac8 20.h3 e4 21.f4 d8 22.f3 f6 23.d2 e8 24.h2 f8 25.ec1 h6 26.b4? White cannot stand the unpleasant impression of being ground down little by little and accelerates his fate. e5 27.f5 [ 27.xa6 exd4 28.b4 dxe3 ] 27...b5 28.d1 d7 29.g4 g6! [ 29...xb4? 30.xb4 xc2 31.d6 e7 32.b3 ] 30.xd5? Definitely evacuating the stress by losing a piece after the first fissure of the 26th move. [ 30.h4 xb4 ( 30...d4 may even be stronger. ) 31.xb4 xc2 ] 30...xd5 31.xd5 xd5 32.xd5 c6-+ A n o b vi o u s i n t e rm e d i a t e m o ve , t h o u g h .
33.xe5 gxf5 34.gxf5 xe5 35.xe5 xf3 36.c3 e4 37.f6 c5 38.f4 c6 The game as it was originally recorded gives 38...Bg6 but it is a move hardly imaginable on the part of the St-Petersburg GM, even in the most extreme time trouble. So I am rather i n c l i n e d t o f a vo u r a c o m m o n c o n f u s i o n between the c and g files... 39.f2 [ 39.a6 b5 40.b8 g5+ 41.f2 c5 ] 39...f5 0-1
2064 A45 Fernandez del Rio,Sergio San Emeterio Cabanes,Jose Luis 2288 XVII Moratalaz Open (2) 18.10.2001 [Aaron Summerscale] November Update: Trompowsky Attack: One of the things that White must be most careful of in the Tromp is to keep good control of his dark squares. In the following game, W hite ignores this advice and pays the ultimate price! 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.c1 My favourite move in the Tromp! e6 8.e4 However, this would not be my first choice. [ 8.c4 is my preference, when if Black continues with exd5 9.cxd5 c4 White has 10.e3 which gives him some useful dark squared control in the centre. ] 8...c4 Very interesting. With White unable to put up much resistance on the a7-g1 diagonal, Black sacrif ices a pawn in order to seize control of White's vulnerable dark squares. Although the idea itself is well known, this is a new move (as far as I can tell). 9.xc4 exd5 10.xd5 c5 11.e2 [ 11.h3 would be the critical test of Black's idea and if d6 then 12.b4 e3 13.a3 leaves Black with his work cut out to justify his material investment. For example: xh3 14.c4 and White is winning. ] 11...0-0 12.c4 xd5 13.xd5 d6 Black sensibly continues with his development, ra t h e r t h a n wa st e t im e b y d i sp la c in g a n already immobile White king. 14.bc3 e6 15.d3 c6 Black's better developed forces begin to make their presence felt. The im me d ia t e t hre at is Ne 5 . 16.d5 e5 2019
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.c2 a6 Black shows his versatility by switching his attack from the dark squares to the light ones. 18.b3 xd5 19.exd5 b5! Excellent play, forcing a crucial weakening of White's queenside structure. 20.b2 bxc4 21.xe5 dxe5 22.bxc4 [ 22.xc4 a5+ 23.f1 fd8 leaves Black with plenty of compensation for his sacrificed pawn, most obviously in the form of open lines for all his pieces. ] 22...ab8 23.g3 a3 Preparing an invasion along W hite's second rank. The White position is now going onto the critical list. 24.c1 Good alternatives are hard to find. [ 24.b1 is no better after xb1+ 25.xb1 c3+ ] 24...b2 25.e2 fb8 Black's final piece enters the fray, allowing the Black queen to seek a more deadly attacking role. 26.f1 d3 The twin threats of Rb1 and Qxe2+ are impossible to meet. 0-1
2065 Fier,Alex L'Ami,Alina Limburg Open, Maastricht (6.6) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2580 2444 09.06.2014
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 [ The Limburg Open was an event with double-round days and later the same day Fier repeated the Trompowsky. Emanuel Berg plumped for 2...e6 , after which 3.d2 c5 ( this break first to avoid the vaguely trendy 3...h6 4.h4 c5 5.e4!? ) 4.e3 h6 5.xf6!? ( an attempt to refute Black's concept more normal is, of course, 5.h4 , a f t e r wh i c h d5 6.c3 d6!? 7.gf3 brought play into Torre waters in AndreikinKovchan, Moscow Open 2012, as we've considered before) 5...xf6 6.e4 d8 7.dxc5 xc5 8.xc5 a5+ 9.d2 xc5 10.0-0-0 c6 was roughly level in Fier-Berg, Maastricht 2014. W hite has managed to bypass the theoretical highways, but it's hard not to believe Black is quite comfortable here and 11.e4 0-0 12.f4?! ( maybe White has to settle for something
like 12.b1 , and if d5 13.exd5 exd5 14.d3 with approximate equality) 12...d5! 13.e5 ( after 13.exd5 even b4!? is possible) 13...b5 14.f3 a5 left the talented Swedish Grandmaster ahead in the attacking race. ] 3.c3!? Once again we see Fier happy to avoid the main lines, although here play can, of co u rse , still b eco me pre tt y sh arp a n d theoretical. cxd4 4.xd4 c6 5.h4 d6 6.e4 e6 7.0-0-0 e7 8.f4 a5 9.f3 After a critical if far from forced line we've r e a c h e d s o m e t h i n g o f a t a b i y a . h6 Your database, like mine, might want to claim this is a novelty, but it's not and "leads to the critical line", as Pert points out. [ Instead, 9...d7 10.b5 a6?! 11.xc6! xc6 was seen in Lindberg-Landa, European Club Cup, Eilat 2012, when 12.e5! would have been strong - see the Archive. ] 10.e5! Once again we find that White must be happy to give up material to blow open the centre. dxe5 11.fxe5 xe5 12.xe5 xe5 13.b5+ f8 14.f4 White has displaced the black king and enjoys a handy lead in development, but the black position is, of course, still pretty solid. f5?! [ An important and superior alternative is 14...c5!? when Pert analyses and rather likes 15.g3 , ( rather than the 15.e1 a6 16.d3 d7 of Kalinitschew-Gustafsson, D r e s d e n 2 0 0 2 , w h e n E r i c ' s 17.f1 may retain just about enough compensation. The text actu ally hasn't b een criticise d before, but W hite just seems to be doing well after it from what I can see. )] 15.d6! g5+ [ L'Ami elects to remove the queens, but even this won't solve her problems as Fier has realised. Previously, 15...xd6 16.xd6 g5 17.e1! g4? 18.f1 g5+ 19.b1 a6 20.d3 e8 21.d4 had left Black terribly coordinated and under huge pressure in R. Pert-Perez, London 2011. ] 16.xg5 hxg5 17.a3 "The threat of Rd8+ wins material", as Richard Pert observes. d5 [ Electing to give up a pawn. The alternative was to ditch the exchange with 17...xa3 18.d8+ e7 19.xh8 d6 . After, say, 20.h3 b8 21.d1 d7 22.xb8 xb8 23.xd7 xd7 it's not so easy to activate 2020
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the rook and perhaps Black might draw, but more likely she wouldn't. ] 18.xd5 exd5 [ 18...xa3?? would not be a clever intermezzo on account of 19.b6 . ] 19.xd5 The threat remains unchanged and s o g 5 m u s t f a l l . e6 20.xe7+ xe7 21.xg5 g6 22.d3 Our Flank Openings authority may not have generated material for his own column, but must have been delighted with how the opening had panned out. That said, there is a lot of work ahead if White is to convert the extra pawn. b6 23.h3 ac8 [ When one sees where White's rooks land up it's tempting to prefer 23...f6 . After 24.h4 xh4!? 25.xg6+ fxg6 26.xh4 W hite goe s a clear pawn ahe ad, but a t least Black's king is in the game. ] 24.b3 hd8 25.b2 d4 26.e1 f6 27.ge5 Fier has managed to coordinate his forces. The next step is to combine offering exchanges with placing Black under some pressure. c7 28.5e4 d8 29.f4+ g7 30.e5! I'm not so sure Black should have rejected a trade of rooks, since now White's pieces dominate the board which enables him to obtain something of a clamp on the kingside. h8 31.h4 d7 32.g3 c8 33.g4! h8 34.g5 Mission accomplished. Black's king is now restricted and an active king can, of c ourse, ma ke all th e d if f ere nce in th e endgame. hd8 35.f6 g4?! [ L'Ami spots the threat, but she might well have done better with 35...h8!? , and if 36.xg6 ( White doesn't have to trade instead, he might repeat with 36.f4 hd8 and then probe elsewhere with, say, 37.a4 ) 36...xh4 37.d3 h5 , thereby obtaining a little bit of counterplay. ] 36.c4 h8 37.d5! The Brazilian Grandmaster makes excellent use of his rooks in this endgame. Here Black doesn't want to swap and weaken f 7, but by passing she allows the white rook to drop back and cover h4. e7 38.d4 f5 39.b4 [ It might have been more precise to begin with 39.a4 , but by this stage I dare say that the players were starting to run slightly low on time. ] 39...c7 40.b3 e7 41.a4 c7 42.f4 e8
[ Now White can play against the bishop on f5. Likewise, after 42...d8 43.h5! d2 44.h6+ h7 45.c4! it seems unlikely that Black would have held. ] 43.h5! e2 44.h6+ h7 45.c4 ce7 [ White's point was that 45...xc4? 46.xf7+ h8 47.xc4 xc2+ 48.b3 h2 49.f8+ h7 50.g8+ would have forced immediate resignation. ] 46.b5 [ Seizing yet more space, although White might have preferred 46.c3 , and if g2 47.xf7+ xf7 48.xf7 xg5 49.c7 . ] 46...g2! L'Ami has defended pretty well bar allowing her king to be imprisoned and now poses questions by transforming the structure. 47.h4? [ White wants to hold on to h6, but he shouldn't have. Admittedly 47.fc6! xg5 48.c7 xc7 49.xc7 xh6 50.xa7 is more messy than White might have liked, but this should be winning pretty easily thanks to the somewhat more advanced majority. ] 47...xg5 48.xf7 g2 49.b3 g4? [ Having got back into the game, Black o ve r l o o k s a t a c t i c . H a d L ' A m i i n s t e a d improved her coordination with 49...ge2 it wouldn't have been at all easy for White to make progress, being so tied down to the weakling on h6. ] 50.d5 g3 51.xg6!? [ Fier has spotted a neat tactic to simplify, but there was actually an even better one: 51.g8+! xg8 52.xg6+ h7 53.hxg4 xg4 54.xg4 xh6 55.c4 when surely White must win with Black's king so cut off. ] 51...xg6 52.h7 xh7 53.e4+ f6 54.xh7 e5? [ I suspect by now we are deep into quickplay finish or increment-alone territory. Even here Black might have been able to draw with 54...e3 , and if 55.d3 e7 . ] 55.d3 d4 56.xa7 Now White is just two pawns ahead. Not only is L'Ami unable to drum up any real counterplay, but she quickly walks into a fatal pin. c5? 57.g7 b4 58.e2? [ Hardly terrible, but the ultra-precise silicon is right to recommend 58.c3+ c5 ( if 58...xa4? 59.a7# ) 59.e4 with near 2021
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 zugzwang and complete domination. ] 14.b4 (I did mention this idea in 'Starting 58...a5? Out: The Trompowsky', but at least also [ Now White has a mating net. I believe admitted that it was probably only equal) 58...xe2 59.xg3 xa4 60.e3 f1 cxb4 15.cxb4 b5 16.c1 b8 17.c7 61.f3 xb5 62.c3 a5 63.d4 d8 admits that White didn't have anything should be winning, but this was still worth in R.Pert-Wells, British League 2011. )] playing out. ] 10...c6!? 59.c3! [ As readers of Pert's work will be aware, he 1-0 mainly focuses on both 10...0-0 11.b3 ] [ and 10...d7 11.fxg6 fxg6 12.b3 when W hite appears to be slightly better. 2066 A45 Neither does Rozum's choice equalise from wh a t I ca n se e , s o p e rh a p s W h it e h a s Fier,Alex 2592 finally regained the initiative in this Rozum,Ivan 2525 particular sub-variation. ] Izmir Open (8.2) 07.09.2013 11.c4!? Preventing castling, but we should [Richard Palliser] also consider the alternatives: [ a) 11.d5 was preferred in the only existing 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 practical test of this position. White relies on 5.c3 As mentioned, this has long been his extra space and after d8 ( 11...b8 Richard Pert's preference and, as such, was looks more sensible) 12.d2 h5 13.h1 an unsurprising recommendation in 'Playing d7 14.e1! was slightly for choice in the Trompowsky'. d6 6.d3 g6 Duong The Anh-Lengyel, Budapest 2008. [ B l a c k o f t e n p r e f e r s t o g o 6...d7 Black may be very solid and enjoy some before fianchettoing and after 7.e2 g6 decent dark-square control, but his position 8.0-0 g7 9.f4 w e c o n s i d e r e d 0-0 is rather cramped and that knight on d8 a in Laznicka-Moisee nko, San Sebastia n cause for concern. ] 2012. ] [ b) 11.fxg6 fxg6 12.b3 is another attempt 7.e2 e7 8.0-0 g7 9.f4 e5 While both t o ke e p B la ck 's kin g in t h e ce n t re , b u t sides have plenty of deviations along the way, whether exd4 13.d2 dxc3 14.xc3 d4 we've reached what many consider to be the can really offer White quite enough for his critical pos ition af t er W hite's f if t h m ove . pawn is something I doubt. ] 10.f5!? [ Going for it in a manner which I've only 11...gxf5 [ It would take a brave man to go 11...exd4 mentioned before in passing in these pages. when White might well just exchange on g6 Indeed, I remarked last year that 10.d2 and then go Nf4, although 12.f4!? gxf5 reaches "a position where I believe Black 13.d5 d8 14.exf5 is also quite tempting, shouldn't have any real problems whether with a certain bind and initiative for the he deploys his remaining knight to d7 or pawn. ] goes 0-0 ". ( Before we move on, do note that 10...exd4 11.cxd4 0-0 is also possible, 12.exf5!? [ Our ChessPub contributor isn't afraid to but riskier, with 12.f5 g5 13.e5!? dxe5 sacrifice. If White didn't want to then 12.d5 14.f6 xf6 15.g3 giving White a certain was indicated and after b8 13.exf5 d7 initiative for his pawns in Lindberg-Fransson, 14.d2 f6 15.g3 White will hope to Swedish League 2012 my machine isn't slowly squash Black after placing a knight on e n t ire ly c o n vin ce d , b u t in p ra ct ice f e w e4. ] would enjoy defending a kingside which r a t h e r r e s e m b l e s a S w i s s c h e e s e; 12...d7 [ After 12...exd4 13.cxd4 ( I believe that R e t u r n i n g t o 10...0-0 , and now Pert White should probably find time for the calm believes that W hite should advance his f13.h1! when dxc3?! 14.bxc3 p a w n . H e h i m s e l f h a d t r i e d 11.f3 looks too risky for Black with Nd5 and/or f5, but after d7 12.d2 c5 13.ae1 a6 2022
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f6 next up) 13...xd4! I haven't managed to find anything too amazing for W hite, with 14.xd4 ( 14.bc3 xe2+ 15.xe2 c6 16.d2 e5 is very solid for Black) 14...e3+ 15.h1 xd4 16.e2+ d8 17.f6 xf6 18.c3 g4! an annoying defensive resource. ] 13.d2! [ If White didn't like the look of our next note t h e n h e m i g h t h a ve p r e f e r r e d 13.a3!? , hoping for exd4 14.cxd4 xd4? 15.xd4 e3+ 16.h1 xd4 17.f6! xf6 18.f3 with serious threats, but this time I'm much more taken with the decision to offer d4. ] 13...a5? [ The turning point of the game. White now gains a strong attack, but it was no longer so easy for Black to decide on 13...exd4!? , since 14.f4! ( 14.xd4 xd4 15.e1 looks tempting, but actually e6 16.fxe6 fxe6 17.b3 0-0-0 18.xe6 is only going to land up in mass simplification and a likely draw ) 14...dxc3 15.bxc3 gives White a dangerous initiative, as shown by ( 15.d5 cxb2 16.b1 d4+ 17.h1 d8 18.f3 e5 just about keeps things together well enough for Black) 15...e3+ 16.h1 xc3 17.b1 0-0-0 18.d5 . ] 14.d5! 0-0-0 [ I wonder what Rozum had missed. Could it e v e n h a v e b e e n 14...c6 15.f6! xf6 16.e4 ? ] 15.b4 c6?! [ Instead, 15...c6 16.xc6 xc6 17.d5 b8 18.e4 d7 19.c4 just looks extremely grim for Black with W hite basically enjoying a free attack, but unfortunately for Rozum it looks like he had to try this. ] 16.b5 b8 [ This walks into a strong blow, but 16...a5 17.a4 b6 18.c4 was scarcely any improvement. ] 17.f6! The Brazilian Grandmaster has conducted the whole game in a most energetic vein and now crashes through. xf6 18.e4 g5 19.xf7 e8 20.b3 Suddenly White has a number of nasty threats, including b6 axb6 Nxd6+ cxd6 Qxb6 and the simple Qa3, and there isn't a defence. g4 21.b6! axb6 22.xb6! Ole! xf7
[ 22...cxb6 23.xb7# is not a mate you get to see too often. ] 23.xb7+ d7 24.xf7 xe2 25.d5 [ There was no option but to give up as 25.d5 g4 fails to cover the e6-square, in view of 26.e6+! xe6 27.c5+ . ] 1-0
2067 Fowler,S Dourerassou,Jonathan EU-chB18 Herceg Novi MNE (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2181 2336 16.09.2006
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3! I reckon this transposition is the best in this e ve n m o re p o p u la r m o ve o rd e r t o o . T h e difference here is that Black has to be ready to cope with [ 4.f3?! f6 5.e4 ( 5.c3 e6! 6.e4 b4 ) 5...dxe4 ( 5...e6 6.e5! fd7 7.e3! c5 8.c3 ) 6.c3 d5! ] [ And 4.d2!? Where it is not sure that adding fuel to the fire with c5 as Wells advocates, may be his wisest decision. 5.xe4! ( 5.e3 And Black can still back down with xd2 6.xd2 c6 His problem, however, is that after 7.f3 controlling the e5 square, c5 is hanging. So was it worth playing this move to follow up with 7...e6, shutting in his bishop or reducing the tension now with cxd4 8.exd4 ? ) 5...dxe4 6.e3 b6 In this position Black has to go forward since ( 6...cxd4 7.xd4 c6 Does not work anymore when it is the queen's knight that has been exchanged on e4 and not the king's bishop! 8.xe4 b6 9.0-0-0 ) 7.dxc5 ( 7.b1!? ) 7...xb2 8.d4 All these questions will be solved in the near future. Anyhow, in the case of 4.Nd2!? Bf5! or the quite similar 4...Nxd2 5.Qxd2 Bf5 Black duly equalizes by refraining from attacking White's d-pawn immediately. A position that can only arise through 2. ..Ne4 contrary to the subject of this update privileging 2...d5! for a wider purpose. ] 4...c5 This is where the 2 branches of the 2... d5 and 2...Ne4 Tromp join. 5.d3!? f6! 6.dxc5?! c6! 7.b5 g4?! The idea of this move is to play ...e6 and ...Nd7 but with 2023
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the bishop outside the pawn chain from where it can exert some pressure on White's king's knight. However, it may be exposed here in some lines and if W hite has to part with his king's bishop on c6 in any case, which is likely, the bishop would be better placed on a6 as in the Aronian-Short game. 8.d4 [ 8.xc6+ bxc6 9.d4 e6 ( 9...d7 10.h6! Otherwise ...f7-f6 h5 11.xg7 e5 12.xe5 xc5 13.f4 ) 10.d2 e7 11.gf3 xf3 12.gxf3 d7 13.d6 xd6 ( 13...f6 14.a4 xb2 15.b1 c3 16.xc6 c8 17.a4 a5 18.xa5 xa5 19.b7 xc5 20.e7+ d8 21.xa7 ) 14.cxd6 e5 15.a4 b6 16.g1 g6 17.0-0-0 0-0 ( 17...c5!? 18.c4 d8 In order to defend d7 and castle 19.b1 0-0 ) 18.b3! c5 19.a3 A) 19...xb3+ 20.axb3 fd8 21.c4 ab8 22.d3 b4! 23.xb4 xb4 24.c5! ( 24.cxd5 xd6 25.dxc6 xc6+ 26.b1 h4 ) 24...b5 25.c3 d4 26.exd4 exd4 27.c2 xb3 28.g4; B) 19...e6? 20.g4! d8 21.a4 Bigg, A (2277)-Hinks Edwards, T (2343) 4NCL 2005 Birmingham 1/2(50) ] [ 8.f3 developing a piece, looks perfectly pertinent too. See the Ellis-Anderson and Shaefer-Peredy game for more about this. ] 8...e6 9.e2 [ 9.b4 e7 10.d2 d7 11.xc6 bxc6 12.e4? What is W hite doing? ( 12.xg7!? f6 13.xg4 xa1 14.e2; 12.gf3 f6 13.e5 ) 12...a5! 13.a3 e5 14.xe5 xe5 15.xe5 0-0? 16.b1 ( 16.g3 f5! 17.exf5 xf5 ) 16...axb4 17.axb4 dxe4 18.xe4 ( 18.xe4 e8 19.f4 xc5! 20.bxc5 a5+ 21.f1 b5+!! 22.xb5 a1+ 23.b1 xb1+ 24.c1 xc1# ) 18...h5! ( 18...g5 19.xg4 xd2+ 20.f1 xc2 21.d1 ) 19.gf3 g5 20.xg5 xg5 21.f4 d8 22.0-0 ( 22.f3 e8 23.e5 f6 24.0-0 fxe5 25.fxe5 d7 26.be1 f7 ) 22...xd2 23.f2 c3 24.xc6 a1 25.ff1 ( 25.xa1 xa1+ 26.f1 d4+ 27.h1 xb4 ) 25...xb1 26.xb1 xc2-+ Lawson, E (2373) Mikhalevski, V (2553) Montreal op 2005 0-1 (37) ] 9...xe2 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.xe2 d7 12.b4
[ 12.c4! The move that White should seek to play in such set-ups in order to get a chance to utilize his extra pawn. Otherwise... f6 ( 12...e5 13.xe5 xc5 14.f4 0-0; 12...xc5 13.c3 ) A) 13.d6 xd6 14.cxd6 b8 15.cxd5 ( 15.c5 b5+ ) 15...cxd5 16.a3 xd6 17.ac1 a6 18.e4 0-0 19.exd5 exd5 20.hd1 fe8+ 21.f1 xh2 22.xd5+ h8 23.g3 e5; B) 13.cxd5 e5 14.c3 exf4 ( 14...cxd5 15.c6 c5 16.g3 c8 17.d1 xc6 18.a5 b8 19.c3 xb2+ 20.f1 ) 15.d6 Somehow, Black should have a way to break the blockade and utilize his extra piece since W hite can claim little compensation in terms of attacking chances. It was more complicated than the game anyhow. ] 12...a5 13.c3? [ 13.a3 e7 14.c3 0-0 Already threatening ...e6-e5 with an unavoidable expansion of the black centre providing him a frightening initiative, and, in any case, full compensation. ] 13...e7! 14.e4 dxe4 15.d2 [ 15.xe4 axb4 16.cxb4 f6 17.d2 xa1 18.xa1 f6 19.b3 e5 ] 15...e5! 16.xe5 xe5 17.xe5 d3+ 18.e1 0-0-0! 19.f5+ [ 19.d1 f6 ] [ 19.xe7 xd2+ 20.f1 d3+! 21.g1 d1+ 22.xd1 xd1# ] 19...b7 20.d1 f6 21.h3 e3! 22.fxe3 xc3 0-1
2068 A45 Franco Alonso,Alejandro 2371 Gonzalez Rodriguez,Jorge Armando2401 Torneo Federacion-2 (7) 13.11.2002 [Eric Prié] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 a5+ 4.d2 This is another drawback of Black's last move when the bishop has NOT taken on f6: The position will soon acquire all the characteristics of an Open Sicilian RichterRauzer (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 6.Nc3 d6 7.Bg5), sharp by nature, but 2024
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 w i t h e x t r a - t e m p i f o r W h i t e h e r e ! xc5 As a former player of the king pawn, I would not like to be in Black's shoes now. Thus, I believe that for better or for worse, he had to change the queens and take the pawn back immediately: [ 4...xd2+ 5.xd2 a6 Which does not lo o k v e ry e n t e rt a i n in g f o r B la ck in t h e perspective of a struggle to win as well as taking into account the usual uncompromising character of his second move. Especially if we consider that ( 5...e6 6.xf6 gxf6 7.e4 ) 6.e4! xc5 7.e5 may even be annoying in the ending. ] 5.c3 [ 5.c3 is good for a draw but less critical. a6 6.xc5 xc5 7.c3 fe4 8.xe4 xe4 9.f4 g5 10.e3 g7 11.0-0-0 h6 12.f3 d6 13.d4 xd4 14.xd4 f5 15.d3 d6 16.e4 h4 17.b3 b6 18.b5+ d7 19.xd7+ xd7 20.g3 g6 21.e2 e5 1/2-1/2 Rabinovich,A-Solak,D/ Saint Vincent op 2000 ] 5...d6 6.f3 I prefer 6.e4 with the follow-up 0-0-0, f3 to keep some f lexibility with the knight on g1 as in the comments to the game Drazic-Inkiov. But let us consider the next completely fictive sequence to justify the plural given afore to the word "tempo": [ 6.e4 b6 7.0-0-0 c6 8.f3 From the sequence of the Richter Rauzer given above, it is just as if White had played 3 moves in a row after 7...Qb6 : 8.0-0-0, Qd2 and Nd4-f3! Ok, f3 is not the best square for the knight and 6...Qb6 in our fiction does not improve the position of the black queen at all in comparison with c5, but still, it is 2 tempi in an attacking position... ] 6...g4?! [ 6...c6 was better but White's idea was p ro b a b ly t o p la y 7.0-0-0 without fearing xf2? in view of 8.e3 ] 7.d4! Of course 7.0-0-0 was possible and Black was not going to take on f3 but, in that way, White usefully finds the time to improve his position. c6 8.b3 b6 9.e4 d7 From now on, after each black move, I have found a dozen games in total, including GM games, in my database with exactly the same position coming from a Sicilian... with Black to play!
[ 9...e6 10.f3 h5 11.g4 g6 12.h4 e5 13.h3 h5 14.e3 c7 15.g5 fd7 16.b5 ] 10.0-0-0 e6 11.f3 a6 12.g4 c7 13.e3! In the Richter-Rauzer, the question of taking on f6 arises when the bishop is attacked, but normally White refrains from doing it willingly. e5? The threat g5 is very unpleasant with a bishop on d7 as it takesthef6-knight's natural square of withdrawal. [ So 13...h6 was the only move. 14.h4 e5 15.e2 b5 16.g5 ( 16.a3 c4 17.xc4 bxc4 18.d4 b8 W ith counterplay) 16...b4! 17.b1 h5 was the only chance. 18.f4?! ( 18.gxh6 ) 18...c4! 19.xc4 ( 19.d4 c8! Threatening e5 or Ng3. 20.xh5? xe3 ) 19...xc4 which is, for instance, not so clear. ] 14.g5! h5 [ 14...xf3 15.f2 ] 15.f4 c4 16.xc4 xc4 Now the picture is absolutely different and the knight on h5 is a top grade target does not even have the g3square. 17.f5! b5 [ 17...exf5 18.d5 b8 ( 18...c6 19.a5 a4 20.c7+ ) 19.a7 c8 ( 19...d8 20.a5 xa2 21.c7+ e7 22.xd6# ) 20.b6 loses material for a start. ] 18.c5?! [ 18.f2! with a winning attack making full use of the combinational themes in White's favour: first of all, the "sensitivity" of f7, then the position of the queen on c4 and the "hanging" Nh5 and Ra8, and to conclude the dark-square weaknesses on the enemy queenside. A) 18...c8 being relatively the most tenacious. 19.fxe6 xe6 20.d4 c6 21.d5; B) 18...e7 19.f3 g6 20.hf1! exf5 ( 20...0-0-0 21.f6 f8 22.b6; 20...f8 21.f6 d8 22.xd6 ) 21.exf5 c8 22.fxg6 fxg6 23.d4; C) 18...0-0-0 19.a5 c7 20.b6; D) 18...b4? 19.fxe6 fxe6 ( 19...xe6 20.d5 ) 20.hf1! bxc3 21.f7+ d8 22.b6+ c8 23.xf8+!! xf8 24.xf8+ e8 ( 24...b7 25.a5+ xb6 26.xc4+ ) 25.xe8+ d7 26.xa8+In 4 moves White has taken 2 rooks and 2 bishops!! ] 2025
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18...b4 19.b1 c6 [ 19...b5! 20.he1 dxc5 21.b3 xe4 ] 20.b3 b5 21.a4 b8! [ 21...bxa3 22.xa3 b8 23.fxe6! dxc5 24.e2 A) 24...f4 25.exf7+ xf7 26.hf1; B) 24...g6 25.exf7+ xf7 26.c4+ g7 27.hf1 e8 28.d2 h6 29.gxh6+ xh6 30.xf8!! xf8 31.f1 g8 32.c3+ h7 ( 32...f6 33.xc5 ) 33.f7+ g7 34.xg7+ xg7 35.xg7 xg7 36.xc5; C) 24...f5 25.exf5!! f4 26.g4 xh1 27.xf4 b4 28.f6! Threatening f7+ and Rd7 mate. d8 ( 28...e7 29.h5+ g6 30.f7+ f8 31.h6#; 28...c6 29.f7+ e7 30.d6+ d8 31.xc5+; 28...xa3+ 29.b1 c6 30.f7+ e7 31.d6+ d8 32.e7+ xe7 33.b8+ is mate in 4.) 29.fxg7! xa3+ 30.b1 xg7 31.h5+ e7 32.f7# ] 22.e2 dxc5 23.fxe6 b7? [ 23...g6! 24.exf7+ ( 24.c4 f6 25.xc5 xc5 26.xc5 f4+ 27.d2 c8 ) 24...xf7 25.c4+ g7 26.hf1 e8 The f act t hat t he c3 -squa re is gu arde d makes a big difference. Of course White has a perpetual check, but it is not sure that he can claim more. 27.d4+ cxd4 28.xd4+ g8 ( 28...f6? 29.xf6 g8 30.c4+ g7 31.df1 ) 29.c4+ g7 30.d4+ ] 24.xh5 xe4 [ 24...g6 25.f3 fxe6 26.f6 ] 25.d7 Black's resignation seems a bit hasty, but he was actually right in doing so. [ 25.d7 g6 26.xb7 xh5 27.e7!! ( 27.exf7+ d8! Menacing Bf3. 28.f1 c8 29.b6 ) 27...xe7 28.e1 d8 ( 28...f8 29.f4 e8 30.exe7 xe7 31.d6 ) 29.f4 e8 30.e3 c4 ( 30...g6 31.e2 ) 31.bxc4 g6 32.e2 Black cannot prevent a deadly check on the d file anymore. ] 1-0
2069 Fressinet,Laurent Dominguez Perez,Leinier GMB Wijk aan Zee NED (12) [Fressinet,Laurent-Prié,Eric]
A45 2636 2605 24.01.2004
Laurent Fressinet: Before getting to the heart of the matter, I think it is important to talk about my situation in the tournament. I started by winning my first 3 games. Afterwards, I totalled 6/7 with a 1,5 point lead over the second player. That constitutes a comfortable advance but it was a long tournament... So, 3 rounds from the end I had managed to keep a 1 po int lea d o ver the da nge rous Cu ban s Bruzon and Dominguez. But, in the 11th, I simply blundered in a slightly better position against a young and talented Dutchman who also collected some warm applause and the prize of the public! That leads to this game against Dominguez. At this stage, I only had a 1/2 point lead over the Cubans. I had to try to win, being aware that a defeat would signify non-qualification for the main tournament in 2005 (which was my goal) when a draw would transfer everything onto the last round. For this capital game, I decided to surprise my opponent as early as the 1st move by p l a y i n g . . . 1.d4 Usually, I only open with the king's pawn. My choice is easy to explain: Lenier Dominguez has been playing the Semi Slav exclusively for 5 years... like me! And I felt I had spotted a weakness in his repertoire. f6 Played after a 10 minute thought! Frankly, I suspected he would do this because he used to play the King's Indian. 2.g5 Sorry, no King's Indian today! e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5!? I spent the morning preparing this variation, for the rare games he had played in the Tromp had all started this way. e6 [ 6...b6 7.c1 e6 is the main line, See next month as well as the move 6.e4 reaching the same position but without the insertion of the moves 4.. .Qa5+ 5.c3. Eric ] 7.e4 d6!? A very rare move destined to take me out of my preparation. Unfortunately for my opponent, I had already discussed this exact variation with GM Hicham Hamdouchi, who was also competing in the tournament.. 8.dxe6!? 2026
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 8.d2 with the idea 9.c4 is another interesting option. ] 8...xe6 9.a3 d5! Probably the only move allowing Black to obtain a reasonable game. Hicham had preferred [ 9...c6 10.c4 xc4 11.xc4 e7 12.b3 0-0 13.xb7 ab8 14.xc6 xb2 15.c1 b6 16.c7 d8 17.c8 d5 18.exd5 a4 19.xc5 e8+ 20.f1 d7 21.d4 b2 22.b3 An although the position remains complicated, W hite m a n a ge d t o re p e l t h e a t t a c k. W e lls, P Hamdouchi,H Pulvermuehle 2000 1/2 (36) (Note: This game has been commented in excellent English... by Peter Wells himself in his h a bit ua l 'f re sh ' style in Che ssB a se Magazine 75. In such a case, I see no point in making a copy for Chesspublishing.com while urging you to have a look at it, if you are interested in this 6.d5!? line. Eric) ] 10.xb8 [ 10.b5 gives nothing because of a6! ] [ 10.b3!? on the other hand is an interesting possibility. b6 11.xb6 axb6 12.b5 a6 13.e5 d7 With complicated play. ] 10...xb8 11.b5+ e7 Any other move would lose immediately. 12.e5 d7 13.f4 g6 The position arising from 10.Bxb8 was more or less forced and I immersed myself in a long reflection as if Black succeeds in securing his king, then he would be clearly better. 14.e2 Simply the only move, in my opinion. After [ 14.f3 h6! wins a tempo by hitting f4 15.g3 hd8! and the black king finds shelter on the kingside. ] 14...g7 15.xd7 Otherwise Black would play similarly: 15...Rhd8 with a better position. xd7 16.0-0 [ 16.c4!? is very interesting too. a6 ( 16...b5 17.e3 bd8 18.a4 c6 19.b4 And White has the initiative.) 17.e3 c6 18.0-0 hd8 19.b4! b6 Avoiding giving the d4 square to the e2-knight. 20.b5! b7 It seems that White is slightly better here. ( 20...xb5? 21.c4 almost winning. )] 16...bd8 17.c2 c8 18.b4 cxb4 19.xb4 White now has a fabulous square for his king's knight. [ 19.cxb4 b6+ 20.ed4 f6! And Black
gets counter-play. ] 19...f6 20.d4 he8 21.d3 Here, I th ought I was just winning because my knights muzzle the opposing bishop pair and the semiopen b file promises some nice attacking prospects. b8 22.b3 c8 23.ab1 b6 [ 23...a6? 24.b4+- ] 24.b4 It is now clear that White holds a powerful initiative. d7 25.e6! a4 26.a3 [ 26.xd5? xd5 27.xd5 f5! And Black will m o st ce rt a in ly a vo id d e f e a t i n t h i s ending. ] 26...a8 The only move. The threat was again Nbc6+. 27.xd5? Strangely, this natural move lets the victory escape. Instead, [ 27.f5! would have let Black facing insurmountable difficulties. ] 27...f5 28.b5! When I played this move, I did think that the defensive resources of the Cuban were not going to be sufficient. xb5! [ 28...f8? 29.bc7+ b7 30.b4!! xb4 31.cxb4 For instance, imprisoning the queen, was one of the traps set for him. ] 29.xa5 bxa5 30.xb5 xc3! [ 30...xe6 31.fb1 Threatening 32.Rb8+, f o l l o w e d b y 3 3 . N c 7 m a t e , w i n s . ec6 32.e7 ] 31.fb1?! Here, I was persuaded I was winning! My opponent had only a couple of minutes left to reach the time control. As for me, I had 15 minutes on the clock, and I spent 13 of them looking for a forced win... [ 31.xc3! xc3 32.e1 Was providing so m e ch a n ce s wh ich sh o u ld n o t p ro v e decisive, though, against correct defence. ] 31...b4 32.a3 [ 32.e7?! a6 33.b6 c5+ 34.f1 xb6 35.xb6+ b7 And Black has got over it. ] 32...a6 33.b6 c5+ 34.f1 xb6 35.xb6+ a7 36.xc8+ xc8 37.e1 e8 38.e7 b6 39.e5 c6 40.xa5 xe7 41.xa6+ The time control has passed, and I still thought I had some chances to gain the upper hand, but that is utopian for the black king is too active. d5! 42.a4 c7 43.f2 c3 44.h3 b3 45.a7 e4 46.a4+ d5 47.g1 b1+ 48.h2 b3 49.h4 c3 50.g3 h5 51.h3 b3 52.g2 b2+ 53.f3 I was impressed by the stubbornness of my opponent. In a difficult position and with little time on the clock he defended very well. 2027
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Therefore, it is not surprising if he was the only player to finish the tournament unbeaten. (Since then, he also reached the 1/4 final of the FIDE W orld Championship in Tripoli, elim in a t e d b y Ra d ja b o v in t h e 7 t h ga m e 'sudden death blitz' of the Tie-Break, after he o n l y d r e w wi t h W h i t e . H e a l s o m a d e a n excellent score in the Olympiad in Calvia, losing only to Ivanchuk, who was in super form. Eric) This draw then allowed Bruzon to catch me up in the lead just before the last round. During that last game my play was catastrophic and the Cubans profited from this opportunity to overtake me. ½-½
initiative changing hands, the Black queen is simply misplaced on h1. e6 20.f4 a6+ 21.f2 c7 22.xd6 Simple chess, but deadly effective. xd6 23.f5 There is no good defence to Qe7. 1-0
2071 Garcia Palermo,Carlos H Nakamura,Hikaru Pan-Americano-ch 2nd (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2443 2568 20.08.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 f5 6.g3 g7 7.c3 e6!? Now, or later, 7...Na6 looks more critical because if White is 2070 A45 forced to take on e6, Black will win a tempo Froehlich,Peter 2425 by playing ...d5 in one go seizing a full centre Edwards,Jonathan 2093 wh i c h wi l l b e q u i t e c o n s t r a i n i n g f o r t h e 41st Doeberl Cup (1) 18.04.2003 opponent's minor pieces. 8.g2 a6 9.a3 c7 10.c4? [Aaron Summerscale] [ 10.h3 See after ] Trompowsky: Black gets overaggressive in 10...a6! I now realize that this idea (which is the opening and pays the ultimate price in the obviously more difficult to implement when following entertaining game. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 the f1-bishop stays on the a6-f1 diagonal...) is e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 d7 5.d3 df6 6.f3 the major drawback of this line with g2-g3, This is always Black's problem in the Ne4 although I am aware that there are problems tromp. His knight can always be attacked and everywhere, anyhow, after such a commitment either exchanged or forced back. d6 7.c3 as the capture on f6. 11.f4 0-0 12.h3 d6! 13.0-0 c6 [ 13.xd6? e5 ] [ 7...f5 is not a good idea. White comes out [ 13.xd6 xc4 14.xc7 xc3+ ] on top after the long sequence 8.xd6 xd3 9.xc7 xc2 10.xd8 xd1 11.xe7 xf3 13...e5 14.h4 f4 15.b3 b5 16.d2 f5 17.a4 12.xf8 xg2 13.xg7 ] [ 17.g5 h6 18.e6 xe6 19.dxe6 e4 ] 8.e4 h5 9.c1 e5 Black mixes things up, trying to exploit the weakness of W hite's 17...bxa4 18.c4 b5 19.xa4 b7 k i n g s i d e d a rk sq u a re s . 10.dxe5 h4+ 20.a5? [ 20.c1! Preventively defending c3, while 11.f1 g3+ 12.hxg3 xh1 13.exd6 xd6 the queen cannot easily move, was better It is time to take stock. Black has given up a because it keeps the a7-pawn pinned and rook for two minor pieces. Although the White White can exploit the tactical idea of Nb6 position is slightly uncoordinated, if Black fails to snatch an important piece of the black setto develop a serious initiative he is doomed. up on c8. ] 14.exd5 c5 15.e1+ d8 16.e3 White's position looks loose, but there is no 20...f7 21.c1 fxg3 [ 21...f6!? 22.h6 g6 23.xg6+ hxg6 way for Black to take advantage. e8 17.e4 24.gxf4 exf4 25.xf4 xc3 ] d6 [ 17...f5 i s e ve n wo r s e . 18.xc5 fxe4 22.xg3 [ 22.hxg3 e4 ] 19.dxc6 ] The signal of a brutal attack with the 18.dxc6 bxc6 19.d1 Now he Black king 22...f4! finds himself in the firing line and with the misplacement of the Nh3 as neuralgic point. 2028
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.d3 h5 24.xf4 [ 24.f3 h4 25.xb5 xh3 26.d3 f6 ] 24...exf4 25.xb5 f3 26.exf3 [ 26.xf3? xf3 27.exf3 g5+ 28.g4 xg4 29.fxg4 xc1+ ] 26...h3 27.f1 [ 27.xh3 g5+ ] 27...xf3! 28.xh3 [ 28.c6 h8 ] [ 28.xf3 xf3 29.f4 xf4 30.xh3 xc1+ ] 28...xh3 29.g2 h8 30.g4 e5 31.c6? [ 31.g3 xg3 32.fxg3 On hxg3 the plan ... Rg8-g6-f6 is very strong because the white queen is attached to the defence of g3 and the rook cannot leave the 1st rank because of Qd1+. e8 33.f2 xd5 34.f6+ g8 35.f1 e5 36.f7+ h8 37.c6 xg3+ 38.hxg3 xg3+ 39.h1 h3+ 40.g1 g8+ 41.f2 g2+ 42.e1 e3+ 43.d1 d2# ] 31...xh2+ 32.f1 f4 33.e7 h1+ 34.e2 xc1 The motive of the rook hanging on c1 also played a major role in bringing a swift success to the black enterprise... 35.d3 Rg8+ would lead to mate...if only it was not pinned! f7 0-1
( 12...xd5 13.xb8 xb8 14.xb1 a5 15.c4 ) 13.axb4 d6 14.b5+ ( 14.xg7 g8 15.b5+ e7 16.d4 f5 17.f3 g4! 18.0-0 d2 19.fe1+ e6 20.e2 xf3+ 21.xf3 xd4 22.dxe6 ) 14...e7 15.b2 f5 16.e2 Threatens Bd3 a6 ( 16...d8 17.xg7 g8 18.f6+ c7 19.f3 ) 17.xa6 bxa6 18.f3+Followed by Rhxb1; B) 5...d5=; C) 5...cxd4 6.xd4=; D) 5...c6! 6.c3 ( 6.d5 g5! 7.d3 g7 8.xe4 xa1 9.xg5 b4+ 10.xb4 xb4; 6.f3 b4+ ) 6...cxd4 7.exd4 e5! ] [ 4.xf6 xb2 ( 4...xf6 5.c3 was mentioned, as a possibility, in the 2...c5 3.Nc3 Trompowsky.) 5.d2 gxf6 6.dxc5 see next game. ] [ 4.c3!? xb2 5.ge2 cxd4 6.exd4 a3 7.b1 a5 8.d2 With some compensation. ( 8.b5!? )] 4...xb2 5.d2 e6 It is true hat Black has to ta ke t h e pa wn o n c5 b a ck b u t t h is m o ve weakens d6 and f6. [ 5...c3 is probably better. 6.d3 ( 6.c4 e4 ) 6...xc5 7.gf3 d6 8.b1 bd7 ] [ 5...e5 6.gf3 xc5 7.b1 is about the same. ] 6.b1 xa2 7.xf6! gxf6 8.c4 [ 8.c4!? A) 8...a4 9.d4! a2 ( 9...c6 2072 A45 10.d6+ xd6 11.xa4 ) 10.a1 xc2 11.d3 b3 12.b1 a2 13.e2; Gavrilescu,Calin 2310 B) 8...xc5 9.c3! ( 9.a1?? b4+ Musat,Adrian 2275 10.e2 xc4+ ) 9...a6 10.b6 xb6 Tim Bucharest (2) 1993 11.xb6 axb6 ( 11...xb6 12.g4 d5 [Eric Prié] 13.g7 f8 14.xh7 ) 12.f3 Is unclear for the material scale would 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.e3 The GM Sarhan ra th er t ip in B la ck' s f a vo ur, b ut t he 2 GULIEV's approach, but unfortunately for our pawns are doubled and his king is not very subject, none of his 2500+ opponents played safe. ] the critical: b6 They all transposed with 3... Ne4 4.Bf4 into the 2...Ne4 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 line 8...a5 9.b5 c7 10.e4! It is always of the Trompowsky where W hite does not sufficient to make beautiful, empty, phrases, sacrifice a pawn after 4...Qb6 5.Nc3 as we but there is very little to explain in this game. The rest is only tactics, whereas only the 10th shall see some other time. 4.dxc5 move has just been reached, and tactics [ 4.b3? e4 5.f4 A) 5...b4+? 6.c3! xc3 7.a3 a5 speak for themselves... e5 [ 10...d5 11.xf6+ e7 12.d4!! dxc4 8.d2 cxd4 9.exd4! ( 9.xb8 f5!! 13.h4 c6 14.f3!! e5 ( 14...xb5? With complications.) 9...e5 10.xe5 b4 15.d5+ d7 16.e5+ e8 17.c7# ) 11.d5! xb1 ( 11...xd5 12.axb4 15.g8+ ( 15.xe5 xf6 ) 15...e8 The Ra1 is protected!) 12.xb4 xb4+ 2029
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.xe5 xg8 ( 16...e6 17.f6+ d8 18.d4+ d7 19.fxd7 xd7 20.xb7; 16...xb5 17.f6+ e7 18.d5+ e6 19.c7+ xe5 20.f4# )] [ 10...a6! 11.b1 ( 11.xf6+ e7 12.d5+ exd5 13.xd5 d8! ) 11...e5 12.d3 f5 ] 11.d3 f5 Perhaps expecting the knight to move?! [ 11...a6 12.f3 c7 13.a1! axb5 14.xa8 a6 15.xf6+ e7 16.e4 g7 17.0-0 xc5 ] 12.c6!! g7 13.cxb7 xb7 14.xb7 xg2? The point of Black's 12th move, but too risky. [ 14...fxe4 15.xe4 d5 A) 16.xd5 exd5 17.xd5 a1+ 18.d2 ( 18.e2 a6+ 19.c4 e6 ) 18...f6; B) 16.d3 B1) 16...xg2? 17.b5+ d8 18.a1! b4+ ( 18...xh1 19.a5+ c8 20.c7# ) 19.e2 g4+ 20.f3 d4 21.b1 c5 ( 21...e4 22.xb4 xb7 23.xd4+; 21...c3 22.a3 ) 22.a5+ b6 23.xb6; B2) 16...c3+ 17.f1 a6 18.e2 c6 19.b1 d6 20.b2 0-0= 21.f6 After all these turns White has no more than the draw. xb7 22.g5+ h8 23.f6+ g8 24.g5+= ] 15.f6+! e7 [ 15...d8 16.xb8+! e7 ( 16...xb8 17.e4 b4+ 18.e2 ) 17.xa8 xh1 18.e8+ xf6 19.a1+ g6 20.xh8 xg1+ 21.f1 ] 16.e4! The point of the attack. Now, Black will sadly get mated. fxe4 17.xd7 c6 [ 17...xh1 18.e5+ f6 19.xf7+ g5 ( 19...xe5 20.d4# ) 20.g4+ h6 21.h4# ] 18.e5+ f6 19.xf7+ g5 [ 19...xe5 20.f4+ exf3 21.xf3+ xf3 22.xf3 ] 20.h3+! [ 20.h3+ h6 ( 20...xh3 21.g1+ h6 22.f6# ) 21.g4+ g6 22.f4+ xf7 23.d7+ e7 24.xe6+ g7 25.xg2 ] 1-0
2073 Georgiev,Kiril Grischuk,Alexander CCM4 Ordix Open rapid (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2626 2705 07.08.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.d5 Havin g lo st h is surprise sta tu s, t he lit tle " t h e o rize d " T ro m p o p e n in g h a s re c e n t l y seduced a new clientele of pure 1.d4 players attracted by this very pawn structure rather than having to face another 'equalish' Nimzo. b6 5.c1 [ 5.b3? This time bluntly loses on the spot to f6 ] 5...e6 [ 5...g6 See note ton move 8. 6.f3 f6 7.e4 d6 8.c4 g7 9.c3 0-0 10.d3 e6 11.ge2 exd5 12.exd5 bd7 13.f4 e8 14.0-0 f5 15.h1 df6 16.g1 d7 17.f3 c7 18.c2 ae8 19.h3 e7 20.d2 Radjabov,T-Grischuk,A Corsican Masters 20' Bastia 2003 1/2 (40) ] 6.f3 [ 6.c4 b4+ 7.d2 xd2 8.xd2 xc4 ] 6...f6 7.c4 exd5 8.cxd5 c4 Even in this uncommon order of moves [ 8...d6 9.e4 g6 10.c3 d8 just transposes into a completely normal KID-SÃNmisch-Benoni which is probably wh a t t h e st ro n g ce n t re lo ve r ge n e ra ll y concealed behind t he classical d-pawn player seeks. ] 9.e3 [ 9.e4!? c5 10.h3 See the November update and a further note in the Kasparov game. ] 9...c5 10.f2 0-0 11.xc4 e8 12.b3 d8! definitely better than [ 12...d6 As played by Kotronias in November. ] 13.e2 In fact, although practice lacks examples, Black does not seem to fear the thematic. [ 13.d6 h8!? ( 13...f8 Eric. White will lose his d-pawn and may face some problems later, after an uncertain stage of m u t u a l re o r ga n i za t io n , b e c a u se o f h i s exposed king and/or e-pawn on the open file. ) 14.h3 ( 14.xf7?! f8 "With attack" is the line given by Sulskis (see next game) 2030
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 in his commented effort in INF 85.) 14...c6 "With counter-play" 15.g5? g4+ 16.fxg4 xg5 ] 13...d6 14.bc3 With one extra-move a6 15.a4 bd7 16.g3 b8! 17.d2 b5!! Enormous preparation from the young Russian who, apart f rom his silver medal behind McShane and before Bacrot in the 1992 W orld Under 10 in Duisburg, has the strange particularity of never having won anything in the youth competitions! 18.axb5 axb5 19.e2 [ 19.xb5 e5!! ( 19...b6 20.he1 a6 21.a4! xb3 22.xb3 xb3 23.xa6 xb2 24.e2 xd2 25.xd2 xe3+ 26.e2 xd2+ 27.xd2 ) A) 20.a4 d7 21.xd7 fxd7 22.hb1 b6 23.c2 ec4 24.ce4 xd2 25.xd2 c4 26.d3 xe3 27.xc5 dxc5 28.e4 ( 28.d6? c4 29.d2 b6 ) 28...xd5=; B) 20.c2 xb5!! 21.xb5 b6 B1) 22.c3 c4! ( 22...xe3+ 23.xe3 eg4+ 24.fxg4 xe3+ 25.f1 a6+ 26.ge2 xg4 27.e1 f2+ 28.d2 e3+ 29.e1 f2+= ) 23.f1 xe3 24.e1 a6 With a winning attack.; B2) 22.b4 xe3+! 23.xe3 eg4+ 24.fxg4 xe3+ 25.f1 a6! 26.f2 ( 26.xa6 e1# ) 26...c3! The final touch brought to the edifice. ( 26...xb5+ 27.g1 c3 28.f1 ) 27.d1 xb5+ 28.g1 xg4 29.f4 e1+ 30.xe1 xe1+ 31.f1 xf1 32.g3 d1 33.xg4 xg4 34.xf1 d1+ 35.f2 xh1 ] 19...b4 20.a4 b7 The supports of the white pride on d5 having been methodically sa pp ed , B la ck wins h is pa wn b a ck while retaining some initiative. 21.xc5 [ 21.c4 e5 22.f4? xe3+ 23.xe3 g4+ ] 21...xd5 22.c2 xc5 23.he1 c8 24.f5 b6 25.f4 e4! 'cutting' the attack against b4. 26.g1 d5? [ 26...b3!? 27.a6 b8 28.fxe4 xd2 29.d3 Looks good for Black but the coming Nf5 could shade this estimation. ] [ 26...e6 27.h4 c2 28.xb4! xb4 29.xe4 xe4 30.d3! xb2 31.xe4
xe4 32.xe4 g6= ] 27.h4 g6 [ 27...d3 28.d4 xe2 29.xd5 ( 29.xe2? b3 30.xd5 xa1; 29.xe2 b7 ) 29...d3 ( 29...a6 30.f5 c6 31.d4 e6 32.xb4 ) 30.d4 b8 31.h5 e5 32.f4 a6 33.e4 ] 28.d4! b7 29.c4? [ 29.e4! b3 30.a6! The key move White must have overlooked. xa6 ( 30...a8 31.xd5 xd5 32.exd5+- ) 31.xa6 xd4 32.exd5 xe1+ ( 32...ed8 33.e4 ) 33.xe1 Black will eventually lose one of his typical weaknesses on d6 or b4. ] 29...b6 30.b5? [ 30.a2 b3 31.b1= ] 30...b3 31.xb4 xa1 32.xa1 [ 32.xe8 c2 ] 32...d5 33.a5 [ 33.xd6 xb5 34.a5 b3 35.xd5 ( 35.xd5 d1+ 36.f1 cd8 37.c6 d3 38.c1 xc1 39.xc1 xf1 40.xf1 d1+ ) 35...xe3! ] 33...c5! [ 33...e5? 34.a6 ] 34.xe8 xa5 35.xa5 h6? [ 35...c7! 36.d7 xb2 ] 36.b4? When offered the chance, that pawn was easier to defend on its base with reasonable chances to hold the draw. [ 36.b5 a8 37.d7 ] 36...d3! [ 36...xb4 37.b5 c8 38.xf7+ xf7 39.xb4 c2 40.d4= ] 37.b5 c7 38.c6 b6 39.a1 xb5 40.xb5 xb5 It is well known and duly acknowledged by practice that queen and knight cooperate well together. W ithout the pawn in compensation for the rook and bishop White, who has no hope of building a fortress, precisely because of the presence of the knights, should be lost. 41.f1 e6 42.e1 d5 43.d1 e2 44.c1 d4 45.d2 b5 46.exd4 xd4 47.e1 d3 48.h1 h7 49.c1 f6 50.e3 f5 51.g1 h4 52.g3? [ 52.e3 ] 52...xf3? Undoubtedly, the consequences of a boisterous blitz finish [ 52...d2 0-1 ] 53.f1 g5 54.f2 f7 55.e2 e5 2031
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 56.f4 e4 57.h3 c4 58.e2 e3 59.g3 d5 60.e2 d1 61.f3 e6 62.d4 d7 63.f5 b2 64.h4 c4 65.c3 e5 66.f3 g6 67.c4 d5 68.d4 b7 69.d6 f4 70.d2? [ 70.h2! c7 71.d1! e2+ 72.h1 g3+ 73.h2 h5-+ ] 70...xh3 71.d4 g5 0-1
2074 Gerstner,Wolfgang Ranft,Sandra Chemnitz op (8) [Eric Prié]
A45 2360 1998
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 remains the welltried response possibly for other reasons than 3...d5, that said... d5 4.e3 c5 5.c3?! A dubious transposition into D03 when the original feature of the Tromp is the possibility to question the Ne4 immediately with 5.Bd3 as in the last 2 games or 5.Nd2 as seen next month. b6! [ 5...c6 In this move order appears less precise due to 6.d2 xd2 7.xd2 cxd4 8.exd4 Still not much for White if anything after f5 9.f3 e6 10.b5!? ] 6.c2?! [ 6.b3 c4 7.c2?! ( 7.xb6 axb6 is the only move see the games MartinovicPerunovic and further Kalinitshev-Volodin a few months ago plus the following PriéNajer. ) 7...f5 8.f3? ( 8.c1 ) 8...e5! 9.xe5 ( 9.dxe5 g3 10.e4 xh1 11.exf5 xg1 ) 9...g3 10.e4 xh1 11.exf5 f6?? ( 11...d7! Of course, serving the same pu rp o s e b ut win n in g a vit a l t e m p o a n d leaving the 6th free for the queen. 12.f4 0-0-0 13.h3 d6 14.e2 xf4 15.xf4 d6! 16.d2 16 .g3 Qh 6 ! g5-+ h2 falls, liberating the knight.) 12.f4 d6 13.h3 0-0 14.e2 d7 15.a3? A very mysterious move ( 15.f1! fe8 16.g1 e7 17.xd6 xd6 18.xh1 ae8 19.g1! ) 15...fe8 16.d2 e7 17.f1 A) 17...xa3 18.bxa3 ae8 19.e1 g5! The main purpose of this move is difficult to detect: Freeing the e6 square for the
queen! 20.fxg6 hxg6 21.c2 ( 21.g1? xe2! 22.xe2 b1+ ) 21...g5 22.c1 e6!! 23.g1 ( 23.g6+ h8 24.h6+ h7 25.g6 f8 26.c2 xh3 27.gxh3 xh3+ 28.g1 g3 ) 23...xe2 24.g6+! ( 24.xe2 xe2 25.g6+ f8 26.h6+ e7 27.xh1 e1+ 28.g1 xc1 ) 24...f8 25.h6+ And White now escapes with a perpetual check because the e7 square is not available for the Black king.; B) 17...ae8 18.e1 g5? Black was unable to put the ideas in the right order. ( 18...xa3 19.bxa3 g5! ) 19.xd6 xd6 20.g1 g3 21.hxg3 xg3 22.f2 b6 23.c2+- Stefanova, A (2495) - Gonzalez de la Torre, S (2245) Andorra op 2000 1-0(41) ] 6...f5?! [ 6...c6! 7.f3 This position also belongs to D03. In our case the difference is f5 8.dxc5 xc5 9.b3 0-0-0! ] 7.dxc5 xc5 [ 7...g6 8.xb8 xc5 9.d2 xb8 10.xd5 d3+ 11.xd3 xd3 12.e2 e6 13.e5 d8 14.f4 ] 8.b3! b6 [ 8...b6 9.f3 d7 10.a4 g6 11.a6 g7 12.0-0 0-0 13.b4 b5 14.xb5 c8 15.b3 b6 16.c1 c4 17.a3 e5 18.g3 ed6 19.d1 xa3 20.f1 dc4 21.ac1 e8 0-1 Gerstner, W (2375)Kishnev, S (2530)/ Berlin 1992 ] 9.xb8?! [ 9.xb6 axb6 10.f3 Would suffice to make me happy as White. ] 9...xb3? [ 9...xb8 10.b5+ d8! 11.xd5+? is what W hite must have had in mind but d6! ] 10.axb3 xb8 11.b5+ d8 12.xa7 d6 13.a3 xb5 14.xb5 d3?! [ 14...e5 ] 15.d4 a6? [ 15...e5 16.d2 e4 17.df3 c5 ] 16.xa6 bxa6 17.c6+ c7 18.xb8 xb8 19.f3+- f6 20.d2 e6 21.d4 e5 22.e6 b7 23.a1 b6 24.b4 g6 25.a5 d4 26.exd4 h6+ 27.d3 e8 28.xa6+! 1-0
2032
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2075 Gerstner,Wolfgang Zabystrzan,Pavel 3rd Neckaropen (6) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2365 2325 04.04.1999
Trompowsky Attack: The move 5...Bh6 in the complicated 2...c5 3.Bxf6 line of the Tromp has been under a cloud ever since the famous game Hodgson-Van der W iel, Amsterdam, 1994. In the following game Black tries a less greedy approach, but eventually cannot cope with the pawn weaknesses inflicted upon him by White's third move. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 h6 6.e3 f5 7.c4 a5+ A slightly bizarre alternative to 7... f4 which led to a crushing defeat for Black in Hodgson-Van der Wiel. As far as I can see, the move has no redeeming features, yet is typical of the sort of planless play that Black pursues when he has been led out of book by the Tromp. 8.c3 d6 9.d3 White gets on with the business of targeting Black's pawn weaknesses. d7 10.f3 f6 11.0-0 e5 Black will be forced into either this or e6 at some point in order to successfully defend f5. The drawback being that it leads to a considerable loosening of his position. 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.c2 d7 14.e4 The most logical pawn break, further dis man tling B lack's cent ra l p osition . c6 15.fe1 0-0-0 16.e5 An excellent thrust, ass urin g W hite of a lon g t erm posit io na l advantage. dxe5 [ 16...xf3 17.exf6 hg8 18.g3 Leaves black with no decent way to defend against the twin threats of 19.Rxe6 and Bxf5. ] 17.xe5 c7? A poor choice. For better or worse, Black had to preserve his bishop pair with Be8. 18.xc6 g4 This attempt at counterattack foolhardy and doomed to failure. 19.xa7+ b8 20.g3 f4 Black simply lacks the firepower to back up this rather crude attack. He should have instead concentrated on the defence of his rather exposed king. 21.ab5 f7 22.a4 xd3 23.a7+ c8 24.ad1 Cutting off any possible escape route for the Black king. W hite is determined to really put the boot in. xf2 25.a8+ d7 26.xd3+ It is a fairly straightforward forced
mate in 5, so I'll leave it to you to finish Black off. In the game, Black resigned, and denied White the pleasure. 1-0
2076 Glendinning,J Mannion,Stephen R Grangemouth op2 [Eric Prié]
A45 2350 2000
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.c3?! b6!? As long as there is no Nc3... 4.c2?! cxd4 5.cxd4 c6 6.e3 d6! In the previous games we have witnessed the idea ...e7-e5 against the Bf4. After the exchange of the c-pawns it becomes more dangerous for W hite than ever. 7.a3? There are only 2 ways of parrying the threat of ...e7-e5 followed by ...Bf5: [ 7.d2 e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.g3 ( 9.g5 b4 10.c3 fd5 11.xe5+ e6 ) 9...b4!? ( 9...e6 10.c4 b4 11.xe6 fxe6 12.gf3 e4 13.e5 Schumacher, G (2205)-Bagaturov, G (2530) Dresden 1999 0-1(31) ) 10.b3 ( 10.d1 f5 11.c1 d8! 12.xe5 e4 13.d4 xd4 14.exd4 xd2 15.xd2 xa2 ) 10...e6 11.c4 c8! 12.xe5 xc4 ] [ 7.f3 e5! 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.g3 ( 9.xe5? a5+ 10.d2 b4 ) 9...e4 ( 9...f5 10.xf5 xb2 11.xe5 ) 10.fd2 b4 11.c1 e7 12.c3 0-0 Geluk, P (2169)Runting, T (2494) ICCF webserver 2004 0-1(23) ] [ 7.h3? A move even more ridiculous than the one of the main game. e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.h2 f5 10.b3 b4+ 11.c3 0-0 12.a3 xc3+ 13.xc3 e4 Guenther, MBagaturov, G (2532) Griesheim 1999 ] 7...e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.g3 f5 10.c1 a5! Brutally decisive for Black after only 10 moves! 11.b4 [ 11.d2 c8 12.d1 xb2 ] [ 11.c3 d6 12.b4 c8 13.bxa5 xc3 14.axb6 c1+ 15.e2 ( 15.d2 xf1 16.bxa7 e7 ) 15...xb1 16.f3 d3+ 17.xd3 xa1-+ ] 11...b3 12.b2 xa1 13.xe5+ e7-+ 14.xa1 a5 15.b5 xb1 16.xb1 xa3 17.d3 0-0 18.e5 fe8 19.f3 b4+ 2033
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.e2 h6 21.g1 g4 23.xc5 xc5 24.h3 xe3+ 0-1
c5
c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 exf4 12.d4 c5 13.g3 If the estim ation given in the note to White's critical 16th move choice is wrong then he should prefer 13.Nh3 as in the next 3 games. 2077 A45 [ 13.e3 being obviously wrong because of fxe3 14.e2 d5 ] Goldberg,Menashe 2039 13...xd4! Killing White's best piece. 14.cxd4 Knight,T Guernsey Open (2) 21.10.2002 a4 15.gxf4 d5! [ 15...xd4?! 16.e3 a4 17.e2 0-0 [Aaron Summerscale] 18.c3 a5 19.0-0-0 e8 20.b4! a8 ( 20...h5 21.e4 h4 22.f5 f4 23.g2 Tromp: A highly original game, with both is hardly better.; 20...a3 21.b2 xc3 players not just straying from, but leaping off 22.xc3 xe3+ 23.d4! Always the same the beaten track as soon as possible. 1.d4 r e c u r r e n t t h e m e xf3 24.c1 xf4+ f6 2.c3 e6 Hoping for a French. 3.g5 25.d3+- ) 21.e4 d5 22.b5 d8 23.e5 c5 Highly unusual. 4.e4 White goes his own h5 24.xd5 e6 25.xb6+way, 1-0 Karttunen,M (2429) - Nyysti,S (2245) [ 4.d5 looks more to the point, with a slight Helsinquia 2002 ] edge in prospect. ] 16.f5 Instead of being forced to defend after 4...cxd4 5.xf6 gxf6 6.xd4 e7 7.0-0-0 this, White should have tried the sacrifice [ 7.d6+!? ] [ 16.h3!? xd4 ( 16...d6? 17.e4 xh3 7...c6?! This allows White what he wants. 18.b5+ d7 19.xa4 xa4 20.exd5+-; [ 7...d5 steals most of White's thunder. In 16...e3 17.f2 xf1 18.hxf1 xd4 fact Black seems to be better after this. ] 19.fd1 ) 17.c1 ( 17.e4 e3 18.e2 8.d6+ xd6 9.xd6 a5 10.b1 xf1 19.hxf1 d5 20.f2 dxe4 21.fxe4 White has pleasant pressure along the d-file e7= ) 17...e7 18.e4 e3 19.g1 and the better structure. e5 11.d2 d5 ( 19.d3 g2+ 20.e2 d5 21.f5 ) 12.f3 h5 13.h4 f5 Black gains space, but A) 19...g6 20.d3! Fritz d5 ( 20...xd3 his queen is well out of the way of all the 21.e2 d4 22.xe3 ) 21.f2; action. 14.e3 d7 15.c4 White decides to B) 19...d5! 20.f2 xf1 21.xf1 dxe4 take advantage of Black's un-coordinated 22.fxe4 g6= ] forces and opens the position. 0-0-0 16.cxd5 [ 16.e4! xf4 17.f2 xd4 18.e3 e6 exd5 17.e2 e6 18.e5 White has 19.c1 e7 20.c4 d6 21.e2 ] increased his advantage and Black's position teeters on the brink of disaster. h6 19.xc6 16...xd4 17.e4 e3 18.e2 [ 18.e2 xf1 19.xf1 d5 20.e3 a4 ] bxc6 20.c1 d7 21.c3 Black is in no position to defend himself. c8 22.a6 c7 18...c2+ 19.f2 d2 20.c1 d5 21.g2 [ 21.h3 dxe4 22.fxe4 0-0! ( 22...e7? 23.xh8 The rook disappears, but even 23.hd1 hd8? 24.xd2 xd2 25.f6+ without this material disadvantage, Black was xf6 26.xc8 d4 27.e3 xe2+ in a hopeless position. 28.xd4 xb2 29.e5+ e7 30.xb7+- ) 1-0 23.hd1 fd8 24.xd2 xd2 25.f3 d7 26.f4 c6= ] 2078 A45 21...dxe4 22.fxe4 e7 23.hd1 hd8 Golubovic,Boris 2462 24.xd2 xd2 25.f3 g6 26.g3 gxf5 Brenjo,Slavisa 2463 27.c3 Intending Nd5+, Nxb6 f4+ 28.xf4 TCh-BIH Prem (5) 08.06.2005 e6= 29.d5+? [ 29.d1 b4 ( 29...d4? 30.e3 ) 30.a3! [Eric Prié] c6 ( 30...d3+ 31.e3 xc1 32.xd2 ) 31.c2= ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 29...xd5 30.exd5 d6 31.h4 d4 32.e4 22.d4
2034
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xb2 33.c8 f5 34.d3 h2 [ 34...xd5! Immediately getting rid of the dangerous passed pawn would have been t h e m o s t d e lica t e f o r W h it e t o d e f e n d . 35.d8+ c5 36.c8+ c6 ( 36...b4?? 37.c4+ ) 37.xf5 f2+! 38.g4 ( 38.g5 h6+; 38.e4 xa2 39.xh7 a4+ 40.e3 xh4 ) 38...h6 39.e6 b5 40.h5 f6 41.b3 b4 42.c7! ( 42.h8 e5 43.xh6? f5# Mate!! ) 42...b6 43.f7! d6 44.h7= ] 35.d8+ c7 [ 35...c5 36.e5 ] 36.g8 xh4+ 37.e5 f3+ 38.xf5 h5+ 39.f4 e5 40.f5 g6+ 41.xg6 hxg6 42.g7+ d6 43.xg6+ c5 44.e4 xd5 45.xb6 xb6 46.xd5 ½-½
2079 Grant,Alan Holzke,Frank Monarch Assurance (5) [Eric Prié]
A45 2193 2492 29.09.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 e6 7.e4 exd5 8.exd5 d6 9.d2! e7 10.c4 xd2+ 11.xd2 h5 12.e3 f5 13.f4! A Novelty implying that White gives up his dark-squared bishop in a d i f f e r e n t s c h e m e o f d e v e l o p m e n t . f6 After this game, it is definitely Black's turn to have to find a reinforcement in the variation. Possibly something like [ 13...d7!? 14.d3 df6 15.e2 d8 16.bc3 0-0 ] 14.c3 g4 15.e1 f7 16.f3 xe3 17.xe3 a6 [ 17...h6 18.b5 is the same. ] 18.d3? White does not sense "the critical moment" and the very interesting possibilities generated by his 13th move novelty. [ 18.b5!! Would have given him an enormous initiative. For instance A) 18...d7 19.g5+ f6 20.d3 g6 ( 20...xb5? 21.e6# ) 21.he1 d8 22.c1 ( 22.xd6 a5+ 23.c1 xe1 ) 22...xb5 ( 22...h6 23.e6 xb5 24.cxb5 b4 25.c4 a5 26.1e2 ) 23.e6+ g7 24.cxb5 b4 ( 24...c7
25.xd6 ) 25.c4 h6 26.f3 a6 27.b6! xb6 28.a3+-; B) 18...h6 19.d3 d7 20.he1 he8 ( 20...f8 21.h4! g6 22.g4! xb5 23.cxb5 b4 24.gxf5 g5 25.g6 h7 26.c4 ) 21.xe7+! ( 21.xf5!? xf5 22.xe7+ xe7 23.xd6+ f6 24.xe7 xe7 25.xf5+ f6 26.g4 h5 27.h3 hxg4 28.hxg4 h8 29.a3 ) 21...xe7 22.xd6+ In all these lines, like in every Benoni set-up, the d6 pawn is Black's Achilles' heel. Added to his small space advantage and slight advance in development, that makes White's position pleasa ntly pref e rable with very sobe r means. f6 23.e5 g6 ( 23...g5 24.xd7+ xd7 25.e6+ g7 26.xf5+ ) 24.g4! d8 25.g5+!! hxg5 26.g4+! fxg4 27.fxg5+ xg5 28.xe7+c8 ( 28...f5 29.f7+ f6 30.xd8 xe7 31.xb7 ) 29.xc8 ( 29.e4+ ) 29...xc8 30.e5+ f4 ( 30...f6 31.e6+ g5 32.xg6+ ) 31.e4+ g5 32.e2 h8 33.xg4+ f5 34.h4 ] 18...c7 N o w B l a c k i s O K . 19.h4 h5 20.he1 e8 21.g3 d7 22.a4 b6 23.b5 xb5 24.cxb5 g6 25.c4 f6 26.g5+ xg5 27.hxg5 [ 27.fxg5 xe3 28.xe3 e8 Draw. 29.a3? e4 ] 27...xe3 28.xe3 h8 29.a5 h4 30.axb6 axb6 31.gxh4 xh4 32.f3 The rest of the game, where Black desperately gesticulates in every direction with the hope of his (300 ELO points) lower rated opponent losing the thread of the game bears little interest. In this blocked position, the knight has only one point of entry into play, via h5, so White needs only to watch the g3 square, while the bishop holds the queenside, to safely secure the draw. e7 33.f1 d8 34.b3 e8 35.e3 g7 36.e2 h3+ 37.f3 h8 38.d3 e8+ 39.d2 h5 40.c2 e7 41.b1 e8 42.d1 f7 43.d2 f8 44.c2 a7 45.c1 a2 46.b1 a5 47.d3 a7 48.c1 g8 49.b1 h7 50.d2 g7 51.d3 h2+ 52.e3 a2 53.c4 h5 54.e2 a7 55.d3 a3 56.c4 g7 57.d2 f8 58.h3 h5 59.f3 f7 60.e3 a8 61.d2 a2+ 62.e3 b2 63.d3 g8 64.e3 g2 65.f1 h2 2035
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 66.c4 g7 67.f2 69.f1 h3+ 70.f3 ½-½
2080 Groffen,Hans Berzinsh,Roland Monarch Assurance (1) [Eric Prié]
h3+
68.f3
h4
A45 2244 2455 25.09.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 For the important alternatives [ 7...f5 and ] [ 7...d8 also see next month. ] 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 dxc6 12.xe5 e6 13.e4!? d7 14.d4 c5!? Continuing in a gambit style while actually threatening ...Nb3. 15.a3 b3 16.h3 0-0-0 17.e2 a4 18.0-0? [ 18.f4 b5 19.d3 f6 ( 19...c5 20.f2 c4 21.e5 )] [ 18.f2! Of course was the critical move. A) 18...xb2 19.xb6 d7 20.0-0 ( 20.b1 xa3 21.a1 d6 22.a8+ b8 ) 20...d2 21.fe1; B) 18...c5 19.e3 c4 B1) 20.d1 xb2 21.xb3 cxb3 22.xb6 d7 23.a4 c4 24.d4 a3 25.d1 b2; B2) 20.d4 f6 21.0-0 c5 22.d1 xb2 23.xb3 cxb3 24.fb1 ( 24.ab1 c4 25.xb3 d2 ) 24...xd4!; B3) 20.b1! I n t e n d i n g B d 1 c5 21.xc5 bxc5 22.d1 he8 23.e2 f5 24.xb3 cxb3 25.hd1 xd1 26.xd1 fxe4 27.xe4 d8+ 28.e2 c4 White is a pawn up but I fail to see how to exploit it without the participation of his rook tethered to the defence of b2. ] 18...c5! Forcing entry towards the 2nd rank. 19.d1 [ 19.xc5 bxc5 20.f4 d2 21.g4+ c7 22.f2 hd8 ] 19...xd1 20.xc5 bxc5 21.axd1 xb2 22.b1 c4 23.f2 [ 23.g5 he8! 24.xf7 d7 25.g5 h6 26.h3 d2 ] 23...d3 24.c1 hd8 25.a2 d1+! 26.xd1 xd1+ 27.f2 c1 28.g5 xc3
29.xh7 b5 30.g5 b4! Queening by force and costing White his rook at least. 31.axb4 cxb4 32.xf7 [ 32.e5 b3 33.a8+ b7 34.e6 fxe6 35.a4 c5 ( 35...b2 36.b4+ c7 37.xe6+ d6 38.xg7 c1 wins too. ) 36.e4 c2+ 37.g3 b2 38.xc5+ c6 ] 32...b3 33.a8+ b7 34.a4 b2 35.b4+ c7 36.g5 c5 0-1
2081 Gustafsson,Jan Bekker Jensen,David It Hamburg GER (6) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2410 2255 15.01.1999
Trompowsky Attack: Sometimes our opponents will do anything to avoid falling in with our plans. In the following game, Black pre-empts one of White's most popular plans in the Tromp. However, White shows there is more than one string to his bow and wins convincingly. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 g6 3.xf6 exf6 4.e3 b6 Black tries an original way of meeting the W hite plan of controlling the h1-a8 diagonal and fianchettos first. 5.e2 Despite the Black plan, White is quick to react and finds a way to control the critical diagonal. b7 6.f3 xf3 7.xf3 The exchange of light squared bishops benefits W hite more than it does Black. Black no longer enjoys the advantage of the bishop pair and has potential weaknesses for White to exploit, on both the king and queenside. c6 8.c3 f5 9.ge2 g7 10.h3 White prepares to assault the Black kingside pawn structure with a timely g4. h5 11.f4 e7 12.0-0-0 As usual, it is important to bring all the pieces into play before attempting to decimate Black's reasonably solid position. c6 13.g4 hxg4 14.hxg4 g8 [ Attempting to castle quickly with: 14...c7 doesn't relieve black of his problems, as after 15.xh8+ xh8 16.h1 0-0-0 17.h7 White is left with a pleasant edge. ] 15.h7 The arrival of the rook on the seventh rank spells doom for Black, who finds that he has this irritating piece permanently stuck down his throat. d5 16.gxf5 xf5 17.e4 2036
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 With the Black king stranded, W hite immediately grabs the opportunity to open the center and attack. xd4 [ 17...dxe4 18.xe4+ e7 19.d5 is also miserable for Black. ] 18.xg7 xg7 19.xd4 f6 20.d3 White has tw o very good knights in exchange for rook and pawn and an excellent position. Indeed, White's lead in development forces Black to jettison a pawn, in a vain attempt to get his king to safety 0-0-0 21.exd5 g5 Even without this fatal mistake, Black's task was almost impossible. 22.g4+ With Nh5 to follow, W hite will be a piece up. Black understandably called it a day. 1-0
2082 Halkias,Stelios Simeonidis,Ioannis GRE-ch Athens (1) [Eric Prié]
A45 2528 2329 28.11.2002
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6!? 3.xf6 exf6 4.e3 a6!? c7 is usually the retreat square for the Bd6 after ...d7-d5 but it is true that sometimes activating this knight via d7, f6 and the move ...f7-f5 (closing the c8-h3 diagonal) also has drawbacks in spite of the appreciable control then gained over the e4 square in return. [ 4...d6 Another gate of transposition... 5.c4 f5 6.c3 d7 7.g3 h5 8.h4 g6 9.g2 h6 10.h3 0-0 11.d3 f6 12.f4 e8 Indeed both camps have just executed the moves of the 2...d6/2...g6 Tromp when the giving up of the just developed bishop by 3. Bxf6 is advisable - and this may be the only case in the Tromp! Because of the difficulty for Black to put a pawn on d5 after ... 4.c4! A) 13.0-0 W ithout fearing g5? 14.hxg5 xg5 15.h3 d7 ( 15...g4 16.xh5 ) 16.g2; B) 13.f1?! d7 14.f3 c7 15.g2 e7 16.b4 ae8 17.ab1 e4= White lost too much time on the queenside attack in Kovacevic, B (2429)-Dizdarevic, E (2528) Pula 1999 1/2 (59) . ] 5.c4 Of course not [ 5.xa6? a5+ ] [ 5.d3?! Playing on the superior structure
with the pieces against the knight. This plan is dubious, however, for a tactical reason: d5 6.a3 c7 7.f3 d6 8.e2 A) 8...h5! 9.h3 e6 10.h4 c5!? ( 10...c7 11.g3 g4 12.g2= ) 11.dxc5 ( 11.f5 xf5 12.xf5 e4 ) 11...g4 12.cxd6 xf3 13.gxf3 xd6 14.d2; B) 8...e6?! The knight is worse placed h e re t h a n o n c7 . 9.h4 b6 ( 9...h5 10.d2 Followed by e3-e4.) 10.b3 c7 11.d2 e7 12.c4! xa3 13.cxd5 cxd5 14.xd5 b4 15.a2 0-0 16.0-0 Miladino vic, I (251 0)-At alik, S (25 55 ) Halkida 1997 1-0(78) ] 5...c7 6.c3 e7 7.d3 d5 8.cxd5 xd5 9.ge2 With a promising set-up for White in comparison with those with the same structure resulting from 4...d5 5.c4 dxc4! 6. Bxc4 Bd6 for instance. 0-0 10.0-0 c5? Black had to play 10...f5 or [ 10...g4 betting on the drawing tendency of positions with opposite colour bishops. 11.d2 White has to keep the knights to retain a slight advantage. ( 11.xd5 xd5 12.f3 e6 13.c2 f5 14.f4 d7 On the other hand, is OK for Black because of the newly created weakness on e3. )] 11.dxc5 b4 [ 11...xc5? 12.xd5 xd5 13.xh7+ xh7 14.xd5 ] 12.f4! The point Black must have overlooked. xd3 [ 12...xc5 13.xh7+ xh7 14.h5+ g8 15.xc5 ] [ 12...g5 13.a3 ] 13.xd3 b6 14.c2 [ 14.f3 a6 15.fd1 xd3 16.e4 xc5 17.xd3 e7 18.ad1 ] 14...bxc5 15.fd1 a5 16.f4 e8 17.e4!! Quite unexpectedly, there is a tactical wa y f or W h ite t o consolida te his advantage. g4? [ 17...b8 18.cd5 b7 ( 18...d8 19.xe7+ xe7 20.xe7 xe7 21.d8+ e8 22.xe8# ) 19.h5! b5 ( 19...e6 20.dxf6+ gxf6 21.xb7; 19...h8 20.dxf6 gxf6 21.xf6 xf6 22.xe8+ g7 23.xc8 ) 20.a4 d7 ( 20...c6 21.xe7+ bxe7 22.xc6 ) 21.ac1! ( 21.dxf6+ xf6 22.xf6+ gxf6 23.xd7 xe4 24.d8+ g7 25.xc8 xb2 2037
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.xc5 xa4!= ) 21...e6 22.xe6 xe6 23.xe7+ bxe7 24.xc5 b7 25.f4 xb2? 26.xe6 fxe6 27.c7 a5 28.g3+- ] [ 17...a6! 18.d7 ( 18.fd5 f8 19.g4 e6 20.d2 ) 18...f5! 19.e5 ( 19.xf5 c8 ) 19...f6 20.d5 ed8 21.xf7+ h8 with some compensation for the pawn, was the most tenacious. 22.fd5?! c4 ] 18.fd5! xd1 19.xe7+ f8 [ 19...xe7 20.xa8+ ] 20.xd1 ad8 21.xd8 xd8 22.cd5 g6 [ 22...xe7 23.xh7 e8 24.h8+ d7 25.xd8+ xd8 26.xe7+- ] 23.f4 23.Qh4 also forced Black to give up his queen to avoid being mated. 1-0
2083 Hall,Jesper De Firmian,Nick E Sigeman & Co (8) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2486 2610 16.06.1999
Trompowsky: Another one bites the dust. You might expect amateur players to be confused by the offbeat openings on this site but surely not seasoned pro's, especially a 2600+ GM. W ell just take a look at the following. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 b4 I have never trusted this bishop move for Black as it more or less commits him to it's exchange when he will struggle to find c o m p e n s a t io n f o r W h it e ' s ce n t r a l sp a c e advantage. 6.d2 c5 7.a3 xc3 8.bxc3 d6 Black is hoping to complete his development and then set about targeting W hite's weakened queenside pawns. 9.f4 White is obliged therefore to play with gusto to put as many obstacles in Blacks way as possible. e5 Black plays this to prevent White from doing so. 10.b5+ d7 11.b1 White piles on the pressure giving Black almost no breathing space. exf4 12.e2 g5 13.xd7+ xd7 14.xb7 The rooks arrival on the seventh rank indicates that W hite has won the opening battle. The Black King will have great difficulty finding a safe haven and his pawn structure is clearly worse. b6 15.d3 e6 16.h4 W hite prepares to dismantle the Black kingside. Black's main hope of salvation is in
trapping the Rb7. c8 Black blows his best chance. [ B e t t e r w a s 16...c4 17.f3 c8 Which does indeed trap the rook, although after 18.xb6 axb6 19.hxg5 White has plenty of compensation for the exchange. ] 17.a6 0-0 Castling into the attack but good alternatives were hard to come by. 18.hxg5 hxg5 19.e5 An excellent thrust preparing to bring the queen back into the attack with decisive effect. e8 20.d3 It is forced mate after 20...Qxb7 21.Qh7+ Kf8 22.Qh6+! 1-0
2084 Hauke,Christian Appel,Helmut BL2-S 9697 Germany [Eric Prié]
A45 2190 2050 1997
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.f3 f6 5.e4 dxe4 6.c3 d5! 7.xd5 xd5 8.xc7 The best chance, which was also duly recommended by Wells. [ 8.c4 A) 8...d8!? Gunar Berg HANSSEN 9.fxe4?! e5! 10.xe5! ( 10.dxe5 b4+ 11.f2 c5+ ) 10...c6 ( 10...h4+ 11.g3 xe4+ 12.e2 ) 11.f3 xe5 12.xe5 h4+ 13.d2; B) 8...a5+ 9.d2 f5 B1) 10.f4 This is the main move but it looks a bit ridiculous: Black is a pawn up without being behind in development. Something that he may profit from by my favourite: e5! 11.dxe5 ( 11.fxe5 c5 ) 11...c5 12.e2 c6; B2) 10.e2 c6! Wells, P 11.fxe4 ( 11.c3 e5 12.fxe4 f4 ) 11...f6 12.f3 ( 12.e5 h4+ 13.g3 xd4 14.c3 g4 ) 12...g4! ( 12...xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.c3 d6 15.d1 g6 16.d3 ) 13.c3 xd4 14.xd4 xf3 15.gxf3 ( 15.f2? e5 ) 15...xd4 16.d1 f6 17.d2 c6 "White clearly has some pressure for the pawn but Black will play ...e6 next and it is unclear how tangible trouble can be caused." Wells. Can I can answer?: No. ] [ 8.d2 c6 9.e3 e5 ] 2038
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8...c6 9.c3 f5! "Keeping the tension and as usual somewhat stymieing W hite's development" Wells 10.b3!? [ 10.e2 e5! A) 11.dxe5!? A1) 11...d7 12.d6 0-0-0 13.xf8 xd1+ ( 13...hxf8 14.xd7+ xd7 15.f4; 13...e6 14.b3 ) 14.xd1 xd1+ 15.xd1 xf8 16.f4 ( 16.c2 xe5 17.fxe4 g6 18.f3 c4 ) 16...g5 17.g3 White holds the pawn.; A2) 11...c5 The book move. 12.fxe4 xe4 13.f3 There is no rush in playing Bd6. xf3 14.xf3 c8 15.d6 xd6 16.exd6 ( 16.xd6 xe5 17.xc5 xf3+ 18.gxf3 xc5 19.0-0-0 c7! 20.he1+ e7= ) 16...0-0 17.d5 ce8+; B) 11.xe5 xe5 12.dxe5 xe5 13.a4+ d7 14.xe4 xe4 15.fxe4 0-0-0 16.0-0-0 ( 16.f3 On principle c6? 17.e5 ) 16...c5 17.f3 c6 18.d3? ( 18.e5 ) 18...xd3 19.xd3 xe4 20.d2 xd3 21.xd3= Djurhuus, R (2495) - Elsness, F (2250) Gausdal 1995 1/2 (46) ] [ 10.fxe4 xe4+ 11.e2 ( 11.e2 e5 12.xe5 xe5 13.dxe5 0-0-0 14.f3 c5 ) 11...xg2 12.f3 xb2 ] 10...d7 [ 10...e6 11.xb7 xd4 12.xd5 c2+ 13.d2 ( 13.d1 e3+ 14.d2 xd5 ) 13...e3+ 14.d1 exd5 15.c1 ] 11.f4 [ 11.g3!? As suggested on the forum, indeed it looks like an improvement. Then Black should pursue in the same counter gambit style with e5! 12.d5 0-0-0 13.d1 a5 14.b5 Only square c7 15.e2 exf3 ( 15...e3!? ) 16.xf3 d6 with an interesting lead in development and .. .e 5-e4 in t he air with o ut a ny ma te ria l deficit. ] 11...e6 [ 11...e5! I would have loved to see Black more or less forced to engage himself on the mined ground of the BDG complex and I founded great hopes in this direction due to the fact that the opponent had the bishop on f4 to prevent any easy Lemberger sidestepping. Unfortunately I see no way to
prevent this liberating move as soon as Black has his knight developed on c6. Thus, it is a bit ironic to see that all this is only possible because of the extra tempo that forces the exchange of the knights on d5 because of the extra tempo making the bishop hang on f4! In every case "He clearly obtains some positional compensation in the form of the bishop pair and the weakness of White's extra pawn." as Wells says. And he concludes his study of 6... Nd5! with these wo r d s : " T h i s a l l l o o k s l i k e a t e m p t i n g approach f or Black, not least because I would be very surprised if our gambiteers would feel temperamentally comfortable on the W hite side of this kind of a tussle." 12.xe5 ( 12.dxe5 c5 13.c4 b6 14.fxe4 e6 15.d3 e7 16.d6 h4+ 17.g3 h5 ) 12...xe5 13.dxe5 0-0-0 14.d1 xd1+ 15.xd1 xd1+ 16.xd1 c5 17.c4 d8+ 18.e1 ( 18.c1? e3+ ) 18...e3! 19.xf7 d2-+ 20.b4 d3!! 21.bxc5 f2 ( 21...b2 22.b3 b1+ 23.d1 ) 22.h3 e2+ 23.d1 b2 Followed inevitably by Rb1 mate. ] 12.d1 d8? [ 12...e7!? 13.e2 0-0-0 14.fxe4 xe4 15.f3 g5! 16.xg5 xg5 17.xg5 dg8 18.f6 xg2 19.g1 d5 ] 13.e2 e7 14.fxe4 xe4 15.f3 d5 16.c2 0-0 [ 16...xa2? 17.b3 ] 17.0-0 c8 From this magnificent position where you would expect Black to have an extra-c pawn at least to make up for it, White will err a little... 18.b1 [ 18.a3 a5 19.e5 d8 20.d3 f5 21.e2 ] 18...d8 19.d3 f5 20.e5 a5 21.c4! d8 22.e3 Getting rid of the main defender g5 23.g3 f6 24.de1 e7 25.h1 b5 26.xd5 xd5 27.e5 [ 27.c2! d7 28.b3 d5 29.e5+- ] 27...g6 28.g3 [ 28.xf6 xf6 29.c2 f4 ] 28...g7 29.d1 a6 30.e2 ce8 31.c4 bxc4 32.xc4 xd4 33.d1 xb2 34.d7+ h6?? [ 34...f7 35.xf7+ xf7 36.xb2 xb2 37.xf5+ f6 A pawn is still missing. ] [ 34...h8! 35.h5 ( 35.d2 c3 2039
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 36.d6 f4 37.xf4 gxf4 38.xf4 g5 9.c3 c5! 10.d5 b8 11.a4 b4 12.e2 39.c2 f6 ) 35...e7 36.xe7 xe7 f5 and Brown, a Grunfeld aficionado, must 37.xe6 f4 38.f2 f3 39.gxf3 f4 40.h6 have been fairly happy with how the opening ( 40.g4 h5 41.g1 xe6 Controlling had gone White's d-pawn is much more of a d4. ) 40...f6 41.xg5 xe6-+ ] weakness than a strength. ] 35.h5+! xh5 36.xh7+ g4 37.h3+ 3.d5 e4 But it was worthwhile waiting! [ The Vaganian Gambit, 3...b6 4.c3! 1-0 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 , is fraught with danger for Black, but does Kett really obtain a superior version with the knights off the 2085 A45 board? ] b6 5.d2!? Like 3 h4, this old Hebden,Mark 2554 4.f4 Kett,Timothy 2270 gambit has recently received something of a new lease of life. xd2?! British Championship, Aberystwyth (4.6) [ The denotion may be harsh, but as Aaron [Richard Palliser] wrote " 5...xb2 is rightly considered to be the main line, when Black has equal 1.d4 f6 2.g5 Yes, that is correct. Mr Barry, chances". This was tested in a later round of Mark Hebden, does appear to have switched the British, and against a leading to the Tromp. I can't say I'm surprised as the T r o m p o w s k y a u t h o r i t y n o l e s s : 6.xe4 Barry has been looking suspect or dull for a b4+ 7.c3!? ( a fairly fresh approach 7.d2 while (depending on whether one chooses 5 xe4 8.e3 g5 was the old main line) Qd2 or 5 e3), and I'm sure Mark will be quick 7...xe4 8.e3 g5!? ( still fairly critical, if far to enrich Trompowsky theory. c5 from forced 8...e6 was preferred in Paragua[ Two rounds earlier Hebden had to face Song, Arlington 2014, where 9.c4 exd5 2...g6 3.xf6 exf6 4.e3 d5 . This solid line 10.f3! e7 11.cxd5 b4+ 12.d2 d6 can hardly be terrible (an d Aronian did 13.b1 a5 14.b5+ d7 15.0-0 employ it twice in the W orld Blitz gave White just about enough for his pawn) Championship), but if you want to play ...d5, 9.g3 g7 10.c1 f6 (slightly perplexing, why not do so on move 2 and omit ...g6? Be but it does allow ...Qg6-g7) 11.c4 ( 11.d6!? that as it may, Hebden-M.Brown, was surely crying out to be played) 11...d6 A b e r y s t w y t h 2 0 1 4 , c o n t i n u e d 5.d2 12.f3 g6 13.b3 b6 14.h4! h6 15.d3 ( alternatively: 5.g3 d6 6.g2 c6 7.d2 f5 16.e2 d7 17.a4 gave White some e6 8.e2 looks very sensible, but h5!? lasting compensation for his pawn in R.Pert9.h4?! d7 10.c1 b6 11.b3 e7 Storey, Aberystwyth 2014. The engines 12.0-0 g5 did manage to randomise the aren't convinced, but then again it's not position in Le Quang Liem-Aronian, Dubai especially easy for Black to untangle, being (blitz 2014),; 5.e2 c6 6.f4!? d6 7.g3 under potential pressure on both flanks. ] h5 8.h4 g4 9.e2 xe2 10.xe2 d7 11.d2 was a more sensible approach to 6.xd2 xb2 7.e4 g6 [ Not forced, but the bishop really wants to t h e k i n gs id e f r o m W h i t e in Na k a m u ra come out this way and 7...b6 8.f3 g6?! Aronian, Dubai (blitz) 2014,; and 5.c4 dxc4 9.c3 is a problem. ] 6.xc4 d6 7.c3 0-0 8.h4!? h5 9.c2 g7 10.ge2 was route one stuff in 8.b1 e5 9.d3 g7 [ 9...c4!? has also been seen in practice, but Radjabov-Leko, Linares 2004, which can be after 10.f3 c7 11.e2 g7 12.0-0 f o u n d in t h e A rc h ive) 5...g7 6.c4 White has some lead in development and ( with Black's bishop now committed to g7, I threatens to regain his pawn with Rb4. ] prefer 6.g3 , only gradually building up to the c4 break) 6...0-0 7.e2?! ( and this is 10.f4!? [ A new move for us, if one which many new, but doesn't improve on 7.cxd5 xd5 would have played. Previously, Aaron had 8.gf3 when c5 9.c4 h5 10.c1 d7 examined 10.f3 c7 11.h4 and now in might be quite critical) 7...dxc4 8.xc4 a6 2040
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Winants-Franzen, Cappelle la Grande 2001, surely Black had to keep lines closed with h5 .] 10...c7 11.c4 That's some centre. Hebden might be used to being on the black side of the Four Pawns Attack, but I very much doubt he minded sitting behind the white pieces on this occasion. White's compensation is clear and in practice his chances must be preferred. d6 12.h3 Logically preventing Black from freeing his position with an exchange on f3. Kett responds by desperately trying to challenge in the centre. 0-0 13.f3 e6 14.0-0 exd5 15.exd5! [ The right way to recapture. Black's extra bp a wn is f a r l e s s u se f u l n o w t h a n a f t e r 15.cxd5 when it's not so easy for White to build up, as shown by d7 16.e1 c4! . ] 15...d7 16.f5 And now it's time for full speed ahead. Hebden made much of his living in the Eigh t ie s f rom th e G ran d P rix At t ac k a n d W h ite 's a t ta c k h ere is ju st a s d ire ct a n d potentially deadly. e5? [ This attempt to trade pieces fails to convince. Black should be rushing units to the defence of his king and, indeed, 16...f6 had been tried in an earlier game. Even here I rather like White, although matters aren't t o t a l l y c l e a r : 17.e1 ( 17.c3 d7 18.g5!? is another way of doing things) 17...gxf5!? ( radical, but the vintage attack would just have been too strong after, say, 17...d7? 18.h4 : Bh6, Ng5 and clearance of the f-file follows) 18.h4 e4 19.xe4 fxe4 20.g5?! ( over ambitious there was time to collect the pawn, with 20.xe4 , and then go Ng5) 20...d4+ 21.h1 f5 22.xe4!? (White goes all in) fxe4 23.xf8+ xf8 24.f1+ g8 25.h6 and now in Milovic-Musovic, Cetinje 2012, White got lucky when Black dropped a piece and the game with g7?? , ( rather than finding 25...xh3! 26.gxh3 d7 when anything might have happened. )] 17.xe5 dxe5?! [ And this is positional suicide, although unsurprisingly I also have my doubts about 17...xe5 18.f6 e8 19.f3 for Black. ] 18.f6 h8 19.h6 e8 20.e4! Hebden is a master at keeping control in such positions. A l r e a d y K e t t m i g h t we l l h a ve r e s i g n e d ,
although fortunately for us he didn't, so we can see a model example of how to win such a position. d6 21.h4! b5 22.h5 Black can have his queenside play. Hebden has realised that his own attack is much too quick. bxc4?! 23.hxg6 hxg6 24.xg6! And good night, Vienna. xf6 25.h5 e7 26.h7+! h8 27.e4 g8 28.g5 1-0
2086 Hector,Jonny De Firmian,Nick E KSU-75 Copenhague (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2507 2536 11.02.2002
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 e6 This is the best reply when W hite wants to keep his b ish o p . E s p e c ia l ly if we co n sid e r t h a t i t restricts the flexibility of the white game by cutting of f the possibility of doubling the p a wn s u n d e r f a vo u r a b le circu m st a n c e s . 4.e4?! This move is wrong and, although its incorrectness is only demonstrated by tactical play, it is easy to understand why: In the 2... e6 3.e4 Tromp, when Black plays 3...c5 , instead of the standard 3... h6, which is a fashionable line for Black nowadays, the two main alternatives for the opponent are 4.e5 or 4.d5. I do not imagine W hite seriously considering 4.dxc5 here and, in fact, there is n o t a s in gl e g a m e wit h t h i s m o ve in t h e database... except our game, by transposition! xc5 5.d3 [ 5.e5 A) 5...xf2+!? 6.xf2 e4+ 7.e3 xg5 8.h4 is unclear the knight is trapped. Of course it is easy for Black to get at least 3 p a wn s f o r i t b u t h e wi l l r e m a i n t o o underdeveloped to hope for more against the "wandering" opposing king.; B) As well as 5...h6!? B1) 6.h4 g5 7.g3 e4 8.c3 ( 8.c3 xg3 9.hxg3 b6 10.e4 b4+! 11.d2 d4 ) 8...b6 9.c2 xg3 10.hxg3 c6; B2) 6.exf6 hxg5 7.fxg7 g8; C) 5...b6 6.exf6 xf2+ 7.e2 ( 7.d2 gxf6 8.xf6? e3# ) 7...xg1 ( 7...gxf6? 8.h3! ) 8.xg1 ( 8.fxg7 f2+ 9.d3 2041
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d4+ 10.e2 xg7 ) 8...b5+! ( 8...xg1?? 9.fxg7 g8 10.d6 c6 11.e3 h1 12.c5 d8 13.c3! quickly leads to mate.) 9.d3 xg5 10.fxg7 xg7 11.c3 c6 with the idea 12.b5 e5+ ] 5...b6 6.h3 So this is the idea of the most "romantic" Grandmaster on the planet: Quick and original development in compensation for b2 and the possibility of using his e-pawn against the knight on f6... d5! but he surely had not forecast that, with the black pawns on d7 and e6, he would have some worries on the c8-h3 diagonal! 7.exd5 xb2 8.d2 e5+ 9.f1 exd5 Logical and very tempting, but I do not fancy White's attacking chances after 9...Nxd5 very much, keeping the e-file closed. 10.f3 d6 11.e2+ f8 12.e1!! A f a n t a s t ic re s o u rce in a se e m in gly lo st position. xh3 Black has to go for it [ 12...c6 13.xf6 gxf6 14.d2 g7 15.h4 followed by Nf4 with a strong attack. ] 13.xf6 [ 13.gxh3 c6 14.xf6 xf6 ] 13...xg2+ 14.xg2 gxf6 15.e8+! g7 16.h4! T h e p o i n t . xe8 17.xe8 f8 18.f5+ g8 [ 18...h8 19.xf8+ xf8 20.b1 b6 21.c4= Wins THE pawn back, when the doubled f -pawns are not worth more, in this position, than their single homologue on f2, since 21...dxc4 is obviously impossible in view of 22.Be4. ] 19.h6+ h8 20.xf7+ g7 21.xf8 xf8 22.d8 c6 23.e6+ The draw is agreed because after [ 23.e6+ h8 ( 23...f7 24.c7 d8 25.xh7 ) 24.b1 b6 25.b5 e7 26.a4 White has enough activity to maintain the balance. ] ½-½
2087 Hellborg,Teodor Kulagin,Maxim 32nd Rilton Cup (7) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2240 2049 03.01.2003
Tromp: The Bh4 Tromp can lead to some of the most hair raising variations of the whole opening. Against an unprepared opponent, White can cause mayhem. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.f3 g5 5.fxe4 gxh4 6.e3 h6 7.f2 c6 Black shows his inexperience in this sharp variation of the Tromp. [ 7...cxd4 8.exd4 b6 has a much better reputation. ] 8.h5 A u s e f u l d o u b l e a t t a c k . g7 This proves to give Black insufficient compensation. [ 8...b6 is better, with unclear play in the e n d ga m e a f t e r : 9.xc5 xb2 10.c3 xc3 11.xc3 ] 9.xc5 d6 10.g5 The White queen embarks on a wild goose chase. [ 10.c3 looks a decent alternative. ] 10...f6 11.h5 b6 12.b5 White's queen is in overdrive. c7 too passive. Now White has a clear advantage. [ 12...xd4 is a valiant attempt to mix things up. 13.exd4 xd4+ 14.e1 xe4+ although after the calm 15.e2 White still has good chances of taking the full point. ] [ 12...h3 13.xb6 axb6 14.f3! also seems to consolidate. ] 13.c3 a6 14.d5 d7 15.xf6+ exf6 Even if he wasn't a pawn down, Black's pawn structure is too horrible to look at. 16.h5 e6 17.xh4 White starts mopping up. e7 18.d3 b5 19.e2 g6 20.h5 Normally the side with a material deficit gets some activity as compensation, but Black has nothing to brag about here. b7 21.f4 e7 [ 21...xf4 22.exf4 xe4 23.xe4 xe4 24.ae1 would add insult to injury. ] 22.d5 xd5 23.xd5 The White queen deserves a sit down, she must be exhausted, a s t h is is h e r 9 t h m o ve o f t h e ga m e . 0-0 24.hf1 e6 25.g1 h8 26.f5 Th e re is no n e e d f or W h it e to e xc h a n ge queens on e6. Black lacks counterplay so W hite can take his time targeting his 2042
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 o p p o n e n t ' s n u m e r o u s we a k n e s s e s . g7 W i j k a a n Z e e 2 0 1 3 - s e e t h e A r c h i v e) 27.f3 h4 Futile, but in any case, Black is 11.d3 e4 12.c1 xc3 13.bxc3 merely awaiting his execution. 28.g3+ h8 leaves White all set to castle and then break 29.h5 g6 30.h3 with e3-e4. ] 1-0 10.h3!? [ With Black's knight not coming to e4, it makes sense to place the knight on f4. The text is logical and approved by Komodo, but 2088 A45 was also an over-the-board novelty. Hera,Imre 2566 Previously, though, 10.e2 d7 11.h3 Zhou,Yang Fan 2475 had been seen, reaching a position which Budapest (8.1) 23.08.2014 could also have come about in our main [Richard Palliser] g a m e . A f t e r g6 ( 11...g8 has been preferred in the correspondence world, but 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 after 12.0-0 0-0-0 13.ab1 b8 14.b4 5.c1 f5 6.c4 White's most ambitious c8 15.a3 most people would slightly prefer approach and a move I've long quite liked to take White who will double on the b-file) ever since seeing it in Wells' classic book. d6 12.0-0 0-0-0 13.a3 dg8 14.h1 h5 Solid and sensible. The alternatives include: I'm still not too sure what was going on in [ a) 6...h6 is critical, if risky, and for the Sedlak-Milanovic, Serbian Championship, c r i t i c a l p o s i t i o n a r i s i n g a f t e r 7.e3 Vrnjacka Banja 2012, but my suspicion ( few players in practice enter this variation remains that Black has enough counterplay a s B l a c k , b u t o n e d i d i n B a rt e l- G ivo n , on the kingside. ] Moscow 2014, where 7.c2!? b4+ 8.c3 xc4 9.e3 was an important new idea by 10...h5!? [ Just a reminder that 10...d7 11.e2 not pushing the pawn two squares W hite would take play into our previous note and can target f5 and, indeed, b4 10.a3 b6 this move order has been seen in a couple 11.d3 d6 12.xf5 xf5 13.xf5 of email encounters. ] - t h r e a t e n i n g a c e r t a i n c h e c k - d7 14.ge2 g7 15.0-0 f6 16.ab1 11.e2 d7 12.0-0 h4 Zhou's play is very l o o k e d q u i t e p l e a s a n t f o r t h e P o l i s h logical. White will now found it much harder to Grandmaster) 7...f4 8.exf4 xf4 9.xf4 meet any doubling on the g-file with g2-g3 xb2 10.e2 xa1 11.ec3 d6 12.d2 a n d m e a n w h i l e a k n i g h t o n f 4 c a n b e g8 you should really check out the dislodged by ...Bh6. However, crucially, Black is still some way from doubling his rooks. extensive analysis in the Archive. ] [ b) Eric has also devoted plenty of time to 13.ab1 [ An actual novelty. 13.a3 h6 14.ab1 analysing the ramifications of 6...b4+!? clearly has similar intentions and after a6?! 7.c3! xc4 , which again you can find in 15.b5! c8 16.fe1 b6 17.f4 g4 the Archive. ] 18.d3 the opening had been a definite 7.c3 d7 8.e3 g7 9.c2 success for White in Rodriguez Amezqueta[ Once again White has his sights on f5. Van Leeuwen, correspondence 2009. ] 9.h3 f6 10.c2 is similar, but the king's knight shouldn't be committed so early and 13...f6 [ Clearing the g-file. Another possibility was e4! 11.d3? ( 11.c1! ) 11...xb2 13...0-0-0 14.b4! b8! ( 14...cxb4 15.a3 12.xb2 xc3+ 13.xc3 xc3 would open lines) 15.a3 c8 , switching to was an early disaster for the first player in def ence as well as potential counter S c h l e i c h - J a n s a , B a ye r is c h E i se n s t e i n pressure on the queenside. After 16.b3 2014. ] cxb4 17.xb4 c5 18.fb1 b6 there is 9...e5 everything to play for, but again I'd prefer [ After 9...a5 it is time for 10.h3! as f6 to take W hite if only because a4-a5 will ( 10...b6 11.d3 d7 12.0-0 xc3 occur. ] 13.bxc3 was Nimzo-like in Van Wely-L'Ami, 2043
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.a3 [ 14.e4!? may look tempting, but here would have been rather double-edged in view of c7! , and if 15.exf5 c8 . ] 14...g8 15.f4 c7 [ I'm not too sure about this. Evidently Zhou didn't like the idea of castling into it, but 15...0-0-0 16.b4 b8 was likely a better try than the game continuation. ] 16.h3! One should always be careful when pushing pawns in front of one's king, but this little nudge merely confirms that White's early p la n h a s b e e n t h e su p e rio r. He will n o w defend his king with Kh1 and Bf1, and can target its counterpart whether it stays on e8 or goes long. h8 Another slightly mysterious if engine-approved move. One senses that Black was n't too happ y around here an d hoped to tough it out with a solid defence. 17.h1 b6 18.h5! Good vision from Hera. The knight on h5 isn't easy for Black to target and now f2-f4 followed by Bd3 is the plan. g6 19.d3 c8 20.f4 [ White is in no hurry, but he didn't have to reject the plan. Something like 20.f4!? f8 21.be1 d8 22.e4 may open lines for Black's bishops as well as White's forces, but matters are under control as shown by fxe4 23.xe4 xh3? 24.g5! . ] 20...e5? [ It's never easy to sit on one's hands, but the text does most of the hard work f or White. It was time to return the knight and sit tight with 20...e5 . ] 21.dxe6! fxe6 22.xg6 xg6 23.e4 This is the problem f or Zhou. His central advance may have lead to the undoubling of his f-pawns, but lines are opening far too quickly for the comfort of his king. b7 24.f3 xc3 There was little better, but even this attempt to distract the queen and so castle lon g won't f ully succeed . 25.exf5 exf5 26.bxc3 f6 [ Miserable, but giving up the h-pawn to castle looks like a better try than 26...0-0-0 27.xf5 f6 28.e4 . ] 27.f2! 0-0-0 28.xh4 df8 29.fe1 Black has got his king to safety, but that's the end of the good news. White dominates the board and Hera now makes good use of his major pieces to increase the pressure. c6
30.f4 8f7 31.e2 a6 32.be1!? [ White is happy to gambit the a-pawn for the initiative. Another tempting idea was 32.g5!? xa3 33.e7! xe7 34.xf6 , picking off f5. ] 32...xa3 33.d2 The queen is forced back to defensive duties, but a rook is set to land on e7 and White retains a clear plus. d7 [ 33...d7 34.e7 b8 is the machine's in it ia l t ry, b ut a f t e r 35.c2!? it quickly realises that there isn't a great defence with d 6 n o w h a n g i n g a n d c7 rebuffed by 36.1e6! xe6 37.xf7 a2 38.h2! , ( but not 38.d5?? e1+ 39.h2 xc2 . )] 34.g5 df7? [ This passage of plays bears all the hallmarks of a time scramble. The defensive text doesn't work and Black's last chance was 34...xc3!? 35.xf5 xf5 36.xf5 xc4 , which might at least worry White with the 4-0 queenside situation. ] 35.d2 d7 36.g5 df7 37.e7 Hera gets it right second time lucky. The game is now up with the black king so exposed. xc3 38.g8+ [ Hardly bad, but 38.xf5+!? was possible, and if xf5? 39.g8+ f8 40.e6+ . ] 38...f8 39.g7 b8 [ T h e l a s t c h a n c e w a s 39...8f7!? , although after 40.xf5+ b8 41.g3 White would surely have won in any case. ] 40.h2! Again getting off the back rank proves very strong. Now Black can no longer play a cheeky rook move to the second and lacks a defence (Rxa7 and Bxf5 are but two threats). c8 41.xf5 1-0
2089 Herder,David A Nguyen,Kim 26th Keres Mem (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2260 18.05.2001
July Update: The h4 Tromp is a great surprise weapo n. If Black is f oolish en ough to b e unprepared, it is so very easy for him to go wrong, as the following game demonstrates. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 The move that in 2044
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 their heart of hearts, every Tromp fan would love to play, if only they could summon up the courage! c5 4.dxc5 xc5 Black has clearly n o t b e e n d o in g h i s h o m e wo rk o n t h e h 4 Tromp. W ell, if we're honest, most players don't bother, and often to their cost. [ 4...xg5 is a much more popular sideline here. The bishop pair is highly regarded in modern chess, but Black is often made to pay for paving the way down the the h-file for White's rook. ] [ 4...a5+ and ] [ 4...a6 are the main lines. ] 5.c3 c6 6.e4 A strange Sicilian-like position has arisen. Both sides have their trumps (as opposed to Tromps), but I suspect White has the upper hand over the board, as B la c k wil l a l m o st c e rt a i n l y b e o u t o f h i s preparation by now. c7 7.d2 e6 8.f3 a6 Black is trying to play a Taimanov, but what on earth is that knight doing on c5? 9.a3 d6 10.e2 b5 11.0-0 h6 12.f4 e7 13.b4 b7 Black had been adapting to his novel situation quite well so far, but this is a very strange choice. I can understand his wish to bolster the d6 pawn, but the poor knight has very gloomy prospects from this square. [ 13...d7 14.fd1 ce5 would have been a much more prudent course of action, although W hite could still pile on the pressure with: 15.a4 ] 14.a4 White continues to play creatively, taking the fight to Black on what is traditionally his territory. xb4 15.axb5 a5 16.a4! The c-pawn is a small price to pay if White can access the b6 square. g5 17.e3 W hite is sensibly not distracted by Black's kingside prot est . xc2 18.fc1 xd2 19.xd2 The White initiative continues into the endgame, despite the pawn deficit. c5 Un f o rt u n a t e ly B la ck cru m b le s u n d e r t h e pressure, although it was very hard for him to hold everything together. [ 19...d8 was relatively best although: 20.hxg5 hxg5 21.xg5 regains the pawn, with a very promising position. ] 20.b6 Winning material and effectively the game. b8 21.xc8 xc8 22.xa5 The Black knight (b4) is stranded in enemy territory, ripe for capture and execution. b8 23.xb4 b3 Winning back an exchange,
bu t t he d a ma ge ha s a lre a d y b e e n d o n e . 24.b1 xa5 25.xa5 gxh4 26.c7 The end is nigh, as Black will have to pay too high a price to stop the White b-pawn. 1-0
2090 Hess,C1 Schebler,Gerhard Schachtuerken-Cup A (4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2250 2486 28.12.2009
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6 3.c3!? b6!? At first I thought this appetite for the white bpawn was even riskier than with the knight on d2, but this is absolutely unclear. [ 3...d5 is 'normal'. 4.d3!? is probably the best move in this case, although Christoph lately illustrated the main 3...c6 defence against the Veresov (I have myself only co n ce n tra te d o n 3. . .Nb d7 . .. ) wit h ( 4.e3 instead, and the 'stonewallesque' idea f2-f4, Nf3-e5... which makes me say that I may well do a little subject on this VeresovTromp-Torre idea myself in the next update! )] 4.d2!? In comparison to the similar gambit issued from 3.Nd2! Qb6 4.Nf3 Qxb2 5.e4, as in the first games of this update, the white queen turns out badly placed here. Furthermore, the Nc3 is paradoxically less active on c3, where it hampers the c-pawn, than on d2. That is why a majority of players, including a couple of titled ones, prefer the sedate [ 4.b1 here as in the next game. ] 4...xb2 5.b1 a3 6.e4 d6 7.f4 It is difficult for White to do without this move in what now looks very much like a Czech Defence (1.d4 d6 2.e4 Nf 6 3.Nc3 c6 4.f 4 Qa5)... but without W hite's b-pawn! bd7 A natural improvement over the disgraceful [ 7...a5 8.d3 e6? once upon a time commented in this section. ] 8.f3 [ 8.e5 h6 9.h4 g5! A third problem for White is the awkward position of his bishop on g5 which again is paradoxically less active here than on d2, for instance (as sometimes in the 3...c6 Veresov, by the way, 2045
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 transposing into our subject when Back plays a rapid ...Qa5 with the idea ...Ne4!) wh e re h e wo u ld qu e st io n th e id e a l a 5 square for the opposing queen! Hence the idea 4.Qd3!?, solving 2 concerns at the same tim e, with the ide a of de velopin g without f2-f4 so as to always allow Bg5-d2 10.exf6 ( 10.g3 h5; 10.fxg5 hxg5 11.xg5 dxe5; 10.f2 g4 11.g3 gxf4 12.xf4 dxe5 ) 10...gxh4 11.fxe7 xe7 12.f3 b6 13.d3 h3 14.g3 g4 Black will castle queenside and is even ahead in development now! ] 8...a5! 9.e2 e5 10.0-0 [ 10.xf6 xf6 11.fxe5 dxe5 12.xe5 b4 ] 10...e7 11.h1 exd4 12.xd4 [ 12.xd4 h6 13.h4 With the idea Be1. ] 12...h6 13.h4 xe4! 14.xe4? W hite agrees to playing an ending a pawn d o wn , wh i c h i s p ra ct ic a l l y e q u i va l e n t t o resignation. [ 14.e3 xh4 15.xe4 was obviously more combative, although W hite's compensation in return for the invested material appears rather slim after ( 15.xe4+ f8 ) 15...0-0 16.xd6 b6 ] 14...xd2 15.xd2 xh4 16.f5 e7 17.xg7+ f8 18.f5 c5 19.xe7 xe7 20.f5 f6 21.c4 d5 22.e3 h5 Parrying Ng4+ 23.g4? e8 Winning at least another piece. 24.g5+ xg5 [ 24...xg5 25.g1+ h6 26.g3 e4 27.g2 c3 ] 0-1
some other time. The basic reason is this: after the exchanges, on e6 and d7, White will be able to take advantage of the lightsquared weaknesses in the enemy camp by pressurizing his Achilles' heel on e6. There is no lack of ways to achieve this, Nf3g5, Qe2-c4 and then the 'X-ray attack' after the thematic thrust e4-e5. Therefore Black will have no time to castle kingside, and will be forced to move his king to the queenside, colliding with the natural activity of White's rook along the open b-file, which already provides 'classical' compensation for a pawn which is then enhanced by the weakening of the a5 -d8 little d iagona l caused by th e inevitable ...a7-a6. It may well be that the idea behind the bishop's check does not answer all the questions judging from this ga m e , wh e re t h e qu a si-in ve n t o r o f t h e gambit line swiftly found himself with is back to the wall. ] 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.f3 a6 12.c4 b6 13.d3 c4 14.e5?! [ 14.e2 c5 Otherwise White will play Be3 next move 15.e5 ( 15.c1 d5 16.e3 a5 17.d2 c5 18.e3 a5= ) 15...dxe5 16.fxe5 fd5 17.e4 a3 ] 14...cxd3 15.exf6 dxc2 16.xc2 gxf6 17.f5 g7! [ 17...d5 18.fxe6 xe6 19.d4 f7 20.0-0 d6 21.xf6 ] 18.fxe6 0-0! [ 18...xe6 19.e4 ] 19.0-0 [ 19.b3 c4! 20.d5 c5 21.e7+ h8 22.b4 b5 23.a4 ( 23.xc8 axc8 24.0-0 b6+ 25.h1 fe8 26.fe1 d5 ) 2091 A45 23...e8 24.xc4 xe7 25.0-0 xe6 26.f4 fd8 ] Hodgson,Julian M 2545 [ 19.f5 The most tricky. e8 20.a5 Alber,Horst 2335 B la ck lo se s a p ie ce . . . xe6+ 21.d1 Neu Isenburg op (5) 25.04.1992 ( 21.f1 c4+ 22.f2 c5+ 23.xc5 [Eric Prié] dxc5 Protecting the knight 'out of the blue'!) 21...d5 22.a4 c4!! 23.xb6 e2+ 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 24.c2 c6+ 25.b3 d3+ 26.c3 5.d2 b6 Forced, of course ( 26.a4 c4+! 27.xc4 d7+ 28.b4 [ 5...e6? 6.b1 a3 7.b5 a4 8.c7+ ] f8+; 26.b2 c2+ 27.a1 f5+ ) 26...f5! 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e6 8.b1 c7 9.b5+ bd7! 27.bc1 d4 28.hd1 e6+ 29.a4 c4+! The 'natural' A) 30.xc4 xc4+ 31.b4 b5+ 32.a3 [ 9...d7 which seems best at first sight, ( 32.a5 c7# ) 32...xa2#; turns out to be weaker, as I was somewhat B) 30.a3 xc3+ 31.xc3 f8+ 32.b2 astonished to observe and as we shall see 2046
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 32.a4 xd1+ ) 32...dxc3+ 33.xc3 xd1 34.xa8 g7-+ A great variation! ] 19...xe6 The rest of the game, where it seems that White eventually won despite his clearly insufficient compensation for the 2 pawns, is not available. Possibly Black paid for the effort and time, so precious in rapid play, that he had used up during the early stage of the game. 1-0
2092 Hodgson,Julian M Hebden,Mark Masters Kilkenny IRL (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2605 2510 27.11.1999
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 h6 One of the problems with the h4 Tromp is that this simple move seems to steal most of White's thunder. White is forced back into a Bf4 Tromp, where it is questionable whether h4 has been a bonus or drawback. Black has tried several other moves. [ 3...f6 is the kind of response that every Tromp player loves to see. I can imagine the White player sitting at the board, rubbing his hands together. Black has weakened his kingside for no apparent gain. 4.f4 c6 5.f3 e5 6.h2 f5 Very aggressive, but if White can weather the storm, he has good long term prospects. 7.xe5 xe5 8.fxe4 g4 9.exf5 d5 10.e4 h5 11.d3 d6 12.e2 dxe4 13.xe4 e7 14.d3 If we pause for breath, here we can see that Black has been left with insufficient compensation for his two pawn deficit. (Eliet, N-Chabanon,J/ French Teams, FRA 1996.) ] [ After 3...c5 White has tried two approaches: A) 4.d5 This must surely be the acid test of the variation. g6 5.d3 xg5 6.c3 A Hodgson speciality, but one that is not ultimately too dangerous. f6 7.hxg5 d6 ( 7...g7 Is also playable, as after: 8.d2 d6 9.gxf6 exf6 10.g3 0-0 11.h4 h6 12.g3 g5 Black had a playable position with plenty of potential in Hodgson,JGufeld,E/Kings Head Quickplay, London ENG 1995. ) 8.gxf6 exf6 9.h3 h6
10.g3 b6 11.b3 The common denominator in all these lines is that White gives up considerable control of the dark squares in exchange for kingside attacking chances. 0-0 12.e3 d7 13.h4 b4+ 14.xb4 cxb4 15.a3 b6 16.axb4 xd5 17.c4 e6 18.a5 c7 19.xe6+ xe6 20.c3 White has a slight edge due to his better pawn structure Hodgson,JNunn,J/ Luebeck GER 1999.; B) 4.dxc5 I have never felt comfortable giving up the center like this. It is perhaps just a matter of taste, but in the recent games that I have been examining, Black certainly seems to be having a few problems. a5+ 5.d2 h6 ( taking the bishop is also highly plausible: 5...xg5 6.hxg5 g6 7.c3 xc5 8.gf3 g7 9.e3 c6 10.d3 b5 Black's queenside pressure is balanced out by W hite's pressure along the h-file. Sadly, in the face o f wh a t m igh t b e a ra t h e r in t e re s t in g c o n t i n u a t i o n , a p r e m a t u r e d r a w wa s agreed here, in the game Paasikangas Tella,J-Kochyev,A/Jyvaskyla FIN 2000.) 6.f4 e5!? A creative move, getting into t h e s p i r i t o f t h e o p e n i n g . 7.e3 ( If White had tried: 7.xe5 xf2 8.xf2 xc5+ 9.e3 xe5 Then Black would have reached the position that 6...e5 was aiming for.) 7...xc5 8.c3 c7 9.xc5 xc5 10.b4 e7 11.e4 0-0 I feel that Black is quite comfortable here. He has a backward d-pawn, but as compensation, he has the bishop pair and better d e ve l o p m e n t . 12.c1 a5 13.a3 d6 14.c4 d7 15.gf3 b6 16.b3 d8 Preparing the desirable d5 break, which obliges W hite to launch an of f ensive. ( 16...g4!? ) 17.g5 White finds a use for t h e h 4 p a wn . d5 ( 17...hxg5 18.h5 with a smashingly gorgeous win for White. ) 18.xf7 ( 18.h5 f6 19.exd5 also came into consideration.) 18...xf7 19.exd5 f8 20.e4 c4 21.f3+ g8 22.d6 xd6 23.c5 xc5 24.xc4+ h8 25.bxc5 xc5 The early fireworks have led to material equality and both pawn structures are fairly ghastly, so the players, perhaps sensibly, bailed out with a draw in Casagrande,H-Gerhold, M/Linz 2047
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 AUT 2000. ] [ 3...d5 4.d2 f5 This is the most solid o p t i o n a t B l a c k ' s d i s p o s a l . ( 4...xg5 Is a much riskier move. Black bags the bishop pair but allows White the normal hfile pressure. 5.hxg5 c5 6.dxc5 e5 7.e4 White fights fire with fire, challenging Black for control of the center. xc5 8.b3 d4 9.xc5 The beginning of a long forcing sequence. a5+ 10.c3 xc5 11.cxd4 exd4 12.c1 b4+ 13.d2 xd2+ 14.xd2 c6 15.b5 d7 16.f3 0-0 17.h4 After which White was much better in Stefanova,A-Ivanov,J/ Salou ESP 2000, due to the pressure down the h-file and potentially weak Black d-pawn.) 5.e3 h6 6.f4 xd2 7.xd2 e6 8.d3 xd3 9.xd3 d7 10.f3 b4+ 11.c3 d6 Black's careful handling of the opening has allowed him to easily equalise and the game soon fizzles out. 12.h5 f6 13.h4 0-0-0 14.0-0-0 b8 15.xd6 cxd6 16.e4 dxe4 17.xe4 e7 18.hh1 f6 White certainly needs some new ideas in this line if he wants to continue to fight for an advantage, 1/2-1/2 Hodgson,J-Rowson,J/York ENG 1999. ] 4.f4 c5 [ 4...d5 Is as usual a very solid alternative. 5.d2 f5 6.xe4 xe4 7.f3 h7 8.c3 c6 9.e3 b6 10.d2 If Black had dared to castle short, then W hite would have had great potential for a sustained kingside attack. But sadly for our festive fun, Black had absolutely no intention of castling on that side. d7 11.h3 f6 12.d3 xd3 13.xd3 0-0-0 14.0-0-0 e5 This central blow equalises the chances. 15.g3 d6 16.f2 a5 17.b1 he8 18.h5 e4 19.fxe4 xe4 Black had no reason to complain in Miladinovic, I-Manca,F/Open, Saint Vincent ITA 1998. ] 5.d5 b6 6.d2 xd2 [ It is not clear how the inclusion of the moves h4 and h6 helps W hite in the variation: 6...xb2 7.xe4 b4+ 8.d2 xe4 9.e3 but Hebden decides not to take any chances. ] 7.xd2 e5 8.dxe6 dxe6 9.c3 c6 Black has some minor difficulties completing his kingside development, but it is only a
small inconvenience. 10.e3 d7 11.f3 0-0-0 12.d2 c7 13.a3 b8 Wisely tidying up on the queenside. 14.h5 e5 15.b5 e7 16.xc6 xc6 17.g4 g5 Black has solved most of his opening problems. His bishop pair fully compensate him f or his slightly loose pawn structure. 18.0-0-0 f6 19.hf1 b5 20.fe1 hf8 21.g3 c6 22.f1 White prepares f4 but this is easily dealt with. e4 23.xc7+ xc7 24.h1 d5 25.f1 f5 26.e1 e5 27.c3 f5 Black shows that he is happy with a draw and although Hodgson continues to gently probe, from this moment, the result is never really in doubt. 28.d2 d8 29.xd8 xd8 30.e1 e5 31.g3 d7 32.c3 e7 33.d1 c7 34.b4 b6 35.bxc5 bxc5 36.d5 c6 37.xc5+ Even this tactical trick doesn't really change things. xc5 38.b4+ d5 39.xe7 h4 40.e2 xf2 41.f4+ c4 42.d2 g3 43.f8 g4 44.xg7 xf4 45.exf4 f5 46.xh6 xh5 47.g7 g4 White may have won a pawn, but the opposite colour bishops make a draw inevitable. The h4 Tromp is a good surprise weapon if you choose your opponent carefully. However, White must be prepared to accept an equal game if Black plays accurately. ½-½
2093 Hodgson,Julian M Pert,Richard G British Rapidplay rapid (9) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2589 2302 21.10.2001
October Update: Trompowsky Attack: Black grabs a hot pawn against the world's leading Trompowsky expert. As you might expect, Hodgson gives short shrift to such impudence! 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 This one of Black's most ambitious lines against the Tromp, but at the same time, one of the riskiest. Black will lose a significant amount of time getting his queen back to safety. 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 g4 [ 7...e5 is the acid test, preventing White from easily expanding in the centre. ] 8.e2 xe2 9.xe2 a6 10.b1 c7 11.e5 White has a colossal lead in development, so 2048
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 it is only natural to try and open the position. dxe5 12.fxe5 fd7 13.f3 W hite's development is very smooth and Black must constantly be on his guard for the e6 pawn break. e6 14.0-0 exd5 15.e6! Smashing open the rather inadequate defences of the Black king. fxe6 16.xe6+ e7 17.xd5 Wallop!! d6 18.g5 Black must have felt as if he had fallen out of the wrong side of bed. Hodgson prepares to a d m i n i s t e r t h e c o u p d e g r a c e . c6 This loses, but sadly there was nothing better. [ 18...xe6 19.xe6 is just hideous. ] 19.c7+! xc7 20.f7+ d8 21.e6+ Ouch! c8 22.xc7 xc7 23.f4+ An d B lac k h a d see n e n ou gh. A sple nd id attacking game from Mr Trompowsky himself. 1-0
2094 Hodgson,Julian M Schandorff,Lars Bundesliga 0001 (15.3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2640 2520 29.04.2001
2000 ] 14.e1 f7 [ 14...df6? 15.xc5! dxc5 16.d6 ] 15.h3 [ 15.d3 e5 ] [ 15.f4 df6 16.d3 ( 16.e2!? g4 Transposes further. 17.h3? g3 ) 16...g4 And White misses a tempo to complete the set-up with Nge2 and then be able to retreat his Be3 to g1 because of the f4-pawn now protected. ] 15...e5! 16.g5+ [ 16.f4!? g4 17.e2 h6 18.f2 hf6 19.xg4 xg4 20.xg4 fxg4 21.e2! f5 22.he1 f6! ( 22...he8 23.b5 ) 23.b5 ad8 ] 16...xg5 17.xg5 h6 18.e3 d7 19.e2 g5 20.g3 f4 Black has fully equalized after 21. Bf2 Nf6. His dominating Ne5 eyeing the f3 p a wn m a ke s u p f o r t h e o p p o sin g p a ir o f bishops. ½-½
2095 A45 Hodgson,Julian M 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ Summerscale,Aaron 5.c3 f6 6.d5 e6 7.e4 exd5 8.exd5 d6 Open Reading (5) 04.06.2000 9.d2! The most promising move and what, [Aaron Summerscale] eventually, Laurent Fressinet told me he had prepared for his game against Dominguez. I tried to tussle with Mr Trompowsky himself a n d p a i d a h e a vy p ri ce , in t h e f o llo win g e7 10.c4 [ 10.g4!? is an interesting suggestion. If encounter. However, there are significant there is no tactical problem that I am not in improvements for Black along the way, so I the mood to check out, it would ideally fit don't think that we have seen the last of this line. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 the position, on strategical grounds. ] 10...xd2+ 11.xd2 h5 12.e3 f5 xf6 5.c3 d5 I have been waiting to try out Black has to play like this otherwise White will this move ever since Michael Adams used it s i m p l y g e t a b i g s p a c e a d v a n t a g e a n d with great effect in a blitz game against me. wonderful development with g4, Nc3, Bd3, 6.d2 [ I tried 6.e5 against Mickey but d8 7.f3 Nge2, a4 if necessary. 13.c3 d7! c5 gives Black a reasonable French [ 13...0-0 14.d3 d7 15.f4 df6 16.ge2 g5? 17.h3! ( 17.fxg5 g4 position. ] 18.h4 f4 ) 17...gxf4 18.xf4 d7 19.e6! 6...c5 7.gf3 cxd4 8.xd4 Mr Trompowsky, xe6 20.dxe6 d8? More resilient ( 20...f4 in h is u su al st yle, t akes th e ga me o n a n 21.f2 Tsesarsky.) 21.h6 e8 22.g4! independent course. fxg4 23.hxg4 g7 24.xg7 xg7 25.g5 [ 8.e5 would lead to another French position g4 26.xh7+ g8 27.h5 e5 28.ah1 after: d8 9.cxd4 b6 ] [ 8.cxd4 dxe4 9.xe4 b4+ xd3 29.xd3 xe6 30.h8+ g7 31.1h7+ g6 32.d7 e3+ 33.c2 looks reasonable for Black. ] 1-0 Hodgson,J (2640) -Wells,P (2506) York 8...c5 9.a4+ d7 10.b5 c6 2049
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 10...xd4 11.cxd4 e7 was a safer way to play, with approximate equality. ] 11.2b3 xd4 12.xd4 e5? An extremely b a d m o ve , I h a d c o m p l e t e ly o ve rl o o k e d White's reply. [ 12...0-0 would have held the balance for example: 13.xc6 bxc6 14.xc6 xc6 15.xc6 e5 and with Rfc8 and Rab8 to come, Black has nothing to worry about. ] 13.b3 dxe4 14.c5 Now Black is in trouble. 0-0-0 15.a6! An excellent attacking move, which again I had completely missed. (this was not one of my best moments.) a5 Forced. [ 15...bxa6 loses to 16.xa6+ c7 17.b7+ d6 18.xe4+ ] 16.xa5 bxa6 17.0-0 b6 18.a3 The first wave of attack has been fended off, but the Black king is horribly exposed. Against a player with the attacking flare of Julian Hodgson, the Black king is in for a rough ride. c6 19.b4 White has the clear aim of advancing his queenside pawns, opening lines and I felt helpless to stop him. e3 A desperate a t t e m p t a t c o u n t e r a t t a c k . 20.c4! Wisely getting on with the business in hand. exf2+ 21.xf2 f6 22.b5! axb5 23.cxb5 xb5 [ 23...xb5 was more stubborn but ultimately futile, following: 24.b1 d5 25.a4 c7 26.c3 d3 27.xb5 xc3 28.a6+ ] 24.c1 White has the killer threat of Rb2. 1-0
2096 Hodgson,Julian M Van der Wiel,John TH Amsterdam [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2580 2555 1994
61/60 The Trompowsky: The Hodgson Legacy: Julian Hodgson has done more than anyone to revitalise the Tromp. For anyone learning this exciting opening, his games are a treasure trove of interesting and entertaining ideas. The following game highlights Hodgson's creative approach to the Tromp, as he happily sacrifices material for a fierce initiative. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 One of the main aims of the Trompowsky is to force Black
onto uncomfortable ground in the opening, as early as move two. The threat of Bxf6 rules out a whole host of possible Black defences, such as: the Nimzo Indian, Kings Indian, Grünfeld and Benoni to name just a few. c5 The most uncompromising counter, Black ignores W hite's "threat" and intends to counterattack against White's dark squares. 3.xf6 [ 3.d5 Is a popular alternative, recently given t h e H o d g s o n s t a m p o f a p p r o v a l . b6 ( 3...e4 will likely transpose to the 2...Ne4 line. ) 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 An interesting situation has arisen, Black has won a pawn, but will have to lose time with his queen. White plans to go for a quick pawn push in the center with e4, f4 and if allowed, e5. ] 3...gxf6 The alternative recapture exf6 is almost never played, f or Black will, in all likelihood, be saddled with an isolated d-pawn for the entire game. 4.d5 A common idea in the Trompowsky, White grabs a central space a d v a n t a g e . b6 Black aims for the Achilles heel in the White position, the pawn on b2. 5.c1 h6 Black continues to play as actively as po ssib le . T h e b ish op is im m un e f ro m capture at the moment, due to the threat on the vulnerable b2 pawn. [ 5...f5 6.c4 g7 Is a more solid approach for Black, af ter: 7.c3 d6 Leads to a typically unclear middlegame Tromp position. Black has the bishop pair, and a p a rt icu la rly t a st y d ia go n a l f o r h is d a r k squared beast. White has a space advantage and the better pawn structure. ] 6.e3 f5 7.c4 f4 Black is hell- bent on breaking through on the dark squares, relying on W hite's b2 weakness to justify his play. However, this provocative approach against Hodgson, is like a red rag to a bull! 8.exf4 xf4 9.xf4! Do your worst! White rises to the bait and allows Black to carry out his materialistic plan. xb2 10.e2 xa1 11.ec3 White has calmly let the Black queen maul his queenside, but now, in no uncertain terms, shuts the aforementioned lady out of the game. b2 N The Black queen makes a bolt for it, before she is forever trapped on a1 by Qd2. 12.d6! For the moment, White leaves the W hite queen alone, and instead sets about creating more holes in the Black 2050
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 position. c6 13.d3 exd6 Black decides that he can no longer tolerate the White pawn, even at the cost of further weakening his pa wn s t ru ct u re . 14.0-0 White removes his vulnerable king and allows his rook a possible p a r t i n t h e a t t a c k . e5 Black had to do something about the threat of Re1+. 15.f6 The Black king begins to look exceedingly uncomfortable. 0-0 This is more or less forced, as 15... Rg8 16.Nd5 is a real bone-cruncher! 16.d5 Hodgson continues to play incisively, threatening mate in one! e8 17.g5+ g6 [ 17...h8 loses to: 18.f6 when the threat of Qh6 is very hard to meet. ] 18.f6+ White begins the final assault, driving the Black king into the center of the board. f8 19.h6+ e7 20.d5+ White continues the game in the spirit in which he began, disregarding material concerns in order to prolong the attack. d8 21.xg6 hxg6 22.bc3 /\\ Qg5 Finally, the White queen's knight gets in on the act, cutting the Black queen off from defence of her king. Black is left helpless against the threats of Qg5+ and Qh4+. 1-0
2097 Hodgson,Julian M Yermolinsky,Alex 9596 Hastings (5) [Eric Prié]
A45 2590 2560 1996
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 e6 5.d3 b6!? With the natural idea of developing the queen's bishop on the c8-a6 diagonal or offering useful possible protection to the e4 pawn after the exchange on e4. This was a novelty at the time from the future first board of the US squad which won the silver medal in the 1998 Olympiads in Elista. Notes on the game till move 11, by the way and wh e n m a rk e d , co m e f ro m h is co m m e n t s p u b l i s h e d i n I N F 6 6 . 6.xe4?! Dubious according to Yermolinsky who proposes instead [ 6.d2 b7 ] 6...dxe4 7.c3 b4!? Original punctuation from the leader of the black pieces until move 11.
[ 7...b7 8.g4 h5 9.h3 ( 9.g3 h4 10.g4 d7 11.b5 f6 ) 9...g5!? 10.e5 h6 11.0-0-0 d6 Yermolinsky, A ] 8.g4!? [ 8.ge2 Y e r m o l i n s k y , A a6 Eric ( 8...b7!? Eric 9.a3 e7 10.g3? g5 11.e5 f6 12.h5+ d7 13.0-0-0 e8 ) 9.a3 xe2 10.xe2 xc3+ 11.bxc3 0-0 12.0-0 d7= ] 8...0-0 9.g3? This must be the result of an incorrect estimation of the position. After Black's next move, the gaping holes on the light squares will be patent in White's camp. It is clear that his extra doubled c-pawns will never get passed the c4 square when, in the meantime, it is well known that the presence of opposite coloured bishops f avours the attack... Indeed, White could not back down now in face of the ...e6-e5 threat and had to 'fully' accept the challenge with [ 9.e5! Yermolinsky,A f6 10.xe4 fxe5 11.xa8 exd4 12.0-0-0 xc3 13.bxc3 ( 13.xb8 d5! 14.bxc3 xa2 15.e2 e5 16.xc7 f5 17.cxd4 c8 18.xc8+ xc8 19.dxe5= ) 13...d6 14.xd4 a3+ A) 15.d2 d7!? ( 15...e5 16.d5+ h8 17.xe5 c6 ); B) 15.b1 d7 16.f4 ( 16.e2 c5 17.f4 e8!? 18.c6 d7 19.xc7 e5 ) 16...f6 17.c6! d7 18.c4 c5 19.e2 b5 20.b3 a6 21.d1 c6 ] [ 9.h6 f6 10.xe4 e5!! Hodgson,Ju ( 10...d7 11.xa8 c6 12.xa7 d6 13.ge2 xh6 14.0-0-0 d7 15.a6 ) 11.xa8 ( 11.f3!? xh6 12.xa8 exd4 13.xd4 c5 14.a3 cxd4 15.axb4 dxc3 16.xb8 cxb2 17.b1 f6 18.0-0 a6 19.xa7 xf1 20.xf1 d6= ) 11...exd4 12.f3 ( 12.exd4 c6 13.e3 xc3+ 14.bxc3 a6 15.xf8+ xf8 ) 12...xh6 13.exd4 e8+ 14.d1 ( 14.ge2 xc3+ 15.xc3 a6 16.0-0 xe2 17.fe1 d6 ) 14...c6 When the game is sufficiently recent so that it has been 'checked' with a computer, and when its author is a Top GM who looks interested in thoroughly analysing it, searching for the truth, which is the case here, then I do not see myself interfering with his work... ] 9...xc3+! 10.bxc3 c6 11.h3 [ 11.xc7? d5 12.d6 c4 13.e2 b7 2051
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 /\\ Rac8-+ ] 11...a6 With a big advantage for Black as claimed by Yermolinsky. 12.f3 exf3 13.gxf3 f6 14.h6 f7 15.g1 e7 16.f4 h8! 17.h4?! [ 17.xg7+ xg7 18.xg7+ xg7 19.xg7 xg7 20.xe6+ f7 21.xc7 g8 22.f2 ( 22.xa6 g1+ ) 22...c4 23.a4 The ending does not look very pleasant but this was the only chance to f ight on. a6 24.d5 ] [ 17.xe6 gxh6 ] 17...gxh6 18.xh6 g8 19.g6+ [ 19.xg8+ xg8 20.f2 c4 21.g1+ ( 21.h5 f8 22.g1+ h8 23.f4 xa2 White has nothing. ) 21...g7 ] 19...xg6 20.xg6 a3! The counter attack is decisive. 21.d2 [ 21.xf6 xc3+ A) 22.d1 xd4! 23.exd4 ( 23.xf7 xc2+ 24.e1 e2# ) 23...xa1+ 24.d2 xd4+ 25.c1 xf6; B) 22.f2 d2+! 23.g3 g7+ 24.f4 e5+ 25.dxe5 e7! 26.f8+ g8 Threatening, amongst others, Qb4+ 27.f6 b7 Threatening Qxh2+ 28.h1 ( 28.xg8+ xg8 29.e6+ f7+ ) 28...xf3 29.g1 ( 29.xf3 g2+ 30.f4 g4# ) 29...g2 30.xg2 xg2 31.xg8+ xg8 32.d8+ f7-+ ] 21...e5! And White resigned for although the win may not be immediate the path leading to it, 'everything with check', presents very few ramifications or opportunities to go wrong: [ 21...e5! 22.xf6 ( 22.dxe5 d7+ 23.e1 xc3+ 24.f2 d2+ 25.g3 xe5+ 26.f4 xf4+ 27.exf4 hxg6 ) 22...c4+ 23.d3 ( 23.e2 xc3! 24.xf7 d2+ 25.f1 xe3+ 26.g1 g2# ) 23...xe3+! 24.xe3 ( 24.d2 c4+ 25.d3 e5+ 26.d2 xf3+ 27.xf3 xf3 ) 24...xc3+ 25.e4 xc2+ 26.e5 ( 26.e3 d3+ 27.f2 xd4+ 28.g2 xf6; 26.f4 d2+ 27.e4 b7+ ) 26...e2+ 27.f4 e5+! 28.dxe5 d2+ 29.g3 ( 29.e4 b7+ 30.f5 xh6 ) 29...g7+ 30.xg7+ xg7 ] 0-1
2098 Hoffmeyer,Falk Fish,Gennadij BL2-Nord 0203 (3.3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2236 2500 15.12.2002
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e6 8.b1 c7 9.b5+ d7 This is the 'natural' move, compared to the 9...Nbd7 we discussed in September, that at first sight I would have reckoned to be the best. It is also the most 'aesthetic' move in the position (which is as efficient a way of finding 'candidate' moves as any...), thus it consequently should be the best, as GM Miodrag Todorcevic, former member of the Yugoslav team in the years of its splendour, once told me. Nonetheless, every rule has its exceptions... 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.xd7+ bxd7 [ 11...xd7!? as far as I can see has never b e e n t r i e d . 12.f3 c6 13.e5 d5 14.e4 dxe5 15.xe5! xe5 16.fxe5 e7 17.0-0 0-0-0 White has compensation but Black is surely not worse. ] 12.f3 h6 Necessary while it is not as easy as in the Buhmann game (September update) for White to profit from the weakness of the g6 square. [ 12...0-0-0? 13.b5! b8 14.g5 e8 15.a5! b6 16.f7 g8 17.fxd6+ xd6 18.xd6+ c7 19.xe8+ xe8 20.e5 d5 21.d2+- ] 13.e2 [ 13.b5? c6 ] 13...a6 14.e5! [ 14.c4 0-0-0! ( 14...d5 15.exd5 exd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 0-0-0 18.0-0 ) 15.xe6 e8 16.f7! c6! 17.0-0 e7 18.b3 xe4 19.d5 e8 20.c4 df6 21.fe1 ] 14...dxe5 15.fxe5?! [ 15.xe5! g8 What else ? Black cannot castle queenside because of the fork on f7 and has to maintain a knight on f6 in order to prevent Qh5+ which he cannot parry with ...Qf7 because of the hanging b7-pawn . 16.a4 ( 16.0-0! 0-0-0 17.c4 is the simplest. White has superbly placed pieces and does not have to force events.) 16...xe5 17.b6! With this intermediate 2052
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 m o v e , n o l o n g c a s t l i n g a n y m o r e ! d8 18.fxe5 d5 19.0-0! With a fierce attack coming against the black king stuck in the center, intending xb6 20.a5 ] 15...d5 16.e4 0-0-0! [ 16...xc3 17.g6+ ] 17.xd5? [ 17.0-0! c6 18.g4 xc3 19.xc3 g5 does not remain that comfortable for Black after 20.d2 For instance, but at least he got rid of a powerful assailant on his castle. ] 17...exd5 18.xd5 [ 18.f5 e8 19.0-0 c6 Black is solving all his problems. ] 18...xe5! 19.xe5 [ 19.e6+ d7 ] 19...xe5+ 20.xe5 e8 21.c3 d6 22.0-0 xe5 23.xe5 xe5 24.f7 b5 25.xg7 [ 25.a7 d8 26.xa6 d2 ] 25...he8 26.f1 e1 27.g6 8e6 28.xe6 xe6 29.f7 d6 30.f1 d1+ 31.e2 a1 32.h7 xa2 33.d3 [ 33.d2 b4 34.xh6 b3 35.c3 bxc2 36.d2= ] 33...c4+ 34.c3 a5 35.xh6 b4+ 36.xc4 xc2+ 37.b3 c3+ 38.a4? [ 38.a2 b7 39.f6! a4 ( 39...c2+ 40.b3 xg2 41.f5 b6 42.f6+ c7 43.f5= ) 40.f4 b3+ 41.a3= ] 38...a3+ 39.b5 c7! After a couple of unsuccessful attempts to defend this position as W hite - which will not appear here- , I searched for it or something similar in my endgame books but could not find any relevant occurrences. So I guess it is already lost. [ 39...b3? 40.c6 d8 41.d6 e8 42.e6 f8 43.f6 g8 44.g6+ h7 45.g7+ h8 46.b7= ] 40.c6+ d7 41.b6 [ 41.c1 b3 42.h4 a4 43.h5 e6 44.h6 f7 45.h7 g7 46.b4 a2 47.h1 h8 48.c3 b2 49.c2 a1 50.b1 a3 51.g4 xb1 Note that with Black not capturing one of the enemy kingside pawns, he would still be winning here with ( 51...a2 52.xb2 c1+ 53.xc1 a1+ where White is very far from being able to establish one of the drawing fortresses with this kind of material. ) 52.xb1 xh7 ]
41...a4! 42.c4 b3 43.c3 a2 44.b4 d6! 45.h4 c5 46.c4+ b5 47.b4+ a5 48.b8 c2+ 49.d3 xg2 With his king cut off in front, White has lost all suppleness and had to mobilize all his forces to prevent the opposing pawns from advancing leaving his own infantrymen as easy preys to the enemy rook. 50.c3 c2+ 51.d3 h2 52.c3 xh4 53.b2 h2+ 54.b1 h5 55.b2 b5 56.a8+ b4 57.a7 b8 58.a6 h8 59.b6+ c5 [ 59...c4 60.c6+ b5 Is the elementary winning manoeuvre. 61.g6 ( 61.c7 h2+ 62.c3 c2+ ) 61...h2+ 62.b1 ( 62.a3 a2# ) 62...a3 63.g5+ c4 64.g4+ d5 65.g5+ e4 66.g4+ f3 67.g1 e2 68.c1 f2 69.h1 f1+ 70.xf1 ] 60.b7 h2+ 61.c3 c2+ 62.d3 a3 63.xb3 a2 64.a3 b4 65.a8 c3+ 66.d4 a3 67.b8+ a4 68.c4 c3+ 69.d4 c1 0-1
2099 Holving,Rasmus Livner,Anders Salongernas [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2130 2170 1999
The following variation is very important to the e6 Tromp. Black tries a offbeat line, which has been given the Graham Burgess stamp of approval. However, with a series of natural moves, W hite keeps a pleasant space advantage, without for once, having to part with the bishop pair. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 c5 This is the critical idea. Black strikes at the W hite center immediately, without w a s t i n g v a l u a b l e t i m e o n h 6 . 4.d5 An extremely natural space grabbing way to deal with Black's Benoni-Tromp response. d6 [ 4...h6 is a critical alternative. The following game should give you an idea of what White is looking for in this variation. 5.xf6 xf6 6.c3 d6 7.dxe6 fxe6 8.b5 a6 9.c3 d5 10.exd5 e5+ 11.e2 xd5 12.f3 e7 13.e5 0-0 14.d1 xa2 15.g6 f6 16.xf8 xf8 17.d6 d7 18.h5 e8 19.xe8 xe8 20.b5 c8 21.0-0 b8 22.g4 c6 23.f4 e5 24.d8+ 2053
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e7 25.d2 g5 26.d1 xb2 27.xc6 xc6 28.d6+ 1-0 Danielian,O-Hohelj,S/ Paris 1994. ] [ 4...exd5 5.exd5 b6 6.c3 would be an interesting gambit! ] [ 4...b6 is Graham Burgess ' suggestion, in his book "101 Chess Opening surprise's" but White will get good play for the pawn after: 5.c3 xb2 6.d2 ] 5.c3 e7 6.f3 The opening skirmish has resulted in a Franco-Benoni set-up. W ith White having the slightly better chances, due to his space advantage. 0-0 7.d2 exd5 8.exd5 a6 Typical development for Black, who plans queenside expansion based on b7b5. 9.e2 c7 10.0-0 b8 11.a4 b6 12.ad1 White doesn't go for the smash and grab option, but instead adopts a solid central strategy, ready to meet absolutely anything that Black might throw at him. a6 13.f4 b7 Black poses the question to the d5 pawn. 14.xf6 A radical solution, giving up the bishop pair to alleviate the pressure. [ 14.c4!?= is an alternative worth consideration. ] 14...xf6 15.e4 e7 Aiming to keep hold of his bishop pair, Bla ck plays a mbitiously, whereas: [ 15...xd5 would lead to a fairly level endgame after: 16.xf6+ xf6 17.xf6 xf6 18.xd6 ] 16.c4 e8 [ 16...b5 17.axb5 axb5 18.b3 keeps White's space advantage. ] 17.d3 g6 What can you say about such a closed position? W ell, I seriously doubt in suc h a sc en ario whe the r t he bisho p p air confers any advantage. Although, looking on the brighter side (for White that is), his extra s p a c e a llo ws h im t o b u ild u p a p o we rf u l kingside attack. 18.h6 f6 This may prevent a knight intrusion on g5, but seriously loosens the kingside defences. 19.fe1 c8 20.e3 g4 21.de1 xf3 The Black bishop which has been redundant for most of the game rush es t o exchan ge itself , b ut B lack ha s o v e r l o o k e d a c u n n i n g t a c t i c . 22.g5! Lightening strikes from a clear sky! W hite finds an excellent way to highlight the cramp in the Black position. Black is simply too p a s s i v e l y p l a c e d t o p r e ve n t t h e c o m i n g
invasion. fxg5 23.xe7 f7 24.xf7 xf7 25.xh7+ Black resigned. The following possible continuation illustrates how completely and utterly lost he is. [ 25.xh7+ g7 26.xg6+ f6 27.h6 e2 28.xe2 b7 29.h5+ f5 30.g6+ f4 31.e4# ] 1-0
2100 Horvath,Julia Dembo,Yelena ch-Women Budapest HUN (2) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2308 2322 22.07.2000
Bf4 continues to be the most popular way of me et ing 2. . .Ne 4. He re in a no t he r t ren d y variation, White fights Black tooth and nail for control of the central squares and is ultimately rewarded with a nice attacking victory. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 e6 5.d3 c5 A very ambitious approach, which seeks to grab the initiative in the center. [ 5...d6 is an important and proven possibility here. ] 6.f3 e7 7.0-0 0-0 8.c4 White shows that she will not meekly surrender the fight for central territory and challenges Black where it hurts, on the light squares. c6 9.c3 f6 [ 9...xc3 which exchanges off a potential attacker may have been more circumspect. ] 10.h3 b6 11.cxd5 exd5 12.e5 This now looks like a Queen's Gambit Declined position, wh e re W h it e h a s t h e a ggre ssive p la n o f a t t a c kin g o n t h e k in gs id e , t h a n k s t o h i s "Pillsbury" knight on e5. b7 13.c1 a6 14.g4 White makes no secret of her designs on the Black king. b5 15.g5 e4 Black goes for active defence, which normally would be a great plan, but here fails for tactical reasons. [ 15...e8 would have been a tougher defence. Here White may have had nothing more appealing than to go for a superior en d ga m e wit h : 16.xc6 xc6 17.dxc5 xg5 18.h5 h6 19.xg5 xg5+ 20.xg5 hxg5 21.e2 ] 16.xe4 xe5 17.f6+ White goes for glory but the more prosaic: [ 17.xc5 would have been just as effective in securing the point. ] 2054
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17...xf6 18.gxf6 g6 [ 18...xd3!? would have been better, but yet again Black misses the opportunity to dispatch one of White's attacking pieces. ] 19.fxg7 e8 20.h5 e6 21.e5 The White pieces line up, poised for the kill. e8 22.f5 b6 23.h2 c8 24.b1 e6 25.g1 The inclusion of the rook in the attack instantly decides matters. d7 26.g5 e7 27.xh7+ With a textbook mate on h8 to follow. 1-0
2101 Huang Qian Ju,Wenjun 12th ch-Asia w (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2410 2345 09.09.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.d2!? So at least there is this way to play the Tromp in a static way! It appears less "promising" than in the previous game, however, because Black is not forced to play with ...c7-c5. In any case, this is what Wells says about it: "4.Nd2 seeking to exchange the piece off, aims at rather modest gains in terms of development and possible queenside play. This was once considered as the main line, but none too exciting at the best of times and is now under something of a cloud due to the sharp reply 4...c5!?!?" one more time emphasizing a typically outmoded "original English way" of maladjusted handling of the Tromp that has lef t the ope nin g in crisis in almo st e very dynamic line, and by way of consequence to a complete disinheritance at a high "who know, and who seriously prepare" level. f5 [ 4...xd2 5.xd2 f5 6.e3 e6 7.d3 xd3 ( 7...c6 8.f3 White should exchange without waiting and play against the structure just in case the opponent may change his mind! d7 9.xf5 exf5 10.d3 g6 11.0-0 f6 12.g5 g7 13.b3 e7 14.c4 dxc4 15.xc4 Schulz, M-Meister, Y Germany 2006) 8.xd3 c6 9.f3 d6 10.xd6 xd6 11.0-0 d7 12.c4 dxc4 13.xc4 0-0 1/2-1/2 Mellado Trivino, J (2388)-Kovacevic, S (2340) La Pobla de Lillet op 2006 ]
5.e3 e6 6.c3?! 6.Nf3 is more logical as in the next game. In such positions the handling of the c-pawn is of major importance if White has any hope for a micro something. Generally it has to be used with great care to unbalance the position and the extra support of the d4 pawn may only be required in case of an opposing ...c7-c5, especially as White does not seem to threaten Qb3 in this position. xd2?! To deflect the white queen from the control of g4?! Most often the kingside expansion g4-h4 against the Bf5 will only lead to a weakening of the white position and a loss of time. [ 6...d6 7.b3? xd2 8.xb7 d7 9.xd6 cxd6 10.b5 b8 11.xd7+ e7! 12.xa7 xd7 13.xd7+ xd7 14.xd2 xb2+ 15.e1 c8 16.e2 d3 ] 7.xd2 d6 8.xd6 xd6 9.f3 h6 10.c4 dxc4?! Black should not abandon the centre and offer a tempo to the opponent like this. Indeed, the modification of the structure does not promise anything for White at this stage partly because of the reduced material. [ 10...0-0 11.c5 ( 11.cxd5 exd5 12.d3 xd3 13.xd3 d7 Practically the same p o s i t i o n a s i n t h e p r e vi o u s g a m e wi t h reversed colours!) 11...e7 12.d3 xd3 13.xd3 c6 14.0-0 fd8 15.b3 ab8 Followed by the liberating ...e6-e5. ] 11.xc4 d7 12.0-0 0-0 13.fd1 fd8 14.ac1 The kind of quiet position I would enjoy as White with possibilities such as Qe2, h2-h3, b2-b4 to improve White's position while it is no t so ea sy f o r B la ck to libe rat e his position with ...e5 or ...c5 now. c5 15.e2 [ 15.b5!? cxd4 16.xd4 ( 16.xd4 b6 17.e2 ) 16...xd4 17.xd4 b6 18.c7 xd4 19.xd4 c8 20.xc8+ xc8 21.xf5 exf5 22.c4 Heading for d5 in case of ...Nd6 with a better bishop, structure and therefore a slightly superior ending. ] 15...e7 16.h3 Now it is too late for [ 16.b5 ac8 17.xd7 xd7 18.dxc5 xc5! Hence h2-h3... ] 16...e4 17.d2 c6 18.b3 a4 19.b5 xb3 20.axb3 cxd4 21.c7 a6 22.xd7 White correctly decides to call it a day. [ 22.d3 d6 23.xb7 c5 24.b4 e5 ] 22...xd7 23.xd7 xd7 24.xd4 c7 ½-½ 2055
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2102 Huette,Stefan Hausrath,Daniel Essen op 20th (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2480 05.05.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 a5+ 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 xc5 7.g6 "Detonating the kingside" What a joke! In fact, only a few hours of analysis suffice to reach the limits of this gambit which is the tabiya of this line. And the recipe to refute it is wellknown since Black can p lay on h is o the r assets (his bishop pair, central duo and fast development). What he should not do is be too conservative with his heap of pawns on the kingside (he can happily give one of them back!) but rather seize the centre, castle qu e e n s id e t o p u t h is kin g in s a f e t y, a n d counter attack while his opponent wastes time recovering his investment. fxg6 8.e3 d6 [ 8...d5!? Curiously, this logical idea seems n e ve r t o h a ve b e e n t e st e d in p ra ct ice . Probably because White can then react with a rapid c2-c4, opening up the light squares, as well as compromising the opposite king's security on the queenside. However not the direct 9.d3 ( Better 9.gf3 c6 See the transposition just below.) 9...f5 10.e2 ( 10.b3 d6 11.e2 c6 12.xf5 gxf5 13.f4 0-0-0 ) 10...e5! ( 10...c6? 11.xf5 gxf5 12.f4 Threatening Qh5+ 0-0-0 13.e6 ) 11.b3 d6 12.xf5 gxf5 13.c3 c6 14.xd5 0-0-0 ] [ 8...c6! On principle, this is the correct move order, playing the obligatory move before the optional (d6 or d5) one. 9.gf3 Already a more subtle white move order. d5!? ( 9...d6 See next game. ) A) 10.b3 d6 11.c4 dxc4 ( 11...e6!?; 11...b4+ 12.bd2 e6 13.g5 g8 14.cxd5 xd5 ) 12.xc4 ( 12.xd6 exd6 13.xc4 e7 ) 12...b4+ 13.bd2 f5 14.g5; B) 10.c4! e6 11.cxd5 xd5 12.c1 a5 13.c4 xc4 14.xc4 ] 9.d3!? f5 10.gf3 c6 11.b3 d5 12.xf5 xf5? [ 12...xd1+ 13.xd1 gxf5 14.h4 e5 ( 14...f7 15.xf5 g6 16.h6+ xh6
17.xh6 g7 18.h4 ac8= ) 15.xf5 c8 16.bd4 g6 ] 13.h4 f6 14.d3 g8 15.b5? [ 15.f3! A) 15...h6 16.fd4! xd4 17.xd4 0-0-0 ( 17...a6 18.b3 exploits the same theme. ) 18.c4+ b8 19.xg8; B) 15...h8 16.0-0-0 0-0-0 17.h4 I n t e n d i n g R f 4 a n d Ng 5 . g5 18.a4 ( 18.xh7 xh7 19.xh7 g4 20.fd4 xd4 21.xd4 e5 22.f5+ xf5 23.xf5 d5 24.e4 g6 ) 18...b8 19.b5 With attack, threatening Na5 and Nxg5. ] 15...0-0-0 16.f3 h6 17.fd4 xd4 18.xd4 d5 One tempo can make a big d i f f e r e n c e . . . 19.c5+ And White does not look very thrifty! [ However 19.a5 fails too. b6 20.xb6 axb6 21.e6 d6 22.xf8 xf8 ] 19...b8 20.a5 e5 21.b5 a6 22.c7+ a8 23.a4 b4+ 24.c3 c8 25.d7 gd8! Excellent chess, simply transposing into a won ending. 26.c7+ b8 27.xd5 xd7 [ 27...g5 28.f7 xg2 29.0-0-0 Indeed is far from being clear. ] 28.xf6 gxf6 29.cxb4 h5! The point of Black's idea. The collected pawn on move 7 has turned into a solid element of his kingside majority, and since W hite cannot prevent o t h e r l o s s e s o n t h e q u e e n s i d e . . . 30.0-0 Activating the rook from the side was also insufficient. [ 30.b5 axb5 31.axb5 d5 ( 31...c2 32.b3 b2 33.h3 xb3 34.g3 g5 35.f3 f7 36.f5 xb5 37.f4 ) 32.h3 xb5 33.g3 g5 34.f3 c6 35.b1 e4 36.h3 c2 37.xh5 f5 ] [ 30.h3 c2 31.g3 ( 31.f3 f5 ) 31...dd2 32.xg6 xf2 33.b5 axb5 34.axb5 ce2+ 35.d1 xb2 ] 30...c2 31.b3 dd2 32.b5 axb5 33.a5 [ 33.axb5 b2 34.ad1 ( 34.a3 c7 35.a8 xb3 ) 34...c7 35.xd2 xd2 36.c1+ b6 37.c8 xb5 38.g8 g5 39.f8 d6 Black will always be able to defend his kingside with a rook on the 6th. ] 33...a7 34.b4 b2 35.ab1 f5 36.g3 xf2! 0-1
2056
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2103 Hutchinson,Paul A Kotronias,Vasilios Monarch Assurance (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2216 2608 26.09.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 It is important to deflect White's king bishop from the h2-b8 diagonal. For the less important line [ 6...e6 7.e4 exd5 8.exd5 d6 See next month, the key to Laurent Fressinet's preparation. ] 7.c1 e6 8.c4 This is what the Frenchman told me he had intended to play in his decisive game against Dominguez in the penultimate round of Wijk aan Zee B this year. But this implies a debatable pawn sacrifice a f t e r 8 . . . Q b 4 + . S e e ga m e s 5 t o 9 in t h e November update. [ 8.e4 is very rare now, also see why next month. ] 8...exd5 9.cxd5 c4?! Another critical line of the Tromp. Unusually, it is Black's turn to sacrifice a c4 pawn! [ 9...d6 10.e4 g6 11.c3 d8 is just a completely normal SÃNmisch-Benoni. And this is why personally, for this reason alone, I would not play this line as White and prefer the alternative 6. Nd2 cxd4 7.Nb3. ] 10.e3 c5 11.f2 [ 11.xc4? b4+ 12.d2 xe3 13.e2? 0-0 14.xe3 e8 ] 11...0-0 12.xc4 e8 13.b3 d6 14.c3 [ 14.e2 b5! 15.xb5 a6 ( 15...xd5? Remarkable chess understanding! After the . . . b 7 - b 5 m o v e d e st i n e d t o r e le a s e t h e pre s s u re on t h e a 2 -g8 d ia go na l, B la ck hands the opponent the diagonal on a silver platter! 16.c4 h5 17.f4 f5 18.xf7++- Trent, L-Soskov,V EU-chJ PeÃ+/ -iscola 2002) 16.bc3 b8 17.d1 b4 Ramesh,R (2480)-Mahesh Chandran, P(2436) IND-Ch Nagpur 2002 ] 14...f4 15.ge2 [ 15.f1!? e5 ( 15...xe3? 16.ce2!! h6 17.d6! 'THE theme'! xc1 18.xf7+ h8 19.xe8+- ) 16.e4 d6 Not that clear. But to tell the truth, and as in the next game, I would rather be White here... ] 15...xe3+ 16.xe3?
[ 16.f1!! h4 17.xe3 xe3 18.d6! h5 ( 18...c6 19.xf7+ h8 20.c4! ) 19.g3! ( 19.f4 xf3+ 20.gxf3 xf3+ 21.g1 xf4 is le ss clear.) 19...g6 20.f2 e5 21.he1 It appears that I do not understand this line for Black... ] 16...xe3+ 17.f1 d6 Phew! 18.e4 So that was White's idea but an unpleasant surprise was awaiting him... xe4!! 19.fxe4 g4 20.e1 [ 20.xe3 xe3+ 21.f2 xc4 22.ac1 b6 ] 20...xe4 So Black has already one pawn for the exchange, a strong initiative and potentially better pieces (a strong knight on black squares and therefore a good bishop) whilst the unfortunate situation of the white king, which is stuck in the centre while having lost the right to castle, also prevents the rooks from linking and becoming active. W hite's only chance would be to swap off the queens, even at the cost of a second pawn, but that is only a dream and Black only needs a couple of calm developing moves to complete the encircling of the enemy monarch. 21.g1 [ 21.f3 xc4 22.c1 b4+ ] 21...e5 22.c1 bd7 23.c2 [ 23.c3 c5 24.c2 On principle, offered more chances of resistance. ] 23...h4+ 24.g3 [ 24.g3 f3+! ( 24...xh2? 25.e4! W i t h t h e i d e a R h 1 o r Q h 1 , f o r c in g t h e exchange of queens.) 25.f2 ( 25.d1 xh2 26.f1 de5 ) 25...f6 26.c3 de5-+ ] 24...c5 [ 24...xh2 25.f2 ] 25.e2? Facilitates Black's task when the least we can say is that White's position has not re ally im pro ve d sin ce th e 2 0t h m ove comment! [ 25.b4 xh2 26.e2 ( 26.f2 g4+ 27.f3 h4 28.bxc5 f6+; 26.f2? cd3+ ) 26...h4+ ( 26...b5 27.bxc5 bxc4 28.e4; 26...cd7 ) 27.g3 f3+ 28.d1 g4 29.f1 e4 30.d3 f5 31.xf3 xf3 32.xe4 xe4 ( 32...xe4?? 33.c8+ xc8 34.xc8# ) 33.xe4 xe4-+ ] 25...xh2 [ 25...d4! 26.f1 f4+ 27.e1 ( 27.f3 2057
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xf3 28.gxf3 h3+ 29.e1 e8+ 30.e2 xf3 ) 27...cd3+! 28.xd3 xd3+ 29.xd3 xc1+ 30.f2 xb2+ ] 26.f2 h6-+ 27.h1 f4+ 28.g1 xg3 29.xh7+ Only 2 checks. f8 30.h8+ e7 31.h4+ [ 31.c3 e1+ 32.f1 d2 Threatening Ne 4 a n d Q d 4 + 33.h4 ( 33.h4+ g5 ) 33...g6 34.h5 d7 ] 31...xh4 32.xh4 a5 33.d4 d7 34.b3 f5 35.c3 g5 36.h3 e4 37.a4 c8 38.h7+ f6 39.c4 g4 40.b5 c1+ 41.f1 g3 42.f4 e2+ 0-1
2104 Hutchinson,Paul A Ward,Christopher ch Scarborough ENG (1) [Eric Prié]
A45 2216 2490 02.08.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d5! The refutation of this line which gained some popularity some years ago after a couple of nice wins from Top GM Vadim MILOV... against other moves however... [ 5...c5 6.f3 This is the whole point. We have now transposed into the Torre (See games 3 to 5) proving by example, that 3... h6 which 'asks the question' as early as possible, is more precise than 3...c5. ] [ 5...d6 6.d3 e5 7.e2 The concealed idea behind W hite's set-up that has done much for its absolutely unjustified flattering reputation. We have seen that it was quite difficult for him to develop any initiative without the help of his f-pawn. Now he will c a s t l e k i n g s id e a n d p l a y f 4 wi t h s o m e interesting perspectives. ] 6.e5 [ 6.d2 See next game. ] 6...d8 In the database, White's score is appalling in this variation 7.f3 c5 8.dxc5 This is White's idea: Compensate the loss of the dark-squared bishop by making use of the d4 square for an allegedly strong knight. xc5 9.d3 c6 [ 9...b6!? 10.c2 ( 10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 d7 W hite does not want to play b4.) 10...c6 11.0-0 0-0 12.bd2 f6 ]
10.0-0 a6! 11.bd2 d7 12.b3 b6 13.e2 b8 14.bd4 a7! 15.xc6?! [ 15.fd1 xd4!? ( 15...0-0 16.c2 Keeps more tension.) 16.xd4 xd4 17.cxd4 xd4 18.xa6 b6 19.d3 0-0= ] 15...bxc6 16.d2 a5 17.h1 a4 [ 17...0-0!? 18.f4 f5 19.g4 g6 The control of the g1 square is essential. 20.g2 h7 ] 18.f4 [ 18.g4 g6 ( 18...0-0!? 19.f4 f5! As often in this French Advance structure, nipping the attack in the bud. 20.exf6 xf6 ) 19.xg6? g8 20.xf7+ xf7 21.f3+ g7 22.f6+ h7 ] 18...g6 I prefer [ 18...0-0 19.f5?! exf5 20.xf5 xf5 21.xf5 ae8 22.af1 e7 ] 19.f3 Now that Black has weakened his kingside position W hite has to play energetically on the queenside in the hope of finding a narrow path to reach the enemy king, left in the centre. h5 20.c1 a5 21.h3 d8 22.g4 e7 23.f1 [ 23.gxh5 gxh5 24.xh5 xh5 25.xh5 e3 26.e2 xf4 ] 23...0-0-0 24.g5 c7 Consecutive to the closure of the kingside Black has now a plan: Bring his king to g7 and ideally put his rooks on b8 and c8! The more White waits to open the queenside, the less it will be effective. Therefore 25.c1 [ 25.b4! axb3 26.axb3 ] [ 25.c4 b8 26.cxd5 cxd5 27.c1+ d8 ] 25...b8 26.c2 [ 26.b4! axb3 27.axb3 a2?! 28.b1 b2 29.c2 ] 26...c5 27.f3 d8 28.b4 Too late... axb3 29.xb3? [ 29.axb3 e7 30.b4 b6 31.b3 a3 32.b2 c5 33.f1 ( 33.xc5 xc5 34.a2 xc3 35.bxc5 xc5 ) 33...c4! but only for that tactical reason. 34.a1 cxd3 35.g2 ( 35.d2 c6 36.xa3 d4+ 37.g1 dxc3+ ) 35...xa1+ 36.xa1 hc8 37.d2 c6 ] 29...e7?! [ 29...a3 30.c4 e7 is the same. ] 30.c4?! [ 30.xc5! Get rid of that poisoning bishop! xc5 31.c4 ( 31.f2 xf2 32.fxf2 c5 ) 2058
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 31...d4 32.e4 is for sure better than the game. ] 30...a3 31.d2 b4 32.d1 a4 33.c2 b4 34.c1 a3 35.df1 [ 35.b2 b8 ] 35...g8 With little time on the clock and good control over th e position , it is dif f icu lt t o evaluate with certainty things like [ 35...f8 36.xg6 xf3 37.xf3 fxg6 38.xg6 g8 39.h6+ e8 40.xh5+ d8 41.h7 ] 36.e2 xf3 37.xf3 a8 38.d3 a4 39.e2 a3 40.f1 c3 41.c2 b2 Little by little with the help of his dark-squared bishop, Black is conquering all the squares. 42.cxd5 Desperation. [ 42.d1 f8 ] [ 42.f2 xc2 43.xc2 d4 44.e2 e3 45.g2 a3!-+ ] 42...cxd5 43.xg6 fxg6 44.xg6 f8 45.f5 xe5! [ 45...xf5 46.g7+! d8 47.xf5 xc1+ 48.g2 exf5 49.f6+ c7 50.d6+ c8 51.a6+ b8 52.b6+ was a diabolical perpetual check net. ] 46.f6+ d6 47.xh5 b5 48.d1 f2! 49.h3 h8! [ 49...h8 50.xh8 f3+ 51.g1 d4+ 52.xd4 f1# ] 0-1
4.d2 xb2 5.b1 a3 6.e4 a5 Black has wasted considerable time extracting h i s q u e e n . 7.d3 d6 8.f4 Sounding the charge. e6 9.f3 e7 10.0-0 d8 11.e5 White is now fully mobilised and ready and wil li n g f o r t h e b a t t l e t o co m m e n ce . dxe5 12.fxe5 d5 13.xe7 xe7 14.e4 The Knight is excellently placed here, as it e ye s t h e we a k d 6 squ a re . W h i t e h a s a n awesome attacking position. The fireworks are on their way. 0-0 15.g5 h6 16.f6+ h8 17.h5 f5 What else? [ 17...d7 18.g5 is curtains. ] 18.g4 xd4 19.h4 e7 20.g6 A very nice finish, Black never had a chance. 1-0
2106 Ippolito,Dean Baginskaite,Camilla US op 98th Kissimmee (4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2390 2250 10.08.1997
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e6 As in the 2 p r e v i o u s g a m e s , wi t h t h e s a m e i d e a o f accepting risks in return for larger winning prospects, this attempt introduces another critical line for the system where White has to make use of his mobile centre and development advantage to maintain some 2105 A45 initiative in compensation for the pawn. Ignatescu,Radu Mihai [ When 7...e5 as in game 4, presents White Ceteras,Marius with a decisive choice he cannot postpone ROM-chT (3) 1993 concerning the pawn structure and [Aaron Summerscale] consequently the type of position sought. Thus, both moves, though not played in the Trompowsky: 2...c6 against the Tromp is an same spirit, lead to exactly the same irregular move but it's quite sound. This game po sition if W hit e wish es so a f t e r 8.dxe6 may well provide some inspiration on tackling A rare occasion in chess theory where this it! 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6 3.c3 Offering a en passant capture is perfectly sound and transposition to the Veresov after 3...d5. not only motivated by the desire to show off [ 3.xf6 is another logical move, which your erudite handling of a peculiar chess damages the Black structure, af te r exf6 rule as well as, possibly, in the post-mortem, 4.c4 Now White can pursue his standard your impeccable French pronunciation! fxe6 plan of Nc3, g3, Bg2, e3, Nge2 and a later 9.b1 and so on. ] queenside expansion with b4-b5. ] 8.dxe6 'Theory' rather recommends here 3...b6 is the only other way of interfering with [ 8.b1 which therefore does not apply to 7.. White's plan of e4. However pawn grabbing in .e5 in the same way, FOLLOW ED BY 9. the Tromp can be a health hazard for Black. Bb5+ as we shall examine next month. I 2059
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 disagree with it and prefer the text move even if d8 9.dxe6 provided that White d o e s n o t g i v e t h e c h e c k , i s o b vi o u s l y strictly equivalent. ] 8...xe6 9.b1! With b7 now unprotected it is a good moment to activate this rook along the o p e n f i l e . c7 10.f5!? Apparently a suggestion of the late Estonian No 1 player L e m b i t O l l i n a n o l d I n f o r m a n t . c8 In order to reserve the d7 square f or the queen's knight but [ 10...d7 looks better, without fearing A) Neither 11.g4 h6 12.h3 e7 13.f4 c6 14.g2 bd7 15.h4 0-0-0 16.0-0! W ith compensation for W hite, Holst,ASchmittdiel,E Ostende 1991 (38) ( 16.g5 hxg5 17.hxg5 xh1+ 18.xh1 h8 19.g2 e8 20.cd5 d8 ); B) 11.g5 e7 12.xf6 xf6 13.d5 a5+ ] 11.h3! The whole idea, keeping the g4 square under control ready to throw the gpawn into the battle. In some variations, White also manages to take advantage of the placing of the opposing queen by installing this knight on d5 via f4. e7 12.e2 0-0 13.0-0 d7 14.g4 "a l'attaque"! The threat of dislodging the defender of the key-square d5 is critical for Black. c6 15.g5! xe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.f6 c6? [ 17...d8 Surely was not a pleasant move to play but still more resistant than giving up t h e p i e c e . 18.f2 g6 19.f4 e8 20.xd6 For instance, when White obviously has all sorts of other tempting continuations xc2 21.d2! ( 21.xc7 xd1 22.fxd1 xc7 23.xb7 xe2 24.xc7 a6 25.xa7! ee8 26.dd7 xa7 27.xa7 b4 28.e4! is another way, rather linear, to obtain a clear edge in the ending. h6? 29.g6! f8 30.d6 gxf6 31.xf7 g7 32.e5+ g8 33.g4 ) 21...d7 22.g4 c6 ( 22...f5 23.xf5 xf5 24.fe1 e6 25.xe6 fxe6 26.xb7 gxf6 27.xb8+- ) 23.bc1 a4 24.xc5 a6 25.fxg7 ] 18.f2 d5 19.xe4 dxe4 20.f4! d8 21.fxe7 xe7 22.d6 fe8 23.xe7 xe7 24.d6 d7 25.xc5 With two great bishops 'sweeping' the board against a knight and only 2 flimsy pawns, the rest presents very little interest and one would say, 'it just plays
it se lf '. . . e5 26.fd1 b6 27.d6 f3+ 28.xf3 exf3 29.f4 xd1+ 30.xd1 c8 31.c7 f8 32.d8+ xd8 33.xd8 e8 34.c7 d7 35.e5 e6 36.xg7 f5 37.f6 h6 38.h4 hxg5 39.xg5 f6 40.d2 g4 41.e1 f5 42.h2 b5 43.f2 a5 44.e1 a4 45.f2 And Mrs Baginskaite, eventually bored, resigned. 1-0
2107 Iuldachev,Saidali Serper,Grigory Tashkent [Eric Prié]
A45 2445 2575 1993
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 c6 5.h4 e6 6.0-0-0 e7 [ 6...d5?! 7.e4! d4 8.f3 e5 9.b5 d6 ( 9...d6 10.d5 e7 11.xe7 xe7 12.xd4! exd4 13.e5 ) 10.xd4! The same one, "in colour". exd4 11.e5 c7 12.exf6 dxc3 13.fxg7 cxb2+ 14.b1 xg7 15.d8+ xd8 16.xd8+- ] 7.e4 a5 [ 7...h6 8.f4 g8!? 9.xf6 xf6 10.g3 xc3 11.xc3 a5 12.xa5 xa5 13.e5 g5 14.g3 ( 14.fxg5 hxg5 15.f3 c6 16.h3 ) 14...gxf4 15.gxf4 b6 16.e2 b7 17.g1 xg1 18.xg1 e7 19.b5 d5 20.e2 g8 21.g1= Dorfanis,I-Atalik,S Katerini GP op 1993 ] 8.f4 d6 This is the correct way of handling the position. Controlling e5 and evacuating the queen from the d-file is necessary before taking any interest in the g5-bishop. 9.f3 h6 10.e5 Pawn sacrifices to seize the initiative, " i n n o r m a l p o s i t i o n s " , a r e in t e r e s t in g i n practice, but they rarely withstand thorough analysis. Besides, this move is even marked as dubious by Grigory Serper in INF58. [ 10.b5 d7 11.e5 dxe5 12.xc6 xc6 13.xe5 c8= Serper,G ] 10...dxe5 11.fxe5 xe5 12.b5+ d7! 13.xe5 xb5 14.xf7!? [ 14.g4 c6 15.xf6+ gxf6 16.xf6 xf6 17.xf6 g5+ 18.xg5 hxg5 ] 14...xf7 15.xf6 xf6 16.h5+ g8 17.xb5 [ 17.xb5 xa2 ] 2060
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17...xc3 18.xb7 xb2+! [ 18...g5+ Serper,G 19.b1 h7 20.e4+! ] [ 18...b4 Serper,G 19.xa8+ h7 20.xh8+ xh8 21.bxc3 xc3 ] 19.xb2 [ 19.xb2? e5+! 20.c1 b8 21.f3 b2+ 22.d2 xa2 ] 19...h7 20.he1? [ 20.d3 was the only defence according to Serper. ] 20...hd8! Intending Qg5+ [ 20...ab8 Serper,G 21.e5! a4 ( 21...c7 22.d4 ) 22.c3 With the idea Qd3+ ] [ 20...hb8 with the same idea is better but 21.e5 a4 22.c3 xa2 23.d7 b1+ 24.d2 b7 25.d3+ g8 26.xe6 ( 26.d8+ xd8 27.xd8+ f7 ) 26...b4+ 27.c1 And the fight continues. ] 21.xd8 xd8 22.e5 [ 22.c3 g5+ 23.b1 d2 24.b7 xg2 25.e4+ f5 ] 22...d5!-+ [ 22...xa2 was winning too. ] 23.e4+ h8 24.a4 [ 24.xe6 d2+ 25.b1 b5+ ] [ 24.e3 xa2 ] 24...d2+ 25.b2 d4 26.a8+? [ 26.e3 b4+ 27.c1 xa4 ] 26...h7 White cannot parry the Rb4+ threat and simultaneously protect his rook. 0-1
8.fd2 d5 9.c4 e6 10.c3 ) 7...d6 8.c3 ( 8.g3 g4 9.bd2 e4 ) 8...a6 9.c5?! Preparing a winning ending... dxc5 10.dxe5 fxe5 11.xe5 e6 12.c4 c7 13.c2 0-0-0 14.a3 g7 15.d1 xd1+ 16.xd1 d7+ ( 16...d8+ 17.c1 b5 18.d2 c4 could have been annoying.) 17.c1 f5 18.e2! c7 ( 18...xc3 19.xc3 xg2 20.d1 g7 21.d2 d5 22.d6+ b8 23.xa6 bxa6 24.a5 ) 19.a4 e7 1/2-1/2 Cech, P-Drbohlav, FCZE-ChT1 2001 ] 6.c4 e5 [ 6...f5 The other thematic development for the black pieces in this line. 7.c3 e6 8.f3 d7 9.e2 e7 10.0-0 0-0 Black looks like having comfortably equalized... 11.c5!? c7 12.h4 g6 13.f4 f5 14.f3 b6 15.b4 fb8 1/2-1/2 Popovic, M (2387) -Blagojevic, D ( 2 5 3 2 ) E U - C h P l o v d i v 2 0 0 8 ( 15...fb8 16.d2 h5= )] 7.c3?! a dubious gambit. [ 7.f3 e4 8.fd2 Transposes into the note above. ] 7...h6? Black had to take up the gauntlet with [ 7...dxc4 8.xc4 exd4 9.exd4 xd4 With very obscure compensation for White because of 10.b3 ( 10.ce2 e4 11.f3 g8 12.f1 h3! ) 10...c5 11.c2 e5+ 12.ge2 f5 13.d2 d7 ] 8.f3 g4 9.dxe5 xf3 10.gxf3 d4 11.e4 dxe3 [ 11...fxe5 12.d6+ f8 13.f5 c5 ] 2108 A45 12.e2! Even the result, as appearing in one Ivanisevic,Ivan 2550 of those ChessBase Magazines, is fantasy in Kozul,Zdenko 2627 this game! [ 12.e2! is surely a brilliant move but I do BIH-chT Neum (9.2) 06.06.2004 not imagine a fighter like Kozul resigning so [Eric Prié] abruptly. A draw maybe?!? d7 ( 12...fxe5 13.fxe3 xe3? 14.xe3 xb2+ 15.d2 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6!? 3.xf6 gxf6 4.e3 xa1 16.d6+ f8 17.f5 e8 18.b4! b6 5.c1?! I do not like this move. Clearly And Black gets mated. xa2+ 19.e3 c5 the d1-h5 diagonal is interesting for the white 20.xb7 ) 13.h3 xe5 14.c3! e7 queen in this structure. It also tends to justify 15.fxe3 hd8 16.hd1 ] the opposing queen's sortie to b6 ... d5 [ 12.xf6+ e7 13.e2 Was less precise [ 5...e5!? 6.f3 g8 7.c4 because of the resource d8 Threatening ... ( As the opponent has now irremediably Rd2+ 14.fxe3 xe3! 15.xe3 xb2+ ] corrupted his pawn structure, I would have concentrated on solving the problem of the 1-0 g2-pawn as soon as possible. 7.g3 e4 2061
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2109 Ivanisevic,Ivan Nataf,Igor Alexandre French League (1) [Nataf, I-A]
A45 2602 2589 10.02.2007
And now back to the main line and the futuristic sequence 11...Qh6! 12.Ba5! with a game briefly commented by its friendly winner, the current French no. 6: 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5!? Here, I was sure my opponent from Antibes was going to play Chernyshov's line with Bc7. I had the possibility to play with 6...e6 (as I did one week later in the Icelandic League against Movsesian) because I knew he would play 6...Qb6 7. Bc1!) or take some heavy risks in the ensuing complications. I preferred to try my luck. b6!? 7.e4 xb2 8.d2 xc3 9.c7! Here we are! Before the game I had seen Alexandrov got a hiding f rom som e unknown 2400 in 28 moves! d6!? 10.e2 e3 11.c4 h6! 12.a5!N He played this move very quickly. At the end of the day it must be an improvement on the aforementioned fiasco for White. g5! [ 12...b5?! 13.d2 g5 14.a3 a6 15.h4 ] [ 12...g6?! 13.b1! And I have no moves anymore, no ...Bg7, nothing... ( 13.h4!? ) 13...g7 14.d2 h5 15.h4+- ] 13.d2! h4+!! A typical computer move. I understood the bishop had to be attracted to g2 and the square g3 taken from the king's knight to prevent Nf5. [ 13...g7?! 14.b1 ] [ 13...g6!? 14.h4 g4! 15.f4 g7 16.b1 g8 ] 14.g3 [ 14.g3? h5 ] 14...h5 15.g2 [ 15.c3 g7 16.h4 g4 17.f4 0-0 ( 17...xe4!? 18.xe4 xd5 )] 15...h6! I have to develop! 16.g4!? [ 16.0-0! w a s m o r e n a t u r a l . bd7 ( 16...g6 17.e5 xd5 18.exd6 c6 19.f4; 16...0-0 17.g4 g6 18.g3 b5 19.e3 e6 20.c3 b4 21.b2 a6 22.f2 c4 23.dxe6 fxe6 24.xd6 c3 25.c1 fd7 26.xb4 g7 ) 17.g4 g6 18.g3 b6 19.e3 g7 20.ef5 h5 ] 16...g6
[ 16...h4+ I almost played this but it looks even riskier than the game. 17.f1 g7 18.c1 xe4 19.fxe4 xa1 20.xa1 g8 ] 17.c1 [ 17.g3 0-0! 18.f5 xf5 19.exf5 ( 19.gxf5 h5! 20.h4 g4!? Nothing is clear. ) 19...g7 Now Black is fine. ] 17...g7! I felt I had to play this before it is too late. 18.h4! Played rapidly to reach the critical position. [ 18.xg5? h5! was my intention. 19.f4 xg5 20.h4 h6 21.g5 h7 ] 18...h5! A hyper-tense move but I had calculated very accurately. 19.hxg5 hxg4 20.xh8+? [ 20.gxf6 xh1+ 21.xh1 A) 21...xf6!? 22.b1 ( 22.f4 h6 23.g2 xa1 24.xa1 d7 ) 22...h5 23.f2 h2+ 24.e3 b5 25.xb5 g3; B) 21...xf6 22.c3 h4+ 23.d2! The point which was missed by my opponent. h6+! ( 23...gxf3 24.xg7 fxe2 25.e3 ) 24.f4 b5! The move proposed by Ivanisevic in the post-mortem. S t i l l , B l a c k i s p r o b a b l y O K . ( 24...h2 25.f1 ) 25.e3 b4 26.b2 a6 With activity. 27.e1 h2 28.g2 c4!? 29.d4 e5!? 30.dxe6 c6 ] 20...xh8 21.gxf6 gxf3 22.xf3 xf6! 23.c3 xf3 24.xh8 h1+! This is the idea I had foreseen a few moves ago. 25.d2 xh8 26.h1 xh1 27.xh1 d7 28.h8+ f8 29.f4 d7 30.g8 0-0-0 31.g7 e8 32.e3 e6! Nf5 needs to be prevented. 33.g8 b5 34.g7 exd5 35.fxd5 g6! 36.c3 [ 36.xf7 e5 37.c7+ ( 37.h7 c4+! And it wins easily after the exchange of knights. ) 37...b8 ] 36...e8 37.f5 e5 38.e3 c6 39.f4 b5 [ 39...d7!? ] 40.xd6+ xd6 41.xe5 d7 42.g8+ c7 43.a3 d3 [ 43...d3 44.d5+ xd5 45.exd5 e3+ 46.f6 xa3 ] 0-1
2062
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A45 30...c4 31.c3 h3 32.e2 f7 33.d3 2388 xd3 34.xd3 d4+ 35.c2 d5! [ 35...f5 36.exf5 f4 37.d5 xf5 38.d3 2493 looks more complicated. g5 ] 11.04.2003 36.exd5 f5 37.d2 xd2+ 38.xd2 e4 39.e3 c5+ 40.f4 f6 41.h4 d6+ 42.e3 e5 43.h5 f8 44.f2 f4 45.g2 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c1 [ 4.b3 Can quickly turn out disastrous for a6 46.h3 d4 47.g4 f3 48.g3 d6+ W h ite af t e r e4 5.e3 ( 5.f4? f6 ) 49.f2 f4 50.h6 [ 50.a4 b6 Leads to the same zugzwang. ] 5...b4+! 6.c3 ( 6.d2 c3; 6.d2 d4 ) 50...xh6 51.d6 f4 52.d7 c7 53.d1 6...xc3 7.xc3 xc3+ 8.d2 d4 ] d3 54.a4 b6+ 55.g3 c7+ 56.f2 4...a5+ [ 4...b4+ 5.c3 ( 5.c3? e4 ) 5...e4 d8 57.g3 b5 58.axb5 axb5 59.f2+ ( 5...e6 6.d2 ) 6.d3 xc3 7.bxc3 a5 d4 60.g4 b4 61.b3 c7+ 62.f2 d3 63.f1 8.e4 ] [ 63.e5+ c3 64.c4 d4 65.e3 d8 5.d2 66.f5+ d3 ] [ 5.c3 e6 ] [ 5.c3!? b5! ( 5...e4 6.d3 xc3 63...e3 64.e1 e2 0-1 7.d2; 5...e6 6.d2 )] 5...b6 6.c1 The shortest "forced" draw by repetition ever? Indeed a very interesting and A45 original, possibility for prearranged games to 2111 cut cross the arbiter's reprimands for absence Jakubiec,Artur 2485 of a "real and genuine fight"... e6 7.c4 Mista,Aleksander 2489 T h e r e f u s a l o f t h e t a c i t d r a w o f f e r h a s CZE-chT 0506 (7) 14.01.2006 revealed the truly wild character of White as [Eric Prié] well as the concealed virulence of the variation! 1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.c3? A better support of [ 7.c3 exd5 8.xd5 xd5 9.xd5 c6 White's d-pawn is naturally 10.e4 Otherwise Black plays ...Ne7 and ... [ 3.e3 to which the next update will be d5. b4 11.b3 e6 12.xe6+ dxe6 dedicated. ] 13.d1 d7 14.c3 c6 15.f3 0-0-0 3...b6! 4.b3 Is therefore the only move. 16.c2= ] cxd4! 7...b4+ 8.c3 xc4 9.e4 b4 10.a3 [ 4...xb3 5.axb3 cxd4 b6 11.g4 h6 12.f4 d6 13.g5 hxg5 A) 6.f3!? Unnecessary but still 14.fxg5 h5 15.g6 e5! 16.gxf7+ xf7 interesting. dxc3 ( 6...c6 7.xd4 xd4 17.h3 d7 18.f3 8.cxd4 Koggala, W (2026)-Klasan, V [ 18.e6+ e8 19.g4 f4! 20.xf4 exf4 (2393) Olm Khanty-Mansiysk 2010 21.xd7+ xd7 22.g6+ d8 23.0-0-0 0-1(61) ) 7.xc3 a6 8.e4 Koggala, W With unclear consequences was more to the (2026)-Araz, B (2348) Olm Khantypoint. ] Mansiysk 2010 1/2 (66); 18...e7 19.g1 c4! 20.e6+ e8 21.e2 B) 6.cxd4 c6 7.e3 e6 ( 7...b4 8.a4! c5 22.xc4 b3 23.b5+ xb5 fd5 9.c3 ) 8.c3 a6 9.f3 24.xb5 xe6 25.dxe6 With a playable position for White in Shlak, [ 25.c7+ d7 26.xa8? h3 ] L-Gayvoronskiy, S Russia 2004 1-0 (30) ] 25...xe6 26.g5 xg5 27.xg5 c8! 5.xb8 Avoids losing a pawn but fails to avoid 28.d1 giving the advantage to the opponent. [ 28.xa7 c4 ] [ 5.xb6 axb6 6.cxd4 ( 6.xb8? dxc3!! 28...f6 29.xf6 gxf6 30.g2 Reminiscent of the Tromp and which only [ 30.xd6+ xd6 31.xd6 xh2 32.g8+ works thanks to the preliminary opening of e7 33.xc8 xd6 ] the a-file in Black's favour. 7.e5 xa2! 2110 Jakab,Attila Ovsejevitsch,Sergei FSGM April Budapeste (7) [Eric Prié]
2063
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 8.xa2 c2 Dorner, M (2265)-Jacob, G (2226) BL3 NRW 2003) 6...c6 7.e3! ( 7.c3 xd4 8.0-0-0 e6 9.g3 g6 Nykanen, O-Luukkonen, T (2100) Jamsa 1 9 9 6 0 - 1 ( 5 4 )) 7...b4 8.a3! d6! The open a-file facing a 'bad' knight on a3 p lu s go o d ligh t -squ a re d co n t ro l: B la c k should not be too greedy. ( 8...xa3 9.bxa3 c2+ 10.d2 xa1 11.d3 e6 12.f3 A position we know from the NimzoLondon... ) 9.f3 g6 10.b5+ d7 11.e2 g7 12.xd7+ xd7 13.c4 fd5 ] 5...xb8? [ 5...dxc3? 6.e5 ] [ 5...xb3 6.axb3 xb8 7.xa7 ( 7.cxd4 a6 8.c3 d5 Then is probably White's le ss e r e v i l. I s i t b e c a u s e it lo o k s a b i t depressing for W hite that I found no games matching this position in my database?!) 7...dxc3 ( 7...e5!? 8.f3 c5 9.a1 d6 ) 8.bxc3 ( 8.xc3 d5 Bu t a lso 8 . . . b5 ! ? , 8. . . e 5 ! ? 9.e3 e6 Koggala, W (2026)-Soozankar, A (2299) Zuerich 2010 0-1 (42)) 8...e5 ( 8...d5 9.e3 f5 10.b5+ d8 11.d2 c7 Kodric, V-Krumpacnik, D (2379) Ptuj 2005 0-1(33) ) 9.e3 c5 10.a4 e7 11.f3 d6 Hunko, G-Eberth, Z (2270)/ 1/2 Hungary 2000 1/2(51) ] 6.xb6 axb6 7.cxd4 d6 8.c3 [ 8.e3 g6 9.c3 d7 10.f3 g7 11.e2 0-0 12.0-0 fc8 13.fc1 c7 14.b5 1/2-1/2 Hunt, M (1912) -Purdon, C (2081) Birmingham 2001 ] 8...d7 9.e3 e6 10.f3 e7 ½-½
opinion, one should always start with the obligatory moves [ 9.g2 rather than the 'optional' ones as a good rule for development in theoretically un kno wn p o sit io n s. b5? 10.d6 c6 11.dxe7 ] 9...e6 Furthermore, there is no need to provoke a move that Black will play anyway. On the other hand, W hite does not know where his queen will be best placed, c2 or d2 as in the game in the note from where she usefully supported his d-pawn. 10.g2 a6 11.a3 c7 12.d6 e8 13.c4 b8 14.a4 b6 15.f3 a6 16.fd2 f6 17.h3? White does not sense the danger [ 17.0-0 g4?! ( 17...fd8 ) 18.h3 e5 19.xe5 ( 19.b3!? ) 19...xf1? ( 19...xe5 20.fd1 fd8 21.f3 g7 22.e4 fxe4 23.xe4 b7= ) 20.xd7 xg2 21.xg2 bd8 22.xf8 xf8 23.c4 xd6 24.d1 Was even clearly better for him. ] 17...e4! Short castling will be problematic for W hite af ter this move, opening the a6-f 1 diagonal, with all sorts of unpleasant c o n s e q u e n c e s . 18.xe4 Since 18.b3 is impossible because c3 is hanging, here Fritz proposes to pragmatically move the king's rook off the long diagonal, on g1 for instance, to loosen the tension by threatening to take on e4 and then continue with a fearless long castling. I am not sure it realizes what it's doing... fxe4 19.xe4 b7 20.xb7 xb7 21.xb7 b8 22.a6 [ 22.g2 g6 23.e4 ( 23.0-0 d3 24.a3 xd6 ) 23...a6 ] 22...h5 23.g4? [ 23.d1 was compulsory without fearing A) B u t r a t h e r 23...f5! 24.b5 c2 2112 A45 25.a1! ( 25.0-0 a6 26.xa6 xa4 27.a1 c6 followed by b6-b5.) 25...a6!! Jaracz,Pawel 2439 26.xa6 b5 27.xb5 xb5! 28.axb5 Malakhatko,Vadim 2496 e4 29.0-0 xc4 30.b6 b3 31.a7 op Swidnica (6) 03.07.1999 xb2 32.b7 f8 33.d1 b6 34.b8 [Eric Prié] xb8 35.xd7 g7; B) 23...f3?! 24.0-0 ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 After 24.0-0 b5 25.Bxb5 Rxb5! 5.c1 f5 6.g3 h6!? 7.e3 g7 8.c3 0-0 23...d5! 9.c2 In this position, it is clear that White B l a c k r e a l i z e s t h e s a m e t h e m e a s j u s t will develop his king's bishop to g2 and his mentioned but without having to give his d7 king's knight to e2 (obviously more flexible pawn and against a more exposed white king than h3, with the same idea of aiming at f4, after the weakening of his castled position. when e3 has been already played). In my 0-1 2064
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2113 Jenks,Chris Bruce Rudd,Jack 98th ch Sheffield ENG (3.19) [Eric Prié]
A45 2146 2278 27.07.2011
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5! I have always been conscious of the fact that this lateral attack represented the acid test of W hite's 2.Bf4 mo ve ord er. For so m e rea so n , h owe ve r, following a mixture of 'so far, so good' and an 'ostrich policy', I had always managed to we a t h e r t h e s t o r m . . . u n t i l r e c e n t l y ! 3.d5 T h e m o ve re c o m m e n d e d i n t h e b o o ks. . . b6?! Unfortunately for White, there are far less heartening options than this transposition to the Tromp, see the next games. 4.c3 xb2 [ 4...d6!? 5.e4? ( 5.b1!? e6 6.e4 xe4 7.b5+ d7 8.dxe6 fxe6 9.xe4 xb5 10.xd6; 5.e3 xb2 6.b5+ d8!? 7.ge2 xd5! 8.xd5 xb5 9.0-0 c6 ) 5...xe4! The first shot in a long series stressing the disadvantage of having the bishop on f4 (rather than g5 in this specific case) as soon as White has stopped ...Nf6e4 (which is indeed a typical Tromp problem!) 6.xe4 b4+ 7.d2 xe4+ 8.e2 ( 8.e2 ) 8...f5! ( 8...b4?! 9.c3 b6 10.f3 Drill, F (2140) -Zunker, R (2235) Wiesbaden 1994 1-0(30); 8...xg2? 9.0-0-0 xh1 10.f3 ) 9.0-0-0 d7! Without enough compensation, for instance after the natural ( 9...a4 10.b1 xc2+ 11.xc2 xf4 12.h3 f6 13.b5+ d7 14.a4 ) 10.f3 a4! 11.b1 xc2+ 12.xc2 xf4 ] 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 We know from the Tromp (retreat of the bishop to d2 from g5) this position is quite dangerous for Black. Also in case of [ 6...e5 7.f4 d6 8.f5! ] 7.f4 a6 A move I did not treat at the time... in this game which breaks all the records of topicality (played just a few weeks ago) as well as being one of the very few matching this position that occurs from the Neo-London move order rather than the Tromp! [ A reminder: 7...e6 8.b1! c7 ( 8...d8 9.b5+! This check is valuable when the queen stands on d8, leaving the b7-pawn
without protection. bd7 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.f3 a6 12.d3 b5 13.g5 e7 14.xb5!! axb5 15.xb5 b6 16.e5 ) 9.f3 exd5 ( 9...a6!? 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.e5 dxe5 12.fxe5 g4 13.d3 xe5 14.e4 bd7 15.0-0 f7? 16.g5! f6 17.f4 e5 18.d5! d7 19.xf7 xf7 20.xe5 e7 21.h5+ g8 22.xf6 gxf6 23.xf6 1 -0 Mo ska le n ko , V (2 5 3 8 )-E rd o gd u , M (2513) Ankara 2010) 10.e5 dxe5 11.fxe5 e4 12.xd5 d8 13.c4!? Compared with Mc Shane-Ni Hua where when using the same idea White had to protect his d5 knight with his c-pawn, White may now try t h i s m o v e , w i t h t h e d e v i l i s h i d e a e6 ( 13...c6 14.0-0 e6 15.xb7! xd5 16.g5! ) 14.xb7 xd5 15.b5+ c6 ( 15...c6 16.c4 b8 17.cxd5 xb7 18.xc6+ d7 19.e6 ) 16.xb8 xb5 17.xd8+ xd8 18.b1 ] 8.e5 dxe5?! Black should quickly lose after this move which completely liberates the op p osin g a tt a ckin g p o te n tia l, n ot ic ea b ly opening the f-file for his coming short castling. [ 8...fd7 9.f3 c7 10.g5! ( 10.a4? dxe5 11.d3 g6 Among others (11...c4, 11...exf4) clearly without enough co m p e n sat io n f or t h e 2 p a wn s in A vila Jim e n e z, J (2 2 2 1 )-B u rgo s Figu e ro a , C (2263) Sabadell 2009 0-1 (34)) 10...dxe5 11.c4! With the lethal threat d5-d6. d6 12.ce4 g6 ( 12...h6 13.d6 e6 14.0-0 f6 15.xf7 xf7 16.fxe5 ) 13.d6 e6 14.f5! xf5 15.g3! g6 ( 15...f6 16.f1 xd6 17.3e4 e7 18.xf7 ) 16.0-0 xd6 17.xf7+- ] 9.fxe5 g4 10.e6 f5 11.b1 [ 11.h3! f6 ( 11...e5 12.e2 d6 13.f3 xf3+ 14.xf3 g6 15.f4 d8 16.e5 g8 17.g4+- ) 12.f3 xe6 ( 12...g6 13.g4 g7 14.gxf5 0-0 15.fxg6 hxg6 16.b1 c7 17.g2! b5 18.xg6 b4 19.f3! Controlling e5 and freeing the g1 square. bxc3 20.h6 h5 21.g1! Stopping ...Qg3+ xf3 22.xh5+- ) 13.b1 xd5 14.xb6 xf3 15.xf3+- Corrales Jimenez, F (2586)-Manet, E (2009) Cappelle la Grande op 2009 1-0(27) ] 11...d6 12.f3 g6 13.b5+?? The wrong move order! [ 13.f4 e5 ( 13...d8 14.g3 2065
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Threatening to win a piece by Bxb8 but also the queen by Bc7! g7 15.ge2 ) 14.b5+! ( 14.g3 g7 15.b5+ bc6! 16.dxc6 axb5 17.xb5 xc6 18.xe5 e4+ ) 14...axb5 ( 14...bc6 15.e3 g7 16.dxc6 axb5 17.xb5 xc6 18.xe5 xe5 19.xe5 0-0 20.f3 xe6 21.0-0 ) 15.g3 g7 16.xb5 d8 17.xe5 ] 13...axb5 14.xb5 [ 14.f4 d8 ] 14...d8 And White is just lost. 15.h3 [ 15.g3 a6 16.c3 xd5! Time for a c o u n t e r -a t t a c k ! ( 16...g8 17.h3 f6 18.xf6 exf6 19.c4 a5+ 20.f1 xa2 Should also win.) 17.xh8 h6 18.e2 ( 18.d1 xe6+ 19.e2 d7 20.c4 xb5 21.cxb5 b4 ) 18...d2+ 19.f1 e3+ 20.f2 xe6 ] 15...g7 16.g5 0-0 17.f7 e5 18.xe5 xe5 19.0-0 xe6 20.h6 xd5 21.d3 xa2 22.e2 c6 0-1
2114 Jirovsky,Pavel Nemec,Pavel chT2 9900 CZE [Eric Prié]
A45 2344 2310 1999
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 a5+ 4.d2 xc5 5.gf3 d5 6.e3 c6?! The main problem with the line 3...Qa5+ is that Black is chronically behind in development. So he has to watch out for any sudden opening of the position which can quickly turn out delicate for him... [ 6...e4 7.b3 c6 8.e5 d6 9.f4 ] [ 6...bd7!? With the idea 7.c4 e4 8.cxd5 ( 8.b3 b4+ ) 8...xg5 9.xg5 xd5= ] 7.c4! e4 8.cxd5 xd5 [ 8...xg5 9.dxc6 This the drawback of h a v i n g a k n i g h t o n t h i s s q u a r e . xf3+ 10.xf3 xc6 11.xc6+ bxc6 12.c1 ] 9.xe4 xe4 10.a3 f6 11.d3 g4 12.h3! h5 [ 12...xg2? 13.h2 ] 13.h4 e6 [ 13...e5 14.b3 f7 15.c4 c7 16.c1 W ith the plan 0-0, Rfd1 is hardly an improvement for Black. ]
14.0-0 e7 15.c2 0-0 16.b4! a6 [ 16...d7 17.b5 d8 ( 17...e5 18.xe5 xe5 19.xh7+ h8 20.a4 ) 18.c7 ] 17.g3 h8 [ 17...d7 18.fd1 fd8? 19.c7! dc8 20.xh7+ xh7 21.xh7+ xh7 22.xd7 ] 18.e4 d7 19.fd1 e8 20.d4! The Czech player is now a confirmed International Master rated 2400... f7 21.a2 From a simple position, without any pawn breaks, W hite has shown limpid and exemplary strategy so far. 21.Qb3 with the same idea was already better, but in the same spirit of straightforwardness [ 21.xc6! would have allowed him to deal t h e f i n i s h i n g b l o w . xc6 ( 21...c8? 22.e5! ) 22.xc6 A) 22...ac8 23.d3! xc6 ( 23...bxc6 24.xa6 ) 24.d7 b6 ( 24...d8 25.xf7 xf7 26.xd8+ ) 25.c7 b5 26.d7 e8 27.c1! h6 28.d6! xd6 29.xf7 xc7 30.cxc7+-; B) 22...fc8 B1) 23.d7! xc6 24.d3 ( 24.e4 f5 25.f3 f6 26.ad1 ac8 27.xb7 ) 24...b5 25.d6 e8 26.a4 bxa4 27.xa4 xd6 ( 27...c1+ 28.h2 xd6+ 29.xd6 f8 30.xa6 ) 28.xf7 c1+ 29.f1 h2+ 30.xh2 xf1 31.xa6 xf2 32.xe6! g8 ( 32...g8 33.xg7+ xg7 34.xe8 ) 33.b5 h5 34.b6+-; B2) 23.d3 bxc6 24.d7; B3) 23.c7 xc7 ( 23...bxc6 24.d7 e8 25.xc6 d8 26.c1 ) 24.e8 xc2 25.xf7 ac8 ( 25...e5 26.d7 f8 27.xb7 ) 26.xe6 ] 21...xd4 22.xd4 [ 22.exd4 a5 23.xb7 a7 24.c8 axb4 25.xe6 g6 looks alright for Black, but 26.d5! bxa3 27.d6 will leave White with an extra passed pawn on d4. ] 22...e5 [ 22...a5! ] 23.xf7 [ 23.d5 g6 24.g4 d3 25.xb7 a7 White has won a pawn, but his rook on g4 is terribly misplaced when the black pieces start to become very active. ] 23...xf7 24.c4 b8? Eventually losing the pawn that was the stake of the game. 2066
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 24...f8 25.ac1 with ideas of Rc7 or Rc8. e7 26.c7 c6 27.xe7 xe7 28.xc6 c8 29.d1 xc6 30.d7 ] [ 24...d8! And after 25.d1 Or 25.Rc1 White retains only a small plus. ] 25.d5 f8 26.c7 d6 27.xb7 b5 [ 27...c8 28.b6 ] 28.xb8 xb8 29.c1 Moreover, White controls the only open file... g6 30.f3 d8 31.e4 g7 32.f2 and has better bishops after this obvious manoeuvre. The rest is without interest. f8 33.b6! d7 [ 33...b8 34.c7 ] 34.c8+ g7 35.c5 h6 36.h2 xc5 37.bxc5 g5 38.g3 f5 39.h4+ h5 40.c6 g7 41.h3 f4 42.e8 h6 43.xe5+ g5 44.f5 g6 45.hxg5 hxg5 46.g4 h6 47.f6+ h7 48.d6 1-0
"positional" compensation whatsoever he could put forward to try to justify the interest of the sacrifice. Black has a safe king, good pieces, space, control over the center, easy moves and even some typical Sicilian tactics on the opponent's long castle. His only little worry is the temporary passivity of his king's rook... [ 17.f1 So here is "Mr Trompopoulos's" preparation - This game was played one month later- in this line.. He usually plays 3. Bxf6 gxf6 4.dxc5 or 3.dxc5 in the 2... c5 Tromp. c6 18.g4 d8 19.e3 e5 20.f2 b4 21.e2 d7 22.h3 e8 ( 22...d5 23.d4 c7 ) 23.d4 d5 24.xf6 gxf6 25.b1 ( 25.xf6 g5+ ) 25...e7 26.f4 c5 27.xc5 1/2-1/2 Miladinovic,I-Gustafsson,J Match GRE -GE R Fue rt h 2 0 0 2 T h e po sit io n is levelled after xc5 28.h5 e7 29.xf6+ xf6 30.xf6 ] 2115 A45 17...c6 18.g4 d8 [ 18...f3 19.e2 ] Kalinichev,Andrey 2275 f3 20.g5 Desperation. This Gustafsson,Jan 2540 19.h4 ZMD op Dresden (5) 2002 "succedaneum" for attack will only result in solving the problem of the h8-rook. [Eric Prié] [ 20.d2 xg4 21.dg2 h5 ] [ 20.e2 xd1+ 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 A) 21.xd1 d5!! 22.xf3 xc3 c6 5.h4 e6 6.e4 23.bxc3 ( 23.e1 xa2+ 24.b1 b4 ) [ 6.0-0-0 e7 7.e4 h6 8.f4 a5?! 9.c4?! 23...xc3 24.d6 ( 24.b1 b4+ ) ( 9.e5! d5 10.xd5 xg5 11.fxg5 exd5 24...e3+ 25.b2 b6+; 12.b1 xe5 13.gxh6 xh6 14.g5 g6 B) 21.xd1 xd1 22.xd1 g5 ] 15.f3 ) 9...f8! With the black queen [ 20.e3 a5 21.g5 hxg5 22.hxg5 g4 already on a5, this move is much stronger 23.d2 xe3 24.xe3 c5! forces the as it a u th o rizes Black t o e xch a nge t h e exchange of queens. 25.e1? xg5 ] queens and double the c-pawns equivalent to, at the very least, equality. 10.xf6 xf6 20...hxg5 21.hxg5 d5 22.xd5 xd5 11.g3 g5!? ( 11...xc3 12.xc3 xc3 Keeping it simple. [ 22...xd1-+ ] 13.bxc3 e7 14.f3 b6 ) 12.f5 e5 13.b3 b5 Lindam,I-Inkiov,V 0-1 Gent op 23.e2 xd1+! 24.xd1 xd1+ 25.xd1 xd1 26.xd1 e8 27.d3 h4 28.e3 2002 0-1(30) ] 6...e7 7.f4 d6 8.0-0-0 Quite surprisingly, g4 29.b3 b5 30.c3 xg5 31.xg5 Even in a position as winning as this this is the actual order of moves in both the g1+! main game and the following one given in the present one, you should always seize any note. Have I missed something or has the occasion to maximize your chances. 32.d2 World leading specialist of the Tromp found xg5 33.c8+ d7 34.a8 d5+ 35.e3 anything against 7...Qb6, as in Rogozenko's d6 36.a7+ e8 37.e4 c6 38.c3 f8 game? a5 9.f3 h6 10.e5 dxe5 11.fxe5 39.d4 g5 xe5 12.xe5 xe5 13.b5+ f8 14.f4 0-1 c5 15.e1 a6 16.d3 d7 17.g1 As a result, White does not have any sort of 2067
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2116 Kalinitshev,Andrei Volodin,Aleksandr ch-EST Tallinn EST (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2369 2244 06.03.2006
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 [ 3...c5 4.e3 b6 5.c3 ] 4.e3! c5 5.d3!? f6! 6.c3! The fact that this position is surely playable for White, in this specific move order, whereas only probably in the Martinovic-Perunovic one, instead of the suspect capture on c5, could also open new horizons for investigation in the case of Black's annoying main option of 3... c5 after W hite's less common 4.e3!?. I already mentioned this a long time ago when studying the equally problematic 2...c5 (You always find the same moves at the origin of the same concerns...) Tromp. Then the main reply 4...d5 would not be feared and W hite would only have to concentrate on 4...Qb6 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6.bxc3. This position is forgotten by Wells as well as most of the typical d-Pawn Specials replies like c2-c3 or e2-e3, aiming at keeping a strong pawn on d4 after an opposing lateral attack with ...c7-c5. However indicators of dynamism are green here for White, contrary, in fact, to many positions he strives to deal with without granting much attention to the static factors that should act as guidelines for sound and especially LONG LASTING statements of the opening phase. Indeed, White will enjoy at least an advance of 2 tempi in development plus the semi-opening of the b-file and the subsequent reinforcement of his centre to make up for the grave deterioration of his structure. Please find a recapitulative of the moves supporting this hopeful thought in the Shaefer-Pock game. c6 [ 6...b6!? 7.c2! ] 7.d2! g4 [ 7...b6 8.b1! Now with a fine position for W h i t e f i n a l l y e n j o yi n g a n e xt r a t e m p o compared to a normal London and not the p o o r 8 . Q b 3 ? ? t h a t w o u l d b e a s e ve r e mistake due to 8...c4! ] 8.gf3! [ 8.a4 White should wait until the opponent plays ...e7-e6 before executing this idea.
d7! ( 8...e6 9.h3 h5 10.gf3 d6? 11.b5?? 11.Ba6!+- 0-0! 12.xc6 bxc6 13.xc6 xf4 14.exf4 cxd4 15.xd4 b8! 16.2b3 xf4 17.0-0 e5 Deutsch, E (2364) - Bykhovsky, A (2374) only some 2006 playchess.com Blitz, after all, that White won in 43 moves by the way.; 8...c4!? 9.e2! ) 9.c2 c8 10.b1 h5! This thematic manoeuvre emphasizes the guilty desertion of the kingside by the queen. 11.g5 h6 12.h4 cxd4 13.exd4 g5?! ( 13...f4! 14.g3 or 14.Bf1 in the spirit of Qb1?! xd3+ 15.xd3 b6 16.b3 a5 ) 14.g3 e5 15.dxe5 b6 ( 15...xg3 16.hxg3 c5 17.gf3 g4 18.h4 xe5 19.b3 ) 16.gf3 g7 17.0-0 0-0 18.b3 xg3 19.hxg3 xe5 20.h7+ h8 21.f5 ( 21.xe5 xe5 22.f5 xf5 As in the game Black should play 22...Be6, keeping t h e b a l a n c e . 23.xf5 xg3 24.ad1 ) 21...xf3+ ( 21...xf5 22.xf5 g6 23.xg6 xf3+ 24.gxf3 fxg6 ) 22.gxf3 With a roughly equal position after 22...Be6 that Black should have played in Caselas Cabanas, J (2406) - Fernandez Losada, D (2142) Mondariz op 2006 1-0(41) ] [ 8.b3? d7 Of course, threatening ... c5c4 even more insistently. ] 8...e6 9.h3!? [ 9.a4 The inferior position of the bishop on g4, compared to f5 which was impossible because of the extra-tempo Bd3, in the already scrutinized 1...d5 Neo-London, a l l o w s s u c h a m a l i c i o u s i m p u l s e . c4! ( 9...xf3? 10.xf3 d6? 11.a6! a5 12.xa5 xa5 13.xd6 bxa6 14.xc5+Ionov, S (2490) - Relange, E (2450) EU-Ch clubs Budapest 1996 1-0 (45)) 10.c2 ( 10.e2 a6 11.e5 xe2 12.xc6 d7 ) 10...a6! ( 10...d6 11.xd6 xd6 12.b3 cxb3 13.axb3 0-0 14.0-0 fc8 15.fc1 With the plan b3-b4-b5 not to give the b4 square to the Nc6, Bc2-d3 and then c3-c4.) 11.e5 b5 12.xc6 b6 13.a5 xc6 14.b4! ( 14.a4 b4! 15.cxb4 c3 ) 14...d6 15.a4! b8 ( 15...xf4? 16.axb5 ) 16.xd6 xd6 17.axb5 axb5 18.a6 With a possible slight edge for White. ] 9...h5 10.0-0 d6? [ 10...e7 11.b3 c8 12.dxc5 xc5 13.c4! ] 2068
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ So it was time to reduce the central tension: 10...cxd4! 11.cxd4 d6 12.b3 b8 ( 12...0-0!? 13.xb7 b4 ) 13.e5 xe5 ( 13...0-0 14.ac1 xe5 15.xe5 xe5 16.dxe5 d7 17.f4 ) 14.dxe5 ( 14.xe5 xe5 15.dxe5 d7 16.f4 a5! 17.f2 c5 18.b5+ xb5 19.xb5+ e7= ) 14...d7 15.a3 ( 15.e4 c5; 15.ac1 ) 15...e7 16.xe7+ xe7 17.g5+ f6 18.exf6+ gxf6 The better king and the centre compensate the opposing pair of bishops. ] 11.b3! b8 [ 11...0-0 12.xb7 a5 13.a6 ( 13.xa8 xa8 14.xd6 c8 15.xc5 is less clear.) 13...xf4 14.exf4 And there is no double attack with ...Qb8. ] 12.dxc5 xf4 13.exf4 0-0 14.a3!? [ 14.fe1! Simple chess. e7 ( 14...d7 15.c2 h8 16.b4; 14...a5 15.b5 ) 15.g4 g6 16.f5+- ] 14...c7 15.g3 a5 16.b4 d4 17.cxd4? [ 17.bxa5 fd8 18.fc1 ( 18.ab1 dxc3 19.xc3 d5 is t h e s a m e .) 18...dxc3 19.xc3 d5 20.a6 bd8 21.f1 bxa6 22.xa6 ] 17...axb4 18.b2 fd8 19.fc1 d7 20.b5 xf3 21.xf3 d5 22.xc6 bxc6 23.b3 f5 24.g2 d5 25.c2 xc2 26.xc2 a8 27.b2 [ 27.e5 a6 ] 27...f6 28.e1 In this position the white knight should head for d6: [ 28.e1 f7 29.d2 And White has probably managed to keep some advantage in spite of his 17th move slip. ] 28...a4 29.c2 b8 30.ab1 b5 31.b3 To conclude this survey on the second knot f ound in this section (The f irst be ing th e Nimzo Torre when Black later plays ...d5 and ...c5) I would say that from the Tromp 2..Ne4 (2... c5) A45 the Indian Neo-London 1...Nf6 2. Bf4 c5 A45 the Pseudo-Bishop's attack 1...d5 2.Bg5 Nf6 or because of 2...f6! the Tromp 2. .. d 5 i d e n t ic a l ly E CO co d e d D0 0 t h e Ne o London 2.Bf4 D00, the classical London 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 D02 until the Torre 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bg5 D03, the key word is UNIVERSALITY. Without its possession, it is impossible to comprehend an opening with all its global nuances. Relying on moves one after the other rather than
strong, solid, general concepts can only lead to a highly unstable evaluation of the position. This is what happened to Wells by underestimating the recoil 5...Nf6, with the unpleasant consequence of therefore leaving the whole chapter on 1.d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. Bf4 d5 4.e3! sort of hanging in the air... ½-½
2117 Kalisvaart,Peter Kharitonov,Alexandr HZ Open Vlissingen NED (5) [Eric Prié]
A45 2437 05.08.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 c6 5.h4 e6 6.0-0-0 e7 7.e4 0-0 Black wants to be able to use his h-pawn in order to create problems for the opponent on the "heavily laden" d8-h4 diagonal. This is natural but a bit naive and highly risky as we sh all se e in th e ne xt gam e . 8.f4 h6?! 9.xf6?! Although it is not that simple, this exchange is a little success for Black. xf6 10.g3 d5!! A fantastic central reaction by the Under 18 vice World champion this year, illustrating the danger, sometimes, to rashly pa rt wit h o ne 's b ish o p s. 11.exd5 b4 12.dxe6 a5 13.exf7+ h8 14.c4 f5 Within a couple of moves (and at the cost of 3 pawn s.. .) t he sto rm h as bea ten down o n White's queenside! 15.b3 xc3! 16.bxc3 [ 16.xc3 xa2+ ( 16...xc2 17.d5 ) 17.xa2 xa2 18.a3 c4 19.b3 ( 19.c3 xf4+ 20.d2 a4 ) 19...xb3 20.cxb3 ac8+ 21.d2 xf7 22.f3 c2+ 23.e3 xb2 ] 16...a3+ 17.d2 [ 17.b1 xc2+ 18.xc2 xa2+ 19.c1 xc2# ] 17...xc2 [ 17...ad8+! It cannot be a bad idea to get rid of a defender. 18.e1 xd1+ 19.xd1 xc2+! 20.xc2 d8+ 21.e2 xc2 Unless he can do something with his f-pawn, this position looks hopeless for W hite... 22.h4 ( 22.f3 xa2 ) 22...a6+ 23.f2 d2+ 24.g3 ( 24.f3 f1+ 25.g4 e3+ 26.h5 d5+ 27.g6 d3+ ) 24...g6+ 25.g5 ( 25.g4 xg2+ ) 2069
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 25...xf7 And actually is. ] 18.e2 [ 18.xc2 xa2 ] [ 18.f3 ac8! ( 18...b2 19.b1 ad8+ 20.d4 xd4+ 21.cxd4 xd4+ 22.e2 Black misses his rook to conclude the attack and therefore has no more than a perpe tual.) 19.e5 b2 20.c4 cd8+ 21.e2 d4+ 22.f1 e2+ 23.g1 xb3 24.xd8 xd8 25.h3 xa2 Should be winning, a piece up, despite the problem of the f7 pawn. The bishop on f5 is very strong and cannot be chased and Black has the regrouping plan ...Kh7, ...Rf8, ...Nd4c6. ] 18...ad8+ 19.d4 xd4 20.cxd4 xd4+ 21.e3 e4+? With the reduction of material, i.e. "mating" potential, Black gets more and m o r e c o n c e r n e d a b o u t t h e f 7 p a wn a n d p r e f e r s t o f r e e h i m se l f wi t h f r o m wo r r y. Unfortunately for him, it has a symmetrical effect on the White's king security who, at last, finds time to "get his breath back". [ 21...xd1 22.xd1 c2 23.d7 ( 23.d2 xd1 24.xd1 d8+ 25.c2 c8+ 26.d1 c1+ 27.e2 b2+ 28.f3 c3+ 29.g4 xg3+ 30.xg3 g6-+ ) 23...xb3 24.axb3 xb3+ 25.f2 c2+ 26.g1 xf7! This would have been a final combination worthy of this game. 27.xf7 b1+ 28.f2 a2+ 29.g1 xf7-+ ] 22.f3 xf7 23.he1 Now the game is roughly equal. fe7 24.d8+ h7 25.xe4 xe4 [ 25...xe4+ 26.g4 a5 27.g8+ h8 28.f8 will lead to a perpetual check. ] 26.f2 e7 27.g8+ g6 28.d2 e3+ [ 28...e3+ 29.xe3 xd8 30.b3 h5! ( 30...b6 31.g4 ) 31.xa7 d3+ 32.e3 e4+ 33.f2 xe3+ 34.xe3 xg2 is dead drawn. ] ½-½
2118 Kalmachevskikh,Viktor Gajsin,Evgenij 60th ch-RUS sf Urals (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2333 2456 22.03.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 e5 7.f4 [ I mentioned 7.b1 c7 8.b5 d8? ( 8...b6!? 9.f4 d6 10.f3 bd7 However looks playable where Black will follow up with ...a6 gaining the c7-square for h i s q u e e n , a s i n t h e g a m e .) 9.d6 In Stefanova-Nijboer. ] 7...d6 8.fxe5 [ 8.f5 ] 8...dxe5 9.f3 bd7 10.b1 c7!? Inaugurating a new defensive set-up with ... Qc7 and ...Be7 rather than ...Qd8 and ...Be7 which proved very unstable in Bruzon-Nijboer because of the lack of control of the d6-square, ...Qd8 and ...Bg7 in Kanep-Landa or ...Qd8 and ...Bd6 in Nakamura-Nijboer provided that W hite sho uld not d elay the crea tion of a strong protected passed pawn on d5 for too long because of the possibility ...exf 4 as illustrated by Stefanova-Nijboer (and NguyenKaratorossian). 11.c4 [ 11.b5 b8 Still keeping d6 under control. ] 11...a6 12.a4 e7 13.0-0 0-0 14.e1! The advantage of having the bishop on e7 rather than d6 can be seen in the line [ 14.h4 b6 Where Black does not have to fear a Rxf6... 15.a2 e8 Attacks the k n i g h t o n h 4 . . . 16.f5 ( 16.a5 xh4 17.xb6 d8 ) 16...xf5 17.xf5 d7 And gets a strong blockading square on d6 for his king's knight. 18.d6?! xd6 19.d5 d8 The knight on d6 also protects b7! ] 14...e8 15.g3 f6 16.h4 d6 17.h6 g6! 18.xf8 xf8 19.e2 g7 20.f3 [ 20.g4!? g8 21.f2 h5 22.h3 f6 23.xc8 xc8 24.e2 c4 Still with interesting compensation for Black in spite of the exchange of his second best light piece. ] 20...g8 21.f2 f6 22.d2 d7 23.bf1 fe8 24.f3? In general , it is not a very wise thing to force the opponent to play (excellent) moves he intends to make anyway... 2070
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 24.g4 b5 ] 24...f6! 25.h4? White had to acknowledge the erroneous side of his plan with [ 25.d2 b5 ( 25...h6 26.c4 f4 27.xf4 ) 26.axb5 axb5 27.g4 b4 28.xd7 xd7 29.d1 h6 30.d3 a3 31.c3 ] 25...b5 Now Black takes control of the queenside encircling the enemy pawn on e4 with the possibility of activating his king's bishop via h6 against a knight on d2. It is im p ort an t t o always b e ar in m in d t h at t o express his potential superiority over a minor piece an exchange needs files and ranks! 26.axb5 axb5 27.h5 b4 28.hxg6 bxc3 29.gxh7+ xh7 30.h4 d8 31.h5 g8 32.g6? White collapses in a difficult situation. [ 32.g6 Protecting e4. a4 ] 32...xe4 33.e3 xf2 34.xf2 d6 35.xc5 e4 Bis repetita placent! 36.e7+ h8! [ 36...h7?? 37.g6+ ] 0-1
2119 Kamsky,Gata Ivanchuk,Vassily Gibraltar (9.1) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2709 2739 05.02.2014
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 The critical test of White's move order. 3.e3 [ The normal move, but it's notable that Lakdawala recommended 3.d5 in 'Play the London System'. Then b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 was the way that Hebden reached the Vaganian Gambit and the line we considered in Smerdon-L'Ami. ] 3...b6 4.c3 [ The critical move, but one which only leads t o a d r a w. H o we ve r , d o n o t e t h a t E r i c denoted 4.b3 as dubious in his notes to PrieLibiszewski, Donostia 2011. ] 4...xb2 [ As this only leads to a draw, if Black is after more he should likely not employ this line. It is p o s s ib le t o d e via t e h e re , b u t 4...a6 5.a3! may well be a little better for White. That said, e6 6.e2 (rather passive) e7
7.dxc5 xc5 8.b4?! ce4 9.a4 c6 10.b5 d5 was not exactly ideal for the first player in To-Szeberenyi, Budapest 2014. ] 5.b5 d5 6.b1 Kamsky was already thinking by this point. W e know him as the world's highest-rated regular London player, but surely he'd analysed this critical line before? Perhaps not. Moreover, surely Kamsky should have subscribed to these pages to read Eric's thoughts... [ Instead, 6.a3!? i s w e l l m e t b y a6! when W hite must force a draw with 7.b1 , as pointed out by Eric. The winning try is a2 8.c1!? axb5 9.a1 xa1 10.xa1 , but Eric didn't appear to particularly believe in it - see his notes to Prie-Gonzalez de la Torre, Donostia 2011. ] 6...xa2 7.a1 [ Wise. Instead, 7.c4? a5+ 8.d2 xd2+ 9.xd2 xf4 10.c7+ d8 11.xa8 g6 wa s p la in t e rrib le f o r W h it e in L i Yin gRatsimikatry, Saint Denis 2013. ] 7...b2 8.b1 a2 9.a1 [ W h i t e t r i e d t o f i g h t o n w i t h 9.g3!? in Overton-Seia, correspondence 2011, but after cxd4 ( 9...a5+? 10.c3 a6 11.dxc5 is rather problematic for Black) 10.a1 b2 11.b1 had to force a draw in any case. ] 9...b2 10.b1 ½-½
2120 Kamsky,Gata Kramnik,Vladimir Presidents Cup rapid (5) [Eric Prié]
A45 2702 2790 30.04.2010
1.d4 f6 2.f4 A slight surprise: In his p r e vi o u s e f f o r t wit h t h e L o n d o n S y s t e m (against Topalov in 2007) commented in this s e c t i o n , t h e l o n g t i m e d - P a wn S p e c i a l s sympathizer had started with [ 2.f3 ... ] 2...c5! 3.d5 b5!? With the plain intention of winning W hite's advanced pawn by ...Bb7. 4.a4 [ 4.c4 bxc4 ( 4...b7!? 5.c3 b4 6.a4 e6 7.d6? a5 followed by Bc6.) 5.c3 d6 6.e4 A) 6...a6 7.f3 a5 8.e5! dxe5 2071
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.xe5; B) 6...a5! 7.d2 ( 7.e5 dxe5 8.xe5 bd7; 7.c2 a6 8.f3 bd7 ) 7...a6 8.f3 bd7; C) 6...g6?! Black should first hang on to the pawn. 7.xc4 g7 8.ge2?! 0-0= Mueller, J (1916)-Young, M (1966) Cork 2005 0-1(40) ] [ 4.f3 Never played... possibly because of h5! Directly and immediately stressing the un ha p py co nju nct ure o f t he m o ve s d 4 d 5 + B c 1 - f 4 . ( 4...e6 5.e4 exd5 6.exd5 b7? 7.d6! is the only trap Black must avoid. ) 5.e3 d6 6.f2 A) 6...g6 7.e4 a5+ 8.d2 ( 8.d2 b4 9.a3? h6! ) 8...h6 ( 8...g7 9.a4 bxa4 10.c3 ) 9.a4 bxa4 10.c3 d7 11.g4 f4 12.e3! g2+? 13.xg2 xe3 14.c4; B) 6...b6 7.e4 d7 8.d2 g6 9.a4 bxa4 10.c4 b8 11.c3 b6 12.xb6 xb6 13.xa4+ d7 14.c2; C) 6...d7! About the only square for this knight. Actually it also frees the b8 square for the rook so as to dissuade the opponent from playing his key move a2a4. 7.e4 b8 8.d2 g6 9.a4 bxa4 10.xa4 xb2 11.c4 b8 12.a5? e5 ] 4...b7 5.axb5?! [ 5.e4 See the next game. ] 5...xd5 6.g3 g6 7.e4 b6 8.d2?! White had better forget about the c4 square and concentrate on swift and natural development by [ 8.c3 g7 9.d2 ( 9.f3 xc3+ 10.bxc3 xe4 11.e2 ) 9...0-0 10.f3 d6 11.h4 h5 12.f4 ] 8...g7 9.c3 0-0 10.gf3 d6 11.d3 a6 This is the problem: W ith this move at the op p o rtu n e mo m e n t B la ck e rad ica te s t h e opposing advantage of the semi open a-file. 12.0-0 axb5 13.xa8 xa8 14.xb5 b6 15.e2 c6 [ 15...c7 16.d3 xb2?? 17.b1 ] 16.xc6 xc6 17.b1 c7 Black stands better, with typical pressure against the b2-c3 small chain thanks to his strong Bg7 and the semi-open b-file, hardly compensated by the possession of the c4 square for a white knight without any central or kingside prospects.
18.h4 a8 19.c4 b5 20.xb5 xb5 21.f4 f5! Another typical Volga/Benko Gam bit mo ve . 22.g3 a4 23.exf5 gxf5 24.f1 e5 25.d2 d5 26.e3 e7 27.c4! Ra th er t ha n le t Black play . .. d5 -d 5 . dxc4 28.b3 cxb3 29.xb3 d4 30.b8+ f7 31.g5+ g6 32.b6+ f6 33.g2? Missing the study-like incredible resource [ 33.xh7!! xh7 34.xf6 g7 ( 34...f3+ 35.g2 xd2 36.f7+ ) 35.d6 a2 The bishop is dominated but 36.c4 f4 ( 36...c2? 37.h6+ ) 37.d7 f6 ( 37...f8 38.d8+ g7 39.d7 ) 38.gxf4 ef5 ( 38...e6 39.d6+ ) 39.fxe5+ e6 Black wins the bishop eventually but is stripped of all his pawns! 40.c7 f3+ 41.g2 xd2 42.xd2 xd2 43.xc5= ] 33...ec6? [ 33...h5 ] 34.d5? Time trouble undoubtedly. Instead White could force his way through the 6th with [ 34.e6!! thus emphasizing the opponent's last error. a2 35.xd4 xd4 36.d5 xd2 37.xf6+ g7 38.h5 h6 39.g6+ f7 40.xh6 c4 41.h7+ e6 42.h6! xd5 ( 42...b2 43.h8 ) 43.g7 T h e h - p a w n c a n n o t b e s t o p p e d . c3 ( 43...e6? 44.d7+; 43...b2 44.h7 b8 45.g8 ) 44.h7 c2 45.c7 d1 ( 45...c6? 46.xc6 xc6 47.h8 ) 46.h8 c1 47.xc1 xc1 ] 34...d8 Normal service resumed. 35.b1 [ 35.b7 a7 ] 35...h6 36.h5+ xh5 37.f7 g5 38.xg5 hxg5 39.d6 g4 40.c1 b4! 41.e3 [ 41.xc5 a1 42.xb4 ( 42.f6+ g6 43.d7 d3 ) 42...f3 ] [ 41.f6+ g6 42.d7 d3 43.xc5 xc5 44.xc5 a1 45.c4 e4 46.e3 f3 47.f1 e1+ 48.g1 d3 49.c2 ] 41...g6? [ 41...a2! 42.dxf5 d3 43.f1 xf5 44.xf5 c4 45.e3 c3 ] 42.xc5? The last one... [ 42.b7 ] 42...d3 43.c8 [ 43.c3 e1+ 44.h1 a1 45.f1 a7! 46.e3 h7+ 47.g1 df3+ ] 43...e1+ 44.h1 a1 45.f1 d3 46.g2 a2 47.e3 xf2+ 48.h1 f3
2072
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 49.dxf5 h2# 0-1
2121 Kanep,Meelis Landa,Konstantin 7th Neckar op (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2446 2643 21.04.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 The counter attack aga in s t t h e b 2 -p a wn is t h e m o st n a t u ra l reaction in d-pawn systems when W hite's queen bishop leaves the f irst rank early, (some might say prematurely!) Compared to the under-analysed 2.... c6, 2...c5 asks an immediate question of the White center but gives up control of the d5-square and authorizes the capture of the pawn. As for 2... Ne4, followed by c5, which can be regarded as the main idea in the Trompowsky, things are slightly different. First of all, W hite can play the interesting 3. h4. And if he chooses to retreat the bishop, the possibility to attack the e4-knight, with the f-pawn for instance, usually brings other types of position in which the vulnerability of b2 is not at stake. 3.d5 Basically, s the big question about the Trompowsky: Since it cannot be considered as a surprise weapon anymore, should the move 2.Bg5 be considered as a "normal" developing move, designed to off er more flexibility and to take Black out of his pet Indian defence? Or should it be considered to be an immediate attacking move, introducing the threat of doubling pawns that, therefore, would need to be parried? Personally, I am prone to privilege the second option. W hite concedes a very slight material disadvantage, in the form of the bishop pair, not only for a better pawn structure but mainly in the hope of being able to take advantage f rom the lasting weakened cover of the opposite king. One could retort that Black just has to castle queenside then. True, but straightforward development to achieve this goal does not exist for Black in the Trompowsky, especially after 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4.d5. This is the reason why it is the main line that we shall study, with all the aforementioned possibilities next month! b6 For a note on 3...g6 refer to the game
P o va h - W e l l s . 4.c3 xb2 Statistically , while taking into account the level of the players, Black has good results when taking this pawn in the Trompowsky. But it is true that "digesting" the present is usually not very spectacular and takes more than 30 moves... 5.d2 b6 6.e4 e5! It is another story to have to cope with the initiative in a closed position rather than in a "Poisoned Pawn" Najdorf, for instance, where all the lines are already opened with pawn contacts and a mobile structure! 7.f4 d6 8.b1 d8 9.fxe5 This way of releasing the tension, rather than 9.f5 , does not significantly compromise the spa ce a dvan tage. B ut b y f ea tu ring m ore "open" play, it means that White will have to "cre a t e " so m e t h in g a ga in . I n re t u rn , t h e protected passed pawn provides a tangible compensation for the material deficit. dxe5 10.f3 bd7 11.e2 g6 Controlling the key square f5 but natural development with 11... Bd6 also deserved consideration. 12.0-0 g7 13.g5 h6 14.h4 0-0 15.d6 b6 16.d5 b7 17.e7+ [ 17.xe5 xd5 18.xd7 xd7 19.xf6 xe4 ] 17...h7 18.e1 e8 [ 18...b8 19.g5+ ( 19.d1!? xe4 20.b5 ) 19...h8 is very unclear. ( 19...hxg5 20.xg5 g8 21.b3 )] 19.g5+? White carries on with his idea, when moves like 19.Bb5 or Bc4 seemed to offer better perspectives. hxg5 20.xg5 xe7 21.dxe7 xe7 22.g4 e8! The Estonian hope must have underestimated this move when he embarked on the piece sacrifice. 23.h4+ g8 24.xd7 [ 24.xf6 xf6 25.xf6 xf6 26.xf6 c6! 27.xe5 xe4-+ ] 24...xd7 25.b3 a6! 26.f2 e6 27.h3 xa2 28.h7+ [ 28.c4 a1+ 29.f1 d4+ 30.e3 xc4 31.h7+ f8 32.hf3 f6 33.xg6 ( 33.h6 xh6 34.xh6+ e7 ) 33...f7 ] 28...f8 29.g4 e6 30.h6 xh6 31.xh6+ e7 32.g5+ d6 33.hf3 f5 34.exf5 gxf5 35.xf5 g8 36.d2+ c7 37.g5 e4 Finding use of the open long diagonal with 37... Bb7 would have quickly ended the game. 38.f4+ c8 39.e3 b7 40.h4 h8 41.c3 d8 2073
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 41...xh4 42.f8+ c7 43.g3+ d6 44.xh4 xf8 ] 42.b3 c4 43.c3 e3 44.2f4 e4 45.f7 d5 46.7f5 e4 47.f7 e5! [ The same idea 47...f6 was winning as well. 48.7xf6 ( 48.xe3 d1+ 49.f2 g4+ 50.xg4 xg4 51.f8+ b7 52.f7+ c6 53.f6+ b5; 48.f8 xf8 49.xe3 d8 50.gxf6 g8+ 51.f2 g2+ 52.e1 xc2 53.xe4 d1# ) 48...d1+ 49.h2 ( 49.f1 g4+ 50.h2 g2# ) 49...h1+ 50.g3 h3# ] 48.f8 [ 48.xe4 xf7 49.xe3 d1+ 50.h2 d2+! ( 50...f1 51.h3+ ) 51.g1 ( 51.g3 f1 52.xd2 f3+ 53.h2 xe4 ) 51...f3+ 52.f1 f5 53.e8+ c7 54.e7+ d7 ] 48...f3+ 49.g2 xg5+ 50.f1 h3+ 51.e1 g3+ 52.e2 g2+ 53.xe3 g3+ 54.f3 xf3 [ 54...g1+! 55.f2 xf8 ] 55.xd8+ xd8 56.f6+ d7 57.g7+ e6 58.g6+ e5 59.e8+ f5 60.f8+ g4 61.hxg5 e5+ 0-1
2122 Kanep,Meelis Seeman,Tarvo ch-EST Tallinn EST (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2474 2401 16.05.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 a5+ 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 xc5 7.g6 fxg6 8.gf3 c6 9.c3 [ 9.b3 f5 10.d2 e6 ( 10...d5 11.0-0-0 ) 11.g5 This straightforward attempt will naturally f lounder. ( 11.0-0-0 e7 ) 11...h6! ( 11...e7 12.xh7 f7 13.0-0-0 g8 14.e4 e5 15.f4 c7 16.e5 xh7 17.xh7 xh7 18.d3 xe5 19.fxe5 xe5 20.b1 d5 21.h1+ g8 22.xg6 ) 12.e4 f6 13.0-0-0 e7 14.f3 0-0 ] 9...d6 [ 9...d5! The ideal moment for this move. 10.e4 This attack against the d5 pawn is less to be feared than c3-c4 because it does not bot her th e black king saf ety on th e
queenside and prepares a bright future for his black squared bishop. e6 11.g5 g8 12.exd5 xd5 13.gf3 0-0-0 Black is fine. 14.c4? ( 14.c2 e6+ ) 14...xc4 15.xc4 xd1+ 16.xd1 xc4 ] 10.e3 g4! If a plan based on ...d7-d5 proves untimely, I like this move, leaving the 5th rank free for the queen while controlling just the necessary amount of light squares. [ 10...f5? This move should be played only in case of Bd3, as now it takes the retreating square on f5 from the Black queen, as from here she can defend the kingside and in particular the sensitive f7 square which hinders Black f rom long castling. 11.b3! b6 12.g5 e5 13.a4! d3+? Miladinovic, I-Georgieva, L Nice 2002 1-0 (23) to be retrieved, adorned (commented is a big word...) with witticism, somewhere in this section ] 11.h4 [ 11.d3 f5! ( 11...0-0-0!? 12.xg6 What matters in similar positions, in fact, is not to lose the right to castle h5 Intending ... Rh6, ...d6, ...d5, ...Kb8, ...e7-e5) 12.b3 d5 Like in the previous game. 13.xf5 xd1+ 14.xd1 gxf5 15.h4 e5 16.xf5 c4 17.b1 g6 ] 11...e6?! Backing down for no reason [ 11...f5 12.g5 ] [ 11...h5! 12.b3 ( 12.c2 0-0-0 13.xg6 e6 With a couple of menacing clouds hanging over White's head: ...Be7, ...Bf5, ... Ne5. ) 12...0-0-0 13.e4 f5 14.d3 d7 15.eg5 e5 16.xg6 ] 12.e4 b6 13.d3 f5 14.g4! xe4 15.xe4 xb2 16.xg6+ d8 [ 16...d7 17.b1 xc3+ 18.f1 c7 19.d4 xd4 20.c1 ] 17.c1 xa2 18.g5 e5 [ 18...c7 19.f7 b2 20.d5 ] 19.e4 c7 20.b1 b8 21.f4 c6 22.d5+The attack is now terrible while the black forces on the kingside are only spectators. a5 23.d3 Refinement [ 23.e6+ c8 24.d3 a6 25.c4 a3 26.h2 Brings up the decisive reinforcement into the assault. ] 23...e5 [ 23...d8 24.h2 a6 25.a2 c5 26.a4 d7 27.c4 a3 28.f5+ e8 29.f7+!! 2074
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 It is the same mate with the bishop not quite b6 ) 12...xd6 13.xd6 exd6 14.e3 e7 as spectacular though! xf7 30.xf7+ d7 15.h6 0-0 16.bd4 g7 17.h1 31.xb7+ xb7 32.e6+ e8 33.c8# ] Where I would rather be White because of 24.e6+ Or 24.Rh2 is a matter of taste. Black the superior pawn structure. ] is completely outflanked in any case. d7 10...xc4 25.xf8+ hxf8 26.xh7 e7 27.xg7 [ 10...0-0-0 11.b4!? ( 11.h4 xd6 exf4 28.exf4 c5 12.gf3 b6 13.c1 g7 14.c3 [ 28...xf4 29.e3 Hurts ] Is safe. Then W hite will play Nc4 or Bc4 29.f5 d8 exch a n gin g o n e b ish o p , Q c2 , Rd 1 a n d [ 29...b6 30.f1 be8 31.b4 a5 32.c4 remain a pawn up, for which I do not see d8 33.e6 d5 34.c8+ xc8 35.d7# much compensation for Black. This is the Is another goody. ] problem when he castles queenside: first of 30.e4 d5 31.d1! all he ca n hardly a tta ck the re an d p la y [ 31.b5 d6 ] su c h t h e m a t ic m o ve s a s . . . b 5 - b 4 , a n d 31...g1+ secondly his rook on h8 is attached to the [ 31...e8 32.xd5 d8 ( 32...xd5 d e f e n s e o f h 7 u n l e s s h e e xc h a n g e s i t 33.xd5 xd5 34.xd5 f7 35.g8+ f8 against its wandering counterpart.) 11...b6 36.xf8+ xf8 37.g5+- ) 33.f7+! xf7 12.c3 xd6 ( 12...xc4 13.xc4 b5 34.xd8# ] 14.dxe7! xe7 15.d6+ xd6 16.xb5 32.e2 h2+ 33.f1 f6 xd1+ 17.xd1 ) 13.c5 g7 14.gf3 ] [ 33...f4+ 34.g1 ] 11.xc4 34.e2 e5 [ After 11.d7+ xd7 The knight is pinned! [ 34...xe2+ 35.xe2 e8 36.xd5 12.xc4 c7 13.g4 f5 14.gxf6 exf6 Basically leads to the same ending as after 15.0-0-0 d8 White's compensation for the move 31, and it was this that made Black exch a nge a pp e a rs m e rely 'su b limin a l'. resign, when seeing 35.Bxd5, unless he lost 16.gf3 ( 16.f4+ e5 ) 16...f5 17.f4+ on time. ] d6 ] 1-0 11...e6!? Black is greedy. [ 11...0-0-0 12.dxe7 ( 12.xf7 xd6; 12.g4+ e6 ) 12...xe7 13.g4+ b8 2123 A45 14.gf3 e5! 15.f4 d6 16.e4 xf3+ 17.xf3 a3! 18.d3 ( 18.0-0-0 c3!! Kanep,Meelis 2474 19.bxa3 xd2 20.d3 c8!-+ ) 18...b4! Zjukin,Sergei 2373 ( 18...xb2 19.b1 c3? 20.xb7# ) ch-EST Tallinn EST (4) 12.05.2005 19.0-0-0 xd2+ 20.xd2 xa2 [Eric Prié] Defending f7! ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 12.b4 xg5 [ 12...xb4!? 13.d7+ d8 ( 13...xd7? a5+ 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 g6 7.h4! c6 14.b3+ d3+ 15.f1+- ) 14.b1 ] 8.c4 d5 9.cxd6 e6 10.e3!? I am not sure about this particular move but this is certainly 13.d7+ d8 14.gf3 e7 [ 14...xg2!? 15.b5 a5! 16.f1 ( 16.e2 an idea. W hat I do understand is that the xc4 17.xc4 h1+ 18.f1 xf3 ) shrewd original resource of 7.Rh4 is 16...g4 ] successful against 6...g6 by radically c h a n g i n g t h e n a t u r e o f t h e g a m e a n d 15.b5 b8 [ 15...a5 W as also good. 16.e2 g7 abolishing any positional markers. However, I 17.d1 c7 ( 17...xd7! 18.b3+ c7 do not see why, having fulfilled its mission 19.xa5 c3+ 20.f1 xa5 21.e5 and won two pawns (!) in the meantime, it is ad8 ) 18.f1 hd8 ( 18...ad8 19.b6+ not therefore possible to come back with the axb6 20.b5 c6 21.c4 xd7 22.b1 ) rook: 19.b3 xb3 20.cxb3 xd7 21.c1 d8 [ 10.h4 xg5 11.gf3 c5 ( 11...b5 22.b6 a6-+ ] 12.e3 xb2 13.b1 ) 12.b3 ( 12.e4 2075
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.e4 xd7?! But this is an inaccuracy allowing W hite to gain several tempi in his 'phantom attack'. [ 16...g7! 17.b1 xd7 18.b6 ( 18.d6 c7 ) 18...axb6 19.b5 ( 19.xb6 c7 20.b5 a4 21.d3 b4 22.d4 xd4 23.xd4 xb5 24.xb5 d8 ) 19...f5 20.d6 c7 21.c4 hd8 Going for the nice counter finish but lots of moves repel White's agitation anyway. 22.xd7 xd7 23.e2 xa2 24.xb6 b4+! 25.xb4 a1+ 26.d1 dxd1+ 27.e2 db1 ] 17.d4 g8 [ 17...e5 Was again a good defence. 18.d5 c7 19.eg5 g7 20.xf7 xf7 21.xf7 e4 22.d4 he8 ] 18.0-0-0 c8! [ 18...g7 19.e5 a3+ 20.b1 b4+ 21.a1 ( 21.c1 a3+= ) 21...xe5 22.xe5 xc4 23.f6+ A) 23...c8 24.xf7 xc2 ( 24...d8 25.d6+ ) 25.xd7+ b8 26.d6+ c7 27.xe6; B) 23...c7! 24.f4+ ( 24.xd7+? xd7 25.xf7+ d8 26.xg8+ c7 27.xa8 xc2 ) 24...e5 ( 24...b6 25.d6+ a5 26.d3 ) 25.xd7+ xd7 ( 25...b6 26.xb7+! ) 26.f6+ e6 27.xc4+ xf6 28.h4+ g7 29.e7 ] [ 18...c7 19.b6+! Obstruction first. axb6 20.e5 c5! ( 20...d8 21.xd7 xd7 22.xd7+ xd7 23.xd7+ xd7 24.f6+; 20...b8 21.d3 c6 22.xc6 bxc6 23.e5+ b7 24.d6+ ) 21.xc5 bxc5 22.f4 g5 ( 22...b6 23.d7+ a7 24.c7 ) 23.g3 c8 24.d7 xd7 25.xd7 xd7 26.f3!+- ] 19.d3 f5?? [ 19...g7 20.d6 ( 20.d6+ c7 21.f4 e5 ) 20...xd6 21.xd6+ c7 22.xf7 c5 ] 20.f6! Black must have only relied on something like. [ 20.c3? g7 21.xe6+ d8! ( 21...b8?? 22.f6! xf6 23.f4+ e5 24.xe5 ) 22.d5 fxe4 ( 22...xc3 23.c5 b4 24.xd7 d6 25.xd6 xd6 26.xg8 ) 23.xb7 xe6 24.g5 f5 25.c5 b8! 26.c7+ e7 27.xf5 gxf5-+ ]
20...xf6 21.xe6+ c7 22.c3+ 1-0
2124 Karadeniz,Emre De Firmian,Nick E 34th Olympiad (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2278 2567 28.10.2000
Trompowsky Attack: Grandmaster Agony! The Tromp claims another unsuspecting GM, in one of the most fashionable lines. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 Regular readers of this site will know that I believe: [ 5...d5 to be the critical move here. In my opinion, the move played in the game allows White to reach his ideal set-up without any problems. ] 6.d3 d7 7.e2 h5 A bizarre move, to say the least. Black, unwisely does nothing to stem the tide in the centre. White is clearly gearing up for the dangerous f4 pawn push, a move that Black should not have ignored. I ca n't even p ass th e B la ck m ove of f as a beginners' mistake, as it was made by a top class Grandmaster! Perhaps he thought that the usual rules didn't apply to him, but he was about to be taught a painful lesson. 8.0-0 h4 9.f4 h3 The point behind the Black moves. W h i t e i s f o r ce d t o we a k e n h is ki n g s i d e . However, this is not really such a big deal and Black has fallen dramatically behind in development in the process. 10.g3 b6 11.e5 d8 12.f5! Of course! While Black has been merrily shoving his h-pawn down the board, White has been preparing a central avalanche. exf5 13.xf5 dxe5 14.e4 b8 15.b3 The better developed White forces find it easy to make threats with every move. f6 [ 15...e7 Would not have been a good choice. Black is already lagging behind in development, and blocking in his f8 bishop would clearly not be a clever idea. ] 16.b5+ d7 17.xe5+ e7 18.d3 0-0 19.d2 c6 20.f4 The opening smoke has cleared and W hite can be quite pleased, having recovered his sacrificed pawn while maintaining a more active position. Black may 2076
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 have caught up with development, but now he has castled, the pawn on h3 will be a c o n s t a n t s o u r c e o f c o n c e r n t o h i m . d6 21.f5 xf4 22.xf4 e8 23.c4 The first slight error from White, as the horse is immediately forced backwards again. [ 23.xh3 was stronger as d5 can be well met by 24.af1 ] 23...b5 24.d2 e3 25.e4 xd3 A terrible e. Black spots a tactic based on the weak light squares around the White king, but the trapper is about to become the trapped. 26.xf6+ gxf6 27.g4+ f8 28.h4! Suddenly Black is completely lost. [ The GM with the Black pieces had been relying on the recapture: 28.xd3 when d5 wins for Black! ] 28...d5 29.h8+ g7 [ 29...e7 30.e1+ only prolongs the agony. ] 30.h7# 1-0
2125 Karhanek,Pavel Bartos,Jan Open A Ostrava CZE (9) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2136 2211 25.05.2002
Trompowsky: The moves Bg5 and c4 rarely sit well together in the Tromp and this month we get a classic example of exactly why this is the case. Please don't try this one at home or in your next chess match or you'll be heading to the bar early. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 f5 5.c4? A word of warning. This is never a good idea in the Ne4 Tromp. Black is ideally placed to exploit White's lack of dark squared protection on the queenside. e5! Ouch! 6.dxe5 b4+ 7.e2 Eughhh and double eughhh. A revolting and disgusting move to have to make. You couldn't be presented with a more clear sign that things have gone horribly wrong. h4 No rest for the wicked. 8.g3 h5+ 9.f3 dxc4 10.g4 White puts his head in the lion's mouth, but it is d if f ic u lt t o o f f e r him go o d a d vice . h4 11.h3 xg4 If you are of a nervous disposition, please watch no more of this. 12.a4+ c6 13.g3 h5 14.fxg4
A desperate bid to be put out of his misery. xg4# 0-1
2126 Kartsev,S Nevednichy,Vladislav 21st Muensterland Open (5) [Eric Prié]
A45 2208 2575 20.10.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 c6 5.h4 d6 6.e4 e6 [ 6...d7 7.0-0-0 h6 8.b1 a6 9.xf6 ( 9.f4? h7!; 9.f3 g8! 10.xf6 gxf6 Black is doing fine. 11.Nd5 is impossible because of Rg4, and h6 is not a waste of tim e sin ce in th is ma nn er, with a wh it e queen on the h-file, it is protected. 11.d5 g4 12.h5 xe4 13.d3 g4 ) 9...gxf6 10.f4 g8 11.d5 ( 11.f3 g4 ) 11...g7 12.f5 e5 13.f3 c6 A) 14.xe5! fxe5 15.c4 Although this may not be decisive because of the possibility for Black to transpose, at some point, into a position with opposite coloured bishops, W hite is clearly to be preferred because of the weakness of e7 and f7, and because it is absolutely not sure that the Bg7 "will see the light" again. For instance: b5 ( 15...e6? 16.xd8+ xd8 17.fxe6 fxe6 18.c7+ d7 19.xe6 de8 20.hf1!+- xe6 21.f7+ e7 22.xe7+ xe7 23.xg8 ) 16.b3 a5 17.a3 b4 18.a4 c8 19.h5 f8 20.h4; B) 14.e2? xd5 15.exd5 ( 15.xd5 c7 16.xe5 fxe5 17.d3 f6 18.xh6 xg2 19.e3 c8 20.c3 d7 21.xc8+ xc8 is also about equal.) 15...d7 16.e4 0-0-0 17.xe5 fxe5 18.h5 df8 19.d3 f6 20.h4 b8 21.hd1 g7 22.b3 e8 23.d2 c7 24.a3 a5 25.b4 c5 1/2-1/2 Berkes,FGomez,J W YCC U16 Oropesa del Mar 2001 ] 7.0-0-0 a6 8.f4 c7!? This is a variation on the same theme as the previous game, but here the big dif f erence is that W hite has already played e4 and f4 which increases the potential of Black's dark-squared bishop. 2077
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.xf6 [ 9.f3 e7 Is a little success for Black who did not have to play Bd7 to cut the d1-rook's action on the d-file. ] 9...gxf6 10.f3!? b5 [ 10...g7 11.f5! ] 11.xf6 g8 12.e5 [ 12.h4!? A) 12...h6 13.e5! dxe5 14.fxe5 b7 ( 14...xe5? 15.xe5 xe5 16.d8# ) 15.e4; B) 12...b4 13.e2 ] 12...d5 [ 12...dxe5!? 13.fxe5 b7 ] 13.h4 h6 14.b1 d7 15.e2 b6 16.ed4 With this move White will win a second pawn but, in return, will have to face a fierce initiative on the dark squares. [ 16.f5! c8 17.f4 Black is in big trouble. ] 16...xd4 17.xd4 c5 18.b3 e3 19.xh6 a5 20.g3 a4 21.h7 f8 22.c1 a3 23.b3 c8 24.h4? This an obvious blunder, but the position after [ 24.e2 b4 with the idea Bb5 and Qc5, instituting the terrible threat of Bxe2 and Qc3 looked difficult to meet in any case. ] 24...xc1! 25.xc1 [ 25.xc1 d4 26.c3 xc3 27.h2 xc1+ 28.xc1 g1 ] 25...e3+ 26.d2 c3 27.d1 xg3 28.f5? [ 28.d3 xf4+ 29.d2 xe5 30.d4 xd4 31.xd4 e7 would have ed the game, however without putting the final result in question. ] 28...e3+ 29.d2 xe5 30.d1 h8 0-1
2127 Karttunen,Mika Agopov,Mikael FIN-ch Helsinquia (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2429 2412 2002
to make it exist on its own, as a bonus! xc4 10.e4 d4? [ 10...b4 11.d2 b6 See Bacrot's game. ] 11.d2 exd5 12.ge2 e5 13.f4 e6 14.exd5 b6 15.d6! g6!? 16.d5! [ 16.d2 g7 17.e3+ f8 18.e7+ g8 19.0-0-0 c6 was Black's idea. ] 16...xd5 17.xd5 f6 [ 17...g7 18.e4+ f8 19.e7+ g8 20.e8+ f8 21.e5 is another story! ] 18.c3 xb2 19.c1 c6 20.c4 d8 21.e4+ [ 21.d2!! with the nasty idea Bb1, Nb5 b6 22.b5! e6 23.c7+! f7 ( 23...xc7 24.f7+ d8 25.xf6+ e8 26.f7# ) 24.xa8+- Game over. ] 21...e6 22.xe6 dxe6 23.0-0 With the idea Nd5. g7 24.d3! b4 [ 24...d7 25.b1 a3 26.xb7 f5 27.xd7! xc3 ( 27...xd7 28.b5+ d8 29.g5+ c8 30.c6+ b8 31.c7# ) 28.e7+ f8 29.b5 d4+ 30.h1 xf4 31.b7 xd6 32.xg7 ] [ 24...0-0! was the most stubborn. 25.d7 c4 26.dxc8 axc8 27.e4 ] 25.d5!! exd5 26.e2+ f7 [ 26...d7 27.e7+ c6 28.c7+ b5 29.b1 ] 27.e7+ g8 28.e8+ f8 29.h6 d7 30.xa8 f7 31.fe1! c4 [ 31...xh6 32.e7# ] 32.b1 xd6 [ 32...c5+ 33.h1 does not change anything. ] 33.xb7 e6 [ 33...xh6 34.xh8 f8 ( 34...g7 35.e8# ) 35.xh7+ g7 36.h3 f5 37.g3! The final point, otherwise it is not so clear. f4 ( 37...c6 38.c7 wins the Bd7.) 38.g4 b6+ 39.xb6 xg4 40.b7+ f6 41.fxg4+- ] 34.xf8+! xf8 35.xe6 1-0
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.c1 e6 8.c4 b4+ 9.c3 Originally I intended to give this name in a note as a remarkable interlink between 9. Nc3? and 9.Bd2! but it is so wildly enjoyable, though completely 'one-sided', that I decided 2078
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2128 Karttunen,Mika Portisch,Lajos EUCup 17th Panormos (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2466 2591 25.09.2001
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 f5 [ 5...h6 6.e3 f5 7.c4!? f4 Was the move order of the all time legendary Tromp game Ho dgs on -Va n d er W ie l, co mm e nt e d b y Aaron but, as I said last month, it is not relevant! For the simple reason that 7.g3, stopping the threat, is just simple and good, as testified by practice. Black's strong darksquared bishop has nothing to do on h6 ... apart from maybe taking a white knight on f4 to win d5, if possible! ] 6.c4 h6 7.e3 [ 7.c3?! 0-0 With the idea ...Bg7. ] [ 7.c2!? Which, as far as my database is concerned, would be a novelty, is much more interesting. For instance b4+ 8.c3! ( 8.d1 e6; 8.d2 xd2+ 9.xd2 xc4 10.c1 xa2 11.xc5 a6 ) 8...xc4 9.e4 b4 10.a3 b6 11.exf5 is very similar to game 4, Nyman-Bern, but I seriously doubt that the development of the bishop on h6, rather than g7, is an improvement on Black's play ... ] 7...f4 This position is the acid test of the 6.c4 line, for the evaluation of which it is absolutely essential to have carefully studied the present game and above all the next two, rather than the flashy aforementioned one. And possibly th is is wh at W hite d id n ot , or n ot d ee ply enough, when he refused to embark on the exchange sacrifice 8.exf4 Bxf4! 9.Qxf4 Qxb2 10. Nge2 Qxa1 11. Nec3, however strongly recommended by Tromp theory (see the next two games), and instead opted for 8.e4 g6! 9.c2 d6 10.f3 g4 11.bd2 d7 12.h4 f6 13.f5 f8 Threatening e7-e6 winning the Nf5! 14.h3 h5 15.g4 fxg3 16.xg3 g6 17.h4 h5 18.h3 h6 19.xd7+ Otherwise Ne5 will be annoying. xd7 20.b1 hc8 21.d3 ab8 22.f1 a6 23.a4 d4! With all his pieces ideally placed Black of course seeks (and forces!) the exchange of queens before making the pawn ruptures necessary to reveal the power
of his two bishops. Mainly the dark-squared one, which is a genuine 'Benoni monster'(!) whose counterpart is cruelly missing from White's camp... 24.e2 xd3+ 25.xd3 b5 26.b3 e6 Just as one should not presuppose the course of this game from the ELO dif ference between the two protagonists, young Finnish Tromp follower Mikka Kartunnen being a strong IM, one should not suspect a 'gap' in the preparation of his elder opponent and f ormer candidate, in a line normally 'condemned' by theory since 1994... but rather another 'obscure area' in the 7. c4 garden. 27.f3 exd5 28.cxd5 bxa4 29.bxa4 c4+ 30.c2 g7 31.g5 e5 32.f5 a5 33.f3 [ 33.b5 xb5 34.axb5 a4 35.h3 c3 36.h1 c5 37.a1 xb5 38.xa4 b2+ 39.d3 d2+ 40.e3 xf5 41.exf5 d4+! 42.f4 c2 43.c4 b2 ] 33...f6 34.b5 xb5 35.axb5 xf5 Everything wins here: [ 35...a4 Without liberating the e4 square ] [ 35...e8 with the idea 36.e1 ( 36.d2 c3 ) 36...xf5 37.exf5 xe1 38.xe1 c7 b5,d5, f5, h4! will fall like ripe fruits. ] 36.exf5 a4 But I doubt that this mix of two simple winning plans is the fastest. Time trouble maybe... [ 36...c5 37.b6 xd5 38.b1 c8 39.b7+ b8 40.d2 d4-+ ] 37.d2 e5 38.b1 c7 39.a3 b6 40.b1 c5 41.b6 xd5 42.b7 b8 43.b4 d4 44.xc4 c5 45.xa4 xb7 46.f4 [ 46.e3+ e5 wins the f5 pawn. ] 46...b8 47.d2 e8! [ 47...g8 48.e4 ] 48.b1 e2+ 49.d3 e3+ 50.d2 d4! White is completely tied up and on the verge of losing the whole kingside as the bishop also prevents any counter play by controlling a7! 51.a3 b3! Refinement! [ 51...h3 52.c2 c5 53.b4+ xb4+ 54.xb4 xh4 55.b7 xf4 56.xf7 e5 wins prosaically. ] 52.c2 c5 White is practically in a state of zugzwang! 53.a8 f3 54.h8 c4! [ 54...c4 55.e1 xf4 56.xh5 f2+ 57.d1 c3 58.g5 d2+ 59.c1 e3! That bishop! 60.g3 d3+ 61.b1 d1+ 2079
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 62.a2 xe1 ] 0-1
2129 Karttunen,Mika Volokitin,Andrei EUCup 18th Chalkidiki (1) [Eric Prié]
A45 2434 2545 22.09.2002
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2!? cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 dxc6 12.xe5 e6 13.a3 b5 14.e4 This move looks frightening as far as the white king's safety may be concerned. Un f o rt u n a t e ly it t u rn s o u t t o b e t h e o n l y attempt to digest the pawn. To be honest, I do not believe it. After b4 15.cxb4 xb4+ 16.e2 Black visibly has adequate compensation for the pawn as well as a clear plan: long castling (because after having made W hite lose h is own righ t to castle , Black's queen's rook has nothing more to do on the open a-file), ...Rhe8, and the freeing of his f-pawn in order to break open the cover of the enemymonarch. 0-0 "This natural move proves to be too slow and White manages to complete development of the pieces. More logical for Black is to castle queenside as was played in Miles-Hebden." Finkel,A in Chessbase. Nothing to add, except that, how lucky, it is our next game! 17.c1 a5 18.c3 b6 19.d2 d7 [ 19...b3 20.xf6 gxf6 21.c4 fd8+ 22.e2 xc4+ 23.xc4 d7 24.h3 ( 24.f4 d4 25.f3 xb2 26.a4 b5 ) 24...ad8 25.c2 f5 26.e1 fxe4 27.fxe4 ] 20.e2 fd8 21.c2 e3 22.d1 [ 22.e1? c5 23.c1 "Big advantage for White" Finkel. This, on the other hand, is a joke! xc1! 24.xc1 b3+ 25.b1 d3 26.xd3 xd3 Contrary to the actual course of the game, there is absolutely no way W hite can make use of his extra pawn in this opposite-coloured bishop and rooks endgame ] 22...c5 23.d4 a4 24.e2 xc3 25.xc3 g5 26.xe6 [ 26.c2!? f6 27.xe6 fxe6 28.f4
Finkel,A ] 26...fxe6 27.c4 f6+ 28.c2 f7 29.f4 b5 30.e2 [ 30.a2!? c5 31.e5 e7 32.b1 xd1?! 33.xd1 d8 34.xd8 xd8 35.b3 Finkel,A ] 30...d4 31.e5 e7 32.d3 ab8 33.hd1 c5 34.h3 Direct play is not sufficient [ 34.b4 h6 35.bxc5 xc5 36.xd8 xd8 37.xd8 xd8 38.b3 e3 39.f5 exf5 40.xb5 f4= ] [ Neither 34.h4 Because that would put just too many pawns on the colour of the enemy bishop: f2! 35.xd8 xd8 36.xd8 xd8 37.xb5 g3 38.d3 xf4 39.e4 c1 40.a4 xb2 41.a5 c3 42.a6 c7 43.c4 b6 44.h5 e1 ] [ Still, White has various ways to reinforce his position. For instance 34.g3 f7 ( 34...g6 35.h3 ) 35.h3 b4 36.a4 W here, compared to the game, the black king is very badly placed on the f-file. ] 34...b4! 35.a4 [ 35.xh7? bxa3 36.xg7+ f8-+ ] 35...h6 [ 35...b3+? 36.xb3 xb3 37.xb3 b8+ 38.b5 ] 36.c4 [ 36.a5 f8 37.g3 b3+ ] [ 36.g3 g5 37.fxg5 xe5 ] 36...f8 37.f1 f7 38.g4?! What a pity! A guilty overext ension just b ef ore the tim e control that will allow Black to soothe his defense by somehow exchanging the rooks. After [ 38.a5! The young Ukrainian no. 3 would have been in serious trouble. bf8 39.hf3 g5? 40.fxg5 xf3 41.xf3 xf3 42.gxf3 xe5 43.a6 b8 44.gxh6+- ] 38...ff8 Parrying the threat of f5. 39.b3? [ 39.a5! Passed pawns are made to be pushed forward! b3+ 40.xb3 ( 40.xb3 a8 41.a1 xf4 ) 40...xb3 41.xb3 And Black is not yet out of trouble, For instance g5 ( 41...a8 42.a1 g5 43.fxg5 hxg5 44.a6 a7 45.a5! xe5 46.xc5 xh2 47.c6 ) 42.f5 exf5 43.a6 a8 ( 43...xe5 44.d5 b8 45.gxf5 ) 44.xf5 xa6 45.f7+ e8 46.e6 ] 39...a8 40.h5 ad8! 41.h3 [ 41.a5 e3 ] 2080
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 41...c3 42.d3 xd3 43.xd3 [ 43.xd3 xe5 44.e4 c7 ] 43...g5! Eventually the idea White had been trying to prevent. 44.fxg5 xf1 45.xf1 hxg5 46.a5 d7 Black still has to remain concentrated and will do so in an instructive and active way but the toughest has clearly gone. 47.g2 c7 48.d3 xe5 49.h4 gxh4 50.g5 b8 51.e4 c3 52.f4 a7 53.f1 d2+! [ 53...h3? 54.g3 ] 54.g4 h3! 55.xh3 c4! [ 55...a6 56.f1+ xa5 57.c4 b6 58.h5 c7 59.g6 c3 60.h6 d6 61.g7 xg7+ 62.xg7 e5 63.f6 e4 64.f5 e3 65.f4+- ] 56.g6 c3 57.bxc4 b3 58.f1 b2 59.d3 a6 60.c5+ xa5 61.f3 b1 62.xb1 b5 63.e4 xc5 64.g7 xg7 65.a2 d6 Such a splendid defence that Black even emerges a pawn up at the end of the game! ½-½
h7 18.xd7+ xd7 19.xg6 winning. ] 17.f3 f6 Now Black's structure resembles Swiss cheese! [ 17...axb5 i s h o p e l e s s 18.xf7+ d8 19.g6 ] 18.h5+ d8 19.g6 g8 20.e2 r e g r o u p i n g b e f o r e t h e f i n a l a s s a u l t . b5 21.g4 b6 22.a5 Black seems to have bee n u tt erly tie d u p f or t he who le ga me . Resistance is futile. f7 23.xe5 With his position so discombobulated, there is no point Black struggling on in the endgame. 1-0
2131 Kasparov,Garry Carneiro,Marco Paulo Sao Paulo 450 anniv simul [Eric Prié]
A45 2817 21.08.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.f3 f6 5.e4 dxe4 6.c3 exf3 7.xf3 Not to give the impression to my readers of considering 2130 A45 bad ideas with Black, I did not want to publish Karttunen,Mika 2413 any gam e with this accepta nce, which is Winge,Stefan 2262 obviously a "much more treacherous course 32nd Rilton Cup (4) 30.12.2002 of action than in the related Blackmar Diemer [Aaron Summerscale] gambit" as W ells claims. That is why I concentrated on declining the Greek present Tromp: Once again the pawn on b2 proves too b u t h o w c o u l d I r e s i s t s u c h a c l e a n hot to handle for Black. Why do Black players achievement from the King?! g4 8.h3 xf3 keep subjecting themselves to this onslaught? 9.xf3 c6 10.0-0-0 e6 11.c4 bd7 12.d5 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 cxd5 13.xd5 xd5? I t n e ve r c e a s e s t o a m a ze m e h o w m a n y [ 13...exd5! 14.he1+ e7 15.d6 players can't resist grabbing an extra pawn, Making use of the extra-tempo! 0-0 16.xe7 no matter how much time is lost. 5.d2 b6 c7 17.xd5 ( 17.xf8 xc4 18.e7 6.e4 d6 7.f4 g4 On the surface a useful xa2 19.a3 c4 Black has two not very developing move, but underneath the bishop valiant pawns for the exchange and the proves to be a liability here. 8.c1 e5 9.f5 White king is not entirely safe) 17...e5 This is the point. The bishop suddenly finds 18.a3 fc8 ( 18...xd5 19.xf8 ) 19.b3 i t s e l f t r a p p e d . xe4 10.xe4 xf5 c4 20.xc4 xc4 21.b3 xb3 22.axb3 Black has managed to maintain material parity c6 23.xf6 xf6 24.d7 Winning a pawn. in the traditional sense, but in the modern f2 25.g4 h2 26.xb7 h6 ( 26...xh3 game a piece is usually preferred to three 27.xa7 ) 27.f1 f8 28.f3 ] pawns. 11.g3 c8 12.f3 d7 13.a3 14.xd5 The rest is a massacre that Black The W hite queen seeks greener pastures. could have spared himself. a5 15.xb7 a7 c7 14.b5 a6 15.0-0 h6 16.h4 b8 16.xd7! f6 It is not easy to stop W hite's play on the [ 16...xd7 17.c6+ e7 18.c5+ f6 kingside. 19.g5# ] [ For example 16...g6 falls f oul of 17.f3 [ 16...xd7 17.c6 ] 2081
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.hd1 e7 18.xe7+! xe7 [ 18...xe7 19.d6+ d8 20.c5+ c7 21.c6+ b8 22.d6# ] 19.c6+ f8 20.d6 Garry must have been troubled by his opponent not resigning... g6 21.xe7+ xe7 22.c5+ f6 23.xa7 f8 24.d4+ e5 25.d6+ g7 26.xe5+ g8 27.f6 h5 28.d5 h7 29.xf7 1-0
2132 Kaunzinger,Albert Schoellmann,Jochen Oberliga Bayern 0910 (8.5) [Eric Prié]
A45 2186 2180 21.03.2010
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.b5 a6 Inferior to 5...Nd5 as it takes away the possibility of attacking the Nb5 by ... a7-a6 from Black. As a result White can now d e a l m o re a n n o yin gly wit h t h e o p p o sin g queen encirclement, beginning, as before by the way, with 6.a3! d5 7.b1 [ 7.c4 c3 ] 7...a2 8.b3! cxd4 [ 8...b6 9.e2 ] [ 8...d6 9.c1 db4 10.b2 d5 11.axb4 cxb4 12.xb4 ] [ 8...xf4 9.c3 xb3 10.cxb3 presents Black with the same material of rook, bishop and pawn against the queen, but obviously not with the same conditions... ] 9.exd4 d6 [ 9...e6 10.e2 ab4 ( 10...xf4 11.xf4 ) 11.axb4 xb4+ 12.xb4! ( 12.d2 xd2+ 13.xd2 0-0 14.ec3 wins too. ) 12...xb4 13.c7+ e7 ( 13...d8 14.c3 b2 15.d2 b8 16.7b5 a8 17.c7+ e8 18.g5 ) 14.c3 b2 15.d2 b8 ( 15...a1+ 16.e2 b6 17.3b5 ) 16.d6+!! Just for the sake of this mating attack. xd6 17.7b5+ c6 ( 17...e7 18.g5+ f6 19.xg7+ ) 18.f4! e5 ( 18...xc2+ 19.d1 ) 19.xe5 c1+ 20.e2 xc2+ 21.f3 ] 10.c1? White misses two stronger and, what is more difficult to understand with Black's choice, entirely thematic continuations here,
after which the game loses most of its interest: [ 10.c4 f5 ( 10...xf4 11.c3 g4 12.f3 xf3 13.gxf3 xb3 14.xb3 ) 11.cxd5! c2 12.e2 xb3 13.xd6+ d8 ( 13...d7 14.b5+ xb5 15.xb5+ c7 16.xf7+ b6 17.xa6 xa6 18.xh8 ) 14.xf7+ e8 ( 14...d7 15.e6+ e8 16.b5+! xb5 17.d6+ ) 15.xh8 c3+ 16.d2 a1+ 17.c1+- ] [ including the limpid 10.e2! f5 11.bc3 xc3 12.xc3 xc2 13.xc2 xc2 14.xb7 This position for just a pawn... and t h e f o r c e d b8 It is not necessary to see 15.d5! in advance, then, opening the d2a5 route for the bishop while threatening the f o rk o n c7 , t o p l a y it . d8 ( 15...e4 16.b5+ d8 17.d2 xd5 18.a5+ c8 19.c7+ d8 20.c1# ) 16.d2 d7 17.a5+ b6 18.xb6 axb6 19.xb6+ c8 20.c7+ b8 21.xc2+- ] 10...ac7 11.f3 a6 12.xc7+ xc7 13.d3 g4 14.0-0? [ 14.c4! Would have trapped the queen again. e5 15.b1 a1 16.b2 ] 14...b5 15.e2 [ 15.c4 bxc4 16.xc4 c8 17.b4 a1 18.xf7+ xf7 19.g5+ ] 15...e6 16.b2 xa3 17.xb5 a4 18.b1 g6 19.c4 g7 20.h3 0-0 21.d5 f5 22.xf5 gxf5 23.h4 [ 23.b2 Soon followed by Nd4. ] 23...e6 24.b7 ac8 25.dxe6 fxe6 26.b6 d7 27.f3 b8 28.xb8 xb8 29.a3 b3 30.c1 White will have shilly-shallied a lot in this game! c6? [ 30...a5 ] 31.g5 d7 And he is not alone! 32.d1 b1 33.f4 xd1+ 34.xd1 e8 35.h5 f6 36.d1 h6 37.f3 e4 38.b3 h7 39.b6 c8 40.xd6 xc4 41.b8 A draw may have been sufficient for Black to win the match.. . [ 41.b8 b5-+ ] ½-½
2082
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A45 e v e n h e r e W h i t e a p p e a r s t o o b t a i n 2509 reasonable compensation. h5 [ A risky move from a long-term perspective, 2202 but a very understandable choice. Instead 26.05.2013 10...a6?! is recommended by the misguided machine, but after 11.g4! e7 ( or 11...b5 12.e2 b6 13.g5 ) 12.g5 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 g8 13.h4 h6 14.f3 Black would have 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e5 8.b5+!? found himself rather cramped. ] [ An extremely rare move. Indeed, I can't say a6 12.a4 This could have been I'm surprised it's not been covered on the 11.f3 site before, since it's scarcely been played delayed by a move, but it always makes sense and wasn't considered by either W ells or to prevent Black from freeing his position with m ys e l f i n o u r r e s p e c t i ve wo r k s o n t h e ...b5 in such Benoni structures. e7 13.0-0 Trompowsky. Don't forget that Eric has c4+ 14.h1 c7 15.e2 0-0 16.g5! a wa r d e d t h e i m p o r t a n t a l t e r n a t i v e 8.f5 Finally beginning to head forward. It's clear an exclam. For coverage see the Archive that White has promising play on the kingside and especially his notes to Prié-Cossin, and Griggs finds himself having to counter Caen 2011. I did search for recent games quickly on the other flank. fb8 17.a5!? [ The resulting open b-file doesn't scare from this position, but didn't find any on Ke ke lidze, who m ay well ha ve a vo id e d TWIC. That's partly because not every white 17.h3 on accoun t o f h4 , ( rather than player likes to close the position so, and 17...b5 18.axb5 axb5 19.xa8 xa8 also because fewer player these days as 20.xb5 . )] Black want to grab such a hot pawn, despite Yelena Dembo's pleas for the defence in 17...b5 18.axb6 xb6 19.h3 b2?! [ This achieves little and here too 19...h4!? her generally excellent 'Fighting the Antica m e in t o co n side ra t ion . I nd e e d , a f t e r King's Indians'. ] 20.a4 ( 20.e1 b2 21.c1 h7 8...d7 22.xh4 xg5 23.xg5 xg5 24.xg5 f6 [ This feels natural, but one might also make should be tenable for Black,; while 20.e1 a case for 8...bd7 , preparing to blockade a5 21.xh4 b4 followed by ...Nc5 doesn't with the dark-squared bishop in the event of seem overly clear to me with the a-pawn a pawn exchange on e5. White could debate mobile ) 20...b7 21.xc4 , while White has t h a t o r t r y 9.f3 a6 10.xd7+ xd7 regained his pawn, c8!? 22.xc8+ xc8 11.0-0 e7 12.e1 , looking to build up on 23.a1 b2 should give Black enough the kingside. ] counterplay. ] 9.xd7+ [ Already a novelty. The Georgian 20.c1 b7 21.g4 Here it comes! d8 Grandmaster really does know how to get 22.xf7!? [ Naturally 22.f3 hxg4 23.hxg4 xg4 away from the beaten track. In any earlier 24.g1 df6 wasn't what White wanted to game, 9.b1 was tried, but after c7 d o , b u t h e d i d n ' t h a ve t o g o i n f o r t h e 10.f3 a6 11.xd7+ bxd7 12.a4 exf4 temporary piece sacrifice. ] 13.xf4 e5 14.0-0 e7 (Zimolzak-Smola, [ Indeed, 22.gxh5! followed by building up Polanica Zdroj 2004), even 15.xe5!? dxe5 along the g-file just looks quite effective to 16.h4 0-0 17.f5 ad8 18.a5 me, since xd5 23.xd5 xg5 24.xg5 wouldn't have given White more than some xg5 25.f6! is hardly what Black wants to pressure for his pawn. ] be doing. ] 9...bxd7 10.f5! Kekelidze elects to close the kingside after all, hoping to eventually break 22...xf7 23.g5 h4 [ Returning the extra piece without delay. through there while keeping Black's Griggs had to avoid 23...g8 24.xh5+ counterplay under control. It does seem a f8 25.f6 gxf6? 26.g6 , ] lit tle st ra nge to f irst slightly f re e B lack's [ but 23...e8!? 24.xh5+ g8 wouldn't position with an exchange of bishops, but
2133 Kekelidze,Mikheil Griggs,Walker Chicago Open, Wheeling (7.15) [Richard Palliser]
2083
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 have been so clear, even if W hite has a dangerous looking choice between 25.g1 followed by pushing the f-pawn, ( and the calm 25.g4!? possibly followed by advancing the h-pawn. )] 24.gxf6 xf6 25.g5! Not only reminding Black that his 23rd move left the h-pawn vu ln e ra b l e , b u t p r e p a r i n g a p o s it io n a l l y desirable trade. It's clear that the sacrifice has turned out well for White, even if it takes the machine a few moves to appreciate the point. h8 [ 25...a5!? looks like a better try, since 26.xh4? h8 27.f2 h5 followed by ... Rh8 would suddenly turn the tables on the kingside. ] 26.xf6 xf6 27.d1! Bringing the knight over to the kingside and with the trend of the game against him, Griggs now rather collapses. c8? [ Again why not try 27...a5!? and allow White to do his worst? Indeed, even here 28.e3 a4 29.xc4 ( 29.g4 a3 30.xf6 xf6 31.g1 f7 32.g4 h6 defends ) 29...b8 would offer Black compensation and counterplay on the queenside, with his s u p p o s e d ly b a d b i sh o p h o l d in g t h in g s together well enough on the other flank. ] 28.e3 c5 29.h5+ e7 30.g4 T h e a b s e n c e o f B l a ck ' s q u e e n f r o m t h e kingside is quickly felt. Now he had to move his rook to f8, but instead there came: g8? 31.g1 [ Black is devoid of a good move after this, b u t W h it e d id n ' t h a ve t o d e l a y: 31.xf6 xf6 ( or 31...gxf6 32.h7+ ) 32.g6+ e7 33.f6+ d8 34.f7 f8 35.xa6 crashes through. ] 31...bb8 32.xf6 1-0
2134 Keskel,Marko Mirme,Heino Keres Mem Open (9) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2067 31.07.2001
2.g5 g6 3.xf6 exf6 4.e4 An aggressive alternative to the more popular plan of g3, B g 2 f o l l o w e d b y a p a wn a s s a u l t o n t h e queenside. c5 Very committal and extremely risky. Black attempts to open the position for his bishops, but at the expense of damaging his own pawn structure. [ 4...g7 would be the saner approach, when W hite would continue with Bd3, c3 and Ne2. ] 5.f3 b6 This was Black's idea. He wants White to weaken his queenside dark squares with a move like b3, but W hite has other plans. 6.c3 "I dare you!" White directly confronts Black's strategy. a5 Black doesn't rise to the challenge and backs down. [ 6...xb2 is the consistent move, after which W hite gets lasting compensation: 7.d5 ] 7.c4 cxd4 8.xd4 g7 If Black could only get castled, he would have a definite chance of unleashing his dark-squared bishop with a t i m e l y f 5 . 9.b4! Not giving Black any time to get his act together. d8 10.c5 c6 Black fails to find what amounts to his last chance. [ 10...d6 11.b5+ f8 Would at least have left Black with a fighting chance of saving the game. ] 11.b5 f8 12.d5 Now Black must lose material. xb4+ 13.c3 0-0 Saving the King, but sadly leaving the Black bishop to its fate. 14.cxb4 a6 15.d6 xb4 16.d2 c6 17.0-0 It's fair to say that Black should already resign here, as he has next to no compensation for the extra piece. The rest is simply a mopping up exercise for White. e7 18.ad1 d8 19.fe1 e6 20.e5 f5 21.h6 b5 22.d5 b8 23.d4 W hite chooses the most direct method of finishing Black off. The threat of Rh4 forces Black to further weaken his crumbling defences. f6 24.exf6 xf6 25.g5 g7 26.xg7+ Although Black's defence wasn't the best, I am sure that from White's point of view we haven't seen the last of this line. 1-0
August Update: Trompowsky Attack: Exploiting structural weaknesses is the theme of this month's games in the Tromp. 1.d4 f6 2084
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A45 26...g5 27.xd6 e6 28.c5 xd4 [ 28...e7 also wins easily after: 29.e5 2099 f6 ] 2200 23.03.2002 29.bd1 [ 29.e5 d2 is also hopeless. ] 29...e3+ Now the mate is unavoidable. Trompowsky Attack: Black demonstrates a 0-1 keen eye for attack in one of the quieter lines of the Tromp. W hite had his chances, but A45 failed to take them. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 g6 2136 3.xf6 exf6 4.c4 g7 5.e3 0-0 6.c3 f5 Klein,Leo 1972 7.g3 d6 8.g2 c6 9.ge2 d7 10.0-0 f6 Womacka,Mathias 2455 11.b4 This is undoubtedly White's best plan Teplice Open (3) 13.06.2011 here, when his forces are ideally placed to [Eric Prié] launch a queenside offensive. a6 12.a4 d7 13.a5 Eyeing the vulnerable b6 square. e7 1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.b3?! e6 14.a4 e4 15.b6 ad8 16.b1 Another acid test I was prepared against. White is in no particular hurry, he knows that White now has to watch out for the motif ... t h e r e i s n o n e e d t o r u s h , a s B l a c k ' s Nd5, ...cxd4, ...Bb4+ 5.c3 queenside weaknesses will not simply vanish [ 5.f3 c6 Controlling d4. ( 5...d5 6.g3 by themselves. He know that at some stage cxd4 7.xd4 ) 6.e2 ( 6.a3 ) 6...d5 b5 is on the cards, which will shatter Black's 7.g3 cxd4 8.exd4 ( 8.xd4 b4+ 9.f1 d e f e n s iv e f o r t re ss . fe8 17.c2 h5 c3?? 10.xc3 xc3 11.b5 xa1 A sensible bid for counterplay. Black cannot 12.c7+ d8 13.xa8 c5 14.xa1+- ) afford to just sit and wait for the axe to fall. 8...b4+ 9.f1 c3 10.d3 ( 10.xc3 18.h4 g5 Breaking open the kingside. This xc3 11.c1 xd4 ) 10...xb1? Black move is extremely committal, because if ( 10...xe2 11.xe2 d5 ) 11.xb1 e7 this kingside offensive does not work, his 12.c3= After h4-h5 White was not so badly pawn weaknesses will come back to haunt p la ce d in B a t i n ic, J (1 9 3 9 ) -Ma la d a , V him. It is ho wever, the on ly way to make (2326) Split 2011 0-1(50) Another game progress. 19.hxg5 xg5 20.f4 h4 played this year! ] 21.gxh4 xh4 Black has drummed up some [ 5.a3!? d5 ( 5...c6 6.f3 d5 ) 6.g3 considerable counterplay. 22.f3? Prematurely cxd4 7.exd4 ( 7.xd4?! c6 8.xb6 weakening the kingside. axb6 Remstedt, M-Becker, M Pinneberg [ 22.fe1 was relatively best with the sneaky 19 9 7 0 -1 (3 6 )) 7...c6 8.f3 a5+ trap: xd4? 23.xd7 xd7 24.xe4 fxe4 ( 8...f5? 9.c4 ) 9.bd2 xa3? 10.c4! db4 25.g2! winning material. And leaving the 11.d5! ( 11.e2 f5 ) 11...exd5 12.e2 Black player extremely red in the face. ] Black is losing a piece... dxc4 13.xc4 22...g3 23.f2 h6 c2+ 14.f1 c3 15.a2 ] [ 23...xd4 24.exd4 xf4 is fine for Black. ] 5...c6 6.f3 e7 7.e2 0-0 8.0-0 d5 24.fe1 xe3 Over ambition, which could 9.bd2 d7 10.e5 fd8 11.d3 a5 cost Black the game. 12.c1 [ 24...xf4 25.exf4 g7 intending Rh8 [ 12.c2!? ac8 13.xd7 xd7 leaves Black in the driving seat. For ( 13...xd7? 14.xh7+ ) 14.a3= ] example: 26.xe8 xe8 27.xd7 e2 12...ac8 winning the queen. ] [ 12...xa2? 13.dxc5 xc5 ( 13...a3 25.xe3 xf4 26.e7?? The final mistake, 14.b4 ) 14.xd7 xd7 15.b4 d6 16.a1 after which there is no turning back. b2 17.b1 a3 ( 17...a2 18.c1 ) [ 26.f2 gives White the chance to defend 18.xd6 xd6 19.c2 c8 20.a1 xb4 himself i.e.: g7 27.xd7 h8 28.b2 21.xa3 xc2 22.xc2 ] and Black has no breakthrough. ] 13.g5? h6 14.h4 xa2! This capture is
2135 Kessler,Bernd Kolus,Lajos Spring Festival (9) [Aaron Summerscale]
2085
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 now possible due to the Ne5 exposure allied to the presence of a black rook on c8! 15.b1 [ 15.xd7 xd7 16.dxc5 a3 17.b4? xb4 ] 15...a5 16.xf6 xf6 17.c2? W hite collapses... xe5 18.dxe5 xe5 19.h7+ but delivers one check! f8 20.f4 xc3 21.f3 f6 22.g4 b5 23.f2 e7 24.g5 c3 25.e5 g8 26.h1 d2 27.f5 xc1 28.f6+ A n d a n o t h e r o n e ! ! d6 29.xf7+ c7 30.f1 xf1 31.gxh6 e1 0-1
2137 Kokarev,Dmitry Dvoirys,Semen Governor's Cup, Khanty-Mansiysk (3.6) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2631 2562
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.f3 Eric wasn't a fan of this direct move, but theory may have been too quick to condemn it as bad. It's certainly not as reliable as the sober advance of the e-pawn, but doesn't seem to lead to an inferior position for White from what I can see. f6 5.c3 [ White can also essay the BlackmarDiemeresque 5.e4 dxe4 6.c3 , but then he has to take into account, amongst others, d5 . ] 5...e6 [ This French-like choice has been Black's main move, but we should also mention 5...c5!? , as covered by Aaron in KostadinovPitre, Vancouver 2001, and Eric in CorralesDe la P az, S a n ta Cla ra 2 0 0 7 - se e t h e Archive. ] [ There's also 5...f5 and after 6.e4!? dxe4 7.c4?! ( 7.fxe4 xe4 8.d3 is a better try ) 7...e6 8.e2 b4 9.0-0-0 xc3 10.bxc3 0-0 Black was doing well in this m e s s y p o s it i o n in P o n k ra t o v- A k o p i a n , Khanty-Mansiysk (blitz) 2013. ] 6.e4 e7 [ The experienced Russian Grandmaster d e v e lo p s a s p e r t h e C la s si ca l F re n ch , rejecting the chance to play a la the W i n a w e r w i t h 6...b4 , which Aaron and Eric have both also given some coverage to. ]
7.d2 [ Sensible. Instead, 7.e5?! fd7 8.e3 c5 9.f4 c6 10.f3 0-0 would leave Black a tempo up on a topical line of the Classical French. ] 7...0-0 8.0-0-0 a6 The battle is quick to heat up as both sides prepare early strikes against the opponent's king. 9.g4! dxe4!? [ A new idea. Dvoirys asks White if he really wants to sacrifice his g-pawn. Previously Black has preferred 9...b5 10.g5 e8 11.h4 b4 , as in Lputian-Gufeld, Los Angeles 1998, whereupon 12.ce2!? a5 13.g3 a4 would have been pretty unclear as I pointed out in my Starting Out book. ] 10.g5!? [ Kokarev doesn't fear losing the bishop-pair. T h e a l t e r n a t i ve wa s , o f c o u r s e , 10.fxe4 when I doubt that Dvoirys would really have ta ke n t he p a wn : xg4?! 11.f3 b5?! ( 11...e5 is an attempt to catch up in development, but Black is still somewhat worse after 12.xe5 xe5 13.xe5 c6 14.f4 g4 15.e2 ) 12.g1 f6 13.h6 just leaves Black in some trouble. ] [ Instead, after 10.fxe4 , b4 might well be tried when one intriguing line runs 11.d3 c5 12.dxc5 e5 13.xe5 xg4 14.ge2 bd7 15.d6 xc5! 16.xf8 xf8 with decent play for the exchange thanks to the pins created by Black's fine bishops. ] 10...d5 11.xe4 The only real move to make any sense. d7 [ Dvoirys is content to develop. This can hardly be terrible, but there was no reason not to bag the bishop-pair. Moreover, after 11...xf4 12.xf4 d7 White is hardly about to go Rg1 and Nf6+ with any great force and Black always has ...f5 if he needs it. Following, say, 13.h4 b5 14.d3 b7 15.e2 the position is likely about equal, with b8! looking like a slightly annoying move from White's perspective. ] 12.g3 b5 [ This reminds White that Black too might lau nch a ma jo r pa wn-st orm, while a ls o preparing to bring the light-squared bishop to a good square. I'm sure Dvoirys also considered the thematic 12...c5 , but after 13.c4! it's not so easy for Black: for example, 5b6 14.dxc5 ( 14.h4 cxd4 15.xd4 2086
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 also looks pretty reasonable) 14...a4 15.h4 dxc5 16.xd8 xd8 17.xd8+ xd8 18.d6 , with a definite plus as d7? 19.b4 would rather embarrass the black pieces. ] 13.h4 b7 [ White is definitely on top after this, so the m a c h i n e ' s s u g g e s t i o n o f 13...5b6!? may not be so strange. After 14.h5 f5 15.gxf6 xf6 the e6-point is, of course, a small eyesore, but the main idea is that a time ly ... Nc4 is likely to rem ove on e o f White's key attacking pieces. ] 14.h5! There's no need to develop when your king is safe and plan of attack clear. Moreover, is, say, the light-squared bishop really worse on f1 than d3 where it would be pestered by ... Nb4? f5 [ A logical attempt to break up the flow of play on the kingside. Black didn't have to react just yet, but after, for instance, 14...c5 I quite like White's position no matter which pawn he pushes on and 15.h6 g6 16.dxc5 xc5 ( 16...xc5? 17.d4 would be embarrassing) 17.xc5 xc5 18.e2 would leave W hite slightly for choice on account of his huge dark-square potential. ] 15.gxf6 5xf6 [ T h e e n g i n e s s l i g h t l y p r e f e r 15...7xf6 16.g5 c8 , but if Black really has to grovel so, then clearly things have gone wrong. ] 16.g5 e4!? [ 16...d5 17.e1 would just pick off e6. Dvoirys was no doubt relying on the tactical b lo w p ro d u c e d b y t h e t e xt , b u t it 's n o t enough for Black to equalise. ] 17.xe4 xe4 18.h2!? [ Kokarev wants to continue posing problems, but there was no particularly good reason not to go a useful pawn to the good with 18.xc7 xc7 19.fxe4 f6 20.d3 . ] 18...f5 [ The game isn't so easy to fully understand a t t h is p o in t . P re su m a b ly t h e t e xt wa s p r e f e r r e d t o 18...d5 on account that it neutralises Bh3 ideas and yet this followed by 19.xc7 c8 20.d6 xd6 21.xd6 b8 looks like a reasonable enough grovel for Black. ] 19.xc7 g5+?
[ Bringing the queen to f6 achieves little, but White would still have faced some technical difficulties in unravelling and consolidating after 19...c8 20.d3 b7 , continuing to keep an eye on the f3 weakling. ] 20.b1 f6 21.d3! ae8 [ Perhaps Dvoirys had been hoping that 21...xd4? would be an issue, but after 22.e2 that loose knight on d7 is going to cost Black serious material. ] 22.e2 xd3 23.xd3 e5 An entirely understandable attempt to break out, if also one which fails to dent the notion that White is in full control of the position. 24.c3 c6 25.xe5 xe5 26.dxe5 xf3? [ Dvoirys hasn't been at his best in this game and this miscalculation ends any hopes he might have harboured of saving it. Correct was 26...f4 , and if 27.h4 xe5 when 28.d5 f6 29.g4 e2 30.c3 would have left White a pawn to the good, but with various technical issues still to overcome after e6! . ] 27.g2! ef8 28.d5 [ The hard-to-spot-in-advance point was that 28.d5 xd3 29.e7+ wins the black queen and the game. ] 1-0
2138 Kosic,Dragan Maksimovic,Branimir 48th TCh-SCG (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2515 2385 16.05.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 exf4 12.d4 a5!? This is destined to prevent any W hite e-pawn advance while controlling some important squares along the 5th rank and directly mobilising the queen's rook rather than attempting to do this 'n a t u ra ll y' vi a t h e 8 t h wh i ch is a l wa ys a problem for Black because of his 'shut in' bishop on c8. [ 12...d6 Obviously parrying g3 but 13.e4!? I would prefer ( 13.f2 followed by g3.) 13...fxe3 14.f5 c5 15.xg7+ f8 16.f5 d6?! ( 16...d5 looks better in any 2087
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 case 17.d3 xf5 18.xf5 d4 19.e2 dxc3 20.xc3 g8 21.g4 h5 If White has something in this position, it is really minimal. ) 17.d3 b5 ( 17...g8 18.b4 xg2 19.e2 ) 18.b4 b6 19.e2 e6 20.0-0 xf5 21.xf5 a3 22.c2 d5 23.b3 xc3 24.xc3 e2+ 25.f2 d4 26.c1 e1+ 27.xe1 xc3 28.e4 Aleksandrov,A 2650) - Kotronias,V (2597) EU-ch Istanbul 2003 ] 13.g3 [ 13.e4 fxe3 14.e2 The thematic m a n o e u v r e w o u l d t h e n b e m e t b y e5 The main idea behind his 12th move. ] 13...d6 14.f2 0-0 15.h3 d5 16.xf4 xf4 17.gxf4 xf4 18.e3 g5 [ 18...e5 In order to pary Bb5 19.a4! c5 20.b5 ] 19.h3 [ 19.b5! Making the Black rook on a5 look a b i t s i l l y . e8 20.f4 f6 21.a4 then is clearly better for White. ] 19...g6 20.hd1 e8 21.f4 h4+ 22.f3 e7 Intending the grand transformation with ... Rh5 23.g4 h5 [ 23...f5 24.h3 d6 25.g2 d7 26.f2 ] 24.h3 g5! 25.fxg5 xg5 26.c2 ae5 27.d3 f8 28.ad1 b5! Black has to play energetically! 29.xd7 [ 29.d5!? Exchanging one rook in order to release the counter pressure against e3. b6 ( 29...xe3+ 30.xe3 xe3+ 31.f2 xh3 32.xg5 xh2+ 33.g3!+- xb2 34.c5 ) 30.xe5 xe5 31.xd7 b7+ 32.e2 e4 W it h com pe nsa tion f o r insta nce 33.b4 b7 34.d3 e4 35.d4 b7 36.c6 xc6 37.xc6 xe3+= ] 29...xd7 30.xd7 xe3 31.7d5 [ 31.xb7? f5+ 32.g3 ( 32.e2 h6+ 33.d3 f3+ 34.d4 d8+; 32.g2 f2+ ) 32...f4+ 33.g2 ( 33.h3 e2 34.h1 xc2 ) 33...e2+ 34.f3 xc2 35.e4 f6-+ ] 31...c5 32.1d2 8e6 33.xe5 xe5 34.a3 e7 35.h3 f6 36.h4 ½-½
2139 Kosic,Dragan Markovic,Miroslav zt Kladovo (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2455 2505 1993
TROMPOWSKY ATTACK: The aggressive h4 Tromp: After 2...Ne4 3.h4 is perhaps the right move to really surprise your opponent. Although not considered totally sound, it is difficult to refute and is home to some extremely nasty tactical points. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 The h4 Tromp is an ultra aggressive, if not entirely correct weapon. W hite retains his pin on the e7 pawn, and entices Black to "win" the bishop pair, with Nxg5. However Black often finds that doing so is more trouble than it is worth, due to the resulting semi-open h-file. c6 Black strays from the well trodden paths of 3...c5 and 3... d5 and elects to take a walk on the wild side, in the adventurous spirit of the opening. [ 3...h6 May well be the best line against 3. h4. After: 4.f4 Even Hodgson admits that it i s d i f f i c u l t t o f i n d a n y l i n e s wh e r e t h e inclusion of h4 and h6 favour White. ] 4.d2 xg5 5.hxg5 The semi-open h-file more than compensates White for the loss of his dark squared bishop and allows him some i n t e r e s t i n g t a c t i c a l p o s s i b i l i t i e s . b6 Black decides to immediately go about exploiting the absence of said bishop, by targeting the dark squared pawns. 6.e3 xb2 7.g6! It is possibilities such as this that originally attracted creative players, such as Hodgson to the h4 Tromp. Black is forced to seriously compromise his king position. fxg6 8.d3 This is the point behind White's 7th. The threat of Bxg6+ guarantees that White will recoup his sacrificed pawn. d5 9.xg6+ White forces the king to move, and is now well on top. d8 10.gf3 g4 This simply helps W hite to infiltrate on the queenside, Black was obviously still reeling from the impact of 7. g6. 11.b1 The inevitable fall of the b7 pawn means that the Black king will never find a saf e haven . c3 12.xb7 d7 13.b1 The White queen begins to probe for a way into the Black position. She will not have long to wait! xf3 Black is seeking relief through exchanges, but in effect, is simply removing 2088
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 5...axc5 6.c3! xc3 Of course not [ 6...a5? 7.b4 ] 7.xc5 e4 8.d5 xg5 9.hxg5 b6 10.0-0-0 xf2 11.e4 A first amelioration, controlling e3 with h7 in the line of fire. e6 12.f3 c5 13.d3 The prelude to a completely mad game: d6 [ 13...g3 14.h3 f2 ( 14...c7 15.xh7 ) 15.h1 g3 Draw? 16.xh7 xh7 17.xh7 With the standard complications. ] 14.g4 e5 [ 14...d7! Like best play in the previous game: return the pawn to rely on the (amply sufficient) remaining assets of a powerful pair of bishops, much superior structure and the establishing of counter tactics due to the opening of files against the white king on t h e q u e e n s i d e . 15.g6 ( 15.h2? c6 16.f4 e5; 15.xb7 c8 ) 15...c6! 16.gxf7+ xf7 17.f4+ g8 18.h2 f8 19.xf8+ xf8 20.xf2 xf2 21.xd6 e7 22.d3 f8 ] 15.g6 [ 15.h2 g3 ] 15...e6 [ 15...fxg6 16.xe5! e3+ 17.d1! dxe5 18.xe5+ f7 19.c7+ f6 20.g5+ xg5 ( 20...xg5 21.f3+ ) 21.e7+ f4 22.xe3! d8+ ( 22...xe3 23.h4+ g4 24.xg4+ xg4 25.xe3 ) 23.xd8 xe3 24.h4+ g3 25.b4 f2 26.h4+ xf1 ( 26...g1 27.b3 g5 28.e1 ) 27.h1+ 2140 A45 f2 28.h2+ f1 29.f4+ ] Kosic,Dragan 2530 16.h2 g3 [ 16...xf1+ 17.d1 Trapping the queen. ] Shipov,Sergei 2535 GRE-chT Thessaloniki (1) 1996 17.xh7 [ 17.xb7 0-0 18.gxh7+ h8 19.g2 [Eric Prié] f4+ ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 a6 17...0-0-0 18.b4! d5! [ 18...b6 19.xd6 xd6 20.xh8+ c7 5.d4! This laid-back move order reminds me 21.gxf7! ( 21.c4 xc4 22.xc4+? c6; fondly of my game against Levin in the 2...c5 21.e8 f4+ ) 21...xf7 22.h7! Tromp: 3.dxc5 Na6 4. Qd4! e6 5.Nc3 Bxc5 6. ( 22.xe5?? xe5 23.xe5 e3+ 24.b2 Qh4. d4+ 25.c3 xe5 ) [ 5.d2 axc5 6.xe4 xe4 7.d5! A) 22...d4 23.xe5+ ( 23.xd4?? xg5 8.hxg5 b6 9.0-0-0 xf2 10.e4 e1+ 24.b2 xd4+ ); g6!? 11.h3 ( 11.e5 f6; 11.f3 c5; B) 22...f2 23.xg7 xf1+ 24.b2 11.e3! Na t u ra lly a n d i f f5 12.d4 ) d4+ 25.xd4 exd4 26.h7!! 11...b6 ( 11...c5 makes a better Leaves Black hopeless! Didn't someone i m p r e s s i o n .) 12.f4 g7 13.c3 s a y: " t h e t h r e a t i s s t r o n g e r t h a n t h e Deak, S-Sax, G HUN-ChT 1997) ]
an important defender of his king. 14.gxf3 e5 15.xd7+ Black must have been wishing that he had never got out of bed! The glaring absence of the light squared bishop makes this spectacular sacrifice a crushing blow. xd7 16.b7+ e6 17.h5 As so often in the Tromp, W hite ignores the possibility of recouping his material investment, in favour of going for Black's jugular. hxg6 Black grabs all the material he can lay his hands on, but a less greedy approach would not have helped, for instance: [ 17...exd4 18.f7+! f6 ( 18...d6 19.xa8 Leaves Black a piece down, facing a raging attack.) 19.f5+ White throws the kitchen sink at Black in the pursuit of his king. xf5 20.d7+ g5 21.g4+ There is no way out for Black, his king is pushed mercilessly around the board. f6 22.e6+ g5 23.e5+ h6 24.h5# Who needs rooks for attacking! Certainly not this White player! ] 18.xe5+ f6 [ Black is in an equally helpless position after: 18...d6 19.f7 when mate on e6 is inevitable. ] 19.d7 Mate on e6 is threatened and is only avoidable with the sacrifice of most of the Black pieces. Not surprisingly, Black chose the more dignified option of resignation. 1-0
2089
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e x e c u t io n " ? ( 26.e7+ d7 27.c5+ d8 28.h7 f6 And Black defends) 26...d7 ( 26...f6 27.g5 g6 28.xg6 xg6 29.xf7+ c8 30.f5 ) 27.e5+ c8 ( 27...d6 28.h6 ) 28.h8+ d8 29.c5+ d7 30.xd4+ ] 19.xe5 xe5 20.xe5 xh7 21.gxh7 d6! [ 21...xb4 22.e4 d4 23.h3! Not falling i n t o t h e c l e v e r t r a p ( 23.xd4? a3+ 24.b1 xd4 25.h8+ d8 regaining the queen. ) 23...h8 24.c4 xc4 25.xc4 d7 26.e5+ e6 27.f3 c3 ( 27...c5 28.d2 ) 28.d1 g6 29.g5+- ] 22.c4 xb4 [ 22...dxc4 23.xd6 h8 24.d4 xh7 25.g2 h4 ( 25...c3 26.d3 ) 26.f3 f5 27.d5! ( 27.d6 fxg4 28.xe6 gxf3 29.exf3 c3 30.d1 xb4 ) 27...xd5 28.xd5 fxg4 29.d2 Followed by Rg5 and White just manages to equalize. ] 23.e3? [ 23.e4! d4 24.xd4 h8 25.b6+ axb6 26.xb4 ] 23...h8 24.xd5 xd5 Black must have had his dose of calculations or was possibly already short of time. Otherwise he could have played on with [ 24...d6! 25.b6+ c7! 26.d5+ b8 27.g2 xh7 28.f3 h4 29.e3 f4 30.b2 h2 where he is a bit better ( 30...xe3 31.xe3 xg4 32.xg4 xg4 33.e8+ c7 34.e7+ c6 35.xf7 )] [ 24...c5 25.f4 ( 25.c3 b6 ) 25...xg4 26.h3 ] ½-½
2141 Kostadinov,George Pitre,Hanniegn G 26th Keres Mem (6) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45
having in your repertoire, for when you want to mix things up and even for the look of surprise on your opponent's face. f6 5.c3 c5 6.d2 An interesting novelty. Previously only 6.e4 and 6.e3 had been played here. cxd4 [ 6...c6 is well met by 7.b5 ] [ 6...e6 seems a reasonable alternative. ] 7.b5 c6? Much too ambitious. This exchange sacrifice is simply not viable. [ 7...a6 8.xd4 looks reasonable for White, Black's extra central pawn is offset by both his misplaced knight on a6 and White's lead in development. ] 8.c7+ d7 9.xa8 e5 Black has a great pawn center, but I simply cannot believe that it is worth his material investment. 10.g5 b4 [ 10...b6 Would obviously aim to win the Na8. However, White is not one to sit back and give up his knight without compensation and could set about breaking up Black's pawns with: 11.e3 still this would be a better option for Black. ] 11.c3 dxc3 Black must actively before White can consolidate but this move also opens up the position of his own king. 12.bxc3 a5 13.xf6 xf6 14.xd5+ e8 15.c5 Very calm, White keeps a careful eye on the Black king whilst also defending the c-pawn. e4 16.0-0-0 e6 Black's position looks quite a ct ive b u t h e ' s c le a rly a l l m o u t h a n d n o trousers. His vulnerable king makes it impossible for him to drum up any meaningful counterplay. 17.e3 xc3+ [ 17...xa2 18.b2 e6 19.b5 is equally dismal for Black. ] 18.xc3 xc3 19.c7+ And with White's knight escaping, Black is left with no reason to play on. 1-0
29.05.2001
2142 A45 June Update: Trompowsky: White introduces Kotronias,Vasilios 2578 a new idea in an old line of the Tromp. Stathopoulos,Ioannis 2248 Black's sudden disorientation means that he Isthmia Open, Vrachati (4.4) 20.08.2013 immediately goes astray. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 [Richard Palliser] e4 3.f4 d5 4.f3 This has largely been superseded by 4. e3, thanks to the efforts of 1.d4 f6 2.g5 One associates the leading Hodgson and Adams. But it is certainly worth Greek Grandmaster with a heavily theoretical 2090
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 1 e4 repertoire, but having produced such a detailed work for Black on the Fianchetto King's Indian must have taken its toll, as Kotronias heads into slightly less theoretical waters. d5 3.xf6 [ Another recent Tromp game which caught my eye (played just two days before I write these words!), deviated with 3.e3 c6 4.d3 ( kee ping t he knight s f lexib le , bu t 4.f3 is tempting too, since White is happy with g4 5.xf6 exf6 6.c4 - see my notes to Laznicka-Bobras, Czech League 2013, in the Archive) 4...g4 5.e2!? bd7 6.h3 ( by no means obligatory, with 6.0-0 e6 7.c4 a decent alternative AleksandrovShomoev, Vladivostok 2012, continued d6 8.bc3 h5 9.h3 dxc4 10.xc4 a5 11.f4 whereupon Black was provoked, but d5 12.c1 h6 13.h4 g5? 14.e4 e7 15.e1! d8 16.2g3 g6 17.f5 exf5 18.xf5 was surely not what he wanted to be doing ) 6...h5 7.f4 with an unusual type of Stonewall. Black's bishop isn't going to be trapped and with such a hole on e4, I can't believe that W hite should be better. Moskalenko-Ganguly, Spanish Team Championship 2013, continued e6 8.d2 b6 9.b1 g6 10.0-0 d6 11.xf6 xf6 12.f3 c5 13.c3 xd3 14.xd3 e4 15.d2 f5 and was roughly level, later drawn. ] 3...gxf6 Much the more dynamic of the two recaptures, of course. 4.c4 e5 [ I'd always considered 4...dxc4 5.e3 c5 to be quite critical, ] [ but Eric made a decent case for 4...c5!? in his notes to his two 2010 training games with Sevan Buscara. And what of the text? W ell, I can imagine this being played at club level where it may look like the logical follow-up to Black's last, but the reality is that it leaves his kingside full of holes, and not just the f5-square. ] 5.c3 [ This feels like the critical test, since 5.dxe5 b4+ ( even the Albin-like 5...d4!? 6.exf6 xf6 7.f3 c6 comes into consideration) 6.c3 d4 7.a4+ c6 8.0-0-0 looks a bit risky. This was actually seen in Cubas PonsS e m e n o v a , P r a g u e 2 0 1 3 , w h e r e fxe5 9.d5 f8!? 10.e3 h6 11.f4!? d7
was extremely murky. ] 5...b4 Pinning feels like a pretty natural reaction, but Black can also continue with his central pawn play: [ a) 5...dxc4 6.f3 exd4 7.xd4 c5 8.c2 xd1+ 9.xd1 e6 10.e4 c6 11.e3 (R.Pert) sees W hite regaining his pawn, likely with a small plus. ] [ b) 5...c5!? deserves further attention and can easily become pretty unclear: for example, 6.e3 cxd4 7.exd4 c6 8.f3 dxc4 9.xc4 exd4 10.e2+ e7 11.0-0-0 when neither king is especially happy, but I imagine White is for choice, since b1 will be a safer square than h8 and Nd5 is threatened. ] 6.e3 [ Keeping it simple, but in his brand-new work 'Playing the Trompowsky', Richard Pert prefers 6.cxd5 , and if xd5 7.a4+ c6 8.xb4! xb4 9.xd5 xd5 10.e4 b4 11.c1 when one has to agree that White is for choice on account of his superior structure. I dare say we'll encounter more lines from Pert's oeuvre as the months go by, but from an initial perusal it does appear to be packed with some critical new ideas and looks like essential reading for the Trompowsky aficionado. ] 6...exd4 [ This only helps White to develop, but 6...c6 7.a3 exd4 8.axb4 dxc3 9.bxc3 e6 10.c5! favoured White in Martinez Garcia-Penillas Mendez, Mondariz 1997, ] [ as did 6...dxc4?! 7.xc4 c6 8.ge2 g4 9.f3 d7 10.0-0 in Kartsev-Polaczek, Belgian League 2007. ] 7.xd4 e6?! [ Black must have forgotten his bishop would be attacked after White's next. Otherwise, h e wo u l d h a ve go n e 7...dxc4 , not that 8.xd8+ xd8 9.xc4 e7 10.ge2 can exactly be described as appetising for the second player. ] 8.cxd5 c5!? [ A more spirited try than grovelling in a pawndown ending with 8...xc3+ 9.xc3 xd5 10.xf6 a5+ 11.c3 xc3+ 12.bxc3 . ] 9.b5+ e7?! [ There was no need to move the king since W hite's queen was attacked. Indeed, 2091
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9...c6 10.f4 ( 10.dxc6?! cxd4 11.c7+ d7 12.xd7+ xd7 13.0-0-0 xc3 14.bxc3 xc7 15.cxd4 xa2 isn't all clear ) 10...xd5 should have been preferred, although after 11.xf6 g8 12.f3 xg2?! 13.h8+ e7 14.xa8 xf3 15.xb7+ f6 16.f1 Black does seem to come up short. ] 10.f4 xc3+ 11.bxc3 xd5 Regaining the pawn, but clearly Black's position is a wreck and Kotronias must have wondered why he doesn't employ the Trompowsky more often. 12.f3 d6 13.a4 d8 14.0-0 a6 15.c4 [ Slightly lax. Instead 15.e2 c6 ( or 15...c6 16.c2! ) 16.h4 would have kept White well in front. ] 15...c6! Stathopoulos seizes his chance to get back into the game to an extent. 16.b3 [ Unfortunately for White, 16.xc6 xc6 17.e2 (he would rather not, of course, u n d o u b l e B l a c k ' s p a w n s o n e 6 ) b5 would have given Black good counterplay, so Kotronias is forced to retreat. ] 16...b5 17.xe6! Undoubling Black's pawns, b u t re t a in in g t h e a d va n t a ge , si n c e b o t h W hite's k ing an d kin gside pawns rem ain somewhat the safer. fxe6 18.b1 [ 18.b2 is given in the official gamescore, but surely Black would not then have replied h8 . ] 18...h8 [ Sub-optimal, but so too would have been 18...f5 19.e1! , beginning to direct some fire against the black king. ] 19.a4! Seizing the queenside initiative. Kotronias might have wobbled very slightly, but he is still clearly for choice. bxa4 20.c2 d7 21.xa4 Now White's rook is active and, indeed, it soon makes its presence felt along the fourth rank. b6 22.g4 f7 23.c4 ad8 24.h4!? Not such an easy pawn move to understand as White's last, but Kotronias may well just have wanted to be threatening Ng5+ in the event of a ...Rdg8 Rf4 sequence. d7 25.d1 c7?! Black was beginning to run low on moves, but it cannot have been a good idea to allow White's queen to advance. 26.e4 f8? [ It was grim, but he really had to retreat with 26...b8 . Now the legendary attacking Grandmaster strikes. ]
27.e5+!! fxe5 28.f3+ e8 29.xd8+ xd8 [ For the second time in this sequence, the only way to preserve the material situation, which 29...xd8 30.f6+ wouldn't have done, but Black is a goner in any case. ] 30.g7 b8 [ Allowing mate, but there was no defence to the threats along the seventh, with 30...d7 31.a8+ d8 32.c6+ d7 33.xd7 xd7 34.c8+ winning the house. ] 31.f7+ 1-0
2143 Kovacevic,Blazimir Brkic,Ante XII It Solin-Split CRO (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2503 2454 10.12.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.c1 e6 8.c4 exd5 9.cxd5 c4 Played just one month ago, it is exactly the same position as the previous game with one extra tempo! This fortuitous discovery made me fall upon a veritable gold mine of critical, highest level, games which had escaped me in the previous updates. Also it pushed me to refine my opening key... 10.e3 c5 11.f2 0-0 12.xc4 e8 [ 12...d6 Sulskis. But then White is not forced to misplace his queen, in order to defend his e-pawn, and replace, at the same time, the opponent's one! For instance, 13.e2 e8 14.d4 ] 13.b3 d8! This was a Novelty in INF 85 (2002). It is amazing how 'theory' is growing on the Tromp these days! 14.e2 d6 15.d1 a6 16.a4 bd7 17.g3 [ 17.d4 b6 18.c3 xc4 19.xc4 b5! 20.d3 Was the continuation of the great game Mamedyarov (2542) -Sulskis (2577) EU-Ch op Batumi 2002 0-1 (36) The e v e n t u a l w i n n e r r e c k o n e d ( 20.b3 s t i l l p r o t e c t i n g d 5 b4 21.ce2 a5 With the compensation of a strong pair of bishops was White's best try. Please have a look at it in the above mentioned source. At least in remembrance of those times when the Azeri warrior, unfortunate second in the 2092
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 just finished W ijk-aan Zee B tournament (a f t e r h a vi n g l e d a ll t h e wa y t h ro u g h which reminds me of Laurent Fressinet, who acted as a spur to the study of this most important system of the Tromp!) behind Karjakin could get baited with the white pieces! )] 17...h5 18.e2 h4 19.f1 h5! White's light-squared bishop is, or anticipating a bit I should say 'was', an essential element of his defensive set up. 20.a5 f4 21.a4 xe2 22.xe2 h3 The complement, weakening the white squares in the vicinity of the king. 23.g3 e5 24.c3 d7 25.e4 [ 25.a1 f6! 26.d2 f5! 27.e4 ( 27.ce4 b5+ 28.f2 g4+ ) 27...xf3!! After the preliminaries, starts the stripping! 28.xf3 xe4+ 29.xe4 b5+! 30.d2 xe4 31.e1 b4+ 32.d1 xe1 33.xe1 e2# ] 25...xa5 White is utterly massacred. [ 25...f6 26.f4 ] 26.f2 b5 27.e2 ac8 28.d2 b6 29.b4 f5 The rest is a blood bath. 30.xc5 xc5 31.dd4 [ 31.ed4 c2 ] 31...xe4 32.xe4 c4! 33.d4 ec8 34.c6 c7! Everything had been forecast. [ 34...xc6?? 35.xc4 ] 35.xe5 [ 35.xc4 bxc4 36.c3 xc6 37.dxc6 xc6 ] 35...c2+! 36.e1 [ 36.d2 xd2+ 37.e1 c1+ 38.d1 xd1# ] 36...a5+ White resigns one move before checkmate. 0-1
2144 Kovacevic,Slobodan Oratovsky,Michael Ciudad de Albacete op-10 (8) [Eric Prié]
A45 2374 2553 06.09.2002
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 f6 5.d5 h5! I like this move! 6.e3 [ 6.g5 h6 7.h4 b6 The whole idea. 8.d2 The only move. White will get some sort of compensation but visibly less than in
the 2...c5 3.d5 Qb6 4. Nc3 Tromp. ( 8.c1? b4+ 9.c3 xh4+ ) 8...xb2 9.e4 d6 10.c4 b6 ( 10...f4!? 11.g3 f6 with the idea ...g7-g6 or ...g5) 11.e2 g6 12.0-0 g7 13.b1 c7 14.f4 0-0 15.h1 Rabinovich,A-Liss,E ISR-ChT 1999 1-0 (44) ] 6...e5! 7.f2 When the utility of the f3 move is reduced to making a square for the Tromp bishop, instead of proudly supporting the e2e 4 ce n t ra l a d va n ce , t h e n t h e r e m u s t b e something wrong with White's way of handling the opening! [ 7.c3 d6 8.g4 f4 9.f2 e7 ( 9...g6 10.h4 h5 ) 10.h4 f5 11.h5 ( 11.e3!? g6 12.b5+ d7 13.h5 h4 ) 11...fxg4 12.e3 h3 13.xh3 gxh3 14.xh3 xh3 15.xh3 d7 16.g3 0-0 17.e2 f5 18.h6 g6 19.e4 d7 20.0-0-0 f6 21.xf6+ xf6 22.e4 f4+ 23.d2 h4 24.g2 xf2 25.xf2 f7 Kanep,M-Yemelin,V Keres mem op Tallinn 2001 0-1(47) ] 7...d6 8.e3 [ 8.e4 g6 9.c3 ( 9.d2 e7 ) 9...h6 ] 8...f5 9.a4 g6 10.e2 g7 11.g3 Quite ironically, White seeks to exchange the 'strong' knight on the edge of the board! f6 12.c3 0-0! 13.e4 a6! 14.d3 b4 15.e2 [ 15.exf5? xd3+ 16.xd3 gxf5 17.xf5 c4! ] 15...h5 16.h4 h6 17.d3 Now that the bishop on h6 hangs with check, White hopes to solve his problems with a little trick.. . h8! 18.exf5 xd3+ 19.xd3 gxf5 But that is more a sign of his incapacity to make any concrete counter plan in the position. 20.0-0 d7 21.e1 g8 Black clouds are gathering around the white king. 22.h1 c4!! [ 22...g7 23.g1 c4 24.e2 f4 25.f1 ] 23.xc4 White has no other choice than accepting the offer. [ 23.d1 g7 24.g1 e3 ] 23...g7 24.g1 [ 24.e2 f4 The point of the idea, winning the poor knight on the spot! ] 24...e3-+ 25.f1 d7 26.ge2 xg1 27.xg1 f4! White resigns a bit prematurely. But it is true that after [ 27...f4 28.d1 h7 29.d2 h3 30.c1 2093
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 b6 31.f1 f5 his pieces are completely t o s t a r t wi t h 17.xc8 xc8 ( 17...fxe3 disorganize d W hile Black p repares th e 18.b7 b8 19.c6+ f8 ) 18.f5 e5 central break ...e5-e4 by doubling on the g19.e1 d3 ] file or making use of the c-file. ] 15.b3 a6 16.d1 b7 17.g5! 0-1 In fact, the young Croatian hope, now a GM and rated 2541 - I remember him as a youth champion but I have forgotten the year and 2145 A45 the category - may have underestimated the Kovacevic,Vlatko 2520 power of this fine move... f8 18.xf5! [ 18.xb6 axb6 19.xf5 f6 ( 19...xa3? Stevic,Hrvoje 2300 20.g5 f6 21.xh7+ ) 20.a4 xe2 Mravinci-A 1995 ( 20...c8 21.h5 xh3 22.h6+! g8 [Eric Prié] 23.xh3 xe2 24.f5 ) 21.f1 a2 22.b5 c8 23.e4 With the initiative but 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 not more. ] 5.c1 f5 6.c4 b4+!? 7.d2 Considering 19.xd5 e6 20.xd6?? what happened in the previous game, this is a 18...xd5 sad necessity, then, as this square is OK for And his legendary national team captain, the knight, although preferably when it is p o ss ib ly t h e m o s t e xp e ri e n ce d " d -P a wn Specials" player of the planet, spoils heading for c4! [ 7.c3? g7 8.xb4 cxb4 b2 cannot be everything, here, in one move! [ 20.h5! xd5 21.g5 b7 The only protected. ] move... ( 21...e5 22.g2! ) 22.xd6 e7 7...g7 8.b1 d6 9.a3 a5 10.g3 d7 23.dxf7 e8 ( 23...g8 24.xh7+ e8 11.gf3 25.h6+ d7 26.xg8 xg8 27.xd5+ ) [ On 11.c2 White probably did not 24.e4! ( 24.h4 h6 25.xh8 hxg5 appreciate e5 ( 11...b5!? 12.cxb5 b6 ) 26.h7 should win too.) 24...h6 ( 24...c6 12.h3 ( 12.gf3 xf3+ 13.exf3 f4 ) 25.xe6+ g8 26.c7 xf7 27.e6 ) 12...h6 ( 12...b8!? With the idea ...b5. 25.f3 xe4 ( 25...hxg5 26.d6+ g8 White remains with the problem of how to 27.xe8 ) 26.xe4 hxg5 27.xh8 xh8 develop his king's knight.) 13.f4 ( 13.c1? 28.xe6+- ] xc4 ) 13...g4 ] 11...b5! Of course, this move is easier to 20...exf5 21.xa6 xa6 22.xf5 With two make when there is no knight on c3! 12.h3 pawns for the exchange, White should not be A critical moment where I think White had to worse , bu t th e o pp on en t's stron g pa ir o f accept the challenge while he still had the time bishops, the open character of the position, which advantages the rooks, allied to the to [ 12.b4! cxb4 ( 12...b6? 13.bxc5 xc5 impossibility of mobilizing his kingside majority, 23.d3 14.xb5 ) 13.axb4 c7 ( 13...b6 14.h3 complicates the estimation. e7 f6 15.c5 ) 14.cxb5 xc1+ 15.xc1 b6 ab8 24.fd2 hd8! 25.g2 [ 25.xh7 c3 26.f1 ( 26.d3 xd2 16.g2 b8! Attacking d5 and necessary if 27.xd2 xd3 ) 26...xc4 27.bxc4 xb1 Black wants to play ...e7-e6 to free his Bc8 28.xb1 d1 29.e4 a1 As in the game, from the defence of f5, with some the a-pawn will most probably cost White a complications but good chances of gaining piece. ] some advantage because of his bishop pair after the recapture of the b pawn(s), which 25...h6 26.h4 f8 27.g4?! White has to do something but seems difficult for White to avoid. ] [ 27.e4!? seemed more circumspect. 12...b6 13.0-0 bxc4 14.xc4 a4?! g8? ( 27...b7 28.f1= ) 28.xc5 xc4 A strange move. Why not 29.xc4 dc8 30.d7! b7 31.a6 ] [ 14...b5!? With the same idea. Possibly, Black was afraid of 15.e3 ( 15.b3 xd5 ) 27...d4! 28.g3 h5! 29.gxh5 h6 30.f3 15...xe2 16.g2 When he seems to have xc4 31.bxc4 [ 31.xd4 xd3 32.c6 b6 ] q u i t e a f e w t e m p t i n g c o n t i n u a t i o n s . f4 2094
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 31...xb1 32.xd4 see the follow-up. 3.e4 f6 [ 32.xb1 xc4 ] [ After the main alternative 3...d5 I think I like 32...g1+! a very valuable tempo. 33.h2 A) 4.e2!?; a1 34.b3 B) 4.f4!? led to an unpleasant defeat for [ 34.c2 a2 35.e3 ( 35.g3 c1 ) White in the following game, but perhaps 35...g7 36.g3 b2 ] he could have played better: dxe4 5.c3 34...xa3-+ 35.xc5 a5 36.g2 a1 f6 6.f3 White goes for a suped-up 37.c2 Mutual time trouble probably. Blackmar-Diemer. exf3 ( 6...d5! 7.xd5 [ 37.b3 a3 38.d4 Does not change the xd5 8.c3 f5 ) 7.xf3 g4 8.c4 e6 result anyway. ( 38.c5 e7 or 38...Kg7 9.0-0 e7 10.d2 c6 11.d5 exd5 with the same idea as in the game but not 12.xd5 0-0 13.g2 xd5 14.xd5 38...a4? 39.Bc2! 39.f3 ) 38...a4 39.f5 xd5 15.xg4 d4 16.h6 f5 17.g5 c3 40.xh6 xd3! 41.exd3 a3 ] xg5 18.xg5?! e3 0-1 Biliy, V37...c1 38.b3 c3 39.e3 g7! Oleksienko, M/Alushta 2005; [ 39...a4? 40.xa4 xc4 41.d7+ e7 C) 4.f3 f6 5.c3 dxe4 ( 41...g7 42.d1 ) 42.b6! b4?? C1) 6.g5!? exf3 7.xf3 seems to 43.d5+ ] offer compensation: bd7 ( I have no 40.f3 a4! Without the knight check on d7 idea at all what is happening after White loses a piece. 7...xd4 8.ge2 d7 9.g2 [ 40...a4 41.d1 c1! 42.e2 a3 43.b3 and I imagine that this is exactly the a2 44.xa2 c2+ ] frame of mind that W hite is trying to 0-1 induce. It's clear that Black has some serious defending to do.) 8.0-0-0 e6 9.d3 e7 10.ge2 c6 11.hf1 c7 2146 A45 12.g3 with some comp, Rouleau, JFernandez, D/Washington DC 1999; Kozel,Roman 2377 C2) 6.e3 exf3 7.xf3 c6 8.c4 g4 Matjushin,Oleg 2189 9.g2 ( 9.f2 intending Nge2 and 0-0-0, ch-UKR sf Alushta UKR (3) 18.05.2005 has to be carefully considered.) 9...bd7 [Andrew Martin] 10.f3 xf3 11.xf3 e6 12.0-0-0 c7 13.hg1 0-0-0 Maybe White has one It is very dif f icult to take som e ope nings pawn's worth of compensation. But that seriously. There is definitely a tendency to is it. Black is rock-solid and in typically dis miss s tran ge ide as ou t of h an d, e ve n Grandmasterly fashion is willing to return among club players and as a consequence one of the pawns in order to complete many interesting possibilities are put to one his development. 14.f4 d6! 15.xd6 side. I am going to present a crazy gambit xd6 16.xg7 df8 17.e4 xe4 here which will certainly shock your opponents. 18.xe4 xh2 19.h1 d6 I very much doubt whether they will have seen C2a) T h e p r o b l e m i s t h a t 20.hxh7 it before and even if they have the chances of is met by xh7 21.xh7 ( 21.xh7 them coming to terms with the odd positions xd4 ) 21...f6-+; that arise are remote. Whether this is an idea C2b) 20.c3 h5 There it , the extra for blitz alone I leave you to judge. Among pawn. Not to be distracted from his very strong players, I doubt that there is any game plan, Sakaev pushes this little mileage in it. At club level, I am sure it will guy as far as he will go. 21.f1 h4 lead to entertaining chess and a lot of quick 22.fxf7 xf7 23.xf7 h3 24.xe6 wins for White. What can go wrong? Plenty. h2 25.xd7+ xd7 26.f1 h3 1.d4 f6 2.g4!? This is the gambit with no 27.h1 g8 28.c2 g2+ 29.xg2 name. I'm not sure it deserves a polite name. xg2+ A better endgame emerges for White gives a flank pawn in order to take the Black from the smoke. How often have centre and gain time. xg4 I would certainly we met this scenario? Schlenker, Jtake the pawn if I was Black. I would want to 2095
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Sakaev, K/Biel 1994; D) 4.e5!? here, gaining space and to a certain extent embarrassing the Black Knight, but there are other moves: g6 D1) 5.f4 h5 D1a) 6.c3 c6 7.d2 h6 8.0-0-0 xf4 9.xf4 f5 D1a1) White certainly has an i m p r o v e m e n t h e r e i n 10.ge2! and he has reasonable value for a p a wn a f t e r b o t h d7 ( 10...b6 11.g3 c8 12.e2 ) 11.h3 h6 12.g3; D1a2) 10.d3?! d7 11.ge2 h6 12.g3 xd3 13.xd3 a6 14.d1 c7 15.d2 h4 16.f1 0-0-0 17.a5 b8 18.a3 b5 19.d3 f5 20.b4 f6 Matous, M-Kucera, P/Mlada Boleslav 1993; D1b) 6.d2 f5 7.c3 c6 8.f3 d7 D1b1) I prefer the cold-blooded 9.0-0-0! which makes perfect sense. White has definite compensation: D1b11) 9...h6 10.g5 g7 11.d3! e6 ( 11...xd3 12.e6!! f5 13.xf7 a5 14.xh8 f8 15.f3! ) 12.xf5 gxf5 13.h3 h6 14.hg1; D1b12) 9...g7 10.h3 h6 11.h4 f8 12.g1 e6 13.g5 a5 14.b1; D1b2) 9.h4!? h6 ( 9...e6 is a sterner test, leaving W hite's Knight on the edge. After that comes 10.0-0-0 a5 11.d3 0-0-0 12.f3 ) 10.xf5 xf5 11.e6! It is necessary to play such moves w h e n u s i n g t h i s o p e n i n g . fxe6 12.g1 g8 13.e2 f6 14.0-0-0 I lik e W h it e 's ch a n ce s. He 's t wo pawns down, but Black is all gummed up and not really having a n y f u n a t a l l . b5 15.f3 f7 16.b1 a5 17.e2 En route to f4. d6 18.e5 de4 19.e3 White can easily shrug off any Black gestures because he is playing with a l l h is p i e c e s a g a in st t wo B la c k Knights! b4 20.xe4 xe4 21.f3+
f6 22.f4 Ouch! Weaknesses appear on e6, g6, e5 and g5 h6 23.d3 g5 24.xf6 exf6 25.xh5+ g7 26.h4 From here on in the game becomes much easier to understand. White is putting the boot in. e8 27.e2! f7 28.de1 a7 29.f4! g4 30.xg4 e7 31.f5 ( 31.eg1 g7 32.xg7+ xg7 33.h5 h8 34.g6 was also pretty strong. ) 31...g7 32.xg7+ xg7 D1b21) 33.g1! is by far the best move, retaining all options and pieces: exf5 ( 33...g8 34.fxe6 xe6 35.g4 e7 36.f5 h8 37.h5 ) 34.h5+ f8 35.xf5 d7 36.f4 e8 37.d6; D1b22) 33.f4 e5 ( 33...exf5 34.h5+ f8 35.xe7 xe7 36.xf5 ) 34.g6 b7 35.dxe5 fxe5 Kindsvogel, R-Roederer, K/ B a d e n 1 9 9 2 , w h e n 36.xe5+! xe5 37.h5+ f8 38.h6+ wins.; D2) 5.c4 c6 ( 5...c6 6.f3 dxc4 7.xc4 ) 6.c3 h6 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.g2 e6 9.f3 ] 4.c3 d6 5.f4N White gets to push his pawns. Some players like to push pawns. It is immediately apparent to me that a passive approach by Black gives White everything he could wish for from an opening gambit. He gets time, space and the attack excellent value! [ A lt e rn a t ive ly W h it e m a y ch o o s e 5.e2 Black still has problems getting his pieces out. c6 6.d5 e5 7.f4 ed7 8.e3 e5 9.dxe6 fxe6 10.d2 e5 11.f5 e7 12.f3 g4 13.g5 xg5 14.xg5 df6 15.c4 h6 16.0-0-0 e7 17.hg1 g6 18.e6 f7 19.g7++Spaete, E-Strater, H/ Niederrhein 2000 ] 5...c6 6.f3 g6 7.g1 a6 8.d3 b5 9.e5! At some stage White will have to go for it and as Black has been moving only pawns so far, there is no time like the present. d5 [ I think that 9...b4! might have been better: 10.e4 xe4 11.xe4 d5 12.d3 e6 W h it e h a s st ill t o f in d a d e cisive p a wn lever. ] 10.xd5 cxd5 11.e2 e6 12.d2 e7 2096
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.0-0-0 c6 14.de1 It's interesting to note 10.xg5 c7! that W hite is in no great hurry. He puts his [ 10...g6 11.h6! e8 ( 11...c7 12.e5 pieces into optimal attacking positions and xe5 13.fxe5 xe5 14.ce4 e8 only then opens the game. b6 15.f5! dxe5 15.d3+- ) 12.e5 f8 13.h3! h5 14.g4 [ 15...gxf5 16.exd6 xd6 17.xf5 d7 f6 15.gxh5 fxg5 16.hxg6 g7 17.e4 ( 17...xd4 18.xd4 xd4 19.g4! b6 e7 18.h7+ f8 19.g1! 20.c3 h5 21.g7 ) 18.g5! ] A) 19...xe5 20.fxe5 xe5 21.xg5 16.xe5 xe5 17.xe5 g8 18.f6 f8?! f4+ 22.b1 xh7 23.gxh7 f7 [ 18...d8 19.xd5 b7 20.b3 b6 24.d3! xg5 ( 24...d5 25.f1 ) 25.d6+ 21.e4 a7 22.f3 leaves Black short of g7 26.xe8+ h8 27.g1; good moves. ] B) 19...gxf4 20.f6 xf6 21.exf6 xh7 19.xd5 b7 20.xe6+ fxe6 21.f7+ 22.gxh7 f7 23.g7+ xf6 24.g8 ] In order to play at our best, we have to get 11.e5! xe5 12.d5!! into positions that we can play well! Those [ 12.fxe5? xe5 With the idea Nh5. with a flair for attack would have been very 13.ce4 ( 13.e1 f5 followed by Qg4.) much at home in this game. 13...f5! 14.d3? xe4 ] 1-0 12...exd5 13.fxe5 xe5 14.e1 f5! [ 14...d6? 15.d3 g6 16.h6 With the idea Rhf1, Rxf6 wins because it is 2147 A45 impossible to evacuate the f8 square: d8 17.xg6 fxg6 18.xg6+ f8 ( 18...h8 Krasenkow,Michal 2545 19.f7# ) 19.f7# ] Degraeve,Jean Marc 2375 Cappelle la Grande 1990 15.xe7 g4! 16.xg4 xg4 17.b5! A multipurpose move obviously attacking d7 [Eric Prié] but also controlling e8 while preparing the 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 recovery of the invested pawn on d5 in the c6 5.h4 e6 6.0-0-0 e7 7.e4 0-0 8.f4 case of f6 by Black. f6 [ 17...f6!? 18.f3 ( 18.h3!? Krasenkow, h6?! with the idea Nf4) 18...f7 19.e8+ f8 [ According to the winner of this present 20.he1 a6 ( 20...b6 21.h3 f2 22.1e7 game. Better is 8...e8 9.xe7 xe7 ] xe8 23.xe8+ f7 24.xd7 b7 9.f3 25.xa8 xa8 26.d4; 20...d6? 21.xf8+ [ 9.xh6?! gxh6 ( 9...xe4 10.g4 ) xf8 22.e8+ f7 23.d7 ) 21.a4 b5 10.xh6 g4! ( 10...h7? 11.d3+- ) 22.b3 b7 23.8e2 ac8 ( 23...f5 24.h3 11.h5 ( 11.h3 f5! ) 11...f2! f6 25.h4! e4 26.xf5! This is why the ( 11...f6!? 12.g5+ h8 13.h6+ h7 king should not stand on d2. ) 14.d3 g8 15.h3 With a long and A) 24.e4 Wins the pawn back complicated attack.) 12.d2 xh1 13.d3 immediately but not in the best is given by Krasenkow (with Glek as coc i r c u m s t a n c e s . h6 25.d4 fe8 commentator) in INF 49 without f urther 26.xd5+ xd5 27.xd5 xe1+ 28.xe1 explanation, as presumably good for White. e8 29.d2 g4! 30.f3 ( 30.xd7? However, after the standard defence f6 e5! 31.a7 c4+ 32.d1 xb2+ ) with the idea 14.h3 e8 Although I am not 30...e3 31.xd7 xg2 32.d6 e3!; saying it is trivial to play for the opponent, I B) 24.c3 With a nice little advantage cannot see any reason for W hite to hope having in mind the plan a4, axb5, h3, Kd2, for success when Black can use his f-pawn Nd4. b4? 25.e4 f2 26.d4 to liberate some breathing space around his ( 26.xb4?? d3+ ) 26...bxc3? 27.f1 king, when the g3 square is guarded, when Trapping the knight ] he is not developed and when ...a piece and 18.h4!! Without this fantastic idea, White a rook down! ] would just be worse after a6, b5 and Bb7. a6 9...hxg5 19.d3! b5 [ again. 9...e8 ] 2097
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 19...g6 20.f1 g7 21.g4! A) 21...d6 22.xf7! xf7 ( 22...g8 23.c7 ) 23.xf7+ xf7 24.g5; B) 21...b5 22.h5! ( 22.xf7?? g8! ) 22...gxh5 ( 22...b7 23.xg6 ) 23.gxh5 g8 24.exf7+ xf7 25.xf7 b7 26.d6 c6 27.g1+ f6 28.g6+ B1) 28...e5 29.f7+ d4 ( 29...f4 30.h6 e7 31.f6+ ) 30.h6 e7 31.g4+ c5 32.h7; B2) 28...e7 29.f5+ f7 30.d2+- ] 20.h5 e8 [ 20...b7 21.h6 gxh6 ( 21...ae8 22.h7+ h8 23.xf7+ ) 22.xh6 e4 ( 22...g7 23.g6+ h8 24.xf6 ) 23.xe4 dxe4 24.xd7 c8 25.e7 g7 26.d6 f5 27.xe4 ] 21.h7+!? [ 21.xf7? e5 ] [ 21.he1 xe7 22.xe7 b7 23.xf7 d4 ( 23...xh5 24.xd7 ) 24.h6! gxh6 25.xf6 hxg5 26.f5 is mostly unpleasant for Black bec aus e o f t he "ba d" bishop , t he wea k structure and the impossibility to generate counterplay or enter any king or bishop ending which is bound to be lost in view of White's free pawn on the kingside. ] 21...f8? An aberration in time trouble. [ 21...h8 22.he1 b7 23.f5 Personally , I would evaluate the advantage resulting from 21.Rhe1 as somewhat more substantial than the one possibly emerging from this position. Anyway, it is given as a big advantage for White, end of analysis. d4 ( 23...g8 24.xd7 xe7 25.xe7 e4 26.f5! xg5 27.xb7 ) 24.xf7+ ( 24.g4 d5; 24.xd7! xe7 25.xe7 xg2 26.xf7+ g8 27.g5 xh5 28.e6+ h8 29.d7 f4 30.b3 There again this is not comfortable for Black, despite the reduced material, because of the awkward situation of his king, when White plays Kd2 t o a v o i d t h e f o r k o n e 2 a n d R xd 4 . c6 31.d6 ) 24...g8 25.g6 ( 25.g4? xe7 26.xe7 f8 ) 25...xe7 26.xe7 xg2 ( 26...f8 27.e2 ) 27.d6 h3! ( 27...f3 28.f5 xh5 29.xh5 xh5 30.xg7+ h8 31.xd7 g4 32.d5 ) 28.e5 W hite should be cautious with his rook. ( 28.e4 f8! 29.xf6+ xf6 30.d2 e6 T h r e a t e n i n g R x g 6 a n d K f 8 . 31.d3
f5+!= ) 28...b8 29.d2 b6 30.e4 e6 31.xf6+ gxf6 32.e4 g7 33.xd4 b4 on the other hand, looks about equal. ] 22.xf7# 1-0
2148 Kremenietsky,Anm Hvenekilde,Jorgen 7th ch-Euro Senior (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2353 2221 04.06.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.e4 Finally, two other minor alternatives. [ 10.a3 e5! ( 10...d5!? 11.d4 1 Having prevented the annoying pawn sacrifice of game e5 12.xc6 exf4 13.d4 W e have studied this position before...) 11.e3 d5 12.xb6 Therefore transposing into the previous game. d4! 13.cxd4 e6 A) 14.c5 d5! 15.xe6 fxe6 16.c5 xd4 ( 16...exd4!? ) 17.xd4 ( 17.xf8 xf8 18.c1 e3 19.f2 dc2 ) 17...exd4 18.c1 d6 Kovacevic, V (2 4 8 5 )- S m ir in , I (2 5 9 0 ) Za gr e b 1 9 9 3 0-1(29); B) 14.d5 xd5 15.c5 Playing the casual 15...Be7 here in Lesiege, A (2500)Shaked, T (2445) Bermuda 1997 1-0(61), and here Black missed the very strong reply a5! 16.xa5 xc5 17.xb7 d4 18.e4 e3 Since he will soon recover his temporary 2 pawns investment, at least ] 10...d5! Black needs not be afraid of 11.e5 because of h5 [ 11...d7 12.b5 ] 12.e3 xe5 13.xb6 c4 14.xc4 dxc4 15.d1 d7 16.c5? [ 16.a5 f4!? heading for d3. ( 16...e6 17.xc4 xa2= 18.e5?! f6 ) 17.xc4 b5 ( 17...xa2? 18.e5 ) 18.a3 a6 19.c4 e5 20.e2 xa3 21.bxa3 xe2 22.xe2 xc4+ 23.f2 xa2 ] 16...c6 17.e2 e5 Black is simply much better with ease 18.e4 a6? The bluff has worked. [ 18...xa2 It is only one check. 19.d8+ 2098
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e7 20.d2 ( 20.c5+? xd8; 20.b8? a1+ 21.f2 xh1 ) 20...a1+ 21.d1 xd1+ 22.xd1 e6-+ ] 19.c7 xe4 20.fxe4 e7?! Come on grandpa, take that pawn! [ 20...xa2 21.f1! f6 ( 21...xb2? 22.f5; 21...f6 22.g4 f4 23.xf4 exf4 24.d8+ f7 25.xf4 h5 26.g5 ) 22.f5 d7 23.xe5 g6! ( 23...xb2 24.c7 Followed by Rfd5.) 24.xh8 gxf5 25.exf5 f6! ] 21.a3 The position is level again. e6 22.d5 f6 23.xe5 xe5 24.xe5 xe4 25.d4 0-0 26.f1 c5 27.xc5 xc5 28.f4 c8 29.h3 g6 30.d4 f5 31.d1 d6 32.f2 e8 33.b5 g3 34.e2 xe2 35.xe2 f7 36.e3 I will develop the reasons for the Tromp being in a crisis presently in almost all its lines with the original dynamic approach in a broader way when I finish with the 2...d5 3. Bxf6 exf6 line. Nevertheless, one thing I can say today in form of conclusion to this subchapter, one thing that prevents me from playing the Tromp again, even occasionally, unless I am fairly sure what line my opponent will adopt, is that I have not come across even one stable line, even reputedly equal, that could satisfy my static tastes, when Black attacks the d4 pawn with 2... c7-c5! or after the preamble 2...Ne4! ½-½
2149 Kristjansson,Stefan Hebden,Mark Reykjavik (4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2468 2519 14.04.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.e4 xb2 8.d2 xc3 9.c7 d6 10.e2 e3 11.c4 [ 11.c1?! Even the inventor of 9.Bc7 has not found the remedy against 9...d6! b5! 12.c3 h6 13.b3 b4?! ( 13...d7! With the idea ...Na6 hitting the bishop then ... c5-c4, ...Nc5 with a big advantage for Black. 14.g3 a6 15.f5 h5 16.g4 g5 17.h4 f4 ) 14.c1 a5 15.g3 g6 16.e5! Chernyshov, K (2553) - Gozzoli, Y (2 4 5 3 ) Ca p p e lle la G ra n d e o p (5 ) 2 0 0 7
wh e r e W h i t e e ve n t u a l l y wo n . A n o t h e r exclusivity from my secret files for chesspublishing.com! ] 11...h6 12.a5 Although it was technically a Novelty in the Nataf game, this manoeuvre was already strongly suggested by Cebalo's game. g5 hiding the queen home. I already mentioned this pawn push, which played a certain role in my prudent reserve when I first dealt with Chernyshov's idea. Naturally, it is better to execute it in one go rather then after having played 9...g6 as Grischuk did! 13.h4 No ...Qh4 check as in the previous game. gxh4 14.d2 g6 15.xh4 g7?! [ 15...h5! Giving the queen a bit more room and getting the possibility of .. .Bh6 16.a4+ ( 16.f2 h6 17.f4 g7 ) 16...d7 17.a3 a6 Hebden, I suppose with the idea 18.b1 xd5 19.xb7 db4 20.xb4 xb4 21.xa7 d8! ( 21...c2+?? 22.d2 xa3 23.xa8+ c8 24.xc8+ d7 25.b6+ A nasty omission. e6 26.f4+ )] 16.b1 0-0 17.f2! b5 18.xb5! a6 19.a4! [ 19.f4 g5 20.g3 xb5 21.h3 xe4+ 22.fxe4 f6+ 23.g2 d4 ] 19...xb5 20.axb5 bd7 21.f4 g5 22.g3 b6 23.h3 And Black is short of a tempo to be able to escape the perpetual check net against his queen. g6 24.f4 g5 25.h3 g6 26.f4 g5 I believe this double gambit has lived and now has to be reserved for gambiteers who care more about the emotional aspect of the game rather than its objective final result... ½-½
2150 Kruse,Hartwig Bohak,Janko YUG email Yugoslavia [Eric Prié]
A45
2000
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.d3 b6 6.xe4 dxe4 7.c3 xb2 8.ge2! [ 8.xe4? has never been played as far as my database can tell. In my opinion it would be a instructive mistake that needed some 2099
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 explanation if only to justify the exclamation mark awarded to 8 Nge2! cxd4 ( 8...f5!? My proposal 9.b1 xa2 10.c3 xc2 ) 9.xd4 ( 9.exd4 c6 ) 9...xd4 10.exd4 The line given by Tsesarsky without further enlightenment and reproduced in the c o m m e n t o f t h i s g a m e b y i t s u n k n o wn author whose approval I am more inclined to trust than Tsesarsky's, in any case ... ] 8...cxd4 [ 8...g4 9.b1 ( 9.0-0 xc3 Adams, M in INF68 "This should be quite playable here too for W hite, but Mickey's route is much nastier for the defender. W ith Black's rather modest development the desirability of playing with queens on the board hardly needs to be explained. The fact that Black can force his opponent's king to e2 hardly impacts on this assessment at all." Wells, P ) 9...xc3+ 10.xc3 xd1 11.xd1 cxd4? The fact that this position seems actually playable for White after this move may prove of a certain importance for all the variations arising from an early exchange on d 4 . N o w h o w e v e r t h e r e i s ( 11...c6! keeping the pawn on c5 as an anchor for the knight. 12.d5 0-0-0 13.e2 b4 ) 12.exd4 c6 13.d5 0-0-0 ( 13...e5? 14.dxc6 0-0-0+ 15.d2 ) 14.e2 d4+ 15.e3 f5+ ( 15...xc2+ 16.xe4 a3 17.bc1 d7 18.e2 e8 19.c7 d7 20.hc1 b5 21.xd7 xd7 22.b1 d6+ 23.xd6 xd6 24.xb7 ) 16.xe4 d6+ 17.f3 g8 Tu Hoang thong(2480)- West, Guy(2405)/ Elista Olm 1998 ] 9.b1! a3 10.exd4! Now Black is denied the development of his queen's bishop because b7 would be hanging. [ 10.xd4 c6 11.xe4 f5 ( 11...e6 12.b5 a5+ 13.ec3 f5 14.c4! ) 12.d5 e6 13.d2 e5 14.b5 e7 15.g5 xg5! ( 15...f7 16.ec3 e6 17.d6+ xd6 18.xd6 h6 19.b5 d7 20.a3 b6 21.d1 d4 22.d6+ f8 23.exd4 hxg5 24.d5 f7 25.c8+ Turzo, Attila(2415) -Hatanbaatar, B a za r( 2 4 4 5 ) B u d a p e s t FS 0 6 G M 1 9 9 8) 16.c7+ e7! 17.xa8 xg2 18.g3 ( 18.g1 xh2 19.c7 g6 20.d5+ f7 ) 18...g5 19.c7 f4 20.d5+ e6 I have kept this, unfortunately unsigned,
comment, which reveals the depth of the Black correspondence player's analysis, as well as the following untouched from ChessBase Corr 2004. ] 10...f5 11.0-0 [ 11.b3 a5 12.b5 d8 13.d5 a6 14.e3 e6 ] [ 11.b5 a5+ 12.d2 d8 13.f4 a5+ 14.c3 a6 15.b3 d8 ( 15...d7 16.d5+- ) 16.0-0 b6 ( 16...e6 17.c4 e7 18.fd1 ) 17.c4 b7 18.c5= ] 11...a6 12.e5 [ 12.b3 a5 13.d2 d8 14.f3 exf3 15.xf3 e6 16.e3 ( 16.e5 c5 17.b1 d7 18.f4 f6; 16.d5 c5+ 17.h1 0-0 18.dxe6 xd2 19.xd2 b6 20.f4 c7 ) 16...e7 ] 12...e6 13.b5 a5! [ 13...xa2? 14.ec3 a5 ( 14...c4 15.xg7!+- ) 15.h5+ g6 16.h3+- ] 14.f4 h5!? 15.d5 h6 16.dxe6 [ 16.xh5 h7 17.dxe6 xe6 18.d6+ xd6 19.xd6 d5 20.xd5 xd5 21.xg7+ f7 22.fd1 c6= ] [ 16.xe6 xe6 17.dxe6 d8= ] 16...g5 [ 16...xe6 17.xe6 xe6 18.d5 f7 ( 18...c5 19.c7+ ) 19.d6+ xd6 20.xa5 xe5 21.xb7+ g8 ] 17.xh5 1-0
2151 Kuzubov,Yuri Sachdev,Tania Dubai Open (5.14) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2619 2409 11.04.2013
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 b4 6.e5!? This aggressive move turns out to be new for the site. Previously we've just considered the much more common queen moves to d2 and d3. e7 [ 6...d8 also makes good sense to me, especially since if White plays by analogy with the game with 7.d3 c5 8.a3 xc3+ 9.bxc3 t h e n B l a c k h a s a5 with Winaweresque counterplay. ] 7.d3!? [ Somewhat more aggressive than 7.d2 2100
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 , after which d6 8.a3 a5 9.f3 d7! ( the right way to develop White might well be able to claim a pull after 9...c6 10.b4 b6 11.e2 on account of Black's restricted bishop on b6) 10.0-0-0 c6 11.e3 0-0 was far from dead, but probably about equal in M.Muzychuk-Zhao Xue, Khanty-Mansiysk 2012. ] 7...c5 8.a3 a5 [ 8...xc3+ makes slightly less sense to me with Black's queen on e7, but, of course, this can hardly be bad. That said, after 9.bxc3 0-0 10.f3 d6 11.e2! Black will have to make a concession, either with ...d5 or d7 12.e4 f5 . ] 9.b4! [ Perhaps I should denote this gambit merely as interesting, but I rather like its surprise value and suspect it may have been Kuzubov's intention when he went e4-e5. Another move with clear French conno tatio ns is 9.g4 when Black might counter by moving her queen to the g-file too and cxd4 10.xg7 f8 11.xf8+ xf8 12.b4 c7 13.b5 xe5 14.f3 c6 should also be okay for the second player. ] 9...cxb4 10.e4 [ It turns out that this had all been played before, although I doubt that Sachdev was aware of that. In Mesropov-Grigoriants, Moscow 2001, 10.b5 was preferred and after bxa3+ 11.c3 0-0! 12.xa3 c6 13.a1 b6 14.e2 f6 White came up short. ] 10...bxa3+ 11.c3 c7 [ Covering the d6-square, but here too 11...0-0! looks like the critical test to me. Now I wonder if 12.c1 ( 12.g4 d5!? 13.exd6 d8 is a clever defensive resource, although after 14.xa3 f5 15.g6! c6 16.f3 there's still everything to play for) 12...c6 13.e2 c7 14.0-0 was Kuzubov's intention. This looks slow, but W hite will regain one pawn and retain some play for the other, such as with f4-f5. That said, it is hard to imagine this position occurring in the upcoming Anand-Carlsen match and after d6 15.exd6 xd6 16.xd6 xd6 17.e4 e5 White at best is going to regains his pawn and draw. ] 12.g4 f8
[ It was either this or advance the f-pawn, since 12...0-0?? was no longer anywhere near so good: 13.f6+ h8 14.e4 g6 15.h4 g7 16.h5+! and Black loses her queen. ] 13.g3! By this point Kuzubov must have been feeling quite confident. This prophylactic re t r e a t p r e ve n t s B l a c k f r o m f r e e i n g h e r position with ...d6 and now Ne2-f4 is on its way, with typical French-like kingside chances for W hite. b6 14.e2 b7 15.f4 c6 16.0-0 d8 Sachdev has sensibly completed her queenside development and is still two pawns up we should not forget. Now ...d6 is back on the agenda and what is White to do? 17.f3 [ It wouldn't have been at all easy for Black to m a ke p ro gre ss a f t e r 17.d6 xd6 18.exd6 g5 19.xa3 xg3 20.hxg3 , but naturally such a course of action was never going to be appeal to the much higherrated Kuzubov. ] 17...g8 18.h5 f8 19.fe1!? [ Spurning the repetition which was on offer with 19.f4 . My understanding is that Dubai was played at a pretty quick time control, like all moves in 90 minutes plus 30 seconds a move, and my suspicion is that Sachdev probably spent a fair amount of time on the opening, allowing Kuzubov to have built up a large time advantage by this stage. ] 19...d6? [ This natural move doesn't turn out well, but I don't feel we can be too harsh on Sachdev for missing White's amazing combination. Instead the machine even prefers to give up a piece! Actually after 19...xe5! 20.dxe5 xe5 Black does have four pawns for it and will f inally be able to push some pawns and untangle her position, leaving everything to play for in a very unclear scenario. ] 20.f4 g8 21.f6+!! A bolt from the blue and a very powerful bolt at that. gxf6 [ I also considered declining the piece with 21...f8 , b u t a f t e r 22.6d5! xe5! ( and not 22...exd5? 23.g6+ ) 23.dxe5 xd5 24.g6+ e8 25.b5+ d7 26.xd5 exd5 27.exd6! xd6 28.xe7+ xe7 29.xh8 White should be winning, despite the a3-pawn, as the knight will be 2101
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 able to escape from the corner. ] 22.d5! exd5 [ Forced, since otherwise Black either loses the queen or is mated by 22...f8 23.xf6+ g7 24.g4# . ] 23.exf6 xe1+ 24.xe1 f8 Yet another only move. Taking stock we can see that Sachdev has rook, bishop and knight for the queen, but the exposed position of her king proves the key factor. 25.g3 g8 26.e3 h8 27.b5! White can do much better than merely repeat moves. e5 The only real try, since she could hardly allow the white queen to invade down the e-file. 28.dxe5 dxe5 Even here Black has rook, bishop and two pawns for the queen, but crucially White has the initiative and Kuzubov doesn't let up. 29.c4! d6 30.c5! bxc5 [ If 30...xc5 31.xe5 and there's suddenly a rather large threat of mate on e8. ] 31.xa3 a6 [ Making it easy for White, but Sachdev must have be en she ll-sho cke d b y t his po int . Moreover, 31...a8 32.a4 would surely h a v e le d t o a d e c is ive i n va s io n b y t h e white pieces in any case. ] 32.a5! [ After 32.a5 b8 33.b6 the unopposed queen is quick to make her presence felt. ] 1-0
2152 La Rosa,Edelmira Otazo,Annyd American Continental Women (9) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2005 29.09.2001
Stonewall attack: If W hite sets up the stonewall formation before Black has committed to d5, then a very handy resource is a timely d6, denying White the use of the key e5 square, when the W hite attack can soon be running on empty. 1.d4 f6 2.f4 While I'm quite a fan of the stonewall attack, in my view, this is asking a bit too much of the White position. Black has not yet committed any of his pawns, which gives him maximum flexibility in meeting White's set-up. e6 3.f3 b6 4.e3 b7 5.d3 e7 6.0-0 c5 7.c3 0-0 8.e2 d6 An important move, which
highlights the drawback in White's formation. In the stonewall, e5 is a massively important focal point of the White attack. Here, because Black hasn't committed his d-pawn to d5, W hite is de nied t ha t a ve nu e of p le as ure forever. 9.bd2 c6 10.g5 h6 11.ge4 W ith the e5 o utpost sadly denied f or th e launch of his attack, White resigns himself to pie ce e xch an ge s. c8 12.xf6+ xf6 13.g4? A sure sign of frustration! White, unsure of how to proceed, lunges forward on the kingside. Unfortunately, she lacks control in the centre, which allows swift and violent retribution. cxd4 14.exd4 xd4! 15.cxd4 xd4+ 16.f2 h4 The White kingside position resembles swiss cheese and Black is quick to exploit the holes. 17.e4 h3 There is no good defence against the threat of f5 18.g3 Allowing a quick finish, but perhaps White had already seen enough. [ 18.f5 exf5 19.gxf5 fe8 will be too horrible to watch. ] 18...g2# 0-1
2153 Lahiri,Atanu Tukhaev,Adam Summer Alushta UKR (11) [Eric Prié]
A45 2355 2419 04.06.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 e5 7.f4 d6 8.f5 Like Wells I am now also inclined to consider this move to be the most promising for White (h avin g an a lyse d all t he se u n su cc es sf u l attempts with the protected passed pawn policy as in the previous game). However he says something very interesting about it: "I think it is quite possible that the only barrier to W hite scoring very heavily here is the gambiteer's psychological or stylistic aversion to this type of blocked position!" I have not that aversion for blocked positions, on the contrary! But I do have an aversion to being a pawn down, forced to play dynamically against my nature as in the game against Pogorelov and unfortunately, it is not the 6...e5 option of this game or the previous one but the Granda game with 6...d6 7.f4 e6 that makes me state 2102
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 that I would never be capable to play this Vaganian Gambit as W hite ... even if I now realize that, with White compelled to handle the position in this way or similar against 2... c 5 ! , t h is is p ro b a b ly h is b e st ch a n ce f o r success. Incidentally, I guess this explains why W ells' coverage of "the attacking repertoire" 2...c5 3.d5!? is so unusually good: The requirement of the position may ideally fit his own style and also the 'British way' he sees the Tromp as an opening! Because against 2...Ne4 3.Bf4 d5, 2...d5 3.Bxf6, 2...e6 3.e4... e7 Erroneously letting White expand for free on the kingside. [ 8...h5! 9.f3 g6?? A terrible mistake, weakening the crucial e6 square. BricardN e v e d n i c h y h a d c o n t i n u e d ( 9...bd7 10.d3 a6 11.e2 e7 12.d1 c4! ) 10.b5+ d7 11.b1 xb5 12.xb5 c7 13.fxg6 h6 14.0-0 bd7 15.gxf7+ xf7 16.xh6 xh6 17.g5+ e7 18.e6 c8 19.g7 1-0 Bellon Lopez, J (2416)Rodriguez Costa, M (1970) Albacete op 2004 ] 9.g4 h6 10.h4 d8 11.f3! h7 The defensive set-up suggested by De la Villa which is countered by Wells's 12.g3 g8 13.f3 f6 "After which the passivity of Black's game looks ridiculous" And this W hite eloquently demonstrated in the continuation of the game even allowing himself the luxury of a far from optimal handling of his king's bishop! 14.h3 d7 15.f2 b8 16.a4 b6 17.f1 a8 18.e2 b6 19.ag1 c7 20.g5 Black is painfully stifled. If only there had been a circuit to bring the other knight to f7... fxg5 21.hxg5 xg5 22.xg5 xg5 23.xg5 xg5 24.xg5 hxg5 25.xg5 e7 26.hg1 f8 [ 26...e8 27.h5 d7 28.xe8 xe8 29.xg7+ xg7 30.xg7+ f7 31.b5 a6 32.xd6 ] 27.h5 b7 28.f6 e8 29.xe8 xe8 30.b5! d7 31.xg7 f8 32.c7+ xc7 33.xc7 xf6+ 34.e3 1-0
2154 Lakdawala,Cyrus Ivanov Continental Open (5) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2434 2472 28.07.2000
White chooses one of the most exciting lines in the Ne4 Tromp. Black declines the often lethal early pawn grab, only to get greedy later. White tops off a fine attacking game with a splendid queen sacrifice. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.f3 f6 5.e4 The most ambitious approach. White offers a pawn in order to achieve an accelerated BlackmarDiemer gambit. e6 The jury is still out on this gambit's soundness ,so Black, maybe wisely, d e c id e s t o p la y i t s a f e a n d d e c lin e s t h e offered pawn. 6.e5 fd7 7.e3 The usual regrouping, which allows White to support his e5 pawn with f3-f4. c5 8.c3 b6 9.d2 f6 10.f4 g5 In a similar manner to that of the French Defence, Black must respond vigorously to the W hite central space advantage. White's main priority is to support his centre and then complete his d e ve l o p m e n t . 11.f3 g4 12.h4 c6 13.e2 fxe5 14.fxe5 cxd4 15.cxd4 dxe5 Black was clearly relying on this tactical blow to free his position. Although now we can see how far he is falling behind in development. 16.0-0 g6 17.xg6 hxg6 18.c3 d6 Making use of the open h-file. This threat is e a s i l y p a r r i e d , l e a vi n g B l a c k t o a n s we r serious questions about his weakened kingside pawn structure. 19.g3 d7 20.b5 b8 21.a4 a6 22.a5 d8 23.g5 Just in case Black was even thinking about relocating his Queen to the kingside, White chops out the option. e7 24.c3 d6 25.f6 h7 26.g5 Suddenly Black lacks a decent way to keep his kingside together. Disintegration is imminent anyway, but Black manages to walk into a spectacular finish. h5 27.xg4 e5 28.xh5 Bang! Every chess player's dream. A gorgeous winning queen sacrifice, which totally destroys the Black position. gxh5 29.xh5+ f8 30.xe7+ Black gives up the ghost, the only way to keep his queen is 30... Kxe7 but then 31.Nxd5+ Ke6 32. Bf7+ is a rather classy mate! 1-0 2103
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2155 Larsson,Johan Malmdin,Nils Ake Solett Open Skelleftea SWE (8) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2195 15.04.2001
April Update: Trompowsky Attack: The 2...e6 system continues to be all the rage against the Tromp. Instead of following the fashion with 5.c3 White plays Hodgson's old favourite and is rewarded with a victory to savour. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 b4 6.d2 d6 7.0-0-0 This a rarely seen sideline in this variation of the Tromp. Hodgson, among others, has preferred the more direct 7.a3. The move played has the advantage of not weakening the queenside, allowing the W hite king to breathe a little easier. e5 Very aggressive. Black takes the fight directly to the White player, but I'm not entirely sure of the wisdom of opening the position whilst behind in development. 8.dxe5 xe5 Black piles on the early pressure but it is easy for White to resist, as Black appears to have forgotten to develop most of his pieces. At the same time, Black has just lost his valuable foothold in the centre. [ 8...dxe5 9.b1 Intending Nd5 is interesting. ] 9.ge2 0-0 10.a3 Black is slowly being pushed back. a5 11.f4 f6 12.b1 c6 13.h3 Preparing a kingside pawn storm. e6 14.g4 c4 15.e3 A useful move breaking the pin on the Nc3 and allowing a queen swing over to the kingside. b5 16.d5 xd5 17.xd5 b6 18.g3 White has no need to disguise his intentions towards the Black king. b4 Black desperately tries to drum up some counterplay, but his plans are easily thwarted. 19.a4 d4 20.h4 Charge!! Could White have any more pawns pointed at the Black k in gs id e ? ? xe2 21.xe2 h8 22.h5 Black is helpless against the coming breakthrough. d4 23.g5 e3 24.g4 f5 [ 24...xe4 25.f3 ] 25.exf5 b3 As good as any other move. What else can Black do? 26.gxh6 The White attack crashes through and Black had seen enough. 1-0
2156 Laznicka,Viktor Hausrath,Daniel 25th ECC Ohrid MKD (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2634 2528 05.10.2009
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6 3.f3!? If White is not willing to sacrifice his b2 pawn for a strong initiative, this is an interesting alternative... [ 3.c3 is appropriate, to solve the latter c o n c e r n a f t e r b6 4.b3 but is more passive in the longer term. d6 ( 4...d5 ) 5.d2 e6 6.c2 bd7 7.e4 g6 8.d3 a5 9.h4 h6 Le Kieu Thien Kim (2250)Nguyen Thi Thanh An (2330) Ho Chi Minh City 2009 1-0(92) ] 3...b6 [ 3...e4 4.f4 b6 ( 4...g5? 5.xg5 a5+ 6.d2 xd2 7.xd2; 4...d5 5.bd2 b6 but 6.b1!? Then g5 7.e3 The e3 tempo for the support of the d4 pawn is missing in this case.) 5.c3! Apparently a Novelty, and a point for preferring 3.Nf3 to 3. Nd2! A) 5...a5 6.d3 d5 ( 6...xc3 7.d2 ) 7.d2! xc3 ( 7...f5 8.cxe4 dxe4 9.b3 ) 8.b3 b6 9.bxc3; B) 5...d5 6.e3 g4 ( 6...g5 7.e5 f6 8.xb8 xb8 9.xe4 dxe4 10.d2 f5 11.b1; 6...xb2 7.xe4 dxe4 8.d2 f5 9.e2 looks terribly dangerous for Black. ) 7.e2 xb2 8.xe4 dxe4 9.b1 xa2 10.d2 xe2 11.xe2 b5 12.0-0 xc2 13.fc1 a2 ( 13...d3 14.d1 ) 14.xb8 ( 14.d1 e6 ) 14...xb8 15.xc6 With probably more than enough compensation for the invested material a l r e a d y . F o r i n s t a n c e b4 16.d1! The key move. e6 17.a1! d5 18.a4 d7 ( 18...b5 19.c8+ ) 19.c4! f6 20.xe6+ e7 21.xa7 xe6 ( 21...d8 22.d6+ f8 23.xd7 xd7 24.a8+ d8 25.xd8+ xd8 26.e8# ) 22.xb8+ f7 23.xh8 xc4 24.xh7+- ] 4.c1 [ 4.bd2 d5 Transposes into a note to the previous game. ] 4...e4 5.f4 d6 [ 5...d5 Similar to the 2...Ne4 3.Bf4 d5 Tromp, with the idea Bd3xe4 to get rid of the annoying knight without allowing any 2104
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 levelling ...Ne4xd2 as in the previous game. 6.e3 f5 7.d3 f6 8.c3 ( 8.0-0 g5 9.xb8 xb8 10.c3 xc3 11.xf5?? e2+ ) 8...d7 9.xe4 ( 9.h3!? ) 9...dxe4 10.d2 e5 11.dxe5 fxe5 12.g3 h5 13.h3 0-0-0 14.dxe4 e7 15.0-0 g5 ] 6.g3!? I would have seriously considered trying to take advantage of Black's timid last move with a more thematic 'd-pawn specials' [ 6.bd2 xd2 7.xd2 f5 8.e3 d7 ( 8...h6 9.c4 ) 9.h4 e6 10.d3 ] 6...e5 7.e3 exd4 8.xd4 c5 9.b3 d5 10.g2 e6 11.0-0 d7 12.a3 An unusual position for this section... Actually, W hite may be Ok: He wants to play c4 in reversed Grünfeld style. However, he might have tested the subtle [ 12.d1!? f i r s t , w i t h t h e i d e a e7 ( 12...ef6! 13.a3; 12...df6 13.c3 xc3 14.bxc3 c7 ) 13.c3! xc3 14.bxc3 f6 ( 14...0-0 15.b1 a6 16.xd5 ) 15.b1 c7 16.c4! Now Black is outflanked d8 ( 16...dxc4 17.f4 b6 18.d4 ) 17.a3 b6 ( 17...dxc4 18.xd8+ xd8 19.xc5; 17...d4 18.f4 c8 19.a5 ) 18.f4 d6 ( 18...d7 19.a6 d4 20.c3 ) 19.cxd5 xd5 20.a4+ f8 21.xd6+ xd6 22.f4 ] 12...df6 [ 12...f5!? 13.c4 d4 ] 13.c3 c8 14.d1 e7 15.f3 d6 16.f2 [ 16.xc5? f5 ] 16...a5 17.f4 0-0 18.xc5 xc5? Both players probably missed the point: [ 18...xb2 19.c1 xc1 20.axc1?! ( 20.dxc1 de4 21.xe6 fxe6 22.fxe4 xa3 23.cb1 xe4 24.xe4 dxe4 25.xb7= ) 20...de4! when the Na3 hangs 'through' the Nc5. Difficult to see, like every X- ra y m o t iv e ! 21.xe6 xf2! 22.xf8 xd1 ] 19.b4 axb4 20.cxb4 c4 [ 20...f5 21.bxc5 ( 21.d3 d7 22.bxc5 xc5 23.f1 ) 21...xc5 22.f1 ] 21.c2! [ 21.xc4 xb4 ] 21...h5 22.c1 fc8 23.bxc5 xc5 24.xc5 xc5 25.d4 b2 26.b1 c4 27.e3 b4 [ 27...b4 28.a3 ] 28.e1 The smoke has cleared and White
emerges out of the maze of calculations with a so lid e xt ra e xch a n ge . xd4 29.exd4 xd4+ 30.h1 d3 31.e2 f2+ 32.xf2 xf2 33.xb7 h6 34.a4 d4 35.b8+ h7 36.b1+ g6 37.a5 f5 38.g1 b2 39.a6 1-0
2157 Laznicka,Viktor Huzman,Alexander European Club Cup, Eilat (4.5) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2678 2591 14.10.2012
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.d3 c6?! [ Gelfand's no.2 is normally extremely well prepared, but despite the result of this game I believe the text still deserves to be denoted as dubious. Instead 5...f6 is probably best, ] [ while we considered 5...cxd4 6.exd4 c6 7.xe4! dxe4 8.e2 g4 9.bc3 e6 last mo nth with Vit iugo v-Ding Liren , S t Petersburg (rapid) 2012. ] 6.xe4 dxe4 7.d5 e5 [ Trying to block things up is the best policy. Instead 7...b4?! 8.c3 e6 ( t o m y s u r p r i s e 8...f5 9.a3 a6 was tried in Nakamura-Mamedyarov, Moscow (blitz) 2010 here I'd be tempted to p u s h t h e f - p a w n , b u t 10.ge2 g6 would also have been good had Naka now just collected a pawn with 11.g3 ) 9.d6! is just very good for W hite as shown by practice - see the Archive for some examples. ] 8.g3 e7 9.c3 f6 [ A g a i n , r e l a t ive ly b e s t . I n s t e a d 9...g6 was well met by 10.h4! in Radjabov-Polgar, Be nid orm (ra pid ) 2 00 3, wh ich E ric h a s covered before. ] 10.h5+! [ Best once more. Instead 10.e2?! f5 11.c4?! was rather materialistic in Shimanov-Zakhartsov, Taganrog 2011, and after h5! 12.xe4 d6 13.g6+ e7 14.h4 Black had a few tempting options, including f5!? 15.g3 f7 when the bishop should fall for insufficient 2105
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 compensation. ] 10...g6 [ 10...g6 11.h4 is now a relatively safe pawn grab. ] 11.0-0-0 d7!? [ New. Huzman wants to get the queens off and rely on his bishop-pair. Previously, 11...a5 12.f4! exf3 13.xf3 c7 had been seen in K. Berg-Navara, Morso 2002, and now 14.hf1! would have been strong, as shown by Eric in his notes. ] 12.xe4 [ This does win a pawn, but now the queens wi l l c o m e o f f . A s s u c h , t h e a m b i t i o u s 12.e2!? very much deserves attention: for instance, f5 13.h4! d6 ( or 13...h5 14.f3 exf3 15.xf3 d6 16.g5 , already beginning to exploit the holes in Black's position ) 14.h5 e7 15.f3 exf3 16.xf3 f4 17.exf4 exf4 18.f2 when it's hard to believe Black will survive with White set to invade via the e-file and g5-square. ] 12...f5! 13.xf5 [ White is also better after 13.f3!? xf3 14.xf3 h5 15.h4 d7 , although even here it won't b e so easy to break down Black's solid defence. ] 13...xf5 14.d2 b5! Keeping White out of c4 and even giving himself the option of some later counterplay on the queenside. 15.e4 [ I wonder if the Czech Grandmaster had prematurely relaxed having won a pawn for he doesn't demonstrate his usual high level of technique in this game. Here I would have been tempted to complete development and only then decide on a further course of action: 15.f3 d6 16.e2 e7 17.f2 h5 and now even 18.g3!? is possible, followed by h3 and g4. Yes, White has a lot of work to do here, but so does he in the game. Indeed, the thought continues to grow that grabbing the e-pawn was perhaps not the best of the available 'refutations'. ] 15...d7 16.c4 A logical gain of space, but what does this do to White's pawn breaks? Note too how Huzman now moves to rule out f2-f4. h5! 17.h4 d6 18.e2 f7 19.f3 f4! 20.xf4 exf4 21.f2 g5?! [ We might rightly have criticised Huzman's play in the opening, but since then he has demonstrated his deep understanding of the
game and obtained counterplay across the board. That said, the text was probably a slip and 21...a5! likely an improvement. ] 22.c2?! [ I think White missed a chance here. Assessing 22.b4! cxb4 ( 22...ac8 23.e5! fxe5 24.e4 is another important point) 23.c5 wasn't trivial, but after, say, hc8 24.b3 a5 25.c6 g4 26.d4 e5 27.b1 e8 White must be able to keep control and eventually force his pawns home. ] 22...g4 23.cxb5 Logically trying to bring a knight to c4, but even this is nowhere near en ou gh t o win, t ha nks to B la ck's c en tra l blockade and kingside counterplay. xb5 24.b3 ab8 25.c4 xc4 26.bxc4 b4! Continuing to defend actively and rightly not fearing having his rook driven to the edge. White's advantage is most certainly dwindling. 27.a3 a4 28.b3 a6 29.a2 g8 30.b1 gxf3 31.b7+ e8 32.gxf3 g2 Your engine may not agree, at least initially, but Black is now active enough to hold with some ease from what I can see. 33.f1 e5 34.b3 b6+ 35.xb6 axb6 36.a4 [ With such a bishop and rook it's hard to see White making any real progress either after 36.a4 d7 37.b5 c7 38.a4 d6 39.a5 bxa5 40.xa5 g8! . ] 36...d6 37.a5 bxa5 38.a4 d7 39.xa5 g8 40.g1 a8+ 41.b6 b8+ 42.a6 a8+ 43.b6 b8+ 44.a6 a8+ 45.b6 ½-½
2158 Laznicka,Viktor Moiseenko,Alexander San Sebastian 2-game KO (6.3) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2703 2715 04.01.2012
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 Rather than hurry to gain a lead in development, White prefers to build a strong centre. d6 [ Black's most popular defence, but 5...d5 is a very im port ant alt erna tive and ha s received the backing of both Eric and John Cox. For some coverage see HutchinsonWard, Scarborough 2004, in the Archive. ] 6.d3 d7 Simple development, but there 2106
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 are alternatives and quite critical ones at that: [ a) Both 6...g5 7.f3 xg2 8.g1 h3 followed by Eric's 9.bd2 (see his notes to Pixton-Finegold, Connecticut 2002), ] [ b) and 6...g6 7.f3! , as in Argandona Rivero-Mirzoev, Elgoibar 2005, offer White reasonable compensation for his pawn. It's noticeable that pawn-grabbing with the queen, while critical, hasn't been especially popular of late, perhaps because of practical considerations - the resulting positions are generally easier for White to handle. ] [ c) 6...e5! wastes no time countering in the c e n t re a n d h a s b e e n a p r e t t y co m m o n choice. Play often continues 7.e2 g6 ( for coverage of the less important 7...c6 8.0-0 d8 9.f4 exd4 10.cxd4 e7 11.bc3; and 7...d7 8.0-0 d8 9.f4 e7 10.d2 c6 11.h1 see respectively Rogers-Schnitzspan, Deizisau 2001, and Reynolds-Simeonidis, Panormo 2001, as considered by Aaron) 8.0-0 g7 9.f4 e7 10.d2 , reaching a position where I believe Black shouldn't have any real problems whether he deploys his remaining knight to d 7 o r g o e s 0-0 . White's set-up may look impressive, but it's not so easy to keep going forwards and meanwhile those dark squares can easily become a tad weak: for example, 11.f3 ( 11.f5 d7 holds everything together) 11...c5!? ( again, 11...d7 has been quite a popular choice here,; while in Hoang Thanh TrangO l e k s i e n k o , C h e n n a i 2 0 1 2 , 11...c6 12.e1 exd4! 13.exd4 xd4 14.xd4 d7 15.f2 c5 16.c2 c6 was slightly in Black's favour) 12.h1 ( this is slow, but I'm not too sure what W hite should be doing after 12.fxe5 dxe5 13.d5 d7 14.d2 b6 White's d-pawn is under lock and key, and Black has all the long-term chances) 12...exd4! (often the pivotal move in such s t r u c t u r e s ) 13.cxd4 cxd4 14.f5! g5 15.fxd4 d7 16.c1 f6 and White had obtained some activity in Sulava-Jankovic, Croatian Championship, Opatija 2012, but I'd still slightly prefer to take Black here thanks to that unopposed prelate on g7. ] 7.e2 g6 8.0-0 g7 Just as in variation 'c', above, Black bolsters his kingside with a
fianchetto and hopes that one day his darksquared bishop will be master of a cleared long diagonal. 9.f4 0-0 [ Keeping the queen in situ so long hasn't been too common, but is a sensible choice i n t h i s p a r t i c u l a r p o s i t i o n , a s 9...e7 might be met by 10.f5!? 0-0 11.f4 . ] 10.d2 [ Now 10.f5 can be met by g5!? when 11.f3 ( and not, of course , 11.d2?? e3+ ) 11...f6 12.g3 h5 looks quite scary for Black, but my machine at least is yet to find more than a draw for White. ] 10...e7 [ Black would like to go 10...e5?! , but it's too l a t e f o r t h i s : 11.fxe5! ( 11.f5 e7 is a ga in secure en o ugh f o r th e se co n d player ) 11...g5 12.f3 ( simple and strong, whereas 12.exd6? e3+ 13.h1 xd3 14.dxc7 b5 surely doesn't offer W hite enough for his piece) 12...e3+ 13.h1 dxe5 14.c2 h5 15.ae1 h6 16.c4 and White's pressure against f7 is not so easy to counter. This is why if Black is after a set-up with a kingside fianchetto he should begin with the immediate 6...e5. ] 11.e5! Preventing ...e5 for good and so securing an edge. Moiseenko's handling of the opening, not to mention subsequent play, might not have been top notch, but then again we shouldn't forget that he was playing two games simultaneously against Laznicka! b6 12.e4 Continuing to disrupt Black's development. b8 13.a4 a6 [ Instead 13...a5!? 14.c6 d8 15.e4 d5 16.4g3 b7 was preferred in Panjwani-De Firmia n, Ca lgary 2010, where 17.ad1?! ( 17.xb7 xb7 followed by either a d v a n c i n g t h e c - p a w n o r j u s t 18.c2 would have retained a pull in the case of t h e l a t t e r B l a c k m u s t b e o n h i s wa t c h against powerful sacrificial breakthroughs w i t h f 4 - f 5) 17...xc6 18.xc6 b5! condemned White's queen to a pretty risky existence. ] 14.ae1 b5 15.c2 c5 At first glance it may appear that Black is obtaining decent enough co un t erp la y, bu t W h it e's ce nt re re m ain s secure and meanwhile we should not forget that he too might advance in that part of the board. 16.h1 Keeping the tension and luring 2107
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Black forwards. d5 17.f3 b4? [ It wasn't easy for Black to maintain the central tension and White's well-positioned queen discourages any break with ...f6, but this does not turn out well. I have my doubts about the soundness of Black's set-up after 17...c4!? 18.g4! , but still this may well have been a better try. White's minor pieces are not ideally placed for a kingside assault and breaking through on the kingside would not have been a trivial business af ter, say, h4!? , sneakily preparing to meet 19.f5? with xe5! 20.dxe5 xe5 . ] 18.c4! Keeping the b-file closed and now Moiseenko finds that it's his centre which is the one coming under the most pressure. b7 [ This doesn't turn out well, but there simply would have been too many accessibly weak squares in the black camp after 18...dxc4 19.xc4 . ] 19.cxd5 xd5 [ Initially criticised by the machine, although even that fearless piece of silicon soon b e gi n s t o re a l ise t h a t t h e d a m a ge h a s already been done, with 19...exd5 20.f5 gxf5 21.g3 cxd4 22.xf5 hardly a panacea either. ] 20.xd5 exd5 21.f5! Just six moves ago it didn't look like White had a promising pawn break available, but in his bid to coordinate his pieces Black has now allowed not one but two strong pawn breakthroughs. White is now doing very well and Laznicka wrapped matters up without too much difficulty despite the distraction of the other game. gxf5 22.g3 cxd4 23.xf5 g5? [ The attack is too strong after this. The last real chance was to grovel with the ugly 23...e6 . ] 24.f3 d8 [ Or 24...h5 25.xg7 xg7 26.c7 b6 27.xd4 followed by crashing through on the e6-square. ] 25.3xd4 b6 [ Black must shed material after this, but so would he in the event of 25...c8 26.xc8 ( 26.d1!? , heading for the g-file, might be even stronger ) 26...xc8 27.e7+ . ] 26.e6! fxe6 27.xe6 xe6 28.xe6 h8 29.fe1 f6 30.h4 g8 31.g6+ g7 32.e7 f8 33.f5+
[ 33.xf6! xf6 34.f5+ g7 35.g4+ would have been an immediate knock-out, but of course the text is plenty good enough. ] 33...h8 34.d6 1-0
2159 Laznicka,Viktor Parligras,Mircea 8th ch-Euro Dresden GER (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2608 2522 04.04.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 f5 [ 5...g7 6.d2?! Normally White cannot avoid the move c2-c3 and just like playing it where Black is not attacking b2, i.e. with his pawn on f5 but the bishop still on f8 as some time ago in a game Agabean-Baklan, this loss of a tempo should directly lead to the loss of the d5-pawn. A) 6...f5 7.b1 ( 7.c4? b4+; 7.c3 d6 ) A1) 7...a5! Would be a Novelty. 8.a3 ( 8.e3 xa2 9.c4 a5 10.gf3 b5 ) 8...c4 9.e3 xd5 ( 9...b5!? 10.e2 d6! To be able to meet Bf3 with ...Nd7-e5 while keeping f5 protected and then decide whether the pressure against d5 is effective enough to develop it to b7.) 10.xc4 ( 10.xc4? xg2 ) 10...b5; A2) 7...a6!? Against 7...d6, White can possibly do without c2-c4 so that in order to avoid an inferior transposition into Kovacevic-Stevic where Black implemented the plan ...b7-b5, ...Nd7-b6 or . . .Nd 7-e 5 in o rd e r t o p re ven t t h e installation of a white knight on c4 after the opening of the b-file. A2a) 8.e3 b4 9.c4 ( 9.c4 g6 10.d2 f4! 11.c1 xa2 12.a1 b4 13.c1 a2 14.a1 b4 15.c1 a2 1/2-1/2 was a laughable result in Lachmann, H-Speer, A Moeller Werke 1970 ) 9...d6; A2b) 8.c4 d6! 9.c2 ( 9.e3 f4 10.exf4 f5 ) 9...d7 ( 9...b4 10.b3 d7 11.a3 a6 12.c2 ) 10.a3 ( 10.e3 b4! 11.b3 a6 2108
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.a3 a4 ) 10...g8 Before deciding between ...e6 or ...e5 Black wants White to lose another tempo with the defence of his g2-pawn. 11.e3 f6 12.h3 e6 13.f4 0-0-0 ( 13...e5 14.h5 e7 15.g3 ) 14.d3 b8 15.0-0 With a complicated game since Black will have to play ...e6-e5, and possibly ...e4, sooner or later, winning space but to the detriment of his bishop's activity.; B) 6...d6?! In any case, It is interesting to force the white rook to b1: 7.e3 d7 8.c4 c7 9.a4 f5 10.e2 b6 11.f4 f6 12.e2 0-0 13.d1 ( 13.0-0 b7 14.d1 h6 15.f3 a6 16.b3 ) 13...d8 14.0-0= Shmirina, G (2115)-Khukhashvili, S (2334) EU-ch Fem Dresden 2007 0-1(37) ] 6.e3 In May, I will take a stock on [ 6.g3 and continue with 2...Ne4 3.Bf4 c5! which was also decisive in my dropping of the Tromp, wh en as I had f orecast this Chernyshov double gambit with Bc7 proves just unsound. ] 6...g7 7.c3 d6 8.h3 d7 9.f4 f6 10.c4 d7 11.d2 c7 12.a4 0-0 13.0-0 b6! These two highly topical games seem to acknowledge the idea that White has realized that this set-up beginning with 6.e3 (which I have not dealt with so far) may be the only one which is more or less stable for him in this line. Nevertheless, the light-squared bishop is defensively placed on c4 and subject to Black's ...b7-b5 when he should be on d3 or h3 to pressurize the f5-pawn in the hope that the reply ...e7-e6 or ...e7-e5 would not be possible because of the newly created weakness on d6,which is precisely attacked by his knight on ... c4! As a result he lacks a c l e a r c o u r s e o f a ct i o n t o u n b a la n c e t h e position when Black seems the only one to be able to undertake things with that purpose... 14.b5 [ 14.c2 a6 15.f3 b5 No time for Nh4 either. 16.axb5 axb5 17.d3 e6 18.dxe6 fxe6 19.g5 xa1 20.xa1 e8= ] 14...e5 15.dxe6 fxe6 16.c2 ae8 17.c4 e7 18.xd7 xd7 19.fd1 c6 20.a3 h6 21.d3 g7 22.g3 e7 Black must have forecast
[ 22...xf4 23.exf4 h5 but renounced it at the last moment when it not obvious to understand why. 24.f3! ( 24.f1 e5 ) 24...d8 25.f1 Still equal, but Black was possibly already nourishing bigger ambitions. ] 23.b1 d8 24.g2 g7 [ 24...g4!? 25.d2? ( 25.f4 ) 25...e5! 26.xd6 xd6 27.xd6 d7 28.b8+ f8 29.xd7 f3+ 30.f1 xd7 ] 25.c3 g4 26.f4 ed7 [ 26...xc3 27.xc3 f7! With the same strong idea Nf6-e4, then ( 27...f7 28.b3 d5 29.h4 ) 28.d2 ( 28.h4 xa4 29.xd6 xd1+; 28.b3! f6 29.h4 e4 30.b2 Intending Qe2 or g2 protecting f 3 a n d N h 4 - f 3 w i t h e q u a l i t y, a s i n t h e game. ) 28...fd7 29.c3? Would lose an important tempo. f7 30.b3 d5 ] 27.h4! Holding on for a tactical reason. xc3 28.xc3 f7 [ 28...xa4? 29.h3 h6 30.f6 ] 29.b3 a6 30.c2 f6 31.e2 b5 32.axb5 axb5 33.f3 bxc4 34.bxc4 e7 35.h3 e4 36.d2 c6 ½-½
2160 Laznicka,Viktor Zubarev,Alexander2 Rubinstein mem (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2602 2518 22.08.2006
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.c1! Back to the old recipes with this conservative but nevertheless provocative move! e6 8.e4 So this is the way they play this line now?! Peter Wells does not even consider this move in his book... [ For his favourite if nowadays completely outmoded 8.c4 (since my dedicated update on this move some 2 and a half years ago) and a final look at the 2...Ne4 3. Bf4 Tromp, see next month. ] 8...exd5 9.exd5 e7 10.c4 0-0 11.d3 e8 12.e2 d6 13.bc3 bd7 14.b3 f8 15.0-0 g6 16.h3! g7 17.d2 Of course, the move b2-b3 was played only to authorize Bc2 by defending the c4-pawn against the 2109
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 manoeuvre ...Ne5 but White had absolutely 13.xc4 f2+ 14.e2 c5 15.gxh3 0-0 no intention of abandoning the c1-h6 diagonal, [ 15...h4 16.b3! 0-0 ( 16...f2+ 17.d1 including the sensitive e3-square, to Black. 0-0 18.e3 Forces the exchange of d8 18.f4 a6 19.a4 White has obtained the queens. ) 17.e3 c7 18.c1 e7 optimal setup. Black has no squares for his 19.a3 is no better. ] p i e c e s a n d i s co n d e m n e d t o t h e r o l e o f 16.d3 defender against the forthcoming kingside [ 16.e3 xe3 17.xe3 b5+ 18.f2 attack. f8 20.f3 b6 21.c2 h6 22.af1 xb2+ 19.e2 e5 20.d4 ] a7 23.g4 ae7 24.g3 xg4 16...c8 Black seizes a practical chance before it is too [ 16...a6 17.e3 xe3 18.xe3 c7 late, but this will prove insufficient. 25.hxg4 19.f2 In the long term, White may have xg4 26.f5! d4+ 27.g2 xf3+ 28.xf3 worries about the situation of his king but, h7 h6 hangs but the main problem for Black at the moment, he is a good pawn up with a remains his inability to profit from his solid pair of bishops protected behind a domination of the e-file. strong centre and therefore holds a big [ 28...g5 29.f6 e1 30.ce2 g6 31.xg6 advantage. To answer a question that had 1xe2+ 32.xe2 xe2+ 33.f1 h2 been privately asked to me by mail on this 34.xf7+! h8 35.g6 f8 36.e3 ] very subject: apart from the beginning of the 29.ce4 e5 30.c1 An outrageously oneline with 9...c4, I do not have a clue where sided game. Black can improve! ] 1-0 [ 16...h4 17.e3 c7 18.c1 followed by Qa3. ] 17.b4! xc4 18.xc4 xc4 19.xf2 xb4 2161 A45 20.a3 b6 21.e2 a6 22.hc1 [ 22.hb1 c5 23.xb6 axb6 24.b2 Lerner,David B Du e t o t h e d o u b l e d b -p a wn s , W h i t e i s Rajlich,Vasik G 2270 effectively a pawn up but Black has some CCA ChessWise op (2) 12.06.1999 activity. h5 25.e3 f5 ] [Eric Prié] 22...b4 23.c4 a5 24.ac1 [ 24.c1 a6 25.e3 b2 26.d4 b4 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ ( 26...d2? 27.e3 ) 27.a3 xc4 28.xc4 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.c1 e6 8.c4 exd5 c8 29.xa6 bxa6 30.b1 As in other 9.cxd5 c4?! 10.e4!? As far as my database similar endings, is obviously dreadful for can tell, this critical move has been only Black. ] played twice as it seems paradoxical to 'fall in' 24...f8 25.c8+ xc8 26.xc8+ e7 with Black's idea by leaving the a7-g1 xa2 28.xa5 c3 29.c4 diagonal wide open, but it is essential for the 27.a8 estimation of this important branch of the White has missed the bus when [ 29.e5 fxd5 30.exd6+ d7 31.c4 b4 T r o m p , w h i l e a l s o s e r vi n g a s a s t r i k i n g 32.xf7 which should not prove enough, demonstration of the power of the centre. c5 was the last chance to pla y with active 11.h3 d6 12.d2! bishops. ] [ 12.g4 0-0 13.c3 e8 14.a4 1/2-1/2 Chernyshov,K-Brodsky,M Cappelle 29...d7! Now he should start to be careful.... la Grande op 2004 I could have reversed the 30.h4? [ 30.e3 e5 31.d4 ] roles and put this game as the leading game, between 2 Grandmasters, held in 2004, but 30...e5 31.f1 d1+? [ 31...b1! When, all of a sudden, the th is wo u ld h a ve b e e n, le t 's sa y. . . a b it coordination of the black pieces is menacing, polemic o) ] f o r in sta n ce, t he t hre at o f Nxf 3 p ro ve s 12...xh3 d e l i c a t e t o c o u n t e r . 32.a7 b3 [ 12...c3 13.bxc3 xh3 14.c4 f2+ ( 32...xf3? 33.d3 d1 34.c2 d2+ 15.e2 c5 16.gxh3 xc4+ 17.xf2 35.xf3 xc2 36.xb7+ f6 37.xd6 ) xc3 18.b1 ] 2110
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 33.h5 xf3 34.c4 xe4+ 35.e2 d4+ 36.d1 b1+-+ ] 32.e2 b2 [ 32...c4 33.a8 ( 33.a7 c3+ 34.d3 b5 Beware of the nimble knights!) 33...b1 34.h3= ] 33.f4 ec4 34.a7 xa3 35.xa3 c4 36.a7 f6? [ 36...b3 ] [ 36...b1= ] 37.d3! Short legged knights, most of the time... b1 38.e2 b5 [ 38...b2! ] 39.d4! b4 40.c3 b1 41.d4? White, now rated 2125, who overall played a go o d g a m e , s e e m s t o h a ve h a d e n o u g h excitement whereas after [ 41.d7! h1 42.xc4 bxc4 43.xd6+ e7 44.a6 xh2 45.d6+ d7 ( 45...e6 46.f5+ d7 47.e5 xh4 48.a7+ c6 49.xf7 ) 46.e5 xh4 47.a7+ e8 48.e7+ f8 49.f5 Always the centre e4 50.e6 fxe6 51.fxe6 g6! 52.b4! ( 52.xh7? xe6 53.h8+ g7 54.d7 xh8 55.d8+ g7 is only a theoretical draw when the black rook oscillates from f5 to h5, but 56.d7+ f6 57.d4!? c3!? is too far ahead to see if Black can establish the well-known fortress.) 52...h5 53.c5 e5+ 54.xc4 h4 55.d4 e1 56.d5 he could have won this game, eventually! ] 41...b4 42.c3 b1 ½-½
(possibly Denis and not Anatoli) against Joe Gallagher, analysed in this section. 4.b3!? A move that is condemned by theory. The reason why W hite should have taken on f6 and why Black should have accepted the favourable transposition afore-mentioned is that now, after [ 4.c2! e4 is not so strong because of 5.dxc5 xc5 ( 5...xc5 6.e3 c6 7.d2 ) 6.d2 Where White gets a "normal" d -p a wn p o si t io n wi t h h is d a rk squ a re d bishop still present on the board. And if ] [ 4.c2 cxd4 5.xf6! xf6 ( 5...gxf6 6.cxd4 is our game Tseitlin-Naumann.; 5...exf6 6.cxd4 c6 7.e3 d5 8.c3 f5 9.d3 b4 10.a4+ d7 11.b5 xb5 12.xb5 c6 13.e2 b4+ 14.bc3 xc3+ 15.bxc3 like a variation in the same ga m e is t h is t i m e o b vio u s ly in W h it e ' s favour.; 5...d3!? 6.exd3 gxf6 7.b3 ) 6.cxd4 c6 7.e3 d5 8.c3 e6 9.a3 is all-right for White because of the "lockingup" of the bishop on c8. See the comment a b o u t B la ck' s 8 t h m o ve , wit h re ve rs e d colours, in the game Tseitlin-Naumann. ] 4...cxd4 [ 4...e6 A) 5.xf6 gxf6 6.dxc5 ( 6.e3!? ) 6...xc5 7.xb6 xb6 8.d2; B) 5.d2 d5 6.xf6 gxf6 7.xb6 axb6 8.gf3 ( 8.e4!? ) B1) 8...c4! 9.a3 ( 9.e4 b5 10.a3 b4 ) 9...b5 10.b1 f5 11.e3 d7 12.e2 b6; B2) 8...c6 9.e3 d7 10.a3 cxd4 2162 A45 11.cxd4 d6 12.e2 e7 13.0-0 hc8 14.fc1 c7 15.c3 1/2-1/2 Boidman, Letelier Martner,Rene Y-Koutsin,S Prievidza(9) 1996 ] Fischer,Robert James [ 4...e4 5.e3 ] Mar del Plata (14) 14.04.1960 [ 4...xb3!? is possibly better. It appears [Eric Prié] that the doubled pawns on the b-file which give the opponent a strong square in front of 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 Contrary to the them is a handicapping weakness that the other line of this survey with e3, White should opening of the a-file is insufficient to take on f6 first if he intends to support his d4 compe nsate . 5.axb3 cxd4 6.xf6 gxf6 pawn with the c-pawn. b6 And here Black 7.cxd4 c6 Quite surprisingly this position should play 3...Ne4 transposing into a sub-line has apparently never been tested in of the 2...Ne4 Trompowsky after 2.Bf4 (Bh4) practice! 8.e3 b4 9.d2 At least is it c5 where 3.f3 is normal and 3.c3 considered clearer in this case: Black can always play .. . rightly as dubious, again because of the b2 a5 and White has very little to expect from problem. A good illustration of this estimation t h e a - f il e . I n d e e d , i t wi l l b e e xt r e m e l y is provided by the famous game Terentiev, 2111
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 difficult for him to unblock the b4 square be ca u se o f its co nt rol b y B la ck's d arksquared bishop which has no counterpart anymore. ] 5.xb6 axb6 6.xf6 gxf6 7.cxd4 So, by inversion of moves, we have reached, if not the critical position of the 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4.c3 Trompowsky (after 4...Qb6 5.Qb3 cxd4 6. Qxb6 axb6 7.cxd4 ), then, at least, something i n t e r e s t i n g f o r W h i t e . c6 8.f3? A slack move. It is clear that this knight sees his perspectives limited by the presence of the black pawn on f6. [ 8.e3! b4 A) 9.a3!? xa3 10.bxa3 c2+ 11.d2 xa1 12.d3 ( 12.b5 ) 12...e5 13.e2; B) 9.d2 xa2 10.xa2 xa2 11.c4 b4 12.c3 e6 ( 12...a6 13.d5 ) 13.d5! g8 14.g3 c5 15.ge2 e7 16.a1 d6 17.a8 d8 is not so bad for White. Indeed, Black's extra pawn on the b-file does not look very useful in front of the b2 pawn. Apart from that, Black is also a bit restrained to pretend to be able to exploit his pair of bishops and, in this configuration, his pawn structure with his dpawn not on d5 is worse than usual. Still, I would not call it a white advantage as Fritz does! Still, I would not mind testing it in practice.. . ] 8...b4 9.d2 [ 9.a3!? xa3 10.bxa3 c2+ 11.d2 xa1 12.e3 Will win the knight back in return of the a3 pawn with a similar comment as previously regarding its objective value as a pawn up, doubled, and this time on an open file. ] 9...xa2 10.xa2 xa2 11.a3 This is the problem. W hite cannot prevent Black from putting a pawn on d5 unless by playing the compromising 11.e4 which opens the position for the black bishops and gives the opponent the plan of undoubling the f-pawns by ...f6-f5. A n d i f h e p l a y s 1 1 . N c 3 wi t h t h e i d e a o f strengthening his center after 11...Nxc3 12. bxc3, Black will be happy with this plan giving him a goal for his b-pawns. [ 11.e4 h6+ 12.d1 d6 13.c4 b4 14.c3 ] 11...d5 And that gives a completely different forecast. 12.e3 e6 13.c2 b4 14.xb4
[ 14.b5+ is slightly better. A) 14...d7 15.xd7+ xd7 16.xb4 ( 16.a1 c6 ) 16...xb4+ 17.d3 a8 18.c1 a2 19.c2 is bearable.; B) 14...d8 15.c1 xc2 16.xc2 d6 Followed by e6-e5 liberating the bishop on c8 with a small advantage for Black. ] 14...xb4+ 15.c2 d7 Now it is difficult. Black's two bishops will demonstrate their power. 16.b3 d6 17.d3 e7 18.a1 c8 19.a7 Unlike the great Bobby himself in the very f irst game of his Homeric W orld Championship tussle against Spassky in Reykjavik 1972 when he took the "poisoned" pawn... [ 19.xh7? f5 20.g4 h8 ] 19...c6 20.g3 h6 21.a1 d7 22.a7 c7 23.a1 b5 24.c1 b6 25.a1 d7 26.h4 c6 27.a8 By giving up the first rank, it seems to accelerate the defeat but Black had a strong plan to make progress which was hard to oppose: [ 27.d1 c7 28.a1 a6 29.c1+ b6 Followed by ...Ra8 and ...b4 with the idea ... Ba4+. ] 27...c1 28.h8 b4 29.xh6? [ 29.a8 h1 30.f3 e5 ] [ 29.f3! was incredibly more stubborn, after which there are so many possibilities of attack and defence that it is easy to get confused for both camps. That is why, I will give here only the most salient lines hoping that I have not forgotten anything big! As far as my numerous hours of analysis of this position can tell, the winning plan has to develop in 5 stages. First, activate the center to take as many squares as possible from White's light pieces. A) 29...a1 30.c2 a4+ ( 30...b3+ 31.c3! e5 32.d2! e4 33.e2 e1 34.h5 a4 35.xb3; 30...e5 31.d2 ) 31.b3!! ( 31.d2 d1! 32.h4 b3 Threatening mate. 33.c3 c7 34.e4 c6 ) 31...a2+ 32.c1! A1) 32...xb3? 33.d2 a4 34.b1 a3 ( 34...b3 35.xa2 bxa2 36.b2 b4 37.a8 b5 38.b3 ) 35.xh6 With counterchances; A2) 32...xf2 33.d2 b5 34.xb5 xb5 35.xh6 f5 36.c2; B) 29...e5! 2112
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B1) 30.dxe5 fxe5 31.xh6 c7 32.d2 ( 32.e4 a1 33.c2 b3+! 34.xb3 d4 35.c4 a4! Threatening two different mates with 36...Rc1+ 37. Kd5 Bc6+ or with 36.. .b7-b5+ 37.Kd5 Bb3+. 36.xe5 xe5 37.h5 b5+ 38.d5 g7 39.h7 b3+ 40.c5 d1 41.e2 f8+ 42.xb5 c1 ) 32...e4 33.e2 e1! 34.f1 ( 34.h5 a1 35.c2 a4+ 36.b3 b5 37.xf7 d3+ 38.b2 e5# ) 34...a1 35.c2 b3+ 36.xb3 ( 36.c3 a4 37.h7 c1+ 38.d4 d1 39.xf7+ c6 40.c3 b5 ) 36...a4+ 37.c3 c1+ 38.d4 d1 39.c3 d4+! 40.exd4 c1#; B2) 30.d2! e4 31.e2 Then, drive the bishop off the a6-f1 diagonal so that our bishop can use it. e1 32.h5 b5! Next, use the mating motives which start to appear to weaken the position of the en em y k in g. ( 32...a1 33.c2 b5 34.b3 ) B2a) 33.xf7 a1 34.c2 d3+ 35.b3 e2 36.xd5 d1+ 37.c4 c1#; B2b) 33.c2 d3+ 34.b3 c1 35.xf7 ( 35.a2 c2 36.b3 c4 37.xh6 xf2 ) 35...c2 36.xd5 xd2 37.xh6 xf2; B2c) 33.xh6 a1 34.c2 d3+ 35.b3 b5 B2c1) 36.xf6 c4+ 37.xc4 ( 37.c2 b3+ 38.xb3 d3+ 39.c3 b4# ) 37...dxc4+ 38.c2 b3+ 39.d2 b4+; B2c2) 36.xf7 d1 37.h5 xd2 38.xd5+ ( 38.xd5 c2+ 39.a2 a4 ) 38...c6 39.f5 b5! 40.xf6 c7 41.a2 ( 41.g4 b1 42.xd6 xd6 43.g5 xf2 44.g6 e7 ) 41...c4+ 42.b1 b3 43.c1 c2+ 44.b1 e2 45.c1 e1+ 46.d2 b4#; B2d) 33.a8 h1 34.xf7 c6! 35.h4 h2 36.d8 c7 37.h8 xf2 38.c2 xg3 39.xh6 e2 40.d1 e1+ 41.c2 f2 42.xf6 xe3; B2e) 33.a2! c4+ 34.b3 After, combining tactics against the king and the knight, win the f2 pawn or
the knight but in that case be very ca re f u l t h a t t h e o p p o n e n t h a s n o t enough pawns for it: On white squares they are easy targets for his bishop. e2! The key move. 35.xf7 B2e1) 35...c6 36.c8+ d7 ( 36...c7 37.xd5+ ) 37.c2 d3 38.b2; B2e2) 35...d1 36.b1 c6! ( 36...f1 37.d2 xf2 38.b1 xh2 39.xd5 d3+ 40.c1 f5 ) 37.xh6 ( 37.c8+ c7 38.h8 f1! 39.e8+ b6 40.xh6 xf2 41.a1 d1 42.a4 a6 43.h7 b5 44.xc7 bxa4 45.bxa4 b3 46.c3 bxc3 47.xc3 c4 ) 37...e7! The square h5 is guarded, so all the important pawns can be kept. 38.h5 f1! 39.xe2 ( 39.b2 xf2 40.c1 f1+ 41.b2 d3 42.d2 e1 43.h7 d6 ) 39...xf2 40.b2 xe2+ 41.c1 xe3 5th and last phase. W h e n f 2 h a s f alle n, th e po s it io n collapses, and e3 follows revealing a deadly passed pawn. 42.d2 e1+ 43.c2 d6 ( 43...e3 44.f3 f1 45.e5+ b5 46.d3 f2+ 47.c1 d2 48.e1 xd4 Wins too ) 44.g4 g1 ( 44...e3 45.f3 f1 46.h3 ) 45.h4 e6 W hite does not have to be a pawn down, in a near state of zugzwang, to be lost, ...Bd6 is also coming. ] 29...a5!-+ 30.a2 b3+ 31.xb3 a4+ 32.a2 b4 33.b3 xb3+ 34.b2 d1 35.b1 [ 35.h7 d2+ 36.a1 a3 37.f3 d1+ 38.b1 b4 ] 35...d2+ 36.a1 c3 [ 36...c3 37.h8 ( 37.f3 a3 38.xd2 b2# ) 37...a3 38.c8+ b4 39.h7 f5 ] 0-1
2113
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 game. ] A45 2441 10.e3 [ 10.a5 Has to be played in any case. c6 2434 11.a4 d5 ( 11...d6 12.e3 d7 13.a3 ) 2004 12.e4 dxe4 13.xe4 a6 ( 13...d7 14.c5 ) 14.c4 ] 11.b3 b6 Preventing a4-a5 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4?! c5! 10...c6 As seen on the forum, I don't know if this 12.h4 b7 13.bd4 [ 13.a5 xa5 14.xa5 bxa5 15.ha4 xf3 explains why 'Mr Tromp' dropped this line but I 16.xf3 b8! 17.1a2 0-0 18.xa5 am sorry, it is not the 'solid' line 3...d5, with xb2! ] W hite "finding no way to fight for a big Black gets ready to push his central initiative" that hurts but rather this thematic 13...d8 re s p o n s e . I t m a y n o t b e so d e a d ly a s t o pawns. 14.xc6 xc6!? I prefer [ 14...dxc6 15.b3 a6 ( 15...h5 16.gxh6 explain the loss of interest in the variation all xh6 17.xh6 xh6 18.c4 ) 16.b4 b5 by itself but it is damaging enough to make 17.axb5 cxb5 18.c4 0-0 19.cxb5 axb5 White think twice before conceding his Tromp 20.xb5 c6 looking very dangerous for bishop, much as in the 2...Ne4 3.Bh4 line, by White. 21.c5 d6 Threatening ...Bxf3 and the way. 4.dxc5 a5+ 5.d2 ...Qd2 mate. ] [ 5.c3 xc5 ( 5...xg5? 6.b4 ) 6.e3 c7 ] 5...xg5 6.hxg5 g6 Black postpones the 15.b5 b7 16.e2 [ 16.d3 Intending a4-a5 and this time it is recapture on c5 in order to blockade the g6 the h-rook which swings along the 4th rank. square but this may not be critical. 7.c3 a6 ( 16...0-0? 17.0-0-0 ) 17.c4 ( 17.xa6 [ Throwing the king's rook into the battle to xa6 18.xa6 xc3+ 19.e2 xb2 compensate the annoying loss of the Tromp 20.c4 xc4+ 21.xc4 xa1 ) 17...0-0 bishop 7.h4!? is the only clever idea, 18.0-0-0!? d5 19.b3 e5 20.c2 b5 resourcefully using the open h-file. ] 21.dh1 bxa4 22.xa4 h5 23.gxh6 f6 ] 7...xc5 8.gf3 g7 9.a4 An attempt to 16...h5!? An interesting sacrifice in order to improve on [ 9.e3 a6 10.a4 d5 11.a5 c6 12.a4 seize the initiative, but [ 16...a6! 17.d3 ( 17.c4 d5 ) 17...h5 h5! A key move in this line where Black all of 18.gxh6 xh6 19.xh6 xh6 20.h1 g7 a sudden annihilates his opponent's hopes 21.h7 f8 appears simpler. ] for activity along the h-file. This is what [ 16...c5 17.c4 f5 ( 17...xf3+ 18.gxf3 Nicolas Gerard, a candidate IM, played xg5? 19.xd7+!! xd7 20.c8# ) 18.c7 against me in an open some months ago to xf3+ 19.gxf3 0-0 20.f4 ] categorically put me off this positively too [ 16...0-0? 17.h1! a6 18.xh7! xf3+ sophisticated line. And this is also what we 19.gxf3 axb5 20.xg7+ xg7 21.h6+ had briefly come across, by chance amongst g8 22.h1 c4+ 23.e1 ] others "d-Pawn Special" curiosities, with Maxime during a training session just a 17.gxh6 f6! [ 17...xh6 18.xh6 xh6 19.d4 couple of days before the beginning of the This is the difference when the Nc6 has championship! 13.e4 e6 Thanks to his gone! f6 20.h1 g7 21.g4 f7 mighty pair of bishops without any other ( 21...xf3+ 22.gxf3 f7 23.g1 g5 problems, Black is already clearly better. 24.f4 ) 22.h4+- ] 14.d3? xa5! 15.exd5 ( 15.b4 xc3 ) 15...xd5 Miladinovic, I-Van Wely, L FIDE 18.h3 a6 19.d3 e5 20.c2 d5 21.f1 c8 22.h1 c5 23.c1 Wch Groningen 1997 0-1(43) ] [ 23.d2 f8 ] 9...c7 A novelty, when it seems that the black lady is able to stay without mishap, 23...g4? [ 23...f8 24.e4 ] more exposed though more active, on the 5th [ 23...e4! 24.d4 f8 ] rank: e4 25.d4 f8! 26.f3! [ 9...c6 is the next, even more convincing, 24.g1 2163 Libiszewski,Fabien Vachier Lagrave,Maxime Championnat de Junior (4.2) [Eric Prié]
2114
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 The variation [ 26.h7 g7 27.f1 xh7 28.xh7 xh7 29.xa6 e5 30.b5+ f8 31.g3 ( 31.f4 exf3 32.xf3 xf3 33.gxf3 h2+ 34.f1 g3 35.e2 h1# ) 31...xd4 32.exd4 f3 33.b4+ g7 For instance, without pretending that every move was forced, illustrates the depth of the black concept. ] 26...c8! [ 26...exf3 27.gxf3 h5 28.d3 xh6 29.xa6 h8 30.b7 f8 31.a5 h7 Black cannot take on d4 and f3 because his rook is pinned on h6. ( 31...bxa5 32.xa5 h7 33.xd5 ) A) 32.a6!? is more hair-raising but also seems to pose problems. xd4 33.cxd4 xf3 34.xh7 xh7 35.f2 h2+ ( 35...e4 36.c7 h4+ 37.g3 e7 38.g1 g8 39.b4!! And Black is helpless against the idea b4-b5 anchoring t h e b i s h o p t o c 6 , a 7 , a 8 = Q u e e n .) 36.xf3 d6 37.xd5!! xd5 38.c8+ g7 39.a7+-; B) 32.d2 bxa5 33.xa5 xd4 34.xd4 ] 27.fxe4 [ 27.h7! exf3 ( 27...g7 28.fxe4 xh7 29.xh7 xh7 Followed by Qe1, Qf2) 28.gxf3 g7 29.d2 xh7 30.g2 ( 30.xh7 xh7 31.g2 h3+ ) 30...h5! ] 27...xh6 28.xh6 xh6 29.f3 [ 29.e1 g5! ] 29...g4 30.e5 g7 31.h2?! [ 31.d2 xf3 32.gxf3 g5+ ( 32...xe5 33.f4 ) 33.f1 xe5 slowly but surely would have moved towards a peaceful result. ] 31...e2! 32.e4? [ 32.d2! xe5 33.f3 xf3 34.gxf3 g5+ 35.f1 d4! 36.d1 dxe3 37.xd8+ xd8 38.xd8+ xd8 39.e2 f4 40.d3 a5 41.b4 should also be insufficient in this o p p o s i t e - c o l o u r e d b i s h o p e n d i n g . e7 42.c4 f5 43.d5 f6 44.b7 g5 45.c8!= ] 32...h5! 33.e3? [ 33.exd5! xe5 34.f1! ] 33...xe5 34.f3? Under the pressure of both time and complications White starts to crack up. [ 34.f1 d4! ]
[ 34.h3 d4! ( 34...xh3 35.gxh3 d4 36.g4 ) 35.xh5 gxh5 36.f3 ( 36.e1 d3 37.d1 g3 ) 36...xf3 37.gxf3 dxc3 38.bxc3 d2 39.b3 xc3 ] 34...xf3 35.xf3 [ 35.gxf3 h2+ 36.f1 xc2 ] 35...h2+ 36.f2 dxe4 37.e3 [ 37.xe4 d2+ 38.e1 xb2 ] [ 37.xe4 d2+ 38.e3 xg2 ] 37...g3+! [ 37...d2+ W i n s t o o . . . 38.xd2 g3+ 39.e2 xg2+ 40.e3 f4+! The other way round. 41.xf4 xd2+ ] 38.f1 h1+ 39.g1 xg1+ 40.xg1 e3 So, thanks to his win in this decisive encounter, the (at the time) current World under 14 vicechampion became the youngest French under 20 champion ever, ahead of two IMs. He will be part of the French team in the coming Turin Olympiads. [ 40...e3 41.d1 xd1+ 42.xd1 e2 ] 0-1
2164 Lie,Espen Vachier Lagrave,Maxime ETCC Crete GRE (4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2421 2634 31.10.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 f5 8.xb8 xb8 9.xd4 b6 [ 9...d5!? Is interesting, but Black probably does not need to gamble this way. 10.xa7 e5 11.d4 c7 12.e4 b5 13.e5 d7 14.f4 e6 15.f3 c5 Gorovykh, E (2402) Andreikin, D (2555) Chigorin Mem A(3) St Petersburg 2007 0-1 (105) ] 10.e4 f4 11.h3 c7 12.e5 g8 13.0-0-0 e6 14.d3?! Considered to be inaccurate, as in W ang W henhao-Zhou Jianchao 2005. W e shall have to wait for a while to see what the current French individual champion had up his sleeve against the normal continuation: [ 14.g5 e7 15.f4 b7!? ( Some fantastic improvement on 15...f5 16.f2 in spite of the knight looking awkwardly exposed on f5 against the ideas Bd3, g2-g4 as already testified by a couple 2115
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 of examples in this section?!; Or rather 15...c6!? As in Toth-Lima where White did not reply the most precise 16.d3!; As for 15...d5 immediately, it does not appear judicious at this stage to lose flexibility with the knight since it fails to prevent both 16. Bd3 and 16.e4 xf4? 17.d6+ xd6 18.exd6+- ) 16.d3 With the idea ( 16.e4? f5 17.d3 This is the square for the bishop! c6 18.e1 a4 19.b1 h5 ) 16...xg2 17.he1 o r 1 7 . R h g 1 d5 This looks a bit foolish considering Black's state of development, but is very much in his style. Indeed, 16.Bb5 instead, as in Efimov-Miezis, in the note to Toth-Lima, did not appear really convincing from the White point of view. ] 14...e7 15.f4 Yet better than [ 15.d6? in the Chinese game. ] 15...b7 16.f2 d5 17.g5 c5! 18.h4? [ 18.xc5 xc5 19.d2 ( 19.xc5? bxc5 And W hite cannot adequately defend against the dual threats ...Nxf4, ...Ne3. 20.e4 h6 ) 19...e3 20.hf1 f5= As in the Sicilian, the square on e4 is now controlled, making the exploitation of the backward d-pawn by White quite difficult. ] 18...e3+ 19.b1 xf4 20.xh7 xe5 21.he1?! [ 21.f6+ xf6 ( 21...gxf6!? ) 22.xh8+ e7 23.h5 f4 24.b5 xg2 With a superb pair of bishops and 2 pawns for his material assets, Black was right to sacrifice the exchange, however this position is more unclear than the one in the game. ] 21...f4 22.b5 [ 22.f6+ Now plainly loses the queen after xf6 23.xh8+ e7 24.h7 g6 25.b5 d5 Followed inevitably by ...Rh8. ] 22...d5! [ 22...d8 This rook is not doing anything on b8. 23.f6+ xf6 24.xh8+ e7 25.h7 a6 26.d4 g6 Was strong too. ] 23.d4 The last chance, pinning his hopes on some tricks based on Nd4-f5+ [ 23.f6+ xf6 24.xh8+ e7 25.h7 g6 26.c4 c6-+ ] 23...xg2! 24.f6+ gxf6 25.xh8+ e7 No fear of phantoms and the white position c o l l a p s e s . 26.h3 xe1 27.f5+ exf5
28.xd5 d6 29.f1 [ 29.d1 c5 30.a4 f2 ] 29...b7 30.c4 [ 30.c4 a6 31.a4 b5 32.b3 bxc4 33.xc4 f3 34.xd6 xd6 ] 30...c8? It is quite rare to witness the winner of the 7th Lausanne young Masters committing mistakes of calculation in a simple position, independently of any other circumstances I may ignore. [ 30...b5! 31.b3 ( 31.xb5 e4+ ) 31...a5 32.a3 b4 Making use of the rook on b8 to open the 2nd. 33.axb4 axb4 34.c4 h8 35.xe1 xh2-+ ] 31.b3 c5 32.h1? Fortunately he is not alone when time trouble probably meddles. [ 32.xe1 xd5 33.h1 e6 34.c4 d1+ 35.xd1 e4+ ( 35...e7 36.d5 ) 36.c2 g4 37.d5+ e7 38.a3 f8 ] 32...xd5 33.xd5 a6 There is a secret door on d3. 0-1
2165 Lin Weiguo Hania,Jan Gent op 17th [Eric Prié]
A45 2520 2355 1994
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6 3.d2 [ 3.f3 a5+ 4.c3 d6 5.bd2 Transposes further. In whatever case, it is not because of this idea 3...Qa5 that one should prefer 3. Nd2 to 3.Nf3... ] 3...a5 4.gf3 [ 4.xf6!? Exceptionally... exf6 5.e3 d5 6.d3 With the idea Qf3, Ne2 was tempting, on the other hand, with the black queen misplaced on a5. ( 6.c4 e6 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.e2 c6 9.a3 d6 10.c3 Likewise... )] 4...d6 [ 4...e4 5.e3 d5 ( 5...xd2 6.xd2 b6 7.e4!? ) 6.c3 xd2 7.xd2 f5 8.h4 ] 5.c3 bd7 6.e3 [ 6.e4 h6 7.f4 g5 8.g3 h5 ] 6...h6 7.f4 h5 8.g3 xg3 9.hxg3 f6 Better was [ 9...g6 And White may even find himself wo r s e i n t h e l o n g r u n , b e c a u s e o f t h e 2116
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 opposing pair of bishops and his difficulty to [ A s p o i n t e d o u t b y E r i c , 6...b4!? use his asset of the open h-file. The white may be rare but very much comes into the queen's bishop is 'more fragile' when the equation too. ] opponent has a pawn on d6. Hence 4.Bxf6!? 7.0-0-0 10.d3 g7 11.c2 f6 12.e4 0-0 [ Probably best, although matters aren't so 13.e5 g4 ] clear af ter 7.f4!? . This controversial move 10.d3 g4 11.b3 c7 12.a4 e6 13.a5 walks into b6! when White must give up a d5? pawn and after 8.0-0-0 e3+ 9.b1 xe4 [ 13...e7 14.h2 f5! ( 14...h5 15.f3 d5 10.xe4 xe4 11.xe7 ( 11.d3! 16.hf1 )] i m p r o v e s w h e n xg2 12.xe7 xe7 14.e5 d6 15.df3 13.e2 g6 14.h5 was suggested by De [ 15.a6 b6 16.xc6 0-0 17.b4 xg3 la Villa in his excellent work on the 18.fxg3 xg3+ 19.f1 xe3 20.c2 h5 Trompowsky moreover, this looks like pretty 21.xh5 xh5 22.e1 g3 ] decent compensation to me: for example, 15...xf3?! A decision difficult to explain in 0-0 15.hg1 c6 16.g3 d6 17.h3 h6 any case. 18.g1! e5 19.hg3 e4 20.xg6 fxg6 [ 15...0-0 ] 21.xg6 f7 22.xe4 with a crushing 16.gxf3 xe5 17.dxe5 xe5? attack ) 11...xe7 12.d3? g6 13.h5 Black completely cracks up. xf4! 14.xf7+ xf7 15.xe4 e7 [ 17...d7 18.f4 c5 19.c2 xd3+ Black converted without too much difficulty 20.xd3 a6 21.g4 0-0-0= ] in Pajeken-Rogozenko, Hamburg 1998 - see 18.xb7 0-0 19.xc6 ab8? 20.f4! the Archive. ] This position well deserved a game! 7...d6 1-0 [ This or the immediate 7...a5 (when 8.f4 d6 transposes) is by some margin Black's best defence in my view. ] 2166 A45 8.f4 a5 9.f3 [ Invariably played, but White can also Lindberg,Bosse 2403 consider 9.b5!? , as I showed in 'Starting Landa,Konstantin 2641 Out: The Trompowsky'. After d7 ( 9...0-0?! European Club Cup, Eilat (4.7) 14.10.2012 10.f3 looks pretty risky for Black and after [Richard Palliser] the h6? of Brandics-Ott, Kecskemet 1990, I analysed 11.xh6! gxh6 12.xh6 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3!? This is very to a winning attack) 10.f3 play has much W hite's third choice in the position actually transposed to our main game. ] (after the exchange on f6 and advancing the This seems pretty sensible. Practice d-pawn), but Black still needs to know what 9...d7 he's doing, especially if he's not a Sicilian has also seen: [ a) 9...a6?! 10.e1! b5 11.e5 saw White player. cxd4 seizing the upper hand in Mensch-Nicoara, [ Taking play into Sicilian-like waters, French Team Championship 1999, as although there's no direct transposition to a shown by Aaron Summerscale. ] line of that venerable opening. Should such [ b) 9...h6!? is fairly critical and after 10.e5 a policy not appeal to Black he might prefer ( I wasn't convinced by this in my 'Starting 3...d5 , taking play into a fairly respectable O u t ' w o r k w h e r e I p r e f e r r e d 10.b5 line of the Veresov. ] , but af ter Serper's d7 11.e5 dxe5 4.xd4 c6 5.h4 Here we go... White's 12.xc6 xc6 13.xe5 c8 Black is OK: play is admirably direct and one also has to for example, 14.he1 xg2 15.xf6 gxf6 wonder if the Swedish FM is a fan of 'Chess 16.g4 xc3 17.xf6+! f8! 18.d7+ for Tigers', not least with the author of that e8 19.f6+ and neither side can really classic work, Simon W ebb, having lived in avoid the repetition) 10...dxe5 11.fxe5 Sweden for many years before his untimely xe5 12.xe5 xe5 13.b5+ f8 14.f4 death. e6 6.e4 e7 2117
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c5 ( "while Black can't castle, there doesn't appear to be a particularly promising way for White to take advantage" was my fear, but one strong English IM would appear to disagree instead 14...f5 was seen in R. Pert-Perez, London 2011, where 15.d6 xd6 16.xd6 g5 17.e1! g4? 18.f1 g5+ 19.b1 a6 20.d3 e8 21.d4 left Black terribly coordinated and under huge pressure) 15.e1 a6 16.d3 d7 and now, as shown by Eric in his notes to Kalinitschew-Gustafsson, Dresden 2002, White may have just about enough for his pawn after 17.f1 . ] 10.b5 [ Continuing to develop a tempo, but both 10.d2!? ] [ and 10.e1!? deserve serious attention in this particular position. The latter was tried in Meenakshi-Harika, Chennai 2009, where after h6 11.h4 0-0-0 12.e5! dxe5 13.fxe5 g8 14.b5 xh4 15.xh4 ge7 White might have retained a pull with 16.f4 , and if hf8 17.he1 . ] 10...a6?! [ The Russian Grandmaster has developed very logically thus far, but this move suggests he wasn't familiar with all the nuances of the variation. Instead 10...c7? 11.e5 dxe5 (Rudisile-Pitzen, German L e a g u e 1 9 9 4 ) 12.fxe5 g8 13.e4 gives W hite an overwhelming initiative on the dark squares, ] [ while 10...0-0-0?! 11.e5 dxe5 12.fxe5 d5? 13.xd5 exd5 14.xc6 xg5+ 15.xg5 xc6 16.xf7 won the exchange in I lle s c a s Co rd o b a -Rive ra , B a rc e lo n a 1984. ] [ However, once again the critical move a p p e a r s t o b e 10...h6! , preventing any notion of Qe1 and not fearing 11.e5 , since dxe5 12.xc6 ( 12.xd7? xd7 13.xe5+ c7 doesn't give White enough compensation) 12...xc6 13.xe5 c8 transposes to an important tabiya, as we saw in note 'b' to Black's 9th move. ] 11.xc6! [ Giving up the bishop-pair, but White must pursue the initiative. Instead one again wo n d e r s a b o u t 11.e5 dxe5 12.xd7? , but this now fails to axb5! . ]
11...xc6 12.he1?! [ Except that now Lindberg hesitates and allows his strong opponent to complete his de ve lop m e n t . 12.e5! was crying out to be p l a ye d a n d a f t e r dxe5 13.fxe5 xf3 14.gxf3 ( 14.exf6!? xd1 15.fxe7 is also pretty tempting) 14...xe5 15.hg1 Black's king lacks a safe home and White has at least good compensation. ] 12...0-0-0 13.f2 [ Perhaps only here did Lindberg realise that after 13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 ( or 14.xd8+ xd8 15.fxe5 h6 ) 14...xd1+ the tactics s a v e B l a c k , a s s h o w n b y 15.xd1 ( 15.xd1? xf3 16.gxf3 xe5 nabs a pawn; and 15.xd1 d8+ 16.c1 h6 saves the piece) 15...xf3 16.exf6 ( or 16.gxf3 d5 17.xe7 xe7 and White can't take on e7 with his rook hanging on e1 ) 16...gxf6 17.xf6 d8 18.c3 xf6 19.xf6 h5 when it's about equal. ] 13...h6 14.h4 c7 [ The position clearly resembles an Open Sicilian (a pretty comfortable version for Black in my view), and as such 14...g5!? very much came into the equation. After 15.fxg5 g4 16.g3 hxg5 17.xg4 gxh4 the onus appears to be on W hite to demonstrate sufficient activity having run out of bishops to rely on. ] 15.b1 b8 16.e2 [ I'm not sure either player was all that au fait with either t he Najd orf or the Classica l S i c i l i a n . H e r e 16.d4! d7 17.f3 would improve White's pieces, with ideas of both e4-e5 and f4-f5 in mind. ] 16...he8 17.f2 d7 [ One might have thought that Black's last h a d i n m i n d 17...d5!? , but perhaps after 18.e5 e4 19.e3 c5 20.d4 W h ite is ju st a bo u t O K in t h e res u lt in g French-like position. ] 18.d4! At last Lindberg hits on the right idea. Not only may he now regain a bishop, but both central advances come more into the equation. f6 19.c4 [ Now Black can equalise. The alternative was 19.e5!? when dxe5 20.xc6+ xc6 21.fxe5 e7 ( not 21...xe5? 22.xd7; or 21...xe5? 22.g3 ) 22.g4 g5 is probably about equal. ] 2118
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19...d5! 20.e2 [ After 20.exd5 xd5 21.xc7+ xc7 22.xd5+ exd5 Black does have an IQP, but his is quite well coordinated and should be able to exploit the hole on e4 to maintain a rough balance. ] 20...dxe4 21.xc6+ xc6 22.xe4 b6?! [ An ambitious, probably too ambitious try to generate something against his lower-rated opponent. Better would have been 22...e7 23.d4 g6 , battening down the hatches to maintain a solid defence. ] 23.xb6 [ One reason I don't particularly like Landa's choice is that White was never really going to lose after the text. Moreover, with 23.xf6 gxf6 24.d4! White would have obtained a definite advantage from what I can see: e5 ( White can also press after 24...d5 25.g3 c8 26.b3!? c3+ 27.xc3 xc3 28.d3 c7 29.ed1 ) 25.fxe5 c4 26.e6! xe6 27.f2 ed6 28.c3 and while there will always be tricks with the knight, W hite's bishop is secure on d4 and he can play down the e-file as well as against Black's vulnerable pawns. ] 23...xb6 24.xf6 gxf6 25.b3 xd1+ 26.xd1 d8 Basically acquiescing to the draw, although the ludicrous ECU rules meant the players had to continue until move 40 (draws can't be offered before then, although the players might acquiesce in a three-fold repetition). Such a policy may make sense in elite all-play-alls, like the Grand Slam or the London Classic, but in a team event and, moreover, one compromising a large number of amateur and semi-amateur sides... 27.xd8+ xd8 28.h5 f8 29.g3 f5 30.a4 c7 31.e2 c5 32.h5 f8 33.e2 c5 34.h5 g1+ 35.b2 d4+ 36.b1 g7 37.e2 c3 38.h5 g7 39.e2 d4 40.h5 g7 ½-½
2167 Lindberg,Bosse Swinkels,Robin European Club Cup (3.11) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2403 2494 13.10.2012
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 e6!? [ A reasonable alternative to the main line, 6...b6 . ] 7.e4 exd5 8.e5!? [ Ambitious. W hite usually prefers 8.exd5 when d6 9.d2! e7 10.c4 xd2+ 11.xd2 gives him decent chances for a lasting pull. ] 8...h5 9.e3!? [ And this is certainly quite rare. I once tried this line and here went 9.c1 , but after d8! 10.e3 ( 10.g3 c6 11.f4 g6 12.xd5 was considered by Eric in his notes to Dresen-Spiekermann, German League 1993, and now d6 is clearly indicated, as he demonstrates ) A) whereas 10...d4 11.cxd4 cxd4 12.xd4 ( 12.xd4?! was preferred in Bukavshin-Kokarev, Samara 2012, but after c6 13.e2 d6 14.exd6 xd6 15.f2 0-0 White was already in some trouble ) 12...c6 13.e4 a5+ ( 13...d5! 14.exd6+ e6 15.c3 f6 would enable Black to equalise) 14.f2! g6 15.c3 began to favour White in in Palliser-Doran, Doncaster 2005.; B) 10...b6!? Black should achieve enough counterplay, ] 9...d4 This is the reason I retreated first to c1, but evidently the Swedish IM doesn't fear this c o n s i s t e n t a d v a n c e . 10.d2 d8 Already we've reached quite an important and unexplored position. The engines rather like Black, no doubt due to the threat on h4 as well as his extra pawn, but matters aren't entirely clear as he can become weak in the centre and his knight on h5 is not necessarily a strength. Overall, I can't believe that White is better, but neither does he seem to be worse. 11.e2! [ A logical improvement over 11.g3 d6 12.f4 g6 13.e2 dxe5! 14.xh5 gxh5 15.xh5 c6 16.fxe5 e6 17.f3 d7 which left Black doing pretty well in Berglund-Jaeger, 2119
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Tromsoe 1988. ] 11...d3!? [ Played to distract the white queen and so d e a l wi t h t h e t h r e a t o f g 2 - g 4 . I n s t e a d 11...h4+ 12.f2 xf2+ 13.xf2 g6 ( 13...dxc3? 14.xc3 threatens both g2-g4 and Nd5 ) 14.cxd4 cxd4 15.a3! would have given W hite decent compensation for his pawn. ] 12.e3 [ Consistent, at least to a human mind, although the machine may be right that 12.xd3!? h4+ 13.d1 c6 14.h3 is also playable. ] 12...h4+ 13.f2 [ Again, it's not at all easy to be sure if this w a s b e s t . M o r e o v e r , a f t e r 13.d1 I wonder if Swinkels might have gone c4!? ( 13...g3 14.e1 f5 15.xd3 xe1+ 16.xe1 d5 is probably about equal) 14.g4 c6 when something like 15.gxh5 xh5 16.g5 xg5 17.xg5 xe5 gives Black three pawns for the piece and good compensation, since it's far from easy to shift Black's control of c4. ] 13...e7 14.e3 h4+ 15.f2 e7 16.e3 f5?! [ Swinkels hasn't become a GM by not taking risks, but I'm not sure this was the right way to continue the game. That said, whether after 16...c6!? 17.g4 h4+ 18.f2 e7 19.gxh5 xe5 20.e3 b5 Black definitely has enough compensation isn't so obvious. Thus it seems that objectively Black should have gone over to the arbiter, having first noted the return of the queen to h4 on his scoresheet. ] 17.a3! [ Swinkels may have been relying on 17.f4 when d6 ( or even 17...g5!? would have broken up W hite's centre, but the text is much more dangerous. White too wants to go after the opposition monarch! )] 17...f4 18.e4 h4+? [ This runs into a stunning riposte. As such Black should have preferred to develop some pieces at last with 18...c6 19.0-0-0 d6 , which actually wouldn't have been too bad for him. ] 19.g3!! [ Continuing to play for the attack. This
actually commits White to sacrificing a rook and Lindberg can't have worked everything out, but must have realised that his initiative w o u l d b e v e r y s t r o n g . 19.d1 was the alternative when g3 20.e1 xe4 21.xh4 g5 22.fxe4 gxh4 23.f3 ( or 23.xd3 c6 24.f3 g8 ) 23...g8 would have been structurally rather messy, if probably about equal. ] 19...xg3 20.hxg3 xh1 It's not such an uncommon sight to see W hite give up an exchange on h1 for the initiative, but here there's no time to save the knight on g1. 21.xf4 [ Stronger than 21.h3 fxg3 when the gpawn is a bit of a nuisance, ] [ but one might also make a decent case for 21.b5!? e7 22.xf4 xg1 23.0-0-0 . ] 21...xg1 22.b5 c6 [ 22...d2+!? was an attempt to distract the white pieces, but af ter 23.xd2 h2+ 24.e2 White's initiative remains extremely dangerous: for example, d8 25.d6! c7 26.g4 h3 27.f7 g8 28.e6+ b6 29.e7 xe7 30.xe7 , regaining an exchange and more importantly giving rise to a decisive attack. ] 23.0-0-0 c4 [ Desperation, but perhaps only now did Swinkels realise the trouble he was in. An alternative was 23...d8 , but after 24.e6 d6 25.xd3 h2 26.d5 White will crash through on d6 with irresistible force. ] 24.d6+ [ It makes sense to spurn the check on c7, but 24.xd3 would have been strong, since c5 25.xc4 leaves Black without a good defence to the threat of Nc7+ Kd8 Ne6+: for instance, d8 26.e3 c6 27.d6!! xe4 28.c7+ e7 29.g5# . ] 24...d8 [ Of course the knight was taboo: 24...xd6? 25.exd6+ f7 ( or 25...d8 26.g5+ ) 26.d5+ f6 27.h3 xd1+ 28.xd1 g6 29.h6 with a mating attack. ] 25.f7+ c7 [ T h i s d o e s n ' t h e l p , b u t a f t e r 25...e8 26.d6+ d8 I've little doubt White would have rejected the repetition in favour of 27.xd3 when f2 28.f7+ c7 29.e6+ d6 30.xc4 echoes the game and is equally 2120
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 crushing. ] 26.e6+ d6 27.xc4?! [ Allowing Black a chance. Stronger would have been 27.xd3! c5 28.xc4 which may seem rather calm (and slow), but actually Black is short of a good move here with b2-b4 such a threat, as well as just Nxh8. ] 27...b5? [ Now d6 will fall after all. He had to distract the bishop with 27...g5! when 28.xd3 f2 ( 28...xd1+ 29.xd1 gxf4 30.xh8 fxg3 31.e2 should be winning for W hite) 29.xg5 h6 30.d5 retains a highly dangerous initiative for the rook, but Lindberg would still have had to find some good moves to win from here. ] 28.xd3 xe6 29.xd6! Black is still a whole rook ahead, but his king is simply too exposed. d8 [ Alternatively, 29...a6 30.xb5+ b7 31.c7 with huge threats, as shown by, for instance, c8 32.xa8 xa8 33.h3! . ] 30.f7+ d6 31.xd6 xa2 32.xb5 b6 33.c4+ 1-0
d6 18.d4 g7?? The fatal mistake. This cuts off a vital escape square from the Black king. [ 18...f6 19.f3 Intending Kg2 completing development is very comfortable for White, but there is still plenty of fight left. ] 19.b5! Bang! e5 20.xc7 1-0
2169 A45 Llobel Cortell,Enrique 2377 Zapata,Alonso 2549 XX Open Andorra la Vella AND (7) 12.07.2002 [Aaron Summerscale]
Trompowsky: W hite is completely crushed after Black successfully complicates in the opening. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 a5 A useful move if Black wants to mix things up. W hite is virtually f orced to relinquish the bishop pair. 4.xf6 gxf6 5.e3 [ 5.d5!? ] 5...e6 6.h5 d5 Now the position strongly resembles a Veresov. 7.0-0-0 cxd4 8.exd4 c6 [ 8...b4 looks tempting, but White can simply avoid trouble by playing: 9.b5+ d7 2168 A45 10.xd7+ xd7 11.ge2 ] Lindberg,Bosse 2281 9.b1 d7 10.ge2 c8 Black is building Winge,Stefan 2262 an ominous looking queenside attack. 11.f3 Tch-2002-3 Sweden SWE (5) 07.12.2002 e7 12.f4 a6 13.g3 White's problem is [Aaron Summerscale] obvio us. His m onarch cou ld e asily com e under attack from the well placed Black pieces, Trompowsky: In textbook fashion White meets whilst the Black king is far from easy to get at. a n a t t a c k o n h i s f l a n k s wi t h t h e c l a s s i c [ 13.h5 f5 14.g3 would at least cause uppercut in the centre. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 Black some inconvenience. d8 15.g7 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 c4 c7 a n d n o w n o t 16.xf7? ( 16.f6! An unusual move. Black intends to fight White and White is well in the game. ) 16...e8 ] for queenside space, but this idea seldom 13...b4 14.a3 This natural riposte is met by works well for Black in the Tromp. 6.g3 f5 a su cke r p u n ch . xc2! 15.xc2 a4+ 7.c3 e6 8.g2 a6 9.h3 h5 16.b1 xc3! One by one the vital defenders Very aggressive. Black wants to take the fight of the White monarch are blasted into oblivion. to White on the kingside as well. 10.d2 c5 17.bxc3 b6+ 18.a1 c2 It is not easy to 11.e4 With Black attacking on the flanks, this meet the twin threats of Qb3 and Be4. 19.c4 traditional counter in the centre makes perfect a5 20.d3? The fatal mistake. As a general sense. h6 12.c2 exd5 13.exf5 e7+ rule, abandoning defence of your vulnerable Inconveniencing the W hite king, but what back rank is a very bad idea. comes around goes around. 14.f1 c5 [ 20.c1 was essential, when the game 15.e1+ f8 16.f3 The storm clouds begin co n t i n u e s a f t e r : e4 21.c3 xc3+ to gather around the Black king. c7 17.e2 22.xc3 xh1 23.cxd5 e5 although I would 2121
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 39.h2 c2+ 40.g1 g2+ 41.h1 f2 42.xd8 f1+ 43.h2 f2+ 44.h3 f1 45.f6+ g7 46.g8+ xf6 1-0 Kazhgaleyev,M-Mensch,E FRA-chT N1 2002 ] 4...f5 5.g3 g6 6.c3 g7 7.g2 0-0 8.e3 d7 9.ge2 c6 10.b4!? This move, taking space on the queenside but weakening the c4 square, is part, if not the key, of W hite's strategy in this line. [ 10.0-0 e8 would have just postponed the 2170 A45 decision, as in the next game. ] Lputian,Smbat G 2623 10...b6 11.c5 c4 12.0-0 d5 13.f4 g5 Iuldachev,Saidali 2513 14.d3 e8 15.e1 a6 16.a4 e6 17.a2 ADCF Masters op (5) 20.08.2003 h5 Black put his hopes on Kingside activity to compensate the permanent weakness of the [Eric Prié] structure. 18.e2 [ 18.xh5?? g4 19.h4 f6 20.h5 g5 1.d4 f6 2.g5 d6 This approach of how to With the threat Rh6 ] face the Trompowsky without the help of the c o u n t e r - a t t a c k t h e m e a g a i n s t b 2 i s 18...h6 19.b2 xb2 20.xb2 h4 21.f4 complementary to last month's survey. It has d7 22.f2 h8 23.fxg5 xg5 24.f4 advantages and drawbacks compared to 2... e8 25.g1 f6 26.f3 [ 26.h3 e4! 27.d2 hxg3+ 28.xg3 d5 which centre on differences in the use of xf4+! 29.exf4 xf4+ 30.g1 h4 the c2-c4 move, and the f4 square by a white 31.gd3 ] knight. 3.xf6 White has to take to stay in the spirit of the opening, otherwise Black will play 26...d8 27.d3 hxg3+ 28.hxg3 h2+ ...Nbd7. Apart from this subtlety, the outlines 29.g2 xg2+ 30.xg2 g8 31.h1 g7 of development are identical for both sides as 32.h2+ g8 33.f1 c7 [ 33...xg3? 34.h5 ] in the variation 2...g6 3.Bxf6 exf6. exf6 4.c4 [ 4.e3 g6 5.g3 h5 6.g2 g7 7.c4 f5 34.h3 f8 35.g2 a5! 36.bxa5 xa5 8.c3 0-0 9.ge2 c5?! This radical way of 37.f2 c7 38.h4 d8 39.h1 c8 handling the position is dubious. Trying to 40.e2 g8 41.xg5 xg5 42.a5 g7 release the bolt on d4 only leads to bigger 43.a1 h8 44.f3 e8 45.a6 This is the problems. This plan, as well as the reason only attempt to break Black's defence but will f o r W h i t e ' s s e t - u p h a s a l r e a d y b e e n prove insufficient because of the reciprocal commented by my p redecesso r, on th e weakness of the e3 pawn. The resulting rook 46.xa6 occasion of a game Sokolov,I-Har Zvi,R/Wijk ending will just be drawn. bxa6 aan Zee op(10) 1993, in a far more vivid xf4! 47.gxf4 xa6 48.xa6 e6 49.a7 English than mine! 10.0-0 c6 11.d2 g6 50.a8 f6 51.a7 g6 52.a8 g7 f4!? ( 11...e8 12.ad1 ) 12.xf4 cxd4 53.d8 f6 54.h8 g7 55.h3 e8 13.b5!? ( 13.exd4 xd4 14.fe1 g4 56.h5 g6 57.g5+ f6 58.g3 b8 15.e3 f5? 16.d3 ) 13...dxe3 14.fxe3 59.g2 e8 60.e2 b8 61.h2 g6 e5 15.d3 g7 16.f2 e6 62.a2 e8 63.b2 e6 64.b3 h5 ( 16...a5!? ) 17.xd6 b6 18.fe4 65.b8 g6 66.c8 xb2 19.xb2 xb2 20.ab1 g7 ½-½ 21.xb7 ab8 22.xb8 xb8 23.c5 e5 24.xe6 fxe6 25.c5 b2 26.c6 c2 27.e4 c5 28.e8 xc6 29.xg6 h6 30.e4 e3+ 31.h1 d4 32.f7 g5 33.xh5 c2 34.xa7 e3 35.h4 d8 36.d7 c1+ 37.h2 c2+ 38.h3 c1
prefer Black with his bishop pair. ] 20...e1+ 21.b2 b1+ The rest is carnage. 22.c3 xa3 23.d2 b4+ 24.c3 [ 24.e3 c1+ ] 24...e4 25.d1 White resigned, rather than face the horrendous material losses following 25...Bxc3+. 0-1
2122
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A45 24...g5 25.e2 f4! [ 25...f6!? 26.d5 h6 2350 A) 27.d6 f4! 28.gxf4 h4 29.g3 xe3! 2445 30.b3 ( 30.fxe3 h2+ 31.f1 xg3 1993 32.b2 gxf4 ) 30...gxf4 31.h1 e6 32.fxe3 c4; B) 27.dxc6 xd1+ 28.xd1 bxc6 1.d4 f6 2.g5 d6 3.xf6 exf6 4.g3 g6 With an almost irresistible attack too. ] 5.g2 f5 6.e3 g7 7.e2 d7 8.c4 f6 26.e4 f6 27.gxf4 gxf4 28.f3 h6 9.bc3 0-0 10.0-0 e8 11.c2 [ 11.d3 guarding the c4-square, is better 29.ac3 h4 30.e5 e6! The decisive as we shall see in the next game of the reinforcement. 31.e4 g6 32.d6 h2+ 33.f1 e3+! 34.fxe3 xg2 35.xg2 survey. ] There is no time to get rid of the Bc8 in view 11...c6 [ 11...h5 12.b4 h4 13.fe1 hxg3 14.hxg3 of the threat Qh1+. h3 36.xh3 xh3+ g4 15.c5 dxc5 ( 15...c6 16.b5 d5 ) Will cost White at least the e2-knight after 37. 16.bxc5 c6 17.ad1 g5 18.f4 h6 Ke1 (37.Kg1 f3) fxe3. 19.h3 e6 20.b1 ad8 21.d2 d5 0-1 22.f1 f6 ( 22...e4!= ) 23.xd5 xd5? ( 23...xh3 24.g2 h5 25.b1 ) 24.f4 A45 g7 ( 24...d7 25.f3 xe3 26.xe3 xd4 2172 27.g2 ) 25.f3! h8 26.g2 xe3 Lys,Josef 2353 27.xe3 xd4 28.ed3 hd8 29.h2 g5 Michenka,Jozef 2325 30.h3 h5 31.f2 g5 ( Better op-A Ostrava (9) 25.05.2002 31...xh2+ 32.xh2 b6 33.cxb6 axb6 [Eric Prié] 34.g2 ) 32.f4 xf4 A desperate attempt to k e e p t h e qu e e n s o n t h e b o a rd . 33.xd8 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.c3 xd8 34.h3 xf1+ 35.xf1 f6 36.f2 The variation of GMs Eduard MEDUNA and e7 37.d3 c3 38.b2 xb2 39.xb2 Mihail TSEITLIN. b6 5.d2?! White does xc5 40.d7 b5 41.d3 b6 42.e5 not wish to expose his queen on the c-file, but 1 - 0 L e gk y , N - P ri e , E Ro s n y o p e n 1 h K O this move, which would be appropriate if c5 1993 ] had already been exchanged against d4, is 12.fd1 e7 13.b4 e6 14.d3 wrong here for it deprives the queen's knight [ 14.d5 cxd5 15.cxd5 d7 16.ac1 ac8 of its only development square. Thus, it does 17.b3 e4 18.xe4 fxe4 is equal. ] not help in solving the crucial concern of the 14...ac8 15.ac1 d7 16.c5 The best b2 pawn. For the same reason the pressure developing setup has been achieved for both on the d-file to prevent Black from throwing in sides. It is time to start the battle of ideas. his e- pawn is illusory. d5 Of course Black [ 16.b5!? e4 17.a4 ] does not release the tension in the center 16...dxc5! After 17...d5, White has a free rein which is in his favour. 6.e3 The only way to o n t h e q u e e n s i d e . I n t h i s va r i a t i o n , t h e get the b1-knight out before it is too late is to possession of the e4 square is one of Black's take on c5: trumps, but there is no use "over controlling" it. [ 6.dxc5 xc5 17.bxc5 cd8 18.c2 h5 The backward A) 7.e3 e5 8.a3 e6! ( 8...b6 pawn on the open b-file is a serious concern, 9.xd5 xb2 10.b5+ xb5 11.xb5 but in revenge the structure is stabilized for a6 12.e2 e6 13.g3 c5 14.d3 some time, which authorizes Black to become 0-0-0 15.e2 And White can hold.) 9.c2 enterprising on the other flank. 19.b1 c8 c6 10.f3 g8 11.g3 0-0-0 12.g2 20.f4 h4 21.b3 Intending Nxg6 hxg3 b8 13.0-0 Castling queenside is not 22.hxg3 f8 23.a3 g4! 24.a4 recommended because of the weakness [ 24.xa7? xf2 25.xf2 xe3+ 26.f1 of a2. b6 14.ab1 d6 is difficult for xc3 ] W hite, who sorely lacks space and 2171 Lukasiewicz,Grzegorz Prie,Eric open Chanac (9) [Eric Prié]
2123
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 squares for his knights to lean on. Additionally, in the absence of counter play on the other flank, he will have to deal with the plan ...h5, ...Ne7, ...Ng6 forcing the opening of the h-file or dangerously weakening the castle and the g3 pawn, if he stops it by playing h4 himself.; B) 7.a3 e5 8.d1 c6 ( 8...e6 9.e4 ) 9.xd5 ( 9.e3 e6 10.b5 0-0-0 ) 9...xd5 10.xd5 e6 11.d2 xa3 12.bxa3 c8 13.e3 e7 ] 6...f5 [ 6...e5!! A redundant problem... 7.dxe5 ( 7.f3 c6 ) 7...fxe5 8.xd5 xb2! 9.xe5+ e6 10.xh8 c1+ 11.e2 c6! 12.f6 ( 12.h3 0-0-0 13.f4 e8! Threatening Bg4+ 14.f2 xh3 15.gxh3 xe3+ 16.g2 e4+ 17.g1 c4; 12.xh7 0-0-0 13.f3 c4+ 14.f2 xf1+ 15.g3 e1+ 16.h3 e6+ 17.g4 f1+ 18.g3 d6+ 19.f4 e1+; 12.d2 xa1 13.xh7 0-0-0 14.c2 g7 ) 12...d8! Threatening Qd1 mate. 13.f3 ( 13.f4 c4+ 14.f2 xf1+ 15.g3 d6 ) 13...xf1 14.c4 d4+! 15.exd4 ( 15.g3 d6+ 16.h4 xg2 ) 15...d3+ 16.f4 h6+ 17.xh6 xd4+ 18.g5 f5# ] 7.e2 [ 7.dxc5! xc5 8.a3 e5 ( 8...e6 9.b5 a6 10.d4 ) 9.d1 e6 10.e4 d4? 11.cxd4 exd4 12.b5! ( 12.xd4? a5+ 13.d2 b4 )] 7...e6 8.f4? [ 8.dxc5 xc5 9.d4 g6 10.b3 e7 ( 10...d6 11.d4 ) 11.d3 d7 ] 8...cxd4! This is a 'co-record' in the 2...c5 Trompowsky. W hite could sign the score sheets after8littlemoves! 9.exd4 [ 9.cxd4 xb1 10.xb1 b4 ] [ 9.xd4 xb2 ] 9...h6 Threatening to take on f4 to deviate the white queen from the protection of b2. 10.g3 [ 10.a3 xf4 11.xf4 xb2 12.c1 xc1+ 13.xc1 c6 14.b5 c8 15.d2 e7-+ ] [ 10.b3 e5 11.dxe5 fxe5 12.xd5 xf4 13.g3 h6 14.xe5+ e6 15.xe6+ fxe6 16.g2 c6 ] 10...e4 11.g1? [ 11.f3 xf3 12.g2 xg2 13.xg2 xf4
14.gxf4 c6 15.a3 0-0-0 16.0-0-0 dg8 17.h3 e7 ] 11...g8! Pinning the g-pawn and therefore renewing a threat which cannot be parried anymore. 12.b4 [ 12.b3 e5 13.e2 xf4 ] 12...e5 13.e2 xf4 0-1
2173 Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar Anastasian,Ashot 3rd IECC Batumi GEO (13) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2542 2591 26.06.2002
Trompowsky Attack: W e start with a heavyweight clash, in which Black pays the price for some over-cautious opening play. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 6.d2 g6 This move simply gives White too free a hand in the centre. 7.0-0-0 g7 8.f4 a6 9.g4 You have to respect W hite's attitude. Black is mincing around trying to erect some sort of hedgehog, so White announces his attention to blow him off the board! d7 10.f3 b5 11.e5 e7 12.f5 Now the point behind White's ninth becomes clear. This pawn break has been given crucial support. dxe5 13.dxe5 xe5 14.xe5 xe5 15.g2 b8 16.he1 Only one of the b ra ve W h it e p a wn s h a s h a d t o s a c ri f ic e himself, which is a small price to pay, as now every other pawn is participating in the attack. f6?! Black desperately tries to maintain a blockade of the e-file. However, this amounts to a critical weakening of his position. [ 16...f6 was a much more difficult nut to crack. 17.b1! g5 18.c6+ f8 19.d4 f6 20.a7 is still better for White, but Black can put up a better fight with: xc3! ] 17.fxg6 b6 18.xe5 fxe5 19.e4 Black is positionally bankrupt. The threat is g7 followed by Qxh6. g8 [ 19...b7 20.g7 g8 21.f6+ xf6 22.d7# was one possible finish. ] 20.xh6 At this level there is no reason for black not to acknowledge defeat. A move of the White g-pawn will swiftly bring him to his knees. 1-0 2124
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2174 Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar Aroshidze,Levan EuJun Baku (1) [Eric Prié]
A45 2542 2345 14.07.2002
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e6 8.b1 c7 9.b5+ bd7 10.dxe6 fxe6 11.f3 a6 12.c4 b6 13.xb6!? Quite brave but 'Mame' always trusts his tactical skill which, I can tell you, f or having witnessed him in several post-mortems during the tournament, is something phenomenal! W ell, it did not work this time, causing the greatest sensation of the last European Junior in history, as early as the first round. At least this defeat did not a f f e c t t h e l o c a l h e r o t o o m u c h si n ce h e eventually won the silver medal, then the European U18 title, and, a few months later, pulled himself up, again, to the 2nd step of the podium in the World U18, behind Berkes, and despite an impressive score of 9,5 out of 1 1 ! T h e n e xt ye a r, in 2 0 0 3 , h e ga ve t h e European a miss, managed to improve his score by half a point in the W orld, 2 points ahead of the field, and f inally gained the supreme youth title, while still under 18, in the W orld Junior in Nakchivan!! It is true that most of the best young hopes (like his famous compatriot Radjabov, or Ponomariov, Bacrot and so on) have been reluctant to continue playing in youth tournaments once they had shown their superiority by winning a World title, often in an 'upgraded' age category, but I have never seen such a regular and exceptional record amongst youths! xb6 14.e5 [ 14.g5!? d5 15.exd5 e7! ( 15...exd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 e7 18.0-0 With a strong attack against the black king, which is unable to evacuate the centre.) 16.dxe6 0-0 ( 16...h6? 17.d5 xd5 18.h5+ d8 19.f7+ c7 20.xd5! b1+ 21.e2 xh1 22.a5+ b8 23.e5+ a7 24.b2! b8 25.b6 a7 26.c7+ a8 27.xh8+- ) 17.f5! ( 17.0-0 h6 18.f3 xe6 ) 17...c6 ] 14...d5! 15.exf6 gxf6 [ 15...dxc4 16.e5 g6 17.f5! d6 18.f7+ d8 19.g5+ c7 20.f6+- ]
16.xd5? Ouch! This one is really optimistic, exactly in the image of the very friendly Azeri! White had to retreat the bishop [ 16.e2 c4 17.f5! ] 16...exd5 17.xd5 e6+ 18.e3 [ 18.e5 May have been White's intention, but it does not work. xd5 19.h5+ e7 20.g6+ d6! 21.xd5+ xd5 22.xh8 g7 23.f7 e6 Eventually traps the knight. ] [ 18.e2 xe2+ 19.xe2 f7 20.xf6 f5! ( 20...g7 21.e4 ) 21.g4 g7 ] 18...d6! 19.0-0 g4 [ 19...f5! looks even more efficient 20.h4 ( 20.c4 0-0-0 21.b3 e4 ) 20...0-0-0! 21.c4 e6! Black won a tempo and now the knight is pinned. W ith its disappearance, th e ho u se o f ca rds colla pse s. ( 21...e4 22.g4+ b8 23.f5! Intending Bf4) 22.f2 xd5 23.cxd5 e6! 24.dxe6 xd1+ 25.f1 xf1+ 26.xf1 d6 27.f5 c7 ] 20.c4 0-0-0 White can only claim visual compensation for the exchange 21.b3 xf3 [ 21...g8 ] 22.xf3 f5 23.f1 [ 23.b2!? g8 24.e5 is Fritz's positional defence with the fine idea A) But 24...b8! 25.xf5 g6! Also f o rcin g t h e exch a n ge o f qu e e n s beca use of th e m ate on g2 bu t u nde r much more favourable circumstances. 26.xg6 ( 26.h3 d3 wins the critical c4 pawn. 27.e6 d6 ) 26...hxg6 27.f5 gxf5 28.xf5 d6 b5 is coming and it is not easy for White, who has only a pawn for the exchange, to advance his own majority in front of his king.; B) 24...xe5 25.fxe5 b5 26.e6 d6 27.e7 de8 28.f6 bxc4 29.xg8 xg8 30.xf5 e8 31.xc5= ] 23...g8 24.b1 c6 25.g3 [ 25.d3 e6 as in the game just improves the loca tion of t he black que en . 26.b3 ( 26.b6 xd5 ) 26...g7 ] 25...b8 26.c2 e6 27.f2 g7 28.e1 d7 29.b2 f7 30.b6 d6 31.a5 c8 Black is solid. 32.b1 c6 33.d1 d7 34.e1 d8? May well be time trouble. [ 34...g6 35.c3 a7+- ] 35.e5 g7 [ 35...d7 36.xf5 ] 2125
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 36.xf5 White has won a pawn for the exchange but is not out of trouble for that. f8 [ 36...e8 with the same idea Bd4 is more logical, this rook on the only completely open file now being stronger than White's Rf5, but it is also logical to reduce White's 'hacking' potential. 37.f7 d4 38.xd4 cxd4 39.f6 c5-+ ] 37.g5 [ 37.xf8+ xf8 38.e1 Presented Black with some technical difficulties but d4!? 39.xd4 ( 39.g2 xf2 40.xf2 f5 ) 39...cxd4 40.e5+ a7 41.xd4+ c5 42.xc5+ xc5 43.e3 b6! 44.f5 c6 Entering the f pawn square, looks c o m p le t e ly win n i n g, a g a i n st t h e 'sh o r t legged' knight, after the unavoidable loss of White's a pawn. ] 37...d4! 38.d2 h6! The decisive m a n o e u vre p u t t i n g t h e ro o k o u t o f p la y. 39.g4 e6 40.h4 e4! Since the exchange on d4, giving Black a passed pawn and opening the c line against the c4 pawn, is i m p o s s i b l e , W h i t e ' s p o s i t i o n e ve n t u a l l y c o l l a p s e s . 41.e3 The threat was Bxf2+ followed by Qxc4. b6 42.f5 And the nice finish: b1+! 43.f1 xh4! [ 43...xh4 44.gxh4 g8+ 45.h1 xf1+ 46.g1 fxg1# ] 0-1
21.fd1 c7 22.d5 xd5 23.xd5 b5 24.f3 ed8 25.d4 a4 26.b3 e8 27.d5 a4 28.b3 [ 28.b3= ] 28...f8 [ 28...d7 ] 29.h4 h5 [ 29...c6= ] 30.e4 d7 [ 30...fxe4 31.xe4 c6? 32.xg6+ ] 31.d4 a4 32.e1 The huge rating difference prompts White to take risks. [ 32.d3= ] 32...e5 [ 32...g7! 33.exf5? xd4 34.fxg6 xd5! 35.xd5 xg3+ 36.h1 xh4+ ] 33.b3 g7 34.a5! The previous year's World under 18 champion eventually hits the chink in the armour. b5 35.xb7 xb7 36.xb7 d3 37.f4 d4 38.exf5 xc5 39.f6+ h7 40.e4 d6 41.xg6+!! fxg6 [ 41...xg6 42.g5+ h7 43.g7# ] 42.c7+! [ 42.c7+ xc7 ( 42...g8 43.f7+ f8 44.e8+! xe8 45.fxe8+ xe8 46.f7+ d8 47.d7# ) 43.xc7+ d7 44.e7+ h6 ( 44...g8 45.d8+ e8 46.xe8# ) 45.c1+ d2 46.e2! The final point of this fine combination. ] 1-0
2175 Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar Tasan,Askin Saraybahce GP op (2) [Eric Prié]
2176 Martinez Rubio,Felipe Alvarez Ibarra,R 5th Pablo Gorbea Mem Open (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2542 2128 18.08.2002
1.d4 f6 2.g5 d6 3.xf6 exf6 4.c4 f5 5.g3 g6 6.c3 g7 7.g2 0-0 8.e3 d7 9.ge2 c6 10.0-0 e8 11.b4 b6 12.c5 c4 13.d5!? dxc5 14.bxc5 cxd5 15.xd5 a5! To protect b7 [ 15...e5 16.b5 f8 17.b3 xc5! ( 17...a6 18.d6 xd6 19.cxd6 e6 20.d4 xd6 21.xe6 fxe6 22.xb7 ab8 23.a4 ) 18.f4 xe3+ 19.g2 e6 20.xe6 xe6 21.fxe5 xe5 ] 16.c1 d7 17.d4 a6 [ 17...c8 ] 18.b3 c6 19.g2 b8 20.e2 e7
A45 2014 2417 06.09.2001
Trompowsky Attack: White gets carried away with pawn moves and never manages to catch up with development. Please turn away if you are of a delicate disposition. This game is a true example of pain and suffering. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.b3 This is the main alternative to 7.Bc1, but personally, I have never liked it. To my eyes the White queenside just looks weak! e6 8.e4 exd5 9.exd5 d6 10.xd6? This is seldom a good idea. Exchanging dark squared bishops gives Black a free hand. [ White should instead consider: 10.g5 e7 2126
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 11.c4 after which we would be in for an interesting battle. ] 10...xd6 11.c4 0-0 [ The immediate 11...e5+ can be parried by 12.e2 ] 12.e2 now Qe5 was a real threat. e5 13.d2 d6 14.c1 White's position just looks horribly congested. W hen the Tromp goes wrong, White's early pawn moves come back to haunt him. W hite's dark squares in particular look vulnerable. e8 15.f1 f5 Black increases his advantage effortlessly, with natural and simple developing moves. 16.g3 a6 17.a3 e7 Preparing to double rooks along the e-file. A plan which White is in no position to oppose. 18.f2 d4+ 19.g2 ae8 It's hard to offer White sensible advice in a position like this. Like a lamb to the slaughter, the only question is not if, but when the end will come. White's next move invites a quick, although not painless end. 20.f1 e1 0-1
2177 Martinovic,Sasa Nevednichy,Vladislav Nova Gorica op-A 12th (1) [Eric Prié]
A45 2378 2567 26.01.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6 3.d2 b6 4.gf3 [ 4.b3?! This is not the idea behind Nd2. d5! 5.xf6 ( 5.e3 a5! 6.a4 e4 7.f4 g5 8.e5 f6! 9.h5+ d8 10.xb8 b4+ 11.c3 xb3-+ Hence 5...a5 provoking the weakening of the b3 square...) 5...exf6 6.e3 a5 7.a4 a6 White's only plan is to play c4 so b4 will also be weak... 8.f3 d6 9.e2 h5!? ( 9...0-0 And I would rather be Black.) 10.fd2 h4 11.c4 dxc4 12.xc4 b4+ 13.bd2 c7= Chernyshov, K (2556)Kustar, S (2351) Budapest 2004 1/2(51) ] 4...xb2 5.e4 d5 6.xf6? Gambiting is about space and time, and W hite loses everything with the added material concession of the pair of bishops. exf6 7.exd5 b4! 8.d3 [ 8.e2+? e6 9.dxe6 xa1+ ] 8...xd2+ 9.xd2 xd4 10.0-0 [ 10.e2+ e6 Again. ]
10...0-0 11.h5 g6 12.h6 cxd5 13.f3 c3 14.ae1 c6 15.e3 c5 White only ha s a p ha nt o m at t ack in re tu rn f o r t he 2 sacrificed pawns. 16.h4 e5 17.f5 [ 17.f5 xf5 18.xf5 fe8 19.h3 gxf5 20.xh7+ f8-+ ] 17...e8 18.g3 [ 18.h3 f8 ] 18...f8 19.d2 h8 20.f4 c5+ 21.h1 c4 22.d3 e3! 23.xe3 xe3 0-1
2178 Martinovic,Sasa Perunovic,Milos 13th Festival A (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2378 2547 04.01.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 d5 3.e3! Everything regarding the early capture on f6 to double the pawns will be examined next month. [ 3.f3?! This transposition is granted a chapter of its own in the ECO system: D03. A bit strange for a dubious opening because of e4 Of course, even if Black regularly plays 3. .. e6 in th is po sition , t he re f o re transposing into the Torre complex, for a reason that escapes me. It is my plan to deal with this D03 which covers both 1...Nf6 and 1...d5 after I finish the Veresov. 4.f4 c5 5.c3 c6 6.e3 b6 7.b3 c4 8.xb6 axb6 9.bd2 xd2 10.xd2 b5 ] [ 3.c3?! By the way, transposes into a well known open ing t hat h as ha d my f avou r these last few months, a bit too long in fact o) h ence a co uple of we eks break . c5!? ( 3...bd7! ) 4.e4!? ( 4.f3!?; 4.e3 c6 5.a3! Speelman. At last somebody who has thought over the problems of how to tune a defensive set-up to an extra-tempo... )] [ 3.f3 e4 4.f4 ] 3...c5 4.c3!? [ 4.c3 Or ] [ 4.xf6 gxf6 5.c3 are the main responses here which actually both transpose into the main line of the 3...c5!? Veresov as lauded by IM John COX in his book 1. d4 deviations, or so I've heard. I will therefore give them a separate treatment later. I understand it must be 2127
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 more concise than 3... Nbd7(!) in the move order 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bg5 in terms of learning, failing to be less complex, and practical for the 1...Nf6 player since assuming he plays 2...d5 after Nc3 he can now use the same knowledge in the 2...d5 Tromp. Faithful to his dynamic approach to lever open the position after freely 'gambiting' the little exchange, something always bizarre to the mind of the 'authentic' d-Pawn Specials player, there is nothing in GM Peter WELLS' book "Winning with the Trompowsky" (edited by Batsford in 2003) about these two possibilities. Fortunately there is something to put your teeth into in the second book by GM Nigel DAVIES , more modestly entitled "the Veresov" (Everyman 2003), which I am decorticating at the moment! As for myself, I play 1...d5! and against the Pseudo-Bishop's attack 2. Bg5?! I would find something more interesting to put on f 6 than my knight! Anyway, my general feeling is that if this line poses problem for White, then it is the entire Chigorin construction that must be wo b b ly. S u c ce ssf u lly p la yin g t h e " P rié attack" (NIC 78) as W hite however, I am very well placed to know that reversed play is not so simple... ] 4...e4 [ 4...b6 5.b3 c6 ( 5...c4 6.xb6 axb6 7.d2 b5 8.xf6!? Risky, White should transpose with a3 and Rc1. gxf6 9.e4 ) 6.d2 c4 7.xb6 axb6 8.a3 b5 9.c1 e5!? 10.dxe5 xe5 11.xf6 gxf6 12.gf3 d7 13.d4 g8 14.h3 0-0-0 15.f4 c6 16.f2 The opponent's black squared bishop is completely gagged so I prefer White, who still has to be careful for tactics. ] 5.f4 c6?! [ 5...b6! 6.b3 ( 6.c2?! Is only a trap. f5? Black should firstly play 6...Nc6 of course. Then b7 can be economically defended with long castling in case of the same W hite manoeuvre. 7.dxc5 xc5 8.b3 B l a c k c a n n o t p l a y c7 with d5 hanging ) 6...c6! A) 7.d2 xd2 8.xd2 c4 ( 8...d8!? ) 9.xb6 axb6 10.a3 b5 11.e1 f5 12.f3 a5 Looks annoying for White but ma y b e pla ya b le wit h th e kin g o n d 1 .
13.d1 e6 14.d2 e7 15.e2; B) 7.xb6?! axb6 8.c7 c4; C) 7.xd5? xf2!? ( 7...xb2! T h e se c u re r e f u t a t i o n . 8.xe4 g6! Intending ...Bf5 9.b5 xb5 ) 8.xf2 xb2+ 9.e2 xa1 10.b3 cxd4 And White seems to miss time to organize anything against the imprisoned opposing queen because his Nb1 is pinned in fact a g a i n s t t h e R h 1 , h o w e v e r . . . ( 10...e5 11.dxe5 e7 12.f3 0-0 13.d1 e6 14.c4 ) 11.f3 dxc3 12.xc3 xh1 13.b5 With complications.; D) 7.f3 c4 8.xb6 axb6 9.bd2 xd2 10.xd2 b5 11.e4 This is the main position of the D03 chapter as mentioned right on top, to be seen later. ] 6.d3?! [ 6.d2! b6 7.xe4 dxe4 8.b3 e6 ( 8...cxd4 9.exd4 e6 10.xb6 axb6 11.f3 exf3 12.xf3 xa2 13.xa2 xa2 14.c7 ) 9.xb6 axb6 10.e2 xa2 11.xa2 xa2 12.g3 f6 13.c7! ] 6...f6 [ 6...g5!? 7.e5 xe5 8.dxe5 b6 9.b3 c4 10.xb6 axb6 11.xe4 dxe4 12.d2 g7 13.xc4 e6 14.d2 d5 ] 7.f3?! [ 7.d2! See Kalinitshev-Volodin at the end of the update. ] 7...e6?! Fortunately, the game will not last long after this disgraceful move. [ 7...g4 At least 8.h3 h5 9.bd2 ] [ 7...b6! 8.b3?! ( 8.c2! ) 8...c4 9.xb6 axb6 10.c2 b5 Et cetera when the concerns about 11.a3 in this position will be treated in due course. ] 8.0-0 e7 9.bd2 0-0 10.e5 d7 11.df3 dxe5 12.xe5 xe5 13.xe5 ½-½
2179 Marzolo,Cyril Mamedov,Rauf 6th EICC Warsaw POL (5) [Eric Prié]
A45 2388 2511 22.06.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 2128
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 exf4 12.d4 d5!? There are other moves like 12...Ra5 or 12...g6 which are specifically directed against W hite's most dangerous freeing plan i.e. e2-e3 followed by Ke2xe3 which we shall deal with some other time. Then White can usually implement the g2-g3 alternative satisfactorily. This strange 'time costing' move is trickier as it somehow prepares the recycling of the black knight to the c7-square to control the vital b5 point in addition to d5. 13.e4 fxe3 [ 13...e3 14.h3 d6 15.d2 0-0 A) 16.e2!? Wins a pawn. c4+ ( 16...f5 17.exf4 xf1+ 18.hxf1 fxe4 19.fxe4 a4 20.d3 ) 17.c2 e3+ 18.d3 b5 19.hxf4 c4 20.c2 e3+ 21.d2 c4+ 22.c1 f5; B) 16.f2 e5 17.c2 xf1+ ( 17...d5 18.xe3 fxe3+ 19.xe3 dxe4 20.xe4 ) 18.hxf1 d6 19.b4 e6 20.c2 Evacuating the d-file for a rook. f5 21.fd1? ( 21.fe1! fxe4 22.xe4 d5 23.f2 f5+ 24.b3 f6 25.xd5 h4 26.e7+ h8 27.xf5 xf5 28.e2 ) 21...fxe4 22.xe4 f5 23.d5?! ( 23.d3! xe4 24.fxe4 g5; 23.e1?! ) 23...xe4+ 24.fxe4 f3! 25.d2 ( 25.xb6 ae8 26.d7 fxg2! 27.xf8 xf8! Next comes Rf2+, Bh2 and g2g1=Queen ) 25...fxg2 26.xg2 a4 27.e2 b5= Leroy,D ( 2378) -Le Quang,K (2348) Bagneux 2000 ] 14.c4 c7 [ 14...f4!? This would be a novelty as far as m y d a t a b a se ca n t e ll. 15.g3 e6 16.c2 c5 ( 16...b5!? 17.xb5 c5 ) 17.b4 e7 18.xe3 ] 15.ge2 Normally, this is not the idea, although after [ 15.e2 c5 16.xe3 b5! Without this key move, allowing him to get rid of his doubled pawns while attacking the dark squares, Black would be in some trouble. ( 16...d6 17.ge2 e6 18.d3 ) 17.b3 b4 18.cxb4 xb4 19.c1 e6 20.ge2 0-0 21.hd1 d6 22.f2 c5 Black is very active. ] 15...c5 16.b4 xd4 17.xd4 d5 18.b3 0-0 19.e2 e8 20.hd1 d7 21.d3 e6 22.xe6 [ 22.xe3? f4+ 23.f2 xe3 24.xe3
xg2+ ] 22...fxe6 23.xe3 a4 24.e1 ½-½
2180 McShane,Luke J Cvitan,Ognjen 36th Olympiad (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2629 2532 16.10.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 exf4 12.d4 d5 However, by taking the d5 squ a r e f r o m h i s kn igh t B l a c k a ll o ws t h e s e c o n d u n d e r m i n i n g m o v e 13.e3! Quite astonishing though thematic and with a great effect. fxe3 14.e2! The necessary complement g6 [ 14...c5 15.xe3 0-0 16.d3 ( 16.b5!? a5 17.a4 ) 16...d7 ( 16...e8+ 17.f2 xd4+ 18.cxd4 a4? 19.b5 ) 17.ge2 b5 18.a3 e8 19.d2?! ( 19.f4! It is possible that the king may be better placed on f2 eventually c7 20.d2 xd4 21.cxd4 a4 22.b3! I like this repetitive motive! xd4 23.e3 ) 19...d6 20.f4 ( 20.ae1! c4+ 21.c1 fc8 22.b1 ) 20...c4+ 21.xc4 ( 21.c2 e3+ 22.b3 xd4 23.cxd4 a4 24.he1 xd4 25.xe3 xf4 26.e7 c6 ) 21...dxc4= Polaczek, R (2426) - Heimann,A (2495) playchess INT 5' 2005 ] 15.xe3 h6+ 16.f2 0-0 17.b5! Preventing ...Re8 and ...Be3+ that would f orbid the linking of the white rooks . d7 18.ge2 fe8 19.hd1 e3+ 20.f1 The result being that every white piece is d e ve l o p e d i n a n o p t i m a l wa y wh ic h wa s enabled by a quasi winning pawn structure from the start where Black has holes on b5, b4, d6, d5, and d4! Black now proves unsuccessful in worrying his opponent's king and was unable to f ind suff icient counter a ct i vit y o n t h e d a rk sq u a re s, e it h e r . e5 21.xd7 xd7 22.c2 f6 Black must have been afraid of exiling his rook to the kingside, for instance after [ 22...c5 23.f4 h5 24.h3 f6 25.d3 e4 26.g4 h4 27.g2 h5 28.g5 d6 2129
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 29.cd4! e8 30.e1 ( 30.f3 xg5 ) 30...xf4 31.f3 xg5 32.xd5 f6 33.xh4 xh4 34.ed1 ] 23.xe3 xe3 24.f4 While Black is now definitely deprived of any counter play without his black squared bishop, the painful massage against d5 can begin. e5 25.d4 f8 26.d3 e6 27.b4 a5 28.ad1 e5 29.a3 h5 30.d3 Direct means do not win, so W hite has to mix them with threats against the enemy doubled b-pawns. e6 31.f4 e5 32.b4 f5 33.d3 d7 34.e1! First phase achieved! f6 35.f4 f5 [ 35...b8 36.g3 a6 37.d4 c7 38.d3 ( 38.e5 e6 ) 38...f5 39.f2 White prepares to double on the e line and invade the 7th. ] 36.d3 [ 36.d4 e5! ] 36...f6 37.d4 f5 [ 37...e6!? 38.f4 xe1+ 39.xe1 f6 40.h4 was pretty depressing for Black when White would have then prepared g2-g4-g5, but possibly represented a more stubborn resistance. b5?? 41.b4 ] 38.b4 Second phase on the way: combine threats against Black's isolated rook on the kingside with penetration into the enemy camp via the only open file. c5 39.e2 [ 39.c2 e5 ] 39...f6?! [ 39...a5 40.c2 c5 ( 40...e5 41.xe5 xe5 42.e3 c5 43.xd5 xd5 44.xd5 c4 45.a4 xb2 46.xb6 ) A) 41.d3 e5; B) 41.e3 e5 42.c4 ( 42.g3!?; 42.h4 ) 42...f6 43.xd5 xe2 44.xe2 xd5 45.cxd5 Black must have been afraid of this variation losing a pawn when the rook ending is clearly one of his best opportunities to fulfil his dream of a draw! e7 46.d6+ d7 47.d3 ( 47.d2 c6 48.a4 b5! ) 47...c1; C) 41.ed2! T h r e a t e n i n g N e 3 f6 42.e3 e5 43.2d3 g7 ( 43...g5 44.h4; 43...e7? 44.f4 e4 45.xd5+ xd5 46.xe4+ xe4 47.xd5 ) 44.f2 ( 44.e2 c8 45.d2 ce8 ) 44...f8 45.h4 g7 46.g3 e8 47.f4 White will eventually win d5 but meanwhile
can still improve his position, R3d2, g2-g3 etc. ( 47.xd5 xd5 48.xd5 e2 49.d2 )] [ 39...b5 40.d1! e5 41.ed2 b6 42.d3+- ] 40.c2 e8?! [ 40...a5 41.d3! Threatening to trap the b l a c k r o o k h4 ( 41...c5 42.d4 g5 43.h4 g3 44.f2 e4+ 45.xe4 dxe4 46.e3 )] [ 40...d7 (See above) Again was the most resistant but the formal W orld junior ch a m p io n (1 9 8 1 ) wa s p ro b a b ly in t im e trouble...as usual. ] 41.d3! c7 [ 41...f6 42.d4 d6 43.de3 c4 44.e8+ g7 45.8e7 ] 42.b4! Wins the exchange and the game. c6 [ 42...c4 43.e3 ] 43.d4 ff6 44.xc6 bxc6 45.a4 d6 46.a2 d8 47.a5 b8 48.f2 b5 49.g3 d6 50.f4 e7 51.h4 c4 52.g4 f6 53.d1 f7 54.e1 b7 55.axb6 xb6 56.ea1 c8 57.a8 c7 58.1a6 e7 59.g5 fxg5+ 60.xg5 f7 61.f4 e7 [ 61...f6 62.b5 e7 63.b6 b7 64.8a7 b8 65.c7 ] 62.e5 f7 63.d4 e7 64.c5 d7 65.f4 d6 66.8a7 e4+ 67.b6 xa7 68.xa7+ There follows Rc7 and the b-pawn marches on. 1-0
2181 McShane,Luke J Gordon,Stephen J ch-EU Liverpool ENG (10) [Andrew Martin]
A45 2614 2443 15.09.2006
Coming up is a indication of why White does not play 5 Nc3 very often any more in one of the main lines of the Tromp. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 It is interesting to see McShane prefer 5 Nc3 over 5 c3, but maybe he fears an early ...d7d5. Nevert heless, a f ter 5 Nc3 Bb4 Blac k cannot really be stopped from playing the critical central advance and to my mind this is t h e a c i d t e s t o f t h i s m o v e o r d e r . d6 2130
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Re c o m m e n d e d b y J o h n C o x in a re c e n t repertoire book on d-pawn openings. The text is solid enough. 6.d2 c6 7.f4 e5 8.dxe5 [ 8.ge2 s h o u ld b e a n swe re d b y e7 9.0-0-0 0-0 10.g3 and now Black has two interesting possibilities: g4!? ( 10...b5!? 11.g2 d8! dissuading White from taking on e5 and threatening to plough on with .. . b5-b4. Either way, Black is getting counterplay.) 11.g2 exd4 12.xd4 xd4 13.xd4 a6= ] 8...dxe5 9.f5 b4! In order to stabilize the position and create attacking chances White needs to be able to play 0-0-0, Bc4 and then to advance on the kingside. 9...Bb4! is thus very logical, making room for the Queen to retreat to e7 and preparing ...Nd7 and either ... Nc5 or ... Nf6, hitting e4. Black interrupts the White scheme. [ 9...d6 10.d3 e7 11.f3 d7 seems more cumbersome, but even in the coming fragment, Black achieves a good game: 12.a4 a5 13.g4 c5 14.f2 xf2+ 15.xf2 d6 16.c4 f6 17.ad1 c7 18.g5 hxg5 19.xg5 f8 20.e2 d7 21.h4 e7 22.h5 e8 23.d3 h8 24.g3 Hodgson, J-Magem Badals, J/ Linares 1995 b5 ] 10.f3 [ A good illustration of what Black is aiming f o r ca n b e se en in t he f o llowing gam e : 10.0-0-0 d7 11.f3 e7 12.a3 a5 13.b1 f6 14.d3 ( 14.d5 xd2 15.xe7 xe7 16.xd2 g4! ) 14...d7 15.he1 b5 16.g4 b6 17.h3 0-0-0 18.a2 b8 19.c1 c5 20.c4 b4 Thorhalsson-Stefansson Reykjavik 2004 ] 10...d7 11.a3 a5 12.c4 [ 12.g4 e7 13.g1 f6 14.d3 d7 15.0-0-0 0-0-0 16.g3 b8 17.b4 c7 18.a4 c8 19.c3 g6 20.b2 gxf5 21.gxf5 xf5 22.exf5 e4 23.e1 d6 24.xe4 f4+ 25.d2 xd2 26.xd2 xe4 Cordova, E-Hellsten, J/Arequipa 2005 ] 12...e7 13.0-0-0 f6 White's problem is that he has nowhere to take the position. Black continues with 0-0-0, ... Bb6, ... etc. in my view Black has more potential. 14.he1 d7 15.a2 b5 16.e3 c7 [ 16...b4 17.axb4 xb4 18.d3 d8
19.e1 0-0 20.g4 ] 17.d3 a5 18.g4 0-0-0 Gordon finds a good way to organise his pieces. It would have been more dangerous to castle short meanwhile the Bishop on d7 masks the d file and White cannot create any pressure there. 19.e2 b7 20.a4 b4 21.b1 c5 22.b3 c4!? [ 22...c6 23.bd2 xd3 24.cxd3 e8 ( 24...d8 25.c4 e8 26.c2 xg4 27.g1 f6 28.xg7 d7 ) 25.f2 xa4 26.xc5 b5 might be a more reliable way of gaining counterplay. ] 23.xc4 xa4 24.xd8 xd8 25.xd8 xd8 26.xf7 c6 27.bd2 xg4 Po ssib ly t h e en d o f B la ck' s ca lcu la t io n s before 22...c4. The computer is showing that White is a little better but I don't believe it. The two Bishops and possible outside passed pawn tempt me to think the reverse! 28.c4 [ 28.b3 b8 29.fd2 f6 30.c4 'c o n n e c t s ' t h e W h i t e p o s i t i o n , b u t d6 is solid enough. ] 28...f6 29.b5 d7 30.xc6+ xc6 31.b3 a7 32.b1 b7 33.d3 a7 34.b2 b7 35.c1 a7 36.e2 b7 The time-trouble coming and going is endless. 37.e1 b6 [ I q u i t e l i k e 37...c3 38.b5+ b6 n o w, wit h t h e i d e a s 39.d3 ( 39.ef3 a1+ 40.b1 a7! ) 39...a1+ 40.b1 d4 ] 38.c4 a7 39.g2 b7 40.d3 xe4 41.xb6 xb6 42.xe5 d6 43.d2 c7 44.d4 b5 45.a7+ Perhaps White finally has the advantage, but he is working with limited tools. b7 46.c4 c5 47.xc5+ xc5 48.xa5 e4 49.c4 c6 50.d1 c5 Black's active King saves the day. 51.e2 d4 52.f3 f6 53.e3 e5 54.h3 e8 55.e2 e4 56.d2 d6 57.f6 gxf6 58.g4 f5! 59.xh6 f4 60.g4 f3 61.e5+ g3 62.e2 f5! 63.d3 f3 64.xf3 xf3 65.c4 e3+ 66.xb4 ½-½
2131
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2182 McShane,Luke J Kotronias,Vasilios Gibraltar Masters (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2568 2573 03.02.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.d5 b6 5.c1 [ 5.c1 c4! 6.e3 a5+ will be illustrated by an example some other time. The gambit ] [ 5.d2 Likewise, which has to be brought together with our 2...c5 3.d5 Qb6 Tromp favourite because of the obvious transposition 3...Ne4, instead of 3.. .Qb6 4. Bf4 (4. Bc1!?). ] 5...g6 6.f3 d6 7.e4 g7 8.c3 f5 9.exf5 xf5 10.g4!? as successfully played a few months before by this other great English Tromp specialist, seems more appropriate for a 'lively' creative treatment of the position. [ 10.e4 d6! 11.xd6+ xd6 Followed by the thematic 0-0, Na6, Nc7, b5 laying siege to White's advanced d-pawn. ] [ 10.h3!? 0-0 11.e4! See next month by transposition. ] 10...h6 [ 10...d6!? However, and that was possibly what bothered the no. 1 English player in the previous game which saw the quieter 10. Bd3. ] 11.d6 e6 12.b5 a6 13.f4 c6 The problem with this move, threatening Nxg4, is that it takes the square c6 from the black queen's knight, which must move if Black is to chase the cramping Nb5 away, after having short castled because of the fork on c7, in order to untie his queenside. [ 13...0-0 ] 14.xh6!! xh6 15.c4 0-0 16.h4! f4 17.h5 g3+ 18.e2 b4? [ 18...g5 O f c o u r s e . 19.h6! With the idea Rh5, Qd2-c3 when W hite's position suddenly appears less -let's say- 'readable'! e5 ] 19.hxg6 h6 20.g7! xg7 21.d2 f4 22.c3+ g8 23.a3 a6 [ 23...d5 24.d3 That is the all point. ] 24.d3 g7 25.h3 e5 26.g2 b6 27.hg1! f4 28.c3+! g6 29.xf4+ xf4 30.e3! Attack! e5 [ 30...f6 31.f4 Actually wins the queen! ]
31.xe5 xc4 32.h1 The impossibility for Black to parry the obvious Rxh6+, Qf6+, Rh1+, Rh8 mate cruelly brings out the misery of his right flank. 1-0
2183 McShane,Luke J Volokitin,Andrei It Igualada ESP (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2625 2671 18.08.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 exf4 12.d4 c5 13.h3 d5 14.e4 fxe3 15.c4 b4! This is the latest trend in the f orm of a cru cial and only two month old novelty, no doubt the result of deep preparation... 16.0-0-0 [ If 16.e2 then xd4 17.cxd4 d5 18.b3 ( 18.b5+ d7 19.xd7+ xd7 20.a3 c2 21.ad1 a4 ) 18...xh3 19.gxh3 d7 20.a3 c6 21.xe3 d6= ] [ 16.b5 c2+ 17.e2 xa1 18.c7+ e7 19.xa8 d5 20.xd5 A) 20...xh3 21.gxh3 xa8 22.xa1 d8 23.d1 b5 24.xb7 xd1 25.xd1 d6; B) 20...d8 21.c7 c2 22.d1 d6 23.b5 ( 23.e4 xc7 24.xd8 xd8 25.xc2 xh3 26.gxh3 xh2= ) 23...xh2 24.e4 xd1 25.xd1 a1 26.d4; C) 20...c2! C1) 21.c7 d6 22.e4 xc7 23.xc2 xh3 24.gxh3 d8=; C2) 21.g5 d7 22.c7 ( 22.c1 b5+ 23.c4 d4+ 24.d3 c6 25.c7 c8 26.xc6 bxc6 27.a6 d8; 22.xb7? d8!! 23.c7 b5+! 24.xb5 d2+ 25.f1 e2# ) 22...c8 23.c1 a3 24.bxa3 xc7; C3) 21.f4! d8 ( 21...d7? 22.xb7 d8 23.d5+ d6 24.ac7 ) 22.d1 g5 23.h5 d7 24.c7 ( 24.xb7?? b5+ ) 24...c8 ( 24...a4 25.b3 xb3 26.axb3 xd1 27.xd1 a1 28.b4 ) 25.e4 xc7 ( 25...a3? 26.d5+ ) 26.xc2 f5= 27.b4 xb4 2132
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 28.xf5 xf5 29.cxb4 c2+ 30.xe3 xg2 and as I said: "no doubt the result of deep preparation..." ] 16...xd4 17.xd4 d5 18.cxb4 [ 18.b5+ c6 19.a4 ( 19.f4 xa2 20.b1 a5 21.xd5? f5+ ) 19...xh3 20.gxh3 0-0-0 21.e1 he8= ] 18...dxc4 19.e4+ f8 20.e1 xh3 21.gxh3 xa2 22.b1 a8 23.1xe3 g6 Black cannot hang onto the pawn but still maintains the balance because of the equally ruined white pawn structure compensated by the latter's initiative. [ 23...b5? 24.e5 ] 24.xc4 g7 25.e7 he8 26.xb7 e1+ 27.c2 e2+ 28.b3 e3+ 29.c3 e2 30.h4 [ 30.xb6 xh2 31.f4 White cannot afford to lose h3 which would open the way for Black's rocket on h7. f2 even seems risky for him. ] 30...d8! Black activates. [ 30...xh2 31.c4 f2 32.f4 f8 33.xb6 ] 31.h5 xh2 32.hxg6 hxg6 33.xb6 dd2 34.a4 xb2 35.bc6 b1 36.3c4 g5 37.4c5 f6 38.f5 a2+ 39.b5 ab2 40.fxf6 xb4+ 41.c5 f4 42.xf4 gxf4 43.d5 b5+ ½-½
2184 Meduna,Eduard Bilinskas,Raimundas op Prague (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2450 2250 1996
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.c3 b6 5.c2 d5! 6.e3 c6 [ 6...f5?? 7.xf5 xb2 8.c8# ] 7.f3 e5! As usual! [ 7...f5? 8.dxc5! xc2 9.cxb6 axb6 10.a3 g6 11.b5 is fine for White. ] 8.bd2 d7 Black wants to use the c-file without diluting the central pressure, but when the knight is on d2 it is logical to take on d4 ensuring a strong bind in the center. 9.e2 [ 9.dxe5 fxe5 10.e4 dxe4! ( 10...d4 11.c4 as in the game.) 11.xe4 ( 11.c4 c7 12.xe4 0-0-0 ) 11...e7 ( 11...0-0-0!?
12.fg5 f5 13.d2 g8 14.c4 c7 15.f7 e8 16.0-0-0 b8 ) 12.0-0-0 ( 12.g3 ) 12...0-0-0 ( 12...c7 13.g3 ) 13.d6+= ] 9...c8?! If Black had imagined White's next manoeuvre he would have gone in for [ 9...cxd4 10.exd4 e4 ] 10.dxe5! Now that Black cannot castle long anymore, this thematic central reaction is a lot stronger. fxe5 11.e4 d4 [ 11...dxe4 12.c4! c7 13.xe4 f5 14.d5+- ] 12.c4 g8 13.0-0 d6 The picture is completely different for White to what usually happens when he wants to preserve a pawn o n d 4 wi t h o u t l o s i n g t h e o n e o n b 2 : N o annoying pressure in the center or against b2, good squares for his knights, a powerful light sq u a r e d b is h o p a n d e ve n a b e t t e r k i n g ! 14.h4 On the other hand, he has to play actively for the opponent's strong protected passed pawn and pair of bishops should not be neglected. [ 14.d5!? e7 ( 14...h3 15.e1 ) 15.c4 c7 16.xb7! b8 17.d5 ] 14...e7 15.ae1 b8 16.f4! exf4 17.e5 h6 18.hf3 b5 19.e4! bxc4 20.f6+ d8 21.cxd4 cxd4 22.d2? [ 22.xg8 xg8 ( 22...b6 23.xh7 ) 23.xd4 e7 ] 22...d3 23.a5+? c7 24.xa7 b8! 25.h1 [ 25.xg8 b6+ 26.xb6 xb6+ 27.h1 xg8-+ ] [ 25.f2 is better c6 26.xg8 g7 27.a6?! ( 27.a3 xg8 28.h1 ) 27...b6 28.ef1 a5! 29.h1 ( 29.f6 c8 30.b5 xf2+ 31.xf2 xb5 ) 29...xg8-+ ] 25...g6 The way the Czech Grandmaster has led the attack is completely incomprehensible. The material could be about equal, although unbalanced with a rook against 2 pieces and a ruined structure, he could have the d-file opened, instead he is now a piece down with no open lines for his rooks! 26.d4 xf6! He must have overlooked this reply and the sequence initiated by 24... Rb8! the purpose of which being to put the king in the corner. 27.exf6 f5 28.xc4 g3+ 29.g1 e2+ [ 29...xb2! 30.h4 2133
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A) 30...h5!! 31.xd3 ( 31.c3 b6+ [ 19...c7 20.xc7 xc7 21.hd1 ] 32.h2 xg2+! 33.xg2 g4 34.e8+ 20.hd1 f6 21.d6! a4 xe8 35.xd3+ d7 ) 31...b6+ 32.h2 [ 21...xh2? 22.f4 ] g4 The threat of Qh3 mate will cost 22.b4! Black is being completely outplayed! White the house.; b5 23.g1 B) 30...xf1 31.xf1 xf6 32.xd3 g6 [ 23.xb5 b6 Liberating the poor is an elementary win even with little time imprisoned bishop at the cost on only one on the clock. ] pawn that Black will have good chances to 30.xe2 Obviously White is not very keen on regain afterwards, by hitting the weaknesses repeating moves. dxe2 31.xe2 xf6 32.b3 on a2 and c3. ] b6 33.h1 f5 34.d2 c8 35.h3 d6 [ 23.g2!? After this move, intending the 36.b2 d3 37.a1 c6 38.h2 e2 same plan of h2-h3, if necessary for tactical Rg6 is coming. 39.e1 f2 40.h8+ d8 reasons, followed by f3-f4, I do not fancy 41.xh7 xf3 42.f5+ b8 Black's chances much: In addition to the 0-1 extra tempo, White would also have had a be t te r kin g co mp a re d to th e ga m e ! a6 24.xc8 ( 24.xb5 xh2 25.f4? g4+ 2185 A45 26.f3 e8 27.d3 ae6-+ ) 24...xc8 25.f4 g4+ 26.g1 xc3 27.xb7 ] Menacher,Manfred 2327 Hebden,Mark 2544 23...b6 24.f1 a6 25.a3 g7 26.h3 b8 12th Monarch Assurance (4) 30.09.2003 27.f4 xd6 28.xd6 e8 29.c4 xe3 [ 29...bxc4? 30.c3 ] [Eric Prié] 30.xb6 bxc4 31.b5 xb5! [ 31...c8 32.b8 e8 33.b6 ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 32.xb5 axa3 33.xa3 xa3 34.c5 d5 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 35.c7+ h6 36.f7 e4 37.d7 d3 38.g2 d1+ 39.h2 d2 40.g1 c3 exf4 12.d4 g6!? 13.g3 [ 13.h3 d6 14.b5 e5 15.e3 fxe3 41.f3 d1 42.c7 d4 43.e5! d2 [ 43...d3 44.xe4 fxe4 45.g4+ h5 16.e2 0-0 17.xe3 e8 18.d2 d5 46.xh7# ] 19.g1 d7 20.d3 d4 21.xd4 f4+ 22.c2 d5 Miles,A (2595) -Olafsson,H 44.f3 d1 45.e5 d2 ½-½ (2505) Reykjavik 1998) ] [ Of course not 13.e3 fxe3 14.e2 h6 The whole idea of Black's 12th, while the 2186 A45 f5 square is naturally under control. ] Mensch,Etienne 2368 13...d6 If Black is forced to release the bind Giffard,Nicolas 2343 after 05.05.2004 [ 13...h6 14.h3 fxg3 15.hxg3 ChT Top 16 France (8.5) he surely does not want his bishop on the h- [Eric Prié] file. ] 14.b5 b8 15.gxf4 xf4 16.e3! 1.d4 f6 2.g5 d6 3.xf6 exf6 4.e3 f5 A common trick which is why the idea of trying 5.g3 d7 6.g2 f6 7.e2 g6 8.c4 g7 to activate his queen's rook via the 5th rank 9.bc3 0-0 10.0-0 e8 11.b4 c6 12.d3 struck Black's mind in the previous game. e5 The critical position of this system which, for Black, presents the advantage of not requiring 17.h3 0-0 [ 17...a5 18.a4 d5 19.f2 c7 any specia l the oret ica l kno wled ge as h e 20.xc7+ ( 20.f4 xb5 21.fxe5 c7 invariably adopts the same development seth5! 'Practically' the only idea. In our 22.f3 f6 23.exf6 f8 24.e2 xf6 up. 25.hf1 ) 20...xc7 21.e2 h5 previous reference game , Stefanova-Klinova, Black had played the less accurate 12...Qe7. 22.g2 ] 13.h4 g4 This attack, as fierce as it may be, 18.e2 d5 19.f2 f5 2134
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 should not wo rk as W hite's piece s' goo d positioning guarantees him counter-play and defensive chances. 14.f4 [ 14.b5!? d7 ( 14...c5 15.dxc5 dxc5 16.xd8 xd8 17.ad1 ) 15.fb1 g5 16.hxg5 xg5 17.bxc6 bxc6 18.b7 c8 19.c7 h4 20.xc6 hxg3 21.xg3 h4 looks very "hot" for instance, but 22.d1 xe3 23.fxe3 xg3+ 24.f1 b8 25.b1 repulses the attack. ] 14...g5 15.hxg5 xg5 This is the point: If Black has to go 'all in' and 'sacrif ice' his structure for the attack, then it is better not to have wasted any time by having played 12... Qe7. Indeed, as we have seen, the square e4 is a lure for a black knight which does not prevent the opponent from building a strong initiative on the queenside. 16.ae1 h4 17.h3 h6 18.gxh4 xh4 19.e2 e6 20.ef4 h6 21.b5 d7 22.bxc6 bxc6 23.b1 h8 24.b7 f6 25.a3 g8 26.xd7?! [ 26.xd6 f8 27.e5 e6 28.c1 g4 Remains very complicated. ] 26...xd7 27.xa7 e5!! [ 27...e5 w a s w e a k e r . 28.dxe5 dxe5 29.e2 f6 30.g3 f4 31.xf7 fxg3 32.f4 ( 32.f3 e7 33.f5 xc4 34.xe5+ f6 ) 32...e4 33.e6 ] 28.dxe5 xg2+?? [ 28...dxe5 29.xd7 exf4 30.xf5 xh3 31.xh3 xh3 32.exf4 ( 32.d1 f3 ) 32...h4 33.f3 ( 33.d1 hg4 ) 33...xf4 34.c1 xf3-+ ] 29.xg2? [ 29.xg2 dxe5 ( 29...g4+ 30.h2 xe5 31.f3 xf3+ 32.xf3 xf3 33.d4+ h7 34.d2 And the white cavalry holds the house. ) 30.g1! exf4 31.d4+! ( 31.xf4 g4+ 32.f1 d1+ 33.g2 g4+ ) 31...h7 32.xf4 e5! 33.f1 g4 34.g3 h1+ 35.e2 b1 36.h3 xa2+ 37.f1 ( 37.f3 xc4 ) 37...c2! with a draw in sight. ] 29...xh3 30.f4 c5! 31.a8+ [ 31.xf7 h1+ 32.f2 d3+ 33.e2 xg2+ 34.xd3 e4+ ( 34...xf1+ ) 35.c3 xe3+ 36.b4 b6+! 37.a4 a6+ 38.b4 c5+ 39.c3 The forced retreat onto a rank that allows Black's rook activation now makes the mating process
trivial. h3+ 40.b2 h2+ 41.c1 a3+ 42.d1 d3+ 43.c1 c2# ] 31...h7 32.f8 h2+ 33.f2 d3+ 34.e2 xg2+ 35.xd3 xf1+ [ 35...e4+ As previously, leads to mate. ] 36.c3 c1+ 37.d3 b1+ 38.c3 b7 39.exd6 h2 40.d3 c5 41.e7 b1+ 0-1
2187 A45 Mensch,Etienne 2249 Nicoara,Malina 2245 ch-(team) 1998-9 French Team Ch FRA (1) [Aaron Summerscale] A very interesting sideline of the 2...c5 Tromp is 3.Nc3 when the game takes on a Sicilian character. Both players tend to go hell for leather at the opposing kings. Often it is a case of survival of the fastest. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 This is an important alternative to the more usual Bxf6. Play now develops along lines more familiar to Sicilian defence players. cxd4 4.xd4 c6 5.h4 e6 6.e4 The battle lines are drawn, White will attack in the center and Kingside while Black will counter on the queenside. e7 7.0-0-0 a5 8.f4 d6 9.f3 a6 Perhaps the first inaccuracy. [ 9...h6 Joe Gallagher gives this improvement in his book "The Trompowsky", when White should probably continue with: 10.b5 ] 10.e1 This move appears a bit retrograde, but rather than being a meek retreat, White is intending some vigorous central action. b5 11.e5 b4 Ultimately, this is the only way to stop a White knight landing unimpeded on d6, but 11...dxe5 should have been interposed first. [ 11...dxe5 12.fxe5 b4 13.exf6 gxf6 would have given Black less problems. ] 12.exf6 gxf6 13.xf6 xf6 14.e4 Now the pawn on d6 proves a juicy target. e7 15.xd6+ f8 16.b1 White sensibly prevents potential counterplay before continuing with the attack. c7 17.d2 W hite, a pawn up, clearly doesn't fear an endgame. a5 18.e5 Clever play! White is using Black's reluctance to exchange queens 2135
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 with Qxd6 to force further concessions. d8 19.xc8 xc8 20.a6 b8 Black caves in under the pressure, however, [ 20...a8 21.e2 intending a combination of Rd7/Qh5 was no picnic either. ] 21.d7+ Forcing a decisive gain of material. g8 22.e3 To add insult to injury, White is now threatening mate. White must have been enjoying himself. f6 23.xb8 xb8 24.d7 f8 25.hd1 Black is bound hand and foot and had no reason to continue. 1-0
2188 Mikhalevski,Victor Matikozian,Andranik Gufeld Memorial (1) [Eric Prié]
A45 2548 2450 22.11.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 e6 5.d3 d6 The whole idea of 4...e6. 6.f3!? [ Of course, 6.xd6 xd6! With the nice plan ...Nd7, ...b6, ... Bb7, and ...c5 does not promise anything for White. ] 6...xf4 7.exf4 d6 8.bd2! The compensation after [ 8.g3 b4+ 9.bd2 xd2 10.xd2 ( 10.xd2 xd4 ) 10...xb2 ( 10...xd2+ 11.xd2 is almost equal.) 11.0-0 a3 are less clear. ] 8...xf4 [ 8...f6 9.g3 ] 9.g3 d6 10.xe4 dxe4 11.xe4 d7 [ 11...b4+ 12.d2 xb2 ( 12...xd2+ 13.xd2 d7 14.c3 ) 13.0-0 Already threatening Rfb1 followed by the advantageous recapture of b7 and if a3 Then ( 13...0-0? 14.xh7+! xh7 15.d3+ f5 16.fb1 ) 14.g5! f8 ( 14...0-0? 15.xh7+ xh7 16.h5+ g8 17.g5 ) 15.ab1 c6 16.c4 Looks like presenting Black with some unsolvable development problems. ( 16.fe1 )] 12.e2 f6 [ 12...b4+ 13.c3 ] 13.0-0-0 xe4 14.xe4 d5 [ 14...0-0? 15.g5 g6 16.h4 h5 17.e4 ] 15.xd5! exd5 16.he1+ e6 [ 16...f8 17.d3! Gives White a strong
in it ia tive . h6 18.c3 c6 19.e5 e6 20.b3 ] 17.g5 d7 18.e5! ae8 [ 18...f6 19.xe6 h6 20.de1 hxg5 21.e7+ c6 22.1e6+ b5 23.xc7+- ] 19.xe6 fxe6 20.f4 hf8 White's plan is simple: Profit from his space advantage to activate his king and prepare the only serious pawn break available in the position (Black's ...c5 is not equivalent as it can be adequately met by c2-c3) directly against the backward e6 weakness to transpose into a won king en dgam e . Alt ho ugh I a m a wa re th a t th is ending is a real torture for Black, 'my instinct' tells me that he should somehow be able to counter this plan with precise play and great technique, but I have to admit that I have not seen how yet! 21.de1 c6 The first step in the defence is to exchange one rook so this mo ve is co mp ulso ry in th e Ro ok e nd in g, anyway. It is not necessary to calculate if the king and pawn ending is lost after [ 21...f5 22.xf5 exf5 23.e5 xe5 24.dxe5 ( 24.fxe5 g5 25.h4 h6= )] 22.d2 f5 23.h4 xe5 24.xe5 b6 25.e3 f8 [ 25...c5 This move is not only an attempt to find some activity but is also essential to improve the pawn structure in view of the transpositions to king endings. Unfortunately f o r Bla ck it a lso wea ken s a n im p orta n t support of the d5 pawn. 26.f5!! ( 26.dxc5 bxc5 27.c4 e7; 26.c3 f8 27.h5 h6 28.g4 cxd4+ 29.cxd4 c8 ) 26...d6 ( 26...exf5 27.xe8 xe8 28.f4 g6 29.dxc5! bxc5 30.e5+- ) 27.c3! e7 ( 27...a5 28.a4 h6 29.f4 c4 30.g4 e7 31.h5 e8 32.g5 e7 33.gxh6 gxh6 34.fxe6 xe6 35.f5 ) 28.f4 cxd4 29.cxd4 a5 ( 29...exf5 30.xe7 xe7 31.xf5 d6 32.g4 a6 33.b4 a5 34.b5 a4 35.a3 d7 36.e5 ) 30.a4 A) 30...h6 31.g4 e8 32.g5 e7 33.h5 ( 33.f6? gxf6 34.gxf6 f7 ) 33...e8 34.xe6+ xe6 35.fxe6 xe6; B) 30...e8 Black is completely tied up 31.g5 e7 32.h5 e8 33.h6 gxh6+ 34.xh6 e7 35.xe6+ xe6+ 36.fxe6 xe6 37.xh7 f5 38.h6 g4 39.g6 xg3 40.f5 f3 41.e5+- ] 26.h5 h6 27.g4 Otherwise, Black will play 2136
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Rf5. e7 28.e5 d6 [ 28...g6 29.h5 gxh5 30.xh5 ] [ 28...f6 29.f5 exf5 30.xf5+ e7 31.xf8 xf8 32.f4 ] 29.f5 f6 [ 29...exf5 30.gxf5 ] 30.h5 e7 [ 30...c5 31.c3 c4 32.f4 ] 31.f4 f7 [ 31...a5 32.a4 b5 33.g5 ] 32.b4!! exf5 [ 32...e7 33.g5 hxg5+ 34.xg5 xf5+ ( 34...f7 35.xe6 xe6 36.fxe6+ xe6 37.g6 ) 35.xf5 exf5 36.b5! cxb5 37.xf5+- ] [ 32...a6 33.e3! ( 33.a4 a5 34.bxa5 bxa5 35.g5 hxg5+ 36.xg5 xf5+ 37.xf5+ exf5 38.xf5 e7 39.g6 f8= )] [ 32...a5 33.b5! cxb5 34.g5 hxg5+ 35.xg5 exf5 36.xf5 b4 37.xf6+ gxf6+ 38.f5 a4 39.h6 ] 33.gxf5 [ 33.xf5 xf5+ 34.xf5 b5= ] 33...d6 34.e3 f6 [ 34...c5 35.dxc5 bxc5 36.e5! ( 36.bxc5 c6 37.a3 xc5 38.xa7+ f6 39.a6+ f7 With some drawing chances.) 36...a6 ( 36...d4 37.a3 ) 37.bxc5 xa2 38.c3 d4 ( 38...e7 39.c6 d8 40.d6 d4 41.b3 c8 42.f6 gxf6 43.g3 ) 39.c6! dxc3 40.c7 a5+ 41.d4!+- ( 41.d6 a6+ 42.d7?? a4 43.c8 d4+ 44.c6 c4+ )] 35.g3 f7 36.e5 d7 37.g6 e7+ 38.e6 xe6+ [ 38...a6 39.d6 ] 39.fxe6+ e7 40.b5 cxb5 41.xd5 1-0
position, except that it is his turn to move here. That should, one might have thought, be enough for Black to equalise here, and, indeed, e6 5.g4!? g6 6.h4 h6 7.e3 a6 8.h5 h7 9.d3 c5 10.ge2 xd3 11.cxd3!? cxd4 12.xd4 bd7 13.de2 e5 14.g3 d6 saw Black's strong centre o f f s e t W h i t e ' s e xt ra ki n g s id e s p a c e i n Jobava-Hovhannisyan, European Championship, Yerevan 2014, as we've seen before. ] 2...e4 3.f4 d5 4.f3 f6 5.c3 [ On the current evidence this is a more powerful weapon than the BlackmarDiemeresque 5.e4 . ] 5...f5 [ Black tries to prevent e2-e4, but now White will switch to another advance. More common and arguably more critical is 5...e6 when 6.e4 e7 ( 6...b4 is also rather important - see the Archive) 7.d2 0-0 8.0-0-0 a6 9.g4! was the sharp course of Kokarev-Dvoirys, Khanty-Mansiysk 2013, as we covered fairly recently. ] 6.g4! [ Taking the opportunity to enjoy Jobava-Prie waters a whole move ahead. This just looks good, if still a little radical to a classical eye, and much better than 6.e4!? dxe4 7.fxe4 xe4 8.d3 . ] 6...g6 7.h4 h6 [ The invariable way of saving the bishop. Moreover, here it's fairly essential as 7...h5? 8.g5 either sees d5 fall if Black retreats to d7 or leaves him in serious trouble after g8 9.e4 : f or example , e6 10.exd5 exd5 11.e2+! e7 12.b5+ bc6 13.0-0-0 with a huge initiative for the first player. ] 8.e3 [ 8.d2 e6 9.0-0-0 c5 would have given 2189 A45 B l a c k c o u n t e r p l a y, s o t h e S e r b i a n M r Trompowsky plumps for a sensible Miladinovic,Igor 2583 positional continuation, exchanging of f Cabarkapa,Novak 2392 Black's best minor piece. ] Serbian Championship, Subotica (4.4) 8...e6 9.d3! xd3 10.xd3 There's no [Richard Palliser] need to recapture with the pawn here as the active queen will be quite an asset. c5!? 1.d4 f6 2.g5 [ The talented 18 year-old behind the black [ It's worth comparing the game continuation p i e c e s k n o ws n o f e a r a n d i s h a p p y t o with that most topical of beasts, the Jobavasacrifice a pawn. However, one might make Prie Attack: 2.c3 d5 3.f4 f5 4.f3 a g o o d c a s e f o r t h e r e s t r a i n e d 10...a6 . You'll find Miladinovic encounter this very 2137
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 . After 11.ge2 c5 12.dxc5 ( this does develop Black's bishop in one move, but White surely can't contemplate 12.0-0-0 c4 13.d2 b5 with an automatic attack for Black ) 12...xc5 13.0-0-0 c6 I would slightly prefer to play W hite, but everything remains up for grabs. A sample line: 14.d4 xd4 15.exd4 b5 16.b1 c8 17.e3! a5 18.b3 and as Black still can't castle, White should be a little better despite having had to weaken his king's defences. ] 11.b5+ New in praxis, but clearly the critical test of Black's last. d7 12.dxc5 [ Black is still very much on the board after t h i s , s o I w o n d e r t o o a b o u t 12.xd7+!? , and if xd7 ( 12...bxd7 13.b5 d8 14.d6 xd6 15.xd6 nabs a bishop for knight advantage) 13.ge2 c6 14.0-0-0 c4 15.e5! followed by an exchange on f6 and e3-e4 with some pressure. ] 12...c6 [ I wonder if Cabarkapa was put off 12...a6 by 13.xd7+ bxd7 ( 13...fxd7! 14.a4 c6 is the way to do things and 15.d6?! xd6 16.cxd6 b5 17.c3 de5 will regain the pawn with a good game) 14.a4 xc5? 15.b6 d8 16.c7 e7 17.b4! when Black won't obtain enough for the exchange. ] 13.0-0-0 0-0-0? [ A strange choice, but presumably Black badly underestimated White's next. Correct was 13...a6 when 14.b6 is the only way t o h o l d t h e e x t r a p a w n , b u t a f t e r c8 15.a4 d7 that is only going to live for one more move. ] 14.a4 e5 15.h2 Granted Black does have a powerful-looking centre, but both the rook on d1 and the bishop on h2 radiate power and there's still that matter of the extra pawn on c5. e8! Cabarkapa begins the fight-back well. The knight is bound for e6. 16.e2 c7 17.d3 e6?! [ Completing his regrouping, but by this stage he would have done better with 17...e6 18.b1 e7 , settling for being a pawn down and placing the emphasis on White to find a good way to go forward. ] 18.ec3 b4? [ Retreating the knight to c7 would have been
grim and 18...d4 19.c4 a5 20.e2 f6 21.b5! also looks quite unpleasant, but the tactic which Black is playing for turns out to be badly flawed. ] 19.f5 Completely undermining the once proud black centre. There's absolutely no reason to worry about a2. xa2+ 20.b1 xc3+ 21.xc3 [ It's never nice to resign when one isn't material down, but Black would quickly have been just that after, say, 21.xc3 xc5 22.xe5 d6 23.d4 . ] 1-0
2190 Miladinovic,Igor Chatalbashev,Boris 47th It Reggio Emilia ITA (8) [Eric Prié]
A45 2611 2554 05.01.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 a6 5.d4 axc5 One big question, nevertheless, amongst others concerning this line, remains: since the Greek player, despite a period of neglect, has never really stopped playing it, what has he found on [ 5...a5+ 6.c3 xg5 A) 7.b4!? xb4 ( 7...e6 8.bxa5 xd4 9.cxd4 e5 10.e3 b4 11.a3 ) 8.cxb4 e6 9.b2 d8 10.d2 b6 ( 10...a5 11.a3 axb4 12.axb4 xa1+ 13.xa1 b6 ) 11.cxb6 xb6 12.e3 b8 13.c1! Dittmar, P-Radecke, P Bad W iessee op 1999 1-0 (33) W ith the type of unclear, 'resembling nothing' position that he is usually fond of...; B) 7.hxg5 ? Well, maybe something like xc5 8.f3 xd4 9.xd4 g6 10.e4 g7 11.d2 c7 Igor Stohl commenting the game for ChessBase asserted that Black was slightly better because of his 2 Bs... whereas Miladinovic pretended the contrary in the Inf ormant af ter 12.a4 ! i n s t e a d o f 12.c4? b5! 13.d3 b4 With queenside pressure that eventually led, after lots of complications, to the loss of the c3 pawn and the game. Miladinovic, I-Adams, M Olm Moscow 1994 0-1 (44) ] 6.c3! xc3 7.xc5 e4 8.d5 xg5 9.hxg5 b6 10.0-0-0 e6 11.d2 xf2 2138
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.h3!! e7 13.f3 c5 14.e4 d6 15.e5! dxe5 [ 15...d5 16.d3 d7 17.g6 ] 16.h4! Playing this line with White is something very special. "You must be born with it" or something like that. Constantly t e e t e r i n g o n t h e e d g e o f a n a b ys s , a n d developing treasures of ingenuity along the hfile not to tumble ... and I am convinced that the witchcraft of the 94 W orld Junior Champion (I witnessed him beating Babula, who was half a point ahead at the time, with a Chigorin as Black in the last round!) is not t r a n s f e r a b l e . 0-0? Castling coffin side. But what else? Deflecting the rook with [ 16...e4 17.xe4 wins one tempo and gives the possibility of freeing the queen's bishop with e6-e5 but does not solve all the problems. Then Fritz comes up with the radical b5!? 18.e5 c7 19.xb5+ f8 and seems to be happy with his counter play on the b file... ] 17.d3 h6 [ 17...g6 18.dh1 h5 19.g4 is also crushing e4 20.xe4 c4 21.gxh5 xa2 22.c3 d8 23.e2 ] 18.c4+- d5 19.gxh6 g6 20.c3! b5 21.xg6! b4 [ 21...xc4 22.xe5 f6 23.g3 h8 24.h7! f7 25.g8# ] 22.e1 a5 23.e4 From this stage, with B la c k u t t e rl y o u t f la n ke d , a n yt h in g win s , including the most flashy [ 23.g3 f6 24.g4 fxg6 ( 24...xa2 25.e4+ h8 26.g7 a1+ 27.d2 d8+ 28.e3 ) 25.xg6+ f7 Mate in 5 Do you see it? 26.xf6+ xf6 27.g7+ f5 28.g5+ e4 29.d4+! exd4 30.d2# ] 23...h8 24.xa8 a6 [ 24...xa2 25.xe5+ f6 26.g3 g8 27.xc8 ] 25.d5! xa2 [ 25...b6 26.c6 b8 27.d7 V e r y a e s t h e t i c ! xa8 28.xe7 xc6 29.g3 g8 30.xe5+ h7 31.xf7+ xh6 32.h2+ g6 33.h7# ] 26.xe5+ f6 27.g3 g8 28.g4 c8 29.h7! You can count the checks [ 29.h7 xc2+ 30.xc2 b3+ 31.c3 ] 1-0
2191 Miladinovic,Igor Georgieva,Ljubka XVIII Winter Open (3) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2518 2232 27.12.2002
Trompowsky: In the h4 Tromp there is one critical attacking idea that all W hite players must be aware of. The move g6 detonates t h e kin gsi d e , f o r cin g B l a ck t o t a k e a n t i positionally with the f-pawn. This game is instructive, as W hite doesn't rush to exploit his p o sit io n a l p lu s, b u t slo wly squ e e ze s Black's light squared weaknesses. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 a5+ 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 xc5 7.g6 One of the main ideas in the h4 tromp. fxg6 8.e3 c6 9.gf3 d6 10.c3 f5 Black has successfully covered the weakness on g6, but as we are about to see, White has more than one string to his bow. 11.b3 b6 12.g5 The e6 and f7 squares also prove to be sensitive. e5 13.a4 d3+? An ill-advised decision, as it results in the exchange of Black's important light squared bishop. [ 13...0-0-0 14.a5 c7 15.d4 is also unpleasant. ] [ 13...h6 14.a5 c7 15.d4 is similar but both these alternatives were preferable to the carnage below. ] 14.xd3 xd3 15.xd3 xb3 16.h4 W hite finds a nice use for his King's rook. Castling is not obligatory in chess, rules are made to be broken. a5 Stopping Rb4, but White has a rather vicious contingency plan. 17.c4! Cutting the queen from the defence of her king. e5 18.d5 e7 What else? 19.f7+ Slow torture. White knows he can win the Black queen at will. d7 20.e6+ e8 21.c8+ xc8 22.xb3 Posing Black the unpleasant choice of a quick death or slow lingering agony! Black chooses the former. xg5 23.e6+ 1-0
2139
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18...g6 ] A45 2604 11.e2 a6 Yannick blames this move as 2510 the first cause of his defeat because of the 24.02.2008 weakening of the d7 square ( after Bb5+ and the knight interposition) but also acknowledges that during the game (as now!) 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 An act of he could not see another way to get his pieces b r a v e n e s s ( D i d I h e a r b r a va d o ? ! ) t o b e out. [ 11...h6 12.c4 g5 13.a4+! d7 saluted from the young Frenchman who only ( 13...bd7 14.b6 ) 14.a5 ] needed a draw in this last round to clinch his s e c o n d G M n o r m ! I n d e e d , e n t e r i n g t h i s 12.c4 h6 13.a5 g5 14.g3 g4 [ 14...g6 15.d3 ] critical line against Mr Trompovic seems just [ 14...g7 15.e3 Again, disaster comes like playing in his opponent's court... However, via f5. ] following his inspiration along hot theory w i t h o u t f e a r w a s t h e p a t h t h a t p r o v e d 15.xb7!! xb7 [ 15...b4 16.c7 gxf3 17.gxf3 g8 18.a3 successful when he made the first one, a few xg3 19.axb4 cxb4 20.e5 dxe5 21.hxg3 weeks before, against Krasenkov in the Polish xh1 22.a4+ d7 ( 22...d7 23.c6 ) team championship. Furthermore, the 23.xd7 xd7 24.xe5 g7 25.xd7+ Yugoslav d-Pawn Specials legend did not f8 26.xb4 xe5 27.xe7+ g8 appear to be in his best form in the 28.xe5 ] tournament. 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 [ 15...gxf3 16.gxf3 ( 16.xd6+ exd6 7.e4 Something one could expect from 17.b5+ d7 18.xd7 ) 16...g8 Ivanisevic's compatriot rather than the lame 7. 17.xd6+ exd6 18.b5+ d7 ( 18...d7 Bc1. xb2 8.d2 xc3 9.c7 d6 10.b1!! 19.xd7 e3+ 20.f1 ) 19.xd7! xd7 A sensational Novelty as well as the best 20.xd7+ xd7 21.a4+ e7 22.f5+ move in this position to the naked eye! White f6 23.c3++- ] is not in a hurry to chase the opposing queen t h a t wil l b e u n c o m f o rt a b ly p la ce d in h e r 16.f5 [ 16.xd6+ In fact is 'more forcing' d7 k in gs id e re f u ge i n a n y ca s e . I n st e a d h e ( 16...exd6 17.b5+ d7 18.xd7+ xd7 a c t i va t e s a p o we r f u l p i e c e , i n t r o d u c i n g 19.a4+ e7 20.f5+ f6 21.c3+ g6 pernicious ideas like Rb1-b3 or Bxb8 followed 22.xh6 xh6 23.d7 c8 24.xd6+ ) by Qd1-a4+xa7 when the queen's rook is not 17.b5+ xd6 18.f5+ e5 19.c3+ hanging on a1 anymore. f4 20.c1# ] [ 10.e2 e3 11.c4 ( 11.c1?! b5! Gozzoli, Y already! Where would you prefer 1-0 this rook, here or on b1?!) 11...h6 12.a5 g5 was my previous reference where I found A45 Black OK. Incidentally there is an article 2193 about 9...d6 in this Chernyshov gambit in the Miladinovic,Igor 2563 very last NIC yearbook no. 86 which went Ivanov,Jordan 2461 out just a few days before this game was 1st It A Salou ESP (7) 23.10.2000 played ... which puts everything back into [Aaron Summerscale] doubt! ] 10...e3+ T r o m p o ws k y A t t a c k : I n o n e o f t h e m o s t [ 10...b6 Is the first 'normal' try but then theoretically important lines in the whole Black may face some serious annoyance on Tromp, White unleashes an important novelty, the light squares, precisely because the wh ich I h ave a f e elin g m ay a t trac t a f e w White queen is free: 11.a4+ d7 12.b5 followers. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 d4 13.xd7+ bxd7 ( 13...fxd7 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 14.c4 ) 14.c6 c8 15.e2 d3 16.b7 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.e3 xc7 17.xc7 a6 18.c4 ( 18.c6 ) This is Miladinovic's new idea, in a position 2192 Miladinovic,Igor Gozzoli,Yannick 6th Festival Gp A (9) [Eric Prié]
2140
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 which previously seemed fine for Black. [ The "normal" 10.d4 appears to be well met by the pawn sacrifice e5 11.xc6 dxc6 12.xe5 e6 13.a3 b5 with good counterplay in Miles-Hebden, British Championship 2000. ] 10...b5 White entices the pawn forward, into an extremely vulnerable and isolated position, where it can easily be targeted. 11.d2 e5 12.e4 b4 13.b5 bxc3 14.xc3 White can be reasonably satisfied with the results of the opening. He has the initiative and the better pawn structure. b4 15.e2 e7 16.c1 White prepares an invasion along the c-file, e n c o u r a g i n g B l a c k t o t a k e a c t i o n . xa2 Very committal. I suspect that Black had overlooked W hite's 19th. 17.xc6 xc3+ 18.xc3 xb2 19.d5 xg2 Black may h a ve t h r e e p a wn s f o r h i s p ie c e , b u t t h e compromised nature of his structure leaves him clearly worse. 20.c4 b5 Black may be in a very bad way, but this pawn sacrifice simply makes matters worse. 21.xb5 b7 22.c5 a8 23.f1 b2 Blundering a second pawn, which proves fatal, but he was lost in any case. 24.d3 1-0
2194 Miladinovic,Igor Janssen,Ruud Kavala op-11 (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2501 2468 14.08.2002
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 a5+ 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 g6 7.c3 xc5 8.gf3 g7 9.a4 c6 [ 9...0-0? 10.a5! d5 11.a4 Of course, this is the only idea: To ingeniously make a way for the white queen towards the kingside in case of an over hasty kingside castles from Black, and not, even if it actually happens, "an ambitious queenside space-gaining plan". Commenting the game Aaron gave this savoury observation at this stage: "Hello. Where are you off to?". I find it genuinely appropriate... c6 12.b3!? ( 12.h4 h5 13.gxh6 f6 14.a4 ) 12...c4 13.a3 T h r e a t e n i n g R h 4 . g4 ( 13...e5; 13...e4 ) 14.g3 e5? ( 14...e5 15.xe5
xe5 16.xe7? e4! 17.h4 xc3+ 18.bxc3 xe7 ) 15.c5!! You know the famous chess maxim... "The queen always has a square". Well, it clashes here with an eve n mo re co nsensua l gen eral sa ying: " e v e r y r u l e h a s i t s e x c e p t i o n " ! xa5 ( 15...f5 16.0-0-0! Taking the c2 square, after which Bh3, catching the black queen, is unavoidable. ) A) 16.h3 c4 ( 16...h5? 17.g4! xg4 18.g2 ) 17.d2 b5 18.xa5 xa5 19.xa5 b6; B) 16.h4! B1) 16...f5 17.xa5 ( 17.h3 c2 18.xa5 b6 19.a4 xb2 20.b3 ) 17...b6 18.a4 bxc5 19.h3; B2) 16...c4 17.b3 f5 18.h3 "Finally bagging the Black lady". Miladinovic, I-Pfrommer, C Bad Woerishofen op 2003 1-0 (30) You can find the rest of this great game, where White continued to display considerable ingenuity in order to exploit his minimal material advantage of a queen against rook bishop and pawn, previously commented by my predecessor, in his usual (full of...) light style where the moves (and not the variations!) speak for themselves. ] 10.a5 d5! [ 10...xa5? 11.b4 xc3 12.xa5 ] 11.e4 e6 12.a6 b6 13.a4 0-0! 14.exd5 xd5 15.h4 Completing the idea. However, is it enough to make up for the wasted time which leaves his king stuck in the centre in a dangerously open position? As a matter of fact, White castling on any side now looks problematic... fd8 16.c4 [ 16.xh7+ f8 17.e2 xf3 18.xf3? ( 18.gxf3 Like in the game is the only recapture xd2 19.xd2 d8+ 20.e1 xc3+ 21.f1 xb2 ) 18...xd2!! 19.xd2 xf2+ 20.c1 b4 The point of the attack. 21.e4 ( 21.cxb4 c8+ 22.d1 d8+ 23.c1 xb2# ) 21...e3+ 22.b1 xe4+ 23.c1 c2# ] 16...xf3! 17.xf3 [ 17.gxf3 e5! 18.e2 ( 18.0-0-0? xd2 19.xd2 xc4-+ ) 18...d3+! 19.xd3 xd3 20.e4 b5! Without this move, White would have been OK but it is here, as 2141
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a result of the opponent's initiative not being exhausted. 21.xh7+ f8 22.h3 xb2 23.0-0 ad8 ] 17...b5! 18.b3 xc3+! 19.f1 [ 19.bxc3 xc3+ 20.e2 b2+ 21.c2 ( 21.e3 xb3+ ) 21...xc2+ 22.f1 d1+ 23.xd1 ( 23.e1 d3+ 24.g1 h5 ) 23...xd1+ 24.e1 h5 25.gxh6 h7 26.f4 f8-+ ] 19...g7 [ 19...xb2?? 20.xh7+ f8 21.xf7# ] 20.xh7+ f8 21.h4 White must have pin n e d his h o p e s o n t h is m o ve bu t a f t e r Black's next it will be clear that he will not be given the time to reorganize. [ 21.h4 d3! ] 21...f5! Taking all the important squares while actually threatening ...Qd3+, and ... Qxb3. [ 21...d3?? 22.xf7! ] 22.g1 [ 22.g3? xf3 23.xf7 xf7 24.f4+ xf4 25.gxf4 h8 I have always liked this theme! ] [ 22.d1 d4 ( 22...xb2 23.d4 xd4 24.xd4 e5 25.f4 g7 ) 23.xd4 xd4 24.f3 c8 ] 22...d4! 23.xd4 xd4 [ 23...xd4?? 24.xd4 xd4 25.h8# ] 24.xd4 xd4 25.h4 xb2 Game over, as g5 will soon know the same fate. 26.d1 c8 27.g3 [ 27.h3 xh3 28.gxh3 c3 29.d8+ g7 30.d1 a3 31.e2 xa6 32.xb5 a5 33.d5 e6 ] 27...e5 28.e3 c3 29.xa7 xb3 30.a8+ g7 31.a7 d3! [ 31...d3 32.f1 b1 ] [ 31...b1 32.d5 g3! 33.a8 ( 33.fxg3 xd5 34.xb1 d4+ 35.h2 xa7 ) 33...xf2+ 34.h1 f1+ 35.xf1 xf1# With the same motive was a nice one too! ] 0-1
2195 Miladinovic,Igor Marzolo,Cyril GM Nancy FRA (4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2611 2428 16.02.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 a5+ 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 g6 7.h4 c6 8.c4 d5 9.cxd6 e6 10.c3! By releasing the annoying pin on the a5-e1 diagonal, 'Mr Trompopoulos' once again enlightens us in this variation, HIS variation. exd6 Probably the best move actually. [ 10...xc4 11.xc4 xg5 A) 12.f3!? f5 ( 12...f6 13.d7+ d8 14.a4 c7 15.0-0-0 d8 16.a5 h6+ 17.e3 xa5 18.xa5+ b8 19.c4 With such a pawn on d7 firmly supported by the bishop if necessary, as a result of the exchange of the only potentially obstructive piece, White cannot be worse. ) 13.d4 d7 14.b5 exd6 15.d5 d8 ( 15...0-0-0 16.xa7+ xa7 17.b6+ ) 16.e4+ e7 17.bxd6+ f8 18.0-0-0 g7 ( 18...e6 19.xe6 fxe6 20.xb7 xd1+ 21.xd1 ); B) 12.d7+ d8 13.f3 ( 13.b3!? c7 14.f3 f5 15.e3 xd7 16.d5+ b8 17.0-0-0 ) 13...f5 14.d4! xd7 ( 14...d5 15.xc6+ bxc6 16.a4 g7 17.d1 b5 18.a3! a5 19.e3 Threatening Nd6, with a strong and probably decisive attack in return for a slim material investment. c7? 20.d8+ axd8 21.xe7+ c8 22.xd8+ xd8 23.d6+ xd6 24.xb5 ) 15.xc6+ bxc6 16.e5! xd1+ 17.xd1+ e8 18.g3 g7 19.g2 c8 20.xc6+ ( 20.xc6 a6 ) 20...f8 21.b7 e8 22.c6 h5 23.xa7 h4 24.gxh4 xh4 25.c6 At the moment the Rh4 is stopping the White steam-roller on the queenside but it will be difficult for Black to maintain the status quo with only one piece. ] [ 10...0-0-0 This move is also less efficient this time because of 11.a4 xg5 12.gf3 d5 13.d4 ] 11.f4 xg5 12.g3 [ 12.e3 e7 13.gf3 g7 14.c4 0-0 15.e2 d5 16.d3 a6 Planning ...b7-b5b4 ] 2142
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12...e7 13.g2 g7 14.c4 0-0 Missing an interesting chance of active play with the bishops instead of a cramped position behind the isolani. [ 14...d5! 15.xd5 ( 15.e3 h6 ) 15...d8 ( 15...0-0-0 16.xe6+ ) 16.xc6+ ( 16.e3 h6 17.e4 xe3 18.xe3 xd5 ) 16...bxc6 17.a4 0-0 18.xc6 ( 18.a5 d6 19.xc6? b7 ) 18...d5 19.a6 fe8 With a great position!... For two pawns, alas, that may prove a bit too much. ] 15.e3! ac8 [ 15...h6 16.e4 f5? 17.xe6 ] 16.d5 d8 17.a4? [ 17.e3 e5 18.e2 White is Ok intending Ra4, Nf4 ] 17...a6 The wrong way round [ 17...g5! 18.c4 a6 19.a3 b5 20.xc6 xc6 21.e7+ xe7 22.xc6 c7 23.xa6 ( 23.g2 a5 ) 23...b8 24.xb5 xc3+ 25.f1 xb2 26.d1 xa2! 27.xa2 xb5 ] 18.d1 g5 19.e4 Now that d5 is defended, this move is welcome. f5 20.e3 h8 21.f3 e5 22.xe5 xe5 [ 22...dxe5 23.b4 ] 23.b4! e6? [ 23...a5 24.b6 e6 25.xd8 cxd8 26.b6 With a pleasant ending for White. h5 ( 26...xa2 27.a1 e6 28.xa5 ) 27.d5 Intending Nc4. ] 24.b6 [ 24.b6 a5 A) 25.b5 e8! When resigning, Black possibly overlooked this resource, but not ( 25...c5? 26.xc5 dxc5 27.xd8 xd8 28.xe5 ); B) 25.xa5 c7 26.b4 cd8 27.d5+B la c k is a p a wn d o wn in a m is e ra b l e position in any case. ] 1-0
2196 A45 Miladinovic,Igor 2526 Pfrommer,Christoph 2293 19th Open Bad Woerishofen GER (3) 15.03.03 [Aaron Summerscale] Tro mp o wsk y: Mr Milad ino vic o nce aga in unleashes his favourite h4 Tromp and makes
full use of his resources to score the full point. Attention all h4 Tromp fans!! Make sure that you study this man's games. Only Hodgson rivals his understanding of this particular variation. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 a5+ 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 g6 Putting a stop to any g6 ideas by White. 7.c3 xc5 8.gf3 g7 9.a4 The tromp player has to be a creative sort and here whilst relatively undeveloped, White embarks on an ambitious queenside space-gaining plan. 0-0 10.a5 d5 11.a4 Hello. Where are you off to? c6 12.b3 [ 12.h4 looks tempting. h5 13.gxh6 f6 and the White attack flounders. ] 12...c4 Black is soooo worried about a possible kingside attack that he is tempted into anchoring his queen on a very vulnerable square. 13.a3 Threatening Rh4. g4 14.g3 e5 15.c5 Taking away yet more squares from the Black queen. xa5 16.h4 c4 17.b3 f5 18.h3 Finally bagging the Black lady. xh3 19.xh3 xh3 20.xb7 White has a winning material advantage. e4 Black must try to drum up counterplay. 21.xd5 exf3 [ 21...xb2 22.xe4 is no improvement for Black. ] 22.xc4 fxe2 23.xe2 fe8 24.e4 This may look awkward, but there is no way for Black to exploit the pin. h6 25.xa7! Beginning the final simplifying combination. ad8 26.gxh6 xh6 27.f6+! At first sight this looks dangerous, due to the pin along the e-file, but the Grandmaster, of course, has it a l l w o r k e d o u t ! f8 28.xe8 xe8 29.xe8+ xe8 30.a8+ Rh8 is coming next, winning a piece. 1-0
2197 A45 Miladinovic,Igor 2560 Potpara,Nikola 2260 Montenegrin Team Championship, Ulcinj (8.2) [Richard Palliser] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 [ And so again we see Miladinovic avoiding his old favourite, 3.h4 . ] 3...g5?! Full credit to Potpara for taking on his 2143
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 much higher-rated opponent, but this Groblike thrust surely can't be entirely correct. Still, it has some surprise value and is new to ChessPub, so we'll give it a bit of coverage. 4.e5 Richard Pert's recommendation and the critical test. That said, one can also make a decent argument for: [ a) I remember once being surprised by this sub-variation twice within the same simul and went 4.c1!? in both games. Afraid I've little recollection what happened after that, but more recently and relevantly g7!? 5.f3 d6 6.c3! ( 6.xg5?! c5 is Black's point and worth avoiding) 6...h6 7.e4 b6 ( 7...e5 might be tried, but after 8.e2 Black would rather have his pawn back on g6, covering the f5-square) 8.e3 a6? 9.xa6 xa6 10.d3 b8 11.e5 b7 12.h4 was a complete disaster for Black in Admiraal-Van Osch, Maastricht 2014. ] [ b) 4.e3 g7 5.f3 d6 6.c3 is a slower approach. It looks less critical to me, but was played by a Trompowsky expert and after c5?! ( creative, but again 6...e5 looks more to the point) 7.dxc5 c4 8.f2 d5 in Cebalo-Sucher, Triesen 2014, White might have seized an early initiative with 9.e4! . ] 4...f6 5.e3 h5 [ Tempting and the consistent follow-up. Perhaps 5...g7 6.h5+ f8 isn't so ridiculous, but after, say, 7.f3 ( or 7.d3 d5 8.f3 d6 9.xd6 xd6 10.h4!? ) 7...d6 8.fxe4 dxe5 9.c3!? one would surely prefer to take White. ] 6.e2 [ Threatening mate, but Pert prefers the "relatively rare " 6.d3!? and, moreover, makes a good case for the move: d5 7.f3 fxe5 8.fxe4 exd4 9.exd4 is all fairly forced and has given him a definite edge (just look at Black's king!) in a couple of online blitz encounters. ] 6...g4 [ Allowing White's bishop to live. It may not b e qu it e e n o u gh f o r a p a wn , b u t B la ck should surely prefer to generate some mess with 6...g7!? 7.xh5+ f8 : for instance, 8.g3 c5 9.f3 xg3 10.fxg3 cxd4 11.exd4 d5 when Black isn't getting mated and can hope to gradually probe on the dark
squares. ] 7.f4 d5?! A new move and not one which I like. That said, in any case White seems to be doing well: [ a) 7...f5 8.f3 f6 9.c3 d6 10.h3! saw W hite seizing the initiative in HuberLindorfer, Schoeneck 1998. ] [ b) Even 7...g7!? 8.d3 d5 9.e2 favours White as e5?! is rather well met by 10.dxe5 fxe5 11.xe4 dxe4 12.xd8+ xd8 13.g5+ . ] 8.f3! Miladinovic is quick to break up Black's pawns while harassing the knight. d6?! [ Hardly the world's best-ever gambit, but even 8...gxf3 9.xf3 g7 10.xh5+ f8 11.d2 wouldn't have given Black enough compensation. ] 9.fxg4 f7 10.g5? [ Miladinovic has a very unique style, but I really don't get this move. What was wrong with 10.gxh5 e5 11.g3 with two extra pawns? Black has a bit of compensation for one of them after h6 , but no more than that, especially with 12.dxe5 fxe5 13.c4! possible. ] 10...fxg5 11.g3 h4 12.e5?! [ The scary move, but I'd much prefer the passive 12.f2 even if White has already squandered most of his advantage. ] 12...h6?! [ The frankly baffling moves continue. After 12...xe5 13.dxe5 c6! , and if 14.h5+ d7 I'd rather take Black thanks to his unopposed dark-squared bishop. ] 13.c4 Continuing to battle for the initiative in this extremely murky position. c6 14.h5 e6 [ I also have my doubts about White's p o s i t i o n a f t e r 14...dxc4!? and then, for instance, 15.xf7+ xf7 16.f3 g4 17.0-0 g8! . ] 15.c3 cxe5 Removing a very useful bishop and leaving White practically all in: he needs the pin on f7 to win serious material. 16.dxe5 dxc4 17.f3 c6? [ Too slow. Black had to either take his c h a n c e s w i t h 17...g4 18.xf7+ xf7 19.f4 b6 20.ge2 h6 ] [ or go 17...xh5!? 18.xh5 d3 . Both lines are rather unclear, but surely Black cannot be worse. ] 2144
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.ge2 Suddenly Nd4 is a large threat and Potpara quickly collapses. g4 19.xf7+ xf7 20.f4 g7? [ Backwards queen moves are never easy to s p o t , b u t h e re B la ck re a lly h a d t o f in d 20...d3! 21.0-0 g6 . ] 21.0-0 h5 22.xc4?! [ Hardly bad, but one would have expected a grandmaster to pref er the more clinical 22.d4 ] [ or 22.g5! g6 23.f4 . ] 22...e6 23.e4 d5 Good defence from Potpara as the swings of fortune continue. 24.d6+ e7 25.c2? [ I might be wrong, but it does appear that Mi l a d i n o v ic r a t h e r u n d e r e s t i m a t e d h i s opponent and/or was just confident he'd always win. The text gives Black a definite chance, whereas with 25.b4! c5 26.a5! b6 27.a4 xe5 28.ad1! White would have obtained a very strong initiative in return for a bit of material. ] 25...xe5? [ Potpara may have overestimated the following sacrifice. Black would still have b e e n v e ry m u ch f i gh t in g a f t e r 25...xe5 26.c4 c5 27.ad1 f8 , ] [ or even 25...g6!? 26.ad1! f8! . ( Note here the need to avoid 26...xc2? 27.f7+ d8 28.xd5 exd5 29.xg7 when White dominates with his active rook and knight-pair. )] 26.ad1 xh2+? [ T h i s s i m p l y d o e s n ' t w o r k . 26...xd6 27.xd6 xd6 was the last chance. ] 27.xh2 e5+ 28.h1 g3 If it was Black's move then ...h3 might be dangerous, but it's not and White has a few ways to force the win. 29.c4 g5 30.d2 1-0
2198 Miladinovic,Igor Roeder,Mathias Masters Open (4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2604 2404 26.04.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4?! c5 4.dxc5 a6 5.d4 axc5 6.c3! xc3 7.xc5 e4 8.d5 xg5 9.hxg5 b6 10.0-0-0 e6
11.d2 xf2 12.h3!! c5 13.c3 xg1?? Incomprehensible naivety! It is not as if Black had simply overlooked the possibility of his queen getting hemmed in! [ 13...f4+ 14.e3 ( 14.b1? xg1 ) 14...xg5 15.b1 This position makes me t h i n k o f t h e C h e r n ys h o v d o u b l e p a w n sacrif ice: I cannot believe it is right but resisting the initiative without the possibility of giving something back to alleviate its brutality poses horrifying practical problems to Black. So we will have to wait for the next well-prepared player who is brave (foolhardy?) enough to confront the 'sorcerer of the h-pawn' on his home ground to know the truth. And I can assure you, it will not be me! ( 15.f3? xe3+ ) 15...d6 16.f3 f6 ( 16...xe3? 17.xg7 f8 18.b5+ d7 19.xd7+ xd7 20.e5+ ) 17.b5+ f8 18.d4 With hair-raising compensational complications. ] 14.e3! b6 [ 14...f2 15.f3 h4 16.xc5 h6 17.h3 e4 ( 17...a4 18.e5 ) 18.gxh6 ( 18.d4 f5 ) 18...xh6 19.xh6 gxh6 20.c3 d5 What else? ( 20...e5 21.c4 ) 21.b5+ d7 22.h8+ e7 23.xa8 xe3+ 24.b1 xb5 25.xb7+ d7 26.b4+ Amongst others e8 27.d2+- ] 15.d2 xe3 16.xe3 h2 17.d4 [ 17.b5 0-0 18.h3 e5 19.dh1 h6 20.gxh6 g6 21.h7+ h8 22.xd7 d8 23.e3 g7 24.d3 ] [ 17.b1!! The calm before the storm, after which I did not see how Black could have defended himself. A) 17...0-0 18.h3 e5 19.d3 h6 20.e1 c5 ( 20...a5 21.b4 xg5 22.xg5 hxg5 23.h7+ h8 24.e4+ g8 25.xa8 ) 21.gxh6 g6 22.f4! W i t h a d o u b l e t h r e a t . . . f5 23.e4 E v e n t h o u g h ! fxe4 24.xe4 h7 25.xa8+-; B) 17...c7 18.c3 b8 19.b5 0-0 20.h3! I t o ld yo u ! e5 21.dh1 h6 22.gxh6 g6 23.e1! It is all a matter of winning all the black squares on the long diagonal that works now because Black was impeded from slipping in an expedient check on g5. B1) 23...f6 24.f3 h8 ( 24...h4 2145
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 25.h7+ h8 26.c3+ f6 27.ef1 ) 25.h7+ xh7 26.h3 g7 27.d6 b7 28.h2; B2) 23...xb5 24.d4 f6 25.e4 h7 26.xa8+- ] 17...0-0 18.h3! The postman always rings twice! e5 19.xh2 [ 19.h4? f4+ ] 19...exd4 20.xd4 e8 21.d3 g6 22.dh4 e5? [ 22...e1+! Attracting the white king to the second rank. 23.d2 e5 24.xh7 xg5 ( 24...b7 ) 25.h8+ ( 25.c4 xg2+! This is t he dif f erence . 26.xg2 xh7 27.xf7 b7= ) 25...g7 26.2h7+ f6 27.f8! ( 27.a6 xg2+ 28.c3 g3+ 29.b4 g4+ 30.a3 xa6 31.xa8 b7 32.xa7 c6 33.a6 b5 ) 27...xg2+ 28.e3 A) 28...g5 29.f4 a5 30.hxf7+ e6 31.xg6 a4+ 32.e3 xa2 33.h7! xb2 ( 33...b7? 34.xa8 xa8 35.f7+ ) 34.hh8+- Winning the bishop on c8.; B) 28...b7 29.fxf7+ g5 30.xd7 W ith a big advantage for W hite, most probably decisive, after the fall of a7. ] 23.xh7 xg5 [ 23...b7? 24.h8+ g7 25.2h7# ] 24.c4!! A great move designed to provoke d5 and assure the win of the exchange after depriving the g5-rook of the c5 square and putting an end to the German tenacity. [ 24.c4 A) 24...d5 25.h8+ g7 26.a6! ( 26.2h7+ f6 27.a6 xa6 28.xa8 xg2 29.xa7 c8 30.axf7+ ) 26...xa6 27.xa8 f1 28.xa7 xg2 29.b7+-; B) 24...f5 25.h8+ g7 26.g4! c5 27.b4! e5 ( 27...xc4 28.g5 And R2h7 mate. ) 28.2h7+ f6 29.xf7+ g5 30.ff8; C) 24...b7! 25.xf7+! ( 25.h8+ g7 26.2h7+ f6 27.xf7+ e5 28.xa8 xa8 29.xd7 a5 ) 25...f8 26.c4! e8! ( 26...h5 27.2xh5 gxh5 28.g3 ) 27.g7! h5 ( 27...d8 28.e6 c6 29.h8+ c7 30.xa8 xa8 31.xd7+ c6 32.xa7 ) 28.h3 c8 ( 28...xg2 29.xh5 gxh5 30.xg2 ) 29.d3 f8 30.xg6+But of course, Black had seen
all this before signing the score sheet... As it turns out, direct play was no simpler, and led only to a very advantageous, though complex, tussle of two rooks against rook, bishop and pawn. ] [ 24.h8+ g7 25.a6 c5 26.2h7+ f6 27.f8 e6 ( 27...xa6 28.xa8 d3 29.c3 c7 30.g3 ) 28.hh8 xa6 29.xa8 d3 ( 29...b7 30.xa7 xg2 31.a6 c6 32.b8 b5 33.xc6+ dxc6 34.b3 f5 35.a4 f4 36.d2 bxa4 37.bxa4 d6 38.a5 ) 30.c3 g5 31.he8+ d6 32.e3 c4 33.b3 e6 34.d3+ ] 1-0
2199 Miladinovic,Igor Tirard,Hugo CCAS Open Cap d'Agde FRA (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2599 2421 28.10.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 The Greek player may not be the strongest Tromp player in terms of ELO rating, but he surely is one of the most active Grandmasters on the circuit and therefore, in my opinion, the best expert of the opening as he regularly undergoes the test of practice against strong opposition in open tournaments. He also happens to be a "monomaniac" of the move 2.Bg5 which he plays against 1...d5 as well and, as black, he is a well known specialist of the Chigorin Defense where his queen's bishop very often goes to g4... to be swapped off against the kn ig h t o n f 3 ! T h e f a ct t h a t h e h a s o f t e n changed his allegiance against 2...c5 is the sign that it is indeed a, if not the, critical l i n e o f t h e o p e n i n g ! a6 4.c3 Another approach, threatening to keep the pawn with b4. At that stage it is also possible to transpose into the 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4.dxc5 line with 4...Na6, where 5.Nd2 is more useful than 5.c3, allowing 6.g3 af ter 5...Nxc5 bef ore Black's queen bishop develops on the long diagonal. xc5 5.d2 b6 [ 5...ce4!? ] 6.e4!? c7! Controlling some important dark squares. [ 6...cxe4 7.xe4 xe4 8.d5 b7 9.xb7 xg5 10.b5 Threatening Bxd7+ 2146
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c8 11.xa7 ( 11.d1?! c7 12.xd7 xd7 13.e2 e5 14.0-0 e7-+ )] 7.c2 fxe4!? [ I like 7...b7 8.f3 ( 8.xf6 gxf6 9.gf3 h6 ) 8...a6! with the idea ...d7-d5. ] 8.xe4 e5 9.f3 f5 10.0-0-0 fxe4 11.h3 The young French IM is not very keen on opening the central files in front of his king. b7 12.c4 0-0-0? To take up the gauntlet o n m o v e 7 n e c e s s i t a t e d so m e p o we r o f calculation as well as a certain amount of courage. So it was obligatory to continue in the same vein with [ 12...exf3 13.he1 xh2 ( 13...e4 14.d2 fxg2 15.xe4! xe4 16.d5 f5 17.xa8 xh3 18.xg2 is very dangerous while ) 14.b4 leads to a complete mess. ] 13.f4! f5 [ 13...h5 14.fxe4 A) 14...xe4 15.xe4 xe4 16.a6# is the famous "Boden mate"!; B) 14...e5 15.g5 xe4 ( 15...e8 16.d5 ) 16.d2 e8 ( 16...d5 17.e2 ) 17.b4; C) 14...xe4 15.he1 d6 16.xd6 exd6 17.b1 With full compensation. ] 14.he1 d6 15.fxe4 xe4 16.e2 Black is now in big trouble. c6 17.b4 d7 18.e6 f6 19.d4! b8 20.g5! e5 21.h4! as effective as the flashy [ 21.xe5 dxe5 22.xd8+ b7 ( 22...c7 23.xe5+ xd8 24.xf6 exf6 25.f7+ ) 23.c8+ c7 24.e6+ xe6 25.xe6 exf4 ( 25...xd8 26.xe5 e8 27.d1 h5 28.c7 with unavoidable mate.) 26.c8+ b7 ( 26...d6 27.c4 g5 28.c5+ bxc5 29.bxc5+ xc5 30.d7 ) 27.b5! The fastest ( 27.d1 f3 28.gxf3 g6 29.f4 g7 30.xh8 xh8 31.b2 wins too. ) 27...xb5 ( 27...xg2 28.d1 f3 29.cd8 f2 30.1d7# ) 28.e5 c6 29.f5 g5 30.cxf8 xf8 31.xf8 xg2 32.d2+- ] 21...e8 Black is so tied-up anyway that it does not really matter. 22.xe5 dxe5 [ 22...xe5 23.xe5 ( 23.d2 g3 24.f7 g8 25.g4 h2 26.xd6 ) 23...dxe5 24.d2 g6 25.f7 g7 ( 25...g8 26.xe5 ) 26.xh8 xh8 27.g4+- ] 23.c4! b5 24.f1 xc4 [ 24...e4 25.xf6 exf6 26.xe4 xc4 27.f4+! b7 28.xc4 fxg5 29.d5+
b8 30.e5+ b7 31.d5+ ] 25.xc4 g6 26.d1 27.Rd7 comes next and if 27...Rc8 28.Rb7+! Kxb7 29.Qxc8 mate. 1-0
2200 Miladinovic,Igor Vachier Lagrave,Maxime IX EICC Plovdiv BUL (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2579 2632 26.04.2008
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.e4 xb2 8.d2 xc3 9.c7 d6 10.b1! The story goes that the owner of the biggest progression on the forthcoming July Elo list, amongst the 2600+ club (+50 to make him to 2682!) was watching the game Miladinovic-Gozzoli live with his trainer when they thought of how to refute W h i t e ' s b r i l l i a n t n e w i d e a . . . ! ! fd7!! GM Mark Hebden also mentioned the possibility of this strong reply to me during the last 4NCL phase, a few weeks ago. He did not seem to be aware it had already materialized over the board just a few days before! As for myself, I could not have thought of it, reasoning by elimination, although not really emotionally involved in the position for either side, 'undeveloping' Black's only piece out clashes too much with my principles... without the feeling you may get over a proper chess board. The reason behind this awkwardly looking retreat is obvious, though: anticipate the queen's coming harassment by freeing the f6-square. Yet, to detect that it is the only move (something that no chess program is capable to find) actually deserves a double exclamation mark... if only for that. 11.a4 Even if "Mr Trompovic" was so greatly vexed after that game that he publicly announced his decision to give up the double pawn sac, I am ready to bet there will still be volunteers to take up the torch again with a bishop move to c4 or b5, intending Ne2 next... g6 12.e2 d3! 13.a5 [ 13.b3 a6 was indicated by the Evry chess club's (which just finished 4th in the French Team championships) top board, pre cisely in the op en ing b ulletin of th e competition of which the final stage had 2147
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 been entrusted to them. He also m i s c h i e v o u s l y m e n t i o n e d ( 13...c2! "with the help of a good computer". )] 13...h6 14.f4 0-0 15.b3 b5! [ 15...c2 Also seems to avoid losing the queen, in a far more acrobatic way though: 16.a3 g7 17.g3 a6 18.xa6 ( 18.d3 b4 ) 18...bxa6 19.e5 b8 20.xb8 xb8 21.f2 f5 22.c1 d3 23.xd3 xd3 24.exd6 exd6 25.c7 e8 26.xd6 d4+ ] 16.a3 [ 16.xb5 b6! 17.xb6 d7 18.c1 ( 18.b3 xa4 19.xd3 axb6 ) 18...xb5 19.xb5 xb5 20.xb5 axb6 ] 16...b4 17.xd3 [ 17.a4 e5!! The key to the courageous black preparation. The bronze medal of the 2005 U 16 World championship, whom I had myself trained on several occasions up to the year before, was always found of such study-like nuggets. The very sharpest play where no one else dares to tread, and the sharpest preparation (assisted by a computer and his faithful and hard-working second GM Arnaud Hauchard) seems to be t h e o n l y wa y t o g a i n 5 0 p o i n t s i n o n e delivery at this level! ( 17...a6 18.g3 b7 19.f3 ) 18.b2 How ironic: It is now the white queen who needs space against the threat of ...Bd7!! ( 18.xd3 xd3+ 19.d1 b2+ 20.c2 xa4 ) 18...xf4! 19.xf4 e3+ 20.e2 ( 20.e2 d3+ ) 20...xf4 21.a3 a6 22.axb4? e3 ] 17...bxa3 18.h3 g7 19.xa3 a6 A pawn up with the superior development now, the point is in the bag. 20.c3 b4 21.d1 [ 21.xg7 xg7 22.b3 xa2 ] 21...f5 Undermining the support of the d5pawn. 22.xg7 xg7 23.c3 fxe4 24.dxe4 b6 Black goes for the d5-pawn rather than f4 but he could probably have had both! [ 24...xf4 25.g3 ( 25.b5 e5 26.g3 f3 ) 25...f8 26.h3 ( 26.b5 xd5 27.c4 7b6 28.xd5 xd5 29.xa7 xa7 30.xa7 d7 ) 26...b6 27.xc8 fxc8 28.g5 6xd5 29.xd5 xd5 30.e6+ f7 31.e1 ab8 32.c2 b7 33.g5+ g8-+ ] 25.g3 b7 26.g1 6xd5 27.xd5 xd5
28.c3 c6 29.d2 fb8 30.a5 b7 31.e2 [ 31.a3 d5 32.g2 b2+ 33.c1 xg2 34.xg2 xc3 ] 31...ab8 32.e1 d5 33.d1 c7 Just one rook holding the irresolute opposing p a i r wh il e t h e Rb 8 a c t i va t e s f o r a r a p i d outcome. 34.a3 [ 34.d3 b4 ] 34...b1 35.d3 a1 36.c4 [ 36.c2 a2+ ] 36...b7 37.a6 b6 38.b3 b5 39.a5 c4 40.xc4 0-1
2201 Miladinovic,Igor Van der Hallen,N Windesheim Open (2) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2526 08.03.2003
Trompowsky: Black avoids simplification at too great a cost and is given a lesson in the power of the h4 tromp. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 d5 4.d2 d6 Black should shy away from this continuation, which serves to congest his position. [ 4...xd2 is undoubtedly stronger. ] 5.e3 h6 6.f4 e6 7.d3 d7 8.gf3 e7 For the moment both sides develop peacefully enough. 9.c3 b6 10.e5 xe5 11.dxe5 f5 It was probably the thought of moving the knight to this square that enticed Black into his fourth move, but the time lost has been c o n s i d e r a b l e . 12.h5 c5 13.e4 h4 The Black knight continues its journey, but he is heading straight for trouble. 14.0-0 g6 15.g3 [ 15.g3 looks strong here, if g5 16.e3 d4 then 17.cxd4 cxd4 18.a4+ looks completely winning. ] 15...d4 16.cxd4 xd4 17.c4 eyeing the sensitive d6 square. gxh5 Black has no time for this. [ 17...0-0 was absolutely essential, when Black has at least some hope of survival. ] 18.xh4 Now W hite wins by force. xh4 19.d6+ f8 20.xh5 h7 21.xh4 The threat of Qd8 means Black cannot afford
2148
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to recapture his piece on d3. 1-0
2202 Miles,Anthony J Avrukh,Boris Biel op (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2600 2430 1995
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 f5 8.xb8 xb8 9.xd4 b6 10.e4 f4 11.h3 c7 12.e5 g8 13.0-0-0 e6 14.g5! e7 15.f4 f5 16.f2! h6 From this position, Black has tried various moves differing from the previous game's 16...Be7, as in this encounter played only a few months afterwards. Nevertheless, it seems that the d a m a ge i s a lre a d y d o n e b e c a u s e o f t h e fragile knight position on f5. For another less optimistic alternative see the next game. [ 16...b7 17.d3 e7 18.hf1! The good file for the rook. W hite is now ready to play to mobilize his g-pawn. d5 ( 18...0-0? 19.xh7 xh7 20.g4; 18...h6 19.g4!? hxg5 20.gxf5 ) 19.xf5 xb3 20.axb3 exf5 21.d4! h6 ( 21...d8 22.e6! fxe6 23.xg7 f8 24.xh7 ) 22.f3 d8 23.d3 g6 24.d4 W hite is discretely preparing his modest business... 0-0 25.f3 b7 and 26.xf5!! 1-0 Romero Sanchez, J-Simmelink,J ICCF Email 2001. Nice game though, enough not to be ignored but too similar to the previous o n e t o t o p t h e b i l l o f t h i s u p d a t e ! gxf5 27.xf5 c6 ( 27...d5 28.exd6 h4 29.g4+ h7 30.xh4; 27...h8 28.d6 xd6 29.f6+ h7 30.h3 ) 28.g3+ h8 29.d6! The key idea. ] [ 16...d5 17.d3 Simply - Black is forced to retreat with the knight because d5 hangs af ter the capture on d5. b7 ( 17...h6 18.f3 ) 18.xf5 exf5 19.e6 ] 17.e4 [ 17.f3! d5 18.d3 e7 19.bd4 Followed by an offensive expansion on the kingside by g2-g4, f4-f5 etc. ] 17...b7 18.d3 d5 19.g3 [ 19.ed2 c5! 20.xc5 bxc5 ] 19...xg3 20.hxg3 c5 21.e2 d8
22.g4 g6? [ 22...f8 ] 23.xg6 g8 [ 23...fxg6 24.xe6+ e7 25.xc5 bxc5 26.xg6+ f7 27.xh6 ] [ 23...e3+ 24.b1 fxg6 25.xe6+ e7 26.xg6+ f7 27.d3 h7 28.f5 ] 24.xh6 [ 24.xe6+ f8 ] 24...e3+ 25.b1 d4 26.xe6+ f8 27.h7 [ 27.f6!! xg6 28.xg6 e4+ 29.a1 xg6 30.h1 e8 31.e6+- ] 27...d5 28.f6 e7 29.xe7+ xe7 30.c2 As unbelievable as it may be, Black will hold this ending! dxc3 [ 30...xg3 31.xd4 xd4 32.xd4 xg2 33.b3 ] 31.f5?! [ 31.bxc3 xb3 32.axb3 xd1+ 33.xd1 xg3 34.h5 xg2 35.f5 f4 36.xf7+ d8 37.e6 ] 31...xb3 32.xb3? Time trouble? [ 32.f6+! e6 33.xb3+ xe5 34.e1 xg3 ( 34...d4 35.h4+ d3 36.c4+ d2 37.e2+ d1 38.h1+; 34...d3 35.c4 ) 35.g7!+- ] 32...xd1+ 33.xd1 d4 34.f6+ [ 34.e6 g7 Oh, oh, The opposite coloured bishop 'injustice' strikes again! Black could even be the three kingside pawns down and still draw this game by just putting his king on f6 and his bishop on the h6-c1 diagonal! ] 34...e6 35.b3+ xe5 36.bxc3 xc3 37.xf7 xg3 38.g7 f4!= "It's a kind of magic"! 39.f7 g6 40.d5 a5 41.c7 xf6 42.c6 e5 43.f3 b5 44.c5+ d4 45.xb5 g5 46.b6 e7 47.c2 c5+ 48.d1 g5 49.a4 e3 50.b2 c4 51.a2 f4 52.e2 d4+ 53.e1 d6 54.f3 d2! 55.xd2 [ 55.a1? f2! And Black wins!! 56.b1 ( 56.c1 b4+ 57.d1 d2+ 58.e1 xg2+ 59.f1 f2+ 60.g1 xf3 ) 56...b4+ 57.d1 d2+ 58.c1 a3+ 59.b2 xb2+ ] 55...b4 ½-½
2149
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 been taken from the bishop. c4+ 24.e1 A45 xf1 25.xf1 ] 2584 2505 20.f4 0-0-0 21.c3 b6 22.e1 [ 22.g3 ] 10.08.2000 22...he8 23.e2 xe4!! You could feel it coming. 24.fxe4 xe4 25.g3 [ 25.f1 de8! ( 25...g5 26.h5 c4 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 27.g3 de8 28.xe4 xe4 29.b3 5.c3 f6 6.d2!? cxd4 7.b3 b6 xe2+ 30.d1 a6 is less clear in this 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 case. ) 26.xg7 11.xc6 dxc6 12.xe5 e6 13.a3 b5 A) 26...c4 27.f3! xe2 28.xe2 14.e4 b4 15.cxb4 xb4+ 16.f2 c5+ xe2+ 29.f1 c2 30.xf7 ( 30.e1? 17.e1 Does Black have more than a xe1+ 31.xe1 xg2 32.xf7 xh2 ) repetition is one question here, since White 30...ee2 31.d1 f2+ ( 31...xg2? has already lost his right to castle, and is left 32.f8+ c7 33.e5# ) 32.xf2 xf2+ with a weak king in a ready-to-be-opened 33.e1 xg2 34.e5=; centre. But in order to avoid it, W hite must B) 26...c7 27.f3 xf4 28.f1 xe2 play a move that hampers the problematic 29.xf4 ( 29.xb3 xh2 30.h3 c7 development of his pieces even more! 31.xh7 b6 ) 29...d5 30.f2 xf2+ [ 17.g3? h5+!! Black announces a 31.xf2 g8 32.e5 xg2+ 33.e3 forced mate in 8! 18.h4 e7+! 19.xh5 d7 ] a5! The surprising point of it all. 20.b5 [ 25.h5 c4 26.g3 xe2+ 27.xe2 xb5 21.f4 xe5+! 22.f5 ( 22.fxe5 h6 e8 28.b3 xe2+ 29.d1 d3 30.g3 f6 And ...g6 mate next move.) 22...xe4 Followed by ...Rg2, ...Bc2+ takes b3, ...Bd5 23.f3 ( 23.fxe6 h4#; 23.g4 xf5 24.h3 with an attack that is far from getting weaker, g6# ) 23...xf5 24.he1 g4# ] and will soon garner at least two pawns for 17...b4+ 18.e2 the exchange. ] [ 18.c3 xc3+ 19.bxc3 e7 20.e2 a7 21.d4 ha8 22.b1 ( 22.c2 b3 25...g5 26.f6 g8 27.d2 [ 27.d3 ge8 28.e5 ( 28.c1 c4 ) 23.d4 xa3 24.b1 a1 ) 22...d7 28...e6 29.g7 ( 29.f1 a5+ ) 29...f6-+ ] 23.c2 c5 followed by the unavoidable 27...gxf4 28.d3 a5+?! Black has won his Bb3xc2, Rxa3 with advantage to Black. ] piece back and relaxes, counting his booty. 18...a5 19.h3 [ 19.c1 0-0-0 20.b4 ( 20.c3 c4+ Nevertheless, the smoking remains of his 21.e1 xc3+ 22.bxc3 xf1 23.xf1 initiative were still harmful andwith [ 28...e3! he could have seriously d2 ) 20...b6 21.b5 he8! shortened the duration of the game: A) 22.bxc6 xe4! 23.cxb7+ xb7 29.xh7 ( 29.gxf4 g2+ 30.c3 c2 24.fxe4 g4+ 25.f3 xe5 26.c4 T h e h id d e n d o o r !) 29...a5+ 30.c1 a5; ( 30.c3 d8+ 31.c1 xc3 32.bxc3 fxg3 B) 22.g3 xe4 23.fxe4 g4+ 24.e1 33.b2 d5 ) 30...ge8 31.c3 xc3 ( 24.f3 xe4# ) 24...xe4+ 25.e2 32.bxc3 fxg3 33.hxg3 xc3+ 34.b2 a5+ 26.f2 d2; xg3-+ ] C) 22.c3 ] [ 19.b4 b6 And Black wi ll castle kingside 29.c3 xc3+ 30.xc3 e3 From this point this time to keep the natural pressure on the onwards, on the other hand, Black's technique will show no fault. 31.gxf4 d8 32.xb3 a3 pawn. ] 19...b3! Ensuring the domination of the dxd3+ 33.a2 d2 34.ad1 f2 35.d4 [ 35.df1 ee2 36.xf2 xf2 37.g1 xf4 crucial open file and the flexible positioning of 38.g7 h5 ] the Ba5, eyeing d2. [ 19...0-0-0 20.b4 b6 21.g5 b3 35...ee2 36.b4 c7! Keep the bind and ( 21...he8 22.xe6 ) 22.b1 a2 23.b2 do not soothe the defence by offering the All the squares on the a2-g8 diagonal have opponent a file and some counterplay. 2203 Miles,Anthony J Hebden,Mark GBR-ch Millfield (10) [Eric Prié]
2150
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 36...xh2 37.g1 ( 37.xh2 xh2 38.f5 16.d1 e7 17.xd8+? ( 17.b4 or; h5 ) 37...h5 38.g7 e7 39.f5 ] 17.d4 Surely more testing.) 17...xd8 [ 36...b5 37.c1 d7 ( 37...b7 38.a4 18.e2 f5 19.h3? Same remark ( 19.e5 b6 39.axb5 c5 40.b3 xf4 41.d1; g5 20.e3; 19.b4 d3+ 20.xd3 xd3 37...c7 38.xb5 ) 38.h3 ] 21.e2 ) 19...fxe4 20.fxe4 xe4 21.f2 37.h3 xf2 22.xf2 f8 23.g3 g5 24.e5 [ 37.a4!? xh2 38.g1 ] f5 0-1 Karhanek,P (2216) - Vesselovsky, 37...b5 38.g1 b6 39.g8 S (2400), Frydek Mistek 2005; [ 39.a4 a5 ] B) 13.e4 d7 14.g3 Following Milov's 39...e6 40.b8+ c5 41.g8 h6 42.g7 recipe, however... c5 f6 43.g4 b6 44.a4 a5 45.a3 d6 B1) 15.h3!? b3 ( 15...xh3 46.axb5 cxb5 47.g3 d1 48.e4? 16.gxh3 b3 17.b1 xa2? [ 48.f5 xf5 ( 48...a1+ 49.b3 b1 18.c4+- ) 16.b1 xa2 17.g5 b5!; 50.a3 Gets nowhere) 49.e4 Was more B2) 15.a3 0-0-0 ( 15...b3!? stubborn. ] In this line White cannot bring his knight 48...a1+ 49.b3 b1 50.c3 fxb2 to e2 nor play the defensive possibilities 51.g7 b3+ 52.c2 1b2+ 53.c1 f5 b2-b4 or Rd1-d4 that W hite neglected 54.e5 f2 55.xf5 xh3 Now it is simple. above! 16.e2 d3+ 17.d2 xb2 ) 56.g1 h4 57.f8 h5 58.f5 hf4 59.g5 16.d1 e7 And although White played h4 60.h5 a4 61.d8 b4 62.d1 a3 really indolently in the game given in the 63.f6 c4+ 64.b1 xf6 65.a5+ b3 note, it can still be instructive to have a 66.a2 c3 67.h1 h3 68.ah2 ff3 look at that massacre. ] 69.e2 g3 70.eh2 c4 71.a1 a3+ 13.e4! e6 14.e2! White played the inferior 72.b1 gb3+ 73.b2 xb2+ 74.xb2 [ 14.d3 In Danilov-Perez Funguero last g3 mo n t h a n d o n d7 h a d t o re p ly 15.d4 0-1 ( 15.g3 b4 16.e2 c5 ) 15...c5 ( 15...b4 16.e2 c5 17.e3 ) 16.c2 ] 14...d7 15.g3! xa2 16.xa2 xa2 2204 A45 17.d4 c5 The no. 1 Swiss player awards Milov,Vadim 2632 h i m s e l f a s m a l l a d v a n t a g e i n h i s Kotronias,Vasilios 2598 c o m m e n t a r i e s f o r C h e s s B a s e . H e i s FRA-chT2 0304 (9) 14.03.2004 completely right of course because on [ 17...b4 18.d2! With the square e6 [Eric Prié] threatened by the knight on d4, it is easy to figure out the problems that the bishop on 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ a2 will soon have to face in conjunction with 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 the fact that Black is significantly behind in c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 development. ] dxc6 12.xe5 As I was gathering material for the exhaustive study of this 7.Nb3 main line 18.d2 [ 18.b4 e6 19.f5 d7 20.e2 g6 Tromp, I came to wonder why such prominent 21.e5 g8 22.e3 d6 23.xd6 xd6 specialists as Hebden (who seems to have 24.f2 a8= Milov,V ] adopted 7... Qd8) and Volokitin (who played [ 18.e2 b3 ( 18...a4 19.d2 ) 19.d1 1 1 . . . e xf 4 a ga i n st M a c-S h a n e in A u gu st , c5 ( 19...xd4 20.cxd4 b3+ 21.d2 postponed to next month's update) had given b4+ 22.e3 d7 23.a1 ) 20.f2 up playing the gambit we examined last month. ( 20.f5!? 0-0 21.c2 a8 22.d1 And I fell upon this important encounter which a5 ) 20...0-0 ( 20...e7 21.c2 d8? I had missed because of the unusual move 22.h4+ f6 23.xb3 ) 21.c2 d8 22.d1 order... which is probably inaccurate as we b6 Intending a general exchange on d4. shall see. b5?! 23.xb3 xb3+ 24.xb3 xd1 25.xb6 [ 12...e6! d2 26.f1 d1= The bishop cannot A) 13.a3 0-0-0 14.e4 d7 15.f4 c5 2151
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 escape the repetition! ] 18...b3+ 19.c2 a1+! 20.d3 b3! 21.e2 c5 [ 21...xd4 22.xd4 Milov,V ] 22.d1?! According to Milov, better was [ 22.f5 0-0 23.d1 d8+ 24.c2 xd1 25.xd1 f8 26.d6 b6 27.b7 ( 27.c8 e8 ) 27...e3 28.d8 a5 29.b4 ] [ 22.d1 xd4 23.cxd4 c4+ 24.c3 b6= Apparently the best defensive structure from Black's point of view. ] 22...xd4 23.cxd4 c4+ 24.e3 xe2 25.xe2 b6= 26.d6 [ 26.d5 e7 Milov,V ] 26...d7 27.c5 c7 [ 27...xc5 28.dxc5+ c7 29.a1 Milov,V ] 28.g3 b6 29.b4 a8 30.d3 h5 31.f4 d6 32.c3 g6 33.d5 cxd5 [ 33...c5 34.f6 c4+ 35.c3 a4 36.e5 b4+ 37.c2 c5 Milov,V ] 34.exd5 h4 35.f6 [ 35.gxh4 a4! 36.d4 ( 36.e5 f6 37.b3 b4 38.xf6 xf4 39.g5 f3+ 40.c2 e5= ) 36...c5! 37.e5 f6! 38.xf6 xf4 39.e5 ( 39.g5 d4+ 40.e2 xd1 41.xd1 d6= ) 39...xh4 40.a1 h3+ ( 40...h5 Is equivalent in fact.) 41.e4 ( 41.e2?? e3+; 41.c2 h5; 41.g3 d6 42.a7+ e8= ) 41...h4+ 42.f3 h5 43.a7+ e8 44.e4 h4+ 45.d3 h5 ] 35...hxg3? Time trouble [ 35...h3 36.e4 ( 36.c1 a4 37.d4 a2= ) 36...c8 37.d2 ( 37.f3 c2 38.h1 e7 ) 37...b4= 38.e2 e8+ 39.f3 xe2 40.xe2 d6 41.f3 xd5 42.g4 e4 43.xh3 f3 44.h4 g2 Milov,V ] 36.hxg3 a4 37.h1 e7 38.e5 f6 39.c3 b4 40.d4 d6 Black is likely to be lost already: his doubled b-pawns are not worth more than one and f6 is now an easy target thanks to the fulcrum liberated on e6. [ 40...a5 41.c4 b5+ 42.b3 d6 43.e1 xd5 44.xe7 xd4 45.e6 f5 46.xg6 e4 47.xb4 a2 48.b3 b2 49.g5 b1 50.g4 fxg4 51.xg4 f5 52.g5+ xf4 53.xb5+- ] 41.e1+- d8 42.xf6! xf6
[ 42...c7 43.e5+ ] [ 42...a8 43.xd8 xd8 44.d4 ] 43.e6+ xd5 44.xf6 a2 45.c2 g5 46.b3 A convincing game that will not make me change my mind though, neither does it fully answer the question set at the beginning, as although White is ready to give the pawn back and complete development in return for a small edge in the ending, (which is a safe st ra t e gy t h a t I a lwa ys a d vo ca t e ! ) B la c k , un f o rtu n a t e ly, is n o t f orce d to a c c ep t it ! Actually, he is able to continue in dangerous gambit style that I personally do not feel very enthusiastic about facing as White. 1-0
2205 Milov,Vadim Sandler,Leonid Australian Open (10) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2640 2385 13.01.1999
Tro m p owsky A t t a ck: B orro win g f ro m t h e Blackmar-Diemer: If you like the look of the Blackmar-Diemer anyway, then it must surely be even more awesome with an extra tempo. Unsurprisingly, in the following game, Black opts not to take the gambited pawn, but still finds himself on the worse side of a strange French. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.f3 f6 5.e4 White issues the Blackmar-Diemer challenge. It would pay all White players who like this particular variation to brush up on the Blackmar-Diemer theory contained elsewhere on this site. e6 A popular riposte. Rather than enter the Blackmar-Diemer complications, when White has the bonus of an extra tempo, B la ck t r ie s t o st e e r t h e ga m e t o wa rd s a French type of position. 6.e5 fd7 7.e3 The bishop withdraws, to allow W hite the standard advance of the f-pawn. c5 8.c3 c6 9.f4 b6 This position resembles a French advance, although the Black knight is strangely placed on d7. I feel that this favours White. As normally Black would be able to use this knight to add extra pressure on the White centre (i.e. Ng8-h6-f5). 10.d2 e7 11.f3 0-0 12.d3 The bishop es up a dangerous post, and points directly at the Black king. In the longer term, it also supporting the 2152
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 desirable pawn lever f4-f5. cxd4 13.cxd4 a5 14.c3 b6 Black is taking considerable steps to e n su re t he excha n ge of light squ are d bishops, but there is more than one string to W hite's bow.. 15.c1 a6 16.0-0 xd3 17.xd3 ac8 18.f5 The key idea. Despite the exchange of his best attacking minor piece, W hite is still able to mount considerable pressure on the Black kingside. b4 19.b1 a6 20.cd1 It is much more important for W hite to prevent the exchange of queens (after 20...Qd3) than to challenge for control of the unimportant c-file. All the action is taking place on the kingside. c6 21.g5 White plans to launch an attack on the dark squares around the Black king and is na t u ra lly k e e n t o e xch a n ge o f f t he ir ke y defender. b4 22.f6 Forcing a fatal weakness. g6 23.h6 fe8 24.c1 xd4 Hitting the panic button is Black's only option, as he is defenceless against the threat of Bg7 f o l lo we d b y Q h 6 a n d if n e ce s sa ry, N g5 . 25.xd4 c5 26.e3 xd4 27.xd4 Black's sacrifice has only delayed the inevitable, with Qh6 looming he had no choice but to call it a day. 1-0
unimpeded short castling and without having given any pawns. 13.gf3 c5 14.d4 d7 [ 14...xd4 15.e4 e5 16.xd4 xd4 17.xd4 g7= ] 15.e3 g7 16.b5 e5 17.e4 b6 18.b4 0-0 19.bd6 c6 20.b5 c7 21.xd7 xd7 22.xb7 a5 23.b5 fb8 24.b3 c6? [ 24...a4 25.b4 a3 26.bxa3 f6 27.f1 xe4 28.xe4 xa3 29.g1 xc3 ] 25.g5? [ 25.d1! xe4 26.xd7 a4 27.d5 b1+ 28.e2 e6 29.c4 ] 25...e6 26.a4 a7?? [ 26...xg2 27.0-0-0 xb7! Even without this combination, which is undoubtedly difficult to calculate precisely, Black is better after 27...Ne5 for instance. 28.xb7 c5 29.b8+ f8 30.b5 xb8 31.xb8 xg5 32.d8 g1+ ( 32...e7 33.e8 d7 34.c8 d6 35.d8 b6 36.xd6 xc8 37.a6 h5 38.d2 d6 39.e2 ) 33.c2 xf2+ 34.b1 f1+ 35.a2 c4+ 36.b1 e4+ 37.a2 xa4+ 38.b1 e4+ 39.a2 ( 39.a1 h1+ 40.a2 h6 ) 39...c4+ 40.b1 d7 41.xd7 e4+ 42.c1 xe3+ 43.c2 h5 44.d8 h6-+ ] 27.xa5 xb5 28.xc6 xb3 29.xa7 2206 A45 xb2 30.0-0-0! The move Black must have Milovic,Jovan 2223 forgotten, probably only counting on [ 30.b5?? xb5 31.axb5 xc3+ 32.e2 Zinchenko,Yaroslav 2322 xa1 ] TCh-Europe u18 (3) 21.07.2003 [ 30.a3 c5 31.c4 c2 32.a5? b2! ] [Eric Prié] 30...b7 31.b5 e5 [ 31...b6 32.d8+ f8 33.d6 ( 33.a5? 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 c4 34.a6 xb5 35.a7 b6 ) 33...a7 a5+ 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 g6 7.h4 c6 34.dxf7! xa4 ( 34...xf7 35.xf7 xf7 8.c4 d5 9.cxd6 e6 10.d7+?! 36.a5 e7 37.b8 d7 38.a6! c5 The argument against this move is similar to 39.b7 e8 40.a7 ) 35.e5 c5 36.e8 the one given in the previous game: "For just a2 37.xh7 xh7 38.xf8+- ] one pawn (since White cannot hang on to g5) [ 31...c5 32.d8+ f8 33.d6 b3 Black gets full compensation of two bishops W a s t h e m o st r e si s t a n t 34.c2 a3 and a massive lead in development." xd7 35.xh7 xh7 36.xf8 a2+ ( 36...f5 11.c3?! Not very consequent 37.c8 xa4 38.b5 a1 39.a8 ) [ 11.gf3 h6! 12.c3 ( 12.h4 g7 13.c3 37.b1 xf2 38.xf7+ xf7 39.xf7 hxg5 ) 12...hxg5 13.b3 c7 ( 13...f5 xa4 40.c2 should be winning though. ] 14.c5 0-0-0? 15.e4 g4 16.b3 ) 32.f4 b8 33.e4 g7 14.xg5 h5 15.f3 0-0-0 ] [ 33...b6 34.d8+ g7 35.c5 ] 11...e6 12.a4 xg5 As a result Black has dangerously equalized without much effort, 34.c2 e5 35.ed6 xd6 [ 35...b6 36.a5 a6 37.e8+ f8 keeping the advantages of the position with 2153
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 38.xd7 xe8 39.b7 a8 40.a6 exf4 41.a7 e5 42.exf4 xf4 43.c4 ] 36.xd6 Considering the split white structure on the queenside, you would have expected a tougher task to exploit the material advantage, b u t a s i t t u rn e d o u t t h e p a wn s p r o vid e d practically optimal squares for the pieces! a7 37.b5 b7 38.b3 g5 39.fxg5 g6 40.b4 xg5 41.a5 b8 42.d6 g4 43.a6 xa6+ 44.xa6 g3 45.a2 d7 46.c4 d3 47.c5 xe3 48.c6 1-0
2207 Minasian,Artashes Georgiev,Krum 34th Olympiad (6) [Aaron Summerscale]
exchange light squared bishops, he further highlights the weakness of the Black f (not only pawn, but) pawns. c7 23.b2 dh8 24.d3 b8 An indication that Black has taken his kingside attack as far as it can go for the moment. White, however is just getting started! 25.a6 c8 26.ab1 hxg3 27.fxg3 b6 28.a5 White is crashing through with great effect. Notice how the Rb2 is ideally placed for both attack and defence. xa6 29.xa6 e7 30.xb6+ White finishes Black off in style. It's forced mate after 30...Ka8 31.Rb8+ so there was no need to play on. 1-0
A45 2595 2532 02.11.2000
2208 A45 Mitura,Vaclav 2235 Mrva,Martin 2447 Tatry Open High Tatras SVK (9) 06.10.2001 1.d4 Trompowsky Attack: A high powered all [Aaron Summerscale] GM clash produces a very instructive and exciting game. f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 Torre vs King's Indian: It's always nice to see [ 3.d5 is more popular these days but that an experienced master get a mauling from a may just mean Bxf6 is due for a revamp. ] lesser light. The finish is textbook stuff. 1.d4 3...gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 f5 6.g3 f6 2.c3 This move is only useful as a means This is one of the most solid lines at White's of avoiding theory, as Black has a clear cut disposal in the 2...c5 variation. He ensures route to equality with 2...d5. I suspect White himself a good grip on the potentially weak already knew that his opponent was a King's d a r k s q u a r e s . e6 It seems natural to put Indian man. g6 3.g5 g7 4.d2 0-0 5.e3 pressure on the W hite center, but Black is b6 6.f4 By omitting Nf3 at an early stage, never really threatening d5, as this would White has allowed himself the possibility of leave his remaining kingside pawns far too this souped-up stonewall. c5 7.d3 b7 weak. 7.c4 g7 8.c3 b4 This temporary 8.e2 d6 Black sensibly decides not to hand queen activity might look aggressive, but it the e5 square to White. 9.gf3 c7 10.0-0 actually achieves very little. 9.e3 d6 10.a3 bd7 11.e4 As White cannot occupy e5, he a5 11.ge2 d7 12.f4 The knight finds has to revert to plan b, occupation of the a n e x c e l l e n t p o s t , f r o m w h e r e h e c a n centre. e5 The thematic riposte that Black pressurise the Black position. b6 13.d2 was no doubt ready for, but this does weaken xc3 14.bxc3 d7 15.e2 0-0-0 16.0-0 h5 the kingside dark squares. 12.dxe5 dxe5 The battle lines are drawn. Both sides intend 13.f5 gxf5 Left to his own devices, White will to hurl their respective kitchen sinks at the start a kingside pawn storm, so Black decides opposing king. Black's main problem is that to t ry an d t h ro w a spa n ne r in t he wo rk s . he will find it difficult to involve his offside 14.h4 queen in the attack. 17.dxe6 xe6 18.d5 [ 14.exf5 would allow Black to start fighting h4 19.fb1 xd5 Black may lose some time back with the dangerous e4!? 15.xe4 but the alternative xe4 16.xe4 ae8 17.d2 xe4 [ 19...xd5 would leave the f5 pawn T h e p o i n t ! 18.xe4 e8 19.f4 h6 dangerously weak. ] And White must part with material. ] 20.cxd5 d7 21.a4 h6 22.b5 14...xe4 15.xe4 fxe4 16.xe4 White reveals a key idea. By threatening to For his pawn investment, White has definite 2154
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 kingside attacking chances and more [ 12...d8? 13.b5+! f8 14.xb8 d6 importantly, good control of the position and 15.xa7 e3 16.f2! g5 ( 16...c2 in p articula r th e f 5 squ are . f6 17.c1 17.a3 xa1 18.e2 h4+ 19.g3 h6 A temporary retreat. h8 18.f5 g8 20.c4 c2 21.a4 f5 22.a8+ e7 The experienced master quickly brings pieces 23.xh8 ) 17.d2 xg2+ 18.xe3 xh1 o v e r t o h e l p h i s w e a k e n e d k i n g . 19.f3 19.e4 xh2 20.xd6 xd6 21.d1! W hite is no less swif t in bringing in extra e5+ ( 21...xd1 22.xc5+ g8 at t a ck e rs . f8 20.h3 d8 21.c2 e4 23.xc8+ d8 24.xd8# ) 22.f2 g5 At this stage, the chances are finely balanced, 23.b6 g7 24.d6 f5 25.d5 c2+ with bo th sid es se ekin g t o imp rove t he ir 26.e2 g6 27.xc5 f6 1-0 Oswald,H position, whilst also limiting their opponent's (2280)-Mandel,A (2365) Baden-RRW ChT possibilities. I personally prefer White with his Gladenbach 1996. ] kingside activity, which means Black will have 13.xb8 to defend very accurately in order to avoid a [ 13.d2 e6 ] nasty defeat. Very few players can defend [ 13.xd5 xb2 14.e5 0-0! 15.xe7 well under such sustained pressure. 22.e3 ( 15.xb8 e8! Threatening a mate in two Taking on e4 would offer Black an beginning with ...Bh4+. 16.e2 xa1 unnecessary source of counterplay along the And b1 cannot be protected.) 15...f5! n e wl y o p e n e d e - f i l e , s o W h i t e s e n s i b l y ( 15...xa1 16.e4 ) 16.g5 g6 17.d2 prepares to bring his queen's rook into the xa1+ 18.f2 fe8 19.e2 bd8 20.f1 game. e6?? Black loses his sense of xc3 21.h4 h6 22.f4 d3? danger and blunders horribly to bring a fast Popov,V(2260)-Novik,M(2420) St end to what had been an interesting and wellPetersburg-ch op 1992 Black has the played battle. material advantage, and this is the aspect [ 22...d5 was the order of the day, to give he privileged when he went on to win this Black the option of later withdrawing the game in... 53 long moves. However, bishop to help with kingside defence. ] considering the hopeless situation of the 23.xh7+! Bang! It's mate in two more moves! enemy kingside and king, it is surprising 1-0 that here he missed ( 22...d1!! 23.g3 d4! 24.c7 e1+ 25.h2 xh4+ 26.h3 xe2 )] 2209 A45 13...0-0 14.d2 e3! It does require Fritz a couple of minutes to find these moves but it Moelder,Bernd Engl,Heinz 2045 does find them. Then its estimation topples DESC STS028 email 2002 over... [ 14...d6? 15.c4 ] [Eric Prié] 15.e5 [ 15.b1 d6 16.a8 f5 ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 e6 7.e4 exd5 8.exd5 d6 15...c2+ 16.d1 f6 17.e4 xa1 9.e2+?! e7! 10.xd6 xd5 11.xb8 18.c1 d8 19.c4 d6 20.e3 b5! xb8 12.e5 Tricky Informantor, giving an Deflecting the bishop from the a2-g8 diagonal exclamation mark to 6...e6 without a word with the white pawn at the end of it in the line about this triple attack... b6!! A great move of fire. 21.xb5 e6 22.h3 [ 22.b3 Would have been the fatal blow definitely burying White's 9th move check. But given to the weakened black squares. f5 I can just imagine the look of the unprepared ( 22...xb3 23.axb3 xd2+ 24.xd2 OTB player suddenly finding out he would xb3+ 25.c2 xd2 26.e2= ) 23.g4 lose material for having blindly trusted what c2 24.e2 ( 24.f2 xc3 25.gxf5 a3 ) was written in the Chess player's 'bible'! As, 24...d4! 25.cxd4 xd4 26.gxf5 b2+ alas, it unfortunately happened to me once... 27.d1 b1# ] Indeed, in the following game played in this 22...xa2 23.c4 critical sub-line, things turned out differently: 2155
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 23.e4 b6 24.xf6+ xf6 25.d1 9.e2 0-0 10.f4 e6 11.e2 ( 11.d3 ) b3+ 26.c2 g6+ 27.d3 xg2+ 11...d7 12.0-0 ad8 13.d2 ( 13.c2 28.f2 b8 looks more complicated. And f5 14.d3 ) 13...e5 14.fd1 a6 that is it: In a purely tactical position, like ( 14...c4!? ) 15.d4 Grigore,G-Gheng,J here, whe re th e Silicon m on ste rs h ave Bucareste 2002 1/2(56) ] become genuine 'scarecrows', deciding [ 4.dxc5 xc5 5.e3 b6 6.c1 d5 7.c3 between two (or more) equally bad (or good) c6 8.d2 e5 9.b3 e7 10.c2 0-0 lines given by the computer, in addition to 11.d4 d7 12.gf3 fe8 13.e2 f8 correcting its horizon and envisaging every 14.0-0 c4 15.ab1 Even with an order of sensible move that your knowledge of the move far from being optimal, White enjoys a game commands you to do, you must use small advantage after the stabilization of your brain to interpret these decimals of the position. Shtyrenkov, V-Dvoirys,S RUSevaluation which often have no tangible ChT Moscow 1994 0-1(40) ] significance, but that will make it 'prefer' [ 4.d5 is not as convincing because of the one line to another! ( 28...g6?? 29.f1 )] opening of the long diagonal that will offer 23...xc4 24.xc4 b3+ 25.b1 d5 Black's dark-squared bishop good prospects 26.e1 h6 27.a3 d6 Attacking h2. 28.f4 and make thematic play on the queenside d5! 29.g3 d6! With the lethal idea Re6. impossible for White is good compensation Although W hite's resignation appears a bit f or the altered structure. Similar to th e hasty, it seems that the 2 protagonists of this update concerning the 2...d6/2...g6 line of remarkable game understood each other... A the Trompowsky, in fact, since Black will pure masterpiece indeed, close to perfection! develop in exactly the same manner: ...d6, ... Between unrated White and 2045 Black! The g6, ...Bg7, ... 0-0, ...f5, ...Nd7, ...Re8 and new pleasure of correspondence Chess: Just so on. ] put your engine on... and it will f aithf ully 4...cxd4?! retrieve every single move of this important [ 4...d5!? Is critical for the estimation of the game for theory!! recapture with the e-pawn and has yet to be 0-1 tested in practice. Black offsets the greater exposure of his d-pawn by a gain of space, synonymous with greater liberty in 2210 A45 manoeuvring. 5.e3 ( 5.e4 dxe4 6.dxc5 f5 7.xd8+ xd8 8.0-0-0+ d7; 5.dxc5 d4 Moiseenko,Alexander 2581 6.e4 f5 7.d6+ xd6 8.cxd6 xd6 Dvoirys,Semen I 2578 9.c3 b6! 10.b3 a5= 11.xb7? dxc3 op Dieren (9) 26.07.2001 12.b4 a3! 13.xa8 0-0 14.d5 b2 [Eric Prié] 15.d1 c2-+; 5.d2 c6 6.f3 g4 ) 5...e6 6.ge2 ( 6.dxc5 c6 7.h5 a5! 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 exf6 8.0-0-0 0-0-0 9.ge2 xc5= ) 6...c6 The possibility for the f8-bishop to intervene 7.a3 d7 8.d2 White has reinforced his early in the course of the battle on the dark control over d4, somewhat weakened by his squares initiated by 2. ..c5 is not relevant here 4th move, but the position is still difficult to against correct play. W hat is, on the other assess for 3 crucial and interdependent hand, is the fact that sooner or later the white questions which cannot be clearly decided pawn on d4 will be exchanged against c5 f o r e ith e r sid e : W h ere t o ca st le, wh ic h leaving Black with an awkward isolani on the dstructure to aim for (Black can play c5-c4 file. 4.c3 By developing his queen's knight and White can take back on d4 with the eon its "natural" square, which aims at d5, pawn) and what to do with the king's White therefore prevents 4... Qb6. bishop? Indeed, an untimely g3 by W hite [ 4.c3!? d5 ( 4...b6 5.c2 cxd4 6.cxd4 could be met by the unpleasant ...h5, and a c6 7.e3 d5 8.c3 f5 9.d2 b4 bishop move by Black will lose a tempo after 10.ge2 is fine for W hite.) 5.e3 c6 the capture on c5. ] 6.d2 e7 7.dxc5 xc5 8.b3 b6 2156
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 5.xd4 c6 6.e4+ e7 7.e3 0-0 8.c4 b4 [ 8...a6 9.ge2 b5 10.b3 b7 11.0-0 g6 12.ad1 f5 13.d5 ( 13.d3 e5 14.d4 f6 15.d6 g7 16.d5 e8 ) 13...d6 14.f4 ( 14.d2 e8 15.d5 f8 is t h e s a m e .) 14...a5 15.d3 xb3 16.axb3 e8 17.cd5 With an agreeable plus for White because the knights are not less strong than the bishops here. Chandler, M-Knott,S GBR-ch Millfield 2000 1-0 (65) ] 9.ge2 e8 10.d5 e5 11.b3 b8 12.0-0 b5 13.fd1 a6 14.d4 White did not have to outplay his opponent nor to spend tons of creativity to get this big advantage out of the opening: He has played all the most obvious moves! f8 15.g3 b7 16.d5 c8 17.a4 Like in the Sicilians with a "hole" on d5, this is the thematic plan to use the radiance of the dominating white knight and create decisive weaknesses on the enemy queenside. c4 [ 17...b4 18.xb4 c5 19.d2 f3 20.dc1 a5 21.c3 b8 22.d5 xd5? 23.xd5 c4 24.e2 xb2 25.cb1 f8 26.b4 xb4 ( 26...xa4 27.c2 ) 27.cxb4 xb4 28.a2+- ] [ 17...c6 18.g4 e5 ( 18...a5 19.h5 ) 19.f5 b4 20.e4 ] 18.axb5 axb5 19.a7! c6 [ 19...c5 20.xf6+ h8 ( 20...gxf6 21.g4+ h8 22.xb7 ) 21.h4 ] [ 19...d6 20.d3 e5 ( 20...a8 21.xa8 xa8 22.f5 xf5 23.xf5 e5 )] 20.xc4 bxc4 21.b6! [ 21.xc4 e5 ] 21...c7 22.xc4 b5 23.xc7 [ 23.a3 c5 24.xc7 xd4 25.xb5 e5 26.dxd7 xc7 27.xd8 xd8 28.b4 e7 29.c3 ] 23...xc7 24.d6? It was better get rid of the light-squared bishop, the d7 defender. [ 24.b3! c8 25.d2 xc4 26.bxc4 xc4 27.xd7 b8 28.h3 b4 29.d4 xc2? 30.xb4! xb4 31.d8# ] 24...xd6 25.xd6 xc2 26.d2 c8 27.h3 g6 White is like a pawn up but this is not enough because of the difficulty in 'recycling' his knight. 28.xc2 xc2 29.b1 f5 30.b4 f8 31.f1 e7 32.h2 e2! 33.b5 d8 34.f3 xf3 35.gxf3 c7
36.b6+ b7 37.d1 xb6 38.xd7 c7 39.d8 c6 40.g2 d7 41.h8 h5 42.g3 d6 43.e8 e7 ½-½
2211 Moiseenko,Alexander Kulaots,Kaido Rector Cup 5th (6.2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2597 2513 25.03.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 f6 5.d5 This is possible, of course, but if this may not be the worst moment for W hite in the jungle of variations with this pawn push after 3 . . . c 5 , i t is a t le a s t t h e o n e o f f e rin g t h e opponent the widest choice of replies, including the quite annoying one given in the next game, with likely transpositions into other Tromp systems, such as b6 6.c3!? [ 6.c1 g6 ( 6...e6 7.c4 Transposes into the Black's 6th move note of the Fressinet game. ) 7.c4 g7 8.c3 0-0 9.e4 Is just a casual KID SÃNmisch where the Black queen, badly placed on b6, has moved again. ] 6...xb2 7.d2 b6 8.e4 e5 9.dxe6?! White has an extra-tempo compared to the critical Tromp line 2..c5 3.d5 Qb6 4. Nc3 Qxb2 5. Bd2 Qb6 6.e4 e5, which corresponds to the f 2 -f 3 m o ve lo o kin g u se le ss wh e n t h e o ry precisely recommends [ 9.f4! d6 10.f3 that you may recognize as heavily analysed this summer! ] 9...dxe6 10.e5 d5 11.b1 xc3 12.xc3 c7 13.f4 c6 14.f3 b6 15.c4 e7 16.0-0 0-0 White has only symbolic compensation for the pawn... 17.e1 b7 18.g3 ad8 19.be1 d4 20.xd4 cxd4 21.d3 d5 [ 21...xf3!? 22.xf3 g6 ] [ 21...h6! After that little prophylactic move, I do not see at all how W hite, whose darksquared bishop is cruelly missing, amongst other defects in his position, is going to attack Black's short castle: 22.f5 exf5 23.xf5 fe8! With the nasty idea 24.g4 ( 24.h4 xh4 25.xh4 d5 ) 24...b4! 25.e2 xf3 26.xf3 xe5 ] 22.g5 g6 23.h4 h5 24.g4 xg5 2157
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 25.fxg5! [ 25.xg5 hxg4 26.xg4 g7 27.g5 f5! nipping White's attack in the bud, with the idea ...Rf8-f7, ...Rd8-h8, ...Qc7-e7 ( 27...h8 28.f5 ) 28.e2 d7! 29.h5 d8!! A fantastic defensive move showing how precarious the situation of the white king can become. A) 30.xg6+ h8 31.g3 ( 31.f2 g8 32.f6+ xf6 33.exf6 g2# ) 31...g7 32.g6 xg6! 33.xg6 g8; B) 30.g3 h8-+ ] 25...hxg4 26.h6! c4! [ 26...f3 27.h3 ] 27.f6!! Somehow, although Black's play can undoubtedly be improved, White managed to generate some kind of an initiative against which Black eventually had no more than a draw. [ 27.h4 xd3 28.cxd3 c2! 29.h5 xd3 30.f6 g3+ 31.f1 h3+ 32.g1 xh5 ] 27...xd3 28.cxd3 c8 [ 28...c3 29.xg6+ Perpetual check. ] 29.h4! gxh3? Black does not sense the danger. He had now to leap at the draw with [ 29...c3 ] 30.f3 h2+ 31.xh2? Mutual time trouble? After [ 31.xh2! I do not see how can Black parry the Rf3-h3 threat apart from playing the hideous f5 ( 31...c3 32.ef1; 31...c2 32.h4 ) 32.gxf6 ] 31...c3! 32.e2 c1 33.h3 f4+ 34.g2 g4+ 35.f2 f4+ 36.g2 g4+ 37.f2 f4+ 38.f3 c1 Threatening Rc8c2 39.h3 ½-½
2212 Moiseenko,Alexander Sakaev,Konstantin Aeroflot op-A 2nd (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2597 2645 16.02.2003
with reversed colours and also not 1.e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 where the fact that the e-pawn, and not the c-pawn, was exchanged against the d-pawn obviously makes a huge difference. As the game develops, it can acquire a certain similarity to an open Sicilian Richter-Rauzer when White doubles the pawn on f6 but never more than that. h6 6.0-0-0 Fascinating 3.Nc3 ? Indeed! In which other opening can you see one side long castling with a useful semi-open d-file as early as on move 6? In which other opening, substantiated by GM practice, do you see, from the very early moves, one camp exchanging a side-pawn against a central one, together with an early sortie of the queen in the middle of the board? a5 Do note the aesthetic position of both queens. 7.f3 h7 Basically the opening revolves around the interesting theme of the annoying combined pressure exerted on the same diagonal by the bishop-queen couple against a knight on f6 and how to release it. 8.d2 g5 9.c4 b4 W hen Black manages to exchange the queens in the open Sicilian, this is usually equivalent to equality, but here his pieces may not be best placed! 10.xb4 xb4 11.b5 a6 12.c3 g8 13.e4 g4 14.h4 You would hardly guess that this position, let us call it, "unconventional", was found in an actual game from a very serious tournament between 2 super GMs... Anyhow, it should not to be shown in Chess schools for you can now see 3 knights on the edge of the board to be added to the previous liberties taken with the classical rules of general opening theory! g5 15.d3 e6 16.b4 I am not sure that it was Black's intention to follow up with ...Nc5 rather t h a n b r i n g h i s N a 6 b a c k i n t o p l a y . ac7 17.f5 xb5 18.xb5 a6 19.c4 b5 20.d5 Presumably, White has the feeling he has missed something stronger and starts doubting, so he offers a draw while still better which, of course, is accepted. ½-½
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 c6 5.h4 This position resembles nothing else. Especially not the main line of the 'BelgoPortuguese Scandinavian' (1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.d4 Bg4 4.Nf3 Qxd5 5.Be2 Nc6 6.Nc3 Qh5) , 2158
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2213 Moiseenko,Alexander Svidler,Peter RUS-chT9 Ekaterinburg (4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2575 2688 20.05.2002
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 Not falling into the trap of the seducing [ 6...d5? 7.b3 a4 ( 7...b6 8.dxc5 e6 9.h3 ) 8.xb8 xb8 ( 8...e3? 9.c1 xf1 10.f4 ) 9.xc5 ] 7.b3 f5!? A forcing line. Black gains the t wo b is h o p s a t t h e co s t o f s o m e s e ve r e d e ve lo p m e n t p ro b le m s t h a t h e h o p e s t o compensate precisely thanks to his enhanced dark-squared control. 8.xb8 xb8 9.xd4 b6 [ 9...a8 10.e4 f4 11.h3 c7 12.e5 g8 13.0-0-0 The additional move ...b7-b6 clearly favours the defender. ] 10.e4 f4 11.h3 c7 12.e5 g8 13.0-0-0 e6 14.d3!? The idea behind this move is to keep the queen centralized by being ready to exchange this light-squared bishop against the black knight (when it gets to c6), and then bring the king's knight from h3 to d6 via g5-e4 or f2-e4 in order to get rid of Black's strong dark-squared bishop and try to take advantage of the d-file domination and anchor on d6. e7 15.e4 c6 16.xc6 xc6 Like in an open Paulsen Sicilian, Black wants to keep the option of the thematic undermining move ...f7-f6. [ 16...dxc6!? 17.g5 A) 17...c5?! 18.f4! ( 18.d8+?? xd8 19.xd8+ xd8 20.xf7+ e8 21.xh8 g6 ) 18...f5 19.g3! e7 20.xh7!; B) 17...e7 18.e4 c5 19.d6+ xd6 20.xd6 xd6 21.xd6 b7 22.d2 d7 23.e4 e7 24.hd1 f8! 25.xd7+ xd7 26.d6 f6 27.f4 fxe5 28.fxe5 f2 29.d2 f1+ 30.d1 f2 31.d2 Draw agreed with another order of moves (14.Ng5 Ne7 15.Bb5 Nc6 16.Bxc6 dxc6 17.Ne4 c5 18.Nd6+ and so on) corresponds to Nedimovic, L(2176)-Tratar, M(2452), Portoroz op 2004 ] 17.g5 e7 18.e4 b7 19.he1 d8 20.e3 0-0 21.d6 a8 22.b1 f6! The spring which until now was compressed,
is losing its tension! 23.e2 fxe5 24.xe5 f6! If in this way the white pawns on the kingside can become targets, the validity of W hite's idea of Bd3 has to be questioned. 25.ed2 g6 26.e2 c7 27.h3 [ 27.b5 xh2 ] 27...xd6 28.xd6 d5 29.e5 c4! In my database the following sequence begins with the astonishing 29...Qc5 (!), which is obviously wrong. Being acquainted with the material, I think I repaired it correctly. [ 29...xg2? 30.6xd5 ] 30.g4 [ 30.d2 xg2! 31.xg2 f1+ ] 30...f6 31.6xd5!? Most probably neither a stroke of luck, nor had it been planned far ahead, but this is the best practical chance in order to save the f-pawn. exd5 32.d4 df8 33.f5 d6? [ 33...g6! Freeing the f-file and by consequence the key square on f4 for the b l a c k q u e e n . 34.h6+ ( 34.b3 c5 35.e7+ h8 36.xd5 d6! All the same! 37.e1 c7; 34.e7+ h8 35.xd5 d6 36.xf6+ xf6 37.xf6 f4; 34.d4!? Somehow, I sense White deserves to have something that complicates better than this, with the plan h4-h5, but my little German 'friend' in front of me formally disagrees with this impression and I do not see how to make it swallow its smug assurance! b5! ) 34...h8 ( 34...g7 35.g5?? ) 35.xd5 f4 36.xf4 xf4 37.xd7 a5 38.a4 xf3 39.g5 Imprisoning the Black king but xh3! 40.f7+ xf7 41.xf7 g3 42.b7 xg5 43.xb6 h5 And Black is well placed to win this race. 44.b5 f5! ] 34.e7 8f7 [ 34...6f7? 35.e6 a4 36.xd5 h8 37.xd6 ] 35.e8+ f8 36.e7 8f7 ½-½
2159
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2214 Movsesian,Sergei Kotronias,Vasilios Aeroflot Open (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2637 2572 15.02.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.c1! e6 8.e4 exd5 9.exd5 d6 [ 9...d6! Also see next time. ] 10.c4 g6!? By directly opting for a kingside fianchetto, Black tries to win time on the previous game, however... 11.e2+ d8! 12.c2 g7 13.d3 a6!? A poor position f o r t h e q u e e n 's k n i g h t i n t h i s s t r u c t u r e , compared to the Benoni one, for instance, and which is only justified by a tactical trick that will eventually turn sour - something that must have been quite difficult to estimate at the time. [ 13...e8+ 14.e2 bd7! A) 15.f4 g4 16.bc3 ( 16.0-0 e3 17.xe3 xb2 ) 16...d4; B) 15.0-0! e5 16.bc3 xd3 17.xd3 f5 ( 17...e7!? 18.g3 f8 19.f4 d7 20.ce4 xe4 21.xe4 f5 ) 18.d2! Trying to recover some harmony after the loss of the important lightsquared bishop ( 18.d1 e7 19.g3 d7 20.f4 xb2 ) 18...e7 19.b3 f8 20.b2 g8 ( 20...a5 21.g3 d7 22.f4 Hitting the thematic weakness on d6. ) 21.g3 d7 22.ce4! d8? 23.xd6 ] 14.a3 e8+ 15.e2 e7 16.bc3 f8 17.0-0 b4 18.axb4 cxb4+ 19.h1 bxc3 20.xc3 d7 21.d2 c5 22.b5 xd3 23.xd3 Reaching the critical position for the provocative 13... Na6 idea. d7 [ 23...xb2 A) 24.ab1 f5 25.b3 ( 25.h6+ g8 26.d2 h8 ) 25...e5!; B) 24.a5 e3 ( 24...c5 25.c7 g8 26.xd6 e3 27.xe3 xe3 28.c7 xa1 29.xa1 b8 30.c5 c3 31.xa7 ) 25.xe3 ( 25.b1 e5 26.f4 f5 27.a2 xa1 28.xa1 c5 29.h8+ e7 30.c3 d7; 25.d1 xa1 26.xa1 e5 27.c3 f4 28.c7 h3 ) 25...xe3 26.a2 ( 26.b6 b3 ) 26...e5 27.f4 ( 27.b6 b3 28.c7
xb6 29.xa8 b4 30.xa7 d4 ) 27...f6 No back rank mate as e1 is under control. 28.b6 ( 28.b4 f5 29.xd6+ g7 30.c5 b3 ) 28...b3 29.xa7 ( 29.xa7 d7 30.xd6 d4 ) 29...xa7 30.xa7 g4; C) 24.c3 xa1 25.xa1 e3; D) 24.a2!? f5! 25.b3 f6 26.a3 g8! 27.xd6 e7 28.b4 a5! 29.c5 ( 29.xe8 xb4 30.a4 d3 31.d1 xc4 ) 29...xd6 30.xd6 e3 31.c1 ae8; E) 24.h6+ g8 25.d2 xa1 26.xa1 f6; F) 24.ae1!! C e n t r a l p l a y . . . f5! This annoying intermediate move consistently forces the W hite queen to occupy an inferior square to a3. 25.b3 F1) 25...xe1 26.xe1 e5 27.f4 f2 28.fxe5 xd2 29.g3 dxe5 30.xe5 g8 31.d6 f6 32.e7 f8 33.h3 a5 34.xf5 gxf5 35.e3 f4 36.e6+ h8 ( 36...g7 37.g4+ h8 38.xf4 ) 37.d6 b4 38.xb4 axb4 39.b3; F2) 25...e5 26.f4 d4 ( 26...f6 27.a3 g8 28.e3 d8 29.xd6 e7 30.c5 b6 31.xe8 xc5 32.a1 Having contested the e-file actually makes a difference!) 27.b4 xe1 ( 27...c5 28.c3! g8 29.a5 xe1 30.xe1 a6 31.c7; 27...ed8 28.xd6! xd6 29.a3 ad8 30.c5 b5 31.cxd6 xd5 32.d1 ) 28.xe1 f2 ( 28...d8 29.a3 Threatening Ba5. c5 30.c3 g8 31.a5 ) 29.a1! Having eliminated an essential asse t o f t he bla ck def ense t he roo k returns to the a-file to pin Black's a-pawn a n d a u t h o r i z e t h e m o v e B a 5 . g8 ( 29...d7 30.b2 xb5 31.h8+ e7 32.xa8 xc4 33.a5 d4 34.d8# ) 30.b2 a6 31.a5 ( 31.f6 d8 ) 31...c5 ( 31...e3 32.xd6 ) 32.f6 h4 33.xh4 axb5 34.c3 xa1+ 35.xa1 c7 36.f6 f8 37.e5! ( 37.h8+ e7 38.f6+ d7 39.xh7 b6 40.xf7+ c8 41.e8+ b7 42.xb5 d3 ) 37...e8 ( 37...dxe5 38.d6 xc4 39.h8# ) 38.xd6 d8 39.e5+ d7 40.c5 e8? 41.c6+ bxc6 42.dxc6+ d8 43.c7+ ] 2160
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.a5 e3 25.xe3 xe3 26.xd6 b3 [ 26...xb2 27.ab1 a3 ( 27...b3 28.f2 b6 29.e1 ) 28.xb7 xd6 29.xd7 ] 27.c5 xb2 [ 27...e5 28.c4 xb2 29.fb1! ( 29.ab1 b5 30.d2 a3 ) 29...xa1 30.xb3 b6 31.a3! d4 32.cxb6 axb6 33.b4+ ] 28.ac1 b5 [ 28...a4 29.fe1! e5 is controlled so the king cannot approach to help stop the epawn promotion... ( 29.c6 bxc6 30.dxc6 e7 )] 29.fe1 b6 30.c6! a6? Time trouble probably. [ 30...bxa5 Was more resistant. 31.c7 d4 The king needs an escape square. ( 31...d7 32.c8+ xc8 33.e8#; 31...h6 32.c8+ xc8 33.xc8+ g7 34.b8 d2 35.d1 a6 36.xb5 g5 37.d6 xb5 38.xb5 axb5 39.d7 d8 40.e1 b4 41.e8 f6 42.d8 xd8 43.xd8 b3 44.b8 a4 45.b4 ) 32.c8+ xc8 33.xc8+ g7 34.xb5 ( 34.b8 c3 35.c1 a6 ) 34...xb5 35.d1 e5 36.c6 ( 36.d8 a4 37.d6 a3 38.d7 f6 39.c8 a2; 36.g3 d6 37.c6 b6 38.a1 b4 ) 36...b7 37.g3 W ith a probable technical win. One po ss ib ilit y: ( 37.d6 d7 38.d5 f6 ) 37...c7 38.d6 d8 39.d7 f8 40.c2 b6 41.e2 e6 42.xe6 fxe6 43.g2 e7 44.f2 a4 45.d3 And the white king crosses the d-file to take the a-pawn or support the d-pawn while there is no fortress with this altered structure if Black manages to give up both his a-pawns against the dpawn. ] 31.c7 h6 [ 31...d4 32.c3 ] 32.c8+ [ 32.c8+ xc8 33.e8+ g7 34.c3+ ] 1-0
2215 Mueller,Jan Hendrik Littlewood,Paul E 96th ch-GBR Torquay ENG (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2149 2358 29.07.2009
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6 3.c3 b6 4.b1 d5 5.e3 [ 5.xf6 exf6 6.e3 d6 ( 6...b4 7.d2 f5 8.ge2 d7 9.g3 e6 10.d3 c5?! Better was 10...g6 with equality, according to Finkel in Yevseev, D (2496)-Grechihin, V (2521) Samara 2000 1-0(42)) 7.d3 f5 8.f3 g6 ( 8...f4 9.ge2 fxe3 10.fxe3 e6 11.0-0 d7 12.f4 0-0= ) 9.ge2 e6 10.0-0 d7 11.f4 0-0 12.ce2 f6= with equal chances. Finkel, A for ChessBase. ] 5...f5 [ 5...g4 6.f3 f5 7.g4 ( 7.d3!? xd3 8.xd3 bd7 9.ge2 e5 After 9...e6, White will play e3-e4. 10.xf6 gxf6 11.0-0 0-0-0 12.b4 This is the idea: weaken the opposing king situation on the right flank so as to entice him to seek shelter on the other side and make an enhanced use of the rook on b1! ) 7...d7 8.f4 e6 9.a4 a5+ 10.c3 c5 11.xc5 xc5 12.dxc5 xc5 Was unclear after 13.d4 in Shtyrenkov, V (2435)-Gromova, I (2201) Pardubice op 2007 0-1(32), because W hite must have realized by then that he could not play the thematic ( 13.b3 c6! 14.xb7 0-0 15.g5 ab8 16.xb8 xe3+ 17.e2 xb8 18.c7 xg5 19.f4 g6 20.c1 e5 )] 6.d3 xd3 [ 6...g6!? A) 7.xf6 exf6 8.f3 White wants to play for e3-e4. ( 8.f3!? d6 9.ge2 a6 10.a3 c7 11.0-0 ) 8...a6 9.0-0 ( 9.a3!? d6 10.0-0 c7 11.e1 0-0 12.xg6 hxg6 13.e4 ) 9...b4 ( 9...f5? 10.h4 ) 10.xg6 hxg6 11.a3 a6 12.e4 dxe4 13.xe4 0-0-0; B) 7.f3 bd7 8.0-0 e6 9.e2 ( 9.f4!? ) 9...d6 10.xf6!? ( 10.e4 dxe4 11.xe4 xe4 12.xe4 xe4 13.xe4= ) 10...gxf6!? Gonzalez Velez, F (2375)-Cano Sanchez, J (2361) Barcelona 2000 ( 10...xf6= )] 2161
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7.cxd3 bd7 8.f3 e6 9.0-0 h6 10.f4 e7 [ 10...a5 11.a4 Followed by the same white moves: h3, Qc2, Rfc1 etc. ] 11.b4! It is because of this possibility that 4. Rb 1 o p p o s it e t h e Q b 6 lo o ks like a m o r e appropriate solution than the gambit... 0-0 12.h3 [ 12.a4! ] 12...fc8 [ 12...a5! Similarly, Black should prevent the strong idea Na4-c5 as soon as possible. 13.b5 c5 14.a4 a7 15.dxc5 ( 15.b6 a6 16.c2 cxd4 17.xd4 fc8 18.c7 e8 19.b5 ) 15...xc5 16.b6 a6 17.xc5 xc5 18.c7 ( 18.c2 ac8 19.fc1 xe3 )] 13.e2?! Too much preparation when in any case it is clear that the white queen should not move away from the scene of action: the queenside! [ 13.a4! a6 ( 13...d8 14.c5 ) 14.c5 ( 14.b3!? ) 14...xc5 15.bxc5 b6 ( 15...b5 16.a4 ) 16.c2 ] 13...d8 14.fc1?! [ 14.a4 a5 15.b5 c5 ] 14...f8 15.a4? [ 15.a3 still would have kept the balance, with the idea a5 ( 15...b5 ) 16.bxa5 xa3 17.c2 a7 18.a2= ] 15...xb4 16.c5 xc5 17.dxc5 xc5 18.d4 ce4 19.xb7 c5 As a result of his 'combination', W hite has given a pawn for almost nothing and quickly collapses. 20.e5 d6 21.d7 xd7 22.xd7 c4?! [ 22...e4 23.f3 f6 24.b7 cxd4 ] 23.xc4? missing the unique opportunity: [ 23.b1! cxd4 ( 23...b6 24.d6 e8 25.e7 c6 26.dxc5 ) 24.exd4 b6 25.d6 e8 26.e7 c6 ( 26...a4 27.h5 f8 28.c7 xa2 29.bc1 c4 ) 27.f3 f8 28.g3 c2 29.e1 c8 ( 29...c4 30.1xe6 xd6 31.xd6 xa2 32.f3 ) 30.e5 h7 31.b7 ] 23...dxc4 24.d6 e8 25.e7 c6 26.h5 f8 27.e5 e4 28.h2 c3 29.d5 g6 30.f3 xe3 31.xf7 gxh5 0-1
2216 Nabaty,Tamir Loncar,Robert Zagreb Open (3.2) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2586 2358 19.03.2014
1.d4 f6 2.f4 [ 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 f6 5.dxc5 a5+ 6.c3 xc5 7.e4 d6 8.d2 may just look like a random Tromp insertion, but see what follows... ] 2...c5 The critical test of White's early bishop d e v e l o p m e n t i n m y v i e w . 3.dxc5!? Rapport tried this idea earlier this year. It does avoid theory and works well in our main game, but surely can't lead to any advantage. a5+ [ Eric pointed out that 3...e6 can be met by 4.d6 , ] [ as well as that 3...a6! is the critical move. Unsurprisingly this was seen in Rapport-Giri, W ijk aan Zee 2014, where 4.d4 a5+ 5.c3 ( criticised by Eric he considered 5.c3 xc5 6.e3 in his notes to DornerPhilipowski, German League 2004, where h e s h o w e d t h a t a5!? 7.f3 d6 wa s on e rou t e to co mf ort ab le e qua lit y) 5...xc5 6.d2 ( 6.b4? e6 7.c4 d8 is not really what White wants to be doing t h a t p a wn o n b 4 s t i c k s o u t l i k e a s o r e thumb ) 6...e6!? ( 6...b6 is good enough for equality in Eric's view and I can't disagree, or fault Giri's choice here the move is underpinned by the line 7.b4?! ce4 8.xb6 axb6 9.b5 a4 when again W hite finds himself overextended on the queenside ) 7.h4 g5! (and why not?) 8.g3 d5 ( 8...g7 might be even better when 9.0-0-0 d5!? is a possibility after 10.xd5 xd5 the g7-bishop is defended, so White must attend to the defence of a2 with 11.b1 ) 9.e4!? ( unsurprisingly Rapport finds a more creative and ch a ll e n gi n g ch o i ce t h a n 9.e3 ) 9...d4 10.b5+ d7 11.xd7+ xd7 12.d5 c5 with an unusual, roughly level position before Rapport really went for it with 13.f3!? xc2 14.0-0 xe4 15.c7+ xc7 16.fe1 d5 17.xc7 . ] 4.d2 [ I t h i n k I wo u ld h a ve p r e f e rr e d 4.c3!? 2162
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to cut out the possibility in the next note, and if e6 5.a3 xc5 6.e4 . ] 4...xc5!? [ The Croatian Grandmaster wants to take play into Sicilian-like waters, but this was a slightly risky course. Safer was 4...xd2+ 5.xd2 a6 6.b3 e4 with easy equality. ] 5.c3 d6 6.e4 In comparison with the Trompowsky position, W hite is without the move f2-f3. However, in both cases I rather like W hite. He has easy development and Black's queen is misplaced on c5. e6?! [ 6...g6! looks like the right course, since it's hard to believe White can avoid an early f2f3 and cause Black problems. Then, at least for Black, the first player finds himself a move down on the Tromp version. ] [ Instead, 6...e6?! 7.0-0-0 would be excellent for White, but the rather artificial text also fails to convince. ] 7.f3 a6 8.0-0-0 bd7 Loncar has in mind an early queenside initiative with ...Rc8, ... Qa5 and maybe ...b5, but W hite can strike first. 9.g5! g6 [ 9...c4 was the alternative, but after 10.e3 c7 11.f4 b5 12.b1 White's development must surely count for quite a lot. ] 10.xe6 fxe6 11.g3! Borrowing a motif from the Dragon. Black's doubled e-pawns do control a number of important squares, but e6 wo n ' t b e e s p e c ia l ly e a s y t o d e f e n d . g7 12.h3 f7 [ 12...e5?! 13.e3 c4 14.f3 0-0 15.b1 is pretty dis gusting f or B lack, with Nd 5 coming, after which White will dominate the light squares. ] [ However, 12...h5!? very much came into consideration, and if 13.e2 ( 13.xe6 xf4 14.gxf4 xc3 15.xc3?! xc3 16.bxc3 c5 17.d5 f8 would be excellent for Black) 13...xf4 14.xf4 e5 15.d3 b5 16.xe6 c5 17.b3 xb3+ 18.cxb3 0-0 with some, if likely not quite enough, play for the pawn thanks to that unopposed Dragon bishop. ] 13.e3 a5?! [ Loncar wants to attack, but he should have first driven back the annoying bishop with 13...h5 . ]
14.f4 hc8 15.d4 [ Hardly terrible, but 15.e5! would just have been pretty strong. The main point is the q u i e t f o l l o w - u p dxe5 16.hf1 when ( the more direct 16.he1!? also looks quite good ) 16...exf4 17.xf4 c5 18.e3 leaves W hite in control of the position, if without an immediate kill. ] 15...c4? [ Hopelessly underestimating the coming danger. Black h ad to play the thematic ' s a c r i f i c e ' 15...xc3! 16.xc3 xa2 w h e n , s a y , 17.d3 ( 17.a3! xa3 18.bxa3 xe4! 19.xe6+! xe6 20.xg7 is likely the critical line after dc5 21.he1 f7 22.d4 c8 Black has only a pawn for the exchange, but his position is compact and W hite shouldn't find it easy to make progress ) 17...c8 18.de1 c5 would have given him good counterplay. ] 16.e5! dxe5 [ 16...d5 17.xd5 xd5 18.b3 cc8 19.exd6 xd4 20.xd4 xd4 21.xd4 would also have left the Israeli Grandmaster well on the path to victory. ] 17.fxe5 xe5 18.e2 fd7 The only try, but clearly Black's position hangs together by a thread. 19.e4!? xa2? [ Losing and I dare say that Loncar will play many better games. He simply had to cover the g5-square with 19...f6 when 20.b1 (there's no need to hurry) ac8 21.c3 followed by Bg2 and h4-h5 would have left White in complete control, but Black clinging on for the time being. ] 20.xe6+! e8 [ 20...xe6 21.g5+ leaves the black king without a good square, as it's mate after f6 22.f1+! xg5 23.f4+ h5 24.h4# . ] 21.xd7+ xd7 22.d6+ Winning the house. f8 23.xc4 1-0
2163
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 When the White knight on f5 will dominate the position. ) 32...b5 33.e2; B) 27...h5 Was a critical continuation where it is not easy for White to regroup, in order to take advantage of the f5 square, for instance B1) 28.e2 f4 29.xf4 gxf4 30.f2 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 ( 30.d2 g4 31.f2 d7 32.xf4? 5.d2 b6 6.e4 e5 7.f4 d6 8.f3 bd7 exf4 33.e5+ f5 ) 30...b8 31.d2 f5; 9.fxe5 dxe5 10.c4 d8 B2) 28.g3 g7 A good prophylactic move the idea of which B2a) 29.d2! was probably best then. may have occurred during the game he played W h it e ca n p la y 'slo wly' b e t t in g o n in the round in between! In the space of 3 p o s i t i o n a l c o m p e n s a t i o n . f5?! consecutives rounds with the same colour, to ( 29...g8 After which the position is play the same, sharp, non mainstream unclear. 30.bf1 h3 This is a va ria t io n e ve ry t im e m u st b e a n a ll t im e drawback of having played g3 to guard record! 11.b1 d6 12.0-0 the f4 square. 31.1f2? b5 32.axb5 [ 12.b5? xe4 13.e2 df6 ] axb5 33.xb5 a1+ ) 30.exf5 xf5 12...0-0 13.g5 h6 14.h4 a6 15.a4 a5 31.e4; 16.e1 B2b) 29.d1 f5! 30.exf5? e4! [ 16.d3 h5 17.e2 f4 ] 31.xe4 e8 32.d3 xe1+ 33.f2 16...d8 17.h4 It is not clear what Black e5 34.f6+ f5 ( 34...f5 35.xb7! would have done if his opponent had repeated xd3 36.xg7+ h8 37.xd3 ) 35.g4 the moves as it is quite difficult for him to find xf6 36.e3 b5! 37.axb5 axb5 an enterprising plan in order to make use of 38.xb5 ( 38.xb5 xe3 39.xe3 his extra material. See the general comment d4 40.gxf5 h4+ 41.g2 ) on the overall estimation of the line in the 38...xe3! 39.xe3 c4 40.e4 p r e v i o u s g a m e , wh i c h wa s , b y t h e wa y, c5-+ ] completely conf irmed by Nijboer himself , (a lt h o u g h m o r e c ir cu m s p e c t l y, a n d le s s 26...h5 27.e3 b8 28.bf1 f6 29.d2 30.h4? The slack move in all its enthusiastically than me, from Black's point of g5 view!), when I spoke with him in July at the splendour! It is so 'natural' in this structure, famous chess camping site La Rochade... and with the h6-pawn in the line of fire. This is on top of this I just saw today, as I was about typical of a casual strategical consideration to send this (late...) August update off, an colliding with practical play. g4 31.3f2 [ 31.f5 g3! ] article written in black and white in the last White will suffer unbearable material N I C y e a r b o o k 7 1 , b y t h e s a m e p e r s o n , 31...f5! comforting my analysis!! e8 The square h4 loss just to avoid getting mated... 32.exf5 has been freed for the knight to head for f5 but, This capture leads to a more 'severe' one. g3 in return, the f6-knight has been liberated 33.f3 xh4 34.e1 xc4? [ 34...xf5! The opening of the f-file is from the pin along the h4-d8 diagonal, and absolutely lethal for White. 35.d3 ( 35.e2 can head for d6. 18.f5 df6 19.e3 e7 e4 ) 35...xd3 36.xd3+ g7 20.g3 d6 21.d3 d7 22.f5 h7 A) 37.e2 h2+ 38.f1 xf3+ 39.gxf3 23.f3 g6 24.xd6 xd6 25.f2 f6 f4! S p e c t a c u l a r w h e n ( 39...h1+ 26.h3 40.g1 f4 41.e3 g2+ 42.e1 h3 [ 26.h4 g5 ( 26...e7? 27.d6 ) 27.e1 43.d2 xg1 Makes Black emerge A) 27...e8!? 28.e2 e7 29.c3 f6 prosaically from the attack with a rook and 30.a5 d6 31.g3 Here again White has a piece more!) 40.xh2 ( 40.xf4 h1# ) excellent compensation. d7 32.f1 40...gxh2 41.xf4 h1+; Fritz even gives the surprising positional B) 37.e4 h2+ 38.f1 h1+ 39.g1 e x c h a n g e s a c r i f i c e . ( 32.b6 b5 xf3+ 40.gxf3 ( 40.xf3 f8 ) 40...f4 33.xd6!? xd6 34.xb5 axb5 35.xb5 2217 Nakamura,Hikaru Nijboer,Friso GMB Wijk aan Zee NED (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2571 2586 18.01.2004
2164
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 The simple move W hite may have forgotten. His bishop is not there anymore to guard this square and Qg2+ will win the house. ] 35.xh6 xf5 36.xf8 xf8 37.g5 g6?? Heavy time trouble undoubtedly... [ 37...d4+! 38.h1 g6-+ ( 38...g7; 38...g4-+ ) 39.e4 xf3! 40.gxf3 f2 ] 38.e4!! An unbelievable surprise! The black queen is trapped!! f5 [ 38...xe4 39.xh5+ g7 40.xg3+ f6 41.h6+ e7 ( 41...f5 42.g5# ) 42.g7+ f7 ( 42...e8 43.e6+ d8 44.d7# ) 43.e6+ d8 44.xd6+ c8 45.g8+ f8 46.xf8# ] 39.xf5 [ 39.xf5 xc3 40.g4 e1+ 41.f1 is even 'stronger'. ] 39...xf5 40.xc4 f4 41.e4 f8 42.xg3 d7 43.h5! 1-0
2218 Nakamura,Hikaru Polgar,Judit Super Sixteen, London rapid (6.1) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2786 2693 13.12.2013
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 [ Another recent high-level rapid game saw instead 3...c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 e6!? ( this advance continues to gain some support at the cost of the traditional main line, 6...b6 ) 7.e4 exd5 8.exd5 d6 . Here we've tended to focus on the main move, A) Instead, Grischuk-Giri, Beijing (rapid) 2013, continued 9.a3 e7 10.e2!? ( a new move for us previously, we've n o t e d t h a t 10.c4 d8 11.a4 0-0 12.e2 e8 13.f2 a6 14.c1?! c7 15.e3 f8! left Black slightly for choice in Stips-Korneev, Porto San Giorgio 2011 it's notable how Grischuk refrains from driving the black queen back, instead preferring to focus on the other flank) 10...h5 ( being a rapid game, Giri is keen to seize the initiative and he may also have realised that 10...b5 11.g4 0-0 12.g3 leaves White will placed on both
th e kingsid e a n d t o re a ct t o e it h e r o f Black's queenside advances; however, 10...0-0!? 11.g4 d8 12.g3 e8 might be the critical test of Grischuk's idea when one important line runs 13.f2 a6 14.c4 b5 15.e3 and while the knight should be happy on e3 here it permits g5!? , and if 16.xg5 xg4+ 17.fxg4 xg5 ) 11.e3 0-0 12.g4! ( a new move and a stronger plan than the previously played 12.c4 d8 13.a4 ) 12...h4+ 13.f2 xf2+ 14.xf2 f6 15.g3 (Black has e xc h a n g e d o f f a p o t e n t i a l l y p r o b l e m bishop, but lacks counterplay, partly due to the excellent defensive work performed by the knight on a3 Giri now sacrifices a pawn for some activity) c4?! 16.xc4 c5+ 17.d4 ( 17.e3 looks even stronger, and if e8 only then 18.d4 ) 17...xd5 18.xc5 dxc5 19.d1 e6 20.e4 and W hite was pressing, eventually winning on move 60.; B) 9.d2 , most recently in Palliser-A. Zhigalko, European Club Cup, Rhodes 2013. ] 4.e3 c5 5.d3 c6?! [ Polgar didn't appear too well prepared in London. She had played the text before, but there's a reason why pretty much every other GM has abandoned the move, in large part for 5...f6 . ] 6.xe4 dxe4 7.d5 e5 [ P r a c t i c e h a s a l s o s h o w n t h a t 7...b4 8.c3 e6 9.d6! is in White's favour. ] 8.g3 e7 9.c3 f6 [ A new try for the former top-ten player and nowadays acclaimed author. Previously 9...g6 h a d b e e n w e l l m e t b y 10.h4! in Radjabov-Polgar, Benidorm (rapid) 2003 see Eric's notes in the Archive. ] 10.d2?! [ A natural enough move, but one would have expected the world no.3 to know about 10.h5+! g6 11.0-0-0 , which is just very strong, as shown by Eric's notes to K.BergNavara, Morso 2002, and mine to LaznickaHuzman, European Club Cup, Eilat 2012. ] 10...f5 11.f3 [ Freeing the g3-bishop to an extent and undermining the cramping pawn on e4, but W h i t e m i g h t h a v e p r e f e r r e d 11.0-0-0!? 2165
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 , and if c8 12.f4 , gaining a move over the game, albeit at the cost of committing the king to a side of the board where it might be attacked. ] [ Note too that 11.d6? c8 would just drop a pawn for insufficient compensation. ] 11...c8! [ This pawn sacrifice is a novelty, but it makes excellent sense. Instead, 11...exf3 12.xf3 c8 13.e4 g6 14.0-0 looks quite pleasant for White, with Nh4 and Qe2-g4 one plan. ] 12.f4! [ Nakamura really is determined to free his bishop. White can cling on to an extra pawn with something like 12.fxe4 g6 13.h3 d6 14.f2 , b u t a f t e r b5 Black is for choice: not only is e4 a problem, but White is devoid of a good plan and has a rather unhappy bishop. ] 12...exf4 13.xf4 d6 [ Watching live at Olympia I rather liked the idea of 13...h5!? , gaining some useful space and making it hard for W hite to go Ne2-g3. ] 14.ge2 c4 A bit sub-optimal, but necessary if Black wanted to maintain the pawn on e4 while completing her development. 15.c1 d6 [ Facilitating castling, but Polgar has got away without completing development thus far and might have continued in that vein with 15...g4!? . The idea is that d5 is as weak as e4 and, unfortunately for W hite, 16.g3? runs into g5 . ] 16.0-0 g6 17.g3 e7?! [ Nakamura had played the last few moves pretty quickly, as is his wont, and I'm sure th at wit h m ore t im e P o lgar wo u ld ha ve found something better. Pushing the f-pawn looks pretty sensible and there was also 17...xf4 18.xf4 d6 , although after 19.d2 e7 20.e2 White should be slightly for choice, since h4-h5 is very much an idea. ] 18.b3! Prodding the knight at the most opportune moment. e5 [ The best try. Black might like to go 18...b6 , but af ter 19.f5! xf5 20.xd6 xd6 21.xf5 White will safely bag the e4-pawn, since e7 can be met by 22.f4 . ]
19.xe5 xe5 20.cxe4 [ Going for the extra pawn makes a lot of se n se , a lt h o u g h 20.ce2 d6 21.c4 would also have left White doing pretty well on the positional front, with a queenside advance one plan. ] 20...b6 21.xc5 xd5 22.d3 xd3 23.cxd3 0-0 Of course, the e-pawn was immune, but now at last Polgar is castled. Moreover, her centralised pieces exert a fair amount of pressure and it isn't so easy for Nakamura to realise his extra pawn. 24.e4?! [ Too ambitious, but perhaps the American superstar was either over confident or just not in th e mo od t o play h avin g alre ad y qualified for the quarter-finals. Here 24.e1 followed by Qd2 would have been somewhat more circumspect. ] 24...d4+ 25.h1 ac8 26.d2 [ Now Black's queen and knight team generate some threats to the white king, but in the case of 26.f5 xc1 27.xd4 xf1+ 28.xf1 b4 Polgar would have regained her pawn with full equality. ] 26...e3 27.fc1 g4 28.h3?! [ Whether this was a rare outright blunder or just Nakamura trying too hard isn't clear. W h a t is cle a r is t h a t o b je ct ive ly W h it e sh o u ld h a ve se t t le d f o r 28.f5 f2+ 29.g1 h3+ 30.h1 f2+ with a draw by repetition. ] 28...xd3! 29.f4 e3 30.xe3 xe3 31.xc8 xc8 32.e1 c3 Suddenly it's Black who is the one pressing. Now W hite should have offered a trade of knights on f5, but instead committed a second oversight. 33.e5? c2 34.c1 [ Better to pin than to play the pawn-down knight ending which would have arisen after 34.e4 xe1 35.xc3 fxe5 . ] 34...fxe5 35.f5 b5 36.e3! A good recovery from Nakamura. Due to the position of Black's rook in front of the e-pawn, Polgar will struggle to shield her queenside p a wn s f r o m a t t a c k a n d W h i t e c a n d r a w without too much trouble. xe3 37.xc2 e1+ 38.h2 a1 39.g3 [ Now Black's pawns live, but presumably Nakamura wasn't too sure about 39.c8+ f7 40.c7+ f6 41.xa7 e4 42.g3 e5 , although this does just seem to be a 2166
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 draw after, say, 43.xg7 xa2 44.xh7 b2 45.h5+ d4 46.xb5 e3 47.b7 b1 48.f3 . ] 39...a5 40.c5 xa2 [ I'm not convinced that this rook ending was terribly well played, but then again it was a rapid game. Here 40...a4!? 41.xb5 ( or 41.bxa4 bxa4 42.c2 f7 ) 41...a3 42.xe5 xa2 43.b4 b2 44.a5 b3+ 45.f2 f7 would still have left Black with some chances to press. ] 41.xb5 a3 42.f2?! [ And here White might have drawn by force: 42.g4! e4 43.f4 e3 44.f3 f7 45.e5 and by evading the tactics along the third rank, W hite picks off the extra black pawn. ] 42...e4 43.b4 a4 44.e5 [ Easy to criticise, but the damage had already been done, as shown by 44.a5 f7 45.b5 e6 46.b6 d6 47.a7 c6 and Black's passed pawns carry much the greater threat. ] 44...e3+ [ Maintaining the pawn as White can hardly enter a pawn ending, but one might also make a decent case for 44...f7!? 45.xe4 b3 . ] 45.f3 b3 46.b5? [ A further error. Indeed, 46.a5 xb4 47.xe3 should be a pretty easy draw for someone of Nakamura's level. ] 46...a3? [ Returning the favour. Based on another small tactic along the third rank, 46...f7! 47.xe3 xb5 would have prevented White from getting his rook behind the a-pawn and so retained good winning chances. ] 47.e8+ f7 48.a8 Suddenly the draw becomes clear as White is just going to push his b-pawn. f6 49.b6 g5 50.a5+ f6 51.b7 xb7 52.xa3 h5 ½-½
2219 Narciso Dublan,Marc Pereira Figueroa,Manuel XXXIII Open Sevilla ESP (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2513 2181 09.01.2008
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 f5!? 8.xb8 Trying to keep the bishop is evidently unplayable for White: [ 8.xd4 c6 9.d2 e5 10.g3 d5 11.e3 e7 12.d3 e6 13.e2 0-0 14.0-0 h5 15.e4 dxe4 16.fxe4 g6 17.h1 g4 18.f2 fd8 19.e3 ac8 20.ae1 c7 21.f2 cd7 22.bc1 h4 0-1 Mamedjarova, Z (2298)-Cramling, P (2470) OlW Istanbul 2003 ] 8...xb8 9.xd4 b6 10.e4 g6? To play this line as Black however, you need to b e co nsciou s (o r n ot f righ te ne d, a f t e r wo r k i n g t h i n g s o u t , i f y o u d i s c o ve r t h i s position over the board for the 1st time...) that over the next few moves you will have to put almost all your pieces back in their starting positions, as in the next game! 11.e5 g8 12.0-0-0 A move I had mentioned as simpler than 12.Nh3 at the time. h6? [ 12...c6 13.h3 e6 14.g5 f6 15.e4 e7 ] 13.b5 e6 [ 13...b7 14.a6 f5 15.d2 c6 16.xb7+- ] 14.h3 f5 15.d3! [ 15.d2 g6 16.f4 h6 ] 15...g5? [ 15...g6 16.f4 h6 17.g4 h4 18.g3 ] [ After the only move that did not lose on the spot 15...h4! White would have had to show his attacking skills. 16.d4 ( 16.f4 f5 17.d4 g6; 16.g3? xh3; 16.g4 g6 17.b1 h6 18.d4 d5 19.c4 b7 ) A) 16...h6+ 17.f4 a6 ( 17...xg2 18.f5 e6 19.g5 xf4 20.e4 ) 18.xa6 ( 18.c6 Probably wins too, in any case at least an exchange after dxc6 19.xc6 f6 20.xb8 ) 18...g6 19.xc8 xd3 20.xd7+ xd7 21.xd3 xg2 22.g1 h4 23.f5+; B) 16...xe5 17.c6; C) 16...d5 17.e6! fxe6 18.f4 d6 ( 18...e5 19.dxe6; 18...xa2 2167
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 19.dxe6 b7 20.he1 a6 21.c6 a7 22.e4! It is the first time in my life that I see BOTH pawns d7 and e7 being the targets of a mating attack with the black king stuck in the centre! dxc6 23.d8+ f7 24.xc8; 18...b7 19.dxe6 a6 20.xa6 xa6 21.c7+ ) 19.fxe6 g6 ( 19...a6 20.c4 axb5 21.c7+ d8 22.de6+ dxe6 23.xb5 b7 O t h e r w i s e R x d 6 + a n d Q c 7 + 24.xh4; 19...xg2 20.c4 f4 21.c7+ d8 22.c6+ dxc6 23.xc6 e2+ 24.b1 f5+ 25.a1 c8 26.xd6+ exd6 27.d1 xc7 28.e8# ) 20.c4 h6+ 21.b1 xg2 22.f5 xd1+ 23.xd1 gxf5 24.xd7+ xd7 25.c7+ f8 ( 25...d8 26.c6 ) 26.xd7 ] 16.f4! h6 [ 16...gxf4 17.g5 ] [ 16...h6 17.fxg5 g7 18.hf1! One should not miss such improvements of t h e p o s i t i o n f o r f r e e . ( 18.f4 xe5 19.xd7+ f8 20.xc8 xf4+ 21.b1 d6! A m i r a c l e !) 18...h4 19.c4 The elegant finish for those who enjoy easy ca lc u la t in g. ( 19.f4 g4 20.h3 f5 21.xf5 xf5 22.h5 is normally enough to make a majority of players stop here. e3 23.xg7+ f8 24.f5 xf1 25.xf1 ) 19...xe5 20.xf7+ d8 ( 20...f8 21.g3 ) 21.d4 c7 22.fe1 A) 22...a5 23.b5+ d8 ( 23...b7 24.d5+ a6 25.c7# ) 24.f4; B) 22...c5 23.b4 Whoops... d6 24.b5+ ] 17.g4 1-0
subject to caution. [ 7.xf6 gxf6 8.xf6 g8 9.h4 h6 ( 9...g7 10.xh7 e7 11.d3 xc3 12.xc3 xa2 13.a3 ) 10.e3 g7 11.ge2 ] 7...a6 8.f3 b5 9.d2 e7 Now Nd4 is impossible. 10.b3 b6 11.d5!? exd5 12.exd5 0-0 [ 12...e5! 13.d6 g6 ( 13...d8 14.e1 xd6 15.f4 ) 14.b4 winning back the piece. a5! ( 14...d8? 15.xf6 xf6 16.e4+ e5 17.xa8 ) 15.e1 ( 15.xb5 xb5 16.xb5 h6 ) 15...a4 16.a1 ( 16.d4 xd6 ) 16...0-0 ( 16...a3 17.b4 ) 17.dxe7 e8 ] 13.dxc6 dxc6 It seems that Black has equalized... 14.d3 h6 15.e3 c5 16.b4!! cxb4 17.xb6 b7 [ 17...e6 18.d4! ( 18.he1 fe8 ) 18...xa2 19.f5 d8 20.xd8 axd8 21.b3 ] 18.he1 fe8 19.d4 xg2? [ 19...ad8 20.f3 ] 20.xe7! xe7 21.xf6 gxf6 22.g1 f8 23.xg2 e1+ 24.d2 b1 25.d4 [ 25.a3! a5 26.axb4 a4 27.d4 xb2 28.g1! ( 28.c6 a6!! 29.xb5 a3! 30.xa6 a2 31.g1 b1 ) 28...xb4? 29.c3 ] 25...xb2 26.h7 e7 [ 26...a7? 27.c6 d7+ 28.c1 xa2 29.g8# ] 27.e4 c8? [ 27...d8! 28.e3 d6 And Black has good chances to hold. ] 28.d5! The problem with doubled pawns is that sometimes they count as one. c5 [ 28...a5? 29.c1 ] 29.b3 b1 30.g7 a5 31.xf7+ d6 2220 A45 32.f4! a4 33.xf6+ e7 34.f7+ d6 Nataf,Igor Alexandre 2340 35.e6 h5 36.h3 Everything is defended. Conquest,Stuart 2520 The game is over. c5 37.d7 f1 38.f5 [ 38.e3! e1+ 39.f3 Simple and chT FRA 1995 decisive. ] [Eric Prié] 38...xh3 39.d5+ c4? [ 39...b6 40.xb5+ c7 41.xb4 f2+ 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 42.e1! g2 ( 42...f4? 43.b5+ ) 43.e2 c6 5.h4 a5 6.0-0-0 e6?! 7.e4 h1+ 44.d2 hh2 45.e4 f2 ( 45...h5 It looks dangerous to grab the pawn and open 46.f6 ) 46.d3 h5 47.c4+ d6 48.d4+the long diagonal for the powerful Black darkh4? 49.e4 h3 50.c6+ e7 51.e5 squared bishop, but if you look at it "coolly", e2+ 52.xe2 xe2+ 53.f4 h2 54.c7+ "from the outside", this conception appears 2168
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f6 55.h7 ] 40.e2 b3 41.a3 1-0
2221 Negulescu,Adrian Istrate,Bogdan ch-ROM Lasi ROM (3) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2440 2277 15.12.1999
JANUARY UPDATE: TROMPOW SKY ATTACK: The following game features the unusual 2.. .d6. White can possibly try a pure Tromp approach with 3.Bxf6, but it makes sense to go for a quick e4, as Black is unlikely to react with d5. In this game, Black is severely punished for overambitious play. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 d6 An unusual response to the Tromp, but not one that is likely to leave White quaking in his boots. Black is trying to avoid even the small amount of theory that exists on the Tromp. 3.c3 A sensible follow up, preparing the central pawn push e4. g6 4.d2 h6 5.f4 bd7 6.e4 e5 If Black was relying on this central break to give him an easy equality, he was sadly mistaken. 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.g3 h5 Very ambitious. Black bags the bishop pair but loses valuable time in the process. 9.0-0-0 xg3 10.hxg3 c6 11.f3 a5 This counterattacking gesture on the queenside lacks any real bite and the queen would have been better off looking after her king. 12.c4 g7 13.b1 A useful waiting m o v e t h a t s e t s a d e v i o u s t r a p . c5 What else? [ The natural 13...0-0 falls foul of the simple 14.xh6 When the Black position is in it's final death throes. ] 14.d6 Highlights the fact that Black's king is hardly saf e in the center! e6 15.d5 Cru n c h ! A b o ne cru she r o f a m o ve . cxd5 16.xd5 f8 Otherwise Bb5+ is crushing. 17.xe5 c7 18.b5+ e7 19.xh8 The dust has settled. W hite is left a clear exchange and pawn up, with the safer king. a6 20.a4 b5 21.b3 g7 22.h7 b7 Threatening both Bxd5 and Rh8, winning the queen. 23.d4! White demonstrates that he is up to the task and leaves Black with no hope of salvation. f8
[ 23...xd5 24.exd5 xd4 25.xg7 Black is totally def enceless against the threat of Re1+. ] 24.xe6+ fxe6 25.h4 g5 26.f5+ The body blows continue to reign down on Black and he could already resign with a clear conscience. exf5 27.g8+ e7 28.xg7+ d8 29.g8+ 29...Ke7 30.Qe6+ followed by Rxh6 is decisive, so Black, not before time threw in the towel. 1-0
2222 Neihs,Harald Cvitan,Ognjen Oberwart op (1) [Eric Prié]
A45 2550 1993
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 e6 In Informator 42, back in 1986, this move was a novelty that was even granted with an exclamation mark! Since then, we h a ve s e e n t h a t 6 . . . Q b 6 , f i r s t d r iv i n g White's light-squared bishop from the b8-h2 diagonal was probably better, see further. 7.e4 exd5 8.exd5 d6 9.e2+?! e7! The point of Black's strategy. It must have taken some time of analysis to check that 8...d6 was not refuted (somehow if Black has to play 9...Kd8) by a simple check! 10.xd6 White asks 'to pay' to see, otherwise Black will simply castle followed by ...Re8. xd5 11.e5 [ 11.xb8 Winning a piece, as in the next game, is the 'main' critical test for the line. ] 11...c6 12.xd5 [ 12.xg7 f6 13.h6 e6! ( 13...xc3 14.d2 d5 15.c4; 13...b6 14.d2 e6 15.a3 e3 16.xe3 xb2; 13...f5!? 14.d2 e6 with the idea. 15.a3 xc3 16.bxc3 xa3 ) 14.c4 ( 14.d2 0-0-0 15.c4 xc3+ ) 14...0-0-0 15.xd5 xd5 16.xf6 he8+ 17.f2 b6! 18.b3 c4+ 19.f1 ( 19.g3 g8+ 20.h3 e6+ 21.g4 f2 ) 19...cxb3 20.axb3 c4+!! 21.bxc4 b2 22.f5+ e6-+ ] 12...e6! The first point, Black wins the piece back. 13.xc5 [ 13.d2 0-0-0 14.b4 cxb4 15.cxb4 h5 ] 13...xc5 14.xc5 xc5 15.b5 2169
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 15.d2 0-0-0 Kogan, B-Wilder,M USA (ch) 1986 It is just a fragment in Inf 42. Possibly W hite even played 16.Bb5 here when it transposes into our main game. If 16.0-0-0 xa2 Of course. 17.b3? e3-+ ] 15...0-0-0 16.d2 [ 16.e2 e5 17.d2 a6 ] 16...e3! With those gaping holes on dark squares in the enemy camp, Black can hope for more than [ 16...f2+ 17.xf2 xd2+ 18.e2 xb2 ] 17.c4 [ 17.0-0-0? xd2 The 'good old' standard combination. 18.xd2 d8 ] 17...xc4 18.xc4 he8! 19.e2 d2 20.b4 [ 20.xf7 e7 21.c4 ( 21.b3 h6 22.c4 e5 23.b5 xb2 24.a4 a6 ) 21...e5 22.b5 a6 23.a4 ( 23.f4 g4 24.c4 b5 25.h3 bxc4 26.hxg4 xf4 27.0-0 e3+ 28.h2 xe2 ) 23...d3+ 24.f1 b6 25.d1 f2 26.e1 xb2 The house of cards crumbles. ] 20...e5 21.b5 e7 [ 21...ed8 defending the Rd2. 22.h3 ( 22.f4 g4 23.h3 f2+ 24.f1 d1+ 25.xd1 xd1# ) 22...a6 23.f4 axb5 24.fxe5 c2! 25.g3 ( 25.d1 xd1+ 26.xd1 d2+ 27.e1 xa2; 25.g4 dd2 26.h2 f4 27.g2 xe5; 25.f1 dd2 26.d4 xd4 27.cxd4 e2+ 28.d1 cd2+ 29.c1 xd4-+ ) 25...dd2 26.h2 d5 ] 22.f4 g4? [ 22...a6 23.fxe5 axb5 24.f1 xe5 ] [ But 22...g6! 23.d1 To secure the d3 square f or the b ishop which abso lutely needs to stay on the a6-f1 diagonal ( 23.f1 xf4; 23.g3 a6 ) 23...xa2 24.g3 xf4! 25.gxf4 xf4 26.c4 ( 26.d2 g2+ 27.d1 e3+ 28.e1 a1+ 29.f2 xh1 ) 26...b2-+ ] 23.h3 f6 24.f1 a6 25.f3! b2 Unless White lost on time at this stage, which is not mentioned in the record of the game, the rest is unavailable. Indeed, he has considerably improved his chances after 26. Bc4 ready to evacuate the e-file via f1 and without fearing 26...b5 27.Bd3 Rd2?? because of 28.Rxe3! Rxe3 29.Kxd2 - the idea behind 25.Rf3! 0-1
2223 Neuillet,Alexandre Bellon Lopez,Juan Manuel chT FRA (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2210 2447 1999
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 e5 7.b1 d8 8.f4 d6 [ 8...exf4? 9.e5 of course. ] 9.f3 exf4 A double-edged move which looks quite playable. The opening of the position presents White with a larger 'tactical space' but, in return, offers Black better perspectives to develop his game and use his extra-pawn if he manages to survive the initiative. 10.xf4 [ 10.b5+!? seems critical bd7 11.xf4 A) 11...a6 12.xd7+ xd7 13.0-0 e7 14.e5 dxe5 ( 14...xe5 15.xe5 dxe5! 16.xe5 0-0 17.d6 ) 15.xe5 0-0 16.d6 f6 17.xd7 xd7 18.d5 d4+ 19.h1 b5 20.c3 f6 21.e3 ( 21.g3 g5 ) 21...e5 22.e7+! ( 22.xc5 h4 ) 22...h8 23.xc5 xc3 24.b3 e5 ( 24...f6? 25.xf6! gxf6 26.d4 g7 27.g3+ h6 28.h4+ g7 29.xf6# ) 25.xf7 is fine for White.; B) 11...e7! 12.e5 dxe5 13.xe5 0-0 B1) 14.xd7 xd7 ( 14...xd7? 15.d6 ) 15.d6 h4+ 16.g3 e8+ With the idea 17.e2 a5! is also very c o m p l i c a t e d . 18.d2 f6 19.d5 xa2; B2) 14.d6 xe5 15.xe5 g4! B2a) 16.g3 f6 17.d5 e6 18.0-0 xd5 19.xg4 ( 19.xd5 e3 ) 19...xa2; B2b) 16.f4 h4+ 17.g3 f6 18.d5 d4 19.c3 f2 20.c2 ( 20.d2 e4 ) 20...xh1 21.cxd4 cxd4 22.f1 With an extremely intricate situation. For instance ( 22.e7+ h8 23.f1 g5 24.xg5 xd6 25.c7 Spectacular!... h3+ 26.g1 ad8 27.xh1 f6 Though not quite effective. With a rook and 2 pawns against bishop and knight, Black is not against playing an ending. ) 22...g5! Black has to get rid of the d6 nail, 'at any cost'. 23.e5 f6 24.xd4 xd6 25.c4 g7 ( 25...f7? 26.xf6+ f8 27.c3 2170
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e6 28.xe6 xe6 29.g1 ) 26.g2 At first glance appears great for W hite but... b6!! Killing at least 2 threats with one move! 27.d2 h6 28.xh1 b7 29.c3 fd8 30.d1 ac8 31.b3 c5 and Black strikes back. Although, considering the tremendous complexity of the variation, I would not be too surprised if there were a few 'holes' in this deep analysis... ] 10...a6 11.a4 [ 11.e5 dxe5 12.xe5 d6 ] 11...h5 12.e3 g6 After this sequence, however, Blacks just seems to have obtained a fine Benoni, and Spanish GM Bellon Lopez, as a long time and notorious follower of the Trompowsky, as W hite, presumably knew what he was doing... I really wonder why this idea has not been reproduced. 13.d2 g7 14.d1 [ 14.e5!? 0-0! ( 14...dxe5 15.xc5 )] [ 14.g5 c7 as in the game rather helps Black. ] 14...0-0 15.d3 b6 16.0-0 d7 17.g5 [ 17.b2 Towards c4 b5 ] 17...c7 18.e3 h6 19.h4 xa4 20.g4? [ 20.e5 dxe5 21.e4 At least introduced some complications. ] 20...f4-+ 21.g3 xd3 22.cxd3 b5 23.h4 d7 24.h5 e5 25.h4 e7 26.hxg6 fxg6 27.xe5 xe5 28.g2 g5 0-1
2224 Nguyen,Ngoc Truongson Karatorossian,David FSGM June Budapest HUN (8) [Eric Prié]
A45 2431 2401 12.06.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e5 8.f3 In this uncommon (and inaccurate?) order of moves, Black also has to reckon with [ 8.dxe6 see further ] [ While 8.b1 , on the other hand (the transposition that was missing!) does not look the most accurate now c7!? 9.f3 a6 A) 10.fxe5 dxe5 11.a4 d6 Compared
to Bruzon's note on his game against Nijboer, the square f5 is still under control which makes the idea Nh4-f5 less effective, and after 12.g5 ( 12.h4 0-0 13.g5 e8 ) 12...bd7 13.h4 h6 14.d2 f8 15.c4 g6 ( 15...8h7!? ) 16.xg6 fxg6 17.0-0 0-0 Black is fine.; B) 10.a4 exf4! 11.xf4 bd7 Could be the tricky advantage of that order of moves as played by IM Karatorossian. I d o n o t kn o w if it is t ru ly re le va n t , f o r developing a rook along a semi-open file cannot be a bad thing and it is not very economical in terms of preparation since it implies Black must be ready for 2 completely different systems, but it does win a tempo on the next Bellon game for instance, and Black is now ready to play ... Nf6-g4 firmly controlling the key-square e5. This probably means that W hite should now react with ( 11...h5!? 12.e3 g6 ) 12.d2 e7 13.c4 0-0 Unclear, with the plan Nf6-e8, Be7-f6, Nd7-e5 for Black. 14.e5? dxe5 15.d6 xd6-+ ] 8...exf4 In this order of moves, this can also be tried after an early Rb1. It does not seem to change anything. 9.b1 [ 9.xf4 bd7 10.b1 a5! For this reason, 9.Rb1 looks more accurate. 11.d2 or 11.Qd2 e7 ] 9...d8 [ 9...c7?! You can't have your cake and eat it! 10.xf4 bd7 ( 10...a6 11.e5 ) 11.b5 a5+ 12.d2! ( 12.c3 a6 13.xd6+ xd6 14.xd6 xe4 15.e2 xc3+ 16.d1 df6 17.e5 0-0!-+ ) 12...xa2 ( 12...xd2+ 13.xd2 d8 14.xd6 xd6 15.xd6 e7 16.xc8+ hxc8 17.xb7 ) 13.d1?! ( 13.c1! ) 13...xe4 ( 13...b8 14.xd6 xe4 15.e3 a5+ 16.c3 ) 14.e2! ( 14.e3 a5+ 15.c3 f5 ) 14...df6 ( 14...a5+ 15.d2 ) 15.c7+ d8 16.xa8 c3 That is why 13.Rc1! 17.d2 ( 17.c4 xc4 18.xc4 xd1 19.xd1 h6 ) 17...xd1 18.g5 g4! ] 10.xf4 e7 11.d3 [ 11.b5+ See note in the next game. ] 11...0-0 12.0-0 bd7 13.h3! Otherwise Black will pla y ... Nf 6-g4-e5 , with a grea t position. This move also gives a good square for W hite's queen bishop in case of ...Nh5. 2171
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e8 14.e5 dxe5 [ 14...b6!? 15.e2 dxe5 16.xe5 f6 ] 15.xe5 xe5 16.xe5 d6 17.e2 e7 [ 17...g5! 18.e4 f5 ] 18.e4 f5 19.xd6 xd6 20.c4 b6 [ 20...c7!? 21.f4 xf4 22.xf4 e8! 23.g4 d6 ( 23...fxg4? 24.xh7+ xh7 25.xf8 ) 24.b5 g5! 25.f3 xb5 26.xb5 b6 27.xf5 xf5 28.gxf5 ae8 ] 21.b5 f6 [ 21...h6!? To control f4. 22.be1 d7 A) 23.d6+ h8 24.xf5 ( 24.d5 d8 ) A1) 24...xf5? 25.e4!! b8 26.xf5 f6 ( 26...xf5? 27.xe8+ xe8 28.xe8# ) 27.xf6; A2) 24...xb5!; B) 23.e7 ] 22.be1 d7 23.f4! a6 24.c7 xc7 25.xc7 d4+?! Was this occasion for Black to get rid of the 'knightmare' on d5 overlooked by the opponent? [ 25...b5! 26.xf5! ( 26.c4? d4+ 27.h2 xd3 28.e7 d4 29.d1 f6; 26.d1 f7 27.f4 xd3 28.xd3 b5 ) 26...d4+ 27.h1 xd3 28.xf8+ xf8 29.cxd3 xd3 30.d6= ] 26.h2!! [ 26.h1 xd5! 27.e7 f7 28.e4 c4! T h e f i r s t p o i n t o f t h e d e f e n c e . 29.xf7 xf1+ 30.h2 a7!! And the fantastic second one ensuring the perpetual check. 31.xa7 f4+ 32.g1 ( 32.g3? d2+ 33.g2 xf7-+ ) 32...c1+ 33.h2 f4+= ] 26...xd5? Not at all! Rather a nice trap set by the tricky Vietnamese as following the logic of his last move, Black grabs the pawn... 27.e7! And succumbs to a sudden attack. f7 [ 27...a7 28.g3! ( 28.xa7? d6+ 29.h1 xe7 ) A) 28...g6 29.h4 d6+ 30.h1 f7 ( 30...h5 31.c4+ h8 32.g5 ) 31.c4; B) 28...d4 29.c4+ Quite ironically, it is the opening of the a2-g8 diagonal caused by the capture of the d5 pawn that again causes Black's loss. h8 30.d1 f6 31.dxd7; C) 28...f7 29.e4! d4 30.xf7 xf7 31.xf5 xf5 32.xf5+ e6 ( 32...g8 33.b8+ d8 34.xd8# ) 33.f3 ]
[ 27...ad8 28.xf5! xf5 ( 28...xf5 29.xd8+ f8 30.xd7 ) 29.xg7+ h8 30.xh7+ xh7 31.xh7# ] [ 27...fd8 28.xf5 xf5 29.xg7+ f8 30.e7# ] 28.e4! xe4 29.xe4 b5 30.xf7+! xf7 31.xf5++- g8 32.e7 c4 33.a3 c8 34.fe5 c6 35.a7 h6 36.e8+ h7 37.e4 b5 [ 37...e6 38.xa6 ] 38.g4 1-0
2225 Nikolaev,Nikita Kopasov,Evgeny 10th Chigorin Mem B (3) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2358 2098 27.10.2002
Trompowsky: This represents one of Black's most double-edged tries against the Tromp and the d4 specialist needs to familiarise him or herself with White's approach in this game. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 e4 4.f4 e6 5.f3 f6 This is an usual line, where Black complicates the game right from the very start. 6.xb8 xb2 7.fxe4 xa1 8.g3 xa2 So, rough material parity has been established. Black is seeking t o utilise his quee nsid e majority, whilst W hite looks to his central control and the possibility of attacking the Black king. An interesting battle is in prospect. 9.e3 b5 10.f3 b7 11.e2 a5+ 12.bd2 exd5 13.0-0 Material considerations rightly take a back seat to the deployment of forces. f6 to prevent Ng5/Ne5, but this does weaken the Black kingside. [ 13...dxe4 14.e5 d5 15.b3 is devastating. ] 14.exd5 b6 [ 14...xd5 15.b3 xb3 16.cxb3 And Black's light squared weaknesses will come back to haunt him. ] 15.e4 c4+ 16.h1 c5 17.a1 Threatening a queenside initiative. e3 [ 17...0-0 l o o k s n a t u r a l b u t 18.b1 is hard to meet. a6 19.b2 And Black loses an important queenside pawn. ] 18.xc4! A splendid piece sacrifice. xd2 19.xd2 bxc4 20.xc4 a6 21.d6+ e7 2172
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 22.e1! This is the move that White had to xb2 9.e2 cxd4 10.exd4 ) 8...f5 9.0-0 foresee on move 18. Black has no good retort d7 10.a4 a6 11.a5 d8 saw Black to the threat of e5. hf8 23.e5 xd5 clinging on to e4 in Moskalenko-Cabrera, [ 23...d8 24.exf6 gxf6 25.a5+! Salou 2012. However, W hite has various picks up a piece. This line illustrates the tempting options here, with the tactical problems that Black is facing thanks s t r a i g h t f o r wa r d 12.f3!? exf3 13.xf3 to his exposed king. ] , and if e7 14.d5 , perhaps the pick of 24.exf6+ d8 25.e7+ c7 26.c4+ them. ] Black will sustain heavy material losses in his 8.ge2 g4 futile attempts to avoid being mated. [ Eric has also considered 8...cxd4 9.b1! 1-0 a3 10.exd4 ( 10.xd4 c6 11.xe4 f5 is much less effective) 10...f5 11.0-0 a6 and now 12.e5 was played in his main 2226 A45 game Kruse-Bohak, correspondence 2000. ( Once again it's hard to believe this was the Nisipeanu,Liviu Dieter 2679 only good option and 12.f3!? exf3 13.xf3 Cernousek,Lukas 2476 e6 14.e5 looks to me like fantastic value European Championship, Legnica (3.56) for a pawn, especially with Nf4 followed by [Richard Palliser] Rg3 and/or d4-d5 on the way. )] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 One doesn't associate the 9.0-0 [ White does obtain an edge after this, but Romanian no.1 with the Trompowsky, but let's here Nisipeanu's inexperience in the Tromp hope this wasn't an one-off outing for him with w a s p e r h a p s f e l t , a s 9.xe4! xe2 the opening. e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.d3 10.xe2 cxd4 11.d3! has been known b6?! Principled to a certain extent, but ever since Adams-Xie Jun, Hastings 1996/ t h e o ry h a s lo n g co n d e m n e d t h i s gre e d y 97, to offer White a monstrous initiative. If approach. Evidently the Tromp still has the you're really not convinced, do just check ab ilit y t o c a tc h o u t so me ge n e ra lly we llout Eric's notes to Dishman-Matikozian, Las prepared players. 6.xe4 dxe4 Vegas 2007. ] [ Th e alt e rn a t ive is 6...xb2 , but after 7.d2 ( even 7.xd5!? xa1 8.f3 9...xc3 [ This turns out to be a novelty, although I is possible) 7...dxe4 8.e2 once again feel that says more about White's decision practice has shown that W hite's lead in on his last turn than anything else. The text development gives him more than enough is certainly pretty sensible and no doubt for the pawn. ] lin es like 9...cxd4 10.xe4 dxe3 11.f3! 7.c3 xb2 We should also consider: e6 12.d3 b4 13.ab1 c4 14.xe3 [ a) 7...cxd4 8.xd4! ( recommended by with an ongoing initiative rather scared the Eric and played to avoid 8.exd4 c6! Czech IM. ] 9.ge2 g4 with pressure against d4 and a n u n c l e a r g a m e a h e a d a f t e r 10.0-0 10.xc3 xd1 11.fxd1 [ It makes sense to retain the rook on the half0-0-0!? ) 8...c6?! 9.xb6 axb6 10.xe4 open file, although 11.axd1!? with the idea e5 11.g3 f5 was once mentioned by Eric. cxd4 12.exd4 f5 13.b5 a6 14.f3 exf3 Black does look pretty active, but like our 15.xf3 also came into the equation. ] expert I'm not entirely convinced. Indeed, after 12.f3 xe4 13.fxe4 a4 ( 13...b4 11...cxd4 12.exd4 e6 [ Returning the extra pawn in a bid to catch is most certainly not to be feared on account up in development. Of course, the critical of 14.d2 d8+ 15.e2 xc2 16.c1! test must be 12...f5!? 13.ab1 b6 14.b5 b4 17.c7 ) 14.f3 xe4 15.f2 ( or 14.d5 d7 15.b5 ) 14...g6 15.d5 Black's doubled pawns will surely eventually a6 16.a4 when White's initiative provides count against him. ] full compensation for the pawn. Typically [ b) 7...e6 8.ge2 ( I can't see too much silicon advice isn't convinced that it's worth wrong either with the straightforward 8.xe4 2173
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 any more than that, but let's not forget that such undeveloped, grovelly positions are much easier to defend in analysis than over the board. ] 13.ab1 b6 14.xe4 Looking at this position, one has to wonder why Cernousek didn't decide to cling on to his extra pawn. Not only does White now have the d6-square to aim at, but his hanging pawns are mobile and Nisipeanu is quick to increase his edge. e7 15.c4! [ Correctly rolling the pawns. At first 15.d6+ xd6 16.xd6 looks tempting, but after c6 17.c4 0-0-0! 18.c5 b7 Black's defences won't be so easy to break. ] 15...0-0?! [ Making it too easy for his esteemed opponent. Black really had to go 15...d7 when 16.d6+ ( 16.d5 e5 17.e3 f5 is much less effective) 16...xd6 17.xd6 0-0-0 18.b3 definitely gives White a pull and there's no black knight yet ready to plug lines from a5, but we are still some way from talking about more than an edge here. ] 16.d5 c8!? [ Alternatively, 16...exd5 17.cxd5 d7 18.d6 f6 19.xf6+ xf6 20.bc1 and once again Delroy is odds-on favourite to decide proceedings. ] 17.d6!? [ Taking up the challenge, although he might have kept it simple with 17.d6 , and if d8 18.dxe6 fxe6 19.e5 . ] 17...d8 Credit to Cernousek for this defensive idea. W hite must now be careful lest Black complete his blockade with ...Nd7, ...Rc6 and ...Rac8. 18.d7! Nisipeanu is fully aware of the dangers and so sacrifices a pawn to deny Black's knight the d7-square. xc4 19.bc1 xc1 20.xc1 The battlelines are drawn. Will White be able to force his d-pawn one square further? f6 [ Logically preparing to restrict White's pieces while freeing a square for the king. Note too that the knight couldn't move: 20...c6? 21.f4 and suddenly there's a rather nasty threat of Rc1-c8. ] 21.g4! Grandmasterly and energetic play. Nisipeanu realises that he must force open lines before Black sets up his concept with ... e5 and ...Kf7-e6. e5
[ Naturally one also wonders about 21...f7 , b u t a f t e r 22.d6+ f8 23.b7! Black is undone on the dark squares. ] 22.f4! c6? [ Cernousek has come under heavy pressure and now buckles. It turns out that Black is unable to hold his e5-point, so he should ha ve p re f erre d 22...exf4! 23.xf4 f7 . Undoubtedly White has a strong initiative here and good chances in practice, but matters are still by no means so clear: for example, 24.d6+ e6 25.f5 g6 26.d4+ may look tempting, but after d5! 27.b5+ c6 28.c7 g5 29.c1+ xd7 30.xa8 gxf4 the knight surely isn't going to re-emerge from the corner. ] 23.b2 f7 [ It was too late for 23...exf4 on account of 24.c1 e7 25.a3 f7 26.xe7 xe7 27.c8 . ] 24.fxe5 b5 [ This desperate attempt to free the bishop doesn't particularly help, but it's hard to feel that Cernousek would have survived either after 24...fxe5 25.c1 e7 26.xe5 . ] 25.c1 b6+ 26.g2 e7 27.exf6 gxf6 28.xf6 Now Delroy is even an extra pawn and the Romanian Grandmaster is quick to combine its presence with threats against the black king. d8 29.f1 g6 [ Heading towards a mating net, but 29...e6 30.e1+ f7 31.xh7 would have left White with too many passed pawns. ] 30.h4! c6 31.h5+ h6 32.e8! Creating the decisive threat of Bc1+. e3 33.f6+ g5 34.xc6 xd7 35.f3 1-0
2227 Nita,Marian Nick Onikul,Arkadiy Western Pacific Open (5) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45
13.04.2003
Trompowsky: In one of the sharpest lines of the Tromp, Black's creative queen manoeuvre puts the wind up W hite at an early stage, from which he never really recovers. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.xf6 gxf6 5.c1 f5 6.e3 g7 7.c3 g6 An interesting idea, 2174
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 7.gf3 g6 ] 7...e7! Now Black can play this move for d5 does not really hang because of the check on b4. Still, compared to the next game, RogersHe r m a n s s o n , W h i t e wi l l a ga i n h a v e t h e possibility of playing e2-e4 in one go but this tempo gain is not so relevant. 8.c3 [ 8.xd5 b4+ 9.d2 xb2 10.b1 xc2 11.e3 c6! ] 8...c6 9.d3?! [ 9.d4 f5 10.0-0-0 d7 11.h3 ] 9...g6?! [ 9...d7! 10.xh7 xh7 11.xh7 xe5 ] 10.e4 dxe4 [ 10...d7!? ] 11.xe4 g7 [ 11...f5 12.e3 d7 13.d4 ( 13.e2 h5 14.ed4 g4 ) 13...g4? ( 13...xe5 14.xf5 gxf5 15.xe5+ xe5 16.h5= ) 14.f3 e6 15.f4 d5 16.0-0-0 b6 17.gf3 0-0-0 18.e2 h5 ( 18...xa2!? 19.e6 g7 ) 19.g4 xa2 20.e6 xe6? ( 20...g7; 20...d5 ) 21.xc6 bxc6 22.a6+ c7 23.e5+ d6 ( 23...d6 24.xd6 xd6 25.d4 d5 26.h3 xf3 2228 A45 27.xf3 hxg4 28.f1 h5 ) 24.xh8 xg4 25.xd6 xd6 26.d2? ( 26.e5 ) Noetzel,Frank 2338 26...d5! 27.e1 ( 27.f1 d6 ) 27...d6-+ Richter,Wolfgang 2423 Miladinovic, I (2611) - Buli, V Montecatini NRW Class2 0506 (5.2) 08.01.2006 Terme, however. An nth wonder from the h[Eric Prié] pawn sorcerer in his pet line.... ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 d5 4.d2 12.0-0-0 f5 13.d4 [ 13.e3 Like Miladinovic d7 14.d4 xg5! Much stronger than xe5 15.xf5 gxf5 16.d3= ] [ 4...f5 5.xe4 xe4 6.f3 As often [ 13.h4 xh4 14.xh4 d7 15.d3 successfully played by Mr Trompovic. To try xd3 16.xd3 0-0-0 17.e4 de8 to refute his idea, this bishop has to be 18.de3? h6 ] taken at some point! ] A generous draw offer by Black 5.hxg5 e5! Incidentally, this also appears a 13...d7 quite strong alternative to the main line 3.. .c5 considering the possible continuation 14.Bd3 Be6! hitting a2. Well, maybe it is not so clear that we fully examined some time ago. [ 5...c5 6.dxc5 e5 7.e4 Hence the utility of because Black has some problems castling not having play e2-e3 before... xc5 8.b3 either side.. . d4 9.xc5 a5+ 10.c3! xc5 ( 10...dxc3? ½-½ 11.a4+ ) 11.cxd4 exd4 12.c1 b4+ 13.d2 xd2+ 14.xd2 c6 15.b5 d7 16.f3 0-0 17.h4! ad8 18.ch1 h6 19.gxh6 g6 20.c4 e6 21.xe6 fxe6 22.g4 e7 23.c1 c8 24.xc8 xc8 25.xd4+Stefanova, A (2514) - Ivanov, J (2461) Salou 2000 1-0(28) ] 6.dxe5 xg5 7.df3 a t t e m p t i n g t o i n t e r f e r e wi t h t h e s m o o t h development of White's kingside. 8.f3 [ 8.h3 could be met with: e5 ] 8...d6 9.a3 a6 10.c2 c7 Useful. Black targets d5 and hints at queenside expansion. 11.b5? This looks attractive, but it is based on a superficial analysis of the tactics involved. [ 11.0-0-0 was to be preferred. ] 11...xd5 12.0-0-0 a6 13.xd5 axb5 14.xb5+ f8 The upshot of White's over aggressive play is that he now has two pawns hanging and cannot defend both. 15.g3 xa2 16.b1 e6 Black is a pawn to the good and is building a strong attack to boot. 17.h4 f6 18.dd1 a5 19.d3 A desperate attempt to re-establish material parity, but it will all end in tears. a2+ 20.c1 c4 21.xf5 b3 22.e4 a1+ Black could of course take the exchange here, but he is after much bigger game. 23.d2 a2 24.a1 xc3+ Ouch! 25.e2 xb2+ 0-1
2175
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A45 18...c8 19.c4? [ 19.c6 d7 ( 19...a6 20.xe7 xe7 2095 21.a5 ) 20.xa7 xa7 21.xa7 f7 2408 ( 21...c4 22.e4 dxe4 23.xc4 c5 1999 24.b5! xb5 25.xb5 xb5 26.d5 ) 22.e4 a8 23.exd5 xa7 24.d6 xd6 25.xd6 e7 26.d2 xa2 27.f3 e6 ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 a5+ 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 g6 7.h4 19...d7 20.a3 d4 After the stabilization of his pawn weaknesses, Black finally enjoys a a6!? [ 7...c6 8.c4 I find b6!? already more light plus thanks to the awkward position of interesting here with the knight not on the the opposing rook on a3. 21.e2 [ 21.exd4 cxd4 22.b3 ( 22.ad3? b4+ ) edge. 9.c3 ( 9.cxb6!? xg5 10.bxa7 g7 22...a4 ] 11.gf3 a5 12.c3 0-0; 9.b4? xb4 10.b3? xc2# ) 9...bxc5 10.b3 b6 21...b8 22.b3 a6 23.a5 dxe3 24.fxe3 11.xc5 a6 ( 11...e6 12.c4 a6 f5? [ 24...c8! Protecting a6 to release the 13.h4 ) 12.d5 ( 12.e3 e6 13.xa6 knight. 25.h3 e6 26.f4 d8! xc5 ) 12...d6 13.e3 xf1 14.xf1 h6 ] An important intermediate move. 27.a4 8.c4 b6 xf4 28.exf4 b6 Maintaining the convict [ 8...xc5? 9.b4 ] in prison ] 9.c3? [ 9.cxb6 xg5!? ( 9...axb6 10.gf3 h6? 25.d3? [ 25.d2! Defending b2 and preventing Bc2. 11.c3! hxg5 12.b3 f5 13.d4 f6 Black loses a pawn. 0-0 26.xc5 fd8 14.d5 b8 15.xc8+! xc8 16.b7+-; 27.b3 ] 9...xb6 10.b3 h6 11.gxh6 xh6 12.h3 b7 13.e4 g7 14.c3 d8 25...xd3 26.xd3 b4 27.xc5 xb2 15.f4 e6 16.e2 f8 17.0-0-0 28.xa6 0-0! 29.f1? [ The elementary 29.d7! xa6 30.xe7 Black does not have the usual b4 31.aa7 would have forced Black to compensat ion beca use of th e awkward take the perpetual. d3+ 32.d1 f2+ p l a c i n g o f h i s k n i g h t . F o r i n s t a n c e d5 33.e1 d3+ ] 18.exd5 e5 19.h3 xd5 20.xd5! xd5 21.c8+ e7 22.xa6; 9...d5 10.h4 29...a8 30.d7 Too late! b4! 31.b5? [ 31.xb4 xa5 32.d3 b1+ 33.f2 g7 11.c3 xb6 12.b3?! Dittmar, P xa2+ 34.e2 e6 Only one exchange (2363) - Maugg, L (2130) Bad Wiessee op down, White's pieces are too badly placed to 1999 1/2 (47) This is the place for the knight! p u t u p a n y s e r i o u s r e s i s t a n c e . 35.c5 12.Nb3 avoiding the exposure of the queen ( 35.d6 g5! 36.xf6 e4+; 35.e7 g5 on an open line while eyeing d5 and 36.e4 f8 ) 35...c2 36.d6 xc5 re i n f o r c i n g c o n t ro l o f t h e se n s i t i ve d 4 37.xc5 xc5 38.xf6 c2 Wins the square. ) 10.bxa7 g7 11.c3 0-0 ] knight on e2 next. ] 9...bxc5 10.b3 b6 11.d5 b7 12.e5 31...xa6 32.db7 xa2 f6 0-1 [ 12...d5!? ] 13.gxf6 xf6 14.xf6 exf6 15.d1!? [ 15.a5 d5 ( 15...d5? 16.f4 c8 A45 17.xf6 ) 16.a4 c7 17.e4 e6 2230 18.0-0-0 ] Nyman,Sture 2400 15...e7 Bern,Ivar 2590 [ 15...d5 16.a4 c7 17.a5! ( 17.a5 SSKK Bulletinen40 corr 1994 c8 ) 17...e6 18.e4 dxe4? 19.b5+ ] [Eric Prié] 16.e3 d5 17.a4 c7 18.a5? Use that 'knighty' rook! 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 [ 18.a5! e6 19.b5+ f7 20.d7 ] 5.c1 f5 6.c4 White reserves the c3 square 2229 Nowak,Rafal Szelag,Marcin Poznan Pocztowiec-ch op-B (2) [Eric Prié]
2176
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 for his queen's knight and thus consolidates his strong point on d5 so that the idea of attacking it by means of ...Na6-c7 should be less ef f ective. Unf ortunately f or him, the opening of the long diagonal for the enemy king's bishop presents Black with a wide range of opportunities, linked to his ensuing darksquared domination, to try and take advantage of this factor. Indeed, although that famous theoretician GM Igor Stohl (or maybe was it Ernst? And then which one, the Swedish GM or the Dutch IM? It is never clear with the ChessBase multi-commented games....) even labelled this line dubious, in '94, it has been advocated by some strong players, seduced by the superior pawn structure. This has to be considered a minor line compared to 6. g3 when you take into account all its 'suspect, o b s c u r e a re a s '. A n d t h e f i rs t o f t h e m i s b4+!? 7.c3 xc4 8.e4 b4 9.a3 a5 10.exf5 g7 Black has swapped his doubled f-pawn defect, as well as his weakness on f5! Gaining a strong mobile queenside majority in the process, supported by a bishop on g7 wh ich is s t ro nge r t h a n e ve r. T a kin g in t o account every standard of evaluation, the last 4 moves should represent an improvement of his position. On the other hand, the cover of his king has been slightly altered and White s h o u l d p la y a ct ive l y t o d e m o n st ra t e t h e pertinence of this. 11.f3 d6 12.d3 d7 13.0-0 e5 14.xe5 xe5 15.c2 [ 15.e1! keeping options for the White queen on the c1-h6 diagonal, with the idea of sacrificing the exchange against 'the monster' on e5 was certainly more to the point. For instance d7 ( 15...f8 16.xe5! dxe5 17.h6+ e8 18.d6 ) 16.g5 d8 17.xe5! dxe5 18.d6 With a strong attack and more than enough compensation. ] 15...d7 16.fe1 f8! 17.d2 h5 18.ac1 b5 19.e2 c4 20.b1 b6 21.d1 e8 22.h1 d4 23.e4 xe4 24.xe4 c8 25.e2 g7 26.g3 c5 27.f4 f6 28.h3 a5 29.e3! In order to hold on, White had to control c4, and c2. hc8 [ 29...c3 30.b4 axb4 31.axb4 c7 32.g2 a8 33.g4 hxg4 34.hxg4 a4 35.g5 d4 36.c2 b6 37.d3 is just OK for White. ] 30.g4 hxg4 31.hxg4 f8 32.g5 g7 33.g2 b4 34.axb4 axb4 35.f3 b3
36.d1 a8 37.c3 ca5 38.g2 a1 39.gg1 xc1 40.xc1 a5 41.e3 c8 42.d1 a6 43.f3 a2 44.b1 g8 45.e4 b7 46.c1 Good defence by White against not just anybody, since Norwegian IM Ivar Bern happened to be World champion in 1989! And probably had something ready to counter White's 15th move suggestion... ½-½
2231 Orr,Mark JL Kristjansson,Stefan Gibraltar Masters (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2324 2438 31.01.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6!? Interesting but risky as it more or less forces Black to go grabbing a 'hot pawn' on g2.5...d5 is clearer See the April update. 6.d3 g5 [ 6...e5 7.e2 The concealed idea behind the white set-up. We have seen that it was quite difficult for him to develop any initiative without the help of his f-pawn. Now he will ca stle kingside a nd play f 4 wit h some interesting perspectives. ] 7.g3 [ 7.f3 i s c r i t i c a l . xg2 8.g1 h3 Although, like Fritz, I believe in the capacity of Black to defend himself , I personally would not enjoy doing it! ] 7...e5 8.d2 [ 8.f3 f6 is exactly the kind of set up that White has been trying to avoid. ] [ The straightforward 8.e2 , which would be a novelty, on the other hand looks more interesting. e7 ( 8...h3?! 9.b3 ) 9.0-0 A) 9...0-0 10.f4 h5 11.f5!? d7 ( 11...g5 12.d2 e8 13.f3 e3+ 14.g2 ) 12.g2 f6 13.h3 ( 13.dxe5? g4 ) 13...d5 Unclear.; B) 9...h3 10.f4 h5 11.f2 d7 But really, short castling does not seem to fit very well with both Bd3 AND g3. ] 8...g6 9.e2 g7 10.b3 0-0 11.0-0-0 c6 12.f4 e7 13.d5 b8 14.f5 [ 14.h4!? d7 ( 14...h5!? 15.g4? xg4 16.xb7 d7 ) 15.h5 c5 16.c2 g5 ( 16...g4 17.hxg6 fxg6 18.df1 ) 17.b1 2177
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 17.fxg5 xg5 18.b1 g4 19.df1 e3 ) 17...g4 18.df1 Keeping the tension m a k e s t h e p o s it i o n ' l e s s r e a d a b l e ' f o r Black. ] 14...d7 15.g4 a5? A loss of time that could have had serious consequences. [ 15...c5 16.c2 c6 ] 16.h4 c5 17.c2 c6 18.c4! [ 18.g5!? hxg5 19.hxg5 ( 19.h5 gxf5 ) 19...xg5 20.dxc6 bxc6 21.fxg6 fxg6 22.c4+ e6 23.xe6+ xe6 24.hg1 h5 ( 24...f6 25.c4 ) 25.d3 is highly unclear. ( 25.c4? f2 )] 18...b5!? Black starts to feel the danger and opts for radical measures. [ 18...f6 19.g5 hxg5 20.hxg5 xg5 21.b1 g7 22.f3 e3 23.g3 ] [ 18...d7 19.c3 ] [ 18...gxf5 19.gxf5 cxd5 20.c3 d4 21.d5 d8 22.dg1 h7 ( 22...h8 ) 23.h3 f6 24.f3 d7 25.g5+ h8 26.e2 really illustrates the danger of White's attack. ] [ 18...cxd5 19.c3 ( 19.exd5 ) 19...d4 20.d5 d8 21.g5 h5 22.f6 h8 is like sacrificing a piece but is possibly Black's best try! ] 19.dxc6 b4 The heap of white pieces in the centre suddenly looks awkward... 20.b3! In order to exchange Black's best piece. [ 20.f1!? e8! The only move. Certainly not easy to find... ( 20...f6 21.e3 xh4 22.d5 g5+ 23.b1 a7 24.g1; 20...a4 21.d2! b3 22.a3; 20...c7 21.g5! e8 22.f6 f8 23.h5; 20...b3!? 21.axb3 e8 And so on. ) A) 21.g5 gxf5 ( 21...hxg5 22.fxg6 fxg6 23.h5 ) 22.exf5? e4; B) 21.e3 c7 With complex doubleedged play. Intending 22.f6 f8! 23.d5 xc6 24.g5 h5 Although Black's darksquared bishop is not that brilliant, it is better placed than on h8 as it at least controls the vital e7-square to give him a free rein on the queenside. ] [ 20.g5 a p p e a r s l e s s e f f e c t i ve . hxg5 21.hxg5 xg5 22.b1 ( 22.dg1 e3 23.g3 xd3+ 24.xd3 xd3 25.xd3 gxf5 ) 22...a4 23.dg1 f6 ] 20...f6 21.xc5 dxc5 22.g5! hxg5 23.h5?? What a ridiculous move! Closing the
ki n g s i d e i n s t e a d o f h a vi n g i t wi d e o p e n against the Black king! [ 23.hxg5 xg5+ 24.b1 With an enormous attack for White while the c6 pawn is still alive, thus preventing the linking of the Black rooks. For instance a4 25.g3 b3 26.h2 bxa2+ 27.a1 g7 28.df1 f4 29.xf4!! exf4 5 Mate in 30.h6+ f6 31.h5+ e5 32.xf4+ d4 33.d1 gxh5 34.e2# ] 23...gxf5 24.exf5 e4! In addition resurrecting -that is the word- the dark-squared dragon! 25.xe4 e8 26.g3 [ 26.d3 a4 ] 26...c7? A really paradoxical game where phases of good understanding of the position are suddenly interrupted by hardly explainable losses of time! [ 26...a4 27.c7 ( 27.d7? e5; 27.h6 b3 28.axb3 a3 29.h7+ h8 30.bxa3 xa3 31.h5 d4 ) 27...b3! 28.axb3 a3!! First blockade and then pierce. The proper way to open files in flank attacks against a castled king that White himself failed to use on the kingside! 29.b1 ( 29.xa8 a2 30.d2 e3# ) 29...a6 30.h6 axb2 31.h7+ h8 32.d3 xc7 33.h5 a5 34.xf6 a2+ 35.c2 b1+ 36.c3 ab2# ] 27.hg1? [ 27.g2! a4 28.h6 a3 29.h5 Again is a terrible mess! ] 27...a4 28.d7? Does not help [ 28.d2 a3 29.b3 e5 30.b1 Still fighting. ] 28...f4+ 29.d2 a3 30.b3 e5! [ 30...xe4 31.xe4 xe4 32.xg5+ h8 ( 32...f8 33.d6+ e7 34.d8# ) 33.g2 b2+ 34.d1 b1+ 35.e2 e4+ 36.d1= ] 31.c2? One too many... [ 31.d6 was less clear. ] 31...a1+ 32.b1 The bishop had to go to b1 t o p ro t e c t t h e ki n g, n o t t h e qu e e n . c3+ 33.d1 [ 33.c2 e3+ 34.d2 xg1+ ] 33...xd7 34.cxd7 ad8 35.e2 xd7+ 36.d5 f3 37.c2 e3 38.e1 c3+ 39.d1 f2 Threatening ... Qxg1 and ...Re1 mate. Still, this must have been a furious mutual time scramble 2178
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 39...d3+ 40.c1 is so natural. ] [ 39...f2 40.h1 42.g6+ g7 ] 0-1
2232 Ozyilmaz,Arif Ersahin,Bulent Open Antalya TUR (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
e3+
41.b1
d2
de7
41.f6
xf6
important f5 square. d7 24.f5+ d8 25.g2 preparing for the final siege along the d-file. d4 26.xc6 xe3+ 27.b1 bxc6 28.xe4 Black's king is simply far too exposed to offer any hope of survival. d2 29.e5 1-0
A45 2144
2233 A45 25.02.2002 Pajeken,Wolfgang 2290 Rogozenco,D 2495 Hamburg-chI Hamburgo (1) 29.05.1998 Trompowsky Attack: White bamboozles his [Eric Prié] opponent with a dark-squared strategy in the h4 Tromp, which he promptly turns into a fully 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 fledged kingside attack. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 [ 3...b6 In this position, is an interesting, e4 3.h4 xg5 Rather co-operative. Black relatively unexplored, possibility, if White opens the h-file without even being asked to does not wish to transpose into the critical 4. move his centrally placed knight. 4.hxg5 g6 d5 Qxb2 5.Bd2, like in the October update. 5.f4 An interesting approach to the position. A) 4.xf6 gxf6 ( 4...xf6! I don't know if W hite aims to blot out Black's potentially this is well known as pure theory, but I see strong dark-squared bishop by putting his no way for White to take advantage from pawns on dark squares. g7 6.f3 c5 7.c3 his lead in development.) 5.d5 d8 b6 8.d2 cxd4 9.cxd4 c6 10.e3 ( 5...xb2 6.b1! xa2 7.c7+ d8 So far so good. Black can hardly consider f6, 8.xa8 ) 6.dxc5 e6 7.c3 xc5 8.e4 as it would weaken his already vulnerable d5 9.xc5 a5+ 10.c3 xc5 11.e3; kingside, leaving him with one pawn break, B) 4.e3 xb2 5.b5 b4+ 6.c3 a5; namely e5, to aim for. d6 11.c3 f5 C) 4.dxc5 12.h4 d7 13.d5 d8 14.d3 e5 C1) 4...xc5 5.f3 h6 6.xf6 gxf6 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.f5 At first sight this looks 7.e4 e6 8.e2 a6 9.0-0 c6 10.h1 quite risky, as it leaves the g5 pawn vulnerable, b5 11.d2 g8 12.f4 b7 13.b3 however, it has the benefit of keeping Black's b6 14.f3 e3 15.e5?! ( 15.d5! dark squared bishop out of the game. gxf5 "Of course", W hite should employ the 17.xf5 e6 18.e4 xd5 Black spots the same themes as in similar Sicilian chance to grab a pawn, but White has seen positions but, on the other hand, he may further. 19.xd5 xg5 20.xf7+! not be acquainted with them.... exd5 A bolt from the blue! The bishop offers itself 16.exd5 ) 15...fxe5 16.fxe5 xe5 in order to draw the black king into the central 17.e1 ( 17.h5 d6! 18.xf7+ d8 wilderness. e7 19.h5 g5 20.xh6 xg2!-+ ) [ 20...xf7 is possible, but Black must tread 17...d6 Quite possibly not the best a t rea ch ero us pa th in o rde r to su rvive . square. 18.e2 0-0-0 19.a4 b4 21.d7+ e7 ( 21...e7 is worse 22.0-0+ 20.e4 With compensation when White f6 23.d5+ f8 24.f5 c7 25.d6 ) posts a knight on c5. Mensch,E-Lutz,T/ 22.0-0+ f6 23.xf6+ xf6 24.f1 xf1+ Konigshoffen op 2001; 25.xf1 Despite Black's slight material C2) 4...xb2 advantage, his exposed king means that it is C2a) 5.xf6 gxf6 6.d5 e6! 7.b1 White who is having all the fun. ] ( 7.c7+? d8 8.xa8 c3+ 9.d2 21.0-0-0 ad8 22.d5 e4 Finally releasing xa1+ ) 7...e5; the bishop, However, W hite is quick to C2b) 5.d2 a3 6.e4 xc5 7.f3 maintain his initiative. 23.g4! Grabbing the With obscure compensation. ] 2179
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 4.xd4 c6 5.h4 e6 6.e4 e7 7.f4?! Thus, the order of moves seems important W hite should castle long first, then. b6!? Winning a pawn. 8.0-0-0 e3+ 9.b1 xe4 10.xe4 [ 10.b5 xg5 11.fxg5 f2 ] 10...xe4 11.xe7 xe7 12.d3? [ 12.g5 g6 ( 12...g6 13.h3 0-0 14.d3 With some compensation.) 13.c5 b6 14.a3 b7 15.f3 Is not that clear eit h e r, a lth o u gh I d o ub t it wo u ld p ro ve sufficient after extensive analysis. ] 12...g6 13.h5 [ 13.g5 xf4 ] 13...xf4! 14.xf7+ xf7 15.xe4 e7 The rest of the game is not very exciting. Black may have problems in converting his material advantage because of his lack of space but he really dictates the course of the game and his opponent can only oppose passive resistance. 16.c4 h5 17.e2 f6 18.f3 b8 19.d4 b6 20.he1 b7 21.f5+ f8 22.xb7 xb7 23.d6 c7 24.d3 c5!? To control the f5 square laterally and create new weaknesses in the enemy camp, but [ 24...g6 with the idea ...Ke7 looked safer 25.b3 a6 ] 25.b4 g5 26.g3 e7! 27.h4 g4 28.f5+ f8 29.d6 h6 30.a3? [ 30.c2! g5 ( 30...g6 ) 31.f3 g7 32.ef1 was offering some chances to save t h e g a m e c o n s i d e r i n g t h e t r a p f8?? 33.xf6 xf6 34.e8+ ] 30...d4 31.b5 [ 31.c5 xb4+ 32.c2 g6 33.xa7 e7 ] 31...xc4 32.b3 e7-+ Black's sole problem was to liberate his king's rook... 33.xa7 e4 34.b2 f8 35.e2 d6 36.d2 [ 36.a4 a8 37.b5 xb5! ( 37...xa4 38.c3 axb4?? 39.d5+ ) 38.axb5 a4 ] 36...a8 37.xd6 xd6 38.d3+ e7 39.b3 d5 40.xd5 exd5 0-1
2234 Palliser,Richard Griffiths,Ryan Rhys British Championship, Sheffield (10.8) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2454 2301 4.8.11
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 [ A very important alternative is, of course, 5...b4 , but the text remains an important choice and has been quite popular ever si n c e i t r e c e i ve d J o h n C o x' s s t a m p o f approval in his popular 2005 work 'Dealing with d4 Deviations'. ] 6.d2 c6 7.f4 e5 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.f5 d7 [ Cox actually preferred the move order 9...b4 when play transposes in the event of 10.f3 d7 . ] [ Black most certainly has other options here and 9...g6!? was recently tried by a leading t h e o r e t i c i a n , w i t h 10.fxg6 ( 10.d3! looks somewhat more critical, meeting gxf5 11.exf5 a6 with 12.e4 ) 10...fxg6 11.f3 e6 12.0-0-0 d7 13.c4 0-0-0 giving Black a very easy game in DanilovRogozenko, Romanian Team Championship 2011. ] 10.f3 [ I think White might as well develop this knight. He doesn't gain anything by going 10.d3 b4 11.a3 a5 12.b4 b6 , ] [ while we should note that Cox only looked a t t h e l i n e 10.0-0-0 b4 11.f3 , which is, in de ed, we ll me t b y Han ne s Stefansson's e7 followed by ...Nf6, . ..Bd7 an d . . .0 -0 -0 wit h a ve ry so lid ga m e f o r Black. ] 10...b4 11.a3 a5 12.b4!? A new idea, or perhaps I should say an idea I found a couple of years ago, analysed with a couple of pupils and which only now appears on the databases. White wastes no time breaking the pin, but there are alternatives: [ a) 12.0-0-0 e7 13.c4 f6 14.he1 d7 15.a2 b5! 16.e3 c7 17.d3 a5 18.g4 0-0-0 showed the Stefansson/Cox method in operation and was at least equal for Black in McShane-Gordon, Liverpool 2006, as annotated by Andrew Martin at the time. ] [ b) 12.d3 e7 ( by no means the only 2180
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 m o ve , wi t h 12...b5!? 13.b4 c7 14.a4 bxa4 15.xa4 a5! quite a critical a l t e rn a t iv e) 13.b4! b6 14.a4 0-0 15.g4!? d4?! 16.c3 b5 17.cxd4 bxa4 18.c3 was a little better for White in Mam edyarov-Pa nelo Mun oz, Calatrava (r a p i d ) 2 0 0 7 - t h e g a m e wh i c h g o t m e thinking about the immediate advance of the b-pawn. ] [ c) 12.g4 has been tried by a couple of GMs, but after b5!? ( the more solid 12...e7 , as in Cordova-Escobar Forero, Bogota 2010, is also possible and Black obtained decent counterplay with 13.c4 b5 14.a2 f6 15.d3 b7 16.0-0-0 d8 17.e3 b6 ) 13.0-0-0 e7 14.h4 b7 15.g5 hxg5 16.xg5 0-0-0 Black's defences were tight and again he had the long-term advantage of the bishop-pair to look forward to in Cebalo-Haug, European Championship, Rijeka 2009. ] [ d) 12.c4!? e7 13.b4 is a similar approach to our main game. White switched from queenside to kingside play after c7 14.0-0 f6 15.ab1 0-0 16.h1! in Shimanov-Roser, European Championship, Aix-les-Bains 2011. The computers aren't so impressed, but after, say, b5 ( 16...a5!? ) 17.b3 a5 18.g4! axb4 19.axb4 d8 20.g2 White's attacking chances are beginning to look pretty serious indeed. ] 12...b6 [ Dropping the bishop back further with 12...c7 has pros and cons. It isn't vulnerable to attack so easily, but is less actively placed and this way White doesn't need to send his knight round to the rim. Indeed, 13.d1! ( 13.d3 with the idea of a5 14.b5 is the alternative) 13...a5 14.b1 is quite appealing and after axb4 15.axb4 b5 16.e3 0-0 17.g4! e7 18.g5!? White was quick to whip up a strong attack in an earlier game from Sheffield, albeit played in the Major Open or B-section, J-L. Weller-Cumbers, Sheffield 2011. ] 13.a4! [ White must force the bishop back without delay. 13.d3 a5 14.a4 gives Black the extra option of a7 . ] 13...c7 14.d3!?
[ I was struggling to remember my analysis here, not having expected this line, but the text does improve over an earlier game by one of my pupils. J-L.W eller-P.Hopwood, York 2010, had gone 14.c4 e7 ( 14...a5! 15.d3 axb4 16.axb4 b6 improves and equalises for Black after 17.d1 xa4 18.xa4 xa4 19.xa4 0-0 20.f2 d8 that bishop on c8 is no longer such a bad piece, with ideas of ...g6 and even ...Bxf5 on the cards ) 15.c5 b6?! 16.c2 b7 17.e2 bxc5 18.bxc5 a5+ 19.f2 0-0 and now W hite might have exploited his spatial plus and clamp on the position to begin a strong attack with 20.g4! . ] 14...b5 [ This must be critical. Black fights back on the queenside in a bid to free his slightly cramped position. Instead 14...0-0 15.c4 b6 16.b2 just looks quite nice for White, with a pleasant space advantage and both black bishops rather restricted. ] 15.b2 a5 16.0-0 d6 17.h1 [ I wanted to avoid any checks on the long d i a g o n a l , b u t t h e i m m e d i a t e 17.c4!? was also quite playable. Moreover, after axb4 ( Black should begin to liquidate thus: 17...0-0? 18.c5 just incarcerates his lightsquared bishop with some effect,; while 17...bxc4 18.xc4 e7 19.xa5!? xa5 20.bxa5 c5+ 21.h1 xa5 22.c2 must be a little better for White) 18.axb4 xa1 19.xa1 c5 20.cxb5 ( 20.a8?! 0-0 doesn't lead anywhere for White) 20...cxb4 21.c4 c5+ 22.h1 ( 22.f1!? m igh t a l so b e p o ssib le , ce n t ra l is in g i n preparation for any endgame) 22...0-0 play actually transposes to the game! ] 17...0-0 18.c4 axb4 [ Again liquidation is the correct policy. 18...f6?! 19.c5 e7 20.c3 would just leave W hite with a rather pleasant advantage indeed. ] 19.axb4 xa1 20.xa1 c5 The consistent follow-up. It may appear that my talented young Irish (despite the W elsh name!) opponent is about to equalise, but even here White keeps a little something thanks to his more active pieces. 21.cxb5 cxb4 22.c4 c5 23.c1! Allowing Black's b-pawn to live in return for retaining the initiative. xb5 2181
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24.cxe5 b8?! [ Black has spotted a way to activate his dark-squared bishop, but this just leads to a bit of a miserable endgame. I had mainly been focussed on 24...b6 25.c6 a5 a n d w a s t h e n t r y i n g t o m a k e 26.xf7!? xf7 27.c1 work. Af te r b6 28.c4+ e7 Black may well be OK, but his defence in practice would not have been such an easy one, with ideas of both e4-e5 and Nh4g6 on the cards. ] 25.c6! White has nothing better than to consent to the simplification. f4 26.xb8 xd2 27.xd2 xb8 28.g1 d8 29.f2! I had to see this move before agreeing to exchange queens. Black remains hampered by his back rank and yet-to-move bishop. I suspect he should be able to hold the resulting endgame, but that b-pawn is loose and W hite's central majority not to be underestimated. g6 [ A natural bid for space, but the machine may be right that a better defence was to activate Black's pieces and keep trying to generate threats after 29...d7!? 30.e3 f6 31.e2 e8 . ] 30.fxg6 fxg6 31.c4+ g7 32.d5! Cementing the bishop on d5 and asking Black just how he intends to prevent the activation of the white king via e3 and d4. f6 33.e3 e6 34.d4 c8!? [ Giving up the b-pawn to get the rooks off and obtain some breathing space. I find it hard to criticise such a move, especially when grim def ence with something like 34...e7 35.c4 c6+ 36.c5 b8 was the alternative. ] 35.xc8 xc8 36.c5 d7+ 37.xb4 During the game I assumed Black should now be able to hold without too much trouble, but then I spotted that e5 might not be such a gre a t s qu a re f o r h i s kin g a f t e r a ll . . . e5 38.c3 f6?? [ A very natural move, especially when one has a hanging flag, but this blunders away the game. Correct was 38...c5 when, say, 39.c4+ f6 40.d4 b3+ 41.e3 e6! sh ou ld b e a com f orta b le en ou gh d ra w, although White can certainly try to squeeze for a little while longer. ] 39.c4+! f4 40.d4 Ouch. Suddenly
Black's king finds itself the wrong side of W hite's pawn and even in danger of being mated. a6 41.e5 xd5 [ The resulting d-pawn is too strong after this. After 41...g5 Black can actually avoid being mated, but W hite has a promising c h o i c e , wi t h 42.g3 h5 43.f7+ g4 44.e6+ f3 45.e5 my simple intention during the game. Following e8 46.d5+ f2 47.g5 g1 48.h4 g7 49.e6 Black won't be long for this world. ] 42.exd5 f5 43.d6! The simplest. Black's king will ma ke it ba ck, bu t no t in t im e t o prevent its counterpart from breaking through with decisive effect. e6 44.d7 e7 45.c5 f1 46.c6 1-0
2235 Palliser,Richard Zhigalko,Andrey European Club Cup, Rhodes (1.10) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2455 2615 20.10.13
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 e6 [ 6...b6 is, of course, the main line, but there's nothing wrong with the simple text. Indeed, Richard Pert comments: "I find it surprising that this interesting move is not played more often." ] 7.e4 exd5 8.exd5 [ The main and best move. We considered the critical alternative 8.e5 h5 9.e3!? d4 10.d2 d8 in Lindberg-Swinkels from last year's European Club Cup - see the Archive. ] 8...d6 9.d2 [ And again the game stays in the main line. Had I expected this line and prepared for it, I suspect I would have played in the same way, although 9.e2+ e7! 10.xd6 xd5 11.a3!? is possible, as we saw in DubovSutovsky, European Championship, Legnica 2013. ] 9...e7 10.c4 xd2+ [ Pert's Trompowsky work is in general very thorough, but this position appears to have slipped out of his web of analysis, since I cannot find any mention of the important 2182
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a l t e r n a t i v e 10...d8 11.c3 0-0 . Here W hite has a few ideas, including 12.e2!? ( I prefer to see this as preparation for g2-g4, rather than as a passive deployment instead, 12.g4 e8! 13.0-0-0 a6 14.h4 b5! gave Black good counterplay in V.Popov-Nedilko, European Ch am pion sh ip , P lo vd iv 2 0 12 , as we've seen,; while 12.d3 bd7 13.c2 a6 14.a4 e8 was very solid for Black in Martinovic-Palac, Croatian Team Championship 2013, and agreed drawn after 15.ge2 f8 16.0-0 e5 17.g5 h6 18.h4 xd3 ) 12...a6 ( 12...a6 13.g4 b5!? 14.cxb5 d7 looks like the critical test of White's ambitious new idea) 13.g4 c7 14.h3 a6 15.a4 b6 16.f2 b8 17.0-0 gave W hite a grip and a pleasant edge in van de Griendt-Zaragatski, European Club Cup, Rhodes 2013, before he unfortunately a l l o we d B l a ck t o f r e e h i m s e lf wi t h d7 18.b3 fe8 19.ab1 h6 20.h3?! g5! 21.e3 f5 . ] 11.xd2 [ The usual choice, although I couldn't help but notice that a leading expert on this subvariation has experimented with 11.xd2!? . Following h5 12.e3 f5 (this should, of course, be compared with our main game) 13.e2 0-0 14.0-0-0 d7 15.c3 e5 16.e1 (the first in a sequence of tactical hits down the open file) b6 (Black spots the threat) 17.f4 g4 18.f3 xe3 ( bagging an important bishop Black didn't have to rush with this, though, with 18...f6 19.b5 e8!? one alternative, since 20.c7 xe3 21.xe3 xe3 22.xa8 xf1 23.xf1 xf4 looks like a decent enough exchange sacrifice) 19.xe3 f7 20.g5+ xg5 21.fxg5 d7 22.f3 White retained a small nibble in MoskalenkoFluvia Poyatos, Catalan League 2013, but Black might now have neutralised the last vestiges of it with g6!? 23.h4 h6 24.gxh6 xh6 . ] 11...h5 [ Staking out some space on the kingside. The alternative is 11...b5 , but after 12.c3 bxc4 13.xc4 White enjoys an edge thanks to his more active pieces. ] 12.e3 f5 13.h3!?
[ I can't remember if I'd analysed this idea before (it felt familiar during the game, but isn't in any of my databases), but contesting the f4-square felt logical at the board. More often, though, White has preferred 13.c3 wh e n h e n e e d n o t f e a r f4 ( 13...d7 14.e1 f7 is likely the critical line, but in his notes to Hodgson-Schandorff, German League 2001, Eric didn't recommend the uncompromising 15.g4!? , which Pert rather likes for White) 14.f2 d7 on account of 15.e1 followed by g2-g4 and Ne2. ] [ Before moving on I should mention that Eric q u i t e l i k e d 13.f4!? , as he covered in A. Grant-Holzke, Port Erin 2004, ] [ while that we discussing quite a fertile position can be seen from the fact that Pert also considers the unplayed 13.d3!? . ] 13...0-0 14.g3 [ Adding further cover to the key f4-square. Instead, 14.f4 xf4 15.xf4 g5! 16.g3 f4 17.f2 d7 just looked pretty pleasant for Black ] [ and I also wasn't too convinced by 14.f4 d7 15.e2 hf6 16.f2 b5 . ] 14...a6 [ A new move. The Belorussian Grandmaster wants to bring his knight round to support t h e . . . b 5 b r e a k . I n s t e a d , 14...d7 was tried in Ipatov-Vehi Bach, Barbera del Valles 2010, but after 15.c3 e5 16.e2 d7 17.a4 h6 18.hf1 h7 19.a3! it wasn't clear that Black had quite fully equalised. Indeed, W hite often seems to retain a nagging pull quite deep into this sub-variation. ] [ Note too that here the Benko approach is no t hin g t o f e a r: 14...b5?! 15.cxb5 a6 16.c3 d7 17.f4 xf4 18.xf4 and Black lacks sufficient pressure against b5. ] 15.c3 d7 16.e1 [ Finally, it's time to use the rooks, although I was also quite tempted by 16.b5!? fe8 ( 16...xb5 17.cxb5 c7 18.c4 a6 19.a4 leaves W hite with a firm grip on the position ) 17.d3 . ] 16...fe8 17.g1!? [ Preparing to up the ante, although I might we ll h a ve p ro ce e d e d m o re si m p ly wit h 17.d3 c7 18.f4 , which would have 2183
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 retained a clear edge. Black would like to get in ...b5, but even after xf4 19.xf4 f7 20.h4 a6 21.a4 ab8 22.c2 he can't get in that break just yet, since f5 would drop. ] 17...c7 18.g4?! [ This is the key pawn break, but should not have been hurried. Once again, I might have first completed development with 18.d3 . To be honest I was a bit more concerned by b5?! here, but after 19.cxb5 ab8 20.xc5! dxc5 21.xe7 xe7 22.d6 W hite is doing better than I thought and should emerge with more than enough for the exchange. ] [ If that line seemed a bit messy, I can't r e a l l y e x p l a i n w h y I r e j e c t e d 18.f4 , preparing to squeeze on the kingside if the k n i g h t g o e s b a c k t o f 6 a n d e v e n xf4 19.xf4 f8 20.d3 a6 21.xe8 xe8 22.g4 retains some pressure. ] 18...h4 19.e2 fxg4?! [ Now White is on top once again. Zhigalko may have been worried about his bishop being trapped after 19...f6! , but I haven't found a good way to do so and 20.f2 xf2 21.xf2 a6 should be OK for Black. ] 20.fxg4 f6 21.f2 xf2 22.xf2 xe2+ 23.xe2 f8 [ Bringing his final piece into play, whilst avoiding blundering with 23...e8?? 24.g5 and the knight has nowhere to go. ] 24.fe4 White is pressing, but Black's defences will not be at all easy to break. ce8 25.a3 [ P e r h a p s I s h o u l d h a v e t r i e d 25.g3!? , aiming for a timely invasion on the e-file or even a sudden switch to the queenside. T h a t s a i d , h6 26.h4 f7!? ( 26...f7 is a less convincing attempt to untangle, in view of 27.xf6+ xf6 28.g5 hxg5 29.hxg5 e8 30.e4 f5 31.e3! when W hite retains a fair bit of pressure) 27.g5 xe4+ 28.xe4 f5 should be defensible for Black, since he always has the idea of exchanging on g5 and bringing his rook to the h-file. ] 25...b6 26.h3 h6 27.h4 f7 28.xf6 [ At first I thought that my 27th move was strong, since 28.g5 xe4+ 29.xe4 e7 30.h5 looks like it may leave d6 in some trouble, but Black can hold that key point
with hxg5 31.hxg5 d8 32.e1 c7 . ] 28...xf6 29.f1+ e7 30.xf8 xf8 31.e3 a6 32.f4 c7 33.e4 [ This could have waited and 33.d3 b5 34.b3 would have retained control and an edge, albeit with one's money still heavily on a draw. ] 33...e7 34.g5 Now if White had time to exchange on h6 and go Ng3-f5 he might have something serious, but Black's counterplay is in time. b5! 35.g3 [ W hite doesn't have anything after 35.b4 cxb4 36.axb4 bxc4 37.xc4 b5 38.b3 d3 , ] [ but perhaps an Ulf Andersson would still have found a way to grind away after 35.b3! bxc4 36.bxc4 a8 37.g3 b6 38.d3 .] 35...hxg5+ 36.xg5 bxc4 37.xc4 a5 38.f5+?! [ Having briefly checked that Black couldn't activate his knight I accepted that it was going to be a draw, but it was still a lu dicro us d ecision to a llo w Zh iga lk o t o torture me for a bit. Indeed, 38.g6 f8 39.e4 e8 followed by two sensible moves and a draw offer (an illegal act under ECU rules before move 41) would have ended the game somewhat faster than now occurred. ] 38...xf5 39.xf5 a8 40.a4 b6 41.b3 d7 42.e2 e5 43.h5 f7 44.g5 W hite's bishop might be bad, but it does prevent the knight from getting into play and the white king is just too active for Black to have any realistic hopes of obtaining anything. d7 45.f5 f6 46.f3 g8 [ As good a try as anything, especially as 46...c4 47.bxc4 d7 48.d1 b6 49.b3 would have held the queenside when Black even loses if he goes in for d7 50.c2 e5? 51.c5 . ] 47.g5 e7 48.e2 c8 49.f5 b6 50.b5 e7 51.c4 d7 52.e2 f7 53.g5 e5 54.f5 e7 55.g5 f8 56.f5 f7 57.g5 e7 58.f5 d7 59.b5+ e7 ½-½
2184
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2236 Palos,Osman Nagel,Herbert Vienna op (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2375 2210 1994
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e6 8.b1 c7 9.b5+ d7?! 10.e2! An excellent move preparing the thematic thrust e4-e5, while increasing the domination on the light squares, which , as a re sult , allows us to est imat e Black's 9th move as a dubious alternative since it more or less forces a6 [ 10...exd5? 11.e5! dxe5 12.fxe5 e4 13.xd5 xe5 14.c4! With the devastating threat of Bf4. d8 15.f3 e8 This cannot be called a position for Black! ] 11.xd7+ xd7 [ 11...bxd7 looks better, but 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.c4 for instance is a straightforward concern for Black. But I even prefer ( 13.f3 Here, with the idea Ng5, emphasizing what is wrong with Black's po sition a f ter th e exchange of the light-squared bishops... )] 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 d5 15.h3! I like this move! Thus, all the lines remain open and in addition to the square on g5 this knight can go to f4 putting pressure on B l a c k ' s e 6 p a w n . c6 16.0-0 0-0-0 The development of the knight on the edge is of interest but has also unguarded the important d4-square, with access to f5 for a black knight to obstruct the f-file. So could Black have put up sterner resistance to defend in the critical position? [ 16...d4 17.g4 b5 ( 17...0-0-0 18.g5; 17...xc2? 18.xd5 xd5 19.a4+ b5 20.xc2 ) A) 18.g5 e7 19.ce4 h5 20.h3 f5! ( 20...g6 21.f6+! xf6 22.exf6 0-0 23.f7+ g7 24.be1 ) 21.xe6 xe6 22.xf5 d7 23.e1 g6 24.f3 xh3 25.xh3 e6 26.g3 hg8=; B) 18.xd5! xd5 ( 18...exd5 19.e6 ) 19.f4 B1) 19...d7 20.a5! Then Rbd1 and a timely, and lethal c2-c3, for instance. g6 21.bd1 c6 22.xg6! g8 23.xf8+ xf8 24.xf8 xf8 25.f4+ e8 ( 25...g7 26.g5+ h8 27.d8;
25...f5 26.g4 f7 27.d8! ) 26.f6 d5 27.h1 b4 28.c3 bxc3 29.xc3; B2) 19...xa2 20.e3! ( 20.h5+ d7 is less clear. ) B2a) 20...xc2 21.f3; B2b) 20...g5 21.xg5 e7 22.h5+ d7 23.bd1 c4 24.c3! xc3 25.d3 b4 ( 25...c4 26.c1 ) 26.f7 c4 27.xd4 cxd4 28.fd1; B2c) 20...f5 21.bd1!! A good recipe for 'cooking' a successful mating net is to surround the enemy king first! B2c1) 21...xe3 22.h5+ g6 23.xg6 xd1 ( 23...hxg6 24.xg6+ e7 25.f7# ) 24.xf8+ d8 25.xd1+ B2c11) 25...c7 26.d6+ c8 ( 26...b7 27.f7+ ) 27.c6+ b8 ( 27...d8 28.d7# ) 28.d7+ a7 29.b6#; B2c12) 25...d5; B2c2) 21...a7 22.h5+ f7 23.f3! c7 24.g4 xe3 25.a8+ f7 ( 25...e7 26.g6+! hxg6 27.d8# ) 26.g6+!! xf1 ( 26...f5 27.xh8+ g8 28.gxf5 ) 27.xf1+ xg6 28.e8+ g5 29.h5#; B3) 19...e4! The most stubborn defence. 20.c3 f5 B3a) Unfortunately 21.g3? fails to xf4!; B3b) 21.xf5 xf5 22.xe6 d7 23.g5 e7 ( 23...g6 24.g4 ) 24.e6+ is only a little better for White.; B3c) 21.d1! Against such a vulnerable opposing king, W hite should strive to keep the queens on the board! c6 22.a4 b8 23.axb5 axb5 24.c4! xe5 ( 24...xe5 25.d5 d3 26.c7+ d7 27.f4! d6 28.xb5; 24...b4 25.a4 c8 26.a6 c7 27.d5 ) 25.cxb5 ( 25.xe6 xe6 26.e1 e5 27.f4 d6 28.h5+ g6 29.xe5 xe5 30.xe5 xe5 31.xe5 d7= ) 25...d8 ( 25...d4 26.b6 With the terrible threat Qa4+.) 26.h1! After this move, introducing the pernicious threat of Ng6 and Bf4 2185
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 24...c6 25.f7+ d7 26.cxb5 xb5 winning the rook on b8, the attack just 27.xb5! axb5 28.a7+ d8 29.a5+ gets too strong... and f or only one b6 30.xb6+ xb6 31.d7# ] pawn! ( 26.b6 d4+ 27.h1 d6 [ 24...c6 25.cxb5+ axb5 28.h5+ g6 ) 26...b7 ( 26...d6 A) 26.e3 c4 ( 26...a8 27.d3 ) 27.c3! xc3 28.xd6 ) 27.b6! 27.xc4 a8 28.a5+ b6 29.d2 27.Ba5 and 27.Re1 most probably also is less fun and convincing.; win. d7 ( 27...d4 28.e2 d7 B) 26.fc1!! e2+ ( 26...c4 27.e3 29.c3 d6 30.h5 ) 28.e1 f5 e2+ 28.h1 xc1 29.c5# ) 27.h1 29.b7 d6 30.xe6! xe6 31.a4! xc1 28.xc1 e7 ( 31...b8 32.c6 0-0 B1) 28...a4 29.a5! gf8 ( 29...a7 33.xd7 ) 32.h4+! f8 ( 32...e8 30.f3+ d7 31.f7+ e7 32.xg8 33.c4; 32...f6 33.g5 ) 33.f1+xa5 33.c8# ) 30.d3! c4 31.e4+ I find it very revealing to analyse these c5 32.xc4+ bxc4 33.xc4#; 'tense' positions with Fritz, which is so B2) 28...c4 29.xc4 bxc4 ( 29...a8 much stronger than any human being 30.a5+ xa5 31.xc5+ b6 in the tactical domain, to sometimes 32.xa5+ b7 33.c7+ ) 30.a6+ correct his 'horizon' (thanks to my own d5 ( 30...c7 31.a5+ b8 32.b1+ feeling for the game) and try to find out b7 33.xb7# ) 31.xc4+ xe5 the real 'truth' about them. Somehow it ( 31...c6 32.xc5+ b7 33.b1+ feeds your unconscious with tactical a8 34.a3+! a7 35.f3+ ) motives and one day you will use one 32.e2+ of them without even knowing where it B2a) 32...f6 33.f2+ e7 c a m e f ro m ! No t h in g re vo lu t i o n a r y ( 33...g6 34.g3+ f5 35.f4+ about that, it is just the normal way of g6 36.g5+ f7 37.f1# ) learning things on the endless 'road 34.g5+ d6 35.xc5#; to improvement'... ] B2b) 32...d6 33.d3+ c6 17.g5 e8 34.a6+ d5 35.d1 wins at least [ 17...d4 18.g4 h5 ( 18...f5 19.xd5 the queen for nothing. ] xd5 20.f7 xd2 21.xh8 e7 22.f7 ) 19.h3 xc3 20.xc3 e8 25.xa4!! [ 25.xa4 bxa4 26.a5+ c6 27.b6+ 21.xd4 cxd4 ( 21...xd4+ 22.h1 g4 c7 28.fb1! xd6 ( 28...b3 29.6xb3+ 23.b3 ) 22.f7 e7 ( 22...e7 23.xe6 c6 30.b6+ c7 31.xa6#; 28...d8 xe6 24.xe6 ) 23.bf1 xf7 24.xf7 29.b7+! e7 30.xd7+ xd7 31.b7+ e7 25.xe6 e8 26.xg7 ] c6 32.c7# ) 29.exd6+ d7 30.b7+ 18.f7! g8? xd6 31.c7+ c6 ( 31...e7 32.e5+ [ 18...xc3 19.xc3 g8 20.bd1 d4 f8 33.d6+ ) 32.1b6+ d7 33.e5+ ( 20...c7 21.d6+ xd6 22.exd6 d7 d8 34.b8+ e7 35.6b7+ f8 23.h5 ) 21.e4! ( 21.xd4 cxd4 22.c3 36.d6# Some great pictures of mate for a b8 23.cxd4 e7 ) 21...h6 ( 21...c6 great game by the Bosnian International 22.xh7 e2+ 23.h1 xc3 24.d3 Master! ] e7 25.xc3 ef8 26.g6 ) 22.xd4 cxd4 23.d6+ xd6 24.xd4 c5? 25.xc5+ 1-0 c7 26.xc7+ xc7 27.f7++- ] 19.e4! b5 20.fd6+ xd6 21.xd6+ c7 22.c4! The infiltrated knight on d6 deserves a better fate than 'merely' being exchanged for a rook! d4 23.d3 b6 24.a3! The slaughter is on! a4 [ 24...b4 25.xb4! One may say: "Naturally" cxb4 26.xb4 b8 27.f7 ] [ 24...ef8 25.xc5+ ] 2186
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c6 18.d1 ] A45 [ 14...e5 15.d2 d6 16.b1 leaves Black 2471 with insoluble problems ] 2630 17.10.2005 15.d2 b2 [ 15...a6!? ] 16.e2 e5 17.b5+ d8 18.0-0 g6 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 19.f4 White's manoeuvering with this Bishop 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.e4 xb2 8.d2 is a joy to behold h5 20.g3 h4 21.d2 xc3 9.c7 b6 It is very early in the life of 9 h6 22.e5! The Black queen has been shunted Bc7 and perhaps life will be short, perhaps not. right out of the game and now the action starts. Here's another recent try by Black. 9...b6 The coming play is easier to understand than restores a5 as a retreat square and prepares what went before. e8 23.e4 f5 24.g3 id e a s s u c h a s . . . . B c 8 - a 6 , c o ve r i n g c 4 i f h5 25.xc5! dxc5 26.c6 c7 27.xa8 needed. 10.c1! White forces the opponent xa8 28.e6 c7 29.xc5! A superb move, to make a critical decision as to which way fatally exposing Black's King . bxc5 30.b2! ba6 31.xh8 g5 the queen should go. [ 31...e8 32.xc7 xc7 33.b2! [ 10.e2 might also be pla yable : a3 is a switchback which forces mate! ] ( 10...a5 11.e5 d6 12.c3 a3 13.c4 a6 14.g3 ) 11.b1 a6! 32.xf8+ e8 33.xf5 9 Bc7 will give Black considerable problems at the board and if he 12.b3 a5 13.c1 ] or she is not extremely well prepared could 10...a5 lead to a quick win. So for the time being, the [ 10...e3+ 11.e2 d6 12.c4 g5 A) I think I prefer the immediate 13.a4+! ball is in Black's court to come up with some w i t h t h e i d e a o f t a k i n g o n b 6 : b5 new ideas in this most interesting opening ( 13...d7 14.a3! and Nxb6 is hard to duel. stop. ) 14.xb5+ fd7 15.b1! f6 1-0 ( 15...g6 16.a4! renewing the idea of Nb6 a6 17.c6! xc7 18.xc7 g7 A45 19.c6+This would be a typical raid on 2238 the Black queenside, which seems Peroutka,Ivo 1921 rather compromised without the presence Okara,Andrey 2382 of the queen! ) 16.e5! with a big attack.; Pardubice Czech op2 (1) 12.07.2007 B) 13.xb8?! xb8 14.a4+ d7 [Eric Prié] 15.xa7 g6 16.f4 f6 17.g3 h6 18.h3 0-0 19.xd7 b7 20.a8 xd7 1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.f3? A curiosity... 21.xb6 c7 22.xc8 cxc8 23.a6 cxd4 4.xd4? b2 24.c4 a8 25.c2 a3 26.0-0 [ 4.xd4 c6 ] g7 27.b1 a4 28.b3 xb3 29.xb3 4...e5!-+ Ah, the bishop on f4! 5.xe5 a5+ xe4 30.b7 a8 31.f2 f6 32.f3 6.c3 Although not an isolated case: ea4 33.g4 h6 34.g3 a3+ 35.b3 [ 6.c3 xe5 0-1 Shuler, M-Hall, E (2345) xb3+ 36.axb3 a3 37.e4 xb3+ USA 1990 ] 38.g2 d4 39.c4 b2+ 40.g3 e2 6...xe5 7.f3 a5 8.e3 b4 9.d3 0-1 Garnett, J-Ozanne, M/Douglas 2005 ] xc3+ 10.bxc3 xc3+ 11.e2 0-0 12.b1 11.e5! A curious retreat which makes perfect d5 13.b3 c7 14.b1 c6 15.h4 e8 sense now that Black has played . ..b7-b6. 16.c3 e5 17.h5 xd3 18.xd3 e4 The queen is in danger once again. a6 19.h6 c4 20.xc4 dxc4 21.a3 g4 [ 11...d6 12.c3 xa2 ( 12...a3 13.c4 22.hxg7 ed8 23.h4 f5 24.e1 d3 xa2 14.a1 ) 13.c4 a3 14.b1+- ] 25.a5 ad8 26.xg4 fxg4 27.d4 xc3 12.c3 a3 13.c4 xc4 14.xc4 d6 0-1 [ 14...e6 15.e2! exd5 16.xf6 dxc4 17.d5! also looks much better for White: 2237 Pavlovic,Milos Aleksandrov,Aleksej SCG-chT1 Vrnjacka Banja (8) [Andrew Martin]
2187
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 effect the ideal Colle/London central A45 transformation. ] 2434 Pert's recommendation, but by no 2194 9.0-0 16.11.2013 means forced and practice has also seen: [ a) 9.h3 h5 10.0-0 ( 10.b3 b6 11.xb6 axb6 12.b5 surely wouldn't have given W hite anything in Porper-Haessel, 1.d4 f6 2.g5 It's great to see that Pert is Calgary 2013, had Black now broken the pin still happy to play the Trompowsky despite w i t h t h e l o g i c a l d7 ) 10...d6? having, of course, written a fascinating book ( alternatively, 10...e7 11.b3 c8 on it this year. e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.d3 12.dxc5 d7 13.d6 xd6 14.cxd6 c5 f6 This solid move has become established 15.b5 xd3 16.xd3 d7 17.c4 as the most challenging. White finds himself a gave White an edge in no less a game than tempo ahead of a London, but with Black's R.Pert-Wells, 4NCL 2011,; but 10...cxd4! light-squared bishop still able to get outside 11.cxd4 d6 was Eric's extremely sensible the pawn chain. 6.c3 recommendation for Black) 11.b3! b8 [ White can also begin by moving his king's 12.dxc5 xf4 13.exf4 left Black in trouble in knight, but few Trompowsky players any Kalinitshev-A. Volodin, Tallinn 2006, which lo n g e r h a v e a n y c o n f i d e n c e i n 6.dxc5?! can be found in the Archive. ] on account of c6 7.b5 a5+ 8.c3 a6! [ b) 9.a4 d7 ( based on the notes to Prie9.xc6+ bxc6 10.d4 e6 11.b4 a3 Schaefer, Arvier 2007, 9...c4!? 10.c2 d7 , as Eric liked to point out. ] appeared to impress Eric when he had to 6...c6 7.d2 White continues to hold back face it ) 10.0-0 e7 11.h3 h5 12.ae1!? on the deployment of his king's knight in the 0-0 13.c2 f5!? 14.h2 c4 15.e2 g6 hope that Black will push his e-pawn. g4 seemed fine for Black in Laznicka-Greenfeld, [ Mark Hebden preferred 7...g6!? against me Beer Sheva 2013. ] and this move might well be something of a theoretical obstacle for White. The key line 9...c8 [ This has received Avrukh's stamp of runs 8.gf3 g7 9.0-0 ( 9.e5?! approval. The move may again appear a wa s m y ra t h e r ra sh ch o ice in P a lli se r little mysterious, but it offers support to c6 in Hebden, Leeds (rapid) 2013, and after b6 the event of any Qa4 and/or Bb5 and Ne5 10.b3 h5! I was already in trouble) r a i d . M o r e o ve r , 9...d6?! is well met by 9...0-0 10.h3 d7 11.b5!? 10.b3! , with e7 11.xd6 xd6 , as in Anastasian-Ghaem Maghami, (Bogosavljevic-Boskovic, Kragujevac 2013) Stepanakert 2004. White deploys his forces 12.xb7 surely a safe enough pawn to grab to preventing ...e5 and after a6 12.xc6 as b8 13.a6 cxd4 14.cxd4 xb2? bxc6 13.b4 c4?! ( unfortunately Pert fails to fails to 15.b5 . ] take into account Finkel's suggestion of I believe this was a novelty when 13...cxb4 14.cxb4 a5! against which I'm yet 10.a4!? to find any route to an advantage for White) played, although it did receive a good two 14.e4 the Armenian Grandmaster enjoyed a pages of analysis in 'Playing the Trompowsky'. d7 11.e5 dxe5 12.xe5 d7 13.g3 pleasant edge. ] h5 One suspects that Guthrie may have 8.gf3 e6 [ Worried by Qa4 and Bb5 ideas, Black prepared with the aid of Pert's book for the chose 8...c8 in Palliser-Sreeves, European two players are racing down the main line Club Cup, Rhodes 2013, but this allows considered there. 14.dxc5!? [ This is actually relegated to a note, with 9.h3!? and after xf3 ( 9...h5 isn't as 14.fe1 Pert's main line. The main idea is loose as it might appear, with 10.a4 e6 e7 15.dxc5 xc5 16.b3 b6 17.h4 11.e5 b6 12.b1 cxd4 13.exd4 e7 when Black's broken kingside should give 14.0-0 0-0 looking extremely solid for the W hite a little something. More tests are second player) 10.xf3 e6 11.0-0 d6?! certainly required! ] 12.dxc5! xc5 13.e4 I had managed to 2239 Pert,Richard Guthrie,David British League (4NCL) (1.2) [Richard Palliser]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14...xc5 15.h4 Once again we see this idea. g6?! [ Too accommodating, so perhaps Guthrie h a d ju s t b e e n f in d i n g se n sib le -lo o kin g moves over the board up to this point. As pointed out by Pert, Black should prefer 15...g6! , since it's not at all easy to trap his bishop. After 16.b3 e7 17.a4 0-0 18.f3 f5!? 19.ad1 Black's position looks a little loose, but it may not be too bad with White's queen also potentially offside. ] 16.xg6 fxg6 17.f3 0-0 18.e4 This "definitely looks better for White, who will continue with Rad1 and Qg4 to pressure Black's weak central pawns" writes Pert, the man who will now give us a model demonstration of that very plan. h6 19.ad1 f7 20.g4 Both sides proceed logically, W hite increasing the central pressure and Black covering g5 and e6, but now Guthrie suffers a rush of blood to the head. h5?! [ White's queen will scarcely be buried out of p l a y o n h 3 . 20...b6 21.fe1 g5 looked somewhat more to the point. ] 21.h3 dxe4 [ Sub-optimal, but it's hard to view 21...ce8 22.g5 f6 23.h4 e5 24.fe1! ( 24.d3?! xf2+! 25.xf2 xg5 isn't so effective) 24...xf2+ 25.xf2 xg5 26.c5 f6 27.exd5 as a major improvement. ] 22.g5 f5 23.xe6 [ Pert opts to activate his pieces, but he would also have been doing pretty well after 23.xf5 when Black must either sacrifice the exchange or suffer with xf5 24.xe4 e7 25.d7 . ] 23...xh3 24.gxh3 f5 25.d7 b6? [ Another strange choice from Guthrie, not least as White will hardly be hindered by the d e f e n c e o f f 2 . I n s t e a d , a f t e r 25...e7 26.e1 b5 27.e2 f6 Black would still have been in the game. ] 26.xg7+ h8 27.xg6 e8 [ 27...e5 28.xe5+ xe5 29.h6+ g8 30.h1 f7 31.f4 looks equally hopeless. ] 28.g7! Pert finds the most effective method to simplify. h7 29.xe8 xg6 30.d6 a5 31.a3 h4 This was worth a punt, but was always unlikely to affect the result. 32.xh4
e5 33.g3 f3+ 34.g2 d2 35.d1 e3 36.fxe3 xe3 37.e1 g5 38.h4 d8 39.xb7 d5 40.xd8 1-0
2240 Pert,Richard G Le Roux,Jean Pierre EuChJun Boys (8) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2245 2285 24.07.2001
Trompowsky Attack: If you are going to allow pawn weaknesses in your position, please make sure that you get decent piece activity in return, or your pawn structure will come back to haunt you. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 d6 Not as forcing or popular as the main line with Nc6. Black's score with this move has been much less impressive. 9.xb6 axb6 10.e4 In the Nc6 line, this move can be met with d5. W hich would now simply lose a tempo. e6 11.b5+ fd7 12.c1 White has time to re-organise, as the weakness on b6 is long term. Just look at it, it's going to be there for quite a while. c6 13.e3 f5 Black does his best to u n s e t t l e h i s o p p o n e n t , a s h e wi l l s u f f e r structurally if White is allowed to settle in and organise his position. 14.ge2 fxe4 15.fxe4 f6 Attacking the new weakness on e4, but leaving the miserable b6 pawn to its fate. 16.g3 h5 17.h4 d5 18.ce2 dxe4 19.xb6 It's questionable if Black's strategy has been a success, as the new weakness on e4 is at least as vulnerable as the old weakness on b6. And in the process of just swapping weaknesses, Black has further mangled his own structure. h6 20.e3 h7 21.f4 f7 22.h3 White is assuming control, creating new threats with every move. xa2 Bagging a pawn, usually a good thing, but Black is in no position to contest the open files with his Rh7 so badly misplaced. 23.0-0 g4 24.c5 h6 25.xa2 xa2 26.a1 b3 27.a8+ The decisive infiltration. f7 28.g5+ g8 29.xc6 Bxe7 will win a piece. 1-0
2189
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 see Andrew Martin's notes to PavlovicA45 Aleksandrov, Vrnjacka Banja 2005, in the 2464 Archive. ] 2261 29.12.2010 11.e2 d6 12.c4 h6 [ A new move, but not one which solves Black's problems. 12...g5 had been seen in Garnett-Ozanne, Douglas 2005, and here 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ Andy has pointed out that 13.a4+! b5 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.e4!? Pert goes for the 14.xb5+ fd7 15.b1 would have been critical double-pawn sacrifice. xb2 8.d2 rather strong, with 16 e5 one idea and 16 xc3 9.c7 Fashion has rather turned its Qa4 followed by 17 Nb6 another. ] back on this variation, with only four games played with it in 2010, but W hite's cause is 13.a4+! Here too the check is strong. d7? [ After 13...b5 14.xb5+ fd7 15.b1 not exactly a dead one as far as I'm Black is in some trouble, as we saw above, concerned. b6? with the slight difference in the position of [ Quite a common but misguided approach. his queen making no real difference. Ledger Black's queen will not be safe should she tries to avoid such a fate, but his return to a5. Instead 9...d6 is critical and unfortunate choice only makes matters even best. Then one recent encounter saw worse. ] A) 10.b1!? fd7 is a critical and pretty a6 How else to save the rook? i m p o r t a n t a l t e r n a t i v e , w h e n 11.a4 14.a3 wa s c o n s i d e r e d b y E r i c i n t h e g a m e 15.xb6 a7 16.xb8 b7 It's likely that Milad ino vic-V achie r Lagra ve, P lovdiv Black was pinning all his hopes on this fork, 2008, ( but here 11.b5!? is also possible, but White's highly-aesthetic, Speelman-like when one line runs g6 12.e2 f6 next demonstrates that he will actually emerge 13.c4 g7 14.e5! with the initiative and a piece ahead. 17.a8! e6 [ Black is just a piece down after this and decent compensation for White ); might even have given up straight away. Of B) 10.e2 e5? ( this has been known course, he would have wanted to go t o b e m is g u id e d f o r a wh il e n o w, b u t 17...xb8 , but 18.c7+ d8 19.a5 evidently 7 e4 is still catching plenty of leaves him without a good defence to the players out Black should prefer 10...e3 threat of smothered mate: e6 does avoid 11.c4 h6 when the key line runs such a fate, but it's clearly a massacre after 12.a5 g5! 13.d2! h4+! 14.g3 h5 20.xa6+ e8 21.xb8 . ] 15.g2 h6 , which subscribers will find d8 19.xa6 exd5 20.e5! c o v e r e d i n I va n i s e v i c - N a t a f , F r e n c h 18.c7+ L e a g u e 2 0 0 7 , a n d h e r e N a t a f h a s Pert continues to play with great energy and unsurprisingly assessed 16.0-0!? bd7 to attack. dxe5 21.a5+ c8 22.xe5 a7 17.g4 g6 18.g3 b6 19.e3 g7 23.f4 [ I dare say that White wasn't agonising over 20.ef5 h5 a s u n c l e a r) 11.c4? each move by this point, with the win pretty ( returning the favour a fan of the gambit much in the bag, but 23.b1 would have s h o u l d r e a l l y k n o w t h a t 11.g4! saved him a bit of work, with Black places Black in some danger) 11...h5 defenceless down the b-file in view of the 12.a5 b5 ( 12...g5!? looks more to the neat point b7 24.c7+! xc7 25.b8# . ] point ) 13.e3 a6 14.h4 and Black's o f f s i d e q u e e n g a v e W h i t e d e c e n t 23...g5 24.c3 c6 25.b4 Arguably compensation in Dauenheimer-Raykhman, White has drifted a little, but now Pert begins to calculate well and soon obtains a mating Bad Liebenzell 2010. ] 10.c1! Forcing Black to commit his queen to attack. d4 26.xd4 xf4 27.xc6 xa2 a4 29.b4 a3 30.a6+ one flank or the other, but on neither side will 28.e5 Beginning what will be the final king hunt. d7 it be free from further harassment. e3+ [ After 10...a5 11.e5! White rescues his 31.d2+ e6 32.c8+! xe5 [ Sporting allowing a mid-board mate, rather bishop and enjoys a powerful initiative 2241 Pert,Richard G Ledger,David Hastings (2.9) [Richard Palliser]
2190
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 t h a n r e s i g n o r b e c r u s h e d b y 32...e7 33.xc5 . ] 33.f4+ e4 34.c4# 1-0
2242 Petkov,Vladimir Galiana Salom,Juan Ramon IV Open Palmi ESP (4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2477 2221 23.11.2009
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6!? 3.xf6 exf6 4.c4 The move that suggests itself in order to avoid [ 4.e3 d5! ] 4...d5 5.cxd5 xd5?! [ 5...cxd5!? Another quite interesting feature of Black's second move. 6.c3 c6 7.e3 e6 8.b3?! d7 9.ge2 a5 10.b5 xb5 11.xb5 b4+ 12.bc3 c8 13.d2 c4+ 1/2-1/2 Stamenkovic, D (2417)-Capatti, E (2169) San Jose de Rio Preto 2008 ] 6.c3 b4 7.e3 0-0 8.ge2 [ 8.a3!? xc3+ 9.bxc3 d7 10.f3 ( 10.c4!? ) 10...b6 11.e2 c5 12.0-0 After completing development W hite will always emerge out of the opening slightly better thanks to his central predominance. e6 13.d2 cxd4 14.cxd4 d7 15.b1 ( 15.e4 a4 16.b1 Threatening Bb5... a6 17.f3 Threatening Rxb7... ab8 18.d5 f5 19.d4 ) 15...fc8 16.e4 f5 17.d3 xe4 18.xe4 g6 19.a4 ab8 20.b5 e7 21.d3 c3 22.e2 c8 23.b2 c7 24.d2 White is still clearly b e t t e r a s a f t e r t h e o b v i o u s ( 24.fc1 but the game will soon inexplicably end in a draw. ) 24...d6 25.a5 b6 26.b4 d8 27.a6 f5 1/2-1/2 Stefanova, A (2463)Dizdarevic, E (2504) Solin 2007 ] [ 8.f3 a5 9.c2 f5 10.d3 ] 8...g4? [ 8...d8 ] 9.a3! xc3+ [ 9...xe2 10.axb4! xd1 11.xd5 ] 10.xc3! h5 11.e2 xe2 12.xe2 xe2+ 13.xe2 d7 [ 13...a5 14.d5 ] 14.b4 With a treat of an ending for White. ac8 15.e4 b6
[ 15...f5? 16.d6 ] 16.hc1 ce8 17.f3 e7 18.g4 d8 19.a4 h5 20.h3 Why not [ 20.gxh5!? a6 ( 20...d5 No threat 21.a5 d7 22.a6! f5+ 23.g4 d5 24.f4 b8 25.axb7 xb7 26.h6 ) 21.b5! ( 21.h6 f5 22.g3 g6 ) 21...axb5 22.axb5 cxb5 23.c5 d5 ( 23...b4 24.h6 ) 24.b1 f5 25.g3 xc5 26.dxc5 c4 27.xb5 ] 20...d5 21.b5 cxb5 22.axb5 b6? [ 22...hxg4+ 23.hxg4 ] 23.g3? But this is exaggerated! [ 23.gxh5 A pawn is a pawn! h7 24.c6 b4 25.c4 d5 26.g3 ed7 27.ac1+- ] 23...hxg4+ 24.hxg4 g6? 25.c6? By obstinately refusing to calculate, White will almost draw this game. [ 25.e4! Plainly winning the knight. b4 26.c4 d3 27.e3 b2 28.c2+- ] 25...ed7 26.ac1 g7 27.e4 e7 28.1c4 dd7 29.c8 c7 30.c3 e8 31.a8 d6 32.a4 f5 33.g5 e4 34.xe4 fxe4+ 35.g4 f6 36.gxf6+ xf6 37.f4 d5 38.4xa7 f5+ 39.g3 g5+ 40.h3 h5+ 41.g2 g5+ 42.f1 xa7 43.xa7 xb5 44.b7 b2 45.g2 e6 46.g3 f6?! [ 46...g5 ] 47.f4! xf2+ 48.xe4 b2 49.d5? [ 49.c7 g5 ( 49...b3 50.c6+ g5 51.d5 ) 50.c6+ f7 51.e5 g4 52.f6+ g7 53.f4 g2 54.d5 g3 55.d6 g1 56.d7 d1 57.e6 h6 58.g4 ] 49...g5 50.e4 g4 51.e5+ g6 52.b8 f7? The blunder W hite has been desperately waiting for! [ 52...g7 53.e6 e2 54.d6 g3 55.xb6 g2 56.b1 f6 57.d5 f2 58.g1 d2 59.c6 e7= ] 53.e6+ Gainin g a de cisive tempo . e7 54.b7+ f6 55.f7+ g6 56.f4 e2 [ 56...g2 57.e4 ] 57.xg4+ f5 58.g1 1-0
2191
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A45 17.xd7 f8 18.xa7?? White is too greedy, 2370 as a genuine shock, at least equivalent to the 2540 rook sacrifice on d7, is waiting for him. [ 18.xa6 xd7 19.xh7 And the bishop 1993 simply has no squares. h8 And there is no b a c k r a n k m o t i v e . ( 19...e5 20.d2+ ) 20.xf7+ xf7 21.xf7+ e7 22.b5+ 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 a6 d6 ( 22...d8 23.g8+ c7 24.xa8 ) 5.d2 axc5 6.xe4 xe4 7.d5! xg5 23.e5+ xe5 24.xe7+ xe7 25.xe5+- ] 8.hxg5 b6 9.0-0-0 xf2 10.f3? 19.b8+ c8 20.b5+ Unfortunately letting the black queen escape 18...xa7 while blocking the king's bishop. See the The final touch of the attack, however... xb5 s u b s e q u e n t g a m e s f o r t h e s u c c e s s i v e !! 21.xa7 [ 21.xc8+ e7 And the presumptuous improvements. e3+ 11.b1 e6 12.c4 white lady gazes upon herself checkmated! ] g6? In the first game ever played on our Black is completely winning with an critical position after the h-pawn recapture on 21...c6 g5, in m y d at aba se , W hite did n ot prove extra bishop and a safe king. The way he, rated 2540, will now drown himself in a thimble enough compensation after [ 12...d5! The counter approach one should of complications is absolutely stupefying and always favour and seek against gambits, a c t u a l l y r e m i n d s m e o f m y o wn g a m e s ! especially in such situations where there 22.d1 xe4 23.d2 b7 [ 23...h6 24.xb6 h8-+ ] exists the possibility of emphasizing arguments other than an extra pawn later 24.a4+ b5 [ 24...c6 ] on. 13.b5+ d7 14.xb7 c8 [ 24...c6 ] Kosic, D-Kiselev, S Becici 1993 1/2 (53) B e c a u s e o f t h e m o r e c o m m o n o r d e r 25.a5 d5 26.a4 b4? I criticize this move featured in the next 3 games, the move only because it is difficult to do simpler than [ 26...bxa4 27.xa4+ c6 28.a3 f5 number was superior by one unit however. ] Followed by Kf7-g8. W ith extra material, 13.d3 c5 14.f4 g7 15.e4 b6 16.e2 think of putting your king in a safe place a6? before anything else! ] [ 16...b7! 17.xd7 ( 17.hd1 c8 18.c3 f6 28.b5 fxg5! 29.c4! d5 19.exd5 xd5 ) 17...xd7 18.xf7+ 27.d4 Could Black have possibly overlooked this last e7 A) 19.d1+ d5 It is different because rattle? [ 29.d6+ e7 30.xb7 f1+ 31.d1 the bishop can interpose. 20.f4 af8 xd1# ] ( 20...b4? 21.e5+ ) 21.e3 c5 29...e4+?? 22.b3 f4; [ 29...b3 30.d1 e4+ 31.a1 c6 B) 19.b5+ d8 20.d1+ d5 21.exd5 32.a7 ( 32.d6+ xd6 ) 32...e5! ] ( 21.f4 b4 22.e5 xb5 23.exd5; [ 29...c6 30.c7+ d7 31.xd5 21.xd5+ exd5 22.xd5+ c7 23.c4+ ( 31.cxd5 f1+ 32.a2 c4+ 33.b3 b8 ) 21...xf7 22.dxe6+ e7 23.exf7 a1# ) 31...f1+ 32.c2 exd5 33.xd5+ hd8 24.h1 ( 24.f1 xf7 ) 24...xf7 ( 33.a7+ c8 34.xd5 xc4+ ) 25.c4+ e7 26.c3 With interesting 33...e6-+ Already a bit more sportsmanlike compensation. Actually, I think that as long than opening the f -file f or the rook and as W hite keeps his rook, and he has 4 fleeing to g8 with the king or opening the bactive files (and the c-file via h4!) at his file and attaching the white queen to the disposal to prevent an exchange, he has defence of b2! ] little risk of losing because of the o p p o s i n g k in gs p re ca ri o u s si t u a t io n , 30.a2 c6? Suddenly it is very difficult for reinforced by the presence of the opposite Black. Fritz gives only [ 30...e7! 31.d6 b1+ 32.xb1 f1+ colour bishops, which, as everyone knows, 33.c2 ( 33.a2? b3+ 34.a3 ) 33...b3+ tends to favour the attack. ] 2243 Pisulinski,Jan Malisauskas,Vidmantas Polanica Zdroj op (2) [Eric Prié]
2192
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 34.d3 c6 And White has to take the Ncd5 Black is utterly crushed. ] perpetual check. 35.a7+ f8 36.b8+ 18.d5! xd5 19.xd5 f6 e7 37.a7+ ] [ 19...e6 20.e5 f6 21.h5+ d8 31.d6+ W h i t e i s wi n n in g a g a i n ! e7 22.g3 c6 23.c3 d4 24.xd4! cxd4 32.a7+ f6 33.d4+ e5 34.xe4+ f7 25.b5 b6 26.a4 a5 ( 26...g6 35.d7+! No b ra gg in g t h is t im e . xd7 27.xg6 xb5 28.xf6+ e8 29.e1+ ) 36.xd7+ g8 37.c5 c8 38.b3 g4 27.e1 Astonishingly (or not...) wins the 39.a5 h5 40.a6 h4 41.a7 h3 42.gxh3 Black queen! ] gxh3 43.b7 h2 44.b8 20.b1 The record of the game which, 1-0 allegedly, saw Black resigning 2 moves later, is wrong in the database from now onwards. Anything wins anyway, even this move! A 2244 A45 clean end could have been : [ 20.h5+ f7 21.c3 Threatening Bc4 Pixton,Aaron 2351 and Re1. b4 22.d5 a4 23.e1+ d8 Efimenko,Zahar 2523 24.xf7 ] Wch U16 Oropesa del Mar (10) 01.11.2001 1-0 [Eric Prié] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.c1 e6 8.c4 b4+ 9.d2! xc4 The point of White's last move is that this capture looks impossible! Indeed, the reason why White lost almost without a fight in the previous 2 games of the November update is that they sacrificed a central pawn which, as often, turned out to be cruelly missing later on when White hoped to maintain some pressure after the opponent finished development, while offering no semi open files to attack on. In the last game of this update Black took the b2 pawn - at least that is a motive familiar to the Tromp player. 10.e4 d4 11.c3 exd5 12.ge2 e5 13.f4 e6 [ 13...h5 14.h4! ( 14.g3 h4 ) 14...dxe4 ( 14...g6 15.g3 h5 16.e5 g8 17.xd5 d8 18.d3 ) 15.g3 g6 16.h5 xh5 17.xh5 exf3 18.e5+ d8 19.gxf3 Black can count his pawns, but if he survives this position more than 10 moves I will eat my hat! ] [ 13...e7 14.b5 a6 15.d6 d8 ( 15...e6 16.f4 ) 16.e5 g8 17.xd5 e7 18.e4+- ] 14.exd5 b6 15.d6! c6 [ 15...g6 See next game. ] 16.d2 Simply developing wins on its own, rather than any forcing idea like Nd5. The d6 pawn literally cleaves Black's position open. d8 17.0-0-0 h6 [ 17...e6 18.e5 With the idea Nf4, Bxf6,
2245 Pixton,Aaron Finegold,Benjamin Foxwoods Open (5) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2432 2533 30.03.2002
Trompowsky Attack: Black tries a risky but ultimately successful novelty in the mainline of the 2...e6 Tromp. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 6.d3 g5 This ambitious move appears to be a novelty. Black chases a kingside pawn and hopes to force a concession. 7.f3 The natural way to try and punish Black for his early queen sortie. [ 7.g3 e5 8.f3 f6 gives White some light squared weaknesses to worry about. ] 7...xg2 8.g1 h3 9.e5?! I'm not a big fan of this lunge, as White is not ready to back it up. It is simply too committal. [ 9.bd2 would be my choice, waiting to see how Black develops before changing the central situation. ] 9...d7 10.bd2 c6 Black is already beginning to highlight some of the problems with White's 9th move. 11.e2 d7 12.0-0-0 dxe5 13.dxe5 c5 Black enjoys a comfortable edge. His slight problems with his g-pawn and his vulnerable queen in no way compensate W hite for the sacrificed pawn. 14.c2 0-0-0 15.g3 h5 16.dg1 e7! The g-pawn is immune from capture so Black takes the opportunity to complete his 2193
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 development. 17.f1 [ 17.xg7 g5! ( Not 17...xd2 18.xd2 xf3 19.g8+ winning. ) 18.7xg5 hxg5 19.xg5 h6 leaves Black well on top. ] 17...g5 [ 17...f5 was a better try for the advantage, one spectacular line pointed out by Fritz being: 18.xg7 xf3 19.xe7 h4 20.gg7 xd2! 21.xc7+ b8 22.xd2 f4+ with mate to follow. ] 18.xg5 hxg5 19.xg5? Now Black keeps control. [ 19.b4 was worth a try h4 ( 19...d7 20.b5 ) 20.bxc5 f4 21.e1 xh2 leaves Black with compensation for the piece, but the issue is still far from clear. ] 19...xh2 20.xg7 xd2! Suddenly it's all over. 21.xd2 f4+ 22.e1 c1+ 23.d1 d8 24.e2 d3+ Nf4 is on the way, with fatal consequences for White. 0-1
2246 Polonski,Vladimir Dzjuba,Vsevolod Paul Keres mem (9) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2279 22.08.2000
In the following game, W hite shows a total d is re ga r d f o r t h e b a sic p rin cip l e s o f t h e Stonewall and is justly punished, Don't try this at home! 1.d4 f6 2.e3 c5 3.c3 b6 4.f4 g6 A kingside fianchetto is undoubtedly the best way of meeting the Stonewall Attack. 5.f3 g7 6.d3 d5 7.c2 I really don't like this move. It commits the queen far too early. Kingside castling was a much better idea, followed by a queenside fianchetto or Qe1-h4. 0-0 8.dxc5 This goes against the spirit of the entire opening. Giving up the centre like this is surely asking for trouble. bxc5 9.c4 c6 10.d2 d4 11.exd4 xd4 12.xd4 xd4 Black has very active pieces, which immediately gives him the advantage, especially as White will have great hardship evacuating his king from the centre. 13.c3 d8 14.e2 f5 15.c1 g4 The dangers of not castling and leaving your vulnerable King in the centre become extremely apparent, as the Black pieces begin to crawl all over the
W hite position. 16.xg4 xg4 17.h3 f5 18.g4 White lashes out in desperation, but his position was pretty hopeless in any case. e4 19.xe4 xe4+ 20.f2 d3 White is help less against the invading Black army. A short sharp lesson on the dangers of giving up the centre in the Stonewall. 0-1
2247 Ponomariov,Ruslan Grischuk,Alexander VI World Blitz blitz (20.10) [Eric Prié]
A45 2744 2771 17.11.2010
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 cxd4 4.exd4 b6 The immediate exchange on d4 only favours White unless he has nothing other than 5.Nf3 or 5.c3 after [ 4...e6 when 5...b6! intending ...Ba6 at the appropriate moment (i.e. when White's king b i s h o p h a s m o ve d f ro m f 1 ) i s a c t u a l l y unpleasant as testifies Kamsky-Topalov Sofia 2007 in this section. For this reason I have advocated 2. Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 c5 4.c3 rather than 4.e3. Likewise, I have long been reluctant to get my London bishop out on move 2 because 2.Bf4 c5 3.c3 was impossible as we saw last month. Until I found A) 5.d3!? is similar b6 ( 5...b6 6.c3! a6? 7.f3 Using the momentary vacancy of the f3 square! d5 8.b5 xb5 9.xb5+ bd7 10.e2; 5...c6 6.c3 And there is no ...Ba6 anymore.) 6.e2 c6 ( 6...xb2 7.bc3 a6 8.0-0 ) 7.bc3 xd4 8.e3 c5 ( 8...e5 9.0-0 xe2+ 10.xe2 c7 11.f4 ) 9.a4 a5+ 10.ec3 ( 10.c3 xe2 11.xc5 f4 12.xf4 xc5 ) 10...b4 ( 10...d6? 11.xd4 xd4 12.b5+; 10...b6 11.a3 ) 11.xd4 xa4 12.f3; B) 5.c3! b4 ( 5...b6? 6.b5 d5 7.d6+ xd6 8.xd6 ) 6.d3 c6 7.f3 d5 8.d2 xc3 9.bxc3 e7 10.h4 I n t e n d i n g N g 5 . h6 11.e2!? 0-0?! ( 11...d5 12.e5 xe5 13.xe5 0-0 14.h5 With an attack, including the ideas Bxh6 (which will probably not offer more than a draw by the way) or g4-g5.) 2194
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12.g4 d5 13.g1 ] [ Nonetheless, 1. d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 c5 3.e3 cxd4 4.cxd4 can be a convenient order of moves for the second player to reach this reversed Carlsbad structure, which is typical of the exchange Caro after 4...d5 thus avoiding 1. d4 d5 2.c4 for all the London players as W hite who reject 1.d4 d5 2.Bf4. Even so there are 1. d4 d5 2.Bf4 c5 3.e4!? and 2... Nf6 3.e3 c5 4.dxc5 which may be playable to prevent this black possibility. This shall be discussed later, anyway, as well as ] [ 4...g6 5.c3!? (which now makes a lot more sense) when studying the attack 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3!? intending 3...d5 4.Qd2 after I f inish with the normal London vs KID. ] 5.c3 d6 In comparison to what I will examine next month, without the exchange on d4, [ 5...xb2? is now bad for Black due to 6.b5 A) 6...a6 7.a3! d5 8.b1 ( 8.d2!? ac7 9.b1 a2 10.c1 xb5 11.a1 ) 8...a2 9.b3 d6 10.c4 f5 ( 10...xf4 11.c3 g4 12.f3 xf3 13.gxf3 ) 11.cxd5 c2 12.e2 xb3 13.xd6+ d7 ( 13...d8 14.xf7+ e8 15.xh8 c3+ 16.d2 a1+ 17.c1 ) 14.b5+! The point of it all. xb5 15.xb5+ c7 16.xf7+ b6 17.xa6 xa6 18.xh8 e4 19.f3 xd5 20.e2 g6 21.c3 g8 22.e5 c8 23.d2 h6+ 24.f4+-; B) 6...d5 7.b1 xa2 8.d2! a6 9.a1 b2 10.c4 b4 11.c3 xa1 ( 11...c2+ 12.d2 ) 12.c7+ ( 12.xa1!? c2+ 13.d2 xa1 14.c7+ d8 15.xa8 b3+ 16.c2 xd4+ 17.xd4 ) 12...d8 13.e6+ dxe6 14.xa1 ] 6.a3 The good and standard indirect protection of the b2-pawn. For riskier options, see the next game. g6 7.c4 g7 8.ge2 0-0 9.0-0 g4 10.h3 xe2 11.xe2 c6 12.c3! With the b2-pawn still untouchable W h it e e me rge s sligh t ly be t t e r o ut o f t h e op en ing th an k s t o h is go od bish o ps in a structure that can be modified. e5 [ 12...xb2 13.b3 a5 14.b1 xa3 15.c1 ]
[ 12...a5 13.d3 xb2 14.b1 a2 ( 14...xa3 15.a1 ) 15.c4! e5 ( 15...fc8 16.c3 xa3 17.b5 a2 18.a1 b2 19.xa5 a6 20.c1 b4 21.a4 ) 16.c3 xa3 17.b5 a2 18.dxe5 dxe5 ( 18...h5 19.h2 c6 20.g4 ) 19.xe5 ad8 20.b2 xd3 21.xa2 xd1 22.xd1 xc4 23.xf6 xf6 24.xa7 ] 13.e3! c7 [ 13...xb2? 14.a2 b6 15.dxe5 ] [ 13...exd4 14.xd4 xb2 15.b5 e4 16.c1 xc3 17.xc3 xc3 18.a4! renewing the threat... g7 ( 18...a6 19.c2 b5 20.xb2 bxa4 21.c2 e5 22.d5 ) 19.b1 e5 20.xb7 d5 ( 20...e7 21.d1 d5 22.b3 ) 21.xc6 dxc4 22.xc4 ] 14.a2 ad8 15.dxe5? A decision which is difficult to understand unless one realizes that this was only a blitz game after all! [ 15.a4 ] 15...dxe5 16.c2 [ 16.a4 d5 17.g5 f6 18.xd5 xg5 19.ad1 b6 20.b4 e7= ] 16...d4 Rapidly smoothing away the game 17.xd4 exd4 18.ad1 h5 19.c4 d3 20.xd3 xd3 21.xd3 xb2 22.b1 e5 23.c5 xc5 24.xb7 f4 25.xf4 c1+ 26.f1 xf4 27.g3 f3 28.g2 xa3 29.d5 d6 30.xd6 d4 ½-½
2248 Ponomariov,Ruslan Svidler,Peter VI World Blitz blitz (35) [Eric Prié]
A45 2744 2722 18.11.2010
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.c3 e6! Since [ 4...xb2 may lead to a forced draw if White chooses, as we shall see next time, so this is the move to address the validity of the White set-up and more generally his choice of what to do with his attacked d-pawn on move 3. ] 5.a3 [ 5.b5? d5 6.g3 a6 ] [ 5.f3 Only postpones the problem. c6 6.a3 h5! ] 2195
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 5...c6 [ 5...cxd4 6.exd4 e7 7.b1 ( 7.f3 0-0 8.d3 d6 9.0-0 d7 10.e1 ) 7...0-0 8.f3 d6 9.d3 d7 10.0-0 c6 11.e1 bd7 12.e4 xe4 13.xe4 xe4 14.xe4 b5! Kaunzinger, A (2200)-Wells, P (2530) Crailsheim 1995 0-1(55) ] 6.f3 Transposing... [ 6.dxc5!? xc5 7.b4 e7 8.f3 ( 8.b5? e5 ) 8...0-0 9.d6 ] 6...a6!? [ into Pakleza-Moskalenko in the Archive and Moskalenko's consequent work f or ChessBase Magazine on the Nimzo-London after 6...h5! 7.d5N xf4 8.exf4 d4 9.b1 e7 10.d3 ( 10.c4!? ) 10...0-0 11.0-0 a6 12.e1 d6 Karlik, V (2268)Sodoma, J (2365) Nachod 2011 0-1(29) ] [ 6...e7? 7.h3 ( 7.dxc5! xc5 8.b4 e7 9.b5 d5 10.d6+ ) 7...0-0 8.e2 d5 9.0-0 d8 10.e5 Dehn, M (2137)-Rohit, G (2457) Groningen 2008 0-1(78) ] 7.e2 [ 7.h3 d5!? 8.d3? ( 8.e2 ) 8...c4 9.e2 xb2 10.a4 b5 ] 7...d5 8.0-0 cxd4 Forced [ 8...e7? 9.a4 ] 9.exd4 e7 10.e1 It is not clear that the rook is best placed here. An alternative idea to live with the Veresov/Reversed Chigorin knight on c3, for better or for worse, is h2-h3 ( an important preliminary in order to keep control of White's main asset in the position represented by the London diagonal against a possible ... Nh5), followed by Qd3 (a good central post of control), Rf d1 (in order to protect the d4-pawn) and afterwards Ne5 or b2-b4 with the idea Na4-c5. 0-0 11.d3 [ 11.e5 xd4 12.e3 xe2+ ] [ 11.h3!? ] 11...d7 12.b1 [ 12.e5!? was at least consistent with the previous white moves. fd8 ( 12...xd4? 13.e3 )] 12...ac8 13.e2 a5 14.e5 b5 An unfortunate consequence of the manoeuvre Rb1-Ne2... 15.c3 xd3 16.xd3 b3 In this typical Karlsbad structure White, who is deprived of any attacking prospects on the kingside, is fighting for a draw with the 'magic knight' on d3. The hole on b3, however,
su re ly d oe sn 't f avo u r h im . 17.g5 h6 18.xf6 xf6 19.c5 xd1 20.exd1 c7 21.c1 e7 22.5b3 c4 23.d3 fc8 24.f1 d6 25.g3 f6 26.f4? Ending the disap p oin tin g P on o ma rio v sa ga wit h t h e (Neo)London (did he choose this opening to conceal his preparation in view of a fruitful 2011!?) in this VI World blitz Champ with the kind of blunder you may only see with this rate of play. [ 26.e2 e5?! ( 26...f7 ) 27.b4= ] 26...e3+ 27.e2 xd1 28.xd1 f7 29.d2 g5 30.f2 b5 31.f1 a5 32.e3 f5 33.c2 f6 34.f3 h5 35.e1 xc3!? [ 35...gxf4 36.xf4 xf4 37.gxf4 g7-+ ] 36.fxg5+ e7 37.bxc3 xc3 38.e3? [ 38.b1 xd3+ 39.e2 c3 40.d2 c7 41.xb5 f4 ] 38...xc2 39.f4 xf4 40.xf4 b4? [ 40...xh2 41.b3 h4 42.xb5 f2+ 43.e5 e2+ 44.f4 e4+ 45.f3 hxg3 46.xg3 xd4 ] 41.axb4 axb4 42.b3 f2+ 43.e3 xh2 44.xb4 h4 45.b7+ f8 46.f3? White may instead have played [ 46.f4 f2+ 47.e5 hxg3 48.f6 e8 49.b1 g2 50.g1 f8 51.g6 b2 52.g7+ g8 53.c1 b8 54.g1 b2= ] 46...hxg3? [ 46...h3 ] 47.xg3 h1 48.f4 g1?? [ 48...e1 49.g6 g1 ] 49.e5! f4 50.f6 e8 51.xe6? Such as this final one removing an 'umbrella', mistakes are pouring down at the end of this blitz game. [ 51.b2! f3 52.f2 g3 53.g6 f8 54.b2 e8 55.g7 g1 56.f2 g3 57.f1! Zugzwang d7 ( 57...e5 58.dxe5 d4 59.e6 d3 60.b1 ) 58.f7 d6 59.g8 xg8 60.xg8 e5 61.f7!+- exd4 62.f6 c5 63.e5 c4 64.f4 c3 ( 64...d3 65.e3 c3 66.c1+ ) 65.xf3 d3 66.c1+! d2 ( 66...b2 67.c8 d4 68.f2 d2 69.e2 ) 67.a1 c2 ( 67...d4 68.f2 c2 69.a2+ d1 70.a4 d2 71.xd4 c2 72.e2 ) 68.f2 ( 68.e3? T h e t r a p W h i t e m u s t b e a wa r e o f . d4+ 69.xd4 d2 70.a2+ c1 71.c3 d1+= ) 68...b2 ( 68...d2 69.e2 d4 70.a2+ ) 69.d1 c2 70.e1 d4 2196
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 71.d2+ c3 72.d1 ] [ 51.b3 g3 52.b2 is the same. ] 51...d8? Black must have won on time. [ 51...e1+! 52.xd5 ( 52.f6 f3 53.b2 e4 54.f2 xd4 55.xf3 d1 56.g7 e7 57.g6 d4 58.g8 g1 59.g7 e6 60.h7 e5 ) 52...f3 53.g6 ( 53.b2 f7 54.f2 e3 55.c6 g6 56.d5 xg5 57.d6 f4 ) 53...g1 54.g7 f2 55.b8+ d7 56.f8 g5+ 57.c4 xg7= ] [ 51...d8? 52.f6! f3 53.b2 g2 54.b5 f2 55.xd5+ e8 56.f5 g4 ( 56...f8 57.d5 ) 57.g6 f8 58.xf2 xd4 59.e5+ ] 0-1
2249 A45 Popov,Ivan 2613 Milliet,Sophie 2369 European Championship, Aix-les-Bains (4.92) [Richard Palliser] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 f5 6.g3 g7 7.c3 a6 The transfer of the knight to c7 is by no means unknown in this structure, but hasn't been overly popular here. [ Please note too that the line 7...e6 8.g2 a6 can easily transpose well, so long as Black opts for an ...e6 approach in our main game (see the notes to move 9). ] 8.g2 [ Natural and best, especially as after 8.e3 Black wouldn't transpose to the realm of Van Wely-Giri, but would immediately set about challenging in the centre with c7 9.g2 e6 . ] 8...c7 9.d2 a6!? [ This attempt to tie White to e2 and free the b-pawn is quite ambitious. Perhaps more logical is 9...e6!? when 10.c4 looks very natural, but was criticised by Eric in his notes to Garcia Palermo-Nakamura, and with some reason as after a6 11.f4 0-0 12.h3 ( 12.e3 is an alternative, but after d6 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.d1 e8 Black's centre is secure and he should be happy to control the central squares thus, as well as possess the two bishops) 12...d6 Black breaks up the centre to secure
counterplay. That said, I'm not sure this should be so terrible for White and after the 13.e3! ( improving over 13.0-0 , Garcia's choice ) 13...e8 ( it's too early for 13...e5? on account of 14.f3 ) 14.f3 f6 15.f4 e4 of B.Hansen-Jacobsen, Danish League 2 0 1 0 , w i t h 16.h5! White would have secured enough counterplay, meeting h6 with the consistently vigorous 17.g4!? . ] [ Another recent game saw 9...0-0 10.h3 h6 and now in Meulner-Liepold, Forchheim 2011, 11.f4 e5 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.0-0 d6 14.c2 would have led to an unbalanced middlegame. It's easy to note Black's bishoppair and pawn centre, but I wouldn't mind playing White here: Rfd1 and Nc4 is a plan, while ...d5 can be challenged by c3-c4. ] 10.h3!? [ A noteworthy idea. White wants to do without e2-e3 and finds another route for his knight to f4. Going via h3 is not unusual, but the resulting structure certainly is. In an earlier game W hite had preferred 10.c2 and after e6 11.h3 h5 12.f4!? e5 13.d6! xd6 14.c4 a6 15.d5 xd5 16.xd5 enjoyed sufficient play for his pawn en route to causing an upset in Martinez Pena-Kogan, Tarragona 2003. ] 10...h6 11.c2 d6 12.f4!? [ White is happy to accept a pair of doubled fpawns too, safe in the knowledge that he will be able to attack f5 much more easily than Black can pressure f4. Popov's play makes a powerful impression, but a good case can also be made for 12.f3 followed by 0-0, e3 and Nf4. If Black goes long White will chuck the queenside pawns forward, but neither is e6 a panacea for the second player on account of 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.h5+ . ] 12...xf4 13.gxf4 g8 14.f3 b5 15.f1! Without this White would have nothing, but this manoeuvre gives him definite chances for an edge. He will now be able to castle kingside and the pressure against d5 is not so tricky to deal with after all. b8 Essential preparation for ...e6. 16.g3 [ The engines rather like 16.e3!? e6 17.dxe6 fxe6 18.0-0-0 e7 19.hg1 , but after xg1 20.xg1 xa2 21.g7+ d8 22.xh7 and the n, p erh aps , d5 is this anything more than just pretty 2197
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 unclear? ] 16...e6?! [ The French WGM has played actively and consistently so far, but while the text may also appear active and consistent it does not turn out so well. I suspect a better try was t h e l o n g - t e r m p a w n s a c r i f i c e 16...b4! , i n t e n d i n g 17.xf5 ( 17.c4?! b3 is a little awkward for W hite) 17...bxc3 18.bxc3 xf5 19.xf5 a3 20.d3 b2 21.c1 g7 when it's hard to see how White might hope to consolidate and Black is surely at leas t O K af t er som et hin g like 22.c2 c4 23.f5 d8 24.e3 xc2! 25.xc2 a5 26.d2 xd5 . ] 17.0-0! [ Preparing a powerful if thematic sacrifice. Instead the position would just have been pretty unclear after 17.dxe6 fxe6 18.0-0 b7 19.e4 fxe4 20.xe4 . White will look to attack down the e-file, but those doubled f-pawns are not the most attractive pawns you'll ever see. ] 17...b7 18.fd1 xd5 [ Of course, taking first with the e-pawn would have dropped f5, while play would have transposed in the event of 18...xd5 19.xd5 xd5 20.xd5 exd5 . ] 19.xd5 xd5 20.xd5 exd5 21.xf5 The point of W hite's play. In return for the exchange he has much the more active queen, a potentially dangerous queen and knight combo, and the safer king. The computers aren't entirely convinced, but I'd be very surprised if W hite was worse here and his position is certainly the easier to play over the board. a4 22.f1 Calmly unpinning and now Black panicked somewhat, returning the e xc h a n ge wh il e re m a in in g wit h a f ra gil e structure. xg3? [ Correct was 22...g6! , preventing Nh5 (or a later Ne4) from coming with tempo. After 23.b3 ( maybe 23.h4!? ) 23...a5 24.xd5 xc3 25.d1 f8 26.e3 f6 White would have retained some play for the exchange, but the exchange of pawns would undoubtedly have helped Black. ] 23.hxg3 e4 24.h5! Keeping the queens on, both to eye Black's weaknesses and to remind her about her king position. b4 25.f3 c2?
[ Far too materialistic. Again I feel Black would have done better to give up a pawn: 25...e6! 26.xh7 e7 and the position isn't so clear, since it won't be so easy for White to make progress while covering his weaknesses on both flanks. ] 26.xd5 xb2 27.c6+ Perhaps this check h a d b e e n u n d e re st im a t e d b y Millie t . f8 28.xd6+ g7 29.e5+ f6 Black is clinging on by a thread, but sooner or later White will move his rook away and generate decisive threats. 30.c7+ h6 31.d1? [ A slip. 31.e1 would have been somewhat simpler, as then bxc3 32.f2! heralds a neat late mating attack. ] 31...e8 32.e1 Hitting on the right idea, only a move too late. xc3? [ Missing a resource. After 32...bxc3! 33.f7 ( 33.f2 xe2+! 34.xe2 c2 35.xc5 c1 reveals Black's other trick) 33...c2 34.xe8 c1 35.xc1 xc1+ 36.g2 the queen ending wouldn't have been such an easy win for White with that c-pawn set to scamper down the board. ] 33.f7 [ There's no good square for the rook, as shown by 33.f7 e3 ( or 33...e3 34.xf6+ h5 35.g4# ) 34.g2 . ] 1-0
2250 A45 Popov,Valerij 2546 Nedilko,Vasily 2392 European Championship, Plovdiv (5.101) [Richard Palliser] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 e6 [ This has sometimes been considered the poor relative of Black's main move, 6...b6 , but I'm not convinced that it's so bad. ] 7.e4 exd5 8.exd5 d6 9.d2 Best, as shown by a quick perusal of the alternatives: [ a) 9.e2+ e7! 10.xd6 xd5 is fine for Black. As I observed in my 'Starting Out' book, quite possibly White has nothing better than to almost sue for peace with 11.xe7 ( the point that underpins this line for Black is 11.xb8 xb8 12.e5 b6! - see Eric's notes to Moelder-Engl, 2198
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 correspondence 2002,; while his coverage of 11.e5?! c6 12.xd5 e6! can be found under the game Neihs-Cvitan, Oberwart 1993, which is also available in the Archive ) 11...xe7 12.b5+ . ] [ b) 9.a3 e7 10.c4 feels quite natural, but Black's queen was set to retreat in any case. Moreover, W hite's kingside development remains non-existent here and after d8 11.a4 0-0 12.e2 e8 13.f2 a6 14.c1?! ( 14.g3 c7 15.e3 had to be tried) 14...c7 15.e3 f8! B l a c k wa s s l i g h t l y f o r ch o i c e i n S t i p s Korneev, Porto San Giorgio 2011. ] 9...e7 10.c4 [ Invariably played, but I should remind s u b s c r i b e r s t h a t E r i c ' s i d e a o f 10.g4!? could really do with some testing. ] 10...d8!? [ Black decides to keep the queens on. He h a s m o r e o f t e n g o n e i n f o r 10...xd2+ 11.xd2 h5 12.e3 f5 , but after 13.f4!? White had a pull in A.Grant-Holzke, Isle of Man 2004, as previously covered by Eric. ] 11.c3 0-0 12.g4!? [ Always a tempting idea in such positions, but h ere I wo uld pref e r st raightf o rward development with 12.d3 and after h5 ( here 12...e8 would just allow White to build up almost at his leisure after 13.ge2 d7 14.g3 ) 13.e3 d7 14.ge2 e5 15.g3! White was slightly better in Moskalenko-Pena Gomez, Can Picafort 2008. ] 12...e8! [ Black decides to intimidate White with the possibility of a check on h4. The only previous game which I could find from this p o sit io n s a w 12...e8 and after 13.f2! fd7 14.d3 f8 15.ge2 g6 16.g3 h4! 17.ae1 White retained a small pull in Saada-Briet, Belfort 2010. ] 13.0-0-0 [ When I first flicked through this game, I felt this was an error, since sooner or later W hite will come under attack on the queenside, but then I realised that 13.f2 h4+ 14.g2 ( 14.g3 is what White wo uld lik e to d o, bu t th e n f5 is quite annoying ) 14...d7 15.ge2 f5 would have given Black decent counterplay
in any case. ] [ I'm not too sure what's going on after 13.h3!? h4+ 14.f2 f5 15.g5 , but having gone 12 g4, perhaps W hite needed to try this. ] 13...a6 14.h4 b5! We now have a race scenario where Black clearly has decent counterplay, no matter what your engine may try to tell you. 15.b1 [ Perhaps a machine might get away with 15.cxb5 axb5 16.xb5 c7 ( unfortunately Black seems to come up short after 16...a5 17.e1! c7 18.a4 f6 19.xd6 ) 17.d3 ca6 ( the disruptive 17...f5! very much comes into the equation too ) 18.a3 d7 19.ge2 , but I remain convinced that Black will score well from here in most human encounters: for instance, b6 20.c2 f5!? 21.gxf5 c4 22.e4 c5 and White's king position remains a cause for concern. ] 15...d7 16.g5 b6 Through simple methods, Nedilko be gins to increase th e pressure on the queenside. 17.cxb5? [ After this Black quickly gains an ideal type of Benko Gambit. White tends to ignore the attack on c4 in such positions (think various lines of the Samisch King's Indian), and after 17.h5!? f5+ 18.a1 xc4 19.xc4 bxc4 20.ge2 b8 21.g3 d3 22.ge4 both sides would have had their chances. ] 17...c7! 18.bxa6 xa6 19.xa6 [ Easy to criticise, of course, but 19.a3 b8 20.c2 g6 would have led to similar problems. Should the light-squared bishops come off, White will be highly vulnerable to ideas of ...c4 and ...Nc5. ] 19...xa6!? [ Black wants to retain the ...Bf5 option, but I can't see too much wrong with the straightforward 19...xa6 threatening ...Nc4 followed by ... Qa5 with a strong attack. ] 20.c2 g6 21.c1 [ Alternatively, 21.a1 f5 22.e2 c4! and it's not hard to imagine White collapsing down the open a-file. ] 21...f5 22.e2 a7 It's clear that the grandmaster is being outplayed and his active next fails to dent the notion that White is just in some trouble. 23.b5 d7 [ Hardly terrible, but 23...a8! would have 2199
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 been very strong, as 24.xb6 b7 25.c6 d7 traps the errant queen. ] 24.f1 a4 Eliminating a key defender and clearing the way to target b2. 25.ge2 b6 26.b3 [ Hardly what White wanted to do, but the bpawn would also have had to advance in the event of 26.d2 b8 . ] 26...b8! 27.d2 [ A desperate attempt to flee with the king. White's attack has clearly come to a halt on the kingside and after, say, 27.e4 b4 28.d2 c4 Black would have quickly broken through on the other flank. ] 27...xc3 28.xc3 b4 29.c4 xa2+ It's all too easy for Nedilko as he regains his pawn while retaining a crushing advantage. 30.e3 b2?! [ On the verge of an upset, Black gives his opponent the glimmer of a chance. Simple a n d s t r o n g w o u l d h a v e b e e n 30...xb3 31.xb3 xb3 when the neat retreat 32.c1 ( or 32.d3 aa3 followed by ...Bf5) 32...f8! would soon have led to heavy material gains. ] 31.xb4 xb4 32.b1 2xb3 33.xb3 xb3 34.d2 Black remains a clear pawn to the good and with the bishop-pair, and I'm at a loss to explain why he now chose to repeat moves, even if by now he was down to just the 30 second a move increment. b2+ 35.e3 b3 [ If Black was worried about White's rook infiltrating down the a-file, he might have crea te d so me luf t wit h 35...f5! , and if 36.a1 b3 37.d2 b4 38.e3 c4 . ] 36.d2 b4 [ Again 36...f5! would have been fairly effective, ] [ while even after 36...b5 37.a1 c4 38.a7 f8 39.a8+ g7 40.a7 f8 41.d7 , which was presumably the sort of line which scared Nedilko, Black might have found a way to play on having reached the time control here maybe with b2+ 42.c1 f2!? , ( as 42...b6 43.e4 seems to give White enough counterplay to draw. )] 37.e3 b3? ½-½
2251 Povah,Nigel E Cherniaev,Alexander Open Portsmouth ENG (3) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2360 2504 22.02.2003
Trompowsky: Here we see why this idea has been catching on for Black. White must know his stuff or else he'll get clobbered! 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 This is too ambitious. [ 4.d5 Is the right idea (as we saw in the previous game) and carries the Hodgson seal of approval. ] 4...h6 5.d2 e4 6.d3 xd2 7.xd2 cxd4 Black has emerged with an extra pawn and the bishop pair. Not bad! 8.f4 c6 9.gf3 d5 Denying White the use of the e4 and c4 squares for his knight. 10.a3 c5 11.b4 b6 12.b3 d7 13.0-0 a6 14.e1 White tries to find something to do, but the Black position is very solid. 0-0 15.h1 c8 16.g4 Weakening, but White is desperate to show some initiative for his pawn deficit. f6 17.g3 fxe5 18.fxe5 g5 19.h3 [ 19.h4 looks the natural move, but fails on account of: gxh4 20.xh4 xf1+ 21.xf1 xe5 ] 19...g7 20.c1 This slow regrouping is more evidence of W hite's lack of attractive options. c7 21.e2 xe5 22.xe5 xe5 23.g3 xg3 With the exchange of this kn ig h t , a n y r e a l h o p e t h a t W h it e h a d o f launching a successful attack has flown out of the window. 24.xg3 c7 25.h3 d6 W ith nothing to show for his pawn deficit, White wisely decided to call it a day. 0-1
2252 Povah,Nigel E Jackson,Sheila 4NCL Birmingham ENG (8) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2360 2186 26.03.2000
May Update: Trompowsky: Another b-pawn grabber bites the dust: For attack minded players, there is nothing better than watching your hapless opponent pointlessly move his queen around the board, munching as many 2200
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pawns as possible along the way. Kasparov may get away with it in the Najdorf, but not everybody has his defensive technique. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 This is one of m y f a vo u rit e lin e s in th e Tro m p . xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 g4 Is not considered to be best. [ 7...e5 is critical, when White should reply: 8.f5 with the plan of g4 kingside expansion. ] 8.e2 xe2 9.xe2 This natural recapture prepares one of White's main ideas in this line, the e4-e5 pawn thrust. a6 Black, a pawn up, seeks an endgame, but this simplistic approach only serves to lose Black time. 10.b5 b6 11.b1 a6 12.c3 c7 13.e5 W hite begins to open lines f or his bette r developed pieces. dxe5 14.fxe5 fd7 15.f3 g6 [ 15...b5 In this situation, the phrase "too many pawns spoil the broth" seems appropriate. Now I would be very tempted by: 16.e6 fxe6 17.xe6 with the idea of Ng5. ] 16.0-0 g7 17.e6 White is fully mobilised and begins to take control of the position. fxe6 18.g5 Excellent play! A move that many players would miss. Rather than routinely recapturing on e6, White traps the enemy king in the center, with disastrous consequences for Black. e5 19.xe6 The knight's arrival on e6 spells doom for the Black player. a7 YUCK! Could the rook be on a more patheticlooking square? If you are ever forced to m a k e h o r r e n d o u s m o ve s l i k e t h i s , t h e n something has gone seriously wrong. 20.e4 f6 21.c3 Amazingly winning the Black q u e e n i n t h e c e n t e r o f t h e b o a r d . xc3 22.xc3 xc3 23.e3 e5 Normally, two pieces and a pawn for a queen would give Black some hope of salvation, but here, his utter lack of co-ordination means that he is completely lost. 24.xc5 b6 25.xd7 xd7 26.xb6 White moves into mopping up mode. a8 [ 26...xb6 27.xe5 When the twin threats of Qxh8 and Qb8 are impossible to meet. ] 27.b7 d6 28.e6 c5 29.f7+ d8 30.f8+! 1-0
2253 Povah,Nigel E Wells,Peter K Open Portsmouth (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2360 2486 23.02.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 [ 3...g6 4.c3 g7 5.e4 h6 6.h4? ( White has to play 6.e3 (Eric) or 6.Bd2) 6...b6 7.b1 ( 7.d2 xb2 8.b1 xe4! 9.xb2 xc3-+ Aaron in the game Boyd,TXie,G Australian open 2003.) 7...xe4! 8.xe4 b4+ 9.d2 xh4 ] 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 As we saw in the previous game, closing the position with 6...e5 may facilitate the defence. 7.f4 c7 [ 7...e6!? 8.f3 exd5 9.e5 dxe5 10.fxe5 e4 ( 10...e6 11.b5+ c6 12.0-0 e4 13.xe4 dxe4 14.g5 xe5 15.xf7 d4+ 16.h1 g8 17.g5 h6 18.xe4 ) 11.xd5 d8 12.c4 g4 13.b1 White is happy to have this drawing c o m b i n a t i o n . xd2 14.xb7 xf3+ 15.gxf3 xf3 16.c7+ e7 17.d5+ ( 17.xf3? xc7 18.xa8 xe5+ ) 17...e8 18.c7+ e7 19.d5+ A) 19...e6?! 20.f4+ ( 20.c7+ xe5? 21.xf3 ) 20...xe5 21.xf3 h4+ 22.e2 xf4 23.d5+ f6 24.g2; B) 19...e8 20.c7+ 1/2-1/2 McShane,LNi Hua Olm Bled 2002 ] 8.f3 g4 9.b5+ bd7 10.0-0 a6 11.xd7+ xd7 12.e1 xf3 13.xf3 g6 14.e2 g7 15.c3 f6! It is a matter of taste. After [ 15...xc3 16.xc3 0-0 I do not imagine Black getting mated. ] 16.e5 e4 17.e6 xc3 [ 17...0-0 18.exf7+ xf7 19.xg7 xg7 20.d4 cxd4 21.xe4 c5 ] 18.exf7+ xf7 19.xc3 af8 Possibly, the moves are wrong here. Black may well have p la ye d t h e o t h e r r o o k wh i ch lo o k s m o r e logical. 20.b1 d7 21.e4 h6 22.g3 b5 23.e4 e6 24.e1 e8 Then he would have played 24...Rae8... 25.dxe6+ xe6 26.b7+ e7 27.xe6 xb7 28.xd6 e8 Reaching the same position anyway! 29.xa6 d4+ 30.h1 2201
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 30.f1? be7 Forces White to part with his Knight to avoid the mate on e1. ] 30...e1+ 31.f1 be7 Black may be a pawn down but this is only momentary. He has a monster on d4, the consequence of his excellent decision 16 moves ago. 32.f5 [ 32.g3 c1 ] 32...g5!? [ 32...gxf5 33.xf5+ g7 ] 33.f6 [ 33.g4 h5 34.h3 hxg4 35.hxg4 c1 ] [ 33.xh6 g4 34.h7+ f6 35.xe7 xe7 36.f4 e3 37.f6+ e6! 38.f7 xf4 39.f8 xf1# ] 33...d7 34.g4 c4!! [ 34...c1 35.a8 xc2 36.h8 f2 37.xf2 xf2 38.xh6 d3 ] 35.c3 [ 35.a5 c1 ( 35...b4 36.b5 c3 37.c5 ) 36.xb5 xc2 37.a4 ( 37.b4 c3! 38.d3 c1 39.g2 c2 40.c4 d1 ) 37...a2 38.b4 c3 39.c4 e5! 40.a5 d1-+ ] 35...xc3! 36.xc3 xf1+ 37.g2 xf6 38.xf6+ xf6 39.a4 bxa4 40.xc4 a7 In this manner White did not take revenge on the defeat published last year, in the same tournament, but one round earlier, with the same opening, but in another line! 0-1
2254 Povah,Nigel E Wells,Peter K Open Portsmouth ENG (5) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2351 2517 10.02.2002
T ro m p o ws k y A t t a ck: A n o t h e r st ro n g G M provides an excellent example of what Black should be looking for in the Sicilian Tromp. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 f6 5.dxc5 White opts for the Sicilian approach to the Tromp. a5+ 6.c3 xc5 7.e4 g6 Not a very popular approach, but on the basis of this game, perhaps that is about to change. 8.d2 g7 9.0-0-0 c6 10.e3 Driving the queen off the potentially lethal c-file. However, she is just as aggressively placed on a5. a5 11.c4 d6 12.h6 An important moment. xh6 At which Black makes the correct
decision. [ The inferior: 12...0-0 13.h4 would leave W hite with a very promising kingside attack. ] 13.xh6 e6 14.xe6 fxe6 In exchange for weakening his kingside, Black has considerably increased his grip on the centre. 15.ge2 b5 Part and parcel of most Sicilian c o u n t e r p l a y i s t h i s p a w n t h r u s t . 16.g5 White hopes to exchange queens along the 5th. e5 No chance, says Black! 17.f4 b4 18.fxe5 bxc3 The opening of lines on the queenside can only be in Black's interests. 19.xc3 b8? inaccurate. [ A n i m m e d i a t e : 19...d7 deserved consideration. ] 20.d3? [ 20.h4! would leave White well in the game as, dxe5 21.d3 is, from White's point of view, a huge improvement on the game co n t i n u a t i o n . J u s t l o o k a t t h o s e B la c k pawns. ] 20...d7 The Black knight now finds its ideal outpost, giving him a pleasant advantage. 21.f1 xe5 22.g3 Forced, due to the threat of Nd3. h6 23.f4 d7 Unusually, the King finds perfect safety in the centre of the board. 24.d1 hc8 An absolutely dream position for any dragon player. All of Black's major pieces bare down on the W hite king. 25.d2 a6 Even stronger than 25...Qxa2 26. Ra3. 26.f2 c4 White has no chance of surviving the onslaught. The Sicilian is all about attacking and here, White simply has n o a t t a c k t o s p e a k o f . 27.xh6 xa2 W ith his queenside crumbling, there is no reason for White to prolong the agony. 0-1
2255 Prie,Eric Argandona Riveiro,Inigo I Goi Mailako Centre GM (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2490 2388 18.07.2011
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.b5 d5 6.a3 a6! 7.b1 a2 8.c1 axb5 9.a1 xa1 10.xa1 c6 11.xb5 cxd4 [ 11...xd4 12.exd4 xf4 13.e2 xg2+ 2202
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.f1 h4 15.dxc5 e6 16.c3 g6 17.g3 ] [ 11...xf4 12.xc6 bxc6 13.exf4 cxd4 14.xd4 xa3 15.f3 e6 16.0-0 ] 12.xc6 [ 12.e2!? e5 13.xc6 xa3 ( 13...b4+ 14.c3 ) 14.xa3 xa3 15.xd5 exf4 16.exd4 d6 17.d2 ] 12...bxc6 [ 12...dxc6 13.xd4 A) 13...xa3 14.f3 f6 15.0-0 e5 16.xe5 fxe5 17.xe5+ e7 18.xg7 f6 19.h6 a4 20.e1 c3 ( 20...f5 21.e4 xe4 22.c4 xc4 23.d2 ) 21.d1 f5 22.d6 xc2 23.e5 xe5 24.xe5+ f7 25.xd5 cxd5 26.xh8 d4 27.h4 d3 28.xh7+ f6 29.f4! Wins by allowing a decisive queen check on e5 , in evita bly f ollo we d by an ot he r check on the d-line grabbing the d2 pawn. ( 29.g4 d2 30.h6+ f7 31.h5+ f6 32.g5+ e6! ) 29...d2 30.h8+ g6 ( 30...f7 31.h5+ f8 32.c5+ ) 31.e8+ f6 32.e5+ f7 33.d5+ e7 34.xd2; B) 13...f6 14.c4 ( 14.f3!? e5 15.xe5 fxe5 16.xe5+ e7 17.e4 f6 18.0-0 ) 14...e5 ( 14...xf4 15.exf4 xa3 16.b2 a4 17.e2 xc4 18.a2 c5 ) 15.xe5 fxe5 16.xe5+ e7 17.f3 xa3 18.0-0 d3 ( 18...f7 19.d1 h6 20.h3 ) 19.g5 h6 20.e4 f7 ] 13.xd4 f6 14.c4 xf4 15.exf4 e5!? It is not clear W hite's slight superiority of queen and knight + space vs Rook, 2 bishops and pawn may even be winnable. At least is he not on the receiving end after [ 15...e6 16.f3 or ] [ 15...xa3 16.f3 ] 16.fxe5 xa3 17.exf6 0-0 18.e2? T h is v a ria t io n , a n d t h is m a t e ri a l ra t io i s definitely not for humans. Actually it appears much easier to play for Black who also has the f o rtres s strategy in re serve if t actics misfire. [ 18.fxg7! e8+ 19.d1 d5 Looks totally frightening for W hite, doesn't it?! Yet the machine stays cool and shows why it artificially tends to add a hint of decimals in favour of the queen in its evaluation: ( 19...e6!? 20.c5 d6 21.f3 xc5
22.c3 a3 ) 20.f3 dxc4 ( 20...c5!? ) 21.g5! a6 22.xh7!! xh7 ( 22...ad8 23.f6+ f7 24.d7 ) 23.g8+ xg8 24.h4+ g7 25.g3+ f7 26.xa3 How could I have seen all this?? ] 18...b4+ 19.d1 xf6 20.c5 b8 21.g3 d5 22.e5 f8 23.f3 b7 24.d6 f6 As (mis)calculated Black takes the draw, but amazingly he could have fought on by [ 24...d7! 25.c2 ( 25.e7 e8; 25.h5 c3 26.c2 d4 ) 25...f6 26.e5 e6! ( 26...xc5 27.a1 ) 27.g5 ( 27.d4 e8; 27.f4 e8 ) 27...h6 28.f4 b5 ( 28...e8 29.g4 g6+ 30.d1; 28...xc5 29.b1 ) 29.c7 e7 30.d8+ f7 31.a1 ] 25.d8+ f8 26.d6 f6 27.d8+ f8 28.d6 d7 29.h5 c8 30.g3 ½-½
2256 Prie,Eric Barsov,Alexei VIII op int Nantes (5.2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2496 2491 28.12.2009
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.a4 a5+?! Designed to either interrupt the d5-pawn's protection or play ...b5-b4 under more favorable conditions, but this inaugurates a very risky manoeuvre which was improvised over the board. [ 4...b4 indeed looks like the critical line, although it still awaits the test of practice. A) 5.f3!? b7 ( 5...g6!? to keep the Bc8 on the right diagonal if White has to go c2-c4 in any case.) 6.c4 e6 ( 6...g6 7.bd2 ) 7.dxe6 fxe6 8.bd2; B) 5.f3 e6 ( 5...h5!? 6.e3 ) 6.e4 exd5 7.exd5 e7+ ( 7...h5 8.e2+ e7 9.g5 xe2+ 10.xe2 h6 11.e3 ) 8.f2 h5 9.c7! c4! ( 9...d6 10.b5+ d7 11.h3 h4+ 12.g3 xh3 13.e2+ e7 14.xd6 ) 10.d6 e5 11.d2 ( 11.e2 xe2+ 12.xe2 a6 13.xc4 xc7 14.dxc7 c5+ 15.f1 ) 11...c5+ 12.e1 f4 13.xc4 e6 ] 5.d2! b4!? Possibly not the best but assuredly the trickiest move order. [ 5...xd5 6.axb5 b4 ( 6...xb5? 7.e4 ) 2203
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7.e5 d6 8.e4! d7 9.gf3 xe5 10.xe5 dxe5 11.c1!! The point, forcing Black to give up his c-pawn for free in order to save her majesty. Would I have found it over the board!? c4 ( 11...d4 12.c3 xc3 13.bxc3 d6 14.b1! b7-b6 is coming with annoying consequences for Black.) 12.exd5 xb5?! ( 12...g6! 13.xc4 h6 14.e2 e6! 15.c3 f4 16.b3 xc1+ 17.xc1 xc1 18.xc1 exd5 19.a1 And W hite has no more than a slight advantage thanks to his pressure down the a-line. ) 13.xc4 b7 ( 13...b6 14.b3 d7 15.0-0 g6 16.c4 f6 17.e3 ) 14.0-0 g6 15.b3 g7 16.a5 d7 17.e3 0-0 18.fd1 ] 6.e5! xd5 [ 6...bxa4 7.e4 xe4 8.c3 ] 7.e4 c6 [ 7...d6 8.xb5+ d7 9.c3 xb2 10.b1 xc3 ( 10...a3 11.c4; 10...a2 11.c4 xa4 12.xa4 xa4 13.xd5 c6 14.xd6! exd6 15.a1 b5 16.c4 ) 11.f3 xd2+ 12.xd2 xb1+ 13.e2 dxe5 14.d3 a6 15.xd7+ xd7 16.f3 ] [ 7...f6? 8.c3 ] 8.g3 b6 [ 8...xb2 9.exd5 d4 10.d3 c4 11.b1 a2 ( 11...a3 12.e2 ) 12.e4 f5 13.gf3 c3 14.0-0 xf3+ ( 14...cxd2 15.xd4 fxe4 16.xb5 ) 15.xf3 cxd2 16.d6+- ] [ 8...f6 9.axb5 d8 10.e5 d5 11.a2 Followed by c2-c3. ] 9.axb5 d8 10.b3 [ 10.gf3 d6 11.a2 c4 12.c3 xb5 13.d4 c5 14.xc4 xc4 15.a4+ ] 10...d6 11.d3 [ 11.c1! Threatening to win the queen before Black has time to play ...g7-g6. c4 ( 11...c3!? 12.d3 g6 13.e2 f6 14.0-0 h6 15.e5! dxe5 16.b2 ) 12.bxc4 e6 ( 12...g6 13.c3 c5 14.b3 c7 15.c5 ) 13.a3 xa3 14.xa3 g6 15.gf3 g7 16.e5 ] 11...g6 12.e2 g7 13.a2 [ 13.c1 c4 14.bxc4 e6 15.c3 c5 16.e5 dxe5 17.e4 c8 18.c5 c4 ] 13...c4 [ 13...h5 14.h3 h4 15.h2 ]
[ 13...e6 14.c1 d4 15.e5! e6 ( 15...xe5 16.xe5 dxe5 17.c3 xe2 18.xe2 f4 19.f3 b8 20.xa7 0-0 21.0-0 ) 16.xd4 xd4 17.e4 d5 18.a4 c3 19.0-0 h6 ( 19...0-0? 20.b1; 19...xe5 20.xe5 xe5 21.c4 c3 22.c6+ d7 23.e1 ) 20.f4 e3+ 21.h1 e2 ( 21...0-0 22.f3 e2 23.d3 Finally!! ) 22.c4+- xf4 23.xf4 xf4 24.xf4 d8 25.c6+ f8 26.e4 dxe5 27.f1 f5 28.e1 d3 29.xc5 d4 30.b4 h5 31.xa7 h4 32.h3 ] 14.bxc4 e6 15.0-0 xc4 16.c3! c5 [ 16...xc3 17.xc4 xc4 18.a4 b3 19.xb4 xd1 20.xc3 ] [ 16...xb5 17.d4 xd4 18.cxd4 d5 19.exd5 xd5 20.e2 c8 21.b1 c6 22.c2 ] 17.xc4 xc4 18.xc4 xc4 19.a4 [ 19.d5! xd5 ( 19...c8 20.f3! Protecting e4 and preparing Bf2 after which Black has no other option than to take on d5. xc3 21.c2 b4 22.d3 d4+ 23.xd4 xd4+ 24.xd4 defending the rook. ) 20.exd5 The black knight is now deprived of the e6 square. b8 ( 20...b7 21.fa1 a5 22.bxa6 c5 23.a7 d7 24.f4 ) 21.b1 b7 22.f3 d7 23.f2 e6 24.xa7 exd5 25.b6 c8 26.f4 ] 19...xa4 20.xa4 b8 21.c4 b7 22.f3?! Just as in the previous game (and so often...) a f t e r h a vi n g m o r e o r l e s s s u c c e e d e d i n steering through troubled waters, White starts to lose his course just in sight of the harbour. [ 22.f4! e6 23.f2 d7 ( 23...c5 24.xc5 dxc5 25.d1 0-0 26.f2 e5 27.f5 gxf5 28.exf5 e4 29.d5 ) 24.d1! c7 ( 24...c8 Or 24...Ra8 25.e5 ) 25.xa7 a8 26.b6+ b8 27.xa8+ xa8 28.d4 xd4 ( 28...xd4+ 29.xd4 xf4 30.c6 c7 31.f1 e5 32.d1 ) 29.xd4 a7 ( 29...xd4+ 30.xd4 a7 31.e5 a4 32.f2 b7 33.exd6 exd6 34.xd6 xc4 35.f6 ) 30.c6 a4 31.e5! dxe5 ( 31...xc4 32.a1+ b7 33.a5+ ) 32.d7! exf4 33.b6+- ] 22...e6 23.f2 c5 24.a3 [ 24.xc5 dxc5 25.d1 0-0 26.f2 d4+ 27.xd4 d8 28.e2 cxd4 29.e5+- ] 24...d7 [ 24...0-0 25.d4 ] 2204
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 25.d4? [ 25.xc5 dxc5 26.d1+ c7 27.f2 d8 28.xd8 xd8 29.f4 White did lose a tempo... d7 30.e5 c8 31.e3 f6 32.exf6 exf6 ( 32...xf6 33.a6 ) 33.g4! f5 ( 33...b7 34.a6 d1 35.g3 c1 36.e4 ) 34.gxf5 gxf5 35.a6 e7+ 36.f3 d4 37.g3 e3+ 38.g2 c3 39.xf5 b8 40.c6 xc4 41.d6 c2+ 42.f3 a6 43.b6 ] 25...xd4+ 26.xd4 a6! 27.d1 axb5 28.xb5 f6 29.f2 c8 30.e3 ½-½
2257 Prie,Eric Berthelot,Yannick ch-FRA Top 16 Poule Basse (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2447 2322 05.05.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 [ Reminder: 3.e3 b6! ( 3...e4 4.f4 b6 5.c3 belongs to the next chapter; 3...cxd4? 4.exd4 b6 5.c3 xb2 6.b5 b4+ 7.d2 )] 3...gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 f5 6.g3 g7 7.c3 e6!? 8.g2 a6 9.h3 c7 10.f4?! [ 10.a3 0-0!? And now what ( 10...xd5 11.c4 a6 12.xd5 exd5 13.e3 h6 14.f4; 10...exd5 11.f4 d4 12.c4 a6 13.cxd4 xd4 14.e3 g7 15.0-0 0-0 16.d1 Is typical of what Black must avoid in t h i s li n e a f t e r c a p t u ri n g t h e d 5 p a wn .) 11.c4 a6 12.e3 d6 13.f4 d7 14.c2 e5 ] 10...e5! Stronger than the [ 10...h6 11.e3 xf4 12.exf4 xd5 13.xd5 exd5 I gave in YegiazarianGaprindishvili, already assuming that 10. Nf4 was dubious at that stage. ] 11.d3? Going for hazy compensation. [ 11.h5 h6 12.e3 g6 ( 12...e4 13.c4 ) 13.d1 d6 14.0-0 d7 15.a4 0-0-0 16.d2 Does not look very exciting for White but at least the material is equal and his king relatively safe while he can always defend his knight on the edge with Bf3 in case of ...f7-f6, ...Be8. ] 11...h6 12.e3 e4 13.f4 xf4 14.exf4 xd5 15.0-0 f6 16.c4 d5 17.cxd5 xd5
18.c3 xc3? [ 18...e6 19.xd5 ( 19.a4? b5 20.xc5 c8 ) 19...xd5 20.c3 ( 20.h3 e6 21.c3 0-0-0 22.ac1 c4 ) 20...0-0-0 ( 20...0-0!? Now that the square f6 is guarded, but 21.fd1 fd8 22.h3 e6 23.xc5 b6 24.d4! xa2 25.xd8+ xd8 26.xd8+ )] 19.xc3 0-0 20.ac1? A bit of a shame but being objective, I had to rush for the perpetual check with [ 20.fd1 e6 21.f6 ] 20...e6 21.fd1 ad8 [ 21...xa2!? 22.e5 e6 23.xc5 fd8 ] 22.f6 c8 [ 22...h6! A move difficult to see or to a n t i c ip a t e a s W h it e . 23.b3 ( 23.xh6 xd1+ 24.xd1 xb2 ) 23...c8 24.e7 d4 ] 23.g5+ h8 24.e7! g7 25.e5+?! [ 25.g5+= g6? 26.xd8 xg5 27.xf8 ] 25...g8 [ 25...f6! 26.xc5 xb2 27.xd8 xd8 28.xe4 e6 ( 28...fxe4? 29.g5+; 28...b6 29.c2 xc2 30.xc2 e6 31.b3 ) 29.b1 b6 ] [ 25...g8 26.h3 ] 26.xd8 xd8 27.h3 e6 [ 27...c4!? 28.xf5 ( 28.xc4 e6 29.c2? d1+ 30.g2 a6 31.b8+ g7 32.e5+ g6 33.xf5+ xf5 ) 28...d2 29.e8+ ( 29.f1 xf5 30.xf5 e3 ) 29...g7 30.e5+ f8 31.f1 ( 31.h8+? e7 32.e5+ e6 33.f1 d5 ) 31...xf5 32.xf5 d4 ( 32...e3 33.c8+ g7 34.g4+ g6 35.f3 e2? 36.c3+ ) 33.c8+ g7 34.g4+ ( 34.xb7 xb2 ) 34...f6! ( 34...f8 35.c8+ ) 35.h4+ e6 And Black escapes the perpetual check with the best chances as with b2 condemned, his c-pawn will be a major asset, in addition to the tactical motives based on ...e4-e3. ] 28.xf5 [ 28.xc5 d1+ 29.g2 a6 30.b5 c4 ] 28...d5 29.b8+ d8 30.e5 d5 In conclusion... I wanted to gain a feeling for this 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4.d5 line against the perfidious 2...c5 over the board, but this only added to my confusion. ½-½ 2205
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2258 Prie,Eric Chabanon,Jean Luc Grand Prix CCAS 2010 (5.3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2526 2457 27.10.2010
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 d5 4.g3 b6 5.c3 xc3 6.bxc3 d5 Among the inferior options to the previous 6...e6!? [ 6...b2 7.e2 e6 ( 7...cxd4 8.cxd4 e6 9.c1 ) 8.a4 Secures White at least a draw ... c6 9.d5!? ( 9.b1 a2 10.a1 b2 11.b1= ) 9...exd5 10.b1 a3 11.b3 xa4 12.f4 ] 7.b1!? [ 7.xb8 xb8 8.b1 c7 9.b5+ d7 10.xd7+ xd7 11.f3 e6 12.e5 c7 13.e2 d6! ( 13...a6!? 14.e4 dxe4 15.0-0 d6 16.xe4 0-0 ) 14.b5+ e7 ] 7...a5 8.b5+ [ 8.d2 xa2 ] 8...d7 [ 8...c6 9.e2 a6 10.xc6+ bxc6 11.0-0 ( 11.dxc5 e6 12.0-0 xc5 13.d4 0-0 14.xc6 xa2 ) 11...c4 ( 11...xa2 12.f4 e6 13.d3 cxd4 14.cxd4 Intending Ne5.) 12.e4 dxe4 13.e5 Intending Ng3. ] 9.xd7+ xd7 10.e2 b6 11.0-0 e6 [ 11...c4! 12.f3 ( 12.e4 dxe4 13.f4 e6 14.g3 e7 15.xe4 0-0; 12.f4 f6! 13.f3 xc3 ) 12...e6 13.e4 a3 14.d2 0-0 With not much for White to make up for his inferior structure. ] 12.c4! On the other hand he now seizes the initiative. xa2 [ 12...dxc4 13.d5 0-0-0 14.f4! e5 ( 14...f6 15.f3! exd5 16.h4 ) 15.f3 ( 15.h3!? ) 15...d6 16.h5 hg8 17.xf7 ] 13.cxd5 xd5 14.c3 b7 [ 14...c4 15.b5 ] 15.d5 e7 [ 15...f6 16.e4 exd5 17.exd5 0-0-0 18.f3 xd5? 19.fd1 ] 16.dxe6 fxe6 17.b5 [ 17.h5+! g6 18.h6 f6 ( 18...f8 19.h3 f7 20.f3! Intending Ne4.) 19.fd1 f7 20.e4 xe4 21.xe4 xe4 22.d7 ae8 ( 22...xc2 23.xe7+ xe7 24.g7+ ) 23.h4 xc2 24.a1! ( 24.bd1
g5! 25.xg5?? xd1+ ) 24...b2 ( 24...g5 25.xg5 ) 25.ad1+- ] 17...c8 [ 17...0-0 18.c7 ac8 19.xd7 ] 18.h5+ f8 [ 18...g6 19.h6 f7 20.fd1 f6 21.e4!? xe4 22.xa7 a8 23.e1 xc2 ( 23...b7 24.b5 a4 25.c7 e4 26.f3 ) 24.c6 he8 25.bc1 ( 25.xb6 ) 25...f5 ( 25...a4 26.e5+ g8 27.xg6! d8 28.xe6! ) 26.e5 d3 27.g5 g8 28.e5 f8 ( 28...c3 29.xg6+ ) 29.xf8+ xf8 30.xd3 ] 19.d6! f6 20.e5 d8 21.fd1 xd6 [ 21...f7 22.xe7 xe7 23.d6 xd6 ( 23...c8 ) 24.xd6+ f7 25.a1! a5 ( 25...a8 26.c7 ) 26.g3 c6 27.d6+ g8 28.e4! ] 22.xd6 e7 23.d3! Black is completely tied up as his extra pawn appears completely useless. e8 24.xe8 xd3 25.cxd3 xe8 26.c7 h6 27.xa7 g8 28.xb6 Black cannot avoid the loss of a second pawn. g6 [ 28...d7 29.c1 xd3 ( 29...h7 30.b1 c8 31.d4+ ) 30.xe6+ h7 31.c6 d8 32.h3 ] 29.d1 g4 [ 29...f5 30.e4 e5 ( 30...g4 31.f3 ) 31.c1 ] 30.c1 f7 31.xc5 d8 32.d4 d5 33.c2 g8 34.h3 g5 35.c8+ h7 36.c2+ g8 37.e4 f6 38.c8+ f7 39.h7 d7 40.g8+ g6 41.f8 [ 41.f8 e7 42.e8 ] 1-0
2259 Prie,Eric Chernuschevich,Alexei GP CG de l'Herault (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2441 2521 10.07.2004
1.d4 I really wanted to put only commented games from 2006 on this Happy New Year 2007! update to gain forgiveness for my faded Veresov turpitudes but really could not miss out some remarkable achievements like EllisAnderson. So I clinched one of my very own. o) That said, if 2...d5 has always been a 2206
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 tough option to negotiate in the Tromp, it is not because of this game that I gave up the opening in August 2005. f6 2.g5 d5 3.e3! I have alternated this move with the rarer [ 3.d2!? Then my opponents often let me do what I wanted after 3...g6 or 3...e6 as in Prie-Shoucair but rarely replied with the critical c5! To be seen next month. ] 3...e4!? Possibly stronger than 3...c5 as in the previous game Martinovic-Perunovic. Even if they often transpose, only the complementary study and the comparison of certain positions noticed there with D03 will permit us to settle the question. And if not then the study of the Veresov transpositions 4. Bxf6 gxf6 5.Nc3 or 4.Nc3 which deny Black the possibility to play either ...Nf6-e4 or ...Qb6 because of d5 hanging. 4.f4 "No worries" after this move proclaims W ells as it transposes into another major Tromp line about which he thinks "it was the vitality of White's position in that case which played a k e y ro le i n re n d e r in g 3 . e 3 a f u l ly v ia b l e option" after 2...d5. He is right although the variation he employs, which supplies the essence of this update, to come to this conclusion is particularly subject to caution. c5 "Although Black may be slightly behind in development, this lateral attack on White's dpawn is logical after having deprived it of the possibility of advancing." 5.d3! "Assuming that the doubling of pawns on f6 was a threat introduced by W hite's second move, this position, resulting from the most 'natural' moves from one part and the other, has to be re ga rd e d a s T HE crit ica l p o s it io n o f t h e Trompowsky around which, without any doubt, theory will gather and develop in the future." T h i s i s wh a t I wr o t e i n R a d j a b o v- P o l ga r Benidorm 2003 sometimes at the beginning of 2004 and it is a p leasu re t o see tha t th e evolution of theory has proved me right. So W e l l s i s r ig h t a g a i n i n s a yi n g t h a t : " t h e Bd3xe4 idea has added hugely to the punch of the Trompowsky, and poses Black tricky and un-stereotyped problems." It is just abandoning the centre with 6. dxc5 that is suspect. f6! Avoiding any defect in the structure while Black has already achieved his goal of attacking White's d-pawn with no harm. Here is W ells' opinion about it: "In
g e n e r a l I h a ve b e e n q u i t e h a r s h o n t h e va rio u s a t te m p t s t o avo id a f igh t b y t h is retreat which have cropped up every so often throughout the chapter. Not because I think BIack is somehow morally obliged to engage in a good scrap, rather because I feel that W hite should generally be doing well if not e ve n t h e s l i g h t l y w e a k e n i n g m o v e f 3 i s r e q u i r e d t o i n d u c e t h i s . " 6.dxc5?! Errare humanum est. For my defence I can only say that I was playing the Tromp only for 7 months having studied it only using ChessPublishing. Now, I have understood a few things in the stubborn world of d-Pawn Specials... As for W ells he grants an exclamation mark to this move held up, I choose my words, by the comment: "I am convinced this is the critical move, as I wrote back in 1999 for ChessBase, and while De la V il la a g re e s , i t h a s f o u n d o n ly a li m i t e d following in practice. Of course W hite can instead continue with normal' chess with Nf3/ c3 and so on. My feeling is simply that this leads to the kind of position in which time is not the critical factor, and that Black should rather be punished for his loss of tempo. I think Aaron had done his homework rather well!" Talking about the ancient game Summerscale-Hermansson Oxford GMB 98 that sa w the poor 6 ...Qa5+? inst ead: My euphemistic predecessor and the charismatic Hilsmark-Kingfisher1 leader on the same wavelength, what a scoop! c6! 7.b5 e6 8.d4? A novelty that will not stay long in the annals. For the move b2-b4 see the games Winants-Carlsen and Short-Aronian, as well as Danielan-Matveeva. Now Black instructively gains a big advantage by force: [ 8.b4 a5 9.c3 d7? 10.a4 xb4 11.cxb4 f6 12.f3 xa1 13.0-0 e7 14.a3 d8 15.bd2 axb4 16.xa8 c3 17.xd7 xd7 18.e5+ 1-0 Bigg, A (2275) - Sowray, P (2349) Ch-GBR Scarborough 2004 ] 8...d7! 9.xc6 bxc6 10.b4 e7! 11.f3 f6 12.e5 [ 12.e5 c7 13.xf7 xd4 ( 13...e5 14.xh8 exf4 15.d1 g6 is good too.) 14.xc7 xa1 15.xh8 e5! ( 15...e7? Fritz's move... 16.c3 a6 17.d2 xh8 18.c2 ) 16.xe5 xe5 17.d2 a6 ] 2207
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12...xe5 13.xe5 g5! The point 14.xd7 xg2 15.f1 a6 16.d2 xf1 17.xf1 xd7 18.f4 e7 19.c7+ f6 20.f4+ g6 21.g3 h6-+ The black king is going home eventually after a not really sweaty stroll but having made some 'exchangeable' (for a point) purchase. 22.e2 h7 23.a4 a6 24.h4 he8 25.h5 e5 26.f5+ h8 27.e4 d4 28.a3 ab8 29.f3 b7 30.b3 g1 31.d2 e6 32.e2 g5+ 33.d3 d8! 34.c4 b8 35.g4 f6 36.f3 h7 37.c1 f4 38.h3 f5 39.e2 g8+ 40.d3 fxe4+ 41.fxe4 f6 42.g3 f3+ 43.e2 xb3 44.cxb3 f7 [ 44...xb3? 45.f5+ g8 46.c8+ h7 47.f5+ ] 45.f5 xb4 46.d6 f4 47.g2 e3+ 0-1
2260 Prie,Eric Cossin,Sebastien National B Cande 14) (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2490 2502 24.08.2011
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e5 8.f5! e7!? Considered better is [ 8...h5 9.f3 e7 10.c4 bd7 11.e2 c7 12.a4 b6 13.b5+ d7 14.a5 S o o r s , S ( 2 3 5 3 ) - N a va l g u n d , N ( 2 1 8 8 ) Chennai 2011 1-0 (64) ] 9.g4 h6 10.h4 a6! A new idea found over the board (although after almost an hour's blindfold thought due to an inappropriate triggering of a fire alarm...) and stronger than our previous reference 10... Qd8 or [ 10...a6 11.f3 d8 12.g5 g8 13.h5 b5 14.h3 b4 15.ce2 a5 16.f6 gxf6? ( 16...f8 ) 17.g6 Spoerk, R (2024)Sandhoefner, F (2200) Oberwart 2009 1-0 (30) ] 11.b1 After analysing this game it is still not clear whether I should have activated this rook and returned the black queen to a better defensive post or not. [ 11.h3 h7 ] [ 11.h3 c4! Hitting the Ng1. ] [ 11.f3!? b4 12.d1 g6 13.g5! ] 11...d8 12.f3 d7!
[ 12...b4 13.b2 ] 13.g3?! [ 13.g5!? b4 14.b2 hxg5? ( 14...a5 ) 15.hxg5 xh1 16.xh1 xg5? ( 16...a5 17.h8+ f8 18.b5 ) 17.h8+ f8 18.b5+ d7 19.xd7+ xd7 20.xg7 ] 13...b6 14.f3 d7 15.a3? This over subtle move gives Black just enough time to allow his king to evacuate the centre. It was the moment to go all in. [ 15.g1! A) 15...b4 16.d1 a4 17.a3 xc3+ 18.xc3 a6 19.g5 hxg5 20.hxg5 c4! 21.f6 ( 21.xb7 c5 ) 21...gxf6 22.g6 g8 23.h4!! ( 23.h4 xg6 24.xg6 fxg6 25.h7 c7 26.g8+ f8 27.xg6+ e7 28.h7+ e8 29.h5+ e7= 30.h4? e8 ) 23...c7 ( 23...c5 24.gxf7+ xf7 25.g6 xe4 26.h8+! The unusual key motif of this attack... easy to miss in advance by both sides. xh8 27.g7+ e8 28.xh8+ f8 29.h5+ e7 30.h7+ e8 31.xe4 ) 24.gxf7+ xf7 25.g6 e8 26.h4 d8 ( 26...f8 27.e2 followed by Qh7 after having parried ... Bg4+ ) 27.xe5! xg1 28.h8+ e8 29.f7+ c8 ( 29...d7 30.h3+ is mate. ) 30.xe8+ d8 31.e2 xf1 32.e6+! Using the rook on b1 prior to taking on f1. b8 ( 32...d7 33.xd6+ c7 34.xb7# ) 33.xf1 c5 34.e8 xe4 ( 34...c8 35.xf6 ) 35.e1 And Black loses a piece in a miserable position.; B) 15...c4!? However 16.g5 ( 16.e3!? In comparison to the game White has won a t e m p o . . .) 16...hxg5 17.hxg5 c7! ( 17...c5? 18.f6! gxf6 19.g6 g8 20.h4 xg6 21.xg6 fxg6 22.h7 f8 23.xg6+ e7 24.g5! fxg5 25.xe5! W ith a winning attack. c7 26.xg5+ e8 27.e2 ) 18.f6 gxf6 19.g6 fxg6 20.xg6+ d8 21.g7 e8 22.h4 c8 23.e2 ] [ 15.h2!? c4 16.g5 a4! ] 15...c4 16.e3 c8 17.g1 c5 18.xc5 xc5 19.g5 hxg5 20.hxg5 a5?! [ 20...c7 was simpler. ] 21.f6 gxf6? 2208
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c6 [ 7...e6 8.f4 c7 9.f3 c6 10.d4 Is a casual position that may issue from a Richter-Rauzer. Quite possibly ... there is a better white 10th move than that, meaning that he is no less than 2 tem pi up on a typical Open Sicilian position! ] 8.f4! This is the big difference. White's darksquared bishop exerts a stronger pressure on the opponent's position and development, making the g7-g6 move, for instance, almost impossible because of the exchange on f6, from his natural Tromp placing rather than f ro m a su b st it u t e d L o n d o n lo ca t io n . g4 Black is even struggling to make the most elementary developing moves. [ 8...h6 9.xf6 gxf6 10.d5 ] 9.e2 xe2 10.xe2! 0-0-0 [ 10...d7 11.f3 b6 12.h4! c4 13.xc4 xc4 14.d5 c8 15.b3 4a5 ( 15...a3 16.b6 d8 17.c4 ) 16.b6 ] 11.f3 b8? With the idea ...Rc8 and ...e7e6, eventually, but Black will have no time for it. [ 11...g4 12.he1 ( 12.d2!? e3 13.c4 h6 14.e1 c5 15.xc5 dxc5 16.xd8+ xd8 17.h4 ) 12...f2 13.xf2 ( 13.c4 e3 ) 13...xf2 14.d2 g4 15.h3 f6 16.e5 dxe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.fxe5 xd2 19.xd2 d7 20.e6 fxe6 21.xe6 ] [ 11...h6 therefore was the only move and the reason why White was not in a rush to 2261 A45 part with his strong bishop and double the op po n en t 's f -p awn . 12.xf6 ( 12.h4!? Prie,Eric 2439 g5!? With some counter-chances at the Gelis,Dorian 2173 p r i c e o f a p a w n .) 12...gxf6 13.b1 Carcassonne 20' op (4) 28.11.2004 ( 13.d5 e6 14.xf6 g7 ) 13...e6 [Eric Prié] 14.f5 ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 a5+? 12.e5! dxe5 [ 12...g4 13.exd6 xd6 14.xd6 xd6 "Natural" but wrong, as a reminder of the ( 14...exd6 15.h3 e3+ 16.d2! xd2+ November 2003 update. In every case clearly 17.xd2 ) 15.h3 f6 ( 15...f6 16.d1 c7 worse than the 2..Ne4 3.Bf4 c5 4. f3 Nf6 5. 17.e5 ) 16.d1 c7 ( 16...c5 17.hxg4 dxc5 Qa5+ 6.Qd2 Qxc5 line that we examined fxg5 18.xg5 ) 17.d5 a5 18.h4 h6 last month. If the novelty f eatured in the ( 18...xa2 19.hxg4 a1+ 20.d2 a5+ pre vio u s ga m e is re a lly so m e t h in g 'b ig', 21.c3 ) 19.b1 f5 20.f2+- ] White's 3rd move option in the critical 2...c5 13.xe5!+- xd1+ Tromp, leaves Black with only the [ 13...d4 14.e1 Sets to bright light the [ 3...e6 a l t e r n a t i v e . 4.e3 xc5 5.a3 key idea: f7 cannot be protected. ] with the idea d5 6.c4 a5+?! 7.d2 ] 4.d2 xc5 5.c3 a6 6.e4 d6 7.0-0-0 [ 21...f8! W ithout fearing 22.xe5 gxf6 23.xd7 ( 23.gxf6 xf6 24.xd7 xd7 25.xb7 xa3 ) 23...xd7 24.g6 fxg6 25.xg6+ f7 ] 22.g6 Now it is Black who has to be cautious. g8 23.h4 xg6 [ 23...g7 24.h5! f8 25.gxf7+ xf7 26.g8 xa3 27.h4! e7 ( 27...xc3? 28.xf8+! xf8 29.h8+ e7 30.g6# ) 28.e2! ( 28.g6 xc3 29.xe7 xe7 ) 28...d8 29.g6 e8 30.h8 g7 31.xe8+ xe8 32.g8 ( 32.h7!? a4 33.h3 c5 34.f5 )] [ 23...fxg6? 24.h7 f8 25.h4 g5 26.e2!+- g7 27.h8+ g8 28.h6+ g7 29.g6+ g8 ( 29...f7 30.h5 ) 30.h8+ f7 31.xe5+! dxe5 32.h5+ g6 33.h7+ f8 34.xg6 e6 35.h8+ g8 36.h6# ] 24.xg6 fxg6 25.h7 f8! [ 25...c8 26.h4 c5 27.xg6 e3+ 28.e2 f8 29.xf8 xf8 30.xb6 axb6 31.xd7 xa3 32.xd6+ f7 33.e6+ g6 34.e8+= ] [ 25...c7 26.g8+ f8 27.xg6+ d8 28.g8 e8 29.g6+ d8 30.g8 ] 26.xg6+ e7 27.h7+ e8 28.h5+ e7 29.h7+ e8 30.h5+ White misses his bishop on e2 to hope for more than a perpetual check... e7 ½-½
2209
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.xd1 h6? 15.xf6 exf6 16.d7+ 1-0
2262 Prie,Eric Georgiev,Kiril 12th ch-EUR Aix les Bains FRA (5.51) [Eric Prié]
A45 2508 2666 26.3.11
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.c3 d6!? Cutting off the action of the London bishop on the h2-b8 diagonal, which implies that Black likely threatens to take on b2, def ending against Nb5 with ...Qb4+, ...Qa5 in addition to k e e p i n g t h e c e n t r a l t e n s i o n . 5.b5+! This is similar to the Bauer game, and is also the move preferred by the engines, although it was found over the board here. Anyway, it is probably the best way to remove the b2-pawn problem. [ 5.a3 cxd4 6.exd4 d7 7.b1 In comparison with the games in the next note White has not really lost a tempo in the process of defending b2 as the lightsquared bishop (preventing Na4) is not so well placed on d7. e5!? 8.g5? ( 8.e3 g4?! 9.c4; 8.dxe5 dxe5 9.xe5 c5 10.g3 0-0 11.e2 d8 ) 8...exd4 9.xf6 gxf6 10.e4 d5 11.d2 c6 12.d3 g8 13.e2 e5 ( 13...xg2!? 14.g3 e5 15.h3 xh3!! 16.xh3 e6 17.e2 xh3-+ ) 14.0-0 0-0-0 15.g3 g4 The rest of the game is missing with an actual black win, not a draw, on the table in Ponomariov, R (2744)-Aronian, L (2801) Moscow Blitz 2010 ] [ 5.b1 g6 6.f3 ( 6.h3 g7 7.f3 cxd4 8.exd4 0-0 9.d3? The worst place for this bishop calling f or c6 10.e3 b4 Harmon, C (2203)-Ehlvest, J (2622) Oak Bridge 2000 0-1(45)) 6...g7 ( 6...g4 7.h3 ) 7.e2 0-0 8.0-0 With the idea Nd2c4 combined with d4-d5, e3-e4 Martini, B (2306) -Szeberenyi, A (2342) Hungary 2008 1-0 (31) ] 5...d7 6.a4 a6 7.a5 c7 8.a4?! I thought this was clever but playing ...b7-b6 is part of the black plan anyway, and then a white piece on a4 will be badly placed. g6 [ 8...xa4 9.xa4 cxd4 10.exd4 c6
11.g5 xa5 12.xf6 gxf6 13.d5 d8 14.b4 c6 ( 14...c4 15.e2 c8? 16.xf6# ) 15.b5 a7 16.b6! ( 16.bxa6 bxa6 17.xa6 e6 18.a1 ) 16...b5 17.c4 e6 18.cxb5 exd5 19.bxa6 xb6 20.axb7 xb7 21.e2 g7 22.xa8+ xa8 23.0-0 0-0 24.g3 ] 9.g5 g7 10.d2 xa4 11.xa4 bd7 12.f3 0-0 13.0-0 fe8 14.h3 e6 15.e4?! [ 15.d1= ] 15...b5 16.axb6 xb6 17.a2 cxd4 18.xd4 fd7 [ 18...d5 19.exd5 fxd5 20.xd5 xd5 21.fa1 eb8 22.c3 b6 ] 19.de2 ec8 20.h6 c4 21.c1 f6 [ 21...xc3 22.xc3 xb2 23.d5! exd5 24.xb2 ] 22.d1 [ 22.g5 xc3 23.xc3 xb2 ] 22...c6 23.d4 c5 24.ce2 cb6 25.b3 c7 26.e3 b7 27.f3 Following a phase of hedging, W hite is the first to start moving forward. d5 28.e5 h8 29.g3? Although guarding the e4-square this is the wrong set-up for the White knights. [ 29.ed4! c5 30.g5 e4 ( 30...bd7 31.f4 a5 32.h4 g7 33.xg7 xg7 34.h5 ) 31.xe4 dxe4 32.c4 d7 ( 32...xe5 33.f3 f6 34.g5 d8 35.ad2 ) 33.f4 ] 29...c7 30.f4 a5 31.da1 a4 32.h4 ab8 33.h5 axb3 34.cxb3 c3 35.e1 g7 [ 35...xe3 is the computer's suggestion... However it is not at all clear that Black is b e t t e r a f t e r 36.xe3 ( 36.fxe3 c5 ) 36...c1+ 37.h2 d1 38.a7 d4 ( 38...a8 39.b7 ) 39.e4 d3 40.b4 ] 36.h6 f8 37.a7 b4 38.e2! Even in severe time trouble, while under latent pressure since he has lost a clear plan of action after the opening, White manages to stay in the game, not withstanding the rating difference. c4? [ 38...a8 39.ea1= ] 39.bxc4 c5 40.xd7 xe3 41.xe3 xc4 42.ed4 a4! With an exclamation mark not for the (best) move, not that difficult to find a c t u a l ly, b u t f o r t h e d r a w o f f e r t h a t wi l l unsettle Black after just having painfully made it till the 40th move. 2210
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 42...a4 43.e7 ( 43.d6 ) 43...a3 ( 19...xe5 20.0-0 b7 21.c3 ) 20.0-0! 44.g5 b6 ( 44...f8 45.xe6+! fxe6 ( 20.b6?? c7 ) 20...xa8 ( 20...xe5 46.xh7+With the lethal threat of Bf6, 21.c3 c6 22.b6 ) 21.c3 The point of it Rh8+ Ng5 Mate.) 45.f6 The best engines a l l a s W h i t e r e g a i n s t h e p i e c e . c6 of the World in my possession claim Black ( 21...a6 22.b1 a3 23.a1 ) 22.b1 is slightly better here. The truth, however, is a3 23.a1+- ] that deprived of any concrete counterplay he [ 6...xf4 7.exf4 a6 ( 7...cxd4 8.c4 ) is conversely probably lost here in the long 8.c4 d5 9.a2 ] t e r m ! T h i s i s a t y p i c a l p r o b l e m o f 7.b1 a2 8.c1!? Declining the overestimating the queen's power (f or I [ 8.a1 b2 9.b1 forced draw... This accepted the draw because of weariness means that White, playing 3.d5 on a regular and not because I felt I was not actually basis, may change his choice and opt for 3. better...) that I have realized on the occasion e3 against higher rated opposition when not of analysing this game. But this will b e eager to win!? ] clearer in the next update when studying the 8...axb5 9.a1 xa1 10.xa1 c6! line 4...Qxb2! 5.Nb5 which wins the black [ 10...xf4 11.exf4 b4 ( 11...c4!? 4 queen by force and for a while concludes See game ) 12.a4 cxd4 ( 12...g5 13.dxc5 the subject. c3 46.h2 ] g8 14.f5! g7 15.a2 c3+ 16.d1 ½-½ c6 17.c4 e6 18.e2 ) 13.b5 c6 14.f3 Winning the d4-pawn back. ] 11.dxc5?! 2263 A45 [ 11.xb5 should prove better at the end of the day, see the next game. ] Prie,Eric 2490 Gonzalez de la Torre,Santiago 2460 11...b4 12.a4 c3 13.f3 [ 13.e2 g5 ] I Goi Mailako Centre GM (3) 15.07.2011 13...xa4 14.c1 I did not like [Eric Prié] [ 14.b2 g6 ] 1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.c3 xb2 14...f6!? [ 14...g6 15.d3 g7 16.d2 d5 5.b5 d5 6.a3 a6! 17.b3 c3+ 18.e2 ] [ 6...c3?! recalling last month, then, is the Studying a complicated line with the first line to study: 7.c7+ d8 8.c1 15.e4? xc1+ 9.xc1 e5 10.xe5 d6 11.xa8 computer and having it on a real board are two different things! Actually the position is dxe5 12.dxe5 A) 12...b6? 13.e2! xe2 ( 13...d5 unpleasant for W hite with ...e5 coming to 14.d1; 13...a4 14.d1+ d7 15.f4 exile his London bishop to an observer state b7 16.b5; 13...b5 14.c4 xa3 on g3, followed by ...Bxc5 adding a second 15.c3 xc4 16.xc4 b7 17.f4 ) pawn in Black's favour to the material ratio 14.xe2 b7? 15.d1+ c8? queen/ pieces. And White falters, due to his human nature, by freeing his game in return 16.g4+; B) 12...c4!? 13.xc4 ( 13.a1 e6 for a fateful 3rd pawn. Alas, this will never 14.e2 xe2 15.xe2 c8 ) 13...xa3 allow him to generate enough play to boost 14.a1! b2 15.xa7 Frees the b6 the great unbalancing power of her majesty. [ 15.c7!? e5 16.b6 d5 17.cxd6 xd6 escape square for the knight, however 18.d2 ( 18.c4 f5 19.0-0 b3! c6 t r a p s t h e r o o k ! 16.a2 xa2 20.cxb3 xc4 )] 17.xa2 So White emerges out of the 1st phase of complications with 2 extra pawns 15...xe4 16.c7 e6 17.d3 xc5 18.b5 but his Na8 is not out of trouble yet. b4 a3 19.0-0 e7 20.f4 g5!? [ 20...0-0 As a matter of fact this is simply ( 17...b5 18.b6 b7 19.d5 xe5 good f or Black. 21.xc6 ( 21.d6 g5 ) 20.h3 c4 21.e2! xd5 22.d1 ) 21...bxc6 22.d6 xd6 23.xd6 c3 ] 18.b3 b5 ( 18...xe5 19.f3 c3+ 20.e2 e7 21.b6 ) 19.e2 b7 21.c4 c3 22.e2 g4 23.xc6 2211
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 defenders. 8.d3 f6 9.c3 g6 10.f3 g7 11.0-0 0-0 12.e1 bd7 13.h3 To prevent Ng4-e5.) 7.dxe6 fxe6 8.d2 xd2 ( 8...f6? 9.c4; 8...e7 9.xe4 xe4 This bishop is exposed on e4. 10.h3! 0-0 11.d3! The forced exchange of Black's strong light-squared bishop makes his a-pawn actually look like a backward pawn. xg2? 12.h5 h6 13.g1+- ) 9.xd2 ( 9.xd2 a6 10.xb8? xb8 11.bxa6 e5+ ) 9...a6! 10.c3!? ( 10.h5+ g6 11.e5 g8 12.f3 axb5 13.xa8 xa8 14.xb5 b6 15.c4 xf3 16.gxf3 g7 17.e4 xb2 18.h4 ) 10...axb5 11.xa8 xa8 12.h5+ ( 12.g4!? ) 12...g6 13.h3 ( 13.g4 g8 14.xb5 b6 15.d3 g7 16.e2 xc3+ 17.xc3 xb2 18.d2 b4 ) 13...e5 14.xb5 g7 15.f3 0-0 16.0-0 ] 5...xd5 6.g3 d6 7.e4 b6 8.c3 e6 Also natural though probably weaker than Kramnik's 8...g6 9.f3 e7 10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 a6 12.bxa6?! [ 12.d3 ] 12...xa6 13.b5 d5?! Replying in kind. [ 13...e5 14.d2 c7= ] 14.exd5 exd5 15.e1 Suddenly White has all his pieces well placed and a reinvigorated London bishop. d4 16.c3! Not only breaking the remains of the opposing central domination but also discreetly playing against the Na6 by controlling the b4 square. dxc3 17.bxc3 xd1 18.axd1 fd8 19.b1! e4 20.a1 [ 20.bc1!? Threatening Nc7. d5 21.h4 f6? 22.c4 xf3 23.gxf3 f8 24.e6 f5 ( 24...d7 25.d1 b6 26.xd7 xd7 2264 A45 27.d5 Wins a piece.) 25.ce1 f4 26.xf4 xf4 27.xe7 d5 28.b7 Threatening Prie,Eric 2526 Re5. ab8 29.a7+- ] Govciyan,Pavel 2437 VII op int Grasse (5.2) 26.09.2010 20...f8 21.h4! Intending Ng5 f6 22.h5 f7 23.c7? [Eric Prié] [ 23.h4 c4!? 24.g4 ( 24.xc4+ xc4 25.xe4 c5 26.xa8 xe4 27.xd8 1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.a4 b7 xd8 28.f5 a5= ) 24...c5 25.xa8 5.axb5? If White has to exchange a central xa8 ( 25...xa8 26.d6+ xd6 27.xd6 pawn against Black's b-pawn anyway, he may ba4 28.f3 ) 26.f3 d3 27.f5 ] as well keep the one that most restricts the [ 23.f1!? d3 ( 23...d5 24.h4 g6 opposing game: 25.hxg6+ hxg6 26.xg6 ) 24.c7 xc7 [ 5.e4!? xe4 6.axb5 e6 ( 6...d6 7.c4 25.xc7 xa1 26.xa1 a8 27.xa8 a6 Black cannot play this move when there xa8 28.xd3 xc7 29.xh7 ] is Bxb8 getting rid of one of the a6
[ 23.h4 A) 23...d4? 24.xg4 xb5 25.h5+ f8 26.f4 d6 ( 26...d8 27.e1 d5 28.f5! ) 27.g6+ hxg6 28.xh8+ e7 29.h6!; B) 23...f5!? 24.xc6 ( 24.g3 d4?? 25.e5 ) 24...bxc6 25.e5 ( 25.xf5 exf5 26.d6 e6 ) 25...a6 26.d2 xf1 27.xc3 bxc3 28.xc3 f8! R e m a i n i n g c o m p a c t 29.xf1 e4 30.d3 xh4 ] 23...bxc6 24.h4 [ 24.d4 g8 25.e1 a6 26.d2 g5 ] 24...g8! Even better than [ 24...f5 which gives up the important control of the e5-square. ] 25.e1 a6 26.d1 d5 Black continues to expand thanks to his perfectly coordinated pieces... 27.a1 And White can only gesticulate, hoping for a hypothetical opposing collapse. xc2 No bluff ... 28.b6 [ 28.f5 exf5 29.d6 e2! The point probably missed by W hite at the time he opted for 27.Qa1 rather than 27.Qd2, which did not make much difference as to the final outcome anyway. 30.xc5 xc5-+ ] 28...d3 29.d1 b5 30.b1 b2 31.a1 b3! Again the best move with not so much time on the clock. 32.h3 [ 32.xd3 a2 ] 32...c2 33.b1 c4 End of the fuss. 34.xd3 xd3 35.xb3 c1+ 36.h2 d6+ 37.g3 e4 38.f3 gxf3 39.f2 f1 40.c3 xf2+ 41.g1 c2 0-1
2212
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23...xc7 24.xc7 xa1 25.xa1 a8 W hite's advantage vanishes with this overlooked resource... 26.e1 d5 27.d2 [ 27.c4 f8! being its final touch. ] 27...xc7 28.xe4 f5 29.c4+ f8 30.g3 g6 31.e2 g7 32.hxg6 ½-½
2265 Prie,Eric Korobov,Anton 12th ch-EUR Aix les Bains FRA (3.54) [Eric Prié]
A45 2508 2647 24.3.11
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 The 'typical' London approach. I see This of f ers Black a wide choice of possible transpositions however, only specific moves may now disrupt White's 'Londonitude'. And the 1st one is [ 3.d5 more as an attempt to adapt a classical d-pawn reaction to the 'unclassical' London bishop's sortie... which is not without causing White worries as we saw last time! ] 3...d5 4.g3 [ 4.xb8 xb8 5.e4 c7 ( 5...a5+ 6.d2 c7 7.d5 ) 6.f3 ( 6.d5 g6 ) 6...d5?! ( 6...g6 7.dxc5 g7 8.c3 e6 ) 7.exd5 xd5 8.c4 ( 8.b5+ d7 9.xd7+ xd7 10.0-0= ) 8...a5+ 9.bd2 f6 10.d5?! ( 10.d3 e6 11.0-0 cxd4 12.xd4 e7= ) 10...g6 11.d3 g7 12.0-0 0-0 13.e1 e6 14.dxe6 xe6 Tran Tuan Minh (2295)-To, N (2345) FSIM Budapest 2011 1/ 2(30) ] 4...b6 5.c3 xc3 6.bxc3 The study of the lines 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bg5 Ne4! 4.Bf4/ Bh4 c5 5.e3 Qb6 6.Nc3 which were already examined in this section may prove useful for a better understanding of this position. e6!? Possibly more precise than [ 6...d5 as in the next game authorizing a further Bb5 check with tempo. ] 7.f3 [ 7.a4!? c6 ( 7...b2 8.e2 ) 8.d5! exd5 9.a5! b2 ( 9...xa5 10.e2 ) 10.e2 d4 ( 10...h5 11.h4 ) 11.b1 a3 Keeping an e y e o n c 3 . ( 11...a2 12.f4! xa5 13.d5 d6 14.c4 e6 15.xb7 xd5 16.xd5 xc3+ 17.f1 c8 18.xf7+
d8 19.e6 c7 20.b3 ) 12.exd4 ( 12.a1 b2 13.b1= ) 12...cxd4 13.a6 b6 14.b3 a5 15.xd4 c5 ( 15...xa6? 16.xa6 xa6 17.b5 0-0-0 18.0-0 ) 16.b5 0-0 17.c7 b8 18.d3 d6 19.0-0 ] [ 7.d3 d5 With the idea c5-c4. 8.h3 c4 9.e2 a5 10.0-0 e7 11.e4 dxe4 12.d2 0-0 13.xc4 d7 ] [ 7.b1 a5 8.d2 xa2 ] 7...b2! Black waits for the white knight to develop to his best square to play this thematic move, forcing 8.d2 c6 9.e5 [ 9.a4!? a5 10.b1 a2 11.dxc5 xc5 12.d4 xd4 13.exd4 b6 ] 9...xe5 10.xe5 f6 11.g3 [ 11.c7 cxd4 12.exd4 g6 13.a4 e5 ( 13...h6+ 14.f4 e5 15.g3 exd4? 16.e1+ ) 14.c4 h6+ 15.e2 ( 15.d3 d5 16.xd5 f5+ ) 15...xc3 16.d3 xd3+ 17.cxd3 d5 18.xd5 d7 19.a5 exd4 ] 11...e7 [ 11...cxd4!? 12.exd4 g6 ] 12.a4 [ 12.c7 a3 ] 12...b6 [ 12...0-0 13.c7 completing the opposing queen encirclement. ] 13.h5+ g6 14.h6 f7 15.d3 d8 16.h4 f8 17.f4 d5 18.a5?! [ 18.hb1 This is the problem when you ha ve t hre e goo d sp ot s with in t ere st in g prospects further ahead along a file (a, b, h) with only 2 rooks to occupy them! In this case, the most rele vant elem ent o f th e decision should have been to prevent Black f rom deve loping h is qu een's bishop . c4 19.e2 e7 20.a5 ] 18...c4 19.e2 d7 20.h5 g5 21.f3 h6! [ 21...c6 22.h6! g8 23.h5+ g6 24.h3 xh6 25.h5+ e7 26.g4 With excellent compensation, was White's intention. ] 22.e4 c6 23.exd5 xd5 24.e3 d7 [ 24...xg2 25.xc4 ] 25.f3 g7 26.hb1 This was White's idea, succeeding in playing e3-e4, however the pawns on b7 and c4 will not prove that fragile when the opposing central flexibility is actually a concern with a king on d2... he8 27.e1 2213
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ad8 28.f1 c6 29.b4 Each camp is developing his own conception... Yet, there are always tactical details to work out. [ 29.xd5 xd5 ( 29...exd5 30.f3 d7 31.b2 ) 30.b4 ] 29...f5! [ 29...xf3? 30.xf3 ] 30.e5! [ 30.xd5 And Black can now change tack exd5 31.e5 ( 31.f3 f4 32.h2 g8 ) 31...f4 32.e2 g8 33.ab1 d7 ] 30...xe5 31.dxe5?! [ 31.xe5!? xf3 32.gxf3 A) 32...xf3? 33.c7+ e7 ( 33...g8 34.xb7 h1+ 35.e2 e4+ 36.d2 xd4+! 37.c1 f4+ 38.xf4 xf4 39.xa7 xf2 40.a4 g4 41.xc4 g3 42.cc7 g2 ) 34.xd8 h1+ 35.e2 xa1 36.h8 With perpetual check.; B) 32...e7! 33.e2 c8 34.aa4 d5 ( 34...ec7 35.xc4 xc4 36.xc4 xc4 37.d5 exd5 38.e5 ) 35.xc4 xc4 36.xc4 xa5 37.c5 d8 38.c4= ] 31...xf3 32.gxf3 [ 32.xf3 d5 33.g4? g8 34.gxf5 xa5! ] 32...e7 33.ab1 a6? Both players are putting up a great fight but the error is always lying in wait, especially in time trouble... [ 33...g4? 34.xh6 xf3? 35.h7+ f8 36.h8+ f7 37.xd8+- ] [ 33...g8 ] 34.e2? [ 34.b6! d5 35.d4! ( 35.g2 g4 36.xh6 xf3+ 37.g1= is even possible.) 35...dd7 ( 35...xd4 36.cxd4 xd4 37.xb7 d5 38.xe7+ xe7 39.b7+ e8 40.b6= ) 36.xd5 ( 36.d6!? ) 36...xd5 37.xb7 xe5 38.xe7+ xe7 39.b7+ f6 40.h7 g4 41.fxg4 fxg4 42.xh6+ g5 43.h8 xa5 44.h6 a2 45.h7 g6 46.g8+ xh7 47.xg4 xc2 48.xc4= ] 34...d5! 35.g2? Collapsing before the time control. [ 35.xc4 xa5 36.cb4 dd7 37.c4 And the fight goes on. ] 35...g4 36.e3 gxf3+? [ 36...g8! 37.xh6 xf3+ 38.g1 g3 ] 37.h2? [ 37.h1 g8 38.xh6 e8 ( 38...e4?? 39.f6+ Controlling the h4 square! e8
40.xb7 ) 39.e1 ] 37...g8 38.g1? [ 38.d4 A) 38...g4 39.xd5 exd5 40.b6! ( 40.xb7 xb7 41.xb7+ e6 42.b6+ xe5 43.xh6 g2+ 44.h1 xf2 45.xa6 f1+ 46.h2 f4 47.h6 d1 48.h7 f2 49.h8 f1 50.h4+ e3-+ ) 40...g2+ 41.h3 xf2 42.xh6 i s l e s s c l e a r . F o r i n s t a n c e xc2?? 43.h7+ e8 44.xe7+ xe7 45.h6; B) 38...xd4 39.cxd4 g2+ 40.h3 xf2 41.xc4 g2 42.b3 ( 42.cb4 f8! 43.xb7 xb7 44.xb7 g1 ) 42...g5 ] 38...xg1 39.xg1 g8! It is all over now. 40.d4 g7+ 41.f1 xa5 42.e1 g4 43.d6 e4+ 44.d2 d5+ 45.c1 e1+ 46.b2 xd6 47.exd6 b5! 0-1
2266 Prie,Eric Levin,Felix 3e Open International de Rochefort (6.2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2429 2486 2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 a6 Accordingly the best move as we saw some time ago. 4.d4!? This improvisation over the board is in fact broadly inspired by the 3.Nc3 system that we studied in January, and where nothing has happened since then to make me ch an ge m y eva lu a tio n of th e p os itio n a s unconvincing, for the least, after 3...Qb6!? [ I have already mentioned 4.c3 xc5 5.f3 b6! 6.d2 xb2 7.b1 a3 8.e4 With compensation. ( 8.b5 xa2 9.d1 e6 10.e4 a6 )] 4...e6 5.c3! A novelty, on move 5 this time! In the only other game with 4.Qd4, W hite p l a ye d t h e i n s i p i d 5 . e 3 . xc5 6.h4 Here, Black is 'a tempo ahead'. But if you consider that it was used to 'develop' his queens knight on the edge of the board when 2 moves are required to recycle it onto its natural square, c6 or to develop his king bishop to c5 when it will have to retreat to e7, t h a t c l e a r l y d o e s n o t f a v o u r h i m . b6 After this critical move, the difference with the 2214
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 re f e re n c e v a r ia t io n is t h a t W h i t e h a s t o im m e d i a t e ly p a rt wit h h is d a rk- s qu a re d bishop when, in the other, he usually manages to maintain it on g5, thanks to the pseudo pin on the h-file and exert an unpleasant pressure on the d8-h4 diagonal. [ 6...h6!? 7.e3 g8 ] 7.xf6! gxf6 [ 7...xb2 8.b1 xc2 9.xg7 g8 10.f6 g6 ( 10...b4 11.xb4 xb4 12.xb4 c1+ 13.d1 ) 11.e3 b4 12.xb4 xb4 13.xb4 xf6 ] 8.0-0-0 e7 [ 8...xf2 9.xf6 e3+ 10.b1 f8! 11.f3 d5 12.d4! Is the 'tense' continuation where White has some tricky i d e a s f o r i n s t a n c e b4 ( 12...d7? 13.xd5! exd5 14.e5+ ) 13.a3 xd4 ( 13...c6? 14.f5! exf5 15.xd5 ) 14.xd4 c6 15.h4 d7 16.e4! d4 17.b5 ] 9.e3 f5 10.h6 f8 11.g5 One of the main stakes in the position is the control of the black squares so it is necessary to fight for them and 'occupy the field'. h6 12.g3 c7 13.h4! [ 13.f3 xg3 14.hxg3 d5 is easier for Black to defend. ] 13...b4 [ 13...d5 14.b5+ d7 15.xd5 exd5 16.xd5 a5 17.f6+ d8 18.xd7+ c8 19.c4+ Was the variation I had calculated forgetting about the mate on e1 after c7 attacking the bishop on b5 at the same time. So it means that I just had to play 'normally' with 14.Nf3. ] 14.a3 c6 15.b5 b8 16.e2!? At the time I was somewhat in an aggressive mood and I did not mind keeping the queens on the board for I estimated that my position was worth more than [ 16.g3 xg3 17.hxg3 b8 18.d6+ xd6 19.xd6 e7 20.d2 d5 Which is really pleasant but probably I was wrong. ] 16...e7 [ 16...a6 17.d4 e7 18.h5 A) 18...c7 19.gf3 In the post mortem, when I was completely exhausted, my opponent (whose dream, so far in this game, had been to exchange the queens and hold the ending) suddenly
tra nsf o rm e d in to a u n da u nt e d f igh t e r proposing moves like b5 with the idea of mating me on the queenside making a fuss to boast that he just spoiled a good position in order to justify his status of Soviet Grandmaster... having been completely outplayed in this encounter!. ( 19...d5 Unclear, is probably better. ); B) 18...xd4? was my clever trap but it is true that Black can improve with 19.exd4! f4+ 20.b1 xf2? 21.g3 And Black has nothing to oppose against the manoeuvre Nh3, Rd3, Bf3 winning his queen. ] 17.g3 With an extra tempo I really thought I was going to win h6 or at least get a strong initiative against the enemy king, even with the queens off, on the kingside. [ 17.h5!? ] 17...xg3 18.hxg3 b8 19.d6+ xd6 20.xd6 e7 21.d1 b5?! Does not help at all. Black should put a pawn on d5 to try to hold on. 22.f3 d5 [ 22...b4 23.axb4 xb4 24.c3 Only reveals a new weakness on the a-file. ] 23.h4 f6 24.d4! xd4 25.exd4 d7 26.c3 a5 27.b4! The weakness on b5 is now fixed. a8 28.b2 g7 [ 28...axb4 29.cxb4 With access to c5 for a W hite rook can hardly be considered as an improvement of the structure from Black's point of view. ] 29.d3 f6 30.e3 a6 31.f4 aa8 Black has nothing to do and is condemned to waiting f or the opening of the kingside... 32.g4! Where White had a nice concealed idea! fxg4 33.f5 h5 [ 33...exf5? 34.e7+ ] [ 33...axb4 34.cxb4 A) 34...e5 35.xg4+ f7 36.dxe5 fxe5 ( 36...xf5 37.f4 ) 37.xe5 ae8 38.xe8 xe8 39.d3 e3 40.d4; B) 34...he8 35.xg4+ ( 35.fxe6 f5 36.e5 xe6 37.xe6 xe6 38.xb5 g6 ) 35...f8 ( 35...f7 36.h4 exf5 37.h5+ ) 36.fxe6 xe6 37.f4 d7 ( 37...g7 38.xb5 ) 38.xf6+ g7 39.ff3+- ] 34.fxe6 c6 [ 34...ae8 35.xg4! hxg4 36.exd7 xe3 37.xh8 ] 2215
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 34...he8 35.xh5 xe6 36.xe6 xe6 37.xb5 ] 35.d3 h6 36.h1 [ 36.g3 ] 36...a4 37.e7 [ 37.f1 g7 38.f5 ( 38.e7 f7 39.f5 a7 )] 37...d7 38.f1? With only 2 minutes on the clock and a bit astonished to have overlooked this obvious defence against the threat Re6, the idea [ 38.b1! ae8 39.a2 Winning a key pawn on d5, did not even cross my mind... h7 40.he1 h4 41.xd5 h3 42.gxh3 gxh3 43.c4! bxc4 44.b5! h2 ( 44...xb5 45.xh3+ ) 45.b6 g5 46.b7 When it is just easily winning. ] 38...g5 39.e2 ae8 40.ef2 h6 41.f5 [ 41.g3 xe7 42.f5+ xf5 43.xf5+ g6 Unf ortu na te ly, th e discovered che ck is useless. ] 41...xe7 42.xd7? Aware that I had missed my chance in this fighting game, I was then unable to 're-motivate' myself for the rest of the defence whereas after [ 42.g3 h4 43.xd7 xd7 44.f5+ g6 45.xf6+ h7 46.6f4 The win for Black is far from trivial. ] 42...xd7 43.f5+? In fact, as I was not in the state to calculate anything anymore and that subconsciously, at least, I must have been eager to finish this piece of shame, I wanted to check, practically, if my instinct was not deceiving me, by furiously saying that there was no drawing net if I let the Black king take my g2 pawn. [ 43.g3 d6 44.f5+ g6 45.5f4 h7 46.e1 was of course more stubborn. ] 43...h4 44.e1 g3 45.e2 h4 46.c2 h3 47.e3+ xg2 Well, quite curiously my instinct was right... [ 47...xg2 48.d2 h2 49.e2 g3 And I did not add insult to injury by thinking my opponent could have played ( 49...h1?? 50.f2+ g1 51.g3+ g2 52.gxg2+ h1 53.f1; 49...h1-+ winning too. That is how the way towards h is e ve n t u a l vi ct o ry in t h e t o u rn a m e n t found itself wide open for him. )] 0-1
2267 Prie,Eric Libiszewski,Fabien I Goi Mailako Centre GM (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2490 2480 19.07.2011
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.b3?! Having found nothing but the forced draw after [ 4.c3 xb2 5.b5 d5 6.a3 a6 7.b1 a2 I had decided to try 4.b3 should the line reappear for the 3rd time in a week. The two interesting points I found with it were the possibility of direct refutations to turn against the opponent, as well as what I consider to be the most important factor nowadays (especially in Round Robins when the players do not have 2 or more rounds to play each day...): to take 'the preparation initiative' by hitting with the first surprise. A n d a s h e t o ld m e a f t e r t h e ga m e , t h e future winner of the tournament did indeed have one ready for me: 8.c1 ( 8.a1 b2 9.b1= ) 8...axb5 9.a1 xa1 10.xa1 xf4!? 11.exf4 c4 12.b2 e6 ( 12...a5 13.d5 ) 13.xb5 c6 14.xc4 ( 14.f3 xa3 For White has no time to get rid of t h e a n n o y i n g c 4 - p a w n .) 14...xd4 ( 14...xa3 15.b2 ) 15.b2 f5 This is the whole idea: In some lines of the first 2 games of the update, Black suffered problems along the a1-h8 diagonal. On the other hand, he enjoys a free and solid game in this line, with a superior structure, the pair of bishops and once again the standard compensation of rook and minor piece + pawn in return for the queen after 16.f3 ( 16.g4!? is risky xa3 17.c3 e7 18.xg7 g8 19.xh7 b4+ 20.e2 a1 ) 16...xa3 17.b6 0-0 18.0-0 d6 19.d3 c5 20.b2 b6 With equality, a c c o r d i n g t o L i b i s z e ws k i . I s h a r e t h i s opinion... but surely would not have appreciated having to work out this equally go o d o p t io n f o r B la ck, o ve r t h e b o a rd , without assisted preparation! ] 4...d6 [ 4...d5 5.g3 cxd4 ( 5...b4+ 6.c3 xc3 7.a3 ) 6.exd4 b4+ 7.c3 xc3? 8.a3 xd1+ ( 8...a5 9.d2 ) 9.axb4 b2 10.b5!+- To prevent ...Nc6 prior to collecting the Nb2 with Ra2 ] 2216
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 4...cxd4 5.exd4 c6 6.c3 ( 6.f3!? d5 7.c3 g4 8.e2 e6 9.0-0= Bischof, R (2018) -Podzielny, K (2482) Recklinghausen 2 0 0 3 1 / 2 ( 4 1 )) 6...d6 7.f3 e5 ' A l a A r o n i a n ' 8.dxe5 ( 8.e3!? g4 9.c4 ) 8...dxe5 9.xe5 xe5 ( 9...c5 10.d3 ) 10.xe5 c5 11.d4 ( 11.xf6!? xf2+ 12.d2 ) 11...0-0 12.xc5 xc5 13.e2 g4! 14.0-0 ad8 15.c2 xe2 16.xe2 fe8 ] [ 4...g6 5.f3 g7 6.c3 Adding another pawn to the g7 bishop's diagonal is not a good idea which will be cheerfully punished in this topical game. When White does not have time f or c2-c4 , Nc3 he had bette r satisfy himself with the game set-up. 0-0 7.d3 d6 8.0-0 c6 9.bd2? d5 10.c2 cxd4 11.c4 c7 12.ac1 xf4 13.exf4 dxc3 14.fe1 g4 15.e2 b4 16.e4 f5 17.xe7 xe7 0-1 Sesar, A (1766)-Horvath, C (2517) Sibenik 2011 18.f1 ] 5.f3 [ 5.c3 g6 ( 5...cxd4!? 6.exd4 e5 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.xe5 c5 ) 6.b5+ Therefore may be more accurate. ] 5...g6 6.c3 [ 6.e2 g7 7.c3 Same remark as above. h5 8.g3 xg3 9.hxg3 d7 10.bd2 0-0 11.c1 f6 12.d3 c7 13.0-0 b6 14.e2 a6 15.e4 b7 Segovia Sanchez, A (2006) -Mirzoev, A (2541) San Sebastian 2010 0-1(31) ] 6...g7 7.b5+!? [ 7.e2 0-0 8.0-0 c6 9.a4 ( 9.d2!? ) 9...a5 10.c4? ( 10.e1 ) 10...h5 11.g3 ( 11.g5 cxd4 12.exd4 xd4! ) 11...xg3 12.hxg3 cxd4 13.exd4 g4 Backwinkel, P (2400) -Maus, S (2385) Germany 1991 1/ 2(73) ] 7...d7 [ 7...c6! Would have come as an unpleasant surprise, with the idea 8.d5? ( 8.0-0 0-0 9.g5 ) 8...d7! ] 8.a4 a6 9.xd7+ bxd7 10.0-0 0-0 11.e1 [ 11.a5 c7 12.d5 h5 13.d2 is the general idea, intending h2-h3, Rfe1 and so on, but I wanted Black's queen rook less well placed for b5 14.axb6 xb6 is possible now with the a6-pawn protected! ]
11...a5!? [ 11...ac8 12.a5 c7 13.d5 h5 14.d2 b5 15.axb6 xb6 16.xa6 b7 ] 12.e2 ac8 The position is roughly equal after 13.c4 or 13.h3. ½-½
2268 Prie,Eric Linnemer,Laurent op Montpellier (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2441 2140 12.07.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.d2 c5 Should Black play the intermediate sequence 3... h2-h6 4. Bh4 ? This is a complex question to which I can not clearly answer. A s we saw in th e previous game it eventually weakened some light squares around the black king, but one thing is sure, if he plays now [ 3...d5 Then, in addition to the Stonewall setu p a lre a d y m e n t i o n e d , W h it e c a n a ls o transpose into a classical French SteinitzR u b i n s t e i n a f t e r 4.e4 dxe4 5.xe4 Where there exists some hot theory, at the highest level, in the line e7 6.xf6 xf6 7.f3 ] [ 3...h6 4.h4 c5 5.c3 g5 6.g3 cxd4 7.cxd4 b6 8.e3 xb2 9.gf3 is an interesting pawn sacrifice for White. ] 4.c3!? [ 4.e4 This can be a drawback of not having played 3...h6. a5+ 5.d2 b6 A) 6.dxc5 xc5 7.xc5 xc5 8.f3!? With the idea ( 8.e3 e4; 8.c3 ) 8...e4 9.e3 b4+ 10.d2 xd2 11.xd2 xb2? 12.d4 a3 13.xg7 All this ha s to be tested in practice but as a general comment W hite will probably face difficulties activating his pair of bishops because of his lack of space.; B) 6.xf6+ gxf6 7.c3 cxd4 8.xd4 xd4 9.xd4 e5 10.c3 d5 11.e3 c6 12.0-0-0 e6 Alburt,L-Schussler,H Reykjavik op 1984 ] 4...cxd4 Black should play [ 4...h6 5.xf6! xf6 6.e4 ] [ 4...d5 5.e3 With a norm al game that, having played the Slav almost all my life, I imagine already between small and big 2217
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 advantage for White o) ] 5.cxd4 c6 [ 5...b6 The critical move for the evaluation of this idea. A) 6.c4 b4+ 7.d2 xd4 8.xb4 xc4 9.d6 c6 ( 9...e4? 10.c1 ) 10.e3 d5 With insufficient c o m p e n s a t i o n f o r t h e p a wn a f t e r t h e exchange of queens.; B) 6.xf6 gxf6 7.c2 c6 8.e3 d5 Unfortunately... ( 8...b4 9.b3 c6 10.d1! With the plan Rc1, a2-a3, Kc2, Kb1...I love this idea!) 9.gf3 e5! Th a t is t h e p ro b le m . I n t h is stru ct u re White's queen's knight has nothing to do on d2 whe n, o n c3 , h e wo uld preven t Black playing this strong move. ( 9...d7 10.a3 c8 11.b3 ); C) 6.gf3!? xb2 7.e4 c6 ( 7...d5 8.xf6 gxf6 9.exd5 exd5 10.d3 ) 8.b1; D) 6.c2! c6 7.e3 d5 8.a3 d7 9.e2! c8 10.c3 e7 11.d3 h6 12.h4 0-0 13.0-0 a5 14.ac1 I would not mind playing this exchange Slav type position with either side! ] 6.e3 a5 If Black has to take back on f6 with the g-pawn, it is better to have refrained from playing ...h7-h6, for this square can be useful for one of his pieces. 7.xf6 gxf6 8.a3 b6!? 9.gf3 One principle I have always taught my pupils was not to chase away (and replace) a piece that was badly placed! The queen on a5 can stay there as long as she wants! b7 10.d3 d6 Everything is being carefully placed to mate me on the kingside... 11.g4!? [ 11.b4 h5 12.e4 e7 This was my opponent's idea, which he kept on proposing in the post mortem rather than the sedate ... Be7. 13.xd6 xd6 14.d2 h6 15.c1 e7 16.e4 ] [ 11.0-0 h5 12.e4 e7 13.xd6 xd6 14.e5 xd1 15.c4+ e7 16.fxd1 Under normal circumstances I would have picked-up one of these continuations to torture my opponent in the ending, but after his tenth move, thinking of the prize, I just could not stay earnest... ] 11...b5 12.b4 b6 13.e4 e7? [ 13...e7 14.c5 a5 15.b1 axb4 16.axb4 d6 ( 16...h5 17.gxh5 xh5
18.g1 ) 17.xb7 xb7 18.d5 ( 18.e2!? b8 19.f1 d5 20.d2 ) 18...e5 19.e2 0-0 20.0-0 ] 14.fd2! This was my master plan, after all: 'Guessing' Black would play ...Ke7. Now he cannot avoid Qf3 with fatal consequences. h5 [ 14...xb4 15.axb4 xb4 16.b3 ( 16.f3? f5 17.gxf5 exf5 18.c5 xd3+ 19.xd3 c6 20.de5 d5 21.c1 ac8 W i t h t h e u n s t o p p a b l e t h r e a t f 7 - f 6 .) 16...xd3+ 17.xd3 f5 18.gxf5 exf5 19.g3 xh1 20.xh1 f4 21.e4+ e6 22.xf4+- ] [ 14...xd4 15.exd4 xd4 16.f3 ] [ 14...f5 15.gxf5 exf5 16.xd6 xd6 17.g1 hg8 18.xg8 xg8 19.f3! g1+ 20.f1 c7 21.xf5 ] 15.f3 h6 16.xd6 [ 16.xd6 xb4 ( 16...xd6 17.f4+ e5 18.dxe5+ fxe5 19.xh6 xh1 20.e4 ) 17.xb7 xd3+ 18.e2 xd6 19.xa8 ] 1-0
2269 Prie,Eric Murey,Jacob N1-C Aix (10.2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2494 2437 14.05.2011
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.c3 cxd4 5.exd4 e6 6.a3 With this peculiar order of moves, on the other hand, this way of protecting the b2 pawn appears natural. a6 7.f3 d6 8.d3 d7 9.0-0 c6 [ 9...xb2 10.d2 b6 11.ab1 c6 Controlling e4 and avoiding an annoying pin on the b8-h2 diagonal. ( 11...c7 12.e4 c6 13.c4 e7 14.c5 xe4 15.xe4 0-0 16.d5! exd5 17.xd5 c8 18.cxd6 f6 19.fc1+- ) 12.fe1! logically heading for the d4-d5 thrust now. ( 12.b3!? e7 13.d5 Now that c3 is protected c7! 14.fb1 b5 15.a4 bxa4 16.b7 c8; 12.g5 d5 ) A) 12...d5 13.e5 c8 14.g4!! e7 ( 14...xg4 15.xd5 ) 15.xf6+ gxf6 And now what does White want to play? 16.xd5! exd5 17.xe7+!! xe7 18.d6+ e8 ( 18...xd6 19.b4+ And Mate next move!) 19.h6 c6 20.xf6 ( 20.g7 e6 21.xh8+ d7 ) 2218
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20...f8 21.e1+ e6 22.xf8 xf8 23.f5 d8 ( 23...d8 24.h6+ e8 25.xe6 fxe6 26.xe6+ e7 27.f6 Threatening Rd6. c7 28.h8+ d7 29.xe7+ xe7 30.xa8 ) 24.c4 The ultimate, and decisive reinforcement. xc4 ( 24...dxc4 25.d5 xf5 26.h8#; 24...g8 25.h6! ) 25.xe6 xe6 26.h8+; B) 12...e7 13.d5!! xd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.c4 c5 ( 15...c6 16.e4 ) 16.b2! 0-0 17.xb7 a7 18.xb8!! xb8 19.xb8+ f8 ( 19...c8 20.e3 ) 20.g5 g6 ( 20...f5 21.xe6! xa3 22.xd6 a1+ 23.f1 ) 21.e4 c6 22.h6 ( 22.xd6? c8 ) 22...c8 23.f6+ h8 24.xf8+- ] 10.e1! e7 [ 10...xb2 11.d2! b6 ( 11...xf3 12.eb1 ) 12.g5 e7 13.xe6!! fxe6 14.xe6 d7 ( 14...d8 15.ae1 f8 16.xd6 xd4 17.e5 d7 18.xf6 ) 15.xf6! Similar to the game, White has reached, thanks to his development, a sort of "everything works" state. xf6 16.d5 d8 ( 16...xd4 17.xf6+ xf6 18.e1+ f8 19.c4 ) 17.e1+ f7 18.c4 b5 ( 18...e6 19.xe6 ) 19.b3 f8 20.xf6 xf6 21.g5+- ] 11.g5! bd7 [ 11...0-0 12.d5! xd5 13.xh7 xh7 14.xd5 exd5 15.xe7 ] 12.b1 [ 12.e2!? xd4 13.xf7 xf4 ( 13...0-0!! 14.d2 e5 15.g5 c5 ) 14.xe6 0-0 15.e2! ( 15.xd6+ h8 16.xe7 g8 ) 15...c5 ( 15...d2 16.xd6+ h8 17.xe7 g5 18.g3 ) 16.xh7+! xh7 ( 16...xh7 17.h3+ h6 18.xh6 gxh6 19.f5+ h8 20.f4 ) 17.h6+ h8 18.xf4 xe6 19.g6# ] 12...h6 13.xe6! fxe6 14.xe6 f8 [ 14...d8! was the only defence since Black will never castle anyway. ] 15.e3 f7 16.c4+ d5 17.xd5 xd5 18.xd5+ e8 [ 18...xd5 19.h5+ ] 19.b3 d8 20.c4 g6 21.g3 c8 22.e2 3 pawns for the piece, two mighty b is h o p s a n d a ra gin g a t t a ck a ga in st t h e
opposing king in the centre with split rooks: White does not even have to force his talent... [ 22.c5! c6 ( 22...b5 23.f7 f8 24.e1 ) 23.e1 eyeing the a5-square. ( 23.c2 h5 ) 23...d7 ( 23...d5 24.e6 ) 24.f7 df8 ( 24...h4 25.d5 xc5 26.b4 ) 25.d5 ( 25.a5+ d7 26.d5 xc5 27.a4+ b5 28.g4+ d8 29.d6 f6 30.e8+ is crushing too.) 25...xc5 ( 25...f6 26.a5+ b6 27.cxb6 ) 26.d6 f6 ( 26...xd6 27.xd6 xd6 28.d1 ) 27.e8+ d7 28.xg6 xg6 29.e6+ c6 30.d7+ ] 22...a5 23.c2 g5 24.e1 g4 25.h4 f4 26.f3 xe3 27.hxg5 xc2 28.xe7 xe7 29.xb7+ e6 30.e4+ d7 31.xf4 hxg5 32.d5+ e8 33.e6+ d8 34.xg5+ c7 35.f4+ b7 36.e4+ [ 36.c5 ] 1-0
2270 Prie,Eric Najer,Evgeniy Bastia op 1hKO (9.11) [Eric Prié]
A45 2439 2629 31.10.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.d3 f6 6.c3 b6!? [ 6...c6 I have already examined this position... but it was Black to move after 1. d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Bd3? See the white disasters Israel-Geenen and P a c i - B r u n o s o m e t i m e a g o . 7.d2! See the next game ] 7.c2! [ 7.b3!? c4 ( 7...c6 8.d2 c4 9.xb6 axb6 10.c2 b5 ) 8.xb6 axb6 9.c2 ( 9.xb8 xb8 10.c2 The price of the 2 bishops is too expensive to counter the idea b6-b5-b4. ) 9...c6 10.f3 b5 11.a3 T h e o n l y wa y t o j u s t i f y 7 . Q b 3 . ( 11.e5 h5; 11.bd2 b4 12.0-0 e6 13.e4 ) A) 11...a5 12.c7; B) 11...b4 12.b5 d7 13.cxb4 e6 14.0-0 xb4 ( 14...xb4 15.b1 ) 15.b3; C) 11...e5? 12.xb5; D) 11...a7! The idea ChessBase magazine 's edito r G M Rainer KNAA K recommends in similar positions coming 2219
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 from the London System. It is well adapted to our case where Black's queen's bishop cannot reach his best square on f5 because of his opposing homologue on c2, but on the other hand this same bishop impedes the Na3 from recycling via this very same square. 12.0-0! ( 12.b4 g6 13.0-0 g7 14.d2 d7 15.e4 c8 16.ab1 xe4 17.xe4 dxe4 18.xe4 c6 19.d5 d7 ) 12...e6!? ( 12...g6 ) 13.b4 e7 14.b1 0-0 15.bd2 d7 16.e5 e8 And I prefer Black ] [ 7.c1?! Is the only move to stay in the game with the knight already on c6 as in Paci-Bruno but here it is dubious merely because W hite can pretend to something m o r e e n t h u s i a s t i c t h a n s u r v i v a l . c6 ( 7...h5! As ever 8.xb8 xb8 9.f3 e6= ) 8.h3 ( 8.f3 h5 9.dxc5 xf4 10.exf4 xc5 ) 8...d7 ( 8...d7!? 9.f3 f6 With complications in sight against the threat of explosion of the W hite centre.) 9.d2 c8 10.b1 e6 11.gf3 cxd4?! Absolutely unnecessary: Black should keep the tension. ( 11...e7 12.0-0 0-0 13.e5 fd8 Then he cannot play ...Na5 because of dxc5 and the fork b2-b4 but can always take on d4 prior to that if an opportune moment arises. ) 12.exd4 e7 13.0-0 0-0 14.e1 a5 15.a4! Orr, M (2360) - Lagevsky, J Kilkenny 1998 1-0(89) ] 7...g6 8.f3 g7 [ 8...c4 9.e2 f5 10.c1 c6 ( 10...h5 11.e5 f6 12.xb8 ) 11.h3 g7 12.bd2 0-0 13.0-0 fc8 14.e1 ( 14.b3 cxb3 15.axb3 b4 ) 14...a5 15.d1 ( 15.b3!? b5 16.b2 ) 15...d3 16.c2 b5 17.b1 e4 18.a4 a6 19.xd3 xd2 ( 19...cxd3 20.xe4 dxe4 21.g5 f5? 22.a2+ ) 20.xd2 cxd3 21.e4 White proved smarter... ] 9.bd2 0-0 10.0-0 c6 11.h3 e6 12.fe1 ac8 13.b3 c4 14.xb6 axb6 15.c2 b5 16.a3 f5 17.e4 xe4 18.xe4 xe4 19.xe4 dxe4 20.xe4 fd8 21.e5 W h ite lo o k s like h a vin g a pu ll b u t it wa s urgent to remain patient and improve the position first with Rae1, Bg5, g2-g4 possibly Kg2 etc. xe5! 22.xe5 f6 23.f4 d5 24.ae1 f7 25.g4 h5 26.g2 h8 27.f3 e8 28.g3 d7 29.h4 f8
[ 29...e8 30.g5 e5 31.g2 f5 32.4e3 ] 30.g5 f5 31.4e2 a8 32.g2 e8 33.e6 g8 34.g3 White has to avoid a couple of pitfalls to make his king join the queenside and then breakthrough with b2-b3 but even there it is not clear whether he has improved or worsened his position! [ 34.f2 g7 ( 34...e8 35.d6 d7 36.c5 ) 35.1e2 ( 35.1e3 g8 36.e1 g7 37.d2? xd4 ) 35...g8 36.e1 g7 37.d1 g8 38.c1 ( 38.c2 xd4 ) 38...g7 39.b1 g8 40.a2 g7 41.g3 ( 41.b3 cxb3+ 42.xb3 xd4; 41.h2 g8 42.g3 g7 43.b3 cxb3+ 44.xb3 f4 ) 41...g8 42.h2 g7 43.b3 g8 44.b2 g7 ] ½-½
2271 Prie,Eric Nemet,Ivan Mitropa Cup Zemplinska Sirava SVK (8) [Eric Prié]
A45 2427 2361
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 e6 5.d3 d6 6.xe4 The Mikhalevski game was my theoretical reference at the time but eventually I made up my mind to 'improvise' over the board. dxe4 7.c3 xf4 8.exf4 c6 [ 8...f5?! 9.d2 c6 10.0-0-0 With the id e a f 2 -f 3 a n d t h is t i m e W h it e 's k in g' s knight will be ideally developed after the recapture on this square! ] 9.ge2 f5 Both sides have a weak structure with a pair of doubled pawns, and the c8bishop is potentially strong on a6 or b7 so White's claim to the advantage relies only on his success in maintaining some initiative thanks to his slight advantage in development after the d4-d5 breakthrough, opening the file for his rook and providing his king's knight with the interesting d4-square or 'repairing' his structure with f2-f3, but for any of these plans to work he has to act fast and energetically. 10.d2 There exists a couple of games with 10.0-0 and the idea f2-f3, which potentially stresses the weakness of Black's backward epawn after the opening of the e-file but also, unfortunately for White, 'gives an avenue' to 2220
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Blac k's ligh t-square d bishop on the lon g diagonal and does not help in activating the knight on e2. a5?! A 'taking space move'... in the desert, whereas the weakness of this pawn and the b6 square will become important. [ 10...a5? 11.xe4 c4 12.b4 xb2? 13.4c3 ] [ Of course, as I had suspected during the game 10...e7 11.0-0-0 A) 11...0-0 12.d5 ( 12.hf1!? ) 12...exd5 13.xd5 e6 14.e3 xd2+ 15.xd2 c6 16.h3 ( 16.d4!? xd4 17.xd4 fd8 18.hd1 xd4 19.xd4 f7 With the idea Ke7, c5 is equal . With his 'bad' bishop Black should keep the rooks on the board.) 16...ad8 17.a3 xd2 18.xd2 g6 19.c3 d8 20.b4 f7 21.d1 xd1 22.xd1 f6 23.e3 And in spite of his legendary technique in a pleasant position, Peter Leko did not succeed in making Mrs Zsuza Veroci's defence knuckle under. ChT HUN 1998 1/ 2 (54); B) 11...d5 was the critical continuation. B1) As for me, I had rather planned 12.hf1 0-0 It is true that such a move as ( 12...h4!? which explains 12.g3 is not something that I considered seriously. Still, it should be checked with a deeper analysis. 13.f3 xh2 ) 13.f3 W ith the e 2-knight f indin g a n atura l square of development on c3 after the exchange on d5, e5 being reserved for a rook to support the d4-d5 thrust, the estimation is different.; B2) 12.g3 b6! 13.hf1 a6 14.fe1 ( 14.f3? xc3 15.bxc3 exf3 16.xf3 d5 ) 14...0-0= Tu Hoang Thong-Pinter, J Olm Elista 1998 0-1 (34) ] 11.0-0-0 0-0 12.d5 exd5 13.xd5+ xd5 14.xd5 f7 15.e3! e6 16.d4 d8?! [ 16...xd4 17.xd4 was obligatory. But here W hite firmly controls the only open file which can only be contested by the exchange of the 4 rooks which will bring an even less favourable forecast for Black in the knight (and superior king already at the queenside) against 'bad' bishop ending. ] 17.d2 g6 [ 17...xa2? 18.b3 a4 19.b2 c5 20.e2!
axb3 21.cxb3 c6 22.a1 b4 23.c1+- ] 18.hd1 f8 19.g3 [ 19.b5 c6 20.c7 c8 21.xd8 xc7= ] [ Black does not enjoy the slightest hope of counter play, so White could quietly improve h is p o sit io n b u t 19.a4 was probably the most precise with the idea d7? 20.d5 ] 19...f7 [ 19...a4!? 20.a3 c6 ] 20.a4 [ 20.b5 e6 21.d5? c6 ] 20...c6 21.b3 e8 [ 21...e6 22.xe6 xe6 23.b2 f7 ( 23...b5 24.d6 ) 24.c4! ( 24.c3 b5! ) 24...xc4 25.d7+ g8 26.bxc4 f7 27.xf7 xf7 28.d7+ ] 22.g4!! ? New punctuation signifying here: 'good and very interesting move' when in addition to the aforementioned plan Kb2-c3, Nc4, I could have had the idea [ 22.f3!? I had not understood that this was what Black's last move that was meant to prevent. exf3? ( 22...f8! And White has st ill t o wo rk t o b rin g a kn ight o n t o e 5 .) 23.xf3 xe3 24.xd8+ xd8 25.xd8+ Actually, more inspired by a flash of intuition than by sheer calculation, I suddenly went for this tactical opportunity, arguable, but which proved quite effective considering the time scramble of my opponent. ] 22...fxg4 [ 22...e6 was the most tenacious. A) 23.gxf5!? xf4 24.e2 xe2+ 25.xe2 ad8 26.xd8 xd8 27.fxg6 xg6 ( 27...hxg6 28.g4 ) 28.d2 a8 29.c4 b5 30.e5 also remains uncomfortable for Black.; B) 23.xe6! xe6 B1) 24.gxf5 gxf5 25.g1+ f7 26.g5 h6! ( 26...g8? 27.xf5 xg5 28.d6+; 26...f6 27.d6 e7 28.d1 ); B2) 24.g5 was the position I was aiming for, as I had roughly and quickly evaluated it as superior to the same one with the pawn on g3 because of th e access to the important f6 square but it was not as simple as that, f or Black could then generate some counter play 2221
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 in opening the h-file. For instance: B2a) 24...h6 25.gxh6!? ( 25.h4 tra n sp o s es in to t he m a in b ra n ch .) 25...f7 26.c4 h8 ( 26...xc4 27.bxc4 e7 28.d8 ) 27.d6+ e7 28.xb7 xh6 29.f3; B2b) 24...f7 25.h4 h6 26.c4! xc4 27.bxc4 hxg5 28.hxg5 e7 29.d6 e6! ( 29...g7 30.f6 g8 31.dd6 h7 32.d2 Black are 'stalemated') 30.d7+ e7 31.1d6 ( 31.7d6= ) 31...h8 32.d2 h4 ( 32...h3 33.xe7+ xe7 34.xg6 f3 35.e2 xf4 36.g7+ d6 37.xb7 g4 38.a7 ) 33.e3 h3+ 34.d4 f3 Which, on the other hand is not clear at all, noticeably because o f t h e t r i c k y l i n e 35.f6+ e8 36.xe7+ xe7 37.e5 B2b1) 37...xf2? 38.xg6 e3 39.e6+! ( 39.xf5?? xf4+!! 40.xf4 e2-+ ) 39...d7 40.xf5 xf4+ 41.xf4 xe6 42.xe3 f5 43.d4+-; B2b2) 37...e3! ] 23.xg4 g7 24.f5 h5 [ 24...g5 25.e2 h5 ( 25...h5 26.h3 ) 26.e3 The knight on d8 is a serious problem for Black when numerous combinatory themes start to appear as a consequence of the exposed situation of his king. f6 27.c3 e5 28.d4 f4 29.e2+ A) 29...f3 30.g1+ f4 ( 30...xf2 31.d2 Followed by Rf1 mate.) 31.h3+ e5 32.xg5; B) 29...e5 30.g3 f4 31.g2+ f3 32.e1+ f4 ( 32...xf2 33.xe4+ ) 33.f3+- ] 25.fxg6 xg6 [ 25...xb3 26.cxb3 hxg4 27.g1 xg6 28.xg4+ f6 29.f4+ g5 30.f5+ h6 31.e2 ] 26.e3 f6 27.f1! I rejected [ 27.df5 be c au se o f g6 28.d6 e7 29.xe4+ xe4 30.xd8 xd8 31.xd8 h4 But Fritz 'the oracle' calls 29.Rf1! with the same idea as even stronger! ] 27...e6 [ 27...e6 28.f3 h3 29.ff2 g5 30.fxe4 xe4 31.c4 ]
28.f3! xd4 29.fxe4+! e5 30.xf7 b5 [ 30...xe4 31.c4 With the deadly threat Nd6+. ad8 32.xb7 ] 31.axb5 cxb5 32.f5! f3 [ 32...e6 33.b7 xf5 34.exf5+ xf5 35.d5+! g4 36.bxb5 h4 37.d4+! A little accuracy is required yet. h3 38.h5 xh2 39.dxh4+ g3 40.a4 ac8 41.axa5 e2 42.ac5+- ] 33.d5+ xe4 34.xb5 [ 34.d3! was winning on the spot. e1 ( 34...e5 35.d6# !; 34...xh2 35.d6+ e5 36.xe8 xe8 37.e3+ ) 35.d6+ e5 36.d1 e6 ( 36...e6 37.f5# ! ) 37.f2 ] 34...a6 35.g3+ e3 36.d5! e5 [ 36...xh2 37.d3# ! ] [ 36...d4 37.f1+ e4 38.xh5 a4 39.d2+ e3 40.d1! axb3 41.h3+ f3 42.hxf3+ d4 43.xb3+ ] 37.f5 h4 38.fxe5+ Only at the last moment, when I was about to play the 'criminal' [ 38.f1+?? Having worked out another c h e c k m a t e o n f 1 t h i s t i m e a f t e r e2 39.d2+ e1 40.e3 I realized that the Black king had the square e4 'forking' my 2 rooks !!... which may be not losing, by the way, because of 39.Ne3! ] 38...xe5 39.xe5+ When the king goes to the fourth attacking the rook there is Re4+ soon winning h4. 1-0
2272 Prie,Eric Nevednichy,Vladislav 12th Aosta Open (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2429 2548 15.02.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 [ 2.c4 c6 3.f3 d5 4.e3 g4 5.cxd5 xf3 ( 5...cxd5?! 6.b3 ) 6.gxf3 cxd5 7.b3 d7 8.c3 c6 is an important variation for Black for those, like me, who prefer 5... Bg4 to 5...Bf5 against the slow Slav. ] 2...c6 3.xf6 At that time I already saw myself winning (hence the Tromp...) every time I doubled the pawns on f6! gxf6 [ 3...exf6 Then I would confidently have 2222
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 gone 4.e3 d5 5.c4 dxc4 6.xc4 d6 which just gives absolutely nothing for White as we have already seen... if not less than that. ] 4.c4 b6 5.d2 d5 Eventually it struck me, I had not left my mark on the 2... c6 Tromp! [ Definitely better is 5...e5 6.e3 d5 as given in a note in the November update. It is good thing to back up this idea of c4/ Qd2 to protect the b2 pawn with a proper 'bonus' game anyway. ] 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.c3 Thus denying Black ...e7e5. e6 8.f3 c6 9.e3 [ 9.a3!? In order to profit from the extra tempo compared to the same position with reversed colours, given in a note, to play e3e4. a5 10.b1 ] 9...h5 10.g3 d7 11.d3 With Black's h pawn already committed to h5 [ 11.e2 was probably more accurate. ] 11...f5 12.0-0 e7 13.h4 g8 14.h2 d6 15.ac1 e7 preventing the idea Na4-c5. [ 15...f6!? 16.a4!? ( 16.a3 e7 17.e2 Transposing into what could have been the continuation of the game.) 16...b4 17.c5 f4! An unpleasant surprise. 18.gxf4 xd2 19.xd2 xd4 20.xb7 b4 21.b3 f3+ 22.h1 e7 ] 16.e2?! [ 16.e5! or ] [ 16.a3 at least. ] 16...f6 17.f4 [ 17.a3 Again was a more patient and better option, without fearing e5? 18.dxe5 fxe5 19.g5 e4 20.b1 ] 17...f7!? Courageous.. . [ 17...h8 ] 18.e2?! Coward! [ 18.xh5! h8 19.f4 e5? ( 19...ag8 ) 20.dxe5 fxe5 21.xd5 xd5 22.c4+- ] 18...xf4 19.exf4 c8 20.c3 d6 21.b3 d8 22.e5+? [ 22.c1 ] 22...fxe5 23.fxe5 c4 24.h6 g7 The overlooked defence... 25.xb7 [ 25.xc4 dxc4 26.xb7 g8 27.xh5 c6 28.xg7+ xg7 29.c1 Yet was more resistant, with the trap d5 ( 29...d5! 30.g4 f3-+ ) 30.g5+ f7 31.f6+ e8 32.g6+ d7 33.f7+ c8 34.f8+ c7 35.e7+ b6 36.b4+ And perpetual
check ] 25...a5! 26.b4 c6 Game over. In coffee chess there is the saying "two pawns and a check are worth a piece" but not in this case! 27.a4 g8 28.c1 b6 29.d2 a5?! Of course not stumbling on the [ 29...xe5?? 30.b4 cheapo. Nevertheless, ] [ 29...b8 30.b3 xe5! Would have quickly wrapped up the business. 31.dxe5 xf2+ 32.h1 xg3 ] 30.c5 xe5 31.axa5 xa5 32.xa5 c6?! [ 32...g4+ ] 33.a4 h7 [ 33...e5 must have been Black's intention, then afraid of 34.h6 b7! 35.dxe5 xe5 36.a5 g4+ 37.xg4 hxg4 however keeping things more or less under control. 38.f6 h7 ] 34.xh5 Suddenly it is less clear with a 3rd pawn for the piece. b8 35.d1 protecting the rook. [ 35.e2!? e5 36.b4 a7 37.b3 is still uncertain. ] 35...e7 36.a3 g8 37.f3? [ 37.b3 c7 38.b4 f4 39.c3 ] 37...f6 38.f4? Even short of time, what a ridiculous idea to self-trap my second best piece! [ 38.b3 d6 39.e2 e4 40.e3 ] 38...e4 39.c1 b6 40.h5 xd4 And thus, interminably recovering from a long disease, I was heading for my record of 2427 on the 1st of April... 0-1
2273 Prie,Eric Nordahl,Helge Andreas 12th Aosta Open (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2429 2346 13.02.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 d5 3.e3 e4 4.f4 c5 T h e g o o d m o v e b u t . . . 5.d3 e6?! This transposition into our main subject is more 'dubious' than 'very ambitious' Black has to play the ending [ 5...cxd4 6.xe4 dxe4 7.xd4 xd4 8.exd4 c6 9.c3 Which is far from obvious 2223
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 for White despite some good statistics when you start to have a close look at it, or the acknowledged retreat 5...Nf6. ] 6.xe4! [ 6.f3 was the game Horvath,Ju-Dembo,Y, the only precedent of 4...e6 in the eBook. ] 6...dxe4 7.c3 cxd4 [ 7...b6 8.ge2 xb2 9.0-0 I do not imagine Black surviving this position for longer than a couple of moves cxd4 10.b1! dxc3 ( 10...a3 11.b5 ) 11.xb2 cxb2 12.xb8! xb8 13.d4 a8 14.d1 f5 15.xb2 f7 16.d4 Game over. ] 8.xd4! xd4 9.exd4 b6? This opponent must have read my hazy theories about the psychological shock provoked by the change o f p h ys io gn o m y o f a g a m e in a d e l ic a t e position! [ 9...b4 10.ge2 c6 11.0-0-0 f5 12.d5 exd5 13.xd5 a5 14.c7 0-0 15.xa5 xa5 16.h4 c6 17.ef4 f7 18.d2 is a real treat although Black can resist. 'A c t i v e b u t t e c h n i c a l l y l o s t ' i n s t e a d o f 'pretty bad without the slightest hope of counter-play' proved a quite clever choice in the end! ] 10.xe4 b7 11.f3 c6 12.0-0-0 d8 13.c3 The rest should be a matter of technique but, precisely, I never had too much of it! e7 14.h3 0-0 15.he1 [ 15.g5 f6 ] 15...d5 16.b1 fd8 17.hf2 It is important to have a knight on this square to protect d1 and watch Black's only breakthrough: e6-e5. I have a poor technique but I usually try to compensate by knowing how to place my pieces! h6 18.c7 [ 18.d3 ] 18...8d7 19.f4? [ 19.g3 Of course was my idea, but somehow I became afraid of f5 ( And 19...g5 Ha vin g n o t se e n 20.g4 g7 21.e3 ) 20.d2 g5 21.d3 xd4 As I had 'f orgotten' the fine point of my strategy 22.cxd4 xd4 23.e5! 7d5 24.c2 c5+ 25.dc4 cxc4+ 26.xc4 xc4+ 27.b3! c5 ( 27...d5 28.xd5 exd5 29.xe7; 27...b4+ 28.c3 f7 29.d7 ) 28.xe6+- ] 19...a6 20.g3 b5? So the subtle loss of a tempo 'attracting' the Black rook onto a better
s q u a r e h a s p r o vo k e d i t s e f f e c t ! W h a t a f a s c i n a t i n g p s y c h o l o g i c a l b a t t l e ! 21.b4! Well, now, I have got a plan! b7 22.a3 a5 23.c2 g5 24.c1 c7 25.b3 axb4 26.axb4 xb4 27.cxb4 xd4+ 28.b2 c2+ 29.b1 xf2 When I played 25.Kb3 instead of Kb2 (with the couple of minutes he had left on his clock...) for instance, I had worked out a little 'surprise' for my opponent... 30.e4? [ 30.e3 xg2 31.xd4 xh2 32.e4+The rook on h2 is exposed to Bd4-e5 and the discovered check Nf6-g4, so Black has to give up another exchange, his expenses would then amount to a whole rook, that even 4 not particularly advanced pawns will hardly compensate. ] 30...xg2 31.f6+ f8 32.xd5 xf3 Of course, that was a 'good surprise'! as I had missed this intermediate move, too far beyond m y c a l c u l a t i n g p o we r . . . 33.f6 xe1 34.xe1 xh2 35.b2 e7 [ 35...h1-+ ] [ 35...h4 36.c3 g7 ] 36.e5 Rxb2 was threatened. From this stage, as one can imagine, I am not exaggeratedly interested in commenting the rest of the game! h4 37.c2 xb4 38.d3 a4 39.g8+ d7? [ 39...f8! 40.f6 ( 40.xh6 h4 ) 40...g7!-+ 'Isn't it good, Norwegian wood... '] 40.xh6 f5 41.f7 e4+ 42.c3 g4 43.d6 c6 44.xe4 xe4 45.xe4 fxe4 46.d4 b4 [ 46...e3 47.xe3 d5 48.b2 e5 49.c3= ] 47.xe4 b3 48.f4 d5 49.b2 e5+ 50.xg4 e4 ½-½
2274 Prie,Eric Philippe,Christophe Top 16 Nancy (2.6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2439 2374 05.02.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.d2 [ 3.c3 Attempting to make White's idea of provoking Black to play ...d7-d5 in order to 2224
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 play a reverse Stonewall with the white bishop on g5 outside of the pawn chain work, thanks to this prophylactic move, can also be short circuited with c5! 4.e3 White has to play 4.Nf3 transposing into the normal line as in the first 2 games. cxd4 ( 4...b6 5.b3 ) 5.xf6 ( 5.cxd4?? a5+ 6.c3 xg5 ) 5...xf6 6.cxd4 b4+ 7.d2 ( 7.c3 xc3+! Black should not allow the opponent to play Rc1. 8.bxc3 b6 ) 7...b6 8.gf3 b7 9.e2 d8= ] [ 3.e3!? c5 4.dxc5 xc5 5.a3 Also transposes into the line I play, and recommend, against the 2...c5 Tromp! With the move order 3.dxc5 e6 (3...Na6 is critical here) 4.e3 Bxc5 5.a3. If you distrust 3.e4, because of Carlsen-Aronian for instance, there is a wide choice of other possibilities like 3.Nf3, 3.c3, which comes under focus next month, or 3.Nd2 all linked to the Torre sphere, but unfortunately for White, there exists no panacea as each of them has its little inconvenience! ] 3...h6! You have to 'ask the question' as early as possible. The fact that White has not opted for 3.e4 is a sign that he is not in a mood to give up the pair of bishops in return for an ephemeral possession of the centre. [ 3...c5 4.e4!? Is a specific feature of 3. Nd2 see the game Prié-Linnemer. ] 4.h4 c5 5.e3 When I played this game, I had just analysed Morozevich-Anand and I wanted to reproduce White's idea or at least I felt 'inspired' by it! [ 5.c3!? is my normal 'preparation' which can originally be found in Prie-Linnemer. cxd4 6.cxd4 b6 7.c2 ( 7.gf3 xb2 8.b1 xa2 9.e4 White has an impressive lead in development which will undoubtedly seduce the gambiteers when I, myself, mainly see the 2 pawn deficit!) 7...c6 8.e3 ( 8.xf6? gxf6 9.e3 d5! Followed by ...e6-e5 and White will not manage to hold the d4 bolt.) 8...d5 ( 8...b4?! 9.b3 c6 10.d1! e4 11.gf3 With the idea Rc1, a3, Kc2, Kb1 and everything is fine for White!) 9.a3 d7 10.e2 c8 11.c3 e7 12.d3 0-0! 13.0-0! a5 14.ac1= At the time I wrote: "I would not mind playing this exchange Slav type position with either side!" W ith a couple of months distance I
believe that this position is pretty equal. White has not achieved anything out of the opening. ] 5...cxd4! Ensuring a pawn majority in the centre which is the main concern for White in the Torre attack. Black should not allow him to consolidate his d pawn with c2-c3 which would permit an important recapture towards the centre in case of ...c5xd4. 6.exd4 e7! Alas! [ 6...b6? 7.c4 ] [ 6...b6 7.e4 This is the difference with Morozevich-Anand, although ( 7.xf6 xf6 8.gf3 b7 9.c3 c6 10.g3 could have transposed into it after g5 11.g2 ) 7...e7 ( 7...g5 8.xf6+ xf6 9.g3 ) 8.xf6 gxf6 ( 8...xf6? 9.d6+ ) 9.g4! f5 10.g7 f8 11.d2 f6 12.xh6 xd4 13.c3 Black has a powerful dark squared bishop but White's pawn structure is very superior. ] 7.c3 The idea of playing c2-c4 can be relevant for White in some positions of the Torre, after a rapid exchange on d4, however, only when his queen's knight can be developed on c3... b6 8.gf3 I spent some time at this stage trying to take advantage from the vacant f3 square but could not find anything. It means that Black easily equalized in what has now become a normal Torre. [ 8.xf6 xf6 9.e4 e7 10.f3 c6 11.g3 0-0 12.d6 xd6 13.xd6 b7 14.f3 b8 provides less than nothing... ] 8...b7 9.xf6 I dislike parting with my bishops like this but I know that White has to watch out for Nd5, profiting from the weakness of the square f4 after the exchange of the dark-squared bishops. xf6 10.d3 0-0 11.0-0 [ 11.e2 c6 12.0-0-0 g6 See note in the next game, as played by Karpov. ] 11...d6 12.e1 d7 13.a4 a6 14.e4?! W hite has exhausted his reserve of uncompromising moves in order to strengthen his position. In these conditions, let's at least deprive the opponent of the pair of bishops. [ 14.e4! Nevertheless this is the correct idea with the plan Bc2, Qd3. See the note in the next game. ] 14...c7 15.xb7 xb7 16.c4 d5 [ 16...e7 17.e3 Intending d4-d5. ] 17.e3 2225
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 17.cd2 b5 18.axb5 axb5 19.b4 A thematic try to counter the minority attack which fails to work here. xa1 20.xa1 a8 21.b2 b6 22.b3 c4 23.c2 a3 24.c5 a7 Apart from masking the weakness of c3 along the open file, the Nc5 is completely 'out of play'. ] [ 17.ce5 xe5 18.xe5 xe5 19.xe5 b5 The similar counter plan f2-f4, f5 creating the same kind of pawn weakness would come too late. ] 17...b5 18.a5 there is some idea behind the a2-a4 move nevertheless: play against the night on d7. b4 With the a-file now locked and deprived of easy access to c4 via b6 for his knight, Black has to watch out for the move b2b4! followed by the installation of a white knight onto c5, via d2-b3 or e5-d3, 'the royal way' in this structure, or possibly via d1-b2-d3 if maintaining control of the e5 square appeared necessary.. 19.c4 dxc4 20.xc4 fd8 21.a4 ab8! 22.ac1 d5 [ 22...b5! A) 23.xb5? xb5 24.d6 d5! ( 24...xa5?? 25.b7 ) 25.b7 b8 26.c7 xd4; B) 23.b3 Transposition into the ending was only justified by the hope of placing an obvious fork, and would prove rapidly disastrous. d5 24.e3 The queen looks less active than on a4, but W hite can then transfer his attention towards the idea Nfe5 without fearing the intermediate Nc5 after the exchange on e5 anymore, and besides, the recapture with the d-pawn will provide a support to the key d6-square for the Nc4. ] 23.ed1 g5?! [ 23...b5 was more precise although 24.e3 ( 24.b3 b8! ) 24...xa5! 25.xb4 b5 26.xb5 ( 26.e1!? a2 27.d5 Seems more tense but c5! 28.dxe6 xe6 29.xd8+ xd8 30.d1 f4 31.c3 a5! ) 26...xb5 27.a1 should not make White suffer too much in search of a draw. ] 24.xg5 hxg5 Doubled pawns ALWAYS represent a weakness, however well balanced by dynamic possibilities. 25.h3 b5 26.e3 d6 [ 26...xa5? 27.xb4 b5 28.e7 ]
27.c4 f6 28.dc1 [ 28.c5 db8 ] 28...e4 29.c2 f4 30.e2! d6 [ 30...xa5 31.c8! f8 ( 31...d6 32.xd8+ xd8 33.c4 d5 34.xe4 ) 32.g3 xg3 33.xf8+ xf8 34.e1!! ( 34.fxg3 xg3+ 35.g2 xh3 ) 34...xd4 35.d1 e4 ( 35...xb2 36.c4 e2+ 37.f1 g3+ 38.g2 ) 36.fxg3 e5 37.g2 xe1+ 38.xe1 e2 39.d3 Black can only lose this ending with his 2 3/ 4 pawns for the piece! ] 31.c6! [ 31.g3 e4 32.c6 f5 ] 31...xa5 32.g3 f6 [ 32...e4? 33.xd6! The key theme of this heated exchange inaugurated by 30.Qe2! xd6 34.c8+ h7 35.h5# ] 33.g4 e7 [ 33...f5 34.xa6 ( 34.6c5!? xc5 35.dxc5 b5 36.c6 ) 34...xa6 35.xa6 d5 36.e3! xd4 37.a5! b7 ( 37...b8 38.d1 b6 39.xg5 ) 38.xg5 xb2 39.c7 b8 40.xb7 xb7 41.d8+ h7 42.h4+ Perpetual check. g6? 43.g4+ f6 44.f3+ ] 34.e5! Black faces some serious coordination problems, because of the pawn grab on a5. b5? [ 34...f6 35.xa6! ( 35.g4 ) 35...xa6 36.xa6 f5 37.c8!! xd4 38.d7! e7 39.d6!! f3+ 40.g2 e1+ 41.f1 xd6 42.xd8+ h7 43.f6+ gxf6 44.xd6 f3 45.b6 b3 46.e2+- ] [ 34...d5! 35.xa6 b7 36.ca1! ( 36.c6? b5!! The fantastic 'Fritzian' resource. 37.xd8 xd4 38.f1 xd8 )] [ 34...f5 35.6c4! Turns out the same. ( 35.c7?? a1! 36.xe7 xc1+ 37.g2 xe7 38.xa6 d5 )] 35.6c4! Wins material thanks to the weakness of the c6-square which has been neatly fostered ever since the exchange of the light-squared bishops! f8 [ 35...xd4 36.xd4! xd4 37.c8+ d8 ( 37...d8 38.c6 ) 38.xd8+ xd8 39.c6 a1+ 40.g2 dd1 41.xb4+- ] 36.c6 c7 37.xa5 xa5 38.e5?! [ 38.d5! exd5 39.c8 d6 40.xf8+ xf8 41.e5 b6 ( 41...c4 42.b8+ ) 42.xd5 e8 43.xg5 Would have shortened the 2226
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 game by twenty moves. ] 38...d8 39.xb4 d7 40.d1? A loose moment, just before the time control, which could have had serious consequences. [ 40.a1! c8 ( 40...f6 41.e4 d6 42.ba4 ) 41.d5 exd5 42.xg5 c6 43.h4 ] 40...f6 41.e2 d8 White now faces some serious coordination problems, in spite of his extra exchange! 42.h2 d5 [ 42...e5 43.d5 d4 44.bxd4! exd4 45.xd4 was the intention. ] 43.c4 f5 44.e2 d5 45.a4! e5 46.c4 xc4 47.xc4 xd4 48.a1 b8 49.a2 [ 49.b4 b6 ] 49...a5 50.c5 b3 51.c7 b4 52.g2 h7 53.f1 g6 54.e2 f5 55.d3 [ 55.xg7?? c1+ ] 55...g4!? 56.h4 Without giving Black any counter-play whereas [ 56.hxg4+ xg4 57.c4+ ( 57.c3 b6 58.xg7+ f3 ) 57...f3 58.xb4 axb4 59.c4 With complications far beyond calculation was possibly winning by force. ] 56...g6 57.c3 Threatening Rxa5. Black cannot maintain the blockade in that state. d4 58.d3 [ 58.xa5? b3+ 59.c4 xb2 ] [ 58.c4?? b5+ 59.d3 e4+ ] 58...b3+ 59.c3 b4 60.ca3 b3 61.c2 Before embarking on a forced continuation, always test the defence, especially if the opponent is short of time, wi t h a s e r i e s o f ' n e u t r a l ' m o v e s s w i f t l y executed! d4+ 62.d3 b3 63.c3 c1 64.a1 e2+ 65.c2 d4+ 66.b1 b3 67.1a2 e4? Any rook move along the b-file and the win has still to be demonstrated... 68.c2 d4+ 69.d1! The rooks being swapped off, the task is immediately easier. b3 70.a4 f3 71.xb4 axb4 72.e1 c1? [ 72...c5! 73.b3!! I am not sure I would have found this move over the board... f5 74.c2! xb3 75.c6 The h-pawn is a genuine rocket that the short legged knight could probably not have caught up. ] 73.a6 d3+ 74.f1 xb2 75.xf6+ e4 76.xg6 c4 77.e2 d4 78.xg4+ c3 79.h5
[ 79.xc4+! xc4 80.h5 c3 ( 80...b3 81.d2 ) 81.d1 b3 82.c1 was 'purer'. ] 79...d6 80.g6 f5 81.c6+ b2 82.b6 The last game of the round which allowed my club of Montpellier to wrest the draw against the slightly favourite local team. 1-0
2275 Prie,Eric Pogorelov,Ruslan XXVIII Open San Sebastian ESP (8) [Eric Prié]
A45 2439 2472 25.03.05
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 a6 [ 3...a5+ 4.d2 ( 4.d2 xc5 5.gf3 is more my style normally, but I was still under the f avourable impression lef t by game against Gelis...) 4...xc5 5.c3 d6 6.e4 ( I have already commented a game from the same player with black after 6.f3 g4?! ) 6...bd7!? 7.0-0-0 a6 8.f4?! Against a knight on d7 better is an English attack set-up with f3, g4, Be3, g5 etcetera. But then comes the concern of the so-called 'Dragadorf' 8...g6!? now or later where White may even have lost time at the end of the day compared to an equivalent Sicilian! b5 9.xf6 gxf6 Of course! ( 9...xf6 10.e5 b4 11.a4 a5 12.exf6 xa4 13.c4 ) 10.g3 I have played a certain number of RichterRauzers with the same structure when I was a fierce king's pawn player and the more I was considering this position, the less it was app ea ling t o me . b7 11.g2 0-0-0? Phe w! My opp one nt wa s n ot a genu in e Sicilian player otherwise he would have continued with any of those promising lines ( 11...b4 12.d5 a5 13.e2 e6 14.e3 a4; 11...b6 12.d5 xd5 13.exd5 f5 14.e2 g7 15.d4 c8 So what is this?! This was the only dynamic line I would put all my trust in as White in the Tromp, and it turned out to be just as bad as the rest, if not even worse! W e were in August 2005 a n d i t wa s t im e t o s a y g o o d b ye t o t h e T r o m p o w s k y .) 12.f3 e6 13.d4 And thanks to the thematic idea f4-f5, I was back in a game I eventually won. It actually proved decisive for the win of the 2227
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 tournament on tie-break with both of us having scored 7/9 Prie, E (2464)-Gonzalez Rodriguez, J (2386) Figueres op 2005 1-0 (33) ] 4.d4 e6 5.c3 xc5 6.h4 e7! An improvement on Prie-Levin. 7.e4 a5 8.0-0-0 b4! 9.a3 c6 10.f4 [ 10.f3!? Keeping the d2 square for the b i s h o p w i t h o u t h a v i n g t o f e a r xa3? 11.xf6 gxf6 12.xf6 0-0 13.bxa3 xa3+ 14.d2 However, in a future race for attack, ...b7-b5-b4 will considerably gain in strength... ] 10...h6 [ 10...d6 11.f3 h6 12.e5 Is exactly the same pawn sacrifice as Iuldachev-Serper and Kalinitchev (Miladinovic) -Gustafsson from the wild but dubious 2...c5 3.Nc3 cxd4 4.Qxd4 Tromp... with the extra-move a2-a3! T h e n , c o n s id e rin g t h e co u rs e o f t h o s e games, it is probably an advantage to have it h e r e wi t h o u t h a vin g t o wo rr y a b o u t a 2 h a n g i n g, b u t i t a c t u a l l y r e p r e se n t e d a we a k n e s s i n m y g a m e t o w h i c h B l a c k brilliantly adapted! ] 11.e5 f8! 12.exf6 [ 12.xf6!? gxf6 13.exf6 xa3 14.ge2 b4 15.b1 d5 16.xh6 d7 ] 12...hxg5 13.fxg5 gxf6 14.gxf6 [ 14.b5!? fxg5 ( 14...a6 15.gxf6 ) 15.g3 e5 ( 15...d8 16.f3 ) 16.f3 a6 17.d6+ xd6 18.xd6 c5 19.d2 f6 20.h4 gxh4 21.g6+ d8 ] 14...xa3 15.b5 b4! 16.b1 a6 17.d6+ xd6 18.xd6 b5 Actually this position, which does not resemble anything I usually practice from either side, while still in the opening phase, is OK for White. The result, however, was that my feelings about it were not comfortable and I had already been forced to endure an unusual dose of stress for only 18 moves, reflected on my clock. As a consequence, when the position required h a n d l i n g i n t h e s a m e d yn a m i c , e n e r g y consuming style, I was not in full possession of my powers and somehow blew it. [ 18...b4 19.c4 ] 19.e2 [ 19.d3!? Was an elegant and highly soph isticate d so lution, (typ ical of such positions) to solve the problem of the knight
on b4, that completely escaped me. e5 ( 19...b4? 20.a3; 19...b7 20.f3 0-0-0 21.e2 ) 20.a3 d2 21.e4 d1+ 22.a2 c6 ( 22...xf1 23.xa8 c4+ 24.b3 ) 23.xb5! b7 24.xc6 xc6 25.b4 d6 26.f3 ] 19...b7 20.f3 c8 21.xc6 [ 21.c3!? b4 22.e2 bxc3 23.xc3 b4 24.d4 ( 24.xb7 xc3 ) 24...xc3 25.xc3 f5+ ( 25...a2+? 26.c1 a1+ 27.d2 xh1 28.c7 ) 26.a1 ( 26.c1? a2+ ) 26...a5+ 27.b1 f5+= ] 21...xc6 22.e2 b4 23.hd1 c5 24.d4 [ 24.h7 D e f e n d i n g c 2 . b3! ( 24...d5 25.6xd5 exd5 26.f5 ) 25.cxb3 e5 26.c3 xf6 ] 24...xd4 25.1xd4? My first real mistake in this game that emphasizes the main problem o f n o t h a vin g re a li ze d t h a t m y r o o k wa s inactive on d6... Instead of going down surely with Black little by little lif ting the bind, I had to keep some complicated tactical balance with [ 25.6xd4 h8! 26.g4! ( 26.h4 b3 27.cxb3 xg2 28.xd7 h6 ) 26...d8 27.h4 h6 28.f1 ] 25...a5 [ 25...h8! ] 26.c1?! Once again more resistant was [ 26.g4! d8 27.h4 h8 28.g7 xh4 29.d1 ] 26...g8! 27.g3 g6 28.f4 d8! 29.d3 [ 29.b3!? c7 30.d2 b6 ( 30...a8! 31.d4? e5 ) 31.d4! e5 ( 31...d5 32.f5!; 31...h8 32.xc6 xc6 33.c4+ b5 34.c7; 31...b7 32.f3 ) 32.xc6! exf4 33.e7= ] 29...c7 30.xc6+ [ 30.dd4 d6 31.f2 e5 32.h4 d7! f6 will fall and then the entire W hite position. ] 30...dxc6 31.e5 g5! 32.xf7 f5 The manoeuvre I missed, decisively 'disconnecting' my pawns on the kingside. 33.xf5 exf5 34.g5 d6 35.a2 a4! Naturally. 36.h4 e5 37.f7 f8 38.h5 [ 38.c3 c5 39.b1 d6 40.c2 e7 41.d3 a3 42.bxa3 bxa3 43.c2 b8 ] 38...f6! 39.h7+ xf7 40.xf8 xf8 41.c3 c5 42.b1 g7 43.c2 h6
2228
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 44.d3 xh5 45.c4 a3 46.bxa3 bxa3 0-1
2276 Prie,Eric Randazzo,Adrian Castelsarrazin 20' (4.3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2447 2271 24.04.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 exf4 12.d4 c5! Ultimately the best move, which as usual happens to be the most natural one! Black develops a piece and is ready to exchange the opponent's only developed, and evidently best, piece. I remember an Italian subscriber asked me to deal with it...some 10 months ago. 13.g3 d5?! [ 13...xd4 14.cxd4 a4 is correct, see n e x t g a m e , a n d o n l y i n c a s e o f 15.gxf4 d5! now. ] 14.gxf4? Therefore this is wrong. White should play [ 14.h3! xd4 ( 14...fxg3 15.hxg3 e3 16.d2 xd4 17.cxd4 f5 18.f4 Transposing into the capital game Ackermann-Kroemer) 15.cxd4 a4 16.xf4 xf4 17.gxf4 xd4 18.e3 ] 14...e3! 15.d2 [ 15.f2 c2 ] 15...xf1+ 16.xf1 xa2 17.c2 d5! [ 17...e7 18.e3 d6 19.ge2 e6 20.a1 ha8 21.xa2 xa2 22.d1 g6 Grosu,D (2200) - Berclaz,P (2375) ICCF Email 1999 ] [ 17...d6 18.e4! e6 19.ge2 e7 20.a1 ha8 21.xa2 xa2 22.d1 g6 23.h4 a8 24.h5 c4 25.c1 1/2-1/2 Wells,P (2530) Shaked,T (2500) London 1997 ] 18.e3? A surprising and instructive mistake. The only move is [ 18.e4 0-0 19.ge2 dxe4 20.fxe4 e8 21.e5 g4 22.c1 a4 23.cb3 c8 24.a1 xd4 1/2-1/2 Huerga Leache,M (2176) -Perez Fungueiro,M (2300) Vila de Ma rin op 2 0 0 5 ( 24...a6! appears safer: 25.f5 e8 26.hg1 h5 27.g5 xa1 28.xa1 g6= ) 25.cxd4 xd4+ 26.d3 xb2 It looks that the white king is so
exposed that only Black has winning chances with already two pawns and a pair of bishops, but this is not so clear when White manages to exchange one rook for instance: 27.a2 f5+ 28.e3 c3+ 29.e2 c2+ 30.d2 f6! ( 30...g4+ 31.d3 f5+ 32.e4 ) 31.b1 d4 32.xc2 xc2 33.c1 a4 ] 18...d7? Black misses his bus! [ 18...xd4!! is st ro n g , 19.cxd4 ( 19.exd4 f5+ 20.b3 a5 ) 19...f5+ 20.b3 a5 21.e2 ( 21.b4 d7 22.e2 d3 23.e1 b5+ 24.c3 xe2 25.xe2 c8+ 26.d3 b3+ 27.d2 xb2+; 21.e4 dxe4 22.fxe4 xe4 23.e1 f5 ) 21...b5+ 22.a3 d7 23.b3 ( 23.b4 a8+ 24.b3 d3 25.c3 c4+ 26.c2 xf1 27.xf1 xb4 ) 23...e8 24.c3 a5+ 25.b2 xe3 ] 19.ge2 0-0 20.a1 fa8 21.xa2 xa2 22.e1 b5 23.c1 a8 24.d3 e7 25.b4 xb4 26.cxb4 c8+ 27.d2 c4 28.b3! The asset of the structure strikes again. c8 [ 28...xb4 29.c3 ] 29.c1! Whether the knight ending is actually won is only of secondary importance. What matters is to realize that this is the best try, and immediately places the opponent in an 100% defensive, and annoying position. [ 29.a1!? f8 30.a7 c7 31.a5 c8 32.h4 White is only visually better. ( 32.xb5? b6 33.d6 bxa5 34.xc8 xc8 35.bxa5 )] 29...xc1 30.xc1 f8 31.d2 e7 32.e2 d6 33.d3 h3 34.c3 c6 35.d4 g2 36.xd5 [ 36.e4!? And if dxe4 ( 36...xf3 37.exd5+ b6 38.e5 c7 39.xb5+ ) 37.fxe4 h3 38.f5 In all these positions White can afford to sacrifice his b-pawn, as it is worth practically nothing whilst Black cannot use his own b5 pawn, in return for some initiative on thekingside ] 36...xf3 37.e4 d1 38.e7+ d7 39.f5 g6 40.e3 xb3 41.e5 [ 41.c5 Only draws c4 42.b6 ( 42.g4 e6 ) 42...h6 43.h4 e6 44.xb7 f6 45.b6 g5 46.hxg5 hxg5 47.fxg5 fxg5 48.c5 e2 49.d4= ] 41...b6? Time trouble in rapid play. 2229
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 41...e7 42.g4 h5 43.f6 h4! 44.h7! c4 45.f5 gxf5 46.exf5 The ending is probably drawn but Black is not yet out of trouble and can still commit mistakes like ( 46.xf5 e6+ 47.g5 h3 ) 46...e2 47.f6+ d7 48.g5 h5 49.e4 c6 50.c5 g6 51.b3 d3? 52.d4+ d7 53.f3 h3 54.g5 ] 42.f6 d6 43.g4 c2? [ 43...d7 44.h6 e8 45.g7 e7 46.h4 c4 ( 46...c2 47.xf7 xe4 48.g5 d3 49.xh7 d6 50.f8 d5 51.xg6 ) 47.xh7 f8 48.f5 d3 49.fxg6 fxg6 50.xg6 xe4+ 51.f6 ] 44.e5+ d7 45.xf7 b3+ 46.f6 e6 47.h6 b3 48.f7 c4 49.g5 h6 50.e6+ e8 51.f7 1-0
2277 Prie,Eric Schaefer,Mi1 III EUICC Arvier ITA (8) [Eric Prié]
A45 2513 2228 22.06.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 d5 3.e3! These days I willingly play the Tromp uniquely when I know from computer preparation that I will get this position, or move a KID player to the probably less usual ground (for him) of the Torre if he normally (and somehow incoherently I consider...) plays 2...e6 3.c3! [ 3.d2 at this stage in comparison is only a "coup d'épée dans l'eau" because Black can s t i l l r e a c t w i t h t h e e m b a r r a s s i n g c5! a n d t h e f o r t h co m in g . . . Q b 6 a s kin g t h e question of d4 and b2 if W hite does not abandon the centre with the concession 4.dxc5 ] 3...e4 In that case, White must be ready to meet [ 3...c5 with 4.c3 without parting with his st ro n g bis h o p as so m e tim e s d ub io u sly recommended... e4 5.h4!? Instead of Bf4. b6 ( 5...c6 6.d2 xd2 7.xd2 cxd4 8.exd4 f5 9.f3 ) 6.b3 c6 7.f3 c4 8.c2! ( 8.xb6 axb6 9.bd2 xd2 10.xd2 b5 And White misses a tempo to prevent the thrust ...b5-b4. 11.e4 e6 ) 8...f5 9.c1 Typical D03 stuff, to be
seen later. ] 4.f4 c5 5.d3 Since the course of this game proved slightly disappointing for me after Black's strong 10th move Novelty, when compared to the glowing expectations the analysis of the Kalinitschew-Volodin game had painted, I will compare the respective merits of this move (with other trickier continuations than the retreat 5...Nf6 though) and 5.Nd2!? in the next update. f6 6.c3! Actually, my German opponent turned out to be the first acknowledged victim (as White!) in my database of that great refutation I found and published here in January 2006: [ 6.dxc5?! c6! 7.b5 a5+! 8.c3 a6! 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.d4 e6! 11.b4 a3 W ith the idea 12.c7 a5! 13.xa5 xa5 14.bxa5 xc5 And ...Bb4 winning for Black. ] 6...c6 7.d2! g4 8.gf3! e6 9.a4 c4! 10.c2 [ 10.e2 a6 11.e5 xe2 12.xc6 d7 ] 10...d7!N Threatening the queen. At the time, I had only considered [ 10...a6 11.e5! b5 12.xc6 b6 13.a5 xc6 14.b4! ( 14.a4 b4! 15.cxb4 c3 ) 14...d6 15.a4! b8 ( 15...xf4? 16.axb5 ) 16.xd6 xd6 17.axb5 axb5 18.a6 With a probable slight edge for White. ] [ 10...d6 11.xd6 xd6 12.b3 cxb3 13.axb3 0-0 14.0-0 fc8 15.fc1 With the plan b3-b4-b5 not to give the b4 square to the c6-knight, Bc2-d3 and then c3c4. ] 11.b1 e7 12.e4 White should take a d va n t a g e o f t h e r e le a s e o f t h e c e n t r a l tension with ...c5-c4 with either b2-b3 or this move... a6 13.h3 h5 14.0-0 0-0 15.e1 g6 16.a3 Too sophisticated, I should have go n e b a c k t o d 1 wit h t h e q u e e n wit h o u t waiting b5 17.d1 b6 18.c2 a5 19.g3 In order to take on d5 without leaving the bishop attacked if Black recaptures with the knight which is especially important in case of b5-b4 weakening the c4-pawn. a7 [ 19...b4 20.exd5 xd5 21.xg6 hxg6 22.e2! bxc3 23.bxc3 xc3? 24.xc4 Winning a knight. ] 20.f1 a8 21.3d2 b4 22.a4?! I wanted to take on d5 only when I had my 2230
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 knight on e3 so that I could profit from the f5 square without having to change the bishops on g6. [ 22.exd5 exd5 23.xg6 hxg6 24.e3 ] 22...d8 [ 22...b3 23.b1 f5! This counter idea is quite strong for Black however, giving the opponent complete control of the e-file, including the important e5 point in return for burying alive not only the bishop on Bb1 but more annoyingly the rook on a1! I must admit I actually underestimated it. ] 23.e3 b3 24.b1 d7 25.h4! f5 Still the correct plan which was obviously more effective without letting White expand on the kings ide with his h -pa wn af ter wh ich tactical tricks can occur against the f5 pawn. 26.exd5 exd5 27.h5 e8 28.f4 g5 For instance [ 28...d8? Intending ...Bc7 eliminating an essential asset of the white set-up followed by the transfer of the b6-knight to e7 via c8. 29.xf5! xf5 30.xf5 xf5 31.xe8+ ] 29.hxg6 xg6 [ 29...hxg6 30.f3 g5 31.g3 d8 32.xf5 ] 30.f3 d8 31.g3 e7 more resistant was [ 31...c7 32.f3 xf4 33.xf4 c7 34.e5 xe5 35.dxe5 d7 It looks horrible for Black but in fact the outcome of the game will only be decided by the problematic implementation of the move g2g4, freeing the white potential on the kingside probably after f2-f4 to be able to meet the capture with the advance f4-f5. ] 32.f3 c7 33.e5 xe5 34.xe5 c6 Black backs down with little time on the clock rendering his defence very testing. [ 34...xa4 35.d6 ( 35.e2! The idea of this move also crossed my mind with the idea b6 36.f4 a4 37.a3 And the regrouping f3, Kf2, Re1-h1 and g4 at some point with more than simple compensation for the pawn in any case.) 35...xb2 36.g4! ( 36.xe7 xe7 37.xf5 g7 ) A) 36...fxg4!! 37.xe7 xe7 38.xe7 xe7 39.xg6 hxg6 40.d6 f7! 41.xa5? ( 41.xd5+ g7 Being even unclear ) 41...g3! 42.fxg3 e1+ 43.f2
d3+ 44.f3 f1+ 45.e2 ( 45.g4 f2+ 46.f3 e4+ 47.e2 xd6 ) 45...e8+! 46.d2 f2+ 47.d1 e1#; B) 36...f4 37.xf4 d3 ( 37...xb1 38.h6+ h8 39.e5+ f6 40.xf6#; 37...xf4 38.xf4 xb1 39.f6+ ) 38.xd3 cxd3 39.h6+ g7 40.e5+ xh6 41.e3+ h5 42.g7 f5 ( 42...g8 43.xf8 ) 43.h3+ B1) 43...g5 Mate in 7 only with checks 44.f4+ xf4 45.h6+ xh6 46.g3+!! f3 ( 46...g5 47.h4+ f5 48.f4# ) 47.f1+ e3 48.xh6+ No escape via d2 f4 49.xf4+ e2 50.ae1#; B2) 43...h4 44.e5+ f5 ( 44...f5 45.g4+ g5 46.f4+ xf4 47.h6+ g5 48.xg5# ) 45.xf8 b2 46.b1 d2 47.g4+ ] 35.f4 c8? Losing an exchange and quickly the game. [ 35...f7 36.g5 e7 ( 36...e6 37.g4! fxg4 38.g2 f6 39.e8+ g7 40.h6# ) 37.h6 f8 38.h2 With the lethal idea Bd6-c5 and the black position collapses with the loss of d5. ad7 39.f3 f6 40.f2 ff7 With Black practically in zugzwang and condemned to waiting with the moves ... Rf7-f6 there should be a way t o d e cis ive ly re in f o rce t h e p o si t io n f o r White. ] 36.h6 8e7 [ 36...f7 37.xf5 xf5 38.xf5 xf5 39.e8+ f7 40.f8+ ] 37.xf8 xf8 38.f4 g7 [ 38...h5 39.g3 Followed by the decisive transfer of the knight to f4 or h4 accordingly via g2. g7 40.g2 ] 39.g4 Eventually! 1-0
2278 Prie,Eric Solodovnichenko,Yuri 4eme Open International de (6.1) [Eric Prié]
A45 2439 2514 2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 After 4.d5 and [ 6.d5 b6 7.c1 thoroughly examined a 2231
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 few months ago, eventually we come to the main line. ] 6...cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6! 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 Thinking of preventing ...e5 e5 All the same! 11.xc6 dxc6!? Rather than getting a dreadful structure after [ 11...exf4 12.d4 (although Black has the compensation of active play generated by a strong pair of bishops and the opponent's worries on dark squares) Black opts for the classical compensation, for one pawn, of a lead in development and the initiative with a completely repaired structure. ] 12.xe5 e6 13.a3 b5 14.e3 [ 14.h3 b4 15.cxb4 xb4+ 16.f2 c5+ 17.e3 d5 18.d4 xd4 19.exd4 xh3 20.gxh3 a4 21.d1 d7 22.d3 e8 23.e4 d6= Prié,E-Bedouin,X Montpellier op(4) 2004 1/2(62) ] [ 14.e4 Therefore may be the only try. See the next game ] 14...d7 15.f4 [ 15.g3 c5! 16.f2 b4 17.e2 bxa3 18.bxa3 b6 19.e4 a4 20.xc5 xc5 21.d4 a4 22.d1 e7 23.c2 ha8 24.b2 4a5 25.xe6 fxe6 26.e2 a4+ 27.b3 c5+ 28.b2 a4+ 29.b3 c5+ 1/2-1/2 Prié,E-Lejarre,L(2304) Round 2! ] 15...c5 16.0-0-0 b3 17.d2 a2!! In the post-mortem of my 2nd round game, we c a r e f u l l y a n a l ys e d t h i s l i n e w i t h m y opponent concluding that the compensation may not be quite sufficient after [ 17...e6 18.h3 ( 18.g3 c5 19.f2 b4! 20.cxb4 xb4 21.d3 c4 22.d1 b3 Another forced draw by repetition!) 18...c5 19.d3 0-0 20.e1 ] [ The problem is that I had not checked the variation with Fritz who immediately proposes this move as best, denying the white king access to b1! 17...e6 18.c2 b3+ 19.b1 e6 20.g3 c5 21.f2 0-0 22.e2 fd8 23.d4 ] 18.c2 b3 19.d1 c5 20.d2 This was a very important game played on table one between the 2 leading players on 4, 5 o u t o f 5 . A d e c is ive re s u l t co u l d h a ve practically decided the outcome of the tournament but I was not so much eager on victory to play the crazy and unassessable
[ 20.d4?! b3 ( 20...b3+ 21.b1 e6 22.d2 c5 23.h3 ) 21.e4+ e7! 22.e2 ( 22.d6 0-0-0 23.xe7 xd6 24.c4 b4! 25.axb4 hd8! With the u n b e a r a b l e t h r e a t o f R d 1 - c 1 M a t e !) 22...d8! ( 22...c5 23.d4 b3 24.d1 c5 25.d4 ) 23.d4 c5 24.e5 f6 25.h5 f7 26.h3 g5 27.g3 h5 I am not sure that the machine giving White a big advantage is correctly estimating the concern of the Rh3... ] 20...b3 21.d1 c5 ½-½
2279 Prie,Eric Taylor,Peter P 4NCL Telford (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2429 2289 17.01.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.d2 Like 'Mrs Tromp', Antoaneta Stefanova, the newly crowned female W orld champion, I recommend the transposition in the Torre here. But a special kin d of To rre where the 'threa t' of e2 -e 4 forces Black to react with ...c7-c5 which I always f ound more pleasant (W orld no 1 Torre specialist Mark Hebden also agrees on that) to play against, rather than the ...b7-b6, ... Bb7, ...Be7, ...Ne4 plan or ...d7-d5, providing White with the interesting possibility of playing a Stonewall formation i.e. e2-e3, c2c3, f2-f4, Ng1-f3 but with his queen's bishop o u t s i d e t h e p a w n c h a i n . h6 4.h4 When e6 ha s been played, I find it somewhat 'anti-positional' to give up this bishop which is already exerting some pressure on Black's development and give him a free tempo for the development of his queen. c5 5.e3 [ 5.c3!? See next game. ] 5...c6 [ 5...cxd4! As soon as possible to obtain the squ a r e d 5 a n d a f a vo u r a b le s t r u c t u re . 6.exd4 e7 ( 6...b6?! 7.xf6 gxf6 8.c4 b4+ 9.c3 is just bad for Black.) 7.gf3 ( 7.xf6 xf6 8.c3 d5 ) 7...b6 ( 7...d5!? ) 8.xf6 xf6 9.c3 b7 10.d3 When this is just, plain, 'normal' Torre stuff. ] 6.c3 b6 7.gf3 e7 8.a3 b7 9.d3 0-0 10.e2 cxd4 11.cxd4 When given the 2232
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 choice always privilege this recapture towards the center. h5 12.g3! d6 With a pawn on e3, White does not have to worry about the square f4 and Black's plan ...f7-f5-f4. 13.c1 d7 14.0-0 xg3 15.hxg3 fc8 16.g4 c7 17.e4 ac8 18.cd1 b8 19.c3 a6 20.d5! e8 [ 20...xd5 21.xd5 exd5 22.f5 ] 21.b1? A ridiculous move but this was after the fire alarm had gone off which had made us evacuate the premises in a mad rush to find a shelter... outside in the cold, without a coat, for almost an hour, and then afterwards, when the danger was lesser, in the hotel lobby for another hour, without, would you believe, the permission to go back to the room, take a book, or anything, just to kill time where you could see somewhere posted on the wall of the entrance "warm English hospitality"... The only smoke we 'saw' that day was the one going out of all our irritated brains impatient to go back to our hot boards!! [ 21.dxe6 fxe6 22.d4 ( 22.b1 d7 23.d3 f8 ) 22...f6 23.e4 xe4 24.xe4 d5 25.b1 Black has big holes on the light squares, as a consequence of his su perf icial 3 rd mo ve (!) Qd3-h7+ is coming followed by the preparation of the t h e m a t i c b r e a k t h r o u g h e 3 - e 4 . d7? 26.xa6 ] 21...e5 22.g3 A bad plan, 22.Nd2 is better but I could not concentrate on the game anymore. At last I was back in front of the board, but I could not get back into it! d7 23.g2 f6 24.h1? d8?? [ 24...xc3! You could see this coming... 25.bxc3 xd5 26.c2 ( 26.d3 f6 Threatening e4) 26...f6 27.c1 e4 28.b2 c6-+ ] 25.g5 hxg5 26.xg5 xd5? [ 26...d7 27.ge4! xe4 28.h5!! Spark ...ling c hess! f5 29.xe4 fxe4 30.xe4 e7 ( 30...c4 31.xd6 xd6 32.e8+ f8 33.h8+ xh8 34.xf8+ h7 35.f7; 30...e7 31.g5! ) 31.g6! d8 ( 31...e8 32.e6+ f7 33.h8+ ) 32.xd6+- ( 32.h7? f7 )] [ Unfortunately 26...g6! ] 27.h7+! [ 27.xd5 xg5 28.h7+ f8 29.f5 xd5+ 30.xd5 c6 ]
27...f8 28.e4 f6 [ 28...xc3 29.h8+ e7 30.xe8+ xe8 31.bxc3 xg5 32.xb7 xb7 33.g4 d7 34.xg5 ] 29.xb7 xb7 30.h8+ g8 31.h7+ e7 32.g4 [ 32.d5+! e6 33.xg8! ( 33.e4 f5 34.exf5+ d7 35.xa6 wins too. ) 33...xg8 34.g4+ f5 35.g6+ A) 35...f6 36.dxf6 gxf6 ( 36...f7 37.g5+ ) 37.xf6+ d7 38.xd6+ e8 39.f6+; B) 35...d7 36.xf5+ e6 37.f8+ ] 32...xc3 33.bxc3 c6+ 34.g1 h6 35.g5+! f6 36.xg7+ f7 37.xf6+ d7 38.xf7+ c8 39.e6+ d7 40.f8 1-0
2280 Puschmann,Laszlo Adzic,Slobodan chT2 9394 HUN [Eric Prié]
A45 2335 2265 1994
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e6 This critical line again. 8.b1 c7 9.dxe6!? fxe6 10.f3 [ Obviously, the 'meant to be disruptive' thematic 10.b5+ is now a bit ridiculous in view of c6 ] 10...a6 It is quite stressing to have to constantly watch for Nc3-b5, but this move, in return, weakens the b6 square. 11.a4 c6 12.c4 In this (correct) way connected with the idea f4-f5, White obtains a different type of compensation from the initiative generated by the central thrust e4-e5. d4 [ 12...g6 13.0-0 g7 14.g5 e7 ( 14...d8 15.e1 with the idea e5.) 15.f5! gxf5 16.exf5 d5 17.e1! With a winning attack. ] [ 12...e7 13.0-0 b4!? ( 13...0-0 14.f5 xe4 15.xe4 d5 16.fg5 xg5 17.xg5 dxc4 18.h5 h6 19.fxe6!+-; 13...a5 14.a2 c4 15.e3 ) 14.e5 dxe5 15.fxe5 fd5 seems the only playable continuation for Black then. ] 13.0-0 e7 14.f5! exf5 [ 14...0-0 15.g5 b5 While justifying the move 12...Nd4 was the only chance. ] 2233
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.d5! Now Black will get slaughtered with his king left in the center, incapable, even of finding a shelter on the queenside precisely because of the weakness of his b-pawn! xd5 16.xd5 f4 [ 16...fxe4 17.xd4 cxd4 18.h5+ g6 19.f7+ d8 20.xg6 e3? 21.a5 ] 17.xd4 cxd4 18.xf4 f6 19.h5+ g6 20.e2 e5 21.f2 [ 21.f7 xf7 22.xf7+ xf7 23.c4+! was crushing too. ] 21...d7? It is actually difficult to propose a move but this one is just suicide. [ 21...f8 22.xf8+ xf8 23.f1+ e8 ( 23...g7 24.f3 e7 25.g5! xg5 26.f8# ) 24.g5! Anything wins but this is the most precise. b8 ( 24...g7 25.f3! h6 26.b3!! hxg5 27.c6+! xc6 28.g8+ e7 29.xg7+ d8 30.f8+ e8 31.f6+ d7 32.xe8 xe8 33.xd6 ) 25.f7 xf7 26.xf7+ xf7 27.c4+ f8 28.c7 a8 And Fritz, here, proudly announces a Mate in 12! 29.e7+! g8 30.d8+ f7 31.f8+ e6 32.g5! d7 33.f7+ c6 34.d8! c5 ( 34...d7 35.d5# ) 35.a5! g4 36.c7# ] 22.xb7 xc2 23.f7+ Followed by a deadly dark-squared bishop check. 1-0
2281 Rabinovich,Alexander Greenfeld,Alon chT Ramat Aviv (11) [Eric Prié]
A45 2406 2563 12.05.2000
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 e6 5.e4!? a5+ 6.d2 f5 7.xf6+ gxf6 8.e3 c6 9.a4 b8 10.f3 b5 11.h4 xc2 12.xf6 g8 13.c1 e4 [ 13...g6 14.f4!? ] 14.g5 g6 15.xg6 xg6 According to Alexander FINKEL, Black should have played [ 15...hxg6 16.e4 e7 17.c3 e5 18.d2 f5 19.c3 a6 20.d5 b7 Which he gives as unclear. ] 16.h4 [ 16.xh7? e7 17.f4 f6 ] 16...h6 17.e4 f5 18.h5! g7 19.c5 e5
20.e4! Hitting the weakness on h6 . d6 21.b3 fxe4 22.xh6 h7 23.xf8 xf8 24.xb5 xb5 25.xc8+ g7 26.e2 d3 27.g3 After [ 27.g4 w i t h t h e i d e a g5 ( 27...e5? 28.g5 ) 28.f3 Black's defensive task would have been more complicated. ] 27...hxh5 28.xh5 xh5 29.e3 d5 30.c5 d4+! Finkel writes that this is not the safest way to reach the draw, but he may be wrong... [ 30...xc5 31.xc5 f6 32.c7 a5 33.a7 f5 As he gives, here, the "meek" 33.b3 without mentioning the critical continuation: 34.xa5 f3+ 35.e2 d4 36.b5 e5 ( 36...d3+ 37.e1 e3 38.fxe3 xe3+ 39.d2 xg3 40.b3 ) 37.a4 ( 37.b8 e6 ) 37...d3+ 38.e1 e3 39.fxe3 xe3+ 40.d2 xg3 41.a5 e4 42.a6 Where there is no clear draw in sight. g2+ 43.e3 e2+ 44.f4 A) 44...d2 45.d5 d1 46.xd1 xb2 47.d6+!+- ( 47.a1 b8 48.a7 a8 49.xe4 e6 ) 47...e7 ( 47...f7 48.xe4 ) 48.a7 a2 49.h6 e3 50.xe3 d7 51.h8 xa7 52.h7+; B) 44...e1 45.a7 a1 46.xe4 d2 47.d5 a4+ 48.e3 e6 49.xd2 xa7 ] 31.xd4 d5+ 32.c4 xc5 33.xc5 d2 34.e5 [ 34.c7+ f6 35.xa7 xf2 ( 35...xb2 36.d4 xf2 37.xe4 ) 36.b4 d2! ( 36...e5 37.a5+ f6 38.d4; 36...e3 37.d3 b2 38.xe3 xb4 39.a4 f5 40.a5 b3+ 41.f2 a3 42.a6 e5 43.a8 e4 44.g2 ) A) 37.c3 e3 38.h7 ( 38.a3? d1 ) 38...xa2 39.d3=; B) 37.a3 e5 38.b5 d4+ 39.c5 d5+ ( 39...d3? 40.b6 xa3 41.b7 c3+ 42.b4 ) 40.c6 d6+! 41.c7 d3! 42.a8 ( 42.b6? xa3 43.b7 a7 ) 42...e3 43.b6 ( 43.h8? e2 44.h1 d1 ) 43...e2 44.b7 e1 45.b8 xg3!= ] 34...xb2 35.xe6 xa2 36.xe4 ½-½
2234
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2282 Radjabov,Teimour Polgar,Judit Hotel Stars Benidorm ESP (11) [Eric Prié]
A45 2650 2722 29.11.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 On 3...c5 Black, of course, has to be prepared against the ending resulting from the popular sequence 4.f3 Qa5+ 5.c3 Nf6 6. Nbd2 cxd4 7. Nb3 (7.Nc4!?) Qb6 8.Qxd4 Nc6 9.Qxb6 but also has to reckon with the line 4.d5 Qb6, with the interesting gambit 5.Nd2, but mainly 5.Bc1 with the idea f2-f3, e2-e4 which is likely to transpose into a Saemish Benoni, without any loss of time for W hite, since the badly placed black queen on b6 will have to move again. This may well suit the King's Indian player but probably not his Nimzo Indian colle ague . 4.e3 c5 Although Black may be slightly behind in development, this lateral attack on W h ite's d-pawn is logical af te r having deprived it of the possibility of advancing. 5.d3 Assuming that the doubling of pawns on f6 was a threat introduced by White's second move, this position, resulting from the most 'natural' moves from one part and the other, has to be regarded as THE critical position of the Trompowsky around which, without any doubt, theory will gather and develop in the future. c6?! White has a fantastic score against this line in the database. [ 5...f6 6.dxc5 has to be considered to be the main line. ] 6.xe4 dxe4 7.d5 e5 [ 7...b4 8.c3 e6 9.d6 seems to be just good for White, as suggested by practice in the maze of ensuing complications, when the d6 pawn turns out to be a very annoying nail planted in the middle of the enemy camp rather than an 'isolated scout' susceptible to be sacrificed. ] 8.g3 e7 [ 8...b4 9.c3 g4?! 10.xg4 xc2+ 11.d2 xa1 12.ge2 b6 13.c1 Speelman,J in INF 70 ] 9.c3 [ 9.c4!? Speelman,J f6 10.c3 f5 11.f3!? exf3 12.xf3 ] 9...g6 Apparently a Novelty which will
probably not gain widespread acceptance b e c a u s e o f W h i t e ' s n e x t m o v e . 10.h4! Threatening h4-h5 followed by Bxe5 while freeing the h2 square for the Bg3. The World number 11 is on the verge of losing one pawn! [ 10.xe4? f5 11.c3 f4 ] 10...h5 [ 10...b6 11.h5 xb2 12.ge2 e7 13.b1 a3 14.b5 a5+ 15.c3 f5 16.xe5+- ] 11.f3 [ 11.xe4 A) 11...f5 12.c3 f4 ( 12...e7 13.d3 ) 13.d3 b6 14.exf4 exf4 15.h2 followed by 0-0-0 is unbearable for Black.; B) 11...e7 12.d6! xh4 13.xh4 xh4 14.d5+-; C) 11...b6 12.e2 xb2 May be more playable although I do not fancy Black's position much after 13.0-0 ] 11...e7 This is again a mysterious move to me and I must avow my perplexity. Why not simply [ 11...exf3 12.xf3 d6 ] 12.xe4 f5 13.c3 xh4 14.xh4 xh4 15.d2 [ 15.e2!? g5?! 16.0-0-0 xg2? 17.f4! g4 18.d2 The knight is trapped. ] 15...g5 16.h3 [ 16.0-0-0!? xg2? 17.f4! exf4 18.f3 fxe3 19.e2 wins the piece. g4 20.dg1 f4? 21.xe3+ ] 16...g3+ 17.f2 f4 [ 17...xg2 17...Nxg2+ is the same 18.xg2 xg2+ 19.f2 h4 20.ag1 f8 A) 21.f4 e4 ( 21...exf4 22.xf4 ) 22.g5 g6 23.gxe4 fxe4 24.xg6 f5 25.g5 g6 26.e2 d8 27.c4 h4=; B) 21.b5! B1) 21...d7 22.g5 xf3? ( 22...g6 23.c7? 23.Nd6! with the idea Ngf7. c8 24.ce6+ g8 ) 23.xf3 xb5 24.e6+ e7 25.xg7+ f6 26.hg1 e8 27.c7+-; B2) 21...a6 22.c7 b8 23.g5 g6 24.ge6+ f7 ( 24...xe6 25.xe6+ f7 26.g5 e7 27.xg7+ f6 28.e4 ) 25.xc5 ] 18.xf4 [ 18.xg3 fxg3 19.g5 xg2+ 20.e2 h4 21.ag1 f4+ 22.exf4 exf4 23.h3 ] 2235
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18...xf3+ 19.gxf3 exf4 20.xg3 fxg3 21.e4 h4 [ 21...f5? 22.d6+ ] 22.xg3 0-0 23.xh4 xf3 24.e4 f5? It was not the tournament of the number 1 Hungarian player, in rapid play anyway. [ 24...xe3+ 25.f2 h3 was the only chance. 26.xh3 ( 26.f4!? Playing for the attack while leaving Black with the problem of how to develop his bishop is also another interesting possibility. h2+ 27.e3 xc2 28.g1 ) 26...xh3 A) 27.g3 f5 28.xc5 ( 28.f4 f8 29.e5 xe4 30.xe4 f2 ) 28...c8; B) 27.c4 with a strong protected passed pawn doe s no t lo ok very chee ring f o r Black but at least the material is equal. ] 25.e2 xe4 26.xe4 Now it is over. White is a clear pawn up in a superior position. af8 27.d3 b5 28.e7 8f7 29.e8+ f8 30.xf8+ xf8 31.a4 b4 32.c4! Winning by sheer effort. xe3 33.xc5 e2 34.c4 xb2 35.c6 b3 36.d6 d2 37.d7 b2 38.f1+ e7 [ 38...g8 39.b1 f7 40.xb2 ] 39.e1+ f7 40.c7 1-0
2283 Radjabov,Teimour Romero Holmes,Alfonso Hotel Stars Benidorm ESP (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2650 2544 28.11.2003
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.d5 a5+ 5.c3 b6?! As if Black had inverted the moves by mistake. [ 5...e6 6.d2!? ( 6.dxe6 fxe6 7.d2 xd2 8.xd2 c6 9.f3 d5 10.e3 e7 11.d3 c4 12.c2 f6 1/2-1/2 Fiorito,F (2435) - Sorin,A (2405) Acasusso op 1991; 6.f3 f6 7.e4 Is, once again! FressinetDominguez ) A) 6...f6 7.dxe6 ( 7.e4!? Keeping some m o re t e n s io n . exd5?! 8.exd5 xd5? 9.c4+- ) 7...fxe6 8.c4 d8 9.d6+ ( 9.xb8? xb8 10.d6+ xd6 11.xd6 b6! W e are familiar with this trick.) 9...xd6 10.xd6; B) 6...exd5! 7.xe4 dxe4 8.d5 c6
9.xe4+ e7 10.f3 ( 10.d6 0-0! What W hite did eventually amounted to nothing. 11.xe7 e8 12.e3 xe7 ) 10...b6 ( 10...0-0 11.e3 f6? 12.d3 g6 13.d6 ) 11.0-0-0 d5 12.xd5 e6 13.d2 xa2 14.e5 ] 6.d2! This possibility emphasizes the defect of this move order compared to the usual se qu e n ce : 4 . . . Q b 6 5 . B c 1 Q a 5 + 6 . c 3 a s examined last month. xd2 Black cannot t o l e r a t e N c 4 . 7.xd2 d6 8.e4 e5? Creating a crippling weakness on d6. Somewhat behind in development, Black should have striven to maintain the position closed by way of [ 8...d7 9.f3 c7 ( 9...g6 10.e5! dxe5 11.xe5 g7 12.c4 d8 13.d6 ) 10.d3 g6 ] 9.dxe6! xe6 [ 9...fxe6? 10.c4! ( 10.0-0-0 e5 11.e3 e6 ) 10...e7 11.0-0-0 0-0 12.xd6 d8 13.e5+- ] 10.f3 c6 11.g5! Black is already in dire straits. e5 To cover the c4 square. 12.xe6 fxe6 13.0-0-0 e7 14.g3! In order to free the f-pawn and dislodge the knight from the protection of c4. [ 14.xe5 dxe5 15.d7+ f7 Appears unconvincing. ] 14...c6 15.f4 f7 16.c4! d7 [ 16...xe4 17.b5+ f8 18.he1 f5 19.d3 f6 20.e3 d8 21.de1 h5 22.c4 h4 23.f2 h6 24.xe6 ( 24.f5 e5 25.d5 With an insistent initiative. Like in t h e g a m e , t h e d o m in a t io n o f t h e l ig h t squared bishop over the black knight is so dazzling that it eclipses the material deficit of the pawn on e4.) 24...xe6 25.xe6 xe6 26.xe6 xe6 27.d5 e2 28.f3! ( 28.h5 xf2 29.h8+ f7 30.xa8 xg2 ) 28...e6 29.xb7 e8 30.d1 ] 17.f5! g5 18.f4! [ 18.fxe6 xd2+ 19.xd2 c6 20.exf7+ e7 21.e5 d5 22.xd5 h6 is less clear. ] 18...xf4 19.xf4 e5 [ 19...exf5 There again, the pleasant choice between the mate rial advanta ge o r th e continuation of the attack... A) 20.xf7+ xf7 ( 20...xf7 21.xd6 ) 21.xd6 e7 ( 21...fxe4? 22.he1 ) 22.exf5 xd6 23.xd6 0-0 24.d5; 2236
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 20.exf5! e5 21.he1! which is equality in A.Stojanovic-Lajthajm, Vrnjacka clearly stronger here, within the bounds of Banja 2014.; calculation, besides. e7 22.xd6! B) 9...g4!? , ] B1) 22...xd6 23.xe5+ f8 8...c6!? ( 23...d7 24.d5 ) 24.e8+; [ A new move. The Ukrainian Grandmaster is B2) 22...d3+ 23.xd3 xe1+ 24.c2 happy to bring his queen out. Previously, e2+ 25.b3 Followed by an we've only considered 8...gxh4 9.xh4 c6 unstoppably devastating Re3+ ] 10.gf3 when White has definite 20.d2 d8 compensation for the pawn - see the [ 20...0-0-0? 21.e6 ] Archive. ] 21.g4 0-0 22.g5 h8 23.hg1 b5 24.e6 9.hxg5 e7 25.d5 Did I talk of "domination"? b8 [ Not the only move, but breaking up Black's 26.g3 d8 kingside must be critical. Instead, 9.c4 [ 26...b4 27.c4 b3 28.a3 Without thinking, gxh4 10.xh4 a5 11.gf3 develops would have only allowed Black to pass the rapidly and yet I'd be surprised if White was 30th move. ] better here, with e3!? one possibility. ] 27.h3 f7 28.g1 Apart from prolonging 9...xg5 10.gf3 g7 his agony by a couple of moves (by giving the [ It's rare to see a fianchettoed queen at such piece on g5), Black is dramatically powerless an early stage. I'm not entirely convinced, to parry any of the decisive White threats: Qg2, but 10...d8 would just see Black losing followed by g5-g6, Nh6 Rxh6! gxh6 g6-g7+ but time and 11.c4 de7 12.d3! also nasty mating motives including the rook to dissuade ...Nf5 looks like pretty nice sac on h7. compensation for the first player. ] 1-0 [ Instead, 10...g4!? is a cheeky engine suggestion, best met by 11.d3 ( 11.h4 g7 12.c4? e3! reveals Black's big 2284 A45 idea ) 11...e3 12.e2 . ] Rahman,Ziaur 2486 11.h3 [ And so the rook is developed along its file in Fedorchuk,Sergey 2647 any case. Rahman cuts out ...Ne3 tricks, but Kolkata Open (7.4) 24.03.2014 he might also have done that with 11.e2!? [Richard Palliser] . Yes, the bishop on f1 is blocked in, but it's not as if Black's development is so great. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.d2 h6 4.h4 c5 Moreover, it's not especially easy to free his 5.e4!? Pert's favourite gambit and one which position here, with f6 12.0-0-0 e7 13.exf6 packs a certain punch as we've seen before. xf6 14.b3 a plausible line in which White cxd4 regains his pawn with a plus. ] [ Standard, although Black can also consider 5...d5 6.e5 g5 7.g3 fd7 11...d6?! [ The move White had been waiting for - see Rombaldoni-Caprio, Italian before committing his light-squared bishop. Championship, Rome 2013, in the Archive. ] Fedorchuk's position isn't easy to handle 6.e5 g5 7.g3 d5 8.h4! and I rather suspect he stumbled into this [ W e've noted before that 8.c4 c6 line. Perhaps Black should prefer 11...h5!? 9.gf3 seems less effective. I still feel that , and if 12.c4 b6 13.e2 e7 Black shouldn't fear receiving Irish d-pawns looking to stir up some trouble with ...h4, and should go although after 14.0-0-0 it's hard not to like A) whereas in another recent game White's lead in development and potential 9...f4 10.xf4 gxf4 11.e2 d5 12.exd6 down the h-file. ] xd6 ( 12...xd6 13.0-0-0 g7 was surely indicated) 13.0-0-0 e7?! 12.b5 d7 13.xc6?! [ Rahman wants to open the position, but 14.e4 d7 15.xd6+ xd6 16.c3 there was no reason not to begin with the saw White regaining his pawn with rough 2237
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 simple 13.exd6 . The main point is f6 14.e2 when Black is cleaned up after e5? 15.xc6 xc6 16.xe5! fxe5 17.xe5 . ] 13...xc6 14.xd4 dxe5 15.xc6 bxc6 16.e2 Despite his imprecision, White's position is still pretty attractive. He remains down a pawn, but has much the more harmonious position and enjoys a potent initiative. f6?! [ Far too ambitious. Black had to offer to re t u r n t h e p a wn wi t h 16...e7 , and if 17.0-0-0 f4 . ] 17.0-0-0 b8 [ It's hard to entirely believe, but the silicon bea st may b e correct t hat Black is just about holding things together after 17...e7 18.c4 b6 19.e4 h5!? . ] 18.c4! Now the knight had to retreat to b6, but it's easy to be disorientated in such a position and Fedorchuk must have hoped that he was obtaining some counterplay. b4? 19.e4 [ Simple and strong, although a preliminary 19.h4 might have been even better. After, say, e7 20.a3 a6 21.f3 c8 22.e4 f8 23.g3 f7 24.xf6! the black position collapses. ] 19...e7 [ 19...xa2+ 20.b1 b4 21.h5+ e7 22.h4 would be complete devastation. Talk about the difference between a developed, c o o rd in a t e d f o rce a n d o n e st i ll la rge l y sleeping in its bed. ] 20.a3 a6? [ 20...d5! 21.cxd5 cxd5 was the last, if slightly desperate chance. Now we reach a scenario all too familiar from the last two notes. ] 21.h4! h5 22.g3 f8 23.f3 h6+ 24.b1 f4 The only chance, but a player of Rahman's experience and ability was never going to have allowed this without having a powerful rejoinder in mind. 25.xf6+! xf6 26.xc6+ f8 27.xf6 xb2+ 28.xb2 xf2+ 29.b1 xg3 Black's minicombination might have exposed the white king, but only one king was ever going to be m a t e d h e r e . 30.d6+ f7 31.e7+ The black queen is lost for starters once the king edges forward. 1-0
2285 Rakhmangulov,Andrei Malakhatko,Vadim ch op Alushta [Eric Prié]
A45 2417 2496 1999
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 f5 6.g3 h6!? 7.e3 g7 8.c3 0-0 9.a4!? This is interesting, pre-emptive and shows a good understanding of the position, considering that ...Na6-c7, ...b7-b5 is the key idea for Black in such positions. a6 10.d2 When the white queens goes to this square, then a3 is the natural place for the queen's knight which makes the move a2-a4 even clearer. c7 11.g2 e6 12.d6! In this configuration of pieces, this move, 'cutting Black's camp into 2 parts', is much stronger. e8 13.a3 b8 14.e2 b6 15.0-0 f6 [ 15...a6 16.b5 e5 17.f4 xd6 18.xd6 xd6 19.xd6 xe2 20.f2 c4 21.xd7 a5 22.d1 ] 16.f3 Covering e 4 while avoiding the exchange of bishops on the long diagonal for the moment. b7 17.b5 a6 18.c7 e8 19.xe8 fxe8 20.f4 xg2 21.xg2 ec8 22.fd1 c6 23.c2 f8 24.d2 f6 25.g1 d8 d7 being now protected, Rxd6 is threatened. 26.d1 b5 27.a5 c4 28.g4 fxg4 29.xg4+ g7 30.e4 f6 31.h1 h8 32.e2 g8 33.g1 cc8 34.f3 h6 35.f1 h4 36.dd1 g4 37.e5 cg8 38.g1 8g6 39.xg4 xg4 40.xg4 xg4 41.f1 Eventually, having solidly supported his pawn in the heart of Black's po sit io n , W h it e h is be t t e r a s all s o rt s o f combinational motives start to appear with its promotion. f6? [ 41...g8 ] 42.f5! fxe5 [ 42...exf5 43.e6 dxe6 44.d1 g8 45.d4 ] 43.fxe6 dxe6 44.g1!! [ 44.f6 ] 44...xg1+ [ 44...g7 45.g3 g5 46.e4 d8 47.c5 xa5 48.d7 e4 49.a1 d8 50.xa6+- ] 45.xg1 g7 [ 45...e4 46.h3! f8 47.d7 e7 48.f4 ] 2238
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 46.d7 g5 47.f3 d8 48.xe5 xa5 counterplay with c5! , ( whereas 10...c6 49.c6 b6 50.d8 xd8 51.xd8 f6 11.h5 d6 12.e2 xf4 13.xf4 d7 52.g2 e5 53.f3 d5 54.f7 a5 14.0-0-0 a5 15.b1 0-0-0 16.c4! 55.g5 b4 56.e4? gave W hite a definite edge with his extra [ 56.cxb4! axb4 57.xh7 The knight looks space in A.Rombaldoni-Nguyen, to be far away from the field of action but Ruzomberok 2014. )] sometimes makes up for his 'short legs' with [ b) 3...c6 is rare, but can't be so bad. Now a surprising agility... and the help of some one wo uld expect W hite t o deve lop his checks! c3 ( 57...d4 58.e2 c3 59.b3 ) knight to d2, but that was delayed in 58.bxc3 Volodin-Seeman, Viljandi 2014, where 4.c3 A) 58...b3 59.f6+ c4 60.e4 d3 a5 5.f3 d5 6.bd2 f5 7.xe4 xe4 ( 60...b2 61.e3 b3 62.h4 ) 61.c5+ 8.d2! f5 9.e3 ( 9.e4!? dxe4 10.c4 xc3 62.xb3 xb3 63.h4 c3 followed by Qb3 or Qe2 looks quite 64.e4+-; tempting ) 9...h6 10.f4 e6 11.g4 g6 B) 58...bxc3 59.e3 c2 60.d2 e4 12.f3 d7 13.d3 xd3 14.xd3 e7 61.g5+! f5 ( 61...f4 62.xe6+ g4 15.g1 c5 reached a typically unbalanced 63.d4 h3 64.f3 g4 65.h4 ) h4 Trompowsky middlegame. ] 62.h3 e4 63.g1 e5 64.xc2 e3 4.dxc5 65.d1 f2 66.h4 xg1 67.e2! [ As this has been the recent choice of not ( 67.h5? f2 )] just the rising Hungarian star, but also Igor 56...bxc3 57.xc3+ c5 58.e3 b4 Miladinovic, we must take the move 59.d2 b3 60.c1 a4 61.b1 c3! seriously. Rombaldoni has remained true to 62.bxc3 4.d5!? and I'm not so sure why the position [ 62.xc3 a3 63.b1 axb2 64.d1 c4! after b6 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 xb2 Now the Black king has enough space to hasn't attracted more support of late. It's reach the h-pawn and is also a pawn up certainly fun and not so easy for Black to compared to the line given above which handle over the board. Here I quite liked enables him to draw comfortably 65.xb2+ A) but many h4 exponents prefer to offer d4 66.c2 e4 67.d2 f3 68.d3 another pawn with 7.g6!? . D.Rombaldonig2 69.h4 g3 70.h5 g4 71.h6 g5 ] Gajek, Ruzomberok 2014, continued fxg6 62...a3 63.xa3 xa3 64.c2 e5 65.h4 8.e3 d6 9.b1! (natural and surprisingly h5 66.d3 b3 67.e4 xc3 68.xe5 new) c3?! ( 9...e5 10.d3 xd5 c4 11.xg6+ d8 12.f3! xf3 13.gxf3 ½-½ gives White a certain initiative for the two pawns, with Ng5 on its way, but still Black should retreat to either e5 or f6) 10.e2 2286 A45 e5?! (losing further time) 11.f4 f5 ( 11...f6 12.d3 would merely renew the Rapport,Richard 2701 threat ) 12.xb7 d7 13.b5 Damljanovic,Branko 2562 , wh i ch a l re a d y ga ve W h it e a d e a d l y Paracin Open (7.1) 09.07.2014 initiative. If this game doesn't inspire you [Richard Palliser] to give 3 h4 the occasional punt, I'm not sure what will.; 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4!? B) 7.e4 in my Trompowsky book, ] Dubio us a ccording to E ric, but the move certainly has surprise value. c5 The critical 4...a5+ [ Miladinovic's most recent outing with his test, if not the only move seen in recent GM old favourite saw him face the rare 4...xg5 practice: 5.hxg5 c6 , wh e r e u p o n 6.d2 a5 [ a) 3...d5 4.d2 f5 is a solid, very 7.gf3 g6 8.c3 xc5 9.a4!? d5 10.e4! sensible reaction. After 5.xe4 xe4 6.f3 dxe4 11.xe4 b6 12.a5!? ( the simple h6 7.f4 h7 8.e3 e6 9.d3 xd3 12.e2 may be even stronger, and if g7 10.xd3 Black should though develop 2239
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.d6+ f8 14.xc8 xc8 15.b5 , p re pa rin g t o ma ke go o d use o f t h o se cramping advanced rook's pawns) 12...xa5 13.e2 g7 was typically murky, but the Serbian GM won quickly in MiladinovicAmdouni, Zeralda 2014. ] 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 g6 7.c3 [ A ve ry im p o rt a n t a lt e rn a t ive is 7.h4!? , which I see Eric even attached an exclam to in his notes to Kanep-Zjukin, Tallinn 2005. ] 7...xc5 8.e4!? [ Whether this was preparation or over-thebo ard ins pira t io n, I 'm no t sure, b u t it 's certainly a novelty from the ever creative R a p p o r t . W h i t e u s u a l l y g o e s 8.gf3 and after g7 has tried a wide range of moves. For coverage, do please see the Archive, where it's safe to say Eric wasn't entirely convinced by White's strategy. ] 8...e5?! [ Just because White didn't advance his rook on the seventh move, doesn't mean that he won't for the rest of the game. I suspect the experienced Damljanovic missed or at least underestimated W hite's next move, otherwise he would have preferred 8...b6 . Perhaps 9.d4 was Rapport's idea here. After xd4 10.cxd4 d6 11.e3 c6 12.c1 White can hope to extract something from his bind on the position, but Black does have the two bishops, is pretty solid and can aim to break out, such as with f5 13.d3 g7 14.e2 h6 . Further tests are required as they say! ] 9.h4! g7 10.f3 c7 11.e3 White's setup may not impress everyone, but his pieces are coming quickly to rather active squares and Black must be careful. d6 [ My engines naturally have no fear and want to castle, either next move or here: 11...0-0!? 12.c4 d6 13.e2 ( 13.b3 d7 14.f1 would be a slower approach, retaining some control) 13...d7 14.0-0-0 b6 . I can't imagine many humans being so happy with a half-open h-file available to their opponent, but the g7-bishop is unopposed and White mustn't be too gungho, as shown by 15.b3 a5 16.dh1? ( 16.c2 a4 17.a3 was the way to proceed when surely the attack is just rather
dangerous ) 16...a4 17.c2 d5 18.ed2 a3 and it's Black who strikes first. ] 12.c4! Making good use of the king's rook's active posting. c6 13.b3 [ This works wonders in the game, but one might also make a decent case for 13.e2 followed by going long. ] 13...d8 [ It's hard to believe Damljanovic wanted to play this passive retreat. However, it's easy to say that by now Black really had to take t h e b u l l b y t h e h o r n s a n d g o 13...0-0 . E a sy a n d wro n g I m igh t a d d. I n d e e d , D a m l j a n o v i c p r o b a b l y d i s l i k e d 14.d5 as ...e6 will leave a huge hole on f6. Your machine might indicate e5 15.xe5 xe5 , but after 16.f4 ( 16.0-0-0? e6 17.f6+ xf6 18.gxf6 exd5 19.xd5 c5 20.xc5 dxc5 21.h6 is the sort of line I waste too m u ch t im e o n in ga m e s B la ck d e f e n d s satisf act orily wit h f5 22.dh1 g5 ) 16...g7 17.c2 f5?! 18.g4 d7 19.0-0-0 I rather enjoyed disposing of mine in a quick blitz game. ] 14.d4 [ Centralising and hoping to land a blow on d 6 a f t e r N b 5 . 14.0-0-0 also looks very strong. In short, the opening has been a complete disaster for Black. ] 14...a6 15.0-0-0 xd4? [ Despite all his experience, Black may very well have given up by this point. From what I can see, the only way to stay in the game was 15...b8! , overprotecting, and after 16.dh1 ( 16.d5 may be stronger) 16...b5 17.d3 c6 Black is still very much on the board. ] 16.exd4 f5 17.g3 c8 Now White might take on f5 or retreat his bishop, but Rapport preferred to make further use of the active development of his king's rook. 18.d5!? d7 19.dh1 b5 20.xh7! There goes a pawn and without his dark-squared bishop, Black's kingside doesn't look at all solid whatsoever. f8 21.d3 a5 A desperate attempt to drum up a counterattack with ...b4 and one which is easily sidestepped. 22.b1 b7 23.b4! Not the only way to win, but one I rather like. xb4 [ The hapless knight is out of squares after this, but if 23...b6 24.xf7! xf7 ( or 2240
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 24...xf7 25.h8+ f8 26.xg6+ ) 25.xg6+! xg6 26.e4+ f5 27.xf5 xf5 28.h6+ g7 29.xf5 and the attack leads to mate. ] 24.cxb4 c7 25.f4 c8 26.a3 Talk about complete domination. d8 27.h8 b7 28.f5! gxf5 29.xf5 xf5 30.xf5 There's nothing to be done about the coming g5-g6. 1-0
2287 Rausis,Igors El Arousy,Abdul Hameed 3rd Open Tanta City EGY (2) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2486 2319 04.05.2000
when White has no obvious breakthrough after: 21.b3 xa2 22.xb7 e8 ] 21.b3 a4? The decisive mistake. [ Instead 21...d8!? limits the damage to a pawn after: 22.xb7 c6 ] 22.xb6 xd1 23.xe6 xf3 24.xe7 Af ter this forced sequence, W hite wins a second pawn. Now, any Black resistance is f u t i l e a g a i n s t a n e x p e r i e n c e d G M . e4 25.xe4 dxe4 26.xb7 Black had no wish to test his opponent's technique and retired to the bar. 1-0
2288 A45 Rausis,Igors 2486 Loetscher,Roland 2218 Another Bh4 Tromp leads to a seemingly Master Open Lausanne SUI (1) 31.05.2000 equal middlegame. Black is lulled into a false [Aaron Summerscale] sense of security and after a few inaccurate m o v e s , f i n d s h i m s e l f i n a h o r r i b l e l o s t I n t h e f o llo win g ga m e B l a ck is s o o n le f t endgame. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 d5 regretting his early queenside expansion. 1.d4 4.d2 d6 5.gf3 g6 A more solid f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b5 approach for Black than the plan with ...Nf5 in An early b5 is becoming increasingly popular AS157. 6.e3 g7 7.c4 White takes the early in many types of Benoni structures, but here I initiative on the queenside. dxc4 8.xc4 0-0 feel that it lacks viability, as Black has no way 9.xd6 cxd6 10.e2 c6 11.0-0 d5 of putting pressure on the White centre. 5.e4 White has emerged from the opening with a b6 6.d2 The knight heads for the potential slight advantage. Both Black bishops are outpost on c4. b7 7.a4 a6 Black tries to largely inef f ective, and W hite meanwhile keep his queenside pawn structure in one exerts annoying pressure against e7. 12.b3 piece, but the cracks are beginning to show. h6 13.ac1 g5 An exceptionally radical way 8.c4 f5 9.exf5 g7 10.gf3 xb2 11.b1 of dealing with the pressure against e7 and c3 12.d3 Cool, calm and collected. Rather o n e t h a t I d e f in it e ly d o n o t re c o m m e n d . than grab the first pawn offered, White simply 14.g3 e6 15.b5 d7 16.h4 Highlighting completes his development. He has bigger t h e d r a w b a c k s o f B l a c k ' s 1 3 t h m o ve . f6 fish to fry than a lowly pawn. b4 13.0-0 xd2 Black has to accept a further weakening of Otherwise Ne4 was definitely on the cards. his k in gs id e , wh ich a lso le a ve s h is d a rk 14.xd2 f6 15.g5 g8 16.e4 d4 squared bishop looking like a large pawn. 17.f6 Ouch. It's starting to get hot down there. 17.d3 b6 18.d1 The Black King begins to feel the heat. g6 [ 18.c3 was a good solid alternative. ] 18.xb4 A fantastic attacking concept. White 18...fc8 sacrifices a rook in order to bring Black's 19.xb4 [ Perhaps Black should have tried: 18...xb2 position to boiling point. cxb4 19.b1 xa2 20.xb7 When White has There is no good way for Black to meet the obvious compensation, but as I always say, twin threats of Qxe7 and Qxb7. d6 20.xb7 a7 21.c8# "a pawn is a pawn!" ] 19.hxg5 hxg5 20.c3 e7 Black is simply 1-0 playing routinely and consequently leaves himself in hot water. [ 20...xb2 should have been considered, 2241
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c8+- 27.ed6 ] A45 2257 25.ed1 [ 25.xe6 might have been a quicker kill. For 2300 example: fxe6 26.h6+ with mate in two. ] 26.02.2000 25...xc4 Losing on the spot but the superior: [ 25...e8 would only have delayed the inevitable. ] One thing is for certain. Black has to be very sure of himself in the 2...c5 lines. The White 26.f6 p o s i t i o n i s v e r y s o l i d a n d B l a c k h a s 1-0 weaknesses on the kingside and sometimes the queenside to take aim at. Black has to be A45 careful not to be despatched in short order. 2290 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 Rey,Guillermo 2346 5.c1 f5 6.g3 White's strategy in this line is Shakhnazarov,Oleg 2230 to keep a greater grip on the dark squares 2nd Team Match (9) 01.04.1999 than with the more expansive 6 c4. g7 7.c3 [Aaron Summerscale] d6 Black starts to surround the d5 pawn and frees his b pawn. 8.g2 b5 9.f3 f6 Here we see W hite demonstrating what a [ 9...b7 10.h4 is awkward for Black. ] t o t a l l ia b il it y t h e e -p a wn c a n b e c o m e i n 10.0-0 b7 11.a3 The nature of this line is certain circumstances. Even if White fails to for White to play energetically and this game win a pawn, he will be able to open lines is no exception. Rather than guard his weak against the Black king with a timely f3. 1.d4 pawn White goes on the counterattack. xd5 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 e6 Another offbeat [ 11...a6 was more circumspect when it try against the Tromp, against which White is rem ain s t o be see n whe the r W hite ha s advised to keep it "tight at the back". 4.e3 anything better than: 12.d1 ] Is Hodgson's recommendation in his "Secret's 12.d1 e6 13.xb5 b6 14.c4 e4 of the Trompovsky". White plays solidly aiming [ 14...c6 15.d6+ e7 16.b1 for a small advantage. gives White a pleasant advantage due to his [ 4.f3 d6 Black aims to force the exchange well placed knight. ] of White's Tromp bishop. ] 15.f4 0-0 4...d5 5.d2 [ 15...a6 16.e5 is very nasty for Black. ] [ 5.d3 is another interesting possibility. ] 16.c7 c6 5...c6 [ 16...xb2 17.xa8 xa8 18.ab1 [ 5...xd2 6.xd2 is an important is no better for Black. ] alternative. ] 17.xa8 xa8 18.xd7 It seems natural to 6.xe4 dxe4 7.f3 White sets about grab a pawn and grab "seventh heaven" at the demolishing Black's central pawn wedge. b6 same time. However, 8.b1 c5?! This pawn sacrifice proves very [ perhaps 18.g5 with the idea of Qh4 was hard to justify. Like it or not, Black had to even stronger. ] accelerate W hite's development with the 18...xb2 19.ad1 xe2 Black is obliged to u n p l e a s a n t e xf 3 . 9.fxe4 c6 10.f3 munch as much material as possible to make White already stands clearly better, with an up for his exchange deficit. 20.e1 c2 extra central pawn. e5 Black, clearly detesting [ 20...xc4 meets with the same response. ] the course of events seeks to mix it up even 21.g5 xg2 22.xg2 c3 The Black more. 11.xe5 cxd4 12.xc6 bxc6 q u e e n t r i e s t o f i n d a p a t h b a c k t o h e r 13.xd4!? Although this eventually turns out vulnerable king but it is too late. 23.h4 xg5 well, I can see no reason why W hite didn't B l a c k c a n n o t h o l d o n t o t h e m a t e r i a l straighten out his pawn structure with exd4. 24.xg5+ f8 a5+ 14.f2 e6 15.b4 White gains control [ 24...g7 simply gives Black a lost of c5. xa2 16.d3 a3 17.hd1 endgame after: 25.xg7+ xg7 26.xe6 White can simply build up at his leisure, as 2289 Rebers,Eugene H Geurink,Jasper chT Hengelo NED (3) [Aaron Summerscale]
2242
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B l a c k h a s p r o b l e m s c o m p l e t i n g h i s moving in for the kill. f7 22.d5+ e7 d e v e l o p m e n t . d8 18.e5 a4 [ 22...e6 does not help, as White wins The remoteness of the Black queen only after: 23.f1+ g8 24.xe6+ xh8 exacerbates Black's problems. 19.b5 g8 25.e8 ] 20.bxc6 The creation of a strong advanced 23.g5+ pa s s ed p awn sp e lls B la ck's d em ise. His [ 23.g5+ f7 24.xg4 leaves White a position is a very sorry sight! d6 21.c7 d7 piece up with a murderous attack. ] 22.cxd8+ And Black could stomach no more 1-0 humiliation. 1-0 2292 A45 Reynolds,Pat 2291 A45 Putka,Verner 2277 25.09.2001 Rey,Guillermo 2359 ECC Panormo GRE (3) Wong 2061 [Aaron Summerscale] Frisco Masters (2) 01.04.2000 [Aaron Summerscale] Trompowsky Attack: A brand new idea against the Tromp. Just the thing for your Christmas 1.d4 Trompowsky: The next game concerns a stocking. A line to bemuse and bewilder your crucial line of the Ne4 variation. Practical hardened Tromp opponent. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 results have heavily favoured White, but I feel e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c6 A new move. Black that Black has some, as yet unseen resources intends to bag the bishop pair. 5.f3 [ 5.d3 is interesting, then: g5 6.g3 h5 in this line. f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 7.xe4 dxe4 leads to an unbalanced c5 5.d3 c6 6.xe4 dxe4 7.d5 b4 position, with chances for both sides. ] 8.c3 e6 9.d6 f5 This is quite a critical line The point. Rather than meekly retreat, in the Tromp. Both players, although looking 5...g5 at the same position, have a quite different Black counterattacks against W hite's dark version of events. White hopes to undermine squared bishop. 6.g3 [ 6.fxe4 gxf4 7.exd5 xd5 8.c3 e6 the Black central pawns and prove his d6 9.e4 g7 looks roughly equal. ] pawn to be a huge asset. Whilst Black hopes to argue that the d6 pawn has simply ventured 6...xg3 7.hxg3 d6 8.f2 h5 Black gives into the lion's mouth! 10.f3 c6 11.fxe4 W h i t e n o t i m e t o b r e a t h e a n d i n s t e a d fxe4 This move simply cannot be continues his attack on W hite's weakened recommended. kingside. 9.d3 e5 The centre also falls into [ 11...e5 is interesting after: 12.exf5 xf5 Bla ck's h an ds. His ope nin g strate gy ha s with an unclear position. ( Not 12...exf4 definitely been a success. 10.c3 h4 11.e2 13.h5+ g6 14.fxg6 When White has a For the moment, W hite is able to hold his kingside together. f6 12.d2 d6 13.b5 very strong attack. )] Black prepares queenside castling to 12.h5+ White enters a forced sequence of d7 moves, which he has calculated give him the b r i n g h i s f i n a l p i e c e i n t o p l a y . 14.f1?! better chances. g6 13.xc5 e5 14.xe5 A passive move, which simply overprotects the vulnerable g3 square. Unfortunately, this g5 15.d4 xg2 16.0-0-0 xh1 17.xh8 [ 17.d5 was also possible and perhaps just encourages Black to seek new avenues of even stronger. f5 18.c7+ d7 19.xh8 attack. [ 14.b3 would at least give Black g4 20.d5 is clearly good for White. ] something to think about, other than his own 17...d7 Definitely not best. He had to try the attack. ] disruptive 17...Bg4. 18.b5 g4 But it is too The White King is beginning to look late to go back now! 19.d7+! A disruptive 14...e4 check which neatly opens lines against the very vulnerable indeed. 15.e1? A horrible Bla ck king. f7 20.c4+ e7 21.c5+ blunder, which only serves to make a bad 16.gxf3 0-0-0!? White toys with his helpless opponent before p o s i t i o n w o r s e . exf3 2243
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Blac k m ust have b een f ee lin g ge nerous. Taking on f3 was by far the clearest way to victory. [ 16...xf3 17.h2 0-0-0 leaves Black with all the trumps. ] 17.f2 That said, White is still in a very bad way. g4 18.h2 d7 19.xc6 bxc6 20.c4 White must try to open lines against the Black king to create counterplay. His main and rather daunting problem is that he is soooo far behind Black in the race to exploit the weakened king positions. [ 20.a4 hxg3+ 21.xg3 h3 Also leaves Black well on top. ] 20...hxg3+ 21.xg3 xg3+ 22.xg3 h3+ 23.g2 dh8 Black's pressure on the h-file is decisive. 24.e2 h6 25.g1 The only way to delay material losses. g3+ 26.f1 h3+ 27.e1 g2 Winning a piece and ending any faint hope that W hite may have had of salvation. The rest is an exercise in mopping up. 28.f1 g3+ 29.d1 hxh2 30.xh2 xh2 0-1
2293 Reynolds,Pat Simeonidis,Ioannis ECC Panormo GRE (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2280 23.09.2001
Trompowsky Attack: One of W hite's main aims in the 2...e6 Tromp is to build a big pawn centre. Countless games have shown that ignoring White's greater central control can be fatal to Black's chances and this game is no exception. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 Regular subscribers to this site will know that I believe: [ 5...d5 to be the best move here. ] 6.d3 e5 7.e2 Now White gets what he wants. A free reign for his f-pawn. d7 8.0-0 d8 The Black queen will have to evacuate the f-file in the near future anyway, so Black tucks her out of harms way. 9.f4 e7 10.d2 c6 11.h1 Sensibly avoiding any nasty surprises along the a7-g1 diagonal. 0-0 12.a4 a5 13.c4 Putting pressure on the centre and heading for the tasty f 5 square. exd4
Opening things up for his bishops is a commendable aim for Black, but he is nowhere near being sufficiently developed enough to exploit this. 14.xd4 c5 15.c2 d5? This just creates a target for White to latch onto and therefore can be regarded as a clear mistake. [ Simple development with either 15...c7 or ] [ 15...d7 was to be preferred. ] 16.exd5 cxd5 [ 16...xd5 avoids the IQP, but unfortunately loses to 17.b6 ] 17.e3 The d5 pawn already looks terribly vulnerable. a6 [ 17...e4 18.b3 also leaves White well on top. ] 18.f3 e6 [ 18...d6 doesn't help, as White has: 19.b5 d7 20.ad1 bagging the dpawn. ] 19.f5 The d-pawn must die! d7 20.xd5 d6 21.f6 A bone crusher of a move! Having won the central battle, W hite now turns his attention to the kingside. Black must have been left regretting his decision to encourage the advance of the f-pawn. e5 22.fxg7 xg7 23.f5+ h8 24.e3 The double attack on c5 and h6 is decisive. 1-0
2294 Roberts,Paul Van der Veen,Jan Essent Open Hoogeveen NED (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2155 2135 15.10.2001
Trompowsky Attack: Main line 2...c5, 3.Bxf6. Although not so popular these days, this line still contains more than a drop of poison for the unsuspecting Black player, as the lethal following game illustrates. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 The main line in this variation. gxf6 4.d5 d6 [ 4...b6 is the most ambitious move. ] 5.c4 f5 6.e3 d7 Black aims to contest the central light squares, but White is well placed to join the battle. 7.c3 f6 8.c2 a6 9.d3 e6 10.ge2 Black can never capture on d5, as it would leave f5 terminally weak, 2244
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 and this White can concentrate on completing development before resolving the central tension. d7 11.dxe6 fxe6 12.e4 W ith the Black kingside so vulnerable, it makes sense to open the position. Black is in no position to make his possession of the two b i s h o p s a f a c t o r . fxe4 13.xe4 e7 14.xf6+ xf6 15.0-0 0-0-0 16.b4! Black's open lines on the kingside will give him a potent attack once he catches up on development, so White must strike while the iron is hot. cxb4 17.ab1 c6 18.xb4 g8 19.g3 e7 [ 19...h5 was a better chance to complicate the position. ] 20.b6 Having snuffed out Black's kingside counterplay along the g-file, White turns his attention back to the black king. g5 21.e4 Offering to exchange Black's key queenside defender. d5 22.cxd5 exd5 23.f5+ b8 24.fb1 The almost unbearable pressure continues to mount on Black's poor beleaguered king. a7 25.b3 Setting up a spectacular finish. b8 26.xa6+! xa6 27.b6# 1-0
Compared to game one, the fact that the black knight has not been exchanged will play a significant difference to the development of counterplay on the other flank. ] 12...cxd5 13.cxd5 d7 14.b3 b6 15.ac1 g4 16.h3 e5 17.fd1 fc8 18.d4 e8 19.ce2 Rather surprisingly, the exchange of pieces will just lead to an unpleasant ending. Therefore White should have opted for [ 19.f1! With a little advantage. ] 19...a6! 20.xc8 xc8 21.c1 xc1+ 22.xc1 c4 23.xc4 xc4 24.cb3 a4 25.f1 b6 26.g2 d7 27.e2 [ 27.f1 a4 28.a5 ( 28.a3 c3 29.e1 is better but still difficult for White. b1 30.a5 xd4 31.exd4 b6 32.c4 f8 33.a4 xa4 34.xd6 d7 ) 28...xd4 29.exd4 b6 ( 29...c8 30.c4 ) 30.b7 ( 30.c4? b5 ) 30...c3 31.a3 f8! 32.xd6 e7 33.b7 c8 34.d6+ d7 35.e1 b5 ] 27...b5 28.f4 [ 28.ed4!? xd4 29.exd4 With the idea Na5 ( 29.xd4? c4 30.a3 a6 wins a pawn )] 28...c3 29.a5 xb4 30.xb7 c4! 2295 A45 Wins a decisive pawn, which is not the only Rogers,Ian 2538 factor in Black's favour here: a powerful pair Azmaiparashvili,Zurab 2674 of bishops controlling the important half of the Europe-match 30 (9) 19.09.2001 board, and as a consequence an active king, and a weak white pawn on d5. That will make [Eric Prié] the task of realization very easy. 31.d8 [ 31.a3 xa3 32.a5 b5 33.c6 a6-+ ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 d6 3.xf6 exf6 4.c4 g6 32.c6 a5 33.xb4 axb4 5.c3 g7 6.e3 d7 7.g3 f5 8.g2 c6 31...xa2 34.d3 b3 35.b2 b1 36.f1 e4 9.ge2 0-0 10.0-0 f6 11.b4 White could have resigned here, but this is [ 11.d3! is best. ] fxe4 38.e2 11...e6 11...a6 ?! was played in a game quickplay chess. 37.xe4 K e s s l e r , B - K o l u s , L c o m m e n t e d i n 2 0 0 2 . xd5 39.d2 f8 40.a4 e7 41.c3 12.d5!? A well-advised recipe to play against xc3 42.xc3 d5 43.xb3 d6 44.b4 a pair of bishops is to fix the pawn structure, c6 45.g4 g5 46.c3 c5 47.d2 d4 already in White's favour here. But in our case, 48.exd4+ xd4 49.e2 e5 50.e3 h6 it also offers perspectives to Black's king 51.f3 exf3 52.xf3 d4 53.f2 d3 54.f3 d2 55.f2 f6 56.f3 e1 bishop. 57.e3 f1 58.f3 g1 59.g3 h1 [ 12.d3 d5 ( 12...c8!? ) A) 13.cxd5 cxd5= ( 13...xd5!? 14.b5 60.h4 gxh4+ 61.xh4 g2 0-1 c5 ); B) 13.c5 will still provide White with some queenside initiative, but this structure makes it easier for Black to contain it. 2245
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A45 utterly busted. 2528 1-0 2319 15.04.2001 2297 A45 Rombaldoni,Denis 2462 Caprio,Guido 2418 The Tromp: Black chooses a passive system of defence in the 2...e6 Tromp. Perhaps he Italian Championship, Rome (8.5) 29.11.2013 was in awe of his illustrious opponent, but the [Richard Palliser] Tigers of the chess board like nothing more than chasing timid little rabbits. 1.d4 f6 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.d2 h6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 [ I t ' s w o r t h n o t i n g t h a t 3...c5 4.e4?! Personally, I prefer: gives W hite a far inferior version of our [ 5...d5 which gives Black more central game continuation on account of cxd4 5.e5 co n t ro l a n d b e tt e r ch a nce s o f a n e a rly a5! . ] equality. ] 4.h4 c5 5.e4!? 6.d3 e5 7.e2 c6 A real time waster of a [ This uncompromising choice has received move. In this variation it is important for Black some interest at GM level of late. The far to be able to strike in the centre with a timely more solid, much more common option is, of exd4 and c5. Control of the d5 square is at course, 5.e3 e7 6.c3 b6 7.gf3 b7 this point largely irrelevant. 8.d3 , as we considered last month with [ 7...g6 Would have been better, for all the Predojevic-Berg, Norwegian League 2013. ] reasons mentioned above. ] 5...d5 8.0-0 d8 Black retreats before he is forced [ The alternative is the Sicilian-like 5...cxd4 to, after White plays f4. 9.f4 exd4 10.cxd4 when 6.e5 g5 7.g3 d5 brings about e7 11.bc3 The opening has been a quite an unexplored gambit. Here Richard res ou nd in g su ccess f o r W h it e. He ha s a Pert has advocated an immediate kingside central space advantage and good chances challenge with 8.h4! ( 8.c4 seems less for attacking the Black king. g4 12.h1 effective, as in Jurcik-Pacher, Trencin 2013, The White king can be vulnerable along the where c6 9.gf3 might have been met by a7-g1 diagonal, so he takes time to tuck his g4!? 10.h4 d6 , and if 11.exd6 f6 ) king away in the corner. d7 13.h3 xe2 8...gxh4 9.xh4 c6 10.gf3 and in one 14.xe2 b6 15.f2 0-0 16.e5 recent test d6 ( 10...e7 was preferred in R. When Black has given up central control, it is Pert-Jones, London 2011, and now 11.c4! always a good idea for White to free his light would have offered an exchange sacrifice squared bishop and give his knight the e4 which Black should really decline as shown square. f5 Black takes direct action to counter by Pert in his work) 11.b5 dxe5 12.xe5 the W hite ide as which I h ave me nt io ne d d7 13.xd7 ( 13.xc6 xc6 14.h5 a b o ve . H o we v e r , n o w t h e ki n gs i d e li g h t is Pert's main line and likely an even squares begin to look terribly weak. 17.ad1 stronger choice) 13...xd7 14.f3 g7 ad8 18.b1 White is in no hurry. Black will 15.xd4 saw White regaining his pawn with find it very hard to break down the imposing a s m a l l p u l l in Ye m e l i n - B e d o u in , R i g a W h i t e c e n t r e . dxe5 Black's position is 2013. ] certainly unpleasant, but this is bordering on 6.e5 g5 7.g3 fd7 Once again the darkthe suicidal. Opening up the f-file gives White squared bishop has been chased back to g3 exactly what he wants. A devastating attack and we now have a French-like situation on on the Black kingside. 19.fxe5 b4 20.g3 the board. Will White's centre be undermined f5 is caving in. And unfortunately for Black, or can he stabilise it and instead doing the that paves a direct route for White to his king. undermining himself on the kingside? 8.h4 b8 21.xf5 xd4 22.g6 Completely [ Thematic. Trompowsky and French c r i p p li n g . W i t h t h i s in f i l t r a t i o n , B la c k i s authority Viktor Moskalenko preferred 8.c4 2296 Rogers,Ian Schnitzspan,Lothar 5th Neckar Open (7) [Aaron Summerscale]
2246
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 , but after c6 9.cxd5 exd5 10.h4 g4 11.dxc5 xc5 12.a3 a5 13.b5 b6 14.a4 g7 15.e2 0-0 wasn't able to obtain quite enough play for the falling e5pawn in Moskalenko-Rodshtein, Benasque 2013. ] 8...g4 [ Black strives to keep the kingside as closed as possible. However, this is by no means forced with 8...c6!? 9.dxc5 ( 9.hxg5 cxd4 10.gf3 g7 11.gxh6 xh6 12.xh6 xh6 13.b3 b6 14.d3 f8 may be just about OK for Black) 9...g4 10.xg4 dxe5 an alternative which might appeal to those with some French experience. W hite's centre has been well and truly destroyed, but he enjoys open lines for his pieces and 11.xe5 xe5 12.b5+ d7 13.e2 g7 14.c3 c8 15.gf3 xc5 16.xd7+ xd7 17.b3 c4 18.bd4 0-0 19.0-0 maintained a rough balance in Vitiugov-Vallejo Pons, Khanty-Mansiysk (rapid) 2013. ] 9.xg4!? [ This obvious move is actually a novelty, but like the strong Italian IM I can't see any reason to reject the pawn. Pert preferred to concentrate on 9.dxc5 and after h5 10.b5 ( 10.e2 c6 11.f4 was tested in Nakamura-Caruana, Moscow (blitz) 2012 after dxe5 12.b3 d7 13.c3 f6 14.b5 a6 15.a4 h6 16.d3 it will likely not come as a surprise to learn that the American no.1 triumphed in this messy position, but Black must be at least OK h e re , s u c h a s a f t e r 0-0 ) 10...c6 11.e2 xc5 12.0-0 a6 13.xc6+ bxc6 14.c4 a5 15.d4 (Vitiugov-Caruana, Re ggio E m ilia 2 0 1 1 ) a6!? ( 15...b6 16.c2 d7 was the game and here even 17.xe6!? fxe6 18.g6+ d8 19.xe6 w a s p o s s i b l e a s p o i n t e d o u t b y P e r t) 16.xc6! b6 17.cxd5 exd5 18.d4 xf1 19.xf1 xb2 20.e3 White enjoys a dangerous-looking initiative for the exchange. ] 9...c6 [ Instead, 9...cxd4 10.gf3 c6 brings about a position which could also have arisen in the game, but after 11.h5 followed by 0-0-0 and Nb3 W hite must be
for choice. ] 10.gf3 b6?! [ Highly French-like, but White's centre is still in tact and he just appears to be doing pretty well after this move. As such, Caprio should have preferred 10...h5! 11.f4 cxd4 , although even here I have my doubts that Black is OK after, say, 12.b5 h6 13.g5 xg5 14.xg5 . ] 11.0-0-0 h5 It feels logical once again to insert this advance, but without the queen on d8 White will be much less troubled by any ... Bh6. 12.f4 cxd4 13.g5! [ Rombaldoni wants to attack. This is very strong, although one might also make a good case f or the usef u l 13.e1 g7 14.b1 before leaping forward with Ng5. ] 13...dxe5 [ 13...cxe5 14.df3 g7 is but a transposition. ] 14.df3 g7 Essential to help keep the f7 point under control. 15.xe5 xe5 16.e1 And just like that Black suddenly finds himself in all manner of trouble. Do not underestimate this concept of 5 e4! a5? [ This desperate counterattack won't succeed, but it's not hard to see why Caprio wasn't convinced by 16...f6 17.xe5 fxg5 18.xg5 f8 : for example, 19.d2 h6 20.e2 d7 21.xh5+ d8 22.e5 when White is in complete control and his kingside pawns should sweep all before them once Black takes the exchange. ] 17.xe5 xe5 18.b5+! A neat way to prevent the threatened mate with tempo and so decide proceedings. xb5 19.xf7+ d8 20.xe5 1-0
2298 Romero Holmes,Alfonso Gulbas,Cemil ECC Halkidiki GRE (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2524 2301 25.09.2002
Trompowsky In an critical line of the Tromp, White manages to refute overambitious play by Black. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.d3 cxd4 6.xe4 dxe4 7.xd4 [ 7.exd4!? ] 2247
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7...xd4 8.exd4 An important position in this line of the tromp. Black as so often happens, has gained the bishop pair, but at the cost of compromising his pawn structure. c6 9.c3 e6 [ 9...f5 looks more logical here. ] 10.d2 f5 11.f3 Black has manage d to protect e4, so White opens the e-file in order t o a t t a c k t h e n e w we a k n e s s o n e 6 . e5?! A radical solution to his positional problems, but this is a true pawn sacrifice. [ 11...exf3 12.gxf3 gives White long term pressure against e6. ] 12.xe5 xe5 13.dxe5 e6 14.e2 exf3 15.xf3 Black may have opened the position for his bishops, but I feel that his compensation is insufficient. W hite has a g r e a t s q u a r e o n d 4 f o r h i s k n i g h t s . g6 16.fd4 c4 17.b3 This poses an awkward question to the Black bishop, which is short of g o o d s q u a r e s . xe2? Black rids f of his problem piece and unfortunately jettisons a large part of his compensation at the same time. [ 17...d5 18.f4 continues the harassment. Bu t t h en at le a st th e b ish o p rea che s a secure post with: ( 18.0-0 keeping White's options open may be stronger. ) 18...e4 ] 18.xe2 g7 19.he1 c8 20.c4 f7 21.f3 h6 22.ad1 c7 White has a clear advantage thanks to his extra pawn. 23.d5 e8 24.d3 g5? A fatal weakening that hastens the end. 25.d4 The threat of e6+ followed by N/Rf5 forced Black to give up the ghost. 1-0
2299 Rozentalis,Eduardas Nithander,Victor Gothenburg (2) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2585 2438 12.08.2012
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.f3 'This has been considered harmless for nigh on twenty years now', as I've written before on the site. I would even go so far to say that the variation is only really suitable for blitz or rapid games, where Black might fall for a c e r t a i n t r a p , b u t e vi d e n t l y R o ze n t a l i s
disagrees. d6 [ The French-like 5...d5 is also quite viable see Zherebukh-Alsina Leal, Aeroflot Open, Moscow 2012, in the Archive. ] 6.c3 d7 7.d2 c6?! [ Nithander begins to slide down the slippery slope with this move. As we've seen before B l a c k s h o u l d p r e f e r 7...a6 8.0-0-0 and now either e7 , as covered by Eric in Muse-Bischoff, Internet (blitz) 2005, ( or 8...d8 9.h4 c5!? when one recent exa m p le sa w 10.dxc5 xc5 11.e5 d5 12.d4 c7 13.f4 b5 14.g4 , which was admirably direct and consistent from the white player, but still after b7 15.h3 b4 16.ce2 e4 17.e1 c5 18.b1 b6 Black enjoyed decent counterplay in IpatovSwiercz, Moscow 2012. )] 8.0-0-0 e5 [ This is often denoted as dubious, but the damage has already been done in my view. Bla ck doe sn't wan t e 4-e 5 to com e wit h t e m p o , b u t a g a i n 8...d8 is probably a better way of avoiding that. W hite leads s o m e w h a t i n d e v e l o p m e n t , s o 9.d5 makes se nse whe n cxd5 10.exd5 e5 11.g4!? e7 12.h4 looks dangerous, but Black is still very much in the game after the calm c5 . ] 9.dxe5 dxe5? [ Rozentalis gets lucky as the Swedish IM slides much further down the slope. Had Nithander been a ChessPub subscriber he would have avoided falling for this fairly wellknown trap, probably by employing a dif f e re n t 7t h m o ve or a t le ast b y goin g 9...xe5 here. Af ter 10.xe5 ( 10.d4!? , and if g5 11.h4! , is also quite tempting) 10...xe5 ( a n d a g a i n n o t 10...dxe5? 11.b5! ) 11.f4 a5 12.b1 White has an edge, but nothing more. ] 10.b5! A strong blow and one which leaves White very much in front. d8 [ This grim move may actually be best. After 10...b8 11.xa7 Black was just a pawn down in Rogers-Glek, Linz 1997, as annotated by Aaron Summerscale, ] [ while 10...cxb5 11.xb5 is a killer pin, as illustrated by another recent game: c5 ( t h e o v e r l o a d i n g 11...e6 12.xe5! is the key point) 12.xd7+ e7 13.d5 2248
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xf2? 14.hf1 d8 15.xe5 and Black might already have resigned in KristiansenLeutwyler, Helsingor 2012. ] 11.a5+! Forcing a further concession. b6 12.c3 'With mounting and lasting pressure', as Aaron Summerscale put it. c5! [ The IM continues to mount the stiffest defence. When Black had previously fallen for the trap, he'd usually opted for 12...a6 , after which 13.d6 xd6 14.xc6 e7 ( n o w t h e e xch a n ge go e s we s t 14...b7 15.xb7 e7 16.c4 restricts the damage to just a pawn) 15.xa8 c5 16.a7+ d7 17.xa6 b8? 18.xd6! xd6 19.d1 was a quick win for the Everyman author in C.Lakdawala-Banawa, Los Angeles 2010. ] [ N o t e t o o t h a t 12...cxb5? 13.xb5 would again result in a killer pin: c5 ( if 13...d6 14.c6; or 13...e7 14.c7 ) 14.xe5 c7 15.xd7 d8 16.b4 xd7 17.bxc5 with two extra pawns and an ongoing initiative. ] 13.b4! [ Continuing in vigorous fashion. Instead 13.xe5 a6 14.xd7 xd7 15.d4 c7 would only have left White a pawn ahead, ] [ but a very good case might be made for 13.xe5!? , with the point cxb5 14.d5 b8 15.e5 , regaining the piece with some advantage. ] 13...xf2 [ White finds himself attacking and with at t h e l e a s t a c l e a r a d va n t a ge a f t e r b o t h 13...xb4 14.xb4 cxb5 15.xb5 c7 16.d5 ] [ and 13...cxb5 14.bxc5 c7 15.cxb6+ xb6 16.b4 . ] 14.xe5 cxb5 15.xb5 A familiar motif by now. White will regain his piece on d7 with a huge advantage. e3+ [ This doesn't help, but 15...e8 16.xd7 xe5 17.c6+ c7 18.xa8+ would have le f t B lac k t h e e xch a n ge a n d a p a wn in arrears. ] 16.b1 f4!? In some ways a blunder, but I'm not sure what else to suggest. 17.xd7 [ Hardly bad, but still a slightly strange choice. One would have expected Rozentalis to spot 17.xd7+! xd7 18.d1 e8 ( 18...xe5 19.xd7+ e8 20.xa7+ is the main
point ) 19.xd7 f8 20.xf7+ xf7 21.xf7 xf7 22.f3 when White will emerge with queen and bishop against the rooks. ] 17...xe5 18.xc8+ e7 19.d7+ f8 20.c4! Underlining White's superiority on the light squares and in terms of coordination, while menacing carnage on f7. b5 He had to deflect the queen with Rf1 such a threat. 21.c5+ g8 22.d5 h7 The best defence, but now White gets to weaken the black king's defences yet again while netting a second pawn. 23.f5+! g6 24.xe5 gxf5 25.xf5 g6 26.hf1 hf8 27.d5 g7 28.h4 By no means the only good move, but why not attack with Black's king so exposed? ae8 29.h5 e6 30.d4+ f6 31.e5! Crashin g t hro ugh . fxe5 32.g4+ h7 33.xf8! [ A neat final touch. 33.xf8 xg4 34.1f7+ g7 35.xg7+ xg7 36.xe8 would see White emerging a whole rook ahead. ] 1-0
2300 Sarapu,Ortvin Barczay,Laszlo Izt Sousse [Eric Prié]
A45
1967
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.e3 b6 5.f3 The alternative gambit to 5. Nc3, with B la c k h a vi n g a vo id e d p l a yi n g . . . e 6 , a n d enjoying a straight plan of development with ... Bg7, ...0-0, have even less chance of success than they do when White doesn't capture on f6. [ 5.dxc5 xb2 6.d2 c3! 7.gf3 xc5 8.c4 g7 9.0-0 0-0 10.b1 a6 11.d3 Being aware of his 8th move inaccuracy. d6 12.d4 c6 13.e4 a5 14.b5? This "desperado" attack does not work, and for many reasons, but White had nothing for th e p awn a nywa y. axb5 15.h5 d8 16.g3 A) 16...h6 17.df5 xf5 18.xf5 ( 18.xf5 e6 19.xh6+ xh6 20.xh6 f5 ) 18...f8! 19.h7 ( 19.h5 b4 20.xg7 xf5 21.xf5 e6 ) 19...f5 20.xf5 c3-+; 2249
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 B) 16...xd4 17.xh7+ f8 18.exd4 ( 18.h5 c6 19.xg7+ e8 20.g8+ d7 21.xf7 c7 22.xf6 b8 ) 18...d2 19.f4 ( 19.h5 h6 ) 19...f5 20.e2 xa2 21.h4 e3+ 22.h2 e6 23.c3 b2 24.xb5 g6 25.xg6 fxg6 26.d5 d7 27.a3 b5 28.h3 a8 29.b1 a1 30.d2 xf1 31.xf1 b4 32.d2 a4 33.c4 xc2 0-1 Mak Keng Kei-Rytshagov,M Olm Bled 2002 ] 5...xb2 6.bd2 cxd4 7.exd4? [ 7.xd4 c6 8.b5 e5 9.f3 b8 10.d3 a6 11.c3 ( 11.bd4 e5 12.f5 d5 ) 11...e6 12.0-0 g7 13.b1 c7 ] 7...h6! 8.d3 xd2+ 9.xd2 xd4 By this time Fischer had already withdrawn from the tournament, but still, it must have be e n un s e t tlin g to b e a lm o st win nin g so quickly, in the tournament antechamber of the candidates, whilst being witnessed by living legends like Larsen, Korchnoi, Geller, Gligoric, Portisch, Reshevsky, Hort, Stein, Mecking, Kavalek et cetera... 10.0-0 c6 11.f3 d6?! Possibly the Hungarian Grandmaster had thought that he just had to castle queenside safely to collect the full point but it was not so simple. He had to combine this with active play, like White, to be successful. [ 11...g4 12.e1 ( 12.h3 g7 13.h1 g8 14.g1 h6 15.b1 b6 ) 12...g8 13.g3 d5 ( 13...b6!? ) 14.b1 e5 ] 12.e2 b6?! [ 12...e6 13.d2 g8 14.xh7? xg2+! 15.xg2 g4+ 16.h1 xf3+ 17.g1 d5 18.e3 h5 19.d3 h3 20.g3 0-0-0 21.fe1 h8-+ ] 13.ad1 c7 [ 13...e6 14.d2 ( 14.e4 a6 15.xa6 xe4 16.fe1 g6 17.b7 d8 ) 14...g8 15.fe1 g4 16.g3! W ith the idea xf3 17.e4 is already not very clear. ] 14.h4 b7 [ 14...d6 15.e4 e6 16.b5 ] 15.f5 e5 16.h5 What a change of situation! From the position 6 moves ago, it is as if Black had played only two moves, ...b6 and .. .Bb 7 with out , f or all th at, f inding a shelter for his queen... 0-0-0 17.fe1 d5 18.c4 [ 18.xe7!? e5? 19.e4! xe4 20.d6++- ]
18...c5 19.xe7+ xe7 20.xc5+ bxc5 21.xe7 h6 22.f5 c6 23.f3? [ 23.d6 he8! 24.dxd7! ( 24.xc6+?? b8 25.xc5 xe7 26.g4 e5-+ ) 24...xd7 25.xd7+ xd7 26.xe8+ c7 27.f1 d4 28.e7+ d6 29.xf7 e6 30.xa7 xc4 31.e2 ] [ 23.xf7! hf8 24.h7 h8 25.xh8 xh8 26.d6 c7 27.xf6 ] 23...c7 Phew! 24.xf7 df8 25.g7 ½-½
2301 Sargissian,Gabriel Froehlich,Peter Anibal Open Linares ESP (9) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2520 2451 16.01.2001
February update: Trompowsky attack: A fine display of the attacking prowess of queen and knight! This game is enough to make the supposedly superior bishop extremely jealous. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 By far the most uncompromising approach. gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 f5 6.g3 g7 7.c3 This is one of White's most solid approaches to this line. It is not, however, lacking in ambition and has been tried by among others, Michael Adams. d6 8.g2 d7 9.d2 f6 10.h3 In this line as in the Benoni the usual Black plan is to put early pressure on d5. Thus, in anticipations, W hite prepares to route his k n i g h t t o f 4 . h5 11.c2 a6 12.f1 When the knight finally arrives on e3, it will highlight the Black pawn weaknesses. I say highlight, rather paint a neon flashing sign around the horribly weak pawns. h4 13.e3 e6 14.dxe6 fxe6 15.g4! Bam! An excellent pawn lever which utterly and brutally shatters Black's kingside structure. g8 [ 15...fxg4 16.g6+ f8 17.g5 is curtains. ] 16.gxf5 h6 17.g1 xe3 18.fxe3 e5 Black has made the best of a bad situation, but is now dangerously behind in development. By now, you should be aware that such an assertion (especially about development) can only spell doom. 19.0-0-0 xa2 Regaining the pawn deficit, but, oh no!! losing yet further time. 20.d5! a1+ 21.d2 xg1 22.xa1 2250
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Incisive play. Many players are reluctant to exchange two rooks for the queen, but in this specific position, White has seen a way into Black's uncoordinated position. [ 22.xg1!? ] 22...xa1 23.b3 xd5 24.xd5 xf5 25.g8+ e7 26.g7+ White goes for glory although the more mundane: [ 26.xa8 was equally as good. ] 26...e8 27.g5 Just watch the Queen and Knight work together. They are, as billed, a lethal combination. d8 28.xb7 c8 29.f7+ e8 30.xd6+ A very convincing attacking display by the player of the White pieces. 1-0
I t h i n k B l a ck s h o u l d s t ri ve t o p r o v o k e a reduction of the central tension by c4xd5 so that he gets the ideal c6 square for his knight, pressurizing the opposing d4 pawn... [ 7...b6!? 8.xb6 ( 8.f3!? d7 ) 8...axb6 9.cxd5 cxd5 10.f3 c6 ] 8.f3 a5 9.cxd5 cxd5 [ 9...xd5 10.c4 xf3 11.xf7+ d8 12.gxf3 exd4 13.0-0-0 ] 10.b5! This is the problem: The threats against e5, d5 or b7 will now induce Black to make moves he would have preferred to avoid such as: b4 obstructing the b-file. 11.0-0 e4 12.h4 a6 13.xd7+ xd7 14.a3 xc3 15.bxc3! Black must have pinned some hopes on [ 15.xb7+?? d6! 16.fc1 hb8 ] 15...ab8 16.f3 hc8 2302 A45 [ 16...b5 17.fxe4 dxe4 18.d5 ] Schneider,Ilja 2500 17.ac1 f5 [ 17...c4 18.fxe4 dxe4 19.xf6 ] Glek,Igor V 2537 Bundesliga 2009-10 (5) 12.12.2009 18.g4!? [ 18.fxe4 fxe4 19.f5 Was a lot less [Eric Prié] complicated.. b5 20.a2 d3 21.f2 xc3? 22.g3! xf5 ( 22...xc1 23.d6+ 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6!? 3.xf6 gxf6 4.c4! e5 c8 24.e7# ) 23.xc3 xc3 24.xf5 [ 4...b6 5.d2 The main idea behind 4.c4 c1+ 25.f1 ] instead of 4.e3. e5 6.e3 d5 7.c3 e6 Black looks outflanked and his 8.cxd5 ( 8.f3 dxc4! 9.dxe5 d7 ) 8...cxd5 18...g8 9.b5+ ( 9.dxe5!? c6 10.exf6 0-0-0 exp lo d ing ce n t re e nh a nce s t h e u n ha p p y 11.f3 d4 12.exd4 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 position of his king. Nevertheless, all this business remains highly unclear against cold14.c2 ) 9...c6 A) 10.dxe5 0-0-0 ( 10...fxe5 11.xd5 blooded defence... 19.h1 fxg4 [ 19...d8 20.xf5 xf5 21.xd5+ ] xd5 12.xd5 b4+ 13.f1 ) 11.xc6 bxc6 12.f3 Was critical, with 20.fxe4 g3 [ 20...dxe4 21.d5! xd5 22.cd1 e6 compensation for Black.; ( 22...c6 23.xd5 xd5 24.f6+; B) 10.ge2 0-0-0 22...g5 23.c4 ) 23.xd5 xd5 24.f6+ B1) 11.c1 b8 12.xc6 xc6 xf6 25.xd5 ] 13.e4 b6 14.xf6 b4 15.c3 exd4 16.exd4 ( 16.xd4? xd4 21.g2 gxh2 [ 21...b5 22.c2 bc8 23.exd5 xd5 17.exd4 h5! Followed by ...Be7, 24.f5+ ( 24.e4 b3 25.d2 h5 )] trapping the knight.) 16...c8 17.f4+ [ 21...h3? 22.xf7+ e6 ( 22...e8 d6; 23.xh7 ) 23.cf1+- gxh2? 24.1f6# ] B2) 11.0-0 b8 12.ac1 e7 13.d3 Not allowing the exchange sacrifice. e4 14.b1 Zlochevskij, A (2505)- 22.f4 Petrosian, K (2380) BL2 1995. With the dxe4 23.c4 g5 [ 23...g4 24.c5 f3+ ( 24...g7 25.d5+ ideas f2-f3 and chiefly Na4-c5 where it c8 26.e5 g8 27.d5 f3+ 28.xf3 appears clear that the black queen is not exf3 29.e7+ d7 30.d6+ e8 well placed... in any case worse placed 31.xg8 ) 25.xf3! g1+ ( 25...exf3 than the Qd2. Hence the continuation of 26.xf7+ c6 27.d5+ b5 28.d7# ) the main game. ] 26.xh2! xc1 ( 26...d2+ 27.h3 ) 5.e3 d5 6.c3 e6 7.b3 d7 2251
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 27.xf7+ c6 28.f2 Regrouping with d e c i s i v e t h r e a t s , f o r i n s t a n c e e1 ( 28...xa3 29.e6+ b5 30.a2 xe3 31.b6+ c4 32.a4+ c3 33.b4+ c2 34.a2+ d1 35.a4+ e1 36.g2+ ) 29.e6+ b5 30.b2+ a4 31.b3+ a5 32.b6+ a4 33.b4+ xa3 34.a5# ] 24.a4+ [ 24.c2 be8! 25.xe4 c8 The black king is suddenly safer than his counterpart! 26.b1 e7 27.xe6 fxe6 28.c5 e5 With counter play based on the diabolical possibility 29.c6? e6!!-+ 30.cxb7+ b8 31.fc1 g1+! 32.xg1 hxg1+ 33.xg1 h6+ 34.h4 xh4# ] 24...c7 25.c2 g4?? Time trouble, undoubtedly. [ 25...b6! Always the king's security first! 26.d5 d7 27.c5+ ( 27.xe4 a7 28.f3 ) 27...a7 28.c6 bxc6 29.c5+ a8! ( 29...b6 30.b1 d8 31.a4 g1+ 32.xg1 hxg1+ 33.xg1 b7 34.b4 ) 30.dxc6 ( 30.a5 c8 ) 30...g4 31.xg5 ( 31.c7 f3+ 32.xf3 g1+ A recurrent theme... ) 31...xg5 32.xh2? ( 32.c7 c8 ) 32...b2+ 33.h1 b8!-+ ] 26.xe4 f5? [ 26...be8 27.d5+ b8 28.f4+ xf4 29.xf4 ] 27.d5? He who wins in chess only makes the penultimate error... [ 27.e5+ d7 28.d5+ c7 29.e4 ] 27...gd8? And this is the final one. [ 27...bd8 ] 28.c5+ d7 29.g2! g8 30.d5+ 1-0
[ 15...c7 or the important Volokitin novelty ] [ 15...b4 of last month's October update. ] 16.0-0-0?! better is [ 16.f4! xd4 17.cxd4 0-0 18.e2 e8 19.hc1 ( 19.ac1 b5 ) 19...g5 Otherwise Rc3 takes e3...or c8 if Black is incautious! ( 19...a4 20.b3 a3 21.c3 ) 20.d5 xd5 21.xd5 a4! 22.d3 d6 23.c7 f5+ 24.e4 ( 24.e2 e6 ) 24...e6 25.d5 f5!= ] 16...d5 [ 16...0-0 17.f4 ] 17.b5+ f8 18.a3 [ 18.f4? xd4 19.xd4 xa2 ] 18...xh3 19.gxh3 d8 A mysterious move [ 19...e8 20.he1 c7 21.f1 e8 and Black is fine. ] 20.d3 d6 21.xe3 xd4 22.cxd4 e6 23.c3 g6 24.d2 h5 25.e1? [ 25.c7 f4 26.xb7 g7 ( 26...xh3? 27.d7 For this reason alone it was not good for White to exchange the rooks on e1! e7 28.b8+ g7 29.xh8 ) 27.c1 xh3 28.c6! Exchanging the only protector of b6 now after which Black can expect the worst, facing two mighty outside connected passed pawns fully supported by bishop and rook. ( 28.d7 e7 )] 25...xe1 26.xe1 f4 27.c8+? B i s h o p a n d r o o k t o g e t h e r a r e ge n e r a l l y stronger than rook and knight so the fact of pushing the black king away hardly justifies the lost tempo. [ 27.c7 e6 28.xb7 xd4 29.d3 ( 29.xb6 e7 30.f2 xb5 31.xb5 c8 32.xd5 c2+ 33.g3 xb2 34.a4 ) 29...xf3+ 30.e2 e5 31.xb6 ] 27...g7 28.c7 e6 29.xb7 xd4 30.a4 c8 31.d1 c2 32.e8 xb2 33.xf7 2303 A45 b4 34.f4 h8 [ 34...h6 35.g8 ] Schneider,Ilja 2372 Polzin,Rainer 2520 35.a7? [ 35.xd5 xa4 36.xb6 f5 37.e2 xf4 German Cup Baden Baden GER (2) 17.04.05 38.b7 is completely drawn. ( 38.b8+ g7 [Eric Prié] 39.b7+ h6 40.g8 g7 ) 38...h4 39.g2 ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ All of a sudden Black takes a big 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 35...f5 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 a d v a n t a g e b y k e e p i n g h i s f r e e d p a wn . exf4 12.d4 c5 13.h3 d5 14.e4 fxe3 36.xd5? Time trouble undoubtedly. d4+ 15.c4 f6!? Another Novelty played this 0-1 year instead of the old 2252
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 19...xc6 was really the only hope, giving up some material to alleviate the pressure. ] 20.g6+ e7 21.f7+ d8 22.b5 01.01.2002 The W hite attack proceeds like clockwork. b8 [ 22...e7 23.g6 is equally hopeless. ] d6 24.xc6+ xc6 25.e7+ Blackmar-Diemer Declined: W hite uses an 23.f4 interesting move order to reach his desired set- The rest is simply carnage. c8 26.xd6+ up. Black shows his unfamiliarity with the xd6 27.c1+ A powerful on of the power of resulting position and is duly punished in a White's kingside pawn advance in french type r e s o u n d i n g f a s h i o n . 1.d4 f6 2.f3 po sitio ns. Bla ck p aid t he p rice f o r b ein g I f y o u wa n t a p r o p e r B l a c k m a r - D i e m e r , thrown onto his own resources from an early without having to play the Hubsch gambit, stage. then this move is the one that you should look 1-0 at. d5 3.e4 e6 Black opts for a french formation, but the fact that White has not yet A45 developed his b1 knight, allows him to defend 2305 his centre more easily. Schulz 2260 [ 3...dxe4 4.c3 transposes directly back Moritz,Hartmut into the Blackmar-diemer. ] Open Rostock GER (5) 31.08.2002 4.e5 fd7 5.f4 c5 6.c3 c6 7.f3 [Aaron Summerscale] White has built an imposing pawn centre, and the million dollar question is "Can Black break Trompowsky: Far too passive play by Black it down?" cxd4 As a french player myself, I brings it's just rewards. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 find it hard to agree with Black's approach in 3.e4 e7 A passive choice which guarantees this game, as releasing the central tension so W hite an opening advantage. 4.d3 d6 early can only help White's cause. 5.f3 bd7 6.h3 h6 7.e3 a6 Black is [ 7...b6 followed by f6 is more in the spirit p l a y i n g a t y p i c a l h e d g e h o g f o r m a t i o n . of things. Black must generate counterplay Although not the most active of defences it is in the centre or he will surely be doomed. ] quite difficult to break down. 8.0-0 0-0 8.cxd4 b6 Black begins a far-fetched plan to 9.bd2 h7 10.c4 c5 11.c2 e5 e xc h a n g e h is b a d li gh t -s qu a r e d b i sh o p . B l a c k c o n t i n u e s a l o n g h i s s t o d g y p a t h . P e r h a p s h e s i m p l y wa s n ' t a w a r e o f t h e B l o c k i n g t h e c e n t e r d o e s c e d e W h i t e a traditional plans in this type of position. By central space advantage. 12.d5 g5 13.h2 trying to play it safe and decline the Blackmar, In order to make progress White must open Black has bitten off more than he can chew. lines. This prepares the f4 pawn lever. f6 9.a3 a5 10.b5 e7 11.d3 Preventing 14.e2 e8 15.a4 gh7 16.h4 f8 17.h5 Ba6 and eyeing the sensitive f5 square. b7 Denying Black the use of the important g6 12.g4 Charge! c8 13.c3 h5?! Normally square. 8h7 18.a3 b8 19.f4 White has this would be a good positional move but with prepared this well and now is the time to h i s p i e c e s s o u n d e ve l o p e d , t h i s s i m p l y strike. exf4 20.xf4 g5 21.e5! amounts to a critical weakening of his W hat a difference three moves make. kingside structure. 14.f5 exf5 Suddenly all the W hite pieces are ready to [ 14...hxg4 15.fxe6 fxe6 16.g5 h6 s p r i n g i n t o l i f e . fh7 22.d3 dxe5 17.0-0 leaves Black with unsolvable 23.xh7+ problems down the f-file. ] [ 23.xe5 was simple and stronger than the 15.gxf5 c6 16.e6 Sit back and watch the game continuation but I suspect White could show and the Black kingside is torn limb from n o t re st ra in h im se l f f ro m t h e f o llo win g limb. fxe6 17.fxe6 f6 18.e5 White is combination. ] remorseless in his exploitation of Black's light 23...xh7 24.xh6! A powerful finish to a squared weaknesses. d6 19.xc6+ xc6 well playe d ga me. W hile ob je ct ive ly t his 2304 Schoupal,Patrik Leniart,Arkadiusz Open Trinec CZE (8) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45
2253
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 should lead to a draw over the board Black cracks under the strain. gxh6 25.xf7! The White pieces crash in around the Black king. g5?? Black resigned rather than wait for Qg6-g7 mate. [ 25...f8 was the best defence when 26.xf8+ xf8 ( 26...xf8?? 27.f3+ f6 28.g6 wi n s q u i c k l y.) 27.g3+ g7 28.xg7+ xg7 29.g6+ f8 30.xh6+ g8 31.g6+ leads to a draw by perpetual check. ] 1-0
2306 Schwarz,Thomas Ritter,Uwe Schloss Open (3) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2149 15.04.2000
Black plays an ambitious line against the Tromp, which involves a vital pawn grab. Unfortunately, he chickens out at the vital m o m e n t . A s a r e s u l t , w e c a n wa t c h h i s position go steadily downhill. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 d6 Black has a strange last minute change of heart and aims for a quiet life. In this position, taking on b2 is the only logical continuation, as otherwise the queen is simply misplaced on b6. [ 4...xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e5 I s t h e m o s t c r i t i c a l c o n t i n u a t i o n . 8.f5 with the idea g4-g5, is White's best. ] 5.e4 g6 6.b1 g7 7.f3 0-0 8.e2 a5 The queen must move again, in order to make space for the b-pawn. A sure sign that Black's opening play has been poorly thought out. 9.d2 a6 10.a4 It goes without saying that ... b5 must be prevented. d7 11.c4 c7 12.a5 Ruling out ...b5 for the foreseeable future. b5 13.b6 The Knight finds an e x c e l l e n t o u t p o s t . xe2 14.xe2 White enjoys a small but persistent advantage, due to his extra space and outpost on b6. So there is no need to enter the unclear complications resulting from: [ 14.xa8 xd1 15.xc7 xc2 ] 14...a7 YUCK! This looks and is completely disgusting, but sadly forced. 15.0-0 bd7 16.ca4 c4?! Probably prompted by a desperate need to free some space for the
horribly cramped Black pieces, but in reality this is just a pawn sacrifice, for scant compensation. [ 16...d8 May well have been Black's best approach, intending to exchange on b6 f ollowed by .. .Nf d7 . 17.b4 would leave White firmly in the driving seat. ] 17.e3 White realises that the c4 pawn is going nowhere and that he can take it at his leisure. Thus he first improves the position of his bishop. [ 17.xc4 was a greedier, but equally viable approach ] 17...e5 18.f4 eg4 19.d4 h5 20.h3 h6 21.bd1 Black's temporary attempt at active defence has rebounded. He is not only faced with the imminent loss of his c4 pawn, but two of his pieces are woefully misplaced (Nh6 and Ra7). An early trip to the bar was in order. 1-0
2307 Sedlak,Nikola Ni Hua Tromso Olympiad (7.4) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2554 2666 09.08.2014
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d5 6.d2 c5 7.gf3 [ In view of the game continuation, I did w o n d e r a b o u t b e g i n n i n g w i t h 7.b5+ , b u t B l a c k s e e m s t o b e f i n e a f t e r d7 8.xd7+ xd7 9.gf3 cxd4 10.xd4 c5 .] 7...a6!? Cutting out the check on b5 at the cost of a tempo. Important alternatives are: [ a) 7...c6 8.b5 d7 9.exd5 exd5 10.0-0 cxd4 11.xd4 is a position we discussed briefly earlier this year. There we s a w T w a n B u r g g o i n g l o n g . e7 was preferred in Sadilek-Filip, Arad 2014, where 12.b3 ( 12.h5!? is an aggressive idea after d6 13.fe1 xd4 14.xd7+ xd7 15.cxd4 0-0 16.f3 White is nominally for choice, although Black s h o u l d o b j e c t i ve l y b e O K) 12...d6 13.fd1?! ( 13.fe1 0-0 14.2f3 would be a more natural approach) 13...a6 14.e2 xd4 15.cxd4 0-0 16.f3 e6 2254
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.f1 ac8 18.e3 fd8 was fine for the second player. ] [ b) 7...cxd4 8.xd4 c6 should be met by 9.b5 , ( whereas 9.a4 d7 10.b5 c5 11.0-0 xd4 12.exd5 exd5 13.xc6 already had to be accompanied by an early draw offer in Gallagher-Jenni, Swiss League 2014. )] 8.dxc5 [ Now Black won't have to lose a tempo with his dark-squared bishop. White should avoid 8.b3?! cxd4 9.cxd4?! c6! , which already favoured Black in Walton-D. Buckley, British League 2005, as shown by Eric, ] [ but 8.d3!? is possible. Then cxd4 9.e5 ( Tzermiadianos' 9.cxd4!? dxe4 10.xe4 is t h e a l t e rn a t ive) 9...d8 10.xd4 gives W hite some development lead in a French-like position. Black is solid and with the bishop-pair, but I wouldn't mind taking W h i t e h e r e , wi t h c6 11.2f3 c7 12.e2 g5!? 13.xc6 bxc6 14.0-0 b6 15.b4! a5 16.a3 looking like an edge in Sanchez Enriquez-Perez Mitjans, Castell de Sant Ferran 2014. ] 8...xc5 9.exd5!? [ A novelty, if "the critical idea for the subvariation" according to Eric. Previously, 9.d3 0-0 10.0-0 c6 11.e2 a7 had seemed OK for Black in KarttunenHellsten, European Team Championship, Plovdiv 2003. ] 9...exd5 [ Recapturing and naturally sidestepping 9...0-0? 10.e4 . ] 10.b3 a7!? [ This move went unmentioned by Eric. He considered 10...e6+ to be "the point of the black idea" and after 11.e2 b6 12.0-0 0-0 13.e1 d6 14.d3 c6 15.d1 g4 16.c2 g6 assessed the position as equal, which seems quite correct. ] 11.xd5 0-0 12.0-0-0!? [ Sedlak is happy to return the pawn on f2 and wants to make use of his major pieces down the central files. A materialistic player would prefer 12.e2 e8 13.d1 e7 14.c1 c6 15.0-0 . Eric actually considered this position, albeit with the black bishop on b6, and wasn't convinced by
the compensation, but after f5 I'm not so sure what W hite should do: for instance, 16.d3 ad8 17.e1 d6 18.xe8+ xe8 19.e2 e6 with ongoing activity for the pawn. ] 12...c6 [ The Chinese Grandmaster correctly wants t o d e v e l o p a t e m p o . I n s t e a d , 12...xf2 13.d3 c6 14.e4 g6 15.hf1 would have allowed W hite some counterp re ssu re a n d le f t t h e ch a n c e s ro u gh l y balanced. ] 13.d3 e8 I fear I'm not a great materialist and am not that keen on W hite's position, extra pawn or not. That half-open c-file is a definite worry, as is the bishop-pair and Ni Hua ensures that Qe4 won't cause any real trouble. 14.he1 e6 15.e4 g6 Black is fully developed and the threat to f2 is becoming real. Moreover, just what is White up to? 16.fd4!? [ Condemned by the engines, but 16.c4 xc4 17.xc4 xf2 would have left Black with the superior minor piece, ] [ and 16.e2 b4 would have been fairly a w k w a r d , i n v i e w o f 17.cxb4? xb3 18.xe8+ xe8 19.xe8+ g7 20.axb3 c6+ . ] 16...xd4 17.xd4 xa2 18.xe8+ xe8 19.xe8+ g7 Sedlak's opening may not have been a success, but at least he has avoided coming under a deadly attack on the queenside. Moreover, he does have two rooks f or the qu een . B lack rema ins sligh tly f o r choice with the bishops, the initiative and his active queen, but White has good chances to construct a solid position. 20.f3?! [ After my praise for his last few moves, Sedlak begins to drift. 20.c2! would have threatened b2-b3 and after c4 21.f3 White could have continued to resist. ] 20...xf2 21.e4? f4+ 22.c2 e6! 23.xe6! [ The best practical try, whereas 23.d3? a4+ would have picked off the stray rook on e8. ] 23...fxe6 24.d7+ f6 25.d2 e3 26.d3 Sedlak finds a tactical defence, but surely Black will gradually whittle down his defences you might think. b5 27.h3 g5 [ Ni Hua's technique is surprisingly lacking in 2255
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 t h i s g a m e . H e r e 27...f2 28.b7 a5 would have been an obvious way to edge forwards. ] 28.b7 f2?! [ There was no need to give up the a-pawn, although admittedly 28...a5 29.e4+ e5 30.c6 a4 31.b7 would have left Black still looking for a breakthrough plan. ] 29.xa6 e5?! [ And here 29...f4 30.b7 b4!? would have been somewhat more vigorous. ] 30.b7 e7 31.b4! Fixing b5 as a weakness and even more importantly White appears to have constructed a f ortress. Black has c e r t a i n l y d r i f t e d . e1 32.c6 e4!? Tempting, but Sedlak finds the right way to pick off the pawn. 33.d7+! e6 34.xe4 c1+ 35.d3 The only move, but a good one at that. Black has now given away two pawns and it's unclear that exposing the white king was worth this investment. f4 36.c5+ f6 37.e4+ [ I suspect the players were down to just the increment by now, if indeed they hadn't been for a while. Here 37.e2! would have kept the king safe enough while retaining the useful check on e4. ] 37...g6 38.e2 e3+ 39.f1 c1+ 40.e2 e3+ 41.f1 h2 Ni Hua pinpoints the downside to White's play. 42.f2 g3 [ The position has suddenly become rather co mp le x an d he re 42...xc3!? was also p o s s i b l e : f o r e xa m p l e , 43.e4+ ( or 43.xb5 g3 44.d3+ h5 45.e2+ h4 46.d1 xb4 , not that winning this would be at all easy in practice, if indeed it is possible ) 43...h5 44.d3 c1+ 45.d1 c4+ 46.d3 xb4 when somehow Black's king appears to be just about safe enough. ] 43.e4+ h5 44.f3+ g4! As the king can't go to f6 or h4, this was the only winning try. 45.hxg4+ h4? [ Now that there's a pawn on g4, Black s h o u l d h a v e g o n e 45...g6! , and if 46.e4+? ( 46.d3 has to be tried) 46...f6 , winning a piece. ] 46.d3 The knight covers the two key squares as the worst appears to be over for Sedlak. b8 47.d5 g3 48.e2 a7 Black's only hope is to invade via g1, but it turns out that White can easily give up g2 and
still retain his fortress. 49.e1 e4 50.e5 xg2 51.g5! c6 52.d2 b8 53.c5 a6 54.gxh6 xh6+ 55.d1 [ The ice-cool engine points out that White might have tried 55.c2!? e3 56.h5 , but by this stage both players were probably happy with splitting the point. ] 55...h1+ 56.c2 e4 57.g5+ h2 58.h5+ g3 59.g5+ ½-½
2308 Shabalov,Alexander Kreiman,Boris ch USA (8) [Eric Prié]
A45 2600 2425 1994
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 e4 This move may be better than 3...Qa5+, but equally, I do not think much of alternatives which do not develop pieces in this position. Nevertheless, it has one merit: White cannot transpose in the 3. Bxf6 line anymore. 4.e3 The only "independent" line. 4.Bf4, 4.Bh4, 4. h4 all transpose into the 2...Ne4 line where it is established that, at least for 3.Bf4 or Bh4, that after 3...c5, 4.f3 is the main line(s) for White and not 4. dxc5. e6 5.g3! Ex-World junior champion and reputed theoretician, GM Valeri CHEKHOV has considered White's 4th move dubious, in his comments on an old game Tolush-Boleslavsky, but he was only analyzing the possibility of hanging on to the pawn with [ 5.b4?! a5 6.f3? ( 6.d3 ) 6...h4+! 7.g3 xg3 8.f2 xb4+ 9.c3 b2 10.hxg3 xa1 11.c2 a4 12.a3 a6-+ ] 5...xc5 [ 5...xc5? 6.xc5 xc5 7.d4 g5 8.f4 c6 9.c3 f5 ( 9...d5 10.xg7 f8 11.f3 ) 10.xg7 f8 11.a3 is hardly enough for the pawn. ] 6.g2 [ 6.c4 b6! 7.d2 c6 8.f3 e4 ] 6...c6?! 7.c4! Black is immediately punished for his incautiousness. e7 8.f3 0-0 9.c3 d6 10.0-0 a6 11.a3! c7 [ 11...d7? 12.b4 ] 12.c1 b8 [ 12...b6 13.b4 d7 14.d5! exd5 2256
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 14...d8 15.d4 xd4 16.xe7+ xe7 17.xa8 ) 15.cxd5+- ] 13.c2 d7 14.fd1 White's "English" development is perfectly appropriate to the s it u a t io n a s t h e b ish o p o n e 3 ca n n o t b e b o t h e r e d b y t h e b l a c k k n i g h t s . b6? How to develop the bishop on c8 is a serious concern, but with this move Black jumps out from the frying pan into the fire! He had to try something like 14...Nde5 or even 14...Nf6. 15.g5! xg5 The loss of the dark-squared bishop is usually very harmful for Black in hedgehog setups, not only because it gives the opponent a strong pair of bishops in a position where he already enjoys more space, but mainly because it is an essential defender of the d6-pawn. 16.xg5 b7 17.e4! [ 17.xc6 xc6 18.e7 e8 19.xd6 b7 wo u ld h a v e c o m p le t e ly so l ve d B l a c k ' s problems just for the advantage of one pawn, and it is always problematic to convert this i n t o a wi n i n s i t u a t i o n s wi t h o p p o s i t e coloured bishops. ] 17...d5 18.cxd5 exd5 19.f4! of course not [ 19.xd5? b4 20.axb4 xd5 ] 19...ce5 [ 19...a7 20.d6 ] 20.g5 f6 21.f5 [ 21.c7! was easily winning straight away. A) 21...e8 22.xe5 xe5 23.xf7+ h8 24.f4 protecting g5 first xe2 25.c7 g8 26.xb7; B) 21...ed7 22.xh7! xh7 ( 22...xh7 23.c2+ g8 24.xb8 ) 23.xd7; C) 21...fd7 22.xd5 xd5 23.xd5 xc7 ( 23...c8 24.xc8+ xc8 25.xc8+ xc8 26.xe5 xe5 27.xe5 f6 28.e6 fxg5 29.xb6 ) 24.xc7 f6 25.e4+- ] 21...e8 22.f3 xf3+ [ 22...fd7 23.xe5 xe5 24.xd5! xd5 25.xd5 a7 ( 25...g6 26.f6 d8 27.xe5 ) 26.xe5 xe5 27.c8+ ] [ 22...c8 23.b1 xf3+ 24.xf3 a7 25.c7 b7 26.f5 transposes into the game. ] 23.xf3 a7 24.c7 This position is so horrible-looking from Black's point of view that it is actually winning in a few moves. ac8 25.dc1 a8 W h a t e l s e ? 26.e5
26.Bg5 also wins but the "classic" [ 26.h6! wa s m o re spe cta cula r! xc7 ( 26...gxh6 27.xf6 xc7 28.xc7 f8 29.h5 e8 30.xb7 ) 27.xc7 c8 28.g5 e8 29.e7 f8 30.xg7+ is the simplest, but the machine announces a m a t e i n 1 0 a f t e r . ( 30.xe8+ xe8 31.e5+ Anyway, with the black queen "banished" on a8 the combinations come in t h i s p o s i t i o n " l i k e a b a b y ' s s m i l e " . . .) 30...xg7 31.f6 c1+ 32.g2 e8 33.xe8+ xe8 34.h6+ e7 35.xc1 ] 26...xc7 27.xc7 c8 28.f4 d7 [ 28...e6 29.xf6 xf6 30.xd5! b8 31.e7! xf4 32.e8# ] 29.d4 f8 [ 29...f6 30.d6 ] 30.g5! [ 30.g5 f6 ( 30...g6 31.xd7 xd7 32.f6 ) 31.xf6 xf6 ( 31...xf6 32.xg7# ) 32.xd5+ ] 1-0
2309 Sharif,Mershad Magerramov,Elmar Abu Dhabi op 11th (5) [Eric Prié]
A45 2474 2555 29.08.2001
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6!? 3.xf6 exf6 4.c4 b4+! The whole point of playing 2...c6!? 5.d2 [ 5.c3 xc3+ 6.bxc3 d6! With the basic plan ...0-0, ... c7-c5, ...Nc6, ...b7-b6, ...Re8 etc. The idea ...Qa5, ...Nd7-b6 stopping W hite's play along the semi open b-file, followed by ...Be6 to put pressure on the c4 p a wn , is a lso in t e re st in g. I n a n y c a s e , having levelled the defects in the pawn structure, I believe Black enjoys pleasant equality. ] 5...d5 6.e3 0-0 [ 6...e6 7.cxd5 cxd5! As in the hint given in a note to the previous game. ( 7...xd5 8.a3 d6 9.e4! e6 10.c4 xc4 11.xc4 0-0 12.e2 e8 13.c2 c7 14.0-0 d7 15.ad1 b6 16.e3 e7 17.c3 ad8 18.f4! Hodgson, J (2605)Slobodjan, R (2550) Bundesliga 1999 1-0(28); 7...xd5 8.e2 ) 8.a3 d6 9.e2 2257
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A knight on f3 would be stupid... 0-0 10.c3 [ but 4...h6!? 5.xf6 xf6 6.c3 g5!? And W hite needs a knight here anyway. is a possibility. ] c6 So the subtlety of the disruptive check 5.c3 e7 4...Bb4+! has allowed Black to win a tempo [ There's no reason for Black to fear the on 4...d5 5.cxd5 cxd5. Consequently he is centre opening, but if he does then the ahead in development. However, that is Closed Benoni style 5...e5 might be seen. likely to be as relevant as the possibility of After 6.e2 e7 7.e3!? ( avoiding any ... losing his isolated pawn on d5 by force... N x d 5 s h o t , b u t t h e c l a s s i c a l 7.f3 Thus I would rate his chances in the ensuing followed by Nd2 was a good alternative) lo n g st ra t egica l f ight , f ro m t his c rit ica l 7...0-0 8.g4 e8 9.h4!? xh4 10.d2 position, as pretty equal, with all his good e7 11.h3 d7 12.0-0-0 a6 13.h2 pie c e s c o m p e n sa t in g f o r t h e d e f e ct ive c7 14.dh1 White enjoyed some play for structure. ] his pawn in Sahu-Tesik, Budapest 2011. ] 7.gf3 [ A n o t h e r p o s s i b i l i t y i s 5...a6!? [ 7.a3 xd2+ 8.xd2 e6 9.cxd5 xd5 , as advocated by Cherniaev and 10.e2 e8 11.f4 d6 12.e2 ] Prokuronov in their 'The New Old Indian'. 7...g4 8.b3 c5 9.dxc5 a6 10.cxd5 This prevents the check on b5, but after 6.f4 xf3 11.gxf3 xd2+ 12.xd2 xc5 W hite can try to make the tempo-loss 13.c4 d6 14.c1 d7 count. ] [ 14...ac8!? 15.b4 ( 15.h3 c7 16.e2 6.b5+ g6 ) 15...e6 16.xc8 xd5+ 17.d3 [ The critical test. 6.f3 is also seen quite xc8 18.xc8+ f8 19.hc1 g6 20.e2 often, but after 0-0 7.d2 exd5 8.exd5 g7 ( 20...xa2+ 21.1c2 b3 22.b8 a6 Black should be OK in the resulting g7 23.xb7 ) 21.1c7 xa2+ 22.f1 ] symmetrical structure - see Aaron 15.d4 fd8 16.f4?! Summerscale's notes to Holving-Livner, [ 16.c4! b6 ( 16...e5 17.e2 ac8 Salongernas 1999, in the Archive. ] 18.d3! Keeping the sensitive a6-f1 6...d7 diagonal under control and White hangs on [ I can't say I'm especially impressed by to the pawn.) 17.e2 xc4 ( 17...xd5? 6...f8 when White might just exchange on 18.hd1 ) 18.xc4 xd5 19.xd5 xd5 e6 and go f2-f4, and 7.f3 e5 8.e2 bd7 20.d1! b5 21.b3 ] 9.0-0 h6 10.e3 g6 11.d2! g7 12.a4 16...b6 17.g2 Playing for the draw... xd5 h5 13.f4 also sufficed for a pleasant edge in ½-½ Lapshun-Fikiet, Philadelphia 2011. ] 7.dxe6! [ The Austrian Grandmaster decides to 2310 A45 transform the structure. The alternative is 7.xd7+ , b u t a f t e r xd7 ( 7...bxd7 Shengelia,Davit 2558 , and if 8.dxe6 fxe6 9.f3 0-0 is also fine Maurer,Jochen 2272 for Black ) 8.f3 exd5!? 9.xd5 xd5 Austrian Bundesliga (6.5) 03.03.2012 10.xd5 c6 11.0-0 xg5 12.xg5 0-0 [Richard Palliser] 13.ad1 ad8 14.c3 e7 15.b3 c6 Black was able to force through ...d5 and 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 c5!? 4.d5 so equalise in Siddharth-Bojkov, Los [ The sensible choice, but the sharper 4.e5 Angeles 2011. ] remains the critical test of this uncompromising sideline in my view. See 7...fxe6 8.a4!? [ Quite a rare move, but evidently White was Weller-Palliser. ] happy to keep control and gradually outplay 4...d6 his lower-rated opponent. Moreover, the text [ In turn this is Black's safest response. may even be best, since the more criticalInstead 4...b6 5.c3 xb2 6.d2 looking 8.e5 dxe5 9.xf6 ( or 9.e2 c6 transposes to a line of the Vaganian Gambit 10.0-0-0 d5 11.h5+ g6 12.xe7 xe7 where I quite like White's compensation, ] 2258
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.f3 , as in S.Buckley-F.Rayner, Portsmouth 2003, when Black would have be e n f o r c h o ice a f t e r A a ro n 's se n sib le s u g g e s t i o n o f f8 ) 9...xf6 10.xd7+ xd7 11.e4 xd1+ 12.xd1 e7 13.f3 c6 failed to give White more than e n o u gh f o r h is p a wn in t h e o f t - q u o t e d reference Moiseenko-Kruppa, Ukrainian Team Championship 2004. ] 8...0-0 9.f3 c6 [ New. Maurer decides to retain the lightsquared bishops. Black failed to fully equalise with 9...c6 10.e5! e8 11.xe7 xe7 12.xc6 xc6 13.exd6 xd6 14.0-0 in Karttunen-Kosmo, Joensuu 2002, ] [ and 9...xb5 10.axb5 bd7 11.e2 h8 12.0-0 also looks a little more pleasant for White, ( ra t h e r t h a n t h e 12.e5 dxe5 13.xe5 xe5 14.xe5 d4! of Miladinovic-Aleksic, Cutro 2001. )] [ However, 9...a6 is possible, and if 10.xd7 ( or 10.c4 c6 11.0-0 g4 12.xe7 xe7 which echoes our main game, but h e r e . . . N e 5 wi l l c o m e wi t h t e m p o a n d pe rh ap s eve n 13.h3 xf3!? is possible, since 14.xf3? fails to ge5 15.e2 d4 ) 10...bxd7 11.xf6 xf6 12.0-0 d5 13.g5 d7 seems to hold everything together. ] 10.0-0 g4 [ It's natural to free Black's position with this exchange of bishops, but again I wonder about 10...a6!? , since 11.xc6 ( 11.c4 would transpose above) 11...xc6 12.e5 d5 13.xe7 xe7 14.e4 f4!? 15.exd6 e8 gives Black a surprising amount of activity. ] 11.xe7 xe7 12.h3 Now there's no ...Rxf3, so Maurer must retreat. ge5 13.xe5 xe5 14.d2 Taking stock, we can see that White has emerged from the opening with a small but clear edge. His f-pawn is mobile and d 6 a l i t t l e s e n s i t i ve , wh e r e a s B l a c k wi l l struggle to generate much counterplay down the f-file. c6 15.f4 g6 16.a5! ad8 [ Not such a bad choice, despite slightly weakening Black's queenside defences. Indeed, 16...xb5?! 17.xb5 fd8 would not have helped matters, in view of the powerful sequence 18.a6 b6 19.f5! exf5 20.d5+ h8 21.exf5 e5 22.ad1
by which W hite greatly extends his advantage. ] [ Note too that 16...a6 17.xc6 bxc6 18.b3 would have left the position resembling a Grand Prix Attack and W hite with a pretty pleasant advantage. ] 17.a6 The point of White's powerful play and now Black is forced fully on to the defensive. xb5 18.xb5 bxa6 [ Not a move Black would have wanted to play, but 18...b6 19.f5! exf5 20.d5+ h8 21.exf5 would have left White pressing, ] [ and 18...d5!? 19.exd5! ( 19.e5 doesn't seem so clear after bxa6 20.xa6 b8! 21.xa7 h4 ) 19...xd5 20.e3 b6 21.c4 would have left White in charge. ] 19.xa6 b7?! [ This attempt to swap d6 for b2 doesn't work out especially well. Black had to take his chance and break out with 19...d5! when 20.exd5 ( or 20.xa7 dxe4! 21.e3 f6 ,; so White might do best to retain some c o n t r o l wi t h 20.g3!? ) 20...b7 21.a5 xd5 would have offered him good counteractivity. ] 20.xd6 xd6 21.xd6 xb2 22.g3 [ White is in no hurry, having realised that Black's queenside will prove vulnerable in an endgame, but 22.f5!? was also tempting, and if e7 ( not 22...exf5? 23.d5+ h8 24.f7+ ) 23.d3 e5 24.c4 , maintaining the initiative. ] 22...e7 23.c4 d4+?! [ Black will suffer after this, but even 23...b7 24.e3 would have left him under pressure. ] 24.xd4 cxd4 25.a1 c8 26.a4 [ A theoretically-drawn 3 vs. 2 rook ending would have arisen after 26.xa7 xc4 27.xe7 xc2 28.xe6 d3 29.d6 e2! , ] [ but as well as the text, 26.e5!? c6 27.f3 followed by centralising the king very much came into the equation. ] 26...c6 27.d6! d8 28.e5 Cementing the knight in position and now Black will struggle to activate his rook, since that needs to be able to defend the knight on c6, otherwise a pawn or two will simply drop. a5 29.f2 a8 30.e2 b4!? Easy to criticise, but at some point Black needed to go active, since passive defence would have failed with Kd3 2259
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a n d st ill d o : e7 ( Black can't block lines with 14...f5? on account of the crushing 15.b5 ) 15.b5 a6!? ( 15...g6 16.f4 c5 17.d2 retained a small but clear edge in Galyas-Ilincic, Torokbalint 2004, which was one of my illustrative games in the a f o r e m e n t i o n e d wo r k) 16.f4 f5 ( I d a r e s a y t h a t B l a c k m i s s e d 16...f6? 17.xe6 in Kartsev-Kutliakhmetov, St Petersburg 2009, and now xe5 18.xe5 fxe5 19.c7+ d8 20.xa6 nabs a useful pawn ) 17.d3!? ( an idea of Rybka's 17.g4 axb5 18.gxf5 f6! 19.fxe6 dxe6 20.e4 xe5 was murky in Treppner-Braslavsky, G e rm a n L e a gu e 2 0 0 4 , a n a ss e s s m e n t which even Wells' suggestion of 21.xe5!? fxe5 22.hg1 doesn't convince me to change ) 17...f6 18.xh7! xh7 19.xf5 and now h6! ( the f iendish 19...exf5? 20.he1 e7 21.g3! creates rather powerful threats down the h2-b8 diagonal and on the kingside) 20.he1 fxe5 21.g3 f7 22.c2 remains far from clear, although I prefer White thanks to his safer 2311 A45 king and possibilities on the kingside. 14 Ng5!? certainly deserves further tests. ] Short,Nigel D 2685 Ivanchuk,Vassily 2741 14...e7 [ Black wants to bring the knight to f5, d5 or Capablanca Memorial, Havana (1) 10.06.2010 c6. As well as this flexible choice, he has [Richard Palliser] tried to block with 14...f5 and after 15.e2 h6 16.hg1 e7 17.g4! fxg4 18.xg4 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 0-0 19.d3 White was slightly for choice in 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 f5 8.xb8 Salov-Nunn, Amsterdam 1995. ] xb8 9.xd4 b6 10.e4 f4 11.h3 Wells' recommendation and the choice of the 15.g5 b7! [ As previously analysed by Eric and this majority of the strongest players to have seems strong. Instead 15...f5 16.f2 reached this position. c7 12.e5 g8 gives W hite pretty easy play and after h6 Thus Blac k is again f o rced back, bu t his ( 16...e7?! 17.d3! h6 18.f3 position contains no weaknesses and it won't embarrasses the black knight - see be so easy for W hite to force any. 13.0-0-0 Degraeve-Chuchelov, Le Touquet 1995, in A logical start, keeping White's options open the Archive) 17.e4 ( Eric prefers 17.f3!? while eyeing d7. e6 d5 18.d3 e7 19.bd4 "followed by an [ Universally played and without a knight on offensive expansion on the kingside by g2e2 blocking White's kingside development, g4, f4-f5 etc") 17...b7 18.d3 White was 13...f6?! 14.f4 would only help the first slightly better in Miles-Avrukh, Biel 1995. ] player. ] [ In this critical position our esteemed 14.f4 Fre n ch co lle a gu e h a s a ls o co n s id e re d [ As shown by Eric in the Archive, 14.d3 15...c6 via the game Toth-Lima, Rio de e7 has done fairly well for Black in Janeiro 2004, and here Eric recommends practice, ] 16.d3!? b4 and now I quite like his idea [ but while writing 'Starting Out: The of 17.g3 , after which Black should avoid T r o m p o w s k y ' I q u i t e l i k e d 14.g5!?
followed by Nb5 and annexing the d4-pawn on the way. 31.d2 d5?! [ At least with 31...g5! , and if 32.fxg5 f8 , B l a c k wo u l d h a ve b ro k e n u p W h i t e ' s structure and obtained some counterplay something which he never quite manages to do in the game. ] 32.b5 e3 33.d3 d1 34.xd4 c8 35.c4 b2 36.d6! The knight returns to this rather powerful outpost and the resulting simp lif ica t io n le ave s W h it e wit h a pret t y straightforward technical task. xa4 37.xc8 f8 38.c5 e8 39.b6 b2 40.c6 d8 41.f5! a4 42.fxe6!? [ White can even allow Black to queen, although many would have preferred the straightforward win with 42.f6 a3 43.f7 . ] 42...a3 43.e7+ xe7 44.c7 a2 45.c8 a1 46.d5+ f7 47.f5+ [ It will soon be mate after 47.f5+ e8 48.e6+ . ] 1-0
2260
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 17.c4 receives more analysis in the a f o r e m e n t i o n e d g a m e) 17...b7?! ( 17...e7 might be more prudent, but 18.b1 d5 19.d4 has to offer White at least an edge) 18.b5! d8 ( 18...c6? 19.xc6 xc6 20.d4! is strong too, as xa2+ 21.b1 a4 22.d3 continues to h o u n d t h e e r r a n t k n i g h t) 19.f5! wi t h d a n g e r o u s a t t a c k i n g c h a n c e s f o r White. ] 16.d3!? [ A new move, but one indicated by Eric after he pointed out that 16.e4?! f5 17.d3 c6 only helps Black, ] [ and that 16.b5 d5 17.b1!? a6 18.d3 was hardly at all clear in EfimovMiezis, Castellaneta 1999. Still, I believe that is no less promising a path for W hite than the text. A critical continuation must be xg2!? 19.hg1 d5 when capturing on h7 resembles the game and 20.e3!? h6 21.f3 b5 22.fd2!? looks a little slow, but retains some compensation Nd4 and h2-h4h5 may follow. ] 16...xg2 17.hg1 [ T h e a l t e r n a t i v e w a s 17.he1 d5 when Eric has commented: "This looks a bit foolish considering Black's state of development, but is very much in [Miezis'] style." I'm not sure that one can exactly compare Ivanchuk with the Latvian Gran dm as t er, alth o ugh bo th are pret t y creative and original players. However, what is clear is that after either rook move the onus is very much on W hite to prove his compensation. ] 17...d5 18.xh7 [ This critical raid doesn't turn out well, but what was White to play? He might like to go 18.e4 , but h6 19.xd5 hxg5! 20.f3 f5 surely only opens lines to Black's benefit. ] [ Perhaps the calm 18.e3!? h6 19.f3 was worth a try, although after b5! 20.b1 c4 I have my doubts that White has enough for the pawn. ] 18...xh7! 19.xh7 g6 I can't believe that Short was especially happy at this point, even t h o u g h W h i t e m a y n o t y e t b e wo r s e . I n practice he certainly faces difficulties, though, as not only is the bishop trapped, but Black
has good cent ral control a nd might eve n attack with ...b5 and ...a5. 20.b1 [ Safeguarding the king, but I suspect that 20.f2! was a better try. Then a critical line runs b5!? ( 20...f5? 21.xd5! exd5 22.xg6! fxg6 23.xg6+ d8 24.xf5 with an attack and two pawns for the exchange was W hite's idea) 21.h4 b4 22.h5! bxc3 23.hxg6 fxg6 24.xg6+ xg6 25.xd5! ( and not 25.xg6? xb3 26.axb3 a5 ) 25...exd5 26.xg6 when White appears to have generated sufficient counterplay and simplification just in time. ] 20...f5 21.d3 c4 [ With the queens off Ivanchuk plans to slowly round up White's bishop with his rook or king, but he must have been tempted too by 21...c6!? 22.d2 b5 . Indeed, I dare say that this was a better try: for instance, 23.de1 ( or 23.ge1 e7 24.e4 b4 25.b3 f8 26.c4 xe4 27.xe4 c5 and the bishop remains a serious cause for concern for White) 23...c5 24.xg6!? fxg6 25.xg6 f7 26.f6+ e7 27.h3 g8 and White has failed to open sufficient lines for his major pieces, leaving him in trouble. ] 22.xc4 xc4 23.d4! White must prise open Black's light-square fortifications. e7 24.xg6? [ A desperate try to rescue the bishop, but unfortunately for Short the ending will be clearly against him despite his having three pawns for the piece. I assume that had the English Grandmaster realised that he would have gone in for 24.xf5 exf5 ( Black must keep the g-file closed and the bishop bottled up 24...gxf5? 25.g8+ f8 26.h4 w o u l d o n l y h e l p W h i t e) 25.g3!? ( the immediate 25.xg6 fxg6 26.xg6 is also possible) 25...e6 26.dd3 f8 27.xg6! fxg6 28.xg6 with rough equality. Possibly Short didn't like Black's unopposed bishops, but White has an active rook and two pawns for them, and something like f7 29.h6 ( but not 29.dg3? h8 30.h3 h4 ) 29...g8 30.h7+ f8 31.g3 should maintain a rough balance. ] 24...fxg6 25.xg6+ f8 26.xf5 [ Black also emerges clearly for choice after 26.xf5 exf5 27.xf5 e6 28.g3 g4 thanks to his strong blockade. ] 2261
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26...exf5 27.xf5 d8! quite risky response to the Vaganian Gambit. [ Now White can't capture the pawn with his 8.b1 d8!? bishop on account of the resulting pin and [ A fairly rare move. Indeed, Eric focussed Black also welcomes an exchange of rooks. e x t e n s i v e l y o n 8...c7 when he mainly I n s t e a d t h e m o r e m a t e r i a l i s t i c 27...e6 examined the check on b5, but notably wo u ld h a v e e n a b le d W h i t e t o d r u m u p 9.f3 received his seal of approval and is some counterplay with 28.e4 d8 29.f5 also Richard Pert's recommendation. .] Unfortunately 'Playing the Trompowsky' is, 28.xd7 however, silent over the text. ] [ Netting a fourth pawn for the piece, but 9.dxe6 now Black's bishops prove too strong. Thus [ This time the check on b5 may be better White might have tried 28.b3!? , although and was employed at the tail-end of last after b5 29.c2 c6 30.d3 f7 year by no less a player than Mark Hebden! 31.h3 g8 Black would have remained Yes, the man who has done so much for somewhat for choice. ] Black in the Trompowsky was white in a 28...xd7 29.xd7 c5 30.c2 e3 31.f5 Vaganian Gambit. Hebden actually reached f4 Forcing the pawns on to light squares this position via a London move order, but after which they can be blockaded, after 9.b5+!? d7 ( 9...bd7 10.dxe6 surrounded and picked off. 32.e6 e7 33.h4 fxe6 11.f3 a6 looks quite sensible for e2 34.c6 g3 35.h5 xh5 36.d3 Black, but runs into an impressive idea of d6! Ivanchuk ensures that White won't have Eric's: 12.d3 b5 13.g5 e7 14.xb5! t im e t o s u p p o rt h is p a wn s wit h h is kin g . axb5 15.xb5 b6 16.e5 with a strong 37.g2?! initiative ) 10.dxe6 fxe6 [ The bishop will defend the f-pawn from h3, A) both Hodgson and Moskalenko have but White will soon be forced into zugzwang. preferred 11.e5!? , which must make it the The defence wasn't easy, but it seems that critical move Hodgson-Glavina Rossi, a better try was 37.a4!? , even if after f3 Spanish Team Championship 1993, ( 37...g4 38.e4 h3 is possible too) continued d5 ( 11...dxe5 12.fxe5 d5 38.e3 g2! 39.d1 e7 40.d4 f6 m igh t a lso b e m e t b y a ch e ck , b u t i n 41.c2 e5+ 42.c4 a6 43.a4 d6 Moskalenko-Colls Gelaberto, Figueres 44.b4 e5 Black gradually would have 2009, 13.g4 xc3 14.xc3 xb5 arranged a timely moment to capture on f5 15.xe6+ e7 16.c8+ d8 17.xd8+ having f irst kept W hite out on the other xd8 18.xb5 was hardly an outcome flank. ] W h i t e wa s g o i n g t o c o m p l a i n a b o u t) 37...e5 38.h3 h4 39.b4 e7 40.a3 12.h5+ g6 13.g4 c6 14.e4! dxe5 f3! Zugzwang. 41.c4 e2+ 42.b3 d3 15.fxe5 c7 16.c4 xe5 17.f3 f5 43.a4 a5 The final touch, ending any tiny 18.cxd5 exd5 19.xf5 xf5 20.f6+ hopes W hite may have entertained of f7 21.xd5! xb1 22.0-0 when White's activating his king on the queenside. attack more than compensated for the 0-1 exchange and two pawns - I highly recommend checking out this engrossing encounter, whether via your database or 2312 A45 Cyrus Lakdawala's new 'The Trompowsky Attack: Move by Move'; Smerdon,David 2508 B) 11.f3 xb5 12.xb5 d7 13.b1?! L'Ami,Alina 2398 ( 13.e2 looks more to the point, retaining Amsterdam (7.1) 28.02.2014 some compen satio n) 13...b6 14.e5 [Richard Palliser] it was hard to be fully convinced by his compensation in Hebden-Bao, London 1.d4 There won't be any anti-Sicilians today! 2 0 1 3 . E ve n g4 might be possible, and f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 a f t e r , sa y, 15.g5 dxe5 16.h3 h6 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 7.f4 e6 A critical if also 2262
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.b3 c6 Black is definitely for choice. ] 9...fxe6 10.e5 [ The principled reaction, but it doesn't seem to lead to anything here. As such, perhaps Lakdawala was right when he preferred the slower 10.d3 c6 11.f3 in a rapid game. ] 10...dxe5 11.fxe5 fd7! [ Both L'Amis are always very well prepared and this retreat looks like a useful novelty. I must admit that I was quite enthusiastic about White's chances in my 'Starting Out' work, but there I only considered 11...d5 12.d3 xc3 13.xc3 g5 14.f3 c6 15.h3 h4+ 16.f2 which left Black in all sorts of trouble due to his lack of development and king position in LahiriKamble, Hyderabad 2006. ] 12.f3 e7 13.d3 0-0 14.0-0!? [ Something of a gamble. Instead, 14.e2 c6 15.e4 g6 16.0-0 looks quite natural to my eye, but maybe Dave wasn't entirely convinced by White's position after f5 . ] 14...xe5? [ F a l l i n g f o r t h e t r a p . I n s t e a d , 14...c6 , and if 15.e2 dxe5 16.xe5 d4+ 17.h1 xe5 was the way to do things. After 18.xf8+ xf8 19.e4 White has enough for one pawn, but not two. ] 15.xe5 d4+ 16.h1 xe5?! [ 16...xf1+ 17.xf1 xe5 was a superior alternative, but W hite enjoys full compensation here too, even if 18.f3 c6 19.f1 f6 20.xh7+!? h8! 21.d3 d4 22.e2 xh7 23.h5+ would only lead to a draw. ] 17.xf8+ xf8 18.f3 d7?! [ This should have lost, although L'Ami was in some trouble in any case, as shown by 18...d6 19.h3 g6 20.b5 a6 21.xd6 xd6 22.c3 with two monster raking bishops. ] 19.e1?! [ Letting Black back in the game, but it's never easy to play a tournament (and Dave did win this Batavia all-play-all) while also teaching students. Simple would have done it, though: 19.f1 f6 ( 19...f6 20.h3 is curtain s) 20.e4 and Black is going to crumble on the f-file with Bc3 next up. ]
19...f6 20.h3 Even here White retains a rather dangerous initiative, but there's no longer a clear kill. h6 21.e4 [ It was hard to move the rook again, but 21.f1! deserved definite attention, and if e7 22.g3 . Even here it's hard to believe Black could have survived, since g5 23.h4 blows open lines. ] 21...e7 [ 21...f5!? is endorsed by the machine, but e v e n a f t e r 22.h4 c4! 23.xc4 f6 24.xf6+ xf6 25.g4 d7 26.d3 White retains strong pressure. ] 22.g3 b5 Condemned by the machine, but a very human attempt to break out. I certainly can't fault the move. 23.xb5 b7 24.d3?! [ A bit slow. If only Dave hadn't been working during the tournament... Instead, he might have picked off h6 or found 24.g5! when hxg5 25.c4 e8 26.xe6+ xe6 27.xe6 xe6 28.b3 is a strong fork. ] 24...c8 25.c4 d8 26.c3!? [ Continuing to play for compensation and the attack. Instead, 26.xh6 f6 27.f2 d6 would have seen Black untangling, and if 28.f4 d4 29.e5 d6 . ] 26...e5 27.h3 [ 27.g6! would have prevented Black's next and after e8 28.f5 e7! it seems that the position may, however amazingly, just be about equal. ] 27...f6 28.xf6+ xf6 [ 28...gxf6!? 29.e3 h8 looks rather risky for Black, but I've failed to dent the engine's defences despite a number of tries and take-backs. ] 29.xe5 e8 30.g3 g5 Forcing the queens off. There's still a bit of play in this entertaining encounter, but by now one's money was very much on a draw. 31.xg5 hxg5 32.g6 e6 33.f5 e8 34.d7 e7 35.g4? g6? [ Presumably blitzing towards move 40, both players failed to notice that White's last had meant he couldn't defend c4 in the event of 35...a6 . ] 36.c3 xe1+ 37.xe1 f7 38.d2 e7 39.e3 f6 40.g1 e4 41.e2 e5 42.f2 b1 43.a3 e4 44.h3 c2 45.g4 b3 46.f1 a5 47.e2 a4 48.f1 a2 ½-½ 2263
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 king, as Black lacks the co-ordination to mount a successful attack. f5 15.g3 Would you care to trade sir? h6 A demoralising retreat, but after 15. ..Nd4 16.Nce2 all of Black's manoeuvring would simply have resulted in an e xch a nge in knight s. 16.ce4 g4 TROMPOWSKY ATTACK The 2...g6 variation. Black finally conjures up a threat, but it is f6 18.g5 When Black tries to revert to a Kings Indian e a s i l y r e p u l s e d . 17.h3 with 2...g6, it pays to foil his plans with Bxf6. White's defence has been exemplary and he T h i s t h r o w s B l a c k ' s h o m e p r e p a r a t i o n now switches to the attack. The Black queen, completely out of the window and gives White seemingly so threatening, begins to become a promising course of action, based on a worryingly short of squares. h5 Black would kingside fianchetto. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 g6 have liked to kick away the troublesome knight, Some opponents stubbornly refuse to let go but after 18...h6?? 19.Nf3 it would be "off with of their favourite systems. Black is obviously her head", as far as the Black queen was xh5 20.h2 hoping to revert to some sort of Kings Indian c o n c e r n e d . 19.xh5 or Grünfeld. 3.xf6 But with this move White The White king goes on a short walk, which cuts across Black's plans with one fell swoop. effectively decides the game. Far from shying By c o m p ro m is in g B lack's kin gsid e p a wn away from the Black queen, he actively seeks s t r u c t u r e , h e t a k e s a w a y a l o t o f t h e her acquaintance! h6 21.g3 With a threat dynamism from Black's position. exf6 4.e3 f5 that Black fails to spot. f6? The retreat 21... 5.e2 White's pl an in these positions is to lay Bg7, admitting that he had made a mistake sie ge to t h e ce n t ra l a n d que e n side ligh t was (relatively) best, but would leave Black s q u a r e s . T h e k n i g h t i s p o s t e d o n e 2 i n objectively lost, a clear pawn down. 22.f3 readiness to influence the battle for control of The Black queen has been totally trapped. d5 (via f 4 pe rh a ps) a n d n ot o b st ruct t h e 1-0 fianchettoed bishop. g7 6.g3 0-0 7.g2 T h e W h i t e b i s h o p r e a c h e s a n e xc e l l e n t A45 diagonal, which immediately probes into the 2314 heart of the Black position. d6 8.c4 c5 Song,Raymond A very optimistic move. Black is seeking to Stuart,Peter 2215 open the diagonal for his dark squared bishop. Open Auckland AUS (9) 31.01.2003 The drawbac k is tha t the d 6 p awn is lef t [Aaron Summerscale] backward and potentially weak. [ 8...c6 Would temporarily keep some Trompowsky: W hite plays one of the sharp control over the White squares, but would pawn sacrifices in the Tromp, but the question inevitably be met by a future b4-b5. ] is: should Black take the second extra pawn? 9.bc3 cxd4 10.exd4 c6 11.d2 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 g6 White prepares to bolster his d pawn with Rd1 5.e4 d6 6.f4 A very aggressive treatment of if necessary. An interesting feature of the th e p o sit io n . xb2 7.b5 b4+ 8.c3 position is that White effectively has an extra xe4+ pawn on the queenside, due to his superior [ 8...a5 9.xd6+ is good for White. ] pawn structure. f4 A radical response. Black 9.e2 a6 10.xd6+ The point, but does d o e s n o t l i k e t h e w a y t h i n g s a r e g o i n g White get enough for his pawn deficit? exd6 strategically and so decides to mix it up. 11.xf6 g8 12.f3 c7 13.0-0 12.gxf4 h4 Black's 11th has weakened the Setting-up a diabolical trap. White structure and opened a diagonal for his [ 13.g5 Is interesting, then: xd5 14.xh7 light squared bishop but, as a wise man once is very murky. ] said, "a pawn is a pawn". 13.d5 e7 14.0-0 13...xd5? Falling for it. A seemingly brave decision, but W hite has [ 13...e3+ was relatively best, but White calculated that there is no real danger to his still has f ull compensation after: 14.h1
2313 Sokolov,Ivan Har Zvi,Ronen op Wijk aan Zee (10) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2640 2485 1993
2264
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 intending Re1. e7 15.c4 xf4 16.d2 and now xf6 is best. ] [ 13...d7 14.e1 is hopeless for Black. ] 14.b5+ d7 15.e1+ Winning. e6 [ 15...e7 16.xe7+ f8 17.g5 Is absolutely crushing. ] 16.xe6+ fxe6 17.xd7+ xd7 With only a rook and two pawns for the queen, Black's fate is sealed. 18.c4 e8 19.a4+ c8 20.xa7 W hite mops up efficiently. e7 21.xe7 xe7 22.b1 Piling on the pressure. a6 23.a8+ b8 24.g5 h6 25.e4 Black cannot adequately cover the weak spot on d6. d8 26.b6 ed7 27.xd6+ 1-0
2315 Stamenkovic Mekhitarian,Krikor Sevag V Magistral da Hebraica (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2440 2466 11.04.2008
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 If 6.d5 turns out to be impossible in spite of Chernyshov's renewing idea, White has to switch back to this far less e c o n o m i c m o v e . cxd4 7.b3 f5!? The "forced variation" but as far as topical theory is concerned, things are no less simple after [ 7...b6 A n d t h e ga m b i t 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5! 11.xc6 dxc6 12.xe5 e6 ] [ Even the third option 7...d8 8.cxd4 d5 which I have never covered in these columns because the first 2 already seemed to m e s uf f icie ntly critical, repre sen ts a certain amount of work, in a completely different position, in order to be able to possibly edge anything out of the opening... ] 8.xb8 xb8 9.cxd4?! [ 9.xd4? In this way White gains only one tempo against the queen. This is hardly e n o u g h t o m a k e u p f o r h i s we a k d a r k squares in this Sicilian-like position, a5 10.e4 a6 11.c4 e6 12.b3 c7 13.e2 d5! 14.d3 ( 14.exd5 b5 15.d3 xd5 16.h3 d6 ) 14...d6 15.g3 0-0 16.h3 dxe4 17.xe4 xe4 18.xe4 h6 19.f2
b5 20.he1 b7 21.e2 fd8 22.ad1 d5 Martinez, F (2185)-Paramos Dominguez, R (2410) Mondariz 1996 0-1(34) ] 9...e5! 10.a3 [ 10.dxe5 b4+ 11.f2? g4+ 12.g3 xe5+ 13.xg4 d5+ 14.h4 e7# ] [ 10.e4 b4+ 11.e2 e6 12.dxe5 xe5 13.d4 d6 14.f2 c7 Followed by the liberating advance ...d7-d5. ] 10...e4! The refutation of the white idea. In this way Black secures some space advantage and a nice active outpost for his queen in addition to his slight material advantage of the 2 b ish o p s . 11.c2 d6!? Black wants his light-squared bishop on b7 behind his e4pawn. [ 11...e7 12.c7 a8 Only helps Black. ] [ 11...d5! 12.c7 ( 12.e3 d6 13.b5+ f8 Followed by g7-g6, h7-h5, Kf8-g7.) 12...a8 13.e3 a6 14.c5 ( 14.f4? g4 ) 14...xc5 15.xc5 e6! Threatening ... exf3. 16.f4 g4 ( 16...b6 17.b4 a5 18.b5+ d7 19.xd7+ xd7 ) 17.c3 0-0 18.h3 h6 19.g3 d7 20.g2 f6 21.e2 ac8 With more space, the "bad bishop" on c8 turns out to be superior to its white counterpart: on its original diagonal preventing W hite from castling because of h3 hanging... or on b5. ] 12.e3 h5 Intending Qh4+ [ 12...b6!? 13.fxe4 xe4 14.f3 b7 15.d3 e6 ] 13.f4 g5 [ 13...b6!? First ] 14.e2 [ 14.h3 gxf4 15.xf4 xf4 16.exf4 0-0 ] 14...b6 15.c3 b7 16.e2 g6 17.b5 e7 18.0-0 c8 19.d1 gxf4 20.xf4 a6 21.c3 d6 22.h4 e7 [ 22...g5! Forcing the rook to the inferior square h3 because e3 is hanging. ] 23.f1 cg8 In spite of several inaccuracies Black has eventually achieved the attacking p o sit io n h e h a s b e e n lo o kin g f o r, wit h a dominant dark-squared bishop. [ 23...hg8! And the white rook on h4 will remain out of play after a further possible exchange on g4. ] 24.d2 h5 25.c4 c7 26.c1 g5 27.f2 h7 28.f1? 2265
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 28.h1 The only move. hg7 29.g3 d5 30.e5 xe5 31.dxe5 xe5 32.a4 d4 33.xb6 d3 34.d1 is not that clear in fact. ] 28...hg7 29.h1 [ 29.g3? xh4 ] 29...xg2+ 30.xg2 xg2 31.xh5 d6? [ 31...d5 32.e5 xh5 33.xh5 ( 33.xf7+ e6 34.f1 xe5 35.dxe5 2g5 ) 33...f6 S u r p r i s e , s u r p r i s e . . . 34.h7+ 8g7 wo u l d h a ve wo n t h e kn i gh t . ( 34...2g7? 35.g6+ )] 32.a4 d5 33.e5 xe5 If you have not 'seen' the quite unusual theme just mentioned in the note, why should you 'see' it now? 34.dxe5? [ 34.xf7! d6 35.xg8 xg8 36.g1 ] 34...xh5 35.xh5 d4-+ 36.d1 d5 37.hf5 c4 38.e1 e2 39.exd4 f3 40.xf3 exf3 41.f1 h8 42.xf3 hxh2# 0-1
e8 This loses, but Black is in deep trouble in any case. [ 20...xh5 21.xh5 f7 22.dh1 is hopeless. ] 21.fxg7 f4+ 22.d2 xh5 23.g8 g6 24.xh7 White can easily afford to return some of her material surplus. xe4 25.xe4 xe4 26.f7 There is no good defence to the mate threat on b7. e1+ 27.d1 1-0
2317 Stefanova,Antoaneta Carretero Ortiz,Francisco op Dos Hermanas (6) [Eric Prié]
A45 2391 2175 12.04.2002
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.dxc5 e6 4.e3! T h i s i s t h e c o r r e c t m o ve . xc5 5.a3 White had to watch out for the possibility of 5...Qa5+ c6 Quite curiously, the opening has transposed into a kind of Queen's Gambit 2316 A45 with colours reversed, that was studied in the Stefanova,Antoaneta 2550 July update... except that the bishop was on Bibiloni,Jorge Jaime 2233 c1! To have it outside the pawn chain has XXXIV Open Mar del Plata ARG (2) 13.04.2003 arguments for and against. In our case, it has [Aaron Summerscale] some similarities to an important line of the Nimzo-Indian after 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Trompowsky: Black tries to set up a Czech Bb4 4.Qc2 c5 5.dxc5 0-0 6.a3 Bxc5 7. Bg5 b6 Benoni, only to be shortly checkmated by one 8.e3!? (8.e4 is a serious alternative which of chess' top female stars. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 tends to justify the placing of the queen on c5 3.d5 e5 Unusual, Black is trying to get c2) but then Black's dark-squared bishop has some sort of Czech Benoni. 4.c3 d6 5.xf6 lost a tempo in the route f8-b4-c5, the White's gxf6 Mixing things up from the outset, but queen knight has already committed itself to damaging your own structure like this should c3 and especially his queen is on c2 which never be un dertaken lightly. 6.e4 f5? again has pros and cons by freeing the d1 This is taking things far too lightly! Black will square for the a1-rook, after a possible long p a y a h e a v y p r i c e f o r n e g l e c t i n g h i s castles for instance, in exchange for a slower development. 7.b5+ d7 8.exf5 g5 development of the kingside and risks of 9.f3! Now Black will have great difficulty exposure on the c-file. ever regaining his pawn. a6 10.e4 h6 [ 5...a5+ 6.d2 e4? 7.b4 xb4 8.axb4 11.xd7+ xd7 12.e2 0-0-0 13.h4 xb4 9.b1 a5 10.b5 c3 11.e2+- ] Beginning an advance on the kingside, where [ 5...b6!? 6.xf6 ( 6.c3 xb2 7.a4 White's extra pawn can soon make itself felt. e5 8.f3 c7; 6.c1 e4 ) 6...gxf6 g8 14.g4 f6 15.g5 fxg5 16.hxg5 7.c1 ( 7.b4 e7 8.d2 a5; 7.a2!? ) It's beginning to be painful even to look at 7...d5 8.c4 dxc4 9.xc4 ( 9.d2!? ) Black's position. His bishops are hemmed in 9...g8?! 10.e2! xg2? 11.g3 d7 and he suffers from a general lack of space. 12.f1 c6 ( 12...xf2 13.xf2 xe3+ g7 17.2g3 f7 18.0-0-0 b8 19.h5 14.xe3 xb2+ 15.d2 xa1 16.g2 The beginning of the final assault. g7 20.f6 e5 17.xe5 fxe5 18.xb7 ) 13.xg2 2266
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg2 14.g1 c6 15.c3 ] 6.f3 a5?! When White's light-squared bishop is not able to develop on the long diagonal, then the advance of the b-pawn to the 4th rank is not to be feared by Black who is happy to reposition his bishop onto a better square with the idea of attacking b4 with ...a5 as in the game Reddman-Votava. 7.c4 h6 8.h4 e7 You see? In the process, Black has just given up the b5 square. 9.c3 d5 10.e2 0-0 11.0-0 dxc4 12.xc4 g4? [ 12...e5 is not pleasant for Black after 13. Qc2 or 12.Qb3 but still a lesser evil compared to the actual course of the game. ] 13.g3 Naturally, White is not cooperative! Now the knight on g4 looks stupid and her queen bishop has been freely replaced on its most active diagonal! f6 14.xd8! xd8 15.fd1 e8 15...Rf8 was only slightly better but it is clear that Black is facing big problems of development with his queen's bishop in relation with the poor placing of his stranded knight on the kingside. [ 15...b6 16.c7 ( 16.h3 xd1+ 17.xd1 ge5 18.xe5 xe5 19.xe5 xe5 20.d8+ h7 is not decisive.) 16...xd1+ 17.xd1 A) 17...ge5 18.xe5 xe5 19.f1 ( 19.a2 d7 20.a4 is also strong.) 19...a6 20.e4 xf1 21.xf1 c4 22.xf6+ gxf6 23.b3 c8 24.d8+ xd8 25.xd8 d2+ 26.e2 xb3 27.xb6 a4 28.d3; B) 17...a6 18.xa6 xa6 19.d6 ge5 20.xe5 xe5 21.b3 e7 22.xb6 xb6 23.xb6 xa3 24.xa5 ] 16.b5 [ 16.a4 ge5 17.xe5 xe5 18.xe5 xe5 19.b5 f8 ( 19...c6 20.ac1 e5 21.h3 ) 20.b6 b8 21.ac1 is as terrible for Black. ] 16...xc3 17.bxc3 e5 18.h3 f6 19.xe5! And a small combination to finish the job. xe5 20.xc6 c5 21.d8+ h7 22.f3 xc3 23.e5 c5 [ 23...c4 24.e2 c6 25.d3+ g6 26.b5 e6 27.xf6 xf6 28.c1 Wins the poor bishop on the spot! ] 24.d4 c7 25.e2! g6 [ 25...g8 26.d3+ g6 ( 26...f5 27.xf5+
xf5 28.xa8 ) 27.b1 f6 Black is stalemated. 28.b6 g7 29.xg6 xg6 30.xg8+ f7 31.h8 c6 32.xc6 bxc6 33.xh6+- ] 26.d3+ h5 27.b1 [ 27.xf6 gxf6 28.g8 Led to a quick mate, but everything was winning anyway. ] 27...f5 28.b5! xd8 29.xf5+ g5 30.xf6 c6 31.e2+ h4 32.g4! A smooth victory by the female world No. 2 who also happens to be a leading expert of the Trompowsky. 1-0
2318 Stefanova,Antoaneta Cornette,Matthieu 2nd Trophee Universitaire (4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2483 2482 01.03.2007
1.d4 f6 The young Frenchman, who I often accompanied at international youth championships, is right to begin with this move order with the idea of 'catching' his op p o n e n t wit h h is p owe rf u l p re p a ra t io n : Against 1...d5, the Bulgarian 10th Women's World champion may have been inspired to employ the "Prié attack", as she did last year against Chiburdanidze! 2.g5 But what is this A45 doing alone in this survey among D00s?! If you are a subscriber for a certain time you know the answer, otherwise see the next additional game! e4 [ 2...d5 3.e3! e4 ( 3...c5 4.c3! ) 4.f4 c5 5.d3 ( 5.d2!? ) 5...f6 6.dxc5?! Is another way to reach the same position. ] 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c5! 5.d3 f6! 6.dxc5?! c6! 7.b5 [ 7.c3?! Easily open to criticism but the damage is done anyway. e5 8.g5 e6!? ( 8...xc5 9.xf6 gxf6 10.ge2 e6 Followed by a queen move and castles queenside seems so simple...) 9.a4 h6?! ( The thematic 9...a5+ 10.c3 b5! 11.cxb6 axb6 With the threat ...b7-b5, should be equally favourable for Black in the ensuing complications. Note that with the bishop still on f1, i.e. in the London move order, this idea would gain in strength considerably by cutting off two defending possibilities 2267
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 our previous unique reference but I was for White: Qe2 aiming at the square b5, and already some moves ahead in analysis with b2-b4 because of the knight sacrifice on b4 the text move! ] when the king does not have the square f1 [ 12.d6? xd6 13.cxd6 a5 14.b5 xd6 ] at his disposal!) 10.h4? Inconsistency. ( 10.xf6 xf6 11.e2 e7 ) 10...g5 12...a5 13.b1? [ 13.b5! xc5 14.a4! b2! 15.0-0 11.g3 d7 12.c3 xc5 13.xc5 xc5 ( 15.b1 cxb5 16.xb2 bxa4 17.xa4 Hoang Thanh Trang-Boros, D FSGM March a7 18.b6 Delaying this exchange by 18. Budapest 2007 ] Nec3 0-0 does not change anything. xb6 7...a5+! 8.c3 a6 9.xc6+ bxc6 10.d4 19.xb6 e5! 20.g3 0-0= ) 15...cxb5 e6! My discovery, instead of the poor 10...Bf5 16.xb5 d7 17.fb1 xb5 18.xb5+ allowing White to establish a strong bind on xb5 19.xb5 d7 "Intending . ..Ke7 with the dark squares. It was first published on only equality and only now the computer ChessPublishing.com exactly 2 years ago. starts to turn its coat, that is to say 24 halfThen I mentioned it in our magazine Europemoves after the crucial decision initiated by Echecs, while commenting my game against 7...Qa5+, needless to say far beyond the Gozzoli and why I have been forced to adopt horizon of any nth Fritz..." Well, Rybka does the attack that the NIC yearbook staff no t a gre e wit h t h a t so le t 's go d e e p e r: b a p t i z e d wi t h m y n a m e . N o t s p a r i n g o f 20.d1 ( 20.c7 a4 21.c4 dxc4 22.c1 'disclosures', I also mentioned it freely in the e7 23.xc4 hc8!= 24.bxc5? xc5 main French Chess forum. Still, I would notice 25.xc5 d7-+; 20.c4 dxc4 21.c1 e5 that even strong grandmasters, unaware of 22.g3 e7 23.xc4 d6 24.c3 hc8 ) the danger, continue to play this line as White, 20...e7! Heading for the good square f6 but giving up the centre for the sake of an Black has to castle first in order to avoid an ephemeral possession of the c5 -pawn. So I o p p o s i n g B d 6 . ( 20...e7 21.c4 dxc4 decided to play the game you have just seen 22.xd7+ xd7 23.xc5 hc8 ) above in December 2006 in the Elgoibar GM A) 21.c1 a3 22.cb1 e7 23.b7 tournament with the London system, just hc8 24.d4 d6 25.g3 xg3 hoping it would be interesting enough to hang 26.hxg3 d6; it to for the next Informant, in the idea of thus B) 21.c7 0-0! This is the key idea. giving my Novelty a wider audience. I W h ite 's stru ct u re is so ba d t h at af t e r ha m m e re d it a s we ll in Ja n ua ry 20 0 7 b y catching up on development af ter the making a special update in this section on linking of his rooks, Black will eventually how Grandmasters had erred in the critical win the pawn back and emerge a little position, after W hite's 7. Bb5 in the Tromp b e t t e r i n t h e e n d i n g . 22.xa5 fc8 move order, and 5.Bb5 in the London one. 23.d4 ( 23.d2 e5 Intending ...Nc4.; Afterwards, there was this game Matthieu 23.c1 c5 24.xc5 xc5 25.c3 warmly thanked me for and NIC contacted to xa2 ) 23...c4! ( 23...e5 24.a4 c4 do a survey on the Neo-London f or the 25.b4 ) 24.db1 ( 24.b7 xa5 ye arb oo k 8 3 b y sh ee r coin cid en ce! Also 25.xd7 f6 26.b1 h5 27.bb7 e5 ) referring to the 14th World champion trying 24...f6 25.c3 a4 26.b7 4xa5 his hand at the classical London 1.d4 d5 in 27.xd7 xa2; the previous game: "Chess theoretical C) 21.g3 In order to play Nd4 without kno wle dge is t he lea st well sha red th in g allowing the fork ...e6-e5. c5 ( 21...h5 amongst titled players!" 11.b4 22.h4 c5 23.c4 dxc4 24.d4 0-0 [ 11.d6 xd6 12.cxd6 b8 13.0-0-0 25.xc4 fc8 26.f4; 21...f6!? ) 22.c4 ( 13.a4 c5 ) 13...0-0 14.f3 c5 15.a4 This is why W hite has to get rid of his b6 16.a3 xd6 ] weakness on c2 first. ( 22.d4 e4 ) 11...a3 12.ge2! 22...dxc4 23.d4 0-0 24.xc4 fc8 [ 12.c7? a5! 13.xa5 ( 13.b1 axb4 25.d4 f6! Thematic, to limit the scope of 14.xb4 d7 ) 13...xa5 14.bxa5 xc5 a 'London bishop'. 26.b6 e5 27.c6 Schaefer, M-Peredy, F Triesen 2006 was 2268
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f8 Now the assessment is down to 0.00 so do you finally see, incredulous 'little fish'?! ] 13...axb4 14.xb4 d7 Taking the pawn back with the 2 bishops and a much superior structure. 15.a4 [ 15.d6 e5! 16.h4 g5! 17.g4 h5 18.xg5 xb4 19.xe5 e7 20.g7 f8-+ ] 15...xa4 16.xa4 xa4 17.xa4 xc5 18.b6 a6 19.f3 d7 20.xd7 xd7 21.d2 f6 22.g3 e5 23.f4 b4+ 24.c3 d6 25.fxe5 fxe5 26.b1 a8 27.a4 e6 28.b6 c4 29.xc6 d7 30.b6 xa4 31.c1 a1 32.c2 [ 32.b7+ c6 33.xg7 a3 ] 32...c5 33.b1 xb1 34.xb1 e6 35.f2 d6 36.c2 f1 37.g3 f5 38.b3 e4 39.d2 g4 40.e1 c4 41.d4 h3 42.e6 e5 43.d2 h6 0-1
2319 A45 Stefanova,Antoaneta 2503 Klinova,Masha 2388 ECC Women Rethymnon GRE (7) 04.10.2003 [Eric Prié] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 d6 3.xf6 exf6 4.c4 g6 5.c3 g7 6.e3 d7 7.g3 f5 8.g2 c6 9.ge2 0-0 10.d3 There is no subtlety behind this order of moves. [ 10.0-0 f6 11.d3 is strictly equivalent. ( 11.b4 See the previous game. )] 10...f6 11.0-0 e8 12.b4 e7 13.a4 Attacking the black pawns on the light squares with b5, rather than d6 with the cpawn, is the critical way to lead the queenside a t t a c k . T h e r e i s n o wa y t o s t a b i l i z e t h e position to offer better prospects for kingside counterplay. Fortunately, I stopped playing Indian defences before I had to study another system against the Trompowsky! a5 [ 13...e6 14.f4! ( 14.b5 c5 15.a5 ac8; 14.a5 d5 ) 14...d7 15.a5 g5 16.fe2 e4 17.a6 b6 18.b5 ] 14.b5 c7 15.ab1 d7 16.b3 f8 [ 16...c5 17.b6! c8 18.b5 xb5 19.xb5 e4 20.f4 ] 17.fb1 ec8 A move that seems like an
admission of failure. If Black had understood she had no means to check the queenside initiative, at least she would have started some counter-action on the other flank from move 13. [ 17...ab8 18.1b2 With the idea to triple on the b file. ] 18.bxc6 bxc6 19.b7 d8 20.1b6 c7 21.b1 xb7 22.xb7 e7 [ 22...a6 was better. ] 23.b6! xb6 [ 23...e8 Keeping the queens on the board, would have helped to drive W hite's rook away from its dominating location by giving some extra control over the position. ] 24.xb6 d8? [ 24...c8 25.f4 d8 26.b7 c7? 27.b8 c8 28.a8 wins the a-pawn. ] 25.xc6 xb6 26.xa8 The rest should not be too difficult. But the Bulgarian champion has to watch out for the possibility of her o p p o n e n t e xc h a n g i n g h e r l i g h t - s q u a r e d bishop against a knight, entering an oppositecolour bishops ending, that would give her some drawing chances. f8 27.b7 e7 28.f4 d8 29.h4 e6 30.a6? [ White must have been in time trouble to play such a move "self-limiting" the activity of her superb bishop. Instead, after 30.d5 e7 ( 30...xd5 31.cxd5 a7 32.xe6+ fxe6 33.c3 e5 34.b5 ) 31.f1 Black is kept tight h6? 32.xe6 fxe6 33.xg6+ ] 30...h6 31.b5 a7 32.f1 g5 33.fe2 [ 33.hxg5 hxg5 34.h3 h7 With the idea 35...f4. 35.f4 g4 36.f2 f6 ] 33...e4 Threatens Bxc4 and Nd2+ winning back the piece. 34.b1 [ 34.xe4 fxe4 35.hxg5 hxg5 36.c3 h3+! ( 36...f5 37.g4 ) 37.e1 f5 ] [ 34.hxg5! hxg5 35.e1 A) 35...xc3 36.xc3 e7 ( 36...f4 37.e4 d5 38.cxd5 xd5 39.xg5 ) 37.f4! With the knights on the board, it was difficult to play this thematic move, fixing the pawn structure, because of the weakness on g3.; B) 35...f6! And White still has to find a winning plan. ] 34...c7 35.hxg5 hxg5 36.f3 f6 37.d2 c8 38.b3 b6 39.f2 b7 2269
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 39...g4 ] 40.d5 [ 40.c5! dxc5 41.dxc5 a7 42.xa5 xc5 ( 42...d5 43.d4 xc5 44.xf5 g4 45.fxg4 xg4+ 46.e2 ) 43.xb7 xb7 44.c4 b6 45.xf7 a5 46.e6 ( 46.b3 b4 47.c2 d5 48.d4 f4 ) 46...xa4 47.xf5 d5 48.d4 b4 49.c2+ ( 49.e6 xe3! 50.xe3 c3 ) 49...c3 50.e2 b4 51.e1 d5 52.g2+- ] 40...c8 41.ed4 d8? [ 41...g4! Would have made life difficult for last year's European champion. 42.c6 A) 42...f4 43.gxf4 gxf3 44.cd4! ( 44.xf3 g4+ 45.f2 e4+ 46.g2 xe3 ) 44...g4 45.d2 h5 46.e8 xf4 47.g3 d7 48.xd7 e2+ 49.xf3 xd4+ 50.exd4 xd7 51.b3; B) 42...gxf3 43.xf3 g4 44.cxa5 xe3 45.c6 g5 ( 45...d7 46.cd4 g5 47.xd7 e5+ 48.e2 xd7 49.xf5 xc4 50.a5 ) 46.a5 White has a big advantage but I see no clear win. For instance d7 47.cd4 e5+ 48.e2 f4 49.xd7 xd7 50.f3 xc4!! 51.xg5 fxg3 Where White will have probably have to win the ending K+2Ns against K+P...in less than 50 moves nowadays! ] 42.xa5! 1-0
then bang! a6 11.c4 a5 12.ge2 g8 13.f4 c7 14.he1 Now fully developed, W hite is ready to break open the position. e6 [ U n p l e a s a n t t h o u g h i t l o o k s 14...e5 was Black's best chance. 15.dxe5 dxe5 16.g5 d7 17.h5 and the White attack continues. ] 15.e5! Black is in horrible trouble. d5 [ 15...dxe5 16.dxe5 h5 17.xe6 xe6 18.xe6 fxe6 19.xh7 leaves Black hopelessly placed. ] 16.exf6 dxc4 17.xh7 Material down and with his King stuck in the firing line, Black gave up the ghost before the final execution. 1-0
2321 Stefanova,Antoaneta Nijboer,Friso GMB Wijk aan Zee NED (5) [Eric Prié]
A45 2478 2586 15.01.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 e5 7.b1 d8 [ 7...c7? 8.b5 d8 9.d6 a6 10.c4 ] 8.f4 d6 9.f3 [ 9.fxe5 dxe5 10.f3 Provides Black with the additional option d6 ] 9...bd7 10.c4 So, this is an important point: having limited the opponent's options 2320 A45 as much as possible, and most noticeably the Stefanova,Antoaneta 2550 opportunity to postpone the development of Lamperti,Julio Franco 2155 his queen's knight to d7 in order to ensure XXXIV Open Mar del Plata ARG (6) 16.04.2003 better control of the key square d6, W hite [Aaron Summerscale] should now take on e5, precisely as played against the Dutch GM in rounds 3 and 7, Trompowsky Attack: This is a typical real without fearing game situation. You've done the right thing [ 10.fxe5 xe5?! because of 11.xe5 dxe5 and developed all your pieces to sensible 12.b5+! The disruptive move! s qu a re s . T h e qu e st io n i s. . . h o w d o yo u A) 12...d7 13.0-0 a6 14.h5! e7 proceed? White's answer in the game is spot ( 14...g6 15.xe5+ ) 15.g5 g6 16.xe7 on. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 g6 4.f3 gxh5 17.xd7+ xd7 ( 17...xd7 18.f6 f6 5.e4 d6 6.c3 g7 7.d2 c6 8.h6 g8 19.a4 ) 18.xf8 xf8 19.xb7+-; The bishop is not ideally placed on f4, so it B) 12...d7 makes sense to trade it. xh6 9.xh6 b6 B1) 13.g5!? The move recommended 10.0-0-0 White's play in this game is so b y B r u z o n . . . xb5 14.xb5 a5+ straightf orward and yet so ef f ective. The ( 14...a6 15.xf6 gxf6 16.c3 b5 strategy is simple, just get the pieces out and 17.0-0 c4 18.e2 With the idea Ng32270
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f5. ) 15.d2 ( 15.d2 d8 16.c4 ) 15...xd2+ 16.xd2! ( 16.xd2 d7 17.a3 b6 18.c4 d6 ) 16...xe4+ 17.e3 d6! ( 17...xg5?! 18.c7+ d7 19.xa8 b6 20.h4 ) 18.xd6+ ( 18.c7+? d7 19.xa8 f6 20.h4 e7 ) 18...xd6 19.xb7 f6 ( 19...0-0? 20.d7 ) 20.h4 0-0 21.c4; B2) 13.xd7+ xd7 14.g5 is probably the correct continuation then, w i t h t h e i d e a . e7 15.d6! xd6 ( 15...xd6 16.xf6 gxf6 17.d5 e7 18.0-0 c4 19.xf6! is even more ugly looking f or Black.) 16.xd6 xd6 17.xf6 gxf6 18.xb7 Black's extra pawn is only a (temporary!) figment of the imagination. ] 10...e7 [ 10...exf4!? is already possible, when it is not at all clear that having his king's bishop blocked on c4, instead of d3, is an improvement for White compared to the next game. 11.xf4 a6 12.a4 A) 12...h5!? 13.e3 e7 ( 13...g6!? 14.0-0 g7 15.d2 a5 16.b3 0-0 ); B) 12...g4 13.0-0 e7 is another concern for W hite with the idea. 14.e1 f6! 15.xd6 de5 16.xe5 ( 16.xc5 c7! ) 16...xe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.d6! 0-0 19.d5 xd6 20.h4 Where White retains some activity for the pawn and the weakness of his dark squares.; C) 12...e7 13.e5?! dxe5 14.xe5 xe5 15.xe5 g4! ] 11.0-0 [ 11.fxe5 xe5 is the difference. ( 11...dxe5 12.g5 See previous game. )] 11...exf4! 12.xf4 0-0 13.e5? [ Better 13.h3 ] 13...xe5 14.xe5 dxe5 15.xe5 g4 16.f4 f6 17.d2? This year 's Women's World champion has not seen the danger! [ 17.e4 d4+ 18.h1 was the only con tinu at ion wit h the t ricky resou rce f5 19.d6+ h8 20.g5 ] 17...g5! Wins the exchange and the game, presumably, after a short phase of complications. 18.g3 d4+ 19.h1 e3-+ 20.d3 xf1 21.xf1 f5 [ 21...a6!? 22.d6 b5 23.d5 a7 ] 22.c7 f6 23.b5 d7 24.xd4 xd4
25.g3 h6 [ 25...xc4 26.xg5+ f7 27.xf5+ xf5 28.xf5+ g8 ( 28...e7? 29.e6# ) 29.g5+ f7 30.f5+= ] 26.d6 f7 [ 26...f6 27.xd7 xc4 28.e1 c3 29.e8+ xe8 30.xe8+ f8 31.e6+ h7 32.e7+ g7-+ ] 27.e2 g4 28.xh6? [ 28.f4 was the most complicated. f6 29.xc5 e8 30.f1 c6 31.d6 ( 31.d6 d8 32.dxc6 xd6 33.xd6 xd6 34.cxb7 xb7 35.xf5 d2 ) 31...e4! 32.xe4 fxe4 33.c4 h7 34.xf7 ( 34.g1 f8 ) 34...e3 The point of Re4! 35.xe3 f1+ 36.g1 xg2# ] 28...e8! 29.d3 The bishop has nowhere to go. [ 29.d1 b5 30.g1 xc7 ] 29...c4 30.xf5 xf5 31.d6 d7 32.c1 f4 So, the Dutch player was right to persist, although he eventually failed in the previous game to one of the most 'shocking' swindles I have ever seen at this level. Since he was more than 'completely winning' there, one can then say that he won 'the Wijk aan Zee 2004 battle of the Trompowsky'! 0-1
2322 A45 Stefanova,Antoaneta 2451 Paramos Dominguez,Roberto 2381 III Open Dos Hermanas ESP (9) 13.04.2002 [Aaron Summerscale] Trompowsky Attack: Black comes a cropper in one of the sharpest lines in the Tromp. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.d5 b6 5.c1 e6 6.f3 f6 7.c4 exd5 8.cxd5 c4 Black's sharpest option. Black has yet to prove full compensation for this pawn sacrifice. 9.e3 c5 10.f2 0-0 11.xc4 e8 12.e2 This is a slightly odd choice of square for the queen. [ Previously W hite has preferred: 12.b3 in an attempt to entice Black into an endgame. ] 12...d6 The start of a rather dubious plan. [ 12...d6 is a more logical try, attempting to disrupt White's natural development on the 2271
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 kingside. ] 13.c3 a6 14.a4 b5? It's hard to know what was going through Black's mind here. Perhaps it was simply a rush of blood to the head and he desperately wanted to prove compensation. Unfortunately, this exchange sacrifice has the opposite ef fect. 15.axb5 axb5 16.xa8 bxc4 17.xc4 b7 18.a5 White is simply winning. b6 19.b5 a6 [ 19...a6 is well met by 20.b4 ] 20.b3 g4+ A desperate attempt to muddy the waters. 21.fxg4 f4+ 22.f3 xe3+ 23.xe3 xe3+ 24.g3 Unfortunately for Black, White's king is exceptionally safe here. 1-0
2323 Stefanova,Antoaneta Royset,Paal Nikolaj Open Rethymno GRE (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2535 2239 17.07.2009
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c6!? The counter attack aga in s t t h e b 2 -p a wn is t h e m o st n a t u ra l reaction when White's queen's bishop leaves the first rank early (some might say prematurely!), in d-pawn systems. But this move is a lot cleverer for those who have assimilated the subtleties of the position resulting from 2. ..d5 3.Bxf6?! exf6!... that I exposed in my last update in July! Indeed, I have already said (and showed) that the best move for W hite after 2...d5 is 3. e3 rather than freely parting with the bishop. However, this is impossible here because of the clearance of the 5th rank! It is hard to call it "a trap" but, incidentally, Black wins a piece after the very careless 3.e3?? Qa5+! with 11 games in my database, including one Grandmaster as White!! 3.xf6 Knowing me you could guess that I cannot recommend this move... instead I will deal with my preferred 3.Nd2 (3.Nf3) next when finally tackling the missing link of the d-pawn specials that is the 1.d4 d5 Torre after 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bg5 or, alternatively, 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5 d5 3.Nf3. [ The gambit line 3.c3 b6 ( 3...d5!? Transposes into a Veresov main line where the idea Qd3, e2-e4 will gain some
strength because of the tempo lost by Black in the process of counter attacking the white p a wn o n d 4 wi t h a l a t e r . . . c7 -c 5 ! I wil l illustrate this with one game some other time, hopefully...) 4.d2 xb2 5.b1 a3 6.e4 i s o b v i o u s l y d a n g e r o u s f o r B l a c k wh o defended very poorly in the only game of reference (Ignatescu, R-Cetereas, M ROMchT 1993) ever published on the site involving the ...c6 line. ] [ 3.d2 ] 3...exf6! 4.e3 b6?! In the light of the July update, the fact that Black cannot prevent c4 wit h 4 .. . B e 6 he re d oe s n o t re a lly m a t t e r because we then saw that in the case of [ 4...d5 5.c4 dxc4! 6.xc4 d6 the lost tempo with ...c7-c6 instead of castling is not critical at this stage. It is part of the black set-up and is often executed later anyhow. ] 5.b3! This move is part of the White plan against this structure anyway, with Black's dpawn soon expected on d5. Is it possible that Black had not been aware of the close relationship between the 2...c6 and 2... d5 lines against the Tromp?! d5 6.d3 f5? [ 6...a6 Misplacing the knight which will have to recycle via c7 instead of the stronger and more natural route d7-f6 after ...f6-f5. 7.c3 d6 8.d2 0-0 9.h5 g6 10.f3 f5 11.h4 Panko, A (2180)-Grechihin, V (2508) Kaluga 2003 1-0(38) ] [ 6...a5!? 7.a3 ( 7.c3 b4 8.ge2 a4 9.a3 ) 7...a4 ( 7...a6? 8.e2 e7 9.c4 0-0 10.bc3 dxc4 11.bxc4 Miladinovic, I (2496)-Gesos, P (2351) Korinthos 2001 1-0(37) ) 8.b4 e6 9.d2 d7 10.e2 ( 10.gf3!? d6 11.c4 dxc4 12.xc4! That is the difference: W hite has Nf3-d2 defending the bishop. c7 13.c2 xc4 14.xc4 With better chances for White in spite of the presence of the opposite colour bishops.) 10...d6 11.c4 dxc4 12.xc4 ( 12.xc4? xc4 13.xc4 xb4+ ) 12...c7 ( 12...xc4 13.xc4 c7; 12...xc4 13.xc4 c7 14.c3 Attacking a4.) 13.c3 b6 14.xe6 fxe6 15.de4 0-0= ] 7.e2 g6 In order to transfer the knight to f6... 8.c4 dxc4 9.bxc4 White has her dream position. The rest is a model of execution: 2272
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d7 10.bc3 f6 11.0-0 g7 12.a4 c7 13.a5 g4 14.g3 h5 15.h3 f6 16.h4 g4 17.f4 d7 18.c5 0-0 19.b3 h7 20.fb1 ab8 21.c4 h6 Black has never succeeded in creating any counterplay on the other flank. He will be crushed on the q u e e n s i d e . 22.a4 f6 23.ce2 g7 24.a3 bd8 [ 24...b5? 25.axb6 axb6 26.a7 d8 27.xb6 xb6 28.cxb6 xb6 29.xd7 ] 25.ab4 c8 26.a6 bxa6 27.xa6 d7 28.c4 e8 29.b8 The decisive, though narrow, gate of invasion, with the idea... ed8 30.a8! g4 [ 30...e8 31.bb8 Followed by Ba6. ] 31.a1 a6 32.xf7! This idea had also been hanging over Black's head for a while. xf7 33.b3+ d5 [ 33...g7 34.e6+ h6 35.xa6 b7 36.xb7 xb7 37.xd8 ] 34.xd8 xd8 35.xd5 cxd5 36.xd5+ g7 37.xa6 f6 38.a8 1-0
B2) 18...xe5 In the other order of moves, W hite's attack also looks in u f f i ci e n t . 19.xe5 xf6 20.gxf7+ h8 21.h5 ( 21.xc1 h4+ 22.e2 dxe5 ) 21...xb2 22.g1 f5 0-1 Rusev,K-Socko, B EU-ChT Plovdiv 2003 23.g8+ xg8 24.fxg8+ xg8 25.f7+ g7 ] 8...0-0 9.h3 f5 10.exf5 xf5 11.e4! After having analysed Adams-Gelfand last month, I would have thought that this line (5... g6 6...Nd6) was also critical for W hite. But then I fell on this game where this idea seems to breath new life into the white plan. I am happy with this, in conclusion, as it somehow comforts my first intuition that 5...Qa5+! (as in the Svildler and Kasparov productions) was the main problem of this provocative and offbeat 4.d5 variation. a6 [ 11...xb2 12.b1 a5+ 13.d2 xa2 14.c3 ] 12.c3 c7 [ 12...d6 13.hf2 Keeping a strong knight in the center ought to be the idea behind 9. Nh3. ] 2324 A45 13.a4 e8 14.e2 f6 15.0-0 d6 16.c4 Stefanova,Antoaneta 2478 d7 17.e2 Black clearly did not manage to Stellwagen,Daniel 2489 so lve t h e p ro b le m s o f t h e o p e n in g . ae8 GMB Wijk aan Zee NED (10) 22.01.2004 18.eg5! e5 19.dxe6 d5 20.d1 c6? More resistant was [Eric Prié] [ 20...xe6 21.xe6 xe6 ( 21...xe6 22.f4 ) 22.xd5 xd5 23.xd5 fe8 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 e4 4.f4 b6 W i t h s o m e c o m p e n s a t i o n . ( 23...c4+ 5.c1 g6 6.f3 d6 7.e4 g7 8.c3 24.f2 ) 24.f4 c4+ 25.h1 c6 ] [ 8.d2 0-0 9.f4 e6! 10.e5 f5 11.c4 21.a5 c7 22.d3 h6 23.xf5 gxf5 d8 A) 12.e3!? h4+ 13.g3 xg3 14.f3 24.f7 xf7 [ 24...xe6 25.xh6+ ] h5 15.g1 xf1 16.xf1! [ 24...h7 25.f4! c8 26.c2! xe6 When Alterman only considers 16. Nxf1 27.fg5+ hxg5 28.xg5+ g8 29.xe6 ] but 16...f6, is unclear however, but the text has the idea f6 17.g4! fxe5 18.h4 25.exf7+ xf7 26.e1+- d4 27.cxd4 cxd4 Winning the black queen. xh4 19.xh4 28.f4 h7 29.d2 g8 30.e2 d7 xf4+ 20.g2 ( 20.f3 e4 ) 20...xh4 31.e7 f8 32.a6 b6 33.d6 b8 34.e7 f6 35.xf6 xf6 36.xa7 21.dxe6 d4 22.e7!+-; B) 12.f3 d6 13.g4 exd5 14.gxf5 dxc4 1-0 15.f6 h6 16.xc4 c6! 17.f5? ( 17.xd6 xd6 18.exd6 b4 19.b3 c4 20.a4 d8 21.d2 d5 ) 17...xc1 18.fxg6 B1) 18...hxg6 19.xc1 xe5 20.xe5 xf6! ( 20...dxe5? 21.g5!+- ) 21.xg6 e8+!; 2273
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2325 Stefanova,Antoaneta Zhongyi FIDE WCh Women KO (1.2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2326 2490 Steiner,Bruno 2250 Karavade,Eesha 23.05.2004 Open A Pardubice CZE (7) [Eric Prié]
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 exf4 12.d4 d5 13.g3 This is the right move. g5? Weakening f5. [ 13...d6!? 14.gxf4 xf4 15.e4 f6 16.c4 d5 17.ge2 e3 18.b5+?! White has to take up the gauntlet. ( 18.exd5! For instance h3 19.c2 c5 20.ed4 0-0-0 ) 18...d8 19.e5 h5 20.g3 g6 21.xh5 gxh5 22.e2 f4 23.hg1 e7 24.a3 e6 25.f2 hg8 26.h4 xe5 Curien,N (2264) - Chernov,V (2456) Davos op 2005 1/2 (62) ] [ 13...c5! See further. ] 14.e4! Played only now, with an enhanced ef f e c t , a f t e r B la ck h a s com p ro m ise d h is t e r r i b l e p a w n s t r u c t u r e e v e n m o r e . fxe3 15.c4 c7 16.e2! e6 [ 16...c5 17.xe3 b5 18.b3 b4 19.cxb4 xb4 20.h4! ] 17.c2 a5 18.xe3 b5 19.b4! a3 20.b3 b6 21.f2 b7 22.e2 g7 23.f5 Another obvious and lethal defect of having played ...g7-g5. e5 [ 23...g4 24.d6+ ] 24.hd1 c6 25.ed4 0-0 26.e7+! h8 27.ac1 Once again, White has all his pieces on their best possible squares provoking her opponent's position to collapse. Please note how the black position's 'rigor mortis' stopped her from playing any constructiveplan! b7 [ 27...d8 28.dxc6 dxc6 29.xd8! xd8 30.xc6 d2+ ( 30...e8 31.xf7 f8 32.xe5 ) 31.e3 dxa2 32.xa2 xc3 33.c2 b2+ 34.e4 xa2 35.e5 g7 36.d3+- ] 28.xb5 aa8 29.xd7 a6 30.d4 xd4 31.cxd4 f6 32.f5 ad8 [ 32...c8 33.d6 d8 34.h6 g7 35.xf7 e7 36.dc6 ] 33.xd8 xd8 34.c6 1-0
A45 2287 2370 28.07.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.e4 I have already mentioned [ 7.d2? xd5 ] 7...xb2 8.d2 xc3 9.c7!? g6 10.c1 [ 10.e2 d3 11.c1 h6! Only in this particular case! No doubt we will soon see any number of interesting games blossom with this brand new alternative and I will try to keep in touch but another line to illustrate the concreteness of the black lady's in c o n ve n i e n ce : ( 11...d6 12.c3 b5 13.d4 b4 14.b5 a6 15.a3 b2 16.c4 xc3+ 17.xc3 xc7 18.e5 dxe5 19.d6 e6 20.b5! d7 21.b3! With a strong initiative in spite of the slight material deficit.) 12.xc5 a6 13.c3 xd2+ 14.xd2 xd2+ 15.xd2 xc7 16.xc7 d8 17.c3 d6 18.d4 Still with some compensation. ] 10...e3+ 11.e2 h6? This square is the only mouse hole to where the black queen can edge her way back in order to return to her lines! 12.c4 g5 13.h4 h5 14.g3 1-0
2327 Stohl,Igor Mazur,Stefan Slovakian League (7.1) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2528 2421 08.03.2014
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 [ Before we entirely leave the 3...d5 4.e3 variation behind for this month, I should mention c6!? , which was played against another leading theoretician. Peter W ells responded with his own recommendation of 5.d3 ( 5.f3?! g5! reveals the point of Black's play - see Reynolds-Putka, Panormo 2001, in the Archive) 5...g5 ( Eric explained why 5...f5 6.c3! was a good move in Bauer-Le Roux, Belfort 2003 this certainly looks like a good version of the 2 Nc3 Dutch 2274
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f or W hite to m e) 6.g3 , but was soon thinking, especially as his opponent's next was a novelty: g7!? ( previously, 6...f5 7.c3 d7 8.xe4! xe4 9.xe4 dxe4 10.h4 g4 11.e2 had given White an edge in Corrales Jimenez-Margvelashvili, Philadelphia 2013,; but 6...h5!? 7.xe4 dxe4 "leads to an unbalanced position, with chances for both sides" in Eric's view maybe we'll soon see more of this sideline f o r Black ) 7.xe4 (the principled reaction in this and related positions with an early Bd3) dxe4 8.d2 ( Wells wants to deploy his knights to d2 and c3 to gang up on e4, but Bisby moves quickly to counter as such, I prefer 8.c3! when f5 9.e2!? is a sneaky idea, facilitating queenside castling and letting the open d-file put Black off ... e5: for example, e6 10.0-0-0 e7 11.h4 g4 12.b1 0-0-0 13.c4 and while an effective f2-f3 has been ruled out, W hite's better structure and lack of a restricted light-squared bishop should give him a pull) 8...e5! 9.dxe5 xe5 10.xe5 ( 10.xe4 e7 11.e2 0-0 gives Black a f a i r a m o u n t o f a c t i v i t y f o r h i s p a w n) 10...xe5 11.c3 f5 was unclear, but seemingly OK for Black in W ells-Bisby, British League 2014. ] 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 It's been a while since we considered this move on ChessPub, but it's not that many years since Eric was trying to make it into a serious weapon for White. cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 [ Black's main move, but in another recent game he didn't appear so au fait with the t h e o r y . I n d e e d , 10...a5 11.b4! i s s u p p o s e d t o f a vo u r W h i t e , ( whereas 11.e4?! e5 12.xc6 dxc6 13.e3 b5 14.e2 e6 15.a3 a4 was comfortable for Black in Dominguez Pons-Joa.Fluvia Poyatos, Catalan League 2014. )] 11.xc6 dxc6!? Mark Hebden's critical pawn sacrifice. 12.xe5 e6 13.a3 [ The main move, but White should also consider retreating the bishop to d4 and even 13.e4!? . See Eric's fairly extensive coverage of this line in the Archive for his thoughts. ] 13...d7!?
[ A new move for us, if engine-approved. Previously, 13...b5 14.e3 d7 15.f4 c5 16.0-0-0 b3 17.d2 a2! had left White unable to avoid a repetition without undertaking certain risks in PrieSolodovnichenko, Rochefort 2005. ] [ That encounter can be found in the Archive, a s c a n s o m e c o v e r a g e o f 13...0-0-0!? 14.h3 , as in Wiley-Vesselovsky, Frydek Mistek 2007. ] 14.d4 b3 [ The Slovakian IM wants to prevent White from going long and bringing a rook to the dfile. This seems best, especially as I don't agree with my engine that 14...c5 15.e4 b3 16.d1 xd4 17.cxd4 can offer Black quite enough for his pawn. ] 15.e4 c5 16.h3 We've reached something of a tabiya and a key position for an assessment of Black's 13th move. My engines now slightly prefer White, but matters don't seem so clear to me. a4! [ A new move and one wonders if this was blitzed out, having been prepared in advance. Previously, 16...0-0-0 17.e2 a4 had been tried in Groffen-Berzinsh, Port Erin 2004, when 18.f2 would have been good for W hite, as c5 19.xg7 hg8 20.f6 d6 21.e7 is a useful attack. ] 17.b1 [ Stohl must have thought for ages here, trying to assess 17.f2!? xb2 18.b1 xa3 19.xg7 g8 20.d4 . Black's queenside pieces present a strange impression, but there are three of them and a2! ( 20...c5 21.e3 c4 isn't so advisable: 22.xb2! xb2 23.xc4 a1+ 24.d2 xh1 25.xh1 xg2+ 26.f2 and Black will suffer thanks to his offside bishop ) 21.a1 c5 appears to maintain a rough balance: for example, 22.d2 e7 23.c2 c4 24.g4 xd4 25.cxd4 b5 and th e a 2-b ish op con tin ues to re main immune. ] 17...c2 18.c1 b3 19.b1 [ Acquiescing to the repetition. One wonders if the GM had spent most of his time by this point and Black just a matter of minutes. Instead, 19.f2 would have been an attempt to steer play back into our last note, 2275
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 but Black can even hold off on the capture for a move with f6!? . ] 19...c2 20.c1 ½-½
No rest f or th e wicke d . xc5 29.b4+ Black threw in the towel before being mated. [ 29.b4+ d5 30.d4# Lovely! ] 1-0
2328 Sulskis,Sarunas Labuckas,Aidas ch Vilnius LTU (3) [Aaron Summerscale]
2329 Summerscale,Aaron Lalic,Bogdan Coulsden (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2499 2307 27.03.2000
Trompowsky: Here we see one of the major drawbacks of Black's gxf6 recapture. The Black king is sometimes left with nowhere safe to hide. It is my extreme pleasure to show you this game, where the Black king is mercilessly hunted down and mated mid-board. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 d6 3.xf6 gxf6 This recapture is more aggressive, but also riskier than the standard exf6. 4.c3 f5 5.d2 c6 6.e4 g6 7.d3 We may have only seen seven moves, but already White has a small plus, due to his better pawn structure and extra central space. d7 8.f3 a5 9.e2 d5 10.h4 A wise man once said, (imagine the old man in Karate Kid) "If you have control of centre, then you dictate events on flanks." h5 11.f4 dxe4 12.xe4 xe4 13.xe4 g4 14.e3 d8 The twin threats of Nf6 and Nd6 + send Black running for the hills. 15.d5 c7 [ 15...d7 is clearly no picnic, as after: 16.f3 f5 17.d1 the pressure is mounting. ] 16.dxc6 bxc6 17.f3 f5 18.g3 A s u rp ris in gly re st ra in e d m o ve a f t e r t h e p re vio u s a c t ive p la y. I wo u ld h a ve b e e n tempted to go after the h5 pawn with Ng3, cashing in on W hite's advantage. However, the text move is not without it's good points. h6 19.0-0-0 g8 [ 19...e5 deserved consideration, although White is far from out of it after: 20.c5 ] 20.e6+ xe6 21.xh6 xa2 22.f4+ c8 23.he1 White is unconcerned by the loss of a measly pawn. He has bigger fish to fry, and readies his troops for the final assault upon the Black King. a4 A desperate attempt to counterattack. 24.f5+ c7 25.c5 White is ready to crash through on the central files. e8 26.d7+! A triumphant finale to force mate. xd7 27.xd7+ b6 28.b7+
A45 2425 2560 05.09.1999
Knightmare in the Tromp. Playing against the highly respected GM Bogdan Lalic is never anyone's cup of tea. In the following game I managed to bamboozle him with the Tromp leaving him in a passive position from the start. One fantastic knight manoeuvre later (if I do say so myself!) left him open to a spectacular sacrificial finish. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.d5 d6 I chose the Tromp against Lalic because he is such a strong theoretical player. I d e ci d e d t o a vo i d a m a i n li n e Ni m z o o r Grünfeld and get him thinking for himself from an early stage. 5.f3 f6 6.e4 e5 Black opts for a Czech Benoni type of set-up which gives him a solid if slightly passive position. 7.e3 e7 8.e2 With the position closed White can afford a leisurely build-up. 0-0 9.c4 e8 10.d2 It is important to prevent Black from exchanging dark squared bishops with Bg5. g6 Black opts for Plan B and prepares the f5 break. 11.h6 g7 12.bc3 d7 Before commencing with his kingside break Black prepares to evict the Bh6 with Kh8 followed by Nf6-g8. 13.0-0-0 f6 14.h4 White sounds the charge. My intention quite clear, rip open the h file and mate! h8 15.h5 fxh5 16.g4 f6 17.g3 There is no immediately decisive continuation so I co n t e n t e d m yse lf wit h st re n gt h e n in g m y position, gradually bringing my reserves to the kingside. g8 18.b1 f6 19.d3 f7 Black lacks counterplay and so goes for the bunker approach, defying White to break his defensive barrier. 20.e3 f8 21.h3 e8 22.dh1 e7 23.h2 b6 A critical moment has arisen, the White major pieces are ideally placed along the semi-open h file but need the support of their minor comrades before they can force matters. I was very proud of 2276
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the following knight manoeuvre which brings [ Developing a tempo, but 9.f3 is a very matters to a head. 24.c1 a6 25.d1 b8 important alternative - see the Archive. ] 26.e3 The knight is heading for the key h4 9...d7?! square when Black will struggle to meet the [ Yet another strong grandmaster proves to threat to g6. b5 27.g2 g7 28.h4 f7 be insufficiently prepared for the 29.gf5! With all the White pieces pointing at T r o m p o ws k y. A s E r i c h a s s h o w n o n a the Black king it should come as no surprise number of occasions, 9...bd7 is the critical that there is a winning sacrificial continuation. move. ] gxf5 30.exf5 e7 31.g6+ g8 32.h6 10.f3 The arrival of the dark squared bishop means [ Switching back to straightforward kingside that Black can no longer hold the h7 pawn de velo p me n t. A s a qu ick gla n ce a t t h e which is the only thing preventing White from A r c h i ve wil l s h o w, E r ic a l s o e xa m in e d c r a s h i n g t h r o u g h o n t h e k i n g s i d e . bxc4 10.dxe6 fxe6 on a couple of occasions, ] 33.xg7 xd5 34.e4 Black gave up the [ as well as 10.e2! a6 11.xd7+ xd7?! ghost with disgust. His queenside counterplay 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 d5 is wo e f u l ly in a d e q u a t e a n d h is k in gs id e 15.h3! , which was pretty good for White in defences have been blasted wide open. Mate Palos-Nagel, Vienna 1994. I think this would is only a few moves away. be my choice as White, although one can 1-0 also make a pretty good case for Swinkels' move. ] 10...e7 2330 A45 [ The Azeri GM decides to develop quickly too. Instead, 10...a6 11.xd7+ bxd7? Swinkels,Robin 2493 12.dxe6 fxe6 13.g5 was already Durarbeyli,Vasif 2614 something of a disaster for Black in ManicEuropean Club Cup, Bilbao (2.6) 15.09.2014 Djukic, Kraljevo 2014. ] [Richard Palliser] 11.dxe6 fxe6 12.g5 [ Tempting, but it may be that the crafty 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 12.c4!? is stronger. Indeed, c6 13.0-0 [ The standard Vaganian Gambit route into 0-0 ( o t h e r w i s e , 13...0-0-0? 14.g5 the game would, of course, be 2...c5 3.d5 carries two threats; and 13...d4? runs into b6 4.c3 xb2 5.d2 b6 6.e4 d6 14.e5! dxe5 15.fxe5 , and if xf3+ 7.f4 e6 . ] 16.xf3 xe5 17.b5! 0-0 18.fe1 h5 3.e4 c5 4.d5 b6 19.xh5 xh5 20.c7 with some [ Extremely risky. 4...d6 would be the safe in i t i a t i ve) 14.g5 leaves Black without a way to go. ] p a r t i c u l a r l y g o o d m o v e , a s a g a i n d4 5.c3 xb2 6.d2 b6 15.e5! is just rather awkward: for instance, [ With this move order Black does have the dxe5 16.fxe5 xe5 17.f4 f5 18.xb7 option of 6...xe4? 7.xe4 e5 g6 19.xd7! xd7 20.xe6 h8 , but this is simply far too risky a venture in 21.xf8 xf8 22.d5 with the bishop-pair view of 8.d3 exd5 9.f3 e7 10.0-0 and an ongoing initiative. ] dxe4 11.xe4 when Black will do extremely 12...c6 well not to be butchered down the e-file. ] [ This seems to be new and in any case is an 7.f4 d6 We've reached quite a critical line of obvious improvement over 12...0-0? 13.c4 the Vaganian Gambit, if also one which it's .] hard not to feel is more than a tad risky for 13.f5!? Black. 8.b1 c7 [ Principled and aggressive. Having moved [ I n v a r i a b l y p l a y e d , b u t 8...d8!? his knight prematurely, White's problem is is also possible as we saw in that lively that 13.c4 d4 leaves him without an encounter Smerdon-A.L'Ami, Amsterdam effective e4-e5 hit and 14.0-0 h6 15.f3 2014. ] 0-0-0 surely only offers him sufficient 9.b5+ 2277
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 compensation for the pawn. ] 13...exf5 14.exf5 d4?! [ Even 2600+ GMs can lose their way in muddy uncharted waters. Af ter 14...xf5 15.0-0 d7 16.f3 White would have obtained the initiative in return for the two pawns, ] [ but 14...a6! looks quite strong, and if 15.c4?! d5! , making use of the potential check on e5. ] 15.0-0 d5? [ Far too ambitious. Instead, there would h a ve b e e n e ve ryt h in g t o p l a y f o r a f t e r 15...0-0! 16.c4+ h8 17.f7+ xf7 18.xf7 xf5 , with two pawns for the exchange. ] 16.f4 d6 [ Hardly optimal, but 16...c8 was no better in view of 17.xd5! , and if xd5 18.h5+ .] 17.xd7+ xd7 18.xd6 xd6 Necessary to keep b7 protected, but matters have clearly gone badly wrong for Black. 19.e6! a5 [ Desperation, but 19...xe6? would, of course, have dropped the queen to 20.b5+ .] 20.xd4 cxd4 21.b5+ d7 22.xd4 Swinkels has won back his pawn while maintaining excellent attacking chances. Indeed, it's amazing that Durarbeyli managed to survive this. b6 23.c4! Logically levering o p e n l i n e s t o wa r d s t h e b la c k k i n g . hc8 24.cxd5 xd5 25.b3 e8 26.e6? [ A strange choice. Swinkels must have overestimated his position after breaking through on g7. Of course, White would like to retain the queens and, indeed, 26.g3 c4 ( if 26...d8? 27.e1+ ) 27.e1+ f7 was strong. Now the rook could go to d3, but much stronger is 28.e6! xd1 29.xg7+ e8 30.xd1 with a much improved version of the game. ] 26...xd1 27.xd1 c2 [ Abandoning g7 for counterplay, but 27...f7!? 28.g3 g6 29.g5+ g7 30.f1 c6 was by no means totally impossible. ] 28.g3 ac8 29.xg7 Compared to the note to White's 26th, Black's rooks are much better placed. Swinkels is still doing well, but he is o n l y c l e a r l y b e t t e r , n o t w i n n i n g . c1
Black's only hope is to exchange a pair of rooks and trust in the oft-large drawing haven of rook endings. Admittedly here a pair of knights remain and W hite does have a 3-1 kingside majority, so Swinkels must still have been quite confident at this stage. 30.xc1 xc1+ 31.f2 c2+ 32.e3 xa2 33.g4 The material count might be level, but there's no doubting that White still enjoys a powerful in it ia t i ve . h6 34.h4 a5 35.f4 a1! Good defence from Durarbeyli, creating the maximum checking distance from behind. 36.e5 The g-pawn couldn't advance, so Swinkels continues to make good use of his king. It's hard to believe there was a better move, but amazingly the text may not be sufficient to win. d7+ 37.d6? [ White's king won't enjoy its excursion to the queenside, so 37.d5! d1+ ( 37...f6+ 38.d6 d1+ 39.c6 c1+ 40.b7 is a much improved version of the game) 38.d4 would have been a better try. Presumably Black will race here, but after a5 39.g5 hxg5 40.hxg5 a4 41.g8+! ( 41.f6 a3 42.e7+ d8 43.e2 f8 44.a2 d3 isn't so clear) 41...e7 ( 41...f8? 42.g6 decides ) 42.a8 b5 43.a7 W hite's pawns would have remained the more mobile and he would have retained good winning chances. ] 37...d1+ 38.c7 [ Likewise, 38.c6 e5+ 39.b5 b1+ 40.a6 a1+ 41.b7 f1 seems to just about hold, and if 42.xa7 b5 . ] 38...c1+ 39.d6 d1+ Unfortunately for W hite there's no way to reach the position mentioned in the note to move 37. Somehow Dura rbe yli has su rvived . 40.c7 c1+ 41.b7 c5+! 42.xc5 [ Black was right to trade the knights as shown too by 42.xa7 xe6 43.fxe6 b5 44.h7 b4 with sufficient counterplay for a draw. ] 42...bxc5 43.g5 hxg5 44.hxg5 Connected passed pawns are usually a mighty asset, but here Black's king is well placed, unlike its counterpart, and the c-pawn secures the draw. c4 45.g6 f8 46.f6 f1 The last accurate move. 47.f7+ g8 48.g7+ f8 49.f7+ g8 50.g7+ f8 Instructive defence from Durarbeyli, if something of a tragedy for poor 2278
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Swinkels. ½-½
2331 Swinkels,Robin Greenfeld,Alon HMC Calder Cup, Rosmalen (5.5) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2512 2545 24.06.2014
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 [ In a later round of the same tournament, T w a n B u r g p r e f e r r e d 5...d5 against Swinkels, play continuing 6.d2 c5 7.gf3 c6 ( a new move for us instead, 7...cxd4 8.xd4 c5 9.a4+ d7 10.b5 was Hodgson-Summerscale, Reading Open 2000, to which you'll find Aaron's notes in the Archive,; while 7...a6!? 8.b3 cxd4 9.cxd4?! c6! already favoured Black in Walton-D.Buckley, British League 2005, as sh o wn by E ric) 8.b5 d7 ( 8...cxd4 9.xd4 d7 10.0-0 is a more common move order to reach our next note) 9.exd5!? ( unusual, but by no means bad instead, 9.0-0 cxd4 10.xd4 leads to a somewhat more common position, and one in which Richard Pert believes that W hite may be able to retain an edge) 9...exd5 10.0-0 cxd4 ( and this is new in the only previous t e xt o f t h e p o sit io n wh ich I co u ld f i n d , 10...0-0-0 11.b3 g4?! was tried in Moreno Ruiz-Garcia Serrano, San Sebastian 2000, but after 12.xc5 xc5 13.dxc5 e5 14.e2 Black had nothing better than mass exchanges on f3 followed by ...d4, with definite chances to hold the doublerook endgame) 11.xd4 0-0-0 12.2f3 xd4 ( it's hard to believe Black really wants to simplify, but then again neither does his position look great in any case: for example, 12...b8 13.xc6 bxc6 14.b4 , with a clamp and potentially dangerous attack) 13.xd7+ xd7 14.cxd4!? (giving up on standard anti-IQP play to go for an attack) d6 15.a4 a6 16.b4 , which left White on the front foot in Swinkels-Burg, Rosmalen 2014. ] 6.d3 e5 7.e2 e7!? [ An unusual move, but developing the
bishop to here rather than g7 is not entirely untopical, albeit with 7...d8!? 8.0-0 e7 having been tried in Van Wely-Giri, Wijk aan Zee 2014, which we examined at the time. ] [ b) Black's most popular course remains 7...g6 8.0-0 g7 9.f4 e7 , but for how much longer one has to wonder. As saw in Delchev-Kohlweyer, Skopje 2014, Pert's A) but 10.d2 can hardly be bad and brings about a position which can occur from a number of move orders. Here c6 is rat he r u nu su al, b ut h as re ce ived a co u ple of rece nt t est s: 11.f3 d7 ( 11...0-0 12.d2 g4 tried to pressure d4 in Swiercz-David, French Team Ch a m p i o n s h i p 2 0 1 4 , b u t a f t e r 13.c2 exd4 14.cxd4 d5 15.e5 b4 16.c3! xc3 17.bxc3 e7 18.g3 Black had clearly failed to equalise) 12.b3 0-0 13.ae1 a6 14.a4 a5 15.d5 d8 16.f5 b6 17.b5 left Black solid but a little too cramped in Le Roux-Terrieux, French Team Championship 2014.; B) 10.f5!? is quite dangerous for Black, ] 8.0-0 c6!? Again we see this knight development and here it's a novelty. Previously: [ a) 8...0-0 9.f4 exd4 10.cxd4 c6 ( 10...g4 was preferred in Nikolov-Lapcevic, Bar 2006, but 11.bc3 c6 12.c2! a6 13.d3 was a rather effective battery for White ) 11.d2 g4 12.c4 d8?! 13.e3 e6 14.e5 already left Black in some trouble in Scherer-Monn, correspondence 2003. ] [ b) 8...g5?! is a remarkable lunge, weakening the light squares. Surely White isn't about to be mated? Indeed, 9.d2 h5 ( 9...d7 10.c4 f8 11.e3 g6? 12.d5 1-0 was Demac-T.Larsen, Bergen 2 0 1 0 B la ck n e e d n 't b lu n d e r so , b u t h e should really prefer Greenfeld's move to pushing the g-pawn) 10.c4! h4 11.e3 (I wonder if Black was still so keen on his plan of kingside expansion by the time the knight had reached this location) c6 12.h3 g4 13.hxg4 h3 left White with various good options in Fowler-Grekh, Peniscola 2002, including 14.g3 ( 14.f4!? was probably a tad too ambitious in the game) 14...exd4 15.cxd4 xd4 16.e2 with a huge lead in 2279
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 development and Nef5 imminent. ] 9.a3! [ I rather like this calm response from the young Dutch GM, exploiting the age-old tactic that the d-pawn is indirectly protected. Instead, 9.d2?! exd4 10.f3 dxc3 11.xc3 might appeal to ambitious souls, although I'm not sure there's quite enough compensation with Black very solidly placed after d8 ( or 11...e5!? . )] [ No doubt the ever well-prepared Greenfeld had also carefully considered 9.d5 b8 10.f4 , presumably deciding that Black could withstand being quite cramped after 0-0 11.f5 , since his knight will come to c5 or f6, he is rock-solid on the dark squares, and there's always the ...c6 break. ( Likewise, 11.fxe5 xe5 12.d2 g6 13.f3 g7 should be fine for Black, since it's hard to find a particularly effective plan for the first player. )] 9...0-0 10.c2 g5 An active feint, but one has to wonder if Greenfeld had been overly optimistic assuming he'd analysed this far in advance. In any case, the queen looks rather misplaced on the kingside (be it f6, g6, h4 or g5), and if Black wants to be solid and avoid ... g 6 , I m u c h p r e f e r G i r i ' s m e t h o d . 11.e3 As we are seeing, this is always a good spot for the queen's knight in this line, eying the vulnerable squares on d5 and f5. g4 [ Wisely looking to simplify, since something like 11...d7 12.f4 h4 13.b5!? would have left Black under pressure. ] 12.f4 [ Tempting, although by no means forced with, for instance, 12.xg4!? xg4 13.b3 surely another route to an edge. ] 12...exf4 13.xg4 xg4 14.xf4 [ The more ambitious recapture. 14.xf4 xd1 15.axd1 leaves White with a small but clear edge, but after, say, g5 16.d5 ac8 17.g3 e7 18.f4 Swinkels presumably thought that Greenfeld would be able to hold things together. ] 14...g5?! [ Staying on the dark squares was tempting, but doesn't work out too well and, as such, 14...d7 would have been a safer option. ] 15.f5! e3+ 16.h1 g5 17.f3 d2 The only move, of course, but W hite has
everything protected and after his next had quite useful pressure from what I can see. 18.b3 a5? [ The knight will soon prove something of a vulnerability on the rim. As such, Black had to try 18...b6 , and if 19.af1 take his c h a n c e s i n a5 20.d5 c6 21.xd6 xb2 , unconvincing though his decentralised position may appear. ] 19.b5! b6 20.b4 This is the problem for Black. Retreating to b7 will allow White to fork the knight and c7 with his queen, and even Greenfeld's ingenious defence shouldn't have been sufficient. a6 21.d5 [ One might also make a rather good case for 21.d7!? , with complete domination. ] 21...e3 22.f4?! [ Swinkels protects d3 and relies on his pressure down the f-file, but he could have done even better with 22.xf7! . The main point is xf7 ( or 22...h8 23.xa6! ) 23.xa8+ f8 24.xa6 , covering back and if xa2 25.g1 xg1 26.xg1 when the black knight m u st f a ll a f te r a ll, lea vin g White with clearly the better prospects. ] 22...xf4 23.bxa5 Even here matters appear quite bleak for Black. Can he really survive with such light squares? c6? [ This should have lost. No doubt Greenfeld was keen to avoid 23...e3 24.xf7! xf7 25.xa8+ h7 26.xa6 xc3 27.d1 , but while White is doing pretty well, he is not definitely going to win after, for instance, bxa5 28.e5+ g6 29.e6 e7 30.d5 . ] 24.f5?! [ Another move which I too might well have played over t he boa rd, bu t the deviou s engine points out 24.b3! when Black's queen is trapped and bxa5 25.d1 ab8 26.xd2 xb3 27.xf4 xc3 28.g3 leaves White a piece up. ] 24...e3 25.e5 Now it's not f7 or the queenside holes which is causing Black the most pain, but rather that most important of light squares when one has castled short. g6 26.e4 g5 27.e6 [ White has a plethora of riches and it's hard to be certain what was best. Swinkels keeps up the pressure while bagging some pawns, but, for instance, 27.axb6!? d5 28.g4 h5 29.d7 xc3 30.af1 might have been 2280
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 even stronger. ] 27...f5 28.xc6 ac8 29.xd6 fd8 30.xb6 xc3 Taking stock, White is two pawns ahead, has a monster e-pawn and the safer king. Can he, though, retain control in the run-up to the time control? 31.af1? [ Throwing away much of White's advantage. Greenfeld has done well to randomise, and to maintain a huge advantage, White had to decide on 31.e7! xa1+ 32.f1 xf1+ 33.xf1 xe7 34.xg6+ f8 35.xh6+ f7 36.xa6 , which would, of course, require one to spot far in advance that there were no back-rank issues. ] 31...xd4 32.xa6 b8 33.c7 g7! Good defence. Black might be two pawns down, but he still enjoys an unopposed bishop and the white pawns are quite strung out. 34.xg7+ [ 34.c3 would have been less compliant, but I dare say that the players may well have been blitzing by this point. ] 34...xg7 35.b3? [ An unfortunate slip. The rooks were s t r u g g l i n g t o f i n d a r o l e , b u t 35.g4! would have assisted their cause no end, while retaining some advantage after, say, b2 ( 35...d2 36.b3 now works, in view of a8 37.b7+ f6 38.e7! ) 36.d3 xa2 37.gxf5 gxf5 38.a6 . ] 35...xb3 36.axb3 a8 37.c4 xa5 A pawn has fallen and it turns out that the blockade of the two passed pawns cannot be broken. 38.d1 [ Black creates an excellent set-up with his next three moves, but clearly White had to avoid 38.b4 a4 39.b1 e7 . ] 38...e7 39.g3 a2 40.d7 f6 A tragic position to reach at move 41 for poor Swinkels. With his king cut off, there's simply nothing for W h i t e t o d o . 41.b4 a4 42.b7 xb4 43.xb4 ½-½
2332 Tate,Emory Baldursson,Hrannar Reykjavik International (1) [Eric Prié]
A45 2406 2129 11.04.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.f3 f6 5.e4 dxe4 6.c3 e3 7.c4 The good idea in my opinion: White wants to keep his extra tempo, in comparison with a declined BDG, by recapturing on e3 with the queen. Then, similar to the next few games after 6...Nd5!, the drawback of installing a knight on d5 emphasizes the not so comfortable position of the bishop on f4 after all. [ 7.d3!? Trying to keep the extra tempo but the arrangement Qe3-Bf4 is not the most fortunate, as Black will demonstrate in this g a m e b y i n s t a l l i n g a k n i g h t o n d 5 . e6 8.xe3 e7 9.0-0-0 0-0 10.b1 c6 11.g4 b4 12.g3 b6 13.a3 bd5 14.xd5 xd5 15.e1 b7 16.d3 c5 17.c4 f6 18.dxc5 e8 19.d6 bxc5 20.xe7 xe7 21.h4 g6 22.h3 fd8 23.g5 f8 24.e4 xe4+ 25.xe4 xe4 26.fxe4 d4 27.xd4 cxd4 1/2-1/2 Benjamin, J (2575) - Yermolinsky, A (2560) US-Ch Modesto 1995 ] 7...e6 8.d3 c6 9.0-0-0 b4 10.xe3 bd5?! Too eager to seize the pair of bishops. [ 10...e7 Like Yermolinsky above, with the extra possibility of taking back on d5 with the e-pawn but only after White uses the tempo a2-a3 to chase the knight! ] 11.xd5 xd5 12.xd5 xd5 13.b1 Now c7 hangs. d6 14.e2 0-0 15.e5! f6? [ 15...d7 16.c3 a5 17.f4 xe5 ( 17...b6 18.e4 ) 18.dxe5 c6 19.d4 fd8 20.hd1 ] 16.f4 c6 [ 16...c4 17.xd6 cxd6 18.b3 c6 19.xe6 ] 17.d5! exd5 18.xd6 xd6? [ 18...cxd6 19.xd5 ( 19.b3!? ) 19...e8 20.c3 xc3 ( 20...e6 21.xc6 bxc6 22.c7 ) 21.xc3 d8 22.b5 d5 23.c7 b8 24.xd5 ] 19.xd5 c6 20.e7! With his queen's bishop a constrained spectator, Black cannot 2281
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 avoid annoying material loss now. e8? forces in two. Thus, without gambiting [ 20...e8 21.xc7 ] something 'for real' this time, I do not see how 21.d8 f5 Black can get organized otherwise. [ 21...xd8 22.xd8+ f7 23.e1 xc2+ [ 8...h6 Fritz 9.gxh6 b5 ( 9...xh6 10.c3 24.xc2 f5+ 25.d3+- ] e5 11.b3 ) 10.b4! ( 10.b3 xh6 11.e3 22.h5! g7 ) 10...xh6 11.e3 xb4? 12.b1 a5 1-0 13.c3 ] 9.cxd6 e6 10.dxe7? This is not the idea. For just one pawn (since White cannot hang 2333 A45 on to g5) Black gets full compensation of the two bishops and a massive lead in Terentiev,Anatoli development. xe7! Gallagher,Joseph G [ 10...xc4 Is already a serious test: 1990 Liechtenstein 1990 11.exf8+ xf8 ( 11...xf8! Therefore is [Paul Motwani] better 12.c3 e6 13.gf3 h6 And in spite of the slight material disadvantage of 2 B30: "Trompovsky trampled!" 1.d4 f6 pawns for the exchange I prefer the black 2.g5 The Trompovsky Attack. e4 3.f4 co m b i n a t i o n o f a c t i ve r o o k s a n d g o o d c5 4.c3 development ) 12.b4! [ 4.d5 b6 5.d2 xb2 ( 5...xd2 A) 12...e5 13.xc4 c3+ 14.d2 6.xd2 xb2 7.e4 also gives White some xb4 15.c1 c8 16.e3 xc2+ 17.e2 play for his sacrificed pawn) 6.xe4 b4+ d4+ 18.exd4 xc1 19.gf3 f6 7.d2 xe4 8.e3 has led to interesting W ith an unclear, and quite uncommon, battles in various encounters, since, in struggle of two rooks against three pieces compensation for a one-pawn deficit, White which I find difficult to evaluate.; has a lead in development plus more space B) 12...xb4 13.c3 b5 ( 13...xc3 and opportunities to harass Black's queen. ] 14.c1 a5 15.xc4 0-0-0 16.gf3 f6 4...b6 5.b3 cxd4! 6.xb6 17.e3 fxg5 18.a4 ) 14.b1 a6 [ 6.cxd4 xd4 puts Black a sound pawn 15.e4 d8 16.c1 b6 17.f4 f5 up. ] ( 17...xa2? 18.f6+ e7 19.c7+ 6...axb6 7.xb8? Missing Black's e6 20.xc6+ e7 21.e4+ e6 forthcoming sizzling sequence, but in fact 7 22.b4+ d6 23.e4 ) 18.d6+ xd6 cxd4 Nc6 is also rather unpleasant for White, 19.xd6 e7 20.f3 xa2 21.d1; who finds himself facing threats of ...Nxd4 or ... C) 12...a6 13.e4 d8 14.b1 f5 Nb4. dxc3!! 8.e5 Diagram B30D1 xa2! 15.gxf6 d5 16.e3 a3 17.c3 f7 and W hite soon resigned because after 9 18.f3 xe4 19.g5+ xf6 20.xe4+ Rxa2 c2 he cannot prevent Black's charging cg7 21.b3 ] pawn from promoting to a new queen at b1 or 11.c3 h6!? Interestingly keeping the bishop c1. on the a3-f8 diagonal, although I struggle to 0-1 see what White had to oppose the prosaic [ 11...xg5 12.gf3 f6 13.a3 b6 ( 13...c7 14.c3 0-0 15.e3 ad8 16.a4; 2334 A45 13...b4 14.b1 0-0 15.c3 ) 14.b1 Teske,Henrik 2463 A) 14...0-0!? 15.e3 ad8 16.e2 Pachow,Joerg 2297 ( 16.d3 b4 17.f1 xa2 18.a1 Bundesliga 0001 (7.6) 28.01.2001 e6 ) 16...g5 17.f1 ( 17.c3 f5 [Eric Prié] 18.b3 c7 19.c1 e6 20.a3 g4 21.d4 h2 ) 17...g4 18.e1 g3; 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c5 4.dxc5 B) 14...0-0-0 15.e3 b8! ( 15...g5 16.c3 a5+ 5.d2 xg5 6.hxg5 g6 7.h4! c6 g4 17.d4 ) 16.d3 ( 16.c3 f5 17.e4 8.c4 d5 What else? While a white c5-pawn xe4 ) 16...g5 ( 16...h5!? 17.f1 h4 ) is usually easy prey for Black, now it splits his 2282
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.e4 e7 18.a4 hg8 With a fierce i n i t i a t i v e ( 18...g4 19.fg5 hg8 20.xe6 fxe6 21.f1 h5 )] 12.gxh6 xh6 13.gf3 g5 14.e3 h1 15.e2 b4 16.d3 g4!? Black wants to realize the trade of the exchange against two pawns under the best circumstances but it is not sure he had more than [ 16...c4 17.c3 a6! A) 18.a3 g4!! ( 18...e7 19.0-0-0 ) 19.cxb4 ( 19.d4 e5 20.cxb4 d5 21.e4 d7 22.b5 xb5 23.xb5 xd3+ 24.d1 xb5 ) 19...xb4 20.axb4 xa1+ 21.d1 xd1+ 22.xd1 xd3-+; B) 18.b3 a4 19.c2 ( 19.cxb4? xb4 20.c5 a5 21.xa6 xd3+ 22.d1 xb2+ 23.xb2 xf1+ 24.c2 xf2+; 19.c1 d6 ) 19...e7 20.0-0-0 ( 20.fd2 g4 ) 20...xa2 21.e2 a5 22.fd2 ( 22.xa5 xd3 23.xd3 xd1+ 24.xd1 xa5 ) 22...xb3+ 23.xb3 xd1+ 24.xd1 xd3 25.xd3 a6 26.h7! With compensation... but for White! ] 17.d4 xd2+ 18.xd2? White wrongly decides to increase his ambitions but a very nasty surprise awaits him. [ 18.xd2 c4 19.xa5 xa5 20.0-0-0 xd3 21.xd3 xd1+ 22.xd1 c6 23.f5 g3 24.fxg3 xd4 25.exd4 e7 I don't think White can win but he will surely not lose. ] 18...xd4 19.exd4 f8! 20.a3 [ 20.0-0-0 xa2 21.c3 f5 ] [ 20.d5! Was the only move f5 ( 20...xd5 21.0-0-0 ) 21.b4 A) 21...xb4 22.0-0-0 a3+ 23.b1 e8 ( 23...b4+ 24.c1 a3+= ) 24.c4 e4 25.d4 h6 26.d6 e6 ( 26...xd6 27.xd6 xc4 28.xc4= ) 27.4d3!! d4!! 28.xd4 xc4 29.xc4 e8 30.d7+ d8 31.xf7 ( 31.e1? b4+ ) 31...c5 32.xg4 d6 33.xd6 xd6 34.f3 xd7 35.b3; B) 21...a3! 22.c4 b2 23.ad1 c8 24.d4 xa2 25.a1 e8+ 26.e2 xc2 ] 20...c4!! 21.xc4 [ 21.b4 xe2 22.bxa5 xf1+ 23.xe2 xa1 ] 21...e8+ 22.d1
[ 22.e2 xe2+ 23.xe2 b5+ 24.d3 xb2-+ ] 22...a6!! A combination I have never seen before and I wish I had been there to see the face of the solid German Grandmaster at this moment! It is hard to believe but W hite is helpless to avoid the recapture of the bishop followed by a whole rook! 23.c5+ g7 24.d3 [ 24.g5+ h8 End of the checks... ] 24...xf1+ 25.d2 xa1 26.g3 [ 26.g5+ g6 ] 26...h6+ 27.c3 e6 28.g5+ g6 The forced exchange of queens should have en ta ile d W h it e's re signa t io n b ut in te a m competitions it can sometimes be useful to maintain a semblance of suspense regarding the result of the game. Or maybe he was just wasting time in order to be able to prepare himself f or an unbearable outcome in 28 moves after having been completely outplayed as White throughout against a player giving him almost 200 rating points? 29.xg4 [ 29.f4 c8+ 30.b4 b6+ 31.a4 c4+ 32.b4 xb4# ] 29...xg4 30.xg4+ f6 [ 30...f8 31.d2 ee1 32.h4 ad1+ 33.c3 e2 And the white pawns are ripe. ] 31.f4+ e6 32.b4 f5 33.c4 d8 34.g4 fxg4 35.xg4 f8 36.d5+ e5 37.g7 xf2 38.b3 a5+ 39.a4 fa2 40.xa5 xa3+ 41.b4 a7 42.b5 1a5+ 43.b6 7a6+ 44.c7 b5 45.g5+ f6 46.h5 bxc4 47.bxc4 c5+ 48.d7 a7+ 49.d6 xc4 50.f5+ g6 No m ira cle . 51.f6+ g7 52.f1 c8 53.g1+ f8 54.f1+ f7 55.h1 d8+ 56.c6 f6+ 57.c5 f5 58.d1 e7 59.e1+ d7 60.e6 c8+ 0-1
2335 Tiberio,Joey Gokhale,Chandrashekhar Open Dubai UAE (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2405 15.04.2002
Stonewall Attack: White comes a cropper after an inaccurate move order. You have been warned! 1.d4 f6 2.e3 e6 3.d3 b6 4.f4 b7 5.f3 c5 6.c3 c7 7.bd2?! 2283
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A dubious decision, as Black's last move was directed specifically against this. [ 7.0-0 is stronger. ] 7...cxd4! 8.cxd4 [ 8.exd4 should have been given serious consideration, as after: xf4 9.c4 c7 10.0-0 White has some dangerous open lines on the kingside in compensation for the sacrificed pawn. ] 8...d5 9.f2 A strange looking move, but the natural: [ 9.e2 is well met by b4 ] 9...e7 10.e5 0-0 11.h5 f5 12.g1 White limbers up for a kingside pawn break, however, with a series of accurate defensive m o v e s , B l a c k s n u f f s o u t t h e t h r e a t . d6 13.ef3 f6 14.h3 g4+ 15.e2 a6! The key move. With the White king stuck in the centre, Black prepares an attack on the vulnerable light squares. 16.g3 xd3+ 17.xd3 b7 18.e1 An uncomfortable looking move, but it is very difficult to keep a grip on e4 and defend the e3 pawn. a6+ 19.c2 c8+ 20.d1? The final mistake, which hastens the inevitable end. [ 20.b1 keeps the game going, although it is obvious that Black enjoys a clear advantage. ] 20...h4! Devastating, as White must part with his queen if he is to prevent either Nf2 or Ne3. 0-1
2336 Torre,Eugenio Sharavdorj,Dashzeveg zt3.2a Vung Tau VIE (7) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2557 2473 27.05.2000
[ The critical variation has always been: 3...c5 but for some reason, Black has re cen t ly b ee n a vo id ing t his sh a rp lin e . Watch this space! ] 4.d2 d6 Although a seemingly passive retreat, this knight aims to harass the dark squared bishop. 5.e3 f5 6.g5 h6 7.f4 e6 8.d3 c5 9.c3 c6 10.gf3 g5 A clear sign that Black is playing for the full point, although weakening the kingside like this obviously entails some risk. [ 10...e7!? ] 11.e5 xe5 12.xe5 g7 13.a4+ f8 Forced, but I can't help feeling that bagging the bishop pair has caused Black more trouble than it is worth. 14.0-0 xe5 It is hard to see how Black can co-ordinate his forces without this capture, but then, if you're going to play this, why go to all the bother over the bishop pair in the first place? 15.dxe5 c7 16.e4 With Black lagging behind in development, it is natural for White to open up the position. d7 [ 16...dxe4 17.xe4 is pleasant for White. ] 17.a3 dxe4 18.xe4 b6 [ 18...xe5 f a l ls f o u l o f : 19.xc5 e8 20.fe1 With an enormous attack. ] 19.f6 The knight takes up an extremely dominating outpost. c6 20.xf5 xe5?? a terrible, but not glaringly obvious blunder. [ 20...exf5 was better, as after: 21.fe1 d8 22.b4 White is in control, but there is still a long way to go. ] 21.e4! White can keep his extra piece, due to the rather tasty fork on d7. 1-0
2337 A45 Toth,Christian Endre 2344 The Bh4 Tromp makes a lot of sense, as the Lima,Darcy 2537 01.03.2004 pin on the e7 pawn can be quite annoying for ch-BRA Rio de Janeiro BRA (7) Black, although, despite this, it has always [Eric Prié] been regarded with some scepticism. However, the fact that many strong players 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ still wheel it out, gives the variation some 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 f5 8.xb8 respectability. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 xb8 9.xd4 b6 10.e4 f4 11.h3 c7 There have been quite a few recent games in 12.e5 g8 13.0-0-0 e6 14.g5! e7 15.f4 the Bh4 Tromp. This line has a poor reputation, Thu s we h ave t he crucial que st ion , f ro m but maybe it is time for a drastic re-evaluation. Black's point of view, and for the validity of d5 this variation: can Black improve now? Or 2284
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 sho uld he co nt en t him se lf with t he m ore c o m m o n ( b u t l e s s c o m p r o m is i n g f o r h i s opponent) moves 7...Qd8, and principally the e n d i n g r e s u l t i n g f r o m 7 . . . Q b 6 . c6!? W ith the Brazilian Grandmaster, my proposition for an improvement. [ 15...b7 16.b5 ( 16.f2 ) 16...d5 17.b1 a6 18.d3 h6 ( 18...xg2!? 19.hg1 d5 20.xh7 xh7 21.xh7 g6 is not that clear.) 19.e4 c6 20.f2 a5 21.d4 b5 22.g3 b4 23.d6+ xd6 24.exd6 xd6 25.c4 xc4 26.xg7 xd3+ 27.xd3 f8 28.xh6 Efimov,IMiezis,N Castellaneta 1999 1-0(46) ] 16.d2 [ 16.f2 b7 17.e4? xe5 18.fxe5 xe4 ] [ 16.e3 d5 17.d3 h6 18.f3 ] [ 16.d3! I n t e n d i n g N e 4 - d 6 + b4 ( 16...b7 17.b1; 16...f6? 17.xh7 b4 18.g6+ d8 19.xf8 ) 17.c4 White wants to implement his plan which, if proved successful, will guarantee him a simple advantage. ( 17.g3!? with the idea Ne4-d6+ and then recapture on d6 with the e5 pawn when g7 hangs and f4 is protected, or; 17.h3!? are also interesting with more complex attacking perspectives.) 17...xc4 18.xc4 b7! ( 18...f6 19.e4 b7 20.he1 ) 19.b5! ( 19.cxb4 c8 ) 19...c6 ( 19...d5 20.c4 a6 21.xd7+ xd7 22.cxd5 xd5 23.xf7 ) 20.he1 a6 21.f1 ( 21.xc6 xc6 22.e4 d5 ) 21...e7 22.c4 g6 23.g3 ] 16...f6!? 17.exf6 gxf6 18.e4 f5 19.f6+ f7! 20.h5 [ 20.xd7 h6! 21.g3 d8 22.e5+ xe5 23.fxe5 xd2+ 24.xd2 xd2 25.xd2 xe5= ] 20...g8 21.d4?! [ 21.h3 With the idea g4. White must play dynamically against the black king otherwise he will be worse because of the opponent's central domination and mighty pair of bishops. ] 21...xd4 22.xd4 e7 23.g4? c5! [ 23...b7 24.g1 c5 25.xc5 xc5 26.xd7+ e8 27.f6+ was probably White's sole calculation. ] 24.gxf5 [ 24.xc5 bxc5 25.gxf5 b7 The other way
round, the effect is different! ] 24...xd4 25.cxd4 b7 Snatching the exch a n ge a nd t h e ga m e . 26.d5 bc8+ 27.b1 xd5 28.xd5 exd5 29.g3 g4 30.g2 xf4 31.xd5+ f8 32.g1 c5 33.d1 d4 34.xd4 xd4 35.e4 e7 0-1
2338 Trent,Lawrence Howell,David 4NCL West Bromwich ENG (7) [Eric Prié]
A45 2377 2304 01.05.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.c1 e6 8.c4 b4+ 9.d2 xb2! 10.c3 b6 11.e4 e5! 12.f4 Curiously, W hite has an extra tempo compared to this section's 'favourite' pawn sacrifice 1.d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 c5 3.d5 Qb6 4.Nc3 Qxb2 5.Bd2 Qb6 6.e4 e5! 7.f4 which corresponds to the move c2-c4 which occupies the allegedly most active square for his light-squared bishop! Clearly, whilst not a drawback, this is probably not too relevant. exf4? [ 12...d6! "Space, development, initiative. These words mean nothing to some players, who will do anything for an extra pawn"... and then proudly defend against the initiative to eventually take advantage of the gift... W ill gambiteers ever learn o) that advance of development eventually vanishes and that sacrificing a pawn is just wind if not sustained by deep analysis? Well, concerning this critical position and therefore THE ENTIRE BODY OF APPROXIMATELY 600 GAMES IN THE 6. d5 ALTERNATIVE OF THE MOST P O P U L A R L I N E I N T HE T RO M P : a s a matter of taste, I would rather be Black but my evaluation is basically the same as in the above-mentioned variation: unclear with b a l a n c e d c h a n c e s . 13.f5 This move is logical in this position as, compared to Bricard-Nevednichy for instance, Black does not have the freeing .. .b5 counter gambit at his disposal. h5! White's g2-g4 cannot be tolerated. 14.d3 d8 15.f3 a6 16.0-0 c7 1/2-1/2 Tan,D-Howell,D GB-Ch 2285
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Scarborough 2004 ] 13.e5 g8 14.d6! The key idea, as recurs in this study, threatening Nd5-c7+. Black is already strategically lost and the rest was only a (short, though) 'knightmare' for him. d8 15.xf4 g6 16.d5 a6 17.d2 h6 18.f3 [ 18.xh6? h4+ 19.g3 xh6 Soothes Black. ] 18...xf4 19.xf4 f8 To find 'shelter' on g7. 20.d3 [ 20.g5 e8 21.e2 h6 22.e4 is horrid too. ] 20...b4 21.xb4 cxb4 22.0-0 e8 23.d4! h6 24.xg6! Exclamation mark but everything wins. [ 24.e6 h7 25.exf7 ] 24...fxg6 25.g5+ f6 26.xf6+ g7 27.f7+ g8 28.e6 1-0
2339 Trent,Lawrence Skjoldborg,Jesper S&WYM Millfield School ENG (2) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2246 2201 11.07.2002
Trompowsky: For once, W hite fails to capitalise on the thematic sacrificed b-pawn, but if you look closer you will see that he certainly had his chances. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 c5 A useful surprise weapon to have in yo u r r e p e rt o ir e . 4.d5 b6 5.c3 Boldly sacrificing a pawn, in an attempt to wrest the initiative away from Black. xb2 6.d2 b6 7.c4 d6 8.f4 e7 9.f3 W hite sensibly continues development, as there is little chance that a direct attack will work. 0-0 10.0-0 d8 11.b1 exd5 Sooner or later Black had to make this capture. 12.xd5 xd5 [ 12...xe4 is impossible on account of: 13.e1 ] 13.xd5 c6 14.f5 An attempt to snuff out Black's light squared bishop, gaining kingside t e r r i t o r y o n t h e w a y . c7 15.c3 Now we can see that the range of the Black b i s h o p o n e 7 i s r a t h e r l i m i t e d . f6!? A radical solution. Black accepts permanent structural weaknesses on the kingside in order
to try and block W hite's avenues of attack. 16.xf6 gxf6 17.e1 h8 18.h4 e7 Black looks forward to using e5 as a base for h i s k n i g h t . 19.h6 g8 20.h1 e5 Black has been gearing up for this, but as we will soon see, it proves to have some drawbacks. [ 20...b4!? ] 21.xe5 xe5 dropping f7 but the alternatives were also uninspiring. [ 21...fxe5 22.h5 f8 23.f6 is unpleasant. ] [ 21...dxe5 22.f3 b8 23.bb3 preparing to swing both rooks to the kingside, is also very dangerous. ] 22.xf7 g7 23.d5 b8 24.g4 Having regained his pawn, White now has a d e f i n i t e a d v a n t a g e . b6 25.g5 b7 26.gxf6?? Disaster! After all his hard work White falls for a deadly and cunningly hidden cheapo. [ 26.xf6 xd5 ( 26...xf6 27.gxf6 i s w o r s e f r o m B l a c k ' s p o i n t o f v i e w .) 27.xe5 dxe5 28.exd5 xg5 29.be1 gives White the better rook endgame. ] 26...xe4+ Feel the x-ray power of the b7 Bishop. 0-1
2340 Trent,Lawrence Tan,Desmond 4NCL Telford ENG (10) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2257 2307 04.05.2003
Trompowsky Attack: White has been attacking hard and then it was the time to put the icing on the cake. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.d2 d5 This seems to be a novelty in this particular position, although the idea is certainly not new. 6.c3 c6 7.0-0-0 b4 8.e5 d8 9.a3 e7 10.f4 White has the usual pleasant grip in the centre, but at the cost of the bishop pair. a5 11.f3 b5 12.a4 Interesting! White is also taking the fight to Black on the queenside. b4 13.e3 xc3 14.xc3 bxa4 Opening lines on the qu e e n sid e is e sse n t ia l if B la ck wa n t s t o create counterplay. 15.h4 b6 16.h3 a6 17.g3 The beginning of an energetic attack 2286
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xh4 22.gxh4 g6-+ ) B2a) 20.xg6 is the most resistant. f5 21.xh8 e7! ( 21...xe4+ 22.xe4 xh8? 23.f5 ) 22.he1 xe4+ 23.xe4 xh8 24.f5+ d8 25.xe7 xe7 is probably more difficult to win than with the piece for two pawns.; B2b) 20.g2 g4 21.f3 h3 22.g2 e6 23.d5 xh4 24.dxe6 xd1+ 25.xd1 xg2-+ 26.c4+ ( 26.xg2 g6+ 27.a1 xe6; 26.d7 g6 ) 26...b8 27.d7 e5 28.a4 ( 28.b4 e1+ 29.c2 xf2+ 30.b3 b6 ) 28...e8 29.e7 f5+ 2341 A45 30.d3 e1 0-1 Simonenko,S-Safin,S/ Ashkhabad 1996 ] Tseitlin,Mikhail S 2430 [ 9...exd4 Hamdouchi,Hicham 2455 A) 10.xd4 xd4 11.cxd4 d7! FS11 GM Budapeste (13) 1993 ( 11...xd4? 12.b5+ d8 13.0-0 ) [Eric Prié] 12.e2 c8; B) 10.d3! dxc3 11.bxc3 e6 12.0-0 ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.c3 b6 5.c2 d5! 6.e3 c6 7.f3 e5! 8.bd2 10.b3 c7 11.e2 [ 11.dxe5 fxe5 12.g5 h6! 13.xe6 cxd4 9.exd4 e6! Somewhat logically, the xd2+ ( 13...fxe6 14.d1 0-0-0 15.b3 most natural move corresponds to the most e4 ) 14.xd2 fxe6 15.f3 0-0 16.e1 b5! ] accurate way of treating the position. 11...0-0-0 12.g3 Untimely prophylaxis or not, [ 9...e4 10.h4 f5 11.g3 f4 A) 12.g2 f3 ( 12...fxg3 13.hxg3 d6 it is difficult for White to solve the problem of 14.e3 e6 15.h3 ) 13.f4 e6 the open g-file without this move. h6 13.d1 14.xe6 fxe6 15.h3 e5 16.xe4 dxe4 e4! 14.h4 hg8! 15.f1 [ 15.0-0? xd2! 16.xd2 f4 17.d5 e7 18.a4+ f7 19.xe4 Wins a piece! 17.c2 xh4 ] is a m u c h b e t te r ve rsio n o f t h e sa m e [ 15.g2 h3! 16.0-0! ( 16.e3 xe3 idea.; 17.fxe3 xg3! 18.f1 g2 ) 16...f5 B) 12.xe4 dxe4 13.xe4+ e7 17.fe1 ( 17.f4 xg2 18.xg2 xf4 14.c4 h3! ( 14...xb2 15.0-0 g7 19.h1 xg3 ) 17...f4 18.h1 f5!-+ 16.ae1 a3 17.g2 looks very With an overwhelming attack that is worth dangerous.) 15.0-0-0 0-0-0 16.xf7 f6! more than a piece for two pawns. ] White has painfully gained a third pawn for the piece but they have no hold over the 15...f5 With this structure for White there is no position at the moment. On the other hand, possible barrier on the dark squares against f4 Black has managed to secure his king and t h e f -p a wn (s) st e a m ro lle r . 16.g2 now seizes the initiative with the help of 17.xf4 xf4 18.gxf4 xf4 19.e3 [ 19.g3 f5 20.b5 c7 21.xc6 xc6 his powerful two bishops to gain 22.e2 f4 23.xf4 g4 24.d2 f3 advantage from the awkward placing of 25.f1 d6 26.e2 xh2 27.c4 ] the white pieces. B1) 17.b3 h6 18.b1 g5 19...g6 20.d2 dg8 21.a3 The king ( 18...g6 19.xg6 f5?? 20.e7+ could not flee from the danger zone because xe7 21.xf5+ ) 19.a1 xh4 of the weakness of f2 and now Black reap the fruits of his exemplary strategy with a little 20.gxh4 xh4 21.hg1 g6-+; B2) 17.h5 h6 18.f3 d7 19.b1 combination. h3 [ 21...g1+ 22.xg1 xg1+ 23.f1 g6 ( 19...g5 20.e5 xe5 21.dxe5 on the Black king. 0-0 18.f5! Charge! exf5 19.e3 h8 20.e6 f6 [ 20...fxe6 21.xe6 with Ne5 to follow is clearly very unpleasant for Black. ] 21.e7 e8 22.e5 Anyway! a7 The knight is taboo. [ 22...fxe5 23.xe5 leaves Black with the difficult question of how to defend g7. ] 23.xg7! Beautiful. White destroys the Black k in g's d e f e n c e s . xg7 24.g3+ h8 25.f7+ h7 26.h5 Leaving Black completely helpless. g8 27.e8 1-0
2287
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 23.f1 Leads to the same finish. h3 24.c4 xf1 25.xf1 xf1+ 26.xf1 xd2 27.f8+ d7 28.xf7+ e7 29.cxd5 d1+ 30.g2 g4+ 31.f1 f5 ) 23...h3 was more precise. ] 22.f1 [ 22.d1 xf2 23.c4 With a small respite. ( 23.g4+ xg4+ )] 22...g1! 23.xg1 xg1 24.f8+ d7 25.c5 xf1 26.xd5+ c7 27.xf1 e3! 28.e2 [ 28.c2 exf2+ 29.e2 g4+ 30.xf2 xf1+ 31.xf1 d1+ 32.g2 xc2+ ] 28...exf2+ 29.xf2 e3+ [ 29...e3+ 30.e2 c1+ 31.f2 xf1+ ] 0-1
2342 Tseitlin,Mikhail S Naumann,Frank Krumbach op (1) [Eric Prié]
A45 2490 2280 1991
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.c3 b6 5.c2 cxd4?! Forcing White to take back with the c-pawn, and so freeing a splendid square for his queen's knight, in return for some initiative, is not the best strategy. [ Neither is 5...c6?! 6.d5 ] 6.cxd4 c6 Of course not 6...Qxd4??, c8 is hanging. 7.e3 d5 8.c3 f5! [ 8...e6 9.f3 d7 10.e2 c8 has been played a couple of times in the database but it is not the most precise for a very simple reason: After 11. Qd2 for instance - There is nothing wrong with 11. 0-0-0 we have reached exactly the same position with reversed colours as in one of the main lines of the anti-Slav English after 1. c4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bg4 amongst many move orders 5.cxd5 (5.Qb3 Qb6 6. cxd5 Bxf3 7.gxf3 Qxb3 8.axb3 Nxd5=) Bxf3! (5...cxd5? 6.Qb3 wins a pawn) 6.gxf3 (6. Qxf3 cxd5 7.Bb5+ Nc6 8. Bxc6+! to play against the backward pawn on the c-file is the correct way to play for an advantage.) cxd5 7.Qb3 Qd7 8.d4 Nc6 9.Bd2 e6 10.Rc1 which is renowned as innocuous for Black and confirmed by my experience! ] 9.d2
[ 9.xf5? xb2 ] [ 9.d3!? A) 9...xd3 10.xd3 e6 ( 10...xb2 11.b1 a3 12.xb7 c1+ 13.d1 e6 14.e2 a3 15.dc3 ) 11.ge2 d6 12.0-0 f5 13.ac1; B) 9...b4 10.a4+ d7 11.b5 xb5 ( 11...d3+? 12.e2 xb5 13.xb5 xb2 14.d6+ d8 15.e8+ c7 16.b5+ xb5+ 17.xb5; 11...c2+? 12.xc2 xb5 13.xd5 ) 12.xb5 ( 12.xb4 c6 13.xb6 axb6 14.ge2 e6= ) 12...c6 13.e2 e6 14.0-0 a6 ( 14...e7 ) 15.bc3 f5 16.fc1 d6 17.ab1 0-0 If any, is not much for White. ] 9...0-0-0 10.f3 [ 10.b5! b8 ( 10...g8 11.ge2 xg2 12.g3 e4 13.cxe4! xb5 14.c3 c4 15.e2 e5 16.xc4 dxc4 17.f1 ) 11.ge2 indubitably short-circuits a fair number of Black's aggressive ideas. ] 10...e5 11.c1 [ 11.e2 g8! 12.d1! ( 12.0-0? h3 13.h4 exd4 ) 12...h6! ( 12...xg2? 13.h4 g5 14.xf5 xf5 15.g4; 12...e6 13.0-0 b8 14.a3 White has succeeded in containing the initiative and holding his pawn on d4 leaving the opponent with the sole option of playing "dynamically" with the plan ...e5-e4, ...f6-f5-f4. Since he has some chances of also surviving this, see the following analysis, I would bet on White in the long run.) 13.a4 c7 ( 13...b4 14.xb4 xb4 15.dxe5 c2 16.c1 ) 14.b4! b8 15.b5 xd4 16.xd4 exd4 17.xd4 xg2 is really unclear. ] 11...e4?! With his last two moves, White has played with f ire but that loosening of the central tension suddenly solves almost all his problems. [ 11...exd4? 12.xd4 xd4? 13.a4+ c6 14.exd4+- ] [ 11...b8! 12.b5!? exd4 A) 13.xd4 xd4 14.exd4 ( 14.xd4 xd4 15.exd4 h6 16.d1 c2 17.a1 hg8 18.0-0 g4 ) 14...e6+ 15.e2 ( 15.e3 h6 ) 15...a6 16.a4 g8 17.0-0 b4! 18.xb4? xg2+!! 19.xg2 h3+ 20.h1 ( 20.f3 e4+ 21.g3 g4#; 20.g1 g4+ 21.g3 2288
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 f3 ) 20...e4+! 21.f3 xe2 22.c2 ( 22.g1 xf3+ 23.g2 xg2# ) 22...xf1#; B) 13.exd4! e8+ 14.e2 e4 15.f4+ a8 16.0-0 g8 ] 12.h4 e6 13.e2 g8 14.0-0 e7? [ 14...f5 A) 15.f4 e7 16.a4 c7 17.e1 g7 18.h1 dg8 19.c5 d8 20.g3 xh4 21.gxh4 b8; B) 15.f3!? b8! ( 15...exf3 16.xf3 f4 17.xf4 h6 18.ff1 b8 19.h1; 15...e7 16.fxe4! xh4 17.exf5 d7 18.xd5+- ) 16.fxe4 fxe4 17.f5 g5; C) 15.a4! c7 16.g3 f4 17.exf4 ( 17.b5 f3 isolates the Nh4.) 17...e7! evacuating the c file with tempo. ( 17...b8 18.b5! e7 19.xc6 xh4 20.xb7 xb7 21.a5 d6 22.b5+ a8 23.c6+ b8 24.c3+- ) C1) 18.b5 xh4 19.xc6 bxc6 20.xc6+ d7 21.fc1 e8; C2) 18.h1 b8 19.b5 ( 19.f5 d7 20.c5 f6 21.xd7+ xd7 22.b5 h6 ) 19...b4! 20.xb4 xb4 21.a3 a6 22.axb4 ( 22.e2 c6 23.fd1 g7 ) 22...axb5 23.c3 xb4 With more than enough compensation after 24.xb5 g4; C3) 18.g2 b8 19.b5 d7! W it h good co mpe nsa tio ns f or Black because W hite will most probably be forced to play an open position with 2 knights against a strong pair of bishops in order not to preserve the key pawn on d4. ( 19...b4 20.xb4 xb4 21.a3 a6 22.axb4 axb5 23.c3 xb4 24.e3 ) 20.c5? xd4 21.xd7+ xd7 22.xd4 ( 22.xd7? f3+ ) 22...xb5 ] 15.g3 h3 16.g2 xg2? One mistake calling for another, Black completely loses the thread. After the obligatory 16...Kb8, W hite was better anyway, with the nice choice of playing against the opposite castles with 17. Na4 or against the structure with 17.f3. [ 16...f5 17.f4! xf1 18.fxd5 xd5 The only move. ( 18...a5 19.xe7+ xe7 20.d5+ b8 21.xa5 ) 19.xd5 d8 20.xe7+ xe7 21.xf1+- ] 17.xg2 b8 18.f3! f5 19.fxe4 fxe4
20.xf7 h5 21.f5 h4? [ 21...g5 22.cf1 ( 22.xg5 xg5 23.xh5? xd4 )] 22.xd5 xd5 23.xd5+- c7 24.e5 24.g4 is safer but everything wins anyhow. d6 [ 24...hxg3 25.h3 f8 26.xe4 f2+ 27.g1 ] 25.xe4 xg3 26.g4 xg4 27.xg4 [ 27.xg4 xh2 28.d5 g3+ 29.h1 xg4 30.xh2+ ] 1-0
2343 Ubezio,Marco Mazzariol,Oscar 3rd Weekend Novara ITA (6) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2195 2141 03.11.2002
Tromp: White chooses a relatively unexplored and interesting path in one of the main lines in the 2...e6 system. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 b4 6.d2 c5 7.e5 Most White players prefer 7.a3 here, but this appears to be just as good and has the benefit of the element of surprise. e7 8.a3 cxd4 [ 8...xc3 may well be better. ] 9.axb4 dxc3 10.xc3 0-0 11.b5 A useful move, gaining space and making Bla ck's de velop men t more awkwa rd . b6? This natural looking move is in fact a mistake. [ 11...d5 was essential and would have limited Black to a small disadvantage. ] 12.e2 b7 13.f3 Suddenly Black has serious problems on the queenside. c8?? Blind panic, when if he had been calmer, he would have realised that he still could have escaped with: [ 13...xf3! 14.xf3? ( 14.xf3! leaves White comfortably better.) 14...b4+ 15.c3 xb2 16.d1 d5 17.exd6 d7 allows Black to escape with a very reasonable position. ] 14.xb7 xc3 15.bxc3 Black will pay too dear a price for his extra queen. c5 16.e2 xb5 17.xa8 a5 18.f4 f6 19.exf6 d5 Black's point is that he wants to trap the W h i t e b i s h o p w i t h Q a 6 , b u t . . . 20.f5! dashes Black's hopes. e5 2289
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 20...a6 21.fxe6 xa8 22.f7+ f8 23.f4 and a White queen will reappear shortly. ] 21.fxg7 d7 22.0-0 The most aggressive. xe2 23.f6 c4 [ 23...xf6 24.xf6 xg7 was a better chance, although White is still on top after: 25.af1 ] 24.h1 c5 25.ad1! Deft play. White intends to utilise the e-file. d4 26.cxd4 exd4 27.de1 xf6 28.xf6 xc2 29.e4 c5 30.g6 Black is defenceless against the threat of Bd5 followed by Re8. 1-0
2344 Usiskin,Clive Adu,Oladapo US Amateur Team East (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2253 19.03.2000
O n e d - p a wn s p e c i a l t h a t I h a ve n o t ye t covered, is the opening with no name 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nd2. I su spe ct th at th e reason f o r t his anonymity is that nobody wants their name associated with such an unpromising system. Any takers out there? 1.d4 f6 2.d2 This is one d -pa wn sp ecial th at I can no t recommend. The threat of e4 is easily parried leaving the knight passively placed on d2. d5 3.e3 f5 4.c4 e6 5.b3 c8 The Black queen would normally feel uncomfortable on t h is s qu a r e , b u t t h e W h i t e r o o k s a r e a n extremely long way from the c-file. 6.gf3 c6 7.e5 d6 8.df3 0-0 9.d3 e4 Black, who already comfortably equalised, searches for ways to put pressure on the White position. 10.c2 bd7 11.0-0 c7 12.xd7 xd7 13.xe4 xe4 14.e5 c7 15.f3 f6 Black is mixing it up, hoping for a mistake. [ Instead 15...f6 16.f4 would leave Black slightly better due to his good bishop and the outpost on e4. ] 16.fxe4 White fatally allows the opening of the position, which Black's better development allows him to exploit. [ 16.g4 is the best option for W hite f5 ( 16...h5 17.fxe4 hxg4 18.g3 is definitely be tt er f or Black, b u t le aves W h it e wit h
fighting chances.) 17.fxe4 fxg4 18.xf8+ xf8 19.e5 And White is over the worst. ] 16...fxe5 The exposed White kingside proves very hard to defend. 17.d2 [ 17.g3 exd4 18.exd4 xg3 wins an important pawn as 19.hxg3 xg3+ 20.g2 xf1+ 21.xf1 f8+ 22.g1 e1+ 23.h2 f2 picks up the White queen. ] 17...exd4 18.exd4 xh2+ After this, the hideously exposed dark squares around the his king will haunt W hite for the rest of the game. 19.h1 g3 20.cxd5 Although he wa s a l r e a d y l o s t , t h i s wa s W h it e ' s f i n a l mistake. Perhaps he just wanted to get things over with. [ 20.c3 would stop Black's plan in the game, but that is unfortunately the only redeeming feature of the White position. ] 20...e7! R e s i s t a n c e i s f u t i l e ! 21.f3 W hat else ? h4+ 22.g1 h2+ 23.f1 xf3+ There is no way to prevent mate. 0-1
2345 A45 Vaganian,Rafael 2570 Cerbulenco,Liviu 2160 European Championship, Yerevan (1.90) [Richard Palliser] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.d3 cxd4 [ A move that I've tinkered with myself and the best option at this stage, along with 5...f6 . That solid retreat was seen in another game from the super-strong European Individual, where 6.c3 c6 7.d2 g4 8.gf3 e6 9.a4 ( 9.0-0 is Richard Pert's preference, and only if c8 10.a4!? - see R.Pert-Guthrie, 4NCL 2013, in the Archive) 9...d7 ( 9...c4!? 10.c2 d7 also seemed OK for Black in PrieSchaef er, Arvier 2007, wh ich was late r annotated for us by the eventual winner) 10.0-0 e7 11.c2 c4 12.e2 f5 ( 12...g5!? 13.g3 f5 14.e4 g6 combines play on both sides of the board, but also doesn't look so easy for White to counter ) 13.e4 g6 14.b3 b5 15.bxc4 bxc4 16.a4 c8 17.e5 dxe5 18.xe5 2290
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 0-0 saw Black maintaining comfortable equality in Grachev-Givon, Yerevan 2014. The early queen raid has been quite popular, but there's a good reason why it isn't Pert's recommendation. ] 6.xe4 [ The most popular choice, but Pert gives 6.exd4 an exclam. Then c6 7.xe4 dxe4 8.e2 leads into the note to White's 7th move, below. ] 6...dxe4 7.xd4 [ Vaganian opts to keep it simple against his lo we r-r a t e d o p p o n e n t . A m o re p o p u la r c h o ic e in re ce n t ye a rs h a s b e e n 7.exd4 when c6 ( 7...b6 8.c3 c6!? 9.ge2 g4 10.0-0 d8 is an important alternative, pressuring the d-pawn, as in I.SchneiderArnaudov, Austrian League 2014 the main point is 11.d5 e6 12.h3 h5 when even after 13.d2 f6!? 14.g3 f7 15.d6 d4 that d-pa wn is going to be rounded u p) 8.e2 e5!? ( otherwise, 8...g4 9.bc3 e6 has received a fair bit of attention in this column, such as with Vitiugov-Ding Liren, St Petersburg (rapid) 2012,; while 8...b6!? 9.bc3 would transpose to our last note) 9.dxe5 xd1+ 10.xd1 g5!? ( this looks like an important new try from our Brazilian columnist instead, in Wells-Visser, London 2006, 10...g4 11.bc3 0-0-0+ 12.c1 h6 13.e1 g5 14.d2 g7 15.xe4 xe5 16.c3 hadn't given Black quite enough for his pawn) 11.e3 ( a simple response moreover, it's not hard to blame White for wishing to avoid 11.xg5 g8 12.e3 xg2 when Black is very active, as shown by 13.d2 f5 14.g3 g4+ 15.e1 b4 , with a serious initiative) 11...xe5 ( 11...g7!? 12.bc3 xe5 13.xe4 h6 was a slower approach, but also one not without merit) 12.bc3 f5 13.b5! (Black has temporarily regained his pawn, but White now seizes the initiative, which helps to explain my interest in the last note) d7 14.xg5 g8 15.f4 g6 16.g3 f4!? was admirably active in GodartFier, Cappelle-la-Grande 2014. However, after 17.xf4 xf4 18.xf4 h6 19.g3 xf4 20.gxf4 c6 21.d4+ d5 22.c3 I can't believe that Black has quite enough f o r t wo p a wn s , t e n d e r t h o u g h W h i t e ' s
kingside and light squares are. ] 7...xd4 [ As I pointed out in my old (well, 2009) Trompowsky work, Black had thought he's f o u nd th e an swe r to th is line in 7...c6! 8.xd8+ xd8 9.c3 e5 . It would be interesting to know what Vaganian intended here, as the f irst playe r has ab solutely nothing from what I can see. ] 8.exd4 c6 9.e2?! [ A new move for ChessPub. Prioritising development is tempting, but there's a flaw. Previously, the sensible 9.c3 has been touched on by both Aaron and Eric, with e6 10.d2 f5 11.f3 covered by the former in Romero Holmes-Gulbas, Halkidiki 2002. ] 9...g4?! [ B l a c k m i s s e s h i s c h a n c e w i t h 9...b4 , which might have left W hite slightly redfaced. Following 10.d2 ( the problem with 10.a3 is that the knight can never really be evicted with c2-c3 on account of the resulting hole on d3 f5 11.0-0 c8 12.c3 e6 leaves Black with the two bishops and queenside pressure) 10...g4 11.bc3 d8 White can untangle with 12.ad1! , but Black must be at least OK after, say, xe2 13.xe2 e6 14.a3 d5 15.g3 c8 . ] 10.bc3 0-0-0 [ It's notable that the leading Spanish Trompowsky expert had this position before switching approach on move 9. His predecessor game ran 10...e6 11.0-0-0 b4 12.de1! f5?! 13.g3 g6 and now in Romero Holmes-Visser, W ijk aan Zee 2000, 14.gxe4 d8 15.a3 d5 16.xd5 xd5 17.c3 would have placed the onus on Black to demonstrate that his bishop-pair and minority attack fully compensate for the pawn. ] 11.0-0-0 g6? [ After 11...e6 12.h3 xe2 13.xe2 d6 Black would have retained equality, whereas the text allows Vaganian to assume the initiative and breathe more easily for the first time in the game. ] 12.d5! b4 [ The gaping hole on d6 means that Black also comes up somewhat short after 12...e5 13.dxe6 xd1+ 14.xd1 xe6 15.xe4 . ] 2291
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.d4 xe2 [ Meek and Black will soon lose material, but it's not hard to appreciate why he wasn't drawn to 13...xa2+ 14.b1 xc3+ 15.xc3 b6 ( 15...f5 16.c4+ d7 17.c7+ e8 18.xb7 g7 19.b5 is also rather promising for the first player) 16.xe4 when the threats of Rc4+ and Be5 aren't easy to parry. ] 14.xe2 xd5 [ Walking into a strong pin, but it's hard to view 14...a6 15.c4+ d7 16.xe4 as all that much of an improvement. ] 15.hd1 e6 16.c4?! [ Claiming two pieces for the rook, but I'm far f ro m c o n vin c e d t h i s wa s b e st . I n d e e d , 16.c4+ d7 17.c7+ e8 18.xb7 would have regained the pawn while maintaining a powerful initiative. Black's chances don't look too great here. ] 16...c5 17.cxd5 xd4 18.xd4 xd5? [ This hasn't been a great game and now White is able to regain the initiative. Correct was 18...exd5 when White would have had t o h a v e f o u n d 19.a4! ( 19.c3 b6 20.b5 b7 21.d6+ c6 22.xf7 df8 isn't so clear) 19...a6 20.a5! to maintain the upper hand. ] 19.c4+ d8 20.c3 f5 21.e3 The rook on h8 isn't playing and Cerbulenco will quickly have to pay for his exposed dark s q u a r e s a n d k i n g . d7 22.g4!? f3 23.xe4 h3 24.f6+ e7 25.g5 This is why the g-pawn initially advanced. The knight is a right pain in Black's side and he quickly collapses. d6 26.c3 e5? [ Presumably only now did Black notice 26...e5 27.f4+ f5 ( or 27...d6 28.c5+ ) 28.c5+ when his king would be out of squares. ] 1-0
shows himself to be adept in the murky lines of the 3.Bh4 Tromp. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 c6 An unusual and on the evidence of this game, a not particularly strong alternative to the more normal 3...c5. 4.d2 xd2 5.xd2 d5 6.f3 f5 7.0-0-0 d7 8.e4 Very robust. Encouraging to see a world class grandmaster who is willing to gambit a pawn in the opening, in return for the initiative. dxe4 9.c4 b6 10.b3 d7 11.fxe4 xe4 12.e2 d5 13.c4 Pushing Black back. e6 14.f3 f6 15.b1 g5 16.f2 g7 17.d5 The thematic breakthrough. cxd5 18.cxd5 f7 [ 18...xd5 19.he1 wins on the spot. ] [ 18...f5+ 19.a1 0-0 20.d6+ e6 21.d4 Is also very good for White. ] 19.he1 0-0 20.xb6 axb6 21.d4 a5 [ 21...fe8!? 22.g4 Leaves White with a pleasant bind. ] 22.xe7 g4 [ 22...xe7 i s n o h e l p 23.xe7 xd5 24.e6 xb3 25.xg7+ h8 26.axb3 and W hite would be a piece ahead after: e5 allowin g th e spe ct acular: 27.f7 ( 27.dd7 wins as well. )] 23.e6 e8 24.d6 A very energetic move, which seals Black's fate. f5+ [ 24...xe7 25.dxe7 and the passed pawn will shortly become a queen. ] 25.a1 f8 26.xe8 A fitting finish, as 26... Bxe8 is met by 27.Nd4+ regaining the queen with interest. 1-0
2347 Vallejo Pons,Francisco Svidler,Peter Rapid KO Leon ESP rapid (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2666 2733 04.06.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.d5 b6 2346 A45 5.c1 e6 6.f3 a5+! In comparison with the Vaganian,Rafael A 2667 more popular sequence 4.f3 Qa5+! forcing Moreno Carnero,Javier 2508 ( m o r e o r l e s s ) 5 . c 3 N f 6 6 . d 5 w h i c h w e Bundesliga 2002-3 (11) 09.02.2003 studied lately 6...e6 7.e4 or the interposed 6... Q b 6 7 . B c1 e 6 8 . c4 , re a c h i n g t h e s a m e [Aaron Summerscale] position as in game 1, the Black queen is Trompowsky: Vaganian, a world class GM much better placed on a5 than b6 or, if you re n o wn e d f o r h i s t h e o r e t i ca l k n o wl e d g e prefer, the white queen's bishop is obviously 2292
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 less active on c1 than, developed, on f4! 7.c3 [ 7.d2 f6 8.dxe6 dxe6 9.e4 c6 10.h3 e7 11.e2 0-0 12.0-0 e5 13.f2 d4 14.d3 c7 15.c3 e6 16.g3 g5 17.a4 e6 18.c4 ad8 19.b3 d7 20.h4 h3+ 1/2-1/2 Hodgson,J (2 5 6 5 ) - Hr a c e k, Z ( 2 6 1 5 ) B u n d e sli ga 1 1999 ] 7...f6 8.e4 Now, the support of the d-pawn by the way of c2-c4 comes up against the rules of chess.. . d6! [ 8...exd5? Now would be a mistake! 9.e5 And there is no Qb6-e6! ] 9.g5 e7 10.c4?! A move difficult to understand. [ 10.d2 exd5 11.exd5 0-0 12.c4 d8 ] [ 10.dxe6!? fxe6!? ( 10...xe6 11.a3 0-0 12.c4 ) 11.xf6 gxf6 ( 11...xf6 12.xd6 ) 12.f4 ] 10...b5! 11.e2 0-0 [ 11...xd5 12.xe7 xe7 13.xd6 ] 12.a3 a6 I must admit that I have rarely seen such a disastrous opening from White's point of view at this level of the game. 13.dxe6 [ 13.h3 exd5 14.xf6 ( 14.exd5 h6 15.h4 bd7 16.0-0 b6 ) 14...xf6 15.xd5 xh3 16.gxh3 d7 17.xd6 ad8 18.c2 ( 18.0-0 xc3 ) 18...e5 19.d5 c7 ] 13...xe6 14.h3 There is no good way for W h i t e t o c o m p l e t e d e v e l o p m e n t . xh3 15.gxh3 c6 16.g1 fe8 17.xf6? An hallucination. White must have ' o v e r l o o k e d ' B l a c k ' s 1 8 t h m o v e . xf6 18.xd6 e6 The name of Leon is remembered amongst others (also organizer of the 2001 European team championship which was won "-Cocorico!" by the French girls and where the boys finished on the 2nd step of the podium behind the Dutch...) for having promoted and hosted the concept of "advanced chess", implying the help of the machine. I guess it was another formula last year ...! [ 18...d4! Obviously Svidler saw this theme (See note on move 19) but rejected it for some reason when it seems to duly win the exchange. 19.0-0-0 ( 19.g2 e6 20.d5 xc3+ 21.bxc3 xc3+ 22.f2 xa1 ) 19...e6 20.d5 xg1 21.xg1 b4 22.cxb4 cxb4-+ ]
19.g3? [ 19.xc5 d4 ] [ 19.d2 d8 20.c1 Is absolutely dreadful for White but at least is he a pawn up! ] 19...xc3+ [ 19...xc3+ 20.bxc3 xc3+ 21.f2 d4+ 22.g2 ( 22.f1 xa1+ 23.g2 xa2 ) 22...g6 ] 0-1
2348 Van Ruitenburg,Joost Overeem,Marc 3rd ACT Amsterdam NED (9) [Andrew Martin]
A45 2315 2243 23.07.2006
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 A discredited variation which has the habit of occasionally surfacing with devastating eff ect. Among Grandmasters it is only Bellon Lopez who has consistently championed 3 Bh4. c5 4.f3 g5 5.fxe4 gxh4 6.e3 h6 This is the most critical line of course. 7.d2 One of Bellon's wacky inventions. Well, anything rather than play 7 Kf2?!. Qh5 features prominently in the mix and 7 Nd2 naturally dissuades ...Qb6. xe3 He whips off that pawn. [ 7...d5 must also be carefully considered that would be my main worry as White. ] 8.d5 d4?! What an odd move, but this position has its own laws. [ 8...c7 9.gf3 f4 is being suggested to me by my silicon friend, but isn't White OK after 10.c3 g8 11.a4 and then castles next. It's tough for Black to get his pieces out. ] 9.c3 f6 10.h5! Now I begin to believe in White's compensation. d6 11.gf3 g8 12.e5! dxe5 13.0-0-0 If one plays this line as white, one has to be prepared to make such moves. Besides, our hero Bellon has been here before, as you can see. g4N [ After 13...a5 14.xe5 xe5 15.xe5 d7 16.e3 f6 ( 16...xa2 17.e1! ) 17.c4 White has massive compensation. The rest of this game is fun! g4 18.d6 e6 19.df1 d7 20.h3 h5 21.xe6 0-0-0 22.c4 a6 23.xc5+ b8 24.c7+ a8 25.xd7 e2 26.f4 xd7 27.xd7 xc4 28.c7 xa2 29.xc4 a6 30.d7 2293
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a1+ 31.c2 xg2+ 32.d3 1-0 Bellon a5+ 10.d2 xd2+ 11.xd2 dxc4 Lopez, J-Dworakowska, J/Stockholm 1999 ] 12.xc4 g7 13.c3 might be a tad better 14.xh7 h8 15.e4 h5 16.d6! for White in a rather Grunfeld-like setting) A very powerful and convincing move. c6 8.hxg3 g4 9.d2 f6 10.e2 c6 11.e4 17.b5 dxe4 12.0-0-0 f5 ( sensibly avoiding [ 17.c4! seems crushing too. ] becoming embroiled in the likes of 17...b6 18.a4 12...xd4 13.dxe4 e5 14.xf6+ exf6 [ 18.d7+ d8 19.a4+- ] 15.b5! ) 13.dxe4 e6 14.f3 g7 15.fxg4 18...g6 19.e3 exd6 20.c4 c7 xe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.xe4 d5 21.xd6! Ugh! g7 22.xc5 3 Bh4 is dead, a draw was already looking pretty likely in long live 3 Bh4! Rapport-Aronian, Wijk aan Zee 2014. ] 1-0 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 d6 6.d3 e5 7.e2 d8!? [ Richard Pert's sterling research had 2349 A45 appeared to point towards White having the upper hand in this key line of the Van Wely,Loek 2672 Trompowsky, but perhaps this rare move is Giri,Anish 2734 the one which will save Black. The main line, Wijk aan Zee (3.6) 13.01.2014 as we've seen several times before, is 7...g6 [Richard Palliser] 8.0-0 g7 9.f4 e7 , but Giri has an even more solid set-up in mind. ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 For the second time in three e7 Not as active a square as g7 for years at Wijk, Van Wely is happy to surprise 8.0-0 the bishop, but now f4-f5 won't hit g6 and his young compatriot with the Tromp. e6 0-0 [ Just a quick reminder that 2...c5 3.xf6 threaten to open lines against f7. 9.f4 This seems sensible and provokes gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 f5 6.g3 g7 7.c3 10.d2 f6!? 8.e3 a6 9.e2 c7 10.f4 Giri into central action. Alternatively: [ a) 10.fxe5?! dxe5 11.dxe5?! c5+ favoured White in Van Wely-Giri, Wijk aan 12.h1 c6 would just be plain terrible for Zee 2012 - see the Archive. ] White. ] [ B a c k a t t h i s y e a r ' s W i j k , 2...d5 [ b) 10.f5 f6! 11.d2 exd4 12.cxd4 c5 was preferred in another third round gives Black excellent counterplay on the encounter and after 3.e3 bd7 4.f3 h6 dark squares. ] ( logical, but not the only logical or decent move with, for instance, 4...g6 5.bd2 g7 10...exd4 [ Something of a concession, if far from 6.c3 0-0 taking play into a solid line of the terrible. Instead, 10...d7 11.c4 c6 Torre ) 5.f4 ( this fails to deter ...g5 of would leave both sides jockeying for position, course, 5.h4 could easily transpose, but with, I suspect, the chances approximately h e r e B l a c k a l s o h a s c5 , as in R.Perteven. ] Adams, British Championship, Canterbury 2 0 1 0 , w h e r e 6.dxc5 g5 7.g3 g7 11.xd4! [ The right recapture, giving the position a 8.bd2 h5 gave Black good counterplay) certain Philidor air. Instead, 11.cxd4 c5 5...g5 6.g3 e4 7.c3 ( a strange choice, 12.d5 d7 13.a4 e8 14.c4 b6 at least to my eye, but the young Hungarian looks like a decent enough version of a Grandmaster does like to go his own way Benoni for Black. ] and 7.c4 did turn out well for me in PalliserG.Pinter, British League 2011 here, as I've 11...e8?! [ It can't be right to weaken f7 so and, indeed, s h o w n b e f o r e , c5!? 8.cxd5 a5+ the rook soon returns. Black might well looks like the critical line, if not one which prefer to develop his queen's knight, while should be too scary f or the f irst player) 11...c5 was seen in the only previous test of 7...xg3 ( it makes sense to remove the t h e p o s i t i o n w h e r e 12.4f3 ( 12.c2 bis h o p, a lth o u gh 7...xc3 8.bxc3 c5 is another way of bringing a knight to e3) is a ls o lo gic a l en o u gh , wh e re u p o n 9.c4 2294
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 12...c6 13.h1 g4 14.c4 d7 15.e3 ae8 16.e1 left White for choice in Freeman-Deighton, British League 2013. ] 12.h5 Van Wely is quick to pinpoint the downside to Black's last. d7 13.c4 f8 14.e5! Leading in development it must be right for White to prise open the position, although even here Black isn't doing too badly unless he allows an e5-e6 hit. b6 15.b3 c5 16.exd6 [ Best. Instead, 16.f5 xf5 17.xf5 dxe5 18.ad1!? isn't anything for White, in view of exf4 19.xf4 ( or 19.xf4 d7 ) 19...g5 20.xf7+ h8 21.f2 e7 . ] 16...cxd4? [ Giri appears a little lax in this encounter. I may be being rather unf air though, as I suspect he saw the line 16...xd6 17.e4 ( 17.4f3! is the calm route to an edge, and if e6 18.xe6 fxe6 19.g3 followed by ganging up against e6) 17...c7 18.f5 xf5 19.xf5 c4 20.c2 and was concerned, but Black can defend thanks to g6 21.h3 d5! . That said, after 22.f5 White remains slightly for choice, ( and not 22.xh6? e3 23.f2 g4 . )] 17.dxe7 xe7 18.ae1 d8 19.e4 Black's position grows ever more uncomfortable, with f5-f6 very much on the cards. dxc3 20.f5!? [ At first I thought that this calm move was over hasty, but White, as well as Black, has hidden resources after it. That said, the calm 20.bxc3 would have left White doing pretty well: for example, e6 ( or 20...d7 21.f5 f6 22.xf6+ xf6 23.g6! d7 24.xf6 gxf6 25.e7 with a lasting edge) 21.f5 xb3 22.f6! ( 22.axb3 d5! isn't so effective ) 22...d5 ( 22...d5? 23.fxg7 xg7 24.g4+ h8 25.f6 terminates proceedings,; as does 22...e6 23.fxg7 xg7 24.e3 ) 23.fxg7 xh5 24.f6+ xg7 25.xh5+ g6 26.f6+! h7 27.axb3 with a clear plus thanks to Black's shattered kingside. ] 20...d4+ 21.h1 cxb2 Suddenly Black is two pawns ahead and his queen performs invaluable defensive duty backwards down the long diagonal. 22.f6 e6 The only move, but a good one at that. 23.fxg7?
[ It is here that Van Wely errs. It looks like 23.xe6! fxe6 24.f7+ h8 25.g5! cannot work f or W hite, but the machine shows that the twin threats of Qg6 and Nxe6 actually give him a decisive advantage, the main point being the remarkably calm d5 26.h4! , simply renewing the main threat. ] 23...xg7 24.f3?! [ An unusual case of the wrong rook. The same defensive resource saves Black from d i s a s t e r a f t e r 24.e3! , namely ac8 , and if 25.g3 c1 ( however, 25...xg3? isn't anywhere near as good as in the game o n a cco u n t o f 26.xh6! g7 27.f6+ xf6 28.xf6 c1 29.g5+ ) 26.xg7+ xg7 27.e5+ f6 28.g3+ h7 29.f4 xf1+ 30.xf1 c8 . However, this was still the right path for Van Wely as here White can continue to press, even if 31.c3 xb3 32.b1+ g7 33.xb2 e8 34.h3 f7 35.f2 e5 might well be a draw with best play. ] 24...ac8 [ Not the wrong rook this time, although 24...fc8 was also possible and after 25.g3 xg3 26.hxg3 c1 White must avoid 27.d1? as Black's king has the f8-square, ( and prefer 27.xe6! xe1+ 28.h2 fxe6 29.g6+ f8 30.f6+ g8 31.g6+ to draw. )] 25.g3 xg3 26.hxg3 c1 27.d1 [ O n c e a g a i n 27.f6+ g7 28.e5 came into the reckoning, but it transpires that White has no more than a draw after fc8 29.h5+ f8 30.h8+ e7 . ] 27...b1 28.xh6 Black is a whole rook ahead, but cannot avoid the perpetual. d5 29.g5+ h8 30.h6+ g8 ½-½
2350 Van Wely,Loek Giri,Anish Wijk aan Zee (7) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2692 2714 21.01.2012
1.d4 f6 2.g5!? This must have come as a surprise. As far as my research indicates, Van Wely has only ever employed the Tromp 2295
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 take W hite - see Aaron Summerscale's in blitz games. c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 notes to Sargissian-Froehlich, Linares 5.c1 f5 The players head down one of the 2001, for further coverage. ] most unbalanced and critical of all [ b) 7...e6!? is quite a principled move, but T r o m p o ws k y l i n e s . Q u i t e a n in t e r e s t i n g hasn't been tested much of late. Eric approach here is to advance the c-pawn to c4, covered it well in his notes to both Garcia as I've employed on a few occasions myself, Palermo-Nakamura, Buenos Aires 2003, but Van Wely is content with the older, tried and Prie-Berthelot, French League 2005. ] and tested method of blunting the long [ c) 7...d6?! , hoping to surround and win diagonal by placing the pawn instead on c3. t h e d - p a wn , a s k s t o o m u c h o f B l a c k ' s 6.g3 g7 7.c3 f6!? A rare move. I couldn't p o s i t i o n a n d a f t e r 8.g2 b5 9.f3 f ind an y m en t io n o f th is que en so rt ie o n ( 9.c2!? f4 10.h3! fxg3 11.hxg3 ChessPub, not to mention in W ells' classic might be even stronger) 9...f6 10.0-0 b7 work on the Tromp or even in my 'Starting 11.a3! White is doing pretty well - see Out' guide. Giri wants to keep the queen Re b e rs -G e u ri n k, He n ge lo 2 0 0 0 , in t h e active on the kingside before advancing his dArchive. ] and/or e-pawn. The alternatives: [ d) We'll cover a related approach to Giri's, [ a) 7...d6 has been Black's most popular namely 7...a6 8.g2 c7 , in Popovchoice of late and might be considered the Milliet. ] main lin e. That sa id, it allo ws W hit e t o develop his pieces to their ideal squares and 8.e3 [ This very natural move is already a novelty, after which just shows how rare 7...Qf6 has been A) I ' m n o t s o c o n v i n c e d b y 8.h3!? and likely with good reason, as we'll soon , as in Nilssen-Andersen, Danish League appreciate. Previously after 8.g2 d6 2012, where e6 9.f3 d7 10.a3 f6 9.d2 d7 10.a4 b6 11.h3 ( I prefer 11.c4 c7 ( 11...a6!? 12.e3 d7 11.c2!? and if a6 then 12.df3 13.c2 0-0 looks OK too for the second it may look like Black can exploit W hite's player ) 12.g5? ( maybe the machine is s l i g h t l y t a r d y d e v e l o p m e n t w i t h e6 right that White should undouble Black's , but after 13.h3! he surely doesn't want to pawns and hope to provoke weaknesses capture on d5 and wreck his structure, and with the slightly unnatural 12.dxe6!? fxe6 yet otherwise something like e5 14.h4 e4 13.f4 e5 14.h4 ) 12...0-0 13.e3 15.0-0 followed by f3 should see the position was all rather too ambitious by White and opening to W hite's advantage) 11...h5! after e4 14.h4 b6! 15.g5 (just in time to gain some cou nterplay) (going all-in, but what else to do?) xg5 12.c2 h4 13.f4 hxg3 14.hxg3 b7 16.xg5 xb2 17.0-0 xc3 18.ad1 White hadn't got his knights quite where he would he really have had enough for his wanted them and Black was surely OK in pawns? I somewhat doubt it; Ionescu-Goriachnik, Trier 2002. ] B) 8.g2 d7 9.d2 f6 ( if Black wa n t s t o e m p l o y t h i s l i n e , h e s h o u l d 8...a6 9.e2 c7 10.f4 h6 [ This tempo loss isn't ideal, but quite c o n s i d e r t h e u n s t e r e o t y p e d 9...e5!? possibly Black was a little worse in any case. 10.gf3 g6 as advocated by Yelena My suspicion is that despite his meteoric rise Dembo in her generally excellent 'Fighting to 2700+, Giri had never fully studied this t h e A n t i - K i n g ' s I n d i a n s ') 10.h3 variation and that his seventh move was the ( the normal move I'm not so convinced by product of over the board inspiration. An 10.c2 d7 11.c4 , since what does alternative was 10...d6 , but af ter 11.c2 the knight achieve here, bar a small tempo e6 12.g2 I'm not too sure what Black's up gain moreover, ... b5 is on its way and in to. Van W ely might have met h6 with Tugui-Parligras, Romanian Team 13.c4 , ( but I think I prefer 13.dxe6! fxe6 Championship 2011, a6 12.e3 e6 14.0-0 . Again White's play might be 13.h3 h5! gave Black promising play) described as anti-positional, but this whole 10...h5!? 11.c2 I would slightly prefer to 2296
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 positionally complex variation does not subscribe to normal rules! Now an exchange on f4 would only help White after exf4, but otherwise the key pawn breaks belong to White: e3-e4 and c3-c4 whether or not Black goes ...d5. )] 11.c4!? [ Better late than never! Van Wely is used to pushing his c-pawn to c4 on move 2 and now decides the time is finally right to gain some useful space. One might also make a d e c e n t c a s e f o r 11.g2 d6 12.a4 , keeping Black's counterplay under control and maintaining a pleasant edge. Perhaps I should even have awarded Black's 7th move a dubious symbol! ] 11...d6 12.c3 d7 13.e2 Revealing a small downside to the ambitious plan commenced by c3-c4, W hite must keep an eye on the ...b5 break which could prove annoying. a6 14.a4! Wisely continuing to restrain ...b5. Giri is now forced to passively await events and cannot have been happy with his position. b6 15.h5 g6 16.f3 Little by little White improves his pieces and begins to turn the screw. b8 17.e2! f8 [ As ever tactics are bubbling just under the surface while the players manoeuvre here 17...b5? wasn't advisable on account of 18.axb5 axb5 19.a7 c8 20.c3 g8 21.a5 with a monstrous initiative for White. ] 18.d2 a5! This accepts that Black is unpleasantly worse, but was a good decision. It won't be so easy for White to break through on the kingside and in the centre, and now there's no longer any danger of a timely a4-a5 or b2-b4 break. 19.0-0 [ The obvious choice, but I can't help but wonder whether Petrosian wouldn't have b e e n a t t ra c t e d t o 19.d1!? , intending something like Nef4 and Kc2-b3-a3. OK, Black might go ...b5 and sacrifice a piece, but that shouldn't work and with the king pretty safe on a3 White might then turn his attention to engineering e3-e4. ] 19...d8 20.fe1! Unsurprisingly Van Wely has spotted the main pawn break and gets on with opening the position. e8 21.ef4 g8 There wasn't much choice here, but Giri is continuing to defend well, refusing to panic
and create further weaknesses. 22.e4 h8 [ Hoping to annoy White by reminding him of his small weaknesses on b2 and d4. The alternative was 22...fxe4 23.xe4 g7 , but White had arranged to meet this with 24.e6+! fxe6 25.xh6 xh5 26.xh5 , retaining something near to a clear advantage in my view: h7 is pretty weak, while Black is yet to solve the problems down the e-file or over his king position. ] 23.e2 [ At first I wanted to go 23.exf5!? xf5 24.e6+ ( doubling or even trebling on the ef i l e a f t e r 24.a3 is likely a better policy) 24...fxe6 25.xh6 here too, but after e5 26.e4 xe4 27.xe4 f5 28.h4 g8 Black's defence turns out to be unexpectedly tough. White has no more than a small plus here. ] 23...b7 24.e5! Giri has defended stoutly and n o w V a n W e ly d e cid e s h is b e st t ry is t o remove the queens. The text initially seems somewhat misguided, but White will continue to dominate after it, whereas Black's defence would have been easier after the alternatives: [ a) 24.exf5 xf5 25.e4 is a logical try to open the position, but after g6! and then, say, 26.ad1 g7 27.d3 xh5 28.xh5 c8 Black remains solid enough. ] [ b) 24.d3!? (angling for e4-e5 and then to recapture with the knight) fxe4 25.xe4 continues to leave Black quite tied down. After c8 (to facilitate ...Ng7) 26.hf4 f6 27.e2 f5 28.a3 Black's pieces suddenly appear quite active, but W hite has everything under control. One possibility is Ng2, keeping Black on his toes for any light-square invasion after Nh4 Bc8 Be4 and a piece to f5, while also enabling the other knight to gradually regroup via c1 and a2 to c3 and then perhaps b5. ] 24...xe5 25.xe5 dxe5 26.xe5 d6 This is the downside to the decision to break in the centre, but even here W hite retains m o r e t h a n a p l e a sa n t p u l l t h a n k s t o h i s superior structure and more active pieces. 27.b3 g8! The young Dutch star continues to defend grimly but well. 28.ae1 f8 29.5e3 b8 30.h4 c7 31.d1! Improving his worst-placed piece, but is White going to be able to break the solid defence? 2297
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e8 32.c2 d8 33.3e2 [ I'm not too sure what was wrong with the immediate 33.d3!? , simply preparing Ne5xd7 and Bxf5+. The machine suggests that Black will defend with g6 ( 33...h6!? 34.f3 f4 may have been the line which put off Van Wely after 35.dxf4 g4 36.d3 f5 and ...Nd4 White's knights are tied d o wn a n d B la c k h a s s o m e p l a y f o r h i s pawn ) 34.e5 h6 , but this looks ugly and 35.f4 g7 would have left Black's rook rather offside. ] 33...g4 34.h2 g8 35.f3 c7 36.d3 It feels to me rather as if these moves were played under the influence of a bit of time trouble. Van Wely now hits on the right plan, but even slamming the knight into e5 does not c om plete ly b re ak Giri's po sition . g6 37.e5 h6 38.xd7 [ Maybe 38.f4!? to incarcerate the rook again. Then one plan would be to try and advance the g-pawn. Van Wely's approach is hardly a bad one, however. ] 38...xd7 39.g4! e6! A timely bid for freedom and one which saves Black's position from collapse just in the nick of time. 40.e5 [ Increasing the pressure little by little. I n s t e a d a f t e r 40.f4 e5! ( but not 40...xh4+? 41.g3 h6 42.dxe6+ fxe6 43.g5 when the rook is cornered) 41.xe5 xe5 42.xe5 fxg4 43.fxg4 xh4+ 44.g3 h1 Black would surely have been OK, ] [ while there was no time for 40.g3 e7 41.h1? on account of exd5 and if 42.cxd5? xh4+! . ] 40...e7 Irritating White on h4 as the bishop prepares to take up a slightly more active role on d8. 41.h3 d8 42.1e2 f8 43.d3 Playing in plus-equals mode (although White's advantage is somewhat larger than that), or doing nothing if you prefer. And why should White hurry? Black is the side with the passive defence and rather misplaced rook, and should he make a misguided break from freedom... fxg4+ [ Forcing the pace. However, White will continue to grind away after this, so maybe Black too should have passed and asked W hite just what he was up to after 43...c7!? . ] 44.fxg4 exd5 45.xd5 c7!
[ 45...f5? is just the sort of tempting but rash breakout Black had to avoid: 46.xf5+ xf5 47.gxf5 xh5 doesn't suddenly turn the tables as it's White who wins material and the game after 48.e6 e7 ( or 48...c7 49.g4 ) 49.xe7+! xe7 50.f6+ . ] 46.f5 g8 47.e3 f8 48.ee5 Continuing to probe in what must have been quite a grudge match. Van W ely, the longtime Dutch no.1, being up against his recent successor, the immensely talented Giri. g8 49.c2! Black wasn't going to trade on f5, so White regroups the bishop and switches to probing with g4-g5. f8 50.d1 e8 [ Despite my praise of Giri's tenacious defence, there can be no doubt that Van Wely has ground well and now has Black on the ropes. The text prepares to exchange both pairs of rooks, which is logical enough and besides it's hard to find much better: 50...e6 51.f4 xe5 52.xe5 again leaves h7 extremely vulnerable, ] [ while only a machine would feel co m f o r t a b le c u rl in g u p in t o a b a l l wit h 50...h8 51.g5 g6 52.f4 gg8 when 53.d2! suddenly creates strong threats in the centre. ] 51.xe8 xe8 52.g5 d6 [ Easy to criticise, but Black's activity would have been short-lived after 52...e6 53.f4 e3+ 54.g2 e4 : 55.f3 d6 56.c2 e8 57.h5 h8 and now 58.xh7!? ( or just 58.e5 ) 58...xh7 59.g6 fxg6 60.e6+ is a surprisingly fiendish tactic. ] 53.xd6 xd6 54.c2 Black might have got the rooks off, but that's the end of the good news as White is about to obtain a powerful passed pawn. f6 55.g6! [ An excellent decision. White spurns materialism to maintain much the more active pieces while setting up an outside passed pawn. Giri was no doubt hoping for 55.g4 fxg5 56.hxg5 e5 57.xh7 d4 58.c2 e5 when it's not so easy to breach Black's defences and blockade after ( but not 58...c3 59.d1 d2? 60.f3 c3 61.c6 and the blockade is broken) 59.f4 g7 60.d5 e6 61.g6 g7 . ] 55...hxg6 56.xg6 c7 57.f5 e6 [ Black is dominated after this, but so would h e h a v e b e e n i n t h e e v e n t o f 57...e5 2298
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 58.g3 ( not 58.g4? e8 ) 58...e7 is quite rare, largely because it makes it ( 58...e8 59.h5 d6 60.h6! leaves the hharder for White to prevent ...b5 with a2-a4. pawn too far advanced) 59.d7! f8 However, that doesn't have to be the end of 60.g4 . ] the world and d7 9.c2 ( 9.c4 d8 58.xe6 xe6 59.g7+? 10.a4 f6 11.d1 b6 should be very [ Quite possibly low on time, Van Wely falls comfortable for Black) 9...f6 10.b5+! for a trick and throws away his hours of f8 11.d1 a6 12.e2 c7 13.h3 b5 patient hard work. Correct was 59.f4+ f5 14.0-0 b8 15.f4 e5 16.h5 xh5 60.d5 to restrict the bishop and after g6 17.xh5 e7 18.e2 gave chances to 61.g4 f5+ 62.g3 f7 63.h5 g5 both sides in Torre-Nava, Philippine 64.xb6 e6 65.d5 e5 66.f3 Championship, Boracay 2012. ] while some work remains, White really ought 6...g7 Natural development, but by no to win. ] means forced: 59...e5 60.g4 [ a) 6...h6!? 7.e3 f4 8.exf4 xf4 9.xf4 [ In the event of 60.h5 f5 61.h6 f6 xb2 10.e2 xa1 11.ec3 d6 the black king would have made it back just ( 11...b2? 12.d6 c2? 13.e3 in time. ] already led to Black's resignation in one 60...f5+! 61.xf5 xh4! The problemo. classic Trompowsky win, namely W ellsWhite will land up a knight ahead, but with no Shirov, Gibraltar 2006 Black really does way of saving his queenside. 62.xh4 d4 need to know his theory if he's going to grab 63.f3 c3 64.e3 xb3 65.d3 xa4 the exchange) 12.d2 g8 is the critical 66.c3 b5! line. Current theory seems to be of the view [ Liquidating the final pawn. Black mustn't that Black should be able to survive, but in become too ambitious, however, and practice his position is not so easy to handle. 66...a3?? 67.f5 a4 68.e3 a2 Now 69.c2 a3 70.d5 a1 71.c3 A) a n d W h i t e c a n a l s o g o 13.e2 places him in a f atal zugzwang, with a2 , as in Martinovic-Zelbel, Pula 2012: 72.e4 b5 73.cxb5 c4 74.c5 c3 A1) c r i t i c a l , o f c o u r s e , b u t 13...a6! 75.b3# one pretty enough finish. ] is a sneaky and much better move when ½-½ White should probably push the g-pawn after all, since 14.0-0 h3! is quite awkward, with 15.e1 ( 15.f3? d7 2351 A45 16.a3 e5 reveals Black's main idea, u n d e r p i n n e d b y t h e k e y l i n e 17.e4 Van Wely,Loek 2679 xg2 18.xa1 xe4+ 19.f1 d3+ L'Ami,Erwin 2627 20.e2 g1+! 21.xg1 f3+ ) Wijk aan Zee (4.1) 15.01.2013 15...xg2+ 16.h1 g6 17.a3 g2+ [Richard Palliser] 18.g1 xd5+ 19.f1 g2+ 20.g1 xe1+ 21.xe1 c6 unbalanced but 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 su re ly go o d f o r B la ck, a s sh o wn b y 5.c1 f5 6.c4 Yelena Dembo during some pioneering [ White decides to advance his c-pawn after research undertaken for her 'Fighting the all and such a policy is gradually becoming Anti-King's Indians'; more popular than the traditional approach A2) 13...xg2? 14.f3 g6 15.e2 in this variation where White blunts Black's g4 ( I've criticised this before, but am unopposed dark-squared bishop by placing n o l o n g e r c o n v i n c e d t h a t 15...b5!? his pawns on c3 and e3. Last year at Wijk is an improvement after 16.cxb5 a6 Van Wely had opted for that plan and 6.g3 17.b6 what on earth does Black do next g7 7.c3 f6!? 8.e3 was his game with wh i l e Rc 1 a n d N a 3 is o n t h e wa y ?) Giri which I annotated at the time. ] 16.c1 d7? ( meek 16...c6 17.dxc6 [ Of course, it's possible too to begin with e6+ must be more challenging, 6.e3 g7 7.c3 , b u t t h e n d6 8.a3!? 2299
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ a) 9.h3 e5! 10.c2 ( 10.f4 h5!? although after 18.f1 xf3 19.cxb7 seems fine for Black: for instance, 11.h4 b8 20.a3 xc1+ 21.xc1 xb7 b4 12.d3 a5 13.xe5 xe5 14.c2 22.c2 White was still for choice in Weild7 15.d3 e6 with easy and decent G.Diez, Bad Homburg 2007 he is counterplay) 10...g6 11.e2 d7 12.0-0 currently quite tied down, but the 0-0-0 13.a3 dg8 14.h1 h5 was typically imminent activation of the queen will hard to assess in Sedlak-Milanovic, qu i c k l y d i sr u p t B la c k 's a c t i vi t y a n d Serbian Championship, Vrnjacka Banja probably pick up the key pawn on h7) 2012, but my suspicion is that Black has 17.xg4 xg4 18.a3 xc1 19.xc1 enough counterplay on the kingside. ] 0-0-0 20.h6 left White's queen and [ b) 9.e2?! f6 10.c2 e4! 11.xe4 knight somewhat superior to Black's fxe4 12.b1 a5+ 13.f1 was Curienrooks and two extra pawns.; Edouard, Biel 2012, and now the rapidlyB) 13.g3 was covered in two 1994 improving French Grandmaster might well Aleksandrov games by Eric, ] have gone in f o r xa2!? 14.xe4 a5 [ b) 6...b4+ 7.c3 ( 7.d2 g7 8.b1 15.c2 d7 with easy and good play on the d6 9.a3 a5 10.g3 d7 11.gf3 b5! queenside. ] gave Black early and good counterplay - see Eric's notes to V. Kovacevic-Stevic, Mravinci 9...a5 [ L'Ami wants to keep his knight's options 1995, in the Archive) 7...xc4 8.e4 b4 open. Instead if 9...f6 White is now in time 9.a3 a5 10.exf5 g7 is another rather for 10.d3 e4 ( 10...e5 11.dxe6!? fxe6 critical line. Black has acquired certain 12.f3 d7 13.0-0 0-0 14.e4 was similar positional trumps, but his development and in W ells-S.Ledger, Southend 2003, but king situation are a cause for concern. I'd B l a c k s h o u l d r e a l l y h a v e g o n e l o n g) certainly be happy enough as W hite here 11.ge2 and xc3 12.bxc3! e6 13.0-0 and for more coverage do see the notes to d8 14.dxe6! fxe6 15.e4 saw him seizing Nyman-Bern, correspondence 1994. ] a s t r o n g i n i t i a t i ve i n R o m e r o H o l m e s [ c) 6...f6 echoes Giri's play, but 7.e3 a6 Reinaldo Castineira, Spanish Championship, 8.c3 c7 9.d3 g8 10.g3 b5!? Torrevieja 1997. ] 11.cxb5 b7 12.c4 g4 13.f4 g7 14.d2 failed to give Black enough for his 10.h3! [ The knight is en route for f4 which makes a pawn in Neuman-Kislinsky, Stare Mesto lot of sense to me, but seems to be new 2012. ] here. Of course White could also begin with [ d) 6...d6 can easily transpose to our main 10.ge2 ] game, but Black doesn't have to hurry to [ and 10.f3 was once McShane's choice fianchetto. That said, after 7.c3 d7 8.e3 a n d h a s se e n a f a ir b it o f t e s t in g. I t i s f6 9.c2 perhaps he should, since e5 directed against the black knight coming to 10.g3 h5 11.f3! e4 12.h4 g4 13.e2 e5, but doesn't prevent it, as L'Ami had g7 14.a3 d7 15.g2 e5 16.h3 f6 previously showed: e5! 11.xe5 dxe5 17.h4 a6 18.0-0 d8 19.ab1 left White 12.0-0-0 d7 13.e2 a6 gave Black quite opening the queenside and in charge in a dynamic set-up and decent enough Nguyen Van Hai-Ni Hua, Ho Chi Minh City co u n t e rch a n ce s in M. Nie lse n -E . L 'A m i , 2012. ] Helsingor 2012. ] 7.c3 d6 8.e3 d7 Black's play appears quite natural so far and this position has been 10...b6 [ This pretty much commits Black to a Nimzore a che d a f e w tim e s in p ra ct ice , b ut t h e l i k e e xc h a n g e o n c 3 , b u t L ' A m i ' s p l a n second player should not be so routine: he is doesn't work out too well. Instead 10...e5 going to struggle to obtain sufficient may appear more natural, but after 11.e2 counterplay. 9.c2 Best according to Wells d7 12.0-0 White has quick development and certainly a natural move, although not and while ...e6 shouldn't prove too everyone has been keen to play it quite so challenging, Black might well be troubled by quickly: 2300
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 a3 and b4, or f4 followed by e4. ] [ Another quite critical line must be 10...f6 , but after 11.d3 ( 11.f4 e4 12.c1 xc3 13.bxc3 d7 14.d3 e6 15.h5 is often a key resource in this structure, but here g8 16.xg7+ xg7 17.0-0 0-0-0 doesn't seem so clear) 11...e4 ( 11...e6 12.0-0 d7 13.a3 also leaves White well placed to seize the initiative) 12.c1 xc3 13.bxc3 e6 14.0-0 White must be doing quite well and may well again go in for a rapid opening of the centre. ] 11.d3 d7 12.0-0 xc3 [ A big decision, but what else to do with f5 en prise? Note too that 12...e6 would again be met by a familiar device: 13.dxe6 fxe6 14.e4 . ] 13.bxc3 e6 [ In an ideal world Black would like to keep t h e p o s i t i o n c l o s e d , b u t a f t e r 13...a4 White has a few good options, including just 14.b2 ( 14.e2 g8 15.h5!? is a more direct idea, and if xc4 16.g5 g7 perhaps 17.e6 ) 14...0-0-0 15.ab1 when the plan is Qe2, Rb3 and Qb2. ] 14.dxe6! This strong exchange certainly shouldn't have come as a surprise by now. fxe6 15.e4 fxe4 16.xe4 Taking stock after something of a structural transformation we can see that White has seized the initiative and, indeed, L'Ami can't have been feeling too comfortable around here. 0-0-0 [ 16...a4!? was a logical alternative, attempting to bring Black's queen back into play. That said, W hite has a few ways to retain the upper hand even here and after 17.d2 0-0-0 ( 17...xc4? 18.g5 traps the black king in the centre) 18.xd6 xc4 19.e5 White's safer king surely ought to count for something. ] 17.g5 hg8? [ Having coming under pressure, L'Ami ditches the exchange to remove the pesky knight and bring his queen back into play, but he won't obtain enough for it. No doubt the younger of the two Dutchmen wasn't entirely happy with 17...df8 , but after, say, 18.xh7 ( perhaps White should prefer 18.d3 , possibly followed by Rab1, Rfe1 and Ne4 in some order) 18...f7 19.ab1 a6 it's not so easy for White to maintain
control, as shown by 20.g5 g7 21.f4 xc4 22.g3 a4 , beginning to overload the white pieces. ] 18.f7 xc4 19.xd8 xd8 20.e2! Van Wely sees no reason to pocket the h7pawn and allow Black some play. Instead he improves his pieces, takes control of the centre and prevents Black from obtaining any real counterplay. d5 21.d3 d6 22.e3 c4 23.xh7 Only now. Black can continue to thrash, but now it's a whole exchange and by th is st age L 'A m i wa s ra th e r re lyin g o n a swindle. h8 24.c2 c7 25.fe1 [ Continuing to improve his pieces, rather than allow Black some play with 25.xa7?! h4 26.h3 g8 . ] 25...f6 26.a4 h6 [ A sign of desperation, but what else to do with both black minor pieces remaining rather forlorn in the case of 26...h4 27.h3 .] 27.e5 Slightly cheeky, but then again why shouldn't W hite exchange queens on his terms? h5 28.xh5 xh5 29.g4! Grandmasterly technique. Observe how Van Wely first deploys his pawns to restrict Black's pieces, then improves his king and only then pushes the h-pawn. h4 30.f3 b5 31.g2 h8 32.g3 a5 Finally Black has a threat, but the h-pawn is going to be even more important than the resulting passed a-pawn. 33.axb5 xb5 34.e3 a8 35.a4! d6 36.h4 xa4 37.xa4 b7 38.h5 c5 39.a2 d6 40.f4 a4 41.h6 e7 42.g5 f7 43.g4 e4 [ The pawns steam home after this, but 43...g6 44.e5! a6 45.f5+ exf5+ 46.xf5 scarcely counts as an improvement. ] 44.h3 g8 45.g6 h8 46.f5 exf5+ 47.xf5 a3 48.e5 a6 49.h7! [ 49.h7 xg6 50.xa3 leaves Black undone on the back rank. ] 1-0
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2352 A45 Van de Griendt,Jan 2317 Schaefer,Markus 2404 European Club Cup, Rhodes (7.15) 26.10.2013 [Richard Palliser] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d6!? A rare choice, if not a terrible one for players with so m e e xp e rie nce o f t h e P irc a n d/ o r Philidor. 4.d3!? Played after some thought, this is a pretty rare response. More often White has preferred one of: [ a) 4.d2 is Pert's recommendation when f6 5.e4 g6 6.gf3 g7 could be viewed as a Pirc, or as a London System where White has gained a tempo. That may not be anywhere near fatal for Black, but he should be a touch worse. ] [ b) 4.f3 f6 5.e4 is quite a critical line, since Black can no longer really head for a Pirc set-up. As such, bd7 ( 5...g6?! 6.c3 g7 7.d2 leaves White's extra tempo looking very useful indeed - see Aaron's notes to Atea-Shehata, Cairo 2002, in the Archive ) 6.c3 e5 7.e3 e7 reaches quite an important, Philidorish position. One fairly recent example saw 8.d2 0-0 9.0-0-0 c6 10.g4 b5 11.b1 b4 12.ce2 a5 13.c1?! ( 13.g3 looks more to the point) 13...exd4! 14.xd4 c5 15.f2 e8 16.h3 e5 with good c o u n t e r p l a y f o r B l a c k i n B a u e r - K o zu l , Istanbul Olympiad 2012. ] 4...f6 [ 4...f5?! 5.c3 should favour White, since e2-e4 is coming, as with d5 6.f3 d6 7.e4 .] 5.e4 g6 6.c3 g7 7.e2 An excellent move. W hite is a tempo up on a Pirc, but clearly that will be lost if he has to retreat his queen to d2. As such, van der Griendt avoids the hackneyed Qd2 and Bh6 plan for now and prepares to use his pawns to create some pressure on the kingside. c6 [ I can't blame Black for wanting to avoid 7...0-0 8.h4 ( or first 8.0-0-0 , as played in the only other test of the position af te r White's 7th move which I could find HennigSchoene, German League 1999, proceeded c6 9.f3 b4?! 10.d2 c5 11.dxc5 a5 12.a3 and now Black had to go dxc5
if he wanted to have any chance of justifying his ambitious play, better for White though 13.e5 g4 14.c4 does appear) 8...h5 9.0-0-0 . ] [ However, he can try to challenge in the centre after 7...0-0 8.h4 ( or 8.0-0-0 c6 9.f3 d5!? ) 8...d5!? , which is a device often seen in lines like the Spike Attack in the Pirc. Here 9.e5 e4 10.xe4 dxe4 11.xe4 f5!? 12.xb7 xd4 would have quickly plunged the board into total chaos. ] 8.d5 b8?! [ This is taking the tempi donation too far. The German IM had to go 8...e5 when 9.d2 c6 would have begun counterplay, wit h a re a s o n a b le e n o u gh p o s it io n f o r Black. ] 9.d2!? Now that Black has conceded a central wedge and further time, van de Griendt is h app y t o lose a litt le tim e h ims elf an d begins to probe on the kingside. 0-0 [ Not ideal, but I'm not sure there was anything greatly better as shown by the line 9...h6 10.f3 c6 11.0-0 when Black can't castle and White has a pretty pleasant edge. Quite simply Schaefer has wasted too much time in the opening. ] 10.h6 e6 Finally Black gets around to a ce n t r a l c h a ll e n g e , b u t W h i t e ' s a t t a c k i s already in full flow. 11.h4 exd5 12.h5!? Sensing his opponent's nervousness, the Dutch FM bravely ploughs straight ahead. e7? [ Very meek. From my seat next door I thought that the critical line was 12...dxe4! 13.hxg6 fxg6 14.c4+ h8 15.xg7+ xg7 16.h6+ h8 . Then after 17.ge2 followed by bringing the knight to f4 White would have enjoyed full compensation, but whether he can claim more than that isn't so clear. ] [ Moreover, if Black wanted to defend solidly why didn't he prefer 12...d4 13.xg7 xg7 14.xd4 c6 15.e3 e6 ? This still looks quite pleasant for White, but at least Black's development is better than in the game. ] 13.xg7 xg7 14.hxg6 fxg6 15.exd5 Following the bout of exchanges we can take stock and note that whilst Black isn't about to get mated, his position is pretty grim. Indeed, 2302
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White has the simple and strong plan of trying to land his king's knight on e6. bd7 [ Perhaps 15...a6!? was a better try, although after 16.0-0-0 c5 17.f3 f5 18.de1 all the trumps are with White. ] 16.0-0-0 e5 17.e1! Pretty much the killer move. Suddenly the pressure down the e-file becomes a further problem for Black and another slightly strange choice from Schaefer quickly leaves him in a pretty hopeless situation. d7?! 18.h3 f7 19.f4 g5 Covering the e6-square, but allowing a little tactic. Black was, however, pretty much lost by this stage in any case. 20.xg6! hxg6 21.xg5 g8 22.h4 f6 23.d3 g8 Resigning was perhaps more appropriate, but I dare say the German IM was in a state of shock after the mauling he'd received. 24.e4 xd5 25.h6+ f7 26.h3 a4 27.g5+ f6 28.f3+ [ Surely by now Black might have allowed the neat mate with 28.f3+ f5 29.e6# . ] 1-0
Jean-Claude MOINGT (the brand new President of the French Federation after the passing of the much regretted Jean-Claude LOUBATIERE) and I met Kasparov and asked him, as he was presumably interested in Clichy not losing the match against the superfavourites, if he could give us a tip on how to hold the draw with White against the man who was going to be his unfortunate challenger in the 1995 PCA W orld championship final in New-York. He had this wonderful answer: "Sorry, with W hite, I only know how to beat Anand"!! 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.d5 b6! 5.c1 e6 6.f3 a5+! [ 6...f6 7.c4 exd5 8.cxd5 c4 9.e4! Building a strong center as a rampart against the attack. In November, I inferred it could be the refutation of the black pawn sac. Since then, I found out (curiously from this order of moves, and consequently with a difference of one tempo), 2 other Grandmaster games where White stood fine out of t he open ing. c5 10.h3 d6 11.xc4 ( 11.d2!? Possibly even stronger See the game Lerner-Rajlich )) 11...xh3 2353 A45 12.gxh3 0-0 13.c3 "With a small white advantage" is given by the King himself in Van der Wiel,John TH 2520 INF 34 ... far back in 1982. Every time I Kasparov,Garry 2675 have analysed a game of a player of this Moscow Interzonal (11) 1982 calibre, especially if I was benefiting from [Eric Prié] the help of his own comments, I have felt 'enlightened'. ] 1.d4 f6 In my career I have been in contact with the 'Ogre of Baku' a couple of times - in 7.c3 f6 8.e4 d6! 9.a3 [ 9.d2 Is probably best then. b6 10.c4 the company of GM Marjanovic, we even xb2 11.c3 b6 12.f4 e5! 13.f5 d8 once lengthily discussed history... and since it ( 13...h5 Would have amazingly transposed is almost unhoped for to see the World no.1 into Howell's game from November!) 14.f3 player appear in this section, I have a good ( 14.g4!? ) 14...g6 15.d3 e7 16.0-0 anecdote to tell about his approach to the bd7 17.b1 h6 18.fxg6 fxg6 19.h4 game. It was in 93 on the occasion of the final f8 20.c2 f7! 21.f3 g7 22.a4 of the French League. At that time the With only positional compensation for White enormous means of Lyon, 2 times European due to the opposing difficulties in using his champion were drawing the quality of the extra pawn. Szymanski,M (2327) -Ni Hua competition upward. And the ambitious club (2369) Ol U18 Artek 1999 1/2 (37) ] of Auxerre, which was that season in contention for the title with my club Clichy, 9...exd5 10.exd5 e7 11.c4 d8 12.e3 recurrent second behind Lyon, had hired the 0-0 13.e2?! [ 13.d3 bd7 14.e2 e5 15.0-0= undisputed reigning World Champion in a sort Kasparov,G like the rest of the notes except of 'arms race'. So it was on the morning of the when mentioned. ] decisive encounter against Lyon when I was destined to be 'sacrificed' with White on top 13...e8 14.g4? frivolously gaining space on board against Anand. At breakfast, my captain the kingside to the detriment of the, always 2303
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 primordial, security of the king. [ 14.g3 With the idea Be2= ] 14...fd7! 15.g3 [ 15.g2 e5 16.0-0 g5! 17.g3 ( 17.f4 xg4! ) 17...xe3+ 18.xe3 xg4 19.fxg4 xe3 ] 15...g5 16.f2 e5 17.b5 [ 17.h4 xe3+ ( 17...xh4 18.f4 g6 19.g5 Eric ) 18.xe3 f6! 19.g5 ( 19.g5! Eric g4+ 20.g1 e5 21.f2 xf2 22.xf2 ) 19...xg4+ 20.g1 e5-+ ] 17...d7 18.xd7 bxd7 19.ef5 c4!-+ 20.h5? Kasparov only gives the main line of the analysis [ 20.xg5 xg5 A) 21.g2 At the start, Fritz believes he can hold with this defensive move but r a p i d l y b e c o m e s d i s i l l u s i o n e d . d3 22.e4 xe4! 23.fxe4 7e5 24.h4 f4 25.e2 g6 A1) 26.d4 xg4 27.h3 e8! 28.f1 xe4 29.xf4 xf4+ 30.f3 xe2 31.xe4 f5+ 32.f3 ( 32.xf5 f2+ ) 32...g1+ 33.g3 xh3 34.xh3 a6; A2) 26.xd6 d8! 27.b5 ( 27.af1 xd6! The point in many sub variations.; 27.xc4 xc4 28.xd3 e3+; 27.xb7 b8 28.a5 xb2 ) 27...xg4; B) 21.xd6 d3+ B1) 22.f1 e1+; B2) 22.g1 e3+ 23.g2 f2+ 24.h3 f4+ 25.h4 g2 26.xe8 h6! 27.f1 ( 27.xg7 h3# ) 27...g5#; B3) 22.g2 f4+ 23.f2 ( 23.f1 e3 24.h4 d8 25.xc4 d3 26.d2 e5; 23.g1 e5 24.ge4 h6 25.xc4 xd5 ) 23...c5 24.xe8 cd3+ 25.f1 xe8+- ] 20...d3+ 21.g3 xc1 22.xc1 g6 [ 22...g6 23.d2 Heads or tails ? ( 23.h6+ f8 ) 23...gxh5 ( 23...gxf5?? 24.h6 ) 24.h6 f6-+ I sincerely apologize for mingling the name of the 13th W orld champion to such a display of dated, devoid of interest, theory. I understand that the dPawn Specials section should be just fun and curiosity: The Colle, London, Veresov, GBD, Reversed Stonewall... Not much to do with winning chess, neither will they help to improve one's level of play, but I shall try
to keep it in mind, if I can! ] 0-1
2354 Vanhee,Freddy Ottevaere,Herman BEL-ch corr [Eric Prié]
A45
1983
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.h4 One of my predecessor's favourite lines, into the heart of h e a rt s o f t h e wild e rn e ss o ) wi t h 8 wh it e triumphs for one lonely share of the point this month. Not bad statistics for what has long been thought-of as a suspect move for the first player! c5 4.dxc5 a6 Alas, as it has become a custom, no reflection on this logical response... abundantly more audacious for Black than it would appear at first glance. That is why [ 4...a5+ is the toughest nut to crack. Then, the public question "The h4 Tromp, has it been killed?" shall meet, next month, a more explicit verdict than the one conveyed here in this pleasant introduction. ] 5.d2 Very seldom employed by the World expert on the 3.h4 deviation, Igor Miladinovic. axc5 [ 5...xg5! 6.hxg5 xc5 Probably representing the reason why, but not ] [ 5...a5? 6.a3! ( 6.c3 xg5 7.b4 a3 8.hxg5 xc3 ) 6...xg5 ( 6...xd2 7.b4 ) 7.b4 ] 6.xe4 xe4 7.d5! Avoiding ...Qa5+ which wou ld f re e t he e -p awn f ro m the p in , an d therefore more or less obliging: xg5 8.hxg5 A genuinely fascinating scene: after just 8 moves W hite has conceded possibly everything that he could cede: his influential dark-squared Tromp bishop, the centre, he has compromised his structure and is not even ahead in development! Needless to say t h a t h a vin g p u t a ll h is e g gs in t h e s a m e basket for the sake of a semi open file, it has to be a hefty, dynamic basket! e6 [ 8...b6 9.0-0-0 e6 10.d3 ( 10.d2! In common with the other games of this update. ) 10...a5 11.b1 xg5 12.xh7 xh7 13.xh7 g6 Miladinovic, I-Banikas, H Kavala op 1996 1/2 (28) ] 2304
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.d2 e7 10.0-0-0! Retorting in an off the cuff spirit, much as in the Alekhine-Chatard Gambit of the French: 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5. e5 Nfd7 6.h4!? and, in its accepted form 6...Bxg5 7.hxg5 Qxg5, a n s we r e d b y He ct o r 's s t u n n in g 8 . Q d 3 ! ? repeated by Kasparov himself against K o r t s c h n o i . xg5 11.f4 e7 12.e4 Where is Black to castle now? d6 13.c3! d7 Who else than a heap of sand would play 13...Bf8 or Kf8 in such a situation? 14.xg7 f6 15.h6 c8 16.e5! c7 17.d3 e7 18.g7 f8 19.f5! Breaking open the black king's fragile central refuge. d5 [ 19...exf5 20.f3 ] 20.f3 c5 21.xh7 a6 22.g4! Menacing annoyances like the exchange on e6 and Bf5 or prosaically g4-g5-g6 against which Black is supremely bound hand and foot. b5 23.h2! xd3 24.xd3 b6 25.fxe6 xe6 26.h6 e7 27.b1 d4 28.xd4 xd4 29.xd4 c5 30.c3 c6 31.dd6 The white sovereign will calmly stroll out to b3 to escape the checks and then... 1-0
2355 Vegh,Endre Fogarasi,Tibor ch-KO Budapest HUN (2.1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2306 2456 30.08.2000
sequence: xf3 13.xf3 dxe5 14.0-0 c6 ] 12...dxe5 13.f5 This was White's master plan, threatening to trap the Black bishop, however, it is very time consuming. d8 14.e3 f6 15.h3 h5 16.g4 f7 17.f3 d7 18.d3 a3 Forcing White to waste more time. Now watch as the Black initiative reaches alarming proportions. 19.e2 b6 20.g5 hxg5 21.h4 W hite risks all on this desperate kingside lunge, but with Black so well developed, the odds are clearly set against him. g4 22.d2 b2 23.d1 h5 24.g1 xc2 Black draws first blood. With the White king stuck in no-man's-land this is likely to turn into a bloodbath. 25.xg4 d3 Black really sticks the dagger in. 26.c5 xc3 27.e7 e8 28.b4 xg4 29.xg4 e3+ White is losing at least a rook. A horrible game from the White players point of view. 0-1
2356 Vitiugov,Nikita Ding,Liren Russia-China, St Petersburg (rapid) (1) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2703 2680 7.7.12
1.d4 f6 2.g5 d5 3.e3 e4 4.f4 c5 5.d3 cxd4 [ D i n g L i r e n ' s a p p r o a c h a v o i d s 5...c6 6.xe4! dxe4 7.d5 , ] Black unleashes a stunning new idea in one of [ but I should remind subscribers that Eric the main lines and is well rewarded. This may considers 5...f6! to be the critical move. ] explain why Hodgson, among others, avoids 6.exd4 the issue completely. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 [ The simple approach. Once again White 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 might like to make 6.xe4 work, but after [ 5.c3 Is the trend set by Hodgson. ] dxe4 ( there's also 6...a5+!? , as I pointed 5...b4 6.d2 d6 7.f4 xc3 8.bxc3 e5 out in my 'Starting Out' work this might even This looks to me like it could be an important be a good argument for following Vitiugov's n e w i d e a a g a in s t t h e Nc 3 T r o m p . B la c k move order ) directly fights for control of the center using A) 7.exd4 should probably be met by c6 his aggressively posted queen as the main with a transposition to our main game, aggressor. 9.g3 0-0 Black is ready to force ( since 7...b6 8.c3! xb2 9.ge2 White to make a concession in the center with g4 10.0-0 gives White good Nc6 and Bg4. 10.f3 g4 Already the White compensation, whether or not Black goes p o s it io n b e gin s t o lo o k a b it vu ln e ra b le . in for xc3 11.xc3 xd1 12.fxd1 ); 11.dxe5 e7 12.g1 A pathetic retreat. B) 7.xd4 xd4 ( a pretty good case can [ 12.g2 was much more solid although also be made for 7...c6 8.xd8+ xd8 Black is actually a bit better after the logical 9.c3 e5 in my view) 8.exd4 c6 9.c3 2305
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the position 'is far from obvious for White despite some good statistics', as Eric has noted. One recent game continued b6 ( 9...f5 10.d2 g5!? is an alternative) 10.d2 b7 11.0-0-0 d8! 12.f3 e6 13.g3 exf3 14.gxf3 g6 15.e5 ( 15.c4!? g7 16.d5 c5 might be the c r i t i c a l l i n e) 15...f6 16.g3 h6 with the bishop-pair and good counterplay for Black in Hoang Thanh Trang-Cmilyte, Gaziantep 2012. ] 6...c6 7.xe4! [ B e s t . W h i t e h a s n o t h i n g a f t e r 7.c3 , as Vit iu gov ha d e a rlier f o u nd ou t : f5 (cementing Black's control over the e4square) 8.e2 e6 ( Karjakin doesn't fear doubled pawns, but if Black does he might begin with 8...g6 , as in Shimanov-Panarin, Tyumen 2012, where 9.g3 d6 10.e2 e6 11.d2 e7 12.0-0 0-0 13.e1 a6 began the Minority Attack with a good game for Black ) 9.f3 d6 10.xd6!? xd6 11.xf5 exf5 12.f4 0-0 13.0-0 e8 14.d2 c7 15.g3 a5 gave Black sufficient counterplay in Vitiugov-Karjakin, Russian Championship, Moscow 2010. ] 7...dxe4 8.e2 g4 9.bc3 e6 We've reached quite an important position. I've been happy to play it with both colours, but must admit that this game has only served to confirm my belief that W hite should be slightly for choice. 10.xe4!? [ Very natural and to my shame this logical move wasn't scrutinised closely enough in my Starting Out book. W hite must avoid 10.0-0?! g5! 11.e3 f5 which gave Black the initiative in S.Fowler-R.Palliser, Halifax (rapid) 2004, ] [ b u t a s I d i d p o i n t o u t , 10.h3 h5 ( 10...xe2 11.xe2 xd4 12.0-0 is also promising for White) 11.xe4 xe2 12.xe2 xd4 13.d3 c6 14.0-0-0 xd3 15.xd3 gave White a small pull in Hodgson-Wells, Oxford 1998. As the eagleeyed reader will have spotted this is the same position as in our main game, but with the addition of h3, which certainly can't do any harm. ] 10...xe2 11.xe2 xd4 12.d3 c6 13.0-0-0 xd3 14.xd3 e5 [ Ambitious, but now White will have a small
but definite edge with bishop against knight. As such 14...b4! a la Wells was a better t r y . A f t e r 15.b3 d5 16.g3 b6 the knight does a good job of plugging the dfile and 17.d6+ ( 17.c4 c8 is another important point) 17...xd6 18.xd6 d7 19.g3 hc8 is surely a decent enough version of, say, a Caro for Black. ] 15.e3 f5 16.d6+ xd6 17.xd6 d8 [ Black didn't have to remove all the rooks, b u t o t h e r wi s e 17...c8 18.hd1 c7? would not have satisfactorily covered the seventh in view of 19.xa7! . ] 18.hd1 xd6 19.xd6 f8 20.c5 f6? [ Ding Liren clearly hoped that his central p a wn m a ss o n t h e e - a n d f -f ile s wo u ld c o m b i n e we l l wi t h h i s k n i g h t , b u t t h a t doesn't prove to be the case. As such Black should likely have kept things tight at the back with 20...f7 when White would have had a lot of work to do. Indeed, it's not so easy to mobilise the queenside pawns, as shown by 21.c4 e4 22.d5 b6 23.d6 ( or 23.e3 b4 ) 23...d7 when .. .Kf7-e6 will follow, with decent counterplay. ] 21.xf6 gxf6 22.g3! Good prophylaxis. Vitiugov halts the black pawns and rightly doesn't fear ideas of . ..e4 in association with ...Ne5. d7 23.c4 b6 24.e3 b4 [ Risky, since the knight will land up a little offside on f3, unable to generate the counterplay the Chinese Grandmaster was after. Instead 24...e4 25.h3 e5 26.b3 keeps everything under control, after which Kc2-c3 followed by advancing the queenside majority will follow, but at least Black's knight is still well placed and whether W hite can definitely win I'm not entirely sure. ] 25.a3 d3+ 26.c2 e1+ 27.c3 f3 28.h3 h5 29.b4 f4? [ He wants to obtain a passed h-pawn, but Ding Liren has missed something major. Black should instead have played s o m e t h i n g s e n s i b l e l i k e 29...e6 wh e n o nly W h it e ca n win th a nk s t o h is queenside majority, but we are a long way from talking about a definite win. ] [ However, 29...h4? would also have been misguided, because after 30.d3 e6 31.a4 White is going to obtain two passed 2306
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 pawns: for instance, g1 32.gxh4 f4 33.d2 xh3 34.e1! f5 35.h5 e4+ 36.e2 g5 37.h6 and the h-pawn will prove too strong. ] 30.gxf4 exf4 31.xf4 g1 [ In view of what follows Black might have c o n s i d e r e d 31...h4 32.e3 e6 , but after 33.d3 f5 34.c5 the c-pawn should decide proceedings. ] 32.e3! The problem. Now Black's knight becomes trapped on the rim. xh3 33.f4 e6 34.d4 f5 35.c5 bxc5+ 36.bxc5 e6 37.e4 d7 38.f5 [ 38.f3 would have done the business too, ] [ but after 38.f5 c6 39.f3 g5+ 40.xg5 fxg5 41.f6 White's split pawns com ple tely o ut cla ss Bla ck's con necte d passers. ] 1-0
2357 Vitor,Antonio Pinheiro,Jose LVI ch Barreiro POR (9) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2302 2288 10.09.2000
questionable recapture. In my opinion, both the other alternatives were better, as the Black kingside light squares now get into serious trouble. 10.e4 c6 [ 10...xe4 11.h5+ d8 would have been similar to the game. ] 11.d3 xe4 12.h5+ d8 13.f3 Black has won a pawn but his exposed king gives White very definite compensation . d6 14.0-0 f6 15.h4 e7 16.d1 e8 17.a4 With the not so subtle or difficult to spot threat of Bb5, winning the queen. c7 18.a3 a6 19.c4 e5 More or less forced, due to the threat of Nxd6 ,but this allows White to start cashing in his chips with the startling: 20.fxe5! Wham! dxe5 21.xe5 W hite's lead in development is truly overpowering. f8 What else? [ 21...d6 22.c4 leaves White with too many threats to handle. ] 22.xh7 d6 23.c6 The white pieces are crawling all over the Black position . xf4 24.g6+ It's forced mate on either h8 or d8. Ho, ho, ho, Merry Christmas!! 1-0
2358 A45 I'm not entirely sure of the objective merits of Vlasov,Alexander White's strange move order in the following Anjuhin,Alex 2460 game, but it certainly threw his opponent off Novaya ladoga 2001 balance and in this season of festive fun, it [Eric Prié] certainly made for a very entertaining game. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.d5 b6 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.e3 b6 This must be the idea. Black's structure 5.c1 A rarely played move. White defends 5.b3 b2 in the most natural way, but this leaves d5 has been weakened and White estimates that lacking in protection. a5+ this is more significant than his own [ 5...c4 Is the acid test, as Black wins a weaknesses on dark squares. cxd4 6.exd4 pawn after: 6.e3 a5+ 7.c3 xd5 8.f3 c6 7.f3 d5 8.c3 g4 9.e2 0-0-0 c5 9.e4 and now Black avoid the trap: 10.bd2 e5! In the same way as the 4.c3 line, d3+ ( 9...c6 10.xc4 e6 from which this game could actually come if Is Hodgson's recommendation in his book White had defended his b-pawn by pushing it, "Secrets of the Trompovsky".) 10.xd3 t h e p r o b l e m i n t h e p o s i t i o n i s d i r e c t l y xd3 11.h3 when the diabolical threat is connected with the reinforcement of Black's Nf2, winning the Black queen. ] presence in the center caused by the 6.c3 f6 7.d1 b6 8.b3 By using an exchange on f6 which authorizes the latter to unusual move order, White has lost a move play annoyingly against the d4 pawn. So, it on the 4.f3 variation (where it would be Black has to be admitted that the c5 Trompowsky to move with a pawn on f3). However, White with 3. or 4.e3 is a dodgy choice against good has not given up on the e4 pawn push, as we preparation. 11.0-0 g8 12.e1 s h a l l s e e . e6 9.dxe6 fxe6 Weird!! A [ 12.h1!? b8 ( 12...exd4?! 13.xd4 2307
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xe2 14.xe2 is OK for White.; 12...e4 13.e1 e6 14.c2 d6 15.e3 f5 16.f4! ) A) 13.xe5 fxe5 ( 13...xe5 14.dxe5 xe2? 15.xe2 fxe5 16.xe5+ ) 14.xg4 exd4 15.cxd4; B) 13.a4 e6 14.a5 c7 15.b4 e7 ] 12...h3 13.f1 Weakening the castle was a lesser evil: [ 13.g3 A) 13...e4 14.h4 f5 15.f1 g4 16.e2 ( 16.f3 exf3 17.dxf3 f4 ) 16...xe2 17.xe2 f4 18.h5 fxg3 19.hxg3 ( 19.fxg3 xd4 ) 19...c7 20.f5 b8; B) 13...exd4 14.c2 ( Better 14.c4 b4 ) 14...dxc3 15.xh7 h8!! 16.xh8 xf2+! 17.xf2 c5+ 18.d4 xd4+ 19.f3 xh8 20.f1 There is nowhere else to go! Now, just about everything wins, including the comforting c2 Which takes back the exchange immediately. 21.ac1 c3 22.f2 ( 22.e3 xe1 23.xe1 e5+ 24.f2 d4 25.xc2 d3; 22.d3 xe1 23.xe1 e5+ 24.e2 g4+ 25.e3 d4+ 26.d2 f3+ ) 22...xf1 23.xf1 ( 23.xf1 xh2+ 24.e3 d4+ 25.d3 b4+ 26.c4 xe2 ) 23...xe1 24.xe1 d4 25.h4 e8-+ ] 13...exd4 14.xd4 xd4 15.cxd4 xd4 16.c2+ b8 17.ad1? White must have b e e n p e r t u r b e d wh e n r e a l i z i n g t h a t h i s intended resource would not work, so he just forgot that his opponent's last move had, itself, created a terrible threat... [ 17.xh7 c5 18.xh3 xf2+ 19.h1 g1# ] [ After 17.g3 g4 With the idea Bb4, Black was much better, and a pawn up, anyway. ] 17...xg2+! 18.h1 [ 18.xg2 g4 19.f1 xg2+ 20.g1 f3+ 21.f1 g2# ] 18...xf2 19.xg2 xg2# 0-1
2359 Volkmann,Friedrich Karl Czakon,Jakub 15th Donau Open (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2421 2486 27.12.2006
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.e4 xb2 8.d2 xc3 9.c7 d6 10.e2 e5?! A dubious centralization that, in fact, will leave the queen even more exposed. 11.g4! Taking the h5square from the black queen and therefore threatening Nc4 and h2-h4. [ 11.c4? h5 12.f4 h6 13.g3 g5 ] 11...xg4!? The radical way which gives Black more than enough material for the piece. It does not solve all the problems, however, because of his difficulty castling kingside. As a matter of fact, Black has to keep withstanding the pressure, with his queen often having just one square in the middle of the battlefield and not repatriated home as in the next games. [ 11...a6 A) 12.f4 b4!! 13.a4+ d7 14.xd7+ ( 14.fxe5 d3+ 15.d1 xa4+ ) 14...xd7 15.fxe5 d3+ 16.d1 f2+ 17.c2 ( 17.e1 6xg4 18.a5 d3+ 19.d1 e3# ) 17...6xg4; B) 12.a5 g5 13.h4 e3; C) 12.c4! xa1 ( 12...g5 13.h4 g6 14.f4 h6 15.g5 Checkmate to the queen! ) 13.xa1 xc7 Once again with enough material for the queen but White actually keeps a strong initiative. ] [ 11...g5!? If Black does not wish to play the suspect looking 11...Nfd7 which frees the f6 square for the queen. It happens to be the programs' favourite with the idea 12.h4 e3 because the drawback of having played g2 -g4 is th e we a ke nin g o f t he f 3 p a wn which attaches the d2-knight to its defence. 13.c1 ( 13.b1 c4 ) 13...d3 ] 12.fxg4 xg4 13.b1 d7 14.a4! Allowing White to dislodge the black queen after the indirect protection of e4. g6 15.c4 f6 [ 15...xe4? 16.xd6+ ] 16.e5 [ 16.b6 h6 The bishop looks better placed on this square than g7 if W hite is 2308
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 going to defend the 3rd and the capital f3 square with Rb3 prior to cashing the material. I n a n y c a s e , ( 16...h4+ 17.g3 g7 18.xa8?? c3+ 19.f2 f6+ 20.g2 f3+ 21.g1 e3+ 22.g2 f3+ 23.h3 h6+ 24.h5 e5 And Qxh5 mate after a couple of desperate checks, is a line that does highlight the black resources in the position. ) 17.b3 ( 17.xa8 0-0 18.b3 e5 ) 17...d8 ( 17...0-0 18.xd7 h4+ )] 16...f5! [ 16...h4+ 17.g3 g7 18.e3 xe5 19.xg4 xg3+ 20.e2! ( 20.xg3 e4 ) 20...xg4+ 21.xg4 xh2 22.xb7 ( 22.xh2 b6 23.d2 c8 ) 22...e5 ( 22...f4 23.f3 g5 24.b5 ) 23.f3 h5 24.e3 Does not look very good for Black despite his bunch of pawns on the kingside. ] 17.xb7 h6 18.xd6 [ 18.g1 0-0 19.xd6 exd6 20.xg4 d3 ] [ 18.a5!? Opening the 7th against the Nd7 and controlling the key square c3, with the idea 0-0 19.g3 f3 20.e2 xd5 21.xd7 xe2 22.xe2 g2+ 23.d1 ab8 24.c2 f3+ 25.e1 f4 26.g1 ( 26.f1? xg3+ 27.hxg3 xg3+ 28.f2 g1+= 29.e2? g4+ 30.f1 xd7 ) 26...d5 27.d2 a3 28.c3 d4 29.a1 e3+ 30.e2 White has finally succeeded in regrouping but he will now lose h2 and e5 which leads to the quite unusual battle of 2 pieces against 6 pawns. ] 18...0-0 19.xd7 [ 19.xe7 e4 20.xf8? xe2 21.xe2 xh1+ 22.f2 xf8 ] 19...e4 20.xe7 xe2 21.xe2 xh1+ 22.f1 xd5? [ 22...e4+ 23.f2 The king cannot cross the d-line. f4+ 24.g1 g4+ 25.h1 ( 25.g2? d4+ 26.f1 xc4+ ) 25...e4+ 26.g1 g4+= ] 23.b3! e4+ To take the h4-square from the white queen. 24.f2 fe8 [ 24...f6 25.e6+ f7 ( 25...h8 26.xf8 xf8 27.f3 ) 26.f3 ] 25.f6 c2+ 26.g1 a5? Black's initiative is only a memory while it is now obvious that the Bd6-Nc4 couple is stronger than the rook plus c (blocked) and g-pawn. So he had to
switch to painful defence with [ 26...d1 first of all parrying the threat of Rb7. 27.f3 d4+ 28.g2 d5 ] 27.b7 f8 28.xf8 [ 28.e6! g7 29.exf7+ h8 30.e5! The move White must have missed in time trouble. xf7 31.xf7 ] 28...xf8 29.b2? [ 29.e6! fxe6 ( 29...g7 30.exf7+ h8 31.f3 d4+ 32.h1 ) 30.xe6+ h8 31.e5+ g8 32.d2 d1 33.e6+ h8 34.e7 g4+ 35.h1 xf1+ 36.xf1 f3+ 37.g1 And the e3-square is controlled! Of course this is very difficult to play when short of time, especially when having missed the e-pawn push idea the move before. So I guess White could have played safely ] [ 29.h4!? Driving away one of the opponent's attacking piece. ] 29...e3+ 30.xe3?? [ 30.h1 e4+ 31.g2 ] 30...xb2 31.h1 Realizing that Nd5 or Ng4 would lose the piece. d4 32.c4 b8 Did White lose on time? [ 32...b8 33.h3 ( 33.d6 d5+ 34.g1 h5 freeing the h7-square for the king and therefore liberating the rook from the 8th rank defence.) 33...b4 ( 33...b1 34.d6 d5+ 35.g1 Threatening Qd8+ followed by Ne8+; 33...d5+ 34.h2 b4 35.f4 ) 34.d6 f4 35.xf4 xf4 36.c4 was still fighting. ] 0-1
2360 Vukotic Jovsic,Dragan Martin Martin,Luis Vicente Madrid-ch qual A (8) [Eric Prié]
A45 2035 2089 20.11.2007
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.c3? Just bad with the bishop on f 4... cxd4 But the question is: to take or not to take? 4.cxd4 b6 5.d2 [ 5.c3 consequently this is the best practical chance. xb2 ( 5...c6!? 6.f3 xb2 7.d2 b4 8.c1 xa2 9.xa2 xa2 10.e3 ) 6.d2 ( 6.c1!? c6 7.f3 e6 8.e4 b4 9.d2 ) 6...b6 7.f3 d5 8.b1 d8 9.e5 c6 10.e3 ] 2309
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 5.b3 c6 6.e3 e4 7.f3 g5 8.xg5 xg5 9.xg5 a5+ 10.d2 xg5 11.g3 d5 12.f3 e6 13.a3 b6 14.g2 a6 15.h4 a5+ 16.b4 xb4 0-1 Aggelaki, F (1 8 1 4 ) -P a rligra s, M (2 5 5 7 ) P a le o h o ra 2009 ] [ 5.c1 d5 6.f3 c6 7.e3 f5 Ossenbrueggen, L (2055)-Stabolewski, A (2270) Hamburg 1997 0-1(43) ] 5...c6 6.f3 d5?! [ 6...e4! 7.c2 ( 7.c1 xd4 ) 7...d5 8.c3 f5 9.g4 ( 9.b3 e6 10.e3 xb3 11.axb3 b4 12.c1 a5 13.b5+ e7 ) 9...xg4 10.xd5 a5+ 11.c3 xc3 12.xc3 f5 ] 7.c3 e4 8.xe4 [ 8.c1!? xd4? 9.xd4 xd4 10.e3 c5 11.xe4 xc1+ 12.xc1 dxe4 13.b5+ d7 14.xd7+ xd7 15.c7+ e6 16.xb7 ] 8...dxe4 9.d5? [ 9.e5 xd4 ( 9...xd4? 10.e3; 9...e6 10.xc6 d7 11.a3 xc6 12.e3= ) 10.xd4 xd4 11.e3 c6 12.b5 a6 ( 12...d7 13.xd7 xd7 14.e2 ) 13.a4 f6 14.xc6 d7 15.0-0 xc6 16.xc6+ bxc6 17.c7 ( 17.ac1 e5 18.g3 h5 19.h4 c5 20.c4 b8 21.b3 b4 22.fc1 d7 ) 17...d7 18.a5 c5 ] 9...e5-+ 10.0-0-0 [ 10.e3 d4 11.xd4 b4 ] 10...b4 11.c2 exf3 12.exf3 exf4 13.e4+ e7 14.d6 c6+ 0-1
2361 Vukotic Jovsic,Dragan Vazquez Igarza,Renier Madrid Moratalaz op (2) [Eric Prié]
A45 2018 2553 16.09.2007
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 [ I shall treat 2...d5 3.e3 c6 4.f3 b6 o n e d a y . . . T h e n 5.b3!? c5 6.c3 looks quite promising for White, thanks to the extra tempo. ] 3.e3 b6 4.b3?! d5! Natural then and probably best. 5.f3 [ 5.dxc5?! xc5 6.d3? ( 6.f3 g4 7.e2 ) 6...c6 7.f3 g4 8.d2 e4
9.c1 g5! 10.xe4 ( 10.xg5 g7 11.c3 xc3 ) 10...gxf4 11.d3 b4 12.d2 fxe3 13.fxe3 h6-+ Ponomariov, T (2297)Skvortsov, A (2186) Voronezh 2008 1-0(29) ] 5...c6 [ 5...f5!? This bishop belongs on g4... 6.d3 xd3 7.xd3 c6 8.0-0 g6 9.c4! b4 10.e2 e4? 11.dxc5 ( 11.a3!? a6 12.b4! cxb4 13.c5 a5 14.axb4!! xa1 15.b5+ d8 16.xb7 c8 17.xd5+ e8 18.e5+- ) 11...xc5 12.e5 f6 13.d4 d6 14.cxd5 xd5 15.c3 xc3 16.xc3 d3 17.b2 d5 18.ac1 xc3 19.xc3 d6 20.c4 g7 21.c2 0-0 22.d1 a3? 23.a4 1-0 Najjar, A (2 2 67 )-Sh a rb e l, M (2 0 28 ) Be iru t 20 1 1 . Another quite recent example... ] 6.dxc5 [ 6.e2 g4 7.c3 e6 8.0-0 e7 9.h3 h5 10.a4!? ( 10.dxc5 When Black does not win a t e m p o . . . xc5 11.b4 e7 12.bd2 W ith a more or less standard set-up for White intending a2-a3, c3-c4.) 10...cxd4 11.exd4 0-0 12.bd2 fc8= Soloviov, S (2390)-Saulin, D (2340) Briansk 1995 1/ 2(39) ] 6...xc5 7.c4? Suicidal. White opens lines including the fragile a5-e1 diagonal (after the development of his queen's bishop to f4 and the move b2-b3) when he is already behind in development! [ 7.a3 g4 8.b4 b6 9.e2 ] 7...g4 8.e2 dxc4 9.bxc4 e5 10.g3 d8 11.a4 White is helpless. [ 11.bd2 a5 ] [ 11.c2 e4 12.fd2 b4 13.a4+ b5! ] [ 11.b3 e4 12.fd2 xe2 13.xe2 h5+ 14.e1 b4 15.a3 d3 16.b2 xd2+ 17.xd2 0-0 18.xb7 fd8 19.a2 c3 20.b2 xc4-+ ] 11...b4+ 12.xb4 xb4+ 13.fd2? [ 13.f1 e4 ] 13...f5! Wins a piece. 14.a3 a5 0-1
2310
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 games in my database), from the main variation of the Richter-Rauzer... Where the queen is much better placed on d2, at that stage, and where it is W hite to move! b4! 11.b1 [ 11.a4? xd4 12.xd4 a5 13.xf6 ( 13.b3 e7 ) 13...xa4-+ ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.c3 cxd4 4.xd4 c6 5.h4 b5!? In INF 72, Mihail TSEITLIN 11...a5 12.b3 [ 12.xf6 gxf6 13.xf6 g8 even granted this move, a novelty at the time, a2 is unprotectable. 14.c4? e5 15.b3 a double exclamation mark. 6.e4 e7 16.h6 g5+ ] [ 6.xb5? b6 ( 6...b8!? ) 7.c4 a6 8.c3 12...c7 The bluff has worked! xb2 9.c1 ] [ 12...xa2 13.1d2 Straightforward play [ 6.0-0-0 b4 7.d5 a5 8.e4 xa2 e v e n s e e m s w i n n i n g : ( 13.c4 e5 ) 9.c7+ d8 10.xa8 a1+ 11.d2 13...a5 14.xf6 gxf6 15.xf6 g8 16.c4 xb2 Tseitlin,Mi ] a4 17.h5 ( 17.c5 g6 18.h8 dxc5 ) 6...a6 17...d8 18.e5 ( 18.c5 xc4 ) 18...a6 [ 6...b4 7.d5 ] 19.xd6+ xd6 20.exd6 axb3 21.cxb3 7.f3 If White wants to play this move, he xg2-+ ] should on principle mobilize his f-pawn first, 13.1d2 At least White had to try especially with a black pawn already on b5. [ 13.xf6 gxf6 14.xf6 g8 15.g3 ] [ 7.0-0-0 is the move see next game. ] 7...d6 8.e2 The beginning of the wrong plan 13...e7 14.g3 a5 15.b1 [ 15.xf6 gxf6 16.c4 e5 17.xe5 fxe5 by comparison to an Open Sicilian. W hite 18.g7 f8 19.xh7 a4 20.d2 a3 ] should be very careful, especially with the position of his queen, when entering such 15...a4 16.c5? d4! Obviously, White had lines in the Trompowsky, for Black develops overlooked this reply. Now he is just lost. exactly the same way when he, on the other 17.xd7 xc2+ 18.a1 b3+! 19.xb3 axb3 20.xf6+ xf6 hand, cannot. [ 20...f8 21.xh7+ xh7 22.xe7+ g8 [ 8.d3 and short castles is better, but also 8. And White resigns. ] Nd5. ] 21.b5+ f8 22.xd6+ g8 23.d8+ [ 8.0-0-0 d7 ] xd8 24.xd8+ xd8 25.xd8 h6 26.e7 8...e6 9.0-0-0 [ 9.xf6?! xf6 10.xf6 gxf6 11.0-0-0 I guess that the 'improvement' [ 26.a4 xf2 27.xb3 xg2 would not b7 Tseitlin,Mi. 12.d4 c8 13.xc6 have changed the result of this encounter! ] xc6 14.a4 g8 15.hg1 bxa4 16.xa6 b8 17.d4 g5! 18.d3 c5! 19.c4? 26...h7 27.xb4 a8 28.a3 [ 28.a3 xa3 ] ( 19.xa4? a5 20.b3 xa4 21.xa4 xa4 22.bxa4 h6+ 23.d1 b1+ 28...d8 24.e2 xg1; 19.a2 is not pleasant to 0-1 play, but it was the only move which avoided material loss. e5?! 20.b4; 19.e2 A45 e5! 20.c4 h6+ 21.b1 a3 22.b3 xc4 2363 23.xc4 xe4 ) 19...h6+! 20.b1 xc4 Walton,Alan J 2181 21.xc4 d2! 22.a2 xc3 23.bxc3 Buckley,David 2223 xe4-+ 24.d3 xd3 25.cxd3 b3 26.c1 4NCL Nottingham ENG (5) 22.01.2005 d5 27.d4 f5 28.g3 h5 29.h4 e7 30.c4 [Eric Prié] dxc4 31.xc4 f3 0-1 Grimm,S-Tseitlin,M Passau op 1998 ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 On the verge of [ 9.0-0 Tseitlin,Mi e7 ] ending this update, it is important to make a 9...d7 10.d4 Thus, we have reached a lengthy digression about the so called "spirit side line, with the king's bishop on e2 (120 of the Trompowsky". Indeed, asking for the 2... 2362 Vysochin,Spartak Kislinsky,Alexey Independence Cup (8) [Eric Prié]
A45 2560 2401 20.08.2003
2311
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e6 Tromp line we are examining, an enthusiastic subscriber wrote to me a couple of weeks ago in these terms: "Like GM Peter Wells in his book I firmly believe that if 3. e4 is unplayable against the Tromp, the Tromp as a whole will be a lot less "scary" for Black.". W ell, this is not my experience and for me playing the Tromp is a result of a slow and long process. I started chess with 1.e4, then moved on to the 1.Nf3-1.d4 complex in 'Kramnikian' style, then back to 1.e4 with s o m e s h a r p , u p - t o - d a t e , h e a vy o p e n i n g p re p a ra t i o n a f t e r wh i ch I b e c a m e a n I M without any training guidance. Taking up 1... d5 against 1.d4 or 1.Nf3 I acquired the necessary maturity to become a GM some years later. Then I went back to 1.Nf3 (which is less compromising) when, for certain other professional reasons I had a lot less time to devote to chess. Next, I went into the magic World of 'd-Pawn specials' o) afterwards with 1.d4 2.Nf3 3.Bg5 and afterwards 1.d4 2.c3 3. Bg5, which is less energy consuming than anything else in terms of getting something solid 'to get your teeth into' out of the opening a g a i n s t go o d o p p o s i t i o n . A s i t wa s wi t h re ve rs e d c o lo urs, t h e kin d o f st u f f I h a d p la ye d m o s t o f m y ca re e r, wh ich is a lso playable without any specific opening preparation! Finally the Tromp which in my opinion gives less room for Black to adapt then interposing any 2nd white move. Thus my approach to the system is different than those players who have adopted it f or its surprise value at the beginning, more c o m p a c t t h e o r y n o wa d a ys, o r it s 's ca ry' aspects. As far as I am concerned, the Tromp is just something entirely natural! like 1.Nf3 d5 2. g3 (or 2.d3, 2.b3) 2...Bg4 with which I ha ve h a d e xc e llen t re su lt s f o r 15 ye a rs. Classical chess recommends moving the knights before bishops but it is only because the knights find their development place (Nf3 in case of 1. e4 in 90% of the cases) more easily than the bishops! There are man y examples where the evolution of theory has proved the relativity of this principle. Particularly in the case of 1.d4... I find 2.Bg5 even quite logical, when, against a knight on f 6 , g 5 wi ll m o s t c e rt a i n l y b e t h e s q u a r e exerting the biggest pressure on the opposing
position, and is immediately justified in case of 2...e6 ...! Under these conditions, I am sorry but I just cannot consider a move like 3. e4, sacrificing material (the pair of bishops) and forcing White to play dynamically at the very beginning of the game, to be good. At least is it not the way I like to play chess, putting all my eggs into one basket on move 3. In addition, this goes against the predominance of static factors in the modern game that the evolution of theory relays. So I compassionately understand the people who have been put off from playing the Tromp after 2...e6 3.e4?! very well. In conclusion, There is no Tromp spirit. It is a delusion in the world of a unique opening! With its subtleties and its completely different ways of handling the position according to Black's second move, but where the general rules of Chess do still apply. The deeper you get to know it, the more you will understand the considerable links it entertain s with t he 1 ... d 5 (1 ...c6 2. ..d5 ) sphere more than anything else... h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.c3 [ 5.c3 b4 has already been covered. Like in the Lemberger, a good recipe for equalizing is to give back the material to make life more comfortable! ] 5...d5! 6.d2 c5! Interesting to compare with game 6 in a very similar position. 7.gf3 [ 7.b5+ d7! ( 7...c6 8.gf3 cxd4 9.cxd4 dxe4 10.e5 ) 8.xd7+ xd7 9.exd5 ( 9.dxc5 xc5 Threatening mate!) 9...cxd4 ] 7...a6!? An interesting idea of GM Hellsten. [ 7...cxd4 8.exd5 exd5 ( 8...dxc3 9.e4 d8 10.xc3 exd5 11.b5+ c6 12.e5 ) 9.xd4 c6 10.2b3 d6 11.f3 xf3 12.xf3 g4 13.e2 0-0-0= Bigg,A-King,D 4NCL West Bromwich 2004 1/ 2(61) ] 8.b3?! [ 8.dxc5 xc5 ( 8...d7 9.exd5 exd5 10.b3 ) A) 9.b3? xf2+ Alas. .. 10.xf2 dxe4; B) 9.d3 c6 10.0-0 0-0 11.e2 a7 12.fe1 ( 12.e5 f4 Intending f7-f6.) 12...d7 13.ad1 ad8 14.f1 dxe4 15.xe4 g6 16.e3 g7 17.c4 c8 18.c2 f6 19.h4 f5 20.d6? c5 21.f4! xf2+ 22.h1 xd6 ( 22...xc2 2312
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.xh6 g5 24.e4 ) 23.xd6 b8? ( 23...xc2! 24.xh6 f6 Intending Qf5h5. 25.g4 d8 26.xd8+ xd8 27.h5 f7 28.xg6+ xg6 29.hxg6 h8 30.d1 b6 ) 24.xh6! ( 24.d2 g3 ) 24...xd6 25.xg6 fxg6 26.xg6+ h8 27.h6+ g8 28.g6+ 1/2-1/2 Karttunen, M-Hellsten,J EU-chT Plovdiv 2003; C) 9.exd5 The critical idea for the subv a r i a t i o n . exd5 ( 9...0-0? 10.e4 ) 10.b3 e6+! The point of the black idea. ( 10...b6 11.xd5 0-0 12.e2 e8 Black seems to have interesting compensation... 13.d1! e7 14.c1 c6 15.0-0 Well, not that much in fact.) 11.e2 b6 12.0-0 ( 12.bd4 d6 13.0-0 c6 14.b3 c7 ) 12...0-0 13.e1 d6 14.d3 c6 15.d1 g4 16.c2 g6= ] 8...cxd4 9.cxd4? [ 9.xd4 c6 ] 9...c6! 10.exd5 exd5 11.xd5 e6 12.e4 0-0-0 Clearly here, however, practically winning the pawn back by force. 13.c2 [ 13.c1 d5 14.e5 b4 ] 13...b8 14.a3 xd4 15.xd4 xd4 16.f3 f6! [ 16...b6 17.e2 a5+ ( 17...c8 18.d2 g5 19.0-0 g7 ) 18.c3 ( 18.f1 g5 19.h3 g7 ) 18...xc3+ 19.bxc3 c8 20.d2 c5 ] 17.e2 g5! White will lose at least a pawn in a dreadful position. 18.0-0 g7 19.a4 [ 19.ad1 g4 ( 19...xb2 20.xb2 xb2 21.xa6 xa3 22.b1 d5 Wins a good pawn too. ) 20.d2 xb2 21.xb2 xb2 ] [ 19.ab1 f5 ] [ 19.b4 g4 20.d2 ( 20.e1 xa1 ) 20...c3 21.xc3 xc3 ] 19...g4 20.e1 xb2 21.xb2 xb2 22.b1 d2-+ 23.d3 a2 24.f3 xb1 25.xb1 d4+ 26.h1 d1 27.c2 c1 28.d3 c3 29.c2 xf1+ 30.xf1 d8 31.e3 gxf3 32.gxf3 d4 0-1
2364 Walton,Alan J Povah,Nigel E British League (4NCL) (1) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2147 2336 24.10.2009
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 f5!? [ I remember when Luke McShane played this against me in a couple of blitz games several years ago. At the time I considered i t i n f e r i o r t o t h e m a i n l i n e , 7...b6 , but my view soon changed as I began to explore it more deeply. McShane is by no means the only Trompowsky player to have employed it and it is a decent try if one is after an unbalanced and not overlytheoretical struggle. ] 8.xb8! [ White must concede the bishop-pair. 8.xd4?! c6 9.d2 e5 10.g5 already left him worse in Kirchev-Rusev, So f ia 2 0 10 , a n d n ow Bla ck might ha ve employed the simple e7 , since 11.e4? fails to xe4! . ] 8...xb8 9.xd4 [ Again correct, as White must obtain a lead in development to of fset the loss of the bishop-pair. Otherwise 9.cxd4?! e5! 10.a3 e4! is just promising for Black - see Stamenkovic-Mekhitarian, Sao Paulo 2008, in the Archive. ] 9...b6! [ Best. Black might try 9...d5!? , but there is no real need for such speculation ] [ a n d t h e r e ' s d e f i n i t e l y n o t f o r 9...e5?! 10.xa7 d6 11.d1 c7? ( 11...e6 ) 12.c5! , which left White with the pawn and t h e co m p e n sa t io n in Ch e n g-K le in m a n , Toronto 2010. ] 10.e4 f4 [ The queen goes forward with the aim of retreating to a sensible square on c7. Black doesn't have to lose a further tempo, but 10...g6? badly fails to convince and after 11.e5 g8 12.0-0-0 White went on to score a crushing victory in Narciso DublanPereira Figueroa, Seville 2008 - see Eric's notes. ] 11.e2!? [ We must take White's choice seriously in 2313
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 this battle between two long-term Trompowsky aficionados. Indeed, it deserves further attention and looks like at least a decent alternative to 11.h3 c7 12.e5 g8 13.0-0-0 , which I used to consider the critical continuation, as we'll explore in Short-Ivanchuk. ] 11...c7 12.e5 g8 13.g3 [ White must lose time with his knight. In this new position for us on ChessPub we should note that he has also tried 13.e3 e6 ( straightforward and likely best 13...f6!? looks pretty suspicious for Black on account of 14.e6! dxe6 15.ed4 e5 16.b5+ d7 17.e6 c8 18.e2 , but a materialist might try this, netting a pawn in return for having to grovel for a while) 14.ed4 , and after a6 15.f4 e7 we reach the crux of the problem: W hite might have more space and a lead in development, but Black is extremely solid and it's far from easy to de n t h is p o s it io n . I gn a t ia d is-V o ro b io v, Paleohora 2009, continued 16.d3 d5 17.g3 f5!? 18.exf6 ( the less greedy 18.0-0 followed by a3 and c4 might be a better approach) 18...xf4 19.fxg7 xg3+ 20.hxg3 xg7 21.xh7 xh7 22.xh7 e3 with good compensation for the pawn in the shape of the bishop-pair, although W hite went on to hold his much higherrated opponent. ] 13...h6 [ Keeping White out of f5, but the knight will be rather restricted here. More critical must be the continuation 13...f6!? A) again 14.e6!? dxe6 15.b5+ looks more challenging, although one can hardly describe the position after f7! ( 15...d7 16.xd7+ xd7 17.xd7+ xd7 18.0-0-0+ e8 19.f4! leaves Black's kingside rather blocked up) 16.0-0-0 h6 as anything but rather unclear and in need of a test or two; B) 14.f4 g6 15.0-0-0 fxe5 16.fxe5 g7 17.e1 h6 18.h4 e6 19.d4 0-0 , which saw Black bringing his king to safety while seizing the upper hand in Brumen-Zelcic, Medulin 1997. ] [ Moreover, Black cannot afford to dally: 13...b7?! 14.0-0-0 d8 15.f5! c6 16.e3 wasn't exactly pleasant for him in
Kinsman-Borge, Tjalfe 1995. ] 14.d3 e6 [ Black would like to go 14...g6 , but I dare say that Povah was concerned about his king in such a line and 15.e6 g8 16.exd7+ xd7 17.0-0-0 g7 18.h4 followed by Rhe1 would have left W hite beginning to exert some pressure. ] 15.h5! Tying Black's bishop down to g7. Now Povah will have to lose time easing the kingside pressure and it is clear that W hite has emerged from the opening stages with slightly the upper hand. b7 16.0-0 [ It might seem more natural to castle while bringing a rook to the d-file and, indeed, one can make a good case for 16.0-0-0!? g8! 17.b5 d8 followed by the useful prophylactic move 18.b1! . Then g6 19.f6+ xf6 20.exf6 h6 21.b4 f8 22.h4 h5 23.he1 h6 is a plausible continuation, but I suspect not one which enables Black to fully equalize despite his bishops: White has the g4-break to play for as well as keeping up the pressure against d7. ] 16...g8! Povah shows a prudent willingness to retreat his knight, having realised that ...g6 will be the only way to drive away the awkward steed on h5. 17.ad1 g6 18.b5 d8 19.g3 [ Walton goes back, angling to bring his knight to e4 and so retain a grip. However, at best this gives W hite a small edge so 19.f6+!? xf6 20.exf6 deserved attention, although after h5 21.f2 a6 22.f1 h4! and ... Rh5 Black would have unravelled. ] 19...g7 20.f4 e7 21.e4 xe4?! [ A little too simplistic for my taste and now White does obtain the pull he's been after. More dynamic would have been 21...f5 22.b4 ( 22.d6+ xd6 23.xd6 xd6 24.xd6 f8 25.d2 a6 26.e2 e7 followed by ...d6 will break out) 22...xe4 23.xe4 0-0 when ...f6 is high on the agenda and I haven't found anything especially good for White: e.g. 24.g4 e7 25.c4 ( 25.d6 f6 26.fd1?! is what W hite would like to do, but d5 27.c4 fxe5 28.fxe5 f4 29.xd7 xd7 30.xd7 xe5 31.xe5 xe5 favours Black with his better coordinated 2314
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 remaining forces) 25...b7 26.f2 g5 27.fxg5 xe5 28.d3 g6 and Black's stro ng c entre a nd b isho p m ust at least fully compensate for the large gash in his kingside. ] 22.xe4 0-0 23.d3 c8 [ D e f e n s i v e . 23...f5!? would no longer come with tempo, but was still worth a try: 24.d4 ( 24.g4 h4 25.e3 g5! again breaks up W hite's central bulwark) 24...xd4 25.cxd4 d6 26.c1 and White is only a little better thanks to his more active bishop. ] 24.d4! [ Centralising and wisely rejecting the pawn: 24.xd7 h8! and the pin is quite awkward, as shown by the likely continuation 25.d2 ( 25.b5 e7 reveals one of Povah's main points, keeping the white queen out of c6) 25...f6 26.exf6 xf6 27.fd1! f7 28.b5 a6 29.c6 dxd7 30.xd7 (White is a little f o r t u n a t e t o h a v e t h i s r e s o u r c e ) xd7 31.xd7 xf4 32.d8+ f8 and White will regain his piece, leaving a draw looking rather likely. ] 24...d6? [ The point of Black's play, but the resulting simplification is in W hite's favour. Thus 24...f6! was correct, keeping White's advantage within bounds after 25.f3 fxe5 26.fxe5 and only then d6 . ] 25.c6! Walton is up for the challenge. a6 26.a4 b5!? [ Black might have saved the rook with 26...d7 , but with 27.b8 dd8 28.xa6 e7 29.e3 White would have pocketed a pawn for insufficient compensation. ] 27.xd8 bxa4 28.xe6 fxe6 29.xa6 [ Hardly terrible, but 29.exd6! would have been strong: for example, b6+ 30.h1 d8 31.c4 xd6 32.xe6+ h8 33.d5 and by dominating the d-file White secures a large advantage. ] 29...a3!? A good practical try to confuse the issue. 30.xa3 [ Easy to criticise, but White's queen will be able to make it back into play. Again 30.exd6!? was tempting, though, and after b6+ 31.xb6 xb6 32.bxa3 W hite remains for choice despite his s h r e d d e d s t r u c t u r e . S t i l l , a f t e r d5
( 32...d8!? 33.fe1 f7 34.d3 a4 is also possible, but 35.b1 keeps White in front ) 33.c4! e3 34.c5 xf1 35.xf1 xf4+ 36.e2 c4 37.d7 f6 38.d8+ xd8 39.xd8+ f7 40.c8 e5 Black would have had chances to hold the resulting rook ending. ] 30...dxe5 31.fxe5 xe5 32.fe1 f5 33.f1 [ Having a rook and two good pawns for the two minor pieces I'm at a loss to explain why W hite settled for the repetition. Moreover, after 33.a6! it's far from easy for Black to attack the white king. W alton may have been worried by f2+ 34.h1 xb2 , breaking up his pawns, but this enables W hite to take over the initiative: 35.xe6+ h8 36.f1! xc3 37.c1 xf1+ 38.xf1 h6 39.xg6 and White retains a clear advantage thanks to the apawn and his safer king. ] 33...e5 34.fe1 f5 35.f1?! ½-½
2365 Wang Wenhao Zhou Jianchao Real Estate Cup (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2387 2473 10.05.2005
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 f5!? 8.xb8 xb8 9.xd4 b6 10.e4 f4 Eve n if it costs ano the r t em po the Blac k queen should retreat to the defence of the unusually vulnerable d7 point. [ 10...g6? 11.e5 g8 12.h3 ( 12.0-0-0 i s s i m p l e r) 12...c2 13.d1 b7? ( 13...xb2 14.b5 b7 15.c4! d8 16.0-0 Would have given White a very strong attack. Still, this would have been a bit more delicate to negotiate with a blindfold o n m y e ye s !) 14.a6 xg2 15.xb7! xh1+ 16.g1 A) 16...d8 17.xc8 d6 ( 17...xc8 18.xd7+ b8 19.d8+ b7 20.d7+ a6 21.c8+ b5 22.d4+ a5 23.xa7# ) 18.a6 xh2 19.f1; B) 16...xg1+ 17.xg1 xb7 18.d4+Prie-Marchand Val d'IsÃ..re 2004 Blindfold 2315
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 simul 7 boards ] 11.h3 c7 12.e5 g8 13.0-0-0 e6 14.d3!? Contrary to the previous game, or maybe due to a hole in his preparation, White, i n t h i s p r e s e n t g a m e , wi l l n o t s h o w t h e necessary comprehension behind this ordinary development move. e7 15.d6? These straightforward attempts to split the enemy camp in two and short circuit its lines of communication have to be worked out very carefully in closed positions. One forgotten or wrongly evaluated reorganization and the 'nail' on d6 may all of a sudden become an irre vo c a b l y c o n d e m n e d we a kn e ss ! xd6 16.exd6 d5! On f6 this knight will be stably controlling a bunch of important squares. Then t h e s ie ge o f d 6 wil l b e gi n , in c lu d in g t h e manoeuvre ... Kd8, and ...Ne8 as White can only support it with his 2 rooks since a knight on c4 or b5 can be chased away or exchanged. This simple mathematic observation (outside any tactical considera tion s) should have occurred t o White before he embarked on this intransigent line. 17.he1 f6 [ 17...xd6? 18.e4 0-0 19.c4 b4 20.cxd5 xe1 21.xe1 ] 18.e4 [ 18.c2 b5! With the idea ...Rb6. ] 18...xe4 [ 18...b5 Was also a problem. ] 19.xe4 b7 20.a4 a5 21.c4 c6 22.a3 e5! The move White must have overlooked, taking all the squares from his knights! 23.a1 [ 23.e1 xd6 ] [ 23.f4 xg2 ] 23...f6 24.c2 f7 25.f2 g6! Prophylactic ally controlling the square on f5 while preventing the white rook from recycling to the better square on e3. [ 25...e6 26.e3 xd6 27.d4+ e7 28.f5+ ] 26.b4 [ 26.b1 e6 27.e3 xd6 28.d4+ e7 ] 26...axb4 27.xb4 c8 28.b2 [ 28.a6 b5 29.xb6 xc4+ 30.c2 a4 31.b2 h6+ 32.b1 hc8-+ ] 28...e6! The final touch to White's strategical f ia s c o , win n in g d 6 a n d t h e ga m e . 29.a6 xd6 30.a3 c5 31.xc6 xc6 32.d3
e3 33.b3 hc8 34.e1 d4 35.c1 d6 36.e1 g5 37.b4 c5 38.d5 b5 39.xd6+ xd6 40.e3 bxc4+ 41.xc4 e7 42.a4 d5 43.e3 b8+ 44.c2 c5 0-1
2366 Weller,Jean-Luc Palliser,Richard York (4.1) [Richard Palliser]
A45 2074 2451 10.11.2011
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 c5 4.e5 h6 5.c1! [ The main line. Somewhat to my surprise, only 5.d2?! has been covered before on ChessPub and after e4 6.d3 xd2 7.xd2 cxd4 8.f4 c6 9.gf3 d5 Black was already better in PovahCherniaev, Portsmouth 2003. ] 5...d5 6.c4 b6!? [ Not the most active-looking square for the knight, but Black wants to quickly open the centre. The steed can also go to both e7 and b4, but I've never been too convinced by 6...c7?! and after 7.dxc5 xc5 8.f4!? ( 8.g4 , as per our main game, is also promising ) 8...c6 9.f3 g5 10.g3 g4? 11.fd2 d6 12.exd6 xd6 13.xg4 Black found himself a pawn in arrears in Shirazi-Abergel, Caen 2011. ] 7.dxc5 [ One point of Black's play is that 7.d5 d6 detonates the centre and promises him easy equality. W eller's approach is somewhat more challenging. ] 7...xc5 8.g4 A common ploy in this line, taking aim at Black's weakened kingside, but not one which promises White any advantage here from what I can see. f8! [ I had discovered this idea while editing 'The N e w O l d I n d i a n ' f o r E ve r ym a n C h e s s . Previously, Black had both retreated the bishop and tried 8...g6 , b u t a f t e r 9.c3 c6 10.f3 d6 11.exd6 xd6 12.c5! xc5 13.b5 White had good pressure for his pawn in Wells-Efimenko, Hastings 2003/ 04. ] 9.c3 [ 9.a3!? was advocated by Peter Wells in his 2316
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 classic work on the Trompowsky, but after c6 10.f3 d5 , and if 11.c3 ( 11.b4 e7 12.c5!? is what White would like to do, but looks too ambitious after d7 13.b2 c7 14.g3 a5 ) 11...dxc4 12.e2 d4 , Black is fine, as shown by Cherniaev and Prokuronov. ] 9...c6 10.f3 d6! [ This seems best. Instead 10...b4 11.e4 see s W hite m ain ta ining cont ro l a nd h e e m e r g e s w i t h t h e a d v a n t a g e a f t e r d5 12.exd6 xd6 13.f4 c2+ 14.e2 , ] [ but 10...d5 is again possible. ] 11.f4 h5!? [ White was better after 11...dxe5 12.xe5 d4?! 13.g3 g5 14.e3 xe5 15.xe5 xe5 16.xc5+ in Vigus-L.Williams, British League 1998, but the text, an unplayed idea of Cherniaev's, is somewhat more challenging. ] [ He and Prokuronov also analyse 11...g5!? , which Cherniaev has himself played and after 12.g3 ( 12.e3!? worried me at the board after xe3 13.fxe3 dxe5 14.g3 f6 15.e2 Black is a pawn up and not in any immediate danger, but his ugly kingside and restricted development gives W hite decent compensation for the pawn) 12...h5! 13.xg5 xg5 14.xg5 h4 15.f4 dxe5 16.e3 xe3 17.fxe3 e7 Black was slightly f or choice thanks to his central p a wn m a s s a n d k i n g s i d e p r o s p e c t s i n Tavoularis-Cherniaev, Coulsdon 2007. ] 12.g3 h4 13.g4 b4! [ Still following the book, although by now I had still begun to consume a fair amount of time, considering too lines like 13...dxe5 14.d1 ( and not 14.xe5? d4 ) 14...c7 15.b5! b4+ 16.e2 e7 17.xe5 xe5 18.xe5 f6 , which is perhaps about equal. ] 14.d1? Underestimating Black's threats on the queenside. That said, W hite's position wasn't so easy to handle, as we can see from a perusal of the alternatives: [ a) 14.e2 d7! is the only variation given by Cherniaev and Prokuronov, who note the neat line 15.exd6? ( 15.d1 improves, but still looks promising for Black after a5 16.exd6 xc3+ 17.bxc3 e5 ) 15...f6 16.g5 h5 , trapping the white queen. ]
[ b) 14.0-0-0?! xc3 15.xd6 offers Black a pleasant choice between xb2+ ( and 15...d7!? 16.bxc3 a5 17.b1 c5 ) 16.xb2 a4+ 17.a1 a5 18.d2 c3 19.xc3 xc3+ . ] [ c) I considered 14.g5! to be critical during t h e g a m e , b u t a f t e r f6!? ( 14...xc3+ 15.bxc3 c7 16.exd6 xd6 is a safe and se n s i b l e a lt e rn a t i ve) 15.exf6 gxf6 Black seems to be OK, despite his looselooking position. Probably best is 16.d2! ( 16.f4?! f7 17.xh4 e5 can only favour Black,; while 16.xh4? fails to e5 ) 16...f7 17.d3 g8 18.e4 d5 when the complications continue, with the chances most likely about equal. ] 14...a4 15.a3!? [ A bold attempt to blast his way out of trouble. Instead after 15.d2 xb2 16.b1 xc3 17.xc3 a4 Black would have emerged a pawn to the good. ] 15...xc3 16.d3 [ Again, 16.bxc3 xc3+ 17.e2 just leaves White a pawn in arrears and, moreover, d5 18.d3 a5 19.e3 b6 looks pretty hopeless for him. ] 16...a5!? [ After 16...e4+ 17.axb4 xb4 18.e2! xd3+ 19.xd3 c5 20.b1 White would at least manage to castle and enjoy some play for the exchange. I preferred to retain the initiative. ] 17.exd6? [ White had to find 17.d2! , even if xe5 ( or 17...dxe5 18.xc3 xc3+ 19.xc3 d8 with a good extra pawn) 18.xe5 xe5+ 19.e3 e4 20.xb4 f5 would still have lef t Black somewhat in front. ] 17...e5! [ Opening the centre to go after the white king felt pretty much decisive during the game, although the straightforward 17...e4+ 18.axb4 xb4 was also pretty tempting. ] 18.d7 The only hope to confuse the issue. xd7 19.xd7 exf4! 20.d3 [ White is routed after 20.e2 e4+ 21.f1 c5 ] [ and unfortunately for him, there's no draw after 20.xf7+ xf7 21.g5+ , in view of 2317
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg5 ( or even 21...f6!? 22.e6+ xg5 ) before, here cxb4 14.cxb4 a5! (Finkel) 22.xg5 e4+ . ] appears to equalise. ] 20...e5 Black remains a piece up and with 11...e5 t h e i n i t ia t iv e . T h e ga m e is cl e a r l y o ve r . [ Hebden sticks to his guns and carries out 21.xe5 xe5+ 22.f1 e8 23.g3 e1+ the threat, but via a conventional London 24.g2 h3+ move order (see above), Black has often 0-1 been happy to undertake a second fianchetto with 11...b6 . We'll examine this in Langeweg-Kouatly. ] 2367 A45 12.dxe5 dxe5 13.xe5 xe5 14.f3 Wells,Peter 2455 Black may have liberated his position, but Hebden,Mark 2554 White's set-up is solid and he aims to obtain some central pressure. c6 South Wales International, Cardiff (3.1) [ Another recent game saw the radical [Richard Palliser] 14...xf3+ 15.xf3 d4 ( White can even meet 15...e6 with 16.b3!? as d4?! 1.d4 f6 2.g5 It's most welcome to see the 17.xb7 dxc3 18.bxc3 seems to work out author of 'Winning with the Trompowsky' still i n h i s f a v o u r) 16.exd4 cxd4 17.c4! having faith in his old favourite. with a small edge for W hite. His bishops [ It may seem rather strange at this stage, exert the greater pressure and the d-pawn but please keep in mind the move order isn 't goin g an ywhere. I nd eed , af te r f6 2.f3 g6 3.f4 g7 4.e3 0-0 5.e2 d5 ( 17...d3 18.d2 b6 gives White a few 6.bd2 c5 7.c3 c6 8.h3 d7 9.0-0 . ] o p t i o n s , i n c l u d i n g 19.xd3 xb2 2...e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3 c5 5.d3 f6 20.ad1!? xa2 21.d6 e8 22.c5 This may look like a waste of time, but Black with promising compensation thanks to the is happy to play a tempo-down version of the pressure against b7) 18.d2 a6 19.fc1 London since his light-squared bishop can still d7?! 20.b4 ac8 21.b5 a4 22.d3 come out to g4. 6.c3 c6 7.d2 g6!? e6 23.c5 White's pawns were much the [ Hebden's favourite approach, taking play more dangerous in Cori-Almedina Ortiz, into London King's Indian waters. W ells Linares 2014. ] himself once preferred 7...g4 , a move An important move. White prevents which was also endorsed by Avrukh - see R. 15.b3! t h e d e ve lo p m e n t o f t h e b i s h o p f r o m c 8 . Pert-Guthrie, 4NCL 2013, in the Archive. ] Moreover, his pressure against d5 and b7 8.gf3 g7 9.h3 [ Prudent and standard in the London. Just a appears sufficient for him to claim a small reminder that 9.e5?! was my rather rash edge from what I can see. a5 16.a3 b6 choice in Palliser-Hebden, Leeds (rapid) The queen protects c5 and sensibly flees the 2013, where af ter b6 10.b3 h5! d-f ile bef ore a white rook appears there. 17.ad1 e6 I was already in trouble ] [ Hebden is ever principled and happy to 9...0-0 10.0-0 d7 Black menaces ...e5. This repeat an earlier game of his. Via a London position is also known in the normal London move order one GM and one future-GM where it is, of course, Black's move and he colleague of his have pref erred 17...d8 can equalise at once by advancing his e. Both games ended in draws, but after pawn. 11.e2!? 18.b4 ( logically breaking up Black's pawn [ Wells is happy to give up a tempo. The duo I also wonder about the other standard Swindon -based GM is a lways very well lever 18.e4!? , with the idea of dxe4?! prepared, so we can assume that the text is 19.xd8+ xd8 20.d1 b6 21.g5 qu it e c ritic a l. Mo re o ve r, t he m o ve wa s , which will regain th e pawn with s om e initially introduced by Richard Pert. That's pressure ) 18...cxb4 ( 18...c4?? an interesting fact as in his 'Playing the was apparently preferred in Roy ChowdhuryTrompowsky', Pert endorsed 11.b5 a6 Ganguly, Mumbai 2003, where White moved 12.xc6 bxc6 13.b4 , but as I've shown 2318
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 his queen, assuming the inputter was correct, rather than win on the spot with 19.xc4 dxc4 20.bxc5 f6 21.g5 ) 19.cxb4 c4 20.b3 e6 21.d4 White was slightly for choice and was soon pressing in M.BouazizM.Andersen, Tromso Olympiad 2014. ] 18.g5! [ A novelty and a good one at that. Wells hunts down the bishop-pair. In the stem game (at least f or a Trompowsky move order), Richard Pert had preferred 18.b4 , b u t h e r e cxb4 19.cxb4 c4 20.b3 allows Black to f ind a better move than deploying a rook to d8 and a5! obtained sufficient counterplay in R.Pert-Hebden, London (rapid) 2014. ] 18...ad8 19.xe6 fxe6 At first one might think that W hite isn't up to much, but just observe Wells' next move, which may well still h a ve b e e n p a rt o f a n e xc e ll e n t p ie c e o f preparation. 20.h4! White plans to soften up the black king's fortress and create a target on g6 for his unopposed bishop. c6 [ Black may have an extra central pawn, but he is unable to make good use of it. Indeed, 20...e5?! 21.g5 f6 ( another instructive line where W hite is doing rather well runs 21...d7 22.e4! d4 23.h5 c4?! 24.b4! ) 22.b4! cxb4 23.cxb4 c6 24.xf6 xf6 25.b5 a5 26.h5 would have left White in full control of the proceedings, not to mention with the safer king and superior minor piece. ] 21.h5 e7?! [ I'm not so sure about this, but Hebden was presumably keen to obtain some counterplay and hoped to land his knight on d3. Instead, 21...e5 seems sensible, and if 22.g4 de8 23.g5 f6 24.h6 g7 , continuing to thematically trade off one half of the bishop-pair. ] 22.hxg6 xg6 23.g3 c4 Hebden's idea, bu t t h is is p os it io n a lly ra th e r co m m it t a l. 24.h5?! [ Wells wants to attack, but this is the one moment of the game where I'm not totally ha p p y wit h h is p la y. 24.b3! looks both principled and good. I can only assume it was rejected because cxb3 ( 24...xc3 25.bxc4 merely sees the position opening to the delight of the bishop-pair) 25.b1 c6
26.xb3 a6 27.b4 b5 28.a4 might lead t o d r a w i s h s i m p l i f i c a t i o n a n d y e t bxa4 29.a3 c8 30.g4 still seems to retain a fair degree of pressure. ] 24...e5 [ Not the only approach. Indeed, one might have expected Hebden to try and drum up some counterplay with 24...f5!? 25.g4 g5 26.h3 h8 , angling to trade the darksquared bishops on e5 and obtain something down the g-file. ] 25.d4 d7?! [ White gets his nose somewhat back in front a f t e r t h i s . 25...d3 26.g4 must have worried Hebden, but c5 27.e5 d7 seems solid enough for the second player. ] 26.xe5!? Once again White rejects the chance to push his b-pawn in a bid to target the black king as the game begins to hot up. xe5 27.g4+ g7? [ I suspect that Black had simply missed White's next. Instead, 27...g7 would only have left him slightly worse. ] 28.e7 c6? [ As so often the mistakes bunch together. 28...f6 29.xg7+ xg7 30.g4 f6 would have been grim, but really had to be preferred. ] 29.f4! f6 [ Easy to criticise, but 29...xg4 wasn't really a n y b e t t e r i n v i e w o f 30.fxe5! xf1+ 31.xf1 g6 32.xg6 hxg6 33.f2 c8 34.g3 when there's no defence to the advance of the white king. ] 30.xg7+ xg7 31.f3 Another piece joins the attack and already Black is simply lost. e5 The only hope, but it isn't a very large one. 32.fxe5 h6 [ Likewise, after 32...xf3 33.gxf3 h6 34.e8+ f8 35.f4 g7+ 36.f1 t h e r e wo u l d h a ve b e e n li t t le t o d o : f o r example, e7 37.c8 b5 38.f3 f7 39.f5 and the pawns will sweep all before them. ] 33.f7+ h8 34.g3 b8 35.xd5 I'm guessing Wells was rather low on time by this stage, otherwise Hebden would surely have resigned, two pawns down and still with severe problems over his king position. b5 36.e4 g8 37.d5 b8 38.e4 g8 39.e6 a5 40.f7 h4 41.d5! 2319
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ A clinic al f inish. It 's ma t e a f t e r 41.d5 xg3 42.xg8+! xg8 43.e7+ . ] 1-0
2368 Wells,Peter K Borriss,Martin Tch-2000-01 Fuerstenfeld AUT (10) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2522 2439 17.03.01
1.d4 The Tromp: Space, development, initiative. These words mean nothing to some players, who will do anything for an extra pawn. Will they ever learn? f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d5 b6 7.c1 Long term subscribers to this site will know this is one of my favourite moves in the Tromp. It does not perhaps have the surprise value that it once did, but that makes it none t h e l e s s e f f e c t i v e . e6 8.c4 b4+ This a particularly pawn greedy line. The Black queen has already moved twice and now em ba rks on th e m ost t ime co nsu min g o f ventures. 9.c3 xc4 10.e4 b4 11.d2 b6 [ O f c o u r s e n o t : 11...xb2 12.b5 With the duel threats of Bc3 and Nc7. ] 12.c4 d6 13.ge2 e5 Black is desperately trying to close the position. 14.f4 White on the other hand is keen to blow things open. bd7 15.0-0 a6 16.g3 The White pieces begin to find their most aggressive positions. exf4 17.xf4 g6 18.e5 Black must not be given time to consolidate. dxe5 19.g5 g7 20.d6 Suddenly all White's pieces are operating in unison and this, coupled with Black's poor coordination, do not bode well for the Black player. 0-0 21.d5 xd5 22.xf7! Crunch! The Black kingside fortress is torn asunder by this imaginative rook offer. xb2 [ 22...xf7 23.xd5 is terminal. ] 23.xd5 d4+ Black is clearly desperate to exchange queens, but this merely delays the inevitable. 24.xd4 exd4 25.xd7+ h8 26.c7 b5 Black's queenside pawn phalanx may look dangerous, but in reality it is going nowhere and Wells manages to mop up easily with his extra piece. 27.d5 b8 28.e1 d3 29.ee7 d4+ 30.h1 1-0
2369 Wells,Peter K Britton,Richard British Rapidplay rapid (10) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2489 2295 01.11.2002
Tromp: Grandmaster Peter Wells gives a nice illustration of how to exploit W hite's space advantage in the 2...e6 line. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.d2 d6 6.c3 a6 This is unusual. If Black wants to play g5, then he should do so immediately. 7.f4 g5 8.f5 The natural remedy, although it has been se ld o m p la ye d . W h it e ge t s t o grip s wit h Black's weakened structure immediately. exf5 9.d5 d8 10.exf5 c6 [ 10...xf5 11.f2 e6 12.f6+ is obviously very good compensation for the pawn deficit. ] 11.e3 g7 12.0-0-0 d7 13.h4 W h y n o t ? B la ck is f o rce d t o we a k e n h i s structure further. gxh4 14.f3 f6 15.b1 Stepping out of the way of any nasty tricks on the h6-c1 diagonal. g8 16.c4 Suddenly the Black position starts to look very exposed. d5 17.e1+ f8 18.xh6+ g7 19.d6 Black is defenceless against the W hite o n s l a u g h t . e7 20.xh4 f6 21.xf7! Bang! xf7 22.e5+ After 22...Kf8 23.Ng6+ is decisive. 1-0
2370 Wells,Peter K Roevekamp,Frank MTO Biel SUI (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2494 2325 28.07.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 f6 5.dxc5! a5+ 6.c3 [ 6.d2 may be more precise but if the crucial improvement, for the variation, of W hite's 18th move below is valid then it d o e s n o t m a k e a n y d i f f e r e n c e . xd2+? 7.xd2 a6 ( 7...d5 8.xb8 ) 8.b3 ( 8.e4 ) 8...d5 ( 8...e6 9.d6 ) 9.d2 e6 10.e4 db4 11.xb4 xb4 12.d2 ] 6...xc5 [ 6...e6!? 7.d6 d5 8.e4 xc3 9.d2 b6! defending the Qa5, White has no time 2320
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 for Ne2. ( 9...c6!? ) 10.xf8 xf8 11.cxb6 axb6 12.xc3 xc3+ 13.bxc3 a6 14.d3 c6 15.e2 e5 16.d2 c4+ 17.xc4 xc4 A) 18.d4! Eric A1) 18...xa2?! 19.hb1 xb1? ( 19...a6 20.b2 c4 21.xa6 xa6 22.xb6 ) 20.xa8+ e7 21.a1; A2) 18...xa2 19.xa2 xa2 20.a1 c4 21.b1 e7 22.xb6; A3) 18...e7 19.hb1; B) 18.hb1 xe2! 19.xe2 a6 20.c4 e7 21.a4 fa8 22.b4 d6 23.d3 c6 24.c3 a5 25.b3 g5 26.b5 f6 27.b4 And Black succeeded in defending this rook ending a pawn dawn twice against no less th an GM Vlatko Kovacevic back in the early eighties! ] 7.e4 [ 7.d2 d5? ( 7...e5? 8.g5 ) 8.0-0-0 e6 9.e4 is crushing so it is very clear that both 6. Nc3 and 6.Qd2 are equivalent and reach the same position 2 or 3 moves later. ] 7...d6?! [ 7...g6!? 8.d2 g7 9.0-0-0 c6 Is Povah,N-Wells,P Portsmouth op 2002 in this section which apparently did not impress the leader of the White pieces too much in this game! In my opinion White should now have played 10.b1 A useful move in every case, because if ( 10.h6 xh6 11.xh6 Then, as it happened more or less similarly in the game mentioned in the note, Black can leave his king in the center and build a strong attack against White's long castle by means of ...d7-d6, ...Bc8-e6, ...Ra8-c8, ...b7b5 etc; 10.d5 xd5 11.exd5 b4 12.a3 a2+ 13.b1 b6! ) 10...d6 11.g4 ( 11.d5? xd5 12.exd5 b6 13.c4 f5+ 14.a1 b4 ) 11...e6 12.e3 ( 12.d5!? xd5 13.exd5 e5 14.g5 ) 12...a5 13.g5 h5 ( 13...xe4 14.fxe4 xc3 15.xc3 xa2+ 16.c1 ) 14.d5 At least something like this, based on what is acknowledged to be another strong plan against the Dragon: the occupation of the outpost on d5. xd2 15.xd2 ] 8.d2 bd7 [ 8...g6? 9.0-0-0 Threatening e4-e5 c6 10.b5! b6 11.e5! dxe5 12.e3 d4 13.xd4 exd4 14.xd4 c7 15.xf6 exf6
16.b5+ e7 17.b4++- ] 9.0-0-0 a6 10.g4 In all these transpositions to Scheveningen-Najdorf set-ups f or Black, W hite gets a very nice (and rapid!) sort of English Attack, sometimes with clear extra tempi on known positions, where one characteristic is the difficulty for Black to develop his king's bishop. That is why the Dragon option may be the sole solution for him. h6 11.ge2 b5 [ 11...e5 12.d4 ] 12.g3 b7 13.h4 e5 14.e2 0-0-0 15.g5 hxg5 16.hxg5 xh1 17.xh1 fd7 18.b3 [ 18.e3 c7 19.d5 xd5 20.exd5 c4 21.xc4 xc4 22.b3 c7 23.f4 is typically also very unpleasant for Black. ] 18...e6 19.e3 a3+ 20.b1 c5 21.f4 c6 [ 21...g6!? ] 22.h8 a5 [ 22...e7 23.h7 b4 24.d5! Sicilian stuff! exd5 ( 24...f8 25.b6+ b8 26.c4 ) 25.exd5 b8 26.xg7 is crushing. f8 27.xc5 dxc5 28.f5 ] 23.g6! [ 23.xf8? xf8 24.xd6 d7 The Nc3 hangs. ] 23...b4 24.xf8! xf8 25.xd6 d7 26.a4 d8? [ 26...c7 only move. A) 27.b6+!? d8 A1) 28.c4 xd6 ( 28...fxg6 29.b6; 28...c8 29.gxf7 ) 29.xd6 c7 30.xf7 d8; A2) 28.d3! fxg6 29.g4 e8 ( 29...e8 30.c4 ) 30.xe6 xb6 31.xb6 e7 32.f5 With a strong attack and one pawn in compensation for the exchange.; B) 27.c5 d8! ( 27...xd6 28.xd6 fxg6 29.b6+! xb6 30.xf8 ) 28.gxf7 xc5 29.xc7+ xc7 30.xc5 c8 31.e5 ( 31.xa6 d6 32.xc8 xc8 33.d3 f8 ) 31...f8 32.xa6 xf7 33.xc8 xc8 34.xe6 ] 27.xa6! cb8 28.b6! xb6 29.xb6+ xb6 30.xb6 xa6 31.gxf7 xf7 32.xe6+ d7 33.f5 d8 34.d6 c6 35.f7+ Black resigns because after 35...Kc7
2321
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 36.Ne5 Nxe5 37.Qxe5+ he will lose b4. 1-0
2371 Wiley,Tom E Vesselovsky,Serguei 18th Pobeskydi Arcimpex (3) [Eric Prié]
A45 2343 2368 06.04.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.d4 e5 11.xc6 dxc6! 12.xe5 e6 13.a3 The main line that I focused on in 2005, keeping the a-pawn. In the meantime however, I had received Well's book which mentions the interesting alternative [ 13.d4 here, as suggested by GM De la Villa. b5 ( 13...d7! Nevertheless, defending b6 and if 14.e4 c5! consistent with the gambit style, as in GroffenBerzinsh! ) 14.a3 c5? ( 14...b4 15.cxb4 xb4+ 16.f2 This is the whole idea while there is no annoying check on the a7-g1 diagonal as in Miles-Hebden or KarttunenV o l o k i t i n . 0-0 where Black has some compensation. For instance, after 17.e4 fd8 18.e2 d7 19.c1 d6 ) 15.xf6 gxf6 16.e4 ( 16.e3!? To limit the opposing dark-squared bishop b4 17.b5+ e7 18.cxb4 cxb4 19.e2 ) 16...b4 17.b5+ d7? ( 17...d8 18.cxb4 cxb4 19.a4 c5 20.e2 e7 21.d1 ad8 22.f4 b3 And maybe Black can save himself in the opposite-colour bishop ending, a pawn down, res ult in g f ro m 23.d5+ xd5 24.exd5 d6 ) 18.xd7+ xd7 19.0-0-0+ d6 20.axb4 a1+ 21.c2 xd1 22.xd1 cxb4 23.e2 With what should be a technical win for W hite. Schneider, I (2392)-Holzke, F (2479) BL1 05-06 Solingen 2006 ] 13...0-0-0!? A Novelty that fits in well with the more ambitious modern way of handling this position as Black, to rely straightforwardly on the lead in development rather than opening the queenside beforehand. However, there is a drawback with having the king on c8 when the white bishop is still on the b8-h2 diagonal...
[ 13...b5 Is the normal continuation 14.b1!? ( recalling the idea 14.e4 b4! 15.cxb4 xb4+ 16.e2 0-0-0!; 14.d4 However, when Black has already committed himself t o . . . b 6 - b 5 . d7 For 14...b4 see the note above in the German fragment. 15.e4 c5 16.d1 0-0-0 With two ideas: . ..Bb3 and ... Ne6, dislodging the d4-bishop f rom his strong post where he also attacks g7, or ...f7f 5 to open up t he ce ntre .) 14...d5?! ( 14...0-0-0 15.e4 c5 16.e2 he8; 14...d7 15.d4 f6 16.e4 d6 17.e2 e5 ) 15.d4 Thanks, I was just heading there! c5?! ( 15...f5 16.e4 fxe4 17.fxe4 f6 ) 16.f2 b4? Black tries too hard when this pawn sacrifice, with the queens off, is all about long term compensation... ( 16...b6 17.e4 c4; 16...c7 ) 17.e4 c7 18.axb4 cxb4 19.e2 bxc3 20.xc3 b4 21.b6 d7 22.f2 c6 23.e3 b6 24.e2 b7 25.hc1+- Same remark as in the f ragment above, W ang Yue (2626)Areshchenko, A (2641) Lausanne Young Masters 2006 1-0 (43) ] [ 13...c5?! 14.e4! Followed by Ne2 instead of Nh3. ( 14.d4 0-0-0 15.e3 he8 )] 14.h3 c5? Anything but this [ 14...d7 15.d4 c5 16.f2 b3 17.e4 e5 ] [ Or the seemingly equivalent. 14...b3 ] [ A n d e v e n A r e s h e n k o ' s i d e a 14...d5 15.g5?! ( 15.d4 ) 15...e3 16.xe6 c2+ 17.f2 fxe6 18.c1 c5+ 19.g3 e3 20.b4 d6 21.xd6 xd6 22.f4 c4 23.e4 e5+ 24.g3 e3 25.f2 xf1 ( 25...d1+!? 26.e1 hd8 27.e2 b2 ) 26.hxf1 d2+ 27.g1 hd8 ] 15.b4? [ 15.f4! he8 ( 15...e3 16.xe6 fxe6 17.g3 d5 18.f4 xf4 19.gxf4 hd8 20.h3 8d6? 21.e4 d2 22.e5; 15...b3 16.g3 d6 17.h3+ c7 18.d4 ) 16.g3 ( 16.xe6 xe6 ) 16...d7 ( 16...f5 17.xf6 gxf6 18.h5 e3 19.g7 d2+ 20.f2 e3+ 21.g2 e5 22.xf5 xf5 23.f4 b5 24.f3 d2 25.b1 xc3? 26.bxc3 xb1 27.h3+ c7 28.xb1 ) 17.xf6 gxf6 18.h5 And I see no satisfactory way to protect the pawn apart from the 'subsiding' e7 ] 15...e3 16.f4 d5 17.xe3 xe3 2322
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.c1 he8 19.f4 c4 20.h4 [ 20.f2 d2 ] 20...f6 21.h5 g5 Black embarks on a drawing continuation unhappily activating the opposing king's rook on its original square, when he must have overlooked the concealed target of the a3 pawn that was within reach after [ 21...c7! 22.g3 a8 ] 22.hxg6 hxg6 23.xg6 xg2+ [ 23...xf1 24.xf1 xe2 25.g1 ] [ 23...xg2+ 24.f2 e3 25.f4 d2 26.h3+ f5 ] ½-½
2372 Wilhelm,S Todoran,Ion George Banc-Post A2 (5) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2171 2080 29.08.2002
Trompowsky: The c5 Tromp is a rare guest in tournaments these days. It often leads to great complications in positions where White's structural superiority is compensated for by Black's bishops and early activity. In the Tromp though, you have to believe in the power of knights and if you don't believe, then this game should help convince you. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 e6 6.c4 g7 7.c3 f5 As always in this sharp variation of the Tromp there is a fight between Black's strong dark squared bishop and W hite's extra space and better structure. 8.e3 d6 9.ge2 d7 10.f4 e5 11.d2 d7 12.h5! White finds the weakness in the Black position, the tender f6 square. h6? This Ok-looking bid to keep the bishop fails tactically. [ 12...g8 Needed to be tried. ] 13.f4 g6 14.f6+ e7?? The fatal mistake. [ 14...d8 However unpleasant this appear, it was essential. ] 15.dxe6! The threat of the fork on d5 is lethal. c6 16.cd5+ xe6 17.g4! The Black king is going for a walk from which he will never return. The famous phrase "I may be some time" could not apply more! fxg4 18.f5+ xf5 19.d3+ e6 20.f2 The threat of
Qf5 seals Black's fate. f4 22.e3# 1-0
2373 Willems,Matthias Ikonnikov,Vyacheslav Karl Mala mem op 10th (2) [Eric Prié]
21.exf4
he8
A45 2084 2587 21.07.2006
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.e3 b6 4.c3 d6 5.d3 Dubious but then the only alternative to continue in gambit style. [ 5.f3? xb2 6.b5 b4+ 7.d2 xd2+ 8.xd2 a6 9.dxc5 dxc5 10.e2 ( 10.b3 b6 ) 10...g6 11.b1 g7 ( 11...h5 12.e5 g7 13.xg7 xg7 14.f3 ) 12.e5 ( 12.f3!? 0-0 13.c7 xc7 14.xc7 regaining the pawn) 12...0-0 13.f3 d7 14.xg7 xg7 Hoellmann, L (2206)-Malakhatko, V (2578) Goch 2010 0-1(69) ] [ 5.h3? xb2 6.b5 ( 6.b5+ d7 7.xd7+ bxd7 8.ge2 b6 ) 6...b4+ 7.d2 xd2+ 8.xd2 d7! 9.a4 ( 9.dxc5 e4+ ) 9...g5 10.h2 g7 Kovacevic, S (2330) -Gonzalez de la Torre, S (2412) Donostia 2010 0-1(59) ] 5...g6 6.h3 [ 6.ge2 g7 7.dxc5?! xc5!? ( 7...dxc5 ) 8.e4 0-0 9.d2 c6 10.e3 ( 10.h6? xh6 11.xh6 xf2+ ) 10...a5 11.h6 xh6 12.xh6 The knight on f3 is missing which removes a touch of venom from the white idea of exchanging the dark squared bishops... as well as generally speaking from t h i s s e t - u p . b6! 13.0-0 ( 13.c1 ) 13...xb2 14.fb1 a3 Boguszlavszkij, J (2281) -Horvath, P (2441) Hungary 2002 0-1(44) ] 6...g7 7.f3 xb2 Now that the white knight stands on f3. 8.b5 b4+ 9.f1 a5 With his king on f1 and Black ready to castle, White does not have enough compensation, unless 10.xd6 exd6 11.xd6+ e7 works for him. Unfortunately this is not the case, especially following 12.b1? [ 12.e5 cxd4 ( 12...xd6?? 13.c4+ ) 13.exd4 e6! 14.xb7 d5 15.c5 xd4 16.xe6 xe5! ( 16...fxe6 17.f3 d6 2323
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 is good too. ) 17.xg7 f8-+ ] 12...xd6 13.b5 d8 14.e5 e7 15.xc5 bd7 16.b5 a6 17.b3 xe5 18.dxe5 d7 19.f4 c5 20.c3 a5 21.c4 d8 22.d4 e6 0-1
2374 Winants,Luc Carlsen,Magnus ECC Rethymnon GRE (4) [Eric Prié]
A45 2501 2385 01.10.2003
1.d4 f6 [ 1...d5 2.c4 c6 3.c3 e6 4.f3 dxc4 5.a4 b4 6.e3 b5 7.d2 a5 8.axb5 xc3 9.xc3 cxb5 10.b3 b7 11.bxc4 b4 12.b2 f6 13.c5 0-0 14.b5 c7 15.a4 c6 ( 15...c6! ) 16.0-0 fd8 17.fd1 1/2-1/2 Vanderstricht, G (2300) Lautier, J (2645) Antwerp 1998 For comparison with the Gustafsson-Avrukh game, it is clear that time does not matter much but that the queen's bishop is better placed on b7(b2) than f5(f4). ] 2.g5 e4 3.f4 d5 4.e3! c5 5.d3!? f6! 6.dxc5?! c6! 7.b5 e6 Clearly, I do not think much good of Bg4?! which is important for another reason, nor a6?! nor g6?! in this position as in the two previous games, which is why I did not grant them much consideration in term of chess comments. However, if Black has better than my find ...Qa5+! followed by ...a6! and ...e6!, I guess it will be here, with ...e6, but I doubt it. 8.b4 d7 9.c3 a5 10.b3! "The other thematic move" as I wrote in Rowson-Dorfman that saw Qe2. It is not surprising to see the Belgian GM, who also happens to be one of the most prominent specialists on the 1...d5 2. Bf4 Neo-London, really giving the impression of knowing what he does, and showing the way as White, contrary to the next two games with the same ...e6 option. [ 10.a4 axb4 11.xc6 xc6 12.cxb4 b6 13.d2 bxc5 14.b5 b7 15.gf3 c4! 16.0-0 b4 17.c2 0-0 18.fb1 a5 19.h3 e8 20.d1 e7 21.e5 Eventually the bishop returns onto his best d ia go n a l. . . d7 22.d4 ec8 23.c3
c5 Gustafsson, J (2571) - Avrukh, B (2609) EU-ChT Plovdiv BUL 2003 1/2 (58) ] 10...axb4? "unfortunately there seem to be some problems for W hite on the white squares after" [ 10...e5! 11.a3 xb5 12.xb5 d3+ 13.f1 xf4 14.exf4 e7 See more details in Rowson-Dorfman. ] [ 10...h5!? Is also annoying See MatveevaDa n ie lian b u t th e n W h it e m a y h a ve a n answer with 11.e2! ] 11.cxb4 e4 12.c3 [ 12.e2! ] 12...f6? [ 12...xc3 13.xc3 e7 ] 13.ge2 xf2 14.0-0! g4 15.h3 ge5 16.a4 c4 17.e4! With a winning attack. d4 18.xd7+ xd7 19.xd4 xd4+ 20.h1 xe4 21.ae1 [ 21.ad1!! c8 22.xc4 xc4 23.b6+ d8 24.xc4 ] 21...g6 22.c1 e8 23.xc4! dxc4 24.xc4 e5 25.b6 a3 26.xe5 e6 27.e1!+- e7 28.b5+ f8 29.xg7+ xg7 30.xe6 fxe6 31.d7 f6 32.d4+ e5 33.h4+ f7 34.h5+ g7 35.d5 1-0
2375 Winants,Luc Franzen,Jozef Open Cappelle la Grande FRA (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A45 2515 2310 24.02.2001
Trompowsky: Black ventures down a rare old gambit sideline and is soon regretting his decision. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.d5 b6 5.d2 xd2 A risky way to grab the pawn. [ 5...xb2 is rightly considered to be the main line, when Black has equal chances. ] 6.xd2 xb2 7.e4 g6 8.b1 e5 9.d3 g7 10.f3 c7 11.h4 In return for the pawn investment, White has a huge lead in d e ve l o p m e n t . T h is in it i a l l y ra s h lo o k i n g kingside lunge, ensures that the Black king will find it extremely difficult to find a safe haven. d6 12.c4 d7 13.h5 e5 14.xe5 xe5 15.b3 0-0 A dangerous decision, but how else is Black to complete his 2324
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 development? 16.c3 Forcing the exchange of Black's best kingside defender and actually his only active piece. b8 17.b2 e6 18.xe5 dxe5 19.d2 With the a1-h8 diagonal blocked the W hite queen seeks greener pastures. f6 20.hxg6 hxg6 21.h6 g7 22.e2 g5 23.bh1 Increasing the pressure on the Black kingside, move by move. b6 24.e3 f7 25.d6 Yet another thorn is created in Black's side. He is powerless against the coming h-file invasion. g4 26.g3 g5 27.1h5 1-0
for Black provided that the opponent abstains f r o m a c ce p t i n g h i s g a m b it p l a y! A s i t i s possible to imagine Black has some compensation after: [ 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5 e3+ 14.d2 b6 15.e4 e6 ] 12...e8 13.ge2 xe3 14.d4 e8 15.b5 d7 16.xc6 xc6 [ 16...bxc6 17.a4 c4 18.b3 a6 19.b2 ab8 20.c5 b6 21.c3 ] 17.g5 h6 As I witnessed this game, the young (just 14...) German talent, who made his first IM norm in the tournament continued to produce his moves at the speed of light, as if everything had been thoroughly planned 2376 A45 well ahead... Indeed, if you are to land up in Wirig,Anthony 2422 such a rubbish tip right out of the opening, Bindrich,Falko 2253 because of some poor preparation, better do it without losing time and at least showing Mitropa Cup Zemplinska Sirava SVK (2) some assurance! You never know! Maybe [Eric Prié] your opponent will start to ask himself some 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 f6 e xist e n t ia l qu e s t io n s: " Ho w ca n it b e s o 5.dxc5! When Black does not give the check easy?" "How come can my opponent look so on a5, White's queen knight will have the c3 confident?" "W hat did I overlook?" "There s qu a re , a n d t h is is a cc o rd in gly t h e b e s t ought to be something for him!" and so on. response. e5? Most probably an idea of the Well, maybe this what happened in the head of the elder French IM who had done German captain GM Uwe BÃPnsch... [ 5...a5+ 6.d2! xc5 7.c3 absolutely nothing to deserve such a big advantage with the ideas he had produced is very pleasant for White, see next game. ] and apparently did not know this maxim: [ 5...e6? 6.d6 ] [ 5...b6?! 6.c3! bxc5 7.e4 d6 8.e5 dxe5! " N e v e r a t t r i b u t e t o m a l i c e w h a t c a n b e 9.xd8+ xd8 10.0-0-0+ bd7 11.xe5 adequately explained by ignorance". 18.g3 b7 12.h3 c8 13.g3 h6 14.c4 e6 As for time, he, on the other hand , had spent 15.f4 e7 16.b5 Carlsen,M-Ganguly,S quite a reasonable amount and here 'missed' the logical Dubai op 2004 1-0 (43) ] [ 18.f4 With the same idea of the kingside [ 5...a6!? Possibly the only move, about assault by means of g2-g4, h2-h4 against which I need time in order to study it more which it is not easy to find a defence. ] carefully. In fact, although instinctively I 19.b3 e3+ 20.b1 e5 prefer White in this peculiar Open Sicilian 18...d7 structure, Black has a very good score with it 21.f2 c6 22.d4 d7 23.g4 f4 24.g3 xg3 25.hxg3 e3 26.c1 ae8 in the Database... 6.e4 xc5 7.c3 ] 27.d2 f8 28.g5!? 6.xe5 xc5 7.d6! b6 [ 28.a4 followed by a5 and the general [ 7...xg1 8.xg1 b6 9.h1 xb2 exchange of the heavy pieces along the e10.d2 c6 11.e4 ] f i l e wo u l d h a ve p r o m i s e d B l a c k s o m e 8.xc5 xc5 9.c3 0-0 intense moments of bliss in the ending... ] [ 9...d5 10.e3! xe3+ ( 10...0-0 11.d4; 10...c6 11.d2 ) 11.e2 e7 12.xe7+ 28...hxg5 29.h8+ g8 30.e4 This was xe7 13.0-0-0 e6 14.ge2 c6 Anthony's idea, not bad in itself, but just too difficult to assess correctly as Black already 15.d4 ] 10.d2 c6 11.0-0-0 d5 12.e3! has 2 pawns, including one doubled, this is But the idea of the game is completely wrong true, for the exchange. 2325
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 30.xd5 3e5 31.c4 ] 30...3xe4 31.fxe4 xe4 32.c3 g6 33.e1?! I sound a little bitter about this game as I just happened to be the captain of the young and promising French team who did so terribly in this competition! And was myself very unsuccessful, just as in this game, as I had indirectly participated with the opening preparation... [ 33.f1 g7 34.h7+ xh7 35.xf7+ h6 36.xd7 e7! ] [ 33.dh1 g4 34.e2 b5 35.1h3 g7 36.3h7+ f8 37.h3= ] 33...g4 34.e3 g7 And now that the Ng8 gets active, it is even less clear. 35.h2 f6 36.d3 e4 37.e2 f5! 38.d4? [ 38.d4 xg3+ 39.xf5+ xf5 ] 38...f6+! 39.e5 [ 39.c5 c4+ 40.d6 ( 40.b5 d7+ 41.a5 a4# ) 40...c6+ 41.e5 g4+ 42.d4 c4+ 43.xd5 xe3+ ] 39...a4! And the end of the 'knightmare', the 'family' fork, unavoidable, will cost a whole rook. 40.d6 g4 41.d4 xe3 42.b3 a6+ 43.c7 b6 44.a4 d1 45.a5 f6 46.xb7 a6 47.c4 dxc4 48.bxc4 e3 49.c5 e4+ 50.b8 f5 51.d2 xg3 52.b5 axb5 53.d6 f5 Indeed an atypical course from the German 4th board who made the norm from his first 6 games at the Mitropa-cup... and lost the remaining three! After that his father congratulated him on the phone, to the great displeasure of his captain who wanted to conceal the performance for the good of the team.. . 0-1
on the long diagonal from where it supports 'the bolt' on d5 while hampering the development of the enemy queenside and s u b s e q u e n t l y h i s c o u n t e r p a r t . a6!? This manoeuvre, with the black queen sliding along the 6th rank, is generally acknowledged my modern theory to be the critical plan to play against White's strong d5 pawn, in this line of the Tromp. [ 6...h6?! 7.e3 Just helps White in regaining some control over the dark squares. ] 7.g2 c7 8.e3?! I think that this move is too slow. [ 8.h3! See next game. ] 8...g7 9.c3 d6! 10.c2? The move given by Fritz in this position! But what if W hite decided to hang on to the pawn? [ 10.d2 A) 10...e6 11.a3 A1) 11...exd5 12.e2 b5 13.f4 b7 14.d1 ( 14.xd5!? xd5! 15.xb5 c6 16.xd5 a6 17.bc7+ f8 18.e4 c8 19.g5 d6 20.xf5 xc7 ); A2) 11...xd5? 12.c4; B) 10...b5! 11.e2 ( 11.a3 a6! 12.e2 b4 ) 11...b7 ( 11...a6 12.0-0 b4 13.cxb4 cxb4 14.c1 0-0 15.d4 ) 12.f4 e5 13.a3 B1) 13...a6 14.d1 ( 14.c4 ) 14...0-0 ( 14...xf4 15.exf4 e6 16.c2 xd5 17.e3 e7 18.xd5 xd5 19.xd5 exd5+ 20.f1 0-0 21.xd5 e6 22.g2 ) 15.0-0 And White maintains his 'nail' on d5.; B2) 13...xf4! Black's plan of surrounding the enemy d-pawn su ccee ds just by o ne t em po . 14.exf4 2377 A45 xd5 15.xb5 xb5 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 b8= ] Wirig,Anthony 2422 Leroux,Jean Pierre 2442 10...xd5 11.xf5 [ 11.d2 e6! ( 11...c7 12.xd6 exd6 ) Ch FRA - Accession (10.2) 2003 12.a3 ( 12.c4? e5 ) 12...b8!! [Eric Prié] Thanks to this idea, while White looks for an acceptable way to regain his material, 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 Black gets a strong initiative in every case. 5.c1 f5 6.g3 The main line. White starts the 13.e2 ( 13.c4 b6 14.cxd5 xb2 process of regaining some lost control over 15.xb2 xb2 16.c2 xa1 17.xa1 the dark squares, prepares the installation of d6; 13.d1 b5 14.c4 bxc4 15.xc4 a6 a knight onto the key square f4 (as always 16.xd5 exd5 17.xd5 0-0 ) 13...b5 when he has doubled the enemy pawns on f6) 14.f4 b4 15.cxb4 xb4 16.xd5 exd5 and, chiefly, develops his light-squared bishop 2326
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.xd5 xb2! 18.xf7+ e7 19.xd6+ xd6 20.c4+ e7 ( 20...xc4? 21.d1+ ) 21.xb2 xb2 22.c4 ( 22.d5 a6 ) 22...d6 23.0-0 e6 ] 11...b4!! 12.e4 b6! 13.g4 f6 Still threatening d7-d5. 14.e2 d5 15.g2 [ 15.c2 xc2+ 16.xc2 f5! 17.a4+ f8 ] 15...c4?? Unfortunately for the commentator, this very important theoretical game will not be a pure 'twentymovish' piece of work... [ When 15...d3+ , however, was fully in the spirit of the game! 16.xd3 ( 16.f1 ) 16...xb2 17.e2 xa1 18.c2 d4 19.exd4 cxd4 20.cxd4 ( 20.0-0 d3! 21.xd3 xa2 22.xb7 xb7 23.b5+ f8 24.xb7 g7 ) 20...e6 21.xb7 b8 22.c6+ f8 23.0-0 xa2-+ ] 16.cxb4 xb4+ 17.d2 xb2 18.a3 a4 [ 18...xa3 19.xd5! ( 19.xa3 xa3 20.xd5 c3; 19.gf3 c3 20.0-0 cxd2 21.fb1 d6 22.xd2 0-0 ) 19...c3 A) 20.gf3 b2 21.b1 ( 21.a2 c2 ) 21...c2 22.0-0 cxb1 23.xb1 c5 24.xf7+ xf7 25.e4 f5 26.xb2 f8; B) 20.b3 b2 ( 20...c2+ 21.d2 ) 21.a2! c2+ 22.f1 ( 22.d2? c3 ) 22...c1+ 23.xc1 xc1 24.g2 Black will have some serious problems to bring back his bishop to his lines. ] 19.b1 c3 20.xb2 cxb2 21.d3 d7 [ 21...c6 22.gf3! c1+ 23.e2 The square b1 remains firmly under control. ] 22.c3 0-0 23.xb2 ac8 24.gf3 b5 [ 24...c2 25.a1 a5! ( 25...b5 26.d4 fc8 27.xc2 xc2 28.d1! b2 29.g4+ THE very bad surprise!) 26.0-0 xd2 27.e1 b5 28.xd2 xd2 29.xd2 xf1 30.xf1 e6= ] 25.f1? White probably even missed the win here! [ 25.d4! d3 ( 25...a6 26.f5! f6 27.xe7+ g7 28.xc8 xc8 29.b3 d3 30.d4 a5+ 31.b4 c1+ 32.d2 ) 26.f1 ( 26.xd5 a5 ) 26...g6 27.h3 c7 28.0-0 With the queens on the board the weakness of Black's dark squares makes the position delicate for him despite the arithmetical balance of the
material. ] 25...c4 26.xc4 dxc4 27.c3 fd8 28.0-0 f6! The situation has turned again! Black's two rooks are very strong along the central files. His weak d-pawn has me t a m o rp h o se d it se lf o n t o a d a n ge ro u s a d va n ce d p r o t e ct e d p a s se d p a wn . A n d , especially after the opening of the d-file and this move, his king looks secure. 29.e4 [ 29.d4 e5 30.f5 d3 31.b4 ( 31.c1 d7 ) 31...xb4 32.axb4 f8!-+ ] 29...d3 30.b2 c6 31.ed2 c3 32.b3+ d5 With such pieces the transposition to the ending is the safest way to victory. 33.d4 xb3 34.2xb3 c2 35.c1 [ 35.a4 e5 36.c1 ( 36.f5 xb3 37.e7+ f7 38.xc8 b1 ) 36...a3 37.f5 d8 38.e4 d1 39.e3 xf1+ 40.xf1 a1 ] 35...xa3 36.g2 e5 37.de2 d8 38.f4 d1 39.fxe5 fxe5 40.f5 xe3 41.f2 xe2+ 42.xe2 xc1-+ White's obstinate insistence to keep on playing is completely ridiculous, particularly considered the rate of play, 6 hours, 2 periods, with 30' increment, but this game, played on board one of the penultimate round was the decisive encounter for promotion to the main Round Robin French Championship, cat XIII, beginning in two weeks... 43.d2 h1 44.xc2 xh2+ 45.d3 h3 46.g5+ f7 47.e4 h6 48.xe5 g6 49.f5+ e7 50.f3 a5 51.a3 b6 52.d5 d7 53.f3 g5+ 54.c4 c5+ 55.b3 h5 56.f6 c7 57.g6 b7 58.g4 hxg4 59.xg4 a6 60.a4 f5 61.g6 f4+ 62.a3 a4 63.g5 b5 64.g8 f3+ 65.b4 b3+ 66.c5 a3 67.h8 b4 68.c4 b2 69.h6+ a5 70.h8 a2 71.b8 c2+ 72.d3 c3+ 73.d4 a4 0-1
2378 Woelk,Ralf Kunz,Harry Bernard Partridge mem fin corr [Eric Prié]
A45 2311 2403 2000
1.d4 f6 2.f4 c5 3.d5 d6! This relatively confidential idea is, however, what causes me 2327
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the biggest headache. For the 3rd time (after ...Qb4+ in game 1, ...Nh5 in game 2...) Black will manage to exploit the premature development of the London bishop. 4.c3 [ 4.c4 b5!? ( 4...e5 5.d2 f5= Nielsen, J-Jensen, H (2095) Copenhagen 1 9 9 7 1 / 2 ( 6 8 )) 5.cxb5 a6 6.e3 g6 W ith a good version of the Benko/Volga Gambit for Black in Diaz Begonte, MEstrada Martinez, C (2205)/Madrid 1999 0-1(33) ] 4...e5 5.dxe6 I have analysed every move of the bishop. Unfortunately none of them is entirely satisfactory. In any case [ 5.g5 is White's best try. A) 5...bd7 6.e4 a6 ( 6...h6 7.xf6 xf6 8.b5+ ) 7.a4 h6 ( 7...b6!? ) A1) 8.xf6 xf6 9.a5!? ( 9.f3 ) 9...h5 ( 9...b5 10.axb6 xb6 11.b5+ ) 10.e2 g6 11.f3 h6 12.d2 xd2+ 13.xd2 f8 14.0-0 g7 15.f4; A2) 8.d2!? e7 9.f3 h7 10.d3 ( 10.h4 df8 11.g3 ); B) 5...e7 The problem now is the threat ...Nxd5 B1) 6.h4?! The problem with this move is the exposure of the h-pawn when White is not able to realize his plan of e2e 4 , g 2 - g 3 . h6! ( 6...bd7 7.e4 h6 8.d2 0-0?! 9.g4 ) 7.xf6 ( 7.d2 g4! 8.c1 a6 9.e4 c7 ) 7...xf6 8.f3 ( 8.e4 xh4; 8.g3 e4! 9.xe4 xb2 10.b1 a5+ 11.d2 xa2 12.xd6+ d7 ) 8...e4 9.xe4 xb2 10.b1 f6 ( 10...a5+ 11.fd2 ) 11.xf6+ xf6 12.e4 0-0 13.d3 d7 14.0-0 b6; B2) 6.e4!? B2a) 6...xd5 7.b5+ f8 ( 7...d7 8.xd5 xg5 9.xb7; 7...d7 8.xe7 xc3 9.xd8 xd1 10.a5 xb2 11.c3 a6 12.xd7+ xd7 13.xb2+- ) 8.xd5 xg5 9.f3 e7 ( 9...f6 10.0-0-0 ) 10.c4 e8 11.b5 e6 12.xb7 xc4 13.a3 c6! 14.xc4 b8 15.c7 ( 15.a6? b4 ) 15...c8 16.b7 b8=; B2b) 6...h6 7.xf6 xf6 8.e2 0-0 9.a4 ( 9.g4 d7 ) 9...d7 ( 9...g6 10.f3 g7 11.d2 f5 12.c4 a6
13.0-0 ) 10.f3 g6 11.d2 g7 12.c4 b6 13.e3 f5 14.exf5 gxf5 15.a5 d7 16.c4 f6 17.b5 e8 18.h5; B2c) 6...xe4 7.b5+ ( 7.xe7 a5! 8.h4 xc3 9.d2 b4 ) 7...d7 8.xd7+ xd7 ( 8...xd7?? 9.xe4 xg5 10.g4+ ) 9.xe4 xg5 10.xd6+ e7 11.c4 ( 11.e4!? h6 12.f3 ) 11...e4; B3) 6.f3 In this regard then this appears the most promising. h6 7.xf6 xf6 8.e4 0-0 ( 8...a6 9.b5+ ) 9.a4 a6 If the plan to play ...f7-f5 falters, be ca u se o f t h e d6 -p a wn we ak n e s s , B la ck m a y t ry t h is a lt e rn a t ive id e a . 10.d2 ( 10.xa6!? bxa6 11.d2 g5 12.c4 f5 ) 10...b6 11.e2 c7 12.0-0 a6 13.g4 b8 14.xc8 xc8 15.c4 e8 16.e2 The absence of the pawn on c4 makes a huge difference in comparison to the Czech Benoni: W hite's light-squared bishop is very strong on the f1-a6 diagonal, the transfer of the knight to c4 presses on the opposing d6-pawn but the most important factor in W hite's favour remains his space advantage, of course. ] [ 5.d2 f5 6.f3 e4 7.g4? xd5 8.g5 xc3 9.d2 e7 10.xe7 xe7 11.xc3 h4+ 12.d2 h6+ ] 5...xe6 6.e4 c6 7.d2 a5 This move is more effective after White long castles. [ 7...d5 8.exd5 ( 8.e5? h5 ) 8...xd5 9.0-0-0 xf4 10.xf4 f6 11.xf6 gxf6 12.b5 ] [ 7...h6!? ] 8.f3 d5 [ 8...h6 9.b5 ( 9.e2 g5 10.e3 0-0-0 11.0-0 g7 ) 9...0-0-0!? 10.xc6 bxc6 11.0-0 g5 12.g3 ( 12.e3 d5 ) 12...h5 13.a3 xg3 14.hxg3 g7 ] 9.d3?! [ 9.g5 d4 10.b5 xd2+ 11.xd2 d7 12.a4 ] 9...c4 10.exd5 xd5 11.xd5 xd5 12.e2 f5 13.d4 xd4 14.xd4 xc2 [ 14...c5! 15.xg7 ( 15.e5 xe5 16.xe5 f6 17.c3 0-0-0 18.0-0 d4 ) 15...xf4!! 16.xh8+ e7 17.xa8 xf2+ 2328
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.d1 xg2 19.f1 e3 And White is amazingly helpless against the threat ... Qd5+. 20.e1 ( 20.f3 h1+ 21.f1 d5+ 22.d3 g4+ 23.e1 cxd3 ) 20...g4! 21.xb7+ xb7 22.xg4 g2 23.e2 xh2-+ ] 15.c1 f5 16.xc4 The position is now completely equal. ½-½
2379 Yegiazarian,Arsen Gaprindashvili,Valerian op Ubeda (9) [Eric Prié]
A45 2500 2405 28.01.1999
1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.xf6 gxf6 4.d5 b6 5.c1 f5 6.g3 a6!? 7.g2 c7 8.h3! There is only one game with this excellent move, well, out of 4 in total with 6.g3 Na6. That gives plenty of room for personal analysis! Here are some ideas. h6?! [ 8...g7 9.c3 e6 10.d2 ( 10.f4 h6 11.e3 xf4 12.exf4 xd5 13.xd5 exd5 )] [ 8...e6 9.f4 ( 9.0-0!? xd5 10.xd5 exd5 11.c3 d4 12.d5 d6 13.hf4 With compensations for W hite.) 9...h6 10.c4! b4+! ( 10...e5 11.c3!; 10...0-0 11.c2 ) 11.d2! ( 11.c3 g7 12.xb4 cxb4 13.d3 d6 14.d2 a5 ) 11...xf4? 12.gxf4 exd5 13.a3 a4 14.cxd5 xf4 15.xc5 ] 9.f4 [ 9.e3? xd5! 10.xd5 xh3 ] 9...e5 10.dxe6 fxe6 Normally, Black is happy with this exchange, undoubling his pawns, but in this very position his queen is a bit out of play allowing W hite's very strong 11.e3! W hen suddenly some serious coordination problems start to appear in Black's game as well as an unsuspected fragility of his center. d6 [ 11...g7 12.c3!? ( 12.c3 d6 c5 was hanging. 13.d2 0-0 14.c4 d5 15.d6 b6 looks fine for Black) 12...d4 13.d3 g7 14.h5! xc3+ ( 14...f7 15.e3 e5 16.f4 ) 15.bxc3 e7 ( 15...f7 16.d6 ) 16.c4 ] [ 11...d5 12.xd5 ] [ 11...e7!
A) 12.e5? f6 13.xc7 xb2; B) 12.c3 0-0 13.d1 ( 13.0-0-0 g7 ) 13...g7 And Black is ready for a d7-d5 in one go.; C) 12.c4 g7 13.c3 d4 White is not given the time to play Rd1. 14.d3 xd3 15.xd3=; D) 12.d2! 0-0 ( 12...g7 13.0-0-0 d4 14.f3 ) 13.0-0-0 g7 14.f3 d5 15.h4! ( 15.e5? d4 ) 15...f6 ( 15...d4 16.e5 f6 17.xc5; 15...b5 16.g5! ) 16.c3 d4 17.cxd4 cxd4 18.xd4 e5 19.b3+ h8 20.de6 xe6 21.xe6 xe6 22.xe6 e4 ] 12.c3 e7 13.d1 0-0 14.cd5 xd5 15.xd5 f6 16.0-0 b8 17.g2 Threatening Nd5 because of the intermediate check on f6. f8 18.a3 Here White missed the very strong move order [ 18.b4! b6 ( 18...cxb4? 19.xa7 ) 19.bxc5 bxc5 ( 19...dxc5? 20.e5 wins the Rb8!) 20.a3 a6 ( 20...d5 21.c4 d4 22.xa7 d6 23.b1 ) 21.a5! ] 18...a6 19.c4 d7 20.b4 cxb4 21.xb4 f7 22.b1 [ 22.b6 f8 23.fe1 c8 ] 22...g8 [ 22...f8 23.e4 ] 23.fe1 b5 24.e4! Black defends well but White still has the initiative! fxe4 25.xe4 bf8? [ 25...bxc4 A) 26.d5 exd5 ( 26...f7 27.xe7+ xe7 28.xd6 ) 27.xe7 a4; B) 26.xc4! With the threats Qc7, Nxe6 and above all Qxa6. ] [ 25...f8! was the only move to resist. 26.c5 ( 26.h3!? xf4 27.xf4 xh3 28.xd6! xd6 29.xd6; 26.d4 c8 27.a7 f7 28.xa6 bxc4 ) 26...d5 27.d4 ( 27.xd5 exd5 28.xd5+ e6 29.xe6 xe6 30.e1 be8 h3 is controlled and defends e6 at the same time. ) 27...c8 28.d3 ] 26.b7 d8 27.c5 There were two simpler moves to quickly end the game. [ 27.d5 exd5 28.xe7 g4 29.xd5+ h8 30.de1 df8 31.f4+- ] [ But 27.xe6! was even stronger with some similar ideas against the bishop on e7. A) 27...xe6 28.xe7 d7 ( 28...df8 29.xe6 xe6 30.d5 ff6 31.e1 ) 2329
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 29.e8+ f8 30.xe6; B) 27...xe6 28.xe6 xe6 29.xe7 f8 30.xd6 f6 ( 30...bxc4 31.e1 ) 31.xe6+! xe6 32.d5+- ] 27...f8 28.c6 c8 29.a7 e8 30.e3 d5 31.h3 c5 32.e5 d6 33.g5+ h8 34.xd5! Fortunately for White there was this trick which happens to be more complicated than it appeared in the game, as presumably Black was in time trouble. h6 [ 34...g6! 35.e3 exd5! 36.xe8 xh3 37.xd5 g7 38.c7! f3 ( 38...xc7 39.e7+ ) 39.e4 A) 39...f6 40.c1 c8 41.e8! ( 41.c6 a1+ 42.g2 h3+!! 43.xh3 f1+ 44.h4 xf2 45.d4+ xd4+ 46.xd4 e7+ 47.f6!! This is a fantastic illustration of the "desperado" theme: The rook is lost but by suffering its destiny on an other square than c6 it suf ficiently disorganizes Black to radically change the course of the game. xf6 48.d7 f4+ 49.h5 f5+ 50.g4 c5 51.xe7+ g6 52.f4 h5 53.e4 f6 54.h7 e6 55.h3+- ) 41...f8 42.d8 f6 43.c6; B) 39...xe4 40.xe4 f7 ( 40...f6 41.g4 xc7 42.d7+ f7 43.ee7 ) 41.h5 ] 35.g2 e5 36.e3 f6 37.e2 c5 38.e4 b4 39.d5 d4 [ 39...xe3 looked more tenacious by eliminating White's 'poison' on c6. 40.xe3 xc6 41.c2 g7 ( 41...c3 42.e4 g7 43.xb4 ) 42.a4 c3 43.d2! But not quite sufficient. ( 43.xe5 xe5 44.xe5 xe5 45.xe5 h3 )] 40.c2 f7 [ 40...e6 41.d6! xe3 42.fxe3 f1+ 43.g2 h3+ 44.xh3 xd6 45.c7 c8 46.c6 d7+ 47.g2 ff8 48.xe5+ ( 48.h6! d2+ 49.h3 d7+ 50.h4 xc7 51.xh7 xh7 52.xe5+ g8 53.xh7 xh7 54.e4+ g7 55.xb4 ) 48...g7 49.xg7+ xg7 50.d5 fe8 51.e6 xe6 52.xe6 xc7 53.xa6 Wins too. ] 41.c7 h6 42.h4 xe3 43.fxe3 g8 44.h3! g7 45.d8 b3 White won but the last 5 moves of the game are incomprehensible. A possible end could have been 46.xc8! xc8
[ 46...xc8 47.g4+ g6 48.xg6 xg6 49.d7+ f7 ( 49...f6 50.f2+ g5 51.g4# ) 50.xc8 bxc2 51.g4+ h7 52.c8 ] 1-0
2380 Zhang Pengxiang Sutovsky,Emil 8th Karpov Poikovsky RUS (1) [Eric Prié]
A45 2643 2629 15.03.2007
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e4 3.f4 c5 4.f3 a5+ 5.c3 f6 6.d2 cxd4 7.b3 b6 8.xd4 c6 9.xb6 axb6 10.e3 The second choice: White avoids the central push ...e7-e5 with tempo while attacking the weakness without waiting, in the hope of making it move one step further to b5, when the recycling move Nb3-d4 will prove more effective. e5! The correct approach: Black sacrifices b6 to set his powerful centre in motion thus emphasizing his active forces compared with the opposing kingside's state of moroseness. [ 10...b5 11.d4 d5 ( 11...xd4 12.xd4 e6 13.e4 b4 14.b5 Vadim Milov.) 12.f2 xd4 13.xd4 e5 14.xe5 e3 15.f2 ( 15.c1 c4 ) 15...c2 ( 15...c5 16.d4 c2 17.c1 is the same.) 16.c1 c5+ 17.d4! Improving on Peter Wells' "awkward" ( 17.g3 e3 ) 17...xd4 18.cxd4 xd4+ 19.e3 xb2 20.c2 e5 21.xb5 0-0 22.e2 ] 11.xb6 d5 12.e4 Now White has to watch out for ideas like ...d5-d4 shutting the bishop in, followed by ...Be6, ...Nd5 see the next game. [ 12.f2 d4 13.e4 e6 14.d2 c5 is very dangerous for White and you never feel it as much as when thinking about it over the board in a proper game as once happened to me! ] 12...dxe4 [ 12...e6 13.c5 xc5 14.xc5 d7 15.exd5 xc5 16.dxe6 b3 17.b1 xa2 18.c4 ca5 19.exf7+ e7 20.d5! d8 21.d1! a1 Most unfortunately the only move! ( 21...xb2 22.xb3 xd1+ 23.xd1 ) 22.xb3 xb3 23.xa1 xa1 24.h3 b3 25.g5 d2 26.0-0 xb2 2330
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 26...h6 27.e4 xb2 28.d1 xf7 29.d7+ f8 30.xb7+- ) 27.e1 1 -0 S o c k o , B (2 6 2 1 )- B o b ra s , P (2 5 3 5 ) Polanica Zdroj 2006 ] 13.c4 [ 13.b5 e6 14.a5 ( 14.c5 xc5 15.xc5 xa2= ) 14...d7 15.xc6 bxc6 16.xc6 b8 17.f2 xb2 18.a4 d8 19.fxe4 c7 20.xd7 xd7 21.f3 f6 22.0-0 c6 23.fe1 e7 With excellent compensation f or the pawn thanks to a mighty pair of bishops and the porous nature of the white structure. 24.a5 a8 25.b6+ b7 26.ad1 a6 27.d2 b3 28.c2 a4 29.a2 b5 30.c4! xc4 31.c2 d3 32.c7 And this sudden activity proved sufficient to escape the loss, Prie, E (2429)-Lejarre, L (2295) Rochefort op 2004 ] 13...f5 14.d2N [ 14.e2 exf3 15.gxf3 e7 16.g3 g6 17.f2 d7 18.e3 f5 Hoang Thanh Trang (2487)-Lahno, K (2468) Olw Turin 2006 ] 14...e7 15.fxe4 xe4 16.xe4 xe4 17.f3 a5 18.xa5 [ 18.b5+ c6 19.xc6+ xc6 ] 18...xa5 19.0-0-0 c5 . [ 19...c5 20.b3 f5 A) 21.a4+? f7! 22.d7 a8 23.b3+ e8 24.hd1? ( 24.dd1 ) 24...c6! 25.7d2 ( 25.c7 xf3 26.xc5 xd1 ) 25...xf3 26.gxf3 g5-+; B) 21.he1 f6 followed by ...Ke7 and I would rather be black... ] ½-½
counterplay and White's position looks very underdeveloped. Perhaps he is just a great believer in pawn power! 6.c3 xc3 7.bxc3 f6 The Black queen takes up a useful post, attacking the vulnerable W hite queenside. 8.cxb5 exd5 Black has achieved a good Blumenfeld position, without the inconvenience of having to sacrifice a pawn. 9.b2 b7 10.d2 d6 11.f3 0-0 Black has a very active position. His only problem being the Nb8, which lacks a good square. 12.e3 a6 13.c4 White endeavours to keep Black's problem knight under lock and key. d4 14.e2 White must get his king out of the centre before it opens up. Although the trouble is that with Black's bishops raking through his heart of the position, his king is n o t m u c h s a f e r o n t h e k i n g s i d e . axb5 15.cxb5 c7 16.0-0 h6 Forcing a concession from W hite's kingside pawns. 17.g3 e8 With the exception of his beleaguered knight, all of Black's pieces now are exerting considerable pressure on the White position. 18.a4 a5 The dark squared bishop, having f orced a weakness seeks greener pastures. 19.c2 dxe3 20.h4 A desperate attempt at counterplay, but White was simply dreaming if he thought his knight would be allowed to reach f5. e4 21.xc5 b6 Suddenly the game is all but over. White ca n n o t p o ss ib l y h o p e t o d e f e n d a g a i n s t Black's fabulous Bishop duo. 22.c3 exf2+ 23.xf2 d5 Very calm! ck realises that there is no need to grab the rook yet, so he instead prepares a path for his knight to join the fray. 24.a5 The queenside pawns are a long way from queening, but this is about the only hope 2381 A45 that White has left. e3 25.a3 d4 26.c7 Only now does Black grab the rook! Zichichi,Alvise 2313 xf2+ Acs,Peter 2526 W ith the queen deserting her king, Black 10th Open Valls d'Aosta ITA (7) 15.02.2002 takes advantage of the proffered opportunity and brings matters to a speedy conclusion. [Aaron Summerscale] 27.xf2 d3 The Black queen's entrance on Trompowsky Attack: A strong Grandmaster d2 is decisive. 28.f1 [ 28.c1 is also hopeless after d2 29.b2 shows exactly how to deal with an unusual line d1 30.xd1 d2+ 31.e2 d3+- ] in the Ne4 Tromp. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 c5 3.d5 e4 4.c1 This is quite a popular variation. 28...d2+ Although, I think that this retreat is more 0-1 logical when it leaves Black's queen misplaced on b6. e6 5.c4 b5! This is the problem. Black can start immediate queenside 2331
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A46 d6 The Black pieces start to point ominously toward the White king. 16.c4? White cracks 2435 under the pressure and blunders material. 29.09.1998 I n s t e a d , 1 6 . c 4 w o u l d h a v e l i m i t e d h i s d i s a d v a n t a g e . xd4 Winning a pawn by force. 17.exd4 xf3 18.xf3 xh2+ LONDON SYSTEM: Black plays a Nimzo/ The loss of this important kingside defender is Queens Indian set up: Despite it's solidity, the merely the beginning of W hite's problems. London system has an Achilles heel, in the 19.h1 f4 The threat of Qh4 forces White form of the b2 pawn. When Black goes after in t o f u rt h e r K i n g si d e co n ce ss i o n s . 20.g3 this pawn with vengeance, accurate W hite xf3+ 21.xh2 f4 The killer blow! The White defence is strictly necessary. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 king, bare of all defenders, does not even e6 3.f4 The London system is slightly more have a cat in hell's chance against Black's ef fective against a Nimzo/Queens Indian final assault. 22.c3 Hoping to rush the queen f o r m a t i o n , a s B l a c k l a c k s s o m e o f t h e over to the defence of her beleaguered king. aggressive options of the previous game. c5 h5+ 23.g1 xc4 Black eliminates the last 4.e3 b6 Black again decides to target the possible defender of the White king, whose f3 main weakness in the White position, the b2 d e a t h i s n o w i n e v i t a b l e . 24.bxc4 pawn. 5.c1 London system players tend to Mate is unavoidable after the coming Qh3 or shy away from early tactics and so W hite Ng4. avoids the complexities of sacrificing a pawn 0-1 with Nbd2 or Nc3. h5 Black continues to hassle White, not allowing him to settle into A46 his usual routine. W hite must go to some 2383 lengths in order not to exchange his dark Abdulla,Al Rakib 2513 squared bishop. 6.e5 Almost certainly better Gurpreet,Singh Maras 2253 w a s 6 . B g 3 , a s B l a c k w o u l d h a v e b e e n Nagpur Open (8.7) 20.10.2012 reluctant to open the h-file with Nxg3, while [Richard Palliser] the White rook is still on h1. c6 No rest for the wicked! 7.dxc5 The only way to preserve 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 c5 the bishop pair. However, the price paid, is a [ In this game White meets Black's flexible l o s s o f c e n t r a l c o n t r o l . xc5 8.c3 Hedgehog approach with a very aggressive Finally the bishop finds a safe haven, but set-up involving long castling. In the notes White has lost an awful lot of time. f5 9.e2 I've tried to flag up some related examples, 0-0 10.0-0 c7 Black prepare s to complete which include 3...b6 4.bd2 b7 5.e3 h6 his queenside development, when the 6.h4 e7 7.d3 d6 8.c3 bd7 9.e2 unbalanced pawn structure will give him good c5 10.0-0-0!? , as in Prie-Dranishnikow, chances to seize the initiative. 11.bd2 f6 Lahnstein 2006 - see the Archive. ] The Black kn ight has done it's job of evicting 4.e3 h6 the dark squared bishop and now returns to [ Sometimes Black exchanges first and after tighten Black's grip on the center. 12.b3 b6 4...cxd4 5.exd4 e7 6.d3 b6 7.bd2 13.b2 White finally achieves some pressure ( 7.0-0 b7 8.c4!? isn't such a tame set-up, against the Black position along the a1-h8 as I showed in my 'Move by Move' guide) diagonal. b7 14.ad1 ac8 7...b7 White will often go short, but Black highlights the awkward set up of White 8.xf6!? xf6 9.e2 d6 10.e4 e7 queenside pieces by increasing the pressure 11.h4!? d7 12.eg5 c7 13.0-0-0 a l o n g t h e c - f i l e . 15.d4 After all his actually packed a certain punch in Lipkamanoeuvring, W hite finally admits that his Jurek, Czech League 1998, as showed by dark squared bishop is more trouble than it Aaron Summerscale. ] was worth and agrees to it's exchange, in an 5.h4 b6 effort to alleviate some of Black's pressure. [ One grandmaster who has experimented a 2382 Abdul Ghani,Hayder Bistric,Faruk olm Elista (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
2332
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 fair bit with the exchange on f6 followed by long castling is Juan Bellon Lopez. Indeed, after 5...cxd4 6.exd4 d6 7.bd2 e7 h e h a s p la y e d 8.xf6 xf6 9.c3 d5 10.d3 c6 11.e2 c7 12.f1!? d7 13.e3 e7 14.g3 a6 15.h4 0-0-0 , n o t t h a t t h i s wa s a n yt h in g m o re t h a n ro u g h ly e q u a l i n B e ll o n L o p e z- Ri ve r a , Cienfuegos 1996. ] 6.bd2 [ Not essential and for those who like something slightly different, here too 6.d3 b7 7.0-0 e7 doesn't have to be followed up by 8.c3 , ( with 8.c4!? a less stereotyped approach )] 6...b7 7.c3 e7 8.d3 0-0 [ After 8...cxd4 9.exd4 d6 I wonder if A b d u l l a w o u l d h a v e g o n e 10.xf6!? ( 10.e2 bd7 prepares to recapture with the knight in the event of an exchange on f6 ) 10...xf6 11.e2 d7 12.0-0-0 , but here Black hasn't castled and so an immediate a6 followed by ...b5 very much comes into the equation. ] 9.e2!? [ White would normally go short here, 9.0-0 , hoping for d5?! ( 9...cxd4 10.exd4 d6 keeps W hite out of e5 and is what Black should be doing) 10.e5 fd7 11.xe7 xe7 12.f4 , which gave him an edge in Kagan-L.Jones, W arwick 2002, as Aaron once covered. ] 9...d6 10.xf6!? Moving the bishop once a ga in , b u t A b d u ll a wa n t s t o a t t a ck ! xf6 11.0-0-0 I'm not entirely sure what to make of this approach. It certainly gets Black away from the positions he is most likely used to and expecting, but W hite's approach is not without risk. cxd4 12.exd4 b5!? [ Gurpreet offers a pawn to get his cou nt erplay un de r way. Previou sly two grandmasters had reached this position and 12...g6 13.h4 g7 saw Black trying to shore up his kingside in Miladinovic-Zelcic, Cutro 2003. However, while Black does have a fine dark-squared bishop he can be attacked on the light squares and af ter 14.e4! xe4 15.xe4 d5 16.c2 d7 17.de1 a6 18.h3 c7 19.b1 b5 Miladinovic might even have gone 20.d2!? when ab8 21.h5! g5 22.xg5! hxg5
23.xg5 h8 24.g3 g8 25.e7 is a surprisingly fiendish piece sacrifice. ] 13.b1 [ Safeguarding his king before advancing on the kingside. The pawn wasn't necessarily u n t o u c h a b l e , b u t a f t e r 13.xb5 b6 14.b1 c6 15.e4 e7 16.d3 a5 Black's compensation is clear and he would have enjoyed easy play on the queenside. ] 13...d7 14.h4! Here we go... e5 [ This allows White to switch to positional mode, but actually the position isn't so easy for Black. He'd like to go 14...b8 15.g4 b4 , b u t t h e n 16.c4 keeps lines closed and leaves g4-g5 next up. ] 15.dxe5 xe5 16.e4! Trying to deprive Black of the bishop-pair, as well generate so m e ce n t r a l p r e s s u r e . xf3 17.xf3 xe4+? [ This is too compliant. Gurpreet had to go 17...d5! , even if 18.c2 b4 may look slow with White well placed on the b1-h7 diagonal. However, after 19.cxb4 b6 20.d3 g6 21.h5 g7 matters aren't so clear, since 22.hxg6 ( or 22.a3 a5! ) 22...fxg6 opens the f-file for counterplay and 23.f3 f6 ( 23...xb4 24.b3 f4 25.xg6 a5 probably doesn't give Black quite enough for his pawn either) 24.b3 f7 would have left everything to play for, even if W hite should be slightly for choice. ] 18.xe4 xh4 [ Unconvincing, but 18...e5 was hardly any better: for example, 19.d5 b8 20.d3 b6 21.f1 b4 22.c4 followed by f2-f4 when White is in complete control. ] 19.xd6 g5 [ I dare say Gurpreet had underestimated White's initiative. The text logically tries to make his bishop safe. An alternative was 19...f6!? , but after 20.f5 g5 21.d6 e5 22.d5 e6 23.xb5 Black wouldn't h a ve h a d a n ywh e re n e a r e n o u g h f o r a pawn. ] 20.d5 b6? [ Allowing White to switch back to the kingside with some effect. He had to play for exchanges with 20...e7 21.e4 fd8 .] 21.g3! f5 [ Now that the knight on d6 isn't loose and 2333
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White has a major piece on the g-file he was B) 7...a6 . ] a l l s e t t o c r a s h t h r o u g h , s u c h a s w i t h 7...b4 21...ad8 22.xg5! . ] [ Black must push on. Naturally he doesn't 22.f4 f6 23.xf5 Collecting a second pawn want to see his queenside become while maintaining a crushing initiative. Already fragmented through an exchange on a4, G u r p r e e t m i g h t h a v e g i v e n u p . fd8 which also opens useful lines for W hite's 24.xh6+ f8 25.g6! Flashy, but also p i e c e s , a n d 7...cxd4?! would be mistaken pretty strong. gxh6 26.xh6+ f7 27.h7+ too: 8.axb5! dxc3 9.xc3 gives White a f8 28.h6+ f7 29.h7+ f8 30.f5 useful grip on the position and after a6 ( or e6 9...d5 10.e3 bd7 11.xa7 xa7 [ Now White regains his piece, but 30...d6 12.xa7 0-0 13.d2 when Black's extra would, of course, have run into 31.h8+ . ] centre pawn gives him some but probably 31.h8+ e7 32.h7+ d6 33.xf6 not enough compensation) 10.d4! xg2 1-0 11.xg2 b6 12.f3 White is somewhat for choice, with Black's knight still entombed on b8. ] 2384 A46 8.dxc5 [ Adly decides to make Black move his Adly,Ahmed 2591 bishop again. Instead 8.cxb4 cxb4 9.bd2 Aronian,Levon 2781 was pre f erred in th e elite en cou nte r T . World Team Championship (9) 13.01.2010 Petrosian-Polugaevsky, USSR [Richard Palliser] Championship, Leningrad 1977, not that Black was especially troubled by his slight 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 b5!? 4.g2 weaknesses on a5 and c5 after 0-0 10.b3 [ As we'll see in this column, White has a d6 11.e1 xg2 12.xg2 bd7 13.d3 number of closely-related move orders after (trying to probe, so Polu decides to remind 3...b5 and transpositions are from far White that he also has a queenside hole) d5 unknown. Here, for instance, the immediate 14.g5 e4 by when play was looking fairly 4.a4 might well lead to the game position level. ] after b4 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 c5 7.c3 e7 , ( although with this move order Black might 8...xc5 [ Even here 8...a6!? deserves attention, circumnavigate Adly's exchange on c5 with but it's likely now too late to guarantee the solid 7...cxd4 8.cxd4 e7 . )] Black full equality: 9.cxb4 xb4 10.e3! 4...b7 5.0-0 c5 6.c3 e7 c8 11.a3 gives White a pull, as we can [ Cox's preference is for 6...a6 , which we'll see by following the semi-forcing line xc5 cover in Belov-Slavin. The two moves can 12.xc5 xc5 13.d4 b6 14.c4 c2 easily transpose after the common 15.xb6 xd4 16.xd4 xg2 17.xd7 sequence 7.g5 e7 , but White isn't xd7 18.xg2 when the extra pawn must forced to commit his bishop to g5. ] count for something in the resulting 7.a4!? Adly decides to prod Black's queenside, endgame. ] but this set-up would never have become fully acceptable for Black at Grandmaster level if 9.e5 [ The exchange of light-squared bishops is he wasn't able to handle such an advance. often slightly in W hite's favour, as it [ A major alternative is 7.g5 when Black weakens further Black's defences on the might well take play back into the realm of queenside. Here White might also explore Belov-Slavin with 9.cxb4!? xb4 , a f t e r w h i c h 10.b3 A) He doesn't have to, but should be ( trying to exploit the position of Black's aware that 7...h6?! 8.xf6 xf6 9.dxc5! bishops otherwise, 10.d2 e7 11.a5 is a lit t le a n n o yin g , a s sh o wn b y a6 seizes some space, but in Hosek-Hala, ( 9...c7?! 10.d6 would be even worse) Czech League 2009, a6 12.c3 0-0 10.a3 when White remains a pawn 13.b5 e4 gave Black easy equality) ahead.; 2334
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10...a6 11.c3 0-0 12.e3! reaches a slightly deceptive position. One might have thought that Black was doing well with that extra centre pawn and his pieces seemingly active enough, but matters aren't so clear as it's not that easy for him to deal with the pressure down the b-file and against a7. Indeed, after e7 ( I would prefer to bring the queen to join in the main battle with 12...a5! when 13.fc1 c5 14.d1 ac8 seems OK for Black) 13.ac1 e5?! ( a rather loose advance even here matters wouldn't have been too bad for Black after 13...d6 ) 14.fd1 fb8 15.b5 d5 in Hacche-Smerdon, Canberra 2010, there was no good reason for W hite not to grab with 16.xa7 . ] 9...xg2 10.xg2 b6 [ This very natural move turns out to be a novelty. One long-time exponent of 3...b5 had previously preferred the closely-related 10...c7 and after 11.d3 bxc3 ( 11...a6!? a la Aronian might be an even b e t t e r t r y) 12.xc3 e7 13.d2 ( 13.b3!? c6 14.b5 would keep Black's queen from b7, but doesn't seem especially effective after b8 ) 13...b7+! 14.f3 c6 15.b1 a5 Black clearly hadn't any problems in Luce-Arkell, Cappelle la Grande 1993, before going on to take over the initiative after 16.b5 0-0 17.b3 b6 18.a2?! d5 . ] 11.d3 a6 [ 11...bxc3 12.xc3 e7 would have p r e s e r v e d t h e b i s h o p , b u t a f t e r 13.e4 White would have enjoyed a small initiative. Aronian unsurprisingly prefers to unbalance the position. ] 12.a5 [ This only drives Black's queen to a square where she is normally well placed after an exchange of light-squared bishops in this variation, controlling various key squares on the long diagonal, as well as generating some pressure down the b-file. However, I'm not entirely sure what W hite should have preferred, since 12.xc5 xc5 13.e3 0-0 seems fine for Black, such as after 14.d4 ( 14.cxb4?! xb4 15.c3 also avoids being left with an isolani on c3, but after fc8 White will clearly come under some
pressure on the queenside) 14...ab8 15.xf6 gxf6 16.c4 c6+ 17.g1 fd8 , lining up ...d5. ] [ Maybe 12.cxb4!? xb4 13.xc5 xc5 14.c3 was best, allowing Black a reasonable degree of activity and potential queenside pressure, but hoping to bring White's extra bishop to a good square (d4, f4 or even d6). I suspect that this would have been roughly even. ] 12...b7+ 13.f3 e7! Now Black can safely preserve his bishop and, indeed, if anyone must be careful here it's White, as Black is the better-developed side and the one with a bit of queenside pressure. 14.e4?! [ Unless White can follow up with a quick e4e5, I'm rarely convinced by this advance in such posit ions. Rat her t han p otent ially weaken his king's defences, W hite might have lef t the e-pawn securely at home, p r e f e r r i n g 14.cxb4 xb4 15.c3 0-0 16.xb4 xb4 17.d3 with a dynamically balanced position, in which he might look to probe with Bg5 or to fix a long-term target on a7 with a6 and Be3. ] 14...c8 15.a4 [ Continuing creatively, but the damage has already been done. Adly's problem is that after 15.g5 0-0 White's queenside remains loose and 16.e5? d5 would only play somewhat into Black's hands. ] 15...d5! Aronian wastes no time highlighting the drawback to e4. Now White doesn't want to activate Black's pieces and weaken himself down the long diagonal with an exchange on d5, but neither is closing the centre a panacea for him. 16.e5 d7 17.e3 bxc3 Only now does Black release the queenside tension, having realised that bringing a knight to c5 will conf irm that h e enjoys a prett y p l e a s a n t ve r s i o n o f t h e F r e n c h . 18.xc3 dc5! 19.xc5 xc5 20.b4 [ Adly opts for active defence. The alternative was to begin grovelling with 20.xc5 xc5 21.e2 , b u t a f t e r b3 there can be no doubt that Black enjoys a pleasant edge. ] 20...c6 21.g4!? [ Easy to criticise in view of Aronian's response, but W hite really had to stir up trouble. Imagine that he'd preferred the more routine 21.xc5 xc5 22.h4 e7 2335
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 23.d4 - would he really then have been able to prevent Black from slowing taking over the board after 0-0 24.d2 f6 ? ] 21...h5! 22.b4?! [ The g-pawn was, of course, taboo as 22.xg7?? f8 traps the errant rook, ] [ but placing another piece on the fourth rank is risky too. I suspect that White had to try 22.f4 , daring Black to carry on pushing his p a wn s wi t h g5 when his own king position might later become a cause for concern too after ( 22...b8 would be a safer, likely superior approach) 23.d4 and perhaps f4. ] 22...b7 23.d4 0-0 [ Aronian is happy to castle despite the protruding pawn on h5, but one might also make a good case for 23...h4!? 24.g4 ( or 24.g4 f8 25.e2 h5 , keeping the king safe and activating the rook via the side ) 24...h3+ 25.h1 0-0 when the hpawn might well land up being a serious thorn in White's side, especially as it's hard to be lieve he 'll b e a b le t o m a int a in h is blockade of d4 forever. ] 24.f4 g6? [ Aronian wants to fix the kingside structure in true Gurgenidze style, but he has underestimated White's play. Correct was either 24...a6!? , fixing the weakness on a5 a n d i n t e n d i n g 25.f5 ( 25.xh5? b3 breaks the blockade) 25...e4 26.fxe6 fxe6 27.xf8+ xf8 when Black's threats seem the more important, ] [ or the immediate 24...e4!? when 25.a6 a8 26.xe4 dxe4 27.e2 fd8 would have seen Black beginning to take control, due in no small part to his much safer king. ] 25.h3? [ Adly is a very creative and courageous player, but it appears he missed a decent chance at this point. Both players must have considered 25.f5! , but perhaps they hadn't fully realised that gxf5? ( I suspect A r o n i a n w a s i n t e n d i n g 25...d7!? , but this is more messy than he needed to a l l o w a n d h e r e 26.d3 gxf5 27.ff4! gives White decent counterplay) 26.xh5 b3 27.a6! is very strong, since a8 ( or 27...b6 28.cxd5 exd5 29.xd5 c6?
30.xf5 and White's attack crashes through ) 28.g4+! ( my initial idea was 28.h4 , which appears to result in perpetual, but unsurprisingly Rybka can do much better) 28...fxg4 29.f6! leaves Black unable to stave off mate for long. ] 25...g7!? [ Black might have kept the kingside fully closed with 25...f5 , which would have been rather good for him, but Aronian is unafraid to provoke complications. ] 26.bxd5!? [ This slightly desperate try comes up short, but now after 26.f5 exf5 27.bxd5 e6 Black would have been somewhat for choice, with his own king pretty safe and White's still on a rather precarious square. ] 26...exd5 27.f5 [ After 27.xd5 e6 28.d3 fd8 I dare say it wouldn't have taken Aronian long to put the extra piece to good use. ] 27...g5 28.b4 e6! 29.d3 d4 The floodgates open. Adly battles on for a few moves, but by now the result was never in doubt. 30.e2 gxf5 31.xd4 e3 32.xf5 xd4 33.xd4 d7 34.g4 c3 35.h4 d8+ 0-1
2385 Alekseev,Vadim Borisova,Elizaveta Chigorin Mem (3) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2412 2168 02.11.2000
Torre Attack: W hite opts for solidity rather than ambition, in one of Black's most aggressive anti-Torre lines, but he still gets the job done in the end. 1.f3 f6 2.d4 c5 3.c3 White is trying to reach a Torre attack, but there is a problem with this move order. e6 But it's not this! [ In my opinion 3...d5 equalises immediately for Black. ] 4.g5 b6 5.b3 Certainly not the most exciting possibility. [ 5.bd2 contains more than a drop of poison after: xb2 6.c4 xc3+ 7.d2 xc4 8.e4 traps the Black queen! However, this may not be the end of the story. xf1+ 2336
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 9.xf1 xe4 leads to an unbalanced position, where Black has two pieces and three pawns for his queen. This type of p o s i t i o n m a y a p p e a l t o c re a t i ve B l a c k players, who want to go all out for the win. ] 5...c6 6.e3 e7 7.bd2 d5 8.c2 d7 9.d3 c8 10.b1 White's position is solid enough, but it is difficult to foresee any real problems for Black. h6 11.h4 0-0 12.0-0 c4 This is the real cause of Black's future problems. By abandoning his pressure on the White centre, he is just asking for trouble in the form of e3-e4. 13.c2 a5 14.e1 b5 15.a3 b6 16.e4 When White gets this move in free of charge, he is normally assured of the advantage. a5 17.exd5 xd5 18.xe7 dxe7 19.d1 The queen heads back to the kingside. a4 Very strange. I have no idea why Black would practically rule out any chance of counterplay for himself on the queenside! 20.e4 a5 21.e5 c6 22.h5 Having ruled out any thunder and lightening of his own, the storm clouds begin to gather over the Black kingside. xe4 23.xe4 d8 24.g4 There is no good defence to the threat of Qxh6 and Black could already resign. f5 25.xh6 g6 26.h4 1-0
2386 Andreev,Encho Pelitov,Dimitar TCh Pamporovo BUL (3) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2206 04.10.2001
Torre Attack: Black takes a very no-nonsense approach to his problems in the Torre. He b rin gs t h e b a t t le t o h is o p p o n e n t o n t h e queenside f rom such an early stage tha t White's own attack never really gets going. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 encouraging White to enter the Torre-Tromp with 4.Bxf6 Qxf6 5.e4. 4.h4 Of course, taking on f6 is by no mea ns ma nd ato ry. W hit e f orgo es th e opportunity to build a big pawn centre, in order to retain the bishop pair and the pin on the Black knight. c5 5.e3 c6 6.c3 d5 Black opts for greater central control at the expense of hemming in his light squared bishop and handing W hite the e5 square.
7.d3 [ 7.bd2 was interesting in order to meet Qb6 with Rb1. ] 7...b6 8.c1 d7 9.0-0 c8 Black begins to mount unpleasant pressure along the c-file. 10.bd2 cxd4 11.exd4 d6 12.b3 I can't help feeling that this is a step in the wrong direction. Here, the knight just proves to be a target for Black's queenside initiative. [ I would prefer both 12.e1 and ] [ 12.xf6 ] 12...a5 Black, as we all would, leaps at his chance to gain the advantage. 13.c2 a4 14.c1 e4 Black starts some complications, hoping to confuse his opponent. [ 14...b4 15.e2 xd3 16.xd3 b5 was also promising. ] 15.xe4 dxe4 16.e1? An abject retreat. [ 16.xe4 Although not pleasant, it had to be tried. xb2 17.e2 And things are far from clear, as White intends Rfb1. ] 16...0-0 Black is in no rush, he knows that his advantage is not simply going to disappear. [ 16...xd4 17.xe4 f5 also leaves Black completely in the driving seat, but W HY would you voluntarily get rid of the monster on e4? ] 17.g3 e7 [ 17...xd4 18.xe4 xg3 19.hxg3 xb2 was winning immediately. ] 18.xd6 xd6 19.e2 d5 White is completely tied up and just waits for his fate to be sealed on the light squares. 20.a3 f5 21.f3 b5 22.f2 White resigned immediately, before Black could administer the death blow: 22...e3 23.Rf1 Qc4 winning at least a piece. [ 22.d2 e5 is clearly uncomfortable for White, but nevertheless, it had to be tried. ] 0-1
2387 Andreikin,Dmitry Svidler,Peter FIDE World Cup, Tromso (rapid) (5.3) [Richard Palliser]
A46 2716 2746 25.8.13
1.d4 f6 2.g5 [ One of several possible Torre routes to our game position would be 2.f3 e6 3.g5 2337
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h6 4.h4 c5 5.e3 b6 6.bd2 e7 7.c3 .] 2...e6 3.d2 h6 [ We should compare the game position with 3...c5 4.e3 e7 5.c3 b6 6.gf3 a6 . It's hard to believe that the slight difference on the kingside can make too much difference and this position has also been extremely rare. One of the few examples continued 7.xa6 xa6 8.0-0 ( 8.xf6 xf6 9.e4 would likely have been Andreikin's choice) 8...0-0 9.e2 c7 10.ad1 cxd4 11.xd4!? (a slightly strange decision) c8 12.a3 b7 13.e4 d6 with a comfortable enough Sicilian-type setup for Black in Pohjala-Nieminen, Tampere 2008. ] 4.h4 c5 5.e3 e7 6.c3 b6 7.gf3 We saw last month how Andreikin knocked Karjakin out of the previous round of the World Cup with the Torre. There the young superstar didn't appear at all ready for the opening and here too Svidler came up with a rather unusual line. a6!? [ It can't be too terrible an idea to exchange off a potential attacking piece in the shape of White's light-squared bishop, but virtually all Grandmasters have preferred 7...b7 , heading for the standard Hedgehog-type set-up. ] 8.xf6 [ Already a novelty, so rare has this line been. W h i t e h a d p r e v i o u s l y p r e f e r r e d 8.xa6 xa6 9.e2 and after c7 10.e5! fd5 ( it's actually not so easy for Black to equalise, since 10...cd5 leaves the knight rather vulnerable to kicks and 11.0-0 c7 12.g3! d6 13.e4 works out in White's favour ) 11.g3 d6 12.c6 d7 13.xe7 xe7 14.0-0 0-0 had netted the bishop-pair in Forchert-Ullrich, Detmold 1988. Now 15.dxc5! dxc5 ( 15...bxc5 16.e4 f5 17.ad1 is a little awkward for Black) 16.e4 would have given him a definite edge. ] 8...xf6 9.xa6 xa6 10.e4 White is nicely centralised, but Svidler cannot have be e n t o o un h a p py e ith e r sin ce t h e e a rly exchanges have brought him close to equality. cxd4 [ A well-timed exchange, whereas 10...0-0?! 11.a4! b8 12.dxc5 wouldn't have given
Black enough for his pawn. ] 11.xf6+ [ This retains a small pull. To see why Andreikin made the exchange we should examine the line 11.exd4 e7 12.0-0 0-0 wh en W hit e's ext ra knight is in no wa y superior to Black's bishop: for example, 13.a4 c7 14.e5 e8! , preparing to kick back the more advanced of the white knights. ] 11...xf6 12.cxd4 e7 13.0-0 0-0 14.a4! An important move. The position might be symmetrical, but Andreikin is able to claim a small initiative thanks to his more active qu e e n a n d kn igh t . c7 15.ac1 d5 16.e5! [ The only real way to maintain the initiative. Instead, 16.c2 d6 17.fc1 might look obvious, but after e8 it's not so easy for W h i t e t o g e t i n : f o r i n s t a n c e , 18.xe8 ( 18.c4 f5! is a handy defensive resource) 18...fxe8 19.e4?! b4 , hitting a2. ] 16...d6 17.d3 [ Andreikin is happy to keep his knight flexible and retain the option of e3-e4. It might seem tempting to go 17.c6 d7 18.c2 , and if fc8 19.fc1 c7 then 20.b4 , but after ac8 21.b5 f5 it won't be so easy for White to make further progress. ] 17...fc8 18.h3!? [ White isn't in a hurry and presumably didn't feel that his chances would be all that great in the event of 18.e4 f6 19.f3 d7 20.xd7 xd7 21.f2 , although one could imagine Karpov playing this way followed by expanding on the kingside en route to grinding out the full point. ] 18...b7 19.a3 Forcing the black queen back before improving his own. d7 20.a6 f5 21.fe1 Andreikin reacts to Black's logical last by hinting at a timely e3-e4 as well a certain knight manoeuvre. f7 [ It can hardly be bad to improve the king, although he might also have semi-passed with 21...ab8 , basically asking White: 'what next?'. Indeed, I'm not too sure what White should try here, with 22.f4?! b4 23.e2 xa2 24.xc8+ xc8 25.e4 b4 looking like an improved version of the game for Black. ] 22.f4! White hopes to obtain some pressure 2338
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 down the e-file in the event of an exchange on f 4, bu t this does entail a pawn sacrif ice . b4!? [ Svidler is up to the challenge as the game b e g i n s t o h e a t u p . I n s t e a d , 22...xf4?! 23.exf4 ab8 24.d5! exd5 25.d3 regains the pawn with advantage, ] [ but one wonders if Svidler later regretted not keeping things solid with 22...f6 . ] 23.e2 xa2 24.xc8 xc8 25.e4 White's initiative offers him decent compensation for the pawn, since Black's kingside is weak and his knight currently offside. Most importantly, though, it's always easier to attack than defend as the players begin to run low on time towards the end of a rapid game. b4 26.exf5 exf5 27.f3 [ Beginning to probe. The alternative 27.h5+ g8 28.g6 would have prepared to invade on the seventh, but after e8! ( 28...d5? 29.f3! is a vicious switch-back) 29.xe8+ xe8 30.xf5 c6 31.d5+ h7 32.f4 e1+! 33.h2 xf2 Black would, with a little care, have been able to reach a drawing haven. ] 27...a5 [ Svidler avoids blundering his knight to Qb3+. T h e m a i n a l t e r n a t i v e w a s 27...d5!? , b u t a f t e r 28.e5 g8 29.b3! a5 30.xd5 xd5 31.xd5 a4 32.f3 he would have come under a bit of pressure in any case. Still, at least unless Svidler was going to spot the right defence on his next move, he should have preferred this and then perhaps c1+ 33.h2 c7+ 34.g3 f4 35.gxf4 c2 . ] 28.e6 g8? [ Trying to escape the danger, but this fails to. O n c e a g a i n 28...d5! came very much into the equation, but this would have required B l a c k t o s p o t t h e c a l m m o v e 29.g3 ( 29.xb6 c6 30.h5+ g8 31.b8+ c8 should defend) 29...c1+ 30.h2 c6 31.g6+ f8! , since White has nothing special after 32.xc6 ( or 32.xf5+ g8 ) 32...xc6 33.e6+ e7 , and if 34.xg7 xd4 . ] 29.g3 Suddenly h6 is attacked and Black finds himself under heavy pressure. d5? [ 29...c6 30.h5 h8 31.xd6 f7 32.f4 would have seen White regaining his
pa wn while ret a in ing th e p ressure , b u t likely Black had to try this. W ith the text Svidler had clearly overlooked a little trick. ] [ Note too that the equally fiendish 29...c7 30.xh6 c1+ 31.h2 d3! fails to get Black fully out of jail after 32.h4 xf4 33.xf4 , but again, of course, this was a much better try. ] 30.b3! [ 'Loose pieces drop off' as they say. Here because 30.b3 xf4 31.e7+ wins the black queen. ] 1-0
2388 Arencibia Rodriguez,Walter Rivas Pastor,Manuel 3rd Open Malaga ESP (8) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2529 2453 03.03.2000
There are some exceptionally boring days, when your opponent is in a peaceable mood and content to go about exchanging all your attacking pieces as quickly as possible. Step forward Mr Arencibia to give a masterclass in successful attacking with just a handful of pieces. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 c5 4.e3 h6 5.h4 b6 6.c3 e7 7.bd2 0-0 8.d3 a6 A standard tactic in the d-pawn specials, Black seeks to exchange White's dangerous light squared bishop. 9.xa6 xa6 10.e2 Highlights the weakness of Black's opening play. The off-side Black knight is targeted, while White gains time for his central advance. c7 11.e4 h5 Black is exchanging pieces as if his life depended on it, trying to rob the position of all it's dynamism. 12.xe7 xe7 13.e5 f6 14.d3 cxd4 15.cxd4 d5 [ 15...fc8 16.0-0= ] 16.e5 White guarantees himself a central space advantage and the clear plan of p l o u g h i n g t h r o u g h o n t h e k i n g s i d e . e4 17.0-0 White avoids the complications of [ 17.xe4 dxe4 18.xe4 ad8 when he must still be better. But now Black has compensation for the pawn, in the form of the weak d4 pawn. ] 17...xd2 Continuing the strategy of exchanging pieces, probably hoping for an early draw. Black is certainly going to be 2339
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 disappointed! 18.xd2 b5 19.e3 a5 20.f4 Charge! ac8 21.a4 a7 22.f5 White undermines the pawn chain and gives Black some extremely awkward questions to answer on the kingside. exf5 23.xf5 c4 24.af1 c6 Black was probably relying on this counterattack on d4, but unfortunately for him, White has seen further. 25.e6! xd4? Black crumbles under the pressure, completely missing White's idea. [ 25...f6 was much better although after 26.xd5 d8 27.f4 White has the idea of Ng6, which leaves him clearly on top. ] 26.xf7 Black resigned, rather than see the painful variation: [ 26.xf7 xf7 27.exf7+ f8 28.xe7+ xe7 29.e5 The f-pawn will fulfil it's destiny and queen. ] 1-0
[ 14.f1 c8 15.b4 ] 14...g5 Now, Black is able to conjure up some threats against the White King. Although with best play, these shouldn't be too serious, they require careful handling. 15.g3 f4 16.e4 g4 As predicted, Black latches onto the weakened kingside light squares. 17.xc7 c6 Black has very real compensation for his pawn, due to the weak White king. Over the board, personally I would take Black every time. 18.d2 fxe3 19.fxe3 g5 A nice switchback, highlighting the fact that W hite's dark squares are also potentially weak. 20.e1 ae8 21.h4 In his panic, White completely misses Black's big idea. [ He had to try: 21.f2 ] 21...d5! A knockout punch. The mate threat on g2 forces a decisive gain of material. 0-1
2389 Bastys,Robertas Sarakauskas,Gediminas ch Vilnius LTU (2) [Aaron Summerscale]
2390 Bellin,Robert Epishin,Vladimir Masters Catalan Bay ENG (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2236 2352 26.03.2000
The weird b5. It seems that Black systems with an early ...b5 are making a small comeback. Black grabs some early queenside space and hinders White's normal approach of c4. As you are all d-pawn specialists, this shouldn't pose too many problems. My advice is don't underestimate your opponent, just because he plays a few funny-looking opening moves. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 b5 This is a relatively rare move, but although slightly weakening, it should be treated with respect. R e m e m b e r , T o n y M i l e s oncebeatKarpovwitha6andb5! 3.g5 b7 4.xf6 exf6 5.e3 a6 6.c4 It makes a great deal of sense to break up Black's queenside pawn structure. bxc4 7.xc4 b4+ 8.c3 0-0 9.b3 xc3+ [ 9...xf3 10.gxf3 c6 should be slightly better for W hite after: 11.a3 due to his greater central control. ] 10.xc3 c6 11.0-0 e7 12.d2 g6 13.fc1 f5 14.d3 Definitely a mistake. Alternatively, White would retain a small but long lasting edge after the cautious:
A46 2360 2626 28.01.2003
Torre Attack: If you are looking for an opening plan against the Torre attack without having to memorise a whole string of moves, then take a loo k a t the f ollowin g gam e. Blac k deploys his forces efficiently and is ready to meet any White activity. Now let Grandmaster E p i s h i n c o n d u c t c l a s s a s h e sh o ws y o u exactly what to do next. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 4.h4 d6 5.h3 Giving the dark squared bishop an escape route if needed.. bd7 6.bd2 e7 7.e3 0-0 8.c3 b8 Black finds an interesting plan. Rather than expanding in the centre, he plans to attack on the flanks. 9.c2 b5 10.e2 c5 11.0-0 a6 12.fd1 White's play is quite passive and this leads to problems later. Perhaps he was intimidated by his highly esteemed opponent. [ 12.a4 or ] [ 12.e4 would be more energetic. ] 12...c7 13.ac1 b7 14.a4 fc8 Black builds up patiently, as W hite is not really threatening anything. 15.axb5 axb5 16.dxc5 [ 16.xb5?? xf3 ] 2340
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16...xc5 17.b4 b6 18.d4 Black has effortlessly attained a good Sicilian type of position. a6 19.a2 a8 20.e4 e5 Eyeing the vulnerable c4 square. 21.a1? White cracks and as we will see, leaving the c3 pawn undefended has dire consequences. xe4! Bang! Black wins a crucial pawn. 22.xe4 [ 22.xe7 xc3 is even worse. ] 22...xh4 23.a5 Heading up a blind alley. b8 24.xa6 Desperation, but White is in trouble anyway. [ 24.xb5 Falls foul of: b7 Picking up a piece. ] 24...xa6 25.xa6 White resigned without waiting for 25...Qb7 forking rook and knight. 0-1
2391 Bellon Lopez,Juan Manuel Obers,Frits Western Canadian Open (2) [Eric Prié]
A46 2416 2096 10.07.2004
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.f3 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.e4 From the Tromp, via the Torre for one move, the game has again swung, transposing into a sub-line of the 2..e6 Tromp, the normal sequence being 3.e4 h6 4.Bxf6 Qxf6 5.Nf3, and this has a sulphurous reputation for White d5 This is why 5.Nc3 (preventing Black's last, but not avoiding the major concern of 5...Bb4) is the main line of the 2...e6 Tromp. 5...d6 is another, possibly better, alternative. See next month with the previously announced 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 d5 and related positions I did not have room to cover this month. 6.bd2 d8 [ 6...c5!? This fragmentary game is important for understanding why in the 2... e6 Tromp 3. e4 h6 4.Bxf6 Qxf6 5.c3 d5! 6. Nd2 c5! as in game 8 is obviously stronger for Black. 7.b5+ ( 7.dxc5 xb2 ) 7...d7 ( 7...c6 8.e5 ) 8.xd7+ xd7 9.exd5 exd5 10.0-0 e7 11.dxc5 xc5 12.b3 d8 ( 12...d6 13.xc5 xc5 14.c3 ) 13.xc5 xc5 14.e1+ f8 15.c3 g6 16.e5? ( 16.b3! b6 17.xb6 xb6 18.ad1 ) 16...g7! 17.xd5 b6 18.b4 xf2+ 19.h1 xd5 20.xd5 d8
Bellon Lopez,J-Rico Galiano,A Seville op 2005 1/2 (49) ] 7.c3! c5? [ 7...e7! 8.d3 0-0 9.0-0 c5 Now 10.exd5 xd5 11.e4 d8 12.c4 d7 13.ce5 xe5 14.dxe5 c7 15.e2 d7 16.fd1 1/2-1/2 Grillitsch,K-Janetschek,K AUT-ChT 1991 ] 8.exd5 xd5 [ 8...exd5 9.b5+! d7 10.e2+ e7 11.dxc5 0-0 12.b3 xc5 13.xd7 xd7 14.0-0-0 ] 9.c4 d8 10.e5! a6? [ 10...c6 Only move 11.b5?! d7 ] [ 10...d7 11.b5 a6 12.f3 e7 13.xd7+ xd7 14.xb7 ] 11.0-0? [ 11.h5! A) 11...c7 12.d3! d6 ( 12...g6 13.xg6 fxg6 14.xg6+ e7 15.f7+ d8 16.f6+ ) 13.xf7; B) 11...g6 12.xg6 fxg6 13.xg6+ d7 ( 13...e7 14.e4 ) 14.dxc5 White gets at least 3 pawns in addition to a massive attack. ] 11...cxd4 12.h5 c7 13.cxd4 [ 13.d3 d6 14.xf7 xh2+ 15.h1 0-0 ] 13...c6 14.ac1 xe5? [ 14...g6 15.f3 xe5 16.f6? g4! ] 15.dxe5 a5 16.e4 [ 16.fd1! e7 17.b3 0-0 18.c4 b4 19.d6 ] 16...e7= 17.c3? Losing a pawn for nothing. [ 17.g3 Intending g6?! ( 17...0-0 ) 18.e2 ] 17...g6 18.d1 xe5 19.e1 0-0 20.h3 g7 21.d6? [ 21.d2 h7 22.d3 ] 21...d8 22.d3 xd6 23.xd6 xd6 24.xd6 xb2 Two heavy ELO costing pawns down, the optimistic Spanish Gra n d m a st e r is co m p le t e ly lo st ! 25.d8+ g7 26.d1 c2 27.b3 c5 28.d6 [ 28.e8 f8 ] 28...b5 29.h4 a7 [ 29...b7 "The simplest moves are the least complicated" Old Chinese proverb. 30.e7 c1+ 31.d1 ( 31.d1 c6 32.f3 e8 ) 31...d5 32.xd5 exd5 33.e5+ g8-+ ] 2341
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 30.d2 c7 31.d4+ e5 32.e3 f5 [ 32...c1+ 33.h2 e7 ] 33.d5 a8? The first real mistake giving back one pawn without simplifying the position. [ 33...f6 34.d8 xd8 35.xa7+ d7 36.xa6 d3 ] 34.xe5 c8? [ 34...d8 35.e7 d7 ] 35.e7 c1+ 36.xc1 xc1+ 37.h2 Back in business. f6 38.a7 c6 39.xf7 h5 [ 39...b4! 40.d5 d6 41.b7 e6 Black is still better! ] 40.d5 d6 41.b7 d2? [ 41...b4 42.xa6 e6 43.b5 d2 ] 42.xa6+ It will not appear in the Guinness b o o k o f r e c o r d s b u t 3 p a wn s o f f e re d a s absolute presents in a simple position is really something! e5 43.g3 b4 44.a5+ d4 45.d5 [ 45.d5+ c3 46.xd2 xd2 47.d5 e2! ( 47...c3? 48.f4 b2 49.f7 a3 50.g5 b1 51.f3 b2 52.g4 hxg4 53.fxg4 a3 54.f6 b2 55.h5 gxh5 56.gxh5 xa2 57.h6 b1 58.g6 ) 48.c4+ d3 49.f7 f5 50.f3 e3 is probably drawn. ] 45...c3 46.f7 d6 47.f3 b1 48.a7 b2 49.f4 f6+ 50.e3 d6 51.a4 c3 52.g4? After this Black has several ways to equalize. hxg4 53.fxg4 d4?! [ 53...d7 54.b3 h7= ] 54.a3 xg4 55.xb4 g3+? [ 55...g1?! 56.b3+ c2 57.b6 c3 58.a4 ] [ 55...xb4! Always bear in mind ancient Chinese sagacity... 56.axb4 xb4 57.f4 c5 58.g5 d6 59.f6 ( 59.xg6 e7! The 'bad' h pawn! 60.xb1 f8 61.h6 g8 ) 59...d3 60.xg6 e2 61.f5 d1 62.g5 e7 63.g4 xg4 64.xg4 f6= ] 56.f2 1-0
2392 Belov,Vladimir Slavin,Alexei European Championship (1) [Richard Palliser]
A46 2619 2368 06.03.2010
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 b5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 [ 5.g5 e7 6.0-0 c5 7.c3 a6 is another possible route into the game. ] 5...c5 6.c3 a6 [ Play transposes in the event of 6...e7 7.g5 A) b u t h e r e B l a c k p r e f e r r e d 7...b6 in Danielsen-Hammer, Oslo 2010: 8.bd2 ( by analogy with lines we'll look at in Cordova-Delgado, 8.dxc5 xc5 9.b4!? d5 10.a4 could well present more of a challenge ) 8...cxd4 9.cxd4 h6 10.xf6 xf6 11.e3 a5 12.e1 xg2 13.xg2 0-0 and with both sides enjoying their own sm all t rum p s, th e p o sit io n wa s a bo u t equal.; B) 7...a6 , ] 7.g5 e7 8.d3!? [ The queen is well placed here, eyeing the b5-pawn and supporting a possible advance of the e-pawn. The old main line, as much as there ever has been one after 3...b5, was 8.bd2 0-0 , but many leading fans of 3 g3 have shied away from this in recent years and with good reason. Indeed Black seems t o b e O K h e r e , a s h e w a s a f t e r 9.a3 ( alternatively, 9.xf6 xf6 10.e3 b6 11.a4 b4 12.e2 d5 left Black slightly for choice thanks to his queenside initiative in Ataman-Pantsulaia, Turkish Team Championship 2010,; and White likely does better to wait, such as with 9.e3 , for h6 before giving up the bishop-pair: 10.xf6 xf6 11.e1!? - this rare idea deserves further tests - xg2 12.xg2 b6 13.d3 fc8 14.f3 d5 15.a3! held Black up on the queenside in Ansell-R.Griffiths, Dun Laoghaire 2010, before b4?! 16.axb4 cxb4 17.c4 saw White taking over the initiative) 9...c8 ( the immediate 9...h6 if fine too, as I tried in Hempson-Palliser, Rotherham (rapid) 2007, where 10.xf6 xf6 11.e4 - rather ambitious - b6 12.e5 e7 13.e1 cxd4 14.cxd4 ac8 gave me easy 2342
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c o u n t e r p l a y) 10.e3 ( Cox mentions only 10.e1 , quoting the instructive encounter Gouvela-Kasparov, Rio de Janeiro (simul) 1996: cxd4 11.cxd4 h6 12.xf6 xf6 13.e3 d6 14.b1 b6 15.d3 b8! 16.ac1 d7 17.h4 e7 and the man himself had regrouped, leaving him with a very harmonious position, not to mention the bishop-pair) 10...h6 ( Black's standard method of dealing with the pin, but here I do wonder what's wrong with the simplifying 10...e4!? , since 11.xe7 xe7 12.e5 doesn't really lead anywhere for White after f5 13.e2 d6 ) 11.xf6 xf6 12.e1 xg2 ( 12...d5!? 13.d3 c4 14.f4 c7 makes Black's light-squared bishop 'bad', but does give him chances of carrying out a Mino rity A tt ack af te r .. .a 5 an d .. . b 4) 13.xg2 ( 13.xg2!? followed by Nd3 a la Ansell was also possible) 13...d5 14.h4 b8 , which gave rise to a complex middlegame in Votava-Yusupov, German League 2009. Here the e4-break and White's kingside possibilities compensate for Black's potential queenside breakthrough, and after 15.e2 d7 16.f4 b6 17.f3 g6?! ( one would have expected Yusupov to regroup with the safer 17...fe8 followed by ...Be7-f8) 18.h5! g5 19.d3 d6 ( 19...a5! was required) 20.b4! cxd4 21.cxd4 White had managed to seize a small but clear advantage. ] 8...b6 9.a4! A very logical new move, which combines three of White's favourite themes in this variation (the undermining a4-thrust, the pin with Bg5 and the active placement of the queen on d3), and sees him emerging from the opening with a plus. [ Previously White had preferred the more restrained 9.bd2 and after cxd4 10.xf6 (again White hopes that the stable structure will favour his knight-pair) xf6 11.cxd4 ( the reason Black must always time any e x c h a n g e o n d 4 c a r e f u l l y i s 11.xd4 , but here this would just allow Black to hoover off all the pieces with xg2 12.xg2 xd4 13.xd4 xd4 14.cxd4 e7 ) 11...b4! 12.b3 e7 13.a3 c6 14.e3 0-0 15.fc1 fc8 the positional maestro enjoyed easy equality in Zubov-Karpov, Calatrava (rapid) 2007. Note how Karpov
wasted no time improving his knight from the rim wit h t em po , a nd h ow f rom c6 it no t only neutralised ideas of Ne5, but also gave Black chances of seizing the initiative with ...Na5-c4. ] 9...b4?! [ This isn't especially challenging, but even a f t e r t h e s u p e r i o r 9...cxd4 10.axb5 ( 10.xd4!? may be even stronger, since W h it e ca n m e e t xg2 11.xg2 bxa4 with the aesthetic and likely effective idea of 12.b4! ) 10...c5 11.xd4 xb5 12.c4 b6 13.c3 White would have emerged with a small but clear pull. ] 10.bd2 0-0 11.e4 [ Continuing to make good use of the queen's position, but 11.c4!? c7 12.f4 would also have been pretty effective, since a pawn drops off following d6 13.dxc5 xc5 14.xd6 xd6 15.xd6 xd6 16.xd6 . ] 11...h6 12.c4 [ Black's play has been rather sub-optimal ever since he was surprised by White's new concept and here Belov must also have b e e n p re t t y t e m p t e d b y 12.e5!? d5 ( 12...hxg5? 13.xg5 g6 14.exf6 xf6 is even worse for Black, since W hite can strike with 15.c4 c7 16.xb7 xb7 17.xf7! ) 13.c4 c7 14.xe7 xe7 15.d6 , invading the hole on d6 with some advantage. ] 12...c7 13.xf6! [ White retains a pleasant advantage after this, but I wonder if he'd been lulled into a false sense of believing anything would do on the previous move and only now realised that 13.e5 wouldn't have been so clear, in view of e4! 14.e2 hxg5 15.exf6 xf6 16.xe4 d5 when Black regains his piece with some counterplay. ] 13...xf6 14.d5! Black might have an unopposed dark-squared bishop, but it is rather blunted by the pawn on c3, so I doubt Belov had to think too hard about taking play into a Benoni structure where W hite is pleasantly better thanks to his outpost on c4. exd5 15.exd5 d6 16.fd2 fd8 [ If Black wanted to keep his bishop on the lo n g, d a rk-squ a re d ia go n a l t h e n 16...g6 was necessary, but I wonder if Slavin was 2343
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 even worried about the direct 17.f4!? . ( Moreover, even here the bishop can't stay on the diagonal due to the weakness of d6 and after 17.e4 e7 18.ae1 White remains at least slightly for choice. )] 17.ab1!? This wasn't essential, but I rather like this prophylactic nudge, which makes Black think twice about any exchange on c3. e7 18.fe1 f8?! [ R a t h e r p a s s i v e . I n s t e a d 18...e8 would have left the onus on White to come up with a particularly good plan, although I suspect he might have begun to probe with 19.h3 ( 19.b3!? is another plan) 19...f8 20.e4 followed by doubling on the e-file and/or advancing the f-pawn. ] 19.e4 [ Belov wants to attack, but one can also m a k e a d e c e n t c a s e f o r t h e p o si t i o n a l 19.b3 e8 20.ba5 , not so much to exchange off Black's light-squared bishop, b u t ra t h e r t o e st a b li sh a k n ig h t o n t h e glaring hole on c6. ] 19...ac8?! [ Continuing to shuffle his pieces at a rather pedestrian pace, but Black really needed to bring a rook to the e-file with 19...e8 when 20.g4!? ( I suspect Belov might well have preferred to advance a different pawn here: 20.f4 , intending f5-f6) 20...ad8 21.g5 hxg5 22.xg5 g6 would have left his defences in much better shape than in the game. ] 20.g4! Realising that Black isn't up to much, Belov turns one of his king's defenders into a powerful bolt which will rip open the opposition king's defences. b8? [ Another slow move, but much of the damage had already been done and even if Black had challenged W hite's aims with 20...e7!? he would have come under a s t r o n g a t t a c k a f t e r 21.f4 ( the more restrained 21.g3 , followed by Nf5 and h4, also gives White promising chances on the kingside ) 21...e8 22.g5! hxg5 23.xg5 , as g6 fails to 24.xf7! xf7 25.e6 g8 26.f5 with a crushing attack. ] 21.g5! d7 [ Fianchettoed bishops are usually good defenders of their kings, but here 21...hxg5 22.xg5 g6 23.h3 g7 is flattened by
24.e6! fxe6 ( or 24...e8 25.xd6 fxe6 26.h7+ f8 27.xg6 with complete carnage ) 25.h7+ f8 26.xe6+ , mating rather than netting the black queen. Hence Slavin's rather desperate-looking defensive try in the game. ] 22.gxh6 g6 23.g5! Belov conducts the whole game with impressive energy and here ref uses t o allow B lack any time to s trin g together even a semblance of a defence. xh6 24.e6! [ Even stronger than 24.xf7 xf7 25.h3 when f6 26.e6+ g7 27.e7+ xe7 28.xe7+ g8 29.xb7 b8 would have seen Black escaping into a pawn-down endgame. ] 24...fxe6 [ This loses by force, but 24...b8 25.xd8 xd8 26.a5 would have left White a clear exchange ahead and still calling the shots. ] 25.xg6+ g7 26.xe6+ f8 [ It's ma te down th e h -f ile a f te r 26...h8 27.xd6 e5 ( or 27...f6 28.f7+ h7 29.e4+ ) 28.e3 . ] 27.e7+ g8 28.e6+ White may well have repeated to gain some time on the clock, but it's not impossible that Belov was just savouring his position. f8 29.e7+ g8 30.xd6 e5 [ After 30...f6 31.xb7 xe7 32.xe7 White's three extra pawns would soon have proved decisive. ] 31.xc8 xc8 Material-wise Black isn't doing terribly with two pieces against a rook and three pawns, but a combination of the d-pawn and his exposed king proves a killer. 32.e6+ f7 33.d6! b8 34.d7 1-0
2393 Braga,Fernando Alberto Doghri,Nabil Manila ol (Men) [Eric Prié]
A46 2405 2300 1992
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.f4 h5 [ 3...e7 When it is time to talk again about Johnsen/Kovacevic's book "W in with the London system", Gambit 2005, where this move is granted no less than one 2344
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 e x c l a m a t i o n m a r k ! ! A s f o r 4.h3 it is considered by them as dubious because "too slow" (!?), and instead they then put forward the ridiculous especially when their main line goe s ( 4.bd2? h5! ) 4...c5 5.c3! As usual anyway ( 5.e3 b6 ) 5...cxd4 6.cxd4 d5 "with equality." although I strongly suspect that this one had not been checked by the Croatian Grandmaster... In the same facetious spirit, I could retort that: "Ask your c8-bishop what he thinks of that!" Indeed, after the hardly less logical moves 7.c3 c6 8.e3 we reach a well known position from the Slav Exchange, with around 500 games in my database, about which I prefer to conceal the statistics not to lay it on too thick... ] 4.d2!? [ 4.g5! See the next few games. ] 4...c5 [ 4...f6 5.c4 probably, just as in the case of 4...d5, rather than 4.Nc3 d5 where the B d 2 t e m p o i s a b s o l u t e l y u s e l e s s . e4 6.c3 ] 5.e4! f6 6.e5!? [ 6.c3 cxd4 7.xd4 c6 8.xc6 bxc6 ( 8...dxc6 9.f3!? ) 9.e5 d5 10.f3!? ( 10.e4 c7 transposes into an order of moves sometimes favoured by Sveshnikov players i.e. 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.e5 Nd5 8.Ne4 Qa5+!? (instead of the main 8...Qc7) 9.Bd2 (instead of the main 9.c3) Qc7 with 30 games in my database with normal favourable statistics for White. 11.f4 b6 ) 10...c7 11.g3 ] 6...e4 7.c3 xd2 8.xd2 cxd4 9.xd4 White has gained space and a frightening advance in development in return for the 2 bishops. d6? [ 9...c6 10.f4 ( 10.xc6 dxc6 11.xd8+ xd8 12.0-0-0+ c7= ) 10...d5 ] 10.b5+! Winning a very important pawn. d7 11.exd6 a6 [ 11...xd6 12.xe6 fxe6 13.xd6 ] 12.xd7+ xd7 13.e4 e5? [ 13...xd6 14.f5 ( 14.xe6?? xe6 15.xd6 xe4+ ) 14...e5 15.fd6+ f8 16.0-0-0 ] 14.0-0-0! Keeping the pawn with an irresistible attack against the black king stuck in the
centre. a4 [ 14...exd4 15.he1 d8 16.a5+ c8 17.c5 c6 18.e8+! xe8 19.c7# ] [ 14...xd6 15.f5 ] 15.he1 d7 16.b3 c8 17.f4 g6 18.fxe5 xa2 19.e6 fxe6 20.f6+! d8 [ 20...xf6 21.d7+ d8 22.dxc8+ xc8 23.d8# ] 21.xd7 xd7 22.e3 e8 [ 22...h6 23.xh6 xc2+ ( 23...xb3 24.g7+ c6 25.cxb3 ) 24.xc2 c8+ 25.d3 xb3+ 26.e2 b5+ 27.f2 f5+ 28.g1 ] 23.f1 e5 24.h3+ [ 24.h3+ A) 24...c6 25.c3+ b5 ( 25...d7 26.c7+ e6 27.f7# ) 26.c5+ a4 27.c4#; B) 24...d8 25.f7 a4 26.xb7 f4+ 27.b1 f5 28.c3 c8 29.a5+ c7 30.xc7# ] 1-0
2394 Bures,Martin R Walek,Milan ch CZE (7) [Eric Prié]
A46 2215 2320 1993
1.d4 f6 2.f3 d6 3.c3 [ 3.bd2 is harmless compared to a Nc3, Ne2, g3 set up. Black can follow-up either in a Philidor style with bd7 4.e4 e5 5.c3 e7 or Pirc with 3...g6 4.e4 Bg7 5.Bd3 0-0. ] 3...f5 If Black's the Pirc or the Philidor against e4, I suppose he would just reply 3.. . g6 or 3... Nbd7. 4.g3 c6 4...h6 to be able to re ply 5. .. Bh 7 on 5 . Nh 4 is p ro ba bly mo re accurate. [ 4...c6 5.d5! b4 6.d4 d7 7.e4 c5 8.f3 g4 9.g2 g6 10.h3 xf3 11.xf3 g7 12.0-0 0-0 13.g2 d7 14.g5 Libeau,R-Milov,V MTO op Biel 2002 0-1 (75) ] 5.g2 h6 6.0-0 bd7 7.e1 e5 8.e4 [ 8.d5 c8 is the simplest but 8...Bh7 with the idea of ...Qc7, queen's rook somewhere, and if 9.Nh4 e4!? threatening to win a piece by ...g5 is also interesting. ] 8...h7 9.b3 As a consequence of this 2345
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 improved Philidor, White's queen bishop has no good square along its original diagonal. It is difficult for White to be more active: [ 9.h4 exd4 10.xd4 e7 11.f5 xf5 12.exf5 0-0 13.b4 ( 13.g4 d5 14.h4 h7 ) 13...b6 14.a4 a5 15.b3 T h r e a t e n s R x e 7 e8 16.e3 fd7 17.ad1 d5 as in the game, favours Black in the long term. ] 9...e7 10.b2 0-0 11.a4 a5 12.e2 e8 13.ad1 exd4!? [ 13...c7 followed by ... Bf8 is normal. It will succeed in forcing W hite to release the tension in the center which is one of the main goals for Black with this structure, but the text capture, without waiting for White's d5 or dxe5, is also tempting because of the extra pressure on the e4 pawn due to the h7bishop. ] 14.xd4 f8 15.d2 [ 15.f3 is better, not fearing 15...Ne5 16. Qf4, with the possibility of a further Nf5. ] 15...b6 16.a3?! [ 16.f4 ] 16...c5 17.f4 e5! [ T h e c o m b in a t io n 17...cxe4 18.xe4 xe4 19.xe4 xe4 20.xe4 xe4 21.xe4 d5 22.g4 xa3 does not work, because of 23.f5 b2 24.xh6+ ] 18.f5 xf5 19.exf5 ae8 This takes control over the open file but leaves the rook exposed. It was more relevant to play on the advantage of the structure with [ 19...xe1+ 20.xe1 d5 ] 20.xe5 xe5?! [ 20...dxe5 21.c1 A) 21...g4 22.f1 ( 22.d2 e4 ); B) 21...cd7 22.xf8 ( 22.b2 c5 23.d2 d4 ) 22...xf8 23.e3 is about equal. ] 21.g4 c7 [ 21...e8 22.h4 d5 23.g5 hxg5 24.hxg5 fe4 25.e1 ] 22.b2! e7 [ 22...d5? 23.xd5! protects the queen a g a i n s t R e 1 + xd5 24.xc7 xd1+ 25.f1+- ] 23.f1 e8 24.f3 To prevent the intrusion of Black's rook on e2, but it was not necessary. [ 24.b1!
A) 24...e2?! 25.d2 fd7 ( 25...d5 26.d4! b6 27.e3 ) 26.g5!; B) 24...e7 25.xf6 ( 25.g5!? hxg5 26.xg5 fe4 27.g4 ) 25...gxf6 26.c3 ( 26.d2 d5 27.c4?? d3 28.g3 e1+ 29.xe1 xe1#; 26.xd6?? d7 ) 26...d5 27.xd5! cxd5 28.xd5 c6 29.xe7+ xe7 30.g1 ] 24...d5 25.e2 e7 26.a3 [ 26.xf6 gxf6 27.c4 dxc4 28.xc4 d7 29.c3 e5 30.g3 ] 26...d7 27.b2 d6 [ 27...ce4 28.h4 ] 28.d4? To hope for counterchances White has to keep his queen on the c1-h6 diagonal. [ 28.c1 e5 29.a3 ce4 30.h4 ] 28...e7 Black is back on track! 29.g3 [ 29.h4 b6 30.g5 e5 ] 29...b6 30.d2 ce4 31.d3? [ 31.c1 c5 ( 31...e5! 32.a3 d7 ) 32.xe4 xe4 33.f6! e6! ( 33...xf6 34.xf6 gxf6 35.xh6 ) 34.xe4 dxe4! ( 34...xe4 35.fxg7 e6 36.e1 xg4 37.xh6! xe1+ 38.xe1 g1+ 39.d2 xf2+ 40.d1 f3+ with nothing more than a perpetual.) 35.d2 e3 36.fxe3 d6 ( 36...xe3 37.d8 e1+ 38.g2 ) 37.e2 xd1+ 38.xd1 xe3 39.d8+ h7 40.d3+ xd3+ 41.cxd3 gxf6 42.xf6 g6 43.d8= ] 31...c5 [ 31...xg3!? 32.hxg3 xg3+ 33.g2 ( 33.fxg3 e3 ) 33...ge4 ] 32.d4 xd4 33.xd4 c5 34.d3 d4 35.xe4 xe4 36.xe4 xe4 37.h3 e5? A mysterious move. After the natural centralizing [ 37...e5 with the idea of ...h5, Black has an obvious way to increase his advantage. Maybe he was not sure about the pawn ending? 38.g3 xg3 39.fxg3 e3! 40.d3 xd3 41.cxd3 f8 42.f2 e7 43.f3 d6 44.f4 f6 45.h4 b5!! 46.axb5 ( 46.e4 bxa4 47.bxa4 c6 48.h5 d6 49.f3 d5 50.e2 c4 ) 46...c7 47.g5 hxg5+ 48.hxg5 fxg5+ 49.xg5 a4 50.g6 axb3 51.xg7 b2 52.f6 b1 53.f7 f1 54.f8 xf8+ 55.xf8 c4 56.dxc4 d3 ] [ 37...c6 38.g1 f4 Looks good too. ] 38.f3 f6?! Sets things ready for a lot of 2346
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 perpetual check themes and secures a shelt er.. . f o r th e wh ite king, in case of a f o r w a r d e s c a p e , o n t h e h f i l e . 39.d2 A fascinating try, there is no clear plan to hold the position anyway. [ 39.c3 d7 40.cxd4 cxd4 41.c1 ( 41.d3 b5 ) 41...d3 42.a8+ h7 43.c8 xc8!! 44.xc8 d2 45.d8 e1+ 46.g2 d1 ] 39...e1+ It will prove to be tough to get anything from the activity against the enemy king. Therefore Black could have waited and improved the position of his own monarch with 39... Kh7. [ 39...b5 40.axb5 xb5+ 41.g2 e1 42.c4! dxc3 ( 42...e8 43.a2; 42...b4 43.e2 ) 43.d8+ h7? ( 43...e8 44.xe8+ xe8 45.xc3= ) 44.a8! f1+ 45.g3 g1+ 46.h4 xf2+ 47.h5+- ] 40.g2 h7 [ 40...g1+ 41.xg1 e1+ 42.g2 xd2 43.d5+ h7 44.f7 ] [ 40...e5 41.c3! dxc3 42.c2 ] 41.c3! dxc3 [ 41...e4 42.cxd4 cxd4 43.c2 e5 44.c8 ] [ Better 41...d7 42.cxd4 cxd4 43.d3 ( 43.d3 c6+ 44.g3 h5 ) 43...e5 With a small edge. ] 42.c2 [ 42.xc3 e4+ 43.f3 ( 43.f3 g1+ 44.xg1 xf3 ) 43...b1 ] 42...c4 [ 42...b1 43.xc3 e1 44.g3! g1+ 45.h4 b2 46.e3 xf2 ( 46...xf2+ 47.xf2 xf2 48.e6 b2 49.xb6 c4 50.b5 ) 47.e4! d2 48.e8 d8 49.g6+ g8 50.e8+ xe8 51.xe8+ h7 52.g6+ g8 53.e8+ ] 43.xc3 cxb3 44.xb3 xa4 45.xb6 White has succeeded in activating is rook, the draw is in sight. a1 [ 45...c4!? 46.b8 f1+ 47.g3 e2 48.b3 Black still seems better but how to progress? Now, the exchange of queens will lead to an easily drawn rook ending. ] 46.b7! h5 [ 46...h1 47.xg7+! xg7 48.b7+= ] [ 46...a4 47.a7 d4 48.b7 ] 47.h2 [ 47.gxh5 g1+ ( 47...h1 48.xg7+!!
xg7 49.g3+ f8 50.b8+ g7 51.g3+= h6? 52.g6# ) 48.h2 g5 49.h4 e5+ 50.h3 xf5+ ( 50...xf5 51.g4 c3+ 52.g2 c6+ 53.f3 ) 51.xf5+ xf5 52.a7 xh5 ] 47...c1 48.a7? A final mistake ends this instructive heavy piece endgame. [ 48.gxh5 f1 49.h6! ( 49.g2? f4+ 50.g3 xf2+ ) 49...xh6 ( 49...xh6 50.g3 e1 51.a7 e5 52.g4 " Z u g z w a n g " ! ! d5 53.xg7+! xg7 54.h5+ g8 55.e8+ f8 56.g6+ g7 57.e8+ h7 58.h5+ h6 59.f7+ h8 60.e8+= ) 50.b5 d2 ( 50...a4? 51.b4 ) 51.g2 a1 52.g4 g5 53.f4 xg4+ 54.hxg4= ] 48...hxg4 49.hxg4 h6+ 50.g2 h1+ 51.g3 g1+ 52.f4 h2+ 53.e3 e5+ 54.d3 b5+ 55.d2 b2+ 56.d3 [ 56.e3 e1+ 57.f4 e5# ] 56...b3+ 57.e4 c4+ 58.e3 c3+ 59.e4 e1+ 60.e3 [ 60.d5 e5+ 61.d6 c5+ 62.d7 e7+ 63.d8 d6+ 64.c8 e8+ 65.b7 b8# ] 60...xe3+ 61.fxe3 a4 62.f4 a3 63.g5 fxg5+ 0-1
2395 Burmakin,Vladimir Kniest,Oliver Staufer Open (4) [Richard Palliser]
A46 2590 2322 03.01.2010
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 b5 4.g2 b7 5.0-0 c5 [ If Black wants to avoid the tricky lines which we'll examine in this game, he might wish to begin with 5...e7 when 6.g5 ( 6.d3!? is, of course, quite a thematic idea, if fairly rare here, and in Sakaev-Gabrielian, Ru ss ia n T e a m Ch a m p i o n sh ip 2 0 1 0 , a6 7.bd2 d5! 8.b3 b4!? 9.c4 bxc3 10.xc3 bd7 11.b2 c5 saw Black developing without any difficulties) 6...d5 ( 6...c5 is more ambitious and hopes to reach the main line after 7 c3 Na6 the critical response looks to be 7.dxc5 xc5 8.c3!? b4 9.xf6! gxf6 10.a4 e7 11.d4 2347
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xg2 12.xg2 when I would take White, offside though one knight currently is, but Black might try to improve over this sequence ) 7.c3 transposes to a position we'll consider in our next game and I'm not sure that W hite can do any better here, ( with 7.a4 b4 8.c3 a5!? surely OK for Black. )] 6.a3!? This unclassical response to Black's unclassical idea goes unmentioned by Cox, but looks like quite a critical challenge. It was first played from what I can see by Kouatly back in 1987, but has since been adopted more than once by the likes of Romanishin, Andersson, Davies and, more recently, Wells a fine pedigree which suggests that 6 Na3 deserves to be taken very seriously indeed. [ One idea behind the text is to support the c4-advance. That can also be played immediately, but after 6.c4 bxc4 7.a4 ( or 7.a3 d5!? ) 7...cxd4 8.xd4 xg2 9.xg2 I can't believe White has any advantage, partly just because Black has exchanged his b-pawn on c4, not his d-pawn as in a Catalan. Play might continue c8 ( 9...b6!? 10.xc4 c6 11.xc6 c8 looks like an easy equaliser) 10.d2 c3 11.bxc3 e7! ( wisely eschewing the pawn and intending to follow up with ...Na6-c5 indeed, 11...xc3?! 12.b1 looks a little risky for Black, as can be seen from the possible continuation c7 13.c4 e7? 14.f4 d8 15.d6+ xd6 16.xd6 when W hite dominates) 12.a3 a6 Black had no problems whatsoever in MarisSmirnov, Paleochora 2010. ] [ A m o re c h a lle n ging a lt e rn a t ive is 6.a4 , although after b4 7.c4!? ( by no means forced otherwise, 7.dxc5 xc5 8.bd2 0-0 9.b3 e7 10.a5 d5 11.e3 c8! 12.e5 bd7 was fine for Black in JandkeBindrich, Dresden (rapid) 2010,; as was 7.bd2 cxd4 8.b3 e7 9.a5 0-0 10.xd4 d5!? in Byron-Arkell, Treforest 2010, from which we might infer that the positionally-desirable advance of the apawn actually isn't especially threatening ) A) this must be critical Black preferred 7...d6?! in Lenderman-Gareev, Mesa 2010, which isn't a very grandmasterly move and after 8.dxc5 d5 9.a5! - now this is strong
- dxc4 ( 9...xc5 10.a6 c6 11.e5 nets the bishop-pair with a pleasant pull) 10.a4+ c6 11.xb4 bd7 12.xc4 xc5 13.e3 d5 14.c3 White found himself a pawn to the good; B) 7...cxd4 8.xd4 ( I wonder what L e n d e r m a n i n t e n d e d h e r e , a s 8.xd4 c6 9.d3 c5 10.bd2 is fine for Black, so long as he activates his bishop with a5 ,; and 8.bd2 c7 doesn't really give White anything better than 9.xd4 after all ) 8...xg2 9.xg2 c7 10.d2 c6 I wouldn't be especially scared as Black. ] 6...a6 This was once employed in a game between Romanishin and Andersson, after which the le ading Swe dish G ran dma ste r switched sides! Indeed, Black's two alternatives have been chosen more often by his grandmaster colleagues and are unsurprisingly more challenging: [ a) 6...b4 7.c4 A) 7...d5 8.ce5 e7 was the choice of a 2600-player in Sevostianov-S. Zhigalko, Alushta 2010, but now I quite like 9.a3!? , since, for example, bd7 10.xd7! xd7 ( 10...xd7 11.e5 b5 12.axb4 cxb4 13.c4! bxc3 14.bxc3 is also not exactly ideal for Black) 11.dxc5 a5 ( or 11...bxa3 12.b4 a5 13.c3 ) 12.axb4 axb4 13.xa8 xa8 14.d4 sees the queenside opening in White's favour; B) 7...cxd4 8.xd4 ( 8.xd4 xg2 9.xg2 d5 10.e5 d6 is very solid for Black ) 8...d5 9.ce5 e7 10.a3 ( W h i t e m i g h t a l s o c o n s i d e r 10.d2!? and if b6 only then 11.a3 bxa3 12.bxa3 , hoping to pose some problems d o w n t h e b - f i l e) 10...bxa3 11.bxa3 ( it's annoyingly hard to find anything after 11.b3 a5 for White ) 11...0-0 12.c4 ( 12.b1!? , with the idea of c7 13.f4 d6 14.c4 , looks like a better try) 12...bd7 13.xd7 xd7 saw Black equalising in Cosma-P.Cramling, Romanian Team Championship 2010. ] [ b) 6...b6 7.c4 a6 ( an important alternative is 7...b4 8.c2 and now I quite like e4!? , as in Pacheco-Stupak, KhantyMansiysk Olympiad 2010, where 9.b3 e7 10.b2 0-0 11.e3 cxd4 12.xd4 xg2 2348
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.xg2 a6 reached a roughly-level m i d d l e g a m e) 8.e3!? ( new, but I don't u n d e r s t a n d w h y W h i t e r e j e c t e d 8.cxb5! axb5 9.b3 , especially as cxd4?! 10.xb5 d5 11.d3 c6 12.fxd4 again looks like one of those lines in which Black won't obtain quite enough for a pawn) 8...b4 9.c2 a5 10.a3 a6 11.ce1 ( White can also look to improve here, with o n e s i m p l e o p t i o n 11.axb4!? xb4 12.xb4 axb4 13.xa8+ xa8 14.dxc5 xc5 15.xc5 xc5 16.d4 xd4 17.xd4 e7 18.a1 , taking the a-file in the resulting endgame) 11...cxd4 12.xd4 c5 13.axb4 xb4 14.xf6 gxf6 15.d2 h5! gave Black enough counterplay to ma in t ain t he b a la n ce in Mirzoe v-E se n , Turkish Team Championship 2010. ] 7.c4 b4 [ Now White's knight returns from the rim with some effect, but it's not so easy to offer Black good advice here. W e saw 7...b6 in note 'b' to his sixth move, ] [ while 7...bxc4 8.xc4 also improves the k n i g h t a n d a f t e r cxd4 9.d2! ( e v e n s t r o n g e r t h a n 9.xd4 xg2 10.xg2 with a pleasant pull) 9...a5 ( 9...c5 10.c1 c6 11.xd4! regains the pawn with some effect, in view of xd4? 12.d6+ f8 13.xb7 and the knight makes it out, such as with b6 14.a5! ) 10.c1 e7 11.b3 d5 12.xd4 0-0 13.xd5 xd5 14.b7 White was already clearly better in WellsSlavin, British League 2010. ] [ Finally, 7...cxd4!? 8.cxb5 xa3 9.bxa3 axb5 is recommended by Alburt, Dzindzichashvili and Perelshteyn, who note that 10.b2 ( however, they don't mention 10.xd4 xg2 11.xg2 when Black is losing his b-pawn and after 0-0 12.xb5 d5 13.f4 I'm not entirely sure that he has quite enough compensation, despite White's c4square being weak and the a-pawns doubled ) 10...0-0 11.xd4 d5! 12.xf6?! xf6 slightly favoured Black in AdorjanTimman, Frankfurt (rapid) 1998. ] 8.c2 cxd4 9.cxd4 [ That aforementioned RomanishinAndersson encounter (Polanica Zdroj 1993) s a w i n s t e a d 9.fxd4 xg2 10.xg2
. I guess that the Ukrainian had ideas of a rapid a3, but this approach seems less logical and less effective than Burmakin's choice. Admittedly with c7 11.d3 c6 12.f3 c8 13.xc6 xc6 14.xc6 xc6 15.b3 d5 16.e3 dxc4 17.xc4 e7 18.b2 0-0 19.ac1 fc8 20.fd1 f8 White retained an edge, but unsurprisingly Andersson managed to hold. ] 9...e7 10.f4 White has emerged from the opening stages with an improved version of the Symmetrical English. He has managed to bring a knight to d4 without exchanging the light-squared bishops, while Black's b-pawn just looks rather like it's missed its mark. 0-0 11.a4!? [ The Russian Grandmaster wants to remind Black of his weaknesses down the d-file, but the previously-played 11.c1 should also retain an edge, as it did after d6 12.b3 a5 13.c5! dxc5 14.xd8 xd8 15.xc5 d5 16.e5 xg2 17.xg2 in P.SchmidtLibeau, German League 1996. ] 11...b6 [ W h i t e w o u l d h a v e m e t 11...c6 i n t h e s a m e m a n n e r w i t h 12.b3 when the attempt to avoid transposing with d5!? fails to equalise after 13.fd1 c8 14.e3 , ( focussing on the vulnerable c5square, whereas 14.ac1 e8 15.e5? g5! , with shades of Kramnik-Nakamura from London, would not be the way to go. )] 12.b3 c6 13.ad1! This rook to prevent Kniest from developing counterplay against f2. fd8 14.d6 [ Hardly bad, but I wonder why Burmakin rejected 14.e3! c7 15.c5 , since xc5 ( B l a c k s h o u l d p e r h a p s t r y 15...d5 , although I can't believe 16.xb7 xb7 17.d4 xd4 18.xd4 to be anything but a p r e t t y p l e a s a n t a d v a n t a g e f o r W h i t e) 16.xc5 leaves the second player with a rather unappetising choice between losing his b-pawn and a5 17.d6 . ] 14...xd6 15.xd6 e4 16.d3 ac8 [ After 16...d5 17.cxd5 exd5 18.e3 White keeps control with a pleasant edge, ] [ but 16...d6!? 17.e3 c5 18.xc5 xc5 was surely worth a try, bringing the queen to a good square, reducing the piece count and keeping White's edge under control. ] 2349
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 17.e3 [ White's last chance to be better was likely 17.fd2! w i t h t h e p o i n t t h a t c5?! ( 17...f6 18.c5 is also a little annoying for Black,; as is 17...xd2 18.xd2 d6 19.fd1 ) 18.xc5 xc5 19.e4 leaves him some way up on the game. ] 17...c5! Black seizes the chance to activate his queen and now it's far from easy for White to show that the pawns on b4 and d7 are actually weaknesses. 18.xc5 xc5 19.d2 c7 20.b3 a5 21.a3 d5! The German has defended well since the early stages and now seizes his chance to develop some counterplay. 22.cxd5 exd5 23.axb4 [ 23.f3 c2 would have been a little awkward for White, but neither is placing the rook on d3 and it's clear that White has lost some control. ] 23...axb4 24.d3 e5 [ Hardly bad, but it may be that 24...c8!? wa s e v e n s t r o n g e r , a f t e r wh i c h 25.b3 ( s o m e t h in g lik e 25.e1 might be more prudent, but after g4 26.b3 cd7 Black continues to look rather actively and well placed) 25...c4 forces 26.d4! ( or 26.a5 ,; but not 26.d2? a7 when the queen is trapped) 26...xd3 27.xc6 f8 28.xb4 d2 29.xd5 collecting two pawns for the exchange, not that Black should have any problems whatsoever after c1 . ] 25.d4 c6 26.h4!? [ Burmakin has no desire to repeat against his much lower-rated opponent and presumably didn't much care either for the line 26.b3?! e7 27.xd5 a8 when his pieces are rather loose: 28.b5 ( or 28.a5 e5 29.b5 xg2 30.xg2 ca7 , leaving White badly tied down by the pin ) 28...a7 ( but not 28...a6?? 29.a1! ) 29.b6 xd5 30.xd5 ac8 , for instance, sees Black picking up the exchange for not quite enough compensation. ] 26...d4? [ Tempting, but this thematic advance will backfire on Kniest. Better was something sensible like 26...h6 when 27.h5 e7 28.a1 e5 would have reached an unbalanced but rough-level position. ]
27.b3 c2 The point of Black's play, since otherwise he would just have dropped a pawn, but Kniest has underestimated the coming danger on the kingside. 28.e4! d3 [ Black stakes everything on his d-pawn. The alternative was 28...xb2!? when 29.c5 a8 30.xh7+ f8 31.f4 e8 32.d1 sees W hite re-routing his queen with the initiative and some advantage, albeit still with plenty left to play for. ] 29.xh7+ f8 30.e4 g8 [ Not ideal, but there was a threat to capture on c6 followed by checking and after 30...e7? 31.c1 xb2 32.xc6 xc6 33.xc6 xc6 34.xc6 xb3 35.c5+ White would have enjoyed a decisive attack, as shown by the possible continuation d6 36.e4+ d7 37.b5+ c6 38.b7+ c7 39.d4+ , picking up the black rook. ] 31.h7+ [ White is on the right lines, but this is the w r o n g e x e c u t i o n . C o r r e c t w a s 31.b5! when xb3 ( 31...xb2!? gives Black the option of defending with a timely ...g6, but after 32.h7+ f8 33.c5+ e7 34.xd3 g5 35.xg5 e5 36.xe5 xe5 37.e4 W hite's two extra pawns should decide) 32.h5 would have given White a winning attack: f8 ( or 32...f6 33.g6 f8 34.h8+ ) 33.c5+ e8 ( 33...g8 34.h7+ h8 35.h5 f o r c e s m a t e) 34.h8+ d7 35.f5+ and Black must give up his queen. ] 31...f8 32.b5? [ It wasn't too late to go back with 32.e4 g8 and then forward with 33.b5 . ] 32...xb3? [ K n ie st m is se s h is c h a n c e wi t h 32...g6! . I dare say that the possibility of 33.xg6 fxg6 34.g5 put him off, but after xb3 B la ck i s t wo p ie ce s a h e a d a n d 35.h8+ g7 36.h6+ ( or 36.xd8 e6!? , defending and hoping to launch a devastating counterattack with 37.xd3?? e5 ) 36...f6 defends from what I can see. Here White can pick up the loose rook with 37.xd8 xd8 38.f4+ e6 39.xc7 , but only Black can surely be better after d5 . ] 33.c5+ e7 34.xd3 White remains a piece down, but the attack down the h-file is a 2350
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 killer. g6 [ After 34...g8? White mates with 35.h8+! xh8 36.h5+ . ] 35.h8+ g7 36.xd8 xd8 [ Black's days would have been somewhat numbered too after 36...xb2 37.b1 f6 38.d6 . ] 37.c4 W inning serious material. xb2 38.xe7 d2 39.xf7! xf7 40.xb7 1-0
don't think we will be seeing much more of this idea. 1.f3 f6 2.d4 e6 3.e3 c5 4.d3 e7 5.0-0 0-0 6.c4 The Queens Indian treatment of the position. cxd4 7.exd4 d5 8.cxd5 xd5 Very odd. It is much more common for the knight to recapture on d5. 9.c3 a5 10.e1 c6 11.a3 d8 Perhaps this early pressure on d4 is the point behind Black's strange queen manoeuvre. That said, it doesn't appear to achieve much. 12.f4 d5 13.xd5 xd5 14.e4 b5 15.c2 White leaps on the chance to develop 2396 A46 w i t h t e m p o . g6 16.ad1 f6 17.e5 Chatalbashev,Boris 2494 Black has be en trying t o discourage this Petraki,Maria 2114 invasion, but White is not to be deterred, even 18.c7 Open Ano Liosia GRE (7) 03.01.2001 a t t h e c o s t o f a p a w n . xd4 Very awkward for Black. e8 19.g4 g7 [Aaron Summerscale] 20.e5 White homes in on Black's kingside Torre Attack: Black makes a common mistake dark squared weaknesses d7 Would you for which he is soundly punished. This is c a r e f o r a q u e e n e x c h a n g e s i r ? 21.c5 something with which all Torre specialists "Not likely!" xe5 22.xe5 It's painful just to should be familiar. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 look at Black's kingside. d6 23.f6 f8 3.g5 c5 4.e3 b6 A well known mistake, but 24.h6 Ouch! d7 25.h8+ e7 26.g8+ as we shall see, that doesn't stop it f rom d8 27.f6+ c7 Black resigned before happening in international games, to high being painfully parted from his queen. r a t e d p l a y e r s ! 5.d5 exd5 6.c3 1-0 W h i t e a l r e a d y h a s t h e a d v a n t a g e . e7 7.xd5 xd5 8.xd5 c6 9.0-0-0 0-0 A46 10.b5 White is piling on the pressure with 2398 Collier,David 2255 every move. Black must already have been Coates,Kenneth G 2188 wondering why he bothered getting out of bed. 4NCL Birmingham ENG (9) 04.05.2002 e8 11.h4 Charge! a6 12.d3 a7 [ 12...h6 was relatively best but it is perhaps [Aaron Summerscale] not surprising that Black elected not to To rre At t ack: B la ck m ake s a we ll kn o wn weaken his kingside. ] 13.xe7 xe7 14.xh7+ A standard greek mistake and is duly punished, albeit in an gift sacrifice to finish Black off. If 14...Kxh7 unorthodox way. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e3 4.f3 b6?! A well known mistake. then 15.Qh5+ and Ng5 quickly puts the boot in. c5 Perhaps Black was confused, as this position A horrible game from the Black perspective. is usually reached through a Torre not Tromp 1-0 move order. 5.c4?! Returning the favour. It is well established that: [ 5.d5 gives White a nice advantage here. ] 2397 A46 Claesen,Pieter 2416 5...b7 I don't like this move, which allows Dive,Russell John 2414 White the set-up he desires. [ 5...e7 makes it much harder for White to 34th Olympiad (13) 10.11.2000 [Aaron Summerscale] carry out the d5 pawn thrust. 6.d5? xd5! ] 6.d5 h6 7.xf6 xf6 8.c3 White's space Colle Q uee ns I ndian : Bla ck choo se s th e advantage gives him a slight edge. e5 9.d3 Scandinavian recapture on d5 with his queen d6 10.a4+ An irritating move, designed to in order to quickly attack the White IQP, but I i n t e r f e r e w i t h B l a c k ' s n a t u r a l p l a n o f 2351
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 d e ve lo p m e n t . d7 11.0-0 g6 12.d2 0-0 11.c1 c6 12.e1 fe8 13.dxc5 Prepa ring the f 4 pawn lever, which is so dxc5 14.c2 a5! 15.cxb5?! ( a better critical in many lines of the Tromp, where de f e nce was to p in wit h 15.b2 b4 White drags the Black queen to f6. a6 13.f4 16.c3 , thereby saving the a-pawn) 0-0-0 14.ae1 e7 15.f5 Strong play. White 15...axb5 16.xc5 b4 17.xb4 xb4 g u a r a n t e e s h i m s e l f t h e e 4 o u t p o s t . g5 Black had given an excellent demonstration 16.de4 f6 17.a3 With the centre blocked, of how to seize the initiative by making use W hite must seek to open lines against the of a surely but temporary pawn sacrifice in Black king on the queenside. h5 18.b4 g4 Nadirashvili-V.Gaprindashvili, Tbilisi 2010. ] 19.b1 h6 Black has some temporary 6...e7 activity, but his permanent problem is that it is [ As we've already seen, an important impossible to open lines on the kingside. alternative is 6...a6 when Black is able to 20.fe1 h7 21.bxc5 White, on the other meet 7.a4 with b4 , since a quick Nd2-c4 hand, has no problem opening lines on the won't cause problems (unlike when the black queenside. xc5 22.xc5 bxc5 23.e4 queen is on b6). ] f7? An rather unfortunate choice of square 7.bd2 for the rook, although Black's position is [ A d l y , o f c o u r s e , o p t e d f o r 7.a4 difficult in any case. 24.b6 c7 against Aronian, ] [ 24...g7 25.xa6 is very strong. ] [ and White might also play on the queenside 25.xd6 Nxd6 with the same idea was with 7.dxc5!? xc5 8.b4 e7 9.a4 perhaps even more effective, but the White . This is certainly energetic, although after queen's infiltration on e8 will be decisive in bxa4 ( but not 9...a6? because Black won't the event of a recapture on d6. Otherwise, be ab le t o h a ng on t o h is b-p a wn af t e r White remains a pawn ahead and in complete 10.axb5 axb5 11.xa8 xa8 12.a3 ) control. 10.xa4 0-0 11.bd2 ( in an earlier test, 1-0 11.c4 c8 12.bd2 d5!? 13.c5 a5 14.bxa5 c6 15.b3 e4 had given Black sufficient counterplay in Rashkovsky2399 A46 Kurajica, Strumica 1995 we will see more of the theme of luring White's b-pawn up to b5 Cordova,Emilio 2560 in what follows) 11...a5?! ( I'm not sure Delgado Ramirez,Neuris 2575 t h e r e w a s t o o m u c h w r o n g w i t h 11...d5 Bogota (9) 18.07.2010 12.b3 e4 , as Black had preferred in [Richard Palliser] Dittmar-Salvador, Arco di Trento 2007, since W hite doesn't seem to have a killer blow 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 b5 4.g2 b7 after 13.a5 a6!? 14.b5!? xc3 15.c2 5.0-0 c5 6.c3 xb5 16.c6 c7 17.xe7+ xe7 [ If White wants to adopt a Colle-like , and this is likely a better course of action ) approach, albeit after having fianchettoed on A) not only does Black now obtain a good the kingside, I prefer Cordova's method to blockade on the b6- and c5-squares, but t h e Z u k e r t o r t - l i k e 6.e3 b6 7.b3 the re was n o go od rea so n no t to t es t . The problem is that Black will be able to Black's ambitious idea head-on: 12.bxa5! hold his own without too much difficulty, c6 ( this looks like a better try than s u c h a s wit h e7 ( here this or 7...cxd4 12...c6 13.b3 c8 14.d2 8.exd4 e7 looks like the correct reaction,; when White is able to maintain the extra s i n c e a f t e r 7...a6?! in Capak-Detko, pawn on a5) 13.a2 c7 14.d4 xg2 Slovakian League 2006, Black would have 15.xg2 xc3 16.2f3 and while Black been left regretting blocking his a-pawn had h a s r e g a i n e d h i s p a wn , t h a t o u t s i d e W hite undermined with 8.a4! ) 8.c4 a6 passer should count for something one 9.a3 d6 . It's certainly not easy here for day; White to increase or perhaps I should even B) 12.b5?! d5 13.a3 bd7 14.xe7 say obtain any pressure, and after 10.bd2 2352
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xe7 15.a3 xa3 16.xa3 a4 Black had trumps of his own by this stage and wasn't worse in Berkovich-Nabaty, Israeli Championship, Haifa 2010. ] [ If White wants to advance in the centre he usually tries to clear Black's knight from f6 with 7.g5 , as we have seen, but Cordova has a slightly different idea in mind. ] 7...cxd4! [ Sensible, since 7...0-0 8.dxc5 xc5 9.b3 e7 10.bd4 a6 11.a4 would have seen White improving his knight with tempo and would have given him a little pull. ] 8.cxd4 0-0 9.e1 d5 [ As we'll see, this is quite an acceptable method in general of preventing e4 and here White's bishop remains stuck on c1, not already on g5 or even traded off on f6. H o we v e r , a s B l a c k I wo u l d h a ve b e e n inclined to prefer something a little more provocative, such as 9...b6!? when 10.e4 c6 11.e5 ( 11.b3 d5! 12.e5 e4 13.e3 fc8 gives Black a decent version o f t h e F r e n c h , d e s p i t e t h e h o le o n c 5) 11...d5 12.e4 resembles certain lines of the c3 Sicilian and now Black might begin counterplay with f6 ( or 12...fc8!? 13.g5 f8 , just letting White does his worst on the kingside and that's probably not too much with the light-squared bishop on g2. )] 10.e5 bd7 [ This solid and logical move turns out to be a new one. In Raev-Panbukchian, Pleven 2005, Black had adopted a more ambitious a p p r o a c h w i t h 10...b6!? 11.b3 a5 and after 12.e3 a6 13.g5!? (only now that the queen's knight doesn't cover d7) fc8 14.e3 d8!? ( risky instead 14...c7 15.c1 ac8 would have been pretty level) 15.a4 b4 16.c5! ( or 16.axb5!? c2 17.c5 xe1 18.xb7 b6 19.xe1 xb7 20.c6 with full compensation for the exchange) 16...xc5 17.dxc5 complications, likely in White's favour, had broken out due to the by-nowawkward pin down the h4-d8 diagonal. ] 11.df3 c8!? [ Had Delgado had peaceful intentions I suspect he might have preferred 11...xe5 12.xe5 ( 12.dxe5 e4 13.d4 b4 seems okay too for Black ) 12...d7 , ]
[ or 11...e4 , but one suspects he had more ambitious intent in mind in this 10-round tournament which he went on to win, whereas Cordova limped in second last. ] 12.d3 [ This only plays into Black's hands. White l i k e l y wo u l d h a ve d o n e b e t t e r t o h a v e realised that he hadn't any advantage and so begun to steer the game towards the safe h a v e n o f a d r a w w i t h 12.xd7 xd7 13.d3 b6 14.f4 followed by attempting to trade all the rooks down the c-file. ] 12...b4 13.a3 [ It makes sense to remove the cramping pawn from b4 before Black expands with ... Qb6, ...a5 and ...Ba6, and 13.b5 b6 14.xb6 xb6 15.a3 e4 would also have left Black slightly the more active and slightly for choice. However, the text is not entirely ideal either and W hite's opening has clearly not been a major success. ] 13...bxa3 14.bxa3 e4 Beginning to probe. 15.b5! [ A bold but consistent follow-up to White's earlier play. By no w he had to procee d vigorously, since after the slow 15.xd7 xd7 16.b1 with f6 17.d2 c6 Black would have prepared to double on the c-file, as well as to irritate W hite with ... Ba6. ] 15...b6!? [ Delgado eschews exchanges and prepares to advance his f-pawn. The alternative was 15...xe5 16.xe5 d6 when White is vulnerable on the c4-square, but can we really talk of an advantage for Black after 17.b3 a8 18.d2 f6 19.d3 c4 20.b4 , with c5 weak too? ] 16.a4! [ The Peruvian Grandmaster handles this stage of the game like the grandmaster he is. White must accept the complications, since 16...f6 followed by 17...Bc6 was on its way with quite an ideal position for Black. Rybka offers up 16.a5?! , but I'm not so convinced by its concept of f6 17.xa7 fxe5 18.h3 , with ( 18.xb7? d6 19.a6 a8 20.d3 e4 costs White a piece ) 18...exd4 19.xe6+ h8 20.xb7 c5 21.xc8 xb7 22.xb7 d7 2353
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 but on e c ont inu ation in wh ich I'd m uch prefer to take Black (and so too by now would the machine). ] 16...f6 17.a5 fxe5 18.axb6 Both sides have continued critically over the past couple of moves a nd n ow t he Cu ba n Gran dm aste r comes up with another ambitious approach. a6! [ Bold and correct. After the text Black will hope to show that the b6-pawn is vulnerable, as well as to cause problems along the g1-a7 diagonal in general, whereas after 18...xb6?! 19.xb6 axb6 20.h3 f6 21.a7 it would have been White who enjoyed the initiative. ] [ Note too that after 18...axb6 19.xe5! t h e f - p a w n w a s t a b o o : xf2?! ( or 19...xf2? 20.a7 causing serious problems, since b8 21.d7? wins heavy material ) 20.f3! ( 20.xe4 dxe4 21.xf2 xd4+ 22.e3 f8+ 23.g2 xe3 doesn't seem so clear) 20...f6 21.e3 a n d B la c k wo n ' t o b t a in e n o u gh f o r t h e exchange. ] 19.b2 exd4 20.xd4 c5 21.e3 f6 Taking stock after a semi-forced sequence, we can see that Black's forces remain quite actively placed, with pressure against f2 and the threat to expand in the centre with ...e5. However, White's defences remain solid and there's always that pawn on b6 to keep Black a little worried. 22.xe4 [ A big decision, but it shouldn't be too easy for Black to get at the white king on the light squares after this. However, the text was n o t e s s e n t ia l, wit h 22.ec1!? a worthy alternative, since e5 ( after 22...xf2 23.xc5 xc5 24.f1 b5 25.a3 xb6 26.xf2 I'd favour White's minor pieces over Black's extra rook and two pawns) 23.xe4! exd4? ( Black should prefer either 23...xd4 24.xd4 exd4 25.f3 d3 26.xf6 xc1+ 27.xc1 xf6 28.b1 , with equality,; or 23...dxe4!? when one fun and important line runs 24.b3+ h8 25.e6 xe3 26.fxe3 f2+ 27.h1 xc1+ 28.xc1 c8! 29.d1 xc1 30.xc1 f6 31.c5 xb6 32.xb7 xb7 33.c5 a8 34.a5 , w h i c h W h i t e s h o u l d b e a b l e t o h o l d) 24.xc5! xc5 25.xd4 sees the tactics clearly favouring White. ]
22...dxe4 23.ac1 fd8 24.xc5? [ A sign of the Peruvian's bad form. White won't obtain anywhere near enough for the exchange, but presumably he was worried by his slightly precarious-looking pieces after 24.c4 . However, I can't see any way other than d5 for Black to increase the pressure, when White might just go back: ( 24...d5? hopes to double on the d-file, but gives White time to unpin with some advantage through 25.c2 ) 25.cc1 ( 25.c2!? is also possible ) A) 25...f8 tries to avoid repeating, but after 26.ed1 a3 27.xc8 xc8 ( 27...xb2? 28.xe6! wins ) 28.a1 White is in charge of the position and that b-pawn beginning to look pretty powerful; B) 25...b7 26.c4 and it seems that n e it h e r si d e ca n p r o f i t a b l y a vo i d t h e repetition. ] 24...xc5 25.b4 cd5 26.c2 b5 27.a3 h6 Black's bishop might not be too active, but neither are W hite's forces. Mo reo ver, Bla ck' s m a jo r pie ce s are we ll pla ced a nd De lga do is quick to da sh, b y attacking on the kingside, any hopes W hite might have had that he enjoyed a fortress. 28.c1 f5 29.f1 h5! 30.a1? [ This won't save Cordova. A better try was 30.c1 f5 when 31.h4! keeps the kingside closed for the time being, since xh4? ( Black should likely prefer to calmly regroup with 31...f8 ) 32.e7 forks the black rooks. ] 30...f5 31.h4 By now there was nothing else, but this merely allows Black to conclude with a flourish: xh4! 32.d1 [ It's mate after 32.gxh4 g4+ 33.h1 xh4+ 34.g2 g4+ 35.h1 d5 . ] 32...xd1+ 33.xd1 h5 34.f1 The only way to def end, but with W hite's queen now tied to the kingside, Black doesn't forget that he too has a passed pawn. a5 35.d4 d5 36.c1 a4 37.g2? e5 0-1
2354
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2400 Crea,Vincenzo Trauth,Michael Open A Arbo HUN (7) [Eric Prié]
A46 2082 2225 28.10.2005
1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.c3 The move I lazily recommend too...If you cannot be bothered. See last month's Prie-Palleja. e6 4.f4 cxd4 5.cxd4 b6 6.c2 c6 7.e3 b4 8.b3! The Novelty I prepared and want to recommend. bd5 [ 8...a5 9.c3 f5 10.c1 d3+ 11.xd3 xd3 12.b5! xb3 13.c7+ d8 14.axb3 b8 15.xe6+ dxe6 16.xb8+- ] [ 8...h5 9.g3 ] 9.g3 [ 9.xb6! axb6 10.g3 ( 10.e5!? b4 11.a3! ) A) 10...e4 A1) 11.c4 xg3 ( 11...b4 Of c ou rs e, f orcing t he white kin g t o o c c u p y t h e i n f e r i o r s q u a r e o n d 1 .) 12.hxg3 b4 13.d2 d5 14.b3 ( 14.b5+ ) 14...f6 15.c3 d7 16.a3 c6= Coent, Y-Lorans, S (2160) L'Etang salé op 2001 0-1(39); A2) 11.bd2 b4 A2a) 12.c1 xg3 13.hxg3 xa2 14.a1 d5 15.d3! a5 ( 15...d7 16.b1 ) 16.b3 b4 17.xa5 xd3+ 18.e2 xb2 19.hc1 d7 20.xb7 b5+ 21.d2 c4+ 22.d1 c6 23.a7 a4+; A2b) 12.xe4! c2+ 13.d1 xa1 14.c3 b5 ( 14...b4 15.c1 xc3 16.bxc3 xa2 17.b1 a5 18.b2 And the Rh1 will collect the knight.) 15.xb5 b4 16.c1; B) 10...b4 11.a3! B1) 11...e4 B1a) 12.d1 B1a1) 12...e7 13.b5 0-0 14.e2 d5 ( 14...xa3 15.bxa3 c3+ 16.d2 xb5 17.axb4 ) 15.hc1 xg3+ 16.hxg3 f6; B1a2) 12...d5; B1b) 12.d2 xg3 13.hxg3 xa3 14.bxa3 c2+ 15.d1 xa1 16.d3 d5 17.e2 xa3 18.xa1 d7;
B1c) 12.b5 e7! ( 12...xa2 13.xa2 xa2 14.a7 d8 15.c4 b4 16.e5 d6 17.b5 xc4 18.xf7+ e8 19.xh8 g6 20.b3 a5 21.a7 g7 22.xc8 ) B1c1) 13.e2 xa2 ( 13...xa2 14.xa2 xa2 15.a7; 13...xg3+ 14.hxg3 xa2 15.d2 a5 16.g5! h6 17.d6! One again the Bc8 re pre sen t s B lack's A ch ille s ' heel. xg5 18.xc8+ d8 19.xb6 ) 14.h4+ g5! 15.xg5 xg5 16.xg5+ f6 17.d2 fxg5 18.c4 d5 19.xa2 xa2 20.xa2 d7 21.c3 g7 White has a kingside majority, however the structure is not very favourable for the creation of a passed pawn and Black has a powerful dark-squared bishop.; B1c2) 13.c1! The good way. Actually, the white king had better stay at his post for the moment waiting for the a2-pawn problem to be settled as both the e2 and d1 squ a r e s a r e m i n e d f o r h i m a f t e r Nxa2 and the threat of a check on c3 w i n n i n g t h e r o o k o n a 1 . xa2 14.a1 a5 15.a3 b4 16.c1 c6 ( 16...a8 17.c4 d5 18.d3 xg3 19.hxg3 With e4 coming and the capture of b6 or b5 if the pawn has advanced.) 17.c7 ( 17.c4 a2! 18.d5 exd5 19.xb6 xg3 20.hxg3 xb2! The point of Black's play since the knight would be trapped on c8 this time. 21.xd5+ e8 22.h4 ) 17...f6 18.d3 b4+ 19.e2; B2) 11...xa3 12.bxa3 c2+ 13.d2 xa1 14.d3 xa3 15.xa1 d5 ( 15...d5 16.b1 ) 16.b1 b4+ 17.c2 e7 ( 17...a5 18.d6 ) B2a) 18.c4 b4+ 19.c3 b5 ( 19...d5 20.b5+ c6 21.e5 d7 22.xc6 xc6 23.xc6 bxc6 24.xb6 ) 20.xb5 xa2+ 21.c4 0-0! Unpinning the d7-pawn to hold the position by taking advantage of the situation of the white king as after 22.xd7 xd7 23.xb7 c8+ 2355
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 23...d8 24.e5 a4 25.xe7 c8+ 26.d3 f6 is similar.) 24.d3 b4+ 25.e2 c2+ 26.f1 c1+ 27.e2 c2+; B2b) 18.e2!? Is also interesting since this bishop has to move against the threat of Nb4+xd3, with the idea Ne5 or Nd2-c4 and possibly avoiding tactical defences based on its exposure as in the two more 'forward going' alternatives jointly cited. In any case I feel I can be glad about what White has obtained after the tactical phase in the opening.; B2c) 18.b5 B2c1) 18...b4+ 19.b2 c6 20.c7 ( 20.c3 d6 ) 20...d8 21.d6 e7 22.xe7 xe7 23.c3 d6! 24.xc6 bxc6 25.xb6 c7; B2c2) 18...0-0 19.e5 d6 20.c4 d8 21.e4 ( 21.f3 f5 ) 21...f6 22.f3 ( 22.xb6 xe4 23.d3 xg3 24.hxg3 e5 ) 22...d5 23.xb6 dxe4 24.c7 f8 25.fxe4 xe4 26.d3 f2+ 27.e3 g4+ 28.f3 f6 29.c4! Now White's idea appears clearer: he wants to take on c8 and b7 with the two b is h o p s a n d a st r o n g o u t sid e a pawn. d8 30.d6 ( 30.xd8!? xd8 31.xc8 xc8 32.xb7 f8 33.b3 ) 30...xb6 31.xf8 xd4 32.e7 b6 33.xf6 ( 33.a4 d7; 33.e2 b7 34.g3 d5 35.xd5 xd5 36.a4 f5= Followed by Bc6 a n d W h it e h a s n o t im e f o r B d 8 .) 33...gxf6 34.g3 ] 9...b4+ [ 9...xb3! 10.axb3 e4 11.bd2 b4 12.d3 f5 13.e2 xg3+ 14.hxg3 a5 15.c4 0-0 16.e4 fxe4 17.xe4 f6 18.d3 b5 19.b6 b8 20.xc8 fxc8 ] 10.fd2!? [ 10.bd2 On principle is better. In any case, the difference with the line given above is that Black now needs to concede the pair of bishops if he wishes to double the b-pawns. e4 11.d3 xd2 12.xd2 xd2+ 13.xd2 xb3 14.axb3 e7 15.a4 ] 10...e4 11.d3 f5 12.e2?
[ 12.xe4! Taking advantage of having played Nfd2 rather than Nbd2. fxe4 13.0-0 And W hite wins a pawn due to the dual threat of Nc4 and Nxe4. xd2 14.xd2 xb3 15.axb3 f6 16.c4 d5 17.f3 exf3 18.e4 fxg2 19.xg2 f6 20.b6 axb6 21.xa8 e7 22.c1 Not a simple exchange. ] 12...xd2 13.xd2 f4? 14.c4 c7 15.exf4 d6 16.e5 The other two alternatives may be better at the end of the day but surely more complicated: [ 16.xd6+ xd6 17.f5 f4+ 18.f3 g5! 19.fxg6 0-0 20.gxh7+ h8 21.e3 xg2+ 22.d2 xd4 23.c3 xc3+ 24.bxc3 Threat ening Be5 + f4 25.xf4! xf4 26.hg1 f8! ( 26...xf2+ 27.e3 f8 28.af1 d8 29.g6 b6 30.f7 b7 31.f4 f8 32.g8+ xg8 33.hxg8+ xg8 34.h4+ g7 35.xg8 xg8 36.f4 d6 37.g5 g7 38.c4+- ) 27.g3 d6 28.ag1 d7 29.f4 c6 30.e3 ] [ 16.f5 f4+ 17.xf4 ( 17.f3 g5 18.fxg6 0-0 19.gxh7+ h8 20.xf4 xf4 21.e2 d5 22.e3 ) 17...xf4 18.fxe6 dxe6 ( 18...d5 19.b5+ c6 20.e5 xb5 21.xb5+ e7 22.g3 xe5 23.dxe5 xe6 24.ac1 ) 19.g3 ] 16...0-0 17.f5 b4 18.fxe6 dxe6 19.c4 xg3 20.hxg3 xd3 21.xd3 g6 22.e5 b6 23.ac1 g7 24.h4 a5 25.e1 b7 26.f3 fd8 27.e3 ac8 28.xc8 xc8 29.f4? [ 29.b3 d5 30.xb6 ] 29...c7? [ 29...h6 30.c4 h1+ 31.f2 d5 32.b3 b5 33.h4 a1 34.h6 c7 35.f4 f7 36.b8+ f8 37.c7 xa2+ 38.g1 f7 39.b8+ f8 ( 39...g7 40.d6 ) 40.c7 f7= ] 30.b3 d5 31.xb6 h5 32.b8+ h7 33.xc7?! [ 33.b3 ] 33...xc7 34.f7+ xf7 35.xf7 xa2 36.d2 g7 37.e5 g5 38.c3 d5 39.c4 h4! 40.gxh4 gxh4 41.e5? [ 41.xa5 xf3! ] [ 41.e3! c6 42.c4 ] 41...f6 42.d2 f5 43.e3 b7? [ 43...g5 ] 44.c4 Not really a great game but somehow 2356
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 important analysis needs to be hung onto something... 1-0
23.d6+ A fantastic attacking display from the White player. 1-0
2401 Crut,Aurelien Olivier,Jean Christophe ch-Accession (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
2402 De Castro,A Moraes,Nelson 5th Itau Cup (2) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2207 2393 21.08.1999
Torre Attack: There is more than one way to cook Black's goose in the b2 gambit. It seems to me, that in most cases if Black wants to take the hot pawn on b2, he had better have the defensive technique of a strong grandmaster. Most of the time he is in severe danger of being simply blown away. This is a fantastic line for defeating stronger opponents. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 c5 4.e3 b6 5.bd2 xb2 6.d3 White strays from the usual Bxf6. He has bigger and better plans for his dark squared bishop. e7 7.0-0 b6 The queen f lees the scene of the crime with her booty intact, although there is a price to be paid in terms of tempi lost. 8.b1 c7 9.e4 Straightforward enough, immaterial of pawns, White intends to plough through the middle. cxd4 10.e5 d5 11.xe7 xe7 This looks strange, until you see that the attempt to whisk the king to safety by: [ 11...xe7 12.c4 0-0 falls foul of 13.xh7+ xh7 14.g5+ with an awesome a t t a c k , f o r e x a m p l e : h6 15.g4 With ideas of Qh4-h7 and Rb3-h3. ] 12.c1 However, the Black king is not exactly safe in the center. d6 13.exd6+ xd6 14.e4 Obliging the lady to move for the 6th time in 14 moves. A sure sign that the opening h a s n o t b e e n a s u c c e s s f o r B l a c k . c7 15.a3+ d8 16.xd4 c6 17.xc6+ bxc6 18.c4 White has a direct route to the Black king along the d-file. All he has to do is clear it of obstacles. f6 19.fd1 b8 Black makes it easy, probably shell shocked by his lower rated opponent's strong attacking play. [ He had to try and close the d-file by: 19...d7 a l t h o u g h a f t e r 20.d6 He is hopelessly placed. ] 20.xb8 xb8 21.xf6 gxf6 22.e4+ c7
A46 2305 14.10.2001
Torre Attack: It's nice to see that still after all these years, the greek gift is still claiming victims, even in international competition. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 e7 4.xf6 White takes the opportunity to guarantee the e 4 p a wn a d va n c e a t t h e e xp e n se o f t h e bishop pair. xf6 5.c3 Directed against c5. d5 6.bd2 d7 7.e4 0-0 [ 7...dxe4 should also be considered, with a slight advantage to White after: 8.xe4 b6 ] 8.e5 e7 9.d3 c5 10.h4 With a diabolical threat that Black unfortunately misses! b6 [ 10...f5 was Black's best, avoiding White's next. ] 11.xh7+ The f amous Greek gif t. xh7 12.g5+ h6 Relatively best. [ 12...g8 13.h5 is instantly decisive. ] [ 12...g6 13.c2+ f5 14.exf6+ xf6 15.h5 gives White a very powerful attack. ] 13.c2 f5 [ 13...g6 14.h5! is very dangerous for Black. ] 14.exf6 xf6 15.c4?! This is a little too elaborate. [ After 15.h5 e4 16.gxe4 dxe4 17.c4 c6 18.e5 d5 19.c4 xd4 20.g4+ h7 21.d1 The Black queen is rather unusually trapped mid-board!. ] 15...dxc4 16.h5 e4 [ 16...xh5 leads to perpetual check after: 17.h7+ xg5 18.xh5+ f6 19.f3+ g5 20.h5+ ] 17.xe4 f5 Forced. 18.f7+ h7 19.g4 xb2?! [ 19...g8! 20.gxf5 xf7 gives Black a better chance of a successful defence. ] 20.0-0 xc3 [ 20...g8 21.gxf5 xf7 22.fxe6+ g8 23.g6 leaves Black in a precarious position, despite his nominal material advantage. ] 2357
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 21.gxf5 xd4 22.g2 White insists upon attacking. [ 22.ae1 taking the endgame was also quite playable. ] 22...exf5? [ 22...f6 was the critical continuation, after which W hite still has to prove his attack. 23.g6+ g8 24.h6 xg6+ 25.fxg6 gxh6 leads to an interesting endgame, f inely balanced between White's extra exchange and Black's imposing queenside majority. ] 23.g6+ g8 24.h6+ h8 25.ad1 [ 25.ae1 was another way to win, as Black cannot defend as in the game with: f6 as 26.f7+ g8 27.xe7 xe7 28.h6 leaves White completely won. ] 25...f6 26.fe1 f8 [ 26...xg6+ 27.hxg6 giving Black the overwhelming problem of W hite's active rooks to solve. ] 27.f7+ g8 28.h6 The march of the hpawn is decisive. 1-0
13.d2 White has to play actively otherwise he could rapidly get tied down to the defence of the backward c-pawn. To that end he does not have a thousand plans in this position: P l a y a 4 - a 5 t o c r e a t e a we a k n e s s i n t h e o p p o sin g q u e e n sid e o r m o u n t a n a t t a c k against the king using the f-pawn. e5 14.b3 d7?! [ 14...c6! This is the square for that knight and the whole point behind Black's idea to pressurize the d4 pawn and make it move forward, which will isolate the c3 pawn even more. 15.e3 ( 15.d5 e7 16.a4 g6 17.g3 g5 ) 15...ac8! 16.ac1 ( 16.f4 exd4 17.cxd4 b4 ) 16...e7 17.f4 exf4 18.xf4 e6 Black is doing fine, with the idea ...Rfe8, ...Ng6 hitting e4. ] 15.d2 g5 16.a4 ac8 To free the a8 square for the bishop if necessary. [ 16...d5 17.exd5 xd5 18.c4 b7 19.d5 ] [ 16...fc8 17.a5 d5 ( 17...d8? 18.a6 c6 19.d5 ) 18.b5 f8 19.a6 c6 20.dxe5 xe5 21.xc6 xc6 22.exd5 xc3 23.fe1 f6 24.d4 ] 17.a5 c7 18.axb6 axb6 19.a7 a8 2403 A46 20.xa8+ xa8 21.a1 b7 22.d5 d8 Del Rey,Diego 2373 Black has stabilized the structure but he lacks Polak,Tomas 2505 sp a c e a n d h a s so m e wh a t we a ke n e d h i s Zaragoza op (4) 2001 kingside. [ 22...f4 23.c2 f6 24.a7 g4 25.g3 [Eric Prié] f3 26.e2 xe2 27.xe2 f6 28.d2 e8 29.c4 ] 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 c5 4.c3 h6 5.xf6 Thus, this is the position Mark Hebden 23.b5 Typical of the good "bad bishop": just w a n t s t o p l a y w h e n p l a y i n g 3 . c 3 . W e enough pawns of his own colour to limit the mentioned the drawback of 3... b6 in game 1. scope of his counterpart while guaranteeing Indeed, in the rest of this update I shall strive himself good diagonals. c5 24.xc5 xc5 [ 24...bxc5!? With only one weakness on d6 to prove that against the proper Torre 3.Bg5 Black has good chances to hold. ] h6! is more precise than 3...c5. xf6 6.e4 cxd4 7.cxd4 b4+ 8.c3 There again I 25.c4 g7 26.a7 b8 27.a3 d8 28.h3 c7 29.b4 c5 30.a7 b8 31.a3 g6 prefer 32.h2 g7 33.a4 g6? [ 8.bd2 See next game. ] [ 33...c7 White can reorganize the way he 8...xc3+! Otherwise White will play Rc1 and wa n t s - h is o p p o n e n t is co n d e m n e d t o take back on c3 with the rook. 9.bxc3 b6 waiting - but eventually he will have to open 10.d3 b7 11.0-0 0-0 12.e2 d6! a second front on the kingside with g2-g3 The white possibility e4-e5 has to be parried a n d f 2 - f 4 , h 3 - h 4 wh i c h m a y n o t p r o v e first. sufficient. 34.d7? c6 ] [ 12...c6 13.e5 A) 13...f4 14.d2 ( 14.g3 g4 ) 34.e8!! c8 [ 34...c7 35.b4! c8 ( 35...e7 36.c6 14...a5 15.g3 g5 16.f4 e7 17.f5; xc6 37.xe7; 35...xe8 36.xd6+ g7 B) 13...e7 14.e4 g6 15.f4 g7 37.xc7 ) 36.xf7+! xf7 37.xb6 c7 16.d2 f5 17.c4 a6 18.fd1 ] 2358
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 38.xd6 xa7 39.xc7+ g8 40.c5 a8 41.c6 a6 42.xe5+- ] [ 34...g7 35.d7! xa7 36.xf7+ h8 37.f6+ g8 38.g6+ h8 ( 38...f8 39.f7# ) 39.f7 Next Qxh6 mate. ] 35.b4 g7 36.xb6 xe8 37.xb7 xc4 38.xd6 xe4 39.b6! [ 39.b6 h4 40.g3 h5 41.g4 h4 42.b8 a4 43.xe5+ g6 44.g8+ h7 45.h8# ] 1-0
2404 Dougherty,Michael Shepherd,Michael 11th Monarch Assurance (2) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2320 2071 29.09.2002
Torre Attack: When Black keeps his options open in th e Torre a nd ref uses to commit himself, then White is well advised to take the battle to his opponent. 1.d4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.g5 c5 4.e3 h6 5.h4 e7 6.bd2 b6 7.d3 b7 8.0-0 0-0 9.c3 c6 10.e2 d6 11.fd1 e8 12.a4 a6 13.ac1 Both sides have built up patiently, but White is now ready to expand in the centre with e4, thus Black is forced to take action. d5 14.c4 Attempting to take advantage of the slightly exposed nature of the Black queen. [ 14.e5!? ] 14...cxd4 15.xd4 b4 [ 15...xd4 exchanging pieces looks more prudent with a typical IQP position after: 16.exd4 dxc4 17.xc4 Both sides have their chances here. ] 16.b1 e4 A typical device to exchange pieces. 17.xe4 xh4 18.cxd5 xd5 19.c6 Making the life of Black's queen very awkward. xc6 [ 19...d7 20.e5 e7 21.h5 keeps up the pressure. ] 20.xc6 d7 21.c4 ec8 22.cd4 Sensibly avoiding the inevitable release of tension which would follow the exchange of rooks. c6 23.a2 e7? This just loses a pawn. [ 23...c2 would have kept White's advantage to a minimum. 24.f3 e7 a n d B la c k s h o u ld b e a b le t o h o ld . ( Not
24...xb2 25.xd5 exd5 26.d6 )] 24.xd5 exd5 25.c3 The key move that Black must have missed. a7 26.xd5 c5 27.4d2 xa4 Understandably, Black is desperate t o get his p awn ba ck, b ut yo u should always be suspicious of strangers b e a r i n g g i f t s . 28.b4! winning at least an exchange. f8 29.xb6 1-0
2405 Dzagnidze,Nana Zivkovic,Vesna 7th ECCW Antalya TUR (6) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2281 2181 05.10.2002
T o r re A t t a ck : A s s o o f t e n i n t h e d -p a wn specials, Black pays the price for not concentrating his attentions on the centre. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 4.h4 b6 5.e3 b7 6.d3 e7 7.bd2 d6 8.e4 With Black failing to exert any pressure on the centre, it is only natural for White to expand there. bd7 9.0-0 0-0 10.c3 e5 11.e1 W hite h as a slight e dge du e t o his extra space advantage , but Black is quite solid and has no obvious targets to attack. Hence a slow build-up is necessary. g6 12.g3 Logically forcing Black to resolve matters in t h e ce n t re . exd4 13.cxd4 h5 14.c4 xg3 15.hxg3 As usual, bagging the bishop pair has come at some positional cost. Black has lost control of the centre, and his kingside l o o k s s l i g h t l y v u l n e r a b l e . c5 16.e5 Preparing an assault on the light squares. d5 [ 16...cxd4 17.e6 d5 18.d3 is the same.. ] 17.d3 cxd4 18.e6 c5 19.exf7+ g7?! An unfortunate choice of square for the King. [ 19...h7 20.b3 xd3 21.xd3 xf7 keeps White's advantage to a minimum. ] 20.xd4 Now, the vulnerable e6 square is a c o n s t a n t s o u r c e o f c o n c e r n . xf7? Black cracks under the strain. [ 20...xf7 was essential, however unpleasant after: 21.c2 d7 22.2f3 ] 21.b4 f6 22.g4 Ouch! c8 [ 22...xd3 23.e6+ Picks up the Black queen, but such is his desperate situation, Black should probably have tried this. ] 23.xg6+ f8 24.c6 The White pieces pile 2359
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 in around the Black king. d7 25.bxc5 xc6 26.xh6+ g8 27.g6 There is no satisfactory defence against the W hite onslaught. xa1 [ 27...g7 28.e8+ xe8 29.xe8 xa1 30.c6 is winning. ] 28.xf7+ 1-0
2406 Efimov,Igor Roser,Kevin Coupe de Monaco MCO (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2494 2319 26.06.1999
TORRE ATTACK: If Black plays the solid 2... e6, then the Tromp gives W hite an obvious opportunity to transpose back to the Torre. Lovers of the bishop pair tend to take this opportunity, rather than enter the main line with 3.e4. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.d2 c5 4.e3 cxd4 5.exd4 e7 6.gf3 0-0 7.d3 b6 8.e2 Graham Burgess in his recent book "The Gambit Guide to the Torre attack" is suspicious of this move, claiming that Black should be able to equalise with a timely Nd5. I r e c o m e n d h i s b o o k t o a n y T o r r e p l a ye r wanting to improve their theoretical knowledge of the opening. I agree with Burgess's assessment, and would suggest White players stick to the standard plans involving kingside castling. b7 9.c3 c6 [ With this, Black starts to go wrong, instead; 9...d5 10.xe7 xe7 looks fine, when I can't see anything better for White than the slightly wimpy: 11.g3 ] 10.h4 e8 Terribly passive, instead Black had to try Nd5 again. [ 10...d5 ] 11.0-0-0 f6 12.c2!? A very ambitious move. Alternatively, the simple Bf 4 would leave W h i t e w i t h a r i s k f r e e a d v a n t a g e . fxg5 13.hxg5 xg5 Black commits hari-kari. Allowing white to take on h7 is certain to be extremely painful. [ 13...g6 Would be a much sterner test. After 14.e4 threatening Rxh7. f7 15.h4 g7 Would leave Black very passive, but as the famous saying goes "a piece is still a piece!" ]
14.xh7+ f7 15.d5! White rips open the center, leaving the Black king in no-mansland. f6 Black tries to alleviate the pressure by returning a piece. Good alternatives were hard to come by. [ 15...exd5 16.d3 Threatening both Qg6+ a n d Q xd 5 + a n d l e a vi n g W h i t e wi t h a n awesome attack. ] 16.dxc6 xc6 17.e5+ e7 18.g6+ The W hite initiative runs rampant. W hite seems to be enjoying hitting the Black king from pillar to post. d8 19.xf8 Winning the exchange. W ith the Black king stuck in the centre, the game is effectively over. xg2 20.hg1 f3 21.b5 The double attack on g5 and d7 forces capitulation. 1-0
2407 Ehrke,Michael Feick,Stefan BL2-N 9192 Germany [Eric Prié]
A46 2240 2300 1992
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.f4 c5 Due to lack of space, as I privileged the surprising idea of 5... b5 this time, I had to postpone stories with an early [ 3...h5 as put forward by Johnsen/ Kovacevic (Although I can't help feeling that the idea is added more to promote their concept of playing the 'Bishop first' 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 e6 3. e3 than anything else...) to a more appropriate moment. ] 4.c3 cxd4 5.cxd4 [ 5.xd4?! a6 6.d2 d5 7.c2 d6 8.xd6 xd6 9.e4 xe4! 10.xe4 e5 11.f3 dxe4 12.fxe4 f4!= Borchgrevink, H (2297) - Ekeberg, C (2365) NOR-ChT Oslo 2007 1/2(36) ] 5...b5!? When I read in John COX "dealing with d4 deviations" (Everyman 2006) that this move was recommended by Andrew Martin, I was very much tempted to exclaim "Say no more!" However, it appears that it is suggested in ECO too, so it probably deserves more consideration... 6.a4 6.e3 (as in the next game) is the move W hite plays almost automatically in this position, regrettably giving up on the idea of playing e4 in one go. 2360
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xa3 23.a1 is completely levelling. )] Mainly for this reason I am personally inclined Now the development of the knight to to consider both 6. a4 (although this is a bit 6...b4? suspect in case of Black's reply 6...bxa4) and d2 will perfectly fit in with White's plans. [ 6...bxa4! Of course b2 is obviously more chiefly vulnerable than a7 and the knight will have [ 6.c3!? as naturally more testing. a6 a superb square on b4, possibly anchored ( 6...b4?! 7.b5 ) 7.g3 An interesting way to by a pawn on a5. 7.c3 develop the pieces which is adapted to the A) 7...b7 Is probably simpler after which concern of the early development of the I must admit I have not found a way to bishop to f4 - W hite keeps the d2 square profit from the more active positioning of free for the dark-squared bishop in case of W hite's queen's knight. 8.xa4 ( 8.e3 a knight attack from d5 or h5. ( 7.e4 b4 c6 9.d3 b4; 8.g3 Therefore is the 8.a4 xe4 9.d3 f6; 7.a3 b7 8.e3 only way to continue development while c6 9.d3 b4 10.axb4 xb4 ) 7...b7 keeping all the 3 possibilities to take back 8.g2 e7 ( 8...c6 9.0-0 e7 10.d5; on a4 accordin g to how Black re acts . 8...b4 9.a4 d6 10.0-0 e7 11.a3 However, I am a bit worried by the serious Now the rook is active on its original file and deterioration of the structure in return for can go to b1 in one move in case of the the 2 bishops resulting from xf3 9.exf3 opening of the b-file. a5 12.d3! ) 9.0-0 a3! 10.bxa3 a5 11.d2 c6 12.b5 0-0 10.c1 ( 10.a3!? is my favorite d8 13.a4 a6 14.c3 b6 15.e3 therefore also Black can now play 10...d5 b2 16.c1 xa3 17.d3 xa4 under better conditions with the idea ...Nc6, 18.xa4 b4+ 19.f1 d5 20.e4 . . . b 5 - b 4 s i n c e c6 immediately fails to b8 ) 8...b6! 9.d2 ( 9.b5 c6 11.d5 exd5 12.xd5 xd5 13.xd5 f6 10.e3 b4; 9.b5 d5 10.d2 c6 14.ad1 xb2 15.xd7 xd7 16.xd7 11.e4 a6 ) 9...xb2 10.b5 b4 a5 17.d2 c8 18.c7 c4 19.b4 11.d6+ e7! 12.xb7 e4 13.a2 e6 20.xf8 xf8 21.g5 ) 10...b4 ( 13.a2? b1+ 14.d1 xa2 ) ( 10...d6 11.a3! bd7 12.d3; 10...d5!? 13...xd4 14.e3 xd2+ 15.xd2 xd2 No w, o r e a r li e r o n , a l s o qu e s t io n s t h e 16.d1 ( 16.a3+ d6 17.d1 c4 ) development of the fianchetto bishop as it is 16...b4 17.xd2 xb7 18.g5+ e8 now hitting the strong point on d5 and the 19.xg7 b4+ 20.d2 f8 21.xh7; knight is on c3 rather than d2 where it would B) 7...c6 8.e4!? ( 8.xa4 b6; 8.xa4 have better access to the hole on c5. White b6 ) 8...b4 9.xa4 ( 9.d3 a3 10.c2 may have some tiny edge however, with the axb2 11.xb2 0-0 12.0-0 a5 idea of transferring the other knight to this is insufficient for the pawn. ) key square via d3.) 11.a4 d6 12.a3 a5 B1) 9...xe4? 10.xb4 xc3 11.bxc3; 13.e1 ( 13.b3 d5 ) 13...xg2 B2) 9...b6 10.d3 d5 ( 10...xd4? ( 13...d5 14.d3 ) 14.xg2 ( 14.xg2 11.xd4 xd4 12.0-0 Now threatening d7 15.b6? b7+ ) 14...bd7 15.d3 Nb5. 0-0 13.e3 d6 14.e5 xe5 b6 16.xb6 ( 16.b5 fd5 17.d2 15.xb4 ) 11.e5 e4 12.c2 b8 xa4 18.xa4 b6 ) 16...xb6 17.e3 ( 12...a5 13.0-0 xc3 14.bxc3 a6 A l l r i g h t , W h i t e c a n n o t d o e ve r yt h i n g : 15.e1 Intending f2-f3.; 12...g5 13.e3 doubling on the c-file, limit the opposing g4 14.d2 xd4 15.xd4 xd4 activity on the queenside while improving 16.dxe4 dxe4 17.xe4 b8 18.0-0 his light-squared control with a3-a4 and xe5 19.xa7 ) 13.0-0 xc3 14.bxc3 recycle his g2 knight, but this is the kind of b3 15.xe4 dxe4 16.xb3 xb3 position with sufficiently deep strategical 17.d2 xc3 18.xe4 c2 19.c1 issues that I would not mind playing as xc1+ 20.xc1 0-0 21.a3 d8 W hite against an opponent reassured by 22.d6 d7 23.c4; the harmless aspect of the pawn structure... B3) 9...xc3+ 10.bxc3 xe4 11.c2 h5 18.d5 ( 18.c4 a6 19.d2 d5 d5 12.d3 On the other hand offers 20.e5 xd3 21.xd3 bxa3 22.bxa3 2361
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 White interesting compensation for the pawn. ] 7.e3 e7 [ 7...a5 8.bd2 ] 8.bd2 b7 [ 8...a5 9.d3 a6 10.b3 As a matter of fact, the exchange of the light-squared bishops seems to favour White. ] 9.a5! a6 [ 9...h5!? 10.a6 d5 ( 10...c6 11.xb8 xb8 12.e5 f6 13.xc6 dxc6 14.c1 c8 15.a4?! 0-0! 16.xc6 d5 ) 11.g3 ( 11.xb8 xb8 12.c4 a8 ) 11...0-0 12.d3 ( 12.e4 c6 13.d3 d5; 12.c4 xc4 13.xc4 d5 14.ce5 b6 15.a4 f6 16.d3 c6 ) 12...f5 13.0-0 c6 14.c4 xg3 15.hxg3 xc4 16.xc4 d5 17.ce5 xe5 18.xe5 c8 19.a4 ] 10.c4! 0-0 [ 10...d5 11.b6 a7 12.a4+ c6 13.c2 fd7 14.c1 ] 11.d6? [ 11.d3 h5 12.d6 ] 11...xd6 12.xd6 xf3 13.gxf3 [ 13.xf3 c6 Attacking a5 when Qa4 is now impossible. ] 13...c6 14.f4 e8? [ 14...xa5 15.g2 a7 16.a4 b6! ] 15.c4 c7 16.g2 d5 17.e5 xe5 18.fxe5 f6 19.exf6 xf6 Not very logical. The top priority for Black should have been to recycle his knight. Hence the correct set up [ 19...xf6 20.0-0 b5 21.d2 ( 21.a4 g6 22.f4 c8 23.xb4 xa5 ) 21...g6 22.h1 b3 Intending ...Nd6, ...Qh4, ...Rc8 or b8 et cetera. ] 20.0-0 h4? [ 20...b5 And there must be some way to g e t s o m e c o m p e n s a t i o n a f t e r 21.a4 and the unavoidable loss of b4. ] 21.a4! f6? [ 21...b5 22.xb4 ac8 23.d2 d6 ] 22.c6! g6 23.f4 d8 [ 23...a7 24.b6 b5 25.f5 xg2+ ( 25...exf5 26.b8+ f7 27.xf5+ f6 28.xf6+ gxf6 29.xd5+ ) 26.xg2 e4+ 27.f3 exf5 28.d8+ f7 29.c1 e7 30.c8+- ] 24.ac1 b5 25.h1 d6 26.f5 xf5 27.xf5 xg2 28.xe6+ 1-0
2408 Eliseev,Alexey Smirnov,Artem White Nights (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2471 2246 09.06.2001
Torre-Tromp: W hite uses an original idea against Black's kingside fianchetto. It would be nice to see more of this type of chess. White certainly displays a great eye for the attack in this lovely gem of a game. 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.f3 h6 4.xf6 I have to confess to being slightly confused by W hite's move order. W e do however soon reach a typical position, but to restrict Black's options, 3.e4 w o u l d h a v e b e e n m o r e a c c u r a t e . xf6 5.bd2 g6 6.e4 Now everything's back to normal. g7 7.d3 d6 8.e2 0-0 9.e5 e7 10.h4 A surprisingly rare move in this variation. But what could be more natural than attempting to tear into Black's already tender kingside position. Hit him where it hurts! d7 11.h5 g5 12.0-0-0 First a little bit of house cleaning. W hite tidys up his king position before continuing with the attack. c5 Detonating the center, but this doesn't worry the W hite player. The only blast that he's interested in is around the Black king. 13.b1 cxd4 14.exd6 xd6 15.e4 e7 16.exg5! Very tasteful . Just when Black must ha ve b een f ee lin g co mf o rtab le, his kingside position explodes in his face! hxg5 17.h6 h8 18.xg5 e5 [ 18...xg5 Looks quite natural, until you see: 19.h7+ g7 20.h5 xg2 21.e4 trapping the Black queen! ] 19.f4 d6 20.h7 Black's king is in serious trouble. f5 21.xf8 xf8 22.g4 White start s the second wave of the attack. Black never g e t s a c h a n c e t o c a t c h h i s b r e a t h . h7 23.dg1 The White pieces are perfectly poised for the decisive breakthrough. g6 24.gxf5 exf5 25.xg6! T a ke t h a t ! xg6 26.g1+ [ 26.h7 also was winning, but White goes for glory. ] 26...f6 27.h5 xf4 28.h4+ Black is, at best losing his queen. I'll leave the variations for those with sadistic minds to work out. A superbly played attack by the player with the
2362
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 winning position. ] 19...xf3+ b2 will fall, leaving White with no compensation for his two pawn deficit. 0-1
White pieces. 1-0
2409 Feibert,Fred Philippe,Christophe FSIMB July Budapest HUN (3) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2270 2316 08.07.2002
Other d-pawn specials. An early c5 is one of the most irritating ways for Black to meet the d-pawn specials. Here, we see that White fails to get to grips with the demands of his position. 1.d4 c5 2.c3 f6 3.f3 b6 An annoying system for the Colle player to meet, as Black can still employ a kingside fianchetto. However, there is one way to try and take advantage of Black's move order. 4.dxc5 bxc5 5.e4!? Based on a tactical point, White can grab the centre. b7 [ 5...xe4?? 6.d5 winning. ] 6.e5 d5 7.c4 [ 7.d3 continuing development is preferable here. ] 7...c7 8.c3 g6 9.e2 g7 White has to now be careful that his e5 pawn doesn't just drop off. 10.0-0 0-0 11.b3?! Black deals wi t h t h i s t h r e a t e a s i l y a n d t h e q u e e n i s somewhat exposed on the b-file. [ 11.f4 was better, with balanced chances. ] 11...c6 12.d5 The bishop was of course taboo. [ 12.xb7 b8 Ouch! ] 12...b8 13.g5 White is desperately trying to drum up some activity before his e-pawn bites the dust. h6 14.f4 e6 15.g3 ed4 16.d3 White misses his last chance. It was vital to protect the pathetic weakling on e5. [ 16.e3 was best, when c2 17.xc5 xa1 18.xa1 gives White some compensation for his missing exchange. ] 16...xf3+ 17.xf3 xe5 18.e2 White has lost his central pawn and now the game is beyond repair, as b2 is also under pressure. d6 19.ad1 [ 19.ab1 xf3+ 20.gxf3 e6 leaves Black with an extra pawn, the better structure and th e b is h o p p air. I n sh o rt , a co m p le t e ly
2410 Fuller,William La,Jimmy Lansing MI Aug mini [Eric Prié]
A46 2290 2200 1992
1.d4 f6 2.f3 c5 3.c3 Incidentally, there are many games with this move order transposing into our subject. If Glenn Flear (see his section) thinks that the Blumenfeld [ 3.d5 e6 4.c4 b5 5.dxe6 fxe6 6.cxb5 is playable for Black, then 3.c3, accepting to play an exchange Slav after 3...cxd4 4. cxd4 d5 (which is generally not to the taste of the 2...c5 player at all) has to be considered the standard reaction of the "dPawn Specials" supporter. ] 3...cxd4 [ 3...e6 4.g5 h6 5.xf6!? xf6 6.e4 cxd4 7.cxd4 b4+ 8.bd2 Reaching the same position on move 8 is more logical. ] 4.cxd4 e6 5.g5 b4+ 6.bd2 h6 7.xf6!? In that particular case, I would rather advise [ 7.h4 g5 8.g3 e4 9.a3 1 See the note in game ] 7...xf6 8.e4 The critical position, and also very important for the Trompowsky links as w e s h a l l s e e . g6?! An inaccuracy that plainly illustrates the dangers of being behind in development for Black [ 8...c6 9.a3 e7 ( 9...a5 10.b4 b6 11.e5 e7 12.e4 ) A) 10.c4!? d5 ( 10...g6 11.d3 xg2 12.g1 h3 13.xg7 g5 14.d6+; 10...0-0 11.e5 T ra n sp o s e s) 11.e5 g6 12.e3 h5 13.d3 h6 14.h4; B) 10.e5 B1) 10...f4 11.d3 Setting a wonderful trap. B1a) 11...h5 12.g3 h6 13.e4 0-0 ( 13...h4 14.gxh4 xh4 15.d6+ f8 16.xh4 xh4 17.e4 ) 14.h4; B1b) 11...xd4? 12.g3 xf3+ 2363
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 13.xf3 g4 14.h3 h5 15.g4 Trapping the queen!; B2) 10...g6 11.c4 0-0! ( 11...f6 12.d3 xg2? 13.g1 h3 14.g3 h5 15.g6+ ) B2a) 12.d3 xg2 13.g1 h3 14.c2 ( 14.e2 f5 15.exf6 xf6 16.e4 f5 ); B2b) 12.h3! Another Chess classic and a more economical way than 12. Ne3 f5, which would unguard d6, to avoid the complications resulting from the pawn offer f6 ( 12...b6 13.d3 f5 14.g4!; 12...f5 13.d5 exd5 14.xd5+ e6 15.0-0-0 b5 16.d6 ) 13.d3 e8 ( 13...xg2? 14.h2 ) 14.e2 is very promising for White. ] [ 8...b6 9.a3 e7 10.d3 g6 ( 10...a6? 11.e5 f4 12.g3 g4 13.h3 h5 14.g4 ) 11.0-0 is the same. ] [ 8...d5 logically should be the best move, taking the c4 square from the Nd2 9.e5 g6 10.a3 ( 10.b3 e4+ 11.e2 c6 ) 10...e7 11.b3! 0-0 12.h3! White will play Bd3 emphasizing the uncomfortable position of the black queen, then castle queenside and attack with g2-g4 in case of a black ...f6-f5. f6 13.d3 e8 14.c2 c6 15.d3 f5 16.g4 d7 17.g1 Unclear. White has a clear plan of action but Black is not de prived of co unt erchan ces on th e queenside. ] 9.d3! xg2? It was necessary to back down. [ 9...c6 10.0-0 d5 11.e2 Protecting d3. h5 A) 12.exd5 xd5 13.e4 xd4 ( 13...d6 14.d5 ) 14.xd4 xd4 15.xb7 xb7 16.b5+ d7 17.xb4 a5 18.c5? ( 18.c3 0-0 ) 18...xd2 19.fd1 b4; B) 12.ad1!? The rooks towards the centre. 0-0 13.e5 f6; C) 12.e5? xd4! 13.b5+ ( 13.xd4 xe2 14.xe2 xd2 ) 13...d7 14.xd7+ xd7 15.d3 c6; D) 12.e3 dxe4 13.xe4 Very similar to Hebden-Hunt last month. ] 10.g1 xd2+ 11.e2! A very bad surprise. h3 12.xd2 0-0
[ 12...g5 13.c3! a6 14.d5 f8 15.f6 W it h a d e cis ive a t t a ck f o r in s t a n c e . d6 16.g3 h5 17.e5! g4 ( 17...dxe5 18.d6 ) 18.exd6 gxf3+ 19.d1 ] 13.e5! Practically winning by force. Black has no development to help his king. c6 [ 13...f5 14.g6! f7 ( 14...h8 15.ag1 g8 16.f4 ) 15.ag1 h8 ( 15...h7 16.g5+! hxg5 17.xg5 ) 16.f4 c6 ( 16...h5 17.g3 f4 18.g2 c6 19.xg7 xd4+ 20.f1 ) 17.h4! b6 18.xh6++- ] 14.f4 f6 [ 14...h5 15.xg7+! ( 15.f6? xd4+ 16.f1 h3+ 17.g2 xg2+ 18.xg2 gxf6 ) 15...xg7 16.f6+ g8 17.g1+ ] 15.exf6 g5 16.xg5+ h8 17.g7 xf3+ 1-0
2411 Genocchio,Daniele Felgaer,Ruben Saint Vincent op (4) [Eric Prié]
A46 2349 2508 2001
1.d4 e6 2.f3 c5 3.dxc5 f6 4.c4 xc5 5.c3 0-0 6.e3 a6 [ 6...c6 ] 7.e2 c7 Probably because of the ELO rating difference, Black opts for a Hedgehog set-up instead of the equalizing [ 7...c6 when White cannot prevent the idea ...d5, ...d4 anymore. 8.0-0 d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.c2 e7 11.d1 d8 ] 8.0-0 b6 9.a4!? e7 10.d4 d8 11.b3 c6 12.h4 b7 13.a3 e8 14.c3 e7 [ 14...e5 ] 15.ac1 c8 16.fd1 b8 [ 16...g6 17.h3 e7 18.b2 ] 17.d6 a8 18.d4 b5! [ 18...xg2 19.f3 e5 20.xe7 exd4 ( 20...xe7 21.f5 xf3 22.g3 ) 21.xd8 cxd8 22.d5 xd5 23.cxd5 xe3 24.d3 h6 25.xg2+- ] 19.cxb5 xc3!! 20.xc3 e4 21.bxa6 d5? [ 21...xc3 22.axb7 xb7 And White has to give up the exchange 23.e1? f5 24.f4 d5 25.e5 f6 26.e4 xd6 ] 22.d3! g6 23.xe4!! xe4 24.xe4 2364
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xe4? [ 24...xa6= ] 25.c8 An extraordinary position with all his p i e c e s a n d 3 m o ve s t o go B l a c k c a n n o t prevent White from queening! h4 26.f3 xf3+ [ 26...g4 27.g3 xf3+ 28.gxf3 xf3 29.dc1 f8 30.a7 e7 31.xf8+ xf8 32.c8 d1+ 33.g2 d5+ 34.f3 d2+ 35.f2 ] 27.gxf3 xf3 28.dc1 g4+ [ 28...e5 29.a7 g4+ 30.f1 h3+ 31.e1 ] 29.g3 In conclusion, I would say that, as far as I am concerned, the reason I gave up playing 1... e6 on 1 d4 was not the fear of only obtaining a position lacking perspective after 2. Nf3 and super solid play beloved of some "d-pawn Specials players", but just the desire to change opening! 1-0
2412 Gonzalez Velez,Fermin Oms Pallisse,Josep TCh Barcelona ESP (2) [Aaron Summerscale]
17.f3 f6 What else? But now the weaknesses in the Black king position allow W h it e so m e co m b in a t io n a l p o ssib ilit ie s . 18.xg6 Crash! The g-pawn is the first ca su a lt y o f wa r . xg6 19.xe6 xh4 20.h5 Black has no way of keeping what is a temporary two piece advantage and his King has become fatally exposed. g7 21.xh4 [ 21.xd5 was also powerful. ] 21...xc3 22.bxc3 d5 23.xd5 xd5 24.de1 The pin along the e-file proves far too much for Black's exposed forces. f7 [ 24...d7 25.g4+ h8 26.g6 Is no better for Black. ] 25.xh6 f5 26.e3 1-0
2413 Gormally,Daniel Ward,Chris British League (4NCL) (4.3) [Richard Palliser]
A46 2520 2448 15.01.2012
A46 2375 2430 06.08.2000
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 b5 4.g2 d5 [ The safe and solid choice. A more adventurous approach being 4...b7 5.0-0 c5 , as we've seen before. ] 5.a4!? In a fairly standard Torre position, W hite [ Gormally wastes no time getting in a highlights the advantages of not moving the cchallenge on the queenside. W hite more pawn too soon in the opening. 1.d4 e6 2.f3 of t e n p re f e rs t o f irst d e ve lo p wit h 5.0-0 f6 3.g5 c5 4.e3 h6 5.h4 b6 6.d3 bd7 and then build for a2-a4 with 6.c3 cxd4 7.exd4 b7 8.0-0 e7 9.e1 0-0 - see my notes to V.Popov-Panarin, 10.c4 The opening has so far been standard, Voronezh 2010. ] with both sides playing moves that should [ In the final round game, Kamsky-Topalov, come as no surprise to any self respecting Wijk aan Zee 2012, White accelerated such Torre attack player. W hite's last move an approach with 5.c3 . This seems quite requires some comment. The standard Torre r e a s o n a b l e t o m e a n d i t p r o vo k e d t h e plan would be c3, Nd2 etc, but with c4 White former Avignon Pope into some early begins a different strategy of directly attacking a g g r e s s i o n : a5!? 6.0-0 ( 6.a4 b4 the center. The likely result is an IQP position, was Black's idea and I suspect he might where the aggressive White player can hone have met 7.c4 w i t h t h e s o l i d bd7 his attacking skills. d5 11.c3 bd7 followed by ...Ba6) 6...bd7 7.f4 e7 12.e2 e8 13.ad1 f8 14.e5 dxc4 8.c2 c5 (and why not?) 9.bd2 b7 15.xc4 d5 Black rushes to blockade the 10.e5 0-0 11.a4 bxa4! 12.xa4 xe5 IQP before it can advance. However, this 13.dxe5 d7 and Black was at least OK leaves his kingside a little more vulnerable, a before later being outplayed in the ensuing factor that White is quick to exploit. 16.h5 manoeuvring middlegame. ] g6 5...b4 6.c4 bxc3 [ 16...xh4 17.xf7+ h8 18.xb7 ] [ Now if 6...a5 Black would be a tempo down 2365
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 on a position we considered above and White might seek to exploit that with 7.cxd5 exd5 8.e5!? followed by Bg5, Nbd2, Rc1 and Nb3, clamping down on that key c5square. ] 7.bxc3 a6!? [ Positionally desirable, but also ambitious. It may be that Black does better with 7...e7 , retaining the option of placing the lightsquared bishop on the long diagonal, especially in the event of an early Ne5 from White. ] 8.0-0 e7 [ This is a little too solid for my liking and perhaps even a little out of keeping with C h r i s ' u s u a l d y n a m i c s t y l e . 8...bd7!? looks a little more to the point, covering e5 and supporting the ...c5 break. One practical test saw 9.a3 e4 ( rather ambitious it's not hard to see why Black disliked 9...c5?! 10.b5! ,; but 9...e7 10.f4 c6 would have been solid eno ugh f or him) 10.c2 e7 11.e5!? ( again we see this structural transformation, although here I suspect a good case can be made for first 11.c4! a n d o n l y i f c6 then 12.e5 ) 11...xe5 12.dxe5 c5 13.b5 0-0 with chances for both sides in AlaverdyanKalashian, Jermuk 2010. ] 9.e5! [ New and I rather like this way of preventing Black from developing his b8-knight for now. Instead 9.a3 bd7 10.e1 0-0 11.fd2 was all too slow and Black enjoyed easy e q u a l i t y a f t e r xa3 12.xa3 c5 in Trichkov-Roy Chowdhury, Prague 2008, ] [ while 9.a3 bd7 10.c4 c6 11.d2 0-0 12.e1 b4! saw Black beginning to take over the initiative in Stojanovic-Pogonina, Tbilisi 2011. ] 9...fd7 [ Black challenges without delay, just as he does in certain lines of the Queen's Indian. That said, 9...0-0!? 10.c4 c6 followed by ... Nfd7 might be an improvement. Black's position reminds me rather of a solid Queen's Indian set-up and I'm not sure that the open queenside necessarily gives White that much of a pull, especially with c4 under some pressure. ] 10.d3 Keeping pieces on to emphasis his
extra space and slightly freer development. White has an edge. 0-0 [ I ' m s u r e C h r i s w a n t e d t o g o 10...c5?! , but just couldn't make it work with White s e t t o o p e n t h e c e n t r e w i t h 11.e4! . An instructive line runs f6 12.exd5 xd5 13.e1 d7?! 14.xd5! exd5 15.g5 f6 16.f4! and suddenly White's initiative has become rather powerful. ] 11.e4 c6 Digging in for the long haul. It's hard to suggest anything better, though, and I'm sure that Chris was regretting not selecting the more active option back at move 4. 12.e1 Gormally calmly continues to improve his forces and makes Black lose further time f o rcin g W hit e to co mm it his e -p a wn . f6 13.e5 fd7 14.f4 b6 15.g4 Even now I can't quite believe that W hite d id n ' t win t h is ga m e . G o r m a lly is a ve r y dangerous attacking player on his day, but maybe it just wasn't that and, as we'll see, Black did defend pretty solidly and well. h8 16.d2 8d7 17.h4! The position continues to look like a turbo-charged King's Indian Attack for White, although I suppose it may be the case that he has nothing more than a pleasant edge. g8 [ Chris really is digging in for a long defence. Th e t ext n ot o n ly f a cilit at e s .. . Nf 8, b u t attempts to dissuade h5-h6 ideas, which would badly weaken Black's dark squares (or obtain a sac target if Black met h5 with ... h6). That said, hemming the king into the co rn er d oe s lo o k a litt le u n n at u ral a n d perhaps Black might have got away with 17...c5!? 18.h5 b8 19.h6 gxh6 , borrowing some modern defensive ideas from the French: for example, 20.h5 c4 21.xc4 xc4 22.h3 b3 23.xh6 xc3 and Black is clinging on for the time being on the kingside by offering up an exchange. ] 18.f3 [ At various points over the last few moves, the engines have liked the idea of 18.a5!? c4 19.f1 , meeting xd2 with 20.xa6 b3 21.a2 xc1 22.xc1 and here I a gr e e t h e y m a y h a ve a p o in t . A f t e r a l l opposite-coloured bishops should favour the attacker after c5 23.d3 . ] 18...f8 19.g5! The standard KIA approach 2366
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to increase the pressure. xg5 20.hxg5 c4 Black is hoping to hold his kingside together long enough to get something going on the queenside. W hite, meanwhile, faces something of a dilemma: should he try to blast straight through on the king's flank or first attempt to contain Black's play on the other flank, leaving the knight on f8 and rook o n g 8 l o o k i n g a l i t t l e s i l l y . 21.f3?! Gormally ploughs straight ahead on autopilot in a bid to show that Black can't get away with trapping his own king in the corner, but it appears he had underestimated Black's 23rd. White had some better options, including: [ a) 21.g6! fxg6 22.xe6 xe6 23.xe6 with a lasting structural advantage. Moreover, any blockade on e6 is some way off and White might yet have got to exploit the half-open h-file this way. ] [ b) 21.d3!? simply brings the knight round to help control the queenside ahead o f resuming the kingside attack. ] 21...a5! Black must act. He will be mated if he dallies. 22.g2?! [ Continuing with his plan. Gormally wants to keep his knight on the kingside for understandable reasons, but had he gone in for 22.e2 b8 23.g2 then he would still have retained reasonable prospects on the kingside from what I can see. ] 22...xc3 23.h1 [ The alternative was 23.g6!? , but after xe1! 24.gxf7 d2 25.fxg8+ xg8 Black is OK in the complications: for instance, 26.b2 f1+ 27.g1 xf3+ 28.xf3 e2+ 29.xe1 xf3 30.a3 and a draw begins to look quite likely. ] 23...g6! [ Essential defence. White had no doubt b e e n h o p in g f o r 23...xa1? 24.g6 f5 ( 24...fxg6 also leads to mate after 25.xh7+ xh7 26.xg6# ,; and even 24...b1!? doesn't save Black on account of 25.h4! fxg6 26.xe6 followed by Ng5) 25.h3 h6 26.xh6+ gxh6 27.xh6+ g7 28.h5# which would have been a beautiful way to finish the game. ] 24.b1 There was no good square for the bishop or way to sacrifice the rook any longer, but now Black is able to force a draw. c2 [ The prudent choice, whereas Black's queen
might have found itself in a little spot of trouble after 24...c8 25.e2 c2 26.f4 .] 25.b4 c3 [ After such a close shave with danger, it's no wonder Black was happy with a draw. The way to play on was 25...c5!? 26.dxc5 xe5 , but opening the long diagonal like this feels very risky, especially with White having ensured that his rook supported Bb2. T h a t s a i d , a f t e r 27.b2 ( by no means f orced an d 27.h4!? might be a better try, leading to a big mess with both kings rather exposed after xf3 28.xf3 d4 ) 27...xb2 28.xb2 xg4 29.xg4 d7 30.xd5 gc8 31.f6 xf6 32.gxf6 xc5 33.d1 c7 only Black can be better in the resulting endgame. ] 26.b1 c2 27.b4 ½-½
2414 Harikrishna,Penteala Polgar,Judit World Rapid Championship, Dubai (4.6) [Richard Palliser]
A46 2726 2685
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 d5 Despite being a Queen's Indian player, whom one might expect would head for a Hedgehog set-up, Polgar is h appy to cou nte r Ha rikrish na's favourite weapon with a classical arrangement. 4.e3 c5 5.c3 bd7 6.bd2 e7 7.d3 b6 8.e5 xe5 As we've seen before, the knight must go lest White support it with f2-f4. 9.dxe5 d7 10.xe7 xe7 11.f4 b7 12.0-0 [ An interesting moment. The text is the standard move, but Harikrishna had earlier preferred 12.e2!? , keeping White's options open while waiting to see where Black will castle. After f6 ( 12...0-0-0 13.a4! reveals another point behind White's move order ) 13.exf6 gxf6 14.e4 White must have been quite happy in HarikrishnaMoradiabadi, Doha 2006. I was sufficiently impressed to make that an illustrative game in 'The Torre Attack: Move by Move', but maybe the Indian star has discovered a downside to the move or was just blitzing at 2367
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 this stage and so made the more natural move. ] 12...0-0 [ This is often avoided for fear of coming under a kingside attack, but is quite playable. Instead, 12...0-0-0 13.f3 g5! reaches quite a critical position - see Eric's analysis to Dreev-Azarov, Internet 2004, in the Archive. ] 13.e2 [ Only now does he move the queen to e2. W hite has designs on the e4-square and wants to avoid 13.f3 f6 14.exf6 gxf6 15.e2 f5 . ] 13...ad8 [ Polgar is happy too to improve her pieces, but the critical move must be 13...f6 . After 14.exf6 xf6 ( now 14...gxf6 is well met by 15.e4 ) 15.f3 Black is very solid, but White might be able to claim a small pull based on t h e w e a k n e s s o f e 5 , ( while avoiding the early complexities of 15.e4 c4 16.c2 e5!? . )] 14.f3 f6 It's not clear what else Black can do bar this break, but I dare say that Ha rikris hn a d id n't min d se eing it . 15.exf6 xf6 [ Once again, 15...gxf6 16.e4 with useful central pressure, is not what Black wants to be doing. ] 16.ad1 g6 17.fe1 White isn't in a hurry, but why should he be with Black devoid of an effective pawn break? Harikrishna is content to improve his pieces and only then decide whether to go in for Ne5 or aim for e3-e4. d6 18.f2 g7 19.c2 e7 Polgar is unable to find a way to strengthen her position and is hoping for Ne5 when ...Nd7 may lead to a welcome simplification. Harikrishna, however, finds a stronger continuation. 20.g3 h5 21.g4 f6 22.h3 c8?! 23.h4 More manoeuvring, but good manoeuvring by W h ite as t he bla ck knigh t is n o w p in n e d against its queen. b7 24.e5 White is quick to exploit the pin, although admittedly his advantage still isn't huge as Black remains very solid. g7 25.f1 d8 26.g5 d7 27.g4 Following the classic principle that the side wit h mo re spa ce a nd t he saf er kin g should keep pieces on. f6 28.g5 d7 29.g3?
[ A slip, but Harikrishna may have been getting frustrated at being unable to break Black's passive if solid set-up. White should have repeated and then gone 29.g4 f6 ( 29...xe5? is much weaker than in the game as e6 is loose and 30.fxe5 c6? 31.xf8 xf8 32.f1 d8 33.f6 w o u l d s e e W h i t e ' s p i e c e s p o u r i n g i n) 30.g3! . A f t e r, sa y, e7 ( this doesn't particularly help, but it's not so easy to find a good move Black must avoid 30...d7?? 31.xg6!; and 30...h5? 31.g5! is also rather awkward, playing against the knight on the rim) 31.xg6 hxg6 32.xg6+ h8 33.f3 g7 34.h3+ h7 35.h5 W hite would have enjoyed a strong initiative. ] 29...xe5! 30.fxe5 d7 31.g4 df7 As ever, Polgar is quick to seize her chance, but she remains a touch worse on account of having the wrong-coloured bishop. 32.f4 c7! 33.g5 [ Black's idea was 33.xe6 xf4 34.exf4 xf4 when the e-pawn isn't all that useful, as shown by 35.e1 f8 36.g4 c8! 37.g3 e6 with a firm blockade. ] 33...e7 34.g3? [ White has underestimated Black's counterplay and failed to appreciate that the trend is against him. It was time to simplify with 34.xe7 xe7 35.df1 , even if the pure bishop ending is surely just a draw. ] 34...a6! Removing the f1-square from the white rooks while teeing up a powerful pawn break. 35.d2 d4! 36.h4?? [ Harikrishna suffers an uncharacteristic collapse, although such rushes of blood to the head are hardly uncommon when one misses a strong idea and has little time in which to regroup. The initiative may have changed hands, but White might still have maintained a rough balance with 36.cxd4 cxd4 37.dxd4 c5 and then the only move 38.f2! . ] 36...dxe3 37.xf7+ xf7 38.d6 [ Now the newly-minted e-pawn is a killer, but so would 38.xe3 f1+ 39.h2 xh4+ 40.h3 f4+ have been. ] 38...e2 39.h2 f1 40.xg6 hxg6 41.h5 f7 42.d7 xd7 43.xg6+ h8 0-1 2368
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 17...d7? 18.xd7+ xd7 19.a3 The white rooks have been linked thanks to the bishop check. d5 20.xb7+ c7 21.d5 dxe5 22.c6+ d8 23.d6 ] 18.f4 [ 18.a3 d5 ] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.c3 c5 4.f3 cxd4 18...dxe5 19.fxg5 g6 20.af1+ g8 A piece has been lost in return for only 2 bad 5.cxd4 b6 6.c2 [ 6.c1 The idea of this move, for White, is pawns while the miserable situation of his to be able to keep his queen's bishop but king does not offer White any hope for tactical Black equalizes easily by taking advantage compensation either. 21.d1 exd4 22.exd4 [ 22.f3 dxc3+ 23.bxc3 xa2+ 24.e1 of the lack of control of e4. c6 c2+ 25.d1 xe3+ 26.xe3 b1+ A) 7.xf6 gxf6 8.e3 d5 9.c3 d7 27.d2 xb5 ] 10.d2 c8 11.c1 ( 11.d3 b4 12.b1 ) 11...b4 or 11...Bd6 is a typical 22...d8! 23.f3 xg5+ 24.d1 [ 24.e1 c2+ 25.d1 e3+ ] position, as in the game Georgiev,Vl-Prié.. . 24...g4 Following the exchange of queens, with reversed colours!; B) 7.e3 e4 8.f4 b4+ 9.fd2 d5 Black having won a pawn the process, the xf3 10.d3 xd2 11.xd2 d7 12.0-0 c8 rest presents no interest. 25.e2 13.d1 e7 14.b3 xb3 15.xb3 26.xf3 g7 27.a3 c6 28.d5 exd5 b4 16.b1 g5 17.g3 b5? ( 17...c2 29.xd5+ e6 30.e4 g4 31.h3 g3 18.xc2 xc2 19.ab1 0-0 20.fc1 32.c2 c8 33.f4 xc3 34.bxc3 e5 fc8 ) 18.c1 xc1+ 19.xc1 0-0 35.xh4 cxc3+ 36.d2 xa3 37.b1 b6 20.a4 c8 21.xh7+ xh7 22.axb5 c2 38.b5 a2+ 39.e1 23.b1 a5 24.bxa6 bxa6 25.f1 f5 0-1 26.f3 1/2-1/2 White,K-Estremera Panos,S Gibraltar op Round 2! 2005 1/2(26) ] A46 6...c6 7.e3? This attempt to keep the 2416 bishop fails by force in an instructive manner. Hebden,Mark 2575 b4 8.b3 e4! 9.h4 Slightly better Adams,Michael 2680 [ 9.f4 a5?! ( 9...c6! 10.c3 xc3 BCF-ch Hove (10) 14.08.1997 11.bxc3 d5 ) 10.bd2 d5 ( 10...g5? [Eric Prié] 11.e5 f6 12.xe4! c2+ 13.d1 xa1 14.xf6+ d8 15.d3 xa2 16.xg5 ) 1.d4 f6 2.f3 d6 3.c3 f5 4.g5 11.g3 b4 12.d1 d6 13.a3 xd2+ bd7 5.h4 g6 6.xg6 hxg6 7.e4 e5 14.xd2 xg3 15.hxg3 would be pleasant Th is is th e m a in lin e. T h e con t act in t h e for White. ] center gives White more strategical problems 9...a5 10.fd2 to solve, in addition to the question of the ... [ 10.bd2 g5 ( 10...c7 11.xe4 c2+ Nxe4 tactic. 8.d2 12.d1 xa1 13.c3; 10...xd2 11.xd2 [ 8.g3 I reckon this is the best move in the c7 12.d1! Intending Rc1, a2-a3, Kc2. )] position. It is not clear what use can Black 10...g5! 11.g3 h5! 12.c3 This was make of the c4 square. Furthermore, White's idea aiming to release the tension on provided that its opposing counterpart has the 'crowded' (indeed!) a5-e1 diagonal. Alas disappeared, a fianchettoed bishop is often for the French master, the number one Dutch a good way to diminish, and even player had seen further sometimes annihilate, the attacking potential [ 12.xe4 d3+! 13.d1 ( 13.e2 c1+ of an open file on one's castle. c6 ( 8...e7 14.d1 xb3 ) 13...e1+ 14.c2 b4+ ] With the idea Nd5!?) 9.e3 a5 10.g2 12...xd2 13.xd2 h4 14.e5 f6!! 15.xf6 b6 11.0-0 c4 12.c1 e7 13.e2 h6 The queen is defending g5! 16.e5 d6 exd4 14.xd4 0-0-0 15.e2 e5 16.d2 17.b5+ f7! c7 17.c4 h7 18.h3 dh8 19.ac1 b8 2415 Hauchard,Arnaud Van Wely,Loek FRA-chT 9900 (1.2) [Eric Prié]
A46 2513 2646 04.02.2000
2369
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.f4 ed7 21.b4 h5 22.f3 f6 23.f2 xd4 24.xd4 e8 25.d3 b6 26.c5 dxc5 27.bxc5 c8 28.b1 hh8 29.db3 e7 30.e5 g5 31.a4! b6 32.cxb6 xb6 33.xc6 1-0 Next move is Rxb6 Malaniuk,VFedorov,A St Petersburg op 1994 ] [ Natural development has still to be explored: 8.e2 e7 9.e3 c6 And here W hit e ha s a wide cho ice of candidate s moves: 10.a4 to prevent b5 but it stops White from long castling and weakens the control of the queenside dark squares from which Black may profit by playing ...Qa5, ... Qb4 or ...a5 and firmly install a knight on c5, followed by ...Qb6, ...Qb4 10.Qd2, possibly d3, but he should be careful about castling queenside because of the advance of the bpawn. It also loses a tempo on exd4 if he recaptures with the queen 10.0-0 but then Black may make some use of the open h-file. As a first consequence, 10...Qc7 with tactics in direction of h2 would practically force 11. h3. Then a further need for support of the e4 pawn by f3 would create big holes in the dark squares in White's camp. It authorizes Black, as well, to castle on the same side without f earing a lightning attack 10.d5 seems premature, 10...Qa5 11.Qd2 when 11...Qb4 is bad in view of 12.a3 Qxb2? 13. Ra2 but 11...exd5 12. exd5 then the manoeuvre 12... Bd8!, ...Bb6 looks strong. Of course it is also possible to strengthen the position first with moves like ...Rc8, ...a6. Th at is wh y I wo uld su ggest a mo d est , uncompromising and prophylactic move like 10. a3 directed against 10... b5 that would then be unpleasantly met by 11.d5, as an interesting alternative in the position. In general, Black's flexibility is a compensation for the pair of bishops and the doubled pawns, so he should be able to adapt to whatever his opponent does. He has solid control over the center and for this reason is not in a rush to "give the address" of his king who may even castle artificially with ... Kf8, ...Kg8 if the activity of the h8-rook along the open h-file is worth it. Indeed, in so m e lin e s t h e m o ve . . . Rh 4 h a s t o b e considered! ] 8...e7 9.a4 [ 9.0-0-0 c6 10.e2 To prevent ...Ng4 a5
Threatens ...exd4 when the g5-bishop hangs on Qxd4. 11.e3 b5 ] 9...c6 [ 9...exd4 10.xd4 c5 11.c4 fxe4? This other typical combination does not work here. 12.xe7 xe7 13.d5 d7 14.b4 wins a piece. ] 10.e2 0-0 I like the idea 10...Qa5 11.Be3 Bd8! 11.e3 [ Black would get a serious counter initiative on the wild 11.h4 with a5 ] 11...exd4 There again I prefer 11...Qa5. 12.xd4 [ 12.xd4 c5! 13.xc5 ( 13.f3 d5 14.e5 fd7 15.f4 e6 16.f2 b4 17.0-0 dc5=; 13.f3!? ) 13...dxc5 14.xd8 fxd8 15.d1 xd1+ 16.xd1 d8+ 17.c1 d4 18.f3 d6 19.g3 f8 20.b3 c7 21.d1 g5 22.f2 e7= Collas,D-Nicoara,M FRAChT 2003 1/2 (78) ] 12...d5!? But this is the idea behind the last 2 moves. 13.exd5 c5 14.d2 xe3 15.fxe3 [ 15.xe3 e8 16.d2 cxd5 A) 17.xd5? xd5 18.xd5 e7 19.d2 ( 19.0-0? f6 ) 19...ad8 is intolerable.; B) 17.0-0 c5 18.fd1 c8 19.f3 ce4= ] 15...cxd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.xd5 h4+ 18.g3 b4+ 19.f2 [ 19.d2 xb2 20.d4 xd4 21.exd4 ac8 With counter play on the hanging pawns. For instance: 22.d2 fd8 23.c3 c5 24.hb1 e4+ 25.d3 xc3+ 26.xe4 e8+ 27.d5 d8+ 28.e4 e8+= ] 19...f6 20.d4 e7 21.hd1 e4+ 22.f3 [ 22.g2 ad8! 23.xa7 ( 23.c4 c8 24.b3 c5 25.d5 xe3 ) 23...g5 24.d3 ( 24.xd8 e4+ 25.f2 h3+ 26.e1 xd8 is very risky.; 24.f3 xf3 25.xf3 f6+ 26.g2 xb2 ) 24...f6 25.f1 ( 25.xb7 b8 26.d5 fd8-+ 27.c4 f3+ 28.g1 h3# ) 25...c6+ 26.e4 xe4 27.xe4 xe4+ 28.g1 d2! 29.f2 fd8 30.af1 d1 31.c5 xf1+ 32.xf1 d2 33.f2 d1+ 34.f1 d2= ] 22...fe8 23.d3 g5+ 24.g2 e6 25.f4 c6+ 26.e4 xe4 27.f3 e5 28.e1 f5 29.b3 a6 30.h4 ae8 31.e2 2370
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 c7 32.f4 [ 32.ae1 d2! 33.xe5 xe5 34.f4 c6+ 35.f2 e4+ 36.xe4 xe4 37.xe4 fxe4= ] 32...c6 33.f3 [ 33.h2 offers Black various ways to appear enterprising, but nothing is really convincing. It may even backfire on him since entering a traditionally superior Q+N against Q+B is dubious here because of the poor pawn structure. So the best is to stay calm an wait while W hite cannot improve his position either. h7 ( 33...g5?! 34.hxg5 g6 35.ae1 g7 36.f3; 33...f6?! 34.c4+! xc4 35.xc4+ f8 36.ae1 ) 34.ae1 8e7 35.e3 c5 36.1e2 ( 36.xe4 xe4 37.xe4 xe4 38.xe4 xc2+ ) 36...c6= 37.c4?! a5 ] 33...c7 34.f4 c6 35.f3 c7 36.f4 ½-½
A f e w e xch an ge s a n d su d d e nly W hit e is winning! g6 18.f3 Black is given no time to organise any kind of defence. xg5 19.hxg5 Threatening to take on both a8 and h7! c6 20.e4 Preparing a decisive infiltration of f6 and renewing the threat to h7. c8 21.c1 A nice quiet move to finish off the game. Nf6+ will be decisive, so Black had no choice but to give in. 1-0
2418 Hebden,Mark Estremera Panos,Sergio Gibraltar Masters (6) [Eric Prié]
A46 2521 2384 30.01.2005
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c3 c5 4.g5 cxd4 5.cxd4 b6 6.xf6?! A gamble. [ 6.c2 7 is the move. See game ] 6...gxf6?! 2417 A46 [ 6...xb2 is the critical line, of course - see Hebden,Mark 2556 the next game. ] De Sousa,Jose Claude 2275 7.d2 d5 8.c3 c6 9.e3 d7 10.d3 ch-(team) 1998-9 French Team Ch FRA (3) I reckon [Aaron Summerscale] [ 10.c1 is more precise, not only because of the general principle that I will discuss in Torre Attack: Mark Hebden's games are well a few moves time, but also to avoid Black's worth studying on the White side of the Torre next move possibility. c8 11.d3 f5 A t t a c k , a s h e h a s t h i n g s e xt r e m e ly we l l 12.a4 ( 12.0-0 d6 13.a4 b4 worked out. As we shall see, it only takes one 14.c5 xd2 15.xd2 c7 16.b5 e7 mistake, and Black never gets back in the 17.xd7 xd7 18.b3 a6 19.xc6+ game. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c3 A Hebden xc6 20.xc6 xc6= ) speciality, designed mostly I suspect to gain A) 12...a5 13.xa5 ( 13.c5? b6 some time on the clock. c5 4.g5 e7 14.xa5 xa5 15.xd7 xc1+ ) 5.bd2 b6?! 6.e4 By his unusual move order, 13...xa5 14.xc8+ xc8 15.e2 W hite has tricked his opponent into an The centralized king makes this ending unfavourable version of the usual Torre attack. pleasant. d7 16.c5 xc5 17.dxc5 White is already better. cxd4 7.cxd4 b7 c6 18.d4; 8.d3 0-0 9.e2 d6 10.h4 Having secured B) 12...b4?! 13.c5 b6 14.xd7 control of the center, White allows himself to xd7 15.xb4 xb4+ 16.e2 d6 play ambitiously on the wing. e8 11.0-0-0 17.b5; c8+ 12.b1 With his own king safe, White C) 12...d8 can now turn his attention towards the Black C1) 13.c5 b6 14.a6!? ( 14.xd7? monarch. a6 Black is naturally keen to b4! 15.c3 xd7 16.b5 xc3 exchange off the dangerous light squared 17.xc3 0-0 18.0-0 b7 ); bis h o p , b u t h e is wa st ing va lu a ble t im e . C2) 13.0-0! On the other hand, this idea 13.xf6 xd3+ 14.xd3 xf6 15.e5 of saving a tempo with a3 more or less W hite wastes no time in launching his implies the sacrifice of a pawn. o f f e n s i v e . dxe5 16.dxe5 e7 17.g5 C2a) 13...b4 14.xc8 xc8 2371
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 ( 14...xc8 15.c1 ) 15.c5 xc5 16.b5+ d7 17.xd7+ xd7 18.dxc5 xa2? 19.a5; C2b) 13...b6 14.a6 c7 15.c3; C2c) 13...b4!? 14.e2 ( 14.d1 xd4 15.xc8 xf3+ ) 14...a5 15.c5 ( 15.c3 e7 ) 15...xc5 16.xc5 xa2 17.fc1 With obvious compensation.; C2d) 13...xd4 14.xd4 ( 14.exd4 xa4 15.xc8 xc8 16.c1 d8 17.e5 a6 18.e2 g7 19.xf5 0-0 ) 14...xa4 15.xc8 xc8 16.c1 d8 17.b5+ ( 17.b5 a6 18.c7+ d7 19.xd5 d6 20.f4 c6 ) 17...xb5 18.xb5 C2d1) 18...a6 19.d4! g8 20.c7+ d7 21.a4+ e7 22.b4+ f6 ( 22...d6 23.xb7 ) 23.h4+ g5 24.f4; C2d2) 18...e7 19.xa7 ( 19.d4!? 0-0 20.xa7 d7 21.a4 c8 22.xc8+ xc8 23.g3; 19.c7+ f8 20.d4 g8 21.xa7 g4! ) 19...0-0 20.b5 ] 10...f5 [ 10...b4!? 11.b1 A) 11...c8 12.0-0 ( 12.e4 ) 12...d6 13.a3 c6 Intending ...Na5 to profit from the abandon of the control of squares caused by the undesirable and unnecessary advance of White's a-pawn when the queen stands on d2.; B) 11...a6!? 12.e4 dxe4 13.xe4 d5 14.d3 b5= ] 11.0-0 White should definitely play [ 11.c1 in keeping with the essential rule of piece development in the opening which t e l l s u s t o m a k e t h e o b l i g a t o r y m o ve s BEFORE the optional ones. Indeed, where is the white rook going to go apart from c1? Also, castling can represent an important loss of time if White plays an ending after the thematic manoeuvre Na4-c5. In accordance with the same principle, Black should then reply with 11...Rc8 transposing into the lengthy analysis above. But what happens if he does not? d6?! 12.a4 d8 13.c5 With a nice White advantage after the exchange on c5 for which Black just lost a tempo with his king's bishop. b6
( 13...b8 14.0-0 only makes things worse f o r B l a c k w i t h a u s e l e s s r o o k m o v e .) 14.b7! ] 11...d6 It is too late for [ 11...b4 12.e5 ] 12.a3 [ 12.ac1! Come on Mark! 0-0 13.a4 b4 14.c5 xd2 15.xd2 xc5 16.xc5 fc8 17.a3 e7 18.fc1 xc5 ( 18...b6?! 19.c7 ) 19.dxc5! ( 19.xc5 c8 20.b4 b6 21.xc8+ xc8 22.b5 d6 23.a4 f6= )] 12...d8 13.b5 f6! again Bxc6 and Ne5. 14.ac1 a6 15.xc6? The opening is a failure but admitting it with a retreat to e2 or d3 was a lesser evil. [ 15.d3 0-0 16.a4? ( 16.e2 ) 16...xd4 ] 15...xc6 16.fe1 0-0 17.e2 h8 18.f4 g8 19.g3 e7 20.e5 The possess ion of this square is only temporary as the black bishops now find their places and set the center in motion. e8 21.c3 f6 22.ed3 f7 23.c5 e5 24.fd3 [ 24.dxe5 xc5 25.e6 g6 26.xd5 d6 ] 24...ac8 25.b4 h5 26.dxe5 fxe5 27.f4 White has to create squares for his cavalry. e4 28.c1 f6 29.1b3 [ 29.a2!? with the idea Nc5-b3-d4. ] 29...b6 30.a4 c4! 31.d4? [ 31.cc1 attacking b6 and d5 b5 32.c3 w a s m o r e s t u b b o r n . ( 32.ac5 f3! wi t h a s t r o n g a t t a c k 33.xd5? h6! 34.xc4 xg3+! 35.hxg3 h1+ 36.f2 g2# )] 31...xf4! 32.xc4 dxc4 33.exf4 d8 34.c3 xd4+ 35.xd4+ xd4 Black his completely winning: he dominates the only open file has a good bishop and will win a second pawn. 36.f2 [ 36.xb6 c3 37.c1 d1+ 38.xd1 xd1 39.f2 c2 ] 36...d2+ 37.e3 d3+ 38.f2 f3+ 39.g1 b5 40.c5 xa3 41.f2 f3+ 42.g1 g4 43.e6 h5 A mysterious move when "everything wins", to start with the obvious 43...Rb3 or 43...Ra3 intending a6-a5. 44.d4 a3 45.xf5 f3 46.f2 a5 47.bxa5 b4 48.e3 a2+ 49.f1 c3 50.d5 a4 51.c1 e3 52.xe3 xa5 53.f2 e4 54.d1 c2 55.b2 a2 56.c4 b3 57.e3 g6 58.g4 b2 2372
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 58...b2 59.xb2 xb2 60.f5 e8 61.d2 a4 62.c3 b1 63.d2 g7 64.g5 b5 65.f1 d5+ 66.c3 d1 ] 0-1
2419 Hebden,Mark Grabuzova,Tatiana open Cappelle la Grande (3) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2515 2315 1997
A HEBDEN SPECIALITY. REEL 'EM IN AND GO FOR THE JUGULAR. TORRE vs NIMZO: an early c3. To Black players unaccustomed to the Torre Attack, resulting positions seem unthreateningly calm. No wonder then, that m a n y f e e l s a f e t o g ra b a p a wn ( o r t wo ) . Suddenly it hits them, a bolt from the blue. W hite vs Black immediately becomes Mike Tyson vs Mr. Bean! 1.d4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.g5 c5 4.c3 This is a major option for those players who like solid positions and playing for a small opening advantage, although as we shall see, this is by no means always the case. cxd4 [ Black can also try the early queen sortie 4...b6 but then one of the main points of W hite's f ourth move becomes apparent 5.bd2 as after xb2 6.c4 xc3+ ( 6...b5 is well met by 7.e4 gaining yet more time on the hapless queen.) 7.d2 xc4 8.e4 The greedy queen finds herself trapped! ] 5.cxd4 The main difference between this variation and those we have seen before, is the early pawn exchange is less effective for Black, as there is no pawn imbalance and the White queens knight can come to the more active c3 square. h6 This lands k in a bad Trompowsky. So better would be d5, with a fair stake in the centre. Mark Hebden, one of the leading exponents of this line for White, believes White is better after 5. ..d5 because Black's light squared bishop is a poor piece. 6.xf6 xf6 7.e4 Quite naturally, White takes up the invitation to build a big centre. b4+ Black, for his part, concentrates on speedy development. We have already seen some catastrophes where he has failed to do this. 8.c3 0-0 9.c1 White could also
consider the immediate Bd3, but I guess he was trying to encourage Black's next: g6? Is it the Torre attack's outwardly calm appearance that encourages Black players to be co me so pa wn h un gry? Do t he y re ally believe the opening is so quiet they can get away with pawn snatching? Time and time again they are taught a valuable, if painful lesson. 10.d3! Be my guest! xg2 11.g1 h3 White has a lead in development and good attacking chances in exchange for a measly pawn. 12.a3 xc3+ This seems a bit co-operative, as it helps to bring W hite's queens rook to the queenside. However, good alternatives were sparse. For instance: [ 12...a5 13.b4 b6 14.g3 h5 15.e2 And White gains time for his attack, due to the threat of Nf4 ] 13.xc3 b6 14.e5 White simply has to clear ranks to the kingside in order to begin t h e f i n a l a s s a u l t . h4 15.b1 c6 Black is doing what he can to catch up on development, but he is fighting a losing battle and his king is perilously short of defenders. 16.cg3 White is now ready for the final breakthrough and is prepared to sacrifice in order to achieve this. xe5 [ There is a lack of decent alternatives. 16...g6 Is rou ghly dealt with : 17.xg6! Crash! fxg6 18.xg6+ h7 19.f3! This Lady can't be taken a6 20.g7+ h8 21.e5 With the terminal threat of Rh7 mate! ] [ 16...g5 receives similar punishment 17.f3 h5 18.xg5 And Black is completely defenceless, even after the exchange of queens. ] 17.xg7+ But now all that remains is for White to successfully introduce her majesty into the attack. h8 18.dxe5 a6 19.f3 With the queen's arrival, the end is nigh, as Black finds himself unable to cope with the l e t h a l t r i o o f W h i t e m a j o r p i e c e s . ac8 W hat else? 20.1g4 Black called it a day, as mate is inevitable after either: xh2 [ or 20...e7 21.h3 ] 21.f6 1-0
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A46 to the e-file for the decisive attack. 2534 1-0 2195 01.10.2002 2421 A46 Hebden,Mark 2534 Hunt,Harriet 2406 T o r r e A t t a c k : T h e e a r l y h 6 s ys t e m s a r e 15.09.2002 nowhere near as effective for Black when Leek op Leer (5) White plays the Torre with 3.c3. first. In fact, [Eric Prié] the position after 6.e4 looks very favourable for White and practice has born this out. 1.d4 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c3 c5 4.g5 cxd4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c3 Hebden's special way of 5.cxd4 a5+ 6.c3! e4 7.d2 xd2 introducing the Torre attack. c5 4.g5 h6 8.xd2 d5 This makes the lack of 5.xf6 xf6 6.e4 This line has given White a perspectives for the c8 bishop even more nice plus score over the years. c6 7.d5 perceptible but it is the only move to prevent Gaining space and time. exd5 8.exd5 e5 the establishment of a strong constricting 9.xe5 xe5+ 10.e2 d6?! The bishop white centre. 9.c1 There are two plans for will prove to be a target here. W hite in this position: - thematically play [ 10...e7 is a better choice, although White against the black queen with a2-a3, b2-b4 is still slightly better. ] (implying that his queen's rook should stay on 11.a3 0-0 12.c4 f6 13.0-0 b5 a1 to protect the a3 pawn) and bring a knight A cre at ive at te m pt to f re e his ga me th a t to c5 via a4 -or leave the black queen where it unfortunately f ails against accurate play. is (badly) placed and open the centre to try to 14.xd6 xd6 15.xb5 b8 16.d3! make something from a better coordination of White know s that he must return the pawn, the pieces. but by first connecting his rooks, he ensures [ 9.e3 c6 10.d3 e7 ( 10...b4 himself control of the b-file. a6 17.c4 xb2 11.b5+ ) 11.0-0 0-0 12.a3 f5 13.b4 d8 18.ab1 xb1 19.xb1 The problems that 14.a4 b6 15.fc1 d7 16.a6 e8 Black is facing are not so much from White's ( 16...xd4? 17.xd4 xa4 18.xe6 ) control of the b-file, but rather from the fact 17.b2 With the idea Nd3-e5 was another that it is annoyingly difficult to develop his treat for White in the game Hebden, M-Hunt, light squared bishop. e8 20.g3 g6 21.a4 H Scarborough 1999 1/2(44) ] W hite continues to play strong positional 9...c6 10.e3 e7 moves. The pawn is preparing to secure an [ 10...d6!? Having deprived himself of the o u t p o s t o n b 6 . g7 22.h4 Another farpossibility of a3-b4 followed by e3-e4 and sighted move, giving the W hite king some Nxe4 winning a tempo on the bishop, White extra legroom. h5 23.a5 c7 The queen also has to consider this move. ] could have retreated at any stage prior to this, 11.d3 d7 12.0-0 0-0 13.a3 a6 but the response would have been the same. [ 13...ac8!? looks safer and if 14.fd1 f5 ] 24.d6 xa5 25.f3 With Black's forces 14.e4 dxe4 15.xe4 fd8 16.e3 e8 effectively cut in two, White turns his attention 17.fd1 h5 In order to defend the kingside. to where Black will feel the pain most, his king. [ 17...f6 18.d5! ( 18.d2 b6 ) 18...exd5 f5 19.xd5 xb2 20.b1 ( 20.xh7+? xh7 [ 25...f8 fares no better, as White has: 21.g5+ g8 22.h3 xd5 23.h7+ 26.e1 b6 27.e7 xd6 28.xf7+ xf7 f8 ) 20...xa3 ( 20...xa3 21.d3 a5 29.xf7+ h6 30.g8 winning. ] 22.b6 ab8 23.c4 ) 21.a1 c5 [ 25...f6 26.d5 f8 27.b8 22.g5 b5 ( 22...xd5 23.xd5 ) is also extremely unpleasant for Black. ] 23.db1! c4 ( 23...b4 24.xb4 xb4 26.d5 f8 27.e5+ h6 28.f4+ 25.xb5 axb5 26.xa8 xa8 27.xb4 Black resigned before White shifted his rook a1+ 28.b1; 23...e2 24.f6+ h8 25.xc5 gxf6 26.f8# ) 24.c1! 2420 Hebden,Mark Grant,Alan 11th Monarch Assurance (4) [Aaron Summerscale]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 The winning rook disposition. b5 25.xc5! xc5 26.f6+ ] 18.d5! exd5 19.xd5 d6 20.h3 f5?! The anticipating [ 20...ab8 was more resilient. ] [ 20...e5 21.b6 ab8 22.xd6 xd6 23.xe5 xb6 ( 23...xe5 24.xh7+ xh7 25.xe5 ) 24.xb6 ( 24.f3? h6 ) 24...xe5 25.c7 xc7 ( 25...xb2 26.b1 ) 26.xc7 b6 27.b4 a5 28.bxa5 bxa5 29.a7 a4 ( 29...b5 30.a8 e5 31.c6 f8 32.a4 ) 30.c2 This rook ending is supposed to be drawn after h5 31.xa4 xa4 32.xa4 b1+ ( 32...b2 33.f4 a2 34.a4 f6 35.h4 ) 33.h2 a1 with the black rook behind the a-pawn but I have seen some top grandmasters losing this! ] 21.d3 f7 22.c4 ac8? [ 22...ab8 23.g5 f4 24.xf4 xg5 25.xf7+ xf7 26.b3+ e7 ( 26...f6 27.e6# ) 27.e1+ e5 ( 27...d7 28.f7+ c8 29.e6 f6 30.xd8 xd8 31.e8# ) 28.e6 f6 29.xd8 xd8 30.xb7+ f8 ( 30...d7 31.e4 ) 31.c8 ] [ 22...h6 23.b6 Was the last chance ] 23.b6! Eventually Black succumbs because she did not measure the importance of the weakening of the b6 square 10 movesago! f4 [ 23...c7 24.xd6 xd6 25.e8# is a goodie. ] [ 23...b8 24.xf7+! xf7 25.g5 a2 26.c4 e8 27.d3 c7 You must know that one: 28.d5+ h8 29.f7+ g8 30.h6+ h8 31.g8+ xg8 32.f7# ] [ 23...e8 24.xc8 xe3 25.xf7+ xf7 26.xd6 b3 27.fxe3 ] 24.e4 b8 [ 24...e8 25.xf7+ xf7 26.xc8 xe4 27.xd6 g6 28.xe4 xe4 'Only' two ro o k s f o r t h e q u e e n t h is t im e ? 29.xc6! bxc6 30.d8+ f7 31.g5+ ] 25.xf7+ xf7 26.d5 [ 26.xd6 also wins. xd6 27.xf4+ f6 ( 27...e7 28.e1+ e6 29.c7+ f6 30.d7+ f7 31.xb8+ ) 28.c7+ g6 29.xc6 xc6 30.xb8 xb6 31.e8+ Surprise! h6 32.e3+ ] 26...h6 [ 26...g6 27.g5+ g8 28.xg6 hxg6
29.e6 ] 27.g5+ g8 28.c4 1-0
2422 Hebden,Mark Turner,Matthew Golombek mem (1) [Eric Prié]
A46 2505 2491 03.09.2000
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 c5 4.c3 cxd4 5.cxd4 a5+ 6.c3 [ 6.d2 b6 7.c3 d5 White will hardly find time to move his queen's bishop again and protect b2. Indeed, after 8.e3 the reciprocal lock-up of the queen's bishops si g n i f i c a n t l y r e d u c e s h i s h o p e s f o r a n advantage in this symmetrical structure. Nevertheless, he may still try with the oddlo o kin g m o ve ( 7...xb2?? 8.b1 a3 9.b5 ) 8.b1!? c6 9.f4 d7 ( 9...e4 10.e3 a5 11.b3 b4 12.c2 is exactly what White wants. ) A) 10.h3 e4! 11.e3 a5 12.b3 b4 13.c1 c8 14.a3 ( 14.d3? e5! 15.xe5 a4 W inning t he queen .) 14...xc3+ 15.bxc3 e7 16.d3 xc3 17.xc3 xc3+ 18.xc3 xc3; B) 10.e3 h5! ( 10...e7 11.h3 ) 11.g5 h6 12.h4 g5 13.g3 ( 13.e5?! xe5 14.dxe5 g7 15.g3 f5 ) 13...xg3 14.hxg3 g7= ] 6...e4 7.d2 xd2 8.xd2 d5 9.e3 c6 10.d3 e7 [ 10...b4 11.b5+ ] 11.0-0 0-0 12.a3 d7! Reaching the critical position of this line. I have no idea why the World's strongest specialist of the c3 Torre changed his order of move (9.Rc1 as in the p re vi o u s g a m e se e m s l e ss ' t e st i n g ' a n d flexible) two years later since he could have transposed, here, with 13.Rac1. [ After 12...f5 Black allowed the manoeuvre 13.b4 in a note in the previous game ] 13.b4 d8 14.e4! [ 14.a4? xd4! ] [ 14.fc1 c8 15.d1 d6 16.a4 b6 17.a6 c7 18.c3 b8= ] 14...dxe4 15.xe4 [ 15.xe4!? f5 16.c2 f6 17.b3 c8 2375
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 18.fe1 e8 19.ad1 It is not clear that the gain of space b2-b4 presents an advantage whereas it weakens the pawn structure on the dark squares but after soon opening the c e n t r e wi t h e 3 - e 4 i n t e n d i n g d 4 -d 5 t h e placement of the white rooks on the central files is surely preferable. ] 15...e8 [ 15...b6 16.e3 ] 16.e3 b8 17.c5 c6 18.e4 c7 19.ac1 [ 19.e5 xe4 to avoid the complications resulting from ( 19...xc5 20.xc6 b6 ) 20.xe4 ( 20.xe4 d7 21.ac1 d8 ) 20...xc5 21.dxc5 is a small improvement on the game. ] [ 19.ad1 a5! ] 19...xc5 20.dxc5 [ 20.xc5 d6 21.e5 xe4 22.xe4 d7 ] 20...d7 21.fd1 f6 22.xc6 bxc6 23.e5 b7 24.d6 a5 25.d4 fc8 26.b1 axb4 27.xb4 a6 28.b6 xa3 29.xc6 d5 30.h3 [ 30.xd5? exd5 31.e7+ h8 32.xc8 c1# ] 30...h6! [ 30...xb6? 31.e7+ h8 32.xc8 xc8 33.d8# ] 31.xd5! exd5 32.e7+ h7 33.f4! The last bullet. [ 33.xc8 xc8 34.b5 c1+ 35.h2 c4 ] 33...f8! [ 33...xc5? 34.xh6+! gxh6 35.xf7+ h8 36.g6# ] 34.c6? [ 34.f5+ h8 35.f4 Draw by repetition would have been a f air outcome to this ga m e . Did W h it e se e it ? O r wa s h e s o desperate to win that he was ready to play with fire? ] 34...a6? [ 34...a4 Taking the f4 square. 35.f5+ h8 And an exchange down, there is no forced draw in sight. 36.xd5? f4 37.g3 a1+ 38.g2 c1 ] 35.f5+ g6 36.xg6 fxg6 37.xf8 a1+ 38.h2 a8 [ 38...e5+ 39.f4 e6 ( 39...a8 40.xa8 xf4+ 41.g1 c1+ 42.h2 f4+ 43.g3
f2+= ) 40.d8 f7 41.xd5 c6= ] 39.f4 [ 39.f7+ g7 40.xg7+ xg7 41.xd5 c8 ] 39...g7? [ 39...g7! 40.d6 e8 41.xd5 e5+! 42.f4 xd6 43.cxd6 d8 44.d7 g7 45.b6 f6 46.g4 e7 47.g3 b8 ] 40.c6? [ 40.d6 f6 ] [ 40.xd5! With two pawns for the exchange including the dangerous c-pawn still holding on would have been quite uncomfortable for B l a c k w i t h s u c h a n e x p o s e d k i n g . f8 41.e3 f5 42.c6! xd5 43.e7+ g8 ( 43...h8 44.f8+ h7 45.f7+ ) 44.e6+ g7 45.xd5 f6 46.c5 ] 40...f8 41.e3 f6 42.c7 d6+ 43.g1 xc7 44.xd5 ½-½
2423 Hebden,Mark Van der Stricht,Geert EUCup Gr3 Albufeira Algarve (1) [Eric Prié]
A46 2510 2347 01.10.1999
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.c3 c5 4.g5 cxd4 So this is the second question. If the direct attack on the b2 pawn by 4...Qb6 fails to 5. Qb 3 a s in th e p re vio u s ga m e, ca n B la c k combine it with the opening of the a5-e1 diagonal? 5.cxd4 [ 5.xf6?! xf6 6.cxd4 is another story since b4+! 7.c3 xc3+! 8.bxc3 b6 9.e4 b7 10.d3 0-0 with the plan ...d7-d6, ...e6-e5, ...Nb8-c6-a5, ... Rac8 is fine for Black because of the white backward cpawn. This has been said before but it is so important that it will be never repeated enough! ] 5...a5+ 6.c3! e4 7.d2 xd2 [ 7...xc3 8.xc3 b4 9.c1 xc3+ 10.xc3 c8 always hangs. c6 11.a3 ] 8.xd2 It is a matter of taste but if you like simple positions with nicely developed pieces I advise you to play this position which I find pleasant for W hite in spite of the opposing bishop pair. With reversed colours you can compare it with 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e3 (the 2376
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 Colle move order, to stay faithful to the name of the section...) 3...Bg4 4.c4 c6 (when as we have seen, it is nothing else than a normal Slav) 5.h3 Bh5 6.cxd5 Bxf3! the key move which Black should not miss, and which is also available in case of White exchanging on d5 one move earlier. 7.Qxf3 cxd5 which as far as my experience is concerned does no t promise anything for W hite for the simple reason that he has already committed his pawn to d4 and theref ore cannot inf lict a backward c-pawn on his opponent after 8. Bb5+ Nc6 9. Bxc6+ bxc6 for instance 10.Nc3 e6 11.Bd2 c5 getting rid of the weakness, which is equalizing, at least. b6?! [ 8...b5 is no better. 8...d5 is the only sensible move. See next game. 9.e4 b4 10.d1 a6 11.d3 xd3 12.xd3 a6 13.xa6 xa6 14.e3 e7 15.d2 0-0 16.hc1 1-0 Hebden,M-Dishman,S 4NCL 2000 1-0 (41) ] 9.c1 A subtlety of which the utility is far from obvious to me. [ 9.e4 A) 9...b4 10.c1 a6 11.a3 xc3 12.xc3 xc3+ 13.xc3 xf1 ( 13...e7 14.xa6 xa6 15.e2 hc8 16.hc1 is very uncomfortable for Black because of t h e p o o r p o s i t i o n o f h i s k n i g h t . d8 17.xc8+ xc8 18.xc8+ xc8 19.g5 wins a pawn. f6 ) 14.c8+! e7 15.xh8 xg2 16.g1 xf3 17.xg7 xe4 18.gg8+-; B) 9...a6 10.d3 b4 11.c1 xd3 12.xd3 B1) 12...xa2 13.0-0 a6 ( 13...xc3? 14.xc3 0-0 15.a1 ) 14.b5 0-0 15.e5; B2) 12...xc3+ 13.xc3 ( 13.xc3 ) 13...0-0 14.0-0 c6 15.a3 ] 9...b7 [ 9...a6 10.a3 e7 11.d5 Surrounding the black lady must have been what Black was afraid of as well as, possibly, White's idea but I do not clearly see how to get more than 9.e4. ] 10.e4 b4 11.a3 xc3 12.xc3 0-0 13.d3 a6 As a result Black has lost a tempo AND his dark-squared bishop. [ 13...f5 14.b4 Quite effective when the Black queen cannot 'slide' to h5 along the
5th. a4 15.e2 ] 14.0-0 xd3 15.xd3 f5 16.e5 a6 [ 16...d6 17.c4 a6 ( 17...b5 18.exf5 exf5 19.f3 d5 20.d6 d7 21.xd5+ ) 18.exf5 d5 ( 18...exf5 19.f3; 18...xf5 19.e4 ) 19.e3 xd3 20.xd3 exf5 21.xd5 ] 17.e3 b7 18.exf5 xf5 19.fc1 White has a massive advantage underlined by the opponent's concern to simply complete development. a6 20.b4! af8 [ 20...ff8 21.b5 b8 22.c7 d5 23.c8 ] [ 20...b5 21.f3 ff8 22.e4! Sorry, no exchange of rooks which would have allowed the poor Na6 to get out of jail via c7. ] 21.f3 [ 21.b5!? b8 ( 21...xf2 22.xf2 xf2 23.xf2+- ) 22.f3 d5 hitting b5 ( 22...d6 23.c7 d5 24.d3 xb5 25.xe6+ ) 23.a4 d6 24.c6 xc6 ( 24...d7? 25.e7+ ) 25.bxc6 c8 26.c7 ] 21...d5 [ 21...d6 22.e4! xe4 23.fxe4 f4 24.d7 e8 ( 24...d8 25.c8 xc8 26.xc8+ f7 27.f8+ g6 28.xf4 ) 25.b5 b8 26.c8 f7 27.xe8 xe8 28.xb8 ] 22.e4! d6 23.c4 d5 24.d3! Eyeing a6. b5 [ 24...g5 25.e3 xf3 26.xa6 f2+ ( 26...b5 27.1c2 Black has nothing.) 27.h1 b5 28.b7 ( 28.xa7?? xg2! 29.xg2 f1+ 30.xf1 xf1# )] 25.e3 xd3 26.xd3 b5 27.d5! b8 [ 27...e5 28.d1! Whoops f4 29.c3 c4 30.dd1 ] 28.dxe6 dxe6 29.d6 e8 30.c4 f7 31.e4 a6 Despair more than a 'Chigorinian' switchback. 32.c4 f6 33.c6 d5 34.e3! This one, after having disorganized the black forces. d2 [ 34...d3 35.g4+ f5 ( 35...f7 36.e5+ ) 36.e5+ g6 ( 36...f4 37.c4+ d4 38.xd4# ) 37.cxe6+ xe6 38.xe6+ f7 39.e3 ] 35.h4 [ 35.g4+ f7 36.f4+ g8 37.e5 ] 35...e7? [ 35...h5 Would have given White another 2377
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 g6 ( 7...exd4!? 8.xd4 g6 ) 8.dxe5 xe5 9.0-0 xf3+ 10.xf3 g7 11.f4 0-0 12.e1 ( 12.e5 dxe5 13.xe5 c6 14.e4= ) 12...c6 13.e5 dxe5 14.xe5 xd1 15.axd1 xf3 16.gxf3 c6 Rochev, Y (2395)-Hebden, M (2556)/Dun Laoghaire 2010 0-1(65) ] 4...bd7 5.h4 g6 6.xg6 hxg6 7.d5!? c6 [ 7...c5 8.e4 e5 9.b5+!? I had mentioned as "appropriate" ( 9.dxe6 xe6 10.e3 c6 11.f3 ) 9...cd7 10.f3 e7 ( 10...a6 11.xd7+ xd7 12.xf6 ) 11.e3 a6 12.e2 ] 8.e4 c8 9.e2 cxd5 10.exd5 a5 11.0-0 [ 11.d4!? xc3 12.xc3 ] 11...xc3 12.d2 xd5 13.f3 7b6 14.bxc3 c4 15.e2 c5 16.fe1!? Losing a tempo of some importance. [ 16.fb1! b5 ( 16...b6 17.a4 a6 18.d3 e6 19.xd5 xd5 20.xd5 exd5 21.e3 ) 17.xd5 ( 17.a4 xd2 18.xd2 xc3 19.xb5 xb5 20.axb5 xb5 21.xa7 ) 17...xd5 18.e3 a6 ( 18...e5 19.h3 ) 19.a4 e6 20.axb5 axb5 21.f3! xf3 ( 21...h5 22.a8+ e7 23.a7+ ) 22.gxf3 h5 23.a8+ e7 24.ba1 ] 16...e6 17.a4 e7 2424 A46 [ 17...b6 18.ab1 c7 ] Hebden,Mark 2468 18.ab1 db6 [ 18...b6 19.b5 ] Zhou,Yang Fan 2265 96th ch-GBR Torquay ENG (4) 30.07.2009 19.b5 c7 20.f4! The most tense again. [ 20.a5 xd2 21.xd2 c4 22.d4 d5 [Eric Prié] 23.h3 a6 24.xg7 f8 25.bb1 d2 26.a1 xf3+ 27.gxf3 d7 ] 1.d4 f6 2.f3 I could not believe my eyes when I saw the ELO rating of the legendary 20...a6 [ 20...0-0 21.a5 ] Leicesterian! Almost convinced of a finger slip ( a 4 i n s t e a d o f a 5 i n t h e 2 x 6 8 ) i n t h e 21.b4 f6 [ 21...a5 22.b5 f6 23.eb1 xc3 recording of the game, I went on to check the 24.e3 d5 25.g3 b4 26.xb6 xb6 FIDE site. But no... and then I thought t o 27.xb6 xb6 28.c3 ] myself: Too much 1...e5 (instead of 1...d5!) against the King pawn butterfly?! Too much 22.eb1 xc3 23.xc4? [ 23.4b3! d4 24.xb7 xb7 25.xc4 Indian stuff (instead of 1...d5!) against 1.d4!? e4 Enough to make any 'normal' human Or as W hite more certainly some Queen's calculator stop there... But 26.c7!! xf2+ Gambit (Instead of 2. Bf4!) mishaps? Yet, he ( 26...xf4 27.b8+ e7 28.xh8; must be the GM the most faithful to the d26...0-0 27.e3 ) 27.xf2 xf4+ 28.f3 pawn specials, and his word should have d4+ 29.f1 xh2 30.xb6 h1+ authority in this section!... d6 3.c3 f5 31.e2 e4+ 32.d2 d5+ 33.d3 4.g5 Especially in this opening as he plays xg2+ 34.c3+- ] both sides: [ 4.h4?! d7 5.e4 e5 6.f3 c6 7.e2 23...xc4 target and the g5 (g6) square but more important some breathing space for his king who will now face a strong mating attack in spite of the reduced material. ] 36.f4+ g6 [ 36...e5 37.g3 d8 38.g4+ d5 39.c2 e5 40.xe5 xe5 41.e2+ d6 42.d4+ c6 43.c2+ b5 44.xd8 ] 37.f5! c7? [ 37...e8 38.d6 A) 38...e7 39.g4+ h5 ( 39...f6 40.e4+ e5 41.xd2 ) 40.g5+! xh4 41.e4 a2 42.g3+ h3 43.h5#; B) 38...b8 39.g4+ h5 ( 39...h6 40.f5+! h5 41.g5# ) 40.xe8 xc6 41.xg7+ h6 42.xe6; C) 38...d1+ 39.h2 d8 ( 39...e7 40.c8 e8 41.xa7; 39...a8 40.g4+ f6 41.e4+ f7 42.g5+; 39...a8 40.g4+ f6 41.e4+ f7 42.g5+ g8 43.xe6; 39...g8 40.c8 e8 41.xa7 ) 40.f7 e8 41.e5+ h5 42.g4 g6 43.f7 h6 44.e4 ] 38.xe6+ f7 39.d4+ Re8 mate comes next move. 1-0
2378
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 23...xc4 24.xd6 xe2 25.xe2 a5 6.c2! ( 25...xa4 26.xb7 h4 27.xa6 d4 [ 6.bd2 xb2 7.c4 b4+ 8.fd2 xd4 28.b5+ d8 29.b8# ) 26.c7 c4 9.e3 d5 10.b1 xd2+ 11.xd2 0-0 ] 27.xb7 xc7 28.xc7 d6 29.g3! [ 6.c3 xb2 7.d2 b6 8.e4 d5 9.exd5 stopping first any natural activation of the exd5 10.b5+ c6 ] black rook via the h-file! 0-0 30.xa6 a8 [ 6.c1 c6 7.e3 h5 The problem with 31.b5+- ] having the queen on c1, in addition to her 24.xb7 c8 25.d5 lesser influence over the position from that [ 25.c6+ xc6 26.b8+ e7 27.xh8 square, also lies with the difficulty of playing xa4 28.c8 a1+ 29.f1 xf1+ a2-a3 because of the hole on b3. 8.g3 d5 30.xf1 d5 ] 9.c3 d7 10.a3 a5 11.c2 xg3 25...e5 12.hxg3 b3 ] [ 25...a5!? [ 6.b3 xb3 7.axb3 Of course is playable A) 26.a7 0-0 27.xd6 ( 27.b3 xb3 when free play and the opening of the a-file 28.cxb3 e5 29.e3 a5; 27.a2 c6! compensates the serious deterioration of 28.xa6 b4 ) 27...exd5 28.xf8; the structure. That strategy would be good B) 26.b6 0-0 27.f3 d5 ( 27...c4? as Black, with the same structure, but hard 28.c6 ) 28.xa6 c4 29.c6 xa6 to promote with the opposite colour... c6 30.xa6 c8 Two bishops and an 8.c3 b4! Followed by ...Ke7 and ...d6 or o u t s i d e p a s s e d p a wn b u t a n i n f e r i o r ...d5. The square in front of the doubled structure and chiefly equal material. ] pawns is difficult to regain and it shows why 26.xa6! 0-0 Black should take on d4 prior to playing 4... [ 26...exd5 27.b5+ d7 ( 27...f8 Qb6 which would then be strongly met by 5. 28.b8 ) 28.xd6 Threatening Rc7. d8 Qb3! and if 5...cxd4? 6.Qxb6 axb6 7.Nxd4 29.a5! ( 29.c7 xc7 30.xc7+ xc7 ) Nc6 8.Nb5 with a pleasant White advantage. 29...d4 ( 29...e8 30.xd7+! xd7 9.d2! e7! 10.e3 b6= Dawidow, J (2331)31.b6+ c8 32.b8# ) 30.a6 e8 Hracek, Z (2579) Czechia 2004 1/2(47) and 31.f1!+- ] also Knezevic (2505) - Velimirovic (2520) 27.b3 White is not worse but still has to win Praia da rocha zt78 0-1 (54) ] this game for a second time after his mistake 6...c6 7.e3 4 moves ago. d5 28.b5 d4 29.h3 c3 [ 7.c3 xd4 8.xd4 xd4 9.e3 c5! 30.e2 c6 31.d2 c5 32.f1 ( 9...b6 10.d3 d6 11.b5 d5 12.0-0 A n d a t l a s t , a t l a s t , B l a c k c r a c k s : b8? d7 Is also good. In all these cases, White 33.b4! xb4 34.xb4 xb4 35.h4 f6 has hardly enough for the pawn. )] 36.g3 c6 37.a6 d4 38.a7 b4 7...b4 39.c5 b8 40.a5 b5 41.a6 d4 42.a7 [ 7...h5 8.g3 d5 9.c3 xg3 ( 9...d7 f8 43.xf8+ 10.h4!? ) 10.hxg3 d7 11.a3 c8 1-0 12.c1! ( 12.d3 a5 13.b4 xb4! 14.axb4 xb4 15.c1 a4 16.b1 b3 ) 12...a5?! ( 12...d6 13.d3 In this case.) 2425 A46 13.b4! c4 14.xc4 xc4 15.e5 c7 16.xd7 xd7 17.a4! c6 ( 17...xb4+ Huang Qian 2313 18.d1 xc2 19.xb6+ axb6 20.xc2 Li Ruofan 2433 xa3 21.b1 ) 18.c5+ xc5 19.dxc5 ] zt 3.3 w Yongchuan CHN (4) 14.07.2003 8.c1 [Eric Prié] [ 8.b3! See the next game. ] 1.f3 f6 2.d4 e6 3.f4 c5 4.c3 cxd4 8...bd5 [ 8...a5! 9.c3 f5 With the queen on c1 Better than the artificial 4...Qa5?! 5.Nbd2! I t h is m a n o e u vre is n o w m u ch st ro n ge r . finished the last update with, and undoubtedly 10.h4 d3+ 11.xd3 xd3 12.d1 the critical idea of playing 4.c3 rather than e3 xd1+ 13.xd1 ( 13.xd1 b4 ) 13...a6 as in the Kosic-Berczes game. 5.cxd4 b6! 2379
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.a4 d5 covering b6 and soon followed by b5. ] 9.g3 e4 10.d3 [ 10.bd2 xg3 11.hxg3 d6 12.c4 d8 13.d3 f6 14.d2 d7= Glienke, M (2335)-Horvath, T (2410) EU-ChT Plovdiv 1983 0-1(42) ] 10...xg3 11.hxg3 d6 [ 11...b4 12.e2 ] 12.c3 xc3 13.bxc3 d7 14.b1 c7 15.b2 b6 16.c4 e7 17.c1 c8 18.e2 f5 19.d2 [ 19.g4? fxg4 20.g6+ hxg6 21.xh8+ f7 22.xc8 gxf3+ 23.gxf3 xc8 ] 19...e5?! Black was not quite ready to open the position with this move making his light squares fragile. [ 19...0-0!? 20.g4 h6 ] 20.g4 0-0 21.c5! h6? [ 21...bxc5 22.dxe5 dxe5 ( 22...d5! 23.xf5 xf5 24.gxf5 xf5 25.c2 g6 ) 23.f3 Now, how to defend e5? A) 23...e4? 24.c4+ h8 25.xh7+ xh7 26.h1+ g6 27.e5+; B) 23...f6 24.c4+! ( 24.g5 e6! 25.gxf6 e4 ) 24...h8 25.g5 e4 26.h4! Winning the Bf6. xb2 27.g6#; C) 23...d6 24.c4+! ( 24.b3+ h8 25.h4! e8 26.xf5 g6 ) 24...h8 25.h4 e8 ( 25...f6 26.g5 ) 26.xf5 e4 27.c2! e5 ( 27...b8 28.xd6 xd6 29.xh7+ xh7 30.h1+ g6 31.xe4+ f6 32.f4 b2+ 33.f3 ) 28.xe4 g6 ( 28...b8 29.xh7+! ) 29.b1 ] [ 21...dxc5! Natural and, as often, best. 22.dxe5 A) 22...h8 23.f3 fxg4 24.xh7+ g8 25.ch1 gxf3+ 26.gxf3 c4 27.g6; B) 22...b5 23.b3+ h8 ( 23...c4? 24.xc4+ bxc4 25.xc4 xc4+ 26.xc4 e6 27.c1 fxg4 28.a4 c7 29.c2 fc8 30.a3 ) 24.e6 e8 25.c2 c4 26.xf5 h6 27.f4; C) 22...c6! This queen will be quite useful on the kingside. 23.f3 g6 ] 22.b3+ h8 23.c6!+- e4? [ 23...e8 24.xf5 exd4 looked a bit more complicated with W hite having to find the very strong continuation 25.e6! xf5 ( 25...d8 26.xh6+ gxh6 27.xh6+ g8
28.h7# ) 26.gxf5 d3+ ( 26...xc6 27.xh6+ gxh6 28.xh6+ g8 29.g6+ f8 30.h1 b5+ 31.f3 ) 27.xd3 xc6 28.f3 ] 24.a6 e8 25.xc8 xc8 26.c7 f4 27.f3 exf3+ 28.gxf3 fxe3 29.xe3 b5+ 30.f2 f7 31.g5 a6 32.g6 f8 33.xe7 1-0
2426 Huebner,Robert Janssen,Ruud German League (10) [Richard Palliser]
A46 2605 2520 27.02.2010
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 b5 4.d3 a6 An ambitious attempt to cut across White's plans, but not one which I'm totally enamoured by. 5.g5!? Remarkably this logical move, developing quickly and helping e4 to come with greater effect, is a novelty, although I dare say that says more about the rarity of 4... Ba6 and even 4 Qd3. Previous practice had seen instead: [ a) 5.e4 b4 reveals Black's main idea and after 6.e3 xf1 7.xf1 d5 8.e5 fd7 9.a3 c5 10.axb4 cxd4 11.xd4 xb4 12.g2 b6 Black had sufficient counterplay in Prudnikova-Alexandrova, Kragujevac 2000. ] [ b) 5.g2 d5 6.g5 echoes our main game and after c5 7.0-0 b6!? ( 7...c4 8.d1 e7 would transpose directly to HubnerJanssen ) 8.xf6 gxf6 9.c3 d7 10.bd2 f5 11.e3 g7 12.b4! (otherwise Black would just enjoy quite a harmonious and active position, but now both his bishops find themselves a little blunted) c4 13.a4 White was slightly for choice in Archangelsky-Narciso Dublan, La Massana 2010. ] 5...c5 [ After 5...b4!? 6.d1 b7 7.g2 e7 8.0-0 0-0 both sides have lost time and I slightly prefer White here, at least so long as he doesn't challenge Black's a-pawn, but p r e f e r s d e v e l o p m e n t w i t h 9.bd2 . Still, Black is quite solid here and this might be a better choice than Janssen's more ambitious play. ] 2380
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 6.g2 c4 [ Black could have left the pawn on c5, but 6...d5 7.0-0 b6 hasn't turned out so well either for him, as we saw above in note 'b' to White's 5th move. ] 7.d1! Straight back to base to stay out of trouble and now Black's advanced queenside just looks a little brittle. Janssen solidifies his position by advancing his d-pawn, but unsurprisingly a4 and b3 aren't White's only breaks there's also e4. d5 8.0-0 e7 9.fd2 [ Hubner plays for the logical break. By analogy with the Torre, 9.e5 came into consideration, but after h6! 10.xf6 ( or 10.f4 g5!? 11.e3 c7 followed by ... Nbd7 with counterplay across the board) 10...gxf6 11.f3 b7 White's pawn breaks wouldn't have been so effective and Black is likely at least OK here. ] 9...bd7 [ A little meek. If Black wanted to justify his a m b i t i o u s p l a y, 9...c6!? was required. However, the critical 10.e4! ( 10.c3 h6 11.xf6 xf6 12.e4 is the sensible a l t e r n a t i v e) 10...xd4 ( Black might do better with 10...0-0 11.exd5 xd5 12.xe7 cxe7 13.e4 , although undoubtedly White has an edge here) 11.exd5 xd5 ( or 11...exd5 12.c3 when White regains his pawn on d5 or with b7?! 13.xc4 ) 12.xe7 leaves Black without an ideal r e c a p t u r e , a s xe7? 13.c3 costs him material down the central files. ] 10.e4 h6 11.f4 With e4 already in position, th ere was no re ason no t t o ma int ain t h e bishop-pair. Now White might well advance with 12 e5 and Janssen finds himself clarifying the position. dxe4 12.xe4 xe4 13.xe4 c8 14.g2 The bishop retreats before it was pushed by ...Nf6. Taking stock we can see that while Black's position is fairly solid and his knight will be well placed on d5, White has decent control of the position and might look to probe on either flank thanks to his extra central space and less-brittle structure. 0-0?! [ Had Janssen realised the coming danger in the centre, I suspect he would have accelerated his redeployment with 14...f6! 15.a3 b6 16.c3 b7 , the point being that 17.e3 ( 17.d5?! d8 ) 17...xg2
18.xg2 b7+ now avoids any danger with d5 and after 19.f3 xf3+ 20.xf3 d7! it's not even clear that Black is worse. ] 15.a3! Wisely preventing any activity with a timely ... b4 while preparing what follows. b6 [ Unfortunately for Black, it's too late to prevent the d5-breakthrough. He might have tried 15...f6 16.c3 b6 , but after 17.e3! b7 18.d5 c5 19.xc5 xc5 20.dxe6 cd8 21.e2 xg2 22.exf7+ xf7 23.xg2 White finds himself a pawn to the good. ] 16.c3! b7 17.d5 Highly-energetic play from one of Germany's three strongest-ever p l a ye r s . W h i t e i s r i g h t t o t r a n s f o r m t h e position before Black obtains a grip on the d5square and now the position opens to favour White's better coordinated forces. e5? [ White would have enjoyed a small but clear p u l l a f t e r 17...exd5 18.xd5 xd5 19.xd5 c5 , but Black had to try this. Allowing the pawn on to d6 is simply asking far too much of his position. ] 18.d6! g5 [ Easy to criticise, but what else was there? For instance, 18...f6 19.e3 c5 20.d5 xd5 21.xd5 fd8 22.ad1 leaves White in complete control, ] [ and 18...d8 19.e3 a6 is hardly all that much better for Black. ] 19.xb7 xb7 20.xg5 hxg5 21.d5 Splat! It's not so much the d-pawn per se which is going to cost Black, but rather the key square it controls: e7. g6 [ The extra exchange would have been quick to make its presence felt too after 21...fe8 22.e7+ xe7 23.dxe7 c7 24.d5 . ] 22.e7+ g7 23.xc8 xc8 24.g4 e4 A little desperate, but the check on f3 represents Black's only hope of counterplay. 25.xg5 f6 26.e3 e5 27.fd1 e8 28.h3! Buying control of some key squares and now Janssen will never manage to land a blow on the kingside, try as he might. f3+ 29.g2 d7 30.d5 g5 31.c5 g6 32.xb5 e6 33.d7 h8 34.h1 e3 35.xf3 1-0
2381
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 A46 11...a5 12.0-0 d5 13.e2 [ 13.b3 a4 No Bb5 check... ] 2237 13...d7! 14.c5 [ 14.b3 d8 15.c5 ( 15.d2 a5 22.06.2004 This is the problem. Not only has the 'primitive' ...Nb4 permitted the win of a pawn but is also a strong piece, ideally supported 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 c5 4.c3 cxd4 by a strong outside passed pawn, 5.cxd4 b6 6.xf6?! xb2 Naturally the considerably ham pering W hite 's vagu e critical line 7.xg7 impulse for activity.) 15...b6 16.xd7 xd7 [ 7.bd2 gxf6 8.e3 c6 9.e2 d5 10.0-0 17.b3 a5 ] e7 11.e4 0-0 12.exd5 exd5 13.b1 xa2 14.d3 b4 15.a1 b2 16.b1 14...b6 15.c1 0-0 I like this line: (With his c3 17.b3 c7 18.b1 f4 pair of bishops and queenside majority) "Black G a r c i a A l b a r r a ci n , F - G u e r ra B a s t id a , D has good compensation for his extra pawn!" 16.b1 fc8 17.fc1 xc5 18.xc5 c8 Almeria 1989 1-0(36) ] The classical way of converting an advantage. 7...xg7 8.bd2 c6 [ 18...e5 19.b3 ( 19.b5 xb5 20.xb4 [ 8...xd4? 9.b1 ] c6 ) 19...a5 Playing on the other 9.e3 favourable aspects of the Black game is [ 9.b1!? My experience tells me not to also decisive. ] believe in this pawn sacrifice, but I am ready to make some efforts if, at least, the white 19.xc8+ [ 19.e5 xe5 20.xc8+ xc8 21.dxe5 pieces can develop in a seemingly c5 22.f3 a5 23.g5 c2 24.xc2 aggressive way! xa2 10.e3 d5 11.d3 xc2 25.h5 a4 26.xf7+ g7 27.xe6 ( 11.b5!? d7 12.a4 ) 11...0-0 g6 28.f4 ( 28.xc8 xg5 29.xb7 A) 12.0-0 a3 13.xh7+ xh7 14.g5+ b4 ) 28...xe6 29.xe6 a3 30.c5 a2 g6 15.g4 f5 16.g3 f4 17.g4 31.b3 xe3 32.f2 c2-+ ] ( 17.exf4 xg3 ) 17...e7 18.df3 20.g5 f5 21.h5 f8 ( 18.xe6+ f6 ) 18...h8 19.exf4 e5 19...xc8 Protecting the Nb4. 20.e6+ h7 21.fxe5; [ 21...h6? 22.f7+! h8 23.xe6! xe6 B) 12.xh7+!? xh7 13.g5+ h6 24.xe6 xe6 25.xb4 b6 26.g3 ] 14.g4 e5 15.h4+ g6 16.g3 [ 21...a5 22.f7+ h8 23.d1 h6 24.h5 I may be following the wrong track and d8 ( 24...a4 25.g6! hxg5 26.h5+ h6 something might have escaped me earlier 27.xh6# )] so I do not want to analyse this piece h6 23.f7 c7! 24.g3? s a c r i f i c e t o o d e e p l y , b e f o r e h a v i n g 22.df3 directly sorted out with Mark Hebden, The difficult ending resulting from [ 24.xh6+ xh6 ( 24...g7 25.f7 c2 whom I shall see in 2 weeks' time, the 26.f1 Does not force the exchange of matter of the preliminary pawn sacrifice. ] queens this time.) 25.xb4 c1+ 26.e1 9...b4! 10.c1 xe1+ 27.xe1 was the only chance. ] [ 10.b1 c2+ 11.e2 xa2 12.d3 This cannot work b6! 13.c3 b7 14.xc2 24...c2! 25.xh6+ [ 25.f1 d3 ] c8+ 15.c4 xc2+ 16.xc2 d5 ] 25...g7! In the attempt of maximizing his 10...xa2 [ 10...xa2? 11.b1 a3 ( 11...c3 chances W hite must have overlooked this 26.xc2 xc2 27.f7 a5! 12.c4 b4 13.b3 c2+ 14.e2+- ) move. 12.c4 c3+ 13.fd2 f8 14.e5! The 'rocket' has launched... 28.3e5 a4 [ 28...b4 29.d1 b5 30.d8 a4 31.dc6 With a strong initiative intending Bc4. ] xc6 32.xc6 d7 33.e5 e8 34.d3 11.c4 b4 35.c1 ] [ 11.e4 0-0 12.d6 a6 ( 12...d5 29.d3 b5? And it could have made his way 13.b5 ) 13.e2 b5 14.0-0 d5 ] down all the way through! [ 11.e2 d5 12.0-0 ] 2427 Ignatenko,Vladimir Kliun,Bogdan 5th Kurass Mem (5) [Eric Prié]
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Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ 29...a3! 30.c1 b4 31.e5 a2 32.b3 c2 33.d1 a1 34.xa1 xa1 35.f1 b5! 36.e2 a6 37.d2 a3! 38.d3 b4 39.c5 c4 The b-pawn will cost another piece. ] 30.fe5 b4 31.d1? Some technical problems start to appear after [ 31.e8 a3 32.c1 a1 33.a4 a6 34.f3 c4 35.d2 Where the promotion for the piece will be more expensive. a2 36.h4 b3 37.xb3 xb3 38.dxb3 a3 39.xa2 xb3 40.c3 although most probably not compromising the outcome of the game. ] 31...b3 32.c5 xc5 33.dxc5 a3 0-1
2428 A46 Ipatov,Alexander 2630 Kramnik,Vladimir 2793 World Team Championship, Antalya (6.4) [Richard Palliser] 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 [ Another recent high-level Torre encounter was Andreikin-Tkachiev, European Team Championship, Warsaw 2013, where 3...c5 4.e3 cxd4 5.exd4 e7 6.d3 b6 7.bd2 b7 8.c3 d6 9.f1!? was a new idea for us from the leading Russian Torre expert. Just as White sometimes does in the Ruy Lopez, the idea is to bring the queen's knight to a decent kingside square before castling. A n d r e i k i n e v e n f o l l o w e d u p w i t h bd7 10.g3 c7 11.e2 h6 12.d2 0-0 13.0-0 fe8 14.ae1!? , evidently determined to show that he had gained a tempo with his idea. That, of course, depends on how well the king's rook stands on its post-castled square. White's set-up is u n d o u b t e d l y a m b i t i o u s a n d ye t I c a n ' t believe Black should be doing too badly, although f8 15.d1 e5 16.h4 exd4 ( 16...g6 looks more to the point when 17.c1 d8!? 18.xg6!? fxg6 19.xg6 a6 20.xe8 xe8 21.xh6 xf1 22.xf1 f6 23.xf8 xf8 is an unclear line pointed out by the silicon monster) 17.cxd4 a6 18.hf5 c6 19.f3 did see him beginning to come under
pressure in the game. ] 4.h4 d6 Unsurprisingly Kramnik chooses one of the more critical counters to the Torre. 5.e3 [ Hardly terrible, although many prefer to gain more space in the centre with 5.bd2 g5 6.g3 h5 7.c3 d7 8.e4 . ] 5...g5 [ Kramnik is happy to go straight ahead with hunting down the Torre bishop, but if Black wishes to avoid the idea mentioned in the notes to White's 7th move below, he might begin with 5...bd7 . ] 6.g3 h5 7.d3 [ White can force Black to exchange on g3 with 7.fd2!? which is the critical move in my view. Another recent game continued xg3 8.hxg3 g7 9.c3 a6 10.a4 e7 11.e4 b6 12.c4 b7 13.bd2 d7 14.e3 with a model set-up for White, if also a far f rom terrible situation for Black in Pohjala-Mertanen, Finnish League 2013. ] 7...g7 8.bd2 e7 9.c3 d7 10.c2 a6 [ This is often a useful move in this structure. Black hints at ...b5 and also covers that square, making it possible to go ...c5 without fearing Bb5+ in return. An alternative is 10...b6 11.0-0-0 d7 , which looks slightly le ss logical to my e ye, but wa s quite approved of by Eric - see his notes to Mueller-Wahls, Dudweiler 1996. ] 11.0-0-0 [ White's king won't be entirely happy here. I dare say that the rising Turkish star didn't like the look of 11.0-0?! xg3 12.hxg3 h5! ,] [ so White might have tried to keep his king i n t h e c e n t r e f o r n o w w i t h , s a y , 11.a4 . However, even here I'm not a huge fan of his set-up and would prefer the white queen on the d1-h5 diagonal and the king's knight ideally on c4, as we saw above. ] 11...b5 12.b3 b8 [ A new move, rightly not hurrying to exchange. Black had previously done so, but 12...xg3 13.hxg3 c5?! 14.dxc5! xc5 15.xc5 dxc5 16.e4 was a touch awkward for him in Stolte-Adamski, German League 2000. ] 13.b1 0-0! 14.fd2 [ Black's king is quite safe on the kingside as 2383
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14.h4 xg3 15.fxg3 g4 16.fd2 f6 would keep lines closed in that sector. ] 14...f5 15.f3 xg3 16.hxg3 c5 Kramnik must have been delighted with how the opening had panned out. Black enjoys the two bishops, greater space and possibilities right across the board. White is at least pretty solid, but that's about all that one can say about Ipatov's position. 17.a5 b6 18.f4? [ Ipatov hits on a strategy of blocking the position. One can understand his aims, but essentially it just lead to endless torture and a slow death. As such, W hite might have tried to break out with 18.e4 when c4 might have worried the former World Junior Champion, but then W hite can even consider 19.xc4! bxc4 20.dxc4 , fighting hard for counterplay and to avoid being squashed. ] 18...d5 19.b4 c4 20.e2 f6 21.df1 d7 22.d1 g4! Masterly judgement from Kramnik. W hite's knight is marooned on a5 and he lacks an effective pawn break. Black, on the other hand, enjoys plenty of space to regroup within and can aim to break not just with ...h5h4, but even ...e6-e5. 23.b2 f7 24.c1 f8 25.c2 h7 26.h2 e8 27.fh1 d7 28.b2 h5 29.c1 White has managed to halt any breakthrough on the kingside and Kramnik's next must have come as a rude awakening to the Turkish no.1's hopes of holding a draw. e5!! Now White can hardly allow the e-file to open, so he must accept the piece. 30.dxe5 xe5 31.fxe5 xe5 32.f1 g7 As Malcolm Pein pointed out in 'CHESS', "White's pieces have no sensible moves his rooks and Na5 are hopelessly placed." Even my materialistic engine gives Black an advantage of about half a pawn, but in reality I feel it's much greater. Defending such a position as White is extremely hard, if indeed possible. 33.a3?! [ He didn't have to give away c3, but after 33.d2 e6 34.d1 g6 I'm not sure what White does while Black simply goes ...Bf6, ... Bg5 and ...Rhe7. ] 33...xc3+ 34.xc3 xc3 35.d1 e6 T h e q u e e n s m ig h t b e o f f t h e b o a r d , b u t Black's dark-squared bishop rules the roost. Mo re o v e r , ju s t c o n t i n u e t o c o m p a re t h e difference in coordination between the two
forces. 36.c2 g6 37.d2 [ Giving up a further pawn, but 37.d1 d4! would have been equally grim for Ipatov. ] 37...xe3 38.d1 f6 39.hh1 d4 The pawns are coming and the game is pretty much up. 40.de1 he7 41.xe3 xe3 T h e r e ' s si m p l y n o d e f e n c e t o t h e b r u t a l concept of ...d3 followed by ...c3. 0-1
2429 Izeta Txabarri,Felix Vehi Bach,Victor Manuel op San Sebastian [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2505 2390 1993
A HEAVYWEIGHT SACRIFICE. When White decides that a transposition into the Trompowsky is not his cup of tea, and graciously declines Black's kind offer, attacking opportunities are still rife! From a se e m in gly cle a r sky, W h it e 's a t t a c k is a lightening bolt into the heart of Black's kingside. This game is for all those who love a good old fashioned, bloodthirsty king hunt. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 4.h4 It is, of course, a perfectly viable option for W h ite to sim p ly ret rea t th e b isho p wh e n challenged. The resulting positions retain a d i s t i n c t l y T o r r e A t t a c k f l a v o u r . b6 The queenside fianchetto is one of the most popular responses to the Torre attack. Black's f irst two moves su ggest a nimzo/que en s indian is on the cards and Black is happy to c o n t i n u e i n t h e s a m e v e i n . 5.e3 W hite continues unabashed with his easy development. b7 6.d3 c5 It will be hard for Black to organise his counterplay without this thrust. At any rate, Black has to undertake some central action in order to halt the W hite Plan of an eventual e3-e4. 7.0-0 cxd4 8.exd4 e7 9.xf6 Again, White ma ke s t h is t ra d e t o pre ven t Nd 5 / h 5 xf6 10.c3 With his kin g safely on the kingside, White has no reservations about cementing his centre against attack. If white had castled queenside, however, such a pawn advance would only have weakened the white king position and created a target for the Black attack. 0-0 11.bd2 d6 12.e1 As we have 2384
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 seen before, under certain circumstances the black e-pawn makes a juicy sacrificial target, so this is a natural square for the rook. d7 13.e4 Back you dog!. A key defender of the Black king is driven away. e7 14.c2 White cleverly anticipates the Black plan and prepares a lethal attack. f6 Black offers, quite naturally, to exchange one of W hites a g gr e s s i ve l y p o s t e d p i e c e s, b u t t h i s , i n conjunction with his next move, is definitely a mistake. [ Instead 14...e8 15.d3 f8 would be a more prudent defensive idea, when White could try to increase the pressure with a rook swing to the kingside, via e3. ] 15.xf6+ White is seemingly happy to fall in w i t h B l a c k ' s p l a n s . xf6 16.d3 W ith a threat. g6? In contrast to some of the previous examples, Black has played what ap p e a r t o b e n a t u ra l d e velo p in g m o ve s. Indeed, it is hard to see without hindsight that Black is actually in serious trouble. [ Black had to cross his fingers and try 16...e8 ] 17.xe6!! Whallop! s a little unfair that Black, through playing a series of seemingly "normal" moves, is now completely lost. fxe6 [ Exchanging on f3 first simply opens another avenue for the White attack after 17...xf3 18.gxf3 fxe6 Perhaps Black should refrain from this capture, but then he is simply a pa wn d o wn . 19.xg6+ The White queen's a r r i v a l i s v e r y b a d n e ws f o r t h e B l a c k monarch. g7 20.h7+ f7 21.g6+ f6 22.h5! After a series of forcing moves, White introduces the killer threat of Qg6+, much like the main game. h8 23.h1! e5 Black is defenceless against White's plan. 24.g1 It is this possibility that makes exchanging on f3 dubious for Black. The Black king will be pursued mercilessly to his doom. According to Fritz it's mate in 6 at most! ] 18.xg6+ Although White now doesn't have an open g-f ile to attack along, somewhat surprisingly the Bb7 becomes a tasty side dish to the main king hunt. g7 forced 19.h7+ f7 20.g6+ f6 Poor Black has absolutely no c ho ice wit h a ny of h is mo ve s. 21.h5! The key move. Qg6+ becomes a crushing threat, so Black's hand is again forced. h8
22.xh6+ White gathers all the extra material he can, just in case he is unable to force a speedy victory. This is a good policy, as it ultimately gives White a material advantage, to go with his crushing attack. e7 23.h7+ At last W hite sets his sights on the Black queen's bishop. f6 24.xb7 e7 25.e4 Thanks to his clever play, White has 3 pawns for the exchange, but more to the point, has the crushing threats of Qg6+ and Qh4+. Black, understandably, had seen enough. 1-0
2430 Jenni,Florian Forster,Richard ch-SUI Lenzerheide SUI (5) [Eric Prié]
A46 2542 2438 12.07.2010
1.f3 f6 2.d4 d6 3.c3 It has been quite a long time since I have done an update on this, indeed. f5 [ 3...bd7 At this stage with the intention of transposing into the Philidor (see some further tips about this in games 3 to 5) has been a big concern of mine. It has regularly made me prefer 3.Bf4 (or 3. Nf3 if I played Bf4 on the second move as in game 4) 3... Nbd7 4.h3 until I discovered that this little tempo could be exploited by Black under certain conditions after 4...g6... See October! ] 4.g5! bd7 [ 4...h6 5.xf6 exf6 6.e4 ] 5.h4 g6 6.xg6 hxg6 7.e4 c6!? I have already treated 7...e6 and 7... e5. This is a new move, with the obvious intention ... Qa5 while dissuading Bc4 because of ...b5-b4. I doubt it is because of this that it enjoys such flattering statistics in the database. Well, at least it keeps White guessing... 8.d2 [ 8.e3 a5 9.f3 e5 10.d2 e7 11.0-0-0 exd4 12.xd4 b5 13.b1 b4 14.e2 b6 15.c1 Hebden, M (2560)Hanley, C (2322) Halifax 2003 0-1(58) ] [ It is interesting for White to castle kingside but this is not easy to realize. 8.e2 a5 9.d2 b6 ] [ 8.h4 e5 9.e2 b6 ] [ Preventing the disturbing queen's sortie 2385
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 does not work either: 8.b4 e5 9.b1 c7 10.e2 d5! ] [ 8.f3!? My suggestion. a5 9.h4 ( 9.d2 b6 ) 9...d5 ( 9...e5 10.0-0-0 b5 11.d5 This is the idea: to fully use the rook on the d-file. b4 12.dxc6 bxc3 13.cxd7+ xd7 14.c4!? f6 15.e3 cxb2+ 16.b1 ) 10.exd5 xd5 11.d2 ( 11.c4 e6 12.0-0 e7; 11.d3 xc3 12.d2 e5; 11.g3!? ) 11...xc3 ( 11...b4 12.c1 e6 13.a3 d5 14.e4 ) 12.xc3 f5 13.e2!? ( 13.xf5 gxf5 14.g3 ) 13...xc2 14.d5 ] 8...e6 9.0-0-0 I prefer [ 9.e2 e7 10.0-0 b5 11.a3 ] 9...e7 10.h4 a5 11.b1 b5 12.d3 b8 13.f3 [ 13.he1 finishing mobilization looks better. The only problem is that it does not really threaten e4-e5. For instance A) 13...0-0? 14.d5 d8 15.xe7+ xe7 16.e5; B) 13...b4 14.e2 c5 ( 14...e5 15.f4 ) 15.dxc5 xc5 16.d4; C) 13...e5! However helps better to understand W hite's previous move. 14.e2 xd2 15.xd2 g4; D) 13...a6 14.e5 b4 15.e4 d5 16.xe7? c3+ 17.c1 xa2+ 18.b1 c3+ ] 13...c5 14.dxc5 dxc5! [ 14...xc5 15.g4! ( 15.f1 b4 16.e2 fxe4! 17.fxe4 xe4 18.d4 xg5 19.xg7 e5 ) 15...b4 16.e2 a4 17.a1 e5 18.d4! 0-0 19.e3 ] 15.xf6 [ 15.f4 e5 16.g3 c4 17.e2 b4 18.e1 ] 15...xf6!? Another courageous decision, although objectively dubious. [ 15...xf6 16.e5 b4 ] 16.e2 [ 16.xb5 0-0 17.a4 a6 18.xd7 xc3 ] [ 16.xb5 xb5 17.xb5 xb5 ] 16...0-0 17.xd7? Falling into the trap. [ 17.xb5! as now d7 really hangs! xd2 ( 17...xb5 18.xa5 xa5 19.xd7 ) 18.xd2 b6 19.f4! e5 ( 19...a6 20.e5 ) 20.xa7 a4 21.b5 exf4 22.c4 ] 17...fd8 18.c6 xc3 19.bxc3 xc3 20.xd8+ [ 20.d7 b4+ 21.c1 c4! The point of a
deep (!?) calculation af ter which W hite cannot avoid perpetual: 22.h5 ( 22.hd1 c3 23.xd8+ h7 24.xc3 xc3 25.xb8 a3+ 26.b1 b4+ 27.c1 a3+ 28.d2? d6+ ) 22...c3? ( 22...xd7 23.xd7 c3 24.f1 b2+ 25.d1 b1+ 26.e2 xc2+ 27.e1 g5 28.h6 gxh6 29.xh6 g7 30.h1 b1+ 31.f2 c2 32.d4+ g6 33.h6+ xh6 34.f6+ h7 35.xf7+ h6= ) 23.xd8+ xd8 24.xb5 d6 ( 24...a3+ 25.b1 d6 26.a1 ) 25.e5! ( 25.hxg6?? f4+ 26.b1 b8 )] 20...xd8 21.xb5 [ 21.d1 b4+ 22.c1 a3+ 23.b1 b4+ ] 21...d4 22.e8+? The shock of the last move that White must have overlooked from the start (otherwise he would have chosen 17. Nxb5!) allied to time trouble, probably due to all those calculations. [ 22.a3! xa3 23.c4 c3 24.b3 b4 25.a6 c4 26.c8+ h7 27.d1 ( 27.h5? xb3+ 28.cxb3 xb3+ 29.c1 c3! 30.hxg6+ xg6 ) 27...xb3+ 28.cxb3 xb3+ 29.c1 c3+ ( 29...c3? 30.d8 ) 30.b1 b3+= ] 22...h7 [ 22...h7 23.f1 b4+ 24.c1 e3+ 25.d1 b1# ] 0-1
2431 Kagan,Naum Jones,LR Oceana zt Warwick Fiji FIJ (9) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2250 11.05.2002
Torre Attack: One of the most annoying retorts to the Torre/Colle systems is when the Black knight sinks his teeth into e4. Here we see White get around this problem. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 4.h4 b6 5.e3 b7 6.d3 e7 7.bd2 c5 8.c3 0-0 9.0-0 d5 Falling in with White's plans to infiltrate on e5. This is a little too compliant for my liking, although Black's position remains very solid. 10.e5 fd7 11.xe7 xe7 12.f4 White's attacking chances on the kingside are helped by the fact that Black has already 2386
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 we ak en ed h is light squ ares wit h h6 . c6 B) 13.h2 xb2 14.b3 d3 15.ad1 13.df3 f6 14.g4 xe5 15.xe5 e4 ( 15.c2? b4 ) 15...h5 16.g3 f6 Normally, this annoying move is a reasonable ( 16...c7 17.b5 xc3 18.xh5 ) try for equality, but White finds a way around 17.b1 e5 18.dxe5 ( 18.xd3 e4 ) Black's light squared blockade. 16.f3 h4 18...c5 ] 17.xe4 dxe4 18.g3 Preparing to break 10...b5 o p e n lin e s o n t h e kin gsid e wit h g5 . cxd4 [ 10...b4 11.c3 d3 12.h2 xb2 19.cxd4 ac8 20.g5 hxg5 21.xg5 c7 13.b3 ( 13.c2 a3; 13.b1 a4 ) 22.h5 The Black queen must be driven from 13...d3 14.c2 The difference of the extraher defensive duties on the kingside. f6 tempo. ] 23.g5 After long and accurate defence, [ 10...d5!? With the idea ... Bd6. ] Black finally errs. h6?? 11.c3 c7? [ 23...fc8 with counterplay along the c-file [ 11...d5! 12.h2 ac7 13.a4 a6 was much better. ] With a plan that is difficult to thwart this time. 24.g4 Winning the queen, as if she runs Fo r in sta n ce 14.b3 d6 15.a2 d7 away White whips out the lethal Nf6. 16.fa1 c6 where I would rather be 1-0 Black... ] 12.a4 cd5 [ 12...b4 13.c4 ] 2432 A46 [ 12...fd5 13.xc7 xc7 14.axb5 xb5 15.a4 ] Kamsky,Gata 2705 a6 14.b3 b6 15.a2! Topalov,Veselin 2772 13.h2 MTel Sofia BUL (9) 19.05.2007 T h e B u l ga ri a n h a s m is se d t h e b u s a f t e r probably having overlooked this strong and [Eric Prié] quite uncommon idea, after which I am not so 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.f4 c5 4.e3 cxd4 keen on commenting his defensive effort... d6 I m m e d i a t e l y " W i t h o u t g i v i n g W h i t e t h e 16.fa1 ab8 17.axb5 axb5 18.a6 d8 opportunity to recapture 'the good way' (i.e. 19.a7 c7 20.e1 fd5 21.d3 d7 towards the centre if the idea of playing c2-c3 22.b4 xb4 23.xb4 c6 24.c4?! fc8! occurs to him on the next move)" as I wrote Black is back! [ 24...bxc4? 25.xc4 xc4 26.xc4 d5 just 2 m onth s a go.. . Th anks so much Mr 27.e3! fe8 ( 27...xe3 28.fxe3 g5 World n~/= 2 for confirming my views! 5.exd4 29.xd6 xe3+ 30.f1 xd4 31.xb8 b6 6.bd2 e7 7.h3 0-0! 8.d3 a6!? xb8 32.a8+- ) 28.xd5 exd5 29.xe7 [ 8...b7 Is more critical on principle with the xe7 30.xd6 eb7 31.xb8 xb8 same plan of playing against the structure 32.b4! ] as in the game (and Prié-Philippe some time ago from a 2...e6 Tromp!) 9.e2 c6 25.cxb5 c2! [ 25...xb5 26.c4 d5 27.xc6 xc6 10.c3 a6 11.0-0-0 b5 12.b1 but maybe 28.a8+ f8 29.c4 ( 29.e4 bb6 ) W hite can develop something on the 29...b6! ] kingside in this case, ready to meet ...b5-b4 with c3-c4. Then the plan of ...d7-d5 shutting 26.f1 d5 [ 26...xb5? 27.xc7 ] in the bishop, and playing ...Na5-c4 is very 27.d2 b3 28.e3 f8 29.g3 xe3 committal for Black. ] 30.xe3 xb5 31.f3 f6 32.1a6 b6 9.xa6 33.a1 xb2 34.f4 [ 9.c4 d5 now, willingly. ] [ 34.h5 b7 ] 9...xa6 10.0-0 34...d5 35.e3 c2 36.h2 g6 37.g3 h5 [ 10.a4 b4!? 11.0-0 c8 12.c3 d3 A) 13.g5 c7 ( 13...xb2 14.b3 38.a8 bc6 39.1a6 This motive deserves d3 15.b5 xc3 16.xf6 xf6 a diagram! f7 40.f4 c3 41.e2 c2 17.e4 a6 18.b1 Winning the 42.e1 xa8 43.xa8 d7 44.b1! c8 [ 44...xf2+ 45.g1 xf4 ( 45...f3 exchange. ) 14.b3 d5 15.b5 f4; 2387
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 46.b4 f7 47.d6 ) 46.gxf4 c6 47.b8 And Black has to take the perpetual check. ] 45.xc8 xc8 46.g6! Winning the pawn back. c4 47.e3 e5 48.dxe5 d4 49.e6! dxe3 Surely disappointed Topalov was not in the mood to test the Sofia rules to the limit by continuing with something like [ 49...xe6 50.xd4 h4 51.d3 ] 50.f7+ h7 51.xh5+ ½-½
2434 Karaulov,Dmitry Mihalichenko,Vladimir Kaissa Open Kharkov UKR (5) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2230 25.01.2003
Torre Attack: Black demonstrates another strong plan for dealing with the dreaded Torre. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 4.h4 g5 A ve r y d i r e c t a p p r o a c h , wh i c h b a g s t h e important bishop pair early. 5.g3 e4 6.bd2 xg3 7.hxg3 g7 8.e3 d6 9.c3 2433 A46 c6 10.c2 Chances are finely balanced as Karadeniz,Emre 2307 White has a very solid structure and possible Izoria,Zviad 2556 play on the h-file in return for the bishop pair. 3rd IECC Batumi GEO (1) 12.06.2002 d7 11.d3 e7 12.e4 h5 The beginning of a strong plan to eradicate the weakness on [Aaron Summerscale] h6. 13.0-0-0 0-0-0 14.b1 g4 15.g1 [ 15.h4 is possible, but there is a danger Torre Attack: Plans with an early g5 against that the knight would be out of play for the the Torre continues to be the the choice of rest of the game. ] many strong players. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 16.e2 hxg3 17.xg3 g5 3.g5 h6 4.h4 d6 When Black wants to 15...h4 play for the win, I feel that this is one of his With his main cause of concern eradicated, best choices against the Torre. 5.bd2 g5 Black begins to assume the initiative. 18.c4 19.e3 df8 20.xh8?! 6.g3 h5 7.e3 g7 Black quickly develops e7 his kingside pieces, but is in no hurry to castle. A poor decision. Giving up the h-file plays right 8.d3 d7 9.h4 g4 Naturally, there is no into Black's hands. [ 20.b3 was better, when: f5 21.xh8 mileage in allowing White to open the h-file. xh8 22.exf5 exf5 23.d5 leaves White 10.h2 f5 11.c3 0-0 12.hf1 e5 well in the game. ] This thematic advance threatens to overrun W h i t e o n t h e k i n g s i d e w i t h f 4 . 13.f4 20...xh8 21.a3 h2 22.ef1? The decisive So he decides to get his advance in first, but mistake. W hite was just plain wrong if he his pieces look very awkward after this. e7 thought he could trap the Black rook. xg2 23.e5 c6 14.f2 df6 15.fxe5 xg3 [ 23...dxe5 24.e4 g1 25.e2 [ 15...dxe5!? ] was White's idea, although it is easily dealt 16.xg3 dxe5 17.dxe5? After this, the with. ] White position quickly goes downhill. [ 17.b3+ h8 18.ae1 While certainly no 24.exd6 cxd6 25.e4 xe4 26.xe4 f4 picnic, this would at least offer some hope Covering d6 and resuming control. Although slightly premature, White resigned in disgust. of resistance. ] 17...xe5 18.c4 e4+ The opening of the 0-1 f -f ile is th e killer blow. 19.xe4 fxe4+ 20.g1 g3 White will sustain heavy 2435 A46 material losses trying to avert mate. Kiik,Kalle 2422 0-1 Agopov,Mikael 2431 ShakkiNet International, Helsinki (3.4) 11.6.14 [Richard Palliser] 1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.e4 h6 4.xf6 xf6 5.f3 Long condemned, this approach 2388
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 recently received a recommendation in the latest Trompowsky repertoire for White, Cyrus Lakdawala's 'The Trompowsky Attack: Move by Move'. d6 [ Black's main move, but a French player m i g h t w e l l p r e f e r 5...d5 , as we last considered in Zherebukh-Alsina Leal, Moscow 2012. I should point out that here rather than closing the centre with 6.e5 , ( Lakdawala prefers 6.bd2 . )] 6.c3 a6 [ It's rare to see this move quite so early, but if Black wants to set up as Agopov does he can play his next three moves in any order. W h a t h e m o s t ce r t a in l y m u s t n o t d o i s 6...d7 7.d2 c6?! 8.0-0-0 e5 9.dxe5 dxe5? , which walks slap, bang into White's m a i n p o i n t : 10.b5! - see RozentalisNithander, Gothenburg 2012, in the Archive. ] 7.d2 d7 8.0-0-0 d8 [ This feels very sensible, moving the queen out of harm's way and hoping to activate her on the queenside, but 8...e7 is also quite viable - see Muse-Bischoff, Internet (blitz) 2005, with Eric's notes in the Archive. ] 9.h4 [ Juan Bellon Lopez's latest preference. The veteran Spanish GM has long been one of the few grandmasters not to have abandoned this line, but his earlier 9.g4 g6 10.h4 g7 11.e5 d5 12.e2 c5 13.c3 b5 wa s n ' t e s p e c ia lly c o n vin ci n g in B e l lo n Lopez-Laznicka, Gibraltar 2012, as we've seen before. ] 9...b5 [ Lakdawala's main move, but as I've covered a bit before here on ChessPub, I prefer 9...c5 , as was seen in a recent mini-match between Bellon Lopez and Stellan Brynell: A) instead, 10.g4!? would be Lakdawalalike and might even transpose into our n e x t n o t e a f t e r b5 , ( although in Radovanovic-Arsovic, Cetinje 2013, Black borrowed a different Sicilian idea with 10...e7 11.h3 cxd4 12.xd4 g5!? ); B) 10.dxc5 xc5 11.f4!? ( the latest try as we've noted before, 11.e5 d5 12.d4 c7 13.f4 b5 14.g4 was admirably direct and consistent from the white player, but after b7 15.h3 b4 16.ce2 e4
17.e1 c5 18.b1 b6 Black enjoyed decent counterplay in Ipatov-Swiercz, Moscow 2012,; while 11.a3 looked a little slow in Bellon Lopez-Brynell, Norrkoping 2014, where c7 12.b1 d7 13.h3 e7 14.g4 c8 15.d4 a4 se e m e d so lid e n o u g h f o r t h e s e c o n d player, W hite preferring not to have to trade knights and then rooks down the cfile ) 11...d7 12.e5 d5 13.b1 b5 14.d4 (once again the position is rather French-like, but at least this time for White the enemy c-pawn has gone) b4 15.ce2 e7 16.g4!? was typically bold from the Spaniard in Bellon Lopez-Brynell, Halmstad 2014. He eventually prevailed, but I have my doubts about this course of action, whether Black goes a5 ( or 16...xh4!? 17.h2 e7 18.f4 c7 19.f5 c8 . )] 10.h5 Seizing space, but whether White should be playing so positionally is a moot point: [ a) 10.d5 e5 11.g3 e7 12.b1 c5 13.e3 b4 14.e2 a5 was rather too easy f o r B l a c k i n A r vin d - Xi o n g, R ic h a rd s o n 2013. ] [ b) 10.g4!? is Lakdawala's recommendation. After c5 11.h3 cxd4 ( the strong American IM's main game, FinegoldBenjamin, Saint Louis 2010, features 11...a5 and after 12.b1 b7 13.d5 White was for choice) 12.xd4 Lakdawala writes that "the position looks like a very favourable Najdorf for White". I can't deny that his lead in development looks scary and there are sacrifices looming on d5, e6 and f5. H o we ve r , S i c i l i a n p l a ye r s a r e u s e d t o defending such positions and A) At first I wanted to go 12...b6 13.f4 b7 , but after 14.g5 White is pretty quick: f o r in st an ce , hxg5 15.hxg5 b4 ( or 15...g6 16.xe6! xh1 17.xh1 fxe6 18.xe6 e7 19.f5 with full compen satio n) 16.g6 xh3 17.xh3 bxc3 18.gxf7+ xf7 19.xc3 with something of a mess.; B) 12...c5 looks quite sensible. ] 10...b7 11.d5 e5 12.g3?! [ A new move and one which prepares to unfurl the bishop on an unopposed diagonal, 2389
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 but it fails to create any problems for Black. P re vio u s ly, 12.e2! c6 13.dxc6 xc6 14.g3 was Cech-Rupprecht, German League 2007, where W hite had definite chances for an edge, but Black may be just about OK after f6 15.d3 e7 16.f5 0-0 . ] 12...e7 13.h3 b4 Highly logical play from the Finnish IM. Black seizes space, both to discomfort the white king and to activate his light-squared bishop. The f5-square might be potentially tender, but the second player just seems to have an easy game from what I can see. 14.a4 [ White soon runs into trouble in the game, but so would he after 14.e2 a5 15.b1 c6! , blowing open the centre. ] 14...a5 15.b1 0-0 16.e3 [ I'm not a fan of White's position in any case, but suspect he had to try and obtain some c o u n t e rp l a y wit h 16.c3!? , and if f6 17.f5 c8 18.xc8 xc8 19.e2 g4 20.de1 . ] 16...a6 17.f1 Positionally desirable and fairly essential with the knight in some danger on a4, but now Agopov will be able to carry out a strong pawn break. xf1 18.hxf1? [ I don't really buy 18.dxf1 f5 19.d2 f6 20.exf5 d7 21.b3 for White, but it seems this had to be tried. ] 18...f5 19.d2 e8! Even here the knight on the rim is a hindrance. A pawn is falling on the kingside. 20.exf5 [ 20.h1 would have accepted his earlier mistake, but not kept the material level on account of f6 21.b3 fxe4 22.xe4 xe4 23.xe4 xf2 . ] 20...xh5 21.f3 xf5 22.e2 g5 23.e4 Kiik is renowned in the Finnish League for being extremely hard to beat, but even he was going to struggle to save this position, down a pawn and with one knight still rather offside. f6 24.xg5 xg5 25.c4 f7! Good judgement from Agopov, who elects to allow White some queenside gains in return for crashing through on the kingside. 26.c6 af8 27.b5 h5 28.xa5 xg3 29.fe1 f4 30.c3 bxc3 31.xc3 xf3 White has done well to get his knight back into play, but that has come at the cost of a second pawn. 32.b5 e4 33.a4 The a-pawn is White's only
trump, but unfortunately for Kiik Black too has a rather big passed pawn, not to mention some rather active pieces. e3 34.a5 e4 35.xe4 xe4+ 36.a2 f4 Not the only approach, but in connection with Black's next two moves, a very sensible, practical course. 37.d3 e2 38.c3 a4+ 39.xa4 xa4+ 40.a3 e4 That e-pawn is just too far advanced for White to have any real hopes of saving the game. 41.b3 f3+ 42.c2 c4+ 43.d2 xa3 44.bxa3 c5 45.xe2 xd5+ 46.c3 xa5 47.b4 a7 48.a4 h5 49.a5 h7 [ Black is quite simply far too far ahead in the race, as shown by 49...h7 50.b5 h4 51.a6 g5 52.e8 h3 53.b8 h2 . ] 0-1
2436 Klinge,Jim King,Daniel J it Lucerne Switzerland (27) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2475 2495 1989
SHORT AND SWEET! THE TROMPOWSKY TORRE! An experienced Grandmaster losing a piece by force in 13 moves. Surely not, you cry! Even with the bishop pair, Black is no match for the power of the Torre Attack. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 Black invites a transposition to the trompowsky, where White has committed himself to an early Nf3. 4.xf6 White takes up the challenge, but as we shall see in the next game, it is perfectly possible to retreat with Bh4. xf6 5.c3 d6 6.e4 The battle lines have been drawn. W hite enjoys a space advantage and controls the centre, whilst black hopes to gain an advantage from his bishop pair, if the game opens up. d7 Black adopts a solid "wait and see" strategy. However, it is also possible to play more aggressively, with the move p o p u l a r i s e d b y K a r p o v 6 . . . g 5 ! ? 7.d2 White prepares to castle long. c6 8.0-0-0 W hite is rapidly completing development, before introducing complications. Now the threat is to gain space and harass the black queen with e5. e5 Hence, Black puts a stop to the af oremen tioned idea . 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.b5! It was the discovery of this move that 2390
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 rendered this line unplayable for Black. b8 knight to take on f3 with check! Where the [ Critical is: 10...cxb5 but the continuation move a2-a3 proves more adapted to the 11.xb5 e6 12.xe5 Leaves Black position's requirements than developing a defenceless against the threat on d7. ] piece... xb5 9.xg7 g8 10.e5 ] [ A l t e r n a t i v e l y : 10...d8 11.a5+! 2...e6 3.f4 c5 4.e3 b6 5.c3 c6 It is important to weaken the white squares 6.b5 d5 7.d6+? on Black's queenside, forcing: b6 12.c3 [ 7.d6 xd4 8.xf8 xf3+ 9.xf3 With mounting and lasting pressure. ] A) 9...xf8!? 10.g3 a6 ( 10...e7 11.xa7 White wins a pawn and recovers the 11.e4 ) 11.d6+ e7 Quite as in the bishop pair to boot. c5 This move l ands main branch of analysis, Black can hardly Black in extremely hot water, but good avoid the exposure of his king but now his alternatives were hard to come by, for king pawns have become weak. 12.c4 example: ( 12.xc8+? axc8 13.xg7 b4+ ) [ 11...b6 I s w e l l m e t b y : 12.a5 12...c7 13.e4 ( 13.g5+ f6 14.xg7 Leaving Black in all sorts of trouble. ] b5 15.d2 g8 16.h6 b7 ) 13...xg3 12.xc8 xc8 13.b4 It is not you see an 14.hxg3 b4 15.0-0-0 h6 16.h5 experienced GM lose a piece by force. The ( 16.b6 b8 17.c3 c6 18.f4 d6 ) knight cannot move, of course, because of the 16...xa2+ ( 16...b5 17.d6 c4 18.a4 mate on d7. e6 14.bxc5 xc5 15.c3 b8 19.c3 c6 20.axb5 axb5 21.xb5 ) Black could already resign, but decided to play 17.b1 b4 18.xc5 b5 19.d6 c6 on, perhaps trying to avoid the inevitable ( 19...b8 20.c7 ) 20.f4; publication of this game in magazines and B) 9...xf8! Protecting g7 and away from books of miniatures. d6 16.c4 e7 any Nd6 or Nc7 check. 10.0-0-0 ( 10.c4 17.xd6 White is just showing off, attempting a5+ ) 10...a6 11.a3 a5 12.e4 e7 to humiliate his opponent and impress his 13.e5 b8 Threatening ...b5 against the m a t e s wit h h is sa crif ic ia l p ro we ss . xd6 knight on the edge, so W hite does not 18.d1 e7 19.xe5 The exchange of have a choice: 14.c4! xa2 15.d6 qu e e n s is t h e sim p l e st wa y f o r W h it e t o One of the drawbacks of having the king realise his advantage. xe5 20.xe5 0-0 on f8. ( 15.g4 c6 16.d6 a1+ 21.d7 Any Black resistance is futile! 17.d2 a5+ 18.c3 xe5 19.f4 f6 1-0 20.g5 d8 ) 15...f5 16.xc8 xc8 17.xb7 ( 17.xd7 a1+ 18.d2 c7! 19.xc7 a5+ 20.c1 xc7 21.xa6 2437 A46 xe5 22.xb7 e7 ) 17...a1+ 18.d2 a5+ 19.c1 ( 19.c3? e7; 19.e2 Kogan,Artur 2485 d8 20.xd7 xd7 21.xd7 g6 ) Stocek,Jiri 2465 19...d8!? The only move to play on Lazne Bohdanec (2) 1996 ( 19...a1+ 20.d2 a5+ ) 20.d3 [Eric Prié] ( 20.b1 g6; 20.xa6 c7 ) 20...g6 21.xf5 gxf5 22.xd7! Another drawback 1.d4 f6 2.f3 is the weakness of d7. xd7 23.xd7 [ 2.f4 c5! 3.e3 b6 4.c3 ( 4.a3!? d6 a1+ 24.d2 xh1 25.d8+ g7 5.c4 c7 ) 4...e6 5.a3 26.g5+= White enjoys clear A) 5...a6!?; compensation after the pawn sacrifice, B) 5...h5? 6.dxc5 xc5 ( 6...xb2? well-worth playing in a game over the 7.e5 c6 8.a2; 6...xc5 7.xh5 board. However, I would rather bet on a xb2 8.xc5 xa1+ 9.d1 ) 7.e4 black improvement to break the c6 8.xh5 xe4 9.0-0-0 c6 balance... ] 10.f3; [ 7.dxc5 xc5 8.d6+ ( 8.d6 a6 C) 5...c6 In 'Moskalenko's spirit', as in 9.xc5 xc5 10.c4 axb5 11.cxd5 exd5 the previous game, however 6.b5! d5 12.d2 0-0 13.c1 e7 14.xb5 xa2 7.d6 xd4 8.xf8 And there is no 2391
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 15.0-0 b4 ) 8...xd6 9.xd6 xb2 10.b1 xa2 11.c1 c3 12.b3 a5 ] 7...xd6 8.xd6 xd4 With a depressing version (f or W hite) of the main analysis. 9.e5? [ 9.exd4 xd6 10.c4 ] 9...xf3+ 10.gxf3 f6 11.g3 xb2 Game over. 12.b1 xa2 [ 12...c3+ 13.e2 a3 Wins an exchange on c3 outright. ] 13.d6 c3 14.a1 b2 15.c1 xc1+ 16.xc1 b6 Let me count: 3 pawns up in the ending?! Is that right? And it took Black 30 moves to convert it into a win!? 17.e4 b7 18.a1 c6 19.d2 b5 20.xb5 xb5 21.hb1 c6 22.a6 b7 23.a3 f7 24.ba1 e5 25.xa7 e6 26.c7 b5 27.c4 bxc4 28.c3 hc8 29.xa8 xa8 30.xa8 xa8 31.xc4 d6 32.d3 c6 33.e3 g5 34.d8 a4 35.d2 b3 36.e2 h6 37.b6 f5 38.c7 c4+ 39.d2 d7 40.b8 e6 41.d3 f4 42.e2 c6 43.f1 h3+ 44.e1 g2 45.e2 h5 0-1
2438 Kosic,Dragan Berczes,David FSGM March Budapest HUN (9) [Eric Prié]
A46 2504 2433 11.03.2007
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.f4 c5 4.e3 I add this bonus game for its topicality and its 'unleashing' aspect that will undoubtedly seduce some of the more dynamic subscribers to this section... but I am not really interested in commenting pure tactical firework displays in general and especially a f t e r t h i s m o v e , wh i c h g o e s a g a i n s t m y principles. b6? [ 4...b6 5.bd2 b7 6.c3 e7 7.d3 cxd4 8.exd4 d6 9.0-0 0-0 10.e1 bd7 11.h3 a6 12.a4 e8 13.h2 f8 14.e4 xe4 15.xe4 xe4 16.xe4 f6 1/2-1/2 Kosic, D-Farago, I Budapest FSGM03 2007 Chess 644 ] [ 4...cxd4! As Farago did later, but without giving W hite the opportunity to recapture 'the good way'. My game against Philippe has really vaccinated me against willingly
playing again this pawn structure. 5.exd4 b6 ] 5.c3 cxd4 6.exd4 xb2 7.b5 d5 8.b1 xa2 9.d2 a6 10.a1 b2 11.c4 ab4 12.0-0 I do not know if this represents the preparation of the year, from White's point of view, or even where the first deviation from acknowledged territory was, but all the engines give W hite winning at this stage... xc2 13.xc2 xc2 14.xd5 xa1 15.c7+ d8 16.xa8 c2 17.e5 Wasn't [ 17.e4! b4 18.e5 evidently more 'shortening'? ] 17...g8 18.e4 b4 19.xf7+ e7 20.xh7 xd2 21.xg8 xd4 22.d1 c3 23.c7 a5 24.d6 xd6 25.b5+ c5 26.xc3 b5 27.xb5 xb5 28.c1+ b4 29.xc8 a4 30.d8 a3 31.xd7 a2 32.d1 c7 33.f4 g6 34.h4 c3 35.h5 gxh5 36.f5 1-0
2439 Kosic,Dragan Prie,Eric Olm Chanac (10) [Eric Prié]
A46 2480 2435 1990
1.d4 e6 2.f3 c5 3.e3 f6 4.d3 d6 [ 4...d5 5.b3 bd7 6.0-0 g6!? 7.b2 g7 8.c4 0-0 9.bd2 b6 10.cxd5 xd5 11.c4 b8 12.a3 b7 13.d2 e7= Kosic,D-Baklan,V JUG-ChT Budva 2002 0-1 (56) ] 5.0-0 bd7 6.b3 g6 7.b2 g7 8.bd2 0-0 9.e2 c7 10.e4 cxd4 11.xd4 a6 12.a4 b6 13.c4 b7 14.ae1 fe8 15.b1 ad8 Classically speaking this is the best placing of the Rooks in Hedgehog systems except when W hite has already played b4, when there is already some pressure on c4 from a Rook on c8. 16.b4 d5! 17.c1 [ 17.e5 e4 18.xe4 dxe4 19.f4 ( 19.xe4 xe4 20.xe4 xc4 ) 19...exf3 20.xf3 xf3 21.xf3 a5 22.b5 c5 is pleasant for Black. ] 17...dxe4 18.xe4 e5 [ 18...h5! 19.c5 bxc5 20.bxc5 f4 21.e3 xe4 22.xe4 f6 Threatening to 2392
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 win a piece after the liquidation on d4 and the check on e2, as well as ...Ng4. 23.e2 ( 23.f3 e5 ) 23...6d5 24.xd5 xb2 25.xf4 xc1 26.xc1 exd5 27.xd5 xe3 28.xc7 c3 29.e1 ( 29.b1 xc5 30.xa6 c6 31.b4 b8 ) 29...xc5 30.xa6 c4-+ ] 19.b3 a5 20.c5 d5? From the start of the complications initiated by 16.d5!, Black has forgotten about the possibility of the next move. [ 20...xe4 21.xe4 xe4 22.xe4 axb4 23.cxb6 ( 23.xb4 f8 24.cxb6? xc1 ) 23...xb6 24.c4 f8 Momentarily, White has some compensation with the free apawn and the slight passivity of the black pieces. ] 21.c6! xb3? [ 21...b8 22.xf6+ xf6 23.bxa5! xb3 24.e3 ( 24.f3 xa4 ) 24...bxa5 ( 24...xa4 25.axb6 ) 25.xb3 xc6 26.f3 e6 27.e4 c8 28.fd1 With very good compensation, this time, for the pawn. ] 22.cxd7 xd7 23.xf6+ xf6 24.f3 d5 [ 24...e6 25.c6 ] 25.xf6 xg2 26.xg2 [ 26.xe5 xe5 27.xe5 xf1 28.xf1 xa4 Of course gives White some good winning chances but will still require some work because there are only 2 pawns left after the exchange on a5, including a "bad" h - p a w n , a n d t h e e x p o s e d K i n g . 29.b5? ( 29.c7? d1 ) 29...g4+ 30.g3 c4 ] 26...g4+ 27.h1 d6! 28.f3 [ 28.xd6 f3+ 29.g1 g4+= ] 28...xb4 29.c3 [ 29.xe5! xe5 30.c8+ g7 31.xe5+ h6 32.xd6 xd6 33.c2 ] 29...xf6 30.xb4 axb4 31.c4 f4 32.xf4 Doubling the pawns weakens black structure but more relevantly exchanges off one piece and activates the e8-rook. Therefore White should have played 32. Rc6 Rb8. exf4 33.e4 d8 34.b1 d4 35.g1 f5 36.c6 f7 White is not better anymore, but after having suffered a lot his opponent, as often in such cases, only plays f o r a d r a w . 37.b2 e6 38.f2 d6 39.b5 g5 40.h3 [ 40.c2 d5 41.c6 d2+ 42.e1 xh2
43.xb6 g4 may be dangerous only for White ] 40...h5 41.e8 c5 42.xh5 c4 43.c2+ [ 43.g6 c3 44.b1 b3 45.c1+ ( 45.xf5 d2+ 46.e1 b2 47.d1 h2 48.d3+ c4 49.d6 h1+ 50.d2 b1 51.xb1 xb1 ) 45...d2 46.c6 ] 43...b3 44.c6 xa4 45.xb6 d2+ 46.e1 h2 47.f7 To summarize the main line, I would say that as shown in these games and as far as I am concerned, the double fianchetto idea employed by Black in the peculiar move order 1.d4 e6 2. Nf3 c5 3.e3 is a good idea. Most of the time I obtained a nice Hedgehog position with at least one extra tempo compared to a likely transposition from one of the main lines in the Kan Sicilian (1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4. Cxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Nf6 6.0-0 d6 7. c4) where experience has shown that Black's legitimate desire to put his Bishop on g7 rather than e7 is often thwarted. In fact, as you noticed I was able to achieve one of the thematic liberating pawn pushes (..e5, ...d5, ...b5) as soon as my development was over! ½-½
2440 Lukasiewicz,Grzegorz Prie,Eric A op Chanac [Eric Prié]
A46 2320 2435 1990
1.d4 e6 2.f3 c5 3.e3 f6 4.d3 [ 4.c4 d6 5.c3 bd7 6.d3 a6 7.a4 g6 8.b3 g7 9.b2 0-0 10.0-0 b6 11.e4 cxd4 12.xd4 b7 13.e2 h5 Black's nice Hedgehog position leads him to inaugurate an over-optimistic plan... 14.e3 c5 15.c2 e5 16.de2 f5 17.f3 ( 17.exf5 gxf5 18.d2 f6 19.d5 is also a problem.) 17...f4 18.exf5 h6 19.xf4 xf4 20.f2 ( 20.e1 gxf5 21.d1 g5 22.d5 is a similar concern.) 20...g5 21.fe1 gxf5 22.ad1 h5 23.h3 f6 24.e2 g5 25.b4 d7 26.g3 ( 26.f4 h4 27.g3 g6 ) 26...f7 27.xf5! xf5 28.xf5 xf5 29.xd6 f4 30.ed1 f8 31.xb6 b8 32.d8?? W hite as played well so far and although 2393
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the position remains somewhat complicated, he should be winning after the defensive 32. Qf2. xd8 33.xd8 e3+! 34.h2 f4+? ( 34...c2 35.d3 f4+ 36.g1 xb2 ) 35.h1 xf3? ( 35...g3 36.xe5 xe5 37.d6 f5 ) A) 36.f1! xg2+ ( 36...g3 37.xf8+! xf8 38.xf3+; 36...f5 37.h4 ) 37.xg2 e4+ 38.f3 c2+ 39.f1 xc4+ 40.e1 xb4+ 41.e2 xb2+ 42.xe3 c3+ 43.f2 c2+ 44.g1 g6+ 45.h1 b1+ 46.g2 c2+ 47.f2 g6+ 48.h2+-; B) 36.xe5? f5! 37.h4 Qxh3+ was t h e m e n a c e . xd1 38.g3+ g5 39.xg5+ xg5 40.a5 b3 41.b5 xc4 0-1 T revelyan,J-Prie ,E Ch T-EU Haif a 1989 ] 4...d6 5.0-0 bd7 6.b3 a6 [ 6...g6 ] 7.c4 [ 7.b2 g6 is possible and does not seem to change anything. ] 7...g6 8.b2 g7 9.c3 0-0 10.e2 c7 11.ac1 e8 12.b1 b6 13.fd1 b7 14.dxc5 xc5 15.d4 ad8 16.h4 e7 17.d4 d5 18.cxd5 xd5 19.dd1 xc3! A f in e s trat e gic al d e cisio n a pp rop ria te ly illustrated by the course of the game. 20.xc3 xd1+ 21.xd1 d8 22.e2 xf3 23.xf3 xc3 24.xc3 d6 It is better not to change pairs! It is well known that apart from specific positions Queen and Knight cooperate better than Queen and Bishop, and it is the opposite wi t h R o o k a n d K n i g h t v e r s u s R o o k a n d Bishop. [ 24...f6 25.c1 xf3 26.gxf3 a5 27.c2 ] 25.c1 d2 26.f1 a5 27.h4 d5 28.g3 g7 29.c7 b4 30.g3 a4 31.bxa4 xa4 32.c1 c5 [ 32...b2!? 33.c2 xc2 34.xc2 c3 35.a1 d2 36.b3 b2! With the idea Ne4, Nd2 37.g4 e4 38.f3 d2 39.d1 c4 40.e4 e3 41.b3 g2+ 42.h1 f2 43.g5 xf3 ] 33.f1 b2 34.f4 h5 35.c4 b5 36.c2 b4 37.e2? [ 37.d1 e4 38.xd5 exd5 39.g2 c3 40.d2 c5 41.d3 b4 ] 37...a4 38.c1 d2 39.e1 b2 40.a3
[ 40.d1 e2 ] 40...c3 0-1 Lukasiewicz,G-Prie,E/Val Thorens 1990 (40) 0-1
2441 Macieja,Bartlomiej Anand,Viswanathan 36th Olympiad (13) [Eric Prié]
A46 2613 2781 28.10.2004
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 Anand has often varied his move order against the Torre. Still, the purpose of this month's update is to show that this move is more precise than [ 3...c5 immediately, that he played against Morozevich in Linares. ] 4.xf6 xf6 5.e4 d5 6.bd2 g6!? Like in the semi-Slav Moscow variation, the idea of this move is to reserve the e7 square for the queen. 7.c3 g7 8.d3 0-0 9.0-0 d7 [ 9...b6 10.e1 c5 11.a3 a5 12.b5 b7 13.a4 c8 14.ad1 A) 14...c6!? 15.dxc5 ( 15.exd5 exd5 16.dxc5 bxc5 17.b3 d6 ) 15...bxc5 16.b3 a7; B) 14...cxd4 15.xd4 a6 16.xa6 xa6 ( 16...xa6 17.d7 b8 18.c6 xc6 19.xc6 dxe4 20.xe4 ) 17.exd5 exd5 18.f1 Then White followed with the simple plan Rd2, Qd1, a3-a4, Ne3-c2-a3b5 and it was obvious that, because of the opposing isolated pawns, his knights were, quite unusually considering the open character of the position, superior to the enemy bishops. Speelman, J-Brynell, S Copenhagen 1996 1-0(79) ] 10.e5 Difficult to suggest another plan. [ 10.e1 c5 ] 10...e7 11.h4 c5 12.e2 [ 12.h5!? gxh5 and then? 13.e2 cxd4 14.cxd4 f6 15.exf6 xf6 Due to the opposing 'lack of preparation' in the pawn offer, Black can adapt his development. 16.e5 g4! 17.df3 ( 17.g6? d6 18.f3 xf3 )] 12...cxd4 13.cxd4 d8 14.a3 f8 15.h5 d7 [ 15...gxh5 16.h2 ( 16.g3 g6 17.g2 2394
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 h4; 16.ac1 d7 17.c7 ab8 18.fc1 dc8 19.b3 xc7 20.xc7 d8 ) 16...h4 ( 16...g6 17.g3 h4 18.h5 d7 19.g4 g5 20.xg5 hxg5 21.f3 ) 17.f4 ( 17.g4 g5 18.df3 xg4 19.xg4 g6 20.xg6 fxg6 21.xh4 g5 ) 17...d7 ( 17...f5 18.exf6 xf6 19.b3 d7 20.g4 e7 21.e5 ac8 22.ae1 W ith promising compensation this time. Black's extra (doubled) h-pawn seems to play an insignificant role in the position.) 18.g4 ( 18.h5 f5 19.df3 g6!! 20.xg6 e8; 18.g4 f5 19.exf6 xf6 20.hf3 e8 21.e5 h5 22.h3 g6 ) 18...ac8 ( 18...h5 19.f2! f5 20.xh5 e8 21.e2 g6 22.h3 h6 23.e3 ac8 24.f3 c7 25.fg5 Then White will organize the opening of the g-file by g2g3 while controlling the queenside.) 19.ae1 Ac c o rdin g to m e t h is is u n cle a r. W h it e prepares the f4-f5 break, possibly followed by Ne3 to recapture on f5 with the knight, but Black has good development. ] [ Of course not 15...g5? 16.h2 f5 17.exf6 xf6 18.df3 d7 19.g3 e8 20.e5 ] 16.hxg6 xg6 17.g3 f5 18.exf6 xf6 This looks all right for Black since the impossibility for W hite to install one of his knights on e5 makes some difference but the open character of the position makes it quite unstable for him. 19.ae1 [ 19.c2 e7 20.d3 f5 21.e5? b5! 22.xb5 xd4 23.d3 xc2 24.xc2 xe5 ] 19...f8 20.g2 [ 20.b1! ac8 ( 20...e7 21.e5 Attacking the bishop. e8 22.d3 f5 23.g4 Direct play wins material.; 20...b6 21.d3 f5 22.xf5 exf5 23.a2 ) 21.d3 A) 21...e8 22.e5 xe5 23.h7+ ( 23.dxe5 f5 ) 23...f7 24.dxe5 g5 25.f3 g4 26.h2 g5 27.d3 Protecting g3 with the idea f4-f5 and a strong attack.; B) 21...f5! The only defensive motive. 22.b3 g4 23.xb7 c6 24.b3 ( 24.xa7 b5 ) 24...f6 With compensation ... for Black! ] 20...f7 21.d1 af8 22.c2 This was W hite's plan: Dislodge the knight from g6
then gain the e5 square. f4+!! Unfortunately for him, this deep tactical resource spoils everything. The W orld no.2 must have had quite a fright in this game! 23.gxf4 xf4 24.g1 [ 24.h1 g4+ ( 24...xd4? 25.h4 ) 25.f1 xf3 26.xf3 xf3 27.g1 h8 ] 24...xd4 25.f1+ [ 25.xd4 g7+! 26.g6 xf2+ 27.h3 ( 27.h1 h4+ 28.g2 f2# ) 27...e5+ 28.f5 xf5! 29.xg7+ xg7 30.g1+ g5+ ] 25...h8 26.e2 c8 27.b1 f6! 28.e1 [ 28.a2 e5 29.xd5? h3+ 30.e1 c1# ] 28...e5 While setting the centre in motion, the addition of the black light-squared bishop into the attack is decisive. 29.g2 h3 30.h1 [ 30.b3 h4 31.e1 cf8 ] [ 30.e1 h4 ( 30...fc7 31.c4 dxc4 32.e4 g7 Naturally wins too.) 31.g6 g7 32.h5 ( 32.xe5 xg6 33.e8+ xe8 34.xe8+ h7 ) 32...xg2 33.xg2 xg2+ 34.xg2 g8+ 35.h1 ( 35.f1 h2 ) 35...f5! 36.e3 xf2 37.f1 g1+ 38.xg1 xg1 39.xg1 xh5 ] 30...xg2+ 31.xg2 g7+ 32.f1 gc7! 33.b3 [ 33.a2 c1+ 34.e1 xd2 ] [ The more stubborn 33.c4 dxc4 34.g6 g7 35.e4 f8 Intending ...Qf5 would have led to a desperate ending 2 pawns down. ] 33...c1+ 34.xc1 xc1+ 35.xc1 xc1+ 36.e1 [ 36.g2 g5+ 37.f1 e4 38.b1 xb2! ] 36...f4 37.b1 e4 38.a2 h4 39.e2 d4 0-1
2442 Maksimovic,Suzana Petronic,Jovan 53rd ch-(women) (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2278 2423 09.04.2000
Colle System players need to become experts on how to attack with an isolated queens pawn. Here White, in text book fashion, demonstrates all the positive features of this structure to obliterate his opponent. 1.d4 f6 2395
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2.f3 e6 3.e3 c5 4.d3 c6 5.0-0 cxd4 6.exd4 e7 7.c4 When Black delays committing his d-pawn in the Colle, I am a great supporter of the move c4. Black will normally seek to create an IQP, but W hite always gets bag loads of attacking chances. d5 8.c3 b4 9.e2 dxc4 10.xc4 0-0 11.e5 Black has a firm grip on the blo cka din g s qua re d5, bu t t his ha s b ee n achieved by weakening his attack on d4 and e5. It therefore makes sense for the W hite knight to immediately head for its strongest outpost. a6 12.b3 d6 13.f4 bd5 Black is compelled to do something against the threat of Ng6. 14.g3 b4 15.c1 d8 16.e1 f8 17.f3 e7 [ 17...xd4 looks tempting until you see: 18.ed1 b6 19.xd5! exd5 20.xd5 When Black is under huge pressure. ] 18.e4 White is now fully mobilised and it is surprising just how quickly Black's seemingly solid position crumbles. f5 19.xf6+ gxf6 20.xf7! CRASH! Suddenly Black is dead lost. xd4 [ 20...xd4 loses to: 21.xf6 ] [ 20...xf7 21.xf5 leaves White ready to smash through on h7, e6 and c7. ] 21.g5! Fantastic p lay! The knight throws it's weight around, daring Black to capture him. xg3 [ 21...fxg5 22.xf5 leaves Black unable to parry all the threats to his king. ] 22.xf6! White continues in energetic fashion, he now threatens mate in two. h4 23.xe6! Black cannot avoid mate. A fabulous attacking game by White! 1-0
2443 Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar Anastasian,Ashot Aeroflot Open (5) [Eric Prié]
A46 2657 2568 19.02.2005
1.d4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.g5 h6 4.h4 e7 I doubt this is the most accurate order of moves. 5.bd2 For instance White could have tried [ 5.e3!? here. with the ideas b6 ( 5...c5 6.dxc5 xc5 7.a3 With the idea c2-c4, Nc3
etc see Stefanova-Carreter Ortiz a very important game f or this common set up which can be attained in various lines of the Tromp. ) 6.c4 b7 7.d3 e4 8.xe7 xe7 9.xe4!? xe4 10.c3 b7 11.0-0 0-0 12.e4 ] 5...c5 6.e3 [ 6.dxc5!? xc5 ( 6...a6 7.e4 xc5 8.e5 fe4 9.xe7 xe7 10.xe4 xe4 11.d4 ) 7.e4 ] [ 6.c3 See next month as with Black's order of moves there is absolutely no drawback to playing this move now. A logical continuation would then be d5 7.e3 A) 7...c6 8.xf6!? gxf6 Unclear. ( 8...xf6 9.dxc5 ); B) 7...bd7 8.d3 ] 6...cxd4 7.exd4 b6 8.d3 b7 Back on a normal track... 9.c3 d6 Against a tactical genius like Mamedjarov, it always appears risky to give the address of one's king first! This is a good move anyway, with the idea of taking back with the knight on f6. [ 9...0-0 10.e2 ( 10.0-0 d5 11.g3? f5 ) 10...c6 ( 10...d5 11.xe7 xe7 12.g3 c6 13.0-0-0!? ) A) 11.0-0 d5 is now a 'serious' concern. 12.xe7 cxe7 ( 12...xe7 13.e4 f4 14.e3 g5 15.g3 ) 13.e5 c8! ( 13...d6 14.g3 White has managed to keep the f 4 - s q u a r e u n d e r c o n t r o l .) 14.fe1 ( 14.e4? g6 15.d6 df4 16.c2 f5 17.ed2 xg2!! You could have played t h i s g a m e . . . 18.xg2 g5+ 19.h1 xd2-+ ) 14...c7 Black is slightly better. After moves like ...f7-f5, ... Ng6 or ...Nf4, ...f7-f6 and the forced exchange of queens, he can combine some action on the ki n g si d e a r o u n d t h e f 4 s qu a re a n d a classical minority attack, .. .b6-b5 and then ...b4 after having prevented White's c3-c4 in order to inflict a weakness on c3 on him.; B) 11.xf6 xf6 12.0-0-0 g6 13.h4 g7 14.b1 e7 15.e4 d5 16.d2 d6 17.c2 c8 18.de1 e8 19.h3 b5 20.h5 f5 21.hxg6 fxe4 22.xe4 f6 Sokolov,I-Karpov,An Linares 1995 ] [ 9...d5 however is not to be feared so early. 10.g3 f5 11.c4 f4 12.g6+ f8 13.ce5 g8 14.c4 ] 2396
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 10.0-0 [ 10.xf6 xf6 11.0-0 0-0 12.e1 d7 See further. ] 10...bd7 11.e1 0-0 12.xf6 [ 12.e2 d5 13.e4 g6 14.xe7 xe7 15.c4 7f6 16.h4 h5! 17.g4?! df4! 18.g3 f5 19.h4 g5 20.xe6 xe6 21.xh5 f6 ] 12...xf6 [ 12...xf6 Would have transposed exactly into the previous game! So if we continue for a while mixing it with the Azeri's idea: 13.a4 a6 14.e4 c7 15.c2 fe8 16.d3 White has no direct threat at the moment but could slowly develop an underhand attack with h2-h4, Re2 or Re3-Rae1, in any case this is much more in the spirit of the position than my insipid 14.Be4. In conclusion of the theoretical part of the e3 Torre study , I would say that my harsh evaluation of the white side of it is undoubtedly motivated by an overestimation of the static factors (pair of bishops, better centre) which make me feel uneasy and I m u c h p re f e r , a s a m a t t e r o f t a st e , t h e alternative branch of the c3 Tromp that we shall examine next month. Strangely, if I were Black with this pawn structure (and this happened to me a couple of successful times in the Reti after 1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Bg4 3. Bg2 Nd7 4.c4 e6 ( 4. ..c6 is dubious here) 5. cxd5 exd5 I would surely be very happy with White's present position with reversed colours! ] 13.e4 c7 The one we called "the sheriff" (A s h o t t h e s h e rif f . . . ) h a s p a rt icip a t e d in numerous Soviet Championships and 'he knows the music'. Having achieved nothing out of the opening, I guess his opponent was already satisfied to split the point. [ 13...xe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4 d5 16.e2 d6 ( 16...b5 17.e5 c8 18.a3 d6 19.d3 a5 20.d2 The classical blockade. ) 17.a4= ] 14.xf6+ xf6 15.c2 g6 16.e3 ae8 17.e2 e7 18.e1 a6 19.h4 xf3 [ 19...h5 giving up the g5-square looks less stable but I see nothing concrete for White after 20.b3 fe8 21.d3 g7 22.g5 e5 ] 20.xf3 xh4 21.xa6 g7 22.b3 e5
23.dxe5 dxe5 24.e4 g5 25.d3! [ 25.c4 d6 ] 25...c6 26.a4 The activity for White or the activation of the central majority for Black proving insufficient, the exchange of queens n o w m a ke s t h e p o sit io n co m p le t e ly f la t , stressing, without stress from the players, the natural drawish tendency of the oppositecoloured bishops. [ 26.d5 a8 ( 26...f5 27.exe5 ) 27.d3 a5 28.d6 c5 ] [ 26.d5 f6 27.b4 b8 ] 26...xa4 27.xa4 c1 28.d5 xb2 29.b4 e4 30.xe4 xe4 31.xe4 e8 [ 31...c8 32.d6 xc3 33.xb6 c1+ 34.h2 d4 35.b7 xf2 36.d5 ] 32.d5 e1+ 33.h2 a3 34.b3 f5 35.d2 f6 36.g3 c5 37.g2 g5 38.c2 c1 39.a4 g4 40.a5! bxa5 41.xf5 a4 42.xg4 a3 43.f3 xc3 44.d5 c1 It is almost impossible to pass the a2 blockade, and even if it was, Black would be left with the wrong h-pawn. ½-½
2444 Mamedyarov,Shakhriyar Nyback,Tomi Wch U18 Chalkidiki (5) [Eric Prié]
A46 2595 2497 27.10.2003
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 c5 4.c3 cxd4 5.cxd4 b6 6.c2 c6 [ 6...b4+ 7.c3 Without the possibility of playing Nf6-e4 does not help Black at all. ] 7.xf6 gxf6 8.e3 In the ChessBase commented game given below in a note you can find this great line from the expert Tsesarsky: "Of course, opening strategy like this cannot be recommended for White. Black equalizes without problems by various ways." The funniest thing about it being that he could not even present a proper game to justify this a s s e r t i o n ! ! d5 9.c3 d7 10.a3! I wo uld also pref er to develop th e king's bishop on d3. [ 10.e2 c8 Time to recall what I said some 2 years ago (a lready!) about this posit ion in th e ga me Tseitlin-Na uman n which saw a completely different order of 2397
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 moves: 1.d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 c5 3.Bxf6 gxf6 4. c3?! Qb6 5.Qc2 cxd4?! 6.cxd4 Nc6 7.e3 d5 8.Nc3 e6 9.Nf3 Bd7 10.Be2 Rc8. "has been played a couple of times in the database but it is not the most precise for a very simple reason: After 11. Qd2 for instance - There is no t hin g wron g wit h 1 1 .0 -0 -0 - we h a ve reached exactly the same position with reversed colours as in one of the main lines of the anti-Slav English after 1.c4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bg4 amongst many move orders 5. cxd5 (5. Qb3 Qb6 6.cxd5 Bxf3 7. gxf3 Qxb3 8.axb3 Nxd5=) Bxf3! (5...cxd5? 6. Qb3 wins a pawn) 6.gxf3 (6.Qxf3 cxd5 7. Bb5+ Nc6 8. Bxc6+! to play against the backward pawn on the c-file is the correct way to play for an advantage.) cxd5 7.Qb3 Qd7 8.d4 Nc6 9.Bd2 e6 10.Rc1 which is known to be innocuous for Black and is co nf irme d by m y expe rien ce !" I can no t remember if the extract: "There is nothing wrong with 11.0-0 ( 11.0-0-0? " is a simple mistake or a misinterpretation of a written move as a comment (instead of a proper line) but it is precisely wrong! Because of the obvious b4 12.b1 xd4 13.xd4 xc3 ) 11...f5 12.fc1 b8 13.e5! d6 14.f4 0-0 15.h5 The idea concealed b e h i n d t h e ' q u i e t ' d e ve l o p m e n t o f t h e bishop Speelman,J-Macieja,B FIDE W -ch Delhi 2000 1-0(35) ] 10...c8 11.d3 a5 12.d2!? The move I would play if Black did not have doubled fp a wn s , b u t h e r e W h i t e c a n p l a y f o r t h e initiative against the more exposed enemy king. [ 12.0-0 A) 12...b3 13.e2 c4 14.ab1 e7 ( 14...xb2 is a bit too optimistic. 15.xb2 xc3 16.xb7 xa3 17.b5 c6 18.xc6+ xc6 19.xa7 0-0 20.e4 When; 14...xa3? to reach the same position on the other hand is just a blunder. 15.d2! b4 16.a2 ); B) 12...b3 13.ad1 d6 ( 13...f5 14.e5 is always annoying and that is why, in my opinion, White should strive to keep this knight on f3. This can be devastating after the frequent error d6? 15.xd7 xd7 16.xd5 exd5 17.xf5+ e7 18.xc8 )
B1) 14.e4!? dxe4 15.xe4 f5 16.d3 xd4 17.xd4 xd4 18.xf5 ( 18.b5 e5 19.xd7+ xd7 20.f4 c5+ 21.h1 c6 22.a4 c8 ) 18...e5 19.g3 xf5 20.xf5 exf5 21.xd6; B2) 14.e2!? intending the thematic e3e4 under better conditions. f5 15.e5 I do like White! ] 12...f5 13.0-0! d6 14.f4 a6 I reckon [ 14...c6 is better but this retreat seems like an admission of defeat and illustrates how difficult it is for Black to clearly equalize with his inferior structure. 15.f3 f6 ] 15.b4 c7 [ 15...c6 16.a4 a7 17.c5 ] [ 15...c4 16.xc4! With the Black queen poorly placed, White does not need a rook on c1 and can dangerously open the position. dxc4 17.f3 ( 17.a4 xa4 18.xa4+ c6 ) 17...f6 18.e4 ] 16.fc1 c4 17.d1! xd2 [ 17...b5 18.b3 The knights are at ease in these closed positions. ] 18.xd2 b6 19.xc8+ xc8 20.b2! "En route" towards e5 or c5. d7 21.c2 e7 22.d3 b5 23.c5 a7 24.a4 c4 25.a5! Stabilizing the position of the do min at ing kn igh t . b6 26.axb6 xb6 27.d3?! Of course this is the idea: weaken the support of Black's a-pawn to open a dual front for the success of the coming attack. However, W hite loses some crucial time at this stage while parting with a potentially strong attacking piece ready to intervene directly into the combat via a4 or h5. Instead, the subtle inversion [ 27.e1!! Would have crowned White's strategy with success. A) 27...b8? 28.h4+ e8 ( 28...f8 29.d7+; 28...f6 29.xh7+ ) 29.a4+ b5 30.xh7 xa4 31.xa4 xc5 32.dxc5 b5 33.xa6! xb4 34.h8+ e7 35.a7+ b7 36.xb7+ xb7 37.c3+-; B) 27...f6 28.d3! xd3 29.xd3 ] 27...xd3 28.xd3 b8 29.e1 [ 29.a4 b5 30.d1 f8 31.c5 b6 32.h3 g7 White cannot make any progress. ] 29...xb4? [ 29...b5! Would have won a saving tempo 2398
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 on the white knight. 30.d1 ( 30.c5 xb4 31.h4+ e8 32.xa6 c3; 30.e5 xe5 31.fxe5 f8; 30.a3 xb4 31.xb4 xb4 32.h4+ f8 33.xa6 With his pawn on h3 W hite would probably be winning. b1+ 34.f2 b2+ 35.g3 e1+ ) 30...f8 31.h4 g8= In all these po sition s, B la ck h o ld s be ca use he h a s enough counter-play on the queenside so that his opponent cannot concentrate on the other flank that the black king alone can now p roudly def end a gainst the enem y queen. ] 30.h4+ e8 31.b1? Designed to win a tempo but in fact losing one, at least! [ 31.xh7! f8 32.e5 b7 33.h4! Far less effective than the game but still reaching a similar position to duly illustrate B la c k ' s p ro b le m s. b3 34.e1 c3 35.e2 a5 36.h5 a4 37.g8! a3 A) 38.h6? a2 39.h7 ( 39.xa2? e1+ 40.h2 h4+ 41.g1 b1# ) 39...a1+ 40.h2 cc1 41.h8 h1+ 42.g3 xh8; B) 38.h2! Black is suddenly hopelessly lost. c7 ( 38...b2 39.xb2 axb2 40.h6 b1 41.h7 and H8=Q )] 31...a5? [ 31...c7! 32.xb4 xb4! 33.xb4 c1+ 34.f2 d2+ 35.f3 xb4 36.xh7 a5= ] 32.xh7 c7 33.e5 c8? [ 33...b7! 34.g8+ ( 34.xb4 c1+ 35.f2 d2+ 36.f3 xb4 37.g8+ f8 ) 34...f8 35.xb7 ( 35.e1 c3 36.e2 a4 37.h4 a3 38.h2 b2 ) 35...xb7 36.h4 a4 37.h5 a3 38.h6 a2 39.h7 a1+ 40.h2 e1! 41.h8 e7 42.h5 7h4+ J u s t i n t i m e . 43.xh4 xh4+ 44.g1 e1+= ] 34.g8+ f8 35.h4 e7 36.h5 f6 37.h6! 1-0
2445 Miles,Anthony J Robovic,Saudin Muenster op Münster (3) [Eric Prié] 1.d4 f6 2.f3 d6 3.c3 f5 4.g5 [ 4.h4 d7 5.e4 e5 6.f3
A46 2565 2365 1993
c6
followed by a possible kingside fianchetto, provides Black with a valuable extra-tempo. Obviously, if we consider the well known sequence 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 wh e n t h e P h i li d o r p la ye r ( a f t e r h a vi n g avoided losing the right to castle) is usually happy here, and in this order of moves, to continue with 4...Nbd7. ] 4...bd7 5.h4 g6 6.xg6 hxg6 7.d5!? c6 [ 7...c5 is the right move 8.e4 A) 8...fxe4 9.b5+! ( 9.xe4 xe4 10.b5+? c6 11.dxc6 a5+ 12.c3 xb5 ) 9...c6 10.dxc6 xc3 11.c7+ xb5 12.cxd8++-; B) 8...e5 9.dxe6 xe6 10.e3 c6 11.f4 A queen move like 11.Qf3 to prepare long c a s t l i n g w a s m o r e a p p r o p r i a t e . a5 12.d3 d5! 13.d2 ( 13.e5 d4 ) 13...dxe4 14.xe4 b6 15.g5 xh2! 16.f1 ( 16.xh2 g1+ 17.f1 xh2 18.e2 g3+ 19.d1 0-0-0 20.xf7 xd2+! 21.xd2 e4 22.e2 xf4 i s a k i l l e r .) 16...0-0-0 17.xf7 e8 18.e5 g5! 19.f5 xg2 ( 19...b8-+ ) 20.f3 xb2 21.xg2 xa1+ 22.f2 xa2 23.xg5 e4+! 24.xe4 xg5 25.f5+ c7 0-1 Wilhelmi,C-Heinatz,T Bundesliga 1999-2000 ] 8.e4 a5 9.d2 c8 10.0-0-0 c5 11.b1 b5?! [ 11...a4 12.xa4 xa4 13.f3 cxd5 14.exd5 c5 15.b3 ( 15.c4 e5 16.dxe6 xg5! 17.b3 a5 ) 15...d7 16.c4 ] [ 11...a6!? ] 12.dxc6! b4 If Black had sensed the danger he would have played 12... a6. 13.xf6 gxf6 14.d5 xe4 [ 14...xc6 15.xb4 xb4 16.xb4 b6 17.d5 b8 18.f3 ] 15.e2 f5 16.c7! Suddenly, a Mate in 2 is threatened. xc7 [ 16...g7 17.f3 e6 ( 17...c5 18.xe7# ) 18.a6! xa6 19.xa6 d7 20.b5#! ] 17.f3! Black cannot avoid a loss of material which do not come down to a simple exchange. c5 [ 17...c5 18.b5+! xb5 19.xc7+ d7 20.xb5 ] [ 17...g3 Forced Mate in eight moves! 18.f6+!! d8 19.xd6+ c8 ( 19...exd6 2399
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.e8# ) 20.a6+ xa6 21.xa6+ b7 ( 21...b8 22.d8+ c8 23.xc8# ) 22.c6+ b8 ( 22...d8 23.d1+ d7 24.xd7# ) 23.d7+! a8 24.c8+ b8 25.xb8# ] 18.fxe4 h4 [ 18...e6 19.e3! ( 19.f4 e5 20.c4 xe4 21.c6+ e7 22.xd6+ f6 is le ss c lea r.) 19...fxe4 20.c4 c7 21.xe4 d5 22.e5 xe5 23.xe5 Only one pawn for a piece is not enough ] 19.g4! fxg4 [ 19...xg4 20.f6+ exf6 21.exf5+ e5 22.xg4 ] 20.g2 [ 20.d4 Simply picks up the b4 pawn. ] 20...g7 21.d2 with the idea Qg5 h5 22.xe7?? The search for brilliancy in winning positions is the first cause of the " (self)-swindle" among chess players! Even the greatest, as we can see.. . [ 22.xb4 wins prosaically, since on 22... Rhxd5, there is the intermediate check 23. Qb8+. ] 22...xe7?? In fact, it could have been a nice finish, if there was not [ 22...b3!! 23.axb3 ( 23.xa5? bxc2+ 24.c1 cxd1+ 25.xd1 xa5; 23.xd6? xa2+ 24.c1 xc2# ) 23...xd2 24.xd2 xe7 ] 23.xd6+ e8 24.d7+ f8 25.hf1 f5 The weakness of the back rank is fatal. [ 25...f6 26.d6 g8 27.dxf6 xf6 28.xf6 c7 ( 28...hg5 29.e8+ g7 30.f7+ h6 31.h8# ) 29.e8+ h7 30.xg6+ h8 31.f8# ] 26.exf5 hxf5 27.e4 c7 28.d8+ f7 29.xf5 [ 29.xf5 gxf5 30.d5 ] 1-0
at the time, "which no one ever plays" reveals John Cox. cxd4 [ 5...b4+ 6.c3 xb2 7.b5 e4 ( 7...d5 8.d2 On the other hand the fact that the pawn stands on c3 in this attempt at improvement in comparison with 5...Qxb2 6.Nb5 Nd5 7.Nd2! seems of little importance in this particular sub-line. a6 9.b1 xa2 10.a1 b2 11.dxc5! xc5 12.c4 xb5 13.d6+ xd6 14.xb5 xf4 15.exf4 xc3 16.c2 Without the exch ange 1 1.d xc5 This winn ing mo tive would simply not exist.) 8.g3 ( 8.e2? xc3 White will not be able to play Qe1 because of the Be2 hanging.) 8...a6 ( 8...xc3? 9.c7+ d8 10.c1 b4 11.xa8 There is no dangerous discovered check. ) 9.b1 xa2 10.d3!? then is very i n t e r e s t i n g ( 10.a1 b2 11.b1 is at least a draw.) 10...d5 11.a1 b2 12.0-0 This position appears highly perilous for Black in view of the threats Rxa6 and Qa4, Rf b1. xg3 13.fxg3! c4 14.c2 d7 ( 14...xb5 15.a4 ) 15.b1 a2 16.e5+- ] 6.b5 [ 6.exd4 "!?" Moskalenko xa3 7.bxa3 ] 6...a6 [ 6...d5 The critical continuation. 7.xd4 A) 7...a5+ 8.c3 ( 8.d2 xd2+ 9.xd2 xf4 10.exf4?? a6 Ott, J-Matosec, T (2085) AUT 1999 0-1(24) ) 8...c6 9.d6+ ( 9.c4 b6 10.0-0-0 a6 11.d6+ xd6 12.xd6 a5 13.c5 xc5 14.xc5 b6 15.d6 Holland, C (1821 ) -Delbe cq, J (2 010 ) Be t h u n e o p 2 0 0 4 0 -1 (4 5 )) 9...xd6 ( 9...d8 10.c4 xf4 11.xf7+ e8 12.xf4 a3 13.xh8 xb2 14.d1 xc3+ 15.d2 ) 10.xg7 xf4 11.xh8+ e7 12.exf4 f5 13.g3 b6 14.g7 e4+ 15.e2 a6 16.xf7+! d8 2446 A46 17.0-0-0 b4 18.d4 xe2 19.xe6+ xe6 20.xe6 dxe6 21.xd6+ e7 Mitkov,Nikola 2551 22.d2+-; Tiviakov,Sergei 2667 B) 7...xd4 8.fxd4 xf4 ( 8...b4+ II Int Open Morella MEX (4) 17.02.2007 9.c3 a5 Perez Wertheim, R (1999)[Eric Prié] Avalos, J (2323) Buenos Aires 2005 1/ 2(62); 8...c6 9.g3 e5 10.c4 db4 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.f4 c5 4.e3 b6 11.xc6 bxc6 12.c7+ d8 13.xa8 5.a3! intending Nc4, which considerably c2+ 14.d2 xa1 15.xe5 b7 reduces Black's choice. A move I had missed 2400
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 16.d3 f6 17.c3 xa8 18.xa1+G o c h e la s h vili , D (2 3 5 3 )-Za kh a r o v, A ( 2 4 1 4 ) S o c h i 2 0 0 5) 9.c7+ d8 10.xa8 B1) 10...d5 11.e2! ( 11.c4? b6 12.xd5 exd5 13.b5 b7 14.xb6 axb6 15.0-0 h5 16.fd1 a6 17.d2 c7 18.d4 e6 19.b5 c7 20.d4 e6 21.b5 c7 1/2-1/2 Gierth, J (2266)-Bohnenblust, S (2214) SUI-chT 2003; 11.g3 b5! 12.xb5 b7 With the Rh1 in the line of fire.; 11.c4 b4 12.e2 b6 13.f3 d3+ 14.e2 xb2 ) 11...b5 ( 11...b6 12.f3 b7 13.c4 ) 12.xb5 b7 13.c4 f6 ( 13...b4 14.0-0 xa8 15.xa7; 13...b4+ 14.f1 f6 15.a3 e7 16.ac7 a6 17.f3 axb5 18.xb5 ) 14.f3 e4 15.ac7 ( 15.xa7 xa8 16.d1 ) 15...a6 16.e2 axb5 17.xb5; B2) 10...g6!? "Unclear" according to Moskalenko without going further. In every case it looks as if W hite cannot save his knight in the corner. On the other hand, he can sell his life dearly and get at least two pawns in return. Nevertheless, some factors appears to favour White in the resulting ending of rook+2pawns vs knight and bishop: A strong and mobile majority on the queenside, pawns on dark squares to limit the activity of the opposing king's bishop and the open d-file. Although Moskalenko's assessment of positional imbalance seems right, as for myself I believe it is impossible for Black to enter t h i s l i n e w i t h a l i g h t h e a r t . 11.b5 ( 11.g3 b6 12.g2 d5 13.e4 b7 14.xb6 axb6 15.exd5 xd5 16.xd5 exd5 17.0-0-0 c7 ) 11...b6 ( 11...a6? Opening a way out via b6. 12.c3 c5 13.a4 a7 14.8b6 ) 12.xa7 b7 13.xb6 c5 14.b5 ( 14.xd7!? Gets a third pawn but loses time. xd7 15.b5 h4 16.g1 e5 ) 14...xb6 15.d6 f8 16.xb7+ c7 17.b5 xb7 18.e2 With an optimal material configuration for White. ] 7.exd4 [ 7.xd4 c5 ]
7...d6 8.a4 [ 8.c4!? e7 9.b3 0-0 10.xd6 ] [ 8.d2! c6 9.a4 Threatening Nxd6+, Bb5. d7 10.a3! ( 10.c4 e4+ 11.e3 c6 12.c3 First preventing the recycling Nb4-d5. ) 10...d5 11.g3 ac7 12.e4 ] 8...e7 9.e2 0-0 10.0-0 d8 11.h3 b6 12.d2 b7 13.c4 d5 14.d2 Covering the e4 square. [ 14.cd6 c6 Gives nothing against the Na6 b ecau se o f th e o th er knigh t on d 6 hanging. ] [ 14.e5! Is 'naturally' best: b4 15.c3 c6 16.d3 xe5 ( 16...a6 17.xc6 xc6 18.c7 a7 19.xa6 ) 17.dxe5 ] 14...b4 15.a5 bxa5 16.b3 c6 17.c7!? [ 17.c5 xc5 18.dxc5 e5 19.g5 h6 20.xf6 xf6 21.d6 ab8 22.b3 ] 17...c8 18.a6 d7 [ 18...b6 19.ac5 xd4 20.xd4 xc5 21.xc5 xc5 ( 21...xc5 22.d3 d7 23.e3 e5 24.h4 ) 22.xc5 xc5 23.d6 xc2 24.d3 d2 25.xf8 xd3 26.c5 ] 19.d2 b6 20.xa5 xa5 21.xa5 c4! 22.ac5 xc5 23.dxc5 xc5 24.xc5 xa5 25.xb7 b6 Black has won a pawn but W hite will save himself thanks to the presence of the opposite colour bishops and the reduced material. 26.c4 xb7 27.cxd5 exd5 28.f3 xb2 29.xd5 c5 30.f3 a5 31.e1 a4 32.e2 d4 33.g3 g6 34.c2 d6 35.g2 a3 a2 will be a tough squ a re t o p a ss. . . 36.c6 e5 37.a6 And now it will be even more difficult. e7 38.h4 d8 [ 38...h5 39.d3 h7 40.xf7? xf7 41.xd6 a2 42.a6 xf2+ ] 39.h5 g7 40.a4 [ 40.c3+? e5 ] 40...f8 41.c3+ e5 Black prefers to call it a day rather than weaken his king position but with a pawn on a3, this is the only way to seal the long diagonal. [ 41...f6 42.f3 c5 ] [ 41...f6?? 42.h6+ ] 42.xa3 ½-½
2401
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2447 Morozevich,Alexander Anand,Viswanathan Corus A Wijk aan Zee NED (5) [Eric Prié]
A46 2741 2786 20.01.2005
2763,5! Almost but not quite! I am afraid that with 'special' Morozevich's recent results, the previous section record of 2773 (against Kramnik in Astana 2001) is not likely to be beaten in the near future... 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 The Torre attack, understood as an 'anti-Nimzo weapon', is the most â obviousâ [] opening of the section. Indeed, its introductory sequence appears so natural that every player would feel confident in playing it, without any particular knowledge. Conversely, its handling, composed of subtleties in the hope of getting something tangible out of the opening, is complex. c5 4.e3 A more tactical continu ation than 4 .c3 (Se e next month ) inviting Black to attack the b2 pawn. h6 [ 4...b6 5.bd2 ( 5.c1 e4 6.f4 c6 7.c3 d5 may be solid for White but he can hardly claim anything out of the opening.; 5.c3? xb2 6.b5 b4+ 7.c3 a5 ) 5...xb2 6.d3 With a big lead of de ve lop me n t in re t urn f or a wing pa wn seems to suit Morozevich's style. Nevertheless, the white player should be aware that the statistics from recent games are not a point in the gambit's favour. Much as in every gambit of this kind, by the way, p r o b a b l y d u e t o t h e d e ve l o p m e n t a n d assimilation of 'computer play' by chess masters. ] 5.h4 [ 5.xf6 xf6 Then Black will develop his queen's bishop onto the long diagonal but without releasing the tension on d4. ] 5...cxd4 Simple and good. In one of the very f irst games playe d with this syste m, an d commented in this section, World champion Lasker, although he eventually lost, wa s much better with Black against its inventor. 6.exd4 b6 Standard business. 7.xf6!? Quite interesting, especially in connection with the next move. If White has to carry out this exchange in order to avoid the annoying plan ...Be7, ...Nd5 eyeing the f4-square while taking advantage of the pawn structure, then
the black queen may be more awkwardly placed on f6 than the bishop. That could also be why the preliminary 6...Be7, as by transposition in the next game, is the most common. [ 7.d3 b7 8.0-0 e7 9.c4 0-0 10.c3 d5 11.xf6 xf6 12.cxd5 exd5 13.e1 c6 14.c2 d6 15.d3 g6 16.a3 fe8 17.h3 g7= Sokolov,I-Rivas Pastor,M Leon 1995 0-1(45) ] [ 7.c4 b7 8.c3 e7 9.d3 xf3! 10.xf3 c6 A) 11.d5? xd5! 12.cxd5 ( 12.xe7 dxe7 ) 12...e5 13.e4 xd3+ 14.xd3 xh4; B) 11.e2 b4+ 12.f1 e7 13.d1 c8 14.b3 b4 ( 14...0-0 15.xf6 xf6 16.e4 g6 17.d5 exd5 18.xd5 b4 19.d6 xa2 20.b1 c3 21.xc3 xc3 22.h4 White just manages to preserve the balance.) 15.b1 d5 16.xf6 xf6 17.a3 c6 18.cxd5 xd5 19.xd5 exd5 20.g3 e7 21.g2 h5 22.h4 d7 23.d3 d6 24.hd1 c6 1/2-1/2 Spraggett,K-Hebert,J Montreal m(2) 1985 ] 7...xf6 8.g3 Apparently a new idea of the imaginative W orld No.6 in order to counter balance the action of Black's light-squared bishop on the long diagonal but mostly to control the chronically sensitive f4 square. c6 9.c3 [ 9.g2 a6!? ] 9...g5 10.bd2 b7 [ 10...g4 11.h4 h5 12.h3 ] 11.g2 0-0-0 [ 11...a6? 12.a4 d3 13.e5 ] 12.a4 h5 13.a5 xa5 14.b4 c6 15.c4 b5 16.0-0?! A decisive choice, indeed, had to be made in this critical position as White did not lack seductive continuations, although they were difficult to estimate to the necessary depth. [ 16.ce5 xe5 ( 16...g4! 17.xc6 gxf3! 18.xa7+ b8 19.f1 h4 20.g1 hxg3 21.hxg3 e5 ) 17.dxe5 f5 18.xa7 g4 ( 18...e4+ 19.f1 d6 20.e1 c4+ 21.d3 ) 19.d4 xe5+ 20.f1 xg2+ 21.xg2 d5+ 22.g1 ( 22.f3 g7 ) 22...h4 23.a1! White hits the target first. d6 24.a6+ b8 25.c4!! bxc4 26.b5 2402
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 hxg3 27.c6+ and mate on b7, eventually. ] [ 16.a5!? xa5 17.xa5 h4 18.0-0 a6 19.e2 hxg3 20.fxg3 h6 21.fa1 g4 22.h4 d5 23.xa6 xa6 24.xa6 c1+ 25.f1 also unclear. ] 16...bxc4 17.b5 b8 18.xa7 d5 19.e5 d7!! Unfortunately for the optimistic Russian, the fantastic calculating power that Anand usually exhibits when attacking is as efficient when he gets to defending! 20.a4 d8 21.xc4 dxc4 22.xc4+ c7 23.xb7+ d8 24.e2 [ 24.d3 b6 ] 24...d6 [ 24...b6? 25.e5! ] 25.fa1 [ 25.c4 b6 26.f3 xa7 27.f6+ c7 28.c5 xb7 29.xh8 xc5 30.dxc5 xc5 ] 25...xc3 Thanks to a firm control over the dark squares, the black king finds shelter behind his pawns in the center while after the attack tails off the extra piece remains. 26.d5? xb7! 27.dxe6 xa7 28.xa7 fxe6 29.xe6 e5 30.e7 a1+ 31.e1 [ 31.g2 xe7 ] 31...xe1+ 32.xe1 Somewhat surprisingly at this level of the game the hand keep s wriggling about ridiculously... d7 33.g2 c5 34.d1 d7 35.d5 e6 36.f3 f8+ 37.e2 e7 38.h4 g4 39.xh5 c5 40.e5 xf2+ 41.d3 f6 0-1
starting with Ng1. On the other hand, from this square the queen still watches the knight on h5, and long castling is easy to consolidate with Kb1, without fearing the opening of the c-file. b6 Now, standard development fails for one tempo because of a tactical subtlety. [ 10...f5?! 11.0-0-0 df6 12.e4! f4 13.e5 would advantageously win back the piece thanks to a check on g6. ] 11.0-0-0 d7 12.e4 c8! 13.d5 [ 13.c4!? xc4 14.xc4 c5 15.d5 xg3 16.hxg3 b5 17.e2 ] 13...e5 14.f1 f5!? [ 14...c6 15.e3 cxd5 16.xd5 xd5 17.exd5 0-0 18.h7+ h8 19.f5 b5 20.h4 g4 21.xd7 xd7 22.g5 f6 ] 15.exf5 xd5 16.f6?! [ 16.h4! g4 17.3h2 df6 ( 17...xg3 18.xg3 xh4 19.e4 With the idea f6 and Nf3 winning the queen.) 18.e2 xg3 19.xg3 h5 20.f3 was a continuation entirely in the spirit of the opening. ] 16...hxf6 17.g6+ f8 In this variation, the king is often better placed on this square than after short castles! 18.b3 e6 After 18... Nb6, White wanted to play 19.Ne3 and go to f5 with some compensation. 19.xb7 a5 20.1d2 b6 21.he1 xa2 22.b1? At least White had to show some consistency with [ 22.xe5 dxe5 23.xe5 And the idea Bb1, Ng6+ ] 22...fd5 23.e4 e7 24.xd6 It appears that W hite's royal couple is in a more 2448 A46 awkward position than his opposing equivalent. Mueller,Karsten 2490 So he decide s t o sacrif ice the excha nge 25.xb6 Wahls,Matthias 2540 hoping for complications... cxd6 Ch Dudweiler (6) 1996 c6 26.c2 d5 [ 26...f6 27.b3 a1 28.xe5! dxe5 [Eric Prié] 29.xe5 xe5 30.xe5 a4 31.e6 a8 32.d7!! a3 33.bxa3 was one of them! ] 1.d4 f6 2.f3 d6 3.g5 bd7 4.bd2 h6 5.h4 g5 6.g3 h5 7.e3 g7 8.d3 27.a3 a4 28.d1 e6 29.e3 f7 e6 9.c3 e7 10.c2 An original approach. 30.e2 hd8 31.e1 d7 32.d4 f6 [ 32...exd4 33.h5+ ] W hite continues to mobilize his forces i n t e n d i n g t o c a s t l e q u e e n s i d e w i t h o u t 33.db5 c5 34.xa4 d5 35.b3 f8 worrying about the other flank. Note that 10. 36.d1 f4 37.xf4 xf4+ 38.b1 d5 Qe2 is possible with the same idea but then 39.g3 g4 40.e1 f5+ 41.c2 f6 The time control has passed and it is there is a lesser control of the key diagonal 42.d2 b1-h7. It also takes the square from the king's obvious that the gamble has failed. This time, knight in case of a necessary reorganization the opponent did not lose the thread! b8 2403
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 43.a4 a6 44.b3 cxb5! [ 44...d7 45.e3 d4 46.f3+ g8 47.c4 ] 45.xb5 xb5 46.xb5 xb5 47.b2 d4 48.e4 e6 49.f3+ g8 50.a8+ h7 51.e4+ h8 52.a8+ g8 53.a4 [ 53.c4 b4 54.d3 ( 54.d1 e4 ) 54...e1 55.f3 h7! 56.f8 xc4! 57.bxc4 b4+ 58.c2 xf8 ] 53...f1 54.a8 e1 [ 54...dxc3+ ended the job right away. 55.xc3 c1+ 56.d3 e4+ 57.e2 c3 58.d1 ( 58.d8 e1# ) 58...c2+ 59.f1 xd1+ ] 55.c2 h7? same as [ 55...dxc3 56.d8 xf2+ 57.xc3 e4+ 58.b4 b6+ 59.a4 xb3+ 60.a5 e3 ] 56.f3 a1 But not the nice trap [ 56...xb3+? 57.xb3 xd2 58.f5+ g8 59.e6+ h8 60.c8+ h7 61.f5+ g8 62.e6+ f8 63.c8+ e7 64.c7+ f6 65.d6+ f5 66.d7+ e4 67.g4+ d5 ( 67...d3?? 68.f3+ ) 68.d7+ With a perpetual check! ] 57.cxd4 exd4 58.d3 h8 59.f5 a8 [ 59...a2+ 60.c1 xb3 61.xb3 xb3 62.c8+ g8 ] 60.f3 d5 61.d1 a2+ 62.c1 xf2 63.h5 The opportune moment when to resign is a consideration that is not unanimously appreciated by every Grandmaster! h7 64.g4 e1+ 65.d1 f2 66.g4 g1+ 67.d1 xh2 68.xd4 xd4 69.d3+ g8 70.xd4 h1+ 71.b2 f3 72.e5 xb3+ 73.c1 c4+ 74.d2 f7 75.f6 d5+ 76.c3 e6 77.d8+ g7 78.c2 b3+ 0-1
inclined to consider both [ 6.a4 ] [ A n d c h i e f l y 6.c3!? as naturally more testing. Actually this topical main game, improving on the immediate advance of the a pawn, could make me change my mind... ] 6...a6 7.a4! The only consequent continuation after W hite's previous move. For the other options please ref er to Ehre-Feick in the section. bxa4 8.xa4 [ 8.e2!? The bishop is well placed here from where he can intervene on the long diagonal via f3. b6 ( 8...h5 9.g5 ) 9.c3 xb2 10.xa4 b4+ 11.d2 e4 12.b1 xd2 13.xb4 xb4 14.f3 ] 8...b7 [ 8...c6 9.e2 b6 10.0-0 d5! 11.c3 ( 11.g3 xb2 Threatening Nb6. 12.bd2 c3 ) 11...xf4 12.exf4 xb2 13.fc1 b4 14.d1 Intending d4-d5. ] 9.e2 e7 10.0-0 0-0 11.bd2 [ 11.c3!? h5 12.d5 xf4 13.xf4 ] 11...d6 12.c4 [ 12.h3! And White has every reason to be better. ] 12...h5 This game eventually will not depart from the theme of this update! 13.g3 xg3 14.hxg3 c6 [ 14...c6 Covering the a5 square. 15.fc1 b8= ] 15.c2 b5 16.a5 White has a foot on the c file including the c6 square, and the bishop on e7 is rather passive. d7 17.xb5 axb5 18.fc1 d8 19.c3?? [ 19.b4 a6 20.c6 xc6 21.xc6 is highly unpleasant for Black ] 19...b6?? [ 19...b4! 20.xb4 xa5 21.xa5 c6 Actually wins the exchange! ] 20.d2?? g6?? When you have not seen it 2449 A46 b e f o r e , w h y w o u l d y o u b e a w a r e o f i t Mufic,Goran 2298 afterwards?! 21.db3 a7 22.d3 d8 Vernacki,Dusko 2157 23.d5 e5? [ 23...e8 24.c6 xa1 25.xa1 exd5 17th CRO-chT 1b (8) 04.09.2008 26.xd5 xc6 ( 26...c8? 27.e7+ ) [Eric Prié] 27.xc6 c7 28.xb5 b8 29.c4 d8 30.d5 ( 30.b4? xb4; 30.b3 f6 31.c2 1.f3 f6 2.d4 e6 3.f4 c5 4.c3 cxd4 xb3 ) 30...e7 31.b3 ] 5.cxd4 b5 6.e3 "The move White plays a l m o s t a u t o m a t i c a l l y i n t h i s p o s i t i o n , 24.c6 xa1 25.xa1 xc6 26.dxc6 a7 regrettably giving up on the idea of playing e4 27.c2! En route for d5. d5 28.b4 e4 [ 28...d4 29.e4 Followed by Nd5 or Nd3 if in one go." For this reason I was personally 2404
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 the queen takes b5. ] breakthrough possibilities. 10.b1 29.xb5 xe3 30.c2 [ I f h e p l a y s 10.d5 he will open an [ 30.c7 c8 31.d7 xf2+ 32.f1 b7 undisputed boulevard for the fianchettoed 33.xf2+- ] o p p o sin g d a rk-squ a re d b ish o p wit h o u t 30...b6 31.xd5 a1+ 32.h2 d1 s u f f i c i e n t t a c t i c s t o c o m p e n s a t e . g7 33.f6+ g7 34.xb6 d5 35.g4 11.dxe6 fxe6 12.d3 0-0 13.e5? xe5 [ 35.c5 xc5 36.xc5 xf6 37.c7 14.xe5 xe5 15.xg6? f4 ] h5 is covered g5 38.c8 h5+ 39.h3 ] [ And if he plays 10.e5 First of all, Black can 35...xf6 36.c7+ d6 37.xd6+ close the position by Amongst others. xd6+ 38.g3 A) 10...g7 as well, without fearing. 1-0 11.exd6 ( 11.e3 dxe5 12.dxe5 c5 13.xc5 xc5 Followed by ...b7-b6 or ... b7-b5, ...Bb7 threatening to win the 2450 A46 weakness on e5. Even simple development with ...Bd7 and ...0-0-0 is Muse,Drazen 2418 good. ) 11...cxd6 12.h5 g5 13.d5 e5 Bischoff,Klaus 2555 14.d3 c5; 3rd ch-GER Internet Blitz GpC blitz (3.1) B) 10...d5 and direct his attention to a [Eric Prié] dangerous action directed against the white long castled king by way of ... b7-b5, 1.d4 e6 2.f3 f6 3.g5 h6 4.xf6 xf6 ...Nb6, ...Nc4, ...Qb4 with the big help of 5.e4 d6 In my opinion this is the major his bishop, which is already on the right drawback of having the knight on f3: Black diagonal! Alternatively he can play the can adopt a flexible development scheme and simple ] only later attack the centre. Having conceded a small material disadvantage in the form of 10...g7 11.d3 b5 12.e2 [ 12.d5 c5 ] the "little exchange" i.e. the pair of bishops in an evolving structure -which is very important- 12...c5 13.c3 [ 13.d5? c4 ] White should play dynamically. That is to say seize the initiative and attack, making use of 13...b7 14.g3 0-0 Here we are. Black, his centre. Indeed, a lead in development is having completed development without much most of the time fleeting, while, on the other trouble, actually has the better perspectives. hand, a material advantage is here to last, 15.e2 fe8! A rook in the center, facing the much like other "static" considerations, to enemy queen is always a good move when employ the vocabulary of GM Iossif Dorfman. strengthening the position before concrete play. 16.e5? Opportune prophylaxis tends to 6.c3 [ 6.c3 d7 7.d3 e5 Another solid way of provoke such 'off beat' reactions... White has handling the position for Black. ( 7...g5!? nothing to do and cannot adjust to defence is also interesting.) 8.0-0 e7 9.bd2 0-0 straight out of the opening. [ 16.h5 g5 17.d5 exd5 18.f5 f6 ] 10.c4 e8 11.a4 a5 12.e3 f8 [ In this move order or another, White had to 13.c2 g6 14.ad1 b6 15.fe1 h5 put up with his difficulties with patience. 16.b5 c6 17.f1 e6 18.dxe5 dxe5 16.c2 ac8 17.h5 g5 19.d2 c5 Once again, when A) 18.h2 cxd4 19.cxd4 c7 20.g4 development is levelled you are aware that ec8 21.b3 f6 22.d5 xg4 23.xg4 something is cruelly missing in the white exd5 24.exd5 ( 24.xd5? c2 ) 24...a5 position: his dark-squared bishop! 20.dc4? 25.he1 ( 25.f5 f6 26.xg7 xg7 ) xc4! 21.xc4 ( 21.xc4 xe3 ) 25...f6 26.e2 a4 27.e4 e5 21...xa4! 22.d7 ( 22.xa4 xf2+ 28.c3 f4 29.xf4 gxf4 30.xb5 23.h1 g1# ) 22...b5-+ Belezky,S-Suba, ( 30.c2 xc3 ) 30...axb3 31.xc7 M La Roda op 2005 0-1(35) ] xc7; 6...d7 7.d2 a6 8.0-0-0 e7 9.h4 g6 B) 18.he1 Activity serves nothing if not As the position testifies, White lacks effective 2405
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 to make things worse: ] 16...cxd4 17.cxd4 xf3 18.gxf3 dxe5 19.h5 g5 20.dxe5 [ 20.e4 f5 ] 20...xe5-+ 21.c2 b4 After all, it is only a blitz game... [ 21...c4 was absolutely crushing. 22.e4? f6 ] 22.a3 c4 23.e3 ac8 24.c1 f4 25.xf4 gxf4 26.e4 c4 27.hg1 f8 28.b3 ed8 The power of the 2 Bischoffs: solid opening preparation allied to steady, fluid play. [ 28...xb2 29.c2 e5 30.a2 c7 ] 29.xc4 bxc4 30.c2 d3 31.d2 c3 32.b3 [ 32.e4 b8 33.b4 a5 ] 32...xf3 33.d1 e7 34.a5 c7 35.b4 h3 36.b3 xh5 37.c5 d5 38.xd5 exd5 39.xa6 a7 40.b5 d6 41.e2 [ 41.f3 d4 42.g2 d3!? leads to an abso lut ely unn ece ssary stud y-like win ! 43.xg7 e7 44.g1 e2 45.b4 b2+ 46.a1 d2 47.d1 ( 47.b6 xb4 48.axb4 c2 ) 47...c5!! 48.d3+ xb5 49.a4+ a5 50.xb2 c2 51.c4+ b4 ] 41...f3 42.e3 d4 43.xf3 d5 44.c2 c4 45.a4 e7 46.b6 d3+! 47.xd3 e2+ 48.d1 c2+ 49.xe2 c1 50.a5 c3 51.e3 xa5 52.b7 b2+ 53.d1 d2# 0-1
free his slightly cramped position. ] [ Another approach is to give up on any notion of a fianchetto in return for a central approach with 4...c6 , but after 5.d3 f6 6.0-0 d5 7.e5! White was nonetheless for choice in Kononen-Toikkanen, Oulu 2013. ] 5.0-0 g7 6.e1 d6!? [ Not such a strange square for the knight if you consider that the queen's bishop will be fianchettoed, but once again Black's problem is that it will be hard to carry out a c e n t r a l b r e a k . P r e v i o u s l y 6...b7 had been seen and after 7.d3 f6 8.e2 0-0 9.c4 e6 10.c3 d6 Black's position was at least fairly harmonious in NebolsinaPakhomova, Novosibirsk 2004. ] 7.d3 0-0 8.c4 b7 9.c3 e6 10.f4 Highly natural and sensible development from Nikolic thus far. f5?! [ Quite often the only way to justify a provocative opening is to continue in nonstandard vein and here 10...xf3! 11.xf3 c6 was required. After 12.d5 d4 13.g4 b8 14.ab1 6f5 White has the two bishops and a pull, but Black is quite well placed on the dark squares. ] 11.d5! Dealing with the threat to the d-pawn in the most aggressive manner and now the position begins to resemble a rather bad version of the English Defence for Black. a6 12.d2 d6 13.xf5! Commencing a simple but highly effective mini-plan. exf5 14.h6 xh6 2451 A46 [ B l a c k w o u l d l i k e t o g o 14...f6?? straightaway, but that would be Nikolic,Predrag 2603 embarrassed by 15.g5! . ] Petakov,Uros 2347 Gligoric Cup, Banja Koviljaca (1.3) 20.05.13 15.xh6 Taking stock we can see that Nikolic has both weakened Black's kingside and [Richard Palliser] deprived him of the bishop-pair. Moreover, Petakov is low on counterplay and can only 1.d4 f6 2.f3 b5 3.e4!? [ Just as in the reversed Sokolsky position, watch as White builds up on the kingside. f6 t h is is a t e m p t in g o p t io n , a lt h o u gh t h e 16.e3 fe8 17.ae1 xe3 18.xe3 c5 simpler 3.g5 is also a good option. See 19.h4! Nikolic makes sure that he involves as W an g Yu e-P on krato v, Zurich 2 010 , f o r many units as possible in the attack. d7 20.f4 c6 Weakening d6, but I find this hard details of this Torre approach. ] to criticise since Black really had to buy some 3...xe4 4.xb5 g6 [ As we've previously noted, 4...b7 5.0-0 counterplay before White plonked his pawn on e6 6.e1 e7 7.d3 f6 8.c4 0-0 9.c3 h 6 a n d i n va d e d d o w n t h e e - f i l e . 21.dxc6 d6 10.a4 gives White a pleasant edge. He xc6 22.d4 b7 23.db5 e5 24.xd6! has exchanged a centre pawn for one on the xd6 25.xe5 And so White has bagged a flank, but Black lacks a great pawn break to pawn. Black is able to activate his queen in 2406
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 return, but Petakov soon finds that his queen [ 7...e4? 8.c2+I hope that the is rather missed on the kingside. d2 26.h5 s u b s c r i b e r s o f t h i s s e c t i o n wi l l n o t b e c1+ 27.h2 f1 Finally Black has a threat, offended by this unnecessary reminder! ] but White's next pretty much ends the game. 8.e3 e7 28.d5 xd5 29.cxd5 [ 8...e4 9.d3 xd2 10.xd2 e5 [ T a k i n g t h e p a s s e d p a w n , b u t 29.xd5 ( 10...b4 11.a3 ) 11.0-0 d5 12.b3 b6 would have been even more clinical: for 13.dxe5 xe5 14.e2 e6 15.d4 example, f8 30.h6 xf2 31.e5 h4+ is a treat for White. ] 32.h3 f6 33.e7 . ] 9.c3 a6? 29...b5 30.hxg6 fxg6 31.e6+ g7 [ 9...d5 10.a3 As usual, pleasant for White 32.b3! A decisive switch of the rook. e8 but not more with possibly his king's knight 33.b7+ h6 heading for c5 via b3 after b2-b4 instead of [ There's absolutely no defence after his queen's knight via a4. ] 33...h6 34.f6 d8 35.e7 . ] 10.c4! d8 1-0 [ 10...c7 11.g3 d6 12.d5 exd5 13.xd5 xd5 14.xd5 wins d6. ] 11.xf6 gxf6? 2452 A46 [ 11...xf6 12.d6+ e7 13.de4 ( 13.ce4 a5+ 14.d2 xd2+ 15.xd2 Ornstein,Axel 2425 f8 ) 13...d5 14.xf6 xf6 Was the most Sjogren,Bo resistant. ] SWE-chT 9899 (3) 18.10.1998 12.d5 e5 13.xe5 fxe5 14.g3 b6 [Eric Prié] 15.d2 d6 16.g2 d7 17.0-0 0-0 f5 The main problem of doubled 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 4.h4 c5 18.ad1 p a wn s is u su a lly t h e ir l a ck o f f le xi b ilit y . 5.c3 cxd4 6.cxd4 a5+ [ 6...b6 7.c2 c6 8.xf6 gxf6 9.e3 d5 19.dxe6 xe6 20.d5 f6 21.xe6+ xe6 10.c3 d7 The intercalation of ...h6, Bh4 22.d5 d8 23.c1 Threatening a prosaic has changed very little in this line. Only f o r k o n c 7 . c8 The pawn offer is relatively Blac k's s ho rt ca stlin g cou ld be slight ly the best defence. [ 23...g6 24.c2 e4 25.f3 is devastating. ] weaker with a pawn on h6 instead of h7. If [ 23...b8 is only temporarily better: 24.c7 he plays dynamically, as he should do, f8 25.c2 g5 26.f4 exf4 27.xf4 ] inserting the idea h5-h4, it will be exactly the same! 11.e2 ( 11.a3 intending Bd3, 24.xc8 xc8 25.xe7+ xe7 26.xd6 as in last month's Mamedyarov-Nyback e6 27.d1 f7 [ 27...xd6 28.xd6 The rook ending a seems a more promising idea which also pawn down is lost because of the clears the interesting e2 square, off the c-file, combined weaknesses of b7 and h6. ] for the white queen.) 11...c8 12.0-0 a5 13.ab1 g7 ( 13...f5 14.e5; 13...c4 28.d5 h5 29.h4 b5 [ 29...f4 30.exf4 xd6 31.xd6 exf4 14.xc4 xc4 15.e4 ) 14.e4 dxe4 15.xe4 32.gxf4 e4 33.b6 xf4 34.xb7+ e8 0-0 16.h4 f5 17.e5 d8 18.g3 c6 35.a7 ] 19.xc6?! ( 19.fd1= xe5 20.dxe5 c7 a2 does not hang anymore. c6 21.d6 ) 19...xc6 20.d5? exd5 21.b5 30.d8 White wants to quickly end this game a8 ( 21...e8! 22.d3 xb5 23.xb5 31.b4! 32.c5 xb5 24.xb5 fd8 ) 22.d6 f6 with a genuine mating attack. c4 23.f4 g5 24.xg5 hxg5 25.xf5= xb4 33.c8 g4 [ 33...b1+ 34.h2 xa2 35.g8+ f6 Macieja,B-Dautov,R Olm Calvia 2004 1/2 36.xa2 ] (52) ] 7.fd2! The possibility of playing this better 34.f8+ e6 35.h6+ d5 36.c6# move, without the g5-bishop hanging anymore, 1-0 brings out the main drawback of the black move order. c6 2407
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2453 Paasikangas Tella,Johanna Kuzmin,Alexey op Andorra (4) [Eric Prié]
A46 2210 2530 1997
1.d4 f6 2.f3 d6 3.g5 bd7 4.bd2 h6 5.h4 g5 6.g3 h5 7.e4 g7 8.c3 c5 This is the standard continuation. 9.d5 [ 9.c4 cxd4 10.xd4 ( 10.cxd4 g4! 11.h4 b5! The bishop on g7 is defended by the knight on h5! 12.e3 12.Dxg4 Ndf6 a5+ 13.d2 xd2+ 14.xd2 xd4 ) 10...xg3 11.hxg3 c5 12.e3 a dubious sacrifice. After 12.f3 the position is level. xe4 13.df5 xf5 14.xf5 f8 15.xg7 xg7 16.d5 f6 17.xb7 b8 18.xa7 xb2 19.d3 c8! 20.0-0 ( 20.c4 e6+ ) 20...xc3-+ 21.ad1 e6 22.a4 c8 23.a5 c7 24.a8 d5 25.a6 d7 26.b1 xb1 27.xb1 a3 28.d1 c1 29.xc1 xc1+ 30.h2 xb1 31.c8 e5 32.c3 f6 33.c7+ g6 34.f3 xf3+ 0-1 Delemarre, J-Nijboer,F NED-Ch Leeuwarden 2003 ] [ 9.b3 a5 ( 9...b6 ) 10.a4 b6 11.b5 a6 ( 11...b7 ) 12.xa6 xa6 13.0-0 a8 14.fd2 xg3 15.hxg3 0-0 16.c4 A) 16...cxd4 17.xd4 ( 17.cxd4 f6 With the idea ...d5) 17...c8 18.e2 f6 19.f5 c7=; B) 16...c8? Black had to open the position. 17.d5! e5 18.bd2 g6 ( 18...e6 19.xe5 xe5 20.c4 ) 19.e3 e5 20.dc4 e7 21.f4 f6 22.fxg5 fxg5 23.g4 h8 24.e6 g8 25.xd6 c7 26.f7+ 1-0 Kovacevic, SLjubisavljevic,Z Mendrisio op 1985 ] 9...0-0 [ 9...xg3 10.hxg3 f6 11.d3 a6 12.a4 e6 13.dxe6 xe6 14.0-0 0-0 15.c2 c7 16.fd1 fe8 17.f1 g4 18.3d2 e7 19.c4 ae8 20.f3 e5 21.fe3 b5 22.axb5 axb5 1/2-1/2 Orso,M-Paehtz,T Berlin East 1987 ] 10.c4 df6 11.d3 xg3 12.hxg3 e6 13.dxe6 xe6 14.e3 d5! 15.e5 [ 15.xg5? hxg5 16.exd5 ( 16.e5? e4 ) 16...d7 17.c2 e8 ] [ 15.exd5 xd5 16.xd5 ( 16.f5 xf5 17.xf5 xc3! 18.bxc3 f6 19.c2
xc3+ 20.xc3 xc3+ 21.e2 fe8+ 22.d3 xa1 23.xa1 ad8+; 16.d2 xe3 17.xe3 b6 18.0-0-0 xa2 19.xg5 fe8 ) 16...xd5 17.0-0 e8 ] 15...g4 16.f5? [ 16.e2 was a lesser evil. ] 16...xf5 17.xf5 xe5! 18.xe5 e8 The point. Black wins a pawn. 19.0-0 [ 19.f4 xe5 20.fxe5 xe5+ 21.d2 xf5 22.xh6 d4 23.e2 dxc3+ 24.c2 d2+ 25.xd2 cxd2 26.ah1 g7 27.h7+ f6 ] 19...xe5 20.c2 e7 21.d3 f8 22.ad1 d8 23.b1 c4 24.f3 b5 25.h2 d6 26.d2 h5 27.d1 g4 In positions with opposite colour bishops, it is a good strategy to gain space by puttin g chains of your pawns on the colour of the enemy bishop. Mechanically, it has the effect of limiting its action and increasing that of your own b ish op. Ob viou sly th e m ate ria l advantage makes the whole thing easier. 28.g1 h6 29.d4 e6 30.h2 e2 31.b3 [ 31.c2 a5 32.a3 e5! A) 33.g1 b4 34.axb4 axb4 35.a4 ( 35.cxb4 xc2 36.xc2 xd4; 35.b1 b3 36.d1 xf2! 37.xf2 e1+ 38.f1 e3+ 39.h2 xf1 ) 35...xb2 36.cxb4 xb4 37.e1 f6; B) 33.b1 h4! 34.xg4 hxg3+ 35.fxg3 ( 35.xg3 f4 ) 35...g5 36.g6 h8+ 37.h4 ( 37.g1 e3+ ) 37...xh4 38.xf7+ g8 39.f5 xg3+ 40.xg3 e5+ 41.xe5 xg6+; C) 33.f4 gxf3 34.xf3 e1 35.f5 xd1 36.xe5 xd4 37.cxd4 g7 38.xh5 xd4 39.b3 e3 40.g4 d4 41.xb5 d3 42.b1 c3 43.b8+ e7 44.c8 c2 45.xc2 dxc2 46.xc2 d3 ] 31...g7 [ 31...h4 32.gxh4 g7 33.f5! ( 33.f4 e5 ) 33...xf5 34.xe2 xd4 35.cxd4 f4+ 36.g1 xd4 37.d1 ] 32.d2 [ 32.f4 was incredibly more tricky, after which Black would have had to get through an instructive heavy tactical phase to carry the day. xc3 ( 32...g8 33.f5 e5 34.f4 ) 33.g6! g7 ( 33...e1 34.xf7 ) A) 34.xh5 f5 35.f3 ( 35.b1 e4 2408
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 36.xe4 dxe4 37.bxc4 ) 35...d2! ( 35...e1 36.xe1 xe1 37.xe1 xe1 38.fxg4 fxg4 ) 36.c1 e2 37.xc3+! d4 38.xd2 xd2 39.fxg4 c3 40.xf5 c2 41.c5 d7!; B) 34.xf7 e5 35.g1! ( 35.f3 h4! 36.fxg4 d2! ) B1) 35...d2 36.xh5! ( 36.f5 xf5 37.xe2 b4 Trap s t h e bisho p .) 36...xf4 37.gxf4 e4 38.xg4 xa2 39.bxc4 bxc4 40.f3 xf4 41.xd5 a5 42.g3!; B2) 35...e4!! 36.bxc4 bxc4 ( 36...dxc4 37.xe4 ) 37.c1 d4! 38.xe4 dxe4 B2a) 39.xc4 e3 40.fxe3 xe3+ 41.h2 ( 41.h1 xg3 ) 41...h4 42.h5 ( 42.c7 xg3+ 43.h1 f6! 44.c1 xf1+ 45.xf1 e5 46.g1 h2+ 47.f2 f4+ 48.e2 xf1+ 49.xf1 xf7 ) 42...hxg3+ 43.h1 f6 44.c1 e5; B2b) 39.xc4 e3 40.h1 exf2 41.d3 ( 41.a3 h4! 42.gxh4 h6 43.g3 e4+ 44.h2 xh4+! 45.gxh4 e5+ ) 41...f6 42.b1 h4! 43.c8 hxg3 44.xg4+ h6 45.a4 h5+ 46.h3 f4 ] 32...xd2 33.xd2 e5 34.c1 h6 0-1
2454 Pakleza,Zbigniew Moskalenko,Viktor XXXIV Open Badalona ESP (6) [Eric Prié]
A46 2495 2569 06.08.2008
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.f4 c5 4.e3 W hen I saw GM Viktor MOSKALENKO denigrating W hite's 3rd move as "such an obscure manoeuvre" in an 'ultra-light' survey of CBM126, scarcely documented and furthermore centered on this pawn support of W hite's central anchor, rather than my advocated [ 4.c3! my blood started to boil! ] 4...b6 "A main line move played by dozens of grandmasters over the years" about the prospects of which John Cox, in his "Dealing with d4 deviations", Everyman 2006, is "not totally wild". Same as me. Indeed, I know this
motive of hitting the b2-pawn like the back of my hand. I believe it generally places the black queen in an awkward decentralized position and should be executed only in the case where it cannot be adequately met by the natural development of the Nb1 or by Rb1 when he has already freed the square. Could this represent an exception?! 5.c3 c6 improving on my previous reference: [ 5...cxd4 6.exd4 xb2 7.b5 d5 8.b1 xa2 9.d2 as in Kosic-Berczes, D Budapest 2007 ] 6.a3 [ 6.b5 as dubious as it may turn out at the end of the day, is still critical. See the next game. ] 6...h5 T h i s k e y m o v e a g a i n 7.g3?! As a reflex for the habitué of these systems (1. Nf3- 1.d4 d5 with reversed colours likewise) this bishop should be more recalcitrant! [ 7.e5! A) 7...d6? 8.dxc5 dxc5 9.b5 xe5 10.xe5 f6 11.c4 c6 12.f3; B) 7...f6 8.dxc5! xc5 9.d4 xd4 10.xd4 g6 11.e2 xd4 ( 11...g7 12.d2 Intending long castling, h2-h4 with initiative.) 12.xd4 xd4 13.exd4 f4 14.f3; C) 7...cxd4 8.b5! ( 8.xd4 xd4 9.exd4 e7= ) 8...xe5 9.xe5 f6 10.c4 c6 ( 10...c5 11.b4 c6 12.xd4 d5? 13.e5 xc2 14.d3 ) 11.xd4 ( 11.xd4 c5 The difference.) 11...c5 12.b4 ( 12.d3 d5 13.e5 a6 ) 12...c7 13.b5 b8 14.cd6+ ( 14.bd6+ xd6 15.xd6+ e7 16.b5 a6 17.d4 d5 18.c4 e5 19.f3 d8 20.c5 f8= ) 14...xd6 15.xd6 xd6 ( 15...a6!? 16.xb8 xb8 17.d6+ e7 18.d1 b5 Threatening ... Rb6. 19.c4 About the only move to prevent the threat of ...Rb6. That is why it is preferable not to have castled queenside in this variation. bxc4 20.xc4 d5 21.a5 And White might be microscopically better, although the a l l e g e d a d va n t a g e o f h i s q u e e n s i d e majority is relative with both kings centralized.) 16.xd6+ e7 17.0-0-0 d5 ( 17...a5 18.b5 d5 19.c4 ) 18.f5+ ( 18.e4!? xd6 19.f4! e8! 2409
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 20.exd5 e5 21.fxe5+ xe5 22.d3 ) 18...f6 19.g3 ( 19.d6 e7= ) 19...a5 20.c4 c7 ( 20...c3 21.d3 axb4 22.axb4 a1+ 23.b2 The Rh1 is p r o t e c t e d !) 21.e4+ ( 21.b5 d5 ) 21...e7 22.d6 e8 23.xe8 xe8 24.b5 d8= ] 7...xg3 8.hxg3 d5 9.e2 cxd4 10.exd4 a6 11.0-0 g6! 12.d2 g7 13.a4 c7 14.b4? [ 14.c3 In order to bring the knight in play via c5 to the 'magic square' d3. b6 15.f4 e5?? Black should play 15...Qb8 keeping b6 protected with an undeniable slight edge. 16.dxe5 xe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.e3 0-0 19.xb6 ] [ 14.c5? xd4 ] 14...0-0 15.c3 d8 16.f4 [ 16.c5 e5 ] 16...e5! 17.dxe5 xe5 Against the stranded knight and the c3 weakness. 18.fd1 g4 19.h1?! [ 19.ac1 xf3+ ( 19...ac8! ) 20.xf3 xf4 21.gxf4 xf3 22.gxf3 Threatening Nb6. d6 23.c4 ] 19...xf3! 20.gxf3 c6 21.c5 c4!? [ 21...b6 22.xa6 xc3 23.g2 d4 24.b5 ] [ 21...d7! 22.xd7 xd7 23.ac1 xc3 Wins a clear pawn as the state of White's queenside is not very favourable for the defence either... ] 22.xc4 dxc4 23.g2 xc3 24.xd8+ xd8 25.h1 [ 25.c1 d2 ] 25...b5 26.h4 f6 27.xh7+ f8 28.h6+ g7 29.f4 d6 30.e4 e8 31.c2 [ 31.b7 c3 32.e4 ] 31...g8 32.d1 f6 33.d7 c3 34.b3 f8 35.e4 [ 35.a7 f5 36.g4 ( 36.xa6 c2 37.g4 xc5 ) 36...f4 37.xa6 A) 37...e5! A1) 38.e4 h2+ 39.f1 c8 40.c2 ( 40.xg6+ h8 41.xf7 h1+ 42.e2 c2 ) 40...h1+ 41.e2 a1-+; A2) 38.xg6+ h8 39.c6 d8 40.e4 d3; B) 37...d2 38.c6 ( 38.xg6 c2 39.e4 c1 ) 38...d8 ( 38...b2
39.d5; 38...c2? 39.d3 d8 40.c7 ) 39.e4 ( 39.c7 f4 )] 35...c6 36.d6 c8 37.xg6! h7? [ 37...c2 38.f6+ h8 39.h6+! xh6 40.d3 A fantastic save! g7 41.h5+ h8 42.f6 ] 38.g4 c2? Time trouble... [ 38...f5 39.h4+ g6 40.c5 ] 39.d3? [ 39.g5+ g6 40.d3+ f5 41.e6+ f6 ( 41...h6 42.e3+ f4 43.e4 f6 44.h4# ) 42.xg7 c1 ( 42...xe6 43.c7 c8 44.c3+ ) 43.d6!! !!!!!!!! Of course, this is absolutely impossible to see. f7 A n e s c a p e s q u a r e t o o . ( 43...e8 T a k i n g t h e e s c a p e s q u a r e e 8 . 44.d4+ xe6 45.g6+ e7 46.d6+ f7 47.f6#; 43...1c6 44.e7+ This is the threat. e5 45.f4+ d4 46.e3+; 43...xe6 44.xf8+ e5 45.e7 3 pawns up...) 44.d4+! e7 ( 44...xe6 45.g6+ e7 46.d6+ e8 47.g8+ ) 45.a7+ xe6 ( 45...1c7 46.xc7+ xc7 47.xf7+ xf7 48.xc7; 45...d6 46.xf7 xe6 47.g6 ) 46.xf7+ d6 47.g6+ e5 48.g8 8c6 49.d8 1c4 50.g7+ e6 51.h6+ e5 ( 51...e7 52.f8+ e6 53.e8+ d5 54.xf5+ d4 55.e5+ d3 56.e2+ c3 57.e3+ d4 58.d2+ ) 52.e8+ xe8 53.e3+ e4 54.fxe4 fxe4 55.f3 ] 39...f5 40.g5+ h6! Black is finally rewarded for his unbelievable risk taking. 41.d6+ f6 42.f7+ h7 43.g5+ h6 44.f7+ h7 45.g5+ g6! 46.d3 c1 Only a f ew checks now... 47.e6+ f7 48.g5+ e7 49.e2+ e6 50.xe6 fxg4 51.c5+ f7 52.e4 8c6 53.d3 e7 0-1
2455 Palliser,Richard Edouard,Romain European Club Cup, Eilat (6.14) [Richard Palliser]
A46 2458 2664 16.10.2012
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.e3 [ Of course our game position can also come about via an e3 Queen's Indian, but after 3.c4 b6 4.e3 b7 5.d3 d5 6.cxd5 exd5 2410
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 7.0-0 Black doesn't have to put his bishop on e7 and, indeed, has scored quite well in practice with the more aggressive d6 . ] 3...b6 4.d3 b7 5.0-0 e7 [ The French Grandmaster decides to prioritise kingside development, which is a natural and prudent way to play. Moreover, I can't really deny that I was hoping for 5...c5 6.c4 e7 7.c3 cxd4 8.exd4 when White obtains quite an active set-up, as we've seen on several occasions before. ] 6.c4 0-0 7.c3 d5 8.cxd5 [ It's also possible to maintain the tension, as, for instance, Mark Hebden likes to, but after 8.b3 bd7 9.b2 one has to take into account dxc4!? 10.bxc4 c5 when 11.d5 exd5 12.cxd5 xd5! 13.xd5 xd5 14.xh7+ xh7 15.xd5 f6 has never seemed so clear to me: for example, 16.f5+ g8 17.ad1 xb2 18.xd7 f6 and while White will dominate the d-file and can still hope to attack, that black queenside majority is not to be underestimated. ] 8...exd5 9.b3 bd7 10.b2 a6!? [ A rare move and one I see I failed to consider back in the days of writing 'Play 1 d 4 ! '. I n s t e a d 10...c5 is a logical advance, but one which I believe gives W hite good chances of obtaining an edge, as indeed he did with 11.e2 ( 11.c1 followed by Bf5 is a sensible alternative) 11...e8 12.c1 a6 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.g3 b6 15.g5! f8 16.h5 in G.Pap-Klein, European Championship, Plovdiv 2012. ] [ Black can also move a rook and while going to e8 is fairly common, 10...c8 is also seen on occasion and after 11.c1 ( 11.e2 c5 12.c1 e8 13.g3 would echo Pap's logical play above) 11...c5 12.e2 e8 13.fd1 d6 14.a6! xa6 15.xa6 cxd4 16.xd4 (Palliser-Ma.White, York 2006) e5! 17.e2 xf3+ 18.xf3 e5 19.dd1 e7 Black isn't doing so badly in an IQP scenario. ] 11.c1 [ Whereas I'd played quite quickly up to this point, Edouard was definitely taking his time and here I probably should have slowed d o wn . T h e t e xt i s h a r d l y i l l o g i c a l , b u t 11.e5! wouldn't have been either and
would have crossed Black's plans. After e4 ( 11...xe5 12.dxe5 d7 13.f4 looks quite nice for W hite) 12.c2 f5 13.f3 xe5 14.dxe5 xc3 15.xc3 Black has freed his position to an extent, but also f ailed to equalise. ] 11...d6 Only now did it fully dawn on me that ...a6 wasn't just played as prophylaxis against t h e p l a n o f Q e 2 a n d B a 6 . Do h ! B l a c k i s actually a tempo down on a position which sometimes arises from the e3 Queen's Indian (see above), but even so I don't feel that White can claim any advantage here as both sides begin to manoeuvre. 12.e2 e7 [ 12...e8 also feels quite logical and after 13.g3 g6 14.c2 c8 15.fd1 e7 16.e2 a8 it wasn't so easy for either side to make progress in Narciso Dublan-Alonso Rosell, Barcelona (blitz) 2012. ] 13.g3 g6 14.c2 [ Also unbeknown to me at the time was that I'd previously given for ChessPub 14.c2 e4 "and a tough manoeuvring struggle ensued in Arutinian-Ghader Pour, Dresden 2009." Oh to have a better memory! ] 14...ac8 15.e2 e4! Much stronger than returning the rook to a8. 16.xa6 [ 16.a4 a5 makes a strange impression, but ne it h e r is t h e t e xt co m p le t e ly id e a l f o r White. ] 16...xa6 17.xa6 a8 18.b7 [ A rather risky choice. Sensible would have been 18.e2 when xa2 19.a1 fa8 20.xa2 xa2 21.a1 xa1+ 22.xa1 xg3 23.hxg3 e4 is a little better for Black, but should really be a draw. ] 18...xa2 19.c2 xg3 [ This looks strong, but Black would have d o n e b e t t e r wit h 19...df6! , retaining a definite edge. During the game I had certainly failed to realise quite how bad the potential tactics are after 20.c6 e6 when the main point is 21.fc1? xg3! and a pawn drops off. ] 20.hxg3 e4 21.fc1 b8?! [ Once again Black would have done better with 21...f6 . Bringing the knight round towards b4 takes time time which I can use to get back into the game. ] 22.d2 e6 23.e4! dxe4 24.xe4 [ 24.d5?! f5 25.c4 caught my eye too, 2411
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 but there's no good follow-up after d7 . ] 24...a6 [ Here I had been expecting 24...e8 25.e1 xe4 26.xe4 d7 27.ee2 , but Edouard prefers to continue his plan. ] 25.xe6!? [ This was criticised by my opponent and not wit h o u t go o d re a so n . Ho we ve r, I d o n ' t believe it's a mistake - my mistake was believing I had a small edge after it. Instead 25.d5 xe4 26.xe4 b4 27.f6+ would have forced a draw, since after h8 ( 27...g7 28.e8+ repeats ) 28.e4+ xb2 29.xb2 d3 White can simply go 30.xd6 cxd6 31.bc2 xc1 32.xc1 . ] 25...fxe6 26.c3 xc2 27.xc2 f7 28.e4 e7 Black is the first to bring his king into the action and if he can now regroup his knight then White may begin to regret being l e f t w i t h s p l i t q u e e n s i d e p a w n s . 29.g4 A standard advance in such positions, although it doesn't achieve too much here. h5 30.e2?! [ By this point I had half an hour left against three minutes (plus increment) and definitely became too ambitious. Of course, I considered 30.gxh5 gxh5 , but then not the simple plan of 31.f1 f5 32.e2 (if in doubt activate the king!) b5 33.b2 when White should be able to defend. ] [ Indeed, I was spending far too long on lines like 30.b4 hxg4 31.b5 b8 32.d5 exd5 33.xd6 cxd6 which just don't really achieve anything. ] 30...hxg4 31.g5 f6 32.d5?! [ Now it quickly begins to go downhill. 32.g3! was required when Re4 is the idea and b4!? 33.xb4 xb4 34.d5 e5 35.xe5+ d6 36.e4 c5 37.xg4 xd5 38.e4 should hold a rough balance. ] 32...e5 33.a2? [ I missed so many responses to this move it was rather embarrassing in the post-mortem. Even now 33.e4 wouldn't have been too bad and after f4 34.h2! d7 35.g3 White has very good chances still to hold. ] 33...f5 34.d2 b4 [ 34...c5 35.b4 d3 was another way to do it. In either case W hite's position has suddenly become quite critical. ] 35.a8 xd5 36.h8 f6 37.e4+ f7
38.d8 e7 39.g8 f7 [ 39...f6! would have been strong, but the text is plenty good enough too. ] 40.d8 e7 41.h8 h5 42.g5+ e6 43.e8+ f5 44.xd6+ cxd6 45.d2 h7 46.d8 e6 47.g8 f6 48.c8 a7 Finally Black can get around to invading the white position. 49.b8 a2 50.g5 g3! [ The bishop must go after 50...g3 51.fxg3 a1+ , since 52.h2 walks into mate: g4+ 53.h3 f2+ 54.h4 h1# . ] 0-1
2456 Petersen,Terji Rowson,Jonathan 3rd Int Torshavn FAI (1) [Aaron Summerscale]
A46 2142 2494 06.10.2000
For those players looking for an offbeat way to take on the Torre they could do much worse than to follow Jonathan Rowson's Grandmasterly example in this game. 1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 4.h4 d6 5.c3 g5 6.g3 h5 One of the most aggressive ways of playing against the Torre attack. Black turns his attentions to the bishop pair from the off, in an attempt to unbalance the game. 7.e3 g7 8.d2 xg3 9.hxg3 d7 10.f3 a6 Black prepares an instructive change in his pawn structure. 11.g4 d5 12.e4 White hits out in the center before Black can ge t c5 i n . Ne e d le ss t o s a y, o p e n i n g t h e position when faced with a pair of bishops is an extremely risky and usually unadvised strategy. 0-0 13.0-0-0 c5 Of course! Black is desperately keen to open lines so he can get at the White king. 14.dxc5 d4 15.a4 e5 The Black knight finds an excellent outpost where he is master of all he surveys. 16.e2 a5 17.b6 d3! A hammer blow for White! He must lose material. 18.b3 [ 18.cxd3 xc5+ 19.bc4 b5 is horrible for White. ] 18...dxe2 19.xa5 exd1+ Black has won a rook so W hite, quite rightly gave his Grandmaster opponent the respect that he deserved. 0-1
2412
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 2457 Piorun,Kacper Andreev,Eduard Cappelle-la-Grande Open (8.6) [Richard Palliser]
A46 2570 2499 07.03.2014
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 c5 4.e3 h6 5.xf6!? [ A new move for us, in place of the usual 5.h4 . It may seem a little strange to give up the bishop-pair having gone e3, but then again Black is already committed to ...c5 and must watch out for an early Ne4 hit. ] 5...xf6 I fear Eric wasn't too impressed with White's idea: "Black will develop his queen's bishop on to the long diagonal but without releasing the tension on d4." Whether that's such a gain, we must see. 6.bd2 d5 [ I dare say that Eric wouldn't approve of 6...cxd4 7.exd4 b6 , but this was seen in another recent game where 8.c3 b7 9.d3 e7 ( 9...d8 would avoid the following tangle, but after 10.e2 e7 11.a4 White might be able to claim an edge thanks to the ideas of a timely Ba6 and a4a5 ) 10.e2 d8!? 11.0-0 c7 12.e5 h4 13.g3 e7 14.f4 generated an edge, Nun-Hulin, Czech League 2014. ] [ Instead, 6...b6 7.d3 b7 would be more in keeping with an Eric-approved approach. This looks pretty sensible to me, as placing a piece on e4 would just lose time after a subsequent ...d5, so 8.c3 d8 9.e2 e7 could be the critical line. Perhaps here Piorun would have gone long, although White can again consider 10.a4!? , and if c6 11.a6 . ] 7.c3 [ An earlier all-grandmaster clash saw White try to pinpoint a downside to Black's last, but 7.b5+ d7 8.e2 a6 9.xd7+ xd7 10.e4 e7 11.exd5 exd5 12.0-0 0-0 13.fe1 d6 was an acceptable type of near-IQP position for the second player in Ivanisevic-Kryvoruchko, Kallithea 2009. ] 7...d6 This all looks very harmonious for Black. White does have his Colle e3-e4 break, but surely that's not going to buy him any advantage here? 8.d3 0-0 [ Apparently a novelty. Previously, 8...c6 9.0-0 0-0 10.e2 ( 10.dxc5! xc5 11.e4
wa s i n d i c a t e d , a s p e r o u r m a i n g a m e) 10...e5 11.dxe5 xe5 12.xe5 xe5 13.f3 h5 had already left Black on the more promising side of equality in Nosenko-Drozdovskij, Kharkov 2007. ] 9.dxc5 xc5 10.e4 The aforementioned break, but unlike in the Colle, White has given up the bishop-pair. c6 11.e2 dxe4?! [ This feels rather meek. Instead, Black might have indulged in a manoeuvring struggle with, say, 11...b6 12.0-0 b7 . ] [ It's worth noting too that White's position isn't as bad as your engine might have you believe - it's just about equal. Mine wants to go 11...d6 12.0-0 d7 , but after 13.fe1 c7 14.c2! begins to change its mind as to who's better. ] 12.xe4 e7 13.g4!? [ Wow. The young Polish Grandmaster is clearly happy to think outside the box. Call me old, but I'm not sure what was wrong with 13.xc5 xc5 14.0-0 e5 15.fe1 , perhaps with a small pull due to Black's light-square weaknesses. ] 13...b6 14.g5 h5 15.g1 [ Bearing in mind Black's next move, one has to consider 15.g6?! , but fxg6 16.g1 e5 sees White's ambition backfiring. ] 15...g6 16.0-0-0 g7 Wisely ensuring that Nf6 won't come with check. By this point the engines I consulted quite like W hite, but they're yet to find a devastating sacrifice on the kingside. Piorun doesn't manage to either. 17.c2 [ 17.f6!? must have been a better try, if only because Black is a little cramped and e5?! 18.e4 would leave that e5 point under some pressure. ] 17...e5 18.f6 c5 Andreev is quick to seize the chance to break out. 19.d2 e6 20.e4 [ Instead, 20.e4 e7 21.f6 c5 was a way to repeat moves, ] [ while 20.b3 xb3 21.axb3 fd8 22.gd1?! d4! was one for White to avoid. ] 20...fd8 [ An early end to an interesting struggle, but presumably neither player was too sure a b o u t t h e s i t u a t i o n a f t e r 20...fd8 21.xh5+! f8! ( 21...gxh5? 22.h7+ f8 23.g6! is rather dangerous for Black) 22.f6 2413
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 xd2 23.xd2 d8 . ] ½-½
2458 Popov,Valerij Panarin,Michail Open Voronezh (8) [Richard Palliser]
A46 2592 2521 20.06.2010
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g3 b5 4.g2 [ Romanishin has dabbled in the immediate 4.g5 of late. A sensible response is d5 ( B la c k c a n a l so d e l a y t h i s wit h 4...e7 5.g2 b7 6.0-0 and only then go d5 , as we'll see in the notes to his 4th move, below ) 5.bd2 b7 , after which 6.xf6!? gxf6! ( 6...xf6 7.e4! was presumably W hite's idea when matters aren't entirely clear, but he should be at least a little for c h o ic e a n d m o r e i n t h e e ve n t o f dxe4?! 8.xb5+ e7 9.e5 f5 10.dc4 ) 7.g2 d7 8.0-0 c5 9.c3 e7 10.a4 bxa4 11.xa4 0-0 12.b3 c7 saw Black's bishop-pair offset the slight damage to his kingside in Romanishin-Franco Alonso, Nettetal 2010. ] 4...d5!? Panarin is happy to close the long d ia go n a l wi t h o u t d e l a y. T h is is q u i t e a n ambitious approach - Black hopes to prevent W hite breaking with both c4 and e4 - but does nonetheless usually lead to quite a solid position. Moreover, we should not forget that the idea of an early space-gaining d4 is by no means unknown in the Sokolsky and think too of the Speckled Egg variation: 1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 g6 3 b4!?. [ Black can also develop with 4...b7 5.0-0 e7 6.g5 before going d5 , as he did in Telljohann-Kunin, Bad Wiessee 2010, where 7.c3 0-0 8.bd2 bd7 9.xf6 xf6 10.b4 (was this really more than an attempt to block the position and make a draw by the lower-rated white player?) a5! 11.a3 a4 12.e5 d6 was very comfortable and clearly fine for Black. ] 5.0-0 bd7 6.c3 The Russian Grandmaster hopes that the a4-break will pose problems. White has tested a number of other ideas of late without really troubling Black, although variation 'c' could do with further testing:
[ a) 6.bd2 b7 ( in an earlier round of the European W omen's Championship, Pia Cramling had preferred 6...e7 , but after 7.c3 0-0 8.a4 b4 9.c4 a5 10.cxd5 exd5 11.b3 White had a decent position in this version of the Queen's Indian in MolchanovaP.Cramling, Rijeka 2010 , a nd a f ter th e active defence e4 12.f4 c5 one route to the advantage would have been the simple 13.fd2 ) 7.a4 b4 8.a5 c8 ( 8...a6 had been seen in the earlier Cosma-C. Foisor, Baile Olanesti 2010, but I wonder if C r a m l i n g f e a r e d 9.e4!? when xe4 10.xe4 dxe4 11.g5 sees White regaining the pawn with a pull, as after f6 12.e1 d6 13.xe4 xe4 14.xe4 xe4 15.xe4 0-0 16.e2 Black would surely prefer the b-pawn to still be at home) 9.c4 bxc3 10.bxc3 e7 11.c4 c5 gave Black decent-enough counterplay in Cosma-P.Cramling, Rijeka 2010, where 12.b2 0-0 13.a4 c6 14.a2 dxc4 15.xc4 d5 confirmed that Black had definitely equalised. ] [ b) 6.d3 a6 7.bd2 b7 8.b3 sees White striving to open the queenside with c4, but c5 sees Black beating him to it and after ( and is even stronger here than 8...b4 , as played in the analogous position we considered in the notes to Black's 5th in Burmakin-Kniest) 9.c3 ( 9.c4 cxd4 10.cxd5 xd5 is fine for Black, as White must avoid 11.xd4? e5 12.c3 c8 13.b2 b4 , which exploits his potentiallyloose knight on d4) 9...e7 10.b2 0-0 11.ac1 b6 12.b1 a5 it was Black who was pressing on the queenside and slightly for choice in Kovar-Babula, Czech Championship, Ostrava 2010. ] [ c) 6.a4!? b4 7.c4 is a better way of implementing a key advance, but after bxc3 8.xc3 a6 9.c2 c6 10.d1 e7 11.b1 b8 12.e4 0-0 I'm by no means certain that Black was worse in this Queen's Indian/Catalan-style position in Inarkiev-Alekseev, European Championship play-off, Rijeka (rapid) 2010. ] 6...b7 [ Natural enough, but does Black really need to complete the fianchetto without delay h a v i n g g o n e . . . d 5 ? I n s t e a d 6...c5!? 2414
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 looks quite critical and after 7.a4 b4 8.dxc5 ( I wouldn't be so keen to develop Black's bis hop f or him a nd it 's he re th at W h it e should look to improve might 8.cxb4!? cxb4 9.f4 and if h5 10.bd2!? not offer him chances for an edge, or is he just too weak on the c4-square?) 8...xc5 9.cxb4 xb4 10.d2 xd2 11.xd2 e4 12.d4 f6 Black was fine in Stohl-Stocek, Hustopece (rapid) 2009. ] 7.a4 a6 Presumably this was the point behind Black's last, but now White is able to develop actively and swiftly, with a small pull. 8.g5 d6 9.a3! Had Black got in ...c5, he'd pro b a bly b e O K , b u t h e h a sn't a nd e ve n Panarin's active implementation of that break isn't quite enough for him to equalise. bxa4 10.c4 c5!? 11.d2!? [ White increases the tension down the long diagonal and brings his own light-squared bishop into play, but I suspect that 11.cxd5!? xd5 12.xf6! was the correct route to an edge: xf6 ( not ideal, but neither is the recapture with the g-pawn or even 12...xf6 13.xa4 cxd4 14.c4 xc4 15.xc4 0-0 16.xd4 and White is somewhat for choice, thanks to his superior bishop and the weakness of a6) 13.xa4+ d7 14.c4 xa4 15.xa4 and Black comes under pressure in the queenless middlegame. ] 11...cxd4 12.cxd5 xd5 13.xd5 exd5 14.xf6! Even here this timely exchange causes Black some problems. xf6?! [ Tamely acquiescing to an inferior IQP position. Presumably Panarin disliked the pin 14...xf6 15.xa4 , b u t a f t e r d8! I haven't managed to find anything e s p e c i a l l y s t r o n g f o r W h i t e : 16.xa6 ( there's not enough time to gang up on d4 with both knights in view of the possibility of 16.b3 0-0 17.c2 d3! ) 16...0-0 17.b5 ( 17.b3 b8 gives Black decent-enough counterplay, as he can now strike after 18.b5 with xg3!? 19.xf6 xf6 20.hxg3 xb5 ) 17...c5 18.a3 fe8 19.xd6 xd6 and despite the doubled dpawns and White's passed b-pawn, Black seems to have enough activity to maintain a rough balance. ] 15.xa4+ d7 16.b5! Eliminating Black's bishop and thereby guaranteeing himself a
pleasant edge after all. 0-0 [ 16...b8?! would have kept the bishop covering c7 and immune from attack, but after 17.fc1 0-0 18.xd4 xa4 19.xa4 it would hardly have been at all active and Black would have come under heavy pressure. ] 17.xd6 xd6 18.xd4 e6 19.fe1 [ This prepares White's next, but most would have preferred to grind away with the moreroutine 19.e3 fc8 20.fc1 , even if Black does have good chances to hold the resulting slightly-worse endgame. ] 19...fc8 20.e4!? A surprising decision from the Russian Grandmaster - does W hite's advantage really grow or even remain the same once the IQP has been replaced by his more-centralised forces? dxe4 21.xe4 c6 [ This may be a little imprecise. Indeed, I rea lly ca n't te ll you wh y B lack reje cte d 21...xe4 22.xe4 c6 , since the doublerook ending after 23.e7 e8 24.d7 xd7 25.xd7 e6 is surely holdable without that much difficulty, slightly tied down though Black might be. ] 22.a5 [ White activates his rook down the file to t h e m a x i m u m , b u t 22.b4! xe4 ( Black must deal with the threat of 23 b5 and 22...ac8 23.c5 definitely favours W hite , since h3 24.d2 g4 25.f3 keeps everything covered) 23.xe4 f5 24.ae1 was likely a better way of coordinating the major pieces. W hite definitely has a pull here, although whether he'd have been able to do so much with it is somewhat less clear. ] 22...xe4 23.xe4 c1+ 24.g2 c6 25.d5 [ I'm assuming that this logical centralisation was played. Instead the gamescore gives the gobbledegook 25.a3? g6? ( 25...f5 wins the rook) 26.h4? h5? 27.g4 hxg4 28.h5? c8? 29.hxg6? and now '1-0', but again f5 is possible. ] 25...g6? [ A bad misjudgement. After 25...h6 26.g4 g6 27.h3!? White would have had some pressure on the kingsid e, but, perhap s surprisingly, this was a much better defensive try for Black. ] 2415
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 26.h4! Popov is quick to spot his chance and already Black is in some trouble. h5? [ White ploughs on after this. Bringing the q u e e n ' s r o o k i n t o p l a y w i t h 26...c8! was much a better try. The resulting single rook endgame is unpleasant af ter 27.h5 c4 28.xc4 xc4 29.xc4 xc4 30.h6! c8 31.d7 f8 32.a7 c6 33.a8+ e7 34.h8 , but it seems that Black can hold with f6 35.xh7 c8 , trapping White's rook and after 36.f4 b8 37.b4!? ( t h e b e s t t r y 37.h3 a5 38.g4 , for instance, allows Black a fairly easy draw with g5 39.g7 b3+ 40.g2 xb2+ 41.f3 gxf4 42.xf4 b4+ followed by checking where appropriate and bringing his rook to the h-file) 37...xb4 38.h8 b2+ 39.h3 b1 40.g4 g5 41.g8 gxf4 I haven't managed to find a way (or perhaps I should say tactical trick) for White to win. ] 27.g4! With his rooks preventing Black from doing anything down the long, light-square diagonal, White is quite safe to advance thus. hxg4 [ Now White's h-pawn becomes the decisive attacker. Black might have counterattacked with 27...a1 , b u t a f t e r 28.c5! ( m u c h c l e a r e r t h a n 28.gxh5? c1 29.d8+ xd8 30.xd8+ g7 31.d4+ f6 32.h6+ xh6 33.xf6 h1+ ) 28...b7 29.gxh5 e8 30.d5 e1 31.h6! f6 32.xe1 xe1 33.f3 White would have d o m i n a t e d a n d I su s p e ct t h a t B l a c k i s un a ble to d ef e nd h ere wit h h is king so exposed. ] 28.h5 c8 [ This loses, but Black appears to be d e f e n c e l e s s in a n y ca s e : f o r e xa m p le , 28...f8 29.hxg6 f5 30.e7 f6 31.de5! c6+ 32.e4! and there's no satisfactory way to avert mate after xg6 33.4e6 . ] 29.hxg6 [ Resignation may seem premature, but presumably Panarin was despondent having seen his position collapse rather suddenly since the slightly surprising 21 e4!?. H o w e v e r , h e r e a f t e r 29.hxg6 f6 ( Black has to try and keep the long diagonal closed: 29...fxg6? 30.e7 is curtains,; as is 29...xg6? 30.xg4 ) 30.d6 b5 31.d8+ g7 32.d7+ g8 33.h7
White's rook is secure and he wins. The only way to try and put up any resistance is b3 , b u t a f t e r 34.f4! d1 35.e4 d5 36.xd5+ xd5 37.xf6 the double-rook e n d i n g s h o u l d b e wi n n i n g wi t h o u t t o o much difficulty. ] 1-0
2459 Poulton,James Prie,Eric Challengers Hastings (4) [Eric Prié]
A46 2255 2460 1992
1.d4 f6 As a second stage on the road to improvement, playing the king's Indian against 1.d4, at least I hindered my opponents from playing e4... 2.f3 d6 3.c3 f5 4.g5 bd7 5.h4 g6 6.xg6 [ 6.d2 e6 7.xg6 hxg6 8.e4 e7 9.0-0-0 c6 10.b1 d5 11.f3 ( 11.e5 g8 12.e3 h6 ) 11...a6 12.exd5 cxd5 13.d3 a5 14.e2 xd2 15.xd2 d6= Desbonnes,S-Prie,E Fra-Cup 1993 0-1(54) ] 6...hxg6 7.e4 e6 8.c4 Not the best square for this bishop, especially considering that the idea of 6...e6 is to play ...c6 and ...d5 to regain control over the white squares after Black exchanges his queen's bishop. [ 8.f3 c6 9.0-0-0 With a small plus, is the correct approach. ] 8...e7 9.0-0? [ 9.f3 c6 ] 9...xe4! 10.xe7 xe7!? [ 10...xc3 11.xd8 xd1 12.xc7 xb2 13.b3 e7 ( 13...d5 14.ab1 c8 15.e5 c4 16.xc4 xc4 17.xb7= ) 14.ab1 hc8 15.xd6+ ( 15.a5 c4 16.xc4 xc4 17.xb7 xc2 ) 15...xd6 16.xb2 c3 ] 11.xe4 d5 12.xd5 [ 12.e2 h4 13.h3 xe4 ] 12...exd5 13.c3 0-0-0 The point. The pawn is taboo because of ...Qd6. Black is slightly be t t e r d u e t o (o ve rest im a t ed ! ) a tt a c k in g possibilities on the kingside and his more active pieces but undoubtedly it was preferable to opt for the ending 3 moves ago. 14.d3 [ 14.d2 b6 ] 2416
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 14...de8! Now, to be able to achieve something, he should not neglect any positional factor. 15.g3 f6 16.ab1 h5 17.b4 f5 [ 17...g5? 18.xd5! xd5 19.g4+ f5 20.xh5 f4 21.f3 ] 18.b5 h5 19.e3 d8?! I was sure that the position deserved more than [ 19...xe3 20.fxe3 f6 ( 20...xe3 21.xf5 gxf5 22.xd5 e2 23.f1 g6 24.g4! fxg4 25.xf7 xc2 26.e7+ d7 27.xg6+ e6 28.f2 xf2 29.xf2 f5 30.e5 f4 ) 21.be1 d7 But against good defence I was wrong. ] [ Anyway, 19...d7 was probably a better square 20.d2 f4 21.be1! h8 22.f3 d6 23.g3 e6 24.f4 b4 With some initiative. ] 20.d2 f4 21.g3 [ 21.fe1 h8 ] 21...g5 22.bd1 h8 [ 22...h5 23.f3 ( 23.gxf4 g4+ 24.h1 f3+ 25.g1 xf4 26.h3 g4+! 27.hxg4 h8 ) 23...h3+ 24.g2 ( 24.h1 xf3 ) 24...g5 ( 24...h8 25.g4 ) 25.d3 ( 25.f4 e4 26.xe4 dxe4 27.de1 xb5 ) 25...h3+ ( 25...h8 26.h4 e6 27.e2 ) 26.g1 h8 27.e2! ( 27.d2 xf1+!! 28.xf1 xf3+ 29.g2 xd3 30.xd3 c6 ) 27...e6 28.g2 h7 29.f4 ] 23.f3 Parrying the menace. [ 23.a4 xh2!! 24.xh2 h5+ 25.g1 h3+ 26.g2 ( 26.h2 xf2+ 27.g2 h3+ 28.g1 h1# ) 26...f3+ 27.h2 h5 And Mate next move. ] 23...h3+ [ 23...h3 24.e2 ] 24.h1 f6 25.e3 [ 25.f4!? g5 26.g2 gxf4 27.xd5 d6 28.c4 fh5 29.xf4 xf4 30.xf4 xh2+ 31.xh2 xh2+ 32.xh2= ] 25...fh5 26.d2 d6 27.g2 g5 Black understands a bit late that his attack la ck s e n ou gh m at e ria l t o b re a k t hro ugh . 28.e2 e6 29.f4!? e8 30.d3 f8 31.g1 d7 32.f3 f6 33.e5 e6?! [ 33...e7 ] 34.c1 [ 34.e1! And it's Black's turn to be cautious. g4! ( 34...e4 35.c4 f5 36.c5 ) 35.ge2 xe5 36.xe5 xe5= ]
34...e4 35.c4 f6 36.xg6? Under pressure since the opening, W hite eventually cracks. [ 36.c2!! fxe5 37.cxd5 xg3+ 38.xg3 ( 38.g1 b6 ) 38...xd5+ 39.g2 e7 40.dxe5 f5 is roughly equal. ] [ 36.g4 h4! 37.xg6 xg4 ] [ 36.cxd5 xd5 37.c2 xg3+ 38.g1 xd4+ 39.f2 e2+ 40.xe2 fxe5 ] 36...f5! Traps the knight 37.c2 [ 37.g4 f2+ 38.xf2 xh2+ 39.xh2 xd3 ] [ 37.e7+ xe7 38.a3 e6 39.cxd5 ( 39.xa7 dxc4 40.a8+ d7 41.xb7 c3 ) 39...d6 40.xa7 xd5 ] 37...xg6 38.cxd5 f7 39.b6 axb6 40.a4 d6 41.gc2 xd5+ 42.g1 c6 0-1
2460 Predojevic,Borki Berg,Emanuel Norwegian League (2.5) [Richard Palliser]
A46 2602 2547 02.11.2013
1.d4 f6 2.g5 e6 3.d2 h6 4.h4 c5 [ Ivanchuk recently reached this position as W hite and faced 4...d5 , which must have pleased him. However, after 5.e3 c5 6.c3 c6 , rather than transpose to a fairly pleasant line of the Torre, he pref erred 7.f4?! . It's tempting to set up a Stonewall, of course, but unfortunately this asks too much o f W h i t e ' s p o s i t i o n . I n d e e d , a f t e r b6 ( E r i c r a t h e r l i k e s t h e s i m p l e 7...e7 for Black,; and even 7...g5!? 8.fxg5 h7 might be possible) 8.b1 d7 9.d3 d6 10.h3 ( keeping f3 free for the other knight 10.gf3 would be the natural move, but with g4 11.e2 g5! Black seizes the initiative, since 12.fxg5 hxg5 13.xg5 g3+ is not really what White wants to be doing) 10...e7 11.e2 c7 12.f2 0-0-0 13.a3 dg8 Black was slightly for choice in Ivanchuk-Zhao Xue, Cap d'Agde (rapid) 2013. ] 5.e3 [ Standard, although it's notable that Richard Pert p ref ers t he uncom pro misin g 5.e4!? in his recent work. ] 2417
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 5...e7 6.c3 b6 7.gf3 b7 8.d3 d6 Black often makes an early exchange on d4 in this variation, but there's nothing wrong with maintaining the tension as Eric has shown. 9.0-0 The Bosnian Grandmaster isn't afraid to give up the bishop-pair. In this tabiya practice has also seen: [ a) 9.h3 bd7 10.e2 d5 saw Black equ alisin g in P rie -Ab ergel, Ville neu ve Tolosane 2006, which can be found in the Archive. ] [ b) In his notes to his encounter with Abergel, E r i c a l s o c o n s i d e r e d 9.e2 and recommended that Black should then castle followed by a timely ...Nd5 or ...Nh5. A more aggressive plan is g5!? 10.g3 g4 and after 11.h4 g8 12.h3 h5 A) 13.0-0-0!? might be tried, since d5 ( 13...bd7 14.hxg4 hxg4 15.c4 c7 would be a more solid and pretty sensible approach from Black) 14.hxg4 xg4 15.f5!? exf5 16.xh5 gives White a surprisingly strong initiative for the piece; B) 13.hxg4 hxg4 14.e4 cxd4 15.cxd4 d5 chances were about equal in Nguyen Van Hai-Amin, Kazan 2013. ] 9...bd7 [ Continuing to develop along sensible lines, b u t B l a c k m i g h t a g a i n c o n s i d e r 9...g5!? when 10.g3 h5 is a typical anti-Torre ploy to net the bishop-pair. However, I'd be quite happy with this version as White, since it's not clear where Black's king is going. Moreover, 11.a4 begins to probe ( and 11.e4!? might be even stronger. )] 10.e4 0-0 11.e1 h5 This simplifying manoeuvre reveals the downside to White's set-up in Eric's view. Indeed, it's hard not to feel that Black should be fine here, but the position is far from unplayable for White, as we'll see. 12.xe7 xe7 13.a4 [ This move is rarely a bad one in the Torre, staking out some useful space, dissuading any notion of a minority attack by Black, and hoping to even obtain some pressure after a4-a5. In the only previous test of this pos ition which I cou ld f in d, the sligh tly mysterious or overly prophylactic 13.c1 was preferred and after f4 14.f1 fd8 15.g3 g6 16.g2 b5 Black obtained sufficient counterplay in Aguirre Izaguirre-
Sher, Oviedo 1993. ] 13...f4 14.f1 cxd4 15.xd4! [ This may not lead to the best ever version of an Open Sicilian for W hite which you'll see, but it does look like the best way to set B la ck s o m e p r o b l e m s. I n s t e a d , 15.cxd4 fc8 16.g3 g6 seems OK for Black and possibly even more than that in the event of 17.g2?! d5 (never forget to always consider all the pawn breaks!) 18.e5 b4 .] 15...d5? [ This break still feels very natural here, but runs into some surprising problems. As such, Berg should have retained the tension, such as with 15...a6 16.g3 g6 17.f4 ac8 when it's hard to believe that Black should be doing too badly in this unusual type of Sicilian. ] 16.g3 g6 [ The tactics may work for Black after 16...g5 in that he isn't losing material, but 17.a5 is still quite pleasant for White: for example, dxe4 18.xe4 xe4 19.xe4 d5 20.g2 7f6 21.e1 with a dream Catalan-like scenario. ] 17.a5! When White went a4 it looked like a useful move and now we get to see that the advance of the a-pawn really can pack a certain punch. bxa5 [ Not what he wanted to do, of course, but perhaps only now did Berg realise that after 17...dxe4? White can do much better than recapture . Indeed , 18.a6 d5 19.c4 traps Black's bishop mid-board. Material can b e sa ve d wit h f6 ( and not 19...b4? 20.a4 ) 20.cxd5 xd4 , but after 21.dxe6 fxe6 22.xe4 de5 23.xd4 f3+ 24.g2 xd4 25.ac1 the endgame looks most unpleasant for the second player to have to defend. ] 18.exd5 xd5 19.xa5 Predojevic has obtained everything he could ask for from the e a rly m i d d le ga m e wit h B la ck n o w u n d e r serious pressure on the queenside. b6?! [ A second mistake. Quite possibly Berg didn't like lines such as 19...f6 20.a4 , but after c7 21.a1 e5 Black does at least obtain a bit of counterplay in return for the falling a-pawn. ] 20.c4 f6!? 2418
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 [ A decent attempt to activate and so avoid 20...b7 21.c5 d5? 22.c6 when Black loses material due to the pin down the efile. ] 21.cxd5 xd4 22.dxe6 fxe6 [ This pawn won't last for long, so perhaps 22...ad8!? should have been tried. After the calm 23.e2 ( 23.e7 is a simpler approach and after xe7 24.xe7 xd2 25.xd2 xd2 26.b3 White enjoys a clear advantage in the endgame) 23...xb2 24.e1 fxe6 25.h3 h8 26.xe6 f6 27.xa7 White enjoys a strong initiative, albeit not as strong a one as he obtains in the game. ] 23.e2 xb2 24.xe6+ h7 I dare say that Berg may have hoped he'd be able to defend this position somehow, such as by giving up a7 to trade some pieces and hold the resulting 3 vs. 2 endgame. However, W h ite is ab o ut to in crea se h is in itia tive . 25.d3! Pinning if not quite winning. f6 26.e2 h8 Wisely stepping out of the pin, but the position remains most uncomfortable for Black on account of his kingside holes, we a k b a c k r a n k a n d p o o rl y co o rd i n a t e d pieces. 27.b5 d4 28.b3 Predojevic is quick to activate his pieces and continue creating threats. d6 29.c5 f8?! [ Too defensive. Black had to try and stay a c t i v e w i t h 29...d4 30.d1 d6 , unpleasant though his position would have remained after 31.h5 . ] 30.e4 Ratcheting up the pressure. Suddenly the d7-square is a major concern for Black as well as the b1-h7 diagonal. c8? [ 30...d8? fails to 31.e6 , ] [ and only a machine could find a defence here, which it does with 30...d6! . After 31.xb6 axb6 32.xa8+ f8 33.e4 xc5 34.e2 f6 35.c2 f8 Black is still on the board, although one's money would remain on a white victory after, say, 36.c7 g8 37.h4 . ] 31.xb6! xb6 32.d7 Not only will this regain the exchange, but the loose knight on g6 will finally fall. b4 33.xb6 xe4 34.xe4 Impressive powerplay from Predojevic. 1-0
2461 Prie,Eric Abergel,Thal L'Open de l'Ouest Toulousain (4.1) [Eric Prié]
A46 2467 2426 01.03.06
1.d4 f6 2.f3 e6 3.g5 h6 4.h4 b6 5.e3 b7 6.bd2 e7 7.d3 c5! 8.c3 d6 9.h3 White is obliged to prepare the transfer of his bishop onto the other diagonal with Bg3 with this move, in order to be able to play Qe2! As a matter of fact [ 9.e2 appears playable right now, something that proved too difficult for me to work out at the time. A) 9...cxd4 10.cxd4 d5 11.g3 b4 12.b5+ 8c6 ( 12...d7 13.c4! a6 14.xd6+ xd6 15.xd6 axb5 16.xb4 ) 13.0-0 a6 14.a3! axb5 15.axb4 0-0 ( 15...a7 16.a3 0-0 17.fa1 b8 18.e4 ) 16.xb5 d5 17.xa8 xa8 18.c1 xb4 19.c7 And White wins a pawn. e8 20.xb6; B) 9...0-0! However and then what?! 10.a3 The only move, with the white queen already committed to e2, in order to g u a r d t h e v i t a l s q u a r e b 4 . ( 10.0-0-0? cxd4 11.cxd4 d5 12.g3 b4 ) 10...bd7 All right but what about the next move? 11.0-0 ( 11.0-0-0 a6 With the pawn already on a3 and Black naturally faster, following up with b7-b5-b4, it does not seem very wise for W hite to castle q u e e n s i d e .) 11...c8 This position appears enjoyable for W hite but unfortunately I do not see any plan for me since on 12.e4 There is always ( 12.a6 c7; 12.fe1 e8 Followed by ...Qc7, or the Reti plan ...Rc7, and ...Qa8, ...a6, etc, now that the Be7 is protected. So Black is not out of good moves to strengthen his position either!) 12...h5! Grrr, damn bishop! 13.xe7 xe7 14.e3 cxd4 15.cxd4 e5 Unless of course to play 12.h3 a n d . . . B g 3 ! T h is wa s t h e s t r a w wh i c h sparked off the incident: If I have to play h2-h3 in any case, then the bishop would have been better placed on the b8-h2 diagonal in the first place! ] [ So the hyper subtle h3 proved the best I c o u l d c o m e u p w i t h s i n c e 9.g3? 2419
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 directly was firmly countered by h5 ] 9...bd7 10.e2 [ 10.a3 ] 10...d5! Unfortunately, my young opponent (now t he pos sessor of 2 GM norms) wa s awake that morning. [ 10...cxd4 11.cxd4 d5 12.e4! T h a t g o o d o l d t r i c k . c7 13.xe7 where it is a completely different story with the opening of the c-file. ] 11.g3 [ 11.e4 c7! 12.g3 ( 12.xe7 xe7 ) 12...cxd4 13.cxd4?! ( 13.xd4 a6 ) 13...f5 14.ed2 b4 ] 11...cxd4! 12.exd4 I have been caught, and forced to take back away from the centre, but I thought I could exploit some dynamic asset to make up f or it. 7f6!! No sooner was I disillusioned. 13.b5+ f8 14.a6 [ 14.h2 h5 15.g3 g6 followed by ... Kg7 was not much to my taste. ] 14...c6! The exchange of the bishops would give me a tempo and enough squares for the queen so that I could counter the installation of an enemy knight on f4 with the strong plan of Rfe1, c2-c4 and d4-d5. 15.b5 [ 15.c4 h5 16.xd5 xd5 17.0-0 A) 17...g5 18.c4 b7 19.d5!? exd5 20.d4 f6 21.d3; B) 17...g5 18.c4 b7 19.e4 f4 ( 19...f4 20.fd2 ) 20.c2; C) 17...xg3 Also, without unjustified fear o f t h e o p e n e d f - f i l e . 18.fxg3 g6 And W hite has nothing, at least... 19.c4 b7 20.f2 g7 21.e5 f8! 22.xf7? e8; D) 17...g6 Simply 18.h2 g7 And Black is slightly better thanks to his 2 bishops. ] 15...b7 16.a6 c6 17.b5 Ridiculous for the second time in a row with my pet Torre... ½-½
2462 Prie,Eric Dranischnikov,Egor Reinland-PfÃlz liga1 (6.1) [Eric Prié]
A46 2467 2289 29.01.2006
1.d4 f6 2.f3 I dropped the Tromp the year before, not because of its major problem, or at least the most easy to handle almost without preparation, especially for the Nimzo player, 2...e6, but because of more annoying reasons that I had besides glimpsed in these columns and that I will expose next month. So the switch to the Torre was easy f or me, practically overnight without any specif ic theoretical work to put in. Then I enjoyed the normal kind of success one should expect when one believes in what one is playing. After one year however - were my opponents more inspired or better prepared? The fine piece of strategy started to jam. And I begun to understand, not necessarily that there was something wrong in developing the bishop in the most natural way to g5 in this position, but that it also contained some inconveniences my opponent could take advantage of (with precise play) to level the game in an unsatisfactory way for me. So here are my last 3 games with the system which emphasize a crucial concern of this section about th e positioning of White's dark-squared bishop. e6 3.g5 b6 At this stage Black can postpone 3... h6 4. Bh4 which, in fact, repulses the bishop onto a slightly more favourable square away from ...Ne4 tricks. 4.bd2 [ 4.e4?! Gambiting the 2 bishops h6 ] 4...b7 5.e3 h6 6.h4 e7 7.d3 With his hyper-prophylactic move 3.c3 (before playing Bg5) against an opposing ...c7-c5 reaction, great Torre expert Mark Hebden believes he can still grind out some kind of edge by letting Black play ...Nf6-e4, exchanging at least 2 pieces, I do not. d6 8.c3 compulsory this time. [ 8.e2 d5 9.g3 b4 ] 8...bd7 [ 8...c5! 3 And White has no time for his plan. See game ] 9.e2 c5 10.0-0-0 Because of a small ta ct ical ide a, W hite h as b ee n ab le t o d o without a3 and it is fortunate with this set-up 2420
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 implying long castling! c7 [ 10...d5 11.e4! xh4 12.xd6+ f8 13.xb7 e7 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.xh4 xh4 16.b5 ] [ If Black wants to ensure the exchange of the bishops, then h e has to reduce th e central tension. 10...cxd4 11.cxd4 d5 12.xe7 xe7 But then White changes plan 13.a6 followed by some action on the kingside assuming that Black will castle there, facilitated by the contact point of h6, something that Black is deprived of on the opposite wing. If Black more castles qu e en s ide , W h it e will se t his ce n t re in motion with Kb1, g2-g3 (to control f4) and e3e4. ] 11.b1 a6 12.e4 White has obtained a nice position almost effortlessly and Black has to think twice before castling kingside because of the risk of a sudden aggression beginning with g2-g4. b5 [ 12...h5? 13.xe7 f4 ( 13...xe7 14.g3 ) 14.xd6 ] 13.e5?! Too early. some adequate preparation was required. [ 13.h3! Intending Bg3, possibly Bh2, and only then this thrust . It is here that th e awareness of the better placement of the bishop onto the London diagonal started to gain ground in my mind... ] 13...dxe5 14.dxe5 d5 15.g3 [ 15.xe7 A) 15...xe7 16.e4 xe4 ( 16...xe5? 17.d6+! xd6 18.xb5+ axb5 19.xd6 ) 17.xe4; B) 15...xe7! This square may be the ideal position for the black king! After the e x c h a n g e o f b i s h o p s t h e e 5 - p a wn i s weaker and that is obvious in the line 16.e4 xe5 17.xe5 xe5 18.xc5? xc3+ 19.bxc3 xc5 It is also more delicate to control f4 against that superb k n i g h t o n d 5 wi t h g 3 b e c a u s e o f t h e opening of the long diagonal which means that black will have sort of a f ree rein against the enemy castle ] 15...c4! 16.c2 c5 Sorry, no Nd2-e4-d6 now. 17.e4 Still, White has a subtle regrouping idea that will fail just short by one tempo... xe4 18.xe4 0-0-0 19.h4 [ 19.d2 g5 20.f3 xd2 21.xd2 e7 ]
19...d7 20.d2 hd8 21.f3 b6 22.e4 xd1+ 23.xd1 xd1+ 24.xd1 d7! because of the weakness of e5 forcing now... 25.d6+ [ 25.d4 c5 26.d6+? xd6! ] 25...xd6 26.exd6 xf3! Not under the best conditions because of this intermediate move. [ 26...c5 27.c1 ( 27.xb7+ xb7 28.f3+ d5 29.xf7 d1# ) 27...d5 28.h5! e5 29.f3 xf3 30.xf3 xd6 31.xf7 d3 The same problem in any case. ] 27.xf3 b7 28.xf7 e4+ 29.c1 e1+ 30.c2 e2+ 31.c1 e1+ ½-½
2463 Prie,Eric Dumitrache,Dragos Masters op Montpellier (9.8) [Eric Prié]
A46 2435 2514 15.07.2003
1.d4 f6 2.c3 e6 3.g5 We shall specifically discuss, some other time, the pros and cons of White's flexible and prophylactic second move that I had played for almost a year before moving on to the Trompowsky. However, one thing is clear in my opinion: B l a c k h a d b e t t e r p l a y 2 . . . d 5 le a v i n g h i s opponent with no other choice than playing another symmetrical, boring, equal London since now he has just transposed into another interesting line of the 2. ..e6 Tromp! Standing back from what happened to me in my game against Philippe last month, with 3.Nd2, I am close to believing that a clear transposition into the Torre with 3.c3 at that stage, in t e n d in g 3 . . . c5 4 . Nf 3 , m a y b e t h e m o s t suitable option for me in that system... c5 [ 3...h6 4.h4 b6!? This could be the slight problem of this move order. 5.d2 b7 6.gf3 W h a t e l s e ? e7 7.e3 e4! Now White will have to exchange a pair of pieces includin g h is good Tro mp-T orre bishop to regain control of the e4 square. It is important to note that such thing cannot happen in a proper Torre without a black ... c5:1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 h6 4.Bh4 b6 5. Nbd2 Bb7 6.e3 Be7 the Nf6 is ready to jump on e4 but... 7.Bd3 controlling the square just 2421
Scorpionchess Prinout, 06/10/2014 in time. 8.xe7 xe7 9.xe4 xe4 10.d3 b7 11.0-0 0-0 12.e4 d6 13.e1 e5 14.e2 c6 15.ad1 I had just made a draw in round 4 against Tony Kosten in this very position, with the black pawn still on h7 which does not seem to make any difference in
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